DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: CREATIVE EVENTS COMING UP

By Miriam Raftery

February 9, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) —Comedy shows, Fido Fest, film showings, wolf tours, a plein air desert art show, Valentine teas, and an attempt to break a world record for most dogs viewing an outdoor moving are among the festivities coming up across San Diego’s East County.

CUPID IS STUPID:  FEB. 14 COMEDY SHOW IN LA MESA

Need a laugh with a cause for Valentine’s Day? The “Cupid is Stupid” comedy show offers a night of clean comedy on February 14th at 7 pm. at Journey Community Church in La Mesa. Proceeds benefit their local impact efforts including a food bank, help for the homeless, blood drives, and meeting space for recovery groups.

The show will be hosted by Josh Lawson featuring comedians Collin Moulton and Kellen Erskine.  

Dinner provided by Cupid’s Catering is available for a fee, and Bethlehem Baking Company will sell treats in the lobby before the show.

Tickets are on sale now through February 13.

Find out more on Cupid is Stupid 2024 as well as how you can get involved serving the homeless and food insecure directly at journeycommunitychurch.com/cupid. 

FIDO FEST  FEBRUARY 17 IN SANTEE

The City of Santee’s eighth annual Fido Fest will take place Saturday, February 17 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Town Center Community Park East (550 Park Center Drive, Santee)

This family and dog-friendly event is an opportunity for attendees to view adoptable dogs from about 20 local rescues, shop from various vendors, watch demonstrations, and enjoy giveaways. There will also be food vendors, arts and crafts, yappy hour, treat finder, doggy tattoos, an off-leash area, fly ball demonstration, agility course, and a sniff station.

Show off your four-legged friend in costume, size, and trick contests for a chance to win prizes. You can also view the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and Santee Fire Department demonstrating their canines’ capabilities. Plus  the San Diego Humane Society will be providing microchipping and pet licensing services.

City staff are collecting donations of unopened dog food, bedding, blankets, new toys, and other to be given to the rescue groups at the event. Stop by the City’s information booth to drop off your donation in exchange for an additional entry into the opportunity drawing.

Find more details and rules at www.SanteeSpecialEvents.com.

LAUREL AND HARDY FILMS FEB. 17 IN SPRING VALLEY

Saps at Sea, the San Diego chapter of the Sons of the Desert, the international Laurel & Hardy fan organization, will host their February meeting, entitled "Good Help is Hard to Find," on February 17 at 6 p.m. at Trinity Presbytarian Church in Spring Valley.

After a cartoon, the Saps will screen Stan and Ollie in the 1933s movie Busy Bodies, followed by a surprise guest comedian.

Rick Greene, Grand Sheik of Los Angeles' Way Out West tent and former Saps Grand Sheik, will give a short preview of his upcoming book "Promotional Pandemonium!  Selling Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy to Depression Era America."  

After intermission, Russ Peck from Theatre Organ Society of San Diego, will provide a piano accompaniment to Laurel & Hardy in The Finishing Touch.  Finally, the Saps will screen Towed in a Hole.

The show starts at 6 p.m. with the doors opening at 5:30 p.m.   For more information, visit the Saps at Sea Facebook page.

VALENTINE TEAS IN JULIAN

Julian Tea and Cottage Arts’ Valentine’s Teas will be held February 8 through February 14 at several times each day. These teas will be served indoors and are also available to go. 

The special set menu is a romantically inspired version of their cottage classic tea, a four-course extravaganza starting with soup, finger sandwiches and savories, followed by a scone with curd, jam and whipped cream. The grand finale is a luscious dessert tray.

Julian Tea and Cottage can also prepare vegetarian and gluten free versions of this tea, or a children’s version, with advance notice

For reservations and details, visit https://www.JulianTea.com  

SPACEBAR COMEDY SHOW FEB. 23

SpaceBar Cafe & Wine Bistro (7454 University Avenue, Suite A, La Mesa) hosts its next comedy night on February 23 at 7:30 p.m.

This month’s show promises an uproarious evening with a stellar lineup of talented comedians including Teddy Brace, Scott Blumen, Mike McCalla, Dr.Abby November, Vicctoria Parra, and Janet Stewart.

Beyond the laughter, SpaceBar offers dishes made from locally sourced ingredients. 

For more information, visit SpaceBar Cafe & Wine Bistro’s website(link is external). 

BEETHOVEN MOVIE IN EL CAJON FEB. 24:  BRING YOUR DOG AND HELP BREAK A WORLD’S RECORD

The City of El Cajon is going to the dogs--trying to break the world record for the most dogs to watch a movie screening together. You’re invited to bring your dog to a showing of the movie Beethoven on Saturday, February 24th at 1 p.m. in Wells Park (1153 East Madison Ave., El Cajon).

The family comedy film  features a St. Bernard dog who causes all kinds of trouble for his human family. This event will also have fun activities for children.

Be sure that your dog is vaccinated, not aggressive, and used to being around crowds with people and dogs. You can come early to enjoy dog park areas at Wells Park—then hopefully help set a world’s record.

WOLF TOURS IN JULIAN

The California Wolf Center in Julian invites you to book a guided tour of their facility to see their resident wolves and learn about wolf conservation. Various tours are offered each weekend this month at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Reservations are required.

The Wolf Conservation and Behavioral Enrichment Tours are both 1 hour in length and offer an opportunity to see critically endangered wild wolves and learn all about them from an expert at the center’s Conservation Facility on KQ Ranch Rd. in Julian. 

Both public and private tours are available. Reserve online at https://www.californiawolfcenter.org/

PLEIN AIR INVITATIONAL ART SHOW IN 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.

The invitational centers around Plein Air paintings, which capture the unique beauty and environmental significance of the Anza-Borrego Desert and the Borrego Valley.

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.

Fourteen talented artists have been invited to create en plein air  or outdoors paintings during the week of March 4 to 9, inspired by the desert landscape.

Throughout the week, new artwork will be displayed daily in the gallery at the Borrego Arts Institute..On March 9, from 3 to 5 p.m., the awards ceremony and reception will take place. 

For more information visit https://borregoartinstitute.org.