East County Dining Club invites you to join us at:

SWAMI’S CAFÉ

8284 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa

Friday, April 27 at 6 p.m.

Swami’s Cafe has high ratings from Zagat, Trip Advisor and Yelp. Their dinner menu has an amazingly diverse menu of delicious dishes with fresh ingredients, healthy options plus heartier fare and exotic choices. There’s something for all, and dinners are affordable! (Most entrees are under $20 including seafood, chicken, steak, burgers, pasta, salads, vegetarian options and more.) Plus we have a great array of prizes lined up.

For this event, you can order anything off the menu, but please RSVP to reserve space. You will be entered into an earlybird drawing for a Swami’s gift certificate if you RSVP by April 21.  Come meet your neighors and the media, and enjoy some of the best food in town!

 RSVP NOW TO RESERVE SPACE: 619-698-7617 or editor@eastcountymagazine.org

View menus: http://swamiscafe.com/menu/la-mesa/. 

Read our review:  http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/east-county-eaters-swarming-swamis-la-....   Scroll down for delicious details!

By Miriam Raftery

April 11, 2018 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – You’re invited to celebrate Earth Day at the Desert View Tower in Jacumba Hot springs on Saturday, April 21^st from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

You can participate in a land blessing and Native American drumming with Grammy award-nominated Chief Windwalker, plus enjoy a native plant sale, coil-pottery and basketry demonstrations, face painting, tie-dye clothing, desert hikes, In-Ko-Pah yoga in nature, Reiki energy healing, intuitive tarot and spiritual counseling, palmistry, essential oils, crystals, herbs, jewelry, geodes, books, gifts, a nature photography contest, and organic gardening.

By Miriam Raftery

April 7, 2018 (Alpine) – You’re invited to savor fine wines from over 40 wineries and taste specialty foods from local restaurants at Vintage Alpine, a wine experience in the country.  The event takes place on Sunday, May 6 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Summers Past Farms (15602 Olde Highway 80 in Flinn Springs)—all to benefit the children of Sna Diego County.

Source: Cuyamaca College

Photo: The Ornamental Horticulture nursery at the 2017 Spring Garden and Butterfly Festival.

April 6, 2018 (Rancho San Diego) -- Up to 5,000 visitors will converge on the Cuyamaca College campus when the annual Spring Garden and Butterfly Festival returns for its 25^th year on Saturday, April 28, as the college, The Water Conservation Garden and the Heritage of the Americas Museum present an array of family-friendly events featuring plant sales, craft vendors, wine tasting and more.

By Miriam Raftery

April 2, 2018  (San Diego's East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the Julian Gold Rush Days, open farm day at the Oasis Camel Dairy, a Martin Luther King remembrance in Lemon Grove, the Peg Leg Smith Liar’s Contest in Borrego Springs, Meet the Winemaker Weekend in Ramona, and a Lilac Festival in Wynola.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including a dance production of the Constitution,  a Warbirds Expo at Gillespie Field, the Jamul Hotrod and Chili Cookoff, Cajon Classic Cruises, Heritage of the Americas Museum’s anniversary party, a meteor watching night at Oakoasis Park, a hike for you and your dogs at the Santa Ysabel East Preserve, a  crafts fair in Flinn Springs, a Spring Garden and Butterfly Festival, a Spring concert by San Diego Festival Chorus and Orchestra, and medieval music at Mission Trails Regional Park.

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

East County News Service

January 30, 2018 (Alpine) - Lions Tigers & Bears, San Diego's only accredited big cat and exotic animal rescue, will host its annual springtime fundraiser, “Wild in the Country” on Saturday, May 19 from 3 to 7 p.m. This year's theme is Rock 'n' Roar.

By Miriam Raftery

March 27, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes Spring Harp Fest in La Mesa, a comedy film night in Spring Valley, Hawk Talk at Mission Trails, a Lilac Festival in Santa Ysabel, and jazz great Chuck McPherson at Cuyamaca College.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including an event honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., the Peg Leg Smith Liar’s Contest, Meet the Winemakers Weekend, a dance presentation of the Constitution, Sweet Pea Days at Summers Past Farms, Cajon Classic Cruises season opener, Heritage of the Americas Museum’s anniversary celebration, an antique and crafts fair, and the San Diego Festival Chorus and Orchestra’s spring concert.

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

East County News Service

March 25, 2018 (Lakeside) -- Spring is here! The flowers are blooming, the trees are beginning to sprout new leaves, and the birds have begun to sing. TheLakeside River Park is offering a series of educational classes and workshops, most of which are free. Here are some upcoming opportunities, and you can find even more at the River Park’s website.

East County News Service

March 21, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes a lilac festival in Santa Ysabel, a water-wise garden tour, Spring Eggstravaganza at Santee Lakes, a Bunny Train ride in Campo, and a Plein Air art show in Borrego Springs.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including Harp Fest, Laurel and Hardy comedy night, a remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr. in Lemon Grove on the 50^th anniversary of the civil rights leader’s death, the Peg Leg Smith Liar’s Contest, meet the winemaker weekend, Sweet Pea Days, Cajon Classic Cruises, Heritage of the America’s 25^th anniversary celebration, an arts and crafts fair, and the San Diego Festival Chorus and Orchestra’s spring concert.

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

By Miriam Raftery

March 11, 2018 (Borrego Springs) – The Peg Leg Smith Liar’s Contest dates back more than a century, inviting the public to come spin your best treasure hunting tale.  Always held on the first Saturday in April, this year’s event will be held April 7 starting at 7 p.m.  The event has a new location in 2018 at the American Legion Hall, 4515 Borrego Springs Road in Borrego Springs, where you can get a chuckwagon dinner if you’re so inclined.

East County News Service

March 9, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- The Water Conservation Garden invites the public to its third annual Water-Wise Home Garden Tour.  The tour on March 24 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. will highlight five beautiful gardens utilizing an array of color, variety, and low water use plants, shrubs and trees.  The gardens emphasize plants from semi-arid regions of the world including Australia, New Zealand, Southwestern U.S. and South Africa.

By Miriam Raftery

March 6, 2018 (La Mesa) – You’re invited to join the La Mesa Conversations leadership and your neighbors to discuss upcoming events including panels on healthcare, homeless and education—and hear your ideas.

Enjoy no-host cocktail or food and stimulating conversations at this event on Sunday, March 11 from 3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. at Hooley's Irish Pub and Grill, 5500 Grossmont Center Dr #247 (near Macy's and Chuze Fitness), La Mesa in the Guinness Room.

East County News Service

March 5, 2018 (San Diego) -- On March 24th, San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program's 29th Women and Families Resource Fair will provide free legal, medical, and social services to women and families in need - on one day, under one roof.  The Fair is an annual one-day event which will be held at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation, located at 404 Euclid Ave., San Diego, CA 92114, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Free refreshments will be provided.  The purpose of the Fair is to provide women and families with free access to a wide range of essential services.

By Miriam Raftery

February 22, 2018 (Ramona) – You’re invited to meet artists, art teachers, furniture artisans and celebrate the life of the late, great artist Helen Petre  on Friday, March 2 from 6-8 p.m. at the 2Create Gallery, 438 Main Street in Ramona.  The event is the first of a series of “First Friday” art events that the gallery plans to host, each featuring art, music and refreshments.

Helen Petre was a colorful and acclaimed artist who lived in Julian and continued creating works of art well into her nineties. Known for her stylish hats and fashionable clothing that she designed herself, during her long and productive life she became a prolific artist excelling in collage, monoprinting, mixed media and bookarts. 

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

February 21, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) --This week’s Destination East County includes Seussical, the Musical in Spring Valley’s Encore Theatre, Hawk Watch in Ramona, the Boots Ball in Borrego Springs, Gregory Page at Mission Trails, and the St. Patrick’s Day Half Marathon in El Cajon.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions, including a First Fridays art show at 2Create Gallery in Ramona, the Laguna Mountain Rendezvous, Circle of Art in Borrego Springs, Tomatomania at the Garden, the Alaskan String Band at Kroc Center, the Bunny Train at the Campo Depot, Spring Extravaganza at Santee Lakes, Spring Harp Fest in La Mesa and a night of Laurel and Hardy comedy films in Spring Valley, all in March.

April’s events include Julian Gold Rush Days, Julian Family Fiddle Camp, Sweet Pea Days and an antique show at Summers Past Farms in Flinn Springs, Heritage of the Americas Museum’s 25^th anniversary party, the season opening of Cajon Classic Cruises in El Cajon, and Musical Journeys, a spring concert presented by the San Diego Festival and Chorus.

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