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Archive MARCH 30, 2019

Where to Brunch and Egg Hunt This Easter

Egg hunting—and brunching—await at these Easter celebrations.

Where to Brunch and Egg Hunt This Easter
Where to Brunch and Egg Hunt This Easter

Where to Brunch and Egg Hunt This Easter

Whether you’re in it for the brunch and cocktails or to hunt for eggs and meet a certain big-eared someone, there’s a lot to look forward to for an entire week before Easter. Hop on down to these Easter celebrations.

Champagne Brunch and Easter Egg Hunt at the Westgate Hotel

Where: The Westgate Hotel

When: April 19-21

On the Friday and Saturday before Easter, this hotel in the heart of downtown is hosting kid-friendly Easter-themed afternoon teatime, complete with tea sandwiches, pastries, and petit-fours from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on each day. Stick around for the egg hunt and magic show starring a certain large-earned someone; is $79 for adults, $55 for children. On Easter Sunday, the main event is a champagne brunch attended by the Bunny of Honor herself, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; $99 for adults, $35 for children. Click here to make reservations.

Easter Brunch at Bahia Resort Hotel

Where: Bahia Resort Hotel

When: April 21

Take in Mission Bay while brunching on a buffet that includes prime rib, baked salmon, and desserts to the sounds of live piano music, and more, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m; $56 for adults, $25 for kids. Easter egg hunts take place every hour from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; $62 per person, $25 for kids. Reservations recommended.

Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa

Where: Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa

When: April 21

Hunt for eggs with the Easter Bunny every hour from 11:30 a.m. through 1:30 p.m. Reservations recommended; $62 for adults, $25 for kids. Brunch included. Reservations recommended.

Three-Course Easter Feast at A.R. Valentien

Where: The Lodge at Torrey Pines

When: April 21

Get your fill of Easter at The Lodge at Torrey Pines’ signature restaurant with a three-course celebration of crab, ravioli, scallops, braised lamb, and carrot cake; $80 for adults, $40 for kids. Reservations recommended.

Eggstravaganza at Carlsbad Premium Outlets

Where: Carlsbad Premium Outlets

When: April 13

Pre-game your Easter a week early with face painting, arts and crafts, and an egg hunt, and a meet-and-greet with you-know-who; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Brunch

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Features APRIL 1, 2024

15 of the Best San Diego Food & Drinks to Try This April

SDM staff shouts out our favorite food finds this month

15 of the Best San Diego Food & Drinks to Try This April
Courtesy of Trilogy Sanctuary

Wake up. Coffee is calling, and waffles and eggs await. Each month, we shout out the places where we stuff our faces, and, this April, we’re focusing on the monarch of meals, the emperor of eats, the sultan of spreads: brunch. Hope you’re hungry. It’s time to go get some.

Shroomed + Chia Bowl from San Diego restaurant Trilogy Sanctuary in La Jolla, San Diego

Shroomed + Chia Bowl

Trilogy Sanctuary

Caffeine keeps me alive, but the decaf “shroomed” infusion at this vegan La Jolla rooftop yoga café may resurrect me. With reishe, cordyceps, chaga, and cacao, it proved a comforting combination of mushroom soup meets hot chocolate, paired with a chia pudding bowl— fresh and crafted with love. Admittedly I only got one bite because my toddler inhaled it, so… two stamps of approval, I guess. –MH

Benedictos Veggie from Ensenada restaurant Eme in Baja California

Benedictos Veggie

Eme Restaurante

Next time you venture down the Baja peninsula, stop by Eme Restaurante. Perched on the Ensenada hillside, this trendy, pet-friendly nook features an espresso bar, cold-pressed juices, and an endless menu that warrants repeat visits. Their veggie Benedict—a melody of poached eggs, mushrooms, spinach, and feta, perched on a toasted English muffin and bathed in a zesty poblano sauce—justifies hours spent in border gridlock. –CN

The Calexxxican at San Diego restaurant The Naked Cafe in Point Loma

The Calexxxican

The Naked Cafe

Proof that chilaquiles by any other name would taste as delicious. The Naked Cafe’s Calexxxican “meditation bowl” piles egg whites, plant-based chorizo, feta, black beans, avo, sour cream, and salsa over crispy tortilla chips. It’s not the healthiest thing at this Carlsbad hideaway for organic eats, but, hey, brunch is for sins. This just happens to be a lesser one. –AR

Pink Rose Waffles from Pink Rose Cafe restaurant in La Mesa, San Diego

Pink Rose Waffles

Pink Rose Cafe

If Barbie decorated her dream house during a particularly manic episode, you’d get this La Mesa mecca of made-for-the-’gram photo ops. Think pink everything—from the neon sign to the wall of plastic flowers to the food and drinks. Even the receipts. The pink rose waffles are heavily rose-water-flavored, soft, chewy and, honestly, kinda good. Paint me pink and call me Ken. I’m moving in. –MH

Madeleine Omlet from restaurant Cafe Madeleine in North Park, San Diego

Madeleine Omelet

Cafe Madeleine

I stumbled upon French restaurant Cafe Madeleine while meeting a friend for brunch in North Park. Decorated in art-nouveau style and featuring quaint sidewalk tables with umbrellas, you really do get a Parisian feel while visiting. Try the Madeleine omelet, made with mushrooms, brie, truffle oil, and breakfast potatoes, or the savory-sweet French onion soup, which can be made gluten-free. –NM

Croissant Breakfast Sandwich frin Stratford Court Cafe in Del Mar, San Diego

Croissant Breakfast Sandwich

Stratford Court Cafe

The breakfast sandwich: so simple, yet so easy to mess up. Key players: cheddar cheese, zingy-fatty sauce, fluffy eggs. In my opinion, all other components are arbitrary, a croissant is a plus. Del Mar’s Stratford Court aces the test; the charming cottage setting with plentiful sunny tables and endless coffee are extra credit. –SL

Manna Porridge from restaurant Atelier Manna in Encinitas, San Diego
Courtesy of Atelier Manna

Manna Porridge

Atelier Manna

If you take one thing from our food critic’s review, know that the porridge at Manna must not be missed. Need a hug, but no human takers? Consider your Sunday-morning oxytocin needs covered. Mixed mushrooms, egg yolk, and seared scallop snuggle in a duvet of creamy, earthy buckwheat. Miso adds depth and balance. It’s divine, and I’m pining for my next embrace. –SL

Blue Whale Brekky Bowl from Blue Whale restaurant in La Jolla, San Diego

Blue Whale Brekky Bowl

Blue Whale

Trying to find seating for Saturday morning brunch at La Jolla’s Blue Whale was a daunting task. After puppy-guarding a table with a passion only a helicopter mom could muster, I was rewarded with the Brekky Bowl. If the rabbit food–looking greens garner a side-eye from your hangover, I recommend crafting a DIY avocado toast with the other ingredients to ensure satisfaction. Bacon and hash browns, you were perfect. –AP

Tiramisu Brioche French Toast from Matteo restaurant in South Park, San Diego

Tiramisu Brioche French Toast

Matteo

The best-named restaurant in SD has one of the best treats in town. With espresso-dipped brioche, coffee cream, fresh fruit, and a big ball of mascarpone, this caffeinated toast is worth a trip to South Park all its own. Hanging at this buzzy brunch bastion is just a bonus. –MH

Churro Pie from North Park Bakery My Vegan Pie in San Diego

Churro Pie

My Vegan Pie

Made in a North Park home, the pies from MVP are vegan, gluten-free, and refined-sugar-free (dates provide sweetness). Our advice? Treat the cashew-based churro pie like a breakfast pastry. It tastes like a satisfying mix of oatmeal and Cinnamon Toast Crunch and won’t take you on one of those donut-induced glucose roller coasters. –NP

Croque Madame from Feast & Fairway restaurant in Coronado, San Diego

Croque Madame

Feast & Fairway

One of Coronado’s best kept secrets, Feast & Fairway brings the flavors of Breakfast Republic to the island, minus the typical morningfood hustle. The croque madame, a tower of eggs, ham, gruyere, and béchamel sauce atop thick slices of toasted brioche, provides delicious fuel for a long day at the links. –CN

Yorkshire Cali Burrito from California English restaurant in Sorrento Valley, San Diego

Yorkshire Cali Burrito

California English

Guides MAY 3, 2019

A Comprehensive Guide to Can’t-Miss Mother’s Day Events in San Diego

From brunch cruises to live music and chocolate dipping, make this Mother's Day unforgettable

A Comprehensive Guide to Can’t-Miss Mother’s Day Events in San Diego
Photo: Jeff Corrigan

We owe it to our mothers for raising and nurturing us. Say thanks this year by wining and dining mom, or otherwise treating her to a memorable day. Personalize this day for the women who appreciate and celebrate the consideration and love of their family.

Where to Eat

Hornblower Cruises & Events

When: May 12

Where: 1800 North Harbor Drive

Take mom on a cruise around the bay for a Mother’s Day Brunch cruise with buffet and bottomless champagne, with a live jazz serenade. Tickets start at $79 per person.

Flagship Cruises & Events

When: May 12

Where: 990 North Harbor Drive

Jump on board a luxury yacht for a two-hour Mother’s Day Brunch cruise on San Diego Bay with champagne, gourmet food, live music and waterfront views. Tickets are $79.50 for adults and $47.70 for children ages 4-12.

Mother’s Day Brunch at Café Sevilla

When: May 12

Where: 353 Fifth Ave, Downtown

Celebrate with a 9-course brunch while watching live flamenco performers. The menu includes favorites like pan-seared salmon, seven-hour braised short ribs and a lemon tart. Chef Miguel will also prepare their famous Paella Valenciana. Tickets are $39.50 for adults and $11.50 for children ages 12 and under.

Mother & Daughter Teas

When: May 10-11

Where: 1055 Second Avenue

Turn up for tea time as the sounds of harp music fill the Westgate’s Le Fontainebleau Room. Menu options include both savory and sweet bites including finger sandwiches and artisanal French pastries. All mothers will receive a gift of housemade macarons. Tickets are $79 for adults and $55 for children ages 4-12 (complimentary for ages three and under).

Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet at AVANT

When: May 12

Where: 17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive

Bring mom to this sophisticated brunch with live music, craft cocktails and beer, and wines from around the world. Tickets are $85 for adults and $30 for children ages 4-12.

Mother’s Day Jazz Brunch at The Abbey

When: May 12

Where: 2825 Fifth Ave

Enjoy an elaborate seasonal brunch buffet, decadent desserts, and live jazz. Brunch includes a private reserved table, free-flowing champagne, and more. Tickets are $55.

Roses & Rosé Mother’s Day Brunch

When: May 12

Where: 9700 North Torrey Pines Road

Head to Estancia’s lush botanical gardens where mom will receive a complimentary glass of rosé plus an expansive buffet prepared by Executive Chef Vincent Savignano. Brunch includes an egg station, chilled seafood display, paella & risotto station, desserts and more. Tickets are $75 for adults and $25 for children.

Mother’s Day Brunch at Riverwalk Golf Club

When: May 12

Where: 1150 Fashion Valley Road

Treat her to a brunch at the Riverwalk Golf Club with breakfast and lunch offerings. Don’t miss out on their bottomless mimosas—for just $8. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for children.

Things To Do

Spring Arts & Crafts Fair

When: May 12

Where: 13330 Paseo de Verano Norte, Rancho Bernardo

Join the 42nd Annual Spring Arts and Crafts Fair this Mother’s Day weekend at the Bernardo Winery. Handcrafted jewelry, soaps, paintings and sculptures, local honey, clothing, pottery, items for the home and garden and more will be sold by more than 125 vendors from SoCal. Admission for this event is free.

Gator By The Bay Festival

When: May 9-12

Where: 3900 North Harbor Drive, Downtown

Bring your mom to the largest Louisiana-themed music and food festival this side of the bayou. This weekend-long cultural celebration features four days of live music with more than 100 musical acts and special performances on seven stages at the Spanish Landing Park. Enjoy delicious Cajun and creole foods including 10,00 pounds of crawfish. Admission is free.

Mother’s Day Celebration at The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch 

When: May 12

Where: 5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad

Don’t miss the stunning views at The Flower Fields on their final day of the season. The stage will be filled with colorful dancing from the Rancho Buena Vista High School’s Ballet Folklorico. Tickets are $18 for adults and $9 for children ages 3-10.

Mother’s Day Chocolate Dipping Workshop

When: May 12

Where: 1495 G Street

Learn how to work with tempered dark chocolate and make delicious sweet treats like a pro with You & Yours Distilling Company. Admission includes a punch bowl cocktail, hands-on chocolate dipping experience and plenty of treats to take home. Tickets are $45 per person.

A Comprehensive Guide to Can’t-Miss Mother’s Day Events in San Diego

Photo: Jeff Corrigan

Arts & Culture SEPTEMBER 9, 2026

Fall Arts Preview 2026

Your checklist for the best stage performances, museum exhibits, and one-night-only cinematic events hitting San Diego this autumn

Fall Arts Preview 2026
Courtesy of the San Diego Opera | Photo Credit: Karli Cadel

Fall Arts Preview presented by SDFC Playmakers

September

Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World

Museum of Photographic Arts at the San Diego Museum of Art

Now through Jan. 10, 2027

Sift through over 200 photographs, sketches, letters, and costumes from “The King of Vogue,” who photographed World War II, modernized royal portraits, and created the aesthetic for 1920s socialites in London.

Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea

Natural History Museum

Now through Feb. 28, 2027

Walk through an 18-foot whale ribcage (and a couple dozen other marine-creature sculptures) made entirely of plastic bottles, flip-flops, lighters, rope, and other plastic detritus found on the beach in the Nat’s 3,000-square-foot second-floor gallery.

Forging a Legacy: 15 Years of Landmark Acquisitions

San Diego Museum of Art

Now through May 31, 2027

Part of SDMA’s centennial, “Forging a Legacy,” highlights artists from the past (Picasso, Monet) and modern day (Hugo Crosthwaite) who contributed to the museum’s collection.

ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year

Fleet Science Center

Now through 2027

See the stars (without the smog) at their best from the winners of the world’s largest astrophotography competition—all in the Fleet Science Center’s new basement gallery, specifically dimmed to let the cosmos shine.

Begin Again

The Old Globe

Sept. 6–Oct. 11

From the 2013 silver screen to this year’s The Old Globe stage, you can “Begin Again” (again) with a world-premiere musical adaptation featuring new songs—courtesy of Train—and a story overflowing with hope.

Dear Evan Hansen

Cygnet Theatre

Sept. 9–Oct. 4

“On the outside, always looking in…” marks the emotional crux of the Tony-, Grammy-, and Emmy-award winning musical coming to the Cygnet Theatre.

Kumeyaay Comics by the Kumeyaay Visual Storytelling Project

Museum of Us

Opening Sept. 12

Learn the history of the Kumeyaay Nation from the perspective of the members themselves in an immersive exhibit inspired by graphic novels “Our Past, Present, and Future,” and “Beyond Gaming.”

Good Night, Oscar

North Coast Repertory Theatre

Sept. 16–Oct. 11

During Oscar Levant’s appearances on “The Jack Paar Show,” he explained his reality with mental illness—the institutionalizations, electroshock therapies, nothing was too taboo for him. “Good Night, Oscar” takes us backstage in the raw moments before his 1958 television appearance.

Visiones Nocturnas: Queer Nightlife in Contemporary Art

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego

Sept. 19–Jan. 10, 2027

A disco ball isn’t just a disco ball. It’s a symbol of where queer communities can finally exhale and be their fullest selves. “Visiones Nocturnas” uses paintings, sculptures, textiles, performances, photos, and videos from Latin American artists to explore what’s at stake when nightclub lights shut off.

Silent Movie Mondays

Balboa Theatre

Sept. 21, Oct. 26, Dec. 7

Guest organists from across the country will come to the Balboa Theatre to accompany a new silent film for each performance. This year closes out with The Headless Horseman (1922), Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1920), and a holiday triple feature of Laurel and Hardy films.

Oh, Mary!

Civic Theatre

Sept. 29–Oct. 4

“What if Abe’s assassination wasn’t such a bad thing for Mary Todd Lincoln?” was the question that inspired Cole Escola’s play “Oh, Mary!” In the production, Mary Todd desperately tries to return to the cabaret stage, but her husband (President Lincoln in the midst of the Civil War) keeps getting in the way.

Photo Credit: Anja Koehler

October

Payare Leads Strauss’ A Hero’s Life

Jacobs Music Center

Oct. 3–4

Conductor Rafael Payare opens the San Diego Symphony’s 2026-2027 season with a three-part concert featuring composers Sofia Gubaidulina, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Richard Strauss.

Emily–No Prisoner Be

Baker-Baum Concert Hall

Oct. 8

Two dozen of Emily Dickinson’s poems are turned into songs—composed by Pulitzer Prize winner Kevin Puts and performed by Grammy-winning mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato—for a one-night-only exploration of love, loss, loneliness, and mortality.

Ripcord

The Roustabouts Theatre Co.

Oct. 8–Nov. 1

Roommate beef has no age limit. The latest play from Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire turns that experience into a comedy through retirement home roommates Marilyn and Abby and the bet between them to see who will break first and move out.

Des Canyons aux Étoiles

La Casa del Zorro

Oct. 12

Composer Olivier Messiaen has chromesthia, so for him, sound evokes a visual connotation. His work “Des Canyons aux Étoiles” brings desert rock and the night sky to mind. See what he means from La Casa del Zorro in the Anza-Borrego Desert, in this performance immersed within nature.

San Diego International Film Festival

Locations Vary

Oct. 13–18

San Diego International Film Festival salutes the silver screen for a 25th time, now with a sixth day adding extra time for parties, screenings, and movie-star tributes.

Rigoletto

Civic Theatre

Oct. 23–25

Considered one of the masterpieces from opera great Giuseppe Verdi, San Diego Opera’s “Rigoletto” sees what happens when the prurient Duke of Mantua and his sharp-tongued court jester become entangled in a fatal curse.

Grim

La Jolla Playhouse

Oct. 27–Nov. 29

When the Grim Reaper’s job becomes too…grim…and he retires after 300,000 years, his daughter picks up the family business. But when she falls for a human and finds beauty in the souls she’s meant to reap, she questions her purpose.

Photo Credit: Ron Kerner

November

Skate Craft

Mingei International Museum

Nov. 21–May 9, 2027

San Diego is nothing without skate culture. Mingei’s “Skate Craft” portrays skateboarding as “living folk art” via its DIY roots (skateboards built in garages) and shows how that ethos shapes the future.

Emma Veidt

About Emma Veidt

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.

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.

Studio S SEPTEMBER 9, 2026

Meet ArtsConnect, UC San Diego’s Invitation to SoCal Arts Lovers

ArtsConnect brings those experiences into view, helping residents discover what they can see, hear and create at UC San Diego while experiencing the campus in a new way.

Meet ArtsConnect, UC San Diego’s Invitation to SoCal Arts Lovers
Courtesy of UC San Diego

Ask most people what UC San Diego is known for, and the arts may not be the first answer. Yet this fall, San Diegans can watch Ghostbusters with a live orchestra, try their hand at glassmaking and wander among more than 20 works of public art woven throughout the university’s La Jolla campus.

ArtsConnect brings those experiences into view, helping residents discover what they can see, hear and create at UC San Diego while experiencing the campus in a new way.

Courtesy of UC San Diego | Photo Cred: Erik Jensen

“The arts are at the heart of UC San Diego’s student-centered mission and vision,” says Alysson Satterlund, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life. “Whether creating, participating in, or experiencing performances, the arts are essential to a healthy and truly fun Triton student experience.”

That invitation often begins where the arts intersect with other fields.

“Some of the most innovative work and discovery happen where disciplines don’t usually share a stage,” says Cristina Della Coletta, Dean of the UC San Diego School of Arts and Humanities. “So through our unique intersection of the arts with science, technology, and medicine, we are improving lives, physically and emotionally.  

Take The Inaudible Ocean, a collaboration between Department of Music Professor Lei Liang and Scripps Institution of Oceanography Assistant Project Scientist Josh Jones. Over eight years, the pair recorded earthquakes, ship noise, whale songs and other sounds in remote underwater locations. They transformed those recordings into a live music experience that allowed audiences to hear the ocean in an entirely new way. The work premiered on campus in May and continues to evolve.

The arts also connect the campus to the global art world and diverse perspectives. Chief Campus Curator Jessica Berlanga Taylor recently curated the Mexico Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale, featuring RojoNegro, the collective formed by Noé Martínez and María Sosa. The collective will unveil a compelling new permanent installation for UC San Diego’s celebrated Stuart Collection later this fall. 

ArtPower offers another easy entry point, bringing touring performers to venues including the outdoor Epstein Family Amphitheater and the intimate Loft. The nearly three dozen performances featured through its 2026-2027 season span music, dance, film, theater and conversation. 

Among the fall highlights is Ghostbusters in Concert on Sept. 25, pairing the beloved 1984 film with a live performance of Elmer Bernstein’s score. Tickets start at $35, and the amphitheater is located next to the UC San Diego Blue Line trolley station.

“Every member of our community should have access to world-class art, so we work hard to remove the barriers that stand in the way,” says Colleen Kollar Smith, executive artistic director of the Campus Performances and Events Office. “That means affordable ticket prices, and performances, voices and experiences where people see themselves reflected on stage and know they belong.”

The arts at UC San Diego are not only something to watch. The Craft Center offers public classes and workshops in ceramics, jewelry, woodworking, culinary arts and even surfboard shaping. At the new Glass Center, beginners and experienced makers can explore glassmaking through classes, demonstrations and studio experiences.

Whether you want to attend a performance, make something yourself or spend an afternoon exploring public art, there is an easy way in. And the invitation extends well beyond students and alumni.

Kollar Smith says it best: “Visit, participate, spectate or create. You’re invited, and we hope you’ll connect with us soon.”

Explore upcoming experiences at ucsd.edu/artsconnect.

Partner Content
Music SEPTEMBER 1, 2026

17 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: September 11–13

Partake in San Diego Restaurant Week, stop by the Alley Cat Art Fest, and celebrate Stone Brewing’s 30th birthday

17 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: September 11–13
Courtesy of Downtown El Cajon Association

Summer’s penultimate weekend promises beers, zines, festivals, and many other ways to spend your free time. Those looking to eat (and drink) out can embark on the Taste of Gaslamp, explore the many eateries participating in San Diego Restaurant Week, and check out Stone Brewing’s free 30th anniversary celebration. On the festival circuit, there’s the return of both the Sessions Surf Festival and Cardiff Greek Festival to the shores of Encinitas, as well as the first-ever Alley Cat Art Fest in Downtown El Cajon. Additional experiences include Pierce the Veil’s tour finale at Petco Park, the beginning of Our Lady of the San Diego Convention Center’s citywide run, and the COMPRESSED Zine & Music Fair. 

JUMP TO: Food & Drink | Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do

Food & Drink Events in San Diego This Weekend

Stone Brewing 30th Anniversary Celebration

September 12

It all began in 1996 with a humble San Marcos warehouse and the soon-to-be-famous Stone Pale Ale. Now, three decades and several award-winning beers later, Stone Brewing is marking its thirtieth anniversary with a free, jam-packed celebration at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station. This Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., there will be arcade games, dog adoptions, ‘90s movies, live music, a cigar lounge, craft brews, and much more. VIP tickets ($133), which come with perks like exclusive two-ounce rare beer pours, are available online.

2816 Historic Decatur Road, Point Loma

Taste of Gaslamp

September 12

Channel your inner foodie during the 30th annual Taste of Gaslamp, San Diego’s longest-running neighborhood culinary tour. This Saturday from 1-4 p.m., tasters can roam through the Gaslamp Quarter (16 blocks to be exact) for bites from over 20 participating locations, with five extra bites and sips for VIP ticketholders. Before and after the event, all attendees are invited to party with cocktails, music and even more food on the Sunbird Rooftop at AC Hotel (noon to 2 p.m.) and at the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Rooftop Bar (4-7 p.m.). Ticket options include general admission ($62) and VIP admission ($88).

Gaslamp

San Diego Restaurant Week

September 13-20

Searching for a specific cuisine? Looking for a new date night spot? Interested in a prix-fixe meal at a familiar favorite? Then consider checking out the over 120 local eateries taking part in San Diego Restaurant Week, with meals starting at $20. From Coronado’s Blanco Cocina + Cantina to Oceanside’s Piper and dozens of restaurants in between, search by price, cuisine, meal type, dietary desires, and neighborhood. Plus, patrons can enjoy seasonal ingredients by choosing dishes that feature Specialty Produce’s huitlacoche mushrooms and artisan romaine lettuce.

Citywide

Courtesy of Sessions Surf Festival

Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend

Buddy Guy 90 at The Rady Shell

September 11

See two generations of blues talent, and celebrate a legendary guitarist’s 90th birthday, this Friday (7:30 p.m.) at The Rady Shell. Fresh off his acting role in Sinners, Buddy Guy is coasting through something of a late career revival, and like the name of his 2018 album, it’s clear the blues are alive and well. Buddy Guy 90 continues the Louisiana native’s nationwide tour with a little help from rising blues artist Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, who is 63 years younger than Guy. Tickets range from $68-$173 for this concert.

222 Marina Park Way, Embarcadero

Kamasi Washington at Music Box

September 11

Hours upon hours can be spent dissecting a Kamasi Washington record—especially 2018’s Heaven and Earth—and each listen will still surprise. Every release from the jazz saxophonist and bandleader feels like an event, whether it’s a wondrous solo project, a supergroup team-up (ex: Dinner Party, West Coast Get Down), or a contribution to projects by the likes of Kendrick Lamar, St. Vincent, and Thundercat. This Friday at 9 p.m., Washington will take his talents to Music Box along with special guest DJ Ratty. Tickets are $68 for this 21-plus concert.

1337 India Street, Little Italy

Alley Cat Art Fest

September 12

One year after the first-ever Artivál, the event is merging with the Alley Cat Art Walk, a longtime Downtown El Cajon favorite, to form the inaugural Alley Cat Art Fest. This Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., stroll through Prescott Promenade, Main Street and Arts Alley for murals, live music, food, drinks and the works of over 50 participating artists, including photography, painting, sculptures, and more. Plus, festival proceeds will go towards supporting the area’s existing murals and future public art projects in the area.

Downtown El Cajon

Pierce the Veil at Petco Park

September 12

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.

Everything SD AUGUST 31, 2026

From $5 Freestyles to a San Diego Phenomenon

Joe Dreamz built a local following by asking strangers about their ambitions and turning their answers into songs

From $5 Freestyles to a San Diego Phenomenon
Photo Credit: Matt Furman

People remember the first time they see Joe Dreamz.

Mine was a mile into the 2023 Carlsbad Half Marathon. He was standing on a speaker in the middle of the course, singing: “Hey you with the shoes, are you living Joe Dreamz?” Clearly not. I’m running uphill at 7 in the morning, I thought.

Months later, walking out of The Rady Shell, there he was again—parting the crowd of concertleavers Moses and the Red Sea style, singing the same song: “Hey you with the purse, are you living Joe Dreamz?”

Who’s this man at every public spectacle, singing metaphysical questions in a hand-altered, color-coordinating suit that would make James Brown proud and standing on a Soundboks speaker with a microphone and tip bucket?

A few years ago, San Carlos–born, El Cajon–based Joe Dreamz wasn’t exactly living Joe Dreamz—making $5 footlongs at Subway, dealing with croissant coworkers at Costco’s bakery, and selling life insurance. After he got let go from the life insurance gig and his car broke down in the middle of a 2020 road trip in Seattle, he used his emergency savings to buy a microphone and a speaker; a self-taught musician, he pulled from the only skillset he knew to monetize. He’d set up at Seattle’s Pier 55 and ask people what their dreams were. Then, for $5, create a freestyle rap to commemorate (and hopefully activate) those dreams.

“The goal is that someone listens to a Joe Dreamz song, and they don’t have to wait until metaphorically their car breaks down before they chase their dreams,” he says.

Photo Credit: Matt Furman

A chance encounter with an airport worker led to a free flight back to San Diego, and Joe Dreamz came home “transformed,” he says. He started busking at the Mission Beach boardwalk, Kate Sessions Park, outside Gaslamp bars; then Padres games, farmers markets, marathons. He also hit the mic outside of Coachella this year (“Joe-chella,” he says).

It’s not a get-viral-quick gimmick; people’s lives are changing. One fan finished writing her book after a dose of Joe Dreamzpiration. Another named his own daughter Joy Dreams.

Now, he’s working on the upstart “Tell Me Your Dream” podcast and DREAM Week in local schools, where each day represents a step toward achievement (D is destination day, R is reason day…). He doesn’t want inspiration to reach you only after hearing a song or watching a video: He believes in this message so much that he literally got DREAM tattooed onto his forehead.

“It’s on my face, so people have no choice [but to see it],” he says. “I’m a local celebrity here, so everywhere I go, people ask me for pictures. In every selfie, the message goes along for the ride too.”

Emma Veidt

About Emma Veidt

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.

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Partner Content AUGUST 21, 2026

This Scripps Clinic Physician is Serving Up Care

Laika Nur, MD, takes her love of volleyball from the court to the clinic as team physician for the San Diego Mojo

This Scripps Clinic Physician is Serving Up Care
Courtesy of Scripps Health

Growing up, Laika Nur, MD, Scripps Clinic sports medicine specialist, loved watching beach volleyball when the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour came to her hometown of Chicago. A talented volleyball player herself, she remembers sitting in the stands all day, and once, even got a couple autographs. Years later, Dr. Nur was attending a professional event focused on women’s sports, and the discussion turned to a new professional women’s volleyball league. The general manager and coaching staff  for San Diego’s team, the Mojo, happened to be in attendance, and Dr. Nur took the opportunity to ask them if they needed a team doctor. Flash forward to the Mojo’s inaugural 2024 season, when Dr. Nur officially became the team physician. Click here to read more about Dr. Nur and how she incorporates lessons she learned on the court into her practice. 

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