The Peppermint Beach Club at Westfield UTC offers families, friends, visitors, and locals a perfect place to celebrate the holidays and relish in the magic of the North Pole, San Diego style. This exciting & festive attraction will dazzle and delight with an array of activities including snowfall, photos with Santa in his new bungalow, playful visits with Mrs. Claus and the elves, a DJ, ways to save with early holiday shopping, special offers & giveaways, and plenty of live entertainment all season long to help spread holiday cheer:  

• Santa Photo Experience presented by SeaWorld – This year, Santa’s got a bigger, better bungalow! Located in Palm Plaza between November 15 and December 24, stop by to snap a holiday photo with Santa – or bring along furry friends for Santa Paws photos on December 2 and December 9 from 4- 7 pm. Plus, we’re introducing a new Signature Santa Experience for an extended visit, magical story time, candid shots, and more with Kris Kringle–available for a limited time only. Reservations are highly recommended. Visit Westfield.com/UTC/holiday to secure your spot. 

• Specialty Cocktails & Themed Menu at Queenstown Bistro – Set in the heart of Peppermint Beach Club is Queenstown Bistro, offering patrons a curated seasonal menu inspired by Westfield UTC’s resort-like holiday destination. Featured highlights include a themed specialty cocktail menu, and the comeback of the popular Holiday Sandwich boasting a delicious combination of oven-roasted turkey, brie cheese, stuffing, gravy, cranberry and jalapeno relish served on sourdough bread.

• Gift Wrapping Benefitting Rady Children’s Hospital – After finishing your holiday shopping, leave the gift wrapping to the professionals and personalize each of your gifts at the gift-wrapping station benefitting Rady Children’s Hospital located near Room & Board. Visit Westfield.com/UTC/holiday for gift-wrapping days and hours.  

• Holiday Ice Skating: All-day ice skating sessions are available throughout the holiday season for families and friends looking to cap their day at Peppermint Beach Club with a fun run around the ice at UTC Ice Sports Center.   

• Special Offers & Giveaways – Shop early & save this holiday season with limited-time offers & promotions – plus, enjoy spin-wheel giveaways for gift cards and more during performances at Peppermint Beach Club. Visit Westfield.com/UTC for details.   

The post Peppermint Beach Club Returns to Westfield UTC appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

“With rebranding, [I] want to expand the offerings past waffles,” she says. The new name, Good Measure, will come with a broadened menu for a more versatile brunch experience and a community space to host guest chefs, collaborations, and pop-ups. As the former owner of experiential pop-up dinner series Cow by Bear, Solomon says it’s essential for her to provide a space for up-and-coming chefs in the same way she felt supported when she was just starting as a young entrepreneur. “There’s strength in numbers,” she says. “Everyone brings something to the table.”

Solomon and her business partner Jess O’Shae purchased Atypical from the original owners earlier this year, but Solomon will be the sole owner and operator once the new iteration launches in December or January. “There is a lot of gray area right now,” she laughs. Once open, she plans to offer brunch Thursdays through Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and host events on weekends as often as possible, and says she’ll expand evening hours in the future.

She also plans to add more visible signage—a necessity for the tucked-away space. Guests will still enter through the back of the laundromat, though, but Solomon says she’ll add more obvious invitations to enter. The vibe will be “bright, colorful, a kind of mid-century modern aesthetic,” she says, with lots of greenery. 

San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events

Family Utopia Kids & Coffee Opening in Carlsbad

Finally, a place where the “are kids allowed here?” debate falls silent! Kids & Coffee, an 11,500-square-foot indoor playspace and cafe, opens on Saturday, November 9 in Carlsbad. During the pandemic, full-time workers and new parents Vivian Ho and Ken Li experienced a structural lack of family support in their community, so they decided to launch a resource for caregivers and their children. 

“Kids & Coffee is unique in a sense that we are one: fostering a safe space for early childhood development, two: we provide a platform and community for the caregivers, and three: we provide the educational resources that the modern parent needs,” says Ho. Mostra Coffee will be the sole coffee provider to the cafe, which will also serve light bites like flatbreads, pastries, sandwiches, and other health-conscious offerings. I personally am ready to try the “Little Beans, Big Dreams” signature coffee blend (but yes, there will eventually be some beer and wine for the adults as well).

Beth’s Bites

• ‘Tis the season for booze and candy pairings, and there’s no one I trust more than Karen Barnett at Ponce’s Mexican Restaurant to guide me on this journey. I’m eyeing the gummy bears with La Flaca, but I certainly wouldn’t turn down a Butterfinger with a Cadillac margarita.
• Say it with me—Board & Brew is finally coming to Mission Valley! The neighborhood is about to get a whole lot tastier. Also, the chain has been around for 45 years?! We love a sandwich success story.
• Lola 55, the Bib Gourmand-recognized taco shop in East Village, is opening its new concept, L55 Tacos, in Westfield UTC this weekend. Well, sort of. It’s technically a friends and family soft opening on Friday, November 1, but all I hear is tacos are coming…
• Goodbye, sweet sushi—Hive Sushi Lounge in East Village closed without warning earlier this week, taking with it the home of Omakase by Ambrely’s pop-up series. Chef Ambreley says she’s looking for a new location to relaunch her concept elsewhere, so drop her a DM if you have a lead.

Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to [email protected].

The post Atypical Waffle Rebranding As Good Measure appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.

The post A Legacy Of World-Class Cardiovascular Care appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

“I decided that something was missing from my life at that moment, and once more I needed to give back,” DeBerry says.

In January 2020, she became president and CEO of the County of San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce (CSDBCC), where she supports minority- and women-owned enterprises. “Everybody should live for a legacy transforming and shaping peoples’ lives for the better,” she says.

Early in her career, corporate HR roles offered DeBerry insight into the systemic challenges women and Black people face in the business world. DeBerry founded her consulting business to show executives how inclusive policies positively impact companies’ bottom line.

October 28, 2024

November Pub Note: Rising to the OccasionRELATED ARTICLE

“The struggles are still real for women, especially women of color, in business,” DeBerry says. “It’s a question of equality versus equity. Yes, we might have an equal opportunity to start a business, but we don’t have equitable access to the capital that we need to compete.”

In March 2024, CSDBCC launched the Women’s Kitchen Table as a safe space to network and organize. DeBerry keeps tabs on San Diego’s wealthiest institutions, like SDG&E and UC San Diego—just two of the many organizations CSDBCC partners with—to make sure minority-owned businesses have access to vendor contracts, along with funding to support growth. Under her tenure, San Diego–based corporations have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to support CSDBCC initiatives—Sony Electronics alone has contributed more than $200,000.

“[Something] I’m proud of, personally and professionally, is that any time I’m in an influential position, I bring more women along,” DeBerry says. “It’s my responsibility to open those doors.”

DeBerry recently sold her Carlsbad home and moved onto a boat at Pier 32. At 69, she has raised four children and now has four grandchildren. “This is my best life, doing something good for the community,” she says.

The post Donna DeBerry’s Second Act: Creating Equity for Minority- & Women-Owned Businesses appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

When his business partner Adam Cook, who also owns Bluefoot Bar & Lounge in North Park, saw the old Coo Coo Club property for sale, Gerde said he immediately knew what he wanted to build. “I was like, if you did a country bar in East County, it would go over pretty well.” Fast forward two years, and Neon Moon will open on Wednesday, October 30 in Lakeside.

Gerde originally hails from Washington State and says that roadside bars he’d stop at when driving through rural areas of Montana and Idaho inspired him. But he wanted to create something thoughtful, “a bar that feels transportive,” he explains, driven by quality cocktails and ambiance.

Cook is no stranger to early entry into burgeoning neighborhoods, either—when he opened Bluefoot in 2006, North Park had hardly begun to emerge as a destination for locals, much less tourists. Now, it’s known as one of the hippest neighborhoods in the country, recognized by outlets like Forbes and Travel Mag.

They formally acquired the space around 18 months ago, with Cook and Sarah McAlear as principal owners, Gerde as an operating partner, and Sina Kennedy as another partner. They had to completely gut it to create a 21+ concept partially inspired by ’70s and ’80s country bars in Texas.

Inside features a lounge area with a working fireplace, along with a stained oak bar and crushed velvet orange chairs for a lived-in living room feel, explains Gerde. He handled much of the design, inspired by elements like his dad’s old Chevy pickup. 

“The seating area has green vinyl booths, and I mirrored the stitch pattern off of one of my dad’s old trucks,” Gerde says. “Then you work your way down to the dance floor, three steps from the bar and lounge area with a checkered floor.” A disco ball and velvet paintings lead past two pool tables before getting to the outside patio.

“It looks like a really well-done backyard patio,” he promises, with another fireplace, string lights, corn hole, darts, and passionfruit vines growing along a hog wire fence. “The outside also has a full working bar… everything that’s available inside is available outside,” he explains.

Cook and Gerde brought on Nickey Bakke to manage the bar program, which will incorporate her experience at places like the tiki sensation Tonga Hut in Los Angeles, Market in Del Mar, and South Congress venue The Continental Club in Austin, Texas. Neon Moon will offer four draft cocktails, a typical menu, 10 draft beers, and at least 25 cans and bottles. 

Expect tiki-inspired offerings, riffs on classics like an Old Fashioned and espresso martini, and novelties like a Rattlesnake margarita inspired by Bali Hai’s famous Mai Tai and served in a chilled mug. It’s made with anejo tequila, mezcal, agave nectar, lime, and Everclear because “what’s more country than Everclear?” he laughs. “High-proof neutral spirit? Absolutely.” 

Gerde says he hopes Neon Moon will be different in a neighborhood lacking specific product-driven places to hang out but seems familiar to everyone who walks in. “I think that when they get there, they’ll feel like they’re in another place in time,” he says. He hopes to be a part of the area’s evolution as well. “I think East County is going to change,” he muses. “There’s plenty of room out there.”

San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events

San Diego Beer Week Begins This Friday

Friday, November 1, kicks off the 16th annual San Diego Beer Week, hosted by the San Diego Brewers Guild. The 10-day event takes place at breweries, bars, restaurants, and brewpubs across the county to celebrate local, independent, craft beer, starting with a virtual kick-off toast at 7:30 p.m. Be sure to check the Guild’s website for a calendar of activities and social media for pop-up events and more opportunities to partake.

Don’t miss the annual Capital of Craft IPA collaboration beer, a West Coast IPA available on draft and in cans at all Guild member breweries during Beer Week. Festivities wind down at the Capital of Craft Beerfest on Saturday, November 9, behind Kilowatt Brewingon Clairemont Mesa Boulevard. Get your tickets to the 21+ event here. 

Beth’s Bites

• “Cancer bad, cocktails good” seems universally agreed upon by those who imbibe for a cause. On Friday, November 1, head to Understory Bar for the Susan G. Komen Sip for a Cause with F&K Spirits to raise money and awareness of breast cancer. 
• It’s hard to know what news is real right now, but it appears that Pancho Villa in North Park is, in fact, actually closing. Get your tortillas while you still can.
• Nightlife venue and Asian-inspired restaurant AKA is now open at 611 Fifth Avenue, with plenty of plates, cocktails, and sexily-lit moodiness. 
• Free pizza, anyone? Mr. Moto is teaming up with the YMCA to offer a free pizza every Monday in November to raise money for the YMCA’s Solidarity Journey, a program aiming to end youth homelessness across San Diego. More information is available here, and yes, some exclusions apply.

Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to [email protected].

The post Country Cocktail Bar Neon Moon Opening in Lakeside appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

The daughter of Filipino immigrants, Garces grew up in Hawai‘i. After earning a degree in marketing at SDSU and working in event production for more than a decade, she started her company in 2020 with the intent of helping her community come together during the pandemic.

One of Social Artistry’s first “events” was not exactly a gathering. Called Box Creations, it was a response to the fear AAPI women felt while venturing out in a time when hate aimed at people of Asian descent was on the rise. Garces partnered with the Asian Business Association, Cox, SDG&E, and local artists to paint electrical boxes along Convoy with messages of hope and healing.

Garces is also part of the organizing force behind Balboa Park’s December Nights and helped make the beloved event a “drive-through” during the pandemic.

“We created a piece of San Diego history,” she recalls. “There was nothing else like it—people were honking along to ‘Jingle Bells’ while they waited in line in their cars. It brought San Diegans together at a time when we were so alone.”

Garces has now added her magic to Convoy San Diego Night Market, the Linda Vista Multi-Cultural Fair, and the Asian Film Festival, designing gatherings that connect local art, food, dance, music, entertainment, crafts, and cultural organizations to welcome visitors and residents alike. “One big event could be a celebration of a special time, but we also want it to be a showcase for what that community offers,” she says. “We want to inspire action to support our communities year-round.” She’s been invited to work on several Lunar New Year celebrations in 2025.

Most of the events Garces organizes are free to attend, backed by city, county, and local sponsors. She also co-chairs the San Diego Asian Pacific Islander Coalition, a partnership of more than 40 organizations from around the county. The coalition has secured empowerment grants from San Diego Foundation and driven a new research study of the AAPI diaspora in San Diego.

The post For This Local Entrepreneur, Events Are an Art Form appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Food & Drink | Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do

Food & Drink Events in San Diego This Weekend

San Diego Beer Week

November 1-10

San Diego is the epicenter of SoCal’s craft brewery scene, known as the “Capital of Craft,” with various local innovators contributing to the regional brewing excellence. During the 16th annual San Diego Beer Week, bars, restaurants and pubs all over the county, in partnership with the San Diego Brewers Guild, will be pouring their classics along with limited-edition brews, like the new Capital of Craft IPA collaboration beer. The beer week festivities will begin this Friday with a virtual kick-off toast at all Guild member locations, the Ghost Town Tap Takeover at North Park Beer Co. and the Brewery Ignighter Night Market at Barley & Sword Brewing Co. 

Countywide

Ramona Art, Wine & Music Festival

November 2

Explore Ramona’s arts and culture scene at the Ramon Art, Wine & Music Festival this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Begent Ranch. A variety of bands and solo artists hailing from the area will play on four stages, more than 50 juried artisans showcase fine artwork and over a dozen local wineries, plus purveyors of cider, beer and mead, sell homegrown sips. There will also be shopping, local food trucks and live and silent auctions. General admission tickets are $85, while all-inclusive VIP passes are going for $155. 

18528 Highland Valley Road, Ramona

San Diego Coffee Festival

November 2

No matter if your preferred morning caffeine boost is espresso, french press or cold brew, coffee aficionados will have plenty to try at the inaugural San Diego Coffee Festival. This Saturday, attendees can sample unlimited coffee tastings from 30+ roasters and enjoy live music at Broadway Pier. The event is split into two tasting sessions (10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.), and though some ticket options have already sold out, general admission tickets for each session (starting at $31.36), as well as all-day VIP ($72.91) is still available. Kids ages 13 and under receive free admission.

1000 North Harbor Drive, Embarcadero

Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend

Downtown Chula Vista Día de los Muertos Celebration 

November 2

Community and culture will intertwine at Downtown Chula Vista’s 4th annual Día de los Muertos Celebration, with musical and dance performances, an ofrenda competition, a mercado from Las Jefas Market and much more from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. this Saturday. At this free festival, attendees can pay respect to the dearly departed with a personal tribute on the community altar, dress up for the Catrín & Catrina Ensemble Competition, and admire the altar-laden lowriders of Impalas Car Club SD.

Downtown Chula Vista 

Fall Back Festival 

November 3

Local families are invited to participate in a range of history-inspired activities and help raise funds for the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation at the free annual Fall Back Festival from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. this Sunday. Held in front of the Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House, there will be contests, including the popular pie eating contest, educational booths, old-timey games and arts and crafts as they bring San Diego’s history to life.

5th Avenue and Island Avenue, Gaslamp

Carlsbad Fall Village Faire

November 3

As the bi-annual Carlsbad Village Street Faire celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2024, its yearly fall iteration returns this Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with more than 800 vendors lining along Grand Avenue. The Carlsbad Fall Village Faire includes a full day’s worth of activities and features with a farmers market, two food courts, live music, children’s carnival rides, a beer garden and plenty of chances to shop for antiques, clothing and whatever else you can carry home. 

Grand Avenue between Carlsbad Boulevard and Jefferson Street, Carlsbad

Fleet Week Concert Series

November 3

While the Fleet Week festivities pop up all over San Diego (Nov. 1-11), the musical talents of the armed forces will perform for the public in the Piazza della Famiglia this Sunday at 6 p.m. as part of the Fleet Week Concert Series. At this free performance, the Navy Band Southwest Rock Band will play a mix of contemporary rock classics along with rousing stars and stripes standards. This will be followed by a concert from the Marine Band San Diego Sound Strike Monday evening at the same time and place. 

555 West Date Street, Little Italy

Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend

“Midnight at the Never Get” at Diversionary Theatre

Through November 17

In Mark Sonnenblick’s “Midnight at the Never Get,” a queer romance set in 1965 Greenwich Village clashes with the onset of the gay rights movement in New York City, with the story centered around intimate performances in an illegal backroom club called The Never Get. There will be informative and interactive post-show happy hours with director Stephen Brotebeck and members of the artistic team following the shows on Thursday and Sunday. Tickets are ranging from $11.50 to $41.50 for this musical, with daily performances Thursday through Sunday.

4545 Park Boulevard, University Heights 

Art San Diego 

November 1-3

Experience strolling through a curated arrangement of several museums’ worth of artwork all at once during Art San Diego at the San Diego Convention Center. This three-day art party includes pieces from all over the world, along with several programs, from showcasing regional visual artists in the Local Talent to the stunning, but still affordable, items in the Discoveries Collection. General admission tickets ($20) come with access to all three days of the event plus the Collectors’ Saturday Soiree (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.), while the $30 total ticket comes with all the GA perks plus complimentary drinks at the soiree.

111 West Harbor Drive, Downtown 

“La bohème” at the Civic Theatre

November 1-3

The San Diego Opera kicks off its 60th season with a performance of their first-ever production, “La bohème” by Giacomo Puccini, at the Civic Theatre. The opera follows the timeless love story of two bohemian artists in 19th century Paris, with Lidiya Yankovskaya making her San Diego Opera debut as she conducts the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. Tickets are ranging from $23 to $285 for the three performances of “La bohème.” 

1100 Third Avenue, Downtown

Cross-Border Gallery Exchange at Sparks Gallery

Opens November 2

In a display of border region collaboration, Tijuana art studio Ángulo Galeria will host the works of San Diego-based artists Kathleen Kane-Murrell and Alexander Arshansky, while Sparks Gallery receives artwork from Tijuana artists Jessica Sanchez and Aida Urbina. This concurrent exhibition, highlighting the thriving artistic exchange between Baja California and Southern California, will run through November 30 at both galleries. Mark your calendars: an opening reception will be held for the exhibition on Thursday, November from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

530 Sixth Avenue, Gaslamp

More Fun Things To Do in San Diego This Weekend

Monster Movie Mixer 

October 31

Books & Records will trade in its warm ambience for a delightfully spooky setting for its Monster Movie Mixer, this Thursday from 8 p.m. to midnight. Come in your desired creature feature fit for the party, where you can compete in a costume contest, and enjoy themed sips, bites and live music. Tickets are $27.50 for this Halloween hangout, and come with food and one drink ticket per person. 

2202 Fourth Avenue, Bankers Hill

Oceanside Haunted Market

October 31

When Thursday evening comes around, Oceanside’s weekly Sunset Market will return with a haunted holiday edition. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Oceanside Haunted Market will feature the usual lineup of retail and food vendors offered at the market, along with a handful of fun Halloween activities. There will be kids trick-or-treating for those ages 12 years old and younger (while the candy lasts), plus a costume parade, live DJ and vendor costume contests at this free event.

Pier View Way and South Tremont Street, Oceanside

Mask-O-Raid IV

November 2

Don your masks as the Comic-Con Museum hosts its annual costume soiree, Mask-O-Raid, this Saturday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. There will be a raffle for Funko prototypes, an art sale where attendees can bid on pieces from artists and Comic-Con staff, and trick-or-treating for exclusive prizes. Attendees can also compete in the event’s costume contest, dance to terrifying tunes from DJ Chino and shop Halloween-themed items and exclusive gear from the gift shop. Tickets are $130 and can be purchased on Eventbrite. 

2131 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park

More Than Pink Walk

November 3

Show your support for survivors of metastatic breast cancer by taking part in the More Than Pink Walk this Sunday. After warming up with Orangetheory Fitness and exploring the many partnering nonprofits and advocates in the Hope Village, participants will march 2.2 miles through Balboa Park. Following the walk there will be live music, food, activities and a San Diego Mascot dance off. Registration for the More Than Pink Walk is free and can be done here.

Corner of 6th Avenue and Laurel Street, Balboa Park

San Diego Wave FC vs. Racing Louisville FC

November 3

The San Diego Wave will look to end their tumultuous NWSL season on a high note—and play the role of playoff spoiler— when they face off against Racing Louisville at Snapdragon Stadium, with a little something special planned for the San Diego faithful. Inspired by last year’s basketball jersey giveaway, the first 15,000 fans who enter the gates of Snapdragon Stadium this Sunday will receive a pinstriped Wave baseball jersey as part of Fan Appreciation Day. Tickets for this Sunday afternoon match are starting at $14.40. 

2101 Stadium Way, Mission Valley

The post 16 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend Oct. 31 – Nov. 3 appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Dr Boddu explains that in the course of daily life, certain parts of the body get overused and this contributes, in part, to the degeneration of the spine, joints and muscles. Such deterioration of these crucial body parts results in chronic pain which prevents the proper functioning of the body and participation in the hobbies and activities we enjoy. 

With considerably less down time than traditional methods such as surgery, patients are on their way to better health outcomes faster. The focus of the practice is to get patients back to health so that they can exercise, and enjoy physical hobbies with minimal pain and discomfort. Dr Boddu’s motivating principle is captured in the saying “Life is Movement, Movement is Life.” The philosophy is that an active, pain-free life enables patients to engage in beneficial activities that, in turn, keeps the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems thriving.  The proper functioning of those systems will subsequently result in improved overall physical and mental well-being.

Dr. Navneet Boddu is a specialist in Regenerative Medicine. He is triple board-certified in Pain Medicine, Anesthesiology and Echo-cardiogram with more than 25 years of experience. 

At Advanced Pain and Regenerative Specialists, Dr. Boddu provides personalized treatments for his patients’ spine and joint disorders. He is a five-time Top Doctor in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology in San Diego County. He is a contributing author of chapters about nerve blocks and interventional pain injections in the textbook Interventional Orthopedics Procedures. He also co-authored chapters in the Textbook of Regenerative Medicine. He conducted FDA-authorized umbilical cord stem cell treatments for patients with severe COVID. 

Dr Boddu is also an anesthesiologist at Scripps Medical Center, Encinitas. He is a member of the scientific board at Therapeutic Solutions International Inc., a  biotech company and industry leader in stem cell, exosome, and immunotherapy technologies. Dr. Boddu was chairman of the Anesthesiology Department at TriCity Medical Center from 2015 to 2017. Prior to that he was chairman at Providence Mission Hospital Laguna Beach, where he practiced Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology. He enjoys surfing and hiking.

Visit

2125 S El Camino Real, Suite 200

Oceanside, CA 92052

760-429-7172

advpainandregen.com

The post Explore a Cutting-edge, Non Surgical Approach for Spine and Joint Disorders appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

American Sampler Sando

Smallgoods

This artisan La Jolla deli, voted “Best Sandwiches” in town by our readers, makes a killer version of an Italian sub with all US-produced inputs. It’s got mortadella from San Francisco, Golden Nugget ham, finocchiona salami, sheep milk Alpine cheese, local Big Bill on the Hill’s mustard, mayo, baby arugula from Fred’s Urban farm, and Breadbar seeded loaf slices. It’s perfect. —JB

Chawanmushi

Omakase by Ambrely

Savory Japanese egg custard, known as chawanmushi, isn’t often served outside traditional Japanese restaurants in the US. Chef Ambrely Ouimette‘s spin on the classic dish showcases her experience behind the sushi bar, using eggs, celery tsukudani, and maitake mushrooms. One blissful bite transported me straight back to a ryokan in Kyoto. —BD

Turon Crème Brülée Latte

Mostra Coffee

One could argue that coffee culture is jumping the shark wearing a DayGlo tutu. Blame Instagram. If a drink doesn’t look like it’s headed to the Met Gala, it’s getting booted from the menu. The camera caffeinates first, after all. Enter this crunchy sugar-crusted, jackfruit-syruped, housemade-banana-milked Lady Gaga of a beverage in Bankers Hill (among other locations). It knows its angles, secretly loves paparazzi, and tastes like it went to private school. —MH

Chicken Fried Rice

Cross Street Chicken And Beer

A restaurant that shares a parking lot with a Ralphs might not inspire culinary confidence, but Del Mar plays by its own real estate rules. The Korean fried chicken at Cross Street (also in Convoy) is crispy and comforting. Get it on sandos, in salads, or alongside fluffy fried rice with a perfectly runny egg. Plus, an easy grocery run after. Win-win. —MH

Fig Leaf Old Fashioned

Roma Norte

The menu at this Seaport Village hotspot is encyclopedic, but ask the bartenders to bring you their favorite and you may get this ceramic teacup full of intrigue. You’ll need to leave the small talk at home-with butter-washed bourbon, fig leaf cordial, and cacao bitters, this slow sipper is made for deep conversation. Make sure you’ve done your reading. —MH

Local Sheepshead “Zarandeado”

Vistal Bar + Restaurant

Great things rarely come from restaurants that require staff name tags, but the seafood program at this fine-dining-establishment-meets-airport-lounge in the Intercontinental lobby is doing flavorful things with a top-notch locally caught fish program. Pretty cool considering the US imports upwards of 80 percent of its seafood. This dish is Tommy Gomes-supplied local sheepshead (whitefish, bouncy on the palate), baked Nayarit-style, then sauced (but not drowned atop poblano polenta. Memorably good, no name tag required. —MH

Panang

World Curry

I’ve always been tickled by World Curry‘s concept: curries from cuisines all over the planet-including the cozy Thai panang-available in one laidback restaurant. (Side note: Someone should do the same thing with different cultures’ fried chicken.) Though the longtime PB institution closes its doors in December, there’s still time for spicy excursions. —AR

Piña Colada Slushie

Bay Hill Tavern

With gloomy skies outside and my friends locked in to a football game on one of several TVs in Bay Park’s Bay Hill Tavern, summer couldn’t feel further away… until a vacation vessel of sweet slush lands on the table. It’s not a poolside cabana, but it’s close, and, since it’s sweetened only with pineapple juice, the cocktail won’t trigger Vegas-esque sugar headaches. Touchdown? —AR

Pad Thai

Sab Lai Thai Kitchen

Would I recommend taking your partner’s parents to dinner by simply plucking a restaurant name off a map? No. But it worked out, and now you don’t have to repeat my folly. Sab Lai is an underrated (see: not crowded) joint serving satisfying noodles and stir-fries in the Gaslamp. A friendly spot for pre-gaming a bar hop, fueling up for Petco concerts, or wooing the in-laws. —AR

Beef Carpaccio

The Amalfi Llama

Opened in March, Amalfi Llama at Westfield UTC is all about Patagonian live-fire cooking techniques mixed with Italian ingredients. It’s one of the few places in San Diego using this method to cook meat, adding that delicious charred flavor to the dishes. While all of the cuts are worth a try, don’t skip the beef carpaccio as an app. It’s incredibly thin slices make you feel like you’re eating clouds, and what’s not to love about that? —NM

No-Loko

J & Tony’s Discount Cured Meats and Negroni Warehouse

I recognize that the zero-proof version of an espresso martini is simply a latte. But the No-Loko at this East Village haunt endlessly streaming The Sopranos is complex enough to earn its spot on the cocktail menu. Café de olla syrup, coffee concentrate, cold brew, grated cinnamon. Don’t fuhgeddaboudit. —AR

Creamy Chicken Ramen

Tajima Ramen

Cooler weather means one thing: ramen season. Tajima on Adams Avenue is no-frills in the right ways. A solid joint to drop in for a quick hit of soup like vou’d stop for a quick beer (they have both). Sit at the bar and watch the kitchen cranking out an impressive number of to-go tubs while sipping on creamy chicken broth that isn’t just rich, it’s wealthy. Come on, thermostat, drop. —MH

Mini Burritos

John’s Market

Sequestered in the cuts of Solana Beach, John’s serves up some of the most soul-nourishing, family-recipe Mexican this side of Tecate. The mini burritos ($2.75) with housemade refried beans taste like a morning in some small coastal town 3,000 miles south. Machaca, chorizo, you can’t miss. Simple, made with amor. A true Mexican market with handwritten prices, hidden in a residential neighborhood. Oro. —MH

Kraken Roll

Ototo Sushi Co.

On the south end of Liberty Station, where the parking is plentiful and the patios are quiet, Ototo (also in Clairemont) anchors an oft-forgotten corner of Point Loma, next to an old landlocked Navy training ship. Bringing work or a book along for happy hour when the sun is out? Very SD. The Kraken is a can’t-go-wrong choice: yellowtail, cucumber, and avocado topped with more tuna, crispy onions, and garlic soy. —MH

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San Diego is embracing a shift toward purpose-driven leadership, proving that success is no longer just about profits. As businesses pivot from traditional models to platforms for purpose, the positive impact on our neighborhoods is undeniable. Local companies are stepping up, building trust, and strengthening communities through socially conscious practices. This movement highlights the growing importance of Localism, where businesses actively engage with the challenges of their neighborhoods, invest in their communities, and inspire future growth.

What is localism, and why does it matter now more than ever?

Localism isn’t just about “shop local” stickers on storefronts. A commitment to localism means prioritizing people over profits, supporting organizations with a shared mission, and promoting long-term sustainability by keeping resources circulating within the region. According to the American Independent Business Alliance, communities with thriving local businesses retain 48% more of their revenue, creating jobs and stimulating further economic growth. This interconnected system strengthens San Diego’s resilience and ensures businesses are not just economic engines but also agents of meaningful change.

Ignite Your Purpose: An Event to Bring the Community Together

This shift toward localism and purpose-driven leadership was on full display at Ignite Your Purpose, an event hosted by Better Business Bureau (BBB) in its ignite sparked by BBB space in Kearny Mesa. The event featured insightful discussions with Bob Dalton, founder of Sackcloth and Ashes, and Jordan Verdin, founder of the non-profit Humanity Showers, highlighting how businesses can use their platforms for good.

Bob Dalton shared how Sackcloth and Ashes came to life after his mother’s experience with homelessness, inspiring his one-for-one blanket donation model. To date, the organization has donated over one million blankets to shelters across the U.S.

Jordan Verdin recounted how Humanity Showers brings dignity through mobile showers for those experiencing homelessness, creating meaningful connections one shower at a time. These stories show how businesses can embed empathy into their operations and spark movements that uplift communities.

The sold-out event was bustling with community activators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and business professionals dedicated to driving meaningful change and strengthening their communities.

Building a Values-Driven Economy

BBB and B Local San Diego both play pivotal roles in advancing values-based business practices throughout the region. BBB is redefining what it means to convene integrity-driven businesses through initiatives like BBB4Good,promoting ethical leadership that aligns profit, purpose, and community. Since its launch in 2023, 19 local BBB4Good verified businesses have emerged in San Diego, with more joining the movement. In parallel, B Local San Diego supports businesses committed to high social and environmental standards. Abraham Chen, incoming Board Chair for B Local San Diego, explains, “There are 44 B Corporations headquartered in San Diego. These organizations are rigorously audited for business practices that benefit all their stakeholders, including workers, customers, suppliers, and the planet.” These efforts reflect a growing shift toward purpose-driven leadership, creating a stronger, more resilient local economy.San Diego is embracing a shift toward purpose-driven leadership, proving that success is no longer just about profits. 

How can you get involved?

• Support Purpose-Driven Brands: Align your spending with your values by supporting businesses that reinvest in the community. Search BBB.org for businesses that have earned the BBB4Good Trustmark or look for a Certified B Corp logo to discover companies that are making a positive impact with every product or service they offer.
• Volunteer Your Time and Skills: Share your expertise with local organizations focused on social change. Whether through hands-on help or offering specialized knowledge, your contribution strengthens their ability to serve the community.
• Attend Purpose-Driven Events: Join events like BBB’s Ignite Your Purpose to connect with others who are driving change. These gatherings inspire action, spark new ideas, and build relationships that amplify community impact.

What role will you play in shaping the future of San Diego?

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