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ArtWalk draws art lovers of all ages to Little Italy
Enjoy art? Next weekend, April 27-28, Little Italy is the place you’ll want to be. White tents and an array of booths are taking over 17 blocks of Little Italy for the 29th annual Mission Federal ArtWalk. More than 350 artists will exhibit and sell their work – and tens of thousands of art lovers will be buying. Admission is free – but festival goers will spend about $1 million during the event. Visitors will find a wide range of visual arts – from pottery to jewelry, sculpture to basketry, art glass to digital media, photography...
read moreCarlsbad Flower Fields are bloomin’ spectacular
Each spring, Carlsbad’s flower fields come alive with spectacular blooms – more than 50 acres of vibrant petal power. From early March through mid-May, visitors can get lost among vibrant rows of flowers on a gentle hillside overlooking the Pacific. Families can find their way through a sweet pea maze, ride an antique tractor ($5 for adults, $3 for kids 3-10) and stroll through a greenhouse to inspect more than 20 varieties of poinsettias. The season is short – and filled with special events. Enjoy everything from concerts to...
read moreFebruary is San Diego Museum Month
February is Museum Month in San Diego – and everybody gets a gift: half-price admission at 42 county museums and cultural attractions. You’ll need a pass available this month at Macy’s stores throughout the county; they’re free as long as supplies last. Pass holders get half-price admission for up to four guests per visit at most of San Diego’s top museums – everything from downtown’s New Children’s Museum to the USS Midway aircraft carrier to the historic Marston House. It’s a chance for the family to visit La...
read moreA Valentine farewell to Whaling Bar
The legendary Whaling Bar at La Jolla’s La Valencia will serve its last cocktail on Valentine’s Day. The venerable watering hole will be stripped of its dark, clubby maritime décor – to become part of an expanded Café La Rue. Construction crews will remove the wall that separates the bar from the existing restaurant. The new look will be lighter, in a French Art Deco style. The beloved Whaling Bar mural depicting a whale hunt, along with model ships and scrimshaw, will be stored until they’re eventually installed in a new hotel...
read moreRestaurant Week – Round 2
San Diego Restaurant Week ended Friday, Jan 18. Round 2 starts on Sunday. About 160 restaurants have agreed to an encore, which will run through Friday, Jan. 25. (There were 211 participating eateries during the first week.) The rules are the same: Enjoy a two-course lunch for $10, $15 or $20. Choose a three-course fixed-price dinner for $20, $30 or $40. Reservations are highly recommended. Among top-tier restaurants still in the game: 1500 Ocean at the Hotel Del, all of Brian Malarkey’s fabric restaurants, the Cohn restaurants, ...
read moreSan Diego Restaurant Week
Eager to try one of the new top-tier restaurants popping up all over our city – but aren’t so sure your post-holiday budget can take another hit? Your timing is perfect: San Diego Restaurant Week runs Sunday, Jan. 13, through Friday the 18th. It’s a great opportunity to try someplace new at a discounted price. More than 180 restaurants, including many award winners, are participating in this year’s event . Restaurants are offering two- or three-course fixed-price lunches for $10, $15, or $20 and/or three-course...
read moreAnthology supper club closes
Anthology, the intimate three-level, 300-seat supper club in Little Italy, has closed. After previously reporting that the club would close temporarily during January for refurbishing, Anthology owners have permanently shuttered the multimillion-dollar concert venue and dismissed all employees. Just weeks ago, club spokeswoman Casey Puki said there was no truth to speculation that Anthology had reached the end of the line. She was among staffers who say they were surprised by owners’ decision to shutter the business. Co-owner Howard...
read moreAnthology will close for refurbishing
Anthology, the intimate three-level, 300-seat supper club in Little Italy, will be dark throughout January for refurbishing. Anthology spokeswoman Casey Puki says there’s no truth to speculation that it may be the end of the line for Anthology. No shows are booked in the new year in case renovation takes longer than expected, she said. (The club pays artists a 50 percent deposit to confirm dates.) The 5-year-old India Street venue is known for its intimate setting and excellent acoustics for jazz, R&B and classic rock concerts. American...
read moreNew chef sizzles at Hotel Del’s 1500 Ocean
Chef Robert Hohmann, who trained with some of the world’s greatest chefs – from Jaques Pepin to Thomas Keller – is now at the helm of the Hotel Del’s signature restaurant. (His previous gig was Chef de Cuisine at Michael Chiarello’s Bottega Ristorante in the Napa Valley.) Hohmann traces his roots to Germany and Sicily; his first cooking teachers were family members from the old country. Those lessons, along with the tutelage of Master chefs, give him a unique take on SoCal farm-to-table cuisine. His dishes combine hearty...
read moreCelebrate December Nights at free Balboa Park festival
Balboa Park’s December Nights – the city’s annual holiday gift to the community – promises to be bigger and better than ever this year. The two-day celebration, the 35th annual, is set for Friday, Dec. 7, from 5 until 10pm, and Saturday, Dec. 8, from noon-10pm. It’s the city’s largest free festival, expected to draw at least 300,000 this year. December Nights is as close as San Diego gets to becoming a winter wonderland. Balboa Park is decked in twinkling lights and silvery garlands. Fanciful Christmas trees abound – and the...
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