San Diego River Park Foundation announces a series of events to raise funds for establishing trails, parks, gardens and visitor centers along the 52-mile-long San Diego River. The events include San Diego Days, San Diego RiverFest, and a Healthy River Run.

San Diego River Days May 7-8 and 14-15 offer community events along the 52-mile San Diego River from the mountains near Julian to Ocean Beach’s Dog Beach. Activities include bike rides, cleanups, mountain hikes, planting along the river, educational venues, along with nature and history walks. At the conclusion of River Days on May 15, the San Diego River Park Foundation and more than 50 organizations of the San Diego River Coalition join together with families from throughout the county for RiverFest.

May 4, 2011 (El Cajon)--Concerts on the Green, downtown El Cajon’s free weekly Friday night summer music series, opens this Friday, May 6, 2011. Chosen one of San Diego Magazine’s Top 10 outdoor music venues, Concerts on the Green at Prescott Promenade Park feature musicians performing from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Opening night of 2011 features San Diego’s favorites - the Mar Dels – to rock your socks off.

Thanks to all who made our SummerFest a sizzling success!

Over 300 community members who attended, dozens of sponsors, a legion of loyal volunteers, the talented Chefs de Cuisine,  Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation for hosting our event at their beautiful facility, and our VIP guests including two members of Congress.

All proceeds benefit East County Magazine's nonprofit community news reporting and wildfire/emergency alerts to keep our reader safe and informed.

Thanks to our generous sponsors:

Chefs de Cuisine, Mission Trails, East County Magazine, Holiday Inn on the Bay, Julian Meadows Inn, Sycuan Resort, Golden Artistry, Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, Main Street 5 Gallery, Sportsplex, Heritage of the Americas Museum, Crunch Fitness, Lemon Grove Historical Society, Gio Bistro Wine Bar, Golden Artistry, Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber of Commerce, Elephant & Castle, Nights of the Sound Table, Lions, Tigers & Bears, Dube Vineyards, San Pasqual Winery, Gloriosa Vineyards, La Serenissima Vineyards, Mangio Bene, Sea World, San Miguel Fire, John Hammerstand flight instructor, Olaf Wieghorst Gallery, artists Gloria Chadwick, Abigail Migala, and Denise Strahm.

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.