Fashion Valley adds new brands

Fashion Valley, San Diego’s premier shopping destination continues to expand its vast portfolio of retail and dining options with five new openings, three of which are first-to-market, including Princess Polly, Purificación García and Kurt Geiger. These additions are in keeping with the property’s position as the epicenter of upscale shopping, dining and living in the San Diego area.

Australian fashion brand Princess Polly, recognized for its trending styles and viral influencer-driven collections, joined the center early this fall, along with the popular lifestyle brand Aritzia. Purificación Garcia, celebrated for its elegant and versatile styles, along with Kurt Geiger, the luxury British brand famous for its statement-making footwear inspired by London, will arrive by year-end and further enhance Fashion Valley’s sophisticated ambiance. Alongside these new openings, a newly expanded and reimagined Prada boutique, offering an elevated shopping experience, is slated to open in the coming months.

“Fashion Valley’s curated selection of luxury brands makes it a premier lifestyle destination, drawing sought-after, first-to-market retailers and discerning shoppers. Recent retail openings and upgrades have transformed the center, offering an upgraded experience for visitors and retailers alike,” said Bob Doherty, General Manager at Fashion Valley.

In August, Fashion Valley welcomed two additional first-to-market stores: the elegant and timeless watch company, Tudor and luxury lifestyle brand Zimmermann. This expertly crafted shopping destination provides San Diego residents with a one-of-a-kind experience.

Fashion Valley completed a transformational multimillion-dollar revitalization earlier this year, which included a complete upgrade of all public areas including facades, landscaping and customer amenities. Additionally, a major new mixed-use redevelopment including exciting new retailers and dining, along with 850 luxury multi-family residences by AMLI Residential was recently announced. This new development will offer residents unparalleled amenities, high-end finishes and convenient access to Fashion Valley’s curated collection of designer brands and dining experiences.

For more information about Fashion Valley and its upcoming developments, please visit simon.com/mall/fashion-valley.

Small business highlight: Mitri’s Delights

Mitri’s Delights began as a way to add decorated and delicious desserts, including Mitri Jones’ signature hand-dipped chocolate-covered strawberries, to Jones family parties in 2014. A decade later, Jones and her team now offer a variety of beautifully decorated desserts and candy tables for any event as well as event set-up with tables, decorations, banners, backdrops, balloon arches, and other décor to take a party or event from basic to extravagant.

After hosting Jones and her team at a weekend Etsy Market at Mission Valley mall, the center became an early fan of Mitri’s Delights and worked with her to establish a summer presence in the pop-up Cottage in the center’s AMC Court. Based on the success of both events, Mitri’s Delights is now planning to move into a larger space at Mission Valley, significantly expanding the business with an in-store café and an entire section dedicated to its event set-up business. The new 3,300-square-foot Mitri’s Delights store, which opened last month, will be located in the AMC Court next to Bath & Body Works and Claw Daddy.

“While Mitri’s Delights began with home sales and pop-up markets, I thought a trial run in the Cottage in Mission Valley’s AMC Court was a perfect next step. The leasing manager believed in my ‘strawberry vision’ and reached out with an offer for us to move into a larger space,” says Jones. “Mission Valley absolutely encourages local entrepreneurs and really helps retailers in the small business community to reach their full potential.”

Pinery Christmas Tree Lot open

Mission Valley mall invites guests to purchase a fresh Christmas tree from the Pinery Christmas Trees lot in the center’s parking lot (next to the Broken Yolk Café). The lot will be open from November 23rd through Christmas Day, December 25th, and offers a wide selection of trees, including the popular Douglas Fir and Noble Fir, in a variety of sizes as well as fresh goods like potted rosemary, wreaths and garland, and accessories such as tree stands and water bowls. The tree lot’s hours will be Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Delivery is available to most communities in the San Diego area. To learn more, visit the Pinery Christmas Tree Lot website at pinerychristmastrees.com/mission-valley.

San Diego FC’s first match announced

Major League Soccer announced that San Diego FC (SDFC) will celebrate their inaugural home match, presented by DIRECTV, by hosting St. Louis CITY SC at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, March 1 at 7:30 p.m. PT. Before the Club’s first-ever home match, SDFC will kick off the Club’s inaugural MLS campaign against the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park during the opening weekend of 2025 MLS action, Feb. 22-23.

Announced in May of 2023, SDFC becomes Major League Soccer’s 30th club and will embark on its inaugural campaign during Major League Soccer’s 30th season.

Becoming an SDFC Season Ticket Member is the only way to guarantee a seat at the Club’s historic inaugural home match on March 1. Season Ticket Members will also have priority access to purchase tickets for the highly anticipated season-opening match against the LA Galaxy. With several sections already sold out, fans can book an appointment now with a San Diego FC Sales Representative via sandiegofc.com/tickets to secure their seats and learn more about the benefits of becoming a Season Ticket Member.

Ahead of the 2025 MLS Season, SDFC Sporting Director Tyler Heaps and Head Coach Mikey Varas will have the opportunity to select up to five current MLS players to strengthen the Club’s inaugural roster during the MLS Expansion Draft on Wednesday, Dec. 11. The Club also holds the first overall selection in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft set to take place on Friday, Dec. 20. San Diego’s current roster includes Mexican international winger and designated player Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, forward Marcus Ingvartsen, midfielder Jeppe Tverskov, defender Paddy McNair, goalkeeper Duran Ferree and winger Alex Mighten.

Complete details of SDFC’s inaugural 2025 MLS season schedule, including the date and time of the Club’s Season Opening match against the Galaxy, will be announced in December.

For the latest news and Club updates, please visit sandiegofc.com, follow @SanDiegoFC on social media across all platforms, and use the hashtag #SanDiegoFC #WovenIntoOne #18SomosUno.

Trinity Theatre’s next season

Trinity Theatre Company recently announced its 13th Grown Up Stage (GUS) season under the guidance of Artistic Director Sean Boyd. The season kicks off in February with “The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet,” a play by Peter Bloedel directed by Vivian White. It reimagines Shakespeare’s classic love story as if it was written by Dr. Seuss with rhymed couplets, creative wordplay and fantastical machines.

Boyd shared “With our Grown Up Stage (GUS), we offer a season of professional plays and musicals tailored for adult and family audiences— and I’m so excited with our choices for Season 2025! We will run the gamut from the whimsical reinvention of Shakespeare’s tragic love story with ‘The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet’ to our 3rd Annual New Works Festival featuring playwrights from across the country, and closing out with a visit with some classic humor with Monty Python’s ‘Edukational Show.’ We look forward to reinventing some exciting stories from the past and sharing some brand new stories with our community.”

Trinity Theatre is located in the  Mission Valley Mall at 1640 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 129, San Diego, CA 92108. To learn more or purchase tickets trinityttc.org/current-productions/

360-Space Parking Structure at The Brynn completed at Civita

Sudberry Properties, the master developer of the 230-acre Civita in Mission Valley, announced it has reached a significant milestone in the development of its fourth apartment community at Civita: the completion of the 360-space, six-level parking structure at The Brynn. The new residential enclave, scheduled to open in 2025, will feature 200 contemporary apartments and extensive amenities on 3.3 acres. The Brynn, located at 2525 Via Alta, overlooks the award-winning 14.3-acre Civita Park.

Distinguished by “San Diego Modernism” architecture, The Brynn is designed with residential units surrounding the parking structure. Building wings are configured to create a series of courtyards, each with a distinctive landscape character and theme.

Sudberry Properties’ development team for The Brynn includes general contractor Rockwood Construction, AO for architecture and landscape design, RICK Engineering Company for civil engineering and land planning, and Design Tec, Inc. for interior design.  Sudberry Properties will provide property management for The Brynn at Civita.

Recreational amenities include a beautifully appointed clubroom with accordion doors opening onto a pool and spa area with barbecues, lounges and firepits, and an indoor-outdoor fitness area. A short trail will link The Brynn to the outstanding amenities in Civita Park.

The smoke-free community will feature one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 613 to 1,448 square feet. Many apartments will have expansive views of the park, city lights, or surrounding mountains.

The Brynn is centrally located in Civita, with easy pedestrian access to two dog parks, playgrounds, an elementary school, an amphitheater, gardens and a free shuttle to two local trolley stations during commute hours. Residents will also be a short walk from The Row at Civita, where eateries, a bottle shop, beauty services, and a veterinarian are now open. Jimbo’s natural grocery store is anticipated to open in 2026.

Linda Vista affordable apartments win award

Circulate San Diego announced the winners of its annual Momentum Awards, which included a housing community in Linda Vista honored with an Innovation Award. The Puesta del Sol and Amanecer Apartments provide affordable housing in Linda Vista, offering 96 units for families and 59 units for older adults. The development includes wrap-around services for vulnerable populations, such as former foster youth and veterans. The design features energy-efficient solutions, EV charging stations, and GreenPoint Rated certification. Its proximity to transit, shopping, and recreation promotes a car-free lifestyle, enhancing the neighborhood with play areas, gardens, and improved sidewalks.

City planted trees at Linda Vista Park

The City of San Diego held a tree planting event to celebrate the launch of Ready, Set, Grow San Diego, a $10 million tree planting project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program, made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act.

With the help of volunteers and staff from the City’s Urban Forestry program, 11 southern magnolia trees were planted at Linda Vista Park on Kate Sessions Day, Nov. 8. Trees planted under Ready, Set, Grow San Diego will be watered and maintained by the Urban Forestry program. The City of San Diego will be joined in this effort by partner Tree San Diego, also a recipient of a USDA grant that will benefit the City with regional urban forestry management and workforce development.

Kate Sessions made significant contributions to the City’s urban forest and marked the beginning of tree planting season in San Diego during her lifetime.

“The City is committed to growing a healthy urban forest that provides many long-term environmental benefits,” said Bethany Bezak, Director of the Transportation Department. “This is a key component of the City’s Climate Action Plan and we have set an ambitious target of planting 100,000 new trees by 2035.”

The City plans to conduct community outreach to involve residents as trees are being planted in their neighborhoods. Residents can attend upcoming community meetings to learn about the types of trees and potential planting locations, provide feedback on areas that need more trees and participate in tree-planting events.

The USDA grant was among $1 billion in federal funding being distributed to cities across the nation to plant and maintain trees, and to aid in combating extreme heat and climate change.  One hundred percent of the funds will go toward investing in historically underserved communities to increase urban canopies and educate people on the benefits of trees. This grant will plant and care for over 5,000 new trees and protect more than 600 existing ones across San Diego.

“Tree planting is the first step in creating a robust tree canopy and this funding will help us make significant progress toward reaching our climate action targets,” said Brian Widener, City Forester. “We appreciate the volunteers who came out to support our efforts in growing a resilient urban forest for all San Diegans”.

Kate Sessions was a botanist, horticulturalist and landscape architect who lived and worked in San Diego in the early 20th century. She was known as the “Mother of Balboa Park” and introduced hundreds of trees to the San Diego region, including the popular Jacaranda tree. Her legacy is celebrated on Kate Sessions Day every year on Nov. 8, which was her birthday.

Puesto-inspired An’s Gelato flavors

Recently voted as the country’s best independent ice cream shop by USAToday, An’s Gelato has crafted four one-of-a-kind flavors inspired by Puesto’s menu of scratch-made delights, including Rebozo, Fresas con Lemon Verbena Crema; Sarape, double Mexican mint chocolate chip; Morral, flan; and Huipil, mango with passion fruit jam. Additionally, An’s has developed a special gluten-free blue corn waffle cone inspired by Puesto’s iconic non-GMO blue corn tortillas. All four limited edition collab flavors will be available at An’s Gelato outposts (North Park and Del Mar) and Rebozo, Sarape and Huipil will be available at all San Diego locations of Puesto (Mission Valley, La Jolla and the HQ at Seaport Village).