San Diego Magazine’s 4th annual Best of North County Party will be held on April 25, 2014 at the Park Hyatt Aviara in Carlsbad. The event celebrates the Best of North County winners as published in the April issue and features the region’s top restaurants, breweries, wineries and live entertainment.
“This is one of our biggest and most anticipated parties of the year,” says Jim Fitzpatrick, CEO and Publisher of San Diego Magazine, “With so much to celebrate in North County, this will be the ultimate way to sample the best food, beer, wine and local entertainment in the region.”
Early bird tickets are $60 per person and increase to $75 after April 4th. The event is open those 21 years and older and includes unlimited samplings.
This year’s event sponsors and partners are: Park Hyatt Aviara, Jackson Design & Remodeling, Audi, Valley View Casino & Hotel, Welk Resorts, Stella Artois, Stella Artois Cidre, Pandora Internet Radio, KIND Healthy Snacks, Yelp North County, NBC 7 San Diego, San Diego 6 Degrees, San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, SanDiegoVille.com, and San Diego Brewers Guild.
Some other key exhibitors include:
Aloha Sunday
Baja Body Athletic Club
Bernardo Winery
Bella D’ora Spa & Salon
Bonaventour Indoor Cycling and Yoga Studio
California Fruit Wine Co.
Culture Brewing Co.
DJ Daniel Peterson
FitWall La Jolla
Mother Earth Brew Co
Mobile Photo Booth
Oceanside Ale Works
On The Tracks Brewery
Prohibition Brewing Company
Puesto
Rip Current Brewing
Rita’s Carlsbad
Vintana Wine & Dine
Pure Burger
Rubio’s
Searsucker Del Mar
Sadie Rose Baking Co.
Solterra Winery
St Petersburg Vodka
VG Donut and Bakery
White Labs
Café Secret
Yummy Cupcakes
To Purchase tickets or learn more information about San Diego Magazine’s Best of North County Party, please visit sandiegomagazine.com/noco2014. Inquiries about participation and/or sponsorship opportunities can be directed to Bethany Odell, Director of Events & Sponsorships, at (619) 744-0516 or [email protected].
San Diego Magazine, the city’s leading lifestyle publication with an award-winning history, gives readers the insider information they need to experience the Best of San Diego’s® food, fashion, culture, business and lifestyle. For more information please visit sandiegomagazine.com, follow us at twitter.com/sandiegomag or like us at facebook.com/sandiegomagazine.
San Diego Magazine’s Best of North County Party 2014
14 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: June 17–22
See the premiere of a '70s music celerbation, join San Marcos’ inaugural Juneteenth shindig, and sample several local ice cream shops at Scoop San Diego
This Friday marks the summer solstice. Ring it in with some fun summer happenings. Foodies can spend two evenings touring Little Italy for bites, treats, and tasters, while sweet tooths can beat the heat with a sugar rush this Sunday at the annual Scoop San Diego festival in North Park. Plus, locals can celebrate the first annual Juneteenth San Marcos or partake in the San Diego Black Artist Collective’s Juneteenth Black Arts Festival, plus more.
Sample neighborhood flavors at the annual Taste of Little Italy, returning Tuesday and Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. Each day, attendees will check in at the Piazza della Famiglia to get their taste passport and begin their culinary tour of Little Italy. Bites and sips will include beer, sweet treats, Australian wagyu skewers, and a variety of pasta dishes, such as rigatoni alla vodka, penne with pesto, and campanella sausage with creamy tomato sauce. Tickets are $71 per day, with Tuesday already sold out.
Little Italy
Crab Hut’s 18th Anniversary Party
June 18
Help blow out the candles for The Crab Hut as the seafood boil chain celebrates its 18th birthday this Wednesday from 5 to 9 p.m. at its Convoy location. The festivities will include drink specials, live music from DJ @e.vandamme, photo ops, raffles, prizes, and exclusive merch.
4646 Convoy Street, Kearny Mesa
Scoop San Diego
June 22
Dive into desserts from more than 35 vendors serving ice cream, gelato, and paletas at Scoop San Diego. From noon to 4 p.m. this Saturday, enjoy live music, photo ops, and your fill of the sweets. All net proceeds from the festival will benefit local food recovery nonprofit ProduceGood. General admission tickets ($45) are shareable and come with 10 one-ounce samples, while VIP passes ($125) include a swag bag, seven exclusive vendors, a VIP-only hour from 11 a.m. to noon, and much more.
30th Street & North Park Way, North Park
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival
June 18–28
Many of the finest orchestra players from around the country, under the tutelage of conductor Michael Francis, will gather in San Diego for the upcoming Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival. This year’s festival, beginning this Wednesday, will feature six classical music performances, happening at the Epstein Family Amphitheater (June 21 and 28) and the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center (June 18, 20, 24, and 26). Tickets range from $88 to $260 for individual concerts, while subscription packages by venue or for the entire festival can be purchased here.
9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla | 7600 Fay Avenue, La Jolla
Juneteenth San Marcos
June 19
Natalie and Lionel Saulsberry, partners in life and in podcasting on Couples Unfiltered, are expanding their community Juneteenth celebration to the campus of California State University San Marcos this Thursday from 3 to 8 p.m. Created alongside Clinton and Renee Huggins, the inaugural Juneteenth San Marcos offers free admission, with food trucks, live entertainment, a kids’ zone, over 30 vendor booths, and a focus on educating and empowering. The VIP culinary experience ($65) in the rooftop “Emancipation Lounge” comes with red carpet photo ops, handcrafted mocktails, swag bags, and elevated small bites from a handful of the area’s most outstanding Black chefs.
333 South Twin Oaks Valley Road, San Marcos
Dierks Bentley at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
June 19
Dierks Bentley will perform his newest album Broken Branches at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, with bluegrass singer Zach Top and Georgia country group The Band Loula opening. Tickets start at $30 for this concert, beginning Thursday at 7 p.m.
2050 Entertainment Circle, Chula Vista
Juneteenth Black Arts Festival
June 19–22
The San Diego Black Artist Collective will celebrate Black cultural and creative expression at its Juneteenth Black Arts Festival at University Heights’ Diversionary Theatre. The festival programming begins with a kickback Thursday night, followed by a new play series (Friday), a community showcase, and a featured play reading (Saturday). It finishes with a gospel brunch on Sunday at 11 a.m. Tickets for individual events are $29, while an all-inclusive festival pass is $87.
4545 Park Boulevard, University Heights
Wu-Tang Clan at Pechanga Arena
June 21
After spending over 30 years as a musical force to be reckoned with, Wu-Tang Clan have embarked on what could be their final tour with Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber. This East Coast collective has a bulletproof legacy as one of the best rap groups of all time. Their show Saturday at Pechanga Arena will feature hip hop duo Run the Jewels as the opening act. Tickets range from $67 to $269 for this concert, beginning at 8 p.m.
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.
Juneteenth, sometimes called Freedom Day or Jubilee Day, has grown from a local Texas tradition into a nationwide celebration. It marks the moment in 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas and announced the freedom of around 250,000 enslaved people—symbolizing the end of slavery in one of the most remote parts of the former Confederacy.
In San Diego, Juneteenth stretches beyond the history books. It spills into parks, libraries, beaches, and backyards. It sounds like live jazz, spoken word, and open mics. It reminds you that liberation looks like a community in motion. There’s no one way to observe Juneteenth. From North Park block parties and dance floors to art exhibitions and Oceanside festivals, here are 12 events that all orbit the same idea: celebration with intention.
Courtesy of Cooper Family Foundation
How to Celebrate Juneteenth in San Diego
Cooper Family Juneteenth Celebration
June 21
For more than 50 years, the Cooper Family Foundation has been at the heart of San Diego’s Juneteenth celebrations, turning remembrance into one of the city’s most anticipated cultural events. It all began with Sidney Cooper Sr., a businessman and cornerstone of the Black community, who championed Juneteenth long before it became widely recognized.
Today, that legacy continues in full force, carried on by his family and held in loving memory of both Sidney and Thelma Cooper. This free, family-friendly celebration blends history with joy. Prepare for over 100 vendors, five food trucks, a domino tournament, multiple stages featuring live music, African drumming and dance, educational programming, and a dedicated kids’ zone. It’s a day of culture, connection, and community, all rooted in the belief that “We know the past. We shape the future.”
11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. | 2975 Ocean View Blvd, San Diego
Financial Literacy Pancake Breakfast
June 19
Because financial freedom is part of the conversation, too, this $5 community breakfast pairs syrupy stacks with real talk about generational wealth, investing, and how to build a thriving Black economy. Come for the pancakes, stay for flipping the script on financial education. Bonus: every donation supports 7th and 8th graders who participate in a financial literacy course, and helps kick-start their futures with a $25 boost.
9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | 4900 Memorial Drive, La Mesa
Inaugural Juneteenth San Marcos
June 19
It’s freedom, flavor, and firsts in San Marcos this year with its inaugural Juneteenth celebration at Cal State University San Marcos. The Student Union will host an afternoon of live music, local vendors, family-friendly fun, and community spirit. The standout is the Emancipation Lounge VIP Culinary Experience, a rooftop tasting featuring upscale small bites from top Black chefs like Kelston Moore, Tony Bennett Jr., and DuVal Warner. Guests will enjoy handcrafted mocktails, goodie bags, a red carpet, and stunning views, plus a chance to connect with the chefs behind the dishes. With just 250 VIP tickets available, this exclusive event is expected to sell out fast. Proceeds benefit Bad Boyz of Culinary and AIM: Achievement in Motion.
3 – 8 p.m. | 333 S Twin Oaks Valley Rd, San Marcos
Courtesy of Rhythm & Brunch
Rhythm & Brunch Juneteenth Celebration
June 19
With great food and smooth R&B, Rhythm & Brunch SD’s Juneteenth celebration is the perfect way to spend your Thursday. From 3 p.m. to 9 p.m, toast to a delicious, boozy brunch with a soulful soundtrack that celebrates culture and community. It’s casual, celebratory, and something you won’t want to miss.
3 – 9 p.m. | 401 G Street San Diego
Louisiana Purchase Juneteenth Block Party
June 19
Louisiana Purchase isn’t just hosting a party, it’s celebrating history, resilience, and freedom with a vibrant block party that puts culture front and center. Enjoy exclusive Juneteenth menu specials featuring New Orleans-inspired bites alongside a selection of Black-owned local vendors. The soundtrack flows with Afrobeats, R&B, and Hip-Hop, creating the perfect backdrop for a night honoring Black excellence through music, food, and community. The celebration kicks off at 12 p.m.
12 – 7 p.m.
2305 University Ave, San Diego
Juneteenth Spoken Word Open Mic!
June 19
Maybe you’re a poet, or maybe you’re just a really good listener. Either way, this celebration night invites you to grab the mic or settle in for something real. You’ll hear raw, poetic, and often hilarious takes on freedom, gratitude, resilience, hope and identity from some of San Diego’s most compelling storytellers. It’s an open space for local voices to share original pieces and reflect on what Juneteenth means right now.
Isabella Dallas is a freelance writer for San Diego Magazine and the Arts and Culture Editor at The Daily Aztec in her final year at San Diego State University. She previously worked as an editorial intern for SDM, but when she’s not writing, you can find her trying the best coffee spots in SD, devouring the latest rom-coms, and indulging in anything and everything pop culture.
17 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: June 11–15
Eat international street food in City Heights, see the world-premiere play Indian Princesses, and hit the Del Mar Fairgrounds for the Summer Pet-tacular
Looking for a local Juneteenth bash? A delicious culinary adventure? How about something suitable for Father’s Day with your old man? No matter what, we’ve got you covered. SD Melanin’s spirited Kinfolk Fest at Waterfront Park offers an all-day Juneteenth celebration this Saturday. The City Heights Street Food Fest and Wildcoast’s Baja Bash fundraiser are just a couple of the tasty options on the food and drink lineup this week. Last but certainly not least, dads love a good bargain, and, fortunately, free events are plentiful this weekend in San Diego, with no charge for Summer Fun on the 101, As You Like It at the Coronado Playhouse, and the new Black Perspectives 2 and Kumeyaay Visual Storytelling exhibitions.
Sample wares from an array of local eateries and beverage vendors at Del Mar Village’s Summer Solstice in Powerhouse Park. This Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m., 21-plus attendees can try finely crafted bites; a range of wine, beer and cocktails; and a beachy reggae concert from Ben Benavente and the Stateside Bruddahs. General admission is $141 and comes with a commemorative tasting glass and a sunset cheers with Monarch Ocean Pub.
City Heights Community Development hosts the free Street Food Fest, a community showcase of culinary diversity, from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday. University Avenue will be abuzz with artists and dancers, a beer garden, and vendors serving up foods from around the world. Bodhi Tree Concerts’ Music en la Calle will provide an international soundtrack throughout the festival. RSVP for the event or purchase a $50 taste ticket, which comes with a bite from each participating vendor, on Eventbrite.
University Avenue & 37th Street, City Heights
San Diego Brew Festival
June 14
At the 14th annual San Diego Brew Festival at NTC Park in Liberty Station, attendees can explore more than 70 breweries and 200 beers, lawn games, food trucks, and live music from local cover bands. Ticket options include $62 general admission (with entry from 1 to 4 p.m.) and $79 VIP passes, which come with specialty pours from noon to 1 p.m. Those who’d like to stop by but skip the libations can purchase designated driver tickets at the event for $20 cash.
2455 Cushing Road, Point Loma
Wildcoast Baja Bash Fundraiser
June 14
Wildcoast commemorates 25 years of coastal conservation efforts with its annual Baja Bash fundraiser, with proceeds helping to sustain the nonprofit’s programs. On Saturday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at a private Solana Beach residence, guests can dine on sustainably minded fare from top San Diego and Baja chefs, with fresh seafood, locally sourced produce, and plenty of sweet treats. This elevated evening will also include fine wine, craft beer, small batch mezcal and tequila, live music, and silent and live auctions. Tickets are $240 for Baja Bash.
Montbleau Estate, Solana Beach
Courtesy of Quartyard
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
San Diego County Fair
June 11–July 6
The San Diego County Fair is celebrating animal companions this year with themed exhibits, pet adoptions, and an appearance by the dog whisperer himself: Cesar Millan. This week, fairgoers can enjoy rides, games, funnel cakes, and concerts from neo-soul favorite Maxwell (Friday), EDM superstar Zedd (Saturday), and the legendary Los Tigres Del Norte (Sunday). Other special events include a Swiftie tribute (Wednesday and Thursday) and the Fair-tastic Food Competition (Friday), in which local culinary giants, including San Diego Mag Chief Content Officer Troy Johnson, will vote for their favorite innovative fair food creation. Fair admission is $16 ($20 day of) for Wednesdays and Thursdays and $20 for Friday through Sunday ($25 day of).
Since Juneteenth falls on a Thursday this year, the holiday observances begin this weekend, with a trio of community events to check out. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Friends of the Oak Park Library will host a free performance from the Young Lions Jazz Conservatory, along with light refreshments, book readings, and family-friendly activities. Next, SD Melanin’s Kinfolk Fest returns to Waterfront Park from 12:30 to 9 p.m. with a live music and DJ lineup, a Black-owned business marketplace, and much more. Tickets range from $39 to $103. Finally, Quartyard is throwing a special Juneteenth edition of its R&B Block Party from 5 to 10 p.m.; admission is $15 online and $30 the day of.
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.
Entrepreneurs typically launch businesses because they’re passionate about a product or service, not because they want to manage its finances. While working to carve out a niche in their respective industries and drive their companies forward, many business owners find themselves bogged down by day-to-day accounting. Their existing accounting tools don’t provide the necessary visibility or insight, and they don’t have the time or resources to hire additional staff or a chief financial officer. That’s where NOW CFO comes in.
For more than 20 years, NOW CFO has been pairing businesses across the country with experienced accounting and finance professionals. Its outsourced model allows clients to customize solutions that match their individual needs, size, and financial challenges, whether that’s fractional or interim support, project-based services, or full-time placement.
NOW CFO’s clients range from startups preparing for rapid growth to established companies that need additional financial leadership without the commitment or expense of building an in-house team. However, many of these companies don’t fully understand their needs until they experience a “trigger” event: preparing for an acquisition or capital raise, navigating a first-time audit, or another period of transition. With a team of over 300 consultants nationwide, NOW CFO can start quickly and match the right expert to the right business.
“It’s important for companies to have financial visibility, and we can help them avoid a lot of the potholes that companies often run into,” says Mariah Block, a partner at NOW CFO’s San Diego branch. “Roughly half of our clients have an in-house finance person or department, and we’re resourced for more bandwidth when they need an extra set of hands at the staff or senior accountant level, or the controller or CFO level. Some clients use this a few hours a month and others use multiple people close to full-time. Our model is solution-based and customizable. We’re like a faucet you can turn on and off.”
With NOW CFO, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Solutions are based on the client’s individual goals, challenges, needs, and budget, meaning a client never pays for more than they need. Whether it’s a few hours of executive-level guidance or a full accounting team to support daily operations, NOW CFO meets businesses where they are and grows alongside them.
“We pride ourselves on providing our clients with the right resources at the right rate and being able to evolve as their needs evolve,” says Block.
And clients appreciate on-demand access to cost-effective support designed to improve performance and profitability.
Luxury car storage service Auto Concierge has partnered with NOW CFO to support growth over the past year. The arrangement began with a staff accountant who covered a leave of absence, but as the client’s needs changed, they also added a controller role. This allowed Auto Concierge to put effective processes in place and navigate operational challenges. Lori Church, Auto Concierge’s chief operating officer, says NOW CFO has been an “outstanding resource” and a “true strategic partner.”
“From the controller to the bookkeeper, every professional they’ve placed has brought a high level of expertise, responsiveness, and professionalism to our organization. Their team took the time to understand our business of high-profile clients and needs, adapted quickly to our fast-paced environment, and became a trusted extension of our team,” she says. “As Auto Concierge continues to grow, having a reliable financial partner like NOW CFO has allowed us to strengthen our financial and business operations while remaining focused on delivering exceptional service to our clients.”
15 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: Nov. 27–Dec. 1
Be thankful for a Friendsgiving feast at Lionfish, admire bejeweled ornaments at the Timken Museum of Art, and catch “A Christmas Carol” at the Cygnet Theater
There’s much to be thankful for this week—including another busy weekend full of fun San Diego events. Folks who still have Woodstock FOMO will have two chances to celebrate the music of the era’s biggest stars. Local theaters will bring iconic holiday tales to life. And a handful of SD restaurants are offering Friendsgiving spreads, so you can skip the cooking and focus on all the other great things to do in San Diego this weekend.
Fort Oak’s “Snowed In” cocktail pop-up will pair snow globe ambience with a dozen seasonal drinks. The menu from Fort Oak Beverage Director Jess Stewart will feature highlights like creamy espresso martinis and tiki-inspired rum and fruit concoctions in festive mugs. These libations can be enjoyed nightly from 5 p.m. to midnight, now through the end of the year.
1011 Fort Stockton Drive, Mission Hills
Friendsgiving Feast at Lionfish
November 27
Lionfish chef Jose “JoJo” Ruiz is taking a fine-dining approach to holiday home cooking with his Friendsgiving Feast menu. From 5 to 10 p.m. this Wednesday, guests can indulge in a deep-fried turkey bucket, Boursin mashed potatoes, truffle mac and cheese, and buttermilk biscuits for $45, and if you’d like, wash it all down with $5 shots.
Berry Good Food Foundation Friendsgiving Eve Fundraiser at Rumorosa
November 27
Rumorosa on Harbor Island is hosting a range of fundraisers this month, with 15 percent of proceeds going to the sustainable nonprofit Berry Good Food Foundation. The restaurant’s Friendsgiving Eve Fundraiser this Wednesday will be a buffet-style meal with Baja white fish ceviche, agave-and-chipotle-glazed chicken wings, and mezcal-flambéed cream cheese flan for $20 per person plus tax and gratuity. Patrons arriving in groups of four or more can also enjoy the restaurant’s month-long Friendsgiving Fundraiser, a $65-per-person meal from chef Cesar Oceguera with items such as mole negro roasted chicken, through Nov. 30.
1380 Harbor Island Drive, Harbor Island
Beer By the Bay 2024
November 30
Beer By the Bay returns this Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. at Coronado Ferry Landing Park. Attendees can enjoy craft beer, selections from regional wineries, games, a photo booth, and live music by the water. Ticket options include general admission ($81.88) and military GA ($65.87), which come with unlimited craft beer, spirit, wine, cocktail and seltzer tastings, and VIP ($161.90), which comes with early admission, VIP seating, and more.
1201 1st Street, Coronado
Courtesy of Thee Sacred Souls
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
Gand Band Woodstock Immersive Experience at Humphreys Backstage
November 27
Fronted by local singers Michele Lundeen and Damion Willis, the six-piece Gand Band is bringing the Woodstock festival experience to Humphreys Backstage this Wednesday night. While the band members play the defining hits of the counterculture period—from Santana to Sly Stone—in all of their tie-dye glory, psychedelic visuals and interviews with the era’s musicians will be projected on screen. Tickets are starting at $28.75.
2241 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s Wild & Swingin’ Holiday Party at Balboa Theatre
November 30
This Saturday at the Balboa Theatre, swing revival specialists Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will keep things fun and festive, performing original yuletide tunes—like the brass-heavy lounge track “Christmas Time in Tinsel Town”—along with holiday essentials. Tickets start at $54.05.
868 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp
Thee Sacred Souls at SOMA
December 1
San Diegans will have one last chance to see Thee Sacred Souls perform live locally in 2024 this Sunday night at SOMA. Tickets are officially sold out for this performance from the darlings of San Diego soul, but resale admission is going for upwards of $230.
3350 Sports Arena Boulevard, Midway
Courtesy of Cygnet Theater
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend
Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play at New Village Arts
Through December 24
In this radio play adaptation of Miracle on 34th Streetat New Village Arts, when a newly hired Macy’s department store Santa Claus claims to be the real deal, all in his orbit are forced to confront their belief in the existence of Old Saint Nick. There will be four performances of Miracle on 34th Street this week, with previews through Nov. 29 and opening night this Saturday. Tickets are $60 and can be purchased here.
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.
15 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: Nov. 19–24
Feast on French pastries for Parfait Paris’ 10th anniversary, have fun with Cyndi Lauper at Viejas Arena, and raise money for locals in need at San Diego Live Aid
Some say Christmastime can’t start until after Thanksgiving, but why fight the holiday spirit if it seeps in a little early? Put up those trees, listen to Mariah Carey, deck the halls—go nuts. And, while you’re at it, begin your holiday festivities with spirited events throughout San Diego. Gift shopping will be an all-day affair at the Encinitas Holiday Street Fair, Santee is lighting up a tree for the season, and the outdoor ice rink in Point Loma invites skaters to glide for a good cause. There’s also a cozy ramen festival, new theater productions, local business anniversaries, and many more things to do this weekend.
What better way to fight off the brutal SoCal cold than with a piping hot bowl of ramen? The San Diego Ramen Festival will offer a menu of 12-ounce selections to slurp. The festival takes place at the Handlery Hotel this Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. It also features live entertainment, local pop culture vendors, and ramen-inspired artwork. Ticket options include general admission passes ($44.52) with three ramen servings and VIP ($129.89) with perks like unlimited beer and sake samples, six ramen servings and an extra hour of admission (5 to 6 p.m.).
Parfait Paris is saluting a decade of decadence in San Diego by throwing a street festival packed with sweets. This Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Parisian bakery will offer an assortment of French goodies, along with bites from The Sushi Stand and drinks courtesy of Understory Bar and Hopnonymous Brewing Co. RSVPs are required for this anniversary event, with $5 admission for adults (redeemable for food and drinks) and free entry for children and teens under the age of 15.
3555 India Street, Middletown
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
Cyndi Lauper at Viejas Arena
November 20
Cyndi Lauper sang some of the defining hits of the 1980s and composed the beloved musical adaption of Kinky Boots. Now, on her final arena tour, Lauper is here to remind us all that “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” Tickets are on sale for $55.10 for Wednesday’s concert at Viejas Arena.
5500 Canyon Crest Drive, Rolando
San Diego Live Aid
November 21
Many San Diego families were affected by the devastating rain storms that hit the city in early January. To raise proceeds for them, three local tribute groups—All Fired Up, Supreme Legacy, and The Mamas & The Papas Experience—are throwing a special charity concert. This Thursday evening at Humphreys Backstage Live, guests will hear timeless renditions of nostalgic hits. Tickets range from $23.60 to $39.10
2241 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island
Courtesy Oceanside Museum of Art
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend
Your Local Theater Presents: A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, Again at La Jolla Playhouse
November 19–December 15
In Your Local Theater Presents…, Julliard grad Eddie can’t escape a local production of A Christmas Carol. There will be six preview performances of this world-premiere play at the La Jolla Playhouse now through Nov. 23, with tickets ranging from $30 to $72 before the show officially opens on Nov. 26.
2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla
Just Like Us at Grossmont College Stagehouse Theatre
November 21–23
Based on Helen Thorpe’s nonfiction book of the same name, Just Like Us follows four Latina teenagers who, as the children of undocumented immigrants, are impacted by the heated national debate on immigration. There will be four performances of Just Like This, as well as additional shows Dec. 5–7. Tickets for the general public are $18. This Grossmont College production will also have performances on December 5–7.
8800 Grossmont College Drive, El Cajon
Tres minutos at Jacobs Music Center
November 22
Composer Nicolás Lell Benavides and librettist Marella Martin Koch’s poignant chamber opera, Tres minutos, reckons with the devastation of sudden deportation. The title of the program is inspired by Border Angels’ initiative that grants families three minutes of reunification at the border. The Border Angels documentary Love Has No Borders will be screened before the performance, and ticket-holders can attend an artist talkback after the show. Tickets to this musical program presented by the San Diego Symphony at Jacobs Music Center Friday night can be purchased for $35 here.
1245 Seventh Avenue, Downtown
CONTRA-TIEMPO Activist Dance Theater’s joyUS justUS at Mandeville Auditorium
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.
If you’re anything like us, it can be easy to get so caught up in taking care of everyone else, that your own needs get lost in the ether. But while this may be a cliché, that doesn’t make it any less true: You can’t give your best self to other people unless you’re taking care of yourself.
Sometimes, that looks like stopping in for your regular acupuncture or chiropractic appointment. Other days, it means giving your body the fresh, organic fuel it needs to truly feel and function at its best. And some other times still, it involves leaving your responsibilities behind for a weekend to pamper yourself at an incredible resort and spa.
Only you can decide what your truly need. We’re just here to help you find the best ways to get it.
Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa
Island living meets desert luxury at the Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa in Indian Wells. When you step onto the 11-acre property, you’ll be surrounded by sweeping view of the Santa Rosa Mountains with olive trees and fragrant citrus groves decorating the grounds. In other words, everything about this relaxed but refined resort is primed to help you let go of the stress from home and enjoy easy sun-soaked days and gorgeous starry nights.
The rooms blend calming, woven textures with Tommy Bahama’s signature tropical prints and feature private lanais, making it easy unwind the moment you walk in the door. If you book one of the four Villa Suites, you’ll be treated to exclusive Tommy Bahama furniture and unique personal touches to further that feeling of instant ease.
At the award-winning Spa Rosa, the expert team will help reset and recharge your body and mind using methods and rituals inspired by the desert. The 12,000-square-foot retreat includes outdoor soaking pools, eucalyptus steam rooms, and outdoor cabanas, as well as massages, facials, and body masks—all aimed at creating a day dedicated to you. We’re particularly partial to the Day Long Escape, an indulgent all-day affair of CDBs soaks, renewing scrubs, life changing massages, and transformative facials.
Following your treatment, continue the experience with a meal on the patio at Grapefruit Basil. We love the Hamachi Crudo, a light, citrus-forward dish featuring premium yellowtail, house-made ponzu, creamy avocado, and fresh seasonal garnishes.
Whether you’re strolling the gardens, relaxing beside its saltwater pools, or indulging in a restorative treatment, you’ll be able to escape in style and relax in luxury at the Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa.
Healcove Chiropractic
There’s no shortage of ways to stay active in San Diego—but if you really want to enjoy everything the city has to offer, you’ve got to make sure you’re giving your body its tune-ups. Enter: Healcove Chiropractic. The board-certified chiropractors and wellness professionals at Healcove are experts at addressing that stage where you’re not injured, exactly, but you’re not at 100%, either. Maybe you’re feeling a bit tense or stressed out. Or it could be that you’re not quite moving the way you want to. Sometimes, it’s just that the accumulation of days, weeks, or even years of daily strain is starting to take a toll. No matter what stage you find yourself at, the Healcove Chiropractic team can provide integrated, preventative care centered on long-term, science-backed approaches that ensure you can always stay active and live the life you want to live pain-free.
This starts by providing truly individualized care. Every patient can expect a thorough 60-minute consultation session that includes a posture and movement screening. This allows the team to develop a completely personalized plan. That plan might include chiropractic care, acupuncture, or massage therapy, as well as functional fitness training, vibration and sound therapy, and Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization, a clinical rehabilitation method that retrains the body’s stabilization systems. Whatever the team recommends, you can be sure that it’s tailored to meeting your body’s needs today and the future.
There’s a reason that San Diego Magazine named Healcove the “Best Chiropractor in San Diego”—don’t wait until you’re struggling with an injury to find out why. Book an appointment today for holistic, integrated care that helps ground and heal your body before it reaches a crisis point.
Juice Holler
West Coast wellness culture meets the community feel of Southern Appalachia at Juice Holler. Juice Holler’s menu consists of made-to-order smoothies and smoothie bowls, as well as grab-and-go cold-pressed juices, wellness shots, salads, and more. It operates from the blissfully simple premise that fueling up with food and drink that’s guilt-free and good your body should be simple, accessible, and, above all else, delicious. And if you haven’t yet made it out to the Encinitas café, which opened just this year, let us be the first to tell you: Juice Holler delivers on each and every of these fronts.
We love the Supercharger smoothie, a mood-lifting and body-fueling option made with banana, almond butter, blue spirulina, maca, grass-fed whey protein, raw cacao nibs, medjool dates, and coconut milk. We’re also partial to the Thrive Alive smoothie bowl, where avocado, mango, sea moss, spirulina, mint, coconut milk, and agave are mixed and topped with coconut, chia seeds, strawberry, mango, and chocolate drizzle. The wellness shots include the Detoxifier, a cleansing blend of kale, cucumber, lemon and spirulina, plus a shot specially designed to fight inflammation (named, fittingly, Anti-Inflammation). Probiotic overnight oats, lemon turmeric bars, and strawberry shortcake chia pudding are other standouts on the grab-and-go menu.
Much of the vibe feels beachy North County chic—think green tile with orange and pink accents, grounded with greenery and natural wood—but Juice Holler founder Kelly Sergott, a longtime Encinitas local, has also enfused the space with her Kentucky roots. In Appalachia, a holler is small valley between hills and mountains, where nature reigns, community is king, and nourishment comes right from the land. At Juice Holler, Sergott has created a holler for the busy modern times, using local ingredients to create a spot for people to come together and enjoy fresh, fast, feel-good fuel for their day.
Everwell Acupuncture
We’ve all had that experience with a medical professional where we’ve felt rushed, ignored, or misunderstood—and ultimately, like we didn’t get the answers that we needed. But at Everwell, the holistic acupuncture practice located in Solana Beach, the care team wants to transform your understanding of what healthcare can look like.
Patients at Everwell experience care rooted in intentional listening and radical empathy—and trust us, those aren’t just corporate buzzwords. This place actually puts those ideas into practice. You will always be given the time you need to tell your story— initial in-take appointments are two hours long—and you can rest assured that your story will be believed. Every single question and concern will be addressed by a dedicated practitioner who wants to find the specific solutions that work best for you, and you’ll receive care that’s aimed at healing the body, mind, and spirit.
Everwell’s highly trained, doctorate-level practitioners blend evidence-based acupuncture with the practice of classical Chinese medicine. (If you’ve never tried acupuncture before or aren’t sure if the team will be a fit, we’d highly recommended Everwell’s complimentary 20-minute consultations.) Research shows that by stimulating specific points on the body, acupuncture activates a natural healing response in the body, helping to restore balance, regulate the nervous system, and improve overall wellbeing. This allows the practice to address an incredibly wide range of conditions from chronic pain and autoimmune disorders to digestive issues, from stress and burnout to headaches migraines, fertility and postpartum struggles, hormonal imbalances, sleep concerns and more.
At Everwell, you can expect to feel heard, trusted, respected, and cared for. This is a space that doesn’t want to be just another healthcare provider you visit; it wants to provide patients with dedicated partner who will be there for their entire health journey.
