Arts and Culture Newsletter: Latinx New Play Festival opens Friday in La Jolla
Also this week, Jerry Seinfeld, the 'Little Women' musical, author Malcolm Gladwell and Cake at...
Casinos
Here’s who’s playing at Southern California casinos this summer
SoCal casinos will host concerts this summer by Keith Urban, Jason Mraz, Lea Salonga, Dogstar,...
Valley Center-area hamlet’s new mayor is funnyman Martin Short
Comedian Martin Short‘s next gig will be the mayor of Funner, California.The two-time Emmy Award-winning...
Great Oak Steakhouse emerges from 7-month renovation with new features, staff
Part of the embrace of resort-style casinos in Southern California is its incorporation of fine...
North County casino resort getting a $24M refresh – plus two new restaurants
The very first hotel rooms that were built years ago at Harrah's Resort Southern California...
Area casinos planning holiday parties, concerts, dining specials and more
San Diego-area casinos are a popular destination during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Although...
Five tacos to try at Pechanga’s first Tacos & Tequila Festival
When chef Eric Celaya heard that Pechanga Resort Casino’s first Tacos & Tequila Festival was...
Where to watch NFL game and score some food and drink specials at local casinos
With football season now under way, fans may be preparing to set up their fantasy...
Live it up at these 5 casino pools during a staycation without the kids
Adults looking to escape for a day to enjoy the San Diego sun or take...
A peek at Pechanga Resort Casino’s dining options: Let us count the ways
In the last decade, casinos have bet big on a new kind of clientele: the...
In unprecedented move, Rincon withdraws from California tribal gaming compact
A 500-member tribe in northern San Diego County has become the first in California to...
Harrah’s latest restaurant, Salt & Fin, offers guests an immersive seafood dining experience
Just three months after opening chef Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen, one of the biggest restaurants...
San Diego-area casinos planning holiday dining specials, entertainment and more
San Diego-area casinos are a popular destination during the Christmas and New Year holidays. As...
Hell’s Kitchen delivers a unique and tasty dining experience at Harrah’s Resort SoCal
If you're looking for an intimate, quiet and inexpensive dining experience, then Gordon Ramsay's new...
Alicia Keys’ SDSU concert postponed due to weather concerns; Kool & The Gang’s Pala gig moving indoors
The list of concerts in and near San Diego County that are being postponed because...
Chef Gordon Ramsay dishes on his new Hell’s Kitchen restaurant near San Diego
TV fans may not envy the beleaguered chef-testants that fiery British chef Gordon Ramsay verbally...
Mocambo debuts at Dizzy’s; Dispatch to perform at SDSU; Johnny Mathis at Pechanga
The Mocambo Jazz EnsembleYoung jazz lions don't come much younger than 13-year-old San Diegan Kahlil...
Sycuan’s newly opened Pink Buddha restaurant leads long list of Asian dining options at local casinos
It's no secret that Asian people make up a large percentage of the visitors at...
Bruce Willis halts acting career after diagnosis with cognitive disorder
Legendary "Die Hard" and "Pulp Fiction" actor Bruce Willis has ended his more than four-decade...
Local casino chefs share their favorite Christmas food memories
San Diegans already know that local casinos boast some of the largest restaurants in the...
Best bars to check out at 10 San Diego-area casinos
From Pauma Valley to El Cajon, San Diego County has no shortage of casinos —...
While only one buffet remains at local casinos, the big news is Gordon Ramsay’s headed for Harrah’s Resort SoCal
When the pandemic arrived 16 months ago, the region's casinos sharply scaled back their restaurant...
Harrah’s Resort SoCal says: Goodbye, buffets. Hello, Gordon Ramsay
VALLEY CENTER — Fiery British chef Gordon Ramsay will open a 332-seat Hell's Kitchen restaurant next spring...
Jamul Indian Village donates $75K for health needs
JAMUL — The Jamul Indian Village of California donated $75,000 at the end of 2020 to regional...
Casinos focus on health and safety protocols
Yes, you can still sit down at a blackjack table and try your luck at...
Pandemic helps give rise to Pala’s Asian Gaming Room
Spurred by the popularity of pai gow poker and baccarat, the Pala Casino Spa &...
Circa Resort & Casino opens in downtown Las Vegas
In Las Vegas and throughout Southern California, the coronavirus hasn’t caused (safe) expansion to cease....
Self-serve buffets move to all-you-can eat table service
No more heaping bowls of shrimp. No piles of fried chicken, steam tables full of...
Openings, renovations move forward at area’s casinos
With health and safety measures being at the forefront, San Diego County’s 10 tribal casinos...
What you need to know about the area’s 10 casinos
Though the pandemic has curtailed certain activities and amenities, the San Diego-region’s 10 casinos are...
Former Harrah’s manager files whistleblower lawsuit against Caesar Enterprise Services
A Harrah's Resort Southern California executive who resigned before the casino reopened in May has...
Local tribes to receive $3.5 million in CARES Act funding for housing
Four San Diego County tribes will receive a total of $3.5 million from the U.S....
Tribal lawsuit reveals Sheriff threatened to block access to reservations
A lawsuit filed by one of the county’s tribes reveals that COVID-19 was already spreading...
Need a quarter? Good luck. Nationwide coin shortage leaves local businesses scrounging for change
It was sometime in June when Jill Barrett, interim general manager at Harrah's Resort Southern...
Pechanga cancels concerts for the rest of 2020
Pechanga Resort Casino has announced it is canceling concerts for the rest of the year,...
Casino Pauma to reopen on Friday
Casino Pauma announced plans Monday to reopen its doors at the end of this week,...
Will casino buffets ever return? Three local gaming spots are testing sit-down option
As competition for visitor dollars has heated up between local casinos in recent years, one...
Governor appeals to tribes to reconsider their decisions to reopen casinos
Gov. Gavin Newsom has appealed to San Diego County's tribal governments to reconsider their decisions...
Tribes face cultural, economic hardships amid coronavirus stay-home orders
From smallpox to the 1918 flu pandemic, Native Americans have been decimated by viral outbreaks....
San Diego companies taking measures to wrestle with the coronavirus
Concern over the coronavirus has quickly become a priority for San Diego companies, which manage...
Employee spotlight: Giving away Sycuan’s money is ‘incredibly rewarding’
The holidays are when people pull out their holiday cheer — and their wallets.Whether motivated...
Agua Caliente building new Palms Spring-area casino, 10,000-seat arena; Vegas dining heats up
There are more changes afoot for the areas where San Diegans love to play around...
Casino steakhouse wine lists put cheer in holiday season
Is it a coincidence that red and white are two of the colors associated with...
What’s new at San Diego-area casinos: national kudos, exec plucked from Vegas, cheap gas and more lobster
There's always something new and notable happening at the San Diego region's casinos. Here's a...
Here’s the deal on the San Diego-area’s 10 casinos
Barona Resort & Casino1932 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside. (619) 443-2300. barona.comThe deal: A full-scale casino...
Casinos give back through charitable donations
It's hard to miss all the hoopla associated with the San Diego-area's casinos, whether it's...
Everything you need to know about Las Vegas’ latest reinvention, from Eataly to Lady Gaga and the NoMad
Like a pop star, Las Vegas is continually reinventing itself.Over the years, Sin City has...
What you need to know about the 10 San Diego-area casinos
Barona Resort & Casino1932 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside. (619) 443-2300. barona.comThe deal: A full-scale casino...
Playing around: Here’s what’s new in Las Vegas and at SoCal casinos
From a new SoCal casino resort to an ultra-glam VIP way to play and Las...
Casinos put the sizzle in red-hot burger trend
For the past few years, lobster has been the red-hot attraction at many San Diego...
Lavish casino hotel suites offer taste of the sweet life
Some have full living and dining rooms, kitchens, walk-in closets, soaker tubs and rain showers...
What’s new at San Diego casinos: restaurants, beer, mobile apps and menu changes
If the cascading indoor water wall on the gaming floor of Valley View Casino &...
Sycuan general manager out only months after $260 million expansion
Less than six months after the completion of its $260 million expansion, Sycuan Casino Resort's...
Employee Spotlight: Pala hotel VP unlocks key to high-level hospitality
Like a chef who doesn't want to go out to dinner on her day off...
Valley View casino completes $50 million expansion, renovation
San Diego’s unprecedented five-year casino building boom culminates today with the unveiling of Valley View...
Sycuan’s swanky Bull and Bourbon steakhouse is a cut above
Something is clicking in El Cajon. Make that Clique-ing. Trendy, Las-Vegas-based Clique Hospitality was hired...
Your guide to the San Diego-area’s 10 casinos
Barona Resort & Casino1932 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside. (619) 443-2300. barona.com.The deal: A full-scale casino...
Casino VIPs find pampering and privacy in high-limit rooms
Barona: HAVE PHOTOIn notesSycuan: HAVE PHOTOOur new high-limit room is in the newly expanded gaming...
What’s new and noteworthy at San Diego casinos: a poker room, bigger buffet and more
The San Diego-area’s 10 casinos are in constant motion — and not just because they’re...
Four San Diego eateries bet on Las Vegas
Four San Diego restaurants are betting that their popularity at home can play well in...
Sycuan opens new $260 million hotel resort
The grand opening today of Sycuan’s $260 million hotel resort marks two momentous milestones in...
Pechanga sommelier not afraid to take risks in life and wine pairing
Whether he’s jumping out of a plane or pairing wine with dessert, Mark Amodeo has...
Sycuan Casino to add Hodad’s, Phil’s BBQ, other iconic San Diego eateries
Sycuan Casino hasn’t gone totally Vegas, baby.Casino officials today will announce that the iconic San...
Amid fierce casino competition, Pala replaces its CEO
Pala Casino Spa & Resort, which has been showing signs of struggling in the ultra-competitive...
Sycuan Casino joins with hip Vegas group on new, high-end amenities
What happens in Vegas is coming to El Cajon.Three months before it opens its first...
Casino expansion news: Sycuan, Viejas and Pala
An update on casino expansion projects around town:Sycuan CasinoWith an eye toward March 2019, Sycuan...
What you need to know about the San Diego-area’s 10 casinos
Barona Resort & Casino1932 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside. (619) 443-2300. barona.com.The deal: A full-scale casino...
San Diego casinos get into the holiday spirit with festive cocktails
Pull up a seat at the bar, San Diego: area casinos are getting into the...
What to give your favorite casino-goer? Get lucky at the gift shop
Your husband loves playing the resort’s golf course. Your best friend is obsessed with the...
Casinos bet big on a new demographic: RV campers
Some call it camping, others call it glamping. Whatever you call it, RV camping is...
For Harrah’s Resort SoCal bartender, crafting the perfect cocktail requires a lot of tasty trial and error
One in an occasional series spotlighting casino employeesA rough day at the “office” for Grace...
Desert heats up with new casino hotels, expansions
San Diego isn’t the only place undergoing a casino expansion boom. Two big Palm Springs-area...
Agua Caliente an oasis of calm, class in the desert
“Can I bring you some dry towels?” I’m asked by the pool boy after returning...
Sycuan starts hiring for 700 jobs
Sycuan Casino on Thursday will hold the first in a series of job fairs, kicking...
Here’s a first look at Sycuan’s new hotel
With six months to go before Sycuan Casino opens its first hotel resort, one of...
Pechanga casino’s entertainment manager knows what fans – and stars – want
One in an occasional series spotlighting casino employeesAs the entertainment manager for Pechanga Resort &...
Here’s the deal at the San Diego-area’s 10 casinos
Barona Resort & Casino1932 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside. (619) 443-2300. barona.com.The deal: A full-scale casino...
Pala casino’s splashy expansion, remodel
Here’s an update on casino expansion projects.Pala Casino Spa & ResortJust in time for the...
Music and comedy take the stage at San Diego casino venues
Cue the curtain, San Diego — it’s showtime!Every week, the region’s casinos play host to...
The best casino spa treatments for sun-parched skin
We don’t have to tell you it’s been blazing hot this summer.But we do have...
Quick casino bites for gamers on the go
You’re hungry, but the blackjack table beckons.Do you brave the line at the casino buffet,...
Jamul Casino update: New name, offerings
What’s in a name?For the Jamul Indian Village, the rebranding of Hollywood Casino to Jamul...
San Manuel Casino expansion heats up already hot SoCal market
San Manuel Casino will break ground today on a $550 million expansion that will elevate...
Pechanga using security robots to monitor casino resort
Casinos are notoriously one of the most surveilled places you can go, with every inch...
Hollywood rebrands as Jamul Casino
The Hollywood sign has come down. In Jamul, that is.As of today, Hollywood Casino Jamul-San...
Sycuan marks near-completion of first hotel
Sycuan Casino, which opened in 1983 as a modest bingo hall clad in aluminum siding,...
Pala opens new pool complex, kicking off summer casino resort season
Summer at San Diego-area casino resorts unofficially kicks off today with the opening of Pala...
It’s taco-mania at Sycuan in May
Tacos might have originated as street food but there’s nothing humble about the three taco...
Craving Asian food? At local casinos, you’re in luck
Regardless of where you go to gamble in Southern California, you’ll notice a growing number...
By design, Viejas’ new hotel offers a calming escape from the busy casino floor
For Stephanie Lee, good hospitality design comes down to two key factors: respecting the wishes...
What you need to know about the 10 San Diego-area casinos
Barona Resort & Casino1932 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside. (619) 443-2300. barona.com. Shuttle information: barona.com/about-barona/directions-and-transportation/shuttle-scheduleThe deal:...
High-tech 4D slot machine debuts at San Diego casinos
Welcome to the future of slot machines. Now watch out for flying coins.In late February,...
Barona, Pechanga and Viejas unveil expansions
There’s been a lot of action at three San Diego-area casinos in recent months, and...
24 hours at Pechanga: Gambling, eating, pampering and yoga
Pechanga Resort & Casino is no place for indecisive types. Or is it?With the completion...
Casino players clubs: loyalty has its perks
Straights, flushes, full houses, royals — at the poker table, it’s all about the cards.No...
Pechanga festival is a chocolate lovers’ paradise
Imagine a giant room filled with 50,000 chocolate desserts where you can eat as many...
Is San Diego’s casino industry over-saturated?
Though the sun was shining Friday morning, officials from the Pechanga Resort & Casino had...
Viejas opens new luxury hotel, spa
Viejas Casino today officially opened the Willows Hotel & Spa, an adults-only, all-suites luxury property...
Pechanga Indian tribe buys La Jolla-owned Temecula golf resort
Pechanga’s massive growth spurt has spread beyond the casino.On Friday, the Pechanga Band of Luiseño...
Sycuan Casino adding 700+ jobs
The San Diego area's $1 billion casino building boom is a boon for job seekers....