August in Mission Hills | A Word from our President
August in Mission Hills
A Word from our President – By Jamaal Jackson, President of Mission Hills BID and Branch Manager / Assistant Vice President U.S. Bank – Mission Hills
For those familiar with this column, you know that I often mention Mission Hills businesses where local to international events are a whole lot of fun to celebrate. This month is especially noteworthy.
August Celebrations:
My list of August events begins with International Beer Day (IBD) taking place each year on the first Friday of August. In 2025, we’ll celebrate on August 1. The first IBD originated in Santa Cruz in 2007 and is now celebrated in 207 cities, 50 countries and 6 continents around the world, so I am told. In Mission Hills we celebrate beer makers and food pairings with many locales serving a range of beers from smooth to low on alcohol to hoppy IPAs, lagers, pilsners, wheat based and stouts. Look to Regal Beagle, Shakespeare Pub, Lamplighter, Aero Club, Starlite, Sushi Deli 1 and Pizza e Birra to celebrate a variety of offerings of this comfort beverage. And, if you want to gift a beer to a friend to show your appreciation and admiration remember Mission Hills’ Falcon Liquor, Hills Wine and Spirits, Mission Hills Liquor, Ibis Market, Lazy Acres and Pavilions for excellent selections!
For those with a sweet tooth for chocolate, National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day is an annual celebration dedicated to one of America’s favorite treats, taking place this year on August 4. This cookie was invented by Ruth Graves Wakefield in 1938 at the Toll House Inn in Massachusetts. Our own Lazy Acres Natural Market bakes chocolate chip cookies throughout the day and has been honored with the title of San Diego’s Best Chocolate Chip Cookie. Give them a try, with or without walnuts.
For book lovers of all ages, World Book Lovers Day takes place on the 9th of August each year. This special day celebrates the joy and importance of reading and encourages people worldwide to indulge in their love for books. Whether you purchase a book or borrow one from the Mission Hills Library or one of the Little Free Library locations throughout Mission Hills, we encourage you to enjoy lifelong learning through reading.
Last but not least, I invite you to join me in celebrating International Dog Day on August 26. International Dog Day was founded in 2004 by pet and family lifestyle expert, animal rescue advocate, conservationist, dog trainer and author, Colleen Paige. All of us who have loved a dog, know every day is Dog Day. So, let’s make the 26th extra special with a stop by Howlistic or Besties, both in Mission Hills!
Save-the-Date:
Each August the BID takes a break from its monthly meetings and puts planning for the Mission Hills BID’s signature fundraising event, the Annual Taste of Mission Hills, in high gear. This year’s TASTE is happening on Wednesday evening October 8, from 5:00 until 9:00. Thanks to the generous Title Sponsorship of US Bank – Mission Hills, contracts are in the works for music and with Old Town Trolley transporting TASTE ticket holders to within steps of all participating venues. On event day Will Call is scheduled at Lazy Acres- Mission Hills and the list of participating TASTE venues is growing with your longtime favorites returning with delicious TASTE offerings. Please stay tuned for updates in this column and at MissionHillsBID.com/Taste and on social @missionhillssd.
Back-to-School:
In Mission Hills our Grant TK-8 school resumes its classroom teaching and learning on August 11. As you are shopping for your children’s new back-to-school outfits and school supplies, please remember our Mission Hills stores, including Moon & Sun, Lewis Fay, Lazy Acres and Pavilions.
Colors on Canvas Hand Painted Banner Art Contest:
Thanks to generous support from the County of San Diego and from Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe, the BID will be partnering again with Grant TK-8 school children and Artist-in-Residence Sarah Ekedal to create seventy 30 x 94 inch hand painted banners featuring Mission Hills businesses. This contest will launch shortly after school reconvenes and conclude with an awards celebration slated for February. The children’s banners will be installed on lampposts throughout Mission Hills, judged and honored with the addition of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place pennants. This installation will run for approximately two months.
Look for updates at MissionHillsBID.com/colorsoncanvas
Colors on Canvas Birds of Mission Hills Wayfinding Art Box Project:
Since a number of Mission Hills streets are in alphabetical order by the name of birds, the Mission Hills BID is giving utility boxes an artistic refresh utilizing our birds. The intention of the project is to utilize our streets named after birds to guide pedestrian visitors and locals through the neighborhood using wayfinding tools. If you are interested in learning more about this project visit Missionhillsbid.com/birds-of-mission-hills-wayfinding-art-box-project/ and contact us! The Mission Hills BID is seeking sponsors to support artists refreshing utility boxes with Birds of Mission Hills. Won’t you help us by making a donation?
Let’s Connect:
As president of the Mission Hills Business Improvement District, I am thankful to every owner who has chosen to locate their business in Mission Hills. To those who patronize our local businesses, I thank you too! Please invite your family and friends to join you for an August spent in Mission Hills!
To learn more about the Mission Hills BID, visit the Mission Hills BID website at missionhillsbid.com or contact Mission Hills BID executive director Susan McNeil Schreyer at MissionHillsBID@gmail.com.