Whew — it’s busy in there. We recommend browsing through 550+ exhibitors in the Exhibit Hall spanning comics, special merch, video games, TV, and film — this is our favorite part of SDCC. This year, we spy big brands like LEGO, Funko, DC Comics, and “Star Wars” on the map, but don’t miss the gems in the Artists’ Alley + Small Press area.
Arlen, Texas is coming to town with Hulu’s “King of the Hill” activation outside Comic-Con.
Rendering via Hulu
Outside, without a badge
Whew — it’s busy out there. If you didn’t score a badge this year, you can still get into the SDCC spirit at nearby attractions.
This includes Hulu’s offsite, which will bring Arlen, Texas to SD with a “King of the Hill” activation at the Bayfront Parking Lot (600 Convention Way) next to the convention center — complete with the water tower.
Natasha Leggero LIVE! | Thursday, July 24-Friday, July 25 | Times vary | The American Comedy Co. San Diego | $36 | The actress, comedian, and “Chelsea Lately” alum takes the mic.
Friday, July 25
The Aquabats! | 6 p.m. | The Observatory North Park | $40+ | The quirky SoCal band perform their rock jams in matching masks + costumes — maybe they’ll solve a crime or two while they’re at it?
Taste of EastLake 2025 | 6-9:30 p.m. | Chula Vista Elite Training Center | $80 | We love a “Taste of” event — snack on samples from 40+ local purveyors in support of Eastlake K-12 public schools.
Saturday, July 26
Makers Arcade Summer Fair | Saturday, July 26-Sunday, July 27 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Waterfront Park | $5+ | Browse 120+ local vendors offering handcrafted goods like jewelry, home decor, cool clothing, and artwork — grab a snack at the food truck court while you’re at it.
40th Floor Affair: A Runway Above It All | 6:30-9 p.m. | 800 Broadway, Downtown SD | $34+ | Couture with a view — watch a high-fashion runway show featuring local rising designers including Irina Madan, Oseas Villatoro, and Nolan Dean from 40 stories above downtown San Diego.
Black Violin | 8 p.m. | The Sound, Del Mar | $74+ | Hip-hop duo Kev Marcus + Wil B. show off their skills as classically trained string instrumentalists — we’re sure they’ll strike a chord.
Sunday, July 27
Focus Tour: Celebrating Women in Art | 11-11:45 a.m. | Timken Museum of Art | Free | Learn about the contributions of female artists and the portrayal of women in art throughout history.
Tuesday, July 29
New York Mets vs. San Diego Padres | 6:40 p.m. | Petco Park | $54+ | Tonight’s ballpark giveaway is so San Diego: The first 40,000 fans will score a sandless Padres beach towel — see you at the shoreline.
Beck with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra | 7:30 p.m. | The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park | $110+ | This is anything but “Loser” behavior — the Grammy-winning experimental rocker jams with some of SD’s finest musicians.
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Construction is underway to revamp the shuttered Little Italy Food Hall. Tiger Hospitality will operate the food hall, which will include new food stalls, an indoor-outdoor bar much closer to the entrance, and events in the piazza. The space should reopen before the end of the year. (The San Diego-Union Tribune)
Tomorrow Is
National Carousel Day, and the historic Balboa Park Carousel is hosting a community event with family-friendly activities, entertainment, and free rides, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. While you’re there, say hi to Bill Brown — he’s been proudly working at the ride since 1972 and has a deep connection to the attraction.
Biz
This one hurts. The building that houses Las Cuatro Milpas, the Barrio Logan restaurant run by the Estudillo family for the past 92 years, is up for sale. The eatery is known for its incredible fresh tortillas, tamales, and tacos — and the line of loyal customers that consistently wraps around the building. (CBS8)
Health
UC San Diego added 3,500 sqft of clinical space to its Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute’s (ACTRI) main facility in La Jolla. The expansion will allow ACTRI to boost its groundbreaking clinical trials by more than 30% and “accelerate discoveries that directly benefit San Diegans and patients worldwide.” (UC San Diego Today)
Award
ICYMI: Retired San Diego Wave FC and USWNT legend Alex Morgan was honored with the Icon Award at the 2025 ESPY Awards alongside WNBA star Diana Taurasi. The accolade recognizes their incredible careers + impact on their sports. In her acceptance speech, Morgan praised the trailblazers who came before her. (USA Today + ESPN)
Sports
Philip Rivers has officially retired and hung up his cleats as a Charger, sparking a passionate discussion on his Hall of Fame-worthy career and lasting impact on the franchise. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Los Angeles Chargerswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Legacy
RIP, Prince of Darkness. Black Sabbath rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, 76, died earlier this week. Osbourne performed several times in San Diego, including his 1992 “No More Tours” tour at San Diego Sports Arena. In 2022, he appeared at Comic-Con to unveil a limited-edition comic book alongside artist Todd McFarlane. (CNN + FOX5)
Fun Fact
Did you know? Actor Adam Brody was born in SD and graduated from Scripps Ranch High School. Brody was recently nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in “Nobody Wants This.” The “Primetime Emmy Awards” will air Sunday, Sept. 14 — we’re rooting for our fellow San Diegan.
Theater
Tickets are on sale for “SUFFS,” the musical coming to San Diego Civic Theatre Tues., Sept. 30-Sunday, Oct. 5. The Tony Award-winning play about the brilliant women who fought for the right to vote will kick off Broadway San Diego’s 48th season.
Despite being the No. 1 myth about reverse mortgages, the lender never owns the home if the owner passes away — heirs still inherit it and any leftover equity. See how these top lenders can help retirees cover home improvements (and even other expenses) without dipping into retirement funds.*
Home
Have a project you’ve been itching to work on? Think: bathroom renovation, upgrading your HVAC system, or maybe a backyard makeover. Wondering how to pay for it? Hint: A HELOC isn’t the only way to access your home’s equity. Enter: Unison.*
Biz
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Fun Fact
Amazon Prime isn’t all about fast shipping + streaming. Check out these nine hidden perks that will completely transform how you shop and save as a Prime member.*
Category
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Don’t let your upcoming event get lost in oversaturated summer calendars. Amplify it to SDtoday’s 21,000+ engaged subscribers through our self-service ad portal.
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What a fin-tastic view. It’s that time of the year when leopard sharks flock to the warm, calm, shallow waters of La Jolla Shores; peak season is August + September.
Areas near Kellogg Park and La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club are hot spots for pregnant female leopard sharks incubating their embryos. The docile creatures feed on small fish and crabs and are harmless to humans, attracting swimmers, snorkelers, and kayakers to float next to them + enjoy the largest annual aggregation of leopard sharks in the world.
A deluxe four-piece lunch set by BENTGO, currently 20% off on Nordstrom Rack. Your meal prep dreams are about to realized with these stackable, divided lunch containers, built-in matching utensils, and a water-resistant pouch that keeps food warm or cool for hours.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Excited for Comic-Con this weekend? Me too. I’m grateful to have many fun memories from covering the event over the years, but a few hold a special place in my heart.
I’ll never forget seeing “Dawson’s Creek” actor Joshua Jackson walking outside the convention center dressed as Pacey Witter in 2010, telling people they were unwittingly at “Pacey Con.” Or that time in 2014 when “Harry Potter” star Daniel Radcliffe disguised himself in full Spider-Man cosplay so he could stroll the event undetected. Oh, and last year’s A.V.A. Fest from “Abbott Elementary,” which was everything a fan could dream of. See you there.
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