SAN DIEGO -- As we take a moment to look back on the HBA's 90th birthday, we realize that business leaders in Hillcrest have been so busy with exciting neighborhood projects that they barely had an opportunity to blow out the candles on their own cake.

This holiday season brings a close to one of the most productive and energizing years the HBA has experienced. The close of 2011 marks the end of a year long birthday celebration.

SAN DIEGO -- Hillcrest residents and visitors will be line-dancing, clogging and two-stepping down University Avenue this Sunday at the first-ever Hillcrest Hoedown, taking place from 1 to 8 pm.

The free event will take place along Hillcrest's main thoroughfare from Normal Street to Vermont Street and willl be a cowboy-themed fall celebration in the heart of the community.

Organizers say that University Avenue will be completely transformed into a hoedown, complete with hayrides, a mechanical bull, a petting zoo, streetside saloon, arts and crafts vendors, and entertainment.

on stage

The Stage Theatre will host the San Diego ballet with Mixed Repertoire presented Saturday, Oct. 15 at 8 pm and Sunday, Oct. 16 at 2:30 pm. The performance includes Alice: Wonderland, and two new pieces - Echale Salsita and Suite Italienne, among many others. Cost: $35 - $45.

SAN DIEGO -- Residents of the Hillcrest area love to celebrate. And with the arrival of the fall season, the Hillcrest Business Association (HBA) is organizing a new community celebration that they hope will become another beloved community tradition.

The first-ever Hillcrest Hoedown will be held Sunday, Oct. 16, from 1 to 8 pm on University Avenue between Normal Street and Vermont Avenue. Organizers say the event will have many of the attractions one would expect at a hoedown, with an added dose of the fabulousness Hillcrest is known for.