Alison Balsom is not the stereotypical, Coke-bottle-glassed trumpeter from your high school marching band; she’s a total knockout, a bona fide star in Great Britain, and the composer of much of her own music. On April 6, she’ll appear with the Scottish Ensemble at the Museum of Contemporary Art SD, as part of the La Jolla Music Society’s 2013 series. It’s the second stop on her first major US tour. And Balsom is not the only one blowing her horn this month. The San Diego REP is producing the world premiere of The Federal Jazz Project, which showcases the music of local trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos (page 28). For tickets to see Balsom, visit ljms.org.
Growing up in Carlsbad, I never quite understood why people vacationed there. What, so you want to check out the field where I have soccer practice? Pay my orthodontist a visit? Carlsbad just felt like a town by the beach, no better or worse than any other in the country. It took going to college out of state for me to actually understand just how rare a place like Carlsbad is.
Thanksgiving break my freshman year, my first time coming home after three months in the Midwest, my shoulders dropped. I rolled down the windows and drove to lifeguard tower 37—the hangout magnet for Carlsbad’s youths (and, in the summer, tourists)—and the smells of the ocean woke me right up like smelling salts do. I finally got it.
Carlsbad isn’t just a stopover town on your way to something better. It is the destination. Travel + Leisure named Carlsbad one of the top 50 places around the world to travel in 2026. From the whole globe, the travel magazine picked my home. Sure, we’ve got the Flower Fields and Legoland—but now it’s the smaller ships and indier dreams that are giving it street-level character.
It’s not just Carlsbad, either. People have talked about the “North County bubble” for decades—a force field that prevents its residents from traveling south of the 56. It’s often used derogatorily, and it’s a fairly accurate burn.
For decades, living up in North County meant giving up on culture, or at least culture within close proximity. But now, the main expansion of San Diego culture is happening up north. Central San Diego restaurants have started taking notice and are expanding into the area—spurred no doubt by Oceanside’s food boom and the Jeune et Jolie–Campfire–Wildland–Lilo constellation in Carlsbad. City Heights burger joint Key & Cleaver opened a new spot in Oceanside; the owners of Parc Bistro-Brasserie in Bankers Hill opened Parc Lounge in Rancho Santa Fe. Possibly the strongest market indicator is that Sam Fox—one of the most successful restaurateurs west of the Rockies—has started focusing on North County for his concepts. In 2025, he opened both The Henry in Carlsbad and Culinary Dropout in Del Mar.
For the ultimate insider guide, we found a handful of inspiring people who live and create and truly know six North County neighborhoods—San Marcos, Escondido, Oceanside, Leucadia, Rancho Santa Fe, and Vista—and asked them how they’d spend a dream day out and about in their town.
Courtesy of North City Farmers Market
San Marcos
San Marcos is in full renaissance mode. The biggest story is that the grand North City vision is starting to peek through the scaffolding. It’s essentially the North County Downtown that’s been written in the tea leaves and discussed whenever someone gets stuck in traffic at the 5/805 merge: a 200-acre, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use face-changer that’s slated for 2,600 homes, 350,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, 250 hotel rooms, and about a million square feet of offices and labs. Its most recent manifestation is 222 North City—a 12-story residential tower with over 450 residences, rooftop garden, pool cabanas, art installations, and almost 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail (Necessity Coffee, Buona Forchetta, Draft Republic, Milonga Empanadas, and a grocery store anchor on its way).
Which means Restaurant Row is no longer burdened with being the primary caregiver for the hungry or the socially inclined. Patricia Prado-Olmos has watched the city morph during her nearly three-decade tenure at CSUSM, having spent the past six years as the school’s chief community engagement officer. She also just announced her forthcoming retirement at the end of the 2026–2027 school year, so she’ll have even more time to haunt local haunts.
Meet the Local: Patricia Prado-Olmos
Those in the know call the university “Cal State StairMaster” from the Sisyphean amount of stairs on the hillside campus. So, any day at or around CSUSM should start with a homestyle carbo-load (biscuits and gravy) from Mama Kat’s.
“There’s something about this breakfast spot that immediately puts me in a good mood,” she says. Mama Kat’s is also known for its pie (strawberry-rhubarb), which is breakfast if you change your perspective.
After a few hours on campus—with a break to pet the university’s official therapy goldendoodle, Frank, who helps ease finals tremors or apprehension of on-campus stairs—Prado-Olmos will wander into North City, just steps away. She says the almond croissant and coffee at Christophe Rull Patisserie rival Parisian cafés: “It feels like the kind of place you’d stumble across in a much bigger city.”
Rull, a Michelin-trained pastry chef who’s done stints on Netflix (Bake Squad) and Food Network (Super Mega Cakes, Halloween Wars), opened his patisserie last fall. The hype hasn’t cooled off yet: Get there early because the crowds do.
Emma Veidt is an editor at San Diego Magazine. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from the Missouri School of Journalism. She loves running, hiking, and rock climbing, but really, she mostly loves encounters with the street cats around North Park.
The San Diego Foundation (SDF) celebrated its 50th anniversary with proclamations from 15 cities and the County of San Diego, declaring May 28 as San Diego Foundation Day and launching a new campaign. It was also named Nonprofit of the Year by State Senator Akilah Weber Pierson. To date, SDF has granted over $1.8 billion to nonprofits across the region—its new Fifty & Forward campaign aims to raise $1 billion and award $500 million towards initiatives targeting education, climate resilience, and family well-being over the next decade.
Courtesy of Future is Color
Best Chance to Discover Your New Favorite Album
Future is Color Studio & Cafe
Tucked in the heart of Barrio Logan, Future is Color Studio & Cafe is cultivating community through clothing, conversation, coffee, and music. Focused on collective liberation, the space explores cultural tensions through dialogue; creative workshops; and Studio Sessions, weekly events like jazz nights, DJ sets, and album listenings. Swing by Fridays and Saturdays to browse the latest collection, dig into the reference library, or vibe in the Hi-Fi Listening Space. (The best part? It’s free.) Tuesdays offer intimate, ticketed listening sessions, and you can visit on Sundays with a reservation.
Best Botanical Grow-up
Botanical Building
One of Balboa Park’s most photogenic gems got a serious makeover. The iconic Botanical Building, originally built in 1915 for the Panama-California Exposition, had weathered decades of wear and termite damage until a glamorous $28 million, 32-month renovation brought it back to life. Phase one restored its signature redwood lathework and added sleek new irrigation systems, making the once overgrown space shine. Phase two is underway, with new gardens set to bloom and complete the fairytale-worthy transformation.
Courtesy of OpenTable
Best Lounge to Light Up In
Sessions by the Bay
Sessions by the Bay opened this year as San Diego County’s first licensed cannabis lounge. The National City spot features a large dispensary downstairs and a sleek second-floor lounge serving real-deal restaurant food and non-alcoholic drinks that you can dose yourself. Guests are actively consuming cannabis—smoking, vaping, dabbing, sipping—in a space that feels more boutique hotel lobby than head shop. It’s polished, thoughtful, designed for lingering. Finally, San Diego has a legal, regulated, public place to smoke weed.
You’ve heard of Comic-Con, but does the name TwitchCon ring any bells? How about Ninja, Ludwig, or Pokimane? Even if those aren’t your personal lexicon, every day, millions of people tune in to watch these streamers share video gameplay, life updates, and real-time reactions to the internet’s biggest trends on the platform Twitch. Quickly becoming one of the San Diego Convention Center’s largest annual events, TwitchCon brought together nearly 22,800 fans and creators this past year. With its 10-year anniversary on the horizon and a return slated for October, TwitchCon may have finally found its forever home in America’s Finest City.
Photo Credit: Richard Barnes
Best Tune-Up
Jacobs Music Center
After a $125 million, four-year transformation, the historic Jacobs Music Center struck a new chord this last year. Once a 1929 movie palace, the venue is now an ornate, state-of-the-art concert hall with upgraded acoustics (including a design-forward tunable canopy), lush new seating, and a choral terrace that puts some lucky audience members right onstage. It’s an acoustically brilliant home for the musical gifts of the SD Symphony. Goodbye, old HVAC system; hello, musicians who can actually hear themselves play.
Noticed something new in downtown’s skyline? A $511 million, 37-story tower at 1011 Union Street is the city’s first true mixed-use skyscraper. Developed by Holland Partner Group, the building combines office spaces, trendy retail, and luxury apartments and tops ’em with a rooftop pool and deck. This vertical neighborhood aims to create a more dynamic and walkable community, elevating San Diego’s lifestyle to new heights.
Courtesy of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Best Conservation Wins
The San Diego Zoo, a pioneer in wildlife research and protection for nearly a century, has been up to some seriously exciting things lately, from innovative conservation efforts to welcoming new furry friends.
The Return of the Giant Pandas
Giant pandas are finally back at the San Diego Zoo. Yun Chuan and Xin Bao are the first two pandas to enter the US in 21 years. Go visit these adorable, fuzzy legends at the new Panda Ridge habitat.
The fourth annual Wonderfront Festival returns to San Diego’s Embarcadero Marina from May 16–18 this year. Since launching in 2019, the festival has grown steadily—bringing bigger names, wider audiences, and more reasons for San Diego music lovers to celebrate.
Its inaugural year featured Slightly Stoopid, MGMT, and Ben Harper as headliners, while this year’s top ticket names include Peggy Gou and Daniel Caesar on Friday; Anderson Paak & The Free Nationals and Foster the People on Saturday; and Khruangbin, Jason Mraz, and Gary Clark Jr. closing out Sunday night.
But beyond the mainstream acts, this year’s Wonderfront Festival also delivers a stacked undercard of emerging talent. To help you map out your plans for the weekend and ensure you don’t miss some of the lesser-known artists, too, we put together a list of 10 bands you can’t miss this year.
Courtesy of Khruangbin
Khruangbin
Sunday @ 8:35 p.m. | Events.com Stage
Must Listen Track: Maria También
“Where are the lyrics?” “What’s with the wigs?” You’ll likely ask yourself these questions while listening to Khruangbin. Khruangbin—which means “airplane” in Thai—gained recognition in 2022 with their EP featuring Leon Bridges (which does have lyrics, though much of their music does not). They were also recently featured in the third season of TheWhite Lotus.
But even if you’ve never heard of them before, avid fans know that nearly a decade after their debut and six subsequent albums they’re finally getting the recognition they deserve. The Grammys, fashionably late as always, finally nominated the group for “Best New Artist” last year. They might just be this generation’s Grateful Dead, with their sprawling, instrumental sets and international influences. Guitarist Mark Speer’s dreamy guitar takes center stage, supported by bassist Laura Lee and drummer Donald Johnson Jr., creating a lush, meditative groove that’s irresistible.
Courtesy of Magdalena Bay
Magdalena Bay
Saturday @ 3:20 p.m. | Cypress Ascendant Stage
Must Listen Track: Killshot
If you’re into Charli XCX and FKA Twigs, check out Magdalena Bay, an LA-based indie pop band making waves. Comprised of Mica Tenenbaum and Matthew Lewin, the duo began creating music together in high school, crafting mixtapes and eventually full-length albums with a sound and aesthetic that nods to early internet culture.
Their sophomore album, Imaginal Disk, blends futuristic pop and electronic dance music with touches of funk. The album cover—a CD being inserted into Tenenbaum’s forehead—perfectly captures the 2000s influence. Their sound is futuristic and pulsing, yet deeply nostalgic. The duo’s music videos extend this vibe with a DIY aesthetic—not as chaotic as 100 Gecs, but with a charming green screen visual that pairs with their Y2K electronica. If they’re not already on your radar, they will be soon.
Courtesy of Daniel Caesar
Daniel Caesar
Friday @ 7:30 p.m. | Cypress Ascendant Stage
Must Listen Track: Best Part
Hailing from Toronto, Canada, Daniel Caesar is one of R&B’s hottest artists today. With an upbringing shaped by the gospel music at his father’s church, Caesar broke into the mainstream with his 2017 debut album Freudian, earning widespread acclaim and Grammy nominations. Caesar’s blend of gospel with modern ballads produces music that feels both timeless and contemporary. While rap and pop dominate the mainstream currently, it seems that R&B may be experiencing a comeback thanks to artists like Caesar.
Courtesy of Orion Sun
Orion Sun
Saturday @ 5:05 p.m. | Hazy Stage
Must Listen Track: Antidote
If you like SZA and Frank Ocean, you’ll probably like Orion Sun, the moniker of Tiffany Majette. Her music bridges R&B and indie rock with a sound rooted in personal struggle and resilience. After being kicked out for coming out to her parents, she turned to music, drawing influence from Nina Simone and Billie Holiday, whose struggles enriched their art. Her 2013 debut track “Voicemail” gained traction on YouTube, SoundCloud, and Bandcamp, and her 2020 album A Collection of Fleeting Moments and Daydreams introduced her soulful lyricism to a wider audience. In 2023, she opened for Daniel Caesar’s Superpowers tour and followed up with a self-titled album in 2024 that further fuses indie rock with her signature lo-fi beats.
Courtesy of XL Recordings
Peggy Gou
Friday @ 8:40 p.m. | Events.com Stage
Must Listen Track: (It Goes Like) Nanana
For electronic music fans, Peggy Gou is a must-see. The South Korean DJ and producer has been gaining the attention of EDM fans worldwide, first with mixtapes and remixes before putting out her 2024 studio debut album I Hear You. Her music channels ’90s nightclub vibes—glowsticks, zebra prints, high-BPM loops—while resonating with millions worldwide and has massive hits including “(It Goes Like) Nanana” which has over 600 million streams.
Cole Novak is an award-winning writer with a passion for highlighting local figures, small businesses, and nonprofits. Born and raised in San Diego, Cole is passionate about photography, surfing, art, the local food scene, and the great outdoors.
Finding a gift that feels truly personal can be surprisingly difficult. In a sea of generic options — flowers, gift cards, candles, and the like — Xplosion Box offers something more lasting: a customized keepsake built around the photos, messages, and memories that matter most.
Founded by Southern California entrepreneur Jay Vijay, Xplosion Box LLC creates fully customized explosion gift boxes that arrive professionally designed, printed, assembled, and ready to gift. Each box opens layer by layer to reveal personal photos, heartfelt messages, pull-out albums, origami-style photo pockets, and hidden notes, turning a simple gift into an emotional reveal.
The brand was built for people who want to give something meaningful without spending hours printing photos, cutting paper, folding cardstock, or assembling a DIY project. Customers simply choose a box, upload their favorite photos, add personal messages, and the Xplosion Box team transforms those details into a polished keepsake that feels thoughtful, personal, and beautifully made.
Xplosion Box offers personalized gift boxes for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, graduations, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, proposals, bridesmaid gifts, long-distance relationships, and thoughtful “just because” moments.
Customers can choose from flexible customization options starting at $27. The Mini Surprise Box includes 10 photos, three message cards, and one hidden secret note, while the Mega Surprise Box offers a fuller keepsake experience with 40 photos, three message cards, and one hidden secret note.
What sets Xplosion Box apart is its high level of customization combined with convenience. Filled with personal photos, custom text, decorative details, and layered surprises, each box gives customers the freedom to create a gift that feels one-of-a-kind — without having to make it themselves.
At its core, Xplosion Box helps people turn favorite photos, stories, and words into something tangible: a keepsake that can be opened, revisited, and remembered long after the occasion has passed.
May in San Diego means longer days, blooming flowers, and a calendar full of can’t-miss events. This month, locals can sip bottomless mimosas at San Diego Magazine’s Brunch Bash or crack crawfish shells at Gator by the Bay. Music lovers can two-step their way through The Outlaw Festival or vibe with R&B trio Flo, while beachgoers flock to Fiesta Del Sol or the annual Mission Beach Over-the-Line tournament. For fans of the arts, there’s a packed lineup of theater productions and exhibits—including one celebrating the surprisingly adorable armadillo. So grab your tickets, gather your crew, and explore all the best things to do in San Diego this May.
Gator by the Bay, a spectacle of the sounds and eats—like beignets, gumbo, and 10,000 pounds of crawfish—that define Louisiana’s Cajun and Creole culture, brings the bayou to Spanish Landing Park on Harbor Island.
The Outlaw Music Festival at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
May 15
The Outlaw Music Festival will celebrate giants of Americana sound—including Billy Strings, Bob Dylan, and Willie Nelson—at the North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista.
Louis at the Balboa Theatre
May 18
At the Balboa Theatre, an 11-piece jazz ensemble will perform an immersive score to soundtrack Louis, a silent film based on the life of legendary trumpeter Louis Armstrong.
Fiesta Del Sol at Fletcher Cove Park
May 31 – June 1
Hit the beach for Fiesta Del Sol, returning for a sunny weekend at Fletcher Cove Park in Solana Beach. Enjoy free entry, more than 200 vendors, and live music from several local bands.
“Sweet Caroline” singer Neil Diamond’s journey from Brooklyn beginnings to musical superstardom unfolds throughout A Beautiful Noise, coming to the Civic Theatre in downtown.
Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.
Ahhh, St. Patrick’s Day, the day many of us use as an excuse to drink a green lager, claim any ounce of Irish heritage found in our 23andMe report, and wear all your favorite green clothing at once. From corned beef hash and green hops to yacht parties, shamrock runs, and family-friendly festivals, there is something for everyone to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day this year. If you’re looking for an excuse to wear that “Kiss Me I’m Irish” t-shirt, now’s your time to shine.
Courtesy of Patch
St. Patrick’s Day Events in San Diego
The 43rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival
March 15
On Saturday, March 15 at 10:30 a.m. this family-friendly parade will start on Fifth Avenue and Laurel Street for its 43rd year in San Diego. The parade is free and open to all and features high school marching bands, police and fire department units, dancing groups and more. Throughout the day, enjoy more fun in Balboa Park featuring an all-ages festival from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Guests will enjoy food booths, live performances and craft vendors. Admission into the festival is $10 for adults 21 years and older and free for anyone under 21 and active duty military with I.D.
Lace up your running shoes and join San Diego Running Co. on Saturday, March 15 for their 7th Annual San Diego Leprechaun Run 5K & Kids 1K. Participants will run through downtown Pacific Beach and receive a complimentary Leprechaun Run t-shirt, medal upon finishing, photo and a complimentary drink at the finish. The Leprechaun Run 5K will begin at 9 a.m. and the Kids 1K Run will begin at 10:30 a.m. Registration for the Leprechaun Run 5K is $59 and $35 for the Kids 1K Run.
Pacific Beach
Courtesy of Lamb’s Player Theatre
Lamb’s St. Patrick’s Cabaret Show
March 16-17
For a night of Irish tunes, head to Lamb’s annual St Patrick’s Day Cabaret. Attendees can enjoy a night at the Lamb’s Player Theatre complete with 100 minutes of uninterrupted Irish music. The annual St. Patrick’s Day concert will be on Sunday, March 16 and Monday, March 17 and begins at 7 p.m.
Leprechauns & Live Music at Seaport Village
March 16
Show off your best green garb at Seaport Village’s Leprechauns & Live Music on Sunday, March 16. Here, you can enjoy a bite to eat at a restaurant in the west courtyard, listen to some live music, and hunt for leprechauns. The event runs from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Irish Music at Conrad Preby’s Performing Arts Center
March 16-17
Looking to hear some authentic Irish music this St. Patty’s Day? Check out the Irish band Goitse. Snag tickets to watch this quintet of Irish musicians play traditional tunes that will surely have you doing a jig. Goitse will be performing at the Conrad Preby’s Performing Arts Center Sunday, March 16 from 5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. and Monday, March 17, 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
St. Patrick’s Day at the Fleet Science Center
March 15
Looking for a more kid-centric option for St Patrick’s Day, you’re in luck! At the Junior Science Club, kids can work a little science magic and learn how to change the color of cabbage or experiment with potatoes. Head to the Fleet Science Center on March 15 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Courtesy of the Gaslamp Foundation
St. Patrick’s Day Parties & Pub Crawls in San Diego
2025 Irish 4 A Day Pub Crawl
March 14 & 15
St. Patrick’s Day will be taking over the historic Gaslamp Quarter for a weekend-long Irish 4 A Day celebration. The festivities will take place across various bars and restaurants downtown on March 14 and March 15. Tickets to this annual event include admission to more than 20 bars in the area, live music, drink and dining deals, hotel deals, and perks from respective bars. Tickets start at $35 a day on Friday and $39 a day on Saturday.
628 5th Ave. San Diego, Gaslamp Quarter
29th Annual ShamROCK
March 15
St. Paddy’s Day Music and Beer Festival, best known as ShamROCK, is returning to San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter for the 29th year. The festival will be on Saturday, March 15 from 2-8 p.m. and will feature live performances from the nation’s top Irish and Celtic Rock bands, Irish dances and tribute performances. General admission tickets start at $50 for adults and go up in price on March 2. Free admission is offered for children under 4 and general admission tickets for ages 5-17 start at $30.
Gaslamp Quarter
Kiss Me, I’m Irish: San Diego St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl
March 15 & 17
The Kiss Me, I’m Irish bar crawl will take place this year in Pacific Beach on Saturday March 15 and Monday March 17. Participating bars include: Flamingo Deck, Baja Beach Cafe, The Beverly Beach Garden, Moonshine Beach, The Sandbox, Thrusters Lounge, Truckstop, and Woodstock’s Pizza Pacific Beach. General admission each day is $25 and is open to anyone ages 21 and older.
Daniel A. Kaplan is a founding partner of Panakos LLP with more than three decades of civil litigation experience in both state and federal courts. Mr. Kaplan pursues and defends legal claims on behalf of companies, entrepreneurs, and business owners in high-stakes disputes. He focuses on business disputes including breach of contract, unfair competition, trade secret theft, securities disputes, fraud/misrepresentations, and employment matters.
“The best advocacy combines preparation, perspective, and a client relationship built on trust and candor.” — Daniel A. Kaplan
His clients include real estate investors, private and public corporations, and individuals seeking sophisticated legal counsel. Known for practical judgment and strategic advocacy, he works closely with an experienced and diverse legal team to protect, enforce, and defend his clients’ interests.
555 W. Beech Street, Ste. 500, San Diego, California 92101 619-8000-LAW Panakos.law
