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East County News Service
February 8, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) - This week’s Destination East County includes some hikes in county and state parks to chase away those winter blues, a musical gold rush event at Agua Caliente, Valentine’s celebrations and more.
Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including All That Jazz--A Salute to Local Heroes, Black History Month events across East County, and the Run East County St. Patrick’s Day Half Marathon.
So scroll down for all of these events and many more!
LAKE MORENA HIKE AND SNAKE FEEDING FEB. 11
County Parks invites you to come for a hike at Lake Morena and stay for as snake feed this Saturday, February 11th from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
This recurring event starts with a short ranger-led nature hike that intersects with the Pacific Crest Trail, and ends with the feeding of snakes back at the ranger station.
Meet at the end of the nature trail at the entrance to Lake Morena County Park. In rainy weather, the hike will be cancelled but the snake feed will still take place. For details on this and other county park events, visit http://www.countynewscenter.com/events/ .
MUSICAL GOLD RUSH FEB. 11 AT AGUA CALIENTE
A “Musical Gold Rush” event will be held at Agua Caliente County Park in Anza-Borrego on February 11th from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Fiddler Celia Lawley will perform a fast-paced show as she sings, acts, and plays instruments for the enjoyment of all ages.
You’ll also learn about the gold rush and local stage coach routes through interpretive songs and stories. For details visit http://www.countynewscenter.com/events/ .
CUPID’S CAROUSE FEB. 11 IN LA MESA
The nonprofit Hearts for San Diego invites you to show some love by attending Cupid’s Carouse, an annual tasting party on Saturday, February 11th at 7 pm. at the La Mesa Community Center.
Wines, beers and spirits will be paired with Valentine favorite foods and tasty sweets. There will also be a silent auction and raffle. Hearts for San Diego has helped raise funds for other nonprofit organizations helping veterans, special needs children, animals and the environment. For tickets, visit www.HeartsforSD.org.
EASTBOUND’S PARTY FEB. 11 IN LAKESIDE
Eastbound Bar and Grill in Lakeside is celebrating its 7th birthday with a party on February 11th.
Special events start with a Pajama Brunch and continue throughout the day and evening with live music, charitable giving and the notorious annual Beer Belly Contest.
In honor of all of the love the community has shown the restaurant over the last seven years, Eastbound will be holding a community fundraiser from 6 to 9 p.m. where 25% of all sales during that time will go back to a Lakeside local who is recovering from a brain tumor. Afterwards, a DJ will play top hits until 1 a.m.
For details you can check eastboundbarandgrill.com/.
HAWAIIAN AND CELTIC GUITARIST IN LA MESA FEB. 11
Acoustic guitarist, singer and songwriter Jim Earp will perform Hawaiian and Celtic guitar music, as well as folk-rock songs at the San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room and Gallery in La Mesa on Saturday, February 11th from 7 to 10 p.m.
Wine and cheese are available for the performance in the winery’s cozy back room.
For details, you can go to SanPasqualWinery.com.
FREE GUIDED HIKE IN BORREGO’S PALM CANYON FEB.11- 12
How do you protect and preserve Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the largest state park in California – with its 600,000 acres of flora, fauna, hiking trails, free camping, archeological sites and much more?
That’s the job of the Anza-Borrego Foundation, celebrating its 50th anniversary this desert season.
To kick off its golden anniversary, is offering a (free) guided hike this Saturday and Sunday, February 11th and 12th for new visitors to the Park’s most popular hiking trail. Borrego Palm Canyon, or BPC, is a family-friendly, three-mile hike known for its oversized palm tree grove and bighorn sheep sightings, culminating in a palm oasis and waterfall.
Passes are limited to 100 vehicles and must be reserved in advance at the Anza Borrego Foundation’s website at www.theABF.org/BPCforFree.
The guided hikes will be offered several more times this year, and the next one will be on March 25th and 26th.
CUPIDS AND CANINES ADOPTIONS FEB. 12 AT GROSSMONT CENTER
If you’re looking for some puppy love, over 100 dogs and puppies from local recue groups will be at Grossmont Center looking for a loving home during the Cupids and Canines Pet Adoption event on February 12th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
You’re invited to meet, play with and learn about each dog—and if you find your perfect match, you can take your new furry friend home this Valentine’s Day weekend! Dozens of pet adoption groups will be onsite for this special event.
For more information, visit www.GrossmontCenter.com.
HIKE IN JULIAN’S HEISE PARK SUNDAY FEB. 12
This Sunday, February 12th you’re invited to join Ranger Dave at the County’s Heise Park in Julian for a one hour hike on the beautiful Fern Trail from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
This easy to moderate 1-mile hike culminates with the bubbling waters of Cedar Creek. Bring water, wear hiking shoes and dress in layers. Meet at the ranger station at 10:30 am. Rainy weather will cancel this event. For more information, visit http://www.countynewscenter.com/events/.
DANCE AND DINE, DEAR VALENTINE: ROUNDUP GRILL, SANTA YSABEL FEB. 14
The Roundup Grill in Santa Ysabel (26439 Highway 76) invites you to dance and dine with your valentine on February 14th.
Your feast by Chef John Little will be paired with wines from Ramona Ranch Winery, from bubbly to beef short ribs braised with Cabernet and chocolate, to a surprise desert.
Live fiddle music by Celia will combine jazz and blues, zydeco and Celtic music for dancing the night away with your sweetheart.
For tickets and details, visit www.RamonaRanch.com and click on “what’s the buzz.”
NOW FOR A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS…
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD: FEB. 17-26 IN SANTEE
Pickwick Players will present “To Kill a Mockingbird” February 17th through 26th at Off Broadway Live (9490 Cuyamaca St.) in Santee.
Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird is the timeless and timely story of attorney Atticus Finch and his in the summer of 1935 in Maycomb, Alabama while defending a black man accused of assaulting a white woman. This coming-of-age story of prejudice and violence, tolerance and community is as relevant today as it was when it was first published in 1960.
For tickets and details, visit www.PickwickPlayers.net.
LATIN MUSIC FEB. 18 AT SAN PASQUAL WINERY TASTING ROOM
Composer and guitarist Roben Delago will perform classical Spanish, Latin and popular guitar music on February 18th from 7 to 10 p.m. at the San Pasqual Winery tasting room in downtown La Mesa (8364 La Mesa Blvd.) Wines by the glass, cheese, crackers and desserts are available. For details visit www.SanPasqualWinery.com.
GARDENING WITH NATURE DISCUSSION FEB. 19 in LA MESA
“Gardening with nature—birds and butterflies and bats and bees” will be the topic discussed by gardening expert Connie Beck at the La Mesa Beautiful Annual Meeting on February 19 at 4 p.m. The event will be held in Nan Couts Cottage (5045 Memorial Drive) near the La Mesa Community Center. The event is open to the public and refreshments will be served.
Beck has been an organic gardening instructor and landscape designer for the past 30 years. She’s also been a Canyoneer and a nature interpreter for the Audubon Society and a volunteer with National Wildlife Federation creating backyard habitats for wildlife. Currently, she works with the California Native Plant Society. She has also previously hosted the “Ready, Set, Grow” segment on East County Magazine’s radio show.
Her talk will teach you how to choose beautiful native plants and make design choices to save water and create sustainable landscapes in your garden. To RSVP and get more information visit lamesabeautiful.org.
ALL THAT JAZZ: SALUTE TO LOCAL HEROES FEB. 22
You’re invited to don your Great Gatsby glam or cocktail attire for “All That Jazz,” the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce’s 9th annual Salute to Local Heroes. This year’s event will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 22 from 5-8 p.m. at the Town and Country Resort and Convention Center’s Golden Ballroom in Mission Valley.
The Chamber will award local heroes from the La Mesa Police Department, Fire Department, paramedics, and retired Police department volunteers. This evening will also serve to install the Chamber’s new Board of Directors and Officers.
The evening includes dinner plus prize drawings and a silent auction, while celebrating those who help make our community safe and meeting the Chamber’s new business leaders. For tickets you can visit www.LaMesaChamber.com.
MARLIN BRISCOE AT GROSSMONT COLLEGE FEB. 22
In honor of Black History Month, Marlin Briscoe, the first starting African-American quarterback in the NFL, will be speaking at Grossmont College on his greatest lesson in life: persistence. Briscoe played for the Denver Broncos and also became the runner-up for Rookie of the Year. The event will be held in Griffin Gate from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
For a complete list of all Black History Month Events at the Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College district, visit www.GCCCD.edu.
KARAMU BLACK HISTORY CELEBRATION FEB. 25 IN SPRING VALLEY
Karamu, a celebration of black history month, will be held February 25th from 1 to 3 p.m. at the county library in Spring Valley at 836 Kempton Street from 1 to 3 p.m. This event will include speakers, art, live entertainment, children’s activities and refreshments.
For details visit the San Diego County Library site at www.SDCL.org.
BIRTH OF A NATION FEB. 27 AT CUYAMACA COLLEGE
Black History Month also includes a showing of “The Birth of a Nation” at Cuyamaca College’s digital theatre (B-101) on Monday, February 27th from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
This film is based on the story of Nat Turner, who led a slave rebellion in Virginia in 1831. For a full a list of events at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges, visit http://www.gcccd.edu/news/
RUN EAST COUNTY: ST. PATRICK’S DAY MARATHON FEB. 5
This year’s Run East County St. Patrick’s Day Half Marathon will be held early, on Sunday, March 5th. Wear green if you join in this fun and festive event, which includes not only the half marathon but also a 5K Run/Walk, a Green Mile, and a Tribes and Clans competition to involve the whole family in fun and fitness.
The event is organized by the Run East County Foundation to raise funds benefitting several East County charities. To enter or volunteer, you can visit
http://www.stpatricksdayhalf.com/
That’s all for this week!
If you have an event you’d like added to our calendar, or if you would like to sponsor the Destination East County column on our website, or the Destination East County show on KNSJ radio, you can contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org. Destination East County is the most-read feature on our website.
We’ll be back next week with more festivals, events and attractions in San Diego’s East County!
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