In The News

Escondido Fashion Week

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Downtown Business Association hosts "Home and Art Fashion — Where Interiors and Art Come Alive," May 8. Downtown artists, interior designers, home fashion boutiques create a runway show and vignettes.

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Ricky Lizalde: Escondido's Fashion Son

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Fashion designer Ricky Lizalde unveiled his new line of lingerie in a show Tuesday in Escondido to benefit the women of Serenity House. The fashion show was part of Fashion Week in Escondido.

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Local grad returns to show off his lingerie collection – Runway show part of Fashion Week festivities

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

ESCONDIDO – Lingerie designer Ricky Lizalde brought some big city glitz and glamour to Escondido's Fashion Week on Tuesday, when he rolled out a selection of pieces from his latest lingerie collection at a runway show to benefit the women of Serenity House.

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Fox 6 News – Fashion Week Preview

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Ruben Galvan live in Escondido behind the scenes with Ricky Lizalde.

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KUSI News San Diego – Fashion Week in Escondido

Monday, May 5, 2008

Rod Luck was in Escondido to help kick off "Fashion Week," which runs through May 10th.

Watch Rod's preview in four parts.

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Paris, Milan and ... Escondido? Fashion Week to show city's glamorous side

Monday, May 5, 2008

On Friday nights, classic cars and hot rods roll down Escondido's main drag for an event called Cruisin' Grand. The city's annual Grape Day Parade showcases school marching bands, homemade floats and blacksmithing demonstrations.

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Passion for Fashion: Escondido's Fashion Week already proving popular in its first year

Saturday, May 3, 2008

ESCONDIDO – Those whose images of Escondido lean more toward farmers markets than high fashion are about to get a surprise. The city is going jet-set for a week as a way to promote the visibility, image and even the economy of Escondido.

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Fashion, food to take center stage next week – Downtown events hope to attract hundreds of visitors

Friday, May 2, 2008

ESCONDIDO – Visitors to Escondido's downtown will have a feast of fashion and food next week in two separate events aimed at putting the city and local merchants in the spotlight.

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Fashion Week Opens Monday

Thursday, May 1, 2008

ESCONDIDO – Downtown Escondido will present a week of dress-up to brighten its look.

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San Diego Magazine – Best Bets, May 2008

Paris, Milan, New York ... Escondido?

The Downtown Business Association of Escondido and Mercedes-Benz of Escondido host Fashion Week, six days (May 5-10) of runway shows (Project Runway’s Ricky Lizalde is showing his latest collection), parties, fashion forums, charity benefit events and various in-store receptions and trunk shows. 760-745-8877; fashionweekdowntown.com.

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Fashion Week in San Diego

Saturday, April 26, 2008

San Diego may not be New York City in terms of fashion, but we have our own Fashion Week. Spring seems to herald the onslaught of festivals and events, both indoors and out, in San Diego, and this one should be a winner.

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Sprinter riders get free limousine ride into downtown

Saturday, April 5, 2008

ESCONDIDO – For 10-year-old Michele Pumroy, Saturday was a day of many firsts. It was her first visit to Escondido, her first trip on the Sprinter light-rail line and her first time feeling like a star, as she got to slide in and out of a sleek, black limousine shuttle.

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Saturday, April 5, 2008

ESCONDIDO — For 10-year-old Michele Pumroy, Saturday was a day of many firsts.

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Cruisin' Grand revs into 9th season

Friday, April 4, 2008

ESCONDIDO — Downtown Escondido sidewalks were jammed with classic car fans of all ages Friday night, as Cruisin' Grand kicked off its ninth year of bringing colorful hot rods and bruising muscle cars to town.

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Free limo ride offered downtown after jaunt on Sprinter

Thursday, April 3, 2008

ESCONDIDO — Sprinter patrons who board the train for an adventure will soon be able to cap it with another – a free, round-trip limousine ride to downtown Escondido at the end of the line.

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ESCONDIDO: Cruisin' Grand returns Friday night for summer run

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

ESCONDIDO — There will be something new under the hood Friday when organizers of Cruisin' Grand kick off the ninth year of the weekly classic car shows.

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Cruisin' Grand adds more features, tries to draw new crowds

Saturday, March 29, 2008

ESCONDIDO — An expanded version of the city's classic car event, Cruisin' Grand, will kick off in downtown Escondido on Friday night.

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Downtown Escondido shuttle to start April 5

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

ESCONDIDO — A free Saturday limousine shuttle will begin carrying Sprinter passengers into Escondido's Grand Avenue business district next month, the leader of the Downtown Business Association said Wednesday.

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Escondido's first Fashion Week coming in May

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

ESCONDIDO — After years of hosting hot rods and muscle cars on Grand Avenue, downtown Escondido merchants are getting ready for models on the catwalk during the city's first Fashion Week.

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Escondido's next top model
Diverse group flocks to auditions for local Fashion Week

Friday, March 21, 2008

Sunday afternoon, a string of hopefuls flowed in and out of Bacio Boutique in Escondido during auditions for the city’s upcoming Fashion Week. Brothers, sisters, kids, teens, women and men, ages 4 to 45, strutted their best runway walk in front of a panel of local business owners and representatives of Fashion Week.

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ESCONDIDO – Paris, Milan, New York, London.
Now there's Escondido.

Friday, March 21, 2008

Downtown Escondido Fashion Week is an ambitious first attempt to shine the spotlight on the city's boutiques, galleries, restaurants and wineries with models strutting on catwalks, trunk shows and designer Ricky Lizalde of “Project Runway” fame.

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Fashion club predicts the trends for Spring

Monday, March 17, 2008

Escondido Fashion Week begins May 5 through May 10 and members of the Fashion Club will be entering their designs in the shows.

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Off the runway: Escondido designer reflects on reality-show experience

Saturday, March 1, 2008

No longer in the running to become this season's top designer on "Project Runway," Escondido's Ricky Lizalde, 35, recently spoke with the North County Times by phone about his experience on the hit reality show and his plans for the future. The finale airs at 10 p.m. Wednesday on Bravo.

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Cruisin' Grand changes good for all

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Over the years the Downtown Business Association has had to re-evaluate several of our events to ensure that they continue drawing people to downtown Escondido.

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Models sought for Escondido Fashion Week

Saturday, February 9, 2008

ESCONDIDO — An open model search is under way for Escondido Fashion Week 2008, a new avant-garde downtown event sponsored by Mercedes Benz Escondido and the Downtown Business Association, set for May 5 through 10.

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Escondido students spend a day in the working world

Thursday, February 7, 2008

ESCONDIDO — The Downtown Business Association of Escondido had an unusual guest at the boardroom table Thursday morning.

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Grant program praised for sprucing up Escondido

Saturday, February 2, 2008

ESCONDIDO — City officials were dreaming of shiny and sleek storefronts that would attract more shoppers to Escondido when they launched a program nearly two decades ago that doles out money to businesses that spruce up their appearances.

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Merchants organize to battle vandalism

Thursday, January 31, 2008

ESCONDIDO — After a spate of vandalism that broke windows at several businesses, downtown Escondido merchants have organized a "block captain" program and are posting signs on their windows to let vandals know someone is watching.

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Escondido police, businesses vow to fight vandals

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

ESCONDIDO — Police and downtown business owners have pledged up to $2,500 in rewards for information leading to arrests in a rash of car break-ins and vandalism citywide.

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Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Around town: The Downtown Business Association is planning a fashion week as its latest effort to focus attention on downtown Escondido businesses. Helping in that effort will be Ricky Lizalde, the Escondido native competing on the "Project Runway" TV show. Lizalde has agreed to participate in some of the activities of Fashion Week, May 5 through 9. The Escondido High School graduate has made it to the final six designers in the Bravo network competition that airs at 10 p.m. every Wednesday.

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Downtown businesses could see fee overhaul

Friday, January 25, 2008

Downtown Escondido merchants may see changes to the fees they pay to revitalize and promote the commercial area.

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Escondido merchant group wants to revamp 'unfair' fees

Thursday, January 24, 2008

ESCONDIDO — A new fee structure proposed by the Downtown Business Association would charge businesses based on how much benefit they receive from the association's marketing campaigns and other initiatives.

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Business group declines to ask PPH to drop new-hospital plan

Thursday, January 17, 2008

ESCONDIDO — A local businessman unsuccessfully tried Wednesday to get the Downtown Business Association's board to approve a resolution urging Palomar Pomerado Health to drop its plans for a new hospital in west Escondido and focus on renovating Palomar Medical Center.

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Jingle Bell Cruise puts holiday spin on Escondido's Cruisin' Grand

Saturday, December 1, 2007

ESCONDIDO — The holiday spirit was in high gear Saturday along Grand Avenue, despite some overcast skies and drizzle.

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Cruisin' Grand gets a tuneup after input

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Escondido's popular weekly tribute to classic cars, Cruisin' Grand, is being tweaked in hopes of invigorating the event and drawing more people to downtown every Friday night.

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Escondido merchants adding twinkle to holiday season

Friday, November 15, 2007

ESCONDIDO — Downtown Escondido should be more lively and inviting this holiday season, thanks to a new commitment by merchants to decorate their storefronts with twinkling lights, design eye-catching window displays and keep their doors open during holiday celebrations on the evenings of Dec. 1 and Dec. 8.

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Parking solution may be at hand

Thursday, November 15, 2007

ESCONDIDO — A lawsuit against the city's long-awaited Marriott hotel project isn't over, but downtown business owners said yesterday that they might have the solution to finally make it go away.

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Escondido plans "Restaurant Week"

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

ESCONDIDO — Aiming to significantly broaden their customer base, 11 downtown Escondido restaurant owners will try to attract diners who don't know about their eateries during the city's first "Restaurant Week" celebration, which begins Sunday.

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Festival Escondido a party of food, music and fun boosts downtown businesses

Saturday, October 13, 2007

ESCONDIDO — Martha Moore swirled her glass of chianti Saturday at Filippi's Pizza Grotto, as she recalled her earliest trips to Grand Avenue in Escondido.

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Festival jazzes up Escondido

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Downtown Escondido will be infused with a little extra flavor on Saturday as the first annual Festival Escondido will offer “a feast for all your senses,” with food, wine and beer tastings and live music performances.

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Food celebration expands to showcase music and art

Thursday, October 11, 2007

With more than 20 participating restaurants and 15 art galleries and museums, Festival Escondido on Saturday will offer everything from food and drink to music and art.

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Tour de Fork, art walk now a festival

Saturday, October 6, 2007

ESCONDIDO – Imagine sitting in the middle of the street in a spot reserved just for you, listening to jazz guitarist Peter Sprague, while all around the smells of everything from pasta dishes to French pastries waft in the air.

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Downtown Escondido celebrates art, food and culture

Saturday, October 6, 2007

ESCONDIDO – Downtown will celebrate its diversity and culture Saturday with the annual Festival Escondido, an all-day program of live music, wine and beer tastings, art gallery exhibit openings and restaurant tastings.

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New festival to celebrate Escondido's art, music, food

Thursday, October 4, 2007

ESCONDIDO – The wide variety of dining, art and music available in downtown Escondido will be the focus of Festival Escondido, a new event designed to bring people to the center of town Oct. 13 for a full day of live bands, gallery receptions and local food, beer and wine samplings.

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Organizers aim to bolster Escondido's Cruisin' Grand with new features

Thursday, September 27, 2007

ESCONDIDO – A campaign to revitalize the city's Cruisin' Grand classic car shows may include changes to the trophy ceremony, additional theme nights, reserved spaces for participants, extending the event one block eastward or special discount menus at nearby restaurants.

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'Nitro' Crusin' Grand dragsters rattle and roar in Escondido

Friday, September 14, 2007

ESCONDIDO – Friday night's rumble gave no indication of the humble beginnings of Nitro Night, the Downtown Business Association's annual Crusin' Grand tribute to nitromethane-fueled dragsters.

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Cruisin' Grand to host dragsters Friday

Thursday, September 13, 2007

ESCONDIDO – Broadway will resemble a drag strip Friday when about 20 nitromethane-fueled classic dragsters hit the downtown streets.

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Developer submits rebuilding plans for The Paramount condos

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

ESCONDIDO – Eight months after the largest structure fire in city history destroyed most of The Paramount condominium complex, the city has received solid indication that the project will rise from its ashes -- albeit in a scaled-down form.

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Festival highlights downtown Escondido

Monday, August 6, 2007

Providing more than a taste of downtown Escondido is the plan for the inaugural Festival Escondido on Oct. 13.

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Accessorizing Escondido's Second Saturday Artwalk

Saturday, July 14, 2007

ESCONDIDO – Lauren Tammariello is the kind of young woman who carries extra shoes in her car at all times ---- and thinks most other women do, too.

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Work stopped at other site as city awaits new Paramount plans

Friday, July 13, 2007

ESCONDIDO – While city officials await developer D.R. Horton's submission of new plans to rebuild the downtown Paramount townhomes that burned to the ground in January, construction on a nearby Horton residential development has stopped.

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Proposed downtown pedestrian plaza could block Maple Street

Monday, July 9, 2007

ESCONDIDO – A proposed downtown pedestrian plaza could close Maple Street between Grand Avenue and West Valley Parkway under five of the seven variations to be considered Wednesday by the City Council.

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Escondido Certified Farmers' Market will soon have to head another block east

Friday, July 6, 2007

Starting Tuesday, the weekly market will operate on the 200 block of East Grand Avenue, between Kalmia and Juniper streets, one block east of its previous home between Broadway and Kalmia.

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Shops look forward to Escondido Farmers Market move

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

ESCONDIDO – sprouting up all over downtown in the coming years, starting Tuesday when it moves one block east on Grand Avenue.

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Business association to be audited less frequently

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

ESCONDIDO – A recent Escondido City Council decision to require less frequent audits of the Downtown Business Association will save money that could be better spent elsewhere, city and association leaders said this week.

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Beware: Paparazzi might be lurking

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

The Downtown Business Association was already rolling out the red carpet for its People's Choice Awards on Sunday. Now the group has a couple of celebrities to go with that carpet.

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Think of downtown as art colony tomorrow

Friday, May 11, 2007

ESCONDIDO – Creatively curious souls who have wondered how to turn a plain piece of paper into a work of art with origami, how to pair wines with food or how to create a table centerpiece can learn these and other skills tomorrow at free workshops in downtown Escondido.

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Free workshops offered at Escondido's Art Walk

Friday, May 4, 2007

ESCONDIDO – Visitors to downtown Escondido will get a chance to discover their inner artist next weekend with 16 free workshops available at the 2nd Saturday Art Walk.

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Cruisin' Grand about more than cars

Saturday, March 31, 2007

ESCONDIDO – Cruisin' Grand is more than just a classic car show for many visitors who flocked Friday to downtown Escondido for the first night of the event's eighth season.

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Cruisin' Grand begins Friday

Monday, March 26, 2007

ESCONDIDO – Downtown Escondido will resonate with the roar of hundreds of classic cars Friday for the opening night of Cruisin' Grand's 2007 season.

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DBA announces board changes

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

ESCONDIDO – The Downtown Business Association has appointed two new board members, and two members to the board's executive committee, officials announced recently.

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Chargers official: New stadium needed for team's future

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

ESCONDIDO – Times have changed during Jim Steeg's 31 years of working with the National Football League.

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Downtown rents grow with demand

Saturday, February 17, 2007

ESCONDIDO – Barber Andy Granger recalls a much different downtown Escondido when he started his business 16 years ago.

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Downtown Business Association's books clean, audit says

Friday, February 16, 2007

ESCONDIDO – An audit of the Downtown Business Association of Escondido released this week shows the organization's accounting records are "very clean," according to the company that compiled the report.

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Escondido antiques auction to begin Sunday

Thursday, February 15, 2007

ESCONDIDO – As Barbara Evans stood Thursday afternoon among ancient-looking furniture, books printed more than a century ago, and decorations of all shapes, sizes and materials, she laboriously labeled dozens of intricate bolo ties.

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Commission approves downtown plan despite concerns

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

ESCONDIDO – A "pedestrian-oriented" downtown with more high-density residential developments and more attractive buildings that match Escondido's historical character could be in the city's future under a plan approved Tuesday night by the Planning Commission.

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