Arts & Entertainment
East County Nightlife: Warm Weather, We Hardly Knew Ye
Your Patch guide to East County nightlife, Oct. 6-9.
Welcome to the “not hot” season in East County, known to other parts of the country as “autumn.” We might not have this weird thing called “fall foliage” (Orange and red leaves? Crazy), and there still might be a prevalence of flip-flops and tank tops seen around town, but if the nightlife offerings this weekend are any indication, there is definitely a weather-related change afoot (oh yeah, all this rain we’ve had over the last few days is also a clue).
Only two events are being held outside this weekend, and organizers are probably shaking their fists at the sky as we speak. Everything else, fortunately, has been planned indoors, offering the cozy comfort that can only come from not getting rained on or having your trendy scarf blown away in the wind.
So dig your coat out of the back of the closet, grab a to-go mug of something hot and tasty, and partake in the wide variety of East County nightlife options that go just as well with the weather.
Find out what's happening in Santeefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
THURSDAY
Where/when: Grossmont College Stagehouse Theatre, 8800 Grossmont College Dr., El Cajon, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday (also 2 p.m. Saturday).
Find out what's happening in Santeefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Why Go: Imagine this scenario: you’re having a nice pumpkin latte in a cozy little café (or international chain, whatever floats your boat), when all of the sudden, the guy sitting at the table next to you kicks the bucket. Then his phone rings. Relentlessly. Do you answer it? Find out what the characters of “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” do during Grossmont College’s production this weekend.
Price: $12.
FRIDAY
Where/when: Guardian Angels Catholic Church, 9310 Dalehurst Rd., Santee, 7 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, noon to 10:30 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
Why Go: Route 66 might be a relic of the past, but the spirit of the open road—and the 1950s-1970s music that embodied it—will be on display at Guardian Angels Catholic Church’s Fall Festival, featuring a beer garden, multi-cultural food, games, craft booths, entertainment and more.
Price: Free admission.
Where/when: Summit Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 8778 Cottonwood Ave., Santee, 7 p.m. Friday.
Why Go: Looking for a classy date idea? There’s nothing classier or more romantic than an evening of live jazz, especially when performed by a San Diego Music Awards-nominated ensemble that’s played all over the country.
Price: $15.
HIP-HOP WITH EMPYRE ENTERTAINMENT
Where/when: Fannie’s Nightclub, 9143 Campo Rd., Spring Valley, 9 p.m. Friday.
Why Go: Typically, a night out at Fannie’s means cover bands, live DJs, or some other form of free entertainment, so when there’s actually a charge to partake in Fannie’s musical offerings, it’s a sign that it must be special.
Price: $5 cover.
Where/when: Main Street 5 Gallery, 124 E. Main St., El Cajon, 5 to 8 p.m.
Why Go: Don’t let anyone tell you that visual art is limited to traditional media like painting, sculpture, photography, etc. The advent of computer programs over the last couple decades have opened up a whole new world of art, available for your viewing pleasure at Main Street 5 Gallery this Friday.
Price: Free.
SATURDAY
Where/when: Sycuan Casino Showcase Theatre, 5469 Casino Way, El Cajon, 8 p.m. Saturday.
Why Go: You can almost hear it, those hard opening beats that evoke a sense of determination, perseverance, and yolked biceps—“Eye Of The Tiger,” the theme song of “Rocky III” and arguably the band Survivor’s most well-known hit, will almost certainly be performed when the band plays at Sycuan this Saturday, along with other hits you certainly don’t remember.
Price: $35/$45.
Where/when: Lacey J’s Roadhouse Saloon & Grille, 8861 Magnolia Ave., Santee, 9 p.m. Saturday.
Why Go: Looking for Top 40 country music with an outlaw attitude? Look no further than Lacey J’s (formerly the Wagon Wheel) this Saturday, where local band Whiskey Ridge aims to charm the chaps off of you.
Price: Free.
“FOUR CENTURIES OF GUITAR PASSION”
Where/when: Grossmont College Recital Hall, 8800 Grossmont College Dr., El Cajon, 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday.
Why Go: Yes, dudes have been snagging chicks with their guitar skills for centuries now, and it’s evident why even when listening to rockin’ guitar solos through the ages by historical rock stars such as Milan, de Visée, Couperin, Haydn, Sor, de Sabio, Segovia and others. Classical guitarist (and probable chick magnet) Robert Wetzel will perform their hits at Grossmont College this Saturday.
Price: $8-$10.
SUNDAY
Where/when: German American Societies, 1017 S. Mollison Ave., El Cajon, 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Why Go: Now that you’ve got La Mesa’s Oktoberfest out of your system for another year, check out El Cajon’s offering this weekend, a more “traditional” Oktoberfest featuring authentically-attired patrons, a wide variety of German beers and liquors, unique German cuisine, tunes by the Guggenbach-Baum band, plus, vendor booths, games, contests and a Kids’ Zone.
Price: Free admission.
