Sarah Weinberg (619) 557-2838 [email protected] Robert Arends (619) 557 -2834 [email protected] Edna Gutierrez (619) 557-2887 [email protected] Joe Timko (619) 557-2812 [email protected] Twitter @VisitSD_PR www.sandiego.org

April 2017 For Immediate Release

What’s New in , Summer 2017

Major Attractions

In March 2017, San Diego Comic-Con International announced plans to open a museum of popular culture in under an agreement with the San Diego Hall of Champions sports museum and its Breitbard Hall of Fame, currently located in the urban park. The Breitbard Hall of Fame, which commemorates decades of San Diego sports heroes, will move to major league baseball’s Petco Park in the historic Western Metal Building and many of the historical items in the Hall of Champions will be housed at the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park. The sports museum occupied the former Federal Building that was built for the -Pacific International Exposition of 1935. Although the Comic-Con Center for Popular Culture does not plan to house permanent collections, it will host a program of rotating exhibitions on comics and movies culled from collectors, museums, galleries and other sources. Organizers aim to provide a year-round interactive celebration of the innumerable aspects of popular art. (4/17)

The San Diego Zoo broke ground in August 2016 on a new eight-acre exhibit called Africa Rocks, which is scheduled to open in early summer 2017. The largest in the 100-year-old zoo’s history, the expansion is a $68 million project that will transform 1930s-era grottos and enclosures (formerly known as Cat and Dog Canyon) with new habitats for African plant and animal species that range from savanna to shore. Africa Rocks will transform what was previously a steep canyon into a gently winding, ADA-accessible pathway through a West African forest, acacia woodlands, Ethiopian highlands, kopje gardens and a Madagascar habitat. A new website features an interactive timeline showcasing the zoo’s history, growth, innovation, expansion, and goal to end species extinction. (1/17)

In May 2017, SeaWorld San Diego plans to open a new, multi-million dollar attraction that will take park visitors on an exciting ocean expedition highlighting scientific exploration. Ocean Explorer will contain multiple aquariums and rides that use state-of-the-art digital technologies to inspire park visitors to protect the wonders of our oceans. Guests will travel aboard submarines on a

1 mission to collect data and learn how they can help animals. This three-minute experience will include an onboard digital navigation dashboard, as well as a few other surprises along the journey, enhancing the riders’ understanding of the ocean ecosystem. The heart of Ocean Explorer will be a series of undersea research bases housing specially-designed aquariums, known as research pods, and interactive activities displaying unique and elusive ocean animals. Guests can also experience an exhilarating wave swing ride that flies through thousands of real bubbles in chairs suspended from the tentacles of a giant sea jelly. Three additional family-friendly rides will round out this immersive, new attraction. Construction on Ocean Explorer began in summer 2016 on a three-acre site on the southeast side of the park. The final phase of Ocean Explorer is the 2018 debut of the Electric Eel Coaster. This adrenaline-pumping coaster will offer riders the only upside-down view of Mission Bay. (1/17)

This summer, Balboa Park museums will come alive after 5:00 p.m. The Balboa Park After Dark program adds to the evening bustle of organ pavilion concerts, dance and theater performances and restaurant activity, with numerous institutions in the park offering extended hours on select evenings from May 26–Sept. 1, 2017. The following organizations will stay open until 8 p.m. on Fridays: Fleet Science Center, Japanese Friendship Garden, Mingei International Museum, Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego Art Institute, San Diego Museum of Man, San Diego Natural History Museum, Spanish Village Art Center, and The San Diego Museum of Art. Special programming and entertainment during these evening hours will be announced, and Food Truck Fridays in the park returns on June 2 and will run through September 2017. (4/17)

From April 7–Dec. 31, 2017, Birch Aquarium at Scripps in showcases the Infinity Cube, a new, immersive installation that explores bioluminescence. The exhibit combines glowing creatures with world-class science, high-tech projection and an original soundscape. For three months, London-based artist Iyvone Khoo worked alongside Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego scientist Michael Latz in an effort to better understand the role of bioluminescence— light produced by living organisms—in the marine environment. They filmed more than six hours of footage of single-celled marine organisms called dinoflagellates reacting to various stimulants, such as the human heartbeat, music, water flow, and air pressure. Those videos have become the basis of the Infinity Cube, an 8-foot cube that surrounds guests in projected and reflected larger-than-life images of bioluminescence accompanied by a soundscape. (4/17)

Major Events

The San Diego County Fair, the largest annual event in the county, takes place June 2–July 4, 2017, at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. This year’s theme, “Where the West is Fun,” celebrates the legendary rough-and-tumble Wild Wild West and will be fused with influences from cowboys to gold miners. The fair features top performing artists and popular attractions like the International Beer Festival, deep-fried food novelties, livestock exhibits, home and hobby displays, woodworking and an award-winning flower show. The fair is closed Mondays (except July 3), and the first three Tuesdays. (4/17)

San Diego celebrates Independence Day with a variety of Fourth of July celebrations throughout the county. Coronado's popular Independence Day Celebration features a two-hour parade followed by a family concert in Spreckels Park and spectacular fireworks over Glorietta Bay. The Port of San Diego celebrates with its Big Bay Boom fireworks extravaganza over San Diego Bay, the largest fireworks display in the county. LEGOLAND California Resort in Carlsbad celebrates

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July 4th with Red, White and BOOM! Special family activities are available throughout the day with the fireworks starting at 8:30 p.m. (4/17)

During the weekends of July 8 and 16, Fiesta Island on Mission Bay plays host to the annual World Championship Over-the-Line Tournament. A San Diego original, this boisterous, rowdy, fast- paced beach softball tradition is played by adults ages 21 to 80-plus. (4/17)

On July 9, 2017, San Diego hosts an opening round double-header of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Gold Cup. This soccer championship is played at Qualcomm Stadium featuring the Mexican national team as the seeded nation of Group C. (4/17)

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club is again planning two racing seasons in 2017: the traditional summer season kicks off with the traditional hat contest on opening day of the season, July 19 and runs through Sept. 4. The summer meet will offer racing Wed.-Sun. with an additional race day on Labor Day. (4/17)

Residents and visitors alike celebrate with pride during the annual San Diego LGBT Pride Parade and Festival, July 14-16, 2017. The second largest event of its kind on the West Coast, San Diego’s Pride Festival includes a mile-long parade through Hillcrest and two-day music festival in Balboa Park. The celebration begins the evening of July 14 with a Spirit of Stonewall Rally. (4/17)

On July 29, 2017, dozens of dogs take to the waves during the annual Surf Dog Competition in Imperial Beach. Visitors can take in the fun as more than 70 dogs compete in small dog, medium dog, large dog, extra-large dog and tandem surfing challenges. (4/17)

During July 19-23, 2017, San Diego becomes the center of the pop culture universe during Comic- Con International, America’s longest continuously-run comics and popular arts convention. (4/17)

On Aug. 10-13, 2017, the largest and longest-running tiki gathering in the world, Tiki Oasis, returns to Mission Valley. Each year, about 3,500 attendees enjoy a tiki-tastic art and fashion marketplace, live tropical-jazz music, go-go dancers, a classic car show, pool parties and more. This year’s theme is “International Espionage.” (4/17)

During Sept. 1-4, 2017, more than 300 tons of sand will be carved and molded into beautiful sculptures for the annual U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge and 3D Art Exposition. Held at the B Street Cruise Ship Terminal alongside San Diego Bay, the event features live entertainment, food trucks and unique experiences for kids. (4/17)

The 22nd Annual San Diego Festival of Beer takes place Sept. 22, 2017, on San Diego’s downtown bayfront at The Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier. More than 60 breweries provide up to 120 samples and tastings of brews alongside live musical performances, vendors and food. (4/17)

New Venues

In spring 2017, Mission Bay Sports Center (MBSC) announced new outdoor recreation activities on the bay, including Malarkey, a new, luxury, 47-foot Catamaran style yacht equipped with a BBQ, comfortable outdoor seating area in the stern, and secured bean bag chair seating on the bow deck.

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The boat includes four bathrooms, four beds, a kitchenette and a comfortable indoor table and seating area. Malarkey is available for luxury group outings and can comfortably fit 25 people. Malarkey has the capability to tow additional equipment, such as kayaks or jet skis, to be enjoyed in the ocean. MBSC also rents new NightSUP stand-up paddle board, equipped with waterproof LED lights designed to illuminate up to a 40-foot circumference around the board. Also new is the Hot Tub Cruisin’ rental, a fun and unique way to experience Mission Bay. The hot tub boat offers an optional propane grill, a 50-quart under seat cooler, a six-quart “in hot tub” cooler, dry storage for personal belongings, additional deck seating and a powerful sound system that connects to the renter’s music device. The boat seats up to 10 guests. (4/17)

New Hotels

Projected to open in late 2018, Liberty Station’s 100-year-old military barracks will be redeveloped into The Barracks Hotel. San Diego-based hospitality collective Untitled Hospitality and McMillin LLC will transform the last of the old Naval Training Center barracks buildings and officer quarters in the heart of Liberty Station’s ARTS DISTRICT into a $20 million, 90-plus room specialty hotel complex. Art will be the primary focus of the hotel, with curated and site-specific works throughout. (10/16)

Carté Hotel & Suites San Diego, a new high-rise hotel in downtown San Diego, officially broke ground on Sept. 9, 2016. The 14-story hotel located in San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood will include 240 upscale guest rooms and suites along with a restaurant, wine shop, full-service athletic club, outdoor pool with a spa, and meeting space. The project includes nearly 3,900 square feet of street-level retail space, 127 parking spaces on two levels of subterranean parking and 24-hour valet parking. The hotel is expected to open in June 2018 and will also feature a 2,000-square-foot plaza that fronts Ash St. (10/16)

Hotel Renovations

In March 2017, Andaz San Diego completed its $4 million renovation of event space and all 159 rooms and suites with new furnishings, mattresses, flooring, lighting and original artwork in each room. The newly created “The Gallery” social space adds to the existing 18,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and is decorated with local art. Located in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter, Andaz San Diego features a chic rooftop with stunning skyline views, pool and private cabanas. Coming this summer, STK San Diego, a restaurant by The ONE Group, will offer a new nightlife dining experience to San Diego’s downtown. (4/17)

In fall 2017, the Renaissance San Diego Hotel is scheduled to transition to the Hotel Republic San Diego, an Autograph Collection by Marriott hotel. Renovations are currently underway at this property, originally built as W Hotel San Diego. Plans are to complete room, lobby and bar area renovations by mid-July and the rooftop by the end of summer. The Hotel Republic will add a concierge lounge and a new restaurant concept by the end of September. (4/17)

Spa

In February 2017, AquaVie, a state-of-the-art wellness center, opened adjacent to the Westgate Hotel in downtown San Diego. The new $14 million, four-level, 40,000-square-foot facility is dedicated to cardio training, instructional classes and strength coaching and offers more than 200 units of the latest fitness equipment. AquaVie spa members and hotel guests have access to

4 amenities and services including the full-service Spa at AquaVie with five spacious treatment rooms. The first level of the wellness center houses the facility’s reception area and a retail space offering apparel and accessories. On both sides of the main level, two studios feature strength training equipment provided by IronGrip and Technogym. The second level is home to a spacious, full-service locker room and refreshing area. The third level is dedicated to physical fitness training with a wide array of cardio equipment and strength equipment. Two group exercise studios host daily fitness and wellness classes. The fourth level is the hotel’s 15,000-square-foot rooftop with a Junior Olympic-sized lap pool, a hot tub and a relaxing lounge area with city views. The rooftop urban oasis houses three private studios and wellness equipment along with a 1/10th mile running track. (1/17 and updated 4/17)

Restaurants, Breweries and Nightlife

The San Diego Padres have added several local favorites to the Petco Park food and beverage lineup for the 2017 baseball season. Carnitas Snack Shack, Wonderland Ocean Pub, Resident Brewing Co., Iron Fist Brewing Co., AleSmith Brewing Co. and Cutwater Spirits became available at Petco Park beginning Opening Day, April 7, 2017. Petco Park was named the “Undisputed Best Ballpark in Baseball” by USA Today Sports and makes offering guests San Diego's best local food and beverage options a priority. (4/17)

Anticipated to open in May 2017 in the Hillcrest neighborhood are three new concepts from the Cohn Restaurant Group (CRG), one of San Diego’s most successful local dining collectives. Beginning with expansion of CRG’s bohemian Cal-French-inspired concept, BO-beau kitchen will take over a space formerly occupied by the Cohn’s 100 Wines bistro. Next door to the incoming BO- beau, CRG will debut two new concepts in one: Libertad, San Diego’s first for-charity gourmet taqueria and caché, a romantic 19th century-inspired Parisian craft cocktail bar that will be hidden behind the quick-service gourmet taco shop. Libertad will donate 100 percent of the profits to a local charity that will change monthly. (4/17)

In March 2017, Officine Buona Forchetta officially opened in San Diego’s Liberty Station ARTS DISTRICT. Serving up Neapolitan pizzas alongside a menu of chef-driven Italian entrees and a new cocktail program, Officine marks an expansion of the popular Buona Forchetta in the South Park neighborhood. Officine is family-friendly at its core, with a dedicated patio and playground for kids to roam freely while guests dine in the Italian-warehouse inspired space. (4/17)

In March 2017, You & Yours Distilling Co. opened in the East Village, joining the growing number of distilleries in San Diego County. Founder Laura Johnson is one of just a handful of female head distillers in the country. The 2,300-square-foot distillery and tasting bar currently offers vodka and gin, and plans to offer aged gin and Italian-styled aperitifs including vermouth and a Campari-like liqueur in addition to weekend tours and distiller-led education and tastings. (4/17)

In April 2017, downtown’s Palomar San Diego, a Kimpton Hotel, unveiled Curadero, a coastal- inspired Mexican eatery, featuring Executive Chef Brad Kraten’s menu of street tacos, ceviches made exclusively with local seafood, as well as antojitos (or “little cravings”) and larger plates accompanied by flavorful moles. The bar features a comprehensive list of Mexican craft beers, Baja wines, specialty cocktails, and an impressive selection of tequilas and mezcals. Upstairs in The Arriba Room, guests can order from the taco window or socialize in the game room stocked with classics like shuffleboard and vintage arcade games. (1/17)

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Arts and Museums

From now until spring 2019, the San Diego Museum of Man in Balboa Park features a new exhibit called Living with Animals. Whether animals are seen as a pet, a pest, or food has changed over time and across cultures, making relationships with them dynamic and complex. Discover surprising, unique, and inspiring ways that humans live with animals, from the ancient outdoors to modern living rooms. The exhibit shows how wild animals became pets and how today’s pests like roaches, pigeons and rats developed because of humans. (4/17).

In March 2017, the Fleet Science Center and The San Diego County Water Authority completed a new exhibit about the region's critical and complex water resources that is on permanent display at the Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park. The theme is "Water Supply Reliability for the 21st Century: Innovation and Conservation," underscoring the countywide priorities of investing in the local water supply while making the most of the region's water resources. The exhibit replaces an earlier version that debuted almost a decade ago. (4/17) From June 2–July 30, 2017, Wonderspaces: A Pop-Up Arts Celebration shows in Civita Park in the Mission Valley neighborhood. Visitors of all ages will enjoy over a dozen extraordinary art experiences previously seen at Burning Man, Sundance Film Festival and SXSW. Playing on all the senses, Wonderspaces transports visitors outside of their everyday lives with the goal to bring people together through shared experience. (4/17)

Performing Arts

The San Diego Symphony has announced an impressive lineup of artists for its 2017 Bayside Summer Nights including legendary crooner Tony Bennett; star of Hamilton and Tony Award- winner Leslie Odom Jr.; internationally acclaimed Brazilian artist Sergio Mendes; country songstress Wynonna Judd; Grammy Award-winning Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo; and films accompanied by live orchestra including Academy Award®-winning La La Land, Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets™ and E.T. – The Extra Terrestrial. (4/17)

The Mainly Mozart Festival will run June 2-25, 2017, at the Balboa Theatre in downtown San Diego and other regional venues. The festival offers a diverse line-up of events illustrating the second chapter in Mozart’s life and career. Music Director Michael Francis has declared the 2017 season the year of “Beauty through Adversity” and has programmed signature works by Mozart and other classical composers who triumphed over adversity by producing breakthrough musical compositions of beauty and power. (4/17)

The San Diego International Fringe Festival returns Jun. 22–Jul.2, 2017, to venues in San Diego and Tijuana. The festival brings 500 performances by more than 90 different local, national and international artists ranging from the beautiful to the bizarre and the unexpected. The festival is one of more than 200 Fringe Festivals produced worldwide and provides 100 percent of the tickets sales to artists. In addition to tickets to a performance, guests purchase a one-time $5 Fringe Tag to raise money to market and operate the festival. (4/17)

The La Jolla Playhouse announced four world premiere productions for its 2017/2018 season. Escape to Margaritaville will have its world premiere at the Playhouse on May 9 and run through June 25, 2017. Margaritaville will continue on to New Orleans, Houston and Chicago, arriving on

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Broadway in spring 2018. The play features the songs of legendary singer-songwriter-author Jimmy Buffett and an original story by Greg Garcia (“My Name Is Earl”) and Mike O’Malley (“Survivor’s Remorse,” “Shameless”). At the Old Place (July–August 2017), by Rachel Bonds, follows a literature professor in her mid-40s facing a breaking point. She returns to her childhood home in Virginia only to discover two young people camped out on her lawn in this keenly-observed, intimate new play about the search for the roads not taken. Wild Goose Dreams (September– October 2017), by Hansol Jung, tells the story of a North Korean defector who has left her family behind and a lonely South Korean father. The pair starts an unlikely online romance as they each attempt to allay their fears and alienation in this inventive and darkly humorous piece. A world- premiere musical, Untitled Donna Summer Project (November–December 2017), charts the life of Donna Summer, undisputed Queen of Disco, in a musical extravaganza featuring more than 20 of Summer’s classic hits in a tribute to the voice of a generation. (1/17)

The Old Globe theater in Balboa Park will open its 2017 summer season with the American musical classic, Guys and Dolls (July 2–Aug. 13, 2017). In 2018, The Old Globe will show the U.S. premiere of Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax. Based on the book The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, adapted for the stage, this musical was originally produced at The Old Vic theatre in London. The Lorax includes puppet design and choreography, and performances run July 3–Aug. 12, 2018 as part of the Globe’s 2018 Summer Season. (4/17)

Tours and Transportation

Beginning Aug. 15, 2017, JetBlue Airlines will offer its new daily Mint service between New York’s JFK and San Diego. Mint is the airline’s award-winning approach to premium travel, featuring fully-flat bed seating, fully enclosed private suites and a 15-inch flat screen with complimentary entertainment options. Fares currently start at $549 one way. The airline plans to increase the Mint flights from New York to twice daily in October and add a daily Boston to San Diego Mint route in December. (1/17 with updates 4/17)

In spring 2017, Alaska Airlines announced six new non-stop flights to San Diego. Beginning in August, nonstop flights from Austin and Omaha become available, followed by flights from Albuquerque in October, Minneapolis/St. Paul in November, and Kansas City, MO and St. Louis in December. Alaska Airlines added new routes to San Diego from Baltimore, Sacramento, San Jose and Santa Rosa in March 2017. (4/17)

Beginning April 2017, Frontier Airlines added flights from Austin, Cincinnati and Cleveland to San Diego. San Diego International will see one arrival and one departure for service with Austin on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, beginning April 23. Similar service to Cincinnati begins on May 21. Service to Cleveland begins May 22, with one arrival and one departure on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. (4/17)

In May 2017, Condor Airlines will begin flying seasonally from Frankfurt, Germany, to San Diego two times weekly during May and June. The flight will increase to three times weekly in July and August and then go back to two times weekly until San Diego service for the season ends on Oct. 7, 2017. (1/17)

Beginning June 9, 2017, Edelweiss Airlines will operate new nonstop flights from San Diego to Zurich on Monday and Friday. Flights will be operated with a newly refurbished Airbus A340 with

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314 seats—27 seats in business class, 76 in economy max (with 15 cm more legroom) and 211 seats in economy class. (4/17)

Beginning April 25, 2017, Southwest Airlines plans to roll out a new non-stop route between Los Cabos, Mexico, and San Diego. The carrier will join Alaska Airlines and Spirit Airlines in offering services from Los Cabos to San Diego. Southwest emphasized its commitment to San Diego with the recent addition of domestic routes from Salt Lake City, Spokane, Newark and Indianapolis. (4/17)

In April 2017, Air Canada doubled non-stop service from Vancouver to San Diego, now flying twice daily from Vancouver. Additionally, WestJet has confirmed it will once again offer seasonal Vancouver non-stop service three times weekly (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday) from April 30–Oct. 28, 2017. (4/17)

Beginning weekends May 26–Sept. 2, 2017, Hornblower Cruises and Events hosts a new party cruise called “Rock the Yacht.” The cruise will have a nightclub vibe and depart from the Navy Float on Harbor Drive at 8:30 p.m. and return at 11 p.m. The cruise features a dance floor and DJ playing both the latest hits and throwbacks. Guests can get selfie-ready with classic backdrops of the Coronado Bridge, USS Midway and impressive San Diego skyline during this 21-and-up cruise. (4/17)

Awards

2017 marks the 150th Anniversary of the founding of the Gaslamp Quarter. The Gaslamp Quarter Association will offer a number of special events tied to the anniversary throughout the year. Full details can be found at Gaslamp.org/150. (4/17)

In January 2017, numerous San Diego institutions won Best of California awards from California Meeting & Events. Among the winners were Balboa Park for Best Historic or Cultural Venue, San Diego Zoo for Best Theme Park, San Diego Convention Center for Best Conference or Convention Center, Hilton San Diego Bayfront for Best Downtown Meeting Venue and Stone Brewing for Best Craft Brewery with Meeting Space. (4/17)

In March 2017, the Canadian Garden Council and the American Public Gardens Association named The San Diego Botanic Gardens recipient of the 2017 Top 10 North American Gardens Worth Traveling For Garden Tourism Award. (4/17)

In April 2017, Family Vacation Critic named Coronado as one of the Best Beaches for Families. (4/17)

In March 2017, the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego was named one of the Top 10 U.S. Hotel Properties for meetings and events by Cvent, the industry’s largest event tech management company. (4/17)

In March 2017, Trip Advisor ranked San Diego #4 in their list of 10 Most Popular Spring Break Destinations for Americans to Get the Most Bang for their Buck. (4/17)

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Happiness is calling in San Diego. For more information on San Diego’s offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Tourism Authority's website at www.sandiego.org.

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Funded in part by the San Diego Tourism Marketing District with City of San Diego Tourism Marketing District Assessment Funds.

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