Events

Fashion Week San Diego Virtual Runway Show

Sept. 18. The catwalk is calling all those in need of a fashion fix. Fashion Week San Diego (FWSD) returns with another high-style runway show—staged at the Luce Loft warehouse downtown, with the help of videographer Broadway Hill. This installment will spotlight looks and pieces by Kelly Leanne Apparel Designs as part of the FWSD 2020 designer’s upcycled fashion technology collection. The San Diego-based fashion brand—founded by Kelly Leanne Snodgrass—is known for its one-of-a-kind, feminine frocks for women. 2 p.m. Free. fashionweeksd.com

S.D. International Film Festival Drive-In Movies

Sept. 18-19. The San Diego International Film Festival kicks off its September drive-in film series this weekend at the Westfield UTC. Watch movies on a big screen from the comfort of your car, with proceeds benefiting the San Diego Film Foundation. The schedule includes the campy mystery Knives Out on Friday, and the ‘80s teen comedy Ferris Bueller’s Day Off on Saturday. 7 p.m. (Doors open at 6 p.m.) Tickets start at $30 per car. Westfield UTC parking lot, 4545 La Jolla Village Drive, UTC. sdfilmfest.com

Dine Diego

Through Oct. 15. Replacing the traditional San Diego Restaurant Week, the same organization brings us Dine Diego—a monthlong campaign enticing diners to visit local restaurants open for alfresco dining and food to-go. The fun includes a downloadable Dine Diego bingo card and chances to win restaurant gift cards. Our pick: STK San Diego, which is offering patio dining, limited-capacity indoor dining, and a three-course menu (starting at $50)—with fun items such as tuna tartare tacos and wagyu beef sliders (pictured). W-Su 3-10 p.m. 600 F St., Gaslamp Quarter, 619.354.5988. stksteakhouse.com | sandiegorestaurantweek.com

Food + Drink

Arlo

Now Open. Feast on coastal Baja cuisine amid an indoor-outdoor space with a mid-century-modern design at this new stand-alone restaurant. Chef Josh Mouzakes focuses on regional flavors with a menu of grilled and smoked proteins, locally sourced seafood, and vegetarian and vegan dishes. Choose from savory starters such as lamb meatballs, “skillet hummus,” salads and wood-fired flatbreads. Entrees include Pacific striped bass and flat-steak carne asada with saffron frites. To drink: craft cocktails and wines from Baja’s Valle de Guadalupe. W-Sa 4-10 p.m. 500 Hotel Circle North, Mission Valley, 619.908.5058. arlosandiego.com

Rice Goban

Now Open. Sometimes you just need some Korean comfort food, and quickly. Enter Rice Goban to the rescue. The fast-casual kitchen serves the classics, including bibimbap bowls and hansang boxes. For the latter, choose a grilled protein (try the honey-fried chicken), rice or noodle base, and side such as fried dumplings or the banchan veggie platter. For the ultimate indulgence, the Bulgogi Lover comprises Korean beef bulgogi, bulgogi fried rice and bulgogi poutine fries. Chase it with the yuzu lemonade. Daily 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Westfield UTC, 4545 La Jolla Village Drive, UTC, 858.352.6559. More Info

Weekend Brunch at Giardino

Now Open. Off the beaten culinary path in Lemon Grove, this cozy cucina welcomes with white-washed brick walls, antique floral accents, two patios and Italian-inspired seasonal fare. The restaurant now offers an all-weekend brunch service complete with a new menu. Favorites include fried chicken ‘n waffles; shrimp served over polenta with a poached egg; and short rib chilaquiles with smashed avocado, mozzarella, sour cream and salsa. Add endless mimosas to your meal for $12. Sa from 11 a.m.; Su from 9 a.m. 8131 Broadway, Lemon Grove, 619.825.7112. giardinosd.com

Mendocino Farms Mission Valley

Upcoming | Sept. 22. A meatless taco salad seems nearly impossible. That’s why Mendocino Farms—the fast-casual sandwich-and-salad market whose newest location opens at the Westfield Mission Valley on Tuesday—named theirs the Impossible Taco Salad. Subbing in plant-based Impossible chorizo, the salad comes loaded with fresh veggies. Or try the avocado-and-quinoa superfood salad (pictured). On the sandwich front, they’re all delicious—particularly the pork belly banh mi and prosciutto-and-chicken on panini-pressed ciabatta. Open daily. 1652 Camino Del Rio North, Mission Valley, 619.398.2020. mendocinofarms.com

Arts + Culture

Hornblower’s Floating Cinema

Begins Sept. 17. Dinner and a movie on the bay, anyone? Hornblower Cruises and Events takes movie night to the next level with its floating cinema. The experience kicks off on Sept. 17 with a viewing of Top Gun aboard the upper deck of Inspiration–the biggest yacht in its San Diego fleet. The bay cruise departs twice weekly through Oct. 4, screening blockbuster films and cult classics. Each evening also includes dinner and libations. 6-9 p.m. Tickets start at $48, with family packages available. Pier 1, Hornblower Landing, 1800 N. Harbor Drive, downtown, 855.253.7943. hornblower.com

La Jolla Playhouse’s Portaleza Experience

Through Oct. 4. Go on a multisensory adventure without leaving home. As part of its innovative WOW (Without Walls) digital programming, La Jolla Playhouse presents an imaginative experience by David Israel Reynoso and Optika Moderna. Akin to the concept of a “message in a bottle,” audience members will receive a mysterious parcel in the mail—the contents of which hold a key (and a guide) to unlocking an awe-inspiring visual reality. Trust us, Portaleza is better experienced than described. Smartphones and headphones required to participate. Tickets are $20. lajollaplayhouse.org

Oceanside Museum of Art

Reopened. This North County gem is back in action! Spotlighting regional and international artists, the museum showcases works ranging from landscape painting to furniture, neon sculpture, art quilts and architectural glass. In addition to its live-stream and virtual programming, a handful of new exhibits await visitors for the first time—including After Fires, capturing a road trip that artist Allan Morrow took in 2018 as he passed through the wildfire-ravaged counties of Shasta and Trinity. Visit website for new hours for members and the public, and to purchase timed tickets. 704 Pier Way, Oceanside, 760.435.3721. oma-online.org

Photo credits: Rice Goban by Justin Nunez. La Jolla Playhouse courtesy of Optika Moderna. All other images are courtesy of the venues and businesses featured.