Upon entering the event, a smiling volunteer hands me a wine glass. “Hope you find your love,” she says. I smile back and tingle with excitement at the sight of neat rows of white tents, each housing a unique taste for my tongue. Music from the live band and playful chatter of those around me begin to seep into my consciousness. I make my way from exhibitor to exhibitor, letting the crisp juices of Grigio’s and Chardonnay’s cool my palate. Here and there I pick up an appetizer and pop it into my mouth. It’s a warm and sunny Saturday evening in North County, and I am happy.

While this is the only the second annual Rhythm & Vine event, the beneficiary of the event, the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Greater San Diego region, has been serving at-risk youth for over 65 years. The mission of the Boys and Girls Clubs is straightforward: to provide a positive place for kids where youth of all backgrounds are inspired and enabled to realize their full potential as healthy, productive, responsible, and caring citizens. This is accomplished through a range of activities from sports to picnics, all organized by volunteers. Proceeds from the Rhythm & Vine fundraiser will directly augment the number and quality of activities the Boys and Girls Clubs host for youth.

“It’s a win-win for everyone,” said Terese Charlson of PRP Wine International, “For instance, Rhythm & Vine gives us a chance to showcase our personalized wine service while allowing people to try new and delicious wines!” A lady next to me chimed in, “I used to be in the Boys and Girls Club and just like it got me involved in after-school sports, this event is getting people involved in something good!”

As event-goers realized, indulging for the sake of indulging is one thing, but indulging in the name of charity is a uniquely satisfying situation. When I asked Kelly Golden, with Hotcha Salsa, how charity plays into her company, she held up a jar and told me that a percentage of the profit from that salsa goes to a non-profit. “Sure,” said Ms. Golden, “part of the reason we are here is to show the public what we have to offer. But, we are extremely happy and excited to be at this particular event because our presence contributes to the quality of the event, so more dollars can be raised for the Boys and Girls Clubs.”

The sky is dark now, but the bright aisles between tents are still lively and bustling with people laughing and drinking. As I continue my circuit, I move on to smooth Pinot Noirs and Merlots. It is near closing time, and the exhibitors are becoming more liberal with their samples. An obvious thought runs through my head: a person with a belly full of food and drink is usually happy. More importantly, when hundreds of happy people are together, they create a positive atmosphere that makes you feel good inside. The beautiful pairings of wine and appetizers certainly filled festival attendees with happiness, and this emotion is felt by the hundreds of others around me. I am relaxed, comfortable, and content. I gently hold the stem of my wine glass; the bowl is filled with my new-found favorite wine. Glowing in the warm ambiance of Rhythm & Vine, I raise the glass and think to myself, “what better place to find love?”

On Saturday, April 17, 2010, The Seany Foundation and Pacific Athletic Club are partnering to put on their 2nd Annual Charity Poker Tournament and Casino Night to raise funds for The Seany Foundation’s patient care projects and pediatric cancer research at Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego and Moores UCSD Cancer Center.

The Seany Foundation was founded in memory of Sean Lewis Robins (December 27, 1983- November 17, 2006), who was unfortunately diagnosed with Sarcomas cancer.

The Seany Foundation is dedicated to funding research to help find cures for pediatric cancers, especially sarcomas, and improving the quality of life for children and teens battling cancer.

The 2nd Annual Charity Poker Tournament and Casino Night is promising to be tons of fun for all local families and friends. Casino games will include sit-n-go poker, roulette, blackjack, and craps. Complimentary food will be provided, and beer and wine will be offered for purchase. If you think you’ve got what it takes to participate in the no-limit Texas Hold ‘em tournament, the grand prize will be $500 cash and a waived entry fee to the next Seany Lew tournament. The top five players will all receive prizes, so be sure to bring your poker face! All guests can exchange their chips for raffle tickets as well.

The Seany Foundation is doing a great job giving back to the community and encouraging local friends and families to join them. Their immediate goals are to raise $2 million to put in place an endowed Research Chair (head researcher) at Moores UCSD Cancer Center, and to raise $100,000 to build the first “teen activity room” in the oncology wing of Rady’s Children Hospital in San Diego.

Come help The Seany Foundation and Pacific Athletic Club achieve their goals, and have a great time while doing so. The tournament will begin promptly at 7:00pm, and doors will open at 6:00pm. Tournament space is limited, so early registration is highly recommended. You can register for the tournament here. And for more information about The Seany Foundation, visit their website www.theseanyfoundation.org.

Photo from Omar Omar via Flickr

A pillow case made to look like a Ku Klux Klan-style hood was found draped over the statue of Theodor Geisel at the same spot where celebrations for the man otherwise known as Dr. Seuss were going to take place for the famed author’s birthday. The event had already been canceled as a result of the recent racial turmoil.

The statue that stands outside of the Geisel library was found with a white pillowcase “crudely fashioned into a KKK-style hood with a hand drawn symbol” draped over it, according to a statement issued by the University. A rose was also inserted into the statue’s finger. The discovery was made at around 11 pm Monday night and UCSD police are conducting an investigation.

The statement says that the items found on the statue will be processed for evidence including DNA and fingerprints, to find who is responsible. It also quotes UCSD Chancellor Marye Anne Fox who says “we will not allow this incident, or any other incident, to deter the progress we are making to change and heal our university community.”

This is the latest incident that has come out of the controversy that started with the off campus “Compton Cookout” party two weeks ago. Tensions escalated with the airing of the student-run Koala TV show that ridiculed the outrage about the party and used a racial slur.

On Monday, UCSD’s student newspaper The Guardian printed an anonymous apology letter written by the person responsible for hanging a noose in the school’s library last Thursday. The person identified themselves as a female minority student and the newspaper stated that they verified her identity.

The student states that the incident was a “mindless act and stupid mistake,” and that it was not intended to be an act of racism. The student also explained that it was a friend that tied the piece of rope she had found earlier in the day into a noose and says that she “innocently marveled at his ability to tie a noose, without thinking of any of its connotations or the current racial climate at UCSD.”

The letter also stated that the student felt “ashamed and embarrassed” when she heard that the noose had been discovered and believed to be a racist act and that she immediately called the university police to confess.

She admitted that she had been suspended and according to the San Diego Union-Tribune she may also face criminal charges. The student apologized and stated that “as a minority student who sympathizes with the students that have been affected by the recent issues on campus, I am distraught to know that I have unintentionally added to their pain.”

As a result of the uproar, a community forum titled “UCSD On My Mind: Education is a Civil Right” will be held Wednesday at 6 pm at Mt. Erie Baptist Church. The event is being organized by The Urban League of San Diego County and the National Council of Negro Women along with other groups. The forum will feature UCSD Chancellor Fox, San Diego City Councilman Tony Young and other prominent San Diego leaders.

The discovery of the noose along with the previous incidents are drawing national attention to the university, including articles in the LA Times and condemnations from California leaders including Governor Schwarzenegger. UC leaders are also speaking out about the incidents at UCSD and other UC campuses.

The UCSD police department announced on Tuesday evening that they have filed the noose investigation as a possible hate crime with the San Diego city attorney and they also consulted with the San Diego County District Attorney’s office and the FBI on possible criminal charges according to the Union-Tribune.

Photo from Novemberwolf via Flickr

According to reports, King often runs in the Rancho Bernardo Community Park. The park lies on the southern shore of Lake Hodges and includes trails that weave through hills and connect to Lake Hodges.

Search crews were dispatched last night and today the search continues. San Diego County search teams have enlisted special canine units to aide in the search and boats have been brought north to assist in the search on Lake Hodges.

Rancho Bernardo-area residents have been contacted and alerted to report if they have seen the teen. In this time, we ask that all members of the San Diego community remain alert. Anyone with information on King is asked to report to the sheriff’s department (858) 565-5200) or the county Crime Stoppers (619-531-2000). King is white, around 5 feet 5 and 115 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Anytime someone goes missing, residents of San Diego should be on high alert. Times like these remind us to stay alert and take proper safety precautions.

Every day thousands of San Diego residents enjoy running or walking on the hundreds of trails our city has to offer. While running outside is far nicer than hitting the treadmill, there are far more risks. Please be careful and head this advice:

• Run outside during daylight hours, especially if you’re alone. At night, wear reflective clothing and always run with a partner or in a group.
• Always run in familiar areas, or areas with other runners and hikers.
• Refrain from running with headphones. If you must, keep them at a low volume or in one ear so you can be aware of your surroundings.
• Carry an ID, emergency contact information, and a cell phone with you.
• Buy and carry pepper spray
• Take a self defense class
• Always trust your instincts. If you feel unsafe or uncomfortable, seek refuge as soon as possible.

Noose found at Geisel Library

On Thursday February 25, 2010, a noose was found hanging from a bookshelf on the seventh floor of the UCSD Geisel library. This tragedy the third controversial incident in the past two weeks condemned by UCSD faculty and staff.

The first controversy being the “Compton Cookout” party and the second its subsequent Koala broadcast that used highly offensive language and called those who were outraged by the party “ungrateful.” A student called into the police department this morning at 9am to confess putting up the noose,  according to the school’s vice chancellor.

These events have caused a major uproar on the university’s campus, and action has been taken by authorities. Minority students were quick to act upon these occurrences, and they a declared “state of emergency” on February 19 as they met with campus administrators.

Today, February 26, a rally was held as a response to the noose incident. The predominant theme of the rally being that it is not okay to hang a noose in a public university’s library in 2010 or any other time.  Many students and professors from many ethnicities/backgrounds spoke (white, Latino, from UCLA, black professors, Latino professors, high school students/teachers) all united by this horrendous action.

It is clear that racial tensions at UCSD are not just about the Compton Cookout anymore. These events are evidence of an entrenched system where words and actions have been decontextualized and where people feel like it’s part of their freedom of speech to hang a noose in a public library.

Members of UCSD’s Black Student Union issued 4 pages of demands, one of which includes building a safe haven for black students to go when feeling threatened or intimidated. Faculty responded by holding a teach-in on Wednesday, and 300 outraged students came together for a rally in the Price Center. Some read poetry and others spoke to their peers about the importance of racial unity and harmony.

Many students feel threatened because of all the racial tension on campus, and several students have raised their voices about how these issues are not to be taken lightly. Black students make up less than 2% of the university’s population.

The UCSD Principles of Community reads:

“We value the cultural diversity of UCSD because it enriches our lives and the university. We celebrate this diversity and support respect for all cultures, by both individuals and the university as a whole. We are a university that adapts responsibly to cultural differences among the faculty, staff, students, and community.”

Contributing writer: Sarah Alaoui

Landmark UCSD Library by Ken McCown via Flickr

A party thrown by members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity called  the “Compton cookout”, has been stirring up a lot of turmoil at UCSD. (**Correction** Pi Kappa Alpha denies involvement in the event, although they acknowledge that individual members of the fraternity may have attended)

Yesterday, the funding for 33 student media outlets on campus was temporarily frozen after a TV show that ridiculed the outrage over the party aired last week.

The show was broadcast by the Koala, a humor publication that has printed racist comments since the early 1980s, testing the limits of First Amendment rights.

The show in question involved members of the Koala criticizing black students of being ungrateful and using a derogatory term for blacks.

The whole controversy began on February 16 when the invitation for the “Compton cookout” began to be publicized. The invitation told partygoers to wear cheap baggy clothes, chains and other clothing stereotypically thought to be worn by rappers and black males.

The invitation also told invitees to talk loudly and for women to act like “ghetto chicks-Ghetto chicks usually have gold teeth, start fights and drama, and wear cheap clothes…” the wording from the invitation was circulated by offended students and verified by UCSD officials.

Tensions have been mounting on campus due to the decision of administrators not to punish the fraternity members responsible for the party. Jeff Gattas, UCSD’s Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs stated on February 16 that because the party was not a UCSD sanctioned event, they had no reason to penalize the students.

According to The Guardian, UCSD’s student newspaper, as of February 22, administrators are investigating whether the students involved in the party planning violated the school’s code of conduct. News that comes after the racial slur was broadcast on the school’s channel 18 and the Black Student Union submitted a six page list of demands to the university.

On February 19, 200 students participated in a protest led by the BSU. That same day, the controversy reached Sacramento where assemblyman Isadore Hall, (D-Compton), issued a statement: “These acts of racism and sexism will not be tolerated in California or anywhere in the United States, I stand with fellow legislative leaders in publicly condemning those responsible for this act of hate and demanding full accountability for their actions.”

The whole incident is garnering national attention for UCSD and not helping its struggle to recruit more black students and professors. Currently only 1.3 percent of undergraduates are black. The school is trying to do as much damage control as possible. Over the past weekend the university created the website battlehate.ucsd.edu and is having a “Teach-in” today from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

Christie's Place Boomers flyer

There’s never a right or wrong time to reach out a helping hand and give back to the community. Christie’s Place is a local San Diego non-profit social service organization that has been supporting, educating, and advocating for women, children, and families impacted by HIV/AIDS since 1996. On Saturday February 27th, 2010 from 6-10pm, Christie’s Place will be partnering with Boomers in Clairemont Mesa for a charity event to help support their organization and services. Each guest will be given a blue flyer that serves as a promotional coupon; with the flyer, guests can purchase unlimited attraction bracelets (excluding batting cages) for $15.95, originally priced $27.95. All proceeds from the event will be donated to Christie’s Place.

Christie’s Place strives to empower their clients to take charge of their health and well-being by providing various social services and activities, from educational support groups and meetings to Salsa dance classes and communal shopping days — most of which are offered in Spanish as well.

The organization fosters leadership skills for women and encourages them to take active responsibility of their health by providing assistance for obtaining easily accessible health care. Other services offered by Christie’s Place include a resource library, computer lab, mental health services, adult toiletries packages, baby care packages, haircuts, and much more. There is also a strong support system that encourages women to voice their opinions about AIDS/HIV policies and services, for hope of a more aware and accommodating community.

Christie’s Place if a friendly and comfortable place for many families to go. According to some Christie’s Place kids, “the playroom is the best, they have good toys” -age 6, and “walking into Christie’s is like walking into a home, warm, where people care and stop what they are doing and really listen” -age 14.

Stop by Boomers on February 27, 2010 from 6-10pm to have some fun with the family and help a great cause as well.

For more information about Christie’s Place, visit their website.

Boomers! San Diego
6999 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 560-4212

Video puts you in touch with the characters; you can see the action in dimensions. With the technological advances we have had in the last few years, your lap top, phone and PC are well equipped to stream videos quickly. The appeal of online video is striking, and 2010 has been named by many “the year of video”. In ode to the phenomenon, the Entertainer will be scaling the walls of the internet to bring you the most recent San Diego video.  From the hilarious, to the informative we want to share the video endeavors of our fellow.

Red Riding Hood Rap

The Media Arts Center in San Diego added another video to their Digital Story Station. In this edition of San Diego Stories, Dr. Annjennette McFarlin and Linda Brown, from the Black Storytellers of San Diego, Inc., rap the classic story of Little Red Riding Hood along with guest storyteller Peggy Rainey. Continue reading for the video.

The Media Arts Center in San Diego mission statement;

MEDIA ARTS CENTER SAN DIEGO promotes access to film and video as tools for community self-expression and social change and supports the professional development of media artists.

The organization is “changing lives through film”. Check out their energetic, musical rendition of the classic story of Little Red Riding Hood uploaded today.

Yun Zi at the San Diego Zoo

On January 6th, five month old panda cub Yun Zi made his official debut.

San Diego is home to five giant pandas. Well, an entire giant panda family including Yun Zi’s father iGao Geo, mother Bai Yun, and sisters Su Lin, four, and Zhen Zhen, two.

Officials at the Zoo hope that Yun Zi serves as an ambassador for the endangered species. Yun Zi has already showed a lot of character. The panda cub has been seen falling off tree’s while trying to climb and relentlessly showing San Diegan’s that you have to get back up!

Debut Wednesday, January 6:

Yun Zi Panda Update Wednesday, January 13:

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders

Mayor Sanders covered the San Diego city deficit, Chargers and “going green” amongst other hot topics in his State of the City Address January 13th, 2010.

With the play off games upon us, keeping the Chargers in San Diego is more important than ever. As the news that we may lose the Chargers looms, Sanders responds;

“The Chargers are a regional asset, with a tangible impact on our economy. As it happens, they also are a pretty good football team, something the rest of the country will realize soon enough.

So let’s talk about the Chargers. They want a new football stadium. They’ve agreed to partner with us to explore sites. And it’s no secret that they could leave San Diego for another city, virtually anytime they choose.

These two issues – whether they get a new stadium and whether they stay in San Diego – have hung over this City for too long. They need to be resolved, one way or another.

This is an issue where many are inclined to draw lines in the sand, rather than seek common ground.

I trust people know where I stand. I believe the Chargers are San Diego’s team, and that they belong right here in San Diego County.

I also know that I was elected mayor to protect the taxpayer and restore our fiscal integrity. My priorities have not changed, and I’m not about to squander four years of hard work and achievement would take for them to decide to stay. We are subjecting each step to careful analysis, including the future of our existing stadium site and the drain it creates on our budget. This is not something the city can do alone, and we are grateful to our county government and representatives of other cities for regional leadership.”

Sanders’ also expresses his interest in taking San Diego green;

“Our children will grow up in a City that has harnessed clean energy to power our homes and protect our beaches and bays. In the coming months, I’ll be asking our City Council to cast a series of votes in support of our CleanGeneration program, which will double the size of our solar sector and boost green businesses that retrofit homes and provide them with renewable energy.”

With the economy in California at one of its worst states in history, and San Diegans trying to stay optimistic the Jerry Sanders State of the City Address should resonate into the community.

Sanders’ reminded us why San Diego represents America’s Finest City with some 100th entertainment anniversaries we’re celebrating this year;

“This year is the 100th anniversary of the San Diego Symphony, the pioneer of our vibrant arts community that brings untold pleasure to people of all ages and interests. Today our theaters have a direct pipeline to Broadway. But we are still inspired by those early arts patrons who brought culture to a frontier town of wooden-wheeled wagons and hard-dirt roads.

This is the 100th anniversary for The US Grant Hotel, still a majestic downtown landmark, despite a bumpy start that included the developer running out of cash during construction. Civic embarrassment was averted when forward-thinking San Diegans put up the money to finish the job.

It wouldn’t be the last time that community pride and investment savvy would go hand in hand.

This year is also the 100th anniversary of the naming of Balboa Park, the moment an expanse of raw land gained its identity as a world-class treasure, one that would be enjoyed by generations. One hundred years ago, a gathering like this one tonight probably involved preparing for the 1915
Panama-California Exposition. That event transformed Balboa Park into an international showcase, but also was designed to lift the local economy from its doldrums.”

Text of speech source: voiceofsandiego.org

What do you think?

With all the beautiful women in San Diego, who glow from the inside out, America’s Finest Ent has stepped up to create a competition that sheds light into every genre of female fortune. America’s Finest Ent is a San Diego based company that brings San Diego hip hop buzz, music and clothing to the people. They call it ‘real entertainment,’ and were established in 2006.

America’s Finest Ent has announced that the America’s Finest Ladies competition will be comprised of “fine” ladies from all around San Diego. Fine means much more than O.K.; according to Urban Dictionary it is defined as attractive, beautiful, sexy and hot.

Potential America's Finest Lady Jennifer Silva

The America’s Finest Ladies winner will be selected based on the number of votes she receives on the America’s Finest Ent website this Fall. Each candidate will have a profile for people to check that will include her pictures, a brief bio and FAQ about her.

The goal is for people to judge their choice not only on who they think has killer looks, but also a good background and fun personality.

The outstanding thing about America’s Finest Ent is that they recognize that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. They’re encouraging candidates to have their friends and family vote, and rally to spread the word.

While the competition and company does not have anything against your typical ‘Miss World Pageant,’ they choose to take a different approach. As one organizer stated, “it’s about the real women out there, not just the girls you see in magazines. We want all females, whether aspiring actresses, models, or your San Diego girl next door, to have an opportunity to win a great prize and awesome title.”

It’s reported that the prize package has an initial value of over $500 but more sponsors are stepping up and pledging their certificates to make a stellar prize for the winner.

America’s Finest Ent will award the title and prize package to the America’s Finest Lady 2009 winner at I-Z-I-C’s album release party.

I-Z-I-C will be dropping Inauguration, his highly anticipated first solo album, this Fall presented by America’s Finest Ent. The grand show with an extended set by I-Z-I-C will also feature some other great San Diego hip-hop and alternative acts.

The final deadline for entry into the America’s Finest Lady 2009 competition is October 15th, 2009  at mid-night. Visit the America’s Finest Ladies 2009 page to learn more.

Interested ladies can e-mail pictures and brief bio to apply at ladies@americasfinestent.com.

Courtesy of La Mesa Village

Leave the brew at the bar and buy it at Ocean Beach for this year’s annual Oktoberfest! All month long Oktoberfest is coming to a sundry of San Diego cities, includingEl Cajon, La Mesa, Julian, Carlsbad, Ramona, but it’s the Ocean Beach celebration that beer and beach lovers just can’t miss!

Saturday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Newport Avenue will burst alive with two stages of live music, a Bavarian beer garden, games, and of course, succulent sausages, brats, and the traditional, yummy favorites of an authentic German Oktoberfest.

This boisterous, fun-loving festival began in Munich, Germany in 1810 to honor one of the country’s royal families, but quickly led to an annual affair.

Starting in early October and ending with a great horse race in mid-October, the 16-day spread was Germany’s yearly chance to enjoy the balmy, cool temperatures of fresh fall weather, the coming together of thousands of German citizens, and the delicious, crisp tastes of the scores of German-made beers.  While basking in the sunshine, festival-goers could leave their work behind and take pleasure in games, music, food and friends causing them to work up quite a thirst!

Courtesy of Barvarian Holiday

Almost two hundred years later, Oktoberfest has become the world’s largest festival, popping up all over the international scene and bringing together enormous amounts of beer connoisseurs each year.

In 2007, Munich’s Oktoberfest had 6.2 million attendees, went through almost 7 million liters of beer, and had 14 massively-sized tents full of fun activities.

Imagine partying with 6 million people? A number like that may be a bit more than us laid-back San Diegans can handle, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a party of our own!

Courtesy of Winstons in OB

Here in San Diego, we can we sip (or chug) our cold brews in the warm sun and cool ocean breezes. The glistening waters of Ocean Beach transform San Diego’s Oktoberfest into a one-day-getaway many would kill to attend.

In addition to the sounds of crashing waves, visitors will be rocking out to the acoustics of popular bands such as 40 Oz. to Freedom and Way Cool Jr. Many more are scheduled to perform on the two stages set up this year.

In addition to music and beer, both adults and kids can enter and compete for $10,000 in cash and prizes in festive games. With annual favorites like the 5k run, OB Brat Trot, and world famous Sausage Toss, participants are sure to take home lots of laughs, Kodak moments and lifetime memories.

So pull out your lederhosen, dirndls and steins, bring a hearty appetite and allow yourself indulge in all this fun, affordable and family-friendly festival brings to the beach!

Don’t want to drive? Don’t worry — a free shuttle runs from 710 Beach Club in Pacific Beach to OB all day long so festival-goers can avoid traffic, parking, and irresponsible driving.

Call Ocean Beach Mainstreet Association at 619-224-4906 or visit oboktoberfest.com for more information.

Illustration of Blue Horizon provided by Sea World

Children sat in the soak zone anticipating the down pour that was to be brought on by the loving porpoises. People sat in amazement as the high-flying dolphins  jumped to astounding heights. Music echoed in the back-ground as the park gleamed in the San Diego summer sunlight. It is an end of era, and time to reign in a new time for Sea World in San Diego.

Sea World recently unveiled its new amazing dolphin show, set to launch in May of 2010. The new endeavor is not new to the Sea World foundation, but is new to San Diego. The show, which has been incorporated into the Florida location, is now making its way to San Diego and is called “Blue Horizons.”

The longest running show since the park opened over 45 years ago, the dolphin show has become a beloved tradition at the park. Yearly, thousands would come to the show to see man and beast come together in an amazing spectacle of beauty. As time went on, the show has become a staple in all attendees’ event schedules at the park.

The booming success of the original dolphin show prompted a new idea known as Blue Horizon. After first launching at Florida’s Sea World, it is now coming to the shores of San Diego.

Bill Hoffman, the head trainer of the dolphin show, says that Blue Horizon “really is going to be a combination of acrobats, birds, dolphins, spectacular aerial behaviors and water effects.  It’s going to be a show that nobody has ever seen before. There is a similar version in Florida, but this one is going to be bigger and better than that.”

According to Hoffman, The Blue Horizon show at San Diego Sea World will not have a “limited number of birds,” like its predecessor in Florida. San Diego’s show will “have over 150 birds,” Hoffman states.

The birds that will be included will be Black Vultures, African Crown Cranes, Corralled Bills, Pigeons, and Green Winged Macaws. The incorporation of these birds is on a larger scale than the show in Florida in many ways according to Hoffman.

“Instead of flying six macaws, we will be flying 20 to 24 Corralled Bills… so it’s a lot of variety, unique species, and a different combination of birds throughout the whole show.” The scale on which the San Diego’s Blue Horizon show will be is going to amaze and shock the crowd. Florida may have been the beginning, but San Diego is the future for this show.

Not only will the show be changing how it is conducted and what is going to be presented to the audience, the stage as well will be going through an evolution as well.

Illustration of Blue Horizon provided by Sea World

In order to make the changes to the stage, animals will have to be moved to various locations in the park. “Then we are going to demolish all the rock work; it’s all going away. We ‘re going to start off with a fresh clean look; we’re going to add a 250 to 270 foot truss that goes across the front of the pool. Also, all the way from the back of the stage to the top of the sound booth, we’re going to have a new audio system – state of the art. There will also be spectacular fountain effects and additional seating for more people to have the opportunity to see the show as well.”

The show is undoubtedly going to be one of the biggest that Sea World has ever done, it is much larger in scale than the old dolphin show and is going to set a revolutionary change in the park as one of the greatest aquatic spectacles to date.

What about people who think you shouldn’t “fix something that isn’t broken”? Hoffman reiterated that the reason for the change is that “they are taking advantage of the success that Blue Horizons has had in Florida,” and despite the highly rated 13 year program at their park, they “want to end on a high,” and they don’t want “to wait for it to start breaking down.”

As entertainers and enthusiasts of animal behavior, “they always want to have new ways of demonstrating the animals’ abilities, their intelligence, and the spectacular nature of dolphins. Now we have the ability to do that with birds as well.”

The show will be the avenue for handlers to show people exactly what the animals can do. The new venue and stage will be the grandstand in which Sea World San Diego will embody that tradition of education, along with a highly entertaining show.

In order to deal with the highly arduous task of coordinating all the animals to participate in the show, a slew of new trainers and employees will come to work on the event. The expansion of the dolphin family, from “14 to 16 female dolphins,” Hoffman says, is one of the reasons the show is bringing on new trainers for the task. “The complex water work” that the show will involve also requires new trainers. The complexity of the show is the main reason for the boost.  They need the trainers to get the dolphins ready and prepared for the show.

The Blue Horizon show will run six shows a day beginning in May of 2010. The show will be monitored and evaluated in its success among the community and how well it is doing in its first stages of syndication.

“By 2011 we will have a unique and spectacular night show combined with Blue Horizon’s; it will be a great package here at Dolphin Stadium,” Hoffman announced. He also mentioned that the night show is “still in the formative stages, and we are going to keep that kind of a secret a little bit, but it’s going to be amazing.”

Illustration of Blue Horizon provided by Sea World

Much like the other shows, there is always a cap off, a finale that leaves you wanting more. Blue Horizons is no different. “The finale is going to be overwhelming with activity. We’re going to have Dolphins and Pilot Whales jumping through the air. We’re going to have birds flying, aerialists flying, flag wavers, and fountains. It’s just going to be overwhelming. There’s nothing like it,” Hoffman declared.

Blue Horizon is not only looking to be one of the most highly anticipated shows to come to Sea World San Diego, but it looks like it will be one that is a cut above the rest. The enthusiasm oozing out of Hoffman as we spoke speaks volumes about the breathtaking future Blue Horizon holds. There is no denying the revolutionary and monumental status that this show is setting out to be. Without question, it will fulfill viewers world wide.

Set to launch Memorial Day weekend in 2010, Blue Horizons is going to shock audiences with an amazing conglomeration of man, animal, and showmanship.

The Famous Hillcrest sign at 5th & University Avenues

This is the first installment of the Entertainer’s “Neighborhood Project”, where we profile different communities around San Diego County. Our goal is to inform readers of the rich history of these neighborhoods and to explore some of the landmarks, shops, famous eateries and hangouts that have come to define the community over the years. Contributor Rae McCormack and photographer Katie Fisher went to Hillcrest to capture the scene, with more of Katie’s photographs posted here. We hope you enjoy!

Located between Balboa Park and Washington Street and bordered by Park Boulevard to the East and First Street to the West, Hillcrest is the hip, kitschy section of uptown with a bustling nightlife and lots of great restaurants.

University Avenue bisects the heart of Hillcrest (Photo - Katie Fisher)

But, did you know that Hillcrest is one of the city’s oldest communities and has been recognized as a part of the city since 1907? It was the year before that the 40 acre parcel of land was purchased by William Wesley Whitson at the advice of his sister, Laura Anderson, who also named this subdivision of University Heights.

A great place to live, work or play, Hillcrest won the prestigious Great Places in America, Neighborhoods Award from the American Planning Association (APA) in 2007, the award’s inaugural year. The APA touts this area as “Diverse, Urbane and Trendsetting.”

In fact, many consider Pernicano’s to be the biggest blight on the landscape. This once bustling restaurant served many movie stars, famous athletes and was a hot spot in San Diego from 1946-1985 (now survived by it’s sole location in Scripps Ranch). Now the restaurant and its sister Casa di Baffi have been sitting closed for almost 25 years and many urban legends surround the reason behind the vacant, decaying properties and unused parking lot. One story says he won’t sell it because half of the money would go to his ex-wife, but the wealthy land owner himself claims it is because his “body and soul are in there.”

The gay community in Hillcrest is certainly not hidden from sight (Photo - Katie Fisher)

Hillcrest is also home to the annual San Diego Pride Parade, celebrated every summer since 1974. It was this first year that approximately 200 people marched in protest, decrying a lack of equal rights and the denial of a permit from the city. The following year began the official, permitted San Diego Pride Parade. During July every year, over 150,000 people line the streets to see floats from groups all over San Diego, including the Police and Fire Departments, local stores and restaurants as well as community groups. Traditionally, the event takes place on University Avenue beginning at Normal Street and ends on 6th Avenue at Upas.

While the Pride Parade promotes the acceptance of homosexuality, many of the spectators and participants of this event are not necessarily gay, but enjoy the major community party and festival in the park. This time of year the main drag is lined with rainbow flags on many businesses, as well as decorated homes and cars. The parade is the largest civic event in San Diego and possibly the best event in Hillcrest, as thousands dress in outrageous costumes and flaunt their love for one another.

This part of town is also well known for its many historical bridges—most of which were built to connect Hillcrest to surrounding neighborhoods. Spruce Street, built in 1912 above Arroyo Canyon, is the only suspension footbridge in San Diego County and can be accessed by turning West on Spruce from First Street. Built due to the Improvement Act of 1911, First Street Bridge (also known as the People’s Bridge) is one of only a few steel arch bridges in San Diego. Built in 1931, it is said to have been completely assembled on the floor of the Midwestern fabrication plant, dismantled and shipped to San Diego. The wooden trestle pedestrian bridge on Quince Street was created for only $805 in 1905 and reopened with only 30% original wood (due to termites & dry rot) in August of 1990. Spend a day hiking in Balboa Park and you’re sure to cross the bridge on Upas Street. Built in 1946, this little bridge was primarily a bridle path for horses, now it hosts mostly bikes and people; it crosses Highway 163 through Cabrillo Canyon and connects hiking trails throughout Balboa Park and adjacent Marston Hills.

Home to many second-hand shops, this part of town is also a great place to spend a Saturday walking the main drag and enjoying the San Diego sun. Among the most popular are the Buffalo Exchange and Flashbacks, but there are many smaller, little known shops with amazing deals, like 5th Avenue Books and House of Heirlooms, a community staple since the 1940s (now a “cheap discount store” according to Yelp).

Flashbacks is a popular vintage clothing destination (Photo - Katie Fisher)

Want new merchandise? Check out all the great boutiques such as Style Child, Mint Shoe Store, T.U.K. and Babette Schwartz. Don’t miss the unique Village Hat Shop to find just about any hat you can imagine.

When you’re ready to eat, there’s no need to leave town. Stick around for lots of dining choices from casual (try Jimmy Carter’s for lunch or Hash House A-GoGo for brunch) to formal (The Prado in Balboa Park and Mr. A’s are two unforgettable dinner sites). Be sure to stop by Baja Betty’s $3 “Papi Hour” every weeknight from 2-6 pm and stop in for $1 fish tacos in the bar every Tuesday. Other great places to grab a drink include the popular gay club Brass Rail and local bar Wit’s End where you can experience karaoke led by Sarah Jane every Wednesday night.

If you’re looking for a great date, pick up some fresh flowers at the little outdoor shop, Ever Bloom on University between 5th and 6th streets, then head across the corner to Mille Feuille for an unforgettable chocolate experience. End the night with a stroll to Martinis Above Fourth and take in the city at night from their balcony.

Neighborhood Information:

Zip Code: 92103

Farmers Market: Sundays 9am – 2pm located at 3960 Normal Street at Lincoln (Adjacent to the DMV).

Transportation:

• San Diego Metropolitan bus lines 1, 3, 7, 10 (Express), 11, 83 and 120 (Express).
• The bicycle-only Red Paths run through Balboa Park.
• Parking is sparse in Hillcrest; however there is Public Parking along most of the streets and in designated lots throughout the community.
• Freeway Access: Take CA Route 163, Exit University or Washington from the North, Robinson or Washington from the South.