The Crossroads of the West Gun Show is the # 1 gun show in America! Attracting over 407,000 attendees in 2010 alone, Crossroads of the West is the largest gun show in the United States! This year the show hits San Diego, CA on July 16th, and 17th for a full two-day event at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

This travelling show offers hundreds of displays featuring everything from handguns and rifles, to military and antique weaponry, and even the largest ammo wholesale dealer on the market. While it may be easy to get caught up in the selling, trading and appraising of guns, Crossroads offers more than just firearms. You will also find beautiful handcrafted knives, clothing and even jewelry at the show.

Whether you’re a hunter, an avid collector, or just an enthusiast, this show is sure to entertain and draw an exciting crowd! Public guests are encouraged to bring their guns to the show for sale or trade, but it must be unloaded prior to entering the building and cleared by security. This is a perfect opportunity to show off your favorite possessions, and meet others who share your interest and enthusiasm for new and antique weaponry.

If you’re interested in have a display at the show you can go to the Exhibitor Order Form and apply. Keep in mind that all gun show transactions must be in accord with all applicable federal, state and local laws. Firearms are not to be loaded at any time.

Tickets are available for purchase at the entrance to the show, or you can purchase them in advance at ezticketlive.com.

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Are you a music buff? Do you love all genres, from Classic Rock & Roll to Cajun Blues and from Motown to Contemporary Jazz? If you are sitting at your computer nodding “yes,” then you better get down to the beach this summer for La Jolla’s Concerts by the Sea!

These family-friendly–not to mention free–summer concerts are fun for locals and visitors of all ages. The events are held on Sundays in a gorgeous spot overlooking the La Jolla Coves, and offer a wide range of musical styles for everyone’s enjoyment.

Every year, the city of La Jolla hosts these musical performances that run for two straight months under the summer sun. The concerts are held shore-side in Scripps Park at La Jolla Cove every Sunday afternoon from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. This year, “The Heroes” will kick off the season on July 10. This 7-member band is headed by the talents of two amazing female singers. This classic rock & roll band’s extensive song list includes everything from big band, swing and standards from the 30′s and 40′s, to today’s current hits, with oldies, Motown, rock & roll, and even a little funk mixed in.

Food vendors and beverage stands line the park and support the ongoing LaJolla concerts every summer. How does a hot dog and ice-cold soda sound? Or maybe some ice cream and popcorn for the kids? These events have it all! The concerts also bring together local restaurants and business that offer fantastic raffle prizes including gift certificates for local activities each week! So come enjoy a free afternoon concert on the shore and you could leave with a free gift certificate for additional fun activities during your stay in San Diego. Sounds like a pretty good deal to us!

For details and a complete list of performances during the 2011 season, visit www.ljconcertsbythesea.org.

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If you are among those who have not had the pleasure of attending San Diego’s infamous Comic-Con International event in the past, the following is a short list of what you can expect to find this year:

• Panels, seminars & workshops with comic book professionals
• Portfolio reviews with top comic book and video game companies
• Evening events including award ceremonies, the Masquerade and costume contests
• Previews of upcoming feature films
• The Independent Film Festival, which showcases short & feature length movies that don’t yet have distribution deals.

Comic-Con returns to the San Diego Convention Center on July 21-24, 2011, with a special preview night on July 20. As the premier event in the entertainment arts industry, Comic-Con boasts an exhibit hall that spans over 460,000 square feet, and a high attendance that outranks any other convention in the country! The 4-day convention brings together a celebration of popular arts ranging from movies and TV, to comic books, fantasy art, Broadway shows and even computer games, toy collectibles and more. For artists and producers this event has become a fundamental occasion as Comic-Con features the best short independent films in a variety of categories each year. In addition to pre-screenings, experts present a special programming track focused on independent film making, complete with “how to’s” and tips that you won’t find anywhere else.

With numerous micro-events taking place throughout the week, it is hard to “do it all”, but make sure not to pass on the Masquerade – it is by far the most unique part of the convention (in our opinion)! Typically held on Saturday, the Masquerade is anything but your casual party. The event is presented as a competition complete with a Master of Ceremonies, a panel of guest judges from costume-related fields, impressive trophies, and even cash awards for the best costumes! While many costumes are re-creations from film, anime, games and comics, completely original designs are welcome as well.

As with each year prior, you can expect some old favorites, new surprises and even a premier or two at this year’s Comic-Con! Doesn’t that sound like an event worth attending? You can find a full list of 2011 special guests, exhibitors and complete event details by visiting www.comic-con.org.

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Elegance, excellence and excitement are what come to mind when we think of the Del Mar National Horse Show! For more than sixty years people from all over the world have been travelling to the Del Mar Fairgrounds to take part in this event, which is one of the oldest and most prestigious equestrian competitions in the Western U.S.

Set in the picturesque beach town of Del Mar, California, the Del Mar National has earned a reputation for being among the toughest, most exciting, and finest horse shows in the Western region. Today, the show boasts over 3,000 horses of varied breed and training. Horses and jockeys alike arrive eager to show off their talent and earn ribbons, trophies, titles and of course… prize money!

The Del Mar National Horse Show is spread out across three separate weeklong events including:

• Western Week: April 21-24
• Dressage Week: April 28- May 1
• Hunter/Jumper Week: May 3-8

With world-class equestrian competitions, an exhilarating crowd that is “dressed to the nines,” and signature Saturday evening performances, the Del Mar National is an event you don’t want to miss out on.

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Rip Tide Warning

As spring approaches, the beaches of Southern California will again begin to fill with visitors looking to catch a few rays and play in the surf.  But as you make your way to the carefree, sandy shores of places like Mission Beach and Pacific Beach in San Diego, remember to recognize the danger posed by rip currents.

Rip currents are powerful currents that pull swimmers out from the beach and into the open ocean.  They do not drag people underwater, but they do carry a swimmer very quickly straight out to sea.  Rip currents are created when strong crashing waves reside next to weaker waves.  The result is a flow of water that moves away from the beach at fairly high speeds and with enormous strength.

Rip Tide Strategies

There are easy strategies to recall if you happen to be caught in a rip current.  First, acknowledge and understand that you are in a rip current and that it will not pull you under, but will take you away from shore.  Attempting to fight the current and swim directly back to shore is never your best option, as it will exhaust you waste energy.  Instead, stay afloat and try to move perpendicular to the shore. The rip current will eventually dissipate, so  if you can manage to stay afloat and you will be able to escape when the rip current ends.  The rip current will not extend incredibly far out into the ocean, averaging around a few hundred yards from shore. Once the current has given way, you will be able to swim in a straight line back to shore–as long as you’ve acted wisely and saved your energy! If you are able, attempt to wave for help when caught in the current to gain the attention of a lifeguard or fellow swimmer.

Strategies for a Rip Tide

If anyone in your group is a poor swimmer, be very careful, and heed lifeguard warnings.  A rip current is dangerous, even for the best swimmer. If someone cannot tread water and stay afloat, surviving a rip current episode can be difficult.  If there is any doubt as to the swimming ability of a member of your party, avoid areas with rip currents, and keep your eyes open for warnings.

Recognizing a rip current area can help avoid the danger.  Rip currents move away from shore and are typically made of choppy water that is a different color from surrounding water.  In general, you may be able to recognize a channel moving away from the shore, cutting through the incoming waves.

Visualizing Rip Tide

Now that you know the dangers of rip currents, how they form and what they look like, here are a few tips to take to the beach for safety, courtesy of Ocean Park Inn located on Pacific Beach in San Diego.

• Swim with Others
• Only swim at Lifeguard protected beaches
• Don’t fight the current
• Float and Tread Water
• Swim parallel to the shore to escape, do not attempt to swim directly back into shore
• Wave for Help if caught in a rip current

The beautiful Pacific Ocean can be a fun and exciting place to spend your vacation in San Diego, and keeping these tips in the back of your mind guarantees that you will enjoy a safe and sunny day at the beach!

Visualizing Rip Tides

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