The art + patio at Por Vida Café were just as glorious as the latte. | Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday
By now, you know how much Michael and I love a good, local coffee shop. Throughout our 2022 coworking sessions, we explored many java gems with delicious drinks — and brimming with that special San Diego energy. 🌇
Here’s our list of 30 buzzy coffee shops we loved in 2022. We’ll be exploring more in 2023, so please send us your recommendations. ☕
Wild Winter Nocturnal | Friday, Dec. 16 | 6:15-7:15 p.m. | Helen Woodward Animal Center, 6461 El Apajo Rd., Rancho Santa Fe | $27 | Enjoy animal interactions, festive lights, crafting, and story time with Santa at this family-friendly event.
Noah Homes’ Enchanted Village | Friday, Dec. 16-Thursday, Dec. 22 | 5-8 p.m. | Noah Homes’ Annual Enchanted Village, 12526 Campo Rd., Spring Valley | $13.99-$21.99 | A festival of trees and holiday light displays, complete with live entertainers and photos with Santa.
Golden State Ballet Presents The Nutcracker | Friday, Dec. 16-Friday, Dec. 23 | 7:30 p.m. | Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., San Diego | $25-$109 | Acclaimed dancers perform the holiday ballet accompanied by Tchaikovsky’s timeless score.
Saturday, Dec. 17
San Diego Ballet Presents The Nutcracker | Saturday, Dec. 17 | 1 + 5 p.m. | The Magnolia, 210 E. Main St., El Cajon | $55-$115 | Local talent soars during this showing of the classic, accompanied by Tchaikovsky’s score.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas In Concert | Saturday, Dec. 17 | 6 p.m. | The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego | $40-$95 | The San Diego Symphony Orchestra performs the score while the Jim Carey movie plays on the big screen.
Sunday, Dec. 18
The Sound Of Christmas Sing-Along | Sunday, Dec. 18 | 2:30 p.m. | Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., San Diego | $30-$60 | Bring your singing voice, Emmy-nominated conductor Charles Fernandez leads these tunes.
Hanukkah + Menorah Lighting | Sunday, Dec. 18 | 5 p.m. | Liberty Station, 2875 Dewey Rd., San Diego | Free | Celebrate the start of Hanukkah at this dazzling lighting ceremony.
San Diego Bay Parade of Lights | Sunday, Dec. 18 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Shelter Island, 2200 Shelter Island Dr., San Diego | Free | This local holiday tradition — sailing along for the past 52 years — features a procession of lavishly decorated boats lighting up San Diego Bay.
We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
County supervisors have approved the development of a program to promote the use of native plants. The project will include an educational websiteabout local plants and, eventually, the installing of demo gardens at county buildings. The program will also offer landscaping templates and incentives for San Diegans to use native plants. 🌿
Open
Buonissimo. Al Dente — an Italian restaurant specializing in traditional dishes with a modern twist — is officially open at 4207 Park Blvd. in University Heights, 4-10 p.m. daily. The menu includes antipasti like Bison Tartare, and pasta entrées featuring wild game like boar sausage, braised duck, elk, and oxtail. 🍝
Opening
Just months after debuting the Hell’s Kitchen restaurant, Harrah’s Resort Southern California will open another fine dining concept — Salt & Fin — on Monday, Dec. 19. The menu showcases locally-sourced, sustainable seafood including oysters, whole grilled fish, lobster, and chef’s favorites like the Pink Salt Brick Tuna Tataki. 🦞
Holiday
Hanukkah sameach. This Sunday evening (Dec. 18) marks the beginning of Hanukkah — the Festival of Lights that lasts for eight days. Celebrate by attending the menorah lighting at 5 p.m. at Liberty Station’s Central Promenade, or head to Seaport Village Monday, Dec. 19, for a menorah lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. 🕎
Environment
Got unwanted household items? Tomorrow is the final Clean California Dump Day of 2022. San Diegans can drop off non-hazardous items at the Caltrans Kearny Mesa Maintenance Yard at 7179 Opportunity Rd., 8 a.m.-12 p.m. — or until the bins are full. This includes tires, metal, glass,mattresses, and more. 🗑️
Ranked
Outside Magazine’s list of top places to work in the US in 2022 features local tech solutions company Evotek at No. 33. San Diego’s Karl Strauss Brewing earned an honorable mention, as did SportRX — which makes custom prescription sunglasses and snow goggles. 🏆 (Outside Magazine + San Diego Beer News)
Sports
The San Diego Gulls will host their annual Winter Wonderland Night this Saturday as they take on the Tucson Roadrunners at Pechanga Arena. Fans will enjoy holiday activities, the return of the beloved Teddy Bear Toss, and a blanket giveaway for the first 7,000 fans in attendance. Tickets start at $20. 🧸
The San Diego Legion will play their Major League Rugby home opener on Saturday, Feb. 18, at Snapdragon Stadium. This marks the team’s sixth season and will include 18 weeks of games — get tickets soon to see the action at home. 🏉
Eat
If you don’t feel like whipping up a holiday feast, Eater San Diego put together a list of restaurants offering dine-in or take-out options for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. This includes a brunch buffet at Adelaide in Del Mar and holiday menus at La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla. 🧇 (Eater San Diego)
Shop
Author and Indigenous jewelry artist Federico Jimenez Caballero will bring his creations to Bazaar del Mundo for a free trunk show today and tomorrow, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Shoppers can browse the marketplace and shop straight from Caballero, whose designs have been worn by celebrities like Christie Brinkley and Elle McPherson. 🛍️
It’s ok if you waited until the last minute to shop this season. There’s still time to shop items from our online shop Six & Main. We’re talking cocktail glasses, shirts, candles, mugs, and more. Our gift guides make shopping easy. 🛍️
Travel
Calling all globetrotters. If exploring bucket list destinations while meeting like-minded travelers is one of your 2023 goals, consider booking a small group trip with Encounters Travel. See one of the seven wonders of the world on the Jordan & Egypt Explorer Trip or snorkel among diverse marine life on the Maldives Uncovered Tour.*
Finance
This Princeton grad’s startup raised $161 million to help people plan for retirement — its free tool can match you with up to three vetted financial advisors serving your area who can help you work towards financial freedom. Try it out for yourself.*
Outdoors
Still shopping for the hunter or angler in your life?Sportsman’s Box, the leading gear discovery service for outdoorsmen, is adding a free $100 credit for all new membersthrough Saturday, Dec. 31. Choose from nine leading brands with your first Sportsman’s Box and claim your free gift. 🎣 *
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A piece of local history gets a second life. | Photo via @johnstonsbar
Something big is rising from the former site of Small Bar inUniversity Heights.
John Pani, founder of ELE Collective, is spending $3.5 million to transform the space at 4628 Park Blvd. into Johnston’s — a bar + restaurant with a twist of local history.
The sign was unearthed during the demolition process and when Pani saw it, he was inspired to pivot his restaurant’s design plans and create a space that honored the piece of local small business history.
“University Heights is one of San Diego’s oldest communities,” Pani said. “It would have been unconscionable to just have let that history disappear. This store has an important story to tell, and now, it’ll continue to live on in the heart of uptown for all to enjoy.”
Editor’s pick:Happy Friday, San Diego. This week, we talked about local urban wineries and I want to give a shoutout to our reader, J.B. R., for flagging one more great addition to our list — Négociant Winery in Hillcrest.
We hear the wine selection is stellar and the tasting room hosts lots of live music and fun events. Keep an eye on Négociant’s Instagram feed for updates. Cheers, SDtoday readers. 🍷
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