It's time for the Mother Goose Parade, Nov. 23

You know the economy is tough when longtime, beloved events find funding difficult. Even for the Mother Goose Parade. Yup, as late as September of this year, parade officials were threatening to cancel the family friendly event due to lack of sponsorship and funding. Thankfully, enough money has been raised for the parade to carry on. San Diego County's official opening of the Holiday Season always takes place the Sunday before Thanksgiving Day. The 2009 Mother Goose Parade is  Nov. 22 beginning at 10 a.m.

Indulge at the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, Nov. 18-22

It's a perfect setting (Embarcadero Park North) to indulge in fine wine and culinary specialties. The San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, taking place Nov. 18-22, 2009, is touted as Southern California's largest wine and food fest, featuring over 800 wines, 70 of San Diego's top fine dining restaurants and 30 gourmet food companies participating in this year's event. The five-day festival features wine tasting seminars, cooking classes by award-winning chefs, and an elegant Reserve Tasting. The festival culminates on Saturday at the star-studded Grand Tasting Event complete with the "Chef of the Fest Competition," celebrity cookbook signing tents, a special VIP tent, live entertainment, and more.

Neighborhood Hangouts: Shopping in Little Italy

One of the benefits of the gentrification of Little Italy is that the neighborhood is attracting a clientele that seeks out unique retail experiences, especially home decor and antique stores. Mix that in with longtime neighborhood businesses and Little Italy becomes a pleasant excursion for San Diego shoppers. Read about the great shops and boutiques in Little Italy in my article here.

Neighborhood Hangouts: Shopping in Little Italy originally appeared on About.com San Diego on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 01:12:43.

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San Diego Great Dane Named World's Tallest Dog

Nov. 12 was the official Guinness World Record Day and of the 30 records named, only one animal was honored and he hails from San Diego: Titan, a four-year-old Great Dane was certified as the world's tallest dog. Titan, who is owned by Diana Taylor, has an official height, as measured by a veterinarian, of just over 3½ feet tall from floor to shoulder. Add another eight inches if you measure to the top of his head.

Art Galleries Open Up for Kettner Nights in Little Italy, Nov. 13

Little Italy galleries open for the monthly Kettner Nights art event on Friday, Nov. 13. Held from 6 to 9 p.m. in downtown San Diego's Little Italy, the art has as much flavor as the espresso and pasta. Little Italy's art and design district, modeled after New York City's trendy SoHo and Chelsea districts, offers art-lovers and design patrons diverse resources. Come explore this ever-growing distinctive neighborhood with an art walk through the businesses and studios on Kettner Boulevard and beyond. This month's highlights: Gallery Artists: A Group Show at Perry L. Meyer; Sean Brannan and Joshua Krause's New Works at Jett Gallery; Artemio Rodriguez's Life, Women and Politics at Noel-Baza; Group Exhibition at Scott White Contemporary Art

San Diego Beer Week Promotes San Diego's Thriving Craft Beer Culture, Nov. 6-15

Seattle and Portland may have the known reputations as centers for craft beers and micro-breweries, but ever so steadily, San Diego is gaining a high reputation as a region for excellent beers.  So for the first time, the San Diego Brewers Guild is staging San Diego Beer Week, Nov. 6 to 15.

TNT (Thursday Night Thing) Returns to the Museum of Contemporary Art, Nov. 5

New Children's Museum Target Free Second Sunday, Nov. 8

Looking for something affordable to do this weekend with the family? How about making your way to the New Children's Museum downtown for some educational fun with the Target Free Second Sunday, Nov. 8. The New Children's Museum grants free admission on the second Sunday of each month, with extended Museum hours from10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sponsored by Target, the free day allows all children and families in the community to enjoy the Museum, and ensure that cost is not a barrier. Every Target Free Second Sunday also includes a variety of special performances and activities for children:

Autumn Activities in San Diego

Autumn is a great time in San Diego for locals to get out and do fun stuff. The summer heat and tourist crowds are all but gone, and the crisp, cooler weather brings a nice feeling, knowing the holidays are around the corner. We may not have a distinctive seasonal change as other parts of the country, but the weather makes for nifty outings and activities. To me, it's the best time to go out and enjoy San Diego.

Get Spooked: Where to Go, What to Do for Halloween in San Diego

Halloween is this Saturday, and along with all the usual ghosts, goblins and princesses, the 2009 edition promises to feature a plethora of costumes with current pop culture references. Oh, perhaps not with the kids, thankfully, but more with the adults. Because, you see, Halloween has become a big adult-oriented holiday. Perhaps we adults like having a day of moving along in anonymity; or perhaps our surpressed selves need to act out our inner fantasies (which could be a bit telling in itself).