Javier Plascencia's Bracero to Bring Mexican to Little Italy | Construction Starts Soon for Planned Spring 2015 Opening

October 23, 2014

Chef Javier Plascencia's upcoming Little Italy eatery, Bracero: Cocina Mexicana de Raiz, will start construction at the end of the month. Set to open in Spring 2015, the newest restaurant from the well-seasoned Chef Plascencia will be located at the Ariel Suites in Little Italy and feature multiple dining levels to cater to both casual and fine dining, each including a bar, kitchen and patio and a focus on Mexican spirits, wine and modern Baja fare.

All Treat, No Trick: Karl Strauss Peanut Butter Cup Porter is Back, And This Time In Bottles

Peanut Butter Cup Porter Float, anyone?

October 23, 2014

Just in time for Halloween, Karl Strauss Brewing Company is bringing back its cult-favorite, Peanut Butter Cup Porter. The company is pleased to announce that for the first time, a ridiculously limited amount of the beer will be available in 22oz bottles, in addition to draft offerings in select accounts. Originally brewed as the company’s San Diego Beer Week beer in 2012, Peanut Butter Cup Porter was an instant hit, garnering praise from raving fans across the region. This year, Karl Strauss has ramped up production, more than doubling the amount of beer brewed.

Parq Restaurant & Nightclub to Host Grand Opening Celebration This Saturday, October 25 | Get Your First Look Inside San Diego's Newest Venue

October 23, 2014

Parq Restaurant & Nightclub will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, October 25, from 8-11pm. Celebrities and San Diego notables will savor menu items at Parq Restaurant created by Executive Chef Errol LeBlanc. After dessert, guest will move on to Parq Nightclub and enjoy a musical set by DJ Shift. Rumor has it the Parq grand opening will be attended by numerous celebrities including Jamie Pressly, Karina Smirnoff and Wilmer Valderrama.

Southpaw Social Club Closes in the East Village

October 22, 2014

It looks like Southpaw Social Club is the latest victim to the "curse of Petco." The ballpark-adjecent project from Good Time Designs is the most recent project to fall flat in a location where one would think it would thrive. The eatery announced on its website that it will no longer be open starting today. Good Time Designs is shopping the space, and we'll let you know who picks it up. We're sad to see Southpaw go, as it was a pretty rad bar with great beer and elevated bar food.

Top of the Market Continues to Exude Excellence After 25 Years | Landmark Restaurant Offers Seafood at its Finest with Views to Match

October 22, 2014

Top of the Market truly is one of those establishments that offers subdued elegance without pretense. It can be as casual or luxurious as you choose to make it with consistently amazing food and a staff eager to please. Nothing is overly complex or unapproachable, rather simply fresh and fine ingredients are prepared perfectly by a seasoned chef and well trained crew. We recently revisited this San Diego landmark for a four course tasting menu prepared by Executive Chef Ivan Flowers and thoroughly enjoyed one of the most delicious meals we've had in a long time. Get ready to salivate.

Draft Mission Beach Introduces New Seasonal Menus

October 22, 2014

Draft in Mission Beach has introduced their new breakfast and fall menus designed by Executive Chef Brad Wise to complement the season’s freshest fare.  Draft’s new menus features casual, handcrafted fare and an array of new items from enticing appetizers and starters like the Short Rib Jar with smoked mashed potatoes and Papas Bravas with spicy mayo, as well as an assortment of entrées, such as the Pastrami Reuben served with on rye bread with gruyere cheese. Their new breakfast menu features innovative items such as their Cinnamon Roll Pancakes with cream cheese whipped cream and their Loco Moco – 2 eggs with an Angus beef patty, gravy and fried rice.

Rosarito Beach Hotel to Host Steak & Lobster Festival | Sunday, October 26

October 22, 2014

The seaside Mexican resort, Rosarito Beach Hotel & Spa, located 30 miles south of San Diego, is known for a number of things - its iconic hotel, being the location for the movie "Titanic" and world-famous Puerto Nuevo-style lobster, among them. On Sunday, October 26, from noon to 7pm, the Rosarito Beach Hotel will combine surf with turf when it hosts in its oceanfront gardens the Steak & Lobster Festival, with Mexican music, dance and food from 10 area restaurants. Admission is free and a plate of lobster, steak and drink costs only $20!

College Area to Get New, Weekly Farmers Market | Wednesdays from 2-6pm

October 22, 2014

The San Diego State University neighborhood, aka the 'College Area,' is getting a new, weekly farmers market starting next Wednesday at the College Avenue Baptist Church. The market will offer farm fresh produce from area farmers as well as prepacked goods and prepared food. The College Area Farmers Market will take place weekly on Wednesdays from 2-6pm.

The San Diego Natural History Museum Presents the 2014 Best of Nature Photography Show

Cheryl Strahl Annas Hummingbird

October 21, 2014

The San Diego Natural History Museum will be opening the 2014 Best of Nature Photography Show, a new photography exhibition, this Saturday, October 25. The exhibition, free with paid admission, is a result of an international photography contest and will contain 74 nature-based works from extremely talented artists, both amateur and professional. The new photography exhibition will remain on view through February 1, 2015.

Clean the Bay Day Takes Over South Shores Park on Saturday, October 25

October 20, 2014

San Diego Coastkeeper and SeaWorld Cares are teaming up for the 3rd annual Mission Possible: Clean the Bay Day on Saturday, October 25, from 8-11am. Mission Possible beat its own record in 2013 by removing more than 561 pounds of trash polluting Mission Bay. This weekend brings the annual land and water cleanup event back to South Shores Park. People come in boats, kayaks, paddleboards and on foot to incorporate what makes the bay enjoyable into how they help clean it. Last year over 200 volunteers came out and removed nearly six hundred pounds of trash from the beach, park, and waters around South Shores Park

Marriott Marquis Explores the Future of Travel with 4D Virtual Reality Teleporter | Explore the World with Travel Brilliantly from October 24-27

October 20, 2014

Are you ready to travel brilliantly? From October 24 until October 27 between the hours of 12pm and 8pm, venture around the globe via virtual teleporter at Downtown San Diego’s Marriott Marquis and Marina.  Free to attend and open to the public, travelers will take a leap into virtual reality and explore innovative technology that re-defines the future of travel for generations to come! Marriott hotels has partnered with Academy Award-winning creative studio Framestore to create Marriott Hotel’s virtual travel experiences.

Win VIP Tickets to the Inaugural San Diego Beer and Music Festival | Taking Over Waterfront Park on Saturday, October 25

October 20, 2014

The inaugural San Diego Beer and Music Festival takes over the new Waterfront Park in Downtown San Diego on Saturday, October 25, for an evening of craft beer and live music to raise funds for the San Diego Music Foundation. Presented by #rockstarbeer Productions, City Beat Magazine, FM 94/9, and many area breweries, the festival will showcase over 100 craft beers from more than 50 local and regional breweries as well as local bands and DJ's and will also include a food truck pavilion and private After Party. The event is headlined by New Orleans breakout artist, Royal Teeth. We're raffling off a pair of VIP passes to attend ($100 value). Keep reading and be sure to enter for a chance to win!

Rough Draft Releases San Diego's Strongest Beer to Date to Celebrate O'Brien's 20th Anniversary

October 19, 2014

Rip Current Brewing has brewed up a quadruple San Diego-style India pale ale for O'Brien's Pub to celebrate the beer mecca's 20th year in business. The One 20th Anniversary IPA will be tapped at O'Brien's on Wednesday, October 22, at 5pm. The 15.7% ABV brew is the strongest naturally fermented beer ever made in San Diego. Rip Current Brewer Paul Sangster will be in attendance for the tapping and O'Brien's will be doing 5 ounce and 9 ounce pours of the One 20th IPA.  Bring both livers and a spare if you have it - you'll need it.

Bali Hai Celebrates Six Decades with Anniversary Luau | October 30

October 19, 2014

For 60 years, the Bali Hai on Shelter Island has help set the culinary bar for San Diego restaurants. To celebrate its six decades years of success, the restaurant is throwing a ticketed party on Thursday, October 30, from 6-10pm, with live entertainment, including performances by Creepxotica, Desi Realtor, Pride of Polynesian, and live painting by Norm Daniels. Join the festivities and rub elbows with Mayor Falconer and other community dignitaries while you dine on succulent roasted pig, fried rice, poke and beverages of your choice, including the restaurant's World Famous Mai Tais!

In Celebration of its 20th Anniversary, The California Center for the Arts Escondido Presents Worldwide Ukulele Sensation Jake Shimabukuro | Friday, October 31

October 18, 2014

Ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro will wow audiences as part of The California Center for the Arts Escondido's 20th Anniversary 2014/2015 season with a special Halloween show on Friday, October 31, in the Concert Hall. Redefining a previously under-the-radar instrument, the critically acclaimed performer combines elements of jazz, blues, funk, rock, bluegrass, folk, and flamenco, fully revealing his musical dexterity. Shimabukuro has appeared on television shows including Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Kimmel Live, he's earned notable fans such as Eddie Vedder and Sanjay Gupta, and performed for the likes of the Queen of England.

Six Episode Documentary Series on San Diego Beer Industry Coming to KPBS | Get Ready for "Kings of the Craft"

October 17, 2014

San Diego craft beer aficionados get ready, because coming to KPBS this spring is a new six part documentary series focused on San Diego’s thriving beer industry. Kings of the Craft will showcase and celebrate the culture, beauty and cooperation of an industry that is undeniably a part of this city's blood, introducing audiences to the unique people and businesses behind San Diego’s craft brewing boom. The series was selected from more than 43 entries in the KPBS Explore local programming contest and will air Thursday nights starting in May 2015 as part of the Explore lineup. With more than 80 local breweries and 30 plus on the way there has never been a better time to dissect this phenomenon in San Diego.

Pink Tacos for Breast Cancer Awareness Month from Don Chido

October 17, 2014

This October, downtown San Diego’s newest Mexican eatery, Don Chido, is jumping on the pinkwagon. The restaurant is celebrating National Breast Cancer Awareness Month by turning all of their signature tacos pink.  Enjoy carne asada, pollo, rajas polbano, wood fired baja fish and more signature tacos all in a handmade pink corn tortilla and a portion of all proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Bird Rock Coffee Roasters Opens in Little Italy

October 17, 2014

The award-winning Bird Rock Coffee Roasters 'soft' opened its second coffee bar location this morning in San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood at 2295 Kettner Boulevard as part of the company's ongoing expansion that includes a new offsite roasting facility and third coffee bar on Morena Blvd. BRCR started in 2006 at the flagship location and continues to provide premiere coffee and a friendly community driven experience. The Little Italy location will be open from 7am-noon daily throughout October until the grand opening is announced.

Tom Ham's Lighthouse Celebrates San Diego Beer Week with Brews, Views & Chews on November 10 | Win Tickets and Sample Craft Beers and Local Bites at a Beautiful Location

October 16, 2014

Are you ready for one-of-a-kind food and craft beer tasting event during San Diego Beer Week? On November 10, from 6-9pm, local breweries and chefs will take over Tom Ham's Lighthouse for an exclusive Beer Week party entitled Brews, Views and Chews featuring live music, a painting demonstration, a charitable silent auction and samples of local brews and bites from some of the area's best restaurants. We have two tickets to attend to give away to one of our readers! Who wants 'em?