09.26.2023

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Today’s Forecast

🪀 It pays to be a kid

Plan that outing: 16 ways to enjoy ‘Kids Free San Diego’ in October 2023

Embark on a visit to the USS Midway in October with the kids. | Photo via San Diego Museum Council

We already know San Diego is kid-friendly, but every October, America’s Finest City is a true parentdise for curious kiddos and families.

The San Diego Museum Council and San Diego Tourism Authority partner to host Kids Free San Diego, a program that offers free admission to 50+ local museums and attractions to kids age 12 and under with paid adult admission, Oct. 1-Oct. 31.

Here are 15 freebies you don’t want to miss — just download a Kids Free coupon for each attraction before visiting, and present it at the ticket counter.

A view of the San Diego Air and Space Museum with an airplane flying above in Balboa Park — The aviation and space exploration hub known as the San Diego Air & Space Museum is just so fly.
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Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday

Birch Aquarium | Two free child tickets per paid adult admission
San Diego Zoo | One paid adult can bring up to five kids age 11 and under free
SeaWorld San Diego | One free admission for kids ages 3-9 per paid adult
San Diego Botanic Garden | Free admission for children 18 and under with a paid adult
Japanese Friendship Garden | Two kids get in free with one paid adult
USS Midway Museum | Two kids get in free with one paid adult
Maritime Museum of San Diego | One free child admission with one paid adult
Museum of Making Music | Two kids get in free with one paid adult
San Diego Air & Space Museum | Two kids get in free with one paid adult

SD Japanese Friendship Garden — The Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park offers fun trails for kids, plus koi ponds.
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Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday

Several local hotels are offering Kids Free deals for guests, including:

Bahia Resort Hotel | Free kid’s meal at Dockside 1953 and a free paddleboard rental
San Diego Mission Bay Resort | Free kid’s meal per adult meal purchased
Ocean Park Inn | Free welcome goodie bag for kids and 15% off a stay of 3+ nights

Restaurants participating in Kids Free 2023 include:

Dodo Bird Donuts | Kids under 12 get a free treat
Huntress | Kids eat free, Sunday-Thursday
Johnny WAHOO! Golf Bar | Kids eat free

Events

Tuesday, Sept. 26

San Diego Restaurant Week | Through Sunday, Oct. 1 | Times vary | Locations vary, San Diego | $20+ | Treat yourself to a special lunch or dinner this week: The fall edition of the local foodie event features 100+ participating local restaurants offering prix fixe lunch and dinner menus.
Jessie Murph | Tuesday, Sept. 26 | 7:30 p.m. | House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., San Diego | $35 | The Nashville singer discovered on TikTok and YouTube brings her “Cowboys and Angels Tour” to San Diego.
Meditation and Ocean Plunge Circle | Tuesday, Sept. 26 | 7-8 p.m. | Central Beach, 919 Ocean Blvd., Coronado | Free | Calm your body and mind with this guided meditation at the shoreline, plus a community plunge.

Wednesday, Sept. 27

Coldplay | Wednesday, Sept. 27 | 6:30 p.m. | Snapdragon Stadium, 2101 Stadium Way, San Diego | $200+ | “Viva La Vida” — check out the Grammy Award-winning rock band’s “Music of the Spheres World Tour” under “A Sky Full of Stars” in Mission Valley.
Pete Davidson Live | Wednesday, Sept. 27 + Thursday, Sept. 28 | 7 + 9:30 p.m. | The Magnolia, 210 E. Main St., El Cajon | $98+ | The actor, “Saturday Night Live” star, and comic performs his stand-up at the East County venue.
“Saturday Night Fever” | Wednesday, Sept. 27-Saturday, Sept. 30 | 7:30 p.m. | Moonlight Amphitheatre, 1200 Vale Terrace Dr., Vista | $14-$58 | Groovy: This adaptation of the 1970s throwback follows Tony Manero who works at a paint store by day, but moonlights as the king of the disco dance floor.
The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA | Wednesday, Sept. 27 | 8 p.m. | Humphreys Concerts by the bay, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., San Diego | $59 | “Gimme Gimme Gimme” a tribute show that’ll make you say “Mamma Mia.”

Thursday, Sept. 28

Craft + Sip: Macramé Plant Holder | Thursday, Sept. 28 | 6-8 p.m. | North Country Mall, 272 E. Via Rancho Parkway, Escondido | $30 | Get crafty, sip wine, and sample appetizers to benefit the California Center for the Arts, Escondido.
Pairings with a Purpose | Thursday, Sept. 28 | 6-9 p.m. | The Secret Garden at Rancho Santa Fe, 17025 Avenida De Acacias, Rancho Santa Fe | $375 | Chef Brad Wise creates a multi-course menu accompanied with music, entertainment, and auctions to benefit Feeding San Diego.
“IT: A Pennywise Parody Musical” | Through Tuesday, Oct. 31 | 8 p.m. | Ocean Beach Playhouse and Arts Center, 4944 Newport Ave., San Diego | $30 | The show based on the infamous clown returns with a soundtrack of songs from the 1980s to present day.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Weather

Expect warm weather inland through mid-week, followed by a cooling trend through the weekend with temps leaning 50-60% below average. There’s no rain on the horizon though — an atmospheric river sweeping Northern California will miss San Diego County. High surf is expected tomorrow and Thursday. (National Weather Service + San Diego Union-Tribune)

Civic

The SANDAG board has voted to nix the controversial driving fee from resurfacing in the 2025 Regional Plan and beyond. The so-called “mileage tax” — that proposed charging drivers 3.3 cents per mile traveled by 2030 — was designed to fund local transportation projects but many San Diegans oppose it. (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Coming Soon

Steak 48 — a luxe, 12,500-sqft steakhouse — will open on Friday, Oct. 13, at the former Searsucker site at Del Mar Highlands Town Center. The restaurant features nine dining rooms with seating for up to 350 guests, including a reservation-only bar in the Del Mar Room. (Eater San Diego)

Travel

Alaska Airlines will launch a new, daily, nonstop service between San Diego International Airport and Atlanta starting on May 16, 2024, with flights departing mid-morning and return service in the evening. This will bring the carrier to 37 nonstop destinations from SAN — the most of any airline at the airport. (AlaskaAir.com)

Award

The Capital of Craft, indeed. San Diego Brewers Guild member breweries won a combined 18 medals at the 2023 Great American Beer Festival. The frothy figure includes five gold medals earned by Ballast Point, Belching Beaver, BNS Brewing and Distilling, East Village Brewing Company, and TapRoom Beer Company.

Theater

Attention — every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small: The Old Globe has started selling tickets for its beloved annual production, “Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” The whimsical, family-friendly musical will return for its 26th year on select dates Wednesday, Nov. 8-Sunday, Dec. 31.

Sports

Snellzilla for the win? Padres lefthander Blake Snell — currently considered the best pitcher in the National League — is the front-runner for this year’s Cy Young Award. Known as a “hitter’s and catcher’s nightmare,” Snell is walking toward a victory when the coveted award is announced in mid-November. (Sports Illustrated + MLB.com)

Arts

Local Mexican-American artist Scarlett Baily is creating “Home,” a 2,535-sqft mural on the archways between Barracks 14 and 15 at Liberty Station depicting San Diego’s history and maritime roots. Part of the Installations at the Station program, the community can watch her paint this Saturday, Sept. 30, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Plan Ahead

The Coronado Junior Woman’s Club will host A Taste of Coronado on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 5-9 p.m. Attendees are invited to walk, bike, or trolley through the island while sampling bites and sips from some of Coronado’s top restaurants. Proceeds will benefit various community organizations; grab tickets.

Wellness

Why optimize hormones as you age? You can improve strength, bone density, libido, blood pressure, and mood. Learn about your testosterone levels with Wellcore’s At-Home Assessment Kit.*

Eat

🍔 Oh snap, that’s good

Where to eat and drink at Snapdragon Stadium

NOVA Kombucha's location at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego

The kombucha brand has two locations at Snapdragon Stadium. | Photo via NOVA Kombucha

Snapdragon Stadium is home to SDSU Aztec Football, San Diego Wave FC, San Diego Legion, big concerts, and San Diego’s future MLS team — and many tasty, local concessions.

Here’s where to eat and drink next time you visit the stadium:

NOVA Kombucha | The venue’s official hard kombucha brand has two locations: the top level of The Sycuan Piers above Sections 118-120 and the east concourse behind Sections 103-105.
Hodad’s | The beloved OB burger brand has three stands: near the northeast entry, near the Piers, and near Section 333.
AleSmith | Don’t miss the stadium’s official beer — San Diego State Ale — and AleSmith’s location under the Piers.
The Taco Stand | Grab tacos near the southeast or northeast entries.
The Crack Shack | Fried chicken sandwiches await near the northeast entry.
Cali BBQ | Find slow-cooked dishes at the east and northeast entries.

Check out the latest big events coming to Snapdragon.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Monica

From the editor

I want to give a special shoutout to SDtoday reader Amy, who took the time to say hello at this past weekend’s San Diego Distillers Guild Fest at Liberty Station. Amy, you’re awesome and we’re grateful for your support. We hope to keep bringing you fun, local stories and events — cheers to you.

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