SanDiegoVille

San Diego-Born Chef Phil Esteban Opening Two New Area Locations Of White Rice Filipino Restaurant

2023-05-25T04:00:00.005-07:00

May 25, 2023

San Diego native chef Phillip Esteban is bringing new locations of his White Rice Filipino restaurant concept to National City and Linda Vista.

Chef Phillip Esteban is a native San Diegan who has honed his craft at several top restaurants, including Michelin-starred chef David Chang's Momofuku Ssäm Bar in New York City, Nine-Ten in La Jolla, The Cork and Craft in Rancho Bernardo, and as the R&D chef for Consortium Holdings - the company behind such San Diego hotspots as Born & Raised, Ironside Fish & Oyster and Craft & Commerce. During the pandemic, Esteban operated a catering company called Craft Meals that donated meals to front-line workers.

In 2020, the National City native launched several small-scale eateries - the White Rice Filipino comfort food and bowl stand inside Liberty Public Market, and Weapon Ramen, which has stalls in National City's Market on 8th Food Hall and inside Liberty Public Market in Point Loma. Esteban is also working on the opening of his first full restaurant, Wild Flour modern California bakery and delicatessen, which is expected to open in Point Loma's Liberty Station by year's end.

Last year, Chef Esteban opened the second location and first standalone branch of his White Rice eatery on the base floor of the brand new Orchid apartment building on Adams Avenue in Normal Heights. He will soon repurpose his Weapon Ramen stall at National City's Market on 8th Food Hall to become the third branch of White Rice, which will unveil this June. Esteban is also in the process of taking over Fusion Eats restaurant space at 5299 Linda Vista Road within Presidio Plaza shopping center for another standalone branch of White Rice, which will also have a beer and wine license. The fourth location in Linda Vista is anticipated to open this fall.

White Rice offers a menu of traditional and modernized Filipino dishes available from a walk-up window, including pinoy barbecue with grilled chicken skewers, pickled vegetables and a sous vide egg over garlic rice; lechon Kawali with crispy pork belly, a sous vide egg and seasonal vegetables over garlic rice; and Kinilaw, which is similar to ceviche, with local albacore tuna marinated in coconut milk, red onion, ginger, chili peppers and cilantro. Esteban will also feature specials and seasonal favorites, including his Longanisa burger with a sweet cured pork patty topped with pickled green mango and white sauce on a purple ube bun.

For more information about White Rice, visit ricebowlsforall.com.

Coronado High School Employee Under Investigation After Lewd Photos Circulate Among Students

2023-05-24T20:32:00.036-07:00

May 24, 2023

A Coronado High School employee is under paid administrative leave pending an investigation after lewd photos were circulated among students.

"Coronado Unified School District has placed a Coronado High School employee on paid administrative leave pending an investigation," reads the statement send out this evening on CUSD letterhead. "Administrative leave is a normal procedural stem to protect both the integrity of an investigation and due process. We are working in cooperation with the Coronado Police Department to ensure that a thorough and timely investigation is completed. We realize this raises more questions than we are able to answer at this time. Please be assured that the wellbeing of our students is our priority and the dedicated professionals at our schools remain focused on ensuring student success as we finish the school year."

Based on information received, the employee's dating profile was allegedly air dropped to many students during lunch hours earlier today. Then, later in the day, some students were sent a link to a sexually explicit video of what appeared to be the Coronado High employee in a video chat with another person. Photos were also purportedly plastered on the walls in some of the school's restrooms.

Coronado Police Department released a statement Thursday morning confirming an official investigation.

While we have the name of the employee, as well as the photo and video, we are not including any sensitive or identifying information at this time. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

San Diego Restaurant Owners Charged With COVID-Relief Fraud

2023-05-24T12:36:00.011-07:00

May 24, 2023

The owners of several San Diego restaurant have been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering for allegedly falsifying applications for pandemic relief funds.

A federal grand jury in San Diego returned an indictment last week charging Leronce Suel, 46, and RaVae Smith, 45, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. Under their Rockstar Dough LLC and Chicken Feed LLC, the partners have operated several restaurants around San Diego, including Streetcar Merchants Of Fried Chicken in North Park, Suckerfree Southern Plates & Bar in the Gaslamp and ShotCaller Street Soul Food in Lincoln Park.

According to the indictment, from March 2020 to June 2022, Suel and Smith allegedly conspired to underreport over $1.7 million in gross receipts on Rockstar Dough LLC’s 2020 corporate tax return filed with the IRS in order to qualify for the COVID-related Paycheck Protection Program and Restaurant Revitalization Funding loans. Suel and Smith also allegedly made materially false certifications on loan applications regarding the use of the money. The indictment charges that Suel and Smith made substantial cash withdrawals from their business bank accounts to launder the fraudulently obtained funds. As part of the conspiracy, Suel and Smith allegedly concealed more than $2.4 million in cash at their residence.

"During an unprecedented public health emergency, the United States provided these loan programs to deliver economic relief to Americans," said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman for the Southern District of California. "This office will investigate and prosecute those who exploited the global pandemic to unjustly enrich themselves. We encourage anyone with information regarding individuals who have engaged in COVID-relief fraud to come forward."

Suel and Smith made their initial court appearance this week before U.S. Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 10 years in prison for money laundering. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Randy S. Grossman for the Southern District of California made the announcement.

"The CARES act was passed to aid those in need and provide much needed relief during the Covid-19 pandemic," said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher of the Los Angeles Field Office. "Unfortunately, there are individuals and organizations who took advantage and targeted these programs to steal funds. Submitting false returns in support of a fraudulent loan application is a crime. IRS-CI is committed to aggressively investigating these crimes and bringing those to justice who stole funds and targeted relief programs during the pandemic."

The IRS-Criminal Investigation are investigating the case and Trial Attorney Julia Rugg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Beeler of the Southern District of California are prosecuting the case.

Suel and Smith still own and operate ShotCaller Street Soul Food in Lincoln Park and StreetCar Merchants Chicken Bar in North Park, although Streetcar will eventually become a new bar & restaurant concept dubbed Happy Medium.

National Chain Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams Announces Opening Date For Central San Diego Location

2023-05-24T10:36:00.010-07:00

May 24, 2023

Ohio-based Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, which has more than 50 locations around the United States, has set an early June grand opening date for its location in San Diego's North Park.

Founded by Jeni Britton Bauer in Columbus, OH, in 2002, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams uses essential oils to help build bold and unique flavors. Jeni's has more than 50 locations in twelve states and the District of Columbia and currently distributes to over 3,000 groceries and markets around the country, as well as ships products nationwide.

The first San Diego branch of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams opened within The Beacon La Costa retail plaza in Carlsbad last spring. The second area location will grand open on University Avenue in North Park on Monday, June 5, from 7-11pm and will be serving free scoops all night long. Expect the ice cream shops to serve a large variety of flavors including pineapple upside down cake, brown butter almond brittle, cold brew with coconut cream and many more. Based on the success of the first outposts, more locations may open around San Diego in the near future.

Jeni's Spendid Ice Creams will open on June 5 at 2871 University Avenue in San Diego's North Park. For more information, visit jenis.com.

Momma Mia Italian Deli & Market Bringing Stacked Sandwiches To San Diego

2023-05-23T18:00:00.001-07:00

May 23, 2023

Momma Mia Italian Deli & Market will bring fine Italian imports, fresh made sandwiches and Sicilian recipes passed down through generations to San Diego when it opens later this year.

From Giovanni Georgees, who previously operated Gio's Fitness101 in La Mesa, Momma Mia is an incoming Italian deli inspired by the founder's Sicilian mother. The eatery is currently in the process of installing in the space that last housed Grossmont Cleaners in the small retail plaza that also houses a Denny's and Carnitas Uruapan in La Mesa.

Momma Mia will have a full deli component with specialty sandwiches piled high with Italian meats and cheeses. There will also be prepared dishes, desserts and pastries, as well as an upscale market with groceries, beer, wine, and imported Italian products.

Momma Mia Italian Deli & Market is anticipated to open by year's end at 4231 Spring Street in San Diego's East County city of La Mesa.

Kettner Exchange Owner Taking Over Hospitality Operations At La Jolla's Historic La Valencia Hotel

2023-05-23T14:41:00.012-07:00

May 23, 2023

The owner of such San Diego hotspots as Kettner Exchange in Little Italy and Firehouse in Pacific Beach is taking the food and beverage reins at La Jolla's historic La Valencia Hotel.

Matt Spencer's SDCM restaurant group operates many bars and restaurants around San Diego County, including Kettner Exchange, Devil's Dozen Donuts, Firehouse, The Grass Skirt, Good Time Poke, Waverly Restaurant & Lounge, Vin De Syrah, Camino Riviera and Captain's Quarters. Spencer recently signed on to take over the culinary and bar management for the revival of The Whaling Bar at La Jolla's nearly century-old La Valencia Hotel.

Matt Spencer will soon begin putting his touches on La Valencia's onsite dining options, including the property's signature restaurant, the ocean-view Mediterranean Room, and La Sala Lounge, as well as in-room and poolside dining options. Expect SDCM's Corporate Executive Chef Brian Redzikowski to soon begin redeveloping the menus for La Valencia's vibrant dining options. SDMC's resident mixologist Eric Johnson will also be tasked with updating the bar and cocktail offerings. SDCM will mainly oversee the reopening of The Pink Lady of La Jolla's much-loved nautical-themed cocktail lounge The Whaling Bar, which is expected to unveil later this year after several delays.

On December 15, 1926, La Jollans MacArthur Gorton and Roy B. Wiltsie formally opened La Valencia Apartment-Hotel overlooking La Jolla Cove on Prospect Street at Herschel Avenue. The Cabrillo Hotel adjacent to the La Valencia was acquired in 1956 and incorporated as the West Wing, while at the same time Cafe La Rue and the Whaling Bar were constructed. Now owned and managed by Pacifica Host Hotels, La V features 114 completely renovated guest rooms and villas overlooking Ellen Browning Scripps Park with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.

La Valencia Hotel is located at 1132 Prospect Street in the heart of La Jolla Village. For more information, visit lavalencia.com.

San Diego's First Bikini-Clad Barista Cafe Ready To Unveil In Pacific Beach

2023-05-23T12:49:00.003-07:00

May 23, 2023

Grand opening this weekend in San Diego's Pacific Beach is Goddess Coffee, which is the city's first bikini barista coffee shop.

From owner MaLinda Bloch, Goddess Coffee opens this week in the Pacific Beach retail plaza that also houses The Grass Skirt and Rubio's. The cafe will feature bikini-clad baristas serving an array of coffee and espresso drinks made with Fair Trade and organic beans from South Park's veteran-owned Seven Seas Roasting. There will also be grab-and-go food and pastries, as well as protein-infused beverages, plant-based energy drinks and mushroom coffee. Goddess Coffee is beach-themed, and use clean-label syrups and house-made whipped cream, along with Hollander sauces, and vegan baked goods from woman-owned Sweets by Victoria.

"We are San Diego’s only bikini barista coffee shop!", commented Goddess Coffee founder MaLinda Bloch. "We are a woman-owned, woman-focused company, with a mission to inspire all women to free their inner goddess and embrace their divine feminine energy. We want to see all women feeling confident in their bodies, no matter what shape, size, or color it might be. Our mission is to cultivate a sisterhood of love and support, rather than competition, and a feeling of unworthiness or shame."

Goddess Coffee will grand open on Saturday, May 27, at 910 Grand Avenue in San Diego's Pacific Beach. For more information, visit goddesscoffeesd.com.

Louisiana-Based Fried Chicken Chain Raising Cane's Open Fifth San Diego Location This June

2023-05-22T15:30:00.006-07:00

May 22, 2023

The fifth San Diego location of chicken tender restaurant chain Raising Cane's is opening this June.

Founded by Todd Graves in Baton Rouge, LA in 1996 and named after his yellow Labrador, Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers is a fast-food chain that now has more than 375 restaurants in 24 states, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates with multiple new restaurants under construction. The first San Diego outpost opened in Santee in 2018 with the second area branch opened in Vista later that year, the third unveiling in September 2020 in Mira Mesa, and the fourth launched in fall 2021 in Escondido.

The fifth San Diego branch of Raising Canes's will open within Chula Vista Center outdoor shopping mall on June 20. Like other locations, the concise menu will be centered around fresh-never-frozen, hand-dipped chicken fingers that are breaded and fried to order and available in combo platters and on sandwiches. Raising Cane's has plans to open up to 30 locations in the San Diego area over the next decade. Two more area locations are currently in development, one at 12665 Poway Road in Poway and the other in the former site of a Union Bank on Palm Avenue in Imperial Beach.

Raising Cane's is anticipated to open on Tuesday, June 20, at 555 Broadway in San Diego's South County city of Chula Vista. For more information, visit raisingcanes.com.

Opera Singer-Led DivoDiva Coffee & Wine Replacing Pappalecco In San Diego's Hillcrest

2023-05-21T03:00:00.003-07:00

May 21, 2023

Replacing a 13-year-old location of Pappalecco cafe in San Diego's Hillcrest is DivoDiva Coffee & Wine, an all-day bar and restaurant concept from two opera singers.

Rosario Monetti is a Naples, Italy-born professional opera singer who has trained under some of Italy’s most respected vocal coaches and also has a restaurant with his father called Zenith Cafe. He moved to San Diego in 2009 and has performed all over the city, including singing the National Anthem before a Padres game at Petco Park. Monetti also owns Meshuggah Shack in Mission Hill. He has teamed up with fellow opera singer Victoria Robertson for the opening of a new wine bar and eatery dubbed DivoDiva Coffee & Wine.

Moving into the Hillcrest cafe space that has housed a branch of Pappalecco since late 2009, DivoDiva Coffee & Wine will offer an Italian-inspired menu featuring espresso drinks, pastries, and morning meals. Later in the day, the establishment will transition into a music-themed wine bar and restaurant.

DivoDiva is anticipated to open in early July at 3650 Fifth Avenue, Suite 104, in San Diego's Hillcrest neighborhood.

San Diego's Country On The Coast Music Festival Coming To Downtown's Waterfront Park On June 18

2023-05-21T01:30:00.005-07:00

May 21, 2023

San Diego's Country on the Coast Country Music Festival takes over downtown's Waterfront Park on June 18, and promo code SDVILLE saves on tickets.

Get ready for a boot-stompin', hat-tippin', good time at the Country on the Coast music festival. With downtown San Diego's picturesque Waterfront Park as its backdrop, this festival will transport attendees to a world of good ol' fashioned southern charm and hospitality. Get your cowboy boots and hats ready, because you won't want to miss out on this exciting celebration of all things country.

The lineup of performers for this year's festival includes Kelsea Ballerini, Chris Janson, Thompson Square and others. From classic favorites to up-and-coming artists, the lineup includes something for everyone. In addition to live music, there will also be mechanical bull riding, line dancing, food & beverage vendors, games like cornhole or horseshoes, and even a Ferris wheel with stunning views of the park, downtown San Diego, and the beautiful San Diego Bay.

Tickets to the 21-and-over Country on the Coast Music Fest are available online and promo code SDVILLE saves $10 per ticket. General admission tickets include entry into the event and complimentary Ferris wheel rides. VIP tickets include express admission into the event, access to an exclusive elevated VIP area above the water fountains, an exclusive VIP only front of the stage area, access to VIP bathrooms, and complimentary Ferris wheel rides.

Country on the Coast Music Festival takes place on Sunday, June 18, from 2:30-9:30 pm at 1600 Pacific Highway in downtown San Diego. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit CountryontheCoast.com and enter our giveaway opportunity below for a chance to receive 2 complimentary VIP tickets.

Verbena Kitchen Ends Run In San Diego's North Park After Less Than 2 Years

2023-05-20T02:30:00.005-07:00

May 20, 2023

After less than 2 years in business, Verbena Kitchen has ended its run in San Diego's North Park.

In 2021, longtime San Diego chef Ronnie Schwandt, along with his wife Laura and partner Jillian Ziska, took over the University Avenue space that last housed Splash Wine Lounge for the opening of a seasonal-inspired restaurant named Verbena Kitchen. Schwandt, who was long employed by Coronado's Blue Bridge Hospitality, eventually left Verbena after about a year and returned to Blue Bridge's employ where he now holds the position of Corporate Chef.

We have now received word that the 55-seat Verbena Kitchen has permanently closed, although no announcement has been made on the company's social media channels. There is no word on what will come to the quaint space at 3043 University Avenue in North Park.

For more information about Verbena Kitchen, visit verbenakitchensd.com.

Horizon Music Festival Returns To Downtown San Diego On June 17 With Headliner Tiësto | Save On Passes & Enter To Win VIP TIckets

2023-05-20T00:30:00.029-07:00

May 20, 2023

The Horizon Music Festival returns to downtown San Diego's Waterfront Park on Saturday, June 17, featuring a live performance by headliner Tiësto. We are raffling off 2 VIP tickets to attend, as well as offering promo code SDVILLE for $5 savings per pass.

Spend your day under the sun at downtown San Diego's bay front Waterfront Park while enjoying some cold drinks alongside old and new friends at this year's Horizon Music Festival. Get ready to dance as the sun sets over San Diego Bay to tunes by one of the biggest names in electronic dance music (EDM), the world-renowned Tiësto, who has been voted Mix magazine's "Greatest DJ of all time." This marks Tiësto’s first outdoor performance in San Diego in over a decade, making it an event not to be missed.

The Horizon Music Festival will also feature other up-and-coming local DJs all day long, including Imanbek, Thomas Jack and local favorites Erick Diaz, Matt Faulk and Will Plaze. Attendees will also get the chance to shop San Diego's local vendors, munch on fantastic fare from various restaurants, play an array of lawn games, enjoy free Ferris wheel rides, and take a journey down "Wine Country" featuring over 30 wines from 15 different wineries.

Tickets to the 21-and-over Horizon Music Fest are available online and promo code SDVILLE saves $5 per ticket. General admission tickets include entry into the event and complimentary Ferris wheel rides. VIP tickets include express admission into the event, access to an exclusive elevated VIP area above the water fountains, an exclusive VIP only front of the stage area, access to VIP bathrooms, and complimentary Ferris wheel rides.

Horizon Music Festival takes place on Saturday, June 17, from 2:00-9:30 pm at 1600 Pacific Highway in downtown San Diego. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit intothehorizon.com and enter our giveaway opportunity below for a chance to receive 2 complimentary VIP tickets.

Minnesota-Based Nautical Bowls Superfoods Eatery Opening First San Diego Location

2023-05-19T18:00:00.001-07:00

May 19, 2023

Want an açaí bowl with a side of Jesus love? Well Nautical Bowls is your spot. The fast-growing Minnesota-based company is opening its first California locations in San Diego.

Founded in Minnetonka, Minnesota in 2018 as a food truck by husband-and-wife Bryant and Rachel Amundson, Nautical Bowls is a healthy food chain that now has over 40 locations with more than a hundred additional branches in development. Franchisee Brian Gibbs will open the first of at least three San Diego outposts in the space that last housed Afters Ice Cream on Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach.

"It's been a dream to create something from the ground up together, keep Jesus & family at the center — and make an impact on others along the way," reads Nautical Bowls' website. "The Lord has led every step of the journey at Nautical Bowls and with our arms wide open, we are excited to see what He is going to continue to do with it! We will continue to lead Nautical Bowls with joyful passion the Lord has given us!"

Nautical Bowls offers a menu of superfoods bowls made with all-natural and organic ingredients like açaí, blue majik, spirulina, pitaya, and a vast selection of toppings. Bowls are gluten-free, dairy-free, plant-based, soy-free and contain no refined sugars. The eatery will have a nautical theme.

Nautical Bowls is anticipated to open in early July at 855 Garnet Avenue in San Diego's Pacific Beach. For more information, visit nauticalbowls.com.

San Diego Restaurant Has Liquor License Suspended After Serving Underage Patron That Died After Leaving

2023-05-19T09:50:00.003-07:00

May 19, 2023

The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has suspended the liquor license of a San Diego restaurant after concluding employees served a minor who lost his life in a car crash after leaving the establishment.

California ABC has issued a 30-day suspension of the liquor license for Las Tres Catrinas, located at 555 Broadway, Suite 1084, in San Diego's South County of Chula Vista, after an investigation found the business served alcohol to a 20-year-old patron on January 16, 2022. After leaving the restaurant, the patron lost his life in a single-vehicle car crash.

ABC opened a Target Responsibility for Alcohol Connected Emergencies (TRACE) investigation immediately after the incident to determine the source of the alcohol that was illegally served. ABC agents determined that two Las Tres Catrinas servers, overseen by a manager, repeatedly served alcohol to 20-year-old Jonathan Ortiz Zaragoza without ever checking his ID.

ABC filed disciplinary action against La Tres Catrinas’ alcoholic beverage license for furnishing alcoholic beverages to a minor resulting in death. La Tres Catrinas settled the action and agreed to a 30-day suspension of their liquor license, with a one-year revocation stayed. The business cannot sell alcohol for the next 30 days, and if any other violations occur within the one-year stayed period, ABC has authority to revoke the license permanently.

Earlier this year, San Diego's GBOD Hospitality Group took over operations of Las Tres Catrinas but had no ownership of the restaurant when the violation occurred. GBOD also owns and operates Mezé Greek Fusion, El Chingon, Prohibition Lounge, and Havana 1920 in downtown San Diego, as well as Little Italy-based sister concepts Monello and Bencotto. GBOD has put in their notice to terminate their management agreement with Las Tres Catrinas, and the official end date will be June 9, 2023.

Las Tres Catrinas is located at 555 Broadway, Suite 1019, in San Diego's South County city of Chula Vista. For more information, visit lastrescatrinas.com.

Global Chain Texas Roadhouse To Open Location In Temecula

2023-05-19T02:30:00.003-07:00

May 19, 2023

With more than 600 locations around the world and more to come, Texas Roadhouse will soon bring a new outpost to Temecula, CA.

Founded by W. Kent Taylor in Indiana in 1993, Texas Roadhouse now operates more than 607 locations around the United States, as well as in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the Philippines, Mexico, and Taiwan. The restaurants are known for the free buckets of peanuts at each table, line dancing waitstaff, Willie Nelson-themed tables, and a classic American scratch-made menu of hand-cut steaks, fall-off-the-bone ribs, house-made sides, and fresh-baked bread. Being their top menu item is an 11-ounce USDA Choice Sirloin and every table receives homemade rolls, each Texas Roadhouse store employs its own butcher and baker to ensure quality.

There are currently two Texas Roadhouse locations in San Diego's County, one in Oceanside that has been open since 2016 and the other off Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon that unveiled in March 2020, with a third area branch opening soon near the I-805 ramp in San Diego's South County city of National City. The Temecula outpost will open on the southwest corner of Winchester and Margarita Roads near Promenade Temecula shopping mall. The location hopes to open by early 2024 and will have a full liquor license. The walls of each Texas Roadhouse are adorned with murals that are created specifically for each restaurant, with paintings designed to reflect the local community. Each mural is still approved by founder and CEO Kent Taylor.

The new San Diego Texas Roadhouse aims to open in 2024 at the corner of Winchester and Margarita Roads in Temecula, CA. For more information, visit texasroadhouse.com.

San Diego Restaurant Chain Sued For Sexual Harassment

2023-05-18T17:00:00.074-07:00

May 18, 2023

A San Diego-based restaurant chain has been sued with claims alleging teenage female workers were sexually harassed by a male supervisor and retaliated against if they spoke up.

A lawsuit filed on May 17 in the United States District Court Southern District of California by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Swami's Cafe alleges that women staffers, some underage, were sexually harassed and suffered retaliation if they complained. The lawsuit includes details on incidents dating back to 2019 at nine different location, including sister concept Honey's Bistro in Encinitas. The most damning accusations in the Swami's lawsuit were against John Nolan, a 58-year-old manager at an Encinitas location, who is accused of a multitude of inappropriate actions against the restaurant's young female employees.

"Since at least 2019, Defendants have had a pattern of hiring teenage girls as young as 16 years old based on their appearance and vulnerability, using manipulative tactics to subject them to a highly sexualized work environment in which Swami’s male manager, John Nolan, would sexually harass them daily," reads the Complaint. "Manager Nolan created a hostile work environment by, among other things, inappropriately touching and making sexual comments to young female employees, as well as by attempting to have sexual relationships with young female employees. As a supervisor, he subjected the same employees he harassed to tangible employment actions by, among other things, demonstrating favoritism in the terms and conditions of employment towards employees who were forced to comply with his advances and retaliating against those who refused."

The lawsuit alleges that Manager Nolan would show favoritism to female employees "who were coerced to put up with Manager Nolan’s advances," even buying them expensive gifts. Those that refused to tolerate his actions were allegedly taken off schedule or fired. It is even purported that Swami’s owner, Jaime Osuna, was present when Manager Nolan referred to a 17-year-old hire as a "tall beautiful Venezuelan" and rather than addressing the inappropriateness of the comment, Osuna is claimed to have "leered at her" and stared "her up and down."

Other incidents detailed in the lawsuit include claims of sexual harassment from coworkers and cooks at other Swami's locations and from a dishwasher at Honey's Bistro, who the complaint states would grab waitresses from behind. The EEOC is seeking punitive damage for their complainants and an injunction to prevent future harassment.

Owner Jaime Osuna opened his first Swami's Cafe location on Highway 101 in Encinitas in 2005, offering a breakfast and lunch menu centered around healthier options. Osuna has since opened and closed several additional Swami's outposts in San Diego County, including operating branches still in business in Carlsbad, Vista, Escondido, Del Sur, La Mesa, North Park, Oceanside, Solana Beach, Point Loma and two in Encinitas - plus Honey's Bistro & Bakery in Encinitas.

The full complaint is included below.

Major League Soccer Team Officially Coming To San Diego And Padres Star Manny Machado Is An Owner

2023-05-18T10:31:00.022-07:00

May 18, 2023

Major League Soccer has announced during a news conference at Snapdragon Stadium that an MLS team will be coming to San Diego, and Padres star Manny Machado is part of the ownership team.

After weeks of speculation, Major League Soccer today made it official that the 30th club will be sited in San Diego starting in 2025. MLS Commissioner Don Garber, British-Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Mansour and Cody Martinez, chairman of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, joined San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria during the announcement. 75-year-old Mohamed Mansour, who is believed to be worth nearly $4 billion, purchased the franchise for a reported $500 million.

The yet-to-be named club will be owned by Mansour and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, an indigenous American tribe that has been sited in the San Diego region for more than 12,000 years. San Diego Padres star third baseman Manny Machado is also part of the ownership team. Additional owners include the Zephyr Partners' Brad Termini and the Right to Dream's Tom Vernon and Dan Dickinson.

Tom Penn, former president of Los Angeles Football Club, has been named as CEO for the San Diego MLS franchise, with a name and crest to be revealed at a later date. The club will enter the MLS league starting in the 2025 season and will play at Snapdragon Stadium. San Diego's new club is the ninth new team added to the MLS since 2019. San Diego beat out Las Vegas to get the new team.

San Diego currently has two professional soccer clubs sited in the city. The San Diego Wave is part of the National Women’s Soccer League, and the San Diego Loyal compete in the United Soccer League (USL).

TikTok-Famous The Red Chickz Locks Down First Of Several San Diego Locations

2023-05-18T04:00:00.001-07:00

May 18, 2023

Los Angeles' TikTok-famous The Red Chickz is in the process of an aggressive expansion that includes multiple locations of the Nashville hot chicken chain opening in San Diego.

The Red Chickz was founded in downtown Los Angeles in 2018 by Shawn Lalehzarian, an Iranian immigrant who learned English by working in many different roles in the restaurant industry for well-known brands like Wolfgang Puck, Starbucks, Pinkberry, California Pizza Kitchen, and Chili’s. The Red Chickz has earned an impressive social media following over its short tenure, including amassing over 1 million followers on TikTok.

After announcing a franchising plan in 2021, the company has since signed 18 units to open in the coming year with more than a dozen deals in the pipeline in Houston, Texas, as well as densely-populated areas in California such as Los Angeles, San Diego, Long Beach, Fresno, and Orange County. The company is looking for spaces to open in San Diego and recently secured a lease for its first area location, taking over the space that last housed Pluck U within The Shoppes at Carlsbad.

The Red Chickz has plans to open at least three branches in San Diego under the leadership of franchisee Mattie Shlemon. Like other Nashville hot chicken chains, expect a menu of fried chicken tenders and sandwiches at varying spice levels, as well as fried shrimp, tacos, bone-in chicken and waffles, chicken & French Toast, and even vegetarian dishes with cauliflower.

The Red Chickz aims to open its first San Diego location as early as this summer at 2525 El Camino Real, Suite 217, in Carlsbad. For more information, visit theredchickz.com and check out the menu below.

Former Theranos Founder, Convicted Felon & San Diego Resident Elizabeth Holmes Must Report To Prison | Exploring Her Close Ties To A San Diego Hotel Behemoth

2023-05-17T14:14:00.022-07:00

May 17, 2023

Former Theranos CEO and current San Diego resident Elizabeth Holmes will soon have to report to prison, so we explore her close ties to a powerful and deeply-rooted family behind some of the San Diego's most prominent hotels.

Elizabeth Holmes, who founded now-dissolved Theranos in 2003 at age 19, once graced the covers of magazines in which she was heralded as "the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire" and "the next Steve Jobs". She had raised billions of dollars to fund the rollout of a blood testing machine that was advertised as being able to perform over 100 different medical tests with just a prick of the finger and a few drops of blood. During her tenure, Theranos was valued at $9 Billion.

It turned out that Holmes was running a shoddy operation, allegedly misleading investors and the government at every turn with baseless promises and fraudulent technology. Her blood test machines didn't actually work, and in reality, Theranos was using commercially available machines made by competing manufacturers for most of its blood testing.

After being indicted in June 2018 on nine counts of wire fraud and two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for distributing blood tests with falsified results to consumers, the trial in the case of U.S. v. Holmes, et al. began in August 2021. After more than 50 hours of deliberations over seven days, in early January 2022, a California jury convicted Holmes of three counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Holmes was found not guilty of an additional four counts, and the jury reportedly remained deadlocked on the other three charges

On November 18, 2022, Holmes was sentenced by Judge Edward Davila to 11 years and three months in prison, with another three years of supervision after her release. The sentence also includes a fine of $400, or $100 for each count of fraud with restitution to be set at a later date. Holmes was originally ordered to turn herself into custody on April 27, 2023, but she received a one month automatic stay on reporting to prison after filing an appeal on the decision last month.

The man that called himself "Hanson" talking to reporters.

During the first days of jury selection at Holmes's federal fraud trial, a man describing himself as "concerned citizen interested in the trial" and calling himself "Hanson" reportedly piqued the curiosity of reporters by frequently chatting with media members. The man allegedly claimed to be a "car enthusiast" who was attending the trial as "a media watchdog". It turned out the mystery man was identified to be William "Bill" Ledford Evans, the father of Holmes' husband and heir to San Diego-based Evans Hotels company.

Founded in 1953 by William L. Evans' parents, William D. & Anne, Evans Hotels owns and operates The Bahia Resort Hotel in Mission Beach, the Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa in Pacific Beach, and The Lodge at Torrey Pines Hotel in La Jolla, as well as two sternwheeler boats that ferry to and from between the company's Mission Bay hotels.

Bill & Billy Evans.

In addition to being a hotel magnate, Bill L. Evans owns one of the most exclusive private antique and classic car collections in the country. He has also sat on important regional boards, including being a former District Chairman for the San Diego Tourism Marketing board; a past board member of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce; headed the Convention Center Corporation Board of Directors for a period; was a board member and past president of the San Diego Hotel-Motel Association; was past President of the Mission Bay Lessees Association; and served on the boards of both the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau and the San Diego Historical Society. It is reported that Evans Hotels estimated annual revenue is currently $180.6 million per year.

"Today much of the success of the City's tourism industry can be traced back to that mudflat in Mission Bay where two young hoteliers saw the future," reads the About Us page on Evans Hotels website. "Now Anne Evans and her adult children, Bill Evans and Grace Evans Cherashore, continue to lead one of Southern California’s true success stories in tourism entrepreneurship and its hopes for continued success in the future."

Bill Evans' son Billy Evans, age 30, reportedly married Elizabeth Holmes, age 38, in a private ceremony at some point in 2019. Evans grew up around San Diego and attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics in 2015.

After graduation, Evans focused on creating a luxury healthcare start-up that would transport affluent Asian clients to the U.S. for concierge medical attention, with amenities like chauffeured car services, elegant hotels and top-tier health care, but the project did not come to fruition. Evans first official job out of college was at LinkedIn, where he was a strategy and analytics leadership program analyst from July 2015 to 2017. He then moved on to Luminar Technologies, which produces sensors for self-driving cars, taking on the role of manager of special projects. He was working at Luminar when he and Holmes began their relationship after meeting at a 2017 party in the San Francisco Bay Area. The two were first spotted in public together in August 2018 at the Burning Man festival. It is believed that Evans ceased working at Luminar in early 2019.

Billy and Elizabeth share a one year-old infant son, William Holmes Evans, who was born in July 10, 2021, as well as a 3-month-old daughter, Invicta. Some have speculated the timing of Elizabeth's pregnancies have been intended to delay her trial, prison term, and garner sympathy from the jury and public. Holmes actually became pregnant with her second child following the jury verdict and it's believed that her then-pregnancy was the reason she was not required to report for incarceration until April 2023.

It was previously been reported that Holmes and Evans were living on a home at the 74-acre, century-old Green Gables estate currently listed for sale for $135 million, located in Woodside, CA, in the Silicon Valley area, but they have since moved multiple times after their home address was revealed in media. They now live somewhere in San Diego County, possibly with Billy's parents.

"He [Evans] is a trust fund baby and has a lot of money, and he's probably helping out with the legal bills because Elizabeth's family doesn't have money either," surmised host Nick Bilton on his Vanity Fair podcast Inside The Hive in June 2019. "Holmes is going to get pregnant before she gets on the stand because she'll look very sympathetic as a pregnant woman on the stand."

Elizabeth Holmes' strategy at trial relied heavily on a "Svengali defense," essentially trying to convince the jury her actions were forced by former Theranos executive and Holmes' ex-boyfriend Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, who Holmes had known since she was 18 years of age.

Balwani, who is 18 years Holmes senior, faced the same federal criminal charges as Holmes but was tried separately due to the conflicts in each of their respective defense strategies. Balwani's trial began on March 8, 2022 and he was convicted in July. Balwani began his nearly 13 years in prison  for his role in the fraud this past April.

This week, U.S. District Judge Edward Davila ordered Holmes and Balwani, jointly, to pay $452 million in restitution to the victims of their crimes. In a filing made this morning, Judge Davila ordered Holmes to turn herself to the Bureau of Prisons by May 30 to begin serving her 11-year sentence. Davila has recommended that Holmes serve her sentence at a women's prison in Bryan, TX, but it has not been disclosed whether the recommendation was accepted.

Last March, streaming platform Hulu released "The Dropout," an eight episode series starring Amanda Seyfried. Apple TV+ was also planning to release a feature-length movie about Theranos named "Bad Blood", starring Jennifer Lawrence as Holmes, but it has been reported that the project based on the book of the same name is no longer moving forward.

For those looking to learn more about Elizabeth Holmes and the allegations against Theranos, there are several documentaries, podcasts and books available, including The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley documentary on HBO, The Drop Out podcast (which served as the basis for the Hulu series), Bad Blood: The Final Chapter podcast, and the book Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by Wall Street Journal correspondent John Carreyrou, who was integral in blowing the Theranos scandal wide open in 2015.

We reached out to William L. Evans and Evans Hotels Chief Marketing Officer Ilsa Butler for comment in preparation for the original article but did not receive a response. Following the sharing of information about the connection between Elizabeth Holmes and Evans Hotels on the SanDiegoVille Instagram account, our profile was blocked by the Instagram pages for Catamaran Resort & Spa, The Lodge at Torrey Pines and Bahia Resort.

The original version of this article was originally published on September 30, 2021 with a second edition released in March 2022 and a third in December 2022.

Crafted Culture Bar & Restaurant Bringing New Location To San Diego's Point Loma

2023-05-17T12:50:00.001-07:00

May 17, 2023

Taking over the restaurant space that currently houses Westerly Public House in San Diego's Point Loma is Crafted Culture, a bar & restaurant concept from the San Diego hospitality group behind Resident Brewing, The Hen House and Death By Tequila.

Empress Capital Investments was founded by Northern California native James Langley in 2017 with the opening of the first Wokou Ramen & Yakitori in San Diego's Carmel Valley (which has since closed). The hospitality group also previously operated now-defunct California Native within Del Mar Highlands Town Center and had a second Wokou location in the Crown Point area of Pacific Beach, which has since been converted into morning focused The Hen House. The company also has Leap Coffee in Escondido and a location of Death By Tequila in Encinitas with a second branch of that concept in the works to open in North Park. Langley has also been instrumental in the growth of Rise & Shine Restaurant Group's Breakfast Republic chain.

A branch of Empress Capital's Crafted Culture concept, which first opened in San Diego's North County of Sabre Springs in 2021, will soon install in the 2,800 square-foot onsite restaurant space occupied by Westerly Public House on the base floor of Point Loma's $30 million Monsaraz Hotel. Crafted Culture is a concept centered around embracing the ethos of the oft-repeated buzzword "craft". Like the original location, expect a dedication to craft beer, craft cocktails, craft wine, etc., as well as a menu of American cuisine reimagined. The company will also operate the hotel's onsite cafe with coffee from its Leap Coffee brand.

Crafted Culture is anticipated to open as early as this June at 1451 Rosecrans Street in San Diego's Point Loma. For more information, visit craftedculturesd.com.

Vegan Restaurant Chain Native Foods Cafe Closing San Diego Location

2023-05-16T15:00:00.005-07:00

May 16, 2023

Vegan fast-casual restaurant chain Native Foods Cafe is closing one of its last remaining San Diego locations.

Native Foods Café was founded in 1994 by Tanya Petrovna in Palm Springs, CA, offering an entirely vegan menu of American comfort foods. In 2009, the brand was acquired by Daniel Dolan and Andrea McGinty, who relocated the company to Chicago.

This summer, the Native Foods Cafe on Balboa Avenue in San Diego's Clairemont Mesa will permanently close. The branch at 3369 Rosecrans Street will remain open for the foreseeable future. Both locations opened in 2014. There was also once a branch in Encinitas Village, but that restaurant shuttered in 2020. Native Foods Cafe has gone from having 26 branches around the country in 2015 to only 10 today.

Native Foods Cafe will close after end of service on July 10 at 5604 Balboa Avenue in San Diego's Clairemont Mesa. For more information, visit nativefoods.com.

Native American-Owned Rincon Reservation Road Brewery Closing Tasting Room In San Diego's Ocean Beach

2023-05-16T11:03:00.004-07:00

May 16, 2023

Southern California's first Native American tribe-owned craft brewery, Rincon Reservation Road Brewery is closing its tasting room in San Diego's Ocean Beach after only a year in business.

The Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians opened Rincon Reservation Road Brewery (3R Brewery) in late January 2020 in the 5,000 square-foot space adjacent to Harrah's Southern California Resort's casino in Valley Center, CA , replacing former beer concept SR76 Beerworks. Billed as the first certified Native American owned and operated brewery on tribal land in Southern California, the brewery and beer offerings attempt to tell the story of the rich history of the Rincon tribe. In 2021, Rincon Reservation Road Brewery took over the Newport Avenue space that previously housed Belching Beaver Brewery next door to Gianni Buonomo Vintners for the company's first satellite tasting room, which opened in March 2022.

Rincon Reservation Road Brewery will close its Ocean Beach location after end of service this Sunday, May 21. When one door closes another opens, as 3R Brewery has secured a space in an undisclosed location with a full kitchen to open a new gastropub later this year.

Rincon Reservation Road Brewery's tasting room is located at 4836 Newport Avenue in San Diego's Ocean Beach. 3R Brewery's original location sits at 777 South Resort Drive in Valley Center, CA. For more information, visit 3rbrewery.com.

Pieology Founder Bringing 70's-Themed New Haven Pizza Bar & Restaurant Concept Called Gettin' Sauced To San Diego

2023-05-15T11:52:00.005-07:00

May 15, 2023

Restaurant industry veteran James Markham, who is the founder of national chains like MOD Pizza, Pieology, and Project Pie, is opening a new 70s-themed, New Haven pizza concept dubbed Gettin' Sauced in San Diego.

During his illustrious career, Carlsbad native James Markham has opened more restaurants than some people ever dine at during a lifetime. Markham is the founder of such nationally recognized restaurants as MOD Pizza & Pieology, among others.

Markham also spearheaded the opening of The Windmill Food Hall, which opened in summer 2019 within Carlsbad’s historic 12,000 square-foot Windmill Building. Markham also founded Crackheads breakfast eatery at 430 Carlsbad Village Drive in Carlsbad, which was once named as one of 10 coolest recycled shipping container structures by The Travel Channel. A second location of Crackheads is expected to open this summer in the lot located at 502-510 South Coast Highway in San Diego's north county city of Oceanside.

James Markham and his wife Tisha have now signed on to lease part of the incoming South State three-unit retail plaza being developed off Oak Street in San Diego's North County city of Carlsbad. The restaurant being installed in the complex will be called Gettin' Sauced. Expect a vintage 1970's-themed ambiance with a menu of New Haven coal fired pizza, salads, and desserts, as well as a full bar with cocktails, beer, wine and more.

Gettin' Sauced is expected to open by late 2023/early 2024 at 505 Oak Avenue in San Diego's North County community of Carlsbad.

San Diego Celebrity Chef Brian Malarkey To Star In New Season Of Food Network's "Beachside Brawl" Cooking Competition

2023-05-14T18:06:00.005-07:00

May 14, 2023

San Diego celebrity chef Brian Malarkey will lead the West Coast team on the second season of Food Network's Beachside Brawl culinary competition, which premiers on June 18.

Chef Antonia Lofaso is bringing the competition back to the sand with the second season of Beachside Brawl, kicking off on Sunday, June 18 at 10pm. The foremost cooks from the East and West coasts will face-off in challenges designed to prove that their coast does it best. Leading the teams of five professional cooks are acclaimed East coast chef Eric Adjepong and San Diego's own West Coast chef Brian Malarkey. Both captains will mentor and cook alongside their teams throughout the competition. Culinary superstars Alex Guarnaschelli and Guy Fieri will judge the final round and will crown one team member the "Best of the Beach," earning a dream beach getaway worth up to $25,000.

Point Loma resident Brian Malarkey first tasted celebrity stardom when he became a finalist on Bravo's Top Chef Season 3 while working as Executive Chef of downtown San Diego's now defunct Oceanaire Seafood Room. The Bend, OR, native steamrolled his newfound stardom into his own fabric brand of restaurants with the launch of Searsucker in the San Diego Gaslamp in 2010. Malarkey went on to open and close more than a dozen other restaurants over a short time before he and then-business partner James Brennan sold off the majority share of their Enlightened Hospitality Restaurant Group to Abu Dhabi-based Hakkasan Ltd. in 2014.

Malarkey also serves regularly as a judge on Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games, makes regular appearances on the Today Show and Good Morning America, and was a winning mentor on ABC’s now-defunct The Taste primetime culinary competition led by the dearly-departed Anthony Bourdain. Malarkey also appeared as a cheftestant on Season 17 of Bravo’s Top Chef, dubbed the "All Stars LA" edition, and was recently on Food Network's Superchef Grudge Match cooking competition, where he lost to his longtime chef de cuisine, Carlos Anthony.

After the greatly-successful rebirth of the Malarkey empire with the launch of Herb & Wood in Little Italy in Spring 2016, Malarkey has continued to grow his culinary empire over the years. In September 2019, Malarkey and Puffer opened the $5.5 million Animae, an upscale French-meets-Japanese and Southeast Asian fusion restaurant located in the 15,000 square-foot ground floor space at downtown San Diego's uber-luxury high rise condominium building Pacific Gate by Bosa. Malarkey also opened Herb & Sea in downtown Encinitas in fall 2019. Puffer Malarkey Holdings also operate Herb & Ranch, a multi-concept food hall in Orange County.

Most recently Puffer-Malarkey took back the 7,500 square-foot Herringbone space in La Jolla from the Tao Group for an incoming French bistro & steakhouse concept named Le Coq. Le Coq will reportedly be Malarkey's last restaurant. Malarkey is currently in the process of a divorce from his wife of two decades Chantelle Hartman Malarkey. This past March, Malarkey made it "social media official" with the announcement of his new sweetheart, who is 18 years his junior.

On the premiere episode of Beachside Brawl, Antonia will challenge the teams to create some of the most iconic summer foods ever, pier favorites, while playing classic boardwalk games like balloon pop and softball toss. But it’s not all fun in the sun, as each game reveals a twist including ingredients they must use or avoid using in their final dish. Throughout the seven-week competition, each challenge features coastal favorites, from fresh west coast fish tacos to buttery east coast lobster rolls, and more.

Joining Antonia each week will be a rotating guest judge, including Nate Appleman, who was previously the head chef of Malarkey's Animae restaurant, Guy Fieri, Alex Guarnaschelli, Stephanie Izard, San Diego MAGA-zine food writer Troy Johnson, Mei Lin, Jeremy McBryde, Jasmine Roth, Joe Sasto Jet Tila, and San Diego chef Claudette Zepeda.

Eric Adjepong will lead the team of talented East Coast chefs, including Nick Chavez (Wilmington, NC), Samantha Cruz (Miami, FL), Cara Nance (Lincoln, RI), Wesley Nogueira (Jacksonville, FL), and Martel Stone (Washington, D.C). Brian Malarkey will guide the accomplished chefs of the West Coast, including David Lespron (Los Angeles, CA), Emily Lim (San Francisco, CA), Cesar Oceguera (Chula Vista, CA), Jasmyne Romero-Clark (Portland, OR), and Amanda Smith (Koloa, HI).

Beachside Brawl will premier on Sunday, June 18 at 10pm PT on Food Network.

Wildcoast Conservation Group To Host 11th Annual Baja Bash Tasting Event & Fundraiser In San Diego On Saturday, June 17

2023-05-14T13:13:00.014-07:00

May 14, 2023

International conservation group WILDCOAST, based in San Diego, will host its 11th annual Baja Bash tasting event to raise awareness and funds for its ocean conservation and climate action programs on Saturday, June 17 at a private estate in Solana Beach overlooking the beautiful San Elijo Lagoon and stunning Cardiff coast.

San Diego's Wildcoast is hosting an evening of celebration of the shared coastal conservation successes of Southern California and Baja at the annual Baja Bash food festival and fundraiser. This event brings together the best chefs and beverages from both sides of our border where guests will enjoy a Baja-inspired tasting menu designed by world renowned area chefs, complimented by regional wines, beer and live music.

At this year's Baja Bash, guests can enjoy bites from featured chefs, including JoJo Ruiz (Lionfish, Temaki and Serea), Greg Frey Jr. (Golden Door Spa + Golden Door Country Store), Aly Land (George’s at the Cove), Kelli Crosson (The Lodge at Torrey Pines), Brad Wise (Trust, Fort Oak, Cardellino, The Wise Ox, and Rare Society), Marissa Williams and Carlo Guardado (Herb & Sea). All proceeds from the event will benefit Wildcoast’s continued efforts to conserve the most threatened coastal and ocean habitats and wildlife in Southern California and Mexico. Tickets to Baja Bash are available online for $200 per person.

Founded in 2000 and with offices in California and Mexico, Wildcoast an international team that conserves coastal and marine ecosystems and addresses climate change through natural solutions. The non-profit carries out its mission through three strategies. Firstly, it establishes and manages protected areas, then protects and restores blue carbon ecosystems such as seagrass meadows, salt marsh wetlands, mangroves, and coral reefs. It also engages local communities as conservation stewards. In total, Wildcoast has helped conserve 38 million acres of coastal and marine ecosystems.

Wildcoast's Baja takes place on Saturday, June 17, from 6-9pm at Montbleu Estates in San Diego's North County city of Solana Beach. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit wildcoast.org.