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Executive Editor, Erin Meanley, talks on NBC7's Midday Show
The start of the new year always triggers goal-setting, get-healthy behavior. To get in the spirit, our January issue goes inside the juice trend, divulging everything you could ever want to know about the healthy bottled beverages. Quixotic Pictures followed our editorial team around as they sipped and sampled their way through the menu at […]
The start of the new year always triggers goal-setting, get-healthy behavior. To get in the spirit, our January issue goes inside the juice trend, divulging everything you could ever want to know about the healthy bottled beverages. Quixotic Pictures followed our editorial team around as they sipped and sampled their way through the menu at Juice Saves and debated which healthy concoction should make the cover. Watch the behind-the-scenes video to see how the issue came together and which juices didn’t make the cut.
Video by Quixotic Pictures.
Balboa Park, 1914
$3M – Amount needed in order to reopen the California Tower to the public in 2015
1911 – California State Legislature authorized the use of the park for an exposition, as well as ratified the decision to name it Balboa Park
25 cents – Admission paid by anyone who wanted to watch the construction
1 million – Number of plants John Morley was hired to put into the ground of the canyons (another 50,000 were on the Exposition grounds)
$1,937,445 – Amount spent erecting the buildings for the Exposition
42,486 – Spectators at the December 31, 1914 concert, opening ceremonies, and fireworks (about equivalent to the then-population of San Diego)
San Diego’s City Park was founded in 1868. But as late as 1909, only about 100 of the 1,400 acres had been landscaped. That year, the president of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, G. Aubrey Davidson, had the idea of using the park to host a celebration for the opening of the Panama Canal, which was slated for January 1, 1915. San Diego would be the first U.S. port north of the canal, and city leaders wanted to take advantage of their geographic position to boost the economy and help develop the park.
New York architect Bertram Goodhue chose a Spanish Colonial Revival style for the 1915 Panama–California Exposition. Officials liked that it would distinguish SD’s event from the San Francisco Panama–Pacific Exposition, which would have a “Beaux Arts” look.
Park commissioners gave it the name “Balboa Park” after Vasco Núñez de Balboa, a European explorer who first saw the Pacific in 1513. As the Panama Canal would connect the Atlantic to the Pacific, the moniker was a good association for the park and the planned fair.
The 2015 Centennial, which kicks off this month, refers not to the 100th anniversary of the park, but rather the recognition of an entire century since the Exposition, and of enjoying the park’s architecture as we know it today.
Vintage San Diego: Building Balboa Park
Lucky Shot
Date of Photo:
Summer 2012
Location:
Off the coast of Baja California near the Coronado Islands
Camera:
Canon 5D Mark II camera. Canon 70-200 mm lens.
Experienced whale watchers know that timing is everything, and although humpbacks are typically in the northern waters during the summer season, Phillip Colla was lucky to be in the right place at the right time. The Carlsbad photographer and software developer was on a pal’s boat cruising the coast of Baja California. “Many blue, fin, and humpback whales were feeding on massive patches of krill. A humpback whale began breaching repeatedly for 10 minutes or so, and at one point it breached between us and the whale-watching boat you see in the background. It made for a once-in-a-lifetime shot.”
Submit your best San Diego shots to [email protected].
Picture Perfect: Breaching Point
Photo by Phillip Colla
Tips from the trusted experts at Mauzy Cooling, Heating, Plumbing, and Electrical
San Diego summers can be brutal. But since the hottest period is typically late summer into early fall, San Diegans still have time to prepare. The pros at Mauzy Cooling, Heating, Plumbing, and Electrical are standing by to help homeowners fortify their homes against the elements and ensure their air conditioning is as frosty as the penguins that serve as the company’s mascots.
Many homeowners underestimate the load their AC system faces, especially in the inland valleys where temperatures regularly top 100 degrees. San Diego regularly sees multi-day heatwaves each summer, and a system that struggles on the first day will likely fail by the third. Longer run times, unusual sounds or smells, and uneven cooling from room to room are all signs that your system may not survive the next hot spell.
Systems typically last 12 to 17 years, but there are exceptions. If a system is approaching that, or is already there, a professional evaluation is recommended before summer really heats up. A good rule of thumb: If you can’t remember when your system was last serviced, it’s due.
“As technology changes, systems become smarter and smarter,” says Sean O’Connor, an install manager at Mauzy with 42 years of experience. “There are a lot of people out there who will say a system’s only good for 10 years. I don’t buy that—these systems are built to last as long as they’re taken care of.”
There are also a few steps homeowners can take between services to extend the life of their system. Regularly changing a dirty filter—especially if you have kids or pets—and keeping an outdoor unit clean can help head off problems in the future, says O’Connor.
Also, be realistic about whether it’s time to replace a unit. O’Connor likens pouring money into salvaging a faulty unit with patchwork repairs and replacement parts to “tripping over a dollar to pick up a dime.” When one part fails, others are sure to follow, and newer parts may not be compatible with older units. Mauzy recommends homeowners use the 50% rule: If a repair costs more than 50% of the system’s replacement value, and the equipment is over 10 years old, replacement is usually the better long-term value. And don’t forget the ducting. An older house that was built with heat and later had air conditioning added may not have sufficient airflow, regardless of how good the system is.
Last but not least, homeowners should know who to trust when it comes to their homes. Built on three generations of professional integrity, Mauzy has grown into not just a leader for cooling, heating, plumbing, and electrical services, but a leader in the community known for supporting local nonprofits across an array of causes. To ensure complete peace of mind, Mauzy stands behind a comprehensive 12-point guarantee that outlines its commitment to outstanding service, quality equipment, expert technicians who understand how the local microclimates affect HVAC performance, and no upsells or surprises on the bill.
“We go the extra mile. That’s what sets us apart,” O’Connor says. To get a free quote today, visit mauzy.com.

San Diego Yacht Club, November 8, 2014
Jackson Design and Remodeling celebrated its 25th anniversary with a Spicy Salsa Soiree at the San Diego Yacht Club. The lively crowd sipped Mojitos, savored Cuban-inspired food, and delighted in salsa performances and lessons, along with the music of the Manny Cepeda Orchestra. Clients ended the beautiful evening by taking home a commemorative bottle of JDR 25th Anniversary Reserve wine.
Photos by Sergio Fernandez
Anniversary Party
La Jolla Country Club, September 20, 2014
Nearly 400 supporters of Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego gathered for the annual ROMP fundraiser, this year a circus-themed night complete with a tent, ringmaster, and fortune tellers. Event chair Jennifer Gramins and honorary chairs Rebecca and Jennifer Moores made the evening a success with dinner, cocktails, celebrity entertainment, and live and silent auctions, raising $620,000 for families in medical crisis. Some of the standout auction items included a private jet excursion to Napa for six, a Kona beachfront vacation for 30, and a brand-new 2015 Audi A3.
Photos by Bob Ross
Le Cirque du ROMP
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.