0710 August 2010.pdf - Pacific San Diego Magazine

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{publisher’s page} 

the road to nowhere 

It takes nine hours to get from Philadelphia to 

Vermont—at least it did when my stepfather 

drove us there to ski. It was the kind of road 

trip dreams are made of…bad dreams. 

For what felt like 30 hours, I was crammed in 

the back seat of Ed’s Saab with my brother, three pairs 

of ski boots and whatever mom packed to entertain 

herself while we boys were on the slopes. Taking up 

what would otherwise have been my legroom was a 

cooler filled with delicious snacks—delicious by Mom’s 

standards, that is. Cheetos, Oreos and Gatorade might 

have made the trip bearable. Instead, we got rice cakes, 

string cheese and sliced turkey. There may have been a 

box of saliva-eliminating crackers, too. (Nothing a little 

whole milk can’t fix, right Mom?) 

It was a Friday evening in mid-January. I was 12 years 

old or so, so it must have been sometime in the early 

‘80s. We had left Philly at dusk (around 4:30 p.m. that 

time of year) and, some hours later, were somewhere in 

New York. Actually, for all I knew, it could have been 

Connecticut or Massachusetts—with all the frost on the 

windows, I could barely see whatever frozen nothingness 

passed us by in the dark outside. 

Even if I could have seen out the window, my focus 

would have remained on the interior of the vehicle, 

where my lungs were collapsing. I swear, I didn’t even 

have enough room to fully expand my chest and suck 

in a legitimate breath. 

“Ed, can you move your seat up a little?” I gasped. 

No response. He was either ignoring me or simply 

couldn’t hear my weakened voice over the John Denver 

cassettes he was playing too loud on the stereo. (To this 

day, Sunshine on My Shoulder absolutely does NOT 

make me happy.) 

After about six hours, when we stopped for a 

bathroom break, Mom announced that we were 

halfway. Joel and I get out of the car to pee and stretch 

our legs for five minutes, then it was back into our 

cell…I mean, backseat. 

During the second interminable leg of the journey, I 

actually managed to doze off for a bit. I can’t be certain 

whether it was legitimate sleep or just a side effect of 

diminishing circulation to my extremities, but I am sure 

of what awakened me—my brother. Unable to fall asleep 

himself, Joel had opted instead to use my open mouth for 

target practice, throwing pieces of Triscuits (there were 

crackers after all) at me while I slept. It took him just one 

bull’s-eye to rouse me. And, of course, I was throwing 

string cheese at Joel when Mom turned around. 

When we finally arrived at a small cabin in Killington, 

Vermont, I unpacked, then spent the rest of the night lying 

a few inches from the ceiling on the top half of a rickety 

bunk bed, baking in the intense heat that emanated from 

the floor heaters. Joel had won bottom in a coin toss. After 

he fell asleep, I balanced out his good fortune by putting 

rice cake remnants and a slice of turkey in his ski boot. 

If you like skiing on ice in frigid temperatures, you 

would have loved the next couple days. It was so cold 

that the ski lift operators handed out blankets (to 

people already wearing parkas and goggles) for the ride 

to the top of the mountain. That was the weekend I 

learned that the Fahrenheit and Celsius scales cross at 

minus-40 degrees, and Ed learned the hard way what 

frostbite on your big toe feels like. Given his infirmity, 

Mom had to drive us home on Sunday afternoon. Man, 

and I had thought Ed was the slow driver. 

To this day, I have never missed sitting in the 

backseat of a Scandinavian car, and something about 

John Denver tunes still nauseates me. But I wouldn’t 

trade these memories for the world—they helped form 

the person that I’ve become and, more importantly, 

taught me to keep my ass right here in America’s Finest 

City when I find myself with a free weekend. 

Happy Staycation, San Diego. Why go anywhere else? 

(P.S.: Ed, you’re the sweetest nine-and-a-half-toed 

stepfather a guy could ever ask for. Thank you for 

teaching me to ski and for all the fabulous trips. And 

from the bottom of my heart, un-thank you for the 

weekend in Vermont.) 

David Perloff, Publisher 

Throughout August, play the game of the day at facebook.com/pacificsd for your chance 

to win $50 gift certificates to Bare Back Grill, Red Pearl Kitchen, The Pearl Hotel, Honey Buns 

Spray Tans and more. Thanks for playing from PacificSD, the magazine that loves you back. 

10 pacificsandiego.com | AUGUST 2010

{staff} 

editor’s note 

Celebrating the best of everyday life in San Diego 

VOL.4 ISSUE 08 AUGUST 2010 

PUBLISHERS 

David Perloff 

Simone Perloff 

EDITOR 

Seth Combs 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

Kenny Boyer 

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS 

Brandon Hernández 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Dave Good 

Chantal Gordon 

Scott McDonald 

Michelle Mowad 

Sasha Orman 

Noel Reed 

Cookie “Chainsaw” Randolph 

PHOTOGRAPHERS 

Darrell Alonzi, alonziphoto.com 

Brevin Blach, brevinblach.com 

Jeff ìTurboî Corrigan, turbo.fm 

Stacy Marie Keck, stacymariesd.com 

Bradley Lamont, bradleylamont.com 

Gabriela Lingenfelder, photographybygabriela.com 

James Norton, shootnorton.com 

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT 

Logan Broyles 

INTERN 

Sara Cunningham 

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES 

Cambria Dotterer 

Jason Gregory 

Advertising in this 

magazine is the 

wrong thing to do... 

…unless you want your business to grow 

right away. In that case, call 619.296.6300 

or visit pacificsandiego.com today to start 

benefiiting from immediate countywide 

exposure via print, web and social media. 

WHY I STAY. 

I 

never planned on staying. 

In fact, when I first moved here from Atlanta in 2000, the only real plan I 

had was finishing school, spending some time with my mother and then getting 

back to the ATL. 

But here I am a decade later, and I have no plan to leave. Yeah, I’ll still root 

for the Braves when they come into town (that home opener back in April where the 

Padres killed them 17-2 had me seriously reconsidering my allegiance), but other than 

a predilection for bourbon and a rather unpronounced southern accent (that mostly 

reveals itself when I’ve had too much bourbon), I’m a San Diegan in almost every way. 

However, it’s worth pointing out that the things that make San Diego the ideal spot 

to visit and live—the sunny weather, the beautiful beaches, the zoo and Sea World—are 

probably the things I like the least. Me? I like seasons. I’m fine with cold winters (but not 

too frosty) and hot summers (but not too humid). The beach is too, uh, sandy and I can’t 

go down there without a jug of SPF 45. As an animal lover who believes that the best 

place for them is in their own habitat (read: 

not in a cage with a bunch of bratty kids 

gawking at them), I’d have to say that places 

like Sea World and the San Diego Zoo just 

make me sad. I have visited both of them 

only once and don’t plan on returning. 

So what makes me stay? Why do I love 

living here? 

Because when it comes to the things 

that are most important to me, San Diego 

is the most underrated and understated 

city in the nation. We have an art scene 

here that is chock full of talent, not to mention people who are going out of their way 

to bring that fact to the attention of the rest of the world (just check out Page 19 if 

you don’t believe me). We have a music scene that’s truly inspiring. I can go out any 

night of the week and check out a local band that deserves to be the next-big-thing 

(evidence on Pages 24, 50 and 52). And what a dining scene! San Diego consistently 

attracts some of the best chefs in the world and, unlike in cities like L.A., New York 

and Vegas, you can actually get a reservation without offering up your first-born (see 

Page 42 and 44 for just a couple examples). 

But I think what I love most about San Diego is that it’s filled with people just like 

me, folks who migrated here from other cities in search of something new. Meeting 

a local, born and bred, is almost as rare as a yeti sighting, but the fact that our city 

is made up of so many out-of-towners, all looking for their chunk of the California 

dream, only makes for a truly vibrant and diverse scene. 

And that’s why I stay. No, it’s not the sunshine or the beach or the fact that Shamu 

lives a few miles away. It’s the people that have kept me here. Passion pervades 

throughout San Diego, and everywhere I look, these movers and shakers are working 

hard in their respective fields to put San Diego on the map. I can only hope that by 

giving them a little ink in PacificSD, that I’m dong my part. 

Oh, and the fact that I can’t get fish tacos or California burritos in Atlanta certainly 

doesn’t help their chances of my ever returning. Just sayin’ ya’ll. 

“I think what I love most 

about San Diego is that it’s 

filled with people just like 

me, Folks who migrated 

here from other cities in 

search of something new.” 

Seth Combs, Editor 


HOMETOWN 

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{contents} 

pacific 

F e a t u r e s 

30 Staycation, All I Ever Wanted 

Frolicking Fall Fashions...a love story 

38 Make Your Move 

All over the country, the time is 

right for first-time home-buyers 

On the cover: 

Lauren B. at Industry Model Management was 

photographed by Brevin Blach at his studio in 

San Diego. 

Wardrobe and Makeup: Jeanette Marie, 

jeanette-marie.com 

Hair: Gwendolyn Sneed, gwendolynsneed.com 

Set Design: NaisArcher of Shadowbox Design, 

shadowboxdesign@gmail.com 

Props: San Diego Location Productions, sdpro.com 

ON LAUREN (cover): Top, $78, anthropologie. 

com; silk pants, $88, Banana Republic, 

bananarepublic.com; black patchwork top hat 

by NaisArcher of Shadowbox Design, $275, 

shadowboxdesign@gmail.com; jewelry and 

shoes by Nordstrom, stylist’s own. 

ON LAUREN (this page): Dress, $188, 

anthropologie.com; white patchwork top-hat 

by NaisArcher of Shadowbox Design, $275, 

shadowboxdesign@gmail.com; necklace by 

Arden B, $26, ardenb.com. 

14 pacificsandiego.com | august 2010

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{contents} 

D E P A R T M E N T S 

CURRENTS 

19 First Things 

The contemporary art world 

invades Downtown, former 91X 

deejay Mat Diablo slacks off and 

North Park gets rocked 

26 Fresh Paint 

Local artist Acamonchi brings new 

perspective to the streets of 

San Diego 

28 You’re Tripping 

Taking real vacations is just 

plain crazy 

TASTE 

42 The Fresh Man 

Chef Antonio Friscia’s new menu 

has some serious sting 

44 Back to the Future 

Chef Amy DiBase moves ahead 

by stepping into San Diego’s past 

46 What’s Shaken 

I thought it was the martini, 

but it may have been me 

GROOVE 

48 A Date with Destiny 

Meet a country firecracker who 

can determine the fate of your 

next cocktail 

50 Fight Songs 

A San Diego quintet brings their 

beach party to Warped Tour 

and beyond 

52 Bubble Boys 

With their unique flavor, these 

two DJs are putting San Diego 

electro on the national map 

BLIND DATE 

54 Double Time 

Two guys, two girls, one perfect 

night by the beach 

CALENDAR 

62 EIGHT.TEN 

August event listings 

THINK 

66 A Grand Old Time 

Actually, make that ten grand 

Pop-punkers Fight Fair 

prepare to ride a wave of 

success (see Page 50) 

KEVIN KNIGHT 

16 pacificsandiego.com | august 2010

first things coolture chainsaw 

currents 

All’s Fair 

ART SAN DIEGO BRINGS 

THE CONTEMPORARY ART 

WORLD TO DOWNTOWN 

BY SETH COMBS 

Ann Berchtold had seen a lot 

of San Diego art fairs come 

and go. Then, a few years 

ago, she traveled to Miami 

to check out the city’s annual Art Basel 

contemporary art fair. “Blown away” 

by the cultural overhaul that had taken 

place in the ensuing decades since her 

previous visit (when she used to go there 

for spring break), she had an epiphany. 

(continued on Page 20) 

Top: “Blind Spots” by Heather Gwen Martin; 

Middle row (from left): “Alaska” by Sebastiao 

Salgado, “Laella 015” by Miguel Ángel Madrigal, 

“Electric Marshmallows for Real Eyes” by Natalia 

Fabia and “Red Dress” by Keiko Sugiyama; 

Bottom row (from left): guests at last year’s 

art fair, “Birthday” by Fuyuji and “Library (from 

School Play)” by Julia Fullerton-Batten. Next 

page: “Empire” by Morgan Slade 

pacificsandiego.com 19

{currents} first things 

“It was a cultural dead zone 

back then,” she says, “and it 

struck me that San Diego is 

similar. We’re a young, emerging 

coastal city that hasn’t culturally 

matured completely, but we’re 

on the brink.” 

Berchtold returned 

with a mission: To create a 

contemporary art event in San 

Diego that not only attracted 

galleries and artists from all over 

the world, but also showcased 

a city that for too long had 

flown under the radar of art 

aficionados. She spent two 

years researching fairs and 

talking to organizers. Then, last year, she held the first Beyond The Border 

International Contemporary Art Fair at the Grand Del Mar resort. 

“The first year was tough, but if it proved anything, it was that there was 

an audience for this kind of event,” says Berchtold. 

For this year, she changed the name of the show, switched locations and 

assembled a crack team of experts to help make the event even bigger and 

better. From September 2 through 5, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, the 

newly knighted Art San Diego Contemporary Art Fair will showcase more 

than 45 galleries and hundreds of emerging artists from all over the world. 

Now, the fair that has the distinction of really showing the “what’s hot” and 

“what’s next” in the visual art world. 

“The new location will allow us to be a much broader, city-wide event,” 

Berchtold says. “And being Downtown, it’s just a great canvas to be able to 

interact with MCASD [Museum of Contemporary Art], the SDSU gallery 

and all the places in Barrio Logan. People can come to the fair for several 

hours, and then all of these other places are within walking distance, so 

you can really experience downtown San Diego.” 

Each gallery and museum at the fair will have a space to show off its 

wares. Beverly Hills, New York, Japan, Buenos Aires, Mexico City and 

other prominent cities will be represented. Local participants include 

Quint Contemporary Art (La Jolla), Scott White (Little Italy) and Joseph 

Bellows Gallery (La Jolla), among others, some of which will showcase art 

from emerging San Diego talent. 

“I feel like the fair is another component to the art world that will help 

artists here in San Diego,” says Heather Martin, a local artist who will 

be on display at the Luis de Jesus Los Angeles gallery space within the 

Hilton. “People will come from all over the world to see it, and galleries are 

bringing artists from all over the world to participate. It helps establish San 

Diego as a place where there’s good art.” 

Also new this year are the more than two dozen “art labs,” which will 

include collaborative art creation as well as performances from local 

musicians and dance troupes. Berchtold thinks the event has the potential 

to become one of the leading West Coast art fairs and hopes that the 

mounting excitement will help lure other traveling art fairs to San Diego. 

“It’s a way to get people more excited about collecting art,” she says. “I feel 

if we get people at least excited, once the fair is gone, they’ll still be excited 

and they’ll turn to the local art community. That’s always been my hope.” 

Art San Diego Contemporary Art Fair 

September 2-5, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront 

artsandiego-fair.com

Date Rape 

It happens a lot more than you think. 

One reason is that not all sexual assaults are 

reported–to anyone, especially the police. 

In turn, the rapist learns the wrong lesson, 

and so do his friends. 

But you can’t blame a woman for not calling 

the police or even telling her friends. I am 

representing three women right now who were 

raped, one through the use a date rape drug. 

All three women reported it to the police. 

All three men claimed the sex was consensual. 

None of the men were convicted. 

Here’s how things can be different. 

Don’t resort just to calling the police. They 

can only investigate the case and refer it to 

the District Attorney, who then has to decide 

whether he can prove a criminal case “beyond 

a reasonable doubt,” i.e., well beyond a 90% 

likelihood. Since many rapes occur behind 

closed doors, a D.A. might view the “he said, 

she said” problem as insurmountable. 

Not so in Civil Court. Unlike in criminal cases, a 

woman suing her rapist in Civil Court must only 

show the rape was “more likely than not,” i.e., 

the burden of proof is just 51%. It boils down 

to whom the jury sees as more credible. Not 

many men willing to rape a woman have the 

capacity to appear credible in front of a jury. 

California’s “Gender Violence” law is powerful, 

and lets the woman not only obtain a money 

judgment for her damages (e.g., medical bills, 

lost wages, and emotional distress), but the 

law also makes the rapist pay his victim’s 

attorney’s fees and costs. 

When he takes advantage of you, take 

advantage of the law and make him pay— 

possibly for the rest of his life. 

-Dan Gilleon 

Daniel M. Gilleon, Esq. | Mitchell & Gilleon 

1320 Columbia Street, Ste. 200 San Diego, CA 92101 

619.702.8623 Office 

dmg@mglawyers.com 

www.mglawyers.com 


Dialed 

In 

FORMER 91X RADIO STAR 

MAT DIABLO SETS HIS 

SIGHTS ON THE INTERNET 

BY NOEL REED 

PHOTO BY JEFF “TURBO” CORRIGAN 

When Mat “Diablo” Bates and 

his radio cohorts were fired 

from the 91X morning show 

this past May, a pall fell over 

San Diego. Karl Strauss even brewed a special 

batch of beer for the crew called Black Friday. 

Bates had made local commercial radio cool 

again—at least for a couple of years—and 

now the city had another on-air dead zone. 

Luckily for listeners, Bates is back, though 

not in terrestrial radio. He’s now the Senior 

Program Manager at Slacker.com, a Rancho 

Bernardo-based Internet radio company 

that pushes content in the U.S. and Canada. 

Actually, “radio” doesn’t do Slacker justice. Bates calls it “music discovery.” 

“Slacker is my dream job,” he says. “Not only am I working with intelligent, passionate people, but 

our mission is to connect people with the music they want to hear.” 

That music ranges from indie rock—a channel Bates oversees—to hip-hop and hits, classical and 

comedy, standards and spiritual. If it’s been recorded, chances are good Slacker’s got it, and it’s all 

packaged for web and Smartphone platforms. 

“We provide an alternative to your commercial, corporate radio playlist,” says Bates. “We’re literally 

ubiquitous. You can take us anywhere you go.” 

In 2006, Bates moved to San Diego to consult for Slacker, then a promising startup. Although the 

self-proclaimed music nerd had worked in radio since his college days in Reno, Nevada, he claims he’s 

never had a “radio personality.” 

“I always just desperately wanted to share music with people,” he says. 

His two-year stint at 91X was an opportunity for Bates to brand his name while also pushing the 

boundaries of FM broadcasts. Now that the 91X show is kaput, he retains a loyal following that will 

likely stick with him, even if he isn’t getting drunk or making fun of celebs on terrestrial radio. 

Bates’ 91X listener base was confined to San Diego. Slacker, on the other hand, has 17 million 

registered listeners worldwide. Unlike Pandora, another popular online music app that uses algorithms 

to generate playlists based on user preferences, Slacker supplements its backend code with a human 

touch, meaning that Bates manages not just technology, but also about 100 radio programmers who are 

all experts in their individual genres. 

From there, it’s up to the listener to customize the experience by adding artists, removing songs and 

so on. “You can create a totally custom station based on your taste,” Bates says. 

Now, Bates is busy ramping up Slacker’s content initiatives, including a dedicated Lollapalooza 

channel, which will feature artists playing at the upcoming music festival in Chicago. On August 6, 

he’ll head to the Windy City to broadcast live from the fest. A deal with ABC News is also developing. 

“I feel emancipated and elated,” says Bates. “There could not have been a job more custom-tailored 

for my passions. A lot of the ideas and philosophies I’ve always had about radio are not only being put 

to work—they’re actually working.” 

slacker.com

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Guitar Heroes 

THE NORTH PARK MUSIC THING SHOWCASES 

THE BEST IN LOCAL TALENT 

BY SASHA ORMAN 

Kevin Hellman is used to friends 

turning to him for advice on 

how to make it in the music 

biz. As publisher of the local 

weekly, San Diego CityBeat, and president 

of the San Diego Music Foundation—a 

non-profit that puts guitars in the hands of 

kids—he’s about as entrenched in the local 

scene as one can get. So, it would seem 

that it was only a matter of time before he 

and his colleagues decided to harness their 

collective knowledge into one event for the good of all local music. 

That event is North Park Music Thing (NPMT), a music and 

media conference, to be held August 13 and 14. 

Now in its third year, NPMT was inspired by Austin’s South 

by Southwest and New York’s CMJ Music Marathon. Through 

interactive panels (held at the historic Lafayette Hotel in North 

Park) featuring local media, legal experts and executives from top 

record labels including Sub Pop, Epitaph and Sony, it serves to 

help bands and artists get a leg up in the biz. 

For music fans, NPMT is by far the largest showcase of the 

best local up-and-coming local talent—more than 160 artists and 

bands are scheduled to perform at venues throughout North Park. 

Joshua Zimmerman, frontman for roots-rock band The Silent 

Comedy, is one of those burgeoning musicians for which NPMT was 

designed. But despite the industry-insider advice he can glean from 

the conference, he says that it’s playing for hundreds of potentially 

new fans that he enjoys the most. 

“The first year, we played U-31, and it was absolutely out of 

control,” Zimmerman says. 

The event has grown exponentially over the last three 

years, and buzz over NPMT is bringing in flocks of 

newcomers, including some from out of town. 

“We’ve got people coming from as far north as San 

Francisco and Sacramento,” says Hellman. “And we’ve 

got people from all over the country performing.” It’s a 

migration local musicians are welcoming. 

“San Diego can be a real tough nut to crack for out-oftown 

bands who aren’t familiar with the best places to play 

or the best bands to play with,” says Zimmerman. He adds 

From top: Gaux Nu Vaux, Joshua Zimmerman 

that getting paired up with local bands can make a huge (far left) and The Silent Comedy, Erika Davies 

impact. “They can ask them questions, learn from them and and The Dabbers are four of the over 160 

make friends—which is the best way to break into a new city. bands playing NPMT this year; a scene from 

last year’s music fest. 

That’s a really exciting thing.” 

In just three years, NPMT has grown to encompass 

a music scene stretching far beyond San Diego’s borders, but the heart of the event remains local, 

enabling our hometown music fans to see all the best talent in one fell swoop. 

“This year, we’re back,” says Zimmerman. “And I anticipate that it’ll be another really rowdy show.” 

sandiegomusicfoundation.org 

JEFF “TURBO” CORRIGAN REBECCA JOELSON SADE WILLIAMS

{currents} coolture 

Fresh Paint 

LOCAL ARTIST ACAMONCHI BRINGS 

NEW PERSPECTIVE TO THE STREETS 

OF SAN DIEGO 

BY SETH COMBS / PHOTOS BY STACY KECK 

Anyone visiting San Diego in the past month might 

have left our fair city thinking it was the street-art 

capital of the world. July saw the opening of four 

different local exhibitions devoted to the art form, 

which comprises pieces developed in public spaces, often 

without permission from the city or property owner. 

The most notable of these exhibitions is Viva La Revolución: A 

Dialogue With the Urban Landscape. On display at the Museum 

of Contemporary Art San Diego downtown through January 

2, 2011, it brings together 20 of the world’s top street artists, 

including Shepard Fairey, whose most recognizable works are his 

“Obey” emblem of pro-wrestler Andre the Giant and his “Hope” 

poster of President Obama. 

Today, Fairey lives in Los Angeles, but back in the late ‘90s, he 

got his start using the walls of Downtown San Diego as his canvas. 

That’s when he met Gerardo “Acamonchi” Yepiz, an established 

street artist best known for his stencil of assassinated Mexican 

Presidential candidate, Luis Donaldo Colosio. Acomonchi had 

posted the image on the Internet, and the public response was 

dramatic—so many people downloaded, cut-out and then used 

the stencil, that Colosio’s face could be seen spray-painted on walls 

throughout the streets of Mexico and Latin America. 

Fairey and Acomonchi worked together a lot back then, 

painting and installing art all over the San Diego. When Fairey 

moved to LA and became commercially successful, Acamonchi 

stuck around San Diego, traveling back and forth between Tijuana 

to create images for Grammy-nominated electronic band, Nortec 

Collective. With the help of friends, he also set up music and art 

shows in abandoned buildings on both sides of the border. 

“It was an exchange of ideas,” says Acamonchi. “There was a 

lot of good things going on in San Diego and TJ at the time, and I 

just tried to help bring the two places together.” 

Today, street art has become part of mainstream culture. And 

with the success of the recent documentary, Exit Through The 

Gift Shop, the time is ripe for Acamonchi to be recognized as one 

of the medium’s local heroes. His new show—a collaborative 

exhibition with fellow artist Sergio Hernandez, called Acamonchi 

vs. Surge 2010, which opens August 14 at Thumbprint Gallery 

in North Park—represents his new work on more conventional 

(non-street) canvases. But despite the transitions away from 

illegal street art, and the fact that he’s done graphic design work 

for MTV, Pepsi and Adidas, Acomonchi remains true to his roots. 

“I’ve really stuck to my punk-rock values,” says Acamonchi. 

“Do it yourself, do it right, be competitive, do a great job and 

keep it legit. Keep it real.” 

myspace.com/gerardoyepiz 

Clockwise from top left: 

Gerardo “Acamonchi” 

Yepiz; a piece atop 

the pool at the Martin 

Building + Flats in 

Bankers Hill (also 

bottom right); a piece 

from inside the Martin 

Building (another 

bottom left); stencil art 

of the Acamonchi logo 

(left) and Luis 

Donaldo Colosio 

Acamonchi logo and Colosio pics courtesy of Jai Alai, Mezzanine Tijuana 


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{currents} chainsaw 

You’re Tripping 

TAKING REAL VACATIONS IS JUST PLAIN CRAZY 

BY COOKIE “CHAINSAW” RANDOLPH 

A 

couple of Augusts ago, he could have vacationed in Rome, Italy. 

But today, Super Bowl hero and weapons convict Plaxico Burress 

is enjoying the ultimate staycation: two years in The Oneida 

Correctional Facility...in Rome, New York. 

The former New York Giants star is midway through his sentence for 

holstering an unregistered Glock in his waistband and carrying it into a 

Manhattan nightclub—the gun discharged when Burress fumbled for it as it 

slipped. He suffered a minor gunshot wound, which may not have been the first 

discharge he experienced while fumbling for something in his pants, but it was 

certainly the most painful. 

Jail does have its perks—in addition to relaxing in his prison cell, Plaxico can 

venture out into “The Yard,” which Onieda travel brochures describe as “the most 

well-staffed and breathtaking recreational facility in the entire New York State 

penal system.” It must be true: last year 214 armed guards witnessed 27 stranglings. 

But for the rest of us who remain un-jailed, we’re not going to Rome, Italy, for 

another reason: the economy. I mean, who in their right mind would pay to fly 

20 hours in coach, only to land in a place where your electronic plug-ins won’t fit 

into the sockets? 

Instead, why not just watch travel guru Rick Steves on PBS, guide us through 

the Pantheon while we lie in bed eating fudge? 

Yes cherished reader, I’m saying don’t pay, stay. Staycations are waaaaay more 

awesome than actually going someplace. 

Besides, once you’ve been to Vegas, you’ve already been to Rome, Paris or 

New York City, anyway (perfect replicas if you believe those places have dry 

heat into the 120s). 

Still yearning for The Big Apple? Just watch CSI: NY or an old Seinfeld and save 

yourself the expense and hassle of actual travel. Are you really all that interested in 

cramming onto a ferry and crawling up Lady Liberty’s toga? Trust me, I’ve been in 

her, and she’s not all that great. (Trivia: The Statue of Liberty inspired the expression, 

“Like throwing a banana down Broadway,” shortly after arriving from France—as if 

anything other than the Washington Monument could ever really satisfy her.) 

Dying to see the City of Love? Instead of booking a flight to Paris, just pick 

up some French Fries and stop showering for a week. Then, after staring at a 

Google image of the Mona Lisa for ten minutes, go order a meal from the rudest 

possible waiter in town. Look at that: the quintessential Parisian experience and 

I just saved you 10 grand and jet lag. 

So, instead of packing up your favorite things in a futile attempt to simulate 

the comforts of home in a faraway place—all whilst paying out the wazoo for 

it—just stay put. Obviously, we don’t envy Plaxico Burress’ staycation, but I’ll 

take self-imposed house arrest over airports and security and weird foreign 

toilets this summer. It’s just so much more pleasant than say, oh, I don’t know, 

off the top of my head: surfing the Gulf of Mexico (although I hear the rates are 

really, really affordable right now). 

Uh-oh. Too soon? 

Cookie “Chainsaw” Randolph is now on 100.7 Jack-FM, mornings with the DSC. 

He’s also a twice-a-week columnist at 619sports.net, which recently celebrated its 

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Staycation,

All I Ever Wanted 

Frolicking Fall Fashions…A Love Story 

Photography by Brevin Blach 

She’s a journal-keeping, mid-western romantic who just moved here. He’s 

a beach-going local whose idea of a day-planner is a crumpled up piece of 

paper. She has a nine-to-five. He keeps some strange hours. With Summer 

coming to a close and Fall quickly approaching, our star-crossed lovers 

opt for some serious R-and-R, right here in town. After all, when you live 

in San Diego, every day is a potential vacation. 

ON RACHEL: Necklace, $350, bracelet, $225, dress by 

Rebecca Taylor, $345, shoes by Prada, $750, Neiman 

Marcus, neimanmarcus.com; hat by Naia Archer at 

Shadowbox Design, $150, shadowboxdesign@gmail.com. 

ON BLAKE: Pants, $195, t-shirt, $125, scarf, $125, 

double-breasted linen pea coat, $345, all by Theory, 

Bloomingdale’s, bloomingdales.com; shoes, $70, 

Banana Republic, bananarepublic.com. 

Saturday, August 7 

Blake and I have been dating for a few 

months, and he still insists on teaching 

me how to surf, but I’m a little afraid. 

I mean, I just warmed up to fish tacos. We 

finally came to a compromise, and today 

we took a boat out around Mission Bay. 

The boat looked a little unstable and the 

paddles looked like they hadn’t been used 

since the ‘40s, but I think I finally have 

my sea legs. In the evening, we sat around 

Enchanted Cove, huddled in blankets, and 

watched the fireworks from Sea World in the 

distance. Perhaps I will try surfing next. 

Wardrobe and Makeup: Jeanette Marie, jeanette-marie.com 

Hair: Gwendolyn Sneed, gwendolynsneed.com 

Set Design: NaisArcher of Shadowbox Design 

PROPS: San Diego Location Productions, sdpro.com 

MODELS: Rachel B. at Ford Models, Blake E. at No Ties Management 


ON RACHEL: Dress by Theory 

$158; necklace by Neiman 

Marcus, $370, bracelet, $195, 

shoes by Manolo Blahnik, 

$735, Neiman Marcus, 

neimanmarcus.com. 

ON BLAKE: Shirt by 

Diesel, $100, jeans 

by Rock & Republic, 

$188, Bloomingdale’s, 

boomingdales.com; shoes, 

$160, sweater, $60, Banana 

Republic, bananarepublic.com 


Where to play: 

northwest corner of the Balboa 

Park along Sixth Avenue 

Morley Field (just stay out of 

the way of those Frisbee golfers) 

The Lodge at Torrey Pines lawn 

(do I need a reservation?) 

the beach?? 

Things to remember: 

find a place that has 

well-groomed grass 

remember to bend at the 

knees when I’m “roqueting” 

the arches are called “wickets” 

try not to get too crazy 

with celebratory dance 

with mallet in hand 

try to let Rachel win 


Sunday, August 29 

I can’t wait to go on a bike ride 

with Blake today! There are so many 

great bike trails here compared to 

Minneapolis. Blake wanted to go on 

the mountain bike trail near Sunset 

Cliffs, but I don’t think my new 

beach cruiser will cut it. Pacific 

Beach and Highway 101 around Solana 

Beach were thrown out as ideas, 

but I really want to see Coronado. 

Blake says he doesn’t cross the 

bridge too often, and I hear it’s a 

gorgeous place to ride around all 

day and explore. Plus, the ferry 

ride over should be quite romantic. 

ON RACHEL: Shirt, $68, shorts, $88, jacket, $58, all by Aqua, Bloomingdale’s, 

bloomingdales.com; shoes by Prada, $750, ring, $295, necklace, $275, 

Neiman Marcus, neimanmarcus.com; hair piece by Rachel Larraine. 

ON BLAKE: shirt by Joe’s, $98, jeans by Rock & Republic, $188, fedora hat, 

$70, belt by Levi’s, Bloomingdale’s, bloomingdales.com; shoes by Clarks, 

$65, scarf by Banana Republic, $70, Banana Republic, bananarepublic.com. 



ON RACHEL: Dress by Alex & Olivia, $330, shoes by 

Prada, $750, Neiman Marcus, neimanmarcus.com; 

necklace, $70, bracelet, $70, Banana Republic, 

bananarepublic.com; belt, stylists own; hair 

piece by NaisArcher of Shadowbox Design, $85, 

shadowboxdesign@gmail.com. 

ON BLAKE: Hat, $40, sweater vest, $50, shirt, 

$60, pants, $70, shoes, $160, Banana Republic, 

bananarepublic.com. 


Saturday, September 12 

What started out as a summer 

romance has quickly turned into 

love. Blake and I are so different, 

but he’s so romantic sometimes. He 

wants to take me on a picnic in 

Balboa Park tomorrow. That’s where 

we met and he said he wants to go 

there because he’s ready to take 

the next step in our relationship. 

Not sure what that means (moving in 

together?), but Fall is coming and 

I’m finally feeling at home in San 

Diego. And with him. 


Make Your Move 

All over the county, the time is right for first-time home-buyers 

By Michelle Mowad / Photos by Stacy Keck 

We all know someone who’s a little on-the-fence when it comes to taking the plunge into home ownership. Can 

you blame them? After hearing the horror stories of foreclosures and dirty loans, it’s a wonder we’re not all 

hoarding our money under our mattresses. 

Fortunately, the days of inflated values that led to the housing bubble, its subsequent burst and the historic 

lows of 2008 and 2009 are behind us. Today, pricing has adjusted and finance rates are at record lows. 

According to many experts, the time to buy is now. 

Despite encouraging market indicators, however, looking for a house in a county as diverse as San Diego is rarely as simple 

as checking crime rates and school district report cards. It’s about finding a good price as well as a neighborhood that fits your 

personality. So, what can you expect to find in these burgs now and, more importantly, in the future? We poked around and asked 

some local experts—here’s how things are looking. 

DOWNTOWN 

It has been 

a long time 

coming. Downtown has finally transformed 

into a vibrant community to work and live. 

“It is probably the best time since the early 

‘90s to purchase a home,” says Gary London 

of The London Group Realty Advisors, a 

real estate consulting and feasibility firm that 

focuses on southern California. 

Prices dropped in the past few 

years, as numerous condo 

projects were completed 

at the same time, 

creating a 

glut of inventory. They fell even further when 

consumer confidence took a dive after the 

economy tanked. That’s all about to change. 

At current sales rates, inventory of first-timesale 

condos will be sold out by spring 2010. 

The median price downtown is $340,000, 

with the most expensive neighborhood being 

the waterfront Columbia District (by the 

Broadway Pier), with its beautiful bay views 

and luxury amenities. On the flipside, the 

least expensive hood is East Village. 

Over the past decade, Downtown has 

grown into a solid dining and nightlife 

destination. If you relocate there, you can 

expect to see more boutiques, bars and 

bistros popping up amongst the 

statuesque office and condo 

buildings. Because of 

this, Downtown 


Left page: Lofty ambitions in Downtown. 

This page (clockwise from right): North 

Park shows signs of being the next dining 

and nightlife destination; a spot in La Jolla 

still fetches a hefty sum; house prices in 

North Park rose even in the bad economy. 

is attracting three primary types of buyers: young 

and socially-engaged professionals, the buy-down 

buyers that finally sold off their overpriced home 

in the ‘burbs and out-of-area buyers looking to be 

at the center of it all. 

Hard Rock Hotel concierge Robbie Mandagie 

recommends downtown’s newest offerings, 

including Bice Ristorante on Island Avenue, 

FLUXX nightclub and Noble Experiment, a 

hidden speakeasy with a secret entrance. 

In addition to booze and bites, the area is also 

seeing a cultural evolution towards the arts with 

the opening of numerous galleries and collectives 

such as Alexander Salazar Fine Art and the 

SDSU Downtown Gallery. 

NORTH PARK 

Once a sketchy 

part of town, 

North Park has finally come out from under 

Hillcrest’s spirited shadows as an up-and-coming 

community with serious artistic flair. Over the 

past few years, investors have risked rehabbing 

apartments into condos in droves, and many Baby 

Boomers sold their aging homes to eager young 

buyers who didn’t mind moving into a fixer-upper. 

For the median price of $460,000, you can own a 

single family home in this boutique neighborhood; 

condos can be found for just $205,000. Listing 

prices are up from last year, as a myriad of 

restaurants are opening their doors to welcome 

20- and 30-something neighborhood patrons. 

North Park is perfect for indie music fans with a 

hankering for beer bars, wine lounges, boutiques 

and a motley mix of restaurants including West 

Coast Tavern and the area’s newest cantina, El 

Take It Easy, created by the folks behind the 

neighborhood’s celebrated Linkery. And there’s 

more on the way: URBN Coal Fired Pizza + Bar is 

set to be open by the end of the summer, and the 

owners of True North are currently looking into 

opening a neighboring brewery. 

The neighboring burgs of South Park, 

Kensington and Talmadge are also attracting 

younger buyers, according to area real estate 

agents. Perhaps one of these flourishing 

communities will become the next North Park. 

LA JOLLA 

One of the most 

prestigious and elite 

neighborhoods in San Diego County, Southern 

California and the nation, La Jolla attracts the 

ultra-wealthy. 

Plenty of posh digs are available in The 92037. 

More than 40 homes are listed for, ahem, $10- 

plus million. Even the lower end of the price 

spectrum still fetches seven figures. For $10,000 

on a month for 30 years, you can own the 

median priced home of $1.4 million. 

“La Jolla is the Beverly Hills by the sea,” says 

Gary Kent, a veteran real estate agent who heads 

his own firm, Gary Kent Team. “It has cache, it 

has the great Village of La Jolla, its name attracts 

buyers and it’s a name known around the world.” 

The streets of La Jolla’s downtown village 

are lined with galleries, high-end retailers and 

sumptuous eateries. There is almost no reason to 

leave this chic community besides the fact that 

La Jolla lacks solid nightlife venues that offer 

more than dinner and drinks. However, that may 

change when two newcomers open this summer: 

Barfly, a sports bar by day and nightclub by night, 

and Hennessey’s on Herschel Avenue, which will 

have more of a gastro-pub feel. Also, nightlife 

impresario Mike Viscuso (owner of downtown’s 

famous On Broadway nightclub) is taking over 

the old Jack’s location with plans to reestablish 

La Jolla as a posh nightlife destination. The 

name? What else? Mike’s. 

PACIFIC/MISSION 

BEACHES 

While waves of college students and recent 

graduates roll in and out of Pacific Beach’s and 


Mission Beach’s rental properties, the inventory of 

homes and condos for sale is tight. In addition to 

the limited listings, the median-priced home here 

is nearly twice the county median, making Pacific 

Beach a stretch for the first-time home-buyer. Last 

month, the median home price for a condo was 

$425,000, and $680,000 for a single family home. 

Despite the home prices, these beach 

communities remain a 20-something’s wet dream 

of inexpensive beer, hairless buff bodies and tons 

of places for take-out. The further from Garnet 

Avenue, the party epicenter at the beach, the 

more relaxed the neighborhoods feel. Crown 

Point, North Pacific Beach and South Mission 

Beach have the same beach community vibe, but 

lack the hoopla associated with the main drag of 

bars and clubs. 

Jamie Lynn Sigler, founding partner of lifestyle 

and hospitality PR firm J Public Relations, works 

downtown but loves calling Pacific Beach home 

because it’s relaxed and still close to her office 

and clients. 

“I feel PB offers the best of both worlds,” Sigler 

says. “I can get to wherever I need to be in 20 

minutes, and I am still at the beach.” 

So, it looks like Pacific and Mission Beach will 

keep catering to renters; and potential homebuyers 

should expect continued sand, surf and 

SDSU students in the future. 

NORTH COUNTY 

The North County coastal market has not 

traditionally been affordable for first-time homebuyers. 

Home prices, from tony Del Mar to the 

ritzy areas of Carlsbad, well exceed the county’s 

entry-level price range. This region is more apt to 

draw move-up buyers looking to sink $550,000 

or more. 

According to real estate agent Roberta Murphy, 

the appeal of North County lies in the schools 

and shopping. Browsing the high-end lifestyle 

shopping centers and the Cedros Design District 

in Solana Beach, and playing the ponies in Del 

Mar are easy ways to drop some dough. First-time 

buyers wanting to live in North County should 

consider Oceanside or the inland cities of Vista, 

San Marcos, Escondido and Poway. 

If you have a bit more cash, consider 

looking to buy in Encinitas. The city is seeing 

a resurgence in energy that started with the 

opening of Lux Art Institute in late 2007, and 

additional investors are reportedly eyeing the 

area. Business partners Scott Watkins and Chef 

Matt Gordon took note—the fellas behind 

North Park’s Urban Solace restaurant will open 

its sister restaurant, Solace and the Moonlight 

Lounge, later this year. 

SOUTH COUNTY 

The 

South Bay 

comprises an eclectic mix of neighborhoods with 

varied housing choices. 


Left page: “For Sale” signs are all 

over Mission Beach for those 

craving sand and surf. 

This page: Chula Vista and Lemon 

Grove (below) are perfect for new 

homeowners looking for stability. 

Coronado, for example, offers a mellow mix of 

military, tourism and high-end living. Residents 

can walk for a snack at Burger Lounge on Orange 

Avenue or sample one of nearly 500 wines at 

Hotel Del Coronado’s wine bar, Eno. The area’s 

beaches and near-zero crime-rate make it a very 

pricey option for first-time home-buyers. 

On the other end of home-price spectrum, the 

least expensive city in South County is National 

City, where you can buy a three-bedroom house 

for $207,000, or a two-bedroom condo for 

$108,000. 

Somewhere between the million-dollar 

mansions on Coronado and the ultra-affordable 

homes in National City lie the homes in Chula 

Vista, Bonita and the border beach city of Imperial 

Beach. A few years ago, Chula Vista was known 

nationally for its high number of foreclosures; 

today new homeowners are taking advantage of 

previous owners’ bad luck, picking up homes at 

discounted rates via short sales (transactions in 

which proceeds fall short of the balance owed on 

the property’s loan). 

Mexican culture is woven into nearly all 

parts of South Bay’s communities, which have 

stayed true to their roots and ties to family and 

friends south of the border. Old taco shops and 

bodegas line one end 

of the region, while 

new eateries, such 

as Miguel’s Cocina 

(by The Brigantine 

restaurant group) in 

Coronado, are emerging 

on the other. 

Cindy Gomppers- 

Graves, CEO of 

the South County 

Economic Development Council, says some of the 

South County’s best features are its entertainmentdriven 

assets, including the Silver Strand bikeway, 

the Olympic Training Center in East Lake and 

Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre. 

EAST COUNTY 

Life is a little 

slower and a bit 

cheaper in the East, and residents like it that way. 

San Diego Association of Realtors President 

Mark Marquez says East County has some of the 

best deals for home-buyers, pointing out that some 

prices have dropped nearly 50 percent in some 

neighborhoods. 

“The most bang for your buck is East County,” 

says Marquez. “Some 3,000 to 4,000-square-foot 

updated, remodeled, newer homes on larger 

lots that were going for over $1 million a few 

years ago are now $500,000 to $600,000 in 

neighborhoods like Rancho San Diego.” 

Prices across East County are the lowest in the 

county and provide many options for first time 

home-buyers. Median home prices in El Cajon, 

La Mesa, and Lemon Grove range from $265,000 

to the high $300,000s. 

However, culinary and cultural development 

is slow there. With the exception of the opening 

of La Mesa’s Riviera Room and Supper Club 

restaurant a few years ago, the biggest deal in the 

past year has been the opening of a Sonic burger 

joint in Santee (first one in San Diego). So, if you 

loathe change, East County is the way to go. 


{taste} dining out cocktail 

The Fresh Man 

CHEF ANTONIO FRISCIA’S NEW MENU HAS SOME 

SERIOUS STING 

By Brandon Hernández / photoS by GABRIELA LINGENFELDER 

Over the past half-decade, 

Downtown’s Stingaree has 

garnered nationwide attention 

for being a top-tier night club 

that serves up nights to remember to luxuryminded 

night owls. And while other clubs 

have come and gone, the key to Stingaree’s 

success has been reinvention—just when 

things were getting a little static, they 

unveiled a redesigned rooftop lounge earlier 

this summer. That same philosophy of 

reinvigoration has just been applied to the 

venue’s fine-dining restaurant, which, later 

this month, will unveil a brand new menu 

created by its executive chef, Antonio Friscia. 

“I’ve always stuck to my Italian training, 

but now I want to do a little bit more,” says 

Friscia. “When I was younger, I worked 

and traveled in Bali for a year and a half. 

Since then, I’ve gotten used to using those 

[Indonesian] ingredients when cooking at 

home for my wife and kids. The new menu is 

a combo of what I learned during my travels 

to Asia and my training in Italy.” 

Friscia is using this first-person fusion 

approach on his new dishes. There’s his 

sweet caramelized sea scallops served with 

a salad of Japanese sekai-ichi apples dressed 

in sherry vinaigrette, his roasted lamb chops 

with a spicy red lentil dahl (Indian-style 

soup) and barbecued pork served donburi 

(“bowl,” in Japanese) style in a bowl filled 

with flavorful fried brown rice. For those 

with a little culinary bravery, be on the 

lookout for uni (the edible eggs of the sea 

urchin), a delicacy Friscia used to enjoy 

at the beach as a kid after abalone diving 

sessions with his dad. 

“I have this dish that’s eventually going 

to be added to the menu, where I take fresh 

pasta, sautéed garlic, white wine and some 

fresh roasted chilies and toss them with uni at 

the last minute so it emulsifies into a sauce,” 

says Friscia. “It’s really simple, but delicious.” 

Another of the chef’s favorite ingredients 

is pork from the Happy Tummy pig farm in 

nearby Alpine, where Friscia has worked out 

a symbiotic pact with the farmers: Stingaree 

provides the farmers with green waste for 

their pigs and receives top quality, responsiblyraised 

Duroc pork in return. Friscia has 

big plans for every succulent section of 

the animal, from tail to snout, and the first 

Happy Tummy item to hit the bill is spareribs 

brushed with a sweet Hoisin-honey sauce. 

If that dish sounds like was made to be paired 

with a nice Merlot, diners are in luck. Friscia’s 

uncle, Nunzio Alioto, is one of America’s 

foremost Master Sommeliers. He showed his 

nephew the ropes of reds, whites and rosés at an 

early age, igniting Friscia’s passion for vino that 

gave way to a life of study and appreciation. 

“Today, I’m an Advanced Sommelier 

with the Court of Master Sommeliers and 

the Wine and Spirit Education Trust out of 

England,” says Friscia. “It cost me thousands 

of dollars, but it was worth it.” 

All of this could sound intimidating to some 

diners, but Friscia maintains that Stingaree’s 

new menu will always be based on a 

communal format meant to spark conversation, 

interaction and memorable experiences. 

“Life’s too short to eat bad food or fast 

food,” says Friscia. “Sit down at the table and 

take time to talk to your friends and family 

and enjoy your food.” 

Stingaree 

454 Sixth Avenue, Downtown 

619.544.9500 | stingsandiego.com 

Clockwise from top: Chef Antonio 

Friscia; Roasted lamb rack with red 

lentil dahl and natural jus; “OG” 

pineapple upside-down cakes; 

Kondashi-crusted hamachi with red 

miso sauce and wasabi peas 


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A D V E R T I S E M E N T 

Fundraising in the Fast lane 


MARGARET 

VIRISSIMO 

Margaret Virissimo is doing well by doing good. 

She’s a member of a new breed of fundraisers 

bringing a young, contemporary spin to supporting 

worthwhile causes. Margaret plans special events 

to raise funds for one of San Diego’s classic 

charities: Meals–on-Wheels. 

Events are not her only thing…she is currently 

founding and recruiting a new group where savvy 

young professionals can mix and mingle and, at the 

same time, give back to this wonderful organization. 

Margaret just successfully staged a huge 

Street Fair and is now pounding down Red Bulls as 

she helms the organization’s biggest event in years: 

A 50th Anniversary Gala. It’s on September 11 at 

the Sheraton (the first, big hotel on the right.) “I’m 

slammed but I love the pressure. This gala is going 

to be awesome!” Margaret said. “It’s going to POP!” 

She is a native daughter of San Diego; a proud 

Portuguese princess from Point Loma. A former 

Miss Cabrillo, her dark eyes flash with pride as she 

describes how her grandparents arrived here with 

no money, no English and built a lucrative family 

fishing business and helped to settle the vibrant 

Portuguese community on the Point. 

“I love my grandparents and when I go out and 

deliver meals to our clients, I fall in love with them!” 

Margaret said. “I want to bring other new people 

into the Meals-on-Wheels family.” If you love your 

grandma, call Margaret. She’ll hook you up with 

tickets to the upcoming gala, which will feature an 

appetizer throw-down with top local chefs including 

Chef David Warner from JRDN and Chef David 

Meade from Nobu at the Hard Rock. You can also 

join the new young pro group at Meals-on-Wheels 

bringing fresh philanthropic energy to make a real 

difference in this world. One grandma at a time. 

Back to the Future 

CHEF AMY DIBIASE MOVES AHEAD BY 

STEPPING INTO SAN DIEGO’S PAST 

By Brandon Hernández / Photos by Bradley Lamont 

Everywhere she’s cooked, chef Amy 

DiBiase has upped her culinary 

cred, capitalizing on a classic French 

technique and the inherent flavors of 

her Mediterranean heritage. She wowed diners 

with her buttery foie gras torchon (liver wrapped 

in cloth) at Laurel and drew the masses to Point 

Loma for her sumptuous braised pork cheeks 

at Roseville. Earlier this year, she decided it was 

time to move onward and upward, so it’s only 

natural she should turn up in…Old Town? 

Say what? One of San Diego’s most gifted 

gourmands has touched down in the land of 

refried beans and gringo-friendly Ameri-Mex 

cuisine? WTF? 

On the surface, it sounds rather bizarre del 

mundo, but fear not, foodies. DiBiase’s new digs, 

The Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant, is 

anything but just another beans-and-rice dot on 

the Old Town State Park map. 

“We don’t want it to be a Mexican restaurant,” 

says DiBiase. “This is an opportunity to give 

locals a reason to come to Old Town to have a 

nice experience that represents the history of all 

of San Diego, not just Mexican settlers.” 

Drawing from a list of ingredients indigenous 

to the area, DiBiase’s style could probably best 

be described as Seasonal Californian meets New 

American cuisine. Albacore is pepper-crusted and 

topped with a tapenade of local olives, swordfish 

is brightened by a tangy bell pepper relish, housecured 

salmon is artfully matched with earthy 

poblano chilies in a buttery potato “torta” (tart) and 

The patio at the Cosmopolitan 

Chef Amy 

DiBiase 

her infamous pork 

cheeks sing with 

new life thanks 

to a Temecula 

lavender honey and 

kumquat glaze. 

DiBiase’s arrival 

comes on the 

heels of threeyear, 

multi-million dollar restoration of the The 

Cosmopolitan property that was overseen by 

historians and the California State Park system. 

The result is a hospitality venue that appears 

exactly as it did from 1850 to 1874, from the décor 

right down to the buttons on the vests of the staff’s 

uniforms. It’s a little bit of the old with a lot of 

the new, and the only thing more surprising than 

coming across a restaurant like this in the heart of 

Old Town is The Cosmopolitan’s price point. The 

majority of the dishes, including the albacore, pork 

cheeks and a half-pound prime top sirloin steak 

are under $20, and everything is under $30. 

Serving as the culinary ambassador for San 

Diego’s storied past while breathing new life into 

the region’s edible bounty and at a reasonable 

rate—it’s all in a day’s work for the tireless 

DiBiase and a challenge she relishes deeply. 

“In the end,” she says, “I just love seeing people 

experience food the way it should be experienced.” 

The Cosmopolitan Hotel & Restaurant 

2660 Calhoun Street, Old Town 

619.297.1874, oldtowncosmopolitan.com

M A G A Z I N E 

PRESENTED BY

e crazy 


drink crazy 

What’s Shaken 

I THOUGHT IT WAS THE MARTINI, BUT IT MAY HAVE BEEN ME 

By dave good / photo by brevin blach 

I 

was sitting in a bar downtown a few years ago, and my date ordered one of those black martinis. They 

were all the rage back then. It was a pretty thing to look at: pearlescent, not quite black but close 

enough, and served in traditional martini stemware, frosted and sophisticated. 

“I’ve never had a martini,” she said, taking a delicate sip. 

“You still haven’t,” I said. Maybe I spoke too soon. 

Shaken or stirred, the classic martini is a simple, no-frills cocktail: a measure of good gin and a 

dash of vermouth mixed in a shaker full of cracked ice, then strained and served in a martini glass 

with either an olive or a lemon peel garnish. Created in the ‘30s, it eventually grew to include a vodka 

variation with a pearl onion garnish, but little else. 

Richard Nixon hated marijuana, but he loved his martinis as much as the fictional James Bond does 

and the very real Dorothy Parker did. Parker, the witty New Yorker writer who died in 1967, was such a 

fan that she even wrote a little poem in celebration of her favorite quaff: 

I like to have a martini, 

Two at the most. 

After three I’m under the table, 

After four I’m under the host. 

Imported from the French Riviera 

available on 

LionsWinesCellar.com 

This was the stuff of the fabled three-martini-lunches. Soon enough, the drink became the 

quintessential sophisticate drink, and having one in hand was a mark of cultural distinction. When a new 

crop of “specialty” and “fruity” martinis came along years later, they were disdained by purists, of which I 

thought I was one—until now. 

This evening, Wellington Steak and Martini lounge bartender Colin Killroy has made me a Cucumber 

Goose martini: muddled lime, cucumber, eucalyptus infused syrup and cracked ice with Grey Goose vodka. 

“I call it a spa treatment in a glass,” says Wellington manager Javier Rios. 

He isn’t kidding. Opened two days before last Christmas by Red Door owner Rick Liberan, Wellington 

offers 18 martini variations, all just $7.50 during the 5 to 6 p.m. daily happy hour. As I take another sip from 

my Cucumber Goose, I begin to realize that it’s me, not the martini, that has been shackled by tradition. 

Now if I could just find the woman with the black martini and tell her I had it all wrong… 

The Wellington Steak and Martini Lounge 

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{groove} bartender showtime spin cycle 

A Date 

with 

Destiny 

Meet a country 

firecracker who can 

determine the fate of 

your next cocktail 

BY SETH COMBS 

PHOTOS BY JAMES NORTON 

When it comes to her name, 

Destiny Newton’s heard all 

the lines. 

“The one that I hear 

most often is, ‘Oh, did you know you’re my 

destiny,’” she says. “All I can say is, ‘Oh, no, 

I’ve never heard that one before.’” 

She may resemble your typical beachgoing 

babe, but The FleetWood bartender is 

a hard-drinking, fly-fishing nature girl from 

Northern California who’d rather be riding 

horses outside than a mechanical bull in a 

nightclub. And starting in August, she’ll be 

serving it up at The FleetWoods’s beachside 

sequel, The BeachWood, in Pacific Beach. 

Just before heading out on a camping trip, 

the fiery country gal hips us to everything from 

the best college major for bartenders to the 

drink that she claims real women imbibe (and 

no, it’s not a glass of Chardonnay). 

Destiny Newton raises the bar at The BeachWood 

PacificSD: Nice cowboy boots. Where’d you say 

you were from? 

Destiny Newton: I’m from a small town outside of 

Chico. I moved here three years ago. 

So, would you consider yourself a cowgirl at heart? 

Newton: Yeah, for sure. I would definitely take going 

out camping over going to a club any day. But, I also 

enjoy going out on the town. When my girlfriends come 

down to visit me, it’s on. We go out, and we go big. 

What do you consider the best things about both 

the Woods? 

Newton: I love sports, and when I work at FleetWood 

during the Padres games, it gets that sports-bar vibe 

going. There’ll be that same atmosphere at the beach, 

but it’s more of a vacation vibe. In Downtown there’s 

more business-people, and the beach is going to be 

more of a party. 

What do you do outside of the bar? 

Newton: I’m going to college for communications. 

Well, that’ll come in handy if you keep bartending. 

Newton: [Laughs] Yeah, the job helps with the speech 

classes a lot. 

What’s your drink of choice? 

Newton: Jack Daniels. 

And…? 

Newton: And nothing. Sometimes I need a Coke 

back, but it’s always been my favorite. 

So, you get some bad pick-up lines, but what could 

a customer do to get your attention, if anything? 

Newton: Just ask me how my day is going. I love to 

get to know people, and I’ll make sure they’re taken 

care of. I love making people happy by getting them 

buzzed. 

So, uh, how’s your day going? 

Newton: [Laughs] I’m going camping, but when I 

come back you’re doing a shot of Jack with me. 

Specialty drink: A Washington Apple 

(Crown Royal, Sour Apple schnapps, 

cranberry juice and splash of 7 Up). 

“Basically, anything with whiskey. 

They’re simple, but everyone gets really 

happy after they drink mine—probably 

because I’m a little heavy with the 

Crown.” 

Biggest tip: $700 “It was a friend. I 

think he was really hammered and 

didn’t realize what he was doing, but I 

didn’t tell him.” 

Notable celebrity customer: Jennifer 

Love Hewitt. “I got all giddy, because 

where I’m from, that never happens.” 

Embarrassing story: “When I was 

doing bottle service, the floor was wet 

and I fell flat on my ass. Of course, I 

had a tray of drinks in my hand.” 


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Fight 

Songs 

A SAN DIEGO 

QUINTET BRINGS 

THEIR BEACH PARTY 

TO WARPED TOUR 

AND BEYOND 

Alex Bigman knows how to 

party. Back in 2004, the 

one-time SDSU frat boy 

decided that he preferred 

entertaining a crowd far more than 

simply being a part of one. That’s when 

the aspiring singer, along with friend 

and drummer, Josh Reef, started the 

pop-punk quintet Fight Fair. 

For the last six years, they’ve 

added three new members, toured 

extensively, produced a pair of EPs 

and continuously worked to refine 

their sound. Just a few weeks ago, they 

finally released their full-length debut, 

California Kicks, a collection of upbeat 

punk tunes steeped in classic surf rock. 

“We really wanted to bring what we 

love about California to the rest of the 

world,” says Bigman. 

And as luck would have it, they’re 

currently getting a chance to do just that. 

Fight Fair was invited to play the 

entire June to August run of the 2010 

Vans Warped Tour, a nationally touring 

music festival that stops in San Diego’s 

Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre on 

August 10. Bigman says the transition 

from long-time audience members to 

performers on the popular tour has been 

a dream come true. 

“I went to my first Warped Tour 

years ago,” he says. “All the way through 

high school and college, I’d go with my 

friends every single summer. And now, 

it’s just so exciting and awesome that we 

can actually be a part of it.” 

While Fight Fair started out with 

a harder-edged sound (think lots of 

guitars riffs and screaming), the band 

has worked diligently to hone their 

sound into one that is more accessible 

By SCOTT MCDONALD / PHOTO BY KEVIN KNIGHT 

to a broader audience. But even in 

doing so, the young five-piece has never 

lost track of the So-Cal culture that has 

significantly impacted all of their lives. 

By drawing from a wide range of 

classics like The Beach Boys, Jan & Dean 

and Buddy Holly, and channeling it 

through punk influences like NOFX and 

Pennywise, Fight Fair comes off like a 

version of Beach Blanket Bingo directed 

by Joey Ramone. And that happens to be 

exactly what they’re going for. 

“I think it’s a totally original sound,” 

says Bigman. “There’s really no one else 

doing what we’re doing right now. And 

more than anything, we just want to 

do our own thing. We’ve been getting 

a great reaction so far and want to see 

where it can go. Hopefully, it’ll just 

keep going and going.” 

myspace.com/fightfair 

Fight Fair (from left): 

Evan Henkel, Chris 

Begley, Josh Reef, 

Alex Bigman and 

Kyle Wanninger. 


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Bubble 

Boys 

WITH THEIR UNIQUE FLAVOR, THESE TWO DJS ARE PUTTING 

SAN DIEGO ELECTRO ON THE NATIONAL MAP 

DJ Groundfloor and Anthony Ross 

By SETH COMBS / photo by jeff “turbo” corrigan 

Earlier this year, they were just two producers/DJs who started a 

little passion project to make dance-floor-ready electro remixes of 

some of their favorite songs. So, when DJ Anthony Ross and DJ 

Groundfloor (working together under the name Bubblegum Sci- 

Fi) posted their remix of “The Reeling” from Massachusetts synth-poppers 

Passion Pit online, they had no idea how big the song would get. But the 

day after its debut, the song was everywhere—it climbed to the number one 

spot on the HypeM.com charts (a website that tracks a song’s popularity on 

thousands of music blogs, something like a Google for music) and the guys 

were suddenly inundated with calls from promoters and advertising execs. 

“The blog world passed it on to every corner of the Internet,” says Ross. 

“The best part was when Sony contacted us to use it on commercials to 

market the UK TV show, The Skins.” 

“A big ego booster was looking at the comments people posted on 

YouTube about the song,” adds Groundfloor, whose real name is Lee 

Schneider. “Thousands of people said nice things. One guy said he 

conceived while listening to it!” 

Despite their now being considered a super-group on the local club 

scene, both Groundfloor and Ross already had a lot going on individually, 

even before the new collaboration. Between them, they have more than 

a decade of club experience–Ross plays almost every other weekend at 

Voyeur, while Groundfloor spins everywhere from Hard Rock to U-31. But 

together, Ross says, they produce a gritty, bass-heavy take on electro they 

couldn’t have made individually. 

“I just think, as an artist, it’s impossible to stay in one spot for too long,” he 

says. “If the niche you’re in doesn’t expand, it’s just a black hole of talent. The 

music doesn’t go anywhere but to the same ears, and the scene doesn’t grow.” 

While the guys seem content at the prospect of representing the San 

Diego scene (which Ross claims could be “the fastest growing electro scene 

in the country”), they remain selective on the shows they’ll play. An album 

of original material is in the works, and Groundfloor claims it will be filled 

with what is already the group’s signature sound. 

“A blogger on a popular dance music blog described our Passion Pit 

remix as a ‘fist-pumping sing-a-long.’ I think that’s what we strive for,” he 

says, “minus the Jersey Shore connotation.” 

myspace.com/bubblegumscifi 


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Emily 

{love} blind date 

Veronica 

Danny 

Carlos 

Double 

Time 

TWO GUYS, TWO GIRLS, 

ONE PERFECT NIGHT BY 

THE BEACH 

PHOTOS BY DARRELL ALONZI 

With the sun setting over 

Crystal Pier, and dudes 

and chicks rolling by on 

skateboards and beach 

cruisers, the view from the bluff at the west 

end of Felspar Street is quintessential summer in Pacific Beach—the perfect setting for tonight’s 

hometown getaway blind date. 

An impossibly long limo is stretched out by the boardwalk, waiting to take the daters on their 

great escape. Before Emily and Veronica meet Danny and Carlos for the first time, let’s review the 

pre-date interviews. 

PacificSD: What do you do for a living? 

Veronica: Grad student and cocktail server. 

Emily: My friends would say I’m a 

professional beach bum. 

Danny: I’m the city’s marketing director for Yelp. 

com. Basically, I have fun for a living. 

Carlos: I’m a professional networker and a taco 

aficionado. 

What do you do for fun? 

Veronica: I like to run, dance, boat, anything 

outdoors, and I love nightlife in San Diego. 

Emily: I’m obsessed with Hula Hooping right 

now. I’ve got some good tricks down. 

Danny: I love the unknown. Anytime I can try 

something new, whether it be a restaurant, sport, 

bar, sports bar, fitness class, or outdoor activity I’ve 

never partaken in before, I’ll seize the opportunity. 

Carlos: I love live music. Going to shows and 

seeing new bands is my favorite thing to do in town. 

Why are you going on a blind date in a 

magazine? 

Veronica: For a chance to meet someone with 

no pressure. 

Emily: Veronica asked me to go, and I can’t say 

“no” to a good battle of the blondes. 

Danny: ‘Cause VH1 rejected my spinoff proposal 

for Real Chance At Love, where I get to date several 

different gorgeous ladies. Apparently they didn’t like 

the title, Thirsty For Wursty, too much. [Danny’s last 

name is Wurst] 

Carlos: Whether it’s a hobo in OB or a 

pretty girl downtown, I love to be outgoing 

and meet new people. 

What are you looking for in a date? 

Veronica: Definitely someone that can make me 

laugh, but most of all someone who is honest. 

Emily: Someone to be less awkward than me— 

that can be cured by someone who laughs a lot. I 

like to keep things lighthearted, so I hate when the 

talk goes philosophical. 

Danny: I’m looking for someone I can be myself 

around, someone who’s funny and ambitious, but at 

the same time doesn’t take life too seriously. Basically, 

I’d like a good friend who’d I’d eventually like to 

make sweet, sweet love to. 

Carlos: Someone who likes to have a good time, 

loves to laugh and is a Charger fan. 

What are your biggest turn-ons? 

Veronica: Self-confidence, humor, intelligence. 

Emily: Tall men with beards. 

Danny: Sense of humor, sincerity, creativity and, 

yes, a rotund boo-tay never hurts. 

Carlos: Optimism. Also, someone who can 

laugh at themselves and not worry too much 

about what others think. 

Turn-offs? 

Veronica: People who talk about money and 

possessions, and people who are rude. 

Emily: Small upper lips, cross tattoos and a bad 

attitude. 

Danny: Flakiness, manipulators, halitosis, 

cheapskates, snort-laughers, Millionaire 

Matchmaker. 

Carlos: A busted-up grill. No one wants to kiss 

someone with a snarl tooth, right? 

Anything you’d like to add? 

Veronica: No matter what, I’m sure Emily and I 

will have fun. We make the best out of all situations. 

Emily: Nope. 

Danny: On a serious note, 90 percent of the time, 

I’m not being serious. 

Carlos: Do I have to pay? Also, I heard Danny 

farts in his sleep—FYI, ladies. 

The daters meet and then jump into the Epic Limo 

land yacht for the cruise south along the coast to 

Belmont Park, in Mission Beach. With Peroni beers 

and Patrón tequila on board, it’s a San Diego tourist’s 

dream come true. 

(Continued on Page 56) 

Tourist’s Tip: 

Crystal Pier, which featured a cork-lined dance 

floor at its western tip opened when it opened on 

July 4, 1927, was developed by Earl Taylor, who 

had arrived in Pacific Beach from Kansas in 1923. 


” 

 

3704 

WE’RE DOG 

FRIENDLY TOO!


Tickets 

FROM LEFT: 

Champagne wishes 

and cotton candy 

dreams; wanna take 

a Dipper?; three 

outta four ain’t bad 

to Ride 

With VIP amusement passes on their wrists, 

the daters take on Belmont Park 

Having just dismounted their nighlife 

charriot, the foursome heads toward 

the Giant Dipper, Mission Beach’s 

iconic roller coaster. Emily and the 

guys seem excited for the ride; Veronica does 

not. She rises to the challenge, but stands on the 

sidelines when the other three take on thrillride 

number two, Beach Blaster, a swinging and 

spinning pendulum of nausea and almost certain 

death. Shrieks of laughter emanate from the ride 

as Veronica looks on…without a smile. 

Strolling through the amusement park after the 

rides, the four split into twos: Emily and Carlos are 

talking and laughing; Veronica and Danny seem 

to be walking together by default. After picking up 

the requisite bag of cotton candy, they get back into 

the limo, heading north through Bird Rock and 

Windansea to Tikul, a brand-new haute Mexican 

restaurant on Prospect Street. 

Inside Tikul, a jazzy trio (fronted by a guitarplaying 

lead singer who also owns the joint) 

performs Carlos Santana and Gipsy King tunes. 

The daters talk over drinks and appetizers at the 

bar before being split for mid-date debriefings. 


The Giant Dipper, which cost $50,000 to build and 

opened to the public July 4, 1925, was part of a 

development project envisioned by San Diego 

sugar magnate, John D. Spreckels. 

LADIES FIRST 

PacificSD: First impressions? 

Emily: It was almost nerve-wracking 

walking up to the boys, but it was good. 

They were super-easy to get along with as 

soon as we met them. 

Veronica: The guys are very cool, very laidback. 

I don’t feel awkward or creeped out. 

How was the roller coaster? 

Emily: If you make me go upside down and 

throw up, that is a good date. When my hair looks 

horrible and like half of my top is ripped, I like it… 

in the sense of roller coasters. [Both laugh] 

Veronica: I did not favor the roller coaster on 

a first date. 

What do you think of Danny? 

Emily: Danny seems cool, he’s a total East- 

Coaster, born and raised in Chicago. It’s fun to 

have somebody from a different coast mixed in 

with the west coasters. 

Veronica: I think he’s a little more laid back 

than us. We’re a little more…rambunctious. He 

said he’s a very dive bar kind of guy. I’m much 

more of a, you know, gotta have a DJ in the house. 

How about Carlos? 

Emily: He’s sexy, he’s laid back. We have a lot of 

the same interests. He’s definitely a fellow beach 

bum and surfer. When he pulled his hair back in a 

pony tail…sold! I love it. 

Veronica: Yeah, you guys clicked instantly. I 

haven’t even talked to Carlos. 

Rank Carlos physically on a scale from one to 10. 

Veronica: Oh, that’s sorta mean. 

Emily: No it isn’t; he’s good. He’s got long hair, 

good teeth—he’s like a nine. 

And Danny? 

Emily: He’s a seven for sure. 

Veronica: I think they’re both sevens. 

Do you want to kiss either of the guys right now? 

Emily: Give me another martini, and I’d be 

down. Yeah, no harm in kissing—it burns calories. 

Veronica: No, not really. 

During dinner, you’ll sit in adjoining booths, 

each of you with one of the guys. Whom will you 

sit with? 

Emily: Carlos. 

Veronica: I’m definitely going to sit with 

Danny. Danny and I are way more clicking, and 

they’re more clicking with each other. 


56 pacificsandiego.com | JULY 2010

Friday, August 13: PacificSD invites you to... 

ROCKSTAR 

karoke 

Local bands’ lead singers 

compete for prizes, 

glory and your pleasure 

Friends/Family Party 7-9PM 

hosted bar, complimentary food, 

warm hugs for everyone 

Rockstar Party: 9PM-LATE 

karaoke competition, affordable stiff drinks, 

lead singers laying it all on the line, stuff to 

eat and, of course, more hugs 

SING IT 

If you have a great 

voice and/or big cajones, karaoke yourself 

$250 in gift certificates (to venues that advertise in this magazine) 

by competing against other mortals for the Golden Mic award. 

Dare ya! 

801 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp 

analogburgerbar.com 

Friends/Family VIP guest list: email first and last name to 

rockstar@pacificsandiego.com 

M A G A Z I N E


Hunger 

Strikes 

the women have spoken, 

now the guys describe 

their appetites 

GENTLEMEN 

PacificSD: First Impressions? 

Danny: They seem pretty down 

to earth, pretty cool. And after 

talking to them for a little bit, I 

was pretty relieved that they were 

a lot smarter than what you would 

actually think that two really hot 

blonde babes that look like that 

would be. 

Carlos: Both girls are beautiful. 

They seem outgoing and perfect for 

two guys like us. 

How was the roller coaster? 

Danny: I thought it was cool, a 

fun idea. You definitely get to know 

someone a lot better when you’re 

more on the sober side, doing something like going 

on a roller coaster. 

Carlos: It was a little awkward at first, waiting 

in line and small-talking, but the ride itself broke so 

many barriers. We just screamed at the top of our 

lungs together and were all of a sudden more willing 

to share stuff with each other, so it was awesome. 

What do you think of Emily? 

Carlos: She likes to travel, she likes to laugh, 

and those are two qualities that I seek in people. 

Danny: I didn’t really get to know her too much. 

She seems pretty much up for whatever comes 

THANKYOU! 

Epic Limo 

858.270.LIMO (5466), epiclimo.com 

Belmont Park 

3146 Mission Boulevard, Mission Beach 

858.488.1549, belmontpark.com 

Tikul 

1250 Prospect St., #B10, La Jolla 

858.456.6611, tikul.com 

her way. She’s a Yes girl, 

whereas Veronica seemed 

like more of an Um, I’m 

not really sure if this is for 

me type of girl. 

How about Veronica? 

Carlos: I didn’t get 

to know her as well as I 

did Emily, and obviously 

the attire might’ve 

contributed to her decision, but I thought that her 

not going on the big ride might have come across 

as not willing to be spontaneous. Spontaneity is a 

really big thing for me. 

Danny: On a physical level, she’s obviously cute, 

but I think we would be more on like a friends 

basis. The lack of being spontaneous was kind of a 

red flag that she wouldn’t be the kind of girl that I 

would want to date. 

Rate the women physically on a scale from one 

to 10. 

Carlos: I’ll give Emily a 10, Veronica a nine. 

Danny: I would give Veronica probably an eight, 

The guy in the middle sings and plays 

guitar (well) and owns the place 

and Emily I would give more of a 

nine. 

Do you want to kiss either of them 

right now? 

Carlos: Yes, I would have to say 

I have more of a connection with 

Emily, and I feel like it would only 

be polite to cap off a pretty fun 

night with a kiss. 

Danny: Who’s to say I haven’t 

already kissed 

both of them? 

During dinner, 

you guys will 

sit in adjoining 

booths, each of 

you with one 

of the women. 

Whom will you 

sit with? 

Carlos: Based 

on the evening so 

far, I’d like to have dinner with Emily. 

Danny: I’d probably rather have dinner with 

Emily, just because I haven’t gotten to know her as 

much, But it’s cool. Go for it, Carlos. 

Sitting in their respective booths, the couples look over 

the menus. Despite some inter-booth conversation, 

Emily remains focused on Carlos, while Veronica 

appears to have warmed to Danny a bit. 

As their entrees arrive, the daters are finally left 

alone to enjoy their evening in privacy, away from the 

flashing lights and probing questions of the magazine 

crew. We call the next morning to see what we missed. 




CLOCKWISE: Dinner 

is served; the 

guys make their 

choices; Emily and 

Veronica use their 

final life lines 

Couples Retreat 

the daters’ REFLECTions ON LAST NIGHT’S STAYCATION 

Veronica, Emily, Danny and Carlos confirm that the limo dropped them off 

at Thrusters Lounge in Pacific Beach for a night cap after dinner. “I think 

the ladies were a little intimidated by our moves,” Danny says, “because 

they left shortly thereafter.” 

PacificSD: Overall, how was the date? 

Veronica: I started out a little whiney at the fair, 

because I was just a little over dressed with heels 

for a roller coaster. But when we got back in the 

limo, it was better from then on. 

Emily: It was a damn good way to spend a 

Thursday night. 

Danny: It was a really fun way to cross my first 

blind date experience off the list. 

Carlos: It was my first blind date, and it was a 

fun experience. 

How was Tikul? 

Veronica: There was nice music, friendly 

service and delicious food. Danny and I shared the 

filet mignon and the sea bass for our entrees, and 

all four of us shared the coconut-crusted shrimp, 

the mussels (which were amazing) and the ceviche 

for appetizers. 

Emily: It was a mellow, sexy atmosphere. I drank 

a few dirty Kettles and tried their sangria, which 

was amazing. We all shared the appetizers. I had 

the seared tuna for dinner. 

Danny: Tikul is definitely a great place to take a 

date. The food, drinks and atmosphere were all on 

point. I was stoked that my date was up for sharing, 

so we were able to try a little bit of everything. 

Carlos: Tikul had a lot of potential—the classy 

La Jolla vibe, delicious food with great cocktails— 

it’s a perfect date spot. I’d certainly go back. 

What was the best part of the date? 

Veronica: We all just got along really well, and 

there were no awkward moments of the date. 

Emily: Riding the roller coaster in Mission. I love 

roller coasters! 

Danny: The limo rides were really fun. Besides it 

being fully stocked with beer and Patron, I think 

the four of us really hit it off on a friend-like basis. 

Carlos: Having lived in San Diego for as long 

as I have, I had never gone on the Belmont Park 

roller coaster That was so much fun. 

Will there be a second date? 

Veronica: For now, just as friends, but we will 

definitely be hanging out. 

Emily: We will all hang out as friends again, for 

sure. If something romantic comes out of it, then 

I’m down. 

Danny: I’m gonna have to go with “No” on the 

formal date setting, but I’d definitely friend request 

her. 

Carlos: I don’t think so—maybe a day at the 

beach playing bocce ball but nothing formal. 

Aftermatch: 

Like the Giant Dipper itself, this four-way blind 

date had its ups and downs. Veronica started out 

unhappy on the roller coaster, but a limo ride and 

a few cocktails turned that frown upside down. In 

contrast, Emily and Carlos seemed to be high on 

each other from the start, but their ride peaked early 

and plummeted back to earth after dinner. Danny 

kept an even keel throughout the voyage and always 

seemed happy to be along for the ride. 

A stretch limo, sunset over the ocean, playing at an 

amusement park, dinner in La Jolla and late-night 

dancing—these could have been the makings of a 

perfect date, but they weren’t. The good news is that, 

even though the daters didn’t fall for each other, last 

night’s hometown getaway may have helped them 

fall in love with their city all over again. Well, that 

and the fact that, when they were all hanging out at 

Thrusters, Carlos and Danny got free drinks. 

“The funniest part,” Emily says, “was running into 

Veronica’s ex at Thrusters while we were still with 

our dates, and having her ex pay for all our drinks… 

our dates’ drinks included.” 

PacificSD sure knows how to show our daters a 

good time. Eat your heart out, Travelocity gnome! 


In the late 1860s, brothers Daniel and Samuel Sizer 

each bought 80-acre plots in La Jolla, paying the 

City of San Diego about $1.25 per acre. Today, the 

land would be worth more than $2 million per acre. 


calendar 

Submit events to calendar@pacificsandiego.com. Compiled by Logan Broylesg 

Pala Casino 

{Listen} 

8/6: Ringo Starr @ Humphrey’s by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com 

8/6: The B-52s @ San Diego County Fairgrounds, sdfair.com 

8/6: Rob Thomas @ Pechanga, pechanga.com 

8/7: Ludacris @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com 

8/10: Vans Warped Tour @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, livenation.com 

8/10: Everclear @ Anthology, anthologysd.com 

8/10: Alejandro Escovedo @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com 

8/11: My Morning Jacket @ SDSU Open Air Theatre 

8/11: Seu Jorge, Almaz @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com 

8/12: Creedence Clearwater Revisited @ Humphrey’s by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com 

8/12: Aterciopelados @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyuptavern.com 

8/13: Steve Poltz @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com 

8/14: Lewis Black @ Pala Casino, palacasino.com (comedy) 

8/14: Jimmy Cliff, Matisyahu @ San Diego County Fairgrounds, sdfair.com 

8/14: Reverend Horton Heat @ House of Blues, hob.com 

8/15: Los Lonely Boys @ The Dreamcathcer at Viejas, viejasentertainment.com 

8/16: Chromeo @ House of Blues, hob.com 

8/16: American Idol Live @ Viejas Arena, viejasarena.com 

8/19: Fitz & The Tantrums @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com 

8/20: Dave Matthews Band @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, livenation.com 

8/20: Bill Maher @ Humphrey’s by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com (comedy) 

8/20: Ozomatli @ San Diego County Fairgrounds, sdfair.com 

8/21: Wolfmother @ House of Blues, hob.com 

8/21: Weezer @ San Diego County Fairgrounds, sdfair.com 

8/24: Three Waves A Day Benefit ft. Shaka Buku @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyuptavern.com 

8/25: John Mayer @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, livenation.com 

8/25: Chris Isaak @ Humphrey’s by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com 

8/27: Wanda Sykes @ Pala Casino, palacasino.com (comedy) 

8/29: American Carnage Tour @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, livenation.com 

8/1: UFC Live! 

Venue: San Diego Sports Arena 

Tickets: $44-254 

Info: sandiegoarena.com 

Let’s face it: MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) has officially taken over as the biggest contact sport 

in the world, and Ultimate Fighting Championship is the big leagues. It’s hard to believe 

that San Diego has never hosted a fight, but that’s all about to change when Jon “Bones” 

Jones takes on Vladimir Matyushenko. Sure, you could watch it on pay-per-view on a big 

screen, but in-person is about as high-def as it gets. 

8/7: Chargers Fanfest 

Venue: Qualcomm Stadium 

Admission: Free 

Info: chargers.com 

Is this finally going to be the year 

the Chargers make it back to the 

big game? Ask one of the Bolts 

diehards at this year’s Fanfest, and 

you’ll likely get a very affirmative 

answer. Get autographs from 

your favorite players, watch a 

performance by the Chargers girls 

and join 10,000 other crazed fans 

to watch a full-team scrimmage. 

Craig Schwartz 

{Home Games} 

San Diego Chargers Vs. (Preseason) 

8/14: Chicago Bears 

8/21: Dallas Cowboys 

7/20-8/22: A Midsummer Night’s Dream 

Venue: La Jolla Playhouse 

Tickets: $31-66 

Info: lajollaplayhouse.org 

High school English would have been a 

lot easier if Shakespeare’s play came with 

pictures and a translation. Lucky for us, 

the La Jolla Playhouse’s artistic director, 

Christopher Ashley, is a serious bard buff 

and is staging a whole new reimagining 

of the fantastical play, which features a full 

orchestra, aerial acrobatics and puppetry. 

San Diego Padres Vs. 

8/1: Florida Marlins 

8/10-12: Pittsburgh Pirates 

8/24-26: Arizona Diamondbacks 

8/27-29: Philadelphia Phillies 

courtesy of UFC Mike Nowak 


calendar 

g 

Daza courtesy of the Del Mar Fairgrounds 

8/28: Pacific Classic 

Venue: Del Mar 

Racetrack 

Tickets: $6 

Info: dmtc.com 

There’s no doubt that 

opening day at the 

racetrack is one of the 

biggest events of the 

year, but if you’d rather 

watch the ponies than 

silly hats, then it doesn’t 

get any bigger than the 

Pacific Classic. See who 

fetches the $1 million 

dollar purse and stop 

by the craft microbrew 

festival while soaking 

in the sounds from the 

nearby FM94/9 local 

music showcase. 

8/7: Professional 

Bull Riding 

Venue: San Diego 

County Fairgrounds 

Tickets: $26-$66 

Info: sdfair.com 

Our editor thought 

Professional Bull Riding 

(PBR, for short) was 

kind of hokie, until 

he went to see it in 

person and came back 

with a big belt buckle. 

Straddling braveness and 

insanity, the international 

crew of fellas that mount 

these crazed beasts gets 

thrown around like rag 

dolls—all for a shot at 

the championship. 

8/19: Sassy Chicks Fashion Bash 

Venue: Float at the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego 

Tickets: $3, $10 VIP 

Info: sassycitychicks.com 

If there’s anything the ladies love more than designer 

labels, it’s a deal. What better way to get the hottest 

fashion items than straight from the source? Top 

designers like Chanel, Marc Jacobs and Hudson will be 

flaunting their best summer items for epically low sales 

of up to 80% off. Special VIP tickets include a gift bag full 

of lingerie, make-up and other prizes, plus free entry into 

Float for an evening of beats by DJ Echo. 

8/27-9/2: Maya Indie Film Series 

Venue: Gaslamp All Stadium 15 

Tickets: Price of theater admission (varies) 

Info: mayaindieseries.com 

San Diego already has the impressive Latino Film 

Festival, and now the Maya Indie Film Series is 

coming to town after an eight-city national tour. 

PacificSD featured Chamaco (starring Martin Sheen) 

in the July issue, and the other five films are just as 

critically acclaimed and are directed by some of the 

best up-and-coming Latino directors. 

DEL MAR THOROUGHBRED CLUB 

8/28: Timken’s Art of Fashion 

Venue: Timken Museum of Art 

Tickets: $125 

Info: timkenmuseum.org 

The creativity from Project Runway fused 

with artistic talent of the Getty—get in 

tune with your creative self as you browse 

through fashion pieces based on famous 

works of art by Fashion Careers College 

students, including Project Runway 

contestant Jesus Estrada. 

courtesy of Bauman Photography 

Robyn Twomey 

8/8: CityFest 

Venue: 5th Ave. and University Ave., Hillcrest 

Admission: Free 

Info: fabulousehillcrest.com 

If you’re still in a celebratory mood after 

Pride, then Hillcrest is once again the place 

to be. Help celebrate the burg’s and culture 

at the 26th annual CityFest, when the streets 

underneath the Hillcrest sign will be closed to 

traffic, luring an expected 150,000 attendees 

with live music, over 250 vendors, a beer 

garden and games and activities. 

Lori Brooks Photography 

8/29: San Diego Fire Run 

Venue: La Jolla to Pacific 

Beach 

Registration: $35 

Info: sdfirerescue.org 

Running can be fun, 

especially when there 

are hot, sweaty firemen 

involved. Enjoy the, uh, 

scenery, as the Fire Run 

begins at the shores of La 

Jolla and ends at a beer 

garden and after-party, 

where each participant (over 

21) receives two free, welldeserved 

beers. Proceeds 

benefit the San Diego Fire 

Rescue Foundation. 

8/28-11/7: The Art of 

Photography 

Venue: Lyceum 

Theatre Gallery 

Tickets: Free 

Info: artofphotography 

show.com 

More than ten grand 

in prize money is 

up for grabs as 

photographers young 

and old compete 

in this international 

exhibition. Stop by 

and see startling 

images from some 

of the world’s most 

talented shutterbugs. 

You never know, you 

might see them in 

National Geographic 

one day. 

SASSY CITY CHICKS 

c o u rt e s y o f t h e S a n D i e g o 

Fire Rescue Foundation 


{think} 

A Grand Old Time 

ACTUALLY, MAKE THAT TEN GRAND 

For one of our recent daily Facebook contests, PacificSD posted the following message: 

Pacific San Diego Magazine You have one day and 

$10,000 to spend on the ultimate Staycation day in 

San Diego. In 25 words or less, what will you do? 

Many of you played along. Here are our favorite (unedited) responses: 

R.J. L. I would rent out the pool at the Hard Rock. Mojitos for everybody! Also, bikini tops 

wouldn’t be allowed because they clog the pool’s filters. Safety first! 

Taryn A. I would rent a surf camp for a week for foster kids...of course my son and I would 

have to join them, cuz I stink at surfing! 

David S. With ten of my friends...Day Spa, Padres Game then close the Gaslamp. 

Jennifer H. AM shopping spree, dj’ed yacht party, poolside pregame @ the Del catered by 

Phil’s BBQ, buyout Quality Social for a nite of fist pumping and douchbagery! 

Tracy J. To return the favor, I would throw a huge bash for Pacific Mag and their 

Facebook fans. That way, everyone can finally meet each other to the point “where 

everybody knows your name.” =) 

Nick A. This one’s easy. I would rent the Star of India for a cruise on the bay and throw 

one kick ass party! 

Jonathan N. Group skydiving with close family and friends. Then a great dinner with the 

same family and friends. 

Tim C. Buy up 1 section of tickets to the next Dodger @ Pads Game (July 27th) and give 

everyone San Diego Chicken costumes to wear! 

Patrick H. Take a Helicopter flight out East to a flat top mountain for a Champagne lunch, 

fly back and take a private yacht for a moon light dinner on San Diego Bay and up the coast 

past La Jolla and Torrey Pines. Then a Limo to the Gas Lamp Quarter for after dinner drinks. 

Finishing with a walk on the beach and a night at the Hotel Del in the Honey Moon Suite. 

Lauren A. Batting practice followed by a bbq on the infield of petco park with a bunch of 

friends. A little over the $10,000 budget, but dare to dream, right? 

Creative E. Find five intelligent homeless teenagers, give each $2,000 for an apartment, 

new clothes, food and computer so they have a chance to accomplish their dreams. 

Rachel H. Waking up at The Del. Mimosas and Bloodies overlooking the beach! Shopping 

at Nordstrom. Gondala ride at night- champagne! The rest cannot be wrote here... 

Matt G. With half I’d buy 10,000 temporary tattoos and cover my body entirely. The other 

half would go to the best illegal firework display ever. 

Elaine Z. Fish taco food fight 

Grand Prize 

Winner 

Nick A., from North Park 

For making a mundane tourist 

trap, the Star of India, seem 

fun all over again (perhaps for 

the first time in 100 years), 

Nick A. wins $10,000* cash 

and this fabulous $274 grand 

prize package: 

• Two tickets to board the 

Star of India ($24 value) 

• $50 gift certificate to the 

all-new BeachWood in 

Pacific Beach 

• $50 gift certificate 

RT’s Longboard Grill in 

Pacific Beach 

• A pair of tickets to see 

In the Heights at the 

San Diego Civic Theatre 

($150 value) 

*$10,000 cash to be paid in annual 

installments of $10. And even then, 

this is hardly a guarantee of payment. 

However, the prizes are yours for sure. 

Sorry, Nick—tough times, you know? 

VELVEETA 

AWARD 

Patrick H. 

FEELING 

LEFT OUT? 

(for cheesiest 

answer) 

Become a fan of PacificSD 

on Facebook to win $50 

every day from PacificSD, 

the magazine that loves 

you back. You can also win 

concert tickets, VIP access to 

top San Diego events, movie 

passes, gym memberships 

and much more. See you 

online! 

facebook.com/pacificsd 


$2 drinks 

complimentary appetizers 

fridays, 4pm-10pm 

fridays at johnny v 

all of a sudden, other happy hours 

seem so...sad 

play 

chill 

party 

 

meet 

dance 

eat 

(check as many as apply) 

945 Garnet Ave. Pacific Beach, Ca. • 858.274.4833 • johnnyvsd.com • VIPS: amy@johnnyvsd.com

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