“Celebri-dog Chopper guards raffle tickets”

Today marked the end of the 2010 Festival of Sail, a five day event that saw thousands pay a visit to both visiting and local vessels along the downtown embarcadero. At our SanDiegoSunCoast.com booth, the traffic was steady as hundreds stopped by to spin the wheel and participate in our free raffle drawing happening on Monday, September 20th, 2010. Over 2500 free raffle tickets were given out, and folks enjoyed some great weather, lots of vendors, and gastronomic treats of all kinds!

The Grand Prize being drawn for on the 20th is a two night stay at either the Hard Rock Hotel Gaslamp San Diego, or the Manchester Grande Hyatt on the San Diego waterfront. Additional prizes being raffled are gift certificates for dinners, salon treatments and more, which have been provided by area businesses. During the two weeks leading up to the September 20th drawing, we’ll be looking to get a few more goodies to raffle off, in addition to those prizes already in the waiting!

The winning raffle ticket numbers will be posted Monday evening, September 20th, 2010, on the following 3 online locations:

The SanDiegoSunCoast.com website
Facebook.com/SanDiegoBeach (Our Facebook Page)
Twitter.com/SanDiegoBeach (Our Twitter Page)

In the event the Grand Prize is NOT claimed by September 27th, 2010, it will be drawn for again!

Raffle Drawing Rules:

• You must be 21 years of age or older to claim the Grand Prize, and 18 years of age or older for all other prizes.
• Players are responsible for checking their raffle ticket numbers on the above online locations on September 20th, 2010.
• A ticket is void if stolen, mutilated, illegible, tampered with or altered in any way, defective or incomplete.
• All winning tickets are subject to validation by a SanDiegoSunCoast.com representative.
• The Grand Prize must be claimed within one (1) week of the drawing date. In the event it is not claimed by this date, a new number will be drawn. This process will continue until the Grand Prize is claimed.
• Neither SanDiegoSunCoast.com nor the September 20th free raffle drawing is affiliated in any way to the Hard Rock Hotel Gaslamp San Diego or to the Manchester Grande Hyatt San Diego.

Art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.  This September in San Diego, eyes will feast on arts from every medium as we celebrate our first Arts Month San Diego! We hope to see it  become a tradition, following the suit of other cities such as Los Angeles and Sydney, Australia.  Whether you like the fluid motion of dance, the shared emotion of theater, the texture of contemporary visual arts or films that feature the spectrum of human emotion, San Diego arts organizations have put together a month-long smorgasbord for your enjoyment…

Events started today, with the first San Diego Fine Art Society Annual Art Awards.  September events include Opening Night of ART SAN DIEGO Contemporary Art Fair, ArtWalk by the Bay, Art of Photography Show, San Diego Film Festival, and a world-class exhibition organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Downtown called “Viva La Revolucion” which will feature the work of 20 world-class street artists from around the world.

ART SAN DIEGO 2010 will be held September 2-5, 2010, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel featuring paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, videos, and cutting-edge multimedia artworks from more than 50 galleries.  In conjunction with ART SAN DIEGO, the San Diego Fine Art Society will host their inaugural Art Awards to recognize those committed to enriching their community through the arts.

The 12th Blurred Borders Festival returns with a blend of exciting contemporary multi-cultural dance events with video elements that deals strongly with the crossing of borders.  Performances will be held at three downtown locations — Horton Plaza, The Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel (featuring Scott White’s sculpture garden), and at Sushi Performing and Visual Arts Space in the East Village from Thursday though Sunday, September 2-5.

The free Sight & Sound Concert at the Bay is an outdoor rock concert with dancers and art installation pieces representing the San Diego creative community.  It will be held Friday, September 3, from 7 – 10 p.m. at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.

The new events of Arts Month San Diego will be supported by longstanding favorites including ArtWalk on the Bay (Saturday & Sunday, September 18-19, 2010), Carlsbad ArtSplash (Saturday & Sunday, September 25-26, 2010), and the San Diego Film Festival (Wednesday, September 29, – Sunday, October 3, 2010).

To finish off the month, see art where you least expect it with the 12th Annual Trolley Dances on Saturday & Sunday, September 25-26 and October 2-3.  The site-specific dance project travels from the historic County Administration Building to The New Children’s Museum to the Hilton Bayfront Hotel with stops in between for site-specific dance. Led by guides, audience members get on and off the trolley at specific stations to view pieces set in unexpected locations.

All along the coast, many cities and neighborhoods are joining efforts to demonstrate the rich content and community of San Diego’s art scene.  See the Arts Month San Diego website for more event and performance information!

This Labor Day weekend, take a stroll back in time…

How often do you get to see a flotilla of regal tall ships gracing the San Diego waterfront? Or any waterfront for that mater? This is your rare opportunity to get a glimpse of what a port of call might have looked like back in the 1700-1800’s…

Thirteen tallships and more will participate in the 2010 Parade of Sail, a magnificent visual history of maritime marvels! They will cruise around San Diego Bay past Harbor Island, Shelter Island, Seaport Village and the Coronado Bridge, before dropping anchor for the weekend at our very own famed Maritime Museum of San Diego.  There may even be tickets available for lucky guests who would like to take their place aboard the Californian, as she leads the ships to their docks along Harbor Drive.

The weekend schedule is bursting with entertainment, with a variety of live music, cannon battles on the bay, pirates, cruises on racing yachts & boat rides on some of the Maritime Museum’s impressive collection of nautical history. There’s also a kids zone & petting zoo, arts & crafts and requisite Festival food vendors.

The visiting tallships will be open to public tours with the purchase of the Passport of Sail, which holds information about all the participating vessels.  Guests will use their Passports to collect unique stamps as they board each featured ship, leaving the festival with a unique souvenir booklet commemorating their visit!  Also, Passport holders can enjoy free admission to the Maritime Museum of San Diego and their collection of historic ships through the remainder of 2010!

The festivities commence Thursday, September 2, 2010 with the Parade of Sail starting at 9:00 a.m.  After all ships have been secured at the docks near the Maritime Museum, the ships will then be open to visitors from approximately 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Thursday night. From Friday September 2, through Sunday, September 5, the Festival will welcome guests from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Monday, September 6th from 9:00 a.m. to close of Festival at 5:00 p.m. Viewing vendor booths and entertainment is FREE to the public, while the Festival of Sail Passports that permit ship tours cost a mere $15.00 for adults, $10.00 for Seniors, active duty US Military with ID (not including their dependents), and children (12 years to 6 years old).  Kids 5 years of age and under are FREE to accompany their family (maximum 4 per paid adult),  although they will not receive their own Passport.

The SanDiegoSunCoast.com Beach Patrol will not only be in attendance at the Festival of Sail, but will be part of the Vendor action! We’ll be sharing information about San Diego’s beaches, bay & favorite attractions from our headquarters in our Signature blue BEACH CABANA (!) You’ll be able to spin our Prize Wheel to win FREE prizes and a chance to WIN a FREE two (2!) night stay at the famed Hard Rock Hotel in the Gaslamp!  Stop by and see us, we’d love to meet all our friends from the beach!

This Sunday, August 29th, Bike the Bay will follow a 25 mile course around San Diego Bay, including the Coronado Bridge.  In support of the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, who works to make bicycling better for all in San Diego, this event is for riders of all levels, serious and not so serious…

Last weekend bicyclists rendezvoused for a midnight ride through the streets. Riders raised money for the San Diego Council of Hostelling International at the 37th Annual Midnight Madness Fun Bike Ride, with contests, prizes, and entertainment along with their support of community youth programs.  The easy-does-it course followed a mostly flat 18 mile course along some of San Diego’s most beautiful waterfront and historic areas.

How often do you get to ride your bike on the bridge??  Now’s your chance, so grab your helmet & enjoy the ride!

Saturday is the 20th Annual Operation Clean Sweep event, your chance to get involved in reducing the refuse that collects in our San Diego Bay.  Last year’s event filled 10 40-yard dumpsters with junk of all sizes, collected by volunteers.  Different locations at this year’s event let you get your hands as dirty as you choose, from cleaning parks to diving for debris…

The main shore side clean up begins at 8 a.m. at Paradise Creek Marsh near the Pier 32 Marina in National City, with locations also at the National City Marine Terminal and Pepper Park in National City. If you don’t mind getting dirty, the Chollas Creek clean up is for you. Recommended for adults only, bring work boots & gloves to Pacific Ship Repair and Fabrication (1625 Rigel Street, San Diego) to help clear this site that drains directly to the San Diego Bay.  Registration will begin at 7 a.m.  Two sites will also have divers clearing underwater debris – civilians can volunteer at San Diego Marriott Marina, while the former A-8 anchorage in the southern part of San Diego Bay near the Sweetwater Channel will be the focus of divers from the Navy, Coast Guard & Harbor Police.  Interested divers can meet at the Marriott Marina (333 West Harbor Drive) at 7 a.m.

All volunteers will receive an Operation Clean Sweep t-shirt, which will gain them admission to the Treasure Junk Hunt Celebration that takes place after the clean up at 11 a.m. in Pepper Park, with lunch, prizes, and entertainment by the Navy Band.

Gone fishin’ lately?  Labor Day is your chance to go fishing without a fishing license.  The Department of Fish and Game offers two Free Fishing Days each year, when you can fish without first buying a sport fishing license…

This year the final Free Fishing Day is Monday, September 6 (Labor Day).  Want to make the most of the opportunity?  San Diego County is home to a number of sport fishing charters, who will take care of all of the details & let you enjoy a day fishing offshore.   Take a look at the SanDiegoSunCoast.com Fishing page to find out more about charters that will take you out & fishing along San Diego’s coast.  The Department of Fish & Game’s website has all the important information you need to know about fishing regulations, such as bag and size limits, gear restrictions, report card requirements, fishing hours and stream closures (which will still be in effect) so you can cast a line with piece of mind!

Yahoo Travel’s 2010 list of America’s Top 10 Most Romantic Cities is out, and our own San Diego makes the cut!

Coming in at #6, there’s plenty to cheer about here in America’s Finest City – Congratulations San Diego!

You can lead a donor to water but…

The Del Mar Racetrack is in full swing this season, complete with celebrity mares like Zenyatta and her 18-0 win this month. Fans arrive every year to cheer on their favorite horses, and take in the Del Mar race scene along the coast. These magnificent animals appear eternally young, but in reality, the career of a racehorse is a relatively short one. So what happens to these fleet steeds once their racing days are over?

California Retirement Management Account (CARMA) is stepping forward to fill the need for assistance once racing Thoroughbred horses are no longer ‘gainfully employed’, and ready for ‘retirement’ at an early age.  In most cases, horses are retired from the track after just a few years of racing, while they could continue to live another 15 to 20 years in the right environment and care.

CARMA is raising money to support retired California racehorses through fundraising events, as well as educating owners and trainers on equine retirement and working to unify the industry in support of our equine athletes.  The organization has encouraged the California Horse Racing Board to adopt a rule change allowing for a 0.3% deduction from purses to help fund equine retirement by supporting equine retirement farms in California that care for and retrain retired Thoroughbred racehorses (a program that horse owners are allowed to opt-out of).

Del Mar has long been a name synonymous with horses.  Both the Del Mar Racetrack and San Diego Polo Club call this lovely stretch of coastline home, and numerous horse shows are featured at the Del Mar Fairgrounds & Horsepark.  With foresight and generosity, owners and fans alike can ensure that man’s ‘original best friend’ will enjoy their hard earned reward – after many a race hard won.

Click here to donate to CARMA today!

It takes more than a pail & shovel to win here!

Imperial Beach is THE sand castle lovers destination this weekend.  From Friday through Sunday, the ‘Classic Southern California’ beach town will welcome everyone to the 30th Annual US Open Sandcastle Competition.  Part community festival and part national art competition, there’s something for everyone at this FREE event…

The US Open Sandcastle Competition kicks off Friday, August 6 with a breakfast, followed that evening with the Sandcastle Dance, benefiting the Imperial Beach Boys & Girls Club.  The action hits the beach Saturday, the 7th, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the Kidz ‘N Kastles contest. Castle carving takes place from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., with raffle prizes and winners announced from 4 to 5 p.m.  On the first day of the USOSC, fun and creativity are just as important as the execution.  There will also be live music & entertainment through the day, as well as lots of vendors.

The amateur and professional sandcastle competitions on Sunday the 8th will wow the crowds with inspired entries in categories such as  Creative Castles, Classic California, Castles of Your Mind, Creatures of the Sea, Executive Sandbox, and Best Sculpture.  Creation will be underway from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., and available for viewing until the tide washes the masterpieces away around 4 p.m., when awards will be presented after another day full of live music on the festival stage.

Take a cruise down Palm Avenue, stop in & support some of our favorite businesses and enjoy our ‘Classic Southern California’ Imperial Beach. You’ll win some ideas for your own sand masterpieces, and discover the southernmost beach at the end of the San Diego county coastline!

Comic Con wrapped up in San Diego with their special Kid’s Day programming, which launched the start of the San Diego International Children’s Film Festival last weekend.  Over 100 films (short & feature length) and events take place over the next few weekends in locations around San Diego County…

Next weekend (August 7 & 8th) films will be screened at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park, shown in one-hour blocks with breaks in between sessions.  Saturday’s films are appropriate for all ages, while films progress in maturity throughout Sunday afternoon (see Festival Schedule & Program for details).

For it’s final weekend the Film Festival moves to North County,  with outdoor viewings Saturday evening, August 14 at the San Marcos Civic Center Plaza from 8 – 10 p.m., and indoor screenings Sunday, August 15 at Carlsbad City Library, in the Ruby Schulman Auditorium from 1 – 5 p.m.

Throughout the rest of the year, the Museum of Photographic Arts shows a feature length family film at 1 p.m. the first Saturday of every month, with a free fun activity for kids following each screening.  Recent screenings have included favorites such as How to Train Your Dragon, The Perfect Game, Shrek, Marmaduke, The Last Airbender, & Ramona and Beezus.

Looking for more free family activities? The New Children’s Museum offers free admission and extended hours on the second Sunday of each month.  The Museum of Photographic Arts also participates in Balboa Park’s Free Tuesday Admission program, offering free admission to San Diego city and county residents, as well as all active duty military, on the second Tuesday of each month!