08.28.2023

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Today’s Forecast

🖌 Brush up on local art

Five free, must-see San Diego public art pieces

Snake heads at Queen Califia's Magical Circle in Escondido.

These sculptures have Niki de Saint Phalle’s magic touch. | Photo via @lala_its_lisa

Life in San Diego is a work of art. In addition to murals and museums, the county is packed with public art displays you can explore without spending a cent.

Ready for a tour? We’ve rounded up five can’t-miss displays.

“Queen Califia’s Magical Circle,” Kit Carson Park

Artist Niki de Saint Phalle installed one of her final — and largest — creations at this Escondido park. It contains nine vibrant statues inspired by mystic tales of California. You can visit on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and the second and fourth Saturdays of the month, weather permitting.

Spanish Village, Balboa Park

From its architecture to museums, Balboa Park is filled with local art, but this village within the landmark will have you feeling like you stepped into a painting — because you did. You’ll be walking across a rainbow-tiled patio, but make sure to spend time exploring inside the studios.

"Fallen Star" sitting atop the Jacob's building at UC San Diego — This is one way to add another unit to a building.
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Photo via Erik Jepsen + UC San Diego.

“Fallen Star,” UC San Diego

Imagine a house that was magically pulled off its plot and landed atop a building. That was the inspiration behind Do Ho Suh’s creation, which is located on Jacob’s Hall, home of the Jacobs School of Engineering. Public visiting hours are on hiatus, but you can always spot it from afar on a campus art tour.

“The Magic Tunnel,” Civita Park

Local artists Kevin Anderson painted this 72-ft tunnel with images that showcase different regions and history in San Diego County. Like magic, you can walk through it in seconds or spend hours looking at every detail.

"Embracing Peace" statue on the Embarcadero in the San Diego Marina — “Embracing Peace” at Tuna Harbor Park.
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Photo via Michael Beausoleil + SDtoday

“Embracing Peace,” Tuna Harbor Park

In 2013, Seward Johnson’s statue from the “Unconditional Surrender” series was permanently installed adjacent to the USS Midway Museum, replacing the temporary version installed in 2007. This 25-ft kiss serves as a tribute to San Diego’s military community, though there is some controversy surrounding it.

Asked

What’s your favorite free art display in San Diego?

We know we only looked at a sample of the displays in San Diego. Let us know your favorite free, public art pieces so we can keep the tour going.

Tell us your favorite

Events

Monday, Aug. 28

Not-So-Silent Movie Night | Monday, Aug. 28 | 7:30 p.m. | Spreckels Organ Pavilion, 1549 El Prado, San Diego | Free | Enjoy Harold Lloyd’s “The Freshman” with music by renowned accompanist Clark Wilson.
“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” | Monday, Aug. 28 | 7:30 p.m. | Rooftop Cinema Club Embarcadero, 1 Market Place, San Diego | $20-$26 | Watch the cult classic Michael Cera film with bay views atop the 4th floor terrace of the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel.
Fulci: “Tour of the Living Dead” | Monday, Aug. 28 | 8 p.m. | Brick By Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave., San Diego | $15 | The metal band rocks out with guests with Oxygen Destroyer, Scum Portal, Parasitic Existence.

Tuesday, Aug. 29

Jesse Ray Smith, Justin Froese, and Anna Ballew | Tuesday, Aug. 29 | 7 p.m. | Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach | $9-$16 | Three musicians bring rock, Americana, and groovy tunes.
Naomi Hirahara | Tuesday, Aug. 29 | 7:30 p.m. | Warwick’s, 7812 Girard Ave., San Diego | Free | The “Evergreen (A Japantown Mystery)” author discusses her new book alongside writer Matt Coyle, and signs copies.
Gaslamp Comedy Open Mic | Tuesday, Aug. 29 | 8 p.m. | The American Comedy Co. San Diego, 818 Sixth Ave., San Diego | Free | Try your hand at stand up or sit down and enjoy $5 drink specials.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Community

Crews have broken ground on the Cañon Street Pocket Park. The ~31,000-sqft outdoor space will slide into an unused hillside in Point Loma and feature amenities like a playground, picnic areas, and public art. Construction is expected to be completed next year.

Eat

San Diego County is working to increase access to fresh foods by peppering in more produce at convenient locations — think liquor stores and corner markets — with weekly deliveries from BrightSide Produce. This county-funded program aims to make healthy food options readily available, especially in underserved communities.

Biz

Good work, San Diego. Seven local companies are featured on Forbes’ list of the best employers in the US that analyzed employee feedback collected by Statista. The seven stellar employers are DexCom, UC San Diego, the County of San Diego, Sempra, General Atomics, Illumina, and QualComm. (Forbes + Fox 5)

Sports

The SDSU Aztecs scored a victory this weekend at their football season opener on Saturday, defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 20-13. There’s still plenty of time to catch the team in action — their next game will touchdown at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 2.

Coming Soon

Better Buzz Coffee Roasters is adding another shop to its hive. The local brand announced it will soon start operating at 6605 Mission Gorge Rd. in Allied Gardens, and it’s hiring to fill open positions.

Announced

Wild weather has rained on some of our plans recently, but SeaWorld San Diego doesn’t want it to wash away the fun. The theme park introduced its Weather-or-Not Assurance program that allows guests to return at no additional cost if inclement weather impacts their visits.

Regional

Disneyland is getting some fresh New Orleans flavor starting Thursday, Sept. 7. That’s when the Tiana’s Palace restaurant inspired by “The Princess and the Frog” will open its doors. To get your mouth watering, the theme park has released the Creole and Cajun-inspired menu.

Open

🍹 It’s five o’clock check-in

Margaritaville Hotel makes its debut in downtown San Diego

Jimmy Buffet Suite at the Margaritaville Hotel Gaslamp

Relax in the Jimmy Buffet Suite. | Photo via Margaritaville Hotel

Something strong and tall has opened in downtown San Diego. The Jimmy Buffet-approved Margaritaville Hotel San Diego Gaslamp Quarter is now taking reservations at 435 Sixth Ave., the former home of Hotel Solamar.

Key amenities include:

235 guest rooms that offer SoCal-style decor — plus, they’re all pet-friendly
A fitness center, complimentary bikes for guests, and entertainment venues
Three dining options: The LandShark Bar + Grill, 5 o’Clock Somewhere Rooftop Bar, and Margaritaville Coffee Shop

Watchin’ the sun bake? Margaritaville boasts the largest rooftop pool in the city accompanied by a lounge area. The hotel also offers spaces for events like meetings or weddings. You can also grab a bite to eat at the restaurants (maybe ask for salt, salt, salt) or explore the hotel’s events calendar.

Margaritaville will further mix things up in San Diego next year when it opens its Island Resort in Mission Bay.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Michael

From the editor

Happy Monday, San Diego. All this talk of margaritas has me thinking of happy hour and the many great local places to grab a marg. I recommend one of the over-the-top options at El Chingon or a margarita flight at Cafe Coyote. I know it’s only 6 a.m., but hey, “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere.”

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