In this town, brunchin’ ain’t easy but it’s necessary. Whether you’re on the hunt for fluffy eggs, fried chicken and waffles, or mind-blowing bloody marys, the options can get as overwhelming as the lines at times.
Luckily, you have us to scout things out. We’ve rounded up a bunch of brunch options (50 total), along with menu recs, pro tips, and an interactive map to track ‘em.
🥓 Weekday wonders
Werewolf | Daily, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. | Order a round of Breakfast Balls for the table — hush puppies with country gravy + bacon.
Crushed | Daily, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. | Go for the sweet stuff — aka “Bresserts” — like the French Toast Sticks or Blueberry Cheesecake Pancakes at two locations: Pacific Beach + North Park.
The Great Maple | Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Sat. + Sun., 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | Elevated comfort food shines at the Hillcrest eatery — including those signature glazed Maple Bacon Donuts.
Sunny Boy Biscuit Co. | Daily, 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; closed on Wednesdays | The cute café’s name says it all — the Southern-style biscuits with honey butter + jam should not be missed.
Breakfast + Bubbles | Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Sat. + Sun., 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. | Another Instagram-worthy brunch spot where the selfies + mimosas flow — and the menu shows up and shows out.
Baja Betty’s | Sat. + Sun., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Come for the yummy Mexican food + lively ambiance at this Hillcrest restaurant — stay for the $15 bottomless mimosas.
Jean-Yves Thibaudet Plays Debussy | Friday, Apr. 21 + Saturday, Apr. 22 | 7:30 p.m. | The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego | $25-$108 | The amazing pianist performs two pieces by French composer Claude Debussy.
Saturday, April 22
OB Earth Day Community Clean-Up | Saturday, Apr. 22 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Ocean Beach Veterans Plaza, 1900 Ocean Front St., San Diego | Free | Help beautify this beach community and purchase pints from local breweries to support Friends of OB.
Day of the Child | Saturday, Apr. 22 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Memorial Park, 373 Park Way, Chula Vista | Free | Enjoy activities like live music, a classic car show, art, and sports.
Chicano Park Day 2023 | Saturday, Apr. 22 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Chicano Park, Logan Avenue, San Diego | Free | Celebrate with live performances, art, lowriders, and vendors at the Barrio Logan landmark.
San Diego EarthFest | Saturday, Apr. 22 | 12-4 p.m. | Balboa Park, 1549 El Prado, San Diego | Celebrate our planet with food, activities, and live entertainment.
Ramon Ayala + Banda Machos | Saturday, Apr. 22 | 7 p.m. | Open Air Theatre, 5500 Canyon Crest Dr., San Diego | $49-$270 | The Mexican singer and composer performs with the Technobanda group.
Sunday, April 23
31st Annual Multi-Cultural Earth Day | Sunday, Apr. 23 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | WorldBeat Center, 2100 Park Blvd., San Diego | Free | Learn where to access healthy foods while enjoying music, art, and vendors.
Mama Cass In Concert Variety Show | Sunday, Apr. 23 | 6 p.m. | The Merrow, 1271 University Ave., San Diego | $15 | A collection of performers celebrating the birthdays of LGBTQ+ figures.
Billy Nation | Sunday, Apr. 23 | 8 p.m. | The Music Box, 1337 India St., San Diego | $18-$58 | This tribute act honors Billy Joel and plays “The Stranger” in its entirety.
San Diego County has been awarded a $1.2 million grant to buy two 22-ft vehicles that’ll be turned into Mobile Probation Service Centers. The vehicles would be dispatched across rural areas to help locals on probation overcome barriers and get access to services like laptops and program specialists.
The county will host a free Earth Day fair today, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at its Operations Center at 5500 Overland Dr. Stop by to learn about beekeeping, electric vehicles, recycling, stormwater protection, food waste prevention, and ways to improve water quality.
Trending
We recently told you about those harmless, blue sea creatures — Velella velella, or “by-the-wind sailors” — washing ashore. Experts say thousands more have surfaced on San Diego’s shorelines, from OB to Carlsbad, in a rare “mass stranding” attributed to onshore winds and lots of food in the water. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Open
Lifestyle brand Land & Sea Golf is now open at One Paseo in Carmel Valley — right between Color Counter and Drybar. The retailer specializes in coastal living apparel geared toward golfers and surfers; it’s open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Number
~30,000. That’s how many potholes the City of San Diego says it has filled along local streets since Jan. 1. The city says crews have been taking advantage of the dry weather to ramp up the momentum; here’s more info on how to report potholes in your neighborhood.
Sports
“The wait is over.” Those are words on a new mural of Fernando Tatís Jr. displayed next to 3 Punk Ales Brewing Co. on Third Avenue in Chula Vista. The art was created by Ground Floor Murals to commemorate El Niño’s highly-anticipated return to Padres baseball after an 80-game suspension. (MLB.com)
Announced
The San Diego Symphony will return to New York’s Carnegie Hall on Friday, Oct. 13 — the orchestra’s first appearance at the iconic venue in 10 years. If making the trek to the East Coast sounds good to you, tickets go on sale today at 11 a.m.
Holiday
Domani è la Giornata Mondiale della Terra. Questa giornata ufficiale è stata istituita nel 1970 da un senatore degli Stati Uniti, testimone diretto di una drammatica contaminazione da petrolio. Oggi viene celebrata da più di un miliardo di persone in 193 Paesi diversi. Translate this news with Babbel (currently offering 55% off lessons) in The Wrap at the bottom of our newsletter.*
Finance
Refinance rates are skyrocketing. But home equity rates remain relatively low — which means that now is a great time to borrow against your home. Calculate your payment.*
Shop
We’re firm believers in spoiling the ones we love — especially our pets. That’s why we’re adding these two things to our shopping carts: this customizable velvet collar and this durable bed that features a removable slipcover. Don’t forget the treats. We love these soft chews for doggos and these freeze dried snacks for cats.
Celebrate Earth Day by supporting some of our Six & Main brands. Rainier Watch, a business inspired by mountains, gives a portion of its sales to organizations that protect National Parks, and Plant Based Candles allows customers to reuse the vessel as a planter with wildflower seeds included in each order.
Arts
✍️ Shall we compare thee to a poet?
Read the winning poem from our 2023 poetry contest
Drumroll, please. | Graphic by 6AM City
This April, we ran a poetry contest to celebrate National Poetry Month. We challenged you, our readers, to craft a poem using only the words that appeared in one of our newsletters (here are the original contest guidelines if you want to give it a try).
Turns out, you’re all poets and we didn’t even know it. We were beyond thrilled to read the original, creative, and awe-inspiring poems San Diegans created from our newsletter copy. Check out the finalists’ poems with the button below, and don’t forget to vote for your favorite.
“life (west coast living)” by Irasema S.
“For my father: Reflections on your cancer” by Lisa M.
Holiday, translated: Tomorrow is Earth Day. The global holiday dates back to 1970, when it was spearheaded by a US senator who witnessed an oil spill first hand. Now, it’s observed by 1+ billion people across 193 countries. Brush up on your Italian skills with a subscription to Babbel (currently 55% off exclusively for SDtoday readers).*
From the editor
Barrio Logan’s beloved Chicano Park turns 53 tomorrow and Chicano Park Day will celebrate the landmark known for its powerful, vibrant murals. It’s also the first year that the Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center is open during the fest; it debuted last fall as a hub designed to educate visitors about local Chicana/o, Latina/o, and Indigenous culture and history. Sí, se puede.
Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Earth Day is tomorrow — Saturday, April 22 — and here are some ways to celebrate.
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