East County News Service

September 21, 2016 (Ramona) – Six Ramona and Poway businesses are sponsoring and hosting hand-painted wine barrels to preview the 4th annual Ramona Art and Wine Festival.

East County News Service

September 9, 2016 (Poway) — Cory Withrow, Founder & CEO of The King’s Craft Coffee Co and former offensive lineman for the San Diego Chargers, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks, announces the grand opening today of the King’s Craft Coffee Co, Poway’s first specialty coffee shop serving single origin coffees, European pastries, and handcrafted roasted beans.

East County News Service

Sept, 8, 2016 (El Cajon) -- “Around The World In Eighty Minutes,” a multicultural festival, will be held on Saturday, September 17th, 2016 from 6 p.m to 8:30 p.m. at the El Cajon Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 1270 S. Orange Avenue in El Cajon. The event will showcase cultures and countries around the world through food and information booths and performances.

By the East County Eaters

September 4, 2016 (El Cajon) – Long known for its flame-grilled steaks, cattle rancher roots and Western-themed décor,  Black Angus restaurants have now added a new hand-crafted, fresh juice cocktail menu to their Bulls Eye Bar.   From a Brazilian margarita that may make you want to dance the Samba to a Citrus Pomegranate Mule, you’ll find plenty to whet your whistle during all-day Happy Hours each Sunday , or from 3-7 p.m. all other days except Saturday.

We stopped by the Black Angus in El Cajon, where we savored some refreshing libations as well as tasty appetizers that roped us in to stay for a full dinner feast. 

UPDATE FROM THE MILAGRO FAMILY:  Please note that the Milagro Tasting Room will not re-open as previously announced on Saturday, September 3rd, 2016. We are shooting for a tasting room re-opening date towards the end of September and will confirm that date once all necessary procedures are updated. The exact timing of this completion is out of our control. Please bear with us just a bit longer. The wait will be worth it, we promise!

East County News Service

August 1, 2016 (Ramona) - Milagro Farms Vineyard and Winery in Ramona announces it will reopen its tasting room on Saturday, September 3.  The tasting room has been closed for several months for a major remodel.

An e-mail to wine club members reads, “We have used the down time wisely and made some fantastic improvements here at Milagro.  We assure you that the new experience will not disappoint.  The outdoor area directly adjacent to the tasting room has been re-crafted for optimal relaxation and entertainment purposes, complete with bocce courts, a children's play structure, picnic tables, wooden swings and new patio furniture.  Inside we have added an essential board game library and lots more seating options.”

The new Milagro will include:

By Chisato Iversen

August 17, 2016 (La Mesa) - East County Magazine stopped by Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza ( 8555 Fletcher Pkwy, La Mesa) to have some lunch.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that unlike most pizza places this restaurant has wide variety of foods and was really international--from soups, to tacos, all the way to, of course pizzas. I am pescatarian, so was definitely really happy to see that they have a lot of food options that are for vegetarians or vegans. 

By Miriam Raftery

August 9, 2016 (San Diego) – Grocery workers voted Monday to accept the latest contract proposal affecting employees at Ralphs, Vons, Albertsons, Pavilions and Safeway supermarkets across southern California.

July 29, 2016 (La Mesa) – You’re invited to celebrate the era of Great Gatsby, flappers, gangsters, silent film stars, ragtime and jazz. Join East County Magazine at a benefit to support our nonprofit community reporting on Sunday, July 31 from 4-7 p.m. at the San Pasqual Wine Bar (8364 La Mesa Blvd.) in La Mesa--all to benefit our nonprofit reporting and wildfire alerts through East County Magazine.

Festivities include wine tasting, sparkling drinks  and Italian dinner plus dessert,  “All That Jazz” musical performance highlights,  live period music by the Classics, Douglas Fairbanks and Laurel & Hardy film clips, games, opportunity drawings and silent auction, games, surprises and more!

Space is very limited! RSVP by July 30 for discount rates and your “speakeasy” password!  619-698-7617 or editor@eastcountymagazine.org 

• Live“All That Jazz” preview by singers/dancers from Visionary Dance Theatre plus  Laurel & Hardy and Douglas Fairbanks film clips;
• Live music by the Classics
• Toast the Prohibition Era with sparkling “bubbly” drinks ; relish a ‘20s style feast fit for Gatsby & guests, wine tasting, dinner & desserts by Tiramisu Trattoria, Swami’s & Little Roma that Al Capone would relish!
• ‘Cocktail attire or 20s attire encouraged (flappers, film stars, gangsters, robber barons, etc.)
• Opportunity drawings and silent auction; prizes and surprises!  Win a night on the town including steak dinner & “Chicago” theater tickets, Joe’s Crab Shack dinners, The Hills Pub and Lunchbox Cafe gift certificates, wine baskets, Hawaiian pearls, turquoise and coral jewelry, antiques, collectibles, elegant items, CDs, Julian Old Time Photos, T-shirts and more.
  

East County News Service

July 27, 2016 (San Diego)—A boycott of six Vons, Ralphs and Albertsons grocery store locations is underway starting this week, the United Food & Commercial Workers Union in San Diego has announced.  If no contract agreement is reached by August 8^th,the union has voted to call a strike against all of the stores’ locations throughout southern California.

The boycott locations include two in East County:  the Vons store at 8011 University Ave. in La Mesa and the Albertsons at 9831 Campo Road in Spring Valley.

Culinary zest meets craft beer in East County brewery

By Gwennie Gardiner

July 24, 2016 (Santee) - A chef-inspired craft brewery and tasting room will emerge into the San Diego craft beer scene in August 2016. Nestled in Santee’s thriving business district, Finest Made Ales is owned by Chef and Brewmaster Rey Knight.

East County News Service

East County News Service

July 4, 2016 (Ramona) – What could be more delightful on a summer’s eve than to savor supper in a vineyard with an array of tantalizing menus and wines?   Hatfield Creek Vineyards in Ramona is hosting summer suppers on the second Sunday each month (July 10, Aug. 14 and Sept. 11) for $35 a person, with a limit of 20 guests.

Review by Maridian Broadus

June 20, 2016 (El Cajon) -- Are you out of ideas of what to cook for dinner? Does your palate crave something other than the ordinary salt and pepper fare that comes out of your kitchen? If you answered “yes” to at least one of the questions posed, then pack your appetite, flee your house, and head over to Sajj House (1255 Avocado Ave., El Cajon), a marvelous new Mediterranean style restaurant where you can savor the flavors of exotic spices.

East County News Service

May 29, 2016 (Ramona) — In April 1862, the Battle of Shiloh was a key early victory for the Union Army during the Civil War.  On Memorial Day, May 30^th, Norm Case, co-owner of the Hatfield Creek Vineyards and Winery in Ramona, will be displaying the historic drum on which his great-great grandfather, Philo Case, played the long roll to begin the Battle of Shiloh.

East County News Service

May 26, 2016 (Santee)--The Santee Street Fair and Craft Beer Festival draws over 30,000 visitors each year with patriotic fund for the whole family. The eight annual festival will be held this year on Saturday, May 28^th from 10a.m to 6 p.m. at Riverview Parkway and Town Center Parkway in Santee. The festival will feature local breweries and honor the military on the Heroes Stage.

Festival highlights include: a craft beer festival, live music and entertainment, a crafter row and artist alley, over 300 food and vendor booths, carnival rides, and games for the family.