A whole lotta love for local bagels 🥯

Where to find bagels in San Diego

Bagel meal with a pickled from a San Diego restaurant

Be right back — we need to grab this bite from BCB Cafe. | Photo via @mmmegabites

There’s nothing like a hot cup of coffee alongside a bagel stacked with cream cheese and other delectable fillings. Here’s your guide to five top-notch bagel shops around San Diego.

🥯 Spill the Beans Coffee and Bagels, 555 Market St., Gaslamp
This shop’s adventurous house-made cream cheese + spreads go where few have gone before – offering flavors like wasabi, ginger and soy or red chili and garlic. For bagels with a waterfront view, check out the location at Seaport Village.

a bagel egg + tomato sandwich with an iced coffee — Spill the Beans’ “Thighmaster” bagel puts red chili + garlic cream cheese on the radar.

🥯 Big City Bagel Cafe, 1010 University Ave., Hillcrest
Serving New York-style bagels for nearly 20 years, the menu offers everything from sandwiches to açai bowls. However, it is best known for the 5th Avenue Signature Melt – a bagel sandwich with turkey, cream cheese, bacon, and more.

🥯 P.L. Bagels, 3704 Voltaire St., Ste. 107, Point Loma
Start your daily grind with a whole wheat everything bagel with garlic-bacon cream cheese. This cash-only spot gets busy on weekends, so grab your favorites early – the strawberry cream cheese is delicious.

rows of bagels — From poppy to pumpernickel — what’s your bagel pick for the day?

🥯 Ben and Esther’s Vegan Jewish Deli, 6663 El Cajon Blvd., College Area
Ben and Esther’s serves meals using only vegan ingredients. Creating “lox” from carrots + “whitefish” from hearts of palm, the shop is passionate about cruelty-free products. Swing by the College Area or Oceanside locations for a lox bagel sandwich + potato knish.

🥯 Golden Bagel Cafe, 13289 Black Mountain Rd., Ste. 2, Rancho Peñasquitos
Golden Bagel has been around since 1995 and is known for its Golden Scramble – a massive bagel sandwich with two eggs, three cheeses, and choice of meat. Top off your meal with a fresh smoothie blend on your way down to Lake Miramar.

Not a bagel person? No worries, we have you covered with our local brunch guide.

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Wednesday, Nov. 16

Sven-Erik Seaholm - Calamity + Joey Harris | Wednesday, Nov. 16 | 6 p.m. | Humphreys Backstage Live, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., San Diego | $7-$20 | A night of jazz music.
The Airmen of Note on Tour in San Diego! | Wednesday, Nov. 16 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Spreckels Organ Pavilion, 2125 Pan American Rd. East, San Diego | Free | The premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force performs a free concert at the landmark.
The Longest Johns | Wednesday, Nov. 16 | 8 p.m. | House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., San Diego | $45 | The British folk band takes the Voodoo Room stage.

Thursday, Nov. 17

Beaujolais Party | Thursday, Nov. 17 | 6-9 p.m. | Tapas and Beers, 926 Broadway Cir., San Diego | $50-$60 | Drinks and appetizers from San Diego’s top 40 restaurants — two glasses of wine included with ticket.
Postmodern Jukebox: Life in the Past Lane Tour | Thursday, Nov. 17 | 7:30 p.m. | Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., San Diego | $64-$275 | PJM reworks modern pop music into vintage genres — think swing + jazz.
“From Balanchine to Martins” | Thursday, Nov. 17 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 North Escondido Blvd., Escondido | $30-$103 | A celebration of 20th century ballet masterworks from New York City Ballet.
The Polish Ambassador | Thursday, Nov. 17 | 9:30 p.m. | The Music Box, 1337 India St., San Diego | $28 | The artist performs in support of his new graphic novel, “The Polish Ambassador to Space.”

Friday, Nov. 18

Rex Navarrete LIVE! | Friday, Nov. 18 | 7:30 p.m. + 9:30 p.m. | The American Comedy Co. San Diego, 818 B 6th Ave, San Diego | $10 | The stand-up comic brings the laughs.
Santee Holiday Lighting | Friday, Nov. 18 | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Santee Trolley Square, 9884 Mission Gorge Rd., Santee | Free | Ring in the season with a tree lighting, photos with Santa, sledding for kids + live music.
San Diego Gulls vs. Grand Rapids Griffins | Friday, Nov. 18 | 7 p.m. | Pechanga Arena San Diego, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego | $20-$106 | The Michigan team competes on San Diego’s ice rink.

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.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

72º | Sunny | 0% chance of rain
Santa Ana winds are expected to pick up today west of San Diego County’s mountains. The National Weather Service says a High Wind Warning is in effect through 10 p.m. for local valleys + mountains — where northeast winds will reach 30-40 mph — with gusts up to 65 mph possible. 🍃 (National Weather Service)

Sunrise + Sunset

Rise: 6:19 a.m.
Set: 4:47 p.m.

Tide

Low: 9:54 a.m. + 10:20 p.m.
High: 5:22 a.m. + 2:46 p.m.
Water Temperature: 59º

Announced

It’s about damn time. Singer + rapper Lizzo will bring “The Special 2our” to San Diego’s Viejas Arena on Thursday, May 25, 2023 — with “Big Energy” rapper Latto. Tickets go on sale this Friday, Nov. 18, at 10 a.m. 🎶

Civic

The California Office of Traffic Safety awarded a $250,000 grant to San Diego County to fund a child safety seat education program in underserved communities. The program will include the distribution of free car seats for families in need and classes for caregivers on how to properly install a car seat. 🚗

Cause

US Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots donation drive is accepting new, unwrapped toys for local kids for the holiday season. You can find drop-off boxes at five county airports — including Gillespie Field in El Cajon — through Saturday, Dec. 10, or across dozens of other locations. 🧸

Biz

Downtown San Diego’s El Dorado Cocktail Lounge is under new ownership, now part of Pouring With Heart, the group that runs Seven Grand. The new owners plan to shake up the space by updating its design + vibe — and it’ll temporarily close in mid-January for this transition. 🍸 (Eater San Diego)

Outdoors

Parks and Recreation has launched its First Time Camping Program designed to help locals overcome barriers to visiting county parks — including financial hardship. The program provides no-cost weekend campsite reservations at Tijuana River Valley Regional + Dos Picos County parks, plus all camping equipment and outdoor safety instruction. 🏕️

Plan Ahead

Alpine’s big cat + bear sanctuary — Lions Tigers & Bears — will host its Thanksgiving Turkey Bash at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 25 + Saturday, Nov. 26, where guests can watch exotic animals devour their holiday feasts. Tickets cost $60 for adults + $35 for kids. 🦁

Sports

Welcome back, Glenn. After a stint with the Anaheim Ducks, center Glenn Gawdin has been reassigned to the San Diego Gulls. When he started the 2022-2023 season with the Gulls, Glenn co-led the team in goals. Catch the next hockey home game this Friday at Pechanga Arena. 🏒
San Diego Wave FC will participate in the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League Draft on Tuesday, Jan. 12. It was at the 2022 draft when the club acquired powerhouse players like Naomi Girma — a major score. The selection process will stream 4-8 p.m. PT on Paramount+ and CBS Sports HQ. ⚽

DYK

Did you know this is your last chance to share your Black Friday deals with our SDtoday readers? Promote your business with us by submitting a deal to be included in our Fri., Nov. 25 newsletter. Pricing varies by market + must be submitted by today, Wed., Nov. 16.

Shop

Psst — Thanksgiving is next Thursday, Nov. 24. If you’re planning to serve turkey, don’t forget that a meat thermometer is essential to avoiding a potential case of food poisoning. Try this waterproof digital meat thermometer with 53,000+ five star reviews or splurge on this smart meat thermometer that connects to your phone via Bluetooth.*

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Sharing the Blues 🐧

5 Little Blue Penguins from Birch Aquarium move to Cincinnati Zoo

Five Little Blue Penguins from Birch Aquarium have moved to Cincinnati. | Photo via Birch Aquarium

Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography has been enjoying its colony of 15 Little Blue Penguins since July, but now it’s time to share the Blues.

This week, the facility announced that five of its Little Blues — Sheldon, Squid, Craig, Odette + Bo — had embarked on a cross-country move to Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.

The move is part of an international Species Survival Plan (SSP) that works to maintain the genetic diversity of species in zoos + aquariums — with hopes that the penguins will become part of new breeding colonies.

Jenn Nero Moffatt, Senior Director of Animal Care, Science and Conservation at Birch Aquarium, says collaboration like this is “essential to maintaining a healthy and thriving penguin population across the US.”

You can still see the other 10 tiny penguins — each about the size of a California Burrito — daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at the Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins habitat.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Monica.

Editor’s pick: It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. 🎶

After a visit to Christmas at the Barn at The Barn Redefined in Poway, I am fully in the seasonal spirit. The home décor store inside the red barn on Midland Road has transformed into a wall-to-wall holiday shop for its “12 Days of Christmas” sale — and it is magical. The themed trees are gorgeous. 🎄

The final stretch of this event runs tomorrow through Sunday, Nov. 20.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? We celebrated SDtoday’s first birthday with a stroll down memory lane. 💕

Connect with us.

Editorial: Monica Garske, Michael Beausoleil, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Julie Brown | Advertise with us.

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