It begins innocently enough. You exchange numbers. You start to text. You ask about siblings and their hometown and send a flirty selfie or two (after 26 takes). And, finally, you decide the beige flags outweigh the pink ones. (This is modern romance, after all.) Now, you’re ready to ditch your digital correspondence and go 3D—it’s time for a date.
To give Cupid’s arrow some tailwinds, we’ve devised 20 stellar ideas to get you and your boo(or bestie, if you prefer to enjoy the city without sweaty palms and will-we-won’t-we pressure) out and about all over the county. All we ask for in return is an invite to the wedding—or at least some kiss-and-tell intel on that first smooch.
So, go for it. Ask them out. We’ve got you covered with everything from first-dates to anniversary adventures. All you gotta do is bring the charm.
Échale Photo Credit: Kai Diaz
Encinitas
The sparks of creativity won’t be the only ones you feel tonight. Begin your date at the Institute of Contemporary Art North, a living laboratory of up-and-coming, often experimental fine artists. Spy soon-to-be classics and roam the halls of this North County museum to learn a little more about your partner’s tastes (you may be sharing an art collection, after all).
Then, swing by Leucadia’s The Mudd House. At this pottery studio, you can reserve a wheel and go for it or sign up for group or private lessons for a tutorial if you haven’t held clay since 9th grade. (Warning: Any Demi-Moore-Patrick-Swayze moments will amp up the chemistry but end up killing whatever you’ve thrown on the wheel.) End the night at Échale, the chicest little SoCal-inspired bistro in town, with a plethora of organic wines and a menu that offers bites like gambas al ajillo and local sea bass.
Courtesy of Jaguar Paw
Barrio Logan
Every second Saturday brings the perfect excuse to hit the streets of one of San Diego’s coolest neighborhoods, Barrio Logan. Running from noon to 8 p.m., the Barrio Art Crawlis a monthly self-guided tour of the area’s 15 or so galleries. Check out what’s on the walls at the lynchpin art space Bread & Salt—its micro-galleries like Best Practice support some of the most innovative cross-border art in the county. Then, head up from Julian Avenue onto Logan Avenue to stop at spots like the Logan Ave Galeria de Arte and Galeria Mestizaje, home of the Aztlan Youth Brigade, which has been helping update the murals at Chicano Park.
After working up an appetite from all that strolling and being insightful, try a cult-classic fish sando at Fish Guts, the charming shack run by renowned chef Pablo Becker. From there, amble along to Jaguar Pawfor a nightcap that won’t set you back tomorrow, thanks to a robust menu of low-ABV offerings and mocktails. The bar also offers organic wines, kombucha, and the stronger stuff should you need it, all set to live music and a swinging scene, perfect for impromptu dancing and whispering sweet nothings. May we suggest, “You’re the best artwork I saw tonight?”
Cabrillo Tidepools Photo Credit: Cole Novak
Point Loma & Ocean Beach
Great dates don’t just happen—they’re thought out ahead of time. And Point Loma is a layup when it comes to planning to spoil your date with pretty things to look at while stuffing your face with delicious eats. So, how do a little tide-pooling and a sunset picnic sound? Start off at Cabrillo National Monument, where you can spend your afternoon peering at ocean critters and traversing trails or exploring the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, which, at more than 440 feet above sea level, is considered the highest lighthouse in the US.
Then bring things down to earth in OB and hit up the iconic, family-run Little Lion Café, where you can grab some to-go grub with options ranging from croissant sandos to cobb salads. (Pro tip: There’s a gas station across the street for drinks.) Then, lay down a blanket for a sunset snuggle on the nearby Sunset Cliffs, where you can tally up all the romantic brownie points you just scored.
If the date is going well once the sun sets at the cliffs, OB is where it’s at for late-night live music, drinks, and good kinds of trouble.
The Holding Company: With a rooftop bar offering a mix of modern Asian-inspired food and crafty drinks, plus two live music venues with wildly diverse lineups downstairs, THC is a solid choice for both the cocktail-inclined and the musically adventurous. So, if you’re looking for a show, this is a safe place to roll the dice.
Winstons Beach Club: There’s not a frill to be found at this laidback venue known for hosting an eclectic mix of local reggae, jam bands, and comedy nights. Unpretentious and OB to the core, Winstons is a favorite local hang. Hemp hoodies welcome.
The Harp: Recently purchased by Miles Doughty, the frontman of OB-based band Slightly Stoopid, The Harp is the revitalized beating heart of the Newport Avenue live music and beer (and early-morning European soccer) scene. Bands play loud here, so popping in for a show is less about conversation and more about seeing how your date dances to reggae-rock.
Courtesy of Hidden Fish
Convoy District
Ahead of “til death do us part,” give “for richer, for poorer” a test run with a high-low night in Convoy. Omakase spot Hidden Fish’s 12-seat sushi gallery boasts offerings from Japan’s world-renowned Toyosu Fish Market. During your 90-minute slot, you’ll nibble 18 delectable morsels of silky sashimi, and what’s sexier than that? If you said a pitchy performance of “Take On Me,” you’re in luck—Carriage House Cocktails & Karaoke is only a five-minute walk away. You’ll know you’re there by the blackout windows and sole, flickering Budweiser sign.
Inside is a dive to win all dives. Darts whiz past your barstool and the sand on the shuffleboard table hasn’t been changed, well, ever, but everyone who follows the bouncing ball here gets a healthy round of applause. Once you’ve heard all the forced vibrato you can stomach, trade “loudly sung” for a “Softly Spoken”—a gentle elixir of Diplomatico rum, Michter’s bourbon, Pedro Ximenez sherry, mango, coconut cream, Chinese five spice, orange, lime, and angostura bitters—at Realm of The 52 Remedies, a favorite amongst San Diego’s bar industry elite.
Courtesy of Belmont Park
Mission Bay
Ah, young love. Is it the best kind? Find out by channeling your inner teenager and spending a day in Mission Bay. Enter the gates of Belmont Park and walk down the midway full of the aromas of funnel cakes and pheromones as you attempt to win your paramour a gigantic stuffie with your dart-throwing or water-gun accuracy skills.
If the thrill of riding the 100-year-old Giant Dipper roller coaster didn’t get you in the mood, maybe snuggling up on a Sea-Doo will. Head to Mission Bay Sportcenter and hold tight to your own bae for a jet ski excursion. Bring a change of duds (something a little fancier) to end the evening with a meal at Dockside 1953. This nautical-leaning eatery at the Bahia Resort boasts unbridled views of the water and options like seafood towers and braised lamb.
Courtesy of AllTrails
Fallbrook
The key to a successful first out-of-towner? Keep it low-pressure by escaping only an hour from downtown SD to Fallbrook. Make it an early morning mission and head up the 15 to Monserate Mountain Trail Loop, a hike that takes you up 1,400 feet. At the summit, you’ll be greeted with views of the Peninsular Range and hopefully a sweaty hug.
This is proof that you can weather the ups and downs together should be all you need to get them a rock—a semi-precious one, anyway. At the nearby Oceanview Mine, you can pick and pry for gems (tourmaline, kunzite, morganite, and more) with local company Dig for Gems. Finally, wind down with a visit to Monserate Winery. Go through a guided tasting with the resident oenophiles; it includes six of the winery’s estate-grown vinos, plus some welcome bubbles to tickle your palate.
Time for your own personal Love Island—with fewer camera crews, bare midriffs, and (hopefully) shouting matches and more adorable architecture, charming shops, and sea breezes. Coronado’s Flagship Ferry launches near the Convention Center or the Broadway Pier to take you to the idyllic peninsula. After a quick sprint across the bay with epic views of the Coronado Bridge, get your land legs and then head to the Coronado Municipal Golf Course for a bucket of balls.
Neither of you know how to play? Even better. Forge your bond in the fire of open self-mockery and a pact to forever avoid anything but putt-putt. Give yourselves a congratulatory quiet clap, then show them your true grip with a cutesy handhold as you mosey over to The Henry to split a plate of short rib potstickers and people-watch below charming striped umbrellas.
La Jolla
San Diego is a destination for millions of visitors each year—so why not play tourist in your own backyard for a carefree day of staycation stylings? Begin with brunch at Sea & Sky, Hotel La Jolla’s penthouse perch with panoramic views of the Pacific. Get energized with pancakes that play with the flavors of pink lady apples, cinnamon anglaise, and a pecan-oat crunch.
More of a savory character? Try the green egg shakshuka. Then, strap on your life vest, stretch your arms, and climb into a boat built for two to explore the coast’s famous sea caves on a guided tour with La Jolla Kayak. Once you’ve saluted the sea lions, say hi to other marine life at Birch Aquarium at Scripps, which houses tiny penguins almost as cute as your boo.
Youngblood Photo Credit: Arlene Ibarra
Downtown
If music be the food of love, a musical is a veritable buffet—but first, treat them to an actual meal at Saint James French Diner. Sit two-by-two at the très mignon bar or head upstairs to the roof to see the expanse of the Gaslamp in all its historically debaucherous glory. Try the steak or moules frites (they both come with fries, so how can you go wrong?) and sip a vert-hued cocktail in anticipation of your seats at the San Diego Civic Theatre’s live production of Wicked. (We suggest the absinthe frappe to stay on-brand emerald.)
Stroll a few blocks to the theater and follow the love story of two not-so-different friends. After the show, head towards 8&G, the compound that houses Youngblood, a minuscule, Parisian-style, gem-in-the-wall cocktail speakeasy with a mere 16 seats. Once inside, try not to stare at the genitalia-print carpet and only into your date’s eyes.
A splash of bubbles greets you as the bartenders begin to whip, shake, and stir an intoxicating, three-course, liquid trip based wholly on your preferences. Taking a paramour someplace where the mixologists can turn their favorite dessert into a digestif is sure to make you, well, popular.
Courtesy of Market on 8th
South Bay
Tired of taking yet another pedicab-dodging Tinder stroll through the Gaslamp? Show your date the underrated charms of South Bay instead. Begin at Chula Vista Bicycles, where you can rent a pair of two-wheelers for a half-hour ride (just under six miles via Broadway and the Bayshore Bikeway) to Market on 8th for a food cruise—but be sure to call ahead for bike availability.
After your self-guided tour of the food hall’s wares (perhaps Sushi National for some Japanese-Mexican mash-up or an espresso sweet treat from Alessie Café?), swap the bikes for your whip and roll into the South Bay Drive-In for a flick. May we recommend ditching the front seat for the back to ensure ample cuddling space? You’ll thank us when you come up for air as the credits roll.
Courtesy of The Lodge at Torrey Pines
Torrey Pines
The craggy and majestic Torrey Pines cliffs are romantic enough, but when you add the peril of paragliding and hang gliding at the Gliderport, intimacy is sure to take flight. Unless you’ve gone through glider school, you’ll have to break away from your babe to do a tandem soar with some of North America’s best glider pilots. But the views of the rolling, watery corduroy below are worth it. Once you’re back in the safety of terra firma, head up to The Lodge at Torrey Pines and sneak onto the croquet court, perched above the greens of the Torrey Pines Golf Course with a spectacular view of the horizon.
A mallet in hand always gives Heathers, so find your inner Christian and Winona as you compete in this very civilized sport (just leave the chainsaws and TNT at home). Finish up your hang by patronizing yet another hotel down the road. Estancia La Jolla’s Mustangs & Burros offers open-air dining and a central fireplace to amp up the cozy factor—just in case your margarita (or your date) doesn’t do the trick.
Photo Credit: Andrew Jorgensen
Shelter Island
When was the last time you ventured over to Shelter Island? If you’re local, we’re willing to bet it’s time to revisit, if only for the food at nearby Old Venice, where we suggest opening with what restaurant critic Troy Johnson called “the little black dress of apps”—baked triple-cream brie served with a hulking bulb of roasted garlic—then moseying into the rigatoni bolognese. If you scored the two-top that’s fireside, linger over dessert. If not, ditch the sweets in lieu of something fortified at Bali Hai.
Swing hand-in-hand to this Shelter Island institution. Order the mai tai and do your best Lady and the Tramp impression with two straws. Once you’re thoroughly tipsy (which won’t take much at Bali Hai), it’s time for the main event: a show at Humphreys Concerts By The Bay, with seats that boast a great view of the stage and the ships beyond.
Courtesy of Haunted San Diego Ghost Tours
Old Town
Exploring the city’s spine-tingling heritage in Old Town will jump-scare your date straight into your arms. Start at Cas Wet Plate Collodion Photography for an old-timey tin-type snap. Holed up at the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant on the weekends, this father-daughter film duo brings the 19th century to the now, one flash at a time. Next, steel yourself with something strong enough to keep the demons at bay at Oculto 477, San Diego’s only speakeasy settled next to a graveyard.
Stashed inside Tahona, the bar serves sinful sips like the Gluttony, a blend of Japanese whisky, rhubarb amaro, sweet vermouth, and mole. Then it’s on to the only kind of ghosting you should be doing tonight: Haunted San Diego Ghost Tours offers evening slots to saunter through the unseemly sites of San Diego lore, from Heritage Park to the Whaley House—all fraught with sagas that will scintillate any true-crime podcast obsessive.
Mabel’s Gone Fishing Photo Credit: Kimberly Motos
North Park
North Park has run up the ranks as the top contender for SD’s best food neighborhood, thanks to recent additions like Finca and Flora, mainstays like Black Radish, and upcoming attractions like Brad Wise’s A’L’ouest. To satisfy your Bourdain itch, get your mollusk on with the hip staff of Mabel’s Gone Fishing. The restaurant’s “Oyster Hour” kicks off at 4 p.m. Pair discounted oysters and Iberian-inspired snacks with a porrón (your personal wine funnel) full of garnatxa from Catalonia and test your trust and target skills by having your date pour the wine straight into your mouth—glasses are so passé (but available if you’re feeling coy).
Head a few blocks down University Avenue to 31ThirtyOne’s urban rooftop overlooking the North Park skyline to sup on refined, tweezer-tamed dishes from the Michelin-starred mind of Drew Deckman. Then, call a ride share to The LaFayette Hotel (trust us, you don’t want to battle for parking) to see a concert at CH Projects’ venue du jour, Lou Lou’s Jungle Room, with an illuminated, vintage shell stage and a calendar of artists curated by local music maestro Tim Mays.
Not ready for the night to end? Grab a lift back to North Park’s main drag for a last sip at one of the neighborhood’s many watering holes.
Redwing Bar & Grill: The concert’s not over yet. Tuesdays through Sundays at this always-packed, LGBTQ-friendly joint on 30th Street, boozed-up regulars provide free entertainment in the form of enthusiastic karaoke. Here’s your chance to serenade your date yourself.
Coin-Op Game Room: The best way to round out a rendezvous? Mortal Kombat. Drop a few quarters at Coin-Op, a temple of themed pinball machines and cocktails more creative and delicious than an arcade bar demands.
Seven Grand: Still swanky but not stuffy (there’s pool!), this University Avenue bar houses one of San Diego’s most robust whiskey selections. Candlelight and a cozy back room keep things romantic—though things get hopping after 10 p.m., so expect your sweet nothings to be shared at a shout.
Merenda Photo Credit: Ian Ware
Oceanside
Is Oceanside the next Silver Lake? Twosomes who secretly envy LA and have any Supreme or Rodarte in your wardrobes, this date’s for you. Start out at the swanky, newly opened Merenda to snap the perfect hard-launch pic. Natural wine list? Check. Small plates? Check. Dim lighting that makes you look almost more stunning than you naturally are? Obvi. Have the rockfish carpaccio with a glass of pineau d’aunis from Loire Valley and talk about how hard it is to be the coolest one in your friend group.
Then, pop over to Frontwave Arena to see the San Diego Clippers shoot their shots. Ideally, you splurged on floor seats, but, if not, make it fun and place some playful bets on three-pointers from the cheap seats (drinks on you at the next spot?). Cash in on those odds at Frankie’s for a soothing nightcap fixed by some of SD’s most artful bartenders in a subtly trendy O-side setting.
Soda Bar Photo Credit: Veronika Reinert
City Heights
There’s nothing steamier than proving you’ve got your finger on the pulse of our progressive, grassroots arts scene—except maybe a hot bowl of phở at Phở Hòa on El Cajon Boulevard. Squirt sriracha to your heart’s content to show your date how spicy you want things to go. Then, head to the Azalea Park enclave of City Heights to check out a show at The Brown Building on Poplar Street, a creative haven led by trans artists and activists.
Peep the site’s IG stories (@thebrownbuildingarts) for the latest upcoming events, whether that’s a suite of local bands, like the dreamy, watercolor-pop stylings of Kan Kan; a vision board–making workshop; or DJ school. Then, finish off the night at Soda Bar, one of the city’s top venues for emerging and local bands, so you can say you saw them before they made it to The Sound.
Born and Raised Photo Credit: Shannon Partrick
Little Italy
Play posh for the night in Little Italy, starting in the gilded halls of Born and Raised. With its neo-Gatsby architecture and artful homage to rap superstars, it’s the perfect spot to eschew pretense but love it all the same. Ball out and ask for an off-the-menu caviar bump to kick off the night’s festivities and pair it with something off the Champagne cart. Continue the indulgence and share some uni pasta made with local Assenti’s spaghetti and a sunset-hued sauce that rivals the richness of your 401K.
Split a bone-in, dry-aged ribeye while you’re at it—you’re at a steakhouse, after all. Then swing by Bobboi on Kettner Boulevard for more decadence, this time in the form of a little charcoal vanilla gelato. Round things out with a quick jaunt to Vino Carta, San Diego’s flagship natural wine shop and bar. A glass of biodynamic vino is sure to bring the feels—figuratively, of course.
Courtesy of Mingei International Museum
Balboa Park
Low on funds but high on love? Take your date to the iconic Balboa Park for a slew of gratis activities. If things are blooming between you, start at the Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden for some delightful sniffs and winsome snaps for the ’gram. Cross into the park and stroll by the fountain, then start museum-hopping. If it’s not a Tuesday (when some museums are free for locals), you can still hit up the cultural institutions with complimentary or give-what-you-can admission. Drop by the Museum of Photographic Arts at the San Diego Museum of Art to see celluloid stunners.
If window shopping is your thing, head over to the Mingei, our local folk-arts museum, to browse the lobby’s impeccably curated gift shop and sample the art on the entry level (you’ll need to shell out $15 each to ogle the rest of the exhibitions). The Timken Museum is always free—read up on your European masters, American art, and Russian icons ahead of time to drop some historical facts and impress your boo. To rest your eyes but keep the cultural feast going, make your way to Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Check out their calendar of events for specific shows, or roll up on Sunday for a free concert starting at 2 p.m.
Courtesy of Neon Moon
East County
Though us city slickers fancy ourselves Kendrick Lamar types, head 20 minutes east of our city core and it’s all Tim McGraw. So, hop in your Ford F-150, crank the AM to some Hank Williams, and drive to East County for a night of cowboy moonlighting. Kick things off at Grand Ole BBQ in Flinn Springs, where the meat just tastes smokier when you eat it while wearing cowboy boots. Get a spread of brisket, slaw, and some bacon-laden beans to share with your buckle bunny.
Now hike up those daisy dukes for a night on the dance floor at Renegade Country, where you can spin your sweetie in a Texas two-step or line dance to your heart’s content. After you’ve worked off your hearty meal honky tonking, shuffle down to Neon Moon in Lakeside for the signature Rattlesnake Margarita. It just might make you want to sink your teeth into something—or someone.
Courtesy California Wolf Center
Julian
This date is a perfect barometer of your compatibility for one reason: You get to see how they drive. Make the true commitment of spending an hour in the car with someone before you even get to the first official hang at the California Wolf Center animal reserve, just outside Julian’s main drag. Opt for the Enrichment Tour to watch packs of Mexican gray wolves as handlers offer them food and scents to really get them (and you?) on the prowl.
Try to quell that animalistic energy as you head into Julian with its bucolic vibes and all-around PG rating. Bop around the quaint Main Street and stumble into shops like Antique Boutique to find tchotchkes of yore and Julian Book House to search for romantic inscriptions on the flyleaf of used novels. Before you settle back in for another long ride down State Highway 78, stop by Julian Beer Co. to bring the howl back with a pint of the award-winning and aptly titled “Carnal Intent” black IPA.
Danielle is a freelance culture journalist focusing on music, food, wine, hospitality, and arts, and founder-playwright of Yeah No Yeah Theatre company, based in San Diego. Her work has been featured in FLAUNT, Filter Magazine, and San Diego Magazine. Born and raised in Maui, she still loves a good Mai Tai.
How Scrojo Became One of Rock’s Most Prolific Poster Artists
The San Diego designer has created more than 3,000 concert posters over nearly 40 years for artists including the Rolling Stones and the Red Hot Chili Peppers
When he was in high school, he and his friends were trying to come up with the perfect name for their punk band that would encapsulate all their personas. Nicaragua. The Freds.
One of his friends said he was going to go by Jimmy Stacks and called it “the perfect rock and roll name.” Their names changed so much that Haskett erupted: “Fine, I’m f—ing Scrotum Joe, the true defender of the Open West.”
Their response: Wow, that’s a great name.
As a teenager, he drew chalkboards for Del Mar’s Pannikin coffee shop and would design T-shirts for surf/skate brand Life’s a Beach. He signed the shirts with his moniker, but even in punk rebellion, who wants a shirt with the words Scrotum Joe on it? “They just cut out the ‘t-u-m,’ and the next thing you know, a client referred to me as that, and it stuck,” he says.
Courtesy of Scrojo
Scrojo could have been part of a band as iconic as The Misfits—had he been able to learn the famously cumbersome bassline to The Kingsmen’s “Louie Louie.” Becoming one of the most renowned concert poster designers—someone who quite literally designed the cover of Art of Modern Rock: The Poster Explosion—is a pretty good Plan B.
“To my knowledge, he’s done more rock posters than anybody else alive,” says Dennis King, whose D. King Gallery in Berkeley, California, serves as one of the largest private rock poster collections in the world. “He’s the hardest-working guy in the poster business.”
King not only co-authored the sequel to music historian Paul Grushkin’s The Art of Rock, but he also handles distribution and sales for all of Scrojo’s work. That’s more than 3,000 different posters over nearly 40 years. (That’s over one poster each week. For four decades straight.)
For anything from boxing matches to rodeos, posters have long been used as promotional items. Toulouse-Lautrec’s famous lithographs advertised Moulin Rouge in the late 1800s. Around the same time, Hatch Show Print in Nashville was making handbills for the Grand Ole Opry.
“I propose this: Cave paintings are the first poster art,” Scrojo says.
Courtesy of Scrojo
Rock and roll posters took off in the 1960s, when the hippie counterculture era replaced conformity and suburbia. Artists like Jimi Hendrix and the Grateful Dead used their vibrant, psychedelic prints as a form of rebellion from the mainstream. Posters were promotional, commemorative, collectible, and especially expressive.
If the name Scrojo is any indication, he doesn’t shy away from imagery that toes the line of being too provocative. He focused more on what inspired him instead of trying to be offensive for the sake of getting attention.
“Didn’t want to show it to my grandmother, but my parents were fine with it,” Scrojo says with a laugh.
“We’ve had to ask him to put a Band-Aid over a nipple every now and then,” says Chris Goldsmith, president of Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, where Scrojo started out and hundreds of his posters currently line the walls.
Scrojo spent six weeks at Otis College of Art and Design for a summer semester before drugs, alcohol, and a self-described lack of discipline prevented him from enrolling full time. Still, he taught himself concepts like text hierarchy and later found his niche at the Belly Up and in the surfing and skating world, working with brands like Quiksilver, Rip Curl, Scorpion Bay, and DGK.
His first concert poster was for North County band Borracho y Loco, of which Goldsmith was bass guitarist. Scrojo drew an abstract version of the Belly Up’s iconic shark with colorful calypso and tiki themes.
Early on, he would craft using a pencil, pen, non-reproduction blue pencil, X-Acto knife, rubber knife, and proportion scale to create each poster, and the finished product could take a week or even longer.
Courtesy of Scrojo
“I recommend every artist coming up to do that for like six weeks,” Scrojo says. “It forces you to think about every design decision as you’re going along.”
He has since mastered vector imagery through Adobe Illustrator to the point where, depending on the level of detail needed, he could finish two projects in a day. Still, he fills sketchbook after sketchbook to blueprint.
“I liked his line in particular, and he knows how to draw, which a lot of people don’t really know how to do these days,” King says.
Scrojo would research what each musician’s merchandise looks like to get a feel for each artist’s tone and voice. Once he has his central image in mind, he focuses on what and where to place the text.
He doesn’t have one specific style, ranging his talents from art deco to psychedelic and everything in between (and outside the lines). Want a pop surrealist comic book cartoon devil with splattered paint textures, halftone dot patterns, and pure chaos? Red Hot Chili Peppers, February 1986. Want a minimalist graphic portrait with bold strokes and graffiti text? P!nk, October 2023. Want a carnival sideshow style piece with a tasteful caricature of Jeff Bridges? The Big Lebowski, August 2011.
Scrojo calls himself a jack of all trades because he can create posters for all music genres. King calls him a chameleon for his ability to adapt his voice to new eras.
Courtesy of Scrojo
“The variety of his skillset makes it possible for us to put 50 of his posters on a wall next to each other and have it look compelling, not just a bunch of the same thing over and over,” Goldsmith says.
Some of Scrojo’s favorite posters are when he feels a personal connection to the artist or the album. He has a vivid memory as a child of being trapped in a closet filled with marijuana leaves while playing hide and seek and staring at Jimmy Cliff’s “The Harder They Come” LP. “For whatever reason, as a kid, that sparked a desire to do graphic design,” Scrojo says.
Fast forward to February 2012, Cliff is performing at Belly Up. Scrojo decided to modify Cliff’s original album cover from rainbow gradient fills to classic reggae psychedelia while preserving Cliff’s striped pants and bold hat. Cliff’s manager called him and said they wanted to use it for the rest of their tour.
“We always get artists requesting that he does their posters,” Goldsmith says. “A lot of artists don’t want venues to go all rogue because they want to control how they’re being presented. With him, they’re like, ‘Let him go nuts.’”
Matt Eisenberg is an award-winning writer and photographer based in San Diego. A former ESPN editor, his work has also been published by CNN, Bleacher Report and the New York Daily News.
The inland North County community of Rancho Santa Fe is often associated with wealth. It’s one of San Diego’s most expensive residential markets and is consistently ranked one of the highest-income zip codes in California and the U.S. Rancho Santa Fe is known for its large equestrian community including riding facilities and horse trails, as well as its country club lifestyle and associated golf courses.
At the center of this luxury master-planned community is a small, walkable downtown area referred to as the “village,” with The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe acting as both a landmark and social hub. Much of the community, including the historic Inn, was designed by acclaimed architect Lilian Rice, one of California’s earliest female architects. The Spanish Colonial-style architecture she brought to the village is still one of its defining characteristics today.
Whether you’re coming to Rancho Santa Fe for golf, horseback riding, or pampering at a resort spa, be sure to start with a short walk around the village to take in the neighborhood’s charm. Plan your next visit here with our neighborhood guide to the area’s best restaurants, things to do, and shopping.
Rancho Santa Fe Restaurants, Bars, and Coffee Shops
The Pony Room
Families congregate at The Pony Room for elevated California ranch-style cuisine. Lamb lollipops, carne asada tacos, burgers, and weekly dinner specials are offered here, alongside an extensive collection of wine and spirits (especially tequila) and sizeable kids menus. As the signature restaurant of Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, this all-day eatery is a lively centerpiece of the local social scene.
5921 Valencia Circle
Mille Fleurs
The piano bar at Mille Fleurs is the buzziest spot to be on Friday and Saturday nights in Rancho Santa Fe. French classics like escargot, lobster bisque, duck confit, and steak frites are the main dinner attractions at this local institution that has been around for more than 40 years. Spring for the four-course prix fixe menu before nabbing a coveted bar seat near the piano entertainer.
6009 Paseo Delicias
Nick & G’s Restaurant
Nick & G’s is one of the most prominent restaurants in the village, with an outdoor patio that overlooks the main thoroughfare. Enjoy modern Italian food, steaks, and seafood dishes here, including homemade pasta, pizza, wagyu beef, and oysters. Be sure to check their live music schedule and events calendar for the latest happenings.
6106 Paseo Delicias
Lilian’s
Named after renowned architect and planner Lilian Rice, Lilian’s is The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe’s flagship restaurant. Their upscale menus feature sustainable seafood, grass-fed meats, local produce, and even sushi rolls during dinner. Outdoor seating provides a bird’s-eye view of the village and an elegant backdrop for weekend brunch. Stop by Bing’s Bar (a nod to Bing Crosby) for craft cocktails, beer, wine, and light bites in a refined setting.
5951 Linea Del Cielo
Thyme in the Ranch
Quaint cafe and bakery Thyme in the Ranch serves a small selection of breakfast and lunch items (don’t miss the tarragon chicken salad), but is perhaps best known for its pastries and baked goods. Cakes, pies, muffins, scones, and cookies fly off the shelves here, where locals come for special occasions, parties, and group catering orders.
16905 Avenida De Acacias
Paseo RSF
Located inside a historic building once home to Rancho Santa Fe’s original schoolhouse, Paseo RSF is one of the village’s newest dining options. The charming American bistro has pasta, salads, burgers, meat and seafood entrees, plus a thoughtfully selected California wine list and new sushi and omakase program. Kids and dogs are both welcome here.
6024 Paseo Delicias, Suite C
Rancho Roasters
Grab a quick coffee to go from this walk-up window in the same shopping center as the post office. Cinnamon roll lattes, cold brew, spiced chai, smoothies, protein bowls, and more can be found at Rancho Roasters, where they brew beans from Dark Horse Coffee.
16950 Via De Santa Fe
Goli Pizza
Casual pizzeria and martini bar Goli is a popular spot for catching the latest sports games. Order one of their unique specialty pizzas like the Casbah with hummus and veggies, build your own pizza or burger, or go with one of their hearty wraps that’s made with an extra thin version of pizza dough.
18021 Calle Ambiente, Suite 403
Cocina del Rancho
Find generous portions of Mexican food at Cocina del Rancho, run by the same owners as Carlsbad’s Cicciotti’s Trattoria Italiana and Village Kabob. Get classic dishes like burritos, tacos, and enchiladas, plus their specialty items including pulpo, carne asada, and fajitas with lobster tail. Don’t skip the margaritas.
Kai Oliver-Kurtin is a San Diego-based writer who covers travel, dining, events, and culture. Her writing has been published in USA Today, Condé Nast Traveler, Fodor's Travel, Marie Claire, and HuffPost, among others.
It’s happening, San Diego. The pre–Comic-Con excitement jitters begin to creep in as soon as July hits the calendar. But for those who forgot to set an alarm on registration day, whose batteries died or whose luck ran out in the virtual waiting room, or who simply prefer to soak up the fandom frenzy from the outside, we’ve got the best ways to experience Comic-Con weekend—no badge required.
Ready Party One: The Final Level 2026 SDCC Kickoff Party
Ain’t no party like an after-hours party, and XLE Productions’ Ready Party One is definitely one for comic book fans. Kick-start your convention weekend at Parq Nightclub and enjoy music by fan-favorite ’80s tribute band The Flux Capacitors, along with enough fandom fun, cosplay, retro gaming and pop-culture nostalgia to satisfy your inner geek. At least for the night.
Date & Time: Wednesday, July 22, 8 p.m. Location: Parq Nightclub, 615 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101 Price: Tickets start at $34
Interactive Zone at Petco Park and Gallagher Square Events
With more than a dozen activities and brand activations, Petco Park’s Interactive Zone is a badgeless fan’s playground, bringing together brands, games, celebrity appearances and immersive experiences all in one place. On Friday, July 24, Funko’s beloved annual party, hosted by Funko founder Mike Becker, returns to Gallagher Square. This year’s “Quest for the Grail” event will take guests on a journey to the sunken city of Atlantis. Expect themed décor, food, drinks, games and special guest appearances.
Date & Time: Thursday, July 23–Sunday, July 26 (times TBD) Location: Lexus Premier Lot across from Petco Park Price: Free; Funko Funday event is ticketed
Cartoon and art lovers can celebrate the work of Chuck Jones, creator of some of animation’s most iconic characters, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote and Pepé Le Pew, at Seaport Village’s Chuck Jones Gallery. During Comic-Con weekend, the showroom will also host meet-and-greets with talented artists including Disney artist and seascape painter Steve Barton, The Simpsons animator Stephen Reis, and licensed Warner Bros., Hanna-Barbera and Disney fine artist Ben Olson.
Date & Time: Thursday, July 23–Saturday, July 25, 2026 (times TBD) Location: Chuck Jones Gallery, 809 W. Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA Price: Free
PAWmicon Pet Cosplay
Get your pup’s—and your own—cosplay game ready because Helen Woodward Animal Center’s PAWmicon is back. Enjoy a Comic-Con-themed outing with the whole family while raising awareness for orphaned pets in San Diego. Divided into three categories—Flying Solo, Dynamic Duos & Trios & More, and Fantastic Floats—the event is a paw-fect way to jump-start the festivities.
Date & Time: Tuesday, July 21, 2026, 4:30–7 p.m. Location: Presidents Way Lawn at Balboa Park Price: Free
Comic-Con-Themed Bar Crawl
Why leave all the fun, mischief and mayhem to badge holders when you can join more than 300 partygoers and crawl through some of downtown San Diego’s top bars and nightclubs? Whether you’re called to save the universe or have an allegiance to the dark side, the annual Comic-Con Bar Crawl gives attendees exclusive access to more than 20 venues throughout the Gaslamp Quarter, with free welcome shots, exclusive drink discounts and complimentary entry along the way. This event for ages 21 and older is a fun way to celebrate your fandom outside the convention center.
Date & Time: Friday, July 24–Sunday, July 26, 2026, 8 p.m.–2 a.m. Location: Check-in at Toro, 672 Fifth Ave., San Diego, CA 92101, from 8–9 p.m. Price: $13–$30
Her Universe Fashion Show
Geek out over couture at the annual Her Universe Fashion Show at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. Hosted by founder and Star Wars: The Clone Wars actress Ashley Eckstein and presented by Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, this year’s show will feature a selection of designers showcasing one-of-a-kind DC-inspired creations as they compete for a $2,000 cash prize.
Note: Wristbands are traditionally distributed the morning of the event on a first-come, first-served basis, but official details have not yet been announced.
Date & Time: Thursday, July 23, 6 p.m. Location: Manchester Grand Hyatt, Seaport Ballroom, 1 Market Place, San Diego, CA 92101 Price: Free
Comic-Con Museum
A destination for all things fandom, Balboa Park’s Comic-Con Museum brings world-premiere and exclusive exhibits and events to the heart of San Diego, giving fans a place to geek out all year long. The museum is currently featuring the U.S. debut of Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder, showcasing 17 of the Doctor’s most iconic costumes, a full-size TARDIS and a collection of original sonic screwdrivers used on-screen. Visitors can also explore Sangre, Sudor y Mito: The Art and Tradition of Mexican Lucha Libre, featuring rare collectibles and authentic masks and costumes worn by legendary luchadores.
Date & Time: Open Thursday through Tuesday (closed Wednesdays), 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Location: 2131 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101 Price: $15–$30; free for children younger than 6
Comic-Con Art Show
Browse an extensive collection of original drawings, paintings, jewelry and other whimsical creations from more than 100 professional and amateur artists at the Comic-Con Art Show. Many pieces will be available for purchase through the silent auction or Quick Sale, giving fans the chance to take home a one-of-a-kind Comic-Con souvenir while supporting talented artists.
Dates & Times:
Thursday, July 23: 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
Friday, July 24: 9 a.m.–8 p.m.
Saturday, July 25: 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Sunday, July 26: 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Location: Manchester Grand Hyatt, Grand Hall CD, 1 Market Place, San Diego, CA 92101 Price: Free
Looking for a supercute way to fuel your Comic-Con adventures? Swing by the Hello Kitty Café Truck. This traveling pink café on wheels will be parked at Petco Park’s Interactive Zone, serving up tasty treats and exclusive merchandise. From limited-edition tote bags and hats to mugs and T-shirts, it’s the perfect stop to grab a snack and a little extra kawaii cuteness.
Date & Time:
Thursday, July 23–Saturday, July 25: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Sunday, July 26: 10 a.m. (closing time TBD)
Location: Petco Park Interactive Zone, 100 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101 Price: Menu items vary
PopUp Bagels, Spider-Man and Donut Bar Activations at Pendry San Diego
Get ready to fuel up and hype up. Whether you’re a plain-bagel purist or an everything-bagel fan, don’t miss your chance to grab breakfast or recharge at PopUp Bagels’ Volkswagen bus parked outside Pendry San Diego. Then satisfy your sweet tooth at Provisional with a rotating selection of character-themed doughnuts from Donut Bar. Both are available throughout the weekend beginning at 7 a.m. until sold out.
On July 24 and 25 from noon to 4 p.m., head to Nason’s Beer Hall for photo ops to celebrate Sony Pictures’ upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Guests can sample Tom Holland’s nonalcoholic beer brand, BERO, served in limited-edition themed cans available exclusively during the event.
Camila Ibarra Gallego is a CaliBaja native pursuing a master's degree in culinary journalism at the Basque Culinary Center. Shaped by the culturally rich, bicultural megaregion, she's passionate about sniffing out stories that connect people, territory and culture through food. When she's not tumbling down internet rabbit holes, you can find her pretending to be a wine connoisseur at a local wine bar or nose-deep in a good book.
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.
Before, during, and after the Fourth of July, San Diegans can commemorate America’s 250th anniversary with an abundance of stars, stripes and local celebrations. America The Beautiful: 250 at The Rady Shell and Lamb’s Players Theatre’s revival of American Rhythm will look back at the many songs which define our country. Liberty Station’s Anchored in Freedom celebration and the Independence Day Carnival offer community-centered fun and loads of family-friendly activities. And who can possibly forget the Big Bay Boom, which will resume its reign over San Diego Bay as the state’s biggest fireworks show. Outside of the holiday festivities, this week brings the yearly return of Little Italy’s Summer Sera and the Athenaeum Summer Festival, as well as a slate of championship matches for All Elite Wrestling.
Sip on refreshing beverages and savor a panoramic rooftop view this Friday from 6-8 p.m. during the 21-plus Sunset & Spritz at Margaritaville Hotel San Diego Gaslamp Quarter’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar. There will be a live DJ (until 9 p.m.), appetizers, pool and cabana access, a photo booth, and a cash bar (until 11 p.m.). To accentuate the summer theme, guests are invited to dress in white, pink, and orange attire. Tickets are $29 and come with a welcome aperol spritz.
616 J Street, Gaslamp
The 250 Grand Tasting Menu at Amaya
July 3 & 4
Bring a patriotic palette to the Fairmont Grand Del Mar for The 250 Grand Tasting Menu at Amaya this Friday and Saturday from 5-8:30 p.m. Patrons will be treated to a five-course tasting menu, curated to exhibit a selection of standout regional flavors and culinary concepts that have shaped our country’s distinct food heritage. The meal will also include beverage pairings with each course, such as wine, cocktails, and artisanal drinks. Reservations are $330 per person (with tax and 20% gratuity) on OpenTable.
Don Toliver thrives at being the life of the party (and the “After Party”). His fifth album Octane, released in February, is indicative of his thrill-seeking nature. As with his earlier releases, Octane sees Toliver operating in the space between hip-hop and R&B, with warbling vocals and blaring beats that are best heard at a high volume. This Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., Toliver will play at Pechanga Arena, with rappers SoFaygo, Chase B and SahBabii—who had a guest verse on Octane standout “K9”—as special guests. Tickets start at $156 for this concert.
What makes musicals like Wicked, Cats, Chicago, and Jersey Boys so timeless is the legion of excellent songs that makes fans out of those who’ve never even watched the show. This Friday at 7:30 p.m. during Blockbuster Broadway! at The Rady Shell, conductor Evan Roider, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, and veteran vocalists Alex Getlin, Jessica Hendy, Scott Coulter, and John Boswell (also on piano) will perform an all-star theater soundtrack. In addition to the shows named above, audiences can expect songs from A Chorus Line, The Phantom of the Opera, Annie,and more. Tickets range from $57 to $129 for this concert.
222 Marina Park Way, Embarcadero
America The Beautiful: 250 at The Rady Shell
July 4
One night after recognizing the brilliance of Broadway, The Rady Shell will ring in the United States’ landmark anniversary with America The Beautiful: 250 this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Conductor Byron Stripling, joined by a five-performer ensemble and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, will lead a night of ballads that best resemble the red, white, and blue, including songs sourced from the Great American Songbook. After the show, concertgoers are invited to watch the nearby Big Bay Boom from their seats. Tickets range from $71 to $139 for this concert.
222 Marina Park Way, Embarcadero
Athenaeum Summer Festival at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library
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.
“This is insane!” the guy filming it seems to proclaim. “It’s the best fireworks show ever!” a companion confirms, inspiring a debate lasting over a decade.
All told, 7,000 fireworks exploded in the span of 25 seconds over San Diego Bay on July 4, 2012. A Michael Bay amount of unison. $125,000 worth of shells, cakes, Roman candles, and skyrockets had been placed on a barge—enough for 17 minutes of decorative sky flares—and…
Boom.
The sky looked like someone had set a giant Rorschach test on fire. Or as if whatever we all see in our Rorschachs—butterflies, clowns, tongue kissing, dads—was being electrocuted and lifted heavenward, amen. It was shocking how bright it was, how much it sizzled the local cosmos. Could’ve been one of those sci-fi films where a hole is ripped open between warring universes. But angstier, more metal—the work of some methy creator in a sleeveless concert tee.
The sound?
Lou Reed once released an entire album that contained 64 minutes of mindflaying guitar screeches and machine noises. No regular songs, just a fascinating amount of ear distress. His record label reps no doubt heard the melodic outro of their careers, but everyone else was in pain and stumped. That album still sounded better than the bay did that night. The bay sounded like a god who struggled with emotional regulation had blown his speakers and was working through the anger stage of AV grief.
In the left frame of the video, a middle-aged woman is attempting to drag her husband off by the hand. In no way does he want to go, possibly because he had missed the time Roseanne Barr sung the national anthem at a Padres game, simultaneously disemboweling and amusing America through the power of song. He would not willingly abandon an equally worthy San Diego trainwreck.
Another woman in the video appears to have just filled her beer, rushing to sit down for the show. She pauses mid-sit and returns to the full and upright position to properly bear witness. What was supposed to be prolonged entertainment has been so radically shortened that she will have to find another reason to drink. Lucky for her, drinking will be the only way to adequately process.
Locals remember the conspiracy theories. People wondered if the fuses had been tripped by a saboteur who was sympathetic to dogs, fish, or the growing suspicion that late-stage capitalism is a gorgeously branded but impossible dream sustained by remarkably efficient top-tier wealth retention and the soft compliance of fireworks-watchers who can no longer afford a house, a beer, or the personal impacts of human reproduction.
Speaking of being terrified of babies, babies were terrified. The children who witnessed it probably still can’t go near a candle store. But those kids will be tougher, perfectly scarred kids. They’ll write better songs.
That night helped us absolutely dominate the national news cycle. For a hot minute, we became America’s water-skiing squirrel. Now, years later, when you Google “fireworks gone wrong,” San Diego is always a top contender, along with that poor Nebraska family who nearly wiped out a couple generations in their front yard, their minivan somehow turning into a howitzer of recreational TNT.
There is still debate as to whether Big Bay Boom 2012 is the worst or greatest fireworks show of all time. But the advanced parts of civilization arrived at the truth as quickly as the women in the video did. It was undeniably amazing.
First of all, the point of Fourth of July fireworks isn’t “the intricate choreography of sky fire over a guaranteed amount of show time.” It’s about creating a vivid memory shared with some people you like, love, or would like to love.
BBB2012 used large-scale chemical fire to create the ultimate memory.
Sure, some people who iron their jeans subjected their family to a sermon about how San Diego managed to botch America’s birthday like a Disney princess-for-hire who smelled of quite a few Sauvignons.
The rest of us saw how perfectly it nailed the actual feeling of being an American. Because only a miniscule percentage of us bake postcard apple pies where every inch of crust is perfectly laminated like the wood in an Irish bar. Very few of us can paint on par with Picasso. The rest of us—despite truly believing in our America-activated abilities to achieve greatness in almost any field of our choosing—burn pies. We try to paint only to realize it looks like our fine motor skills have entered active death.
That’s why BBB2012 was the most perfectly American fireworks show ever: A wildly ambitious idea galvanized thousands upon thousands of people to both work on it and come to hold a beer and gawk at it, only to have it fail in the most glorious TMZ-level spectacle.
America isn’t about immaculate, storyless wins. It’s about how the framework of a country is solid enough that we can accidentally detonate our entire lives—a few times—and still probably be OK.
No one has America’d quite like San Diego did on that day. It was performance art. Lou Reed’s heart slow-clapped. Any brief municipal embarrassment quickly became a pride of our people. I can only hope the same for the Nebraskan yard family whose Dodge Aerostar became a hyperactive Death Star.
P.S. Local writer Maya Kroth compiled a quite great oral history of that night for Thrillist. The bottom lines for me were—it took nine months to prepare, no one was hurt, and even though the pyrotechnics company tried to zero out the bill, Big Bay Boom founder H. P. “Sandy” Purdon refused and paid them in full. This year will mark the 25th Anniversary of the yearly Big Bay Boom.
Troy Johnson is the magazine’s award-winning food writer and humorist, and a long-standing expert on Food Network. His work has been featured on NatGeo, Travel Channel, NPR, and in Food Matters, a textbook of the best American food writing.
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
