10.13.2023

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Today’s Forecast

🪦 A tribute to San Diego’s cemeteries

Six cemeteries preserving San Diego history

El Campo Santos crosses and burial sites

Here lies some of the oldest history in the formation of Old Town. | Photo via @james_is_out_just_now

Beneath the grounds of San Diego lie stories of the past. The county’s graveyards play important roles in preserving history, and many have become landmarks.

These six historic cemeteries are open to the public. If you visit, remember to respect the people and stories of these grounds.

Presidio Hill

The Presidio of San Diego is recognized as the city’s first burial site, dating back to SD’s origins in 1769. You can also find a tribute to Sylvester Pattie at “The Witches Tower” that credits him as the “first American buried in California soil.”

El Campo Santo

Located in Old Town, this cemetery was used for 477 burials, 1849-1897, including early Californians like José Antonio Aguirre and the notorious Yankee Jim. Sections of this graveyard have been paved over, so if you see a round, metal marker on the ground, you’re standing on a burial site.

Mt. Hope Cemetery

Located in the Mt. Hope and Mountain View communities, this area became the final resting place for locals starting in 1871, including city developer Alonzo Horton — aka the “Father of San Diego” — and famed horticulturalist Kate Sessions.

Julian Pioneer Cemetery

Drue Bailey (often credited as the founder of Julian) was buried here with early pioneers who came to this San Diego County mountain community during the Gold Rush.

Rows of gravestones at Fort Rosecrans — This cemetery commemorates US military veterans.
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Photo via @codykeys

Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery

This historical landmark is managed by the Veterans Administration and honors 120,000 Americans who have died. It commemorates US military service members with memorials and monuments, and hosts tributes throughout the year.

Mission Hills Park

Some locals call this space Pioneer Park, and for good reason. It was one of the city’s first cemeteries, but many of the headstones were removed in the 1970s to make a public park. Only a handful remain, paying tribute to early pioneers who came to San Diego.

Asked

Which other local cemeteries and memorials should we include?

Let us know cemeteries and memorials that you think play an important role in preserving and retelling local history.

Share your memories

Events

Friday, Oct. 13

Thriller Class | Friday, Oct. 13 | 6-7 p.m. | Tap Fever Studios, 2146 Garnet Ave., San Diego | Free | Learn the iconic zombie-themed dance in Michael Jackson’s iconic “Thriller” music video.
Dean Lewis | Friday, Oct. 13 | 8 p.m. | House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., San Diego | $28 | The Australian “Be Alright” singer performs “The Future is Bright Tour 2023.”
“ZACH” | Through Saturday, Oct. 28 | Times vary | OnStage Playhouse, 291 Third Ave., Chula Vista | $17-$30 | The Loud Fridge Theatre Group finishes its inaugural season with this comedic tribute to 1990s teen sitcoms.

Saturday, Oct. 14

California Native Plant Sale | Saturday, Oct. 14 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Liberty Station, 2701 Cushing Rd., San Diego | Free | Shop seeds, bulbs, artwork, and a varied selection of plant species and cultivars native to SoCal and northern Baja California.
North Park Vegan Food Popup | Saturday, Oct. 14 | 12-4 p.m. | North Park Mini-Park, 3812 29th St., San Diego | Free | Explore a collection of plant-based vendors from SoCal.
Taste of Japan | Saturday, Oct. 14 | 12-7 p.m. | Embolden Beer Co., 8655 Production Ave., Ste. A, San Diego | Free | Peruse local vendors, eat Japanese food, and check out the brewery’s new collaboration with Matcha Cafe Maiko — a matcha beer called Midnight in Tokyo.
HalloGras Cruise 2023 | Saturday, Oct. 14 | 5-11 p.m. | The Bahia Resort Hotel, 998 W. Mission Bay Dr., San Diego, CA 92109, San Diego | $55-$120 | Boogie to eight live music acts across three levels of a sternwheeler while cruising Mission Bay.

Sunday, Oct. 15

Barre Fitness Class + Mimosa | Sunday, Oct. 15 | 10-11 a.m. | Cielo Rooftop Lounge, 701 Sixth Ave., San Diego | $40 | Cielo celebrates three years in business with a Move with May barre class, mimosas, and swag bags at its fifth floor space.
Beer Brewing Workshop & Tasting | Sunday, Oct. 15 | 1-4 p.m. | Wild Willow Farm, 2550 Sunset Ave., San Diego | $65 | Learn the brewing process, how to make different styles of beer, and taste the hoppy drink.
An Evening with Peter Sagal | Sunday, Oct. 15 | 7 p.m. | Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., San Diego | $30-$117 | The host of “Wait, Wait...Don’t Tell Me!” leads a panel through a recording of the hit radio show.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Civic

Ballots for the Nov. 7 special election are being mailed to District 4 residents, and the county has set up 48 ballot drop boxes where voters can deposit their ballots. All locations will be open until 8 p.m. Nov. 7 — hours vary by location.

Outdoors

Tomorrow morning’s annular eclipse — an event when the moon moves between the earth and sun creating a “ring of fire” effect — will likely be visible in San Diego. NASA says the local climax will be at 9:26 a.m. The Fleet Science Center is holding a free viewing party starting at 8 a.m.

Edu

Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 656, which gives schools in the California State University system the ability to award independent professional and applied doctoral degrees. Locally, this law will give San Diego State University the ability to expand its doctoral offerings, addressing the need for skilled laborers. (SDSU NewsCenter)

Award

San Diego Superior Court Judge Rohanee Zapanta will be honored as one of the “Most Influential Filipina Women in the World” at a ceremony in Prague next week. The University of San Diego School of Law graduate is one of 19 recipients selected by the Foundation for Filipina Women’s Network. (San Diego Union Tribune)

Zoo

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s two Sumatran tiger cubs have made their debut. The siblings, named Puteri and Huta, clawed their way out of their den for the first time since they were born in July. You may be able to catch them exploring their habitat at the Tull Family Tiger Trail.

Watch

“Give Me Liberty: The Early Years of Patrick Henry High,” a new documentary by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker David Plaut, will premiere on campus at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15. The film explores the school’s experimental modular scheduling system established in 1968 with interviews from 50+ former students and faculty members. (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Number

$306 million. That’s how much money the City of San Diego secured during fiscal year 2023 from 97 grants. This total is 4% higher than FY 2022; the funding is being used for city services and community projects.

Ranked

Make sure to budget for parking. San Diego International Airport was ranked as the costliest US airport for parking, with an average daily rate of $38. Looking to land cheaper transit? We recommend taking the free San Diego Flyer from the Old Town Transit Center to SAN. (Upgraded Points)

Seasonal

This is the last call for submissions in our SDtoday Pumpkin Carving Contest. Decorate your pumpkin, take a picture, and submit it by this Sunday, Oct. 15, for a chance to win the inaugural SDtoday best jack-o’-lantern award. Make a submission.

Eat

Fruit can be one of the healthiest things you can put into your body, but the majority of Americans are making this single mistake that can counteract all the health benefits of fruit. Here’s why one heart surgeon is asking Americans to “stop doing this to your berries.”*

Wellness

Noticing hair changes? Root causes of hair thinning can change over time making it difficult to know where to begin. Learn more about how Nutrafol can help.*

Answered

We asked when is the appropriate time of year for pumpkin spice. You said:

September and October, that’s when SDtoday readers like to start eating and drinking pumpkin spice-themed items. Since you’re in the mood, ‘tis the season to recommend more treats.

Pumpkin croissant from Arely’s French Bakery. — These croissants are pumped full of pumpkin spice.
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Photo via Arely’s French Bakery

Arely’s French Bakery | Clairemont
This French bakery offers the Pumpkin Spice Filled Croissant. It’s pumped full of pumpkin spice cream and topped with cinnamon, chocolate, and more pumpkin spice cream.

Broken Yolk | Locations vary
This Pacific Beach-founded biz has people flipping out for breakfast. Its Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) is back, but pumpkin spice pancakes are also on the menu.

Blackmarket Bakery | Locations vary
Satisfy your sweet tooth with a Basic Witch Tart, made with a chocolate shell, pumpkin spice, and toasted meringue.

Lofty Coffee | Locations vary
Pair a Pumpkin Spice Donut with your PSL or a Pumpkin Pie Cloudy (Kyoto cold brew, pumpkin syrup, cream, and a graham cracker dust).

Point Loma Tea | Liberty Station
This tea shop has a seasonal menu filled with fall flavors, like the “Pumpkin Pie-Fruit Infusion” and “Pumpkin Spice-Rooibos.”

Visit our pumpkin spice patch

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Michael

From the editor

Happy Friday, San Diego. I love a good speakeasy, and there’s a new pop-up one in Carlsbad — I just hope I don’t get lost trying to find it. At the San Diego Distillers Guild Festival last month, Pacific Coast Spirits told SDtoday it was setting up a speakeasy in the corn maze at Carlsbad Strawberry Company.

Word on the street: Check the brand’s Instagram for password clues to help you get in. Hopefully I can crack the code.

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