East County Magazine
WILD IN THE COUNTRY: MAY 9 AT LIONS, TIGERS & BEARS
Printer-friendly versionMay 3, 2009 (Alpine) –Looking for a truly wild night out? Dust off your boots for a hoedown with the Country Cats at Lions, Tigers & Bears, San Diego County’s only wild cat rescue facility. The event features a barbecue, visits with exotic big cats and other ranch animals, “Splash” performing artists, plus a silent and live auction hosted
ROCKOLA! BEATLES TRIBUTE BAND CONCERT OPENS SPRING FEST IN ALLIED GARDENS FRIDAY NIGHT
Printer-friendly versionAllied Gardens (April 29, 2009) – Spring Fest, one of East County’s favorite community parties kicks off Friday night, May 1st at 6 p.m. with a concert by Rockola. Bring your dancing shoes! Enjoy classic rock ‘n’ roll music as well as food, a beer garden, and more. Known for their Beatles tributes, Rockola has concert clips you can
GOOD BET: POKER FUNDRAISER & RIDE MAY 9; EVENT TO BENEFIT WARNER SPRINGS AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT
Printer-friendly versionApril 29, 2009 (Warner Springs)—Feeling lucky? Join a Poker Ride Fundraiser to benefit the Warner Springs Agriculture Department on May 9th. A $75 entry fee includes entry into a 7-card-stud poker tournament, tri-tip barbecue lunch at Lake Henshaw Resort, apple pie and ice cream from the Julian Café served up at Jess Martin Park in Julian, a $10 free
LIFE’S A CIRCUS: BIG TOP SHOW TONIGHT IN RANCHO SAN DIEGO, NEXT 2 DAYS IN POWAY
Printer-friendly versionApril 28, 2009(San Diego’s East County)—Elephants hoisted a big top tent to open the 73rd edition of Carson & Barnes Circus in Rancho San Diego/La Mesa, where the show goes on with a 4:30 matinee and a 7:30 evening show tonight. The circus brings nearly 100 performers and a traveling zoo to East County. Proceeds help benefit local hosts–including
CHALDEAN FOOD TASTING FESTIVAL & BUSINESS FAIR FRIDAY NIGHT
Printer-friendly versionApril 29, 2009 (El Cajon)—East County is home to one of the largest populations of Iraqi Chaldean Christians in the United States. On Friday night from 5 to 9 p.m., the public is invited to savor the authentic flavors of Chaldean cuisine including such favorites as falafels, kebabs, shawamma, hummus, tabbouleh, and more. The event, hosted by Knights of
“DREAM SCAPE” PAINTINGS AMONG ART ON DISPLAY AT ST. CLAIR GALLERY THROUGH MAY 29; ARTISTS’ RECEPTION MAY 19
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery "Morning Light" by Alex Toporovsky April 27, 2009 (El Cajon)—“In my work, I try to evoke a séance of peace and happiness,” artist Alex Toporovsky told East County Magazine. “These are usually things which are lacking in most people’s lives, including my own. We are all so busy running around and trying to make a living
SILVER CREEK FINE ART CELEBRATES 30 YEARS WITH $3,250 DRAWING
Printer-friendly versionApril 26, 2009 (El Cajon)–Silver Creek Fine Art & Custom Framing is offering more than $3,000 in prizes as part of its 30th Anniversary celebration, according to Lynn Endicott, owner of the art gallery and custom framing business serving East San Diego County since 1979. “We wanted to do something fun to mark our 30th year in business and
STUDENTS GO ALL OUT FOR FREE COYOTE MUSIC FESTIVAL , HOPE FOR A HOWLING SUCCESS
Printer-friendly versionApril 23, 2009 (El Cajon, CA) – The bands are ready to play. The stage is set up and the equipment is in place. Thousands of flyers and postcards have been distributed, and hundreds of posters have been put up San Diego City and in East County. For the students in Cuyamaca College’s Music Industry Studies program, the efforts
SPRINGTIME WITH THE VINTNERS: MEET 7 LOCAL WINEMAKERS APRIL 25 in ALPINE
Printer-friendly versionApril 22, 2009 (Alpine) – Here’s an appetizing event blossoming with opportunities: The Vine Wines Bar & Bistro has teamed up with Petunia & Pomegranate Nursery in Alpine to co-host Springtime with the Vintners. Savor an afternoon of wine, music, appetizers and art amid two picturesque venues this Saturday, April 25th, from 1 to 4 p.m.. Admission is $15.
GROSSMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT TO HOST 23RD ANNUAL STUDENT ART EXHIBITION OPENING RECEPTION AND AWARDS CEREMONY
Printer-friendly versionApril 22, 2009 (El Cajon)– In celebration of student achievement, the Grossmont Union High School District is hosting its 23rd annual Creative Visions student art exhibition at Westfield Shopingtown-Parkway Plaza. The event officially kicks off with an awards ceremony on Friday, May 1, 2009, at 5:30 pm. Students will receive cash awards for artwork judged in the following categories:
LIVE BUTTERFLY RELEASE, WILDLIFE EXHIBITS & MORE AT SAGE & SONGBIRDS FESTIVAL MAY 2-3 IN ALPINE
Printer-friendly versionApril 21, 2009 (Alpine)–The upcoming Sage & Songbirds Festival at Viejas Outlet Center, May 2-3, will be filled to capacity with vendors and exhibitors from throughout Southern California. In addition, prizes for this year’s opportunity drawings exceed the value of years past—including a grand prize of four tickets to Disneyland Park and Disney’s California Adventure Park. Also of interest
SAGE & SONGBIRDS GARDEN TOUR: RAPTOR REHAB FACILITY INCLUDED ON THIS YEAR’S TOUR MAY 1-3
Printer-friendly versionApril 20, 2009( Alpine)–Are you looking for ideas to “spruce up” your garden or yard? The Sage & Songbirds Garden Tour has a wealth of ideas for creating beautiful gardens that also provide wildlife-friendly habitat. The 12th annual event, set for May 1-3, spotlights five unique gardens, chock-full of plants, waterscapes, pathways, structures and other very interesting features. Lisa
RSVP NOW! ON THE ROAD WITH THE EAST COUNTY EATER APRIL 20
Printer-friendly versionWhat could be better than an evening of wine-tasting, fabulous food and the marvelous music of Paul Nichols–all to benefit East County Magazine? The Vine Wine Bar & Bistro in Alpine is the coziest retreat we’ve found yet, and they’re opening up just for us on Monday, April 20 from 6 to 8 pm. Reserve now – space is
ST CLAIR GALLERY SHOW DRAWS CROWD
Printer-friendly version Photographer Dan McGeorge poses with images of Arizona canyons April 15, 2009 (El Cajon) – A March 27 art show at the St. Clair gallery in El Cajon proved a success, drawing hundreds of visitors and resulting in sales for artists displaying their works. “I’ve always loved horses,” said San Diego artist Melva Riley, who adeptly captures the
SPRING GARDEN FESTIVAL’S “CONSERVATION IN BLOOM” HIGHLIGHTS WATER CONSERVATION, CULTURAL CONSERVATION, AND CUYAMACA COLLEGE’S BIGGEST PLANT SALE OF THE YEAR
Printer-friendly versionDrawing to win a High-Efficiency Clothes Washer or Home Landscape Re-design April 18, 2009 (RANCHO SAN DIEGO)—On Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m,, Cuyamaca College’s campus will bloom with activity as three of its on-campus venues—the Ornamental Horticulture Department, the Water Conservation Garden,and the Heritage of the Americas Museum—invite the public to celebrate spring at their sixteenth annual
SAN DIEGO EARTH WEEK FEATURES NEW EVENTS IN 2009
Printer-friendly versionGREEN JOBS FAIR AT SDSU AND A GREEN CITY LEADERSHIP FORUM ARE NEW THIS YEAR; EARTH FAIR KICKS OFF WEEK’S ECO-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES April 17, 2009 (San Diego)—Earth Day Week in San Diego kicks off with Earth Fair 2009 in Balboa Park on Sunday, drawing more than 70,000 visitors. Produced by 400 volunteers, EarthFair features more than 400 exhibitors, special
YEE-HA! LAKESIDE RODEO APRIL 24-26
Printer-friendly versionApril 15, 2009 (Lakeside) The 45th annual Lakeside Rodeo has gained national exposure over the last 44 years, from a small hometown event to being named the International Professional Rodeo Association Rodeo (IPRA) of the year FOUR times! Events include bull-riding, bareback bronc, steer wrestling, team riding, and more. The annual Lakeside Rodeo held every April is the largest
“STIMULUS CONCERT” HOSTED BY VALLEY MUSIC APRIL 19 IN EL CAJON
Printer-friendly versionApril 13, 2009 (El Cajon) – Valley Music invites the public to a “Stimulus Concert” on Sunday, April 19 at 3 p.m. at the Donwtown Café, 182 Main Street in El Cajon. The program features appearances by award-winning San Diego performers, including Eve Sells, Berkley Hart, Crosswinds, Ronny Corbin & Pirate Radio, Mark Neill & Rian Greene and the
TRADITION AND CONCEPT BRIDGED: ART EXHIBITION APRIL 13-30; ARTISTS RECEPTION APRIL 14 AT HYDE ART GALLERY
Printer-friendly versionApril 13, 2009 (El Cajon)–The Grossmont College Art Council presents “Traditon and Concept Bridged”, a ceramic exhibition by two very accomplished artists, Joanne Hayakawa and Kouta Shimazaki. “To term this exhibition a ceramics exhibition is to pare this collection of artwork down to it’s most minimal definition,” the gallery’s announcement states. “Even to use the title “Tradition and Concept
LOCAL ARTIST AND AUTHOR CHARLAVAN PUBLISHES BOOK FOR BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery April 1, 2009 (El Cajon)—The indomitable spirit of Charlavan Baker Hart shines like a beacon of hope in her new book, Tit Tatts: Life After Breast Cancer. The El Cajon artist has owned four galleries, authored the newspaper column “Pearls”, produced Internet radio programs, worked as an image consultant and reaped rewards as a professional poker
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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting — not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine’s local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
FESTIVALS OF THE MONTH – OCTOBER 2008
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery October 1, 2008 (East San Diego County) – Fall is prime time for festivals in East County. The tough part is choosing among so many fun-filled events. The air is crisp–and so are the ripe, juicy apples at Julian’s Apple Days October 4th and 5th. Savor apple cider and piping hot pies, or enjoy a horse-drawn
EXTRAORDINARY TIMES, EXTRAORDINARY ART
Printer-friendly versionBy Jolene Crowley October 1, 2008 (SAN DIEGO) – Three local artists, Theresa Vandenberg Donche of Mt. Helix, Encinitas resident Reed Cardwell, and Igor Kautsenko of Fallbrook, will be displaying their latest work collectively entitled “Extraordinary Times, Extraordinary Art!” at 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 25, at 3911 Harney Street in Old Town. East County resident Vandenberg Donche was born
7 BANDS HOLD CONCERT TO HELP FIRE VICTIMS OCT 4
Printer-friendly versionROC For Fire Relief Concert and Fire Expo Helps Neighbors, Celebrates Heroes Saturday, October 4th, 2008 12:00pm to 10:00pm Lakeside Rodeo Grounds, Lakeside www.rocsd.net Listen to music from the bands. October 1, 2008 (Lakeside) – “Relief is still needed in a serious way,” said Randy Seol of the band Strawberry Alarm Clock, a longtime San Diego resident who
HUNDREDS FLOCK TO JULIAN BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery September 21, 2008 (JULIAN) – “We’ve had at least 500 people here so far,” Dick Thilken, president of the Julian Lions Club said of the 38th annual Julian Bluegrass Festival on Sunday afternoon, September 21st. “Each day we’ve had six musical groups playing.” Besides officially scheduled acts, players from various areas joined in for some impromptu
FUN-FILLED FESTIVALS: SEPT. 12-30th
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Fall is in the air – the perfect time for an end-of-summer celebration or a visit to East County’s back country towns in the early days of autumn. Find details on these at many other events at our calendar, which covers all communities east of I-15. Julian Apple Days are here! Time to head up to
September Festivals
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Sept. 1, 2008 (East County)–We first planned to call this column Festival of the Month. But after discovering how many great events communities and groups are hosting in San Diego’s eastern region we changed the column name to tell you about as many fun-filled festivals as possible. Many are free, though some charge admission. Check out details
Celebrating 100 Years: Cleveland National Forest Centennial
Printer-friendly version Fiddlin’ Foresters, Living History Week Cap Festivities in Local Mountain Parks By Miriam Raftery A century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt signed a declaration to create the Cleveland National Forest–a 460,000 acre preserve that is home to golden eagles, mountain lions and other wildlife species. To celebrate the centennial, the U.S. Forest Service is hosting several free special events
Notes On Air – Tracy Lee Nelson
Printer-friendly version By Richard Noel Notes On Air is a monthly music column highlighting local artists, events, and other music-related news. In this month’s column, we talk with Tracy Lee Nelson, accomplished blues musician who is also tribal chairman of the La Jolla Indian Reservation in Pauma Valley. Nelson’s music places an emphasis on his heritage, bringing a Native American
Music Review – On an Island
Printer-friendly versionBreezin’ to the music of Charlie Imes By Libby Belle San Diego singer/songwriter Charlie Imes has captured the easy, breezy spirit of laid-back Southern California living on his new CD, On An Island. Imes and the Hodad Surf Club Band will perform at BonitaFest, a street festival in Bonita, on September 27th (see our calendar section for details). He
Artist Profile – The Unconventional Phebe Burnham
Printer-friendly versionBy Jackie Hanson “There’s a colorful character,” you might say to yourself upon seeing Phebe Burnham laughing and chatting at a local art event. If you guessed that she was one of the artists (or the artist, as is often the case) you’d be correct. Phebe Burnham is not only a source of local color, she is an acclaimed
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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting — not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine’s local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
East County Magazine

Tree Lighting Ceremony & Santa’s arrival at Parkway Plaza on November 21
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service November 11, 2025 (El Cajon) — Parkway Plaza will light up the night with its beloved Tree Lighting Ceremony and Santa’s Arrival to kick off the

Racing turkeys stampede at Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service November 9, 2025 (Ramona) – This is not a turkey trot. The Wild West Turkey Stampede returns November 15, 28, 29 and 30 at the
BalletCenter Studios bringing a twist on a holiday classic
Printer-friendly version“Clara & the Nutcracker Soldier” Comes to the Joan B. Kroc Theatre East County News Service Nov. 8, 2025 (San Diego) — A fresh take on the

Christmas with the wild animals at Lions Tigers & Bears
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Nov. 18, 2025 (Alpine) — Lions Tigers & Bears, San Diego County’s lone accredited animal sanctuary is getting ready for the winter holidays. The

Marinelli Brothers Circus brings big top shows to El Cajon Nov. 12 – Dec. 5
Printer-friendly version East County News Service November 6, 2025 (El Cajon) – A brand new circus is coming to San Diego’s East County. The Marinelli Brothers Circus brings its