Discover La Jolla

In this episode of Discover La Jolla, Jim McInerney sits down with Ian Vaux and Laurie Wagner, founders of Turtle Rock Ridge Winery. Ian and Laurie share their journey from buying 10 acres in Ramona and defending their land from the 2007 Witch Creek wildfire while living in a trailer, to opening their tasting room and expanding right to Prospect Street in La Jolla Village. Discover how they produc...

In this episode of Discover La Jolla, Jim sits down with Cade Silva, founder of Range Home Buyers, to discuss his transition from seven years in luxury real estate to building a premier real estate investment firm in San Diego. Cade breaks down how his company tackles $2M to $3M distressed and inherited property renovations, collaborates closely with local real estate agents, and navigates high-in...

In this episode of Discover La Jolla, Jim sits down with Kara Clemens from R3 Recover & Wellness, a premier studio located right on Fay Avenue in La Jolla, California. Founded by a former fitness studio owner who realized busy clients were neglecting crucial post-workout recovery, R3 offers a guided, science-backed 5-modality flow designed to help you optimize both body and mind - all in under...

So, how exactly La Jolla Raised $1.7M for Public Schools? In this episode of Discover La Jolla, Jim sits down with Sherry Ahern, local volunteer and founder of the La Jolla Art & Wine Festival, to discuss the incredible history and impact of coastal San Diego’s premier cultural event. Sherry shares how establishing the La Jolla Farmers Market in 1998 laid the groundwork for an annual festival...

In this episode of Discover La Jolla, Jim sits down with local musician Jeff Bloom to take a deep dive into the iconic musical history of Bird Rock and La Jolla. From earning $100 doing chores in 1977 to buy his first drum set to opening for major acts like R.E.M., INXS, and The Kinks with Army of Love, Jeff shares incredible local rock-and-roll history and details his current vinyl projects. What...

Want to know what goes into feeding, grooming, and caring for La Jolla’s happiest pets? In Episode 91 of Discover La Jolla, host Jim McInerney sits down with Cody Decker, owner of Decker’s Dog and Cat, to discuss eight years of building a premier local pet market in coastal San Diego. From operating hubs on Ivanhoe Avenue, La Jolla Boulevard, and in Bay Park, Cody breaks down his approach to natur...

In this episode of Discover La Jolla, host Jim McInerney sits down with Liz Edwards, Founder and Director of the San Diego Spirits Festival, to dive into 17 years of festival history and what guests can expect at this year's ultimate coastal tasting experience. From launching downtown in 2009 to finding a permanent home at the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla, Liz shares the wild evolution o...

Ever wondered what it takes to tear down and rebuild a legendary ocean-side boutique hotel right in the heart of La Jolla Village? In this episode of Discover La Jolla, host Jim McInerney sits down with 35-year hospitality veteran Scott Blaul, General Manager of Inn by the Sea, to unveil the complete transformation of this local landmark. Originally opened in 1971 as the Royal Inn of La Jolla, thi...

In this episode of Discover La Jolla, Jim sits down with Sarah Putnam, master hair stylist with nearly 30 years of industry experience and owner of Ashen Salon. Operating two thriving locations in La Jolla, Sarah shares her journey from Chicago to the Bay Area, Indian Wells, and finally to coastal San Diego, bringing a unique focus on custom hair styling and deep community involvement. What we cov...

In this episode of Discover La Jolla, Jim sits down with Alison Green, principal owner of the high-end interior design firm Elan Design House. Celebrating 5 years in business, Alison brings deep expertise in new builds, whole-home remodels, and navigating the complex realities of luxury residential design. What we cover in this episode: 👉 Building Elan Design House & team structure 👉 Design...

In this episode of Discover La Jolla, Jim sits down with Chris Circuit, founder of Circuit Valuations. Transitioning from an eight-year career as a commercial real estate broker at CBRE to residential valuation, Chris brings unique market expertise to his certified residential appraisal license. Specializing in properties of four units or fewer, he goes well beyond standard bank loans to tackle hi...

In this episode of Discover La Jolla, Jim sits down with Kathy Hatch, Gallery Director of the world-renowned Mangelsen Gallery on Prospect Street in the heart of the Village. Operating in La Jolla since 1991, the gallery serves as a sanctuary for nature lovers, an educational spot for local schools, and a launchpad for wildlife conservation. Kathy gives us an inside look into the iconic work of le...

In this episode of Discover La Jolla, Jim sits down with Gabby Turner, owner of Cove Wellness—a premier therapeutic health center located right on Ivanhoe Avenue in the village of La Jolla. Operating for over 30 years, Cove Wellness focuses on preventative health, patient education, and total body detoxification through the power of the lymphatic system. What we cover in this episode: 👉 Preventat...

What makes the Bird Rock community in La Jolla so special? It’s grassroots, community-first events like the Birdstock Music Festival! 🌊🎶 In this episode of Discover La Jolla, Jim McInerney sits down with festival co-leader Arianna Opsvig to talk about the revitalization of Birdstock, what to expect at this year's event on Saturday, September 19th (10:00 AM – 7:00 PM), and how this volunteer-driv...

Navigating the California home insurance market feels like an uphill battle right now. With major carriers exiting the state and premiums skyrocketing, how do you actually protect your assets—especially in high-value coastal and fire-risk markets like La Jolla and San Diego? In this episode of Discover La Jolla, Jim sits down with Pete Williams from Farmers Insurance. Pete has been helping clients...

In this episode of Discover La Jolla, Jim sits down with Dr. Melody Tavakoli, O.D., a licensed optometrist with 16 years of experience across private practice, retail settings, and ophthalmology. Currently practicing out of a boutique in Bird Rock, La Jolla, Dr. Tavakoli specializes in a personalized "concierge" optometry approach, dedicating a full hour to every single patient exam. What we cover...

Chiropractor Explains Why You Should STOP Cracking Your Neck | Conversation with Dr. Collan Koeppen In this episode of Discover La Jolla, Jim sits down with Dr. Collan Koeppen, founder of Active Rest Chiropractic and inventor of the patented posture device, The Resttor. After nearly breaking his neck at 8 years old and suffering from 20 years of debilitating migraines, vertigo, and chronic pain, D...

How does a local brick-and-mortar business survive for nearly half a century, outlast massive economic shifts, and thrive in a digital world? It all comes down to deep community roots and a willingness to evolve. In this episode, Jim sits down with Sal Usman, the owner of La Jolla Copy Cove, a legendary family-owned printing business located right in the heart of the village. Copy Cove has spent d...

Did you know that a major California state mandate (SB 1383) now requires the strict maintenance and cleaning of compost bins? Most people never think about their trash cans after pickup day, but raw food scraps are quietly turning neighborhood bins into a breeding ground for bacteria, intense odors, and toxic infestations. In this episode, Jim sits down with Nick Petro, the co-founder of Clean Wa...

#SanDiegoNews #SanDiego #CommunityFirst Jack McGrory has seen San Diego from the inside — seven years as City Manager, key player in building Petco Park, and CEO of a company that expanded across two continents. Now he's focused on something closer to home: making La Jolla an independent city. In this conversation, Jack breaks down exactly why the movement is gaining serious momentum — over 9,000...

Should La Jolla Break Up with San Diego? It’s Nakey Time to Talk Citihood. 🌊🗳️ In Episode 76, host Jim McInerney sits down with Liv Johnson — fifth-generation San Diegan, La Jolla native, festival producer, and one of the leading voices behind the movement to make La Jolla an independent city separate from San Diego. Liv's journey started early. She launched Almost Nakey out of a Volkswagen bus w...

La Jolla just got its soul back. For over a decade, one question kept coming up at every dinner table in the 92037 — "Do you remember Roppongi?" The answer is yes. And now it's back. In Episode 75 of Discover La Jolla, host Jim McInerney sits down with Alfie Szeprethy, Executive Chef behind the most anticipated restaurant reopening in San Diego. Originally opened in 1998 and gone since 2015, Roppo...

What happens when a professional opera singer trades the grand stages of Europe for a kitchen in La Jolla? Meet Cesar Sanchez, the visionary owner of Taco Time Cantina on Fay Avenue. After spending over 20 years performing across Europe, the pandemic shifted Cesar’s path, leading him back to California to pivot his artistic passion into a brand-new medium: authentic culinary arts. Cesar breaks dow...

The ocean defines our La Jolla lifestyle, but it's facing its biggest challenge yet. Fortunately, an international movement to protect it is starting right here in our own backyard. In this episode, we sit down with Serge Dedina—a local legend: a waterman, filmmaker, UCSD alum, and PhD who co-founded WILDCOAST over 26 years ago. Today, his international team is on the frontlines of ocean conservat...

Jim sits down with Jessica Chepovsky, founder of Unscripted Spaces — a luxury interior design studio tucked on Girard Avenue in the heart of La Jolla Village. With over 22 years of experience designing homes across New York, London, and Los Angeles, Jessica made a deliberate choice to plant roots in La Jolla. In this conversation, she talks about why this community is different, what it means to b...