San Diego, CA
Roma Norte Brings Standout Cocktails and Mexico City Chic to San Diego
The downtown nightlife scene is getting a boost with the arrival of Roma Norte, a sophisticated cocktail bar that transports a touch of Mexico City to the Headquarters at Seaport where it’s located across from Puesto. The space, and its food and drink menu, clearly pay homage to its namesake neighborhood in Mexico’s capital, known as a bustling culinary and arts district with world-class cocktail culture.
At 2,000-square-feet with a capacity for 60 guests, Roma Norte’s dark, moody interior, illuminated by the backlit bar, creates an intimate yet social atmosphere. Under a canopy of soft lights and greenery, bar-height tables encourage mingling while cozy two-tops flank the walls.
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Led by vice president of bar and spirits Beau du Bois (Marisi, Meadowood) and director of bar logistics Derek Cram (Puesto, PDT), with chef Erik Aronow (Puesto, Destroyer) providing a menu of Mexico City-style bites, Roma Norte aims to be a beacon for both locals and travelers.
Forging unforgettable experiences through exceptional drinks and unparalleled service, du Bois and his team are confident their bar will become a fixture for those seeking something beyond the Gaslamp’s offerings.
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With over 70 cocktails, Roma Norte’s menu showcases both creativity and precision. The habanero margarita is vapor-infused with habaneros to capture the chili pepper’s floral essence without the heat, a process that takes 30 minutes to distill a single drink. It comes with a dropper of capsaicin shrub, allowing guests to customize the drink to their preferred spice level.
And the deceptively simple Sex on the Beach involves a multi-day process of melding and clarifying ingredients, then force carbonating the mixture before layering it over cranberry juice and Dell’Etna Pesca, a high-quality peach liqueur.
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“Talented chefs take every opportunity to layer in additional depths of flavor as well as improve the texture and appearance of their dishes. We take the same approach with our cocktail program. If we can make a drink better with a longer process, we will” states Cram.
“At Roma Norte, we’re executing the most ambitious cocktail program we’ve ever created,” explains Cram. “Not only is the menu much larger than at Puesto and Marisi, but virtually every cocktail has one or more labor-intensive sub-recipes. Scaling up these prep-intensive drinks has been challenging.”
Non-alcoholic options are crafted with equal care. Unimpressed with current NA offerings, the Roma Norte team makes many in-house, like the NA mezcal with tea and eucalyptus. The Nadachelada features alcohol-free Corona with a house-clarified michelada mix.
The staff is comprised of trained bartenders, so some of the city’s rising bar stars like Alyssa Ellis (Animae) may be serving your cocktail or the one making it. “We all have a hand in creating, preparing, and delivering our technique-driven, elevated, cocktails, and we can all speak to them passionately, as we walk you through our menu,” explains assistant general manager Edwin Vergara.
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Open until 2 a.m., Roma Norte plans to cater to a diverse crowd, from industry professionals to nearby hotel guests. “It’s a place, like The Lion Share,” adds Vergara, “where you can enjoy a cocktail after a night out on the town or where you can start off with a cocktail before dinner.”
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“Now that Roma Norte is open, we have a long way to go,” says du Bois. “Planting our flag and being open until 2 a.m. is going to require patience and unmatched hospitality. The good news is, we have such an incredibly dedicated bar team that understands the assignment.”
San Diego, CA
Gas prices soar nearly another dime overnight
On Thursday, the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County recorded its largest increase since Sept. 28, 2023, rising 8.7 cents to $4.894, its highest amount since Nov. 13.
The average price has increased 15 consecutive days, rising 28.7 cents, including 7 cents on Wednesday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 22.4 cents more than one week ago, 38.6 cents higher than one month ago and 14.5 cents greater than one year ago.
The average price has dropped $1.541 since rising to a record $6.435 on Oct. 5, 2022.
“Gas prices are rising primarily due to a recent surge in crude oil following strikes on Iran by the U.S. and Israel,” Kandace Redd, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s senior public affairs specialist, told City News Service. “Any conflict with Iran can send oil prices higher, as Iran is a major oil producer and about a fifth of the oil consumed globally travels through the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman.
“Gas prices are increasing because of seasonal factors too. Refineries are beginning the switch to more expensive summer-blend fuel, and demand is picking up as we head into the spring break season with more people on the road.”
The national average price rose 5.3 cents to $3.251, its highest amount since Sept. 11, 2024. It has risen five consecutive days, increasing 26.9 cents, including 8.9 cents on Wednesday.
The national average price is 26.8 cents more than one week ago, 36 cents higher than one month ago and 14.4 cents greater than one year ago. It has dropped $1.765 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.
San Diego, CA
UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance
UNLV Rebels (16-14, 11-8 MWC) at San Diego State Aztecs (19-10, 13-6 MWC)
San Diego; Friday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: UNLV faces San Diego State after Kimani Hamilton scored 24 points in UNLV’s 92-65 victory over the Utah State Aggies.
The Aztecs have gone 13-2 in home games. San Diego State is eighth in the MWC with 9.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Miles Heide averaging 2.0.
The Rebels have gone 11-8 against MWC opponents. UNLV ranks eighth in the MWC shooting 34.4% from 3-point range.
San Diego State averages 79.1 points per game, 0.6 more points than the 78.5 UNLV gives up. UNLV averages 7.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 fewer made shots on average than the 9.1 per game San Diego State allows.
The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. San Diego State won the last meeting 82-71 on Jan. 24. Miles Byrd scored 23 points points to help lead the Aztecs to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Reese Dixon-Waters is shooting 35.9% from beyond the arc with 1.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Aztecs, while averaging 13 points. Byrd is averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds over the past 10 games.
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is shooting 50.9% and averaging 20.6 points for the Rebels. Hamilton is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Aztecs: 5-5, averaging 74.9 points, 28.9 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.0 points per game.
Rebels: 6-4, averaging 84.1 points, 32.3 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.8 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
San Diego, CA
Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks
SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Military bases in San Diego County and nationwide have increased security measures due to last weekend’s U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, prompting traffic delays near base entrances, enhanced ID checks and access restrictions.
The Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado ports three aircraft carriers, including the San Diego-based USS Abraham Lincoln, which led some of the first-wave attacks on Saturday.
Naval Base Coronado warned motorists of possible traffic delays at all base entry points due to the increased security measures.
Targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields.
The U.S. operation, dubbed “Epic Fury,” and Israeli operation, “Raging Lion,” began striking targets at 1:15 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday.
As of Tuesday, at least six U.S. service members had been killed in action.
The strikes also killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, who had been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, making him the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East.
Iran’s offensive forces claimed to have struck USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles, but according to an X post from U.S central Command, “The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close. The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.”
Those with concerns regarding the heightened security can contact San Diego County’s Office of Emergency Services at 858-565-3490 or oes@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Copyright 2026, City News Service, Inc.
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