Events
Padres 2025 Opening Weekend
March 27-30. Baseball season is officially in full swing as of this Thursday—when the San Diego Padres take on the Atlanta Braves for their season home opener. Presented by Sycuan Casino Resort, Padres 2025 Opening Weekend includes Party in the Park on Friday (the first 40,000 fans receive a commemorative hat); and KidsFest on Sunday, with games, bounce houses, face painting and more. See website for tickets, parking guide and other helpful info. Opening Day game on Thursday begins at 1:10 p.m. Petco Park, 100 Park Blvd., East Village. More Info
East Village Opening Weekend Block Party
March 29. In celebration of the San Diego Padres Opening Weekend, the East Village Association presents its 13th annual block party in front of Petco Park—where the San Diego Padres take on the Atlanta Braves in four weekend games to start the season. The party spotlights myriad local businesses—including gourmet food trucks, a beer garden and craft cocktails; plus live music, local retail vendors, photo ops, a multi-block car show and other family-friendly activities. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. General admission is free. J Street, between 6th and 10th avenues, East Village. Details
“Pucks & Pints” Hockey Game & Festival
March 29. Enjoy a full day of hockey and craft beer for a purpose. The seventh annual “Pucks & Pints” comprises a charity hockey game with staff members of San Diego craft breweries at Pechanga Arena (12:30 p.m.); followed by a beer festival hosted by Bay City Brewing (2-5 p.m.) featuring Thorn Brewing, Stone Brewing, Societe and Karl Strauss; ending with the San Diego Gulls vs. Calgary Wranglers hockey game at Pechanga (6 p.m.). Proceeds benefit several local nonprofit organizations. Tickets are $65 per person. 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., Point Loma. pucksnpints.com
Food + Drink
Home Game Specials at Coin-Op
Beginning March 27. Hit a home run when it comes to fun at Coin-Op Gaslamp; the arcade-meets-cocktail bar is offering specials that launch on Opening Day (March 27) and run every home game. Take advantage of discounted libations featuring brands like Cutwater Spirits, Amaro Montenegro, NÜTRL, Lo-Fi Aperitifs and Bear Fight Whiskey; plus pizza specials. Choose from a selection of specialty cocktails for $14 each, such as the whiskey-based True Grit; and the tequila and mezcal-infused Golden Ticket. See website for hours and full menus. 789 Sixth Gaslamp Quarter, 619.546.6441. More Info
Opening Day Fun at Margaritaville Hotel
March 27. Located close to Petco Park in the Gaslamp, Margaritaville Hotel San Diego is hosting pregame and post-game celebrations on Padres Opening Day. Come by for baseball-inspired drinks and bite specials; a free margarita for each patron with a Padres ticket stub; games like cornhole and Ping-Pong at 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar on the rooftop, boasting stellar city views; and a baseball-themed recording of the Margaritaville Radio License to Chill podcast at LandShark Bar & Grill. See website for hours and more details. 435 Sixth Ave., Gaslamp Quarter. More Info
The Remedy Lounge at Estancia La Jolla
Opens March 28. Take a mini spring break from the booze with a new wellness experience at Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa: The Remedy Lounge. Located next to the resort’s secret garden, the apothecary-inspired elixir bar was created in collaboration with Native Poppy, J’enway Tea and Cymbiotica. Choose from a selection of eight nonalcoholic elixirs, each designed to support different functions of the body. Beverages are sourced from adaptogenic herbs, florals, and aromatic spices; and paired with a curated food menu. See website for hours. 9700 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, 858.412.0500. estancialajolla.com
Arts + Culture
Broadway San Diego: Ain’t Too Proud
March 28-30. Broadway San Diego brings us Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations at the Civic Theatre. The smash-hit musical centers on the legendary Motown vocal group from their humble beginnings in Detroit in the early 1960s; to their rise to the Rock & Roll Hall of fame—with 42 Top 10 Hits and 14 songs reaching number one. The electrifying production won the 2019 Tony Award for “Best Choreography” and earned another dozen Tony nominations. See website for showtimes and ticket pricing. 1100 Third Ave., downtown. broadwaysd.com
S.D. Symphony Weekend Concerts
March 28-30. “As you wish…” Enjoy date night under the stars on Friday at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, where the San Diego Symphony orchestra will present a screening of the 1987 fairytale adventure comedy, The Princess Bride—while performing the film’s epic score live in concert. On Saturday and Sunday at Jacobs Music Center, the Symphony performs works by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Gareth Farr—featuring pianist Paul Lewis and Tianyi Lu conducting. See website for times and ticket pricing. 222 Marina Park Way, downtown; 750 B St., downtown. Details
MCASD La Jolla: An Artful Life
Through Aug. 3. The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD), La Jolla presents a new exhibit: An Artful Life: A Tribute to Matthew C. Strauss. Comprising 22 works, the exhibition gives a glimpse into the private art collection of Matthew and Iris Strauss (pictured). Peruse iconic works that reflect development in paintings from the 1970s to now, by renowned artists such as Jennifer Bartlett, Cecily Brown, Damien Hirst, Alex Katz, Beatriz Milhazes, Lari Pittman, Takashi Murakami and more. See website for hours and admission info. 700 Prospect St., La Jolla, 858.454.3541. mcasd.org
Balboa Park Botanical Building
Open. Spring is in the air and in the atrium at Balboa Park’s landmark Botanical Building. First built in 1914 and one of the world’s largest lath structures, it’s open again following a $28.5 million revitalization that includes a new redwood lath roof, LED lighting, water irrigation systems, programming and educational space, and restoration of the building’s historical elements. A collaboration between Forever Balboa Park and the City of San Diego, the building houses around 2,100 permanent plants. Open daily 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 1550 El Prado, Balboa Park, 619.239.0512. balboapark.org
Photo credits: All images are courtesy of the venues and businesses featured.
