There San Diego

10/10/2025

San Diego’s historic Lafayette Hotel has been awarded the prestigious recognition of a MICHELIN Key, recognizing the property as “a very special stay.”

The hotel equivalent of a MICHELIN Star for restaurants, the 2025 MICHELIN Key awards are a new designation, just entering their second year.

Of the 37 new United States-based hotels added to the 2025 MICHELIN Key guide, the Lafayette Hotel is the singular San Diego property to receive key designation.

Owned and operated by CH Projects, the company behind some of the city’s most acclaimed restaurant and bar destinations, including Morning Glory, Youngblood, Born & Raised, the Lafayette Hotel reopened in 2023 after a $31 million complete reimagining designed by CH Projects and Brooklyn-based Post Company.

The Lafayette has garnered accolades such as Esquire’s 2024 Hotel of the Year, 2024 Restaurant & Bar Design Awards, and several Orchids from the San Diego Architectural Foundation for historical preservation, interior design and architectural lighting.

CH Projects will open their second hotel property The Baby Grand in Coronado in early 2026.

Congrats to the CH Projects team! 🍾👏🏻

📸: Matt Kisiday

09/24/2025

The Solana Beach restaurant scene is on fire! Recent of openings of Rustic Root, LANA, and now CTZN have turned a once sleepy strip of the 101 into a hot spot.⁠
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We recently ate at for the first time, and we are in love.⁠ ❤️
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CTZN serves authentic Basque cuisine that feels like discovering a hidden corner of Europe right here in our backyard.⁠
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After traveling through the Basque region straddling Southwest France and Northern Spain, siblings W***y and Karine developed a deep appreciation for how food Basque food brings people together and were inspired to open CTZN as a love letter to its unique culture.⁠
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Chef Matthew Crawford leads the kitchen with fifteen years of experience, channeling California Modern style with New England influences into Basque traditions through open-fire cooking.⁠
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The tapas-style menu (small plates) encourages you to try many things, and is meant to be shared over conversation and a glass or two of wine.⁠
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The restaurant’s design has a modern, slightly upscale vibe that makes it perfect for date night, and an outside patio that’s perfect for “Pintxo Hour” - Tuesday through Friday - to try a variety of tapas and wine with friends.⁠
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We enjoyed everything, but be sure to save room for the Basque Cheesecake! 😍⁠
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See you there!⁠
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09/24/2025

The Solana Beach restaurant scene is on fire! Recent of openings of Rustic Root, LANA, and now CTZN have turned a once sleepy strip of the 101 into a hot spot.⁠
⁠
We recently ate at CTZN for the first time, and we are in love.⁠
⁠
CTZN serves authentic Basque cuisine that feels like discovering a hidden corner of Europe right here in our backyard.⁠
⁠
After traveling through the Basque region straddling Southwest France and Northern Spain, siblings W***y and Karine developed a deep appreciation for how food Basque food brings people together and were inspired to open CTZN as a love letter to its unique culture.⁠
⁠
Chef Matthew Crawford leads the kitchen with fifteen years of experience, channeling California Modern style with New England influences into Basque traditions through open-fire cooking.⁠
⁠
The tapas-style menu encourages you to try many things, and is meant to be shared over conversation and a glass or two of wine.⁠
⁠
The restaurant’s design has a modern, slightly upscale vibe that makes it perfect for date night, and an outside patio that’s perfect for “Pintxo Hour” - Tuesday through Friday - to try a variety of tapas and wine with friends.⁠
⁠
We enjoyed everything, but be sure to save room for the Basque Cheesecake! 😍⁠
⁠
See you there!⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠

08/26/2025

We had a great time getting a sneak peek of the Southern California-based artist RETNA’s new exhibition LOVE LETTER / CARTA DE AMOR at Madison Gallery in Solana Beach.

Recognized for his iconic hieroglyphic script, large-scale public works and influential presence in both the contemporary art world and street culture, LOVE LETTER / CARTA DE AMOR offers a rare and personal meditation on love, loss, and healing.

On view at Madison Gallery Sep 3 - Oct 11.

RSVP to the CARTA DE AMOR Opening Reception at Madison Gallery on Saturday, September 20, to meet RETNA in person by calling 858-523-9155 or emailing [email protected].

08/12/2025

We finally got a chance to try the recently-opened Lana in Solan Beach, and boy it was worth the wait!⁠
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Founded by industry veterans Travis LeGrand and Mark Whedon, Lana brings a nice touch of upscale to the Solana Beach restaurant scene, while still staying true to the laid back culture of the community.⁠
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The menu takes advantage of the wood-fired oven of the old CPK that Lana replaced, producing something for everyone: pizzas, steaks, seafood, pasta, artisan break and baked Mt Tam Cheese, wagyu meatballs, and must-try desserts (leave room!).⁠
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In addition, Mark Whedon’s deep connections in the wine industry ensure that wine lovers will always find something they like. ⁠
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With a comfortable outside patio that includes fire pits, and a beautiful interior dining room and bar, Lana is the perfect place for just about any occasion.⁠
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Link in bio for menu and reservations.⁠
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See you there!⁠

08/09/2025

San Diego, get ready. The sand is about to come alive! 🏆

Tomorrow, the SDFTV Open hits Mission Bay for a full day of high-energy matches, Brazilian beats, and a crowd that knows how to bring the vibes.

If you’ve never seen footvolley, think soccer skills meet beach volleyball — no hands allowed, just lightning-fast rallies, insane saves, and jaw-dropping control. These athletes turn every point into a show, and tomorrow’s bringing some of the best from Brazil 🇧🇷 and across the U.S. 🇺🇸.

You don’t need to know the rules to feel the energy, just pull up, grab a spot by the court, and let the atmosphere do the rest.

📅 When: Saturday, Aug 9
📍 Where: Mission Bay
💵 Free to watch

See you on the sand. 🌊⚽

08/01/2025

It was a picture perfect night to celebrate the work of Eduardo Chillida at Art Party at the San Diego Museum of Art.

The artist is from the Basque Country of Spain, so Art Party included incredible food and wine from the region to accompany his art, while local artist painted takeaway gifts for party attendees that were based on Chillida’s art.

Chillida’s art’s only stop in the U.S. will be here in San Diego, so be sure to visit the museum!

07/11/2025

🥃 + 🔥 GIVEAWAY! Here’s your chance to win a pair of tickets to Whiskey & Fire at Liberty Station! ⁠
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This culinary and spirits experience - taking place on Sunday, July 20 at Liberty Station’s North Promenade - is a walk-around feast featuring top local chefs showcasing their skills in live-fire cooking, complemented by premium whiskey partners offering tastings of rare and beloved spirits from around the globe. ⁠
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An all-star cast of top chefs from San Diego including Ben Diaz (Corkfire Kitchen), Brian Redzikowski (Kettner Exchange), Bryan Garcia (Cork & Craft), Cameron Ingle (Halom), Willian Eick (Matsu) and more will be on-site serving up delicious bites prepared over live fire. ⁠
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While you eat, you can explore a curated selection of premium whiskies from around the globe, provided by the nationwide event series, Whiskies of the World. From rare single malts to beloved bourbons. ⁠
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Here’s your chance to win a pair of tickets to attend Whiskey and Fire! Entering is easy:⁠
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1. Like this post⁠
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2. Follow us and  on Instagram⁠
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3. Tag a friend you want to bring and make sure they do 1 and 2 above!⁠
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We’ll pick a winner this weekend - good luck!⁠
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Link in bio for more info and tickets!⁠
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07/09/2025

Not every San Diego day needs the beach (but we sure do love it!)

Sometimes it’s about grabbing a coffee on the corner, flipping through secondhand books, or finding that one vintage piece you didn’t know you needed.

Just a few quiet gems that remind us why we love this city 🧡

(📍tags in slides)

07/02/2025

Red, white, and do it all 🇺🇸
Here are 10 fun, festive ways to celebrate the 4th of July in San Diego, from fireworks to fairs and everything in between.
Save this for the long weekend plans! 🎇

06/25/2025

From global pop icon Shakira lighting up the stage to the San Diego Symphony’s dazzling Rady Shell Summer 2025 Opening Night, and Lenny Pearce’s wildly fun USA Toddler Techno Tour, there’s something unforgettable for every music fan.

Here are the top concerts in San Diego this week! From global pop icon Shakira lighting up the stage to the San Diego Symphony’s dazzling Rady Shell

06/24/2025

🏝️ Ready to escape the mainland?

Catalina Island is calling with new summer adventures—think beachside relaxation, small-town charm, and unique experiences (rollerskating in the iconic Wrigley Ballroom?!)

Just a short ferry ride away…but feels like a whole other world 🌊✨
Start planning your island escape!

The perfect pop-up island escape awaits just 22 miles off the Southern California coast. It's pretty crazy to think: most of us would pay a small fortune