Leroy’s Kitchen + Lounge to Host 4-Course Sustainable Seafood Dinner | Tuesday, May 20

May 12, 2014

On Tuesday, May 20, Coronado’s culinary gem, Leroy’s Kitchen + Lounge, will present a four-course sustainable seafood dinner highlighting a variety of local and regional catch alongside a dynamic selection of wine pairings. Helmed by Executive Chef Tim Kolanko and Chef de Cuisine Ronnie Schwandt, the duo will be joining forces with Chef Greg Chavez of San Diego’s Wine Vault & Bistro – who formally helped to open Leroy’s in 2011 as Executive Chef.  Kolanko and Chavez’s friendship dates back to time spent serving on the opening culinary team for The Lodge at Torrey Pines. This May, all three gourmands will come together to cook and create in the same kitchen for the first time.

Restaurant Row at The Aventine Invites Locals to Dine Al Fresco in La Jolla

May 11, 2014

The Aventine, the lifestyle complex home to Truluck’s Seafood Steak and Crab House, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, The Melting Pot and Cafe Japengo, is welcoming summer by inviting diners to enjoy their libations and fare al fresco. With four unique restaurants to choose from, visitors can enjoy outdoor dining while taking in the Aventine’s Italian-inspired architecture and beautifully landscaped grounds.

San Diego Jazz Festival Promises a Memorable Memorial Day Weekend | May 23-25

May 10, 2014

A memorable Memorial Day Weekend is on tap for fans flocking to the second annual Payne Pest Management San Diego Jazz Festival at the luxurious Omni Resorts La Costa on May 23-25, featuring performances by a galaxy of contemporary jazz and R&B stars. Tickets have been selling briskly with people traveling from all over the nation to immerse themselves in this musical and lifestyle experience that includes concerts, after-parties with DJs and live music, an all-star jam, a Gospel Sunday Brunch, casual poolside, plaza and lobby performances and a pre-festival kick-off for premier ticketholders that will be held Thursday, May 22.

The 2nd Annual Brew Rendezvous to Take Over the SILO in Maker's Quarter on Sunday, May 18 | Pairing Event to Benefit Community Health Improvement Partners

May 9, 2014

Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP) will host its 2nd annual Brew Rendezvous on Sunday, May 18 from 1-4pm at SILO in Maker’s Quarter. Brew Rendezvous is a food, farm and craft beer pairing event that celebrates the unique role of craft brewers, local growers, and restaurateurs in cultivating community and health. The event raises awareness on San Diego's food movement and will benefit CHIP’s charitable efforts to tackle obesity through the development of a healthy, sustainable, regional food system. Brew Rendezvous includes live music, delicious menu tastings paired with local craft beers and raffle drawings.

Win 2 GA Passes to the North Park Festival of Arts Craft Beer Block Sponsored by Waypoint Public | Saturday, May 17

May 8, 2014

One lucky person can win 2 General Admission passes to the North Park Festival of Arts Craft Beer Block (a $60 value), sponsored by Waypoint Public and FM 94.9 and taking place on Saturday, May 17 from noon to 6pm! Entering our raffle is easy! All you have to do is input your email below and confirm your email address. The winner will be selected on the morning of May 15 and will be contacted by email.

Each ticket gets you entrance to the consistently sold-out event where you will receive a commemorative taster cup and enjoy thirteen 4oz tasters from a selection of over 30 local craft brewers, several of which are ranked as the best new breweries in San Diego! In addition to craft beer the event will offer DJ music from FM 94/9 and if that doesn’t suit your desire you can sing on the karaoke stage with Ms. Pearl. There will be lite snacks for purchase in the Craft Beer Block along with specially designed parklets for relaxing with a beer and your friends. This event was a sell out last year and no day of tickets will be sold. 21 and over ONLY! Visit northparkfestivalofarts.com/craft-beer-block for a full list of participating breweries and be sure to enter the raffle below for your chance to win!

Enter SanDiegoVille's Contest for a chance at 2 GA passes to the North Park Festival of Arts Craft Beer Block

Get Your Tickets Now for the Coast of Pacific Beach Restaurant Walk | Tuesday, May 20

May 8, 2014

Discover the best eats in Pacific Beach at the upcoming Coast of Pacific Beach Restaurant Walk, taking place on Tuesday, May 20 from 5-9pm. Bring your appetite as this popular annual event continues to grow and will offer a great variety of food, including choices by more than 25 local eateries, several vendors from the Pacific Beach Tuesday Farmers Market, as well as special deals from local retailers - all for only $20!

Horblower's Harbor Cruise "Goes to the Dogs" with Pet Day on the Bay on May 17 | Annual Dog-Friendly Boat Trips to Benefit the Helen Woodward Animal Center

May 7, 2014

On May 17, Hornblower Cruises & Events will host its 14th annual “Pet Day on the Bay” to benefit the Helen Woodward Animal Center (HWAC), a local nonprofit that provides care and comfort to orphaned and injured animals.  On this special day each year, dogs are welcomed aboard to enjoy a fun-filled harbor cruise with their owners.

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.