Although fall is just around the corner, it’s not too late to enjoy the wonderful Southern California beaches. Summer is offering us one more chance to get out and enjoy the amazing scenery and ocean breeze at this year’s Pacific Beachfest. The event will be held on Saturday, October 1, from 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. If you’re thinking: “Oh no, we’ve spent all of our summer vacation money!” there are no worries here, as the all-day, kid-friendly event is free for all attendees! The event will be held on the Pacific Beach Boardwalk between Diamond Avenue and Thomas Street. Parking will be a breeze, as there are 21 paid parking lots in the area. You can also use the Metropolitan Transit System for transportation. There will be various activities and booths to check out, ranging from kids games and rides, to local surf and skate shop merchandise, sidewalk sales, a beach volleyball tournament, an 8K beach fun run, an Arts & Crafts Village and the famous PB Craft Beer Garden. For all you action seekers, VANS/Pacific Drive and Skateboard Mag-Action Alley will be featuring professional skateboarding demos. Don’t worry about packing a lunch, as there will be several food vendors on hand, many of which will feature the area’s  famous fish tacos. You can even make a night out of it by staying with us at Ocean Park Inn, located in the heart of Pacific Beach. The Beachfest offers that perfect opportunity to relish in one more day of summer fun, so don’t miss out!

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The Little Italy community, which totals 48 blocks of gorgeous downtown San Diego real estate, has played a major role in highlighting true Italian customs and traditions for over seventeen years. To celebrate Italian-American customs, culture and cuisines, the Little Italy Festa was formed. This year’s Festa will be held on Sunday, October 9th, for all of the residents in San Diego and the surrounding areas. The event takes place from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. in San Diego’s Little Italy, culminating specifically on India Street. There will be entertainment for all ages, including the Kids Fun Zone (with inflatables, face painting, and balloon art), Gesso Italiano chalk art, cooking demonstrations and contests, music on three stages featuring old and new artists, Italian cuisine (served al fresco), and more. In addition to the Festa, the Little Italy community hosts several other events and activities throughout the year, including the Little Italy Mercato (Farmer’s Market), an ArtWalk, the Lamborghini Show, Trick-or-Treat on India Street, a Holiday Tree Lighting, and more. Little Italy is continuously embracing new developments into its’ community to develop and grow the area. To find out more about Little Italy, this year’s Festa, and other year-round events, please visit www.littleitalysd.com. And don’t forget that the Ocean Park Inn is just a short drive from downtown, so it’s the perfect place to call home after a day of fun at the Little Italy Festa!

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With so much entertainment and natural beauty in San Diego, it can be difficult to choose which events to attend. That said, take our advice when we say that the Full-Moon Walk on Scripps Pier is not an event that you want to miss out on. On September 11–12, take advantage of the warm moonlit night and explore one of La Jolla’s most prominent landmarks – the Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier, which is usually closed to the public.

“The pier, typically closed to the public, is used by scientists, students and aquarium staff for a variety of research projects. It also serves as a platform to collect local marine life and deploy small boats and oceanographic instruments.” During the Full-Moon Walk you will learn all about the pier’s history and nocturnal habits of the marine life living below. You’ll also get the chance to dissect a squid, collect plankton, observe moonlit ocean conditions and even make marine organisms glow under the dark sky!

The walk takes place from 6 PM – 8:30 PM both nights. Cost is $25 per person and tickets can sell out, so be sure to reserve your spot in advance. For more info or to purchase tickets, visit: www.aquarium.ucsd.edu

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Just imagine – you are taking a long walk on Pacific Beach, enjoying the sea air and the amazing San Diego scenery without a care in the world, when suddenly you step on something. It feels like some sort of mushy gel, but when you look down you find that it’s actually a jellyfish. A burning, itching, stinging sensation is slowly but steadily starting to spread up your leg, and you are now in a panic. What is the best action to take?

We have all heard the most common myth about curing a jellyfish sting, which is to have someone pee on it. (Yes, you heard me correctly). However, as appealing as that sounds (yuck!), there are actual cures that will calm the burning and ensure no other severe symptoms (nausea, vomiting, swelling, muscle spasms, or even, in extreme cases, coma) will occur.

The most helpful immediate treatment is to soak the sting in vinegar, isopropyl alcohol or use a jellyfish sting treatment cream for 15 – 30 minutes. If these are unavailable, salt water will do. You will have to remove the tentacles with tweezers, as using your hands could result in the release of more toxins–ouch! It is then advised to rinse with the solution again.

While jellyfish aren’t all that common in San Diego this time of year, stingrays do find shelter in our warm summer waters. When entering the ocean, be sure to shuffle your feet rather than step directly onto the ocean floor. Shuffling your feet causes the “rays” to flee from their hiding spot under the sand. If you do happen to step on a ray and are stung, it is important to remove the barb immediately, as well as any clothing near the infected area. Soak the injured area in the hottest water possible for an hour, wrap it in a bandage, and use a topical treatment to stop any swelling.

Although in both cases these relatively simple cures usually do the trick, it is sometimes necessary to seek medical treatment. If the injured person shows signs of difficulty of breathing, has been stung in the mouth, or is a young child or elderly, it is important to get medical attention immediately. Antibiotics and more serious treatments may be advised.

The best way to avoid these fun cures? Pay close attention to where you are walking and swimming on those wonderful and beautiful San Diego beach trips!

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Toast with us (and hundreds of filmmakers) as we ring in 10 years of art and style in film at the 10th Birthday of the San Diego Film Festival. This year’s celebration will consist of five days full of film premiers, exclusive parties and more! So get ready to revel in the arts and join us for the biggest birthday party America’s finest city has ever seen!

The festival will take place in the Gaslamp Quarter from September 28th – October 2nd and will showcase award-winning film screenings, swanky cocktail soirees with celebrity guests, VIP lounges and post-screening Q&A’s.

The San Diego Film Festival is redefining the film-going experience with a new focus on buzz-building, posh partying and red-carpet-ready beauties. So if you’re hopelessly devoted to the inspiration and talent that drives the entertainment industry come out to San Diego, stay in a relaxing room at the Ocean Park Inn, and enjoy a week of silver-screen luxury.

Passes go on sale on August 1 and offer a wide range of accommodations. Purchase an individual pass to one film premiere for just $12, or go big with an all-access pass for $165. The all-access pass guarantees entrance to all premieres, parties and lounges during the five-day festival, so it’s perfect for the film-lovers in your group.

For more information and to purchase passes, please visit www.sdff.org.

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