Summer Fun at the San Diego County Fair
Summer is officially here and that means fun in the sun! One of my all-time favorite summer past times is spending time at the County Fair. What’s not to love!? Rides, games, concerts, animals, exhibits, festivals, and wacky foods that aren’t acceptable to eat any other time of the year. It is the perfect way to spend a summer day with so much to see and do you are bound to have a good time!
Photography by Ashley Williams
This post previously was shared with Established California viewers. Unfortunately, the County Fair has been postponed this year but we are looking forward to playing again when it’s safe to do so!
Summer is officially here and that means fun in the sun! One of my all-time favorite summer past times is spending time at the County Fair. What’s not to love!? Rides, games, concerts, animals, exhibits, festivals, and wacky foods that aren’t acceptable to eat any other time of the year. It is the perfect way to spend a summer day with so much to see and do you are bound to have a good time!
Photos taken at the San Diego County Fair by Ashley Williams Photography
36 Hours (and the 10 top things to do) in San Diego
San Diego is a beautifully vibrant place, filled with nooks and crannies of adventures. With the weather being better than ever lately, there's no better time to take a stay cation or vacation to one of the most beautiful cities in California. Here, a San Diego insider and style blogger, Conni of Art in the Find, shares 10 of her favorite San Diego things to do...cause one of the best ways to get to know any city is from the people who love it most!
San Diego is a beautifully vibrant place, filled with nooks and crannies of adventures. With the weather being better than ever lately, there's no better time to take a stay cation or vacation to one of the most beautiful cities in California. Here, a San Diego insider and style blogger, Conni of Art in the Find, shares 10 of her favorite San Diego things to do...cause one of the best ways to get to know any city is from the people who love it most!
1 | Drink a Hazelnut Latte & eat a croissant at Extraordinary Desserts | I’ve never been a real fan of hazelnut. But for some reason, this particular latte has & croissant combo has me in love with the coffee + pastry combo.
2 | Take the ferry to Coronado, rent bikes, and ride around the island | From our place in Little Italy, we can walk to the ferry at the Embarcadero. Ferries leave every 30 minutes and it’s a 15 minute ride across the (gorgeous) bay to Coronado. From there, I love renting bikes for a few hours to zoom by all my future dream homes…
3 | Walk through Balboa Park near sunset then have dinner at Cucina Urbana | When Cucina Urbana opened up a few years ago, I knew I found a great spot to sit at the bar, have a sangria, followed up by a great glass of wine & pizza. They have a wine ‘store’ inside the restaurant, so you pay no mark up, only the corkage fee. Reso highly recommended, unless you show up right at 5!
4 | Have a champagne cocktail & Oysters at Ironside | One of my all time favorites for eye candy, Ironside has a great champagne cocktail list and their $1 oysters for happy hour can’t be beat.
5 | Have brunch at Cafe Chloe | I cannot say enough about how darling this gem in downtown San Diego is. They’ve been open for around 10 years and I think I’ve been dining there just about that long. Order a glass of rose, their cheese plate, and the Croque Madame.
6 | Sail on the San Diego bay | We are supremely lucky to have better weather in January than most. So sailing on the bay is a lovely option. For $80 a person, you can sail with Sail San Diego with up to 8 people (who can all be your friends!). Snacks and drinks are included.
7 | Drink a michelada & eat tacos at Puesto, then shop at Seaside Paperie and try cheese at Venissimo (at the Headquarters) | If you’re looking for a great place to find lovely shops, great food, and yummy cheese, the Headquarters, which opened last year, is a great place to hang.
8 | Hit up the Little Italy farmers market early then head to Queenstown for the weekend brunch | The Little Italy Farmer’s Market is another little gem in my book. But you have to get there early because it gets really packed. After a quick visit for some local produce, stopping at Queenstown is another favorite. Order the Elvis. Peanut butter, bananas, and waffles..done and done.
9 | Coffee Hop to all my favorite coffee places in San Diego, like Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, influx, Cafe Madeleine, and Tartine, just to name a few. | Breweries and coffee shops are stuff that dreams are made of and San Diego has a wide variety for every palate. As far as coffee shops go, I love that in every neighborhood, there are favorites, and each has a story.
10 | Order a Mona Lisa #12 Sandwich with pepperoncinis and fresh mozzarella, to go. | I mean, I can’t even begin to talk about Mona Lisa without starting to crave their sandwiches. I have them saved in my phone, it’s that good.
WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT IN SAN DIEGO? SHOW US BY USING #ESTCALIFORNIA ON YOUR SOCIAL DEVICES. HAVE A PLACE WE NEED TO SEE? CONTACT US!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Conni is a native Californian and adventuring creative at heart. She started her blog, Art in the Find back in 2013, as a way to bring style and her sense of adventure to her readers. Conni is a full time personal wardrobe stylist and blogger who loves bringing everyday style to her clients. She is based out of San Diego and also creates style lookbooks for clients all over the U.S. Conni loves a good cup of coffee in the morning, can be found scouring the flea markets for creative projects, and won't turn down a glass of bubbly for anything!
FIVE SUPER SCARY HALLOWEEN ADVENTURES
As Halloween creeps closer, most people are already prepared with a costume, plans and/or what type of candy they’re giving away at the door. If you’re like me and have zero of those things done, I’ve compiled a list of some last minute options, in case you don’t LOVE dressing up, or you do, but need a change of plans. Here are five LA-based super scary adventures... not for the faint of heart.
As Halloween creeps closer, most people are already prepared with a costume, plans and/or what type of candy they’re giving away at the door. If you’re like me and have zero of those things done, I’ve compiled a list of some last minute options, in case you don’t LOVE dressing up, or you do, but need a change of plans. Here are five LA-based super scary adventures... not for the faint of heart.
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride @ Griffith Park
4730 Crystal Springs Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Hours and ticket info here
Firstly, the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride has become an iconic Hollywood tradition that started six years ago. The hayride trail this year is bringing a new 25-minute experience where “armies of demonic and dark forces and demonic presences litter the ground and are frantic to strike at their favorite “hayriders.” With all new scare zones, The House of Horsemen will be terrifying. With each room in the house symbolizing the four elemental apocalyptic terrors, like pestilence, war, famine and death, there will be no place to hide. The creative team has innovatively made a new special effects challenge, that has not been done in the haunted attraction world, making this hayride a unique and utterly bone chilling experience well worth it.
Halloween Horror Nights @ Universal Studios
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608
Hours and ticket info here
Universal Studios produces the “most terrifying 360-degree Halloween event in Los Angeles with More Dead than Ever!” Featuring scares from tons of Hollywood’s most terrifying movies, music, and TV shows like AMC’s The Walking Dead. With mazes featuring movies like Alien vs. Predator, From Dusk til Dawn, Dracula, and my least favorite scary “thing,” Clowns 3D. For the Clowns 3D maze, legendary guitarist Slash will bring a frightening new sound that will make you “experience a mind-blowing sensory overload of your darkest fears.” I don’t want ANY part of that one. Besides mazes there’s a Terror Tram, an apocalyptic journey trough the Walker-infested Universal back lot.
Knotts Scary Farm
8039 Beach Blvd.
Buena Park, CA 90620
Hours and Ticket info here
Knotts Scary Farm brings back Trapped: Lock & Key. Bringing extra rooms, and more complex puzzles to solve, and an extreme and shocking finale that will come to life. With Trapped, “you become part of the terror and are forced to face your darkest fears, confront your inner terrors and descend into the madness of a maze with no way out.” Other attractions consist of Black Magic, with the motto “will you be part of the disappearing act?” Creepy. Back by popular demand is Elvira. In the 1,800 seat Charles M. Schultz Theatre, Elvira becomes the “ring Mistress of the Park” and will feature amazing dance performances by hip-hop based Academy of Villains, who danced on Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance.”
Blackout Halloween
500 Mateo Street 90013
Downtown Los Angeles
Hours and Tickets info here
This may be the scariest of Halloween events out there. First started in New York City, it has made its way West to the Arts district. A haunted house, where you don’t get to go in it with a group, but alone, not knowing what could happen. So scary, no one under the age of 18 is allowed. If you’re a horror enthusiast and love those types of uncomfortable situations, Blackout Halloween is for you. One review in New York City’s Slant said, “ If you prefer rubber bats and cobwebs over genuine fear-inducers like confinement and sensory deprivation, don’t even think about buying a ticket.” So there you have it, the scariest most chilling Halloween event ever.
Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor
1126 Queens Hwy
Long Beach, CA 90802
Hours and Ticket info here
What better way to be frightened than by going to the actually haunted Queen Mary in Long Beach? New mazes are being introduced this year, Voodoo Village, Soulmate and B340. It will be an exclusive encounter onboard the infamous ocean liner, unlike any other haunted experiences you’ve done. The creepiest part is that all the Queen Mary mazes take you through some of the most active paranormal areas aboard the ship. Hope you’re not scared of little kid ghosts, because a girl from third class thought she could slide down the banister and sadly, fell and broke her neck. Apparently, she now wanders the pool area and nursery looking for a doll or her mother. “The Queen Mary is home to a bunch of casualties but she was also surrounded by death” during WWII. It is reported that while avoiding enemy ships, she zigzagged into a companion ship, and was nearly cut in half and sadly had to leave 300 survivors in the water. Apparently, there is a pounding on the side of the Queen Mary sometimes, by those men trying to come on board. So, Halloween on the Queen Mary um… fun.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Keyla Vasconcellos is originally from Brazil and grew up in Virginia. When she moved to California, it immediately stole her heart. After attending Pepperdine University, she worked in restaurants where she grew to love all types of cuisines. She is aspiring to be a Gastronomist Extraordinaire by eating her way through Los Angeles and sharing her adventures with anyone who enjoys a delicious meal.
MEZCAL COCKTAILS WITH MUSIC ARTIST, LISSIE
With Halloween upon us, we can't wait to celebrate festivities all over the state and one we can't stop talking about is "Noche De Agave". The evenings festivities will begin at 7pm on Saturday, November 1, 2014. Starting wiith an Agave bar where patrons will be able to sample Lissie's signature Metl Mezcal and Reposado Tequila, each product has Lissie's stamp of approval.
With Halloween upon us, we can't wait to celebrate festivities all over the state and one event we can't stop talking about is "Noche De Agave".
The evenings festivities will begin at 7pm on Saturday, November 1, 2014. Starting wiith an Agave bar where patrons will be able to sample Lissie's signature Metl Mezcal and Reposado Tequila, each product has Lissie's stamp of approval. She even serenaded the in-fermentation barrels of Mezcal, so every sip is infused with a bit of her soul. The rest of the nights activities include Day of the Dead traditional face painting, flower crowns, artisan booths, traditional Mexican food and live music from Lissie and her band, George Stanford and Dan Wilcox will be DJing.
NOCHE DE AGAVE
November 1, 2014 at 7PM
At the Paramount
2708 Cesar Chavez Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90033
Tickets Available : HERE
Fans first fell in love with Lissie’s sun-and-tequila-soaked voice from her five-song EP Why You Runnin', produced by Bill Reynolds of Band of Horses. Lissie’s debut album, Catching a Tiger, co-produced by Reynolds and Jacquire King (Kings of Leon), earned Lissie a Q Awards nomination for Best Breakthrough Artist, the Best New Solo Artist nod by Paste Magazine and a coveted spot as a VH1 “You Oughta Know” artist. For her second full length, 2013’s Back to Forever Lissie teamed up with producer Garret "Jacknife" Lee (R.E.M., U2, Weezer, Snow Patrol, Silversun Pickups). Her music has seen numerous placements in Film and TV and her live performances and recordings have received praise from Rolling Stone, American Songwriter, Los Angeles Magazine, Relix Magazine, Under the Radar Magazine, Spin Magazine, Pitchfork and more. Videos of songs from Lissie’s two cover EP’s, 2011’s Covered Up With Flowers and this year’s Cryin’ To You, have collectively racked up over 15 million views on YouTube.
The evening’s festivities will be hosted at the Paramount, located in the heart of the Boyle Heights community. The building, previously known as the Paramount Ballroom was designed and built in 1924 by Los Angeles architect Gregory R. Evans. The building’s history is deeply rooted in association with Jewish social and cultural history of Los Angeles. Since it’s inception in 1925, the venue has hosted thousands of musical performances. Just this year, the Paramount completed a major renovation into a state of the art all-ages event space, including a full restaurant and bar with multiple floor configurations.
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We wanted to give you something a little extra to get you excited for the event, so we were able to chat with Lissie and she gave us her favorite Mezcal Inspired cocktails.
In theory a high quality, 100% agave tequila or a pure mezcal should be sipped and savored straight but there's a few ways I like to dress them up.. - Lissie
We can't wait to check it out for ourselves, will you be there? If so, make sure to share by using #estcalifornia.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lindsay Vacek has a passion for style, details and design. As a Fashion Editorial Photographer, she's worked in the Entertainment Industry for over 10 years and has a love for adventure and travel. She spends her spare time globe-trotting her way through foreign countries and loves new cultures, food, music and the arts.
Being a California Native, Lindsay loves meeting new people and sharing her version of life with others. With an infinite list of things-to-do, places-to-go and sights-to-see - she believe everyone can have a little more California in their own lives.
FRONT PORCH CINEMA
Now that summer is officially over, the return of Front Porch Cinema has returned to Santa Monica Pier for Friday nights (courtesy of Eat | See | Hear).
Image via Front Porch
Now that summer is officially over, a new series of events have come back to the Santa Monica Pier for Friday nights (courtesy of Eat | See | Hear). On the west end side of the Pier parking deck, a 40 foot screen has been placed for relaxing movie nights with girlfriends, boyfriends, good friends and dogs. Bring lawn chairs (or rent one for $5), blankets, and take-out. Otherwise, there will be food carts and music to enjoy before the movie begins.
The next showing is seven-time academy award winning space thriller Gravity on October 10th. Doors open at 6 p.m. followed by a pre show DJ, refreshments and delicious snacks. The movie will start at 7:30 p.m.
The schedule for October is as follows:
October 10th: Gravity
October 17th: The Grand Budapest Hotel
October 24th: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
As you enjoy the sun setting, the ocean breeze and this “Fall” weather, kick back with a couple of friends under the stars for Front Porch Cinema. Enjoy this beautiful October by the beach with some fantastic flicks. The best part? It’s free.
HOURS
The Pier is always open, and always fun, year-round. But check with individual businesses for their specific hours of operation.
DIRECTIONS
Go west. If your shoes are wet, you’ve gone too far. The ramp at the intersection of Ocean and Colorado is your most direct route by car, bike or foot. If you know where you’re coming from,
click here to map your route.
PARKING
There is parking on the Pier deck, accessible via the ramp at Ocean and Colorado. There are
also two lower lots accessible via Appian Way. Click here for a map. And feel free to call the Parking Office at 310-458-8295 for seasonal hours and rates.
Want to make this even easier? We recommend reserving a discounted parking spot in advance here.
Image via Yelp
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Keyla Vasconcellos is originally from Brazil and grew up in Virginia. When she moved to California, it immediately stole her heart. After attending Pepperdine University, she worked in restaurants where she grew to love all types of cuisines. She is aspiring to be a Gastronomist Extraordinaire by eating her way through Los Angeles and sharing her adventures with anyone who enjoys a delicious meal.
