DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP FESTIVALS AND EVENTS JAN. 7-FEB. 11

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East County News Service

January 4, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes an artists’ reception, a family fun fest, train rides, a walk up Mount Helix, a Lore of the Kumeyaay class, and an international music and arts festival.

Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including theatrical performances, a writers’ conference, a Hawaiian and Celtic guitarist and song writer, outdoor ice skating, an author’s book signing, and a Native American powwow at Cuyamaca College.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

ARTIST RECEPTION JAN. 7 AT THE WIEGHORST MUSEUM

The Wieghorst Museum in El Cajon invites you to an opening night artists’ reception for a new art exhibit titled “Salmagundians and their Friends” this Saturday, January 7th from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

The exhibit features local Plein Air artists who paint subjects outdoors using natural lighting.  The exhibit will run from January 9th through February 14th.  For more information, visit www.WieghorstMuseum.org.

FAMILY FUN FEST JAN. 7 AT KROC CENTER

You can bring the whole family to a (free) family fun fest at Kroc Center on January 7th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Activities include arts and crafts, an inflatable fun park, sports challenges, giveaways and more.  Kroc Center is located at 6845 University Avenue in San Diego, just one block east of La Mesa.  For more information, you can visit http://www.sd.kroccenter.org/.

TRAIN RIDES IN CAMPO RESUME JAN. 7

The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo reopens January 7th after its holiday season hiatus. In addition to viewing vintage railroad cars, you can ride the rails on a one-hour Golden State Excursion departing at 11 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday in January. For details visit the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum website at www.PSRM.org.

INTERNATIONAL MUSIC & ART FESTIVAL JAN. 7 IN POWAY

An International Music, Dance & Art Festival sponsored by the San Diego Chinese Art & Cultural Society will be presented on Saturday, January 7th at 7 p.m. on the Poway Performing Arts Center. The festival will not only promote the awareness of Chinese art and culture but also embrace and promote other cultures.   Scholarships will also be awarded to winners of the Youth Art Competition.  For tickets and details visit www.PowayCenter.com.

WALK UP MT. HELIX JAN. 7

You’re invited to start the New Year off on the right foot by joining the Grossmont Mt. Helix Improvement Association’s Walk Up Mt. Helix on Saturday, January 7th at 10:00 am.

Walkers will gather at the Fire Station on Vivera and stroll to the summit. At the amphitheater, enjoy live music by Jan McBride Jazz, tasty refreshments, and the beauty of this unique community.

This (free) event is open to everyone in the community to join old friends, meet new neighbors, and relish a beautiful morning in the Park. Children and dogs are welcome to participate.

LORE OF THE KUMEYAAY CLASS JAN. 7 AT THE GARDEN

The Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College invites you to participate in "Lore of the Kumeyaay,” a class offered on Saturday, January 7th from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Native Americans have inhabited San Diego County for a least 10,000 years! Come find out how they lived, their history, spirituality, and daily lifestyle with Jan Tubiolo, long-time student of Kumeyaay culture. Students will see tools and other items important to their lives and take a tour of the Habitat Garden. To enroll or learn more, you can visit www.thegarden.org.

TRIVIA NIGHTS EACH THURSDAY IN LA MESA

Sunset Trivia will host trivia nights each Thursday in January from 6 to 8 p.m. at Wine Works in La Mesa (8167 Center Street).  Their motto is “Think, drink and win,” with wine related prizes up for grabs. For details visit www.LaMesaWineWorks.com.

NOW FOR A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS…

BEN VEREEN ON STAGE IN POWAY JAN. 12

Tony Award-winning Broadway icon Ben Vereen brings his show, Steppin’ Out Live with Ben Vereen. to the Power Center for the Performing Arts on January 12 at 7:30 p.m.

The program is a unique blend of artistry, combining a tribute to Broadway, Frank Sinatra, and a very special tribute to Sammy Davis Jr. This show includes Vereen’s three-piece ensemble and the Ben Vereen Youth Orchestra. For tickets and details, you can visit www.PowayCenter.com.

CASABLANCA FILM AT ALPINE LIBRARY JAN. 17

A showing of the classic film “Casablanca” will take place at the Alpine Library (1752 Alpine Blvd.) on Tuesday, January 17th at 12:30 p.m. and again at 5:30 p.m.  You can watch the movie starring Ingrid Berman and Humphrey Bogart on the big screen, followed by a film discussion as part of the ALFA film classic series.

WHAT THE BUTLER SAW: JAN. 20-FEB. 19 IN LA MESA

Lamplighters Theatre in La Mesa will present “What the Butler Saw,” a classic British farce opening January 20th and running through Feb. 19th

When a psychiatrist tries to seduce an aspiring secretary, his botched efforts lead to comic bedlam involving his insatiable wife, a randy bellhop, a befuddled police officer and Sir Winston Churchill. For tickets and details you can visit www.LamplightersLaMesa.com.

SDSU WRITERS CONFERENCE JAN. 20-22

Each year, over 300 aspiring writers from around the world attend the San Diego State University Writers’ Conference. This year, the conference will be held January 20th through 22nd at the San Diego Marriott in Mission Valley.  The conference was the first to pioneer one-on-one appointments for writers with editors, agents and other top-tier publishing professionals, who can provide direct feedback on your writing.

This year’s keynote speakers include R.L. Stine, one of the best-selling children’s authors in history; J.A. Jance, a top-10 New York Times best-selling author, Jonathan Maberry, five-time winner of the Bram Stoker award, and Sherrilyn Kenyon, international and New York Times number one best-selling author of fantasy, horror and more.

For information on fees and registration for the 33rd annual SDSU Writers Conference, visit NeverStopLearning.net/writers.

AUTHOR ROGER CONLEE IN ALPINE JAN. 21

You can meet author Roger Conlee at the Alpine Library (1752 Alpine Blvd.) on Saturday January 21 at 1 0 a.m.  He has written seven fact-based historical novels, including several that have won awards. The latest is Deep Water, set in the early days of the Cold War and the red-baiting hysteria of the McCarthyism era.

CABARET NIGHTS JAN. 27-28 IN SPRING VALLEY

Young Actors Theater will host cabaret nights on Friday and Saturday, January 27th and 28th at the YAT theater in Spring Valley.  The cabaret nights showcase talented YAT members performing musical, dance and acting performances to benefit the theatrical group.  For tickets ($10) and details you can visit  www.YATSanDiego.org.

ICE SKATING AT VIEJAS NOW THROUGH JAN. 29

The largest outdoor ice skating rink in Southern California is open at Viejas from now through the holiday season, until January 29th.  Under the glow of holiday lights, guests and visitors can glide around the rink or enjoy seasonal goodies. Feel the cool Pacific mountain air on your face while you bunny hop, camel spin, and swizzle your way around our ice rink—right here in San Diego.  For details, you can visit www.Viejas.com.

CUYAMACA COLLEGE POW WOW FEB. 4

The Native American Student Alliance at Cuyamaca College will host its 3rd Annual Powwow on Saturday, February 4th from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. in front of the Communication Arts complex (Building B).

The powwow aims to promote Native American heritage, with activities, including Bird Singing, a native singing style of the Kumeyaay people honoring the culture and traditions of the local tribes of this region.

Cuyamaca is an adaptation of a Kumeyaay phrase, “Ekwiiyemak,” which writers have translated to mean “behind the clouds,” “above rain,” and “the place where the rain comes from heavens.”  No matter the translation, Cuyamaca College's ties to the Native American community and culture are strong, with its location on once indigenous land and its close proximity to many reservations.

The powwow will also include arts and craft vendors, food vendors, drums, native dances and more. Admission and parking will be free.

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 or to get a full February schedule of events at this venue, you can visit www.SanPasqualWinery.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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