San Diego Magazine

01/15/2026

Here’s a wild sentence for you: this morning, around 1 a.m., a spacecraft made a splash landing just off the coast of SD. Yes, really. No, no extraterrestrials were involved. It was NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration's SpaceX Crew-11, who made a safe, planned descent to Earth after a five-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The capsule returned a month early due to medical concerns with one of the crew members—this was the first time in ISS’s 25-year history that an in-orbit medical issue cut a mission short.

During their 167-day mission, the crew traveled nearly 71 million miles and completed more than 2,670 orbits around Earth.

Local photographer Chris R. Mannerino captured this shot from Sunset Cliffs, moments before the splash landing at 12:41 a.m.

Did you see it? If so, are you a space enthusiast, or just an insomniac with impeccable timing? Let us know in the comments.

01/13/2026

Sweet news for La Mesa: Pop Pie Co. and Stella Jean’s will open side-by-side this summer on La Mesa Blvd.

The scoop shop and pie emporium are sister companies; both are known for globally-inspired flavors and seasonal releases. (Our team has a particular penchant for the ube and pandesal ice cream, which—what a treat!—is a year-round flavor.) The La Mesa outposts will have the same menus, and there’ll also be a full coffee bar in Pop Pie.

“There’s been so many more [locations] that we’ve said no to, just because it has to feel right [and] you have to be wanted,” says founder and CEO Steven Torres. He’s confident that La Mesa is ready for both concepts’ somewhat niche flavors. “We’re super excited about it.”

Link in bio for the full story by food reporter Beth Demmon ().

Photography by

01/12/2026

Consider this the official outlet for your hottest takes, staunchest opinions, and most defended local favorites. Nominations are now open for our Best Restaurants and Best of San Diego 2026 readers’ poll. www.bosdvote.sdmag.com

We’ve got 100-ish categories this year. That includes the usual suspects: best new restaurant, best hiking trail, best day spa, best burrito. But some are a bit more niche. Want to shout out your reiki healer? Think your go-to golf course deserves a win? Feel inclined to nominate your favorite appliance store? We’re all ears.

Businesses with the most nominations will move on to the voting round, and we’ll invite you to cast a ballot. Then, we tally it all up to create a glossy guide to San Diego’s culinary and cultural zeitgeist.

Winners will be named in our Best Restaurants issue in June and in Best of San Diego in August.

Head to www.bosdvote.sdmag.com to make your opinions known.

Nominations are open through Sunday, February 1. Voting will open February 23.

01/12/2026

Since taking over as president and CEO of Alaska Airlines in 2021, Ben Minicucci has wasted no time making his mark on the airline. In 2024, Alaska Airlines acquired Hawaiian Airlines, and last fall, the company unveiled Atmos Rewards, a combined loyally program that has been named the top loyalty program in the country.

Minicucci has also been making major investments right here in San Diego. This spring, Alaska Airlines will add five new nonstop flights to Dallas-Fort Worth, Oakland, Raleigh-Durham, Santa Barbara and Tulsa—increasing the airline’s total number of flights by more than 35%. Alaska Airlines is also preparing to build a brand new, 13,000 square foot lounge at the San Diego Airport featuring private work stations, a full bar offering signature cocktails as well as a barista station, plus ample space to get comfortable and relax while waiting for your flight.

“We’re committed to being the leading airline in San Diego,” Minicucci says. “It’s one of the fastest-growing hubs in our global network and is home to many of our most loyal customers.”

To see all routes, visit alaskaair.com.

01/09/2026

If you search “crab rangoon roll” on any search engine, the top result will probably be Slurp. The San Diego restaurant’s decadently crabby, cream cheese-stuffed, deep-fried burrito went mega-viral last June. Slurp’s locations in Liberty Station and Escondido went from selling 100 a week to upwards of 500 a day.

The genius behind the rangoon roll: Slurp CEO Bella Kim. She came to the United States from Thailand in 2018 with an F-1 student visa, and missed street food dishes like barbecue pork, wontons, chow mein, and spicy fried rice.

“Every item on the [Slurp] menu, that’s all my favorite things from my hometown,” she explains. 

Now, you can get your Slurp fix at Westfield UTC, too. The third location soft opens today, January 9.

Despite the massive influx of different Asian cuisines to UTC, from Haidilao to Din Tai Fung, Slurp will be the center’s first Thai restaurant.

Get the full story by food reporter Beth Demmon () at sdmag.com. Link in bio.

Photos:

01/03/2026

A little good news to start 2026: This handsome devil was spotted a few days ago in Cardiff by eagle-eyed photographer .

While bald eagles remain a very rare sight in San Diego County, winter’s a good time to keep an eye out for our national bird. As lakes freeze over up north, the majestic birds of prey make their way down to SoCal to scoop up fish and raise chicks in friendlier climes.

And the coming years may bring more and more glimpses. In the 20th century, the pesticide DDT nearly wiped eagles out, since it thinned the bird’s eggshells and made it nearly impossible for them to reproduce. By the 1970s, when DDT was banned, there were only 30 breeding pairs of bald eagles left in the wild. A major conservation push brought the species back from the brink, and bald eagles were removed from the endangered species list in 2007. It wasn’t until a few years back, though, that we began to see a real rebound in SD County’s eagle population—and now, observant and lucky locals can catch peeks of these beautiful birds soaring, swooping, and bugging other birds of prey such as kestrels (just like this little fella).

📸

12/19/2025

Healthcare isn’t just about healthy bodies. Dr. Kelly O. Elmore is dedicated to helping women live fuller lives—spiritually, physically, financially, mentally, and emotionally—by finding the root causes of the barriers they face.

A board-certified OB-GYN, retired U.S. Navy captain, and global wellness strategist, Dr. Elmore empowers organizations, small groups, and individuals to put them on the path toward holistic health.

Dr. Elmore’s KOE Medical Consulting partners with hospitals, corporations, and government agencies to elevate organizational wellness, while her VivaLife SPF ME program helps women around the world live their healthiest, wealthiest lives.

If you joined us at San Diego Magazine's annual Celebrating Women Summit last month, you'll recognize Dr. Elmore—she took the stage as our inspiring keynote speaker.

Learn more about Dr. Elmore and start your wellness journey here:

Dr. Kelly O. Elmore MD’s programs help organizations and individuals research and address the root causes of the barriers to living life more fully.

12/19/2025

The people of Cowboy Star Restaurant & Butcher Shop are (finally) striking again. Sister concept She Rode West will open in Bankers Hill in 2026. Get the story here.

The owners of the beloved steakhouse & butcher shop are working on its new sister concept She Rode West opening in Bankers Hill next year.