El Dorado Cocktail Lounge Celebrates Half A Decade | Party With the Gang on November 5

October 14, 2013

Humbly located amidst the hustle and bustle of Broadway Street along the outskirts of downtown’s East Village neighborhood, El Dorado Cocktail Lounge opened doors in 2008 as one of the city’s very first bars solely devoted to the art craft cocktails. To celebrate half a decade of success, on Tuesday, November 5th, the four founders of El Dorado will reunite behind the bar for the first time since year ONE to stir, shake and strain amongst their closest friends and family. From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. El D will throw a not-to-be-missed happy hour as a special thank you to all who have helped them along the way. The night’s lineup of classic hand crafted creations will consist of their top six cocktails over the last five years. The memorable event will come complete with a star-studded step and repeat, complimentary bites from a handful of CH Projects’ eateries, sets from EL D’s favorite local DJs, roving photography and a nostalgic slideshow.

Third Annual Baja California Culinary Fest Honors Regions Innovative Cuisine, Unique Flavors and Prominent Chefs | Oct. 24-27

October 13, 2013

The third annual Baja California Culinary Fest will celebrate the region’s artisanal food, premium wines and craft beers being produced throughout the Mexican state, Oct. 24-27. Featuring special dinners, tastings, cooking classes, competitions and entertainment, the region’s distinctive gourmet fare will take center stage with 25 of Baja California’s culinary stars and top sommeliers. A significant driver of tourism, Baja’s cuisine was recently declared an intangible cultural heritage to the state by the World Tourism Organization (WTO).

San Diego Brewers Shine at the Great American Beer Festival | Local Breweries Receive 11 Medals at The Largest Commercial Beer Competition in the World

October 12, 2013

The 2013 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) is taking place this weekend in Denver, CO and the competition just wrapped up, awarding 252 medals to some of the best breweries in the United States. Presented by the Brewers Association, GABF is the largest commercial beer competition in the world and a symbol of brewing excellence. In its 27th year, the 2013 competition surpassed all previous participation records, setting the bar high. San Diego Brewers did well at this year's event, receiving an astounding 11 medals in various categories.

San Diego Beer Week Returns for its Fifth Installment | Nov. 1-10

October 11, 2013

Mayor Jerry Sanders tapping the cask at the 2012 Brewers Guild Fest
Photo by Tim King

From Friday, November 1 through Sunday, November 10, breweries and restaurants will host over 600 events ranging from cask nights to beer dinners in honor of the 5th annual San Diego Beer Week (SDBW). SDBW is the largest craft brewing event in Southern California and has doubled in size since it's inaugural year in 2009, from 9,000 attendees to 20,000 in 2012. For the first time, SDBW will kick-off with a two-day main event that includes the VIP Brewer Takeover and San Diego Brewers Guild Festival. The week's festivities conclude with the Beer Garden at the Lodge at Torrey Pines, a gourmet beer and food pairing event that will showcase 24 breweries with 12 local chefs.

All in the NeighBEERhood | Supporting Local Breweries & Growing the Craft Beer Culture

October 10, 2013

Don't miss the chance to join local brewers and craft beer enthusiasts on Tuesday, October 22 from 6-9:30pm for “All in the Neighbeerhood,” a triple-tap takeover at the new San Diego Brew Project (inside Fifty Seven Degrees wine warehouse) hosted by Craft Company.  This exclusive event will provide beer lovers with the opportunity to taste some of Modern Times' exciting new beer recipes as well as special guest breweries Acoustic Ales and Amplified Ale Works, all while vibing to live music, participating in live craft beer art (you can take your masterpiece home!), raffling off cool merchandise from local breweries, playing games, goodie bags, and more!

San Diego Coastkeeper and SeaWorld Team Up to Keep Mission Bay Beautiful | Don't Miss Clean the Bay Day on Oct. 26

October 9, 2013

San Diego Coastkeeper and SeaWorld are teaming up to keep Mission Bay beautiful with the 2nd annual Mission Possible: Clean the Bay Day on Saturday, Oct. 26. Participants can bring their boat, kayak or paddleboard to join the on-water effort, either on their own or as a team with family, friends or coworkers. Those who cannot participate on the water can join the shoreline cleanup. Organizers will award prizes, including yearlong passes to SeaWorld, beluga interactions, penguin tours and more. The cleanup will take place on Mission Bay from 8-11am. Food from Rubio’s, prizes and fun will complement the cleanup throughout the morning at Rose Marie Starns South Shores Park. 

Eight of San Diego's Best Chefs Converge for an Opus to Swine | The Heavenly Hog Fall Pig Out Takes Over La Valencia Hotel This Friday, October 11

October 8, 2013

This Friday, October 11th, eight of San Diego's top chefs will join forces at the historic La Valencia Hotel for a hog wild event unlike any other. The inaugural Heavenly Hog Fall Pig Out will feature eight courses of porky goodness, as each of the eight chefs blindly selected a part of the pig to feature in his dish, ensuring nothing goes to waste. And if eight courses of swine weren't enough, each dish will be paired with a boozy beverage of the chef's choosing, enabling each chef to fully craft the experience for their course.

Simply Local | A New Merchant Marketplace Boasting Art, Culture & Community

October 7, 2013

By Megan Gallagher | SanDiegoVille Contributor

As much as the push to buy local and organic products, and support local businesses is alive and well in San Diego, the truth is that it can be difficult to follow that mantra because you cannot always fulfill all of your needs in one place. After all, there is no “mall” for local products, and travelling from merchant to merchant can be time consuming. Unfortunately, it is simply more convenient to cover ground in a supermarket or a big-brand store. Local entrepreneur Brian Beevers is looking to change all of that. Beevers, who operates three farmers’ markets throughout San Diego, has just announced plans for Simply Local, a local merchant emporium offering locally made products.

Bang Bang Rocks Our World | Much More Than Just Ryan Gosling's Pretty Face

October 6, 2013

If you know about Bang Bang, you've undoubtedly heard of the shrine to Ryan Gosling in one of the women's bathroom stalls.  It has been plastered on the U-T, on Eater.com, and on the social media pages of every starry-eyed socialite in town - even being featured in stories by the Hollywood Reporter and LAist.  Upon inspection, there are even lipstick smatterings on most of the photos, which is both unsanitary and borderline demented.   We're here to tell our readers that there is far more to Bang Bang than a silly stall, as the eatery is artistically designed and offers delicious Japanese-fusion fare in a fun and hip setting.

Suzie’s Farm Hosts First Annual “Dia De Los Muertos” Celebration | November 2

October 5, 2013

Suzie’s Farm is thrilled to welcome the San Diego community to the inaugural Dia De Los Muertos celebration at its new outdoor event space, The Grove. Guests will exalt the endless cycle of life and death at the family-friendly event featuring traditional Mexican food prepared by acclaimed local chefs, holiday inspired artwork by local artists, craft cocktails and live entertainment. On Saturday, November 2 from 6-10pm, participants will gather at the beautiful 2-acre outdoor event facility for a fun celebration of the Day of the Dead.

San Diego’s 9th Annual Chef Showdown | A Heated Competition to Benefit the Center for Community Solutions

October 4, 2013

WINNING TEAM: Evgeny Anisimov, Jeff Josenhans, Scotty Wagner,
Amy Dibiase (team captain), Lori Sauer and Percy Oani.

By Megan Gallagher | SanDiegoVille Contributor

San Diego’s top chefs and mixologists showcased their competitive sides last week at this year's Chef Showdown, using their culinary chops and creativity in an entertaining battle for the title, raising over $150,000 in support of the Center for Community Solutions. The 9th annual Chef Showdown took place on September 26 at the NTC Promenade at Liberty Station and was not only a showcase of culinary talent, but also an evening of celebration and support for a center dedicated to the prevention of sexual assault and domestic violence in San Diego.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County Announces its 2013 Person of the Year – James Brennan, CEO of Enlightened Hospitality Group | Award Ceremony to Take Place at 51st Annual Gourmet Dinner on Oct. 24

Partners in dining
Brian Malarkey (left) & James Brennan (right)

October 4, 2013

Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County (BBBS of SDC) has announced that James Brennan has been selected as the “Person of the Year.” James Brennan, a former Big Brother himself, will receive his award at Big Brothers Big Sisters 51st Annual Gourmet Dinner on October 24, which will be held at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine and sponsored by LPL Financial. This year’s event emcee is Brennan's partner in Enlightened Hospitality Group - Chef Brian Malarkey, winning Mentor/Judge on ABC’s cooking show The Taste, Top Chef finalist, and Executive Chef/Partner of the Fabric of Social Dining restaurants (Searsucker, Gabardine, Gingham and Herringbone).

Pick From San Diego's Largest Selection of Pumpkin Varieties at Suzie’s Farm Pumpkin Palooza | Saturday, October 12

October 3, 2013

Suzie’s Farm Pumpkin Palooza will bring together the families of the Suzie’s Farm and San Diego community for a fun afternoon on the farm. This event is free to attend, and guests can participate in “u-pick” pumpkins and take home the fruits of their labor. Along with a day of pumpkin picking, there will be live music, food, and community organizations.

The Fifth Avenue Auto Showcase Returns to the Gaslamp on Sunday, October 13 from 11:00AM to 4:00PM

October 2, 2013

Come one, come all to celebrate the Fifth Avenue Auto Showcase hosted by the Gaslamp Quarter Association and presented by car2go San Diego! Free to the public, this event showcases extravagant displays of over 150 makes and models of high performance automotive vehicles that are guaranteed to bring viewers to a halt. The 5th anniversary celebration promises to draw out the most enthusiastic automotive aficionados to the historic Gaslamp Quarter this fall, taking over the fabulous stretch of Fifth Avenue from E Street to K Street in Downtown, San Diego on Sunday, October 13 from 11am to 4pm.

New Belgium Brewing’s Tour de Fat Raised More Than $40,000 for Local San Diego Bicycle Nonprofits | World-Class Entertainment and Bicycle Love Brought 6,000 People

October 1, 2013

Tour de Fat, New Belgium Brewing’s traveling festival of bikes, beer and bemusement, raised more than $40,000 for San Diego nonprofits last Saturday, September 28. About 6,000 bicycle and beer enthusiasts came to Balboa Park for the event and 2,000 people participated in the bike parade.

The Spirits of Mexico Main Tasting | Like the Spirits Being Honored, This Event Only Gets Better With Age!

October 1, 2013

By Megan Gallagher | SanDiegoVille Contributor

Usually a night full of tequila is one that we can’t remember, but the Spirits of Mexico Main Tasting Event is one that we won’t soon forget. Held on September 21 in Old Town San Diego, the event was the pinnacle of a celebration of agave-based spirits, known as the annual Spirits of Mexico Festival. This year marked the festival’s 10th anniversary and just like tequila, it seems the event keeps getting better with age.

The 33rd Annual San Diego Zoo Food & Wine Celebration | A Night at San Diego's Most Unique Epicurean Event

Nervous Ness & the Bearded Dragon

September 30, 2013

There are food and spirits events on a monthly basis in San Diego, but at how many do you get the chance to hold a bearded dragon, watch a cheetah play with a dog or take an aerial tram over the whole celebration??  On a perfect September evening, hundreds of food and animal enthusiasts had the unique opportunity to enter the famed San Diego Zoo during after hours, to sip and swirl with the animals, taste delectable delights from over 170 local restaurants, breweries, wineries and spirit companies, and enjoy the playful ambience of the evening, all for the wonderful cause of conservation research. The San Diego Zoo Food & Wine Celebration is one of the city's elite epicurean events, and the 33rd annual fundraiser offered an eclectic mix of food, spirits, music and animal encounters.