The 12th annual Taste of Downtown will give participants a taste of more than 50 local restaurants on Thursday, Sept. 8 from 5 to 9 p.m. A shuttle service will be offered to transport guests to various restaurants in the Gaslamp Quarter, financial district, East Village and Little Italy. From fresh seafood to Italian favorites and classic American dishes to decadent desserts, Taste of Downtown offers a wide variety of cuisines in amuse-bouche-sized portions to stimulate the palate but leave room for other stops along the culinary tour. New to the East Village and hoping to get some exposure during the event is Knotty Barrel owner Ken Lovi. A classic gastro pub serving craft beer, wine, cocktails and entree-driven pub fare, Knotty Barrel opened its doors this May on Ninth Avenue and Market Street. “I’d like customers to experience the restaurant,” said Lovi, “but also the East Village as a whole, so they know there is another dining area beyond Broadway and the Gaslamp Quarter.” Looking to expand his customer base by highlighting food over the habitual sports and beer found at nearby East Village Tavern + Bowl is district manager Steve Blasingham, who will be participating in the event for the second time. The tavern will be rolling out a new menu in September, but will be serving its classic sweet chili wings during the Taste of Downtown. “I hope the event encourages people to try new restaurants,” said Blasingham, “rather than just going to their favorite spot every time they go downtown.” The event will benefit the Downtown San Diego Partnership, a nonprofit whose mission is to advance the downtown area as a leader in economics, culture and government. To enrich the business climate and quality of life downtown, the organization established the Clean & Safe Program to improve the appearance of streets and enhance public safety. “With over 1,000 tickets sold, the event always sells out,” said Shelley Bradley, director of business development for the Downtown San Diego Partnership, “so we encourage people to purchase their tickets early.” For a complete list of participating restaurants or to buy tickets, visit www.mcfarlanepromo- tions.com or www.- downtownsandiego.org.