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From canyon to crest, strip mall to rock wall, we scouted the greatest, buzzworthiest things to do, see, sip, and taste north of the 56
CATEGORIES:
Food & Drink | Health & Fitness | Shopping & Beauty | Arts & Culture
The Best of North County 2017
You may be tempted to skip lunch and dinner after the hearty steak ’n’ eggs, breakfast bacon mac ’n’ cheese, the decadent cinnamon roll pancakes, and the s’mores French toast. Whether you go sweet or savory, the generous portions at this expanding local chain ensure you’ll leave with a full stomach.
251 North El Camino Real, Encinitas, breakfastrepublic.com
The new Crack Shack features a sandbox and chalkboard wall for ample playtime. Order a custom kids meal for your favorite human nuggets, and engage in a game of bocce ball or cornhole on-site without having to fly the coop.
407 Encinitas Boulevard, Encinitas, crack-shack.com
Hugging the shoreline of Lake San Marcos, Decoy’s dining room and outdoor bar have prime views of the lake’s recreational boaters. The restaurant’s upscale hunting lodge decor is accented with roaring fireplaces for a cozy experience. When ordering, shoot for the game meats like bison, venison, and wild boar, or get hooked on the fresh seafood selections.
1025 La Bonita Drive, San Marcos, lakehousehotelandresort.com
The Best of North County 2017
Flower Child
This new Del Mar eatery crafts its fare with the food enlightenment philosophy “healthy food for a happy world.” The colorful, bright establishment has communal and patio dining, friendly walk-up service, and a fun menu overseen by Steven Molina, formerly of Kitchen 1540 and Delicias. We love the sweet corn and quinoa, crushed avocado toast with soft egg and black sesame seeds, yuzu Brussels sprouts, skinny Cobb, and healthy bowls, as do many other locals, proven by packed tables and a long but fast-moving line.
2690 Via de la Valle, Del Mar, iamaflowerchild.com
Although this steakhouse is known for its prime cuts of beef, Bob’s signature staple is the glazed California jumbo carrot served whole with every entrée. The carrot, which is poached and braised in a brown sugar orange glaze, is so popular diners ask for the recipe to replicate it at home.
2100 Costa Del Mar Road, Carlsbad, bobs-steakandchop.com/carlsbad
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If you devour famous chefs’ memoirs and cooking shows, then you’ll savor the Kitchen Counter experience at the Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara, where you get a grill-side seat to watch the preparation of your five-course meal (the rotating menu includes octopus, duck breast, and a piña-colada-like tapioca dessert artfully arranged in a terrarium vase). Previously, only residence club members could score one of the six Kitchen Counter seats, but the restaurant opened to the public earlier this year.
7210 Blue Heron Place, Carlsbad, seasonsaviara.com
Chef Jordan Beall has launched a series of four-course pairing dinners. Imagine baby octopus salad with a riesling from Mosel, Germany; rabbit pot pie with fava beans, turnips, and buttermilk crust with an Anderson Valley pinot noir; prime rib au jus with an Y Rousseau Tannat from the Russian River Valley; and a decadent chocolate peanut butter cake with a Columbia Valley cab as a cap to a grand meal.
1201 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, prepkitchendelmar.com
Post up on the outdoor patio and snack on Betty’s Biscuits, sharp cheddar nuggets with sea salt and agave butter, charred strawberry, and serrano jam; a Baja bagel and lox with jalapeño cream cheese; Piña Colada French Toast with coconut milk, pineapple chunks, icing, and toasted coconut; or their famous smoked grilled fish tacos. Plus: bottomless mimosas for $15. Helloooooo, Betty!
211 Mission Avenue, Oceanside, hellobettyoceanside.com
The Best of North County 2017
The Miller’s Table
This new O-side spot celebrates the simplicity of the communal table and farm fresh eats. Look for a “Today Menu” inspired by seasonal farm veggies, Prager Brothers artisanal breads, herbed popcorns, vegan soups, meat and cheese boards, deconstructed crostini sandwiches like short rib and charred radicchio or gooey Gouda grilled cheese with apples and sage, paired with well-curated beers and wines.
514 South Coast Highway, Oceanside, themillerstable.com
Two years after taking to Kickstarter to become the first certified organic, non-GMO farm in North County, first-generation farmer Luke Girling has grown Cyclops Farms into an integral community player, partnering with schools on young-grower programs where students grow and sell their own crops to local restaurants, supporting zero-waste initiatives, and figuring out ways to eliminate urban food deserts. Last summer, he launched a hyper-local outdoor dinner series with wine and beer pairings, inviting talent from chef-run restaurants like Wrench & Rodent, The Privateer, and Local Tap House to prepare intimate meals on-site.
1448 Avocado Road, Oceanside, cyclopsfarms.com
The Best of North County 2017
Petal to Plate
This month, the City of Carlsbad launches Petal to Plate, a 10-day celebration of flowers and food inspired by the nearby Flower Fields that extends to the area’s hotels and restaurants. The Park Hyatt Aviara Resort is serving a seared Baja striped bass with spring flower blossoms while Chandler’s Restaurant at Cape Rey, a Hilton Resort, will serve a mixed berry hibiscus sorbet. Bistro West Restaurant at West Inn & Suites will be offering a Field Of Dreams Martini made with strawberry vodka, elderflower liqueur, and pomegranate juice, topped with a rose sugar rim. Flower power!
April 20–30, visitcarlsbad.com
With high-end ingredients—like hamachi, apricot mostarda, and pickled daikon—plus house-made potato chips and sandwich spreads, and starters such as shishito peppers and braised octopus, this is not your average deli. A liquor license is coming soon, so you can wash down your Cubano or Turketta with beer or wine; hours will also expand to include breakfast and dinner.
810 North Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, motodeli.com
After building a loyal following for four years, The Privateer Coal Fire Pizza opened a marketplace and wine bar next door last spring, bringing with it an incredible wine program and zero pretense—they even have stand-up comedy on Tuesdays. Come for the reasonably priced flights, stay for the house-made gelato and locally sourced charcuterie. Then come back for monthly meetings of the Oceanside Wine Society (born here) to sample vintages from Napa Valley to Valle de Guadalupe.
1704 South Coast Highway, Oceanside, privateer-marketplace.com
The Best of North County 2017
Butter & Crumbs
Self-taught baker Chloe Stoddard, who counts her Sicilian and Korean grandmothers as cooking muses alongside Julia Child, makes delectable sweets to order from her home kitchen in Oceanside. Stoddard’s most popular items since her June 2016 launch are the Twix cookie, a shortbread cookie topped with softened caramel and salted milk chocolate, and the Coconut Cupcake, a fluffy coconut cake topped with cream cheese icing and toasted coconut flakes. Order treats for a friend or keep them for yourself—no judgment here.
It may be a coffee shop, but Banana Dang is equally popular for its smoothies, all of which contain its namesake fruit. Still need your caffeine fix? Order a “dirty smoothie,” which includes a shot of espresso.
115 South Coast Highway, Oceanside, bananadang.com
The Best of North County 2017
Handel’s
Triple scoops run standard when you order a single flavor at this Handel’s franchise, one of four in the state and the only location in San Diego. More than 50 flavors grace the menu, which changes daily, and all ice creams are made in-store. Flavors in rotation this month include green tea, made with a matcha base, and blueberry cobbler, a vanilla-based ice cream with a blueberry-sauce ribbon and cookie wafers.
90 North Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, facebook.com/handelssd
Since its founding in 2002, Philz has been a Bay Area cult favorite (Mark Zuckerberg served its coffee at his wedding). After opening outposts in DC and LA, Philz brought its sustainably sourced, custom roasted and blended beans to the SD area, where customers sip on made-to-order pour-over brews, like the spring-perfect “Mint Mojito” iced coffee.
1060 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, philzcoffee.com
Can’t live without coffee and wine? This is your new spot for liquid courage. Just inside and to the left is the tasting room for Witch Creek Winery; to the right is Sleeping Tiger Coffees, opened by the winery last year. The coffee shop roasts its beans on-site and serves up single-origin pour-overs, cold brew on nitro, and house-made coffee syrups.
2906 Carlsbad Boulevard, Carlsbad, witchcreekwinery.com
The restaurant at Cape Rey Carlsbad serves up potent mai tais and live music at sunset, when guests can lounge by a fire pit and drink in the ocean views. It’s a tasty bit of paradise, complete with Jack Johnson–esque tunes, coastal cuisine, and a beachy vibe.
1 Ponto Road, Carlsbad, chandlerscarlsbad.com
The second in a trio of Carruth Cellars winery projects, this stylish tasting room features roll-up garage doors, cool barrel stacks, a long, elegant tasting bar, and noteworthy single-vineyard wines from grapes sourced in Northern and Central California.
2727 State Street, Carlsbad, carruthcellars.com
CGC is Carlsbad’s first “makers, office, industrial, commercial mixed-use project.” Businesses are selling flowers, offering college planning, teaching Pilates, customizing frames, hosting beer tastings, and more—all under one roof. Go local, go small, go often.
5650 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, carlsbadgatewaycenter.com
New executive chef Josh Richardi (formerly of Rancho Valencia and La Valencia) is in the driver’s seat at Masters, a former 1930s car shop turned comfort food and cocktail haven. The wallet-friendly happy hour features $7 root beer barbecue ribs, carne adovada (chili-braised pork) tacos, or ahi poke, plus $6 classic cocktails by local barman Nick Herda, who whips up tasty old-fashioneds, Moscow mules, and a festive Luau daiquiri with white rum, house vanilla, and pressed lime and orange.
208 South Coast Highway, Oceanside, mastersoceanside.com
Part of the Brewer Igniter project in Carlsbad, this new beer hub is helmed by engineer, beer judge, and 10-plus-year homebrewer Rawley Macias, who is known for his hybrid beer styles with unusual ingredients that bend the rules. He’s also an avid cyclist—hence all of the bike-inspired beer names: The Domestique (blonde ale), The Sprinteur (red ale), The Puncheur (pale ale), The Grimpeur (dark ale), The Clydesdale (IPA), and The Soloist (golden strong ale).
5840 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, rouleurbrewing.com
Tucked into the back of Urge Gastropub in a former bank vault, Oceanside’s newest speakeasy requires reservations, follows a dress code, and serves handcrafted Prohibition-style cocktails in a dimly lit room with vintage decor, a copper penny floor, and no-nonsense bartenders who take their spirits seriously. We suggest their pyrophilic potable, a rum bomb called the Boom Tiki Tiki with local Malahat rum, Appleton Reserve Jamaica rum, Apricot brandy, and fresh tropical juices—all of which is lit on fire and limited to two per person.
2002 South Coast Highway, Oceanside, 101proofoceanside.com
With a wine cellar that boasts more than 1,400 bottles, Tasting Room Del Mar’s vino selection includes several hard-to-find labels from small-production wineries. Join the monthly wine club to get a taste of their collection, 40 percent of which comes from California wineries.
1435 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, tastingroomdelmar.com
The Best of North County 2017
Burgeon Beer | Photo by Bruce Glassman
This new brewery, the brainchild of three La Costa Canyon graduates, just opened in a warehouse across from McClellan-Palomar Airport and already has a following for its Northeast-style pale ales, Imperial stouts, and Crippler Double IPA. Food trucks visit daily and yoga classes take place on two Sundays a month. Bonus points for friendly beertenders.
6530 Yarrow Drive, Carlsbad, burgeonbeer.com
San Diego’s fastest-growing brewery keeps expanding its suds kingdom. The newly minted tavern is a revamped Vista bank with 70 beers on tap, a private wine room set in a bank vault, a dog-friendly beer garden with fire pits, and hearty dining—including Cubanos, sausage sandwiches, pot pies, flatbreads, and pork chops—to soak up those strong stouts and IPAs. There’s even beer in the dessert—order one of their famed Belching Beaver Beer Floats, like their Milk and Cookies, a milk stout with cookie dough ice cream and a chocolate chip cookie.
302 East Broadway, Vista, belchingbeaver.com
The Best of North County 2017
Milagro Farm Winery | Photo by Jim Sullivan
Following a major renovation last fall, Milagro has debuted a chic new look plus a partnership with Whisknladle Hospitality (the team behind Prepkitchen, Catania, and the eponymous Whisknladle). The makeover includes a tasting room with classic board games and outdoor areas for the whole family—babies and fur babies included. They also host olive oil tastings and just introduced a food truck into the mix. With its setting on 110 bucolic acres in Ramona, the winery makes for a serene day trip less than an hour from downtown.
18750 Littlepage Road, Ramona, milagrowinery.com
At Campfire, the same techniques of cooking over an open flame are used when mixing drinks. Order off the “from the fire” section of their cocktail list for unique flavors like grilled purple sweet potato, charred parsnips, ember-grilled quince, roasted beets, and smoked apple.
2725 State Street, Carlsbad, thisiscampfire.com
New to Fairbanks is César, San Diego’s incarnation of the well-loved Berkeley restaurant. Owned by husband-wife duo Richard Mazzera and Terumi Shibata-Mazzera, this temple of tapas draws from Richard’s past at Chez Panisse, meaning farm-to-fork is the name of the game. Not to be missed is the paella for two, the rotating list of tapas, and the bar manager’s creative cocktails.
16089 San Dieguito Road, Rancho Santa Fe, cesartapas.com
The Best of North County 2017
Baba Coffee | Photo by Sabrina Roulades
In the morning, there’s a menu typical of top-notch coffee houses, with everything from avocado toast to acai bowls (with North County favorites such as VG Donuts, Prager Brothers bread, and Pannikin coffee). But from 4 to 6 p.m., Baba takes it a step further with $1 off craft beers, including local favorites like Mason and Modern Times.
2727 State Street, Carlsbad, babacoffee.com
By Anastacia Grenda
The Best of North County 2017
The Crack Shack Encinitas | Photo: Paul Body
For years, when I wanted to check out the hottest new restaurant in Little Italy or North Park it was a production—navigating freeways at rush hour, hunting for parking, and wolfing down dinner so I could get home before paying the sitter overtime. But now a night out is as simple as a five-minute surface-street drive, with the city’s buzziest restaurants opening North County outposts.
In 2011, Urban Solace opened a sister restaurant, Solace & the Moonlight Lounge, in Encinitas, and the Gaslamp’s Searsucker birthed Burlap at Carmel Valley’s Del Mar Highlands Town Center. They were followed by Davanti Enoteca (first in Little Italy) and Snooze, an A.M. Eatery (from Hillcrest), both at Del Mar Highlands; Cucina Enoteca, a Cucina Urbana offshoot, at Del Mar’s Flower Hill Promenade; and Napizza (from Little Italy) in 4S Ranch and, soon, Encinitas. The trend is hotter than ever at the Encinitas locations of The Taco Stand, The Crack Shack, and Breakfast Republic, where lines are out the door.
Not every transplant took root—Carnitas’ Snack Shack and Solace’s Sea & Smoke closed, and Burlap rebranded as Searsucker—but the North County migration is still hot. Coming soon to a North County neighborhood near you: Waypoint Public and Piacere Mio (Del Sur Town Center), Grater Grilled Cheese (Del Mar Highlands), and an offshoot of Buona Forchetta (Encinitas).
The Best of North County 2017
After more than a decade of public political battles and a brief closure, the first golf course in San Diego County reopened last year, rolling out major overhauls to its driving range, pro shop, bar and lounge, and irrigation system, plus a massive retrofit for reclaimed water. Under the leadership of golf legend (and Oceanside local) John Ashworth, who acquired the land in 2012 when its dirt fairways were good for little more than nostalgia, the public course’s ocean views, relaxed vibe, and welcoming attitude attract families and pros alike because it respects the neighborhood’s history, right down to its slogan: “World class. Working class.”
2323 Goat Hill Drive, Oceanside, goathillpark.com
Practice uppercuts and jabs with a pro at this Carlsbad facility, which has nine kickboxing stations available at your convenience with no set class times. Under the watchful eye of a trainer, 9Round’s 30-minute circuit renders your “lack of time” excuse null and void. And with new routines daily, this innovative boxing program is also ideal for those prone to fitness fatigue.
6994 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, 9round.com
This is not your granny’s step aerobics. The new Firestarter Class at the Carlsbad Equinox enlists a bench and your own body weight for a high-intensity interval training class that features brief but challenging pushes intermixed with strength training segments. It’ll light a fire under those who’ve hit that dreaded plateau.
7710 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, equinox.com
The resort’s Forbes Five-Star spa has launched its new Wellbeing Retreats, a four-part mindfulness series led by brain researcher Jim Cahill. Mind-body topics include dreaming yoga and lucid dreaming, the neuroscience of emotional balance, painless habit change, biofeedback and psychophysiology, and more. In conjunction, the spa’s new signature treatment—Fundamentals of Wellbeing—is a bespoke therapy based on an in-depth wellness consultation and may include various modalities like herbal reflexology, aroma rejuvenation, hydrotherapies, and connective tissue massage.
5300 Grand Del Mar Court, Carmel Valley, fairmont.com
The Best of North County 2017
Vital
Roll-up doors, a cedar-planked exterior, warehouse-high ceilings with night-sky lighting, and a floating yoga studio and loft overlooking hundreds of bouldering routes: Meet the stunning new Vital gym on South Coast Highway. The 24-hour facility far surpasses everything in the area in terms of size, aesthetic, and amenities, including shoe rentals, yoga classes (everything from vinyasa to acro), a kitchen and café, weight area, slack line, and—most importantly—community.
525 South Coast Highway, Oceanside, vitalclimbinggym.com
The Best of North County 2017
Los Angeles interior design maestro Barclay Butera has superbly reimagined the seaside hotel’s 121 rooms and suites with nature-inspired colors: ocean blues, sea-glass greens, and soft tan hues. Layered details include infused damask prints, patterned wall coverings, handsome stripe-style carpeting, oversized blue-green accent pillows, and custom bedding. Modern beach flair at its finest.
1540 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, laubergedelmar.com
The Best of North County 2017
Sea + Wander | Photo by Becca Batista
Owner Maria Thornton brings her Manhattan style to Cardiff, with this new storefront that stocks women’s, kids’, and baby clothes in effortless styles, plus darling giftables. Thornton’s great taste and mix of East and West Coast brands make time management a little easier for busy moms on the go.
154 Aberdeen Drive, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, sea-and-wander.com
Expect a handwritten thank-you note if you give a gift from this surprising strip mall store that has NoCo moms buzzing. Choose from polished heart-shaped stones, goat milk skin-care products, soy wax candles in scents like jasmine bamboo, Billabong tops and sweaters, and more. Plus, there’s a treasure-filled kids’ section in back with mini aviator glasses, stuffed animals, art supplies, and whimsical hair accessories.
123 North El Camino Real, Encinitashellogiftboutique
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This family-run skateboard company started in a Leucadia garage with brothers Josh (16) and Robby (20) learning woodworking from their uncle Don. Their artful handcrafted boards have surf-inspired shapes and natural color palettes via hand-cut wood veneers (no stains, no paint). Buy ’em at McGills, Hansen’s, and Concept Surf, or custom-design your board online.
The Best of North County 2017
Sanford Shapes
Every second Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m., businesses along South Coast Highway between The Privateer Coal Fire Pizza and Urge Gastropub stay open for locals to mingle during this free event. Stores offer samplings, treats, and promos, while restaurants and coffee shops dole out discounts and specials. Walkers can also enjoy live entertainment.
South Coast Highway between Whaley Street and Vista Way, South Oceanside, facebook.com/southowalkabout
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For the latest in micro fashion, head to this posh new boutique in Flower Hill Promenade. It’s helmed by Andrea Van de Vort; her namesake women’s boutique is located in the same plaza. Look for hip brands like Mad about Mini and the locally designed Rylee and Cru. Your little mini will be the best-dressed kid on the block.
2710 Via de la Valle, Del Mar, shopminimarket.com
The under-the-radar and unpretentious Cape Rey Carlsbad hotel is a hidden gem—a stone’s throw from the beach, with a full-service day spa to boot. Its Signature Ultimate Renewal Facial combines red-light therapy and microcurrent technology, which work wonders on fine lines, acne, and sun spots. At 80 minutes, it’s pure indulgence followed by fresh, dewy skin.
1 Ponto Road, Carlsbad, oceancrestspa.com
This all-natural skin care and cosmetics line started in South Korea and has now grown into an international brand with owners based in San Marcos. SMD’s products are backed by formulas that are 10 to 15 years ahead of the competition. Inhyunjin is the top-selling anti-aging line, but it’s the Saromae Quintessential Snail Serum Concentrate that SMD can’t keep in stock due to its ability to repair and brighten skin.
The Best of North County 2017
Pure Blowout and Color Bar
This friendly blowout bar, owned by local Jamie Deberry, is a bright and airy addition to The Lumberyard scene. Pure’s color bar adds a new twist, so patrons can touch up those pesky grays or try a new shade. The salon also offers memberships like “The Addict,” which includes four blowouts, one deep condition, and more for $120 per month.
1031 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, pureblowoutbar.com
This once members-only spa at the Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara is now open to the public. The new spa menu includes a French green clay and seaweed detox wrap that begins with a gentle body brushing before your body is coated in a clay mask and wrapped in warm towels for the mineral-rich formula to work its magic. To top if off, there’s a nap-inducing head and scalp massage.
7210 Blue Heron Place, Carlsbad, fourseasons.com/northsandiego
The Best of North County 2017
When floral designers Rachael Ann Lunghi, owner of Lace and Likes and Siren Floral Co., and Kasia Mikulska, owner of Plenty of Petals, founded their new workspace, they knew they wanted to share it with others. They will be using the 1,600-square foot space for collaborative projects with other creatives and holding floral-related workshops.
5631 Palmer Way, Carlsbad, theromantikstudio.com
The Best of North County 2017
The Romantik Studio
Last June, the La Costa–area library reopened after an $11.6-million remodel (which included its sister institution, the Georgina Cole Library). The result: an airy, contemporary look, upgraded technology, and improvements to the Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium, which is home to concerts, film screenings, and author talks. A new café will open soon, with courtyard seating and the William D. Cannon Art Gallery.
1775 Dove Lane, Carlsbad, carlsbadca.gov
Journalist, adventurer, Surf Diva instructor, and Solana Beach resident Shelby Stanger interviews people who push the limits, like surfer and shark attack survivor Bethany Hamilton and Dean Karnazes, who quit his corporate job and became an ultramarathoner. Fresh and intriguing, Stanger’s podcasts empower listeners to shake the mundane and chase their own wild idea.
A “non-networking network” that brings together female creatives, entrepreneurs, and businesswomen, the Leucadia-based Boss Babe Brunch Club launched last August under the guiding principle that “empowered women empower women.” And that’s exactly what cofounders Alisha Ochoa (North County) and Brandi Daniels (Los Angeles) do, through ticketed workshops and social events ranging from yoga and meditation to goal-setting seminars with Tony Robbins’s team.
The Best of North County 2017
Monthly Wine Dinner at Cyclops Farms
After Captain Keno's closed, pro surfer Benji Weatherley gave its tables, dishes, and memories a second life at Breakers Cafe Bar & Grill
Captain Keno’s No. 8 special—pancakes, sausage, toast, home fries, and eggs for $2.99—was the fuel that powered Benji Weatherley for surf competitions as a teenage pro. A couple decades later, tears were shed when the Coast Highway dive-slash-eatery called it a day after 54 years. Usually, the guts of a shuttered restaurant go to liquidation auctions or straight to the dump to decompose along with its legend. Instead, Weatherley took in Keno’s spare parts—plus other relics from Encinitas’ past—and used them to build the newest community hangout.
Every single piece in the place is from somewhere in this town,” Weatherley says about Breakers Cafe Bar & Grill. “I’m not going to settle for anything less.”
Breakers is a Hawaiian hideout in an uncool part of the coastal surf town, but it’s got the set design of an Encinitas superfan. The plates, silverware, and coffee mugs are from Keno’s. So are the tables and booths. There’s a bench made from the last table preserved in The Derby House (a building that, for over a century, was a hotel, then became a hospital, a religious retreat, and a private home). Weatherley’s not performing CPR on old upholstery because he’s a fan of antique furniture. It’s a method to bring people together.
“Representing nostalgia in this town is the only way to grasp a hold of the community,” Weatherley says. “Everyone wants to touch and feel something different from what they’re experiencing on their phones.”

Every week, locals bring him photos, artifacts, and bits of paraphernalia from Encinitas’ past and ask Weatherley to give them a new home. “I’ve had ladies who were there when [Captain Keno’s] opened cry in my arms and say, ‘This table is where I had my second birthday with my grandma,’” he says. “They tell me these stories, and I tell them I have all the same stories about my mom.” (Weatherley’s mom first brought him to Keno’s and helped raise the young surfers from the Momentum Generation documentary—Weatherley, Taylor Steele, Rob Machado, Kelly Slater, etc.—as they surfed some of the world’s most dangerous waves at Pipeline in Hawaii. Back then, she owned Breakers Restaurant & Bar in Haleiwa. Name sound familiar?)
Weatherley has always been the funniest man in the room. He calls Breakers “the Chuck E. Cheese of Encinitas.” The restaurant hosts hula dancing classes, open-mic comedy nights, and evenings bartended by longtime Captain Keno’s barkeep Vaka Kaufusi. Cult-loved reggae band Steel Pulse hit the Breakers stage recently to perform a new song that Weatherley also helped write. His longtime friend Jack Johnson has dropped by to sing a few, too.
Despite not having a fancy location along the 101, people are catching on. Fire stations and hospitals have held staff parties there. Weatherley also currently sponsors four sports teams.
“Last night, I had a girl say, ‘I want my birthday party at Breakers,’” he says. “That, to me, is community in a nutshell.”
Emma Veidt is an editor at San Diego Magazine. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from the Missouri School of Journalism. She loves running, hiking, and rock climbing, but really, she mostly loves encounters with the street cats around North Park.
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
Let’s start with his name.
No, not his birth name, Craig McKenzie Haskett.
Scrojo.
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.

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.

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.

“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.

“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.
Explore restaurants, activities, and shops within this affluent North County community
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.
Jump To: Restaurants | Things to Do | Shopping

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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
16089 San Dieguito Road
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.
This month, the 2026 San Diego Business Impact Awards recognized local businesses making an impact in clean energy, biotech, hospitality, and beyond
Renewable energy companies building hundreds of power plants. Biotech startups using artificial intelligence to create personalized medicine for children with rare diseases. Hospitality companies quietly powering thousands of local events. Consumer brands growing from beach-town startups into national businesses. These are the kinds of companies driving San Diego’s economy today, and the businesses recognized at this year’s San Diego Business Impact Awards offer a snapshot of where the region is headed.
Hosted July 23 by San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and JPMorganChase, the second annual awards event honored four local companies for innovation, growth, and economic impact. More than 100 nominations from San Diego’s middle-market businesses were reviewed by a 10-person judging committee, with winners selected across four categories: startup, early-stage innovator, rising star, and established heavyweight.
Two-time honoree Jimbo Someck, founder of Jimbo’s organic grocery stores, also joined the event for a fireside chat on buying local, supporting emerging brands, and giving back to the community.
“San Diego’s strength comes from its makers and builders—the resilient people who endure great risks and overcome obstacles to build and scale a company,” says Aaron Ryan, San Diego Region Manager and Middle Market Banking at JPMorganChase & Co. “These awards aren’t just recognition; they spotlight the talent, grit, and innovation shaping our region’s future. By celebrating those who create and build, we foster connections and fuel the growth that keeps San Diego thriving.”

Heavyweight honoree SOLV Energy has grown alongside the country’s rapid investment in renewable power. “It’s an exciting time for SOLV Energy as we are experiencing significant growth,” says CEO George Hershman. “The business has doubled over the last year and has almost double-digit growth since its inception.”
The Rancho Bernardo-based company designs, builds, operates, and maintains utility-scale solar and energy storage facilities. Since its founding in 2008, SOLV Energy has built more than 500 power plants.
Growth has translated directly into hiring. About 200 employees work from the company’s local headquarters, including roughly 20 interns. “Our intern program is a big part of the way that we grow our workforce,” Hershman says. “Last year, 43 percent of our interns became full-time employees. We believe San Diego is a great community to build and grow a high-tech infrastructure and technology company because of the incredible workforce—the ability to attract top talent and draw from world-class universities.”
Startup honoree La Jolla Labs is tackling one of medicine’s biggest challenges by developing personalized RNA therapeutics for patients with rare diseases—many of them children with neurological disorders like ALS. Using proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning tools, the biotech company develops treatments tailored to each patient’s specific genetic mutation.
CEO Tamar Grossman says the recognition reflects how far the company has come despite limited resources. “We’re honored to be recognized for our ability to change and save patients’ lives and turn our lean startup into a clinical company with very minimal resources,” she says.
Grossman credits San Diego’s concentration of research institutions—including UC San Diego, the Salk Institute, and Scripps Research—with creating a pipeline of talent and collaboration. “San Diego is one of the world-leading centers for technology, genomics, and RNA therapeutics,” she says. “We have over 30 RNA therapeutics companies here, and we support each other and help with anything related to drug discovery.”
She says that collaborative spirit extends beyond formal partnerships. “You can walk around Torrey Pines, go into a café, and find colleagues from the industry and have an ad hoc conversation,” Grossman says. “That’s something very unique to San Diego.”
While Snake Oil Venue Company may not be a household name, chances are many San Diegans have attended one of its events. The early-stage innovator honoree has expanded from beverage catering and mixology consulting into venue management, operating Julep Venue in Mission Hills, Bramble Bay Venue in Imperial Beach, Vesper Venue, the Chapel at Liberty Station, and five outdoor venues throughout Liberty Station—more than 500,000 square feet of event space altogether.
“We do a lot of launch parties for corporations and new products,” says CEO Mike Esposito. “I really like working on the entrepreneur side of things, where new businesses are entering the San Diego market and looking to make a splash.”
Snake Oil has executed more than 16,000 events, employed more than 1,000 people, and partnered with more than 900 local vendors, including caterers, florists, photographers, entertainers, and other hospitality businesses. The company also works with many of San Diego’s nonprofits, museums, and cultural institutions. “We get to celebrate people’s most important moments,” Esposito says. “Whether that’s a wedding, celebration of life, or quinceañera, we’re fortunate to be involved in the community in so many different ways.”

Rising star honoree ALOHA Collection is proof that a simple idea can grow into a thriving company. Founded by two roommates who wanted a better way to carry wet swimsuits after a day at the beach, the lifestyle brand has grown into a business while maintaining strong year-over-year growth.
Now headquartered in Carlsbad, ALOHA Collection employs more than 100 people and operates its California flagship store in Encinitas, which is slated for a remodel. With roots in Hawaii, the company is known for its lightweight, splash-proof travel bags that have become a familiar sight on beaches in San Diego and beyond.
“‘Aloha’ is part of our name, but it’s also how we move through the world,” says CEO Lynna Barnard. “It’s how we show up for people, the way we travel, the way we give back.” Since day one, the company has maintained a 5 percent giveback to Hawaii conservation efforts, contributing millions of dollars over the years.
“I think what’s so inspiring about ALOHA Collection, and the founders in particular, is when you dream big, those dreams can come true when you work hard and trust in the universe,” Barnard says. “It’s inspiring to be a role model for other people wanting to start businesses from humble beginnings. Start small and watch it grow.”
Together, businesses like these form a cornerstone of San Diego’s economy—not only through the jobs and revenue they generate—but through the local workers they hire, vendors they support, and investments they make in the region. Their growth doesn’t happen in isolation; it ripples outward, strengthening the broader business community and the people who call San Diego home.

We found a handful of inspiring people who live in, and truly know, these 'hoods and asked them how they’d spend their time out and about
Growing up in Carlsbad, I never quite understood why people vacationed there. What, so you want to check out the field where I have soccer practice? Pay my orthodontist a visit? Carlsbad just felt like a town by the beach, no better or worse than any other in the country. It took going to college out of state for me to actually understand just how rare a place like Carlsbad is.
Thanksgiving break my freshman year, my first time coming home after three months in the Midwest, my shoulders dropped. I rolled down the windows and drove to lifeguard tower 37—the hangout magnet for Carlsbad’s youths (and, in the summer, tourists)—and the smells of the ocean woke me right up like smelling salts do. I finally got it.
Carlsbad isn’t just a stopover town on your way to something better. It is the destination. Travel + Leisure named Carlsbad one of the top 50 places around the world to travel in 2026. From the whole globe, the travel magazine picked my home. Sure, we’ve got the Flower Fields and Legoland—but now it’s the smaller ships and indier dreams that are giving it street-level character.
It’s not just Carlsbad, either. People have talked about the “North County bubble” for decades—a force field that prevents its residents from traveling south of the 56. It’s often used derogatorily, and it’s a fairly accurate burn.
For decades, living up in North County meant giving up on culture, or at least culture within close proximity. But now, the main expansion of San Diego culture is happening up north. Central San Diego restaurants have started taking notice and are expanding into the area—spurred no doubt by Oceanside’s food boom and the Jeune et Jolie–Campfire–Wildland–Lilo constellation in Carlsbad. City Heights burger joint Key & Cleaver opened a new spot in Oceanside; the owners of Parc Bistro-Brasserie in Bankers Hill opened Parc Lounge in Rancho Santa Fe. Possibly the strongest market indicator is that Sam Fox—one of the most successful restaurateurs west of the Rockies—has started focusing on North County for his concepts. In 2025, he opened both The Henry in Carlsbad and Culinary Dropout in Del Mar.
For the ultimate insider guide, we found a handful of inspiring people who live and create and truly know six North County neighborhoods—San Marcos, Escondido, Oceanside, Leucadia, Rancho Santa Fe, and Vista—and asked them how they’d spend a dream day out and about in their town.

San Marcos is in full renaissance mode. The biggest story is that the grand North City vision is starting to peek through the scaffolding. It’s essentially the North County Downtown that’s been written in the tea leaves and discussed whenever someone gets stuck in traffic at the 5/805 merge: a 200-acre, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use face-changer that’s slated for 2,600 homes, 350,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, 250 hotel rooms, and about a million square feet of offices and labs. Its most recent manifestation is 222 North City—a 12-story residential tower with over 450 residences, rooftop garden, pool cabanas, art installations, and almost 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail (Necessity Coffee, Buona Forchetta, Draft Republic, Milonga Empanadas, and a grocery store anchor on its way).
Which means Restaurant Row is no longer burdened with being the primary caregiver for the hungry or the socially inclined. Patricia Prado-Olmos has watched the city morph during her nearly three-decade tenure at CSUSM, having spent the past six years as the school’s chief community engagement officer. She also just announced her forthcoming retirement at the end of the 2026–2027 school year, so she’ll have even more time to haunt local haunts.
Those in the know call the university “Cal State StairMaster” from the Sisyphean amount of stairs on the hillside campus. So, any day at or around CSUSM should start with a homestyle carbo-load (biscuits and gravy) from Mama Kat’s.

“There’s something about this breakfast spot that immediately puts me in a good mood,” she says. Mama Kat’s is also known for its pie (strawberry-rhubarb), which is breakfast if you change your perspective.
After a few hours on campus—with a break to pet the university’s official therapy goldendoodle, Frank, who helps ease finals tremors or apprehension of on-campus stairs—Prado-Olmos will wander into North City, just steps away. She says the almond croissant and coffee at Christophe Rull Patisserie rival Parisian cafés: “It feels like the kind of place you’d stumble across in a much bigger city.”
Rull, a Michelin-trained pastry chef who’s done stints on Netflix (Bake Squad) and Food Network (Super Mega Cakes, Halloween Wars), opened his patisserie last fall. The hype hasn’t cooled off yet: Get there early because the crowds do.
Emma Veidt is an editor at San Diego Magazine. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from the Missouri School of Journalism. She loves running, hiking, and rock climbing, but really, she mostly loves encounters with the street cats around North Park.
New editor Emma Veidt gives an introduction and her ode to the once-sleepy, now slept-on North County
I am fairly sure they don’t let you graduate from Carlsbad High School without a W-2 from Legoland. Being a Legoland MC (Model Citizen, the employee’s moniker) is a rite of passage for all of us who grew up in North County. If you spent a day at the theme park in the 2010s, I probably pointed you toward the Granny Apple Fries or measured your height at a ride entrance.
And now we meet again. I can still point you to quality fries.
This is my first full issue as the new print editor for San Diego Magazine. But it’s not my first time here: I was an editorial intern for these pages back in 2018 (see photo). To be a part of a constant study of the city, its people, its culture, then finding the most compelling stories and bringing them to life—it was incredibly impactful and solidified my decision to pursue all of this (local, print magazine journalism) as a career. Since my internship, I’ve gotten my bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Missouri School of Journalism and worked for nearly five years at Backpacker magazine. And I’m back at San Diego Magazine, baby. There’s a real magic to narrating the lives lived and dreams dreamt in the place that built me. I am excited to be a part of building the culture of where I’m from. And, born in Tri-City Medical Center and raised in Carlsbad, I can’t think of any other place than our North County issue for me to make my grand entrance as an editor.

To me, North County isn’t just where I’m from; it’s home. Throughout the years, I have run thousands of miles (I did the math) up and down the 101 between Oceanside and Cardiff. I’ve spent thousands of dollars (an estimation, too painful to do the actual math) on BRCs—beans, rice, and cheese burritos—from Lola’s, Juanita’s, and the late, great Pollos Maria.
The stretch of land between Camp Pendleton and the 56 is easy to love. We’re quieter and a little more zenned out than our lower-latitude neighbors, sure, but we’re neither sleepy nor boring.
Do you think Scrojo, the Belly Up’s punked-out poster artist featured on page 68, could last a day somewhere boring?
What I’ve always loved about North County is that the culture shifts every couple of miles as you reach a new town. For years, the media seemed to cast the realm above the merge as a two-toned monolith: sleepy surf towns to the west, suburbs and country living to the east. The nuance of each section seemed flattened or clumped. I think you’ll see the vastly different cultures of North County in this issue—but all distinctly San Diego. Which is to say a little mellower, fewer airs, come as you are.
It’s hard to imagine that the dusty trails and vibrant, muraled alleyways of Escondido are just miles from the barefoot surfers roaming Leucadia. Even though the SDM editorial staff is made up of two lifelong locals and other longtime residents, we don’t pretend to be the experts on every street. What a good city media company does is find the people who are experts, who have a unique hyper-local perspective—and give them the stage.
So we picked six North County neighborhoods—Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos, Leucadia, Rancho Santa Fe, and Escondido—and reached out to artists, community leaders, business owners, anyone making their neighborhood brighter, and we had them describe their perfect day out and favorite things that give their neighborhoods meaning and culture. These itinerary curators included San Marcos’ Patricia Prado-Olmos, Leucadia’s Jeff Schade, Oceanside’s Aaron Crossland, Escondido’s Suzanne Nicolaisen, Rancho Santa Fe’s Charo Garcia-Acevedo, and Vista’s Steve Glaudini. If there’s anyone who lives and breathes North County, it’s them. Check out their recommendations in our feature on page 56.
This month, we’re also going back in time almost 15 years to the Big Bay Boom. Yes, that meme-ified Fourth of July fireworks show where enough pyrotechnics for a 17-minute show went off at once over San Diego Bay. Content Chief Troy Johnson remembers the day and dug back through the story for a hilarious locals’ take on the big debate: Was it the worst fireworks show of all time, or the greatest? (Page 38.)
Before I leave you to our hard work, a sentimental note. When my parents moved from St. Louis to San Diego in the early ’90s, my mom subscribed to San Diego Magazine to learn about her new neighborhood. Now, over three decades later, I’m here—on this planet and in these pages. I thought about my parents a lot as we worked on this issue. Maybe there are a couple new San Diegans reading this magazine for the first time. Maybe that’s you.
Well then, to both of us, I say, “Welcome.” Let’s do this.
Emma Veidt is an editor at San Diego Magazine. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from the Missouri School of Journalism. She loves running, hiking, and rock climbing, but really, she mostly loves encounters with the street cats around North Park.
It’s a Self-Care Summer. Because your best self is our favorite self.
If you’re anything like us, it can be easy to get so caught up in taking care of everyone else, that your own needs get lost in the ether. But while this may be a cliché, that doesn’t make it any less true: You can’t give your best self to other people unless you’re taking care of yourself.
Sometimes, that looks like stopping in for your regular acupuncture or chiropractic appointment. Other days, it means giving your body the fresh, organic fuel it needs to truly feel and function at its best. And some other times still, it involves leaving your responsibilities behind for a weekend to pamper yourself at an incredible resort and spa.
Only you can decide what your truly need. We’re just here to help you find the best ways to get it.

Island living meets desert luxury at the Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa in Indian Wells. When you step onto the 11-acre property, you’ll be surrounded by sweeping view of the Santa Rosa Mountains with olive trees and fragrant citrus groves decorating the grounds. In other words, everything about this relaxed but refined resort is primed to help you let go of the stress from home and enjoy easy sun-soaked days and gorgeous starry nights.
The rooms blend calming, woven textures with Tommy Bahama’s signature tropical prints and feature private lanais, making it easy unwind the moment you walk in the door. If you book one of the four Villa Suites, you’ll be treated to exclusive Tommy Bahama furniture and unique personal touches to further that feeling of instant ease.
At the award-winning Spa Rosa, the expert team will help reset and recharge your body and mind using methods and rituals inspired by the desert. The 12,000-square-foot retreat includes outdoor soaking pools, eucalyptus steam rooms, and outdoor cabanas, as well as massages, facials, and body masks—all aimed at creating a day dedicated to you. We’re particularly partial to the Day Long Escape, an indulgent all-day affair of CDBs soaks, renewing scrubs, life changing massages, and transformative facials.
Following your treatment, continue the experience with a meal on the patio at Grapefruit Basil. We love the Hamachi Crudo, a light, citrus-forward dish featuring premium yellowtail, house-made ponzu, creamy avocado, and fresh seasonal garnishes.
Whether you’re strolling the gardens, relaxing beside its saltwater pools, or indulging in a restorative treatment, you’ll be able to escape in style and relax in luxury at the Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa.

There’s no shortage of ways to stay active in San Diego—but if you really want to enjoy everything the city has to offer, you’ve got to make sure you’re giving your body its tune-ups. Enter: Healcove Chiropractic. The board-certified chiropractors and wellness professionals at Healcove are experts at addressing that stage where you’re not injured, exactly, but you’re not at 100%, either. Maybe you’re feeling a bit tense or stressed out. Or it could be that you’re not quite moving the way you want to. Sometimes, it’s just that the accumulation of days, weeks, or even years of daily strain is starting to take a toll. No matter what stage you find yourself at, the Healcove Chiropractic team can provide integrated, preventative care centered on long-term, science-backed approaches that ensure you can always stay active and live the life you want to live pain-free.
This starts by providing truly individualized care. Every patient can expect a thorough 60-minute consultation session that includes a posture and movement screening. This allows the team to develop a completely personalized plan. That plan might include chiropractic care, acupuncture, or massage therapy, as well as functional fitness training, vibration and sound therapy, and Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization, a clinical rehabilitation method that retrains the body’s stabilization systems. Whatever the team recommends, you can be sure that it’s tailored to meeting your body’s needs today and the future.
There’s a reason that San Diego Magazine named Healcove the “Best Chiropractor in San Diego”—don’t wait until you’re struggling with an injury to find out why. Book an appointment today for holistic, integrated care that helps ground and heal your body before it reaches a crisis point.

West Coast wellness culture meets the community feel of Southern Appalachia at Juice Holler. Juice Holler’s menu consists of made-to-order smoothies and smoothie bowls, as well as grab-and-go cold-pressed juices, wellness shots, salads, and more. It operates from the blissfully simple premise that fueling up with food and drink that’s guilt-free and good your body should be simple, accessible, and, above all else, delicious. And if you haven’t yet made it out to the Encinitas café, which opened just this year, let us be the first to tell you: Juice Holler delivers on each and every of these fronts.
We love the Supercharger smoothie, a mood-lifting and body-fueling option made with banana, almond butter, blue spirulina, maca, grass-fed whey protein, raw cacao nibs, medjool dates, and coconut milk. We’re also partial to the Thrive Alive smoothie bowl, where avocado, mango, sea moss, spirulina, mint, coconut milk, and agave are mixed and topped with coconut, chia seeds, strawberry, mango, and chocolate drizzle. The wellness shots include the Detoxifier, a cleansing blend of kale, cucumber, lemon and spirulina, plus a shot specially designed to fight inflammation (named, fittingly, Anti-Inflammation). Probiotic overnight oats, lemon turmeric bars, and strawberry shortcake chia pudding are other standouts on the grab-and-go menu.
Much of the vibe feels beachy North County chic—think green tile with orange and pink accents, grounded with greenery and natural wood—but Juice Holler founder Kelly Sergott, a longtime Encinitas local, has also enfused the space with her Kentucky roots. In Appalachia, a holler is small valley between hills and mountains, where nature reigns, community is king, and nourishment comes right from the land. At Juice Holler, Sergott has created a holler for the busy modern times, using local ingredients to create a spot for people to come together and enjoy fresh, fast, feel-good fuel for their day.

We’ve all had that experience with a medical professional where we’ve felt rushed, ignored, or misunderstood—and ultimately, like we didn’t get the answers that we needed. But at Everwell, the holistic acupuncture practice located in Solana Beach, the care team wants to transform your understanding of what healthcare can look like.
Patients at Everwell experience care rooted in intentional listening and radical empathy—and trust us, those aren’t just corporate buzzwords. This place actually puts those ideas into practice. You will always be given the time you need to tell your story— initial in-take appointments are two hours long—and you can rest assured that your story will be believed. Every single question and concern will be addressed by a dedicated practitioner who wants to find the specific solutions that work best for you, and you’ll receive care that’s aimed at healing the body, mind, and spirit.
Everwell’s highly trained, doctorate-level practitioners blend evidence-based acupuncture with the practice of classical Chinese medicine. (If you’ve never tried acupuncture before or aren’t sure if the team will be a fit, we’d highly recommended Everwell’s complimentary 20-minute consultations.) Research shows that by stimulating specific points on the body, acupuncture activates a natural healing response in the body, helping to restore balance, regulate the nervous system, and improve overall wellbeing. This allows the practice to address an incredibly wide range of conditions from chronic pain and autoimmune disorders to digestive issues, from stress and burnout to headaches migraines, fertility and postpartum struggles, hormonal imbalances, sleep concerns and more.
At Everwell, you can expect to feel heard, trusted, respected, and cared for. This is a space that doesn’t want to be just another healthcare provider you visit; it wants to provide patients with dedicated partner who will be there for their entire health journey.