Longplay HiFi founder Gibrán Huerta started with a love of vinyl and plastic crates at his pop-ups.
Photo Credit: Madeline Yang
The wooden counter sits low and runs across the middle of the venue, almost like a sushi bar. Under the natural light pouring in from the ceiling window stands the day’s selector, working the turntables where records spin and get flipped. Sounds radiate through vintage 1980 Klipsch Heresy speakers seconds later at a level perfect for quiet conversations about the music that fills the air.
Owned by Gibrán Huerta, Longplay HiFi is spinning more than vinyl records: It’s composing the lyrics to a new song—one that tells the story of a niche music community growing in San Diego.
To be clear, this isn’t the first high-fidelity listening club to make noise in town. While it’s hard to pinpoint which establishment started the trend here, we do know Huerta was the first to play with the concept of spinning records and gathering people for it.
It started as a traveling, pop-up vinyl event led by Huerta in Tijuana and San Diego under his creative agency Longplay Studio in 2016. While streaming live DJ sets on Twitch and traveling to Japan yearly, Huerta officially named the project “Longplay HiFi” in 2020 and gave it a physical home in Sherman Heights that August.
Cushy comfort and crystal clear sounds at Convoy Music Bar.
Photo Credit: Convoy Music Bar
There, he’d take the few resources he had (plastic crates and IKEA table tops) to play records, pour coffee and sell Tijuana-style burritos during ticketed events after his agency had “lost everything” during the pandemic. “It was like that big switch…where it stopped being this pop-up…to a more serious thing that was actually going to be feeding me now because I didn’t have anything,” Huerta shared.
What started as a humble space playing music out of necessity has earned its title as one of the city’s founding hi-fi clubs without realizing it. The newly revamped space features a minimalistic design. Welcoming guests on a first-come, first-served basis, everyone is invited to revel in Huerta’s library of over 1,000 modern and vintage records. Mexican coffee from Flor and Seed is brewed, and those who pay for the club’s yearly membership get access to perks like reservations and private listening events.
Since Longplay HiFi’s pop-ups, we’ve seen large hospitality groups also join the scene. Consortium Holdings Projects (Born & Raised) took over Bar Pink in North Park for Part Time Lover in June, serving Japanese high balls with a side of music selected from locals and the 1967 San Diego-based Folk Arts Rare Records retail nook housed inside.
In May, Convoy Music Bar also joined the club under Shōwa Hospitality (Himitsu, the Taco Stand chain) by Julian Hakim and Aram Baloyan. With a hidden entrance on Convoy Street, CMB exudes a mysterious and moody aura, whose tunes — which range from jazz to disco — are curated by selectors like Yuichiro Edamatsu and transmitted by custom Kenrick speakers from Japan.
Coffee and cocktails go with Huerta’s 1000- plus records at Longplay HiFi.
Photo Credit: Madeline Yang
“It’s a listening and drinking experience,” Hakim describes CMB, “It’s a bar that mimics the hi-fi listening bars of Tokyo…where people go relax [and] the sound is something special.”
An intimate setting, CMB brings its records and glassware directly from Japan. The bar’s elegance and privacy are a product of its rules (a dress code is enforced, and video recordings are not allowed), as Hakim wants “people to have a good time and give it the respect that it deserves.”
Running similar but different spaces, Hakim and Huerta visited listening bars in Tokyo together in 2016, when Shōwa was a client of Longplay Studio, formerly known as Bien Media.
After being asked what it’s like to see other listening bars follow after Longplay HiFi, Huerta said he has nothing but respect for them and that it’s good for the city.
“I love it…It’s a lot of pressure to be the only one,” Huerta shared, “ We are one of the hifi capitals in the world and…I’m really stoked to see more of them come along.”
Roxana Becerril is a Mexican-American writer living in San Diego. When she's not traveling or checking out the newest restaurant in the city, she covers art, culture, lifestyle and Latino topics.
Spring Barnickle promised herself that by her 50th birthday, she would have started her own business. And with April fast approaching, she’ll make her goal just in time. Her coffee shop and community space, Playground Art + Coffee, will have its grand opening in North Park on March 26.
Playground is meant to be a space where adults can come get an espresso, enjoy a pastry, take an art class, and meet a friend, but above all else, it’s meant to help people “feel more like a kid again,” Barnickle says.
The 1,500-square-foot space is designed to feel very retro ‘70s, with no straight lines anywhere and huge pops of bright yellow, terracotta, and pistachio, for a space that’s energizing, but not juvenile. Even the menu items made in-house harken back to Gen X and elder millennial childhoods.
Case in point: a twist on Hot Pockets, but with flavors like prosciutto goat cheese and curry veggie. (Yes, pepperoni pizza will also be available.) A version of adult Lunchables will have names like Eat Your Veggies and Hit Your Macros. Plus, guests can try a “galactic” brownie that calls back to the classic Cosmic Brownies of old. Other pastries will range from sweet to savory, with chewy croissants specifically tested to minimize crumbs—with almond, pistachio, and chocolate versions—as well as a selection of packaged treats to accommodate dietary needs like gluten or nut allergies.
The drinks menu is split between “Grown Up” and “Playtime,” with the former focusing on classic coffee shop offerings like lattes, flat whites, cappuccinos, and matchas. Its coffee beans are sourced by Torque Coffee. Barnickle designed the latter for whimsy, with options like a hazelnut sesame latte, pandan mint mocha, creamsicle cold brew, mix-and-match cold foams, espresso tonic, and orange yuzu coffee soda.
Courtesy of Playground Art + Coffee
“If there’s a fruit, it’s organic,” she says. “We’re doing everything we can to source ingredients that are as delicious, but also healthy and nurturing as possible for people.”
Barnickle plans to start offering pairing events as soon as April and art workshops in May, along with mocktail-making classes, coffee cuppings, chocolate tastings, and more. The whole idea of launching a space for people to create and commune with one another is one she’s nurtured her entire life, and even helped other people achieve in their own businesses. But it’s finally her time.
“This is the culmination of everything I’ve ever done,” she says. “The world is challenging right now, to say the least, so my goal is just to try to bring a space to North Park that lets people kind of put that aside for a minute… just take a break from being a grown up and have some fun.”
Playground Art + Coffee opens March 26 at 3043 University Avenue in North Park. Opening hours will be Monday through Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Courtesy of East Village Block Party
San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events
Beth’s Bites
Artsy vibes must be in the air, because Ballast Point also got the memo. On March 14, Ballast Point Little Italy will host the inaugural “The Art of Beer,” a beer and art celebration showcasing the talents of 10 different local breweries and the label art behind the brew. Tickets to the +21 event get you tastings, access to a panel discussion, and a chance to vote on your favorite brew (the winner will be announced at 4 p.m.) Afterwards, Ballast Point is taking the show on the road (literally), bringing The Art of Beer to its locations in Anaheim, Long Beach, and San Francisco.
Baseball is (almost) back and East Village is kicking off Padres season with the 14th Annual East Village Block Party. Starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 28, J Street is going to be rockin’ with live music, plenty of food, family-friendly fun, a classic car show, and other celebratory demos to get you in the baseball mood. Best of all, it’s free to drop by, so heed the siren’s call and gird your loins for a new (winning?) season.
I love any neighborhood “Taste Of” event, and the next one to mark on your calendar is Chula Vista’s epic foodie festival on March 19. Taste of Third starts at 4 p.m., and tickets will get you access to over 20 restaurants and other local businesses like La Bella Pizza, Thr3e Punk Ales, Farmer’s Table, and more. South Bay is definitely coming up in the San Diego culinary scene, so this is a great event to give a bunch of tasty eateries a go in one delicious night.
If the fastest way to most people’s hearts is through food, mine is through cider, and New Motion Beverages just took one step closer to me falling in love. The local beverage company just released its first limited-release dry cider, a 5.5 percent ABV cider called Dry Run they say is “brewed by popular demand.” Well, whoever is demanding breweries make cider, keep up the good work!
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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.
“Music, art, and dance are the weapon of the future,” says DJ and cultural leader Makeda “Dread” Cheatom. She would know, having witnessed their power firsthand as a collaborator of some of the most legendary stars in reggae music—and as the founder of San Diego’s Bob Marley Day and the World Beat Cultural Center in Balboa Park.
“I grew up in Linda Vista, and it was where all the people from the South and the Midwest came, ’cause they were working at the defense plants,” she recalls. “I got into reggae music, and I met Bob Marley. Later on, I produced [a show with] him. They weren’t playing his music on the radio, and I would go to the radio stations, and I would say, ‘Hey, you know, reggae music, Bob Marley.’ [They’d say,] ‘I’m sorry, we don’t know him.’
“So, I went back to school for telecommunications at City College. I got on 91X—I had a show with Demaja Lee, and we started producing reggae music, and we brought it to the clubs. Women didn’t DJ back in the day like that, but there I was. I produced Peter Tosh’s last show in California, here in San Diego—The Mama Africa Tour.
“I realized when I was very young that I was from Africa, and I wanted to learn everything about my African heritage. We didn’t have any Black or African cultural centers in San Diego. [In the late 1980s], there was a hearing [to pitch use ideas for] the House of Charm, which is now the Mingei Museum. My mother died that day, and everyone told me not to go to the meeting. But I remember my mother scrubbed all those floors—you know, she was a maid. I knew I had to win this building for my mother, my father, and all the African descendants in San Diego.
“They were arguing over this house, and I stood up there, and I knew I wasn’t gonna get that building. So, I said, ‘I just want that dilapidated old water tower [in the park],’ and everybody laughed. But I kept going to city council, and I finally got the building. It had all kinds of junk in there, asbestos. They just left me a construction dumpster, and we got the place cleaned, and we had a cultural center. All cultures are here, from Brazilian to African to Mexican, Cuban, and Japanese. That’s what World Beat is about—all of us in oneness. It’s about humanity.”
Amelia Rodriguez is a writer and journalist and winner of the San Diego Press Club's 2023 Rising Star Award and 2024 Best of Show Award, she’s also covered music, food, arts and culture, fashion, and design for Rolling Stone, Palm Springs Life, and other national and regional publications. After work, you can find her hunting down San Diego’s best pastries and maintaining her five-year Duolingo streak.
Plan your perfect San Diego weekend with plenty of cultural festivals, live sports and unique art exhibitions to experience. All can celebrate the Vietnamese and Chinese lunar new years during the San Diego Tết Festival and the Chinese New Year Fair. Local sports fans can catch San Diego FC’s season opener or the Harlem Globetrotters’ 100th anniversary tour. Plus, stop by the one-day-only Collaborators and Friends exhibition and the opening of The Studio Door’s 12th annual Crow Show.
Courtesy of Margaritaville Hotel San Diego Gaslamp Quarter
Food & Drink Events in San Diego This Weekend
National Margarita Day at Margaritaville Hotel
February 22
Grab salt, lime and a cold cocktail to embark on a mini vacation this Sunday during National Margarita Day at Gaslamp’s Margaritaville Hotel. The celebratory festivities will include a traveling mariachi band, a live DJ dining specials and $5 margaritas at 5 p.m. Plus, stroll around the hotel during the margarita tasting crawl from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for frozen, classic and prickly pear margaritas (plus non-alcoholic options). Online reservations can be made for LandShark Bar & Grill and the 5 o’Clock Somewhere rooftop bar, but walk-ins are welcome.
Afro-Filipino Kamayan Dinner at San Diego History Center
February 22
Secure a spot at chef Spencer Hunter’s Afro-Filipino Kamayan Dinner this Sunday from 6-8 p.m. at the San Diego History Center. One-half of the duo behind Lia’s Lumpia, Hunter’s culinary style is a tasteful fusion of his Filipino and African-American heritage. Sunday’s feast will include dishes like mac and cheese lumpia, adobo fried chicken and coconut cornbread with calamansi butter. Reservations are $85 for the general public ($75 for History Center members) and come with appetizers, dinner, complimentary beverages and after-hours entry to the SDHC.
With each new project, Sudan Archives adopts a singular identity, pushing her electro-driven R&B into fearless directions whilst bridging classical and cutting-edge. On her third studio album THE BPM, released last October, she adopts the persona of Gadget Girl, ushering in a world of dance, technology and romance, including her trademark violin. Feel the energetic beats of THE BPM when Sudan Archives performs this Thursday (8 p.m.) at Music Box, with an opening set from genre-bending artist Cydnee with a C. Tickets are $41 for the show.
1337 India Street, Little Italy
Tribute to the Reggae Legends / Bob Day at Worldbeat Cultural Center
February 20 & 21
WorldBeat Cultural Center ensures the spirit, substance and legacy of reggae’s most illustrious heroes lives on through its annual Tribute to the Reggae Legends/Bob Day. This Friday (7- 11:55 p.m.) and Saturday (3-11:05 p.m.), Worldbeat will present a lineup of up-and-comers and musical greats, led by Julian Marley and the Uprising, Johnny Clarke, King Yellowman, and Marlon Asher. Ticket options include weekend passes ($95) and single-day tickets ($48 for Friday and $64 for Saturday), with ticket prices increasing an additional $10 the day of.
2100 Park Boulevard, Balboa Park
San Diego Tết Festival at NTC Park
February 20–22
Usher in the Vietnamese New Year during the San Diego Tết Festival, happening Friday (5-10 p.m.), Saturday (11 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) at NTC Park. Enjoy carnival rides, a petting zoo, a trading card show and an array of music and dance performances. The festival will also include competitions for freestyle and group dance (Friday), a kid’s spotlight talent show (Sunday) and the Miss Vietnam of San Diego Pageant (Saturday). Festival admission is free and carnival ride tickets can be purchased in-person or online (36 tickets for $28).
2455 Cushing Road, Point Loma
Surf Saturday at Sunshine Brooks Theater
February 21
Before the Oceanside International Film Festival rolls out the red carpet next Wednesday, OIFF Executive Director Lou Niles will host Surf Saturday, a showcase for surfing as a cinematic artform. Catch four film blocks beginning this Saturday at noon, with a range of local and international documentaries—including Glass, a short film about Oceanside surfboard shaper Isaac Cluphf—at Sunshine Brooks Theater. Blocks 2-4 will conclude with Q&As featuring the block’s attending filmmakers. Tickets are $17 each for blocks 1 & 2 and blocks 3 & 4.
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.
For Executive Chef Emily Brubaker, Omni La Costa Resort & Spa feels like home. She grew up just a mile-and-a-half away from the 400-acre property and fondly recalls walking the golf course perimeter as a kid. Though her ambitions led her away from San Diego for nearly two decades in which she honed her craft in some of the highest of high-profile Las Vegas restaurants—including triple Michelin-starred Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand—they ultimately brought her back to North County.
Courtesy of Omni La Costa
Today, the classically French-trained chef, who’s fresh off a victory on NBC’s Yes, Chef!, judged by Martha Stewart and José Andrés, oversees Omni La Costa Resort & Spa’s seven distinct dining concepts. Her goal is to elevate the resort’s culinary program with her creative, hyperlocal ingredient-driven approach while maintaining the Spanish- inspired flavors and fresh California coastal cuisine that are the bedrock of its culinary identity.
“The San Diego food scene is really growing, and in North County alone, it’s really exploded in the last five years,” Brubaker says. “There are Michelin stars, beautiful tasting menus, craft bakers, and all this food—when I was growing up in La Costa, it was fish tacos. Now there are really cool things popping up, and I’m so happy to be here to see where it’s going to go.”
Brubaker gives chefs de cuisine at each individual restaurant autonomy, however, her influence is evident across the resort.
For example, lobby restaurant Bar Traza serves as Omni La Costa’s culinary centerpiece and features bold Spanish flavors in a lively, social atmosphere. Brubaker overhauled the menu to be more consistent and centered on casual bites with that signature vibe. Think smoky paprika, vibrant citrus, and Spanish meats and cheeses.
At VUE, the focus is on seasonal offerings, California coastal cuisine, and Baja-inspired dishes. She and Chef de Cuisine Cameron Dixon change the menu biannually, which heading into summer, will highlight farm-fresh produce and hyperlocal ingredients—the resort even has its own herb garden and honeybee hives.
Courtesy of Omni La Costa
Poolside dining options are leaning into the country’s 250th this summer with a selection of classic American dishes with an Omni La Costa twist. And Bob’s Steak & Chop House (Brubaker is a trained butcher) offers a classic steakhouse experience with elevated service.
The chef and company also plan menus for special events at the resort where her creativity can really shine. For an upcoming National Ski Association dinner, the banquet hall will be transformed into an Alpine-themed winter wonderland complete with a snow machine, savory sausages, and melty, decadent raclette. A recent dinner was built around the Carlsbad Flower Fields and each course was matched to a color of ranunculus (Did you know pink dragonfruit are grown in North County? You do now.).
“It’s my zen to be in the kitchen playing with food,” Brubaker says.
Omni La Costa’s culinary program is a key part of the resort experience. And with Brubaker’s leadership, it’s becoming a draw for visitors and locals alike.
“These aren’t just hotel restaurants, these are restaurants that you should go to. They’re destinations, and I’m really hoping for the future that’s where we’re going,” Brubaker says.
Courtesy of Omni La Costa
Brubaker is also channeling her experience on Yes, Chef! into the culture at Omni La Costa—more emphasis on teamwork and collaboration, empowering her staff to share constructive critiques, and embracing different perspectives. Alongside her leadership role, Brubaker has become an advocate for mental health in the hospitality industry, serving as chief ambassador for the Burnt Chef Project and serves on the Board of Advisors for the Apex Culinary Program, where she mentors and develops future talent.
With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, romantics of the hopeless, hopeful and cynical variety can all find ways to embrace love in San Diego. Fans of live music and fine art can check out the Songs for Lovers jazz concert or the Love, Always and Love Letters 3 exhibitions. Those looking for a date idea can dine on wine and chocolate at Hearts & Vines or share Champagne and bites forty stories up during Valentine’s at the Top. Plus, find romance while running via the Coronado Valentine’s Day 10K, 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run. Whatever you choose, there’s plenty to keep you busy in San Diego this weekend.
Emily Towe and Jody Brix Towe of J. Brix Wines will be joined by Christophe Rull Patisserie owners Christophe and Wilma Rull for a culinary pop-up at North City this Friday and Saturday from 4:30-8 p.m. During Hearts & Vines, guests will receive curated wine selections, paired with handcrafted chocolates made exclusively for the event. VIP tickets are $50 per person and come with three unique pairings and the chance to converse with the Towes and Rulls and learn about their processes; a $35 walk-in experience is also available.
250 North City Drive, San Marcos
Valentine’s at the Top at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
February 13-15
Looking for a lofty Valentine’s experience for you and your special someone? This Friday-Sunday from 3-5 p.m., couples can take a trip to the 40th floor of the Manchester Grand Hyatt for Valentine’s at the Top. Patrons will receive a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne and have their choice of artisanal flatbread, calabrese sausage or vegetable, as well as two dessert options: a strawberry red velvet heart cake or two chocolate-dipped long-stem strawberries. Reservations are $125 per couple.
1 Market Place, Embarcadero
Daygo Eatz
February 15
Black San Diego’s free annual culinary festival, Daygo Eatz, returns for year two this Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. This all-ages event in Encanto highlights local Black-owned businesses and includes games, yoga, an art walk, face painting, live performances, community resources and food from over 40 vendors. The delectable spread will include barbecue, burgers, soul food, homemade desserts, sweet drinks and more. RSVP for this free event on Eventbrite.
6785 Imperial Avenue, Encanto
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
SD Lunar New Year Festival at Officer Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park
February 13-15
Ahead of the Year of the Fire Horse’s arrival on Feb. 17, welcome in a new Lunar New Year across a free three-day festival, taking place Friday (5-10 p.m.), Saturday (11 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m. to 8 p.m.) at Officer Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park. The 16th annual SD Lunar New Year Festival promises Southeast Asian culinary vendors, an expansive cultural village, children’s art murals and an array of traditional entertainment, including lion and dragon dancers. The festivities will also include contests for pho eating, dumpling wrapping and bubble milk tea drinking, as well as crafts, carnival games and complimentary red envelopes.
San Diego trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos and master alto saxophonist Charles McPherson will lead a jazz ensemble this Saturday (7:30 p.m.) during Songs for Lovers at Jacobs Music Center. Part of the Jazz @ The Jacobs series, this concert will feature romantic renditions of songs by a handful of legendary artists, including Chet Baker, Sarah Vaughan, Clifford Brown, Charlie Parker and Dinah Washington. There will also be a pre-show performance by Castellanos’ Young Lions Jazz Conservatory at 6:30 p.m. Tickets range from $42 to $96 for this performance.
1245 Seventh Avenue, Downtown
Jason Mraz Foundation presents DREAM at CCAE
February 14 & 15
Dare to dream this weekend alongside Jason Mraz and five local performing arts nonprofits at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. DREAM marks The Jason Mraz Foundation’s third annual community concert to promote inclusive arts education, with this year’s event spotlighting Art of Elan, Arms Wide Open, San Diego Young Artists Music Academy, Culture Shock San Diego and PASACAT Philippine Performing Arts Company. Joining Mraz and various youth performers will be MILCK, Raul Midon and Albert Posis. Tickets are $31 online and $26 at the CCAE box office, with performances Saturday (7 p.m.) and Sunday (3 p.m.).
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.
Christopher Ashley is a failed child actor, a former computer programmer, and a Yale alum. He’s also San Diego’s Hal Prince. In 18 years as one of the most acclaimed artistic directors in the history of La Jolla Playhouse, he produced 20 world premieres that went on to Broadway, including Jesus Christ Superstar, The Outsiders, and the Idina Menzel–led Redwood. Now, he’s saying goodbye. It’s a formidable loss for the city’s underrated theater scene.
Following a lifetime of acting (poorly, he claims) in summer theater programs, Ashley switched to directing in high school. A successful New York theater career (the programming stint was just to pay off those Yale loans) eventually brought him to LJP in 2007. His tenure transformed the institution into a nationally acclaimed proving ground for fresh, fearless works.
Courtesy of La Jolla Playhouse Escape to Margaritaville (2017)
“In the earlier incarnations of the playhouse, there was much more of a mix of revivals and new work. I have really leaned us into new work. We’ve done [57] world premieres in my time here,” he says. “Everybody at the playhouse really takes seriously the idea of the new and the next. Being a doula to new projects is really satisfying—I get to run a theater during a golden age of American writing for the theater.”
Courtesy of La Jolla Playhouse The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical (2023)
Central to that mission is the 12-year-old Without Walls (WOW) Festival, an annual spring showcase of site-specific and immersive performances. “We were on the leading edge of a kind of work that is starting to really take hold in America,” Ashley adds. “These shows really challenge the relationship between audience and artist. People go because they know it’s going to happen only tonight and never again. Theater offers community—[an opportunity] to come together to experience a story—and that feels more powerful in this moment than it ever has before.”
Courtesy of La Jolla Playhouse Memphis (2008)
The sentiment is especially poignant in light of Ashley’s imminent return to New York as artistic director of Roundabout Theatre Company. But he’ll never forget his time here. “It’s the main chapter in my life,” he says. “I don’t know that San Diego gets quite the credit it deserves for what a great city for the arts it is.” Thanks to Ashley, though, it’s begun to receive its fair share of star billing.
Amelia Rodriguez is a writer and journalist and winner of the San Diego Press Club's 2023 Rising Star Award and 2024 Best of Show Award, she’s also covered music, food, arts and culture, fashion, and design for Rolling Stone, Palm Springs Life, and other national and regional publications. After work, you can find her hunting down San Diego’s best pastries and maintaining her five-year Duolingo streak.
The iconic 1,200-acre preserve’s history dates back more than 150 years, evolving from a scrub-filled plot atop a mesa overlooking what’s now Downtown to an urban oasis—the largest of its kind in the country—filled with an array of museums, attractions, gardens, trails, restaurants, and more. Balboa Park is an epic playground where San Diegans and visitors alike can experience the great outdoors just as easily as they can enjoy a world-class performance or explore groundbreaking discoveries.
Tucked away in the Spanish Colonial Revival-style architecture are 18 diverse museums that allow visitors to spend the day learning about, well, anything. A great place to start is the San Diego History Center. Located in the Casa del Balboa building, the museum tells the story of the city’s past, present, and future through photographs and art, clothing and textiles, and interviews with people who witnessed history-making events firsthand. The San Diego Natural History Museum takes visitors even farther back with interactive exhibitions that show what the region was like up to 75 million years ago.
Blast off on a simulated trip to space at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, then check out artifacts from aviation legends, including the Wright brothers, Amelia Earhart, and Buzz Aldrin. Discover new perspectives revolutionizing the science world, learn about an often overlooked but overutilized utility, and exercise your creativity at the Fleet Science Center.
Calling all theater-lovers, Balboa Park has something for you, too. The San Diego Junior Theatre will present their musical take on beloved children’s book A Bad Case of the Stripes from June 26 through July 12. And laugh, cry, and marvel in awe as the pros of The Old Globe perform Kim’s Convenience, the award-winning comedy that inspired the popular series, from May 15 to June 14.
There’s nowhere else in Balboa Park quite like WorldBeat Cultural Center. The institution celebrates African diaspora and indigenous cultures around the world using art, music, dance, and education. The building, a renovated water tower covered in colorful murals, houses a performing arts center, museum, gift shop, cafe, and outdoor classroom.
If you’d like a side of nature with your culture, Balboa Park has you covered there, too. Stroll through the gardens of the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum, a monument to the relationship between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama, Japan. Inspired by traditional Japanese design dating back centuries, the 10-acre respite features a living exhibition that showcases plants native to both cities.
If there seems like a lot going on in Balboa Park, it’s because there is. Let theBalboa Park Cultural Partnership be your guide. The organization is the umbrella for 24 of the park’s institutions and offers an Explorer Pass that allows visitors to access multiple museums for one affordable price. The hardest part is picking where to start.
16 Museums, One Pass
Save on admission to San Diego’s top museums with the Balboa Park Explorer Pass. Explore 16 museums of art, science, history and culture across Balboa Park — all with one affordable pass. Choose the option that fits your pace: the Limited Pass (one day for up to four museums), the Parkwide Pass (seven consecutive days of access to all 16 museums) or the Annual Pass (365 days of unlimited exploring).
Looking for an experience-driven gift? Let the museum lover in your life enjoy their favorite museums all year with a Balboa Park Explorer Annual Pass gift voucher.
Bigger experiments, brighter ideas, and boundless curiosity await at the newly reimagined Fleet Science Center. This summer, the Fleet debuts Element 8 Cafe, an expanded theater queuing and concessions space, two new gallery spaces, and, for the first time, a free entrance gallery exploring science in and around San Diego. The transformation marks a new chapter for the Fleet, keeping it a vital, innovative, and accessible science hub for the region. Visitors are invited to explore the experience this summer and connect with the power of science like never before.
Address: 1875 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:FleetScience.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Phone: 619-238-1233
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum
An accredited cultural gem, the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum brings traditional Japanese garden design to life with koi ponds, curving walkways and layers of greenery. Guests explore bonsai trees, streams and peaceful nooks while taking part in exhibits, educational programs and festivals that illuminate Japanese culture. Situated in the heart of Balboa Park, the garden doubles as a meditative retreat and a dynamic gathering place, welcoming visitors to slow their pace and connect more deeply.
Address: 2215 Pan American Road E, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:Niwa.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily; last admission at 6 p.m. Phone: 619-232-2721
The Old Globe
A San Diego summer favorite, The Old Globe invites audiences to experience a beloved local tradition in its outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre.
This summer, the 2026 Shakespeare Festival presents two thrilling tales of power, passion and romance. Measure for Measure, running June 14 through July 12, 2026, is a riveting story of justice and hypocrisy that asks who holds power, who is punished and what it truly means to be virtuous. Much Ado About Nothing, playing Aug. 2–30, 2026, is a classic rom-com packed with schemes, sparks and laughter as opposites attract. Audiences can enjoy both shows for $44.
Address: 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:TheOldGlobe.org Hours: Box office open Tuesday–Sunday, 1 p.m. to final curtain Phone: Box office, 619-234-5623
San Diego Air & Space Museum
Aviation and space exploration come to life at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. See an airworthy replica of the Spirit of St. Louis, a Gee Bee racer and historic aircraft from World War I, World War II and the Korean and Vietnam eras. Get up close to the Apollo 9 command module — one of only 11 of its kind in the world — along with Mercury and Gemini capsules, Mission Control and space shuttle simulators, and a selfie spot beside a lunar lander on the moon. Running through 2026, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brings oddities from around the world to Balboa Park.
Address: 2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:SanDiegoAirAndSpace.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: 619-234-8291
San Diego History Center
History belongs to everyone. At the San Diego History Center, two experiences bring that history to life this summer: America at 250 and the Center for Women’s History. America at 250 traces San Diego’s place in 250 years of U.S. history, while summer programs invite children to learn and explore. The Center for Women’s History amplifies the voices of women whose leadership and creativity have shaped our region.
By understanding our past, we build a more vibrant and inclusive community together. These vital educational experiences are only possible through generous community support. Discover your roots, spark meaningful dialogue, and help keep San Diego’s stories alive for future generations.
Address: 1649 El Prado, Suite 3, San Diego, CA 92101 Website: SanDiegoHistory.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday–Sunday Phone: 619-232-6203
San Diego Junior Theatre
Junior Theatre is San Diego’s longest-running youth theatre program, empowering students ages 4 to 18 to explore storytelling, performance, and collaboration in a supportive environment. Through classes, camps, and productions, young artists build confidence, creativity, and lifelong skills onstage and off. Each season features a wide range of opportunities, from introductory experiences to advanced training in acting and musical theatre.
Looking for a summer adventure? Junior Theatre’s Summer Camps deliver dynamic programs for grades K–12, including musical theater intensives, acting academies and immersive JT Studio experiences. It’s a place where imagination truly takes center stage.
Address: 1650 El Prado, Suite 208, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:JuniorTheatre.com Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: 619-239-1311
San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)
This summer, The Nat is talking trash—literally. Their newest exhibition, Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea, features larger‑than‑life marine sculptures made of ocean debris collected from beaches. It invites visitors to explore the impact of plastic pollution and discover ways to take action.
But the experience doesn’t stop at the gallery doors. Friday nights, the exhibition transforms into an ocean-themed “dive bar” during Nat at Night. Select Sundays bring something brand new: a rooftop brunch with sweeping Balboa Park views. Add two new giant-screen films and five floors of nature to explore, and The Nat is shaping up to be one of the season’s must-visit destinations.
Address: 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 Website: SDNat.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays in summer Phone: 619-232-3821
WorldBeat Cultural Center
The WorldBeat Cultural Center is a nonprofit multidisciplinary cultural organization dedicated to promoting, presenting and preserving Indigenous cultures worldwide through music, art, dance, education, sustainability and community programs. WorldBeat elevates multicultural artists, expands opportunities for cultural enrichment and fosters deeper understanding across traditions. WorldBeat offers a holistic cultural experience that inspires pride, unity, connection and belonging for all ages.
Address: 2100 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101 Website:WorldBeatCenter.org Hours: Classes: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 6–9 p.m. Exhibits and café: Friday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Phone: 619-230-1190
Event Calendar
Throughout 2026: Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!
Step into a world of the weird and wonderful at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park. Explore hundreds of bizarre artifacts, interactive displays and unbelievable stories that celebrate the curious and the extraordinary.
Presented in partnership with the San Diego Museum of African American Fine Arts, San Diego’s Lost Neighborhoods uses augmented reality, oral histories, and archival materials to explore communities and residents displaced by redlining, freeway construction, and other discriminatory policies.
Spend a summer night at The Old Globe. The Lowell Davies Festival Theatre stages Measure for Measure (June 14–July 12) and Much Ado About Nothing (Aug. 2–30), offering two unforgettable Shakespeare productions for just $44.
The Old Globe | 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego, CA 92101
June 8–Aug. 7: Theatre Summer Camps
Summer camps at Junior Theatre spark creativity for grades K–12 with hands-on training, musical theatre intensives, acting academies, and JT Studio experiences.
A museum visit turns into a Sunday Funday with the addition of rooftop brunch, featuring mimosas, bloody Marys, and brunch bites from Wolfish by Wolf in the Woods (June 14, August 9) and Hash House a Go Go (July 12).
Nagashi at the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum by floating a lantern to honor loved ones who have passed. Stroll merchant booths, enjoy cultural performances in the Inamori Pavilion, and sample food vendors plus a beer and sake garden in the lower garden.
Explore arts, science, history, and culture in the Balboa Park Cultural District with one convenient, affordable Pass. The Balboa Park Explorer Pass is your ticket to up to 16 museums and endless fun! Purchase your pass at BuyMyExplorer.com.
