August 26, 2010 (Alpine) – It’s comedy night at The Vine in Alpine on Friday, August 27 at 9 p.m. This month’s comedians include headliner Patrick DeGuire, as well as Graci Stumpf, Willy Wilson, and Josh Lawson—with a cover charge of just $7.

How do you top that act? On Saturday, August 28 from 4-7 p.m., the Vine is offering wine tasting—at just $10 for up to 10 tastes.

August 20, 2010 (San Diego) – The Salvation Army Kroc Center’s Verge Teen Theatre company will present Les Miserables School Edition, the first show for this teen-organized theatre company.

Revealing art exhibit Aug. 18-Sept. 26

August 13, 2010 (La Mesa) – O’Dunn Fine Art in La Mesa unveils “A Century of Naked Ladies”, kicking off the month-long exhibition with a special celebration August 18 from 5 to 9 p.m.
 

August 5, 2010 (Rancho San Diego) - “This has been a very big undertaking,” Valerie Harrison, president of the Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber of Commerce, said of the first-ever Summer Music & Culture Festival set for this Sunday, August 8 starting at 11 a.m. in the Water Conservation Garden. “The Chamber has been working on this for nearly a year."  

July 5, 2010 (El Cajon) – On Friday, July 9th, fans of art, music, wine and classic cars will be prowling the streets of downtown El Cajon for the 5th annual Alley Cat Summer Fest. The event, which many consider to be the “cat’s meow,” is presented by St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center to benefit Sophie’s Art Gallery, creating opportunities for artists with developmental disabilities.

July 5, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – C. Hook Theater will present Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat July 7-10. C. Hook Theater productions are held at the Performing Arts Center at The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Community Center, 6845 University Avenue in San Diego (one block west of 70th Street).

July 1, 2010 (Spring Valley) Young Actors Theater (YAT) will present Seussical, the Musical at the Encore Theater, 9620 Campo Road in Spring Valley, July 9-11 and July 16-18. Based on writings of Dr. Seuss, the production is suitable for audiences of all ages. The story centers around Horton the Elephant, who finds himself faced with a double challenge.

By Miriam Raftery

June 28, 2010 (La Mesa) – “This is a wonderful opportunity for art collectors,” Shannon O’Dunn, owner of O’Dunn Fine Art in La Mesa, told East County Magazine. On Wednesday from 5-8 p.m., the gallery will host a reception and opening of a month-long exhibition of masterworks by Stanislaus J. “Stan” Sowinski, who died in January at his Rancho Bernardo residence at age 82. 

His large-scale oil paintings and Byzantine-style icons grace the walls of many public buildings including city halls and a university, as well as corporate headquarters, restaurants, and prominent churches.

Videos showcase talents of Dykes and Kruger Brothers

June 22, 2010 (El Cajon) – A full house packed a benefit concert held at Cuyamaca College to support shop programs at local high schools—including a guitar-making course and a class in which students rebuilt a classic roadster car. World-famous musicians Doyle Dykes and his daughter, Haley performed, along with the famed Kruger Brothers.

Highlights included a performance by Dykes on a Taylor Guitar made from the last liberty tree in America, which was toppled by a storm. The trees served as gathering spots for patriots in the Revolutionary War era. Bob Taylor, owner of Taylor Guitar, salvaged seeds and has planted them across America. Dykes has since played sweet strains of patriotic tunes on a liberty guitar in USO shows for American troops overseas.

June 17, 2010 – Paul Nichols will perform his “solo acoustic extravaganza” complete with guitar, vocals, foot stomping and harmonicas on Friday, June 18th from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Gio Bistro & Wine Bar/Restaurant  in La Mesa Village.

Loyal readers of East County Magazine will recall this talented artist's performances at our “On the Road with the East County” party at The Vines in Alpine and our “Celebrate East County” event at Heritage of the Americas Museum.

June 20, 2010 (San Diego) – The All Saints’ Episcopal Church Choir will present a free classical/sacred choral concert today at 4 p.m. in the All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 625 Pennsylvania Avenue in San Diego. The event is dedicated to the memory of Harold G. Lutz, an East County choral conductor, composer and educator.

June 10, 2010 (Santee) – On June 12, Santee Lakes will come alive with the sounds of orchestral and jazz music. Young Artists Symphony (YAS) and the Santee-Lakeside Rotary are collaborating to present this special evening of music, dance, refreshments, wine and cuisine at the YAS Symphony at the Lakes.

May 25, 2010 (San Diego) -- The new San Diego County Library Acoustic Showcase offers a wonderful variety of some of San Diego's very best singer/songwriters, folk music performers and story tellers.

These concerts are FREE to the community and include locations in East County.  The following are upcoming concerts for June 2010.

Donations, supplies also needed to help children who survived quake

May 21, 2010 (Mt. Helix) – Dr. Carolle Jean-Murat gives a grim update on the plight in Haiti. “Only a few people have received tents, tarps, or food to sustain them. Many are presently dying of disease, malnutrition, or simply checking out mentally or dying with a broken heart.”