Your dog has several very important jobs: living alarm clock, kitchen floor clean-up crew, tear soother, bed warmer (official or not). But some pups in San Diego take things a step further, committing to careers that help kids, fight fires, and bring smiles on social media. We rounded up a crew of working dogs worth knowing. Here are 10 local canines that prove man’s best friend is also man’s best coworker.
Luna (@watchdogluna)
Influencer with 30.1K followers
Even if you aren’t one of Luna’s 30,000 Instagram fans, you may have spotted hanging out the window of her human companion Angel Gomez’s van, rocking a pink pedicure, a tricked-out timepiece, and a sleek pair of Blenders sunglasses.
While Luna’s hilariously human pose comes naturally, her ensemble is the result of a few chance meetings. “One day, a little old man was yelling at us to put a watch on her wrist, and I did,” Gomez recalls. “Then, a guy in Ocean Beach suggested putting sunglasses on her because his dog got cataracts from too much sun. I reached into the glove box and told her, ‘You need to wear sunglasses, mama, to protect your eyes.’ The rest is history.”
Gomez and Luna’s history stretches back to 2010, when a friend brought the pitbull, then a puppy, to Gomez’s house.
“She was hiding inside his jacket. He came [to my] yard with this weird look on his face, and I asked him ‘Why do you look like that?’ He smiled and opened up his jacket […] and pulled out little Luna,” Gomez remembers. “When I picked her up, I looked at her eyes and she looked at me. That’s when I said, ‘You’re the one.’”
Gomez and Luna, now 14-years-old, have their cruising routine down—they start off by ordering a hot dog at Barrio Dogg, then they drive through downtown and end up in Old Town to grab a hot flour tortilla with butter. They finish the route at Sunset Cliffs to watch the sun go down.
Now, Gomez is dealing with Luna’s health issues—she has an enlarged heart and takes medication. A GoFundMe supporting her care has raised more than $2,000.
Diego (@firstdogdiego)
First Dog to the Mayor
It’s no coincidence that Diego shares his name with America’s Finest City: As Mayor Todd Gloria’s canine companion, he’s San Diego’s “first dog.”
With his DNA test showing that he’s 34.6 percent Chihuahua and 14.5 percent poodle, plus some distant pekingese, miniature schnauzer, miniature pinscher, pomeranian, and cocker spaniel relatives, Diego has a bit of the best of almost any small breed imaginable. The rescue pup is likely about 5 or 6 years old, though his exact age is unknown.
Gloria never thought he had enough time for a dog until Covid hit, says Todd Gloria spokesperson Kinsee Morlan.
“With both him and his partner spending a lot more time at home, they finally decided to foster a dog,” she recalls. “They reached out to the nonprofit dog rescue organization The Barking Lot, and volunteers there chose Diego for the mayor. It didn’t take long for them to decide to adopt Diego and give him his forever home.”
Though Diego spends most of his day chilling and napping, he does have a very important role as Gloria’s wingman during morning and evening walks. He waits patiently when residents recognize the mayor and stop him for a chat about potholes, parks, homelessness, housing, and other issues they care about.
“He’s a calm and quiet dog who only ever really barks in his sleep,” she says.
Diego will chow down on almost anything, but his favorite treats are bacon-wrapped Oinkies and Starbucks “pup cups” filled with whipped cream. He has a fascination with astroturf and can pass several happy hours pawing at the fake grass.
Hondo is a 4.5-year-old Belgian malinois who works with the San Diego Police Department as an intervention and apprehension dog—he helps officers arrest people who are resisting.
“Hondo is also a special response canine, meaning he has received many hours of SWAT training to go out on those missions,” says Ashley Nicholes, a spokesperson for the police department. “He currently is training in firearms detection to assist in recovering firearms that a suspect discards when fleeing from police.”
If you’re lucky, you may spot Hondo hanging out at public events such as hiring expos or helping with K-9 demonstrations at local schools. But in his off time, he enjoys the simpler things in life: a good nap and tug-of-war with his handler, officer Mitchel Tani.
“Hondo showed a high drive for police work early on, coupled with a very social temperament,” Nicholes says. “He is able to ride in an armored vehicle sitting on the laps of SWAT officers, but then knows he needs to go do his job to apprehend the suspect.”
A survivor of two stabbing incidents at work, he has since recovered with lots of support from the San Diego community and has returned to work with his partner.
Mochi (@mochifloof)
Influencer with 74.9K followers
Instagram celebrity Mochi is a 2-year-old Maltese. His human, Winnie, got him after moving to San Diego with her family during Covid.
Winnie started Mochi’s Instagram as a fun way to chronicle his days. “I still think it’s funny when people refer to him as famous, because to us he’s just our crazy puppy,” she says. “His fame is a product of hard work and having a little bit of luck on his side. Plus he’s adorable, but of course I’m biased.”
Mochi loves the outdoors, just like his family. He rides along in a backpack carrier on hikes and hops on cars and planes to travel. So far, he’s been to four states and several national and state parks. But he’s also content to simply sunbathe in the yard, right here at home.
“He’ll ask to go outside, and I know if it’s a sunny day, I’ll have a hard time getting him to come back inside,” Winnie says.
Photo Credit: Angie Ollman
Numa
Kumeyaay Lake Campground Ambassador
Twelve-and-a-half-year-old Alaskan Malamute Numa is the constant companion to Iiro Yrjola, the campground host at Mission Trails’ Kumeyaay Campground. Numa accompanies Yrjola as he checks on campsites.
But that’s not his only job. Numa has been trained to offer mobility, balance, and load assistance and provide medical alerts. A lifelong learner, he’s now practicing “nose work—tracking and finding things or people using his excellent ability to detect smells,” Yrjola says. “He loves … intellectual and mental challenges. Pretty much every day, [we play] hide-and-go seek either indoors or outdoors. He is a master of opening doors.”
When he’s clocked out, Numa enjoys meeting other dogs, hiking, and trotting next to bikes. Bred as a sled dog, he loves playing in snow and pulling Yrjola on an “urban mushing scooter.”
Maddie
San Diego Fire-Rescue Department
English labrador Maddie Shadoan has been helping others all her life. The 3-year-old canine was raised in the Puppies Behind Bars program, which pairs dogs with incarcerated individuals who socialize, care for, and train the animals for around 24 months. Afterward, she attended the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ accelerant detection program, learning to sniff out ignitable liquids that may have been intentionally used at an arson fire scene.
She’s now employed by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. “Maddie is a fantastic working dog,” says fire department spokesperson Monica Munoz. “She takes her work very seriously, but she also loves to play.”
Maddie will gladly chase and retrieve her ball for hours. Luckily, her colleagues dig the same game. “She absolutely adores going to the firehouse, where several firefighters are happy to play ball with her all day,” Munoz adds.
Ali the Rasta Pup
Therapy Dog
If you’ve spent any time on the Embarcadero, you’ve probably spotted Ali the Rasta Pup, strolling along with his human pal Donald. Ali’s hard to miss—parts of his curly white fur are always dyed in black, yellow, red, and green. Donald often wears a striped hat to match.
Donald is homeless, and he connected with a psychiatrist about six years ago through local nonprofit PATH (People Assisting The Homeless). This therapist encouraged him to get a therapy dog, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported in 2017.
The Maltese-poodle mix has been his constant companion ever since, drawing donations from passerby charmed by Ali’s paint job and bringing Donald comfort and joy.
Mr. Bo and Co. are a triple threat: Three San Diego pups who share their daily adventures with nearly 26,000 followers.
Grey-muzzled Mr. Bo is 10-years-old and loves to hike. He has completed 52 hikes over the past five years, including the 15-hour, 23-mile-long jaunt up San Gorgonio Mountain.
Though he can still tromp the trails with the best of them, Bo does show his age sometimes. “He shoots a mean side-eye, grumbles and groans when he is bothered by something, and can fall asleep anywhere including standing up,” says his human companion Kaela.
He’s also a hunting dog—when it comes to lizards, anyway. “He will point at a spot he has seen a lizard before for hours, despite the lizard being long gone from that area,” Kaela adds.
His sister, Sadie, is the typical middle child. Aged seven, she has her fair share of sass. “While she isn’t the nicest to most other dogs, she can be the absolute sweetest to the humans. If she loves you, she will shower you with attention, greet you at the door with one of her favorite toys, and allow you to pet and snuggle her,” Kaela explains. “If she doesn’t like you, she will make sure you know it by barking at you no matter how many times you reintroduce yourself … and refusing to allow your peasant hand to touch her soft and fluffy coat.”
Her favorite activity is paddleboarding, but don’t expect her to lift a paw. She prefers relaxing up front in her hot-pink life jacket, hat, and sunnies.
Baby-of-the-family Nash arrived as a foster four years ago and weaseled her way into everyone’s hearts before staying for good. “Nash can be intimidating-looking, especially when she stares deep into your soul, but [she] is a people-pleaser and social butterfly,” Kaela says.
While Kaela launched the account to share funny photos of Bo snoozing standing up, it’s become a way to spread awareness about local rescue groups. “I’ve successfully placed 21 foster dogs into loving homes, many through my Instagram page,” she says.
Lyle
Child Advocate Canine
Lyle is a 5-year-old yellow lab who serves on the San Diego Police Department’s Child Abuse Unit with his partner, detective Natalie Hone. He offers therapeutic services such as support and comfort to victims of child abuse while officers conduct investigations. Lyle sits with the children during interviews, medical exams, and their testimonies at court. He has already assisted on nine cases since he joined the department last April.
Lyle was chosen for the job because of his calm nature, maturity, and ability to think for himself, Nicholes says. The department needed a pup capable of settling in for long periods and being confident and calm in emotional situations.
When he’s not working, Lyle loves spending time with Hone and her family, playing fetch and tug-of-war.
Sumo (@sumotheberner)
Influencer with 18K followers
At just two years old, Sumo the Bernese Mountain Dog has already built up an Instagram following of almost 20,000. He’s the fourth Bernese Mountain Dog to join human companion Michelle Young’s family.
Young says she started Sumo’s account to share photos and videos of him with family and friends.
“I had no idea his account would become so popular,” she explains. “But it just goes to show how loveable the breed is. I’ve made great friends through his Instagram account, and many of us get together and have Berner meetups. There’s nothing quite like seeing 20-plus Berners together in Southern California.”
Sumo stands out on the ’gram for his swimming reels, because Bernese Mountain Dogs aren’t typically known to love the water. “But Sumo literally jumps right in, makes a huge splash, and has willingly and voluntarily gone down a waterslide,” Young says.
When he’s not cannonballing into the pool, Sumo enjoys playing in the snow, hiking Mt. Laguna during cool weather, and snacking on dehydrated beef liver and bully sticks.
“I hope his Instagram account continues to bring smiles and giggles to those that follow him,” Young says. “If you see us around town in San Diego, please say hi.”
Claire Trageser has been writing for San Diego Magazine for 10 years. She also is a reporter at KPBS and writes for The New York Times, National Geographic, Marie Claire, Elle and Runner's World.
It’s finally fall, and although it may not feel like it (our ceiling fans are this close to flying off their hinges), San Diego is ringing in the cozy season with a heap of fun events. Whether you’re wanting to find your new favorite outfit at Fashion Week, cheer at the Oceanside Shock’s home debut, or practice meditation at the Strength in the City Festival, these are the best things to do in October.
Go beyond the menu during the Taste of North Park, with over 50 food samples and 15 beverage stops, plus live music and art-driven programming to keep all the senses engaged.
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Cross the Coronado Bridge—and bring your appetite—for A Taste of Coronado, an island-wide culinary jaunt in support of beloved businesses and the Promises2Kids nonprofit.
Courtesy of La Jolla Art & Wine Festival
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Month
10/8–11/1
In the Roustabouts Theatre Co.’s newest comedy at Scripps Ranch Theatre, roommate beef has no age limit. In “Ripcord,” a feud between Abby and Marilyn escalates to absurd heights.
10 & 11
Pay it forward to local public schools with each pet adoption, purchased piece of art—from over 170 artists—and sip of wine, beer, or spirits at the free La Jolla Art & Wine Festival.
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Those in search of creativity and community can find both at Other Places Art Fair South, a free showcase for independent artists and galleries at California Center for the Arts, Escondido.
Photo Credit: @gabephelan
More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Month
9/30–10/4
Where can you play pickleball with celebs, sample local eats (including that place you’ve always been meaning to try), and take part in the scenic and delicious Grand Tasting at Surf Sports Park? There’s only one answer: the Del Mar Wine & Food Festival.
2–4
Sashay your way through the 19th annual Fashion Week San Diego, home to stunning runway couture, fall designer collections, and a trunk show—perfect for shopping for your new look.
9 & 10
Dance to Y2K throwbacks all weekend long during Ocean Beach Oktoberfest, which includes a beach party, a stein-holding competition, a brat-eating contest, and for VIP attendees, a custom “OB2K Oktoberfest” liter mug.
First comes the sting, then comes the shock. San Diego County’s newest sports franchise, Oceanside Shock, will make its home debut in the Federal Prospects Hockey League versus the Fresno Falcons at Frontwave Arena.
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Working out is just one part of this Waterfront Park wellness experience. Practice meditation, play bingo, and recover with sauna zones during the Strength in the City Festival.
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At the 25th annual Oceanside DÍa de los Muertos Festival, the Day of the Dead is alive and well. Walk through a chalk cemetery and Por Siempre Car Club’s decorative trunk altars during the free event.
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.
Through its Playmakers initiative, San Diego FC is working with artists, musicians, and other local creatives to shape the identity of the city’s newest professional sports team
What does a soccer team have to do with San Diego’s arts scene? Quite a lot, as it turns out. When San Diego FC launched, the club could have spent its marketing budget on billboards, bus wraps, and digital ads. Instead, it went into neighborhoods, found local artists and creatives, and started building the club’s identity with them. Through its Playmakers initiative, artists have designed limited-edition merchandise, had their work featured on the stadium’s jumbotron, and found themselves in front of thousands of fans—and, in some cases, a national TV audience.
For this special edition of the podcast, created alongside San Diego Magazine’s September arts and culture issue, host Troy Johnson talks with Sebastián Morúa, SDFC’s Senior Vice President of Brand & Innovation, and longtime San Diego native and creative Tony Martinez of Barrio Junto. The conversation gets into why a professional soccer club would make local art part of its business, how Martinez’s decades in San Diego’s creative community helped shape Playmakers, and the club’s early efforts to connect with artists across the county through its Chrome Ball Tour and neighborhood events. The goal, they explain, isn’t simply to put a local artist on a T-shirt. It’s to let the people who already understand San Diego help define what the new club looks and feels like.
The conversation also gets into the less glamorous—but important—side of supporting artists: money. They talk about how Playmakers pays local creatives, the value of the platform SDFC provides, and what it means to build an ongoing relationship between a professional sports club and the artists who help shape its identity. They also discuss the club’s growing music initiative, which will bring local musicians into the fold, and the many ways artists have already contributed to SDFC through merchandise, murals, Parks & Pitches projects, and more. Ultimately, it’s a conversation about soccer, art, community, and what can happen when a major sports franchise gives the people already making culture in San Diego a bigger platform.
This summary was provided to you by AI. To hear from the humans, listen to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts.
At Del Mar Wine & Food Festival’s Grand Tasting, the walk between food tents can take a while. You might stop to watch a chef competition, get pulled toward the DJ, or find yourself playing mini golf before you remember which bite you were after.
Across the Del Mar Polo Fields, there’s also line dancing, a 1961 red Beetle ready for photos, and an aviation-themed pop-up with Reno Tahoe chefs and mixologists. Need a slower stretch? Check out the wellness stops or browse the shops. Here’s what to look for as you make your way through the festival’s zones:
Courtesy of Del Mar Wine & Food Festival
VIP First Bites & First Sips
VIP ticket holders get a head start, with the VIP Reception running from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. and serving first bites, first sips, and a few surprises before the Grand Tasting officially gets going. Champagne Telmont will make the festival’s first pour, while Cohn Restaurant Group brings carajillos alongside pours from Karl Strauss, Licor 43, Tap Truck San Diego, Bebemos Tequila, and Devil’s Grin Gin.
The bites are just as good. Celebrity chef Beau MacMillan will serve a first bite, while Warung RieRie is bringing one of its highly coveted dishes. Yes, this is the restaurant that currently has an eight-month waitlist. You’ll also find bites from The Shellfish Affair, The Waverly, Wolf in the Woods, Dora Ristorante, Cori Pastificio Trattoria, An’s Gelato, Pacific 333, Vintana, and more.
And because every good first act needs a soundtrack, there will be live painting and music, with Courtney Govan bringing live jazz to the reception. It’s the perfect opening act before the main event.
Live Cooking & Culinary Moments
During the VIP Reception, chefs Tommy Gomes and Jeff Roberto will conduct a live ahi cutting. Plant Paradise brings another culinary angle, with celebrity chef Zuliya Khawaja joining the plant-based lineup. The area combines chef talent with plant-forward restaurants and brands, giving guests a chance to see just how creative plant-based cooking can get.
Throughout the weekend, The Stage keeps the cooking demonstrations coming, with celebrities and chefs sharing techniques, recipes, and plenty of inspiration for anyone who plans to actually cook something when they get home. Before you know it, you’re watching a chef demo, casting your awards vote, and sipping mezcal on the grass with friends you just met in line.
Courtesy of Del Mar Wine & Food Festival
DJs, Music, & The Party
At the Grand Tasting, dancing just sort of… happens. A DJ drops the right song. Someone’s holding a taco in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. The country zone breaks into a two-step. Friends convince friends. Strangers become temporary dance partners. By the end of the day, everyone’s forgotten they were ever worried about looking cool.
DJ TENAX will be spinning in Plant Paradise, bringing house, techno, and UKG to an open-air dance floor that’s hard to leave. Chris Cantore, a veteran San Diego broadcaster, takes over the VIP Tent, while BootScootin Line Dance and PVO Events bring country-style line dancing to the Polo Fields, so you can work off your tasting itinerary one two-step at a time.
Then a live guitar hum in the distance leads you to a fuchsia boa over at the Pride Zone, where you’ll find yourself covered in sequins and having the lawn party of a lifetime.
Sports, Tailgates, & Games
Not every activity at the festival requires a tasting glass (although it’s certainly encouraged).
The Matchday Experience brings San Diego FC and San Diego Wave FC into the Grand Tasting, complete with interactive tents and plenty of game-day energy. Athletic Brewing is also sharing activation space with San Diego Wave FC, bringing a fun nonalcoholic option into the mix.
For golf fans, the Los Angeles Golf Club is bringing a Dryve Box golf simulator to the festival. And if your competitive streak is less fairway and more miniature windmill, SD Pop Up Mini Golf has you covered.
The Beach Zone gets in on the action, too, with surfing-inspired elements and Playavole paddle courts. Hemlock Hats and other California brands add to the coastal atmosphere, but the real draw is having somewhere to actually play. And don’t worry, you can cool down in COOLA’s turquoise beach chairs, too, and when your bestie suggests reapplying sunscreen, obviously you do. Basically, there are plenty of ways to work up an appetite between tastings.
Courtesy of Del Mar Wine & Food Festival
Photo Ops & Instagram Moments
You’re going to want to take photos, and the festival has made that extremely easy.
A Timeless Day is bringing multiple photo moments to the Grand Tasting, including a 1961 red Beetle at The Italian Getaway and a teal VW bus in The Beach Zone. For something a little more polished than the standard group selfie, head to the Locals Zone for Pixster Photo Booth and San Diego’s version of a Glam-Bot, complete with a grass red carpet.
Bebemos Tequila is also bringing back its festival-favorite hidden speakeasy. If there’s ever a time for a photo, it’s here. Otherwise, people might not believe you. The speakeasy serves bone marrow shots straight from the bone, with candlelight, a lounge area that makes it hard to believe you’re in a tent outside, and little orange shot glasses. This is “first slide of your festival photo dump” material.
You can also grab your squad and head to LaCroix’s bright and ridiculously cute setup, or swing by San Diego Magazine’s area, where you might stop for a photo in front of the larger-than-life SD Magazine sign and find yourself watching a painting come to life.
But really, you’re in Del Mar. The ocean is essentially your backdrop, and every zone gives you an excuse to stop for the obligatory “totally candid” photo. And yes, the best strategy is to get the group shot before everyone has been sampling wine for three hours.
Shop, Browse, & Take Something Home
The Grand Tasting also doubles as a little shopping excursion, with local makers, fashion, vintage finds, jewelry, and lifestyle brands scattered throughout the grounds. Smoke Revival Vintage Vault brings the thrill of vintage treasure hunting, while Nortte Hats and Hemlock Hat Company make a pretty good case for leaving with a new accessory.
Keep an eye out for jewelry and creative vendors, too, including Iris Studio Jewelry and New Nightfall Jewelry, plus local artists and makers featured throughout the festival.
You can come for an all day food and wine festival, but still leave with something shiny you definitely did not plan to buy.
Wellness & Reset Moments
We know, at some point, even the most dedicated grazer has to come up for air. The Novo Dia Wellness Zone is designed for exactly that, bringing together mocktails, coffee, hydration, wellness brands, and even bites from Parakeet Cafe.
Step away from the food and drink frenzy for a few minutes, relax in the shade, try some skincare, stretch with prAna, and maybe grab some Instant Hydration Electrolytes before round three.
There’s also nothing wrong with stopping to smell the roses at Green Air Botanicals while devouring a dairy-free cheese dip. It’s less about disappearing from the party and more about making sure you have enough energy to keep going.
The zones give you somewhere to wander, and the activities give you a reason to keep going. So grab your tasting glass, check the schedule, and leave a little room in your afternoon for something you didn’t plan on doing. At Del Mar Wine & Food, that’s usually where things get interesting.
Isabella Dallas is a freelance writer for San Diego Magazine and the Arts and Culture Editor at The Daily Aztec in her final year at San Diego State University. She previously worked as an editorial intern for SDM, but when she’s not writing, you can find her trying the best coffee spots in SD, devouring the latest rom-coms, and indulging in anything and everything pop culture.
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.
What Will It Take to Make San Diego a Global Arts City?
Jonathon Glus on the Art + Design District, investing in the creative economy, keeping artists in the city, and what we can learn from places like London and Chicago
Jonathon Glus is the Prebys Foundation senior fellow leading the development of the Art + Design District at the Downtown San Diego Partnership. He has been asked what an arts and design district is many times. In our conversation, I asked him instead to describe what it isn’t. His answer opened up a broader discussion about what San Diego has and hasn’t invested in, what it has the capacity to become, and what other cities have done that we haven’t. Glus speaks about global art fairs and architecture biennials in Chicago and long tables at dinner parties all with the same fluency. He also discusses who gets to live in the neighborhoods where creative work happens, and what it means when they can’t afford to stay.
Claire Johnson: You have been asked what an arts and design district is many times. Can you tell me what it isn’t?
Jonathon Glus: It is not a place designed intentionally and specifically for tourists. Of course there will be opportunities for tourists to come, but the district is really focused on creatives, on creative education, and on the creative workforce—as well as our major performing arts organizations. That is the emphasis.
What does the district need to do in the next five years for you to consider it a success?
[It needs to] develop greater connectivity between the anchor institutions—the symphony, Broadway San Diego, the opera, all the wonderful things happening in Balboa [Park]—and the creative workforce that will be living and working in that neighborhood 24/7.
What does San Diego not have that you wish it did?
We have not been intentionally investing in the contemporary art product that other major cities have been building. A contemporary art fair. A biennial that reflects the ethos of this region. Chicago developed an architecture biennial about eight years ago. London has a design biennial. Desert X, right here in Southern California, invests in and elevates contemporary artists inside a city. We have not really been playing in the global art market in a way that we have the capacity to.
What capacity do we have?
We have a wonderful foundation. Two theater companies that produce work that goes to Broadway more than many regional theaters in the country, major museums, artists teaching at UC San Diego and University of San Diego. What a city does when it wants to take itself to the next level is intentionally create the product. Miami went after the Art Basel fair; they did not passively receive it. You have to have the intention and the will, and you have to go after it. We haven’t done that in the way that other cities have.
Look at what we did with the tech sector; we’re now a major tech center. That was intentional. Leadership organized around it. We have to do the same thing around the arts. We have a lot of contemporary art collectors here. We have a lot of galleries. But the ecosystem of the business of contemporary art is not as organized or as visible as it should be.
Which city is your North Star?
It’s bits and pieces of different cities. Dubai has invested very quickly and very intentionally in contemporary art—art fairs, design fairs, higher education, artist residencies from all over the world. London has centered artists and creatives in the contemporary zeitgeist in a way that was not true 40 years ago. They built biennials. They ensured British artists had affordable housing and workspace. They made sure the media paid attention to what they were doing.
If you don’t have an artist at your dinner table, it’s not a dinner party. That sounds elitist, but it’s true. It shows the value that artists have in a community. Our relationship culturally with Tijuana is really significant here because artists in Baja seem to be at the table.
We’ve talked before about how food, fashion, design, and art aren’t siloed anymore.
They aren’t. When super creative people are in a community doing extraordinary work, that draws other super creative people doing extraordinary work. That’s why other arts and design districts around the world end up populated with some of the most interesting restaurants and young fashion designers. Creatives want to be around other creatives.
Which leads to the economic argument…
Our creative economy already employs about 170,000 people and generates more than $11 billion in economic activity. It’s large and robust. But we must center all of this in accessibility and affordability. Williamsburg used to be affordable. Artists can’t afford to live there anymore. Wicker Park and Bucktown in Chicago—artist central, now unaffordable. If we’re going to invest in this district, we have to be really intentional about housing and workspace, so creatives have a place in the future of this district.
I see all these new supper clubs and creative collectives popping up. What is the lesson there for San Diego in terms of the commercialization of cultural and creative groups?
I think the lesson is that nothing changes. What do people love? Long tables. Why? Because you’re with a lot of people—some you may have known your entire life, but most you don’t. And if it’s driven by a creative process, all the better. We know one of the best ways to do that is around food, but also music.
For the Art + Design District, part of why we’re leaning into the process is because, culturally, we’re bringing down the barriers between film, fashion, multimedia, tech, and architecture. It’s an experiential mashup in the best possible way.
And it’s not just about art and design, but community writ large. Creative expression is something we all desire. Whether it’s at a long table, at the opera, or in your studio, we gravitate toward creative expression as a way of building community and communicating with the people around us.
Is there a question I should have asked you but haven’t?
I hope you are writing about this in seven years when the district is fully mature. But this is just the beginning for all of this. I think that’s what’s most exciting to me. We don’t know what this is going to be like, but we know it’s going to be creatively centered, and that’s super exciting to me.
On February 28, 1926, the Fine Arts Gallery of San Diego (now called the San Diego Museum of Art) opened its Plateresque doors to 3,000 guests for opening day. Over the next century, the museum changed with the times—even once functioning as a naval hospital after Pearl Harbor. This year, the museum is celebrating its 100th birthday with an exhibit (open through January 24, 2027) featuring photographs, ephemera, and film footage spanning the museum’s history.
Courtesy of Tim Novara
Free Concerts at Spreckels Organ Pavilion
Every Sunday from 2 to 3 p.m., stop by the historic Spreckels Organ Pavilion for a free concert presented by the City of San Diego on the largest outdoor organ in the world (more than 5,000 pipes). The pavilion seats 2,400 for performances by the civic organist or guest artists.
Some think natural history museums are just cemeteries for dioramas that haven’t received an update since the Reagan administration. When it comes to The Nat, which just finished a $7.5 million rejuvenation, they’re totally wrong. The museum debuted a new rooftop that replaces its 25-year-old atrium. The old roof created a greenhouse effect that steamed up some exhibits, so the new one—which includes 200 solar panels and better temperature control—will help preserve the artifacts inside. Each Friday in the summer, The Nat also becomes one of the season’s vibiest hotspots during Nat at Night, with food from places like Wolf in the Woods and The Craft Taco, bars and signature cocktails on several floors, and a rooftop DJ.
Fleet Science Theater Remodel
The Fleet Science Center just received its most significant update since the 1990s. It expanded its exhibit space by 20 percent and introduced a newly designed entrance gallery (formerly the IMAX theater lobby) that includes free exhibits for visitors who want a taste of the science without paying an admission fee. The former ticketing area now houses the Mindbender Mansion exhibit, and there’s a new café, Element 8, that will, of course, sell the center’s famous soft serve.
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.
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