Local Stokes: October’s Hottest Picks

Best Place to Shop for a Cause

Thread Spun

Much as you’ll want to, you can’t move into Thread Spun, a sustainably minded Encinitas boutique on North Coast Highway. But you can stock up on beautifully made, thoughtfully curated homewares, apparel, accessories, personal care items, and goodies for kids to turn your own abode into the closest approximation, knowing you’re doing good in the process—Thread Spun donates two percent of its sales to charitable causes. Excellent excuse to pick up a seabuckthorn facial serum for yourself when you grab beaded coasters for your bestie’s birthday.

Best Retail Relocation

REI

Every climber’s favorite store just got fresh digs: North County’s REI moved from Encinitas to Carlsbad in the La Costa Town Square in February. The grand-opening ceremony included free camping mugs, activities, and a ribbon-chopping ceremony (starring an axe instead of scissors)—a fitting debut for an adventure-focused outpost in one of America’s outdoorsiest cities. Stop by for anything you might need to live your best life al fresco, whether that means an off-the-grid camping trip or a day at the beach with a reusable water bottle and a nice, new umbrella.

Best Spot to Source Century-Old Doorknobs

Architectural Salvage

Egyptian doors from the Napoleonic era, North Park street lamps from the early 1900s, and 100-year-old Hungarian workbenches are just a few of the eclectic treasures you’ll find at Architectural Salvage. Walking into the home and building materials shop feels like stepping into a real life I Spy book—a world of whimsy packed with storied relics. Formerly located in Little Italy, the beloved store reopened this past November in a new Barrio Logan location. Whether you’re giving an antique a second life or hunting for a hidden gem, this spot delivers surprises you didn’t know your home needed.

Best Source of Rare Star Wars Action Figures

Replay Toys

In February, heaven on earth for toy lovers and collectors—Replay Toys—moved from Ray Street into a newer and larger location on University Avenue in North Park. Mom of two Kim Nabours started selling her kids’ old playthings at the swap meet 14 years ago. Her side hustle turned to a permanent brick-and-mortar where kids can pick out new and used toys and grown-ups can chase down rare collectibles and nostalgic mementos.

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Best Store For Spell Ingredients

Datura

Get out your grimoire—North Park’s Datura (named after a lovely but hallucinogenic and potentially deadly f lower) carries everything you need for witchy business: candles and crystals, incense and oils, plus more than 200 different dried herbs and plants. Seeking shatavari for boosting libido? Gentian root for better intuition? Frankincense for warding off the haters? It’s all here.

Best Replacements For Your Decade-Old Work Shirts

Uniqlo

People call Uniqlo the “Japanese Gap” for a reason: It’s an affordable, reliable, wildly popular source of wardrobe staples. So, last year, when the first San Diego location opened at Westfield UTC in La Jolla, the 1,000-person crowd that gathered at its grand opening celebration came as no surprise. The store had a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a taiko drum performance, and even Japanese pastries and tea. Now, the beloved store will unveil an outpost at Fashion Valley Mall later this year. Get in line early.

Best Bookshop That’s Old Enough To Drink

Maxwell’s House of Books

Maxwell’s House of Books’ 22-year tenure in La Mesa makes perfect sense once you learn that owner Craig Maxwell’s grandpa Vernon Wahrenbrock ran the iconic Wahrenbrock’s Book House in downtown for more than seven decades. Maxwell’s packed used book emporium stocks rare editions and budget-friendly finds alike across genres. While you’re digging for your next read, don’t forget to say hi to the shop’s most esteemed bibliophile: its chubby resident cat.

Best Rose-Scented Ode

David’s Daughter

A surefire way to brighten a loved one’s day? Flowers—especially ones as thoughtful and artfully arranged as the bouquets at David’s Daughter in North Park. Owner Chandler Rossi named the chic, welcoming shop in memory of her father, a fellow florist and lifelong inspiration. Offering custom or premade arrangements, floral subscriptions, cute knick-knacks, and collaborative workshops like Pilates & Petals, David’s Daughter purveys everything you need to express sympathy, say thank you to a devoted family member, or help a new romance bloom.

Best New Obsession For Budding Designers

Fringe Fabrics

Finance, Education, & Legal

Accounting Firm

Considine & Considine

Bankruptcy Law

Thomas B. Gorrill

Charity

Helen Woodward Animal Center

Family Law

Beatrice L. Snider

Financial Planning

Canter Wealth

Home Insurance Provider

AAA San Diego Insurance and Member Services

Litigation Law

Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers

Loan Provider

Jason E. Gordon – (Gordon Mortgage Group)

Local Bank

North Island Credit Union

Local Credit Union

North Island Credit Union

Personal Injury Law

Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers

Private School

University Of San Diego

Public School

Westview High School

University

San Diego State University

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Health, Wellness & Cosmetics

Acupuncturist

Be Well Acupuncture Collective

Animal Welfare Organization

San Diego Humane Society

Barber

The Little Italy Barbery

Beauty Services

Honest Skin

Chiropractor

Acru Health

Cosmetic Dentistry

Dr. Brian Davey

Cosmetic Dermatology

Beauty Lounge Medical Spa

Cosmetic Surgeon

Sirius K. Yoo, Md (Sky Facial Plastic Surgery)

Cosmetic Surgery Group

Changes Plastic Surgery & Spa

Dance Studio

Activate House

Day Spa

Four Moons Spa

Dental Office

Blue Wave Dental Care

Eyeglass Store

Urban Optiks Optometry

Fertility Center

San Diego Fertility Center

Fitness Studio

Verve Studios Del Mar

Gym

Activate House

Hair Salon

Scisters Salon & Apothecary

Hair Stylist

Hair By Rachel Sd

Health Insurance

Sharp Health Plan

Hiking Trail

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

Hospital

Sharp Memorial Hospital

Martial Arts Studio

Ka’imi Kuoha – Othentik Gym

Massage

Four Moons Spa

Nail Salon

Sunny’s Spa & Beauty Lounge

Orthodontist

Dr. Kurt Stormberg

Personal Trainer

Wellness With Lele

Physical Therapy Spa

Proactive Physical Therapy And Sports Medicine

Veterinarian

Banfield Pet Hospital

Weight Loss Clinic

Katalyst Wellness

Yoga Studio

Wolf & Lion

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Home & Living

Apartment Community

The Jewel At Lux

Artificial Turf & Lawn

Elanit Abrams

Auto Dealer

Mossy Toyota

Auto Parts Store (Tie)

Autozone Auto Parts + O’Reilly Auto Parts

Auto Repair

Smitty’s Service

Building Contractor (Tie)

Dreamstyle Remodeling + Kaminskiy Design & Remodeling

Carpet Cleaner

J&C Carpet Company

Child Day Care (Tie)

Warren-Walker School Early Learning Center + World Of Wonders Preschool

Commercial Real Estate Company

Next Wave Commercial

Coworking Space

Moniker Commons

Dog Beach

Ocean Beach Dog Beach

Door & Window (Tie)

American Vision Windows + Dreamstyle Remodeling

Escrow Company

Chartwell Escrow

Estate Planner (Tie)

Alspaugh & Alspaugh Law + Henderson, Caverly & Pum Llp

Family Beach

Coronado Beach

Flooring & Carpet

Select Carpets Inc

Furniture Store

D3 Home Modern Furniture

Garden & Nursery

Armstrong Garden Centers

Heating & Air Conditioning

Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Air

Home Builder (Tie)

Kaminskiy Design & Remodeling + National Black Contractor Association

Home Loan Provider

Origin Point Mortgage

Home Organizer

Elanit Abrams

Independent Living Community

The Remington Club

Interior Designer

The True House

Kitchen & Bath

Kaminskiy Design & Remodeling

Landscaper

Ramos Landscape San Diego

Local Nonprofit

Helen Woodward Animal Center

Mattress Store

D3 Home Modern Furniture

Moving Company

Ace Relocation Systems

Neighborhood

Little Italy

Patio Furniture

D3 Home Modern Furniture

Pest Control

Dewey Pest Control

Picnic Spot

Kate Sessions Park

Plumber

Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Air

Pool Cleaning

Padre Pools

Property Management Company

Garden Communities

Real Estate Agent

Bree Arellano

Real Estate Agent Team

Greg Cummings Group | San Diego Real Estate | Compass

Real Estate Brokerage Company

Compass Real Estate

Solar Power Company

Baker Electric Home Energy

Sunset Viewing Spot

Sunset Cliffs

Surf Spot

It’s A Secret…

Tile & Masonry

Daltile

Tire Store

Discount Tire

Wedding Venue

Bali Hai Restaurant

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Travel, Entertainment & Shopping

Airline

Alaska Airlines

Antique Store

Sea Hive Station

Appliance Store

Costco Wholesale

Art Gallery

Bread & Salt

Artist – Jewelry

Ember&Onyx

Artist – Muralist

Josue Baltezar

Artist – Painter

Stefanie Bales

Artist – Photographer

Angela Garzon

Bookstore

Verbatim Books

Boutique Clothing Store

Stroll

Boutique Hotel

Inn at Moonlight Beach

Camera Store

George’s Camera

Canabis Dispensary

March and Ash

Concert Venue

The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

Doggy Day Care

Platinum Pet Sitting Co.

Engagement Rings

Marrow Fine

Evening News Broadcast

NBC 7

Event Venue

The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

Florist

Native Poppy

Golf Course

Torrey Pines Golf Course

Golf Store

Land & Sea Golf

Grocery Store

The Mighty Bin

Groom & Bridal Wear

The Bustle Bridal Boutique

Jewelry Store

Gorjana

Karaoke Bar

The Lamplighter

Local Casino

Sycuan Casino Resort

Local Theme Park Or Attraction

San Diego Zoo

Mall

Westfield UTC

Morning News Broadcast

FOX 5 KSWB TV

Movie Theater

The Lot Liberty Station

Museum

Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Music Nightclub

Belly Up Tavern

Best Place to Make Your Mail More Beautiful

Sweet Paper

From wedding invites to custom notepads, Sweet Paper in La Jolla is a one-stop shop for finding pretty paper goods and other post-worthy delights. Customers can be choosy when searching the stationery and gift boutique for greeting and business cards, locally inspired presents, personalized envelopes, gift wrap, and other products that make sending mail more exciting. The ways to include your own personal touch are endless. –MK

Best Spot For, Well, A Meet-Cute

Meet Cute Bookshop

Not a single Dan Brown thriller in sight. Queer-owned North Park bookshop Meet Cute exclusively stocks romance novels, with particular focus on LGBTQ and BIPOC authors (and an allowance for the occasional queer memoir or nonfiction writing guide). And if you happen to reach for a book at the same time as a fellow hopeless romantic… Well, we know how this story goes. –AR

Best Tech for Happy Feet

Road Runner Sports

This 40-year-old, family-owned San Diego business just launched new 3D foot-scanning technology that helps customers with their in-store shoe, sock, and custom insole fitting experience—for free, in less than 10 minutes. Called Fit Finder, the tech provides a comprehensive foot analysis with personalized shoe and gear recommendations, including apparel from their Korsa collection and their popular (as in 12-million-plus sales) R-Gear Drymax socks. –KO

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Best Street-Style Watching

Lucky Stars Market

The city’s entire population of Gen Z iconoclasts materializes at this roving market to shop women-, LGBTQ-, and BIPOC-owned businesses. Consider a full-scale, ’90s-movie-style makeover–new pre-loved outfit, new handmade resin earings, new piercings–or simply pick up a croissant-shaped candle and try to recover from the fact that early noughties clothing is now considered “vintage”. –AR

Best Wedding Registry for Cool Cohabiters

Casa y Cocina

Finally, an answer to the dilemma of what to put on a wedding registry when you already live together and own a Nespresso machine: Ask for prickly pear salt. A newish North Park shop from the founder of Artelexia, Casa y Cocina sources tableware, kitchen items, dry goods, and other home stuff from Mexico and offers registry services. Sure, you have dishes, but a handmade Oaxacan salsa bowl? Didn’t think so. –AR

Best Beauty Salon for Both Blowouts and Vibrators

Angelica B Beauty

Angelica B Beauty takes self-care seriously. While picking up beauty products and home décor, guests can browse Angelica B’s line of pleasure products to learn more about sexual wellness. Whether you’re getting your roots touched up or adding color to your sex toy game, this beauty shop in South Park is all about empowering women from head to… use your imagination. –NM

Best Spot for Obscure Bitters

Collins & Coupe

Your home bar called. Your grenadine’s expired. Upgrade your dinner party drink game at Collins & Coupe, a North Park barware store slinging new and vintage glassware, cocktail recipe books, specialty ice, bar tools, and every imaginable mixer (garam masala bitters, anyone?). You’ll have to hit a liquor store for the booze—though they do offer a selection of zero-proof spirits for sober folks craving something shaken or stirred. –AR

Best Tattoo with a Point-of-View

Pixley’s Oddities

In the front, the queer-owned University Heights studio is a fairy garden offering taxidermied critters, fantasy-inspired wire crowns, and Kewpie dolls. The muraled back room hosts more than a dozen artists, each with their own distinctive art style. Browse their Instagram to find the flash that feels most you,from ultra-detailed stick-n-pokes to sketchy, brightly colored florals and spindly abstract sigils. –AR

Best Alternative to Matching Tatoos

Fuze Jewlery

A step above BFF necklaces and below getting one another’s initials inked. At Liberty Station, the Fuze team welds delicate, claspless chains onto wrists, ankles, and necks. Select your metal and chain style (the shop offers more budget-friendly sterling silver and gold-filled options as well as 14-karat white and yellow gold) and, with a flash, you’re friends for life. –AR

Best Zero-Waste Shop for Plastic-Haters

Earthwell Refill

Environmentally conscious consumers don’t have to spend ages reading labels when they visit this zero-waste refillery in Kensington. Shoppers can bring their own containers to Earthwell Refill to buy plant-and mineral-based beauty and cleaning products. With the mission of diverting plastic items from the landfill and local waterways, Earthwell sources natural goods, such as detergent, shampoo, shower gel, and other toiletries, as well as sustainable items like stainless steel razors and bamboo toothbrushes. –MK

Best Place to Sleep in a Tree

Alter Experiences at Mt. Laguna

Husband-wife hosts Rami Abdel and Shantel Seoane created Alter Experiences as a haven away from city hustle. They thought of everything to make tent camping accessible and hassle-free (including luxurious linens and outdoor kitchens), but what makes this place extra special are the tree hammocks. Equipped with super cozy, warm sleeping bags and lights that make them glow like fireflies or aliens (depending on your imagination), they offer a unique, weightless outdoor sleeping experience. –CG

Best Club for Long Runs and Bar Crawls

Black Flag Running Club

Back in the day, there used to be something called Ed’s Run, an event loosely organized through meetup.com that brought 50 to 100 people together by the harbor to jog five miles and then consume many beers at the Waterfront Bar & Grill. These days, Ed’s Run is no longer, well, running, but there are still social exercise clubs to be found. Black Flag Running Club has weekday evening meetups and Saturday long runs that are well-organized and held at a rotating list of locations. The group has no pretensions about speed or ability, is welcoming to all, and is heavy on the socializing—with plenty of drinking and parties to counteract the miles you’re putting in. –CT

Best Epic Hike Challenge

All Five Peaks in Mission Trails in One Day

Say you’ve tackled most of the region’s hikes and are looking for a new challenge. Well, what about climbing all five peaks in Mission Trails on the same day? There are plenty of people—some as young as four or five—who’ve hiked all the mountains. But doing all the treks in 24 hours scores you special status. If you complete the challenge without any driving between peaks, you’ll have earned endless bragging rights. –CT

Best Jet Skiing For Crazy Wave-Jumping

San Diego Jet Skis

You can rent jet skis from just about anywhere around the city, but to really feel the power of these bad boys, head out of Coronado with San Diego Jet Ski Rentals and skip the slow-paced bayside options. Because of the many motor boats and the distance to the ocean, renting from here gives you more opportunities to wave-jump and feel the wind in your hair. –NM

Best Adventure for High-Octane Families

Tandem Paragliding at Torrey Pines

Even the youngest thrill-seekers can experience the epic adventure of a tandem paraglide at Torrey Pines Gliderport. Expert instructors answer all your questions and ease pre-jump jitters with clear guidelines. While waiting, the gliderport offers the ideal picnic spot with a view. Then, gear up in a helmet equipped with a GoPro and soar for 25 minutes of pure exhilaration over the serene coastline. Check that one off the bucket list! –CG

Best Place to Run a Racket

The Hub Pickleball

If you haven’t tried pickleball yet, what are you waiting for? The Hub is San Diego’s largest dedicated pickleball facility, boasting 26 courts, a pro shop, restaurant, event space, and clinics for beginners and pro picklers alike. Memberships start at $99 a month, with discounted youth prices and drop-in options also available. Ready to watch, but not play? Don’t miss the World Series of Pickleball at The Hub from Oct. 27–29. –BD

Most Posh Way to Play Outside

Coronado Lawn Bowling Club

Dress in all white to look dapper outdoors during a game of lawn bowling hosted by the Coronado Lawn Bowling Club. Operating since 1935, the nonprofit club offers free lessons to San Diego County residents on the artificial green adjacent to the Coronado Public Library. Trainees get to feel boujee with 30-day access to the green and equipment to master their throws. Call to request gratis instruction. –MK

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Best Bathhouse Remodel

The Golden Door

Guests from across the continent travel to luxury retreat The Golden Door for relaxation and rejuvenation. The all-inclusive health spa pairs activities like yoga, hiking, and meditation with pampering such as massage, skin, and nail services for a full-body reset. This utopian property got a facelift with a multi-million dollar renovation, including complete overhauls of the bathhouse and pools, plus upgrades to their 40 guestrooms. While the bathhouse dates back to 1958, improvements include a new Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, cold-plunge pool, and an LED light therapy bed. –KO

Most Underrated Leg Workout

Pedal Boating on Lake Murray

All due respect to lunges, but frankly, you’re terrible and everybody hates you. Luckily, it’s always leg day on Lake Murray. Vessel rentals–which include pedal boats, canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and motorboats–are first come, first served at the concession stand Wednesdays through Sundays. Pedal boat rates start at #30 for the first hour and $15 every hour after. It’s a surprisingly easy (and scenic!) way to develop thighs of steel. –BD

Best Race to Set a PR with Santa

Holiday Half in December

Held just before Christmas, this annual half-marathon starts on Carmel Mountain Road and then lets you roll on downhill for the entire course. It traces the State Route 56 bike path and finishes at Torrey Pines State Beach for a net 714 feet of elevation loss over 13.1 miles. It’s pretty tough to run it and not set a personal record—or at least feel like it was a super fun and easy time. And you can get your racing done right before the holidays, then kick back and feast until the new year. –CT

Best Sit-Down Spot With a Playplace

Del’s Hideout

Say it’s a Friday night, the kids are bouncing off the walls, and cooking dinner in that chaos feels like a very difficult form of astrophysics. Enter Del’s Hideout in Del Cerro, a Cohn Restaurant Group spot. It’s got tasty barbeque, sandwiches, and salads, plus a good kid’s menu with their favorites: burgers, mac ’n cheese, grilled cheeses. But elementary schoolers don’t sit for food no matter how much fromage is present. Del’s knows this, so they turned a shipping container into a play area with foam blocks, push carts to ride around in, and a small climbing structure. So you can sink down at a table, grab a craft beer, and send the little ones to get their zoomies out. Bonus: Every Wednesday you get a free kid’s meal with the purchase of an adult entrée. –CT

Best Gamifying of Fine Dining

Ambrogio by Acquerello

The new modern Italian tasting-menu restaurant is a partnership between the owners of Ambrogio15 and the chefs behind Milan’s Michelin-starred Acquerello. One of those chefs, Silvio Salmoiraghi, got his first star at vegetarian restaurant Joia, which explains the choice to offer two menus: omnivore (wow, the Alaskan cod) and vegetarian (featuring his signature dish, Acquerello Rossini). A knockout linguine and the “omelette surprise” appear on both lineups. The omelette is presented with four mystery fillings under each quadrant that the server asks you to taste and identify, gamifying a gourmet meal. –KO

Best New Addition to the Stadium Food Trend

Snapdragon Stadium

Snapdragon Stadium promised a lot from the get-go. So far they’ve done a damn good job delivering with Major League Rugby, one of the most electric women’s sports teams in the country (Wave FC), concerts, and concessions. That final bit is especially key, because why bother watching a game in real time unless the food is as exciting—if not more—as the spectacle? Snapdragon’s curated selections run the gamut. Petco Park started this star local-food game, and Snapdragon carries the torch well with Crack Shack, Cali BBQ, Hodad’s, and more. –BD

Best Way to Sabbath

Juniper & Ivy

J&I was one of the restaurants that put Little Italy on the serious-food map. It opened with Richard Blais holding the reins. Now, for nearly 10 years, it’s been Anthony Wells (protégé of Thomas Keller and Jonathan Benno) who keeps it flying high. While they’re usually a nice-shirt kinda place, they’ve introduced a Sunday Supper, a more casual, family-style, three-course meal using the best of hyper- local farms, fish, and ferments. It’s set to return in September. Wipe great food on your jeans. –TJ

Best Bar to Cheer At

Majorette

When beloved College Area dive The Ugly Dog Pub closed and became Majorette, the transition breathed new life into a neighborhood thirsty for more upscale options. Yes, there are still billiards (now free, in fact), a cozy patio, and big screens showing sports. But owner Will Remsbottom is serving seasonal plates, low-ABV cocktails, and plenty of smashburgers paired with natty wine. Rah rah, indeed. –BD

Best Drive-Thru Experience for Introverted Caffeine Junkies

happyfastdelicious

If the line of SUVs at Starbucks seems a little long and life-draining, happyfastdelicious in Hillcrest is an introverted nine-to-fiver’s dream. Opened in 2022, the grape-and-yellow, A-framed coffee drive-thru offers indie-shop creativity with the speed and convenience of mobile ordering. Grab espresso, energy drinks, seltzers, and sodas in 30-plus flavors to get a customizable fix for that uber-specific craving. From banana-bread lattes to cocoa marshmallow cold brew, it’s fast done well. –MK

Best Not-Dessert Dessert

Ciccia Osteria

Mario Cassineri and Francesca Penoncelli had been angling toward this little house for a long time. The married Italian transplants started a decade-plus ago as the food engine at Bice in Downtown (he was the chef; she, the cheese expert). In 2019, they threw everything into this cottage of their own. They can make pasta from scratch in their sleep, but it’s the mushroom flan that snatches breaths: a little truffle, a little cream sauce, and a pecorino crust. –TJ

Best New Microgreens Dealer

Cardiff Farmers Market

How did Cardiff not have a farmers market til recently? The beach burg is so rustic that parts of it don’t even have sidewalks. Well, that’s fixed now. Saturdays bring the Cardiff Farmers Market to Mira Costa College’s San Elijo Campus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Located just off the 5, the market has close, ample parking and 70 vendors, including Cardiff Tiny Farm and Seas Greens Microgreens. –KO

Best Place to Rock an Elastic Waistband

Shabumi