August 1, 2011 (Lemon Grove) -- Ready for some hot August nights? There's still time to catch the last two free summer concerts of the season at Lemon Grove's Berry Park.  Videographer Jack Winemiller prepared a video report for ECM, including interviews with a teen queen, reminiscences of an event organizer, and of course, music!

July 23, 2011 (San Diego) -- The East County Youth Symphony will present a concert of Wolfgang Mozart symphonies No. 40 and 41 at San Diego State University (SDSU) on Saturday, July 23 at 7 p.m.

The program will be held at the Smith Recital Hall (SDSU campus) 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego.  Funds raised at this performance will be used to purchase music instruments for the Orchestra.

July 18, 2011 (La Mesa) – On the fourth Thursday of each month, the Space Bar Internet Café at 7454 University in La Mesa presents open mike night from 7:30 to 10 p.m with Jihmye Collins. On July 28, host Jim Moreno will welcome Jerrica Escoto and Succinct from the San Diego Slam Team. (see details below). The public is also invited to “come express yourself in public” through spoken word, poetry, song, comedy, and dance.

July 16, 2011 -- Mission Trails Regional Park will present an art display, "Midsummer Medley" July 16 through AUgust 12. The exhibition features seven award-winning artists: Stephanie Black, Larry Coleman, Pat Dispenziere, Jenny Ferrone, Carolyn Kenny, Terry Kvitky, and Kurt Lightfoot.

July 8, 2011 (Alpine) -- Come enjoy the performers at the Viejas Outlet Centers Live Music in the Park on Saturday and Sunday nights in July. The acts range from jazz to country, to flamenco and more. The list of performances is below; for more on acts performing, check our calendar. 

  July 7, 2011 (San Diego) -- Community Actors' Theater is seeking dancers, singers, and actors of all ethnicities for an original musical review, Vanilla, chocolate, and Caramel too #2.  Auditions dates and times are as follows:

July 4, 2011 (La Mesa) – O’Dunn Fine Art gallery is celebrating our nation’s 236th birthday all month long by showcasing collector-grade American-made pottery as well as paintings.

Besides savoring the fine art works displayed, guests can celebrate the gallery’s gift to buyers—no sales tax charged during July.

Story, photos and video by Miriam Raftery

June 30, 2011 (San Pasqual)--A talented troupe of Tanzanian acrobats is the newest attraction at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, performing Saturdays starting this weekend through late August.  

June 21, 2011 (San Diego) -- The paintings of Chuck McPherson, an East County resident,  are often among  the winners in exhibitions  he enters. Since 2008 he has won almost forty awards for his paintings.  In the San Diego Watercolor Society's 31 Annual International Exhibition, his watercolor painting, Cantos Cove, New England ,was juried into the show, and earned McPherson Signature Status.

By Dennis Moore 

June 20, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) -- East County resident Anat Tour, originally from Canada, is our community’s own Renaissance woman—a master of  mathematics, art, music, writing and much more.  By day, she is a mother of four and a math teacher at a local high school; by night, she is the lead singer for Possession, a local band. In between, she is a writer and illustrator of children’s books, as well as an animator.  She has also been an international model, which is easily discernible by her stage presence and how she carries herself.

June 17, 2011 (La Mesa)--What is your image of summer? Being on the water, a back country visit, ripe grapes in the sun? We all have nostalgic and joyful memories of summers past, and hopes for relaxation, recreation and friendship in the months ahead.

"Images of Summer" at O'Dunn Fine Art in La Mesa will present--in the vernacular of painting--sunny days of over twenty artists, in oils, watercolor, and pastels. Landscape, figurative, and abstract pieces evoke the season, each framed and ready to hang. Proprietor Shannon O'Dunn invites you to join her for the opening of "Images of Summer", and to celebrate the Summer Solstice with music and art on Wednesday June 22, from 5 pm to 8 pm.

June 15, 2011 (El Cajon) -- Art lovers are invited to stroll through "6 Galleries-1 Evening" in a "Downtown Gallery Walk" on June 17 from 5-8 p.m.  All six galleries are now located within a half-block in the heart of downtown El Cajon.  In addition to savoring art by local artists, visitors can also sip champagne and wine, enjoy hors d'oeuvre's and a passport full of prizes--followed by a free concert in the park.

Participating galleries include:

June 5, 2011 (El Cajon) – Thirty oil and acrylic paintings featuring wildlife from Africa, North America and Asia are on exhibit in a solo show by artist Gloria Chadwick during  June at the El Cajon Library.  Located at 201 East Douglas in El Cajon, the library is open seven days a week.

The artist has traveled to Africa and many national wildlife reserves to obtain painting resource material for her vivid and compelling works.

June 3, 2011 (El Cajon) --The concerts on the Prescott Promenade, located at 201 E. Main Street will be offered on Fridays through September 30th from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Enjoy great music with no admission charge! Concerts are presented by the El Cajon Community Development Corporation and the downtown business district, and sponsored by Sycuan Casino and Taylor Guitars.