(Courtesy Photo- St. Patrick's Day Parade San Diego )

St. Patrick’s Day is a big deal in San Diego and everyone gets in on the act. San Diego has a sizable Irish-American population that shares their Irish pride every year with a parade, a festival, and numerous other special events. Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper Saint Patrick’s Day without a wearin’ of the green and going to one of San Diego’s many Irish bars located around the county.

Erin Go Bragh!

32nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in San Diego - San Diego’s observance of St. Patrick’s Day officially begins when the Irish community parades struts their stuff on Sixth Avenue near Balboa Park. Because St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Saturday this year, we expect that this year’s attendance will be a record-breaking year.

In 2011, parade organizers reported that they had more than 120 parade entries and thousands of people attended the Parade and Festival, making it one of the largest single-day events in San Diego.

This year, the 32nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival is scheduled for Saturday, March 17, 2012. This year’s parade theme is “Celebrating the Spirit of Ancient Ireland.”

The parade officially begins at 10:30 a.m. and goes until 1:30 p.m. The parade route starts at Sixth and Juniper, continues north on Fifth Avenue, hooks a right at Upas, proceeds south on Sixth Avenue and ends at Laurel.

The festival begins at 10:00 a.m. and goes until 6:00 p.m. The festival takes place on the west side of Balboa Park along Sixth Avenue between Laurel and Upas. Irish dancing, Irish music, and Irish fare and Irish beer are offered throughout the day. Picnics are encouraged and welcomed.

Please note that the parade and the festival take place rain or shine.

ShamROCK in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter - The good folks at the Gaslamp Quarter Association never let a fun holiday escape the Gaslamp. Since the Gaslamp Quarter is home to a good number of Irish pubs, party in one spot and only park your car once. If you park a meter before 6:00 p.m., keep a look-out for the parking enforcement officers. They have a job to do and won’t be in the same festive mood as you. Please, plan ahead.

ShamROCK is a big green block party in the Gaslamp Quarter that happens every St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th. The party gets started at 2:00 p.m. and ends at Midnight. The main entrance is at 5th Avenue and G Street. The Gaslamp gets covered with over 40,000 square feet of Astroturf, bands play live Rock & Roll music, DJs spin records, vendors sell Irish ‘stuff’ and food. All the Gaslamp’s restaurants in pubs in the Green Zone get in on the act with special entrance tickets.

Please keep in mind that this is a ticketed event for 21 and up colleens and lads. Proceeds from the benefit go to the Gaslamp Quarter Historic Foundation. There are three ticket prices: advance pricing starts at $35, increasing to $40 and $45 at the door. According to the organizers, your wristband into shamROCK will also get you in-and-out privileges, as well as, no cover and food and drink specials at dozens of the Gaslamp Quarter’s hottest nightclubs and restaurants. For more information, please call the ShamROCK hotline at (619) 233-5008 or visit www.sandiegoshamrock.com

A Decent List of San Diego’s Irish Pubs

Aside from the special events aforementioned, you can bet your sweet green bippy that EVERY Irish pub in San Diego is planning their a celebration of Ireland and St. Patrick in their own way. We are including bars that are Irish/British, not generic bars that are also celebrating St. Patrick’s Day to get in on the Irish action. As we were updating our list of Irish bars in San Diego, we were sad to see that between 6-8 Irish bars have closed in the county since last year. Even the popular Gaslamp Quarter lost the Blarney Stone. More than ever, we ask that you please support San Diego’s Irish/British pubs!

Did we miss your favorite Irish/British watering hole? If so, please let make a comment and let us know.

Downtown San Diego

The Field (544 Fifth Avenue)
For more information: (619) 232-9840

Patrick’s II (428 F Street)
For more information: (619) 233-3077

Stout Public House (1125 6th Avenue)
For more information: (619) 702-7933

Downtown Johnny Brown’s (1220 Third Avenue)
For more information: (619) 232-8414

Hennessey’s Tavern (708 Fourth Avenue)
For more information: (619) 239-9994

Dublin Square Irish Pub & Grill (554 Fourth Avenue)
For more information: (619) 239-5818

Maloney’s Tavern (777 Fifth Avenue)
For more information: (619) 232-6000

The Tilted Kilt (310 10th Avenue)
For more information: (619) 814-5458

Central San Diego

The Ould Sod (3373 Adams Avenue, Normal Heights)
For more information: (619) 284-6594

Rosie O’Grady’s (3402 Adams Avenue, Normal Heights)
For more information: (619) 284-7666

O’Brien’s Pub (4646 Convoy Street, Kearny Mesa)
For more information: (858) 715-1745

Kelly’s Pub West (222 San Diego Avenue, Old Town)
For more information: (619) 543-9767

McGregor’s Grill & Ale House (10475 San Diego Mission Road, Mission Valley)
For more information: (619) 282-9797

The Tilted Kilt (1640 Camino Del Rio North, Mission Valley Mall)
For more information: (619) 299-5458

Callahan’s Pub & Brewery (8111 Mira Mesa Boulevard, Mira Mesa)
For more information: (858) 578-7892

Blarney Stone Pub (5617 Balboa Avenue, Clairemont)
For more information: (858) 279-2033

McMurphy’s Pub (6344 El Cajon Boulevard, College)
For more information: (619-229-6699

San Diego Beach Area

Hennessy’s Tavern Pacific Beach (4650 Mission Boulevard)
For more information: (858) 483-8847

London’s West End Pub (5157 La Jolla Boulevard)
For more information: (858) 488-1191

Hennessy’s Tavern La Jolla (7811 Herschel Avenue, La Jolla)
For more information: (858) 551-8772

McP’S Irish Pub & Grill (1107 Orange Avenue, Coronado)
For more information: (619) 435-5280

Hennessy’s Tavern Carlsbad (777 Roosevelt Street)
For more information: (760) 729-6951

O’Sullivan’s Pub (640 Grand Avenue, Suite A, Carlsbad)
For more information: (760) 729-7234

Churchill’s Pub & Grille (887 West San Marcos Boulevard, Carlsbad)
For more information: (760) 471-8773

Gallaghers Pub & Grill (5046 Newport Avenue, Ocean Beach)
For more information: (619) 222-5300

The Harp (4935 Newport Avenue, Ocean Beach)
For more information: (619) 222-0168

Finnegan’s Pub & Grill (1814 Marron Road, Carlsbad)

CJ Delong’s Sports Pub (5806 Van Allen Way, Carlsbad)

San Diego’s South Bay

McDini’s (105 East 8th Street, National City)
For more information: (619) 474-6771

East County

Hooleys Irish Pub & Grill (2955 Jamacha Road, Rancho San Diego)
For more information: (619) 670-7468

Hooleys Irish Pub & Grill (5500 Grossmont Center Drive #277, La Mesa)
For more information: (619) 713-6900

(Courtesy Photo)

California Gray Whales make their annual trip from the Bering Sea to Baja California in the winter. San Diego is strategically located along the migration route of the magnificent California Gray Whale. Not surprisingly, San Diego has whale watching tour operators that know just where to spot the migrating Gray Whales.

Starting in late December and ending in mid-April, about 26,000 gray whales make the heroic journey from the cold and volatile waters of Arctic Sea to the warm and gentle waters of Baja California. How heroic? It is a 10,000-mile round-trip journey.

The Port of San Diego gets in on the act with the San Diego Whale Festival which celebrates the seasonal whale watching season on Saturday, January 21, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier, 1000 North Harbor Drive. The exact location is at the foot of Broadway as it intersects North Harbor Drive.

Back to the tours. Thousands of San Diegans and visitors, both young and old, board chartered boats to greet the Gray Whales as they make their trek south to the protected lagoons of Baja California. California Gray Whales are pretty easy to spot because of their size – a length of 52 feet!

These gentle giants get their name because of their gray color and the gray-white patterns left by parasites. If you have never seen a California Gray Whale, strongly consider taking a half-day, whale watching trip – it is an amazing experience. Most of the major tour companies also offer a “whale-sighting guarantee” so if the whales aren’t found, the next trip is free.

All the tours and charters have trained observers who teach everyone on board where and how to look for signs of whales. Two tours feature naturalists from the San Diego Natural History Museum and the Birch Aquarium that provide additional educational information about whales and marine life.

Best of all, you don’t have to go on a whale watching cruise to see the whales – San Diego also has some great vantage points that won’t cost you a penny.

Whale watching is a wonderful way to spend a winter’s day in San Diego. Ahoy!

San Diego Travel Tips’ Whale Watching Tips:

• Dress warmly. It gets cold on the water and it is gets VERY windy out in the Pacific Ocean.
• Look for water spouts! Whales travel at about 6mph, dive to a depth of about 100 feet for 3-5 minutes, surface and
  blow, followed by a series of three to five shallow dives and blows before they dive deeply
  again.
• Don’t leave the binoculars behind and, while you are at it, don’t forget your camera. While you’re at it, don’t drop your Nikon or your Bushnell’s.
• Don’t miss the boat! Once the boat leaves the dock, that’s it. You cannot catch up to a boat that
  has already left. Plan ahead.
• Are you sure your child or children can handle being out on the open ocean for the trek? The ocean is not always calm and tummies can get upset or worse yet, boredom can set in. You know the dreaded question: “Are we there yet?”

Where to Watch the Whales for Free

There really isn’t a more beautiful spot in San Diego to watch whales than Point Loma and, specifically, the view from the Cabrillo Monument. Another great place to go whale-spotting is in La Jolla/Del Mar at Torrey Pines State Reserve. From high atop those two shoreline perches, you can look for the whale pods. You might need to make several attempts through their migration period to try to catch them as they ease on down the coastline. Even if you don’t see the whales, it will do you good to get out and look at the vast Pacific Ocean.

A Few Whale Watching Boating Tours in San Diego

Birch Aquarium/Scripps Institution of Oceanography/UC San Diego and San Diego Harbor Excursion - San Diego’s own Birch Aquarium at the world-famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of San Diego, California has collaborated with San Diego Harbor Excursion to offer daily local whale watching cruises featuring Scripps naturalists. These daily tours will conclude on April 15, 2012.

The great thing about these tours is that knowledgeable naturalists share information about the whales, as well as ecological and historical information about San Diego Bay and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. This is not just a whale watching cruise, this is also a seminar on whales and ocean life.

The tours last for three-and-a-half hours, which allow the skipper to search the Pacific Ocean west of San Diego Bay for the Gray Whales. While you are out on the boats scanning the horizon for whale spouts, be sure to enjoy the incredible ocean and harbor views. While you are moving through the harbor, do not miss seeing the adorable sea lions take naps on the harbor buoys. Be sure to keep an eye out for dolphins and sea birds as well.

Reservations:
Please note that reservations are strongly recommended if you don’t want to miss the boat. Please call San Diego Harbor Excursion at (619) 234-4111.

San Diego Hornblower and San Diego Natural History Museum - Like the Birch Aquarium, the San Diego Natural History Museum provides an education on whales and marine life as you sail the ocean blue. The Natural History Museum has partnered with San Diego Hornblower to provide three-and-a- half-hour education whale watching cruises that allow passengers plenty of time to get out into the ocean to see the Gray Whales, sea lions, dolphins, and marine birds.

Tours are offered daily until mid-April every year.

Reservations:
Reservations can be made online with Hornblower. Please note that Hornblower is unable to take online reservations within 5 hours of a scheduled cruise. If you would like to make reservations for a cruise and it is within the 5 hour limit, please make your reservations by calling: 1-888-HORNBLOWER.

H&M Landing Whale-Watching – One of San Diego sports fishing’s leaders, H&M Landing, provides daily offshore cruises to view the California Gray Whales. Like the aforementioned tour operators, H&M provides informative narration on whales, their migration and the other marine life and sights as passengers cruise. This is one of those great tour companies that guarantees whale sightings. If, for any reason, whales are not sighted during your cruise, H&M will issue you a pass to come out again.

H&M has two trip options available: daily 3-hour cruises and 6-hour cruises. The 6-hour cruise includes a trip into Mexican waters for a thorough viewing of the Coronado Islands. Adults should be prepared to have their photo I.D. with them because the tour goes into Mexican waters. If you are carrying a cellphone with you, it will alert you with a text welcoming you to Mexico.

Reservations:
Reservations can be made at (619) 222-1144.

Do you have a favorite whale watching company that we have not included? Please leave a comment for us and let us know which one and what makes them special.

Christmas Lights San Diego 2011 (Photo Courtesy)

Looking for Christmas Lights in San Diego for 2011?

If you love to drive around to see Christmas lights, we’ve put together a hand-picked list of the best places to go see Christmas light displays in San Diego.

*NOTE - We do our best to fact check and update our residential information each year when information is available. If there is a link, please check it before you go. We wouldn’t want you to be disappointed! Please note that dates/times and displays are subject to change.

Residential Holiday Displays in San Diego

Coronado – Coronado is one of our favorite areas to go holiday light hunting every year. Why? Because the people of Coronado go all out in getting into the Christmas spirit. Many of the older homes are very large and can take lots of lights. Peer pressure from the neighbors must factor in Coronado because so many homes are decorated to the hilt with Christmas lights.

Chula Vista – Chula Vista is the county’s second largest city and Candy Cane Lane is one of the shortest streets in the County that used to carry the most Christmas punch. We know that many people still search for Candy Cane Lane in Chula Vista, but we must advise you that it no longer exists. We have learned from local sources that the traffic back-ups caused by the enormous popularity of this main attraction led to its downfall. Some of the residents still turn on their house lights but Candy Cane Lane is the not exactly the sweet street it once was.

However, there is a silver lining to this story. Chula Vista’s answer to Candy Cane Lane is now Christmas Circle which is worth a look-see. Christmas Circle is located on Whitney Street and Mankato Street. These two streets form a loop which provides for easy viewing. The area is located between First and Second Avenue off H Street. The easiest access is off of I-5. December  10 – 26th (5-10 pm.) You’ll catch about 50+ homes adorned in light.

Banker’s Hill – Multiple locations in this older neighborhood located between Downtown and Uptown.

• Bertrand at Mr. A’s Restaurant (5th & Laurel) - The iconic Mr. A’s building, once again, provides a gift to San Diego with their traditional display. If you are flying into San Diego, look to the right of the plane just after passing over Balboa Park and you’ll spot the Mr. A’s building. It is a cross between a Christmas tree and a birthday cake.
• The Forward House (1st & Ivy) – Talk about lighting up the night, this building has every inch covered. We salute businesses that give the holiday joy to the community.   The Forward House will light up your life from December 16  thru New Year’s.  Santa will be on the roof greeting the kiddies on December 16th from 5:30-8:30 pm.

Mission Hills – Located in the hills above Old Town, Mission Hills is a neighborhood of stately craftsman homes dating back to the early 20th century. Quite a number of these beautiful homes have been designated as historically significant homes. Kate Sessions, landscape planner of Balboa Park, started the Mission Hills Nursery a century ago (which sells Christmas trees this time of year). This is a great place to drive around to see the lights because the streets are windy and are void of traffic. Many of the homes are lit up for the holidays as are a number of the skyline trees that soar above the palm trees that line the major streets. Be sure to look for the tallest star pine you can find and see if you can spot the lit star at the top. It is the pride of Mission Hills during Christmas time.

Kensington – One of San Diego’s oldest and most charming residential neighborhoods, Kensington, is situated north of El Cajon Boulevard and east of Interstate 15 above the south rim of Mission Valley. Like Mission Hills, Kensington is known for its winding streets and beautiful homes. Many of the Kensington homes are Spanish-style and quite a number of them have not changed their appearance in decades. Follow Adams Avenue east of the Kensington sign to Van Dyke. Pass through the intersection of Van Dyke and Adams. It would be hard to miss the lights of this neighborhood. We tip our hats to all of the neighbors for stringing up all those lights! You are in for a real treat!

Ocean Beach - You have to appreciate the Ocean Beach Christmas Tree at the foot of Newport Avenue (at Abbott).  Where else can you enjoy a Christmas tree parked in the sand along the shore?   We won’t describe it more.  It’s beachy keen.

South Park/Burlingame – South Park and Burlingame are two communities that are geographically close but are separated by the urban canyons that criss-cross this older part of San Diego. South Park is a friendly residential community that is situated between North Park at Juniper Street and Golden Hill at “A” Street.

Bordered on the west by Balboa Park, South Park boasts beautiful vistas and classic California Craftsman style homes that have been getting better with a conscious effort of homeowners to preserve the past. Many of the homeowners are proud of their homes and do their very best to deck their halls with classy light displays. We found a particularly spectacular residential display on 28th Street between Upas and Thorn that will knock your Christmas socks off. It is a must see!

Burlingame is a residential community known for its pink concrete sidewalks – you know you are in Burlingame when you start seeing the pink sidewalks! Burlingame has a charming tradition of uniting various neighbors with strings of lights on certain streets to make a block holiday display.

Point Loma – Point Loma is one of the oldest and wealthiest communities of San Diego. Blessed with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean to the west and views of both Downtown and America’s Cup Harbor to the east, Point Loma is one of the area’s most desirable communities. People from all types of backgrounds have settled in Point Loma and each of these communities bring their special kind of taste for holiday displays with them. One constant theme in Point Loma is maritime and seafaring. Many retired military people live here as do many retired Portuguese fishermen. Their homes’ holiday displays are big, nautical, and always full of Christmas spirit.

Point Loma is a very large community with many different types of housing styles so there will be areas that have displays and others that do not. Just keep driving around. One street that is particularly impressive is Garrison off of Catalina Boulevard. This is the kind of street that people get out of the cars and walk around because the displays are awesome.

La Jolla – La Jolla is a beautiful part of San Diego that always sets itself apart from the City because it can. It is a beautiful place that is quite unlike anything else in San Diego. The beach surrounds this lovely community and the homeowners take full advantage of this fact. Many of San Diego’s wealthiest people live here and their holiday displays demonstrate that level of wealth. La Jolla sits west of I-5, going from Torrey Pines State Reserve in the north to the hills of Pacific Beach in the south. The Village of La Jolla is located in the middle of it all and this is the place where they have their annual Christmas Parade. The Village is a great place to walk around, do some shopping, get something to eat, go look at the ocean, and then get in the car to go do a drive-by to see the lovely lights.

Tierrasanta – Be sure to check out a very special holiday display that is appropriately called Belardo Lights. This display is the work of one special family that resides at 5306 Belardo Drive. The Schimka family decorates their home with 65,000 lights and oodles of homemade decorations during the holiday season. The lights are up now from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., nightly. Check the website for more information. As a special treat, tune your car radio to FM 89.7 to hear the synchronized music.  Email:   rschimka@san.rr.com if you’d like more information.

On a personal note, we would like to add that the Schimka family creates this holiday gift to the community but it also serves as a wonderful family project throughout the year. The family has two sons with autism and the holiday display provides an enriching opportunity to engage their boys and create holiday magic. We thank the family for sharing their family gift and generosity with all of us.

Clairemont – Clairemont is a community in the City of San Diego that is home to many families of many income levels. Some locals may wonder why we have included this area since it is not known as being a ritzy area. However, the good people of Clairemont really put on the glitz when it comes to Christmas. In fact, over 40 homes get into the act and decorate their homes in a big way. Best of all, the homes are located on a circular drive. Go to Lana Drive and Jamar just off Mt. Abernathy Avenue to see this great light display. December 10- 27th .You can also go to 4760 Norwalk Ave. – off Clairemont Mesa Blvd. and Moraga Ave. They should be up and running from December 11 – January 1st. ( 7-10 pm & weekends 7-11 pm.)

Poway “The Griswolds” display at 12631 Stoutwood Street, off Twin Peaks Road & Deerwood Street, is set for December 1 – January 1st (5:30-10 pm weekdays & 11 pm weekends.)  Then, you can find the pocket neighborhoods that band together like: Hickory Court & Hickory Street and 12659 Butterwood Court and Rockrose Court off Twin Peaks Road & Silverset Street from December 10 – December 24  (6-9 pm).

Rancho Peñasquitos – Located in the northern area of the City of San Diego, Rancho Peñasquitos is home to many, many families. Christmas Card Lane, started with 15 families in 1985. Since that time, over 200 families have gotten into the holiday lighting act. The organizers of Christmas Card Lane have one request. Park your car and walk around so that you can take a Christmas stroll, sip hot chocolate, munch on and baked goods, and listen to Christmas carols.

Christmas Card Lane is located on Oviedo Street, just off Black Mountain Road. The entire area includes Twin Trails, Carmel Mountain Road, Ellingham Street, Renato Street, Oviedo Street, Twin Trails Drive, Barrymore Street, Totherham Avenue, Talca Avenue, Talca Court, Allenbrook Way, Davenport Avenue, and last, but not least, Amber Sky Lane. They’ll be lighting up from December 11- December 31, 2011  (Sunset to 10:00 pm.)

San Marcos – Christmas on Knob Hill is one of the largest residential light displays in San Diego County. This is one family’s labor of love that has grown and grown to the enjoyment of all the visitors who put Knob Hill on their list of favorite places to view Christmas light displays. For over 20 years, the family that resides at 1639 Knob Hill has decorated their property with over 90,000 lights, 100 plastic figures, 20 rope light figures, 80 snowmen, and 100 candy canes, and more. As of 11/28, the website has not been updated for 2011. Please check Christmas on Knob Hill before going to this display because when we published this article, the site still had information from 2010.

San Carlos will be rocking it on the 7900- 8000 block of Hillandale Dr. off Mission Gorge & Deerfield throughout December from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

El Cajon – Just east of La Mesa, El Cajon gets into the holiday spirit in a big way. In La Mesa, head over to La Mesa’s Jingle Bell Hill. Please note this display is also known as Pepper Drive Lights. In either case, this display is located in a quaint neighborhood that just happens to take the joy of Christmas very seriously. Jingle Bell Hill is located on Solomon Avenue and Pegeen Place. It can be reached off the SR-67, exiting on Bradley.

Jingle Bell Hill (or Pepper Drive Lights) – Solomon Ave. and Pageen Place and surrounding area. Off 67 and Bradley. 1838 El Pico Drive at Hacienda Drive. December 9-26th (M-Th 6-9 pm & Fri-Sun 6-10 pm.)

Might want to check out two others:

11456 Pegeen Place December 5-26th (M-Th 6-9 pm & Fri-Sun 6-10 pm.)

1838 El Pico Drive – Off Hacienda Drive, this house has been into this thing for nearly 50 years. Drive by and look up 100 ft. to spot their 20-ft. star, now thru December 31, 2011. December 10-31st , check out the 55-ft. train. dusk to 10 pm.

Santee is getting its lights on at Sunburst Santee. Tomel Court, off Magnolia. The neighborhood is going to make it really bright. December 17th – December 26th ( 7-10 pm)

San Diego Attractions’ Holiday Displays 2011

Holiday of Lights at Del Mar - Get yourself in a festive mood from now through January 1, 2012 (Sunday-Thursday, 5:30-10:00pm  Friday and Saturday, 5:30-10:30pm) at the 2010 Holiday of Lights at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The Holiday of Lights at the Del Mar Fairgrounds is a spectacular drive-through light show and exhibit with more than 400 displays. The Christmas displays are organized into themes, which include: Candy Cane Lane, Toyland, San Diego County Fair, Treasures by the Lake, Del Mar Racetrack, the Twelve Days of Christmas and Elves at Play.  Check website:  Holiday of Lights at Del Mar 

LEGOLAND - San Diego  Holiday Snow Days – It’s Christmas at Legoland! They’ll have it all including “real snow. And yep, they’ll have Legoland holiday displays. The party is going on now  until January 2, 2012.  Catch ‘em lighting the tree at 5pm from December 1- December 24th.  Fireworks will burst overhead from December 24th – December 26th.

SeaWorld Holiday Events 2011 - This popular San Diego attraction does its part to light up the skies of San Diego by lighting up their Sky Tower for the holiday season. SeaWorld’s elves also transform the popular park into one big nighttime wonderland.

San Diego Zoo’s Jungle Bells – The San Diego Zoo is ablaze with Christmas lights from December 11 – 23, 2011 and December 25, 2011 – January 2, 2012. It’s all about the lights including lighted animal figures and a nightly tree-lighting ceremony, and holiday themed shows.

TIP: The SkyFari is gives a great view of all the lights. Hop on board!

San Diego Botanic Garden of Lights 2011- The “Garden of Lights” is located at 230 Quail Gardens Drive in Encinitas. This light display features 100,000+ lights, all sorts of events and holiday magic from December 8 – 23 and December 26 – 30 from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Balboa Park’s Christmas on the Prado 2011 or December Nights – December 2 (5-10pm) and December 3, 2011 (noon-10pm). This wonderful family event is a tradition in San Diego.  The traditionalists still call it Christmas on the Prado but it is now called December Nights.

Mission Bay Christmas Boat Parade - This annual boat parade takes place on December 10, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. with fireworks at 9:00 p.m.

San Diego Bay Boat Parade of Lights – Come to downtown San Diego’s harbor to see this spectacular boat parade on December 11, 2011 and December 18, 2011. The nautical fun starts off at 5:30 p.m. with a big bang, fireworks! The boat parade starts right after the fireworks show and usually lasts until 9:00 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. Viewing available all along the harbor and the harbor side of Coronado.

Harbor Parade of Lights – December 10 – 7:00 p.m. Oceanside gets onboard with decorated boats in holiday lights circle at Oceanside Harbor.

Commercial Holiday Displays San Diego 2011

Downtown San Diego – Don’t think downtown gets into the act? Sure it does! From the green rings of The Westin on Broadway to the elegant displays at the U.S. Grant and the Westgate, downtown does its best to show off its holiday spirit. Many of the downtown buildings decorate the top of their buildings with some kind of holiday color – why even City Hall gets into the act and hangs a string of lights around its exterior. Naturally, the shopping mecca in downtown, Horton Plaza, is always decked out for the holidays and it is a great place to walk around and do some last-minute shopping. Many of the downtown restaurants decorate their interiors and exteriors with considerable flair – one of our favorite restaurant displays is Dobson’s near Horton Plaza.

Gaslamp Quarter – The trees of the Historic Gaslamp District will be illuminated from now thru January 3, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. – midnight along the main avenues of this historic district.

Mission Valley – Yes, Mission Valley’s malls are decorated but did you know that some of the most decorated commercial buildings are its many hotels? The Crowne Plaza, formerly the Hanalei, is usually dripping with lights during the holidays and the Mission Valley Hilton, usually every year, is somehow able to get JOY spelled out in its hotel room windows facing the I-8.

Bazaar del Mundo – Just on the eastern side of Old Town sits the wonderful property of Diane Powers that oozes holiday charm this time of year. This is a great collection of small shops that offers beautiful Christmas or Navidad displays and unique holiday shopping. The Bazaar is located on Taylor Street and Juan Street – look for the Casa Guadalajara restaurant at the corner; the Bazaar is just behind it.

Hotel Del Coronado - The Del is beautiful all the time but when Christmas comes a-calling the lobby is decorated with 100,000 lights from now –  January 1, 2012.  (Go ahead, count ‘em!)

Another reason to go to the Hotel Del Coronado is to see their amazing Christmas tree (in the hotel lobby) and to strap on some ice skates and glide along their beachfront ice skating rink. Here’s a link to our article: San Diego’s Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks.

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(Courtesy Photo)

During the holiday season, you can lace up your blades and skate through the Christmas holidays on San Diego’s outdoor ice skating rinks. These rinks are designed to accommodate skaters of all levels. So, come one and all and lace up your skates to take advantage of this very unique holiday experience in San Diego.

In 2011, three outdoor ice rinks in San Diego are open to the public. These holiday-themed ice rinks are located around the region: Hotel Del Coronado in Coronado, Viejas Outlets and Casino in Alpine, and Horton Square in downtown San Diego.

As for SeaWorld’s Ice Skating Rink in Mission Bay, we have not been able to confirm if it will be in place in 2011.  But, we do know that they have a beautiful ‘tree’ this holiday season. Please check their site for more information.  SeaWorld – All Holiday Events information -  Follow this link 

Hotel Del Coronado Skating by the Sea - Get the best of both worlds. Skate with the Pacific Ocean as your backdrop. It really doesn’t get better than ice skating on the beach. Maybe it can. You could be ice skating on the beach in December, in front of the Hotel Del Coronado in Southern California, with the ocean just steps away.

The Hotel Del is such a wonderful Christmas treat that you can be part of the merriment even if you don’t have skates on. The Del’s atmosphere is very festive and welcoming to all. Holiday music fills the air and guests can purchase hot chocolate and other holiday libations as they stroll around the grounds.

The Hotel Del Coronado is so popular in San Diego that many residents make an annual trek every holiday season because it is such an outstanding Christmas celebration. For the holidays, the Hotel Del (as it is known by the locals) is decked out with over 100,000 lights showcasing this historic landmark hotel. And the Del’s Christmas tree is something to behold. It is located in the lobby, don’t miss it.

Viejas Outlet Center Ice Rink - The good folks at Viejas Outlet Center and Casino have been opening up their beautiful property to ice skaters of all ages. Viejas is located on the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indian’s reservation. It is located approximately 30 miles east of downtown San Diego and is accessible by Interstate 8. This is the only outdoor ice skating rink in San Diego with a casino just across the street!

Ice Skating Rink at Horton Square (outside Horton Plaza) – This rink is tucked away behind all the action of downtown San Diego. It is located behind the NBC 7/39 Building at 225 Broadway. The rink is as urban as it gets. It is squeezed in among the tall commercial buildings in downtown San Diego, just outside of Horton Plaza. This is a rink that is the same size as a hockey rink, so please keep that in mind. Shy Skaters Beware! The rink is on the same property as NBC-TV and you may have cameras monitoring your wobbles and falls.

Whichever rink you choose, we hope you are able to get your skate on and have fun skating in the great outdoors!

Would you like our latest edition to land in your inbox? All you need to do is subscribe. To subscribe to the blog, look for the SUBSCRIBE button just below the photo on the upper right-hand corner. If you want to find out about things to do in San Diego, go to San Diego Travel Tips.com. We can be reached at: sdtips @ sandiegotraveltips.com For even more information, follow us on Twitter!

Halloween in San Diego 2011

Every year, San Diegans of all ages participate in a variety of ghoulish events during the Halloween season. Sure, kids get dressed up in their favorite costumes and head out to knock on everyone’s doors but there are also events designed to scare the pants off ya!

Because San Diego’s weather is so mild in October, many events are held outdoors including one that is set along the trails within Balboa Park.

If you are in charge of taking trick-or-treaters around to peoples’ houses, we can tell you some specific neighborhoods that are more generous than the others (in case you are tired of your own neighborhood): La Jolla, Mission Hills, Point Loma, Coronado, Banker’s Hill and the Mayor of San Diego’s neighborhood, Kensington.

TIP: Need some quick Halloween inspiration? Check out the creepy film trailer for the newly released “Dream House.”

Here is a listing of some of San Diego’s best Halloween events for 2011.

Haunted Halloween Events in San Diego

The Haunted Trail in Balboa Park is perhaps the best outdoor setting for a terror-filled experience since the park is pretty scary at night any time! The dark spooky trails are located in the Marston Point section of the Park which is east of Sixth Avenue and Juniper Street in Balboa Park. This spooky event is not for young children or the scaredy cats among us. Look for the orange signs with the ghoulish writing to point you in the right direction. BOO!

The Haunted Trail in Balboa Park goes until October 31, 2011. This schedule will allow plenty of time to get the living daylights scared out of you! The Haunted Trail is open from 7:00 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The monsters and witches take a break on Mondays and Tuesdays except for October 24, 25, and 31, 2011. Check the official schedule here.

ADMISSION

Sunday – Thursday (SAVE $2)
General Admission – $15.
VIP Trail – $25 (Trail admission and the Fast Pass)
GA COMBO – $20 (General Admission to Trail and Maze)
VIP COMBO – $30 (Maze, Trail, and Fast Pass)

Friday & Saturday:
General Admission – $17
VIP Trail – $27 (Trail admission and the Fast Pass)
GA COMBO – $22 (General Admission to Trail and Maze)
VIP COMBO – $32 (Maze, Trail, and Fast Pass)

Please Note: Cash only at the gates.

SAVE MONEY! Discount coupons can be picked up at: Ralphs, Northgate Latino Markets, and UltraStar Cinemas.

The Haunted Hotel features specially decorated rooms that bring back the spirits of Hollywood horror films from the past. The hotel is situated in an old building that probably has stories of its own to tell. This spooky event is not for young children or the scaredy cats among us.

The Haunted Hotel is located at 424 Market Street (4th & Market) in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. The terror goes until October 31, 2011. The operating hours for the Haunted Hotel are as follows: Fridays and Saturdays from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. and Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. The venue is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays except for October 24, 25, & 31, 2011. Check the official schedule here.

ADMISSION

Sunday – Thursday (SAVE $2)
General Admission – $15
VIP Admission – $25 (Hotel admission and the Fast Pass)

Friday & Saturday:
General Admission – $17
VIP Admission – $27 (Hotel admission and the Fast Pass)

Please Note: Cash only at the gates.

SAVE MONEY! Discount Coupons can be found at: Dominos, Ralphs, Northgate Latino Markets, and UltraStar Cinemas.

The Scream Zone at the Del Mar Fairgrounds features three haunted attractions, the House of Horror, the Haunted Hayride and The Chamber. Each dwelling is inhabited by terrifying creatures and scary scenes. Local actors play the part of the many ghouls and monsters that dwell in this very scary Scream Zone. Be prepared to scream your head off. This spooky event is not for young children or the scaredy cats among us. It is the biggest haunted house attraction in San Diego, bar none.

The Scream Zone at the Del Mar Fairgrounds is open Saturday and Sunday, October 1-2; Thursday through Sunday, October 6-9; Thursday through Sunday, October 13-16, and every night, October 20-31, 2011. The hours of operation are: 7:00 p.m. to Midnight, Fridays & Saturdays and 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on the other days.

ADMISSION

Triple Haunt: House of Horror, Haunted Hayride & The Chamber – $27.99
Double Haunt: The Chamber plus House of Horror or Haunted Hayride – $18.99
Single Haunt: House of Horror or Haunted Hayride – $14.99

Group & Military Discount Information

Parking: As a special Halloween treat, the Del Mar Fairgrounds folks are not charging for parking. Enter the Fairgrounds at the Solana Gate, which is on the south side of Via de la Valle between the Coast Highway and Jimmy Durante Blvd.

The 11th Annual Dos Equis XX Monster Bash invades San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter on Saturday, October 29, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. to Midnight. The location of this Halloween block party is 7th Avenue between Market and J Street and on Island Avenue between 6th and 8th Avenues.

This is a 21-year old and up event that will feature live music, plenty of cocktails, DJs, and yes, go-go girls. Once again, the Monster Bash’s Costume Contest promises to be an outrageous affair. The more outrageous, the better! As a special incentive to jump-start your creative juices, consider that this year’s Grand Prize is $3,000! That can buy a lot of treats!

In order to attend the Monster Bash and take advantage of special drink and food specials at participating Gaslamp bars and restaurants, you must purchase a wristband at the cost of $30 in advance or $35 at the door. A $25 VIP upgrade is optional. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, please go online to their website. Please note that there is a service charge when you buy online.

For information, please call (619) 233-5008 or email events@mcfarlanepromotions.com.

Halloween Events Without So Much Haunt

Haunted Birch Aquarium brings the fun of Halloween under the sea on October 21 & 22, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. On these two nights, the Birch Aquarium will be transformed into a haunted aquarium featuring odd encounters with mad scientists and slime, Halloween treats, spooky activities and scary music. This year, the lively music of the popular Zydeco band, Billy Lee & the Swamp Critters, will spice up the event.

Be sure to come dressed in your Halloween costume to get in on the festive mood! Why should the fish have all the fun?

ADMISSION

Members: $12 with RSVP
Public: $15 with RSVP
Door (all): $17
Children under 2 are free.

To RSVP or request more information, please call the Education Department at (858) 534-733 or email them at birchaquariumprograms@ucsd.edu.

Tickets can be purchased online as well. Be sure to scroll down the page to see the details for this event.

Balboa Park Halloween Family Day - Even San Diego’s best known cultural institutions in Balboa Park get into the spooky season. Balboa Park decided to celebrate Halloween on their own a couple of years ago and it’s been so popular that they have decided to do it again. A real treat!

Basically, over a dozen museums will open their doors and offer fun Halloween-type activities on Saturday, October 29, 2011. Best of all, the event is FREE to children, 17 and under, in celebration of the 3rd Annual Balboa Park Halloween Family Day. The fun begins at 11:00 a.m. and goes until 3:00 p.m. Adults still have to pay for their own museum admission but at least the kids get in free.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE! Adults also receive discounted admission when they pick up a Stay-for-the-Day Pass, a one-day excursion pass allowing one adult admission to five park museums for a low price of $35.

Among the highlights of this year’s park-wide Halloween Family Day: a doggie costume contest at the Spanish Village Art Center; a Great Pumpkin parachute drop at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, a Critter Cavern at the Natural History Museum, a Mexican dance performance by Ballet Folklorico Xochitl at the Mingei Museum, and activities that explore local cemeteries and gravestones at the San Diego History Center.

Be sure to check this link for all the information you need to know before you get dressed up and go.

If you have any comments that you would like to share with us and the rest of the monsters, witches, and zombies of the universe, please feel free to provide relevant comments below.

Would you like our latest edition to land in your inbox? All you need to do is subscribe. To subscribe to the blog, look for the SUBSCRIBE button just below the photo on the upper right-hand corner. If you want to find out about things to do in San Diego, go to San Diego Travel Tips.com. We can be reached at: sdtips @ sandiegotraveltips.com For even more information, follow us on Twitter!

James Turrell, Stuck Red and Stuck Blue, 1970, construction materials and fluorescent lights, overall dimensions: 33 x 40 x 33 in., Collection Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Museum Purchase, Elizabeth W. Russell Foundation Funds.

Have the time to take in some amazing Southern California post World War II art in San Diego?

Pacific Standard Time is a highly ambitious and unprecedented collaboration of over 60 cultural institutions across Southern California coming together to celebrate the birth of the Southern California art scene from 1945 to 1980. The art scene was so big during that era that the exhibitions had to be spread over 60 cultural institutions. That’s a lot of art!

It turns out that San Diego was a hotbed of artistic talent during this time. San Diego’s Museum of Contemporary Art is actually one of the oldest contemporary art museums in California and the U.S. – it has been in existence since 1941. San Diego’s art scene has been  contemporary for more than 70 years – not too shabby!

We are so pleased that two San Diego museums will be participating in this mostly Los Angeles affair. The San Diego museums are: Mingei International Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (Downtown San Diego and La Jolla).

As of press time, we were able to take a preview of the exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Downtown and La Jolla. The art collection and the quality of the installation is truly phenomenal. We were impressed with the artists’ ability to play with light, media, depth, and perception. In a nutshell, it is an experience that visitors and residents should take in and experience for themselves. A big thumb’s up!

On that note, we hope that folks from Los Angeles take time to come to San Diego to visit our San Diego-based exhibitions and visa versa. Los Angelenos can take the train to downtown San Diego, exit the historic Santa De Depot, make a left and go right into the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego. The museum is located conveniently adjacent to the train terminal. Want to make it an overnight stay but are concerned you don’t have wheels to get around? Fear not, there is plenty to do in the downtown area without a car. Here is one our articles about getting around San Diego without a car.

If you live in San Diego and want to go to LA to view the various exhibitions in downtown Los Angeles, we suggest that you let Amtrak do the driving for you. Take the Surfliner to LA’s Union Station. Union Station is your final destination and a good number of the museums that are participating in Pacific Standard Time are located in downtown LA. It’s a great way to go!

PACIFIC STANDARD TIME MUSEUMS IN SAN DIEGO

San Diego Craft Revolution: From Post-War Modern to California Design
Oct 16, 2011 – Apr 15, 2012
Mingei International Museum

In Balboa Park, the Mingei’s exhibition related to Pacific Standard Time opened on October 16, 2011 and it is chock-full of objects made by artists living in San Diego at the time of their creation. The art on display, much like most of the items at the Mingei, is for the most part, utilitarian. From wood desks to lamps to neck ties to plates and even front doors, San Diegans were creating beautiful pieces that were ahead of their time. A number of these artists were professors at local universities and community colleges inspiring students to create their own art and make a living doing it.

What we liked most about this exhibition was that this art was bought by patrons who helped support the continued work by these artists. Without a strong customer base, San Diego’s local art scene from the 1960s-1970s would not have grown and expanded. Another interesting part of the local art scene was that a number of the artists were married couples and that most of the artists would socialize together. They encouraged each other to keep experimenting and to keep creating art. This camaraderie reminded us of the current relationship among San Diego’s brewing community that fosters growth and collaboration.

The Mingei’s exhibition features over 60 artist-craftsmen including Toza and Ruth Radakovich, Rhoda Lopez, Jack Hopkins, Arline Fisch, Ellamarie and Jackson Woolley, Larry Hunter, Kay Whitcomb and James Hubbell. The Mingei has put up a list of all the artists on their website – it is an impressive list. They also have an Events Page.

Phenomenal: California Light, Space, Surface
Sep 25, 2011–Jan 22, 2012
Museum of Contemporary Art – Downtown San Diego and La Jolla

The Museum of Contemporary Art’s exhibition crosses both of its museums and will feature the works of 13 artists whose innovative use of industrial materials helped define an era of unique art making in Southern California during the 1960s and 1970s. Downtown’s exhibitions tend to be larger installations than the exhibition in La Jolla so be sure to visit both museums if you want to experience the full exhibition of contemporary art.

When in La Jolla, be sure to stand underneath Spencer Finch’s light-based site-specific installation called Rome (Pantheon, Noon, June 14, 2011). There is a large white dot that marks the spot where the light mimics the light that the artist experienced when was in Rome on June 14, 2011.

Another experience at the La Jolla museum is to go through Bruce Nauman’s site-specific Green Light Corridor heading toward the ocean. We’re not going to tell you what happens but, rest assured, it is worth the journey.

We encourage fans of the arts to go to both museums to take in San Diego’s segment of Pacific Standard Time. The cost of admission is worth it!

If you have any comments that you would like to share with us and the rest of the universe, please feel free to provide relevant comments below.

Would you like our latest edition to land in your inbox? All you need to do is subscribe. To subscribe to the blog, look for the SUBSCRIBE button just below the photo on the upper right-hand corner. If you want to find out about things to do in San Diego, go to San Diego Travel Tips.com. We can be reached at: sdtips @ sandiegotraveltips.com For even more information, follow us on Twitter!

Here in San Diego, and probably in towns and cities across America, when we think of Oktoberfest we tend to think of big German beer-drinking festivals accented with German music, food, and the typical festival booths. This year, much like every other year,we expect thousands of folks to show up to the various Oktoberfest celebrations in San Diego and be German for a day or two.

We appreciate this fall tradition and can attest to the fun and frivolity that come with most of the Oktoberfests in San Diego. Of course, the real deal Oktoberfest started over 200 years ago in Germany. It is now recognized as the “Largest Volksfest (People’s Fair) in the World” – Wikipedia.

Here’s how San Diego will celebrate Oktoberfest in 2011:

(Courtesy Photo) Oktoberfest San Diego

LA MESA OKTOBERFEST 2011 – September 30 – October 2

Many San Diegans think that the La Mesa Oktoberfest is THE only game in town because it brings people from all over the region via car, bus, and trolley. It doesn’t hurt that the City of La Mesa rolls out the barrels in order to spur tourism. Best of all, admission is free!

Friday, September 30th – 11:00 a.m. to 11: 00 p.m.

Saturday, October 1st – 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Sunday, October 2nd – Noon to 5:00 p.m.

Location: La Mesa Boulevard, Downtown La Mesa
*Please consider taking the San Diego Trolley. You can plan your trip here.

MAP

More information for La Mesa Oktoberfest

EL CAJON OKTOBERFEST 2011 – September 30 – October 2 & October 7-9

The German American Society of El Cajon always flies in a REAL oompah-pah band from Germany for both weekends of Oktoberfest. Some swear that El Cajon’s Oktoberfest is the most authentic of all the Oktoberfests in San Diego. Best of all, you have two weekends to take it all in. While small in area, they pack a lot of food, beer, and entertainment into their big party. Street parking is available if the parking lot is full.

TWO WEEKENDS: September 30th – October 2nd, & October 7th – 9th, 2011

Friday, September 30th – 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 1st – Noon to 10:00 p.m.

Sunday, October 2nd – Noon to 9:00 p.m.

Friday, October 7th – 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 8th – Noon to 10:00 p.m.

Sunday, October 9th – Noon to 9:00 p.m.

Admission: $5 for adults 21 and up. Free for military with ID.

Location: 1017 S Mollison Avenue, El Cajon

Directions: From San Diego take I-8 East, turn right on So. Mollison Ave., drive 1 ½ miles to clubhouse on left.

More information for Oktoberfest in El Cajon

CARLSBAD OKTOBERFEST 2011 – October 1

The City of Carlsbad’s Oktoberfest is also very popular with the locals. This seaside city’s annual Oktoberfest celebration features live music, traditional German food and games at Holiday Park.

The event, which goes from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., is FREE but donations are welcome.

Location: Map

Location: Holiday Park is located between Tamarack Avenue and Carlsbad Village Drive off the I-5 Freeway

OCEAN BEACH OKTOBERFEST 2011 – October 7-8

No one can dispute that Ocean Beach does everything differently. If it isn’t the festival you’d enjoy, go out and watch the people. There’s always entertainment in Ocean Beach. They’ll have two stages with live music and the World Famous Sausage Toss.

October 7th – 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

October 8th – 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Location: Newport Avenue at the beach

More information for Ocean Beach Oktoberfest)

TEMECULA OKTOBERFEST 2011 October 8

The 4th Annual Oktoberfest Celebration comes to Temecula courtesy of the Mount Palomar Winery featuring yep, a German band, German music, food, beer, and fun.

October 8 & 9 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

MAP

Location: 33820 Rancho California Road, Temecula

More contact information on Mt. Palomar Winery’s Oktoberfest

JULIAN OKTOBERFEST 2011 – OCTOBER 8 & 9

A favorite autumn ritual of San Diegans is to head for the hills of Julian to go take in a scenic drive and have some apple pie. Here’s another reason to go east to Julian – their Oktoberfest! If you’ve been itching to take a day trip and take advantage of some lovely fall weather then, by all means, please head out to this lovely mountain town.

October 8 & 9 – 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Location: Rabobank Parking Lot, 2033 Main Street, Julian

OLIVENHAIN OKTOBERFEST 2011 OCTOBER 9

Local breweries including Stone with live German music and traditional grub. Fun is free. Food $12-20 Beer will cost you, too.

October 9, 2011 – 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Map

Location: Olivenhain Meeting Hall at 432 Rancho Santa Fe Road in Encinitas.

NORTH PARK OKTOBERFEST 2011 October 22

North Park enters the Oktoberfest festivities this year with their festival scheduled for 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on October 22nd. The whole German scene will be held in the parking lot behind the Birch North Park Theatre. Be on the look out for the traditional stuff: German food, beer, music and the “Chicken Dance.”

Location: 2891 University Avenue

LOOKING FOR THE ENCINITAS OKTOBERFEST & THE RAMONA OKTOBERFEST?

We are sorry to report that this year, Encinitas and Ramona will not be having their Oktoberfest celebrations.

PROST!

If you have any comments that you would like to share with us and the rest of the universe, please feel free to provide relevant comments below.

Would you like our latest edition to land in your inbox? All you need to do is subscribe. To subscribe to the blog, look for the SUBSCRIBE button just below the photo on the upper right-hand corner. If you want to find out about things to do in San Diego, go to San Diego Travel Tips.com. We can be reached at: sdtips @ sandiegotraveltips.com For even more information, follow us on Twitter!

Superman and Comic-Con 2011 San Diego

Comic-Con, the annual festival of animation and the popular arts begins with Preview Night on Wednesday, July 20th, continues with the full convention on Thursday, July 21st, and concludes on Sunday, July 24th, 2011.

During the four days of Comic-Con, an amazing influx of creative people come together to commune with each other. Thousands of people, many dressed as their favorite comic or video game characters, descend on downtown San Diego to interact with each other, to buy and trade collectibles, and to hear the latest news on their favorite forms of entertainment, whether in print, online, or in 3-D.

We have designed this guide to accommodate the needs of a variety of people, including people that will be attending the event, tourists that will be visiting Downtown San Diego during the event, as well as people that live in San Diego and are interested in learning more about it.

First Time Going to “The Con”?

If this is your first time at Comic-Con, let us give you a bit of advice. Despite the largesse of this international convention, attendees are remarkably polite and respectful. Many families attend the convention as part of their summer vacation and many more individuals attend because they are devoted fans of their favorite popular arts. This is prime people-watching and the looking is encouraged, not discouraged. Tolerance of long lines and tolerance of different kinds of costumes is a must. We recommend that you leave your judgement at home and just come to take in the experience.

The Comic-Con Experience

The Comic-Con experience extends beyond the San Diego Convention Center as it literally spills out onto the streets and sidewalks of the Gaslamp District. For example, two years ago, traffic was held up briefly so because an unofficial light saber duel took place.

The San Diego Convention Center is completely consumed by Comic-Con. A map of the various meeting rooms and halls can be found in the official printed catalog or online. Here is an Exhibit Hall Map that you can refer to during your Comic-Con experience.

KÀ by Cirque du Soleil Comes to Comic-Con for Opening Night! – The resident production of KÀ by Cirque du Soleil at MGM Grand in Las Vegas will make their first ever appearance at Comic-Con with a free public performance on the opening night of Comic-Con. Utilizing an unprecedented display of 3-D projection and live performance,  KÀ will transform a brick wall into the site of an epic battle between good and evil.

When: Thursday, July 21, 2011

8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Final Countdown to performance begins on outside of PETCO Park. Please arrive no later than 9:00 p.m.
9:30 p.m. – Performance from KÀ by Cirque du Soleil (time is approximate)

Where: Performance will take place on the outside of PETCO Park on Tony Gwynn Drive.

What Has Changed in Downtown San Diego Since Comic-Con 2010

The Pedestrian Bridge to Nowhere Has Opened! – Remember the bridge construction across from the Hilton Bayfront? It is a pedestrian bridge that was supposed to have been completed in 2010. It wasn’t. After some project delays, the bridge finally opened. What does that mean? You can cross over Harbor Drive (the street in front of the Convention Center) without having to wait at the intersection of the trolleys, the cars, and all those people. It is located just north of the Hilton Bayfront and it lets you out right by Petco Park.

New Restaurants Have Opened in the Gaslamp – Bub’s is a casual place that offers fresh air, cheap beer, and an indoor basketball throwing area. Cafe Sevilla opened in what was once Bondi, the failed Aussie bar. Let’s see if Spanish cuisine and beverages make it in this locale. And last but not least, Hodad’s, Ocean Beach’s legendary burger joint, finally finished construction late last year and has been serving up their tasty burgers, fries, onion rings and frosty cold ones to the masses.

The Gaslamp Quarter Association Welcomes Comic-Con – Although Comic-Con takes place at the San Diego Convention Center, the area that it is located in is called the Gaslamp Quarter. This year, the folks at the Gaslamp Quarter Association have a dedicated a page to the fan boys and fans girls to help them figure out what to do when they are not waiting for panels to start and where to get more interesting grub than the Convention Center’s nachos.

East Village Has a Brewery – Appropriately housed in the old Wonder Bread building (yeast, people), Mission Brewery offers some good local craft beer in a spacious setting. Best of all, the ceiling is high enough to accommodate food trucks inside the building. Can’t beat that. Speaking of food trucks, expect to see more of them this year since the food truck phenomena finally reached San Diego in a big way.

TIP! Wear your Comic-Con badge and/or come in costume and the Mission Brewery will shave $1 off your frosty pint. This offer is good for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. They are located at 14th & L, on the other side of the pedestrian bridge over Harbor Drive.

History Buffs Can Take In a Comic-Con Museum Exhibition – The San Diego History Center in Balboa Park (a short ride away from Downtown) has mounted a display of Comic-Con memorabilia from the personal collection of the founder of Comic-Con himself, Shel Dorf. “Comic-Con: The Early Years, Memorabilia from the Shel Dorf Collection” showcases some of the earliest promotional material used for the Comic-Con convention as well as revealing some little-known facts about one of San Diego’s most treasured annual events.

Hello Kitty! Maneki Neko Beckon You to Balboa Park – The Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park specializes in unique folk art exhibitions representing many cultures around the world. Of particular interest to Comic-Con attendees is the 155 beckoning cat collection called Maneki Neko. It is a fun exhibition and it has proved to be a big draw. The cats are located on the 2nd floor and they are waiting for you to come and raise your paw.

The Food Trucks Are Coming – Yes, San Diego has finally embraced the concept of portable good eats and folks are very excited about these meals on wheels. The good people at San Diego Food Trucks told us that a gaggle of them will convene as a Food Truck Food Court, located at a parking lot near The Con at First Avenue/Island & Second Avenue & J. Here is a map.

Food Truck Schedule: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., although most trucks will be gone by 8:00 p.m.

Please note that the entrance will be off First Avenue, right next to the Comedy Central Interactive Park. Warner Brothers, Disney, and Comedy Central/South Park will also be doing projects in the lot. Fun, fun!!

Celebrity Spotting at Comic-Con 2011

One of the most intriguing aspects of Comic-Con is that famous celebrities attend the convention in costume and sometimes even try out an act with the public. It has become a given that major movie studios and TV networks have come to Comic-Con to show previews and make presentations that showcase cult, favorite and brand new shows. In fact, so many appearances are made that we don’t even have the final list at press time. If you want the latest information, be sure to go to Comic-Con’s ever-changing special guest list.

Panels With Celebrities

Thursday, July 21st Highlights

• 11:15 p.m. to 12:15 p.m. – The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1— Summit Entertainment presents a sneak peek at the highly anticipated next chapter of The Twilight Saga. Exclusive footage from The Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn Part 1; filmmaker and cast Q&A session providing details on the first half of the two-part finale. Location: Hall H
• 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Napoleon Dynamite— Original cast members from the hit indie film including Jon Heder, Tina Majorino, Efren Ramirez, Jon Gries, Sandy Martin, Diedrich Bader and executive producer Mike Scully present a new animated series based on the main character. Location: Room 7AB
• 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. – FilmDistrict Studio Panel— FilmDistrict introduces two upcoming features: Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, a Guillermo Del Toro production starring Katie Holmes and Guy Pearce, and Drive, directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, starring Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Ron Perlman, and Christina Hendricks. Exclusive footage will be presented and a Q&A will be held for both films. Location: Hall H
• 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Game of Thrones Panel and Q&A Session— Based on the bestselling fantasy book series “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R. R. Martin, HBO’s Game of Thrones concluded its 10-episode debut season on June 19. Some of the cast featured in the first season and appearing on this panel are (in alphabetical order) Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Ser Jaime Lannister, Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, Kit Harington as Jon Snow, and Jason Momoa as Khal Drogo. Moderated by George R. R. Martin, who also serves as a co-executive producer and writer on the series. Location: Ballroom 20

Friday, July 22nd Highlights

• 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. DC: Mad about MAD— Featuring short animated parodies, crazy commercials, pretend promos and classic gags inspired by the iconic magazine, join MAD magazine editor John Ficarra, art director Sam Viviano and Spy vs. Spy artist Peter Kuper, along with MAD series producers Kevin Shinick and Mark Marek, for a sizzle reel of laughs from season one, a sneak peek at Season 2, and a Q&A session. Location: Room 25ABC
• 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Epix Pictures: The Captains — William Shatner is joined by fellow Star Trek captain Avery Brooks to present a preview of the EPIX Pictures original documentary produced and directed by Shatner, in which he travels the world to interview all the actors who’ve played Starfleet captains. The discussion and Q&A session is moderated by Kevin Smith. Location: Room 6BCF.
• 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. – The Big Bang Theory Screening and Q&A — The show’s producers and stars return to San Diego with a special screening and Q&A. Executive producers Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady, and Steve Molaro join stars Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik, and Melissa Rauch for a fun and lively discussion.  Location: Ballroom 20
• 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. – DreamWorks: Fright Night— Colin Farrell, Anton Yelchin, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Imogen Poots, Dave Franco, director Craig Gillespie, and screenwriter Marti Noxon take the dais to give fans a taste of the horrific fun to come in DreamWorks Pictures’ 3D reimagining of the classic horror film. Location: Hall H

• 1:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m. – Archie Comics: The Future of Riverdale and Beyond— Archie’s co-CEO Jon Goldwater, president Mike Pellerito, and editor-in-chief Victor Gorelick, iVerse’s Michael Murphey, creators Dan Parent (Kevin Keller) and Michael Uslan (Batman, Life with Archie), and Archie executive director of publicity and marketing Alex Segura (Archie & Friends) present a look into the future of Archie stories, major announcements, special guest stars, digital plans, and much more! Location: Room 23ABC

Saturday, July 23rd Highlights

• 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. – TWIXT: Francis Ford Coppola and Dan Deacon— Legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola and acclaimed musician Dan Deacon present sequences from Coppola’s latest film, TWIXT, and involve the audience in a dress rehearsal of the completely unique and innovative way they plan on performing it. Plus a Q&A session. Location: Hall H
• 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. – Designing the SuperHero Costume: Costume Designers, Costume Illustrators and Superhero Costume Builders— Costume designers work with costume illustrators to translate graphic artists’ renderings into wearable, functioning, cinematic costumes. Hear the inside stories from the people who bring the superhero costume to life. Moderator Deborah Nadoolman Landis (member of Costume Designers Guild, Local 892, costume designer, Raiders of the Lost Ark, director of the David C. Copley Center for Costume Design at UCLA) is joined by costume designers Christine Bieslin-Clark (co-costume designer, Tron: Legacy) and Ellen Mirojnick (G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra), Christian Beckman of Quantum FX, Inc. (specialty costume fabricator, Tron: Legacy, Watchmen), costume manufacturers Mary Ellen Fields of Bill Hargate Costumes (Iron Man 2), and Marilyn Madsen (Star Trek TV series), and costume illustrators Constantine Sekeres (Thor, Green Lantern) and Christian Cordella (GI Joe 2: Cobra Strikes, Captain America: The Last Avenger). Location: Room 23ABC
• 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Further over the Rainbow: A First Look at Dorothy of Oz— Join the author and creator, Roger Baum (great grandson of L. Frank Baum), songwriter, producers, and various cast members of Summertime Entertainment’s Dorothy of Oz, as they discuss the many angles of creating the anticipated new 2012 animated musical starring Lea Michele, Megan Hilty, Martin Short, and Patrick Stewart. Be the very first to see the footage, hear the music, and witness a surprise new casting announcement. Q&A to follow. Location: Hall H
• 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. – HBO’s True Blood Presents the Comic-Con International Masquerade— Fabulous original and re-created costumes crafted by talented attendees appear on stage before an audience of thousands, with impressive awards and cash prizes bestowed to those judged most outstanding. Doors will open for audience seating at 7:45 pm, but the line will start much earlier! Tickets will be required for seating, and will be given out free to those lining up near Ballroom 20 beginning at 2:00 pm Saturday until all tickets are gone. The masters of ceremonies will once again be writer/artists Phil Foglio and Kaja Foglio of Studio Foglio. (Note: overflow seating is available in Rooms 5AB, 6A and in the Sails Pavilion; tickets not required for overflow areas). Location: Ballroom 20

Autographs - Like every year, Comic-Con 2011 will also be featuring a wide spectrum of guests that will be on hand to sign autographs. Located upstairs in the Sails Pavilion, the Autograph Area is the place to go for a special memento from a variety of artists, authors, and actors from every era of popular culture.

The Autograph Area is open from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.

COMIC-CON LOGISTICS

Daily Schedule

• Wednesday, July 21st (Preview Night) – 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (4-Day Memberships ONLY)
• Thursday, July 22nd – 9:30 a.m. to 7:00p.m. *
• Friday, July 23rd – 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. *
• Saturday, July 24th – 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. *
• Sunday, July 25th – 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

* Additional nighttime events and programming run until after midnight.

Comic-Con 2011 Parking Information – Parking in downtown San Diego is limited but there are a number of paid parking lots that you can secure if you arrive early. Don’t bother trying to park at a meter because there aren’t enough long-term meters near the San Diego Convention Center, although you can always give it a try. You can purchase an official Comic-Con Parking Pass in advance and online through Comic-Con. There are various parking lots (both on-site and off-site) that are participating in this demonstration project.

Comic-Con Can Shuttle You for Free – If you are one of the thousands that plan to travel to San Diego for Comic-Con, please take advantage of Comic-Con’s free shuttle service. Comic-Con knows just how impacted parking can get in the downtown area. In order to ease congestion and increase convenience, Comic-Con has chartered specially marked buses to shuttle between various convention hotels and the San Diego Convention Center.

The good folks at Comic-Con have also taken locals into account – even if you’re not staying at a downtown hotel, you can still utilize this service by parking your car at a structure away from the Convention Center and taking the shuttle.

Comic-Con and Public Transportation – The San Diego Metropolitan Transit Service (MTS) will be providing Red Line special event service from Qualcomm Stadium to the Convention Center every 15 minutes all four days of Comic Con. Parking is free and plentiful at Qualcomm Stadium (this is where the San Diego Chargers football team play) EXCEPT Wednesday night due to a special event at the stadium..

Insider’s Tip: Transit riders should purchase a day pass for $5. Better yet, buy a four-day pass for only $15.

Hotel Accommodations – If you have not booked your hotel room yet, be sure to visit Comic-Con’s official hotel information page. Last minute discounts for hotel rooms may be available.

Disabled Services - Comic-Con’s Disabled Services Department’s goal is to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable as possible at Comic-Con. Special attention is paid to attendees who need assistance with mobility and language.

• Wheelchairs are available for loan in 2-3-hour increments on a first-come, first-serve basis at the San Diego Convention Center with a picture ID and a $20 deposit.
• A special rest area for the disabled, elderly, expectant moms, and parents with babies.
• Cold storage of medications.
• American Sign Language interpreters for the deaf during the large panels and the Masquerade.
• Special limited seating for the disabled for large programming events and the Masquerade.

Child Care Services for Comic-Con – Comic-Con has a long-standing tradition of providing a childcare vendor (KiddieCorp) to service those conventioneers who wish to give their kids a break from all the action.

May the Force Be With You – Whew! That was a lot of information to digest (and to write). The Comic-Con experience is just that, an experience. If you have been curious, go. If you haven’t been curious, you shouldn’t even have gotten down this far. If you have been going for years, good for you!

If you have any comments that you would like to share with us and the rest of the universe, please feel free to provide relevant comments below.

Would you like our latest edition to land in your inbox? All you need to do is subscribe. To subscribe to the blog, look for the SUBSCRIBE button just below the photo on the upper right-hand corner. If you want to find out about things to do in San Diego, go to San Diego Travel Tips.com. We can be reached at: sdtips @ sandiegotraveltips.com For even more information, follow us on Twitter!

San Diego Big Bay Fireworks (Photo Courtesy: sailangle.com)

Here’s the quick and dirty information on where to find some of our favorite 4th of July fireworks displays in San Diego in 2011:

Big Bay Boom Fireworks Show

9:00 p.m. The big daddy of them all.  Fireworks explode all around the Big Bay. The colorful display can be seen from Chula Vista, Harbor Island, North Embarcadero, Shelter Island and Seaport Village. The shindig will last about 17 minutes.  Go early and expect traffic. Check the website for more and updated information on shuttles, etc.

La Jolla Cove Concert and Fireworks

9:00 p.m  Fireworks can be seen from La Jolla Shores, Scripps Park and La Jolla Cove.  Parking might be nuts so go early and enjoy the 5:00 p.m. concert.

Lake Murray Fireworks

9:15 p.m. The community of Lake Murray puts on fireworks show over Lake Murray. Lake Murray Community Park, 7001 Murray Park Drive, San Diego.

Mira Mesa’s Fireworks & Activities

9:00 – 9:30 p.m. Fireworks at Mira Mesa High School.

San Diego County Fair Fireworks Show

9:00 p.m.  This is the big fireworks show that takes place at the San Diego County Fair 2011. The fireworks show is free with fair admission.

City of Vista Red, White and Boom Celebration

9:00 p.m. This fireworks show is brought to you by The City of Vista and it will be held at Brengle Terrace Park, 1200 Vale Terrace Drive.

Would you like our latest edition to land in your inbox? All you need to do is subscribe. To subscribe to the blog, look for the SUBSCRIBE button just below the photo on the upper right-hand corner. If you want to find out about things to do in San Diego, go to San Diego Travel Tips.com. We can be reached at: sdtips @ sandiegotraveltips.com For even more information, follow us on Twitter!

San Diego County Fair

San Diego County’s fair features all the normal stuff you would expect to find: garden shows, gadget demonstrations, animal talent and human talent competitions, hobby and craft exhibits, pie-making and pie-eating competitions, carnival rides, talent shows, and live music. All of this happens throughout the picturesque Del Mar Fairgrounds. Suffice to say, a feast for the eyes and ears, not just the stomach.

The 2011 San Diego County Fair will be serving up all the fun this summer from June 10-July 4, 2011.

We always say this because it’s true. Many people, both locals and tourists alike, still refer to this annual summer event as the Del Mar Fair. A few years back, the Del Mar Fair was renamed the San Diego County Fair in order to capture all of San Diego County, and not just the lovely coastal City of Del Mar.

What’s New This Year, You Ask?

The theme of the 2011 San Diego County Fair is “Race to the Fair.”

A new theme exhibit, “Cruisin’ California,” will feature rotating car shows, a NASCAR driving simulator, a “drive” along Route 66 and much more.

A couple of new attractions should strike a nerve or two, especially if you are an avid fan of hot dogs, elephants and/or a smoker who has been wanting to quit.

Pinks! Hot Dogs from Los Angeles will be opening up a booth this year. If you are a foodie, you know that these dogs are real weiners! Take that, Swifty Swine!

The fine folks at the Fine Art area will be setting up a Pachyderm (as in elephants) Painting Exhibit. Paintings will be done by a very talented elephant will be part of a special display. Best of all, proceeds will be donated to charity.

Have you been wanting to quit smoking but are at a loss? Why not take advantage of the free smoking cessation hypnosis offered twice at the San Diego County Fair this year? Longtime hypnotist, Mark Yuzuik, will conduct two stop-smoking hypnosis sessions on two Wednesdays, June 15 and June 29, from 3:00 p.m. to -4:00 p.m. in the Turf Club. Best of all, this event is free with admission to the Fair.

FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD!

Let’s face it, most people go to the San Diego County Fair to sample the food and well, let’s be honest, pig out. Fairgoers can take comfort in knowing that there is a lot of ground to cover and a lot of fish to fry at the San Diego County Fair so you will be getting some exercise. Last year, all the rage was about the chocolate-covered bacon and the fried butter. We haven’t heard what the latest trend is for this year’s fair but we’re sure the local press will let us know.

Money-Saving Tip: If you really want just a taste of all the goodies available at the San Diego County Fair this year, plan your visit for a Tuesday. We really like the “$2 Taste of the Fair Tuesday” which allows you to graze through participating food vendors’ booths and sample a cream puff, a fried zucchini, some freshly fried potato chips, Texas-sized doughnuts, deep-fried Twinkie, etc. Maybe we should just call it “Fat Tuesday”…

We’ve got much more information about the San Diego County Fair in our annual article on our travel website, SanDiegoTravelTips.com.

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Would you like our latest edition to land in your inbox? All you need to do is subscribe. To subscribe to the blog, look for the SUBSCRIBE button just below the photo on the upper right-hand corner. If you want to find out about things to do in San Diego, go to San Diego Travel Tips.com. We can be reached at: sdtips @ sandiegotraveltips.com  For even more information, follow us on Twitter!