East County News Service

January 7, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes Hawk Watch in Ramona, the American Crown Circus in Otay Ranch, an Agatha Christie whodunit presented by Lamplighters Theatre in La Mesa, desert hikes and bike rides, bluegrass jams, garden classes and more.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including bluegrass music at the Alpine Library, Songs for the New World at the Encore! Theatre in Spring Valley and the rock band KISS live at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University.

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

East County News Service

December 19, 2018 (San Diego's East County) --This week’s Destination East County includes New Year’s Eve celebrations in Alpine, Lakeside and Jamul plus events coming up in January including a circus in Otay Ranch, classes at the Water Conservation Garden, live music and open mic nights at Wynola Pizza, ice skating at Viejas, desert hikes and a paleolithic conference in Borrego Springs, a star party at Mission Trails, and the musical “Songs for A New World” at the Encore Theatre in Spring Valley.

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

East County News Service

December 2, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- The holiday season in East County has many fun and festive events coming up, including the Alpine Parade of Lights and Snow Festival, La Mesa’s Holiday in the Village, Breakfast with Santa in Alpine, San Diego Festival Chorus & Orchestra’s Christmas concert, an Enchanted Village in Spring Valley, North Pole Limited train rides in Campo, outdoor ice skating at Viejas and more.

Plus, there are some non-holiday happenings this season including concerts by such stellar performers as Fleetwood Mac, LeAnn Rimes, Barry Manilow, Tony Orlando and the Kingston Trio, a radio production of It’s a Wonderful Life, and a comedy  appearance by Trevor Noah.

So scroll down for all of these events and more!

East County News Service

November 25, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- The holiday season in East County has many fun and festive events coming up, including North Pole Limited train rides in Campo, the Spirit of Christmas in Lakeside, Ramona’s tree lighting with sleigh rides, outdoor ice skating at Viejas, the Alpine Parade of Lights and Snow Festival, La Mesa’s Holiday in the Village, Breakfast with Santa in Alpine, San Diego Festival Chorus & Orchestra’s Christmas concert and more.

Plus, there are some non-holiday happenings this season including concerts by such stellar performers as Fleetwood Mac, LeAnn Rimes, Barry Manilow, Tony Orlando and the Kingston Trio, a radio production of It’s a Wonderful Life, a comedy appearance by Trevor Noah,and a swingin’ holiday party with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

So scroll down for all of these events and more!

East County News Service

November 12, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- The holiday season in East County has many fun and festive events coming up, including Santee’s holiday tree lighting, the Mother Goose Parade, Pomegranate Days at the Oasis Camel Dairy, a Julian Country Christmas, El Cajon’s Holiday Lights on Main Street, North Pole Limited train rides in Campo, the Spirit of Christmas in Lakeside, Ramona’s tree lighting with sleigh rides, outdoor ice skating at Viejas, the Alpine Parade of Lights and Snow Festival, La Mesa’s Holiday in the Village and more.

Plus, there are some non-holiday happenings this season including concerts by such stellar performers as LeAnn Rimes, Tony Orlando and the Kingston Trio, a radio production of It’s a Wonderful Life, and a swingin’ holiday party with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

So scroll down for all of these events and more!

By Buck Schott

November 5, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – On Election Eve, here are a few last-minute signs of the times:

Stealing or defacing campaign signs is illegal. But in Santee, someone has found a creative way to augment info for voters by adding their own message underneath Congressman Duncan Hunter’s signs (left).

By Buck Shott

Hot on the campaign trail in East County, we’ve got the latest claims, controversies, mud slinging and... singing!

Here’s our rundown of the juiciest campaign tidbits as Election Day draws near:

East County News Service

October 3, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the Ramona Air Fair, a fishing class at Lake Morena, Oktoberfest in El Cajon, Oma’s Pumpkin Patch, the Pumpkin Express in Campo, and a Haunted Amusement Park in Flinn Springs.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including spooky campouts at Lake Jennings in Lakeside and at Lions, Tigers and Bears in Alpine, the Laguna Mountain Rendezvous, the Borrego Days desert festival and parade, fair trade shopping in La Mesa, HauntFest on Main in El Cajon, and trick or treating at Viejas Outlets in Alpine.

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

By Miriam Raftery

September 21, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes Hank Williams Jr. in concert at Viejas, the Julian Country Fair, a star party at Mission Trails, a piano and guitar concert at a winery in Ramona, East County Dining Cub at Fourpenny House in La Mesa,and Siren’s Crush performing in downtown El Cajon.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including Oktoberfests in La Mesa and El Cajon, spooky campouts at Lake Jennings in Lakeside and Lions, Tigers and Bears in Alpine, a masquerade ball in el Cajon, the Pumpkin Express at the Campo railway depot, the Laguna Mountain Rendezvous, Borrego Days desert festival and parade, fair trade shopping in La Mesa, and HauntFest on Main in El Cajon.

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

By Liz Alper

Photo via Dailymotion

September 14, 2018 (San Diego) - If you love the Pitch Perfect series like me, you love Anna Kendrick.  But after three Pitch Perfect films, she’s ready to branch out and do other genres.  A Simple Favor is her first foray into a drama after making Pitch Perfect 3 last year.

By Miriam Raftery

September 4, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes live music in downtown El Cajon, the Sycuan Pow-wow, star parties at Mission Trails, and the Ramona Grape Stomp.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including raspberry picking at Julian Farm and Orchard, Hank Williams Jr. at Viejas, Gregory Page and Sky Ladd in concert at Schwaesdall Winery in Ramona, Julian Music Festival, Santa Ysabel Mission’s Bicentennial Celebration, Oktoberfest in La Mesa, Alley Cat Art Walk in El Cajon, a masquerade ball in El Cajon, spooky camping at Lake Jennings, our East County Dining Club at Fourpenny House in La Mesa, fair trade shopping in La Mesa, the Pumpkin Express haunted train ride, HauntFest on Main in El Cajon, and the Borrego Days desert festival.

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

East County News Service

August 29, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the Barona Powwow, Julian Grape Stomp, and Descanso Deep Pit Barbecue.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including the Sycuan Powwow, Ramona’s Grape Stomp, raspberry picking and farm tours at Julian Farm and Orchard, Hank Williams Jr. at Viejas, Gregory Page and Sky Ladd in concert at Schwaesdall Winery in Ramona, spooky camping at Lake Jennings, and our own East County Dining Club at Fourpenny House in La Mesa.

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

By Miriam Raftery

August 14, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes Three Dog Night in concert at Viejas, Watermelon Days at the Oasis Camel dairy, night fishing at Santee Lakes, the Mighty Untouchables in Santee, the Ramona Country Fair and our own East County Fest at Mission Trails,

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions for September including the Barona Powwow, Sycuan Powwow, Ramona Grape Stomp, and the Julian Music Festival.

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

By Miriam Raftery

August 2, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes a kayak tour at Lake Morena, a jazz concert at Mission Trails, Hall in Oates and Train in concert at SDSU, the Julian Natural Wonderfest, the HeART of Mt. Helix, and the Price is Right game show at Sycuan.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including our own East County Fest at Mission Trails, celebrating the 10^th anniversary of East County Magazine, as well as the Barona Powwow, Sycuan Powwow, Ramona Grape Stomp and the Julian Grape Stomp Festa,

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

By Greg Dunne

Recipes:  mango and papaya salsa with optional shrimp,  and tropical fruit salad with honey-line toss (photo, left)

July 26, 2018 (Alpine) -- The mango and papaya are tropical delights! The fragrant sweet juiciness when slicing into and eating a mango is like no other fruit! The “King of Fruits” is rightfully given that name. Fresh mangos sliced and chilled in the refrigerator are like a sugar rush when eating them – at least it’s not a refined sugar, but a natural sugar from the mango.