Features Archives - San Diego Magazine

He Saved an Encinitas Landmark Then Built a New One

After Captain Keno’s closed, pro surfer Benji Weatherley gave its tables, dishes, and memories a second life at Breakers Cafe Bar & Grill

How Scrojo Became One of Rock’s Most Prolific Poster Artists

The San Diego designer has created more than 3,000 concert posters over nearly 40 years for artists including the Rolling Stones and the Red Hot Chili Peppers

Editor’s Note, July 2026: Hello Again

New editor Emma Veidt gives an introduction and her ode to the once-sleepy, now slept-on North County

The Fireworks Disaster That Made San Diego a Legend

Eighteen seconds, one unforgettable mistake, and a Fourth of July story that somehow gets better with age

5 Unsung Heroes of the San Diego Culinary World

From dedicated line cooks to seasoned bartenders, these are the people making magic happen in city’s top restaurants

Editor’s Note: Restaurants Are People, June 2026

SDM owner and food critic Troy Johnson identifies some standout stars in SD’s food scene

The Eight Architects Who Defined Modernism In San Diego

“The Distinct Modernism of San Diego” tells the story of how some architects pioneered their own style in 20th-century San Diego

Publisher’s Note: 101 Reasons to Be Human, May 2026

CEO Claire Johnson introduces the May 2026 issue by reflecting on the necessity of creating a deeply human, non-AI guide to San Diego

The Most Expensive Mistake a City Can Make

CEO Claire Johnson dives into the danger of Mayor Todd Gloria’s proposed budget cuts to arts and culture in the city

An Ode to Horton Plaza’s Architectural Insanity

Its M.C. Escher-esque chaos put San Diego at the
epicenter of pop art and
capitalism, changing the
world of mall design forever

Preserving San Diego’s Historical Properties

How “invisible architects” restore some of San Diego’s most iconic buildings—despite financial and policy challenges

Photo Essay: Way, Shape & Form with Maha Bazzari

Inside the angular, detail-oriented world of San Diego architectural photographer Maha Bazzari

Publisher’s Note: Savor the Details, April 2026

CEO Claire Johnson previews San Diego Magazine’s April 2026 issue exploring the latest trends in home and design

The History of Jackass Mail, San Diego’s First Mail Route

Delivering mail in the 1850s came at a price: desert heat, exhausted mules, Comanche raids, a six-figure loss, and one shipwreck

What to Expect in San Diego Sports This Year

We breakdown the upcoming seasons for the Padres, San Diego FC, and the Wave FC with insights from coaches to give us an insider’s sneak peek

Editor’s Note: Desperately Seeking Serendipity, March 2026

Amelia Rodriguez reflects on wandering the neighborhood of Hillcrest and finding pockets of serendipity.

Home Tour: Inside Escondido’s Stunning Net-Zero Sanctuary

Designed by architect Drew Hubbell, this energy-efficient residence built around ancient boulders honors terrain rather than reshaping it

Editor’s Note: The Desert in Bloom, February 2026

Senior Editor Amelia Rodriguez shares what she learned returning to the desert that raised her

Escondido’s Rising Parkour Star Plans a Last All-In Season

A decade after discovering parkour online, Luke Mizel is closing one chapter while keeping the Olympics firmly in view

Matthew Quirk’s Unlikely Path From Journalist to Netflix Hitmaker

The bestselling local author dishes on deranged brainstorm strolls, hiring people to kidnap him, and the hit TV adaptation of his novel “The Night Agent”