DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: FEBRUARY 2-MARCH 4

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

January 31, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes Mean Mary in concert in Santee, a pow-wow at Cuyamaca College, Hawk Watch in Ramona, the Oak Ridge Boys at Sycuan, Inside the Actors’ Process at the Stagehouse Theatre, and a violin and cello concert at Mission Trails Regional Park.

Plus, we’ll have coming attractions including Cupid and Canines at Grossmont Center, a chamber music concert at the La Mesa Library, open farm day at the Oasis Camel Dairy, a Valentine’s Dinner in Julian, gardening tips and tours, live music at local night spots, the Martin Luther King Choir’s ensemble in Lemon Grove, a star party and a Celtic harp concert at Mission Trails, Seussical the Musical in Spring Valley, and a St. Patrick’s Day half marathon run through El Cajon.

So stay tuned for all of these events and many more!

"MEAN MARY" IN CONCERT FEB. 2 IN SANTEE

Mean Mary will be live in concert on February 2 at 7 p.m.  at the Summit Universalist Unitarian Fellowship in Santee. The artist is an Americana, bluegrass, blues, and folk artist based in Nashville, stopping here on her “Blazing Tour” through Southern California.

Mary read music before she could read words and was proficient on guitar, banjo and fiddle by age seven, according to a bio provided by Summit. She is known for her lightning-fast fingers, haunting vocals, and intricate story songs. For more information, visit www.SummitUUF.org.

POW-WOW AT CUYAMACA COLLEGE FEB. 3

The Native American Student Alliance at Cuyamaca College is hosting its 4th Annual Powwow on Saturday, February 3^rd from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in front of the Communication Arts complex. The powwow features activities including Bird Singing, a native singing style of the Kumeyaay people honoring culture and traditions of local Native American tribes.

Cuyamaca is an adaptation of a Kumeyaay phrase, “Ekwiiyemak,” which writers have translated to mean “behind the clouds,” “above rain,” and “the place where the rain comes from heavens.” 

No matter the translation, Cuyamaca College's ties to the Native American community and culture are strong, with its location on once indigenous land and its close proximity to many reservations. The powwow will include arts and craft vendors, food vendors, drums, native dances and more.

For directions to Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego, visit www.Cuyamaca.edu.

HAWK WATCH AT RAMONA GRASSLANDS EACH SATURDAY IN FEB.

The Wildlife Research Institute invites you to Hawk Watch. Each Saturday in February at 10 a.m., visitors can see birds of prey such as hawks, eagles and owls. Sponsored by the Wildlife Research Institute, this year Hawk Watch will not be held at the Institute’s headquarters, but instead at Begent Ranch (18528 Highland Valley Road), a private ranch open only for the Hawk Watch events.

Guests are advised to arrive a half hour early for parking, bring binoculars, and enjoy coffee and doughnuts before viewing the raptors that make their homes in the Ramona Grasslands. For more information, you can visit http://www.wildlife-research.org/.

INSIDE THE ACTOR’S PROCESS: FEB. 2-3 AT STAGEHOUSE THEATRE

Grossmont College’s Theatre Arts Department will kick off its spring season with its 12th annual Inside the Actor’s Process production, this time focusing on classical theater.

Directed by Benjamin Cole, “Inside the Actor’s Process: Classical” will be offered to the public at the Stagehouse Theatre on February 2nd and 3rd at 7:30 p.m., plus a matinee performance at 2 p.m. on February 3^rd.

The play, which provides audiences a peek at the actors’ process of discovering their characters, features Grossmont College Theatre Arts students performing vignettes of classics penned by Moliere, Ibsen, Chekhov, Shakespeare, and Oliver Goldsmith in today’s modern language.

For tickets, visit the Grossmont College Theatre Arts department at www.Grossmont.edu.

OAK RIDGE BOYS FEB. 3 AT SYCUAN

The Oak Ridge Boys, who were recently inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, will perform on Saturday, February 3^rd at 5 p.m. in Sycuan’s Live and Up Close Theatre in EL Cajon. Their four-part harmonies and upbeat songs have won many awards including a Grammy, Country Music Association and American Country Music awards—and they’re still going strong after more than 40 years. For tickets, visit www.Sycuan.com.

VIOLIN AND CELLO CONCERT FEB. 4 AT MISSION TRAILS

A violin and cello concert will be presented by Paivikki Nykter and Cecilia Kim at Mission Trails Regional Park on Sunday, February 4^th at 3 p.m. The complimentary concert will be held in the Visitor Center. For directions and details, visit www.MTRP.org.

NOW FOR A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS…

CUPID AND CANINES FEB. 10 AT GROSSMONT CENTER

Grossmont Center shopping mall in La Mesa invites you to “Cupid and Canines” on February 10^th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The San Diego Animal Support Foundation & Grossmont Center are bringing together dozens of rescue groups and shelters featuring hundreds of adoptable dogs and even some cats for this mega Adoption Event inside the mall.

Find purebred breeds from chihuahuas to Great Pyranees, as well as all-American mutts. Everything from Great Pyrenees to Chihuahuas, purebreds to All-American Mutts.  Just in time for Valentine’s Day, you can find your new best friend, or the perfect family pet. 

For more information, visit www.GrossmontCenter.com.

SAN DIEGO CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY FEB. 10 IN LA MESA

Bruce and Beverly Dorcy with the San Diego Chamber Music Society will perform a concert with piano and horn at the La Mesa Library on February 10^th at 1 p.m.  The La Mesa Library hosts free concerts on the second Saturday each month, thanks to support from Friends of La Mesa Library.

OPEN FARM DAY FEB. 10-11 AT OASIS CAMEL DAIRY

You’re invited to bring the family to open farm day at the Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona on February 10^th and 11^th from 1 to 4 p.m., with a live animal show at 1:30 p.m. The show features talking parrots, galloping, gobbling turkeys, dedicated farm dogs and of the biggest stars – camels!

You can also feed treats to camels, cuddle with camels, shop for camel’s milk soaps and lotions, take crazy camel selfies or ride a camel. For details, visit www.CamelDairy.com.

VALENTINE DINNERS AT JEREMY’S ON THE HILL FEB. 10-14

Jeremy’s on the Hill in the Julian area will be serving up four-course Valentine’s dinners paired with local wines on February 10^th through 14^th.

This romantic feast begins with ceviche and your choice of lobster bisque or a salad topped with ripe fruits, followed by a choice of salmon, duck or steak entrees. The meal concludes with a bananas foster vanilla layer cake with chocolate espresso sauce and chai tea whipped cream.

If you come on the 10^th, 11^th or 12^th, you can also enjoy live music: classical guitar, piano or acoustic guitar. For reservations, visit www.BestRestaurantInJulian.com.

VALENTINE’S TOUR: LOVE FOR SEX IN THE GARDEN: FEB. 17

On February 17^th, the Water Conservation Garden invites you to a Valentine’s Tour titled “Love for Sex in the Garden.” 

Think humans work hard at finding a partner? You’ll be astounded at the creativity, deceit, competitiveness and even murder that plants attempt to achieve pollination.

Bring your sweetheart and celebrate nature’s creativity with Tour Guide Rosalie Dosik – the self-described Dr. Ruth of the plant world plus chocolate for all who attend.  This PG-rated tour is based on the book “Sex in The Garden.”

For more information, visit www.TheGarden.org.

STAGE 4 JAZZ CONCERT FEB. 17 AT SAN PASQUAL TASTING ROOM, LA MESA

San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room (8364 La Mesa Blvd.) in La Mesa’s downtown village will host live music by Stage 4 Jazz on February 17^th at 7 p.m. 

Stage 4 is a dynamic group with a repertoire that spans jazz, rhythm and blues and more.

Learn more at sanpasqualwinery.com/.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. COMMUNITY CHOIR ENSEMBLE CONCERT FEB. 17

The Martin Luther King Jr. Community Choir of San Diego’s Ensemble will be performing gospel and inspirational songs at the Lemon Grove Library on Saturday, February 17^th at 2 p.m.  The Lemon Grove Library is located at 3001 School Lane in Lemon Grove.

The ensemble’s music celebrates the history of negro spirituals, aspiring to be inspirational and uplifting. 

For more information, you can visit the musical group’s website at MLKCCSD.org.

STAR PARTY AT MISSION TRAILS FEB. 17

View the Andromeda galaxy, the Orion Nebula and other celestial sights during a Star Party at Mission Trails Regional Park on Saturday, February 17^th from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Amateur astronomer and trail guide George Varga will have a telescope available for viewing the night sky at the far end of the Kumeyaay Lake Campground’s day use parking lot.

 Learn more at www.MTRP.org.

CELTIC HARP CONCERT FEB. 18 AT MISSION TRAILS

Amy Lynn Kanner will perform a Celtic harp concert at the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitors Center auditorium on Feb. 18 at 3 p.m. The performance will feature Pachelbel's "Canon" and Debussy's "Clair de Lune," and Praetorious' "Terpsichore." The program also features popular music like "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "A Thousand Years," "Stairway to Heaven," and more.

Admission is free. For details and directions, visit Mission Trails Regional Park.

LA MESA BEAUTIFUL MEETING FEB. 18

Learn tips for attracting pollinators such as bees, hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden at La Mesa Beautiful’s annual meeting on February 18 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Nan Couts Cottage, 5045 Memorial Drive, La Mesa.

Marcia Van Loy, a volunteer with the Master Gardener Association for 17 years, will be the speaker. A home gardener for over 35 years in the Clairemont area, she has coordinated their Town Council’s annual garden tour many times and is a popular speaker who has shared her depth of knowledge with many regional gardening organizations. Growing plants for all types of pollinators in her hillside garden is one of Loy’s favorite subjects to share with others.

Her garden is a Certified Wildlife Habitat, a Certified Earth Friendly Garden and was featured in the San Diego Home and Garden Magazine’s April 2013 edition. And, after many years of collecting rustic birdhouses, she now teaches Master Gardeners how to build them as a way to raise funds for their educational programs.

The program is open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Please RSVP to lamesabeautiful@gmail.com. 

SEUSSICAL, THE MUSICAL FEB. 22 - MARCH 4 IN SPRING VALLEY

Young Actors Theatre will present “Seussical, the Musical” at the Encore! Theatre in the Casa de Oro area of Spring Valley from February 22 through March 4^th.  This musical production brings to life your favorite Dr. Seuss characters, from the Cat in the Hat to Horton the Elephant.  For tickets, visit www.YATSanDiego.org .

LIVE BANDS AT RIVIERA SUPPER CLUB IN LA MESA

Riviera Supper Club in La Mesa has live bands onstage in the Turquoise Room most nights throughout February and March.  Upcoming Saturday night headliners include Baja Bugs, Ron and the Reapers, Gino and the Lone Gummen, Black Market 111, Shark Jones, and Vinyl Pirates.  For a full list of entertainment, visit http://rivierasupperclub.com/.

BOOTS BALL MARCH 3

You’re invited to don your “desert dressy” attire and finest hiking boots for the second annual “Boots Ball” hosted by the Anza Borrego Foundation on Saturday, March 3 from 2-5 p.m.

Guests will enjoy live music, live and silent auctions, food by Kesling’s Kitchen and learn about the Foundation’s vision for the next 50 years. The guest speaker, Obi Kaufmann, is a poet, artist, and advocate for wilderness conservation.

The Boots Ball will be held at the Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center (401 Tilting Drive in Borrego Springs).

For tickets ($51) and registration for the Boots Ball fundraiser, contact lauren@theabf.org or call (760)767-0446 ext. 1002.

ST PATRICK’S DAY HALF MARATHON MARCH 4

Run East County invites you to take part in the annual St. Patrick’s Day half marathon, 5K race, and Green Mile through downtown El Cajon on Sunday March 4^th.  There’s also a Tribes and Clans CrossFit competition, a Tribes and Clans for Kids event, and a beer garden.

Participants are encouraged to wear green and participate in a costume contest as you join avid runners and walkers for a morning of fun – all to benefit local East County charities.  

To register for the St. Patrick’s Day Half Marathon race or other events, you can visit www.StPatricksDayHalf.com. 

That’s all for this week!