voice Opening Doors Helping bar-goers break the ice By Alyson Baker • Photos by James Norton Wild chicks in leopard print mini-skirts, cougars running around like college girls, dudes behaving like party animals—it’s a jungle out there. In the hopes of catching free-range singles in their natural habitat, <strong>Pacific</strong>SD hits the town to help otherwise solitary souls mate…or at least meet. Closing deals isn’t part of the game—the goal is just to open doors. It’s Friday night and it’s freezing as we arrive at La Puerta in the Gaslamp to spark hook-ups with firewater. (Puerta means “door” in Spanish. If you don’t know at least that much Spanish, please return to Wisconsin immediately, and may el dios help you.) Armed with a photographer and a bar tab, the <strong>Pacific</strong>SD crew approaches La Puerta’s wildlife with a simple proposal: point out whom you’d like to meet, then we’ll buy that wild thing a drink on your behalf, as long he or she agrees to pose, with you, for a photo. Game on… ICE-BREAKER: Keith P., 25, New York TARGET: Mia P., 23, La Mesa KEITH SAYS: “The girl in the stripes. She’s pretty cute.” RESULT: The couple hits it off and ends up sitting together for hours. ICE-BREAKER: Tyson G., 25, East Village TARGET: Natalie E., 25, <strong>Pacific</strong> Beach TYSON SAYS: “That chick in the red. She has nice eyes.” RESULT: Natalie’s scores twice in one night—picked by two guys in less than hour. ICE-BREAKER: Dan The Man, 28, Bay Park TARGET: Me (Alyson), 25, <strong>Pacific</strong> Beach DAN SAYS: “You. You have beautiful brown hair.” RESULT: He sweeps me off my feet, but I need to finish buying drinks for everyone else. ICE-BREAKER: Alex S., 37, Downtown TARGET: James M. (left), 23, England ALEX SAYS: “This guy, ‘cause he kind of looks like me.” RESULT: Age ain’t nothin’ but a number— these two forge an instant connection. See more photos and animal attractions online at pacificsandiego.com La Puerta 560 4th Avenue, Gaslamp 619.696.3466, taco619.com The same guys who own La Puerta just opened The Lincoln Room (901 Fourth Avenue, across from Horton Plaza) on the site that used to be Confidential Restaurant + Loft. The new spot offers classic American dishes and drinks, wallto-wall Lincoln logs and an 1850s vibe. It’s like pennies from heaven. ICE-BREAKER: Roger D., 45, Downtown TARGET: Rafael N., 42, Freemont, California ROGER SAYS: “There’s no cute chicks here, because I would already have bought them a drink. So I choose him, ‘cause he’s a cool motherf#cker.” RESULT: BFFs, single and staying that way… for the moment, anyway. 82 pacificsandiego.com {January 2011}
FOOTWEAR AT THE HEART OF FASHION 1019 Garnet Avenue, Pacifi c Beach | tuttocuoreshoes.com