San Diego is My Home

20
Mar

Get Your Bonnets Ready

Author: HelenKay, Category: Events & Happenings, Holiday Events

Easter is on Sunday.  In addition to the obvious religious aspects, this means it’s bunny and candy time.  What a fabulous holiday…

Petco Park gets into the action by handing over the facility to children for a ”Park at the Park” event.  There’s a parade and the obligatory egg hunt.  For those who like something a little different, there’s even a hat-making workshop.

This annual event starts at 11:00 a.m, so hop on over (couldn’t resist, sorry).

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.

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!

13
Feb

Valentine’s Day

Author: HelenKay, Category: Holiday Events

What to do for the big (Hallmark) holiday?  Hmmmm.  You can go to an overpriced retaurant, pick an entree of a limited menu and then still get stuck buying a gift.  Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?  Well, there are other options….I’m not exactly sure what those are, but there must be some.  For instance, you can try a date movie like Fool’s Gold.  Yeah, don’t blame you for saying no to that one.  You can go see the San Diego Chamber Orchestra.  That would be different.  Or you could take advantage of the beautiful San Diego weather, pack a picnic, go the La Jolla and watch the water.

I’d go for the last one.

02
Feb

New Orleans Comes To Town

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

Just because we can’t celebrate a Chargers’ Super Bowl win this weekend - since they aren’t actually playing in the Super Bowl this year, just in case you missed that part  - doesn’t mean we can’t still celebrate.  As soon as you recover from your Super Bowl snack and beer related festivities on Sunday, get ready to party again.  It’s a different party with a different theme, but it’s still a party and that’s all that matters.  It’s the Annual Gaslamp Mardi Gras Party.

Strolling dancers, the Masquerade Parade, food, entertainment and Mardi Gras beads - how can you say no?

The party starts at 7:00 p.m. on February 5th (Tuesday) in Gaslamp. Check out the site for all of the details…and rest up.
  

28
Dec

New Year’s Planning

Author: HelenKay, Category: Food, Holiday Events, Restaurants, Social Life

The December gift-giving holidays are over.  You may be asking, “what’s next?”  Once you get over your December 25th the food-induced coma, the answer is:  New Year’s.  Yes, that’s right.  It’s time for a party-induced coma.  You have your choice of about 100 parties right here in San Diego.    In case you have not thought about it yet, here are just a few of the many club/destination possibilities:

There’s NYE: Massive at 4th & B, a party at The Prado, another at Bar West, a Grand Ole Party at the Belly Up and something called New Year’s Rocker Eve with Lee Rocker at Anthology.  And that’s only a few.  The bottom line is that you don’t have to hang at home unless you want to. There’s plenty going on all over the county. Plan early.

26
Dec

Those Christmas Trees

Author: HelenKay, Category: Environment, Holiday Events

It may be a little early to take the ornaments off the tree and get your family room back in order, but it’s never too early to start planning.  San Diego’s Christmas Tree Recycling Program offers you an easy way to dispose of the tree and all of those needles.  Starting today and continuing until January 23rd, residents can drop off their trees at one of 16 locations around the city.  Your only job is to remove everything, including the stand, and get it to one of these places.  Folks lucky enough to have curbside green-waste recycling can just add their tress to that pile.

For questions and a list of locations, go here. 

20
Dec

Holiday At Sea World

Author: HelenKay, Category: Events & Happenings, Holiday Events, Special Shows, Uncategorized

There are only a few days left to enjoy Sea World’s Holiday Celebration.  There are special shows only seen at this time of year.  The most interesting one being Shamu’s Holiday Night show featuring a live choir.  Sea World is decorated, there’s a light show and the sea lions perform a version of Night Before Christmas - and, no, that’s not a joke.   See:

For more information, go here.  And go fast because the holiday show ends December 31st.

11
Dec

Christmas Concerts

Author: HelenKay, Category: Events & Happenings, Holiday Events, Music, Special Shows

The Christmas season brings trees, food and parties. For many other folks, the holiday season would not be complete without seeing a performance of Handel’s Messiah.  If you’re one of those, or if you always wanted to see it, you have several opportunties to this weekend to enjoy this traditional holiday music.  The San Diego Chamber Orchestra will perform it on:

-Dec. 14th (Friday) at the Solana Beach Presbyterian Church in Solana Beach at 7:30 p.m.
-Dec. 15th (Saturday) at St. James By-the-Sea Church in La Jolla at 7:30 p.m.
-Dec. 16th (Sunday) at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido at 2:00 p.m.

If those do not work for you, the La Jolla Symphony & Chorus’ performance is Dec. 16th (Sunday) at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Carlsbad at 4:00 p.m.

06
Dec

Coronado Lights

Author: HelenKay, Category: Holiday Events, Special Shows

Ever wanted to take a peek inside some of those adorable houses in Coronado?  Now’s your chance. 

Coronado is hosting a Holiday Parade and Open House on Friday (Dec. 7th).  The evening starts with Santa pulling up to the Ferry Landing Marketplace at about 4:20 p.m.  But there’s more.  The stores are staying open late, a parade starts at 6:00 p.m. and the tree lighting ceremony begins at 7:00 p.m.  The evening ends with fireworks around 8:30 p.m.

If you haven’t been to Coronado in a few months or you stay away most of the year due to tourists, this might be a good time to check it out.