so what’s happenin’, mama? (3 mar)

thursday, march 3

6pm-11pm.  Celebrate Women’s History Month with Dia de las Mujers art show at The Front, Casa Familiar’s San Ysidro gallery.  Tonight’s exhibition includes musical guests, women in business and the arts, food and drink, and craft fair.

friday, march 4

1pm-5pm.  Rigpa San Diego Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Center hosts open house and Losar (Tibetan New Year) celebration welcoming the Year of the Iron Rabbit.  Event celebrates food, music and community, including potluck with Tibetan dumplings and milk tea, “to celebrate the day with authentic flavor.”

saturday, march 5

3pm –5pm.  Laud local Good Food Award Winners with food sampling at Ish favorite Tender Greens.   Several San Diego food crafters, including Tender Greens, The Linkery, and Chuao Chocolatier, were recognized in the inaugural year of the Good Food Awards for their contribution to the sustainably-produced artisan food scene, with top prizes going to Tender Greens and Chuao.  Local participants and Slow Food Urban San Diego will be on hand with samples to discuss their offerings.  $30, tickets limited.

sunday, march 6

4pm –7pm.  Okay, I almost didn’t tell you about this Irish Whiskey and Beer Tasting at California Center for the Arts Escondido, but there’s really only so much whiskey one gal can drink.  Or so they tell me.  Enjoy Irish beer and whiskey sponsored by the Holiday Wine Cellar, Bushmills, and O’Hara’s,  three Irish (inspired) bands, and art featuring life in Ireland.  $15/person; $25/couple, proceeds benefiting art education. 

monday, march 7  

5pm –7pm.   Happy hour at Whiskenladle.  Enjoy tapas like Patatas Bravas or Soft Polenta with Braised Chicken & Slow Egg for $3 each with a bottle of wine (25% off) or a pitcher of sangria ($20).  Repeat.     

tuesday, march 8

Looka, my friends.  Tuesday is Mardi Gras.  There are many things to love about San Diego, but our Big Easy offerings in general and Mardi Gras celebrations in particular are not among them.   If you must venture out, perhaps go early for Proper Gastropub’s specialty cocktails and King Cake contest starting at 5pm, then catch the 7:30 showing of Dr. Strangelove at the Pacific Cinema downtown.   Should you get too close to the official Gaslamp event, just be sure to watch your footing while you sidestep puking co-eds and douche-bros wearing Mardi Gras beads (courtesy of Party City) piled carefully around popped collars.  Oh, but you might get a chance to scope out The Crystal Method on the main event stage, which would be great if your Mardi Gras plans also included travelling back in time to 1997 when they were cool.  Also ’cause, you know, nothing says “Mardi Gras” like “The Crystal Method.”  Or instead, why not settle in at home with friends and make yourself up a big batch of Crab Mornay or try your hand at Chicken Rochambeau?   You could enjoy a sazerac or two while you watch Nick Cage in Port of Call as he (and his hair) chew up all the scenery that survived Katrina.

wednesday, march 9

5pm-9pm.  Every Tuesday and Wednesday, the Farm House Cafe offers their entire wine list at half off.  This month, they’re also celebrating their 3 year anniversary by offering a 3 course menu, including a Trio of Duck starter, Spring Lamb entrée, and White Chocolate Mousse dessert  every day for $33, which sounds like just the ticket for spreading your Fat Tuesday celebrating out an additional day while observing some Lenten fiscal restraint.

Oh, and if you’re still feeling a bit rough from the previous evening’s celebrations, perhaps start your Wednesday out with some cajun hair of the dog?  A Ramos Gin Fizz is, after all, a breakfast drink.

 

so what’s happenin’, mama? (17 feb)

thursday, february 17

9pm-12am.   Mad Men Thursdays at The Pearl.   Throw on your best vintage 60’s party gear and head to The Pearl for their weekly Mad Men party.  Mad Men on the big screen over the pool, 60’s jams, and specialty “Mad Men” cocktail menu.  Email carcher@thepearlsd.com for the chance to win a $100 Mad Men party food and beverage credit.

friday, february 18

5pm – 8pm.  Fifty Seven Degrees Wine Bar is hosting San Diego’s largest (and, uh, first?) mobile food gathering ever.   Our friends over at San Diego Food Trucks speculate that Friday’s event will see feature debut of two new delicious, delicious trucks! 

saturday, february 19

5:30pm – 9:30pm.  The San Diego Chinese Historical Museum’s 15th Annual Banquet celebrates Yuan Xiao Jie (Lantern Festival) at Pearl Restaurant.  Musical performances, silent auction, and a ten-course Chinese feast.  Tickets start at $60 to celebrate fifteen years of preserving Chinese culture and history in San Diego. 

sunday, february 20

10am.  San Diego Mycological Society celebrates all things mushroom at  their annual Fungus Fair at Casa del Prado in Balboa Park.  Event includes mushroom cultivation and cooking demos.

1pm – 2:30pm.  Curds and Wine hosts free hands-on winemaking event at their Clairemont Mesa location.  Class goes through all of the basic steps of making wine from kits, from start to bottle.  RSVP at the link.

monday, february 21

4pm – 12am. Classic Cocktail Party at URBN to celebrate the release of their Classic Cocktail menu.  Check out URBN’s Facebook page for the details and a list of classic cocktails that will be $6 all night.   If you were looking for a place to wear your suspenders, bowler hat, and handle-bar moustache while eating coal-fired pizza and drinking a Sazerac, this is your night!  Extra points if you arrive on an old time-y bike.

6pm.  With more than 75 combined years in the meat business, Stan Glenn (master meatcutter and supervisor of meat operations at Iowa Meat Farm and Siesel’s Old-Fashioned Meats) and Chris Brill (Chef Instructor at San Diego Culinary Institute and Chef at Siesel’s and Iowa Meats) present meat information and tasting at Great News cooking school.  $59.

wednesday, february 23

3pm – 7pm.  Adams Avenue Certified Farmers’ Market.   Fruits, vegetables, eggs, fresh baked bread and pastries, fish, meat, cheese, flowers, spices, olives and sauces, local artists and craftspeople, live music.  Check out the San Diego Farm Bureau for a complete daily listing of farmer’s markets around town.

thursday, february 24

7pm.  Dinner with 6 Strangers.   Fifth in the series, this three-course, family-style meal at Alchemy offers paired dinner and drinks and conversation with 5 people you’ve never met, with the goal of  uncovering “a well of conviviality, with deep pots of food and laughter.”  Reservations at the link – this event is limited to 3 tables of 6, so sells out early.  $48.

 

so what’s happenin’, mama? (3 feb)

 

thursday, february 3

5:30pm-10:30pm. Wine Vault & Bistro offers a final opportunity to sample some their best selling reds for all of 2010 with a $20 prix fixe and $10 wine pairing.  If you haven’t been to Wine Vault for their $20 tasting menu, you are missing one of the best deals in San Diego.  Nori braised beets with nettle pistou, sous vide tri tip, and 34-year-old px sherry float with housemade butterscotch ice cream for $20?  Yes, please! 

 

friday, february 4

3pm-7pm.  Mission Hills Certified Farmers’ Market, W Washington St & Falcon St, San Diego, CA 92103.  Check out the San Diego Farm Bureau for a complete listing of farmer’s markets around town.

 

saturday, february 5

6pm-9pm. Temecula Valley Slow Food’s 4th Annual 100 Mile Dinner.  All principal ingredients in this five-course dinner will be sourced from within 100 miles of the Temecula Valley and each course paired with Ponte Family Winery wines.   $100 a ticket with proceeds benefiting Slow Food in school programs in the Temecula Valley (via Gayot).

 

wednesday, february 9

6:30pm-9pm.  Beer & Cigars at Stone Brewery.  $65 gets you cigars, food, and Stone brews. 

 

saturday, february 12

12pm-5pm.  Pizza Port Carlsbad Brewbies Festival!  20 local handcrafted beers plus a special edition Pizza Port pink beer. 100% of the proceeds go directly to Keep a Breast to support their efforts to increase breast cancer awareness among young people.

1pm-5pm.  For the Love of Chocolate.  Downtown Escondido festival will include vendors, chocolate pairings by local breweries and wineries, champagne garden with live music, and beer & wine bar.  Tasting tickets are $20 for 10 tastes.