SDM staff writer and guest author Danielle Allaire takes over the column this week. One night, at a bar in South Park, I saw a tall, indie-rock Viking sporting a canvas tote bag and decided that this progressive-leaning, vinyl-collecting man was going to be mine. Within minutes, he introduced himsel

Since the early 1900s, plastic has accomplished unprecedented feats of world domination and changed the trajectory of planetary evolution. It’s in our homes, clothes, food, landfills, oceans, and even bodies, in numbers exceeding nine billion tons. The problem, of course, is getting rid of plastic.

When Wolfgang Busch first became mesmerized by plant roots as a young scientist, he didn’t realize they could potentially help save the world. He was captivated by how, without a brain, they could do things like actively track down nutrients. Now, he believes the simple root—the unsung underground h

All eyes are on the Pads right now, with the city’s first-ever World Series win increasingly in sight. But there are more things to do in San Diego this week than cheering on the Friars. You can sip spooky drinks at a North Park pop-up, see Sweeney Todd onstage, or head to the ballet in Rolando. Bet

All eyes are on the Pads right now, with the city’s first-ever World Series win increasingly in sight. But there are more things to do in San Diego this week than cheering on the Friars. You can sip spooky drinks at a North Park pop-up, see Sweeney Todd onstage, or head to the ballet in Rolando. Bet

San Diego is getting grayer. The number of people 65 and older in San Diego County is going to double by 2030. The fastest-growing demographic in the county is residents 85 and older. With the program “UCSD at Home,” UC San Diego Health is trying to meet this increasing need in a way that is better

If Sharp HealthCare had a word of the year, it’d be “tech.” In 2024, Sharp deployed a single platform for medical records, making it easier for staff and patients to access important information. The hospital group also launched its new Sharp app to give patients and their family members access to t

Everyone knows the classic sunset spots in San Diego like La Jolla Cove and Sunset Cliffs, the tourist traps we both love and hate. But what about the hidden gems, the quiet corners where you can actually enjoy the view without a camera crew? Here are seven underrated spots that are not necessarily

If you ask Bob Taylor of Taylor Guitars, his company’s success was a beautiful mistake.“Our sound is clean; it’s clear. It cuts through,” Taylor says. But when asked how long it took to engineer that classic Taylor sound, he laughs. “Oh, I did not [engineer it]. It was just like, ‘Oh, you really lik

In Kaiser Permanente‘s hospital exam rooms, artificial intelligence is listening—and that’s a good thing. “It brings the joy back into… getting to know a patient,” says Assistant Area Medical Director Dr. William Tseng. “It restores the connection between doctor and patient, allowing us to actually

Fall has arrived, and it’s finally time to break out the cozier side of your wardrobe and dive into these autumn activities! This week, San Diego is sizzling with food festivities including the highly anticipated Del Mar Wine + Food Festival, returning for its second year, along with a Taste of Nort

It’s a big years for Scripps. The healthcare institution is celebrating its 100th birthday, and in its century in SD, it’s racked up its fair share of accolades: US News and World Report has named Scripps in the top 50 hospitals for cardiology and orthopedics for 19 and 11 years running, respectivel

Only about 37 percent of doctors in the US are women. When it comes to physician scientists—MDs engaged in medical research—the number of women drops to 33 percent. And thanks to a gender gap in clinical trials, women can find themselves suffering adverse effects from treatments and medications that

The year was 2018, and Dr. Gabriel Wardi saw a potential solution to a long-running problem in healthcare: sepsis. Wardi, the medical director for hospital sepsis at UC San Diego Health, says sepsis—an overzealous immune system response to an infection—kills about 10 million people a year worldwide,

I can hardly hear chef Seckin Sage Anlasbay over the hubbub on his end of the phone call. “I’m sorry, I’m going to the airport,” he explains. “I’m going to Europe right now, and I’ll be there to buy some stuff for the restaurant.”That place is Bosforo Restaurant & Bar, which will open in January 202

It’s no accident that two-thirds of Yotam Ottolenghi’s North American book tour stops are in California.“There are only two places in the world that have a Mediterranean climate. One of them is the Mediterranean, and the other is California,” he says. “I think one of the reasons why California has s

The 2024 Old Globe Gala, themed “Black & White Masquerade,” took place on September 21, 2024, outside The Old Globe Theatre’s Copley Plaza. The annual black-tie event included a three-course meal by Urban Kitchen Group, cocktails by Snake Oil Cocktail Company, and dancing. There was also a special p

For Hooriya Hussain, volunteering has always been more than just a weekend activity—it’s a fundamental part of her identity. Hussain is a volunteer leader for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and sits on the organization’s National Board of Governors, but her journey is shaped by her upbringing in Qa

Promises2Kids is having a transformative 2024. The flagship local nonprofit is doubling down on its commitment to San Diego’s foster youth by launching several innovative, multi-faceted programs that are the first of their kind in town. Founded by philanthropist Joan Waitt to address the critical ne

Del Mar Wine + Food Festival Grand Tasting & Coastal Cowboy DinnerOctober 4From October 2-7, the second annual Del Mar Wine + Food Festival kicks off, with all Grand Tasting ticket proceeds benefiting Feeding San Diego. On October 4, as part of the culinary dinner series, a Coastal Cowboy dinner wit