Pacific Magazine Febuary Edition by Dan Caulfield

FEBRUARY 2012 PA C I F I C S A N D I E G O . C O M

KENDRA WILKINSON a san diego love affair

Photography: Tom Stoddart © MMVI Copyrights and Likeness of La Dolce Vita © International Media Films

{editor’s note {

BREVIN BLACH

whole lotta love SAME FRESH DRAFT TASTE.

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[January 2012]

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n mid-January, the PacificSD crew caravanned north to Calabasas, the discreetly chic Los Angeles suburb that’s been home to Britney Spears, members of the Kardashian clan and untold other celebrity train wrecks. Luckily for all of the Zip Code’s multi-million-dollar-home owners, the neighborhood now has a shining new glimmer of hope: the Wilkinson-Baskett family. Kendra Wilkinson and Hank Baskett invited us into their home for this issue’s cover and fashion photo shoot (see pages 46-53). And from the moment we carried our equipment across their threshold, the love binding this family was palpable. With glacial blue eyes and adorable, fly-away curls, two-year-old Hank IV is cuteness incarnate. His doting parents shower him with affection (as they do each other), speak to him gently and shush everyone when he’s napping. But once Little Hank hits the hay, we get down to business: changing outfits, retouching makeup, posing. And when the strobe blinks on, Kendra’s passion for her profession heats up—and she expresses her desire to catch the perfect shot. “Wait, wait, wait,” says the San Diego native while we’re shooting her hubby kissing her forehead. “If he’s kissing me on the forehead, it means he’s proud of me. If he’s kissing me on the neck, it means we’re about to f#ck. They’re really different. Which one do you want?” We wanted and got the latter (see page 52)—thanks to Kendra, Hank and the tireless film crew. This issue of PacificSD celebrates passion and pleasure in its many forms. Flex your love muscles, San Diego. (Not sure how? Learn how to Kegel on page 42.) XOXO — David Perloff, Editor in Chief

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vol.6

issue 02

february 2012

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

David Perloff EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Dean Lamanna

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Kenny Boyer

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Brevin Blach

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Brandon Hernández Patricia B Dwyer Lindsay DeLong Ryan Hume Catharine L. Kaufman Christine Pasalo Michelle Poveda Cookie “Chainsaw” Randolph Frank Sabatini Jr. Rebekah Sager James Norton Sergio Fernandez

PUBLISHERS

David Perloff Simone Perloff DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING

PROMOTIONS + CLIENT SERVICES DIRECTOR

Dana Schroedl dana@pacificsandiego.com Alyson C Baker alyson@pacificsandiego.com

MARKETING + EVENTS

Rob Corea rob@pacificsandiego.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Tim Donnelly tim@pacificsandiego.com Brad Weber brad@pacificsandiego.com

Reach 150,000 of America’s Finest readers via print, web and social media. Read, click, connect...BOOM! 619.296.6300 pacificsandiego.com, facebook.com/pacificsd Twitter@pacificsd

pacificsandiego.com

[FEBRUARY 2012]

P R O M O T I O N

sex & the city America’s Finest Facebook fans kiss and tell

With big prizes up for grabs at facebook.com/pacificsd, PacificSD readers raced to bare their souls (not to mention backsides), redefining “social media” by revealing intimate secrets about the weirdest places they’ve had sex in San Diego. Jennifer C.: In the bathroom at a gay bar on a Friday night with my boyfriend (I’m a girl). Roberto B.: Taxi cab w/ the driver driving. Angela A.: Sunset cliffs, like, on the cliffs. And I dropped my phone off the side of the cliff. Aaron T.: On the beach in broad daylight, in the sand surrounded by people in Coronado by the Hotel Del. Aaron T.: Then I got a ticket for rearending an off-duty Marine officer 30 min later...bummer. Anthony O.: That little outdoor area up in the shops in La Jolla. I think it’s called the Arcade. After a nice dinner, my girlfriend couldn’t wait till home to jump me, so she had me there. Alex L.: I haven’t had sex in San Diego yet, but if I was going to, a public beach would be funny. Cameron F.: One time, me and this

chick did it in my bed…no joke. Erica N.: My sister had sex in the bathroom of Newport pizza in OB. Oscar I.: This reminds me of a question a game host asked a couple on a show in the 70’s/80’s (not quite sure the year), the wife responded in the butt. will try to find the video and link it. hahahaha Penny A.: Remember, whatever you put out there never go’s away. Oscar I.: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=4XM5hbS7GlU Kelly D.: The ICU waiting room at the Grossmont hospital. Bob L.: In the parking lot of the SDPD Headquarters. Joey M: Is visiting in 3 weeks, so this thread is more “research” for me!! H.T.B.: Santee. Kym K.: Fifth and Broadway, in my car, on Mardi Gras weekend. There were beads everywhere.

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here

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[FEBRUARY 2012]

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content

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02.12

features 46

KENDRA: LOVIN’ LARGE

VALENTINE’S PLAY

The girl next door has gone Hollywood, but San Diego still claims her heart

From love-themed art shows and chick flicks to homegrown romance novels, here’s how to get more from the month of amour in San Diego

ON THE COVER AND THIS PAGE: Kendra Wilkinson was photographed by Brevin Blach at her home in Calabasas, Calif. Fashion Director, Simone Perloff. Styling by Mitra Hosseini. Hair by Kimberly Hill. Makeup by Allan Avandano. Photographer’s assistant, Dustin Michelson. Kendra is wearing a Cut25 silk chiffon appliqué, $530, Beckley Boutique, beckleyboutique.com; blue satin shoes by Steve Madden, $116, Tutto Cuore, tuttocuoreshoes.com. An inspired freelance fashion stylist, Mitra Hosseini is known for her boundless energy and eye for detail. Always up for a challenge, she founded Ask Mitra Styling in response to the growing demand for expert wardrobe styling and image consulting. “The best advice I’ve ever received was from my mother, and that was to be a good listener,” says Hosseini. “That’s been the key to how I’ve been able to give my clients the best service and the best of me.” Hosseini’s work spans from advertising and editorial to film and other projects involving celebrities. Her polished style draws new clients to her; her unwavering dedication to their needs keeps them coming back. mitra@askmitra.com

pacificsandiego.com

[FEBRUARY 2012]

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gift guide LUXURY LINGERIE AT AFFORDABLE PRICES This Valentine’s Day, let Baci Lingerie, the leader in affordable luxury, spice up your love life with the gift of glam. Guaranteed to make every girl feel like a princess… and, well, every guy feel like a king. Barnett Ave. Adult Super Store 619.224.0187, dejavu.com 3610 Barnett Ave., San Diego Déjà Vu Love Boutique 619.448.3791, dejavu.com 1560 N. Magnolia Ave., El Cajon

GOTTA LOVE A TEASE The CC Skye Lips pendant is one of our favorites! Representing our logo with the signature Lips image, this is one must-have item that Team Tease holds near and dear to our hearts. Help us spread the “Tease” love all over San Diego by wearing your lips, loud and proud. Available instore and online. You know you love us, XOXO. Tease Boutique 619.795.2690, teaseboutique.com 435 Island Ave., San Diego

SHARE THE PLEASURE THIS VALENTINE’S DAY Give the gift that keeps on giving with the new We-Vibe 3, today’s hottest sex toy. For the month of February, Dr. Love’s is offering a super low instore price of $159.00 (regularly $189.99). Hurry, this offer is only good while supplies last. Dr. Loves 858.270.7861 drloves.com 1155 Garnet Ave. Pacific Beach

pacificsandiego.com

[FEBRUARY 2012]

10 COLORS, 10 CHARITIES, 10 PERCENT Give your special someone the gift of giving this Valentine’s Day with Flex watches, as seen on MTV’s Real World. Sport this $30 watch in pink to help raise breast cancer awarenezs, and for every watch sold, Flex will donate a portion of proceeds to Keep-A-Breast.org. Get 15% off with promo code: PACIFIC. flexwatches.com

TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART Escape from the outside world, and find solace with your sweetheart during the ultimate “Lovers Night In” at W San Diego. Your Valentine retreat includes: Unlimited Movies, decadent hand crafted chocolates from local artisan Eclipse Chocolatier, in-room sparkling station complete with a bottle of champagne, real fruit compote mixers and some unexpected elixirs and a specialty REN Clean Bioactive Skincare Kit including 4 of REN’s most popular products. Book now for stays February 9 – February 19, 2012 or call 877 782 0104 and ask for rate plan LAPKG. From $229 per night. The W San Diego Hotel 877.782.0104, thewsandiegohotel.com/bemine 421 West B Street, San Diego

DROP YOUR INHIBITIONS AND EMBRACE YOUR INNER DIVA Bad Kitty Photography is San Diego’s leading boudoir photography studio. From classic pin-up to Playboy styles, they know exactly how to get the shot and make you look and feel stunning. They have over 20 custom designed sets for all tastes in their 2,500 square-foot professional warehouse studio. Bad Kitty Photography 619.589.6494, badkittyphotography.com 5555 Jackson Drive, La Mesa

pacificsandiego.com

02.12

contents

pacificsd

C U R R E N T S 25 FIRST THINGS Anjelah Johnson, Doritos Super Bowl, Titanic exhibit

Too Cool for School An abandoned bus in Baja inspires cross-border creative drive

Lust-See Attractions Cookie “Chainsaw” Randolph spies the mating habits of celebrities and athletes

Byte Me Local matchmaking services seek to tenderize the meet market

What a ’Gaz! How to stroke and stoke your libido—and achieve sure-gasmic results

Simply Red Hue can’t go wrong with these colorful Valentine’s gifts for her and him

TA 63

S T E Appetite for Seduction Eat enough of these aphrodisiacs, and you may have to unbutton your pants

Eat Your Heart Out New restaurants accelerate the pulse of San Diego’s dining scene

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[FEBRUARY 2012]

G E N E R AT E

pa ge

departments

Bring the ’Pagne Tavern at the Beach gives the mimosa a testosterone- fueled makeover

G R O O V E 77 Nicki Minaj, The Cranberries, Young the Giant, Concert Calendar

Crystal Peers Pacific Beach bartender unites colleagues for community good

D AT E 86 Call of the Wild Using animals to create animal attraction

C A L E N D A R 94 TWO.TWELVE February event listings T H I N K 98 A KISS GOODBYE Valentine’s wishes from a San Diego lover

Former MADtv regular Anjelah Johnson brings her comedy, including signature characters Tammy the manicurist and Bon Qui Qui the fast-food clerk, to the Balboa Theatre Feb. 11.

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nailing it Meet a comedian who plays a manicurist with a Qui Qui side

G E N E R AT E

sk Anjelah Johnson to name her passions, and she lets slip a warning chuckle. “When I was younger, I loved different sports and I was a competitive cheerleader,” says the 29-year-old comic performer, who brings her standup routine to the Downtown’s Balboa Theatre February 11 (sandiegotheatres. org). “I used to go to the gym all the time and take kickboxing. Now, instead of abs, I have a husband.” A former Oakland Raiderette Rookie of the Year (2002), Johnson has worked as an actor in movies and TV sitcoms (Our Family Wedding, Curb Your Enthusiasm) and as an animated feature voiceover talent (Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel, Marmaduke). (Continued on page 26)

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[FEBRUARY 2012]

DeepBlueSee With the tragedy of the Italian cruise liner Costa Concordia in the news, and the 3D version of Hollywood’s biggest box-office hit, Titanic, preparing to set sail this April for the 100th anniversary of its namesake’s demise, there’s no avoiding that sinking feeling. Get a fascinating historical uplift at “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition,” opening February 10 at the San Diego Natural History Museum (sdnat.org). Passenger cabin re-creations and a 40-foot replica of the ship’s hull will showcase 200 artifacts—including unbroken perfume vials and au gratin dishes (pictured)—from the more than 5,500 items salvaged from the shipwreck since the mid-1990s. Most significantly, the exhibition, by telling the stories behind the objects, preserves the passions of those who built and boarded the great ship while reaffirming our love of the sea. —Frieda Noone

TYLER DIXON

pacificsandiego.com

T I TA N I C : T H E A RT I FA C T E X H I B I T I O N

G E N E R AT E

(Continued from page 25) But Johnson is best known for her stint as a regular on the late-night sketch-comedy series MADtv, where she honed two signature characters: Tammy, a nosy, persistently up-selling Vietnamese nail salon manicurist, and Bon Qui Qui, a rude fastfood counter clerk. Both have become YouTube sensations, racking up tens of millions of views. It’s a big deal for Johnson, who moved to Los Angeles just nine years ago and dipped her toe into comedy through a weekly class sponsored by her church—the first place she introduced her nail salon sketch. “It’s crazy how this character I’ve been doing since I was a kid blew up and catapulted my career to where it is now,” says the San Jose native, who’s of Mexican and Native American descent and draws her humor “from everyday existence. It’s easy to pull from ethnic issues, because that’s what I deal with.” A self-described “clean comedian” with a love for God that has informed her life, Johnson admits that her faith and “funny” are sometimes at odds. “I talk about whatever is on my mind and in my heart,” she says, confessing to being tempted to speak her mind too freely via Twitter, Facebook and her own website, anjelah.com. “However, I’ll censor myself if I think the general religious population won’t be okay with it. But sometimes [slipping into Bon Qui Qui-speak], I don’t care who likes it and who don’t.” Chances are that her husband of eight months, Manwell Reyes, a member of the Christian hiphop band Group 1 Crew, cuts her some slack. With the couple often touring separately, they cherish their time together. “One of my favorite things to do is sit on my couch with Manwell in our pajamas and watch TIVO’d episodes of Criminal Minds,” Johnson says. “It’s our way of unwinding.” Meanwhile, she’s gearing up in February to reintroduce a newly stylized, rap-singing Bon Qui Qui—with a new single on iTunes called “Im’a Cut You” and an accompanying music video. Admits Johnson: “I have a new respect for weaves.” —Dean Lamanna

Last year, La Jolla native Tyler Dixon spent $82 producing a mock TV ad that wound up airing to a Super Bowl audience of millions. Titled “The Best Part” and entered into the Doritos Crash the Super Bowl Contest, it depicted an office worker who’d lick Doritos chip residue off anything (or anyone). The weird-as-hell yet hilarious spot was voted to the top three finalists. It didn’t take the cheese. But with that taste of nearvictory (and a considerably bigger budget), Dixon set out again this year—his eye on the million-dollar prize and the opportunity to work with a comedy troupe led by Andy Samberg (of Saturday Night Live fame). To defeat the odds once more and beat 60,000 other entries, Dixon turned to strategy—considering carefully what tickles Americans’ funny bones. Stupid dog tricks? Check! Obstacle courses? Check! Handlebar mustaches? Um…check! He then created a doggie obstacle course on the grounds of his old elementary school, The Evans School in La Jolla, and enlisted several teachers and their canines. And he recruited friends as actors, including longtime pal Shane Thueson, whom he told to shave his beard into a handlebar mustache. Lo, his sharply written and edited new Doritos commercial entry, “Dog Park,” has cracked the Top 5 in this year’s contest. Voting is open to the public until the end of January, so Dixon won’t know if he’s a winner until the Super Bowl on February 5—when the five finalists will be watching the game live at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis from a swanky Doritos skybox. View the big chew right now at crashthesuperbowl.com. —Lindsay DeLong

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THE BUS STOPS HERE: Youngsters from a village in Baja, Mexico (lower right), measured their inoperable school bus for San Diego’s NewSchool of Architecture and Design, whose students created concepts for its use as a library (below and right).

too

for school

An abandoned bus in Baja inspires cross-border creative drive B y Christine Pasalo

ost kids dread the sight of a yellow bus. But for Akash Patel and Ian Torbett, high school juniors at Carlsbad’s Pacific Ridge School, one such transport stranded in a remote Mexican fishing village is a vehicle of promise. Last April, in search of a education-related service project, Patel contacted family friend Richard Kiy, president of International Community Foundation (ICF), a National Citybased organization that promotes philanthropy across the border. Kiy pointed Patel toward a rusty, broken-down bus, abandoned near a schoolyard in Ejido Luis Echeverría Alvarez, a community on the shore of San Ignacio Lagoon, located about halfway between San Diego and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The vehicle’s backstory 28

pacificsandiego.com

[FEBRUARY 2012]

fascinated and touched the Patel. Until several years ago, the village’s youth—to continue their education beyond middle school— rode the bus two hours to a high school in the nearest main town. When the vehicle broke down, there were no funds to repair it. Learning this, Patel and schoolmate Torbett hit on an idea that would both utilize the stuck bus and deliver needed education to the village’s heart: convert the old chassis into a gleaming new library and community center. Calling the endeavor “Project Bus,” they reached out to San Diego’s NewSchool of Architecture and Design (NSAD) for ideas. NSAD adjunct faculty member Carlos Graizbord and a student architect group led by Leslie Ryan, chair of NSAD’s Landscape Architecture Program, responded enthusiastically—creating practical yet environmentally compatible concepts for the bus. With the

village’s exposure to coastal winds and 100-plus-degree temperatures, designs included a sturdy shade structure to protect the vehicle and its library stock as well as their users. Solar panels atop the sail-like A-frame roof would provide the center with sustainable electricity, while pathways paved with native shells and landscaping comprised of indigenous plants would integrate the facility into its natural setting. Patel notes that the final design selection rests with the village. “We need the community’s input,” he says. “It’s their project, first and foremost.” Patel and Torbett also need funding to realize their vision. So far, using ICF’s website (icfdn. org), they’ve raised about a third of the roughly $30,000 it will take to convert the bus. “It’s been rewarding,” says Patel. “Even if I have to sacrifice socializing with my friends, it’s worth it.”

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Lust-See

Attractions

An insider’s peep at the mating habits of celebrities and athletes

By Cookie “Chainsaw” Randolph PHALLUS IN DALLAS There is considerable debate among anthropologists over whether or not Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom are of the same species, with the general belief that Lamar is the human. In the absence of DNA testing, we project a sex life consistent with a specimen the size of a power forward—same goes for Lamar. Another debate rages over whether or not Khloe shares the same father as Kim and Kourtney. If she isn’t a biological match, then mother Kris must have dallied with a gigolo of actual wit and intelligence during her marriage to the late O.J. enabler, as Kim and Kourtney’s combined IQs recently topped out at negative 59.

SCHWING AND A PRAYER

Denver quarterback Tim Tebow is a devout virgin (and will remain so until marriage, we presume). Because he’s never been caught in the act, picturing him having sex requires imagining his origin. To many believers, particularly in Florida and Colorado, Tebow’s was an Immaculate Conception: the long-awaited “second coming.” However, there is a dissenting faction of academics who contend Tebow was conceived via a conventional biological position consistent with his parents, who were missionaries.

HEAVY

PETTING Not surprisingly, professional quarterback and former canine pugilism promoter Michael Vick was conceived doggie-style. However, the terms of his probation prohibit him from engaging in that particular method himself. Rather, Vick is required to do it PETA-style, which sadly for all concerned, is meatless…and fur-free.

STICK IT IN YOUR EAR

Oscar-winning deaf actress Marlee Matlin, perhaps best known for lip-reading at a party for George Costanza on Seinfeld, is strictly into aural sex. It wasn’t always that way with Ms. Matlin— she had a more conventional sex life until her long-time relationship with a famous actor ended back in the ’90s, because William Hurt.

FUNNYBALL

Decorum dictates that I veil my suspicions of Brad Pitt’s marital relations, having not witnessed them first-hand (my hidden camera ran out of batteries, dammit), but I suspect both he and his wife could be watching Ellen at the same time, and Brad would be closer to the set.

Cookie “Chainsaw” Randolph dispenses a similar brand of insight on The Dave, Shelly & Chainsaw Show, weekday mornings on 100.7 JACK-fm.

pacificsandiego.com

[FEBRUARY 2012]

Huddling

to the Oldies Medic-alert your grandmother— Madonna to headline Super Bowl Halftime Show

In keeping with its long-standing tradition of presenting half-time acts that are at least 25 years past their prime, the NFL is foisting the legendary diva Madonna upon us for the big game’s intermission on February 5. The so-called “Material Girl,” who first gained prominence during the first Reagan administration, is currently receiving thrice-daily hormone injections from a 24year old French dancer, who is not FDA-approved. Always looking ahead, the NFL has already booked Katy Perry for the half-time show in 2045, to be followed by the Jonas Brothers in 2046. The league was hoping to secure Justin Bieber for the 2047 game, but Mr. Bieber is already headlining the continental breakfast alcove at the Bullhead City Comfort Inn that weekend. This year’s national anthem will be sung by American Idol season one winner Kelly Clarkson, who is expected to provide a well-rounded, fullbodied performance. Ms. Clarkson won’t be the only American Idol alumnus working the game. Season five winner Taylor Hicks will be selling churros in the upper deck; and the first attendee who recognizes season nine winner Lee DeWyze while forking over the $50 parking fee at the stadium entrance wins a free $2 scratcher from Piggly Wiggly.

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eHarmony.com

With 30,000 new signups daily and a whopping 32 million members exchanging 15 million messages every day, this free website has become a top online dating destination—proving that anyone can have a lure.

Boasting more “relationships and more marriages than any other site,” Match.com is the grand dame of online dating. About 29 percent of members are under the age of 30, 51 percent are 30-49, and 20 percent are 50plus. The eldest of the three groups is also the fastest growing, suggesting Boomers can be late-bloomers.

According to eHarmony, an average of 542 people (in the U.S.) get married each day thanks to the company’s online dating interface. Additionally, the site claims to have helped 1.13 million 20-54 year-olds make sweet music in the form of committed relationships.

f the bar scene, Craigslist personals and lame introductions foisted on you by friends and family have failed to produce viable BF or GF material, quit procrasti-dating already—and get in touch with these San Diego relationship pros who’ve built their companies on creating the chance for romance. (Continued on page 34)

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[FEBRUARY 2012]

{currents }



first thin g s cooltur E

Welcome to the dark side…

chainsaw

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I t S tarts with C offee Founded: early 2011 Age Range: youngest member, 28; oldest, 75 Cost: $49 per month and up (month-to-month contract) itstartswithcoffee.com Shortly after getting married, Nicole Bhagate created a social group for married women with single friends in the hopes of helping to find mates for the unbetrothed among them. The overwhelming response from single women propelled Bhagate and her husband Vinay to launch It Starts with Coffee, a matchmaking service intended to fill the gap between national dating sites and more personalized (ergo, more expensive) boutique companies. It Starts with Coffee members discuss their ideal mates with staff matchmakers, who then arrange coffee dates with promising prospects. Follow-up interviews are conducted after each date to evaluate compatibility, ensuring the next cup of joe is richer and sweeter—or darker and more bitter, depending on clients’ wishes. “Our members are professionals who work late and don’t have time to browse online profiles or attend parties,” says Vinay. “We take the work out of dating for them.”

GREAT MUSIC

DAILY DRINK SPECIALS

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pacificsandiego.com

[FEBRUARY 2012]

S tan and J eannette L i u T railbroo k P hotography

Expect the Unexpected

L uck y 7 M atch Founded: 2004 (purchased by current owners in 2010) Age Range: varies by event; events for 30-40 year-olds are most popular Cost: Free to $50 lucky7match.com When he bought Lucky 7 Match (with financial partner Rich Mino) two years ago, Reza Garajedaghi saw an opportunity to expand the company’s services beyond speeddating events to include a variety of singles’ gatherings. Today, San Diegans on the hunt for romance can visit lucky7match. com to sign up for a weekly newsletter, which notifies them of upcoming social events based on their age. Garajedaghi prefers this system to the use of personal profiles. “Online, you can spend all this time talking to someone, and then meet and realize that person isn’t for you,” he says. “With our events, you know instantly whether or not there’s a connection.” (Continued on page 36)

J anice C u i

BIG BEERS + SMALL PRICES

GREAT FOOD + YUMMY CROWD

(Continued from page 32)

…where the beer flows, and the Gaslamp’s wildest party never ends

facebook.com/maloneyssandiego

Nicole and Vinay Bhagate, owners of It Starts With Coffee

{currents } first thin g s

Shore Club loves you.

(Continued from page 34)

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lusty app-etites Phone-friendly programs that call for a tap of the fingerâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; and the desire to hit â&#x20AC;&#x153;Enterâ&#x20AC;?

F it T o g ether . com Founded: 2009 Age Range: 25-35 Cost: Free fittogether.com Three years ago, Scott Bowen left a corporate IT career to create FitTogether.com, a social network that combines his love of fitness with his knowledge of technology. Bowen describes his brainchild as â&#x20AC;&#x153;a social platform that extends beyond the Internet to bring together fitnessoriented individuals.â&#x20AC;? After creating online profiles that list their favorite sports, hobbies and interests, FitTogether members can communicate with each other via private messages or directly on their profiles. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s LinkedIn meets Facebook...almost meets Match.com,â&#x20AC;? Bowen says. (Continued below)

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[FEBRUARY 2012]

grindr.com

Though Bowen doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t market the site as a dating service, he acknowledges that it has helped forge relationships based on common interests. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If it allows people to find someone to keep them warm during those cold winter nights,â&#x20AC;? he says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;then so be it.â&#x20AC;?

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what aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;gaz! How to stroke and stoke your libido TO achieve

sure-gasmic results

B y C atharine L . K aufman

oes tantric sex require a mastery of yoga? Is it okay to do Kegel exercises while driving? Are pills the only answer to impotence? For those seeking to up the quality and quantity of their sexual (Continued on page 40) relations, local experts reveal the bare facts.

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[FEBRUARY 2012]

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MONDAY

5 - 10 PM $5 Burgers

8 - 10 PM Trivia Prizes Every Week! $12 House Beer Pitchers $5 Jameson $3 Kamikazes

(Continued from page 38)

THURSDAY

Boner-Operated Business

5 - 10 PM BBQ NIGHT $13 10PM - CLOSE OUT - N - PB Free Apps Until 11PM $3 House Beers $3 Vodka Drinks $3 Whiskey Drinks

Sooner or later, every guy will know the heartbreak of a reluctant wiener. According to medical wizard Dr. Mehmet Oz, by the time a man reaches 40, he has a 20 percent chance of experiencing erectile dysfunction (ED)—with an additional percentage point tacked on every year. Pills like Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, which increase blood flow to the penis by affecting levels of penile muscle-controlling nitric oxide, have been the preferred remedy for more than a decade. Possible drawbacks: cardiovascular complications, loss of vision or hearing, headaches and erections that won’t quit. San Diego-based specialty pharmaceutical company Apricus Bio is pushing an alternative prescription ED treatment called Vitaros. Unlike other medications, it is a topical, applied to the tip of the penis with an eyedropper-like dispenser. “Vitaros is free of serious contraindications,” says Edward Cox (no kidding), vice president of corporate development and investor relations at Apricus. Side effects, he adds, are “generally mild, transient and topically related. Vitaros doesn’t cause blurry vision or hearing loss, and it produces an erection in 10 to 30 minutes, on average, that lasts about an hour.” Cox says Vitaros is ideal for men with diabetes, hypertension and other cardiac issues; those taking nitrates and alpha-blockers; and prostatectomy patients. The drug has been approved in Canada and will be available there through Apricus partner Abbott Laboratories this year. Apricus is working with Warner Chilcott to get it approved in the U.S.—certainly uplifting news. apricusbio.com (Continued on page 42)

FRIDAY

TUESDAY

5 - 10 PM CRAB DINNER $19

WEDNESDAY

5 - 10 PM UNCORKED & UNPLUGGED 1 / 2 Off Bottles of Wine 10 PM - CLOSE KARAOKE NIGHT $3 House Beers $3 Jameson $3 Fire Ball

10 : 30 PM - CLOSE DJ MUSIC

SATURDAY

10 : 30 PM - CLOSE DJ MUSIC

SUNDAY

10 PM - CLOSE 1/2 Off Bar tabs for Industry Peeps

HAPPY HOUR

MON - FRI , 3 - 6 PM 1/2 Off Appetizers $3 House Beers $3 Well Drinks $5 Sangrias

pacificsandiego.com

[FEBRUARY 2012]

APRICUS BIOSCIENCES

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{currents } first thin g s cooltur E chainsaw

SPORTS REPORT

workin ’ it

bod y

San Diego’s place for co-ed sports leagues, happy hours and social events

shoppin g

CHAMPIONS CORNER: NOVEMBER CHAMPIONS CORNER: DECEMBERWINNERS WINNERS Kickball in Old Town - Ballociraptors Kickball in Robb Field - Sons of Pitches Soccer in San Diego HS - The Outsiders Soccer in Bayview Elementary - FC San Diego Soccer in Bayview Elementary - Billy No-Mates Softball in Nobel - Makin' It Rain Softball in Presidio - Depot Bombers Softball in Mission Bay - Saved By the Balls Volleyball in Ocean Beach - 4 Play on the Beach Volleyball in Ocean Beach - Kiss My Ace

“TEAM” of the MONTH: Liz and Greg! After meeting through VAVi’s 2009 Gutterbowl league, Liz and Greg’s recent engagement shows From Sunday Funday sports in motion and earned themtoDecember’s Kickball Wednesday “Team” of the month. CONGRATULATIONS! Dodgeball, this team

has fought the fun “We had everyand Thursday fightgames together and by the third week or so earned themselves Gutterbowl resulted in mine team of the month! and Greg’s first official date.” - Liz

WINTER SPORTS: MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN! NEW SPORTS: CORPORATE COMBAT NEWIN YEAR in SPORTS: SUNDAY FUNDAY! Designed for local companies that want to bring employees together outside of work to play sports, socialize and compete as a team against other businesses, Corporate Combat leagues are the hottest new thing in sports.

pacificsandiego.com

THROW? SWING? do you play?

[FEBRUARY 2012]

(Continued from page 40)

Harmonic Converging

TEAM of the MONTH: Park Your Battleship Here

KICK?

HOT FOR TEACHER: Pacific Beach-based relationship coach Kamala Devi teaches tantric lovemaking techniques.

BUMP? govavi.comgovavi.com

Tantric sex, a lovemaking method developed in India during the 5th century, is a hot topic on the lips of today’s Hollywood glitterati. Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Sean “Diddy” Combs—and, most vocally, Sting—are among the devotees of this erotic approach, which views sex as a spiritual, intimacy-boosting sacred act. “Tantric sex marries yoga practices in intimate settings and generally refers to long, slow gazes, breathing in unison, meditation and visualization,” says Kamala Devi, a sacred sex and relationship coach in Pacific Beach. “It is divineness merging with all of a person, instead of just physically or emotionally.” Devi recommends setting a blissful, multisensory mood: light candles or incense, put on music and clearly communicate to your partner what you want to create during lovemaking. Next, begin “centering” exercises—prayer, meditation or eye-gazing. Then add massage, dance, chanting or partner yoga to heighten energy. Finally, listen to each other’s creative intuition as you both become open vessels, with source energy moving through you. blisscoach.com

Main Squeeze A “Kegel” is not a Jewish noodle casserole (that’s kugel). It’s an exercise created 60 years ago by Dr. Arnold Kegel, a University of Southern California gynecology professor, who saw the need to help women reduce urinary incontinence and ease childbirth. Kegel exercises involve repeatedly squeezing the pelvic floor (or Kegel) muscle that controls urine flow, thereby strengthening it. Doctors recommend holding the squeeze for three to 10 seconds, doing 10 contractions three times a day. Benefits of the internal flexing for both sexes include increased blood flow to the genitals, improved vaginal tone and ejaculatory control, and longer-lasting erections. “Kegel exercises are not only therapeutic, but also have recreational use,” says Dr. Johan Brahme of the La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre. “They increase sensitivity and heighten arousal for both partners.” Best of all, you can limber up your love muscle discreetly— anywhere. So why not add a little rhythm to your morning commute? ljcsc.com

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

“Amazing Fat Loss Secret Discovered From A 297 Pound Pizza Delivery Dude Vaporizes Unwanted Pounds And Inches With Shocking Quickness”

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Hi my name is Rob Gordon and I’m going to share a little know fitness and fat loss secret with you. Despite all the “misinformation” out there and what the “experts” say, you don’t need to suffer through strict diets or spend 3 hours a day in the gym to look and feel amazing. And it doesn’t have to take several months or even years to drop those pesky pounds that are keeping you from fitting in your “skinny jeans” as they sit in your closet collecting dust. In fact you can vaporize up to 7-9 pounds in just 14 days. And I’m going to prove it to you over the next two weeks with the amazing 14 Day Fat Flush. It’s a two week boot camp style workout and “non-diet” food plan designed for fast fat loss. I’ve discounted the 14 Day Fat Flush to just $67 bucks for Aracelis lost 20 lbs in 2 months the awesome Readers of Pacific San Diego Magazine

BOOTCAMP AFTER

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The workouts will take place at TRC Gymnastics M, W from 7 - 7:30 pm T, Th from 6-6:45 am And Saturdays At Carmel Valley Rec Center at 7am So if losing weight and getting real results real fast is for you, then this is a match made in heaven. But as much as we’d like to, we simple don’t have room for everyone, so stop what you’re doing a secure your spot right now by calling 858-218-4971 or emailing getfit@rippedbodybootcamp.com before they’re all gone. Dedicated to your health, Rob Gordon

Learn More By Calling a 24/hr Free Recorded Message at 858-997-2345 Call 858-218-4971 and start your 14 Day Fat Flush now or call our 24/hour recored message at 858-997-2345 To learn more. Call or Email in the next 24 hours and receive a FREE 30 minute “Utter Relaxation Massage” From Sarah’s Massage

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760-743-0140

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pacificsandiego.com

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Key to Her Heart Lock-in your love with this sterling silver Tiffany & Co. pendant, inlaid with red enamel and presented on a 16inch chain. Also available in 18K rose gold with diamonds. $125 Tiffany & Co. Fashion Valley Mall tiffany.com

SIMPLY

Red Hue can’t go wrong with these Valentine’s gifts for her and him B y R ebekah Sager

hatever your significant other’s passion or guilty pleasure, present it on February 14th in a romantic shade of red.

for her

Pump Up the Volume She’ll walk tall on these 5 1/2-inch pumps (4-inch heel plus 1 1/2-inch platform) by Yves Saint Laurent, combining functionality and fabulousness with a red suede body and patent vinyl cap-toe. $795 Neiman Marcus Fashion Valley Mall neimanmarcus.com

Ear You Go Give her the gift of not having to listen to your B.S. with these precision-tuned, noise-canceling studio headphones from Beats by Dr. Dre. $299.95 beatsbydrdrecom.com

Lip Service A kiss is just a kiss, until she’s wearing this hot little pucker: Rouge Dior, Christian Dior’s ultranourishing, longwearing formula in 32 haute couleurs. $32 Sephora University Town Center, La Jolla sephora.com

Rose to the Occasion Two dozen long-stemmed roses with rhinestone flair—if you can’t score a smooch with this bouquet (from a San Diego company), it’s time to find a new Valentine. $69.99 (plus shipping; check website for specials) Pro Flowers proflowers.com

Be My Valentime This Phosphor Appear watch sparkles with Swarovksi crystals that change position to show the time. Set hers 15 minutes slow, and she’ll never know you’re late. $249 phosphorwatches.com 44

pacificsandiego.com

[FEBRUARY 2012]

Get His Engine Revving Powered by a 500-horsepower V-8, this (entry-level) 2013 Bentley Continental GT goes zero to 60 in five seconds, which is sure to make him fall fast in love...at least with the car. $250,000 (give or take) Symbolic Motors 7440 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla symbolicmotors.com

for him

Boy Toy He’ll always be itching to play with his BuckyBalls—216 ultra-strength earth magnets touted as the most addictive (and stress-relieving) desktop toy on the planet. $39.95 getbuckyballs.com

Ready—Oar Not He’ll never have to stop and ask for directions when navigating this Hobie Mirage Oasis tandem kayak, featuring dual pedal-powered propellers for hands-free gliding. $2,749 Fast Lane Sailing Center 2610 Ingraham St., Pacific Beach fastlanesailing.com

Seeing Red Deep-six his surf-bro shades you’ve always hated and replace them with these newly updated, yet somehow forever classic, Carrera Gipsy Aviators. $127 Sunglass & Optical Warehouse (three San Diego locations) sunglassoptical.com

Board to Death When your beau needs a break (from you?) let him kick, push and coast to his heart’s desire aboard this 2X Plat Carbonite skateboard set-up from San Diego’s own Sector 9. $295 sector9.com

What’s in Store Make him the ultimate mix tape by loading 56,000 of your favorite songs (or up to 320 hours of video) onto this 256 gigabyte Kingston USB flash storage drive. $749.98 buy.com

for himorher Oh, Sweetie! Melt his or her heart while getting things fired up with this box of 22 aphrodisiacal bonbons and truffles from Chuao Chocolatier. $59 Chuao Chocolatier (three San Diego locations) chuaochocolatier.com pacificsandiego.com

Kendra Lovin’ Large The girl next door has gone Hollywood, but San Diego still claims her heart By Dean Lamanna

P hotography by

Brevin Blach

F ashion D irector

Simone Perloff S tyling by

Mitra Hosseini H air by

Kimberly Hill M akeup by

Allan Avandano P hotographer ’ s assistant,

Dustin Michelson 46

pacificsandiego.com

N ON KENDRA: Silk tank by Enza Costa, $100, Beckley Boutique, beckleyboutique.com; necklace, stylist’s own. [FEBRUARY 2012]

pacificsandiego.com

hat’s not to love about Kendra Wilkinson? Popular E! reality TV star. Former Playboy Mansion fixture (and ex-Hugh Hefner girlfriend) with the infectious laugh. Selfbranded business woman. Fearless Dancing with the Stars wind-breaker. Erstwhile tomboyish grade-schooler who once asked a Ouija Board if she’d ever have big boobs. (The answer: “Y-E-S.”) Add “loud-and-proud San Diego native” to the love-her list of this ingratiatingly earthy, nearethereally sexy 26-year-old guy’s gal, and you’ve achieved celebrity nirvana. “I love San Diego!” says Kendra, who grew up in Clairemont and spent many fun times (and more than a few irresponsible ones) hanging out around Mission Bay and hitting the San Diego County Fair. “There’s no other city like it…and I know, because I’ve been in a lot of different places. It’s like a big small town, with so much to offer. Everybody’s active, everybody’s outside. I always lived on the beach—it’s in my blood. Life couldn’t get any better than living in San Diego.” While Kendra’s mom, brother and grandmother still reside here, and she visits America’s Finest whenever she can, she’s busy making a home for her own family—husband Hank Baskett, a free-agent professional football player, and their two-year-old son Hank IV—close to the production headquarters of her reality TV show, Kendra, and other business interests in the Los Angeles suburb of Calabasas. And it has become her most important role. “This is our first home together as a family,” Kendra says. “Before Little Hank was born, my husband played football and never had a long-term contract. So we were bouncing all over the country, living out of our suitcases. It was an adventure—we lived in South Jersey, in Indianapolis—but when the baby came, it wasn’t so fun anymore.” When it came time to resettle in Los Angeles last year, the clan looked at many spectacular homes, but none appealed to Kendra’s nesting instincts more than their present digs on a cozy cul-de-sac in a secured community (one she feels best approximates the qualities of San Diego). “It’s comfortable and balanced for all of us,” she says of her five-bedroom mansionette, with its large, grassy backyard, luxe pool and spa, and plethora of flowering shrubs. “It’s very kid-friendly, yet it’s also adult-friendly. Little Hank has his playroom, and we have ours.” Kendra and hubby call the latter, formerly an upstairs guest suite, their “man cave.” “It’s our sex room,” she explains matter-of-factly. “It has fuzzy walls and Hank’s football helmets everywhere, plus a

big-ass screen TV. There’s a place for my stripper pole. Hank and I love to keep things fun; we love games. And we put a lock on the door.” Not that the adjacent master bedroom, sporting romantic touches like genuine African wedding baskets on the walls, doesn’t see its share of action. “We give each other massages,” Kendra says. “We use oil and it leads to other stuff, so having a massage table in the bedroom is very important. After two years of marriage, you’re not going to just be like, ‘Oh, I love you, baby—let’s light some candles.’ We love candles, but we also like to play with lingerie.” Valentine’s Day is extra-special for the pair: each year, the Wilkinson-Basketts go to the Big Island of Hawaii to relax and watch whales leaping from the sea. “It’s the most romantic thing ever,” she says. Fun and romance are spousal essentials. But Kendra also acknowledges that marriage and motherhood have shifted her priorities. “I had lived to the fullest since my early teens,” she says, referring partly to her old, often drug-fueled partying days (chronicled explicitly in her recent bestselling memoir Sliding into Home). “Then I had a crazy, fun time at the Playboy Mansion. At twenty-four, I was ready to get married and have a kid—I didn’t see the point of going and partying for nothing anymore.” Marrying Baskett in June 2009, and giving birth to their son six months later, was “the piece that was missing to my life,” Kendra says. “Now it’s time for me to provide for Little Hank. And I will do whatever it takes to make sure his road in life is paved 100 percent right.” While Kendra awaits word from E! on a possible fifth season of her show (a ratings blockbuster when it debuted three years ago), she’s anything but idle. She’s overseeing interior decorating at her home and blogging constantly on her website, kendrawilkinson. com. And she has just developed and launched a line of adult romance products, LoveCandy, in partnership with Evolved Novelties—now available online (mylovecandy.com) and in stores. Have she and Hank fully road-tested LoveCandy’s sexy scents and lickable lotions? “Of course!” she laughs. Kendra thanks none other than Paris Hilton for inspiring her business sense. “When I was on [the Playboy Mansion-set reality series] The Girls Next Door, seeing her business side encouraged me step away on my own. While I loved Playboy and Hef, I learned how to brand myself as Kendra.” And she likes where her evolution has led. “I was a straight-up tomboy growing up in San Diego—and I went from that to an adult dancer to the Playboy world,” Kendra says. “I’ve never been a girly-girl, but I still have a sexy side of me that I’m going to keep in the spotlight. And that side will never fade away.”

KENDRA IN A CAN: The reality TV star’s new adult product line, LoveCandy, includes aphrodisiac-infused body lotions and linen sprays.

“What makes Hank special is that he goes out and 48

pacificsandiego.com

[FEBRUARY January 2012 2012]]

N ON KENDRA: Cut25 silk chiffon appliqué, $530, Beckley Boutique, beckleyboutique.com; blue satin shoes by Steve Madden, $116, Tutto Cuore, tuttocuoreshoes.com. / ON HANK: Suit, fedora hat, both Hank’s own; t-shirt, $25, My Sister’s Closet, mysisterscloset.com.

hand-picks flowers just for me.” pacificsandiego.com

N ON KENDRA: Herff Christiansen tank, $58, Sass & Bide “Coming Back Shorts,” $495, Beckley Boutique, beckleyboutique.com; Lips necklace by CC Skye, $83, Tease Boutique, teaseboutique.com; beige satin shoes by Steve Madden, $116, Tutto Cuore, tuttocuoreshoes.com.

50 50

pacificsandiego.com pacificsandiego.com

[[January FEBRUARY2012 2012 ]]

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hank and I have date nights, which could be just going out and sitting on a bench or getting some ice cream together.â&#x20AC;?

N ON KENDRA: Adolfo Sanchez Rosa wool vest, price upon request, Adolfo Sanchez Designs, adolfosanchezdesigns.com; black Lagoon Bodice by One Teaspoon, $166, Tease Boutique, teaseboutique.com; Pleasure Doing Business stripe pleated skirt, $250, Beckley Boutique, beckleyboutique.com; Tony Bowls bangle bracelet, $36, tonybowls. com; Andrea lace pumps, $63, Tutto Cuore, tuttocuoreshoes.com. / ON HANK: Friar Tux, $149, Friar Tux Shop, friartux.com; white button down shirt, $60, Stile Italiano, stileitaliano.com.us.

pacificsandiego.com pacificsandiego.com

51 51

â&#x20AC;&#x153;My husband goes to bed with me every single night and wakes up with me every single morning. He knows who I truly am.â&#x20AC;? 52

pacificsandiego.com

[FEBRUARY 2012]

N ON KENDRA: Herve Leger dress, $1150, Beckley Boutique, beckleyboutique.com; beIge cuff, $55, Cecilia Boutique, ceciliaboutique.com. / ON HANK: Black t-shirt, Hankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own. pacificsandiego.com

alentine B y

P atricia

B .

D wyer

From love-themed art shows and chick flicks to homegrown romance novels, hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how to get more from the month of amour in San Diego

P 54

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[FEBRUARY 2012]

lay

alentine ’ s AFFAIRS OF THE ART

“PACE AND LOVE” BY SARAH STEIBER, COURTESY OF CIRELLO GALLERY

Peaceful Chaos Paintings by Sarah Stieber Feb. 11 – Mar. 6 Cirello Gallery 3803 Ray St., North Park cirellogallery.com Passion becomes adventure in Sarah Stieber’s paintings as she douses her subjects—nude and seminude couples embracing, flirting and laughing—in vivid color. The striking images create a carefree aesthetic that exudes lust and love.

Sculpture in the Garden & Valentine’s Evening at the Garden Feb. 14 (sculptures on display now through Apr. 16) San Diego Botanic Garden 230 Quail Gardens Dr., Encinitas / sdbgarden.org Spark Valentine’s Day romance with a sunset stroll (5-8 p.m.) through San Diego Botanic Garden’s “Sculpture in the Garden” exhibit, featuring the works of 26 regional artists set amid the park’s 35 lush acres. (The pieces on display are for sale, with proceeds benefiting the foundation that maintains the beautiful property.) Cap the evening at the Garden’s soiree, offering champagne, hors d’oeuvres, chocolates, live entertainment, mood-setting music and a souvenir photo of you two lovebirds. Price: $75 per couple.

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COURTESY SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY

A Valentine’s Romance San Diego Symphony / Feb. 10–11 Copley Symphony Hall 750 B St., Downtown / sandiegosymphony.org Tony Award-winning Broadway star Jennifer Holliday (Dreamgirls) and powerhouse film and stage composer Marvin Hamlisch (The Way We Were, A Chorus Line) combine creative forces for this performance straight from the heart.

Tony Bennett Feb. 16 / Pala Casino Spa Resort 11154 Hwy. 76, Pala / palacasino.com

M an u el R otenberg

Find out why your parents (and their parents) fell in love with the eternally hip crooner Tony Bennett—the 15time Grammy winner whose signature song is “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”—when the former World War II infantryman brings his smooth, jazzy stylings to Pala Casino right after Valentine’s Day.

Romance San Diego Ballet / Feb. 10–12 / Lyceum Theatre 79 Horton Plaza, Gaslamp / sandiegoballet.org See passion in motion, and love personified, in the graceful lifts and leaps of this compilation of highlights from San Diego Ballet’s past seasons. Directed by famed choreographer Javier Velasco, the eclectic program will feature selections from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo et Juliet along with numbers set to the vocals of Nat King Cole and Patsy Cline.

LOVE (LIVE)

Art Laboe’s Super Valentine Love Jam Feb. 18 / Valley View Casino Center 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., Sports Arena valleyviewcasinocenter.com A legendary voice on the radio since the 1940s, the boundlessly energetic Art Laboe will introduce this cavalcade of funky and soulful acts including Zapp, Rose Royce, Heatwave and The Originals—proving that loveinfused “Oldies” (and the antique disc jockey himself ) never fall out of fashion.

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A dolfo P é re z B u tr ó n

Lila Downs 2/26 / Balboa Theatre 868 Fourth Ave., Gaslamp sandiegotheatres.org

Hailing from Oaxaca, Mexico, singer-songwriter Lila Downs adds dashes of jazz and blues to traditional Mexican music to create a passionate celebration of her heritage. Performing in Spanish and English, Downs’s powerful delivery invariably draws vocal accompaniment—and tears—from her audiences. ¡Te quiero!

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ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

Kisses on the Bottom Paul McCartney Debuts Feb. 7 Paul McCartney’s latest album is a loving ode to his musical influences, with endearing covers of songs by Fats Waller, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole, as well as appearances by Eric Clapton and Stevie Wonder. The album also features two McCartney originals, including the jazzy “My Valentine,” which is rumored to be the song McCartney sang to his wife Nancy at their wedding last October.

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W.E. Opens Feb. 3 T he W einstein C ompany

In this fantasy drama, pop-star-slash-movie director Madonna stays behind the camera to spin the tale of how England’s King Edward VIII (James D’Arcy) relinquished his throne in 1936 to marry an American divorcee (Andrea Riseborough). The story is told from the perspective of a present-day woman (Abbie Cornish) whose extramarital affair and obsession with the historic pair color her vision of romance in ways even Madonna’s own trespasses couldn’t.

The Vow Opens Feb. 10

S ony P ict u res

Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum star as a young married couple who get into a car wreck that leaves the wife amnesic and unable to recognize her spouse. The plot chronicles hubby’s attempts to help his mate remember him and their love. (That nagging sense of déjà vu you’re feeling can be sourced to McAdams’ similarly tear-jerking 2004 drama The Notebook.)

Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds Opens Feb. 24

L ionsgate

The tireless one-man brand known as Tyler Perry has written, produced and directed—and taken the male lead in—this feel-good flick about an engaged businessman whose brush with an office cleaning person (Thandie Newton) changes his life. The protagonist’s unlikely connection with this single mom leads him to question his values and what he’s sacrificed in the pursuit of wealth, showing him that the path to true happiness is anything but tidy.

Wanderlust Opens Feb. 24 Universal P ict u res

This R-rated yukfest from the makers of Role Models stars Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston as uptight Manhattanites who, finding themselves unemployed, flee The Big Apple for Atlanta—only to wind up in a swinging 1970s-style commune. Devoid of urban stress (and most forms of dress), they’re free to be themselves and to find out if they’re romantically broken as well as being broke.

MULTIPLEXUAL RELATIONS pacificsandiego.com

alentine ’ s

Romancing the Tome As if San Diego weren’t sexy enough, the city also happens to be a hotbed for romance novelists. With about 100 members, the local chapter of Romance Writers of America (RWA) claims a chunk of the $1.3 billion national romance publishing market. Yearning, lust and sex are what launch these novelists’ paperbacks off store shelves, but at least one of the group’s writers doesn’t cop to being so calculating. “Whenever I write a romance, I don’t think about adding in the sex scenes at the end,” says HelenKay Dimon, who has penned 28 titles, including the Mystery Men series from Harlequin Intrigue. “They are intrinsic to whatever else you’re writing.” Despite their reputation for cookie-cutter plots and clichéd couplings, romance novels encompass many subgenres. Books range from Amish love to erotica, gothic to steampunk, mystery to historical, and plain-old gay and lesbian. There’s even a NASCAR series. As with the romance novel’s TV equivalent, the soap opera, no setting, course of action or character type can be deemed too outlandish. “Whatever kind of love story you like, you can now find a million books,” says author Lisa Kessler, RWA San Diego Chapter president. As in every publishing market, the romance novel survives on basic quality. Compelling prose and strong narratives are crucial. And key to its contemporary target audience (women, age 30 to 54), female protagonists are no longer helpless heel-breakers—they are independent and strong-willed. “We still might have those fantasies of wanting to be saved, but in today’s romance novels the heroine isn’t waiting for the guy to save her,” notes successful local author Christie Ridgway, whose titles include Berkley Sensation’s Can’t Hurry Love. “She will do a lot of the saving herself.” While the scenarios may change, the bodice-ripping siren song of romance novels remains the same. And they always have a happy ending. rwasd.com

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QUAFF SAN DIEGO HOMEBREWERS + WIDMER BROTHERS BREWING Raise a pint to the next round in the Rotator IPA Series. Rotator Spiced IPA is a special collaboration with fellow brewers at QUAFF San Diego Homebrewers Club. Inspired by chai tea, the recipe yields unexpected treats for IPA lovers. An impressive 7 hop additions and notes of black tea and spices combine for a taste like no other. Prost to brewers!

AVAILABLE NOW

DINING OUT

DRINK

{taste{

B y F rank Sabatini Jr. / photos by brevin blach

APPETITE FOR

Seduction hink of them as moisturizers for our libidos, those everyday foods believed to rouse romantic energies because of their shapes, flavors and nutritional properties. Aside from their supposed hormone-pumping effects, some carry the extra benefits of calming nerves, restoring nutritional deficiencies and preserving healthy cells with payloads of antioxidants. So forget the Spanish Fly this Valentine’s Day season and bite straight into these luscious aphrodisiacs instead.

Eat enough of these aphrodisiacs, and you may have to unbutton your pants

Oysters

In addition to their high levels of zinc, a key mineral in testosterone production, these slippery bivalves boast the natural flavors of saline and butter with a snip of fruitiness on the finish—bewitching the palate and, in some cases, the eyes. “Anytime I can watch my date slurp something, I’m in,” says Chef Anthony Sinsay of Harney Sushi, who just introduced oysterchampagne shooters (made with sustainable oysters from Carlsbad Aqua Farms) in cucumber-basil consommé. Sold in trios, these love shots get their tickling effervescence from champagne and extra sweetness from local apple mignonette. $7 during happy hour; $11 thereafter 3964 Harney St., Old Town, 619.295.3272 301 Mission Ave., Oceanside, 760.967.1820 harneysushi.com (Continued on page 64)

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Avocados

It wasn’t some sex-crazed hedonist who dubbed them “testicle trees”—it was the (sex-crazed) Aztecs who originally noted the way avocados hang from their branches in pairs. The creamy green fruit has since been framed as more than just a visual suggestion of sex, given its superior measures of oleic acid for heart health and stamina, Vitamin A for maintaining good vision (and accurately sizing up new romantic prospects), and Vitamin B6 for regulating hormone balance. At Candelas in Coronado and Downtown, the spell is cast through the Estructura de Aguacate starter: whole Haas avocados, halved and stuffed with lime-marinated scallops, shrimp and crabmeat and given a sensual top-off of cilantro cream and mango vinaigrette. It’s an appetizer that challenges couples to stay in their seats for the remaining courses. $12 416 Third Ave., Gaslamp, 619.702.4455 1201 First St., Coronado, 619.435.4900 candelas-sd.com (Continued on page 66) 64

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(Continued from page 64)

Coriander

If your affection for another goes unrequited, take a cue from the ancient Chinese by making a love potion from coriander (a.k.a cilantro seed). Even easier, nudge the person into ordering channa masala at Ashoka the Great, which uses cilantro seeds as a main ingredient in the aromatic sauce covering garbanzo beans. The vegetarian dish also features fresh ginger, another organic touted for its aphrodisiacal oomph. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But the coriander has to be there for making a fragrant masala,â&#x20AC;? says manager Jagrup Singh, who imports the spice from India. The seeds are pulverized with cardamom, cinnamon and black peppercorns and start releasing their charm (and antioxidants) faster than you can play footsie under the table. $9.95 9474 Black Mountain Rd., Ste. G, Mira Mesa 858.695.9749, ashokasd.com (Continued on page 66) 66

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(Continued from page 66)

FIGS

Common to the fabled Dionysian orgies of ancient Greece, voluptuous figs hit the taste buds with a fleshy texture and honeyed nectar that can turn unsuspecting humans into amorous spring bees. Fibrous and full of potassium, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re known to alleviate fatigue, which plays favorably for post-dinner romance. Look no further than The Fig Tree CafĂŠ in Hillcrest for mouthfuls of the sexy fruit set within a mantle of buffalo mozzarella, prosciutto and zippy arugula. For obvious shows of affection, Chef Alberto Morreale assists by shaping the pizza crust into a darling heart. $14.95 416 University Ave., Hillcrest 619.298.2010, figtreecafehillcrest.com (Continued on page 70) 68

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DINING OUT

Savor your Sunday.

Sunday Supper 5:00-10:00pm, $29 per person

858.454.0771 1132 Prospect Street, La Jolla, 92037 ď Źď Ť

lavalencia.com

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Chocolate

The mother of all aphrodisiacs shows up in a new collection of Valentine’s Day indulgences by wholesaler San Diego chocolatier David Bacco, who insists his heart-shaped sweets “work just as well for males.” Indeed, studies have proven that macho brains enjoy the same stimulating punch from chocolate as women, thanks to the superfood’s hefty levels of phenethylamine (a.k.a. “the love drug”). Bacco’s latest creations include Incantato, made with milk chocolate, passion fruit and caramel; plus Captive, which combines the chocolate with mango ganache and balsamic reduction. Fall under Bacco’s sweet spell on Valentine’s Day, when he works his chocolate magic into each phase of a four-course, $65-per-person prix-fixe menu at South Park’s Sea Rocket Bistro (6 and 8:30 p.m. seatings on Feb. 14). His products are available at Jonathan’s in La Jolla, Seaside Market in Cardiff, Albertson’s in Del Mar and Harvest Ranch stores. 9888 Waples St., Sorrento Valley 888.560.5535, bacco-chocolatier.com 70

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Breakfast, Lunch, Sunday Brunch Mon.-Fri.: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday Brunch: 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

farm to table... IjWhj oekh ZWo _d ijob[ Wj 8Wo >e¼i A_jY^[d *'*&" m^[h[ Xh[Wa\Wij" bkdY^ WdZ XhkdY^ ][j ]ekhc[j jh[Wjc[dj W]W_dij W Yepo" h[\h[i^_d] XWYaZhef$ ;n[Ykj_l[ 9^[\ Akhj C[jp][h¼i c[dk _i Zh_l[d Xo ^_i Z[lej_ed je \Whc#\h[i^" beYWbbo fheYkh[Z [Z_Xb[i WdZ i^Wf[Z Xo Ykb_dWho i[di_X_b_j_[i ^[ Z[l[bef[Z m^_b[ cWdd_d] j^[ ^_]^#fheÄb[ a_jY^[d Wj B$7$¼i 8_ijhe *+$ C[jp][h m_bb XWjjb[ Y^[\ Yedj[ijWdji WdZ ekjbWdZ_i^ _d]h[Z_[dj cWi^#kfi ed Wd kfYec_d] [f_ieZ[ e\ j^[ <eeZ D[jmeha¼i ^_j h[Wb_jo Yecf[j_j_ed 9^eff[Z$ ?d j^[ c[Wdj_c[" ijef _d \eh W jWij[ e\ j^_i h_i_d] ijWh¼i i[WiedWbbo Zh_l[d \Wh[$

KITCHEN 4140

4140 Morena Blvd. (in Bay Ho)

San Diego, CA 92117

858.483.4140

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barleymash and ginger’s 600 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp barleymash.com, gingerssandiego.com Whiskey Girl sauntered a block south last month, making way for Verant Group (Brewley’s Pint, Offshore Tavern, Sandbar Sports Grill, Tavern at the Beach, True North Tavern, West Coast Tavern) to install not one, but two new concepts at the intersection of Fifth and Market, Downtown. barleymash, a resto by day and entertainment venue (live music, DJs) by night, is devoted to all things barley: beer, bread and bourbon. Downstairs, a metro-sensual martini bar called ginger’s promises to be a sophisticated escape from the frenetic Fifth Avenue bustle. The twoin-one venue is set to open in March. 72

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heart out

a ur sta New re

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f the economy’s hurting, local restaurateurs must not know about it. Collectively, they’re expanding America’s Finest restaurant repertoire, opening more new eateries, bars and lounges than at any time in the last halfdecade. Soup’s (and a whole lot more’s) on.

DINING OUT

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Gabardine 1005 Rosecrans St., Point Loma Chef-turned-restaurant mogul Brian Malarkey (Searsucker, Burlap, Gingham) is re-stitching the fabric of the San Diego dining scene, one ’hood at a time. Fresh off his conquest of La Mesa via his beefy, beery new restaurant, Gingham, he’s set his sights on Point Loma for his next eatery, Gabardine. Former Sea Rocket Bistro chef Chad White will command a shipshape crew in rolling out a fleet of seafood delicacies. Gang Kitchen 346 Sixth Ave., Gaslamp gangkitchen.com The coal-fired pizza at BASIC in East Village and URBN in North Park earned restaurateur Jon Mangini a piece of the local restaurant pie. Now he’s using his noodle to bring a totally new concept to life. Enter East Village’s Far East-inspired Gang Kitchen (opening this summer), a steely, touched-up warehouse design akin to his initial venues. Artsy graffiti-esque décor will set the tone for a panoply of traditional flavors from various Asian cultures—including pho (soup), rangoons (dumplings) and Shanghai beef—plus a variety of sakes and themed specialty cocktails.

Lucky’s Lunch Counter 338 Seventh Ave., East Village luckyslunchcounter.com, culywarehouse.com, blockno16.com The expansive Culy Warehouse by Petco Park is getting an extreme makeover. A project by Ty Hauter, and produced by his company, Good Time Design (co-owner and managing partner of 1st Street Bar, Bootlegger, Bub’s at the Ballpark, Double Deuce, Knotty Barrel, RT’s Longboard Grill and The Tipsy Crow), the new hospitality mega-plex will feature three venues under one roof. Lucky’s Lunch Counter will serve overstuffed deli and giant pork tenderloin sandwiches, extreme salads, gourmet hotdogs and hearty soups. A larger chunk of the overall square-footage will become the new Culy Warehouse event space. And the big daddy of the trio is Block No. 16 Union & Spirits, a multi-level entertainment venue (with a 35-by-25’ LED wall larger than the Jumbotron at Petco) intended to rival Southern California’s premier nightclubs and concert halls. The entire project, set to open in May, will hold up to 2,100 people at a time.

Puesto Mexican Street Food 1026 Wall St., La Jolla eatpuesto.com Tijuana meets La Jolla at Puesto Mexican Street Food, the Village’s new fast-casual, slow-food eatery, offering a heightened and authentic south-of-the-border experience. Beginning February 10, all-natural ingredients will be the foundation for tacos and other traditional indulgences, boosted by house-made salsas and modern design. Raglan Public House 1851 Bacon St., Ocean Beach raglanpublichouse.com PJ Lamont and Matt Baker, coowners of Bare Back Grill in Pacific Beach and Downtown, are taking a variation of their successful, 100 percent organic beef burger-centric concept to Ocean Beach. Named after the New Zealand beach town of Raglan, Raglan Public House is slated to open early February, giving Obecians a casual gathering place for “bloody good” food and craft beers as they’re served in the Kiwi motherland.

Craft Every Moment

Discover more on Facebook. ®

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Bring the

’Pagne Tavern at the Beach gives the mimosa a testosterone-fueled makeover

by B randon H ernández P hoto by brevin blach

t’s Super Bowl Sunday, and you’re doing barroom calisthenics (i.e., 12-ounce curls, vodka presses, shot puts) with your bros in preparation for the big game. The odds in Vegas are still being finalized, but the odds of your ordering a flute of champagne are already set—at about three million to one. The biggest sporting day of the year is no time to get your man card pulled.

But mimosas taste so good! Man up with a Manmosa at Tavern at the Beach. The Pacific Beach hotspot spikes the classic drink by throwing out the orange juice—and throwing in more alcohol. A brawny brainchild of Tavern managers Dave Franklin and Vince Swircz, the Manmosa sets champagne afloat on a sea of Shock Top (an orangeinfused, Belgian-style wheat ale), adding extra kick with orange-flavored vodka. “It’s like having two drinks at once and it fits into any time of day,” says Swircz. With potency and the ability to go the distance, this drink has serious crossover appeal. “It’s for dudes for sure,” says Franklin. “But you know the ladies… they always want what they can’t have.” Tavern at the Beach 1200 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach 858.272.6066 tavernatthebeach.com 74

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New Year. New You.

Lychee-teenie A lightly sweet flavor of Asian lychee fruit mixed with Voli Vodka and Monin Agave Nectar creates a fruity, lowcalorie martini alternative.

each

Introducing the Lychee– teenie, Skinny Ninja and Thin Ginger —three new skinny cocktails just in time for the holidays

Available

and the New Year.

Skinny Ninja A light and refreshing twist to a local favorite made with Voli Lyte Vodka mixed with fresh

through Feb. 29

flavors of yuzu, pink grapefruit,

For a limited time, RA’s

Monin Agave Nectar, and

skinny cocktails are just

herb. May seem light but will

shiso, a basil-minty Japanese still creep up on ya’.

$8. Better yet, they’re under 200 calories each.

Now that’s refreshing! Thin Ginger Fresh strawberry and ginger muddled with Voli Lemon Vodka, along with fresh citrus and Monin Agave Nectar for

SAN DIEGO 474 BROADWAY 619.321.0021 RASUSHI.COM

a berry tasty, resolution minded libation.

r o g { o ve{ ALBUM PREVIEW

nicki minaj Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (Feb. 14) Trinidad-born and Queens, New York-bred Nicki Minaj started writing raps at age 12, developing alter egos to help herself cope with the emotional challenges of a rough, impoverished childhood. While she may overdo the fantastical, Lil’ Kim-inspired aesthetic, Minaj is a gifted emcee with an otherworldly pop vision. In her sophomore album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (to be released on Valentine’s Day as a follow-up to her sales record-breaking debut, Pink Friday) Minaj channels her alter ego Roman, a “little gay-boy” who favors motorcycles and violence. Kiss-kiss, vroom-vroom! —Tim Donnelly

prphotos . com pacificsandiego.com

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ALBUM PREVIEW

ROSES (FEB. 27) In the mid-1990s, The Cranberries dominated MTV and the alt-rock airwaves with “Zombie,” a single whose plaintive vocals managed to temporarily consume the American rock-conscious with the lyrics: “With their tanks and their bombs. And their bombs and their guns. In your head, in your head…” While lead singer Dolores O’Riordan’s pipes can induce aural exhaustion at times, musically, The Cranberries certainly know their way around mournful pop hooks a la The Smiths. Roses, the band’s first release in more than a decade, is worth a listen if, come Valentine’s Day, you’re dateless, drinking heavily and dosing yourself with chocolates out of self-pity. —TD

s e i r r e b n The Cra J ess B a u m u ng

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T H E Y O U N G

P ieter M V an H attem

S H OW T I M E

carol friedman

G I A N T

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(FEB. 27)

SOMA, NEAR Sports Arena $16 advance / somasandiego.com

When Irvine rockers Young the Giant (YTG) learned that famed producer Joe Chiccarelli (U2, Beck, Elton John) would record their debut album, they knew they had to get their sh!t together. “It was eye-opening, and we grew from it immensely,” says YTG’s lead-howler Sameer Gadhia, who cites Radiohead, Dr. Dre and The Walkmen as influences. You may be hard-pressed to hear Dre’s influence in YTG’s soaring rock-anthems, but the band’s tunes do float around in the moody guitar-hook territory that Radiohead perfected (and Coldplay diluted and popularized). Last year, the band killed Lollapalooza and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno; now they’re psyched for a promising 2012. “We have a big North American tour from February to April—by far the biggest shows we’ve ever headlined,” Gadhia tells PacificSD, enthused that most of their dates have already sold out. “It’s pretty nuts.” —TD

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(FEB. 22) Balboa Theatre, Downtown $26-80 / livenation.com Bobby McFerrin is best known for his 1988 pop classic “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” which was hijacked by the elder President Bush during his White House run that year. McFerrin has collaborated with instrumental legends including Herbie Hancock and Yo-Yo Ma. In 1984, he released the first-ever vocals-only jazz record, The Voice, on which he sings and plays percussion by tapping beats on his chest. An early-2011 Facebook post by singer-pianist Bruce Hornsby suggested that McFerrin was forming a vocal supergroup for debut this year, which would be remarkable were it not that the Grammy Award magnet (he’s got 10) and beatbox pioneer was a oneman super-band himself. —Ryan Hume

McFERRIN

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S H OW T I M E

(FEB. 17)

The Casbah, Little Italy $10 / casbahmusic.com

It’s hard to look (and sound) cool while wailing on a flute in an indie rock band, but Santa Barbara pop luminaries Gardens & Villa manage to pull it off. Lead singer/flautist Chris Lynch dons a quiver of flutes, which he whips out like so many arrows during live jaunts. Exhibiting the youthful exuberance of off-center popsters Men at Work, MGMT and The Kinks, Gardens & Villa explore future-pop soundscapes oozing mainstream appeal. Given their recent booking by Coachella 2012, the band’s February 17 gig at The Casbah could be the last chance to catch them at a micro-venue before they blow up. —TD

l u ca venter

(Feb. 15) Balboa Theatre, Downtown$20-40 / livenation.com

pacificsandiego.com

JAKE SHIMABUKURO

[FEBRUARY 2012]

D anny C linch

Jake Shimabukuro has a motto: “If everyone played the ukulele, the world would be a better place.” Better still would be if everyone could play the ukulele like Shimabukuro, whose finger-picking virtuosity is on par with the classic rock-guitar shredding of Jimi Hendrix. The Honolulu-born musician’s performance technique is a must-see/ must-hear for anyone who can appreciate rock, jazz, flamenco and island-style numbers flawlessly executed on a two-octave instrument. —TD

concert calendar

2/1: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. @ Soda Bar, sodabarmusic.com 2/2: Storm Large @ Anthology, anthologysd.com 2/3: MuteMath @ 4th & B, 4thandbevents.com 2/4: Adam Ant @ 4th & B, 4thandbevents.com 2/7: Dr Dog/Purling Hiss @ Belly Up, bellyup.com 2/10: Young the Giant @ SOMA, somasandiego.com 2/11: Dweezil Zappa Plays Zappa @ HOB, houseofblues.com 2/13: The Asteroids Galaxy Tour @ Belly Up, bellyup.com 2/14: The Darcys @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com 2/14: Love is in the Air: Sinatra Tribute @ Anthology, anthologysd.com 2/15: Jake Shimabukuro @ Balboa Theatre, livenation.com 2/15: Jimmy Cliff @ Belly Up, bellyup.com 2/16: The Fray @ HOB, houseofblues.com 2/17: Gardens & Villa @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com 2/19: G. Love & Special Sauce @ HOB, houseofblues.com 2/22: Bobby McFerrin @ Balboa Theatre, livenation.com 2/23: Ra Ra Riot @ Belly Up, bellyup.com 2/25: Grimes @ Soda Bar, sodabarmusic.com 2/26: Cursive @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com 2/27-28: Ozomatli @ Belly Up, bellyup.com 2/29: Cloud Nothings @ Soda Bar, sodabarmusic.com

{groove{

B A RT E N D E R

CRYSTAL

Peers

Pacific Beach bartender unites colleagues for community good By Brandon H ern á nde z photo by brevin blach

iller’s Field bartender Ciara Guedesse has had a front-row view of San Diego’s beach-bar scene since she began serving the hard-partying masses in 2001. In August 2009, she was named PacificSD’s co-Bartender of the Month (along with younger sister Lindsay Willis). With more than a decade behind the bar, Guedesse has gained a sobering perspective: that despite the camaraderie among their patrons, bar owners were competing against each other in ways that didn’t contribute to the common good. Six months ago, to establish greater solidarity in her sandy corner of the industry, Guedesse formed the Beach Bar Guild—a collective of bar owners and their staff who meet each month at one of the member’s venues. To date, nearly 20 bars and restaurants have joined the group. “The idea came about when I started seeing a disconnect between the staffs at Pacific Beach bars,” says Guedesse. “People were becoming overly competitive as opposed to cooperative, and it hit me that we’d all be better off if we worked with each other.” Guild members, for example, strive to prevent drunk driving, collaborating with RADD (Recording Artists Against Drunk Driving) and the Hospitality Task Force of Discover Pacific Beach (the neighborhood’s business improvement district) to make sure all bartenders, servers and security personnel are better trained to protect their customers. They’re also pooling resources in support of neighborhood fundraisers and community causes (like saving the Pacific Beach Christmas Parade) in an effort to improve business for all members, as well as the bargoing experience for patrons. “The Guild is open to anyone in PB or Mission Beach who wants to work to create a better industry,” says Guedesse. “We are adamant about giving back to the community we work and live in—and unifying the beach bar community, one bar at a time.” Safer drinking, better service and more profits? If Guedesse has anything to do with it…“Guild” it, and they will come. ciara.beachbarguild@gmail.com 84

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Beach Bar Guild Members Brewley’s Pint Bub’s Dive Bar Cabo Cantina Dirty Birds Firehouse Fred’s Mexican Café Guava Beach Bar & Grill Miller’s Field Moondoggies Pacific Beach Alehouse PB Shore Club RT’s Longboard Grill Sandbar Sports Grill Sneak Joint Tap Room Thrusters Lounge Typhoon Saloon

{date{

By david perloff /

callofthe

photos by j ames norton

en thousand candy hearts, five million blown kisses, one multi-billion-dollar industry. Scoring on Valentine’s Day may be a numbers game, but at these prices, we’re stacking the odds in our favor: a dimly lit bar, a romantic waterfront carriage ride and an aphrodisiacal dinner in the RA. If that formula doesn’t produce at least a kiss, we’ll kiss our matchmaking careers goodbye. Eric describes himself as a “serial entrepreneur, investor and business consultant.” He was raised in Calabasas, Calif., and now lives in San Diego, splitting time between his condos in Pacific Beach and Downtown. Natalie is in entertainment advertising, working on HBO, CBS and other companies’ marketing campaigns for television. She was born in Nebraska, grew up in Seattle, lives in West Hollywood and was imported to San Diego for tonight’s blind date, because Eric seems to knows everyone in town—he was already Facebook friends with the first three women we tried to set him up with. Natalie and Eric are about to meet for the first time where the antelope roam—or at least where they hang out (above the bar and in the restaurant’s antelope sliders) after a life of roaming—the new Lion’s Share in Downtown’s Marina District. Before they arrive, let’s review the pre-date interviews. 86

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wild

Using animals to create animal attraction

What do you do for fun? NATALIE: Anything live: live music, live shows, live dancing. I also love to work on my fitness—hiking, shooting hoops, yoga, bike riding, cardio, ballet. ERIC: Travel as much as possible, drinks/dinner with friends, attend sporting events, attend concerts and build businesses. What are you looking for in a date? NATALIE: Personality ranks over looks any day. I don’t like extremely good-looking guys; they’re always a little off. I like dudes, guys that can hang with me, guys that can hang with my three brothers on Football Sundays. I’m into guys that touch with intention and say sh!t that means something. ERIC: Looking for someone that is independent, confident, passionate about something in life, has a decent job, attractive, good sexual energy, positive personality, likes to smile, in good shape...and a nice ass. What’s your sign, religion or spiritual belief system, if any? NATALIE: God, help me. Jesus, save me. Spirit, guide me. Universe, support me. Danny, speak to me. ERIC: Sagittarius. I’m more spiritual than

religious. Treat others like you wanted to be treated, et cetera. Where’s the strangest place you’ve had sex? NATALIE: Your mom goes to college. [Editor’s note: Natalie is likely referencing a line from the movie “Napoleon Dynamite,” by which she’s implying, I think, that this is a stupid question.] ERIC: Poolside at the Sè Hotel during a pool party. I was on my back on a lounge chair, and my friend was sort of grinding on top of me to the music. We had a towel sort of covering things. Only the people dancing in the rooms above us knew what was going on and they gave us the thumbs-up sign.

The daters meet and take seats at the bar, talking over carefully crafted cocktails while the magazine crew scans the menu for the perfect brand of flesh to get this wild game started. We choose right—the rich antelope sliders are tender and perfect; the exotic sausage sampler (pheasant, wild boar and buffalo) is a safari-ful of delish. Somehow, amid the excitement and our own crafty cocktails, we neglect to order food for the daters…and now we have to catch a horse. (Sorry, Natalie and Eric! For what it’s worth, everything was really good.) (Continued on page 88)

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{date{ (Continued from page 86)

horsing around The wild game continues with a carriage ride

After sipping drinks and almost eating antelope at Lion’s Share, Natalie and Eric stroll a couple blocks to Seaport Village, where they mount a Cinderella-esque carriage for a romantic jaunt by the water. They’re sitting close, talking and laughing as they ride off into the sunset. When they return about 30 minutes later, they catch a cab to dinner in the RA…RA Sushi at Fifth and Broadway, that is. (Delivered by our designated/pregnant driver, the magazine crew arrives right behind them.) After they’ve toasted sake and tasted the chef ’s special aphrodisiacal sushi plate, the couple is split for mid-date debriefings.

PacificSD: How’s it going so far? NATALIE: Eric is awesome. We have a lot in common. Just from a career standpoint, him and I connected immediately. And that’s always what I look for, someone who has something going for themselves. ERIC: It’s going good so far. Things are great. She’s really cool, and we’re getting a long well. What were your first impressions? NATALIE: A lot of jewelry. He has,

like, two rings and a necklace. I mean, he’s cute, totally cute, but right away, I was like, “Wow, that’s a lot of jewelry.” ERIC: First impressions were relief that it was someone at least I could connect with. Is this the type of person you would normally date? NATALIE: Probably. If I met him out, we’d have a good conversation. And if he asked me out, I’d go out with him.

ERIC: It’s rare that I date, but she’d be a girl I’d hang out with. She seems like she can handle me and my shenanigans. In other words, dealing with me being a workaholic, and my lifestyle. What do you think about what your date’s attire? NATALIE: The jewelry is just a little not my style, but I respect people’s style, because I love fashion. The pieces that he’s wearing might be important to him. ERIC: I barely noticed her attire because I don’t really care about that type of stuff. How was Lion’s Share? NATALIE: Lion’s Share was really

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great. The servers were super attentive, and I liked their style. The art on the wall was beautiful—they took classic art and made it quirky, tying together the meat with their brand and the animalistic style within their art. I loved that. And their cocktails were amazing. ERIC: Lion’s Share is a very cool spot for Downtown. I had been there once before and I enjoyed it. Great drinks, great little atmosphere and vibe. How was the carriage ride? NATALIE: Champagne, the horse, and Robert, the carriage driver, were sweet. Robert was from Killarney, Ireland, and I’ve traveled there before, so we chatted about The (Continued on page 90)

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{date{ (Continued from page 88)

Ring of Kerry and all the beautiful sites from his hometown. ERIC: It was dreamy—the driver even came with the Irish accent. What would your parents say? NATALIE: They’d like him a lot, because he has something to bring to the table. That’s what it’s all about. It’s not just about where you’re from and who you are; it’s your experiences, where you’ve traveled, what you like, what you don’t like. ERIC: They’d be happy to see me with anyone I like being with. What’s the most attractive thing you’re date has done so far? NATALIE: He ordered for me, which I really like. He asked me what I like and he ordered for me. That was really hot. ERIC: That’s hard to say, just a good vibe together, a good connection, mild flirting. Rate your date on a scale from 1 to 10 for looks. NATALIE: Eight or 8 1/2. ERIC: Nine. And for personality? NATALIE: Nine or 10. ERIC: Nine. If you could have sex with your date, the last person you had sex with or with some third person tonight, whom would you choose? NATALIE: It’s none of your business. I don’t like to talk about my sex life. ERIC: You gotta live for the moment, so I’d say Natalie. Would you like to kiss your date right now? NATALIE: Not now, but I’d kiss him. ERIC: Sure. Does your date want to kiss you? NATALIE: Yeah, he probably wants to kiss me. ERIC: I never would assume so, but my senses say she’d be down. (Continued on page 92)

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Lingerie &/)"/$&34

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(Continued from page 90)

ra-ra-ra Three cheers for a scorching blind date

After the mid-date interviews, Eric and Natalie are finally left alone to enjoy the rest of their evening in privacy. We call the next day to see what we missed. PacificSD: How was dinner? NATALIE: RA was great. I’ve eaten there before. I loved it all. It was delish. ERIC: Dinner at RA was great. We had cold sake, the good stuff, Asahi beer and a few of their killer rolls. Did the aphrodisiac plate make an impact? NATALIE: I don’t remember which one it was. ERIC: It must have, as we both seemed to be a bit more flirty. What was the best part of the date? NATALIE: Being a part of PacificSD, they’re such a great group of people. ERIC: The first few minutes after meeting her, as I knew the rest of the date was going to be fun. What was the worst part? NATLIE: Hearing that he is 40, only dates girls in their twenties and hasn’t had a relationship longer than a year or two. ERIC: The end—no one wants to end a good thing… especially with a good buzz. What happened after the magazine crew left? NATALIE: We went the The U.S. Grant—super fancy, loved the place. I had a glass of wine, then my girlfriend picked me up, and we dropped Eric off. ERIC: We went to the U.S. Grant hotel for another drink while Natalie waited for her ride, as she had to go home. Gave us 15 more minutes to hang out. Was there a kiss? NATLIE: Yeah, he was pretty determined to get a kiss. And as the night went on, he got more comfortable with affection. ERIC: Might have been a little something-something. Will there be a second date? NATALIE: I would totally hang with him again. ERIC: Probably. 92

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AFTERMATCH: Free-range antelope, a domesticated horse, raw fish. Add that up, mix in a few cocktails and a Cinderella carriage ride, and what do you get? “A little something-something.” It’s not quite the animalistic behavior we were shooting for, but first dates, even the gamiest ones, aren’t always so wild. For a real fairytail ending wrought with romance—including mouthfuls of meat and heavy petting not associated with antelope or horses— maybe we should have gone with a Valentine’s Day card and chocolates.

thank you!

Lion’s Share 629 Kettner Blvd., Downtown 619.564.6924, lionssharesd.com Cinderella Carriage Co. 619.239.8080, cinderella-carriage.com RA Sushi 474 Broadway, Gaslamp 619.321.0021, rasushi.com Coors Light Metal Pint facebook.com/coorslight

calendar Through 2/14: MY FURRY VALENTINE Location: San Diego Humane Society, Oceanside and Linda Vista Admission: N/A Get that warm, fuzzy feeling on Valentine’s Day by giving (or receiving) a doggie or kitty for a discounted adoption fee of just $14. sdhumane.org 2/1-29: MUSEUM MONTH Location: various San Diegoarea museums Admission: 50% discount Enjoy half-price admission to 40 San Diego-area museums with vouchers available at the region’s 14 Macy’s stores. sandiegomusuemcouncil.org 2/8: DIRTY DANCING Location: The Range, Hillcrest Admission: Free (with $20 minimum purchase) Watch Jennifer “Baby” Grey and Patrick “Johnny” Swayze dip and twirl, as live dancers perform the choreography from Dirty Dancing while the movie is projected in the background. therangesd.com 2/11: AMA SUPERCROSS Location: Qualcomm Stadium, Mission Valley Admission: $10-35 Watch the world’s most talented off-road motorcycle riders compete to shatter records and femurs. supercrossonline.com

feld entertainment

2/13: WWE RAW SUPERSHOW Location: Valley View Casino Center, Sports Arena Admission: $24-75 Brush your tooth and get ready to watch Spandex-clad sides of beef beat each other even more senseless in this pro-wrestling free-for-all. valleyviewcasinocenter.com

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pacificsandiego.com

calendar 2/17: THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS Location: Valley View Casino Center, Sports Arena Admission: $15-145 Watch basketball’s worldfamous court jesters perform their high-ballin’ hijinks. valleyviewcasinocenter.com

2/17

H arlem G lobetrotters I nternational , I nc .

2/17

2/18

2/17: TAO-TAIKO DRUMMERS OF JAPAN Location: Copley Symphony Hall, Downtown Admission: $20-85 March to the beat of different drummers in these powerful percussion performances, electrified by acrobatic choreography and high-energy on-stage shouts. sandiegosymphony.org 2/18: ECHOES OF THE PAST: THE BUDDHIST CAVE TEMPLES OF XIANGTANGSHAN Location: San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa Park Admission: $8-12 Enter multimedia recreations of ancient Buddhist temples and examine carefully preserved displays of actual stone carvings that were housed within them. sdmart.org

2/18

2/21

2/18: LITTLE ITALY CARNEVALE Location: India St., Little Italy Admission: Free More than 10,000 people, many donning Venetian masks and costumes, are expected to participate in this pre-Lent-celebration, transforming Little Italy into Venice for an evening of street art, stilt walkers and live music. littleitalysd.com

A k ira Kinoshita

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2/18: ITZHAK PERLMAN Location: Copley Symphony Hall, Downtown Admission: $30-100 The violin virtuoso performs live. sandiegosymphony.org

[FEBRUARY 2012]

2/18, 21, 24, 26: MOBY-DICK Location: San Diego Civic Theatre, Downtown Admission: $50-275 Herman Melville’s classic whale tale is reborn in this operatic performance set against elaborate multimedia backdrops. sdopera.com 2/18-5/27: DYEING ELEGANCE Location: San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa Park Admission: $5 Kimono and textile paintings by celebrated father-daughter artists Kuboku and Hisako Takaku, displayed for the first time outside of Japan, represent the ancient Japanese technique of wax resist dyeing. sdmart.org 2/21: MARDI GRAS IN THE GASLAMP Location: Streets of the Gaslamp, Downtown Admission: $20 advance; $25 day of Join a crowd of more than 10,000 revelers for a huge masquerade parade, amplified by international DJ talent on multiple stages, go-go dancers and the traditional beads-forboobs exchange. gaslamp.org 2/25: 2012 BOARD SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL Location: The Loft, UCSD Admission: $5 San Diego Surf Ladies presents this collection of short films by SoCal artists inspired by women, celebrating the female presence in the sport of surfing and its culture. sandiegosurfladies.com

{think{

PacificSD hearts you, Kendra. And you, too, Dear Reader. Happy Valentine’s Day! (Now go slip into something more comfortable…) 98

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FASHION 2011-2012 1019 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach | tuttocuoreshoes.com