Pacific San Diego Magazine, July 2009 Issue

JUly 2009

Hot Times

$3.95

pacificsandiego.com

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INSIDE

7 spicy restaurants 5 flaming cocktails 4 influential women 3 fire dancers 1 scorching blind date

CONTENTS

Inside SPORTS

12 The Great Indoors Summertime stories of sunscreen,

Speedos and sweat

COOLTURE undercover (story Page 18) Photography: Ming S. Wu Dancers: Monica Foitzik (left), Meli Charman (center), Elizabeth Musgrave (right) Body painting: Annette Soltero, asoltero@live.com Makeup: Lipstik Inc. Location: W Hotel San Diego

14 Upper Glass

A skyscraping new sculpture downtown puts elegant math up in the air

16 Beach Break

A New York photographer escapes the city

18 Controlled Burn

The women of Lipstik Inc. set the city afire

PULSE

20 Talking to Plantes

Meet San Diego anchorman Dan Plante and his family of broadcasters

22 Any Given Monday

A day in the lives of four influential San Diego women

30 Scene It

Memorable movie and television scenes shot against America’s Finest backdrop

18

TASTE GROOVE

32 Some Like it Hot

Light your fire at seven of San Diego’s spiciest restaurants

38 Firewater

Five five-alarm cocktails to set your summer nights ablaze

42 Out and About

Pride (In the Name of Love) isn’t just

Photo by Ming S. Wu

32

a U2 song anymore

42 Home Makers

The Stay Classy Tailgate party helps fund a shelter for San Diego youth

44 Nick’s Knack

Bartender Nick Martel says he can find a beer for any palate

LOVE

46 Got a Match?

PacificSD provides firepower to spark a blind date adventure

CALENDAR

38

50 SEVEN.09 July event listings

30

THINK

54 Hot’s Tough It’s so hot in San Diego that…

Photos by Janelle Maas

8 | July 2009 « PACIFICsandiego.com

issue 32

PUBLISHERS David Perloff / Editor in Chief Simone Perloff / Fashion Director GRAPHIC DESIGN Liza Samala

letter from the editor...

The word “hot” can be used to describe many things—temperature, spice, passion. “Hot” can even mean “cool,” as in “That’s hot,” the Paris Hilton mantra. Then there’s “hot and bothered,” as in how women will undoubtedly swoon over Cher’s daughter-turning-son, Chastity Bono, after his sex-change surgery. Junk in the trunk and under the hood? Who could say “No”?

There are hot debates, too, like whether the Chargers should move to Oceanside, the legalization of marijuana and the… uh… sorry. Where did—what was I talking about? Oh, right. Debates, the marijuanization of legality. Same sex marriage is another hotly contested issue, one at the forefront of July’s San Diego Pride parade (see Out and About, Page 42).

(Pride note: Be sure to look for ex-Miss California USA, Carrie Prejean, on the “Don’t ask, don’t tell, but whatever you do, please just don’t ask me that” float. Also, for those of you who just moved here or are visiting from Arizona, remember that some of the hottest women in town this month are actually dudes, and the “I swear I didn’t know” excuse only works once or twice.)

This Hot Times issue of PacificSD celebrates what makes life in San Diego so hot. Things get fired up on the cover, where the women of Lipstik Inc. dance with flaming wands at the W Hotel downtown (see Controlled Burn, Page 18). Next, you’ll meet four San Diego women with hot jobs, including the general counsel for the Padres and the head of the San Diego Film Commission (see Any Given Monday, Page 22).

Enjoy the city’s spiciest foods in Some Like it Hot (Page 32), heat up your night with five flaming drinks in Firewater (Page 38), then feel the burn of a scorching blind date that starts at Firehouse and ends with fireworks over Mission Bay (see Got a Match?, Page 48).

When you’re ready to cool off, head into The Great Indoors (Page 12), where Cookie “Chainsaw” Randolph discusses who is allowed to wear Speedos and who should keep their shirt on.

One of the hottest things about life in San Diego is that it doesn’t really get that hot here. Sure, we can get $1,000 tickets for overwatering our yards, but who can afford a lawn these days anyway?

When it comes to grass, brown is the new green.

Even when it’s cloudy, life here in paradise is always hot, and that’s pretty cool. Happy Fourth!

David Perloff Editor In Chief

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Brandon Hernández EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Danielle Warren DESIGN CONSULTANT Kim Cuffe CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Brian Brunkow Julie Hagy Brandon Hernández Cookie “Chainsaw” Randolph Frank Sabatini, Jr. Diane Y. Welch COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Ming S. Wu, h2wu.com PHOTOGRAPHERS David Good, davegoodphotography.com Janelle Maas, janellemaas.com Karen Morrison, karenmorrisonphoto.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Kasey Goodsell Laura Rovick Mira Woermann

Magazine advertising makes businesses stink... …stinkin’ rich, that is.

Call 858.274.4795 or visit pacificsandiego.com today to find out how much your ad can stink.

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sports

The Great Indoors

Summertime stories of sunscreen, Speedos and sweat

By Cookie “Chainsaw” Randolph

The Great White Hype SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. If you burn in 10 minutes without sunscreen, with SPF 15 you won’t burn for 150 minutes. It says so on Wikipedia, so it must be true. This means SPF 45 lasts for 450 minutes. Seven and a half hours with one coat? Yeah, right. Even the leathery Pam Anderson has to reapply during the hottest summer days— especially after a swim.

I use SPF 500 on the weekends. It’s called a roof. Sitting inside, watching Sportscenter, Turner Classic Movies and every episode of Jon and Kate Plus 8 on the DVR, I never burn... although Kate occasionally makes me chap.

Unless you’ve got beautiful olive or mocha skin, there is absolutely no point in laying out in the sun. If you’re fair complexioned, either purchase that oh-so-convincing Siegfried and Roy orange-in-a-can or relish your Nicole Kidman/Bill Gates porcelain patina (Aussie accents and billions of dollars help).

Seriously, unless you’re a cover model for say, PacificSD, sunbathing isn’t worth the basal cell sessions. So, if you’re incredibly white like some sports columnists I know, just embrace it and maybe adopt a hot nickname like The Thrilla of Vanilla, The Mighty Whitey or Casper. Chicks dig it.

remember: Us Weekly loves celebrity bodies gone blob and their digital cameras never run out of shots. Ditch the Speedo for some board shorts and cinch up a Wonderbra underneath a wetsuit top.

Even Michael Phelps gets a Speedo pass only because he wins. If he continues placing third we’re going to boycott his meets. Take a good look. His torso is five feet long and his legs are like a tadpole’s. That bong was longer than one of his femurs. Just keep winning, Mr. Phelps, so we can forget about the Speedo and the femurs.

I use SPF 500 on the weekends.

It’s called a roof.

Why non-Olympians Wear Speedos Because they’re insane. The world accepts Speedos once every four years, and only because Bob Costas tells us to. Oh, sure, Speedos look great on many Olympians, especially to women and gay men, but nobody wants to see a Speedo on guys like Bob Costas. Or on Marv Albert for that matter (I’m iffy on Brokaw).

God bless Lady Di, but remember all those pictures on the yacht with her boyfriend in that Speedo? Yikes!

And, Mr. Govanator, keep your pants on already. Your shirt, too–even Joan Rivers has tighter pecs these days (steroid abstention will do that). It’s wonderful you still enjoy vacations at the beach with the family, but always

12 | July 2009 « PACIFICsandiego.com

Is Sweat Ever Sexy?

It depends on the person. Kanye West or a decades-younger Steven Tyler might be sexy flinging liquid skin waste into the front row, but Davis Love III’s butt-crack sweat bleeding through his beige Dockers at the Masters is waaaay over par.

Sweat on girls is always sexy. Especially if it’s mine. (Okay, that was a cheap punch line, but it was right there! Come on!)

BTW, when will movies stop splashing totally unconvincing sweat spots on actors who are supposedly exercising? Hey, Clooney, either work up a real sweat for the jogging scene or practice with a better squirt bottle.

The Last Word What I’m saying here, boys and girls, is if you’ve got it, flaunt it. If you don’t, work on your indoor game. We live in a lookist society, where every body is not created equal. For every Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie there are 347 Kirstie Alleys and Oprah Winfreys. Unless you’re comfortable looking like Dr. Phil in a thong, go look at yourself in the mirror and make an honest call.

Then again, if you’re one of those liberated souls who doesn’t care what people think, let ‘er rip Will-Ferrell style. There’s something heroic about that.

Cookie “Chainsaw” Randolph wrote this column indoors on a beautiful, sunny day—with a shirt on—then watched Tommy Boy on DVD and admired how Chris Farley got the girl.

COOLTURE: Art

Upper Glass A skyscraping new sculpture downtown puts elegant math up in the air

By Diane Y. Welch

Photos by Robert Arends

S

an Diego artist Lisa Schirmer did the math.

She used the Fibonacci Sequence to design and construct Indigo Waters, the 3,000-pound glass sculpture now hanging a dozen stories up at the brand new Hotel Indigo San Diego in East Village.

The Fibonacci Sequence, also known as the Golden Mean or Phi (the name of Hotel Indigo’s restaurant and ninth-floor terrace), begins with the numbers 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13; each subsequent number is the sum of the previous two. This sequence can be used to delineate a perfect nautilus shell (see diagram), which is both the Hotel Indigo’s logo and the inspiration for Schirmer’s masterpiece. Count the glass panels in each of the sculpture’s columns to notice how the artist applied the sequence.

Despite being anchored to concrete, Indigo Waters’ translucent blue squares recreate wavelike movements by refracting and reflecting the shifting light of the sun.

Backlit at night, the piece takes on new life after the sun goes down. Hotel Indigo commissioned the sculpture to elevate the city’s architectural artistry.

Continuing in the spirit of supporting the arts on a local level, Hotel Indigo has invested a total of $300,000 to commission art from San Diego’s homegrown talent and will host events spotlighting local musicians, photographers, fine artists and sculptors. The hotel’s interior currently pays homage to the artistry of photographer Ian Cummings, whose compelling images capture local nature in all its glory. Native flowers and plants, ocean vistas, rivers and lakes come alive in large scale murals that enhance the hotel’s public areas, guestrooms, lobby and Phi Bar & Bistro.

Hotel Indigo is part of a chain of upscale boutique hotels owned by InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), which also operates Holiday Inn and several other big names in lodging. Located a block from Petco Park, the 12-story, 210-room Hotel Indigo San Diego reigns as the city’s premiere LEED-certified hotel. For reservations or more information about the July 13 grand opening, visit www.hotelindigo.com/sandiego.

14 | July 2009 « PACIFICsandiego.com

Sculpture Stats Time to create: One year Weight: 3,000 lbs Height: Four stories Price tag: $194,000 Using the Fibonacci Sequence to delineate a nautilus

Photography: Shannon Greer, shannongreer.com Models: Jennifer McManis at LA Models, Adam Driggs at Next Models Management L.A. Styling: Robyn Goldberg for Next Artists, robyngoldberg.net Hair: Stephanie Hobgood with Artists by NEXT L.A. Makeup: Alexis Swain with Artists by NEXT L.A. Props by Yael Gitai with Artists by NEXT L.A. Producer: parlayproductions.com

Beach break A New York photographer escapes the city

By Diane Y. Welch

S

hannon Greer is a people person— not a social creature, but a master at capturing the essence of people. His images make us smile. His secret? “I create an environment where there is a lot of energy and just shoot people having a good time,” Greer says, who’s having plenty of fun himself.

San Diego’s sun, sand and surf are favorite backdrops for Greer, whose L.A. agent lured him west from his Brooklyn, N.Y. base. Greer’s initial career track was as a painter. “But being a little too A.D.D., I needed an art form that was more immediate,” he says. “I’m not a patient person.”

Photography proved a great fit. Inspired by the work of Arthur Elgort, best known for his fashion photography in Vogue, Greer’s signature work celebrates the pep of positive living, which influences his own life.

Last year, while shooting at the U. S. Grant Hotel downtown, Greer fell in love with America’s Sandiest City. “The energy is terrific,” he says.

“I’ve never surfed in my life, but I’d like to and San Diego would be the perfect place to learn.”

Flying back to Brooklyn must be a drag.

16 | July 2009 « PACIFICsandiego.com

coolture: vision

PACIFICsandiego.com Âť july 2009 | 17

Upcoming performances (see more at lipstikinc.com)

Ivy Hotel: Thursday through Saturday evenings and during certain Sunday pool parties.

619.814.1000, ivyhotel.com July 15-19: Rich’s, Brass Rail and Universal in Hillcrest, plus The Abbey and other downtown venues.

July 21: Lipstik Inc.’s summer dance auditions. Email Meli Charman at meli@lipstikinc.com

18 | July 2009 « PACIFICsandiego.com

Cover Story

Controlled Burn The women of Lipstik Inc. set the city afire

By Diane Y. Welch

W Photography by Ming S. Wu Dancers MELI CHARMAN

(center on cover; above left this page)

MONICA FOITZIK

(left on cover; above right this page)

ELIZABETH MUSGRAVE

(right on cover)

Body painting by ANNETTE SOLTERO (asoltero@live.com)

Makeup by lipstik inc Location W Hotel San Diego

isdom warns us, “If you play with fire, you’ll get burned.” Not so, it seems, for Lipstik Inc., a group of performance innovators whose go-go dancing roots grew to include the sizzling spectacle of pyrotechnics. By pairing choreography with fire props and synchronizizng their movements to rhythmic sound and light, these expressive dancers present a fire show worthy of the Fourth of July.

Co-founded in 2004 by Meli Charman and Melanie Blakely–both seasoned dancers and gymnasts–Lipstik Inc. provides a thematic approach to entertainment without peer in San Diego.

“There is a great need for live entertainment in this city, and we help fill that need,” says Charman, whose personal repertoire includes dancing with fire and her piece de resistance: eating fire. ”Audiences can’t believe I do it,” she says. “I place the fire on my tongue and it hovers there. It doesn’t go out.”

A skill associated with side shows and carnivals, fire dancing, according to Charman, is a privilege and rare among formally-trained dancers. “But we deliver a sensational act, guaranteed to dazzle,” she says. “Audiences love it.”

Lipstick Inc.’s flawless showmanship–with eclectic acts that range from belly dancing to burlesque, electronica to acrobatic and modern to hip hop–is well suited for private parties, weddings, corporate events and night club entertainment. And with a tight group of 10 top-rate performers, a wide selection of theatrical costumes, high-energy choreography and slick execution, this class act is smokin’.

PACIFICsandiego.com » july 2009 | 19

Pulse: Anchors away Photos: Doug Friedman

Talking to Plantes

Anchors Away: Get the inside scoop on what local television personalities do when they’re not in your living room.

Meet San Diego anchorman Dan Plante and his family of broadcasters

By Brandon Hernández

Photo by Dave Good

Dan Plante plays with his toys above Windansea Beach, in La Jolla.

Above: Plante talks with actor Peter Faulk in the KUSI studio Below: Plante and KUSI co-anchor Sandra Maas pose with Connie Chung

O Brothers, Where Art Thou?

Plante reports on his siblings’ whereabouts in the news biz

F

or some, greatness is predetermined. It’s in their genes. Currently, our city’s most obvious case study in this “legacy” phenomenon is Tony Gwynn, Jr., the prodigal son of the Padres’ Hall of Fame right fielder.

Coming in a close second (and way more under the radar) is third-generation broadcaster and KUSI Morning News anchor, Dan Plante.

“Broadcasting is my family business,” says Plante. “My grandfather, Patrick Henry Barnes, is credited as being a pioneer in live radio and the co-inventor of the radio soap opera, which evolved into the soaps we see today. My mother was one of the first women to break into broadcasting. My dad is one of the longest lasting on-air personalities at CBS News—44 years and counting. The last 30 have been as a White House correspondent.”

Following in his family’s footsteps, Plante managed to land a job doing what he loves in a city where he loves to play.

“A few years ago, I started surfing and can’t stop,” he says.

“If the waves are rolling, I’m a-rockin’. And snowboarding has given me purpose and reason to pray for fresh powder.

20 | July 2009 « PACIFICsandiego.com

My brother Mike lives on Park Avenue in New York City and is an attorney and documentary producer for FOX News.

When you can surf and snowboard in the same day, life is good. This town was tailor-made for me and I juice the best from every second of every day.”

Plante, who wakes up weekdays at 3 a.m., describes his perfect day in San Diego.

“It starts with a good night’s sleep,” he says. “We don’t get much of that on the morning show.” Next comes a morning surf session, a dip in a hot tub, breakfast with mimosas and a mid-day nap. “Sleep is my most valuable commodity… next to money.”

After waking from his nap, Plante is re-energized to continue his perfect day—he hops on his motorcycle and takes a coastal cruise, hitting the waves and the hot tub one more time before calling up some friends for a gourmet dinner at his house.

“I’m a cook and recently planted a veggie garden with three kinds of tomatoes, four kinds of hot peppers, squash, zucchini and every herb you can think of,” he says.

And after that?

“Some laughs, maybe a couple of games of backgammon, then kick everyone out so I can get back to sleep.”

My brothers Brian and Dave are on the more technical side of the business. Brian sells and demonstrates the latest digital-video gear available in the industry and Dave is working for Microsoft on an upcoming project regarding news and the Internet.

My brother Patrick… oh, brother! He’s a society snitch for a couple of tabloids. He tries to float in the fancy social circles and gets a fee for tips on what so-called celebrities are doing.

Pulse

Any Given Monday Take a look inside the lives of four influential women and discover how they have achieved success within their intensely competitive fields—right here in San Diego.

By Brian Brunkow Photo by Chris Giles

Izzy and Coco Tihanyi Co-owners Surf Diva surfdiva.com

ike any successful entrepreneur, Izzy Tihanyi was gutsy and ahead of her time. In 1996, despite people telling her, “You’re crazy,” “Don’t do it,” “Not enough women surf,” she persevered, combining her two passions—surfing and teaching—to found Surf Diva, the first surf school for women.

“I sent out flyers for a surf clinic,” Izzy says.

“Only one woman signed up, but she brought four friends.”

One year later, Surf Diva earned a mention in the Wall Street Journal.

Today, it is recognized as the world’s top surf school for women and has expanded to teach men, women and children of all ages and skill ranges.

Helping to operate the Surf Diva School and Surf Diva Boutique is coowner and Izzy’s twin sister, Coco Tihanyi.

“Izzy is the surf and I’m the diva,” Coco says.

The twins agree that it is by providing excellent customer service and remaining patient and focused that they have attained success. They also agree that the sand and waves of La Jolla Shores beat the standard nineto-five corporate gig any day.

“The beach is our office,” laughs Izzy.

Catch the Surf Diva wave by taking a surf or standup paddleboard lesson in La Jolla or by trekking south for a week of surfing in Costa Rica.

22 | July 2009 « PACIFICsandiego.com

A day in the life of Izzy Tihanyi: 7 a.m. Surf or stand-up paddleboard at La Jolla Shores; check Surf Diva classes and camps 10 a.m. Judge Surf Diva instructor tryouts 1 p.m. Business lunch with Coco and Hollywood executive producer regarding reality TV show 4 p.m. Meet with sales rep. about new summer line of bikinis and board shorts for Surf Diva Boutique 7 p.m. Community activist meeting to keep streets and beaches clean and safe 10 p.m. Drinks with husband, Todd, aka Mr. Diva

A day in the life of Coco Tihanyi: 7 a.m. Return from 5:30 a.m. workout; scope the day’s surf 10 a.m. Take son to school and grab latte; manage efforts of assistant buyer for boutique 1 p.m. Review new products; help customer select new bathing suit and surfboard 4 p.m. Head down to beach, meet new students, say “hi” to instructors; review marketing projects; contemplate how to have more fun

Gidget, yes or no: A resounding “Yes.” Favorite surf movie: Izzy – North Shore; Coco – Blue Crush Best business book: Izzy – “The E-Myth Revisited” by Michael Gerber; Coco – “One Minute Sales Person” by Spencer Johnson Surf Diva motto: “The best surfer in the water is the one having the most fun!”

7 p.m. Make tomorrow’s to-do list; head home for dinner with family; play music, read, watch favorite TV shows 10 p.m. Lights out, dream of next day at beach

PACIFICsandiego.com » july 2009 | 23

Pulse

Katie Pothier

Executive vice president and general counsel San Diego Padres padres.com

B

aseball is a game of numbers, even off the field—there are 1.2 million lawyers in the U.S. and fewer than 30 general counsel positions available in the competitive world of Major League Baseball. Katie Pothier, Esq., earned one.

The daughter of a lawyer, Pothier knew from an early age that she wanted to practice law.

“I remember watching Dad play pinochle and smoke cigars with his attorney buddies,” she says. “I told them I’d be there one day. ‘Sure kid,’ they’d laugh.”

Upon graduation from Rutgers University School of Law in New Jersey, Pothier came west for an internship with the Border Patrol’s legal department. Shortly thereafter, she decided to call San Diego home. She joined the Padres in 2002 and continues to enjoy working with the organization.

“The fun part of being general counsel is that there is no typical day,” she says. “We juggle human resources to licensing to contracts. People are surprised to learn that maybe 10 percent of my time is actually spent on baseball matters.”

In addition to her Padres duties and family obligations, Pothier is passionate about staying involved with the community by, for example, assisting with curriculum development and internship placement for SDSU’s Sports Management MBA program. She is also involved with the San Diego Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. This year, she is serving as the foundation’s local chair.

“It’s incredibly gratifying,” Pothier says. “It’s a nice diversion for kids during stressful medical treatments.”

Next up for Pothier? Mastering the fine art of pinochle, of course.

Strangest Day: Taking the Padres’ Swinging Friar to the Great Wall of China. It took awhile, but the kids there finally warmed up to the beefy mascot.

Last Business Book Read: “Coaching & Mentoring for Dummies” by Marty Brounstein Favorite Baseball Movies: The Natural and Bull Durham Designated Hitter: “No!” 24 | July 2009 « PACIFICsandiego.com

Photo: Janelle Maas

A day in the life of Katie Pothier: 7 a.m. Pour second cup of coffee, make daughter breakfast and pack her lunch. Breeze through news online and check overnight e-mails 10 a.m. Padres senior management meeting —review and discuss strategic initiatives and updates on legal affairs 1 p.m. Meet with executive director of human resources regarding H.R.-related initiatives 4 p.m. Review and revise “fun” stuff—contracts and memoranda 7 p.m. Watch Padres from Petco Park or from home while eating dinner with family 10 p.m. Check e-mails one last time. Watch end of game, sign off for day

Pulse

Cathy Anderson

Film commissioner and CEO San Diego Film Commission sdfilm.com

A

s film commissioner and CEO of the San Diego Film Commission (SDFC), Cathy Anderson is responsible for attracting film, television and print production projects to San Diego.

“I became interested in film, especially the credits (the industry’s behind-thescenes contingent), at an early age,” says Anderson, who dabbled in acting but then found her true passion on the other side of the camera.

Anderson grew up in Stockton, California, and earned a master’s degree in Telecommunications and Film at SDSU. In 1986, having been turned down for a paid position with the SDFC, she offered to help as a volunteer. In just one year, her contributions in the marketing arena helped grow the two-man operation into a multi-million-dollar success.

“Sometimes you have to make a space for yourself,” she says.

Today, the SDFC continues to flourish. “Our calling card in the industry is speed and service,” says Anderson.

It was by providing this type of rapid service that the SDFC helped persuade the producers of the Will Ferrell hit, Anchorman, to shoot in San Diego instead of Portland, where the original storyline had been set.

One of Anderson’s early successes was convincing Stu Segall Productions to set up shop in San Diego instead of in Canada. Since 1991, the company has produced Silk Stalkings, Veronica Mars and other nationally popular television programs, while also bringing hundreds of millions of dollars to the region.

“We are a huge economic engine for San Diego,” says Anderson, citing the SDFC’s success in brining $100 million in direct spending to the local economy in 2008 alone. “Helping San Diego in this way is so important to our justification.”

Anderson had to run before the end of this interview; she was needed on-site at the production of American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert’s “Welcome Home Video.”

Biggest influence: Dawn Steel, first female president of Paramount Pictures Best business Book: “They Can Kill You But They Can’t Eat You” by Dawn Steel Favorite quotation: “Never try to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and it annoys the pig.” -Robert Heinlein, novelist 26 | July 2009 « PACIFICsandiego.com

Photo: Janelle Maas

A day in the life of Cathy Anderson: 8 a.m. Speaking engagement at SDSU 10 a.m. Work on monthly article for San Diego Daily Transcript 1:15 p.m. Design commercialfilm incentive program 2 p.m. Telephone conversation with Navy commander; Disney considering San Diego military property for feature location 4 p.m. C.H.P. calls. A reality show is filming in an unincorporated area of San Diego and blocking a freeway entrance – liability and immediate safety issues to address 5 p.m. Continue creating San Diego movie-location map 6 p.m. Host San Diego Film Commission advisory board meeting for local production community

See page 30 for a behind-thescenes look at movies and TV shows shot in San Diego.

Pulse

Scene It

Thanks to the San Diego Film Commission (SDFC), many movie and television producers shoot against America’s Finest backdrop.

Take a look behind these memorable scenes.

L

ocations for the film Antwone Fisher included a large warehouse off Morena Boulevard, which housed a complete reproduction of the inside of a naval ship. Parts of the feature were also shot in North Park, the County Administration Building, the Embarcadero, On Broadway and Buster’s Restaurant.

Bring It On filmed at seven local schools including San Diego State University, University of San Diego and Eastlake High School. The film’s national cheerleading competition took place in Oceanside.

Bruce Almighty, starring Jim Carrey, was shot in Buffalo, New York.

After closing the production, the director decided he needed to shoot another scene. Taking the entire crew back to New York wasn’t in the budget, so San Diego doubled as Buffalo and the crew shot on Harbor Island for more than a week in November 2003.

Jim Belushi’s character in K-9 drove around San Diego in a red convertible with a German Shepard riding shotgun and a dog trainer suspended on the hood of the car.

The Film Commission sent the producers of The Lost World: Jurassic Park photos of San Diego’s desert vistas, lunar landscapes, forests, cliffs and waterscapes—the third act was rewritten and San Diego became the final destination for the T-Rex. San Diego played as Palm Beach in Silk Stalkings, a TV series that filmed in San Diego for more than eight years in the 1990s. The show employed more than 5,000 San Diegans as crew and talent during its eight-year run.

30 | July 2009 « PACIFICsandiego.com

Scouting for Birkenstocks and Volkswagen vans, the producers of Almost Famous found the look and feel of the 1970s in the community of Ocean Beach. Many locals worked as extras, wore their normal clothes and used their own vehicles for background.

The SDFC was on set in Borrego Springs to supervise the filming of Scorpion King, staring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

The popular television drama Veronica Mars, which follows the life of a teenage detective, was shot entirely in San Diego. From the Ball Park District to Balboa Park, the series showcases the variety of looks the city has to offer.

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The ninth season finale of the cult classic TV show, X-Files, filmed in San Diego’s eastern desert. The SDFC found an off-road vehicle park outside Borrego Springs, where the film’s art department built a life-size “Anasazi” village. A special effects team later blew up the village with sidewinder missiles.

B

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy was originally set in Portland, Oregon. However, the San Diego Film Commission sent location information and pictures to the producers, convincing them that San Diego was a better fit. The project found San Diego City Hall perfect for their 1970s backdrop.

Mondays 4pm -9pm

Offer excludes sales of alcohol.

Offer expires 8.15.09

How hard is it to blow up a car in the middle of downtown? The SDFC made that and other stunts happen for the blockbuster film, Traffic, starring Catherine Zeta Jones, Michael Douglas and Benicio Del Toro.

The usually peaceful Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park was used to stage an explosion during the film Top Dog, starring Chuck Norris.

Top Gun, starring Tom Cruise, was filmed at locations including the former Naval Training Center, Miramar Naval Air Station, Jim’s Airways, Kansas City Barbeque, city streets and a beach cottage in Oceanside.

PACIFICsandiego.com » july 2009 | 31

taste: Dining out

Some Like it Hot

Light your fire at seven of San Diego’s spiciest restaurants

By Frank Sabatini Jr.

Photos by Janell Mass

Cantina Mayahuel 2934 Adams Ave., Hillcrest 619.283.6292 cantinamayahuel.com If the unusual reddish-pink hue doesn’t grab your attention, the five-alarm tongue lashing will. Cantina’s beet-habanero hot sauce turns innocent sirloin tacos into taste bud firestarters. The heat takes on fruity dimensions from what tastes like oranges and pineapples coming to the rescue. So precious, the sauce isn’t typically kept on the tables. Denizens to this colorful eatery know they must ask for it while keeping a shot of fine, aged tequila within reach.

Sab-E-Lee 2405 Ulric St., Linda Vista 858.650.6868 sab-e-lee.webs.com

M

an’s love affair with spicy foods is as torrid as the chemical components that bind to our oral receptors when we bite into a habañera chili. From the prolific use of black pepper by New World Indians that began around 5,000 B.C., to the “holy” chili plants revered by the Incas in South America, the craze for sweat-inducing cuisine has long blazed through cultures around the globe.

Southern California is way ahead of the burn, as it sits among fertile hotbeds of fiery peppers that can flourish from the drop of a seed. Looking for devilish doses of the stuff? We braved the flames to find some of the hottest restaurant dishes on the local landscape.

32 | July 2009 « PACIFICsandiego.com

Cantina Mayahuel

Thai restaurants around San Diego appear to be catering to sissy palates compared to the knock-out heat levels found at Sab-E-Lee, which specializes in cuisine from Thailand’s northeast Isaan region. Hot green chili peppers are used abundantly and mingle with mint and cilantro in many of the dishes. Ask for a “4” and you get a “7” in terms of spiciness.

Notable punches arise from green papaya salad, spicy mintleave noodles and raw beef with lime juice. The restaurant is miniscule and bears scant signage except for “Linda Foods” on the awning.

(Continued on page 34)

taste: Dining out

Frankie “The Bull’s” BBQ 1127 W. Morena Blvd., by USD 619.276.2855 frankiethebullsbbq.com San Diego native Frankie “The Bull” Terzoli, a former contestant on season two of Bravo’s Top Chef, makes terrific Texas-smoked barbecue. But his gumbo has a more powerful kick, as he sneaks into the roux copious measures of crushed red pepper that leave many reaching for side orders of cooling cucumber-corn salad. A rousing starter course, the gumbo plays well to Terzoli’s spicerubbed meats, which perfume every square inch of this modern-day cowboy land.

Royal India 329 Market St., Downtown 619.269.9999 royalindia.com Chili-ginger masala is a coveted dish at Royal India that’s hard to find anywhere else in San Diego.

The recipe involves cooking chicken or lamb with freshly sliced ginger and chilies that are soaked in vinegar, crushed red pepper and ground black pepper. Capsaicin-fearful Americans usually order it mild. Ironically, visiting Brits, with their proclivity for bland cooking, prove to be the biggest spice heads here. “They request level 10 because they’re so accustomed to good Indian restaurants in England,” says co-owner Jag Kambo.

34 | July 2009 « PACIFICsandiego.com

Eclipse Chocolat 2121 El Cajon Blvd., University Heights 619.578.2984 eclipsechocolat.com Sugar and spice and everything nice are literally what Will Gustwiller injects into his three-ounce chocolate-hazelnut bars. The nuts are “candied” with a secret chili blend, offering a dynamic flavor contrast that allows unanticipated heat to poke through the velvety milk chocolate. The café also offers a chili-burnt-caramel chocolate drink that can be consumed onsite or purchased for making at home.

taste: Dining out

Fire Man Kous Kous chef-owner Moumen Nouri has taught patrons a few principal facts about his native Moroccan cuisine. “We don’t cook our food spicy,” he says.

“Instead, we use harissa on just about everything, which is hotter than most people realize.”

Because meals in Morocco are traditionally cooked for the whole family, they’re usually kept mild for the kids. To spice things up for adults, a bowl of harissa is always brought to the table. The hot chili paste contains garlic, cumin, fresh herbs and olive oil. “We dab it on all savory dishes,” says Nouri.

At Kous Kous, Nouri makes harissa in large batches because “it refrigerates very well.” He rates the heat level at 8, much to the dismay of unsuspecting customers who sample it directly from the spoon. “They suffer for about five minutes,” he quips.

The paste sings to nearly everything on his menu—grilled meat brochettes, slow-braised lamb with saffron, Merguez sausages and a variety of meats served with cous cous in authentic tagines (clay dishes).

36 | July 2009 « PACIFICsandiego.com

Moumen Nouri’s Harissa Needs: 1 pound red or dark-red chili peppers (roasted on stovetop and then peeled) 4 to 5 garlic cloves 1 tablespoon parsley 1 tablespoon cilantro ½ tablespoon cumin ½ tablespoon Spanish paprika 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice Dash of salt Deeds: Add all ingredients into a blender and pulse until semi-smooth. Transfer mixture into small sauce pan and cook for 30 minutes over medium heat.

Refrigerate and then serve with appetizers and main courses.

Kous Kous

3940 Fourth Ave., #110 Hillcrest 619.295.5560 kouskousrestaurant.com

Pastalini 7190 Miramar Rd., Miramar 858.695.9779 pastallini.net Chilies and hot paprika make surprise landings on noodles at Pastalini, which features sauces that “you won’t find in Italy,” says owner Avi Gerassi.

Among the spiciest is a tequila-lime sauce spiked with fresh jalapenos, with many of the heatinstigating seeds left in. The romesco sauce flaunts additional peppers that erupt in the throat, and the Cajun-shrimp sauce boasts a secret combination of dried chilies and shrimp marinated in hot Cajun seasoning. Double whammy!

A Shore Thing Which wines pair with spicy foods?

The hot question is answered by The Shores Restaurant wine director, Lisa Redwine, whose name we trust.

• Wines exceeding 15 percent alcohol don’t work because they exacerbate the heat in spicy dishes.

• Wines high in tannins, such as cabernet sauvignon, Bordeaux and certain Chardonnays, have the same effect.

• Rieslings and Gewürztraminers pair swimmingly with Thai, Indian and other extra-spicy foods.

• Rose champagnes bubble melodically with spicy red pepper hummus.

• For citrus-drenched, spicy ceviches, match their acidity levels with pino grigio or vino verde.

The Shores Restaurant 811 Camino del Oro, La Jolla Shores 858.456.0600 theshoresrestaurant.com

PACIFICsandiego.com » july 2009 | 37

TASTE: Cocktail

Firewater

TASTE: Cocktail

Five five-alarm cocktails to setyour summer nights ablaze

By Brandon Hernández

S

Photos by Janelle Maas

ince club-toting cave-dwellers first sparked up fat flints for a kickass Jurassic BBQ, man has been fascinated by fire. Civilization has come a long way, but even in the age of technological wonders like televisions, Blackberries and hampsterdance. com, few things garner as many “oohs” and “aahs” as a flickering tower of blue and orange (under the right circumstances, of course).

Several of the city’s most creative mixologists agree with Cro-magnon’s visionary words, “Mmm… fire good!” Cruise San Diego’s firing lines to taste a quintet of cocktails that will fuel your hot night out on the town.

Mister Tiki Mai Tai Lounge 801 Fifth Ave., Downtown cohnrestaurants.com

KILLA KILAUEA VOLCANO BOWL

At Mister Tiki Mai Tai Lounge, they refer to their 30-ounce Killa Kilauea Volcano Bowl as “the mother of all drinks.” Served in a ceramic bowl decorated with Polynesian island-inspired artwork, this bodacious behemoth boasts a bowlful of white, dark, spiced and coconut rums mixed with passion fruit, pineapple, grapefruit and orange juices. After garnishing with a fruit stand’s worth of pineapples, orange and cherries, a shot of 151-proof rum is poured in a reservoir in the center of the bowl and then lit—with a drink this big you might be, too.

38 | July 2009 « PACIFICsandiego.com

(Continued on page 40)

TASTE: Cocktail

MORTAR BLAST MARTINI

ZOMBIE

Firehouse American Eatery + Lounge

Whisknladle Bistro & Bar

722 Grand Ave., Pacific Beach firehousepb.com

1044 Wall St., La Jolla whisknladle.com

One of our flaming fivesome can be found, appropriately enough, at Pacific Beach’s Firehouse American Eatery + Lounge. The Mortar Blast Martini starts with a martini glass and a shot of neon-green absinthe liqueur, which is set aflame, then mixed with a chilled mixture of gin and dry and sweet vermouths infused with muddled fennel and rosemary. Firehouse co-owner, bar manager and mixologist Adam Stemmler explains that the fire and fresh greens give a big-time boost to the drink’s herbaceous backbone. Should the inferno get out of hand, there’s a real-life firehouse next door.

Whisknladle’s Ian Ward has earned a reputation for being one of San Diego’s finest mixologists thanks to his inventiveness and the fact that, like the restaurant’s culinary staff, he creates everything—including a diverse line of infused liquors—from scratch. Available only at the bar and served in a glass shaped like a monkey skull, Ward’s tart and tempting Zombie combines home-made tamarind-vanilla syrup with fresh-squeezed apricot and lemon juices, añejo rum, brandy and a float of every tender’s best fiery friend, 151 rum.

40 | July 2009 « PACIFICsandiego.com

SUNK’EN SAILOR

Last Call 4977 El Cajon Blvd., Talmadge lastcallsd.com Last Call’s fiery concoction, the Sunk’en Sailor, employs a “man overboard” approach. Bartender Rich Walker takes a lit matchstick to a shot of Sailor Jerry’s spiced rum, which he then drops into a mixture of Monster Energy drink, blue Curacao orange-flavored liqueur and sweet-and-sour mix. The sweet and smoldering end result will wake up even the most drunken sailor. Sturdy seamen looking for a second round can order up an Absolute Ridiculous—Absolut 100-proof vodka, ignited and mixed with Monster and Razzmatazz raspberry liqueur.

Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina 1380 Harbor Island Dr., Harbor Island sheraton.com/sandiego

FRESH PINEAPPLE SUNSET

Nothing builds camaraderie quite like this caustic concoction at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina.

Available at the hotel’s Shoreline poolside oasis, the Fresh Pineapple Sunset, a blend of five different rums, is served in a hollowed out pineapple and crafted to be consumed by four—count em’—four people. There’s no questioning that they are serious about this cocktail: You can’t even order it until after 5 p.m.

PACIFICsandiego.com » july 2009 | 41

GROOVE: MUSIC

Home Makers The Stay Classy tailgate party helps fund a shelter for homeless youth

San Diego Pride 2008

Out and About

Pride (In the Name of Love) isn’t just a U2 song anymore

H

eld in the early 70s, the first San Diego Pride parade consisted of merely 125 marchers, many of whom wore paper bags over their heads in fear of reprisal from their employers and landlords. The procession took place along Broadway, downtown, where participants were greeted by jeers from sailors and business owners.

Fast forward 35 years—nearly 200 colorful floats and marching groups will traverse the heart of Hillcrest in the 2009 Pride parade. According to the San Diego Police Department and the Convention & Visitors Bureau, the parade, which draws more than 150,000 cheering sideliners, is San Diego’s largest civic event.

Progress has been made, but the quest for equality is hardly finished, as reflected in this year’s Pride theme: “Stonewall 2.0 – Activism for Equality.” The title points to a second wave of activism, the first being the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City. Back then, the gay community demanded an end to police raids of their bars. Today, the call is for same-sex marriage recognition and the dismantling of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

This year’s Pride parade begins at 11 a.m., July 18, at University Avenue and Normal Street in Hillcrest. After the parade, the revelry continues in Balboa Park with a two-day, 40,000-person festival offering big-time live musical performances by acclaimed artists. Other festival highlights include beverage gardens, dance arenas fueled by popular DJs, the MetLife Latin stage and an eco-friendly “Green with Pride Zone.”

R

evolutionizing philanthropy one cool, fundraising event at a time, StayClassy.org transforms Petco Park into the Stay Classy Tailgate on July 18 to benefit the city’s homeless youth.

The fourth annual Tailgate is an all-day music festival and street fair that takes over the stadium and adjacent streets with live enPetco Stage Del the Funky tertainment on two stages, a Homosapien block-long beer garden and Cage the Elephant DJs spinning the crowd into The Kneehighs a frenzy.

Vokab Kompany Because no tailgate party is complete without a subFleetwood (DJ) sequent sporting event, TailStage gate tickets are good not only Chris Clouse for the daytime festivities but GRoy also for the Padres vs. ColoTheron Scooter rado Rockies game starting Chris Cutz at 7:05 p.m. that night.

Fresh One PacificSD is proud to be Mikey Beats a part of this summertime celebration, proceeds from which will propel Stay Classy toward its goal of raising $500,000 to help build a shelter for homeless and abandoned youth in San Diego.

San Diego Pride 2008

Headlining Bands Terri Nunn & Berlin The Shiny Toy Guns Chunky Sanchez Date: July 18-19 Admission: $20 per day Info: 619.297.7683, sdpride.org

42 | July 2009 « PACIFICsandiego.com

Flobots perform at Stay Classy Tailgate 2008

Date: July 18 Tickets: $25 Info: stayclassy.org/tailgate

Groove: Bartender

Nick’s Knack

Bartender Nick Martel says he can find a beer for any palate

By Julie Hagy

Photo by Dave Good

Beeriodic Table Martel’s beer conversions

If you like…

Cosmopolitans

Zinfandel Rum and Coke Chardonnay Gin and Tonic

Try this beer…

Raspberry or Apple Belgium Lambic Raspberry Framboise Fullers London Porter Fantome Saison (low-alcohol pale ale) Dallas Point IPA

Pair Sider

Martel recommends beer pairings for dining at Ritual Tavern or cooking at home Hamburger: “You can’t really go wrong when pairing beer with a burger,” he says. He pairs his own with summer brews, standard pale ales and IPAs (India Pale Ales).

Cheeseburger: “A brown ale complements cheese well.”

Ritual Tavern 4095 30th St., North Park 619.283.1720 ritualtavern.com

F

olks move to San Diego for many reasons. Nick Martel came for the beer.

“If you’re a beer lover and you live in San Diego, you’re in the best spot in the world,” says the Maine native, drawn west by the region’s crop of quality brewers.

Martel has a porter in his basement and regards himself as a “beer geek.” He landed his first brewery job at age 15.

“Ever since I’ve been old enough to work, I’ve worked in this industry,” he says.

Today, Martel is on tap at Ritual Tavern, an Old-World, British-vibed restaurant in North Park, known for its extensive beer selection and hearty fare. He jokes that he secured the bartending gig by helping to renovate the place for its grand opening two years ago.

Convinced that people who don’t like beer just haven’t tried the right one yet, Martel intends his passion to be infectious.

“There’s something for everyone out there,” he says.

Martel’s favorite beer changes with the season. For summer, it’s Tappistes Rochefort 8, brewed

by Belgium monks. To learn which beer he’d recommend for you, check the chart in the froth on the beer to the right or stop in Ritual Tavern.

44 | July 2009 « PACIFICsandiego.com

Gumbo: Pair spicy foods with an IPA. “The strong hops help make sure the taste of the beer is not lost in the spiciness.”

Chicken Breast: “Go for a light, delicate beer.”

He suggests Saisons, a light beer imported from Belgium and France.

Shepard’s Pie: (Ritual Tavern’s signature dish) “Go for something really hearty.”

Stone Smoked Porter, known for its heavy malt flavor, fits the bill.

Veggies: “Go for an IPA.” For vegetarians, Martel suggests keeping an eye out for gluten-free beers, which are beginning to appear in local markets.

Fruit: “Summer fruits pair nicely with a Saison (low-alcohol pale ale) or a Farmhouse Hefeweizen.”

Love: Blind Date

Got a Match?

PacificSD provides firepower to spark a blind date adventure Photos by Janelle Maas

T

o match this issue’s theme (subtle, right?), tonight’s blind date has to be a scorcher. Whether it smokes, smolders or simmers, there’s gotta be some heat. So, to prevent premature burnout, PacificSD fuels the encounter by kicking things off at Firehouse American Eatery + Lounge, located between the fire station and the ocean in Pacific Beach.

Before firing up a hot summer romance, let’s meet the daters…

PacificSD says… He says...

She says...

Describe your personality in seven words.

Spontaneous, athletic, entrepreneurial, dependable, risky, sarcastic and political.

Sweet, caring, reliable, fun, hardworking, genuine and honest.

What jobs have you had and what do you do now?

I never really had any of the traditional starter jobs.

I think that influenced my desire to start my own business and rely on myself. I am currently the president and CEO of CCS Inc., the second largest southern California airport advertising agency.

I have pretty much always been a student with a few part-time jobs along the way. I am currently in graduate school at USC for occupational therapy.

What do you do for fun?

Charger games, racing cars, jumping out of planes, comedy clubs, live music.

I like to hang out with friends, go to the beach, go to farmers’ markets and spend time outdoors.

Rate yourself physically on a scale from one to ten.

I’ve never gotten any major complaints, but there’s always room for improvement. I think like an eight is reasonable.

Five? I don’t know. This question is too hard to answer.

What’s the sexiest thing about you?

I am a very confident guy, and that has always worked out well for me. Rumor also has it I have a bitchin’ set of abs.

I don’t know, maybe my eyes.

What was your last nightmare?

I don’t recall the last one, but my favorite genre of movies is horror. With a nightmare, it’s almost like my opportunity to produce and direct my own twisted plot.

That a creepy spider was crawling on me. Gross!

What’s your favorite movie?

Jerry Maguire

I like most movies, just not the scary ones.

What’s your favorite food?

I can live on sushi and tiramisu gelato.

Right now I would have to say sushi.

What person, food, beverage and song would you take to a deserted island?

I would take my best friend and soul mate, Tara, a small truck-load of Jack and Coke, plenty of In-N-Out and anything by Neil Diamond.

Watermelon, Diet Coke with a slice of lemon, any Bob Marley song and I would adopt a dog to bring along with me.

Sophie and Rudy meet for the first time outside Firehouse. After cordial greetings, they head inside and upstairs to enjoy an ocean-view dinner on the roof deck. A thick, June marine layer blocks the fading sun. No romantic sunset tonight.

Dinner is filled with smiles and occasional laughs. From 20 feet away (and from the vantage point of someone hiding behind a fire pit trying not to get caught watching), things appear to be going well, though perhaps a bit chilled given the night’s potential heat.

It’s been about an hour since dinner began. The daters agree to skip dessert and head next door to meet the gallant gents of Fire Station 21.

46 | July 2009 « PACIFICsandiego.com

(Continued on page 48)

$50 Off Teeth Whitening $149 Through July 31, 2009.

Must mention ad at time of booking.

Love: Blind Date

Feel the Burn The blind date continues

C

aptain Mike and his crew are like Smokey the Bear—warm and funny.

(Look for members of the firefighting team in upcoming blind-dates.) Their day job is to put out fires. Tonight, they help turn up the heat by giving Sophie and Rudy free rein of their fire station.

The daters dress up like firepersons. They seem to be having a blast as they pose near, on and in the fire truck. At the risk of letting the flames die down, PacificSD splits the two for mid-date interviews…

Thank you to the friendly folks at Firehouse and the Bahia: Firehouse American Eatery + Lounge 722 Grand Ave., Pacific Beach 858.274.3100, firehousepb.com Bahia Resort Hotel 998 West Mission Bay Dr., Mission Bay 858.488.0551, bahiahotel.com 858.539.7720, bahiabelle.com

48 | July 2009 « PACIFICsandiego.com

PacificSD says…

He says...

She says...

How’s it going so far?

Not too bad. Very easy conversation.

Smart girl. Not overly challenging.

Plane Jane, but very cute, girl next door kind of thing.

Umm, it’s going pretty well. I didn’t know what to expect when I came here, so I was a little nervous. I don’t know—it’s still kind of awkward.

Is this the kind of person you’d normally date?

Uhhh… I’m enjoying the evening.

She’s considerably more conservative than I’m accustomed to, though. But usually the really good ones are the ones that have that little skeleton in the closet. <laughs>

He’s definitely really nice, I’m just… he seems kind of like he’s all about dating. He was saying that he’s very picky and it’s hard for him to find someone that he wants to date. I don’t know; it’s kind of weird.

Rate your date from one to ten, physically.

Seven, with gorgeous eyes.

Seven

And for personality?

Nine. I find intelligent girls pretty attractive, so that kind of elevates her.

Seven

What’s your date’s best quality?

Even though she’s on the more conservative side, I like that fact that, whatever we talk about, she has something to say about it. She jumped into the fire engine and she’s here, so she’s clearly into trying different things.

I don’t know. I’m not really sure yet.

He’s really nice and easy to talk to, but I think I need to spend a little more time, maybe finish out the date and see.

What would you do if your date leaned over to kiss you right now?

I’d be down.

I don’t know. That would be weird.

Is their attraction or would you just be friends?

It’s kind of strange, but I’m a toe guy—she’s got freakishly long toes. I would say friends.

I think it has the potential to go either way.

Maybe things aren’t so hot after all. More preheating should fix that…

The daters are chauffeured to the Bahia Hotel & Resort, where they climb aboard the Bahia Belle for a Mission Bay cruise replete with fireworks. Once inside the historic vessel, the couple heads to the secondfloor bar. The joint is hopping—a two-man cover band is jamming popular hits and the dance floor is packed. After a few songs, the couple heads upstairs for champagne.

(Continued on page 52)

calendar

seven.09

Submit events to calendar@pacificsandiego.com

Compiled by Danielle Warren

See the hottest new swimwear lines from top designers at BIKINI WEEK, a five-day series of runway shows at some of Downtown’s hottest nightclubs. Se San Diego, Stingaree, Ivy Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and the W Hotel will each host one of the live fashion and entertainment extravaganzas. Tickets: $25 for one day, $100 for four days Dates: July 1-5 Info: bikiniweeksd.com

7/19: Jewel Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com Photo: Kurt Markus

7/1: KC & The Sunshine Band

San Diego County Fair, sdfair.com

7/1: The Itals

Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com

7/5: Kelly Clarkson

Party with more than 50,000 rowdy spectators as 1,200 teams compete in the 56th annual OVER THE LINE tournament on Fiesta Island. The major waterfront sporting event features beers, bikinis and brouhaha.

Tickets: Free to spectators Dates: July 11-12, 18-19 Venue: Fiesta Island, Mission Bay Info: 619.688.0817, ombac.org

San Diego County Fair, sdfair.com

7/9: Heart

Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com

7/9: Incubus with Duke Spirit

Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, ticketmaster.com

7/9: Pat Benatar with Neil Giraldo Valley View Casio, ticketmaster.com

7/12: Indigo Girls

Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com

7/13: Acoustic Evening featuring Riddle the Roar, Jane Lui and Jenn Grinels Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, ljathenaeum.org

7/15: Green Flash Concert with Steve Poltz Birch Aquarium at Scripps, aquarium.ucsd.edu

7/16: Coldplay with Amadou & Mariam and Kitty Daisy & Lewis Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, ticketmaster.com

Two of the finer things in life converge at the BEER AND CHOCOLATE PAIRING, featuring six courses of handcrafted chocolates from Chuao matched with beers from San Diego’s own Stone Brewing Company.

Tickets: $30 Date: July 12 Venue: Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens Info: 760.471.4999, stonebrew.com

Photo: Joan Marcus

7/16: Tori Amos

Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com

7/18: American Idol 2009 Summer Tour: Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Anoop Desai, Danny Gokey, more San Diego Sports Arena, ticketmaster.com

7/21: The Moody Blues

Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com

7/24: George Lopez (stand-up comedy) Sports Arena, ticketmaster.com

7/24: Latin Funk Festival

Canes, canesbarandgrill.com

7/25: Slightly Stoopid with Snoop Dogg and Stephen Marley Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, ticketmaster.com

7/29, 7/30: Journey

Pala Casino, startickets.com 50 | July 2009 « PACIFICsandiego.com

The Tony Award®-winning musical FIDDLER ON THE ROOF returns to San Diego to delight audiences with famous, heartwarming songs including Tradition, If I Were A Rich Man and Sunrise, Sunset. Chaim Topol, star of the original motion picture, performs the role of Tevye.

Tickets: $18-$79 Dates: July 14-19 Venue: Civic Theatre Info: 619.570.1100; broadwaysd.com

Sample mouth-watering creations from top neighborhood restaurants at TASTE OF BIRD ROCK, where participants stroll the streets of the La Jolla community while enjoying great food and live music. Proceeds support Bird Rock Elementary and Cesar Chavez Elementary.

Tickets: $15-$25 Date: July 16 Venue: La Jolla Blvd., Bird Rock Info: 858.454.3768, birdrock.org

Help celebrate equality and be part of the rainbow as SAN DIEGO LGBT PRIDE takes over Hillcrest with a mile-long parade of floats, marching groups and 150,000 people to cheer them on.

After the parade, join 40,000 revelers for the two-day festival in Balboa Park, featuring live entertainment on multiple stages, dance arenas and beverage gardens including an outdoor Malibu Tiki Lounge. Festival: Parade admission is free; festival tickets are $20 per day Dates: Parade, July 18; festival, July 18-19.

Festival Venue: Marston Point in Balboa Park Info: 619.297.7683, sdpride.org

Revolutionizing philanthropy, StayClassy.org transforms Petco Park into the STAY CLASSY TAILGATE, featuring block-long beer gardens, DJs spinning on a solar stage and live musical performances

by Del the Funky Homosapien, Cage the Elephant and The Kneehighs, among others. Tickets include admission to the Padres vs. Colorado Rockies game the same night.

Tickets: $10-$25 Date: July 18 Venue: Petco Park Info: stayclassy.org/tailgate

Batmen

(Padres home games) 7/1-2: Padres vs.

Houston Astros 7/3-5: Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers 7/16-19: Padres vs.

Colorado Rockies 7/20-22: Padres vs.

Florida Marlins 7/31: Padres vs.

Milwaukee Brewers

Throw on a giant hat and bet on a long shot where the turf meets the surf—at the DEL MAR RACES OPENING DAY AND HAT CONTEST. Join more than 50,000 fans for the exciting start of the 2009 horse-racing season, featuring high-stakes wagering, live music, Red Bull skydivers and a fashion contest.

Tickets: $20 general admission DateS: July 22; season continues through September 7 Venue: Del Mar Race Track Info: 858.755.1141, delmarracing.com

Put on your Spiderman outfit or channel your inner Catwoman as COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL returns to San Diego. The annual event draws more than 100,000 pop-culture fans to the Convention Center for comic books, video games, films and adults dressed as Darth Vader. Tickets: $10-$75 DateS: July 23-26 Venue: San Diego Convention Center Info: comic-con.org

Anjelica Huston wearing The Jealous Husband (c. 1940) on the cover of the New York Times Magazine, 1976.

Photo: Evelyn Hofer, 1976

Milestones

7/1: National Postal Worker Day 7/1: Pamela Anderson turns 42 7/4: Independence Day 7/6: National Fried Chicken Day 7/6: The Dalai Lama turns 74 7/8: The liberty bell cracks (1835) 7/14: Bastille Day 7/16: Will Ferrell turns 42 7/17: Disneyland opens (1955) 7/20: Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin land on the moon (1969)

Marvel at more than 90 modern and abstract pieces of “wearable art” created by renowned sculptor Alexander Calder in CALDER JEWELRY. Several items on display were worn by 20th-century cultural icons, including Angelica Huston (pictured). Tickets: $10 general admission Dates: July 25-January 3 Venue: San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa Park Info: 619.232.7931, sdmart.org PACIFICsandiego.com » july 2009 | 51

Love: Blind Date

After Match

Belle Hop

PacificSD says…

He says...

She says...

How was the Bahia Belle?

Fun. Music, cocktails were flowing, fireworks in the distance, who could ask for more?

It was awesome. The cruise was so much fun and we lucked out by having clear skies for the fireworks.

Describe the chemistry between you and your date.

She’s a very sweet girl, but too sweet for my taste. I’m attracted to a little more edge and sassiness.

It was fun getting to know Rudy and he seems like a really nice guy, but I am not sure that the chemistry clicked between us.

What was your date’s most endearing quality?

She is probably one of the most sincere and sweet girls I have ever met. She’s perfectly suited for a Midwestern choir boy.

That he appears to be a hardworking and successful guy.

He also had very good manners and seemed like a genuinely nice person.

What was your date’s least endearing quality?

She’s just too darn nice.

That seems like a harsh question.

What’s the sexiest thing your date did last night?

She looked great in her dress.

I wouldn’t call this sexy, but it was very nice having doors held open for me.

What happened after the magazine crew left you two alone?

We stayed aboard the Bahia Belle for another bay loop, killed off the bottle of champagne and struggled through some small talk. We wrapped up before midnight and then I navigated myself back to Firehouse for a few more cocktails.

We stayed on the cruise for another trip and then we walked back to our cars.

What was the best part of the date?

Dinner was fabulous. I’ve been to Firehouse before and I’ll continue to go. It’s a great venue.

I liked going to the fire station and sitting in the fire truck.

Worst part?

The end of the night was slightly awkward. After hugging it out and thanking each other for a fun night, I might have come across a little eager to jet to my car.

Probably the awkward feeling at the end of the evening, when you are not sure what to say or do.

What’s one thing your date should know?

I didn’t wear any underwear during our date.

I don’t know if he reads people that well.

What could have made this date better?

If the Bahia Belle would have struck an iceberg.

If we had ended the evening a little earlier.

The blind date continues

W

hile watching fireworks from the Bahia Belle’s rooftop sky deck, Rudy puts his arm on Sophie’s waist for a moment. As the final ka-boom echoes across the water, the two are finally left alone. PacificSD calls the next day to see what we missed.

This could be you (except maybe you’ll like your date). Email setmeup@pacificsandiego.com

52 | July 2009 « PACIFICsandiego.com

This blind date started at Firehouse, moved to the fire station and then concluded with fireworks. The evening had all the ingredients of a three-alarm blaze, but some matches just never light, no matter how much heat they’re subjected to.

There’s some irony here—even though the night never grew too hot, Rudy found himself praying for icebergs. And in the end, the only burning desire the daters had was to get the hell away from each other.

Pretty cool. Well, maybe not for Sophie and Rudy.

Quasi-celebrity comments…

Vanilla Ice: “This date needed some ice, ice, baby!”

Paris Hilton: “That’s hot.”

Donald Trump: “You’re fired.”

Michael Phelps: “Got a light?”

THINK

Hot’s Tough It’s so hot in San Diego that…

…the water police are handing out $1,000 sprinkler tickets.

…marijuana dispensaries catch fire across the county. To combat the problem, the city attorney makes it illegal to inhale on public property.

…the guy from Turko Files may have to shave his moustache.

(Mike’s a good guy. So is his moustache. See them both on KUSI News, kusi.com/features/turko)

…the beach is empty. Were beers the only draw?

Four-word solution: Grey Goose in a Slurpee cup.

…local tap water is almost safe enough to drink. …Home Depot has more fans than the Padres do. …guys are walking around Hillcrest without shirts on—it must be San Diego Pride (though the phenomenon has been observed during winter, too). If you’re going as Cher or Joan Rivers, WORK IT, GIRL! Go freedom!

54 | July 2009 « PACIFICsandiego.com