60 people rappel down Grand Hyatt Hotel
Over the weekend of August 5, 60 people conquered their fears and rappelled 29 stories down the side of the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego. The event, called Over The Edge, was a fundraiser for Reality Changers, a local nonprofit that prepares youth from underserved communities to become first-generation college graduates and agents of change in their communities.
Rappellers included FOX 5 sports anchor Julian Del Guadio and community members who came together to support a good cause. An estimated 150 spectators came out to cheer on the rappellers as they descended down the side of the building, using a special 5-point safety harness and climbing-certified ropes.
So far, the event has raised more than $72,000 in support of Reality Changers. Funds raised will support tutoring, mentorship, and college application assistance programs for local youth who want to be the first in their families to graduate from college. With support from these programs, Reality Changers participants are seven times more likely to graduate than their similar peers.
Reality Changers will host Over The Edge again in 2024. Anyone can pre-register for next year’s event. URL: give.realitychangers.org/OverTheEdge2024.
Taste of Gaslamp restaurants announced
San Diego’s original tasting tour returns to the iconic Gaslamp Quarter for the Taste of Gaslamp on Saturday, Sept. 9th, 2023, from 1-4 p.m. The Taste of Gaslamp is a scrumptious self-guided foodie tour that has become a staple for locals and tourists alike who flock to the Quarter to indulge in a culinary adventure stopping at 20+ restaurants across 16 square city blocks.
Restaurants participating this year are American Junkie, Baja Ricks Cantina, Café Sevilla, Cali Cream Ice Cream, Cerveza Jack’s, Chiefy Café, Chocolate Cremerie, Gaslamp BBQ, Gaslamp Lumpia Factory, Havana 1920, Il Sogno Italiano, Johnny WAHOO! Golf Bar, Las Hadas Bar & Grill, Lavo Italian Restaurant, Madam Bonnies, Mezze Greek Fusion, Pizza on 5th, Rocking Baja Lobster, Royal India, Smokin J’s BBQ, STK, The Field Irish Pub, and Whiskey Girl.
General admission for the Taste of Gaslamp tour is $45 in advance and $55 day of event. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit gaslamp.org/tasteofgaslamp or call 619-233-5008.
Annual Celebrity Waiters Luncheon for United Cerebral Palsy set for Sept. 22
The 40th annual Celebrity Waiters Luncheon to benefit United Cerebral Palsy of San Diego County will take place on Friday, Sept. 22 at the Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa. Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m. with lunch served at noon.
The ticket price is $80 per person with sponsorship opportunities available. A live and silent auction will be available along with raffle prizes. Join in while being served by some of Southern California’s brightest talent. Christopher Knight from “The Brady Brunch” is scheduled to appear along with other Hollywood celebrities. San Diego’s sports teams and media personalities will also attend.
Last year, more than 300 people attended, and over $60,000 was raised. For more information, call 858-571-5365 or sign up directly at ucpsd.org or fundraise.ucpsd.org/cwl23.
UCP is among the largest nonprofit organizations in the country with nearly 60 affiliates nationwide providing programs and services to children and adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. Statistics show that one out of 325 people have some type of cerebral palsy. Fifty percent of children born with CP are born prematurely. Locally, all monies raised stay in San Diego County, and 86% of all money donated is used for local program services that United Cerebral Palsy provides. UCP of San Diego County was founded in 1958.
Harvest for Hope fundraiser benefitting kids with cancer
As a nonprofit dedicated to help families all over San Diego County navigate their child’s journey through cancer, the Emilio Nares Foundation (ENF) is delighted to invite the public to the 20th Annual Harvest for Hope event happening on Sunday, September 10th, at 2 p.m. at the picturesque Coasterra to garner awareness during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Now celebrating its 20-year anniversary, the Emilio Nares Foundation is going above and beyond to celebrate the work they have done in the past, while also looking to the future to continue the legacy the foundation has made.
The Harvest for Hope Fundraiser will be a foodie festival where attendees will be able to taste bites from 19 local businesses with spirits to accompany the culinary experience. Along with the bites and sips, attendees will also enjoy performances by Fred Benedetti, a renowned guitarist. For ticket information and event details, please visit tinyurl.com/bdfw9w9n.
“Raise up for Monarch” fundraiser to help unhoused students
Monarch School, the only public K-12 school in the U.S. serving unhoused students, will host its annual fundraiser, Raise Up for Monarch, on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. The event raises funds to serve the school’s community of students, alumni and families, and to nurture resilience in students and alumni, empowering them with the tools they need to succeed.
The event will take place at Monarch’s Nat and Flora Bosa campus in Barrio Logan at 1625 Newton Avenue. Guests will be taken on a campus tour, including student presentations and engaging activities at each stop, to learn about the school’s programs. Dinner, entertainment and programming will follow, including a dance performance by students and a song from an alumnus.
This year’s fundraiser is themed, “Scaling New Horizons,” and proceeds will enable Monarch School to scale-up its programs to serve additional students and families outside its school walls.
Tickets for the annual fundraiser are $150. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available for individuals and organizations by contacting Alejandra Tarolli at [email protected] or 619-652-4100.
To purchase tickets or for more information on sponsorship, visit monarchschools.org/raise-up-2023.
RTFH begins publishing monthly veteran homelessness data
To provide the San Diego region with a better understanding of veteran homelessness, as well as the progress towards the functional zero goal outlined in the Leave No Veteran Homeless Initiative, the Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH) began publishing a monthly data report now available on the organization’s website.
“As a region, we’ve come together to get to functional zero for our veterans experiencing homelessness,” RTFH CEO Tamera Kohler said. “This monthly report will provide a progress report on how we’re doing to reach that goal, ensuring that we’re staying focused on leaving no veteran behind.”
Functional Zero is defined as the point when a community’s homeless services system is able to prevent homelessness whenever possible and ensure that when homelessness does occur, it is rare, brief, and one-time. This means that the number of veterans experiencing homelessness monthly is consistently less than are routinely housed each month. It’s a monthly data-driven measure.
Wilshire Quinn Capital awards $10,000 musical arts scholarship
Wilshire Quinn Capital, which has a Downtown San Diego office, has awarded a $10,000 Wilshire Quinn Musical Arts Scholarship to Sanjana Dhanasekaran, a 20-year-old pianist. The funds will be applied to her enrollment as a sophomore at Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo. Dhanasekaran will act as a member of the Missouri Music Teachers Association’s student chapter.
San Diego Watercolor Society opens international show
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The San Diego Watercolor Society is proud to announce the opening of The 43rd Annual International Show and Exhibition. Established in 1965, the San Diego Watercolor Society has grown into one of the largest and most active in the United States with the International Exhibition serving as the annual highlight over four decades. The celebrated exhibition is globally recognized for the highest standard of excellence in water-based art. This year’s show was the most competitive in its storied history, with a record 803 entries from artists worldwide and cash awards totaling more than $20,000.
The opening reception will be held on Friday, Oct. 6 from 5-8 p.m. in SDWS’s gallery in Liberty Station’s Arts and Culture District. The show will feature carefully curated works in a variety of water-based media including watercolor, gauche and acrylic from 105 internationally known and collected artists. Dean Mitchell from Tampa, Florida was chosen “Best in Show” and was awarded $5000 for his piece “Rowena and Her Little Friend.”
Proceeds from the show help SDWS to fund the gallery and aid with community outreach. Last year, the program provided art supplies and instruction to over 300 artistically underserved elementary school students and senior center residents in San Diego County. The callery show will be open daily from October 1 – 31, 2023, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Paintings will also be available for online viewing and purchase Oct. 1 at sdws.org.
SACRA/PROFANA Season 15 opening concert
San Diego’s premiere professional choral ensemble, SACRA/PROFANA, is opening its 15th Season on Sunday, Sept. 17 at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 320 Date Street. Admission is free.
SACRA/PROFANA explores the profound human emotions of love, life and resilience. Dale Trumboreʼs secular requiem “How to Go On” uses texts by contemporary poets to ultimately find beauty in everyday life. Herbert Howellʼs 20th-century masterpiece, “Requiem,” offers a deeply personal interpretation of navigating life farewells.
This concert is dedicated to all unhoused neighbors who have died on the streets of San Diego in the past year.
SDG& E pioneers virtual power plant to ease strain on power grid
San Diego Gas & Electric is piloting a new cleantech innovation known as a virtual power plant (a VPP) to reduce energy demand and put electricity back on the grid during peak hours – all through leveraging the capabilities of customer-owned smart thermostats, rooftop solar, energy storage and other connected resources such as water pumps. A VPP network can comprise a wide range of devices and resources – everything from home appliances such as electric vehicles and chargers to HVAC equipment and solar plus battery energy storage systems.
State awards City of San Diego $45 million for new housing
The City of San Diego will receive $45 million in state funding to help spur the development of climate-friendly homes. “This funding will speed up and reduce the cost of constructing housing by paying for water and sewer hookups, sidewalk improvements, parks, green space, and other improvements that are the connective tissue for housing,” said Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Lourdes Castro Ramírez.
The state also awarded $45 million to the City and County of San Francisco, $45 million to the City of Fresno, $40 million to the City of Oakland, $35 million to the Housing Authority of Los Angeles, $20 million to the City of El Cerrito and $9 million to the City of Santa Rosa.
Downtown’s newest high-rise Radian opens in Ballpark District
Cisterra Development, a San Diego-based office, technology, residential and mixed-use real estate development firm, joined together with property management firm Avenue5 and various city and business leaders to celebrate the Aug. 16 grand opening of Downtown San Diego’s newest high-rise tower in the Ballpark District – Radian. Radian is a 255,000-square-foot, 22-story retail and residential development that brings new Downtown residential apartment offerings ranging in size from one-bedrooms to three-bedroom units.
USDA awards grant to revive San Diego Fisherman’s Marketing Association
Plans are underway to revive the San Diego Fisherman’s Marketing Association – a nonprofit that has been inactive since 2013 – thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service as part of its Local Food Promotion Program.
The San Diego Fishermen’s Working Group (SDFWG) and the San Diego Regional Policy & Innovation Center (PIC) drive this effort, alongside a network of partners.
The group seeks to strengthen and shorten the region’s supply chain to increase local fish purchasing, grow the percentage of profits captured by local fishermen and raise the profile of the local fishing community for years to come.
“San Diego has a long and rich history as a commercial fishing hub. However, like in many coastal areas, these local providers have been forced to compete in global supply chains that value efficiency and low cost over quality and sustainability,” said Pete Halmay, director and founder of the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market. “This grant will help us create the support structure needed to unite the fishing community around a shared vision and marketing strategy, setting it up as a critical component of the San Diego food economy for decades.”
With the grant, SDFWG and PIC will revive the defunct Fishermen’s Marketing Association as a means for delivering local shared marketing and launch a robust outreach and engagement effort to consumers, restaurants and retailers.
Take a daycation at local hotels with ResortPass
ResortPass has created a way for San Diego locals to play tourists in their own city through their daycation booking platform.
Founded five years ago, ResortPass has partnered up with more than 1,000 hotels to offer day passes to luxury amenities – including pool, spa, gym, and private beach access – at a discounted rate.
Locals – or ambitious tourists – can pop in to enjoy the benefits of a hotel guest without actually booking an overnight stay.
“ResortPass is a way for locals and travelers alike to experience the amenities at a range of hotels – many four and five-stars – and really have a luxurious daycation, regardless if they live in that city or are traveling and staying at an Airbnb or another property,” said Nicole Maddern, ResortPass’ vice president of marketing. “We see a lot of locals enjoy ResortPass as a way to get away and take their family to the pool or have a romantic day with their partner, or a fun time out with friends.”
With over 250 participating cities worldwide, San Diego is among one of the more frequented partnering destinations. Whether looking to snag a $10 day-pass to InterContinental’s four-star rooftop pool downtown or access to Hotel del Coronado’s cabanas and beach lawn chairs, locals can choose from more than 40 hotels located across San Diego.
13k tourism job openings in SD
According to Tourism Economics, San Diego County has nearly 13,000 Leisure and Hospitality job openings today. The San Diego Tourism Authority and the San Diego Regional Policy & Innovation Center sponsored the study in the hopes of highlighting the many opportunities for well-paid full-time and part-time work in the region. Many of these jobs have low barriers to entry, no degree required and pay an average of $28 an hour. A career in tourism can be a launchpad for diverse, successful, and unexpected professional trajectories.
Airport Authority hosts ‘Meet the Primes’
The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority will host a “Meet the Primes” event on Sept. 7, a free annual networking program designed to connect the business community with San Diego International Airport prime contractors and concessionaires, public agencies, banks, businesses and financial support services, and regional partners.
Attendees will learn about construction, concession, and professional service opportunities and regional teaming, partnership, contracting opportunities, and valuable resources through networking at exhibitor booths with prime contractors and Airport Authority departments.
The event is from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Balboa Park Club Ballroom, 2150 Pan American West Road, San Diego.
Registration is now open at SANPrimes23.eventbrite.com; here you can view more details about exhibitors in attendance. For more information on the Airport Authority’s Small Business Development Program, visit san.org/smallbusiness.
TSA: busiest summer season on record
Ahead of Labor Day Weekend, The Transportation Security Administration revealed that this is the busiest summer on record at San Diego International Airport.
Study: half of San Diegans learn finances in adulthood
Nearly half (46%) of San Diego residents report learning about how to manage their finances after they’ve started their adult lives (ages 25+), according to a new study by financial services firm Edward Jones conducted by Morning Consult. Almost half (40%) of people’s financial advice comes from friends, family or themselves – and nearly one in five (16%) San Diego adults use online resources for their financial education.
San Diego residents have a moderate level of confidence in their personal financial futures compared to other U.S cities. However, almost one in three (32%) are not confident in their own financial wellness, and 33% of San Diego adults are concerned about their current financial standing.
Despite the lack of earlier education, San Diego residents are eager to learn more about a number of financial topics. Respondents from the survey indicated an interest in improving their acumen in investing in the markets (40%), preparing for financial fitness in retirement (36%), debt management (30%) and managing their taxes (28%). They also noted having minimal knowledge of important financial topics including financial caregiving (89%), managing student debt (82%) and investing in the markets (81%).
Student crime and safety webinar
RoomChazer.com, San Diego’s leading off-campus housing platform, will host “San Diego Safety: What Students and Our Community Need To Know,” a community safety webinar featuring speakers from the San Diego Police Department, San Diego District Attorney’s Office, and SAY San Diego presenting valuable information on safety and crime trends, tips and topics at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 20 at roomchazer.com.
The webinar will provide valuable personal, online, and community safety information and resources to students, school housing administrators, property management professionals, and community members, highlighted by three outstanding expert speakers focusing on issues affecting the San Diego community.
Officer Jessica Thrift from the San Diego Police Department will overview “Keeping Yourself Safe/Neighborhood Crime”, Deputy District Attorney Joel Madero will discuss “Protecting Yourself from Online Internet Crime and Scams” and Will Perno of leading community organization SAY San Diego will review “The Fentanyl Crisis in San Diego.”
