Events
San Diego Bayfest
July 8. This annual music festival celebrating San Diego’s beach culture unfolds at Waterfront Park. Enjoy an afternoon of bay views and live tunes by Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Common Kings, Koffee, Prof, Denm and Kahlil Nash; along with DJ sets by Unite, Mr. Hek and Green T. Fuel up on fare from local taco stands and other food vendors; along with craft cocktails and craft beers poured by local bartenders; and local vending booths and crafts. 1 p.m. (Doors open at noon.) Tickets start at $75 (21+). 1600 Pacific Hwy., downtown. sandiegobayfest.com
San Diego Pride 2023
July 8-16. San Diego’s weeklong Pride celebration is among the largest in the U.S.—drawing more than 300,000 LGBTQ supporters locally and from across the U.S. Events include She Fest, Light Up the Cathedral, Spirt of Stonewall Rally, Pride 5K Run + Walk, the annual Pride Parade, Queertopia, Pride Festival in Balboa Park, and the Sea Party presented by Unite! Music Festival; plus around a dozen more happenings—including pool parties, block parties, standup comedy shows, and educational/community events. See website for details and full schedule of events; as well as locations and addresses around Hillcrest. sdpride.org
PAWmicon
July 9. Helen Woodward Animal Center invites “Superfuzzies” (dogs) and their humans to its 11th annual, comic-themed spectacle. Inspired by Comic-Con, the event features the PAWSplay pet costume contest (sponsored by Trusted Housesitters), with categories like “Superheroes & Super Villains,” “Pop Culture Pups” and “Dynamic Duos”; as well as comic and pop culture trivia, music, photo experiences, drawings and a “BARKetplace.” 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Free entry; $20 per pup for costume contest; $40 per trivia contest team. AleSmith Brewing Company, 9990 AleSmith Court, Miramar. More Info
Food + Drink
Mission Valley Breakfast Company
Now Open. Enjoy the most important meal of the day at this new dining destination by Rise & Shine Restaurant Group (the minds behind popular local chain Breakfast Republic). The stylish, 3,200-square-foot coffee shop serves hearty brunch fare. Think: Fried Rice Benedict; Chicken Confit & Grits; Shrimp Enmoladas; savory Mashed Potato Waffles with spicy sausage and cheese sauce; and Churro French Toast. To drink, choose from a selection of bloody marys, mimosas, cocktails, coffee drinks and fresh-squeezed orange juice. Open daily 7 a.m.-3 p.m. 8590 Rio San Diego Drive, Mission Valley, 619.937.3074. More Info
Saint James French Diner
Now Open. Housed in a 1912 building, the new Palihotel San Diego debuts its dining destination. Billed as an “American diner meets elegant French bistro,” Saint James French Diner offers classic French-inspired fare—from Niçoise salad to poutine to mussels to filet de boeuf; plus a selection of burgers; entrees like roasted chicken and a bouillabaisse boil; and French wines and cocktails to wash it all down. The Morning Barista menu boasts chocolate croissants and a honey-butter latte; with a full brunch menu coming soon. See website for hours. 858 Sixth Ave., Gaslamp Quarter, 619.678.1007. saintjamesfrenchdiner.com
New Summer Menu at The Plot
Now Available. Celebrating the best of summer in culinary form, The Plot restaurant—known for its entirely plant-based menu and zero-waste practices—has debuted some tasty seasonal additions. New offerings include the Beet Rueben Sando with pastrami beets, kraut and tarragon-creme potato salad on the side; Takoyaki (pictured), a spin on gluten-free hush puppies made with celery-root pulp; and a polenta and wild-rice chorizo dish with charred broccolini and chili oil. And coming soon: two new locations, including The Plot Express in Carlsbad. See website for hours. 1733 S. Coast Hwy., Oceanside, 442.266.8200. theplotrestaurant.com
Arts + Culture
Bottle Shock! The Musical
July 7-23. Making a big splash (pun intended) at California Center for the Arts, Escondido (CCAE), the world premiere of Bottle Shock! The Musical is the latest production of CCAE’s new theater-producing arm: CCAE Theatricals. Based on the 2008 film Bottle Shock, the musical tells the true story of the Judgment of Paris—a blind wine-tasting competition in 1976. An unknown Napa winemaker unexpectedly beat the French wines, putting California vineyards on the map and changing the world of wine forever. See website for showtimes and tickets. 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, 800.988.4253. artcenter.org
Twelfth Night at The Old Globe
Closes July 9. There’s nothing like live local theater under the stars to maximize summer in San Diego. Make your next date night extra romantic at The Old Globe—which brings us Shakespeare’s romantic-comedy masterpiece (tinged with a little darkness and swordplay!) Twelfth Night—at its outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre. In it we witness a lopsided love triangle, starring Viola (who masquerades as her lost twin brother), Duke Orsino and Countess Olivia. Tony Award-winner Kathleen Marshall directs. See website for showtimes and tickets. 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, 619.234.5623. theoldglobe.org
Passengers at The Old Globe
Through July 30. “We all have somewhere to go.” All aboard for a one-of-a-kind train trip at The Old Globe, which presents Passengers on the Shiley Stage This spellbinding show by The 7 Fingers—a contemporary physical theater troupe based in Montreal—centers on strangers in transit, who share their stories and dreams via physical expression, combining theater, dance, music and acrobatics. Creator Shana Carroll also directs. The Mercury News raves, “You’ll wish the ride never ended!” See website for showtimes and tickets. 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, 619.234.5623. theoldglobe.org
Is It Thursday Yet? at La Jolla Playhouse
Upcoming | July 11-Aug. 6. La Jolla Playhouse brings us yet another world-premiere play. In Is It Thursday Yet?, we meet Jenn Freeman, a dancer and choreographer who, at age 33, was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Through a mix of dance, original live music and home video footage, we get a peek inside her neurodivergent brain. Freeman, who stars as herself, also co-created and co-choreographed the production along with Sonya Tayeh; with music composed and performed by Holland Andrews. See website for showtimes and tickets. 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, 858.550.1010. lajollaplayhouse.org
Photo credits: The Plot by Sam Wells. Twelfth Night by Jim Cox. Passengers by Kevin Berne. All other images are courtesy of the venues and businesses featured.
