6AM City In-house

Little big sounds 🎾

13 small venues where you can watch live music in San Diego
We get it, San Diego rocks. We’re amped for blink-182’s reunion shows at Pechanga Arena next June, and our ears are still ringing from the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ show at Petco Park over the summer. But every band starts somewhere, and the city has plenty of venues for smaller audiences.

What’s small? The Observatory North Park can hold a maximum of 1,300 people — so we’re rounding up 11 spots where your future favorites play to more intimate crowds.

Soda Bar in San Diego

Soda Bar is home to plenty of pop, and other genres.

Photo via @sodabarsd

đŸŽ€ Soda Bar
This unpretentious Normal Heights venue hosts up-and-coming artists, dance parties, DJ sets, and more. Despite having soda in its name, this is more of a bar. All shows are 21+ with a capacity of ~230.

đŸŽ¶ House of Blues San Diego
This downtown venue brings a variety of acts to our city — whether you’re looking to watch a familiar face or find a new favorite. Inside, you’ll find multiple stages designed to hold crowds of varying sizes: Audiences up to 1,000 will find themselves at the main stage, while the Voodoo Room attracts crowds under 300.

đŸ„ Belly Up Tavern
Despite its name, this Solana Beach venue has stayed afloat since 1974. It has enough space to hold 600 music enthusiasts, making it perfect for fans to get close to their favorite acts. Artists love performing here too — No Doubt and Childish Gambino played here early in their careers, and The Rolling Stones put on a private show in 2015.

🔊 SOMA San Diego
Located near Pechanga Arena in the Midway District, this independently-owned music venue is home to two stages and lots of talent. Mainstage hosts crowds up to 2,300, but often has half-stage shows that hold 1,150 + Sidestage is perfect for audiences up to 500 people.

Brick by Brick in San Diego

The sign of a fun time.

Photo via @alvrz.al

🎾 Brick by Brick
For those down with the darkness, this Bay Park venue hosts independent artists — mostly rock + metal acts. Be prepared to discover something new, because there’s capacity for 400 guests at most.
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Thursday, October 20
  • “It: The Pennywise Parody Musical” | Thu., Oct. 20 - Mon., Oct. 31 | 8 p.m. | OB Playhouse, 4944 Newport Ave., San Diego | $28.50 | Float into a new retelling of Stephen King’s “It.”
  • USA Ultimate National Championships | Thu., Oct. 20 - Sun., Oct. 23 | 9 a.m. | Surf Cup Sports Park, 14989 Via De La Valle, Del Mar | $15.00 - $45.00 | Watch ultimate frisbee’s best compete to be crowned the national champion.
Friday, October 21
  • Jamie Kennedy | Fri., Oct. 21 - Sat., Oct. 22 | 7 p.m. | Grand Comedy Club, 340 E Grand Ave, Escondido | $20.00 | The comic and “Malibu’s Most Wanted” actor brings his stand-up to the stage.
  • Magnolia’s Haunted Circus | Fri., Oct. 21, Fri., Oct. 21 | 5 p.m. | The Magnolia, 210 E Main St., El Cajon | Up to $10.00 | A frightful night of jugglers, contortionists, stilt walkers + more.
  • Omar Apollo + Ravyn Lenae | Fri., Oct. 21 | 10 a.m. | Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, 5500 Canyon Crest Drive, San Diego | $40.00 | The singer takes the stage, with special guest Ravyn Lenae.
Saturday, October 22
  • Birds, Bees, Flowers and Trees | Sat., Oct. 22 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Balboa Park, 1549 El Prado, San Diego | Free | The San Diego Master Gardeners answer all of your questions about gardening — planting, watering, pest control + more.
  • Watershed Warriors: Rancho San Diego Cleanup | Sat., Oct. 22 | 9-11 a.m. | Locations vary | Free | Join I Love A Clean San Diego and the County of San Diego for a litter cleanup in Rancho San Diego.
Sunday, October 23
  • Jess Gillam and Thomas Weaver | Sun., Oct. 23 | 3-4:30 p.m. | The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Avenue, La Jolla | $35.00 | An afternoon of piano + saxophone.
We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
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Sports
  • It’s all tied up now. The San Diego Padres defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 8-5 in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series. The next stop? The Friars will keep swingin’ tomorrow at 4:37 p.m. for Game 3 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. đŸ€Ž (MLB)
Open
  • It’s showtime for the Epstein Family Amphitheater — UC San Diego’s new outdoor venue that seats nearly 2,500 spectators on its La Jolla campus. Indonesian singer NIKI will play the theater’s first show tonight. It’s sold out, but tickets are still available for tomorrow’s show: “An Evening of Celebration with the San Diego Symphony.” đŸŽ¶
Community
  • Get ready for different charges. SDG&E announced electric rates will rise from 22.6 cents per kilowatt-hour to 24.4 cents starting Jan. 1, 2023, increasing the average family’s monthly fee by $15. The agency also predicts a 5.8% gas price increase — estimated because the natural gas commodity rate will be set in December. 🔌
Development
  • UC San Diego has broken ground on its new, two-story fire station on North Torrey Pines Road. The facility will be home to all-electric vehicles, and will help serve the campus and the surrounding community beginning in 2024. 🚒 (San Diego Union-Tribune)
  • New apartments could be moving into Del Mar. Developers submitted an application for a 259-unit complex known as Seaside Ridge on a 7-acre plot of land near Dog Beach that was once being eyed as the site for a resort. The current proposal includes 85 subsidized units for low-income residents. 🏱 (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Coming Soon
  • A new Mexican seafood restaurant will make a splash in Kearny Mesa. Take the Bait! is setting up shop on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard next to the Mikami revolving sushi bar. Both eateries are owned by Oceanic Enterprises, meaning customers can order from either menu once the new restaurant opens later this month. 🐙 (Eater San Diego)
Real Estate
  • Home sales in San Diego County are cooling, but condos + townhomes are on a different level. The number of units purchased in September was 15% lower than in August and 39% lower than September 2021. Prices are down too — averaging $600,000, a 3.5% drop from last month. đŸ˜ïž (Times of San Diego)
Awards
  • EJE Academies Charter School gained state recognition for its staff, community service + teaching styles. For ~20 years, the El Cajon institution has been cultivating bilingual students by teaching courses in Spanish and English. Due to high demand, the school is working on renovations and a campus extension. 📚 (CBS 8)
Feel Good
  • Staff at Julian Farm and Orchard have taken in 17 pot belly pigs after finding them abandoned on the Mesa Grande Indian Reservation. The not-so-little piggies are being nursed back to health, and animal lovers will soon be able to visit them at the farm’s petting zoo. 🐖 (Fox 5)
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THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Michael.

Editor’s pick: Good morning, San Diego. If you’ve followed my newsletters, you know I love pumpkin-flavored everything. So, I was getting excited for the Great Pumpkin Beer Festival in the Gaslamp Quarter. It was scheduled for Saturday, but was canceled — for a pretty gourd reason. Petco Park will be hosting Watch Parties and bars + restaurants in the area will be airing Saturday’s Padres game to root for the home team while they’re away and vying to win a spot in the World Series.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Plan your San Diego-themed Halloween costume.
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