Salt & Cleaver is Now Open in Hillcrest

May 17, 2013

Welcome to San Diego's newest sausage party!  Presenting a unique dining concept, Salt & Cleaver is bringing back the ancient art of sausage making. Quality ingredients and precise sausage making-techniques complement a robust collection of craft beers and traditional cocktail selections at Salt & Cleaver.  Inspired by 1860s industrial Chicago, the design elements reflect period furnishings and décor meshed with modern touches, just up 5th Avenue, catty corner from The Brass Rail in Hillcrest.

Bear Mountain Golf Course Opens May 17th | Unique Golfing Experience and Plans for Summer 2013 at Snow Summit

May 17, 2013

Big Bear Mountain Resorts offers more than just winter skiing and snow boarding.  Located a short trek from San Diego, the mountainous terrain will soon offer picturesque golfing opportunities, exciting mountain biking trails, hiking and zip lining.

'The Original' Searsucker is Still As Hot As Ever in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter

May 16, 2013

Searsucker is the flagship of Enlightened Hospitality Group's (EHG) fabric-themed restaurants.  Having opened in the summer of 2010, the Gaslamp hotspot solidified Top Chef finalist  Brian Malarkey's local stardom, making him one of the most recognized faces in town.   In less than three years, the duo of Malarkey and nightlife guru, James Brennan, has opened 5 more restaurants in San Diego (with Gingham recently closing), and two more Searsucker's abroad (Scottsdale and soon-to-open Austin).  Through a judge/mentor position on ABC's primetime cooking competition The Taste (which his team won), Malarkey's celebrity has continued to rapidly escalate over the past year.  Although we've been to Searsucker several times and profiled its lunch offerings, we have refrained from writing about dinner...until now.  

SanDiegoVille Goes to Disneyland!!!

Look at that excitement!!!

May 16, 2013

"To all who come to this happy place: Welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America, with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world." ~Walter E. Disney, July 17, 1955

It was approximately 6:40pm on a Friday.  Despite being closed since mid-April, as though by kismet Space Mountain magically reopened precisely as we walked passed its entrance.  Although most lines for the good rides were more than a 40 minute wait, our impeccable timing allowed us to breeze through a short queue for one of Disneyland's most renowned attractions.  Our excited energies kicked in during the final stretch of the line, awakening the child within each of us. We requested front row seating to enhance the thrill of this classic, indoor coaster, and it didn't fail to impress - like a mental orgasm of epic proportions.  The SanDiegoVille Disneyland adventure was going just as planned.

SeaWorld's Aquatica Waterpark Set to Make a Splash This Summer | Opening June 1st

May 14, 2013

Just minutes from SeaWorld,  Aquatica San Diego, like its sister parks in San Antonio and Orlando, will feature guest experiences from serene to extreme, with water play as endless as the sea itself, and will be home to a variety of exotic animals, providing an educational component to a waterpark visit that is both unexpected and enriching.  Aquatica SeaWorld’s Waterpark in San Diego will be located at 2052 Entertainment Circle in Chula Vista and is scheduled to open June 1, 2013.  The park will feature water slides, a wave pool, a white sandy beach, and so much more, ready to keep customers cool when San Diego gets hot.

A Day of Nature and Nurture at the Inaugural Farm to Yoga Dinner at Suzie’s Farm Sunday, May 19th.

May 13, 2013

"Everyday we choose our relationship with the planet and with ourselves, and eating locally is choosing to support our farms and to create a thriving community from our actions." ~Abby Paloma

Farm to Yoga, Suzie’s Farm and San Diego Green Truck are coming together to create a truly unique event. On Sunday, May 19th, spend a relaxing day at Suzie’s Farm, indulging in the best of San Diego's yearlong harvest season. Tour the farm with Suzie's farmers and Farm to Yoga founder, permaculturist and yogi, Abby Paloma. Stretch out in Suzie’s shaded event space with a yoga class led by the gifted and inspiring teacher, Sarah Clark. Following yoga, nourish your body with an organic, farm to fork meal grown in Suzie's field and prepared by the holistic chefs, of the one and only, San Diego Green Truck team.

Chef Anthony Sinsay To Host Four Course Pop Up Dinner to Honor His Late Home Economics Teacher and Inspire New Crop of Future Chefs | Tuesday, May 21st

May 12, 2013

Executive Chef Anthony Sinsay of Del Mar hotspot, BURLAP, is giving back to his alma mater of Southwest High School (Sinsay was class of 2001) by offering students interested in the culinary industry a first-hand experience in a professional kitchen. Through this work, he will be raising money for his late home-economics and nutrition teacher, Sharon Kleinschmidt. Sharon taught for almost 48 years (1962 to 2009) and her dedication, passion  and bright attitude inspired students such as Sinsay to achieve goals beyond his wildest dreams.

Top Chef All Star Winner, Chef Richard Blais, and Concentrics Restaurants to Open New Concept in San Diego's Little Italy

May 11, 2013

Top Chef Season 4 runner up and winner of Top Chef All Stars (Season 8) Chef Richard Blais is opening a restaurant in San Diego!!  Partnering with Concentrics Restaurants, the Atlanta based duo's newest concept will be located on the outskirts of San Diego's Little Italy in an early century warehouse space and is anticipated to open in late 2013.

Aged to Perfection in Just One Year | barleymash Celebrate First Anniversary with DJ Jazzy Jeff!

May 10, 2013

What do you get when you add four million ounces of beer to four thousand bottles of whiskey? The answer to that math problem isn’t a problem at all. In fact, it’s cause for celebration. The folks at popular Gaslamp District establishment, barleymash, are thrilled to report that it equals one heck of a year, and to celebrate, they're throwing a party with DJ Jazzy Jeff!

Inspired by a Love for the Sea, Rubio’s Brings Community Together to Celebrate Ocean Preservation | Saturday, May 11th

May 9, 2013

The ocean is the top provider of protein to more than one billion people, covers 71 percent of the planet, and generates most of the Earth’s oxygen.  For these reasons and so many more, Rubio’s has counted the ocean as a source of inspiration since the restaurant’s founding more than 30 years ago. On May 11th, the restaurant known for fish tacos and unique and sustainable seafood dishes will host a beach cleanup and party in Oceanside, Calif., for the San Diego community to come together and celebrate the ocean. The cleanup and party will also launch Rubio’s “Be a Friend to the Ocean” campaign for 2013. This initiative will find the iconic San Diego brand hosting beach cleanups, activities to celebrate the ocean and more, all aimed at engaging and inspiring community members to be a friend of the ocean year-round.

San Diego Knows How to Treat Moms Right! | Specials Galore for Mother's Day This Sunday, May 12th

May 8, 2013

With Mother’s Day coming this Sunday, May 12th, it’s high time to search for the perfect place to treat Mom this year. Whatever culinary treat Mom wants on her special day, San Diego restaurants, hotels and even breweries and wineries have all of the bases covered.  Check out our round up of Mother's Day specials from all over San Diego County, and be sure to treat your momma right everyday!

Always a Sell-Out, The Taste of Little Italy Returns June 19th!

May 7, 2013

The Little Italy Association’s popular Taste of Little Italy event, showcasing traditional and eclectic eateries in the neighborhood, is back again this June 19th. Held in the hip and historic downtown district, attendees get to stroll the streets while enjoying live music and tastes from over 28 favorite local hotspots. With many new restaurants to the Little Italy dining scene, this year’s annual event is anticipated to be another sell-out, so interested attendees are encouraged to purchase their tickets early.

2nd Annual Front Burner Fund Food Fest Fundraiser To Take Place at Carnitas' Snack Shack | Tuesday, May 14th

May 6, 2013

Front Burner Fund is proud to be hosting its 2nd annual fundraiser at San Diego's favorite pork palace, Carnitas’ Snack Shack, on Tuesday, May 14th from 6-9pm. Come join some of San Diego's top chefs for a swinging fun party with delicious food for a great cause.  As in years past, tickets for the event are $25 in advance and $35 at the door, a small price to pay to grub on tasty bites and to support a wonderful charity.

Tickets Now Available to Del Mar's Summer Solstice Event | Thursday, June 20th

May 2, 2013

Del Mar Village Association is celebrating the arrival of summer with their annual Summer Solstice event, a festive affair featuring live music, a silent auction, wine and beer tasting, and culinary creations from Del Mar’s finest restaurants. The event takes place just steps from the beach at Powerhouse Park, giving guests front-row seats to sunset views.  Early bird tickets can be purchased for $55 to ensure entrance to this exciting event, which has sold out the past two years. After May 1, ticket prices become $65. For the ultimate Summer Solstice experience, VIP tables are available for $800 for parties of ten.

SpotOn Announces Launch of San Diego Contest to Reach 150,000th Check-in

May 1, 2013

SpotOn, a digital platform for customer loyalty and engagement, is launching a countywide contest in San Diego to reach its 150,000th check-in, starting Wednesday, May 1st, 2013. Anyone in San Diego can enter the contest with a simple SpotOn check-in at one or more of the 300+ SpotOn merchants in San Diego for a chance to win up to $1,000 in prizes.

Las Vegas Kicks Off Summer Travel Season with Ultimate Cinco De Mayo Bash in San Diego | Friday, May 3rd

Mr. Las Vegasdotcom

April 30, 2013 

Las Vegas, one of the world’s premier travel destinations, launches the summer travel season by encouraging participants to take a swing at an oversized piñata in San Diego's Gaslamp District on Friday, May 3rd. Shaped in the likeness of the destination’s popular ad campaign character, Mr. Las Vegasdotcom, participants will “hit up Las” as they vie for a $5,000 grand prize trip to be booked on LasVegas.com. All other participants will get a $50 voucher redeemable on the website.

Gator By The Bay Returns for 12th Annual Celebration of Louisiana's Cajun Culture May 10-12, 2013

April 29, 2013

Celebrate Louisiana's Cajun culture from the shores of San Diego!  Gator By The Bay is the biggest Zydeco and Cajun festival on the West Coast and will return to Spanish Landing Park on May 10, 11 and 12, for its 12th year of bringing the rich and unique culture of Louisiana to San Diego. Presented in part by the City of San Diego, the Port of San Diego, San Diego County and the Louisiana Office of Tourism, this spirited three-day music and food festival features an impressive variety of music, entertainment and nourishment for both body and soul. For the first time this year, Latina bands have been added to the lineup, expanding the cultural and musical repertoire of the festival even further.

Stone Brewing Co. Keeps Growing After Being Declared 10th Largest Producer Of Craft Beer in U.S.

April 28, 2013

By Megan Gallagher | SanDiegoVille Contributor

Stone Brewing Co. has long been considered by San Diegans a craft beer mecca, the one that started it all, if you will, and helped solidify San Diego as the craft beer capital of the U.S.  It appears the folks at The Brewers Association are paying tribute, as they’ve recognized the Escondido-based brewery as the 10th largest producer of craft beer in the United States. This acknowledgment comes at a prime time for Stone, as they are slated to open their newest location at Liberty Station in Point Loma later this month and another pair of World Bistros in Terminal 2 of San Diego Airport this summer.

LoungeSix to Host Best of the West IPA Fest | Local Hops Go Head to Head in a West Coast Beer Challenge on May 5th

April 27, 2013

Beer lovers unite this Cinco de Mayo! The time is approaching when IPA aficionados come together to toast one of craft beer’s most iconic styles. If you think you’ve got what it takes to judge heavy hop varietals, join LOUNGEsix on May 5th for Best of the West IPA Fest. The IPA challenge calls for local breweries to compete for the coveted titles of Critics’ Choice Award and People’s Choice Award. Vote on your favorite brewery, mingle with brew masters, and snack on pint-sized sandwiches as you sample some of Southern California’s finest ales. Pure hoppiness for only $20!