San Diego Event & Entertainment Guide
The Sound
San Diego is sneaky. Everyone thinks it's just beaches and burritos, and - okay, those are both incredible - but the live music and events scene is way deeper than people give it credit for. North Park is the neighborhood that runs the show: The Casbah, Observatory North Park, and Music Box are all within walking distance of each other, and on any given weekend you could catch indie rock, Latin funk, DJ sets, and a comedy show without ever calling an Uber.
The Casbah specifically is a San Diego institution. It's a 200-capacity room that has hosted Nirvana, The White Stripes, and basically every band you love before they got big. The walls are covered in stickers and posters, the sound is weirdly perfect for a room that small, and the bartenders have seen everything. For bigger shows, Snapdragon Stadium (the new SDSU spot) and Pechanga Arena handle arena tours. And CRSSD Festival at the waterfront park twice a year brings in top-tier electronic and indie acts right on the bay - dancing with the harbor behind you and the skyline lit up is genuinely special.
Game Day
Petco Park is, no exaggeration, genuinely one of the best-designed ballparks in America. The Padres play here in the Gaslamp Quarter, and the park blends right into the neighborhood - you can see into the stadium from the rooftop bars across the street. Grab a fish taco from the Hodad's stand inside, sit in the upper deck, and stare at the Western Metal Supply Co. building they literally built the left field corner around. The Park at the Park beyond center field is a grass berm where you can bring a blanket and just chill. Also, the Friar Faithful have gotten loud lately - this isn't a sleepy baseball town anymore.
Eat This
Fish tacos. You knew this was coming. They're everywhere and most of them are good, but Oscar's Mexican Seafood in Hillcrest is the move - grilled fish taco, extra salsa, done. It's a tiny counter-service spot that always has a line, and the line is always worth it. For something heavier, Lucha Libre in Mission Hills does California burritos (yes, with french fries inside) that are the size of your forearm. Crack Shack in Little Italy does fried chicken sandwiches that will ruin Chick-fil-A for you forever, and their chicken oyster biscuit is the sleeper pick on the menu.
Drink Up
San Diego might be the craft beer capital of the country. Stone Brewing in Liberty Station has a massive garden and 40+ taps. Modern Times in Point Loma feels like drinking in a hipster art gallery (compliment). Ballast Point in Miramar lets you watch them brew while you drink what they brewed. You could spend an entire weekend on a brewery crawl and barely scratch the surface. For cocktails, Raised by Wolves in the Gaslamp has a hidden entrance through a faux taxidermy shop, because of course it does.
Perfect weather, cold beer, and a taco within arm's reach at all times. Evil Tickets has Padres games, CRSSD passes, and everything between.
When to Go
CRSSD Festival runs twice a year - every March and every September at the waterfront park, and both editions are worth the trip. The outdoor event season here is basically year-round (San Diego weather makes that very easy). Summer means Padres games at Petco Park plus the Del Mar horse racing season with a concert series attached. The Casbah and Observatory North Park keep booking year-round - check all San Diego concerts on Evil Tickets for the full schedule.
