If you live in or around Southern California, you’re not going to want to miss the celebration going on at Tortilla Jo’s (1510 Disneyland Dr.) in Anaheim. They’re open from 11am-11pm on Cinco de Mayo and will feature a complimentary tequila tasting from 6-8. As if free booze wasn’t incentive enough for you, there will be piñatas! Every hour, on the hour, throughout the afternoon, you’ll be able to take swings at bashing the crap out of the traditional Mexican punching bag filled with all kinds of goodies. Does your fiesta need a soundtrack? Of course it does. And Tortilla Jo’s has you covered in that regard as well with world-class entertainment provided by the Grammy award-winning Mariachi Divas. Admittedly, I know very little about Mariachi music, but if they are divas they’ve got to be doing something right. Tequila is always a tasty spirit and after an entire afternoon [...]

Enjoy great music, food, wine and sunshine at the Wente Vineyards Estate Winery (5565 Tesla Road, Livermore, CA 94550) on Wednesday, July 15th at 6pm.Check out up-and-coming artists Young Digerati, The Mumlers, and The Front Porch Band featuring Karl Wente, all while sipping on some fabulous Wente Vineyards wines. To enter to win two (2) Discover the Music Discover the Wine concert tickets follow these simple directions: Post a comment under the “Contest Alert” Post on Wente Vineyards Facebook Page and let us know one of your favorite bands you think would pair best with the smooth, rich and complex Wente Vineyards Riva Ranch Chardonnay.

I don’t remember the last time I entered a bar of any sort that had no music playing, and if I had you’d think about what a boring place that would be to enjoy a drink. I love good tunes wherever I am, whether it’s on the train, at the gym or in the bar. One of my favorite bar amenities is a great jukebox. And when a bar has a jukebox, it provides the vibe and sets the tone. At least it used to before the World Wide Inter-Web took over. Now don’t get me wrong: I like having any song at the click of the button, but it’s also a cop-out. Personally, I prefer the old-school limited-selection type. I like the sound-of-the-page-flipping type of jukebox. So if you love a bar with a jukebox as much as I do, let me lead you to them.

SF Symphony presents my classic New World concert- plus a special reception with (free) eco-friendly cocktails courtesy of VeeV Acai Spirit®! When: Thursday, July 22 Concert: 8-10pm & VeeV Cocktail Hour: 7-8pm Where: Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco 50% off tickets to my classic New World with the San Francisco Symphony …and a Free VeeV cocktail Hour* Order online or by phone and use Code: DMNewWorld50 *Pre-concert cocktail reception is limited. To RSVP, purchase your tickets by phone or online, and then RSVP to the email address events@sfsymphony.org with the name of the person who ordered your tickets. We will put you on the guest list and send you a confirmation email with details.

More Happy Hours from Kevin Blum, City Dish 1) 99 Cent Oyster Happy Hour at the New Art’s Tapas + Sushi Lounge Here’s the best, new happy hour to hit the Marina/Cow Hollow neighborhood. The newly revamped Art’s Tapas + Sushi Lounge is offering 99 cent oysters every day (5:30pm – 7pm). The happy hour menu also includes $5 sushi rolls and $5 chicken wings and other small plates. And you can wash it all down with $2.50 draft beers, $3 well drinks, and $4 glasses of wine. And here’s something I never thought I’d say about a restaurant – it has free parking (located in the back on Lombard St.). This sexy, Toyko-inspired cocktail lounge officially relaunches this week. Be sure to check it out!

Who would ever think to give yeast cells the chance to sing?  Joshua Penrose of Ohio State University has done just that with his “Resonant Carboy” project. Eight carboys with various levels of fermenting mead solution (honey, water, and yeast) have a sort of high-tech microphone stuck on top to record the sounds of active yeast cells as they process the natural sugars in the honey to create carbon dioxide gas emissions.

More Happy Hours by Kevin Blum,  City Dish 1.) $10 Urban Wine Tasting at SOM. Join Nirvino and SOM. in the Mission for a tasting of the Bay Area’s best urban wineries. Participating wineries include: Blue Cellars Vie Winery, JC Cellars, Dashe Cellars, Donkey And Goat Winery, Periscope Cellars, Tayerle Wine, Wattle Creek Winery, and Foggy Bridge Winery. Guests will also be treated to delicious bites courtesy of Bar Bambino.