“I have always wanted to capture a unique Seaport Village scene that screams ‘San Diego,’” says Encinitas-based photographer Vincent Darmohusodo. “The day I took this photo, I dropped my family at the airport and happened to have my backup camera with me. I decided to go to the dock and took some pictures.” The conditions weren’t ideal—it was windy and the clouds were low—but Darmohusodo captured the image using a tripod and a 10-stop neutral density filter, which reduces light by a thousand times.
He also used a 240-second-long exposure that helped generate the frost-like illusion. In the past year, Darmohusodo has been transferring his images onto recycled wood: “Each photo transfer is unique and no two items are ever the same.” He sells the pieces at Solana Beach’s Leaping Lotus and at pixelonwood.com.
Win It!
Email [email protected] by December 31, 2016 for a chance to win Darmohusodo’s recycled wood piece featuring this Seaport Village image.
Shoot it, send it: Submit your best San Diego shots to [email protected].
10 Most-Listened-To Happy Half Hour Podcast Episodes of 2023
Since 2016, San Diego Mag‘s Happy Half Hour podcast has been highlighting the city’s finest food and drink makers and sharing the best in food news each month. This year, co-hosts Troy Johnson and David Martin spent 28 episodes catching up with the city’s top chefs, industry insiders, and local talent to find out what […]
Since 2016, San Diego Mag‘s Happy Half Hour podcast has been highlighting the city’s finest food and drink makers and sharing the best in food news each month. This year, co-hosts Troy Johnson and David Martin spent 28 episodes catching up with the city’s top chefs, industry insiders, and local talent to find out what makes San Diego’s food scene so great.
Among them, these 10 came out on top as the most-listened-to Happy Half Hour episodes of 2023. Haven’t checked them out yet? Give them a listen below:
In this episode, Troy and David sit down with Brandon Rodgers of The French Laundry and Benu to discuss his newest venture: Tanner’s Prime Burgers, founded in partnership with Brandt Beef. Listen as they crush beef tallow fries and ice cream sandwiches, Brandon’s wife’s cookies, and a burger made with New School American Cheese.
David Kennedy, co-owner of James Coffee Co., joins the pod to share the story of his coffee company and its efforts to get rid of single-use coffee cups and be as environmentally responsible as humanly possible. Kennedy also describes how ditching single-use cups didn’t quite go exactly as planned. Go listen. It’s a fun one.
San Diego restaurateur Tracy Borkum and executive chef Tim Kolanko from Urban Kitchen Group discuss their newest eatery, Gold Finch (a contemporary take on a Jewish delicatessen), and their next prix-fixe dining concept in the center of MCASD. This episode has everything from illegal yard sales to lessons about adaptation and Olivia Rodrigo.
To be fair, this was an episode in December 2022, but we left it in because you continued to love it and we needed another reason to post a pic of our resident mascot: Miles Davis Jr. This episode goes back to the start of Happy Half Hour, when Troy and David were just young whippersnappers with a mic and a dream. Today, Troy co-owns the mag and David is its chief sales and marketing officer, and HHH has nearly one million plays to date. Troy also lays out his hit list of the “10 Best Things I Ate This Year.”
On this episode, the gents talk with Carol Roizen and Jonathan Goldwasser, the owners of Parakeet Cafe, on the very personal reason why they created their healthy café and how they turned it into a huge success. Carol also calls out her favorite sushi spot in San Diego, David finds yet another soup that he can’t live without, and Troy slow-claps for the polenta plate at Cucina Urbana.
Troy and David get the inside scoop on Petco Park’s food and drink scene while grabbing a cold one at Alesmith’s 394 bar. Joined by vice president of hospitality Josh Momberg, they learn what it takes to feed nearly three million people each year. Go Pads!
This one isn’t as morbid as the title implies. The guys discuss their favorite meals of all time and get a sneak peek at the year’s Petco Park concerts, which included faves like Jimmy Eat World, Band of Horses, and Pixies. David also raves about the Sakura Bloom at Morning Glory, an egg-white cocktail worth a sip.
Having launched just before 2020, Coronado’s Little Frenchie made it through a global pandemic to become a Michelin-recognized spot and one of the best damn French bistros in San Diego. Troy and David chat with Blue Bridge exec chef Matt Sramek and VP of Operations Matt Gordon, who helped make Little Frenchie what it is today. They talk life on the island and their pandemic silver lining.
One of the best chefs in the country, Eric Greenspan, stops by to talk about his latest project: reinventing American cheese. He shares the story behind the new fromage, made with real butter, real cream, and aged cheese. Troy and David couldn’t get enough. Neither could the public when it was first introduced at the inaugural Del Mar Wine + Food Festival.
Rounding out our top 10 list, Baja’s wildly intelligent chef Drew Deckman stops by the office to chat with Troy and David about the precarious future of Valle de Guadalupe. Troy calls Drew “one of the funniest, most articulate, humblest, and give-a-damn people” he’s ever met as they chat about Drew’s failed dreams of becoming an umpire.
Nicolle Monico is an award-winning writer and the director of creative projects, digital editor for San Diego Magazine with more than 16 years of experience in media including Outside Run, JustLuxe and The San Francisco Chronicle.
See our photos from the event at the Music Box on February 20, 2020
Behind the Brands, held on February 20, 2020, at Music Box in Little Italy, was an evening of inside scoops and inspiration. Guests heard from Rubio’s Founder Ralph Rubio, Once Upon a Farm Co-Founder Cassandra Curtis, Intuit Principal Tech Evangelist Aliza Carpio and Red Door Interactive President John Faris. After a networking hour to mingle with other attendees and local brands, guests took their seats to hear interviews with San Diego Magazine editors. The event also featured interactive workshops with tips and tricks of resume building with a hiring manager and complimentary professional headshots. As a takeaway, guests received a complimentary Passion Planner.
Sponsors and partners for Behind the Brands included SONY, Keck School of Medicine at USC, Scripps Health, The Creative Group, Orangetheory Fitness, 1888 Doblemente Anejado, Wyoming Whiskey, Tequila Partida, Bear Naked Granola, Passion Planner, Enjet Media, and I Love a Clean San Diego.
Event Photos: Celebration of Cancer Care Champions
Photos from the event at University of San Diego Joan Kroc Institute Peace & Justice Theatre on September 22, 2019
The American Cancer Society hosted its inaugural Celebration of Cancer Care Champions (#SDC4) on Sunday, September 22, at the University of San Diego’s Peace and Justice Theatre. The event brought together the San Diego cancer care community to honor individuals and institutions who were nominated by their patients or peers for excellence in cancer care in 2018–2019. All of the finalists were selected by an external review committee representing 10 of San Diego’s leading health care and research institutions.
Kay Coleman, chair of the ACS Desert Coastal Area Board and the “SDC4” event, said, “There are many celebrations for cancer survivors, but this is the first one for the cancer care professionals who make a difference in the lives of cancer patients every day.”
Photos by Lauren Radack
Event Photos: Celebration of Cancer Care Champions
Danielle and Jason Sicklick
Studio S
JUNE 15, 2026
A Modern Take on Steak
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.”
Photos from the event at Liberty Station on August 10-11, 2019
On August 10 and 11, more than 20,000 art lovers attended the festival, which took place at Ingram Plaza at the Arts District Liberty Station. The event showcased fine artists from around the United States and Mexico and featured a full lineup of live music. Gorgeous San Diego weather topped off the festive and art-filled celebration, where attendees enjoyed the visual and performing arts, street food, interactive art activities, and a wine and beer pavilion. All were invited to bring or wear jeans, shoes, shirts, and more, which were transformed into wearable abstract expressionist art à la Jackson Pollock.
Photos by Paul Nestor and Daniel Audick
Event Photos: 14th Annual ArtWalk
Sarah Cusey
Podcasts & Video
DECEMBER 4, 2019
Event Photos: #SKY5Year
Photos from the event at SKY Facial Plastic Surgery on August 7, 2019
SKY Facial Plastic Surgery hosted its fifth annual community celebration and charity fundraiser at its North County location. Guests mingled with double–board certified facial plastic surgeon Sirius K. Yoo, MD and enjoyed a cocktail reception, hors d’oeuvres, and an opportunity drawing. Proceeds benefited FACE Foundation, which provides funding to families who cannot afford the life-saving treatments their pets need.
Photos by Bradley Schweit
Event Photos: #SKY5Year
Sirius K. Yoo, MD and Theresa Hadley
Partner Content
JUNE 10, 2026
New Options for GLP-1 Users
Scripps study shows that some patients may be able to taper their dose and maintain results
While glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agents have been used to treat Type 2 diabetes for more than 20 years, their recent emergence as weight-loss wonder drugs marked a new frontier in medicine. But their effectiveness has left some patients wondering what to do once they’ve reached their goal. Stopping the medication could mean regaining some, if not all, of the weight. A Scripps Clinic internal medicine physician recently conducted a small study of whether GLP-1 patients who had reached their goal weight could maintain that weight by taking their regularly prescribed injection every other week instead of weekly. Spoiler alert: 30 of 34 patients did. Read more about the study here and what that may mean as pharmaceutical companies roll out oral GLP-1s.
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