April 28, 2011 (La Mesa) – At All Things Bright and British, a La Mesa shop specializing in British goods from scones to fine china, new owner Bill Jaynes invites the public to a week-long “Changing of the Guard” celebration. Festivities begin on Friday, April 29—just in time for the royal wedding of Prince William of Wales and his bride, Catherine Middleton.

“Watch the royal wedding with us—and bring a chair,” said Jaynes, who has taken command of the business from his parents, making this a double celebration. A piper band will perform Friday morning, followed by an Elton John tribute band from 2-6 p.m. Traditional English food, prizes and free gifts are all part of the fanfare.

April 28, 2011(El Cajon) -- The theme next week for the Cajon Classic Cruise is Cinco de Mayo.  Featured cars from Latino car clubs and collectors will be on display in addition to the classic souped up, and dressed out cars always on display. To see the Cajon Classic Cruise schedule, and other information see: Cajon Classic Cruise information

Mariachis will be performing, and the downtown merchants will be serving Cinco de Mayo food and drink specials May 4 (a day before cinco de Mayo) from 5-9 p.m. Car Show Ambassador, Steve Lordigyan, a car collector himself, says "This night is always fun because we often see cars we rarely see throughout the season."

April 27, 2011-- (Alpine) Lions, Tigers, and Bears is hosting a "Mother's Day Brunch" on Saturday, May 7, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at its facility just east of Alpine.

April 26, 2011 (Alpine) --“Mission Honored: A Dream Achieved” is the theme on May 30, 2011, when the Veterans Wall of Honor Committee hosts a community celebration to dedicate a wall of honor for local veterans.

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.