From Farm to Bay
WHEN: AUG 3, 5-9PM
WHERE: The Living Coast, 1000 Gunpowder Dr., Chula Vista
COST: $45-$50
There’s another zoo south of the one you know. The Living Coast Discovery Center on the Sweetwater Marsh in Chula Vista is a nonprofit wildlife refuge, really—with sea turtles, stingrays, leopard sharks, you name it. “From Farm to Bay” is their annual fundraising food-wine-music-animals-people event, with chef Andrew Spurgin spearheading a group of about 40 restaurants, (Romesco, Terra, Blind Lady Ale House, etc.), breweries (Stone, Ballast Point, Automatic, etc.) and wine/booze (619 Vodka, Quigley Fine Wines). The restuarants are charged with creating dishes inspired by the creatures in their current exhibit “Deadly Waters”—piranha, snapping turtles, barracuda, etc. (note: they won’t actually be serving piranha; it’s just an inspiration). There’ll be a band, naturally (rootsy one named Plow), plus up-close moments with turtles, hawks, owls, rays, etc.).
MORE INFO: www.thelivingcoast.org
El Dorado Craft Beer & Cocktail Showcase
WHEN: Aug. 3, 4-8PM
WHERE: EL Dorado Cocktail Lounge, 1030 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101
COST: $20-$30
El Dorado Cocktail Lounge was a forerunner in the current cocktail trend in the city. Fits, then, that they’ve created one of the better libation celebrations/showcases/competitions/parties. This year’s event features both brewers (Manzanita, Stone, St. Archer, Helms, etc.) and cocktail havens (mostly sister spots to El Dorado, including Noble Experiment, Craft & Commerce, Sycamore Den and San Francisco’s Bourbon & Branch). There’ll be a live art demo, DJs, live music, food trucks, games, hipsters, lively civic discussions and numerous dissings of Banksy. Should be a blast. A portion of sales will go to On-Life Suicide Prevention Organization.
MORE INFO: http://vimeo.com/36985960
Suzie’s Farms’
Fungus, Foraging, and Fermenting
WHEN: July 20, 10AM-6PM
WHERE: Suzie’s Farm
COST: Varies (see website).
Suzie’s Farm does things right. Ethical food-growers, creative minds with creative events that make otherwise yawning locals pay attention to farming. Like this one. A full day of what they’re calling the “Four F’s”—Fungus, Foraging, Fermenting and Festival-ing. Pick-and-choose classes on their website. There’s one about mushrooms. One for housemade ketchup. One for beer. One for pickles. One for bioremediation (using microorganisms to remove pollution). Go enjoy and learn something. My housemade ketchup is currently better than yours. That’s a challenge.
MORE INFO: http://suziesfarm.com/fungus-foraging-and-fermentation/
