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.
A perfectly designed home rarely happens by accident. Those kitchens that feel effortless and rooms that seem to tell a story the second you walk in? They’re usually the work of someone who knows exactly what they’re doing.
It’s knowing which ideas will actually work, which materials will hold up over time, and how to turn a collection of choices into a space that feels intentional. That’s where a professional interior designer comes in.
For the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) California San Diego Chapter, the goal is to help people see interior design as more than just the finished look. Behind every well-designed space is a process built on technical expertise. Designers are educated in everything from professional software and construction details to building codes, space planning, materials, and functionality.
Courtesy of ASID
“People don’t always realize how much goes on behind the scenes,” Kirsten Recce , current president of the ASID California San Diego Chapter, says. “Our designers are not just doing furniture placement and color selection and picking out new fluffy pillows. That’s not what they’re trained for.”
ASID members bring formal education, continued learning, and industry knowledge to their projects, helping create spaces that are not only beautiful, but designed to work. A paint color that changes completely depending on the lighting. A material that looks beautiful in a showroom but doesn’t make sense for everyday life. A layout that photographs well but doesn’t function for the people living there. These are the details where professional guidance can make all the difference.
Still, one of the biggest misconceptions about hiring an interior designer is that it’s reserved for massive renovations, luxury homes, or people who already know exactly what they want. The process can feel intimidating. Where do you begin? Is a designer worth the investment? What if you only need help with one room?
ASID’s answer: start with one hour.
ASID’s Spruce Up events break down one of the biggest barriers between homeowners and professional design: knowing where to begin. Held twice a year, the community program gives homeowners the chance to work directly with an ASID designer through a one-hour, $125 consultation in their own home. Whether you’re looking for advice on furniture placement, window treatments, kitchen and bath updates, remodeling ideas, vacation rentals, color selections or something else entirely, the upcoming September 2026 event offers an approachable way to get expert guidance before committing to a full project. Signups are open through Sept. 7, with consultations taking place Sept. 21 through Oct. 31. Proceeds benefit ASID San Diego’s educational and community programs. Register here!
Courtesy of ASID
“It’s a great opportunity for people who are in that exploratory phase,” Recce says. “Maybe they’re not sure they want to hire an interior designer yet, or they think it sounds daunting or expensive. This gives them a chance to discover what working with a designer is actually like.”
Design is personal. A good designer isn’t just creating a beautiful room; they’re helping create a space that fits the way someone lives.
“We’re a resource to all of San Diego County,” Recce says. “It doesn’t cost anything to pick up the phone and call and ask. We’ll answer.”
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.
Growing up, Laika Nur, MD, Scripps Clinic sports medicine specialist, loved watching beach volleyball when the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour came to her hometown of Chicago. A talented volleyball player herself, she remembers sitting in the stands all day, and once, even got a couple autographs. Years later, Dr. Nur was attending a professional event focused on women’s sports, and the discussion turned to a new professional women’s volleyball league. The general manager and coaching staff for San Diego’s team, the Mojo, happened to be in attendance, and Dr. Nur took the opportunity to ask them if they needed a team doctor. Flash forward to the Mojo’s inaugural 2024 season, when Dr. Nur officially became the team physician. Click here to read more about Dr. Nur and how she incorporates lessons she learned on the court into her practice.
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