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From vintage eyewear in North Park to upcycled goods at the new Silverlake Flea Market in Encinitas, the city's retail scene checks out
Revival Vintage Eyewear
Gail Owens
A little haven of thoughtful, Instagram-worthy home goods and gifts, like handmade candles, aesthetic cards, jewelry, and plants. Brittany Peña and Lacy Bird co-own the woman-owned boutique in La Mesa Village. Everything sold in the store is—you guessed it—made in small batches.
Downtown La Mesa seems like an odd destination when shopping for spells, antiquities, and other magical curiosities. But the small matte black corner store is part floral designer, part apothecary with a range of macabre offerings like taxidermy classes, flower tarot readings, and hand-poured candle workshops.
LA’s famed Silverlake Flea Market has landed in Encinitas on Saturdays and Sundays. Think gorgeous hand- stitched blankets from upcycled saris, baby rompers in surf van print, chunky turquoise, vintage leather boots, canvas bags from recycled army tents, original artwork, secret finds, and denim galore.
Last summer, a BIPOC and queer-owned bookstore opened up in the heart of Barrio Logan. Jesi Gutierrez and Celi Hernandez created Libélula Books & Co. with the intention of creating an inclusive space featuring titles by & about Black leaders, LGBTQ+ folks, Chicano history, and transformative justice.
PARTNER CONTENT
Troy Johnson is the magazine’s award-winning food writer and humorist, and a long-standing expert on Food Network. His work has been featured on NatGeo, Travel Channel, NPR, and in Food Matters, a textbook of the best American food writing.
The best things to see, do, and eat in SD as voted on by you, our readers
We asked, you answered. Here are the winners of our 2024 Best of San Diego nominations. Click on the categories below to jump to your favorite lists.
Art + Retail | Beauty + Cosmetic | Education + Non-Profit | Family + Pets | Finance + Legal + Insurance | Health + Wellness + Fitness | Home + Living | Travel + Entertainment
Walter Redondo Fine Art Collection
Little Italy Mercato Farmers’ Market
Rancho Coastal Humane Society Thrift Shop
Dr. Sirius K. Yoo, Sky Facial Plastic Surgery
Balikian Facial Plastic Surgery & Spa (Tie)
Paulina Murillo, Petite Blossom Salon
Michelle Glazier, Lipstick & Luster
Perfect Face Aesthetic Medicine
Barrio Logan College Institute
Law Office of Christine E. Baur
Justin Isaac – The Lawyer In Blue Jeans
C3 Risk & Insurance Services – Personal Lines
Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers
SDM staff shouts out their favorite food finds this month
San Diego is home to more than 5,000 restaurants—meaning that you could eat at a new one every single day for over 13 years before you had to resort to repeats. With all that goodness, it can be tough to narrow down your next dinner spot. That’s where we come in. Here are 15 of our favorite meals (and coffees, cocktails, and croissants) this month. Go get some.
Cafe 21’s bloody marys (topped with a salad bar; served in a ceramic head) deservedly get lots of airtime, but the decadent shrimp-and-potato corn cake is an underrated sleeper hit. It’s crowned with a poached egg and lounging in an herby pool of cilantro cream sauce rich enough to stand up to the 10 a.m. vodka. –AR
Starbucks who? This pick-me-up with Vietnamese coffee and fresh egg foam at Saigon is a richer, more satisfying version of a frappuccino (although, sadly, not blended). It’s breakfast on ice. Saigon started at the Hillcrest Farmers Market in 2012 and now boasts a buzzy new location in North Park. See you in line. –MH
Suns out, buns out, especially when those buns are covered in butterscotch and dusted with pecan bits. The perfect blend of salty and sweet, this roll is chewy but not overly dense. These buns are huge, so grab two forks in case you need to share (though you probably won’t want to). Check Glutenus’ website to see what farmers market it’s currently stationed at. –WR
On the list of edible items that can be served in a cup, ceviche isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind. The proximity of Oscar’s to the Pacific means this place is all about their fish. The ceviche menu includes shrimp, fish, scallop, and bluefin tuna served with crispy, hand-sized tortilla chips. This dippable snack has become my favorite post-beach ritual. –AD
With dozens of seductive smells swirling in the air at the OB Farmers Market, it’s nearly impossible to choose a bulwark against hunger-induced overshopping. Allow me to make your life easier: Get the pork belly sliders from Little Asia Sliders. Decadent, fatty pork belly is nestled in a soft bao bun and topped with fresh carrot, cucumber, cilantro, and a drizzle of crunchy chili oil. Is it Wednesday yet? –LK
I don’t often jump into the pool that is deep-dish pizza, but at this Windy City joint covered in (admittedly bland) Illinois license plates, it’s a felony not to. Sure, Lefty’s serves delicate, crispy thin-crust, too, but come on. Catch me doing a double-reverse-pike backflip into this deep Chicago dough. –MH
Decades later, TJ Oyster Bar is still the South Bay taco gem. The smoked tuna fries are like a Baja poutine. But it’s this classic octopus taco—braised until tender but still with that desirable bite, topped with one or three of the sauces (cilantro and chipotle cremas and hot sauce), and served on a good corn tortilla—that epitomizes a simple thing done extraordinarily well. –TJ
Chilaquiles don’t always hit (too dry, overcooked eggs, no beans?!), but when they do, you might as well write my obit and send me skyward. Two sunny-side up eggs, savory red sauce, sour cream, refried beans, Spanish rice, and avocado, portioned to feed two—all for under $10? Whew, life’s good. –NM
Brad Wise (Trust, Fort Oak, Rare Society) is famous for his killer marinades and the way he seasons proteins. Wise Ox is the butcher shop where you can buy those gems in a bag to cook yourself. Or you can get a sammy. Like this diet-breaking beauty of high-end couch food. House-made bologna, American cheese, mustard, and mayo. Sleep well. –TJ
When I lived in Bethlehem, fool (also spelled “foul” or “ful”) was my go-to local breakfast. Made with warm, garlicky, lemony stewed fava beans; olive oil; and pita to scoop it up, fool is what comfort food eats when it’s having a hard day. The Lebanese Yalla Habibi in the Gaslamp does fool right, with an extra garlic kick. Shawarma and kebab are the go-to here, but I’ll be back for the comfort. –MH
Salads historically occupy a lonely, shadowy spot on bar-food menus, but South Park’s Fernside gives fruit and veg their glorious place in the sun. The bar tempers the creamy whipped cheese in its watermelon-feta with sweet and nutty stuff like pistachios, pomegranate molasses, and fennel. If you, say, add a side of waffle fries, the salad won’t care—she knows she’s still the star. –AR
The best things to see, do, and eat in SD as voted on by you, our readers
Ocean Beach Pier San Diego
AAA San Diego Insurance and Member Services
Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers
Jason E. Gordon – (Gordon Mortgage Group)
Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers
Four Moons Spa San Diego
Photo Credit: Shawn Kallio
Be Well Acupuncture Collective
Sirius K. Yoo, Md (Sky Facial Plastic Surgery)
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
Proactive Physical Therapy And Sports Medicine
Moniker Commons San Diego Coworking Space
Courtesy of Moniker Commons
Elanit Abrams
Autozone Auto Parts + O’Reilly Auto Parts
Dreamstyle Remodeling + Kaminskiy Design & Remodeling
Warren-Walker School Early Learning Center + World Of Wonders Preschool
American Vision Windows + Dreamstyle Remodeling
Alspaugh & Alspaugh Law + Henderson, Caverly & Pum Llp
Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Air
Kaminskiy Design & Remodeling + National Black Contractor Association
Elanit Abrams
Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Air
Greg Cummings Group | San Diego Real Estate | Compass
Desiree Steve Wedding Venue San Diego
Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography
The annual event honors middle market companies creating jobs, scaling up, and investing in the region
San Diego is known for its startup culture and innovation economy, but what happens when the company moves beyond its early-stage years? The San Diego Business Impact Awards aim to answer that question, spotlighting the middle market businesses helping drive the region’s economy.
Hosted by San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and JPMorganChase, the second annual awards celebration takes place on Thursday, July 23, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Scripps Research Auditorium. More than 200 executives, entrepreneurs, and business leaders are expected to attend the networking and cocktail event honoring some of San Diego County’s fastest-growing companies.
Businesses headquartered in San Diego County that have operated for at least two years are encouraged to submit their nomination by Thursday, June 18 at 4 p.m. Companies across industries—from technology and life sciences to tourism and consumer products, as well as pre-revenue startups—are eligible for recognition.
For EDC President and CEO Mark Cafferty, the event is as much about building connections as celebrating success. “We’ve had a longtime partnership with JPMorganChase; their work aligns with our efforts to support underserved communities and drive talent development,” says Cafferty. “And the networking was invaluable last year. I’m still in touch with people I met at last year’s awards.”
EDC is an independently-funded nonprofit that works directly with San Diego companies to help them grow the local economy, make the region as a whole more competitive, and attract and retain top-tier talent with quality jobs. Through EDC, companies can get help starting or expanding their business with support for things like site selection, permit navigation, and regulatory guidance, plus connections to local resources and potential business collaborators.
The San Diego Business Impact Awards began as an idea with one of EDC’s longtime strategic partners, JPMorganChase. The two organizations share a commitment to San Diego and are dedicated to bolstering middle market businesses.
“We’re blessed with a robust innovation economy and startup community,” says Aaron Ryan, San Diego Region Manager for JPMorgan’s Commercial and Investment Bank and vice chair of the firm’s’ San Diego Market Leadership Team. “But one of the segments of the business community we felt was overlooked was emerging middle market companies—the businesses that are no longer small but not yet large.”
Ryan says supporting those companies is critical as they scale and decide where to invest, hire, and grow.
San Diego’s high cost of living remains one of the region’s biggest business challenges, making talent recruitment and retention increasingly competitive. But local leaders point to the region’s quality of life, climate, and collaborative business community as advantages that continue to attract employers and workers.
“In order to support thriving households, there has to be enough high-quality jobs for people to be able to afford to live here,” Cafferty says. “Once a company grows and excels past that middle market point in their growth cycle, they become much more likely to pay higher wages and compete globally.”
Both Cafferty and Ryan proudly tout the unique collaboration that exists among San Diego County businesses. Bringing together top universities producing high-quality talent, cutting-edge research institutions, a robust military and defense presence, leading ocean science and environmental organizations, and a binational, cross-border identity creates a distinct business ecosystem that defines and strengthens the San Diego region.
Last year’s San Diego Business Impact Awards celebrated nearly 60 honorees from 49 industries, representing a total of 8,232 jobs across eight sectors, including: software and technology, healthcare and life sciences, consumer goods, professional services, finance, construction and manufacturing, defense, and hospitality and tourism. On average, honoree companies doubled their revenues over the previous year, employed more than 145 San Diegans each, and offered an average annual compensation of $192,415.
Top honorees included defense contractor Innoflight, environmental consulting firm Bancroft Construction Services, life sciences startup Element Biosciences, defense technology contractor GALT Aerospace, organic grocery store chain Jimbo’s, and biopharmaceutical company LENZ Therapeutics. During the event, Innoflight Founder and CEO Jeff Janicik held a fireside chat offering his insights on investing in the community and embracing San Diego culture.
This year, organizers hope to continue highlighting the middle market players driving economic impact across the region. Nominations are now open through June 18 at 4 p.m. Get your tickets to the San Diego Business Impact Awards celebration to enjoy drinks by Snake Oil Cocktail Co., light bites, live music, and networking.
From bookstores to meet your soulmate to unique bitters and vintage cocktail goods in North Park, these are the city's top retail spaces
Meet Cute Bookstore in North Park
From wedding invites to custom notepads, Sweet Paper in La Jolla is a one-stop shop for finding pretty paper goods and other post-worthy delights. Customers can be choosy when searching the stationery and gift boutique for greeting and business cards, locally inspired presents, personalized envelopes, gift wrap, and other products that make sending mail more exciting. The ways to include your own personal touch are endless. –MK
Not a single Dan Brown thriller in sight. Queer-owned North Park bookshop Meet Cute exclusively stocks romance novels, with particular focus on LGBTQ and BIPOC authors (and an allowance for the occasional queer memoir or nonfiction writing guide). And if you happen to reach for a book at the same time as a fellow hopeless romantic… Well, we know how this story goes. –AR
This 40-year-old, family-owned San Diego business just launched new 3D foot-scanning technology that helps customers with their in-store shoe, sock, and custom insole fitting experience—for free, in less than 10 minutes. Called Fit Finder, the tech provides a comprehensive foot analysis with personalized shoe and gear recommendations, including apparel from their Korsa collection and their popular (as in 12-million-plus sales) R-Gear Drymax socks. –KO
The city’s entire population of Gen Z iconoclasts materializes at this roving market to shop women-, LGBTQ-, and BIPOC-owned businesses. Consider a full-scale, ’90s-movie-style makeover–new pre-loved outfit, new handmade resin earings, new piercings–or simply pick up a croissant-shaped candle and try to recover from the fact that early noughties clothing is now considered “vintage”. –AR
Finally, an answer to the dilemma of what to put on a wedding registry when you already live together and own a Nespresso machine: Ask for prickly pear salt. A newish North Park shop from the founder of Artelexia, Casa y Cocina sources tableware, kitchen items, dry goods, and other home stuff from Mexico and offers registry services. Sure, you have dishes, but a handmade Oaxacan salsa bowl? Didn’t think so. –AR
Angelica B Beauty takes self-care seriously. While picking up beauty products and home décor, guests can browse Angelica B’s line of pleasure products to learn more about sexual wellness. Whether you’re getting your roots touched up or adding color to your sex toy game, this beauty shop in South Park is all about empowering women from head to… use your imagination. –NM
Collins & Coupe Bar Store North Park
Photo Credit: Kimberly Motos
Your home bar called. Your grenadine’s expired. Upgrade your dinner party drink game at Collins & Coupe, a North Park barware store slinging new and vintage glassware, cocktail recipe books, specialty ice, bar tools, and every imaginable mixer (garam masala bitters, anyone?). You’ll have to hit a liquor store for the booze—though they do offer a selection of zero-proof spirits for sober folks craving something shaken or stirred. –AR
In the front, the queer-owned University Heights studio is a fairy garden offering taxidermied critters, fantasy-inspired wire crowns, and Kewpie dolls. The muraled back room hosts more than a dozen artists, each with their own distinctive art style. Browse their Instagram to find the flash that feels most you,from ultra-detailed stick-n-pokes to sketchy, brightly colored florals and spindly abstract sigils. –AR
Fuze Jewelry Liberty Station
Courtesy of Fuze Jewelry
A step above BFF necklaces and below getting one another’s initials inked. At Liberty Station, the Fuze team welds delicate, claspless chains onto wrists, ankles, and necks. Select your metal and chain style (the shop offers more budget-friendly sterling silver and gold-filled options as well as 14-karat white and yellow gold) and, with a flash, you’re friends for life. –AR
Environmentally conscious consumers don’t have to spend ages reading labels when they visit this zero-waste refillery in Kensington. Shoppers can bring their own containers to Earthwell Refill to buy plant-and mineral-based beauty and cleaning products. With the mission of diverting plastic items from the landfill and local waterways, Earthwell sources natural goods, such as detergent, shampoo, shower gel, and other toiletries, as well as sustainable items like stainless steel razors and bamboo toothbrushes. –MK
Gabriel Feitosa Pet Boutique Dog Grooming
It's always sunny in San Diego—get outdoors and active with the best our city has to offer
Torrey Pines Paragliding
Photo Credit: JP Ramirez
Husband-wife hosts Rami Abdel and Shantel Seoane created Alter Experiences as a haven away from city hustle. They thought of everything to make tent camping accessible and hassle-free (including luxurious linens and outdoor kitchens), but what makes this place extra special are the tree hammocks. Equipped with super cozy, warm sleeping bags and lights that make them glow like fireflies or aliens (depending on your imagination), they offer a unique, weightless outdoor sleeping experience. –CG
Back in the day, there used to be something called Ed’s Run, an event loosely organized through meetup.com that brought 50 to 100 people together by the harbor to jog five miles and then consume many beers at the Waterfront Bar & Grill. These days, Ed’s Run is no longer, well, running, but there are still social exercise clubs to be found. Black Flag Running Club has weekday evening meetups and Saturday long runs that are well-organized and held at a rotating list of locations. The group has no pretensions about speed or ability, is welcoming to all, and is heavy on the socializing—with plenty of drinking and parties to counteract the miles you’re putting in. –CT
Mission Trails
Courtesy of the City of San Diego
Say you’ve tackled most of the region’s hikes and are looking for a new challenge. Well, what about climbing all five peaks in Mission Trails on the same day? There are plenty of people—some as young as four or five—who’ve hiked all the mountains. But doing all the treks in 24 hours scores you special status. If you complete the challenge without any driving between peaks, you’ll have earned endless bragging rights. –CT
You can rent jet skis from just about anywhere around the city, but to really feel the power of these bad boys, head out of Coronado with San Diego Jet Ski Rentals and skip the slow-paced bayside options. Because of the many motor boats and the distance to the ocean, renting from here gives you more opportunities to wave-jump and feel the wind in your hair. –NM
Even the youngest thrill-seekers can experience the epic adventure of a tandem paraglide at Torrey Pines Gliderport. Expert instructors answer all your questions and ease pre-jump jitters with clear guidelines. While waiting, the gliderport offers the ideal picnic spot with a view. Then, gear up in a helmet equipped with a GoPro and soar for 25 minutes of pure exhilaration over the serene coastline. Check that one off the bucket list! –CG
The Hub Pickleball Courts
If you haven’t tried pickleball yet, what are you waiting for? The Hub is San Diego’s largest dedicated pickleball facility, boasting 26 courts, a pro shop, restaurant, event space, and clinics for beginners and pro picklers alike. Memberships start at $99 a month, with discounted youth prices and drop-in options also available. Ready to watch, but not play? Don’t miss the World Series of Pickleball at The Hub from Oct. 27–29. –BD
Dress in all white to look dapper outdoors during a game of lawn bowling hosted by the Coronado Lawn Bowling Club. Operating since 1935, the nonprofit club offers free lessons to San Diego County residents on the artificial green adjacent to the Coronado Public Library. Trainees get to feel boujee with 30-day access to the green and equipment to master their throws. Call to request gratis instruction. –MK
Guests from across the continent travel to luxury retreat The Golden Door for relaxation and rejuvenation. The all-inclusive health spa pairs activities like yoga, hiking, and meditation with pampering such as massage, skin, and nail services for a full-body reset. This utopian property got a facelift with a multi-million dollar renovation, including complete overhauls of the bathhouse and pools, plus upgrades to their 40 guestrooms. While the bathhouse dates back to 1958, improvements include a new Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, cold-plunge pool, and an LED light therapy bed. –KO
All due respect to lunges, but frankly, you’re terrible and everybody hates you. Luckily, it’s always leg day on Lake Murray. Vessel rentals–which include pedal boats, canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and motorboats–are first come, first served at the concession stand Wednesdays through Sundays. Pedal boat rates start at #30 for the first hour and $15 every hour after. It’s a surprisingly easy (and scenic!) way to develop thighs of steel. –BD
Held just before Christmas, this annual half-marathon starts on Carmel Mountain Road and then lets you roll on downhill for the entire course. It traces the State Route 56 bike path and finishes at Torrey Pines State Beach for a net 714 feet of elevation loss over 13.1 miles. It’s pretty tough to run it and not set a personal record—or at least feel like it was a super fun and easy time. And you can get your racing done right before the holidays, then kick back and feast until the new year. –CT
Scripps study shows that some patients may be able to taper their dose and maintain results
While glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agents have been used to treat Type 2 diabetes for more than 20 years, their recent emergence as weight-loss wonder drugs marked a new frontier in medicine. But their effectiveness has left some patients wondering what to do once they’ve reached their goal. Stopping the medication could mean regaining some, if not all, of the weight. A Scripps Clinic internal medicine physician recently conducted a small study of whether GLP-1 patients who had reached their goal weight could maintain that weight by taking their regularly prescribed injection every other week instead of weekly. Spoiler alert: 30 of 34 patients did. Read more about the study here and what that may mean as pharmaceutical companies roll out oral GLP-1s.
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