La Jolla Playhouse is a hitmaker, no doubt about it. The Who’s Tommy, Jersey Boys, and Memphis were all developed in our jewel by the sea and went on to Broadway and nationwide acclaim. The latest to join their ranks is Come from Away, the true story of 7,000 airline passengers who were diverted to the tiny town of Gander, Newfoundland, on September 11, 2001. It was nominated for seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and won Best Direction for La Jolla Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley.
Ashley and choreographer Kelly Devine have stayed with the show from its original run, to Broadway, to the national tour that’s at the Civic Theatre for one short week. If readers don’t have tickets yet, stop reading and buy them now (trust me)—there’s only five performances left.
The live show is a can’t-miss experience, even if you’ve already seen the filmed performance, which was released on Apple TV last year while most of Broadway was still shut down due to COVID. I had seen it—yet I forgot how much comedy there is in the show. Maybe because September 11 is surpassed only by cancer in its ability to thud a story to a sudden halt. I’ve seen too many plays where references to the attacks are simply dropped in, nuance-free—even as a surprise—for (one assumes) an easy emotional reaction.
This is not one of those plays. It’s woven through with loss without becoming a play about trauma, in part because its ensemble has so many individual stories to tell. The whole cast takes on at least dual roles (often triple or more), switching on a dime between heavy Newfinese accents and those from all over the world. As the residents of Gander, they scramble to prepare for a sudden doubling of their town’s population; and as those who’ve “come from away,” they wait for answers—about whether their family in New York are okay, about when they’ll be able to leave, or simply about just what the hell is becoming of the world.
It’s a tremendous credit to the director, choreographer, lighting designer (Howell Binkley), and dialect coach (Joel Goldes) that these transitions are never anything but crystal clear: No matter how many scenes and personas we swap through, you always know exactly where you are and who’s talking to whom.
Come from Away could also be a Canadian tourism ad, for how much it shores up the country’s reputation for being kind and welcoming. Across language and cultural barriers, the locals open up their homes and businesses to feed and house the stranded, culminating in the show’s best musical number, “Screech In,” when those strangers are officially inducted as Newfoundlanders in a rousing bar celebration led by Gander’s mayor (the ebullient Kevin Carolan).
Marika Aubrey (center) in Come from Away at Civic Theatre
Matthew Murph
While “Screech In” has that familiar building-toward-intermission energy, it instead leads directly into the second-best number (your SkyMiles may vary), “Me and the Sky.” Marika Aubrey is fantastic as the real-life Beverley Bass. Her solo is what the entire movie Captain Marvel was trying to be (sorry not sorry). Taking a nearly three-act journey in itself, it tells her life story of overcoming discrimination to become American Airlines’ first female captain: Your heart will soar with her, then plummet at the line “Suddenly I’m flying Paris to Dallas / across the Atlantic and feeling calm / when suddenly…”—as you realize what rhyme is coming for calm.
Be prepared to cry. The play doesn’t shy away from the horror of that day. But neither does it dwell in it or staple it on for cheap pathos. Rather, it presents an antidote to the horror in the form of small serendipitous joys, and simple compassion from one stranger to another.
Come from Away runs through the weekend at Civic Theatre; tickets are available at broadwaysd.com.
As summertime inches closer to the shores of San Diego, there are plenty of reasons to be ecstatic. For one thing, there’s the impending arrival of the summer solstice (Sunday), and three days before that, Del Mar’s own Summer Solstice will return for its yearly golden hour. There are also plenty of local Juneteenth events, such as Kinfolk Fest, the Cooper Family Foundation’s Juneteenth Celebration, and The Freedom Table, a new, food-centered event from the originators of Juneteenth San Marcos. We’re also less than three weeks away from America’s 250th anniversary, and the celebrations range from the San Diego History Center’s America 250: San Diego 1776-2026 to NASCAR’s weekend of racing at Naval Base Coronado.
Cbar has planned a week’s worth of festivities to mark its first birthday, and everyone can get in on the fun. The 1-Year Anniversary Week celebrations continue with a special edition of the Sips & Shells craft series ($50) on Tuesday from 6-8:30 p.m., half-off pastries with any purchase of a barista drink (plus an anniversary summer wine flight) on Wednesday and a five-course winemaker dinner on Thursday from 6-9 p.m. ($130). Finally, the birthday bash will conclude with live music on Friday (Will Fedak) and Saturday (Cappo Kelley) from 6-9 p.m.
2917 State Street, Carlsbad
Taste of Little Italy
June 16 & 17
Little Italy’s annual food crawl has so many options that it warrants splitting into two evenings, each boasting a diverse lineup of 20 neighborhood vendors. During the Taste of Little Italy, taking place Tuesday and Wednesday from 4-8 p.m., attendees can make their way from the Piazza della Famiglia to nearby dining destinations for bites like esquites, sausage rolls, hot chicken tenders, and forkfuls of handmade pasta. Each night will also include live music and stops for drinks, desserts, and vegetarian items. Tickets are $71 per day.
As spring makes its golden transition into summer, welcome the new season with open arms and a big appetite during Del Mar Village’s marquee tasting event this Thursday from 5-8 p.m. With the Summer Solstice celebrating its 20th anniversary, this year’s iteration will include dozens of food and drink offerings from Del Mar Village vendors, soulful tunes from Christian Jules Taylor, live art by Sarah O’Connor, and wave-crashing views at Powerhouse Park. General admission (21+) is $157 and comes with unlimited tastings as well as a commemorative tasting glass, while VIP tickets are sold out; proceeds support the Del Mar Village Association.
1658 Coast Boulevard, Del Mar
The Freedom Table at TERI Campus of Life
June 19
After hosting the first-ever Juneteenth San Marcos festival in 2025, Lionel and Natalie Saulsberry have upped the ante with The Freedom Table, an elevated observance of community, culture, and the culinary arts. This Friday from 4-9 p.m. at TERI Campus of Life, guests can enjoy storytelling, art installations, live music, curated cocktails, and a chef-led dining experience, all in recognition of Juneteenth’s lasting importance. Ticket options include general admission ($261), plus two charitable ticket options: supporter ($313) and impact ($417), with a portion of sales going towards the youth nonprofit Achievement in Motion.
555 Deer Springs Road, San Marcos
Talladega Nights Father’s Day Brunch at ARLO
June 21
In honor of NASCAR’s Coronado debut and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, ARLO is throwing a Father’s Day brunch for the dads who want to go fast. This Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., patrons can order from ARLO’s regular brunch menu, as well as a trio of holiday specials: the Dad’s Day Steak and Fries ($64), the Fit For a King Muffuletta Sandwich ($29), and the Big Daddy Brookie ($14). This shake and bake-approved meal will also include a DJ, cigar rollings, whiskey tastings and a Ricky Bobby costume contest. Reservations can be made online.
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.
Enter May in resplendent style, with a lineup of exciting concerts, creative showcases and gastronomic festivals. Those looking for their live music fix can sing along to the stylings of Ms. Lauryn Hill at Gallagher Square, catch indie rocker Snail Mail at The Observatory North Park or watch Star Wars: A New Hope with a live orchestra at The Rady Shell. Artistically-inclined folks can immerse themselves in the imaginative and the innovative within the Art Garden at UCSD Park & Market and the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Avant Garde Ball. As for the weekend’s most appetizing events, there’s the three-day Foodieland San Diego festival, the annual San Diego Zoo Food, Wine & Brew and a 54-hour excursion with chefs at Rancho Bernardo Inn. Here are the best things to do in San Diego this weekend.
54 Hours with James Beard Award-Winning Chefs at Rancho Bernardo Inn
April 30–May 3
Embark on a tasteful getaway to Rancho Bernardo Inn for 54 Hours with James Beard Award-Winning Chefs. Patrons can spend intimate time with the cream of the culinary crop via dinners, cooking demonstrations, kitchen skill workshops, wine and whiskey tastings and deluxe activities, like a round of golf with the participating chefs. Ticket options include a seat at Sunday’s Chef Tour Dinner ($240), the Gold Ticket for Friday and Saturday’s events ($450) and the all-access Platinum Ticket ($600).
Takoyaki, raspados, Japanese hot dogs and freeze dried honey cones are just some of the street food concoctions available to try at this year’s FoodieLand San Diego festival. This Friday from 3-10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1-10 p.m. at Del Mar Fairgrounds, attendees can peruse a smorgasbord of eye-catching and appetite-filling eats from 125 food stalls. But Foodieland doesn’t solely consist of nourishment, with a plethora of shopping vendors offering up apparel, accessories and boutique finds. Single-day tickets are $12.
2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard, Del Mar
San Diego Zoo Food, Wine & Brew
May 2
Dine amongst the fauna at the annual San Diego Zoo Food, Wine & Brew, a 21+ conservation fundraiser for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance this Saturday from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Guests can navigate their way around the park for live music, wildlife encounters and all-inclusive samples from a lineup of restaurants, breweries and wineries, plus complimentary soft drinks. General admission is $179, while VIP passes, which come with early entry at 6:30 p.m. along with exclusive menu items, private lounges and a special wildlife encounter, are $299.
Catch a rare live performance by Ms. Lauryn Hill this Thursday at 8 p.m. during the Padres Foundation’s fifth annual Dinner on the Diamond. This charitable gala, held on the Petco Park outfield, will feature auctions, an elegant dinner and appearances from Padres staff, players and alumni. Plus, for the first time, tickets to the event’s entertainment portion in Gallagher Square are open to the public. Hill, a few of the legendary Fugees, and the creative force behind The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, will be joined by a pair of special guests, her children Zion and YG Marley. Tickets for this concert start at $50, with net proceeds going to the Padres Foundation.
100 Park Boulevard, Downtown
Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert at The Rady Shell
May 1 & 3
Since its debut on the silver screen in 1977, Star Wars has developed into a cultural behemoth, rich with iconic characters, epic lightsaber showdowns and grand space adventures. This Friday (7:30 p.m.) and Sunday (6:30 p.m.), fans of cinema and sci-fi can see the film that started it all, Star Wars: A New Hope, outdoors at The Rady Shell. From the expository opening crawl to the Death Star’s demise, audiences can experience the franchise’s beginnings with a live rendition of John Williams’ score, performed by the San Diego Symphony Orchestra and conductor Scott Terrell. Tickets range from $68 to $173 for Friday and $51 to $173 for Sunday.
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.
By the looks of it, this weekend is shaping up to be the most event-rich stretch of the year, with plentiful chances to go out, give back and experience all the diverse offerings San Diego has in store. Concerts, car shows, annual exhibitions and free festivals—the hardest part will be choosing which activities to check out. The return of marquee attractions like WOW Festival, Art Alive, Adams Avenue Unplugged, San Diego EarthFest and the La Jolla Concours d’Élégance means there is no better time than the present to revel in all that makes this city special. So don’t miss out.
Uncorked: San Diego at Embarcadero Marina Park North
April 25
The traveling Uncorked festival heads back to Embarcadero Marina Park North this Saturday from 1-5 p.m. for another 21+ bottle-popping celebration. Uncorked: San Diego promises more than 150 international wines and sparkling drink selections, plus a range of spirits, mocktails and canned cocktails. Plus, attendees can enjoy food trucks, live DJs and an assortment of lawn games. Ticket options include early admission ($95) and general admission ($79), which comes with entry at 2 p.m.; proceeds from this event will go toward the nonprofit Urban Surf 4 Kids.
In conjunction with the Taste of San Diego: Filipino Culinary Journeys exhibition, the San Diego History Center and the Council of Philippine American Organizations are hosting a Filipino Food Pop-Up. This complimentary culinary add-on, happening Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., will feature a Filipino menu of mainstays and desserts from Gabina’s Cuisine. History center visitors will be able to closely observe the cultural traditions within the exhibition while eating cuisine that reflects the city’s Filipino gastronomic evolution.
1649 El Prado, Balboa Park
Dawson’s Creek Brunch at Mic Drop Comedy
April 26
Up for an afternoon in Capeside? Fans of The WB’s golden era can reserve a spot at Mic Drop Comedy’s 21+ Dawson’s Creek Brunch, celebrating the iconic teen drama that launched the careers of Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson and the dearly departed James Van Der Beek. Experience the series’ most memorable moments, including the love triangles and Dawson’s eternal crying face. Doors open this Sunday at noon, with the event beginning at 1 p.m. General admission is $26 and a VIP booth, which comes with five tickets, is $225.
Six months after teasing his new project with a pair of intimate residencies at Blue Note Jazz Club in NYC and LA, Charlie Puth released his fourth studio album, Whatever’s Clever!, in late March. The smooth, nostalgic pop sound of the record is bolstered by an eclectic lineup of features, which include R&B dynamos Coco Jones and Ravyn Lenae, yacht rock icons Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald and Japanese-American pop idol Hikaru Utada. Puth’s performance this Wednesday at Viejas Arena (7:30 p.m.) will feature singer-songwriters Daniel Seavey and Ally Salort as openers. Tickets range from $42 to $176 for this concert.
5500 Canyon Crest Drive, Rolando
Adams Avenue Unplugged
April 25
Roam along Adams Avenue and see a plethora of pop-up concerts this Saturday from noon to midnight during Adams Avenue Unplugged. Ninety performers will play across 26 stages spread throughout University Heights, Kensington and Normal Heights, with local venues including cafes, pubs, and the offices of Heights Optometry. All performances are free except for the headliner set at 7 p.m. from Latino rock legend Alejandro Escovedo at Normal Heights United Church ($40). The church will also host the festival’s beer garden, and those who purchase the VIP food & drink package ($25), will receive three beers and a taco combo plate.
Adams Avenue
Ichiko Aoba at Balboa Theatre
April 25
Japanese multi-instrumentalist Ichiko Aoba distills vivid dreams into awe-inspiring music, creating boundless worlds where natural beauty pairs with audial delight. Aoba’s most recent album, Luminescent Creatures, takes this concept to satisfying new heights with a collection of songs that balance the quiet, loving embrace of home with the enchanting allure of freedom, all brought together by her calm, whisper-like vocals. Concertgoers can get swept away in Aoba’s world when she performs this Saturday at 8 p.m. at Balboa Theatre as part of her Across the Oceans Tour. Tickets range from $55 to $136 for this concert.
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.
Finding a gift that feels truly personal can be surprisingly difficult. In a sea of generic options — flowers, gift cards, candles, and the like — Xplosion Box offers something more lasting: a customized keepsake built around the photos, messages, and memories that matter most.
Founded by Southern California entrepreneur Jay Vijay, Xplosion Box LLC creates fully customized explosion gift boxes that arrive professionally designed, printed, assembled, and ready to gift. Each box opens layer by layer to reveal personal photos, heartfelt messages, pull-out albums, origami-style photo pockets, and hidden notes, turning a simple gift into an emotional reveal.
The brand was built for people who want to give something meaningful without spending hours printing photos, cutting paper, folding cardstock, or assembling a DIY project. Customers simply choose a box, upload their favorite photos, add personal messages, and the Xplosion Box team transforms those details into a polished keepsake that feels thoughtful, personal, and beautifully made.
Xplosion Box offers personalized gift boxes for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, graduations, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, proposals, bridesmaid gifts, long-distance relationships, and thoughtful “just because” moments.
Customers can choose from flexible customization options starting at $27. The Mini Surprise Box includes 10 photos, three message cards, and one hidden secret note, while the Mega Surprise Box offers a fuller keepsake experience with 40 photos, three message cards, and one hidden secret note.
What sets Xplosion Box apart is its high level of customization combined with convenience. Filled with personal photos, custom text, decorative details, and layered surprises, each box gives customers the freedom to create a gift that feels one-of-a-kind — without having to make it themselves.
At its core, Xplosion Box helps people turn favorite photos, stories, and words into something tangible: a keepsake that can be opened, revisited, and remembered long after the occasion has passed.
When we think of May, we think of Mother’s Day, blooming flowers, sunny skies, and lots of fun, seasonal events in the city. This month, locals can dine on the creations of James Beard Award-Winning Chefs at Rancho Bernardo Inn, or take advantage of berry season at the annual Vista Strawberry Festival. Theatre lovers can enjoy a showing of Kim’s Convenience at The Old Globe, while the San Diego Natural History Museum invites art enthusiasts to view its latest marine-themed exhibit. Grab your tickets and crack open that planner. Here are all the best things to do in San Diego this month:
Louisiana legend Juvenile, enhances by the live instrumentation of The 400 Degreez Band, will perform career hits and his newest album, Boiling Point, at House of Blues San Diego.
Photo Credit: Dahlia Katz
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Month
5/5–6/1
Turning the spotlight on contemporary LGBTQ artists, the inaugural ArtSpectrum 2026 will showcase both the grand and intimate scale of contemporary painters, photographers, and mixed media artists at Village Arts Outreach in Balboa Park.
12–24
The only ordinary element of the San Diego International Fringe Festival is the constant thrill of the extraordinary. Discover a plethora of innovative performances at venues from Pacific Beach to Baja.
A Korean-Canadian family balances tradition and assimilation from their Toronto storefront in Ins Choi’s comforting satire Kim’s Convenience, making its local premier at The Old Globe.
5/22–2/2027
Ocean debris will receive a new beginning at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Using repurposed pollution, Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea depicts creatively sculpted marine life.
Courtesy of BRICK
More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Month
4/30–5/3
Enjoy fine dining at its finest from a lineup of gastronomic titans during 54 Hours with James Beard Award-Winning Chefs. Savor elegant meals, masterclasses, tastings, and more at Rancho Bernardo Inn.
2
Unlimited bites, regional craft beers, and animal observations are on the menu for San Diego Zoo Food, Wine & Brew (with live music), a culinary evening in support of the San Diego Wildlife Alliance.
Spend An Evening with David Sedaris, humorist, essayist, and best-selling author. Never afraid to point the pen at himself, Sedaris will share old favorites and works in progress in the classic satirical style he’s known for at Jacobs Music Center.
15–17
Say cheese! And toast to the Cheese & Libation Expo. Explore three days of all-you-can eat and drink fare at BRICK, along with boutique shopping and bountiful pairings.
16
Stroll the private grounds of several luxurious homes, accompanied by live music, tabletop designs, and outdoor artistry, during the Secret Garden Tour, La Jolla Historical Society‘s flora and fauna fundraiser.
24
Vista recalls its days as a strawberry-producing superpower through its free Strawberry Festival. Wear your berry best fit, watch film screenings, and enter contests for shortcake, pie, and sundae indulging.
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.
Indoor soccer playoffs, engaging art exhibitions and avocado activities are in store this weekend in San Diego. Sports fans can root for the Gulls as they finish their regular season slate and catch a postseason matchup between the Sockers and the St. Louis Ambush. Evocative artwork can be admired through Space 4 Arts’ Instructions for Unrest: Art Against Complacency at Art Produce Gallery, the familial retrospective Brothers in Arts: James Hubbell and Bert Hubbell at Oceanside Museum of Art and two new exhibitions at MCASD from the private collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys. In addition, the annual Avocado Festival will return to the streets of downtown Fallbrook with an array of contests, entertainment and avocado-filled splendor.
Spend an afternoon along Lake San Marcos sampling a curated menu of greater San Diego’s best flavors during the 5th annual Lakehouse Food & Wine Festival. Over 30 vendors will showcase their best food, wine and spirits, with attendees encouraged to vote on their favorites. Ticket options include general admission ($89) and VIP passes ($160), which comes with early admission at noon and a luxury cruise to the festival’s deluxe island experience; prices will rise by $10 the day of the event. All eventgoers will also go home with a souvenir tasting glass.
No matter if you love or loathe avocados, there are festivities for everyone to explore during the free annual Fallbrook Avocado Festival this Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This includes family-friendly live entertainment, a beer and wine garden with live music and the Artisan Walk on Alvarado. Plus, there will be contests for the best tasting and looking guacamoles, avocado holding competitions, contests for best dressed avocado and little miss & mister avocado and the Avocado 500 mini car race.
Main Street from East Mission Road to Fallbrook Street, Fallbrook
Courtesy of Humphreys Concerts by the Bay
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
Ethel Cain at The Rady Shell
April 14
Can’t afford to see Ethel Cain at Coachella? Fortunately, San Diegans can catch the standout Americana artist this Tuesday at 7 p.m. when she plays The Rady Shell. Cain’s sonic mastery and intricate songwriting are best displayed in her pair of new projects from 2025: the dark and ambient Perverts and Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You, which continues and precedes the tales from her debut Preacher’s Daughter. Cain will be joined on the bill by shoegaze group 9Million and country rock standouts Wednesday. Tickets are $86 for this concert; $1 from every ticket sold will go to organizations that support the trans community via The Ally Coalition.
222 Marina Park Way, Embarcadero
Devo at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay
April 15
Assemble your circular red energy domes and head to Humphreys Concerts by the Bay this Wednesday at 8 p.m. to see new wave legends Devo. Also fresh off an appearance at weekend one of Coachella, Devo is celebrating its 53rd anniversary. Though it’s been 45 years since “Whip It” cracked its way up the Billboard Hot 100, and only a couple years since their lineup of “farewell” shows, Devo are finding ways to connect with new audiences, as evidenced by the mantra of their Mutate, Don’t Stagnate Tour. Tickets range from $120 to $243 for this concert.
2241 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island
San Diego Arab Film Festival
April 17–19
The second installment of this year’s San Diego Arab Film Festival returns to the Museum of Photographic Arts’ Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater for three nights of screenings this Friday through Sunday. The lineup of five shorts and five feature films includes international selections from Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, including All That’s Left of You, Hind Under Siege and The President’s Cake. Ticket options include a three-ticket pass ($40) and individual screening tickets ($15); cafeteria-style Arabic dinners can also be purchased ahead for each screening for $18.
1649 El Prado, Balboa Park
HoCo 420 Fest
April 17–19
Ocean Beach’s The Holding Company is ushering in the highest of holidays with this weekend’s HoCo 420 Fest. The festival begins Friday (7:30-11:30 p.m.) with a performance by reggae rock group Tomorrow’s Bad Seeds, continues Saturday (7-11:30 p.m.) with a headlining set from weed rap extraordinaire Devin the Dude and ends Sunday (1:30-6 p.m.) with an after party featuring local alternative band Fight Naked. Tickets are $15 for Friday, $30 for Saturday, $10 for Sunday and $45 for the whole weekend.
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.
Daniel A. Kaplan is a founding partner of Panakos LLP with more than three decades of civil litigation experience in both state and federal courts. Mr. Kaplan pursues and defends legal claims on behalf of companies, entrepreneurs, and business owners in high-stakes disputes. He focuses on business disputes including breach of contract, unfair competition, trade secret theft, securities disputes, fraud/misrepresentations, and employment matters.
“The best advocacy combines preparation, perspective, and a client relationship built on trust and candor.” — Daniel A. Kaplan
His clients include real estate investors, private and public corporations, and individuals seeking sophisticated legal counsel. Known for practical judgment and strategic advocacy, he works closely with an experienced and diverse legal team to protect, enforce, and defend his clients’ interests.
555 W. Beech Street, Ste. 500, San Diego, California 92101 619-8000-LAW Panakos.law
