Featured articles
Featured articles
Featured articles
What's next
Featured articles
Featured articles
Featured articles
Ready to know more about San Diego?
SubscribeReady to know more about San Diego?
Tacos, pasta, cocktails, spa treatments, and cool craft workshops— we’ve got 99 of the top picks in food, drink, fitness, beauty, and more
The Best of San Diego 2017
By Paige Breon, Jackie Bryant, Kimberly Cunningham, Erin Meanley Glenny, Maya Kroth, Kai Oliver-Kurtin, Christine Orlovsky Page, Christine Pasalo, Hoa Quach, Archana Ram, Marnie Sloan, Claire Trageser, and Ann Wycoff
Photography by Priscilla Iezzi
Winners by Category
The Best of San Diego 2017
Tribute Pizza
What started as a pop-up has turned into a buzzing, industrial-style brick and mortar in the former North Park Post Office. Tribute pays, well, tribute to the most famous pizzas of the world. Highlights include the Biancoverde, a nod to Phoenix’s Pizzeria Bianco, and a vodka sauce pie inspired by Rubirosa in Manhattan. There’s even a high-end riff on Costco cheese pizza. Happy hour runs Tuesday through Thursday with $7 margherita pizzas and $20 bottles of Gragnano wine.
3077 North Park Way, North Park
The Karina’s brand boasts five locations, including Karina’s Mexican Seafood and two Karina’s Taco Shops, but most recently the family-run empire opened Karina’s Ceviches & More in Saffron Thai’s former takeout space in Mission Hills. Their menu touts oysters, seafood cocktails, surf ’n’ turf, and a divine bacon-wrapped shrimp taco.
3731 India Street, Mission Hills
The Best of San Diego 2017
Karina’s Ceviches & More
A sleek redesign paired with panoramic ocean views makes this one of La Jolla’s hot spots. Look for seafood-heavy fare by chef Aarti Sanghavi and a beverage cart for tableside after-dinner drinks and digestivos. During Sunday brunch, the cart is dubbed the Champagne Campaign, serving flights of rare bubbly and bottomless mimosas.
1250 Prospect Street, La Jolla
Cucina Sorella’s pasta-centric menu, spearheaded by Urban Kitchen Group executive chef Joe Magnanelli and the talented Daniel Wolinsky, features house-made tagliatelle, gnocchi, and pappardelle, plus signature items like fried squash blossoms and appetizers from sister restaurants Cucina Urbana and Cucina Enoteca. Wolinsky also leads hands-on pasta-making classes if you want to mangiare a little more.
4055 Adams Avenue, Kensington
Tucked between Evolution and Extraordinary Desserts near Balboa Park, Donna Jean turns out rustic, plant-based comfort food like roasted sunchokes and Salisbury tempeh. Weekend brunch features omelettes, and the cast-iron mac and cheese is a gotta-try. Also, there’s strawberry rhubarb hand pie glazed with Champagne sugar.
2949 Fifth Avenue, Hillcrest
It’s what San Diegans have been craving: real-deal barbecue. Brisket, pulled pork, lamb shoulder—this alfresco North Park phenom started by a native Texan does it all well, with five-star accompaniments like a house-made chimichurri and spicy coleslaw. They even manage to turn the traditionally bland turkey into a smoky, tender wonder. Waiting in line—yes, there usually is one—isn’t a worry, since even that feels like a party. Living up to its name, the eatery hosts an Argentine asado on Sundays.
3302 32nd Street, North Park
Thai chef Gan Suebsarakham puts a creative spin on traditional potpies at this fast-casual café, with flavors like panang curry, pizza, and jackfruit. He also makes breakfast pies and sweet pies, which can be paired with coffee drinks or matcha.
4404 Park Boulevard, University Heights
When the pork pros announced a new all-outdoor location on the waterfront that promised bay views, live music, and late-night happy hour, we had our new hangout. The menu features the same porky menu items you can find at their North Park outpost, plus fish tacos and weekend brunch.
1004 North Harbor Drive, Marina District
This hipster café in Encinitas serves creative vegan food (spicy jackfruit tacos, harvest salads, Buddha bowls), kombucha on tap, cold-pressed juices, superfood smoothies, and homemade desserts. It has a spacious back room for TED-style talks, free crystal bowl yoga classes, meditation, music, lectures, and more. Board games, lounge-like couches, and a take-a-book leave-a-book library add to the cozy vibe.
575 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
The Best of San Diego 2017
Cucina Sorella
Popular throughout Orange County and LA, this fast-casual eatery expanded its artisanal sandwich and salad concept to La Jolla last year. The health-conscious menu is full of vegan and gluten-free options for those with dietary restrictions. A second location opens this month in Del Mar Highlands Town Center, too.
8795 Villa La Jolla Drive, La Jolla
Named after the age-old fermentation process used to make Italian breads, Biga has a hip and modern feel without losing that authentic Italiano tradition. Countertops are Carrara marble, wood-fire ovens reach 900 degrees, and sandwiches are no ordinary deli situation. The caprese is a favorite, with its hand-pulled mozzarella and pesto aioli so good you could drink it.
950 Sixth Avenue, Downtown
Jackfruit—the savory tropical fruit that’s garnered a reputation as a low-calorie meat substitute and has a texture similar to pulled pork or chicken—is the star at this Mexican eatery in South Park. Adobo-marinated fruit is served on a bed of cabbage and topped with chipotle sauce and creamy citrus aioli. Even meat lovers will swoon.
2310 30th Street, South Park
Named after a city in New Zealand, Dunedin (duh-NEE-din) is the latest installment from the owners of Queenstown and Raglan. But this spot has arguably the best patio for people watching, putting you right next to passersby on busy 30th Street. Pick from a long list of burgers and beer for dinner, or try brunch to do some open-air daytime dining.
3501 30th Street, North Park
Giant warehouse restaurants with multiple rooms have a time and place, but for a more intimate experience, we love this new restaurant-bar adjacent to The Red Door in the former Wellington steakhouse space. The cozy, dimly lit bar has a small plates menu of tacos, vegan nachos, cocktails, and a can’t-miss sticky toffee pudding.
729 West Washington Street, Mission Hills
Goodbye to the uncomfortable plastic chairs, stale nachos, and bad hot dogs of yesteryear’s bowling alleys! Urge Gastropub & Common House in San Marcos offers a menu that features American eats and beers brewed in-house, with lawn games to burn the calories. In the swanky bowling alley, you’ll find cozy couches, dimmed lights, and a big-screen TV playing old-school music videos.
255 Redel Road, San Marcos
At this Italian steakhouse, chef Aliano Decka carves up 40-ounce porterhouse steaks tableside—ensuring the meat is cooked as desired while removing any excess fat. As an added touch, Decka uses his knife to engrave the steak bone with a guest’s name. Now that’s sharp service!
314 Fifth Avenue, Downtown
As a dual-concept café and marketplace, Herb & Eatery is a more casual dining option under the same roof as chef Brian Malarkey’s Little Italy restaurant, Herb & Wood. The laid-back alternative is ideal for the laptop crowd working remotely or those grabbing prepared meals for carryout. Order from the full menu, or indulge in one of their fresh-baked croissants made with French butter.
2210 Kettner Boulevard, Little Italy
The Best of San Diego 2017
Boba Bar
Waffle cone sundaes are so yesterday. Now it’s all about the waffle sundae. Pulling inspiration from a popular Taiwanese street food, Boba Bar in Kearny Mesa pairs a soft, bulbous waffle, or “puffle,” with custard. Options range from a s’mores puffle with marshmallows, graham cracker crumbs, and chocolate chips baked in, to green tea Oreo cheesecake with matcha Pocky sticks, to the peanut butter chocolate overload.
4619 Convoy Street, Kearny Mesa; 7655 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Kearny Mesa
Fine dining isn’t necessarily Rolando’s calling card, but Garden Kitchen is changing that. The tiny restaurant has an ever-changing menu of dishes made with farm-fresh ingredients, like a short rib osso buco and scallop ceviche. They also host special events like a Baja wine dinner and Rainbow Happy Hour pegged to Pride month. All of the seating is outside on the cozy patio, making you feel like you’ve walked off the street and into someone’s home.
4204 Rolando Boulevard, Rolando
The coffee shop has an extensive toast menu that spans sweet and savory, but their standout dish is the avocado toast with truffle oil and micro greens. The crusty toast should be eaten using your hands for the best aromatic bite since sliced bread. Add a poached egg on top for a more filling (and oozy) meal.
3752 Park Boulevard, Hillcrest
At the new Liberty Station spin-off of South Park’s Buona Forchetta, the prix-fixe two-course lunch means fresh greens or soup paired with entrées like grilled chicken breast, salmon, homemade pastas, or a choice of their famed Neapolitan pizzas with a non-boozy beverage—all for $14.
2865 Sims Road, Liberty Station
TJ Tacos in Escondido dishes up nine different types of street-style tacos, including nopal (cactus), chorizo, and the ever-so-tasty adobada. But it’s not just about tacos; they also dish out fries, burritos, and quesadillas. Come during the day to avoid the lines.
802 East Valley Parkway, Escondido
Blackmarket Bakery makes bread and pastries from scratch using only “pronounceable” ingredients. Their scones, croissants, cookies, cakes, and tarts are whipped up daily, or guests can opt for a sandwich with one of their house-made breads, like Dutch crunch or artichoke Asiago.
4686 30th Street, North Park
Pouring, chopping, spackling, and scraping are involved in the creation of these made-to-order frozen desserts, a traditional sweet in Thailand. The result: a bowl of camera-ready ice cream roll-ups, garnished with goodies from whipped cream to mochi. Try their variation on cookies and cream, venture with a Fruity Pebbles cereal ice cream base, or go full foodie with the black sesame ice cream; they’re all winners.
4425 Convoy Street, Kearny Mesa
Almost every day of the week, Allison Markow is up when most of us are asleep, baking bars, scones, breads, cakes, and cookies to supply cafés from Oceanside to downtown. One bite of her signature Nutella blondie, a chewy butterscotch cousin to the brownie topped with thick swirls of baked-in Nutella, and you’ll be grateful she does. Grab a fresh-made treat at 14 spots around the county, including Revolution Roasters (Oceanside), Copa Vida (Carlsbad and East Village), Bean Bar (East Village), and Moniker General (Liberty Station).
The Best of San Diego 2017
Fifth & Rose
The new Gaslamp property proves that hotel bars are more than stuffy, suit-clad business travelers or party-hearty twentysomethings. Fifth & Rose gives downtown a breath of refinement, with sleek decor, five-star cocktails, and an ambience that calls for getting a little dressed up (hey, some of us don’t want to wear flip-flops every day). We love visiting during the quiet afternoons, when the light pours in and big windows draw breezes. Happy hour indeed.
550 J Street, Gaslamp Quarter
Holy Matcha, the dairy-free tea café much admired for its blush-and-lush interior, started offering this drink hybrid in the spring. Served in a pink mason jar, the iced agua fresca gets shaken up with a dose of green tea powder and topped with a dash of ground cinnamon.
3118 University Avenue, North Park
This house-made drink boasts just the right shade of millennial pink and is super refreshing on a hot summer day. The boutique coffee house elevates its fresh lemonade with black cherry syrup, a touch of sparkling water, and muddled black cherries and basil. It’s that last ingredient that co-owner Rina Porras-Moceri says gives the drink “just the right amount of earthiness.” She also swears by her wild ginger and mint lemonade. Both varieties are subject to seasonal availability.
1619 West Lewis Street, Mission Hills
This breakfast eatery has a drink list as colorful as its food menu. We love the Ginger Kombucha Mule, Jurassic Pork Bloody Mary, and Spicy Karma cocktail with tequila blanco, jalapeño pepper, lime, cilantro, and agave to start the day. There’s also craft beer and kombucha flights, Prosecco on tap, ciders, bottomless organic coffee, exotic lattes, antioxidant shots, and more.
Locations in East Village, Encinitas, Liberty Station, North Park, and Ocean Beach
Rosé slushies are making boozy waves across the country and in San Diego at spots like Hotel Solamar’s Upper East Bar and Extraordinary Desserts. But the Firehouse Frosé tops our list. A blend of chilled rosé, vodka, citrus, and strawberry makes it sweet, subtle, and light for summer. Rosé all day? Gladly!
722 Grand Avenue, Pacific Beach
Sitting along the Bayshore Bikeway, this newly developed cluster of shops is the perfect pit stop. You can get a taste of the behemoth project at Coronado Brewing Company, which is opening a temporary tasting room this summer, with a restaurant and distillery coming in the next year. Also due in the Bikeway build-out: Trident Coffee and a bike shop.
536 13th Street, Imperial Beach
The massive Barn Yard bloody mary, befitting the eatery’s upcycled country-living decor, is a sight to be seen. This brunch-meets-beverage comes in a pitcher with a whole roasted chicken, bacon-wrapped shrimp, roasted and pickled veggies, and mozzarella and cherry tomato skewers.
8141 La Mesa Boulevard, La Mesa
Tropical drinks are known for having extra flair—an umbrella here, a pineapple wedge there. But instead of traditional punch bowls, this Mission Beach bar serves large-batch cocktails like the Havana Good Time in a giant, flamingo-shaped copper cup. Sip, sip away!
3704 Mission Boulevard, Mission Beach
This winery in Escondido took root in the late 1800s and is home to San Diego’s oldest vine—a Muscat of Alexandria that’s more than 100 years old—along with a cool collection of antiques like a massive “forgotten barrel” from 1932 whose delicious contents are being bottled as a tawny port. The new owners have added a stylish tasting room and patio with live music on weekends, and have brought in Napa winemaker John Robert Eppler to oversee production.
1120 West 15th Avenue, Escondido
The Best of San Diego 2017
The Grass Skirt
Sommelier Brandon Boghosian, an alum of the prestigious Bouchon in Napa, has curated the J&I wine list with “Tried and True” classics and “Leap of Faith” hard-to-find gems or bottles from up-and-coming regions. Seventeen Juniper and Ivy team members have taken the intro course, so expect savvy somms working the floor.
2228 Kettner Boulevard, Little Italy
Fourth-generation wine pro Lowell Jooste is serving wine like you’ve never had it before. The South African native turned La Jolla resident created The Wine Steward, a device that allows high-end wine to be served directly out of the barrel without being tainted by oxygen. He’s currently serving more than 10 varietals in Bird Rock—snag a seat at his surfboard bar—all made by one of Napa Valley’s first female winemakers, Alison Green-Doran.
5621 La Jolla Boulevard, Bird Rock
Last fall we named the Escondido-based J. Brix Wine one of six “winemakers to watch” for their small batches of unconventional, unfiltered wines. And we weren’t the only ones to notice. Spouses Emily Towe and Jody Brix Towe got national attention when Bon Appétit listed them under “great California winemakers [they] love.” And in May, Vogue called their 2016 Uncontainable Rosé of Cinsault “perfectly crisp and zesty, and great for summer day drinking.” But best of all, behind the praiseworthy wine is a down-to-earth, dedicated couple who are just as passionate about each other as they are about their highly drinkable creations. Wine Spectator, take note!
Pizzeria Ambrogio15 is the only restaurant in SoCal that imports wines from a small Italian consortium of biodynamic and organic winemakers (Consorzio dei Vignaioli Biodinamici). The coalition represents six different regions in Italy, and focuses on biodiversity, sustainability, and natural agriculture. All of the wines come from small-production wineries, which produce fewer than 7,000 bottles annually.
926 Turquoise Street, Pacific Beach
Little Italy’s Vino Carta focuses on smaller-scale producers from all around the world, making a point to highlight more natural wines made with minimal intervention, and they’re happy to tell you all about them during one of their many tastings or happy hours.
2161 India Street, Little Italy
Trivia night is usually relegated to sports bars and brewpubs, but Négociant brings the quizzing to an urban winery. At the North Park bar, trivia night holds court on their outdoor patio Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Don’t have an answer? We’re pretty sure the vino will make your guesses a little more creative.
2419 El Cajon Boulevard, North Park
San Diego has long been a tiki city—just look to Shelter Island and its faux-Polynesian buildings—but the recent tiki explosion has brought several new watering holes. We like The Grass Skirt for its top-shelf tropical drink list and creative food menu, which is a cut above the standard pupu platter most people expect. The decor is transformative, taking you from our slice of paradise to one that feels like a tropical island getaway.
910 Grand Avenue, Pacific Beach
Recognizing that 40 percent of food grown in the US winds up in landfills, the North County–based masterminds behind Misadventure set out to turn food waste into beverage gold. They take expired baked goods (jalapeno cheese bagels, Ding Dongs, etc.) and convert those usable starches into sugar—then, with the help of yeast, turn that into alcohol. See? Drink booze, do good.
Available at The Compass (Carlsbad), Mission Avenue Bar and Grill (Oceanside), and at misadventure.co
The Best of San Diego 2017
You & Yours Distilling Co. | Photo by Lindsey Marie Photography
Trust Me is an organic, gluten-free, purified-water-based spirit launched by a local startup. It doubles as art, too. Each bottle features colorful work by a mix of professional and up-and-coming artists.
2100 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad
The feeling at most distilleries is all metal and no sit-and-stay-awhile comfort. Not so at this new downtown spot that serves gin and vodka in an urban tasting room with a sleek, feminine warehouse design. The female-owned company uses potatoes, corn, and California grapes to add flavor during the distillation process. Make it a “healthy hour” with one of their veggie cocktails, like the Side Salad with bell peppers, basil, lime, and honey.
1495 G Street, East Village
The Best of San Diego 2017
Drybar La Jolla
Founder Alli Webb was onto something when she launched her flat-rate blowouts-only concept in Brentwood. Drybar has since become a national phenomenon, with more than 70 locations. The second San Diego installment just opened in La Jolla Village Square, offering that just-stepped-out-of-a-salon look without having to pony up for a cut and color. Also noteworthy are Drybar’s “Detox” dry shampoo and new “Whipped” dry shampoo foam, which can extend the life of a blowout for several more days. Consider us blown away!
8867 Villa La Jolla Drive, La Jolla
File this under one of the more unusual spa experiences. After an exfoliating seaweed scrub, a therapist wraps the limbs, torso, and chest in warm kelp leaves harvested by hand off the western shore of Ireland. The mineral-rich leaves, paired with a quick organic seaweed lotion massage at the end, leave skin plump and nourished. The Lodge’s sister property, the Catamaran, will also be debuting the new service ($215 for 80 minutes).
11480 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla
The lush resort just debuted a cabana collaboration with Kopari, a local beauty brand that uses coconut oil as a base in all its products. With the poolside Kopari cabana ($325 for the day), you and a guest get a stash of Kopari products, a bottle of rosé, fruit, Suja juices, and mini treatments, like foot scrubs and scalp massages. Want to clock in more spa time? Try the new Kerstin Florian Neroli Blossom Experience, an 80-minute dry brush exfoliation and neroli oil massage. So long, parched summer skin. Hello, glow!
9700 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla
Lacey Haegen’s take on hand cream is nothing short of ingenious. Made with jasmine and tuberose flower wax, it comes in a stick form designed for the tops of hands only, which moisturizes dry areas and avoids greasy palms. She just released a shin and arm version that’s worth adding to one’s beauty arsenal as well. Everything is handmade with natural ingredients in her Mission Hills studio. Bonus points for the pretty packaging!
Years before thick, full brows came back in vogue, Gerami had been preaching the gospel of the natural look, expertly threading La Jolla’s finest brows. She quietly returned to the village in 2015 following a short break, much to the delight of longtime customers. Find Gerami in her intimate Crosby Center spa, where she offers threading, waxing, lash extensions, facials, and skin treatments using organic products from Eminence.
1035 Silverado Street, La Jolla
Downtown recently upped its style factor, following the addition of this cute women’s boutique. Owner Rachel Hunt curates a selection of niche ready-to-wear labels, most of which are modestly priced. Also, look for local brands like Little Italy–based jewelry designer JaxKelly and Fair Seas Supply Co. beach blankets.
740 Market Street, Downtown
Rob and Sophie Machado know a thing or two about how to look good on the beach. The pro surfer and his wife have traveled to the best and most exotic coastal spots in the world. The couple’s latest venture, with Sophie at the helm, is a lifestyle store in a cute bungalow on the 101. We love the laid-back rompers and dresses, and the bikinis by Acacia are a customer favorite.
930 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
The Best of San Diego 2017
Artelexia
Earlier this year, Elexia de la Parra brought the best of Mexico to North Park with an offshoot of her Little Italy store, which she has since closed. The new location boasts an eclectic blend of vibrant giftables, home decor, and more. From metallic donkey piñatas to embroidered linens, her fun and unique items showcase the style and spirit of our Southern neighbors. De la Parra also hosts crafting workshops (with wine!) and guided culinary and cultural trips to Oaxaca and San Miguel de Allende.
3811 Ray Street, North Park
The team behind the hipster-cool event and workspace Moniker Warehouse opened this minimalist retail shop meets coffee bar meets bar last year. The inventory includes Steven Alan eyewear and Linus bicycles, but the stash of streamlined, design-forward local items is impressive. Look for Norden Goods soaps, Affinità surfboards, and Dear Survivor handbags.
2860 Sims Road, Liberty Station
This Cardiff-based brand has given us easy and stylish bags and pouches to store our wet swimsuits and workout clothes in between the beach and gym or whatever else life has in store. Their “splash-proof” styles come in a variety of sizes and tropical prints. Sure, they’re made to handle wet stuff, but we love them as small everyday clutches and cosmetics bags, too. Carry on!
Thanks to owner Mary Beltrante, we can have our nautical stripes and anchor motifs and wear them, too. The former Mainer has enlisted some of her favorite East Coast brands for totes, candles, gifts, and more—all with great entrepreneurial stories, which she loves to share with her customers. Also noteworthy is her selection of clean, non-toxic beauty products that can’t be found anywhere else in San Diego.
7660 Fay Avenue, La Jolla
Designed in San Diego, these round towels are a statement piece on the sand. With hand-drawn designs contributed by artists from around the world, Slippas are made of soft cotton velour and measure five feet in diameter. Tote them with a towel carrier made of repurposed leather salvaged from planes at San Diego International Airport.
The Best of San Diego 2017
SparkCycle
The national spin brand just landed in Hillcrest, and with it comes high-octane spin sessions. The “cycle theaters” are arranged with stadium-style seating, a spotlight on the instructor, and most distinguishing of all, a competitive edge. To ensure no slacking off, every bike has a monitor that tracks RPM (revolutions per minute), and a giant screen at the front displays your ranking in the class. That feature is optional, but undoubtedly makes even the least competitive cyclist push a little harder. After each class, riders receive an email with estimated calories burned, class ranking, and other stats.
1040 University Avenue, Hillcrest (coming soon to Carmel Valley)
This workout regimen originated in Australia, the land of the perfectly sculpted beach bod, and just opened its newest San Diego location downtown. F45 combines elements of circuit, functional, and high-intensity interval training, which is the ultimate combo for burning fat and building lean muscle. The best part? Every workout is different, keeping members challenged, intrigued, and sweaty. Really, really sweaty.
1240 Tenth Avenue, Downtown, also in La Jolla, Del Mar, Mission Gorge
After a successful three years in La Jolla, the spin studio has opened a shinier, larger studio in ever-expanding Liberty Station. The new digs have four rows of bikes instead of three and more spacious locker rooms, plus the same perks their community of cyclists have come to love, like free spin-shoe rentals and chilled eucalyptus-scented towels after class.
2835 Perry Road, Liberty Station
Barre, the ballet-inspired workout designed to tone and lengthen, is challenging enough on its own—but when paired with heat, it’s next-level tough. Instructors here do a great job explaining the equipment and space; the front area’s a scorching 90 degrees, while the back is a “cooler” 80. Every class is slightly different, but expect weights and cardio bursts that make the class feel almost like a boot camp. To top it off, your first class is just $5.
3956 First Avenue, Hillcrest
Adjacent to and owned by The Westgate Hotel/Grand America Hotels is a new wellness club that’s been a long time coming. But it was worth the wait. The four-level, 40,000-square-foot facility includes huge, airy classrooms, a running track and lap pool on the rooftop, and amenities such as private lockers and laundry service for certain memberships. Some include valet parking as well. But perhaps studio space is the biggest luxury of all here—we love that we can take a class without stepping on other students.
234 Broadway, Downtown
The Best of San Diego 2017
Paintbox Studio
Founder, owner, and instructor Jaimee Brant hosts after-school art classes, arts and sewing camps, and sewing clubs for beginners and intermediate learners. This year, the UC San Diego alum will also offer a six-week fashion sketching and drafting class, as well as quarterly gallery showings featuring student pieces. Great for kindergartners and up.
1101 Washington Place, Mission Hills
The revamped library in IB feels every bit coastal, with a water-themed design that includes wave-shaped structures to give it a beachy vibe. The new space is three times the size of the original with plenty of kid-friendly add-ons, like a woody station wagon for kids to read in, surfboard tables, cozy nooks, and more.
810 Imperial Beach Boulevard, Imperial Beach
Craft culture meets family friendly at this new Del Sur spin-off, where kids can order off their own special menu and romp in the play area with cubbyholes and toys, while adults enjoy 30 rotating brews, rosé on tap, and executive chef Rich Sweeney’s creative comfort food like tri tip crostini, shaved street corn, carnitas verde mac and cheese, beer can chicken, and potato chip sundaes.
16480 Paseo Del Sur, Del Sur
This mini chain isn’t just about groceries; they have engaging family-friendly events, too. Their mission is to encourage kids to be adventurous eaters. In June they organized a grocery store scavenger hunt that got kids to try nutritious foods, like kombucha and quinoa edamame salad. On August 8 the North Park location will host a kids’ cooking event, where families will learn how to make 10-minute meals together. Just say no to chicken nuggets and fries!
Locations in Alpine, North Park, Point Loma, and Rancho Bernardo
Have a baby shower or kid’s birthday party on the calendar? Head to See/Saw beforehand to find a unique gift. Owner Theresa Renfro’s assortment of fine wooden toys, luxe organic clothing, and more is sure to please youngsters and mothers-to-be alike.
3028 Cañon Street, Point Loma
The latest installation to wow the little ones is a collaboration with the award-winning, Tokyo-based TeamLab. The group of “ultra-technologists” has created an interactive 20-by-10-foot digital aquarium where kids can draw their own marine animal, scan it in, and see it swim around and interact with other creatures. It’s also a touch screen, so kids can feed their creations or move them about. Just another next-level offering from one of the coolest children’s museums in the country. Bonus: Their café, Bean Sprouts, is now open!
200 West Island Avenue, Downtown
Parenting on an empty stomach is ill advised; so fueling up and getting something in return is a true win-win. Dine alfresco or savor the stunning views inside as kids enjoy a free meal per adult purchase on Saturdays after 4 p.m. Mini munchers will be over the moon for the create-your-own-pizza option (s’mores dessert included!) and starting the meal with Ignite’s renowned Man Candy sweet-and-spicy bacon is a must for parents.
6996 El Camino Real, Carlsbad
The Best of San Diego 2017
Mint Studio
Nearly 20 workshops led by local and internationally renowned crafters are hosted here monthly, from block printing basics to brush lettering. Prefer to create at your own pace? Check out the projects offered in the DIY studio, where all materials needed are at hand and you pay only for what you make. The space can also be booked for private parties and events.
5965 Village Way, Carmel Valley
After reviving a forgotten theater space in Ocean Beach in June 2016, Jennie and William Connard have managed to produce a crazy-good lineup that’s included Broadway and off-Broadway favorites like Urinetown, The Who’s Tommy, and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. We’re thrilled to see these beloved shows back in performance, and in a walkable neighborhood venue. Despite a matchbook-size stage, OB makes it work with stellar musical and acting talent.
4944 Newport Avenue, Ocean Beach
Good actors tend to be risk takers. So maybe it stands to reason that in the face of impending cuts to local and national arts funding, Will Cooper, Phil Johnson, and Ruff Yeager formed a professional theater company this spring, focusing on new work as well as classic and contemporary plays. Their first production, Margin of Error, written by Cooper, was praised by the Union-Tribune; they followed up with a comedic retelling of Emily Bronte in Withering Heights. We can’t wait to see what’s next.
While the larger San Diego theaters are making a lot of noise, and rightfully so (Jimmy Buffett! Tony Awards!), this small professional theater with the mission to “create more diverse and honest images of women” is producing cerebral but accessible work, like The Revolutionists, a comedy set during the Reign of Terror. Next up: Ironbound and The Diary of Anne Frank.
6663 El Cajon Boulevard, College East
A stable of women empowerment groups have risen in San Diego, focusing on career, networking, and collaboration.
Earlier this year, florist Jill Fausner of Layered Vintage teamed up with Pow Wow Design Studio and Miho Catering Co. to throw two parties geared at celebrating female friendships and partnerships, and has plans to host another ticketed party this year. And mom boss Katie Saffert has carved out a place for business mamas with Hatched Collective, a new coworking space in Normal Heights.
Two new meetup series, Lady Killas and SheRocks, aim to take the work out of networking. Formed by SDSU alum Courtney Wall, and former San Diego Magazine employees Jessica Jalowiec and Laurie Nicoud, respectively, the events encourage women to consider collaboration over competition. SheRocks hosts one annual event and smaller offerings each season. Lady Killas hosts monthly.
PARTNER CONTENT
Discover eateries, outings, and shops within this inland North County community
Just south of Lake Hodges near 4S Ranch and Poway, Rancho Bernardo is a suburban community that blends residential neighborhoods with industrial pockets, elevated by a decidedly diverse food scene.
Over 60 years ago, this North County neighborhood was once part of a family ranch. Since that time, big tech companies have taken up residence here, including Amazon, Sony Electronics, Oura Ring, HP, Teradata, and ASML. Rancho Bernardo Inn serves as a community hub, with locals frequently meeting at the hotel’s restaurants, golf course, and spa.
Whether it’s work or a round of golf that brings you to Rancho Bernardo, we’ve taken care of the agenda planning with our guide to the area’s best restaurants, activities, and shops.
Sample ingredients plucked straight from Rancho Bernardo Inn’s onsite garden and served at their signature restaurant Avant. One of the neighborhood’s most upscale dining options, they serve a French-inspired menu with nods to California, including many seafood options. Don’t miss their more casual sister restaurant Veranda for al fresco dining.
17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive
Wood-fired pizzas and handmade pastas are standouts at The Kitchen, Bernardo Winery’s counter-service restaurant specializing in Sicilian flavors. Charcuterie boards and bruschetta make for great starters or snacks while wine tasting.
13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte
Fast-casual and family-owned eatery Bushfire Kitchen recently opened a location in Rancho Bernardo, serving sandwiches, bowls, salads, burgers, protein plates, and housemade empanadas. Bushfire prepares comfort food with healthy ingredients, and offers plenty of vegetarian and vegan options.
11962 Bernardo Plaza Drive, Suite 110
Some might call The Cork & Craft an overachiever. This gastropub has an in-house craft brewery and winery: Abnormal Beer and Wine. The more, the merrier. Their sushi menu is definitely worth exploring, but don’t miss other specialties like garlic noodles, chicken wings, and pork belly.
16990 Via Tazon
You don’t have to leave Rancho Bernardo to get a white tablecloth steakhouse experience. Carvers Steaks & Chops has prime rib (their best seller), filet, ribeye, porterhouse, New York strip, and other cuts, served alongside crab-stuffed mushrooms, wedge salad, French onion soup, potato skins, and other steakhouse specialties.
1940 Bernardo Plaza Drive
This no-frills Burmese restaurant is known for its traditional tea leaf salad that’s topped with sesame and sunflower seeds, garlic chips, peanuts, tomatoes, jalapeños, fried yellow beans, and fermented green tea leaf dressing. Tucked into a nondescript strip mall, Burma Place is a great takeout option when you want to eat garlic noodles, fried rice, chicken curry, and samosas from the comfort of your couch.
16719 Bernardo Center Drive, Suite A
Find authentic Vietnamese cuisine at Phở Ca Dao, including favorites like phở noodle soup, vermicelli noodles, broken rice dishes, and spring rolls. One of eight locations throughout San Diego, this family-owned chain uses robot servers for food delivery.
11808 Rancho Bernardo Road, Suite 100
It’s all about the sauce at fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant The Kebab Shop. Smothering your chicken shawarma, gyro, or falafels in garlic yogurt, cilantro jalapeno, fire chili, and dill yogurt sauce is practically a rite of passage. The hardest part is deciding whether to order a wrap, bowl, or salad.
11980 Bernardo Plaza Drive
Get a taste of South Asian flavors at Casa Lahori, a Pakistani restaurant noted for its grilled meat kabobs. Other best-selling dishes include beef nihari, chicken biryani, and shahi paneer— best enjoyed with naan bread.
11975 Bernardo Plaza Drive
Grill your own meat on the tabletop at Kangnam Korean BBQ, an interactive, all-you-can-eat experience that’s well-suited for large groups. Marinated beef bulgogi, grilled galbi short ribs, and spicy pork are served alongside traditional banchan dishes like kimchi, japchae glass noodles, and flavorful stews. Weekday lunch specials provide a nice discount on these filling meals.
11828 Rancho Bernardo Road, Suite 117–119
Dig in to your favorite curries and kebabs at Curry & More Indian Bistro. Most entrees are served with a choice of two side dishes, including basmati rice, potatoes with cumin, daal, naan, or mixed greens. Help offset the spice with one of their sweet mango or strawberry lassi drinks.
11808 Rancho Bernardo Road, Suite 123
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.
The city's pet-friendly courses combine scenic greens, wagging tails, and a round that’s as much about your pup as your swing
Golf doesn’t have to mean stiff collars, pleated khakis, whisper-talking on the green, or pretending your sand trap fails aren’t actually hilarious. Around San Diego, a handful of rebel courses are quietly rewriting the rules of an afternoon round, making them more relaxed, more social, and yes, more dog-friendly. These are the fairways where leashed pups pad alongside their people; where a suspenseful search for a golf ball in the bushes or—no!no!no!no!no!—in the water hazards are part of the fun; where every polite golf clap comes with a smiling, panting audience. If your ideal golf day includes a walk, a drink, and your dog riding shotgun, this is your teeing ground.
For proof that a golf course can be approachable without being boring, look no further than Emerald Isle Golf Course in Oceanside. The executive course delivers consistently beautiful greens, rolling elevations, and just enough challenge to keep you engaged, not stressed—unless your pup breaks free and runs for the rolling elevations, in which case you’ll be very engaged and maybe a little stressed. Locals love holes like the canal carry on No. 3 and the wildlife-dotted pond on No. 16, while golden-hour sunsets steal the show most evenings. Dogs are genuinely welcome here, not an afterthought. Grab them a slice of watermelon from the clubhouse, pose in the cart for Instagram cameos with an Emerald Isle scarf (it doubles as an adorable bandana for your four-legged friend), or introduce them to the course’s resident pups like Bogey, the assistant director of instruction, and shop dogs Karl and Frank. Affordable, friendly, and no-frills, Emerald Isle feels like golf you and doggo can’t wait to play.
660 S El Camino Real, Oceanside
The Loma Club is where golf goes social. Set in Liberty Station, this historic 9-hole par-3 course trades country club stiffness for an easy, neighborhood energy that feels distinctly San Diego. The course is walkable and unintimidating, with skyline and harbor views doing most of the heavy lifting. The Loma Club is just dipping its paws into the dog-friendly trend, and welcomes them on the mini course and off the fairways. Though your pup is the epicenter of your world, the patio at Loma Club is the real star, hosting live music, trivia (even the smartest dogs are stumped), and cocktails that rival golf itself. You don’t even need clubs to enjoy it. Show up with your dog, wander the course, grab something from the clubhouse, and stay for hours. You’ll feel like you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.
2960 Truxtun Rd, San Diego
Calling Goat Hill Park a golf course almost undersells it. Known as the “People’s Park,” this historic Oceanside staple operates more like a community space where golf happens. Expect dogs strolling alongside the players, music streaming from magnetic speakers attached to golf carts, beginners smacking balls alongside serious talent, and locals and tourists sharing the same teeing grounds with a few four-legged besties trotting alongside. Saved from redevelopment in 2014, Goat Hill embraces a raw, unpolished look that’s both intentional and refreshing. With ocean views, a “19th-hole” fire-pit, and zero pretense, it’s golf at its most human…because: dogs.
2323 Goat Hill Dr, Oceanside
Ready to add your pup’s name to the illustrious list of golf greats? Same. At the iconic The Club at Omni La Costa, the vibe is equal parts championship-caliber and casually fabulous. Emerald fairways so perfect you’ll hesitate to step on them, palm-lined paths practically begging for a golden-hour strut, and rolling greens that ripple in the sun. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, your four-legged plus-one enters the chat: For members and overnight guests, the La Costa lifestyle rolls out the (very chic) welcome mat for your (leashed) pup, turning tee times into a social affair of breezy, citrus-kissed luxury and leisurely strolls. Really—what are you waiting for? Even your dog’s got a standing invite.
2100 Costa Del Mar Rd, Carlsbad
Isabella Dallas is a freelance writer for San Diego Magazine and the Arts and Culture Editor at The Daily Aztec in her final year at San Diego State University. She previously worked as an editorial intern for SDM, but when she’s not writing, you can find her trying the best coffee spots in SD, devouring the latest rom-coms, and indulging in anything and everything pop culture.
From San Diego’s coastline to Los Angeles stadium and fan zones across the region, here’s how to experience soccer’s biggest event
When three nations and 16 cities come together to host the FIFA World Cup 2026, the scale stops feeling like a tournament and starts feeling like geography. A continent becomes the stage as borders soften into corridors. And Southern California—shaped by migration, sport, entertainment, and constant movement—sits inside that landscape with all eyes on it.
San Diego and Los Angeles have always felt connected. Hop on the Pacific Surfliner, and the trip unfolds in one continuous stretch of coastline, passing beach towns, neighborhoods, and city centers.
Traveling from San Diego, everything still feels slightly suspended as the Pacific Surfliner follows the coast north with ocean on one side and a slow suburban blur on the other. San Diego stays in exhale. Los Angeles is already building toward something louder.
This summer, Los Angeles will host eight matches of the FIFA World Cup at Los Angeles Stadium, including the US Men’s National Team opener on June 11, while the region stretches into 39 days of programming across stadiums, parks, transit hubs, beaches, and neighborhoods. Instead of one massive fan hub, Los Angeles is embracing a citywide celebration, with fan zones spread across its entirety.
But this pattern has been rehearsed here for decades. In 1994, Southern California became one of the defining stages of the World Cup, when matches at the Rose Bowl placed global attention on the region and turned local stadiums into international landmarks, confirming its ability to hold the world at scale.
What distinguishes Southern California is not just infrastructure, but cultural permeability. Fashion, music, film, art, and sport constantly overlap here, creating an environment where identity is flexible and always in motion. From the Venice boardwalk, where skate culture shaped modern street style, to global soccer stars rubbing shoulders with Hollywood celebs, to authentic Spanish cuisine moving up and down the I-5 corridor, everything circulates.
The World Cup is not introducing anything new here, it’s showing up for the summer and showing out, revealing what this city has always known about itself. What follows is a look at the fan zones and how Los Angeles turns itself into a city-wide stage for the tournament, one neighborhood at a time.
As the heart of Los Angeles, Union Station is an official Fan Zone June 25-28 during the World Cup, but in practice it never really stops being one.
It is the city’s circulation point, its meeting ground, its pressure valve. Commuters, travelers, match-day crowds, and everyday Angelenos all move through the same space, and everything mixes, overlaps, and scales in real time. In a way, this is where the World Cup stops arriving in Los Angeles and starts moving through it.
The Pacific Surfliner from San Diego to Los Angeles makes that shift feel almost too easy. No stress or gridlock anxiety, just a straight line up the coastline with ocean on one side and everything slowly becoming more built on the other. It’s one of the rare ways into LA that doesn’t feel like arrival as friction. You can sit with a laptop, watch the Pacific drift past, grab coffee from the café car, and let the city come to you in pieces.
That’s the beauty of arriving at Union Station. Instead of feeling like you’re on the edge of the city, you’re immediately surrounded by it. And, inside, the station already reads like a World Cup nerve center: banners, movement, multilingual energy, the sense that something global is about to funnel through this exact point. The Heart of the City Fan Zone only sharpens that feeling, with simultaneous match screens, DJ sets, meet and greets, and immersive activations built around marquee games like USA vs. Türkiye.
From there, the city splits outward.
ROW DTLA feels like the first exhale after arrival. A converted industrial campus turned creative district where restaurants, retail, and open-air courtyards form a self-contained ecosystem. If you’re looking for the perfect first meal in LA, make it lunch at Pizzeria Bianco. The thin-crust pizza is reason enough to go, but the space leaves just as much of an impression.
What I liked most about ROW DTLA is how quickly it resets you after the train. One minute you are stepping off at Union Station, and the next you are in a space that feels like its own version of LA, a city inside a city with some of the most curated shopping I’ve ever seen.
Bodega hides itself behind a convenience-store front, a sneaker and streetwear space disguised as something ordinary, like LA refusing to make anything feel too obvious. The whole campus moves like that, part retail, part gallery, part neighborhood you are only temporarily inside.
Isabella Dallas is a freelance writer for San Diego Magazine and the Arts and Culture Editor at The Daily Aztec in her final year at San Diego State University. She previously worked as an editorial intern for SDM, but when she’s not writing, you can find her trying the best coffee spots in SD, devouring the latest rom-coms, and indulging in anything and everything pop culture.
The annual event honors middle market companies creating jobs, scaling up, and investing in the region
San Diego is known for its startup culture and innovation economy, but what happens when the company moves beyond its early-stage years? The San Diego Business Impact Awards aim to answer that question, spotlighting the middle market businesses helping drive the region’s economy.
Hosted by San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and JPMorganChase, the second annual awards celebration takes place on Thursday, July 23, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Scripps Research Auditorium. More than 200 executives, entrepreneurs, and business leaders are expected to attend the networking and cocktail event honoring some of San Diego County’s fastest-growing companies.
Businesses headquartered in San Diego County that have operated for at least two years are encouraged to submit their nomination by Thursday, June 18 at 4 p.m. Companies across industries—from technology and life sciences to tourism and consumer products, as well as pre-revenue startups—are eligible for recognition.
For EDC President and CEO Mark Cafferty, the event is as much about building connections as celebrating success. “We’ve had a longtime partnership with JPMorganChase; their work aligns with our efforts to support underserved communities and drive talent development,” says Cafferty. “And the networking was invaluable last year. I’m still in touch with people I met at last year’s awards.”
EDC is an independently-funded nonprofit that works directly with San Diego companies to help them grow the local economy, make the region as a whole more competitive, and attract and retain top-tier talent with quality jobs. Through EDC, companies can get help starting or expanding their business with support for things like site selection, permit navigation, and regulatory guidance, plus connections to local resources and potential business collaborators.
The San Diego Business Impact Awards began as an idea with one of EDC’s longtime strategic partners, JPMorganChase. The two organizations share a commitment to San Diego and are dedicated to bolstering middle market businesses.
“We’re blessed with a robust innovation economy and startup community,” says Aaron Ryan, San Diego Region Manager for JPMorgan’s Commercial and Investment Bank and vice chair of the firm’s’ San Diego Market Leadership Team. “But one of the segments of the business community we felt was overlooked was emerging middle market companies—the businesses that are no longer small but not yet large.”
Ryan says supporting those companies is critical as they scale and decide where to invest, hire, and grow.
San Diego’s high cost of living remains one of the region’s biggest business challenges, making talent recruitment and retention increasingly competitive. But local leaders point to the region’s quality of life, climate, and collaborative business community as advantages that continue to attract employers and workers.
“In order to support thriving households, there has to be enough high-quality jobs for people to be able to afford to live here,” Cafferty says. “Once a company grows and excels past that middle market point in their growth cycle, they become much more likely to pay higher wages and compete globally.”
Both Cafferty and Ryan proudly tout the unique collaboration that exists among San Diego County businesses. Bringing together top universities producing high-quality talent, cutting-edge research institutions, a robust military and defense presence, leading ocean science and environmental organizations, and a binational, cross-border identity creates a distinct business ecosystem that defines and strengthens the San Diego region.
Last year’s San Diego Business Impact Awards celebrated nearly 60 honorees from 49 industries, representing a total of 8,232 jobs across eight sectors, including: software and technology, healthcare and life sciences, consumer goods, professional services, finance, construction and manufacturing, defense, and hospitality and tourism. On average, honoree companies doubled their revenues over the previous year, employed more than 145 San Diegans each, and offered an average annual compensation of $192,415.
Top honorees included defense contractor Innoflight, environmental consulting firm Bancroft Construction Services, life sciences startup Element Biosciences, defense technology contractor GALT Aerospace, organic grocery store chain Jimbo’s, and biopharmaceutical company LENZ Therapeutics. During the event, Innoflight Founder and CEO Jeff Janicik held a fireside chat offering his insights on investing in the community and embracing San Diego culture.
This year, organizers hope to continue highlighting the middle market players driving economic impact across the region. Nominations are now open through June 18 at 4 p.m. Get your tickets to the San Diego Business Impact Awards celebration to enjoy drinks by Snake Oil Cocktail Co., light bites, live music, and networking.
We rounded up the city’s best events, activities, and restaurants to celebrate Dad on June 21
Father’s Day is often the overlooked summer holiday that doesn’t quite get the extravagant brunch treatment or overflowing bouquets that Mother’s Day does. Sure, there’s the annual pair of socks, Padres hat you’re convinced he doesn’t already own, beer subscriptions, phone case doubling as a wallet, plus the classic “Best Dad” keepsakes. But this year, let’s flip the narrative with events, activities, and specials made with Dad in mind.
Whether he wants a quiet dinner, a big screen full of San Diego sports and wings, or a weekend that somehow includes NASCAR, a jazz festival, and a Broadway reimagining, there is something for every dad. Here’s your guide to a memorable Father’s Day in San Diego.
Jump To: Activities | Bars & Drinks | Dining Specials
Nothing says “Happy Father’s Day” like the sound of engines ripping across Naval Base Coronado. NASCAR is turning this into a historic race weekend that feels less like a casual outing and more like a full-scale San Diego moment people will be talking about long after June is over. This is the first time a NASCAR Cup Series race has ever taken place on an active military base, which instantly puts it in “you had to be there” territory.
It’s fast, loud, and very on-brand for a Father’s Day where Dad suddenly becomes an expert on tire strategy, pit stops, and track positions. The bar might be set unreasonably high for every Father’s Day that follows, but that’s a next-year problem, right?
Price: Tickets available on Ticketmaster
Dates: June 19–21 | Weekend Schedule
Address: Naval Base Coronado
At Humphreys, Father’s Day gets a little more sophisticated. Roger Friend and an all-star lineup of jazz musicians bring decades of international experience to the bay, where dads can lean into their musical side with head nods and shoe taps. It’s smooth, layered, and exactly the amount of jazz you didn’t realize your playlists were missing.
Price: Tickets available on Ticketmaster
Time: 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Address: 241 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego
Belmont Park is rolling out a Father’s Day lineup that basically turns Mission Beach into a living garage scene, with a free car show featuring everything from polished 1960s Camaros to classic Bel Airs and lowriders. If he has a ride of his own, vintage car owners can join the lineup for $35 per vehicle. After the chrome tour, it’s straight into a Mission Beach classic: boardwalk strolls, fish tacos on the sand, and rides at Belmont Park.
Price: Free to attend | Register vehicle here
Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Address: Belmont Park, 3146 Mission Boulevard, San Diego
I think it’s an unspoken rule that dads love Bob Dylan. Mine is already figuring out how he’s getting to San Diego for this. But this isn’t just a Father’s Day activity, it’s a cultural event that happens to land on Father’s Day weekend and immediately becomes the plan. Bob Dylan at The Rady Shell means you’ll be surrounded by city lights sparkling across the harbor, legacy music, and at least one moment where Dad leans over and whispers, “You know, this guy wrote everything.” And honestly? He’s not wrong.
Price: Tickets available on Ticketmaster
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Address: 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego
The San Diego County Fair returns with fried everything, questionable decisions, rides that definitely looked safer in the 2000s, and Dad’s very confident plan to “just walk around for an hour” that somehow turns into an entire day. It’s also the biggest, longest-running community event in San Diego County, running Wednesday, June 10 through Sunday, July 5, with a “Once Upon a Fair” theme. It basically becomes part of the Father’s Day season whether you planned it or not. So, consider this your annual reminder that “happily ever after” can, in fact, involve Cajun honey dogs, cinnamon rolls, a Ferris wheel you swore you wouldn’t go on, and Dad somehow knowing exactly which booth has the best Spam wonton tacos.
Price: Tickets available here: website
Date & Time: June 10 – July 5 (closed Mondays & Tuesdays) | 11 a.m.
Address: 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar
Isabella Dallas is a freelance writer for San Diego Magazine and the Arts and Culture Editor at The Daily Aztec in her final year at San Diego State University. She previously worked as an editorial intern for SDM, but when she’s not writing, you can find her trying the best coffee spots in SD, devouring the latest rom-coms, and indulging in anything and everything pop culture.
Stop by the San Diego County Fair, rock out at the inaugural Field of Dreamz and visit Bikini Bottom via The Spongebob Musical
Charitable gatherings, downtown music festivals and theater premieres—of both the heartwarming and thought-provoking variety—are among San Diego’s standout events this weekend. You can’t spell fundraising without ‘fun,’ and both elements are central at Poway OnStage’s Taste of the Towne and the Switchfoot Bro-Am. Listeners of blues, reggae rock and silky smooth jazz can check out the East Village Blues Fest, Field of Dreamz and the San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival, respectively. As for the city’s thespian community, new shows include Cygnet Theatre’s production of Broadway favorite The Spongebob Musical and the world premiere of the OnWord Theatre show Marti Gobel’s Adult Storytime: A Caregiver’s Guide To The Blues.
Food & Drink | Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do
The tasteful appetizer to Switchfoot Bro-Am’s annual Beach Fest is the laid-back Benefit Party, returning this Thursday from 6-10 p.m. at Viasat. Guests will be treated to a curated dining menu, a performance by Switchfoot with special guests, and the chance to bid on live and silent auction items, including local excursions, apparel packages, and deluxe arts experiences. Individual ticket options include general admission ($300) and reserved seating ($450); the money raised will go towards youth-centered programming at six local nonprofits.
6155 El Camino Real, Carlsbad
Patrons of Poway OnStage are invited to Taste of Our Towne, the organization’s annual culinary fundraiser, this Saturday at 5 p.m. at Poway Center for the Performing Arts. The evening will begin with auctions, plus bites and libations from over a dozen local vendors before magician Chris Funk, aka The Wonderist, takes the stage for an interactive comedy show. General admission is $115 for Taste of Our Towne; proceeds from this event will benefit Poway OnStage’s Professional Performance Series and Arts in Education Initiative.
15498 Espola Road, Poway
Before (potentially) riding off into the sunset, British rocker Rod Stewart is strutting his stuff stateside with the unconventional voice and unquestionable verve that’s propelled his nearly six decade-long solo career. Though the “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” artist’s days on the road may be dwindling, that’s even more reason to give him his flowers in the present. Stewart’s upcoming show this Friday at 7:30 p.m. at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre will feature prolific singer-songwriter Richard Marx as the opening act. Tickets start at $40.
2050 Entertainment Circle, Chula Vista
Following Thursday’s Benefit Party, the 22nd annual Switchfoot Bro-Am will switch (get it?) from its fundraiser to a free day at Moonlight Beach for Saturday’s all-day Beach Fest. From 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. there will be surf competitions—including surf jousting—and from noon to 5 p.m., Sun Room, Telephone Friends, Kimiko, a handful of special guests and, of course, Switchfoot will perform for attendees. Additionally, throughout the day, there will be a variety of vendors and brand activations to explore. Admission is free with RSVP, while VIP pit tickets are $195.
400 B Street, Encinitas
As the mysterious saying goes, ‘If you build it, they will come,’ but instead of Iowa cornfields, this time the message is coming from inside SD’s home ballpark. This Saturday, Ocean Beach natives Slightly Stoopid will headline the first-ever Field of Dreamz Festival, and they’ve brought along a handful of ska, reggae and island-inspired rock acts for the ride. Doors will open at 3 p.m., and fans can see sets by Stephen Marley, Pepper, Sublime—whose first album with frontman Jakob Nowell drops Friday—and more. Ticket options include standard admission ($125), floor tickets ($188), plus All-Star VIP ($244) and Hall of Fame VIP ($610) passes.
100 Park Boulevard, Downtown
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.
Scripps study shows that some patients may be able to taper their dose and maintain results
While glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agents have been used to treat Type 2 diabetes for more than 20 years, their recent emergence as weight-loss wonder drugs marked a new frontier in medicine. But their effectiveness has left some patients wondering what to do once they’ve reached their goal. Stopping the medication could mean regaining some, if not all, of the weight. A Scripps Clinic internal medicine physician recently conducted a small study of whether GLP-1 patients who had reached their goal weight could maintain that weight by taking their regularly prescribed injection every other week instead of weekly. Spoiler alert: 30 of 34 patients did. Read more about the study here and what that may mean as pharmaceutical companies roll out oral GLP-1s.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
