Margaritaville Fundraiser for the San Diego Music Foundation
August 29-September 1
To celebrate Jimmy Buffett Day, Margaritaville Hotel San Diego Gaslamp Quarter will host a series of fundraising events that benefit the San Diego Music Foundation. The Labor Day weekend-long event will include a concert, travel-themed silent auction, and festive pop-ups.
SAY San Diego will host its 12th annual Play 4 SAY fundraiser to support underserved and underresourced youth and families. Participants will play bocce ball, ladder golf, cornhole, and giant Jenga—teams are encouraged to get creative with their attire.
Golfers will tee off to benefit Feeding San Diego at Pacific Building Group’s annual Charity Golf Tournament at The Crosby in Rancho Santa Fe. The day on the greens will also include food, drinks, a raffle, and an auction.
Girl Scouts of San Diego’s Balboa Campus will be transformed into an emerald oasis for its Wicked-themed 2025 Urban Campout: Defying Gravity. More than 400 guests are expected to attend the event and help give local girls the opportunity to fly.
Join the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego as it celebrates local youth at its 12th annual An Evening of Changing Lives. The black tie-optional gala at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina will include a silent auction, dinner, and a performance by the Mighty Untouchables.
Swim for SOF
September 13
More than 100 people, including veterans, first responders, and athletes, will swim from Coronado Island to the USS Midway to support The Honor Foundation. The nonprofit’s Swim for SOF aims to raise awareness of the challenges vets face while transitioning out of military service.
See former Eagles guitarist Don Felder perform and help create a brighter future for local foster kids at the same time at Promises 2 Kids Dream On Concert Gala. More than 500 philanthropists, community, and business leaders are expected to attend the private concert at a La Jolla home.
San Diego Fundraising Conference
September 18-19
Leaders in the local nonprofit community will converge on the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel for the third annual San Diego Fundraising Conference. Hosted by the San Diego Foundation and presented by PNC Bank, the two-day conference aims to help nonprofits diversify funding streams, build sustainable operations, and strengthen donor relationships.
2025 San Diego Heart & Stroke Walk
September 20
Lace up your sneakers and walk a mile or two through Balboa Park to support the American Heart Association. The family-friendly 2025 San Diego Heart & Stroke Walk aims to increase CPR training accessibility and bystander preparedness, and raise money for research.
Celebration for the Children 2025
September 21
The Foundation for the Children of the Californias will host its Celebration for the Children 2025 at Paradise Point Resort & Spa. The gala raises money to improve the health and nutrition of underserved children via support for the Hospital Infantil de las Californias in Baja California.
Father Joe’s Villages Charity Golf Classic
September 25
Tee off and help local veterans experiencing homelessness at Father Joe’s Villages Charity Golf Classic at the Grand Golf Club in Del Mar. Proceeds will go toward housing, support programs, and mental health services.
Children’s Benefit Fashion Show
September 27
Help stop human trafficking around the world at the Children’s Benefits Fashion Show. Sparkles Foundation’s afternoon of elegance at Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines will include lunch, entertainment, boutique shopping, and a silent auction to benefit the Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition Stop Human Trafficking, Trek 2 Share, Armenian Missionary Association of America Orphan Fund, Etchmiadzin Children’s Fund, and AGBU Children’s Fund.
Resounding Joy’s Living Your Dreams
September 27
Celebrate the healing power of music at Resounding Joy’s signature event, Living Your Dreams. The event at the Point Loma Assembly Hall will feature performances by the nonprofit’s Sounds of Service band, and raises money for music therapy programs for current members of the military, veterans, first responders, and their families.
The Party in the Park
September 27
The San Diego Automotive Museum will host The Party in the Park to raise money for the museum and programs that equip youth from underresourced communities with technical skills, and provide mentorship and career pathways to thrive in the automotive industry.
5K Walk for Sobriety
September 27
McAlister Institute will recognize individuals and families struggling with addiction at its annual Walk for Sobriety at NTC Park at Liberty Station. Proceeds from the walk will help McAlister Institute continue to provide low-cost substance abuse treatment and recovery support.
Sarah Sapeda is San Diego Magazine’s Custom Content Editor. In her 15 years in San Diego journalism, she has covered charitable events, health care, education, crime, current events, and more.
A Rare Look Inside Callaway Golf’s San Diego Test Center
The Ely Callaway Performance Center is where tour-level fittings, cutting-edge technology, and golf equipment you can’t buy yet all come together
Courtesy of Ely Callaway Performance Center
By Tina Mickelson
“Come test something.”
Those are quite possibly my three favorite words in the English language—all due respect to “I love you” or the highly underrated “you were right.”
I’ve been a PGA Golf Professional since 1994, and yes, full bias disclosure, a Callaway Golf Ambassador for 18 years. One of the bonuses that comes with that combo is access to the Ely Callaway Performance Center—a place so exclusive it gives “velvet rope” vibes.
Originally opened in 2006 as a highly functional (yet not exactly breathtaking) test facility, the ECPC got a serious glow-up in 2018 when Gil Hanse (along with partner Geoff Shackelford) turned it into what can only be described as a fully engineered golf playground. Hanse is no stranger to golf course renovations. In 2024, he completed an extensive redesign of the Omni La Costa North Course in Carlsbad, so it could host the NCAA Division 1 Golf Championships. He also worked on acclaimed courses like Winged Foot, Merion Golf Club, and Oakmont Country Club.
In just two months, it went from a standard test center and R&D lab to a fully dialed-in golf playground.
Courtesy of Ely Callaway Performance Center
What was once purely practical is now intentionally designed to be both precise and inspiring. The targets are staggered with purpose—forcing creative shot-making while also calling you out on your actual distances (no more “that’s my 150-yard club … ish”).
Add a massive hitting area, bunkers and greens that mimic real on-course conditions, a “Himalayas” putting green (named for its roller-coaster undulations), an upgraded indoor putting lab, and a 120-decibel sound system blasting a very golf-appropriate playlist, and suddenly it’s a rare blend of high-performance testing facility and “don’t mind if I stay here all day” energy. Since this isn’t exactly open to the public, SDM asked me to take you behind the curtain.
As the iron gates part, it feels less like arriving at a practice facility and more like being granted backstage access at a rock concert—if the bandmembers were made entirely of launch monitors and perfectly manicured turf.
There are no mats. No guessing. No “I think that one felt good?” Just conditions that mirror exactly what tour players see in competition. Because when you’re testing equipment at this level, accuracy isn’t a bonus—it’s the whole point.
Even the sand matters. Different textures. Different densities. Because bunkers have personalities, too, and they are often unfriendly. And the golf balls? Brand. New. Not the usual “these have seen some things” range balls. New balls mean consistent spin, truer trajectory, and no surprises. The older a golf ball gets—and the more it’s been baked in the sun, scuffed, or generally lived a full and complicated life—the less reliable it becomes. Think of it like this: fresh ball, predictable performance; old range ball, slight chaos with a side of mystery.
I’m escorted to my personal hitting bay—basically a pop-up shaded oasis stocked with enough equipment to make a gear junkie weak in the knees. Shafts in every weight and profile imaginable. Heads lined up like they’re waiting to be drafted by their favorite team.
Courtesy of Ely Callaway Performance Center
Toptracer technology was patiently waiting to track every one of my swings, each shot instantly delivering ball speed, launch, spin, carry distance, and dispersion (a polite way of saying consistency, or lack thereof), so there’s no guessing—just data telling the truth, whether I like it or not.
We start with irons. Different heads, different feels, different results. When I miss a shot, the ball tends to leak right, so we check lie angle. A quick adjustment—2 degrees upright—and suddenly the clubface is consistently square at impact like it remembered its job. Effort level: down. Ball flight: improved. Confidence: creeping back.
Next we look at the different shaft options—because nothing says “fun afternoon” like realizing a higher kick point can change your entire golf identity. Shaft flex (how much the shaft bends during your swing) helps determine whether you get more height and distance or more control, while kick point (where the shaft bends the most) influences your ball flight—lower kick point for higher launch, higher kick point for a flatter, more penetrating shot. In other words, one small tweak and suddenly you’re hitting shots you’d normally only describe later, slightly exaggerated, over a glass of wine.
Then we move through the bag: hybrids, fairway woods, drivers, wedges. It’s a full rotation of “try this,” “now try this,” and “okay wait … THAT one.”
And yes—the new Quantum driver and fairway woods made an appearance. Without getting too deep in the weeds, they’re faster, more forgiving, and smarter (thanks to AI face mapping) than previous models. Translation: Even your mishits are now slightly less embarrassing. And they were not the only things getting tested. My patience was under attack because the driver and woods would not be available to the public for a good three months.
Courtesy of Ely Callaway Performance Center
Watching the fitting team work is like watching a Formula 1 pit crew. Clubs are swapped in seconds. Shafts tightened, adjusted, replaced. One minute you’re swinging something that seems “fine,” and the next, you’re holding a club that feels like it is a part of your DNA.
Then there’s the putter fitting. Drivers are physics. Putters are therapy. Inside the putting lab, sensors track everything—tempo, face angle, path—things you didn’t even know could be measured. Within minutes, my data politely informs me that my putter face is slightly closed at impact. Not shocking, but also not ideal.
A few quick adjustments—different head (with a bit more weight at the toe to discourage the face swinging closed at impact), shorter shaft (so I feel more over the ball, which helps my eyeline)—and suddenly the ball starts rolling exactly where I’m aimed.
Same stroke. Same golfer. Completely different outcome. If only the rest of life worked like that.
And then there’s the part that feels slightly classified. The ECPC isn’t “just” a performance center—it’s also where future equipment lives before the public even knows it exists. I’ve been there when certain clubs were basically under surveillance. Not “don’t touch,” but more “please keep phones in your pocket.”
It’s golf’s version of Area 51. Except instead of aliens, it’s drivers that won’t hit shelves for another year—and like I mentioned, waiting is not my strong suit.
Getting to test the newest equipment isn’t just a perk—it’s part of the job. It’s what allows me to stand in front of students and say, “I’ve tried it. I know what works and what doesn’t. And more importantly, I know why.” And if I happen to sprint to my car every time the phone rings and someone says, “Come test something” … well, that’s just professional courtesy.
Callaway isn’t the only place to get your swing analyzed and clubs fitted. You can stroll into big retail spots like The Golf Mart or Golf Galaxy, book a next-level session at a dedicated studio like Club Champion or True Spec Golf, test brand-specific gear at various manufacturing companies (many located in Carlsbad), or even combine a lesson and a fitting at GOLFTEC. And let’s not forget your local golf course, where fittings happen on actual turf, on a driving range you have some history with—many times with the golf professional who is familiar with your swing so they can give you valuable input. With this many options, there’s really no excuse, other than pride, to keep blaming your clubs.
Arts District Liberty Station officially became one of the state’s designated cultural districts, joining a list reserved for places with thriving creative communities. Considering the campus is home to more than 100 galleries, artist studios, museums, and arts organizations—not to mention The Joan, the 42,000-square-foot performance center housing Cygnet Theatre—it was only a matter of time until the district got its flowers.
Best Deterrent of Public Vandalism
Vision Culture Foundation
If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. The National City Public Works building has been a target of graffiti artists for years, only to be constantly painted over (and the cycle restarts). Now, it’s working with the local artists from Vision Culture Foundation to create intentional public murals. A win-win in our book.
One of the biggest questions this year is who will show up for San Diego arts and culture—so a Best Of nod goes to a nonprofit that’s been doing it for years. Founded by longtime arts advocate Susanna Peredo Swap, Vanguard Culture has staged events for creatives, told their stories, and just created an SD ARTS Pass—a single ticket that gets you access to 39 creative spots.
Photo credit: Carly Topazio
Best Way to Overcome Your Fear of Ghosts
The Rosin Box Project
Ballet’s already got a sort of otherworldly thing going for it, with people morphing into 90-degree angles and defying gravity with each pirouette. The Rosin Box Project feels like a raw, creative new force in the classic art form, though—especially with its annual Ghost Light Masquerade. It’s a dance of eerie spirits that makes you second-guess what’s real and what’s not.
Best Music Venue That Also Sells Hot Dogs
Gallagher Square
Once upon a time, Gallagher Square was just a grassy knoll behind the outfield wall at Petco Park. Now, it’s a concert venue, playground, play ball field, dog park, and unofficial home for those who prefer the vibe of baseball more than the actual game. Big-time performers are showing up: Ms. Lauryn Hill, Cypress Hill, and Peach Pit.
Best Local Canvas
Casa Casillas
Casa Casillas has filled a long-standing gap in Chula Vista’s art scene. Open since last August, the space gives local artists a dedicated venue to display their work and visitors a chance to explore the neighborhood’s vibrant art. Two rotating resident artists always keep the space moving, so it rarely looks the same twice.
Courtesy of Alley Cat Art Fest
Best Place to Say “I Think It’s About Capitalism”
Alley Cat Art Fest
El Cajon translates to “the box” in Spanish—a nod to the city’s surrounding hills—but Alley Cat Art Fest (previously called Artivál) doesn’t stay inside it. As the first arts festival in East County, it celebrates local galleries, sculpture, live music, and food trucks—the whole nine.
Best On-Two-Feet Art Tour
Barrio Art Crawl
Every second Saturday, Barrio Logan turns into a choose-your-own-adventure with the Barrio Art Crawl, a free self-guided art tour through galleries, museums, and murals, with street food and music filling in the gaps. Barrio is one of the city’s most thriving arts neighborhoods, and it’s worth getting a bit lost in.
Leave it to The Old Globe to give the local theater scene some Hollywood glamour. Katie Holmes led the premiere of Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler this past spring, turning the classic Norwegian play into one of the most buzzed-about theater productions of the year.
August is San Diego at full volume. Summer crowds are still chasing sunshine, but the calendar belongs to locals who know this is when the city really shows off. One night you’re dancing under the stars, the next you’re watching thoroughbreds with a plate of oysters in hand, catching Broadway hits, wandering gallery exhibitions, or rallying on a downtown pickleball court. Whether you’re looking for live music, festivals, theater, food, or an excuse to spend as little time indoors as possible, these are the August events worth putting on your calendar.
On the heels of Cross Pollination II’s release, house musician Lane 8 will co-headline FNGRS CRSSD x Cross Pollination, a day of back-to-back grooves at Waterfront Park.
Cross coasts at the Civic Theatre for a jukebox musical rooted in family, coming of age, and blossoming talent in Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen, inspired by the 16-Grammy Award-winning singer’s NYC upbringing.
August 23
Jeff Goldblum is a classic man. In his show at The Rady Shell, Goldblum will accentuate his old-school charm with his Mildred Snitzer Orchestra and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra.
Photo Credit: Aaron Rumley
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Month
August 1–October 10
Explore gallery walls lined with artwork juried by acclaimed artist Paul Mpagi Sepuya and chosen by the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library for its esteemed 34th Annual Juried Exhibition.
August 7
As you already know, we adore San Diego. That’s why we’re assembling the city’s crème de la crème—including over 90 curated vendors—in Liberty Station for our annual Best of San Diego Party, presented by Pechanga Resort & Casino.
Helado Negro and Reyna Tropical each specialize in bilingual music, songs overflowing with proud markers of Latinx identity. Hear the ear-tingling transmissions from their collaborative LP at Epstein Family Amphitheater.
August 16
Country music superstars, proud Georgians, and close pals Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan are doubling down on their summertime stadium tour with a boot-stomping concert at Petco Park.
August 27–September 6
The one-woman play Eleanor—told via the eloquent perspective of Eleanor Roosevelt—will make a limited return to the North Coast Repertory Theatre.
More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Month
Now Through September 3
For six straight Thursdays, downtown’s Fifth Avenue will shut down and become the city’s first-ever street-style pickleball event. Bring a paddle and enjoy DJs, a wellness market, and zero-proof drinks at Gaslamp Urban Pickleball.
August 8
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s newest foodie event, the buttery Turf & Surf Festival, offers a luxurious combo of land and sea, built for watching trackside with a loaded plate in hand.
August 22
For the first time since 2019, the free Chula Vista HarborFest will hit the shores of Bayside Park with a classic car expo, lucha libre showdowns, and the chance to meet a mermaid.
August 29
Celebrate the seven decades (and counting) spent upholding Point Loma’s coastal landmark during Cabrillo Under the Stars, a 21-plus fundraiser with bites, Beatles covers, and, best of all, twinkling lights.
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.
Kelly H. Harfouche, founder of KQ Aesthetic Society, knows firsthand that cosmetic treatments like fillers, neurotoxins, and microneedling, can not only enhance a person’s appearance and restore confidence, they have the power to truly change a person’s life. An expert injector has the ability to tailor treatments to each individual patient’s anatomy and goals for personalized results. Harfouche, a board-certified nurse practitioner, has spent nearly a decade perfecting her craft as an aesthetic injector and integrating her multifaceted artistic skills with precision patient care. Her commitment to continual education and training, plus a passion for helping people look—and feel—their best, set KQ Aesthetic Society apart in a sea of local medspas.
For many people considering nonsurgical treatments, the intent is to look refreshed and refined. KQ Aesthetic Society’s philosophy eschews a cookie cutter approach that bases treatments around units, instead working to understand each person’s unique goals, then curating a treatment plan to fit that vision. Harfouche focuses on “inclusive luxury,” the belief that everyone deserves access to aesthetic treatments, respective of budget restrictions. She develops long-standing trusted relationships with her patients, and works with each one to achieve their aesthetic objectives and address the underlying causes of their concerns.
“For me, forming an honest and open relationship with every patient who walks through the door is essential. This means understanding them on a deeper level and meeting them where they are to define and achieve their individual goals,” she says.
Drawing on her artistic background, which inspired her transition into medical aesthetics, Harfouche sees each client as a “unique canvas.” Rather than relying on standardized procedures, the practitioner’s distinctive approach combines her profound understanding of the physiological and anatomical changes associated with aging with an unwavering commitment to ongoing education about the newest products and their mechanisms of action. Her goal is to make each patient feel beautiful in their own skin and to embrace their individuality.
She has also pioneered a way to combine her talent for aesthetic artistry with her philanthropic nature. Harfouche is one of only a handful of providers using dermal fillers to treat patients with lip asymmetry and scarring resulting from cleft lip surgery. Patients travel from around the country for this transformative treatment, noting increased confidence and a restored identity. She hopes to eventually launch a training program to help fill the void in this space.
“My passion has always been connecting with people and giving back in any capacity that I can,” she says. In the rapidly advancing landscape of aesthetic medicine, you can place your confidence in Harfouche and KQ Aesthetic Society to deliver exceptional care. To learn more or book a consultation, please visit kqaestheticsociety.com.
Seniors today face challenges that were unimaginable to previous generations, and some turn to nonprofit organizations to bridge the gap. Serving Seniors helps low-income older adults with housing assistance, social services, and more. The nonprofit provides 1.5 million meals and coordinated services to 13,265 older adults each year, the majority living on less than $1,125 per month.
Dedicated volunteers, like Fred Davis, help make this important work possible. Since roughly 2008, Davis has spent six days a week at the Serving Seniors Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center serves as a liaison to help clients access much-needed resources. Here, he shares what keeps him coming back day after day.
Courtesy of Serving Seniors
What made you want to get involved with Serving Seniors?
I have a community outreach ministry and my grandson and I were on the streets downtown handing out sack lunches, water, hygiene products, clothes and shoes, and things like that and I noticed that most of the people I met appeared to be seniors. So the next logical step for me was to find a senior group that I could work with. I heard about Serving Seniors, and I made a few phone calls. No one really responded to me, so I showed up. They opened the door for me and now they can’t get rid of me. I found a home. I’ve met some really good people over the years. And as it turned out, I’ve been here longer than most of them. I’ve been here at the West Center ever since the doors opened. And matter of fact, I was the one who gave Gary and Mary West an award for their generous donation that made it possible to open up this center.
What do your volunteer duties entail?
I’m in ministry, but I don’t want that to be the highlight of what I do. It’s not just a passion for serving people, it’s a calling. I like the idea of giving and serving people and trying to meet their needs. So I counsel, I oversee the serving of the lunches, and I work with the head of the volunteer group. I’m involved in different activities. Matter of fact, this coming Saturday, I’m going to take a group of seniors out sailing. I also helped start the Civic Engagement Group. It was a group of us, and there are about three members that are left from when we originally started it. Now Serving Seniors is taking it over, and my role is to work with them. I also took it a little bit further and ended up joining Aging and Independent Services and sat on that advisory board for a number of years. That led to me being elected to the California Senior Legislature. So I’ve been advocating for seniors for a very long time. They’re a vulnerable group. They worked hard and don’t always get the respect that they deserve.
Courtesy of Serving Seniors
What do you like best about volunteering at Serving Seniors?
The people—this is my target group right here. I don’t have to walk the streets like my grandson and I did anymore; they’re right here. I’m here every day at the West Center but Sunday.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced?
The biggest challenge is not being able to help someone who really needs the help. But we try to find a way. I reach out to different organizations, faith-based organizations or other nonprofits, sometimes with success and a lot of times without success. There are quite a few people that are in need who are hardworking people, dedicated people who still want to provide for themselves and their family, and they’re just caught in that void.
Courtesy of Serving Seniors
Can you describe your favorite or most memorable experience while volunteering?
I was handing out clothes; I usually have a sock drive and I gave a homeless person a pair of socks. As they peeled their filthy socks off their feet, this person cried. You don’t know how important these little things are that we take for granted. It was really touching.
Any advice for someone considering volunteering as a way to give back?
A lot of people use the term giving back, but I just say giving. When you say ‘giving back,’ that means you’re trying to repay something and you’re taking credit. But giving is a passion. It’s something that you do from your heart, not out of obligation.
Sarah Sapeda is San Diego Magazine’s Custom Content Editor. In her 15 years in San Diego journalism, she has covered charitable events, health care, education, crime, current events, and more.
More than 6,000 ice cream lovers devoured tasty treats at this year’s Scoop Ice Cream Festival for a great cause. The event on June 28 launched an ongoing partnership with Feeding San Diego and raised $60,000, or enough to provide 120,000 meals to San Diegans facing hunger.
Sarah Sapeda is San Diego Magazine’s Custom Content Editor. In her 15 years in San Diego journalism, she has covered charitable events, health care, education, crime, current events, and more.
AVRP Studios’ tradition for Design Excellence and Innovation began in 1976 with Doug Austin, FAIA, in Solana Beach, California. The firm has since grown to complete major projects throughout the United States and Canada. We think of ourselves as a family and we care deeply about people. We want to inspire, help make their lives richer and more complete through our efforts. We believe that architecture is one of the most important art forms because of the impact it can have on the lives of those it touches. We’re delighted to have been recognized with over 150 awards for design excellence.
703 16th Street, Suite 200, San Diego, California 92101 | 619-704-2700 | avrpstudios.com
