La Jolla February News Roundup 2024
February 2024 – Greetings and salutations everyone! Whether you had a smashing celebration for Valentine’s Day or just kicked back and enjoyed hanging out at the beach – we hope your February was spectacular. Maybe you’ve been busier than a bear at a beehive this month and missed a few hoppin’ happenings. That’s cool. We’re here to catch you up on mention-worthy news bits with this latest edition of the La Jolla February news roundup.
Table of Contents
Refreshing February Vibes
“Every moment is a fresh beginning,” penned renowned poet T.S. Eliot – and that’s how a lot of us feel here in the La Jolla newsroom. We covered inspiring news stories that brought us hope and reminded us that every minute is a chance to start anew. From exciting headlines in the foodie scene to curious changes in the weather, this news recap for February is an excellent example of Eliot’s sentiment for the gift of renewal.
We Heart Food News
Nobody comes close to topping the seriously good eats we have in San Diego County. To be sure – food is our favorite, and if you love good grub as much as we do – you’ll want to catch up on these updates about eateries and foodie bliss going on in this La Jolla February news roundup.
Swanky Speakeasy Opens in Gaslamp Quarter
A stylish, art-deco-styled new live music speakeasy and karaoke bar called the Gaslamplighter officially opened Feb 8th in downtown San Diego. The Gaslamplighter promises to bring mixology to a masterful new level. Creative cocktails, clever karaoke crooners, and wrapped in lavish decor – read more about what the Gaslamplighter has in store for you here.
Nobu Joins the Del
You might be aware of Hotel del Coronado’s gigantic multimillion-dollar expansion plans. But did you know that world-famous Japanese restaurant Nobu is slated to land at the Del early next year? Read our coverage about the highly anticipated opening of ultra-classy Nobu and its newest home at Hotel del Coronado.
Boho Vibes and Bodacious Bites at Blue Whale in LJ
Brunch, breakfast burritos, ube pancakes, build-your-own bowls, lattes, smoothies – Blue Whale in La Jolla has been serving up freshy-fresh, locally sourced yummies since they opened late last year. Now officially open and finding their stride, Blue Whale is becoming a celebrated eatery catering to beachgoers and casual diners looking for healthy, delicious, eats. Dive into the details about the Blue Whale in LJ here.
February Brings Wobbly Weather
You know as well as we do that San Diego’s year-round weather is the best of the best. However, February brought some tempestuous storms and unusual events we thought worthy of mentioning in this La Jolla February news roundup.
Snow in San Diego?
Well, not exactly, but neighboring areas got a fresh powdering of snow. A powerful winter storm brought high winds and inches of rain to America’s Finest City. Whether you got a dusting or are craving a sledding adventure – check out this expose on snow in SD & where to find snow nearby in SoCal.
Twister Taunts SD
A rare tornado warning was issued for portions of San Diego County in early February as a historic storm continued to pummel the area with rain. Capable of producing a tornado, the storm was spotted over Chula Vista and was moving northeast at 35 miles per hour, with radar data suggesting rotation. Get more about this rare weather event and more about that big storm that’s been stirring the weather pot.
El Centro Gets Shaky
The largest of a series of earthquakes in early February was a 4.8 magnitude temblor that rattled the region just after midnight at 12:36 a.m. The earthquake was 2.3 miles north of Imperial at a depth of 11 miles deep. Get more information about the quake and its impact here.
Rain, Rain – Won’t Go Away
Another Pacific storm rolled into San Diego (around Feb 19-20th), bringing rain, wind, and possible flooding. Weather experts blame a number of atmospheric river storms over the last couple of months for this new bout of rain and the historic storm that caused major flooding earlier in the month. Learn more about this most recent storm and the impacts of the deluge here.
Community News & Views
As vibrant as SD County is, we’re bound to have our fair share of community news and views. These three headlines caught our attention this month, from loopholes in street vendor rules to disputes over Del Mar train tracks.
Debates Over Restoring Del Mar Train Tracks
Government officials and residents are at odds over plans to fix the crumbling Del Mar train tracks located on quickly eroding coastal bluffs. The restoration must take place, but there are growing concerns among residents and how repairs will impact property values and residential safety. Get all the details about the ongoing dilemmas surrounding Del Mar train track repairs.
New Rules for Street Vendors
This month, local officials cracked down on street vending with the introduction of newly revised San Diego street vendor rules. Amendments to the rules were revised in 2022, but these new rules are meant to crack down on various issues more effectively. Curious? Learn about these new rules for street vendors here.
Happy Days! SD Zoo to Welcome Pandas Back
It’s official — China will send a pair of new giant pandas back to the San Diego Zoo sometime this year. The returning pandas to U.S. zoos marks a new era of cooperation in so-called “panda diplomacy.” Learn more about the hows, whens, and why of the iconic pandas returning to the SD Zoo here.
What’s Next?
Now that we’ve covered the highlights and headlines of La Jolla February news – what’s next? Ramping up for next month, of course. Here are a few forward-looking events we covered in our news briefs this month that might inspire you to attend in March and future months.
Mark Your Calendars for Mainly Mozart
The Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival, scheduled for June, will bring a host of world-class classical musicians for several concerts in La Jolla. The festival is scheduled to run from June 20 through June 29, with four outdoor concerts and two indoor concerts. Get dates, times, and more about the Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival here.
Inspiring Changemaker Speaker Series at The Conrad
If you’re interested in attending the next Changemaker Speaker Series in La Jolla, the next speaker date is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 23 — and will feature a literal astronaut. Get more about this inspiring speaker series at The Conrad here.
Get Lucky at LJ First Friday Art Walk (March 1st)
The beloved monthly La Jolla First Friday Art Walk returns on March 1st with a theme of “luck.” With St. Patrick’s Day later in the month of March, expect plenty of green, various lucky charms, and St. Patty’s motifs. Learn more about what kind of lucky charms you can expect at LJ’s First Friday Art Walk on 3/1 here.
Adios February & Hola March!
Well, that’s a wrap as we like to say in the LJ newsroom. We hope this recap of the La Jolla February news has been illuminating for you. Keep connected with us because we’ll be back next month with more newsy bits fit to digitally print. Oh, and don’t forget to tell your peeps to subscribe to our newsletter so they can get in on the good vibes, too. As always, thanks for reading, and stay fabulous La Jolla!
Media credit: Image credits are provided in our original news briefs. The banner image of this La Jolla February news roundup is copyright of LaJolla.com.
Named after Pearl Street in La Jolla, Pearl is the unofficial mascot of the various elves on the daily news desk at LaJolla.com. We’re writers, editors, and people who work on websites; sometimes so many people work on one project that no one feels like they should take the credit.
