One of our star photographers, Sam Wells captured this yummy (and pretty!) latte while on location with writer Claire Trageser. Claire’s piece on a coffee college in Vista can be seen in our March issue. Sam and Claire spent the afternoon at class. Here are Sam’s photo outtakes:
Meet the young talents now starring in ‘Disney's Mary Poppins' at Moonlight Amphitheater
By Kimberly Cunningham
A Spoonful of Sugar
Name: Abby DeSpain
Age: 10
Role: Jane Banks
Favorite snack? Probably… pretzels and M & M’s.
Must-have gadget? My iPod so I can listen to music.
What’s kind of music do you listen to? I just like just the Broadway soundtracks. I listen to those a lot.
Favorite Broadway musical? That is a hard one. I really like Wicked.
Do you have a favorite scene in Mary Poppins? I really like “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” because that is the funnest number I get to do. It’s fast, and it’s just a lot of fun.
Do you do anything special to get ready before each show? Well… I like to be really early for the show. I like to have everything on, my wig on, my makeup on, so 10 minutes before the show, I am totally ready, so I have lots of time to chill.
How do you unwind afterward? After I get all my costumes off, and my wig off, and go say hi to my mom and everyone else that is there… it’s usually a pretty late night, and by the time I’m home, I’m usually half asleep. So I just get in bed, and after a few minutes, I’m out.
What do you want to be when you grow up? That’s a tricky question. There’s a lot of things I want to be when I grow up. An actress is definitely one of them. But I also really love to write, and want to be an author. And another thing I want to be is a marine biologist. I really love animals. And I love the water.
Secret to success? I would say to start at the beginning and follow your instincts. Always work hard. Do your best. And you’ll get there if you work hard. And it has to be fun!
A Spoonful of Sugar
Nate Carman and Abby DeSpain in Mary Poppins (photos by Ken Jacques)
Name:Nate Carman
Age: 10
Role: Michael Banks
Favorite snack? I’d have to say I love nachos.
Must-have gadget? I’d have to say my iPad because I can read books on it and play games on it. I like Floppy Bird. (laughs)
What’s the coolest part about being in the show? It’s so cool hanging out with all the other people, and I think it’s really fun to go up the chimney. That’s kind of a new experience. I’ve never done that before. It’s a really cool thing, they have this elevator inside, but it’s not really an elevator. It’s a weight system, like a seesaw with pulleys.
Were you scared the first time you tried it? I was pretty scared, because if you’re standing in the wrong place, you could hit your head on one of the bars. But afterwards it got pretty fun.
Do you have a favorite moment in the show? My favorite moments is when Mr. Banks produces the kite, and then I run over to him and hug him. I just like it cause it’s kind of a heartwarming scene.
Do you do anything special to get ready before each show? Um. Not really. Sometimes I just play with friends or sit at home and rest.
How do you unwind afterward? I go home, sit on the couch, and sometimes my mom makes me popcorn.
What do you want to be when you grow up? Um… I think want to be an electrical engineer.
Do you know what an electrical engineer does? Yeah, they help fix problems in circuitry, like if a wire is out of place, they go and fix it on the circuit board and make sure everything’s running smoothly.
Secret to success? I don’t really know. I mean, what I like to do in rehearsal is I don’t just work on the things I’m doing right, I work on the things I’m doing wrong, and then, I like to look back at the things I’m doing right and put it all together.
Disney’s Mary Poppinsruns through August 2 at Moonlight Amphitheatre in Vista. For tickets, visit moonlightstage.com.
Meet the young talents now starring in ‘Disney's Mary Poppins' at Moonlight Amphitheater
By Kimberly Cunningham
A Spoonful of Sugar
Name: Abby DeSpain
Age: 10
Role: Jane Banks
Favorite snack? Probably… pretzels and M & M’s.
Must-have gadget? My iPod so I can listen to music.
What’s kind of music do you listen to? I just like just the Broadway soundtracks. I listen to those a lot.
Favorite Broadway musical? That is a hard one. I really like Wicked.
Do you have a favorite scene in Mary Poppins? I really like “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” because that is the funnest number I get to do. It’s fast, and it’s just a lot of fun.
Do you do anything special to get ready before each show? Well… I like to be really early for the show. I like to have everything on, my wig on, my makeup on, so 10 minutes before the show, I am totally ready, so I have lots of time to chill.
How do you unwind afterward? After I get all my costumes off, and my wig off, and go say hi to my mom and everyone else that is there… it’s usually a pretty late night, and by the time I’m home, I’m usually half asleep. So I just get in bed, and after a few minutes, I’m out.
What do you want to be when you grow up? That’s a tricky question. There’s a lot of things I want to be when I grow up. An actress is definitely one of them. But I also really love to write, and want to be an author. And another thing I want to be is a marine biologist. I really love animals. And I love the water.
Secret to success? I would say to start at the beginning and follow your instincts. Always work hard. Do your best. And you’ll get there if you work hard. And it has to be fun!
A Spoonful of Sugar
Nate Carman and Abby DeSpain in Mary Poppins (photos by Ken Jacques)
Name:Nate Carman
Age: 10
Role: Michael Banks
Favorite snack? I’d have to say I love nachos.
Must-have gadget? I’d have to say my iPad because I can read books on it and play games on it. I like Floppy Bird. (laughs)
What’s the coolest part about being in the show? It’s so cool hanging out with all the other people, and I think it’s really fun to go up the chimney. That’s kind of a new experience. I’ve never done that before. It’s a really cool thing, they have this elevator inside, but it’s not really an elevator. It’s a weight system, like a seesaw with pulleys.
Were you scared the first time you tried it? I was pretty scared, because if you’re standing in the wrong place, you could hit your head on one of the bars. But afterwards it got pretty fun.
Do you have a favorite moment in the show? My favorite moments is when Mr. Banks produces the kite, and then I run over to him and hug him. I just like it cause it’s kind of a heartwarming scene.
Do you do anything special to get ready before each show? Um. Not really. Sometimes I just play with friends or sit at home and rest.
How do you unwind afterward? I go home, sit on the couch, and sometimes my mom makes me popcorn.
What do you want to be when you grow up? Um… I think want to be an electrical engineer.
Do you know what an electrical engineer does? Yeah, they help fix problems in circuitry, like if a wire is out of place, they go and fix it on the circuit board and make sure everything’s running smoothly.
Secret to success? I don’t really know. I mean, what I like to do in rehearsal is I don’t just work on the things I’m doing right, I work on the things I’m doing wrong, and then, I like to look back at the things I’m doing right and put it all together.
Disney’s Mary Poppinsruns through August 2 at Moonlight Amphitheatre in Vista. For tickets, visit moonlightstage.com.
We're on the hunt for the best summer outdoor photographs shot by our readers
By Laurie Nicoud
Calling all local photographers! We’re on the lookout for summer outdoor shots of San Diego to feature in the magazine’s “Picture Perfect” section. Have an epic shot of the Del Mar Fair? A landscape scene from Crystal Pier? A dramatic view from your Iron Mountain hike? We want to see them all! Email your stunners to [email protected].
And take a look at Picture Perfect favorites for inspiration:
Renewable energy companies building hundreds of power plants. Biotech startups using artificial intelligence to create personalized medicine for children with rare diseases. Hospitality companies quietly powering thousands of local events. Consumer brands growing from beach-town startups into national businesses. These are the kinds of companies driving San Diego’s economy today, and the businesses recognized at this year’s San Diego Business Impact Awards offer a snapshot of where the region is headed.
Hosted July 23 by San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and JPMorganChase, the second annual awards event honored four local companies for innovation, growth, and economic impact. More than 100 nominations from San Diego’s middle-market businesses were reviewed by a 10-person judging committee, with winners selected across four categories: startup, early-stage innovator, rising star, and established heavyweight.
Two-time honoree Jimbo Someck, founder of Jimbo’s organic grocery stores, also joined the event for a fireside chat on buying local, supporting emerging brands, and giving back to the community.
“San Diego’s strength comes from its makers and builders—the resilient people who endure great risks and overcome obstacles to build and scale a company,” says Aaron Ryan, San Diego Region Manager and Middle Market Banking at JPMorganChase & Co. “These awards aren’t just recognition; they spotlight the talent, grit, and innovation shaping our region’s future. By celebrating those who create and build, we foster connections and fuel the growth that keeps San Diego thriving.”
Photo Credit: Matt Furman
Building the Infrastructure Behind Clean Energy
Heavyweight honoree SOLV Energy has grown alongside the country’s rapid investment in renewable power. “It’s an exciting time for SOLV Energy as we are experiencing significant growth,” says CEO George Hershman. “The business has doubled over the last year and has almost double-digit growth since its inception.”
The Rancho Bernardo-based company designs, builds, operates, and maintains utility-scale solar and energy storage facilities. Since its founding in 2008, SOLV Energy has built more than 500 power plants.
Growth has translated directly into hiring. About 200 employees work from the company’s local headquarters, including roughly 20 interns. “Our intern program is a big part of the way that we grow our workforce,” Hershman says. “Last year, 43 percent of our interns became full-time employees. We believe San Diego is a great community to build and grow a high-tech infrastructure and technology company because of the incredible workforce—the ability to attract top talent and draw from world-class universities.”
Photo Credit: Matt Furman
Developing Medicine One Patient at a Time
Startup honoree La Jolla Labs is tackling one of medicine’s biggest challenges by developing personalized RNA therapeutics for patients with rare diseases—many of them children with neurological disorders like ALS. Using proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning tools, the biotech company develops treatments tailored to each patient’s specific genetic mutation.
CEO Tamar Grossman says the recognition reflects how far the company has come despite limited resources. “We’re honored to be recognized for our ability to change and save patients’ lives and turn our lean startup into a clinical company with very minimal resources,” she says.
Grossman credits San Diego’s concentration of research institutions—including UC San Diego, the Salk Institute, and Scripps Research—with creating a pipeline of talent and collaboration. “San Diego is one of the world-leading centers for technology, genomics, and RNA therapeutics,” she says. “We have over 30 RNA therapeutics companies here, and we support each other and help with anything related to drug discovery.”
She says that collaborative spirit extends beyond formal partnerships. “You can walk around Torrey Pines, go into a café, and find colleagues from the industry and have an ad hoc conversation,” Grossman says. “That’s something very unique to San Diego.”
While Snake Oil Venue Company may not be a household name, chances are many San Diegans have attended one of its events. The early-stage innovator honoree has expanded from beverage catering and mixology consulting into venue management, operating Julep Venue in Mission Hills, Bramble Bay Venue in Imperial Beach, Vesper Venue, the Chapel at Liberty Station, and five outdoor venues throughout Liberty Station—more than 500,000 square feet of event space altogether.
“We do a lot of launch parties for corporations and new products,” says CEO Mike Esposito. “I really like working on the entrepreneur side of things, where new businesses are entering the San Diego market and looking to make a splash.”
Snake Oil has executed more than 16,000 events, employed more than 1,000 people, and partnered with more than 900 local vendors, including caterers, florists, photographers, entertainers, and other hospitality businesses. The company also works with many of San Diego’s nonprofits, museums, and cultural institutions. “We get to celebrate people’s most important moments,” Esposito says. “Whether that’s a wedding, celebration of life, or quinceañera, we’re fortunate to be involved in the community in so many different ways.”
Photo Credit: Matt Furman
Growing a Beach-Town Brand into a National Business
Rising star honoree ALOHA Collection is proof that a simple idea can grow into a thriving company. Founded by two roommates who wanted a better way to carry wet swimsuits after a day at the beach, the lifestyle brand has grown into a business while maintaining strong year-over-year growth.
Now headquartered in Carlsbad, ALOHA Collection employs more than 100 people and operates its California flagship store in Encinitas, which is slated for a remodel. With roots in Hawaii, the company is known for its lightweight, splash-proof travel bags that have become a familiar sight on beaches in San Diego and beyond.
“‘Aloha’ is part of our name, but it’s also how we move through the world,” says CEO Lynna Barnard. “It’s how we show up for people, the way we travel, the way we give back.” Since day one, the company has maintained a 5 percent giveback to Hawaii conservation efforts, contributing millions of dollars over the years.
“I think what’s so inspiring about ALOHA Collection, and the founders in particular, is when you dream big, those dreams can come true when you work hard and trust in the universe,” Barnard says. “It’s inspiring to be a role model for other people wanting to start businesses from humble beginnings. Start small and watch it grow.”
Together, businesses like these form a cornerstone of San Diego’s economy—not only through the jobs and revenue they generate—but through the local workers they hire, vendors they support, and investments they make in the region. Their growth doesn’t happen in isolation; it ripples outward, strengthening the broader business community and the people who call San Diego home.
We're on the hunt for the best summer outdoor photographs shot by our readers
By Laurie Nicoud
Calling all local photographers! We’re on the lookout for summer outdoor shots of San Diego to feature in the magazine’s “Picture Perfect” section. Have an epic shot of the Del Mar Fair? A landscape scene from Crystal Pier? A dramatic view from your Iron Mountain hike? We want to see them all! Email your stunners to [email protected].
And take a look at Picture Perfect favorites for inspiration:
A few photos from our recent home shoot in Mission Hills.
By Gloria Tebelman
For April’s home story, we had the privilege of photographing artist Concetta Antico’s home in Mission Hills. Kimberly Cunningham (Senior Editor), Becca Teal Batista (photographer), Jenny Siegwart (photographer) and myself (Associate Art Director) spent half a day with Concetta and her family at their home, which boasts Craftsman details, a gazebo, antique finds, and other design treasures. Here, a few behind-the-scenes photos from our shoot:
Concetta Antico’s home
Jenny grabs the first shot of the day. The light was working in our favor for this charming outdoor vignette.
Concetta Antico’s home
Concetta’s cats were the most eager models of the day.
Concetta Antico’s home
Even the water was artful. We loved these pretty milk glasses!
Concetta Antico’s home
Becca perfects the styling of the dining table. The final photo of this room is my favorite from the story!
Concetta Antico’s home
We all gushed over this rug. There may or may not have been a few Instagrams.
Concetta Antico’s home
Becca shows Concetta how she’ll be posing for her “lifestyle” shot.
Concetta Antico’s home
Good light is a photo shoot’s best friend, and this one had lots of it! Doesn’t this look like the perfect place to sit on a spring day in San Diego?
Earthly Delights
Want to see Concetta’s artwork in person? Her next show, Earthly Delights, opens Saturday, April 26 in Mission Hills. For more details, check out Concetta’s gallery.
It’s estimated that 44% of women in the U.S. have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, but many don’t know it. The disease often has no symptoms, and when symptoms do present, they can appear similar to many other conditions. High blood pressure increases the risk for heart disease and stroke, so it’s critical that it’s detected and treated early. And for women at risk of developing high blood pressure, prevention is key. Click here for the basics of high blood pressure and how Scripps physicians at Scripps use screenings not just as a diagnostic tool, but as part of routine preventive care.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
