15 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: Nov. 27–Dec. 1
Be thankful for a Friendsgiving feast at Lionfish, admire bejeweled ornaments at the Timken Museum of Art, and catch “A Christmas Carol” at the Cygnet Theater
There’s much to be thankful for this week—including another busy weekend full of fun San Diego events. Folks who still have Woodstock FOMO will have two chances to celebrate the music of the era’s biggest stars. Local theaters will bring iconic holiday tales to life. And a handful of SD restaurants are offering Friendsgiving spreads, so you can skip the cooking and focus on all the other great things to do in San Diego this weekend.
Fort Oak’s “Snowed In” cocktail pop-up will pair snow globe ambience with a dozen seasonal drinks. The menu from Fort Oak Beverage Director Jess Stewart will feature highlights like creamy espresso martinis and tiki-inspired rum and fruit concoctions in festive mugs. These libations can be enjoyed nightly from 5 p.m. to midnight, now through the end of the year.
1011 Fort Stockton Drive, Mission Hills
Friendsgiving Feast at Lionfish
November 27
Lionfish chef Jose “JoJo” Ruiz is taking a fine-dining approach to holiday home cooking with his Friendsgiving Feast menu. From 5 to 10 p.m. this Wednesday, guests can indulge in a deep-fried turkey bucket, Boursin mashed potatoes, truffle mac and cheese, and buttermilk biscuits for $45, and if you’d like, wash it all down with $5 shots.
Berry Good Food Foundation Friendsgiving Eve Fundraiser at Rumorosa
November 27
Rumorosa on Harbor Island is hosting a range of fundraisers this month, with 15 percent of proceeds going to the sustainable nonprofit Berry Good Food Foundation. The restaurant’s Friendsgiving Eve Fundraiser this Wednesday will be a buffet-style meal with Baja white fish ceviche, agave-and-chipotle-glazed chicken wings, and mezcal-flambéed cream cheese flan for $20 per person plus tax and gratuity. Patrons arriving in groups of four or more can also enjoy the restaurant’s month-long Friendsgiving Fundraiser, a $65-per-person meal from chef Cesar Oceguera with items such as mole negro roasted chicken, through Nov. 30.
1380 Harbor Island Drive, Harbor Island
Beer By the Bay 2024
November 30
Beer By the Bay returns this Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. at Coronado Ferry Landing Park. Attendees can enjoy craft beer, selections from regional wineries, games, a photo booth, and live music by the water. Ticket options include general admission ($81.88) and military GA ($65.87), which come with unlimited craft beer, spirit, wine, cocktail and seltzer tastings, and VIP ($161.90), which comes with early admission, VIP seating, and more.
1201 1st Street, Coronado
Courtesy of Thee Sacred Souls
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
Gand Band Woodstock Immersive Experience at Humphreys Backstage
November 27
Fronted by local singers Michele Lundeen and Damion Willis, the six-piece Gand Band is bringing the Woodstock festival experience to Humphreys Backstage this Wednesday night. While the band members play the defining hits of the counterculture period—from Santana to Sly Stone—in all of their tie-dye glory, psychedelic visuals and interviews with the era’s musicians will be projected on screen. Tickets are starting at $28.75.
2241 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s Wild & Swingin’ Holiday Party at Balboa Theatre
November 30
This Saturday at the Balboa Theatre, swing revival specialists Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will keep things fun and festive, performing original yuletide tunes—like the brass-heavy lounge track “Christmas Time in Tinsel Town”—along with holiday essentials. Tickets start at $54.05.
868 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp
Thee Sacred Souls at SOMA
December 1
San Diegans will have one last chance to see Thee Sacred Souls perform live locally in 2024 this Sunday night at SOMA. Tickets are officially sold out for this performance from the darlings of San Diego soul, but resale admission is going for upwards of $230.
3350 Sports Arena Boulevard, Midway
Courtesy of Cygnet Theater
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend
Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play at New Village Arts
Through December 24
In this radio play adaptation of Miracle on 34th Streetat New Village Arts, when a newly hired Macy’s department store Santa Claus claims to be the real deal, all in his orbit are forced to confront their belief in the existence of Old Saint Nick. There will be four performances of Miracle on 34th Street this week, with previews through Nov. 29 and opening night this Saturday. Tickets are $60 and can be purchased here.
2787 State Street, Carlsbad
Jewels of the Season at Timken Museum of Art
Through December 31
Jewels of the Season is an annual installation at the museum, featuring over 1,000 decorative, handcrafted ornaments by local artists Florence Hord and Elizabeth Schlappi. This year, you can see the spectacular trinkets alongside a model train on loan from the San Diego Model Railroad Museum.
1500 El Prado, Balboa Park
Six String Society Presents “27 Club” at California Center for the Arts, Escondido
November 29
Six String Society’s ode to the infamous “27 Club” gathers the collective’s most famous rockstars for a mythical performance in 1969 Greenwich Village on the night before Woodstock. The music of artists like Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, and Jimi Hendrix, whose lives were all cut short at the age of 27, will collide for a jam session from the afterlife. There will be two performances this Friday (one at 2 p.m. and another at 7 p.m.) at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, with ticket prices ranging from $38 to $96.
340 North Escondido Boulevard, Escondido
A Christmas Carol at Cygnet Theater
November 29–December 24
The ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future guide the cantankerous Ebeneezer Scrooge to a necessary realization in this stage production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol featuring original music, puppetry, and live sound effects. Ticket prices range from $39 to $73 for this production, with four performances this weekend (including two on Saturday).
4040 Twiggs Street, Old Town
Courtesy of Quartyard
More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend
Downtown Skate By The Bay
Through January 5
Roll over to the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina for a spin around its new 6,000-square-foot roller skating rink at Downtown Skate By The Bay. Open daily from 12 to 10 p.m., the outdoor rink will feature Christmas-themed pop-ups, tastings, and more. A 90-minute skating session will set you back $26. For a more elevated experience, two-hour premium rinkside seating reservations come with heaters and mobile dining service for $150.
333 West Harbor Drive, Downtown
Turkey Trots
November 28
Before diving into a Thanksgiving spread and the subsequent food coma, make room for the big meal by running, jogging, or strolling your way through a local 5K. This year’s offerings include a team-friendly race in Oceanside, a fundraiser for Father Joe’s Villages in Balboa Park, and a classic competition along the San Diego Bay in Coronado.
Citywide
Julian Country Christmas & Tree Lighting
November 30
The centerpiece of Julian’s holiday festivities, Julian Country Christmas, takes place from noon to 8 p.m this Saturday. The event will include live music, a Christmas market, holiday-themed performances, an appearance from Santa Claus, and a holly jolly tree lighting at Julian Town Square.
East Village Tree Lighting & Holiday Market at Quartyard
November 30
The East Village will embrace the seasonal spirit this Saturday with a tree lighting, conducted by the East Village Association and city officials, and a holiday market at Quartyard from 4 to 8 p.m. There will be photos with Santa, live music on two stages from local acts like Mojo Repair Shop and Harmonica John, and plenty of handcrafted items to purchase from artisan vendors. Anyone interested in stopping by can RSVP for free here.
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.
Is there any food more quintessentially San Diegan than the California burrito? That was a rhetorical question since the French fry-stuffed, flour tortilla-wrapped torpedo of carne asada bliss came into being in the 80s (either invented by Lolita’s or Santana’s, depending on who you ask). But now, Vietnamese-Mexican pop-up Một Bánh Mì may be giving the longtime champ a run for its money.
Một Bánh Mì’s original California banh mi takes cues from both cultures, using traditional Vietnamese baguettes from Paris Bakery filled with carne asada and garnished with cilantro-jalapeno crema, Vietnamese mayonnaise, pickled vegetables, cilantro, cucumber, jalapenos, and of course, French fries.
“It’s so San Diego—it’s so us,” says Desmond Bui, pop-up founder and owner with partner Marisol Santiago. “It really encapsulates the Vietnamese-American and Mexican-American journey and identity here.”
Both grew up in San Diego. Bui is Vietnamese. Santiago is Mexican-American. The sandwich makes utter personal sense.
Neither of them cooked professionally before launching Một Bánh Mì earlier this year, when they popped up for the first time at Convoy Rising for Lunar New Year. But after seeing the rise of the local Vietnamese coffee scene with shops like Saigon Coffee, Chance’s Coffee, and Em Coffee House, Bui knew there was an opportunity for a new generation to put a fresh spin on Vietnamese food in San Diego.
While there are plenty of places to grab a banh mi around town (K Sandwiches, Ba Le French Sandwich Shop, Lee’s Sandwiches, and so on), we’ve yet to hear of a California banh mi. Firsts are being firsted.
“Banh mi is regarded by top chefs as the best sandwich in the world,” says Bui. (Side note: I concur.) And after discovering overlap between Mexican and Vietnamese cuisines through common ingredients like cilantro, lime, jalapeno, white onion, and pickled vegetables, they began planning a menu.
Courtesy of Một Bánh Mì
Một Bánh Mì also serves Bánh Mì Đặc Biệt (Vietnamese cold cuts), Bánh Mì Thịt Nướng (grilled lemongrass pork banh mi), and Bánh Mì carnitas de hongos (mushroom pâté banh mi), along with some specials like Thịt Nướng tacos (grilled lemongrass pork) and hopefully soon, al pastor trompo banh mi (marinated pork shaved off a spit) and charcoal-grilled adobada.
Other banh mi shops Americanize names for English-speaking audiences—for example, listing “grilled chicken sandwich” instead of Bánh Mì Gà Nướng. Not Một Bánh Mì. If you’re not sure how to pronounce something, Bui says they’re happy to help. It’s an educational opportunity, he explains, as well as a chance for them to be “unapologetically Vietnamese and Mexican.”
Part of the immersive experience is playing Vietnamese tunes from the ‘60s and ‘70s.
“When you think of universal languages, what are ways when you travel or meet a different group of people that you can still find common ground and connect and feel like we’re a lot more alike than we are different?” Bui asks. “Food and music.”
The musical element is part of Một Bánh Mì’s greater vision. They’d like to evolve into a lifestyle brand and media company, with merch, jars of pickled vegetables, you name it. Eventually, they’d like to open a brick-and-mortar somewhere in Mid-City. In the meantime, they’ll continue to pop up at places like Mixed Grounds and Chance’s Coffee, or wherever they can. (Bui called Provecho Coffee their “dream collab,” hint hint.)
San Diego bartenders have been making serious waves over the past few years, and it looks like 2026 is carrying on that momentum. Dominique Muñoz, bar lead at Polite Provisions, just nabbed a top spot on Punch’s Best New Bartenders 2026 list. She’s hardly new to the game, having been behind the stick for nearly a decade and founding the Sirens and Spirits collective to elevate women and nonbinary bartenders in the industry, but it’s fabulous to see some (well-deserved) San Diego representation on the short list. Congrats to Muñoz—we can’t wait to see what you do next.
Speaking of awards, Tribute Pizza just earned a prize of its own. The North Park pizza palace hit #38 on the 50 Top Pizza list this year (for the fourth year) right before its 10th anniversary on June 2. Here’s to another decade of delightful pies, ridiculously good Caesar salads, and the weird-to-have, but delicious-to-eat Sichuan spicy noodles.
But the recognition doesn’t stop there. San Diego’s only three-Michelin-starred restaurant Addison by William Bradley (which is freshly re-open after a thorough renovation) just made San Diego history by being the first restaurant in the city to make it on North America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 list at #31. Considering there are something around 70,000 restaurants in North America (if not more)—I’d say landing in the top 50 is pretty monumental.
San Diego has one of the highest concentrations of people in the African diaspora, including one of the nation’s largest East African populations behind Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. To celebrate the huge diversity of cuisines from countries like Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and beyond, head to the annual San Diego Soul Food Fest on August 1 at the North Park Mini Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Soul food’s roots come from the American South, where generations of enslaved people made do with what resources they had; today, it’s a celebration of culture, cooking, and community. I, for one, am salivating at the thought of getting some legit collard greens and fried catfish.
In lieu of catfish, I just might pop over to Bica in Normal Heights on June 20 for the Tuna Takedown, where chefs from Kingfisher, Mabel’s Gone Fishing, Ironside, À L’ouest, Fish Guts (plus a few more) will go full nose-to-tail on a 150-pound bluefin tuna. That’s about as fresh as it gets, and with beer, wine, and a DJ on top of that, I’m hard-pressed to make any other plans that night.
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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.
Hop all over San Diego this weekend for sports, live music and egg-stravagant Easter events. San Diegans can cheer on both the Gulls and the Mojo as they make their respective playoff pushes. Local concerts include the improvisational Reggie Watts at the Epstein Family Amphitheater and a tribute performance of the Dave Brubeck Quartet’s Time Out at Jacobs Music Center. And when Easter Sunday comes around, families can celebrate the holiday by exploring the Makers Arcade Spring Fair or dining at Arlo’s Easter Golden Egg Buffet Brunch.
Chef’s Dinner: The Study of Peas + Fava at The Kitchen at MCASD
April 2
For its first Chef’s Dinner of 2026, The Kitchen at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego is looking to the legume family for its star ingredients. The four-course prix fixe menu will include optional wine pairings and a welcome bite, plus dishes like olive oil poached halibut with pea and artichoke barigoule, as well as angel food cake with sweet pea mint ice cream, and white chocolate and lemon verbena curd for dessert. Indoor and outdoor seatings for The Study of Peas + Fava dinner are available this Thursday from 5-8 p.m. Reservations are $95 per person online.
Sip from a selection of over 80 locally crafted brews while taking in live musical performances during the 16th annual North Park Festival of Beers. This Saturday from noon to 4 p.m., hang out in front of the LaFayette Hotel and enjoy food vendors, sets from Louis XIV and The Film Company, and unlimited two ounce beer tasters. Ticket options include $56 for general admission (entry at 1 p.m.), $41 for designated driver entry and $72 for VIP passes, which come with special beer sampling from noon to 1 p.m. As always, a portion of event proceeds will go toward the San Diego Music Foundation’s Taylor Guitars in Schools program.
2223 El Cajon Boulevard, North Park
Easter Golden Egg Buffet Brunch at Arlo
April 5
Dine out with the whole family this Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Arlo’s Easter Golden Egg Buffet Brunch. The holiday spread will include a seafood station, themed cocktails and sweet and savory breakfast classics, as well as a live DJ, pop-up jewelry shopping from Kendra Scott and an appearance from the Easter Bunny. Reservations (not including tax and gratuity) are $99 per adult—and include a complimentary glass of sparkling wine—$40 for kids ages 5-12 and free for kids ages 4 and under. Families are also welcome to bring baskets so their young ones can take part in one of Town and Country’s easter egg hunts on Martini Lawn.
500 Hotel Circle North, Mission Valley
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
Calum Scott at The Observatory North Park
April 1
April 2026 marks 11 years since Calum Scott’s solemn cover of Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own” that took him from the stage of Britain’s Got Talent to viral chart success worldwide. Since then, he’s released three albums, the most recent being the nostalgic Avenoir, released last October. Now on the West Coast leg of his international tour, Scott is stopping by The Observatory North Park this Wednesday (7 p.m.) with indie pop artist Ber, whose debut album Good, Like It Should Be drops this Friday. Tickets range from $50 to $87 for this concert.
2891 University Avenue, North Park
Acoustic Evenings Series at The Athenaeum
Fridays from April 3-24
Every Friday night in April (7:30 p.m.), the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library will present an unplugged concert as part of its Acoustic Evenings series. Up first this Friday is independent rapper and former MacGregor frontman Wax. Also on the bill are a pair of duos: Lisa Sanders and Karen “Brown Sugar” Hayes, players of intimate folk, rock, gospel and more, and Jimmy and Enrique, comprising the world music stylings of guitarist Jimmy Patton and percussionist Enrique Platas. Tickets are $19 for Athenaeum members and $24 for non-members.
1008 Wall Street, La Jolla
Dave Brubeck Quartet’s Time Out at Jacobs Music Center
April 4
Released in 1959, Time Out by the Dave Brubeck Quartet was a milestone release, with the only thing more pleasingly irregular than its time signatures being its honor as the first jazz album to sell one million records. As part of the Jazz @ The Jacobs Series, a quartet of modern-day jazz musicians will once again perform Time Out in full this Friday at Jacobs Music Center. Following a pre-show set from Gilbert Castellanos’ Young Lions Jazz Conservatory at 6:30 p.m., pianist Josh Nelson, alto saxophonist Nicole McCabe, bassist Luca Alemanno and drummer Joe LaBarbera will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $63 to $80 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.
Just as seasons for the Clippers and Sockers come to a close with Fan Appreciation Nights, a new set of 162 games will begin for the Padres on Opening Day. The return of Padres baseball also means the Friar faithful can check out Margaritaville Hotel’s Padres’ Kickoff Rooftop Party and the celebratory East Village Block Party. Those who prefer an outing at the theater over a day at the ballpark can see local productions of The Lehman Trilogy and Matt & Ben or the debut of works by women+ playwrights at the Lamoise New Works Festival. Plus, fans of live music can see Lang Lang, Digable Planets and fifteen San Diego County choirs in concert this week.
Padres’ Kickoff Rooftop Party at 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar
March 26
A few blocks from the Padres’ home opener at Petco Park, fans can say cheers to the new season during the free Padres’ Kickoff Rooftop Party at Margaritaville Hotel. This Thursday from 3-7 p.m. at the hotel’s 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar, patrons can catch a set from DJ Chino of iHeart Radio Channel 93.3, plus enjoy photo ops, lawn games, mini golf and Padres merch for sale from The Finnish Long Drink. There will also be a themed game day menu, featuring items like the Grand Slam Philly Fries and the dragon fruit-infused Ballpark Paloma. RSVP here.
Take a gastronomic trek around France with Little Frenchie this Sunday at 6 p.m. during the Tour de France Wine Dinner. This four-course prix fixe meal will feature complimentary wine pairings and emphasize the unique culinary strengths of four French regions: Lyon, Provence, Burgundy and Normandy. Guests will be guided through the significance and history of the evening’s pairings by Rafael Peterson of H. Mercer Imports. Reservations are $150 per person.
1166 Orange Avenue, Coronado
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
Lang Lang at Jacobs Music Center
March 26
Chinese pianist Lang Lang is among the world’s most well-known classical musicians, with his talents taking him everywhere from the Grammy Awards, to private shows for heads of state, to multiple Olympic opening ceremonies. His mastery of the keys, done with wonderful enthusiasm and dexterity, leaves no awe-inspiring detail behind. This Thursday (7:30 p.m.), Lang Lang will play a selection of recognizable pieces from Mozart, Liszt and Beethoven in concert at Jacobs Music Center. Tickets start at $95 for this concert.
1245 Seventh Avenue, Downtown
Digable Planets at Belly Up
March 27 & 28
The melding of jazz and hip-hop has rarely sounded sweeter than on Digable Planets’ second album Blowout Comb. Though it proved to be their final project, it eternally cemented the group as one of the forebears of jazz rap, alongside acts from the Native Tongues movement like A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul. In celebration of Blowout Comb’s 30th anniversary, Digable Planets will perform back-to-back nights at Belly Up, where they’ll be joined by San Diego artists Ric Scales (Friday) and Blame One (Saturday). Tickets start at $60 for both concerts.
143 South Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach
San Diego Writers Festival
March 28
Aspiring writers and readers ranging from casual to voracious can enjoy a day of literary panels, workshops and readings this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the 7th annual San Diego Writers Festival. Held at the Coronado Public Library and Coronado Performing Arts Center, this year’s event will feature best-selling and emerging writers of romance, mystery, historical fiction and more. The lineup includes talks covering trauma, spirituality, and artistry in the age of AI, and a keynote discussion with novelist Jodi Picoult. RSVP for the free festival here.
640 Orange Avenue & 650 D Avenue, Coronado
San Diego Sings! Festival at The Conrad
March 28
Fifteen San Diego County choirs will fill The Conrad with vocal harmony during this Saturday’s San Diego Sings! Festival. Organized by the Choral Consortium of San Diego, audiences can catch performances by the San Diego Women’s Chorus, Encore Vocal Ensemble and the San Diego Children’s Choir. The performers will be split into three concert performances (11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m.) inside Baker-Baum Concert Hall. Tickets are $23 for each of the three concerts.
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.
For Executive Chef Emily Brubaker, Omni La Costa Resort & Spa feels like home. She grew up just a mile-and-a-half away from the 400-acre property and fondly recalls walking the golf course perimeter as a kid. Though her ambitions led her away from San Diego for nearly two decades in which she honed her craft in some of the highest of high-profile Las Vegas restaurants—including triple Michelin-starred Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand—they ultimately brought her back to North County.
Courtesy of Omni La Costa
Today, the classically French-trained chef, who’s fresh off a victory on NBC’s Yes, Chef!, judged by Martha Stewart and José Andrés, oversees Omni La Costa Resort & Spa’s seven distinct dining concepts. Her goal is to elevate the resort’s culinary program with her creative, hyperlocal ingredient-driven approach while maintaining the Spanish- inspired flavors and fresh California coastal cuisine that are the bedrock of its culinary identity.
“The San Diego food scene is really growing, and in North County alone, it’s really exploded in the last five years,” Brubaker says. “There are Michelin stars, beautiful tasting menus, craft bakers, and all this food—when I was growing up in La Costa, it was fish tacos. Now there are really cool things popping up, and I’m so happy to be here to see where it’s going to go.”
Brubaker gives chefs de cuisine at each individual restaurant autonomy, however, her influence is evident across the resort.
For example, lobby restaurant Bar Traza serves as Omni La Costa’s culinary centerpiece and features bold Spanish flavors in a lively, social atmosphere. Brubaker overhauled the menu to be more consistent and centered on casual bites with that signature vibe. Think smoky paprika, vibrant citrus, and Spanish meats and cheeses.
At VUE, the focus is on seasonal offerings, California coastal cuisine, and Baja-inspired dishes. She and Chef de Cuisine Cameron Dixon change the menu biannually, which heading into summer, will highlight farm-fresh produce and hyperlocal ingredients—the resort even has its own herb garden and honeybee hives.
Courtesy of Omni La Costa
Poolside dining options are leaning into the country’s 250th this summer with a selection of classic American dishes with an Omni La Costa twist. And Bob’s Steak & Chop House (Brubaker is a trained butcher) offers a classic steakhouse experience with elevated service.
The chef and company also plan menus for special events at the resort where her creativity can really shine. For an upcoming National Ski Association dinner, the banquet hall will be transformed into an Alpine-themed winter wonderland complete with a snow machine, savory sausages, and melty, decadent raclette. A recent dinner was built around the Carlsbad Flower Fields and each course was matched to a color of ranunculus (Did you know pink dragonfruit are grown in North County? You do now.).
“It’s my zen to be in the kitchen playing with food,” Brubaker says.
Omni La Costa’s culinary program is a key part of the resort experience. And with Brubaker’s leadership, it’s becoming a draw for visitors and locals alike.
“These aren’t just hotel restaurants, these are restaurants that you should go to. They’re destinations, and I’m really hoping for the future that’s where we’re going,” Brubaker says.
Courtesy of Omni La Costa
Brubaker is also channeling her experience on Yes, Chef! into the culture at Omni La Costa—more emphasis on teamwork and collaboration, empowering her staff to share constructive critiques, and embracing different perspectives. Alongside her leadership role, Brubaker has become an advocate for mental health in the hospitality industry, serving as chief ambassador for the Burnt Chef Project and serves on the Board of Advisors for the Apex Culinary Program, where she mentors and develops future talent.
San Diegans can take advantage of this weekend’s mid-70s forecast by spending time outdoors, attending new plays and exploring cultural events. Admire the beauty of mother nature during the five-day San Diego Bird Festival and the seasonal opening of The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch. Watch new productions of contemporary and classic theatrical stories, including Beetlejuice at Civic Theatre and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at Scripps Ranch Theatre. Plus, celebrate international food, cinema, and culture with Artifact at Mingei’s United by Grains dinner, the Oceanside International Film Festival and San Diego Chinese New Year Fair.
Why settle for one cuisine when you can dine on a world of earthly treasures? For its next themed dinner, Artifact at Mingei has drawn inspiration from the museum’s new Farm to Craft exhibition to cultivate a menu with vast international influence. Artifact at Night: United by Grains will consist of a five-course dinner, with optional beverage pairings, featuring global essentials like North African freekeh, Eastern European oat kvass and Mexican red corn tamales. Reservations are $80 for Mingei members and $89 for non-members; seatings can be reserved online for this Friday between 5-8:30 p.m., with seven dining slots still available.
1439 El Prado, Balboa Park
Calienté Latin Music and Spirits Fest
February 28
Spend your afternoon dancing to salsa tunes and trying top-shelf spirits during the biannual Calienté Latin Music and Spirits Fest, returning to The Sinclair on G Street this Saturday from 2-5:30 p.m. Hear banda, bachata, merengue and more, with performances by local Latin artists, while sampling a lineup of bites, mixed beverages and premium brands of tequila, mezcal, vodka and beer during this 21+ event. General admission is $39 and includes spirits sampling.
643 G Street, Gaslamp
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
Oceanside International Film Festival at Star Theatre
February 25–February 28
Watch dozens of short films and a handful of independent features at the Star Theatre during the 15th annual Oceanside International Film Festival. The festivities begin Wednesday with a red carpet reception and screening of the documentary Desert Angel and conclude Saturday with an interview and Q&A featuring director Catherine Hardwicke, followed by the award show finale. Ticket options include single-day film screenings passes for Thursday-Saturday ($18 each), opening night ($25) and closing night ($30) admission, and the all-festival block pass ($86).
402 North Coast Highway, Oceanside
San Diego Bird Festival
February 25–March 1
It’s a bird … it’s a plane … oh wait, it is a bird! This Wednesday-Sunday, spread your wings and soar during the San Diego Bird Festival. Taking place primarily at Marina Village Conference Center, attendees can join field trips, take expert-led workshops, shop the Red Bird Bookstore, and bid on silent auction items to support the San Diego Bird Alliance. Register online to build your festival schedule, with 145+ activities—many of which are free or low-priced—to choose from. Plus, Saturday (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) will be free community days, with a host of family-friendly programs and activities open to the public.
1936 Quivira Way, Mission Valley
Brahms Festival at Jacobs Music Center
February 27–March 7
Conductor Rafael Payare and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra will dissect the brilliance of German composer Johannes Brahms through its Brahms Festival, beginning Friday at Jacobs Music Center. Over five concerts, audiences will hear several spellbinding pieces from this Romantic Era innovator, including A German Requiem (Friday at 7:30 p.m. & Sunday at 2 p.m.), plus Symphonies No. 1 & 2 (Saturday at 7:30 p.m.), No. 3 (March 7) and No. 4 (March 6). Each performance will be introduced through pre-concert talks led by the Symphony’s Creative Consultant Gerard McBurney. Tickets range from $42 to $125 for each concert.
1245 Seventh Avenue, Downtown
Fido Fest
February 28
Dog parents, enthusiasts and prospective owners can spend their Saturday afternoon roaming Santee’s free annual Fido Fest at Town Center Community Park East. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be dog agility courses, pet costume contests, a wellness zone, a donation drive and a vendor village with an array of pet-friendly items, services, and most importantly, treats. Attendees can also observe demonstrations, enjoy arts and crafts, snap a photo with the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile and peruse an adoption alley with over 20 local shelters.
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.
Despite some preemptive eulogizing, the latest Brewers Association statistics estimate that though craft beer’s national volume is down 5 percent, it’s still a $72.5 billion industry. It ain’t going anywhere; just normalizing.
In San Diego, it seems like the ones who are chugging mightily along are the ones who offer more than just beer. Craft Coast, for instance. The brewery and taco stand opened its first brewpub in Oceanside in August 2020 and its second in San Marcos in April 2024. Both locations feature their own beer and Baja-style tacos, mulitas, and bowls.
Blake Masoner, one of the three co-founders with Lars Erickson and Brian Gillen, says he and his partners built a business plan on the premise of caring equally about the quality of the beer as the tacos. Food is no longer an option for a fledgling brewery’s survival. It’s essential.
“The days of business park breweries are limited, I think,” he says, noting they intentionally keep it simple.“In-N-Out doesn’t give everything to everybody for a reason, because they’re good at what they’re good at.”
His time at Pizza Port’s brewery was inspiration—a business model that survived on craft beer and pizza since the ’80s.
Craft Coast has had a successful five years in North County, where all three founders are lifelong locals. After one failed attempt to snag a spot in Encinitas in 2021 (followed by a successful bid in late 2023), they’ll open its first spot in the neighborhood this summer at 476 S. Coast Highway 101 in the former Filiberto’s space where the owners spent many late nights filling up on tacos.
The roughly 3,000-square-foot indoor and outdoor space (located directly underneath the Encinitas arch) will open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, with possible late-night hours on weekends. The dozen or so taps will include Craft Coast’s five core beers (Agua Baja Mexican lager, Shootz Mahalo hazy IPA, Old West American IPA, XPA extra pale ale, and Sunset Market prickly pear sour with a rotating fruit) along with other collaborations and seasonals, plus canned and bottled non-alcoholic options and a selection of recently released to-go cans.
Expect the same food menu as the first two locations, plus a fully built-in salsa bar (my literal dream) designed by Ralitsa Kombakis of Studio Rallou. If the name sounds familiar, she also designed the soon-to-open À L’ouest French brasserie by chef Brad Wise (Trust Restaurant Group) in North Park.
Masoner says while the team likes to grow slowly, they’re committed to prioritizing their home zone of North County. If (and when) they open another brewpub, this is where they hope to stay.
“We’ve spent a lot of time living in Encinitas,” he says. “We always said if this building ever comes up, we should get it and do something. Then we established Craft Coast and here we are, five-and-a-half years later.”
Craft Coast opens this summer at 476 S. Coast Highway 101 in Encinitas.
When Matteo (somewhat suddenly) closed in South Park in December, it already had a succession plan in place. Angela Catania, who owns nearby Carbon Angela’s Kitchen, took the keys and announced Bedda in January. Bedda, which means “beautiful” in Sicilian, will not be an Italian restaurant—so don’t expect pizza or pasta, but do expect all-day dining, plus a deli and market and nighttime bar with cocktails and wine. Personally, I’m always glad when an uber-visible corner restaurant doesn’t stay empty for too long. I’m already counting down to its opening in mid-February.
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.
National Philanthropy Day, presented by PNC Bank, Celebrates the Best of Philanthropy in San Diego
The 53rd Annual National Philanthropy Day Takes Place on November 21. Join us from 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the new Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center!
Once yearly, AFP San Diego joins with others worldwide to celebrate National Philanthropy Day (NPD), a special day set aside to recognize the great contributions of donors and nonprofits that enrich of our community and the world. San Diego’s NPD is one of the largest and most successful in the U.S., attracting nearly 900 participants, including philanthropists, nonprofit leaders, CEOs, board members, development professionals, and business, community, and civic leaders.
Sponsorship proceeds from National Philanthropy Day are reinvested in education, training, scholarships, career development, and the advancement of fundraising professionals throughout San Diego. These resources and training provide fundraising professionals with the tools necessary to support our region’s diverse array of nonprofit organizations, which rely on charitable giving for close to half of their annual revenues.
The National Philanthropy Day Honorees are selected by the NPD Honorary Committee, a group of highly respected, diverse nonprofit and business leaders. Our 2025 Honorees include:
Outstanding Development Emerging Leader – Taylor Thompson Self-Nominated
Outstanding Development Professional – Sharyn Goodson Nominated by: AJ Steinberg & Jeanne Schmelzer
Outstanding Organization for IDEA – Accessity Self-Nominated
Outstanding Philanthropic Institution – Life Science Cares San Diego Nominated by: Blair Search Partners
Outstanding Philanthropist – Dan & Phyllis Epstein Nominated by: CSU San Marcos & KPBS
Outstanding Student Volunteer – Camden Hall Nominated by: Curebound
National Philanthropy Day San Diego provides an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of giving and to celebrate the selfless contributions of individuals and organizations across the region. We look forward to celebrating with you!
Sponsorship opportunities and individual tickets are available. Please visit www.afpsd.org for more information.
