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?

Herringbone Partners with Local Breweries for Ales and Acoustics | Event to Occur on Last Saturday of Each Month

October 16, 2014

Located in the famed coastal community of La Jolla, Herringbone by Executive Chef Brian Malarkey will be partnering with local breweries and live acoustic bands to host a monthly Ales and Acoustics event on the last Saturday of every month.

Pillbox Tavern to Open in Solana Beach on Saturday, October 18

October 16, 2014

Named for the famous beach break, Pillbox Tavern rises up to meet North County’s need for coastal Americana cuisine starting at noon on Saturday, October 18. The retro-mod beach bar and restaurant will open with a rotating selection of local beers on tap and a menu full of savory wing selections, burgers and sandwiches, salads and sweet treats. Pillbox Tavern hopes to be latest refreshing place to unwind above the cliff-side Solana Beach neighborhood of Fletcher Cove.

Stella Public House and Halcyon Set to Open in San Diego's East Village this November

October 15, 2014

San Diego's rapidly developing East Village neighborhood will welcome two Texas-tested culinary concepts to town this fall. The modern coffeehouse/cocktail lounge, Halcyon, and its sister restaurant, the wood-fired farm-to-pizza eatery and craft beer tap room, Stella Public House, will debut in tandem in mid-November, bringing two unique and celebrated food and drink establishments to the corner of 14th Street and Island Avenue.

Latin Seafood Restaurant Opens in Little Italy | Sirena Brings South American Inspired Seafood to San Diego

October 15, 2014

Sirena, a gourmet Latin seafood restaurant, officially opens tonight at 5pm in Little Italy, San Diego. Located on the corner of Columbia Street and Fir Street, Sirena will showcase a unique menu featuring locally-caught seafood, sustainable and locally-grown vegetables and dishes influenced by South American cuisine and culture. Sirena’s creative and fresh-forward menu will offer guests something new in the urban downtown neighborhood.

Enjoy the Culinary Culture of Italy at Toast Enoteca's Weekly Supper Club | Taking Place Each Thursday

October 15, 2014

Toast Enoteca & Cucina, the eclectic neo-Italian wine bar located at 927 J. Street in the East Village, is hosting its weekly supper club series. Each Thursday, Chef Martin Gonzalez showcases a completely new menu, inspired by the rich culinary culture of Italy and featuring three off-menu courses paired with wine for $30 per person. The supper club menu features homemade classics with a twist, in a chic ambiance. With 400 varieties of wine to sample by the ounce, glass or bottle, Toast Enoteca & Cucina highlights the delights of pairing each course with the proper wine, also included in the supper club menu price.

Ironside Fish & Oyster Introduces Its Own Species of Oyster | Slurp Down Some Ironside Selects

October 14, 2014

Michelin-Starred Chef Jason McLeod of Ironside Fish & Oyster in Little Italy is working with Minterbrook Oyster Company out of the Puget Sound in Washington state to cultivate his very own oyster, exclusive to his newly opened restaurant. Dubbed the “Ironside Select,” these oysters are created from seed to delicious briny bivalve specifically for Chef McLeod, and made their debut this past weekend with 1,563 Ironside Selects sold within the first six hours of service.

Horblower's 6th Annual Bow Wow Brunch Cruise Promises a Doggone Spooky Time on Sunday, Oct. 19

October 14, 2014

On Sunday, October 19, Hornblower Cruises & Events will host its sixth annual Bow Wow Brunch Cruise 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 Halloween-themed brunch cruise with their owners.

Looking For a New Kind of Halloween Experience? DJhere Productions Launches Haunted Harrah's at Harrah's Resort Southern California | Friday, October 31

October 14, 2014

DJhere.com, TK Productions, VAVi Sport & Social Club, Party Naked, Dtown Productions, SFiNXProductions and Fortune 421 have announced their partnership with Harrah's Resort SoCal to host one of the most electrifying and unique Halloween experiences in San Diego. Haunted Harrah's 2014 will take place Friday, October 31, from 8pm to 4am where attendees can expect a complete resort take-over, casino gaming, live music performances and jaw-dropping Halloween decor. DJhere.com, owned and operated by Five Group, is widely known for operating the Halloween Ball at Prado and Hard Rock Halloween in recent years.

Enter for a Chance to Win a Pair of Passes for Saturday's Batalla Culinaria in Tijuana

October 13, 2014

Tijuana Innovadora's culinary battles, Batalla Culinaria, take place this weekend, October 18 and 19, at Tijuana’s Caliente Racetrack, and we're giving away a pair of VIP passes to both the women's battle AND the men's battle, both taking place on Saturday. Watch as the best chefs from both sides of the border come together to battle it out Iron Chef-style, while enjoying tastes and samples from over 30 vendors.

Enter for a chance to win 2 tickets to Saturday's Batalla Culinaria

Vino-Revolutionary Joel Peterson to Host Ravenswood Winemaker Dinner at Roppongi | Four-Courses with the Godfather of Zin on Wednesday, Oct. 29

October 12, 2014

Roppongi Restaurant & Sushi Bar in La Jolla will present the Ravenswood Winemaker Dinner hosted by Joel Peterson, beginning at 6:30pm on Wednesday, Oct. 29. Peterson, known as the “Godfather of Zin,” is the co-founder of Ravenswood Winery in Sonoma County, California, and will be on hand presenting each of Executive Chef Alfie Szeprethy's four-courses and explaining the wine pairings.

Forget Every Reason to Skip Dessert on October 14 | Celebrate National Dessert Day at These Five San Diego Restaurants

Table No. 10 Strawberry Shortcake

October 11, 2014

In ancient cultures, the very first desserts required minimal effort or preparation since people were more worried about the nutritional factors of food to survive. Today, Miriam-Webster defines dessert as a usually sweet course or dish (as of pastry or ice cream) usually served at the end of the meal. On October 14, forget every reason to skip dessert and indulge at the following San Diego restaurants to celebrate National Dessert Day. There’s a food holiday for everything these days, but this one isn’t one to forget or skip!

Experience a Taste of Grand Avenue in Escondido at "The Wedge 2014," an Artisan Cheese Festival | Win 2 Tickets to Attend

October 10, 2014

Enjoy a delicious afternoon of cheesy indulgence in Escondido at The Wedge 2014, taking place on Saturday, October 25, from 1-5pm. Presented by the Escondido Downtown Business Association, this self guided tasting tour unites local food purveyors, brewers and wineries for a taste of Grand Avenue where participants can enjoy cheese inspired samples from 30+ tasting stops, which will include local restaurants, bars and wineries. We have 2 tickets to The Wedge to giveaway to one of our readers. Read on and be sure to enter!