Everything SD JULY 20, 2023

Future is Color Brings a New Jazz Series to Barrio Logan

The weekly gathering aims to bring San Diego’s creative community together and provide a space for exchange and conversation

Future is Color Brings a New Jazz Series to Barrio Logan
Future is Color, studio sessions

Future is Color, studio sessions

On a Thursday night in Barrio Logan, a red glow emanates from inside a black warehouse. A lively crowd spills onto the sidewalk, people glancing over shoulders toward the rhythmic, busy clashing of the three piece group called Skate Jazz.

The scene feels at once inviting and secretive. Logan Avenue is generally otherwise quiet and casual by sundown, but the studio is alive. It’s a scene. Studio Sessions—a new jazz series at the Future Is Color Studio—is the reason.

What was formerly a warehouse storage space is now bringing an eclectic crowd to the heart of Barrio Logan every Thursday night. The idea, said founder Erwin Hines, is to bring San Diego’s creative community together and provide a space for exchange and conversation.

“Our jazz nights have the scene kids, have people from north county, have people from the south bay,” Hines said. “It has all of these people from disparate groups in one space and congregating in a neighborhood that maybe they wouldn’t have come to before.”

Future Is Color Studio got its start in 2020 after Hines started designing graphic t-shirts as a way to process his emotions following the police killing of George Floyd. The shirts were flying off the shelves—Hines sold more than 6,000 in a few days—and he realized he had struck a chord with community members.

Hines named the project Future Is Color, or FIC, borrowing the name from a cultural education program his sister started in Ohio. The brand’s mission is to promote cultural progress through dialogue, empathy, clothing, and now, weekly jazz.

The focus on jazz music is intentional, Hines said. “[Jazz] comes from Black culture and it’s a dialogue in and of itself,” Hines said. “The musicians and the instruments having an intimate dialogue in real time and just jamming with one another.”

Future is Color, studio session

Future is Color, studio session

That musical dialogue is something that spoke to Kamau, a hardware engineer from Chicago who recently moved to Hillcrest and attended his first Studio Sessions. Kamau remembers Skate Jazz played covers of his favorite songs from Cortex, a frequently-sampled French jazz trio. It was the first time he’d seen that music played live.“It’s just really cool to see people interact with the music in a live setting,” Kamau said. “Like an experiment, it’s exciting.”

Inside the warehouse where Skate Jazz plays, sometimes accompanied by a singer or saxophonist, there’s hardly a seat or space to stand unoccupied. Gatherers softly bob their heads or sway to their winding sets. A red light-up sign bearing the name of the band glows behind them. On an adjacent wall, a looped video projects tantalizing graphics and phrases like “Move in love” that come from Hines’ own designs.

So far, the turnout has been much more than Hines expected. They planned for 30 people at their first show, but they’ve never had a show with less than 150. “I’m shook, I’m deeply shook,” Hines said.

Since they’ve started the series, Hines said the surrounding businesses on the block now stay open later. By the end of the show, their block of Logan Avenue is lively with the chatter of the crowd—a burger joint and taco stand on either side feeding the hungry.

“This, to me, is what community building really looks like,” Hines said. “When an organization or an institution or a brand is willing to invest into something that is free for people to enter, free for people to engage in, and can be this cultural entry point into the larger community.

”While working as a graphic designer in San Diego, Hines noticed how young creatives sometimes overlooked San Diego for other cities like New York and LA. He said the community here lacked free spaces for artists to gather, but not for lack of local talent.

“As I began to really think about what the creative community was in San Diego, I realized that it’s not just for traditional creatives,” Hines said. “We have amazing biotech. We have amazing community activists. We have amazing artists, dancers, all these people from all these disparate backgrounds but everybody was operating and functioning in silos.”Studio Sessions and other projects associated with the FIC became a way for Hines to sustain the creative community and connect artists in new spaces for inspiration, collaboration and companionship. The event’s uniqueness is something that spoke to many in attendance. Several attendees commented on how FIC’s jazz nights feel one-of-a-kind, almost sacred. They describe it as “optimistic,” “fresh” and “accessible.”

Future is Color, studio sessions

Future is Color, studio sessions

Cecil Horton, a San Diego native who runs a PR and influencer marketing agency, said jazz nights at FIC are “exactly what we need for our city.”

“It is casual as it is electric. It feels like you’re on the streets of Portugal, chain-smoking a cigarette on cobblestone streets.”Horton first went to Studio Sessions in its third week and he’s been a regular since. For him, it’s a place to connect with likeminded creative people. It’s also where he can see friends from all across San Diego commingling in the same space.

“I see my friends that I grew up with in Point Loma running into other friends that I’ve met in Southeast San Diego, all of us either cheersing to wine or ice water or Jamaica in the street,” Horton said. “It’s everything we’ve ever hoped for.”

In the few short months since its start, Studio Sessions has already expanded its repertoire and its reach. The shows feature additional musicians and even a pop-up in LA.

Still, Hines said he doesn’t have any set plans for the project. “I never want to put any weight on it to say it needs to be X, Y and Z in five months, in six months,” Hines said. “Maybe it will be gone, maybe it will have done what it needed to do and then it can go on and move on.”

Until then, Studio Sessions happens every Thursday from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at the FIC studio at 2060 Logan Ave.

Music

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Arts & Culture JUNE 9, 2026

17 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: June 10-14

Stop by the San Diego County Fair, rock out at the inaugural Field of Dreamz and visit Bikini Bottom via The Spongebob Musical

17 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: June 10-14
Courtesy of Switchfoot Bro-Am

Charitable gatherings, downtown music festivals and theater premieres—of both the heartwarming and thought-provoking variety—are among San Diego’s standout events this weekend. You can’t spell fundraising without ‘fun,’ and both elements are central at Poway OnStage’s Taste of the Towne and the Switchfoot Bro-Am. Listeners of blues, reggae rock and silky smooth jazz can check out the East Village Blues Fest, Field of Dreamz and the San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival, respectively. As for the city’s thespian community, new shows include Cygnet Theatre’s production of Broadway favorite The Spongebob Musical and the world premiere of the OnWord Theatre show Marti Gobel’s Adult Storytime: A Caregiver’s Guide To The Blues.

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

Food & Drink Events in San Diego This Weekend

Switchfoot Bro-Am Benefit Party

June 11

The tasteful appetizer to Switchfoot Bro-Am’s annual Beach Fest is the laid-back Benefit Party, returning this Thursday from 6-10 p.m. at Viasat. Guests will be treated to a curated dining menu, a performance by Switchfoot with special guests, and the chance to bid on live and silent auction items, including local excursions, apparel packages, and deluxe arts experiences. Individual ticket options include general admission ($300) and reserved seating ($450); the money raised will go towards youth-centered programming at six local nonprofits

6155 El Camino Real, Carlsbad

Taste of Our Towne at Poway Center for the Performing Arts

June 13

Patrons of Poway OnStage are invited to Taste of Our Towne, the organization’s annual culinary fundraiser, this Saturday at 5 p.m. at Poway Center for the Performing Arts. The evening will begin with auctions, plus bites and libations from over a dozen local vendors before magician Chris Funk, aka The Wonderist, takes the stage for an interactive comedy show. General admission is $115 for Taste of Our Towne; proceeds from this event will benefit Poway OnStage’s Professional Performance Series and Arts in Education Initiative. 

15498 Espola Road, Poway

Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend

Rod Stewart at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre 

June 12

Before (potentially) riding off into the sunset, British rocker Rod Stewart is strutting his stuff stateside with the unconventional voice and unquestionable verve that’s propelled his nearly six decade-long solo career. Though the “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” artist’s days on the road may be dwindling, that’s even more reason to give him his flowers in the present. Stewart’s upcoming show this Friday at 7:30 p.m. at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre will feature prolific singer-songwriter Richard Marx as the opening act. Tickets start at $40.  

2050 Entertainment Circle, Chula Vista

Switchfoot Bro-Am Beach Fest

June 13

Following Thursday’s Benefit Party, the 22nd annual Switchfoot Bro-Am will switch (get it?) from its fundraiser to a free day at Moonlight Beach for Saturday’s all-day Beach Fest. From 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. there will be surf competitions—including surf jousting—and from noon to 5 p.m., Sun Room, Telephone Friends, Kimiko, a handful of special guests and, of course, Switchfoot will perform for attendees. Additionally, throughout the day, there will be a variety of vendors and brand activations to explore. Admission is free with RSVP, while VIP pit tickets are $195. 

400 B Street, Encinitas 

Field of Dreamz at Petco Park

June 13

As the mysterious saying goes, ‘If you build it, they will come,’ but instead of Iowa cornfields, this time the message is coming from inside SD’s home ballpark. This Saturday, Ocean Beach natives Slightly Stoopid will headline the first-ever Field of Dreamz Festival, and they’ve brought along a handful of ska, reggae and island-inspired rock acts for the ride. Doors will open at 3 p.m., and fans can see sets by Stephen Marley, Pepper, Sublime—whose first album with frontman Jakob Nowell drops Friday—and more. Ticket options include standard admission ($125), floor tickets ($188), plus All-Star VIP ($244) and Hall of Fame VIP ($610) passes.

100 Park Boulevard, Downtown

East Village Blues Fest

June 13

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.

Arts & Culture JUNE 2, 2026

15 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: June 3-7

Peruse the EXPO Design Market, savor the Sabor Del Barrio, and see a plethora of sets at North Park Music Fest

15 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: June 3-7
Photo Credit: Maggie Fuchs

There’s a creative inertia that resides in San Diego, producing a near-constant stream of cool events. Fortunately, this weekend is no different. Those with an artistic inkling can search for inspiration at MCASD’s EXPO Design Market or admire the mixture of live performance and neighborhood charm during the North Park Music Fest. Foodies can dine (with wine) at Stake Chophouse & Bar during its ZD Wines Dinner or explore Barrio Logan’s standout eats at the Sabor Del Barrio. Plus, Pride Month is already in full swing in SD with the return of DISCO RIOT’s Queer Mvmnt Fest and the two-day Out & Abt Music Festival.

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

Courtesy of Sabor Del Barrio

Food & Drink Events in San Diego This Weekend

ZD Wines Dinner at Stake Chophouse & Bar

June 4

Stake Chophouse & Bar is collaborating with Napa Valley’s ZD Wines—a family-run winemaking institution that’s been around since 1969—on an intimate four-course dinner this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Throughout the meal, each dish will be paired with a curated pour from ZD Wines, with patrons set to receive a chardonnay, pinot noir, and pair of cabernet sauvignons. Dinner guests will also be treated to insight on the night’s wine pairings from ZD Wines’ senior winemaker Chris Pisani. Reservations are $210 pre-paid through OpenTable

1309 Orange Avenue, Coronado

Sabor Del Barrio

June 7

Take advantage of all the dynamic attractions that the Barrio Logan Cultural District has to offer—and eat very well while you’re at it—during the third annual Sabor Del Barrio. This Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. attendees can devour their way through 35 neighborhood staples and traverse the tasting stops on foot, by bike, via a free trolley shuttle, or a combination of the three. Tickets are $40 online ($55 day of) and come with complimentary admission to Quint Gallery, the Athenaeum Art Center, and the Chicano Park Museum & Cultural Center, plus a free tour of Tao of Clay.

Barrio Logan

Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend

Sam Hinton Folk Heritage Festival at Old Poway Park

June 6

Survey the depth of oral storytelling during the free annual Sam Hinton Folk Heritage Festival this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Old Poway Park. Named for harmonica virtuoso, marine biologist, and longtime San Diegan Sam Hinton, this event highlights folk artists who specialize in time-honored traditions. Throughout the day, attendees can see performances by musicians with roots in Americana, Cajun, and Appalachian rhythms on the main stage, dance in the Templars Hall, and hear historical tales from the Storytellers of San Diego in the Porter House. 

14134 Midland Road, Poway

North Park Music Fest

June 6

Psychedelic rockers Frankie and the Witch Fingers will headline an eclectic lineup at the North Park Music Fest. This Saturday, enjoy sets from noon to 1:45 a.m. from over thirty performers—including DJs, bands, and local acts—across a dozen North Park venues. Ticket options include general admission ($25 online, $35 day of) and VIP passes ($65) which come with lounge access at Granada House, line-skipping privileges and more; festival proceeds will go towards the North Park Business & Neighborhood Foundation. Plus, performances at Pure Pawsh, Visual Art + Supply, Overland, and Playground Art + Coffee will be open to the public. 

North Park

Out & Abt Music Festival 

June 6 & 7

The calendar has just flipped to Pride Month, and Out & Abt is celebrating in style. The two-day Out & Abt Music Festival begins Saturday from 3-10 p.m. at The Soap Factory with drag shows, circus acts, a manic pixie dream market, two stages of live music, and last but not least, a mechanical bull. The festivities will continue with an after party from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Gossip Grill and conclude with an afternoon pool party at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego on Sunday from 1-7 p.m. Ticket options include weekend general admission passes ($70), and entry to the music festival ($30), after party ($17) and pool party ($27).

Citywide

Photo Credit: Kevin Berne

Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend

The Monsters at La Jolla Playhouse

June 2-28

Fresh off its Drama Desk Award-winning run in the Big Apple this past winter, The Monsters will have its first West Coast production beginning Tuesday in the Mandall Weiss Forum at La Jolla Playhouse. Written by and co-starring Ngozi Anyanwu, The Monsters finds its reconciliatory narrative in a young woman yearning to repair her relationship with her estranged older brother in the brutal and unforgiving world of mixed martial arts. The Monsters will have preview performances this Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 & 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 & 7 p.m., with tickets ranging from $30-$74. 

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.

Arts & Culture JUNE 1, 2026

The Best Things to Do in San Diego: June 2026

From jazz concerts to devouring fried foods at the fair, here are all the best things to do this month in San Diego

The Best Things to Do in San Diego: June 2026
Courtesy of Switchfoot BRO-Am Beach Fest

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:

Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do

Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Month

13 & 14

World-class jazz musicians are returning to The Rady Shell for the San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival.

13

“If you build it, they will come,” and so they shall to Slightly Stoopid’s inaugural Field of Dreamz Festival. The OB-native rock band will share the lineup with Stephen Marley, Sublime, Pepper, and more at Petco Park.

22

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.

6/27–9/20

See lasting visions of cultural heritage via Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass, a traveling showcase for Native American and Pacific Rim glassmakers at Mingei International Museum.

Courtesy of Scoop Ice Cream Festival

More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Month

6 & 7

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.

19–21

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.

Studio S JUNE 12, 2026

Nominations Open for the San Diego Business Impact Awards

The annual event honors middle market companies creating jobs, scaling up, and investing in the region

Nominations Open for the San Diego Business Impact Awards
Photo Credit: Kimberly Motos

San Diego is known for its startup culture and innovation economy, but what happens when the company moves beyond its early-stage years? The San Diego Business Impact Awards aim to answer that question, spotlighting the middle market businesses helping drive the region’s economy.

Hosted by San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and JPMorganChase, the second annual awards celebration takes place on Thursday, July 23, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Scripps Research Auditorium. More than 200 executives, entrepreneurs, and business leaders are expected to attend the networking and cocktail event honoring some of San Diego County’s fastest-growing companies.

Businesses headquartered in San Diego County that have operated for at least two years are encouraged to submit their nomination by Thursday, June 18 at 4 p.m. Companies across industries—from technology and life sciences to tourism and consumer products, as well as pre-revenue startups—are eligible for recognition.

For EDC President and CEO Mark Cafferty, the event is as much about building connections as celebrating success. “We’ve had a longtime partnership with JPMorganChase; their work aligns with our efforts to support underserved communities and drive talent development,” says Cafferty. “And the networking was invaluable last year. I’m still in touch with people I met at last year’s awards.”

Photo Credit: Kimberly Motos

EDC is an independently-funded nonprofit that works directly with San Diego companies to help them grow the local economy, make the region as a whole more competitive, and attract and retain top-tier talent with quality jobs. Through EDC, companies can get help starting or expanding their business with support for things like site selection, permit navigation, and regulatory guidance, plus connections to local resources and potential business collaborators.

The San Diego Business Impact Awards began as an idea with one of EDC’s longtime strategic partners, JPMorganChase. The two organizations share a commitment to San Diego and are dedicated to bolstering middle market businesses.

“We’re blessed with a robust innovation economy and startup community,” says Aaron Ryan, San Diego Region Manager for JPMorgan’s Commercial and Investment Bank and vice chair of the firm’s’ San Diego Market Leadership Team. “But one of the segments of the business community we felt was overlooked was emerging middle market companies—the businesses that are no longer small but not yet large.”

Ryan says supporting those companies is critical as they scale and decide where to invest, hire, and grow.

San Diego’s high cost of living remains one of the region’s biggest business challenges, making talent recruitment and retention increasingly competitive. But local leaders point to the region’s quality of life, climate, and collaborative business community as advantages that continue to attract employers and workers.

Photo Credit: Kimberly Motos

“In order to support thriving households, there has to be enough high-quality jobs for people to be able to afford to live here,” Cafferty says. “Once a company grows and excels past that middle market point in their growth cycle, they become much more likely to pay higher wages and compete globally.”

Both Cafferty and Ryan proudly tout the unique collaboration that exists among San Diego County businesses. Bringing together top universities producing high-quality talent, cutting-edge research institutions, a robust military and defense presence, leading ocean science and environmental organizations, and a binational, cross-border identity creates a distinct business ecosystem that defines and strengthens the San Diego region. 

Last year’s San Diego Business Impact Awards celebrated nearly 60 honorees from 49 industries, representing a total of 8,232 jobs across eight sectors, including: software and technology, healthcare and life sciences, consumer goods, professional services, finance, construction and manufacturing, defense, and hospitality and tourism. On average, honoree companies doubled their revenues over the previous year, employed more than 145 San Diegans each, and offered an average annual compensation of $192,415.

Top honorees included defense contractor Innoflight, environmental consulting firm Bancroft Construction Services, life sciences startup Element Biosciences, defense technology contractor GALT Aerospace, organic grocery store chain Jimbo’s, and biopharmaceutical company LENZ Therapeutics. During the event, Innoflight Founder and CEO Jeff Janicik held a fireside chat offering his insights on investing in the community and embracing San Diego culture.

This year, organizers hope to continue highlighting the middle market players driving economic impact across the region. Nominations are now open through June 18 at 4 p.m. Get your tickets to the San Diego Business Impact Awards celebration to enjoy drinks by Snake Oil Cocktail Co., light bites, live music, and networking.

Arts & Culture MAY 26, 2026

18 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: May 26-31

Hear The Sound of Music, reserve a seat at The Blank Table and spend two days jamming at Fiesta Del Sol

18 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: May 26-31
Courtesy of San Diego Wine Week

Dive into the unexpected this weekend, where curated meals, experimental performances and behind-the-scenes experiences await. Foodies are invited to the first 2026 gathering of The Blank Table as well as Chef Onyi’s seasonal Rooted dinner at Millport. Broaden your artistic horizons with Project [BLANK]’s Working Title No. 5, or check out the genre-bending musical lineups at Seek Fest or Fiesta Del Sol. As an added bonus, The Rosin Box Project is pulling back the curtain and opening a trio of after-hours rehearsals to the public ahead of its new Incubator Lab show. 

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

Food & Drink Events in San Diego This Weekend

San Diego Wine Week

May 25-31

San Diego may be a craft beer capital, but it’s also home to a diverse array of wineries. During the San Diego County Vintners Association’s annual San Diego Wine Week, oenophiles can sample several of the best pours the region has to offer. The centerpiece event, Sunday’s all-inclusive SDCVA Wine Festival from 3-6 p.m., will feature over 20 local wineries at Bernardo Winery; general admission is $90. Additional Wine Week events include Vintners Table at Cordiano Winery (Thursday), San Diego Wine Country at the Bay at Mission Beach Women’s Club (Thursday) and the Seedling Soiree at Olivewood Gardens (Saturday).

Citywide

The Blank Table

May 28 

The Blank Table series is an exercise in local culinary creativity, innovation and collaboration with the most secret of ingredients readily available: the element of surprise. On six Thursdays from May-October—with year seven of the series beginning this Thursday at 6 p.m.—60 patrons will be served a unique menu with five set courses, each with curated cocktail pairings. And to keep the air of mystery alive, the dinner location and menu will not be disclosed until 24 hours ahead of time. Tickets are $275 for Thursday’s dinner and a season pass for all six monthly dinners is $1,402; a portion of event proceeds will be donated to Feeding San Diego.  

Surprise Location

Rooted: A Dinner Experience by Chef Onyi at Millport

May 30

Chef Onyinyechukwu Akpa welcomes food lovers to try a seasonal spread, dually inspired by her mastery of West African flavors and California’s seasonal ingredients, during the second edition of Rooted: A Dinner Experience at Millport. This Saturday from 6-9 p.m., chef Onyi will serve a five-course tasting menu, with dishes such as slow roasted beef, plantain upside down cake and akara, Nigerian black-eyed pea fritters. The meal will be entirely gluten-free, with vegan accommodations also available. Tickets are $115 and can be purchased here.

775 13th Street, Imperial Beach

Bridgerton & Blooms High Tea at Estancia La Jolla

May 31

Dearest reader, Estanica La Jolla opens up its grounds once a month for its outdoor Tea in the Garden series, and you’re in luck, because this month’s tea time is inspired by the enchanted English setting of Bridgerton. During the Bridgerton & Blooms High Tea this Sunday from noon to 3 p.m., guests can savor an afternoon worthy of the ton, complete with floral accoutrements, custom teas, cocktails, finger foods and enough sweets treats for Lady Whistledown to write home about. Tickets are $82.

9700 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla

Courtesy of Fiesta Del Sol

Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend

Juvenile with the 400 Degreez Band at House of Blues San Diego

May 29

Over the years, Juvenile has more than proven himself as an all-time emcee, with his breakout 1998 album 400 Degreez still a defining example of the South’s hip-hop brilliance. This Friday at 7 p.m. at House of Blues San Diego, Juvenile will play hits like “Slow Motion” and “Back That Azz Up,” along with selections from Boiling Point, his first album in 12 years. Plus, he’ll be joined by the sensational 400 Degreez Band, and as anyone who’s seen his NPR Tiny Desk performance already knows, Juvenile with a live ensemble is a match made in music heaven. Tickets start at $55 for this concert. 

1055 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp

Kuumba Fest

May 30

Kuumba Fest returns this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the theme of “Black 2 Mind, Spirit & Body” for its 34th annual iteration. This free community festival, organized in support of the city’s Black Arts + Culture District, will feature DJs, dancing, spoken word, musical performances and an African marketplace with food, apparel, health resources and more. Then from 6-8 p.m. at the Elementary Institute of Science, the festival will conclude with a screening of the documentary American Curl followed by a Q&A panel with the film’s producers. 

6381 Imperial Avenue, Encanto; 608 51st Street, Emerald Hills

Seek Fest at San Diego Made Factory

May 30

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.

Arts & Culture MAY 19, 2026

16 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: May 19-25

Hear The Inaudible Ocean, see the San Diego Ballet in action, and eat your fill of fruit at the Vista Strawberry Festival

16 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: May 19-25
Courtesy of The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

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). 

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

Courtesy of Vista Strawberry Festival

Food & Drink Events in San Diego This Weekend

ARTIFACT at Night: To Catch a Fish

May 21

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. 

1439 El Prado, Balboa Park

Santee Street Fair & Craft Beer Festival

May 23

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.

2891 University Avenue, North Park

The Paper Kites at House of Blues San Diego

May 25

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.

Partner Content JUNE 10, 2026

New Options for GLP-1 Users

Scripps study shows that some patients may be able to taper their dose and maintain results

New Options for GLP-1 Users
Courtesy of Scripps Health

While glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agents have been used to treat Type 2 diabetes for more than 20 years, their recent emergence as weight-loss wonder drugs marked a new frontier in medicine. But their effectiveness has left some patients wondering what to do once they’ve reached their goal. Stopping the medication could mean regaining some, if not all, of the weight. A Scripps Clinic internal medicine physician recently conducted a small study of whether GLP-1 patients who had reached their goal weight could maintain that weight by taking their regularly prescribed injection every other week instead of weekly. Spoiler alert: 30 of 34 patients did. Read more about the study here and what that may mean as pharmaceutical companies roll out oral GLP-1s.

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