Green Flash Concert Series | Birch Aquarium at Scripps | Things to Do in San Diego 2017

Green Flash Concerts at Scripps Aquarium 2017

Each summer Birch Aquarium transforms its Tide Pool Plaza into an outdoor music venue unlike any other for the Green Flash Concert Series. These lively monthly concerts, presented in partnership with 101.5 KGB, STAR 94.1, and Belly Up Entertainment, provide the ultimate Southern California music experience while supporting a good cause. 

The concert series, which is for ages 21 and up, combines live music with panoramic ocean views. Keep an eye out for a real “green flash,” a rare optical phenomenon caused by refraction of light as the sun sets on the horizon.

The view, the setting, the music, this is what San Diego summers are all about!

The 2017 Green Flash Lineup:

Wednesday, May 17

Johnnyswim

Johnnyswim is an American folk, soul, blues, and pop music duo consisting of singer-songwriters Amanda Sudano and Abner Ramirez.

Wednesday, June 21

Cracker

Cracker has been described as a lot of things: alternative rock, Americana, insurgent country, —even punk and classic rock. Led by vocalist David Lowery and guitarist Johnny Hickman, the band has brought us genre bending songs such as "Low,” “Euro-Trash Girl" and “Get Off This."

Wednesday, July 19

Steve Poltz

Playful singer-songwriter and San Diego legend Steve Poltz returns for a clever, creative, and fun-filled evening. Always quirky and unpredictable.

Wednesday, Aug. 16

Milo Greene

Milo Greene is an L.A.-based Cinematic Indie-pop band with four members doing double-duty as singers and songwriters.

Wednesday, Sept. 20

Pine Mountain Logs and Venice

The Pine Mountain Logs' repertoire of high energy classic hits range from Led Zeppelin to the Jackson Five, Tom Petty, TLC, Aerosmith, Outkast and more, with surprise bridges and choruses around every corner.

Venice’s sound is at once familiar and fresh, their classic rock and folk influences — such as Crosby Stills & Nash, Fleetwood Mac, Joni Mitchell and Stevie Wonder — apparent in their pop sensibilities.

All concerts are held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. and are general admission and standing room only. Savory bites, craft beers, and wines are available for purchase. Tickets are available for pre-purchase for $30.95 for members, $35.95 for the general public (convenience fees may apply). Walk up tickets are $41.95. Season passes are also available for $140 for members and $154.95 for general public.

Admission includes the concert, entrance to all aquarium exhibits, and parking. Green Flash Concerts are made possible by Subaru, Rock Bottom, French Gourmet, Bank of America, Korbel, Jackson Design and Remodeling, Sobieski Vodka, and EventAvision. Proceeds support exhibits and educational programming at Birch Aquarium at Scripps. 

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit aquarium.ucsd.edu.

Old Mission Beach Athletic Club to Host First-Ever Craft Beer Festival & Over the Line Tournament at Mariner’s Point on May 20th and 21st, 2017

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OVER THE LINE RETURNS WITH CRAFT BEER, MAY 20TH, 2017

Put your toes in the sand with a drink in your hand at the only local beer festival on the beach!

The Old Mission Beach Athletic Club (OMBAC) is taking its renowned Over the Line (OTL) Tournament to the next level this year. The organization will host its first-ever Craft Beer Festival on Saturday, May 20 in conjunction with the first rounds of Over the Line at Mariner’s Point on May 20-21—because nothing gets you warmed up for bat like a cold one. Players are invited to bring their bats, balls and most creative team names to the tournament, while spectators watch the games and enjoy local craft brews, cocktails, and bites for a cause.
 
On Saturday, May 20 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., sip craft beer from many of San Diego’s top breweries and enjoy fare from local food trucks. Breweries will include Aztec Brewing, Belching Beaver, Benchmark Brewing, Bolt Brewery, Dos Desperados, Fall Brewing, Helms Brewing, Indian Joe Brewing, Iron First Brewing San Diego, Ironfire Brewing, Left Coast Brewing, Resident Brewing, Second Chance Brewing, and more to come. Cutwater Spirits, from the band of liquid pioneers behind Ballast Point, will also be selling craft cocktails onsite.
 
General admission, including the four hour beer tasting, for guests ages 21+ is $30 with advance online purchase via Eventbrite, or $40 at the gate on the day of event.
 
The OTL Tournament will host 125 teams in a double elimination format. The first rounds will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 20 with winning teams returning from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 21. Tournament divisions include: Men's Pro; Men's Open; Men's Masters; and Women's Open. The entry fee is $120 per team and will increase as the tournament fills up.
 
This two-day event is a precursor to the 64th Annual World Championship Over the Line Tournament set for July 8/9 and July 15/16 at Fiesta Island, Mission Bay Park, San Diego.
 
For more information on OMBAC charities, please www.ombac.org/omcharities/ and for general inquiries, contact us at info@ombac.org. Get social with OMBAC on Facebook at @ombac and on Instagram at @ombacsd.
 
About Old Mission Beach Athletic Club
OMBAC is a 501(c) 4 non-profit organization that focuses on amateur sports, youth athletics, and local charities. OTL is the main fundraising event. Past recipients of OMBAC’s fundraising and donations included UCSD Cancer Research, Jr. OTL Scholarships, Wounded Warrior Foundation, Huntington’s disease, Bikes for Kids, Jr. Lifeguard Foundation, Cancer Walk, Marine Family Christmas Fund, Alpha Project, Meals on Wheels, Hospice, Pacific Beach Youth Group, San Diego St. Patrick’s Day Parade, San Diego Blood Bank, OMBAC Rugby, OMBAC Lacrosse and OMBAC Water Polo. For more information, visit www.ombac.org, Facebook or Instagram.

HARRAH’S RESORT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA UNVEILS NEW BREWERY, SR76

The Concept Marks Southern California’s First Tribal-Owned Brewery

Harrah’s Resort Southern California has announced the opening of SR76, a new 5,000-square-foot brewery situated adjacent to the resort and casino. The first tribal-owned brewing concept in Southern California’s burgeoning beer scene, SR76 is inspired by the ten-thousand-year ancestry of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians and named after State Route 76, the original footpath along the San Luis River that led the tribe to the coast each season. The same road will now guide beer-lovers east from the Pacific to the brewery.

All of the beer offered at SR76 is produced onsite by Brewmaster Brian Scott and is exclusive to the brewery. The brewhouse was custom-built by Marks Design & Metalworks to maximize efficiency of the brewing process, and is comprised of American-made stainless steel sourced from Vancouver, Washington. A long-time resident of Escondido, Scott has held roles at Firehouse Brewing, Mission Brewery and Karl Strauss, and formerly served as vice president and then president of the San Diego Brewer’s Guild. Together, Scott and the Rincon Economic Development Corporation (REDCO), imagined a vision for SR76, one that would reflect the rich history of the tribe’s culture with beer that highlights the agriculture of the 5,000-acre reservation.

“The pathway that gave SR76 its name provides inspiration for the beer itself,” said Scott. “We thought to ourselves, ‘what can we take, from along that path, that would make for an interesting approach to beer?’”

Over the course of a year, Scott will produce up to 20 diverse brews that will be rotated seasonally, with at least four styles offered per season. Scott describes his beers as approachable, well-built and balanced, with intriguing undertones of flavor. To round out the first menu, he created four beers:

• Temet (“Sun”): a light and approachable Kolsch-style ale with citrus and spice notes, the SR76 flagship brew
• Supul (“One”): a delicate Apricot Saison that is refreshingly tart and earthy, with slight notes of apricot
• Hellhole Pale Ale: an American style pale ale, named for Valley Center’s Hellhole Canyon, with citrus notes in the aroma and a clean hop finish
• Paradise Creek Wheat: a full-bodied German Style Weissbier with strong notes of banana and clove that support its rich and fluffy carbonation

Beyond the tasting room, many restaurants within the resort will also serve beers created specifically to pair well with various cuisines.  

"Our partnership with SR76 is an extension of our commitment to the local community and a tribute to the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indian history," said Darrell Pilant, general manager of Harrah's Resort Southern California. "As a cultural hub that celebrates authenticity, Harrah's Resort Southern California is proud to offer guests a unique, world-class beer tasting experience in an upscale taproom setting."

Built by W.E. O’Neil Construction, SR76 is spacious and welcoming, with a modern design and open floor plan that allows for an easy view of the brewhouse. The tasting room was designed by San Diego-based Interior Design and Architecture firm, Community. A Design Collective, to offer a relaxing reprieve from the excitement of the resort and casino. Inspired by nature and the native culture of the tribe, the team used natural textures, like wood, to represent the earth, and paint colors like orange and blue to represent elements like fire and water – both the San Luis River and Pacific Ocean. Outfitted with comfortable contemporary furnishings, such as inviting leather couches in a spacious lounge area, the aesthetic of the space is modern with a tranquil vibe.

SR76 will be open for tastings and tours Wednesday and Thursday from 2pm-8pm; Fridays from 2pm-10pm; Saturday from 12pm-10pm; and Sunday from 12pm-5pm. Flights are $7 and single pints are $6.

THINGS TO DO VALENTINES DAY IN SAN DIEGO 2016: The Headquarters in Seaport Village

San Diego Valentines Day Ideas

Are you that guy who wakes up in a panic on Valentines Day with the sudden realization that he has nothing planned?  Do you like sleeping on the couch?  Do you want to keep your wife or girlfriend?  Then listen to me and make plans now for an evening at The Headquarters in Seaport Village.  Check out some of their specials.

• $2.14 off cakes at Gelato Paradiso – Gelato Paradiso is offering $2.14 off any cake or 12 pack of gelato pops until Valentine’s Day. Cakes are made fresh in-house daily featuring ingredients imported directly from Italy. From heart shaped creations with fresh raspberry sorbetto to double chocolate gelato on a moist chocolate sponge, one bite and you’ll be in love. Images (courtesy of Gelato Paradiso) can be downloaded here.
• Free Roses at Puesto – Known for its refined flavors of Mexican street food and lively atmosphere, each couple who dines at Puesto on Valentine’s Day will receive a free rose to celebrate the holiday.
• Chocolate and Bubbles class at Venissimo Cheese – Enjoy a pairing of the most romantic fromage, cocoas and champagne during an intimate and delicious evening with San Diego cheese experts! The class is from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and costs $50 per person.

Additional date night dining options at the Headquarters include Eddie V’s, featuring fresh seafood and steak, and Season’s 52 featuring seasonal dishes and festive cocktails like Grapefruit Negroni with Ruby Red Grapefruit.

So no excuses, make those plans now and you will be thanking me later!

Wally

THINGS TO DO IN SAN DIEGO THIS WEEKEND: Caffeine Crawl San Diego Coming Jan. 22 - 24, 2015

GET TICKETS NOW FOR CAFFEINE CRAWL SAN DIEGO!  EVENT IS JAN 22 - 24, 2015

Beer lovers have pub crawls and wine lovers have wine tours. Coffee lovers have...Caffeine Crawl! January 23rd and 24th will kick off a year of caffeinated connections with San Diego’s second Crawl and the first of 2015. Caffeine Crawl is a product of the innovative team at The LAB, a beverage marketing and creative firm based in Kansas City, Fort Collins and Portland. From the first Caffeine Crawl in 2011 to the current 15-city line up this year, response has been phenomenal. Grab your travel mug - the buzz is already building!  

We’ll start with a stroll along the North Coast on Friday afternoon, stopping at Cafe Ipe, Ironsmith Coffee Roasters, Lofty Coffee, and Pannikin. On Saturday, Crawlers will gather at kickoff locations throughout the city - InterAmerican Coffee, Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, or The WestBean Coffee Roasters - for event bags full of swag, presentations, and plenty of caffeination before heading out by car or bike to experience the magic at Cafe Moto, Bay Park Coffee, Bean Bar, Broke Girls Coffee Bar, Cafe Virtuoso, Caffe Calabria, Dark Horse Coffee Roasters, and Ladies and Gentlemen Coffee Roasters, with treats along the way from David Bacco Chocolates and Biscuit Gourmet Biscotti.

Each shop will present on a topic unique to their style and passion, and crawlers will receive samples to sip while they soak up the info. The Crawl after party, hosted by James Coffee Co on Saturday afternoon, will conclude a weekend of caffeination and local craft fun with more great drinks and some surprises!

Tickets for the Caffeine Crawl cost $23-$30 (biking or driving routes available) and early bird discounts apply through December 12th. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.caffeinecrawl.com/san-diego-tickets.html

For a unique interactive experience that is educational, delicious and fun, Caffeine Crawl can’t be beat. See you there!

GUEST POST BY SADIE COLWELL (sadie@LAB5702.com)