Discover San Diego

• Get wild by gifting a membership to the San Diego Zoo, or book an experience at the Safari Park in Escondido.
• Spend a day with Sidecar Tours viewing scenic San Diego sights, or pick a tour focused on breweries or local wine.
• Get on the water and explore San Diego’s natural beauty with Sail San Diego, or opt for a private boat experience.
• Take a tour of San Diego — with a twist. Murder n’ Mayhem offers different ways to explore the city, including ghost tours, whodunit scavenger hunts, or LGBTQ+ history explorations.

Learn something new

• Become an artist with classes at The Artist Outpost or make DIY crafts at AR Workshop’s Coronado and San Marcos locations.
• Take a cooking seminar and become an at-home chef with classes offered by Cozymeal or CocuSocial.
• Schedule a trip to a local museum — there are over two dozen in San Diego County and many offer annual memberships.

Show some love

• You don’t need to go to Italy to find a gondola — take a ride in the canals of the Coronado Cays with The Gondola Company.
• Plan a picnic, but let Pop Up Picnic Co. do all the hard work for you.
• If humor is your love language, check out a local comedy club or find a secret show with Don’t Tell Comedy.

• Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour | Friday, Dec. 8 | 6 p.m. | San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., San Diego | $29+ | Invite the kids to dance, sing, and learn with Blippi and special guest Meekah while discovering what makes different cities unique.
• “Christmas Cookies & Chaos” | Friday, Dec. 8-Sunday, Dec. 10 | Times vary | Looking Glass Theatre, 4190 Front St., San Diego | $10 | This Hallmark-style musical follows Rachel Brown as she returns to her small town and is forced to take over a local coffee shop.
• Celebrating Whitney and We Belong | Friday, Dec. 8 | 8-11:30 p.m. | Full Circle Saloon, 8528 Magnolia Ave., #105, Santee | $20 | This show pays tribute to two legends: Whitney Houston and Pat Benatar.

• Sacred Arts of Tibet: Open House + Closing Ceremony | Saturday, Dec. 9 | 12-4 p.m. | California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd. | Free | Experience Tibetan activities with sand mandala tools and butter sculpting, and receive a blessing for world peace.
• San Diego Seals vs. Calgary Roughnecks | Saturday, Dec. 9 | 7 p.m. | Pechanga Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego | $25-$48 | SD’s National Lacrosse League team swings back for their 2023-2024 home opener.
• San Diego State Aztecs vs. UC Irvine Anteaters Men’s Basketball | Saturday, Dec. 9 | 7:30 p.m. | Viejas Arena at SDSU, 5500 Campanile Dr., San Diego | $17-$190 | The two SoCal teams take it to the court.
• “Jingle” | Saturday, Dec. 9 + Sunday, Dec. 10 | Times vary | Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., San Diego | $32-$82 | The San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus opens its 39th season with the music of Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, Michael Bublé, Darren Criss, Celia Cruz, Sia, and more.
• Emo Night Brooklyn | Saturday, Dec. 9 | 9 p.m. | House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., San Diego | $24-$28 | Relive your moody era with this night dedicated to throwback tunes.

• Vista Makers Market & Bar Hop | Sunday, Dec. 10 | 12-5 p.m. | Dogleg Brewing Co., 1347 Keystone Way, Ste. A, Vista | Free | Shop 45 local artists and makers, with a drink in hand.
• Hanukkah Celebration | Sunday, Dec. 10 | 12-6 p.m. | Sesame Place San Diego, 2052 Entertainment Circle, Chula Vista | $50 | Play dreidel, light the Menorah, and listen to music with “Sesame Street” characters.

• Sweetwater Authority has approved two water rate hikes over the next two years across the South Bay. In January 2024, prices will rise by 0.5% followed by a 6% increase in 2025. The raises will impact ~200,000 residents in communities like Chula Vista, National City, and Bonita. (NBC 7)

• The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has approved an environmental review that will allow construction to begin at the first county-managed park in Alpine. In 2019, the county purchased a 91-acre parcel of land with the intent of transforming it into community space. Construction could begin in spring 2024.

• Meet Elliott, the baby giraffe at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park whose name tells a Hollywood tale. The calf was given its moniker by “Breaking Bad” star Aaron Paul’s daughter, Story. The name is a nod to Story’s favorite movie, “E.T.”

• “Don’t Stop Believing” — an iconic rock show is coming to Petco Park. Def Leppard, Journey, and the Steve Miller Band will perform at the ballpark on Aug. 30, 2024. If you want to attend, pour some clicks on the tickets page starting Friday, Dec. 15, at 10 a.m.

• SeaWorld San Diego’s “A Christmas Wish Fireworks Show” is soaring back to the theme park starting tomorrow at 5:30 p.m., preceding the Mission Bay Boat Parade. It’ll continue to light up the sky for select dates this month, starting 10 minutes prior to closing.

• Being single in San Diego isn’t the worst. The city ranked as WalletHub’s No. 15 best city for singles in 2024 when looking at 182 cities in the US. The study assessed metrics like the number of single people, dating opportunities, date-worthy attractions, and economic factors. (WalletHub)

• “Girl math” — a term popularized on TikTok to describe strategies for justifying large, unnecessary purchases. Want to see it in action? Fashion Valley mall shared a video explaining how one shopper purchased clothing and purses while “saving money.”

• As we age, our hormone levels decline, affecting bone density, sleep, libido, and more. Test + optimize your hormones with Wellcore’s At-Home Assessment Kit — only $79 with code NEWYOU.*