I Signed a Magic Secrecy Oath (But I'll Tell You Everything Else)✨

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 Ryan → Rosemarie’s Burgers 🍔 I hear the onion rings are amazing!

• From Kelly → Grand Ole BBQ Y Asado 🍖 Prepare to take some food to go.

• From Travis → Mama Kat’s 🍰 Small diner feel, yummy breakfast options!

• From Kathy → Cove House 🍹 Can’t beat the food or the views.

• From Tracie → Harney Sushi 🍱 Award winning gourmet specialty rolls!

• From Kim → Nick’s on State 🥧 I hear you should try everything on the menu.

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THE DIGEST

Elton John to Rock Petco Park for Cancer Research

Legendary performer Elton John will take the stage at Petco Park on May 9 for the 2025 Concert for Cures, a one-night-only benefit supporting Curebound's cancer research initiatives. The San Diego-based nonprofit focuses on funding critical adult and pediatric cancer research through events like this special performance. Fans can secure presale tickets beginning March 4, with all-access tickets available March 7 at 10 a.m., while those seeking VIP experiences and premium seating should visit the Padres website for additional information.

Joann Fabrics Unravels Completely

In a plot twist that has the crafting community in stitches, Joann Fabrics & Crafts has announced the closure of ALL stores nationwide, including El Cajon and National City locations, following a weekend auction that sealed the company's fate. What started as a partial trim of 500 locations has now turned into a complete pattern of liquidation, with going-out-of-business sales beginning immediately at all stores. San Diego's DIY enthusiasts must now piece together a new plan, turning to alternatives like Hobby Lobby, Michaels, or online retailers as the 80-year-old fabric empire comes apart at the seams after its second bankruptcy filing in less than a year. Customers should note that gift cards will only be accepted through February, while special discounts have been cut entirely—proving that in retail, not everything can be mended.

Mission Brewery Pours Into Sorrento Valley

The 111-year-old Mission Brewery is fermenting a fresh batch of expansion with its new Sorrento Valley tasting room—complete with 24 taps, an outdoor patio, and enough brick façade to make its Wonder Bread building ancestors rise with pride. After being acquired faster than a beer at happy hour in 2021, Mission has been on a tap-opening spree across San Diego, with locations sprouting up in Kensington, Del Mar, and UC San Diego faster than you can say "another round, please." The brewery's new 1,000-square-foot liquid laboratory opens February 28, promising experimental brews that will have San Diegans hopping between locations—proving that while bread may have made Mission's original building famous, it's the beer that keeps patrons on a roll.

WHATS HAPPENIN’

• Tommy Richman @ House of Blues, 2/27 🎵 “Million Dollar Baby” singer will be performing for the first time live at 7 pm!

• Fantastic Negrito @ Lou Lou’s Jungle Room, 2/28 🌴 Prepare yourself for an evening of genre-defying blend of blues, R&B, and roots music.

• San Diego Spiny Lobster Dinner at Vistal, 2/28  🦞 Experience an immersive culinary journey at Vistal with an in-depth demonstration by Chula Seafood.

• San Diego Theatre Month, 3/1 🎭 All month you can support local talent with shows happening every weekend! Check ticket prices here.

• San Diego FC First Match, 3/1 ⚽️ SDFC will finally be having its inaugural match at Snapdragon Stadium taking place Saturday at 7:30 p.m. against St. Louis City SC. Tickets start at $89!

• San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering, 3/1 🧪 I’ll be headed to Petco Park, because watching robots do our work while I eat cotton candy is basically my dream career path.

• CRSSD Festival, 3/1 🎹 A prominent music festival taking place at Waterfront Park features a curated mix of house, techno, and live performances by renowned artists and rising stars.

• The Unfair Advantage: A WOW Experience, 3/1 🏠 Curious minds can join the exclusive 35-person audience at La Jolla Playhouse where magician Harry Milas reveals his closely guarded illusion secrets—but only after signing a legally binding oath of silence that absolutely everyone will consider breaking on the drive home.

• The Great Gatsby, 3/1 🩰 I would be hard pressed to skip this classic Jazz Age tale adapted by the World of Ballet. Tickets still available!

• Flower Fields in Carlsbad, 3/1 🌻 The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch erupts into 50 acres of Instagram-worthy technicolor blooms this Saturday through mid-May, featuring new butterfly encounters and glass sculptures alongside classic tractor rides and flower crown workshops—all for less than the price of a nice dinner.

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