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🖌️ State of the art
The new “Artopia” studio space will be able to hold ~200 guests at a time. | Rendering via The New Children’s Museum
Ah, they grow up so fast.The New Children’s Museum (NCM) in downtown San Diego is about to unveil a major expansion: an additional 8,600 sqft of gallery, classroom, and studio space to “think, play, and create.”
Let’s take a quick tour, shall we?
“Artopia”
The expansion’s pièce de résistance is “Artopia: NCM Creative Studios,” a renovated art studio that will host hands-on workshops and artist-led activities that explore mediums like paint, textiles, ceramics, and more. Peep the calendar.
The new space on the third level can accommodate ~200 guests (from toddlers to adults), which is much more than the prior studio space.
Pro tip: Artopia’s grand opening is this Saturday, April 12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. — just buy a general admission ticket and enjoy art-making stations, sensory activities, and a first look at the new space.
Disney On Ice presents “Into the Magic” | Thursday, April 10-Sunday, April 13 | Times vary | Pechanga Arena San Diego | $30+ | Treat the kiddos to this mesmerizing ice skating show featuring familiar Disney characters like Elsa, Moana, and Rapunzel.
Friday, April 11
Stone Hop Bombs with RomBomb | 6-9 p.m. | Stone Brewing Tap Room - Kettner | $53 | Hoppiness does exist — the brewery will pair samples of its most “hop-bombed” IPAs with an Oklahoma-style fried onion burger from RomBomb.
Colorado Rockies vs. San Diego Padres | Friday, April 11 | 6:40 p.m. | Petco Park | $37+ | The Padres partner with San Diego Pride to celebrate Out at the Park night.
Adam Carolla LIVE! | Friday, April 11-Saturday, April 12 | 7:30 p.m. + 9:30 p.m. | The American Comedy Co. San Diego | $41 | The radio personality, podcaster, and host of “The Adam Carolla Show” takes the mic for some stand-up.
Saturday, April 12
The Spring Home Garden Show | Saturday, April 12-Sunday, April 13 | Times vary | Del Mar Fairgrounds | Free | It’s giving HGTV — get inspiration for your next home improvement project by checking out demos, browsing the latest products + services, and chatting with experts.
Beach Bunny Kite Festival | 1-4 p.m. | Seaport Village | Free | Take photos with the landmark’s Beach Bunny and then hop over to the central lawn to watch kites catch the bay breeze.
Taste of City Heights | 3-6 p.m. | City Heights | $40+ | Experience the neighborhood’s diverse cuisines at this inaugural self-guided food tour and latest addition to SD’s “Taste Of” events; all proceeds benefit small businesses along University Avenue.
The Female Maker Market | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Piazza della Famiglia | Free | Shop for one-of-a-kind treasures from a mix of women-owned businesses and local artisans.
Matt Rife | Sunday, April 13 | 7 p.m. | Viejas Arena | $54+ | The viral comedian known for his self-produced specials performs his “Stay Golden Tour.”
Tuesday, April 15
Djo | 7:30 p.m. | The Sound, Del Mar | $110+ | The “End of Beginning” singer and “Stranger Things” actor performs at the Del Mar venue.
Hey Books! — a new, locally owned bookstore — opened yesterday at 921 E St. in downtown’s East Village. The shop sells new and used books and hopes to become a safe, welcoming space for local reading enthusiasts.
Zoo
A new fishing cat is making a splash at the San Diego Zoo. Miso-Chi, an 8-year-old male, relocated from the Denver Zoo as part of a Species Survival Plan. If you want to see him, scoop out time to visit his habitat on the Tiger Trail.
Try This
Travel to Hogwarts for the night with this local Harry Potter-themed mixology class. The “Wizards and Wands Experience” will teach you the not-so-dark arts on how to make magical cocktails at home.
Watch
I’ll never let go. Embarcadero’s Rooftop Cinema Club will screen “Titanic” on Monday, April 14 — on the 113th anniversary of the ship’s tragedy. Watch Kate + Leo light up the big outdoor screen and catch other fun showings like the “Parks & Recreation” mini-marathon on Thursday, April 24.
Trending
New restaurants are popping up all the time in San Diego, and this guide makes them easy to find. Flip through the top local restaurants for this month and thank them later. (Eater)
Eat
Sweet news — SoCal dessert shop Milk and Cookies is now open on 10th Avenue in San Diego’s East Village, about a block away from Petco Park. The menu specializes in warm cookies, homemade ice cream, and milk in fun flavors like banana, root beer, and orange cream.
Plan Ahead
Tickets to the 2025 Breeders Cup World Championships in Del Mar will go on sale on Wednesday, April 23, at 9 a.m. The premiere horse racing event will take over the track on Friday, Oct. 31 + Saturday, Nov. 1 with more than $34 million in purses and awards on the line.
Sports
After a hot start to the season, the San Diego Padres are on a two-game losing streak. We know they’ll bounce back. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Padres with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Announced
Calling all business owners and hiring managers — we’re growing our SDtoday Job Board, which means you can post unlimited job listings for free. No tricks or gimmicks — simply create an account and start posting your open jobs.
Stat
$3,500. That’s how much dough you might have to drop if your dog eats their chew toy. Yes, pets are expensive, but they’re worth it — and this pet insurance could reimburse 90% of those expenses.*
Number
5. That’s how many minutes it takes to read 1440’s daily newsletter — an unbiased, fact-centric digest of global events, culture, business, and beyond. Subscribe for free.*
City Guide
City Guide
🍕 Cheese the day
A slice of Mr. Moto pizza overlooking San Diego Bay? What a combo. | Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday
Slice, anyone? San Diego’s pizza scene is bubbling with options — we’ve put together a knead-to-know list of 40+ places to grab a pie.
Local legends
Blind Lady Ale House
Nothing pairs better with local pizza than local beer — and you’ll find both under one roof at this uptown favorite. The impressive menu features vegetarian and vegan options, plus rotating specialty pies.
Fun combos
Mr. Moto Pizza
With white + red pies, the combos here deliver something for every taste. Try the Mr. Moto with Italian sausage, Spanish chorizo, burrata, and marinara dots.
If you can’t take the wheat (gluten-free)
Powerhaus Wholesome Pizza & Eats
Who says pizza can’t be your superfood? This PB shop offers multiple gluten-free crusts, sauces, and toppings that let you craft the perfect meal.
This springtime weather has been lovely lately: all I want to do is be outside. If you’re looking to touch grass, head to one of SD’s pretty parks. If you want to get some steps in, a local hike is definitely the answer. And, if you’re ready to hit the beach, well, we’ve got plenty of those in America’s Finest City.
The Buy
The shoe of the summer: sneaker mules (aka smules). Effortlessly stylish and easy to slip on, these can be paired with your go-to shorts, sundresses, linen jumpsuits, and more. These are five of our favorites:
👟 Under $150: Dolce Vita’s sporty-chic sneaker mules in a fun + flirty pink floral pattern.
👟 Under $80: This pair by Anne Klein that will go with practically everything in your closet.
👟 Under $60: Blowfish Malibu’s platform style with adjustable lacing and a unique patterned insole.
👟 Under $50: These Naturalizer white leather smules made with comfort technology for all-day walking.
👟 Under $30: These canvas kicks available in 15+ colors and constructed with a memory foam insole for maximum comfort.
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