Ray Beans
Traumatized by the tiny, goofy metal frames I was forced to wear as a nearsighted elementary schooler, after getting contacts, I stuck to plastic shades despite the climate guilt. But there’s a hot new material on the sunnies market—beans. Nope, not a typo. San Diego brand Saunt makes plant-based plastic out of castor bean oil, 3D-printing it into lightweight, stylish frames fitted with polarized lenses. Now both Mother Earth and my 8-year-old self think I’m cool. –AR
Blueprint for Movement
At risk of committing San Diego blasphemy, I’m not exactly outdoorsy—typically, my take on a day in the sun involves patio brunching or seaside lounging. Lately, though, I’ve been trying to make the most of the county’s natural bounty. Enter Go Deck San Diego, 52 cards printed with local spots to hike, bike, and explore. They’re packed with historical and ecological facts and suggested trails and color-coded by region, so all I have to do is decide how far afield I’d like to go, then I can pick a card, any card, to receive my adventure assignment. –AR
Family Travel
We’ve been discussing heritage travel—visiting places related to your ancestry—recently at the SDM offices. Personally, I’m itching to check out El Salvador to see where my grandma’s pupuseria once sat. And, while a vacation is one thing, actually chatting with my abuelita in her homeland is a totally different kind of adventure. This is where VerySoul comes into play. The platform brings together mediums from across the globe (including SD) to help you connect with late loved ones via 30- or 60-minute Zoom sessions. You can call from anywhere, in any language, bringing a whole new meaning to traveling with family. –NM
