October updates in Uptown

$16.5M loan for multi-story Hillcrest development

Max Benjamin Partners (MBP), a boutique real estate advisory firm that provides innovative capital solutions to developers and investors, announced it secured a $16.5 million loan for the construction of 10th and Robinson, a 70-unit multifamily community located in Hillcrest. 10th and Robinson is nestled in a quiet residential area just minutes from retail and dining. Combined with its sister building, it will have abundant amenities including a pool, co-working space, gym, and high-end finishes.

Museums, exhibits and Balboa Park

Kids get in free at museums this month

The San Diego Museum Council has announced the return of the popular Kids Free San Diego program, now in its 13th year. From Oct. 1 to 31, children ages 12 and under can enjoy free admission to more than 50 museums, aquariums/zoos, gardens, state parks, historic sites and other family-friendly attractions throughout San Diego County. Sites include some of San Diego’s most popular sites, including the USS Midway Museum, Fleet Science Center, Birch Aquarium and San Diego Air & Space Museum, as well as many hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Some locations are free for the entire family or offer pay-what-you-wish admission year-round. A full list of participating museums can be found on the San Diego Museum Council website.

Jimmy Saba exits Junior Theatre

After 11 years of service, James “Jimmy” Saba departed as Executive Director from San Diego Junior Theatre. A committee of the Board of Trustees is enlisting former JT Artistic Director, Desha Crownover, as Interim Executive Director.

SDJT’s 77th season gets underway this month with “The Addams Family” (Oct. 25 – Nov. 10) followed by the world premiere production of “Churlish Chiding of Winter Winds: A Shakespeariment” (Jan. 10-19, 2025), which will be devised by JT’s students under the direction of David Goodwin. Tickets for these productions and the rest of the exciting season are on sale now at juniortheatre.com.

South Park’s Gold Leaf now at The Nat

In The Nat’s atrium, visitors can now shop at South Park-based retailer Gold Leaf. They offer a curated selection of home goods, unique gifts, natural beauty products, nature-centric art, and sustainable products and toys for kids. Given their proximity to the Park, this new, second location inside The Nat felt like “the right next step” to the owners. In addition, The Nat announced a new cafe partnership with The Craft Taco, based in Sorrento Valley. These local, independently owned and operated businesses align with The Nat’s regional focus—to study and conserve nature in Southern California and the Baja California Peninsula—and its goals to feature artisan brands and sustainable products.   

19th century sculpture exhibition at Timken

San Diego’s Timken Museum of Art will present Modeling for the Masses: Sculptural Ideals in Nineteenth-Century America Oct. 23, 2024 through March 16, 2025. This new exhibition highlights the small-scale, three-dimensional works of acclaimed sculptors including celebrated works by Hiram Powers, Thomas Ball, Chauncey B. Ives and John Rogers.

Modeling for the Masses draws upon examples from the Timken’s permanent collection as well as significant loans from prominent public and private collections. Period photographs will show how works were often broadly disseminated, and both stereoviews and “cartes de visite” images represent another dimension of the exhibition.

SDMA welcomes Foster + Partners exhibit

Showcasing groundbreaking architectural designs by Lord Norman Foster and his internationally renowned studio Foster + Partners, a new exhibition titled “Foster + Partners: Architecture of Light and Space” opens at The San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) this fall. On view Oct. 19, 2024, through April 27, 2025, the exhibition invites visitors to explore the innovative architectural vision of Foster + Partners, one of the world’s leading architectural firms, renowned for their pioneering approach to design and sustainability, through models, drawings, and an early concept design of the museum’s west wing renovation.

Announced in 2023, SDMA has chosen Foster + Partners to renovate its west wing, with the goal of expanding exhibition space, including free galleries; enhancing public engagement; achieving greater efficiency and sustainability; supporting the Museum’s permanent collection; and improving accessibility while honoring the Museum’s and Balboa Park’s architectural heritage. The renovation aims to include a new education pavilion and sculpture garden, as well as a free community gathering space with exhibitions, pop up concerts, and a café. In addition, the renovation will accommodate new storage vaults for the collection and enhanced sustainability technologies. A public survey is open now through Oct. 14, inviting the community to share about their current and desired SDMA experiences and renovation updates. For more details on the renovation project and to take the survey, visit sdmart.org/west-wing-building-renovation/.

“The Myth of Superheroes” at Comic-Con Museum

At the crossroads between ancient cultures and modern-day superheroes stands Comic-Con Museum’s world-premiere exhibition, “The Myth of Superheroes: From Antiquity to Contemporary Art,” exploring the connection between Greco-Roman mythology and today’s superheroes. The exhibit showcases an extensive collection of more than 400 objects including original comic books from all over the world, hand drawings, modern statues, movie posters, action figures, album covers, and other vintage memorabilia. It is open now on the main floor, replacing Popnology.

Visitors will have the opportunity to journey through the ages and discover the evolution of some of today’s fan favorite heroes: from Hercules to Superman, the Amazons to Wonder Woman, Neptune to Aquaman, and Mercury to Flash.  

Dear Bruce: A Story Told in Letters exhibit

This intimate exhibit at The Studio Door will showcase deeply personal correspondence, tracing the profound relationships between San Diego art historian Bruce Kamerling and two men, Robert Miles Parker and Paul Cadmus. On loan from Lambda Archives of San Diego, the letters, drawings, and newspaper clippings shared in this exhibit offer a rare glimpse into the emotional and artistic connections that flourished between Bruce Kamerling and the two men spanning over more than 15 years. The exhibit will also feature artworks on loan from the San Diego History Center as a supplement to the letters. The exhibit will be on view through Nov. 2.

North Park photographer documents San Diego River

The San Diego River Artists’ Alliance (SDRAA) will exhibit work celebrating the San Diego River and its ecosystem in a show titled “Ebb and Flow: Art Along the River” at the Point Loma Public Library from Oct. 3 through Dec. 30. with an opening reception Saturday, Oct. 5 from 2-4 p.m. A portion of the sales will be donated to the San Diego River Park Foundation (SDRPF).

North Park resident, Louis Russell, will display photographs of the river. The images are captured with an 8” x 10” pinhole camera on black and white film, processed in her darkroom, then scanned and edited in Photoshop. They are printed in two ways: on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Paper and on Kozo Niyodo 25 gram paper with white gold leaf hand applied.

The San Diego River Artists’ Alliance is a collective of visual and 3D artists from around San Diego County who hike and spend time along the San Diego River from its source in mountains near Julian to the ocean. The artists create artwork about the San Diego River and its ecosystem to celebrate its history, beauty and promise and to encourage the public to connect with the variety of experiences available along the river. The work includes acrylic, photography, mixed media, glass, watercolor, oil, color pencil, fiber arts, paper, ceramic, and polymer clay.

Make the world a better place

Mama’s Pies bake sale returns

Fall is upon us–which means it’s time for Mama’s Pies Thanksgiving Bake Sale! San Diego’s largest annual bake sale is back for its 20th year, raising critical funds for Mama’s Kitchen, the Food is Medicine Coalition-accredited medically tailored meal provider serving San Diegans facing malnutrition due to critical illnesses like HIV, cancer, congestive heart failure, type 2 diabetes, and chronic kidney disease.

Over the last two decades, the annual bake sale has become a San Diego staple, with more than 88,000 pies being sold to raise more than $2.2 million. Last year alone, Mama’s Pies raised over $114,000 thanks to the sale of over 2,600 pies and nearly 1,200 direct donations. Mama’s Kitchen hopes to raise $145,000 during this year’s month-long pie sale, which can fund up to 54,500 meals for the organization’s clients. All proceeds from Mama’s Pies Thanksgiving Bake Sale, both from pie sales and direct donations, directly fund Mama’s Kitchen’s medically tailored meal delivery services.

Pies go on sale Monday, Oct. 21 and close Friday, Nov. 22. To learn more, visit mamaspies.org.

244 San Diegans kept from homelessness through Diversion program

From January to July 2024, 244 San Diegans were kept from becoming chronically homeless through the Regional Task Force on Homelessness’ Diversion practice, thanks to added funding from the County of San Diego.

When the $1 million Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer and philanthropic partners raised started being spent, 209 unduplicated households were provided support and financial assistance. On average, it costs just $2,863 per household to return people to housing.

Diversion helps steer people who recently became homeless (usually within the first month) from a shelter or living on the street because providers who are specially trained on Diversion engagement know how to ask the right questions about if a person needs family reunification, diverting temporarily as new housing is sustained, and/or relocating permanently to a safe place out of town. They also can connect them with short-term financial assistance – utility deposit, car repair, application fee, security deposit – to get them quickly rehoused. 

Wightman Street’s major cleanup

In an extensive cleanup effort during September focused on Wightman Street Neighborhood Park in the Chollas Creek neighborhood of City Heights, City of San Diego crews cleared more than 8,000 pounds of trash – including large appliances, mattresses, boxes and clothing – caused by illegal dumping and encampments.  

The City had received complaints about conditions along the Auburn Creek corridor, which is connected to the stormwater channel just behind Wightman Street Park, with large amounts of debris and hazardous items left behind. More than 60 Get It Done encampment reports had been submitted for this location. 

Something to celebrate

City awarded for website improvements

In recognition of its efficient and user-friendly digital experience, the City of San Diego has received a first place award in The Center for Digital Government’s 2024 Government Experience Awards. These awards recognize the achievements of states, cities and counties that have raised the bar on the experience of government services to create a better-engaged constituency and a more responsive government. 

According to The Center for Digital Government, the city was awarded first place in the “city” category for its website’s topic-based organization, readable content, user-centric design, increase in online forms and greater transparency and accountability. The city was also recognized for the continued revamping of its customer engagement strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic to foster ease of access to City programs and services for residents and businesses via Sandiego.gov.

Handbag company celebrating 12 years with BOGO sale

Sash Bag, the San Diego-based company that’s redefined the handbag game with its patented hands-free design, is celebrating its 12-year anniversary in style. For one day only on Oct. 11, Sash Bag will be offering a Buy One, Get One Free sale across all styles and sizes with no limits—a 24-hour celebration of customer love, thriving community spirit, and hands-free freedom!

Following the smashing success of last year’s first-ever BOGO Free sale, which broke all single-day sales records, this year’s event is set to be even bigger. “Last year, we dipped our toes in with just 12 hours of BOGO Free, and it was a total blowout!” says Nichole MacDonald, founder of Sash Bag. “Our customers went wild for it, so we’re turning up the fun this year—24 hours of BOGO madness, sitewide! Whether you’re treating yourself or stocking up on holiday gifts, now’s the perfect time to shop with Sash Bag.”

For more information, visit thesashbag.com.

Indie film “To Fall in Love” announces distribution

A locally-produced indie film will be released on North American cable and streaming platforms on Oct. 22. After a successful film festival run including the world-renowned San Diego International Film Festival, “To Fall In Love” was courted by Gravitas Ventures, an Anthem Sports & Entertainment Company, for distribution.

Four filmmakers who first met in San Diego collaborated on “To Fall In Love,” about an estranged couple navigating a last-ditch effort to save their marriage. Written by Jennifer Lane and directed by San Diego native Michael Foster, actors Beth Gallagher and Eric Casalini take viewers on a painstaking and emotion-inducing journey through psychologist Arthur Aron’s famous relationship tool “36 Questions To Fall in Love.”

“To Fall in Love” will be available to rent or own on Oct. 22 and is currently live for pre-orders on iTunes: apple.co/4d3nJrw. To read about how the movie was made, visit sdnews.com/san-diego-intl-film-fest-includes-local-micro-budget-indie-film-to-fall-in-love.

It’s the economy, stupid!

2024 record year for funding

According to Crunchbase data, fundraising by San Diego County companies has already hit a record $23.6 billion in 2024 for all funding types. The funding amounts have shown a steady increase for a third consecutive year, mostly driven by Post-IPO Debt and Equity funding rounds. Several factors could contribute to this surge, including a robust investment environment, increased interest from venture capital firms and Post-IPO follow-on offering raises from the public markets. These factors indicate a positive trend in funding, potentially driving further growth and innovation in the future. $100 million plus rounds for all funding types have already outpaced the year prior by 23%, totaling 42.

In addition, the correlation between funding and tenant demand has been more pronounced in the life sciences sector for all types of funding, from Venture capital to Post-IPO capital. For example, Mirador raising a Series A $400 million and Avidity Biosciences’ Post-IPO capital of $1.2 billion have both resulted in lease transactions in 2024.

SD Foundation’s State of Latinos report

A new report commissioned by San Diego Foundation (SDF) and developed in partnership with the San Diego Regional Policy & Innovation Center found that most San Diego Latinos have individual incomes of $39,000 or less. The income gap between Latinos and non-Latinos in San Diego is substantial: Latino San Diegans make around $28,000 less per year than white, non-Latino San Diegans. More highlights:

• While San Diego’s Latino population has a high bachelor’s degree attainment, 24%, compared to Los Angeles (16%), San Bernardino (13%) and Riverside (12%) counties, they trail other groups in San Diego County with the lowest bachelor’s degree attainment.
• San Diego’s Latino population is young, with a mean age of 33, compared to 42 for San Diego’s non-Latino residents.
• The majority of San Diego’s Latinos were born in the U.S. (70%), and most immigrants are U.S. citizens (53%).

Latinos represent 35% of San Diego County’s population. Yet, compared to non-Latino San Diegans, this community faces significant economic challenges due to systemic barriers, socio-economic disparities and unique community needs. 

SD Community College District adopts $1.05 billion budget

The San Diego Community College District governing board has adopted a balanced operating budget of more than $1.05 billion for the 2024-25 fiscal year, a budget that includes a 2.5% increase from the previous year during a time of continued enrollment growth.

Serving approximately 90,000 students annually at four colleges with campuses throughout the city, the SDCCD is the largest provider of higher education and workforce training in the region and has become a powerhouse in expanding career pathways and preparing students for a fast-evolving economy. A 2023 study found that for every $1 million in tax dollars spent educating SDCCD students, taxpayers receive an average of $1.4 million in return over the course of the students’ working lives.

The SDCCD Board of Trustees approved the spending plan on a unanimous vote at its Sept. 12 meeting. The budget includes nearly $643 million in General Fund spending and $402 million from other revenue. Funding sources are varied, and include local property taxes, enrollment fees, federal financial aid and other revenue streams.