As we were finishing this issue, we learned that the celebrated chef, author, and TV host Anthony Bourdain had died. Seeing how beloved he was for his point of view, curiosity, and travel acumen, we made him the patron saint of our feature, “Worldly San Diegans.” I wanted to talk to locals who travel far and wide, returning with new ideas and ways of seeing things. I love hearing an outside perspective—and I wanted to ask some questions. “What is our region missing?” “What are we doing right, and what could we do better?” Writer Chase Scheinbaum and I interviewed an America’s Cup sailor, safari specialist, jiu-jitsu champion, symphony conductor, textile designer, and more.
Beyond that feature, we populated the entire issue with Worldlies. The couple in our home story filled their house with art from around the globe. Rebecca Boudreaux, the PhD in our Celebrating Women column has flown to Europe three times in as many months this year. And San Marcos–born author Mara Altman has lived and worked in New York, Thailand, and India. There’s even a piece on 16th-century explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo who, it turns out, was not Portuguese but Spanish.
All this provides a nice balance to our annual cover story, “The Best of San Diego and Tijuana,” which celebrates everything we do best here in our crossborder megaregion. This year’s list of 103 greats includes a wine growler delivery service, CBD cocktails, clean beauty brands, and a rooftop cinema. And after you’ve read the feature, come to our Best of San Diego Party and you’ll get the chance to meet some of the winners in person, all in one place at Liberty Station on August 17.
When it comes to what you can learn and appreciate while exploring, whether seeing your own neighborhood, crossing the border, or venturing overseas, I think Bourdain said it best: “If I am an advocate for anything, it is to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. Walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food. It’s a plus for everybody.”
The Ultimate San Diego Summer Guide 2017
Letter from the Editor: Behind Our Magazine Redesign
Letter from the Editor: The World at Our Fingertips
