The Two Biggest Wine and Food Festivals Coming to San Diego Fall 2024

August 21, 2024Local Wally2 Comments

San Diego Wine & Food Festival versus Del Mar Wine + Food Festival

We are so damn lucky in San Diego. We have numerous wine and food festivals throughout the year, so many that it’s hard to choose which ones to go to. As we round the corner this Fall of 2024 there are two of the biggest festivals coming - First up is the Del Mar Wine + Food Fest with their Grand Tasting event held over two days on Oct 5th and 6th, then followed by the San Diego Wine + Food Festival with their Grand Tasting event on Nov. 2nd.

With two competing large festivals, what’s the difference between the two? Let’s break it down.

DEL MAR WINE + FOOD FESTIVAL

Grand Tasting Oct 5th and 6th, 2023. Additional events such as chef dining experiences starting Oct 2nd.
Location: Grand Tasting at Del Mar Surf Sports Park, aka the polo fields. MAP
Overview: Two days of Grand Tasting with some different food vendors on each day. Tickets range from $165 for standard admission to $425 for access to the VIP tent for either Sat or Sun. Coming both days will cost $275 for standard admission and $775 for VIP. And yes, there’s early entry options as well. HERE’S THE OFFICIAL TICKET INFO
THE LOWDOWN: This is the second year for this event but last year the crowds were very manageable and the food quality off the charts. The VIP tent was pricey but worth it which is not always true at other events. A lot of people came for both days last year which doubles the fun but not the price.
Wally Says: The photos below should show you what I’m talking about when I say the food at this event is over the top. While so many “food festivals” leave you feeling a bit hungry and trigger that haunting “was that worth it?” question as you walk back to your car, the Del Mar Wine + Food Festival goes overboard with insanely good food and huge portions to boot. Lobster roll? OK, I’ll have another. Wait, a full size prime beef burger? Yes please. Oh no, oysters? More than an otter can eat? Sushi that’s not a California Roll? Bone Marrow with a shooter?? The list goes on and on and on and every bite was so delicious. All thriller, no filler.
PRO’S: Easy parking, huge event space so you’re not bumping into people around you, food is easily the best I’ve ever had at an Wine and Food Fest.
CON’S: Not on the water, vibe is a tad more restrained outside of the VIP tent but that could change this year as the word gets out what a great event this is.

DEL MAR WINE FOOD FEST TICKETS

SAN DIEGO WINE + FOOD FESTIVAL

Grand Tasting Nov 9th with other foodie events such as a Michelin Guide Baja food and wine expedition and cooking classes starting Nov 2nd.
Grand Fiesta Nov 10th at Liberty Station park. A smaller festival featuring just tacos and plenty of beverages and live music.
Location: The Grand Tasting is the big event and held at Embarcadero Marina Park North, also known as the big grassy area behind Seaport Village and on the bay. MAP
The Grand Fiesta is held at Liberty Station Ingram Plaza which is the big park in the middle, can’t miss it. MAP
Overview: This is the 20th anniversary for this event so expect them to pull out all stops to make this the most impressive event ever. The week starts with plenty chef lunch and dinner experiences, trips to Baja, San Diego neighborhood food tours, but the Saturday Grand Tasting is the event that most people think of when you mention the San Diego Wine and Food Fest. Standard admission is $215 and of course there’s an early entry option for about $50 more which is always worth it. The VIP tent gets you additional food and drinks and access to the dance floor with live music and is $370. HERE;S THEIR OFFICIAL TICKET INFO
The Grand Fiesta, aka Taco TKO, is my favorite smaller event, a very manageable festival with so many tacos there is no way you can try them all. The standard admission is $106.50. You can get early entry if you just can’t get enough tacos or consider it if you want to just hang out with the live music and friends all day.
THE LOWDOWN: This is the wine and food fest that started it all and if I’m being honest it got a bit “light” during the Covid period, which can be expected. But last year they bounced back with an incredible and impressive spread and tons and tons of good wines, beers and spirits to try. I think they’re going to be hard to beat this year since it’s their 20th anniversary. My hopes and expectations are high and I’m pretty confident they’ll exceed them.
As for the Grand Fiesta what’s not to love about tons of tacos in a laid back setting?
Wally Says: Celebrity chefs, a beautiful bay side setting, glorious San Diego fall weather, and lots and lots of great wines and food bites make this a San Diego essential event. It’s like a giant party with unlimited hors d'oeuvres and stellar people watching. This is the original San Diego food and wine festival and I expect great things from them on their 20th anniversary. Don’t pass over their events the happening the week before - some very cool options ranging from Thai cooking classes to exploring the culinary scene in some of San Diego’s iconic neighborhoods.
PRO’S: Great location and people watching, has a strong San Diego vibe that’s fun whether you’re in your 20’s or 70’s. Feels like a celebration event.
CON’S: Can get crowded and the food tends to be more happy sized (which is not necessarily a bad thing if you want to try it all). Parking can be expensive if you don’t Uber (highly recommended!)

SD WINE FOOD FEST TICKETS

which is better? the del mar wine + food festival or the San Diego Wine & Food Festival?

You don’t really expect me to answer that, right? I mean, both are really, really good options and if your calendar is free and your budget says YES then do both. I think you’ll find that each one has a bit of something unique to offer that makes them both worthwhile. Being only the second year, after blowing it out last year I expect that Del Mar will be even better this year as they really want to put their name on the map. But come on, this is the 20th anniversary for the San Diego Wine and Food Fest so I am ready for them to really do some over the top stuff.

I will say that the San Diego Bay location is hard to beat so if I would give them an extra point there. There’s something so traditional, at least in a San Diego way, to tasting wine and savoring the sunshine (and food) right on the bay before the holiday season starts. In some ways it does signal the kickoff of the holidays.

But Del Mar is no slouch and the food, oh my God, the food was just so insanely good last year that I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time. And if crowd size is a consideration the event is held on such a large area that you can spread out with very quick lines for food and drink, which is nice.

I guess I’m going to have to take the easy way out and tell you that both festivals are worth your time and money and if you only go to one, well, don’t worry too much about it as both are so good that there really is no wrong decision here.

DID YOU GO TO EITHER EVENT LAST YEAR? Leave a comment below!

Mabel's Gone Fishing: What to Expect from San Diego's Hottest Seafood Restaurant

July 23, 2024Restaurant Review, restaurantsLocal WallyComment

Michelin Guide Recognized Mabel’s Gone Fishing has been called San Diego’s hottest new seafood restaurant and getting a table is difficult indeed, especially if you want to sit inside which is where the action is. We couldn’t get reservations but popped in and found some seats at the bar, a good strategy for those who procrastinate or don’t plan ahead.

MABEL’S GONE FISHING

3770 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104

(619) 228-9851

AT A GLANCE: Small plates with high price tags, trendy and vibrant restaurant filled with a young crowd of locals. Can get pricey if you are not strategic in ordering.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT MABEL’S GONE FISHING

So while Mabel’s gets a lot of attention and accolades as San Diego’s best and hottest new seafood restaurant it’s not exactly what you might expect. No fish and chips, no fish tacos, it’s not that kind of place. Instead think oysters and crudo, cheeses and charcuterie, all served tapas style.

We started off with a couple of different Gin and Tonics, their signature drink. I like watching bartenders who take their craft seriously and these were serious G & T’s, $16 each and worth it. Oysters were up next and with no price on the menu we ordered a half dozen. Of course, excellent quality and for the price conscious they were $3 to $4 apiece. Very tasty, worth it. Ambiance was very young and lively, noisy and festive, it’s the kind of place you rave about if you found it on vacation in some exotic location. There are some quieter outside tables on the sidewalk but that’s no fun, sit inside if you can.

Excellent oysters at Mabel’s Gone Fishing

Those who know me know that my brain is like a non-stop calculator so right around now I started looking around to see what others were ordering to see if I was choosing the best bang for my buck.

Of course this is futile for a first timer as I had no idea what to expect but the people next to me were served a full plate of goodies, bread, beans, crudo, a giant piece of fish, wines, dessert, I mean the food just kept on coming. Had I understood the menu better I would have opted for what they had, the chefs tasting menu at $85 pp with wine pairings at $45. At first that might seem ultra expensive but they left with food on their plates so the quantity of food was as impressive as the quality, something to think about.

Their crudo looked good so I ordered some for $18 and it was de-lish-ous. But serving size was small, so be forewarned. I swear what they had on the Chef’s menu was much larger but I didn’t want to be rude and keep staring at their food.

The person on the other side of me was a repeat visitor and had oysters, the crudo, and the whole fish that included the fish collar. That plate was impressive and at $50 one of the best picks. The two of them shared it and kept going on and on about how good it was (shut up, I know I should have gotten it). The plate wasn’t happy sized either, it was a full size entree so that’s something to consider.

Clams, a bit salty but still very tasty and cooked perfectly. That’s the $9 bread in the background.

We ordered the clams and bread at $26 and $9. The clams honestly were a bit salty but that happens and the bread, while good, was perhaps overpriced since you basically got 3 pieces of toasted bread for $9. The people next to us were getting served dessert in their tasting menu and I was very jealous.

Glasses of wine were about $14 to $15 apiece, a lot of options though the wine menu is very unique and I had no idea what each one was so don’t be shy about asking. In the end we spent $180 for dinner for two after tip.

IS MABEL’S GONE FISHING WORTH IT?

Absolutely worth it but with a caveat - if you have tons of money just keep ordering and you’ll have one of the best meals in San Diego. I don’t have tons of money so if I went again I would do what the people on either side of me did - either order the Chefs Menu at $85 and eat like a King (or Queen), or get some oysters and the whole fish and call it a day for a tab of about $75. I wasn’t unhappy with my selections, don’t get me wrong, but I could tell that the people who have been here before knew what they were doing and ordering smarter than I did.

One of the signs of whether a restaurant is worth it is whether you want to go back or not and I am totally ready to go back. I also want to give a shout out to their incredible staff and manager who helped us with a lost gift card, something most restaurants would have just claimed there was nothing they could do. That’s really something these days and I thank you again.

CALIFORNIA WINE FESTIVAL RETURNS TO SAN DIEGO JUNE 20-21 2025 - Carlsbad Park Hyatt Aviara Resort

July 15, 2024Local WallyComment

San Diego has a hidden gem of a wine festival and it’s returning this June, 2025, to the Carlsbad Aviara Park Hyatt Resort. It’s big enough to be fun, the crowds are smart and sophisticated, the wine as plentiful as the San Diego sunshine. I go every year because it’s just so easy to have a good time and unlike the other larger wine and food festivals it’s priced so you don’t have to think twice. Before I forget, here’s the basic info you need:

CALIFORNIA WINE FESTIVAL

DATE: JUNE 20-21 2025,

LOCATION: CARLSBAD PARK HYATT AVIARA RESORT

TICKET INFO CLICK HERE

Cal Wine Fest — Poggio Leano Winery from Temecula

what to expect at the california wine festival in carlsbad

The California Wine Festival is broken into two parts - the first is a fancy sunset reserve wine event, very nice and a great event for wine lovers. The second is the “beachside” event, though the beach is a few miles away for those of you not familiar with the Park Hyatt Resort. Still, you won’t care as you walk from booth to booth sampling wine after wine. All the wine regions in California are here, from local favorites from Temecula to Paso Robles and Napa and Sonoma. You can go basic and sample it all at the various booths, perhaps stopping for a bit to listen to the live band, or go VIP and relax at a table and enjoy some of the reserve wines.

Interspaced with the wine booths are food samples, from insane fried chicken to decadent ice crea,. Want to see what I ate?

SHOUT OUT TO GUS’S FRIED CHICKEN AND JENI’S ICE CREAM!

The California Wine Festival isn’t like some of the giant wine AND food festivals where the food and wine share the billing. Wine is definitely the star here but there’s plenty of food to keep you from going hungry and I have to give a huge shout out to Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, possibly the greatest fried chicken you will ever have and I love fried chicken. It’s hot out of the oil, crispy, juicy, insane. And they give you full size pieces. Next year I’m heading straight to their booth and getting in line again and again.

Jeni’s Ice Cream has to be some of the best ice cream I’ve ever had, certainly as good if not better than Salt & Straw with a location near the La Costa Resort and another in North Park. The Birthday Cake was a funfetti delight and so good I went back twice. I know, this is a wine fest and I should be drinking wine but Jeni’s ice cream was so good I totally forgot about the wine for a while and just indulged.

The VIP tent has a few more options for food and reserve wines and is worth the extra cost if you want a shady table to kick back and relax with. Though there is something to be said about going from booth to booth and trying them all.

Inside the VIP tent at the California Wine Festival

Is the California wine festival worth it?

Are you going to make me talk about the fried chicken and ice cream again??? Of course it’s worth it. Tickets were just $65 in 2024 and for that you got to sample dozens and dozens of wines, bask in the sunshine, dance a bit to the band, it’s the perfect San Diego Saturday. Add to that free parking and unlimited fried chicken and ice cream… OK, I really liked Gus’s friend chicken and Jeni’s ice cream! But yes yes yes, the pricing for the event is cheaper than a couple of tasting flights at a winery and can you put a price on how much fun you’ll have? Love it!

Were you there?

A few highlights of all of the wines I tried. Yes, I tried them all! (lie)

How to Build Your Own Taylor Guitar

June 20, 2024Local WallyComment

Welcome to the Taylor Guitar Factory Tour

If you play guitar then you know all about Taylors, the fancy guitar built in San Diego country in El Cajon. Recently they started up their factory tours on Fridays and I was lucky enough to snag a ticket. I grabbed my Instax Mini Evo camera to capture all of their secrets and want to share them step by step so you can build your own Taylor!

TAYLOR GUITAR FACTORY: 1980 Gillespie Way, El Cajon, CA 92020

TOURS FRIDAYS AT 11:15 AND 1:45: Free Tickets

STEP ONE: GET SOME WOOD

Find the nicest wood you can get and lay it out so it dries to the proper humidity. If you have a large garage just stack it up. Rosewood and Koa are nice, just use what you can get.

Wood planks used for Taylor guitas — Start with some good wood. Koa is nice.

step 2: glue the wood

Now that you have the wood planed and ready to go, glue the wood to form one larger piece, making sure that the seams match up to form mirror images for the back. If you have a handy carousel like this one you can glue multiple guitar pieces at once. The glue should be dried in 45 minutes. While you wait move to the next step.

step 3: Make the necks

Fairly straight forward, build the neck using three pieces of wood and pieced together at the proper angles for optimum strength. Sand them nice and smooth and insert hardware for the truss rod.

Once you are satisfied with the neck move to the next step and gently install the frets. This is done by feel so take your time.

Installing frets on Taylor Guitar — Install the frets

Step 4: cut the body shape out

Pull out that laser you bought yourself but never used and cut out the top and back of the guitar. Take your time as this part has to be perfect or it won’t be a Taylor guitar.

STEP 5: INSTALL ROSETTE

Next step is to simply install the rosette around the soundhole. You might want to get a bit of help on this part if your laser skills are not that good. The final result below. It’s starting to look like a guitar, you’re almost there.

Worker at Taylor Guitar installing rosettes

STEP 6: ASSEMBLE THE BODY

Add internal bracing and glue up guitar. Once glued place into your robotic sanding machine to buff out the finish. The final result should look like this below. If you’ve gotten this far good work! Make a final check of the body before moving on.

Inspecting the body of a Taylor guitar — Checking out the handiwork of a well crafted Taylor

Step 7: assemble neck to body

Once you attach the neck to the body it’s time to set it up with strings. Congratulations! You just built a Taylor Guitar! Hang it on the wall with your other Taylors.

SAN DIEGO WINE FESTIVAL IN CARLSBAD AVIARA JUNE 28, 29, 2024: LAST MINUTE DISCOUNT TICKETS!

June 20, 2024Local WallyComment

California Wine Festival in Carlsbad, CA (San Diego)

Discount Tickets Now Available for the CALIFORNIA WINE FESTIVAL!

Time is running out so let me be quick about this. The CALIFORNIA WINE FESTIVAL is a wine and food fest held at the Park Hyatt Resort in Carlsbad, CA. The event runs June 28th to the 29th and I have discounted tickets!

There are two events:

SUNSET RARE AND RESERVE TASTING EVENT: Guests are invited sip on fine wines and taste a variety of delicacies at the beautiful Park Hyatt Aviara Resort Golf Club & Spa's - The Gardens. This is an elegant VIP event for true fine wine lovers, located in one of San Diego County's most beautiful coastal cities – Carlsbad. The limited number of tickets sell out quickly (due to the rarity of the wines being poured). A sparkling wine reception is just the prelude to an evening of sampling rare and reserve wines, some already out of circulation and impossible to find are poured, to an adoring crowd dressed in their finest casual/elegant resort wear.

BEACHSIDE WINE FESTIVAL: VIP/Early Entrance @ 12PM and General Admission at 1PM. The quintessential California wine tasting experience – sun, sea, food, wine and music – all come together at this sun-splashed wine fest overlooking lush rolling hills with the shimmering Pacific beyond at Park Hyatt Aviara Resort's Heron Lawn. By 1:00 pm the joint is jumping at this Camelot-like white-topped tent village. Wine oenophiles will find hundreds of fine wines, regional craft brews and a dizzying variety of foods to sample. Artisanal cheeses, breads, olive oil, as well as shellfish, salads, chocolates, cakes, and more! A live band keeps the beat for this all-day feast for the senses where wine and food are king and queen.

GET DISCOUNT TIX NOW

WHY DOES LOCAL WALLY THINK THIS IS POSSIBLY THE BEST WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL IN SAN DIEGO????

OK, I know there are other larger Wine and Food Fests in San Diego and I love the all but there’s something about the California Wine and Food that makes me double love it. First off, unlike the other festivals that are huge and require a bit of thought and planning the California Wine Festival is straightforward. You park right there next to the resort and unless they changed it this year parking is free. There’s no massive queuing and nervous anxiety before you get in, you just get in a short line and you walk in.

And now the best part - you want wine, you walk up and get wine. You want food, you just grab it. That’s because unlike other events where it can get as busy as the midway at the San Diego Country Fair on a holiday weekend, the California Wine Festival is very manageable, crowded enough to be festive but easy enough to get what you came for, namely wine and food!

And the wine! The food! All good stuff and all normal portions, no happy sized samples here. I mean, the fried chicken booth (best fried chicken to rival Thomas Keller) was handing out full chicken thighs. No tiny tacos but full sized tacos. And you can go back again and again to get more without having to think about the length of the line.

What a deal!

And bottom line is the price - the standard ticket is just $65 with the discount which is a steal. Have you priced out wine tasting lately? Hall Wines, who will be there, charges $40 per person at the winery but it’s included with your ticket price and unlike the winery you can ask for more. And more!

So look, I’m just going to say that you should go. If you like wine, if you like food, if you’re looking for a fun event to hang out with friends at, then do this one. You won’t be sorry, I really love the California Wine Festival!

California Wine Festval Coming JUNE 28TH and 29TH, Carlsbad Aviara Park Hyatt - What Wineries Will Be There? Worth It?

May 15, 2024Local WallyComment

Good times at the California Wine Festival at Park Hyatt Aviara in Carlsbad, CA

The California Wine Festival is one of my favorite wine and food fests in San Diego. It’s more low key, more manageable, more relaxed than some of the other big events. You want wine, you walk up and get it. More food, no problem. And the north country beach vibe is all over this event, it’s really a great way to spend an afternoon with friends or neighbors.

And don’t worry that the wineries are second rate - You’re sure to find a ton that you love including wineries from Napa, Sonoma, Paso Robles, as well as some local wineries. Here’s the list:

Adobe Road Winery

Austin Hope Family Wines
Barlow Vineyards
Bellante Family Winery
Bernardus Winery
Darcie Kent Estate Winery
Doffo Winery
Double Bond Wine
Dracula’s Daughter Prosecco
Esfuerzo Wines
Goldschmidt Vineyards
Hall Wines
Harvey & Harriet
Hawk and Horse Vineyards
Head High Wines
King Frosch Wines
Kubani Wines
Lloyd Cellars
MCV Wines
Michael Mondavi Family Wines
Miner Family Wines
Navarro Vineyards
New Zealand Wine Navigator
Pamec Winery & Vineyard
Pasmosa Sangria
Poggio Leano Winery
San Simeon Wines
Santa Rita Hills Wine Alliance
Sinegal Estate Winery
Tehachapi Winery
Wente Vineyards
Wine Guy & Wine Gal

The event extends over two days. Overlooking expansive lush green vistas beneath string lights at Park Hyatt Aviara Resort’s The Gardens, Friday evening kicks off with a Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting, a special experience for wine enthusiasts. A sparkling wine reception begins the evening of sampling hard-to-find reserve wines and offers tasting room exclusives and limited-production wines descending from vineyards based in California’s world-class wine producing regions. Popular North County restaurants will serve delicious hot and cold appetizers to pair with the decadent wines.

During the evening event, guests will have the ability to participate in a silent auction, bidding on coveted items such as exotic wines, tasting tours and dining certificates. Proceeds from this auction will benefit Golden Rule Charity, an organization dedicated to helping people in the hospitality industry during unexpected hardships.

The Next Day….

The next day, this wine tasting experience continues with a Beachside Wine Festival taking place at Park Hyatt Aviara Resort's Heron Lawn. The festivities will allow guests to improve upon their wine education and exploration through intimate conversations and tastings with winery representatives hailing from California’s world-famous wineries as well as culinary talent from the region’s most lauded restaurants. Guests will have the opportunity to experience hundreds of premium California wines and regional craft brews, paired with bites from the many culinary establishments present. The VIP Pavilion will feature a selection of reserve-level wines as well as craft brews along with special seating adjacent to the resort’s award-winning golf course overlooking the Batiquitos Lagoon nature preserve.

Insane Food at the California Wine Festival

Don’t forget about the food!

Top-tier restaurants from North San Diego County and beyond serving delectable appetizers to accompany the festival’s exquisite wine selections include: aficio22, Aquamar California Rolls, Beshock Ramen, Bluewater Grill, Carlsbad Cookie Company, EPAA! Empanadas, Farm Fresh Home Foods, Gino Angelini Authentic Italian Sauces, Goufrais Southern California - Cocoa Confection, Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken, Icelandic Glacial, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, Kelly's Croutons, Kerrygold, Krave Asian Fusion Restaurant, Mendocino Farms, Orfila Vineyards Tasting Room & Kitchen, Ponto Lago, p.o.p. candy co., Prager Brothers Artisan Breads, Savory Bites, Señor Grubby's and Grubby's Poke, Seven Barrels Olive Oils and Aged Italian Balsamics, Swoon, Torsap Thai Kitchen Carlsbad, and Waterloo Sparkling Water.

Tickets start at $65 - that’s a steal when you compare this to other wine and food festivals charging $200 to $400 per person!

Get Tickets Now

Legoland is a RIP OFF - Or is it?

January 17, 2024Local WallyComment

I’m going to be honest here - I live near Legoland and when they said they were going to build a theme park back in 1999 in an area more known for flower fields and strawberries I was highly skeptical. Now I will date myself here and say that as a kid we didn’t have Legos. In fact, my own kids who are now grown also didn’t have Legos. I was thinking that perhaps they just weren’t popular yet but I just read that in 1971 they were one of the best selling toys in the US and today Lego is one of the largest and most profitable toy companies in the world.

So damn, I guess I just wasn’t in the loop. I guess they have been very, very popular for a very, very long time and I’m the idiot who didn’t know. But can a theme park based on Legos really be any good? Is it a rip off, or an alternative to Disneyland?

Lego Official Site + Tickets

Is Legoland a Rip Off?

If you go to the official Legoland site there are currently tickets for $84. I’m writing this in January 2024 so if you’re coming in Summer it might be different, but that’s what it is right now. If you go to the official Disneyland site the tickets for ages 3 to 10 are $160 and $169 for 10+, nearly double the price. If you put yourself into your kid’s head they don’t see Legoland versus Disney the way you do as an adult. At the end of the day they just want to have fun and either park does that so if you have kids 10 and under it’s a no brainer, go to Legoland. Not a rip off!

Lots of kiddie friendly rides for sure, but some pretty decent roller coasters as well. The Ninjago ride is also super fun for older kids, so if you have a 12 year old you don’t have to worry too much about them being too old. By 13, hmmm, they might want Disneyland so start saving up.

Legoland is also adult friendly with a parking lot that isn’t so huge you need a shuttle bus to get you to the entrance and GPS to find your car later. And when it’s time to go there are lots of good restaurants and breweries and bars close by so you can take your mind off plastic blocks and come back to adultland if only for a while.

For more info on Legoland prices and events go here!

Jewel & Melissa Etheridge at The Rady Shell, San Diego, July 23, 2024 - Show and Ticket Info Here!

January 17, 2024Local WallyComment

Photo Courtesy of Rolling Stone Magazine

JUST ANNOUNCED – On July 23, 2024 the San Diego Symphony will present Jewel & Melissa Etheridge at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park™ as part of their co-headlining 19-city tour.

Jewel went from a girl who grew up with no running water on an Alaskan homestead, to a homeless teenager in San Diego, to an award-winning, multi-platinum recording artist who released one of the best-selling debuts of all time. Throughout her three-decade-long career Jewel has sold over 30 million albums worldwide and has earned 26 nominations for such awards as the GRAMMY® Awards, American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and Country Music Association Awards. Jewel has been featured on the covers of Time and Rolling Stone, and has performed on Saturday Night Live, at the Super Bowl and the NBA Finals, for the Pope and the President of the United States.

Melissa Etheridge stormed onto the American rock scene in 1988 with the release of her critically acclaimed self-titled debut album, which led to an appearance on the 1989 GRAMMY® Awards show. Her popularity grew around such memorable originals as "Bring Me Some Water," "No Souvenirs" and "Ain't It Heavy," for which she won a GRAMMY® in 1992. Etheridge hit her commercial and artistic stride with her fourth album, Yes I Am (1993). The collection featured the hits, "I'm the Only One" and "Come to My Window," a searing song of longing that brought Etheridge her second GRAMMY® Award for Best Female Rock Performance. In 1995, Etheridge issued her highest charting album, Your Little Secret, including the hit single, "I Want to Come Over." Her success that year led to Etheridge receiving the Songwriter of the Year honor at the ASCAP Pop Awards in 1996.

Please note: The San Diego Symphony Orchestra does not appear on this program.

Ticket Info

Tickets for the concert go on sale on Friday, January 19th, 2024 at 10AM, at www.TheShell.org

WHAT: Jewel & Melissa Etheridge

WHEN: Tuesday, July 23, 2024 | 7:30PM

WHERE: The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

A Grandpa Goes to Legoland - What to Expect and top Tips

January 9, 2024Local WallyComment

GET DISCOUNT TIX FOR LEGOLAND HERE!

If you have a child or grandchild under the age of 12 and you’re anywhere near San Diego or Carlsbad or even Orange County just know you’re going to have to go to Legoland. My childhood had no Legos - we had trees and bikes and dull stuff like that. Today’s kids have seemingly unlimited amount of Legos, a never ending supply of them, and a full theme park that’s a bit like winning a golden ticket to the Wonka Chocolate Factory.

But before I go too far here’s a handy link to get Legoland tickets and to see the specials. You’re going to want to pay attention here as Legoland can get pretty pricey so check the link and see if there are any deals. And yes, I theoretically get paid if you buy tickets through me (though it’s not happened yet!) so support my website if you can.

I took my 5 year old grandson to Legoland and I think he would live there if they let him. Legoland is filled with rides including three decent roller coasters (not too scary but pretty good for adults), a bunch of kid friendly rides like a submarine or miniature cars that kids can drive by themselves, an aquarium, and plenty of places to build Legos.

Ninjago is the big ride, an immersive experience where your car is taken through a ride filled with interactive giant screens of Ninjas that you get to “fight” by waving your hands in front of the car. I took my grandson to this last year and it was so intense that I doubt he will ever go on it again.

And that leads me to GRANDPA TAKEAWAY #1: No matter how much fun you think your grandchild will have on the rides there is no way they will like it better than going to one of the zones where you build Legos or going to one of the giant play areas with slides were they can run around. Here’s how my day went:

Grandpa: Let’s go on this cool ride!

Grandson: No thanks, I’m building a boat made of Legos to send down the river.

Grandpa: Look, you can shoot snakes and villains on this ride that looks like Indiana Jones!

Grandson: No thanks, I’m busy digging in sand looking for dinosaur bones.

Basically, this is their day and if you thought you were going to be going on all the cool rides it’s not going to happen unless they want to do it, and chances are they are just as happy building a race car as you might be riding the big coaster.

When it came time for food there weren’t a ton of options - decent but pricey BBQ, overpriced hot dogs and burgers, pizza and pasta, and ramen that might make adults happy but guaranteed to be ignored my my grand kids (even if they begged for it, I know how this works!). This leads us to GRANDPA TAKEAWAY #2: So Legoland is not like Disneyland where there are plentiful food options so I suggest you bring in your own snacks and some Jersey Mikes. Here is their official policy:

Food or beverages (water, small snacks and items required for medical, religious or specific dietary purposes are permitted) Coolers larger than 6-pack size (coolers no larger than 12” x 10” are permitted) Coolers of any size with wheels. No glass containers (baby food containers are permitted)

I know, that doesn’t seem to be complete sentences but basically just put your food into a tote bag.

You will never be able to leave this areas once your grandchild finds it.

In the end a trip to Legoland is a dream come true for the small ones. It’s not going to be like Disneyland but if you have fun watching your little one or grandchild has the time of their lives then is there really a better way to spend the day?

Official Ticket Info

It doesn’t take much to keep the little ones happy at Legoland

Every child’s dream is to someday grow up and work at Legoland to show off your minifigure collection.

Visit San Diego Tidepools with Birch Aquarium Experts January through March 2024

December 9, 2023Local WallyComment

Tidepool Adventures with the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography

I love going to the tide pools in San Diego looking for little crabs or sea anemones. In my youth I would poke them with my finger but I’m nicer now. I mean, we all get poked a bit too much these days, am I right? A lot of times I go and find NOTHING so I was really glad that Scripps aka Birch Aquarium is launching a guided tide pool tour this Jan -March, 2024.

TICKETS GO ON SALE DEC 15, 2023 - HERE’S THE LINK TO GET THEM.

From octopuses to sea stars, hermit crabs and sea anemones, there is no shortage of life in San Diego’s tide pools. Starting January 20, nature lovers will have the opportunity to explore local tide pools with a naturalist from Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego with the return of Tidepooling Adventures.

During the 90-minute outing, guests will discover incredible animals that live in the intertidal zone, the rocky area that is exposed during low tide. Guests will also learn to safely navigate slippery rocks and spot the most elusive creatures in this rugged environment.

“Winter is the ideal time for exploring tide pools,” said Cari Paulenich who leads outdoor programming for Birch Aquarium. “Tidepooling is a great outdoor activity that allows us to observe amazing animals in their homes.”

Our local tide pools are home to an amazing variety of animals including snails, mussels, urchins, sea stars, small fish and octopus.

“Tide pools can be found in many coastal areas of California, including in our local marine protected areas (MPAs). We want to encourage all visitors to tidepools to be ocean stewards and help protect these spaces,” said Paulenich. “Through responsible tidepooling practices, our exploration of these barnacle-covered rocks and piles of seaweed brings a whole new appreciation for this rugged habitat,” she continued.

Tickets for Tidepooling Adventures go on sale Friday, Dec. 15 and make a great experience gift this holiday season.

The weekend excursions begin on January 20 and run select Saturdays and Sundays through March. Dates and times vary based on tides. Tickets are $20 for aquarium members, $25 for the general public and advanced reservations are required. Participants must be at least 3 years old and minors must be accompanied by a paid adult. For more details or to purchase tickets visit https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/tidepooling-adventure.