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Partner Content OCTOBER 31, 2022

Best Supplements For Muscle Growth: Top Pills For Muscle Building

Best Supplements For Muscle Growth: Pills For Muscle Building

Best Supplements For Muscle Growth: Top Pills For Muscle Building
Muscle Building Supplements Feature Image.png

Muscle Building Supplements Feature Image.png

Sponsored Content Provided by Rad Revenue

Building muscle mass is easier said than done. But, who doesn’t want a sculpted physique? You can get these results by eating right and building muscle. However, getting results will take you a lot of patience. Some people don’t experience those results for years, even with consistent training. If you fall into that category, we may have the solution for you: Muscle Building Supplements.

Muscle-building supplements have been used for years by ordinary people and bodybuilders to help maintain or build muscle cells. These protein supplements can help boost your results without having to wait years to meet your body goals. You can take them in either capsule or powder form.

There are so many options out there, making it hard to choose just which one to use! Some can even be stacked and used together with other products. Depending on the brand, amino acid supplements can be used by men and women. Every gender can experience lean muscle by using the right muscle supplement.

Adding muscle building supplements into your routine greatly increases your results. But, picking the right one to add to your routine may be more challenging than you think. We’re here to help simplify your decision-making!

We went through the infinite number of brands out there and did all the research to create a list that all can trust. Below you’ll see our Top 7 choices, and you’ll see just why! Whether they build muscle or promote it, the brands below are worth looking into.

List Of Top Supplements To Gain Muscle Mass

  1. TestoPrime: Overall Best Muscle Building Supplements

  2. Tri-Protein: Popular Bodybuilding Supplements for Muscle Gain

  3. Intensive Pre-Train: Most Effective Gym Supplements & Lean Muscle Builder

  4. PhenQ: Top Muscle Enhancers To Promote Muscle Growth

  5. Creatine: Customer’s Favorite Workout Supplements for Men

  6. HyperGH 14x: Best Selling Vitamins for Building Muscle Mass

#1: TestoPrime: Overall Best Muscle Building Supplements

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Testoprime.png

When it comes to building muscle, TestoPrime is no joke! TestoPrime is a supplement that offers various benefits, including increased muscle mass. In addition, this supplement can keep you from feeling worn out from workouts to enhance your exercise routine.

This supplement has been known to help burn stubborn fat while promoting lean muscle growth. TestoPrime can also increase testosterone levels for men that may need that extra boost to take on their day. When testosterone levels are low, burning fat and attaining muscle mass can be difficult and not to mention frustrating.

Low testosterone levels can also cause not-so-happy moods making it hard to feel motivated. Taking TestoPrime can fix issues related to low testosterone. Once testosterone levels are elevated and normalized, sculpting your body becomes a breeze. Their supplement is formulated with 100% natural ingredients helping men everywhere achieve their best selves.

All of the ingredients used in their formula have been put through clinical trials to prove their effectiveness. Let’s not forget to mention that their formula is proven to reduce stress by 71.6% while burning 16% of body fat. This brand is trusted by men everywhere. With TestoPrime, looking your best at any age is achievable.

Highlights: 

  • High-Quality Ingredients

All of the ingredients put into the TestoPrime formula have been tested to ensure their safe and high quality. They have a total of 12 powerful, natural ingredients in each capsule. The main ingredients in this formula are D-Aspartic Acid, Panax Ginseng, Ashwagandha Extract, and Fenugreek. D-Aspartic Acid (2,000mg) is an ingredient known for increasing the body’s muscle mass.

This ingredient can help improve your body goals. Panax Ginseng (8,000mg) is a root that has been used for ages to help battle muscle fatigue while boosting your drive. Ashwagandha Extract (668mg) is widely known for its powerful benefits. Ashwagandha has been known to relax your body and mind while aiding in overall body improvement.

Fenugreek (800 mg) has been used widely for years due to its capabilities with raising energy. The other ingredients blended into this concoction are Pomegranate Extract, Green Tea Extract, Zinc, Garlic Extract, Piperine, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin D. These 12 ingredients pack a punch when it comes to muscle gains!

  • Side Effects

Because of this brand’s 100% natural formula, there are no known side effects. Their supplement is free from all the fake stuff that’s unnecessary to add into a formula. The fact that their formula is clinically tested definitely offers assurance that this product is safe for usage. TestoPrime does suggest that before starting any new regimens, it’s best to contact your doctor first.

  • Dosage Amount

In order to see results, TestoPrime must be taken daily as most supplements. 4 capsules must be taken every morning before breakfast. Once you take them, you might start to feel the energy boosts take over as it’s intended to!

Pros:

  • 100% natural ingredients are used, making this supplement safe

  • A lifetime money-back guarantee is available through TestoPrime

  • May reduce stress levels while increasing energy levels and muscle mass

  • Works wonderfully for men over the age of 30

  • The dosage amount for each ingredient is listed on their website for consumers to view.

  • Soy-free, Dairy-free, and Grain-free

  • Free shipping on all orders is available

  • Made in FDA and GMP certified facilities

  • The ingredients used in their formula are FDA approved.

Cons:

  • These supplements are intended for men only

  • Ages 18 and up are the only ones allowed to use this supplement

  • It doesn’t focus much on exercise recovery

#2: Tri-Protein: Popular Bodybuilding Supplements for Muscle Gain

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TRI-PROTEIN.jpg

Tri-Protein is created by a brand called Crazy Bulk. Crazy Bulk is a brand based on helping men and women build the body they dreamed of while increasing lean muscle mass. Crazy Bulk created Tri-Protein to help you reach your muscle goals quickly and efficiently.

Tri-Protein is a high-protein shake trusted by professional bodybuilders. This shake is made in a delicious chocolate flavor that delivers the protein and energy you need to take on your workouts!

This powder is free of added sugars and fats that may deter you from reaching your goals.  This protein shake works wonders when it comes to body recovery after an extensive exercise routine.

This tasty shake can help with tired, aching muscles that you may experience after tough training sessions. Let’s also mention that this protein shake gives your body the ability to absorb nutrients more effectively through food.

Highlights: 

  • High-Quality Ingredients

Tri-Protein is made with wholesome, natural ingredients that really help your body feel like itself again after a draining exercise routine. The main two ingredients in this formula are DigeZyme and Cocoa Powder. DigeZyme is an ingredient used to help with sore muscles.

This will keep you from feeling achy the next day after your workout. (If you’ve ever worked out, you’ll know how that soreness feels like) DigeZyme will lessen any pain and soreness in your muscles while helping your body absorb nutrients to its fullest potential.

Cocoa Powder is what gives this protein shake its tasty flavor. You’ll love the taste without feeling guilty. The other ingredients blended into this formula are Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Micellar Casein, Milk Protein Concentrate, Calcium Caseinate, and Whey Protein Hydrolysate.

  • Side Effects

Crazy Bulk, fortunately, creates all of its products with 100% natural ingredients! Their products have no documented side effects. Their products are free from additives and fillers!

  • Dosage Amount

The dosage amount with Tri-Protein is pretty easy. You must add 1 scoop (30 grams) to water or milk. It’s best used in a shaker bottle in order to mix the contents properly. After it’s all shaken up, you can enjoy your chocolate shake! This can be taken after every workout to help recover your sore muscles!

Pros:

  • Approximately 21 grams of protein per serving

  • Tasty chocolate flavor minus the added sugars

  • Promotes muscle recovery while promoting muscle growth

  • Shipping is worldwide and free

  • Fast delivery within 24-48hrs

  • 100% natural, safe ingredients used in their products

  • 60-day money-back guarantee is available through their site

  • Great way to satisfy your sweet tooth after any workout

  • It works wonders as a post-workout treat

Cons: 

  • Not the best option for a pre-workout supplement

  • Intended for the usage of men only

  • Recommended for ages 18 and up

  • It does not help with boosting testosterone levels for men

  • Focuses on body recovery (Although it may help with muscle gain)

#3: Intensive Pre-Train: Most Effective Gym Supplements & Lean Muscle Builder

instensive pre-train.jpg

instensive pre-train.jpg

Intensive Pre-Train is another muscle-building supplement offered through crazy bulk. Intensive Pre-Train is just what your body needs to fuel your workouts! This supplement is made to be used as a pre-workout shake.

This shake has the capabilities to drive your stamina to push through tough workout routines. By providing your body with much-needed energy, gaining muscle mass is a shake away. Unfortunately, most pre-workout shakes don’t have the best taste.

Intensive Pre-Train comes in a delicious blue raspberry flavor, providing an effective, tasty treat before your workout. Unlike most pre-workout shakes, Intensive Pre-Train keeps you from crashing from caffeine.

Let’s also mention that Pre-Train may help with raising testosterone levels. Once testosterone levels are enhanced, men will be able to power through their workouts without a problem. All of Crazy Bulk’s products are made with 100% natural ingredients that men everywhere can trust!

Highlights: 

  • High-Quality Ingredients

Intensive Pre-Train is made up of 100% natural ingredients. The main ingredients that make up this pre workout shake are En-Xtra, KSM-66, and Thiamine. Caffeine is thrown into this formula, and En-Xtra is what keeps your body from crashing. En-Xtra also keeps the energy provided by caffeine pushing through all day. KSM-66 is made up of full-spectrum ashwagandha extract.

Ashwagandha has been known to boost energy levels and muscle protein synthesis while helping muscle recovery. This ingredient may also help raise testosterone levels. Thiamine is the ingredient focused on energy production. This ingredient pulls energy from consumed sugar, keeping it from turning into stubborn fat. All of the ingredients blended into this formula are what makes Intensive training a powerful Pre-Workout.

  • Side Effects

All products offered through Crazy Bulk are 100% natural, trusted ingredients. There are no known side effects when taking this shake! This should be safe for usage for men everywhere.

  • Dosage Amount

Intensive Pre-Train is a pre-workout shake that’s meant to be taken before any workout routine. All you have to do is throw one scoop (22 grams) into a shaker bottle (Preferably one that can hold 450-500ml of liquid). Only one scoop is recommended a day when using this pre-workout. It’s suggested to be taken at least 20-30 minutes before any workouts.

Pros: 

  • 100% natural, trusted ingredients are used in Crazy Bulk Supplements

  • This pre-workout shake will energize you while boosting testosterone

  • Free shipping is offered on all orders, and worldwide shipping is offered

  • This shake may help with weight loss and burning stubborn fat

  • Effects from this shake can be felt almost instantly

  • Delicious taste

  • Manufactured and produced in FDA and cGMP approved facilities

  • Made in the USA

Cons:

  • It cannot be used by women.

  • It contains caffeine which may not be the best for people who are sensitive to heavily caffeinated products.

  • The main focus is not on building muscle mass, but it may promote it.

#4: PhenQ: Top Muscle Enhancers To Promote Muscle Growth

PhenQ

PhenQ

PhenQ is a fantastic supplement that burns belly fat while suppressing your appetite. In addition, PhenQ has amazing benefits that may aid in losing weight, leading to gained muscle mass.

In order to sculpt your body with lean muscles, you have to burn through stubborn fat! PhenQ makes that possible with its powerful ingredients. Their formula has been through tons of clinical trials to prove just how beneficial their supplement can be.

PhenQ improves your overall mood while potentially stopping the production of fat. PhenQ has a goal to help people everywhere achieve their body goals! Their studies show that approximately 3.80% of people claimed to have increased their muscle mass!

Thousands of reviews back up PhenQ! This is definitely an option to consider when trying to burn body fat first before sculpting your body.

Highlights: 

  • High-Quality Ingredients

PhenQ is created with a blend of natural ingredients. The ingredients that make up their formula are Capsimax Powder, Chromium Picolinate, Caffeine, Nopal, and L-Carnitine Fumarate. Capsimax Powder has the capabilities to activate thermogenic properties in your body, which leads to optimal fat burning. Chromium Picolinate is added for its ability to turn sugar into boosts of energy. Caffeine is popular amongst the weight loss community.

Caffeine works wonders for an energy boost while keeping you from feeling those stubborn cravings. Nopal is added for its rich fiber that helps fight hunger while keeping you full. In addition, L-Carnitine Fumarate has the ability to convert fat into usable energy. All of their ingredients have been put through clinical trials to ensure their formula is safe for usage.

  • Side Effects

PhenQ has a strong formula that’s composed of natural ingredients. Their formula doesn’t have any documented side effects! PhenQ does suggest you consult your doctor before using their products if you have any current medical conditions. Even with no known side effects, taking the capsules after 3 pm may result in a messy sleeping pattern due to the caffeine.

  • Dosage Amount

PhenQ has a pretty simple dosage amount. Their formula is filled inside capsules that are meant to be taken daily. It is recommended to take one pill with breakfast and one with lunch. It is not recommended to take more than the required dosage.

Pros: 

  • Natural ingredients are used in the PhenQ formula

  • PhenQ is vegan friendly made with vegan ingredients

  • No known side effects

  • Free shipping is offered worldwide

  • A 60-day money-back guarantee is available

  • Clinical references are available to view through their website

  • Both men and women can take this supplement

Cons:

  • The main functions are not to build muscle mass, but it may help build muscle mass in the future once the fat is burned.

  • It cannot be used by anyone under the age of 18

  • It cannot be used by pregnant and nursing mothers

  • Sleeping patterns may be interrupted if you don’t take the capsules before 3 pm.

#5: Ultimate CRN-5 Creatine: Customer’s Favorite Workout Supplements for Men 

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creatine.jpg

As we all know, Crazy Bulk is known for providing go-to supplements to aid in achieving your body goals. Ultimate CRN-5 Creatine is another product on their list that helps aid in building muscle!

This supplement comes in the form of a shake, and it’s great for workout routines that may be overexerting. This shake has been used by bodybuilders everywhere that need that extra push to finish sets quicker.

This is great for those who do crazy heavy lifting to gain muscle. This is just what every fitness professional needs to motivate themselves to push the limits. This shake is made with minerals that contract your muscles, meaning you are able to push through tough sessions.

Once you cross that, the possibilities are endless. This supplement, like the others from Crazy Bulk, is made from 100% natural ingredients. Don’t be fooled by this natural formula. It packs a serious punch!

Highlights: 

  • High-Quality Ingredients

Creatine is made with high-quality ingredients in order to help you perform your very best. Their main ingredients consist of Aquamin (MG & AG), Potassium, and Tri-Sodium. Aquamin is an ingredient that helps battle fatigue. You won’t have to worry about loss of energy with this ingredient on board.

Potassium and Trials-Sodium are minerals that work together to help you lift more without feeling exhausted and burned out. Other ingredients added to their formula are Creatine Monohydrate, Creatine Hydrochloride, Creatine Ethyl Ester, Creatine Citrate Pyruvate, and Tri-Creatine Malate. These ingredients together help aid in muscle recovery while providing you with the motivation to keep pushing through.

  • Side Effects

Creatine is created with some of the best ingredients on the market. Their ingredients are natural and fortunately carry no known side effects! You can take this product with ease without the worry that you may get a severe reaction. If you are currently taking any medications already and have concerns, it’s recommended to contact your doctor before starting this product.

  • Dosage Amount

The dosage for Creatine is to be taken in shake form! It has a delicious mango/orange flavor that can satisfy your sweet tooth. The dose is to take 1 scoop (10.2 grams) and add it to a shaker bottle that can hold at least 250-400ml of liquid. Shake the contents well and take 20-30 minutes before your workout routine.

Pros:

  • May be able to help with muscle recovery

  • Made from high quality, natural ingredients

  • Free shipping is offered worldwide

  • Has the ability to keep you pumped throughout your workouts

  • No side effects are known

  • Can satisfy your sweet tooth with its tasty flavoring

Cons:

  • It cannot be used by women

  • It does not aid in testosterone production

  • It does not help in fat burning or weight loss properties

  • It cannot be used by anyone under 18

  • Doesn’t have the dosage amount for each ingredient available to see

#6: HyperGH 14x: Best Selling Vitamins for Building Muscle Mass

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HyperGH 14x.png

HyperGH 14x is a brand that has created a high-performance muscle maker. Their supplement helps in HGH production. HGH is known as a growth hormone that is vital when it comes to building muscle mass.

HGH is what helps the body with recovery after extensive workouts. By using HyperGH 14x, you are allowing your body to boost its own HGH production. There have been instances where people inject HGH into their system; however, this method is unsafe and illegal.

This supplement provides you with a natural way to improve your HGH production. The HGH hormone is what helps sculpt your body while improving muscle mass. Using this method is a great way to improve your results in a safe and effective manner.

Not only will it raise your HGH levels to help with muscle mass, but it can also help with improving your sleeping patterns too. This brand has hundreds of positive reviews backing up the benefits of its product. As age takes over, HGH levels tend to drop. This supplement can help slow down the process.

Highlights:

  • High-Quality Ingredients

The ingredients used to create this formulation are natural. Let’s get into the main ingredients that make up their formula. L-Arginine (520mg) is added for its immunity properties.

This ingredient has been known to boost your immune system while optimizing your exercise performance. L-Tyrosine (400mg) is added for its properties in reducing fatigue while boosting your overall mood.

L-Glutamine (460 mg) is an ingredient that’s been used to help reduce stress while boosting overall energy. This ingredient, along with L-Tyrosine and L-Lysine (400mg), works together to boost the immune system. In addition, L-Glycine (460mg) is an essential ingredient due to its relaxing sensation that helps ease the brain and prostate.

Other ingredients added into their strong formula are Tribulus Terrestris Extract (320 mg), Astragalus Root Extract (240mg), Deer Antler Velvet (200mg), Gabba (200mg), Colostrum (200mg), L-Valine (160mg), Anterior Pituitary Powder (120mg), PhosphatidylCholine (100mg), L-Ornithine (100mg), and GTF Chromium (0.4mg). These ingredients all work together to improve the body’s functions in order to achieve optimal results.

  • Side Effects

HyperGH 14x understands that it’s hard to 100% claim safety when using their products. With that being said, their products have no known side effects and should be safe for all men to use. If you are taking any current medications, it’s best to contact a health professional before adding this to your regimen.

  • Dosage Amount

The dosage for this supplement is easy to use. All you have to do is take 2 pills two times a day. Your first pill should be taken in the morning before you work out, and your second pill should be taken before sleep.

The first pill should help you boost energy throughout the day, while the second pill helps you get better sleep. This dosage amount is reasonable and can be easily squeezed into any schedule.

Pros:

  • Made with safe, effective ingredients

  • No known side effects

  • Easy daily dosage

  • Enhances your natural HGH production while promoting better rest

  • It May help lessen recovery time after an extensive workout routine

  • 67-day money-back guarantee is available

  • Medical proof on their product is posted on their site for viewing

  • Dose amounts of each ingredient are available to see

Cons:

  • Not intended to be used as a pre-workout

  • It cannot be used by women

  • Free shipping is available only on certain orders

How We Made This List: Pre Workout Supplements for Bodybuilding:

Below you’ll see exactly what factors we looked into to compile our top 7 list of high-performing muscle promoting supplements.

  • How effective the ingredients are with providing muscle growth. We also looked to see if the ingredients listed offered other benefits that could potentially promote future muscle growth

  • How effective each brand is with delivering results. We wanted to make sure the brands we chose have known results when using their products

  • If the following brands had any side effects. This was important to us because we wanted to make sure consumers were able to use these supplements without the fear of any severe side effects. We know everybody is different; however, we made sure to choose brands that had little to no known side effects

  • If the dosage amount for each supplement is a reasonable dose. This is important to consider because we wanted to choose products that could fit into anyone’s schedule. We also looked to see if the brand was thorough with how to take their product

  • We looked in to see if the brands were informative and concise in their descriptions of their products. This is great for newcomers who are new to muscle supplements.

After closely looking into the listed criteria, we were able to differentiate the phony from the fake. Making this list was a piece of cake once we knew what to look for. We are proud to announce our Top 7 choices for the best muscle supplements of 2022!

Factors To Consider Before Selecting Supplements for Building Muscle:

Muscle supplements have risen in popularity over the years, especially in the fitness industry. However, picking out the perfect muscle supplement can be frustrating.

Now that you know what brands to choose from, we’ve created a short guide to help you finalize your decision when picking a brand. When looking over these supplements, it’s important to remember that each product is created differently with a purpose in mind.

After deciding that you want to add a muscle supplement into your routine, it’s important to consider:

  • If the brand is made with safe ingredients that have been put through tests to prove its effectiveness. It’s also great if the brand is made with natural ingredients.  You want to stray from using brands that are filled with additives and fillers

  • If the brand has any known side effects. If there are side effects, look into how severe they are

  • If the brand has a simple dosage amount that may be able to fit into your routine

  • If the brand is informative on their product and ingredients listed

  • If the brand has put their products through clinical trials and studies to prove their safety and effectiveness

After looking into the following, making your purchases should be a breeze. However, these factors are great to consider when finalizing your decision!

FAQs: Dietary Supplements To Increase Muscle Mass

  • Are Muscle-Building Supplements Safe for Usage?

For the most part, muscle-building supplements are safer.  Always look into reputable brands that use safe, natural ingredients that have trials to back up their safety and effectiveness. You know a brand is considered a good option to look into if they are very informative on their ingredients and any studies that their products have been put through.

  • Can Anyone Use Muscle Supplements?

Muscle supplements, for the most part, can be used by just about everyone. Some brands cater to only men, while others cater to women too. There are a few brands in the industry that have options for both men and women. Muscle supplements cannot be used by women that are nursing or pregnant. Anyone under the age of 18 is also not allowed to partake in the use of muscle supplements.

  • Do Muscle Supplements Help You Lose Weight?

That answer varies. Some muscle supplements may offer benefits aiding weight loss, while others focus entirely on strength and muscle growth. Always look into the information listed under the product to ensure what its main usage is meant for.

  • Are Muscle Growth Supplements FDA Approved?

Muscle growth supplements are not FDA approved; however, most of them are made in FDA or GMP-approved facilities. The supplements being made in these facilities ensure that they are created with your safety in mind.

Wrapping Up: Top List Of Brands Offering Bodybuilding Supplements for Muscle Growth

There’s nothing wrong with needing a little boost when it comes to achieving your body goals. Muscle supplements make achieving a sculpted physique possible for men and women. We looked through thousands of research and data to ensure that the brands that we chose will be effective in helping you attain your goals.

We looked extensively into all of the factors we spoke about in order to create a list that can be trusted by people and fitness professionals everywhere. We know how overwhelming making this decision can be, so we took the weight off your shoulders and did the work for you.

Even if you’re new to the world of muscle supplements, we’re sure you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for in our top seven list. So, get ready to feel the most motivated you’ve ever felt with the help of a muscle supplement!

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Studio S OCTOBER 22, 2026

Milan Design + Build Helps San Diegans Remodel With Confidence

The San Diego home remodeling company works on full homes, kitchens, bathrooms, home additions, ADUs, garages, landscapes, and hardscapes.

Milan Design + Build Helps San Diegans Remodel With Confidence
Courtesy of Milan Design

Most homeowners want two things before they commit to a remodel: a realistic sense of cost and a clear picture of what the finished space will look like. Milan Design + Build helps deliver both through its online remodeling estimator and personalized design consultations, supported by a showroom experience and 3D renderings.

“The online estimate gives homeowners a starting number in about a minute, and the showroom and 3D renderings let them see materials and layouts before anything is built,” says David Noriani, CEO of Milan Design + Build. “Keeping design, permits, and construction with one team helps us manage expectations and keep everyone working toward the same vision.”

Courtesy of Milan Design

Modern design is a particular focus for Milan, with an emphasis on clean lines, natural light, functional layouts, and carefully selected materials. The team adapts each design to the homeowner’s lifestyle and the character of the property. Milan Design + Build combines thoughtful design with construction expertise, creating spaces that are as functional as they are beautiful.

The online estimator covers kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations, full-home remodels, and ADU construction. At Milan’s showroom on Carroll Road, visitors can review real materials, finishes, and design options, meet the design-build team, and discuss project scope, budget, and timing. Consultations can also be held virtually for homeowners who prefer to start remotely.

At Milan Design + Build, one integrated team works on the entire project. Design and construction aren’t divided between separate firms. The process begins with a consultation and feasibility review, followed by design, space planning, and 3D renderings developed from detailed measurements and digital scans. The team also coordinates architectural plans, structural engineering, city approvals, and material selection, with construction overseen by a dedicated project manager.

Homeowners can explore their remodeling options, get an initial estimate, or request a design consultation at MilanBuild.com.

Courtesy of Milan Design

Partner Content
Partner Content NOVEMBER 10, 2026

La Jolla Institute for Immunology Announces $55 Million Fundraising Campaign

The Campaign for La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) will fuel scientific innovation and medical advances

La Jolla Institute for Immunology Announces $55 Million Fundraising Campaign
Courtesy of La Jolla Institute for Immunology

Philanthropists and Scientists Join Forces for a Bold $55 Million Campaign

La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) is going public with a bold bet: a $55 million campaign to propel medical research into a new era. The Campaign for LJI will fuel discovery, empower scientific innovation, and expand the impact of immunology on human health. 

The Institute quietly kicked things off in 2023, guided by its Board, campaign volunteers, and early believers. Nearly 80% of the $55 million goal is already in hand. Now LJI is opening the doors and inviting the whole community to carry their visions across the finish line and back discoveries that change how LJI researchers understand, treat, and prevent disease. 

And there’s a bonus. To mark the public launch, LJI Board member and Campaign Honorary Chair Anthony R. Carr is offering a special matching gift so new donors can double their impact. Full details are here. 

The Promise of Immunology

Immunology has already rewritten human history. Advances in immune science helped wipe out smallpox, pushed polio to the brink of elimination, and revolutionized how we prevent and treat infectious disease. Today, immune-based therapies are opening doors for patients with cancer, autoimmune disorders, and other serious illnesses once considered untreatable. 

For nearly four decades, LJI scientists have stood on the front lines, driven by one insight: the immune system shapes disease in virtually every organ in the body. By decoding how the immune system works and how to harness it to prevent and treat disease, LJI researchers are chasing the Institute’s ultimate mission: Life Without Disease®. 

To make that mission real, the Institute pairs world-class scientists with cutting-edge technology, speeding up breakthroughs and turning discoveries into transformative new therapies that ease suffering worldwide. 

The Campaign for LJI supercharges that momentum, uniting the vision of the Institute’s scientists with a community that believes in research. Focused on advancing LJI’s most promising areas of study, the campaign aims to help build a future free from the burden of disease, a goal that demands bold ideas, lasting partnerships, and generous philanthropic support.

The Campaign for LJI will advance research across three critical pillars: 

1. President’s Priority Fund. Flexible, unrestricted dollars let big ideas move now, not later. Scientists can launch high-risk, high-reward projects, bring experts together across disciplines, build transformative technologies, and train tomorrow’s scientific leaders. 

2. Center for Sex-Based Differences in the Immune System. Male and female immune systems don’t respond the same way, and LJI researchers are tracing the fundamental differences down to individual cells and molecular pathways. The Campaign will speed up this pioneering work, revealing hidden drivers of disease and paving the way for more precise, biologically informed therapies for autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, cancer, and beyond. 

3. Center for Vaccine Innovation. Immunologists, bioengineers, and vaccine experts are teaming up to design the next generation of vaccines and immune-based therapies. With donor support, LJI scientists can engineer longer-lasting and more personalized vaccines, pinpoint the cellular mechanisms driving protective immunity, and refine delivery methods to prevent autoimmune disease and treat cancer. 

A Lasting Impact

As the campaign enters its public phase, LJI welcomes new partners and supporters to join this landmark initiative. Community support is essential to accelerating scientific discovery, and there are many meaningful ways to help shape the future of immunology. Donors may direct their gifts to any campaign priority or other area of interest. As a comprehensive campaign, all gifts to LJI count toward the campaign goal, regardless of designation. Join the campaign, and multiply your impact with our limited-time matching opportunity. 

To explore the campaign, visit imagine.lji.org.

Partner Content
Partner Content NOVEMBER 9, 2026

Paving the Way for New Knee Treatments

Scripps orthopedic surgeons are investigating stem cells as an alternative to joint replacement

Paving the Way for New Knee Treatments
Courtesy of Scripps Health

Shiley Center for Orthopaedic Research and Education at Scripps Clinic recently received a $12.7 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to investigate whether they can transform stem cells into tissue that can repair some types of knee injuries. Currently, if a patient has lost most, if not all, of the cartilage in their knee, then their doctor will recommend a total joint replacement. Joint replacement is safe and effective, but patients who’ve only lost part of their cartilage often don’t qualify. A stem cell-based treatment would provide these patients an option that doesn’t involve donor tissue. Click here for more on the preclinical trial process. 

For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.

Partner Content
Partner Content NOVEMBER 9, 2026

Healing by Design

Artwork throughout the Lusardi Tower at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas promotes hope and healing

Healing by Design
Courtesy of Scripps Health

The recently opened Lusardi Tower at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas is a state-of-the-art addition to the hospital staffed by dedicated team members who’ve helped make Scripps one of the nation’s leading healthcare systems. Complementary to that medical excellence, the Lusardi Tower also represents the latest expansion of the Scripps Arts for Healing Program. The philanthropic initiative strategically places nature- and community-based artwork throughout the hospital to support health and well-being. Both Scripps Encinitas and Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla have healing arts programs as part of new building projects and growth on the campuses. Click here to read more about the Healing Arts Program and how residents from a nearby retirement community showed their support. 

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Partner Content NOVEMBER 4, 2026

A Guide to South Park

From century-old Craftsman homes to vegan fantasy bars, dive bars, and a tiki room built for exactly two people, this is one of San Diego’s great little neighborhoods

You may not realize it, but Balboa Park is bigger than Central Park (in fact, 1.5 times larger). Pressed right up against its southeastern edge is a little architecture farm built on old trolley bones, where houses look like someone was collecting architectural styles and local businesses are still run by people who seem personally invested in keeping this place interesting.

This is South Park. 

To understand why it feels the way it does today—less like one commercial strip and more like a handful of tiny villages—you have to go back to the trolley.

How the Trolley Built South Park

The land that became the original South Park Addition (the subdivision’s original name) was surveyed in 1870 and officially filed in 1890, but the neighborhood really started becoming a neighborhood in the early 1900s. The Bartlett Estate Company began developing and marketing the tract in earnest around 1906, pairing lots and new homes with something extremely useful if you lived outside Downtown in the horse-and-buggy era: an electric streetcar.

On May 1, 1906, the South Park and East Side Railway made its first trip. Developers didn’t just build near transportation; they helped pay for the transportation, then used it to sell the dream. Downtown had industry, noise, and congestion. Out here were palms, sidewalks, utilities, room to breathe and a four-cent ride back to the city.

It worked. Homes began filling in around the streetcar route, and little commercial clusters grew around the places where people got on and off. That transportation pattern is still written into South Park’s geography. Some of the neighborhood’s odd street geometry is also due in part to the trolley—the old line cut across parcels instead of politely obeying the grid, leaving behind pieces of land that later businesses learned to build around. Places like Station Tavern sit on the former easement and station site of San Diego’s No. 2 trolley line.

Then San Diego went big for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in neighboring Balboa Park. The exposition transformed much of the park and helped push the city through another burst of building and growth. South Park was right there to absorb some of that momentum.

And the people building houses here had taste.

Walk the residential streets now and it can feel like somebody planted an architectural sample garden: Craftsman, Prairie, Mission Revival, Tudor Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival. Creedence Clearwater Revival. All the revivals. The neighborhood includes work by Irving Gill, one of the defining architects of early modern California; Gill-designed Prairie homes still stand along Granada Avenue.

The city formally designated the South Park Historic District in 2017, recognizing roughly 400 properties and a period of significance stretching from 1906 through 1949. In other words, a lot of what makes the place feel old is actually old.

South Park Today

While the trolley eventually disappeared, the basic idea behind it didn’t. South Park is still a neighborhood organized around little pockets of human activity: a couple blocks where you can buy a record, drink a beer, find a 60-year-old lamp, eat a vegan burger beneath gothic beasts, browse a bookstore, and walk home past a century-old Craftsman.

The 30th-and-Fern area may be the clearest example. Several surviving buildings there date to South Park’s early development, including the old Fire Station No. 9, Rose Grocery building, and Burlingame Garage. What began as infrastructure for a young streetcar suburb became the neighborhood’s commercial heart.

That history is also partly why buying a house here can be competitive. There isn’t some endless supply of vacant land waiting around the corner for another subdivision. Much of the neighborhood filled in generations ago, and the architecture itself is part of the appeal.

San Diego Mag’s been documenting the city for 78 years. And we’ve been looking for a partner who loved the city enough to help us tell its stories. Redfin is that partner. They’re helping us tell the story of some of the city’s most unique neighborhoods. They launched Redfin Early Access this year to get their people in first and to see certain coming-soon and exclusive listings on Redfin before they appear on other major real-estate sites.

First up: South Park.

Here are some of the people and places worth knowing here:

Whistle Stop Bar

Big Kitchen Cafe

Start with Judy “the Beauty” Forman, because it’s difficult to explain South Park without her. The former social worker bought Big Kitchen in 1980 and turned a neighborhood breakfast joint into a gathering place for artists, musicians, activists, politicians, eccentrics, and pretty much anyone who needed somewhere to belong. As Judy puts it, “I built this for people who others passed over.”

One of those people was a young single mom named Whoopi Goldberg, who worked as a dishwasher here before the Whoopi Goldberg part of her career happened. Today Big Kitchen still serves breakfast and lunch Thursday through Monday.

3003 Grape Street

Whistle Stop Bar

Whistle Stop reopened in 2001, right as South Park’s little independent-business ecosystem was finding a new generation. Owner Sam Chammas—also connected to Live Wire and, later, Station Tavern—helped turn it into the kind of neighborhood bar where the calendar can jump from a DJ night to live bands to some strange communal event nobody at a normal sports bar would propose.

The room still has that laid-back, slightly sweaty house-party quality. Check what’s happening before you go, because Whistle Stop changes personality depending on the night: sometimes neighborhood beer, sometimes everyone dancing beneath the disco ball like work tomorrow was canceled.

2236 Fern Street

Station Tavern

Station Tavern may be the most literal example of old South Park becoming new South Park. It opened in 2009 on land once crossed diagonally by the No. 2 trolley line, and architect Lloyd Russell incorporated that history into the design rather than pretending the weirdly shaped lot wasn’t weirdly shaped. The project won the San Diego Architectural Foundation’s Grand Orchid Award the same year it opened.

Sam Chammas built the place as an open-air burger-and-beer spot with big communal tables, a backyard, room for kids, and room for dogs. It still works exactly that way: get a burger, get the tots, let everybody spread out, stay awhile.

2204 Fern Street

Kindred + Throne Room

Kindred arrived in late 2015 looking nothing like the beige-and-leafy vegan restaurant stereotype. The place went full gothic fever dream—heavy music, wild cocktails, decadent plant-based food—and eventually collected national vegan accolades plus local Restaurant of the Year and design honors.

And in 2026, it got even weirder. Hidden behind a chain-mail passage inside Kindred is Throne Room, a medieval-fantasy cocktail chamber whose mythology grew out of a Dungeons & Dragons-inspired map the Kindred team created for a 2017 Coachella pop-up. The 90-minute experience has scroll menus, plant-based mezze, cocktails and zero interest in pretending restaurants need to behave normally.

1503 30th Street

Bad Madge & Co.

Vinyl Junkies Record Shack

Vinyl Junkies has good music-scene DNA. Founder Eric Howarth previously ran indie label Hi-Speed Soul, whose roster included acts like Nada Surf and Swervedriver, then teamed with Casbah owner Tim Mays after the pair had spent years putting on Vinyl Junkies record swaps.

They opened the South Park brick-and-mortar shop in 2017, and it remains a buy-sell-trade temple for people who understand that owning music on a physical object is irrational in exactly the right way. Go flip through the new arrivals. Leave holding something you had absolutely no intention of buying.

2235 Fern Street

Bad Madge & Co.

Bad Madge is what happens when “vintage store” doesn’t quite explain the situation. Owner Tanya McAnear and her team fill the shop with furniture, clothing, barware, records, art, jewelry, collectibles, and various objects that seem like they may know things about their previous owners. The shop opened in 2011 and has made reuse and upcycling part of its identity ever since. Go in without looking for anything specific—specificity will only slow you down.

2205 Fern Street

Thread + Seed

Across the neighborhood’s vintage-and-vinyl universe sits Thread + Seed, a local boutique built around clothing, denim, gifts, and personal styling. Its South Park shop has an especially deep denim program—petite, tall, wide-leg, straight, flare—and the store also offers one-on-one styling built around color and body type. In other words, this is where you go after deciding the jeans currently on your body have betrayed you. South Park understands that sometimes personal renewal begins with pants.

2220 Fern Street

The Book Catapult

Seth Marko started The Book Catapult as a book blog in 2006. In 2017, he and his wife, Jennifer Powell, turned it into an actual bookstore in South Park, specializing loosely in fiction, local interest, and children’s books while maintaining the more important bookseller skill: putting something into your hands that you didn’t know you needed.

There are staff picks, author events, signed books, and the dangerous possibility of walking in for one title and emerging with four. Because no one ever died thinking, “I shoulda read less.”

3010-B Juniper Street

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Partner Content NOVEMBER 3, 2026

Tastemakers Fall 2026: Valle

Chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, and craft mixers - meet our 2026 Tastemakers, the minds behind the magic.

Tastemakers Fall 2026: Valle
E-SDM—Valle-2026—Tastemakers_WEB

Roberto Alcocer, Chef

Chef Roberto Alcocer showcases all that Mexican cuisine and culture has to offer at Oceanside’s Valle. The Michelin-guide recommended restaurant takes inspiration and techniques from all over Mexico—with a heavy Baja influence—and blends them with local San Diego ingredients to create original and delectable contemporary Mexican cuisine. The seasonal tasting menu allows Chef Alcocer to experiment with the freshest available ingredients, creating dishes that defy guests’ expectations, while the wine list features more than 100 labels from Mexican artisans. Even the restaurant’s walls are a celebration of Mexican culture, all decorated with work from artists of Baja.

“My favorite part of being a chef of Valle is being able to showcase the Mexico that I know to everyone who visits,” Chef Alococer says. “Not only through the food, but with the design, culture, and welcoming service.”  

Try This!

Lobster Taco: Flour sourdough tortilla with lobster shell bisque and local red spiny lobster

Valle

222 North Pacific Street, Oceanside, California 92054
866-723-8906  | valleoceanside.com

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