You don’t have to go to New York or Paris for a glimpse of runway style. Fashion Week San Diego takes place September 30–October 6, showcasing the work of 26 emerging designers. It may not be Vogue caliber (we’re pretty sure Anna Wintour wouldn’t be caught dead at the SDFW doggie fashion show on October 4), but it’s a chance to support local talent. Bring your Tim Gunn eye and poker face. Here’s hoping it helps our local fashion scene figure itself out. fashionweeksd.com
Much as you’ll want to, you can’t move into Thread Spun, a sustainably minded Encinitas boutique on North Coast Highway. But you can stock up on beautifully made, thoughtfully curated homewares, apparel, accessories, personal care items, and goodies for kids to turn your own abode into the closest approximation, knowing you’re doing good in the process—Thread Spun donates two percent of its sales to charitable causes. Excellent excuse to pick up a seabuckthorn facial serum for yourself when you grab beaded coasters for your bestie’s birthday.
Best Retail Relocation
REI
Every climber’s favorite store just got fresh digs: North County’s REI moved from Encinitas to Carlsbad in the La Costa Town Square in February. The grand-opening ceremony included free camping mugs, activities, and a ribbon-chopping ceremony (starring an axe instead of scissors)—a fitting debut for an adventure-focused outpost in one of America’s outdoorsiest cities. Stop by for anything you might need to live your best life al fresco, whether that means an off-the-grid camping trip or a day at the beach with a reusable water bottle and a nice, new umbrella.
Courtesy of Architectural Salvage
Best Spot to Source Century-Old Doorknobs
Architectural Salvage
Egyptian doors from the Napoleonic era, North Park street lamps from the early 1900s, and 100-year-old Hungarian workbenches are just a few of the eclectic treasures you’ll find at Architectural Salvage. Walking into the home and building materials shop feels like stepping into a real life I Spy book—a world of whimsy packed with storied relics. Formerly located in Little Italy, the beloved store reopened this past November in a new Barrio Logan location. Whether you’re giving an antique a second life or hunting for a hidden gem, this spot delivers surprises you didn’t know your home needed.
In February, heaven on earth for toy lovers and collectors—Replay Toys—moved from Ray Street into a newer and larger location on University Avenue in North Park. Mom of two Kim Nabours started selling her kids’ old playthings at the swap meet 14 years ago. Her side hustle turned to a permanent brick-and-mortar where kids can pick out new and used toys and grown-ups can chase down rare collectibles and nostalgic mementos.
Get out your grimoire—North Park’s Datura (named after a lovely but hallucinogenic and potentially deadly f lower) carries everything you need for witchy business: candles and crystals, incense and oils, plus more than 200 different dried herbs and plants. Seeking shatavari for boosting libido? Gentian root for better intuition? Frankincense for warding off the haters? It’s all here.
People call Uniqlo the “Japanese Gap” for a reason: It’s an affordable, reliable, wildly popular source of wardrobe staples. So, last year, when the first San Diego location opened at Westfield UTC in La Jolla, the 1,000-person crowd that gathered at its grand opening celebration came as no surprise. The store had a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a taiko drum performance, and even Japanese pastries and tea. Now, the beloved store will unveil an outpost at Fashion Valley Mall later this year. Get in line early.
Courtesy of Maxwell’s House of Books
Best Bookshop That’s Old Enough To Drink
Maxwell’s House of Books
Maxwell’s House of Books’ 22-year tenure in La Mesa makes perfect sense once you learn that owner Craig Maxwell’s grandpa Vernon Wahrenbrock ran the iconic Wahrenbrock’s Book House in downtown for more than seven decades. Maxwell’s packed used book emporium stocks rare editions and budget-friendly finds alike across genres. While you’re digging for your next read, don’t forget to say hi to the shop’s most esteemed bibliophile: its chubby resident cat.
Best Rose-Scented Ode
David’s Daughter
A surefire way to brighten a loved one’s day? Flowers—especially ones as thoughtful and artfully arranged as the bouquets at David’s Daughter in North Park. Owner Chandler Rossi named the chic, welcoming shop in memory of her father, a fellow florist and lifelong inspiration. Offering custom or premade arrangements, floral subscriptions, cute knick-knacks, and collaborative workshops like Pilates & Petals, David’s Daughter purveys everything you need to express sympathy, say thank you to a devoted family member, or help a new romance bloom.
Chef Phillip Esteban, former research and development chef for Consortium Holdings and proprietor of White Rice Bodega, Wildflour Delicatessen, and Weapon Ramen (plus a few other creative ventures all over town), never seems to slow down. On July 15, he’ll be opening White Rice Morena in Linda Vista, quickly followed by Wildflour in Liberty Station around September.
So when we asked him where he spends his free time, the San Diego native made sure we knew not to expect white tablecloths or stuffy atmospheres.
“These are places that I normally dine on a regular basis,” says Esteban. “As much as I love big name restaurants, big name chefs, and will frequent them, this [list] is a ‘if you go here, you’ll probably see me’ situation.”
If you’re looking for recommendations on where to unwind, chow down, and drink up in San Diego—according to a chef—Esteban knows just where to send you (leave your pearls at home). Here’s what he had to say, in his own words:
TJ Oyster Bar
Courtesy of TJ Oyster Bar
TJ Oyster Bar
Order: Fried Fish Tacos
I’ve been going to TJ Oyster Bar since I was in high school. I remember as a kid, we would go play golf across the street at Bonita Golf Course. It’s down the street from my aunt’s house, where I would spend a lot of time in summers with my cousin.
We’d go play golf and then we’d go over to the original store. It has maybe 15 seats tops. Everything on the menu is good, but they’re really known for their fried fish tacos. Fresh ingredients—you can watch them fry it fresh in front of you—good tortillas, good sauce. It’s just nostalgia for me.
4246 Bonita Road, Bonita (additional locations in Bonita and Chula Vista)
It’s also very small, probably 12 seats in total. Juan Jasper is one of those neighborhood spots. It’s the same owners as next door’s Sepulveda Meats, and it’s like this little French bistro where the menu is written in chalk, or the specials are, at least. They have maybe 10 items that are constantly rotating. It’s fun! You never have to get the same thing twice.
1216 28th Street, Golden Hill
Longplay HiFi, coffee highball
Photo Credit: @jay.villa
Longplay HiFi
Order: Coffee Highball
I love Longplay HiFi. I’ve known Gibrán for a few years. Frankly, he was the first one to bring the vinyl listening bar scene and energy to San Diego. He did it in his way and his style, which is very true to form for the jazz kissa model, and having been to jazz kissas in Japan, it’s very reminiscent of that. It’s the first, and most authentic vinyl listening bar experience.
Obviously, coming from CH and loving their spots, I didn’t want to go the route of selecting the next beautiful, amazing thing, but they have such a big impact on the city. One of their most low-key spots, and actually my favorite of the whole company, is J & Tony’s. They make my favorite cocktail, a variation on a Manhattan, and it’s just amazing. It came off the menu, but I’m sure a lot of other people ask for it.
I wanted to add a lifestyle feel to this list, and Chris has been cutting my hair for 10 years plus. When I was at Consortium, there were 700 people who worked there when I was the R&D chef going around, and everyone would ask where I got my hair cut. I’d just send them to Monarch. Great friend and great barber.
485 Tenth Ave., East Village
Taisho
Courtesy of Taisho
Taisho
Order: Yakitori
Taisho is like the Asian version of CH. They have a group of their own within Convoy, and Taisho’s yakitori is the highest level. The guys prep all the meat skewers at one location, but Taisho gets the best cuts. It’s small and quaint, and the two chefs are there all the time. The quality is the highest.
Around March, they have firefly squid, which is amazing. Year-round, I get the chicken teba, the wing, and I love the black miso cod. They have an amazing selection of sake as well.
5185 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Kearny Mesa
Mostra Coffee
Courtesy of Mostra Coffee
Mostra Coffee
Order: Choconana Cold Brew
The head roaster, Mike Arquines, is actually a chef by trade. We opened The Cork & Craft in Rancho Bernardo back in 2013 together. He was the executive chef and I was the chef de cuisine. He left shortly after we opened to focus on being the head roaster and co-owner for Mostra.
Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
Fresh off an appearance at the Grammy Awards as part of the hip-hop 50th anniversary tribute performance this past Sunday, Memphis-based emcee GloRilla is taking her talents to the House of Blues in San Diego. Before the rapper’s recent collaboration with Cardi B, “Tomorrow 2,” reached the Top 10 on the Billboard charts, her viral song “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” turned her into a burgeoning rap superstar seemingly overnight. | 1055 Fifth Avenue, Downtown
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February 10
A Vintage Valentine’s Concert with Gregory Page
Get in the mood for Valentine’s Day with an intimate performance full of original music from artist Gregory Page at the Coronado Public Library at 1 p.m. this Friday. Winner of the 2021 San Diego Music Award for Best Album of the Year, Page is a seasoned performer with an ever-growing discography of timeless songs about love. His skillful guitar playing, deeply romantic lyrics, and velvety vocals will be on full display. Seats are first come, first serve, so register ahead of time to secure a spot at the show. | 640 Orange Avenue, Coronado
February 11
City Heights Multi-Cultural Festival of Love
Enjoy a free, family-friendly festival promoting diversity, solidarity, and love at Officer Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park in City Heights this Saturday. There will be more than 25 booths representing community non-profit organizations like La Maestra Clinic and Ocean Discovery Institute, as well as several cultural performances from Drummers Without Borders, the San Diego Ballet, Fern Street Circus, and more. | 4455 Wightman Street, City Heights
Sofie Ramos: “Life Raft”
Rising artist Sofie Ramos’ newest solo exhibition “Life Raft” is opening at Bread and Salt Gallery this Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. Ramos employs everyday objects like laundry, shoes, and furniture, crafting them into grouped sculptures using geometric patterns and shapes. As with her other works, expect “Life Raft” to be an example of how art can transform the ordinary into something extraordinary. | 1955 Julian Avenue, Logan Heights
Vista Makers Market & Bar Hop
Shop from dozens of vendors offering handmade goods like jewelry, home decor, art, and more and enjoy suds from a handful of breweries all located on Keystone Way. More than 40 sellers will set up shop at Dogleg Brewing, Eppig Brewing, and Helia Brewing. Taking place from 12 to 5 p.m. this Saturday, the Makers Market and Bar Hop is free to attend. | 1347 Keystone Way, Vista
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Kodo
Japanese taiko drumming ensemble Kodo presents their newest touring production “Tsuzumi” at the Balboa Theatre this Saturday from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Kodo (meaning “heartbeat”) has been instrumental in the further development of Japan’s performing arts and has had the honor of performing at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in 2001, at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan, and in a total of 53 countries around the globe. The drummers will play selections from their four-decade-long history alongside new compositions. | 868 Fourth Avenue, Downtown
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Lovers + Friends
Enjoy a Galentines-themed pop-up market put on by Shop Moniker and Bourdon this Saturday from 12 to 3 p.m. at Moniker General in Liberty Station. The $50 ticket entry includes a glass of wine courtesy of Bourdon, access to several food, art, and lifestyle vendors, and a curated swag bag (which includes discounts to several local businesses) upon arrival. | 2860 Sims Road, Point Loma
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February 11-12
Black Com!x Day
This two-day event at the WorldBeat Cultural Center recognizes the work of the many Black writers and artists who have been instrumental in creating legendary characters like Spider-Man, Black Panther, Batman, and Blade. There will be a special focus on Black-owned businesses and publications in the comic sphere, and the free celebration will include cosplay, games, music, and more. There will also be two special panels featuring some of the comic book and film industry’s most prolific Black creators. | 2100 Park Boulevard, Balboa Park
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February 12
Cardiff Kook Run
Start off your Super Bowl Sunday with a feat of endurance at the 2023 Cardiff Kook Run. The race will take runners from the “Encinitas” sign on Highway 101 on a loop past the iconic Cardiff Kook statue (officially named Magic Carpet Ride) and above several scenic surf breaks before heading towards Cardiff State Beach. The run will also feature a Super Bowl-themed costume contest with a handful of categories, including best football-themed costume and best “kook”-inspired ensemble. | 505 S Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.
Entrepreneurs typically launch businesses because they’re passionate about a product or service, not because they want to manage its finances. While working to carve out a niche in their respective industries and drive their companies forward, many business owners find themselves bogged down by day-to-day accounting. Their existing accounting tools don’t provide the necessary visibility or insight, and they don’t have the time or resources to hire additional staff or a chief financial officer. That’s where NOW CFO comes in.
For more than 20 years, NOW CFO has been pairing businesses across the country with experienced accounting and finance professionals. Its outsourced model allows clients to customize solutions that match their individual needs, size, and financial challenges, whether that’s fractional or interim support, project-based services, or full-time placement.
NOW CFO’s clients range from startups preparing for rapid growth to established companies that need additional financial leadership without the commitment or expense of building an in-house team. However, many of these companies don’t fully understand their needs until they experience a “trigger” event: preparing for an acquisition or capital raise, navigating a first-time audit, or another period of transition. With a team of over 300 consultants nationwide, NOW CFO can start quickly and match the right expert to the right business.
“It’s important for companies to have financial visibility, and we can help them avoid a lot of the potholes that companies often run into,” says Mariah Block, a partner at NOW CFO’s San Diego branch. “Roughly half of our clients have an in-house finance person or department, and we’re resourced for more bandwidth when they need an extra set of hands at the staff or senior accountant level, or the controller or CFO level. Some clients use this a few hours a month and others use multiple people close to full-time. Our model is solution-based and customizable. We’re like a faucet you can turn on and off.”
With NOW CFO, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Solutions are based on the client’s individual goals, challenges, needs, and budget, meaning a client never pays for more than they need. Whether it’s a few hours of executive-level guidance or a full accounting team to support daily operations, NOW CFO meets businesses where they are and grows alongside them.
“We pride ourselves on providing our clients with the right resources at the right rate and being able to evolve as their needs evolve,” says Block.
And clients appreciate on-demand access to cost-effective support designed to improve performance and profitability.
Luxury car storage service Auto Concierge has partnered with NOW CFO to support growth over the past year. The arrangement began with a staff accountant who covered a leave of absence, but as the client’s needs changed, they also added a controller role. This allowed Auto Concierge to put effective processes in place and navigate operational challenges. Lori Church, Auto Concierge’s chief operating officer, says NOW CFO has been an “outstanding resource” and a “true strategic partner.”
“From the controller to the bookkeeper, every professional they’ve placed has brought a high level of expertise, responsiveness, and professionalism to our organization. Their team took the time to understand our business of high-profile clients and needs, adapted quickly to our fast-paced environment, and became a trusted extension of our team,” she says. “As Auto Concierge continues to grow, having a reliable financial partner like NOW CFO has allowed us to strengthen our financial and business operations while remaining focused on delivering exceptional service to our clients.”
Our Essential Guide to Shopping Small in San Diego
More than 60 retail shops to help you find the perfect gifts for your loved ones this holiday season
Courtesy of Home + Hound
By Erica Nichols and Marie Tutko, with Jeanette Giovannellio, Elena Gomez, Kai Oliver- Kurtin, Jenna Miller, Sarah Pfledderer, Hannah Lott-Schwartz, and Carlos Rico | Photography by Kimberly Motos
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
Local Business Raum Shoes Ground You to the Earth—Literally!
Leucadian Tyler Pinkos opens up about the footwear brand built on the benefits of being barefoot
Chris Straley
By As told to Sarah Pfledderer
It’s pronounced rōm, like ‘roam,’ and it stems from the sacred sound of ‘om.’ I started the brand after I learned about the concept of grounding, which simply means having your body be in direct contact with the earth’s surface. Since most people can’t be barefoot all the time, I thought, “I should make a shoe that provides the same health benefits as being barefoot.” My first “real job” was at DC Shoes, and I’ve been in the footwear industry ever since. With the help of several friends, I launched Raum on a crowdfunding site in July 2019.
Even though they’re very minimalist slipons, it takes about 72 hours to make a single pair. Our shoes are handmade by Turkish artisans and Syrian refugees in Gaziantep, Turkey—I randomly came into contact with a gentleman at one of my favorite Encinitas coffee shops, Lofty, who happened to own a small atelier in Gaziantep. After he returned, we stayed in close contact and began prototyping and sampling. The artisans there have been constructing these types of shoes for over five generations. It’s beautiful. All the materials are sourced locally within an 80-mile radius, and we don’t use any steel molds or synthetics like modern footwear. This greatly reduces the water waste and toxic chemical runoff that’s so common in the footwear industry. The soles are vegetable-tanned leather, and each stitch is done by hand with two large needles.
The 100 percent copper rivet through the sole allows for conductivity between your body and the earth. The rivet is handhammered by me—my workspace is my garage, not glamorous but it gets the job done—and has direct contact with the bottom of your foot on the KD1 acupuncture point, as well as the earth’s surface, allowing the abundance of free flowing electrons found on the earth’s surface to enter your body. There are a large variety of possible health benefits in allowing these electrons to neutralize your body’s internal charge.
If you’re anything like us, it can be easy to get so caught up in taking care of everyone else, that your own needs get lost in the ether. But while this may be a cliché, that doesn’t make it any less true: You can’t give your best self to other people unless you’re taking care of yourself.
Sometimes, that looks like stopping in for your regular acupuncture or chiropractic appointment. Other days, it means giving your body the fresh, organic fuel it needs to truly feel and function at its best. And some other times still, it involves leaving your responsibilities behind for a weekend to pamper yourself at an incredible resort and spa.
Only you can decide what your truly need. We’re just here to help you find the best ways to get it.
Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa
Island living meets desert luxury at the Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa in Indian Wells. When you step onto the 11-acre property, you’ll be surrounded by sweeping view of the Santa Rosa Mountains with olive trees and fragrant citrus groves decorating the grounds. In other words, everything about this relaxed but refined resort is primed to help you let go of the stress from home and enjoy easy sun-soaked days and gorgeous starry nights.
The rooms blend calming, woven textures with Tommy Bahama’s signature tropical prints and feature private lanais, making it easy unwind the moment you walk in the door. If you book one of the four Villa Suites, you’ll be treated to exclusive Tommy Bahama furniture and unique personal touches to further that feeling of instant ease.
At the award-winning Spa Rosa, the expert team will help reset and recharge your body and mind using methods and rituals inspired by the desert. The 12,000-square-foot retreat includes outdoor soaking pools, eucalyptus steam rooms, and outdoor cabanas, as well as massages, facials, and body masks—all aimed at creating a day dedicated to you. We’re particularly partial to the Day Long Escape, an indulgent all-day affair of CDBs soaks, renewing scrubs, life changing massages, and transformative facials.
Following your treatment, continue the experience with a meal on the patio at Grapefruit Basil. We love the Hamachi Crudo, a light, citrus-forward dish featuring premium yellowtail, house-made ponzu, creamy avocado, and fresh seasonal garnishes.
Whether you’re strolling the gardens, relaxing beside its saltwater pools, or indulging in a restorative treatment, you’ll be able to escape in style and relax in luxury at the Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa.
Healcove Chiropractic
There’s no shortage of ways to stay active in San Diego—but if you really want to enjoy everything the city has to offer, you’ve got to make sure you’re giving your body its tune-ups. Enter: Healcove Chiropractic. The board-certified chiropractors and wellness professionals at Healcove are experts at addressing that stage where you’re not injured, exactly, but you’re not at 100%, either. Maybe you’re feeling a bit tense or stressed out. Or it could be that you’re not quite moving the way you want to. Sometimes, it’s just that the accumulation of days, weeks, or even years of daily strain is starting to take a toll. No matter what stage you find yourself at, the Healcove Chiropractic team can provide integrated, preventative care centered on long-term, science-backed approaches that ensure you can always stay active and live the life you want to live pain-free.
This starts by providing truly individualized care. Every patient can expect a thorough 60-minute consultation session that includes a posture and movement screening. This allows the team to develop a completely personalized plan. That plan might include chiropractic care, acupuncture, or massage therapy, as well as functional fitness training, vibration and sound therapy, and Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization, a clinical rehabilitation method that retrains the body’s stabilization systems. Whatever the team recommends, you can be sure that it’s tailored to meeting your body’s needs today and the future.
There’s a reason that San Diego Magazine named Healcove the “Best Chiropractor in San Diego”—don’t wait until you’re struggling with an injury to find out why. Book an appointment today for holistic, integrated care that helps ground and heal your body before it reaches a crisis point.
Juice Holler
West Coast wellness culture meets the community feel of Southern Appalachia at Juice Holler. Juice Holler’s menu consists of made-to-order smoothies and smoothie bowls, as well as grab-and-go cold-pressed juices, wellness shots, salads, and more. It operates from the blissfully simple premise that fueling up with food and drink that’s guilt-free and good your body should be simple, accessible, and, above all else, delicious. And if you haven’t yet made it out to the Encinitas café, which opened just this year, let us be the first to tell you: Juice Holler delivers on each and every of these fronts.
We love the Supercharger smoothie, a mood-lifting and body-fueling option made with banana, almond butter, blue spirulina, maca, grass-fed whey protein, raw cacao nibs, medjool dates, and coconut milk. We’re also partial to the Thrive Alive smoothie bowl, where avocado, mango, sea moss, spirulina, mint, coconut milk, and agave are mixed and topped with coconut, chia seeds, strawberry, mango, and chocolate drizzle. The wellness shots include the Detoxifier, a cleansing blend of kale, cucumber, lemon and spirulina, plus a shot specially designed to fight inflammation (named, fittingly, Anti-Inflammation). Probiotic overnight oats, lemon turmeric bars, and strawberry shortcake chia pudding are other standouts on the grab-and-go menu.
Much of the vibe feels beachy North County chic—think green tile with orange and pink accents, grounded with greenery and natural wood—but Juice Holler founder Kelly Sergott, a longtime Encinitas local, has also enfused the space with her Kentucky roots. In Appalachia, a holler is small valley between hills and mountains, where nature reigns, community is king, and nourishment comes right from the land. At Juice Holler, Sergott has created a holler for the busy modern times, using local ingredients to create a spot for people to come together and enjoy fresh, fast, feel-good fuel for their day.
Everwell Acupuncture
We’ve all had that experience with a medical professional where we’ve felt rushed, ignored, or misunderstood—and ultimately, like we didn’t get the answers that we needed. But at Everwell, the holistic acupuncture practice located in Solana Beach, the care team wants to transform your understanding of what healthcare can look like.
Patients at Everwell experience care rooted in intentional listening and radical empathy—and trust us, those aren’t just corporate buzzwords. This place actually puts those ideas into practice. You will always be given the time you need to tell your story— initial in-take appointments are two hours long—and you can rest assured that your story will be believed. Every single question and concern will be addressed by a dedicated practitioner who wants to find the specific solutions that work best for you, and you’ll receive care that’s aimed at healing the body, mind, and spirit.
Everwell’s highly trained, doctorate-level practitioners blend evidence-based acupuncture with the practice of classical Chinese medicine. (If you’ve never tried acupuncture before or aren’t sure if the team will be a fit, we’d highly recommended Everwell’s complimentary 20-minute consultations.) Research shows that by stimulating specific points on the body, acupuncture activates a natural healing response in the body, helping to restore balance, regulate the nervous system, and improve overall wellbeing. This allows the practice to address an incredibly wide range of conditions from chronic pain and autoimmune disorders to digestive issues, from stress and burnout to headaches migraines, fertility and postpartum struggles, hormonal imbalances, sleep concerns and more.
At Everwell, you can expect to feel heard, trusted, respected, and cared for. This is a space that doesn’t want to be just another healthcare provider you visit; it wants to provide patients with dedicated partner who will be there for their entire health journey.
