Life + Culture

How Is It With Your Soul?

How a long-standing local Methodist church is showing up for the Chula Vista community and beyond Article by Sarah Krueger | Photography by Provided by FUMCCV There are few things in life that feel more meaningful than finding a place where you are welcomed, known, and valued. At First United Methodist Church of Chula Vista (FUMCCV), the table is set and everyone is invited in. With over 100 churches in Chula Vista, there are a good number of places you can go to find community. The big...

Life + Culture

Dia de los Muertos: A Celebration of Remembrance

Bringing people together through tradition, gratitude, and the endurance of family bonds in this life and the next Article by Sarah Krueger A joyful celebration rooted in ancient tradition, Dia de los Muertos is a holiday that reaches back over 3,000 years to Aztec Mesoamerican rituals honoring ancestors and viewing death as part of the natural life cycle. Today, the colorful Dia de los Muertos holiday marks a moment for families to honor their passed relatives in a joyful reunion. The...

Arts + Culture

The Power of Collective Giving

Connection, community, and collaboration that go far beyond the grant Article by Sarah Krueger | Photography by Provided by CVCF For those of us that call Chula Vista home, we know that it is much more than simply “a place where we live.” For a city of over 270,000 people, Chula Vista is the kind of place that somehow still feels like a small town. It’s where we see our neighbors at the store or our kids soccer games. It’s the place where we’ve grown up, built friendships, raised families, and...

Education

Southwestern’s 65 Years of Impact

Transforming Lives and Communities in Chula Vista and the South Bay Region Article by Sarah Krugere | Photography by Provided by Southwestern College Picture the student, fresh out of high school with a blank slate of possibilities, unsure of what’s next for them but taking steps toward their future by enrolling in their first college class. Or the mother of two, returning to college with a newfound motivation, taking courses to finish her degree now that her children are in school. Or the...

Food + Beverage

Global Food Tour

Discover the flavors, traditions, and stories shaping Chula Vista’s culinary scene Article by Sarah Krueger Pizzo’s Italian Zest and Sicilian Flare Campania, Spaghetti Amatriciana, and Neapolitan Pizzas are just some of the classic Italian fare waiting for you at Pizzos. Pizzas here are made with imported Italian flour, pastas replicate beloved Italian recipes, and each dish is made with the love and zest of authentic Sicilian inspiration. Owned and operated by Santino Pizzo, originally from...

Life + Culture

One Year, Countless Stories

Chula Vista City Lifestyle celebrates a year of storytelling, community building, connection, and success Article by Sarah Krueger Meet Andrea, the founding Publisher of Chula Vista City Lifestyle magazine—the one you have in your hands right now. When Andrea was asked to relocate for her corporate job in early 2025, she knew the impact it would have on her family to pull them away from Chula Vista, the place they had called home for 13 years. A new chapter was on the horizon. Enter City...

Life + Culture

Chula Vista City Lifestyle x The Giving Partner Program

Where Storytelling Meets Purpose Article by Andrea Malave One of the driving reasons I launched Chula Vista City Lifestyle was to create more than just a magazine. I wanted to build a platform that connects, uplifts, and celebrates the people and organizations making a real impact in our city. From that vision, the Giving Partner Program was born—a unique, local initiative designed to bridge the gap between small businesses and nonprofits through the power of storytelling. How It Works ...

Food + Beverage

Heritage, Hospitality, Family

Bag of Beans—flagship family owned and operated Filipino restaurant—offers a place to connect over traditional family recipes, cross-cultural cuisine, fresh baked pastries, and creative signature cocktails. Article by Sarah Krueger | Photography by Provided by Bag of Beans In Filipino culture, tables are for sharing. Meals are a way of connecting, honoring, and nurturing others, and food is a way to show love and care. Bag of Beans in Eastlake is a Filipino restaurant steeped in each of these...

Food + Beverage

Raise a Glass and Pass the Cheese, Please!

Perfect pairings of wine and cheese, straight from the experts Article by Sarah Krueger | Photography by Joye West and Erica Aros There are some things in life that are just meant to go together. Wine and cheese are one. Erica Aros, Founder of Erica Aros Wine Education and "Your Friendly Wine Mentor" in Chula Vista, and Joye West, founder of Joye’s Gone Grazey Charcuterie and artisanal cheese and charcuterie expert, got together to offer three perfect pairings for you to drum up at your next...

Food + Beverage

Paradise, Poured

Recipes with roots. Tropical traditions poured with love from the Philippines. Photography by Provided by Bag of Beans Bag of Beans opened its doors at the Village Walk at Eastlake in fall of 2025, bringing a taste of international culinary tradition straight to Chula Vista. Originally founded in 1998 in Tagaytay City, Philippines, this beloved family-owned institution is famous for its cozy, garden-style aesthetic. The brand operates six locations internationally, five back home, and one...