Monica Garske headshot

Monica Garske

Senior Content Strategist

Monica is based in San Diego, California. She was previously a senior digital media producer and podcast host at NBC 7 San Diego + The Scene, and has been in the news biz since 2005. She loves hiking, the beach, and family days with her husband and two kids.

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five summer cocktails that are yellow, orange, and pinkish with lime garnishes.
Food
Cheers: We’re celebrating Drink Up Week — here’s how to join us
We’ll be toasting to the bountiful beverage industry across Chattanooga, TN from Monday, July 22 to Friday, July 26, 2024.
May 24, 2024
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Monica Garske
a woman sitting enjoying a cocktail
Food
Cheers: We’re celebrating Drink Up Week — here’s how to join us
We’ll be toasting to the bountiful beverage industry across Kansas City, MO from Monday, July 22 to Friday, July 26, 2024.
May 23, 2024
 · 
Monica Garske
Fruity and colorful margaritas in jar glasses
Food
Join us for Drink Up Week sponsored by Social Cantina and The Tap
We’ll be toasting to the bountiful beverage industry across Indianapolis from Monday, July 22 to Friday, July 26, 2024.
May 23, 2024
 · 
Monica Garske
WStoday:
Food
Cheers: We’re celebrating Drink Up Week — here’s how to join us
We’ll be toasting to the bountiful beverage industry across Winston-Salem from Monday, July 22 to Friday, July 26, 2024.
May 23, 2024
 · 
Monica Garske
A hand holds a non-alcoholic Paloma topped with a slice of grapefruit
Food
Cheers: We’re celebrating Drink Up Week — here’s how to join us
We’ll be toasting to the bountiful beverage industry across Lakeland, FL from Monday, July 22 to Friday, July 26, 2024.
May 22, 2024
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Monica Garske
Three hands are holding bright orange, fizzy drinks rimmed with an orange wedge and toasting; a table covered in grapefruit and oranges serves as a backdrop.
Restaurants
Cheers: We’re celebrating Drink Up Week — here’s how to join us
We’ll be toasting to the bountiful beverage industry across cities like Austin, Boston, Seattle, Nashville, Kansas City, and many more from Monday, July 22 to Friday, July 26, 2024.
May 22, 2024
 · 
Monica Garske
View of the Austin, Texas skyline from the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail.
City
Austin’s GIS mapping decoded
Did you know the city and county provide interactive GIS maps of Austin to connect you to resources and help you get to know your communities?
May 21, 2024
 · 
Monica Garske
Four drinks in various colors like pink, orange, tan, and light green.
Food
Cheers: We’re celebrating Drink Up Week — here’s how to join us
We’ll be toasting to the bountiful beverage industry across Lexington, KY from Monday, July 22 to Friday, July 26, 2024.
May 21, 2024
 · 
Monica Garske
FTW-nickel-city-bar
Food
Cheers: We’re celebrating Drink Up Week — here’s how to join us
We’ll be toasting to the bountiful beverage industry across Fort Worth, TX from Monday, July 22 to Friday, July 26, 2024.
May 21, 2024
 · 
Monica Garske
The exterior of the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas; the marquee hangs on the entrance of the historic brick building, along with a vertical dark green sign that says "Paramount". A few cars line the street in front of the venue.
Events
Action: Paramount Theatre’s 50th annual Summer Classic Film Series will feature 120+ films
The historic venue’s beloved tradition began in 1975 — and it’s back in action from Friday, May 24 to Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024.
May 17, 2024
 · 
Monica Garske
Primo the Alien performing at the Long Center's 3D stage.
Music
Just dropped: The Drop-In’s 2024 free summer concert series lineup
Get amped — the shows go down every Thursday from May 23 to Aug. 15 (except July 4) at Austin’s Long Center.
May 15, 2024
 · 
Monica Garske
A modern, newly-designed home kitchen featuring gray cabinets, steel appliances, and a big kitchen island.
Real Estate
Hot Homes: 2024 kitchen and bathroom renovation trends in Austin
Remodeling project, anyone?
May 15, 2024
 · 
Monica Garske
A person in a cowboy hat is facing the other way. They have one hand up addressing a blurred crowd.
Play
Summer events happening in Dallas
Plan your summer with warm-weather events happening in the Big D.
April 30, 2024
 · 
Michael Beausoleil
A wooden board stacked with barbecue meats and side dishes from OAK'D BBQ in Dallas including brisket, ribs, chicken, mac and cheese, coleslaw, potato salad, and Brussel sprouts.
Live
20 local-approved barbecue spots in Dallas
Dig into Dallas’ must-try barbecue spots, from brisket to burnt ends.
April 29, 2024
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Monica Garske
The exterior of a new H-E-B store in Alliance Town Center; you can see the big, red H-E-B logo on the building as well as a variety of green plants and flowers lining the store's garden center.
Retail
Attention, shoppers: H-E-B Alliance opens in Fort Worth
This is the Texas grocer’s first location in Tarrant County — grab that list and let’s go shopping.
April 9, 2024
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Monica Garske
A black, tan, and green map created by NASA shows a light black band spanning states like Texas, Arkansas, and part of Illinois and Indiana, showing how the path of totality for the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.
Travel and Outdoors
When and where to see the April 2024 total solar eclipse in Raleigh
In Raleigh, the maximum view of the phenomenon — when the sun is 78.6% blocked by the moon — is expected at 3:15 p.m.
April 5, 2024
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Monica Garske
Seattle philanthropist Richard Hedreen sits next to a painting by Cecily Brown featuring a mix of colors and broad brush strokes.
Arts
The art of giving: Seattle University receives $300 million art collection + $25 million for future museum
The donation pays tribute to Richard Hedreen’s late wife, Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Petri Hedreen, an alumna of Seattle University.
March 19, 2024
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Monica Garske
Bourbon barrels in front of a rick house.
Work
Made in Lexington: 13 things created in and around LEX
From brands to artists, Lexington’s business scene is truly inspired.
March 15, 2024
 · 
Monica Garske
A rendering of a white building with a big, purple "W" on the exterior that will be the home of a future basketball training facility at University of Washington; there are people walking and bicycling out front. You can also see the existing arena to the left of the building, as the facilities will be connected.
Sports
Hoop dreams: University of Washington’s $60 million basketball practice facility preps to break ground
After several years of planning and donations, the training facility is expected to debut during fall quarter in August 2025 — go, Huskies.
March 7, 2024
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Monica Garske
Scattered Purple Sand Verbena flowers bloom at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park agains the brown, earthy backdrop of the desert in east San Diego County. The mountains are in the background, against the blue sky sprinkled with clouds. There are a few yellow flowers peeking out of the purple patches, too.
Travel and Outdoors
Where the wildflowers are: The annual Desert Bloom at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
After a rainy winter, the Borrego Springs desert region east of San Diego is expected to bloom quite nicely with vibrant desert wildflowers in spring 2024.
February 29, 2024
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Monica Garske
A grassy green hill at Kate Sessions Park overlooking Mission Bay, with many people picnicking and sitting on the grass.
Culture
How to spend your 24 extra Leap Day hours in San Diego
Start your day off with good, local coffee, head to the beach, go on a hike, peruse the city’s marvelous murals — seize the Leap Day, SD.
February 28, 2024
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Monica Garske
SD Geisel Library UC San Diego
History
6 ways to see Dr. Seuss’ influence in San Diego
The iconic author lived in La Jolla from 1948 until his death in 1991 — but his local legacy lives on.
February 28, 2024
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Monica Garske
Rudford's Restaurant San Diego
Food
6 cool retro diners in San Diego
Vintage never goes out of style, right?
February 26, 2024
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Monica Garske
Players for the San Diego Mojo women's professional volleyball team are playing on a court. They're wearing navy blue uniforms, and some have their hands in the air.
Sports
It’s time: Women’s pro volleyball team San Diego Mojo makes home debut
The team is owned by Olympian Kerri Walsh Jennings and features a 15-player roster with serious pro experience.
February 22, 2024
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Monica Garske
The grandstand stage at the San Diego County Fair with the ferris wheel and other rides in the background.
Music
San Diego County Fair unveils Grandstand Stage lineup for summer 2024
The fair — which returns June 12-July 7 — will boast headliners like Ludacris, Jay Leno, Pepe Aguilar, and TLC.
February 21, 2024
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Monica Garske
A group of Black entertainers pose in front of the Douglas Hotel in downtown San Diego in the 1930s wearing suits and headpieces.
History
San Diego history: The Douglas Hotel, also known as the ‘Harlem of the West’
The hotel was built in 1924 at 206 Market St. and offered quality accommodations and entertainment for Black visitors in San Diego during the segregation era.
February 20, 2024
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Monica Garske
The big, white Barcelona apartment building in Bankers Hill, with palm trees and cars parked out front.
Real Estate
Hot Homes: The history and $2 million renovation of The Barcelona in Bankers Hill
The 100-year-old apartment community at 326 Juniper St. is considered a “hallmark” of its era — and a “real estate jewel” of present-day San Diego.
February 14, 2024
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Monica Garske
People gather around San Diego Humane Society's redesigned Adoptions Center; the entrance is blue with the words "Woof Woof" over the doorway.
City
Now Open: San Diego Humane Society’s redesigned Adoptions Center
The facility’s improved layout includes 58 dog rooms, 55 cat kennels, and 53 spaces for smaller pets.
February 14, 2024
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Monica Garske
Eclipse Chocolate in San Diego
Food
So sweet: 11 chocolate shops in San Diego
Take a sweet tour of stores that sell chocolates and other treats.
February 14, 2024
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Monica Garske
San Diego's skyline with map points coming from different locations.
Culture
Our readers’ local love stories
Thanks for sharing your sweet stories, SD.
February 12, 2024
 · 
Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto
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