New, Now, Next: Falling Over San Diego

As summer wanes and fall advances, September hits here as a quintessential in-between: sizzling like vacation time but with a healthy dose of anticipation of the blink-and-it’ll-be-here holiday gala season, which naturally leads to a little bit of everything all over town. Why not embrace it as the perfect time to do it all?

What’s NewIf you missed your chance for a summer getaway, maybe the universe just wanted you to wait until you could book a trip on Schubach Aviation’s Challenger 605 jet. This latest addition to the Schubach fleet accommodates you plus nine of your besties as you bask in sumptuous, private luxury on your way to wherever you want to go in the United States, Mexico, Hawaii, Canada, and more within its 4,000-nautical-mile range. Can’t take to the sky? What about a day on the water? The GetMyBoat booking platform and app lets you reserve all different kinds of boats almost anywhere, from pontoons to luxury yachts with captains to — believe it — a Barbie pink electric boat. This dreamy little Duffy rental comes complete with a captain, leaving you and your friends (it can host up to six guests) free to take in the sights on San Diego Bay.

Back on shore, Del Martians have yet another new destination for fresh, casual dining in the village. Salt + Lime on Camino Del Mar recently opened in the former Cevasco’s space, serving fresh Mexican fare. Inspired by founder Alan Efter’s experiences growing up in Mexico, the restaurant is a next chapter following its origins as a North Park food truck. Breezy open-air seating is just right for balmy nights before temps start to dip, but never fear — there’s enough heat on the menu to keep you warm if you so desire. In Carlsbad, Casa de Bandini is anything but new to serving up tried-and-true Mexican cuisine, but a recently announced, chile-laden seasonal menu gives us a new reason to go (as if we needed one). We’re eyeing the Mango Ceviche del Pescado, a bright, sweet-plus-heat starter that’s like summer on a chip. The menu is available through October.

What’s Now Before we deep-dive into gowns and galas, why not soak in all the outside events we can, with bonus points for making a big impact for those who need a hand? On September 2, canned cocktail purveyor Cutwater will present its inaugural Cutwater Cocktail Classic at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay’s outdoor concert lawn. Guests will be able to sample three Cutwater cocktail and food pairings from prominent San Diego bartenders and chefs as a DJ spins, and all proceeds benefit the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank.

Then, on September 14 at Rancho Valencia, take your tastebuds on a culinary journey to Mexico when renowned chef Rick Bayless, with special guest Chef Sheyla Alvarado of Valle de Guadalupe’s Lunario Restaurant, hosts a multi-course dinner brimming with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. The meal will include pairings led by winemaker Gustavo Gonzalez, former Robert Mondavi Winery head winemaker, with wines by Lomita and Finca La Carrodilla wineries from Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California, whose proprietor, Fernando Perez Castro, will also be present. While savoring dinner, guests will be entertained with the sounds of six-time San Diego Music award winner Gilbert Castellanos, whose set list will include jazz standards from The Great American Songbook.

Despite best sunscreen efforts and a mild summer, the season’s peak sunshine surely did some damage. Fortunately, Art of Skin MD is hosting its annual Summer Skin Rescue this month to get your skin back to glow status. From September 11-22, the office of award-winning dermatologist and Art of Skin founder and director Dr. Melanie Palm will feature specials on skincare and procedures for both face and body. Not sure what to do first? Dr. Palm will host a live Q&A on September 13 at 12:15pm on Instagram (@drmelaniepalm) to give you all the 411.

Surfing is a year-round sport here, but this month, leave your stick at home and watch the pros show how it’s done at two different pro surfing contests at the Oceanside Pier. First, from September 6-10, some of the world’s best para surfers will drop in at the US Open Adaptive Surfing Championships to catch waves and a shot at a piece of the $30,000 prize purse. Then, the Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro takes place from September 22-24 for three days of thrilling competitive surfing. While the girls carve, back on shore, this free-to-attend event includes live music, fitness classes, a female leadership panel discussion, a beer and wine garden, a fashion show, and a food court. 

Seize the opportunity to do some good and join the Del Mar Village Association for its “Keep Del Mar Green” community cleanup on September 20 from 3:30 to 5pm. Meeting at the Jim Watkins Amphitheater at L’Auberge Del Mar, participants will blanket downtown beach and park areas to help prevent any debris from bygone summer picnics from reaching our waterways.

Though it’s not until the end of the month, you’ll want to get tickets early for Feeding San Diego’s next Pairings with a Purpose Dinner Party on September 28 from 6 to 9pm (last year’s event sold out).
Produced by the folks behind The Blank Table dinner series, this intimate evening at The Secret Garden at Rancho Santa Fe will boast a four-course menu crafted by acclaimed chef Brad Wise of Trust Restaurant Group, plus opportunities to bid on exciting items to raise funds supporting Feeding San Diego’s School Pantry Program.

Finally, get a jump on October when East Village Association presents East Village Oktoberfest on September 30 from 1 to 7pm, closing off Market Street between Park Boulevard and 14th Street and 13th Street between Market Street and Island Avenue for one giant party. Featuring all the traditional elements you’d expect from this classic German festival (Bavarian sausages! Pretzels! Beer! Polka!), this one adds some unique Latin flair to reflect this vibrant community.

What’s Next Exciting fall events take the sting out of saying bye-bye to summer, and Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa gives us just the ticket with Wednesday’s Wicked Black & White Ball on October 28 from 7 to 10pm. Spooky surprises, performances, and delicious food and beverages highlight this annual celebration to entice even its namesake into some spirited Halloween revelry. 

Speaking of the scaries (or more appropriately, avoiding them), no need to worry about how you’re going to get your holiday packages off to Grandma this year. New in the Ranch is Parcels & Post, a full service mail, shipping, and packaging center on the corner of La Granada and Paseo Delicias. They’ll even wrap your gifts for you, which is handy because even with fair warning that as of September 1 we’ve got
98 days until Hanukkah and 116 days to Christmas, they’ll be upon us before we know it.