Plus, a farmers market returns + a sky-high geyser
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Today’s Forecast

62º | Sunny | 0% chance of rain | Sunrise 6:52 a.m. | Sunset 4:59 p.m. | High tides 6:25 a.m. and 8:27 p.m. | Low tide 1:53 p.m.
 

🔥 Welcome to Flavortown, San Diego
Guy Fieri tray at Nola on Fifth
This tray immortalizes Guy Fieri’s visit. | Photo via @nolaon5th
If you know anything about Guy Fieri, you know he’s got a taste for big flavors that won’t break your bank. The self-proclaimed “Mayor of Flavortown” has ventured to San Diego multiple times for his Food Network show, “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” to give his flamin'-hot seal of approval to local restaurants.

Now, we’re leading the tour. Here are seven local spots that Fieri approves of.

El Indio

Back in season 2 in 2007, Fieri visited this family-owned Mexican restaurant in Middletown. It’s known for its fresh tortillas, and legend has it, the first taquito.

The exterior mural at Crazee Burger in North Park

We think this exterior mural is equally crazee.

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Photo by Michael Beausoleil + SDtoday

Crazee Burger

A season 4 episode took Fieri to North Park where he found himself grubbin’ on burgers from this popular restaurant.

Studio Diner

Fieri journeyed to Kearny Mesa to sample food at this old-school diner. It’s known for its retro, Hollywood-inspired decor and sits on the site of a former production studio.

Hodad’s

Fieri got his buns to Ocean Beach to try this influential burger spot, and you’ll still find his influence on the menu with the “Guido Burger” — topped with pastrami, Swiss cheese, spicy brown mustard, and grilled onions.

Pizzeria Luigi storefront in San Diego.

Buying pizza here is dough well spent.

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Photo via @adamkcady

Pizzeria Luigi

This Golden Hill pizza shop was declared “Real Deal Italian” during a 2008 episode, and it brought the heat when Fieri dug into “El Diablo.”

Kindred

In 2022, Fieri headed to South Park with Tony Hawk to check out this vegan, heavy metal-themed bar during an episode titled, “Not-Your-Everyday, All Day.”

Shawarma Guys

Yelp ranked this South Park food truck as the top place to eat in the US in 2020, and two years later, it got Fieri’s stamp of approval.

Psst... Fieri has visited many more local restaurants, so we’ll add to this list next time we visit Flavortown, San Diego.
Events
Thursday, May 18
  • Sunset Sweep: Paradise Canyon Cleanup | Thursday, May 18 | 3-5 p.m. | Paradise Canyon, 485 Brandywood St., San Diego | Free | Join I Love A Clean San Diego, Paradise Gardeners, and Think Blue San Diego for a litter clean-up.
  • SWC Shines 2023 | Thursday, May 18 | 4-5:30 p.m. | Southwestern College, 900 Otay Lakes Rd., Chula Vista | Free | Celebrate Southwestern College’s employees of the year and those who make the campus special every day.
  • San Diego International Fringe Festival | Thursday, May 18-Thursday, May 25 | Times vary | Balboa Park, 1549 El Prado, San Diego | $5-$72 | From comedy to theater and dance, performing artists showcase their quirky acts across several venues with a focus on innovative expression.
Friday, May 19
  • Guided Bird Walk | Friday, May 19 + Saturday, May 20 | 8-10 a.m. | Mission Trails Regional Park, 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego | MTRP birders Millie Basden and Cindy Cornelius lead this guided stroll passing through a variety of habitats.
  • Taylor Rave | Friday, May 19 | 10 p.m. | The Music Box, 1337 India St., San Diego | $15-$25 | Swifties, dance it out at this 21+ shindig.
Saturday, May 20
  • Hidden Riches: Gardens of Historic Bankers Hill | Saturday, May 20 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | 3030 Front St., San Diego | $30-$35 | Discover the beauty of the Waterman mansion on First Avenue and Kalmia Street.
  • Taste of IB | Saturday, May 20 | 12-4 p.m. | Ye Olde Plank Inn, 24 Palm Ave., Imperial Beach | $30 | Enjoy the best of restaurants and breweries along Seacoast Drive and Palm Avenue.
  • San Diego Padres vs. Boston Red Sox | Saturday, May 20 | 7:10 p.m. | Petco Park, 100 Park Blvd., San Diego | $46-$365 | The Friars face the East Coast team at their home base.
  • “1996: A blink-182 Musical” | Saturday, May 20 + Sunday, May 21 | Times vary | Centro Cultural De La Raza, 2004 Park Blvd., San Diego | $10 | A show based on the Poway-formed band, told through their music.
Sunday, May 21
  • Community Band Festival | Sunday, May 21 | 10 a.m.-7 p.m. | Old Poway Park, 14134 Midland Rd., Poway | Free | Listen to bands from near and far across a variety of genres — from bluegrass ensembles to full concert groups.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Civic
  • Do you have questions or comments about San Diego County’s budget? Community members participated in an open discussion on Tuesday, but a second, virtual meeting will take place today, 5:30-7 p.m., where managers of county departments will respond to feedback.
  • Chula Vista City Council voted not to reopen Harborside Park yet so they could conduct more research on how to operate the space. The park has been temporarily closed since August 2022, due to community concern over criminal activity and safety. (Fox 5)
Community
  • A new resident has roared into the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Bo, a 7-year-old male African lion, arrived from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. The new member of the pride is in the process of getting acclimated with the three lionesses currently residing at the Lion Camp.
Travel
  • Add this to your vacation checklist. The US Postal Service in SoCal will host a so-called “superbloom” of Passport Fairs this Saturday, May 20, including seven San Diego locations. The events aim to simplify the application process and address questions.
Drink
  • Cheers to Pizza Port. The local brewing company will celebrate the grand opening of its Imperial Beach brewpub this Saturday, May 20. The location began operating last year, but the event taps into something brand new: Imperial Beach India Pale Ale — a 6.5% West Coast style IPA.
Shop
  • The UC San Diego Farmers Market has returned to campus. This weekly market is open to the public and if you want to shop, turnip to the new location at the Epstein Family Amphitheater on Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., during the spring, fall, and winter quarters.
Concert
  • I like you, Post Malone. The rockstar is bringing his “If Y’all Weren’t Here, I’d Be Crying” tour to the North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista on Sunday, Aug. 13. General public ticket sales begin tomorrow at 10 a.m.
Trending
  • A broken fire hydrant made quite a splash at The Hub Hillcrest Market, causing the parking lot to flood. It took crews 40 minutes to stop the gusher in knee-deep water as the geyser shot 50+ ft high. No one was injured, but traffic was temporarily impacted. (CBS 8)
Shop
Development

Having a bollard in the Gaslamp Quarter

Gaslamp Promenade poised to transform downtown San Diego
The Gaslamp Quarter Promenade project is making strides along Fifth Avenue. On Tuesday, May 16, the development reached a milestone when city leaders and crews unveiled steel bollards with letters spelling “PROMENADE” and new crosswalks.

Gaslamp Promenade unveiling with city leaders

The Gaslamp Quarter is crossing a milestone.

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Gif via @MayorToddGloria

During the ceremony, Mayor Todd Gloria called the transformation of Fifth Avenue a “home run for San Diego.”

These bollards will serve as more permanent replacements for the temporary gates used to restrict vehicle access when the Gaslamp Quarter was designated as a “Slow Street.” They will be installed daily, 12 p.m.-2 a.m., and the Gaslamp Quarter Association will be responsible for removing and storing them.

The new regulations are expected to begin on Saturday, July 1, from Broadway to K Street.
More project details
The Wrap
 
Michael Beausoleil

Today’s edition by:
Michael
From the editor
Good morning, San Diego. Did you know the Society of Municipal Arborists named the blue jacaranda its 2023 Urban Tree of the Year? I’ve been anxiously waiting for the pretty petals, and this week, I saw them for the first time. They’re really here, so keep your eyes peeled because this is just the first wave. The flowers usually appear in late spring and early summer.
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