We are now T-minus 16 days until Christmas, so this weekend is as good a time as any to go out and feel festive. Celebrate the holidays alongside furry companions during the Gaslamp Pet Parade and the Christmas with Animals Fundraiser at Lions Tigers & Bears. Immerse yourself in seasonal splendor and creative decorations at Coastal Christmas and the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights. Also, the San Diego Symphony will perform the scores of essential December films The Holiday and Home Alone live in concert at The Rady Shell.
Holiday & Christmas Sing-Along Dinner Show at Divo Diva
December 10, 12, 13 & 17
Rosario Monetti and Victoria Robertson, the operatic owners of coffee and wine bar Divo Diva Cafe, are offering dinner and a show all-in-one with their yuletide performance series, happening this Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 6-8 p.m. During the Holiday & Christmas Sing-Along Dinner Show, patrons will receive a charcuterie board with assorted Italian meats and cheeses, a lasagna entree and a glass of prosecco along with an intimate concert and sing-along. Tickets are $95 per person plus 20 percent tax and gratuity; purchase by calling or texting 619-370-9896.
Taste of Art: Expressive Floral Paintings at Oceanside Museum of Art
December 12
This Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., burgeoning artists are invited to mingle, nibble and create under the instruction of Robin Douglas during the Oceanside Museum of Art’s monthly Taste of Art series. For the December workshop, participants are encouraged to create lush floral landscapes, and include actual plant life in their masterpieces, via the theme of Expressive Floral Paintings. Food, drinks and supplies will be provided and artists of all skill levels are welcome to take part. Tickets are $50 for adults and $65 for OMA members.
704 Pier View Way, Oceanside
Christmas with the Animals Fundraiser at Lions Tigers & Bears
December 13
Alpine animal sanctuary Lions Tigers & Bears will host a festive day of giving this Saturday from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. during its Christmas with the Animals Fundraiser. Attendees can see rescued animals open their presents, plus enjoy raffles, treats, photos with Santa, food trucks and a festival of lights. Guests (18+) can also pay to partake in an up-close feeding experience from 3 to 4 p.m. ($160 for non-members). Non-member tickets are $50 per adult and $20 per child (12 & under), with fundraiser proceeds going towards the care of the habit’s creatures.
24402 Martin Way, Alpine
Courtesy of Ángela Aguilar
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
Ángela Aguilar at The Magnolia
December 12
Despite just being 21 years old, Ángela Aguilar already has a wealth of musical experience. Her first-ever album was released at age 9, and the former prodigy’s Mexican music heritage can be traced back to both her father Pepe and her legendary actor/singer grandparents Antonio Aguilar and Flor Silvestre. Aguilar’s performance this Friday (8 p.m.) at The Magnolia will be the penultimate show of her Libre Corazón Tour, done in support of her latest Música Mexicana project Nadie Se Va Como Llegó. Tickets start at $75 for this concert.
The All-American Rejects with Joyce Manor at The Sound
December 12
As part of its December to Remember celebration, KBZT (Alt 94.9 FM) will host a nostalgic show featuring pop-punk luminaries The All-American Rejects and Joyce Manor this Friday (8 p.m.) at The Sound. The Rejects, known for alt rock anthems like “Move Along” and “Gives You Hell,” are expected to drop Sandbox—their first album since 2012—this coming February. Friday’s show will also feature Torrance legends Joyce Manor, who recently released “All My Friends Are so Depressed” and “Well, Whatever It Was” ahead of their upcoming seventh album I Used to Go to This Bar (releasing Jan. 30). Tickets start at $119 for this concert.
2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard, Del Mar
Classic Christmas Films Live in Concert at The Rady Shell
December 12 & 13
This weekend, Thiago Tiberio will conduct the San Diego Symphony Orchestra as they perform the scores of two holiday favorite films at The Rady Shell. First, on Friday at 6 p.m., see Nancy Meyers’ home-swapping romance The Holiday, where two women trade houses for the holidays and unexpectedly find the love they’ve been searching for. Then on Saturday at 6 p.m., Home Alone, the story of Kevin McCallister’s hijink-filled showdown with the Wet Bandits, will be brought to life in symphonic style alongside the San Diego Master Chorale. Tickets range from $54-$120 for The Holiday in concert and $65-$120 for Home Alone in concert.
Design an eco-friendly water lantern and release it onto Santee Lakes during the San Diego Water Lantern Festival this Saturday from 2-7 p.m. Participants will be given a kit to create their own custom lantern, featuring a unique message and a recyclable LED candle inside, which will then be launched for a serene display of illumination on the water. The festival will also include food trucks, live music and a scavenger hunt to partake in. Tickets are $31 online and $58 the day-of; attendees should dress warm and bring a blanket or camping chair (plus bug spray!).
9310 Fanita Parkway, Santee
San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus: JINGLE 40 at Balboa Theatre
December 13 & 14
Groove to a blend of contemporary and classical jingle bell rock during JINGLE 40, the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus’ 40th anniversary holiday show. The roots of the city’s foremost gay chorus date back to 1985, and despite plenty of evolution along the way — including the unification of the San Diego Men’s Chorus and Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego in 2010 — the SDGMC’s JINGLE remains an annual source of holiday cheer. Tickets start at $45, with performances Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Balboa Theatre.
868 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp
Gunna at Viejas Arena
December 14
In 2016, Gunna became the first rapper signed to fellow Atlanta native Young Thug’s label YSL Records, sparking a fruitful partnership and several timeless collaborations. However, during YSL’s lengthy legal troubles—with the label’s racketeering case becoming the longest-running criminal trial ever in Georgia—their relationship broke beyond repair. The Last Wun, released on Aug. 8, marks both Gunna’s final album with YSL and an ambitious, yet well-measured start to his next chapter. Tickets start at $49 for his concert this Sunday (8 p.m.) at Viejas Arena.
5500 Canyon Crest Drive, Rolando
Courtesy of Valency Genis
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend
Cygnet’s A Magical Holiday: Christmas at The Joanat Cygnet Theatre
December 10-28
Cygnet Theatre is continuing its Christmastime festivities with a live holiday song-and-dance showcase created and directed by Carlos Mendoza. Cygnet’s A Magical Holiday: Christmas at The Joan aims to channel the pizzazz of The Rockettes Christmas Spectacular with a production that embraces the magic and wonder of the holidays in musical form. Tickets are $73 for Wednesday’s preview performance and $83 for all successive shows through December 28.
Based on the plucky title character of the Little Orphan Annie comic strip, Annie is about holding onto hope in spite of the odds. Beginning Thursday, Star Theatre Company is adapting this Great Depression-era musical for a new production featuring iconic Broadway tunes like “Tomorrow” and “It’s the Hard Knock Life” and a resilient story that’s sure to inspire—and you can bet your bottom dollar on that. Tickets range from $22 to $32 for Annie, with performances this Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. at The Star Theatre.
402 North Coast Highway, Oceanside
Valency Genis: Besties and Beasties at Distinction Gallery
December 13 – January 3
The animal head sculptures of Valency Genis all feature distinct sets of eye-catching details: ornate patterns, protruding antlers, thousand-yard stares. Her newest exhibition at Distinction Gallery, Besties and Beasties, features more than 50 new and eccentric creature sculptures, each with their own fantastical story to tell. Visitors can explore the whole gallery during the exhibition’s free opening reception this Saturday from 6-10 p.m. with live music, an appearance from Genis and a curated drink menu from Last Spot Bar.
317 East Grand Avenue, Escondido
Courtesy of Port of San Diego
More Fun Things To Do in San Diego This Weekend
San Diego Gulls vs. Henderson Silver Knights at Pechanga Arena
December 12 & 13
The San Diego Gulls will head back to their home ice this weekend for a pair of games against the Henderson Silver Knights. With the Gulls celebrating a decade since their AHL founding, the team has plenty of 10th anniversary festivities planned, plus some other fun upcoming promotions. Friday (7 p.m.) will be Karaoke Night at Pechanga Arena, then on Saturday (6 p.m.), there will be a pregame tailgate, a Winter Wonderland & Teddy Bear Toss, and the first 8K fans will receive a Gulls-themed Trapper Hat. Tickets start at $22 for Friday and $33 for Saturday.
Hasan Hates Ronny | Ronny Hates Hasan at Jacobs Music Center
December 12-14
Hasan Minhaj and Ronny Chieng’s verbal sparring tour makes its way to Jacobs Music Center this Friday-Sunday for three days of feverish debate, passionate dialogue and blistering pettiness. The foundation of Hasan Hates Ronny | Ronny Hates Hasan began when Minhaj and Chieng were both political correspondents for The Daily Show and has since turned into a heated, yet wholly unserious rivalry fueled by each other’s comedic one-upsmanship. Tickets start at $78, with shows Friday (7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.), Saturday (4 p.m. and 7 p.m.) and Sunday (4 p.m.).
1245 Seventh Avenue, Downtown
Coastal Christmas Holiday Lights Spectacular at Del Mar Fairgrounds
December 12-26
Revel in a SoCal Christmas full of frosty attractions at Coastal Christmas, beginning Friday at Del Mar Fairgrounds. From 4-9 p.m. on select nights, visitors can sip on seasonal drinks, explore the holiday light trail, peruse a festive marketplace, take a spin around the Glice rink and reserve private igloos or fire pit tables for s’more making. This family-friendly event will include plenty of kids activities as well as the Holiday Wine Walk ($56), which comes with eight two-ounce wine tastings around the Fairgrounds. Admission starts at $28 for adults and $21 for kids.
2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard, Del Mar
Gaslamp Pet Parade
December 13
This Saturday at 1 p.m., decorative floats, marching bands and the most adorable costumed animals will showcase their holiday spirit during the return of the Gaslamp Pet Parade. The day will begin with a pre-party at Nason’s Beer Hall (11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.) featuring holiday photo ops and complimentary puppuccinos. Following the parade, humans and their pets can stop by the Pups in the Pub Party (2-4 p.m.) at the Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter for caricatures, treats, sips, games and the costume contest awards ceremony. Pet parade registration is $30, and spectating is free for all.
5th Avenue & L Street, Gaslamp
San Diego Bay Parade of Lights
December 14 & 21
On two consecutive Sundays evenings, around 80 boats decked in colorful holiday flair will take a two-hour cruise around San Diego Bay. The 55th annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights will embrace the extraterrestrial theme of “An Out of this World Christmas,” and like always, parade viewing is free but be sure to secure your spot early. The vessels will take off from Shelter Island (5:30 p.m.), before coasting past Harbor Island, Seaport Village and the Embarcadero, looping by the Cesar Chavez Park pier and finishing at the Coronado Ferry Landing.
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.
Before, during, and after the Fourth of July, San Diegans can commemorate America’s 250th anniversary with an abundance of stars, stripes and local celebrations. America The Beautiful: 250 at The Rady Shell and Lamb’s Players Theatre’s revival of American Rhythm will look back at the many songs which define our country. Liberty Station’s Anchored in Freedom celebration and the Independence Day Carnival offer community-centered fun and loads of family-friendly activities. And who can possibly forget the Big Bay Boom, which will resume its reign over San Diego Bay as the state’s biggest fireworks show. Outside of the holiday festivities, this week brings the yearly return of Little Italy’s Summer Sera and the Athenaeum Summer Festival, as well as a slate of championship matches for All Elite Wrestling.
Sip on refreshing beverages and savor a panoramic rooftop view this Friday from 6-8 p.m. during the 21-plus Sunset & Spritz at Margaritaville Hotel San Diego Gaslamp Quarter’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar. There will be a live DJ (until 9 p.m.), appetizers, pool and cabana access, a photo booth, and a cash bar (until 11 p.m.). To accentuate the summer theme, guests are invited to dress in white, pink, and orange attire. Tickets are $29 and come with a welcome aperol spritz.
616 J Street, Gaslamp
The 250 Grand Tasting Menu at Amaya
July 3 & 4
Bring a patriotic palette to the Fairmont Grand Del Mar for The 250 Grand Tasting Menu at Amaya this Friday and Saturday from 5-8:30 p.m. Patrons will be treated to a five-course tasting menu, curated to exhibit a selection of standout regional flavors and culinary concepts that have shaped our country’s distinct food heritage. The meal will also include beverage pairings with each course, such as wine, cocktails, and artisanal drinks. Reservations are $330 per person (with tax and 20% gratuity) on OpenTable.
Don Toliver thrives at being the life of the party (and the “After Party”). His fifth album Octane, released in February, is indicative of his thrill-seeking nature. As with his earlier releases, Octane sees Toliver operating in the space between hip-hop and R&B, with warbling vocals and blaring beats that are best heard at a high volume. This Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., Toliver will play at Pechanga Arena, with rappers SoFaygo, Chase B and SahBabii—who had a guest verse on Octane standout “K9”—as special guests. Tickets start at $156 for this concert.
What makes musicals like Wicked, Cats, Chicago, and Jersey Boys so timeless is the legion of excellent songs that makes fans out of those who’ve never even watched the show. This Friday at 7:30 p.m. during Blockbuster Broadway! at The Rady Shell, conductor Evan Roider, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, and veteran vocalists Alex Getlin, Jessica Hendy, Scott Coulter, and John Boswell (also on piano) will perform an all-star theater soundtrack. In addition to the shows named above, audiences can expect songs from A Chorus Line, The Phantom of the Opera, Annie,and more. Tickets range from $57 to $129 for this concert.
222 Marina Park Way, Embarcadero
America The Beautiful: 250 at The Rady Shell
July 4
One night after recognizing the brilliance of Broadway, The Rady Shell will ring in the United States’ landmark anniversary with America The Beautiful: 250 this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Conductor Byron Stripling, joined by a five-performer ensemble and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, will lead a night of ballads that best resemble the red, white, and blue, including songs sourced from the Great American Songbook. After the show, concertgoers are invited to watch the nearby Big Bay Boom from their seats. Tickets range from $71 to $139 for this concert.
222 Marina Park Way, Embarcadero
Athenaeum Summer Festival at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library
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.
Summer has officially kicked off, and San Diego is celebrating the sunny season with a myriad of fun events. From San Diego Pride week and a fairytale performance at Civic Theatre to a Santigold concert and Comic-Con, there are dozens of opportunities to make memories worth adding to your scrapbook. Here are all the best things to do in San Diego this July:
Divine inspirations, operatic ballads, and symphonic pop production elevate Rosalía’s Lux to heavenly levels. Hear angelic vocals ascend—in up to 13 languages—during her performance at Pechanga Arena.
Enjoy a night of feel-good indie rock and sing-along anthems at the Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre courtesy of Young the Giant and special guest Cold War Kids.
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Santigold collects genres like gold stars: musical accouterments that brighten her uniquely alternative sound. See her live in concert with dancehall producer Troy Baker Sound at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay.
Two male government workers pursue a secret romance amid the Lavender Scare in the San Diego Opera’s production of “Fellow Travelers” at the Balboa Theatre.
Audrey Hepburn. Marlon Brando. Salvador Dalí. What do these icons have in common? Each was the enigmatic focus of a Cecil Beaton portrait. Step inside Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World, an alluring showcase of 20th-century style at San Diego Museum of Art.
Courtesy of San Diego Pride
More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Month
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The Little Italy Mercato will trade morning rays for golden-hour glow through its free Summer Sera, an expansion of the neighborhood’s farmers market with live music, artisanal finds, and a fetching amount of pet activities.
11–19
San Diego Pride week starts with a Dyke March and ends with the two-day “Pride Shines On” festival. The days in between? Run a 5K, march in the parade, visit the rainbow-lit St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, and more.
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Dress up for a Mediterranean-themed tea time at the Estancia La Jolla, a laid-back yet refined afternoon planned for the resort’s monthly Tea in the Garden series.
23–26
Nerd culture’s biggest gathering returns to the Convention Center. San Diego Comic-Con welcomes fans of everything from comic book cinema to ultra-rare collectibles for panels, exhibits, sneak peeks, and much more.
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.
That's the question at the center of a new collaborative arts initiative launching this September, celebrating the artists, performers, designers, and makers shaping the region
You may not know his name, but if you were one of the millions of people who traveled in and out of Terminal 2 at San Diego International Airport in 2024, you’ve seen his work. David Mont Virgen was born and raised in Tijuana. He earned a degree in international business and studied interior design in Madrid. In early 2020 during the global pandemic, he made one of life’s impactful pivots and decided to pursue art full time.
David works between San Diego and Tijuana, in the cross-border corridor that is, depending on who you ask, either one of the most complicated places to build a life or one of the most generative creative regions in the country. He makes minimalist work—paintings, sculpture, objects. To do minimalism well, you have to be very good, because there is nowhere to hide. That airport piece? It’s officially entered the permanent collection of the San Diego Museum of Art. David is very good.
While his work was gaining real traction in San Diego, his marriage ended. When that relationship dissolved, the legal and physical ground beneath his feet shook: The future of his citizenship was now in limbo. David looked at his options and chose yet another life pivot.
An accomplished working artist with a piece in a museum’s permanent collection enlisted in the U.S. Army, at a time when this country is at war. David describes this period of his life with grace, as “…an opportunity to choose myself and move forward with greater clarity and intention. For the love of self.”
That phrase, “For the Love of Self,” became the title of his show, which opened at the Guild Hotel in January 2026 with support from Oram Hotels and the Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego. Jennifer Findley of JFin Collective led the curation. Within weeks of the show’s debut, David shipped off to train with the army. It would be easy to read his enlistment as purely practical, and citizenship was part of his calculus, but he is precise about his reasons: He wants to continue building a future in this country and building a future for this country. Because service, he says, feels connected to art. “Both are rooted in the belief that we are responsible for contributing something larger than ourselves.”
David is one creator out of many whose story hasn’t yet been told, but whose path reflects the world we live in. The truth he represents is that the artists in this city are creating under increasingly challenging constraints even as their work actively shapes the world we move through—the places we gather, the neighborhoods we love and live in—whether we know their names or not.
It’s time their stories are told.
This fall, we’ll be publishing an ambitious arts and culture issue made possible by the support of two organizations who are underwriting an expanded freelance budget with one question at its center: Who makes San Diego, San Diego?
The Art & Design District—a Prebys-supported initiative to develop and shape a dedicated area of the city for creative work, led by Jonathan Glus—has joined as co-publisher of our September issue. SDFC Playmakers led by Sebastian Morúa, the MLS team’s program dedicated to showcasing San Diego’s creative community, has also joined as digital co-publisher for the next six months.
With their support, our freelance budget has tripled. In the spirit of radical transparency, and because our readers deserve to know how our work is funded, our typical monthly print freelance budget is about $6,000. That supports writing, photography, and design across more than 100 pages. Our monthly digital budget is $2,500.
With the support of our co-publishers, we’ve brought on Aaryn Belfer, one of San Diego’s most respected editorial voices, as the issue’s special editor. Alongside Troy Johnson, content chief; and Emma Veidt, editor; she is helping shape the editorial vision of the issue.
With an expanded team, we’ll soon bring on a digital producer and an additional art designer. We’ll produce an expansive portrait of the artists, makers, performers, and institutions defining this region’s creative life, commission original photography, and create a comprehensive fall arts and culture calendar. The issue will anchor a six-month editorial program that will extend across digital, social media, video, podcast, and newsletters through early next year.
We have been doing this for 78 years, and we have learned how to do it well with limited resources. But the conversation happening in San Diego right now—about the role arts and culture play in shaping a city and the role a city plays in shaping arts and culture—is one that demands more than what our standard monthly budget can produce. Until now.
This partnership model is new to us but the challenges that precede it are not new to media, particularly on the local level. And yet, this collaboration serves as real proof that civic organizations and local media can work together to document and preserve the story of a place and the people who make it, for the record.
David told me that San Diego gave him a sense of belonging. That he felt supported and encouraged to keep growing. Not because life got easier, but because he learned to trust himself through uncertainty.
Today, he’s somewhere in basic training. But he is still an artist and he will keep making work. The artists in this city are almost never just one thing. They are painters and soldiers, sculptors and teachers, dancers and mathematicians. David is a minimalist artist and a U.S. Army recruit. He is Tijuana and San Diego. He is, in the most literal sense, still becoming.
A great city knows its makers. I want San Diego to be that city.
San Diego summers can be brutal. But since the hottest period is typically late summer into early fall, San Diegans still have time to prepare. The pros at Mauzy Cooling, Heating, Plumbing, and Electrical are standing by to help homeowners fortify their homes against the elements and ensure their air conditioning is as frosty as the penguins that serve as the company’s mascots.
Many homeowners underestimate the load their AC system faces, especially in the inland valleys where temperatures regularly top 100 degrees. San Diego regularly sees multi-day heatwaves each summer, and a system that struggles on the first day will likely fail by the third.Longer run times, unusual sounds or smells, and uneven cooling from room to room are all signs that your system may not survive the next hot spell.
Systems typically last 12 to 17 years, but there are exceptions. If a system is approaching that, or is already there, a professional evaluation is recommended before summer really heats up. A good rule of thumb: If you can’t remember when your system was last serviced, it’s due.
“As technology changes, systems become smarter and smarter,” says Sean O’Connor, an install manager at Mauzy with 42 years of experience. “There are a lot of people out there who will say a system’s only good for 10 years. I don’t buy that—these systems are built to last as long as they’re taken care of.”
There are also a few steps homeowners can take between services to extend the life of their system. Regularly changing a dirty filter—especially if you have kids or pets—and keeping an outdoor unit clean can help head off problems in the future, says O’Connor.
Also, be realistic about whether it’s time to replace a unit. O’Connor likens pouring money into salvaging a faulty unit with patchwork repairs and replacement parts to “tripping over a dollar to pick up a dime.” When one part fails, others are sure to follow, and newer parts may not be compatible with older units. Mauzy recommends homeowners use the 50% rule: If a repair costs more than 50% of the system’s replacement value, and the equipment is over 10 years old, replacement is usually the better long-term value. And don’t forget the ducting. An older house that was built with heat and later had air conditioning added may not have sufficient airflow, regardless of how good the system is.
Last but not least, homeowners should know who to trust when it comes to their homes. Built on three generations of professional integrity, Mauzy has grown into not just a leader for cooling, heating, plumbing, and electrical services, but a leader in the community known for supporting local nonprofits across an array of causes. To ensure complete peace of mind, Mauzy stands behind a comprehensive 12-point guarantee that outlines its commitment to outstanding service, quality equipment, expert technicians who understand how the local microclimates affect HVAC performance, and no upsells or surprises on the bill.
“We go the extra mile. That’s what sets us apart,” O’Connor says. To get a free quote today, visit mauzy.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.
The initial project will be a landmark September edition of San Diego Magazine—fully dedicated to the people, ideas, and identities of the city’s creative community. After its release, those stories and more will extend across six months of integrated digital, social, and multi-platform coverage. Art & Design District and SDFC Playmakers will serve as co-publishers of the expanded editorial vision.
The Art & Design District is evolving into San Diego’s first home for the performing arts at iconic downtown venues like the Civic Theatre and Jacobs Music Center alongside research and development programs focused on artist live/work spaces, galleries, studios, and New School of Architecture & Design.
“[The Art & Design District initiative] is a long-term investment in San Diego’s creative life and the creative workforce that powers our cultural experiences and creative industries here at home and across the world,” says Jonathan Glus, Prebys Senior Fellow for Art & Design in Residence at Downtown San Diego Partnership. “But infrastructure alone is not enough. The public needs to see, understand, and participate in what’s being built and why. Joining as co-publisher of this issue means helping ensure that the story of San Diego’s creative community—its artists, its institutions, its future—gets told at the level of ambition the moment requires.”
San Diego has entered a defining chapter in how the region invests in its creative community, with civic and philanthropic leaders working alongside artists, brands, institutions, and people to chart a new model of public-private support for arts and culture.
As digital co-publishers of San Diego Magazine‘s arts and culture coverage, SDFC’s Playmakers partnership will include a six-month integrated collaboration designed to sustain the visibility of San Diego’s creative community well beyond a single issue.
“The Playmakers program was built on the belief that the creative community is essential to what makes San Diego, San Diego,” says Sebastian, San Diego FC’s SVP of Brand and Innovation. “Investing in local media that tells those stories—and reaches the audiences who need to hear them—is one of the most direct ways we can support the artists, organizations, and cultural leaders shaping this city’s future. We’re proud to step in as digital co-publishers of San Diego Magazine‘s arts and culture coverage and the founding partner of this new editorial program.”
Under the partnerships:
The Art & Design District joins as Co-Publisher of the September 2026 Arts & Culture Issue, undwriting San Diego Magazine‘s most ambitious editorial event of the year.
SDFC Playmakers joins as Digital Co-Publisher of San Diego Magazine‘s arts and culture coverage, founding a six-month integrated partnership that includes co-publisher presence in the September issue.
The partnership represents a new model for regional media: civic and cultural institutions providing the resources required for sustained, ambitious, local editorial media focused on the neighborhoods it serves.
“For 78 years, the magazine has told the story of arts and culture here,” says Claire Johnson, CEO of San Diego Magazine. “But the fragmentation of traditional media has made it harder than ever to cover this community at the depth and scale it deserves. SDFC Playmakers and the Art & Design District have recognized something critical: Media is not separate from the civic conversation, it’s the stage for the conversation.”
San Diego Magazine retains full editorial control over all reporting, features, and original content produced under both partnerships.
“Our role in this ecosystem is to tell the story of San Diego’s culture and provide context for our readers.” says Johnson. “These partnerships give us the resources to do justice to that responsibility—and to extend that commitment well beyond a single issue. Our readers also deserve to know exactly how this work was funded. I’m grateful to our partners, and to the arts and culture community in San Diego for letting us tell this story.”
The September Arts & Culture Issue will be released early September 2026, with digital, social, video, and podcast coverage rolling out through early 2027.
ABOUT SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE For 78 years, San Diego Magazine has been the region’s leading lifestyle and culture publication, reaching approximately 6 million readers monthly across print, digital, newsletter, and social platforms. Owned and operated locally, the magazine has been the connective tissue of San Diego’s cultural conversation since 1948.
ABOUT SDFC PLAYMAKERS The Playmakers program is an ongoing initiative that seeks to identify and showcase the talent of San Diego creatives who are contributing to the culture, substance, and flow of our community. We want to bring the San Diego community together by marrying football and creativity to provide a platform for these Playmakers who are positively impacting our culture by pushing the boundaries through innovative ideas. The goal is to create a program that consistently provides growth and exposure opportunities for San Diego creatives, while shaping an authentic direction for San Diego FC’s brand and community-building process. Through this program we hope to contribute to the creative fabric of our city by providing paid jobs, projects, collaborations, as well as networking opportunities for Playmakers.
ABOUT THE ART & DESIGN DISTRICT The Art & Design District is a Downtown San Diego Partnership initiative, supported by the Prebys Foundation, working to shape a connected, vibrant arts and design district in downtown San Diego. Led by Art and Culture Expert Fellow Jonathan Glus, the initiative convenes artists, cultural leaders, civic stakeholders, and residents in service of a downtown that reflects the creativity, identity, and diversity of the region. Learn more at downtownsandiego.org.
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.
