San Diego Magazine

For a small business, going viral on social media might sound like a golden ticket. But when lines start snaking down the block overnight, it becomes a trial by fire. Three San Diego coffee shops who blew up on Instagram and TikTok dish on the aftermath of their unexpected virality here: https://lnkd.in/g4WchwDe

Voting is OPEN for our Best of San Diego and Best Restaurants 2025 programs! The people have spoken–we received over?25,000 nominations, tallied up the top picks, and now it’s time?to?crown the Reader's Choice winners. ? Vote through?March 24, 2025 to make sure your favorite San Diego businesses take home the gold. https://lnkd.in/g3eYejDx

The new guard is here—and they came to play.?San Diego FC‘s first-ever game ended with a shutout win against defending MLS champion LA Galaxy on Sunday. With the team headed to Snapdragon Stadium for their first home game on March 1, we put together a quick guide to MLS’s 30th franchise. (Spoiler: An Egyptian billionaire, a sovereign nation, and a cadre of businessmen getting together to start pro soccer team may sound like the plot of an HBO show, but it’s SDFC’s real-life origin story.) From the players, coaches, and staff to the club’s newly enhanced venue, here’s everything you need to know about the team. https://lnkd.in/g7pBpuh9 Story by Brendan Dentino

Dr. Sarah Elghor understands that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to giving patients their best smiles. That’s why at Elghor Dental Studio, she takes a highly personalized approach to cosmetic dentistry that results in healthy, natural-looking teeth. Dr. Elghor began her career working alongside some of the best dentists in the region. Today, she utilizes the latest technology in the dental market to offer patients advanced procedures including Bioclear No-Prep Cosmetic Bonding, Invisalign, White Spot Treatment, and Porcelain Veneers. At every step, she focuses on providing patients with customized smiles that are all their own but does so without compromising healthy tooth structure. Learn more at elghordentalstudio.com

Inspired by a passion for transforming smiles and patient success stories, Dr. Aldo Espinosa has been perfecting the art of dental implants for over 20 years. With advanced training, cutting-edge 3D printing technology, and a commitment to exceptional patient care, Dr. Espinosa continually seeks innovative solutions to deliver the best possible results. From an early age, Dr. Espinosa knew he wanted to practice dentistry. Now, devoting most of his clinical practice to the treatment of patients with missing teeth, Dr. Espinosa is achieving that while actively applying advanced and complex implant techniques. At Bonita Del Rey Dental Care, Dr. Espinosa and his team are driven by the ability to impact each patient’s unique need. “Making people feel at ease and comfortable while achieving clinical success is the ultimate goal and the whole team strives to achieve it.” Learn more at bonitadelrey.com. Listen to Dr. Aldo Espinosa share his story: https://lnkd.in/gHUfBqXm

This week on?Happy Half Hour, co-hosts Troy Johnson and Jackie Bryant get deep-fried in nostalgia with Ryan Ostrom, CMO of?Jack in the Box, the fast-food giant that made San Diego its home. They talk about Jack’s weird, wonderful marketing legacy (yes, they did blow up their own mascot), the?late-night taco?cult, and why the brand has no business making a burger this good. Ostrom dishes on his move from GNC to Jack, why the company refuses to take itself too seriously, and how their ads still push the envelope. Also on the menu: Troy’s childhood?breakfast obsession, Jackie’s pandemic-era Jack phase, and the secret behind those drive-thru tacos that probably shouldn’t work—but absolutely do. Listen to the episode here: https://lnkd.in/gz8AFgDi

C’mon. No way. That's what we thought, too. But we started digging after?SDM?food editor Troy Johnson attended a panel of industry leaders, and the chief marketing officer of one of California’s largest fast-casual food chains told the crowd that one of his biggest competitors right now is Ozempic. One avid restaurant fan told us she spends four times less at her favorite spot now that she’s on Ozempic. And a local food photographer says he goes to restaurants 80% less because of it. Sounds wild, and sure, inflation shoulders some blame. But the common sense is there. The U.S. is experiencing the biggest weight-loss trend in decades. Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs are designed to make people eat less food and drink less alcohol. So businesses who sell eating and drinking (i.e., your favorite restaurant) are going to take a hit. “Everyone I know who takes it eats less—that’s the point,” says Scott Slater, the restaurateur who created Slater’s 50/50 and co-owns the cocktail bar Understory. “So if 10 percent of my market is taking it, then I’m sure 10 percent of my market is not spending with me like they used to. But I also think the new gen is drinking less and turning to other vices… and that’s a bigger threat. Still, common sense says it’s nibbling at my bottom line.” So the real question is: how big of a hit? The impact is relatively small now. Most credible sources estimate 6 to 10 percent of Americans are currently taking a GLP-1. In 2024, the global market for Ozempic-like drugs was $47.1 billion. But… analysts say it will be $471.1 billion in 2032. That’s a massive, massive jump. So what happens to restaurants if 10, 15, or even 20 percent of the U.S. is taking Ozempic? Reporter Claire Trageser talked with restaurateurs, diners, doctors, and restaurant fans who are taking Ozempic to get a grasp on what’s real. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/g69HxQyr

What does modern library advocacy look like? For Library Foundation SD trustee Sam Yoeuth, it's about seizing everyday opportunities to create change - whether that's encouraging a Lyft driver to get a library card or speaking up at City Council meetings. Read Sam's powerful story in San Diego Magazine about how small actions and authentic conversations can multiply to create lasting community impact: https://lnkd.in/gSar_Qag #LibraryFoundationSD #SDLibraries #CommunityEngagement #NonprofitLeadership #SanDiego

San Diego Magazine recommended a visit to Julian (and the California Wolf Center!) as a top pick to "dial up the romance—or solidify a friendship" this Valentine's Day. We agree! It's the perfect way to show your love for the wolves and each other. Book your tour today! https://lnkd.in/gARmxj6r

For San Diego Magazine's February issue, now on stands and in mailboxes, I wrote about who's using cannabis and why in San Diego since Prop 64's passage. I talked to Dr. Igor Grant from the UC San Diego Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research, who had a lot to say about the uptick in senior use (the most canna-curious segment in the country at the moment!). I also talked to the Hunter family, who owns Lia's Lumpia, a popular Filipino restaurant and food truck. The Hunters have operated dispensaries and delivery services since the caregiving days, and Lia comes out for the first time as a medical patient who uses high-dose edibles to manage pain from diabetic gastroparesis. This is not a piece about policy ?? Thanks for reading!