Local restaurants

• Sushi Diner in Clairemont, known for its fresh sushi with Jamaican influences, closed in January after 16 years. The eatery is still in business, though — roll over to Mission Valley to find Sushi Diner 2.
• After 25 years, Bub’s at the Beach shuttered at the end of April. The PB staple debuted in 1998, but its downtown location — Bub’s at the Ballpark — is still open.
• El Dorado had its last call in late August after 15 years in business. The beloved East Village lounge is credited for popularizing San Diego’s cocktail scene.
• In mid-October, Twiggs Coffeehouse and Bakery closed both of its locations. The Park Boulevard eatery had been serving University Heights since 1992, while the extension cafe on Adams Avenue in North Park was ~15 years old.
• The original Tio Leo’s Mexican Restaurant in Grantville had its final day of operation in late December. It first opened in 1979; it’s two other locations remain open.

Arts and entertainment

• On the final day of 2023, the Santee Drive-In rolled the credits on its final movie and closed after 65 years in business.
• In December, the Ocean Beach Playhouse had its final curtain call. The local theater ended its 11-year run with a performance of “Rent.”
• At the end of the year, Architectural Salvage in Little Italy announced its plans to close after 28 years. The vintage and reclaimed interior store will host its Celebration Sale Friday, Jan. 12-Sunday, Jan. 14.

• First Friday La Jolla Art Walk | Friday, Jan. 5 | 4-7 p.m. | Sotheby’s Plaza, 1111 Prospect St., San Diego | Free | Stroll through 20+ galleries — register and get free parking and a map.
• Free Kids Craft | Friday, Jan. 5 | 5-6 p.m. | San Diego Craft Collective, 2590 Truxtun Rd., Studio 106, San Diego | Free | This month’s craft project is animal masks, plus take a studio tour.
• San Diego Gulls vs. Bakersfield Condors | Friday, Jan. 5 + Saturday, Jan. 6 | Times vary | Pechanga Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego | $24+ | The two California teams face off on the ice.
• Erik Griffin | Friday, Jan. 5-Sunday, Jan. 7 | 7 + 9:30 p.m. | The Comedy Store, 916 Pearl St., La Jolla | $25 | This comedian is known for his Showtime stand-up specials and roles on shows like “Workaholics.”

• Santee Swap Meet | Saturday, Jan. 6 + Sunday, Jan. 7 | 5:15 a.m.-1 p.m. | Santee Swap Meet, 10990 N. Woodside Ave, San Diego | $1-$5 | Even with the drive-in closed, this flea market is still open weekend mornings through June 2024; early bird entry starts at 5:15 a.m.
• The Charlatans + RIDE | Saturday, Jan. 6 | 8 p.m. | House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., San Diego | $40+ | The UK rock band performs for their “North America Tour 2024.”
• The Emo Night Tour | Saturday, Jan. 6 | 9 p.m. | The Music Box, 1337 India St., San Diego | $17+ | Feel all the feelings with this tribute to classics by Fall Out Boy, Taking Back Sunday, Panic! at the Disco, and more alt rock acts.

• SDSU Aztecs vs. Fresno State Bulldogs Women’s Basketball | Sunday, Jan. 7 | TBA | Viejas Arena, 5500 Canyon Crest Dr., San Diego | $6-$9 | The two California teams take it to the court.
• Ize Trio | Sunday, Jan. 7 | 2-3 p.m. | Encinitas Branch Library, 540 Cornish Dr. | Free | Chase Morrin, Nassem Alatrash, and George Lernis — who met at Berklee College of Music — kick off the First Sunday concert series with a jazzy show.
• San Diego Sockers vs. Texas Outlaws | Sunday, Jan. 7 | 5:05 p.m. | Pechanga Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego | $25+ | The indoor soccer team kicks off the year with a match against the Mesquite-based team.

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• Tower 180 — a 386,000-sqft, 25-story office complex at 180 Broadway Ave. in downtown San Diego — has been purchased by J Street Space for $140 million. The locally-based hotel developer plans to convert the building into a hotel and residential units, aiming to open in 2027. (San Diego Union-Tribune)

• San Diego is taking steps to make its sidewalks smoother. A contractor has started working on a log of 478 sidewalk projects in Logan Heights, City Heights, and other southeastern SD communities. Repairs include root removal, curb replacements, and upgrading paths to meet accessibility standards.

• Following high tides and flooding on the Mission Beach Boardwalk, city crews will be working to remove sand from sidewalks. Expect to see workers shoveling the buildup over the next few days; sand will be transported to Fiesta Island and treated before being reused.

• Del Mar’s beach parking costs are on the rise. Starting Thursday, Feb. 1, hourly meter rates will increase from $3 to $4, and the daily rate will rise from $15 to $20 — plus a 30-cent credit card fee. The city will also implement a program to offer free parking passes to low-income residents. (The Coast News Group)

• Encinitas has installed 66 new signs to remind locals that smoking and vaping is now prohibited in public spaces and places of employment. This law went into effect in July 2023 as an effort to mitigate the damages of secondhand smoke and reduce pollution. (The Coast News Group)

• 3.3+ million. That’s how many checkouts were recorded by the San Diego Public Library (SDPL) in 2023. For many San Diegans, this was the first year they borrowed books or media — SDPL issued 65,756 new library cards.

• Metropolitan Transit System is moving toward pre-pandemic levels. Last year, the number of weekday riders increased by 10% compared to 2022 — an average of 226,345 people per weekday. The agency said this is its highest ridership since March 2020.

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