Eventos

Festival of Beer tickets on sale

San Diego Professionals Against Cancer (SDPAC) are excited to announce that tickets are now on sale for the 26th annual San Diego Festival of Beer. San Diego’s original craft beer festival, San Diego Festival of Beer, will return to Broadway Pier on Friday, September 8th from 6-10 p.m. The waterfront event brings the community together to support a meaningful cause while enjoying great beer, food and entertainment. Tickets cost $65 in advance and $75 at the door. 

Benefit walk for Huntington’s Disease

Huntington’s Disease Society of America, San Diego Chapter is hosting a Team Hope Walk on Saturday, Sept. 16 from 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. at Coronado Tidelands Park, 2000 Mullinex Dr.

Register for this event helping research the disease and assist families at hdsa.org/thwsandiego.

Taste of Gaslamp returns on Sept. 9 across 16 square city blocks

San Diego’s original tasting tour returns to the Gaslamp Quarter for the 27th annual Taste of Gaslamp on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 1-4 p.m. The Taste of Gaslamp is a self-guided foodie tour that has become a staple for locals and tourists alike who flock to Downtown to indulge in a culinary adventure stopping at 20-plus restaurants across 16 square city blocks. General admission for the Taste of Gaslamp tour is $45 in advance and $55 day of event. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit tasteofgaslamp.com or call 619-233-5008.

New ‘Back to the Video Store’ speakeasy

Starting Saturday, Aug. 12 throw it back to the early aughts (where Friday nights at the video store was el experience), with everyone’s favorite childhood video rental chains turning into a one-of-a-kind themed drinking experience. 

The new Back 2 The Video Store speakeasy en 615 Broadway recreates every memory of choosing a movie pre-streaming, while also mixing in a full bar that serves up delicious cocktails and mock-tails. From lava lamps to pog-playing stations y very memorable TV/Film scenes turned into photo moments, there is no shortage of things to blast you back in time.

Each $20 ticket (disponible aquí) includes a 90-minute reservation and one Y2K cocktail or mocktail. Additional drinks and food will be available for purchase on-site. This is a 21+ event.

Local art scene

'A Necessary Departure’ exhibit at airport

 San Diego International Airport’s (SAN) Arts Program has completed the installation of its latest temporary exhibition “A Necessary Departure,” located throughout Terminal 2 pre-and-post security.

“A Necessary Departure” is a collection of works from 17 local artists and organizations that examines personal transformations and how our community has remade itself after the pandemic. Pieces speak to themes that developed out of this unique period in history, through the lens of San Diegans who experienced it in their own ways.

Types of artwork in the exhibition include sculpture, painting, photography, ceramics, site-specific installation, and more. All exhibition pieces will remain on display through 2023.

Book of historic postcards

Arcadia Publishing is releasing a collection of historic postcards showcasing unique aspects of San Diego’s past on August 28. “Forgotten San Diego” showcases the unique evolution of San Diego and its neighboring cities, making sure that the triumphs, tragedies, and oddities of this region live on. It includes 200 postcards from 1890 to 1990 collected by coauthors David Marshall and Eileen Magno.

Local indie rock band’s new album

Local indie band The Fourth Section released its debut album “Paper Peaks.” Originally formed in February of 2020, this group of friends set out to make music in defiance of the times. The Fourth Section combines indie rock, jangle pop, and post-punk elements into a unique sound tailored to the current era.

The band is a modest trio of guitar, bass, and drums. The album was recorded at Studio West Satellite and produced, recorded, and mixed by Jeff Berkley, award-winning San Diego producer and musician. Learn more at thefourthsection.com.

Development

700 Downtown streetlights repaired

More than 700 broken and vandalized streetlights in Downtown have been repaired ahead of schedule as part of a collaborative effort between the City of San Diego and the Downtown San Diego Partnership. The project, which launched in May, focused on East Village and Gaslamp Quarter using data-driven analysis to prioritize repairs by geographical location.

In addition to 710 streetlights being repaired, crews installed 129 anti-theft covers to prevent future outages, as many of the broken lights were caused by vandals who broke into the light poles and damaged or removed the wiring. Repairs conducted by City crews and contractors included replacing fuses, fuse holders, photocells and cabling to circuits.

To continue making progress in reducing the streetlight repair backlog, Fiscal Year 2024’s budget includes an additional $2.3 million for supplemental work performed by City-managed contractors and will introduce a streetlight safety priority score criteria which will consider prioritization factors such as historic service levels, communities of concern, liability and claims, proximity to schools and parks, and crime rates.

Seaport seeks public feedback

The development team for Seaport San Diego invites the community to participate in “Seaport San Diego for All,” a community outreach program happening now. Seaport San Diego is a proposed $3.6 billion redevelopment of the Downtown San Diego waterfront within the Port of San Diego. Rooted in concepts of social justice and equity, Seaport San Diego for All includes a series of listening sessions, a survey, data collection and research to inform a Public Access Plan for this transformative project.

The next listening session will take place on Saturday, August 5, 2023 from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. at the Pacific Beach/Taylor Branch Library at 4275 Cass St, San Diego, CA 92109. For details on this event and other ways to participate in Seaport San Diego for All, please visit seaportsandiego.com.

Malibu Farm to open soon

Since opening Malibu Farm’s flagship restaurant nearly a decade ago, Swedish-born chef Helene Henderson and her husband, actor-director John Stockwell, have forged a thriving culinary brand by virtue of farm-to-table cuisine and SoCal joie de vivre. Today, their portfolio includes locations in Newport Beach, Hawaii, New York, Tokyo, and soon, San Diego.

Marking the duo’s largest investment to date, Malibu Farm’s multimillion-dollar renovation within Seaport Village is nearing completion and is on track to open by late August. The 14,000-square-foot waterfront project will give way to an indoor-outdoor upper-level offering all-day dining, while downstairs will be primarily reserved for larger parties and private dining experiences, in addition to a spacious ocean-facing patio and a ground-floor café concept.

The partnership between Malibu Farm and the Port of San Diego was initially announced in October of 2020 and is part of the Port’s multi-year undertaking to transform Seaport Village into a vibrant waterfront destination.

All-electric mobile harbor cranes arrive

The Port of San Diego’s two new all-electric Gottwald Generation 6 Mobile Harbor Cranes from Konecranes have been delivered to the Port’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal (TAMT). The new cranes are the first of their kind in North America and will help the Port improve public health and air quality, a significant milestone in bringing cleaner air to the communities of Barrio Logan, Sherman Heights, Logan Heights, and West National City.

The cranes are anticipated to be operational later this year. The Port ordered the battery supported electric cranes from Konecranes for approximately $14 million and spent an additional $8.9 million to make the needed electrical infrastructure improvements to support the cranes. They will replace the diesel-powered crane currently in use at TAMT.

Construction begins on $13.4 million renovation of Downtown San Diego landmark

Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation (APFC) has started construction on the $13.4 Million renovation of Five50West, a 20-story, 362,822-square-foot office building located at 550 West C Street in downtown San Diego. A San Diego landmark and symbol of office grandeur, Five50West is best known for its open concept first floor lobby that seamlessly connects to the expansive outdoor concourse.

The comprehensive remodel was designed by Gensler with construction oversite provided by JLL’s PDS team. The state-of-the-art, fitness and wellness center, with anticipated completion of November 2023, will feature cardio, exercise, circuit-training and strength-extension equipment, towel service, and spa like shower and locker facilities.

The increased capacity conference center will support larger meetings as well as include social media sound rooms. Outside, the expanded concourse will offer comfortable seating areas, collaborative outdoor workspaces and an open concept café. Other enhancements include a tenant lounge, enriched exterior landscape and LED lighting program, and improved parking garage. Completion of the full renovation is anticipated for the first quarter of 2024.

Gaslamp’s Hilton debuts renovation

Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter announced the completion of its $22.5 million dollar renovation project. The completely remodeled full-service hotel and new restaurant concept, Wild Hare Bar Garden, now offers the quintessential Southern California experience.

Award-winning design firm waldrop+nichols studio based in Texas, created a contemporary casual California aesthetic featuring artistic and playful elements of the Gaslamp Quarter’s early inhabitants. Today, all 286 beautiful guest rooms, lofts, and suites, are designed with modern furnishings with convenience in mind.

Personnel

Mama’s Kitchen CEO to retire

After 21 years of dedicated service, Alberto Cortés announces his retirement from his position as CEO of Mama’s Kitchen. Over two decades, he has elevated the organization into a national model for medically tailored meal delivery and the Food is Medicine movement, as well as built the organization into the largest nonprofit provider of home-delivered meals in San Diego County, now delivering more than 75,000 meals each month to critically ill individuals and children.

He is set to step down in January 2024.

Rebekah Hook-Held joins New Children’s Museum

The New Children’s Museum announced that Rebekah J. Hook-Held will join its leadership team as Chief Strategic Advancement Officer on August 28, 2023.

Hook-Held joins The New Children’s Museum following nearly 10 years with The San Diego LGBT Community Center as Chief Public Affairs and Civic Engagement Officer. During her tenure, she led their public affairs, advocacy, communications and marketing, leadership development and community empowerment programs.

In the newly created position of Chief Strategic Advancement Officer, Hook-Held will be responsible for high-level, integrated leadership of The New Children’s Museum’s development, membership, events, and marketing and communications departments. Working closely and in concert with the leadership and external teams, Hook-Held will lead the Museum’s fundraising efforts and work to increase visibility and impact of the organization within the larger San Diego community.

Douglas Wilson Companies has new VP

Douglas Wilson Companies (DWC), a national leader in specialized business, receivership, and real estate services located in Downtown, is pleased to announce the addition of Stephen Walton as chief marketing officer and vice president.

This new role for DWC enables the company to focus on long-term strategic planning and partnerships across its business channels. These include receivership and fiduciary services, real estate development, and legacy asset and real estate advisory services. Walton’s extensive experience in corporate marketing and development directly supports DWC’s marketing and growth initiatives.

New board president at Crossroads Foundation

The Crossroads Foundation, a residential rehabilitation home founded in San Diego in 1957, has recently appointed Amy Knox as the new board president of San Diego’s first women’s residential recovery program in San Diego County. After six years of leadership, Annemarie Sundquist stepped down from the role of president.

Fiscal

$1 mil grants for coastal resilience

El Binational Resilience Initiative, a partnership between San Diego Foundation and the International Community Foundation, announced that it has awarded more than $1 million in grants to U.S.- and Mexico-based nonprofit organizations to preserve, study and strengthen the resiliency of the Cali-Baja coastline.

Projects selected for funding through the Binational Resilience Initiative demonstrate effective cross-border collaboration and contribute to coastal preservation or resilience in two or more of the following areas: climate relevance, economic prosperity, knowledge sharing, organizational resilience and/or research. All funded projects include a U.S.- and a Mexico-based nonprofit partner.

SDG&E’s $250k grant for foster youth

Local nonprofit Just in Time for Foster Youth (JIT), whose mission is to engage a caring community to help transition age foster youth achieve self-sufficiency and well-being, has been awarded a $250,000 Community Investment Grant from SDG&E. This grant comes from SDG&E’s Community Assistance Fund, a $10-million shareholder-funded grant program that provides local nonprofit organizations with transformational support. 

SDG&E’s $250,000 investment will enhance JIT’s long-established service to transition age foster youth, offering rent and utilities assistance, food cards, mental wellness counseling, financial coaching, and most importantly, an empowering community of connections to see them thrive throughout their lives. 

$500k to improve indigenous healthcare access

San Diego American Indian Health Center (SDAIHC) has received a $500,000 two-year grant from The Conrad Prebys Foundation to provide access and quality healthcare to American Indian and Native Alaskan community members. The grant is a part of The Conrad Prebys Foundation’s Strengthening Health Access, Resources and Excellence (SHARE) Initiative. 

San Diego Foundation awards record $4 million in scholarships

The San Diego Foundation announced that it has awarded a record-breaking $4 million in scholarships to more than 1,000 local college students to expand access and opportunity to students, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college and from low-middle income communities historically under-represented in higher education.

These awards are ever more vital in light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down affirmative action in higher education enrollment decisions. The SDF Community Scholarship Program enables a diverse cohort of largely local students to attend college. In fact, Black/African American and Latino/a students represented 16 percent and 40 percent of 2023 – 2024 scholarship recipients, respectively.