Hey Neighbor!
Mother’s Day is knocking at our doorstep, so Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there (including my spunky 86-year-old German mama, whom I love more than life!).
I also wanted to take a moment to shout out some businesses that are being unfairly disadvantaged by endless construction. The restaurants at the Clairemont Town Square took a hit when the movie theaters closed. The businesses along Morena Boulevard are suffering because of Pure Water Project construction. Bull’s Smokin’ BBQ on Morena Boulevard posted about it on Instagram yesterday.
If you have the time and money to spare, please do it at one of our neighborhood small businesses that can use the support!
Ok, off my soapbox and onto this week’s news.
~Tanja
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You can barely walk 10 feet in San Diego without seeing a dog, which makes sense since the majority of households in the city have one. San Diego consistently ranks among the dog-friendliest cities in the nation, and our local businesses seem to support them wholeheartedly.
If you’re a dog owner, you probably know a few spots you can take your pooch, but we’ve put together a mega-list of local establishments that will welcome you and your pup. Enjoy!
70+ Dog-Friendly Places in Central San Diego
How often do you eat out?
Public Hearings
The City has announced a couple of public hearings on projects in our neighborhood:
- On Tuesday, May 12, a project in Clairemont will be on the agenda for the San Diego City Council hearings. The city is seeking to terminate “public right to use a certain street and/or public service easement.” This will affect areas of Balboa Avenue and Morena Boulevard near the trolley station. This project has been determined to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
- The Valero (M Fuel) gas station located at 3377 Sandrock Road in Serra Mesa has applied for a license to sell alcoholic beverages for off-site consumption (no doubt because today’s gas prices will drive one to drink)
Comings & Goings
🌮 Contodo Fresh Mexican Eats opened April 27 at 8199 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Ste. C. This is the former home of Yesenia’s Mexican, which appears to have closed last year. This is their second location. The original location in Spring Valley gets rave reviews.
🧑💻 Code Ninjas is opening soon in Clairemont. It’s a place where kids can learn to code and build video games. They offer various programs and camps. They’ll be located in Liberty Park Plaza at the intersection of Genesee Avenue and Mount Etna Drive.
🥀 Conroy’s Flowers, a long-time tenant at Liberty Park Plaza, is moving out this summer. No word yet on what will replace it, but this is a prime location, so it’ll likely get filled quickly.
🥥 Cocobomb is a Thai dessert spot in Linda Vista, and it looks like they are opening a second location in the Convoy District. Cocobomb offers desserts such as mango sticky rice and coconut sundaes, served in coconut shells. We did a Reel on them last year.
🍚 Di Chan Thai Restaurant, located at 5335 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, will serve its last meal this Saturday. The Madison Square shopping center recently sold to new owners and is undergoing a remodel.
📋 Hiring
Java Garden coffee shop in Serra Mesa is hiring if you’re looking for work!
Beyond the Neighborhood
🗳️ If you haven’t received your ballot for the June Gubernatorial Primary Election yet, it should be arriving any day now. You have the option to vote by mail, by ballot drop-off, or in person.
📈 The San Diego City Council is in the thick of the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Review meetings this week, and many people have shown up to voice opposition to cutting the budget in the areas of libraries, the arts, and recreational centers, to name a few.
This 4BD, 4BA home at 1850 Illion Street in Bay Park was newly constructed in 2025 and features panoramic views as far as Mt. Soledad. From canyons to the beaches and bay, you’ll see it all. The home is 3,008 sq ft and offers indoor/outdoor living. The chef’s kitchen and living room open onto an expansive patio to enjoy the views. Owned solar provides optimal energy efficiency.
Don’t forget to take advantage of our amazing Explorer Exclusives offers from local merchants!
- 🆕 Need someone to walk your dog or check in on your cat? Going out of town and need an in-home pet sitter? The Daily Wag is here to help! Grey Valdes is a Bay Ho resident with a passion for pets, and she has been actively involved with dog rescues for more than a decade (which is why she is a 2x foster fail pet parent). If you’re looking for a trustworthy person to care for your pet, The Daily Wag is offering $10 off any service.
- Your neighborhood one-stop for all things beauty — hair, brows, lashes, facials, massage, and more. It’s a women-run collective on Clairemont Drive where you get real one-on-one attention. Appointment only, the way it should be. Grab the Explorer Exclusive deal: 20% off any service from Unique Impressions Collective, a full-service boutique salon in Clairemont. Check out a sneak peek at the salon on our Instagram.
- A yoga studio and wine bar on Balboa—take a class, stay for a glass. Patrick and Victoria are Clairemont neighbors who built Vinya from scratch, and it’s genuinely one of the coolest things in the neighborhood. Grab the Explorer Exclusive deal here: 10% off a meal and/or a free yoga class at Vinya: vino+vinyasa
- Renate is a Clairemont neighbor who bakes authentic German breads and pastries from scratch. You order ahead online and pick up from her home on Fridays. Everything sells out fast! Get the Explorer Exclusive deal while it lasts: 15% off your first order of baked goods from Little Backstube microbakery
Meet Lulu
This sweet soul is Lulu, an almost 11-year-old Pit Bull mix. She may be a senior, but she still has some life to live and love to give. How about making her a part of your home? She’s chill, not bothered by other animals, and is happy with a walk and a treat. Visit Lulu at the San Diego Humane Society.
Have a pet you’d like to feature here? Reply to this email with your pet’s photo and a short description to show off your pet.
Here’s what’s happening in the neighborhood this week! For the full events calendar and for any recurring events, like trivia nights, hit the button below.
Have an event you’d like to feature here? Partner with us!
Thursday, May 7
🎨 Crafts | Garden Party Paint and Sip night | The Pub in Bay Park | 6 pm
🎭 Theater | Theatre Variety Showcase | Creative Performing Media Arts | 6 pm
🤣 Comedy | CHARLESTON WHITE | Mic Drop Comedy | 7 pm
🎸 Live Music | Laurel Canyon Revival | Tio Leo’s Mexican Restaurant | 7 pm
🎸 Live Music | A Night of Balinese Gamelan Music | USD Gamelan Ensemble | University of San Diego (USD) | 7:30 pm
🤣 Comedy | SHANE BIANCHI & COOPER LYDEN | Mic Drop Comedy | 7:30 pm
⚽ Sports | University of San Diego Softball vs Seattle U | University of San Diego (USD) | 6 pm
Friday, May 8
🍽️ Food & Drink | Bubbles & Bark Pairing/ Making | Sweet Petite Confections Shop | 6 pm
🎸 Live Music | Good Fun Band | Fast Times | 7 pm
🎭 Theater | Breaking Legs | Innovation Family Community Theatre | 7 pm
🎸 Live Music | Santanaways | Tio Leo’s Mexican Restaurant | 7 pm
🎸 Live Music | Supercool Band | The Gärten | 7 pm
🤣 Comedy | GUS JOHNSON | Mic Drop Comedy | 7:30 pm
🤣 Comedy | MONSTERS OF TOKYO | Mic Drop Comedy | 7 pm & 9:30 pm
Saturday, May 9
🍽️ Food & Drink | Chocolate Making Class | Sweet Petite Confections Shop | 12:30 pm
🎸 Live Music | SDSU Jazz Combo Mojo Strut | The Gärten | 7 pm
🤣 Comedy | MUY FUNNY | Mic Drop Comedy | 7:30 pm
🎸 Live Music | Jean-Luc Ponty Tribute | Dizzy’s | 8 pm
🎸 Live Music | 99 and 44/100 % Pure Ponty; the rest is us! | Dizzy’s | 8 pm
🎸 Live Music | B Line | Fast Times | 7 pm
🤣 Comedy | ALINGON MITRA | Mic Drop Comedy | 6 pm & 8:30 pm
Sunday, May 10
🎸 Live Music | Dolly’s Revenge | The Cordova Bar | 6 pm
🎸 Live Music | San Diego Jazz All-Stars | The Gärten | 5:30 pm
🎸 Live Music | Manzanita Blues | Fast Times | 3 pm
📅 Event | Mother’s Day Tea | BoujieMana | Multiple seatings
Monday, May 11
✂️ Crafts | Creative Journaling | Drip Beans Coffee | 1 pm
🎭 Theater | Courage In Every Note: Beginning Band Concert | Creative Performing Media Arts | 6 pm
Tuesday, May 12
🎸 Live Music | UADA & MORTIIS: THE WITCHES OF DYSTOPIA TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUESTS | Brick by Brick | 7:30 pm
Wednesday, May 13
🎸 Live Music | THE DECIBEL MAGAZINE TOUR: CRYPTOPSY WITH SPECIAL GUESTS | Brick by Brick | 7 pm
Fast Times is 100% free and independently owned and operated (heck, it’s just me). Your contributions help keep it going so we can have more fun and continue to build a stronger community. I appreciate any and all support.
