Gator By The Bay Returns for 12th Annual Celebration of Louisiana's Cajun Culture May 10-12, 2013

April 29, 2013

Celebrate Louisiana's Cajun culture from the shores of San Diego!  Gator By The Bay is the biggest Zydeco and Cajun festival on the West Coast and will return to Spanish Landing Park on May 10, 11 and 12, for its 12th year of bringing the rich and unique culture of Louisiana to San Diego. Presented in part by the City of San Diego, the Port of San Diego, San Diego County and the Louisiana Office of Tourism, this spirited three-day music and food festival features an impressive variety of music, entertainment and nourishment for both body and soul. For the first time this year, Latina bands have been added to the lineup, expanding the cultural and musical repertoire of the festival even further.

Stone Brewing Co. Keeps Growing After Being Declared 10th Largest Producer Of Craft Beer in U.S.

April 28, 2013

By Megan Gallagher | SanDiegoVille Contributor

Stone Brewing Co. has long been considered by San Diegans a craft beer mecca, the one that started it all, if you will, and helped solidify San Diego as the craft beer capital of the U.S.  It appears the folks at The Brewers Association are paying tribute, as they’ve recognized the Escondido-based brewery as the 10th largest producer of craft beer in the United States. This acknowledgment comes at a prime time for Stone, as they are slated to open their newest location at Liberty Station in Point Loma later this month and another pair of World Bistros in Terminal 2 of San Diego Airport this summer.

LoungeSix to Host Best of the West IPA Fest | Local Hops Go Head to Head in a West Coast Beer Challenge on May 5th

April 27, 2013

Beer lovers unite this Cinco de Mayo! The time is approaching when IPA aficionados come together to toast one of craft beer’s most iconic styles. If you think you’ve got what it takes to judge heavy hop varietals, join LOUNGEsix on May 5th for Best of the West IPA Fest. The IPA challenge calls for local breweries to compete for the coveted titles of Critics’ Choice Award and People’s Choice Award. Vote on your favorite brewery, mingle with brew masters, and snack on pint-sized sandwiches as you sample some of Southern California’s finest ales. Pure hoppiness for only $20!

A Music Festival With A Touch of Class & Sophistication | BottleRock Napa Valley Features Ultimate Music, Comedy & Culinary Experience May 9-12

April 26, 2013

Coachella is in our rear-view mirror, along with the blistering weather of Indio and the mediocre lineup of musical performances that came with it. With music festivals propagating around the country (and the world) in a state of rapid revival, most are following the basic, formulaic festival format.  In its inaugural year, BottleRock Napa Valley is distinguishing itself by offering festival goers a bit of civility and class along with an incredible lineup of music performances and comedic entertainment in a temperate and majestic setting.

The 30th Annual Corona & Pacifico Fiesta Old Town Cinco De Mayo Celebration Presented by Cafe Coyote | Friday, May 3rd, 2013 - Sunday, May 5th, 2013

April 25, 2013

The spiciest weekend of the year is returning and will be “hot, hot, hot” as Fiesta Old Town Cinco de Mayo celebrates 30 years! Continuing the success of the 2012 celebration, this FREE festival extravaganza will once again extend from two to three days of dynamic “fiesta-ing”. The 30th Annual Fiesta Old Town Cinco de Mayo will kick off on Friday, May 3rd, 2013 at 5:00 PM with All Night Happy Hour and Taco Tuesday specials and continue through the weekend on Saturday, May 4th, 2013 from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM and Sunday, May 5th, 2013 from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM. This FREE Fiesta will feature three stages with live entertainment, over 10 bands, traditional ballet folklorico dancers, equestrian shows, a mercado with over 100 retail and food booths, beer garden, and Lowrider Lane, which will all transform the streets into the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration north of the border!

Welcome Home: A San Diego Timelapse Journey by Michael Shainblum

April 24, 2013

Talk about TRIPPY!  A new timelapse video by photographer and videographer, Michael Shainblum, features incredible, mesmerizing, high definition images that capture scenes of exquisite beauty from around San Diego.  Entitled Welcome Home: A San Diego Timelapse Journey, the video takes the viewer on a melodic journey around America's Finest City.

Taste of Asia at the San Diego Public Market | Just Call Us Volunteers Hosts A Fantastic Event for A Charitable Cause

April 24, 2013

Just Call Us Volunteers President Julie Darling with the dragon dancers
Photo by Jennifer Dery of buttersage.com

After hosting two outrageously successful events (A Taste of the Market & Street Food Market) in its main area in the Market Hall, this past Saturday the San Diego Public Market exhibited yet another portion of its enormous space housed on the National Plaza side of the building for Just Call Us Volunteers' 2nd annual fundraiser - Taste of Asia at the Market.  As completely different as the last two events were from one another, this new portion of the warehouse showcased yet another very appealing side of San Diego's own public market.  With a vast, open-air central atrium, the sprawling grounds were filled with sun throughout the late afternoon hours, offering the perfect setting for dragon dancing and sumo wrestling demonstrations.  On the southern end, a sprawling indoor corridor was outfitted with quintessential Asian decorations and makeshift stands where chefs and restaurants were dishing out their take on Asian influenced drinks and eats.

Bar West Turns Lemons Into Locally Sourced Lemonade Craft Cocktails and Fresh Seafood Tacos

April 23, 2013

On today's saunter to the PB Tuesday Farmer's Market, we noticed that neighboring Bar West had an Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) notice on its door informing passersby that the lounge would be closed until May 3rd.  Speculating commenced via social media, and we soon got the whole story.  Glory be the Internet.

San Diegans Focus National Attention on Lack of Art Education With New Documentary | “Art Across America” Seeks to Reignite Creativity in Schools

April 21, 2013

Blake Byers (left) and Andrew Fisher (right) gave Conan O'brien
a portrait that Byers created, to spark his interest in their cause.

By Megan Gallagher | SanDiegoVille Contributor

In January 2013, filmmaker Andrew Fisher had just moved back to San Diego after living in Los Angeles for seven years, working in restaurants and trying to launch his film career. Artist Blake Byers was wondering what his next step would be after selling all of his belongings and spending 10 months hiking the Pacific Crest Trail to raise awareness for multiple sclerosis. Flash forward just four months later and the pair have assembled a team of eight artists and producers, and are in the midst of making a potentially ground-breaking documentary about the state of the United States art education system.

San Diego Knows Avocados | Don't Miss the 27th Annual Fallbrook Avocado Festival on Sunday, April 21st

April 19, 2013

Are you aware that California is the nation's largest producer of avocados with San Diego County being the capital?  San Diego County produces over 40% of California's avocado crop, which in turn produces 95 percent of the nation's avocados!  This Sunday from 9am to 5pm, thousands of avocado lovers from around the world will converge on the town of Fallbrook, located in San Diego's North County, for the 27th Annual Fallbrook Avocado Festival.  Free to attend, participants will get a chance to sample avocados, view the crazy cooking contest entries, buy interesting avocado-themed gifts and enjoy bands, live entertainment and friendly beer gardens.

Bite of Boston Set to Open Third Location in Pacific Beach

I think this is just a stock photo for the real thing.

April 18, 2013

By Megan Gallagher | SanDiegoVille Contributor

Over the past few years, San Diego has emerged as a culinary starlet, founded on farm-to-table menus and microbrews. But as far as the dining scene has come, east coasters who’ve relocated to the city know that it is lacking in one particular area - sandwiches. Sure, any restaurant can throw together a few slabs of meat, some greens and a bun, but nothing compares to authentic subs of the east coast variety.  Luckily, SD is about to get one step closer to redeeming their sub reputation. Bite of Boston is a family owned and operated submarine sandwich shop set to open its third location in Pacific Beach in late May 2013.

California Kebab & Beer Garden and Amplified Ale Works | Delicious Food + Great Beer + Warm Sun = Happiness

April 17, 2013

Dust the sand from between your toes, peel off the wetsuit or throw on a bikini cover up and some flip flops and head straight from the beach to California Kebab & Beer Garden - an oasis of great food and the finest beer sitting loftily one block from the board walk in Pacific Beach.  Cali Kebab has brought a new level of delicious, healthy, and relatively quick food to PB, while maintaining the chilled-out surfer vibe this neighborhood is known for.  And if savory Mediterranean specialties weren't enough of a draw, Cali-Kebab has partnered with their in-house brewpub Amplified Ale Works to offer some innovative beers while also serving the cream of the crop from other (mostly local) breweries.  And to top it all off, everything is served with a salty breeze and ocean views.

Life's a Beach at The Coast of Pacific Beach Restaurant Walk | Tuesday, May 21st

April 16, 2013

Pacific Beach is more than just San Diego's favorite party town!  Discover the best eats in PB at the Coast of Pacific Beach Restaurant Walk on Tuesday, May 21st from 4-9pm.  Bring your appetite as this popular annual event continues to grow and will offer a great variety of food choices by over 25 local restaurants as well as special deals from local retailers as you stroll past the shops. Get your tickets soon as there is a limited time price of $18!!

Just Call Us Volunteers Hosts 2nd Annual Fundraiser | Taste of Asia to Take Over San Diego Public Market on April 20th

April 15, 2013

Just Call Us Volunteers (JCUV) - a San Diego-based nonprofit that cooks and serves healthy meals to the city’s homeless - will host its 2nd annual fundraiser, Taste of Asia, on Saturday, April 20th from 6-10 pm at the San Diego Public Market.  The Taste of Asia, which will have an Asian market theme, will feature more than 20 of the San Diego-area’s most popular chefs who will prepare Asian-inspired signature dishes for guests. The night will also feature a silent auction and entertainment to include a martial arts demonstration, Chinese lion dance team, sumo wrestling and a chance to meet six-time U.S. sumo wrestling champion Dan Kalbfleisch.