While most people prefer their beauty sleep, it’s mornings like these that show the early bird gets the worm. Point Loma Nazarene University administrator David McCurry lives just blocks away from Lake Murray. McCurry captured this image alongside other members of the Pacific Photographic Society. “I led the group over to a clearing on the west side of the lake in the predawn hours, setting up our cameras and waiting for the sun to peek over the eastern mountain range,” he says. “Just before it crested, the lake was calm. It reflected the deep blue morning sky, highlighted by a few radiant and wispy clouds.”
Picture Perfect: Sunrise Reflections
Photography by David McCurry
Guides
DECEMBER 24, 2014
Behind the Scenes: Making the January Issue
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 […]
By Jennifer Rea
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.
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.”
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
Studio S
AUGUST 10, 2026
The Secret to a Home That Feels Just Right
Behind every beautiful space is a thoughtful process, and ASID San Diego is helping homeowners understand the value of professional design.
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.”
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
Food & Drink
DECEMBER 10, 2014
Top 10 New Restaurants 2014 Videos
Turns out we’re not the only ones loving these 10 NEW restaurants in San Diego. Tastemakers have posted videos from each one, and we’ve picked a few of our favorites below. Have you been to try these spots yet? Let us know what you think or make your own Tastemade video. Juniper & Ivy Juniper […]
Turns out we’re not the only ones loving these 10 NEW restaurants in San Diego. Tastemakers have posted videos from each one, and we’ve picked a few of our favorites below. Have you been to try these spots yet? Let us know what you think or make your own Tastemade video.
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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