A Roundup of Mother's Day Specials and Events in San Diego and Beyond

May 6, 2014

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Mother’s Day. Back in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson deemed it an official holiday in the United States. For the last 100 years, we have celebrated Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May due to the dedication and persistence of Anna Jarvis, who campaigned for several years to establish the holiday. Jarvis, a grammar fanatic, is also responsible for that properly placed apostrophe. Notice that “Mother’s Day” is a singular possessive. She meant for each family to honor their mother, compared to “Mothers’ Day,” a plural possessive, which would honor all the mothers in the world.

Downtown's Cafe21 Now Has the Space to Complement the Food | New Location in San Diego's Gaslamp Almost As Lovely As Chef Leyla's Culinary Creations

May 7, 2014

Newcomer on the corner of 5th & E, but no newbie to the Gaslamp, Cafe21 recently took over Croce's former space and made it their own. The beautifully renovated location was already bustling on a Wednesday night visit less than two weeks after opening its new doors. Cafe21 offers a true farm to table experience, with nearly everything made from scratch from the finest local ingredients and each dish plated attractively with an evident mindfulness to the art of food service.

Enter SanDiegoVille's Raffle for a Chance at 2 Tickets to See Tim McGraw at Sleep Train Amphitheatre on Saturday, May 17

May 7, 2014

Multi-platinum superstar Tim McGraw will bring his highly-anticipated Sundown Heaven Town Tour to Chula Vista for a Saturday, May 17 Sleep Train Amphitheatre performance with opening acts, Kip Moore and former American Idol contestant, Cassadee Pope. SanDiegoVille has 2 tickets to give away to one lucky fan (more than $50 value)! Just input your email address below to enter and we'll contact the winner by email no later than May 15!

Enter SanDiegoVille's Contest for a Chance at 2 Tickets to See Tim McGraw at Sleep Train Amphitheatre on Saturday, May 17

City of San Diego Honors Paradise Point as Recylcer of the Year

May 6, 2014

Paradise Point, by Destination Hotels & Resorts, a AAA Four Diamond hotel on San Diego’s Mission Bay, has been named Recycler of the Year by the City of San Diego. Adding to its growing list of accolades, the award recognizes Paradise Point’s innovative and successful efforts to recycle, reduce waste and implement recycled product purchasing programs.

Scenes from the 4th Annual Chef Celebration Artisan Food & Craft Beer Festival

Photo by Kelly Orange

May 6, 2014

On Sunday, May 4, the grand finale of this year's Chef Celebration dinner series took place in the gorgeous gardens of Stone World Bistro Liberty Station. The 4th Annual Artisan Food & Craft Beer Festival featured 12 chefs cooking up 12 delicious dishes, each carefully paired with one of 12 local beers, all for a great cause - funding a scholarship that sends 12 aspiring San Diego culinarians for training at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley.

RUMORVILLE: Baja Celebrity Chef Javier Plascencia To Open Central San Diego Restaurant

May 5, 2014

Baja California cuisine is spreading like wild fire, and the area's most well known chef has plans for a central San Diego restaurant, rumored to open this summer in the Downtown/Little Italy area. Chef Javier Plascencia, the man behind many Baja California, Mexico restaurants such as the reknown Misión 19, Caesar's, Erizo, and Finca Altozano, to name a few, will soon open his second San Diego-based restaurant. His award-winning Romesco Mexiterranean Bistro has been serving pleased diners in Bonita since 2006, but Chef Plascencia has desired to move northward for some time now and has something that is sure to amaze in the works.

Julian Wild & Scenic Film Festival Features Blend of Culture, Cuisine & Eco-Consciousness | Third Annual Event Expected to Boost Mountain Town’s Appeal on May 16-17

May 5, 2014

From ‘canyoneering’ in British Columbia to surfing on a remote, Arctic island, restoring Iraq’s Mesopotamian Marshes and examining the dangers of 'fracking,' the Julian Wild & Scenic Film Festival represents a wide variety of international films that celebrate nature, the environment and people who are making a difference. The third annual festival, presented by the Volcan Mountain Foundation, will be held May 16-17 in the quaint San Diego County mountain town of Julian. The festival is part of a 115-city nationwide tour that showcases award-winning films about nature, community activism, adventure, conservation, water, energy and climate change, wildlife, environmental justice, agriculture, and Native American and indigenous cultures. These films combine stellar filmmaking, beautiful cinematography and first-rate storytelling to inform, inspire and ignite solutions and possibilities to restore the earth and human communities while creating a positive future. This year’s film festival selections will not only take audiences to some of the most remote and beautiful places on the planet, but introduce them to the magnificent animals that inhabit these places and the courageous individuals who are working to protect and preserve both for future generations.

18th Annual North Park Festival of Arts Returns Saturday, May 17

May 4, 2014

Spend the day with your family and friends exploring the historic North Park neighborhood at the 18th Annual North Park Festival of the Arts, presented by San Diego County Credit Union on Saturday, May 17 from 11am to 6pm on University Avenue between 30th and 32nd Street. This free festival includes an experiential and interactive art area with local artists and galleries, unique vendor booths, food trucks, and five live music stages with performances from local and regional bands and dance groups. Being on the forefront of the art scene, the North Park Festival of the Arts celebrates all types of art forms. There will be something for everyone including the kids, with the Hands-On Arts area offering children the chance to participate in free activities designed to stimulate and inspire their imaginations to create their own masterpieces.  There will be a beer garden with a live music stage, a Plein air art competition, and a juried arts section with local artists showing and selling all forms of art.

The 5th Annual Taste of Cardiff Takes Place Thursday, May 8 | Get Your Tickets then Taste and Sip Your Way Through Cardiff-by-the-Sea

May 3, 2014

Cardiff 101 Main Street presents the 5th Annual Taste of Cardiff on Thursday, May 8 from 5-8pm.  During the annual event, downtown Cardiff will have over 20 unique eateries & 8 sip stops for ticket holders to enjoy.

San Diego Company, Bon Affair, to Appear on ABC’s Shark Tank | Founder Jayla Siciliano Pitches ‘The Sharks’ and their 7.8 Million Viewers on May 9

Bon Affair founder Jayla Siciliano

May 2, 2014

The wine spritzer revolution will be televised on Friday, May 9 when “Self-professed wine connoisseur Kevin O’Leary gives advice to a lady from Solana Beach, CA on her lighter, healthier alternative to a full-bodied wine.” That lady is Jayla Siciliano, founder of Bon Affair wine spritzers from Solana Beach. The top-shelf, lighter option for wine drinkers has had success at Whole Foods, Nordstrom’s and Albertson’s. But expansion costs money, and a deal with the right shark could mean even bigger things for the San Diego-based company.

Top Cinco de Mayo Happenings in San Diego

May 1, 2014

The countdown to Cinco de Mayo has begun and San Diego is getting into the fiesta by offering fun specials surrounding the holiday. Whether it’s a refreshing margarita, .55 street tacos or the first annual Guacamole festival, there is something for everyone to celebrate the festive holiday.

El Agave Blends Traditional With Modern at New Del Mar Plaza Location

May 1, 2014

Owner Juan Carloz Gomez finally unveiled his third restaurant in San Diego with El Agave Del Mar's opening in the beginning of April at the Del Mar Plaza. Like his other two spots (El Agave in Old Town & Iberico Spanish Bistro in La Jolla), El Agave Del Mar boasts a second story view and offers traditional classics with historic recipes. Being that El Agave's version still sits atop my list of favorite moles, and since we're big fans of tequila and sunsets, we chose to avoid our customary 'waiting period' for a new restaurant and stopped in for a first bite when the eatery was only 2 weeks in.

Union Kitchen and Tap Gaslamp Set To Open This Friday | A First Look at the Menu and Interior

April 30, 2014

Set to open this Friday, May 2, Union Kitchen and Tap Gaslamp is the newest venture for proprietor Eric Leitstein. His popular Encinitas restaurant of the same name has been a staple since 2011. The new restaurant, located at 333 5th Avenue in the Gaslamp District, has significantly more square footage than its counterpart to the north. Union Kitchen and Tap Gaslamp features a patio and two huge garage-style doors that open at street level. Armed with an entertainment license, Union Kitchen and Tap Gaslamp will host live music, pairing dinners and more. The space includes two main bars, a charcuterie station, a rolling craft cocktail cart and a separate private dining area which seats 70 with an additional adjacent bar.

Don't Miss Chef Celebration's 4th Annual Artisan Food & Craft Beer Festival at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens Liberty Station This Sunday, May 4!

April 29, 2014

This Sunday, May 4 from 12-3pm, the Chef Celebration series holds its grand finale celebration - the 4th Annual Chef Celebration Artisan Food and Craft Beer Festival at Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens – Liberty Station. Sample 12 small-bite courses prepared by local chefs and paired with 12 amazing craft beers carefully selected by Stone Craft Beer Ambassador “Dr.” Bill Sysak with proceeds from ticket sales donated to a special scholarship fund enabling local students to attend courses at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley, Calif.

Storyteller's Dinner Experience Heads Back to San Diego for its First All Vegetarian Meal | Sunday, May 4

April 29, 2014

Chef Nick Brune of Eco Caters and Hillcrest’s Local Habit collaborates with Dave Holtze of Green Truck for a special vegetarian meal paired with 5 tracks by musician, BRI, on Sunday, May 4.  This special evening of great food complemented by awesome music is the fourth installment of the popular Storyteller’s Dinner Experience and will take place at Porters Pub in La Jolla.

Just Call Us Volunteers Hosts Bombay Bazaar Fundraiser | An Amazing Indian-Themed Event for a Worthwhile Cause

April 28, 2014

On Sunday, April 27, the SILO at Maker's Quarter was beautifully transformed into an Indian-themed extravaganza for Just Call Us Volunteers' annual fundraiser, this year entitled Bombay Bazaar. Attendees enjoyed delicious bites from some of San Diego's best chefs and vendors, as well as spirits from local cocktail companies and craft beer offerings from San Diego breweries. Other highlights included a hookah lounge, dance performances, a stilt walker, a fire show, a silent and live auction, and hilarious MC'ing by Sam "The Cooking Guy" Zien and local food critic, Troy Johnson.

Trot to barleymash for the “Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” on Saturday, May 3

April 27, 2014 

Join barleymash for its San Diego Derby Party on May 3 from 11am until 4pm. Check out the live bluegrass band during brunch as barleymash rolls out the turf at this paddock-sized party surrounding the Kentucky Derby.  This special event will feature a suit and hat contest, raffle prize giveaways and Derby Day specials on food and drinks.