It was raining pizza in the office this month! We considered more than 20 pies for the cover before deciding on the image with the pizza we most wanted to eat.
One of my favorite parts of my job is designing the magazine covers. At some point every month, while I’m spending endless hours tweaking the cover lines and image, I think to myself, “I just love doing this!” For our November issue, our executive editor Erin Meanley and I were thrilled to be doing a pizza issue. We had been talking about it for months. I teamed up with photographer Luis Garcia to photograph the best-looking pies around town. Luis’ instructions were simple: “Shoot pizza, and lots of it, and we like things messy.” Luis set up a photo studio in 10 pizza joints around the county and called on idle waiters to scatter pepper flakes, toss flour, and help make the cheese ooze.
After reviewing 530 images for the cover, we were down to these final three shots.
3 options for San Diego Magazine’s November 2013 cover
#1 Margherita pizza at Crust
#2 Theodore’s Fix pizza at Alexander’s on 30th
#3 A mix of Blue Ribbon’s best-selling slices put together
We polled the staff, our VIP readers, and a select group of San Diego Magazine subscribers. The clear winner in terms of votes was #3 (which was also the favorite of the art department). Those voters commented that they liked the variety and that the pizza looked healthy (or shall we say healthier?), and had pops of color.
San Diego Magazine’s November 2013 cover
It wasn’t a clear winner around our office, however. Our newsstand cover consultant chose #1, as well as our circulation director, whose job is to make sure we sell sell sell on newsstands. They, along with the other #1 voters, seemed to like the delicious simplicity of tomatoes, melty cheese and basil. The art department was collectively, quietly rooting for #3.We liked the assortment and look of them. The Erins were hungry for #2 and Kim, our senior editor, was on the fence. But she’s a picky eater. 🙂
We debated it until 10 p.m. the night we shipped the magazine. That’s right. The pizza pie was the latest cover switch we’ve had in years. We were set on the Blue Ribbon slices for most of the final hours of production, but at the last second, swapped it out for Alexander’s, for its “I want to eat it right now” appeal. Everyone, including the outside voters, agreed that pizza was the one they would most like to eat. Simple as that.
The winner: Theodore’s Fix pizza, with Maui onion, spicy Italian sausage, pepperoni, red chili flake and sliced pepperoncini, from Alexander’s on 30th in North Park.
San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Party featured the top restaurants and breweries in the city. Guests sipped and sampled their way through the evening enjoying live music, DJs and entertainment. Check out the evening’s highlights and don’t miss next year’s Best of San Diego Party in August 2015. Video production by Chris Calderon […]
San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Party featured the top restaurants and breweries in the city. Guests sipped and sampled their way through the evening enjoying live music, DJs and entertainment. Check out the evening’s highlights and don’t miss next year’s Best of San Diego Party in August 2015.
San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Party featured the top restaurants and breweries in the city. Guests sipped and sampled their way through the evening enjoying live music, DJs and entertainment. Check out the evening’s highlights and don’t miss next year’s Best of San Diego Party in August 2015. Video production by Chris Calderon […]
San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Party featured the top restaurants and breweries in the city. Guests sipped and sampled their way through the evening enjoying live music, DJs and entertainment. Check out the evening’s highlights and don’t miss next year’s Best of San Diego Party in August 2015.
See the photos that didn't make it into the magazine
By Kimberly Cunningham
File it under career highlights: The two days our team spent at Diane Powers’ ranch in East County San Diego were some of the best I’ve had in my professional life. I am a native San Diegan and grew up going to Old Town. I have loved Powers’ colorful Mexican style since I was girl. Her home lived up to the expectation, and reminded me so much of her shops at Bazaar del Mundo.
The photos were all stunning. But we had to make some cuts for space in the print edition. Here’s a behind the scenes look at some of the shots that didn’t make it into the home feature (“Casa de Powers,” published in June 2014).
Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch
This is the cedar barn and stable for Power’s prized Arabian horses. They built it when they bought the property. Those leaded stain glass windows are antiques that she collected from San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch
This is one view of the formal living room. Note all the folk art collectibles and vintage Navajo rugs. The painting of the Last Supper that hangs above the fireplace is by David Bradley. (P.S. I am obsessed with that custom Pendleton armchair.)
Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch
This room serves as an office space (Powers’ desk and computer are not pictured). It houses the bulk of her Guatemalan and Mexican collectibles, everything from ceremonial masks to trees of life and so much more. Collecting is a lifelong passion of hers, and she loves organizing her things by region and theme. One of my favorite details in this room is the sofa, upholstered with a traditional dancer’s costume (the floral) and a vintage serape (the stripes).
Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch
Who needs Craft Service? We ate more food on this shoot than any other shoot I’ve ever worked on. Powers personally cooked us chicken and beef tostadas, alongside chips, salsa, and guac from Casa de Pico. It was such a treat. And by the way, I love her cobalt blue Viking appliances.
Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch
This is the couple’s TV room, which doubles as a place to showcase all of Powers’ ribbons and trophies. Powers and her husband, Brent Gilman, travel all over the country showing their Arabian Western Pleasure Show Horses.
Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch
A peek inside the pantry. When we asked to see it, Powers said, “It looks like my store, doesn’t it?”
Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch
This is an example of the dancing costume and fabric that Powers used to upholster the sofa in her office.
Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch
This is the back entrance to the main house. I love the combo of red and orange here. She has the same setup by the pool. It just feels so Old Town and so her.
Entrepreneurs typically launch businesses because they’re passionate about a product or service, not because they want to manage its finances. While working to carve out a niche in their respective industries and drive their companies forward, many business owners find themselves bogged down by day-to-day accounting. Their existing accounting tools don’t provide the necessary visibility or insight, and they don’t have the time or resources to hire additional staff or a chief financial officer. That’s where NOW CFO comes in.
For more than 20 years, NOW CFO has been pairing businesses across the country with experienced accounting and finance professionals. Its outsourced model allows clients to customize solutions that match their individual needs, size, and financial challenges, whether that’s fractional or interim support, project-based services, or full-time placement.
NOW CFO’s clients range from startups preparing for rapid growth to established companies that need additional financial leadership without the commitment or expense of building an in-house team. However, many of these companies don’t fully understand their needs until they experience a “trigger” event: preparing for an acquisition or capital raise, navigating a first-time audit, or another period of transition. With a team of over 300 consultants nationwide, NOW CFO can start quickly and match the right expert to the right business.
“It’s important for companies to have financial visibility, and we can help them avoid a lot of the potholes that companies often run into,” says Mariah Block, a partner at NOW CFO’s San Diego branch. “Roughly half of our clients have an in-house finance person or department, and we’re resourced for more bandwidth when they need an extra set of hands at the staff or senior accountant level, or the controller or CFO level. Some clients use this a few hours a month and others use multiple people close to full-time. Our model is solution-based and customizable. We’re like a faucet you can turn on and off.”
With NOW CFO, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Solutions are based on the client’s individual goals, challenges, needs, and budget, meaning a client never pays for more than they need. Whether it’s a few hours of executive-level guidance or a full accounting team to support daily operations, NOW CFO meets businesses where they are and grows alongside them.
“We pride ourselves on providing our clients with the right resources at the right rate and being able to evolve as their needs evolve,” says Block.
And clients appreciate on-demand access to cost-effective support designed to improve performance and profitability.
Luxury car storage service Auto Concierge has partnered with NOW CFO to support growth over the past year. The arrangement began with a staff accountant who covered a leave of absence, but as the client’s needs changed, they also added a controller role. This allowed Auto Concierge to put effective processes in place and navigate operational challenges. Lori Church, Auto Concierge’s chief operating officer, says NOW CFO has been an “outstanding resource” and a “true strategic partner.”
“From the controller to the bookkeeper, every professional they’ve placed has brought a high level of expertise, responsiveness, and professionalism to our organization. Their team took the time to understand our business of high-profile clients and needs, adapted quickly to our fast-paced environment, and became a trusted extension of our team,” she says. “As Auto Concierge continues to grow, having a reliable financial partner like NOW CFO has allowed us to strengthen our financial and business operations while remaining focused on delivering exceptional service to our clients.”
See the photos that didn't make it into the magazine
By Kimberly Cunningham
File it under career highlights: The two days our team spent at Diane Powers’ ranch in East County San Diego were some of the best I’ve had in my professional life. I am a native San Diegan and grew up going to Old Town. I have loved Powers’ colorful Mexican style since I was girl. Her home lived up to the expectation, and reminded me so much of her shops at Bazaar del Mundo.
The photos were all stunning. But we had to make some cuts for space in the print edition. Here’s a behind the scenes look at some of the shots that didn’t make it into the home feature (“Casa de Powers,” published in June 2014).
Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch
This is the cedar barn and stable for Power’s prized Arabian horses. They built it when they bought the property. Those leaded stain glass windows are antiques that she collected from San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch
This is one view of the formal living room. Note all the folk art collectibles and vintage Navajo rugs. The painting of the Last Supper that hangs above the fireplace is by David Bradley. (P.S. I am obsessed with that custom Pendleton armchair.)
Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch
This room serves as an office space (Powers’ desk and computer are not pictured). It houses the bulk of her Guatemalan and Mexican collectibles, everything from ceremonial masks to trees of life and so much more. Collecting is a lifelong passion of hers, and she loves organizing her things by region and theme. One of my favorite details in this room is the sofa, upholstered with a traditional dancer’s costume (the floral) and a vintage serape (the stripes).
Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch
Who needs Craft Service? We ate more food on this shoot than any other shoot I’ve ever worked on. Powers personally cooked us chicken and beef tostadas, alongside chips, salsa, and guac from Casa de Pico. It was such a treat. And by the way, I love her cobalt blue Viking appliances.
Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch
This is the couple’s TV room, which doubles as a place to showcase all of Powers’ ribbons and trophies. Powers and her husband, Brent Gilman, travel all over the country showing their Arabian Western Pleasure Show Horses.
Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch
A peek inside the pantry. When we asked to see it, Powers said, “It looks like my store, doesn’t it?”
Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch
This is an example of the dancing costume and fabric that Powers used to upholster the sofa in her office.
Bonus: More Photos of Diane Powers’ Ranch
This is the back entrance to the main house. I love the combo of red and orange here. She has the same setup by the pool. It just feels so Old Town and so her.
No, not 'that' lottery, but you could score tickets to the hottest show in town, ‘The Book of Mormon,' now playing at the San Diego Civic Theatre
By Kimberly Cunningham
Win the Lottery!
Original cast members Rema Webb, Andrew Rannells, and Josh Gad (photo courtesy of Broadway San Diego)
It’s the show everyone’s buzzing about. Broadway San Diego’s production of the hilarious Book of Mormon runs through June 8. From the creators of South Park and the co-creator of Avenue Q, the laugh-out-loud musical won nine Tony Awards, and is making its San Diego premiere at the Civic Theatre.
Don’t have tickets? Not to worry. The producers are offering a lottery system on the day of each performance, and a lucky few will get $25 seats to the show.
Here’s how to do it:
Head to the box office 2.5 hours before curtain. Note: The lottery happens before each performance including matinees.
Print your name and the number of tickets you want (one or two) on the provided card.
The winning names will be drawn at random two hours before show time.
Tickets are $25 each. Only one entry per person. Cards will be checked for duplicates before the drawing. Two tickets per winner.
You must be present to win and have a valid ID, so stick around after you turn in your card.
Good luck to all who enter! Of course, we hope that you win the real lottery. But if you don’t, we think some hearty belly laughs (courtesy of Trey Parker and Matt Stone) are a pretty good consolation prize.
The Book of Mormonruns through June 8 at the Civic Theatre. For show schedule, please visit broadwaysd.com.
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.
