5 Can’t-Miss Events for San Diego Wine Lovers in April
Here's where to sip on local wine and bubbly this month
By Chase Scheinbaum
Beer isn’t the only thing to drink around here. After all, San Diego is a wine region, and one surrounded by other wine regions at that. With spring underway and summer around the corner, wine-pairing and -tasting events are popping up all over the calendar. Here are a few of our favorites this month, including one featuring Baja wines, another that takes place inside an actual wine cave, and other choices to make your weekends and evenings that much nicer.
Step inside Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa’s wine cave for local food from chef Jarrod Moiles and wine from Santa Maria’s Tyler Winery. Both the chef and winemaker will be on hand to tell guests more about the cardamom-crusted yellow tail, California quail, 2014 Dierberg Vineyard Chardonnay, La Rinconada Vineyard Pinot Noir, and other menu items. Call 858-759-6246 to make reservations; $195 per person.
The folks at Hornblower Cruises—the same ones who offer Sunday brunch cruises—also arrange Saturday brunch trips with champagne. Tour the bay to the sounds of the Dave Scott Duo’s live jazz on a boat stocked with plenty of bubbly and brunch and lunch dishes. Reservations required; $69 per person.
The Wine Pub in Point Loma arranges four-course dinners paired with wines from Mexico’s premier wine region, Valle de Guadalupe. Dine while the featured vintner schools you on their sips. The next event, on April 12, welcomes Cava Maciel winery’s Jorge Maciel, followed on July 31 by Villa Montefiori winery’s Paolo Paoloni. If your interest is piqued, you can follow your tongue to Valle de Guadalupe on bimonthly wine tours with Fernando Gaxiola, owner of Baja Wine + Food. Dinner tickets are $65 a person; reservations required.
Wines from 300 top flight wineries from California and the Pacific Northwest will be on hand at this year’s VinDiego Wine and Food Festival, alongside eats from a long list of lavish restaurants (Nobu, anyone?) and live entertainment. Tickets start at $75.
Ten-hut! This former naval training center plays host to a variety of food, drink, entertainment, and art events during the Taste of Liberty Station. Get the $15 “Bubbly Pass” to sip on sparkling wine while you stroll (and the additional $30 “Liberty Pass” for access to all the food events).
5 Can’t-Miss Events for San Diego Wine Lovers in April
Get ready to add some rock 'n' roll to your wardrobe
By Archana Ram
Allsaints Los Angeles
Adam Orchon
Get ready to add some rock ‘n’ roll to your wardrobe: U.K. fashion retailer AllSaints will open its first San Diego outpost March 28 in the former Tommy Bahama space at Fashion Valley. The brand offers apparel and accessories for men and women in streamlined silhouettes and muted colors (think blacks, greys, and browns), but it’s the leather pieces, including moto jackets and leggings, that keep fashionistas coming back. 7007 Friars Road, Fashion Valley
Get ready to add some rock 'n' roll to your wardrobe
By Archana Ram
Allsaints Los Angeles
Adam Orchon
Get ready to add some rock ‘n’ roll to your wardrobe: U.K. fashion retailer AllSaints will open its first San Diego outpost March 28 in the former Tommy Bahama space at Fashion Valley. The brand offers apparel and accessories for men and women in streamlined silhouettes and muted colors (think blacks, greys, and browns), but it’s the leather pieces, including moto jackets and leggings, that keep fashionistas coming back. 7007 Friars Road, Fashion Valley
For Executive Chef Emily Brubaker, Omni La Costa Resort & Spa feels like home. She grew up just a mile-and-a-half away from the 400-acre property and fondly recalls walking the golf course perimeter as a kid. Though her ambitions led her away from San Diego for nearly two decades in which she honed her craft in some of the highest of high-profile Las Vegas restaurants—including triple Michelin-starred Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand—they ultimately brought her back to North County.
Courtesy of Omni La Costa
Today, the classically French-trained chef, who’s fresh off a victory on NBC’s Yes, Chef!, judged by Martha Stewart and José Andrés, oversees Omni La Costa Resort & Spa’s seven distinct dining concepts. Her goal is to elevate the resort’s culinary program with her creative, hyperlocal ingredient-driven approach while maintaining the Spanish- inspired flavors and fresh California coastal cuisine that are the bedrock of its culinary identity.
“The San Diego food scene is really growing, and in North County alone, it’s really exploded in the last five years,” Brubaker says. “There are Michelin stars, beautiful tasting menus, craft bakers, and all this food—when I was growing up in La Costa, it was fish tacos. Now there are really cool things popping up, and I’m so happy to be here to see where it’s going to go.”
Brubaker gives chefs de cuisine at each individual restaurant autonomy, however, her influence is evident across the resort.
For example, lobby restaurant Bar Traza serves as Omni La Costa’s culinary centerpiece and features bold Spanish flavors in a lively, social atmosphere. Brubaker overhauled the menu to be more consistent and centered on casual bites with that signature vibe. Think smoky paprika, vibrant citrus, and Spanish meats and cheeses.
At VUE, the focus is on seasonal offerings, California coastal cuisine, and Baja-inspired dishes. She and Chef de Cuisine Cameron Dixon change the menu biannually, which heading into summer, will highlight farm-fresh produce and hyperlocal ingredients—the resort even has its own herb garden and honeybee hives.
Courtesy of Omni La Costa
Poolside dining options are leaning into the country’s 250th this summer with a selection of classic American dishes with an Omni La Costa twist. And Bob’s Steak & Chop House (Brubaker is a trained butcher) offers a classic steakhouse experience with elevated service.
The chef and company also plan menus for special events at the resort where her creativity can really shine. For an upcoming National Ski Association dinner, the banquet hall will be transformed into an Alpine-themed winter wonderland complete with a snow machine, savory sausages, and melty, decadent raclette. A recent dinner was built around the Carlsbad Flower Fields and each course was matched to a color of ranunculus (Did you know pink dragonfruit are grown in North County? You do now.).
“It’s my zen to be in the kitchen playing with food,” Brubaker says.
Omni La Costa’s culinary program is a key part of the resort experience. And with Brubaker’s leadership, it’s becoming a draw for visitors and locals alike.
“These aren’t just hotel restaurants, these are restaurants that you should go to. They’re destinations, and I’m really hoping for the future that’s where we’re going,” Brubaker says.
Courtesy of Omni La Costa
Brubaker is also channeling her experience on Yes, Chef! into the culture at Omni La Costa—more emphasis on teamwork and collaboration, empowering her staff to share constructive critiques, and embracing different perspectives. Alongside her leadership role, Brubaker has become an advocate for mental health in the hospitality industry, serving as chief ambassador for the Burnt Chef Project and serves on the Board of Advisors for the Apex Culinary Program, where she mentors and develops future talent.
A look at this season's most exciting fashion trends and styles
By Kimberly Cunningham
Winter be gone! With the forecast calling for 80-degree weather this weekend, it’s time to get your spring wardrobe ready. Here’s what we are loving from the runway to the real world.
These two looks from our spring fashion shoot “Fashion on Deck” showcase the meshy, athletic-inspired fabrics that are very on-trend right now. We’ve dressed them up here, but they could just as easily be paired with bright colorful running sneakers.
Spring Fashion Alert
Theory blouse, $215, Bloomingdale’s Fashion Valley; Maje mesh shorts, $275, Bloomingdale’s Fashion Valley;Lanvin grosgrain peep-toe pump, $850, Lanvin South Coast Plaza; Lanvin Luxor necklace, $2,330, Lanvin South Coast Plaza; Tommy Hilfilger sunglasses, $65, Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Valley (photo by Taryn Kent)
Spring Fashion Alert
Barbara Bui white perforated dress, $1,750; black perforated booties, $855; embroidered leather and crystal bracelet, $540; all available at Barbara Bui South Coast Plaza (photo by Taryn Kent)
We are obsessed with this dress by M Missoni. With hula-skirt fringe, bright pops of color, and an oh-so-tight silhouette, it’s definitely a conversation piece.
Spring Fashion Alert
M Missoni crochet knit fringe dress, $1,545, M Missoni Fashion Valley; Prada open-toe ankle-wrap bootie, $650, Nordstrom; Vince Camuto gold bangles, $65, Nordstrom (photo by Taryn Kent)
In San Diego, every season is bathing suit season. We love this tropical print bikini by Tory Burch. Navy and coral are having a moment, and the combo here is perfection.
Tropical bikini
Calathea triangle top, $95, and bottom, $95, Tory Burch Fashion Valley
The printed short is back this season, with even brighter and bolder styles. J.Crew has a bunch to choose from. Pair with a simple white T or tank.
Moonglow paisley short
Moonglow paisley short, $80, J.Crew
Your fashion-forward suit deserves an equally stylish counterpart, and we think this will do the trick. Popular swimwear designer Mara Hoffman is now making beach towels in a swoon-worthy collab with Pendleton—not that you needed any help looking good on the sand!
Mara Hoffman for Pendleton rays towel
Mara Hoffman for Pendleton rays towel, $78, Nordstrom
A look at this season's most exciting fashion trends and styles
By Kimberly Cunningham
Winter be gone! With the forecast calling for 80-degree weather this weekend, it’s time to get your spring wardrobe ready. Here’s what we are loving from the runway to the real world.
These two looks from our spring fashion shoot “Fashion on Deck” showcase the meshy, athletic-inspired fabrics that are very on-trend right now. We’ve dressed them up here, but they could just as easily be paired with bright colorful running sneakers.
Spring Fashion Alert
Theory blouse, $215, Bloomingdale’s Fashion Valley; Maje mesh shorts, $275, Bloomingdale’s Fashion Valley;Lanvin grosgrain peep-toe pump, $850, Lanvin South Coast Plaza; Lanvin Luxor necklace, $2,330, Lanvin South Coast Plaza; Tommy Hilfilger sunglasses, $65, Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Valley (photo by Taryn Kent)
Spring Fashion Alert
Barbara Bui white perforated dress, $1,750; black perforated booties, $855; embroidered leather and crystal bracelet, $540; all available at Barbara Bui South Coast Plaza (photo by Taryn Kent)
We are obsessed with this dress by M Missoni. With hula-skirt fringe, bright pops of color, and an oh-so-tight silhouette, it’s definitely a conversation piece.
Spring Fashion Alert
M Missoni crochet knit fringe dress, $1,545, M Missoni Fashion Valley; Prada open-toe ankle-wrap bootie, $650, Nordstrom; Vince Camuto gold bangles, $65, Nordstrom (photo by Taryn Kent)
In San Diego, every season is bathing suit season. We love this tropical print bikini by Tory Burch. Navy and coral are having a moment, and the combo here is perfection.
Tropical bikini
Calathea triangle top, $95, and bottom, $95, Tory Burch Fashion Valley
The printed short is back this season, with even brighter and bolder styles. J.Crew has a bunch to choose from. Pair with a simple white T or tank.
Moonglow paisley short
Moonglow paisley short, $80, J.Crew
Your fashion-forward suit deserves an equally stylish counterpart, and we think this will do the trick. Popular swimwear designer Mara Hoffman is now making beach towels in a swoon-worthy collab with Pendleton—not that you needed any help looking good on the sand!
Mara Hoffman for Pendleton rays towel
Mara Hoffman for Pendleton rays towel, $78, Nordstrom
The iconic 1,200-acre preserve’s history dates back more than 150 years, evolving from a scrub-filled plot atop a mesa overlooking what’s now Downtown to an urban oasis—the largest of its kind in the country—filled with an array of museums, attractions, gardens, trails, restaurants, and more. Balboa Park is an epic playground where San Diegans and visitors alike can experience the great outdoors just as easily as they can enjoy a world-class performance or explore groundbreaking discoveries.
Tucked away in the Spanish Colonial Revival-style architecture are 18 diverse museums that allow visitors to spend the day learning about, well, anything. A great place to start is the San Diego History Center. Located in the Casa del Balboa building, the museum tells the story of the city’s past, present, and future through photographs and art, clothing and textiles, and interviews with people who witnessed history-making events firsthand. The San Diego Natural History Museum takes visitors even farther back with interactive exhibitions that show what the region was like up to 75 million years ago.
Blast off on a simulated trip to space at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, then check out artifacts from aviation legends, including the Wright brothers, Amelia Earhart, and Buzz Aldrin. Discover new perspectives revolutionizing the science world, learn about an often overlooked but overutilized utility, and exercise your creativity at the Fleet Science Center.
Calling all theater-lovers, Balboa Park has something for you, too. The San Diego Junior Theatre will present their musical take on beloved children’s book A Bad Case of the Stripes from June 26 through July 12. And laugh, cry, and marvel in awe as the pros of The Old Globe perform Kim’s Convenience, the award-winning comedy that inspired the popular series, from May 15 to June 14.
There’s nowhere else in Balboa Park quite like WorldBeat Cultural Center. The institution celebrates African diaspora and indigenous cultures around the world using art, music, dance, and education. The building, a renovated water tower covered in colorful murals, houses a performing arts center, museum, gift shop, cafe, and outdoor classroom.
If you’d like a side of nature with your culture, Balboa Park has you covered there, too. Stroll through the gardens of the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum, a monument to the relationship between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama, Japan. Inspired by traditional Japanese design dating back centuries, the 10-acre respite features a living exhibition that showcases plants native to both cities.
If there seems like a lot going on in Balboa Park, it’s because there is. Let theBalboa Park Cultural Partnership be your guide. The organization is the umbrella for 24 of the park’s institutions and offers an Explorer Pass that allows visitors to access multiple museums for one affordable price. The hardest part is picking where to start.
16 Museums, One Pass
Save on admission to San Diego’s top museums with the Balboa Park Explorer Pass. Explore 16 museums of art, science, history and culture across Balboa Park — all with one affordable pass. Choose the option that fits your pace: the Limited Pass (one day for up to four museums), the Parkwide Pass (seven consecutive days of access to all 16 museums) or the Annual Pass (365 days of unlimited exploring).
Looking for an experience-driven gift? Let the museum lover in your life enjoy their favorite museums all year with a Balboa Park Explorer Annual Pass gift voucher.
Bigger experiments, brighter ideas, and boundless curiosity await at the newly reimagined Fleet Science Center. This summer, the Fleet debuts Element 8 Cafe, an expanded theater queuing and concessions space, two new gallery spaces, and, for the first time, a free entrance gallery exploring science in and around San Diego. The transformation marks a new chapter for the Fleet, keeping it a vital, innovative, and accessible science hub for the region. Visitors are invited to explore the experience this summer and connect with the power of science like never before.
Address: 1875 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:FleetScience.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Phone: 619-238-1233
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum
An accredited cultural gem, the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum brings traditional Japanese garden design to life with koi ponds, curving walkways and layers of greenery. Guests explore bonsai trees, streams and peaceful nooks while taking part in exhibits, educational programs and festivals that illuminate Japanese culture. Situated in the heart of Balboa Park, the garden doubles as a meditative retreat and a dynamic gathering place, welcoming visitors to slow their pace and connect more deeply.
Address: 2215 Pan American Road E, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:Niwa.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily; last admission at 6 p.m. Phone: 619-232-2721
The Old Globe
A San Diego summer favorite, The Old Globe invites audiences to experience a beloved local tradition in its outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre.
This summer, the 2026 Shakespeare Festival presents two thrilling tales of power, passion and romance. Measure for Measure, running June 14 through July 12, 2026, is a riveting story of justice and hypocrisy that asks who holds power, who is punished and what it truly means to be virtuous. Much Ado About Nothing, playing Aug. 2–30, 2026, is a classic rom-com packed with schemes, sparks and laughter as opposites attract. Audiences can enjoy both shows for $44.
Address: 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:TheOldGlobe.org Hours: Box office open Tuesday–Sunday, 1 p.m. to final curtain Phone: Box office, 619-234-5623
San Diego Air & Space Museum
Aviation and space exploration come to life at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. See an airworthy replica of the Spirit of St. Louis, a Gee Bee racer and historic aircraft from World War I, World War II and the Korean and Vietnam eras. Get up close to the Apollo 9 command module — one of only 11 of its kind in the world — along with Mercury and Gemini capsules, Mission Control and space shuttle simulators, and a selfie spot beside a lunar lander on the moon. Running through 2026, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brings oddities from around the world to Balboa Park.
Address: 2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:SanDiegoAirAndSpace.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: 619-234-8291
San Diego History Center
History belongs to everyone. At the San Diego History Center, two experiences bring that history to life this summer: America at 250 and the Center for Women’s History. America at 250 traces San Diego’s place in 250 years of U.S. history, while summer programs invite children to learn and explore. The Center for Women’s History amplifies the voices of women whose leadership and creativity have shaped our region.
By understanding our past, we build a more vibrant and inclusive community together. These vital educational experiences are only possible through generous community support. Discover your roots, spark meaningful dialogue, and help keep San Diego’s stories alive for future generations.
Address: 1649 El Prado, Suite 3, San Diego, CA 92101 Website: SanDiegoHistory.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday–Sunday Phone: 619-232-6203
San Diego Junior Theatre
Junior Theatre is San Diego’s longest-running youth theatre program, empowering students ages 4 to 18 to explore storytelling, performance, and collaboration in a supportive environment. Through classes, camps, and productions, young artists build confidence, creativity, and lifelong skills onstage and off. Each season features a wide range of opportunities, from introductory experiences to advanced training in acting and musical theatre.
Looking for a summer adventure? Junior Theatre’s Summer Camps deliver dynamic programs for grades K–12, including musical theater intensives, acting academies and immersive JT Studio experiences. It’s a place where imagination truly takes center stage.
Address: 1650 El Prado, Suite 208, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:JuniorTheatre.com Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: 619-239-1311
San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)
This summer, The Nat is talking trash—literally. Their newest exhibition, Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea, features larger‑than‑life marine sculptures made of ocean debris collected from beaches. It invites visitors to explore the impact of plastic pollution and discover ways to take action.
But the experience doesn’t stop at the gallery doors. Friday nights, the exhibition transforms into an ocean-themed “dive bar” during Nat at Night. Select Sundays bring something brand new: a rooftop brunch with sweeping Balboa Park views. Add two new giant-screen films and five floors of nature to explore, and The Nat is shaping up to be one of the season’s must-visit destinations.
Address: 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 Website: SDNat.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays in summer Phone: 619-232-3821
WorldBeat Cultural Center
The WorldBeat Cultural Center is a nonprofit multidisciplinary cultural organization dedicated to promoting, presenting and preserving Indigenous cultures worldwide through music, art, dance, education, sustainability and community programs. WorldBeat elevates multicultural artists, expands opportunities for cultural enrichment and fosters deeper understanding across traditions. WorldBeat offers a holistic cultural experience that inspires pride, unity, connection and belonging for all ages.
Address: 2100 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101 Website:WorldBeatCenter.org Hours: Classes: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 6–9 p.m. Exhibits and café: Friday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Phone: 619-230-1190
Event Calendar
Throughout 2026: Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!
Step into a world of the weird and wonderful at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park. Explore hundreds of bizarre artifacts, interactive displays and unbelievable stories that celebrate the curious and the extraordinary.
Presented in partnership with the San Diego Museum of African American Fine Arts, San Diego’s Lost Neighborhoods uses augmented reality, oral histories, and archival materials to explore communities and residents displaced by redlining, freeway construction, and other discriminatory policies.
Spend a summer night at The Old Globe. The Lowell Davies Festival Theatre stages Measure for Measure (June 14–July 12) and Much Ado About Nothing (Aug. 2–30), offering two unforgettable Shakespeare productions for just $44.
The Old Globe | 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego, CA 92101
June 8–Aug. 7: Theatre Summer Camps
Summer camps at Junior Theatre spark creativity for grades K–12 with hands-on training, musical theatre intensives, acting academies, and JT Studio experiences.
A museum visit turns into a Sunday Funday with the addition of rooftop brunch, featuring mimosas, bloody Marys, and brunch bites from Wolfish by Wolf in the Woods (June 14, August 9) and Hash House a Go Go (July 12).
Nagashi at the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum by floating a lantern to honor loved ones who have passed. Stroll merchant booths, enjoy cultural performances in the Inamori Pavilion, and sample food vendors plus a beer and sake garden in the lower garden.
Explore arts, science, history, and culture in the Balboa Park Cultural District with one convenient, affordable Pass. The Balboa Park Explorer Pass is your ticket to up to 16 museums and endless fun! Purchase your pass at BuyMyExplorer.com.
