I wanted a dog for over 20 years. I dreamed about having a dog, cried about not having a dog, studied dog encyclopedias, and read dog training manuals. I was obsessed. But I also knew to wait for the right time and city before making it a reality. College in Chicago wasn’t it, and I learned during my postgrad years in New York City that Manhattan’s cramped apartments and unimpressive dog parks (if you could call them that) weren’t right either.
But then came a move to San Diego in 2013—San Diego with its dozens of parks and multiple beaches just for dogs; hiking, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding that include a four-legged friend; restaurants with liberal treat policies and even dog menus; and a blissful climate that means never having to walk a dog in snow, hail, or even much rain. True, the rental market doesn’t make it easy to live with a dog, especially larger breeds, but when you tally the number of things to do with your pooch (you’ll read about them in this story), you realize that San Diego takes “dog friendly” to the next level.
So three months after moving here, I welcomed my golden retriever, Teddy. At the time I was a newbie with no local friends or family, but Teddy forced me to get outside and, in the process, make friends. (News flash: People love puppies.) Even on the days when I felt completely friendless, he still needed to go outside, so I went, too. He kept me going, and I owe a lot of my acclimation to him.
We arrived in San Diego—him a native, me a transplant—around the same time, so all our San Diego experiences have revolved around each other. And Teddy and I do everything together: We enjoy Saturday mornings at coffee shops, kayaking in Mission Bay, and long walks on the beach. For us, like many dog owners, it’s all about the outdoors. And fortunately, the outdoors here just happen to be some of the most friendly, engaging, and accommodating places to hang with your dog. San Diego, you’re pawsome!
Dog-Friendly Dining
Herb & Eatery
At this casual, dog-friendly counterpart to Herb & Wood, Executive Pastry Chef Adrian Mendoza has created two dog treat varieties—one with flaxseed, short rib, and bone broth, and another with peanut butter and seasonal ingredients, like pumpkin.
2210 Kettner Boulevard, Little Italy
The Quartyard
Dogs are welcome in the East Village lot-turned-community-park composed of a beer bar, coffee shop, and canteen, but they can also clock in some off-leash fun at the dog run.
1301 Market Street, East Village
The Wine Pub
Beyond a dog menu on the patio, the Point Loma wine bar hosts Woofer Wednesdays, where diners who bring their pups get 10 percent of their bill donated to Canine Companions for Independence, a nonprofit that trains assistance dogs for people with disabilities.
2907 Shelter Island Drive, Point Loma
The Dog Lover’s Guide to San Diego
The Patio on Goldfinch
Landini’s Pizzeria
The Little Italy restaurant hosts its Doggies on the Deck Yappy Hour every first Tuesday of the month with complimentary dog treats, as well as pizza, beer, and wine (for humans). Proceeds from each Yappy Hour raffle benefit a different local dog welfare organization each month.
1827 India Street, Little Italy
In-N-Out Burger
When you order a Double-Double Animal Style, don’t forget about your own animal. Ask for the unsalted Puppy Patty—a secret menu item!—for your pooch. Doggy bags are encouraged.
Various Locations
Sprinkles Cupcakes
The dessert pros are sweet on dogs, too. They offer mini sugar-free “pupcakes” topped with yogurt frosting and a bone-shaped sprinkle.
8855 Villa La Jolla Drive, UTC
The Dog Lover’s Guide to San Diego
Sally’s Fish House & Bar
The Patio on Goldfinch
Pooches aren’t relegated to the outdoor patio at this Mission Hills restaurant; dogs and their parents are welcome in the front half of the building. Waiters promptly bring dog treats made in-house from beef trimmings, peanut butter, eggs, and water.
4020 Goldfinch Street, Mission Hills
The Patio on Lamont
Bring your dog to The Patio’s original outpost in PB, and you’ll receive half off “dogtails,” like the Bloodhound or Pomeranian.
4445 Lamont Street, Pacific Beach
Pardon My French
Hillcrest’s new French restaurant is très dog friendly, with a pup menu that includes eggs, bacon, and chicken breast.
3797 Park Boulevard, Hillcrest
Claire’s on Cedros
While you brunch on their Benedicts and “Clairecakes,” your dog is treated to house-made biscuits on the breezy patio.
246 North Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach
Sally’s Fish House & Bar
Dogs can sit, stay, and play at this Manchester Grand Hyatt restaurant, where they’ll nibble on treats like carrot peanut-butter muffins and also receive a complimentary tennis ball.
One Market Place, Marina District
Backyard Kitchen & Tap
Sure, they make their own dog treats in house, but the PB eatery also hosts quarterly dog adoption parties with raffle prizes, drink specials (for humans), and goody bags for Fido.
832 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach
The Dog Lover’s Guide to San Diego
The Brew Project
Woof ’n Rose Winery
The vintners behind this family-owned Ramona winery pay homage to their beloved shepherd-husky and lab in the dog-themed decor and a few of the vintage names, like the 2013 Happy Tails (a merlot–cabernet sauvignon) and the 2012 Puppy Love (a grenache noir–cabernet sauvignon). And unlike most wineries, Woof ’n Rose allows dogs on property.
17073 Garjan Lane, Ramona
The Brew Project
What’s better than beer? Puppies and beer! Brew Project’s Puppies and Pints event, held on the last Saturday of every month, includes gift basket raffles with puppy toys and treats, beer raffles, and even “pawdicures.”
3683 Fifth Avenue, Hillcrest
Encontro North Park
Their new dog offerings read like a pooch’s dream menu, including the Mutt Melt (a beef patty with cheese), hot dogs, peanut butter cheddar biscuits, and Pooch Pops, a frozen blend of shredded ice and chicken. Trust us, they’ll love it.
3001 University Avenue, North Park
The Dog Lover’s Guide to San Diego
Crack Shack
La Jolla Brewing Company
There’s the kids’ menu (fish and chips, grilled cheese, etc.), and then there’s the fur kids’ menu. Dogs can dine on burger patties, grilled chicken, and biscuits.
4536 Fay Avenue, La Jolla
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar
The name is a dead giveaway—this place is more than just accommodating to four-legged friends. The menu includes an entire set of dishes for dogs, including brown rice, grilled chicken, and a hamburger patty.
1202 Camino del Rio North, Mission Valley
Slater’s 50/50
You won’t be the only one indulging in carnivorous eats. Slater’s dog menu turns out the signature 50/50 patty, as well as chicken or bacon strips.
2750 Dewey Road, Liberty Station; 110 Knoll Road, San Marcos
Anthony’s Fish Grotto
Sit on the peaceful lakeside patio, where pooches can choose from a menu that includes a protein-packed mix of salmon, white fish, and rice.
9530 Murray Drive, La Mesa
Crack Shack
With an all-outdoor space, dogs are allowed anywhere at the chicken- and egg-centric eatery, preferably while munching on one of the house-made treats: a blend of rolled oats, carrot, peanut butter, and agave.
2266 Kettner Boulevard, Little Italy
Starbucks
The omnipresent coffee shop may be a part of your daily routine, but it can be a special occasion treat for your dog thanks to the Puppuccino, an espresso-cup-size dollop of whipped cream.
Various Locations
The Dog Lover’s Guide to San Diego
Yappy Hour at Hotel Del
Yappy Hour at Hotel Del
Life is anything but ruff for dogs at The Del. Their long-standing Yappy Hour holds court Sundays on the Sun Deck with “dogtail” cocktails for humans (like a Greyhound), and free Evian water and organic treats for dogs.
Last year the ballpark unveiled six semiprivate, dog-friendly viewing booths in left-center field for up to four people and two dogs. The $100 price tag includes four tickets, a pet relief area, umbrellas for sun protection, a complimentary treat for each dog, and a concierge to escort guests and their pups to their seats. Or look for Petco Park’s annual Dog Days of Summer event (typically in June or July) when pooches are allowed inside for a tail-gate party and pet parade.
The local health food store has a 20-year legacy thanks to founder Tori Rosay, who realized early on the connection between pet health and nutrition. She stocks her three locations with raw food, natural brands, and the store’s eponymous line of healthy biscuits baked in Oceanside.
2508 El Camino Real, Carlsbad; 1229 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar; 3773 30th Street, North Park
Westfield UTC
After you work out your wallet, you can work out Rover at Westfield’s on-site Bark Park, which includes a pergola for shade.
4545 La Jolla Village Drive, UTC
The Dog Lover’s Guide to San Diego
Muttropolis
Markim Pet Resort
The heated pool is available year-round for rehabilitation, private swims, and pool parties for up to five dogs. The resort also offers dog parties in their yard with toys, decor, and pool access.
4393 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley; markimpet.com
Urban Wolf
The new East Village pet boutique is a proponent of organic, all-natural pet diets. They sell raw meals, grass-fed bones, and organic frozen yogurt made from raw goat’s milk, as well as pet blankets, beds, and leashes.
475 10th Avenue, East Village
Animals Talk
Animal communicator Jerri Carroll has been breaking down the language barrier between pets and their owners since 2000. During hour-long sessions—conducted either in person or via photograph—Carroll gives the animal a chance to “talk” and owners an opportunity to ask questions, and all conversation between Carroll and the pets are done in silence. Noise fear? Separation anxiety? End of life woes? She’s heard it all. Results vary from the pet pinpointing a specific need (“can my human leave the music on when she’s gone?”) to helping the pet understand the owner’s concerns. She also offers homeopathic remedies.
$150/hour and $100/hour prorated thereafter, with $35 travel fee; animalstalk.net
Muttropolis
You don’t know high-end doggy fashion until you step into this boutique stocked with plaid dog coats, bejeweled leather collars, a “Chewey Vuitton” plush toy, and yes, even dog strollers.
7755 Girard Avenue, La Jolla; 227 South Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach
The Dog Lover’s Guide to San Diego
Three Dog Bakery
Leeds Dog Supply
The Encinitas-based brand is dedicated to doggy style and do-goodery. Their line of patterned, California-made collars and leashes are durable for indoor and outdoor wear, and 15 percent of every online sale is donated to no-kill rescues and shelters. For fashion that good, it’s the leash you can do.
Lucy Postins—founder of San Diego–based The Honest Kitchen, a natural pet food brand that’s even safe for human consumption—just released Dog Obsessed, a playful guidebook for living with your pooch. It includes 45 recipes (turkey frittata with basil and peaches, anyone?), tips for bringing a new puppy home, health regimens (like a diagram of how to clean dog ears), and essentials for the ultimate dog birthday party. There’s even a forward written by actress Jane Lynch. Pawsome!
Birthdays are a specialty at this North Park pet bakery. They bake custom cakes (even grain-free varieties) and a selection of frosted biscuits, and offer a discount on your pet’s birthday. If Fido really wants to get dolled up for his big day, the bakery is also home to Peticures by Tess.
2818 University Avenue, North Park
Three Dog Bakery
Known for their made-from-scratch ethos, Three Dog has a lineup that includes “pup-kin” spiced latte cookies, peanut butter “beg-als,” and more. The bakery uses the same ingredients we would in our own kitchens, like all-purpose and rice flours.
Dawn Celapino launched her doggy-and-me outdoor workout series in 2005 when she didn’t want to leave her new cairn terrier behind while she was at the gym. The series offers group hikes, boot camps, running clubs, yoga, and more across the county—all with your dog and obedience training woven into each workout. She also lends and sells leashes that tie around your waist for a hands-free workout.
Fitness pro Corey Butts leads a popular boot camp at Liberty Station—and dogs are welcome. Pups can run alongside during ladder drills, hill sprints, and more.
Yoga teacher Marjorie Nass leads Downward Dog Yoga every month at Yogasmoga boutique in La Plaza La Jolla. Once the initial chaos of the canine meet-and-greet subsides—and after a half-hour training session with Dog Zenergy—sun salutations and forward folds follow. Small pups become a part of the routine (e.g. raised with hands in tree pose), larger dogs sit alongside yogis in triangle, and all pooches get a leg stretch that’s been proven to induce tail wagging. Plenty of water and treats are provided, and proceeds from the donation-based class benefit Canine Companions for Independence. The next class is January 10.
Liberty Station–based SUP Connection leads one-hour weekend SUP Pups classes (reservations required) that begin with your life-vest-clad pooch sniffing the board to get comfortable before pushing out into the water, where you’ll paddle under the North Harbor Bridge and spot dolphins at the Navy’s dolphin training facility. They’ve had every breed from German shepherds to wolf-dog hybrids, and the instructor captures all the fun via GoPro.
Aqua Adventures Kayaks & Paddleboards encourages hydrophilic dogs to join their humans for an excursion around Mission Bay and also provides doggy life vests. (Even if your hound knows how to swim, the handle on the jacket makes it easier to pull larger dogs back into the kayak after they inevitably jump out.) Don’t forget the tennis ball for a game of aqua fetch!
With views of Hotel Del and Point Loma, and the iconic gold-flecked sand to frolic on, Coronado is one of the most scenic landscapes, period. The dog-friendly northern section has litter bag posts, as well as a handy hose-equipped washing station so you don’t bring the beach back home with you.
311 Ocean Boulevard, Coronado
OB Dog Beach
This sprawl, often dubbed “The Original Dog Beach,” adopts the nabe’s relaxed vibe and has waves on the ocean side and a strong current (beware!) along the channel.
5156 West Point Loma Boulevard, Ocean Beach
North Beach
The petite half-mile dog beach in Del Mar is off-leash Labor Day through June 15. Street parking is $3 per hour closest to the entrance, but free spots abound just north and south. 29th Street to Solana Beach, Del Mar
Fiesta Island
Recently named America’s best dog park by USA Today, the peninsular park has plenty of space for dogs to run, as well as bonfire rings. It’s also supported by the nonprofit FIDO (Fiesta Island Dog Owners), dedicated to preserving the area as a leash-free zone.
The bright, super-clean East Village spot has separate sections for small and big dogs, further subdivided for calmer and more hyper pups—all cage-free. Staffers ask that you watch your pooch via one-way mirror for 30 minutes during your dog’s first daycare visit as a temperament test. Then you can spy on him via webcam during his stay.
First daycare session free, then $36/day; boarding from $52/night; doozydogclub.com
Dog Days San Diego
Another East Village option. The knowledgable staff at the cage-free Dog Days are one of its best assets (we’ve asked them for training and behavior advice more than a few times). They also have separate rooms for large and small dogs, as well as grooming and walks for an additional fee.
First daycare session free, then $34/day; boarding from $55/day; dogdayssandiego.com
Snug Pet Resort
Amenities at this Sorrento Valley facility include indoor and outdoor play areas, a pool, on-site vet, live pet cam, training, a midday snack, and nap time. Owners who want cage-free boarding must have their dog pass a test beforehand.
First daycare session free, then $30/day; boarding from $49/day; snugpetresort.com
Camp Run-a-Mutt
With seven locations in San Diego County, including Mission Hills, Kearny Mesa, and Chula Vista, there’s likely a CRAM near you. The cage-free facility offers a synthetic lawn, splash pond with waterfall and sun deck, ramps, bridges, dog houses, dog beds, and even a bubble machine. Plus a TV nightcap for those sleeping over.
Rather have your hound stay in a real home? DogVacay’s online interface is similar to Airbnb’s: plug in the location and dates, apply filters like daily budget and whether a yard is a must, and choose from hundreds of local sitters who’ve undergone thorough background checks. There’s 24-hour customer support, daily photos, and insurance with each reservation.
The Northern California–based group trains assistance dogs for the disabled. At their Oceanside outpost, a pressing need is puppy raisers, who foster the animals temporarily, taking financial responsibility and teaching commands. They also need photographers and help preparing lunches for training sessions. (Our cover models are CCI dogs!)
Opportunities at the Rancho Santa Fe nonprofit include delivering meals to pets of disabled citizens, fostering orphaned animals, walking and playing with dogs, and taking your own dog to visit patients in convalescent homes, hospitals, shelters, and mental health facilities.
As part of the Canine Ambassador program, dogs who pass the Canine Good Citizen certification can promote the organization at events, volunteer with Girl Scouts, and partake in a weekly Fur Fix event, when visitors can clock in animal snuggles at the SDHS Morena campus. Other volunteer posts include walking dogs and organizing events.
San Diego’s coffee industry has yet to hit its ceiling. There are at least 850 coffee shops across the county (possibly over 1,000 at this point) and more specialty cafes and roasters seem to join the roster every other week.
Some newcomers, like Chance’s Coffee, focus on specialties like Vietnamese coffee; other stalwarts, like Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, have helped put the local coffee scene on the map with internationally acclaimed beans and baristas for 20 years. You can get a classic pour-over or an ultra, whipped cream–topped strawberry lavender basil blueberry matcha latte sprinkled with unicorn glitter—whatever your coffee style, San Diego’s got it… somewhere.
Steady State Roasting falls more in the former category, focusing on traceable, sustainable sourcing and no-nonsense roasting (no unicorn glitter here, sorry!). Founder and lead roaster Elliot Reinecke first started Steady State in a garage behind his house, roasting small batches until expanding slightly to a shared and not-quite-permitted space before landing in a lucky spot on State Street in Carlsbad.
Now, eight years later, Steady State is scaling up once more, opening its second cafe in San Marcos next to their roastery. The new location offers the same food and drink menu as the original Carlsbad location, and Reinecke says he plans to add an onsite bakery to bake items like English muffins and country loaves to supplement Prager Brothers’ more specialized pastries.
He doesn’t plan on opening more cafes, though. Rather, Reinecke plans to expand roasting operations and strategic sourcing. Currently, he sources beans from Colombia, Panama, across Africa, and as of this year, Costa Rica. “We’ve had Costa Rican coffee before, but we went to origin a few months ago and bought six different lots from there, all from really good high-end local farmers,” he explains.
The rising cost of sourcing does present some challenges, as does changes within coffee culture itself. Coffee has moved from a mass-market beverage to a highly personalized artisanal experience, but the current feeling is moving back towards focusing on quality over flashiness, says Reinecke.
If Reinecke’s prediction is right, coffee is headed on a similar trajectory to craft beer. Ten years ago, no one knew what Citra hops were. Now, even casual beer fans are versed in hop varieties, and that attention to detail is spilling over to coffee as well. How many of San Diego’s 1,000 coffee shops will remain once the unicorn glitter’s luster fades? My bet is on anyone remaining steadfast to sourcing, sustainability, and simplicity.
Steady State San Marcos is now open at 1320 Grand Avenue, Suite #9, San Marcos. Initial operating hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sake lovers would do well to keep September 27 open. The 10-year anniversary of the San Diego Sake Festival is coming to Julep Venue in Mission Hills with over 150 different sakes and shochus from across Japan, plus VIP tickets get special access to unlimited tastings from Michelin-starred Soichi Sushi. VIP opens at 2:30 p.m. and general admission is 3:30 p.m., but early bird tickets are limited to the first 40 people. I mean c’mon, sushi and sake? If you’re even remotely interested in learning more about sake (or already know you’re a fan), this is the event of the year.
The uber-luxe spa The Golden Door in Escondido has been rejuvenating guests for over six decades, even winning Best Bathhouse Remodel in our Best of San Diego 2023 for its multi-million dollar overhaul. Now, you can try making the property’s signature nourishing cuisine at home with Chef Greg Frey, Jr.’s debut cookbook The Golden Door Table. There are over 100 recipes ranging from potassium broth to miso black cod, plus desserts, breakfast items, and a ton more to inspire your own wellness journey. The book hits shelves on September 15, but preorders are available now.
Love her or hate her, Gwyneth Paltrow has undeniably created a wellness dynasty with Goop, her blog-turned-brand with locations across California. Soon, San Diego will get its own shot of Paltrow-power when the first Goop store opens in One Paseo later this year, followed by an on-campus location at UCSD’s Triton Center. Charge your crystals and send out good energy to the construction and permitting entities…
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Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
As summertime inches closer to the shores of San Diego, there are plenty of reasons to be ecstatic. For one thing, there’s the impending arrival of the summer solstice (Sunday), and three days before that, Del Mar’s own Summer Solstice will return for its yearly golden hour. There are also plenty of local Juneteenth events, such as Kinfolk Fest, the Cooper Family Foundation’s Juneteenth Celebration, and The Freedom Table, a new, food-centered event from the originators of Juneteenth San Marcos. We’re also less than three weeks away from America’s 250th anniversary, and the celebrations range from the San Diego History Center’s America 250: San Diego 1776-2026 to NASCAR’s weekend of racing at Naval Base Coronado.
Cbar has planned a week’s worth of festivities to mark its first birthday, and everyone can get in on the fun. The 1-Year Anniversary Week celebrations continue with a special edition of the Sips & Shells craft series ($50) on Tuesday from 6-8:30 p.m., half-off pastries with any purchase of a barista drink (plus an anniversary summer wine flight) on Wednesday and a five-course winemaker dinner on Thursday from 6-9 p.m. ($130). Finally, the birthday bash will conclude with live music on Friday (Will Fedak) and Saturday (Cappo Kelley) from 6-9 p.m.
2917 State Street, Carlsbad
Taste of Little Italy
June 16 & 17
Little Italy’s annual food crawl has so many options that it warrants splitting into two evenings, each boasting a diverse lineup of 20 neighborhood vendors. During the Taste of Little Italy, taking place Tuesday and Wednesday from 4-8 p.m., attendees can make their way from the Piazza della Famiglia to nearby dining destinations for bites like esquites, sausage rolls, hot chicken tenders, and forkfuls of handmade pasta. Each night will also include live music and stops for drinks, desserts, and vegetarian items. Tickets are $71 per day.
As spring makes its golden transition into summer, welcome the new season with open arms and a big appetite during Del Mar Village’s marquee tasting event this Thursday from 5-8 p.m. With the Summer Solstice celebrating its 20th anniversary, this year’s iteration will include dozens of food and drink offerings from Del Mar Village vendors, soulful tunes from Christian Jules Taylor, live art by Sarah O’Connor, and wave-crashing views at Powerhouse Park. General admission (21+) is $157 and comes with unlimited tastings as well as a commemorative tasting glass, while VIP tickets are sold out; proceeds support the Del Mar Village Association.
1658 Coast Boulevard, Del Mar
The Freedom Table at TERI Campus of Life
June 19
After hosting the first-ever Juneteenth San Marcos festival in 2025, Lionel and Natalie Saulsberry have upped the ante with The Freedom Table, an elevated observance of community, culture, and the culinary arts. This Friday from 4-9 p.m. at TERI Campus of Life, guests can enjoy storytelling, art installations, live music, curated cocktails, and a chef-led dining experience, all in recognition of Juneteenth’s lasting importance. Ticket options include general admission ($261), plus two charitable ticket options: supporter ($313) and impact ($417), with a portion of sales going towards the youth nonprofit Achievement in Motion.
555 Deer Springs Road, San Marcos
Talladega Nights Father’s Day Brunch at ARLO
June 21
In honor of NASCAR’s Coronado debut and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, ARLO is throwing a Father’s Day brunch for the dads who want to go fast. This Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., patrons can order from ARLO’s regular brunch menu, as well as a trio of holiday specials: the Dad’s Day Steak and Fries ($64), the Fit For a King Muffuletta Sandwich ($29), and the Big Daddy Brookie ($14). This shake and bake-approved meal will also include a DJ, cigar rollings, whiskey tastings and a Ricky Bobby costume contest. Reservations can be made online.
Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.
My 15-year-old daughter tried to steal our car this week, so I’m ready to become a NASCAR dad. It would be appropriate discipline. We just relocated to a nice suburb within walking distance of her high school. The suburbs are like living in a Tesla commercial. I am pretty far from the wealthiest dad in this neighborhood (I am the least wealthy dad in this neighborhood), more than a few engineering degrees short of being in the running.
I’m fairly certain watching NASCAR is a violation of our HOA and a violation of my daughter’s emotional HOA. But NASCAR hits San Diego this weekend and I have a fever I’ve never felt before. I want to watch 111 drivers do dangerous things in cars and trucks on an active military base in the ocean. Since my lifelong exposure to NASCAR is limited to Talladega Nights and every single iteration of the movie Cars, I can only base my plan of attack on oafish stereotypes.
So while other neighbor dads are sizing bubble jackets for their golf simulators, I’m gonna grow a Ricky Bobby, run the extension cord for the TV out into the carport we share with six other condos, fill a cooler with a proper 80-20 split of Hamm’s and Mountain Dew, treat a lawn chair like an ADU, and spend a few hours yelling ohsheeeit as if it’s a single, nine-syllable word.
The quality parents in our neighborhood seem to be able to sense anytime a vehicle breaches the 6 MPH threshold, so I should gather a crowd pretty fast. They may come over with strongly worded emails in their hearts, but one glimpse of Shane van Gisbergen and hometown hero Jimmy Johnson guzzling the last remaining drops of gasoline on the planet in a dazzling display of carmanship—they’ll join my NASCAR pop-up party.
By the time my daughter brings her friends over, we’ll have a real welcoming committee.
Because, like I said, my daughter tried to steal my car.
She wasn’t going to Mexico. But while Claire and I were off doing businessy stuff to afford my teen’s skincare rituals, she and a friend decided to teach themselves stick shift. She’s never driven a stick before. I’m not saying she has, but if she has driven a vehicle at all—it would have been done in a remote, abandoned parking lot where the only possible thing she could destroy was the concept of driving itself.
But a couple TikTok videos later, she and her friend felt a certain level of mastery had been achieved, and they gave it a go. They backed our VW Bug out of the garage with a series of stalls and transmission seizures, and managed to get it into the carport, attempting to do “donuts.” That’s when I got a call from a resident, who had taken an active interest in this experiment.
Which got me wondering about the power and might of vehicles. Turns out, even at carport speeds there exists a bit of potential fireworks. A garage door could become not a garage door anymore. At 145 MPH on Naval Base Coronado this weekend (don’t worry, they slow down to 100 MPH for turns), NASCAR drivers are essentially doorbell ditching gods. I didn’t register the temperature after my daughter’s trial run, but the track at NASCAR races usually hits a cool 130-150 degrees, enough to lightly sear some Nikes (the tires themselves hover in the 200 degree range).
And that is at least part of our fascination with NASCAR (the other fascination is the legendary pit parties, which either set humanity back a few evolutionary links, or advance it by the same amount of links). These drivers do something all of us do every day in a very efficient, boring way and take it to its extreme impulse. Grace and precision at the thunderous edge of shit going terribly wrong. Most of us have, upon seeing the price of California gas, wanted to pile our worldly possessions into a Honda Pilot and see how fast we could make it to our new home in Vegas. So NASCAR drivers are acting on our own wildest impulse.
Troy Johnson is the magazine’s award-winning food writer and humorist, and a long-standing expert on Food Network. His work has been featured on NatGeo, Travel Channel, NPR, and in Food Matters, a textbook of the best American food writing.
Stake Chophouse & Bar isn’t your average steakhouse. Blue Bridge Hospitality’s Coronado outpost is a modern interpretation of a big-city steakhouse nestled in the heart of the small coastal community. The team at Stake has reimagined the whole steakhouse experience. By prioritizing a seasonal farm-to-table sourcing philosophy, a personalized guest experience, and unique service touches, like a formal steak presentation and a bespoke knife selection process, Stake distinguishes itself in a sea of steakhouses.
Exceptional steaks, including Wagyu from Japan, Australia, and the U.S., and fresh seafood flown in daily form the core of Stake’s culinary identity. The menu features a five-course omakase-style steak experience highlighting house favorites, plus an array of cuts, and classic steakhouse staples—think a wedge salad, baked potato, or pasta carbonara—refined for a contemporary palate without losing their traditional appeal. Stake focuses on seasonal sourcing from the region’s best family farms and specialty purveyors, and incorporates intentionally unexpected touches to create something truly unique.
“I challenge our chefs and myself to take it a step further in sourcing,” says Chef Ronnie Schwandt. “It’s important to us to highlight different farms, unique one-off farms—whether it’s cattle, strawberries, a local fisherman or from anywhere in the United States, we’re always trying to find that niche.”
Beyond the menu, Stake emphasizes outstanding service, says Vinny Spatafore, Director of Hospitality Operations. Staff maintains detailed notes, allowing them to remember guests by name, recall previous orders such as a favorite martini (also memorable for the customer since it’s served in an extra tall, distinctly-shaped glass), and celebrate special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries.
“When you have those points of topic that you remember about a guest, they appreciate that,” he says. “Our servers are really good with that—we have a couple servers who have been here since the beginning and they’ll remember somebody from years ago, their name, their kids’ names, where they live. I’m really thankful to have a great front of house staff.”
Award-winning wines, rare whiskeys, special events, and a complementary black car service that provides transportation for guests throughout Coronado add to Stake’s appeal.
Schwandt stresses that Stake offers more than a meal; they aim to give patrons something unforgettable.
“It starts when you walk up the stairs and are greeted by the hostess—that sets the tone for the night. Then you’re greeted by a server, who may know you by name, and can guide you through the menu and curate as they get to know you,” says Schwandt. “Most people leave kind of blown away; they leave feeling like they just had an experience. That’s the goal, right? Whether you’re serving smash burgers or high-end steak, you want somebody to leave thinking, Wow, that was awesome.”
Music drifts across the fairway. Someone’s in flip flops. The Pacific flashes in the distance. Sun peeks onto shoulders through the palm trees. It’s spring, technically, but the air reads suspiciously like summer. At the par-3 course at Liberty Station, the longest hole barely stretches past 120 yards, and no one looks particularly interested in becoming the next PGA legend.
“I got dragged to a par-3 course in 2019 —The Loma Club—and it was way more my jam,” says Ronan Galvin, CEO and co-founder of Sunday Golf, a company that makes lightweight golf bags for players who’d rather carry less and laugh more. “It was a lot different than the stereotypical ideas you have about golf where it’s kind of long, uptight, and exclusive.”
Galvin spent over a decade in the golf industry working in product development, sourcing and manufacturing. But he didn’t grow up swinging clubs. Basketball and football were more his speed. What clicked for him was a simpler, more relaxed kind of play: shorter rounds and weekend games built for fun rather than formality. The kind of golf that resonated for him felt accessible, effortless, and surprisingly his lifestyle.
Courtesy of Sunday Golf
He noticed something else, too.
On a course where five clubs do the job, players were still lugging 14. So Galvin built something smaller. Lighter. A bag designed specifically for par-3 rounds, the Loma Bag is sleek, functional, and refreshingly unfussy. It’s practical minimalism in a sport known for excess.
Sunday Golf was slated to launch in January 2020. Then, COVID hit. Shipments stalled; lost at sea. The future felt shaky. But the series of catastrophes for the young company turned out to be anything but: By the time inventory arrived that August, golf had become one of the few activities people could safely do.
“It introduced and brought so many people back to the game,” Galvin says. “It created a habit for a lot of people, which is a big reason golf is on its growth trajectory.”
It turns out Americans can’t get enough of golf. Forty-eight million of them swung clubs last year, a 41 percent jump since 2019, and the National Golf Foundation says the total could top 50 million by the end of 2026.
The brand rode this unlikely momentum. Since 2021, Sunday Golf has expanded into larger lightweight bags and continues evolving from there. A major reason for the company’s success is its approachability, a value so central that it’s literally written on the office walls in the form of the company’s guiding mission: “Get 500,000 golfers having more fun by 2027.” This goal is measured, fittingly, by golf bags sold.
Sunday Golf has already passed 300,000 bags sold.
But the numbers aren’t the point.
Courtesy of Sunday Golf
“To remind the world that life is meant to be enjoyed,” Galvin says of the brand’s why. In an era dominated by screens, golf offers something analog. “People are outside, touching grass with their friends. A golf bag is a golf bag, but our products are vehicles to help support that.”
Unlike legacy golf giants promising proximity to Rory McIlroy-level greatness, Sunday Golf leans into what Galvin jokingly calls “diet golf” or “golf light”—weekend rounds, driving range sessions, company scrambles. The bags are built for the casual golfer, and the fit feels obvious.
That philosophy resonates across Southern California, where year-round sunshine means golf courses never really hibernate for winter. As Galvin puts it, “the laid-back lifestyle of San Diego kind of seeps into everyone’s veins.”
Sometimes the validation arrives via email: a 76-year-old customer is able to walk the course again because their golf bag is lighter. Parents are able to take their children out with Sunday Golf’s kids line.
For Galvin, that’s the real win. Not perfection. Not prestige. Just more people outside, enjoying themselves. In San Diego, that might be the most natural mission of all.
Isabella Dallas is a freelance writer for San Diego Magazine and the Arts and Culture Editor at The Daily Aztec in her final year at San Diego State University. She previously worked as an editorial intern for SDM, but when she’s not writing, you can find her trying the best coffee spots in SD, devouring the latest rom-coms, and indulging in anything and everything pop culture.
The initial project will be a landmark September edition of San Diego Magazine—fully dedicated to the people, ideas, and identities of the city’s creative community. After its release, those stories and more will extend across six months of integrated digital, social, and multi-platform coverage. Art & Design District and SDFC Playmakers will serve as co-publishers of the expanded editorial vision.
The Art & Design District is evolving into San Diego’s first home for the performing arts at iconic downtown venues like the Civic Theatre and Jacobs Music Center alongside research and development programs focused on artist live/work spaces, galleries, studios, and New School of Architecture & Design.
“[The Art & Design District initiative] is a long-term investment in San Diego’s creative life and the creative workforce that powers our cultural experiences and creative industries here at home and across the world,” says Jonathan Glus, Prebys Senior Fellow for Art & Design in Residence at Downtown San Diego Partnership. “But infrastructure alone is not enough. The public needs to see, understand, and participate in what’s being built and why. Joining as co-publisher of this issue means helping ensure that the story of San Diego’s creative community—its artists, its institutions, its future—gets told at the level of ambition the moment requires.”
San Diego has entered a defining chapter in how the region invests in its creative community, with civic and philanthropic leaders working alongside artists, brands, institutions, and people to chart a new model of public-private support for arts and culture.
As digital co-publishers of San Diego Magazine‘s arts and culture coverage, SDFC’s Playmakers partnership will include a six-month integrated collaboration designed to sustain the visibility of San Diego’s creative community well beyond a single issue.
“The Playmakers program was built on the belief that the creative community is essential to what makes San Diego, San Diego,” says Sebastian, San Diego FC’s SVP of Brand and Innovation. “Investing in local media that tells those stories—and reaches the audiences who need to hear them—is one of the most direct ways we can support the artists, organizations, and cultural leaders shaping this city’s future. We’re proud to step in as digital co-publishers of San Diego Magazine‘s arts and culture coverage and the founding partner of this new editorial program.”
Under the partnerships:
The Art & Design District joins as Co-Publisher of the September 2026 Arts & Culture Issue, undwriting San Diego Magazine‘s most ambitious editorial event of the year.
SDFC Playmakers joins as Digital Co-Publisher of San Diego Magazine‘s arts and culture coverage, founding a six-month integrated partnership that includes co-publisher presence in the September issue.
The partnership represents a new model for regional media: civic and cultural institutions providing the resources required for sustained, ambitious, local editorial media focused on the neighborhoods it serves.
“For 78 years, the magazine has told the story of arts and culture here,” says Claire Johnson, CEO of San Diego Magazine. “But the fragmentation of traditional media has made it harder than ever to cover this community at the depth and scale it deserves. SDFC Playmakers and the Art & Design District have recognized something critical: Media is not separate from the civic conversation, it’s the stage for the conversation.”
San Diego Magazine retains full editorial control over all reporting, features, and original content produced under both partnerships.
“Our role in this ecosystem is to tell the story of San Diego’s culture and provide context for our readers.” says Johnson. “These partnerships give us the resources to do justice to that responsibility—and to extend that commitment well beyond a single issue. Our readers also deserve to know exactly how this work was funded. I’m grateful to our partners, and to the arts and culture community in San Diego for letting us tell this story.”
The September Arts & Culture Issue will be released early September 2026, with digital, social, video, and podcast coverage rolling out through early 2027.
ABOUT SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE For 78 years, San Diego Magazine has been the region’s leading lifestyle and culture publication, reaching approximately 6 million readers monthly across print, digital, newsletter, and social platforms. Owned and operated locally, the magazine has been the connective tissue of San Diego’s cultural conversation since 1948.
ABOUT SDFC PLAYMAKERS The Playmakers program is an ongoing initiative that seeks to identify and showcase the talent of San Diego creatives who are contributing to the culture, substance, and flow of our community. We want to bring the San Diego community together by marrying football and creativity to provide a platform for these Playmakers who are positively impacting our culture by pushing the boundaries through innovative ideas. The goal is to create a program that consistently provides growth and exposure opportunities for San Diego creatives, while shaping an authentic direction for San Diego FC’s brand and community-building process. Through this program we hope to contribute to the creative fabric of our city by providing paid jobs, projects, collaborations, as well as networking opportunities for Playmakers.
ABOUT THE ART & DESIGN DISTRICT The Art & Design District is a Downtown San Diego Partnership initiative, supported by the Prebys Foundation, working to shape a connected, vibrant arts and design district in downtown San Diego. Led by Art and Culture Expert Fellow Jonathan Glus, the initiative convenes artists, cultural leaders, civic stakeholders, and residents in service of a downtown that reflects the creativity, identity, and diversity of the region. Learn more at downtownsandiego.org.
While glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agents have been used to treat Type 2 diabetes for more than 20 years, their recent emergence as weight-loss wonder drugs marked a new frontier in medicine. But their effectiveness has left some patients wondering what to do once they’ve reached their goal. Stopping the medication could mean regaining some, if not all, of the weight. A Scripps Clinic internal medicine physician recently conducted a small study of whether GLP-1 patients who had reached their goal weight could maintain that weight by taking their regularly prescribed injection every other week instead of weekly. Spoiler alert: 30 of 34 patients did. Read more about the study here and what that may mean as pharmaceutical companies roll out oral GLP-1s.
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