San Diego, CA

‘It gets a bad wrap:’ East Village block party aims to change the narrative

Published

2 years ago

July 13, 2024

‘It gets a bad wrap:’ East Village block party aims to change the narrative

East Village came alive Saturday, hours before the San Diego Padres game.

The 12th annual East Village Block Party, on J Street between 7th and 10th avenues, featured food, music, games and plenty of Friar Faithful. In the morning, it was mainly residents attending who said they were happy for a community event and hoped it might change the perception of the neighborhood.

East Village has San Diego’s largest homeless population and can be jarring to new visitors to Petco Park, or the upcoming Comic-Con International. Still, it’s not the same as East Village of 15, 10 or five years ago, with the addition of 22 apartment complexes added in the last decade and an estimated 20,000 residents.

“The (block party) helps to rehabilitate that perception,” said Dominic Li Mandri, district manager for the East Village Association. “We want people to know it isn’t just a business district, but a residential district now.”

Li Mandri credits the opening of Petco Park in 2004 as the catalyst in the revitalization of the area. In fact, the block party was a bit of a mix between a community event and a Padres fan festival. Li Mandri said they expected 5,000 and 10,000 people to attend the event, with the majority coming in the hours before the 4:15 p.m. game between the Padres and Atlanta Braves. The block party was originally scheduled for the start of the Padres season but was canceled due to rain.

Dozens of people walk between vendors during the East Village Block Party along J Street on Saturday, July 13, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

J Street was filled Saturday with the smell of grilled food, two DJs playing pop hits and plenty of venders. Some of the food options included Bosforo, with wood-fired pizza; Doggus Gus, with bacon-wrapped hot dogs; and Pacific Island Crave, with Hawaiian and other types. As the sun came out and the temperature hit 80 degrees, Topo Chico was on the case, handing out bottles of its sparkling water.

Jesse Fuentes, 40, and his wife Brittany Fuentes, 39, were at the event with their Padres jerseys on. They rent an apartment a few blocks away and Jesse Fuentes works at the nearby San Diego Central Library.

“I wish there were more events like this to highlight how great this community is,” Jesse Fuentes said.

East Village pride was a common theme among many participants. Jill Benbow, 46, was at the event with her husband and two senior dogs, Huey, 13, wearing a Padres bow tie, and his sister Ruby 14, who was too hot to wear her regular Padres shirt.

Benbow, wearing a Manny Machado shirt, said they have lived in the Legend Condominiums building — overlooking the ball field — for two and a half years. She said they love living downtown and its access to plenty of things to do.

“I think it gets a bad wrap,” Benbow said of East Village. “It’s fun, safe, and let’s go Padres.”

Other sports teams were on hand to promote upcoming events and build awareness. SD Legion, the city’s professional rugby team, had an inflatable wall with holes where participants tried to throw or kick a rugby ball into. It also sold merchandise, including jerseys ($100), hats ($35) and flags ($25).

San Diego FC, the new Major League Soccer team beginning play next year, had a spinning wheel where participants could win sunglasses, a flag, scarf or tote bag. It also had hats (around $30) and key rings from $5 to $7.

San Diego Mojo, a professional indoor volleyball team, just finished its inaugural season and was in East Village to spread the word. The team also had a spinning wheel, with the the chance to win a Mojo embroidered towel, T-shirt, bag or sunglasses. Team spokesperson Ryan Tewes said they were grateful to have the opportunity to be at the block party.

“We’re here to introduce ourselves,” he said. “We’re trying to get to as many events as possible.”

Next up for East Village is Comic-Con, which has stretched beyond the convention center and the Gaslamp Quarter. In addition to events at the library, last year featured a mini-Jurassic Park (complete with animatronic dinosaurs) at a warehouse on 15th Street.

Paul Motl, 42, recently moved into an East Village apartment because he wanted to live downtown for all the attractions. He was wearing a yellow Padres shirt and a classic brown hat. Motl said he is slightly nervous about how big the Comic-Con crowd will be but thinks it might be OK.

“To me, the Comic-Con crowd seems very respectful,” he said.

Originally Published: July 13, 2024 at 4:28 p.m.

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San Diego, CA

The Best Things to Do in San Diego: May 2026 | San Diego Magazine

Published

3 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

The Best Things to Do in San Diego: May 2026 | San Diego Magazine

When we think of May, we think of Mother’s Day, blooming flowers, sunny skies, and lots of fun, seasonal events in the city. This month, locals can dine on the creations of James Beard Award-Winning Chefs at Rancho Bernardo Inn, or take advantage of berry season at the annual Vista Strawberry Festival. Theatre lovers can enjoy a showing of Kim’s Convenience at The Old Globe, while the San Diego Natural History Museum invites art enthusiasts to view its latest marine-themed exhibit. Grab your tickets and crack open that planner. Here are all the best things to do in San Diego this month:

Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do

Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Month

29

Louisiana legend Juvenile, enhances by the live instrumentation of The 400 Degreez Band, will perform career hits and his newest album, Boiling Point, at House of Blues San Diego.

Photo Credit: Dahlia Katz

Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Month

5/5–6/1

Turning the spotlight on contemporary LGBTQ artists, the inaugural ArtSpectrum 2026 will showcase both the grand and intimate scale of contemporary painters, photographers, and mixed media artists at Village Arts Outreach in Balboa Park.

12–24

The only ordinary element of the San Diego International Fringe Festival is the constant thrill of the extraordinary. Discover a plethora of innovative performances at venues from Pacific Beach to Baja.

5/15–6/14

A Korean-Canadian family balances tradition and assimilation from their Toronto storefront in Ins Choi’s comforting satire Kim’s Convenience, making its local premier at The Old Globe.

5/22–2/2027

Ocean debris will receive a new beginning at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Using repurposed pollution, Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea depicts creatively sculpted marine life.

More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Month

4/30–5/3

Enjoy fine dining at its finest from a lineup of gastronomic titans during 54 Hours with James Beard Award-Winning Chefs. Savor elegant meals, masterclasses, tastings, and more at Rancho Bernardo Inn.

2

Unlimited bites, regional craft beers, and animal observations are on the menu for San Diego Zoo Food, Wine & Brew (with live music), a culinary evening in support of the San Diego Wildlife Alliance.

7

Spend An Evening with David Sedaris, humorist, essayist, and best-selling author. Never afraid to point the pen at himself, Sedaris will share old favorites and works in progress in the classic satirical style he’s known for at Jacobs Music Center.

15–17

Say cheese! And toast to the Cheese & Libation Expo. Explore three days of all-you-can eat and drink fare at BRICK, along with boutique shopping and bountiful pairings.

PARTNER CONTENT

10 Years In, Puffer and Malarkey Are Just Getting Started

Elevating an Icon: Inside the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Clu…

16

Stroll the private grounds of several luxurious homes, accompanied by live music, tabletop designs, and outdoor artistry, during the Secret Garden Tour, La Jolla Historical Society‘s flora and fauna fundraiser.

24

Vista recalls its days as a strawberry-producing superpower through its free Strawberry Festival. Wear your berry best fit, watch film screenings, and enter contests for shortcake, pie, and sundae indulging.

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San Diego, CA

City considering cutting funding to resource center for those experiencing homelessness

Published

16 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

City considering cutting funding to resource center for those experiencing homelessness

Last week Mayor Todd Gloria released the budget proposal for the 2027 fiscal budget. Protected homeless services is among his top priorities mentioned in the proposal. However, some of the reductions he’s proposing could impact thousands of San Diegans experiencing homelessness.

Located on 17^th and K Street, the Neil Good Day Center offers an array of services to nearly seven thousand people experiencing homelessness. The services include giving them a place to shower and do laundry, and connecting them to a case manager, among others.

“These are critical services that are helping people off the streets, but really better their lives and their health and their employment situation as well,” Deacon Vargas with Father Joe’s Villages said.

Deacon Jim Vargas heads Father Joe’s Villages, which runs the center. He said through their prevention and diversion strategies, they’ve managed to keep nearly one thousand individuals from falling into homelessness.

“So by helping them pay rent, or helping them with their utilities, or helping them to reunite with family,” Vargas said.

Right now, the city allocates at least $850,000 per year to the Neil Good Day Center, according to Vargas.

But the future and funding for these services are in limbo because of Mayor Todd Gloria’s proposed budget cuts.

“The impact to those whom we’ve been serving the Daily Center would be very severe,” Deacon Vargas said.

In a statement to NBC 7, Mayor Todd Gloria said in part, “We must find more efficient and cost-effective ways to address this crisis and prioritize funding for programs that provide shelter beds and maximize resources to programs that place people into permanent housing.”

Since it’s still at a proposal stage, Deacon Vargas said it’s unclear how the city will decide to move forward.

However, Deacon Vargas said services would be significantly reduced because they would be forced to operate solely on a budget of about half a million dollars they receive from philanthropy.

“The hours would be cut. Some days would be cut. We would have showers that might be impacted because they’re given seven days a week and we’d close two days a week, then the showers would be five days a week, the case management,” Deacon Vargas said.

Deacon Vargas is certain of one thing.

He would like to continue offering services at the Day Center, even if the city goes through with the funding cuts.

“As we work with individuals at the Day Center and at Father Joe’s Villages, the community becomes healthier as a result of it,” Deacon Vargas said.

The budget also recommends additional cuts to homeless services, but does not give specifics as to where those cuts would be.

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