San Diego Restaurant Week, Zinqué, Swan Lake and more… Check out the top San Diego weekend events for Sept. 19- Sept. 22.
Edited by Brooke Knetzger.
EVENTS
Rooftop Cinema Club
Sept. 19-22. Enjoy a night under the stars with special rooftop movie screenings all weekend. This weeks lineup includes La La Land, Pretty Woman, Dirty Dancing and more. Stop at the concessions to load up on drinks and snacks to maximize the experience. See website for showtimes. Manchester Grand Hyatt, 1 Market Place, downtown. rooftopcinemaclub.com
San Diego Festival of Beer
Sept. 21. More than 50 breweries from local and beyond will be pouring up 120 varieties of craft beer at this festival to benefit cancer-related charities. In addition to beer, guests will enjoy waterfront views, upbeat music from three different DJ booths and grub for purchase. Participants include Latitude 33, Boochcraft and Coronado Brewing Co. with bites from Doggos Gus and Stay Cheesy Food Truck. Early entry noon, GA 1-5 p.m. $75 early entry, $40 GA. Port Pavillion on Broadway Pier, 1000 N. Harbor Dr., Embarcadero. Tickets
Taste of South Park
Sept. 21. Snack and sip your way through South Park’s eclectic mix of restaurants, bars and pubs, coffee houses and family dining spots with diverse boutique and shops in between bites. Participating restaurants include Buona Forchetta, Communal Coffee, KINDRED and more. Tasting Passports include tastes at all participating locations as well as discounts at local boutiques and other businesses. Noon-4 p.m. $35 advance sale, $40 day-of. Check in at Grape Street Square, intersection of Grape and Fern Streets. southparksd.com
Adams Avenue Street Fair
Sept. 21-22. Experience Southern California’s largest free two-day music festival featuring 100 musical acts on seven stages. Expect beer gardens and beer tastings, giant carnival rides, festival foods, and 300 arts and crafts booths. See website for complete schedule of events. Sa 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Su 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Adams Ave., Normal Heights. adamsavenuebusiness.com
Oceanside Harbor Days
Sept. 21-22. Head to beautiful Oceanside for two event-filled days of sun, sand and surf. The event provides an outstanding opportunity for residents and neighbors to experience fun activities including a costume party for kids 12 and under at Pirate Village, arts, crafts, food booths, music, a beer garden and more. Free event. 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Oceanside Harbor. oceansidechamber.com
FOOD + DRINK
Zinqué
Now Open. Zinqué, a French bistro, café and wine bar known for iconic locations in Venice, West Hollywood, Newport Beach, and Downtown Los Angeles, has opened a new location and is bringing its French fare to Little Italy. Zinqué offers an impressive menu of craft cocktails and French staples. Guests can start their day with a delicious breakfast sandwich or house-baked croissant. For lunch and dinner, French-inspired meals include gourmet sandwiches, salads, and their famous “Le Bowl” along with larger plates such as the grilled branzino and steak-frites. 2101 Kettner Blvd, Little Italy, 619.915.6172. lezinque.com
Cusp Dining & Drinks
Sept. 22-29. The 11th floor restaurant atop Hotel La Jolla is one of the most picturesque places to try during restaurant week. It has the views, the food and the service to make the experience one to remember. Chef Ingrid Funes is serving a 3-course dinner menu for $50, which includes her entire menu. Starters include a lump crab tostada and crispy maple pork belly to name a few. For entrees, choose between beautifully plated dishes like her lobster tortellini with shellfish, Mary’s chicken with Comte gnocchi and pan seared scallops. End with crispy apple fritters or strawberry pavlova. 7955 La Jolla Shores Dr., La Jolla, 858.551.3620. cusprestaurant.com
International Smoke
Sept. 22-29. Del Mar’s popular International Smoke will be offering two specials for restaurant week. Guests can indulge in a $25 lunch menu where they can choose a top starter, main dish and dessert from the restaurant’s most popular items, including the ‘Instant’ Bacon Bao Buns, St. Louis Cut Pork Ribs, and Valrhona Chocolate Molten Cake. The restaurant is also offering a $60 Fuego-style dinner menu, which invites guests to an all-inclusive tasting experience that features 12 unique dishes including four starters, four main dishes, two sides and two desserts. 3387 Del Mar Heights Rd Suite 0100, Del Mar, 619.331.4528. internationalsmoke.com
Water Grill
Sept. 22-29. Lauded as one of the best seafood destinations in Southern California, Water Grill’s restaurant week menu features notable entrée options such as wild Eastern sea scallops featuring a cauliflower puree, curried roasted cauliflower, pickled golden raisins and soy brown butter or the river king salmon which features a spring farro risotto with lovage and black garlic for $50 per person and including a first course, entrée and dessert. 615 J St., Gaslamp, 619.717.6992. watergrill.com
Monello
Sept. 22. For an authentic, northern Italy experience, try Monello’s three-course dinner for $30 per person. Start light with their caesar Monello, romaine dressed up with caesar dressing, herb croutons, and parmesan crisp. If you have a soft spot for gnocchi, experience the gnocchi Monello served in a creamy tomato sauce with applewood smoked bacon. Finish off your meal like a real Italian with their house-made gelatie sorbetti. 750 W Fir St, Little Italy, 619.501.0030. lovemonello.com
One Door North
Sept. 22-29. North Park’s One Door North, owned by the Piehl Restaurant Group, will be serving up American cuisine in an environment that’s an ode to the outdoors. The restaurant is offering a three-course San Diego Restaurant Week dinner for $40 per person. Don’t miss the 4 Shucked Oysters appetizer, which features green apple and ginger mignonette with cocktail sauce. 3422 30th St, North Park, 619.618.1285. onedoornorthsd.com
ARTS + CULTURE
Kiss My Aztec
Sept. 19-22. In the spirit of Book of Mormon, Young Frankenstein and Spamalot, this hysterical new musical could only spring from comedy legend John Leguizamo. In the 16th century, a group of ragtag Aztecs are leading the resistance against the Spanish. Led by a fierce female warrior and a not-so-fierce clown, they mount a scrappy attack — and somehow get entangled with a foppish French “fixer,” the over-heated daughter of the Viceroy and the wannabe pop star nephew of the king of Spain. Will our heroes win the day? 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla, 858.550.1010. lajollayplayhouse.org
Russian Ballet Theatre Presents Swan Lake
Sept. 19. Those faithful to the tradition of Swan Lake must see Russian Ballet Theatre’s new production of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s timeless classic. Choreographer Nadezhda Kalinina lovingly retouches the oldest St. Petersburg version of the ballet and adds her vision and something more that undoubtedly will leave audiences flushed with emotion. 7:30- 10:30 p.m.California Center for the Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd, Escondido. Tickets
ArtWalk Carlsbad
Sept. 21-22. More than 175 visual artists will show and sell their work, alongside colorful chalk art that will fill the asphalt as you watch street paintings being created before your eyes on the pavement. $8+. Sa 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Su 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Armada Drive (above the Flower Fields off of Palomar Airport). Tickets
Photos: Rooftop Cinema Club courtesy Yoffe Communications. San Diego Festival of Beer courtesy San Diego Festival of Beer. Zinque & Monello courtesy Chemistry PR. Taste of South Park courtesy South Park SD. Oceanside Harbor Days courtesy Oceanside Chamber of Commerce. Cusp courtesy The Nth Element. International Smoke courtesy Crowe Pr. Water Grill & One Door North courtesy Bread & Butter PR. Kiss My Aztec courtesy La Jolla Playhouse. Russian Ballet Theatre courtesy Voice Arts Group. ArtWalk Carlsbad courtesy ArtWalk Carlsbad.
