Swish. Whether it’s the grass skirts, flowing sarongs, or the beyond-waist-long hair of young ladies dancing hula, “swish” is the word that comes to mind when I imagine people perform the wave-like dance synonymous with Hawaii.
Never “The Lafayette Hotel.” It’s a welcome curveball.
For four consecutive Saturdays–March 16, March 23, March 30, April 9–The Lafayette Hotel on El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego will host Hawaiian Lu’aus. Taking place poolside from 5:00-10:00 p.m., the event will feature Hawaiian dancers, leis, tiki torches, drinks, & more!
Admission, which includes an all inclusive Hawaiian buffet, is $39 for adults, $19 for children older than 3, and free for kids younger than 3.
The lu’aus are just another of the Lafayette’s springtime draws, running alongside Friday night dive-in movies and the Rockin Jazz Big Band event on Tuesday, April 2.
Swish.
(Image from Lafayette Hotel Pool Parties.)
If you’re looking for something that’ll make Thursday night feel more like Friday night, then head down to San Diego’s South Park neighborhood and join Alchemy as it celebrates its 4-year anniversary.
For just $10, you’ll get to enjoy tray-passed bites from their Street Food Menu and you’ll get one drink ticket which you can exchange for a cocktail crafted by the Blind Tiger Cocktail Co., a glass of sparking wine from Segura Viudas Cava, or a pint of beer from Societe Brewing Co. Once you’ve used up that single drink ticket, enjoy $4 drink specials all night.
The event rolls from 7:30 p.m. to close. Get there early to claim a spot equidistant to the bar and the kitchen for quick drink replenishment and first dibs on fresh trays from of the galley.
After all, it don’t mean a thing without it.
For three consecutive Thursdays in March, Mingei International Museum will host “Roots of Swing” dance classes in collaboration with Swing in San Diego. Led by local dance instructor and organizer of Firehouse Swing, Meeshi Ravi, each two-hour class is open to all ages and will explore two styles of American popular dance from the early 20th century.
On March 7, participants will learn the Cake Walk and the Charleston. On March 14, the class will cover Swing time’s Lindy Hop and Big Apple. And on March 21, dancers will dig in to Chicago Steppin’ and Soul Line Dancing.
The best part? No dance experience is necessary! A single class runs $15, but sign up for all three classes and only pay $35. Classes go from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
If you’re nervous, just remember: It makes no difference if it’s sweet or hot. Just give that rhythm everything you’ve got.
(Photo from the “Roots of Swing” event page on Mingei International Museum’s website.)
Shake off winter at El Dorado Cocktail Lounge when they host their spring menu release party this Tuesday, March 19, from 9:00 p.m. to close. And, if I were you, I’d take this opportunity to try something other than their Moscow Mule.
Free appetizers from Soda & Swine, the latest “x” on North Park’s food treasure map, will be provided to those who venture out on this week night. By the by: Soda & Swine is co-owned by El Dorado’s own Nate Stanton.
While you swig and snack, enjoy a live jazz guitar performance from San-Diegan-by-way-of-the-Philippines Harley Magsino and beats from resident DJ V-Rock.
The featured Spring cocktails are $5 all night long. So, as El Dorado’s event poster suggests, be there like a buffalo frolicking in a field with a lamb, or be square.
(Poster from the website of El Dorado Cocktail Lounge.)
Saturday, December 8, 2012:
- 12:00 p.m. Enjoy the nation’s premier holiday festival. This year marks the 35th celebration of Balboa Park December Nights. Do a tent crawl down at the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages and get your fill of tastes from around the world; just remember to pay in cash. Catch a number of FREE, live performances at one of the various event stages such as the Bon Temps Stage or the Organ Pavilion Stage. Arrive at 5:00 p.m. and enjoy FREE admission into participating museums until 9:00 p.m. (I recommend checking out the annual LEGO Train exhibit at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum.)
- 7:00 p.m. Bask under the glow of Graffiti Beach. This hip South Park shop that took over the space once filled by Velo Cult celebrates the release of their Holiday Online Magazine with a runway show featuring independent brands like CHIME and Paper Bird Jewelry. Before and after the show, peruse the shelves to find something fun to gift or to keep. To get in to the event, simply RSVP.
Sunday, December 9, 2012:
- 12:00 p.m. Art. Music. Shopping. Hosted bloody mary bar. No cover. Voyeur in Downtown San Diego hosts the Projekt 619 Boutique Blowout Sale until 5:00 p.m. San Diego shops selling their goods include two of my favorite North Park spots, Hunt & Gather and HOME, East Village favorite 5&A Dime, and more. Just be cool and don’t spill any of those complimentary bloody marys on anything.
- 6:00 p.m. 50% off all drinks at the place named after an Aesop fable. The Lion’s Share celebrates its first anniversary with two gracious moves. First, they’re offering 50% off their menu of craft cocktails, beer and wine all night long. Second, they’re holding a raffle and all of the proceeds will be donated to Operation Santa: San Rafael el Arado, Guatemala. Raffle tickets run $1 a pop. Among the prizes up for grabs are a two-night stay at the Hard Rock Hotel in Downtown San Diego, a $100 gift card to Craft & Commerce, and Fernet Branca swag. With generosity like this, I look forward to many more years from The Lion’s Share!
(Photo credits from left to right: Photo by Richard Benton, from Balboa Park’s December Nights Press Photo page; cover of the holiday issue of Graffiti Beach Magazine; flyer for the Projekt 619 Boutique Blowout Sale from the Facebook page of Haven Boutique; flyer for the one-year anniversary celebration of The Lion’s Share from the Facebook page of The Lion’s Share.)
