Brunch is Canceled—We’re Doing Art & Sake Instead

READER’S RECS

Welcome to Reader's Recommendations, where our community of food-loving locals share their favorite hidden gems, must-try spots, and neighborhood staples that make our city's culinary landscape truly special. Whether you are new to San Diego or you've been eating your way through the 619 since birth, this column is your chance to discover (or rediscover) San Diego through the taste buds of your neighbors who know where the good stuff is hiding. Here’s this week’s picks I’ve chosen:

• From Kevin → Grains 🌾 A cozy, family-owned Thai fusion restaurant offering plant-based takes on traditional dishes like Pad See Ew and Tom Yum Soup.

• From Joy → Peace Pies 🥧 A haven for raw, gluten-free, and soy-free vegan cuisine

• From Michelle → Cafe Gratitude 🙏🏽 A bright and airy spot offers a diverse menu of organic, plant-based dishes, each named with affirmations like "I Am Thriving" and "I Am Glorious."

• From Tony → Kindred 🤘 Known for its punk rock aesthetic and inventive cocktails

• From Emily → The Yasai 🍣 This spot elevates vegan sushi to an art form

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WHATS HAPPENIN’

• Taste of La Mesa Village, Thursday 4/24 🍽️ Downtown La Mesa turns into an all-you-can-eat buffet of bites and sips—yes, your stretchy pants are welcome.

• Jess Cramp: The Untold Story of Sharks, Thursday 4/24 🦈 If you're still haunted by Jaws, this shark talk might be your redemption arc (or confirm your fears).

• WOW Festival, Thursday April 24–27 🎭 A puppet parade, a casino of dreams, and sex-ed tours—this immersive festival has more plot twists than your last group text.

• Art Scene West Film Festival, Friday April 25-26 🎬 Outdoor indie films + ocean breeze = your new favorite date night formula.

• La Traviata at Civic Theatre, Friday April 25–27 🎼 An emotional, Italian-sung opera with full San Diego Symphony vibes—drama that’s actually worth the parking downtown.

• Art Alive at SDMA, Friday April 25-27 🌸 Art meets flower power in this lush exhibition, where petals dress up paintings better than I dress up for brunch.

• Top Gun Screening at Brooks Theatre, Friday April 25 🕶️ Maverick on the big screen again? Sign me up for the nostalgia, aviators, and volleyball flashbacks.

• La Jolla Concours d’Élégance, Friday April 25-27 🚘 Shiny vintage cars by the sea and a crowd that looks like they walked out of a catalog—this one’s for your inner glam gearhead.

• Wine in the Pines, Saturday April 26 🍷 A rockabilly-themed wine bash at Torrey Pines? Bring your saddle shoes and wine-loving alter ego.

• Linda Vista Multicultural Fair & Parade, Saturday April 26 🌍 This colorful, music-filled parade has it all—martial arts, global snacks, and enough bounce houses to exhaust your grandkids.

• Adams Avenue Unplugged, Saturday April 26 🎸 A music walkabout so packed it makes Coachella look like a nap.

• Mission Fed ArtWalk, Saturday April 26–27 🎨 Hundreds of artists, four music stages, and the urge to redecorate your whole house after this festival—you’ve been warned.

• Encinitas Spring Street Fair, Saturday April 26–27 🛍️ Craft booths, local eats, and sunshine galore—this fair is basically a Pinterest board IRL.

• San Diego Book Crawl, Saturday April 26–28 📚 The only kind of crawl that ends with tote bags and literary bragging rights instead of hangovers.

• Celebrate the Craft at The Lodge at Torrey Pines, Sunday April 27 🥂 A gourmet gathering so fancy your taste buds will wear pearls—locally sourced, of course.

• San Diego Spring Sake Festival, Sunday April 27 🍶 Unlimited sake + a festival cup to keep? Say less, I’m already tipsy thinking about it.

• Because You’re Mine at Brooks Theater, Sunday April 27 🎤 A Johnny & June tribute that’ll have you singing along and possibly crying in your seat (in a good way).

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