12.01.2023

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Today’s Forecast

🔬A boost for biotech startups

A boost for biotech: Lilly to open Gateway Labs in San Diego’s UTC area in 2024

SD Eli Lilly and Company Gateway Labs coming to San Diego

Pharmaceutical heavy-hitter Lilly is bringing a Gateway Labs to San Diego in 2024. | Photo via Eli Lilly and Company

San Diego’s biotech startups are about to get a big boost: Pharmaceutical heavy-hitter Eli Lilly and Company announced plans to open its first-ever Gateway Labs in SD next year.

The 62,000-sqft site — in partnership with Alexandria Real Estate Equities — will be located at 4796 Executive Dr., near Interstate 805, in the UTC area.

It’ll be designed to serve as a “shared innovation accelerator” where local, early-stage scientific and biotech companies can rent lab space and stations to conduct their work. There will be enough room for 10 companies and 120+ biotech and Lilly employees.

According to Lilly, young companies that use the space will also have access to the company’s scientists, researchers, and industry leaders. This could strengthen opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, or even the potential for financial investment from Lilly or venture capital funds.

Per local experts, this could be a “game changer” for the future development and growth of local biotech companies of which San Diego — as a biotech hub (aka “Biotech Beach”) — has plenty.

Lilly’s chief scientific officer and president Daniel Skovronsky, M.D., Ph.D., said bringing Gateway Labs to SD’s “thriving life sciences community” makes a whole lot of sense.

“We can support scientists from research institutes, universities and small biotech companies as they work to discover the next generation of medicines for patients,” Skovronsky added.

The company said local start-ups that might be interested in joining Gateway Labs can reach out via email.

By the way, in true SD fashion, this news is kind of a big deal: Lilly only has three other Gateway Labs in the US — two in San Francisco and another in development for Boston in 2024.

Events

Friday, Dec. 1

Bing Crosby Season 2023 | Through Sunday, Dec. 3 | 11 a.m. | Del Mar Racing, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar | $6+ | This weekend is the final stretch of the fall horse racing season where the turf meets the surf.
December Nights | Friday, Dec. 1 + Saturday, Dec. 2 | 3-11 p.m. + 11 a.m.-11 p.m. | Balboa Park, 1549 El Prado, San Diego | Free | The city’s biggest holiday event takes over the landmark with light displays, food, live performances, activities for kids, and free evening entry at select museums.
29th Annual Lighting of Encinitas Heritage Tree | Friday, Dec. 1 | 4-6 p.m. | Moonlight Beach Upper Parking Lot, 400 B St., Encinitas | Free | This beachfront holiday event includes bright lights, music, and visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus.
SnowSide Winter Festival | Friday, Dec. 1-Sunday, Dec. 3 | Times vary | Emerald Isle Golf Course, 660 S. El Camino Real, Oceanside | $20-$60 | This family-friendly fest features sledding, bouncy houses, glow putt-putt golf, Santa Claus, and local food vendors.
El Milagro del Recuerdo | Friday, Dec. 1 + Sunday, Dec. 3 | Times vary | San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., San Diego | $69-$270 | The San Diego Opera presents this heartwarming holiday mariachi opera all about family traditions, love, and dreaming of something more.

Saturday, Dec. 2

Holiday in the Village | Saturday, Dec. 2 | 12-9 p.m. | La Mesa Boulevard, between Spring and Fourth streets, La Mesa Village | Free | This community fest will feature live music, craft vendors, food, and a zone for the kids “bigger than Santa’s Toy Shop.”
OB Holiday Parade | Saturday, Dec. 2 | 5 p.m. | Newport Avenue, Ocean Beach | Free | Celebrate the season in the eclectic beach community — Newport Avenue’s famous “Crooked Tree” and all.

Sunday, Dec. 3

La Jolla Christmas Parade and Festival | Sunday, Dec. 3 | 11:30 a.m. | Wall Street near Girard Avenue, La Jolla | Free | Enjoy live entertainment and seasonal activities, followed by the 67th annual parade at 1:30 p.m.
Starlight Parade + Festival | Sunday, Dec. 3 | 3-9 p.m. | Third Avenue, Chula Vista | Free | After a 3-year hiatus, the community celebration returns with a 5:45 p.m. tree lighting, followed by the parade featuring floats, bands, and dancers.
San Diego Sockers Home Opener | Sunday, Dec. 3 | 5:05 p.m. | Pechanga Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego | $25-$50 | The 16-time champion professional indoor soccer club returns to its home turf.

Events calendar here

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News Notes

Development

The Port of San Diego will release the latest draft of its Port Master Plan Update on Wednesday, Dec. 6, the water and land use plan for parts of the waterfront. The agency will host two virtual public workshops to discuss the plan further: Tuesday, Dec. 12 and Thursday, Dec. 14. RSVP.

Tech

Did you know? Amazon’s 550,000-sqft sorting facility in Otay Mesa processes up to 18,000 packages an hour using robots. The tech — a robot arm system named “Robin” — helps the location serve ~190 zip codes in SoCal. It’s one of 12 Amazon Robot sorting facilities in the US. (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Community

San Diego FC will host a free community event tomorrow, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., at Linda Vista Community Park. Street Flow will feature the inaugural San Diego FC Street Soccer Cup with 18 teams across two divisions, plus a skate trick competition and live paint battle featuring SD artists.

Edu

San Diego State University’s Winter Session is turning 50. Offered since 1973, SDSU students use the 4-week period — which offers accelerated, rigorous courses from accounting to economics — to stay on track for graduation or speed up their graduation rates. (SDSU NewsCenter)

Sports

Pro Football Hall of Fame — “Open” those gates. Former Chargers legend Antonio Gates has been selected as a semifinalist for the Hall of Fame’s 2024 class. The tight end is among 25 NFL standouts vying for the honor; 15 finalists will emerge before the final voting process next month. (San Diego Union-Tribune + NFL)

Seasonal

It’s back. After a 3-year hiatus, downtown Chula Vista’s beloved Starlight Parade and Festival will return to Third Avenue (between H and E streets) this Sunday, Dec. 3. The procession begins at 6 p.m. and will feature 140+ entrants including floats, local marching bands, dance teams, and classic cars.

Award

Ekwoge Abwe — one of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s principal scientists — won the Tusk Conservation Awards’ 2023 Prince William Award for his lifetime of conservation efforts in Africa. The committed conservationist from Cameroon received the honor from the Prince of Wales at a recent ceremony in London.

Try This

Portside Tattoo will host its annual Toys for Tats event tomorrow, 12-8 p.m., to support Ronald McDonald House Charities San Diego. Customers who donate a new, unwrapped, $15-$20 toy can get a tattoo for just $80 (cash only), or snag a fresh haircut from Lefty’s Barbershop.

Job

Disabled American Veterans and RecruitMilitary will host the San Diego Veterans Job Fair on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., at Liberty Station Conference Center. Registration is free for transitioning service members, vets, military spouses, and dependents; the fair will include career opportunities in IT, transportation, and health care.

Seasonal

⛵ Sailing on a waterfront wonderland

How to Watch the 2024 San Diego Bay Parade of Lights

A shimmering snapshot from the 2022 procession. | Photo via @branchoutonalimb + San Diego Bay Parade of Lights

Ahem, to the tune of “Winter Wonderland,” please: Sail boats bling, are you listening? In the bay, the parade is glistening. A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight, watching along a waterfront wonderland.

The San Diego Bay Parade of Lights presented by the Port of San Diego returns to downtown’s waterfront Sunday, Dec. 10, and Sunday, Dec. 17, at 5:30 p.m.

The 53rd annual tradition will feature a procession of ~80 boats decked out in lights and decorations. This year’s theme is “Christmas Traditions Around the World.”

We’ve put together lots of tips to navigate the free event — including prime viewing spots along the route:

Shelter Island | 5:30 p.m.
Harbor Island | 6:15 p.m.
North Embarcadero | 6:45 p.m.
Seaport Village | 7:15 p.m.
Cesar Chavez Park | 7:30 p.m.
Coronado Ferry Landing | 7:45 p.m.

In all, the entire procession will take ~2 hours.

Parking, transit + pro tips

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Monica

From the editor

Happy Friday, friends. There are so many fun, festive events happening in San Diego this weekend. We’ve got December Nights tonight and tomorrow in Balboa Park, the Little Italy Tree Lighting & Christmas Village tomorrow, and South Park’s Winter Walkabout tomorrow, too.

Oh, and if you need another bright idea: Check out our guide on where to see holiday lights around San Diego County.

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