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Our annual guide to what’s new, cool, and delicious in San Diego and Baja (plus, things to do from a distance!)
Town and Country Resort
This story was published in the December 2020 issue of San Diego Magazine. Some of these attractions and businesses are now temporarily closed due to the Regional Stay Home Order. Visit covid19.ca.gov for the latest information.
Arts & Culture | Shopping & Beauty | Health & Wellness | Kids & Pets | Food & Drink | Baja
AirOshi
Get plenty of social distance by enjoying a scenic tour of San Diego by air. Aeronautical athlete Anthony Oshinuga takes passengers aboard his jet to experience the glistening ocean waters and the city’s historic landmarks from above. Oshinuga placed second at the 2015 National Championship Air Races.
Pickup and drop off from Montgomery Field and Palomar Airport
The famed “Pink Lady” hotel offers workcationers an Office by the Ocean package to set up your workspace in one of the high-end property’s king-size guest rooms for the day. You’ll get a sanitized and comfy desk and chair, high-speed Wi-Fi and, of course, a view worthy of your next Zoom meeting background.
1132 Prospect Street, La Jolla
FemX Quarters
FemX Quarters is a Latina-founded multipurpose creative space for women that hosts events and includes coworking spaces and studios for photography, film, and audio recording. Because of the pandemic, FemX Quarters had to expand its digital footprint by launching online courses geared toward today’s economy and by hosting physically distant but socially connected events.
1919 San Diego Avenue, Mission Hills
The Del’s oceanfront cabana guest rooms got a complete makeover with refreshed coastal colors and stunning alfresco settings with lounge areas, fire pits, and sunset views. The new nearby pool also has private cabanas to offer a refreshed spot to enjoy craft cocktails and swanky SoCal living.
1500 Orange Avenue, Coronado
The Point Loma landmark remains true to its 1960s midcentury aesthetic, but with revamped interiors, thanks to local design firm Human Kind Design Company and to Electric Bowery.The property also changed its popular “dive-in” movies to “dine-in” movies over the oyster-shaped pool with a $50 prix fixe menu.
1410 Rosecrans Street, Point Loma
Voices of Our City Choir
Cofounded in 2016 by jazz singer Steph Johnson, this choir for people experiencing homelessness made it to the semifinals of this year’s America’s Got Talent competition. The celebrity judges were wowed by an original song the choir performed and by the story of how this group—now a nonprofit—welcomes people off the street and has empowered over 60 of its members to find stable housing.
1550 Market Street, East Village
2020 has been an extremely challenging year for the arts, and North Park’s Media Arts Center has adapted by transitioning its most popular events to virtual happenings. The organization behind Digital Gym Cinema and the annual Latino Film Festival hosted both events online with weekly arthouse engagements and digital access to the film festival’s movies. The nonprofit also continued its youth filmmakers program this summer, giving teens interested in cinema a chance to produce a documentary.
2921 El Cajon Boulevard, North Park
This innovative gallery concept shows only one piece of art at a time. Avoid crowds—visits are limited to groups of four, by appointment only—and enjoy the experience of “slow art.” Each visit is free, and a gallery worker will be on hand to offer information and insight or simply let you appreciate the work in silence. Each show runs for three weeks.
7722 Girard Avenue, La Jolla
The beloved gay nightclub pandemic-pivoted in truly spectacular fashion (we would expect nothing less) by transforming into an outdoor party palace complete with go-go dancing stages, socially distanced tables, a full menu, and fun decor.
1051 University Avenue, Hillcrest
In October, visual artist and South Park local Melody Moulton opened Trash Lamb, her first standalone art gallery. The intimate gallery features a variety of thought-provoking pieces by artists working in different media from San Diego and beyond. A small shop, curated by Moulton and stocked with artisanal goods, occupies the front. Moulton is also an avid traveler. The pandemic grounded her in more ways than one, giving her the courage to take the leap into this new venture.
2365 30th Street, South Park
The San Diego Public Library has kept readers of all ages engaged online despite coronavirus-related library closures. The SDPL Virtual Hub has real-time and recorded bilingual storytimes, teen and adult book talks, craft activities, science experiments, and special guest performances. The librarians dress up in costumes and do all the voices as they read aloud to book lovers young and old.
Various locations
The Nada Shop
Becca Batista
Consider Samantha Simone the North County queen of low-waste living. She opened up her own refillery in Encinitas just last year, selling eco-friendly household cleaners and bath soaps in bulk. Bring in your own containers and fill them up, or let her team guide you through the Starter Collection to kick off your sustainable lifestyle. In addition to formulas, the shop also carries products that’ll get you on a greener living track—think reusable mugs and bags, and even solid dish soaps to avoid single-use plastics.
937 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas; 332 South Coast Highway, Oceanside
When Janelle Noble Donovan’s daughter was suffering through a cycle of infections, she became desperate to create a solution. In developing Anshi topical rubs, she aimed to use the body’s largest organ—the skin—to promote healing. The dry rubs contain pink Himalayan salt for quick absorption, and can also be used as a shower scrub or bath soak to relieve various ailments, including joint and muscle pain, cold and flu symptoms, and bites and burns.
Music venues are hurting right now, and The Casbah introduced new merch this summer for loyal concertgoers and music lovers to show their support. The crowd favorite is the “Froberg” tees, featuring a cartoonish design by musician and former Encinitas resident Rick Froberg (Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu). The illustration is available as a unisex tee, women’s tank, and coffee mug. Also new to the merchandise is 2020’s hottest accessory—a face mask, with Casbah branding. Trust us, you can rock it.
2501 Kettner Boulevard, Little Italy
What started as a bow tie business has evolved to meet a niche market: wood-brimmed hats. The caps are crafted with real woods and spot-coated with epoxy resin for dashes of color. All fedoras come with iconic accessories, like a feather, quill, or pin. We’ll tip our hats to that!
With the homesteading lifestyle on the rise, home hobbyists need a shop of their own. Enter Home Ec., stocked with gardening supplies, cookbooks, sewing kits, and even the owner’s sourdough starter. Preheat your oven!
2355 India Street, Little Italy
You can’t get any more homegrown than running a plant shop out of your house. A former co-owner of North Park Nursery and its sister shop Eden San Diego, Stephanie Ward bases her new venture out of her Imperial Beach home and runs on an appointment-based system. The inventory skews toward tropical plants, but she also has all the basics like snake plants and pothos.
Imperial Beach
Klover’s art-forward dispensary livened up its industrial neighborhood when it opened up shop last year. Splashed across its exterior walls are murals from local cross-border artist Panca. Inside is a suite of THC-rich products from the highest-quality brands California cannabis has to offer.
3500 Estudillo Street, Pacific Highway
The longtime dream of Rais Case owner Julie Ellis, The Rising Co. in Oceanside opened in early 2020. The co-op is brimming with something for everyone from wares to activities. Beyond the merchandise, there’s coworking spaces, Seaborne Coffee Company, and fitness classes.
332 South Coast Highway, Oceanside
Maek
Married ceramicists Michaela and Ryan Maes opened up their first-ever brick and mortar shop in Ocean Beach last summer. They do all of their throwing in the shop, so customers can see the time and care each piece needs. Fan favorites include the Thumb Cup, the Traveler mug, and Portholes wall mirrors. Coming soon: a membership-based ceramic studio.
1918 Bacon Street, Ocean Beach
Sommeil—that’s French for ‘sleep’—is the boutique arm of the North Park mattress shop Sleep Bedder. They stock all the creature comforts one could want to wind down for a restful night, from candles to bath soaps and herbal supplements. If you’re into it, there are also crystals, sage, and smudge sticks.
2867 El Cajon Boulevard, North Park
When you have minimal square feet to work with, you bet your inventory has to be refined. That’s been Shop Soet’s philosophy since they opened in Hillcrest last summer. The little shop is tucked below the Abpópa microloft complex on Fifth Avenue and the gem of its inventory is a two-story wall of vinyl records that leads to their “music den” upstairs. On the bottom floor, you’ll find a modest collection of homewares, jewelry, books, and beauty and skin care goods.
3776 Fourth Avenue, Hillcrest
When he welcomed his first child into the world, Mark Frahm realized that the frayed shoebox he’d been using to store his cannabis stash was no longer adequate. To solve this problem, he created Rob Rodney, a luxury line of leather storage cases designed to keep cannabis products safely out of reach from kids and pets. The bags have locks and come with airtight jars and magnetic pouches to store joints, vapes, gummies, and oils.
No matter what you call it—an expansion, a rebranding, a reset—we’re loving that Melanie Michaud transformed her South Park clothing boutique, Graffiti Beach, into a second location of her Bankers Hill shop, Thread + Seed. The South Park post swapped the fast-fashion finds in favor of timeless pieces at an affordable price.Perfect for the holidays, the shop has a Build-a-Box Bar for shoppers to create their own gift box.
2220 Fern Street, South Park
Designer Ugochi Iwuaba makes her mark with attention-grabbing fashion inspired by African textiles and silhouettes. The same scene-stealing power that won Ugochi Iwuaba the award for Best Show at Orange County Fashion Week is back this season in liquid metallics and delicate details (hello, virtual holiday parties). Browse the racks at her eponymous flagship boutique, which opened this summer in Mission Valley.
5080 Camino del Arroyo, Mission Valley
Timshel in Thread Spun
This modern-meets-vintage home goods boutique charmed Normal Heights for mere months before COVID-19 caused the closure of its brick and mortar. Then, the young owners found a saving grace through Thread Spun, which lent a nook of its shop space to Timshel to run as a pop-up and spotlight its sustainable wares and slow-fashion products.
1114 North Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
This Normal Heights plant shop pivoted their sales strictly to Instagram stories during the shutdown and got their process so perfected that they’ve continued their online sales even after reopening. Simply DM the shop to let them know you’re ready to retrieve your purchase and they’ll slide your new plant out the door, no contact required. In-person shoppers will love the newly installed community cutting swap wall.
3504 Adams Avenue, Normal Heights
Sojourn Healing Collective
Tiffany Allen
Coinciding with its three-year anniversary, Sojourn Healing Collective moved from its original Bankers Hill location to a new space with two sunlit studios in Golden Hill. Already known for their various yoga practices, meditation, sound healing, and breathwork, Sojourn has recently rolled out new in-person classes and workshops, plus a virtual studio membership for online instruction. The 2,000-square-foot facility has a modern vibe, brought to life with a plant wall, crystals, and an outdoor community courtyard.
811 25th Street, Golden Hill
Based on the success of their first two medical spas, Revive Salon & Spa expanded farther north with a new location in Encinitas. Providing laser, skin, and body treatments; facials, peels, and waxing; Botox and other fillers; Revive also houses full-service hair salons at their Mission Valley and Carmel Valley locations. All virtual consultations are free.
109 North El Camino Real, Suite 9, Encinitas
Set your leg warmer and leotard stereotypes aside. Jazzercise has lived on for 51 years for good reason—you burn calories, and fast. This year, the San Diego–based fitness empire has ramped up its Jazzercise On Demand workout so you can start burning calories from the moment you get up off the couch. The workouts target all muscle groups and incorporate strength, high-intensity interval training, and Pilates moves that bring the dance routines well into the modern era.
This hot-mat Pilates studio quickly grew a dedicated following after it debuted in Bankers Hill last year. When public health regulations barred indoor workouts for much of 2020, owner Betsy Blumenfeld hopped on the next best thing by launching an online streaming service for those determined to keep getting their sweat on. A monthly subscription of $25 grants access to over 200 videos, with new ones added each month. Their specialty is the Savor and Spice classes, which move through quick, blood-pumping intervals of classic mat moves.
Saffron & Sage is offering a comprehensive Mind, Body + Spirit detoxification so you can reset and rewire. Commit to this six-week self-care series and you’ll receive a detox kit designed by holistic health practitioners that includes nutritional guidance, sample menus, recipes, nutritional and homeopathic supplements, and daily journal prompts. It also comes with access to weekly virtual workshops, Saffron & Sage’s virtual classes, and flower essences delivered to your door.
2555 State Street, Mission Hills
Movement Warehouse
Movement Warehouse facilitates high-intensity weight lifting that prioritizes form over setting personal records. Think an athlete training facility, not a CrossFit. Owner Michael Hamanaka says it’s the people and community that make you want to keep coming back. In light of the pandemic, the gym upgraded their space for complete outdoor training and cleaning on rotation every six to seven minutes.
1425 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach
The nearly 70-year-old hotel got a new lease on life after $70 million worth of construction work, and the results make a big splash. The expansive pool deck has three areas to explore, including a kids’ pool. Older kids (and brave younger ones) will adore the Twister, a four-story-high waterslide (the city’s tallest!) while grown-ups will appreciate the margaritas served poolside. The hardest part of your day may be telling the kids when it’s time to head back home, but that’s a small win any parent will happily take! Day passes can be purchased at resortpass.com.
500 Hotel Circle North, Mission Valley
Rancho Bernardo Inn has debuted a private, interactive falconry experience for guests. Under the guidance of expert handlers, you can don the falconer’s glove and have close encounters with owls and other majestic raptors. You’ll learn all about the history of this ancient and noble sport and play field games with the birds on the sprawling Argon Lawn.
17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive, Rancho Bernardo
The former Camp-Run-A-Mutt location welcomed a refreshing rebranding inspired by the daycare owner’s 11-year-old puggle, Kirby. The new name comes with the same trusted service, but with updated perks like temperament testing to keep things safe, spacious big-dog and small-dog play yards, and dog pools for your pup to splash around. You can pick from half- or full-day stays or overnight boarding, and even treat your four-legged friend to a grooming so they come home happy and squeaky clean.
7888 Othello Avenue, Kearny Mesa
Stylish sustainability is at the heart of Le Shoob. The brand offers a collection of treats, goods, and wears for your favorite furry companion that you can feel good about. The small-batch treats are made from 100 percent natural ingredients and bagged in recycled packaging. Collars, leashes, and harnesses are available in a wide range of colors and, with each purchase, Le Shoob donates ten percent to Hearts & Bones Rescue.
The iconic indoor pool at Mission Beach opened last summer after getting a $12 million facelift. The new retractable roof and floor-to-ceiling windows let in plenty of light and ventilation, and during daytime recreational swim hours, there’s a fun floatie obstacle course for the kids to tackle in the shallow end. For the ultimate pool party, you can sign the kids up for a full day camp experience.
3115 Ocean Front Walk, Mission Beach
Home & Hound
Becca Batista
Home & Hound’s owner, Brittany Garbani, is on a mission to make home decor and dog garb jibe harmoniously. The inventory’s neutral color palette and Garbani’s minimalist-meets-boho aesthetic is a big part of it. The shop is a true 50/50 split between serving humans (textiles, accent furniture, decorative accessories, entertaining wares) and dogs (walking, eating, sleeping, and playing essentials). We couldn’t agree more with the shop’s tagline, “Home is where your hound is”—so decorate accordingly.
3768 30th Street, North Park
Experience the wildlife at this quiet retreat in Alpine. The Children’s Nature Retreat is a 20-acre sanctuary for 150 domesticated and wild animals. Visitors get up close with 22 different species, including one of the few white camels in the world. Many of the animals were donated from owners who could no longer care for them or rescued and brought to the sanctuary for a bit of San Diego sun and peace.
5178 Japatul Spur, Alpine
American Pizza Manufacturing
James Tran
American Pizza Manufacturing offers restaurant-quality pizzas and pastas without the prep work. Crowd favorites include the Harley pizza, topped with Italian sausage, caramelized onions, sage, Asiago, and mozzarella. Salads and desserts complete a full and no-fuss dinner.
7402 La Jolla Boulevard, La Jolla
At long last, University Heights has a wine shop to call its own. Married couple Juerie and Paul opened Clos this summer, delivering all the mom-and-pop vibes you wish for in a neighborhood bottle shop. They specialize in natural and organic wines sourced from small growers and producers. Grab a bottle to go or post up on the patio and stay awhile with a meat and cheese board or the house specialty, tinned fish.
4521 Park Boulevard, University Heights
From the high-altitude mesas of Durango, Mexico, comes Izo Mezcal, a smooth, smoky spirit that’s meant for sipping. Crafted from wild agave hearts, Izo has hints of banana and green apple flavors with subtle floral notes. The distillery will soon release a well tequila and sotol to round out its full collection.
Luca at The Guild Hotel
Kai Oliver-Kurtin
International travel may be on pause, but guests dining at Luca in The Guild Hotel will feel transported to the French Riviera thanks to the restaurant’s chic alfresco setup. The menu combines flavors from the Mediterranean and North Africa, and its location makes for the perfect workday lunch spot.
500 West Broadway, Downtown
Metl Bar & Restaurant mixes alcohol and ice cream in deliciously campy ways. Try a “Painchiller” with three kinds of rum, orange, pineapple, and nutmeg; or stay on trend by ordering the “Tygrr King.” This wild concoction includes Skrewball Whiskey and chocolate rum dashed with banana pudding, cashews, and Whoppers candy.
748 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter
Ivo Fedak sells his hard-to-grow gourmet mushrooms at local farmers’ markets. He specializes in “wood lovers,” or exotic strains that grow on trees and in forests—king trumpets, oysters, and lion’s manes, to name a few. Pay him a visit and expand your palate!
San Diego’s first zero-waste plant-based restaurant makes creative use of products that many restaurants throw out, like banana peels, which transform into a taco filling. Vegan proteins, including taste-alikes for crab and chicken, are all made in-house.
1733 S. Coast Highway, Oceanside
This multi-restaurant spot opened on the North Embarcadero in July. You’ll need to call ahead to get a reservation at Brigantine on the Bay. Just cruising by? Check out Ketch Grill & Taps. Over 1,000 seats are spread out across the two-story complex—most with fantastic bay views.
1360 North Harbor Drive, Downtown
Pâtisserie Mélanie
Combining the best of a palmier and a croissant yields the kouign-amann. Le Cordon Bleu–trained chef Melanie Dunn creates her masterpiece by laminating the dough with lots of butter—the result is a rich, flaky, cinnamon-topped dessert that’s totally delicious.
3788 Park Boulevard, Hillcrest
Encinitas’ favorite spot for live music recently created a charming venue in the back of their restaurant, transforming the parking lot with market lights, artificial turf, barrel tables, and an elevated stage, so you can safely enjoy the local musicians while you sip a Coupe de la Vie nightcap—cold brew with Irish cream, crème de cacao, and vodka.
517 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
Tracy Borkum of Cucina Urbana fame has joined forces with the Snake Oil craft cocktail wizards to create Camp Cucina, a dynamic all-outdoor pop-up scene. Come holiday season, Urban Kitchen Group will continue to cater to the festive gatherings at Julep.
1735 Hancock Street, Middletown
The Vegan Lion delivers homestyle, plant-based comfort foods. Chef-founder Quin Butler runs San Diego’s first completely vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free meal service. Order the best-selling Lion Wings Meal: Air-fried oyster mushroom “wings” show off Quin’s skill with seasonings and stay crispy and delicious even through cross-town transit.
1100 North Magnolia Avenue, Suite D, El Cajon
Last summer, chef Socheath Sun (formerly of Tiger!Tiger! Tavern) opened one of the most talked about lunch spots downtown: a pop-up that has only one dish on the menu, which changes daily. Diners can expect dishes that span Southeast Asia. Sun’s family is from Cambodia, and dishes like prahok k’tiss (a dip of minced pork, eggplant, lemongrass, and chili) make appearances on the menu. Give Chef Sun a follow, and see what her loyal fan base has been raving about.
734 Park Boulevard, East Village
Yipao Coffee Bar
Israel Palacio
Positioned as an offshoot of Kairoa Brewing Company, Yipao specializes in Colombian coffee, roasted in San Diego. In addition to single-origin cold brews, pour-overs, espresso, and other coffee drinks, they sell bags of beans at Seaside Market in Cardiff and at their University Heights location to take to go. Just look for the namesake yipao jeep parked right in front.
4601 Park Boulevard, University Heights
Dare we say some cocktails taste better in a can? One sip from You & Yours’ collection of vodka sodas and gin and tonics, and you’ll see what we mean. New this year are two vodka sodas in Meyer lemon and cucumber mint flavors, rounding out the distillery’s collection of eight canned sippers. Both are made from their award-winning grape-based vodka and distilled at their tasting room.
1495 G Street, East Village
Owner David Young is no newbie when it comes to the business of fruit, with a degree in pomology (fruit science) and 20 years in winemaking to prove it. But what’s most impressive about his cidery is that everything is found, grown, and made on-site. Recipes include ingredients like pineapple weed and white sage, which gives their crisp apple ciders an extra flair. The tasting room is right on the apple orchard, making a sweet alfresco cider experience that much sweeter.
4200 Highway 78, Julian
Having a midweek slump? Tune in to Wino Wednesdays for some wine, cheese, and respite at this biweekly tasting hosted by one of the city’s most acclaimed cheese shops. Every week, they highlight a new wine from around the world, like a Spanish garnacha or even a local pinot noir, and pair it with a cheese plate for a virtual tasting on their YouTube channel. Order ahead online, pick up the cheese and vino that day at their shop in Del Mar or Mission Hills, and get ready for a comfy happy hour at home. If you’re up for it, you can engage in the live chat, but no one minds if you just sit in your sweatpants and listen in while you sip. If you want something more interactive (that will get you off the couch) they also have cooking classes hosted by Venissimo employees. Just want to socialize? Sign up for their informal Sunday Sessions and toast to making it through another week.
Realm of the 52 Remedies
When happy hour has to be a home affair, only the best cocktails will do. That’s where Common Theory’s not-so-secret speakeasy comes in. 52 Remedies’ innovative craft cocktails are now available in “Home Therapy” bottles to go—complete with garnishes. All you need to do is pour over ice and enjoy. Each week, the bar features three new recipes that you can order individually or as part of the Home Therapy Wellness Kit, which comes with all three premixed cocktails, garnishes, barbecue taro chips, and a surprise gift.
4805 Convoy Street, Kearny Mesa
Baja Excursions
Ever wanted to rappel 25 meters off the ocean? It might be time to give coasteering a try. This nature tourism company offers a variety of extreme sports and outdoor activities such as hiking, canyoneering, kayaking, and coasteering. It’s the only company in Tijuana and Rosarito that has federal and state accreditations that are required for their line of services.
Departs to various locations
Tijuana’s only interactive science and technology museum is designed to catch your curiosity with 10 modifiable workshops, labs, robotics, and special events to explore. Most recently added is the planetarium, a space dedicated to the knowledge of the universe. They are offering online events, and visits are by appointment only.
Tijuana
La Lomita Winery is where chef Sheyla Alvarado continues to build her legacy in Valle de Guadalupe. After her residency at the vineyard’s acclaimed TrasLomita, Lunario shows off her mastery of the forces shaping the valley’s culinary universe. The six- and eight-course menus, which change with the phases of the moon, source from nearby fincas and the Ensenada coastline. The dining room is housed inside a greenhouse reminiscent of an observatory.
Ensenada
Sharpen your cooking skills with professional executive chefs at the Culinary Art School of Tijuana. They offer day courses for amateurs that walk you through popular dishes such as pan dulce, craft cocktails, veggie tacos, moles, salsas, burgers, crepes, and more. Courses include the recipes, ingredients, an apron, accident insurance, and a diploma at the end of the course. You don’t need great knife cutting skills, just comfortable shoes and a willingness to learn.
Tijuana
La Saladita
This new cantina from the owners of the iconic Cantina de los Remedios is focused on providing a seafood menu that distinguishes the fresh produce of the Baja region with rich marinades, sauces, and preparations from Southern Mexico. Menu items to try include the juicy golden shrimp marinated to perfection in paprika and soy, and a two-pound zarandeado octopus marinated in flavorful adobo, flash fried, and served with warm handmade tortillas.
Tijuana
Border Psycho laid a foundation of irreverent takes on classic brews. The craft label made major moves since last year, starting with Playami, its new taproom and multilevel dining space in the Playas de Tijuana neighborhood. Inside the tanks, they’ve been pulling off some must-drink collabs with brewers on both sides of the border, including San Marcos’s Mason Ale Works.
Tijuana
A new hospitality option for the millennial traveler is now taking reservations in downtown Tijuana. The 17-room hotel has city views and lots of natural light—ideal for snapping some photos—and houses a coffee shop, bar, and coworking spaces. The project was a collaboration led by Mariel Cuervo of Coyote Projects and Miguel Marshall of Centro Ventures.
Tijuana
This 360-degree outdoor event space is designed like a drive-in movie theater with a four-sided concert stage. Guests can park in front of one of the four large LED screens and enjoy movies, concerts, boxing matches, and live DJs Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. There are also food trucks and pop-up food stands.
Tijuana
Chef Jair Téllez’s landmark Verde y Crema made its much-anticipated return to a new two-level structure on Avenida Revolución downtown after a nearly two-year absence. Its outstanding menu has seen few changes, so anyone can get a taste of the dishes that got Tijuana buzzing for years.
Tijuana
When Telefónica opened in a downtown parking lot, few would have imagined its future as a foodie destination. Today, the food hall continues to top Tijuana to-do lists with its local tap list and roster of chefs. Founder Antonio Gamboa has big plans in the works: he announced on KPBS in February that he is actively looking for a San Diego location for a cross-border expansion.
Tijuana
Tacos del Koshy
In Tijuana there are many taquerías to choose from, but this new spot is worth all the hype. In addition to staples such as carne asada, adobada, birria, cabeza, carnitas, lengua, suadero (interior shank), and tripa, Tacos del Koshy serves up Central Mexican flavors and original creations. Must-order items include the Taco del Koshy, with crispy suadero, pig skin, beans, and guacamole; and salsas that are made with special house recipes.
Tijuana
A conversation with Sebastián Morúa on art, community, and why the club’s future heroes should include the creatives helping build it
Sebastián Morúa is the Senior Vice President of Brand & Innovation for San Diego FC. He oversees Playmakers, the program through which the club has, over the past three years, engaged with over 80 working artists—not as marketing partners, but as co-creative directors.
Morúa didn’t build Playmakers as a community-outreach program bolted onto a Major League Soccer franchise. He built it as the identity of the franchise. When we sat down, he talked about the World Cup, San Diego’s creative workforce, his challenge to other sports franchises in the city, and the mural of heroes he hopes people will see one day when they close their eyes and picture San Diego FC.
Sebastián Morúa: I want to answer that in two parts. Philosophically first—because I think what you’re really asking is why should any sports team do this when most don’t.
Sport is a platform for transformation. It has proven that over and over. We saw it this summer with countries participating in the World Cup for the first time and what that did in their home countries—the sense of self-identification, pride, possibility. That is the power of sport.
When you take a sports team that’s fueled by that principle and understands what it could mean for other stakeholders in a community, you start to think about what you can accomplish in collaboration with them. One of those stakeholders, very early on, was the creative community. If we were going to build a team that represents this place and its people, we needed to go to the source. Artists are uniquely positioned to translate the essence and the soul of a community. When you zoom out and look at the multitude of artists in a place, you start to see the fabric of that local culture. That’s where the sense of pride and possibility gets unlocked.
Our mission is to create opportunities for talent to flourish and make San Diego shine. That means the club is a platform. When we started doing the early research for the brand, we brought artists into our focus groups. The response was immediate. There was a clear need. In 2024, we ran the first full year of what became Playmakers, working with more than 20 artists to help us tell the story of how San Diego FC could weave 18 distinct communities together.
We’re in the business of developing communities through sport. We’re not in the business of fútbol to entertain communities. That is an outcome—but not the purpose.
No. I wasn’t thinking about where this was going or how much it would cost. It instinctively felt aligned with our organizational purpose, and we made a decision to go for it. Now it’s become what it’s become.
If a fan closed their eyes 20 years from now and tried to paint a mural of the heroes that make up the club, they would see a big percentage of Playmakers artists on that mural. Ask any fan about the team they’ve supported for decades, and they’ll tell you about players, maybe a coach, maybe an owner. We’re expanding that. In our mural, there’ll be artists, entrepreneurs, community leaders, youth coaches. The community will be present.
Three to five years from now, Playmakers is an established community of creatives who have co-directed the identity of the club and the evolving identity of San Diego. If we keep the pace we’ve kept, we should have collaborated with 150 to 200 artists whose stories we’ve told and whose next steps we’ve helped support.
There’s a huge benefit for us as a club and as a brand. This is symbiotic. The artists have a need, we can support that need, and in return the community cares more about our club because of the investment we’re doing in the community. That’s what I would tell another organization.
San Diego is waking up to how much it has to offer the global conversation around culture. There’s a purity to life here—partly because of the weather, which allows us to spend so much time outside, in nature—and that exists alongside this incredible richness in food, music, art, and now sports.
I have a sense that San Diego is ready to unlock its full potential. You see it in the artists and creatives here. They’re ready. There’s very little hesitation. It’s more like: “Hell yeah, of course I want to do this. I know I’m talented. I’ve been waiting for something like this.”
That energy, combined with the unique lifestyle and character of this place, creates a really exciting sense of what San Diego can become in the years ahead.
I would ask: What would you say to the other big players in San Diego who are—or could be—shaping the cultural fabric of our community? Do they understand the symbiotic benefit? Are they supporting it?
Because Playmakers, in the end, is a cultural compass. It’s making sure that San Diego still feels—and will always feel—represented in the creative process of building San Diego FC and what that means for San Diego.
The pitch is a canvas. Athletes are painting collectively during every game. There is a story in every game. That’s the link between sport and art. At the core, it’s the same creative process.
Surf’n Slaw founder Kumi Alexander is introducing local farmers market crowds to okonomiyaki, the savory Japanese pancake she grew up eating
After 15 years married, my husband and I tend to agree on most things. But there’s one argument we both refuse to bend on—I prefer okonomiyaki Osaka-style, and he’s a die-hard Hiroshima-style devotee. (To be fair, we both adore both styles, but at this point, it’s just fun to have a low-stakes disagreement.)
Okonomiyaki is one of Japan’s greatest comfort foods, a savory pancake that’s about the size of a DVD, if you aren’t too young to know what that is. It’s not terribly hard to make—it’s flour, eggs, dashi stock or water, and a whole heap of shredded cabbage, plus optional fillings like green onions, pork belly, or bonito flakes, all cooked fresh on a flat top griddle. Drizzle some kewpie mayo and okonomiyaki sauce on top, and you’re hot to go.
However, it’s not easy to make well, and as you now know, people have capital-O Opinions about Osaka-versus-Hiroshima. Hiroshima-style layers the ingredients one by one rather than mixing them together, adding a layer of soba or udon noodles and topping it all off with a fried egg. For Osaka-style, all the ingredients are mixed together and then cooked on the griddle, so every bite includes every ingredient in a hodgepodge of deliciousness. (One Osaka variation called modan-yaki does include soba noodles mixed in the batter, but they’re not traditionally used in that regional version.)
Despite a childhood spent in Osaka, Japan, Kumi Alexander specializes in making Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. “Okonomiyaki has been part of my life for as long as I can remember,” she explains. “My parents ran their own business when I was growing up, so Saturdays were often busy, and okonomiyaki was one of my mother’s go-to lunches because it was simple and easy to make.”
Alexander came to San Diego seven years ago with a desire to bring a part of her culture with her—not just a product, but a feeling. “When I thought about what could do that, the answer was almost obvious: okonomiyaki,” she says.
She originally launched Surf’n Slaw as a mobile pop-up food stand in August 2025, offering what Alexander calls Japanese-meets-California okonomiyaki. “Our full Surf’n Slaw includes cabbage, noodles, umami dough, beef, shrimp, and vegetables,” she explains. The menu also has a “Green Wave Slaw,” an Osaka-style version that can be made vegan and gluten-free, as well as matcha drinks.
Currently, Surf’n Slaw pops up at farmers markets in North Park, Scripps Ranch, Hillcrest, La Jolla, and La Mesa, as well as other local markets and community events. Eventually, she may expand to a permanent location, but that’s a future goal. And while Alexander hopes that one day okonomiyaki will be as well-known to American audiences as ramen or sushi, for now, she’s just happy to share a bit of home with San Diego.
Listen Now: The Latest in San Diego’s Food and Drink Scene
Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to [email protected].
Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
Your checklist for the best stage performances, museum exhibits, and one-night-only cinematic events hitting San Diego this autumn
Fall Arts Preview presented by SDFC Playmakers
Now through Jan. 10, 2027
Sift through over 200 photographs, sketches, letters, and costumes from “The King of Vogue,” who photographed World War II, modernized royal portraits, and created the aesthetic for 1920s socialites in London.
Now through Feb. 28, 2027
Walk through an 18-foot whale ribcage (and a couple dozen other marine-creature sculptures) made entirely of plastic bottles, flip-flops, lighters, rope, and other plastic detritus found on the beach in the Nat’s 3,000-square-foot second-floor gallery.
Now through May 31, 2027
Part of SDMA’s centennial, “Forging a Legacy,” highlights artists from the past (Picasso, Monet) and modern day (Hugo Crosthwaite) who contributed to the museum’s collection.
Now through 2027
See the stars (without the smog) at their best from the winners of the world’s largest astrophotography competition—all in the Fleet Science Center’s new basement gallery, specifically dimmed to let the cosmos shine.
Sept. 6–Oct. 11
From the 2013 silver screen to this year’s The Old Globe stage, you can “Begin Again” (again) with a world-premiere musical adaptation featuring new songs—courtesy of Train—and a story overflowing with hope.
Sept. 9–Oct. 4
“On the outside, always looking in…” marks the emotional crux of the Tony-, Grammy-, and Emmy-award winning musical coming to the Cygnet Theatre.
Opening Sept. 12
Learn the history of the Kumeyaay Nation from the perspective of the members themselves in an immersive exhibit inspired by graphic novels “Our Past, Present, and Future,” and “Beyond Gaming.”
Sept. 16–Oct. 11
During Oscar Levant’s appearances on “The Jack Paar Show,” he explained his reality with mental illness—the institutionalizations, electroshock therapies, nothing was too taboo for him. “Good Night, Oscar” takes us backstage in the raw moments before his 1958 television appearance.
Sept. 19–Jan. 10, 2027
A disco ball isn’t just a disco ball. It’s a symbol of where queer communities can finally exhale and be their fullest selves. “Visiones Nocturnas” uses paintings, sculptures, textiles, performances, photos, and videos from Latin American artists to explore what’s at stake when nightclub lights shut off.
Sept. 21, Oct. 26, Dec. 7
Guest organists from across the country will come to the Balboa Theatre to accompany a new silent film for each performance. This year closes out with The Headless Horseman (1922), Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1920), and a holiday triple feature of Laurel and Hardy films.
Sept. 29–Oct. 4
“What if Abe’s assassination wasn’t such a bad thing for Mary Todd Lincoln?” was the question that inspired Cole Escola’s play “Oh, Mary!” In the production, Mary Todd desperately tries to return to the cabaret stage, but her husband (President Lincoln in the midst of the Civil War) keeps getting in the way.
Oct. 3–4
Conductor Rafael Payare opens the San Diego Symphony’s 2026-2027 season with a three-part concert featuring composers Sofia Gubaidulina, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Richard Strauss.
Oct. 8
Two dozen of Emily Dickinson’s poems are turned into songs—composed by Pulitzer Prize winner Kevin Puts and performed by Grammy-winning mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato—for a one-night-only exploration of love, loss, loneliness, and mortality.
Oct. 8–Nov. 1
Roommate beef has no age limit. The latest play from Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire turns that experience into a comedy through retirement home roommates Marilyn and Abby and the bet between them to see who will break first and move out.
Oct. 12
Composer Olivier Messiaen has chromesthia, so for him, sound evokes a visual connotation. His work “Des Canyons aux Étoiles” brings desert rock and the night sky to mind. See what he means from La Casa del Zorro in the Anza-Borrego Desert, in this performance immersed within nature.
Oct. 13–18
San Diego International Film Festival salutes the silver screen for a 25th time, now with a sixth day adding extra time for parties, screenings, and movie-star tributes.
Oct. 23–25
Considered one of the masterpieces from opera great Giuseppe Verdi, San Diego Opera’s “Rigoletto” sees what happens when the prurient Duke of Mantua and his sharp-tongued court jester become entangled in a fatal curse.
Oct. 27–Nov. 29
When the Grim Reaper’s job becomes too…grim…and he retires after 300,000 years, his daughter picks up the family business. But when she falls for a human and finds beauty in the souls she’s meant to reap, she questions her purpose.
Nov. 21–May 9, 2027
San Diego is nothing without skate culture. Mingei’s “Skate Craft” portrays skateboarding as “living folk art” via its DIY roots (skateboards built in garages) and shows how that ethos shapes the future.
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.
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.
At Vi at La Jolla Village, residents don't have to choose between security and adventure, connection and independence. They get all of it.
Today’s seniors are more connected than ever, with a renewed focus on retirement as a time of discovery and enriching experiences. The ultimate reward for a retirement well-earned is the wisdom to appreciate it all, and what better place to enjoy that unique perspective than Vi at La Jolla Village, in the heart of San Diego.
All-access pass to good living.
As a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), Vi provides access to a connected and fulfilling community while making it easy to plan for future care, should the need ever arise. With a care plan in place, residents enjoy greater financial predictability and long-term value, freeing them to focus on making the most out of retirement.
Resort-style amenities at the epicenter of a cultural hub like San Diego offer a retirement experience unlike any other. Paired with exceptional dining, spacious accommodations and dedicated staff, the best of maintenance-free living is all around. And with the introduction of Vista 360 Well-Being, Vi’s panoramic approach to wellness, there are more ways than ever for residents to access it all.
The harmony of mind, body and community.
The key to longevity is striking the right balance in maintaining an active lifestyle with an active mind in a fulfilling community. With newly renovated community spaces and restaurants, Vista brings a variety of opportunities for residents to elevate their well-being through Vi-exclusive “Signature Experiences.”
Vista Enrich takes an evidence-based approach to brain vitality, keeping residents at the forefront of cognitive health through exergaming (exercising + gaming), nutritional plans and informative workshops. It is also home to The Brain Vitality Studio, an innovative facility dedicated to cognitive fitness that has garnered national recognition.
Vista Discover invites residents into stimulating educational experiences, from chef-led cooking demos and guided wine tastings to lectures at local universities and intimate lectures following cultural outings.
While Vista Enrich focuses on brain health and Vista Discover engages residents intellectually, Vista Explore cultivates a sense of adventure through curated travel and local excursions. But broadening one’s horizons doesn’t always require a plane ticket. One recent event brought a taste of the world right to the community: an onsite “jazz cruise” featuring live music and global cuisine served at a series of themed “ports” all within the community’s own ballroom.
“Location, location, location”
One of the biggest perks of life at Vi at La Jolla Village is its proximity to just about everything. With easy access to transportation and local attractions just steps away, residents can explore and engage with their community at their own pace.
“There are trolley and bus stops within a 5-minute walk that will get you to the beach, UCSD Campus, medical appointments, downtown La Jolla or San Diego, et cetera. We rarely use our car,” said resident Tom Yager.
With the best of San Diego just steps away, residents don’t just live in the city, they live within reach of everything that makes it special.
The best of all worlds.
At Vi at La Jolla Village, retirement isn’t a chapter to slow down; it’s an invitation to discover more. Tailored community experiences created by Vista, paired with the vibrant pulse of San Diego just outside the door, mean that residents don’t have to choose between security and adventure, connection and independence. They get all of it.
This is what an all-access pass to good living looks like: the comforts of an elevated lifestyle, a community built for growth and a city made for discovery – all in one place.
To learn more about Vi at La Jolla Village or for details on available floor plans, visit ViatLaJollaVillage.com/SDM.
San Diego entrepreneur Kenji Blouin-Ito is turning a tiny Uptown Inn space into a destination for bentos, coffee, snacks, and more
Tokyo unquestionably holds the title as one of the best, if not the best, food cities of the world. But despite the plethora of Michelin-starred kaiseki restaurants and hole-in-the-wall ramen joints, you’d be remiss in walking past glowing signs beckoning you to enter one of the 56,000-plus konbini across the country.
Konbini cafes like Lawson’s, FamilyMart, and 7-Eleven may look like run-of-the-mill convenience stores, but convenience store culture is a completely different animal there. Absent are the sad, floppy hot dogs sizzling sweatily on a rotating wheel of misery. Instead, konbini are stocked with a bevy of hot and cold drinks in every imaginable flavor, meals like tamago sandos (Japanese egg salad sandwiches) and prepacked bento boxes, snacks like onigiri (handheld triangles of rice and seaweed, often filled with fish or pickled plum), and even limited-edition merchandise (not unlike Wawa’s line of merch).
Soon, Hillcrest will get a taste of konbibi culture. Hako Hako opens in front of Uptown Inn by Vantaggio, next to Ramen Ryoma, in early 2027.
Kenji Blouin-Ito, a half-Japanese, half-French San Diego native grew up eating Japanese food at home and during trips across the Pacific. “I remember looking forward to eating bentos on the train,” he says, grabbing quick items to munch on without sacrificing quality or succumbing to cost. When in France, he saw a rise of appreciation for casual Japanese cuisine, “long before it happened here.”
So he decided to bring it here. After AB 626 passed in 2018 to allow different jurisdictions to permit Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKOs), Blouin-Ito launched Foodnome, the first legal marketplace for homemade food in the US. Eventually, the national nonprofit The Cook Alliance took over the project, leaving him open to the next new idea but with the experience of running a food-based business.
“That experience changed how I think about food, not just what makes it good but what makes it work,” he explains. Bento boxes felt affordable in a time of inflation, convenient in a bustling world, and versatile to a variety of palates. When he got the chance to open a konbini himself, he went for it.
His family runs Uptown Inn, a mix of apartments and hotel rooms that’s seen increased food traffic over the past few years. “We had a small space in front of the building that wasn’t being used, and it just made sense,” he says. Hako means “box” in Japanese, a reference to both bentos and small space from where he’ll sling freshly made bentos, coffee, drinks, pastries, snacks, and a small retail selection.
Hako Hako will initially open for morning and afternoon hours, but you don’t have to wait until next year to get a taste of Japanese culture. Blouin-Ito’s concept is popping up at various coffee shops around San Diego, with a few coming up: Easy Does It on September 19 and Cafe Moto on October 17. Until then, practice the art of gaman: patience with grace.
Hako Hako opens at 819 University Avenue in Hillcrest in early 2027.
Listen Now: The Latest in San Diego’s Food and Drink Scene
Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to [email protected].
Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
With Sosal Line, Heidi Greenwood and Juerie Masters are importing traceable seafood from small producers and building a global pantry business along the way
No matter your job, it’s helpful to find some sort of joy in it to avoid going completely insane. Some people savor the variety of personalities when dealing with customers. Others find comfort in the predictability of closing a bar after last call, counting tips and wiping counters. Perhaps achieving Inbox Zero really gets your blood pumping, or shipping a new product design sparks joy.
For Heidi Greenwood and Juerie Masters, work doesn’t get better than logistics and operations.
“[We] both love all the unsexy parts of supply chain and backend management,” laughs Greenwood. Tracking outbound orders? Ensuring compliance? Managing inbound freight? Stop me if this is getting too hot for you!
Not enough people think about the unsexy reality of running a business before launch, but effectively and consistently keeping an eye on operations separates successful companies from out-of-business ones. Both Masters and Greenwood already own their own businesses—Greenwood is behind the wine zine Campestre Mag and runs the online wine shop Esquina, and Masters co-owns Clos Wine Shop and Fintastic Provisions in University Heights with her husband Paul. Apparently, these gigs weren’t enough to satisfy their collective yearning for spreadsheets and inventory maintenance.
So, they decided to start another business together—Sosal Line, a San Diego-based import and distribution company specializing in global pantry items. The pair launched Sosal Line at the beginning of 2025 and currently only sell three brands of tinned fish, but Greenwood says they plan to expand their offerings as they discover other small or family-run businesses that share their values.
“We want to work with brands and with products that really have a sense of place and actually tell a story—not just the product, but the people behind it too,” she says.
Masters and Greenwood are both Korean-American and named this burgeoning business after Haenyeo, the legendary free-diving women of Jeju Island in South Korea. Traditional Haenyeo equipment and garb include oribal (swim fins), yeoncheol (lead belts to help them sink), and the company’s namesake sosal, a hand-held fishing spear (sometimes called jaksal).
The average person, if sitting completely still, can stay underwater for up to a minute and a half at most. Haenyeo can hold their breath for up to three minutes while actively foraging, harvesting, and swimming. Scientists say these diving women spend more time underwater than any other group of humans on earth. Not badass enough for you? The average age of Haenyeo is around 70.
“Fishing is a strong heritage for Koreans, and it’s the same here in San Diego with the Portuguese settlers,” Greenwood explains. (We aren’t the tuna capital of the US for no reason.)
Sosal Line carries 100 percent traceable, wild caught fish from Galicia in Northern Spain and the Pacific Northwest, all family-owned companies who don’t compromise on sustainable practices. Tinned fish has never been more popular—or more debated—but there’s more to it than cute labels designed for maximum Instagram reach. “I want to know who I’m purchasing from,” says Greenwood. One of their suppliers, Craft Fish Co., which is based in San Diego but fishes in the PNW, is run by JJ and Jessica Gerritsen. JJ catches, Jessica packages, and it’s a business relationship on a first-name basis. “You can’t find that when you’re working with some nameless brand.”
San Diegans can find Sosal Line products at local retailers like Clos/Fintastic (obviously), allmine in Oceanside, Always Hungry Grocery & Goods in Carlsbad, J. Brix Wines in San Marcos, Collins & Coupe/Tablespoon in North Park, and Green Acre in La Jolla. They’re also available in select retailers in Northern California, Oregon, Arizona, and strangely enough, South Carolina. Expanding its client base is, of course, a goal. But not at the expense of quality or joy of discovery.
“I would love to see people try food from different cultures and be excited about it,” says Greenwood. “Maybe make them want to travel to experience different areas of the world.”
Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
Laika Nur, MD, takes her love of volleyball from the court to the clinic as team physician for the San Diego Mojo
Growing up, Laika Nur, MD, Scripps Clinic sports medicine specialist, loved watching beach volleyball when the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour came to her hometown of Chicago. A talented volleyball player herself, she remembers sitting in the stands all day, and once, even got a couple autographs. Years later, Dr. Nur was attending a professional event focused on women’s sports, and the discussion turned to a new professional women’s volleyball league. The general manager and coaching staff for San Diego’s team, the Mojo, happened to be in attendance, and Dr. Nur took the opportunity to ask them if they needed a team doctor. Flash forward to the Mojo’s inaugural 2024 season, when Dr. Nur officially became the team physician. Click here to read more about Dr. Nur and how she incorporates lessons she learned on the court into her practice.
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