Savor the flavors from more than 20 restaurants to suit your fancy at the College Area Taste on Sunday, April 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. 

To purchase tickets, visit   https://tix.extremetix.com/Online/?siteID=1526&cartID=edf319ce-ae52-424b-b4cb-0413e46ffdbd.

March 25, 2013 (Lemon Grove) – At the Lemon Grove Historical Society’s next "History Alive" lecture, Garry McClintock, the renowned saddle maker and CEO of McClintock Saddle Works, Descanso, and authority on cowboy history, will explain what makes a great saddle andwhy the cowboy was central to the story of the American West.  The event will be held on April 4 at 7 p.m. in the H. Lee House Cultural Center, 3205 Olive, Lemon Grove

See McClintock's gorgeous, hand-crafted saddles and hear why the life and times of the cowboy and his trusty horse became rooted in the American psyche.  From the gritty outback, to the open plains, to sprawling ranches, to the silver screen, the often harsh realities of the cowboy's world became the stuff of myth and legend, song and poetry. 

Celebrate The Big Read: Imagine a World without Books: Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451

March 12, 2013 (La Mesa)--La Mesa's San Pasqual Winery will be hosting an overview of Bradbury’s celebrated novel, and a dramatic reading of his poignant short story The Love Affair of Laurel and Hardy on Tuesday, April 2 at 6:00 p.m. in the San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room (8364 La Mesa Blvd).

By Caprice Harrison

March 20, 2013 (San Diego) – Come to the Kroc Center on Saturday, March 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and you will take part in a FREE community Easter Egg Hunt and festival.

The Kroc Community Church is hosting its tenth-annual, “EGG-stravaganza” at the Salvation Army Kroc Center, located at 6845 University Avenue, San Diego. This event offers local families a free, safe and fun place to celebrate the Easter holiday. Highlights include visits and pictures with the Easter Bunny, bounce houses, carnival games, arts and crafts, music and thrilling prizes.

March 26, 2013 (El Cajon) -- A one-act play exploring the human condition and a performance employing the magic of Mask Theatre and movement will be performed April 5 and 6 at Grossmont College, both as fundraisers for the theatre arts program.

Brian Rickel, Grossmont College theater arts instructor, will portray 14 different characters in, “Judevine: A Solo,” at 7:30 p.m. April 5, in a performance that contains adult themes and language. Originally written by David Budbill as a two and three-act play, “Judevine” uses a collection of vignettes and monologues to portray 24 different characters. Directed by Kari Hayter, Rickel’s adaptation draws from both versions of the play and a book of poetry, on which the play is based.

By Ariele Johannson

March 25, 2013 (San Diego)--Project Wildlife is planning for some new arrivals. Each year during nesting and birthing season, the center receives thousands of animals that are sick, injured, or orphaned. Project Wildlife staff and volunteers give these wildlife babies a second chance.

You are invited to view these adorable baby birds and mammals at the Fourth Annual Wildlife Baby Shower at their Central Triage Center in Linda Vista on April 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

March 30, 2013 (San Diego's East County) -- For nearly a century, Easter sunrise service has been an annual tradition atop Mt. Helix. 

This year's service will be held at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 31 and will be hosted by Christ Luthern Church of La Mesa. Free shuttle service will be provided starting at 5:30 a.m. from three locations:  the Brigantine Restaurant on Fuerte, the San Miguel Fire Station on Vivera, and the Grossmont Center parking lot near Walmart. 

New! Hear audio from event:

http://kiwi6.com/file/mah6z7oz99

http://kiwi6.com/file/l5v2ka192g

 

By Janis Mork

March 21, 2013 (Rancho San Diego)- This past Sunday was the first annual ‘East County Run’-also known as the ‘Hooleys to Hooleys Half Marathon.’ Over 1,000 people showed up and participated in the half marathon, 5K run/walk, and green mile for adults with developmental disabilities. Since it was St Patrick’s Day, many people came decked out in green from knee high green socks to green shamrock facial tattoos.

Champion Peruvian Paso horses also on display

March 17, 2013 (Ramona) --Winemakers at Hacienda de Las Rosas Winery are pulling out all the stops for the grand opening of their new wine tasting room at 18011 Bluegrass Road in Ramona. The event will be held March 23 and 24 from 12-5 p.m.



In addition to savoring wines, you can also tour this family- run winery and horse ranch – plus see special demonstrations by nationally acclaimed horse trainer Jorge Valenzuela and his champion Peruvian Paso horses.

There will also be a blessing of the mission-style winery by Father Fucci of San Diego Mission de Alcala on Saturday at noon. Plus guests can view creations by international artist Robert Kidd, enjoy barrel tasting of Swiss Chocolate Almond brandy and port, and more. 

By Miriam Raftery

View videos:   Soldier, sea captain, mountain man’s "Rendevous tale

March 16, 2013 (Vallecitos) -- A soldier, a sailor, and a mountain man—all bringing to life tales from the 1850 and '60s, shared their stories at Vallecitos Days.  The two-day event continues Sunday morning (ending at 2 p.m.)  at the Vallecitos Stage Station in the Anza-Borrego Desert .

 For details see http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/12586.  To get there, take I-8 east to S-2 at Ocotillo and continue north until you reach the Vallecitos Stage Station on your left.

As we arrived, a soldier in a Union Army uniform offers visitors bread cooked over a campfire. It resembles s’mores, baked long and narrow to fit on a soldier’s gunstock to be carried on the trail.  Another Army man launches into a story of how he wound up  at this outpost, while nearby, a woman in a hoopskirt shades herself with a parasol.

By Janis Mork

January 30, 2013 (El Cajon) Updated March 15, 2013- Last week, Troy McKinney, Fresh Fund coordinator from the International Rescue committee (IRC), participated in an exclusive interview with East County Magazine. He gave more details of the future farmers’ market that will be set up on the Prescott Promenade in downtown El Cajon each Thursday starting March 21.

Like the IRC’s farmer’s market started four years ago in City Heights, the El Cajon farmer’s market will help both local refugees and the broader community.

The 1875 Campo gunfight killed more people and lasted longer than the infamous shootout at the O.K. corral.  But few people have heard about this long-lost true tale from East County’s colorful past.   

But on March 23 at  3 p.m., “Campo: The Forgotten Gunfight” will be reenacted outside at the Golden Acorn Casino. The show is free and open to all ages.  Come learn how local marksmen and townspeople foiled bandits’ plans to rob the entire town.

Oasis in the Desert for Stagecoach Riders, Civil War Soldiers 

March 13, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Can’t live without your cell phone? What about your car? Imagine then riding a stagecoach out on the western frontier 150 years ago. While you can’t actually step back in time, you can get an idea of what life was like back then at Vallecito Days, a free weekend festival March 16 and 17 at Vallecito County Park.

March 12, 2013 (El Cajon) – The next San Diego Antique & Collectible show will be held on Wednesday, March 13, at the Ronald Reagan Community Center, located at 195 E. Douglas Avenue in El Cajon from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.  The show features local dealers with a wide variety of antiques and collectables for sale, all categories.

You can also bring in your own antiques and collectibles for appraisals.  First appraisal is free, thereafter “Thumbnail” appraisals available for $5.00 each. Admission and parking are free.

For more information, please call (619) 339-7026.