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5 books to read this month
An Unnecessary Woman cover
An Unnecessary Woman
By Rabih Alameddine
A reclusive elderly woman lives surrounded by books in a Beirut apartment. She translates them into Arabic, but they go unread, because she locks them away. As her mind bends and swirls through her solitary existence, we learn more about her past, Lebanese history, and her brilliant ideas about literature.
Bingo’s Run: A Novel cover
Bingo’s Run: A Novel
By James Levine
Bingo is the greatest drug runner in the slums of Nairobi, and he’s only a teenager. When he witnesses a drug-related murder, his boss sends him to an orphanage for protection, and his whole life changes. Funny and tender, Bingo is the perfect trickster protagonist to guide us through a corrupt world.
On Such a Full Sea cover
On Such a Full Sea
By Change-rae Lee
In a futuristic America divided by class, urban neighborhoods become walled-in labor camps where workers search for produce and fish to feed the wealthy colonies on the outside. A woman leaves her camp when her beloved disappears and sets out across the crime-ridden “Open Counties.”
Strange Bodies: A Novel cover
Strange Bodies: A Novel
By Marcel Theroux
A man shows up on a woman’s doorstep claiming to be her old boyfriend. The only problem is he died months ago. Skip to a psych ward, where the same man continues to insist he’s the dead man, a former Samuel Johnson scholar. This high-concept literary thriller is a well-crafted, eerie tale of doubles.
Quesadillas: A Novel cover
Quesadillas: A Novel
By Juan Pablo Villalobos
A large family in Mexico is confined to its rural home because of surrounding violence. The father crafts insults of the “your mama” variety, the mother makes quesadillas, and the children try to escape the boredom of a rustic life. The novel’s structure is avant-garde, and combines magical realism with a satire of modern Mexico.
More than 60 retail shops to help you find the perfect gifts for your loved ones this holiday season
Shopping Small – main
Courtesy of Home + Hound
We love San Diego’s small businesses, and you should, too. In these pages we’ve highlighted a sample of the many independently owned and effortlessly cool retail shops that make up our city. At these brick-and-mortars, both old and new, you can score a secondhand statement piece, shop handmade accessories, discover local brands, and fall in love with shopping small all over again.
This holiday season, help support local by visiting some of our favorite haunts around town. Got your credit card? You’re about to do some damage.
Shopping Small – Whiskey Leather
Soon after One Paseo shopping center began welcoming tenants, fashion entrepreneur and self-described tomboy Ariel Hujar opened Whiskey + Leather fashion boutique. This high-end men’s and women’s clothing shop stocks luxury brands from across the country, including One Teaspoon, Spell, Scotch & Soda, and For Love and Lemons. They also carry stylish accessories and home goods such as candles, books, and barware.
3665 Caminito Court, Carmel Valley
Quality comes first at Gold Dust Collective, where all the accessories are handmade and sourced as sustainably as possible. The North Park storefront carries goods from three local artists: Flight of Fancy jewelry, Haberdash hats, and El Gato Montes leatherwork. Shop here for unique readymade pieces like beetle pendants and adorned felt hats, or to start customizing one.
3824 Ray Street, North Park
Shopping Small – Fresh Yard
Hip-hop and street culture inspired the formation of The Fresh Yard. This independent boutique carries some of the most anticipated brands in streetwear, such as Raised by Wolves and Black Market Tailors, along with its own signature clothing and accessories like T-shirts, hats, and beanies. With a strong tie to the local art and music communities, The Fresh Yard releases exclusive collaborations and often hosts art shows and live events. When they’re not running the store, the team also organizes food and clothing drives to donate to people in need.
41 E 8th St, National City, CA 91950
Tyler Axtell started this line of refined leather and canvas bags, backpacks, and jackets in a garage in Ocean Beach, and later moved to a store in East Village. All the items in this adventure goods collection—such as the best-selling camouflage Wilder backpack—are made to withstand travel and camping, but their polished look also works for the day-to- day. The bags are made to last, and free repairs are included for each purchase. The company had to close their 17th Street storefront, but they’re still crafting the line right here in San Diego and you can order online.
Shopping Small – Cradled
Onesies, cardigans, teething necklaces— this just-opened Alpine boutique serves the wee one in your life. Consider Cuddle + Kind dolls, which are knitted by hand in Peru, and Stokke, a sophisticated Norwegian furniture brand specializing in cribs and high chairs that grow with your baby.
2507 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine
Rob and Sophie Machado, owner of Salt Culture
Sophie Machado isn’t bashful to admit that, yes, being married to a professional surfer has its perks. She’s followed her husband, Rob, to countries around the world, including Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and his native Australia—but she jokes that in humid countries, you can only lie about for so long. So instead, her habit is to jump in a tuk tuk or taxi and drop into the heart of a city’s artisan district to see firsthand the care and craftsmanship that go into the imports we buy. Sophie’s never been one to gloat about those experiences. Instead, she’s on a mission to make something more of them, and that’s where Salt Culture comes in. The boutique stocks products from their travels and their favorite local brands.“Salt Culture is basically a scrapbook, and a place to tell our stories,” she says. It’s an homage to the girl she once was, a college student living on a shoestring; and the guy Rob’s always been, a surfer with an affection for supporting local. Salt Culture stocks Rob’s signature Smiley Face merch in the form of sweatpants and shirts, and it’s also the only brick-and-mortar storefront in the world where you can buy a custom-made Rob Machado surfboard. Sophie just launched her own loungewear line, too, named “Reawakening.”
930 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
Take a step into Four Moons Spa’s Bali-inspired oasis. The spa’s stated focus is on “wholeness”—meaning the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual layers of each guest. Visitors can experience everything from an astrological reading to a massage. They recently introduced a hammam treatment, inspire by Muslim public bathing culture, which can be done with a therapist or self-guided. A shop on site is full of products to keep up the Zen long after you leave.
The most interesting (and delicious) events happening around town this month
There is no shortage of food and drink events in San Diego, which means more and more organizers are thinking outside the box in an effort to stand out from the crowd. Here are three unique events that combine delicious food with exercise, literature, and complete darkness.
Where: Uptown Tavern
When: May 9, and monthly
It’s lights out at this monthly, five-course tasting dinner where guests might be left in the dark by the surprise menu, but won’t be distracted from its flavors by any light whatsoever. Uptown Tavern’s executive chef Mark Molina designs the menu around in-season ingredients. Each month’s event—limited to no more than 20 guests and guaranteed to sell out quickly—features a new menu for $49.95 per person, including a welcome aperitif cocktail.
Where: Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa
When: May 12, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Yes, the focus of San Diego Magazine‘s very own annual fitness event is to break a sweat while sampling workouts from a long list of the hottest studios like Orangetheory Fitness, Barre 59, Club Pilates, and Define U Fitness. But fitness is a lifestyle that should include delicious bites, drinks, and other ways of feeling good. Round out your day with healthy bites and beverages from names like Califia Farms, Bonafide Provisions, Fizzique, and Café Moto, plus live music, swag bags and mini-massages. Tickets ($46) include two 20-minute workout sessions.
Where: San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park
When: Thursday, May 17, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The “read” part of the San Diego Council on Literacy’s annual food event and fundraiser refers to the fact that proceeds go toward literacy programs and books for kids. Which means you can feel even better about the “eat” and “drink” parts: dishes and drinks inspired by local chefs’ favorite books or literary characters. Diners can sample creations from more than 20 chefs from notable restaurants like Civico 1845, Waypoint Public, Stone Brewing Co., Pacific Del Mar, and Galaxy Taco, and watch them go head-to-head for a number of awards granted by celebrity judges. Tickets are $75.
3 Unique San Diego Food Events Not to Miss in May
Chefs create dishes inspired by their favorite literary characters at Eat. Drink. Read. | Photo: Council on Literacy
5 books to read this month
An Unnecessary Woman cover
An Unnecessary Woman
By Rabih Alameddine
A reclusive elderly woman lives surrounded by books in a Beirut apartment. She translates them into Arabic, but they go unread, because she locks them away. As her mind bends and swirls through her solitary existence, we learn more about her past, Lebanese history, and her brilliant ideas about literature.
Bingo’s Run: A Novel cover
Bingo’s Run: A Novel
By James Levine
Bingo is the greatest drug runner in the slums of Nairobi, and he’s only a teenager. When he witnesses a drug-related murder, his boss sends him to an orphanage for protection, and his whole life changes. Funny and tender, Bingo is the perfect trickster protagonist to guide us through a corrupt world.
On Such a Full Sea cover
On Such a Full Sea
By Change-rae Lee
In a futuristic America divided by class, urban neighborhoods become walled-in labor camps where workers search for produce and fish to feed the wealthy colonies on the outside. A woman leaves her camp when her beloved disappears and sets out across the crime-ridden “Open Counties.”
Strange Bodies: A Novel cover
Strange Bodies: A Novel
By Marcel Theroux
A man shows up on a woman’s doorstep claiming to be her old boyfriend. The only problem is he died months ago. Skip to a psych ward, where the same man continues to insist he’s the dead man, a former Samuel Johnson scholar. This high-concept literary thriller is a well-crafted, eerie tale of doubles.
Quesadillas: A Novel cover
Quesadillas: A Novel
By Juan Pablo Villalobos
A large family in Mexico is confined to its rural home because of surrounding violence. The father crafts insults of the “your mama” variety, the mother makes quesadillas, and the children try to escape the boredom of a rustic life. The novel’s structure is avant-garde, and combines magical realism with a satire of modern Mexico.
Stake Chophouse & Bar brings contemporary classics and old-school service to the heart of Coronado
Stake Chophouse & Bar isn’t your average steakhouse. Blue Bridge Hospitality’s Coronado outpost is a modern interpretation of a big-city steakhouse nestled in the heart of the small coastal community. The team at Stake has reimagined the whole steakhouse experience. By prioritizing a seasonal farm-to-table sourcing philosophy, a personalized guest experience, and unique service touches, like a formal steak presentation and a bespoke knife selection process, Stake distinguishes itself in a sea of steakhouses.
Exceptional steaks, including Wagyu from Japan, Australia, and the U.S., and fresh seafood flown in daily form the core of Stake’s culinary identity. The menu features a five-course omakase-style steak experience highlighting house favorites, plus an array of cuts, and classic steakhouse staples—think a wedge salad, baked potato, or pasta carbonara—refined for a contemporary palate without losing their traditional appeal. Stake focuses on seasonal sourcing from the region’s best family farms and specialty purveyors, and incorporates intentionally unexpected touches to create something truly unique.
“I challenge our chefs and myself to take it a step further in sourcing,” says Chef Ronnie Schwandt. “It’s important to us to highlight different farms, unique one-off farms—whether it’s cattle, strawberries, a local fisherman or from anywhere in the United States, we’re always trying to find that niche.”
Beyond the menu, Stake emphasizes outstanding service, says Vinny Spatafore, Director of Hospitality Operations. Staff maintains detailed notes, allowing them to remember guests by name, recall previous orders such as a favorite martini (also memorable for the customer since it’s served in an extra tall, distinctly-shaped glass), and celebrate special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries.
“When you have those points of topic that you remember about a guest, they appreciate that,” he says. “Our servers are really good with that—we have a couple servers who have been here since the beginning and they’ll remember somebody from years ago, their name, their kids’ names, where they live. I’m really thankful to have a great front of house staff.”
Award-winning wines, rare whiskeys, special events, and a complementary black car service that provides transportation for guests throughout Coronado add to Stake’s appeal.
Schwandt stresses that Stake offers more than a meal; they aim to give patrons something unforgettable.
“It starts when you walk up the stairs and are greeted by the hostess—that sets the tone for the night. Then you’re greeted by a server, who may know you by name, and can guide you through the menu and curate as they get to know you,” says Schwandt. “Most people leave kind of blown away; they leave feeling like they just had an experience. That’s the goal, right? Whether you’re serving smash burgers or high-end steak, you want somebody to leave thinking, Wow, that was awesome.”
5 books to read this December
Anything That Moves: Renegade Chefs, Fearless Eaters, and the Making of a New American Food Culture cover
Anything That Moves: Renegade Chefs, Fearless Eaters, and the Making of a New American Food Culture
By Dana Goodyear
Goodyear writes about the hucksters and avant-garde chefs making meals out of the unconventional, like roadside leaves. She follows exotic items into the marketplace and predicts how such trends will impact our food choices.
Dog Songs cover
Dog Songs
By Mary Oliver
This collection comes from the rarest of breeds: a popular poet. Oliver’s plainspoken style seems fitting for celebrating the small, sustaining moments of owning and befriending a dog. Wrap this one up for the poetry or dog lover on your list.
The Wes Anderson Collection cover
The Wes Anderson Collection
By Matt Zoller Seitz
The rich, detailed worlds of filmmaker Wes Anderson are explored in this exhaustive study by critic and Anderson cohort Matt Zoller Seitz. Interviews, full-color stills from Anderson’s seven movies, storyboards, and layouts document his distinctive visual palette.
Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book cover
Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book
By Johanna Basford
A coloring book for the seven- or 70-year-old on your gift list. Each page contains tiny hidden creatures waiting to be discovered, including 63 beetles, 20 songbirds, and 116 butterflies. A charming and diverting book.
The Circle cover
The Circle
By Dave Eggers
A company called The Circle has swallowed up all the major tech companies and can link everyone’s online identity and consumer habits. The protagonist, a new hire at The Circle, slowly succumbs to its all-consuming world.
In addition to checking out a book this month, check out the world-class public art at the new Central Library downtown
The new San Diego Central Library
copyright: John Durant
All nine floors of the new Central Library have art on the walls, and occasionally on the floor. Commissioned works, large and small, have been smoothly integrated into its interior. Architect Rob Quigley has designed a public destination that is decisively hospitable to art.
The Art Gallery resides on the ninth floor. The inaugural show is Renewed: A Short Story About the San Diego Public Library’s Visual Arts Program (through March 29) and it was organized by Kathryn Kanjo, Chief Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. The show pays tribute to this program, established by librarian and former art critic Mark-Elliott Lugo in 1997 and developed by him with great success through 2012, when he retired.
The gallery is handsome and well suited to the small and medium scale works on view. Kanjo has included some of San Diego’s better-known artists, eight in all. Gail Roberts’ seductive paintings depict magnified versions of bird nests superimposed on pages from classic literary texts that speak of feathered creatures. Photography is particularly strong: Philipp Scholz Rittermann’s tightly composed landscapes and Suda House’s sensuous compositions featuring fabric both make beautiful use of line and form. A pair of Jeff Irwin’s masterful sculptures in glazed earthenware depicts animal heads in the manner of grotesque hunters’ trophies.
Unfortunately, though, Kanjo’s concept for the show feels like a half-hearted tribute to Lugo’s program. The only connection between what he achieved and what she chose is this: the exhibited artists also appeared in one or another of Lugo’s exhibitions at the Pacific Beach branch. Surely some of the history of what he exhibited, during his 15-year run, could have been integrated into the works selected.
The gallery and the spaces outside its doors are united by the presence of Kenneth Capps’ sculptures. There is a judicious sampling of them: slender vertical works in his zinc on steel Prism series are one of the highlights, alternating closed and open space with grace and elegance. It was Lugo’s desire to exhibit Capps’ work when the library opened, a wish that was wisely fulfilled.
Lugo had accumulated some 150 works that are now part of the Civic Art Collection. Many examples, supplemented by other gifts to the collection, can be found on every floor. Dana Springs, longtime public art program manager of the city’s Commission for Arts and Culture as well as it current interim executive director, worked with consultant Christine Jones—and together they created a deft installation of them throughout the library.
The eclectic mix is accessible, but a few works will stretch some visitors’ assumptions about art. Lugo championed one of San Diego’s homegrown conceptual artists, the late Russell Baldwin—some acquired were examples; others were gifted from a collection. There are 13 Baldwins in all, at various locales. At their best, they are beautiful objects that double as little philosophical essays about art and life. The installation of a pair of them, near the elevator bay on the second floor, is particularly inspired.
The central elevator bay is sure to attract attention for another reason: the immensely gifted brothers Einar and Jamex de la Torre have created a large-scale permanent work, Corpus Callosum, which mostly resides within it. They funnel their virtuosic cut- and blown-glass techniques into the creation of grotesque, cartoonish figures that populate intricate hallucinatory dioramas.
The de la Torre brothers, who split their time between San Diego and Ensenada, aren’t the only widely recognized locals with a major commission in the Central Library. There is also Roy McMakin’s Recreations of Furniture Found Discarded in Alleys and on Curbs While Driving Around San Diego Several Bright Summer Afternoons with David. Take the artist at his word(s). These objects, in a festive blue located on the eighth floor, are only the latest of his brilliant “recycling” projects.
Two more excellent public commissions underscore the success of art within the Central Library. New York-based Donald Lipski, widely known for public commissions, made 2,000 books into a cross between a sculptural relief and a found form mural. Hiding My Candy is in the library’s auditorium and it has a serendipitous function—as a sound dampener. Seattle artist Gary Hill, justly celebrated for his visually arresting video installations with highly philosophical scripts, has created a multi-screen mediation on mortality that bears repeated viewing.
A bit of advice for the dedicated art seeker: travel to all corners of some floors. It is part of the charm of this exemplary new civic space that art sometimes appears where you don’t expect to find it.
SeaWorld dazzles with a drone show, big-name entertainers, new animal adventures and more
Nights are heating up at SeaWorld San Diego. The quintessential summertime staple on Mission Bay is transforming into a destination for unforgettable day-to-night adventures, bringing back some of its most popular Summer Nights programming and introducing exciting new experiences sure to delight both kids and adults alike.
The 2026 Summer Day to Night at SeaWorld San Diego is the park’s most ambitious season yet. SeaWorld has planned a highly anticipated entertainment lineup that features nine weeks of throwback concerts featuring R&B and hip‑hop favorites from the ‘90s and early 2000s, including Jordin Sparks, Too $hort and Warren G, Ashanti, and an array of boy band heartthrobs performing together as part of the Pop 2000 Tour.
New this season is perhaps the park’s most visible update: a nightly drone show, Ocean of Dreams, which illuminates the sky with hundreds of synchronized sparklers. Drones form sea otters, sharks, dolphins, and a majestic orca that tell a breathtaking 12-minute story of marine life and underwater ecosystems. The show culminates with a spectacular electric neon finale celebrating hope, wonder, and ocean stewardship.
Nighttime visitors are also in store for animal adventures that fuse education with high-energy fun and the dreamy ambiance of nighttime. The park has launched two all-new animal presentations: Shamu’s Celebration: Light Up the Night and Dolphins: Touch the Sky. Shamu’s Celebration: Light Up the Night features vibrant lighting, music, and dynamic choreography that celebrates the power and beauty of killer whales. Dolphins: Touch the Sky showcases playful bottlenose dolphins and the special connection between humans and the natural world. And back by popular demand is fan-favorite Sea Lions Tonite. See the charming pinnipeds splash, play, and parody pop culture in this refreshed crowd-pleaser.
More must-sees: a newly reimagined Shark Encounter, one of the country’s more immersive exhibits highlighting 11 different species up close, SeaWorld’s beloved BMX Blast! stunt show, and high-seas escapade, Pirates Ahoy! The Battle for Mermaid Cove. And don’t miss the park’s all-new Deep Sea Disco, which encourages guests to dance the night away under the glow of the SkyTower, and vibrant closing time laser light display Laser Reef Summer Spectacular.
Amp up the nighttime vibe with local craft beers, curated cocktails, and nostalgic theme park treats with $1 beer all summer long. SeaWorld is the place for day to night summer fun. When the sun goes down, SeaWorld lights up, and inspires guests of all ages to embrace their inner whimsy and see why generations of San Diegans head to SeaWorld to make memories they’ll never forget.
