September 7, 2012 (San Diego) -- The Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation will present "Sumi-e Journey," an art exhibit featuring Asian Brush paintings by Iris Lowe-Reiss and Joan Rasp. The exhibit will be on display in the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center Art Gallery from September 8 through 28, 2012.

The public is cordially invited to a reception for the artists on Sunday, September 16, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

View more information on the artists and examples of their work here. For directions to the park, visit www.mtrp.org.

September 6, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) -- On Saturday, September 8, 2:00 p.m., join Chris Burns, of Many-Strings, at the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center's outdoor amphitheater for an interactive musical journey through San Diego's history!

September 2, 2012 (Alpine) – The Alpine Woman’s Club will be holding its monthly luncheon on September 18 at 12 p.m. at 2156 Alpine Blvd., Alpine.  The Rhinestone Grannies will perform a variety of songs and dances at the event.  Some of the members of the Rhinestone Grannies include past CCT Senior Follies cast members.

The luncheon is open to all East County women as well as past and future members.  Space is limited, so please make a reservation prior to September 15 by contacting Judy Grant at 619-445-1987 or alpinejude@yahoo.com.

September 4, 2012  (San Diego) -- The 2012-2013 Grossmont Community Concert Association has announced  six outstanding concerts featuring a variety of music including vocalists, Motown, Jazz, and the music of popular artists.  The mission of the Grossmont Community Concert Association is to cultivate, in citizens of the local community and surrounding area, an interest in quality music and the performing arts by a variety of artistic genres featuring live performances by professional artists.

September 2, 2012 (Ramona) – The Olde Ramona Hotel Gallery is gearing up for its 23^rd Annual Fine Art Show which will run through the month of October and is seeking entries.  There are four categories to enter: oil/acrylic, watercolor/watermedia, photography/computer art, and other (collage, pen & ink, pastels, sculpture, graphics, other media).

The entries are due September 27 through 29 fro 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the gallery, 845 Main St., Ramona.  There is a maximum of three entries per artist.  Artists may call 760-789-3682 for an application or visit www.olderamonahotelgallery.com.

August 29, 2012 (San Diego) – ArtsNFashion Magazine presents “Welcome to Ramallah”, a play by Sonja Linden and Adah Kay at Swedenborgh Hall, 4144 Campus Avenue, San Diego on Fridays and Saturdays from September 7 through 30 at 8:00 p.m. with a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturdays. 

The play tells the tale of a Palestinian man, Daoud, in love with a Jewish woman, Mara.  Together they are trapped in an apartment in Ramallah in the West Bank, along with his uncle and her sister.  They are forced to confront the painful history of the Israeli – Palestinian conflict.

August 19, 2012 (Poway) – Tickets are now on sale for the 2012 Winter/Spring season at Poway Performing Arts.  The season includes Clint Black, The Capital Steps, Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance and Eleanor: Her Secret Journey, featuring Loretta Swit.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.powayarts.org or by calling the ticket office at 858-748-0505.

August 19, 2012 (La Mesa) – Biz Center Art presents Inside Out, an art show with a 70’s vibe, on August 25 from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the La Mesa biz Center, 7317 El Cajon Blvd., La Mesa.  The event will feature 70’s music and 70’s art.  The show will run through October.

Dress up in 70’s themed attire and step back in time with art that speaks to the 70’s.  There will even be an entire wall devoted to black velvet paintings.

August 19, 2012 (El Cajon) – Heritage of the Americas Museum is holding “Museum Roadshow” on August 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Museum Conference Room, 12110  Cuyamaca College Drive West, El Cajon.  Craig Helm will be there to help identify and price treasures.

August 14, 2012 (La Mesa) – O’Dunn Fine Art is showing a select group of paintings from 20^th Century postwar America on August 17 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the gallery, 8325 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa.  The event features fresh-to-the-market pieces by modernist Gideon Sandelin and works by listed artists Ilya Bolotowsky, William Joseph Rakocy and Ray Vinella.  Sandelin’s son, Raul, will be on hand to talk about his father’s art and paintings.

Sandelin’s son, Raul, will be on hand to talk about his father’s art and paintings.
This hosted event is open to the public.  Visit www.odunnfineart.com for more information.

August 14, 2012 (San Diego) – Peter Sprague, a critically acclaimed jazz guitarist, will perform August 19 at the Visitor Center theater at Mission Trails Regional Park, 1 Fr. Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego.  The concert will begin at 3 p.m.

Sprague is a composer, musical arranger and musical transcriber as well as a sound recording engineer and music producer.  Visit his website at http://petersprague.com/.

August 3, 2012 (El Cajon) – Rose & the Nightingale’s concert Spirit of the Garden will be held August 11, at 7 p.m. at the Water Conservation Garden Amphitheater,  12122 Cuyamaca College Dr. West, El Cajon.  Rose & the Nightingale is a New York City based quartet of world-class improvising vocalists and instrumentalists.  Spirit of the Garden blurs the boundaries of world music, folk and jazz improvisation for a unique sound.

August 7, 2012 (San Diego) – Run Women Run, along with 20 Partner Organizations, is presenting a screening of the documentary “Miss Representation” on August 26 at 2:30 p.m. at Irwin M. Jacobs Hall, 5775 Morehouse Dr., San Diego to commemorate Women’s Equality Day.  The documentary, by Jennifer Siebel Newsome, explores how the media’s misrepresentations of women have led to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence.

August 4, 2012 (La Mesa) – Dizzy’s presents Robin Henkel band with Horns! Blues and Jazz Concert at the McCrea Music Company, 8361 Allison Ave., La Mesa on August 17 beginning at 8 p.m.  Henkel is an amazing blues slide guitarist and his music ranges from primitive Mississippi Delta blues to Texas style Swing. 

Tickets for the show are $15 and $10 for students.  Call 619-698-7272 for more information.  Or visit www.robinhenkel.com. 

August 3, 2012 (La Mesa) – San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room presents Saturday Night Sax on August 18 from 7 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at 8364 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa.  Enjoy the saxophone music of Aaron Valencia while sampling wine, cheese and crackers, and decadent desserts.  Admission is free.

For more information about San Pasqual Winery visit http://www.sanpasqualwinery.com/. 

August 2, 2012 (El Cajon ) – The public is encouraged to attend a meeting hosted by the ECPAC Foundation on August 13 at 6 p.m. at the Palms Restaurant and Banquet Hall, 143 E.Main Street in El Cajon.

“We will be giving an informal presentation of the Foundation’s proposal to reopen and operate the East County Performing Arts Center,”  Foundation board member Duane Swainston said. The plan was submitted to El Cajon's City Manager on June 21.  Now the Foundation seeks input from all stakeholders including concerned citizens, local businesses, event promoters, vendors, potential sponsors and partners.

July 25, 2012 (El Cajon) – Youth Theatre Conservatory (YTC) will be performing “Underground” July 23-28 at 7:00 p.m., with a 2:00 p.m. matinee on the July 28, at Granite Hills High School Little Theatre, 1719 East Madison Ave, El Cajon.  The show is centered around forgiveness and letting go of struggles.  It was previously named “A Room Full of Strangers”.

July 24, 2012 (La Mesa) – The Space Bar Internet Café  presents Open Mic Night with Jihmye on July 26 from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at 7454 University Ave., La Mesa.  Brandon Cesmot is the featured poet and Jim Moreno is hosting.

Cesmot has been among California’s most active poets and has won four San Diego Book Awards.  His poems have appeared in California Quarterly, Prism Review and Homestead Review among others.

July 17, 2012 (San Diego) – The Summer Pops Concert featuring Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra and presented by Springfest is July 22 at 7:00 p.m. at the Allied Gardens Recreation Center, 5155 Greenbrier Ave., San Diego. 

July 13, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) –  A premiere screening of  Watershed, will debut at the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College on July 28 at 8:15 p.m.  Tickets go on sale today. 

The film tells the story of threats to the once-mighty Colorado River—and offers solutions for the future of the American west.   It is produced by the Redford Center, established by actor Robert Redford.

July 13, 2012 (Spring Valley) – The Young Actors Theatre is performing ‘Guys and Dolls’ at the Encore Theatre, 9620 Campo Road, Spring Valley beginning July 13 at 7:00 p.m.  Performances are July 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22.  The show is double cast so it will be different actors playing the roles on the second weekend.

July 15, 2012 (El Cajon) – Downtown El Cajon will be holding a Gallery Walk on July 20 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to encourage community support and involvement. Seven galleries will be taking part in this free event with more than 500 works of art available throughout El Cajon’s Gallery Row.

July 15, 2012 (El Cajon) -- Tim Lovelace, a Christian comedian, singer and motivational speaker, will perform July 22 at 5:00 p.m. at the El Cajon Wesleyan Church, 1500 East Lexington Ave., El Cajon.  Lovelace uses humor to motivate and inspire by sharing life lessons.  He is also an accomplished player of the piano, guitar, banjo, mandolin and more.

The doors will open at 4:00 p.m. for this fun-filled family event.   The suggested donation for the event is $10 per person or $25 per family.

By Nadin Abbott

Photos by Tom Abbott and Nadin Abbott

July 13, 2012 (San Diego)--If you are going to attend Comic-Con this year, you should know there are many side events outside the Convention Center. One of them is Gam3r-Con, located on the 10th Ave Theater, which is on 930th, Ten Avenue.

So what is different or interesting about this small Con running concurrently with Comic-Con?  Live theater. When we attended for this review we were treated to Gamers: The Play, co-written by Brian Bielawski and Walter G. Meyer, an ECM book reviewer.