Since 2017, the group been building a community for Black professionals through events, black-tie galas, concerts, rooftop soirees, and healing circles
Sometimes, an idea strikes and inspires someone to create all they wish to see. Like for Ivy League grad and former US Diplomat Loren Cobbs, founder of SD Melanin. The community provides a forum for Black professionals to congregate in San Diego, including an upcoming Juneteenth Celebration on June 25.
Cobbs migrated north to SD after completing an assignment in Tijuana, where she found she had an increasing thirst for spaces where she could enjoy camaraderie with other Black professionals. “I didn’t have a social network when I first moved here,” Cobbs says. “I’d go out by myself trying to acclimate with San Diego and west coast culture. I was wondering how I could meet people without door-to-door advocacy,” she says.
Photo courtesy of SD Melanin
Cobbs founded SD Melanin in 2017 and hosted her first event on MeetUp. “People would ask why I’m doing this, while others would say nobody would show up to the event. I’m the youngest of five siblings, and I have always been a bit stubborn, so I decided to move forward and see what happens,” she says.
The venue was a restaurant bar several blocks off the main drag in Hillcrest. More than 75 professionals showed up, a number that superseded what Cobbs expected. Since the inaugural Hillcrest gathering, SD Melanin has curated 200-plus events hosting more than 10,000 people at black-tie galas, concerts, rooftop soirees, and healing circles.
Photo courtesy of SD Melanin
But Cobbs isn’t alone in these endeavors. She is joined by a group of like-minded women (Jeaniqua Francis, Kiana Henderson, Amari Dixon, and Aniesa Thomas) who share a passion for outreach and community. “When I first began, I found it was women who would reach out to inquire about how they could be of assistance,” Cobbs says. “We bonded over community building and service.”
SD Melanin has hosted a Juneteenth celebration almost every year since the company’s inception, but part of striving for excellence is continuously elevating the standard. This year’s event will be hosted on Sunday, June 25, from 2 p.m. – 8 p.m. at The Holding Company (THC) in Ocean Beach. The full-day affair will include two workshops hosted by Passion Planner, art by Illustrated Melanin (curated by Black Liberated Artist Collective), and items for sale by local Black-owned businesses. The first floor at The Holding Company will play Afrobeats, Soca, Reggae, and Amapiano, while the second floor and rooftop will bump Hip Hop and R&B.
“The DJs will guide us through a musical journey,” Cobbs says. “We will take a musical journey throughout the diaspora and to places where Black folks have found liberation. It is fulfilling to feel like we are creating a solution and producing a space people feel invited in. Spaces they may not have been welcomed in before.”
But Juneteenth—which celebrates our country’s second independence day on June 19 and became a federal holiday in 2021—isn’t all cocktails and vibey music. The holiday carries a rich historical legacy. Juneteenth originated in Galveston, Texas, marking the end of slavery in the westernmost Confederate state on June 19, 1865.
June 19 isn’t just a date on the calendar, it’s an emblem of freedom. The name originates from combining June and nineteenth, and early celebrations were held where Black people felt both physical and psychological freedom, such as in churches. The food-centered gatherings had a healthy heartbeat and immense support amongst African Americans in the rural south, but did not become popularized across the United States until the Great Migration, one of the largest movements of people in this country’s history.
Photo courtesy of SD Melanin
Moving forward, Cobbs is confident SD Melanin will continue to be synonymous with providing space and opportunity for those committed to thriving outside the bounds of what they thought possible.“I want to make it abundantly clear why we are focused on Black joy, and that’s because the majority of stories told about the Black community are rooted in trauma. There aren’t enough conversations surrounding liberation and community,” says Cobb. “It is fulfilling to feel like we are creating a solution, and rewarding to see a community shift. It’s nice to welcome people into spaces they hadn’t previously felt welcomed in.”
Jared Cross is a writer who grew up near the US-Mexico border in San Diego. He credits this experience with refining his appetite for food and culture.
Juneteenth, sometimes called Freedom Day or Jubilee Day, has grown from a local Texas tradition into a nationwide celebration. It marks the moment in 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas and announced the freedom of around 250,000 enslaved people—symbolizing the end of slavery in one of the most remote parts of the former Confederacy.
In San Diego, Juneteenth stretches beyond the history books. It spills into parks, libraries, beaches, and backyards. It sounds like live jazz, spoken word, and open mics. It reminds you that liberation looks like a community in motion. There’s no one way to observe Juneteenth. From North Park block parties and dance floors to art exhibitions and Oceanside festivals, here are 12 events that all orbit the same idea: celebration with intention.
Courtesy of Cooper Family Foundation
How to Celebrate Juneteenth in San Diego
Cooper Family Juneteenth Celebration
June 21
For more than 50 years, the Cooper Family Foundation has been at the heart of San Diego’s Juneteenth celebrations, turning remembrance into one of the city’s most anticipated cultural events. It all began with Sidney Cooper Sr., a businessman and cornerstone of the Black community, who championed Juneteenth long before it became widely recognized.
Today, that legacy continues in full force, carried on by his family and held in loving memory of both Sidney and Thelma Cooper. This free, family-friendly celebration blends history with joy. Prepare for over 100 vendors, five food trucks, a domino tournament, multiple stages featuring live music, African drumming and dance, educational programming, and a dedicated kids’ zone. It’s a day of culture, connection, and community, all rooted in the belief that “We know the past. We shape the future.”
11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. | 2975 Ocean View Blvd, San Diego
Financial Literacy Pancake Breakfast
June 19
Because financial freedom is part of the conversation, too, this $5 community breakfast pairs syrupy stacks with real talk about generational wealth, investing, and how to build a thriving Black economy. Come for the pancakes, stay for flipping the script on financial education. Bonus: every donation supports 7th and 8th graders who participate in a financial literacy course, and helps kick-start their futures with a $25 boost.
9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | 4900 Memorial Drive, La Mesa
Inaugural Juneteenth San Marcos
June 19
It’s freedom, flavor, and firsts in San Marcos this year with its inaugural Juneteenth celebration at Cal State University San Marcos. The Student Union will host an afternoon of live music, local vendors, family-friendly fun, and community spirit. The standout is the Emancipation Lounge VIP Culinary Experience, a rooftop tasting featuring upscale small bites from top Black chefs like Kelston Moore, Tony Bennett Jr., and DuVal Warner. Guests will enjoy handcrafted mocktails, goodie bags, a red carpet, and stunning views, plus a chance to connect with the chefs behind the dishes. With just 250 VIP tickets available, this exclusive event is expected to sell out fast. Proceeds benefit Bad Boyz of Culinary and AIM: Achievement in Motion.
3 – 8 p.m. | 333 S Twin Oaks Valley Rd, San Marcos
Courtesy of Rhythm & Brunch
Rhythm & Brunch Juneteenth Celebration
June 19
With great food and smooth R&B, Rhythm & Brunch SD’s Juneteenth celebration is the perfect way to spend your Thursday. From 3 p.m. to 9 p.m, toast to a delicious, boozy brunch with a soulful soundtrack that celebrates culture and community. It’s casual, celebratory, and something you won’t want to miss.
3 – 9 p.m. | 401 G Street San Diego
Louisiana Purchase Juneteenth Block Party
June 19
Louisiana Purchase isn’t just hosting a party, it’s celebrating history, resilience, and freedom with a vibrant block party that puts culture front and center. Enjoy exclusive Juneteenth menu specials featuring New Orleans-inspired bites alongside a selection of Black-owned local vendors. The soundtrack flows with Afrobeats, R&B, and Hip-Hop, creating the perfect backdrop for a night honoring Black excellence through music, food, and community. The celebration kicks off at 12 p.m.
12 – 7 p.m.
2305 University Ave, San Diego
Juneteenth Spoken Word Open Mic!
June 19
Maybe you’re a poet, or maybe you’re just a really good listener. Either way, this celebration night invites you to grab the mic or settle in for something real. You’ll hear raw, poetic, and often hilarious takes on freedom, gratitude, resilience, hope and identity from some of San Diego’s most compelling storytellers. It’s an open space for local voices to share original pieces and reflect on what Juneteenth means right now.
Isabella Dallas is a freelance writer for San Diego Magazine and the Arts and Culture Editor at The Daily Aztec in her final year at San Diego State University. She previously worked as an editorial intern for SDM, but when she’s not writing, you can find her trying the best coffee spots in SD, devouring the latest rom-coms, and indulging in anything and everything pop culture.
Juneteenth is the official enslaved African independence day and recently became a federally recognized holiday.
By Kia Edwards
Kia Edwards and family.jpg
Our family is connected to Juneteenth. What an incredible source of pride, especially now.
Juneteenth is the official enslaved African independence day and recently became a federally recognized holiday. The effort—led by my husband’s late uncle, the honorable Al Edwards—has been a long-awaited victory.
Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1865, which announced the freedom of enslaved Africans in the U.S. It wasn’t until two years later, on June 19, that slaves in Galveston, Texas were made aware they had been freed. This is why African-Americans have been acknowledging and honoring it every year by organizing events that spur economic development for African-Americans, through cultural celebrations throughout the community, and just gathering with loved ones. It’s an honoring of those who not only fought for our freedom as African-Americans, but also sacrificed themselves to help build and develop this country.
Texas, where the story of Juneteenth originates in Galveston, was the first state to commemorate the date in 1980 thanks to the efforts of many (including uncle Al, who was then a Texas State Representative). By 2002, eight states followed. Four years later, it was up to 15 states. In 2021—41 years after its inception—Juneteenth was officially written into history and acknowledged as a federal holiday. It’s a crucial recognition.
For those wondering about the controversy surrounding Juneteenth, it’s a complex topic. But a lot of it has to do with the fact that many slave owners refused to follow the new order. Enslaved Africans, though officially freed by the government and now U.S. citizens, would not realize that until years later.
The idea that slavery ended on Juneteenth has been far from the reality of the Black experience in the United States. Inequality and workplace bias extends to areas like the healthcare and justice systems, lack of access to affordable housing and financial inclusivity, and the simple sharing of equal privileges of non-Black people.
But, back to the national holiday. This celebration of Black history and our heritage is long overdue. I’m grateful to have seen our country and specifically my home town of San Diego take an interest in our contributions by challenging businesses, politicians, educators, and influencers to be thoughtful in allyship. We should remember to leave marginalized communities better than how they were found.
Juneteenth is just a single day, but we can honor the spirit of it everyday life. Consider the intersectionality of Black people who also identify as LGBTQIA+ or disabled, who often experience discrimination for multiple aspects of their identity. Have the hard conversations at the dinner table. Denounce injustice and listen to learn from Black people’s stories. Find ways to add value to our community without being performative or financially opportunistic when honoring our culture. Support our efforts without looking for a return.
We have come far. But there is still so much to be done to equally share in the same American dream. The collective dream would really be something to celebrate.
Correction: An earlier version of this story made it sound as if June 19 was the date Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. It was not. June 19 was the day Union troops freed the last enslaved Black Americans in Texas nearly two years later.
Kia Edwards.jpg
About Kia Edwards:
Kia Edwards is founder and CEO of Champion Instructors, a company that solves diverse educational and training needs virtually or in person. She is a humanitarian, activist, EDUpreneur, a wife, and a mother of two young boys.
Music, Art Exhibits & Block Parties: How to Celebrate Juneteenth
Looking for ways to observe the holiday? Check out these local events
NAACP
By Jeff Terich
NAACP, hero
NAACP
Saturday, June 18
Juneteenth: A Summer Celebration of Culture
The Jacobs Center, in partnership with Community Actors Theatre and Common Ground Theatre, are offering a free outdoor event of theater and history. The event will feature a lineup of dance, music, storytelling and more, including performances by Devon Stallion and J’Rayl. There will also be food trucks and other vendors, as well as visual art. The festivities begin at 10 a.m. at The Jacobs Center at Market Street Plaza.
Axis: Juneteenth Celebration
Presented in collaboration with the George L. Stevens Senior Center, the Old Globe hosts the Axis: Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 18 at noon in its outdoor theater. The event will feature poetry, music, storytelling, and comedy from performers such as Alyce Smith Cooper, Def Sound, David Dredden and the Undefeated, and Brittany Taylor. Admission is free for attendees, but you must RSVP online.
The Cooper Family Foundation Celebration
The nonprofit Cooper Family Foundation has held its Juneteenth celebration annually in San Diego for more than 50 years. The event, which takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. highlights its significance with a community-oriented day filled with food, entertainment, dancing and history. This year’s free event will take place at Memorial Park, with live music from headliners Con Funk Shun, plus gospel, jazz, cultural performances, and educational resources. The event will also be broadcast live on Facebook for those who won’t be able to attend in person.
North San Diego County NAACP Juneteenth Celebration
North County’s chapter of the North Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) hosts a day of celebration in Oceanside at Pier View Way and North Freeman Street. The event kicks off at 10 a.m. and features performances, local art and music, a Kidz Zone, free health screenings, a vaccine station, and food and beverage vendors. The event is free for all to attend.
NAACP
NAACP
Sunday, June 19
Juneteenth Unity Market
On Sunday, the World Beat Cultural Center will unveil Pathways to Freedom, a new traveling exhibit that connects history between the U.S. and Mexico with the Underground Railroad. The event will also keynote speakers Jordan McGowan and Dr. Starla Lewis as well as an outdoor marketplace at Centro Cultural de la Raza, with food, vendors and speakers. The event kicks off at noon, and the Pathways to Freedom preview goes from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
La Mesa Juneteenth and Friends Festival
La Mesa hosts its inaugural Juneteenth festival on Sunday at MacArthur Park. The event is free and will feature food, music, art, dance, and crafts, with participation from educators, writers, city and church leaders. Performances will also include music by the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Choir. The festivities kick off at noon and wrap up at 4 p.m.
Juneteenth Celebration 5K
Fit, Black and Educated, a nonprofit that helps provide Black communities with tools to promote better physical health, hosts its third annual 5K run/walk/bike event on Juneteenth. The course begins at Chollas Lake Park, and all participants will receive a drawstring bag and finisher medal, plus the first 50 participants will receive a shirt. The race begins at 7:00 a.m. and ends at 11 a.m. and is $45 (plus fees) to register. All proceeds will go toward Fit, Black and Educated.
Juneteenth Block Party
SD Melanin brings back its Juneteenth Block Party this year, which is being held at Quartyard from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. The event will feature music, food, vendors and “major vibes.” Music will be provided by DJ Prodigee and Mister Hek, as well as hip-hop artist ThaSpeakerBoxx. Tickets to the event are $25, and attendance is restricted to ages 21 and up.
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. asion has passed.
Captain Keno’s No. 8 special—pancakes, sausage, toast, home fries, and eggs for $2.99—was the fuel that powered Benji Weatherley for surf competitions as a teenage pro. A couple decades later, tears were shed when the Coast Highway dive-slash-eatery called it a day after 54 years. Usually, the guts of a shuttered restaurant go to liquidation auctions or straight to the dump to decompose along with its legend. Instead, Weatherley took in Keno’s spare parts—plus other relics from Encinitas’ past—and used them to build the newest community hangout.
Every single piece in the place is from somewhere in this town,” Weatherley says about Breakers Cafe Bar & Grill. “I’m not going to settle for anything less.”
Breakers is a Hawaiian hideout in an uncool part of the coastal surf town, but it’s got the set design of an Encinitas superfan. The plates, silverware, and coffee mugs are from Keno’s. So are the tables and booths. There’s a bench made from the last table preserved in The Derby House (a building that, for over a century, was a hotel, then became a hospital, a religious retreat, and a private home). Weatherley’s not performing CPR on old upholstery because he’s a fan of antique furniture. It’s a method to bring people together.
“Representing nostalgia in this town is the only way to grasp a hold of the community,” Weatherley says. “Everyone wants to touch and feel something different from what they’re experiencing on their phones.”
Photo Credit: Matt Furman
Every week, locals bring him photos, artifacts, and bits of paraphernalia from Encinitas’ past and ask Weatherley to give them a new home. “I’ve had ladies who were there when [Captain Keno’s] opened cry in my arms and say, ‘This table is where I had my second birthday with my grandma,’” he says. “They tell me these stories, and I tell them I have all the same stories about my mom.” (Weatherley’s mom first brought him to Keno’s and helped raise the young surfers from the Momentum Generation documentary—Weatherley, Taylor Steele, Rob Machado, Kelly Slater, etc.—as they surfed some of the world’s most dangerous waves at Pipeline in Hawaii. Back then, she owned Breakers Restaurant & Bar in Haleiwa. Name sound familiar?)
Weatherley has always been the funniest man in the room. He calls Breakers “the Chuck E. Cheese of Encinitas.” The restaurant hosts hula dancing classes, open-mic comedy nights, and evenings bartended by longtime Captain Keno’s barkeep Vaka Kaufusi. Cult-loved reggae band Steel Pulse hit the Breakers stage recently to perform a new song that Weatherley also helped write. His longtime friend Jack Johnson has dropped by to sing a few, too.
Despite not having a fancy location along the 101, people are catching on. Fire stations and hospitals have held staff parties there. Weatherley also currently sponsors four sports teams.
“Last night, I had a girl say, ‘I want my birthday party at Breakers,’” he says. “That, to me, is community in a nutshell.”
Emma Veidt is an editor at San Diego Magazine. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from the Missouri School of Journalism. She loves running, hiking, and rock climbing, but really, she mostly loves encounters with the street cats around North Park.
Siblings make better music. That’s the hot take, and there’s some logic and science behind it. The Bee Gees, Jackson 5, Billie Eilish and Finneas, AC/DC, Van Halen, The Allman Brothers—heck, even the Hanson brothers, why not? Beyond just a shared sense of taste and nonverbal communication developed over decades of living and evolving together, there’s a thing called “blood harmony.” The genetically similar throat cavities, vocal cords, speech patterns, and resonant bone structures all blend each unique voice into a more homophonic sound than what comes out of two non-related singers.
Those throat cavities are working wonders for emerging San Diego band We the Commas—three brothers (from oldest to youngest) Lenny, Jordon, and Cam Comma.
Raised in Vista and Carlsbad, the family opted out of cable TV (video games got a pass). Without binge-watching to fill bored hours, the trio turned to music. Guitar Hero led to GarageBand and finally to live instruments—guitars for Lenny and Cam, drum set for Jordon. In their sound, the influence of Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, The Who, and Dave Matthews Band is obvious, and so is surf culture, specifically that laid-back chill of North County surf culture.
“We’re like the Black Beach Boys,” Cam says. (Note: Three of the five founding members of the Beach Boys were siblings—the theory gets stronger.)
Their debut EP pretty clearly lays out how they see their sound—titled SARB, an acronym for Surf Alternative R&B. That resonates in the song “Sherry,” with its easy-listening, windows-down-on-the-101 vibe. It also works in the louder, surf-punkier “Pissed Off.” Despite some advances in reducing core stereotyping tendencies, people still tend to autofill Black musicians into rap and R&B. The Comma brothers immediately circumvent that by declaring themselves out the gates.
“SARB makes it so [listeners are] open to all of the things that we want to do,” Lenny says. “From there, you can put a label on whatever you think it sounds like.”
Courtesy of We the Commas
People—and musicians further up the stream—are taking note. In 2023, they co-wrote the song “I Keep Fallin’” with Eric Cannata, guitarist for multi-platinum SoCal band Young the Giant. In early 2024, they were tapped to open the national tour of Brooklyn’s jazz-pop heroes, Sammy Rae & The Friends. Comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias invited them to warm up his show at Pechanga a couple months later.
“We really believe genuinely, with our whole hearts, minds and souls, that this is going to work the way that we think it’s going to,” Cam says, grinning ear to ear.
Currently, the Commas live together in Vista, and the dream, wholeheartedly, is more alive than ever. They’ve put out two dozen singles and a trio of EPs: SARB (2020), Old School Love (2021), and Aeroplane (2024); this year alone brought the release of three new singles, including “Let Me,” a silky-smooth entry in their growing collection of love songs.
“We fully realized the magic is in all of us together,” Lenny says. “We know that this doesn’t happen without each person, and we have respect for each other because we need each other.”
As they grow as brothers and as a band, the Commas try to always remember what unified them in the first place.
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.
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.
