Hey San Diego — this weekend hits that early spring sweet spot. Temps climb into the low 80s, the San Luis Rey river is actually flowing, and the calendar is stacked with art fairs, local markets, and one seriously big win for San Diego pizza. Whether you're browsing Balboa Park, sipping your way through North Park, or cruising a riverside trail, this is a good one to get out and take advantage.

Let’s dive in.

 Steve DeLong
Publisher

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🖼️ Cafés & Cabarets: The Art of Toulouse-Lautrec
Opens Saturday, April 4 at the San Diego Museum of Art. About 35 rarely displayed works from one of SDMA's most significant private gifts — a centennial celebration treat that hasn't been seen since the '80

🛍️ North Park Community Pop-Up Series Saturday, April 4, 10am–5pm.
Verbatim Books hosts this monthly celebration of local artists, authors, and makers in the heart of North Park - part creator fair, part mini book fair. Walkable.

🎨 Makers Arcade Spring Fair Saturday–Sunday, April 4–5, 10am–5pm.
Balboa Park's iconic grounds host this debut fair, with 120+ curated artisans showcasing ceramics, jewelry, original artwork, textiles, and specialty foods. $

🎨 "Paradise on Earth" — San Diego Watercolor Society Through April 25, Liberty Station Arts District.
Free opening reception this Friday, April 3, 5–8pm, featuring 95+ original water-based paintings juried by award-winning artist Ken Goldman. The gallery is open Wed–Sun, 11am–3pm, and works are also available to purchase online.

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🍕 San Diego Pizza Just Won the World
Pacific Beach's Square Pizza Co. - which also has a location in East Village - just took first place in the non-traditional division at the International Pizza Expo 2026 in Las Vegas — then finished second overall among the world's top pizzaioli. Fred Santos has been quietly making some of the best Detroit-style pies in California, and now the world knows it.

🍺 North Park Festival of Beers Saturday, April 4.
The annual fest is back with 50+ beers from top breweries, live music, and specialty food vendors. San Diego A classic North Park spring tradition

🍽️ Taste of Hillcrest Saturday, April 11.
Sample 30+ restaurants, bars, and shops in one walkable afternoon — Hillcrest's best annual food crawl, drawing crowds from across the county. A great excuse to discover new neighborhood favorites alongside the classics.

🎨 Mission Fed ArtWalk Saturday–Sunday, April 25–26, Little Italy.
San Diego's original fine art festival turns 42 this year — 250+ artists from across the US and Mexico take over India Street with four live music stages, interactive art, KidsWalk, and great food. Free to attend and genuinely one of the best weekends of the year in Little Italy.

One of the few spots in San Diego where you can walk or ride alongside a flowing river. The San Luis Rey River Trail is a flat, scenic path that works just as well for a casual hike as it does for a bike cruise.

This time of year, the river has real flow, the banks are green, and the whole route feels more alive than usual. It’s easy, accessible, and stretches for miles - so you can go as short or long as you want.

Distance: Up to ~9 miles one way
Difficulty: Easy
Location: Oceanside (start near the harbor or access via Guajome)

Tip: Ride it if you want to cover ground, walk it if you want to slow down—and start inland for a quieter stretch.

Moonlight Beach, again!

Fri 4/3
High 77° / Low 51° • ⛅ 6%

Sat 4/4
High 83° / Low 52° • ⛅ 1%

Sun 4/5
High 80° / Low 54° • ⛅ 1%

A warm-up into the low 80s peaks Saturday, with light clouds sticking around and crisp, cool evenings—classic early spring in San Diego.

200+ Live Music Shows Across San Diego This Weekend

Live Music List Sponsored by Poway’s Irish Pub Barstool Bingo

TERI Common Grounds Cafe – Morning Glory String Band – San Marcos – 10am-2pm
The Roxy Encinitas – Johnny C – Encinitas – 1-4pm
Duke's La Jolla – Casey Turner – La Jolla – 3-6pm
Aquarius Bar & Grille – 1st Friday Jazz Jam on the Jetty – Mission Bay – 4-6pm
Mia Marie Vineyards – Al Barnes – Escondido – 4-6pm
Monarch Ocean Pub – Christian Taylor – Del Mar – 4-7pm
Humphrey's Backstage Live – Linda Berry Band – Point Loma – 5-7pm
TERI Common Grounds Cafe – Victoria Valendo – San Marcos – 5-7pm
The Camp Store – No Good Reason – Carlsbad – 5-7pm
Deft Brewing | The Gärten – Shakedown String Band – Morena – 5-8pm
Koi Zen Cellars – Kelli Rogers – Rancho Bernardo – 5-8pm
The Roxy Encinitas – Sarah & Rob – Encinitas – 5-8pm
Uvas Winery – Ashlyn Zaldivar – Poway – 5-8pm
Pour House – The Reflectors – Oceanside – 5:30-8:30pm
Grand Ole BBQ – Erika Osuna – El Cajon – 6-8pm
Panama 66 – The Beard & The Bird – Balboa Park – 6-8pm
Amalfi Marina Bar – Duck Tape – San Marcos – 6-9pm
Aquarius Bar & Grille – The Jiggle Os – Mission Bay – 6-9pm
Barefoot Bar & Grill – Kevin Ryan – Mission Bay – 6-9pm
Bellamy's Restaurant – Dave Scott & Bobby Lanuza – Escondido – 6-9pm
Carruth Cellars - Oceanside – Corey Angeli – Oceanside – 6-9pm
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa – Hank Easton – La Jolla – 6-9pm
Havana Grill - Mission Valley – Charlie Chavez & La Perla Negra – Mission Valley – 6-9pm
Heroes Wood-Fired Pizza – Wah-Sabi – Santa Ysabel – 6-9pm
La Valencia Hotel – Keni Yarbro – La Jolla – 6-9pm
LandShark Bar & Grill – Andrew Peña – Gaslamp Quarter – 6-9pm
Mainstream Bar & Grill - Carlsbad – Peter Casey – Carlsbad – 6-9pm
Shake Bar & Lounge – Rachel Jay – Core-Columbia – 6-9pm
Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina – Jason Graham – Harbor Island – 6-9pm
Smoking Cannon Brewery – Open Mic with Scott Ensign – Ramona – 6-9pm
Solterra Winery & Kitchen – John Bennett – Encinitas – 6-9pm
The Shout! House – Dueling Pianos – Gaslamp Quarter – 6-9pm
Babcock & Story Hotel Del – Gonzo Solo – Coronado – 6-10pm
The Galley at the Marina – Colour – Chula Vista – 6-10pm
Golden Island Dim Sum & Asian Cuisine – Charlie Arbelaez SD Quartet – Mira Mesa – 6:30-8:30pm
Eddie V's V Lounge – Craig Dawson Trio – Marina District – 6:30-10:30pm
Le Papagayo Carlsbad – Michael Richardson Duo – Carlsbad – 6:30-9:30pm
Le Papagayo Leucadia – ZB Savoy – Leucadia – 6:30-9:30pm
Négociant Winery – Fridays with Don L. – Uptown Hillcrest – 6:30-9:30pm
Lou Lou’s Club @ Lafayette Hotel – Bulbancha YaYa w/ Hadley Rentz & Amanda Portela – University Heights – 7-8:30pm
Aztec Brewing Company – Brandon Cesmat & Band – Vista – 7-10pm
Books & Records Bar – Kaylee Daughtery – Banker's Hill – 7-10pm
Fast Times – Serious Guise – Bay Park – 7-10pm
Kimball Bar & Eatery – Angeles y Diablos – National City – 7-10pm
L'Auberge Del Mar – Olivia Rohde – Del Mar – 7-10pm
Tio Leo's Mexican Restaurant & Lounge – 3 Car Garage – Morena – 7-10pm
Union Kitchen & Tap Encinitas – Freddie Walton – Encinitas – 7-10pm
Winstons OB – Doghouse Blues – Ocean Beach – 7-10pm
Mainstream Bar & Grill - Poway – Crossroads – Poway – 7-11pm
1st Street Bar – Maka Roots – Encinitas – 7:30-9:30pm
Humphrey's Backstage Live – Toga Party Band – Point Loma – 8-10pm
Whiskey Girl – The Gravities – East Village – 8-10pm
McP's Irish Pub – Halo Effect – Coronado – 8pm-12am
Pal Joey's – The Exit – Allied Gardens – 8pm-12am
Prohibition SD – Jenny & the Tramps • Fiore – Gaslamp Quarter – 8pm-1:30am
Poway's Irish Pub – Cold Craft – Poway – 8:30pm-12:30am
The Roxy Encinitas – Mockingbird Jam – Encinitas – 8:30-11:30pm
Full Circle Saloon – Ronnie Lee Group * CCK – Santee – 8:30-11:59pm
Renegade Bar – Trey Hill Band – El Cajon – 9pm-12:30am
The Salty Frog – Upload Band – Imperial Beach – 9pm-12am
The Kraken – Radio 80s – Cardiff – 9pm-1am
Lou Lou’s Club @ Lafayette Hotel – Maggie Koerner w/ Bulbancha YaYa – University Heights – 10-11:30pm

🎤 Karaoke

710 Beach Club – Karaoke – Pacific Beach – 8pm-12am
Harry's Sports Bar & Grill – Harryoke Fridays – Fallbrook – 8pm-1am
Happy Does Bar – Karaoke – Gaslamp Quarter – 8:30pm-1:30am
Werewolf American Pub – Karaoke – East Village – 9pm-1am
Wong's Dragon Room – Karaoke with DJ Harvest – Rolando – 9pm-1am
Winstons OB – Karaoke w/Corey Glasper – Ocean Beach – 9:30pm-12:30am

🧠 Trivia

Dirty Birds - Ocean Beach – Sunset Trivia – Ocean Beach – 7-9pm

Farmer & The Seahorse – David Shyde – Torrey Pines – 10am-1pm
LandShark Bar & Grill – Russell Paihinui – Gaslamp Quarter – 10am-1pm
La Valencia Hotel – Tyler F. Simmons – La Jolla – 11am-2pm
Aquarius Bar & Grille – Appian Way – Mission Bay – 12-3pm
Grand Ole BBQ – Sandpiper Ensemble – El Cajon – 1-4pm
The Roxy Encinitas – Brielle Marie – Encinitas – 1-4pm
Aquarius Bar & Grille – Jack & Diana – Mission Bay – 3-6pm
Mia Marie Vineyards – Jason Jenkins – Escondido – 3-5pm
Pour House – Bonneville 7 – Oceanside – 4-7pm
Smoking Cannon Brewery – Michael Dean – Ramona – 4-5pm
Uvas Winery – Crazy Tomes – Poway – 4-7pm
Winstons OB – Freedom High • Big Muff And The Maggots • Abigail Circus – Ocean Beach – 4-7pm
The Camp Store – Boo Stubbs & Fingerprint – Carlsbad – 4:30-7pm
TERI Common Grounds Cafe – Sam Onzo – San Marcos – 5-7pm
Grand Ole BBQ – Jeff Berkley and the Bastards – El Cajon – 5-8pm
Koi Zen Cellars – Lisa Dilk & the Dude – Rancho Bernardo – 5-8pm
The Roxy Encinitas – George Richards – Encinitas – 5-8pm
Amalfi Marina Bar – 1 Man Rock Band – San Marcos – 5:30-8:30pm
Barefoot Bar & Grill – Jason Graham – Mission Bay – 6-9pm
Carruth Cellars - Oceanside – FastTrax – Oceanside – 6-9pm
Deft Brewing | The Gärten – The Agents of Apollo – Morena – 6-9pm
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa – Tyler F. Simmons – La Jolla – 6-9pm
Havana Grill - Mission Valley – Charlie Chavez & La Perla Negra – Mission Valley – 6-9pm
Heroes Wood-Fired Pizza – Billy Watson – Santa Ysabel – 6-9pm
La Valencia Hotel – Kevin James O'Brien – La Jolla – 6-9pm
LandShark Bar & Grill – Hank Easton – Gaslamp Quarter – 6-9pm
Panama 66 – Robin Henkel with Horns – Balboa Park – 6-8pm
Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina – Jonny Tarr – Harbor Island – 6-9pm
Solterra Winery & Kitchen – Yamaokas & Company – Encinitas – 6-9pm
The Galley at the Marina – Santana Pa Ti Live – Chula Vista – 6-10pm
The Shout! House – Dueling Pianos – Gaslamp Quarter – 6-9pm
Aquarius Bar & Grille – Fish & the Seaweeds – Mission Bay – 6-9pm
Eddie V's V Lounge – Archie Thompson Trio – Marina District – 6:30-10:30pm
Le Papagayo Carlsbad – Keefer and Rob – Carlsbad – 6:30-9:30pm
Le Papagayo Leucadia – Fercho – Leucadia – 6:30-9:30pm
Négociant Winery – Andy Anderson & Nathan Fry – Uptown Hillcrest – 6:30-9:30pm
Renegade Bar – Trey Hill Band – El Cajon – 6:30pm-12:30am
Aztec Brewing Company – Sasha and the Saz • Henry Loveless • Space 83 – Vista – 7-10pm
Books & Records Bar – Gypsy Sally – Banker's Hill – 7-10pm
Fast Times – ReWind Band – Bay Park – 7-10pm
Kimball Bar & Eatery – Ca-Set – National City – 7-10pm
L'Auberge Del Mar – Andrew Peña – Del Mar – 7-10pm
Mainstream Bar & Grill - Poway – Breez'n – Poway – 7-11pm
The Jazz Lounge – Daniel Rotem - Miro Sprague - Karl McComas-Reichl - Christian Euman – College East – 7-8:30pm
Tio Leo's Mexican Restaurant & Lounge – Full Strength Funk Band – Morena – 7-10pm
Union Kitchen & Tap Encinitas – Travis Thomas – Encinitas – 7-10pm
1st Street Bar – Hypno Sapo – Encinitas – 7:30-9:30pm
Humphrey's Backstage Live – Rising Star – Point Loma – 8-10pm
Lou Lou’s Club @ Lafayette Hotel – Reza – University Heights – 8-9:30pm
McP's Irish Pub – Baywolf – Coronado – 8pm-12am
Prohibition Liquor Bar – Gypsy Sally Band – Gaslamp Quarter – 8pm-1:30am
Full Circle Saloon – Cascade Effect – Santee – 8:30-11:59pm
Poway's Irish Pub – Broken Halo – Poway – 8:30pm-12:30am
The Roxy Encinitas – Warsaw Poland Brothers – Encinitas – 8:30-11:30pm
Pal Joey's – The Good Fun Band – Allied Gardens – 9pm-1am
Pour House – Runs Deep • Grass Landing • Kiss Hello – Oceanside – 9pm-12am
710 Beach Club – The Del Mar Bluff Jam & Johnny Sapphire – Pacific Beach – 9pm-1am
The Kraken – X Syndicate – Cardiff – 9pm-1am
Winstons OB – Nattali Rize with special guest Minori and Sierra Marin – Ocean Beach – 9:30pm-12:30am
The Salty Frog – Ritchie Orduno Trio – Imperial Beach – 9:30pm-12:30am
Lou Lou’s Club @ Lafayette Hotel – Reza – University Heights – 10-11:30pm
Babcock & Story Hotel Del – Gonzo Solo – Coronado – 6-10pm

🎤 Karaoke

American Legion Post 282 – Karaoke w/Leslie – La Mesa – 6-9pm
Happy Does Bar – Karaoke – Gaslamp Quarter – 8:30pm-1:30am
Werewolf American Pub – Karaoke – East Village – 9pm-1am

🧠 Trivia

Round Table Pizza - Poway – Trivia – Poway – 6-8pm
Dirty Birds - SDSU Area – Sunset Trivia – College Area – 8-9pm

Farmer & The Seahorse – Sean McCole – Torrey Pines – 9:30am-12:30pm
Bahia Resort Hotel – Christian Taylor – Mission Bay – 10am-1pm
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa – Jolene Cruz – La Jolla – 10am-1pm
Seasons Restaurant – Orion Song – Carlsbad – 10am-1pm
La Valencia Hotel – Javid & Naoko – La Jolla – 11am-2pm
LandShark Bar & Grill – Freddie Walton – Gaslamp Quarter – 11am-2pm
Aquarius Bar & Grille – High Noon Grateful Dead Party – Mission Bay – 12-7pm
Orfila Vineyards & Winery – Max the Great – Escondido – 1:30-6:30pm
Heroes Wood-Fired Pizza – Joe Rathburn – Santa Ysabel – 1-4pm
The Roxy Encinitas – Bella Popa – Encinitas – 1-4pm
Coronado Ferry Landing – Breez'n – Coronado – 2-5pm
Grand Ole BBQ – The New Brown Sugar Band – El Cajon – 2-5pm
McP's Irish Pub Paddy-O – Moonshine Troubadors – Coronado – 2-5pm
Mia Marie Vineyards – Victor Santana – Escondido – 2-4pm
The Galley at the Marina – Jeff Corey 5 – Chula Vista – 3-7pm
The Kraken – 2Lil2Late – Cardiff – 3-6pm
Carruth Cellars - Liberty Station – Blue Healers – Liberty Station – 4-7pm
Mainstream Bar & Grill - Poway – Anthony Veritas – Poway – 4-7pm
Winstons OB – Wiskerman * Gene Evaro Jr – Ocean Beach – 4-7pm
Deft Brewing | The Gärten – SD Jazz Allstars – Morena – 4-6:30pm
The Roxy Encinitas – Heno – Encinitas – 5-8pm
The Cordova Bar – Mango Bay Band – Morena – 6-9pm
Eddie V's V Lounge – Burt Brion Trio – Marina District – 6-9pm
Prohibition SD – Karlos Paez of the B Side Players – Gaslamp Quarter – 8pm-1:30am

🎤 Karaoke

Steel 94 – Karaoke – Spring Valley – 2-5pm
The Salty Frog – Karaoke – Imperial Beach – 7pm-2am
710 Beach Club – Karaoke – Pacific Beach – 8pm-12am
Winstons OB – OBoke Karaoke – Ocean Beach – 8-11pm
Full Circle Saloon – Karaoke – Santee – 8:30-11:59pm
North Bar – Karaoke – Escondido – 9pm-1am
Pal Joey's – Karaoke with DJ Harvest – Allied Gardens – 9pm-1am
Werewolf American Pub – Karaoke – East Village – 9pm-1am

🧠 Trivia

Uvas Winery – Trivia – Poway – 5-7pm
Eastbound Bar & Grill – Trivia – Lakeside – 6:30-8:30pm

*Some events may require tickets, reservations, cover charges, or be full/sold out, and typos or errors could happen but we try our best!! …

Answer: B) Peppertree Frosty 🍦

A local favorite known for soft-serve cones and after-school meetups, Peppertree Frosty captured small-town Vista before suburban growth took over. The Pepper Tree is long gone but the Frosty remains although redevelopment plans are underway. I used to visit as a child in the 60s and still stop by on occasion.

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San Diego Meteor is published every Friday morning by Steve DeLong. Steve is an Escondido High Graduate and has lived in San Diego County since 1972.