Events

Fleet Week at Intercontinental San Diego

Through Nov. 15. Overlooking San Diego Bay with views of the USS Midway and harbor, the Intercontinental hotel is a prime spot to celebrate Fleet Week—and the property is offering perks. Enjoy a 15% discount off your bill at Vistal restaurant and Layover pool deck and lounge—both of which look out over the embarcadero. Menu favorites at Vistal include the crispy salt-and-pepper chicken oysters paired with wine from Baja’s Valle de Guadalupe. At Layover, try the wagyu cheeseburger and kick back on a custom Adirondack chair near the firepit. See website for hours. 901 Bayfront Court, downtown, 619.501.9400. intercontinentalsandiego.com

Spiny Sundays at Tuna Harbor

Nov. 15. Calling all “lobstah” lovers! Spiny lobster season has arrived. The Tuna Harbor Dockside Market presents a special Sunday edition in which local lobstermen will be selling live, local spiny lobsters direct to customers at off-the-boat prices. Chefs Phillip Esteban and Marcus Twilegar will be on hand, serving up a fun menu of spiny lobster dishes. The experience includes easy spiny lobster recipes you can make at home; plus cooking tips from the pros. Face coverings required and physical distancing enforced. 8 a.m.-noon (or until lobsters are sold out). Admission is free. 598 Harbor Lane, downtown. More Info

Food + Drink

Mr. Moto Encinitas Grand Opening

Nov. 14. The Mr. Moto Pizza train keeps chugging along—this time with a new North County location. Show the staff the image pictured here and receive $5 bucks off any large pizza all day long. The eatery is known for its wide variety of white pies with homemade garlic paste; red pies with homemade marinara sauce; and its famous bread knots. We suggest the Stuffed Belly white pizza with chorizo, jalapeño, caramelized onion and a ricotta-stuffed crust. Or build your own pie, with a choice of “drizzles” that include truffle oil and a raspberry-chipotle glaze. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. 615 S. Coast Hwy. 101, Encinitas, 760.230.1392. mrmotopizza.com

El Cruce + 241

Now Open. Aimed at providing an authentic Baja culinary experience this side of the border, this new restaurant, tap room and wine bar has opened at Chula Vista’s Third Avenue Village. Spotlighting seafood and locally sourced ingredients, the menu features oysters, ceviche, fish and octopus tacos, rib-eye steak, lamb burgers, tortas with chilaquiles, and homemade flan for dessert. To drink, choose from Baja wines and beers available exclusively here. There’s even a kids menu with mini cheese quesadillas, grilled cheese tortas and fried shrimp tostadas. Open daily 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. 2431 Third Ave., Chula Vista, 619.349.2389. More Info

Bull and Bourbon

Reopened. Sycuan Casino Resort’s glamorous flagship restaurant has reopened with an expanded menu and live music. Enjoy surf ‘n’ turf (filet mignon and lobster tail) every Wednesday night for $29; and acoustic concerts by local musicians every Friday and Saturday. While the AAA Four-Diamond steakhouse is known for its premium hand-cut steaks—including a 36-ounce tomahawk rib-eye and 22-ounce porterhouse (complete with an in-house butcher program)—we also love the jumbo-lump crab cakes, wagyu burger with smoked cheddar, and vast selection of bourbons and single-malt scotches. W-Sa 4-11 p.m. 5469 Casino Way, El Cajon, 619.659.3374. bullandbourbon.com

Seasonal Dishes at Barbusa

Ongoing. Serving Sicilian cuisine with seasonal offerings, the Busalacchi family’s modern trattoria doesn’t disappoint with its fall dishes. The fiori di zucca (aka fried squash blossoms, pictured) come stuffed with four cheeses and accompanied by apricot-chile jam. We’re also drooling over the cold-water lobster tail served atop basil-infused fettuccine, tossed with tomatoes, capers and Calabrian chile; and the prosciutto pizza with rosemary and purple and gold potatoes. Barbusa is also known for its handmade pastas (with gluten-free options available) and Southern Italian wines and cocktails. Try the Sicilian mule—Absolut Elyx vodka, Aperol, ginger beer and lemon. Open daily 4-10 p.m. 1917 India St., Little Italy, 619.238.1917. barbusa.com

Arts + Culture

San Diego Rep’s Unveiled

Nov. 13-15. Presenting three streaming performances this weekend, San Diego Repertory Theatre brings us Unveiled. In it we meet five Muslim women living in a post-9/11 world, who choose to wear a hijab. You’ll meet Maryam, a Pakistani immigrant; Noor, a Moroccan American; Inez, an African American Islamic convert; Shabana, a South Asian rapper from England; and Layla, a Palestinian immigrant. Each tells her story while sipping tea, bringing to light the triumphs of love in the face of racism and hatred. Rohina Malik (pictured) wrote and stars in this poignant, 50-minute, one-woman show. Tickets are $15. sdrep.org

Artist Linda Frueh at Fresh Paint Gallery

Nov. 14. Get to know Del Mar-based encaustic artist Linda Frueh, whose works are featured in the show Seductive Surfaces at Fresh Paint Gallery. Several artist’s talks are scheduled from 3 to 5 p.m.—when small groups can ask Frueh questions and learn about her style. According to the gallery, encaustic is an ancient painting technique that uses multiple thin layers of melted beeswax mixed with resin and pigment, applied to a wood panel and then fused with heat. The result: bold compositions, richly textured surfaces and incandescent colors—all of which you’ll see in Frueh’s art (pictured: Oceanside). 1020-B Prospect St., La Jolla, 858.215.2501. freshpaintgallery.com

Masters of Photography Exhibit at San Diego Museum of Art

Opens Nov. 14. Home to a renowned collection of more than 20,000 works dating back to 3000 B.C., the San Diego Museum of Art is one of our favorite spots for artsy experiences and exhibits. Opening Saturday (and on view through March 14, 2021), Masters of Photography: The Garner Collection showcases 100-plus photographs spanning different movements and subjects—all collected by Cam and Wanda Garner—by artists such as Ansel Adams, Berenice Abbott, Margaret Bourke-White, Frank Eugene and more. (Pictured: Sadie Pfeiffer, Spinner in Cotton Mill, South Carolina, 1910, by Lewis Wickes Hine.) See website for hours. 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, 619.232.7931. sdmart.org

Flower Painting with Mingei International Museum

Nov. 15. The museum itself remains closed for renovations, but continues to offer innovative pop-up and virtual educational experiences. Learn about the art of oshibana—a Japanese technique of flower painting that dates back to the 16th century—in a family-friendly, Facebook Live tutorial with Mingei’s education assistant Gabrielle Romberger. Translating to “pressed flowers,” oshibana incorporates dried floral arrangements into compositions that celebrate the beauty of nature. Materials needed for the project include dried or live flowers, macrame rope, cardboard and craft glue. See website for full details and to sign up for the event. 12:30 p.m. Free. mingei.org

Photo credits: Spiny Sundays by Colin Richard. All other images are courtesy of the businesses and venues featured.