By Allison Mitchell By Allison Mitchell | May 8, 2022 | Lifestyle,
From new dining and dancing venues to fresh spa treatments and gaming options, it’s a month of discovery around town.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PAPAYA PET CARE
ANIMAL INSTINCTS Clayton Webb is on a mission to make visiting the vet a fear-free experience for dogs and cats. “Papaya Pet Care was born out of years of feeling frustrated with a range of issues I’ve experienced visiting veterinary clinics with my pets,” says Webb, founder and CEO of Papaya Pet Care, a new full-service clinic now open in Carmel Valley at The Village at Pacific Highlands Ranch. “I saw medical care for humans evolving but remaining stagnant for pets. We want Papaya to be the best veterinary clinic for pets, for their parents, and for our people too.” Medical services are provided under the direction of Dr. Kwane Stewart, while a scheduling app and relaxation areas for four-legged friends aim to make vet appointments easier than ever. No bones about it! papayapet.com
Blanco Cocina Cantina’s Mexican pizzas, known as cheese crisps, come in a variety of flavors, from barbecue pork and roasted corn to red chile chicken PHOTO COURTESY OF: FOX RESTAURANT CONCEPTS
WHITE HOT Restaurateur Sam Fox, founder of Fox Restaurant Concepts, continues to expand his empire with the forthcoming opening of Blanco Cocina + Cantina. Located on Coronado Island, the Sonoran-style Mexican restaurant is scheduled to arrive in 2023 and bring with it a flavor fiesta of Mexican pizzas, tacos, fajitas and more. “Blanco and Coronado are made for one another. They both offer something special that really draws people in,” says Fox. “Blanco’s menu includes all my favorite Mexican dishes and an incredible beverage menu full of really good margaritas. It’s like taking a vacation in your neighborhood.” Vamos! blancotacostequila.com
A balcony view of the renovated Copley Hall at Jacobs Music Center PHOTO COURTESY OF: SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY AND HGA
MUSIC TO OUR EARS Following its inaugural season at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, San Diego Symphony will have another new place to perform come 2023. Located in Downtown San Diego, Copley Hall at Jacobs Music Center is set to undergo a $125 million renovation thanks to architect HGA, acoustician Akustiks and theater planners Schuler Shook. Enhancements include a reconfigured stage; a permanent orchestra enclosure; a choral terrace; new seats positioned to provide better views of the stage; upgraded lighting, sound and visual technologies; plus improved acoustics for optimal listening enjoyment. Hitting all the right notes, indeed. sandiegosymphony.org
Wilfried “Wil” Bergerhausen is the new culinary director of San Diego’s RMD Group. PHOTO COURTESY OF: RMD GROUP
KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL Meet Wilfried “Wil” Bergerhausen, the new culinary director of San Diego’s booming hospitality firm RMD Group. After honing his skills under culinary greats like Michael Mina and Joël Robuchon, Bergerhausen will utilize his renowned training and experience to guide RMD’s restaurant portfolio, which includes Rustic Root, Huntress and Lumi, where he will handle menu execution. “Yes, Wil is a classically trained French chef who’s worked under other critically acclaimed chefs... but he’s also established his own incredible signature style that’s both respectful of tradition and uses eclectic modern flavors and contemporary executions,” notes RMD Group partner Mike Georgopoulos. “The combination of tradition, technique, and innovation is the heart of our culinary direction at RMD Group, and we could not be more proud to have Wil on board to continue to raise our bar on culinary excellence.” Welcome to the neighborhood, chef! rmdgroupsd.com
Soak stress away with a mani-pedi treatment at Ocean Pearl Spa, where hand or foot massages and warm towels come standard with every service. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDS
MAKING WAVES Schedule a day of relaxation at The Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa, where its Ocean Pearl Spa recently debuted a new menu featuring all-natural Lalicious skincare products. “Our new menu combines inspiration from the California coast—from San Diego’s beaches up to Hollywood—tapping into my experience preparing Hollywood A-listers for the stage with treatments that provide maximum results in a limited time,” shares spa director Kerri Calver. “The new layout of our menu also features enhancements entwined within the treatments, making choices a little easier and ensuring each experience is customized to the individual guest.” Highlights include the Sunset Treatment, a full-body sugar scrub teamed with your choice of an exfoliant for your weary feet or a nourishing seaweed treatment for your scalp, and the Coola Sunrise massage, which includes a reef exfoliating treatment and full application of Coola plant protection sunscreen—an ideal booking prior to a day in the SoCal sun. oceanpearlspa.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDS
UP IN SMOKE Raise a glass to summer’s arrival with a spirit that was designed exclusively for San Diegans. Enter Volcán Blanco Smoke by Volcán de mi Tierra, a limited-edition tequila that draws its inspiration from the volcanic eruption that laid the roots for Volcán’s 100% blue agave fields in Jalisco, Mexico. Replete with subtle hints of peat and smoke, the distinct spirit is now available by the bottle at Old Town Tequila, Top Shelf Wine & Spirits, Keg N Bottle, Harbor Market and Major Market Grocery. Imbibers can also sample the smoke-forward tequila at hotels and restaurants across San Diego, from the Fairmont Grand Del Mar to Death By Tequila, Understory and Salvatore’s Cucina & Lounge. What’s more is the brand’s commitment to San Diego, which includes a $10,000 giveback grant to three small-business owners and a vibrant mural titled “Mi Tierra” by local artist Panca found on the exterior of La Doña restaurant in Ocean Beach. Now, that’s painting the town! volcan.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDS
UP TO PAR It’s game time at Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, where the property is the first in Downtown San Diego to add Topgolf’s beloved Swing Suites to its amenities. Round up your closest friends—each of the three suites accommodates up to eight guests—and enjoy an afternoon of simulated golf, target games, hockey, baseball, soccer, football and more. “Our Topgolf Swing Suite experience is not only elevating the hotel’s ability to host flexible and memorable events for all types of guests, it’s adding to Downtown San Diego’s cultural footprint,” says general manager Tom Tabler. Get fueled up for the competition with bites from the 19th Hole menu, which includes Birdie BBQ wings, Bunker burger sliders and a range of winning cocktails. Book the Bays On The Bay package to enjoy an overnight stay in a deluxe bay view suite, your own private Topgolf Swing Suite, an F&B credit and a golf-inspired welcome gift . It’s tee time! marriott.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDS
SUPER NOVA While Las Vegas may be home to some of the best clubs in the United States, it’s San Diego that now boasts the first business partnership between Insomniac—the production company behind Electric Daisy Carnival—and TAO Group Hospitality. Welcome to NOVA SD, a 22,000-square-foot indoor-outdoor entertainment venue that’s equipped with a sprawling dance floor and state-of-the-art production technology. Housed in the former OMNIA San Diego space, the after-hours hub is primed to host world-class DJs—May’s lineup includes Loud Luxury (May 6), Matroda (May 13), Showtek (May 14) and Ghastly (May 27). “We’re so thankful to the thousands of music lovers that have traveled from the San Diego area to our festivals around the country for nearly three decades,” says Pasquale Rotella, founder and CEO of Insomniac. “We are excited to finally be able to come here and have a home in Downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter.” See you on the dance floor! novasd.com
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