April 5:

Nosh your way through Taste of Hillcrest. $30 and up.

The free Chicano Park Day festival celebrates folklore and low riders in Barrio Logan.

The Westin Gaslamp transforms into a seductive speakeasy at Wine and Dine: Prohibition. $150.

April 22:
Adams Avenue shows its roots as a music Mecca at its two-day Unplugged folk festival. Free.

Mother Earth shows her worth at EarthFair, the world’s largest environmental fair, in Balboa Park. Free.

April 25: The Cirque is in town! Cirque du Soleil returns to the Del Mar Fairgrounds with TOTEM, tracing the evolutionary progress of species through—what else—awe-inspiring acrobatics. $40 and up.

April 28:Art and art lovers fill the streets of Little Italy at the two-day ArtWalk. Free.

Forbes named North Park one of  America’s Hippest Hipster Neighborhoods

According to Forbes staff reporter Morgan Brennan, “The San Francisco-based startup Nextdoor.com helped us dig through data on more than 250 neighborhoods in the biggest U.S. cities. We assessed each area’s walkability according to Walkscore.com; the number of neighborhood coffee shops per capita (with some help from NPD Group’s report); the assortment of local food trucks (and their ranking according to Zagat’s); the number and frequency of farmers markets; the selection of locally owned bars and restaurants; and the percentage of residents who work in artistic occupations.”

In San Diego, East Village, Little Italy, South Park and Encinitas are also considered hipster hubs, each district offering its fair share of craft cocktail dens, dive bars, art galleries, alternative boutiques and progressive, sustainable restaurants. But most locals would agree, North Park is the ultimate hipster neighborhood. Just a few 30th & University-area top spots we couldn’t live without include Bar Pink, Spread, Disconnected Salon, Sea Rocket Bistro, Mimi & Red, Lafayette Hotel, West Coast Tavern and newcomer Seven Grand.

Here is why Brennan added our town to her list: “Culturally diverse North Park is home to Craftsman cottages, cafes and diners, coffee shops, several microbreweries, boutiques, and the North Park Farmers Market. The North Park Theater and the Ray Street Arts District are also bastions of creativity in the area.”

Grunion are small silvery fish about 5-inches long that spawn in the spring and summer months. They surf the waves to come ashore and lay eggs in the wet sand.They return to the ocean with the next wave. The fish are to be caught only by hand. A fishing license is required for persons age 16 and older.
OPEN SEASON: March / June / July / August CLOSED SEASON - Observation Only: April & May   

If you have never experienced a Grunion Run, grab a thermos, blanket and bucket. It is a coin toss to find them. Sometimes they hit  select  beaches, other nights you are left alone with the moonlight--Well you and the other adventurous, curious masses. The anticipation of seeing the elusive silver wave is just as fun as actual event.  They are like twinkling stars in the foam. First you see a few sparkles and then within minutes the sand is blanketed in dancing fishes. That is when the people rush the waters to scoop up the slippery prize. We like the catch and release method. But some keep the fish and make a tasty fish stock,fried or grill. They are not very substantial  and I find them rather bony and not worth the work of finding those pesky needles. It is  unique to Southern California. And just another excuse to cuddle and be at the beach at midnight.