At 1,200 acres, Balboa Park is significantly bigger than most public green spaces, including New York City’s Central Park—in fact, some refer to it as Central Park’s cooler younger sister. Okay, fine, no one has ever called it that, but it is pretty damn cool.
After all, it’s home to a world-famous zoo, numerous gardens and eateries, and tons of opportunities for shopping and recreation. On top of it all, visitors to the park can explore 18 museums, each offering their own distinctive flair. To celebrate Museum Month (when admission is half-off at cultural institutions throughout the county), here’s our guide to all of Balboa Park’s.
Courtesy of Balboa Park Cultural Partnership
Centro Cultural de la Raza
Located in a former water tower, the Centro Cultural de la Raza features exhibitions, theater, dance, music, and films by Chicano, Mexican, Indigenous, and Latino artists. The center also hosts community events such as tango nights and poetry readings.
Address: 2004 Park Boulevard
Hours: Closed Monday; open Tues.-Sun. from 12 p.m.-5.p.m.
Price: Free; suggested donation of $5
Courtesy of Balboa Park
Comic-Con Museum
Don’t worry if you missed Comic-Con this year, or have never grabbed tickets—you can explore all things pop-culture-related at this Balboa Park institution. Year-round exhibitions focus on everything from superheroes to sci-fi franchises, and other special events include movie screenings and art-making activities.
Address: 2131 Pan American Plaza
Hours: Closed Wednesday; open Thurs.-Tues. from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Price: $25 for adults; $18 for seniors(65+), students, and military; $12 for youth (6-12); free for kids under 6
Free Resident Day: Second Tuesday of the month
Courtesy of Wikipedia
Fleet Science Center
The Fleet Science Center is home to over 100 interactive exhibits exploring science and innovation. The museum also features an IMAX theater where you can traverse outer space, follow alongside African mammals, and deep-sea dive with sea creatures in ancient caves.
Address: 1875 El Prado
Hours: Open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; first Wednesday of the month 10 a.m.-8:15 p.m; accessibility morning hours third Saturday of each month 9 a.m.-10 a.m.
Price: $25 for adults; $20 for children (3-12); $23 for seniors(65+)
Free Resident Day: First Tuesday of the month
Courtesy of Wikipedia
Japanese Friendship Garden of San Diego
Yokohama, Japan became San Diego’s first sister city in 1957. The Japanese Friendship Garden followed in 1991, designed to foster appreciation and understanding of the country’s culture. The garden includes a bonsai exhibit, black pine trees, azaleas, and ornamental plants, as well as the US’s largest and oldest bronze statue of the Buddhist divinity Kannon.
Address: 2215 Pan American Road East
Hours: Open daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; last admission at 5 p.m.
Price: $14 for adults; $12 for students, seniors(65+), and military; free for children 6 and younger
Free Resident Day: Third Tuesday of the month (excluding March); fourth Tuesday of the month (March)
Courtesy of Balboa Park
The Marston House
You can thank George W. Marston, famous for his contributions to the planning and development of Balboa Park, for much of what you know and love about this place. Visit his home, built in 1905, in the northwest corner of the park to wander five acres of gardens and a gift shop.
Address: 3525 Seventh Avenue
Hours: Closed Mon.-Fri.; open Sat. & Sun. from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Price: $20 for adults, $15 for active duty military, seniors(65+), and students; $7 for children(6-12); free for children 5 and under
Hours: Closed Monday; open Tues.-Wed. & Sat.-Sun. from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Thurs.-Fri. from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Price: Commons Level is free; Gallery Level costs $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, students, and military; children are free
Free Resident Day: Third Tuesday of the month
Courtesy of the San Diego Tourism Authority
Museum of Photographic Arts
The Museum of Photographic Arts showcases photography, film, and video, with nearly 9,000 permanent images and 24,000 items in the Edmund L. and Nancy Dubois Library. If you’re interested in getting behind the lens yourself, enroll in one of their onsite photo workshops for adults.
Address: 1649 El Prado
Hours: Closed Mon.-Wed.; open Thurs.-Sun. from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Price: Free; donations recommended
Courtesy of Balboa Par
San Diego Air and Space Museum
Take flight with some of the most famous aviation and space innovators at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, this museum is home to the Apollo 9 Command Module, the only real GPS satellite display in the world, and artifacts from the Wright Brothers, Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earheart, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and other beloved pilots and pioneers.
Address: 2001 Pan American Plaza
Hours: Open daily 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Price: $28 for adults; $23 for students, seniors(65+) and retired military; $17 for children (3-11); free for active military and children under 3
Free Resident Day: Second Tuesday of the month
Courtesy of Balboa Park
Institute of Contemporary Art San Diego
The Institute of Contemporary Art spotlights experimental art, presenting bold and sometimes surreal exhibitions tackling issues facing the modern world. One of their most exciting recurring exhibits is NextGen, a juried showcase of new grads from San Diego’s many arts programs.
Address: 1439 El Prado
Hours: Closed Mon.-Wed.; open Thurs.-Sun. from 12 p.m.-5 p.m.
Price: Free; $10 donations recommended for adults; $5 for students, seniors, and military; free for children 12 and under
Courtesy of the San Diego Automotive Museum
San Diego Automotive Museum
Check out more than 80 historic cars and motorcycles at the San Diego Automotive Museum, which is known for its unique collection of 20th-century automobiles, including Louie Mattar’s 1947 Cadillac that set a cross-country endurance record in 1952.
Address: 2080 Pan American Plaza
Hours: Closed Monday; open Tues.-Sun. from 10 a.m-5:00 p.m. with last entry at 4:30 p.m.
Price: $16 for adults; $12 for seniors(65+), military, and students; $11 for children(4-15); free for children 3 and younger
Free Resident Day: Fourth Tuesday of the month
Courtesy of the San Diego History Center
San Diego History Center
San Diego History Center tells the story of our city with a wide variety of exhibits showcasing photos, art, videos, documents, clothing, and regional objects. Visitors can also watch the award-winning documentary Balboa Park: The Jewel of San Diego.
Address: 1649 El Prado
Hours: Closed Monday and Tuesday; open Wed.-Sun. from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Hours: Closed Monday; open Tues.-Sun. from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Price: $20 for adults; $12 for seniors(65+) and military; $10 for students
Free Resident Day: First Tuesday of the month
Courtesy of Balboa Park
San Diego Museum of Us
One thing we all have in common? We’re human. The San Diego Museum of Us explores this fundamental similarity with immersive exhibits focusing on humanity’s relationship to animals, the origins of race, the development of beer, and more.
Address: 1350 El Prado
Hours: Closed Monday and Tuesday; open Wed.-Sun. from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Price: $20 for adults; $17 for military, seniors(65+), students, youth(6-17), and educators(with ID)
Price: $24 for adults, $20 for seniors(65+), military, and students
Free Resident Day: First Tuesday of the month
Courtesy of Balboa Park
MOPA@SDMA
At the heart of Balboa Park sits the MOPA@SDMA, with a gorgeous Spanish-style entrance that sets the scene for the artwork inside. In addition to Spanish works, the collection includes Italian old masters, South Asian manuscript illustrations, and 19th- and 20th-century American paintings and sculptures.
Address: 1450 El Prado
Hours: Closed Wednesday; open Thurs.-Sat. & Mon.-Tues. from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; open Sun. from 12 p.m.-5 p.m.
Price: $20 for adults, $15 for seniors(65+), free for children under 17
Free Resident Day: Third Tuesday of the month
Courtesy of Balboa Park
Timken Museum of Art
The Timken’s airy, mid-century modern building is home to works by European (including Dutch, Flemish, and French), American, and Russian icons. Through May, visitors can see the dazzling, massive-scale Equestrian Portrait of Prince Tommaso of Savoy-Carignanby celebrated painter Kehinde Wiley, the artist behind Barack Obama’s presidential portrait.
Address: 1500 El Prado
Hours: Closed Mon.-Tues.; open Wed.-Sun. from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Price: Free
Courtesy of the Veterans Museum
The Veterans Museum
The Veterans Museum honors military service members, focusing on the history of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marines. It holds a unique collection of artifacts, memorabilia, artwork, and papers related to World War I, World War II, Pearl Harbor, the Korean War, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq, and other conflicts.
Address: 2115 Park Boulevard
Hours: Closed Sun.-Tues.; open Wed.-Sat. from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Price: $5 for adults, $4 for veterans and seniors; $2 and students; free for children 12 and under; free for active duty military
Free Resident Day: Second Tuesday of the month
Courtesy of Balboa Park
WorldBeat Center
The WorldBeat Center celebrates African, African-American, and Indigenous cultures through art, music, dance, education, and technology. All are invited to join the museum’s concerts, lectures, and community classes in dance and drumming.
Maren Hawkins is a freelance writer in her last year at San Diego State University. When she is not writing, she spends her time playing beach volleyball, thrifting for the cutest clothes, and traveling whenever possible.
Is there any food more quintessentially San Diegan than the California burrito? That was a rhetorical question since the French fry-stuffed, flour tortilla-wrapped torpedo of carne asada bliss came into being in the 80s (either invented by Lolita’s or Santana’s, depending on who you ask). But now, Vietnamese-Mexican pop-up Một Bánh Mì may be giving the longtime champ a run for its money.
Một Bánh Mì’s original California banh mi takes cues from both cultures, using traditional Vietnamese baguettes from Paris Bakery filled with carne asada and garnished with cilantro-jalapeno crema, Vietnamese mayonnaise, pickled vegetables, cilantro, cucumber, jalapenos, and of course, French fries.
“It’s so San Diego—it’s so us,” says Desmond Bui, pop-up founder and owner with partner Marisol Santiago. “It really encapsulates the Vietnamese-American and Mexican-American journey and identity here.”
Both grew up in San Diego. Bui is Vietnamese. Santiago is Mexican-American. The sandwich makes utter personal sense.
Neither of them cooked professionally before launching Một Bánh Mì earlier this year, when they popped up for the first time at Convoy Rising for Lunar New Year. But after seeing the rise of the local Vietnamese coffee scene with shops like Saigon Coffee, Chance’s Coffee, and Em Coffee House, Bui knew there was an opportunity for a new generation to put a fresh spin on Vietnamese food in San Diego.
While there are plenty of places to grab a banh mi around town (K Sandwiches, Ba Le French Sandwich Shop, Lee’s Sandwiches, and so on), we’ve yet to hear of a California banh mi. Firsts are being firsted.
“Banh mi is regarded by top chefs as the best sandwich in the world,” says Bui. (Side note: I concur.) And after discovering overlap between Mexican and Vietnamese cuisines through common ingredients like cilantro, lime, jalapeno, white onion, and pickled vegetables, they began planning a menu.
Courtesy of Một Bánh Mì
Một Bánh Mì also serves Bánh Mì Đặc Biệt (Vietnamese cold cuts), Bánh Mì Thịt Nướng (grilled lemongrass pork banh mi), and Bánh Mì carnitas de hongos (mushroom pâté banh mi), along with some specials like Thịt Nướng tacos (grilled lemongrass pork) and hopefully soon, al pastor trompo banh mi (marinated pork shaved off a spit) and charcoal-grilled adobada.
Other banh mi shops Americanize names for English-speaking audiences—for example, listing “grilled chicken sandwich” instead of Bánh Mì Gà Nướng. Not Một Bánh Mì. If you’re not sure how to pronounce something, Bui says they’re happy to help. It’s an educational opportunity, he explains, as well as a chance for them to be “unapologetically Vietnamese and Mexican.”
Part of the immersive experience is playing Vietnamese tunes from the ‘60s and ‘70s.
“When you think of universal languages, what are ways when you travel or meet a different group of people that you can still find common ground and connect and feel like we’re a lot more alike than we are different?” Bui asks. “Food and music.”
The musical element is part of Một Bánh Mì’s greater vision. They’d like to evolve into a lifestyle brand and media company, with merch, jars of pickled vegetables, you name it. Eventually, they’d like to open a brick-and-mortar somewhere in Mid-City. In the meantime, they’ll continue to pop up at places like Mixed Grounds and Chance’s Coffee, or wherever they can. (Bui called Provecho Coffee their “dream collab,” hint hint.)
San Diego bartenders have been making serious waves over the past few years, and it looks like 2026 is carrying on that momentum. Dominique Muñoz, bar lead at Polite Provisions, just nabbed a top spot on Punch’s Best New Bartenders 2026 list. She’s hardly new to the game, having been behind the stick for nearly a decade and founding the Sirens and Spirits collective to elevate women and nonbinary bartenders in the industry, but it’s fabulous to see some (well-deserved) San Diego representation on the short list. Congrats to Muñoz—we can’t wait to see what you do next.
Speaking of awards, Tribute Pizza just earned a prize of its own. The North Park pizza palace hit #38 on the 50 Top Pizza list this year (for the fourth year) right before its 10th anniversary on June 2. Here’s to another decade of delightful pies, ridiculously good Caesar salads, and the weird-to-have, but delicious-to-eat Sichuan spicy noodles.
But the recognition doesn’t stop there. San Diego’s only three-Michelin-starred restaurant Addison by William Bradley (which is freshly re-open after a thorough renovation) just made San Diego history by being the first restaurant in the city to make it on North America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 list at #31. Considering there are something around 70,000 restaurants in North America (if not more)—I’d say landing in the top 50 is pretty monumental.
San Diego has one of the highest concentrations of people in the African diaspora, including one of the nation’s largest East African populations behind Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. To celebrate the huge diversity of cuisines from countries like Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and beyond, head to the annual San Diego Soul Food Fest on August 1 at the North Park Mini Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Soul food’s roots come from the American South, where generations of enslaved people made do with what resources they had; today, it’s a celebration of culture, cooking, and community. I, for one, am salivating at the thought of getting some legit collard greens and fried catfish.
In lieu of catfish, I just might pop over to Bica in Normal Heights on June 20 for the Tuna Takedown, where chefs from Kingfisher, Mabel’s Gone Fishing, Ironside, À L’ouest, Fish Guts (plus a few more) will go full nose-to-tail on a 150-pound bluefin tuna. That’s about as fresh as it gets, and with beer, wine, and a DJ on top of that, I’m hard-pressed to make any other plans that night.
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Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
June Gloom isn’t stopping San Diegans from making the most out of the month. There’s something for every music lover, from swaying to smooth jazz at The Rady Shell to rocking out at Slightly Stoopid’s Field of Dreamz Festival. Art enthusiasts can visit the Mingei for an exhibit showcasing Native American and Pacific Rim heritage, while foodies can try the latest fried fad at the San Diego County Fair. Whatever your interests, it’s time to text the group chat and make some plans. Here are all the best things to do in San Diego this month:
Khalid is headlining his first tour since 2019—this time for the R&B and pop showstopper After the Sun Goes Down—and he’s ready to dance through Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre.
Photo Credit: Angela Babby / Courtesy of Angela Babby
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Month
6/5–7/19
With a beat that can’t be stopped, New Village Arts will revive the joyful musical Hairspray, a fusion of teen pop stardom and racial integration in Civil Rights–era Baltimore.
6/13–9/13
Cat Gunn poignantly examines the impact of forced separation from ancestral lineage through If Only by the Light of a New Moon, their solo museum debut at ICA Central.
Proceed to Pride Month with the Out & Abt Festival, featuring a carnival-themed playground at The Soap Factory, an afterparty hosted by Gossip Grill, and the next day, a sapphic poolside bash at the Hard Rock Hotel.
6/10–7/5
Imagine and experience your favorite fairytale ending during the San Diego County Fair, which returns this summer with a new theme: Once Upon a Fair.
11 & 13
The return of the Switchfoot Bro-Am means two things: an elegant seaside fundraiser in North County and a free bash at Moonlight Beach full of sun, surf competitions, and live music.
For the first time, NASCAR will start its engines in San Diego. Naval Base Coronado will host this one-of-a-kind racing spectacle to commemorate the U.S. Navy’s semiquincentennial.
25
Itadakimasu! In other words: Let’s eat! Sample, then rank, the best Pan-Asian dishes from local eateries at Julep Venue during SD Mag’s 21+ Omakase Open, done to support the Convoy District.
28
If you ever needed a reason to eat ice cream and gelato, here’s a charitable one. Raise money—one waffle cone at a time—for Feeding San Diego during this year’s Scoop San Diego festival.
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.
Summer may technically be a month away, but San Diegans can tap into the summertime spirit as soon as this weekend. Outdoor explorations include the return of Summertime Spectacular at SeaWorld San Diego, along with another monthly edition of Fit Yoga at The Rady Shell. Those looking for full-day fun can try the Vista Strawberry Festival or the Santee Street Fair & Craft Beer Festival, both of which offer free admission and a full slate of activities. Or, plan a day at the ballpark to cheer on the Padres and hopefully see Fernando Tatis Jr. hit his first home run of the season (manifesting this one).
As evidenced by the To Catch a Fish exhibition at Mingei International Museum, fishing is a significant element of culture, cuisine and everyday life on a global scale. For Thursday’s ARTIFACT at Night dinner, the 36th edition of the monthly series, seafood is all over the four-course menu, including roasted blue barramundi and squid stuffed with spicy Calabrian sausage. Reservations are $95 per person and come with optional beverage pairings. Seatings available are from 5-8:30 p.m.; menu modifications will not be accommodated.
Spend the day shopping, watching live entertainment, and tasting locally-made brews during the free Santee Street Fair & Craft Beer Festival. This Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., check out over three hundred vendors, complimentary workshops, live music, dance and street performances, a kids zone and the event’s inaugural classic car show at Trolley Square. As for the suds, 21+ attendees can purchase discounted pours and bring their dogs along too. Pre-sale drink tokens (five 16 oz. pours for $30) are available to purchase online.
Town Center Parkway & Riverview Parkway, Santee
Vista Strawberry Festival
May 24
Every May, Downtown Vista unearths the seeds of its bygone berry heritage. This Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., the free annual Vista Strawberry Festival will offer much more than just a chance to eat fresh fruit and decadent strawberry desserts—though both are certainly encouraged. The festival will feature over 450 vendors, live music, a youth film festival, a 5K race and kids runs (one mile and ¼ mile), and several contests, including prizes for those with the best strawberry couture and the biggest appetites for strawberry pies and sundaes.
Main Street, Vista
Courtesy of The Paper Kites
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
The Inaudible Ocean at Conrad Prebys Concert Hall
May 20
Oceans cover more than two-thirds of the Earth, and their watery depths preserve much more than just marine creatures and aquatic mysteries. To composer Lei Liang and oceanographer Joshua Jones, the most fascinating thing concealed is the range of sounds, many of which are imperceptible to humans. Through The Inaudible Ocean, premiering this Wednesday at 7 p.m. at UC San Diego’s Conrad Prebys Concert Hall, audiences will be treated to the oft-hidden magic of underwater frequencies via a chamber music trio. General admission is $20 for this concert.
9410 Russell Lane, La Jolla
Russell Dickerson at Gallagher Square
May 21
Like all genres, country music is far from monolithic, and Russell Dickerson is a prime example of its versatility. Dickerson’s musical persona is that of a kind and reminiscent soul, musing on good times and crafting hard-to-forget hooks, like on his newest single “Boots” with Fetty Wap. Plus, when he hits the road, Dickerson embraces his lifelong love for wrestling, meaning fans will get to see him in full WWE garb during his RussellMania show this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Gallagher Square. Country pop crooner and prolific songwriter-for-hire Niko Moon will open the show. Tickets start at $54 for this concert.
899 J Street, Downtown
American Football at The Observatory North Park
May 24
For nearly two decades, it looked as if American Football would be a one-album wonder, since the emo rock pioneers never reconvened for a follow-up. But since reuniting in 2014, the band has produced three new self-titled albums, and though they nearly broke up again in the making of their most recent offering, LP4, their music is still as sharp and emotionally devastating as ever. This Sunday at 8 p.m., they’ll play at The Observatory North Park with opener Mei Semones, a tonally opposite artist whose music explores J-pop, jazz and blissful indie rock. Tickets start at $35 for this concert; $1 from every ticket sold will go towards the artist nonprofit PLUS1.
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.
For Executive Chef Emily Brubaker, Omni La Costa Resort & Spa feels like home. She grew up just a mile-and-a-half away from the 400-acre property and fondly recalls walking the golf course perimeter as a kid. Though her ambitions led her away from San Diego for nearly two decades in which she honed her craft in some of the highest of high-profile Las Vegas restaurants—including triple Michelin-starred Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand—they ultimately brought her back to North County.
Courtesy of Omni La Costa
Today, the classically French-trained chef, who’s fresh off a victory on NBC’s Yes, Chef!, judged by Martha Stewart and José Andrés, oversees Omni La Costa Resort & Spa’s seven distinct dining concepts. Her goal is to elevate the resort’s culinary program with her creative, hyperlocal ingredient-driven approach while maintaining the Spanish- inspired flavors and fresh California coastal cuisine that are the bedrock of its culinary identity.
“The San Diego food scene is really growing, and in North County alone, it’s really exploded in the last five years,” Brubaker says. “There are Michelin stars, beautiful tasting menus, craft bakers, and all this food—when I was growing up in La Costa, it was fish tacos. Now there are really cool things popping up, and I’m so happy to be here to see where it’s going to go.”
Brubaker gives chefs de cuisine at each individual restaurant autonomy, however, her influence is evident across the resort.
For example, lobby restaurant Bar Traza serves as Omni La Costa’s culinary centerpiece and features bold Spanish flavors in a lively, social atmosphere. Brubaker overhauled the menu to be more consistent and centered on casual bites with that signature vibe. Think smoky paprika, vibrant citrus, and Spanish meats and cheeses.
At VUE, the focus is on seasonal offerings, California coastal cuisine, and Baja-inspired dishes. She and Chef de Cuisine Cameron Dixon change the menu biannually, which heading into summer, will highlight farm-fresh produce and hyperlocal ingredients—the resort even has its own herb garden and honeybee hives.
Courtesy of Omni La Costa
Poolside dining options are leaning into the country’s 250th this summer with a selection of classic American dishes with an Omni La Costa twist. And Bob’s Steak & Chop House (Brubaker is a trained butcher) offers a classic steakhouse experience with elevated service.
The chef and company also plan menus for special events at the resort where her creativity can really shine. For an upcoming National Ski Association dinner, the banquet hall will be transformed into an Alpine-themed winter wonderland complete with a snow machine, savory sausages, and melty, decadent raclette. A recent dinner was built around the Carlsbad Flower Fields and each course was matched to a color of ranunculus (Did you know pink dragonfruit are grown in North County? You do now.).
“It’s my zen to be in the kitchen playing with food,” Brubaker says.
Omni La Costa’s culinary program is a key part of the resort experience. And with Brubaker’s leadership, it’s becoming a draw for visitors and locals alike.
“These aren’t just hotel restaurants, these are restaurants that you should go to. They’re destinations, and I’m really hoping for the future that’s where we’re going,” Brubaker says.
Courtesy of Omni La Costa
Brubaker is also channeling her experience on Yes, Chef! into the culture at Omni La Costa—more emphasis on teamwork and collaboration, empowering her staff to share constructive critiques, and embracing different perspectives. Alongside her leadership role, Brubaker has become an advocate for mental health in the hospitality industry, serving as chief ambassador for the Burnt Chef Project and serves on the Board of Advisors for the Apex Culinary Program, where she mentors and develops future talent.
Sightsee, savor and catch a wide range of live entertainment this weekend in San Diego. Take advantage of the La Jolla Half Marathon and the La Jolla Historical Society’s Secret Garden Tour, each offering a scenic trip through the coastal community. Wine and dine with bottomless portions at the Cheese & Libation Expo, the 35th annual Mama’s Day and the return of the Over the Line Craft BeerFest. Plus, whether your heart lies in the theater (Purpose, Kim’s Convenience), the concert crowd (P!nk, MGK) or the unpredictable stage of the San Diego International Fringe Festival, there are numerous ways to be wowed.
Treat yourself to a curated assortment of cheese, trinkets and bubbly beverages throughout the three-day Cheese & Libation Expo at BRICK Liberty Station. The expo will kick off Friday from 5-8 p.m. with an industry preview night and continue Saturday from 1-5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with boutique shopping, an all-you-can-eat (and drink) menu and goodie bags for attendees. Ticket options include individual session tickets ($82-$109), single-day kid’s tickets ($13) weekend passes ($162) and preview night entry ($135).
Spend your Saturday on the beach with a local beer in hand during Old Mission Beach Athletic Club’s yearly Over the Line Craft BeerFest & OTL Tournament. Newbies, regulars and seasoned aficionados will go to bat this Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Mariner’s Point Park, with the BeerFest featuring live music, food trucks and unlimited pours from twenty craft breweries from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ticket options include all-ages general admission ($6), 21+ BeerFest admission ($45) and tournament entry ($162), which comes with three festival wristbands.
1215 Mariners Way, Mission Bay
Mama’s Day
May 16
Mama’s Kitchen knows the importance of home cooking, which is why the nonprofit’s signature event serves a dual purpose: celebrating the city’s gastronomy and ensuring San Diegans experiencing chronic illness continue to receive home-delivered meals. This Saturday from 5:30-9:30 p.m., Mama’s Kitchen will hold its 35th annual Mama’s Day, a 21+ fundraiser with live entertainment, opportunity drawings and unlimited tastings from local chefs and eateries at Hilton San Diego Bayfront. Ticket options include general admission ($200) and VIP admission ($300), which includes entry to an exclusive drinks and hors d’oeuvres reception from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
1 Park Boulevard, Embarcadero
Courtesy of Curebound
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
Curebound Concert for Cures: P!nk at Petco Park
May 15
“Raise a Glass” to cutting-edge adult and pediatric cancer research this Friday (8 p.m.) during Curebound’s annual Concert for Cures. After Sir Elton John rocked Petco Park last May, this year’s headlining superstar will be P!nk, whose shows combine powerful vocals, nostalgic crowd pleasers and Cirque du Soleil-style theatrics for a scintillating experience. Tickets start at $56 for this concert; proceeds from this performance will go towards Curebound.
100 Park Boulevard, Downtown
Free Music Festivals
May 16 & 17
See a plethora of live music across a trio of free festivals this weekend. This Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Goldenpalooza returns to Golden Hill Recreation Center with live dance and musical performances, local food vendors and an array of free and paid activities; paid activity tickets ($5-$20) are available online. Then, several community bands will hit the Old Poway Park stage for the Community Band Festival this Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Finally, on Sunday from noon to midnight, see student-run performances ranging from acoustic sets to after-hours DJ sets during The Arcades at UC San Diego’s Conrad Prebys Music Center.
The Arcades: 9410 Russell Lane, La Jolla | Goldenpalooza: 2600 Golf Course Drive, Golden Hill | Community Band Festival: 14132 Midland Road, Poway
MGK at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
May 17
Despite the two-middle-fingers-up approach that powers his bad boy persona, the artist MGK, formerly known as Machine Gun Kelly, longs for understanding. His decade-plus journey from hip-hop phenom to punk convert to revelatory pop rocker has led to Lost Americana, the latest chapter in MGK’s rebellious undertaking and a search for the freedom he’s always desired. This Sunday at 7 p.m., MGK will perform at the North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre with special guests Wiz Khalifa and Beauty School Dropout. Tickets start at $35 for this concert.
2050 Entertainment Circle, Chula Vista
Courtesy of San Diego International Fringe Festival
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.
“Musicians and creatives were all asking, ‘Okay, what do we do now?’” recalls San Diego musician Durell Anthony, a talented vocalist and songwriter. Anthony found one stage that was still open and even designed with built-in social distancing: Stage 12 at Universal Studios, the set for NBC’s massive TV show The Voice.
“I just wanted to go in there and show them who I was,” he says.
He stepped onto the show’s octagonal stage before the judges—Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, and Nick Jonas—and a Jumbotron-sized audience of fans on Zoom. In the seconds before your national TV debut in front of four of the world’s most famous musicians, the potential for a panic attack is pretty high. But Anthony sat down at the piano and found his calm.
He laid out the first iconic E-sharp of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” which, in an empty auditorium, resonated like the only sound in the world. With their chairs facing the empty stands, the judges couldn’t see Anthony, but they could hear him (the whole idea of The Voice is that the pop legends on the panel only turn their chairs if the “voice” alone moves them enough).
Courtesy of NBC’s The Voice
As Anthony laid out his first breathy croon of Gaye’s heart-wrenching plea for amity—an especially powerful song choice considering the state of the world at the time—Legend’s eyebrows rose immediately.
Legend was first to turn his chair around. At the last moment, Clarkson turned, too. The two judges battled for their chance to help hone Anthony’s falsetto. He chose Legend to be his mentor for the remainder of the show, not least because he’s a huge fan. His audition video reached nearly two million views across YouTube and TikTok.
Anthony’s time on the show was short-lived (he lost his first “battle round,” which took place directly after the audition), but “I walked away with a new confidence,” he says. “Being recognized and validated definitely elevated my songwriting during a dark time.”
He dropped his first full-length album, Lovenotes, last October. Anchored by his San Diego Music Award–nominated single “One More Night”—another piano-backed ballad—the project blends his velvety vocals with warm, honest lyrics about love, growth, and the life he’s built in Southern California.
Anthony grew up in the small town of Atchison, Kansas, raised on church hymns and radio. Like a lot of kids in “the middle of nowhere,” he learned to sing in the pews. His high-toned voice turned a few heads at mass, and he got a vocal scholarship from Benedictine College in Atchison.
After graduating, Anthony moved to La Jolla to work at a now-shuttered children’s summer camp. It’s where he met Kimberly, his wife of 13 years. Having found his songwriting muse, he joined several local bands across San Diego and became an overqualified wedding singer. His moment on The Voice wouldn’t come for a decade, but he kept course for the same reason his music connected with Legend: his deep optimism.
“When I look at artists I love, Stevie Wonder, John Legend, there’s an underlying thread: authenticity,” he says. “I want people to know that love exists, hope exists.”
An R&B album to its core, Lovenotes is filled with piano slow jams layered beneath Anthony’s sweet falsetto. Some songs are pure imagination, but more than a few are inspired by Kimberly and their kids.
“I pulled from real emotion,” he explains. “Those early years of being with Kim taught me vulnerability, maturity, sacrifice, trust. From facing my fear of commitment in ‘Be With U,’ to the countless apologies behind ‘One More Night,’ to reminiscing on the birth of our firstborn in ‘Speechless,’ my songwriting on this album is shaped by all of these lived experiences.”
National Philanthropy Day, presented by PNC Bank, Celebrates the Best of Philanthropy in San Diego
The 53rd Annual National Philanthropy Day Takes Place on November 21. Join us from 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the new Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center!
Once yearly, AFP San Diego joins with others worldwide to celebrate National Philanthropy Day (NPD), a special day set aside to recognize the great contributions of donors and nonprofits that enrich of our community and the world. San Diego’s NPD is one of the largest and most successful in the U.S., attracting nearly 900 participants, including philanthropists, nonprofit leaders, CEOs, board members, development professionals, and business, community, and civic leaders.
Sponsorship proceeds from National Philanthropy Day are reinvested in education, training, scholarships, career development, and the advancement of fundraising professionals throughout San Diego. These resources and training provide fundraising professionals with the tools necessary to support our region’s diverse array of nonprofit organizations, which rely on charitable giving for close to half of their annual revenues.
The National Philanthropy Day Honorees are selected by the NPD Honorary Committee, a group of highly respected, diverse nonprofit and business leaders. Our 2025 Honorees include:
Outstanding Development Emerging Leader – Taylor Thompson Self-Nominated
Outstanding Development Professional – Sharyn Goodson Nominated by: AJ Steinberg & Jeanne Schmelzer
Outstanding Organization for IDEA – Accessity Self-Nominated
Outstanding Philanthropic Institution – Life Science Cares San Diego Nominated by: Blair Search Partners
Outstanding Philanthropist – Dan & Phyllis Epstein Nominated by: CSU San Marcos & KPBS
Outstanding Student Volunteer – Camden Hall Nominated by: Curebound
National Philanthropy Day San Diego provides an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of giving and to celebrate the selfless contributions of individuals and organizations across the region. We look forward to celebrating with you!
Sponsorship opportunities and individual tickets are available. Please visit www.afpsd.org for more information.
