Uniformed Active Duty Service Members and Their Families to Join Pride Parade

July 19, 2012

San Diego Pride officials are proud to announce that active duty service members of the U.S. armed forces have received approval from the Office of the Secretary of Defense and their commanding officers to march in the America’s Pride Parade Military Contingent while wearing their uniforms.  Veterans have long been allowed to wear their uniforms and now their active duty brothers and sisters will be able to march in uniform alongside them with Pride.

Good Time Design Announces Opening of Block No. 16 Union & Spirits | Friday, July 20th

July 18, 2012

Good Time Design, the all-encompassing restaurant and entertainment venue design and consulting firm, will officially open its newest venture, Block 16 No. Union & Spirits, on Friday, July 20th.  The new venue debuted with a soft opening on Friday, June 29th. The multi-level entertainment space is located in downtown’s East Village in the famed Culy Warehouse and next door to the recently opened Lucky’s Lunch Counter.  Block No. 16 Union & Spirits has a commanding 10,000 square-foot presence and is set to quickly become one of the hottest nightlife destination in downtown San Diego.

Jsix Restaurant Introduces a Stiff, New Culinary Cocktail Menu

July 18, 2012

The beverage engineers at Jsix Restaurant at Hotel Solamar have taken the building blocks of classic cocktailing and created a menu that positions them at the apex of today’s trends. Time-honored methods and techniques have come together with the freshest ingredients and an imaginative approach to produce a list of 12 quaffable delights that appeal to a wide variety of guests. Available now, the new cocktail menu (copied below) has spirited folks stirring with excitement.  Expect bold aromas, strong flavors and surprising combinations fused with Jsix’s made-from-scratch philosophy.

'Glee' Cast Member and Other Exciting Acts Join Re-Energized Pride Lineup

Alex Newell of 'Glee'

July 18, 2012

San Diego LGBT Pride is thrilled to announce the addition of Alex Newell, who plays “Unique/Wade,” a transgender character, on the smash hit show, ‘Glee.’  In line with the mission of Pride, Alex Newell has been an amazing addition to the diversity of the Glee cast.  Newell will also take part in the Pride Parade.

Isola Pizza Bar Announces Opening in Little Italy

July 17, 2012

Isola Pizza Bar is Little Italy’s newest specialty pizza restaurant, featuring an oak wood-burning oven in a chic urban setting.  With a 2,500-square-foot Italian pizzeria highlighted by an open kitchen bar and elongated back patio, Isola is now open at 1526 India Street, offering 15 types of pizzas, authentic Italian appetizers and home-made desserts by Chef Massimo Tenino of Piemonte, Italy.

Miguel's Cocina Celebrates 30 Years!!

July 17, 2012

San Diego is definitely known for its great Mexican cuisine.  Although there are a generous number of Mexican dining options all across San Diego county,  there is one such name that has truly made its mark here in America's Finest City, and that’s Miguel’s Cocina! Celebrating 30 years of business this month, the popular family restaurant chain has 6 locations throughout San Diego and a brand new restaurant in Carlsbad.

Exciting New Attractions for Thrill Seekers and Gamers at the 2012 San Diego LGBT Pride Festival

July 17, 2012

Looking for something new and exciting to do at this year’s Pride Festival?  In addition to the always popular Ferris Wheel, America’s Pride will feature a new festival zone with carnival rides, exciting attractions and a Sony Entertainment Zone.

Moving Past the Pop Culture Festivities and on to a Celebration of Equality | San Diego LGBT Pride Festival - June 20-22, 2012

July 16, 2012

With Comic Con 2012 in the rear view mirror, the next big event to hit America's Finest City is the San Diego LGBT Pride Festival which takes place in historic Balboa Park July 20 - 22nd.  In anticipation of the San Diego Pride Festival, SanDiegoVille.com will be publishing a new Pride-related article each day this week, so be sure to stay classy and keep checking in with us!

Phil’s BBQ Padres Tailgate Raises Money for Military Mentoring Program

July 16, 2012

Phil's Ribs!

Phil’s BBQ and Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County are partnering for the fourth straight year to raise money for Big Brother Big Sisters’ military mentoring program, Operation Bigs. Phil’s will be serving up its famous mesquite-grilled ribs, chicken and side dishes to thousands of hungry event-goers at PETCO Park before the Padres take on the Cubs on Monday, August 6, 2012 in order to raise money for the Operation Bigs program, which pairs children whose parents are in the military with a mentor from the community.

St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center Announces Celebrity Models for 35th Annual Haute With Heart Fashion Show

July 16, 2012

St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC) has announced the line up of celebrity models for its 35th Annual Haute With Heart Fashion Show. On August 18, 2012 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel, San Diego icons including local news anchors, radio DJ’s and even a World Series winning baseball player will strut their stuff in the 35th Annual Haute With Heart Fashion Show.  All proceeds from the fashion show, themed "Let the Sunshine In," will benefit SMSC’s programs for nearly 400 adults with developmental disabilities.

Café 21, “Nature’s Kitchen,” Launches New Dinner Menu, Featuring Ingredients 100% Sourced From Local Farms

July 14, 2012

Café 21, Nature’s Kitchen eatery, tea and wine bar, debuted a new dinner menu this week. The menu’s items are now 100% sourced from local and organic farms, reflecting Café 21’s commitment to being “Nature’s Kitchen” within San Diego.

Chef Dawn Parks is the New Lady Chef for St. Germain's Cafe

Chef Dawn Parks

July 14, 2012

This August, Chef Dawn Parks of The Wild Thyme Company-Catering and Events becomes the third chef in St. Germain's Cafe & Bistro's successful Lady Chef Series, a quarterly guest chef series featuring San Diego’s top female chefs. Chef Dawn Parks will collaborate with St. Germain Cafe’s Executive Chef Kaitlin Ramos to create a flavorful, female-influenced Lady Chef dinner menu beginning August 1st and available throughout that month.

Iris Food & Spirits is Focused in Carmel Valley

July 13, 2012

By Sean Jackson | SanDiegoVille Contributing Writer

One of the great things about San Diego is that you never know where you'll end up finding a culinary gem.  My parents recently ventured south from the OC to check out the San Diego Fair and wanted to meet up for dinner afterward.  Though I usually pick the restaurant, this time I passed that duty along to my dad and was rewarded with one of the better meals I've had in quite a while.  Iris Food & Spirits, located on Carmel Valley road in Del Mar/Carmel Valley, offers noteworthy new American cuisine with amazingly tranquil views overlooking Los Penasquitos marsh and Torrey Pines State Park. 

Tomato Battle Comes to San Diego TOMORROW, July 14th

July 13, 2012

Modeled after La Tomatina, the annual festival held in Bunol, Spain in August each year, Tomato Battle offers an extremely unique way for community members to enjoy live local music, a costume contest, a never-ending beer garden and a full fledged food fight to end all food fights with up to 80,000 pounds of tomatoes.  This Saturday, July 14^th, Tomato Battle will be bringing it’s one of a kind event to San Diego.

Best Ways to Cool Down This Summer In and Around San Diego

July 13, 2012

Summer is in full swing and things are starting to heat up! Fight the flame this season with Southern California's hottest ice-cold sweets and offerings.  Below, you'll find an assorted list of San Diego’s top tasters that will help tame the summer heat and satisfy your taste buds.

"I Ain't Afraid of No Ghost (Pepper)!" Sabuku Sushi features the newly crowned World's Hottest Pepper - the Trinidad Scorpion Pepper

July 13, 2012

Spicy food, like any intense culinary flavor, is an acquired taste. Hot sauces and dishes delivering extreme heat have developed a cult-like following, with disciples of the movement constantly looking for the next hottest thing. Enter Sabuku Sushi Head Chef Zach Stofferahn’s new Suicide Special that features the World’s Hottest Pepper, the searing Trinidad scorpion pepper.

The Brigantine Del Mar Set to Reopen for Race Season with a New Makeover

July 11, 2012

Just in time for the much anticipated season of the Del Mar Racetrack, the Brigantine in Del Mar has reopened after undergoing a complete remodel. Locals and racetrack patrons are sure to be impressed with the new additions to the restaurant that conveniently boosts views of the racetrack. This total and complete renovation gives the restaurant a new contemporary look, but don’t worry, as it still offers the signature Brigantine feel and ambiance.

Tickets for the 9th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival Now On Sale!

June 10, 2012

Tickets for the 9th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, taking place November 14-18, 2012 are now on sale. The weeklong wine and food extravaganza is widely recognized as the largest food and wine festival across Southern California and has become an iconic fixture in the national wine and food landscape. The San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival brings together a cadre of A-list chefs and culinary personalities, master and advanced sommeliers, and nationally acclaimed winemakers in a combination of over 25 epicurean experiences that appeal to the sophisticated palates of wine and food enthusiasts from across the nation.  SanDiegoVille.com was fortunate enough to cover last year's festivities, and based upon that experience and what's planned for this year, we can say that this is one epicurean event that is not to be missed!!!

RECAP: All Things 'Cue at the 2nd Annual San Diego Soul Food Festival

July 9, 2012


By Heather Reineke

If you've ever been tempted by the alluring wafts of sweet 'cue on a warm summer day, then the second annual San Diego Soul Food Festival would have been your taste bud's ticket to heaven.