San Diego, CA Events and Co-ops

Below is a list of events in San Diego...followed by a list of Food Co-ops in the San Diego area.

And here is a great calendar of events for San Deigo, California, thanks to the San Diego County Democrats:

EarthFair 2009. April 19th. Balboa Park, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Details HERE.

Naturalization Ceremony Voter Registration. Wednesday, April 22nd, from 10:10 am to noon. Volunteers are needed to help register newly naturalized citizens on Join the other volunteers at Golden Hall, Corner of 3rd and B Street. Parking at Horton Plaza. RSVP to Greg Bolan at sdvoter@gmail.com. Note: The San Diego Voter Registration team uses Google Groups to send out volunteer emails. To receive these emails click HERE, and then click on "Join This Group."

Celebration of Liberty and Justice for All. the 2nd Annual May Day Benefit for the Employee Rights Center. Friday, May 1st, 4:30 - 7:00 pm. The ACLU and the Employee Rights Center (ERC) of the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council invite the public to celebrate the historic and modern day connection between the labor and human rights movements at a party and fundraiser for the ERC on May 1. At the Handlery Hotel, Terrace Room Hotel Circle. Appetizers and No-Host Cocktails. $50 per person. Details at http://aclusandiego.org/news_item.php?article_id=000752

29th Annual Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt Dinner. Saturday, May 2nd, VIP Reception 5:30, General Reception 6:00, Dinner and Program at 7:00 pm. At the Holiday Inn on the Bay, 1355 N. Harbor Drive. Tickets: $95 each ($100 after April 25). Purchase your tickets online here or by phone at (858) 277-3367.

La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club Meeting. Wednesday, May 6th, social at 6:00, meeting at 7:00 pm. Dr. Farouk Al Nassar will discuss what will happen when the US leaves Iraq. At the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Dr., La Mesa.. Info: Linda Armacost at 619-741-1994 or larmacost@cox.net.

San Diego Democracy For America Meetup (SD DFA) meeting. Wednesday, May 6th, social at 6:00, meeting at 7:00 pm. At Giovanni's Restaurant, 9353 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, SD 92123 (Corner of Clairemont Mesa Blvd and Ruffin Rd. across from Registrar of Voters). Info: Carol (858) 459-7044 or cchangus@san.rr.com. Dean's New site: www.standwithdrdean.com

Escondido Democratic Club meeting. Saturday, May 9th, 10:30 am to Noon. Jose Aponte, director of the San Diego County Library system, who will discuss “Dancing with the Elephants: Staying Relevant in Extraordinary Times.” Club members will consider ways EDC can help the library during these difficult times. Light refreshments will be served. In the Turrentine Room of the Escondido Public Library, 239 S. Kalmia St. in Escondido. Info: Rick Moore at 760-740-8595 or communications@escondidodems.org, or www.escondidodems.org

Lake San Marcos Democratic Club meeting. Saturday May 9th, social at 12:30, meeting at 1:00 pm. Greg Bolian, who has been leading the Voter Registration effort in San Diego County, will discuss the registration process and the role Lake San Marcos Democrats can play in helping build the Democratic base. At the Club House at Palomar Estates West (1930 W. San Marcos Blvd. San Marcos 92078; 760-727-5453). Please note the change of venue and check the Club Newsletter for detailed directions to the meeting place. Info: Betty Ball at (760) 752-1035; SOLSM12@aol.com

Planned Parenthood of San Diego and Riverside Counties 46th Anniversary Dinner. Thursday, May 14th, 5:30 - 9:00 pm. The featured speaker will be Melissa Harris-Lacewell, Ph. D., an Associate Professor of Politics & African American Studies at Princeton University, award-winning author, and regular commentator on MSNBC and NPR. At the Convention Center, 111 West Harbor Drive in downtown San Diego. Details and tickets HERE.

California Statewide Special Election. Tuesday, May 19th. Measures include creating a state spending cap and rainy day fund, modifying the minimum funding guarantee for schools, changing the state lottery and shifting money from mental health and child-development programs. For a list of the ballot measures click HERE.

Naturalization Ceremony Voter Registration. Wednesday, May 20th, from 10:10 am to noon. Volunteers are needed to help register newly naturalized citizens on Join the other volunteers at Golden Hall, Corner of 3rd and B Street. Parking at Horton Plaza. RSVP to Greg Bolan at sdvoter@gmail.com. Note: The San Diego Voter Registration team uses Google Groups to send out volunteer emails. To receive these emails click HERE, and then click on "Join This Group."

East County Democratic Club meeting. Wednesday, May 20th, 7:00 to 9:00 pm (refreshments at 6:30). At the El Cajon Library at 201 E. Douglas Ave, El Cajon 92020. Info: (619) 820-5321 or visit www.ecdcweb.org.

Uptown Democrats meeting. Tuesday, May 26th, 7:00 pm. At the Joyce Beers Community Center, 1220 Cleveland Avenue, east of Trader Joe’s in the Ralph’s shopping Center off University Avenue and Vermont. Just go up the concrete steps south of the Terra Restaurant and through the double doors.

San Diego Democracy For America Meetup (SD DFA) meeting. Wednesday, June 3rd, social at 6:00, meeting at 7:00 pm. Councilmember Donna Frye will discuss the city budget and other issues before the SD City Council. At Giovanni's Restaurant, 9353 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, SD 92123 (Corner of Clairemont Mesa Blvd and Ruffin Rd. across from Registrar of Voters). Info: Carol (858) 459-7044. or cchangus@san.rr.com.

Naturalization Ceremony Voter Registration. Wednesday, June 17th, from 10:10 am to noon. Volunteers are needed to help register newly naturalized citizens on Join the other volunteers at Golden Hall, Corner of 3rd and B Street. Parking at Horton Plaza. RSVP to Greg Bolan at sdvoter@gmail.com. Note: The San Diego Voter Registration team uses Google Groups to send out volunteer emails. To receive these emails click HERE, and then click on "Join This Group."


SAN DIEGO FOOD CO-OPS:

Ocean Beach People's Organic Food Co-op
4765 Voltaire St.
San Diego, California 92107
Phone: (619) 224-1387
FAX: (619) 224-5089
editor@oceanbeachpeoples.com
http://www.obpeoplesfood.coop

Ocean Beach People's Organic Food Market is a member-owned vegetarian consumer co-op that has been serving the community since 1971. Originally a worker's collective, the cooperative has grown to include 6000 feet of retail space and more than 8000 member/owners. The Co-op offers an extensive selection of organic produce, grocery, dairy, and bulk foods and herbs, as well as vitamins and homeopathics, cruelty-free bodycare, and aromatherapy products. Enjoy a full service sit-down deli featuring a delicious selection of home-style vegetarian and vegan entrees, salads, sandwiches, freshly prepared baked goods, desserts, and more! At People's, San Diego's only community owned grocery store, we specialize in products that are organic, wholesome, minimally processed, cruelty-free, and environmentally safe.

They also have a good community events calendar.

The UCSD Food Coop
0323F Student Cooperative Center,
San Diego, California 92093
Phone: (619) 546-8339
foodcoop@burn.ucsd.edu

I used to shop at this one way, way back when I went to UCSD. It was great then!

Since its introduction to the campus in 1978, the Food Co-op has committed itself to providing the UCSD community with a natural food alternative, as well as a resource for environmentally conscious products and information.

The Food Co-op carries a variety of food and non-food products ranging from baked goods, juices, sandwiches, fresh organic produce, macro-biotic and ethnic foods to cruelty-free cosmetics and environmentally safe cleaning agents. Many foods are stocked in bulk to reduce the price to the customer and the waste of packaging (please bring bags when buying!). Special orders can be made at discount prices (good for items not necessarily carried in the store, as well!).

Come in to shop, get informed, and/or volunteer as a general member of our store. For more information, call (858) 546-8339.

I will also point out some other UCSD co-ops that I liked when I was a student there.

The Ché Café

The Ché Café Collective is dedicated to providing cheap, healthy vegetarian food, all-ages entertainment, and alternative education. We have All-We-Can-Eat dinners every Thursday from 5 pm to 7 pm. Entertainment at the Ché ranges from poetry readings and plays to forums, or shows of local bands.

The Ché Café is surrounded by a grove of old eucalyptus trees and is next to the beautiful garden of the Farm Co-op. Tables and chairs inside and outside of the Ché and its close proximity to the Farm Co-op make it an inviting place to eat, study, or just hang out.

The Ché Café is open to having people come by and help out. The Café provides a great opportunity for people to get involved in the process of cooking, running a restaurant and/or putting on events at any level they feel comfortable at. Stop by or call us at (858) 534-2311.

(The Ché Café is located on the Revelle campus behind the Undergraduate library and down the hill from Stonehenge. We're the building with all the murals on it.) Read more about the Che Cafe Collective at its very own website: http://checafe.ucsd.edu/.

General Store

The General Store Co-op is a student-run store which was founded in 1980 to offer students a less expensive alternative to the high Price Center. [EDITOR'S NOTE: This is not quite right...the Price Center didn't even exist when the General Store was founded and greatly appreciated by students like myself.] As a student cooperative, we try to provide the University community with the best quality merchandise at the lowest prices. And we succeed! The General Store Co-op carries items such as selected essential school and office supplies, household and personal items, stationery and gift wrap, clothing (including UCSD logos), craft-center jewelry, and some food and snack items -- all of which range from 5-25% less than anywhere else on campus.

Students are generally most interested in the fact that we sell textbooks, which are guaranteed to cost less than at the UCSD bookstore. We also try to carry as many used texts as possible. Also, we buy back current editions year round. Stop by to check which classes' books we're carrying.

We encourage everyone to visit the General Store Co-op for our low prices and friendly service. Additionally, anyone is invited to come in and volunteer anytime as volunteers are the backbone of our organization. For further information or friendly help please feel free to call us at (858) 534-3932.