September 24, 2012 (La Mesa) – Space Bar Internet Café hosts an Open Mic night on the fourth Thursday each month from 7:30-10 p.m. at 7454 University Avenue, La Mesa.

This week, poet Kate Harding, a three-time Pushcart Prize nominee, will join host Jim Moreno.  Her first collection of poetry, "Santa Monica Disposal and Salvage," has earned praise from Steve Kowit, Marge Piercy and Diane Wakoski. Writing under the pen name Penny Perry and as Kate Harding, her poems have appeared in numerous magazines, including Poetry International, Earth's Daughters, Spillway, and the San Diego Poetry Annual. Kate is the fiction editor for the new on-line Knot Journal. She was a fellow at the American Film Institute and her movie, "A Berkeley Christmas" aired on PBS. 

September 14, 2012 (Julian)--For the 43rd year, Julian celebrates the end of summer with music.  The Julian Music Festival will be held on September 15 from 12 noon to 9 p.m. This year brings a change in location to the Menghini Winery.

Originally this festival was a banjo fiddle competition, and more recently known as the Julian Bluegrass Festival.  Now in its 40th year, the Festival expands to offer not only bluegrass, but an Americana mix of Western ballads and classic folk music. This year, an evening dance under the stars from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. is also new--so bring your dancing shoes and plan to kick up your heels.

September 13, 2012 (Poway) -- Poway Center for the Performing Arts (POW!) Foundation is proud to announce the addition of Academy Award, Tony Award and Golden Globe nominee John C. Reilly to the cast for O Berkley Where Hart Thou?, to be staged at 8pm Saturday, September 22 at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts.

Reilly is best known for His offbeat character work in films like Step Brothers, Walk Hard, Talladega Nights, Magnolia, and Boogie Nights. For his role in the hit movie musical Chicago, Reilly was nominated for both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. He received a Tony nomination for his work in True West on Broadway with Philip Seymour Hoffman. Musical performance is nothing new to Reilly. He performed “Mr. Cellophane” on the soundtrack to Chicago, and wrote and performed music for the soundtrack to Walk Hard, for which he received a Grammy nomination. Reilly has recorded with Jack White. In addition to local hero Tom Brosseau, Reilly has performed with Willie Nelson, Band of Horses and Jamey Johnson.

September 7, 2012 (San Diego) -- The Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation will present "Sumi-e Journey," an art exhibit featuring Asian Brush paintings by Iris Lowe-Reiss and Joan Rasp. The exhibit will be on display in the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center Art Gallery from September 8 through 28, 2012.

The public is cordially invited to a reception for the artists on Sunday, September 16, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

View more information on the artists and examples of their work here. For directions to the park, visit www.mtrp.org.

September 2, 2012 (Alpine) – The Alpine Woman’s Club will be holding its monthly luncheon on September 18 at 12 p.m. at 2156 Alpine Blvd., Alpine.  The Rhinestone Grannies will perform a variety of songs and dances at the event.  Some of the members of the Rhinestone Grannies include past CCT Senior Follies cast members.

The luncheon is open to all East County women as well as past and future members.  Space is limited, so please make a reservation prior to September 15 by contacting Judy Grant at 619-445-1987 or alpinejude@yahoo.com.

September 2, 2012 (Ramona) – The Olde Ramona Hotel Gallery is gearing up for its 23^rd Annual Fine Art Show which will run through the month of October and is seeking entries.  There are four categories to enter: oil/acrylic, watercolor/watermedia, photography/computer art, and other (collage, pen & ink, pastels, sculpture, graphics, other media).

The entries are due September 27 through 29 fro 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the gallery, 845 Main St., Ramona.  There is a maximum of three entries per artist.  Artists may call 760-789-3682 for an application or visit www.olderamonahotelgallery.com.

August 19, 2012 (La Mesa) – Biz Center Art presents Inside Out, an art show with a 70’s vibe, on August 25 from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the La Mesa biz Center, 7317 El Cajon Blvd., La Mesa.  The event will feature 70’s music and 70’s art.  The show will run through October.

Dress up in 70’s themed attire and step back in time with art that speaks to the 70’s.  There will even be an entire wall devoted to black velvet paintings.

August 14, 2012 (La Mesa) – O’Dunn Fine Art is showing a select group of paintings from 20^th Century postwar America on August 17 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the gallery, 8325 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa.  The event features fresh-to-the-market pieces by modernist Gideon Sandelin and works by listed artists Ilya Bolotowsky, William Joseph Rakocy and Ray Vinella.  Sandelin’s son, Raul, will be on hand to talk about his father’s art and paintings.

Sandelin’s son, Raul, will be on hand to talk about his father’s art and paintings.
This hosted event is open to the public.  Visit www.odunnfineart.com for more information.

August 3, 2012 (El Cajon) – Rose & the Nightingale’s concert Spirit of the Garden will be held August 11, at 7 p.m. at the Water Conservation Garden Amphitheater,  12122 Cuyamaca College Dr. West, El Cajon.  Rose & the Nightingale is a New York City based quartet of world-class improvising vocalists and instrumentalists.  Spirit of the Garden blurs the boundaries of world music, folk and jazz improvisation for a unique sound.

August 3, 2012 (La Mesa) – San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room presents Saturday Night Sax on August 18 from 7 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at 8364 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa.  Enjoy the saxophone music of Aaron Valencia while sampling wine, cheese and crackers, and decadent desserts.  Admission is free.

For more information about San Pasqual Winery visit http://www.sanpasqualwinery.com/.