Photo by San Diego Humane Society

Through 2/14: MY FURRY VALENTINE
Location: San Diego Humane Society, Oceanside and Linda Vista
Admission: N/A
Get that warm, fuzzy feeling on Valentine’s Day by giving (or receiving) a doggie or kitty for a discounted adoption fee of just $14.
sdhumane.org

2/1-29: MUSEUM MONTH
Location: various San Diego- area museums
Admission: 50% discount
Enjoy half-price admission to 40 San Diego-area museums with vouchers available at the region’s 14 Macy’s stores.
sandiegomusuemcouncil.org

2/8: DIRTY DANCING
Location: The Range, Hillcrest
Admission: Free (with $20 minimum purchase)
Watch Jennifer “Baby” Grey and Patrick “Johnny” Swayze dip and twirl, as live dancers perform the choreography from Dirty Dancing while the movie is projected in the background.
therangesd.com

Photo from Feld Entertainment

2/11: AMA SUPERCROSS
Location: Qualcomm Stadium, Mission Valley
Admission: $10-35
Watch the world’s most talented off-road motorcycle riders compete to shatter records and femurs.
supercrossonline.com

2/13: WWE RAW SUPERSHOW
Location: Valley View Casino Center, Sports Arena
Admission: $24-75
Brush your tooth and get ready to watch Spandex-clad sides of beef beat each other even more senseless in this pro-wrestling free-for-all.
valleyviewcasinocenter.com

2/17: THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS
Location: Valley View Casino Center, Sports Arena
Admission: $15-145
Watch basketball’s world-famous court jesters perform their high-ballin’ hijinks.
valleyviewcasinocenter.com

2/17: TAO-TAIKO DRUMMERS OF JAPAN
Location: Copley Symphony Hall, Downtown
Admission: $20-85
March to the beat of different drummers in these powerful percussion performances, electrified by acrobatic choreography and high-energy on-stage shouts.
sandiegosymphony.org

2/18: ECHOES OF THE PAST: THE BUDDHIST CAVE TEMPLES OF XIANGTANGSHAN
Location: San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa Park
Admission: $8-12
Enter multimedia recreations of ancient Buddhist temples and examine carefully preserved displays of actual stone carvings that were housed within them.
sdmart.org

2/18: ITZHAK PERLMAN
Location: Copley Symphony Hall, Downtown
Admission: $30-100
The violin virtuoso performs live.
sandiegosymphony.org

2/18: LITTLE ITALY CARNEVALE
Location: India St., Little Italy
Admission: Free
More than 10,000 people, many donning Venetian masks and costumes, are expected to participate in this pre-Lent-celebration, transforming Little Italy into Venice for an evening of street art, stilt walkers and live music.
littleitalysd.com

2/18, 21, 24, 26: MOBY-DICK
Location: San Diego Civic Theatre, Downtown
Admission: $50-275
Herman Melville’s classic whale tale is reborn in this operatic performance set against elaborate multimedia backdrops.
sdopera.com

2/18-5/27: DYEING ELEGANCE
Location: San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa Park
Admission: $5
Kimono and textile paintings by celebrated father-daughter artists Kuboku and Hisako Takaku, displayed for the first time outside of Japan, represent the ancient Japanese technique of wax resist dyeing.
sdmart.org

2/21: MARDI GRAS IN THE GASLAMP
Location: Streets of the Gaslamp, Downtown
Admission: $20 advance; $25 day of
Join a crowd of more than 10,000 revelers for a huge masquerade parade, amplified by international DJ talent on multiple stages, go-go dancers and the traditional beads-for-boobs exchange.
gaslamp.org

2/25: 2012 BOARD SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL
Location: The Loft, UCSD
Admission: $5
San Diego Surf Ladies presents this collection of short films by SoCal artists inspired by women, celebrating the female presence in the sport of surfing and its culture.
sandiegosurfladies.com

Photo: Joan Marcus

1/1: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SPRECKELS ORGAN
Location: Organ Pavilion,Balboa Park
Admission: $25-100
Celebrate the 97th birthday of Balboa Park’s Spreckels Organ as 10 Scottish bagpipers and Civic Organist Dr. Carol Williams perform.
sosorgan.org

1/2-30: 30-DAY GET FIT CHALLENGE
Location: Countywide
Admission: Free registration
The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce invites you to sign up (solo or with co-workers) to live healthier for a month—and by logging your daily progress online, you’ll get a shot at special recognition and prizes to diet for.
sdgetfit.org

1/7: JERRY SEINFELD
Location: San Diego Civic Theatre, Downtown
Admission: $45.50-125.50
The erstwhile prime-time TV star plugs back into the standup circuit, delivering two consecutive shows filled with his laconic yuks and trademark “Yada, yada, yada.”
www.sandiegotheatres.org

1/08: SAN DIEGO RESOLUTION RUN
Location: De Anza Cove, Mission Bay Park
Admission: $10-40
Resolve to start the New Year with a renewed commitment to fitness and eco-friendliness by running, walking or dancing ½K, 5K or 15K in support of the San Diego Roots Sustainable Food Project.
sandyfeetevents.com/resolution-run-5k-15k

1/10-15: CATS
Location: San Diego Civic Theatre, Downtown
Admission: $20-90
Meow’s your chance to catch this furmidable musical as it prowls the U.S. anew, 30 years after its Broadway debut.
www.sandiegotheatres.org

1/15-20: SAN DIEGO RESTAURANT WEEK
Location: Participating eateries countywide
Admission: Meals for $10-40
Wine and dine at a discount at any of the more than 180 San Diego restaurants offering two-course lunches for $10, $15 or $20; and three-course dinners for $20, $30 or $40.
sandiegorestaurantweek.com

1/19-22: SHEN YUN
Location: California Center for the Arts, Escondido
Admission: $60-200
Watch a cast of 100 perform classical Chinese dance, accompanied by instrumentals celebrating the country’s 5,000 years of culture.
shenyunperformingarts.org

1/21: BIG BAY WHALE DAYS & WHALE FESTIVAL
Location: Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier, Embarcadero
Admission: Free
Give a spout-out to thousands of grey whales making their annual migration through San Diego Bay while enjoying discounted waterfront cruises and a family-friendly festival.
whaledays.com

Lesson Before Love: Directed by Dui Jarrod

1/26-29: SAN DIEGO BLACK FILM FESTIVAL
Location: Reading Cinemas Gaslamp 15, Downtown
Admission: $25-100
See more than 100 films in one of the nation’s largest exhibitions of African-American filmmakers and themes, now in its 10th year.
sdbff.com

1/28: STEPHEN STRASBURG 5K WALK & FUN RUN WITH TONY GWYNN
Location: San Diego State University campus
Admission: $20-45
Be one of the first 1,500 participants registered for this second annual 5K event benefiting SDSU’s baseball program to receive souvenir cards autographed by Strasburg and Gwynn.
strasburg5k.com

1/28-29: SAN DIEGO CHINESE NEW YEAR FOOD AND CULTURAL FAIR
Location: Third and J Streets, Downtown
Admission: Free
Ring in the Chinese New Year with dragon dancers, martial arts demonstrations, traditional crafts and music, and rich culinary wonton-ness.
sdcny.weebly.com

1/29: BRIDAL BAZAAR
Location: San Diego Convention Center, Downtown
Admission: $12
Impending nuptials tying your stomach in a knot? This daylong exposition lifts the veil on wedding planning to reveal the best designers, caterers, photographers and more.
bridalbazaar.com

Location: Ferry Landing, Orange Avenue and Rotary Park, Coronado
Admission: Free
coronadochamber.com
Play in snow, welcome Santa’s arrival by sea and watch a holiday parade before hitting Orange Avenue’s chic shops as the yuletide rises in Coronado.

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12/2-3: DECEMBER NIGHTS

Location: Balboa Park
Admission: Free
balboapark.org
Roughly 300,000 visitors are expected to revel amid magical light displays, multicultural foods and musical performances at San Diego’s largest free community festival, where participating museums waive their entrance fees.

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12/2-4, 8, 10-11: THE WHO’S TOMMY

Location: Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, La Jolla
Admission: $16
lfjcc.org
Pay homage to The Pinball Wizard at J Company Youth Theatre’s full-tilt (though family-friendly) production of The Who’s landmark 1960s rock opera Tommy.

12/3: NORTH PARK TOYLAND PARADE & FESTIVAL

Location: University Avenue, North Park
Admission: Free
toylandparade.com
Kris Kringle himself will make an appearance at this traditional holiday parade of marching bands, beauty queens and vintage cars.

12/3-4: SAN DIEGO GAY MEN’S CHORUS PRESENTS YULE TUBE

Location: Balboa Theatre, Downtown
Admission: $25-43
sdgmc.org
Share the season’s cheer as 150 vocalists belt out classic Christmas tunes—along with groovy and devilish renditions of their own.

12/4: LA JOLLA CHRISTMAS PARADE & HOLIDAY FESTIVAL

Location: Girard Avenue, La Jolla
Admission: Free
ljparade.com
A La Jolla tradition, this daylong Christmas celebration features a parade, an antique aircraft flyover and a Christmas tree lighting, plus photos with Santa.

12/10: MISSION BAY BOAT PARADE OF LIGHTS

Location: Mission Bay shoreline
Admission: Free
sandiegoeventmanagement.com
Crown Point and Fiesta Island offer the best vantage points for this festive procession of elaborately decorated, holiday tune-blaring boats.

12/11: GASLAMP HOLIDAY PET PARADE

Location: Hilton Park (corner of 4th Ave. and K St.), Gaslamp
Admission: Free to watch, $10 to participate
gaslamp.org
Never mind the halls: deck Fido out in the most silly or adorable costume, or just watch other gussied-up pooches and pets pawtaking in the merry march.

12/11, 18: SAN DIEGO BAY PARADE OF LIGHTS

Location: San Diego Bay shoreline
Admission: Free
sdparadeoflights.org
Smuggle a thermos of eggnog and wave to sea vessels adorned with thousands of mini-lights as they cruise around Shelter Island and on toward Coronado Ferry Landing. (Camping on either end of the Embarcadero affords the best views.)

Photo by Ken Bohn

12/11-12/23, 12/25-12/31, 1/1-1/2: JUNGLE BELLS AT THE SAN DIEGO ZOO

Location: San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park
Admission: $40
sandiegozoo.org
Celebrate joy to the animal world this season with the Zoo’s festivities, which include nightly tree-lightings, special animal shows and visits to Santa’s workshop.

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12/21: POINSETTIA BOWL

Location: Qualcomm Stadium, Mission Valley
Admission: $35-55
poinsettiabowl.com
The Western Athletic and Mountain West conferences battle for NCAA pigskin glory.

12/28: HOLIDAY BOWL

Location: Qualcomm Stadium, Mission Valley
Admission: $60-75
holidaybowl.com
To be preceded by the famous Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade, this faceoff between the Pac-12 and Big 12 conferences is expected to sell out quickly.

12/29-1/1: SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW

Location: San Diego Convention Center, Downtown
Admission: $9-12
sdautoshow.com
Come see what’s new in vroom for 2012, and find your V8 soul mate, as more than 500 automakers show off their hot new wheels through exhibits and workshops.

Get on the list for hosted bar & bites all in the name of charity at San Diego’s newest gourmet burger joint – Slater’s 50/50 (Liberty Station). Plus live music and luxury holiday gift bags the first 50 guests.

cforms contact form by delicious:days

11/2: SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE LIVE TOUR
Location: Valley View Casino Center, Sports Arena
Admission: $38.50-$58.50
Info: valleyviewcasinocenter.com
If you think you’re a fan of So You Think You Can Dance, prove it by buying tickets to this touring stage version of the hit reality TV show, featuring dancers from Seasons 6 and 7 as well as some SYTYCD All-Stars.

11/3: ONCE UPON A TIME
Location: Spin Nightclub, Middletown
Admission: $15-$20
Info: spinnightclub.com
Discover local up-and-coming singers, dancers, actors and comedians at this benefit variety show, presented by Actors Alliance of San Diego and headlined by Lindsley Allen—a founding member of the Pussycat Dolls.

11/4-11/6: RUSSIAN MASTERS
Location: Spreckels Theatre, downtown
Admission: $29-$59
Info: cityballet.org
Watch professional ballet dancers from around the world perform to the soaring scores of great Russian composers Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky and more in City Ballet’s season opener.

11/4-11/13: SAN DIEGO BEER WEEK
Location: Bars and restaurants countywide
Info: sdbw.org
Join this annual 10-day brew-haha celebrating San Diego’s craft beer culture. (See story on page 82.)

11/5-11/6: 6TH ANNUAL TURDUCKEN FESTIVAL
Locations: Iowa Meat Farms, Mission Gorge; Siesel’s Meats, Bay Park
Info: bestmeatssandiego.com
Get stuffed at this two-day extravaganza hosted by Iowa Meat Farms and Siesel’s Meats, featuring expert cooking tips and tastings of ham, pork and turducken—an extremely fowl treat consisting of a duck cooked inside a chicken inside a turkey.

11/5-TBD: AJ’S KIDS CRANE
Location: Ikea, Mission Valley
Admission: Free
Info: star941fm.com
Watch Star 94.1 FM radio host AJ Machado camp out atop a 40-foot crane until San Diegans donate 101,000 new toys for the patients of Rady’s Children’s Hospital.

11/6: SUSAN G. KOMEN RACE FOR THE CURE
Location: Balboa Park
Admission: $23-$55
Info: komensandiego.org
Burn calories for a cause with the 15,000 people expected to participate in this annual 5K walk/run for breast cancer awareness and fundraising.

11/6: KINGS OF SALSA
Location: Balboa Theatre, Downtown
Admission: $27-$77
Info: sandiegotheatres.org
Watch Cuba’s premier salseros show off their sensual moves in both classical Cuban and modern hip-hop-infused salsas electrified by a nine-piece band.

Photo by Joan Marcus

11/8-11/13: COME FLY AWAY
Location: San Diego Civic Theatre
Admission: $20
Info: broadwaysd.com
Come Fly Away with the new Broadway musical inspired by the crooning love songs of Frank Sinatra, paired with the jazzy choreography of Tony Award-winner Twyla Tharp.

11/11: NCAA CARRIER CLASSIC
Location: USS Carl Vinson, to be aired on ESPN
Info: espn.com
Tune in to ESPN on Veterans Day as North Carolina battles Michigan State in the first college basketball game ever to be played on an aircraft carrier—the San Diego-based USS Carl Vinson. The Commander in Chief himself will be present, along with Magic Johnson, James Worthy and 7,000 (mostly military) hoops fans at this exciting event sponsored by Miller High Life.

11/11-11/13: HEAD TO TOE WOMEN’S EXPO
Location: Del Mar Fairgrounds
Admission: $7-$8
Info: headtotoewomensexpo.com
Grab the girls for a weekend of fashion shows, cooking classes and makeup makeovers, plus exhibits devoted to jewelry, apparel, and home and beauty products. Bring your sneaks for the Nov. 12 Girls On the Go 5K Walk/Run.

11/14: LITTLE ITALY GRUB SPRAWL
Location: Restaurants throughout Little Italy
Admission: Free
Info: grubsprawl.com
Taste the culinary landscape of Little Italy when a dozen of the neighborhood’s restaurants offer $5 samplers of their delicious cuisine.

11/18-11/20: DEL MAR ANTIQUE SHOW & SALE
Location: Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar
Admission: $8
Info: calendarshows.com
Sift through trinkets and heirlooms of yesteryear—or get Great Grandma’s keepsakes appraised for just $5 an item.

11/19: SAN DIEGO BAY WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL GRAND TASTING EVENT
Locations: Embarcadero Park North, downtown
Admission: $125 in advance, $150 day of, $175 VIP
Info: worldofwineevents.com
Five days (Nov. 16-20) of gourmet foodie classes, seminars and luncheons taking place through San Diego culminate in this Grand Tasting event, drawing a crowd of thousands with more than 800 wines and spirits, 70 San Diego and celebrity chefs and dozens of gourmet food.

Photo by Micheal Lamont

11/19-12/31: HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS
Location: The Old Globe Theatre, Balboa Park
Admission: $24-$57
Info: theoldglobe.org
Watch the Grinch steal Christmas (and then give it back) for the 14th consecutive year at The Old Globe.

11/24-1/1: HOLIDAY OF LIGHTS
Location: Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar
Admission: $14-$19
Info: holidayoflights.com
Stoke your yuletide cheer with a drive along this 1.5-mile route lined with more than 400 festive light displays.

CHARGERS HOME GAMES
11/6: vs. Green Bay Packers
11/10: vs. Oakland Raiders
11/27: vs. Denver Broncos

Suffrage Display at City Hall

Display to mark 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote in the U.S.

Thanks in part to the hard work of bold San Diego suffragists, male voters passed the California Women’s Vote Amendment in 1911, giving California women the right to vote in state elections. To mark the centennial celebration of the historic event, the Women’s Museum of California will display photos of the era’s wheelin’ and dealin’ women (alongside a vintage vehicle of the type they drove cross-country while fighting for their cause) in San Diego City Hall through November 4.

On October 11, a parade that starts by the Kate Sessions statue at the Laurel Street entrance to Balboa Park will culminate at the Organ Pavilion with a rousing drum roll by the San Diego Women’s Drum Society.

Suffrage Display
Dates: 10/24-11/4
Venue: San Diego City Hall, downtown
Admission: Free
Info: womensmuseumca.org

Miramar Airshow

9/30-10/2: Miramar Air Show
Location: MCAS Miramar
Admission: Free general admission, $8.50 for grandstand, $189 for Flying Aces Club
Info: miramarairshow.com
Watch the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels and the Air Force’s F-16 Fighting Falcons thunder overhead, the Shockwave Peterbilt Jet Truck rocket down the runway and the U.S. Army’s Golden Nights skydiving fly back to earth at this annual event, bringing Top Gun glory to the masses with more than 100 aircraft on display and simulation rides for those with the need for speed.

10/1-2: La Jolla Art & Wine Festival
Location: Girard Ave., La Jolla
Admission: $10
Info: ljawf.org
A jury selected the artists showing their work at the La Jolla Art & Wine Festival, meaning not just any old paint-pusher or wood-chipper could snag a booth at the event—but anyone can snag a wine or a beer and enjoy live while music checking out art.

10/02: Diamond Dash
Location: Balboa Park
Admission: $25 donation
Info: charleskolldiamonddash.com
Diamonds really can be a girl’s best friend, especially when they’re used to raise money for breast cancer awareness. This text message-driven scavenger hunt sends couples on a wild chase for a $15,000 engagement ring, with proceeds benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure San Diego.

Taste of North Park

10/8: Taste of North Park
Venue: Restaurants throughout North Park
Cost: $30 advance; $35 day of
Info: tasteofnorthpark.com
Sample local seafood, ethnic cuisines, desserts and more on this self-guided culinary tour of North Park, and check out the local galleries serving up art alongside tastings of local microbrews and ales.

10/8-9: The Gourmet Experience
Venue: Del Mar Fairgrounds
Admission: $25-$45
Info: thegourmetexpo.com
Foodies and winos, prep your extended pinkies for a swanky, two-day gourmet lifestyle expo of cookware and accessories, imported cheeses and spices, fine wines, craft beers and demonstrations by celebrated chefs.

Fifth Avenue Auto Showcase

10/9: Fifth Avenue Auto Showcase
Location: Fifth Ave., Gaslamp
Admission: Free
Info: gaslamp.org
Lead-foots, gassers and hotrod hustlers, drive your whip to Fifth Avenue, or just walk the strip and drool over drag racers, Italian Exotics, Detroit Muscle and more.

10/9: Thread
Venue: Horton Plaza Event Space, Gaslamp
Admission: $5-25
Info: threadshow.com
Watch runway shows and buy clothing from emerging designers at this touring fashion showcase, featuring men’s and women’s apparel, accessories, shoes and jewelry—all amplified by DJ beats and signature cocktails.

Little Italy Festa

10/9: Little Italy FESTA!
Location: India St., Little Italy
Admission: Free
Info: littleitalysd.com
Eat authentic Italian food, learn how to make some for yourself and watch chalk artists recreate the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel on the streets of Little Italy.

10/10: Grub Sprawl La Jolla
Venue: Various restaurants in La Jolla
Admission: Free
Info: grubsprawl.com
Spend an evening sampling an array of gourmet, as participating La Jolla restaurants serve up meals for a steal: specialty dishes for just $5 a plate.

10/13: The Lord of the Rings in Concert
Venue: Valley View Casino Center, Sports Arena
Admission: $30-$95
Info: lordoftheringsinconcert.com
Indulge that Lord of the Rings addiction by watching the film on a 60-foot screen, while the Munich Symphony Orchestra, Pacific Chorale and Phoenix Boys Choir perform the motion picture’s entire score in time with the film.

San Diego's Craft Revolution

10/16-4/15: San Diego’s Craft Revolution
Venue: Mingei International Museum, Balboa Park
Admission: $8
Info: mingei.org
Mingei International Museum’s latest exhibit highlights the contributions San Diego’s craftiest craftsmen and handymen have made to Southern California’s post-war art scene.

10/20: Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
Where: Walk starts at 4th Avenue and K Street in downtown San Diego
Registration: $35
Info: ywcasandiego.org
Daring men and women will strut for one mile in high-heeled shoes during the annual “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” fundraiser, organized by the YWCA of San Diego County to raise money for domestic violence programs. A post-event party will be at Hotel Solamar.

10/20-28: San Diego Asian Film Festival
Venue: UltraStar Mission Valley theaters
Tickets: $7.50 to $15
Info: sdaff.org/festival/2011
Choose from more than 50 features and nearly 100 short films produced in more than 20 countries during this annual festival of Pan Asian moviemaking and culture. Stick around after the lights come up for Q-and-A sessions with directors.

10/21-23: San Diego Harvest Festival
Where: Del Mar Fairgrounds
Admission: $9
Info: harvestfestival.com
Tens of thousands of handmade American arts and crafts spread across hundreds of booths over a three-day weekend equals Harvest Festival, rockin’ the family fun with doo-wop music and stilt walkers.

9/30-10/2: La Mesa Oktoberfest
Where: La Mesa Village
Admission: Free
Info: lmvma.com
Could the 200,000 chicken dancing, brat-eating beer-lovers that flock to this annual German-themed event each year be wrong? Maybe. Drunkish and wearing lederhosen? Definitely.

10/29: Monster Bash
Where: Gaslamp Quarter
Admission: $30-53
Info: sandiegomonsterbash.com
If you’re dying to be the one that goes “bump” in the night this Halloween, Monster Bash is your best bet. Throw on your costume and check out three stages of live music, hop between participating bars and mega clubs and enter a $3,000 costume contest.

10/30: Celebrate the Craft
Venue: The Lodge at Torrey Pines
Tickets: $75
Info: celebratethecraft.com/events.html
Enjoy cooking demos by local chefs while supping on gourmet delights from some of the state’s most renowned farms, chefs, bakeries, wineries and confectioners at this coast-hugging, Five-Diamond resort (11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

Ivy Nightclub at Andaz

September 16
9:00pm

EXCLUSIVE LIVE SET
by Experimental Electro-Pop Maestro, Rafter

VINYL BEATS
by DJ Misha

BURLESQUE REVUE
by Rouge

COVER MODEL
Adrienne Janic

HOSTED BAR
by Peroni, Grey Goose and Palomar Mountain Spring Water

RSVP VIA EMAIL NOW
transport@pacificsandiego.com

fastlane@pacificsandiego.com
(friends, family, industry)

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club Horse Racing
WHERE: Del Mar Racetrack, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd.
DATES: Wednesday to Sunday, july 20 to Sept. 7.
FIRST RACE: 2 p.m. most days; 4 p.m. Fridays
INFO: 858.755.1141, delmarscene.com, facebook.com/delmarraces

By Amanda Daniels

You’re wearing a brand-new outfit and getting ready to hang with the big boys—Daddys Dollars, Ima Hustler Baby and Alloverdaplace. With a roster like that (and the roar of 45,000 cheering fans), you could be at a hip-hop concert. But despite their rap-star names, today’s performers are actually racehorses. Place your bets and tip your hat—you’re at Opening Day at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, where the turf is still meeting the surf…cool as ever.

Back in the Saddle
Jockeys must be light and lithe (typically weighing 110-115 pounds), yet strong enough to command a charging stallion.

Here’s how two of this season’s top jockeys stay in racing shape.

Joe Talamo , 21
Height: 5’1”
Weight: 111-112 pounds
Home Town: Monrovia, Calif.
Notable Achievement: 2007 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice
Jockey Joe Talamo recently took up boxing to build muscle mass in his shoulders and arms, areas needed to “push the horses down the lane,” as he describes it. The hard work has paid off—Talamo says he’s gained two to three pounds of muscle from his work in the ring. 

Adding boxing to a regimen that previously included only gym workouts and riding practice helps Talamo feel less fatigued after racing. Plus, throwing punches
helps him throw off water weight as required for certain races.

Chantal Sutherland , 35
Height: 5’2”
Weight: 111-113 pounds
Home Town: Sierra Madre, CA
Notable Achievement: First female jockey to win the Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap (March 2011).

Chantal Sutherland (Photo Courtesy Caldwell Sutherland Designs)

Sutherland maintains lower-body conditioning by riding horses and hiking, strengthening her core and shoulders through rigorous circuit training with an instructor.

To drop water weight before a race, Sutherland jogs in a track suit, then sweats even more in a sauna. She says watching her diet around race time is a balancing act—eating fruit can prove problematic, because its high water content leads to temporary weight gain. On the other hand, dehydration can cause cramping, so vitamins are essential.

No stranger to the spotlight, Sutherland acts and models, and was named one of People magazine’s most beautiful people in 2006. In 2009, she appeared with
then-boyfriend Mike Smith on Animal Planet’s reality TV show, Jockeys. The two are tentatively scheduled to face each other at Del Mar this season, in a race billed as the “Battle of the Exes.”

Smooth as Silks
Racing silks—the vibrant jackets and caps worn by jockeys—are equivalent to team colors or family crests for thoroughbred owners.

With hues and colors as varied (and sometimes outlandish) as the horses’ names, silks, at least those permitted by the California Horse Racing Board, can exhibit logos or almost any symbol.

Del Mar Seamstress Carol Henderson was once asked to design a mudflap trucker girl design, but the naked silhouette didn’t pass the review  board’s muster. She talked another client out of a Grim Reaper silk, because she thought the image would be considered in bad taste, not to mention bad luck. She also quashed an order for a Michael Jackson-inspired gold braid trim, because the braids weighed five pounds.

Silks hang in the Color Room during Del Mar race season. They can last five to 10 years before they must be replaced.

Although her clients request bright colors so they can see their riders, Henderson says plaid and camouflage fabrics have been trending lately.

Henderson frequently sends copies of silks worn by winning jockeys overseas to Japan, where they’re popular as wall ornaments in bars and restaurants. Replicas can be ordered for about $300.

Nice Purse
Del Mar’s signature race event turns 21 this year. On Sunday, August 28, some of the nation’s top horses and jockeys will compete for their share of a $1 million purse in the TVG Pacific Classic, symbolizing the success of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club during a recession that has forced other million-dollar races to fall by the wayside.

Put a Lid on It
Though hats and sexy, chic attire are encouraged every day at Del Mar, Opening Day, Wednesday, July 20, is when bigger is absolutely better. This applies not only to hats, but also to wagers, attendance and cleavage. Men and women flock to the track in suits and dresses, their heads adorned by fedoras, panamas, porkpies and cloches. These mad hatters line up early to compete in the traditional One & Only Truly Fabulous Hat Contest.

San Diego Wildcats
Cougar II (1966-1989), a Chilean racehorse who also competed in the U.S., was inducted into the sports National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2006.

To honor the prize-winning horse (and certain denizens of North County San Diego), the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club will host the annual Cougar II Handicap on Friday, July 29. When the race is finished, the hottest female “cougars” in attendance will present the winning trophy. No kidding.

Submit your favorite cougar for consideration by e-mailing a photo and explanation of the cougar’s hotness to: misscougar@dmtc.com. Finalists will be invited to the track for a day, and Ms. Cougar 2011 will be crowned on-site, based on the crowd’s texts and tweets.

Old Del Mar: A History
*The Del Mar Racetrack is known as the place where “nobody’s in a hurry, but the horses.” The phrase, coined by late track publicist, Eddie Read, remains true today. In honor of his career, the Eddie Read Stakes have run since 1974.

Bing Crosby takes tickets on opening day, 1937. (Courtesy Photo)

*The alluring glamour still felt while strolling through the Spanish-style property is rooted in 1930s Old Hollywood. The efforts of an elite group of actors, included Bing Crosby, Gary Cooper; Oliver Hardy and Pat O’Brien, brought the venue to the beachside village of Del Mar. On the first Opening Day, July 3, 1937, Bing Crosby took tickets himself at the turnstile, pipe in hand. Crosby still croons over the loudspeakers at the beginning of each race day: “There’s a smile on every face, and a winner in each race, where the turf meets the surf, at Del Mar.”

*To get Tinseltown bettors down to the so-called Surfside Race Place, the Santa Fe Railroad used to offer a special train from Los Angeles direct to Del Mar. Races couldn’t start until the train arrived, and it was a longtime tradition for grandstand fans to cheer at the sight of the head car nosing around the bend, into the station. The train no longer stops in Del Mar.

Seeing Stars
Racing season makes Del Mar a playground for celebrities, as it has been for at least three-quarters of a century. In the beginning, there were stars including Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Ava Gardner and Jimmy Durante. In recent years, the track has entertained A-listers Uma Thurman and Toby Maguire, and funnymen Johnny Knoxville and Luke Wilson.

Live Tracks
Ben Harper, Weezer, Devo and other bands will perform this race season on the track’s new Seaside Stage (located at the west end of the grandstand), which allows for easier access and better viewing. Concert admission is free with track admission purchased prior to the final race. Admission after the last race is $20.

Weezer.

Concert Line-up
7/22: G. Love & Special Sauce
7/29: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
7/30: Ziggy Marley Salutes the Legends of Reggae
8/5: The Bravery
8/6: Weezer
8/12: Jimmy Eat World
8/19: Devo
8/26: The Airborne Toxic Event
9/2: Fitz & The Tantrums
9/4: Ben Harper

Pony Up
Common horse wagering terms

According to wagering etiquette From Del Mar to the Kentucky Derby, it’s considered rude to approach the betting window uninformed, making others wait while you ask questions. Avoid equine faux pas by consulting your race form ahead of time to determine which horses and jockeys you wish to bet on, what kind of bet you want to place—and how much your willing to gamble.

Straight Bet: Betting on a horse to “win” (finish in first place), “place” (finish either in first or second) or “show” (finish first, second or third).
Across The Board: Betting that a horse will finish in any of the first three positions.
Exacta: Bettor must pick the first two finishing horses in the order of their finish.
Exacta Box (aka Quinella): Bettor must pick the horses that finish first and second, in either order.
Trifecta: Bettor must pick the first three finishing horses in the order they finish.
Superfecta: Bettor must pick the first four finishing horses in the order they finish.

By the Numbers
Last year’s opening day attendance: 45,309.
Last year’s average daily attendance: 17, 906

This photo was taken during the 1948 San Diego County Fair. That year’s fair program promised “11 pleasure-filled days,” including greased pig races, cracker-eating contests and a performance by “Serrano, the World’s Best Educated Horse.” (San Diego History Center)

By Alex Zaragoza
Back in the late 1940s, visitors to the San Diego County Fair were encouraged to be très gay for the day. A large sign hanging over the entrance to the midway proudly proclaimed it, “The Gay Way.”

Obviously, back then, the term “gay” meant something a bit different from what it does now. However, it’s still possible to enjoy jerry-rigged thrill rides, grease-laden goodies and pungent farm creatures “the gay way” at this year’s San Diego County Fair, coming to the Del Mar Fairgrounds June 10 to July 4.

Linda Zweig, who heads up media relations for the fairgrounds, says the annual event has something for everyone, and that more than includes the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

“All of our entertainment is gay friendly,” Zweig says. “There’s nothing anti-gay here, nothing that would turn them away.”

This year’s entertainment lineup includes lesbian rocker Melissa Etheridge, who hits the grandstand stage on June 18. Joan Jett (who used to date Carmen Electra) and her band, the Blackhearts, will follow a performance by an ABBA tribute band on June 30.

Homosexuality is a common phenomenon in the animal kingdom, particularly in penguins and giraffe. The llamas in this photograph, on display during last year’s county fair, are presumably straight. (Courtesy San Diego County Fair)

That’s got LGBT Weekly columnist, human rights activist and drag personality, Empress Nicole Murray-Ramirez, chomping at the bit.

“When they have ABBA, you know it is gonna get crazy!” she says. “Gays love ABBA! We’ll be out there with our boas on like dancing machines.”

Though the fair is no Paris, Milan or even National City, Murray-Ramirez says she relishes the people-watching.

“You can see the La Jolla look, the trailer park look and the MTV look all there,” she says. “Joan Rivers would have a field day!”

Thrill rides at the San Diego County Fair may cause passengers to feel joyous and gay, and sometimes, to vomit Funnel cake. (Courtesy San Diego County Fair)

It may not be the place for fine cuisine, but gays and straights alike can definitely grub out on the fair’s fried delights. Murray-Ramirez says she loves “wrapping her lips around the juicy hot dogs” and corn on the cob, which has earned her the nickname “pig in a wig.” Food critic and San Diego LGBT Pride festival spokesman Frank Sabatini Jr. says he doesn’t typically favor greasy eats, but admits he’s waiting with bated breath to watch people gorge on the fair’s newest food experiment, deep fried Kool-Aid.

While Murray-Ramirez and Sabatini both agree that the event seems to welcome the LGBT community with open arms, Murray-Ramirez believes organizers should revive the “Gay Way” sign and theme—pronto.

“Gay Way speaks to a way of happiness,” she says. “The LGBT community is known for our style and our camp and our sense of humor. If they renamed it ‘The Queen’s Way’—now that’d be awesome.”
sdfair.com

Former Runaway and fair headliner, Joan Jett. (Courtesy San Diego County Fair)

Entertainment lineup
6/10: Pat Benatar/Neil Giraldo
6/11: Bruno Mars/Janelle Monáe
6/14: A Flock of Seagulls
6/15: “Weird Al” Yankovic
6/16: Randy Travis
6/17: Switchfoot
6/18: Melissa Etheridge
6/23: Willie Nelson; BellyUp Music Festival
6/25: Who’s Bad (Michael Jackson tribute)
6/29: The Beach Boys
6/30: Arrival (ABBA tribute); Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
7/2: Grand Funk Railroad
7/4: REO Speedwagon