When Bob Filner won the mayor’s race, Lorena Gonzalez, the triumphant labor leader who helped make it happen, sent out a shot across the bow.
Filner’s win, you see, will rock San Diego’s establishment.
Gonzalez said in a recent Voice of San Diego article, “The San Diego 20 becomes the San Diego 200,” using a new nickname for the city’s small circle of power brokers.
Then came the countershot. In the same article, Vince Mudd, the businessman and office-interior maven who rotates on the commissions and task forces, put a challenge to Filner.
Mudd said it was up to the new mayor and his staff to “mend fences” with the business community.
This brought a sharp response from Evan McLaughlin, the political director of the Labor Council and Gonzalez’ top aide.
“The San Diego 20’s arrogance will live on even if their relevance does not,” McLaughlin tweeted.
The San Diego 20! Who is this amorphous blob of big-headed bozos? What will happen to them?
I picture angry mobs throwing them off Point Loma’s southern cliffs. The revolution has come.
McLaughlin is defensive when I ask him who they are. He won’t name names. Instead, he offers general criteria: Look at the rolls of the Chamber of Commerce directors, he says. The San Diego 20 live in La Jolla, vote Republican, and “watched Dan Fouts play at Jack Murphy.”
That seems like more than 20. I’ve been to dinners where at least 1,000 people fit that description. Moreover, the one confirmed card-carrying member of the 20—Mudd—doesn’t fit that criteria very well.
“I’m a brown guy, who started his own business, and I live in Poway,” he explains. And no, Mudd never saw Fouts play in the old Jack Murphy Stadium.
I go back to Gonzalez. Who are these 20 that labor and Filner are displacing?
“I want to be clear that we never said we would get rid of the 20, but they should be supplemented,” she says.
When I tell her that I have been teasing Steve Cushman, the perennial port commissioner and dealmaker, about being in the 20, Gonzalez confirms that Cushman is definitely one of the San Diego 20.
Yes! Now I have two of the 20 down. Even better: I’ve identified the leader of them all!
“Steve Cushman is the king of the San Diego 20,” Gonzalez confirms. “But he worked with us and we’re not saying, ‘No Steve Cushman.’ We’re saying Steve Cushman should sit next to Rabbi Laurie Coskey.” Coskey is the executive director of the Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice.
I call Cushman, who tells me Coskey is actually his rabbi. This, obviously, blows my mind.
Turns out, Cushman may indeed have to change to stay in the thick of it. After the election, he and allies pressed the City Council to get him yet another nomination, and a fourth term, on the port commission.
He almost had it, but it wasn’t meant to be. Maybe things are changing.
Life would be nice and simple if we could blame the city’s dysfunction on a small batch of bozos. But when you drill down, it’s a bit more complicated.
Even Cushman, the king, doesn’t fit the criteria for the San Diego 20.
Gonzalez has told me that being an alumnus of San Diego State University is a common thread among the San Diego 20.
Cushman never went to State. “I was too dumb to get in,” he says.
He’s been smart enough, though, to embed himself in San Diego’s most important conversations for decades.
Filner and the new Democratic coalition see the value in old guys like him.
Where to Shop in San Diego on Small Business Saturday
Cross holiday shopping off your to-do list while supporting these discounted local shops and eateries
One Paseo | Photo by Jim Simmons
By Jenna Miller
Among the things to be thankful for every year is San Diego’s diverse landscape of homegrown small businesses. And though there’s never a bad time to shop, dine, or drink at local boutiques, bars, or bistros, many of them are getting in the spirit for Small Business Saturday by offering sales, live music, and other promotions. Let Nov. 30 be the perfect excuse to find special gifts—and get some sweet deals—while shopping local and small.
At this newly unveiled shopping center, chat with the owners of several San Diego-based businesses, including Shop Good and Urban Beach House, to get personalized shopping advice, tips on trends of the season, and tailored gift recommendations. Stick around for a tree lighting ceremony…because it’s never too early for Christmas.
This jeweler at One Paseo has three specials this year: A buy-one get-one offer for $499; a limited edition run of a new black onyx design; and each visitor can enter the giveaway of their new Pearl Arch Bracelet. Every purchased piece gives participants an extra entry.
Shop Good at One Paseo will be gifting a self-care kit valued at $100 with all purchases over $100—so treat yourself! Sip on a free warming CBD cocktail while you visit the free brow bar, open all day, no appointment necessary.
If you want funky, one-of-a-kind gifts, North Park is holding. On Small Business Saturday, the hip burg is debuting a new mural painted by local artist Bandit entitled Love Thy Neighborhood. Follow your ears to find 50 musicians playing at 16 local restaurants and breweries in the area.
Looking for gifts that you and your favorite fur child will? Sniff around Home and Hound for dog- and human-friendly merch at a cool 15 percent discount off your entire purchase.
Little Italy is full of cute shops, places to mangiare, and killer views of the Bay. So why not spend Small Business Saturday with special discounts offered by these shops?
Spend more than $50 at any of the locations and you’ll receive a free tote bag. Know what you can do with a free tote? Stuff it with more great things!
Unique gifts are spilling out of this home goods and lifestyle store. Where else can you find a banana bud vase or an anatomically-correct heart necklace? Fifteen percent off all regularly priced items.
In between finding great deals, check out OB’s 1960s vintage bus photo experience and the complimentary trolley transporting shoppers between Newport Avenue and Voltaire Street. With $75 in receipts from local shops, you’ll receive a $25 gift card or be entered into a raffle for a local gift basket.
Find complimentary drinks and snacks while you browse this clean beauty products store and pop ups by jewelry maker Jen Morales of Pan and Tea. Meet Molly Beane, founder of one of Thread and Seed’s top selling clean beauty lines, From Molly With Love.
Fuel up for the long day of shop-hopping with a Java from James Coffee Co. Maybe get a pour-over brew in a new mug, because on SBS merchandise is 15 percent off.
Step inside a world of pillowy yarn, pointy needles and more at this one-stop yarn shop. Deals include 20 percent off selected yarns, $25 gift cards when you spend $125, and a free gift with a purchase of $50 or more. Bring extra canned food for a food drive they’re conducting for the nonprofit Loaves and Fishes.
2690 Historic Decatur Road
Where to Shop in San Diego on Small Business Saturday
While this enclave of quaint shops and restaurants is fairly established, a new crop of businesses are upping the cool factor on what is quickly becoming the Mission Hills of the south.
By Dayna Crozier | Photos by Bryan Scott
South Park
Click the map to view a larger image | Photo by Bryan Scott
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Buona Forchetta
Matteo Cattaneo and Alexa Kollmeier, who hail from Italy and NYC, would stroll their neighborhood streets and dream of opening a spot with wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, meatballs, house-made pasta, and a sidewalk patio to serve as a local gathering place. We’re glad this husband and wife team have made that dream a reality. 3001 Beech Street
The couple behind Ginseng Yoga is kicking butts into shape at their new G Fit studio. Small group and private sessions provide strength training, core conditioning, and cardio fitness to all levels, with Fundamental Interval Training as well as “Soulercize” and Barre Fusion. 1504 30th Street
Goldline Salon
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Goldline Salon
After more than a decade at Salon Tonic, Anna Elia and Heather Northcote Elsey have opened their own salon in the old Halcyon Tea space. Named for the proposed “Gold Line” streetcar system, the new space marries vintage and contemporary style. And they want you to feel at home—they serve local beer and they’re dog-friendly. 3009 Beech Street
Specs Optometry
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Specs Optometry
This once unassuming optometry office has renovated and revamped, turning the shop into an intimate, hidden gem loaded with stylish frames by brands like Drift, Eco, Legre, and Persol. There are so many sexy new yous begging to come to life here, you might not even care about blowing past your insurance deductible. 1947 Fern Street
Diego Tattoo
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Left Hand Black & Diego Tattoo Gallery
Fern Street is buzzing with fresh ink. The spacious Left Hand Black is unabashedly goth with its dark blue walls, skeletons, and curios (1947 Fern Street). In a male-dominated field, it’s notable that Diego Tattoo’s artists are women, and Diana DeAugustine’s talent for bright, watercolor-style tattoos is an exciting find. 1606 Fern Street
Eclipse Chocolate
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Eclipse Chocolate Bar & Bistro
Eclipse Chocolat Americanized its name and closed up shop on El Cajon Boulevard, moving to a giant space to up the production of all-natural chocolate and confections. It also serves soup, panini, wine, and local beer. But the best thing? Daily brunch, with cocoa-glazed bacon and cheesy white chocolate biscuits and gravy. 2145 Fern Street
After realizing an entire year had passed without his brewing even a single drop of beer, Jeff Bagby had an epiphany: “This is killing me,” he said.
By Corey Brock | Photo by Dean Bradshaw
Jeff Bagby
How did you get started brewing, anyway? I started sampling… appreciating craft beer when I got to college. My friends and I stumbled upon the fact that there was better beer to be had instead of just drinking the stuff that would get us drunk. Back then, before the Internet, you actually had to use books and maps to find these breweries.
You’re a brewer, not a builder. What’s this side of starting a business been like? After my experience at Pizza Port Ocean Beach and talking with friends who have done this kind of thing, I knew there would be a lot of work. But I had no idea what it really entailed. But that’s sort of been an exciting part for me, learning along the way. I mean, we have a structural engineer and contractors—a lot of people are involved. I want to understand every step of the process.
You had so much success at Pizza Port, winning all those Great American Beer Festival medals. And then you left. What were you thinking, Jeff? It goes back to my days at Stone, when I had aspirations of starting my own bar or brewpub, but I knew that I wasn’t capable or experienced enough to do it. It got to a point where it was time, where I felt as if I had all the experience I needed and it was a now-or-never deal. Before, it was kind of a pipe dream, and now we’ve got the opportunity to get going. Luckily, my wife is as passionate about it as I am.
“All eyes are on San Diego. So it kind of frustrates me when I go to a place and the quality of beer isn’t that good. Hopefully, they can turn things around and improve their style and quality.”
You’re a North County guy, born and raised in Encinitas. Yet, your new place is in Oceanside. How did you end up there? My original goal was to be in Encinitas. They hadn’t had a brewery there since, I think, 1990 or 1991, and it didn’t last long. But the landlord we wanted to go with ended up going in a different direction. We wanted to stay in North County so we ended up in Oceanside. It’s a big area, a lot of square footage. It’s turned into a really good situation.
Spill the goods, Bagby. What styles of beer do you plan on brewing? I know from getting emails and comments from people, that they associate me with certain types of beers they had at Pizza Port, and how they can’t wait to have them again. But I would like to think of myself as someone who makes everything. I like making beer. I like drinking beer. I want to pull from past experiences and the heritage of beer. We’ll have some lagers, some big IPAs. We’re going to be all over the place.
You’re hearing about the craft beer bubble—are there too many breweries? And we’ve seen a lot of growth locally. More isn’t always better, is it? Beer is becoming more popular with more people. What scares me is that some of the new breweries don’t have the experience that many of the others have. A lot of us have spent a lot of time building San Diego’s reputation. All eyes are on San Diego. So it kind of frustrates me when I go to one of these places and the quality of beer isn’t that good. Hopefully, they can turn things around and improve their style and quality. And I’m one of these new places opening up. I know my beer has to be good.
Your brother-in-law, Josh Byrnes, is the general manager of the Padres. Are you a baseball fan and, conversely, is Josh much of a beer drinker? I never played baseball as a kid and was never a huge fan. I never really paid a lot of attention until Josh came into our lives. Am I really into it? Not fully. But the same can probably be said for Josh and beer. He’s tried a few he likes. I know he’s drinking more beer than he used to.
Finding a gift that feels truly personal can be surprisingly difficult. In a sea of generic options — flowers, gift cards, candles, and the like — Xplosion Box offers something more lasting: a customized keepsake built around the photos, messages, and memories that matter most.
Founded by Southern California entrepreneur Jay Vijay, Xplosion Box LLC creates fully customized explosion gift boxes that arrive professionally designed, printed, assembled, and ready to gift. Each box opens layer by layer to reveal personal photos, heartfelt messages, pull-out albums, origami-style photo pockets, and hidden notes, turning a simple gift into an emotional reveal.
The brand was built for people who want to give something meaningful without spending hours printing photos, cutting paper, folding cardstock, or assembling a DIY project. Customers simply choose a box, upload their favorite photos, add personal messages, and the Xplosion Box team transforms those details into a polished keepsake that feels thoughtful, personal, and beautifully made.
Xplosion Box offers personalized gift boxes for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, graduations, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, proposals, bridesmaid gifts, long-distance relationships, and thoughtful “just because” moments.
Customers can choose from flexible customization options starting at $27. The Mini Surprise Box includes 10 photos, three message cards, and one hidden secret note, while the Mega Surprise Box offers a fuller keepsake experience with 40 photos, three message cards, and one hidden secret note.
What sets Xplosion Box apart is its high level of customization combined with convenience. Filled with personal photos, custom text, decorative details, and layered surprises, each box gives customers the freedom to create a gift that feels one-of-a-kind — without having to make it themselves.
At its core, Xplosion Box helps people turn favorite photos, stories, and words into something tangible: a keepsake that can be opened, revisited, and remembered long after the occasion has passed. asion has passed.
Freshly imported from NYC, the Old Globe's new artistic director, Barry Edelstein, is ready to show San Diego “all the world's a stage.”
On being a theater town
You can’t be a great city if you don’t have great theater. That’s been true since Athens and the ancient Greeks.
On working with celebrities
In rehearsal, they’re just like any other actor trying to find the truth in this stuff. You remember that they’re celebrities when you see crowds of people waiting to get their autograph. And you get much better tables when you show up [at restaurants] with Gwyneth Paltrow.
And speaking of Gwyneth…
She is just completely lovely and funny. Who wins the Oscar for Best Actress, and then signs up to do a play for $400 a week in the Berkshires? But she really wanted to get on stage and connect with the work. I have huge respect for her.
On the importance of live theater
There’s something about sitting down in a theatre at 8 p.m. and watching a piece of art. At the end, you know a little more about what it means to be a human being, and it makes you feel a little better about being alive.
On SD as the new NYC
Up until now, New York has been the main city of American theater. But it’s not decreed by God that that should be so. San Diego has this sense of possibility and a totally different energy than New York.
On attracting the masses
We need to make it affordable. It has to be possible for people who are not the 1 percent to take part in this extraordinary art form.
Barry Edelstein | Photo by Doug Gates
Q&A
What attracted you to the artistic director position at the Old Globe?
Well, its reputation, and decades and decades of extraordinary work. Also, I’m a Shakespearean. I really could name on one hand the theatres in the United States that center on Shakespeare and also do such a wide variety of other work. They’re rare birds, so when the job opened up, I said, “Oh my God, I don’t know really if I have a shot at it, but I’m going to go for it.”
You have a five-year-old daughter and a newborn son. Did they factor into your decision to move here?
It’d be hard for me to name a city in the United States that’s more beautiful than San Diego. And it’s also a really vibrant, burgeoning place. I’ve been learning about this exploding food scene that’s here. Balboa Park is full of extraordinary arts institutions. So yes, the notion that I get to raise my family in a spectacular place while doing this amazing work—it’s just really hard to express the joys.
What’s the most exciting aspect of being an artistic director?
I get to program a season of work on these three beautiful stages. I really feel like a kid in a candy store because I’m a director, so I get to choose plays that I’m excited about and want to direct. I’m a producer, so I get to gather incredibly talented people—friends of mine, and new friends that I’m going to meet in SD—and preside over this explosion of theater activity in my own house. That’s just completely thrilling.
Gwyneth Paltrow and Alessandro Nivola
NPR called you “one of the country’s leading Shakespeareans.” Are you planning to beef up the amount of Shakespeare produced each season?
I do want to see the place do more Shakespeare. I want to see Shakespeare on the indoor stages, in addition to the outdoor stages.
Any other plans or changes?
In my job at the Public Theater [in New York City], I was part of the creation of something that we call “The Mobile Unit,” which takes Shakespeare to prisons and homeless shelters, That’s something I want to create here.
Why the intense focus on the Bard?
If you can do Shakespeare well, you can do anything well. A theater company that builds up the muscles to be able to do Shakespeare brilliantly can pretty much handle anything.
What are some of the overarching themes from Shakespeare’s work that still make him relevant today?
He seemed to be trying to understand the biggest questions of the universe by looking at the littlest details. In Hamlet, he says, “There’s a special providence in the fall of a sparrow.” Every little detail has something wondrous, and he wanted to know why.
Did he really write all those plays?
Absolutely, yes.
How do you balance performing the classics with spotlighting new playwrights and their works?
I want to make sure the Globe is on that circuit of American theatres where the people whose names we already know feel welcome to premiere a new play. But the tricky part—and the fun part—is when an institution can devote resources to discovering a new voice that we haven’t heard.
What about reimagining the classics with today’s voices?
Years ago, I commissioned Steve Martin to translate this crazy German farce from 1910 [The Underpants, which opened at New York City’s Classic Stage Company in April 2002]. And going in, he thought, Well, God knows if this is gonna work, but on the other hand, there’s something about this writer in Germany in 1910 that somehow sounds a little bit like Steve Martin. It turned out to be a very big success, so I want to do a lot more stuff like that at the Globe.
Which upcoming American playwrights or new writers are on your radar right now?
Nathan Englander is a very prominent American novelist and short story writer. I just directed his first play [The Twenty-Seventh Man, at the Public Theater in NYC]. To take a guy who’s a great American writer and say, “Why don’t you try your hand at writing a play?” has turned out to be one of the most exciting adventures in my career.
The inland North County community of Rancho Santa Fe is often associated with wealth. It’s one of San Diego’s most expensive residential markets and is consistently ranked one of the highest-income zip codes in California and the U.S. Rancho Santa Fe is known for its large equestrian community including riding facilities and horse trails, as well as its country club lifestyle and associated golf courses.
At the center of this luxury master-planned community is a small, walkable downtown area referred to as the “village,” with The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe acting as both a landmark and social hub. Much of the community, including the historic Inn, was designed by acclaimed architect Lilian Rice, one of California’s earliest female architects. The Spanish Colonial-style architecture she brought to the village is still one of its defining characteristics today.
Whether you’re coming to Rancho Santa Fe for golf, horseback riding, or pampering at a resort spa, be sure to start with a short walk around the village to take in the neighborhood’s charm. Plan your next visit here with our neighborhood guide to the area’s best restaurants, things to do, and shopping.
Rancho Santa Fe Restaurants, Bars, and Coffee Shops
The Pony Room
Families congregate at The Pony Room for elevated California ranch-style cuisine. Lamb lollipops, carne asada tacos, burgers, and weekly dinner specials are offered here, alongside an extensive collection of wine and spirits (especially tequila) and sizeable kids menus. As the signature restaurant of Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, this all-day eatery is a lively centerpiece of the local social scene.
5921 Valencia Circle
Mille Fleurs
The piano bar at Mille Fleurs is the buzziest spot to be on Friday and Saturday nights in Rancho Santa Fe. French classics like escargot, lobster bisque, duck confit, and steak frites are the main dinner attractions at this local institution that has been around for more than 40 years. Spring for the four-course prix fixe menu before nabbing a coveted bar seat near the piano entertainer.
6009 Paseo Delicias
Nick & G’s Restaurant
Nick & G’s is one of the most prominent restaurants in the village, with an outdoor patio that overlooks the main thoroughfare. Enjoy modern Italian food, steaks, and seafood dishes here, including homemade pasta, pizza, wagyu beef, and oysters. Be sure to check their live music schedule and events calendar for the latest happenings.
6106 Paseo Delicias
Lilian’s
Named after renowned architect and planner Lilian Rice, Lilian’s is The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe’s flagship restaurant. Their upscale menus feature sustainable seafood, grass-fed meats, local produce, and even sushi rolls during dinner. Outdoor seating provides a bird’s-eye view of the village and an elegant backdrop for weekend brunch. Stop by Bing’s Bar (a nod to Bing Crosby) for craft cocktails, beer, wine, and light bites in a refined setting.
5951 Linea Del Cielo
Thyme in the Ranch
Quaint cafe and bakery Thyme in the Ranch serves a small selection of breakfast and lunch items (don’t miss the tarragon chicken salad), but is perhaps best known for its pastries and baked goods. Cakes, pies, muffins, scones, and cookies fly off the shelves here, where locals come for special occasions, parties, and group catering orders.
16905 Avenida De Acacias
Paseo RSF
Located inside a historic building once home to Rancho Santa Fe’s original schoolhouse, Paseo RSF is one of the village’s newest dining options. The charming American bistro has pasta, salads, burgers, meat and seafood entrees, plus a thoughtfully selected California wine list and new sushi and omakase program. Kids and dogs are both welcome here.
6024 Paseo Delicias, Suite C
Rancho Roasters
Grab a quick coffee to go from this walk-up window in the same shopping center as the post office. Cinnamon roll lattes, cold brew, spiced chai, smoothies, protein bowls, and more can be found at Rancho Roasters, where they brew beans from Dark Horse Coffee.
16950 Via De Santa Fe
Goli Pizza
Casual pizzeria and martini bar Goli is a popular spot for catching the latest sports games. Order one of their unique specialty pizzas like the Casbah with hummus and veggies, build your own pizza or burger, or go with one of their hearty wraps that’s made with an extra thin version of pizza dough.
18021 Calle Ambiente, Suite 403
Cocina del Rancho
Find generous portions of Mexican food at Cocina del Rancho, run by the same owners as Carlsbad’s Cicciotti’s Trattoria Italiana and Village Kabob. Get classic dishes like burritos, tacos, and enchiladas, plus their specialty items including pulpo, carne asada, and fajitas with lobster tail. Don’t skip the margaritas.
Kai Oliver-Kurtin is a San Diego-based writer who covers travel, dining, events, and culture. Her writing has been published in USA Today, Condé Nast Traveler, Fodor's Travel, Marie Claire, and HuffPost, among others.
If you’re anything like us, it can be easy to get so caught up in taking care of everyone else, that your own needs get lost in the ether. But while this may be a cliché, that doesn’t make it any less true: You can’t give your best self to other people unless you’re taking care of yourself.
Sometimes, that looks like stopping in for your regular acupuncture or chiropractic appointment. Other days, it means giving your body the fresh, organic fuel it needs to truly feel and function at its best. And some other times still, it involves leaving your responsibilities behind for a weekend to pamper yourself at an incredible resort and spa.
Only you can decide what your truly need. We’re just here to help you find the best ways to get it.
Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa
Island living meets desert luxury at the Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa in Indian Wells. When you step onto the 11-acre property, you’ll be surrounded by sweeping view of the Santa Rosa Mountains with olive trees and fragrant citrus groves decorating the grounds. In other words, everything about this relaxed but refined resort is primed to help you let go of the stress from home and enjoy easy sun-soaked days and gorgeous starry nights.
The rooms blend calming, woven textures with Tommy Bahama’s signature tropical prints and feature private lanais, making it easy unwind the moment you walk in the door. If you book one of the four Villa Suites, you’ll be treated to exclusive Tommy Bahama furniture and unique personal touches to further that feeling of instant ease.
At the award-winning Spa Rosa, the expert team will help reset and recharge your body and mind using methods and rituals inspired by the desert. The 12,000-square-foot retreat includes outdoor soaking pools, eucalyptus steam rooms, and outdoor cabanas, as well as massages, facials, and body masks—all aimed at creating a day dedicated to you. We’re particularly partial to the Day Long Escape, an indulgent all-day affair of CDBs soaks, renewing scrubs, life changing massages, and transformative facials.
Following your treatment, continue the experience with a meal on the patio at Grapefruit Basil. We love the Hamachi Crudo, a light, citrus-forward dish featuring premium yellowtail, house-made ponzu, creamy avocado, and fresh seasonal garnishes.
Whether you’re strolling the gardens, relaxing beside its saltwater pools, or indulging in a restorative treatment, you’ll be able to escape in style and relax in luxury at the Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa.
Healcove Chiropractic
There’s no shortage of ways to stay active in San Diego—but if you really want to enjoy everything the city has to offer, you’ve got to make sure you’re giving your body its tune-ups. Enter: Healcove Chiropractic. The board-certified chiropractors and wellness professionals at Healcove are experts at addressing that stage where you’re not injured, exactly, but you’re not at 100%, either. Maybe you’re feeling a bit tense or stressed out. Or it could be that you’re not quite moving the way you want to. Sometimes, it’s just that the accumulation of days, weeks, or even years of daily strain is starting to take a toll. No matter what stage you find yourself at, the Healcove Chiropractic team can provide integrated, preventative care centered on long-term, science-backed approaches that ensure you can always stay active and live the life you want to live pain-free.
This starts by providing truly individualized care. Every patient can expect a thorough 60-minute consultation session that includes a posture and movement screening. This allows the team to develop a completely personalized plan. That plan might include chiropractic care, acupuncture, or massage therapy, as well as functional fitness training, vibration and sound therapy, and Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization, a clinical rehabilitation method that retrains the body’s stabilization systems. Whatever the team recommends, you can be sure that it’s tailored to meeting your body’s needs today and the future.
There’s a reason that San Diego Magazine named Healcove the “Best Chiropractor in San Diego”—don’t wait until you’re struggling with an injury to find out why. Book an appointment today for holistic, integrated care that helps ground and heal your body before it reaches a crisis point.
Juice Holler
West Coast wellness culture meets the community feel of Southern Appalachia at Juice Holler. Juice Holler’s menu consists of made-to-order smoothies and smoothie bowls, as well as grab-and-go cold-pressed juices, wellness shots, salads, and more. It operates from the blissfully simple premise that fueling up with food and drink that’s guilt-free and good your body should be simple, accessible, and, above all else, delicious. And if you haven’t yet made it out to the Encinitas café, which opened just this year, let us be the first to tell you: Juice Holler delivers on each and every of these fronts.
We love the Supercharger smoothie, a mood-lifting and body-fueling option made with banana, almond butter, blue spirulina, maca, grass-fed whey protein, raw cacao nibs, medjool dates, and coconut milk. We’re also partial to the Thrive Alive smoothie bowl, where avocado, mango, sea moss, spirulina, mint, coconut milk, and agave are mixed and topped with coconut, chia seeds, strawberry, mango, and chocolate drizzle. The wellness shots include the Detoxifier, a cleansing blend of kale, cucumber, lemon and spirulina, plus a shot specially designed to fight inflammation (named, fittingly, Anti-Inflammation). Probiotic overnight oats, lemon turmeric bars, and strawberry shortcake chia pudding are other standouts on the grab-and-go menu.
Much of the vibe feels beachy North County chic—think green tile with orange and pink accents, grounded with greenery and natural wood—but Juice Holler founder Kelly Sergott, a longtime Encinitas local, has also enfused the space with her Kentucky roots. In Appalachia, a holler is small valley between hills and mountains, where nature reigns, community is king, and nourishment comes right from the land. At Juice Holler, Sergott has created a holler for the busy modern times, using local ingredients to create a spot for people to come together and enjoy fresh, fast, feel-good fuel for their day.
Everwell Acupuncture
We’ve all had that experience with a medical professional where we’ve felt rushed, ignored, or misunderstood—and ultimately, like we didn’t get the answers that we needed. But at Everwell, the holistic acupuncture practice located in Solana Beach, the care team wants to transform your understanding of what healthcare can look like.
Patients at Everwell experience care rooted in intentional listening and radical empathy—and trust us, those aren’t just corporate buzzwords. This place actually puts those ideas into practice. You will always be given the time you need to tell your story— initial in-take appointments are two hours long—and you can rest assured that your story will be believed. Every single question and concern will be addressed by a dedicated practitioner who wants to find the specific solutions that work best for you, and you’ll receive care that’s aimed at healing the body, mind, and spirit.
Everwell’s highly trained, doctorate-level practitioners blend evidence-based acupuncture with the practice of classical Chinese medicine. (If you’ve never tried acupuncture before or aren’t sure if the team will be a fit, we’d highly recommended Everwell’s complimentary 20-minute consultations.) Research shows that by stimulating specific points on the body, acupuncture activates a natural healing response in the body, helping to restore balance, regulate the nervous system, and improve overall wellbeing. This allows the practice to address an incredibly wide range of conditions from chronic pain and autoimmune disorders to digestive issues, from stress and burnout to headaches migraines, fertility and postpartum struggles, hormonal imbalances, sleep concerns and more.
At Everwell, you can expect to feel heard, trusted, respected, and cared for. This is a space that doesn’t want to be just another healthcare provider you visit; it wants to provide patients with dedicated partner who will be there for their entire health journey.
