Today’s Forecast

💵 Saving money tastes great

Where to find lunch for $15 or less

This San Diego staple is worth every cent. | Photo via @tylerhopkinsproductions

Looking for a tasty, local lunch spot that doesn’t break the bank? We’re here for you, San Diego. Check out this list of 20 places where a lunch for one costs $15 or less.

We know cravings are key when it comes to a midday meal, so we’ve broken up these spots into their respective food groups.

Fast and casual

Hodad’s, Ocean Beach and Downtown
You can’t go wrong with this San Diego staple. A classic cheeseburger will cost $9 and you can add fries for $3.75 or onion rings for $4.75 to make it a meal — and it has Guy Fieri’s approval.

City Tacos, Six locations
This local chain spans from Imperial Beach to Encinitas with six locations, and it’s soon to be seven. But, let’s taco ‘bout food. On a $15 budget, you can easily get three tacos — feel free to mix it up, but we always like the San Diego Carne Asada.

Pizza

Mr. Moto, Eight San Diego locations
This local shop was founded in Pacific Beach in 2015 where it gained a reputation for its creative pies and by-the-slice specialties. Generally, a single slice will cost about $5, but we recommend the combo with two slices and a soda for $12.

The exterior of the Deli Llama in Hillcrest — We’re bready for some lunch.
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Photo by Michael Beausoleil + SDtoday

Sandwiches and wraps

Board & Brew, 13 San Diego County locations
Locals have known and loved this chain since it was founded in Del Mar in 1979, and now it has 13 restaurants spanning from Oceanside to Chula Vista. Prices vary by location, but the Turkado is ~$11 or you could try the Left Coast Pastrami for ~$14.

The Deli Llama, Hillcrest
This restaurant features a circus-themed menu, but the food is the real showstopper. We love the Hula Hooper and Grandmaster Gobbler — both $12.99 — or you can get a combo lunch for $11.99 with a half-sandwich and cup of soup.

15 more for $15

Asked

When it comes to lunchtime, which option do you prefer: eating at home/work or eating out?

A. I prefer eating at home/work
B. I prefer eating out
C. A mix of both
D. It depends on my mood

How do you eat?

Events

Wednesday, May 24

Double Peak Brewing Co. Trivia | Wednesday, May 24 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Double Peak Brewing Co., 1801 Diamond St., Ste. 101, San Marcos | Free | Answer questions, grab a pint, and win prizes.
“Xanadu” the Musical | Through Sunday, June 4 | Times vary | SDMT Stage, 4650 Mercury St., San Diego | $25-$70 | A comedic, musical adaptation of the 1980 film.

Thursday, May 25

Local Heroes Storytime | Thursday, May 25 | 10:30-11 a.m. | Poway Community Library, 13137 Poway Rd. | Free | A morning of books, songs, and more geared toward 3 to 5-year-olds.
“Connecting Paradise” Screening and Panel Discussion | Thursday, May 25 | 6:30-8 p.m. | San Diego History Center, 1649 El Prado, Ste. #3, San Diego | $10-$15 | This film explores San Diego’s development starting in the 1800s, with a discussion led by producers Brian Mooney and Rick Engineering.
Brooks Wheelan LIVE! | Thursday, May 25-Saturday, May 27 | Times vary | The American Comedy Co., 818 Sixth Ave., San Diego | $10 | The comedian, podcaster, and SNL alum brings the laughs.

Friday, May 26

We Care: Volunteering at The Borgen Project | Friday, May 26 | 2-3 p.m. | North University Community Library, 8820 Judicial Dr., San Diego | Free | Learn about the volunteer experience at the Borgen Project, a nonprofit that works toward ending poverty and hunger.
Música en la Plaza: Los Montaño | Friday, May 26 | 7:30-9 p.m. | California Center for the Arts Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd. | $20 | Vamos — the local band performs Cumbia, Norteño polka, and corridos filled with romance, heartbreak, and a touch of debauchery.

Saturday, May 27

Park Beautification Crew | Saturday, May 27 | 8 a.m.-12 p.m. | Mission Trails Regional Park, 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego | Free | Volunteer alongside Mission Trails Ranger Julie Aelits to help beautify the park by pruning, hauling, sweeping, mulching, and more.
Barbie Rave | Saturday, May 27 | 10 p.m. | The Music Box, 1337 India St., San Diego | $12-$17 | Come on Barbie, let’s go party — dress up in your favorite Barbie-inspired outfit and boogie.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Finance

7 secrets comfortable retirees know about hiring a financial advisor

Smart retirees know a thing or two — and you should, too. | Photo by SmartAsset

Research suggests people who work with a financial advisor could end up with about 15% more money to spend in retirement.¹Read: A lot of margaritas.

That’s because they know the seven secrets to hiring a financial advisor, like never hiring the first advisor you meet. (Rookie mistake.)

The ultimate tip? Answer a few questions in this free, five-minute quiz to match with vetted financial advisors serving your area who can help optimize a retirement plan for you.*

5 more must-know secrets

1“Journal of Retirement Study Winter” (2020)”. The projections or other information regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results, and are not guarantees of your future results. Please follow the link to see the methodologies employed in the Journal of Retirement study.

News Notes

Civic

San Diego City Council voted to adhere to the California Coastal Commission regulation that requires restaurants in coastal communities to replace any parking spaces taken by outdoor dining under the “Spaces as Places” program. Regulations are set to be finalized in July, which could eliminate “streeteries” if businesses cannot comply. (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Community

It’s Healthy and Safe Swimming Week, and San Diego County Fire Protection District is giving out 400+ pool alarms to county residents. These tools will send notifications if a child or pet falls into the pool; you can apply to get one online.

Traffic

Expect delays in Rancho Bernardo on Escala Drive. City crews anticipate it will be “several more weeks” until a sinkhole is filled, causing closures from Fernando Way to Chretien Court. The erosion resulted from a broken street pipe over two weeks ago. (ABC 10)

Open

Two can benefit from the services at Toucan Play. This new, indoor playground in Chula Vista offers a space for imaginative activities — aimed at children 5 and under. It also offers drop-in daycare at an hourly rate so parents can get some alone time while the kids have fun.

Coming Soon

Here’s the tea — The Britannia Tearooms is getting ready to open at 2323 Midway Dr. in the Midway District. The traditional British tearoom, formerly known as Shakespeare’s Afternoon Tea, expects the location to open in August.

Award

La Jolla-based apparel brand Fresh Clean Threads and co-founder Melissa Renee Parvis ranked No. 2 on the Women Presidents Organization’s annual “50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies” list. Carlsbad-based Bitchin’ Sauce and co-founder Starr Edwards also made the list at No. 30. (Times of San Diego)

Trending

Three Padres fans were spotted wearing brown paper bags with frowning faces in the stands during Sunday’s game against the Boston Red Sox. This is a gesture showing disapproval of the Padres’ recent losses, and the effort may have worked — the Padres won the game 7-0. (Essentially Sports)

The Buy

Turn misplaced keys into a thing of the past with the Apple AirTag. The button-sized tracking device can give you step-by-step directions to your lost keys (or phone…or wallet…) and has a battery life of one year. Pro tip: Put one in your checked luggage and never worry about lost baggage again.*

Arts

🐻 A grizzly discovery in Balboa Park

Two California grizzly bears added to the top of the San Diego Automotive Museum

Fern grizzly bear atop the San Diego Automotive Museum

Fern sits atop the front left corner — Red is on the front right. | Photo via Michael Beausoleil + SDtoday

Two grizzly bears have been spotted in Balboa Park, but they’re not where you’d expect — they’re sitting atop the San Diego Automotive Museum.

The two bronze-cast statues are 8 ft long and 5 ft tall and are the finishing touches on the museum’s decade-long restoration project. They’ve been named Red and Fern and have red and green eyes to match.

This project brought the museum back to its appearance from the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition, when it was the California State Building. The original building was adorned with two bears and two flagpoles, but they weren’t built to last. The restoration project also added two new flagpoles with 23-karat gold leaf finishes.

If you want to see the statues, get your paws to the San Diego Automotive Museum. They’re visible from outside, but we recommend you get tickets and zoom inside for more discoveries.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Michael

From the editor

Good morning, San Diego. Recently, I walked over the Spruce Street Suspension Bridge in Bankers Hill, and let me tell you, the view is great but it was also a little scary. The historic bridge is totally safe to cross, but it’s 70 ft over Kate Sessions Canyon and sways a little in the wind. The view is beautiful, so it was totally worth it.

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