Slightly Stoopid at the 91X Birthday Bash | Photo by IrieLive.com
I went to Point Loma High School with the guys from Slightly Stoopid. I used to put on vintage Levi’s, tie a flannel around my waist, and go to their shows at SOMA.
Remember SOMA? Pre-Sports Arena? Back when it was in Linda Vista?
That space is now a doggie daycare. Sigh… how times have changed.
On Saturday I was randomly invited to the 91X 30th Birthday Bash at the House of Blues, featuring Buck-O-Nine, Sprung Monkey, and P.O.D., with Slightly Stoopid headlining.
It was quite an event. Suge Knight was there. Flava Flav was there. Some comedian that I’ve never heard of—but the crowd went wild for—was there. I suddenly felt cooler just for being in the building.
In a wave of nostalgia, I was transported back to my days at SOMA and the YMCA, where we used to stalk the guys from Blink, collect bumper stickers from cool bands, and blast Dance Hall Crashers in my old Mazda Protégé.
There’s nothing like wearing $400 pony hair pumps, while dancing in a puddle of spilled Coors Light, to make you think I’m too old for this.
P.O.D.
During P.O.D’s set, the lead singer’s little bitty of a son came out and assisted on the drums. The kid was cute. He wore neon headphones to protect his ears from the noise. He had mini dreads. And he flung the beach balls that landed on stage back into the audience. Like I said, cute.
But when your favorite part of a punk concert is a 5-year-old with a drumstick in his hand, you know you’re OLD. I’m pretty sure the mosh pit of youngsters dancing with their middle fingers in the air could have cared less about the kid.
Full disclosure: I am still hungover. Was it the Coors Light or those two pre-concert glasses of chardonnay on ice? Tough call. And since when did hangovers start lasting three days?
Also, I may have permanently damaged my hearing. No, seriously. I had to crank up the volume when I watched the Bachelor last night—much to the annoyance of everyone else around me.
But it was worth it, and very exciting to see Slightly Stoopid play after all these years. Local boys made good. I had such a crush on Miles Doughty when I was in high school. And he was just like I remembered. To him and the band, I say, “Bravo! Way to represent!”
Oh, and happy birthday 91X!
Now I’d like to go put on my sweatpants, Google hearing loss, and pour my thirty-something self a glass of chardonnay on ice.
Growing up in Carlsbad, I never quite understood why people vacationed there. What, so you want to check out the field where I have soccer practice? Pay my orthodontist a visit? Carlsbad just felt like a town by the beach, no better or worse than any other in the country. It took going to college out of state for me to actually understand just how rare a place like Carlsbad is.
Thanksgiving break my freshman year, my first time coming home after three months in the Midwest, my shoulders dropped. I rolled down the windows and drove to lifeguard tower 37—the hangout magnet for Carlsbad’s youths (and, in the summer, tourists)—and the smells of the ocean woke me right up like smelling salts do. I finally got it.
Carlsbad isn’t just a stopover town on your way to something better. It is the destination. Travel + Leisure named Carlsbad one of the top 50 places around the world to travel in 2026. From the whole globe, the travel magazine picked my home. Sure, we’ve got the Flower Fields and Legoland—but now it’s the smaller ships and indier dreams that are giving it street-level character.
It’s not just Carlsbad, either. People have talked about the “North County bubble” for decades—a force field that prevents its residents from traveling south of the 56. It’s often used derogatorily, and it’s a fairly accurate burn.
For decades, living up in North County meant giving up on culture, or at least culture within close proximity. But now, the main expansion of San Diego culture is happening up north. Central San Diego restaurants have started taking notice and are expanding into the area—spurred no doubt by Oceanside’s food boom and the Jeune et Jolie–Campfire–Wildland–Lilo constellation in Carlsbad. City Heights burger joint Key & Cleaver opened a new spot in Oceanside; the owners of Parc Bistro-Brasserie in Bankers Hill opened Parc Lounge in Rancho Santa Fe. Possibly the strongest market indicator is that Sam Fox—one of the most successful restaurateurs west of the Rockies—has started focusing on North County for his concepts. In 2025, he opened both The Henry in Carlsbad and Culinary Dropout in Del Mar.
For the ultimate insider guide, we found a handful of inspiring people who live and create and truly know six North County neighborhoods—San Marcos, Escondido, Oceanside, Leucadia, Rancho Santa Fe, and Vista—and asked them how they’d spend a dream day out and about in their town.
Courtesy of North City Farmers Market
San Marcos
San Marcos is in full renaissance mode. The biggest story is that the grand North City vision is starting to peek through the scaffolding. It’s essentially the North County Downtown that’s been written in the tea leaves and discussed whenever someone gets stuck in traffic at the 5/805 merge: a 200-acre, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use face-changer that’s slated for 2,600 homes, 350,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, 250 hotel rooms, and about a million square feet of offices and labs. Its most recent manifestation is 222 North City—a 12-story residential tower with over 450 residences, rooftop garden, pool cabanas, art installations, and almost 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail (Necessity Coffee, Buona Forchetta, Draft Republic, Milonga Empanadas, and a grocery store anchor on its way).
Which means Restaurant Row is no longer burdened with being the primary caregiver for the hungry or the socially inclined. Patricia Prado-Olmos has watched the city morph during her nearly three-decade tenure at CSUSM, having spent the past six years as the school’s chief community engagement officer. She also just announced her forthcoming retirement at the end of the 2026–2027 school year, so she’ll have even more time to haunt local haunts.
Meet the Local: Patricia Prado-Olmos
Those in the know call the university “Cal State StairMaster” from the Sisyphean amount of stairs on the hillside campus. So, any day at or around CSUSM should start with a homestyle carbo-load (biscuits and gravy) from Mama Kat’s.
“There’s something about this breakfast spot that immediately puts me in a good mood,” she says. Mama Kat’s is also known for its pie (strawberry-rhubarb), which is breakfast if you change your perspective.
After a few hours on campus—with a break to pet the university’s official therapy goldendoodle, Frank, who helps ease finals tremors or apprehension of on-campus stairs—Prado-Olmos will wander into North City, just steps away. She says the almond croissant and coffee at Christophe Rull Patisserie rival Parisian cafés: “It feels like the kind of place you’d stumble across in a much bigger city.”
Rull, a Michelin-trained pastry chef who’s done stints on Netflix (Bake Squad) and Food Network (Super Mega Cakes, Halloween Wars), opened his patisserie last fall. The hype hasn’t cooled off yet: Get there early because the crowds do.
Emma Veidt is an editor at San Diego Magazine. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from the Missouri School of Journalism. She loves running, hiking, and rock climbing, but really, she mostly loves encounters with the street cats around North Park.
The San Diego Foundation (SDF) celebrated its 50th anniversary with proclamations from 15 cities and the County of San Diego, declaring May 28 as San Diego Foundation Day and launching a new campaign. It was also named Nonprofit of the Year by State Senator Akilah Weber Pierson. To date, SDF has granted over $1.8 billion to nonprofits across the region—its new Fifty & Forward campaign aims to raise $1 billion and award $500 million towards initiatives targeting education, climate resilience, and family well-being over the next decade.
Courtesy of Future is Color
Best Chance to Discover Your New Favorite Album
Future is Color Studio & Cafe
Tucked in the heart of Barrio Logan, Future is Color Studio & Cafe is cultivating community through clothing, conversation, coffee, and music. Focused on collective liberation, the space explores cultural tensions through dialogue; creative workshops; and Studio Sessions, weekly events like jazz nights, DJ sets, and album listenings. Swing by Fridays and Saturdays to browse the latest collection, dig into the reference library, or vibe in the Hi-Fi Listening Space. (The best part? It’s free.) Tuesdays offer intimate, ticketed listening sessions, and you can visit on Sundays with a reservation.
Best Botanical Grow-up
Botanical Building
One of Balboa Park’s most photogenic gems got a serious makeover. The iconic Botanical Building, originally built in 1915 for the Panama-California Exposition, had weathered decades of wear and termite damage until a glamorous $28 million, 32-month renovation brought it back to life. Phase one restored its signature redwood lathework and added sleek new irrigation systems, making the once overgrown space shine. Phase two is underway, with new gardens set to bloom and complete the fairytale-worthy transformation.
Courtesy of OpenTable
Best Lounge to Light Up In
Sessions by the Bay
Sessions by the Bay opened this year as San Diego County’s first licensed cannabis lounge. The National City spot features a large dispensary downstairs and a sleek second-floor lounge serving real-deal restaurant food and non-alcoholic drinks that you can dose yourself. Guests are actively consuming cannabis—smoking, vaping, dabbing, sipping—in a space that feels more boutique hotel lobby than head shop. It’s polished, thoughtful, designed for lingering. Finally, San Diego has a legal, regulated, public place to smoke weed.
You’ve heard of Comic-Con, but does the name TwitchCon ring any bells? How about Ninja, Ludwig, or Pokimane? Even if those aren’t your personal lexicon, every day, millions of people tune in to watch these streamers share video gameplay, life updates, and real-time reactions to the internet’s biggest trends on the platform Twitch. Quickly becoming one of the San Diego Convention Center’s largest annual events, TwitchCon brought together nearly 22,800 fans and creators this past year. With its 10-year anniversary on the horizon and a return slated for October, TwitchCon may have finally found its forever home in America’s Finest City.
Photo Credit: Richard Barnes
Best Tune-Up
Jacobs Music Center
After a $125 million, four-year transformation, the historic Jacobs Music Center struck a new chord this last year. Once a 1929 movie palace, the venue is now an ornate, state-of-the-art concert hall with upgraded acoustics (including a design-forward tunable canopy), lush new seating, and a choral terrace that puts some lucky audience members right onstage. It’s an acoustically brilliant home for the musical gifts of the SD Symphony. Goodbye, old HVAC system; hello, musicians who can actually hear themselves play.
Noticed something new in downtown’s skyline? A $511 million, 37-story tower at 1011 Union Street is the city’s first true mixed-use skyscraper. Developed by Holland Partner Group, the building combines office spaces, trendy retail, and luxury apartments and tops ’em with a rooftop pool and deck. This vertical neighborhood aims to create a more dynamic and walkable community, elevating San Diego’s lifestyle to new heights.
Courtesy of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Best Conservation Wins
The San Diego Zoo, a pioneer in wildlife research and protection for nearly a century, has been up to some seriously exciting things lately, from innovative conservation efforts to welcoming new furry friends.
The Return of the Giant Pandas
Giant pandas are finally back at the San Diego Zoo. Yun Chuan and Xin Bao are the first two pandas to enter the US in 21 years. Go visit these adorable, fuzzy legends at the new Panda Ridge habitat.
The fourth annual Wonderfront Festival returns to San Diego’s Embarcadero Marina from May 16–18 this year. Since launching in 2019, the festival has grown steadily—bringing bigger names, wider audiences, and more reasons for San Diego music lovers to celebrate.
Its inaugural year featured Slightly Stoopid, MGMT, and Ben Harper as headliners, while this year’s top ticket names include Peggy Gou and Daniel Caesar on Friday; Anderson Paak & The Free Nationals and Foster the People on Saturday; and Khruangbin, Jason Mraz, and Gary Clark Jr. closing out Sunday night.
But beyond the mainstream acts, this year’s Wonderfront Festival also delivers a stacked undercard of emerging talent. To help you map out your plans for the weekend and ensure you don’t miss some of the lesser-known artists, too, we put together a list of 10 bands you can’t miss this year.
Courtesy of Khruangbin
Khruangbin
Sunday @ 8:35 p.m. | Events.com Stage
Must Listen Track: Maria También
“Where are the lyrics?” “What’s with the wigs?” You’ll likely ask yourself these questions while listening to Khruangbin. Khruangbin—which means “airplane” in Thai—gained recognition in 2022 with their EP featuring Leon Bridges (which does have lyrics, though much of their music does not). They were also recently featured in the third season of TheWhite Lotus.
But even if you’ve never heard of them before, avid fans know that nearly a decade after their debut and six subsequent albums they’re finally getting the recognition they deserve. The Grammys, fashionably late as always, finally nominated the group for “Best New Artist” last year. They might just be this generation’s Grateful Dead, with their sprawling, instrumental sets and international influences. Guitarist Mark Speer’s dreamy guitar takes center stage, supported by bassist Laura Lee and drummer Donald Johnson Jr., creating a lush, meditative groove that’s irresistible.
Courtesy of Magdalena Bay
Magdalena Bay
Saturday @ 3:20 p.m. | Cypress Ascendant Stage
Must Listen Track: Killshot
If you’re into Charli XCX and FKA Twigs, check out Magdalena Bay, an LA-based indie pop band making waves. Comprised of Mica Tenenbaum and Matthew Lewin, the duo began creating music together in high school, crafting mixtapes and eventually full-length albums with a sound and aesthetic that nods to early internet culture.
Their sophomore album, Imaginal Disk, blends futuristic pop and electronic dance music with touches of funk. The album cover—a CD being inserted into Tenenbaum’s forehead—perfectly captures the 2000s influence. Their sound is futuristic and pulsing, yet deeply nostalgic. The duo’s music videos extend this vibe with a DIY aesthetic—not as chaotic as 100 Gecs, but with a charming green screen visual that pairs with their Y2K electronica. If they’re not already on your radar, they will be soon.
Courtesy of Daniel Caesar
Daniel Caesar
Friday @ 7:30 p.m. | Cypress Ascendant Stage
Must Listen Track: Best Part
Hailing from Toronto, Canada, Daniel Caesar is one of R&B’s hottest artists today. With an upbringing shaped by the gospel music at his father’s church, Caesar broke into the mainstream with his 2017 debut album Freudian, earning widespread acclaim and Grammy nominations. Caesar’s blend of gospel with modern ballads produces music that feels both timeless and contemporary. While rap and pop dominate the mainstream currently, it seems that R&B may be experiencing a comeback thanks to artists like Caesar.
Courtesy of Orion Sun
Orion Sun
Saturday @ 5:05 p.m. | Hazy Stage
Must Listen Track: Antidote
If you like SZA and Frank Ocean, you’ll probably like Orion Sun, the moniker of Tiffany Majette. Her music bridges R&B and indie rock with a sound rooted in personal struggle and resilience. After being kicked out for coming out to her parents, she turned to music, drawing influence from Nina Simone and Billie Holiday, whose struggles enriched their art. Her 2013 debut track “Voicemail” gained traction on YouTube, SoundCloud, and Bandcamp, and her 2020 album A Collection of Fleeting Moments and Daydreams introduced her soulful lyricism to a wider audience. In 2023, she opened for Daniel Caesar’s Superpowers tour and followed up with a self-titled album in 2024 that further fuses indie rock with her signature lo-fi beats.
Courtesy of XL Recordings
Peggy Gou
Friday @ 8:40 p.m. | Events.com Stage
Must Listen Track: (It Goes Like) Nanana
For electronic music fans, Peggy Gou is a must-see. The South Korean DJ and producer has been gaining the attention of EDM fans worldwide, first with mixtapes and remixes before putting out her 2024 studio debut album I Hear You. Her music channels ’90s nightclub vibes—glowsticks, zebra prints, high-BPM loops—while resonating with millions worldwide and has massive hits including “(It Goes Like) Nanana” which has over 600 million streams.
Cole Novak is an award-winning writer with a passion for highlighting local figures, small businesses, and nonprofits. Born and raised in San Diego, Cole is passionate about photography, surfing, art, the local food scene, and the great outdoors.
Renewable energy companies building hundreds of power plants. Biotech startups using artificial intelligence to create personalized medicine for children with rare diseases. Hospitality companies quietly powering thousands of local events. Consumer brands growing from beach-town startups into national businesses. These are the kinds of companies driving San Diego’s economy today, and the businesses recognized at this year’s San Diego Business Impact Awards offer a snapshot of where the region is headed.
Hosted July 23 by San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and JPMorganChase, the second annual awards event honored four local companies for innovation, growth, and economic impact. More than 100 nominations from San Diego’s middle-market businesses were reviewed by a 10-person judging committee, with winners selected across four categories: startup, early-stage innovator, rising star, and established heavyweight.
Two-time honoree Jimbo Someck, founder of Jimbo’s organic grocery stores, also joined the event for a fireside chat on buying local, supporting emerging brands, and giving back to the community.
“San Diego’s strength comes from its makers and builders—the resilient people who endure great risks and overcome obstacles to build and scale a company,” says Aaron Ryan, San Diego Region Manager and Middle Market Banking at JPMorganChase & Co. “These awards aren’t just recognition; they spotlight the talent, grit, and innovation shaping our region’s future. By celebrating those who create and build, we foster connections and fuel the growth that keeps San Diego thriving.”
Matt Furman Photography
Building the Infrastructure Behind Clean Energy
Heavyweight honoree SOLV Energy has grown alongside the country’s rapid investment in renewable power. “It’s an exciting time for SOLV Energy as we are experiencing significant growth,” says CEO George Hershman. “The business has doubled over the last year and has almost double-digit growth since its inception.”
The Rancho Bernardo-based company designs, builds, operates, and maintains utility-scale solar and energy storage facilities. Since its founding in 2008, SOLV Energy has built more than 500 power plants.
Growth has translated directly into hiring. About 200 employees work from the company’s local headquarters, including roughly 20 interns. “Our intern program is a big part of the way that we grow our workforce,” Hershman says. “Last year, 43 percent of our interns became full-time employees. We believe San Diego is a great community to build and grow a high-tech infrastructure and technology company because of the incredible workforce—the ability to attract top talent and draw from world-class universities.”
Developing Medicine One Patient at a Time
Startup honoree La Jolla Labs is tackling one of medicine’s biggest challenges by developing personalized RNA therapeutics for patients with rare diseases—many of them children with neurological disorders like ALS. Using proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning tools, the biotech company develops treatments tailored to each patient’s specific genetic mutation.
CEO Tamar Grossman says the recognition reflects how far the company has come despite limited resources. “We’re honored to be recognized for our ability to change and save patients’ lives and turn our lean startup into a clinical company with very minimal resources,” she says.
Grossman credits San Diego’s concentration of research institutions—including UC San Diego, the Salk Institute, and Scripps Research—with creating a pipeline of talent and collaboration. “San Diego is one of the world-leading centers for technology, genomics, and RNA therapeutics,” she says. “We have over 30 RNA therapeutics companies here, and we support each other and help with anything related to drug discovery.”
She says that collaborative spirit extends beyond formal partnerships. “You can walk around Torrey Pines, go into a café, and find colleagues from the industry and have an ad hoc conversation,” Grossman says. “That’s something very unique to San Diego.”
While Snake Oil Venue Company may not be a household name, chances are many San Diegans have attended one of its events. The early-stage innovator honoree has expanded from beverage catering and mixology consulting into venue management, operating Julep Venue in Mission Hills, Bramble Bay Venue in Imperial Beach, Vesper Venue, the Chapel at Liberty Station, and five outdoor venues throughout Liberty Station—more than 500,000 square feet of event space altogether.
“We do a lot of launch parties for corporations and new products,” says CEO Mike Esposito. “I really like working on the entrepreneur side of things, where new businesses are entering the San Diego market and looking to make a splash.”
Snake Oil has executed more than 16,000 events, employed more than 1,000 people, and partnered with more than 900 local vendors, including caterers, florists, photographers, entertainers, and other hospitality businesses. The company also works with many of San Diego’s nonprofits, museums, and cultural institutions. “We get to celebrate people’s most important moments,” Esposito says. “Whether that’s a wedding, celebration of life, or quinceañera, we’re fortunate to be involved in the community in so many different ways.”
Matt Furman Photography
Growing a Beach-Town Brand into a National Business
Rising star honoree ALOHA Collection is proof that a simple idea can grow into a thriving company. Founded by two roommates who wanted a better way to carry wet swimsuits after a day at the beach, the lifestyle brand has grown into a business while maintaining strong year-over-year growth.
Now headquartered in Carlsbad, ALOHA Collection employs more than 100 people and operates its California flagship store in Encinitas, which is slated for a remodel. With roots in Hawaii, the company is known for its lightweight, splash-proof travel bags that have become a familiar sight on beaches in San Diego and beyond.
“‘Aloha’ is part of our name, but it’s also how we move through the world,” says CEO Lynna Barnard. “It’s how we show up for people, the way we travel, the way we give back.” Since day one, the company has maintained a 5 percent giveback to Hawaii conservation efforts, contributing millions of dollars over the years.
“I think what’s so inspiring about ALOHA Collection, and the founders in particular, is when you dream big, those dreams can come true when you work hard and trust in the universe,” Barnard says. “It’s inspiring to be a role model for other people wanting to start businesses from humble beginnings. Start small and watch it grow.”
Together, businesses like these form a cornerstone of San Diego’s economy—not only through the jobs and revenue they generate—but through the local workers they hire, vendors they support, and investments they make in the region. Their growth doesn’t happen in isolation; it ripples outward, strengthening the broader business community and the people who call San Diego home.
May in San Diego means longer days, blooming flowers, and a calendar full of can’t-miss events. This month, locals can sip bottomless mimosas at San Diego Magazine’s Brunch Bash or crack crawfish shells at Gator by the Bay. Music lovers can two-step their way through The Outlaw Festival or vibe with R&B trio Flo, while beachgoers flock to Fiesta Del Sol or the annual Mission Beach Over-the-Line tournament. For fans of the arts, there’s a packed lineup of theater productions and exhibits—including one celebrating the surprisingly adorable armadillo. So grab your tickets, gather your crew, and explore all the best things to do in San Diego this May.
Gator by the Bay, a spectacle of the sounds and eats—like beignets, gumbo, and 10,000 pounds of crawfish—that define Louisiana’s Cajun and Creole culture, brings the bayou to Spanish Landing Park on Harbor Island.
The Outlaw Music Festival at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
May 15
The Outlaw Music Festival will celebrate giants of Americana sound—including Billy Strings, Bob Dylan, and Willie Nelson—at the North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista.
Louis at the Balboa Theatre
May 18
At the Balboa Theatre, an 11-piece jazz ensemble will perform an immersive score to soundtrack Louis, a silent film based on the life of legendary trumpeter Louis Armstrong.
Fiesta Del Sol at Fletcher Cove Park
May 31 – June 1
Hit the beach for Fiesta Del Sol, returning for a sunny weekend at Fletcher Cove Park in Solana Beach. Enjoy free entry, more than 200 vendors, and live music from several local bands.
“Sweet Caroline” singer Neil Diamond’s journey from Brooklyn beginnings to musical superstardom unfolds throughout A Beautiful Noise, coming to the Civic Theatre in downtown.
Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.
Ahhh, St. Patrick’s Day, the day many of us use as an excuse to drink a green lager, claim any ounce of Irish heritage found in our 23andMe report, and wear all your favorite green clothing at once. From corned beef hash and green hops to yacht parties, shamrock runs, and family-friendly festivals, there is something for everyone to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day this year. If you’re looking for an excuse to wear that “Kiss Me I’m Irish” t-shirt, now’s your time to shine.
Courtesy of Patch
St. Patrick’s Day Events in San Diego
The 43rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival
March 15
On Saturday, March 15 at 10:30 a.m. this family-friendly parade will start on Fifth Avenue and Laurel Street for its 43rd year in San Diego. The parade is free and open to all and features high school marching bands, police and fire department units, dancing groups and more. Throughout the day, enjoy more fun in Balboa Park featuring an all-ages festival from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Guests will enjoy food booths, live performances and craft vendors. Admission into the festival is $10 for adults 21 years and older and free for anyone under 21 and active duty military with I.D.
Lace up your running shoes and join San Diego Running Co. on Saturday, March 15 for their 7th Annual San Diego Leprechaun Run 5K & Kids 1K. Participants will run through downtown Pacific Beach and receive a complimentary Leprechaun Run t-shirt, medal upon finishing, photo and a complimentary drink at the finish. The Leprechaun Run 5K will begin at 9 a.m. and the Kids 1K Run will begin at 10:30 a.m. Registration for the Leprechaun Run 5K is $59 and $35 for the Kids 1K Run.
Pacific Beach
Courtesy of Lamb’s Player Theatre
Lamb’s St. Patrick’s Cabaret Show
March 16-17
For a night of Irish tunes, head to Lamb’s annual St Patrick’s Day Cabaret. Attendees can enjoy a night at the Lamb’s Player Theatre complete with 100 minutes of uninterrupted Irish music. The annual St. Patrick’s Day concert will be on Sunday, March 16 and Monday, March 17 and begins at 7 p.m.
Leprechauns & Live Music at Seaport Village
March 16
Show off your best green garb at Seaport Village’s Leprechauns & Live Music on Sunday, March 16. Here, you can enjoy a bite to eat at a restaurant in the west courtyard, listen to some live music, and hunt for leprechauns. The event runs from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Irish Music at Conrad Preby’s Performing Arts Center
March 16-17
Looking to hear some authentic Irish music this St. Patty’s Day? Check out the Irish band Goitse. Snag tickets to watch this quintet of Irish musicians play traditional tunes that will surely have you doing a jig. Goitse will be performing at the Conrad Preby’s Performing Arts Center Sunday, March 16 from 5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. and Monday, March 17, 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
St. Patrick’s Day at the Fleet Science Center
March 15
Looking for a more kid-centric option for St Patrick’s Day, you’re in luck! At the Junior Science Club, kids can work a little science magic and learn how to change the color of cabbage or experiment with potatoes. Head to the Fleet Science Center on March 15 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Courtesy of the Gaslamp Foundation
St. Patrick’s Day Parties & Pub Crawls in San Diego
2025 Irish 4 A Day Pub Crawl
March 14 & 15
St. Patrick’s Day will be taking over the historic Gaslamp Quarter for a weekend-long Irish 4 A Day celebration. The festivities will take place across various bars and restaurants downtown on March 14 and March 15. Tickets to this annual event include admission to more than 20 bars in the area, live music, drink and dining deals, hotel deals, and perks from respective bars. Tickets start at $35 a day on Friday and $39 a day on Saturday.
628 5th Ave. San Diego, Gaslamp Quarter
29th Annual ShamROCK
March 15
St. Paddy’s Day Music and Beer Festival, best known as ShamROCK, is returning to San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter for the 29th year. The festival will be on Saturday, March 15 from 2-8 p.m. and will feature live performances from the nation’s top Irish and Celtic Rock bands, Irish dances and tribute performances. General admission tickets start at $50 for adults and go up in price on March 2. Free admission is offered for children under 4 and general admission tickets for ages 5-17 start at $30.
Gaslamp Quarter
Kiss Me, I’m Irish: San Diego St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl
March 15 & 17
The Kiss Me, I’m Irish bar crawl will take place this year in Pacific Beach on Saturday March 15 and Monday March 17. Participating bars include: Flamingo Deck, Baja Beach Cafe, The Beverly Beach Garden, Moonshine Beach, The Sandbox, Thrusters Lounge, Truckstop, and Woodstock’s Pizza Pacific Beach. General admission each day is $25 and is open to anyone ages 21 and older.
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.
