East County News Service

March 12, 2024 (San Diego) – Kathryn “Kathy” Lynn Carpenter, East County Magazine’s theater reviewer for the past 15 years, passed away on September 16, 2023,  two days after her 65^th birthday.

“I am deeply saddened to learn of Kathy’s passing last fall,”  said ECM editor Miriam Raftery. “Kathy was a kind-hearted person and a valued member of our team who loved showcasing the works of community and youth theaters, high school and college performances, as well as highlighting the talents of young actors. We extend our deepest sympathy to her family and all who loved her. This is a loss to the entire San Diego theatrical community.”

By Jonathan Goetz

March 4, 2024 (La Mesa) -- Kidz Danz Kompany is San Diego’s premier children’s dance company, offering professional dance training in ballet and modern dance in their La Mesa studio, as well as performing 2+ concerts a year. This April, Kidz Danz Kompany is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a medley performance that follows the group through the ages in some timeless classics. 

East County News Service

February 19, 2024 (La Mesa) -- The City of La Mesa is seeking proposals for the La Mesa “Walkway of the Stars” Mural Project in downtown La Mesa. The “Walkway of the Stars” is a pedestrian walkway located between the Allison Avenue municipal parking lot and La Mesa Boulevard that was transformed into an urban park in downtown La Mesa in 2003.

The walkway features decorative stone stars with the names of volunteers who have given 10,000 hours or more of service to the City of La Mesa and eight (8) community murals painted in 2003 depicting volunteerism in the City. This project will create up to eight new murals along the walls of the walkway. 

East County News Service

February 7, 2024 (El Cajon) -- Guess Who is at The Magnolia this Friday? The Guess Who! A few tickets to the 6:30 p.m. show are still available and start at $55.

The Guess Who is a legendary Canadian band that enjoyed chart-topping hits in the late '60s and early '70s with an impressive catalog of songs including “American Woman,” “These Eyes,” and “No Time.” During the course of its career, the band has released 11 studio albums and charted 14 Top 40 hit singles, 2 of which went to number one in the United States. The Guess Who is best known internationally for its 1970 album, American Woman, which hit number one in Canada and number nine in the United States, with five other albums also hitting the top ten in Canada.

Their fan base spans multiple generations. Very few bands have survived numerous member changes — let alone having smash hits with each lineup — but The Guess Who’s motto is “the music is the message.”

By Jonathan Goetz

February 5, 2024 (Borrego Springs) -- The 18th Annual Plein Air Invitational in Borrego Springs, California promises to be a captivating celebration of art and nature. The event runs from March 4 to April 14, 2024.

While wildflowers typically start popping up halfway through February, the peak blooming usually occurs in March and continues through April. Given all this winter's rain this year's floral blooms in the Anza Borrego should be early and quite exceptional.

East County News Service

February 4, 2024 (Lakeside) -- Susan Hewitt, an artist and resident of Lakeside, California, has won the first-place award in the highly competitive February 2024 San Diego Watercolor Society (SDWS) Member’s exhibition “Treasures”, an in-gallery show of the SDWS at 2825 Dewey Road in Liberty Station, San Diego, CA.

Hewitt’s painting titled “A Thinking Woman” was selected by prominent Escondido artist Suzanne Nicolaisen for this honor, out of over 250 entries. Nicolaisen said of the painting: “A picture of elegance and grace, kindness and wisdom clearly displayed in this beautifully executed work. The attention to detail is flawless. The limited palette, excellent color choice, composition and design depicts the artist’s ability to share an emotional connection. There is warmth and compassion throughout the creation.”

By: Jessyka Heredia

January 22, 2024 (Lemon Grove) — Lemon Grove Happenings in collaboration with Elevated Coffee, and the Musicians Club of San Diego are hosting ‘Groovin’ in the Grove’, a band open mic event at Elevated Coffee Sunday January 28, 2024, from 2:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.

January 21, 2024 (El Cajon) -- The Stagehouse Theatre at Grossmont College will present “Inside the Actor’s Identity” on February 2 and 3.

Conceived and directed by Benjamin Cole, the play portrays the strength, determination, and resilience of myriad characters struggling for fairness. Whether it be social tolerance, civil liberties, recognition of identity, or personal equilibrium, these scenes test our actors in often emotional, sometimes comedic scenes to push boundaries.

Source:  Mounarath-Powell Dance

January 13, 2024 (La Mesa) - Visionary Dance Theatre, an award-winning dance company and school for the performing arts in the heart of La Mesa, is thrilled to announce a rebranding initiative to celebrate its 15th anniversary and the long-standing partnership of its founders, Spencer John Powell and Mickey Mounarath.

By Jonathan Goetz

January 9, 2024 (El Cajon) -- The San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce is hosting two events at Surje Coffee Co., which is located inside the East County Art Association Gallery in January at 124 E. Main Street, El Cajon CA 92020.

East County News Service

January 4, 2024 (La Mesa) -- Families are invited to come sing, dance and learn with Kathryn the Grape for a Fun Friday morning January 12 from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. in the Grossmont Center Courtyard in La Mesa. Enjoy positive, upbeat, award-winning children’s music at this interactive concert. Your little ones will love singing and grooving along at this live music experience.