San Diego is My Home

25
Apr

Books And Music

Author: HelenKay, Category: Books, Events & Happenings, Festivals, Music

…but not together.  If you’re in the mood to leave San Diego and are looking for some culture, I have two options for you.

If you are the music type, Coachella is here.  This is a huge festival that takes place at the Empire Polo Field in Indio, CA (think: Palm Springs area).  Three days, starting tonight.  Check out the site because, honestly, whatever description I give this will not do it justice.

For those who prefer books to music…or just like driving to LA…this weekend is the L.A. Times Festival of Books. This one is Saturday and Sunday. It’s a booklover’s dream. Meet authors from all different genres, attend author panels, buy books…all good stuff.

Get in your environmentall friendly cars and go…

24
Apr

Saturday Spring Events

Author: HelenKay, Category: All For Charity, Arts, Events & Happenings, Festivals, Food, Neighborhoods

Clearly spring has arrived in San Diego.  There are quite a few celebrate-spring type events to choose from this weekend.  Here is a sampling:

-The 5th Annual Spring Garden Festival - This one takes place at Cuyamaca College and is sponsored by the San Diego Watercolor Society. You, basically, go to the The Water Conservation Garden and paint. It’s free and outside…that’s a pretty big draw. The event is on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

-The 7th Annual Point Loma Garden Walk & Home Tour - This is exactly what it sounds like. You pay to go on guided tours of private gardens and homes in Point Loma. The proceeds benefit the Craniofacial Services at Rady Children’s Hospital. Good cause. Lots of fun. Check it out. this Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

-The Linda Vista Multicultural Fair and Parade - Music, food, floats, artisans showing their skills…what’s not to like. The event is Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Linda Vista Road, just north of USD.

Enjoy the festivities.

09
Apr

Wine Festival

Author: HelenKay, Category: All For Charity, Events & Happenings, Festivals, Wine Events

You don’t have to travel to Northern California or even Temecula to do some serious wine tasting.  This weekend you can stay in San Diego and…drink.

Friday (April 11th) is the first day of the California Wine Festival, complete with a wine tasting and silent auction.  The events start at 6:30 p.m. at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel, Seaport Plaza. You can then stumble home (walk, take a cab or have someone else drive) and start the whole process over at a new location on Saturday. In fact, Saturday’s event even gets a different name. It’s the:   “Reds, Whites & Blues” on the Bay - A California Wine Festival.  The blues part deals with music events happening during the festival. See, it makes sense.

The second day of fun takes place at the Embarcadero Marina Park North. Again you get to engage in wine tasting, enjoy a festival, listen to music and take part in a live auction.  Sunday you rest and recuperate before heading back to work.

Two days of drinking in the sunshine. I’m not sure why you’d go anywhere else this weekend.

26
Mar

Flower Fields

Author: HelenKay, Category: Events & Happenings, Festivals, Neighborhoods

The hills are alive with flowers once again.  The Flower Fields® at Carlsbad Ranch are open. The season runs through approximately May 10th. For a fee, you get to wander through rows and rows of flowers. Walk or pay a bit extra and ride the tractor - it’s your choice. Fifty acres are yours to explore.

The Flower Fields are located about halfway between Orange County and San Diego off Interstate 5 (exit on Palomar Airport Road in Carlsbad). The flowers won’t last forever and appromately 150,000 visitors are expected, so get going.

25
Mar

Humphrey’s Concerts

Author: HelenKay, Category: Arts, Comedy Shows, Festivals, Music, Special Shows

Humphrey’s By The Bay has announced its new schedule.  And - wowza! 

The 2008 season promises some fine music, good comedians and awesome entertainment in a  fabulous venue.  Tickets for three shows are on sale now:

July 16th - Chris Isaak
July 27th - Ringo Starr & his All Starr Band
August 18th - Gipsy Kings

Tickets for the remaining shows - and there are a bunch them - go on sale March 29th at 10:00 a.m.   Here’s the schedule.

12
Mar

St. Patrick’s Day

Author: HelenKay, Category: Balboa Park, Events & Happenings, Festivals, Holiday Events

Yes, I’m a few days early.  The holiday is on Monday.  The parade and festival is Saturday. 

Guinness is this year’s sponsor of the St. Patrick’s Parade and Family Festival in Balboa Park. Music, entertainment, food, carnival rides, a Celtic Village and everything Irish begins at 10:00 a.m.  The parade kicks off at 11:00.  The festivites are free and go to 5:00 p.m.

The special guest of this event?  Mayor Jerry Sanders.  I leave it to you to decide if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.

27
Feb

Go Fly a Kite

Author: HelenKay, Category: Beaches, Festivals

N0, really.  Saturday (March 1st) is the 59th Annual Ocean Beach Kite Festival.  I’m not making that up.  It really is the 59th one of these.  There’s a kite-making class, a parade, carnival rides, food and, yes, kite flying.  The “best kite” contest starts at 1:00 p.m.  The festivites start long before then.  The event goes from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Since Ocean Beach is a big place, so go to the OB Recreation Center at the corner of Santa Monica Avenue and Ebers Street to get started.

16
Feb

Bob Marley Day

Author: HelenKay, Category: Arts, Events & Happenings, Festivals, Holiday Events, Music

The event has been renamed.  It’s now called the Tribute To Reggae Legends Festival. The result is the same. Bands and muscians gather at the San Diego Sports Arena to celebrate and enjoy Reggae.

The event takes place on Monday (Feb. 18th - a Federal holiday) from 1:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Enjoy!

31
Jan

Black Film Festival

Author: HelenKay, Category: Events & Happenings, Festivals

Tonight is the opening night of the 5th Annual Black Film Festival.  From now through February 3rd (Sunday), you can see the best in independent black films.  There are also panel discussions, celebrity appearances, parties, receptions and numerous opportunities to meet industry professionals.  

All movie screenings will take place at Regal Untied Theatre at Horton Plaza.  The parties and receptions are at numerous locations, so be sure to check out the schedule on the website and go tot he right place at the right time.

18
Jan

Festival

Author: HelenKay, Category: Events & Happenings, Festivals

For those looking for something other than football this weekend - and I know you’re out there somewhere - you can try the 10th Annual San Diego Multicultural Festival.  There will be food, entertainment, educational displays and numerous ways to spend your money.  More specifically, the kids can listen to storytelling, watch performances and, courtesy of the Children’s Museum, do arts & crafts activities.  One of the most interesting opportunities is the Toy Rescue and Recycle where unused and broken toys are given new life. 

The Festival takes place and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Promenade (along Harbor Drive) this Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.