Friday Five (What's going on this weekend?)

It's another wonderful weekend in San Diego! October is simply the greatest for all of the fabulous events that are going on. This weekend is obviously no exception. 

Here are my favorites:

1. Ocean Beach Oktoberfest

Live music, German beer, brats and run. Need anything else? 

Ocean Beach Veteran's Memorial Plaza

Free, $3 admission to beer garden

Friday 4:20-10pm; Saturday 11am-10pm

Think OB is a pain to get in and out of??  Don't want to worry about not drinking and than trying to drive home?? Well don't fret, there are shuttles offered from PB, Gaslamp and Normal Heights!

2. Parktoberfest 

Get on your bike and ride it south on 30th for the next great celebration, South Park's first ever Oktoberfest. Bring the entire family and celebrate the fabulous month of October. Beer garden and free bike valet.

Gala Foods Parking Lot, Fern St. & Grape St.

Saturday 11am- 10pm

Free (beer extra)

3. 2014 Lob Off sponsored by URT Clothing

Ever wanted to dive down and catch your own lobster while competing against other divers? Well here is your chance. Divers will get 1.5 hours to catch the most and biggest lobsters possible. Not only do you get to show off your diving skills but whatever you catch you keep. Better start researching some awesome lobster recipes!

Garbage Break in Point Loma

Saturday 3pm

$25

4. La Jolla Art & Wine Festival

Join over 40,000 people and 200 artists in the heart of La Jolla for this nationally renowed art show and fundraiser. This year will include a nightlife brewfest, bigger grounds and more artists than ever before. 

La Jolla Village, Girad Ave.

Saturday 10am-7pm; Sunday 10am-6pm

Free 

Bonus: Keep the celebration going from 8-11pm. At the same location at the festival (and for only $35) there will be a Brew Fest featuring unlimited tasting from over 15 breweries as well as tastings from a variety of wineries.

5. Festa!

Come to Little Italy for a wonderful day filed with live entertainment, food, traditional athletics and more. For over 20 year this annual festival has been celebrating the culture and Italian heritage of this great San Diego community.

Downtown Little Italy

Sunday 10am-6pm

Free

Bonus! If you are one of the lucky ones to have tickets for Taste of North Park, don't forget they will also have free bike valet and that event is only 2 miles from Parktoberfest. Ride you bike, and safe yourself from the hassle of parking!

Have a San Diego Wonderful weekend!!

Eclipse Chocolate: Build-a-Bar Workshop

Knowing that I obviously don't get enough chocolate in my life I decided to learn exactly what they do at Eclipse in making their delicious chocolate bars at their annual Build-a-Bar workshop. For $10 patrons had the opportunity to choose 3 mix-ins (from things such as hickory smoked sea salt to candied mango, no wonder their bars are so creative!) for the three bars they were about to create. In addition to mix-in choices, us amateur chocolatiers also had the difficult choice of choosing chocolate type, milk or dark. 

It took about 20 minutes for the bars to set, giving us time to check out the adorable animals that were brought by the Living Coast Discovery Center (formerly the Chula Vista Nature Center for any native San Diegans) and of course drink our weight with the most amazing hot chocolate I have ever tasted (!!!). 

But  because 20 minutes seemed to be a lot longer than we thought, food had to be ordered as well. If you are there and only want something along the line of appetizers, try the Dip Du Jour. It is a fantastic cheesy goodness dip paired with crisp granny smith apples and rainbow carrots, aka the coolest carrots you have ever seen.  

Don't forget to check out all of the awesome events Eclipse Chocolate is offering throughout the month of September to celebrate their 10th anniversary. I promise, none of them will disappoint.

On the schedule today is the San Diego Blues Fest. It is another beautiful day so I am super excited to spend time outside listening to great music and enjoying this fabulous city.

Oh and on another note, The Goods San Diego is offering a great deal for Herringbone La Jolla. For only $15 you can enjoy $30 worth of food during lunch or their weekend brunch. If you are not familiar with Herringbone, it is one of Brian Malarkey's local restaurants and a great one at that. From the exotic fish to exotic decor, it is a dining experience you will not forget.

Click here to get your offer!

what's going on this weekend??

There are SOOO many things going on this month. It's almost out of control. Operative word being almost. One of the reason I love San Diego so much is the endless amount of things to do! It never gets boring! This weekend is absolutely no exception.

What I'm Doing: 

Nikki Glaser at The American Comedy Co.

Comedian who competed on Last Comic Standing and since than has been on several late night shows as well as Comedy Central showcasing her talents. 

(btw went to see her last night OMG SO FUNNY!!! highly suggest)

When: Friday/Saturday 7:30 & 9:30 and Sunday at 8pm

Where: 818 6th Ave. 

Cost: $18 (tickets)

Eclipse Chocolate 10th Anniversary Build a Bar Workshop 

This is only one of the many events happening this month at Eclipse in celebration of their 10th anniversary. Guests will have the opportunity to craft their own unique trio of mini chocolate bars and get an inside glimpse of their production room.

where: 2145 Fern St.

cost: $10

San Diego Blues Fest

Help raise money for the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank while listening to great blues artists. 

where: Embarcadero Marina Park North

cost: $20 for one day GA and $30 for two day GA (tickets)

Other awesome things:

Green Flash Treasure Chest Fest San Diego

pink beer and proceeds benefiting Susan G. Komen. what can be better? for $40 you get 10 beer tastings and 10 servings of food. this event looks fantastic.

where: Green Flash Brewing Co. 6550 Mira Mesa Blvd.

when: saturday september 6 from 12-6pm

Brazilian Day San Diego

sunday Garnet Ave in PB is taken over by Brazilian awesomeness. food, music, vendors, sounds like a blast!

where: Garnet Ave. in Pacific Beach

when: sunday september 7 starting at 11am.

I'll let you know how my bars turn out! 

ttfn

xxT

Labor Day Weekend 2014

Staying in San Diego this weekend and looking for something fun? Well don't fret there are plenty of wonderful options. No matter if you're looking to spend time with the family, be outside, eat great food or drink some beers, the following three events are perfect for anyone spending time in this beautiful city. 

US Sand Sculpting Challenge and 3D Art Exposition 

What: A huge showing of sand art by some of the best sculptors in the world, art for purchase, beer garden, food trucks, live music and fun for the kids. 

Where: B Street Pier, 1140 North Harbor Drive

When: August 29- September 1, 9am-7pm

Cost: $10 adults, $7 kids buy tickets here

Festival of Sail 

What: Come experience the largest Tall Ship festival on the west coast. Included in admission is the opportunity to explore seven ships that are docked in the harbor. In addition to the boats there is a kids zone, food and drink booths, a beer garden and fun for the entire family. 

Where: Maritime Museum of San Diego 1492 Harbor Drive

When: August 29- September 1, 9am-7pm through sunday, 9am-5pm monday 

Cost: $7 adults, $5 kids/seniors/active military with ID; buy tickets here

I personally will be checking out the Festival of Sail tomorrow. Can't wait to let you know what I see, just in case you want to go monday. Want to know more about my experience at the sand sculpting challenge? Check out my post here! 

Enjoy the weekend. 

US Sand Sculpting Challenge and 3D Art Exposition 2014

Looking for amazing sand and 3D art? If so, head down to the B street pier in downtown San Diego all this weekend to see some truly fantastic art at the US Sand Sculpting Challenge and 3D Art Exposition. Some of the best sand sculptors in the world have traveled to San Diego to compete this beautiful Labor Day weekend. The sand artists have been working since wednesday on their masterpieces. As of friday the creations really had a shape to them and many were on the verge of completion, which was good because the artists only have until 2pm saturday to finish their work.

This event also gives the opportunity for local amateur sand sculptors to display their best work as well. These artists began working yesterday giving attendees the opportunity to see how the process really begins.

 this specific artist asked attendees to help pack down the sand. in order to get the sand more clay like they use water but if the wet sand is not packed down properly it could potentially crack. 

once the sand is packed down they than use their molds to continue to stack the sand as high as they want their design. the above pictures is most of the amateur artists at the beginning building stages.

In addition to the sand art there were several local artists displaying their work for purchase. Don't forget to bring the kids and some extra money. There are several food trucks/vendors and for a small fee, extra entertainment for the little ones.

extra things for the kiddos for a small extra price. look how beautiful the city is in the background. most beautiful city on earth. 

delicious gelato for sale on the pier

I promise you will not be disappointed with what you see at this years Sand Sculpting Challenge and 3D Art Exposition.

When: August 29- September 1st, 9am-7pm

Where: B Street Pier 1140 North Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA

Cost: $10 for adults (you can save $3 if you take public transit or you go get a voucher from any San Diego Mission Federal Credit Union; $7 for children

Eclipse Chocolate: Chocolate Threeway

Eclipse Chocolate is located in the cute and very hip area of South Park. They opened in February 2013 relocating from North Park. This month they will celebrate their 10 year anniversary with various events throughout September.

Eclipse has a fantastic drink menu of local draft beers, great wines and beautiful chocolate inspired concoctions. Happy hour is served Monday- Thursday from 5-7pm where all of their beer and wines are only $5. What makes Eclipse even more unique (other than their great chocolate) is they serve brunch daily from 9am-2pm. There are few places in San Diego you can get fantastic breakfast food any day of the week. Add the chocolate that is in some way incorporated into each dish, it is an experience you definitely will not forget.

Once a month Eclipse Chocolate in South Park hosts a delicious three-way pairing of local craft beer, truffles and handpicked cheese. Last night was their monthly event partnering up with Saint Archer brewery. These Threeways give local foodies the chance to try some delicious beer, flavorful cheese and the amazing truffles made at Eclipse Chocolate. 

If you have never tried the chocolate made by Eclipse, you are definitely missing out. The owner/chocolatier Will Gustwiller truly understands how to create fantastic sweet and salty combinations. For the pairings Will works directly with the brewery to discover the cheese and chocolate that will perfectly accent each other. 

For this tasting each cheese and chocolate was unique from each other allowing each of them to truly standout. 

If you want to attend a future Chocolate Threeway you can contact Eclipse Chocolate at 619.578.2984. The cost is only $20, starts at 7pm and allows you to enjoy Happy Hour for the entire evening.  

Move over Godiva, you have some competition.

Today I am headed to the US Sand Sculpting Challenge located on the 'B' Street cruise ship terminal pier on the Big Bay in downtown San Diego. The event runs all weekend and features some of the best sand artists in the world!

For tickets click here! You save $3 if you book online.

For more information on what is going on this weekend, don't forget to check the calendar.

Happy Labor Day weekend!

xxT

Spreckles Organ Pavillon: Twilight in the Park 2014

Twilight in the Park is a fantastic way to spend a summer evening. 

There are concerts all throughout the summer on the stage of the famous Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. Last night the Navy Show Band West was performing which really brought out a crowd. 

Although there were hundreds of people in attendance, if you were willing to sit off to the side or in the sun there was plenty of seating. 

The concerts start at 6:15pm and last for an hour. 

Don't worry about parking, Balboa Park now has sleek new trams that pick up and drop off all around the Organ Pavilion as well as throughout the many different surrounding parking lots. It definitely helps to keep the walking to a minimum.

Pack yourself a picnic, bring some chairs and a blanket and enjoy a beautiful summer San Diego night .

And of course don't forget to bust out some dance moves! 

Tonight I'm headed to Eclipse Chocolate for a beer, cheese and chocolate tasting. Can't wait to let you know how much I enjoyed it! Check back later for more about that!

xxT