In February of 2000, Lauren Krause—a then-31-year-old NBC 7 anchor—donned a red dress and red lipstick and showcased her bare back on the cover of San Diego Magazine, turning to gaze at readers with flirtatious blue eyes. The words “Sexy San Diegans” sat prominently beside her photo.
Inside the issue, Jewel—at that time, a young singer-songwriter who’d released her debut album five years earlier—was named among the city’s hottest bachelors and bachelorettes. The magazine’s readers chose her and seven other locals, including Padres and Chargers players, a few actresses and models, and one San Diego police officer.
But this wasn’t the first time the mag had delved into the world of its free agents and their alluring love lives. Over the years, SDM has covered the dating scene in the city at length, offering advice on where to meet your next match, suggesting great first dates, and exploring how locals feel about sex.
In 1984, the March issue featured an article entitled “Sex, Sex, Sex”—a sociological investigation, of sorts, of what was going on beneath the city’s sheets.
“Another change [San Diego Union Tribune advice columnist Dr. James Richmond Barbour] has seen in the last 25 years is that women actually admit they enjoy sex. Women used to view sex as a husband’s prerogative,” author Mike Bowler writes. “Today, […] women have come out of the closet to show themselves as sexual beings.”
Whew. What a time. Browsing through SDM’s archives, it’s clear that we’ve come a long way from the days of traditional gender roles, romantic stereotypes, and men telling us how women feel about sex. And yet, the city’s singles are still hungry for insight on navigating the eternally challenging search for love, if the response to my own dating column, Unhinged, is any indication.
This month, we’re happy to continue carrying that torch with our issue exploring love, dating, and relationships. This month we take a look back at the local dating scene over the decades and give you a glimpse into what San Diego singles can expect in 2025 (spoiler: Open relationships may be en vogue).
We also dive into the world of aphrodisiacs and tell you where to find them across the county, should you need a little sumthin-sumthin to get the mood just right. Later, we outline 20 amazing local dates—feel free to steal our ideas to charm your boo (or bestie). We also take you inside the city’s most epic hotel rooms, guest residences, and penthouses, in case you’re planning any romantic getaways.
Of course, love isn’t the only emotion we’re dwelling on this month. Food editor Troy Johnson goes hard on nostalgia, reviewing Point Loma’s newest hotspot: Ponyboy, a playful throwback to the good old days of Hamburger Helper, folding TV trays, and The Twilight Zone.
For SDM Art Director Samantha Lacy, this February is all about tranquility—she heads out on a solo trip to Utah to find powdery slopes, fewer crowds, and some much-needed wintertime solace. A little closer to home, writer Sean Burch braves discomfort, strips down to his birthday suit, and heads to Black’s Beach for his first jaunt with nude sunbathing.
So, no matter what the TikTok tarot card readers predict for you this year, we’re pretty sure you’ll find something to love in these pages. And if you see us enjoying some oysters, chocolates, and Champagne in the coming days… no, you didn’t.
