The San Diego Latino Film Festival (SDLFF) is going above and beyond to create a truly spectacular event in celebration of their 20^th anniversary this year! This March 7-17, join the fun as filmmakers, producers, celebrities, and community leaders alike come together to commemorate this event!

The festival will feature the latest films in Latino cinema, from the historical drama Cinco de Mayo: La Batalla to the widely acclaimed documentary Hecho en Mexico featuring Diego Luna! The SDLFF is promising a “unique and exciting film experience to audiences and participants” for this year’s event.

Looking to immerse completely in Latino culture? The SDLFF will span across the border into Tijuana, where the Centro Cultural de Tijuana will present films for the audiences of Tijuana as well.

Keep in mind–the party goes on long past the screenings! Every after party will include free transportation to and from the festival. Join the fun on Opening Night at Café Sevilla. Entrance includes 1 hour of hosted sangria, appetizers, and live music by Todo Mundo. On March 13th the party will move to FLUXX nightclub. Entrance includes a free drink ticket and live entertainment by Styletones. To close the festival, attendees will have the change to attend the “Closing Weekend After Party” hosted at the San Diego Air and Space Museum. Entrance will include a free drink ticket, live music and Dj’s to help you dance the night away in celebration!

After-partying not your thing? Allow us to suggest an alternative: enjoy some of  San Diego’s best Mexican food in Old Town! Hop on the trolley from Hazard Center over to some of our favorite Old Town restaurants like Café Coyote, Casa Guadalajara, or Old Town Mexican Café. Sit back and relax as you indulge in a margarita… or two!

General Admission tickets are $10.50 per film. Students, seniors, Military and MACSD Members may receive a discount. For more information on the event and ticket pricing please visit www.sdlatinofilm.com.

Opening Day is March 7th, 2013. The festival runs from March 7-17 at the Digiplex Mission Valley Cinemas at Hazard Center, a short drive from your favorite San Diegan accommodations at Ocean Park Inn!

For information on room rates, please give us a call at 858-483-5858 or visit http://www.oceanparkinn.com.

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Nothing compares to a nice glass of wine. Except for a glass of Californian wine…on the coast…sipped while watching the sunset! On Saturday, March 9^th and Sunday, March 10^th join the thousands of other wine connoisseurs and experience the perfect combination of wine tasting and gorgeous beach views at the Family Winemakers of California’s 5^th Annual “Tasting 2013” in Del Mar.

With 170+wineries pouring, guests will have a plethora of different of Cabs, Pinots and Zins to taste. The event showcases small, family-owned wineries from some of California’s up-and-coming and widely acclaimed regions. From small label productions, to the rare collectibles, attendees will have the chance to discover some of California’s hidden treasures in the wine industry.

All of the wineries in attendance are small, family-owned establishments, that pour at only a select few events each year. Tasting 2013 gives you the opportunity to meet the vintners and wineries behind the labels, and see first-hand their passion for the craft of exceptional wine making. With over 700 wines to taste at the event, attendees will gain a complete understanding and taste of California wine.

The event is open to trade and consumers. Consumer hours are 3-6pm on March 9th, with tickets available online for $60. Consumers also have the option to participate in a “Reserve” tasting for $85. Purchase online with the promo code “VinVillage15” and receive 20% off your purchase! For more information on tickets, please call 415-705-0646 or email tasting@familywinemakers.org.

Just a short drive from the Tasting 2013 event at the Del Mar Fairgrounds is the Ocean Park Inn, which is the perfect venue to serve as your home base after a long day of indulgence of California’s finest wineries. Ocean Park Inn sits just a few steps from the beach. We can’t think of a better way to enjoy that new bottle of wine then while watching the sunset from one of our ocean front balcony rooms. Sip, sit back, relax, enjoy! For room rates, please call 858-483-5858 or visit http://www.oceanparkinn.com.

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A new year and a new season once again fire up the hopes of a banner fishing year! As of March 1st this year bottom fishing for the usual species opens once again, which means there’s no longer a need to make the runs into Mexican waters to catch rock cod, lingcod, white fish and such. Given the unsettled state of fishing in Mexican coastal waters, it saves a few headaches too. While officially the only thing that’s needed to fish in Mexico is a Mexican fishing license, we have been advised that the smart thing to do is bring a passport or passport card with you when you fish, just to avoid any potential issues.

On the local front, the bottom fishing should remain steady through the spring until the kelp beds kick into gear and the barracuda begin to show—hopefully this year with bonito as well! Until that time, the usual assortment of tasty bottom critters should keep any angler busy enough and provide plenty of fine table fare. Red rock cod, or red snapper as they are called locally, are the featured target, but you’ll run across plenty of brown rock cod, starry rock cod and a host of other species like cabezon, greenlings, white fish and lingcod. There have been a few regulation changes regarding the number of some of these species you can keep, so make sure you’re up to date on the latest information by visiting the DFW Web site at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/sportfishing_regs2013.asp.

Keep in mind that in this colder water there are a few opportunities for the stout of heart that can produce a true So Cal Trophy. During the colder months, we regularly see schools of homeguard yellowtail–the largest of the species we encounter here in San Diego. Often these fish can run as high as 45 pounds. While the percentages are a long shot, the payoff is huge for those patient enough to try. There are days when the fish show readily, but most days you won’t even know they’re there. On those occasions when they go off, usually with a squid run, the bite should last a few days. Bear in mind there is no way to plan to target these fish with any reliability. If a squid run happens, that’s your best bet, but they are hard to predict. In these situations, white seabass also take advantage of the smorgasbord and fish upwards of 60 pounds are not unheard of.

The other species that is normally targeted this time of year is halibut. Again, it’s a low percentage game, but worth it if you put in the time. Sand bass should begin showing sometime in March as they start their spawn on the local sand flats. New regulations exist for these guys as well, finally protecting a valuable local game fish. Calico and sand bass must now be a minimum of 14 inches to keep with a bag limit of no more than five. Smart and conscientious anglers will keep fewer and release all fish over 16 inches as well. While the fish are okay table fare, they are worth far more as game fish than food.

Offshore the only real option this time of year is blue sharks, which show in excellent numbers even though the water seems a bit chilly. Occasionally you might encounter a mako as well, but they usually don’t show until much later in the spring when the water warms to around 63 degrees consistently. Keep in mind that whales are a common site while shark fishing almost year round, and dolphin and porpoise also make frequent showings as well.

Runs into Mexico to fish around the Coronado Islands will produce the same types of fish, only limits are different. Frankly, the longer run doesn’t necessarily equal more production either, so make your decision wisely. March is generally too early for yellowtail to show in earnest at the islands or the Rockpile and your odds of finding them are better locally unless a bite breaks wide open. Just make sure to ask your captain and crew what your options are before you book and again before you leave the dock in case something changes!

Our season is just beginning, and it will only get better from here!

Contact our Guest Blogger Paradigm Shift Charters by visiting their website, or giving them a call at 619.400.9521!

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It’s that time of year again, when San Diegans get the unique opportunity to spot one of the largest and most remarkable mammals in the world, the gray whale, as they migrate along the coast in pursuit of Baja. The whales, mostly female, depart their arctic feeding grounds to give birth in the warm subtropical lagoons of Mexico from the months of January to May. As the season is just picking up, locals and tourists alike are taking advantage of the multitude of whale watching tours available throughout San Diego. Here, we’ll highlight some of our favorite tours, and why visiting San Diego during the temperate months of January and February is the best way to escape the cold!

One of our favorite and more traditional ways to whale watch is from a boat out at sea. We love the Naturalist-Guided Whale Watching Boat Rides, as they feature an expert from the Birch Aquarium at Scripps onboard. With guaranteed whale sightings, guests must reserve a spot ahead of time! To reserve a spot, call (619) 234-4111. Another company we love is Hornblower Cruise and Whale Watching Adventures. With Hornblower, guests are able to combine their admission to the Maritime Museum, the USS Midway, or the San Diego Natural History Museum with a whale watching tour. There’s no better way to enjoy the rest of your day after a spotting whales at sea than a wonderful time expanding your knowledge of the deep ocean blue! To book with Hornblower, visit http://www.hornblower.com/hce/port/category/sd+tours. For those seeking a more adventurous whale watching boat tour, we love the Whale Watching San Diego Sailing Adventure. Sail aboard the America, a classic racing vessel that looks like it was built in the 1800’s! This boat tour guarantees guests entry into the Maritime Museum either before or after their tour paired with a guaranteed whale sighting and no seasickness! Guests are able to bring food on the boat to enjoy as well. To book with Whale Watching San Diego Sailing Adventure, call 800-644-3454.

Speaking of adventure, there’s also an option for those who like to really immerse themselves in the outdoors! Nature lovers can whale watch from a kayak along the La Jolla Shores. As whales are often spotted along the La Jolla cliffs, kayakers get an up close view of these marvelous creatures as they swim beneath their feet. Although whale sightings are not guaranteed, participants are able to take in the beautiful scenery of the La Jolla cliffs in an adventurous kayaking experience they’ll never forget.  To sign up for a small group kayaking tour, you can pay $60 for a single kayak, or $55 a person for a double kayak. To book, please visit http://www.hikebikekayak.com

However you choose to whale watch, let Ocean Park Inn serve as your home base after this breathtaking experience.  Located on the shores of Pacific Beach with great weather conditions and even better views, Ocean Park Inn is the perfect place to escape the cold winter months of January through March. To book one of our oceanfront rooms, visit http://bit.ly/QN1Jod

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This February 16th-17th, celebrate the Chinese New Year at the 31^st annual San Diego Chinese New Year Food and Cultural Fair. Join the thousands of visitors that attend each year for a weekend filled with tasty eats, beautiful art, cultural music and theater productions for all ages.

There is no better way to celebrate Chinese New Year than with this exciting San Diegan celebration. The festival takes place in the Asian Pacific Thematic Historic District of downtown and blocks off 3rd Avenue and J Street. Attendees will have a wonderful view of the beautiful San Diego Harbor while they enjoy sampling different Asian cuisine, and purchasing beautiful Chinese jewelry, art, clothing, and more.

Guests can bring their little ones by the children’s craft area where they will learn how to construct a traditional Chinese lantern. They’ll get the chance to use their lantern when they participate in the lion, dragon and lantern parade later that day. Performers like the Encinitas Ballet Company and the His-Fang Temple folk dancers will make an appearance, as well as other martial art, acrobatic and musical groups. Asian Story Theatre, which dramatizes Chinese folk tales, will be performing as well. Raffle tickets will be available to purchase for a chance to win a prize!

The festival starts each day at 10am and ends around 5pm. The festival is FREE, so bring the whole family! Located just 15 minutes away, Ocean Park Inn is the perfect place to stay for a weekend of cultural fun and relaxation. After the festival, kick up your feet and rest by the waves, enjoy one of the many surrounding restaurants, or take a dip in the hot tub! For booking information, visit http://bit.ly/QN1Jod

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