Ring in the New Year with Luis Max and the Blue Moon at Fiesta de Reyes

Have you made your New Year’s Eve plans yet? Luis Max and the Blue Moon take the Fiesta de Reyes stage from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Free and fun for the whole family!

Taxi Driver Appreciation Day at Fiesta de Reyes

Beep beep, honk honk! Watch out, taxi cabs rolling on through at Fiesta de Reyes! Taxi Driver Appreciation Day was a great success last Wednesday. In hopes of educating the taxi community about our somewhat hidden location, Fiesta de Reyes honored drivers with a special gift and a free to-go lunch.  Participating taxi companies included Yellow Cab, USA limited Cab, San Diego Silver Cab, Red Cab Company, Transit Cab, and West Coast Cab Company. The first fifty drivers also received a t-shirt and a bottle of our special hot sauce. Stay tuned for details for next year’s date.

Fiesta de Reyes Group Sales Manager Amber Baker hands a Fiesta de Reyes lunch to a Jazzy Cab taxi driver.

Review From Lady and the Blog

Check out this great review of Barra Barra Saloon from Lady and the Blog:

“Finally, my favorite meal of the trip, and my cannot be missed recommendation: Barra Barra Saloon located in Old Town on Fiesta de Reyes.

When in California, I expect to have great Mexican food and Barra Barra Saloon did not disappoint. From the moment you arrive, the atmosphere at Barra Barra draws you in, and the fire pits in the outdoor dining room give the whole restaurant a warm cozy ambiance. To start out your meal, the guacamole is a must as is the heavenly mango and sea bass ceviche. The chicken mole and tamales are not to be missed, but it is hard to go wrong on the Barra Barra menu.

Between the Best $5 Margaritas in San Diego and the Kids Eat Free promotion, Barra Barra Saloon knows how to please its guests. After experiencing a wonderful evening and a memorable dinner there, I recommend you put Barra Barra Saloon on your must visit list during your San Diego adventure.”

—- Lady and the Blog, Dec. 10, 2012

The Old Town Gingerbread House Tour

Check out the following businesses in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park that will feature gingerbread houses:

1.     Fiesta de Reyes

2.     Cosmopolitan Hotel & Restaurant

3.     Toler’s Leather

4.     Toler’s Footwear

5.     The Johnson House

6.     Rust General Store

7.     Rob-Rose Visitor Center

8.     Captain Fitch’s

9.     Tienda de Reyes

10.   Hot Licks

11.   El Centro Artesano

12.   Wells Fargo Museum

13.   House of Jerky

14.   Temecula Olive Oil

15.   Cousin’s Candy

16. The Tinsmith Shop

17. Old Town Ice Cream

18. Geppetto’s Toys

19. Old Town Roasted Nuts

20. Urban Seed

21. Racine and Laramie

22. Viva El Cafe

Look for the gingerbread ornaments outside the shop to see which business has a gingerbread house inside.

Fiesta de Gingerbread

Fiesta de Gingerbread was created by Historic Interpreter Eric Minella.

Fiesta de Reyes is proud to participate in the Old Town Gingerbread Tour. More than 15 businesses in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park will be featured on the gingerbread tour. Come down and check out all the beautiful creations this December!

The gingerbread house first became popular in Germany after the Brothers Grimm published “Hansel and Gretel” in the 19th century. Early German settlers brought the gingerbread house to the Americas and the tradition become more and more popular in North America, especially in the 20th century.

Gingerbread houses have been around for hundreds of years. The first gingerbread is thought to have been made by Catholic monks in Europe for special holidays and festivals. England, France, and especially Germany were known to eat and celebrate with gingerbread treats.

December 2012 Monthly Specials

Monthly Drink Specials at Fiesta de Reyes for Dec. 2012

Azunia Sunset Margarita $7.50

Azunia Platino Tequila, Fresh Lime, Pineapple, Agavero Orange Liqueur and a Splash of Grenadine

Jarrito Margarita $8.50

A classic Margarita made with Premium Corzo Blanco Tequila, Fresh Lime, Triple Sec, Agave Nectar and your choice of Melon, Pomegranate or Blue Curacao topper served in a Handmade Jarrito cup on the side for you to mix. You keep the Jarrito!

Make it a 22oz Margarita and keep the souvenir glass and the Jarrito cup! $15.95

Monthly Food Specials (Dec 2012)

Barra Barra Specials — Dec. 1 through 15

Casa de Reyes Specials — Dec. 16 through 31

Mango Sea Bass Ceviche Quesadilla – $11.95

Chunks of Seabass, Mango, Red Onion, Cilantro and Fresh Lime Juice. Served with Guacamole, Pico de Gallo

and Sour Cream

Mole Verde Chicken – $13.95

Grilled Chicken Breast Topped with Homemade Mole Verde made from Pumpkin Seed, Epasote, Tomatillos, Cilantro, Onion, Garlic and Serrano Peppers. Served with Rice and Pinto Beans

Casa de Reyes Specials — Dec. 1 through 15

Barra Barra Specials — Dec. 16 through 31

Sea Bass con Rajas con Crema – $14.45

Sea Bass Stuffed with Smoked Gouda Mushrooms and Spinach Topped with Rajas con Crema. Served with Rice and Black Beans

Bistec Ranchero – $14.95

Tender Chunks of Steak Sautéed with Peppers, Onions, Tomato and Cilantro in a Rich Tomato Sauce. Served with Rice and Pinto Beans

Tour Gingerbread Houses in Old Town San Diego State Park This December

A new tradition has begun in Old Town.  Starting now until Dec. 31, visitors to Old Town San Diego State Historic Park will witness more than a dozen intricately decorated gingerbread houses in the shops and museums of the state park.

This is the second year in a row that the merchants in the state park have collaborated to create one-of-a-kind gingerbread houses, some as replicas of historic buildings, some made with creative ingredients found within the store, some true gingerbread concoctions created by pastry chefs.

Houses can be seen in the Fiesta de Reyes courtyard, Cosmopolitan Hotel & Restaurant, Toler’s Leather, Rust General Store, Robinson-Rose Museum, Captain Fitch’s, Racine and Laramie, Tienda de Reyes, Hot Licks, El Centro Artesano, Wells Fargo Museum, House of Jerky, Temecula Olive Oil, Cousin’s Candy, Toler’s Footwear, the Tin Smith and Old Town Ice Cream and the Johnson House.  Visitors can download a map of the house locations from www.fiestadereyes.com.

“We invite park visitors to step into Captain Fitch’s mini gingerbread land,” said shop owner Pam Cantina. “Our welcoming door wreaths and Christmas tree are decorated with an array of charming gingerbread ornaments. Don’t miss our large and small gingerbread nutcrackers and our window display that has gingerbread-themed houses, trees, and even a train!”

Gingerbread houses have been around for hundreds of years. The first gingerbread is thought to have been made by Catholic monks in Europe for special holidays and festivals. The English, French and Germans were known to eat and celebrate with gingerbread treats.

The gingerbread house first became popular in Germany after the Brothers Grimm published “Hansel and Gretel” in the 19th century. Early German settlers brought the gingerbread house to the Americas and the tradition become more and more popular in North America, especially in the 20th century.

Displays will remain on exhibit until January 1. The Old Town State Park Gingerbread Tour is sponsored by the Old Town Merchants Association, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park and Fiesta de Reyes. For more info, visit: http://www.oldtownmexicanfood.com/blog.

‘Tis the Season to Shop N’ Dine at Fiesta de Reyes

Shop and Dine kicked off on Nov. 23 at Fiesta de Reyes and the Cosmopolitan Restaurant. For every $20 spent at one of the 19 boutique shops in Fiesta de Reyes, guests receive $5 dollars off at Barra Barra Saloon, Casa de Reyes, or The Cosmopolitan in Old Town. Guests may use one $5 coupon for every $20 worth of food and beverage purchased.

Guests to Fiesta de Reyes will also have a chance to win one of ten magnificent gift baskets, now on display in the Fiesta de Reyes shops. Enter for free in the stores with gift baskets displayed. One entry per store please. The drawing will be held on Dec. 22. Shop and Dine runs until Jan. 6 and the $5 off restaurant coupons are good through Feb. 2012. For more information, visit http://www.oldtownmexicanfood.com/blog/ or call 619-297-3100.

 

Celebrate the Holidays in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

The holidays are a time for family, food and fun activities and that’s why Old Town San Diego State Historic Park has events planned for all ages to ring in the holiday season this December.

On Sat. Dec 15, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park hosts Holiday in the Park. All of the museums, stores and restaurants in the park will be open and richly decorated. Guests will enjoy special holiday treats, activities and extended shopping hours, along with strolling carolers on this evening until 8 p.m. Guests will also be able to view gingerbread houses in the merchant shops and enjoy s’mores by the bonfire. A visit from Pere Noel (Santa Claus) to the Fiesta de Reyes plaza will delight visitors.

The beloved Las Posadas procession is hosted on Sunday, Dec. 16. This centuries-old tradition is being celebrated in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park for the 62nd consecutive year.  The Park Merchants Association and Write Out Loud reenact the biblical journey of Mary and Joseph through the town of Bethlehem.  The event begins at 2 p.m. with a musical pre-show in the state park, with the live theatrical procession starting promptly at 5 p.m.  A piñata party and bonfire follow at 6 p.m.

During the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, winter evenings are celebrated in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.  Join carolers and other performers from dusk to 9 p.m. Free s’mores ‘round the bonfire are the highlight of the evening.

Fiesta de Reyes, Old Town San Diego State Park, Write Out Loud, and the Old Town State Park Merchants Association are sponsoring these events. There is free parking available in the Caltrans parking lot on Taylor Street in Old Town after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends.