Coronado Times

Wine & Lecture: El Presidio de San Diego
2025-12-18 17:30 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Coronado Historical Association, 1100 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
The Coronado Historical Association is delighted to host noted historian, author, and SDSU lecturer Richard Carrico for the final installment of the fall 2025 Wine & Lecture Series. Mr. Carrico will be covering the buried history of San Diego’s lost city: El Presidio Real de San Diego. Established in 1769 and abandoned by 1835, El Presidio was the first permanent European settlement on the Pacific coast and was the base for all the Spanish missions that spread throughout California. Come explore the history and hidden remnants of this National Historic Landmark through this fascinating lecture.
Join us Thursday, December 18, at 5:30 pm for a wine & cheese reception followed by the lecture from 6 to 7 pm.
Tickets are available – Register Now
Member: $15 each
Non-Member: $20 each
Important Registration Information: Capacity is limited and reservations are required. No walk-ins will be admitted.
If you have any questions, please email info@coronadohistory.org or call 619-435-7242.

About the Speaker:
Richard L. Carrico, writer and educator, is a U.S Army veteran. He is a lecturer in the Department of American Indian Studies at San Diego State University and lives in Warner Springs. He is a well-respected scholar, public speaker, and researcher who has made significant contributions to our understanding of local Native American culture.
His primary area of research is the Indian people of southern California and northern Mexico followed closely by the Spanish colonial period in San Diego County. Richard was recently presented with the prestigious Norman Neuerburg Award for Outstanding Contributions Towards the Study and Preservation of California’s Missions, Presidios, and Ranchos.
In addition to more than 30 publications in professional journals, Richard is the author of an award-winning true crime book Monsters on the Loose (2024), History of Wines and Wineries of San Diego County (2016); Ramona and other books including the revised Strangers in a Stolen Land: The Indians of San Diego County (2018).
Beyond the academic realm Richard has authored historically or archaeologically based articles for the San Diego Union, California Magazine, Ranch and Coast Magazine, San Diego Home & Garden, and other popular magazines. He also has authored stand-alone chapters in four academic books.
LEARN MORE
Archaeologist and historian uncovers the story of San Diego’s Lost City

The Hive of Five: Historical fiction author event
2026-01-08 18:30 - 19:30 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
One incredible night, five New York Times bestselling historical fiction authors.

Kate Quinn (The Astral Library), Stephanie Dray (Becoming Madam Secretary), Kristina McMorris (The Girls of Good Fortune), Allison Pataki (It Girl), and Madeline Martin (The Secret Book Society) will come together to share the research, revelations, and hidden histories that bring their novels to life, offering readers a rare glimpse into the past through their collective expertise. After their discussion, a Q&A and book signing will follow.
This event is free and open to the public. Seating is first-come, first-served, subject to availability. Limited preferred seating is available with purchase of the newest release of one of the authors through Adventures by the Book. Please visit https://adventuresbythebook.com/calendar-event/history-hive-1-8-26/ for more information.

Kate Quinn is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction whose work spans ancient Rome, the Italian Renaissance, and most recently the 20th century with hits like The Alice Network, The Huntress, The Rose Code, The Diamond Eye, and The Briar Club. A native of Southern California with degrees in Classical Voice from Boston University, she now lives in Maryland with her husband and rescue dogs. Her upcoming novel, The Astral Library (February 2026), offers a fantastical adventure inviting readers into a world where books become portals to new lives and limitless possibilities.

Stephanie Dray is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author known for richly researched historical novels such as The Women of Chateau Lafayette, My Dear Hamilton, and America’s First Daughter. Her award-winning work on the often-overlooked Founding Mothers has been translated into eight languages. Based in Maryland with her husband, cats, and a home full of history books, she recently released Becoming Madam Secretary, about trailblazing labor secretary Frances Perkins, and will soon publish A Founding Mother, an intimate portrait of Abigail Adams timed to the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Kristina McMorris is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of ten historical works, including the million-copy bestseller Sold on a Monday and the international bestseller The Ways We Hide, a top Target pick of 2022. A recipient of more than twenty national awards and a former television host who began her career at age nine, she now divides her time between San Diego and Oregon, where she’s raising two collegiate sons. Her latest novel, The Girls of Good Fortune, explores family, identity, and buried histories tied to Portland’s mysterious Shanghai Tunnels.

Allison Pataki is a New York Times bestselling author of numerous historical novels—including Finding Margaret Fuller, The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post, and The Queen’s Fortune—as well as a memoir and children’s books, with her work translated into more than 24 languages. A former news writer and producer, she has contributed to major media outlets and appeared on national television programs. A Yale graduate and certified yoga instructor, she lives in New York with her family. Her forthcoming novel, It Girl (March 2026), chronicles the dramatic rise of America’s original “It Girl.”

Madeline Martin is a New York Times and internationally bestselling author of historical fiction and romance, including The Booklover’s Library, The Keeper of Hidden Books, and The Librarian Spy, with her novels translated into more than 25 languages. Living in Florida with her family and two spoiled cats, she credits her love of history to her upbringing as an Army brat in Germany. Her newest release, The Secret Book Society, a USA Today bestseller, transports readers to Victorian London for a tale of a forbidden book club, dangerous secrets, and brave women defying convention.

From Plate to Page: An evening with Jessica Secrest
2026-01-13 19:00 - 20:00 | Coronado Performing Arts Center, 650 D Avenue, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Coronado Public Library, in partnership with Warwick’s Bookstore, welcomes @applesauceandadhd Jessica Secrest as she discusses her new cookbook OF COURSE IT’S GOOD! on Tuesday, January 13.
This event is a fundraiser for the Friends of the Coronado Public Library and a paid ticket is required to enter. Ticket options are:

$10 entry only
$31.60 for admission for one person and one copy of OF COURSE IT’S GOOD
$39.83 for admission for two people and one copy of OF COURSE IT’S GOOD
Check-in starts/doors open at 6:15 pm. Please print out your tickets or have the QR code available on your phone.
Seating is first-come, first served.
“With Book” ticketholders will receive a paperback copy of OF COURSE IT’S GOOD at check-in.
Additional books will be available for purchase at this event.
The Performing Arts Center is directly behind the Coronado Public Library. You can view a parking map HERE. The two lots marked “school parking lots (for select events only)” will be available.
Purchase tickets online HERE.

About the Author
Jessica Secrest is a mom, home chef, and the creator of the popular social media page @applesauceandadhd.

About OF COURSE IT’S GOOD: None of the Nonsense, All of the Flavor
Prepare delicious meals with this no-frills, all-flavor recipe collection from Jessica Secrest, the wildly popular home chef known for her hostile humor and affordable recipes. Her long-awaited debut cookbook has an array of mouthwatering meals that focus on low-effort ingredients and techniques — think pre-shredded cheese, tater tots galore, and your handy-dandy slow cooker — so you’ll have an endless source of recipes to feed your family without wasting time or money.
Jessica’s signature style is present throughout each page, loudly guiding you in the kitchen and reminding you that tasty cooking doesn’t always need to be done with a smile. Recipes include:
– The BEST Baked Mac and Cheese
– Taco Potato Tot Casserole
– Egg Roll in a Bowl
– Cowboy BBQ Burgers
– Teriyaki Pork
– Fried Pickle Quesadillas
– Sloppy Joe Fries
– Slow Cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip
Whether you are looking to tackle weeknight dinner, Sunday breakfast, or an out-of-nowhere dessert craving, you’ll have Jessica in your corner each step of the way, aggressively reminding you that no matter what you create, there’s no doubt it’ll be good.

Sharp Coronado Hospital emergency readiness presentation
2026-01-15 14:00 - 15:00 | John D. Spreckels Center, 1019 Seventh Street, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Take part in a lifesaving First Aid, CPR, and AED training presentation hosted by Sharp Coronado Hospital. This important seminar equips participants with essential skills to confidently respond to emergencies—because knowing what to do can make all the difference.
Please note that this presentation does not provide First Aid, CPR, or AED certification. The presentation will take place on Thursday, Jan. 15, from 2 to 3 pm, and is open and free to the public.
The presentation will be held at the John D. Spreckels Center, which continues its partnership with Sharp Coronado Hospital to bring quality health and medical related presentations to the community. Sharp Coronado Hospital presentations are taught by experienced medical professionals, with topics selected based on community feedback.
For more information or to register call 619-522-7343, sign up online at coronado.ca.us/civicrec or stop by the center.
Community members are encouraged to attend and take advantage of this opportunity to learn practical emergency response skills from trusted medical professionals.
