New, Now, Next: What’s happening in San Diego’s dining, culture, and events scene this spring

Celebrated restaurateurs John Resnick and Chef Eric Bost (the team behind Michelin-starred Jeune et Jolie and local favorite Campfire) have debuted Wildland nearby in Carlsbad Village. The all-day restaurant, bar, and bakery is influenced by the coastal culinary traditions of Italy, France, and the broader Mediterranean and is housed in the original 1970s Morey Boogie Boards factory, with sun-drenched environs conceived by Los Angeles-based interior design studio Bells + Whistles. Overseen by Bost and Chef de Cuisine Kaitlyn Jean Smith, Wildland’s rustic cuisine features wood-fired pizzas, house-made pasta, rotisserie chicken, smoked fish, and seasonal salads, with many ingredients sourced from the team’s favorite Southern California farms. Head Baker James Belisle, previously of New York City’s famed Lafayette, directs an expansive program showcasing fresh breads, viennoiserie, pastries, cakes, and more.

Sammy’s is celebrating Valentine’s Day with the return of their popular heart-shaped pizzas, encouraging couples and families to get back in the kitchen this holiday of love. The Gourmet To-Go Pizza Kits are available February 1-28 at all four San Diego locations. Each kit includes your choice of any pizza and all ingredients, along with baking instructions. 

The 35th Annual San Diego International Jewish Film Festival runs in-person through February 8 and continues virtually from February 9 to 11, showcasing a selection of contemporary Jewish films. Hosted at the David & Dorothea Garfield Theatre in La Jolla, the festival will include more than 30 feature films and over ten short films, plus a few complimentary in-person-only screenings. This year, the film festival offers a keynote address from Ben Mankiewicz of Turner Classic Movies on February 4. In addition, Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Janis Ian will be in attendance for a discussion after the documentary Janis Ian: Breaking Silence on February 1.

Palm Springs Modernism Week celebrates 20 years February 13 to 23. Explore midcentury modern architecture, art, interior design, landscape design, and vintage culture during the annual 11-day festival, which will feature more than 350 tours, programs, and events.

Encinitas agrihood Fox Point Farms has launched Stories from the Soil, an intimate monthly dinner series and culinary residency that welcomes chefs from across the country to explore regenerative agriculture, embrace farm rhythms, harvest peak-season ingredients, and collaborate with Fox Point Farms’ culinary team led by chef Kelston Moore and farmer Greg Reese. With guest chefs temporarily housed onsite within Fox Point Farms’ WELL-certified residences, the experience culminates in a multi-course farm dinner. Held monthly through 2025, these ticketed dining events feature curated beverage pairings by general manager and beverage director Ricardo Zarate Jr., with a portion of proceeds benefiting the guest chef’s chosen charitable organization. The upcoming culinary lineup includes San Diego Chefs Cameron Ingle of Marisi and Phillip Humphrey of Coco Maya on February 10, Chef Dylan Patel of Avec in Chicago on March 10, Urban Kitchen Group Culinary Director Tim Kolanko and Regional Executive Chef Wesley Johnson on April 7, Baja culinary ambassador Javier Plascencia of Animalón on May 12, L.A.-based Helene Henderson, founder of Malibu Farm, on June 9, and Chef/Owner Joe Frillman of Daisies in Chicago on July 14. 

The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch will reopen the gates to its 55 acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus on Saturday, March 1, with the theme “Where Color Takes Flight.” Proceeds from its opening week will help support recovery efforts through organizations dedicated to aiding first responders, supporting animal welfare, and assisting fire victims. For the 2025 season, The Flower Fields will welcome its very first traveling exhibit and will serve as the colorful backdrop for artist Alex Heveri’s Glass in Flight, which features more than three dozen glass and steel sculptures of sparkling butterflies, dragonflies, bamboo, bees, and insects that complement the gardens and fields.