Fall Into The Party With A Jimmy Buffett Day, Concerts, Football Season And The Padres Home Games Schedule
Summer may be almost over, but San Diego is still in full swing – especially with the Padres. Plus, it’s the start of football season, concerts and fun events that keep San Diego buzzing in September. PubClub.com is updating this guide throughout the month with additional events plus more bar and restaurant news as it becomes available. Last updated Sept. 16.
By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com San Diego Resident
With incredible beach weather and warm ocean temperatures it’s might be difficult for San Diegans to suddenly shift into fall mode but the calendar shows it’s September. And that means our socializing and party time gets adusted a bit. I mean, when else do we put on team jerseys and go to a bar for games that start at 9 and 10 a.m.?
Well, that’s the reality of the month and the coming fall, as college football and the NFL season sends us to sports bars. It’s also the regular season ending for the Padres, tho the playoffs (hopefully) will continue the games into October.
Plus, there’s concerts, a special event honoring Jimmy Buffett for a Labor Day Weekend show and bar and restaurant news, all here for your enjoyment and and information.
Padres Home Games Schedule For September
Sept. 4-6 vs New York Yankees (6:40, 4:15, 1:10)
Sept. 7-9 vs. Washington Nationals (2:10, 6:40, 1:10). Sept 7 is Harry Potter Day
Sept. 18-20 vs. Miami Marlins (6:40, 5:40, 1:10). Beerfest on Sept. 18. KPop Demon Hunters Night Sept. 19
Sept. 25-27 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (6:40, 5:40, 1:10)
END OF REGULAR SEASON
San Diego College Football Alumni Bars & Watch Parties
• Alabama Crimson Tide – Smoking Gun, Gaslamp Quarter/East Village. game-day specials are: FU Auburn Blaster ($8), the Alabama Slammer (Southern Comfort, Sloe Gin, Italian liqueur, and orange, $12) , and the Twisted Tuscaloosa (Reposado Tequila, Coquito Coconut Cream, Spill the Beans Coffee, whipped cream, and cinnamon, $7). Food is the Crimson Clucker (a crispy ghost chile buttermilk-battered chicken thigh with pepper jack cheese, bacon, pickles, and secret sauce on a brioche bun, $10.50), the Bear Bryant BBQ Flatbread (grilled bbq chicken, gouda cheese blend, red onions, chopped bacon, bbq sauce, and cilantro, $11) the Roll Tide Twists (soft pretzel sticks brushed with butter, topped with smoked salt and served with roasted poblano beer cheese and honey mustard,, $8.49) and the Bama Blaze Wings (pickle-brined chicken wings tossed in sweet and spicy maple sriracha sauce, $10.61).
• Arizona State: and Hasta Manana, Gaslamp Quarter. Game-day specials: Inferno Margarita ($8), The Spark Plug ($6), $7 draft beers and $4 Devil Drops Jell-O shots. Proceeds from the Devil Drops will go towards funding a future Sun Devil from San Diego.
• Indiana Hoosiers – Tower 13, Cardiff By The Sea
• Michigan Wolverines – The Local PB and Tower 13 in Cardiff By The Seas
• Nebraska Cornhuskers – Duck Dive, Pacific Beach. Game-day specials are: red beers (Pacific0 and house made bloody mix, $9), Red Heads (Jameson and ginger beer, $9), Bloody Marys for $10, and an Espresso Martini for $12. Food: Beef Pockets ($9) – bread pockets filled with beef, cabbage, ceese, and onions, and Street Corn off the Cob ($7), with butter, cotija cheese, Tajin mixture, and lime.
• Ohio State Buckeyes – American Junkie in the Gaslamp, Break Point in PB, Oggie’s in Del Mar
• Oregon Ducks – Miss B’s Coconut Club, Mission Beach and PB Local Pacific Beach
• Penn State Nittany Lions – Knotty Barrel in East Village
• Texas Longhorns – Home and Away in Old Town
San Diego NFL Team Bars & Watch Parties
• Buffalo Bills – Patrick’s Gaslamp Pub and The Local PB (both sell Labbat’s beer, by the way)
• Dallas Cowboys – Smoking Gun. Gameday specials: every time the Cowboys score a touchdown, a $1 menu will be unlocked for the next 10 minutes. The menu will change every quarter, rotating between offers like $1 Butter Burger, $1 wings, $1 pretzel sticks, $1 nugs, $1 fries, $1 street corn, $1 tots, and $1 Frito Pie. Guests can order one $1 item per person, per unlock. Also during Cowboys’ games, Modelo beers are $4.99.
• Kansas City Chiefs – Kansas City Babeque (the “Top Gun bar”) and Home and Away in Old Town
• Los Angeles Rams – Happy Doe’s, Gaslamp
• New England Patriots – Tipsy Crow, Gaslamp
• New York Giants – Knotty Barrel, East Village
• San Diego Chargers – The Deck in East Village and Home and Away
• Seattle Sehawks – Thrusters, Pacific Beach
Bar Specials During Football Season:
Hasta Mañana Cantina has a football brunch that includes All-You-Can-Eat Chilaquiles ($22), comprised of verde sauce, thick-cut chips, guacamole, pickled onions, chipotle crema, queso fresco, cilantro, and two fried eggs, and Bottomless Mimosas ($25) with the purchase of food. On Mondays, it has $3 Gringo Tacos and for Thursday Night Football has $5 Crunchwraps.
Gaslamp’s barleymash has Sunday Squares, where people can win barleymash gift cards and other prizes throughout the games. Also on Sundays, the Gaslamp spot will be offering a new Coffee Mug Program for $35 that includes a limited-edition barleymash mug plus free coffee every NFL Sunday throughout the regular season. It’sNFL Rewards program is back with a prize given away every Sunday; The theme this year is “MVP SEASON. BE MORE THAN A FAN. BE AN MVP” with prizes that include VIP Bottle Service Night for Six, Golf Packages (gift cards), Coach Bag, and MVP Steak Dinner, among other prizes. OnMonday Nights it has a Mini Menu with a rotating mini food special for $6 each Monday.
Duck Dive has a shot and beer for $13, $7 Pacificos, $30 High Noon buckets and an Absolut Tabasco “Breakfast Shot” ($9) with house Bloody Mary mix and bacon. For food, there’s Carne Asada Fries ($20); Cheesy Garlic Parmesan Fries ($15), fried pickles ($10); a Touchdown Platter, withfried pickles, chicken wings, calamari, garlic parm duck fat fries,and dipping sauces ($30). Drink specials include a shot and beer for $13, $7 Pacificos, $30 High Noon buckets, and an Absolut Tabasco “Breakfast Shot” ($9), served with house Bloody Mary mix and bacon.
Borrego Rooftop Kitchen + Cocktails has The Touchdown, a 24-ounce Pacifico, Modelo or Corona with a shot of Herradura Blanco, priced at $15. Food includes ahi poke nachos, marinated yellowfin tuna with crispy wonton chips, avocado, sriracha aioli and pickled onions, priced at $24; carnitas flatbread with salsa roja, a blend of cheddar, jack and cotija cheeses, pickled onions and cilantro, priced at $22; and tamarindo wings with housemade ranch, priced at $20For the first Monday night game on Sept. 14, Modelo brand ambassadors will be on-site handing out swag and samples as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Denver Broncos. Borrego has LED TVs throughout the rooftop restaurant and bar,.
September Concerts In San Diego
• Sept 2 – Guns N’ Roses Snapdragon Stadium
• Sept 12 – Pierce the Veil, Petco Park (this is the finale of its world tour and is already sold out).
• Sept. 20 – DJ, Music & Art, Waterfront Park, free
• Sept. 19 – Twisted Gypsey, Lakehouse Resort’s Live At The Lake summer concert series. GA: $45; VIP $65. Tickets: https://www.thelakehouseresort.com/lakehouse-concert-series
• Sept. 26-27 – CRSSD Fall Festival, Waterfront Park
San Diego Events For September – Remembering Jimmy Buffett At Margaritaville
• Margaritaville Hotel San Diego Gaslamp Quarter is hosting its annual Day of Service on riday, September 4 from 5–9 p.m. It’s also part of Jimmy Buffett Day, which is a tribute to the late troubadour. The place to be is the upstars 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar that has the Buffett tribute band Buffett Beach Band playing at 6 p.m. 6 p.m.There is also a blender bike competition and a travel-themed silent auction. to benefit the San Diego Music Foundation.
The celebration will continue throughout Labor Day Weekend with live musical performances, pop-up experiences and a special “Keep the Party Going” souvenir cup. The annual brand-wide Day of Service honors Jimmy Buffett’s legacy of giving back and supporting communities, with Margaritaville properties around the world participating. In recognition of the initiative’s local impact, the City of San Diego has officially proclaimed August 29 as Margaritaville San Diego Day of Service.
• The Oceanside Event: Mission Pacific Beach Resort, which is actually in Oceanside, is hosting JdV by Hyatt and The Mushroom Cowboy present: The Skyline Spin, a rooftop summer series Saturday, Sept. 12 from 10-1 PM. The free-with-RSVP event features DJ music from Veggi with Landopolo. The Event Link is here.
• Mexican Independence Day. not to be confused with Cinco de Mayo, is Wednesday, Sept. 16 and the excellent Fonda del Barrio in Barrio Logan cultural is celebrating with happy hour for the entire night along with live music. From 4-10 it has $7 margaritas, $5 Mexican beers, and food selections like Guacamole con Totopos ($7), Dedos de Pescado ($10), Salpicon de Jaiba ($10), and Tostadas de Pibil ($9). The musical trio of Deborah (Vocalist), Irving Flores (piano), and Horacio Mancilla (drums) will provide Noche Bohemia con Blues from 6:30-9:30 p.m
• Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter is having a Bunnies & Brunch at its Wild Hare Bar Garden on Sept 26, which is also National Bunny Day (yes, there is one; I looked it up, too). Few of y0u may not know but the Gaslamp Quarter has had a few names through the years and one of them was Rabbitville because there were so many rabbits here. At this event, there will be a rabbit petting areaa bunny mascot, Hip Hop, the unofficial mayor of Rabbitville and music along with a brunch from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Food is off the menu and it has several cocktails with creative themed names such as the Hare-Raiser, Hop To It, I’m All Ears and Whtat’s Up Doc, all for $17.
• The 44th annual Adams Avenue Street Fair is Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 19-20. This event features 75 musical acts on six stages, three beer gardens and it has a lot of the usual street vendors and is free. Yep, just show up and enjoy it. Organizers state that more than 50,000 people go to it. The hours are 10 a.m.-10 p.m., on Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m., on Sunday. There’s also a pretty good bar scene in the Normal Heights area (Adams & 30th), including Rabbit Hole.
• The Capitol of Craft Beer Festival is Saturday, Sept. 19. Held at the Broadway Pier and put on by the San Diego Brewer’s Guild, it features 65 beers for sampling. It starts at 1 p.m. Tickets are $60 for GA.
• The 3rd Annual Taste of College Area in the Colllege Area Business District is set for Sunday, September 27. Taking place from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., this self-guided culinary tour involves takes and beverages from more than 20 local restaurants, A complimentary Old Town Trolley service will make its way along El Cajon Boulevard between 55th and 73rd Streets, Tickets ar for $40,and groups of 10 or more receive 10% off the price.
• The elegant but not pretentious San Diego Spirits Festival is Sept. 26-27 at a gorgeous location, the multi-room, multi-level Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla. It has samples from 30 spirits brands – mostly bourbons, vodkas and tequilas – with bites from 10 restaurants, live music and entertainment, some of which goes from room to room. Its hours are 2:30-6:30 on Saturday and 1-5 on Sunday. Tickets are $85 for Saturday using the promo code Cheers and $65 for Sunday with the promo code Cheers17.
News From San Diego Bars & Restaurants
• If you like bands and funky music, then head to the live music venue Casbah on Sept. 11. There you will see Jesika von Rabbit perform with Funky But Chic and DJ Mazee. I’m not quite sure how to describe this band but that alone should have your interest. 7:30 PM doors. Info and ticket link
• The Smoking Gun is celebrating its ninth anniversary with $9 (and a 9¢) specials starting Monday, Sept. 7 and running through the 15th. The daily lineup is:
- Monday, Sept. 7 – $9 Wings or Nugs
- Tuesday, Sept. 8 – 9% bonus loyalty points
- Wednesday, Sept. 9 – $9 game cards for the Arcade (this coincides with Kids Eat Free on Wednesdays)
- Thursday, Sept. 10 – 9% off merchandise (only sold in-house)
- Friday, Sept. 11 – 9¢ Sundae with the purchase of a “Main Event” menu item (Butter Burger, “Filet-O-Fish” Sandwich, Smoked Brisket Sandwich, Smokin’ Hot Chix Sandwich, or meats like baby back ribs or grilled bbq chicken)
- Saturday, Sept. 12 – $9 Frito Pie, Nachos, or Pretzel Sticks
- Sunday, Sept. 13 -$9 Espresso Martinis, Pickle & Chill, Smiles for Margs, and Mai Tais cocktails
- Monday, Sept. 14 – $9 off online orders of $30+
- Tuesday, Sept 15. – $9.99 Butter Burger + beer
• Borrego Rooftop Kitchen + Cocktails hosts is final Sunset Sessions event on Labor Day Weekend. Starting at 6 p.m, Friday thru Monday., there will be live music by Robert Chini. on Friday, 818 Tequila brand ambassadors will also be on-site providing guests with branded swag. On Saturday La Marca will be providing samples of its prosecco and rosé prosecco as well having as swag giveaways.
• Cloak & Petal in Little Italy has a special menu for Labor Day Weekend. It involves the following: $16 Shrimp Skewers – chipotle-rubbed shrimp, spring onion, shiitake, garlic couscous, and blistered shishito chimichurri. $22 Salmon Sashimi – yuzu ponzu, beet oil, lemon grass shio, serrano, and Tokyo negi. $22 Firecracker Roll – albacore, negi hama, cucumber, takuan, avocado, smoked serrano ponzu, firecracker sauce, jalapeno shio, and cilantro Bar Manager Johnny Perez will also offer up four limited-edition drinks over the long weekend: $17 Sun Chaser Spritz – Sarti Rosa aperitivo, iichiko Saiten, lemon, simple, Prosecco $17 Tropical Haze – Divino Maguey guava, lime, chinola (passion fruit), honey, Thomas Henry Watermelon Soda $18 Summer Fling – Haku, lime, ginger, fresh press watermelon, soda water. $9 Rosé All Day – Studio by Miraval
• The bar/club going into the former Flixx nightclub space is moving forward. Slowly, but I talked with the person leading the building of it and he and the owners have bar and nightclub experience so I’m anxious so see (and experience) it whenever it opens.
• The Bungalow, an upscale beach lounge that gained great popularity up the coast in Santa Monica, is eyeing a location behind the USS Midway. That still-under-construction area is known as RaDD. It will be a while before any of us has a cocktail there but it’s supposedly happening and that’s a good thing because there is hardly any place for someone who is not married or pushing a stroller to have a drink in that area.
• City Tacos has $2.50 Mexicn beers for Taco Tuesday and it’s featured Taco of the Month is the vegetarian Flor de Calabaza. This “squash blossom”contains fried squash blossom, melted asadero cheese, baby portobello mushroom and poblano peppers on a corn tortilla topped with tomatoes, cilantro, microgreens, and a serrano aioli. The cost is $4.95 and it’s at all City Tacos locations (Encinitas, La Mesa, North Park, Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach and Sorrento Valley).
• The group behind City Tacos is slated to open El Punto at Point Loma’s Liberty Station in October. The dog-friendly restaurant will rbe in the former El Jardin and Go Go Amigo space The concept is a full-service restaurant featuring entrées and shareables from Executive Chef Eduardo Baeza and the Top-5 tacos from the City Tacos menu. Highlighting the menu will be locally caught seafood, including ceviche, oysters (with a Michelada twist), and tiraditos (Mexican-style carpaccio and sashimi).
• Temaki Bar: Handroll, Sushi, Sake, a popular place for locals in Encinitas, is temporarily closed after an early September fire. Nobody was injured and the restaurant will reopen in the coming months following comprehensive repairs. Temaki Bar management issued this statement: “We are grateful to the Encinitas Fire & Marine Safety Department for their swift response. The support we have received from our Encinitas community has meant so much to us, and we’re working as quickly as we can to safely welcome everyone back.”
• Stone Brewing is moving out of San Diego. One of craft brewing’s early San Diego successes, it ismoving its brewing operation to the location of its new owners, Firestone Walker Brewing, which makes the 805 you see on taps at several San Diego bars. That’s a cool place, by the way, if you ever get up that way. I’ve passed by it dozens of times on Highway 101 and it has a camping area for motorhomes complete with hookups for power. It is going to still have at least one of its brewpubs in San Diego. Another local brewery, Prohibition in Vista, announced in early September it is closing operations.
• There’s been a lot of videos circulating on social media about fights every wekeend in the Gaslamp Quarter but I’m out there a lot and have never seen one myself, tho am not denying they do happen. It doesn’t help that there are so many hot dog vendors on the sidewalks that people are being pushed into each other and sometimes into the street (which is not blocked off to traffic any longer) and the crowd in front of Tacos el Gordo at 5th & F after the bars close can be a bit chaotic. Some of those videos are months old and some are AI generated but in general if you see something stirring, head away from it and you won’t be caught up in it. I did an Instagram and TikTok video of this on Friday night and was pleased to see there was some order to it now with the hot dog vendors more to the side of the sidewalks and there were not as many of them.
Coming Next Month
- Oktoberfest celebrations
- More college and NFL football
Kevin Wilkerson is the founder of PubClub.com, an award-winning journalist and San Diego-based nightlife expert who has spent years exploring Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and other coastal communities. He has covered destinations, events and entertainment for more than two decades and received an Associated Press award for investigative journalism while working as a newspaper reporter.
Next Stops On The San Diego Party Bus:
• San Diego College Football Alumni Game-Watching Bars
• PubClub Classics: Gaslamp Bars & Events That No Longer Exist
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