4L Magazine April 2015 by 4L Magazine

APRIL 2015

THE

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BANDS

MUSIC ISSUE

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FROM THE EDITOR

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VOLUME 3 * ISSUE 3 * APRIL 2015

PUBLISHER/EDITOR CHRIS LAPHAM

Well folks, I made it. I survived my trip and more importantly, The Spartan Race.

ful. We made one stop in Tallahassee and had a great late night meal for my birthday.

To be fair, I’m being a little dramatic. It was actually only a “sprint” and really wasn’t that difficult. But, I set out to accomplish a goal, and I did it. Place a check mark next to one more thing on my to-do list.

The next afternoon had us arriving in Miami. Having never been on a cruise before, I was pretty pumped. The fact that this was a “Spartan Cruise” made it a little different, at least that’s what I was told from the veteran cruise experts.

SENIOR MANAGING EDITOR CORY WATERHOUSE

The crowd was much younger, and there were a lot of families. The energy was awesome. There were a lot of people who came in groups to participate as teams. Lots of crossfit clubs, a couple of military groups and lots of families where mom, dad and the kids were all doing it together. They even had a Spartan “Kids course” for the little ones. It’s so refreshing to see in today’s society where family is often forgotten or overshadowed by social media.

CREATIVE CONSULTANT/PHOTO EDITOR JOHN SCHNACK

I have to say I am very impressed with Texas. Sometimes having a preconceived notion can get you, so I went in with a totally open mind. Our first stop was in San Antonio, and it was cold as hell. Although beautiful, we didn’t spend a lot of time there; our main destination was Austin. I’ve heard a lot of really great things about Austin. From amazing food to phenomenal music, and great nightlife. The people are also really friendly, made up of mainly a younger crowd of professionals and families. It’s definitely the cool, hip place to live if you’re a Texan. Our time there did not disappoint. We enjoyed some incredible food, got to see the city, and met some very cool people. One of the highlights for me was meeting a couple from Baltimore who had just got engaged the night before. We were sitting in a tequila bar and bumped into them while they were waiting for their flight. No, it’s not strange to be sitting in a tequila bar at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday. It’s vacation my friends. (And, it’s always five o’clock somewhere) Needless to say we toasted them, several times, and have a new set of friends we’re planning to meet up with this summer. From Austin, it was back to the train for the next leg of our trip; New Orleans. I have never been to New Orleans, what an amazing city. We didn’t have a lot of time there, only a day and half, but what an experience. I ate more oysters and jambalaya in that span than I thought humanly possible. A nice cigar and some live jazz capped our time there, and I’ll never forget it. We deboarded the train at New Orleans and rented a car. Ultimately, we had to be in Miami the next day to board the ship for our “Spartan Cruise.” Driving through that part of the country is genuinely beauti-

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The thing I love about the Spartan is the camaraderie. Yes, it’s a competition and everyone wants to do well. You can’t avoid the competitive atmosphere. However, I don’t think I can recall an event where there is so much support for one another. Anytime you saw a person struggling over an obstacle, everyone would stop and pitch in a helping hand. The whole thing is really just a feel-good, positive event from top to bottom. Aside from one of those, “you have to be f’ing kidding me, what are the chances” realizations on the second day of the cruise (which we got a huge laugh out of for two days and I’ll elaborate about at a later date), everything was amazing. Great food, great drinks, great people, and a seemingly endless party no matter where you were on the ship, especially around the pool and Jacuzzi. I could go on and on telling stories, most of them suitable for print, about the adventures and all of the amazing people we met, but this is not a feature, just the pub note. I’m forced to give you the condensed version, but I may have a couple of really fun, interesting pics for you in the next issue. Stay tuned…

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING PETE ROCKY

ONLINE EDITOR JERAN FRASER RESEARCHER ALYSSA THOMAS CONTRIBUTORS Meghan Balser, Mike “Mikey Beats” Beltran, Hilary Chambers, Erika Delacruz, Michelle Lyn, Taj Lyn, Erik Martin, Lara Miller, Jeremy Pritchard, Miles Roberson, Jason Stewart, Alyssa Thomas, Max Wettstein, Steve Woods PHOTOGRAPHERS Lauren Fraser, Andi Pianalto, John Schnack, Maribel Vasquez ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES Tim Knowles (Senior Account Executive) Amelia Dolsey, Marissa Goodbody, Teresa Strom ACCOUNTING Jessica Murphy

APRIL 2015

PHOTO BY DANIEL KNIGHTON Pixel Perfect Images

UP & COMUDIN@ G 94/9’s LO San Diego Nightime

The flight home made it a complete cycle. Planes, trains and automobiles. Oh yea, and a ship. We’re already planning our next Spartan adventure for next year, maybe even the same event, who knows?

THE DUDE ABIDES

THE

MUSIC ISSUE

BANDS

At press time last issue, I was powering through the lovely state of Texas on a train. It was truly an interesting trip. Traveling by train across the US is one of the most unique experiences of my life.

DIRECTOR OF SALES/SENIOR EDITOR STEVE KANG

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4L Magazine 1880 Diamond St., San Marcos CA Phone: (760) 744-0911 www.4Lmagazine.com

I had an incredible time and couldn’t think of a better birthday adventure. I would like to thank my friend and business partner Pete for making it all happen; I truly appreciate it. You’re the man buddy!

ARY 2015

FEBRU

4L Magazine is published monthly except Dec/Jan is bi-monthly. The known office of publication is 1880 Diamond St., San Marcos, CA 92078. 4L is published by Known Publishing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Articles and stories appearing in 4L may not necessarily represent the views and opinions of 4L Magazine. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written consent is strictly prohibited.

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CONTENTS

FEATURES

PHOTO BY DANIEL KNIGHTON Pixel Perfect Images

FEATURES APRIL 2015

GUYS NIGHT OUT

VENUE MENU

LOUD@ LUNCH

TONIGHT IN SD

MUSIC SCENE

16 20 26 30 34

Quadruple Trouble in North Park

94/9’s Music Show

4L’s Faves

Up and Coming San Diego Artists

San Diego’s Late Night Show

THE MUSIC ISSUE

6 4L MAGAZINE | APRIL 2015

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ANNIVERSARY PARTY Sun. April 12 ANTEMASQUE featuring Cedric and Omar from at the Drive In and The Mars Volta Mon. April 13 Gramatik Mon. April 20 The Cat Empire Tues. April 21 Sebastian Bach The Original Voice of Skid Row Wed. April 22 Drive-By Truckers Dirt Underneath Tour

MUSICAL GUEST

The Palace Ballroom MAY 7TH from 6 - 10PM Complimentary

Beer • Wine • Craft Cocktails • Appetizers

Wed. April 29

HELMET “Betty” 20th Anniversary Show (Playing The Album From Start To Finish) An Evening With

Sun.,May 3

They Might Be Giants

Tues. May 5

Mariachi El Bronx Cinco De Mayo Party

Sun. May 10

The Sonics

Tues. May 19 Robby Krieger’s (of the Doors) Jam Kitchen - An Evening With Thurs. May 21 John Brown’s Body Sat. May 30

Everlast

1835 Columbia St, San Diego (619) 544-0164 • PortoVistaSD.com APRIL 2015 | Fully cultured, yet unshaven | 4L MAGAZINE 7

CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS

FITNESS

10 FAST BREAK: GOAAALLLS! 12 MAX WETTSTEIN: Fitness is now a Sport

FOOD/DRINK 38 EVOTEK: Pursuit of Hoppiness 40 CHEF’S TABLE: Chef Masa at Ra Sushi 42 BEATS & EATS: Steve Kader w/ Soda & Swine 48 UNCORKED: French Wine for Beginners 50 CRAFTY: Starlite 54 HAPPIEST HOUR: Single Fin 56 BEER ME: Mother Earth Brew Co. 58 TENDER: Brittinie Anderson

GAMBLING 64 TIPS: Texas Hold ‘Em

FASHION 66 Fashion Week San Diego Recap

STUNNING SAN DIEGO 68 Jennie Rose Nelson

TRAVEL 70 Weekender: Paris 73 Locale: Catalina

RHYTHM 78 80

94/9’s HILARY: Show Date Picks HOT WIRE: Concerts and Show Dates

AROUND TOWN 84 APRIL EVENTS: Local happenings and things to do

60 DISH: Spicy & Sweet Chicken Sausage with Peppers, Mushrooms and Fennel

76 ALL HANDS ON TECH: Lust-worthy gadgets that we all don’t need 8 4L MAGAZINE | APRIL 2015

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FITNESS

FAST BREAK

LONG TERM

GOAAALLLS! BY JASON STEWART

Whether or not you are a competitive athlete, you probably have goals. If you call yourself a competitive athlete and you don’t have goals, then most people would question whether or not you are competitive.

WHY GOALS Developing goals allows us to live a life of purpose daily. People love inspiring quotes because they provides hope. Hope and belief in the attainment of anything we deem worthy usually proves inspirational. Developing and identifying goals help you to make a tangible mark to strive for. We only have so much time and energy on Earth. We all have the ability to make a mark no matter how big or small. As an athlete, you should have short-term and long-term goals. This may or may not include your short-term and long-term goals for your entire life.

SHORT TERM Short-term goals are awesome. They are the small things that add up to the giant dream that you want to achieve. Short-term goals are like small puzzle pieces. You may not always get them on your first try, but you keep trying and over time you’ll create a beautiful scene. Short-term goals in basketball vary. I used to have daily goals when I was a teen-age athlete. “I’m going to find the most competitive pickup game within my reach today and try and domi-

nate the court regardless of who is on my team. I will not lose.” Then I would have goals within that goal. “I will defend the leading scorer on the other team and I will not let my man get any rebounds.” I really didn’t even want him to touch the ball. These types of goals often made me work very hard considering that I sought after the most competitive games in my neighborhood or any neighborhood I visited. Another example of a short-term goal could pertain to your off-season training. You should have achievement goals pertaining to your vertical jump, speed and quickness. You should also have goals as to how many pounds you want to gain or lose. If you want to improve your shot, then you should be shooting 2,000-3,000 shots a week. If you want to be a better ball handler, then you should never let days go by without touching the ball. Just playing every day with the guys you’re comfortable with is only going to make you as good as them. Now look at them and ask yourself if their daily life activities are heading them in a direction that is going to help you reach your personal goals.

Long-term goals can have different lengths. For someone who is not an athlete, you may put together a three- or five-year plan that is connected to a 10-year plan that is connected to a plan that is overarching your entire life. As you can see, “long term” is a debatable phrase. How ever you make your determination, let’s move on. What will the sum of all your short-term goals look like? As a basketball player, a long-term goal could easily equate to a seasonal goal. An example of a season goal may be to make the all-star team or defensive player of the year. Perhaps you want to set a goal to be the leading rebounder of the league. Notice that these seasonal goals are compared to a larger field of people than just the guys on your team. You must have a vision for something larger if you desire to be great! I believe that it goes without saying that every year you want to win a championship. Learning how to work with teammates to attain goals can be complex, and we don’t have enough space or time for that right now.

WRITE THE GOALS If you do have goals, but they are only in your mind or your heart, then you need to write them down. Writing things down and speaking things out have a certain POWER to them. Something about writing and speaking make goals more concrete and more likely to occur. I’ll never forget an exercise that my middle school teacher made us do in class. She asked us to write down our career goals on a piece of paper. We had to write down three goals. I remember those three things I wrote down. I have done some form of all three. Remember to be specific.

SEE THE GOALS Post your goals on your walls at home or somewhere you are sure to see them when you wake up in the morning. When I was in high school, I had posters of Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in my bedroom. My mother put inspiring quotes on my MJ poster. I still have it! Shortly after the posters were hung, trophies began to accumulate in my room. Having a daily vision of the greatest inspired me to stay focused and make good decisions.

Jason Stewart can be reached through his website at www.ProUniversity.net or by email at Coach@ProUniversity.net 10 4L MAGAZINE | APRIL 2015

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FITNESS with Max Wettstein

MAXIMIZING YOUR EXERCISE VALUE

FITNESS IS NOW A SPORT

DISCLAIMER Not medical advice. Opinion only.

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FITNESS Q: Is it possible to get uber fit by exercising only 20 minutes a day?

A: No.

However, 20 minutes a day is certainly better than nothing, and it might be just enough activity to maintain your health and improve longevity. As a society we seem busier than ever, but we’re also getting way smarter about how to train, and we’ve finally realized just how darn important consistent exercise is. In fact, exercise is critical to our health, on par with nutrition and second only to sleeping well. People who exercise consistently live longer than those who don’t, given all else being equal. Your genetics play a greater role in life span. We now know that some of that time spent exercising ideally needs to push into (relatively) higher intensity levels. But just how intense do we need to go? Is there an intensity or volume threshold to where there is no more benefit? The key for all of us busy folks is to find the sweet spot where training time intersects with an intensity level that triggers the most benefit. I call this maximizing your exercise value.

There’s a certain niche of neo-athletes that has embraced training so much that they’ve declared “fitness to be its own sport,” never mind a lifestyle. A sub-culture of every-day citizens who walk among us have discovered their inner athlete and have taken training to a whole other level. I’m not talking about bodybuilders or triathletes here–that’s old school. I’m talking about well-rounded fitness aficionados who desire to be total athletes by combining full-body, functional, cardio and strength exercises.

They’ve found out how to maximize their exercise value in a competition-based, group dynamic that comes with its own band of brothers for support. They become training addicts … and it’s not the mirror they’re addicted to. You watch these guys and it almost feels as if they’ve never had so much fun being tortured. They have even created niche competitions to help motivate them to take their training goals to the next level and they have indeed declared that fitness, in and of itself, can stand alone as its own sport.

I’m talking about the present day boot-camper, SEAL-fitter, CrossFitter, tough-mudder, Spartan genre who whole-heartedly decided that just because they have families and careers that doesn’t mean they can’t be uber athletes, too. They’ve revealed their inner-warrior and when you see them training together, feeding off each other, you get a sense there’s something special going on there, almost like a religion or a tribe of warriors. You witness some kind of competitive-camaraderie dynamic, testing themselves with exciting yet effective exercises that arouse curiosity. There’s a synergistic magic happening there in part from the group dynamic. Maybe I’m describing one of your close friends or even you. There’s a reason why these folks are experiencing these powerful physical and mental transformations no matter what their age is, in a relatively short amount of time.

Even if this genre of group training is not for you– perhaps you’re more of the solo type–we can all benefit from many effective training principles they have sifted out for all of us. They might not have invented high-intensity training in the traditional sense, but these neo-uber-athletes have embraced it and put it to the test like no other generation before us. Their results have spoken loudly. I invite you to stay with me a bit longer to learn about some of these high intensity training principles, how they came about, how to employ them, and how they are key to maximizing your exercise value. But first we need to travel back in time a bit, to the days of zone training … Remember a little over a decade ago, when fatburning “zone” training was the latest and greatest trend and the best method to get lean? It was basically endurance-type training, where you

purposely stayed in an aerobic-cardio zone in an attempt to access stored fat as the primary fuel, and the longer and slower the better. I remember everyone was training with a heart rate monitor to ensure they were training in the correct “zone,” in this case the aerobic/fat-burning zone, so no matter what, folks didn’t want to exceed 80 percent of their maximum heart rate–because that is where, in theory at least, you might cross over into the anaerobic zone, oh my! It was like everybody was training to become a triathlete or marathoner, one-size-fits-all, with all these long zone workouts they were putting in. Looking back now, we’ve pretty much all switched our training (heart rate) “zones” 180 degrees. And for good reason: We placed the emphasis on exercise value–none of us had that many hours in the week available to train! These days we demand the most bang for our buck because we are busy … uber busy! And we want to be strong. We want to be able to hoist barbells above our heads and wing kettle bells and do muscle-ups or at least real SEAL style pull-ups. And we no longer want to look like skinny, frail dudes. Skinny implies weak. We want our physiques to look like men of lore–like Spartans and Navy SEALS. We want our bodies to perform like MMA warriors who can defend ourselves and protect our families–high functioning, quick and powerful.

APRIL 2015 | Fully cultured, yet unshaven | 4L MAGAZINE 13

FITNESS with Max Wettstein

Growth hormone secretes, testosterone levels rise, insulin sensitivity improves, glucose-tolerance improves, your liver dumps glycogen and fatty acid stores, micro-trauma occurs in the muscle fibers triggering repair and growth, and you get completely depleted–an amazing feeling. So much so, that your resting-metabolism becomes elevated for several hours after the workout is over and any food you eat post-workout gets sucked up for recovery, repair and stored as intra-muscle glycogen and not as fat. This extended recovery period is known as EPOC or Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption.

Yes, those were some ridiculous times 15 years or so ago, suffering through all that long, slow, boring aerobic training to try and single out fat for fuel, which is nearly impossible to do, unless in ketosis. The irony being: We may have been getting leaner but we were also simultaneously catabolizing a heck of a lot of precious muscle! Zone training just to get lean is almost as silly as back in the ‘80s when we thought we could eat all of the carbohydrates we wanted as long as we avoided fat. We just didn’t have a grasp on the powerful role of the insulin shuttle-hormone back in the ‘80s, until Dr. Atkins came along and shifted the carbohydrate/insulin paradigm and shed a new light on carbs. Of course, he unnecessarily villianized them. Now we’re much smarter. We’ve realized we need to do just the opposite and train at very high intensity levels–uber high intensity levels–if we want to get uber fit and ultra-lean while protecting and even building additional muscle mass. And what’s more, at such extreme intensity levels, we don’t need to train for nearly as long, thus maximizing our exercise value. For sure slow endurance training has its place if you’re an endurance athlete, obviously. But if you’re a working man, husband and father who barely has time to eat breakfast, then you are truly able to benefit from today’s shorter, higher-intensity workouts. Classic, vetted examples of these type of workouts are High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), boot camp, Navy SEAL-inspired training, CrossFit and P90X. 14 4L MAGAZINE | APRIL 2015

It was around the year 2000 or so that we started seeing boot camp and SEAL-inspired workouts becoming more popular, as well as studio spin classes. This was the beginning of the high-intensity training revolution. Shortly after came CrossFit, then Beachbody’s P90X by Tony Horton. Also during this time, the generic HIIT was being employed by many personal trainers as well as fitness athletes and fit-models desiring to get ultra-lean while avoiding the risk of muscle catabolization associated with longer cardio workouts. Popular workouts were hill-running intervals, sprint intervals, plyometrics, stair-running, etc. that had a working interval followed by a resting interval, usually in a 1:3 ratio of working to resting time respectively. The ideology was you were working up to maximum effort and even failure during the working interval and thus had to have a recovery interval immediately following. In fact, that is the key common principle in all highintensity workouts: They require that you push to maximum effort and hit failure, (either aerobic or anaerobic, or both)–that is where their physiological, physique transforming magic happens, and that is where they earn their effectiveness that allows them to be so much shorter in duration. Because when you hit physical failure (typically associated with heavy breathing, lactic acid-accumulation-burning and/or ATP depletion), repeatedly in a short time period, a lot of neat stuff starts to happen within your muscles and entire body–results start to happen!

But here’s the final, gleaming nugget of truth I’m trying to get to leave you with regarding exercise value, and just exactly how short of a duration can be effective, regardless of how high intensity you think you can push yourself. There’s this notion that if you go intense enough you can see results in just 20 minutes. But there are some caveats that go along with that ideology. First off, you have to already be in a reasonable state of health and fairly fit to begin with to train at very high intensity, and you should begin in the presence of a trainer and wear a heart-rate monitor. Secondly, the 20 minutes often cited typically does not include the mandatory time spent warming up, nor any time spent learning technique for the more difficult exercise movements. Many of the these high intensity programs such as CrossFit have a steep learning curve associated with them, as they include some very advanced and technical exercises, some involving Olympic-style barbell overhead lifts. If you have ever been into a CrossFit gym (or a “Box”), you would know that they also incorporate a coaching element after the warm-up and prior to the workout, thus your time in the gym has now reached a full hour. Warming up and loosening up are very critical for high-intensity training across the board because you tend to be performing very quick bursts of powerful movements which inherently increase risk of injury if not done properly or not warmed up. So yeah, there are a lot of caveats and things to consider before you just go balls-to-the-wall for your 20 minutes of high-intensity magic. You have to know what you’re doing, maintain perfect form, and by all means loosen up and warm-up. And if you truly are planning on pushing to failure, either aerobic or anaerobic, you should definitely begin by getting a physical assessment from your trusted health professional, and train while wearing a heart-rate monitor. Heart-rate monitors give you the bottom line on intensity level and will validate your perception. You can get fit and improve longevity in just 20 minutes a day, but if you want to get uber fit, you need to put in at least an hour a day! Cheers to my fellow fitness aficionados, uber athletes and working warriors out there–I’m right there with all of you!

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All around the clock... the food rocks and the fun never stops

828 6th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 702-8410 â&#x20AC;˘ Brians24.com APRIL 2015 | Fully cultured, yet unshaven | 4L MAGAZINE 15

GUYS NIGHT OUT BY STEVE KANG | PHOTOS BY ANDI PIANALTO

Ever since we first came up with the concept of 4L Magazine, we always talked about doing a “Guys Night Out” feature or monthly column. Well, it’s finally come to fruition. We decided to get together a band of misfits to paint the town red. We obtained concert tickets for TV on the Radio on Little Friday (a.k.a. Thursday), so we decided to go out for happy hour, dinner, then hit the show.

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THE CREW

WILLIAM LOPEZ

Founder, Alternative Strategies Public Relations Drink of choice: Wine and spicy margaritas

JOHAN ENGMAN

Restaurateur, 3 Fig Tree Cafes, Café Cantata, and Breakfast Republic Drink of choice: Tequila cocktails

JAKE BREWER

Builder, repairer, and all around maker of anything Drink of choice: Beer and tequila shots

CREW BACKGROUND I know William because we have had a long standing business relationship since the inception of 4L Magazine. His company handles our social media. In the past few years we have shared several meals, millions of drinks, gotten tattoos together and have become very good friends. I first met Johan when we reviewed his restaurant, Fig Tree Café in Pacific Beach. He serves great food in a great space. I was doing three food reviews that day and I went to Fig Tree first. Big mistake: I generally only eat a couple of bites but since it was so good, I ate everything. Oh no, I still had to eat at two more establishments in the next three hours. Oh well, it was well worth it. I still remember when he brought out a plate of man candy at the end … awesome! I met Jake playing noon-time basketball. After hanging out with him, I soon found out that he was pretty much the mayor of Solana Beach/Del Mar. EVERYBODY knows Jake. He has close ties with people but what makes things even better is that we also share a good number of friends. Next time you go into the Belly Up Tavern and you see all the upgrades, thank Jake … yup, he did it.

STEVE KANG

4L Magazine Co-founder and Senior Editor

Drink of choice: Vodka cocktails and Jameson shots

HAPPY HOUR

Happy hour gives us an opportunity to wet our whistles and unwind from work before dinner and the show. True North Tavern is a large casual bar that has tons of televisions, great food and great drinks. There is a large center bar, booths along the walls and outdoor seating in front and in back. After our first shot of tequila, I suggest a challenge. Let’s assign points for kisses and see who can win by the end of the night. If a lady kisses you on the forehead, it’s 1 point, cheek is 2 points and lips are 3 points. William is going to be the wingman since he is married. Game ON!

WHAT WE ATE: - Loaded Tots with carne asada

(Classic Tater Tots, house seasoning blend, signature warm queso sauce, fresh cilantro, chipotle crema and salsa fresca) - Fried Artichokes

(Battered artichoke hearts, parmesan cheese) WHAT WE DRANK: - Spicy Mango Margarita

(Jalapeno infused Espolón Tequila, mango puree, agave nectar syrup, lime juice, orange juice and sour mix served with a Tajin chili rim) - Ballast Point Sculpin IPA with Grapefruit (7.0% abv) - Shots of Don Julio Anejo

TRUE NORTH TAVERN 3815 30th St., San Diego Neighborhood: North Park (619) 291-3815 TrueNorthTavern.com

APRIL 2015 | Fully cultured, yet unshaven | 4L MAGAZINE 17

WEST COAST TAVERN 2895 University Ave., San Diego Neighborhood: North Park (619) 295-1688 WestCoastTavern.com

DINNER

WHAT WE ATE: - Sesame Crusted Ahi

(wonton chips, radish, sesame soy aioli, green onion) - Grilled Cabrillo Steak

(Garlic thyme baby potatoes, celery root puree, bleu cheese butter, king trumpet mushroom) - Hawaiian Flatbread

(Barbecue sauce, diced ham, mozzarella, shaved red onion, pineapple) - Steak Flatbread

(Chimichurri, Cabrillo Steak, cherry tomato, red onion, Point Reyes Blue cheese, balsamic reduction, baby arugula sylvetta) WHAT WE DRANK: - The Stallion

(Captain Morgan’s White Rum, blackberry liqueur, lime juice, bitters, ginger beer) - The Dude

(Ketel One Vodka, coffee liqueur, cream, ginger beer) - A Oaxacan the Garden

(Mezcal El Silencio, asparagus syrup, cucumber juice, bitters, lemon zest) - Shots of Jameson 18 4L MAGAZINE | APRIL 2015

We get to dinner and I soon find out that there aren’t a lot of single women there. Everyone seems to be coupled up. We still manage to sneak a couple of smooches from the server staff. Oh well, we still have the concert venue to find some lovely ladies. After a great dinner and several drinks, West Coast started to fill out because the concert was about to start. You can access the Observatory North Park concert venue through the back doors. Since the show was “all ages,” you had to get your cocktails on the West Coast side. The back bar started to get really busy. We met a few more ladies but the whole kissing competition just went out the window. We just took some fun pictures with some fun ladies.

CONCERT

WHO WE SAW: TV on the Radio (TVOTR) This indie-rock band was formed in 2001 in Brooklyn, New York. It was great to see them gain notoriety and tour around the country and play a great show for us right here in San Diego!

THE OBSERVATORY North Park 2891 University Ave., San Diego (619) 239-8836 ObservatoryNP.com

We were able to get up really close. They are a pretty mellow band but they still have a great live show. The sold-out crowd was very responsive and all had a good time. After the show wrapped up, we decided to go the 7 Grand for a nightcap. This will be the first of many installments of Guys Night Out. I had such a good time eating, drinking and being merry with my buddies that I’m already brainstorming for what we are going to do for the next one. Maybe we will be in your part of town next. If you see us and you’re a guy, come have a drink with us. If you’re girl, feel free to give us a kiss … haha! Oh, by the way, I was wearing fake teeth, my grill isn’t that bad!

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venue guide celebrating music 2015 BY ALYSSA THOMAS

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INTRO BY 94/9’S BY HILARY CHAMBERS

Choosing a favorite music venue in San Diego is a tall order, like choosing your favorite local beer. (BP’s Indra Kunindra? Stone Smoked Porter? Lost Abbey Devotion? See what I mean?) It’s an embarrassment of riches, really. I have so many great memories from venues all over town, which I think makes this choice that much more difficult; I associate memories of great shows with each venue and I love so many of them for so many different reasons. Peaches danced on the bar at ‘Canes, Kings of Leon were unreal at the House of Blues, Basement Jaxx blew the roof off the Casbah, Buena Vista Social Club brought me to tears at Humphrey’s, Green Day killed it at the old Soma—how on earth do you choose a favorite? Thanks to the lovelies here at 4L Magazine, though, I have a deadline and just had to go for it, and I picked the Belly Up. I’ve always loved the Belly Up—the sound is great, the drinks are strong and the venue itself is warm and unique and just the right size. But ever since I moved to North County, having a worldclass venue that’s a $5 Uber ride away feels like I won the lottery. And the shows! Afghan Whigs, Jason Isbell, Matisyahu, Vaud and the Villains, Donavon Frankenreiter, I could bore us all with a list that doesn’t end, but I won’t. My pal Meryl works there, so I asked her for her favorite things about the BUT and she said, “The diverse crowds and artists like Willie Nelson, Steel Pulse, and The Bangles ... the wonderful local owners, Phil and Steve, and the fact that it has been here since 1974.” So many shows at the Belly Up have left me breathless and so, so grateful, and I’m stoked for great shows to come like Shakey Graves and Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Thank you, Belly Up, for being so awesome.

BELLY UP

143 S Cedros Ave. | Solana Beach

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THE CASBAH

2501 Kettner Blvd. Walking into The Casbah, you know damn well this place has some history. The original venue opened its doors in 1989 with acts such as Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins gracing the stage and making a name for the joint. With a capacity of merely 75 people, the club was forced to move just a few blocks down to Kettner Boulevard in 1994. The new spot is well equipped with a larger stage, state-of-the-art sound system, an enclosed back patio/smoking area and more room to dance and party for the neighborhood music junkies. Now known as the gritty, laid-back venue for big-name and up-and-coming artists, The Casbah features live music six out of seven nights a week.

HOUSE OF BLUES

1055 5th Ave. | Gaslamp Located in heart of the Gaslamp District downtown, House of Blues allows music goers to feel up close and personal with their favorite musicians. The two-story venue has space directly in front of the stage along with balconies upstairs lining the room with more space to explore. Though the San Diego location opened its doors in 2005, Isaac Tigrett opened the original venue in Cambridge, Mass., in 1992. Now one of 13 nationwide, House of Blues San Diego stands true containing a metal box filled with Mississippi Mud under the stage where artists perform, ensuring that each artist has the roots and the spirit of the South planted beneath their feet. The walls are covered in diverse collections of posters, artwork and murals tying together the signature feel of the club. Included in the venue is the restaurant Crossroads, which serves a combination of American and international cuisine with a contemporary twist until 11 p.m.

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HUMPHREYS

2241 Shelter Island Drive | Point Loma What better way to enjoy live music than right next to the beautiful bay of San Diego? For more than 20 years, Humphreys has gained a reputation for all-star blues, rock and folk musicians performing for audiences as large as 1,400 people. With a past lineup of artists such as B.B. King and Whitney Houston, the venue has gained notice for stellar shows under the stars. Known for their live musical events, Humphreys also features stand-up comedians and bookings for private events. Typically running from May to October, Humphreys Concerts by the Bay kicks off the 2015 season with Interpol and Steely Dan. This is a spot tourists and locals alike have come to love, located directly between Humphreys Restaurant and Humphreys Half Moon Inn & Suites.

SODA BAR

3615 El Cajon Blvd. | North Park North Park has become one of the most hip and upcoming spots in all of San Diego. One reason is Soda Bar! Located on El Cajon Boulevard, the club brings a righteous music scene where itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been needed most. This venue, being a little rough around the edges, brings the underground music culture to the surface. Featuring up and coming local artists and must-see musicians in an intimate setting with a full bar, cheap drinks and swanky-style booths surrounding the room, Soda Bar is for those late nights when you feel like taking a break from the dance floor. The dialed sound quality stands out, giving you a chance to truly enjoy the music and atmosphere with your crew.

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THE KRASS BROS.

WINSTONS

1921 Bacon St. | Ocean Beach Not only does Winstons provide us with killer sound quality, a top notch friendly staff and keen choices in live music, but it is located in one of my personal favorite spots in all of San Diego: Ocean Beach! Since 1986, this 21+ club has been bringing live entertainment to the musically inclined area with artists such as Steel Pulse, Melvin Seals & Jerry Garcia Band and Karl Densonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tiny Universe. Winstons has sizable space for dancing, along with the bar seating in front of open windows to the streets of downtown OB. For more than 15 years, Winstons has hosted the popular Grateful Dead tribute act Electric Waste Band every Monday night, ensuring some quality time with friends, old and new. The intimate venue really allows you to absorb the cool atmosphere from any spot in the room. Next time you are in Ocean Beach, drop by for a few drinks and some good tunes.

THE OBSERVATORY NORTH PARK

2891 University Ave. | North Park Formerly known as North Park Theatre, The Observatory North Park is now known for their immaculate stage and range of entertainment. The theater that was originally built in 1938 has been restored to accommodate acts of today with a state-of-the-art sound system and light inventory. With more than 200 instruments accommodating light features, The Observatory is well equipped for shows of all sizes. The standing room capacity is 1,100 and includes two rehearsal halls! Big names such as Mos Def and The Decemberists grace the stage this upcoming month with even bigger shows coming through the summer.

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THE IRENIC

3090 Polk Ave. | North Park What makes this venue just east of downtown San Diego so unique? A historical church originally built in 1945, the venue was renovated in 2011 and today hosts shows for all ages and is completely nonprofit! All proceeds go directly to benefit the Street Angels, an organization that provides the homeless youths of San Diego with basic necessities such as food, water and clothing. The possibility to see live music while supporting a good cause? Who could say no to that?

BAR PINK

3829 30th St. | North Park Bubbles, neon lights, pink elephants and billiards. Walking into Bar Pink, you will find yourself smiling from ear to ear, feeling the good vibes this spot holds. Behind the bar there are old films playing, tying together the rad, vintage feel. The walls are lined with leather booths to lounge in with your friends while sipping on the crafty, yet reasonably priced, cocktails. Featuring different entertainment every night of the week, the intimate stage gives you the up close and personal feel that music lovers crave. This shimmering lounge has made a name for itself in the North Park area and is absolutely here to stay.

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MUSICSCENE UP AND COMING SAN DIEGO MUSIC ARTISTS BY MIKE “MIKEY BEATS” BELTRAN

For music lovers, San Diego’s music scene holds various venue options for any musical tastes. Good music is good music, but most people either prefer live acts or DJs and therefore, for this article, we will say San Diego is separated into two different scenes: the live music scene and the DJ scene. Yes, there are venues that cater to both tastes but let’s keep it simple. Speaking of simplicity, we will also focus only on venues from North County, south to downtown, west to the beach and as far east as North Park.

THE YOUNG WILD The live music scene starts out being all-ages, which Soma Live has dominated since the ’90s. Its first location was in a building long gone in downtown, the second spot (which is now Wholesale Flowers & Supplies) was on Metro Street in Linda Vista, and the current venue is the old Mann Theaters next to the Sports Arena. Len Paul has been the father of the all-ages scene, raising many bands off of his Soma side stage, onto the main stage and out the door to sell out arenas across the nation. Options in San Diego for a music lover upon turning 21 are multiplied with a bar/club scene dominated by The Casbah, Belly Up Tavern, 26 4L MAGAZINE | APRIL 2015

House of Blues and now added to that list The Observatory in North Park. Of course, there are the bigger concert venues such as Sleep Train Amphitheater and all the arenas, but let’s just focus on the smaller spots. If you are downtown you can catch a live act playing country and rock pop at the Tin Roof or at Moonshine Flats. If you are into jazz, you can find tight combos at Prohibition Lounge. Just up Banker’s Hill on 4th Avenue you can check out The Balboa (formerly the Tin Can), which presents a wide assortment of music. Keep going up 4th, hit a right on University and you will come to The Merrow, the only live venue

in Hillcrest. Keep going east on University and you will come into North Park, where you can find a variety of music to choose from between Bar Pink and Seven Grand. In the beach area, Ocean Beach has Winstons, Gallagher’s and Mother’s Saloon all featuring reggae, acoustic and rock acts nightly. Pop over the Ingraham Street Bridge to Pacific Beach and catch the same beach vibes at 710 Beach Club. For North County you have some pretty good live music options with The Jumping Turtle in San Marcos featuring bands on Friday and Saturday nights and, of course, Boar Cross’n has a solid rotation of local bands on Saturday nights in Carlsbad. 4Lmagazine.com

BANDS THE PALACE BALLROOM PHOTO BY “O” Here is a list of five acts currently playing the local circuit worth catching at places where you can enjoy a beer within 10 feet of the stage.

THE YOUNG WILD // TheYoungWild.com The evolution of San Diego rock has created ultra talented The Young Wild, a band whose synth driven soulful rock ‘n’ roll turns heads and produces smiles. Bryan B. William lays dreamy vocals with catchy lyrics over hooky guitar leads, uplifting synth stabs, complementary bass lines and driving drums. These guys will be out at this year’s Oysterfest on June 13.

22 KINGS

REBECCA JADE

THE PALACE BALLROOM // The-Palace-Ballroom.com In case you didn’t notice, we here at 4L Magazine love these guys! Timothy Joseph is a rocker to the core as well as one of the most ambitious and driven individuals in the local music scene with his local radio show on 94.9 FM from 9 p.m. to midnight Sundays. On May 15, The Palace Ballroom drop their next album, but you don’t have to wait until then to hear these much-anticipated tracks. They have decided to release each song in the order they appear on the record to the public one at a time by filming and editing music videos being released every Sunday until May. The record was recorded live, in one take, at vocalist/guitarist Joseph’s own Phaser Control Studio. 22 KINGS // 22-kings.com There is something about two people harmonizing perfectly that really brings a tear to the eye. While listening to Sam Bybee and Sandi King sing together live, expect waterfalls. Longtime friends and music lovers, Bybee and King join in an acoustic setting complete with a kick drum and a tambourine. With the look and style of band members you may see at a heavy metal show, 22 Kings’ musical style is contradictory, with soft melodies, engaging choruses and hooks that keep you listening for more. These are two of the hardest working acoustic musicians in town and if they are not on the road, you can catch them locally at Lestat’s, Hooleys, Sycamore Den and up in Fallbrook at Pala Mesa Resort. REBECCA JADE AND THE COLD FACT // RebeccaJadeMusic.com Rebecca Jade came on the scene with tons of exposure as being part of the former house band at Anthology. Since then she has not stopped playing music. The self-titled album by her latest group, Rebecca Jade and the Cold Fact, won 2014 Album of the Year at the San Diego Music Awards, which carried them with steady momentum into 2015. Their smooth jazz, R&B and neo soul can be heard at various venues around town such as The Onyx Room and Seven Grand, and the band opens up this year’s Oysterfest on June 13.

THE VERIGOLDS

THE VERIGOLDS // SoundCloud.com/TheVerigolds When you press play for the first time on a band that you have never heard before, you never know what to expect. That is the marvel in discovering new talent in a local music scene. If you get the chance, press play on The Verigolds because you will be instantly swept away to the ’60s surf and psychedelic rock era, complete with face paint, keyboards and mystic guitar rifts. You need to catch this live show rotating in and out of their OB neighborhood’s local live venue Winstons or they even make it down to the legendary Casbah. APRIL 2015 | Fully cultured, yet unshaven | 4L MAGAZINE 27

The DJ scene is everywhere in San Diego, with almost every bar and club having a DJ at least once a week. The most common format in the city is what is called Open Format, where the DJ plays tracks from any genre, hopefully pulling it off smoothly and making the cash register sing. As of now the top clubs in downtown are Fluxx and Parq, which serve massively overpriced drinks to clubgoers looking to fist pump and twerk their ways into the pants of other patrons. From the ashes of the longstanding Stingaree will rise Omnia, which is owned by the Vegas-born Hakkasan Group that is pouring into the San Diego club bottle service scene with resident world renowned EDM producers/DJs such as Afrojack, Martin Garrix and Armin van Buuren. If you cannot stand the downtown club scene, South Park is up the hill with Whistle Stop, a great place to catch DJs spinning various non-mainstream music. North Park is up the street, where you can catch hip-hop sets and house music at such bars as U31, The Office, Bar Pink, West Coast Tavern and True North. The beach area has so many nightlife options, but Pacific Beach is the best when it comes to Open Format DJs, who spin at Tavern at the Beach, Thrusters Lounge, PB Shore Club, The Local and my favorite place for local house music, the Duck Dive. (There is also Firehouse, which closed for renovations but is reopening soon.) Saddle Bar in Solana Beach features a solid lineup of DJs, and up the freeway in Encinitas you have The Saloon, Shelter and D Street Bar & Grill.

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DJS SCOOTER For what it is worth, here is a list of DJs who I love to check out when I am not spinning myself:

ARTISTIC

SCOOTER // SleepingGiantMusic.com/Artists/Scooter Scooter is an Open Format DJ and San Diego club staple since the late ’90s. In his DJ sets you can hear smooth transitions, cross fader knuckle karate and his God like voice commanding you to throw your hands up. Scooter is the people’s DJ mixing in remix after remix of current pop hits, electronic music and old-school classics. Due to Scooter’s rigorous national touring schedule, he can only be found playing in San Diego once or twice a month, usually at Sidebar or Fluxx. You can also catch him with his musical life partner Lavelle performing a high energy, big room house, 2x4 duo at clubs and festivals worldwide. LOVELIFE // Soundcloud.com/Jimbo-James Lovelife isn’t just a bunch of DJs or a promotions crew, Lovelife is a movement created by Jimbo James and Dadon, two soulful kids whose main purpose in life is to spread the love of music. Lovelife parties invite all like-minded individuals who want to dance freely and appreciate soulful music out to their events booked a couple times a year. The genres of music featured at these events are deep, disco and tech house, where you can find a vibe that is super positive and uplifting. If you want your Lovelife fix sooner than waiting months for one of their parties, they created Music is 4 Lovers, which has monthly residences and one offs on random Thursdays at Analog Bar in the Gaslamp and also in Tijuana at WhereHouse.

ERICK DIAZ

ARTISTIC // SGMevents.com/Artists/Artistic If you are involved in the San Diego music scene, you have met Artistic. Everyone knows and loves Art and if you don’t, you are the one with the problem. Artistic holds down the hip-hop scene here in San Diego and can be found at any one of his hip hop nightly residencies: Thursdays at Analog Bar and the first Fridays of the month at Bar Pink. He has another party that he throws called “Motown Mondays” at Bar Pink every first, third and fifth Monday of the month. If you have a bad case of the Mondays, there is no better cure than track selections of Motown’s greatest by Artistic. He was also named Best Club DJ of 2014 at the San Diego Music Awards. This dude does work! ERICK DIAZ // SoundCloud.com/TheErickDiaz Erick Diaz has been involved with house music in San Diego since his crate-digging days at Siesta Records. He plays pretty much everything that gets categorized under the “house” umbrella, and he sometimes digs into deep house, garage and big room. Some of his residencies include Fluxx, Bassmnt, Bang Bang and Dive Day Club, and he recently opened the main stage at CRSSD Festival. He has a much anticipated music collaboration with local born and bred producer DJ Saber, with remixes already available on their Soundcloud. If there is a pool party where you get a chance to see both these kids play together this summer, go!

GABE VEGA

GABE VEGA // facebook.com/DJGABEVEGA Gabe is a DJ’s DJ, playing tunes other DJs get envious of because they can’t play them in their sets at their genre-specific venues. He’s won countless San Diego Music Awards for Best Club DJ and plays regularly all over the county at spots like Whistle Stop, The Office and U31. He holds down a weekly residency at Shelter in Encinitas, where his playlists consist of house music and nu-disco. APRIL 2015 | Fully cultured, yet unshaven | 4L MAGAZINE 29

BY CHRIS LAPHAM PHOTOS BY SINGLER PHOTOGRAPHY

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BEN GIBBARD AT MONIKER WAREHOUSE

PASSION PIT AT PHASER CONTROL STUDIO ALT J AT BLACK BOX RECORDING STUDIO

I can still remember the very first show that I went to in a small, intimate venue. Well, maybe intimate doesn’t accurately describe this particular scene. I would say more raucous, debaucherous and out of control, but it was definitely small. The venue was Iguanas and the band was Screaming Trees. For those of you who have been loitering around the SD music scene for a long time, you just figured out that I’m not a spring chicken. Damn, I hate it when I date myself. I wasn’t quite sure exactly what to expect as I crossed the border, but man was I excited. As I walked into the venue, I was immediately struck with a hot, sweaty and humid vibe. The floors were sticky, the lighting was dim, and the beers were frosty. You also couldn’t miss the odor, unique to this very day even though I’ve seen my fair share of dives and small venues. It was kind of a combination of vomit, sweat, urine and pure adrenalin. Everything about it screamed rock ’n’ roll.

FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS AT TYPHOON SALOON PB

The Trees were unsung heroes in the world of grunge, at least in this writer’s humble opinion. I guess in an era of Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden, it’s easy to get lost or eclipsed. The performance was more punk than a rock show. The Trees absolutely blew the roof off of the joint, and I don’t think I was ever more than 25 feet from the stage. I entered the pit and although I came out intact, I had a ripped shirt, bloody nose and a thirst for more. From that moment, I fell in love with live music in small venues. You have to experience the feeling, but it’s like you’re a part of something amazing. My musical taste has evolved over the years, and I guess you could call it eclectic and diverse. From Miles Davis to Johnny Cash, to Dr. Dre to Bad Religion, I love it all, and everything in between.

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I’ve seen Death Cab more times than I can remember, but there was something different about Ben’s solo performance at the Moniker Warehouse. Maybe it was the ambience? Maybe it was the fact that he was only about 15 feet away? Ben has a unique, hauntingly pure voice. On stage, it’s as if he’s in his own world, and it shows in his ability to put on a raw, emotional show. His set included two songs off of their new album, plus an incredible cover of Crowded House’s “Something So Strong” and he wrapped with a passionate solo of Death Cab’s “I Will Follow You into the Dark.” I have found a way to quench my thirst for amazing, intimate shows in the form of the Loud@ series. Next up is Robert DeLong on April 11. If you’re interested in attending one of these events, tune into FM 94/9 or visit their website. I can promise you, you won’t be disappointed.

GARDENS AND VILLA AT U31 IN NORTH PARK

Since that night at Iguanas, I’ve been fortunate enough to see some pretty amazing artists play small joints. Death Cab for Cutie at the Belly Up, Eddie Vedder at La Paloma, Jack Johnson at both Martini Ranch and the Belly Up, Fitz and the Tantrums at the Casbah, Imagine Dragons at 710 Beach Club, and that’s just to name a few. You might be wondering if there is a point to all of this endless nostalgic rambling about why I love live music so much. The answer is yes; it’s called the Loud@ series. By now you’ve probably figured out that we have a pretty good relationship with the incredible peeps over at FM 94/9, and the Loud@ series is their brainchild.

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I have seen a few of the Loud@ performances over the past couple years. Passion Pit was amazing, MS MR at The Observatory (or North Park Theatre at the time) was surprisingly good, and Fitz and the Tantrums at Typhoon Saloon was incredible. I’m a little biased when it comes to Fitz; I’ve seen them countless times, including at the Casbah before they were anybody, and they never, ever disappoint. Recently, I was fortunate enough to catch Ben Gibbard, the amazing front man for one of my favorite bands of all time, Death Cab for Cutie. He played a four-set show for a very small, select and more importantly, lucky group of faithful listeners. I don’t think there were more than 40 people in the room.

From FM 94/9: “The FM 94/9 Loud@ series has been giving listeners and music fans the opportunity to experience some of the biggest acts and their favorite artists in small, intimate settings with completely free private concerts. If you’d like to learn more and get the invite to the next Loud@, text LOUD to 61749.”

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vacation time C a r l s b a d California

TONIGHT IN SD BY AMELIA MACKIE | PHOTOS BY ANDY BOYD AND TIM OZBUN

“Is there any way we can get a picture of Bob Filner in the middle of a slam dunk?” Eighteen people crowd together in a boardroom at the ROC offices in La Jolla and pour over today’s headlines—water shortages, social unrest and school lockdowns—with one goal: giving San Diegans something to laugh about.

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Tonight in San Diego is a late night variety talk show shot locally and “broadcast” on YouTube. Although not the first of its kind, it is the first program of its format to focus exclusively on all things San Diego-centric. Think The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon meets SNL meets The Daily Show, all based out of the Gaslamp.

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“I don’t really have time for television,” creator Fale Luis said.

caught fire since the pilot was filmed less than 18 months ago.

Coming from the show’s executive producer it sounds like a joke. While he claims to not involve himself in popular weekly serial dramas and sitcoms, he uses his increasingly limited time to study the late-night masters. His keen eye focuses on the various aspects that he can implement into Tonight in San Diego, everything from production nuances to writing styles.

Although it’s called “Season 3,” the show is a complete overhaul from the prior 30 episodes. The revamped show has a permanent home at the Horton Grand Theatre and has developed deep relationships with some of San Diego’s premiere brands, including FM 94.9, Belly Up Tavern and San Diego Reader. The biggest change is the helming by seasoned San Diego host Jeff Krapf.

“I started on this venture a little over a year ago with a group of friends, a recording studio in Kearny Mesa, and a vision to create a unique showcase for all things entertainment,” Luis says. From comedy to music, improv to man-onthe-street bits, culinary experts to cute cuddly animals, Tonight in San Diego is about showcasing the hidden and not so hidden gems of the city in a familiar format that really isn’t available anywhere else outside of L.A. and New York. With an extensive background in live corporate event production, and a love for multimedia, Luis has combined his professional and personal skills to take on this daunting project. So far, it seems to have worked. The all-volunteer staff tripled in size over the past three months, and every aspect of the program has

“I see this show as an awesome opportunity to highlight America’s Finest City,” says Krapf. “To interview some of the movers and shakers in the city as well as some of the most talented people on the planet who call San Diego home is really special. “The most exciting part of the show is when the countdown begins starting at 5 … 4 … 3 … because there’s nothing more you can do to prepare. You have to trust that your team is prepared or can at least pull off something entertaining by the seat of their pants. Oh, and always check your fly … always.” Every Monday night, the cast and crew leave behind their nine-to-fives and execute one of the most ambitious live productions in Southern California without the staffing or budget of a large network. This group of young performers, producers and writers are eager to entertain and

showcase San Diego’s finest talent each week. Joining Krapf on stage is stand-up comedian Jesse Egan, winner of the 2014 San Diego’s Funniest Person Contest. As a co-host, Egan spins the traditional “straight-man/funnyman” roles, delivering much of the humor with a wry charm. “I got involved with Tonight in San Diego after I failed my audition for Today in Mexico,” Egan says with a regretful tone. “They heard my Spanish and told me to try out for a show with less stringent language requirements.” Thanks to his success in stand-up comedy, Egan is a natural during the show’s live performances. For him, the real treat is in the creation of the wide-ranging content. “I love the writers meetings,” Egan said, all joking aside, “[and] the process of creating the show from scratch, and putting together the final script with the head writer, Courtney Hale, who is incredible.” Hale’s appointment as head writer was another major aspect of Season 3. She is one of few who have had extensive “back lot” big studio experience spending significant time with CBS. She brings an infectious energy that demands the best out of her writing team week after week.

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“I love our writers room; it’s an awesome place to be,” Hale says. “Everyone in there brings with them a different background in comedy, whether it be performing stand-up, improv or sketch. … It gives the show a well-rounded feel. It isn’t easy to create and deliver a show all in the same week, but everyone is dedicated and excited to do it.” Season 3 guests have included Channel 933’s Frankie and Geena, CEO of 2-1-1 San Diego John Ohanian, U.S. Olympic boxing hopeful Danyelle Wolf and Table 926 chef Matt Richman, just to name a few. Luis’ goal is to curate guests from every aspect of the city. Ohanian says of the project, “The Tonight in San Diego show is one of the most creative, homegrown variety show experiences I’ve witnessed, where Jimmy Fallon meets San Diego’s best. The Tonight in San Diego team, while all volunteers, pulls out all the stops to make sure guests are taken care of like rock stars!” Clearly providing the complete experience from top to bottom for audience members and featured guests alike is key in building the show’s reputation as “the place to be” on Monday nights.

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“San Diego is so much more than good surf and burritos.” Luis explains. “We often are overshadowed by so many of the major metropolitans as being a hotbed for creativity. There is too much homegrown talent right here in San Diego that goes unnoticed. Our mission is to bring that to the forefront, all packaged in a memorable and fun experience that you just can’t find anywhere else locally.” The San Diego music scene has always been a passion for Luis, and Tonight in San Diego looks to be the new way artists are introduced to the world. Season 3 has so far featured the musical talents of The Yes Team, Alexa Villa, The Mattson 2, Charlie Rae and more.

PHOTOS BY MARIBEL VASQUEZ

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“I loved how everyone was very welcoming,” says Ruben Ochosa, lead vocalist for rock alternative band Misc. Ailments. “Filming for a production like this you’d think you’d run into some ingenuine personalities. It wasn’t like that.” Like its network and cable TV models, Tonight in San Diego has branched out into other mediums. A weekly podcast is produced with its own set of guests that recap the show, and taking advantage of the online format, smaller bite size segments of the 40-minute show are broken up for viral distribution online. A single photo, which captured a particularly unfortunate incident involving a disgruntled falcon and an unsuspecting crew member, was viewed on Reddit more than 1.8 million times in 24 hours. Staff writer and podcast co-producer Meryl Klemow, who was on the other end of the falcon’s fecal wrath, says with a smile, “To be honest, I’m surprised I’m not more famous.” The photo and reaction were showcased in local media such as DiscoverSD Magazine, and Klemow spoke about being “Reddit famous” on 102.1 KPRi’s Morning Show with Chris Cantore. Technical Director Andrew Steinman and resident DJ Teelynn are two of the original founding members of the show and have seen it evolve greatly since its inception. “The most exciting part for me has been seeing how much it has grown since the beginning,” Steinman says. “What started out as a few of us discussing an idea has grown into something really special, really fast.”

Adds DJ Teelynn: “The most rewarding part of the show is seeing the creative ideas birthed during our writers meetings come to life on stage in front of a beaming studio audience. To see how one small idea pitch can change and grow as creative minds come together to make a really good joke or super entertaining bit out of it is truly exciting.” Associate Producer and Luis’ right hand Natalie Kushner may have summed it up best: “This show and these people have changed my life. Being a part of a truly amazing team and building something from the ground up that strives to make people genuinely happy can only be a good thing. We work extremely hard to produce a product that we are very proud of and can only hope it continues to grow at this rapid pace.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Luis chimes in. “As proud as I am of this show and what it means to San Diego, I am so much more proud of the people who this show is surrounded by. Great things are bound to happen when you have the type of talent and dedication that this team has. Our goal now is to secure more sponsorships to help offset the cost of putting this show on every week as it is a total in-house effort, and the more we prove our value to the community and the word gets out about Tonight in San Diego ... who knows? We just might end up on your local TV around that 11 p.m. hour soon. Fingers crossed. … We’re looking at you, CW.”

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FOOD/DRINK

THE PURSUIT OF HOPPINESS

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EvoTek is making their way through San Diego on their Pursuit of Hoppiness. This month’s stop was Ballast Point Brewing Co. in Miramar. After the rave success of their first event in January, this Pursuit of Hoppiness did not disappoint. With more than 120 IT professionals flooding Ballast Point’s private-party room, there was never a beer that fell below half consumed before the next one was poured. The event was just shy of true March Madness; all guests had free rein to taste and try every beer on tap. By the end of the night, the unanimous crowd favorite, Grapefruit Sculpin Nitro (10% ABV) had everyone swimming. It wasn’t just about the beer that night though, delicious pub appetizers, including Shrimp Cocktail and Pretzel Bites, were shared by all. The party continued long past last call as guests took advantage of the intimate bar lounge and outside fireplace deck. Pursuit of Hoppiness continues to be immensely successful due in part to all the generous sponsors who support EvoTek. This premier IT networking event is only going to get bigger and better, don’t miss out on the next one!

PURSUIT OF HOPPINESS EVOTEK — accompanied by business partners, friends and family—continues to search San Diego for the latest and greatest selection of craft beers. They are on a quest to find the best beer and atmosphere San Diego brewers have to offer.

38 4L MAGAZINE | APRIL 2015

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ABOUT EVOTEK EVOTEK Solutions helps companies with their IT initiatives. By providing them with modular solutions, companies can meet their current business requirements but can also be upgraded for future needs through an IT service delivery framework. They specialize in customizing IT solutions for customers at all levels. For those who have not yet fully developed a formal IT strategy or road map, EVOTEK will help them develop a Data Center plan that is in alignment with their business objectives. Their goal is to understand the customer’s business, examine all the opportunities, then provide them with point solutions that will fit into the future state of the customer’s Data Center. They don’t simply hook you up with hardware, they are customer advocates who provide services from A to Z.

EVOTEK Solutions Inc. | EvotekSolutions.com

STAY TUNED FOR NEXT MONTH’S PURSUIT OF HOPPINESS...

9045 Carroll Way, San Diego | Neighborhood: Miramar | Offices: (858) 790-6900 | Restaurant: (858) 790-6901 | BallastPoint.com

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FOOD/DRINK

CHEFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TABLE

MASA MATSUSHITA RA SUSHI BAR RESTAURANT BY MICHELLE LYN

For more than 10 years, RA Sushi Bar Restaurant has been a San Diego institution for quality and innovative sushi. Their vibrant and contemporary setting and menu take going out for sushi from the typical to the exceptional. The restaurant pairs a high-energy atmosphere with distinctive Japanese fusion cuisine and inventive cocktails, setting RA apart from the rest. As the seasons change, so do the food and drink offerings, keeping them fresh and fun. Their sushi is top notch, and their chef, Masa Matsushita, is passionate about what he puts in front of his guests.

40 4L MAGAZINE | APRIL 2015

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4L: How long have you been with RA Sushi? Masa Matsushita: I’ve been with RA Sushi for 11 years. Tell us a little about your background. I first learned to become a sushi chef when I was 15 years old at my high school in Japan. They had a chef course available that taught students the basics. When I was 18, I got my first job at a well-established Japanese restaurant in Tokyo. From there, I wanted to improve my sushi skills, and so I took a job at Tsukiji Market, the biggest wholesale fish market, to learn about fish. How many varieties of fish do you have behind your sushi bar at any given time? At any given time, RA Sushi San Diego has more than 20 fish behind the sushi bar. What is your favorite roll or sushi dish to make? Any kind of nigiri or sashimi is my favorite to make for a guest. It looks simple but is hard to make. How one cuts fish is very important to getting a great taste, so it really requires skill. I like the deceptive simplicity of it! In addition to fresh fish, you have a lot of hot menu items. Which do you recommend and why? I’d recommend trying the Seared Ahi Tuna from our special item menu. We season the Seared Ahi Tuna, which is available until the end of April, with togarashi and black pepper and serve it atop grilled asparagus with a shiitake mushroom cream sauce. What are some new menu items you are most excited about? I am most excited about the Crunchy Yami Roll, which we’ll have throughout April. It’s a great non-traditional sushi option with tempura sweet potato, cucumber and avocado, rolled and topped with crunchy shredded sweet potato and spinach tempura bits and served with sweet eel sauce. It’s unexpected and delicious. If it were someone’s first time at RA, what would you tell him or her to order, including a drink? It’s really depends on the customer, but I would recommend a few of RA Sushi’s signature items, like the Chili Ponzu Yellowtail Roll or “RA”ckin’ Roll. They are guest favorites and very good. To accompany, I would recommend sake. Made from rice, it is excellent with sushi, and RA has a great selection from which to choose.

RA SUSHI BAR RESTAURANT | 474 Broadway, San Diego | Neighborhood: Downtown | (619) 321-0021 | RaSushi.com

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FOOD/DRINK

BEATS & EATS

BEATS&EATS Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s RAD about

BEATS & EATS? The food and the music!

BY MIKEY BEATS

[ INTERVIEW WITH ]

STEVE KADER at

SODA & SWINE

42 4L MAGAZINE | APRIL 2015

In this Beats & Eats, I interview the talent buyer for the Adams Avenue Street Fair and Adams Avenue Unplugged, Steve Kader. He took me out to Adams Avenue, where we chowed down at Soda & Swine.

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SODA & SWINE 2943 Adams Ave., San Diego » Neighborhood: University Heights » (619) 269-7632 » SodaandSwine.com

Mikey Beats: Steve, you are the talent buyer for Adams Avenue Unplugged on Saturday, April 25. Where did this festival come from? Steve Kader: Adams Avenue Unplugged used to be called The Roots Festival, The San Diego Folk Festival and The Roots & Folk Festival, but now we re-branded it as a musical walkabout where we have music two miles up and down the avenue with various bars, restaurants, cafes and galleries partaking in the event. The event spotlights folk music, singer and songwriter music, pretty much everything with an acoustic dynamic. MB: This seems like another wonderful day of music on Adams Avenue. SK: It is and it brings people to Kensington all the way down to the border of University Heights to experience our diversity. One of this year’s headliners is a singer/songwriter named Anais Mitchell, who is playing Stage Coach the day before. Also we have Hot Buttered Rum, who has played major festivals like Bonnaroo and Outside Lands. We also will have Tim Flannery, local baseball player and a great musician. MB: I DJ’d Tim Flannery’s daughter’s wedding! Much love to Ginny and Travis! Who else do you have? SK: David J is playing, who was in Bauhaus as

well as Love and Rockets and he also used to work with people like David Bowie and Jane’s Addiction. Roosevelt Dime is another touring kinda folk nouveau grassy-meets-New Orleans band. Do you know about Cody Lovaas? He’s a prodigy of Jason Mraz and he’s 16 years old. He’s played with people like Jack Johnson and Ziggy Marley, too.

with an obnoxious burp.)

MB: So obviously you’re done booking the event, but how do you find your talent and how does the talent find you for this particularly event?

Karen: These are bahn mi style dirty fries. It’s an item that right now is off-menu, but we make it if you request it. It’s one of those things that we started eating in the back of house so often, that we started offering it to guests. People would say, “What is that?!”

SK: For Unplugged, generally we have a submission process through our website, which is www.AdamsAvenueBusiness.com. They can submit an EPK. We’ll listen to it and see if the music fits into the event. I’m always looking out for bands doing different things.

(Karen, the GM of Soda & Swine, lays down a couple of sodas for us.) MB: I’m drinking a Saranac Shirley Temple. Hand crafted soft drinks are what they do here. SK: I’m drinking a Spring Grove, established in 1895, caffeine-free, classic flavor soda pop of black cherry that is made with pure cane sugar.

(I take a deep pull off the glass bottle and am instantly projected back to childhood—complete

MB: I haven’t had one of these since the ‘80s and that was damn good! I think I’m going to get a soda hangover from all this sugar though.

(Before I can take another pull of the Shirley Temple, Karen comes back over with a mountain of food.)

MB: Was there weed involved in the process of creating this? Because it looks like there was. Karen: There actually wasn’t. It was what I wanted to put on my fries. SK: This is Karen’s dream fries.

MB: What do we have on there? Karen: We’ve got chopped up meatballs, pork belly, house-made chipotle BBQ sauce, Sriracha aioli, Julian vegetables, jalapeños and cilantro.

(Steve and I both reach modestly for a small bite each and after a couple chews, we start grabbing fist fulls of dirty fries as if we were playing Hungry Hungry Hippos.)

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FOOD/DRINK

BEATS & EATS

make all their syrups from scratch. So, they boil down raspberries, sift through everything, take the raspberry syrup, a little bit of vermouth, some Champagne and mix it all together and you’ve got a raspberry slushy. These are one of our biggest sellers on a hot summer’s day.

(I slurp down a few gulps of the tangy and sweet slushy, get a brain freeze, cry, take a few more sips, cry again and then finally finish the frozen delight.) MB: Let me as you a question: As a talent buyer for the event, what advice would you give to the acts that want to submit their music to you for booking consideration? SK: I would suggest to bands, if you’re trying to submit material, you always want me to hear your best song first. It doesn’t have to be the most professional recording, but if there’s a passion there, some soul there, good melodies and good hooks, things like that it will shine through. MB: You can still hear it, you know it’s there even if the recording is low quality.

MB: Wow, that’s the shit! Or, it’s going to make me shit. But, I’m going to enjoy it, I can guarantee that!

(Karen walks away and I sip my soda down after mauling the fries knowing there will be an imminent stomach ache scheduled in an hour, but I care not.) SK: I just discovered Blueridge Boy: His name is Eric Freeman, he’s in his 30s and he plays old school blues acoustic. He’s amazing and I booked him for this event right after finding him. MB: Isn’t it nice when you find fresh new talent and you’re listening to it the rest of the week? I always enjoy that. SK: That’s what it’s all about. When you’re not passionate about it and not discovering in terms the music thing man, get a corporate job. I’ll be

44 4L MAGAZINE | APRIL 2015

90 years old and still discover a new rock artist or jazz artist or blues artist or folk music artist. That’s the whole thing with art, it’s always taking twists and turns, taking from the past and reinventing itself. That’s a good thing. MB: I absolutely agree with you. I started hanging out at The Local 94/9 radio show with Timothy Joseph and it’s been a great experience for me because I get exposed to so much new music and it’s a breath of fresh air to hear these talented musicians from different corners of the county. There are so many talented musicians in this city.

(Karen comes back with two icy drinks in a martini glass.) Karen: These are raspberry Champagne slushies. Our sister bar next door, Polite Provisions,

SK: Exactly. Remember when you were in a band, you got that cassette tape or CD that you recorded in the studio, what did you do? You’d play it in a shitty boombox or find your friends that have the shittiest car stereo and play it in there and if it transcended and all that, that’s true. The music is the music, regardless. Nice studios are nice studios, but you know, if they are original songs with heart, soul and passion with good melodies, hooks and rhythm, it will transcend a poor recording. MB: So definitely have your best foot forward, put your best song first on the demo. SK: I really respect bands and performers that go extra mile and invite people out and build a network, even outside the center of San Diego. Play in different areas of San Diego. Bring the music to everybody. Too many people are regional in what they do. MB: What’s something you’ve seen that makes you jump on it? SK: In terms of materials, whether it’s your press or your bio, I like a lot of simplicity rather than some fluff. I don’t want to know what you did 3 or 4 years ago. Keep

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everything current, let me know what’s been going on in the last six months. When you book your gigs, think outside the box and be more creative. Expand your horizons. Mention that you’re doing these gigs in different cities, you know? I don’t expect some nationwide tour, but if you’re a new band, passionate about it and spending your own money going to Arizona to tour, I want to hear about it.

(Karen comes back to the table and lays down a gluttonous gauntlet.)

MB: Oh my goodness, this’ll hurt.

piano by ear, a little guitar, sang and wrote poetry. His house was down the street here in Kensington. My dad was also into music, enjoying jazz, blues, folk music and early rock ‘n’ roll. When he was a kid he would go see Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole and Louis Armstrong. He also produced a few concerts in the early ‘60s, including a show with Fats Domino.

Karen: I recommend the polenta. It’s a weird fine mix where you have to let it cool just long enough so that it doesn’t burn your mouth, but eat it so that it doesn’t get soft from the marinara. MB: That bovine is stupid good with delicious marinara sauce and good bread. This placenta is perfect!

MB: There’s some music in the bloodline; did you ever play in any bands?

SK: Polenta, not placenta.

Karen: We have one Bovine Slider, which is beef with marinara and mozzarella cheese. We then have a Crispy Polenta. Ours is served pretty firm, with a crisp outside and a little burrata, a very soft mozzarella, and basil on top. Then, the Scotch Egg, which is soft-boiled and wrapped in our chorizo meatball. It’s breaded, fried and then served open face with a dijonaise.

SK: You grew up in San Diego?

MB: A chorizo meatball?

MB: What high school did you go to?

Karen: A chorizo meatball.

SK: Patrick Henry.

MB: Dios mio, man.

MB: I went to Clairemont. Where did you lay your roots in the music scene?

Karen: Yeaaaah. Traditionally it’s made with haggis, but the chorizo gives it a little more flavor.

MB: I’m really into this polenta, not placenta. That mozzarella and basil really does it.

MB: Born and raised, you? SK: Yeah, I’ve been here since I was 3.

SK: I was always surrounded by music on my dad’s side of the family. My grandfather played

SK: I was in a ska band called Gang Busters from ’87 to ’92. We played with people like No Doubt, Rage Against the Machine and at venues like Iguanas in TJ where we’d open up for Fishbone, The Untouchables, Special Beat, Bad Manners, all the British two-tone oriented bands. After that, I was into hip hop and DJing. I did a party at the original Casbah called Open Sesame. At that time we put a band together called Motherlode which was a predecessor to The Greyboy Allstars. After that, the whole Green Circle scene kicked in and at that point, I was much more intrigued by the business side of things, like putting on shows. I had a friend from Chula Vista named Sergio Hernandez who wanted to get a funk, rare groove, jazz, funk band together and mix in a Latin Afro-Cuban vibe. He linked up with Karlos Paez and that was the origin of B-Side Players. I was their manager for their first four

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FOOD/DRINK

BEATS & EATS

years and I had never managed a band before but that was great in terms of learning the industry. The shows built up from breaking them into the Belly Up to eventually selling out the Casbah and then getting on Street Scene. MB: Street Scene was always the best of times, in its glory days. When did you transfer from manager to talent buyer? SK: I had heard that the owner of the concert venue, 4th and B, had a falling out with the talent buyer and he was looking to bring someone on board to mentor and build into booking the room. I went down and talked to him and interned with him and did what we all do. For about a year I pounded the pavement. Eventually, he asked me what local bands should play on different shows and then he brought me on as a talent buyer. At first I was booking small nationals and locals. By the time I left 4th and B, I was lead talent buyer. I was the buyer and artistic director for three years at the North Park Theatre when it was owned by Lyric Opera San Diego, where I booked more jazz, world music and eclectic shows. During that time I was consulting on the Adams Avenue events and they eventually brought me in on a full-time basis. It had an old folky reputation, but I was tired of going to another boring street fair with hot dogs and corn, so to the best of my ability I changed it into something that I would love to go to myself with a demographic of 9 to 90. I’ve been with the Adams Avenue Street Fair for 15 years, but exclusively as the talent buyer for 10 years. This year, Adams Avenue Street Fair is Saturday,

46 4L MAGAZINE | APRIL 2015

Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27. This will be our 34th year for the Adams Avenue Street Fair, and it’s the largest free music festival in Southern California. MB: With the Adams Avenue Street Fair, in your opinion, what percentage are national acts and what percentage are local acts? SK: In terms of national or touring acts, it varies between 10-20 percent of bands. MB: So there’s a lot of opportunities for local bands? SK: Yes, this is the most significant showcase festival for local bands in San Diego. It’s really important to celebrate what San Diego is good at, and it’s really good to support our own. MB: Celebrating San Diego music. SK: Celebrating San Diego music and culture. It all ties in with businesses and the neighborhood. Something I always want to instill is that it’s an all-ages event where you can expose your children to live music. MB: That’s beautiful. Any last thoughts? SK: Be cordial to people. Say please, thank you and look them in the eyes. Call people up, write someone a letter or recommend a book to somebody.

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Oceanside 3186 Vista Way #100 | (760) 433-4668 San Marcos 775 Center Drive | (858) 451-6000 Mission Valley 1400 Camino De La Reina | (619) 299-4668 Gaslamp 410 Market Street | (619) 235-4668

WestCoastHooters.com

APRIL 2015 | Fully cultured, yet unshaven | 4L MAGAZINE 47

FOOD/DRINK

UNCORKED

FRENCH WINE F

BY MICHELLE LYN

48 4L MAGAZINE | APRIL 2015

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Forget what you know about choosing wines for a moment...

French wines require you to approach them from a regional perspective, rather than focusing on varietals. Let me explain. In the U.S., we have our major winemaking regions (Napa, Sonoma, Santa Barbara, etc.). You may like a Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa or may have your favorites that are made in Santa Barbara. In France, Champagne is only made in the Champagne region, otherwise it’s just a sparkling wine. Did you know that? These are some of the many things I learned during a lively wine-tasting “class” I took at Ô Chateau in Paris last month. Olivier Magny, the founder who is an expert in French wine, started wine-tasting classes and tours for locals and tourists to educate individuals on the nuances of French wine, as well as to provide a fun experience. After starting the classes in a gorgeous underground wine cave, Magny opened a bar upstairs that is now well known in Paris for offering a wide variety of unique French wines by the glass. In fact, Ô Chateau has grown to become France’s No. 1 wine school and Paris’ largest wine bar. The evening of my class, there were couples and friends from the U.S., Spain, France, Germany, Holland and Switzerland. Clearly a date night of choice for locals, it was also a memorable experience for tourists. According to Magny, you should never choose a French wine by the winery, because odds are that you will never find it again. There are more than 75,000 wineries in France as compared to approximately 12,000 in the U.S. Instead, he recommends that you sample wines from the different regions to learn what you like. For example, I discovered that my red of preference is a Bordeaux from Medoc, perhaps because it is a Cabernet blend and offers a bigger, bolder flavor than something like a Beaujolais. Perhaps my biggest takeaway from this crash course in French wine is that, according to Magny, you can find a lovely French wine for under $10-unlike American wines, where one at that price point will surely guarantee a lovely headache the next day.

To learn more about French wine from Magny, visit OlivierMagny.com or just book a trip to Paris and sign up for one of Ô Chateau’s classes at O-Chateau.com.

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FOOD/DRINK

CRAFTY

STARLITE MID-CENTURY GLAMOROUS COCKTAILS IN MISSION HILLS BY MILES ROBERSON

Over the years, the classic softly lit wood-paneled interiors, starched tablecloths, curved black leather booths, tuxedoed waiters and table-side service that once defined classic fine dining have gradually disappeared. Equally, the number of historic restaurants filled with character and old-school ambiance dwindle with each passing year. Luckily, seven years ago Starlite was introduced to San Diegans in Mission Hills, and the glitz, glamour and sophistication were back! Stepping inside Starlite, you feel as if you’ve walked back into a business meeting with Roger Sterling. The feeling of all things classic is captured as you open the smoke tinted glass door leading to a sunken white bar. Above the bar hangs a breathtaking, twinkling chandelier reminiscent of days gone by. The former

50 4L MAGAZINE | APRIL 2015

lesbian bar turned modern lounge is undeniably one of the best places in America’s Finest City to imbibe. With that being said, let’s talk cocktails: Locals who know fine cocktails know the Starlite. The unassuming, almost sleepy part of India Street just north of Little Italy has undeniably been on the upswing in terms of drinking choices since the opening of Starlite. A welcome injection of sophistication to the area, Starlite is an elegant, classy destination with mid-century-inspired decor. Starlite pays homage to old cultured cool while staying contemporary. It’s a sophisticated place that takes its drinking seriously, offering topnotch handcrafted cocktails with allnatural juices and housemade syrups and bitters, imported and local beers and impressive fine wines.

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NOW... THE COCKTAILS

01 STARLITE MULE Known for being the first bar in San Diego to make mules popular, Starlite ranks its mule the most ordered drink to date. Rumor has it this drink is so famous that it gets ordered mistakenly at other bars. A riff on the Moscow Mule, this is their signature drink. The Starlite Mule mixes Rain Handcrafted Vodka, ginger beer made specifically for Starlite, fresh lime and a dash of Angostura Bitters to differentiate theirs from all others. Served in their very own branded copper mug, Starlite Mule is discounted on Sundays and Mondays. The branded mug also serves as a vessel for their Kentucky Colonel, which includes a blend of Buffalo Trace Bourbon, ginger beer, fresh lemon juice and housemade cherry vanilla bitters. Just beware, both of these drinks kick like mules!

02 VELVET DIABLO Tequila lovers, here’s something for you. Starlite has taken the liberty of rewriting the age-old holiday punch recipe to include Azunia Blanco Tequila, Velvet Falernum and crème de cassis liqueurs (which provide hints of almonds, cloves, vanilla and black currant), fresh lime juice and a touch of ginger beer. The only thing missing is a scoop of rainbow sherbet bobbing on the surface like Granny used to make. 03 POLA NEGRI If you like a spirit-forward cocktail, order this. The star of the party begins with a smoky mescal followed by Heering Cherry, a Danish cherry liqueur, Carpano Antica Formula, a sweet vermouth, sour orange and housemade thyme syrup. Pola Negri was a Polish-born actress in the 1920s, and I’m not sure if this drink was named after her but if she was smoky, sweet, mysterious, rich, layered and complex, then I have to assume it was. If you’re unfamiliar or not necessarily a fan of mescal, this is a nice, slow introduction … baby steps on your way to tequila’s misunderstood cousin.

STRAWBERRY FJORDS

The well-rounded cocktail offers something for everyone: No. 3 London Dry Gin, Linie Aquavit, Bertina Elderflower Liqueur and strawberry puree. Floral with hints of vanilla and sherry, it’s just the right amount of sweetness from the elderflower liqueur and strawberry puree. I would say this is a good fit for Sunday brunch. As they say in Norway: Strawberry Fjords forever!

BENEDICTION

If you’re summoning for divine help, the Benediction is for you. Currently not on the menu, ask Tony for it by name. The Benediction begins with Rittenhouse Rye whiskey, Heering Cherry, Benedictine herbal liqueur, a dash of Angostura Bitters and garnished with an orange twist. The rye immediately jumps out at you but is immediately followed up and balanced by the cherry liqueur and herbs of the Benedictine before finishing off with the bitterness of the Angostura. This one’s well balanced, flavorful and definitely spirit-forward. (CONT.)

FOOD/DRINK

CRAFTY

HAPPY HOUR When 5-7 p.m. seven days a week Early Drink Happy Hour 4 p.m. Fridays Featuring “Happy Snack” food specials, which are unique snacks every hour from 5-7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Happy Hour Prices $4.50 draft beer $4.50 well drinks $1 off all other drinks

In this age of Instagram, Mason jars and handlebar mustaches, it’s no surprise that retro-inspired bars are hot again. San Diego has been hooked on craft cocktails with Starlite being one of the first, and many craft cocktail bars draw recipes from historic sources. Prohibition-era speakeasies and Mad Men-esque drinks have been the reigning styles for the past several years, but a bar like Starlite expands the flashback to include cocktails from every decade. The trend shows no signs of losing steam. And why should it, when everyone knows a history lesson goes down easier with a stiff drink in hand? Hop in your time machine and explore the cocktail menu at Starlite. Starlite is easy to miss unless you know where to look: on the corner of Spruce and India off a somewhat barren street paralleling the 5 freeway. Have a light lunch, ditch the sneakers, and put on your fancy duds honey, because tonight we’re going to Starlite in Mission Hills!

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MIXOLOGY MINUTE The Moscow Mule As the story goes, Jack Morgan, who owned the Cock ‘n’ Bull bar on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, was trying to get rid of his stock of Smirnoff when he came up with the combo of vodka, ginger beer and lime. He called it a mule and served it in a copper mug.

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COME PLAY IN OUR BACKYARD! creative american fare

. live music

832 Garnet Ave San Diego, CA 92109

backyardpb.com

craft cocktails

MC Backyard_PB

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FOOD/DRINK

HAPPIEST HOUR

SINGLE FIN BY STEVE KANG

As you cruise down between PB and Mission Beach, you’ll see a cool spot on your right hand side called Single Fin. It makes me think of longboards and thongs … but then I digress. It’s actually a really cool eatery and purveyor of adult beverages. They have a great selection of beer, wine and the good stuff … hard liquor. They can mix you up a great craft cocktail or pour you one of SD’s finest beers. Don’t be surprised if you see the “Mayor” of PB, 4L’s own Mikey Beats. He’s a partial owner and hangs there all the time with Jenny Beats and Mini Beats.

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SINGLE FIN

SPECIALS HAPPY HOUR: Monday-Friday 3-6 p.m. • $4 drafts • $3.50 wells • 50 percent off all sides

BOGO: Thursday-Saturday 10 p.m.-close • Buy one beverage, get one for a penny

DAILY SPECIALS: MONDAY 9 p.m.- close • 90 percent off heads or tails TUESDAY 6 p.m.-close • Beer battered fish taco $2.50 • $4 Mexican beer drafts • $4 Altos shots

WHAT WE ATE 01 Shrimp Ceviche

02 Sriracha Chicken Bites

The freshly chopped ingredients make this little bad boy stand out. The coolness of the cucumber and the spice of the jalapeno bring everything together. They don’t skimp on the shrimp with the perfect ratio of veggies.

The sauce has a good sweetness with a nice kick. Sweet and savory hang out at the party then all of a sudden spicy comes and kicks everybody’s ass. If you can’t hang, there is a nice little vat of ranch ready to rescue you.

(Self explanatory)

Paired with Mexican Pipeline

(Casamigos Reposado, Herradura Agave Nectar, muddled jalapeno, fresh lime juice)

Talk about a match made in heaven. … This is almost the liquid version of the ceviche.

(Boneless breaded chicken chunks in a housemade Sriracha sauce)

Paired with K-38 Margarita

(El Jimador Silver Tequila, pomegranate puree, sour, splash of OJ) Take a great tequila and pour in pomegranate puree … what do you get? The frickin’ margarita of the year! The one thing missing at the party was sour—and here he is. Maybe he can calm spicy down.

03 Beer Battered Fish Taco

(2 beer battered cod fillets on corn or flour tortillas, shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, lime crema)

Here’s why I love it, it’s because it comes loaded. Nice piece of lightly breaded fish on a bed of cabbage and all the fixings! One taco will fill any fat boy up so women beware, you might have to come in with your sweatpants. Paired with Pacifico

(If you don’t know what this is, you need to climb out of your hole or get your SoCal card revoked)

What else would you drink with a Baja fish taco? You got it, the king of Mexican beers!

WEDNESDAY 6 p.m.-close • $5 all specialty drinks • Half off all bottles of wine THURSDAY 6 p.m.-close • $3 Jack Daniel’s shots • $3 Fernet shots • $3 Jägermeister and Jäger Spiced shots • Locals in 92109 receive 25 percent off food SUNDAY ALL DAY • $14 bottles Champagne • $3 Jack Daniel’s Honey shots • $3 Altos shots • $5 Bloody Mary’s

THE JOINT

The décor is a mix of casual surf art deco. You got surfboard fins hanging from the ceiling and the cutouts on the back wall on a mirror. The logs and sticks on the ceiling surrounding the bar bring a warmth and the spirit of the ocean right into the bar.

FOOD/DRINK

BEER ME

MOTHER EARTH BREW CO. BY JEREMY PRITCHARD

I have always enjoyed my conversations with Mother Earth Brewing Co. founder Daniel Love. On this particular day I was greeted with the question, “Who decided to make Boltman the official mascot of the Chargers? You’d think the mascot would be the horse on the logo!” Daniel is a San Diegan through and through, and in his 30plus years in North County he’s seen his fair share, although it hasn’t always been sunshine and craft beer. The Mother Earth story begins at the end of Daniel’s gig as a national sales manager for a major cellular provider that had recently merged with another company (I won’t name names). At that point he realized the new regime’s ideologies didn’t match his

own and while coming up on his 50s, Daniel decided it was time to reinvent. One of the perks of living off the corporate teat is travel. Daniel used corporate trips to established beer cities like Portland, Denver and Boston to study and examine the cultures. The final catalyst that kicked off his brewing carrier was at the 2008 Great American Beer Fest, when by chance Daniel met former Stone Head Brewer Lee Chase. After that meeting the two spent the next 18 months formulating a business plan to develop a brewery/homebrew store. Like all smart men, once a plan was in place Daniel asked his wife’s permission to use their 401k savings to fund the brewery, and

Mother Earth was born in Vista at 2055 Thibodo Road, Suite H. After that Lee, Daniel and stepson Kamron Khannakhjavani spent a majority of their time brewing and tasting recipes in Daniel’s garage. Like two giddy schoolgirls Daniel and Kamron stood around Lee Chase as if he were a teen idol while they worked out Mother Earth’s future core beers. It all started with homebrewing and that is why you can buy clone kits of all Mother Earth beers at their homebrew shop. You’d have to believe that they did something right: After Mother Earth’s opening they were immediately welcomed by the North County craft beer community, so much so that the homebrew store and tasting room were expanded and moved to downtown Vista. I was curious why Daniel picked that location (206 Main St., Vista)

MOTHER EARTH BREW CO. | 2055 Thibodo Road, Suite H, Vista (760) 599-4225 | 206 Main Street, Vista (760) 726-2273 | MotherEarthBrewCo.com

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over a spot that was more San Diego-centric. He answered that he wanted to change the culture in downtown Vista. “Since the late ‘70s that area has always been ready to pop,” he explained. So, when the city’s Development Services Department came knocking, Daniel knew it was time. It was also time a year and a half ago for Daniel to give up the reins as head brewer. “Tweak it and make it better,” Daniel told me were the marching orders he gave new Head Brewer Chris Baker. Just like the collaborative nature that spawned Mother Earth Brewing, Chris and Dan still talk recipes and ways to make their beers even better. Since Daniel has freed himself of the day-to-day brewing operations, now he gets to focus on growing the brand. Similar to their expansion into downtown Vista, Mother Earth is now looking to grow once again. After having taken over most of the building on Thibodo Road, Mother Earth has now set its sights on expanding production to a new 60 BBL system in the next 24 months. But don’t worry, until then they are still working overtime to keep you flush with Cali Creamin,’ Book Koo and Sin Tax.

TASTING NOTES BREWS

CALI CREAMIN’ 5.20% ABV 18.8 IBU Style: Vanilla Cream Ale Appearance: Golden yellow with a white head Aroma: Smooth vanilla. Taste: The closest beer you’ll ever have that tastes like a vanilla cream soda. It’s a complex dance of malt and vanilla on your palate, but so easily drinkable. HONCO HEFE 5.00% ABV 10.6 IBU Style: Bavarian Weizen Appearance: Clear and golden with a light white head. Aroma: Light, fresh with almost a hint of clove. Taste: Explosion of hop flavor with undertones of malt that gives both body and balance. BOO KOO 6.50% ABV 55 IBU Style: IPA Appearance: Light golden color with a dense white head. Aroma: Hint of orange peel/tangerine. Taste: This is an incredibly smooth drinking IPA, not harsh or bitter. It’s very balanced with Mosaic hops. SIN TAX 8.10% ABV 57 IBU Style: Imperial Peanut Butter Stout Appearance: Dark with a tan head. Aroma: Rich and roasty. Taste: It’s smooth and roasty with a hint of peanut butter, a taste that increases as the beer warms up but it never overpowers the brew. FOUR SEASONS OF MOTHER EARTH - SPRING 8.00% ABV 126 IBU Style: Imperial IPA Appearance: Reddish orange hue with a soft white head. Aroma: Floral, hoppy. Taste: This has a subtle sweetness with a dry finish. There is a flavor in this beer that is undeniably prickly pear, but if you’ve never had it before I suggest you try it!

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FOOD/DRINK

TENDER

WONDERLAND OCEAN PUB BARTENDER

BRITTINIE ANDERSON BY STEVE KANG

ORIGIN: I grew up in Ramona, I lived in Canada, then I moved back to San Diego. CREDENTIALS: Seven years. I started at the Madhatter Pub in Montreal as a shooter girl when I was 18 then became a bartender because the drinking age is 18 in Quebec. Then I started doing a lot of celebrity bartending. I was also voted best bartender in Montreal. I moved back when I was 22 then worked at Baily’s Old Town Temecula and then Dublin Square in San Diego. Now I work at Bassmnt [club] and here [Wonderland Ocean Pub in Ocean Beach]. SHIFTS: I generally work Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday days. WORDS OF WISDOM: My mom always said, “It doesn’t hurt if you don’t stop, the trick is to never come down.” HISTORY: I grew up with a lot of sisters living in the country. I like to travel all the time and go to new places and get a tattoo every new place I go. I’m working on becoming a licensed sky diver so I can jump wherever I go traveling. I have two dogs and a cat so it’s like a zoo when you walk into my place. I never want to grow up. I just want to have fun … that’s all that I do and care about. … Oh, and look at beautiful things. SIGNATURE DRINK: Casamigos Blanco DRINKS MADE TODAY: Classic Greyhound

FIVE QUESTIONS 01 How many tats do you have and which is your favorite and why? Britinie Anderson: 17. My favorite is the one that says “Love, Mom” on my hand in her handwriting. She passed away last year.

(Hank Birdwell’s Vodka, agave nectar, fresh pressed ruby red grapefruit)

02 Can you beat me in a beer chugging contest if you had a half-pint head start? Yes, I am American.

Raspberry Gold Rush

03 Metrosexual or Lumbersexual Neither, because I want a guy who can build me a house.

Hand squeezed definitely makes a world of a difference. It’s FRESH and I like it, it’s so FRESH!

(Dickel Whiskey, simple syrup, agave nectar, lemon, raspberries)

Real raspberries … yes! It actually tastes like a liquid raspberry with actual floating raspberries. I’m not sure if I’m feeling metrosexual or lumbersexual right now. (Please see question No. 3 to the right.) Black and Stormy

(I love our ginger beer and it’s a really pretty drink)

It starts off really pretty then it gets really ugly; well, that is if you drink more than one.

THE JOINT

If you want to go to a casual beach bar where you can hang out with the locals or check out the droves of tourists, this is your spot. Interesting drinks and award-winning tacos certainly makes things more lively. The bar upstairs is fantastic on a nice sunny day.

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04 How many dates do you have to go on before a guy can fart in front of you? Never, don’t ever do that because it’s not acceptable. 05 Why do you love Wonderland? The epic view. It’s like a paradise whenever I work. All the customers are happy, too. You get a free shot at sunset so that everybody can take a minute to appreciate what life is about.

WONDERLAND OCEAN PUB 5083 Santa Monica Ave. // San Diego Neighborhood: Ocean Beach (619) 255-3358 // WonderlandOB.com

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FOOD/DRINK

DISH

SPICY & SWEET CHICKEN SAUSAGE ennel F d n a s m o o r h s u M , s with Pepper BY LARA MILLER

THE MUSIC ISSUE HAS ARRIVED! I love music. It’s good for the heart and good for the soul. I have to have music on constantly while I’m cooking. Music and cooking are alike in a lot of ways actually, even though it may not seem that way. They are both a form of expression, an art form. The musician and the chef each have their own ways of making something out of nothing. They create beautiful art, they are passionate about their craft (says Kanye), they draw from their own experiences to make something that’s personal to them and turn it into something beautiful for others to enjoy and relate to. I personally am huge on lyrics in songs. I love how songs can express different moods and ideas so perfectly.

I am always fascinated by how amazingly and seamlessly songs can tell a message through the lyrics, melodies, strings and vocals of different artists.

Anyway, I have a friend, one of my best friends actually, who is married to an amazing artist who was in a very famous band that I used to rock out to all the time back when I was just a wee teenager.

I mean, don’t get it twisted, I’m not falling all over myself to turn up the volume when Selena Gomez comes on the radio and starts singing about how “the heart wants what it wants.”

I still hear his songs on the radio all the time and rock out to them, only now I rock with my kids in the car. Trying to teach my babes what good music sounds like!

What exactly her heart wants is not mine to tell. But she seems to think her heart wants an androgynous “man” (with pretty great hair, I have to admit) who went from little boy pop to tatted up “thug” in like, the blink of an eye.

I’ve loved his music since before I ever even met him. This man is infinitely talented and feels music in his bones.

So, basically, she’s saying her heart wants a poser. Well, to each his own. My heart wants that song to go somewhere and die.

He is also an amazing cook and knows his way around the kitchen and sometimes asks me for tips and recipes of things that I make. I happily exchange recipes and tips with him … for a small price.

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In exchange for my precious words of wisdom that I so generously bestow upon him (ahem, ahem), I make him play his guitar (one of like, a thousand that he owns) and sing songs for me.

(Being the center of attention is not his thing—another thing we both have in common.)

Now he makes it all the time for his family and it’s become a staple in their home.

But what he does love is this recipe that I came up with a few years ago for my family.

Like, in his living room.

It’s easy, really flavorful, so delicious and ready in no time.

So, in honor of this being the music issue here at 4L, this simple and delicious recipe goes out to my most favorite musician and my great friend … Steve Morris!

With just me and his wife. A totally private show. He loves it. And by loves it, I mean he hates it.

I’ve made it for him and his family quite a few times in the past until he finally asked me for the recipe.

Now, go blast some Unwritten Law, make this recipe for some people you love and have a rockin’ dinner!

SERVINGS

THIS RECIPE

FEEDS 4-6 of your favorite rockers

CHICKEN SAUSAGE

INGREDIENTS 3/4 lb. hot ground chicken sausage, out of the casing 3/4 lb. sweet ground chicken sausage, out of the casing 1 red bell pepper, sliced thin 1 green bell pepper, sliced thin 1 bulb fennel, sliced thin 1 - 8 oz. package cremini mushrooms, sliced 1 yellow onion, sliced thin 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 large or 4 small tomatoes, diced (or you can use 1 - 15 oz. can of diced tomatoes) 3/4 cup - 1 cup tomato sauce Bunch fresh basil Bunch fresh cilantro Kosher salt & fresh cracked pepper Extra virgin olive oil

In a large saute pan over medium high heat, add about 1 tablespoon of olive oil and brown both the sweet and hot sausage together.

01 02

Gently break up and mix the meat together with a wooden spoon.

Careful not to break it up too much because you want to have nice, big chunks of sausage, not tiny little ground up bits. You want to get some caramelization on the meat, so let them sear for about 5-6 minutes after you break them up and mix them together.

[ CONTINUED ]

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FOOD/DRINK

DISH

After the meat is nicely browned, put it into a bowl and set aside.

The tomato sauce adds a nice richness to this dish that I love.

In the same pan, turn your heat down to medium and add about 1-2 tablespoons olive oil, depending on how much fat was left behind from the sausage.

Let everything simmer together for about 5 more minutes.

Throw in your sliced mushrooms and let them sear until they release all their mushroom juices, about 5-6 minutes.

06 Next, turn your heat back up to medium high and add in your sliced fennel, onions and peppers and season with about 1 teaspoon of salt and a good amount of fresh cracked pepper. It may seem like a lot of veggies at first, but fear not: Everything will cook down a lot after all the moisture has come out.

Add in as much fresh chopped basil & fresh chopped cilantro as you like. I like adding both herbs to this, but you can pick one or the other if you prefer.

And then, that’s pretty much it. You can serve this deliciousness over mashed potatoes, pasta, polenta, but I like to make it over brown rice. This is one both the kids and the adults will enjoy! I’m telling you, super easy, super fast and super rock star!

You want to get all those veggies nice and caramelized which should take about 10-15 minutes.

When you see the veggies have achieved some nice color and have softened, add in your minced garlic and diced tomatoes and season again with salt and pepper.

Knock the heat back down to medium and add in the tomato sauce and all of the previously cooked chicken sausage, along with any juices that have accumulated at the bottom of that bowl.

TIP: You can mix and match veggies here. If you don’t like fennel, leave it out! If

you want to add zucchini, go for it. This is a really versatile dish that goes a long way! TIP: To make this dish even easier, you can use a bag of frozen bell peppers

instead of the fresh ones.

TIP: I’ve added chipotle peppers to this dish before for a spicy and smoky kick and it was delicious! Don’t be afraid to experiment with flavors you enjoy!

My name is Lara Miller and I am a wife to a pretty cool San Diego dude and mama to three handsome little boys. Yes, I am a lone ranger in a pad full of testosterone. Here is my thing... I love to cook. I’m not a chef, but cooking is what makes the world turn for me. It’s like my therapy, and believe me… dealing with three boys on the daily requires some serious therapy! Instagram: ChickpeaKitchen / Lara@ChickpeaKitchen.com / ChickpeaKitchen.com

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Intimates Collection

tab custom design tabcustomdesign.com

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GAMBLING

TIPS

TEXAS HOLD ‘EM BROUGHT TO YOU BY SYCUAN CASINO BY PETE ROCKY

10 TIPS FOR WINNING

Whether you are new to no limit Texas hold ‘em poker tournaments or more experienced, you may find these 10 tips helpful in getting you to the final table.

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07 Avoid confrontations for all of your chips. Many unskilled players have two moves during a no-limit tournament: They either fold their hand or they go all in. This strategy may work fine for awhile and win you a few pots, but it will never win you the top prize. 08 Bluff. Bluffing is a very valuable weapon to have in your poker arsenal but you should make sure you use it correctly and don’t overuse it. Never try to bluff more than two players. There will usually be someone who wants to “keep you honest.” Make sure your bluff is believable. 09 A winning player is one who initiates the action. If you are first to act rather than checking, bet. If there is a bet before you, consider raising rather than calling. You should be well aware of the complete arsenal at your disposal including check-raising, slow playing, semi-bluffing and how to gain a free card if necessary.

STRATEGY TIPS 01 The biggest mistake a player makes is playing too many hands. A winning player is one who is very selective about the hands they play. You also need to be aware of your position. A hand that can be played from late position in an un-raised pot may not be able to be played from early position. You need a stronger hand to play from early position because you have more players acting after you who may raise or re-raise the pot. 02 Don’t overvalue suited cards. The biggest mistake that most novice players make is playing any two suited cards from any position. You will be dealt two suited cards about 23 percent of the time. You will only make a flush about 5.77. Simply put for every time you play two suited cards you will only make your flush about once in 16 tries. If you play low suited cards you still have to worry about a bigger flush beating you. 03 Another similar mistake that players make is putting too much value on small pocket pairs. When you have a small pocket pair you want to get into the hand as cheaply as possible and hope you flop a set. Too many players will call raises or go all in with small pocket pairs. The best you can hope for is a hand will essentially be a coin flip. This is not the type of hand you want to risk your tournament life on.

10 Pay attention even when you are not involved in a hand. You should always be aware of the number of players involved in the hand. Was there a raise before the flop? If so who raised and what type of hands has that person been playing? Look at the cards the other players turn over at the showdown. This is valuable information that could help you win the pot in the future. A very special thank you to About.com for the help in lending these tips to our readers. For other great advice on making the right gambling call, check out CasinoGambling.About.com.

04 If the flop does not fit your hand you should fold if there is a bet in front of you. A flop fits your hand by improving it or by giving you a good draw to improve your hand or simply beat the board as it is. 05 Raise the same amount every time. Most pro players will bet three to four times the big blind when they raise. This makes it hard for anyone to pick up on the strength of their hand. When they bet the same you don’t know if they are raising with pocket aces or 2-7 off suit. 06 If the pot is raised before it is your turn to act, you will have to call the original bet and the raise. This is known as cold calling. Unless you have a very powerful hand you should not cold call any raises. You need a stronger hand to call a raise than you do to initiate one. Why waste valuable chips on a speculative hand?

Vegas too far? Go play at Sycuan Casino – one of the largest San Diego casinos! Choose from 2,000 video & reel slots as well as video poker. If you prefer table games, there are more than 40 tables to play Blackjack, Three–Card & Four–Card Poker, Sycuan–style craps and roulette. Enjoy the fresh air of their non–smoking room, with more than 350 slot machines, 9 gaming tables, Paipa’s Surf & Turf Buffet, and a Poker Room with daily tournaments – all smoke–free!

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TRENDING

STYLEWATCH

Total Fashion Recap! Fashion Week San Diego Spring Showcase BY ERIKA DELACRUZ | TWEET: @_ERIKADELACRUZ | IG: @ERIKADELACRZ

Fashionistas from around San Diego gathered at Harrah’s Resort Southern California in Valley Center this past month for Fashion Week San Diego’s (FWSD) Spring Showcase. I had the privilege of hosting this year and representing San Diego’s station for “Relaxing, Refreshing Music,” Easy 98.1 alongside Jodi Kodesh, San Diego’s favorite NBC7 meteorologist. The stage was set, the makeup prepped and the line wrapped around the casino before the doors opened to the Showcase. The event featured a slew of fabulous fashion, booths and shopping and even hosted a complimentary Beauty Bar, Music Lounge and live performance by dancer Lacey Everett. This event kicked off what will be an amazing year for Fashion Week San Diego. ONE

The runway shows at the showcase were fabulous, diverse and displayed the high level talent selected to show at FWSD 2015

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TWO

FWSD Founder and Director Allison Andrews announced a brand NEW location for the fall runway shows this year, La Jolla! (10/01-10/04)

THREE

FWSD isn’t just a week! There are fashion shows, events and workshops going on all year long. Check out the April calendar at FashionWeekSD.com

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beauty

•

airbrushing

•

makeup effects

wood.whitneyteal@gmail.com 907.748.5535

hitney

WhitneyTealWoodMakeup.com

Make-up by

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STUNNING SAN DIEGO

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JENNIE ROSE NELSON

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JENNIE ROSE NELSON MAKE-UP BY WHITNEY TEAL WOODS

SAN DIEGO CONNECTION: My mom moved here from Brooklyn when she was 18, found a nice long haired California boy, had some babies and never left! ZODIAC SIGN: Aquarius. PROFESSION: Server at the Gaslamp Strip Club, a steak place where you cook the meat yourself. It’s a turf club for the downtown crowd. HOBBIES: Lifting weights, going to shows, taking day trips to our beautiful neighboring cities. OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES: Mostly tanning. FAVORITE FOOD: Pizza from the Bronx on Washington Street! FAVORITE LIBATION: Cheap Champagne or the Serrano Chili Martini we have at the Strip Club.

GROWING UP

CAREER

PASSION

My dad had a Harley shop in PB called Zaidels. My mom was a classic biker chick so my older sister and I had an unconventionally fun childhood together.

What’s a career? I’m 22.

I have a lot of passions for a lot of different things. Ultimately though, I do see myself doing something to help people who are struggling in life, whether it be addiction, mental illness or poverty.

GASLAMP STRIP CLUB 340 5th Ave., San Diego | Neighborhood: Gaslamp | (619) 231-3140 | CohnRestaurants.com/GaslampStripClub

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TRAVEL

WEEKENDER

DestinationParis

PARISIAN ESCAPE BY MICHELLE LYN

LIVE LIKE A LOCAL

I know what you’re thinking: Paris for the weekend? If you do it right, you can certainly have a memorable experience in three full days. Trust me, I just did it. In fact, I’m writing this from a brasserie along the Seine River, people watching and drinking wine. If that description didn’t entice you, keep reading … and then book a ticket. 70 4L MAGAZINE | APRIL 2015

There are so many good hotels in Paris, you can certainly find one to fit your needs: budget, luxury, trendy, small and cozy … the list goes on and on. On this trip, I decided to try something new and rent an apartment through A la Carte Paris. Prices range, but each apartment in their portfolio is stunning and in a desirable location so you’re sure to enjoy your time living like a local. On this trip, my apartment was located in the 7th arrondissement, near the Eiffel Tower. A nondescript door on Rue Jean Nicot opened up to a small courtyard with apartment buildings on both sides. Three flights up an uneven, winding staircase and I was quickly brought back to my college days living in Spain. Wood-beam ceilings and balcony doors with wrought iron lining the living room made me feel like a true Parisian, as I leaned out the window to smell the local patisserie and view the Eiffel Tower just down the road.

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04 01 Wood-beam ceilings 02 Bar du Central 01

03 Cook’n With Class 04 Flamant 05 The Louvre

de Paris, they are the cornerstones of shopping on La Rive Gauche (or The Left Bank). Saint-Germain-des-Prés in the 6th arrondissement of Paris is also an area you must visit. The center for the existentialist movement and home to some of the most famous cafes frequented by Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Sartre (Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore), the Saint-Germain-des-Prés area has an air of nostalgia and artistry that is incomparable.

MORNINGS Each morning of my trip started with a petit déjeuner (breakfast) at the local café, Bar du Central on Rue Saint-Dominique. A croissant served with berry jam, fresh squeezed orange juice and a café crème was the perfect way to start the day. If you’re feeling ambitious, spend your morning like a local, hitting the markets with Cook’n With Class and compiling ingredients for a lovely five-course French meal among a small group of cooking students. Chef Constance Deledalle has a 5-star pedigree and brings her experience to the tour, complete with American slang and jokes to keep you on your toes. If you’d like to meander down the river in between coffee breaks, put some time in with the bouquinistes, the booksellers of used and antiquarian books, who ply their trade along large sections of the banks of the Seine. Another great morning option is the threecourse Sunday brunch in Le Marais district at Le Café Livres that will leave you full and ready to hit the trendy shops like Fleux’ and SHOES in this bohemian hood.

Tuck into Le Bonaparte for a classic Parisian lunch before hitting the local bookstore next door, La Hune, the Parisian version of Restoration Hardware, Flamant, and treat yourself to the most divine choux pastries at Le Maison du Chou, where they fill their decadent cream puffs to order. Warning, you can easily eat a whole box on the spot, so make sure you go hungry. It will be the best thing you eat in Paris on this trip. Easily.

AFTERNOONS If it is your first time to Paris, you must make the requisite museum visits … Musée d’Orsay, the Louvre, Musée de l’Orangerie and the newly reopened Picasso museum should be on your list of top choices. For a splurge worthy lunch, book (in advance) at Le Jules Verne, the Alain Ducasse restaurant located in the Eiffel Tower. Sweeping views of Paris accompany this bucket list meal to remember.

Do save time for shopping. You can easily spend a fortune in Paris but to find a wide variety, hit the world’s first department store, Le Bon Marché, at the corner of Rue du Bac and Rue de Sèvres. Along with its culinary counterpart, La Grande Épicerie

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TRAVEL

WEEKENDER

EVENINGS

SIDE NOTES

01 Arc de Triomphe Paris by night

… ah, where 02 Paris at night to begin. If you need a relaxation 03 United Airlines break before 04 Apartment getting your bedroom second wind, slip into the Dior Institut spa at Hôtel Plaza Athénée. Dinner at Le Violon d’Ingres or Thoumieux are classic options for a lovely Parisian dinner. A nighttime view of the Eiffel Tower is a must, even from afar. Cruise the Avenue des Champs-Élysées for a vibrant peek at Paris’ main drag, chock full of shops, restaurants and theaters, ending at the Arc de Triomphe. End the night with a casual nightcap at Le Caveau de la Huchette, a jazz club in the Latin Quarter, or go swanky at the sultry Hotel Costes.

General Information AlaCarte-Paris-Apartments.com BarduCentralParis.com CooknWithClass.com Facebook.com/LeCafeLivresParis Fleux.com Musee-Orsay.fr/en 03

Louvre.fr/en Musee-Orangerie.fr

MuseePicassoParis.fr/en Alain-Ducasse.com (Le-Jules-Verne) LebonMarche.com LaGrandeePicerie.com LesDeuxMagots.fr/en

Eat. Drink. Shop. Repeat. Enjoy!

CafeDeFlore.fr facebook.com: Le Bonaparte

Flamant.com facebook.com: Maison Du Chou DorchesterCollection.com

HOW TO GET THERE To maximize your time and comfort for a long weekend in Paris, hop on a red eye from United and fly their Business/First Class if you can. You’ll arrive well-rested and fed and feeling like a VIP. Being able to sleep in a chair that fully converts to a flat bed as you fly through the skies will change your life. You’ll be able to hit the ground running and get three very full days. You can sleep on the way home. 72 4L MAGAZINE | APRIL 2015

MaisonConstant.com/violon-ingres ThouMieux.fr CaveauDeLaHuchette.fr/2 HotelCostes.com United.com

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TRAVEL

DestinationCatalina LOCALE

PARADISE BEHIND THE CURTAIN …

SANTA CATALINA ISLAND BY ERIK H. MARTIN

Outlining the wrinkled coastline every evening, we watch in awe the colorful light show that the setting sun projects over San Diego. With the day’s final rays of sun warming our faces, we acknowledge our blessings while subtly casting out to the horizon our hopes for the future. More than 400 years ago, Sebastian Vizcaino stood atop Point Loma and did the same; thankful for the protection San Diego harbor offered his Spanish galleons and hopeful for what awaited him farther west. Like the winds that followed that November evening, Vizcaino’s fortune turned for the better. A strong, dry wind pushed the heavy, gray marine layer over the horizon’s edge and exposed a beautiful jewel to the northwest. The warm Santa Ana winds grabbed hold of Vizcaino’s canvas sails and lured him away from the harbor that Cabrillo had discovered 60 years earlier. As if they were divine guides, dolphins zigzagged abreast the bow for the 65 nautical mile journey until Vizcaino set foot upon Santa Catalina Island. As it was for Vizcaino, Catalina is often out of sight and, therefore, out of mind for us in San Diego. However, the island truly is a gem that should not be ignored simply because it is hidden by a screen of fog. The close proximity to San Diego, the exceptional hotels and restaurants, the quaint and fashionable town of Avalon, the rugged interior with its wild buffalo, and the beautiful coastline with its abundant marine life are only a few of the countless reasons to pull back that gray curtain and discover paradise in our own backyard.

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TRAVEL

LOCALE

02 WHERE TO EAT … Not to lose that magnificent vista, make your way to the Bluewater Grill for dinner and ask to be seated outside. Centrally located on the Avalon waterfront in the old steamship terminal, the restaurant’s view includes the historical Wrigley Mansion and Avalon Casino. The view really comes to life when the sun sets behind the mountains and forces the silk clouds above the restaurant to jump between pink, orange and red. With the sky overhead on fire and the warm, summer breeze making its 01

SIDE NOTES HOW TO GET THERE … A quick drive up the freeway and you’re on an inexpensive and comfortable Catalina Express catamaran that leaves Dana Point several times daily. When sitting in the comfort of the Commodore Lounge, the short trip is a breeze; the leather, reclining chairs, seat-to-ceiling windows, full-service bar, complimentary beverages and snacks and friendly cabin attendants are only a few of the attractive amenities the Catalina Express offers. The Catalina Express’ high-speed ferry cuts through the San Pedro Channel with ease and at a “slightly” faster pace than the earlier Spanish galleons, putting you in Avalon within only an hour and a half. If time is of the essence, an Island Express helicopter can gently set you down in Avalon within 18 minutes. Not only does flying expedite your arrival to paradise, but it also offers an exciting and spectacular bird’s-eye view of the coastlines. While soaring across the San Pedro Channel, whether from San Pedro, Long Beach or Santa Ana, it’s not uncommon to pass over a pod of a hundred dolphins and/or a mother gray whale assisting her newborn calf north. Approaching California’s ocean jewel from above is magical and truly complements the adventure and romance that define Santa Catalina Island. 01 Island Express 02 Golf Carting Catalina

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WHERE TO STAY … One could argue that The Avalon Hotel is the “heart” of Catalina. The centrally located, premiere boutique hotel is characterized first, and foremost, by its warm and accommodating staff. From the ladies at the front desk to the housekeeping staff and gardeners, everyone is genuinely concerned with making your stay the most comfortable and enjoyable. Whether it’s providing you with free snacks to take on your day excursions, presenting a beautiful cheese and wine spread in the evening and/ or sharing with you the unique experience of feeding the white, orange and gold koi fish with your bare hands, The Avalon Hotel “family” is truly exceptional. To match the beauty of its staff, The Avalon Hotel’s craftsman style captures the quaint, northwest character of the town itself. The Jacobean stained nightstands, desks and wainscoting embrace the deluxe bedding while stained-glass wall lamps and ceiling fans offer warm lighting to the cozy rooms. Upscale, custom bath amenities, including body butters and bathrobes, can be found next to the vessel sink in the white, vintage tiled bathrooms. Outside the rooms, with teak chairs, tables and lounges, the balconies offer an excellent place to relax with a glass of wine and look out over the ocean and Avalon Harbor.

General Information Catalina Island Visitor Center CatalinaChamber.com Catalina Express CatalinaExpress.com Note: Catalina Express offers free

travel on your birthday!

Island Express IslandExpress.com Note: Island Express offers 20 percent off

on your birthday and/or anniversary! The Avalon Hotel TheAvalonHotel.com Bluewater Grill BluewaterAvalon.com Steve’s Steakhouse StevesSteakhouse.com Catalina Auto & Bike Rental CatalinaIslandGolfCart.com Descanso Beach Ocean Sports KayakCatalinaIsland.com Santa Catalina Island Co. VisitCatalinaIsland.com

4Lmagazine.com

01Rooftop in Catalina 02 Kayaking the Bay 03 Avalon sunrise 04 The beautiful scenery

Experience Catalina’s coastline and marine life. Give your legs a break and put an end to your monotonous workout routine by making a kayak excursion one of your workouts while visiting Santa Catalina Island. Not only does Descanso Beach Ocean Sports’ kayaks afford you an excellent upper body workout, they also introduce you to the brilliant marine life that calls this coastline home; do not be surprised to see leopard sharks, harbor seals, dolphins, sea lions, pelicans and bald eagles while paddling along the rugged coastline. If your visit to Catalina is a holiday from both work and workouts, jump on Santa Catalina Island Co.’s Dolphin Quest excursion and speed alongside hundreds of dolphins and sea lions in a RIB (rigid inflatable boat) craft. Watch these playful gray, green, white, blue and black spirits swerve, dive and jump within arm’s reach. Or slow the pace down and see these magnificent animals and colors from below the surface on the glass-bottom boat Voyage.

presence known, a Serrano Margarita or Cucumber Mojito are two of the many specialty cocktails that will keep you cool while dining at the Bluewater Grill. Like the restaurant’s view, Executive Chef Randy Savoie keeps the food light and colorful with dishes like Grilled Artichoke with Pesto Aioli, Cilantro-Lime Steamed Mussels, Seared Scallops with Roasted Jalapeño Aioli and Lemon Pepper Mahi Mahi. Aware that it is a pristine coastline and marine life that supports the livelihood of Santa Catalina Island, Bluewater Grill only serves the freshest sustainable seafood on the market. If it’s a juicy steak that will satiate your hunger, The Rose Room at Steve’s Steakhouse delivers both a spectacular view and the best steaks on Catalina. The restaurant’s extensive wine list will most certainly complement any heavenly canvas Mother Nature decides to paint that night. Not to be outdone by The Rose Room’s fabulous view and its eclectic wine selection, Chef Frank Blair plates some of the best dishes on the island. The delicious Coconut Shrimp and Caprese Salad match the refreshing light of the setting sun while

the delectable bone-in ribeye steak lends itself to the romantic ambiance of The Rose Room. All of this–the view, the wine, the food– comes together perfectly because of Steve’s Steakhouse’s friendly and accommodating staff. WHAT TO DO … Explore the town of Avalon. Whether you arrive by sea or sky, the first thing you’ll notice about Avalon is that it is a charming little town almost the size of Solana Beach. Meandering about the palm treelined streets that cling to the harbor, you’ll find a colorful assortment of restaurants and art galleries. With its rustic piers jetting out from the fine, pebble beaches, its exotic, island backdrop and its iconic casino, it comes as no surprise that Avalon attracts artists from all over the world. Allow your inner artist time to create by renting a golf cart from Catalina Auto & Bike Rental and capturing the town’s splendor from all angles.

When sailing west toward Santa Catalina Island, Sebastian Vizcaino knew not what to expect. We, unfortunately, know the rat race that awaits us when we return east and pass through that veil of fog once more. Maybe … just maybe, it’s better that the gray screen hides the sight of paradise from us most days, so not to tease us. That doesn’t mean, however, that during the next sunset we can’t hope for those warm, dry winds to once again pull back the gray curtain and carry us back to that island paradise known as Catalina.

APRIL 2015 | Fully cultured, yet unshaven | 4L MAGAZINE 75

GADGETS & GEAR

REVIEWS

TECH ALL HANDS ON

BY CORY WATERHOUSE

The Tag Heuer Monaco V4 Phantom Price: $45K According to presenters: “Totally black.

Totally matte. Stylish. Uncompromising. Almost stealthy. Made entirely from carbon fiber, its case, which is equipped with the famous microscopic toothed micro-belt transmission (the size of a hair, no wider than 0.07 mm) with its linear weight which moves on a rail and its ball bearings: introducing the Monaco V4 Phantom. ...Only the jewels (a total of 48 stones in the movement) reveal discreet little touches of red.” 4L Magazine’s take: As it’s well documented, I’m a sucker for a cool looking timepiece, and this watch is about as cool as they come and at the low low price of a brand new, fully loaded SUV. TagHeuer.com

Aston Martin Thunderbolt Vanquish

Price: TBD According to presenters: “Designed by Henrik Fisker as

Dish Whiskey

Price: $16 According to presenters: “16 ounces of barrel-aged, charcoal-

filtered, whiskey-inspired sink soap. You know how cowboys used whiskey to clean their bullet wounds? Same concept.”

4L Magazine’s take: Don’t drink it. Bubble whiskey burps are the worst. Although, the soap does make the mac and cheese just fly off those week-old dishes. But again, don’t drink it, Bubble Breath.

ArcherMen.com

RIDICULOUS

LIST

a powerful GT coupe; this is his personal interpretation of how his Aston Martin V12 Vanquish coupe could look like. The Thunderbolt’s powerful exterior profile is the result of hand-laid, coach-built carbon fiber bodywork that incorporates Henrik Fisker’s characteristic design cues such as a clean body side with no creases and deeply sculpted air ducting...” 4L Magazine’s take: Scary fast and will probably cost more than my house. Diapers not included. AstonMartin.com

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4Lmagazine.com

Ray Universal Smart Remote

Price: $200 According to presenters: “Stop fiddling with your 97-button remote and

assume control of your living room again. Ray is a flying car for your television, a super remote to officially usher you into the future. And folks, the future is nice. Like, ‘touch the screen and you’re there’ nice. Rocking a visual user interface and one-touch technology, holding Ray is like transporting yourself to the year 2049 and then finding a television to watch season 38 of Empire.” 4L Magazine’s take: Pricey but a fantastic looking remote with a ton of upside. And only one remote for me to lose instead of four. www.Ray.co

HTC VIVE VR Headset Price: TBA According to presenters: “Imagine standing on the bridge of a

Sesame Smart Lock Price: $100 According to presenters: “Leave your keys behind: Just lock

and unlock your door using the Sesame app on your phone. Better yet, open Sesame with a custom knock on your phone or door. Your keys, reinvented. Share access: Allow guests in no matter where you are. Control who has access and when. Log records: Receive a notification whenever your door opens or closes. Installs in seconds: Simply tape Sesame to your door with a single strip of 3M Command tape (supplied). It fits your lock without removing or swapping anything. No tools required. Fits all deadbolts: Sesame works with just about any single cylinder deadbolt in the USA/ Canada/ Denmark/ Sweden/ Norway/ Singapore/ Japan/ Malaysia thanks to five-patented self-adjusting mechanisms. Long battery life: Sesame lasts about 500 days on lithium batteries (supplied), and sends a notification when the batteries are low.”

starship rocketing across the galaxy, or strolling through the streets of ancient Rome, or shrinking down to subatomic size and watching molecules collide. Now Re-imagine. HTC’s Vive headset, powered by SteamVR, pulls those virtual worlds off your computer screen and into your home. You’ll experience sights and sounds vivid and lifelike enough to transport you to another place, another time—whole new realities with limitless possibilities.” 4L Magazine’s take: When VR Headsets like this or the Oculus VR become available to consumers, then we can very distinctly point to THIS is when the robots won. And Matrix, Blade Runner, etc. … but I’m okay with it because this all looks really cool. Go Robots! HTCVR.com

4L Magazine’s take: I’ve been looking at these smart locks for years, and I think this might be the first I’m going to spend money on. Then again, it’s not like they’re just gonna send me one for free. Wink WINK. HINT. SesameLock.com

IF YOU’D LIKE TO HAVE YOUR PRODUCT REVIEWED BY 4L MAGAZINE, E-MAIL CORY@FOURELMAGAZINE.COM APRIL 2015 | Fully cultured, yet unshaven | 4L MAGAZINE 77

RHYTHM

MUSIC LISTINGS

S ’ Y R H ILAPICKS BY HILARY CHAMBERS

April 18 8:30 P.M. ILYA WITH THE MIDNIGHT PINE

Soda Bar

Gentle but still heavy, dark but ethereal, brooding and beautiful—the fact that Ilya embody a handful of musical contradictions is a big part of their appeal. Last year’s In Blood earned them great reviews, but it also just added to the exquisite torture of being a serious Ilya fan; their albums are few and far between. And their live shows? Even more sparse of late, because they’re busy. Some band members are in other bands (Manuok, Stewardess), some have kids, some are doing both. The bottom line is Ilya don’t play here in their native San Diego very often, so when they do, it’s worth making sure you are there to experience it. AND THEY ARE PLAYING WITH THE MIDNIGHT PINE, so get there early! Sorry for screaming, but it’s truly a perfect combination, these two bands. I can’t wait.

APRIL 18 9 P.M. BUCK-O-NINE

Casbah

If the downtempo darkness of Ilya isn’t your bit, strap on your dancing shoes and hit the Casbah for local ska legends Buck-O-Nine, also playing on the 18th. These guys have been a San Diego staple for decades now and still put on such a ridiculously fun live show. I first got into them in the early ‘90s—my college roommate Adam was B09 guitarist Jonas Kleiner’s little brother—and my love for them has only gotten bigger and sweeter over the years. Remember the summer that their ode to San Diego, “My Town,” could be heard coming out of every radio, car, and bar in the county? Now imagine screaming along to that as they play it with joyful abandon onstage at one of SD’s most legendary venues! Good times will be had. Treat yourself!

APRIL 22 8 P.M. DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS

Belly Up

Come hell or hiatus, Drive-By Truckers will continue winning over new fans and stoking out the old ones, regardless of their lineup changes, high-profile band member departures (Jason Isbell, for starters), and seemingly endless state of flux. Their awesomeness ensues because they are that good, thanks in no small part to the constant presence and deeply connected musical partnership of singer-songwriters Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley. Those two guide the SS DBT and anchor it at the same time, and we’re lucky they do, because the Drive-By Truckers continue to be one of the best live bands around. 2001’s Southern Rock Opera garnered them four stars from Rolling Stone, No Depression named them 2002’s Band of the Year, and 2014’s English Oceans proves they are as strong as ever (famed critic Robert Christgau called it “exceptional”). DBT at the BUT—it’s a no-brainer! 78 4L MAGAZINE | APRIL 2015

4Lmagazine.com

UPCOMING EVENTS April 10 - 12/2015 BROADCASTING LIVE FROM COACHELLA 2015 (performances, interviews and more) April 11/2015 FM 94/9 Loud@ Robert Delong Quartyard (Downtown) | 2 p.m. FM 94/9 is hosting yet another LOUD @, this time with Robert Delong at the new Quartyard (Downtown) on Saturday, April 11th at 2 p.m. This is a FREE SHOW. First come, first served Get there early! April 25/2015 THE 4TH ANNUAL RHYTHM & BREWS MUSIC AND CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL Historic Downtown Vista Village | Noon - 4 p.m. Once again Rhythm & Brews continues the tradition of bringing many of the nation’s most popular craft beers together with talented musicians in a beautiful outdoor festival located in the historic Vista Village district. The event raises funds for the San Diego Brewers Guild and Fight ALD.

VisitEscondido.com

May 2/2015 THE TACOS & TEQUILLA FESTIVAL University Ave. (30th to 32nd) | 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. The festival is a fun, interactive event celebrating the best margaritas and tacos in San Diego. Ten of the best mixologists in town will be serving complimentary samples of their signature margaritas, and ten of the best local restaurants will be serving complimentary signature tacos, with guests voting for their favorites. The winning restaurant will receive the coveted 'Golden Taco' award. The event also features a craft beer garden with multiple local breweries serving samples of great craft beer and live music from Scott Russo of Unwritten Law, Latin Grammy nominated artist Siddhartha, Azucar and a DJ set by Saul Q. The event benefits the Front Burner Fund.

Escondido may mean “hidden” but it’s no secret that there’s a lot going on here! Visit us online for the complete wine map, dining and a calendar of events! Visitors Center 235 East Grand Avenue Tuesday-Friday | 10am-4pm 760.839.4777

/VisitEscondido @VisitEscondido #Escondido

Get more into at fm949sd.com APRIL 2015 | Fully cultured, yet unshaven | 4L MAGAZINE 79

HOT WIRE MUSIC LISTINGS

CONCERT DATES

RHYTHM

BY ALYSSA THOMAS

4/9

JACKSON BROWNE California Center for the Arts

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4Lmagazine.com

4/3

THE USED House of Blues

4/1

PUNCH BROTHERS The Observatory North Park 4/1 8 P.M. PUNCH BROTHERS, The Observatory North Park The mandolin, fiddle, banjo, guitar and bass. Punch Brothers know the meanings of these instruments, combining them to create a beautiful contemporary bluegrass sound. Their style has been described as “bluegrass instrumentation and spontaneity in the strictures of modern classical.” 4/2 8 P.M. TV ON THE RADIO, The Observatory North Park Formed in 2001, TV on the Radio has yet to disappoint. Now recognized as one of the most acclaimed indie-rock bands of the 2000s, these Brooklyn natives have an experimental sound combining post-punk rock with indie-electronic music. 4/3 8 P.M. BONOBO, The Observatory North Park Simon Green, a.k.a. Bonobo, is a British musician, producer and DJ who has a major footprint in the chillwave, electronica/downtempo scene that you find yourself listening to over and over again. Breaking onto the scene in 1999, Bonobo gained a lot of attention touring with a full band playing live renditions of the studio recordings. 4/3 6 P.M. THE USED, House of Blues The hardcore scene in the early 2000s could not have been what it was if it wasn’t for these guys. The Used are an American post-hardcore band that carries tempos from slow and mellow, to hard and heavy. The guys signed on to Reprise Records in 2002, debuting their self-titled album that helped them rise to fame. Relatable to My Chemical Romance, Finch or Saosin, The Used always maintain their own separate style with that extra push of grunge, filth and DGAF. 4/3 7 P.M. THE SWELLERS, House of Blues This trio from Flint, Michigan, brings the pop-punk sounds of the late ‘90s with a cruising indierock twist. Influenced by bands like NOFX and Bad Religion, The Swellers really made a name for themselves touring with Paramore in 2009. 4/7 7 P.M. ANDREW MCMAHON, Belly Up Tavern The singer, songwriter and pianist for the bands Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin, Andrew McMahon has taken a journey in his own solo direction with his newest release, Andrew McMahon Into the Wilderness. The music maintains his usual hopeful and optimistic vibe, with a sound more reliant on electronic and synth.

4/9

INTERPOL

Humphreys Concerts by the Bay

4/9 8 P.M. JACKSON BROWNE, California Center for the Arts Like James Taylor and Joni Mitchell, Browne is one of the true classic musicians of folk rock to emerge in the ‘70s. The singersongwriter has now sold more than 18 million albums in the United States. Browne was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, with Bruce Springsteen announcing that although The Eagles were inducted first, that “He wrote the songs they wished they had written.” 4/8 8 P.M. KIMBRA, The Observatory North Park Featured in the song we all couldn’t stop humming, Gotye’s hit single “Somebody That I Used to Know,” Kimbra has since accelerated her personal music career as a singer-songwriter. The individual, indie-rock queen released her second album The Golden Echo that had fans raving about her enjoyable yet unpredictable music. 4/9 8 P.M. INTERPOL, Humphreys Concerts by the Bay Interpol has an ethereal and shadowy feel to their albums with a sound that makes sense from start to finish. They are one of the bands that were a major influence in the New York City postpunk revival, similar to Joy Division and The Strokes.

APRIL 2015 | Fully cultured, yet unshaven | 4L MAGAZINE 81

RHYTHM

MUSIC LISTINGS

4/12

MOS DEF

The Observatory North Park

4/12 8 P.M. MOS DEF AKA YASIIN BEY, The Observatory North Park One of the most iconic names to come out of the rap game in the ‘90s, Mos Def became known for his music with political purposes and beats. Mos Def has successfully gone where only few artists have gone before: the big screen. It seems that everything Mos Def touches turns to gold, whether it’s hip-hop, rock bands or movies. Born Dante Terrell Smith, he explained in September 2011 that the name Mos Def came from the streets and took him far but that it was time to move on and expand under the name Yasiin Bey.

4/9

THE PREATURES The Casbah

4/9 8:30 P.M. THE PREATURES, The Casbah The Preatures started as a Rolling Stones cover band, but their first EP, Is This How You Feel?, went gold in their homeland of Australia last year. Their sound has an upbeat, classic-rock tempo with the tight sounds of the snare drum and vocals reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac or The Pretenders. 4/10-11 & 4/17-18 ALL DAY COACHELLA VALLEY MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL

Empire Polo Fields, Indio

The annual two weekend, three day music festival has definitely made its mark as one of the most popular, go-to festivals in the nation! Coachella is known for its wide variety of artists who can range from electronic, indie and rock to hip hop. The festival welcomes an all-ages crowd to explore the five stages of live music and grounds covered in fascinating art installations.

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4/13 8 P.M. GRAMATIK, Belly Up Tavern This DJ/producer from Slovenia has officially made a name for himself here in the States. Denis Jasarevic, aka Gramatik, helped blow up the dub-step scene in 2009 after signing with Pretty Lights Music. He incorporates more of a classic hip-hop sound into the new age electronic music, with heavy basslines and groovy beats. 4/14 8 P.M. FATHER JOHN MISTY, The Observatory North Park The Casbah presents this Coachella Week show by former drummer with the indie band Fleet Foxes, Josh Tillman, who now has a solo career as a folk singer-songwriter. The music is beautifully written with soft and mellow melodies, and he has now produced a second studio album along with his many other side projects. King Tuff is also on the bill. 4/14 7 P.M. GEORGE EZRA, Belly Up Tavern His single “Budapest” topped the charts last year, quite the achievement for a 19-year-old. George’s surprisingly deep, soulful vocals pair perfectly with the pop-folk guitar, bringing a raw and emotional sound that carries far beyond his age. 4/15 8 P.M. TORO Y MOI, The Observatory North Park Toro y Moi has truly been identified as a staple in the chillwave movement. Chaz Bundick began mixing beats together in his home of South Carolina and created a couple albums’ worth of music that helped his debut release, Causers of This. Starting with more of a dreamy, chill vibe, Toro y Moi has begun to speed things up a bit in his new releases.

4Lmagazine.com

4/18-19

STEELY DAN

Humphreys Concerts by the Bay

4/26

KAISER CHEIFS House of Blues

4/30

THE DECEMBERISTS

The Observatory North Park

4/18-19 7:30 P.M. STEELY DAN, Humphreys Concerts by the Bay The 1970s American rock-jazz band is known for their diverse lyrics and chord sequences that are a cross of pop, jazz and rock ‘n’ roll. These legends were inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2001, have sold more than 40 million albums worldwide and are back on the road for a brand-new tour. 4/18 8 P.M. MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS, The Observatory North Park Emerging into the music scene in 2010, Marina describes herself as having a sound unlike any other emerging female artists, an “indie artist with pop goals.” The former choir singer from Wales brings wistful melodic music backing her pop star vocals and style. 4/18 8:30 P.M. BUCK-O-NINE, The Casbah Blowing up the ska-punk scene of the 1990s along with No Doubt and Voodoo Glow Skulls, Buck-O-Nine has the underground ska sound gone mainstream. After a seven-year break, the guys are back and on tour bringing the upbeat, party-hard attitudes that we ‘90s kids have missed so much. 4/23 8 P.M. PETE YORN, Belly Up Tavern Pete Yorn’s rise to fame was a bit of an alternative route, having written the entire score and the songs “Strange Conditions” and “Just Another” for the movie Me, Myself and Irene. From there, the Jersey native made a name for himself on the rock charts and has toured with Dave Matthews Band, Foo Fighters and R.E.M.

4/23-25

TRIBAL SEEDS

The Observatory North Park 4/16 8 P.M. RATATAT, House of Blues Casbah presents the New York City electronic-rock duo known for their live shows featuring psychedelic light shows and backdrops. Ratatat has produced massive hits such as “Seventeen Years” and has collaborated with artists like Kid Cudi, creating the iconic song “Pursuit of Happiness.” 4/17 9 P.M. BELLE AND SEBASTIAN, The Observatory North Park This seven-piece band has an eccentric, ‘60s pop sound with a successful career releasing nine studio albums while maintaining a steady fan base. Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Belle and Sebastian are touring America this year in support of their album Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance that was released in January.

4/23-25 8 P.M. TRIBAL SEEDS, The Observatory North Park A San Diego based rock-reggae band that is more influenced by Steel Pulse rather than Sublime? Sounds good to me. Tribal Seeds brings a more unique sound to the typical Southern California scene, being fresh and more spiritually driven. 4/26 7 P.M. KAISER CHIEFS, House of Blues This English indie rock band inspired by new wave and punk rock music first took notice in the UK before making a name for themselves here in the States with their hit single “Ruby.” Kaiser Chiefs created their own style of the fun-loving, recognizable ‘80s beats and sing-a-long lyrics. 4/30 9 P.M. THE DECEMBERISTS, The Observatory North Park Incorporating the stand-up bass, accordion and organ, The Decemberists have such a beautiful, mesmerizing sound to them. Colin Meloy’s vocals are exceptionally one of a kind. Their albums have a sincerity to them from start to finish with full-bodied, well-rounded melodies combining baroque and indie rock.

APRIL 2015 | Fully cultured, yet unshaven | 4L MAGAZINE 83

LOCAL EVENTS

HAPPENINGS

AROUND TOWN

BY CORY WATERHOUSE

APRIL 9-12

SAN DIEGO PADRES VS. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS Petco Park

Wallet: Check website for seat pricing Locale: East Village

84 4L MAGAZINE | APRIL 2015

According to presenters: “Catch the San Diego

Padres in their home opener series take on the San Francisco Giants!”

4L Magazine’s take: **NO JINX** Padres look great this year, he said with immense trepidation. I sure hope everyone stays healthy. (NO!? What the Hell?! WHY WOULD YOU EVEN MENTION THAT?!) I mean … GO Friars!

APRIL 10-11

VINDIEGO WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL NTC Liberty Station Wallet: Varies by event Locale: Point Loma

According to presenters: “VinDiego is about people coming together to

celebrate a shared passion; a passion for great wine and mouth-watering gourmet food.” MARCH 5-7

ARTSTOP: LATIN AMERICAN ART San Diego Museum of Art Wallet: Free after museum admission Locale: Downtown

4L Magazine’s take: I have the type of sophisticated palate that can’t distinguish a 1978 Henri Jayer Cros Parantoux, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru from week old grape juice that’s been sitting on my kitchen counter. Why yes, classy does rhyme with assy, why do you ask?

According to presenters: “ArtStops are 15-minute, staff-led tours at the

museum. This ArtStop explores Latin American art.”

4L Magazine’s take: SDMOA, amazing as always and continually making my 7-year-old daughter smarter than I am. As if that’s a stretch. Happy 7th birthday, Samantha!

APRIL 9

BATTLECAST

The American Comedy Company Wallet: $12 Locale: I Love (Gas) Lamp

According to presenters:

““Ever wonder who would win in a fight between Mega Man and Jack Bauer?” 4L Magazine’s take: Yeah, actually, I’ve never thought that either. But maybe Jack Bauer versus a drunk Kiefer Sutherland dressed as a vampire from Lost Boys? Now that I’d like to see.

APRIL 10-12

GOODGUYS MEGUIAR’S 15TH DEL MAR NATIONALS Wallet: $20 (general admission); $6 (kids 7-12); free (kids 6 and under) Locale: Del Martian Fairgrounds

According to presenters: “The Goodguys Meguiar’s Del Mar Nationals has

become one of the nation’s favorite automotive events! It’s a full weekend of roddin’ at the beach in ol’ Del Mar.” 4L Magazine’s take: Happy (Del) Martian Hot Roddin’, rootin’ tootin’, wait … were we not having a rhyming contest? Ye doth protest? OK … I’ll stop. APRIL 2015 | Fully cultured, yet unshaven | 4L MAGAZINE 85

AROUND TOWN

LOCAL EVENTS

APRIL 10

THE SPIRIT OF BAJA TEQUILA & WINE PAIRING DINNER The Westgate Hotel Wallet: $129 (tax and tip additional) Locale: Downtown

According to presenters: “Celebrity Chef Flor Franco will prepare

a six-course pairing dinner and tequila tasting. Fernando Gaxiola, the largest importer of Baja Wines, will pour premier wines from Valle de Guadalupe.”

4L Magazine’s take: I like tequila. One time I drank tequila with my wife in Puerto Vallarta, and then we went zip lining. The zip line employees were drinking with us. That probably should have been a subtle clue as to why the “experience” was so inexpensive. But can YOU say you vomited from hundreds of feet in the air? I didn’t think so.

APRIL 11

HEARTBREAK RIDGE RUN

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Wallet: $5-$75 Locale: Oceanside

According to presenters: “Heartbreak Ridge Run is an multiple

distance off-road running race held in the northwestern foothills of your Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.” 4L Magazine’s take: Gunny Highway will kick your ass if you don’t show up. If you don’t get that reference, show up anyway. There’s a rumor the lead actor from the film Heartbreak Ridge will be in attendance. This just in: That’s not a rumor, I just made it up. Carry on ...

APRIL 10-12

LA JOLLA HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S LA JOLLA CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE Wallet: $40-$325 Locale: La Jolla

“Set on the beautiful landscape of La Jolla Cove, this event features a variety of antique and classic cars.” According to presenters:

4L Magazine’s take: Another beautiful setting with classic cars … that they probably won’t even let me test drive unless I put my shirt on. A little elitist if you ask me ...

APRIL 10

SCHOLARSHARE’S TODDLER TIME: GARDEN HARVEST The New Children’s Museum Wallet: Free with admission Locale: Downtown

According to presenters: “Join us for a garden harvest! Explore your senses and

find out what’s growing in the museum’s organic garden! Touch fuzzy leaves, smell fresh herbs and help water our fruits and vegetables.”

4L Magazine’s take: Bring your kids down and show them that veggies don’t just magically appear next to the coriander cilantro hummus at Whole Foods. 86 4L MAGAZINE | APRIL 2015

APRIL 11

CAFE COYOTE PRESENTS MARGARITA 5K Wallet: $35-$50 Locale: Mission Bay

According to presenters: “Cafe Coyote presents the 2015 Margarita

5k run. Join us for a flat and fast 5k run on hard pack sand at beaches of Mission and Pacific Beach!” 4L Magazine’s take: Huh. Margaritas and running. What could possibly go wrong?

APRIL 11

BLUEGRASS DAY AT THE FLOWER FIELDS The Flower Fields Wallet: Included with admission Locale: Carlsbad

According to presenters: “Family and friends will enjoy a full day of

bluegrass music with the sounds of guitar, banjo and fiddle! This year we will have a number of bands.”

4L Magazine’s take: Well, since I live in Carlsbad, I’ll do just about anything to support my city. And bluegrass is about it. 4Lmagazine.com

APRIL 11-12

SAN DIEGO BOTANIC GARDEN ARTFEST San Diego Botanic Garden Wallet: Free with paid admission or membership Locale: Encinitas

According to presenters: “Featuring over 20 artists who will be showing and

selling their work including sculptors, painters, glass artists, potters, and gourd and fiber artists. Many of the artists will be providing interesting demonstrations of their craft.” 4L Magazine’s take: Gourd and fiber artists? I think I’m going just to figure out what that is exactly.

APRIL 11-12

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM San Diego Civic Theatre Wallet: $45-$80 Locale: Downtown

According to presenters: “Deep inside an enchanted forest, A

Midsummer Night’s Dream conjures all-ages magic each time it returns to stage.” 4L Magazine’s take: Again, a little culture never hurt anyone. Unless you’re growing it in a lab. Don’t do that.

APRIL 12

CAMPAGNOLO GRAN FONDO SAN DIEGO Little Italy Wallet: $55-$107 Locale: Downtown

According to presenters: “Southern California meets Italy in this

celebration of cycling, food and San Diego’s picturesque waterfront during the Campagnolo Gran Fondo San Diego.” 4L Magazine’s take: Given how heavy Italian food can be, a nap may be required between the cycling and picturesque waterfront ogling.

APRIL 12

TOM SEGURA

The American Comedy Company Wallet: $18 Locale: Gaslamp

According to presenters: “Tom Segura is a comedian originally from

Cincinnati, Ohio, though he was raised in too many places to list. His television credits include Conan, Comedy Central Presents (half-hour special), Showtime’s Russell Peters Presents and Live at Gotham!” 4L Magazine’s take: He’s really funny. Oh, and he almost died from a drug overdose. So, there’s that. APRIL 2015 | Fully cultured, yet unshaven | 4L MAGAZINE 87

AROUND TOWN

LOCAL EVENTS

APRIL 18-19

ANNUAL CORONADO FLOWER SHOW

Coronado Visitor Center and Historical Association & Museum Wallet: $5 Locale: Coronado

According to presenters: “The nation’s largest flower show under a tent

takes place in Spreckels Park, with flower exhibits, live entertainment and trophy presentations.”

4L Magazine’s take: My requisite Coronado posting. One more and I get the Jr. Mayoral Key for 2015.

APRIL 19

SAN DIEGO EARTH FAIR APRIL 18-19

OCEANSIDE CULTURAL ARTS FOUNDATION PRESENTS OCEANSIDE DAYS OF ART Wallet: Free Locale: Oceanside

According to presenters: “Oceanside Days of Art is a juried fine art festival

featuring over 100 local artists selling a variety of unique artwork including paintings.”

Wallet: Free Locale: Downtown

According to presenters: “Set in San Diego’s Balboa Park, the celebration of

planet Earth features a children’s parade, booths, educational exhibits, music and earth-friendly food!” 4L Magazine’s take: Let’s show our children this beautiful planet … that we’ve been trying to destroy for the past few hundred years.

4L Magazine’s take: Go get you culture on, you heathen toads.

APRIL 18

APRIL 24

Wallet: $30-$35 Locale: Hillcrest

San Diego Museum of Art Wallet: $200 (members); $250 (non-members) Locale: Downtown

TASTE OF HILLCREST

According to presenters: “More than 40 sumptuous restaurants will be

ART ALIVE 2015: BLOOM BASH

serving bites that are so delectable, they will have you feeling like a Culinary Attaché. From quaint cafés and budding bistros, to five-star dining decadence enjoy all the global cuisine Hillcrest has to offer.”

According to presenters: “BLOOM BASH is the official opening celebration for

4L Magazine’s take: Food. ‘Nuff said.

4L Magazine’s take: Time to pull up the couch cushions for that spare $200-$250.

88 4L MAGAZINE | APRIL 2015

Art Alive 2015, featuring floral interpretations of art from the museum’s collection, live music, food, drinks and more!”

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APRIL 2015 | Fully cultured, yet unshaven | 4L MAGAZINE 89

Donna Wettstein.

North County Specialist.

AN EXCEPTIONAL REALTORÂŽ FOR AN EXCEPTIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD. Donna helped me sell and buy our home. She is a top notch professional. She keeps you informed and definitely makes extra efforts to understand exactly what your needs are and meet them. She will go out of her way for you, and is a wonderful advocate. She sold my home in 5 days and found me a home before it even hit the market! We might not have gotten our dream home had she not went above and beyond what most agents usually do. Donna is amazing and I give her the highest of recommendations! Thao Le-Thanh Ha

My commitment to all of you is to work SMART and DILIGENTLY, paying special attention to YOUR individual desires and needs, and to make it a fun journey... YOU WONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T WANT TO MISS!

C: 619.884.1884 DonnaWettstein@yahoo.com EncinitasDreamHomes.com CalBRE: 01380900

APRIL 2015 | Fully cultured, yet unshaven | 4L MAGAZINE 91