January 24, 2012 (Lakeside) -- What could be more beautiful than a mid-winter’s sunrise over an East County mountainside? 

Photographer Billy Ortiz shot these stunning images while hiking in Lakeside’s El Monte Valley, along El Capitan, over the Lunar New Year, marking an idyllic start to this Year of the Dragon.

January 13, 2012 (El Cajon) – Ring in the year of the dragon at Sycuan Casino in El Cajon on January 21, where a  Lunar New Year Concert will be held at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.  The two shows will include performances by  Thien Kim, Manh Quynh, Nguyen Hong Nhung, Tien Dung, Tam Doan, Hoai Tam, Viet Huong, Trina Bao Tran, and Pham Thai Tha.

January 28, 2011 (Escondido) -- After traveling around the world and attracting almost 5 million viisitors, the fabulous four-ton Jade Buddha for Universal Peace will be displayed outside the Escondido Center for Performing Arts Jan. 29-Feb. 6.  The exhibit is sponsored by the Phat Da Buddhist Temple of San Diego.

Throughout the Jade Buddha's nine day, there will be multiple daily events including musical performances, meditations, Dharma teachings, and special celebrations to ring in the Lunar New Year with Chinese lion dancing on Feb. 2-3.