One minute, production meetings at Backyard Renaissance Theatre Company were proceeding as normal. The cast and crew for the Richard Greenberg drama The Dazzle were ready to go. Then the coronavirus hit, and California went into lockdown. If the show were to go on, it would have to be online.
The play’s licensor, Dramatist’s Play Service, gave them permission to film a performance for limited-time access. Executive director Jessica John and artistic director Francis Gerke (also two of the play’s actors, along with Tom Zohar) worked with local videographer Stand Up 8 Productions to modify their Tenth Avenue Arts Center set so each of them could maintain proper social distance.
Rehearsing over Zoom was a new challenge, since The Dazzle’s dialogue is fast paced and frequently overlaps. So they secured a warehouse space for three days where, from opposite ends of the room, they could freely talk over one another and work out the physical blocking.
Equipment setup had to be done in shifts. Project manager Anna Younce recalls, “The film crew was there for spacing, but the designers weren’t. Then the designers were there for tech, but the film crew wasn’t. The first time everybody saw it come together was on day one of filming.”
Each actor having a buffer zone worked out, since The Dazzle “literally is a play about isolation,” John says, “about people who can’t connect, who are separated within the same house.” For actions that required them to touch, a narrator character (producing director Anthony Methvin) announced stage directions from the empty seats. Despite these unique obstacles, The Dazzle received so much interest on its sole weekend run that it was granted an extension for a second. The final product was cut together with an editor’s attention to timing and point of view, while retaining its theatricality. Younce says this point was crucial to director Rosina Reynolds: “She was like, ‘I don’t want it to feel like a film. Even though we don’t have an audience, we still need to respect the form.’
She really wanted to see everything empty, that everyone’s got their own space on stage—and that this room is feeling the same thing the world is feeling right now.”
Max Macke, Jacque Wilke, Terrell Donnell Sledge, and Allison Spratt Pearce in Human Error by North Coast Rep.
Aaron Rumley
At the same time up in Solana Beach, North Coast Repertory Theatre was facing a similar dilemma with the Eric Pfeffinger comedy Human Error, when the lockdown stranded one of the five actors, Terrell Donnell Sledge, in Alabama. “I auditioned and submitted a tape,” he says, “but then didn’t get to meet anyone in person at all.”
The company decided to record the play in Zoom. Luckily, stage manager Aaron Rumley had video editing experience. “The trick was to make it visually interesting,” he says; “more fun than a standard Brady Bunch box.”
So instead of squares, director Jane Page had the idea to vignette the actors against a scenic backdrop. “I had these very vivid dreams about slating locations with postcards,” she says, “contextualizing like a matte on framed artwork.”
North Coast had two weeks each to rehearse, shoot, and edit. One difficult aspect was maintaining eye lines.
“We have to know exactly how the actors are going to be framed in post-production to figure out which way they look,” Page says. Some moments called for looking “at” one another; other times they could simply face their camera, and it was clear through context whom they were speaking to.
The dedication everyone put into the project paid off. As a viewer, you stopped noticing the newness of the format after a while because you were invested in the characters and their story—just like with any good play.
Marci Anne Wuebben, Jason Heil, Antonio TJ Johnson, Salomon Maya, Mondis Vakili, and Sandra Ruiz in Beachtown Live by San Diego Rep.
Courtesy of San Diego Repertory Theatre
San Diego Repertory Theatre put its own spin on the medium with a reprise of Herbert Siguenza’s audience-participation show as Beachtown Live. For nine weekly sessions, the fictional SoCal city’s leaders convened to discuss real-world events, first in a comedic scripted opening, then an improv section when viewers (aka “fellow Beachtonians”) could speak their mind.
Actor Sandra Ruiz says it was one of the scariest things she’s ever done. “The first time we did the breakout rooms, all I could see was someone eating. They don’t want to talk right now!” But she’s glad she stepped out of her comfort zone. “When you talk to the audience afterward, everybody’s really grateful, because they miss theater too.”
When asked if they see potential in further online theater projects, the professional opinions are mixed. Younce hopes people see the medium more as a challenge than a restriction: “There may not be as many ways to make existing theater work in this way, but then that’s an invitation to create new things.”Sledge enjoyed the experience. “It’s still performance. There are a lot of ways to do it. You can trust that if you are in the experience of telling the story, you will also discover the best ways to tell it.”
But for Ruiz, there’s ultimately no replacing the real deal: “It has been a great experience, but I honestly can’t wait to go back to doing live theater.”
What everyone seems to share is a sense of yearning for the aspects of their craft that are lost in translation. “It’s so magical to be in an audience on that day when something unbelievable happens,” Reynolds says. “Actors know if they go looking for that the next day they won’t find it. If you’re lucky enough to be there, you’ll remember it forever.”Likewise, Gerke identifies the live group setting as essential. “In an audience, we recognize implicitly that everything we’re about to see is fake. And somehow, we get to the end and all believe what’s happening. It’s one of the few endeavors where we experience whatever the hell faith is. When you’re all hooked into watching the same thing—I don’t think anyone can recapture that.” He pauses a moment, sighs, and adds, “Yeah. Let’s get a vaccine.”
Dan Letchworth is the copy chief of San Diego Magazine. His print column Dansplaining explores San Diego trivia, and his theater review blog Everyone’s a Critic was a finalist for best online column in the 2019 National City & Regional Magazine Awards.
As summertime inches closer to the shores of San Diego, there are plenty of reasons to be ecstatic. For one thing, there’s the impending arrival of the summer solstice (Sunday), and three days before that, Del Mar’s own Summer Solstice will return for its yearly golden hour. There are also plenty of local Juneteenth events, such as Kinfolk Fest, the Cooper Family Foundation’s Juneteenth Celebration, and The Freedom Table, a new, food-centered event from the originators of Juneteenth San Marcos. We’re also less than three weeks away from America’s 250th anniversary, and the celebrations range from the San Diego History Center’s America 250: San Diego 1776-2026 to NASCAR’s weekend of racing at Naval Base Coronado.
Cbar has planned a week’s worth of festivities to mark its first birthday, and everyone can get in on the fun. The 1-Year Anniversary Week celebrations continue with a special edition of the Sips & Shells craft series ($50) on Tuesday from 6-8:30 p.m., half-off pastries with any purchase of a barista drink (plus an anniversary summer wine flight) on Wednesday and a five-course winemaker dinner on Thursday from 6-9 p.m. ($130). Finally, the birthday bash will conclude with live music on Friday (Will Fedak) and Saturday (Cappo Kelley) from 6-9 p.m.
2917 State Street, Carlsbad
Taste of Little Italy
June 16 & 17
Little Italy’s annual food crawl has so many options that it warrants splitting into two evenings, each boasting a diverse lineup of 20 neighborhood vendors. During the Taste of Little Italy, taking place Tuesday and Wednesday from 4-8 p.m., attendees can make their way from the Piazza della Famiglia to nearby dining destinations for bites like esquites, sausage rolls, hot chicken tenders, and forkfuls of handmade pasta. Each night will also include live music and stops for drinks, desserts, and vegetarian items. Tickets are $71 per day.
As spring makes its golden transition into summer, welcome the new season with open arms and a big appetite during Del Mar Village’s marquee tasting event this Thursday from 5-8 p.m. With the Summer Solstice celebrating its 20th anniversary, this year’s iteration will include dozens of food and drink offerings from Del Mar Village vendors, soulful tunes from Christian Jules Taylor, live art by Sarah O’Connor, and wave-crashing views at Powerhouse Park. General admission (21+) is $157 and comes with unlimited tastings as well as a commemorative tasting glass, while VIP tickets are sold out; proceeds support the Del Mar Village Association.
1658 Coast Boulevard, Del Mar
The Freedom Table at TERI Campus of Life
June 19
After hosting the first-ever Juneteenth San Marcos festival in 2025, Lionel and Natalie Saulsberry have upped the ante with The Freedom Table, an elevated observance of community, culture, and the culinary arts. This Friday from 4-9 p.m. at TERI Campus of Life, guests can enjoy storytelling, art installations, live music, curated cocktails, and a chef-led dining experience, all in recognition of Juneteenth’s lasting importance. Ticket options include general admission ($261), plus two charitable ticket options: supporter ($313) and impact ($417), with a portion of sales going towards the youth nonprofit Achievement in Motion.
555 Deer Springs Road, San Marcos
Talladega Nights Father’s Day Brunch at ARLO
June 21
In honor of NASCAR’s Coronado debut and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, ARLO is throwing a Father’s Day brunch for the dads who want to go fast. This Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., patrons can order from ARLO’s regular brunch menu, as well as a trio of holiday specials: the Dad’s Day Steak and Fries ($64), the Fit For a King Muffuletta Sandwich ($29), and the Big Daddy Brookie ($14). This shake and bake-approved meal will also include a DJ, cigar rollings, whiskey tastings and a Ricky Bobby costume contest. Reservations can be made online.
Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.
Enter May in resplendent style, with a lineup of exciting concerts, creative showcases and gastronomic festivals. Those looking for their live music fix can sing along to the stylings of Ms. Lauryn Hill at Gallagher Square, catch indie rocker Snail Mail at The Observatory North Park or watch Star Wars: A New Hope with a live orchestra at The Rady Shell. Artistically-inclined folks can immerse themselves in the imaginative and the innovative within the Art Garden at UCSD Park & Market and the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Avant Garde Ball. As for the weekend’s most appetizing events, there’s the three-day Foodieland San Diego festival, the annual San Diego Zoo Food, Wine & Brew and a 54-hour excursion with chefs at Rancho Bernardo Inn. Here are the best things to do in San Diego this weekend.
54 Hours with James Beard Award-Winning Chefs at Rancho Bernardo Inn
April 30–May 3
Embark on a tasteful getaway to Rancho Bernardo Inn for 54 Hours with James Beard Award-Winning Chefs. Patrons can spend intimate time with the cream of the culinary crop via dinners, cooking demonstrations, kitchen skill workshops, wine and whiskey tastings and deluxe activities, like a round of golf with the participating chefs. Ticket options include a seat at Sunday’s Chef Tour Dinner ($240), the Gold Ticket for Friday and Saturday’s events ($450) and the all-access Platinum Ticket ($600).
Takoyaki, raspados, Japanese hot dogs and freeze dried honey cones are just some of the street food concoctions available to try at this year’s FoodieLand San Diego festival. This Friday from 3-10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1-10 p.m. at Del Mar Fairgrounds, attendees can peruse a smorgasbord of eye-catching and appetite-filling eats from 125 food stalls. But Foodieland doesn’t solely consist of nourishment, with a plethora of shopping vendors offering up apparel, accessories and boutique finds. Single-day tickets are $12.
2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard, Del Mar
San Diego Zoo Food, Wine & Brew
May 2
Dine amongst the fauna at the annual San Diego Zoo Food, Wine & Brew, a 21+ conservation fundraiser for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance this Saturday from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Guests can navigate their way around the park for live music, wildlife encounters and all-inclusive samples from a lineup of restaurants, breweries and wineries, plus complimentary soft drinks. General admission is $179, while VIP passes, which come with early entry at 6:30 p.m. along with exclusive menu items, private lounges and a special wildlife encounter, are $299.
Catch a rare live performance by Ms. Lauryn Hill this Thursday at 8 p.m. during the Padres Foundation’s fifth annual Dinner on the Diamond. This charitable gala, held on the Petco Park outfield, will feature auctions, an elegant dinner and appearances from Padres staff, players and alumni. Plus, for the first time, tickets to the event’s entertainment portion in Gallagher Square are open to the public. Hill, a few of the legendary Fugees, and the creative force behind The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, will be joined by a pair of special guests, her children Zion and YG Marley. Tickets for this concert start at $50, with net proceeds going to the Padres Foundation.
100 Park Boulevard, Downtown
Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert at The Rady Shell
May 1 & 3
Since its debut on the silver screen in 1977, Star Wars has developed into a cultural behemoth, rich with iconic characters, epic lightsaber showdowns and grand space adventures. This Friday (7:30 p.m.) and Sunday (6:30 p.m.), fans of cinema and sci-fi can see the film that started it all, Star Wars: A New Hope, outdoors at The Rady Shell. From the expository opening crawl to the Death Star’s demise, audiences can experience the franchise’s beginnings with a live rendition of John Williams’ score, performed by the San Diego Symphony Orchestra and conductor Scott Terrell. Tickets range from $68 to $173 for Friday and $51 to $173 for Sunday.
Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.
By the looks of it, this weekend is shaping up to be the most event-rich stretch of the year, with plentiful chances to go out, give back and experience all the diverse offerings San Diego has in store. Concerts, car shows, annual exhibitions and free festivals—the hardest part will be choosing which activities to check out. The return of marquee attractions like WOW Festival, Art Alive, Adams Avenue Unplugged, San Diego EarthFest and the La Jolla Concours d’Élégance means there is no better time than the present to revel in all that makes this city special. So don’t miss out.
Uncorked: San Diego at Embarcadero Marina Park North
April 25
The traveling Uncorked festival heads back to Embarcadero Marina Park North this Saturday from 1-5 p.m. for another 21+ bottle-popping celebration. Uncorked: San Diego promises more than 150 international wines and sparkling drink selections, plus a range of spirits, mocktails and canned cocktails. Plus, attendees can enjoy food trucks, live DJs and an assortment of lawn games. Ticket options include early admission ($95) and general admission ($79), which comes with entry at 2 p.m.; proceeds from this event will go toward the nonprofit Urban Surf 4 Kids.
In conjunction with the Taste of San Diego: Filipino Culinary Journeys exhibition, the San Diego History Center and the Council of Philippine American Organizations are hosting a Filipino Food Pop-Up. This complimentary culinary add-on, happening Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., will feature a Filipino menu of mainstays and desserts from Gabina’s Cuisine. History center visitors will be able to closely observe the cultural traditions within the exhibition while eating cuisine that reflects the city’s Filipino gastronomic evolution.
1649 El Prado, Balboa Park
Dawson’s Creek Brunch at Mic Drop Comedy
April 26
Up for an afternoon in Capeside? Fans of The WB’s golden era can reserve a spot at Mic Drop Comedy’s 21+ Dawson’s Creek Brunch, celebrating the iconic teen drama that launched the careers of Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson and the dearly departed James Van Der Beek. Experience the series’ most memorable moments, including the love triangles and Dawson’s eternal crying face. Doors open this Sunday at noon, with the event beginning at 1 p.m. General admission is $26 and a VIP booth, which comes with five tickets, is $225.
Six months after teasing his new project with a pair of intimate residencies at Blue Note Jazz Club in NYC and LA, Charlie Puth released his fourth studio album, Whatever’s Clever!, in late March. The smooth, nostalgic pop sound of the record is bolstered by an eclectic lineup of features, which include R&B dynamos Coco Jones and Ravyn Lenae, yacht rock icons Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald and Japanese-American pop idol Hikaru Utada. Puth’s performance this Wednesday at Viejas Arena (7:30 p.m.) will feature singer-songwriters Daniel Seavey and Ally Salort as openers. Tickets range from $42 to $176 for this concert.
5500 Canyon Crest Drive, Rolando
Adams Avenue Unplugged
April 25
Roam along Adams Avenue and see a plethora of pop-up concerts this Saturday from noon to midnight during Adams Avenue Unplugged. Ninety performers will play across 26 stages spread throughout University Heights, Kensington and Normal Heights, with local venues including cafes, pubs, and the offices of Heights Optometry. All performances are free except for the headliner set at 7 p.m. from Latino rock legend Alejandro Escovedo at Normal Heights United Church ($40). The church will also host the festival’s beer garden, and those who purchase the VIP food & drink package ($25), will receive three beers and a taco combo plate.
Adams Avenue
Ichiko Aoba at Balboa Theatre
April 25
Japanese multi-instrumentalist Ichiko Aoba distills vivid dreams into awe-inspiring music, creating boundless worlds where natural beauty pairs with audial delight. Aoba’s most recent album, Luminescent Creatures, takes this concept to satisfying new heights with a collection of songs that balance the quiet, loving embrace of home with the enchanting allure of freedom, all brought together by her calm, whisper-like vocals. Concertgoers can get swept away in Aoba’s world when she performs this Saturday at 8 p.m. at Balboa Theatre as part of her Across the Oceans Tour. Tickets range from $55 to $136 for this concert.
Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.
Finding a gift that feels truly personal can be surprisingly difficult. In a sea of generic options — flowers, gift cards, candles, and the like — Xplosion Box offers something more lasting: a customized keepsake built around the photos, messages, and memories that matter most.
Founded by Southern California entrepreneur Jay Vijay, Xplosion Box LLC creates fully customized explosion gift boxes that arrive professionally designed, printed, assembled, and ready to gift. Each box opens layer by layer to reveal personal photos, heartfelt messages, pull-out albums, origami-style photo pockets, and hidden notes, turning a simple gift into an emotional reveal.
The brand was built for people who want to give something meaningful without spending hours printing photos, cutting paper, folding cardstock, or assembling a DIY project. Customers simply choose a box, upload their favorite photos, add personal messages, and the Xplosion Box team transforms those details into a polished keepsake that feels thoughtful, personal, and beautifully made.
Xplosion Box offers personalized gift boxes for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, graduations, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, proposals, bridesmaid gifts, long-distance relationships, and thoughtful “just because” moments.
Customers can choose from flexible customization options starting at $27. The Mini Surprise Box includes 10 photos, three message cards, and one hidden secret note, while the Mega Surprise Box offers a fuller keepsake experience with 40 photos, three message cards, and one hidden secret note.
What sets Xplosion Box apart is its high level of customization combined with convenience. Filled with personal photos, custom text, decorative details, and layered surprises, each box gives customers the freedom to create a gift that feels one-of-a-kind — without having to make it themselves.
At its core, Xplosion Box helps people turn favorite photos, stories, and words into something tangible: a keepsake that can be opened, revisited, and remembered long after the occasion has passed. asion has passed.
When we think of May, we think of Mother’s Day, blooming flowers, sunny skies, and lots of fun, seasonal events in the city. This month, locals can dine on the creations of James Beard Award-Winning Chefs at Rancho Bernardo Inn, or take advantage of berry season at the annual Vista Strawberry Festival. Theatre lovers can enjoy a showing of Kim’s Convenience at The Old Globe, while the San Diego Natural History Museum invites art enthusiasts to view its latest marine-themed exhibit. Grab your tickets and crack open that planner. Here are all the best things to do in San Diego this month:
Louisiana legend Juvenile, enhances by the live instrumentation of The 400 Degreez Band, will perform career hits and his newest album, Boiling Point, at House of Blues San Diego.
Photo Credit: Dahlia Katz
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Month
5/5–6/1
Turning the spotlight on contemporary LGBTQ artists, the inaugural ArtSpectrum 2026 will showcase both the grand and intimate scale of contemporary painters, photographers, and mixed media artists at Village Arts Outreach in Balboa Park.
12–24
The only ordinary element of the San Diego International Fringe Festival is the constant thrill of the extraordinary. Discover a plethora of innovative performances at venues from Pacific Beach to Baja.
A Korean-Canadian family balances tradition and assimilation from their Toronto storefront in Ins Choi’s comforting satire Kim’s Convenience, making its local premier at The Old Globe.
5/22–2/2027
Ocean debris will receive a new beginning at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Using repurposed pollution, Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea depicts creatively sculpted marine life.
Courtesy of BRICK
More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Month
4/30–5/3
Enjoy fine dining at its finest from a lineup of gastronomic titans during 54 Hours with James Beard Award-Winning Chefs. Savor elegant meals, masterclasses, tastings, and more at Rancho Bernardo Inn.
2
Unlimited bites, regional craft beers, and animal observations are on the menu for San Diego Zoo Food, Wine & Brew (with live music), a culinary evening in support of the San Diego Wildlife Alliance.
Spend An Evening with David Sedaris, humorist, essayist, and best-selling author. Never afraid to point the pen at himself, Sedaris will share old favorites and works in progress in the classic satirical style he’s known for at Jacobs Music Center.
15–17
Say cheese! And toast to the Cheese & Libation Expo. Explore three days of all-you-can eat and drink fare at BRICK, along with boutique shopping and bountiful pairings.
16
Stroll the private grounds of several luxurious homes, accompanied by live music, tabletop designs, and outdoor artistry, during the Secret Garden Tour, La Jolla Historical Society‘s flora and fauna fundraiser.
24
Vista recalls its days as a strawberry-producing superpower through its free Strawberry Festival. Wear your berry best fit, watch film screenings, and enter contests for shortcake, pie, and sundae indulging.
Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.
Indoor soccer playoffs, engaging art exhibitions and avocado activities are in store this weekend in San Diego. Sports fans can root for the Gulls as they finish their regular season slate and catch a postseason matchup between the Sockers and the St. Louis Ambush. Evocative artwork can be admired through Space 4 Arts’ Instructions for Unrest: Art Against Complacency at Art Produce Gallery, the familial retrospective Brothers in Arts: James Hubbell and Bert Hubbell at Oceanside Museum of Art and two new exhibitions at MCASD from the private collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys. In addition, the annual Avocado Festival will return to the streets of downtown Fallbrook with an array of contests, entertainment and avocado-filled splendor.
Spend an afternoon along Lake San Marcos sampling a curated menu of greater San Diego’s best flavors during the 5th annual Lakehouse Food & Wine Festival. Over 30 vendors will showcase their best food, wine and spirits, with attendees encouraged to vote on their favorites. Ticket options include general admission ($89) and VIP passes ($160), which comes with early admission at noon and a luxury cruise to the festival’s deluxe island experience; prices will rise by $10 the day of the event. All eventgoers will also go home with a souvenir tasting glass.
No matter if you love or loathe avocados, there are festivities for everyone to explore during the free annual Fallbrook Avocado Festival this Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This includes family-friendly live entertainment, a beer and wine garden with live music and the Artisan Walk on Alvarado. Plus, there will be contests for the best tasting and looking guacamoles, avocado holding competitions, contests for best dressed avocado and little miss & mister avocado and the Avocado 500 mini car race.
Main Street from East Mission Road to Fallbrook Street, Fallbrook
Courtesy of Humphreys Concerts by the Bay
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
Ethel Cain at The Rady Shell
April 14
Can’t afford to see Ethel Cain at Coachella? Fortunately, San Diegans can catch the standout Americana artist this Tuesday at 7 p.m. when she plays The Rady Shell. Cain’s sonic mastery and intricate songwriting are best displayed in her pair of new projects from 2025: the dark and ambient Perverts and Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You, which continues and precedes the tales from her debut Preacher’s Daughter. Cain will be joined on the bill by shoegaze group 9Million and country rock standouts Wednesday. Tickets are $86 for this concert; $1 from every ticket sold will go to organizations that support the trans community via The Ally Coalition.
222 Marina Park Way, Embarcadero
Devo at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay
April 15
Assemble your circular red energy domes and head to Humphreys Concerts by the Bay this Wednesday at 8 p.m. to see new wave legends Devo. Also fresh off an appearance at weekend one of Coachella, Devo is celebrating its 53rd anniversary. Though it’s been 45 years since “Whip It” cracked its way up the Billboard Hot 100, and only a couple years since their lineup of “farewell” shows, Devo are finding ways to connect with new audiences, as evidenced by the mantra of their Mutate, Don’t Stagnate Tour. Tickets range from $120 to $243 for this concert.
2241 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island
San Diego Arab Film Festival
April 17–19
The second installment of this year’s San Diego Arab Film Festival returns to the Museum of Photographic Arts’ Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater for three nights of screenings this Friday through Sunday. The lineup of five shorts and five feature films includes international selections from Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, including All That’s Left of You, Hind Under Siege and The President’s Cake. Ticket options include a three-ticket pass ($40) and individual screening tickets ($15); cafeteria-style Arabic dinners can also be purchased ahead for each screening for $18.
1649 El Prado, Balboa Park
HoCo 420 Fest
April 17–19
Ocean Beach’s The Holding Company is ushering in the highest of holidays with this weekend’s HoCo 420 Fest. The festival begins Friday (7:30-11:30 p.m.) with a performance by reggae rock group Tomorrow’s Bad Seeds, continues Saturday (7-11:30 p.m.) with a headlining set from weed rap extraordinaire Devin the Dude and ends Sunday (1:30-6 p.m.) with an after party featuring local alternative band Fight Naked. Tickets are $15 for Friday, $30 for Saturday, $10 for Sunday and $45 for the whole weekend.
Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.
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.
