Weekly Buzz (Dec. 12-16)

Here are the buzziest stories out of San Diego this week:

A storm brews over San Diego

Yep, it’s officially winter with some (get this) RAIN hitting San Diego on Thursday and Friday this week. If you have looked or stepped outside today, you know that it’s been pouring down hard, with winds up to 21 miles per hour, according to weather.com. We have enjoyed a pretty harmless winter season so far, but the National Weather Service reported that we had more than an inch of rain in the foothills of our city on Thursday. The storm was expected to pass on Friday morning, but we aren’t sure that it’s quite over yet. Are you guys enjoying the wet weather or are you already wishing for San Diego 70s again?

Junior Seau Foundation inspires $1 million investment in brain research

A $250,000 donation from the Junior Seau Foundation, an organization formed in 1992 by the late Chargers player, will be put toward research at UC San Diego on traumatic brain injuries. The donation will be matched by three other organizations under the UC San Diego umbrella to comprise a $1 million investment in work to understand brain injuries. Such injuries include chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which Seau is thought to have experienced. This is a great step toward finding a reliable test for CTE, because it currently cannot be confirmed until the brain is examined after death. Click here for more about the cause and donation.

Slater’s 50/50 has sold to a new owner

Say it ain’t so! Wait, it’s not what you think. Slater’s 50/50 has indeed been sold. All six locations, including two in San Diego, have been sold by owner Scott Slater. The restaurants, however, will remain the same. The sale has not yet closed but it does come after we just learned that S&M Sausage & Meat, Slater’s other restaurant on Park Boulevard in Hillcrest, is also closing. To read more about the sale, click here.

Smart & Final is expanding in San Diego

Smart & Final, a Los Angeles-based chain, opened 12 new stores this year. Did you notice the expansion? Smart & Final is a heavy hitter in San Diego, now owning 26 locations within our city. The brand took over some grocery outlets that went bankrupt this year and is now second to Vons, which owns over 40 grocery stores in San Diego. What do you think? Is Smart & Final a grocery store you like to shop at? Leave your comments below.

New Year’s is coming up, and it’s time to get planning

We are so ready for 2017 to arrive! If you feel the same, you’re probably already starting to plan your NYE dinner and party ideas. Before you do, we have drafted the very best of both to make sure you start your New Year off with a bang. Head over to have a delicious dinner before going out to one of these killer parties ideal for ringing in 2017.