Secrets of the LaFayette Hotel
In an SDM exclusive, owner Arsalun Tafazoli walks us through the design decisions behind the $31 million facelift of the El Cajon Boulevard institution
Essay: The Weight of Poverty
Contributor Katy Stegall reflects on the overlooked costs of plus-sized fashion today
San Diego Mag’s Ultimate Spa Guide, 2024
Our annual spa spectacular rounds up the city’s top spots to work out all the knots
You Probably Think This Story’s About You
On a solo climbing trip to Greater Zion, our managing digital editor finds the beauty in turning 40
Essay: Finding Home in My Body
Reflections on vulnerability, acceptance and exploring one’s place outside the gender binary
Essay: Don’t Touch My Hair
Contributor Jared Cross reflects on identity, setting boundaries and celebrating Black hair
San Diego Contortionist Emerald Gordon Wulf is Bent for Success
The 17-year-old’s mind-boggling talents have drawn more than two million followers on TikTok
Editor’s Note: Bodies, Brains, Bondage, and Bending
Peek inside our January issue, a celebration of the complex splendor of the bodies we call home
The New Americans Museum Explores SD’s Rap Roots
Fifty years after the birth of hip-hop, a new retrospective showcases the genre’s local beginnings
New $1M Grant Helps Local Art Historians Preserve the Past
Tucked away in Balboa Park, a team of unsung art heroes quietly maintains and restores works for future generations
125 Years Young: Inside One of San Diego’s Oldest Print Shops
Founded in 1899, family-owned Neyenesch Printers acts as a window to a bygone era
Moxie and Diversionary Team Up For a Dynamic 2024 Season
Two local, mission-driven theaters combine forces to tell the stories of San Diego’s LGBTQ communities
Healing Slab City
Searching for lost soldiers in the lawless California desert town, hoping to reconnect veterans with benefits
Roberto Alcocer’s Road to a Michelin Star
Eight years after a devastating blow, the Mexican chef and his Oceanside restaurant, Valle, earn one of the food world’s highest honors
Covering 75: December 2023
Encinitas artist Taylor Chapin offers a psychedelic take on our January 1965 cover
3 San Diego Things We’re Loving This December
This month, meet local makers, shop for unique jewels, and say hi to Santa
5 of LA’s Weirdest & Wildest Museums to Visit
Bunnies, cults, mosaics made from butterfly wings—all the makings of a great art adventure
The Food Hit List: December 2023
SDM staff shouts out their favorite food finds this month
How to Create the Perfect Charcuterie Board With Local Products
Impress party guests with a photogenic spread packed with SD-made cheeses, meats, spreads, and more
4 Artists Shaping Tijuana’s Art Scene
The city’s art scene has seen a resurgence in recent years, and these local creatives are helping lead the way
San Diego Arts Preview 2024: Art Exhibitions, Shows, & More
Highlighting the most colorful exhibitions, plays, concerts, festivals, and events coming next year
Editor’s Note: Little, Magic, Time-Traveling Works of Art
A look inside this month’s issue where we talk art conservation, Tijuana’s art scene, and local hip-hop roots
San Diego’s Toughest Athletes Aren’t On the Team You Think
The city’s women-led, grassroots roller derby scene runs on solidarity and strength
Covering 75: November 2023
Chef Claudia Sandoval and TikTok’s Shavone Charles recreate San Diego Mag’s June 1956 cover
Home Tour: The Sweetest Mission Hills Oasis
Inside the remodeled 1970s craftsman of local pastry chef and Extraordinary Desserts owner Karen Krasne
San Diego’s First Mental Health Center Designed for Women
Monima Wellness Center is providing a much-needed safe space for mental health treatment
