Events recipes
The Big List of Downtown Holiday Events
A great list of Downtown San Diego’s Holiday events, performances, or celebrations. Get out there and enjoy these Downtown Holiday Happenings:
11/26/2010: Coffee and Cocoa with Santa and Mrs. Claus
Westfield Horton Plaza
Location: Downtown
Description: Coffee and cocoa with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Westfield Horton Plaza
11/28/2010: Surfin’ Santa at Seaport Village
Seaport Village
Location: Embarcadero
Description: Do you have a holiday wish list? Santa likes to visit the Big Bay too. Deliver it to Santa in person at Seaport Village on Saturday, November 28.
11/30/2010: “Holidays on Horton Square” and Tree Lighting
Location: Gaslamp Quarter
Description: “Holidays on Horton Square” and Tree Lighting, presented by NBC 7/39 in partnership with Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary.
12/03/2010 – 12/04/2010: Balboa Park December Nights
Balboa Park December Nights
Location: Balboa Park
Price: Free
Description: In the spirit of the holidays, participating Balboa Park museums open their doors free of charge from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. both evenings.
12/10/2010: Dave Koz and Friends: A Smooth Jazz Christmas
Balboa Theatre
Description: Back by popular demand, Dave Koz and Special Guests Jonathan Butler, Brian Culbertson and Candy Dulfer return to perform this annual festive collection of holiday standards, this time live on stage at the historic Balboa Theatre.
12/11/2010: Jingle Bell 5K Run
Location: Balboa Park
Price: $25-$45 per person
Description: Jingle Bell Run/Walk® is a fun and festive way to kick off your holidays by helping others!
12/12/20: Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade
Gaslamp Quarter Association
Description: Join us for the Third Annual Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade on Sunday, December 12th, 2010!
12/17/2010 – 12/23/2010: Traditions of Christmas
Balboa Theatre
Price: $30-$40
Description: One of San Diego’s favorite holiday shows, now at the historic Balboa Theatre downtown, for its 18th year! Come experience the sights, sounds and magic of the holiday season.
12/18/2010 – 12/19/2010: Breakfast With Santa
Location: Embarcadero
Price: $25
Description: Santa makes an appearance, in his traditional garb for Breakfast with Santa at the Harbor House Restaurant on Dec 18th & 19th, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
12/21/2010: Poinsettia Bowl Battle of the Bands in the Gaslamp Quarter
Gaslamp Quarter Association
Location: Downtown
Description: Scheduled for Tuesday, December 21st at 6:00 p.m
12/23/2010: San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl
Location: Old Town
Price: $28-50
Description: A team from the Mountain West Conference vs Navy at the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl on Thursday, December 23rd at Qualcomm Stadium.
12/29/2010: Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade
Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl
Location: Embarcadero
Price: Free streetside viewing, $15 grandstand tickets
Description: The scenic, bayside streets of downtown San Diego will come alive with the 2010 Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade, presented by San Diego County Credit Union, a Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl Production.
12/30/2010: TIG VIP Tailgate Party
Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl
Location: Linda Vista/USD
Price: $55
Description: Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl members, dignitaries and sponsors kick-off their evening of football and fun at the TIG VIP Tailgate.
(From the fine folks at SanDiego.org – http://www.sandiego.org/holidayhappenings?page=2)
Thread Show’s Pop-Up Holiday Shop Nov 28
Thread Show’s holiday tour is heading to San Diego (Horton Plaza!) this weekend for the first ever Black Sunday holiday pop-up shop featuring 100 indie local designers + tons of free stuff, cocktails, DJs, photo booths, style lounges, fashion shows and more.
I have 5 pairs of tickets to give away to the first 5 people that share this post via Twitter and/or Facebook, and leave a comment below about why they love the holidays, shopping, or both. 
Pumpkin Spice Cocktail Recipe
(A great recipe I received from the fine folks at Harney Sushi… thanks!)
Pumpkin Spice Cocktail (Photo by TaliaStudio.com)
Pumpkin Spice Cocktail Recipe
PART 1: Pumpkin Puree
- 1 cup diced pumpkin
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4 cloves
- 3 juniper berries
- 3 ea allspice berries
- 1/4 tsp fresh grated nutmeg
Instructions: In a sauce pan combine all ingredients and simmer for 20 minutes, or until very soft, and blend on high until smooth. Set aside and cool.
PART 2: Vanilla Soju
- 3 ea vanilla beans
- 1 bottle soju
Instructions: Split the vanilla beans and put the entire beans into the soju bottle. Leave for four days.
PART 3: Creating the Pumpkin Spice Cocktail
- 3 oz vanilla soju
- 1 1/2 oz pumpkin puree
- 1 ea cinnamon stick for garnish
- Add cool whip to garnish
- 4 ea micro edible flowers
Instructions: In a shaker combine soju and pumpkin puree and shake with ice, strain into chilled martini glass and float cool whip over the top. Garnish with cinnamon and flowers.
Enjoy!
Harney Sushi
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For additional recipes, join last year’s Chef of the Fest, Anthony Sinsay and celebrity Chef Katsuya Fukushima at “Gourmet From a Can? Absolutely!,” a hands-on cooking class, showcasing canned products with a gourmet twist. Classes will be held at San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival on November 19 from 3:30 to 5 p.m
RT Contest: Win a Luxury Andaz Hotel Staycation!
RT to Win an Andaz Staycation!
If you haven’t RSVP’d for Saturday’s tWineUp at the Andaz Hotel, here’s a little incentive – one lucky tWineUp attendee will win an awesome luxury “staycation” with a free room for one night. To enter for a chance to win just retweet any (or all!) of the following:
- I’m attending this Saturday’s Dressed Up #AndaztWineUp at @IvyNightClub – enter me to win the staycation! http://ow.ly/1MQuw
- Heading to @IvyNightClub this weekend for #AndaztWineUp – they’re giving away a free night of stay! RT to enter! http://ow.ly/1MQuw
- I just entered to win a free staycation at Andaz Hotel! RT for your chance to win. @IvyNightClub #AndaztWineUp http://ow.ly/1MQuw
To win, you must:
- Be following @IvyNightClub
- RSVP Yes for the May 22nd tWineUp
- Be present at the Andaz tWineUp to win!
RSVP today, and spread the word! -> http://ow.ly/1MQuw
Stay tuned for a chance to win free bottle service at @IvyNightClub as well… details coming soon!
#SanDiego @FourSquare Business Specials! #4sqday Plz RT
In honor of 4sqday, 4/16 (4 times 4 = 16!) here are the places that offer FourSquare specials, for your convenience and Mayor/special hunting… (Check out http://4sqday.com/city/San%20Diego and a map of all the specials http://4squareoffers.com/offer2.php?name1=San+Diego as well!)
Bare Back Grill: Mayor gets a free drink and 1/2 priced Burger for the on Monday Nights! http://foursquare.com/venue/61579
Cowboy Star Restaurant and Butcher Shop: Free Appetizer for the Mayor! http://foursquare.com/venue/40830
Doubletree Golf Resort: Enjoy 25% off an entrée at Mulligans when checking in! Enjoy 50% off an entrée at Mulligan’s when you become mayor (Max 1/month) http://foursquare.com/venue/98630
Hall of Champions – Balboa Park: For every 5th check-in, one free admission (I am not sure how they track that http://foursquare.com/venue/77701
Harney Sushi Oceanside: 50 cent small hot sake for users who can prove they have checked in at Harney Sushi Oceanside (with purchase) (What about for the Mayor??) http://foursquare.com/venue/112181
Heaven Sent Desserts: Show your checked in phone, iPod, or … to the server, and receive a free cupcake between 11am and 6pm each Tuesday and Wednesday in February and March! Offer good only for Foursquare members, one offer per day per person. http://foursquare.com/venue/34445
Ono Sushi: If you’re the mayor, you drink for FREE (all night). Every checkin, you get a FREE drink. show phone to manager to redeem. (Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about!) http://foursquare.com/venue/22684
Pizza Fusion: Free Pint of Beer or Glass of Wine for the Foursquare Mayor!!! Come compete with Downtown Rob! (heh heh! I’m no longer the mayor, have to work on that http://foursquare.com/venue/71419
Prohibition: Hey Hey! Cocktail for the Mayor, on us! Show your server to redeem! (Crap, not the mayor here anymore either. I need to get out more! lol) http://foursquare.com/venue/76497
RedZone Sports Bar & Grill: Show us your check-in & receive 10% off your bill (excludes VIP lounge and alcohol). Mayor Special: Free Appetizer with a $10 purchase http://foursquare.com/venue/154339
Ruby’s Diner (Mission Valley): Anyone who checks in will receive a free soft drink with the purchase of an entrée or appetizer. Mayor will receive a free Ruby’ Sundae with the purchase of an entrée or appetizer http://foursquare.com/venue/79622
Terra Restaurant & Bar: Show that you’ve checked in on FourSquare and receive a free appetizer. Special Mayor Offer: Receive 25% off you total bill. (Steal my mayorship, I dare ya 
http://foursquare.com/venue/34446
The Cask Room: Free Glass of Wine or Pint of Beer for the Mayor! (Have to have a tWineUp here soon…) http://foursquare.com/venue/23049
Wave House Bar & Grill: $1 domestic beers for the mayor! $2 wells for everyone else who checks in on Foursquare! http://foursquare.com/venue/31544
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa: Show that you;ve checked in to Mustangs & Burros and get a free pitcher of our signature Estancia Sangria every 2nd check-in! http://foursquare.com/venue/209656
Enjoy!
