Historic Uptown District Shopping Center to be Revitalized | Graham Downes-Inspired Design to Feature New Name, Tenants, Design and Artwork

May 21, 2014

From the start it was a perfect match – an iconic gathering place in Hillcrest in need of a makeover and a local architect known for bringing the best out of cultural landmarks. So it began, when Graham Downes was hired by Regency Centers in November 2012 to revitalize the Uptown District Shopping Center located at 1030 University Avenue. Although Downes unfortunately passed away last year, his legacy lives on in many different ways, including with this revitalization, which began this past Monday, May 19.

Get Tickets to the 3rd Annual Baja Bash | Taking Place at Coronado Cays Yacht Club on June 28 from 5:30-10pm

May 20, 2014

Wildcoast is hosting an evening of celebration of the shared coastal conservation successes of Southern California and Baja at the 3rd Annual Baja Bash, and marking the occasion with the best chefs, beer, and wine from both sides of our border, San Diego and Baja California.  On Saturday, June 28 at the lavish Coronado Cays Yacht Club, starting at 5:30pm, enjoy a Baja-inspired tasting menu designed by world renowned Baja California and San Diego chefs, including regional wines, beer and tequila, and live music from Los Hollywood.

Celebrated Chef Giuseppe Ciuffa Set To Open Sonata Bistro and High Note Café at Symphony Towers on June 9

May 19, 2014

Acclaimed restaurateur and chef, Giuseppe Ciuffa, of Giuseppe Restaurants & Fine Catering, is set to open Sonata Bistro and High Note Café at Symphony Towers in downtown San Diego on June 9, 2014. The newest additions to his growing collection of restaurants, including the highly anticipated Bottega Americano in which he is a partner, Sonata Bistro and High Note Café will offer a fresh and creative selection of dishes sourced from local ingredients for breakfast and lunch.

Stone Brewing Co. Releases Kyle Hollingsworth/Keri Kelli/Stone Collective Distortion IPA

May 19, 2014

At Stone Brewing Co., craft beer and music go together as well as hops, barley, water and yeast. So when the opportunity arose to collaborate with two musicians from stylistically different backgrounds, we did the universal hand sign for "Rock on!" and bobbed our heads in perfect unison. The collaboration “band” consisted of the Stone Brew Crew, led by Brewmaster Mitch Steele (who is the guitarist of Craigsband and Stone's house band, The Flocculators); hard rock guitarist Keri Kelli (who has played with the likes of Alice Cooper, Skid Row and Slash from Guns N’ Roses); and keyboardist Kyle Hollingsworth of The String Cheese Incident. Together, they brewed an epic double IPA infused with elderberries and coriander, and named their magnificent creation Collective Distortion IPA. Fans may start enjoying the beer in 22-ounce bottles and on draft at select retailers, restaurants and bars across the U.S. this week.

Karl Strauss Launches Pioneering Single-Hop Mosaic Session Ale

May 19, 2014

Karl Strauss Brewing Company is launching Mosaic Session Ale, the latest pioneering release in its Coastal Reserve Series.  Since its inception, Karl’s Coastal Reserve Series has served as a hoppy playground for Karl Strauss brewers to experiment with new hop varietals, different hopping techniques and push the envelope on traditional beer styles. This unencumbered creativity has led to award-winning, critically acclaimed beers like Big Barrel Double IPA and Blackball Belgian IPA.  “Our Coastal Reserve Series is a great sandbox to channel the brewers’ creativity and really put the focus on hops,” says Paul Segura, Brewmaster, Karl Strauss Brewing Company.

RA Sushi to Host 10th Annual Nicky’s Week from May 25-31| Proceeds From Select Menu Items Benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Chicken Yakitori

May 18, 2014

From Sunday, May 25, through Saturday, May 31, RA Sushi will host its largest annual fundraiser, “Nicky’s Week,” to help kids battling cancer and other deadly diseases. In its 10th year, the weeklong fundraiser benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where thanks to community support, no family ever pays for anything. That includes treatment, travel, housing and food, so families can focus on helping their child live.

Harrah's SoCal Debuts Latin Food + Wine Festival | Sunday, May 25

May 17, 2014

The recently revamped Harrah’s Resort Southern California will host its inaugural Latin Food + Wine Festival on Sunday, May 25 from 2 - 6pm in The Events Center. With over 20 wineries participating, guests will enjoy unlimited tastings including offerings from local restaurants and celebrity chefs, all while celebrating the rich history of Latin wines dating back to the 16th century.

Get Into the Spirits with Del Mar Plaza's Curated Cocktail Collections

May 16, 2014

Del Mar Plaza, located in the beautiful coastal village of Del Mar, delights visitors with the opportunity to indulge their senses and delight their palates with exquisite spirit collections from around the world. Amidst cobblestone pathways, trickling fountains, and sweeping ocean views, the Plaza’s array of restaurants and bars serve up an adventurous path worth wandering down.

A Tsunami of Flavor | Paradise Point Reinvents Itself as a Dining Destination With Tidal

May 16, 2014

Paradise Point Resort & Spa sits on a 44-acre private bayside island, on a beautiful stretch of land, boasting serene views of Mission Bay, an outdoor aquarium pool filled with fun fish, and delicious dining options. The resort's premier restaurant recently received a total revamping to transform the former concept, Baleen, into what is now Tidal, with the kitchen led by two San Diego culinary powerhouses - Executive Chef Amy DiBiase and Sous Chef Kyle Bergman. We recently visited the new Tidal for a five course tasting menu with 15 sample-sized dishes and we were blown away by the deliciousness we devoured in such a gorgeous setting.

A First Taste of Union Kitchen & Tap Gaslamp

May 15, 2014

Before the restaurant opened its doors last Friday, May 9, SanDiegoVille founders were some of the lucky few granted a first taste of a variety of Executive Chef Sean Langlais' menu offerings at the gleaming new Union Kitchen & Tap Gaslamp. The former Donovan's Prime Seafood space received a beautiful redesign to transform the location into a hip, modern-industrial dining and nightlife destination right in the heart of San Diego's downtown district.

Richard Walker’s Pancake House Now Open in New La Jolla Location

May 14, 2014

Breakfast-lovers in La Jolla are in for a treat this spring - Richard Walker’s Pancake House, the family-owned, award-winning restaurant serving breakfast and lunch, is announcing the official opening of its second San Diego location. Owned and operated by Richard Walker Jr., Richard Walker’s Pancake House is now serving its nationally acclaimed dishes to its hungry local and visiting fan base at 909 Prospect Street in the La Jolla Village.

Sunday Fundays at Turquoise Cellars Bring Together Local Craft Breweries and Food Trucks | Monthly Event Kicks Off on May 18

May 14, 2014

On Sunday, May 18 from 5-9pm, Turquoise Cellars will host Acoustic Ales Brewing Experiment and Mastiff Sausage Company food truck for a speciality Sausage + Beer themed Sunday Funday event in honor of National Craft Beer Week. These ongoing Sunday Funday pairing events will occur once a month throughout the Summer, pairing a local craft brewery with a food truck.

5th Annual I Love Poke Festival Returns to San Diego's Bali Hai Next Tuesday, May 20 | 2014 Festival Announces Competing Chefs, Participating Restaurants and Impressive Panel of Judges

May 14, 2014

San Diego’s 5th Annual I Love Poke Festival and food competition returns to Shelter Island's Bali Hai to celebrate Hawaiian culture and cuisine on Tuesday, May 20 from 6 -9pm. I Love Poke Festival is proud to announce that this year’s tasting event will feature 30 of San Diego’s top chefs and restaurants. The event will also include a special performance by internationally known Hawaiian musician and ukulele extraordinaire, Troy Fernandez. This annual event is always a sell-out, so get your tickets now!

The Wild Thyme Company Adds Culinary Powerhouse as Head of Operations | Veteran Chef Keith Lord Brings over Two Decades of Experience in Catering and Events

May 13, 2014

The Wild Thyme Company, event planning and catering specialists, welcome Chef Keith Lord to their team in a new position for the company, Director of Operations and Culinary. Creating a formidable partnership with Owner and Executive Chef Dawn Parks, Lord brings twenty-six years of experience working with high profile names like Twentieth Century Fox Studios and Roppongi in both La Jolla and Palm Springs. He has been a leader, strategist and brand creator through growth and expansion for a broad range of concepts. In his new role with The Wild Thyme Company, Lord will fulfill their goal to elevate their offerings of event design, production and service, and increase their ability to participate in community events and fundraisers.

Stone Brewing Co. Taps Waypoint Public Chef Amanda Baumgarten for Special Brew | Top Female Chef Makes Waves in SD's Beer Scene

May 13, 2014

In a beer centric city filled with the nation’s most respected breweries, North Park’s new neighborhood bistro and beer bar, Waypoint Public, is quickly making a name for itself as the city’s go-to for unbeatable craft beer and food pairings, with firecracker Executive Chef/Partner Amanda Baumgarten at the helm. As evidence of the Bravo Network’s Top Chef veteran's quickly growing street cred among San Diego brewmasters, one of the world’s and San Diego's most celebrated breweries, Stone Brewing Co., has approached Amanda to brew her very own homebrew recipe on Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens - Liberty Station's 10-barrel system. For any modest homebrewer the chance to partner with a brewery of Stone’s caliber and reputation is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Stone has never done a chef collaboration of this nature before, and for Amanda, next to co-opening her own restaurant, this partnership is one of the proudest moments of her professional career.

Whole Foods Market and The New Children's Museum Announce Year-Long Partnership

May 13, 2014

The New Children's Museum and Whole Foods Market kicked-off their year-long partnership with the presentation of a $18,695 check to the Museum, which will help fund monthly toddler programming and a new parent/child cooking series, as part of the Museum’s recently launched food-related exhibition Feast: The Art of Playing With Your Food. Whole Foods Market’s San Diego store and it shoppers community raised the funds through its 5% Day held on Feb. 18, donating 5% of its after tax profits from the day’s sales to the Museum.

KidsFest San Diego Returns to Liberty Station May 17-18 | San Diego’s Largest Hands-On Creative Festival for Kids and the Whole Family!

May 12, 2014

KidsFest - San Diego’s wildly popular hands-on, creative festival for children and their families - will return May 17-18! Presented by the Chloe Nichols Foundation, KidsFest 2014 will transform the NTC Ingram Plaza in Point Loma into a 100,000-square-foot wonderland of pure, uncomplicated play for the entire family, with activities designed to stimulate and celebrate the imagination. KidsFest organizers believe in the power of unplugging and playing, in the joy of finding inspiration everywhere and they value recycling, repurposing and reinventing, so that we as a society can leave our children a clean and pure planet.