Last call. Your business could be in front of thousands when you secure your spot in our 2025 Parents’ Gift Guide. Save 20% with code PGG2025 at checkout. The deadline for submissions is May 23.
🌊 Motion in the ocean
The exhibition’s Tropical Coral habitat features a step-in immersive viewing window. | Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday
After months of construction, a new immersive exhibition is making a splash at Birch Aquarium at Scripps this week: “Living Seas” opens today.
The exhibition replaces the aquarium’s longtime “Hall of Fishes” and is the largest capital improvement to the facility since 1992. It features new habitats that explore the wonders of the Pacific Ocean.
Let’s sea what’s inside:
Giant Pacific Octopus habitat | Guests will venture through a portal and dive into the hidden world of one of the brightest and most mysterious animals in the ocean. You’ll want to stand here for a while, guaranteed.
Scripps Pier habitat | Visitors will feel like they’re under La Jolla’s pier, and even get an up-close look at life on the pilings.
Open Ocean habitat | Look for schooling fish and the aquarium’s Loggerhead Sea Turtle rescue inside these waters.
SDtoday checked out a preview of Living Seas ahead of its official opening — follow our Instagram feed for updates.
Taste of East Village | 4-8 p.m. | East Village | $49 | The self-guided foodie tasting tour returns with 30+ participating restaurants — it’s one of the scrumptious strolls we look forward to in SD each year.
Friday, May 23
“Jaja’s African Hair Braiding” | Through Sunday, June 15 | Times vary | La Jolla Playhouse | $30+ | This Broadway hit welcomes you into Jaja’s bustling Harlem shop where tight-knit West African hair braiders create masterpieces while celebrating courage + community.
Saturday, May 24
2025 Santee Street Fair | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | 159 Riverview Pkwy. | Free | This East County fest features 200+ vendor booths, a beer garden, a kids’ area with rides + games, and a stage filled with community performances.
Simple Minds | 7 p.m. | North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, Chula Vista | $30+ | Don’t you, forget about this show — the UK synth pop + new wave rockers perform their “Alive & Kicking Tour 2025 “
Cheap Trick | 8 p.m. | Viejas Casino & Resort | $74+ | I want you to want this — the longtime rockers known for hits like “I Want You to Want Me” perform live.
Sunday, May 25
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.
North Carolina Courage vs. San Diego Wave FC | 7 p.m. | Snapdragon Stadium | $22+ | It’s Military Appreciation Night at the stadium and fans will score a free limited-edition hat with the Wave’s military crest on it, while supplies last.
Snoop Dogg aka DJ Snoopadelic | 10:30-11:30 p.m. | Oxford Social Club | $56 | Drop it like it’s hot — the West Coast rap legend will take the turntables as DJ Snoopadelic with high-energy electronic music sets at the downtown nightclub.
Monday, May 26
Fort Rosecrans Memorial Day | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Cabrillo National Monument | Free | The landmark will honor our country’s fallen soldiers and their sacrifices in a special ceremony.
Tuesday, May 27
“A Beautiful Noise” | Tuesday, May 27-Sunday, June 1 | Times vary | Civic Theatre | $52+ | This touring Broadway musical tells the story of Neil Diamond’s rise to fame with a catalog of his greatest hits including “Sweet Caroline” — it’s so good, so good, so good.
“Michelin Guide” added 13 California restaurants to its “new discoveries” category, including four hot spots in San Diego’s North County. Put these on your must-try dining list: 24 Suns and Tanner’s Prime Burgers in Oceanside, Lilo in Carlsbad, and Atelier Manna in Encinitas. (The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Outdoors
It’s baaack. Summer Movies in the Park kicks off this Saturday, May 24 with a screening of “Moana 2” at downtown’s Waterfront Park. The annual event will bring free, family-friendly movies to parks across San Diego County through Nov. 1 — check out the 2025 season schedule.
Development
Father Joe’s Villages will partner with San Diego to transform the city’s Homelessness Response Center on Imperial Avenue into 164 affordable housing units. The East Village property will offer income-restricted housing for 55 years, as well as services to help residents regain stability. (CBS 8)
Open
SD’s pizza scene has some new additions. Slice House by Tony Gemignani is now open on Kettner Boulevard in Little Italy, offering authentic New York, Detroit, Sicilian, and grandma-style pies. Over in University Heights, the Brooklyn-inspired Sonny’s Pizza recently debuted on Park Boulevard, serving 12-inch pizzas cooked at 600°.
Zoo
Night owls, perk up. The San Diego Zoo’s annual Nighttime Zoo returns tomorrow through Sunday, Aug. 10. The seasonal event includes special activities, live music + entertainment beginning daily at 3:30 p.m. and extended zoo hours through 8 p.m. Buy a membership or tickets.
Announced
CRSSD’s fall festival lineup was announced this week and it includes John Summit, Empire of the Sun, Chris Stussy, and Claude Vonstroke. The music fest will take over downtown’s Waterfront Park on Saturday, Sept. 27 + Sunday, Sept. 28. Ticket presales begin on Wednesday, May 28, at 10 a.m.
Opening
Two new restaurants will debut tomorrow at Pier South Resort in Imperial Beach, replacing Toasted Gastrobrunch. The resort will unveil a Sammy’s Woodfire Pizza and Roppongi Asian Bistro, both at the resort’s remodeled spaces — with beach views, to boot.
Arts
Balboa Park’sComic-Con Museum will unmask its newest exhibit today — “Sangre, Sudor Y Mito: The Art and Tradition of Mexican Lucha Libre.” The binational showcase explores the origins of Mexican pro wrestling through movies, comics, graphic arts, lucha libre trailblazers + those iconic masks. Visit Thursday-Tuesday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Drink
Hoppiest Place on Earth. Disneyland tapped Karl Strauss Brewing Company to brew its milestone anniversary beer. The theme park’s 70th Anniversary IPA features tropical flavors and is available on draft and in cans at select locations throughout Disneyland + California Adventure, including Carnation Café and Paradise Garden Grill.
Ranked
The Institute for Quality of Life released its 2025 Happy City Index and San Diego landed at No. 34 among cities across the world. The annual rankings used several “themes” as indicators of a city’s happiness, including its citizens and their activities, governance, environment, economy, health, and mobility.
Legacy
The Parks and Recreation Board unanimously approved a proposal to rename North Clairemont Community Park. The space on Bannock Avenue will be renamed Officer Austin Machitar Memorial Park in honor of fallen SDPD Officer Austin Machitar, who served much of his career in Clairemont. New signs are expected this summer.
Fun Fact
A set of California triplets recently graduated from SDSU with the exact same major. Sisters Maile, Ke’ale, and Makana Young each earned a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Marketing and Communications — read their sweet story. Meanwhile, these are the top 10 degrees among SDSU’s 2025 graduates. (People + SDSU NewsCenter)
Feel Good
SDG&E planted 10 trees last month as part of its commitment to beautify SD, improve local air quality, and support local biodiversity. The new trees are part of the utility company’s ongoing pledge to plant 2,500 trees in downtown San Diego over the next decade. The efforts began in 2021.
Sports
The Chargers’ 2025 schedule featured a “Minecraft” theme that drove the internet wild. Can the Bolts navigate their toughest schedule yet? Locked On’s experts on the Los Angeles Chargers make their 2025 predictions. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Kensington Cafe on Adams Avenue — where everybody knows your name. | Photo via Kensington Cafe
We know small businesses are the heart of our community. We’ve been shining the spotlight on a few of SD’s small businesses this month and today, it’s Kensington Cafe’s turn.
This uptown neighborhood cafe owned by Lauren Passero is located at 4141 Adams Ave. and offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner — check out the menu.
Here’s a little more info, straight from the biz itself:
What year did you open?
2006
How would you describe your business?
A neighborhood cafe that welcomes everyone.
What’s unique about the small business scene in San Diego?
The owners live in their business communities and support other businesses in their community.
Kensington Cafe is open daily starting at 7:30 a.m. Follow the restaurant’s Instagram page for the latest specials, fun merch, and more.
We want to thank the local businesses that filled out our Small Business Week survey. Shoutout to Montana Maxwell Fitness & Yoga; Nadi Marketing; Mooncrest Estate Sales; Partners Drywall; Spirit Yoga & Barre; Tin Marin; Mallory Kessel Photography; VibrantVia; SD Celebrations Event Rentals; Urban Outings; UNLMTD; Kobey’s Swap Meet; Trusty Ink Works Services; Wolf & Lion; and Vintage Glassworks Studio & Supplies.
Small businesses like yours are truly the heart of SD.
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