The local hunger relief organization is collecting essential supplies to take to the LA Regional Food Bank in the coming weeks. The most-needed items include bottled water, packaged + shelf-stable snacks, and non-perishable meals. You can drop off donations at Feeding San Diego’s office — 8477 Waples St., Ste. 100 — Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. You can also drop off donations at 655 Broadway in downtown San Diego.
East Village’s popular restaurant Callie is collecting new stuffed animals to distribute to children in LA. Stuffies can be dropped off at Callie Wednesday-Sunday, 12-10 p.m., through Friday, Jan. 17. You can also purchase stuffies for the drive through this link.
This organization works with local fire agencies and community organizations to directly support victims of wildfires and disasters in California. Donate online.
Share this with your LA friends:
The San Diego Tourism Authority said dozens of local hotels are offering special accommodation rates for those impacted by the LA wildfires. This includes Town and Country Resort, Bahia Resort Hotel, and the Westgate Hotel. Share this list with your LA friends. Several Gaslamp Quarter hotels are offering discounted rates, too.
“Theresa Caputo Live! The Experience” | 8-10 p.m. | The Events Center at Harrah’s Resort SoCal | $94+ | The “Long Island Medium” and TV personality shares her talents live at the Valley Center venue.
Friday, Jan. 17
BIG Salsa & Bachata Festival San Diego 2025 | Friday, Jan. 17-Sunday, Jan. 19 | 10-4 a.m. | Marriott Mission Valley | $66+ | This fest is packed with dance classes for all levels, live performances, and Latin dance parties.
Jurassic Quest | Friday, Jan. 17-Monday, Jan. 20 | Times vary | Del Mar Fairgrounds | $30+ | See animatronic dinos, excavate fossils, and train a raptor at this immersive event before it goes extinct.
Holo Holo Music Festival | 4 p.m. | Frontwave Arena, Oceanside | $76+ | Head to the new North County venue for island and reggae performances by Common Kings, Josh Tatofi + Spawnbreezie alongside food vendors.
Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship | 5 p.m. | Snapdragon Stadium | $50+ | The world’s elite off-road motorcycle riders — think: Jett Lawrence, Cooper Webb + Haiden Deegan — showcase their high-flying skills as they compete for the Supercross Champion title.
Sunday, Jan. 19
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Harbor Drive South | Free | This waterfront parade will honor Dr. King with floats, high school bands, drill teams, and local organizations, and will also feature a 5K Walk/Fun Run + festival.
Frank Black: “Teenager Of The Year Tour” | 7 p.m. | The Magnolia, El Cajon | $42+ | The former Pixies frontman-turned-solo artist performs his 1994 album in full.
Monday, Jan. 20
36th Annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration | 12-5 p.m. | Worldbeat Cultural Center | Free | Celebrate unity, community, and the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. at this family-friendly event.
Wednesday, Jan. 22
Farmers Insurance Open | Wednesday, Jan. 22-Saturday, Jan. 25 | Times vary | Torrey Pines Golf Course, La Jolla | $65+ | The prestigious PGA Tour tourney swings into the scenic golf course — who will be crowned champion?
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It’s official: SD will hold a special primary election on Tuesday, April 8 to fill Nora Vargas’ District 1 seat. More than 376,000 voters will be mailed a ballot beginning March 10. If no candidate receives the majority vote, the two top contenders will move onto a special general election on July 1.
Number
$258 million. That’s the budget deficit San Diego is facing and the focus of Mayor Todd Gloria’s 2025 State of the City Address. Gloria said SD must make “clear-eyed decisions” about every dollar spent, including cutting some services. He also talked about reducing homelessness, building more housing, and fixing “the damn roads and storm channels.” (CBS 8)
Trending
POW. ZAP. BOOM.Comic-Con International will stay in San Diego through at least 2027. The pop culture convention — which has called SD home for 50+ years, growing by leaps and bounds — will remain at the San Diego Convention Center. This year’s event is Thursday, July 24-Sunday, July 27.
Opening
Vegan restaurants Evolution Fast Food + Donna Jean are opening a 4,000-sqft shared space in North Park. Evolution left its Hillcrest drive-thru location and will officially reopen in North Park on Saturday, Jan. 17. Donna Jean’s will close its Bankers Hill location and reopen at the new hub on Thursday, Feb. 13. (Eater San Diego)
Sports
We see you, San Diego FC. Our city’s new MLS team will make its Snapdragon Stadium debut on Saturday, March 1, and single match tickets are now available for the 2025 regular season. Fans can expect live music, fun activities, and post-game “Extra Time” celebrations at home matches.
Traffic
The city’s Traffic Engineering team recommended improvements like additional signs, light upgrades, flashing beacons + crosswalks at seven “high crash” locations identified through a Transportation Department evaluation. The sites include intersections like Art Street at El Cajon Boulevard, Kurtz and Rosecrans streets, and Miramar Road at Nobel Drive.
Edu
Powered by San Diego Foundation, the inaugural $500,000 National Rainbow College Fund is accepting applications through Wednesday, March 5. The fund supports California’s LGBTQ+ students pursuing higher education and will award 200 students with $2,500. San Diego Foundation is also offering $5 million in college scholarships to local students.
Closing
Macy’s is moving forward with its planned closures of 66 “underproductive” stores nationwide, including two in San Diego County. The retailer will shutter its locations in Mission Valley and Otay Ranch Town Center. Locals can still shop at Macy’s stores including Westfield UTC, Fashion Valley, Grossmont Center, and Westfield North County. (CBS 8)
Biz
Times are rough for San Diego’s craft breweries. Several taprooms shuttered last month — including Border X Brewing, Rouleur Brewing, and Bolt Brewery’s headquarters in La Mesa — but with the new year comes new hope. Some owners believe they’ll find ways to reopen or try new business models. (San Diego Beer News)
Sports
Justin Herbert’s disastrous playoffs performance has some fans questioning if he has enough “dog in him,” but his grit cannot be questioned. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Chargerswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Eat
Start 2025 with Thrive Market: organic groceries delivered right to your door. (They ban over 1,000 harmful ingredients.) Join here to get 30% off your order plus a free $60 gift.*
Finance
When this card hit the market, it became the do-it-all card that took the top spot in thousands of peoples’ wallets. Perks include a significant first-year bonus, up to 5% cashback on everyday purchases, no annual fee, and 0% intro APR on purchases + balance transfers into 2026. Cha-ching.*
Job
Ready to get connected with the best local talent in 2025? We created our community job board just for you. Give it a try by posting your first listing for free.
Volunteer
Did you know MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service? Join AmeriCorps this MLK Day to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King and help your community by volunteering on Monday, Jan. 20. Find volunteer opportunities to serve locally.*
City Guide
City Guide
🔎 Exploring SD’s must-see museums
The aviation and space exploration hub known as the San Diego Air & Space Museum is just so fly. | Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday
Museums are the cultural hubs of San Diego. Whether you’re looking to learn something new about America’s Finest City or plotting a way to spend your Saturday afternoon, here are 28 museums to visit in our city.
New Children’s Museum | $3-$24 Little ones will love the interactive, playful art installations perfect for exploring their creativity and imagination. Don’t miss: The sensory-friendly “Breathing Room” is perfect for a relaxing break.
A pair of 14K gold plated heart hoops. The huggie-sized earrings are hypoallergenic and tarnish-resistant. Psst — they’re also the perfect Valentine’s Day accessory.
I hope you and your loved ones are doing OK. I know these LA wildfires are tough to hear about, especially since SD knows wildfire devastation all too well. It’s always a good idea to brush up on local wildfire safety resources and our city’s emergency resources, and lay out an emergency plan for you + your family. Stay safe, friends.