SD weekend events and activities: April 13 – 16, 2012

The rainy weather we’ve been having the last couple of days can be a real downer for those who enjoy our trademark San Diego sunshine. Also, after taking a look at the weather forecast for the next couple days, it looks like there will be a high chance of having more rain on the horizon. We won’t start seeing sunny weather until the very end of the weekend.  Then again, San Diego has been known for it’s spontaneous weather bursts that can change rapidly from one extreme to another. So whether it’s stormy or not we should be expecting some fun activities this week. From concerts to museums to fundraisers, San Diego has a nice variety of things to do for us. Here is a list of some of the fun events that you can take part in over the weekend:

4^th Annual Gran Fondo Cannondale

If you enjoy a leisurely bike ride around the block or a good vigorous cycling work-out, this event may be the one for you. The fourth Annual Gran Fondo Cannondale will be held in Little Italy on Sunday March 15. The event will start at 7:15 a.m and bikers will be given two cycling route options. There’s the Medio Fondo route that is 60 miles, or for those who are enticed by a challenge there’s the Grand Fondo route that is 108 miles. Friends, family, and spectators are encouraged to come cheer on participants and enjoy the “Piazza Gran Fondo” expo and the other festivities that will be provided.  The expo will feature displays of the latest cycling gear, accessories and nutritional products.  It is free and open to the public during the event.  The times it is open are Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Volunteers are invited to come and help set up the event. Those who help will be given a free event t-shirt, refreshments, and be given the chance to win either a $40 gift certificate to the Becotto Italian Kitchen or a free night stay at La Pensione Hotel. If you’re interested you can sign-up via their website.  Both the cycling event and the expo are located in beautiful Little Italy. Let’s hope for sunny weather for these cyclists.

Skins Fearless 5K

For those feeling like a good jog around San Diego, there’s the Skins Fearless 5K walk/run. The walk will take place on Saturday, April 14^th at the South Shores Park. Runners and walkers will be given a beautiful view of San Diego as they travel along a double looped course that shows them Rose Marie Starns Park as well as the sandy shores of Mission Bay. Registration for this event is available onsite on Friday and Saturday. The event will also offer free race photos, finisher medals, and t-shirts for every athlete that participates.

Titanic Centennial First Class Dinner

Titanic at the docks of Southampton.

On Saturday, at 6 p.m., on the eve of Titanic’s maiden voyage anniversary, there will be the beautiful Titanic Centennial First Class Dinner. The dinner will be held at The Prado in Balboa Park and also at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Diners will be given an authentic experience of the Titanic as they are served a delicious First Class 10-course dinner expertly prepared by Prado’s Chef Jonathon Hale. During the course guests will be given 5 wine choices to pair with. Guests will also be given the opportunity to see the “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” at the Museum as well as the Titanic movies and documentaries that will be provided there. For entertainment there will be music as well as actors performing in costumes worn of that era. To purchase tickets go on the Prado site.

Fashion with a Passion Event

5-year-old cancer survivor Evan Moriarty, a "Top Gun" fan, plays pilot for a day

For those who enjoy fashion this will be the event for you. Plus there is a bonus, Fashion with a Passion will be benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation. If you’ve never heard of Make-A-Wish, it is an organization that helps children who suffer from a variety of medical conditions, by granting them wishes. The event will be hosted by the Ladies Fashion Event and will have cuisine, wines, and lots and lots of mimosas. There will be a fashion show sporting designer outfits presented by FIDM. In addition, students from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising will be given the chance to show off their talent. And let’s not forget the fun raffle and auction prizes. The event will be on Saturday from 11 am to 3 pm at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.

Olé! Olé! Olé!

For those who enjoy music there will be a few events happening this weekend. One of these events is the upcoming “Olé! Olé! Olé!” concert performances on Saturday and Sunday. The concert, hosted by the San Diego Gay Men Chorus, will be featuring a live bad with chorus dancers. “A sizzling concert of music with a Latin beat, from Gloria Estefan and Ricky Martin to Selena, from “In the Heights” to “Flying Down to Rio”, and much, much more.” You don’t want to miss out on this fun and exciting experience. Tickets are available on the Chorus website.

A copy photograph of the portrait painted by Oscar Halling in the late 1860's of Edgar Allan Poe

The Big Read – Shades of Poe

Write Out Loud and the San Diego Public Library will host the “Big Read – Shades of Poe”. The event is geared towards the San Diego community in hope of inspiring people to read Edgar Allan Poe’s work. The artwork will be displayed on April 1st to April 30th at the Central Library, Mission Valley Library, Mira Mesa Library, and the Logan Heights Library. This weekend will have additional entertainment for the Poe Month. On Friday, April 13th , and Saturday, April 14th, there will be Graffiti art workshops. Artists from the Writerz Blok will go over the history behind graffiti art and show their techniques. The artists will how show how one can use Poe’s own work and make graffiti art with it. For those interested, the workshops will be held at the Logan Heights Library from 4-5 p.m. on Friday and 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. On Friday at 7 p.m., the Write Out Loud will be hosting a reading from a selection of Poe’s stories at the Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore. At 9:30 p.m. there will be a one man performing Poe’s “Pit and the Pendulum” at the San Diegouito Academy. More info on the upcoming events will be available on the Write Out Loud website.

Photos courtesy of John Sullivan, UMF, United Air Force Airman 1st Class Pablo Jara Meza, and Oscar Halling via WikiCommons.