By Jeremy Los

April 22, 2011 (Santa Ysabel) –Visit a pre-1840 North American fun trade encampment and see history come alive at the Manzinita High Mountain Rendezvous. The event also showcases frontier skills such as fire starting, tomahawk, and shooting with rifle, pistol, shotgun, smoothbore and primitive bow.

Guests savored fare served up by Chefs de Cuisine & S.D. County Vintners Associations;

Tough-to-build line was once called the “impossible railroad”

April 18, 2011 (Campo) – More than 400 fans of fine foods, winetasting and vintage trains turned out on April 2nd at the“Chef’s Fire Up the Iron Horse” celebration to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo. Guests learned the colorful lore of San Diego's own railway line, rode the rails--and savored some memorable wining and dining.

 

Chefs de Cuisuine carved up up a whole roast pig as well as other mouth-watering dishes served up at seafood, barbecue and dessert stations. Owners of local wineries poured a generous array of samples at the San Diego County Vintners Association table. Other sponsors included Ballast Point Brewery, Café Calabria, and Viejas.

April 17, 2011 (Fallbrook) – The avocado has been called California's “green gold” – an apt description for Fallbrook.  Over 70,000 visitors from a dozen states flocked to Fallbrook last year for the annual Avocado Festival, where the town's economy reaped $1.75 million in revenues.  Here's why.

April 15, 2011 (Jamul) – What’s hot in East County? Find out at tomrrow’s 3rd annual Jamul Hot Roddin’ Chili Cook-Off and Car Show.

The event, which benefits the Jamul Kiwanis Scholarship fund, will be held Saturday, April 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Simpson’s Nursery and vintage car museum, 13925 Campo Road off historic Highway 94 in Jamul.

Admission is free. A $1 donation is requested for each chili tasting, or $10 for 15 tastes. Guests can also enter the “CASH FOR BASH” competition to win a chance to beat up a beat-up car. Fun for everyone includes a petting zoo, entertainment, entry to the car museum, silent auction, and raffle.

April 15, 2011 (Rancho San Diego)--On Saturday, April 16, from 12 to 4:00 p.m., Heritage of the Americas Museum will host Craig Helm, certified appraiser, who specializes in Native American, pre-Columbian, antique pictures, guns, western memorabilia, and Asian artifacts.

By Miriam Raftery

April 26, 2011 (Escondido)--Frank and Georgi Greiner from Hacienda de los Gitanos ranch in Ramona showed off a prized gypsy horse inside a gypsy camp at Felicita Park in Escondido—all part of a week-long Renaissance Faire that ended Sunday.

The event, produced by Gold Coast Festivals, attracted a large crowd of merrymakers who mixed and mingled with re-enactors from the days of knights and chivalry, as Queen Elizabeth reigned over the festivities.

By John Rene Gardner
Photos by Veronica Lavarello

April 11, 2011 (Ramona)--A dusting of snow in many places over Ramona Friday night gave way to a bright sunny Saturday, fine weather for the fourth annual, Rotary-Kiwanas Music Fest in beautiful Dos Picos Park.

It was a perfect setting to enjoy a sampling of San Diego County’s finest musical talent featuring Cactus Twang &Whyte, Aja Alycean, The Gilbert Castellanos New Latin Quintet, Baja Blues Boys, Brandon Burrill, Emily Grace Rajcic, Jason Winters, the Filthy Violets, Sage, Grand Canyon Sundown, Ramona Town Hall Brass Band, Sherm the Band, RHS Royal Blues Jazz Band, as well as Henry and the Seacreatures.

April 8, 2011 (Flinn Springs) -Guests are invited to stroll through a towering fragrant sweet pea maze--and cut your own sweet pea bouquets during this event, while they last!  The event runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.—however ECM’s editor arrived too late last year to snip the fragrant blooms, so early arrival is recommended. Viewing time starts at 9 a.m. and cutting time begins at 11 a.m. at a cost of $3 per bouquet.

April 2, 2011 (Ramona) – This year, The Ramona Music Fest IV benefit concert will be 50 percent longer than in the past – a full six hours on April 9 from noon to 6 p.m. at Dos Picos County Park, 17953 Dos Picos Park Rd. in Ramona.

The nonprofit event, hosted by Ramona Kiwanis and Ramona Rotary clubs, will feature top local and San Diego-area performers plus emerging talent on two stages.

April 3, 2011 (San Diego) -- On April 9 and 10, hundreds of San Diegans are expected to convene at University Ave. and Fairmount in City Heights to attend workshops, share knowledge, and discuss the sustainability, accessibility, and health of our food system in San Diego and around the world.
 

By Jeremy Los

March 28, 2011- Plumeria blooms, the traditional Hawaiian lei flowers, conjure up the exotic mystique of the tropics. This weekend, several East County growers will showcase their sweet-scented blossoms at the Southern California Plumeria Society’s cutting sale.

Winemaker moves operations from San Marcos, opens tasting room in East County
 

By Miriam Raftery
 

March 24, 2011 (Julian) – Marc Hashagen isn’t your typical winemaker. A firm believer in giving things a go even when the odds seem long, he began making wines with a friend back in 2006 because “we love wine,” he recalled.

Born in Norway and raised in a small English farming town by his parents, both American teachers, he returned to the U.S. after they retired and headed west.  “We Googled winemaking in San Diego,” said Hashagen, who teamed up with a friend, Charlie Chabalko, now co-owner.

March 24, 2011 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa Village Merchants Association invites you to step back in time this Sunday, March 27 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the La Mesa Antique Street Faire.

Once a year, La Mesa Boulevard is closed and antique dealers from far and wide set out their wares. Reminiscent of an old fashioned Midwest flea market. The event also includes live music and entertainment. All restaurants, coffee houses and pubs in La Mesa’s century-old downtown village prepare special fare for the occasion.  Stores are open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the event.