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Spring is in the air in Carlsbad — and about to be in full bloom. North County’s springtime staple, The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch, will reopen for the 2025 season on Saturday, March 1, running through Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 11).
The fields blanketing the coastal community’s rolling hills have been rooted in Carlsbad’s history for 60+ years. The working farm features 55 acres of colorful Giant Tecolote Ranunculus that have become quite the backdrop for gorgeous photos and self-guided, relaxing strolls. Here’s what you need to know before you visit this year.
Blossom basics
First things first: The Flower Fields are open daily, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Purchase your timed-entry tickets online (the price includes parking), arrive within 30 minutes of your time slot, and stay as long as closing time.
Despite the lack of rain this winter, the germination at the fields is the best ever this year, so it’s bound to be a spectacular season. Remember though — the season’s peak is late March to early May, so plan your trip accordingly.
Oceans at Night: Oceans of Love | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Birch Aquarium | $40+ | This time, the aquarium’s monthly, 21+ after-dark gathering will explore the spicy sea-crets of love and courtship in the ocean alongside themed drinks and fun activities.
Tommy Richman | 7 p.m. | House of Blues | $36+ | Throw some cash on this one — the singer + rapper known for his viral hit “Million Dollar Baby” performs “The Coyote Tour” in downtown SD.
Friday, Feb. 28
Gaslamp Mardi Gras | Friday, Feb. 28-Saturday, March 1 | 6 p.m. | Gaslamp Quarter | $40+ | Let the good times roll — enjoy entry to 25+ downtown spots, plus live entertainment and drink and food deals.
African Cuisine Workshop | 6-8 p.m. | Worldbeat Cultural Center | Free | This demo will highlight West African staples like jollof rice and black-eyed peas, with a side of history; donations are welcome.
Saturday, March 1
CRSSD Festival | Saturday, March 1-Sunday, March 2 | 12 p.m. | Waterfront Park | $159+ | The showcase for budding techno artists returns with a spring edition featuring performers like Fisher, Justice, Chris Lorenzo, Claptone, and Folamour, to name a few.
Columbus Fury vs. San Diego Mojo | 6:05 p.m. | Viejas Arena | $23+ | Snag a Mojo Madness basketball jersey at tonight’s fan giveaway.
St. Louis City SC vs. San Diego FC | 7:30 p.m. | Snapdragon Stadium | $130+ | Finally, the day has arrived: Watch our city’s newest pro team in their inaugural home opener.
Sunday, March 2
Nathalie Joachim | 4-6 p.m. | Museum of Making Music, Carlsbad | $35 | The Grammy-nominated performer + composer is known for her fresh, authentic storytelling while advocating for social change and cultural awareness.
JoJo | 8 p.m. | SOMA - Mainstage | $48 | The singer known for her mid-2000s hits like “Leave” and “Too Little, Too Late” performs her “Too Much to Say” tour.
Wednesday, March 5
Lyle Lovett and His Acoustic Group | 8 p.m. | The Sound, Del Mar | $122+ | The actor and musician leads this unplugged performance alongside his group that includes a string player, violinist, fiddler, keyboardist, and more.
Find candidates who want to work right here, right now. | Gif by 6AM City
Local job boards are a total game-changer — for both job seekers and businesses. Instead of sifting through endless listings, they focus on quality over quantity, connecting employers with candidates who actually want to work in the area. That means fewer relocation headaches and better retention.
For big and small businesses, it’s a smart way to connect with candidates who understand the local community and culture. Plus, hiring locally usually means a faster, smoother hiring process. Whether you’re looking for a job or trying to fill one, SDtoday Job Board keeps things simple, practical, and close to home.
What is this winter you speak of? It’s been warm and dry again this week with temperatures reaching 10-20° above normal, but a cool-down is coming. Temps should drop into the low 70s by tomorrow, Feb. 28, with much cooler temps and even some possible rain early next week. (CBS 8)
Development
Jamul Casino will open its 16-story hotel tower this May and rename itself Jamul Casino Resort. The hotel will feature 200 rooms (including 52 suites), an enclosed pedestrian sky bridge, a 4,800-sqft restaurant, a full-service spa + salon, and an 11,000-sqft rooftop pool deck. Staycation, anyone?
Announced
Music icon Elton John will headline the Curebound Concert for Cures on Friday, May 9 at Petco Park, a benefit concert to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. Ticket pre-sales begin Monday, March 3, and all other tickets go on sale Friday, March 7.
Open
“Top Chef” alum and Imperial Beach native Claudette Zepeda has opened Leu Leu — a chic, 60-seat restaurant with “girl dinner” vibes — on North Coast Highway 101 in Leucadia. This marks her latest venture into the local celebrity restaurant scene; Leu Leu is open Wednesday-Sunday, 5-10 p.m. (The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Coming Soon
SD is getting another live music venue. The former Rock Palace site on El Cajon Boulevard will reopen on Saturday, March 8 as Colabo, a renovated performing arts venue with a stage, video projectors, and a bar. The space has sat silent since the mid-1980s but seriously, who doesn’t love an encore?
Health
After more than a year of construction, Palomar Medical Center Escondido has opened its new ninth floor with 24 additional beds to serve surgical and telemetry patients. Palomar Health hopes the added space will reduce emergency department wait times and improve patient flow throughout the hospital.
Travel
Southwest Airlines will launch twice daily, nonstop flights from San Diego International Airport to Fresno Yosemite International Airport beginning Thursday, Oct. 2. The service will operate from Phase 1A of SAN’s New T1, part of the airport’s major overhaul set to open this September.
Concert
Wu-Tang forever. Hip-hop icons Wu-Tang Clan will bring their final tour, “Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber,” to Pechanga Arena on Saturday, June 21. The group will be joined by special guest Run the Jewels. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, Feb. 28, at 10 a.m.
San Diegan
North County native + skateboarding legend Tony Hawk posted an Instagram story sharing a heartfelt memory of seeing Nirvana in concert in 1991. Hawk’s son is married to late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain’s daughter, and they have a baby. Hawk said he wishes Cobain were here to “hold our wondrous grandchild.” (CNN)
Arts
Oceanside Museum of Art will host its first Exhibition Celebration of 2025 this Saturday, March 1, 5-7 p.m., to debut the sculpture exhibition, “Matt Devine: Walk with Me.” The pieces are inspired by the tranquil landscapes of Devine’s rural Oregon home, and will be on display through Sunday, July 6.
Festival
Tickets are on sale for the San Diego Zoo Food, Wine & Brew Celebration at the San Diego Zoo on Saturday, May 3. The 21+ event will feature bite-sized samples from more than 100 SoCal food and drink vendors, plus live performances and wildlife encounters.
Sports
The Los Angeles Chargers are expected to hire Kirk Campbell to their coaching staff — what are the implications for the team’s strategy? And what about the buzz around Matthew Stafford, Davante Adams, and Khalil Mack? Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Finance
Top firms like SoftBank already invested in Pacaso, the startup disrupting the $1.3 trillion vacation home market with co-ownership. By handing keys to 1,500+ homeowners, Pacaso earned over $100 million in gross profits. Now, they’re going global. Invest for $2.70 per share by Thursday, Feb. 27.‡*
Shop
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‡This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com.
City Guide
Biz
🌇 Showing small businesses some love
Pigment in North Park is a shopping enthusiast’s color-coded dream come true. | Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday
Here at SDtoday, you may already know we’re big on celebrating local, especially our city’s small businesses. Which is why a week dedicated to highlighting the heart of our communities is right up our alley.
Enter: Small Business Week — a national initiative that acknowledges and celebrates the contributions of small businesses — that we’ll be celebrating from Sunday, May 4 to Saturday, May 10.
We want to join in on the celebrations by highlighting some of the best small businesses in our city.
This is where we need your help.
If you own a local small business or know someone who does, celebrate Small Business Week with us by filling out a form about your business. We’ll be selecting businesses to feature in our newsletter that week. Psst: There’s no charge to participate.
Your two new best friends to speed up blow drys: a really good hairbrush and Kenra Platinum’s time-saving blow dry spray. The Wet Brush hairbrush features a vented design for faster airflow plus heat-resistant bristles, while the 4.7-star rated Kenra spray detangles, smooths, and decreases blow-dry time by 50%.
Your contributions and words of kindness + encouragement truly mean the world to us. We’ll be using your donations to continue creating more of the local stories you love and ensuring we can remain a free resource for all.
Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio.
The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.
†Please note: Legalities in your state may vary. The information about providers and services contained in this newsletter does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by 6AM City. It is commonly advised to read a company’s terms & conditions and instructions for use before trying new products.
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