May 3, 2012 (El Cajon) – It's been two years since the East County Performing Arts Center went dark.  But on Monday, a group of concerned citizens seeking to "Save ECPAC" took a behind-the-scenes tour last week to determine the extent of repairs needed to reopen the cherished community landmark. 

Although challenges are steep, the good news is that the cost for critical repairs appears to be significantly less than the estimates  provided by the city for a more ambitious renovation.

May 2, 2012 (San Diego) -- The Allied Gardens SpringFest is May 11-12 at the Allied Gardens Recreation Center, 5155 Greenbrier Ave., San Diego.  The kick-off party begins at 5:00 p.m. on May 11 with a concert featuring Fusion Beat at 7:45 p.m.  Saturday’s events begin at 9:00 a.m. with a Pancake Breakfast, followed by the SpringFest Parade.

Festivities include a car show, vendor booths, including food and a beer garden.  Saturday’s performances will be by Pullman Standard and Rockola. Children’s activities include a carnival, pony rides, inflatables, a rock climbing wall and a dunk tank.

April 27, 2012 (El Cajon) – Chuck McPherson, of the San Diego Watercolor Society (SDWS), will be doing a live watercolor demonstration at the Cuyamaca College Spring Garden Festival on April 28.  Attendees can create their own watercolor painting and join SDWS Paint-out at 12:30 p.m. for a critique of the day’s paintings.

April 24, 2012 (La Mesa) – O’Dunn Fine Art is hosting an opening of Still Crazy: Flowers, Found Objects and Favorite Things on April 27 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the gallery located at 8325 La Mesa Boulevard, La Mesa.  The featured art work is a collection of still life paintings from 20th century to contemporary, European and American.

The still life tableau allows the painter to select objects of particular esthetic appeal or personal significance, and to control composition and lighting.The best still life paintings bring visual respite and shared human experience. Featured artists include Ray Vinella, Gregg Kreutz and Brenda Morrison, among others.

This is a hosted event.  For more information contact the gallery at 619-337-8342.

“Save KLSD” film showings April 28 and May 19

By Miriam Raftery

April 21, 2012 (San Diego) – How does media consolidation impact American democracy?   The producers of the new documentary film Save KLSD: Media Consolidation and Local Radio present a case study suggesting that politics, not ratings, forced the San Diego region’s only progressive talk radio station off the air.

Two screenings of the film will be followed by question and answer sessions with producers John Monday and Jennifer C. Douglas, as well as radio host/narrator Jon Elliott and Shaun Spaulding of New Media Rights. 

April 20, 2012 (San Diego) -- San Diego’s original fine art festival, Mission Federal ArtWalk is back for its 28th year. Featuring artists who live in the East County area as well as San Diego, the event will be held on Saturday and Sunday , April 28 and 29, when 17 blocks of Little Italy will be transformed for this free festival. ArtWalk offers a unique opportunity for members of the public to engage directly with over 350 artists who will be there to display their original works for exhibit and sale. The art on display will include a wide range of paintings, sculpture, mosaics, glasswork and photography.

April 16, 2012 (La Mesa) -- On the fourth Thursday of each month, the Space Bar Internet Café at 7454 University in La Mesa presents open mike night at 7:30 p.m.  The featured performer on April 26 will be Liz Huerta, a writer, who composes verse of truth and beauty interspersing moments of existential angst with human realizations.  Liz has lived in Barcelona, Mexico City and San Diego.

April 12, 2012 (El Cajon) –What role can the arts play in bettering El Cajon and its diverse population? 

San Diego Arts leaders including artists, journalists, writers, university professors, critics, and business people will discuss this question in a  panel mediated by Justin Hudnall, creator and leading operative of The Far East Movement. The event will take place Friday, April 13 from 5:30 to 8:30 at Studio C Contemporary, 140 East Main Street in El Cajon.

RSVP on Facebook.

April 7, 2012 (El Cajon) – “Bye Bye Birdie” will be performed by Christian High School’s award winning Drama Department on April 18, 19 and 21 at 389 N. Magnolia, El Cajon. The musical will take its audience on an entertaining trip back to the days of “Rock n Roll”.  The story centers on superstar Conrad Birdie prior to being drafted into the Army. Humorous complications ensue when his agent stages a good-bye kiss to the lucky Kim MacAfee on “The Ed Sullivan Show”. Kim’s steady, Hugo Peabody and her overbearing, but lovable father complicate the tale. Musical scores abound with “How Lovely To Be a Woman,” “The Telephone Hour,” “Put On A Happy Face,” “A Lot of Livin’ To Do,” “One Last Kiss,” and “Kids!”

March 30, 2012 (La Mesa) – The 13th Annual Spring Harp Fest will be held at Harry Griffen Park, 9550 Milden Street, La Mesa on April 7 from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Featured performers include Jon Gindick, Harmonica John with the Bayou Brothers and many more. 

The event is free to all and benefits the San Diego Blues in the Schools program.  The money raised will be used to provide harmonicas to the students involved in the BITS program.  For more information visit www.springharpfest.org.

March 17, 2012 (San Diego) – The Booth Brothers, a gospel trio, will perform at the College Avenue Baptist Church, 4747 College Avenue, San Diego at 5:00 p.m. on March 24. 

The Booth Brothers have been sharing their music since 1998. Their musical influences are from a wide range of performers-from the Eagles to the Gatlin Brothers to legendary gospel greats such as Bill Gaither and Mosie Lister.  They have received numerous awards including a Grammy nomination.