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editor’s note
{staff}
San Diego VOL.3
ISSUE 9
SEPTEMBER 2009
PUBLISHERS
David Perloff {Editor in Chief} Simone Perloff
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Kenny Boyer CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Ron Donoho Brandon Hernández EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Ryan Balke CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Craig Boreth Sarah Nardi Cookie “Chainsaw” Randolph Frank Sabatini, Jr. PHOTOGRAPHERS
David Good, davegoodphotography.com Janelle Maas, janellemaas.com Neens, neensmarketing.com
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Jim Lucich Laura Rovick Mira Woermann MARKETING
Michael Capone
Magazine advertising sucks… sucks readers into your ads and new customers into your business, that is.
{
Call 858.274.1111
}
or visit pacificsandiego.com today to find out how much your ad can suck.
Distribution 35,000 copies distributed monthly 20,000 copies direct-mailed 15,000 copies picked up by readers at 550+ retail outlets countywide Available FREE at every participating 7-Eleven store from Coronado to Oceanside and east to SDSU and Kearny Mesa 12
pacificsandiego.com | SEPTEMBER 2009
S
o I’m headed up the 5 North from Old Town, the historic birthplace of California and the location of PacificSD’s new office by the freeway. Right before jumping in the car, I learned that the recession has claimed another victim—the guy (ass) who was supposed to build condos with the money I invested four years ago just claimed bankruptcy. My money’s gone and I’m passing the tabernacle in La Jolla, pissed, at 83 mph. I’ve heard that even some Mormons can’t get into that place and I’ve always wondered what it looks like inside. Maybe there’s a VIP list (don’t tell them your name’s Goldberg). I guess I’ve known for years that my investment was gone, but I just kept hoping I’d get lucky. Anyway, some bank owns it now, and I’m approaching the 5/805 merge. The trick here, I’ve learned, is to stay right—even though the lanes keep disappearing, you can sometimes avoid the fray altogether. Is it just me, or does Halloween seem to come earlier each year? Whoa! Is your damn turn signal broken or something? Text this, a-hole! Sorry about that—some moron swerved into my lane without even looking. Anyway, where was I? Oh, yeah… Halloween. It still smells like horses in Del Mar, but there are already spooky Scream Zone decorations stacked up outside the track. Isn’t it still summer? Something about riding around seems to clear my head, to put me at ease a little. I need to be in the driver’s seat, though. Riding shotgun while my wife is driving is not relaxing… probably just because my life hangs in the balance when she’s behind the wheel. (Sorry, Sweetie.) By the way, what is Pea Soup Anderson’s and why do they need a windmill? I’m passing Carlsbad now. An ’84 Toyota Celica was my chariot for the trip west from college. I bought the car used in ’89 for $5,000. Dad had paid for half; I paid for the rest with pizza delivery tips, then let Earl Scheib paint it for 99 bucks in ’92. By the time I rolled into San Diego, my wool sweater wasn’t the only thing that betrayed my point of origin. A rusty fender, a dented door, Pennsylvania tags. Well, look at that, an Oceans 11 Casino, in Oceanside. Who knew? (Actually, I knew. I went there once with a buddy, hoping for Viejas but instead finding… well… a bingo-parlor-meets-bowling-alley. Instead of free drinks while playing blackjack, you get discounted hot dogs. Hit me!) That old clunker pretty much rusted through after 21 straight days of rain in January ’93. A year ago, I would have turned around at this exit, but gas is cheaper now. I’ll turn around at San Clemente. Today, I’m driving the nicest car I’ve ever owned. I love everything about it—everything except for the $600 payment I need to keep making until I’m 80. If anyone is in the market for a car that costs more than it’s worth, do give me a call. I may have a house for you, too. I guess those things really do look like breasts, huh? They say that if San Onofre has a meltdown, San Diego is toast, but I’d take a toasted Finest City over Philadelphia any day. Time to turn around. Headed south on the 5 now, I’m feeling better. Money-shmoney, condo-shmondo. Car payment… damn. “...and I have become comfortably numb!” Sorry, I know my voice sucks, but c’mon, Pink Floyd on KGB on a sunny afternoon? I couldn’t resist. 91X is rocking Kings of Leon, Channel 933’s got Rihanna (did you hear A.J. is replacing Jeff and Jer on Star?) and Ryan Seacrest is gossiping on Star. It’s funny how fast time goes when I’m driving. I just passed the unmerge and am now coming up on Mount Soledad. I’ve actually been locked out of my car up there a couple times. Turns out the radio towers jam the signals emitted by car alarm remotes. Weird. I’m sure it’s perfectly safe to live under those things, though. (Shhh… it’s part of my master propaganda initiative to reduce the value of La Jolla real estate in the hopes of somehow getting my damn investment back. Barrio Logan condos seemed like such a good idea…) The sun is fading as I pass the Old Town exit and see the flickering skyline come to life. I pass downtown, exit the 5 at 10th Street and head over to mi barrio. Just past Father Joe’s Villages, I see my condo. It’s built, it’s pretty and it ain’t mine. I flip the entire property the bird, then jump on the 163 North at Eleventh Street, feeling refreshed. Sometimes the best thing is just to take a ride—to roll with it. Happy motoring, San Diego.
David Perloff, Editor in Chief
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{contents}
pacific
{Features} 24 AUTO FOCUS Fall fashion where the rubber meets the road 32 WHAT A GAS A local company may have the green answer to foreign oil dependency
{Departments} C u r r e n t s
17
{Coolture} water colors ArtWalk on the Bay returns to San Diego’s waterfront
20 22
{Sports} in for a ride Why athletes should trade-in cars they bling in for ones they belong in {Anchors Away} MORNING STAR Even in the dark, this talent shines bright
H E L P
36
{Charity} SERVICE STATION Where to pull over to give San Diegans a little roadside assistance
t a s t e
38 {Dining Out} PAINT THE TOWN FED Fill ’er up at the Taste of Downtown 40
{What’s Cooking} WINGING IT A Buffalo native gives the inside scoop on his hometown hotstuff
G R O O V E
42
{Music} GOING APE Local band Vokab Kompany to release new CD, The New Kong
ON THE COVER: Photograph by Robert Dahey ON RACHELLE: YaYa dress, $536, Pink Lagoon, pinklagoon. com; Elli earrings, $48, necklace, $36, ellijewelry.com. ON J.P.: Theory shirt, $85, Diesel jeans, $170, Bloomingdales, bloomingdales.com; Forever 21 vest, $16.70, forever21.com.
La Jolla Independent BMW Service 5535 La Jolla Blvd. • La Jolla, CA 92037 858.488.1555 • bimmerdoc.com Thank you for lending us your exquisite vehicle for this issue’s fashion editorial photo shoot (Pages 24-29). Year: 1970 • Make: BMW • Model: 1600 Mileage: 300,007 • Original price: $3,250.00 Current value: ~$100,000 Photograph by Robert Dahey ON RACHELLE: Nicole Miller top, $310, scarf, $38, Nordstrom, nordstrom.com. ON J.P.: Hugo Boss shirt, $245, Mister B, mister.com.
44
{Music} HOME CHORD ADVANTAGE Local musical talent takes center stage at the San Diego Music Awards
47
{Contest} TICKET TO RIDE Driven by fame and prizes, PacificSD readers submit their photos and win
Become a PacificSD facebook fan for access to cool events, behind-the-scenes pictures and videos and great giveaways. Check us out at pacificsandiego.com.
14
pacificsandiego.com | SEPTEMBER 2009
48
c a l e n d a r
50 nine.09 September event listings L O V E
52
f
{Bartender} THE WHEEL THING Whether they’re on cars, in bars or on a drum set—this girl knows rims
{Blind Date} SEX DRIVE San Diego singles race in a highspeed pursuit of love
T H I N K
58 UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED How to appear calm while she’s driving
SHOP BRILLIANTLY. ANN TAYLOR FACTORY STORE, BANANA REPUBLIC FACTORY STORE, BARNEYS NEW YORK OUTLET, BCBGMAXAZRIA. TWO AREA LOCATIONS. COLE HAAN, CONVERSE, GUESS, J.CREW, JUICY COUTURE, KENNETH COLE, LACOSTE, MICHAEL* KORS, NEIMAN MARCUS LAST CALL, POLO RALPH LAUREN FACTORY STORE, SKECHERS AND MORE. SAVINGS OF 25% TO 65% EVERY DAY. *STORES VARY PER CENTER.
LEGENDARY BRANDS. ABUNDANT SELECTION. REAL SAVINGS. CARLSBAD PREMIUM OUTLETS | 90 STORES | CARLSBAD, CA LAS AMERICAS PREMIUM OUTLETS | 125 STORES | SAN DIEGO, CA PREMIUMOUTLETS.COM
coolture
sports
anchors away
currents Water Colors
By SARAH NARDI
S
ARTWALK ON THE BAY BRINGS WORLD-CLASS ART TO SAN DIEGO’S WATERFRONT
ROB HURT
ome cities are synonymous with worldclass art exhibitions. There’s Art Basel in Switzerland, the Venice Biennale and, a little closer to home, Art Basel’s annual sister show in Miami Beach. But for those who have seen their jetsetting aspirations dampened by the economy, there’s ArtWalk on the Bay—right here in San Diego. There may not be many pieces bearing a seven-figure price tag, but with more than 100 artists from California and beyond, ArtWalk will undoubtedly boast plenty of inspiring (and accessible) work. Now in its fourth year, ArtWalk on the Bay will be held at Embarcadero Marina Park North on September 12 and 13. In addition to artwork, the waterfront event will feature live musical performances and KidsWalk, a free interactive arts program for children of all ages. New to the Walk this year, the Bayside Lounge will serve up beer, wine and signature Bloody Marys to visitors who’ve worked up a thirst for more than culture.
CHARLES SHERMAN Like any artist who has enjoyed a long career, Charles Sherman has encountered a few bumps in the road. He was in the process of overcoming a succession of creative failures a few years ago when he came across the Möbius strip, a rectangular band joined at the ends to form a ring. Sherman found new inspiration in what he saw as a symbol of positive energy and emblem of the infinite. He has been working with the form exclusively for six years Infinity Ring with Lip, ceramic with iron patina, 17” x 17” x 5”, original sculpture by Charles Sherman
(Continued on Page 18) SEPTEMBER 2009 | pacificsandiego.com
17
{currents}
coolture
(Continued from page 17)
now, creating a series of work called Infinity Rings. Working with materials including ceramic, aluminum and Lucite, Sherman creates sculpture that is both visually simple and spiritually complex. He has experienced considerable success with the Rings, showing in more than 30 galleries and museums in the past year alone, a fact He attributes to the passion he feels for his work. “Success as an artist means loving the work you do,” Sherman explains. “Failure is when you create art for a market.”
Enchanted Wizard of Rhythm-Beck
Branded-Christina Ricci
ED BURGESS It was a Robert Rauschenberg retrospective at the Guggenheim a few years ago that led artist Ed Burgess to the medium he uses today. “Rauschenberg experimented early in his career with a technique called ‘solvent transfer,’” Burgess explains. “I went home and started playing around with it and my wife came in and said, ‘Whoa, this is it.’ I’ve been working with it ever since.” The technique enables Burgess to transfer images from old catalogs and magazines by placing them face down on paper, applying the solvent and then burnishing them with a roller-ball pen. Once transferred, images appear in reverse and colors are diluted, making for a quiet, ethereal effect. Burgess then assembles a variety of disparate images into a single portrait. Though he has made portraits of celebrities including Beck, Madonna and Christina Ricci, the subjects he enjoys working with most are his friends. One of his favorite pieces is called Why I Hate Tim and was created after a particularly “crappy” vacation Burgess spent with its namesake. And though the piece will be on display at ArtWalk, don’t get too attached. “I’m planning on giving it to Tim,” says Burgess. “I just really want to see it hanging on his wall.”
INFO ARTWALK ON THE BAY DATES: 9/13-14 VENUE: Embarcadero Marina Park • INFO: artwalkonthebay.org
IMPERIAL BEACH ARTWALK DATES: 9/18-19
VENUE: Imperial Beach Pier Plaza • INFO: 619.424.3151, ibfilmfestival.com
coronadoartwalk.org • Free double-decker bus and ferry transportation
CORONADO ART WALK
CARLSBAD ART SPLASH DATES: 9/26-27 • VENUE:
DATE: 9/20 • VENUE: Downtown Coronado and the Coronado Ferry Landing • INFO: 619.435.7165,
Armada Drive, Carlsbad INFO: 760.436.2828, carlsbadartsplash.org
Is a guest room that comes with a nightclub.
HAPPIER HOUR $5 Grey Goose cocktails ½ off select wines by the glass ½ off Quarter Kitchen bar menu Monday-Friday | 5-8pm
DINE + DANCE Three-course dinner menu & VIP nightclub admission $55 Thursday & Friday only | 7-9:30pm Reservations required
RESERVATIONS: Rooms 619.814.2053 | Dinner 619.814.2000 | Bottle Service 619.814.2055
{currents}
sports
In for a Ride
Ryan Leaf’s Edsel
WHY ATHLETES SHOULD TRADE-in CARS THEY BLING IN FOR ONES THEY BELONG IN Cookie “Chainsaw” Randolph drives to KGB-FM every weekday morning in a vehicle with more than 100k miles on the odometer, with a goal of 200k before he trades it in for a 2014 Dodge Douchebag.
“Travis should put his Probe in storage until he gets out in three years.” 20
By COOKIE “CHAINSAW” RANDOLPH
W
hy do professional athletes, who are already… professional athletes... feel the need to waste their money on expensive cars when they can already get the chicks by simply walking into a nightclub and being… professional athletes? Society is long overdue for a cultural shift that makes it cool for athletes to purchase sensible cars that fit their image, rather than look good on MTV Cribs. It’d be safer for them, safer for innocent pedestrians and innocent passengers, safer for off-duty vigilante cops. Plus, it saves accountants the hassle of auctioning off the fleet after a player gets cut from the team and files Chapter 11. So, as a public servant and visionary, I humbly submit...
Cars that Fit the Stars:
The all new BUICK TANTRUM, a midsized sedan for Tiger Woods, featuring soothing anger-management messages played in stereo when he drives to and from the golf course. The Ford EDSEL for RYAN LEAF. Didn’t live up to expectations and was out of production in just four years. The DELOREON for BRETT FAVRE. Set the clock Back to the Future—to 1997 in a Packer uniform at Lambeau Field. The Ford PROBE for ex-NFL running back TRAVIS HENRY. Nine children by nine different women—you’d think after six or seven he might take some measures. Now in federal prison for cocaine trafficking, perhaps Travis should put his Probe in storage until he gets out in three years. A HUMMER for HUGH GRANT. No wait, he’s an actor and that scandal was sooo 1995. Come on!
pacificsandiego.com | SEPTEMBER 2009
Just for the “irony”, how about a PRIUS for 11-time Ironman triathlete champion LISA BENTLEY. Unless, of course, her PowerBar and Saucony endorsement money can afford her an actual Bentley automobile. How cool would that be? A car named after herself, and she wouldn’t even have to pay extra for monogramming. The PONTIAC AZTEK for new San Diego State football coach BRADY HOKE. You may remember this midsized SUV from Survivor several years ago. It was so ugly that contestants intentionally tanked their challenges so Jeff Probst would NOT hand them the keys. Fortunately, it’s been discontinued, but I say, bring it back, this time with the proper spelling, colors and design: The all-new, turbo-charged 2009 red and black AZTEC. Give Brady Hoke the keys and let him drive it right into the Holiday Bowl. The FORD ASPIRE for golfing “sensation” MICHELLE WIE. Since she can only ASPIRE to win her first professional tournament in over 75 tries, she can also ASPIRE to buy a cooler ride—but not until she wins a tournament.
what drives you ? cookie “chainsaw” randolph
First car: 1969 Plymouth Satellite Current car: Toyota 4-Runner Dream car: Escalade that gets 45 mpg Freeway speed: 69-70 Automotive moment: An acquaintance bought a classic 1947 Buick Roadmaster with the urn of the original owner in the trunk and he kept it in there. Called him his Designated Dier.
kgb 101.5 dj
Fresh. Crisp. 64 calories. The envy of other beers. MGD64. As light as it gets.
速
Per 12 oz., MGD64 contains 64 cals., 2.4g carbs, < 1g protein, 0.0g fat.
{currents}
anchors away
Morning Star EVEN IN THE DARK, THIS TALENT SHINES BRIGHT Anchors Away See what San Diego anchors are doing when they’re away from the studio.
Top and bottom: Renee Kohn performing with the National Comedy Theatre improv troupe Middle: Kohn in the studio at San Diego 6
22
By SARAH NARDI \ Photos by Janelle Maas
F
lashing the kind of blindingly bright smile rarely seen in real life, Renee Kohn is the quintessential television news personality. As she strides into the lobby of San Diego 6, it’s immediately clear that she possesses the palpable charm and charisma the medium requires—especially in the morning. It must take a special kind of person to rise before dawn and face the bleary-eyed masses, the kind of person who draws from deep reserves of inner cheer to perforate the morning’s sleepy haze. “I get up at 3:30 a.m.,” Kohn says, her wide green eyes
pacificsandiego.com | SEPTEMBER 2009
betraying no trace of fatigue. “I’m sure I don’t get enough sleep, but I’m used to it.” Her natural exuberance in light of such an unnatural schedule confirms that she is indeed a rare breed. As she walks, flip-flops peek out from beneath the cuffs of her tailored pinstriped pants. Kohn has just wrapped up another day at work. It’s 10:45 a.m. “I’ve always known that this is something I wanted to do,” says Kohn, now seated in her office adjoining the studio. Monitors displaying news in progress flash above her head; her desk is covered with photographs of young nieces and nephews. “I’m the kind of person who used to interview my family with a shoe for a microphone, asking them about topics like, ‘what’s for dinner?’” A childhood penchant for reporting led Kohn to a degree in journalism from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a certification in meteorology from Mississippi State University. From there she worked at television stations in Los Angeles, Texas and Alabama before landing at San Diego 6 two years ago. Here, she pulls double duty, covering traffic and weather on weekdays from 5 – 9 a.m. and co-hosting the lifestyle program San Diego Living from 9 – 10 a.m. Off air, Kohn spends time on stage as a member of the National Comedy Theatre improv troupe. Acting has been her lifelong passion; a
Photo by David Blair
career in broadcasting, she confides, was actually a backup plan. “But I’ve always loved connecting with people,” she says, “and in that way the two are really the same.” Kohn also devotes time to a second career, mentoring women and teens as a life coach. It’s only when describing how she came to such a vocation that her face ever fails to register a smile. “I dealt with some childhood trauma,” she says cautiously. “But I was fortunate enough to
have so many people who were bright lights along the way. I was able to face my demons and thought, ‘If I can transcend this, then I’d love to motivate others trying to do the same.’” On-air, Kohn has a reputation for bringing a spark to otherwise tedious topics like the daily commute. On stage, she lights up the room with a natural comedic flair. But it’s in the role of life coach, helping others find their way through the dark, that this morning star shines brightest.
fall fashion where the rubber meets the road
photographs by robert dahey
[ Adams Avenue, Kensington ]
ON RACHELLE: Genetic Denim shorts, $182, Pink Lagoon, pinklagoon.com; Joie top, $184, Aqua vest, $158, Bloomingdales, bloomingdales.com; Jessica Simpson sandals, $89, Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, macys.com; Elli bracelet, $65, ellijewelry.com. ON J.P.: Varvatos for Converse pants, $125, shirt, $65, Bloomingdales, bloomingdales.com; Converse shoes, $35, converse.com; Mossimo sunglasses, $12.99, Target, target.com.
ON RACHELLE: French Connection top, $98, Free People Skirt, $108, Bloomingdales, bloomingdales.com; sandals, $24.99, Target, target.com; Double Happiness cuff, $198, doublehappinessjewelry.com. ON J.P.: Greg Roth top, $88, Alberto shorts, $175, Mister B, misterbclothing.com; Converse shoes, $35, converse.com. [ Gelato Vera, Mission Hills ]
with a license to chill
[ Balboa drive at upas Street ]
ON RACHELLE: Seven shirt, $149, LaRok shorts, $178, Bloomingdales bloomingdales.com; Nordstrom scarf worn as belt, $38, nordstrom.com; wild Pair shoes, $14.99, Marshall’s, marshalls. com; Elli bracelets, $36 each and earrings, $36, ellijewelry.com; Agadez by Ashley Childs ring, $1950, ashleychilds.com. ON J.P.: Theory sweater, $295, Seven shorts, $138, Bloomingdales, bloomingdales.com; Target t-shirt, $4.99, target. com; Lacoste shoes, $85, Macy’s, macys.com.
downshift and refuel
ON RACHELLE: Joie top, $164, Ralph Lauren belt, $74, Bloomingdales, bloomingdales. com; Rich & Skinny Jeans, $239, Pink Lagoon, pinklagoon. com; Jessica Simpson sandals, $89, Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, macys.com; Agadez by Ashley Childs necklaces, $650, $375, earrings, $355, ashleychilds.com. ON J.P.: Forever 21 shirt, $21.90, forever21.com; Jake Agave pants, $130, Mister B, misterbclothing. com; Lacoste shoes, $85, Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s macys.com. [ California Tower and Museum of Man, Balboa Park ]
firing on all cylinders
on the freeway of love
ON RACHELLE: Nicole Miller top, $310, scarf, $38, Nordstrom, nordstrom.com. ON J.P.: Hugo Boss shirt, $245, Mister B, mister.com. [ Laurel Street Bridge ]
Photographs by Robert Dahey Styled by Kristi Brooks
Hair stylist: Gwendolyn Sneed Makeup artist: Evelyn Hernandez Models: Rachelle Goulding at NEXT, J.P. Calderon at FORD Photographerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Assistants: Tim van der Linden, Rene Nones, Chris Donlea, Thomas Hoeber
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Molecular Diagram of Ethanol
I
f a sustainable future begins with convincing American consumers to fill their tanks with ethanol instead of gasoline, then San Diegans may have front-row seats to the birth of a revolution. Local energy company GreenHouse has just unveiled their EFuel100 MicroFueler, a portable in-home refinery system that converts organic waste like spent beer yeast and algae into ethanol fuel. This innovative process costs significantly less than gasoline production. The MicroFueler was launched in early August and has already received endorsements from celebrities including NBA AllStar Shaquille O’Neal and British Actress Francis Fisher. O’Neal is also an investor. “Once I saw the GreenHouse business plan,” he says, “I was committed to GreenHouse and the E-Fuel solution.” E-Fuel is the brainchild of Floyd Butterfield and Tom Quinn. Butterfield, an ethanol expert, developed the technology while Quinn, an eminent Silicon Valley entrepreneur, figured out how to make it marketable. GreenHouse chief marketing officer/managing partner, Sean Entin, vividly remembers his first meeting with Quinn, a visionary he describes as being on par with Microsoft’s Bill Gates and Apple’s Steve Jobs. “Tom explained the concept to me and I said, ‘Sir, you are going to win the Nobel Peace Prize,’” says Entin. “I mean, really, if everyone were using this system, imagine what that could do for our dependency on oil. Imagine what
32
pacificsandiego.com | SEPTEMBER 2009
WHAT
A local company hopes its ethanol refining system is the green answer to foreign oil dependency By Sarah Nardi
GA
A
that could do for the world.” GreenHouse president, Russ Earnshaw, adds, “Even just in California, if we were able to get enough drivers to switch to ethanol, we could impact the nation’s air pollution, because about 25 percent of the country’s cars are here.” The E-Fuel system sounds simple. GreenHouse installs the MicroFueler units in homes and businesses at no charge; the unit itself costs $10,000 (minus a $5,000 rebate from the Federal Stimulus Package). Carbohydrate-
based waste, or “feedstock,” is collected from local sources and delivered to users by the company’s fleet of energy-efficient, ethanol-powered vehicles. Organic ethanol produced by the MicroFueler will cost around $2 per gallon. GreenHouse officers predict the average consumer will recoup the cost of the system in less than two years. The MicroFueler, which resembles a typical gas pump, converts the feedstock to ethanol, which is then pumped, like gas, directly into a vehicle. The system
even oversees its own supply and maintenance by continually interfacing with GreenHouse via the Internet. When the feedstock supply is running low, the unit sends a message and the company schedules a delivery. Entin and Earnshaw stress that the technology is safe and that any unit which might experience a problem would send a message to the network and immediately shut down. Configuring a vehicle to run on ethanol is not hard. Any car built after 1991 will run on ethanol,
Photo courtesy of Gates Photography
AS although some older models may require a conversion kit (which can be purchased for under $200 and installed by a mechanic). A vast majority of newer model cars are already ethanol-compatible, and, according to Entin, highperformance vehicles and race cars will run even better on ethanol versus traditional gasoline. “And what’s great is that ethanol acts as cleanser,” he says. “So once you start running it through your car, it will clear out the residue left by gas and oil and actually run better and be more efficient.”
“Once I saw the business plan, I was committed to GreenHouse and the E-Fuel solution.” —Shaquille O’Neal
e-Fuel100 microFuelerTm non-combustion ethanol microrefinery system SEPTEMBER 2009 | paciFicsandiego.com
33
H
H
H
C
C
H
H
“In the United States alone, there are 55 billion gallons of reported waste a year. And that’s just what companies are reporting, so you can imagine what’s really out there.”
Photo by Janelle Maas
—Sean Entin
(GreenHouse chief marketing officer/managing partner)
Unlike oil, a highly coveted and finite resource, the supply of feedstock (a by-product of yeast and sugar-based manufacturing) is virtually infinite. “In the United States alone, there are 55 billion gallons of reported waste a year,” says Entin, “and that’s just what companies are reporting. So, you can imagine what’s really out there.” Earnshaw says billions of gallons of solid waste are going into landfills, and liquid waste is going into streams and oceans. “We can take it out of the landfills, out of the oceans, and put it to good, practical use,” he says. GreenHouse has partnered with companies including Gordon Biersch, Sunny Delight and local brewery Karl Strauss to convert 29,000 tons of liquid waste and spent beer yeast using the 34
pacificsandiego.com | SEPTEMBER 2009
MicroFueler process. “We ran a pump from one of our fermenting tanks filled with yeast directly into the GreenHouse truck,” says Karl Strauss quality control manager Shawn Steele. “It went smoothly and will be an easy process going forward.” Earnshaw says it’s a win-win. “We’re taking that waste off the companies’ hands and using it to create clean, sustainable energy,” he says. Will this plan work? The market will bear out an answer. But given the current call from all corners to find environmentally sustainable answers and create green jobs, energy and business solutions, the MicroFueler appears to be a step in the right direction and is certainly fueling excitement among GreenHouse and its investors.
A GREEN HOUSE BY GREENHOUSE Stay Classy Foundation and San Diego Youth Services have partnered with GreenHouse on the Campaign for Abandoned Youth, created to raise $500,000 to build a shelter for the region’s homeless youth. GreenHouse is committed to constructing the shelter with the latest in green-building technology to establish a sustainable future for these youth and the personnel that serve them. “GreenHouse is a great organization, and they’ve been a valuable partner for us on this campaign,” says Pat Walsh, executive director of the Stay Classy Foundation. “We’re excited to continue our partnership and build this shelter here in San Diego.” For more information or to donate time or money to this project, visit stayclassy.org.
OH
inacah house Lahabe
RGER PITCHERS! NOW SERVING LA the beach! Best Burgers at kfast, beachfront brea r in PB ne din d an h lunc
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{help}
charity
Service Station
WHERE TO PULL OVER TO GIVE FELLOW SAN DIEGANS A LITTLE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE By RYAN BALKE From giving a ride to actually giving your ride, there are plenty of ways to use a car to brighten the lives of our neighbors in need. shotgun!
It Takes a Village
ALL IN THE FAMILY
While a taxi ride to the doctor’s office and back can cost $40 or more, it’s difficult for many seniors to maintain the independence that affordable transportation facilitates. Seniors a Go Go to the rescue. Created by Elder Help of San Diego, which helps to increase seniors’ time at home and prevent their being placed in nursing facilities, the program uses volunteer drivers to give elderly in need rides to medical appointments, the grocery store, even social visits. Lending a hand (or a gas-pedal foot) feels great; hearing Grandpa yell Shotgun!—priceless. Elder Help also accepts vehicle donations. Call 866.965.GIVE (4483) to schedule a pickup.
Cash for Clunkers may have stimulated business for car dealers (if the Fed ever actually pays up), but some charities took a big hit. Father Joe’s Villages, for example, which generates 25 percent of its annual revenue by reselling donated vehicles, saw donations fall sharply since the inception of the government trade-in program. Now that the federal program has ended, it’s a great time to drive that Pontiac P.O.S over to Father Joe, who provides food, shelter and health services to more than 3,000 San Diegans each day. The car doesn’t even have to run; all you need is the pink slip and a key to give to a good cause and enjoy a tax write-off in April.
Since its inception in San Diego in 1918, Jewish Family Service has grown to become one of the premier human services agencies in San Diego. Now serving nearly 30,000 people annually, the organization assists families, children, the elderly and the needy by providing counseling, support and even refugee resettlement. In the past year, it has placed more than 240 political refugees in San Diego. Up to eight percent of Jewish Family Service’s annual revenue is generated through the sale of donated automobiles, which don’t need to be in working condition or have current registration or smog certification. For a limited time, Cohn Restaurants is giving donators $50 gift certificates to the new Corvette Diner in Liberty Station.
ELDER HELP OF SAN DIEGO 619.284.9281 elderhelpofsandiego.org
MEALS ON WHEELS Even if you aren’t ready to donate your car, you can use it to provide assistance to San Diegans in need. With the help of more than 1,600 36
pacificsandiego.com | SEPTEMBER 2009
Father Joe’s Villages 619.446.2100 fatherjoesvillages.org
volunteers, Meals-on-Wheels delivers two meals per day, seven days a week, to more than 900 seniors in the San Diego area. In 2006 alone, our hometown heroes delivered 458,557 meals to 4,312 San Diego seniors.
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE 877.537.4277 jfssd.org
In addition to providing nutrition, Meals-on-Wheels helps to alleviate the painful isolation felt by many immobile elderly. “Along with the food, our volunteers bring a smile, a hug and a kind word to our seniors
every day,” says Kiki Schrijver, the organization’s development manager for San Diego. 619.260.6110 meals-on-wheels.org
Bank at Home
or from the road, on the beach, at the coffee shop, out of state, on the slopes, in Vegas, at the mall…
Control your money and pay your bills...
right from your cell phone
HOME BANK OF CALIFORNIA
Born in San Diego for San Diegans • Personal Service • Online and Mobile Access • Great Rates
HomeBankofCalifornia.com 875 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach • 858.270.5881 600 Mission Ave., Oceanside • 760.722.1711
{taste}
Paint the town Fed
FILL ‘ER UP AT THE TASTE Of dOWNTOWN PHoToS By DAVE GooD
Y
A. ou’ll never reach them all—but your taste buds will enjoy trying to sample as many dishes possible from the 60 restaurants participating in the 10th annual Taste of Downtown. Do a self-guided dine-around in the Ballpark District, Horton Plaza and the Financial District. Or, have an appetizer in East Village, a main course in the Gaslamp Quarter and dessert in Little Italy. That would normally entail too much walking, but it’s feasible because free shuttle service from neighborhood-to-neighborhood will be provided The culinary event, which has sold out the last six years, is set for September 24, from 5-9 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. For more information, call 619-233-5008, or go to dtsd.org.
a. bare back Grill b. Tabule C. Tequila 100 d. illume bistro e. The Corner
PArtIcIPAtInG rEstAUrAnts GAsLAMP Bare Back Grill Bondi Australian Beer & Food Brian’s Eatery & Drinkery @ St. James Hotel Ciro’s Pizza Crunchtime Popcorn Dick’s Last Resort Donovan’s Steak & Chop House Dublin Square Irish Pub & Grill Funky Garcia’s Mexican Eatery Gaslamp Tavern Gelateria Frizzante Henry’s Pub Hooters Gaslamp La Boca Las Hadas Maloney’s Tavern Masala Mister Tiki Mai Thai Lounge Monsoon Fine Cuisine of India operaCaffe Patrick’s II Royal India Exquisite Restaurant Sammy’s woodfired Pizza Side Bar Soleil@K-Marriott Gaslamp 38
Tabule International Cuisine Tequila 100 The Field The Merk The whiskey Girl yogotango LIttLE ItALy Buon Appetito Fabrison’s Sweet Café & Boutique Illume Bistro Indigo Grill Karl Strauss Rice Restaurant FInAncIAL DIstrIct Dos Patrons Extreme Pita La Gran Tapa La Cake Chateau Maria’s Mexican Cocina Sixth Avenue Bistro St. Tropez Bakery & Bistro EAst VILLAGE Dirty Del’s East Village Tavern & Bowl
paciFicsandiego.com | AUGUST 2009
B.
Lotus Thai Mondo Gelato The Corner Tilted Kilt Valentine’s Mexican Food wings, Pizza N Things Stout Public House
c. D.
horton PLAZA Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Sweet Factory
InFo When: September 24, 5 – 9 p.m. Where: Downtown (Gaslamp Quarter, Financial District, East Village, Little Italy) Tickets: $35 in advance, $40 day of info: 619.233.5008 mcfarlanepromotions.com bonus: Free shuttle service throughout the area
E.
RAISEYOUR HAND...
...IF YOU LOVE TO DANCE ...IF YOU’RE READY TO ROCK ...IF YOU COULD USE A DRINK ...IF YOU WONDER WHERE ALL THE GOOD DJS WENT ...IF YOU NEED ANOTHER MONTH OF SUMMER
Sat: HOSTED tequila, vodka & beer tastings; $2.50 bud lights and svedka/rockstars
945 GARNET AVE. PACIFIC BEACH, CA 858.274.4833 JOHNNYVSD.COM VIPS: AMY@JOHNNYVSD.COM
{taste}
winging
It
WHICH CAME fIRST? IT wAS THE BUFFALo By FRANK SABATINI JR.
T
}
rEAL-DEAL BUFFALo wInGs
needs: 2 to 3 dozen fresh or thawed chicken wings ¾ to 1 gallon vegetable oil ½ to ¾ cup butter or margarine 1 ¼ cup Frank’s RedHot Sauce (for medium spiciness) 1 tablespoon red Tabasco sauce
deeds: Heat oil to 350 degrees in a large pot or deep fryer. (Do not fill pot above threequarters full.) In separate saucepan, melt the butter or margarine, mix in the sauces and keep warm on very low heat. Carefully submerge the wings in oil with kitchen tongs. Deep fry for 25 to 35 minutes, until wings turn medium-brown. Remove from oil with tongs or a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Pour about a quarter of heated sauce into a snap-lid bowl and shake 6 to 10 wings at a time until fully coated. Repeat sauce application for remaining wings, plate with chilled celery sticks and blue cheese dressing.
wInG kInGs
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paciFicsandiego.com | SEPTEMBER 2009
{
he city of Buffalo, New York, is famous for two things. One is white and cold and nobody wants to shovel it. The other is crispy and mouthwatering and hardly ever gets pushed away. Hail to the almighty hot wing, which dates back to 1964 in Buffalo’s Anchor Bar, where the now late owners, Frank and Teresa Bellissimo, reportedly deepfried a batch of poultry trimmings (wings included) for a group of friends who had dropped in for a latenight nosh. By straining the appendages and lavishing them in butter and cherry-red cayenne pepper sauce, the couple secured their place in culinary history. The original recipe for Buffalo wings has since spawned countless permutations, but native Buffalonians (like me) staunchly defend the classic construction. Wings that are baked or boiled are sacrilege. Tomato-based or barbecue sauces are felonies. And the substitution of ranch dressing for blue-cheese dip will turn any Buffalo-bred wing dinger into a chicken with its head cut off. Preparing authentic Buffalo wings requires only three key ingredients: vegetable oil, Frank’s RedHot Sauce and butter or margarine. More good news: a couple dozen wings can take as little as 25 minutes to cook, making them a feisty choice for informal gatherings stocked with fire-extinguishing cold beer.
Mangu 524 Island Ave., Gaslamp 619.233.3166
wingstop 3365-B Rosecrans St. Sports Arena • 619.523.946 wingstop.com
Caribbean-inspired and dynamic, the wings are brushed evenly with fruity, spicy hot sauce. Whispers of cinnamon and black pepper emerge. The words “Buffalo” and “wings” begin drifting apart.
Offers both traditional and newfangled sauce options, including a masochistically hot “atomic” version. Versatility extends to wings flavored with garlic and Parmesan, lemon and pepper, Cajun spices, teriyaki and more.
dining out
what’s cooking
“Sorry, I don’t eat buffalo.” –Jessica Simpson
raw deal
Where to buy wings to cook at home Fresh & Easy (freshandeasy.com) Locations in Loma Portal, Mira Mesa, Lake Murray, Chula Vista and Casa de Oro Flash-frozen wings available in three-pound bags. Thaw before cooking. Costco (costco.com) Locations in Bay Park, Mission Valley, Carmel Mountain, Carlsbad, La Mesa and Chula Vista. Fresh wings sold in mondo packages of 60 or more. 99 Ranch Market (99ranch.com) 7330 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., 858.974.8899 Look for butcher-cut wings available most days in the meat deli. Ralph’s, Vons and Albertsons (ralphs.com, vons.com, albertsons.com) Fresh wings packaged in quantities of 10 to 14 by leading commercial farms.
Wings N Things 11 locations throughout San Diego County wingsnthings.com
Canes Bar & Grill 3105 Ocean Front Walk, Mission Beach 858.488.1780 canesbarandgrill.com
A haven for homesick Buffalonians. Wings burst with traditional tang and verve. The blue cheese dip tickles the taste buds with its mild sweetness, playing best friend to the on-target hot sauce.
Fat and honorable “Caliente wings” are bathed in peppery sauce that tastes part-Buffalo, partSouthwestern. They’re fried beyond San Diego’s common 10-minute allotment, which means farewell to rubbery skins and hello to audible crispiness.
{groove}
Ape
Going
LOCAL BAND VOKAB KOMPANY TO RELEASE NEW CD, THE NEW KONG
By Brandon Hernández / Photo by dirt chlyde design
R
ock, jazz, rap, punk—some music is easy to pigeon hole. Then there’s the eclectic, genrebending tunes of San Diego’s Vokab Kompany. “We’ve been told we have a hip-hop-electricsoul-rock-with-a-drizzle-of-funk sound,” says Rob Hurt, half of the dynamic vocal duo fronting this unique act. “We’re not really sure what our sound is evolving into, but we know we’re on to something cool.” Formed when Matt “Burkey Baby” Burke (an English teacher by day) left his previous band to return to San Diego and join forces with Hurt, Vokab Kompany has enjoyed a rapid rise to fame on the local scene. Just a year into playing as a group, they’ve already racked up a robust, loyal fan base and even snagged a nomination for Best Hip Hop Act at this month’s San Diego Music Awards. “When I joined the band,” Burke says, “Robbie and I began to morph our styles—my live band funk-and-soul-based flow with his rhythmic, gritty hip-hop. Our music is anything but traditional hip-hop. We use melodies and often several-part harmonies in our vocal deliveries or, dare I say, raps.” The Hurt-Burke duo is backed by Vokab Kompany’s fivepiece band including guitar (Jeremy Holmes), bass (Aaron Cheatham), keyboards (Geoff Nigl) and drums (Alvaro Nunez), as well as a classically-trained violinist (Spencer Sharpe). Vokab Kompany’s upcoming album, The New Kong was produced at Virtuous Studios in National City. A labor of love a year-and-a-half in the making, the release features cameo appearances by Lateef The Truth Speaker, The Mutaytor (bassist from Oingo Boingo), DJ J Boogie, Radioactive (of the band Spearhead) and MC Souleye. “You’re gonna hear hip-hop, you’re gonna hear electronic, rhythm and funk, soul, a little rock and, we hope, some originality,” says Hurt.
WHAT’S IN A NAME? origin of an album title
Rob Hurt: While sitting around trying to describe ourselves, our style and our sound, we were watching King Kong. One of our friends said, “You guys are like the new version of King Kong… all loud, chaotic and all over the place.” We thought that was great and kind of branded both our personalities as well as our not-so-prevalent style of music.
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pacificsandiego.com | SEPTEMBER 2009
Burkey Baby (left) and Rob Hurt
music
contest
bartender
“We’re not really sure what our sound is evolving into, but we know we’re on to something cool.”
what drives you ? rob hurt
First car: ’85 Honda Civic with the Kragen hubcap spinners—what! Current car: ’06 Ford Fusion… Dream car: ’06 Ford Fusion… or a Harley Car. Freeway speed: Exactly 65 miles an hour, sir. Automotive moment: I got a DUI… in a U-Haul.
vokab musician
{groove}
music
contest
bartender
Home Chord Advantage LOCAL TALENT rocks THE SAN DIEGO MUSIC AWARDS By Brandon Hernández
S
an Diego has been the proving ground for many gifted musicians. Blink-182, Jason Mraz, Jewel, Switchfoot and a slew of others all got their start here. And before making it big on the national scene, many of them rocked the stage at the San Diego Music Awards. Hailed as San Diego’s version of the Grammys, the SDMAs are the biggest night of the year for local musicians, songwriters and industry insiders. This year’s September 10 ceremony takes place at Viejas Concerts in the Park and boasts a powerhouse lineup of performers including Scarlet Symphony, Get Back Loretta, Steph Johnson, The Burning of Rome and Players Inc. (featuring members of Slightly Stoopid). Booking so many great acts for the same night would normally be a challenge, but San Diego musicians form a tight-knit community that’s more than happy to give back. The SDMAs began as a humanitarian event set up by the San Diego Music Foundation in 1991 to raise money for music education in public schools. Nearly two decades later, a portion of the proceeds still benefit the cause. “Growing up in San Diego, I played the sax in the school band, so it’s cool to be able to give back,” said Travis Trevisan of local band Tape Deck Mountain, nominated in this year’s Best Alternative category. “It’s a magical Tape Deck Mountain Photo by Anthony Muskett
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pacificsandiego.com | SEPTEMBER 2009
Get Back Loretta Photo by Rebecca Joelson
musical circle of life.” Check out sandiegomusicawards.com to purchase tickets or get information and the complete list of this year’s nominees.
19th annual sDMAs
Date: Thursday, 9/10 at 7 p.m. (doors open 6 p.m.) Venue: Viejas Concerts in the Park • Tickets: $25-$75 Info: sandiegomusicawards.com
AND THE NOMINEES ARE... A sampling of contenders in major categories Artist of the Year: Anya Marina, Crocodiles, Delta Spirit, Jason Mraz, Scarlet Symphony, Slightly Stoopid, Switchfoot, Wavves Best Alternative: Apes Of Wrath, Hotel St. George, Monsters From Mars, Republic Of Letters, Swim
Party, Tape Deck Mountain, The Drowning Men, Vision Of A Dying World Best Hip Hop: afterschoolspecial, Deep Rooted, Jimmy Powers, Lil Uno, MC Flow, The Concrete Project, The Kneehighs, Vokab Kompany
CENTER STAGE
Check out some of the bands performing at this year’s SDMAs Scarlet Symphony: With a sound evocative of 70’s arena rock, the group puts its own spin on the era with innovative, modern switches, guitar addins and pensive lyrics. Get Back Loretta: A quirky pop quintet with a devoted local following, G.B.L. won SDMA awards for Best New Artist in 2005 and Best Pop in 2006 and 2007. The Burning Of Rome: Lush gothic tones layered with circus-like melodies make this avant-guard seven-piece ensemble that’s difficult to categorize.
Get in the Game
watch football on 27 high-def TVs go long at happy hour 3pm to 7pm, 7 days
$2 Well Drinks $1 Street Tacos 32oz. Beers
(at pint prices)
remodeled ocean-view patio opens 11am daily
(9am on gamedays)
4465 Mission Blvd., PB 858.483.4143 890 W. Valley Pkwy., Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;side
{groove}
music
contest
Ticket
DRiVEN BY FAME AND PRizES, PACIFICSD READERS SUBMiT THEiR PHOTOS AND WiN
To Ride
L
bartender
ast month, PacificSD solicited auto photos from you, our loyal readers. Thank you to everyone who sent in pictures for the contest, congratulations to the 40 of you who each won a pair of Street Scene tickets (if you scalped them, you owe us half) and cheers to these top finishers. I love my car so much that I married it. –Anastasia R.
1ST
PLACE
I’m famous… I got airtime. –Alyssa S.
Hindsight is 20-20. –Ursula V.
3RD
PLACE
HONORABLE MENTIONS 2ND
PLACE
tHe offiCe: SeaSon 5 on DVD and blu-ray™ Hi-Def September 8.
THE DWIGHT IS RIGHT
Do you look like Dwight Schrute? Know somebody that does? Any resemblance to the uber-dork played by Rainn Wilson on NBC’s The Office could win you The Office: Season 5 on DVD. You don’t have to be a beet farmer or an obnoxious workplace kiss-ass. Just try to look like the one named Schrute, who claims to be “faster than 80 percent of all snakes.” email your funny (1MB or larger) photos to contest@pacificsandiego.com by September 15, 2009, to win the DVD set and bask in the glory of having your photo published in the October issue of PacificSD.
{groove}
music
contest winners
bartender
The Wheel
Thing
whether they’re on cars, in bars or on a drum set— this girl knows rims
By RON DONOHO / Photo by Janelle Maas
E
ven with the impressive Day of the Deadthemed tattoo on her upper left arm, Celeste Spina doesn’t look like the typical grease-stained auto enthusiast. Blue-eyed and petite, she’s perky and engaging. She makes homemade lemonade with fruit from her own tree, loves to cook and has dabbled in modeling. But don’t be surprised if you belly up to the bar and the 26-year-old wants to talk about cars. “My dad was a car guy and he built a replica of a 1965 Shelby Cobra,” says Spina, a Chicago native who’s been in San Diego for four years. “Dad and I would go to the car shows on the weekend. And since I was about four years old, I’d go cruising with him.” Cruising? “You know, when the guys all pick a spot—maybe a parking lot at an In-N-Out—and hang out and look at each others’ cars,” she says. “When I go back to Chicago and visit, I still go cruising with my dad.” North Park’s True North is Spina’s first bartending job. She started when the sports bar—it has banks of flat-screen TVs as well as a dance floor—opened in February. “It’s fun and I think your customers’ attitude is reflected from your own,” she says. “I try to be nice and give good service.” Spina prefers making fruity drinks like Mai Tais and lately has
what drives you ? celeste spina
First car: Green 1996 Pontiac Sunfire Current car: Turbocharged, red Mazda Speed 3 Dream Car: Turbocharged, red Mazda Speed 3 Automotive moment: Cruising with dad. true north bartender
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pacificsandiego.com | august 2009
been whipping up Blond Sluts (Jagermeister, peach schnapps and pineapple juice). When she’s not working, Spina enjoys cooking. Pastries are her specialty. Her signature dish is “chocolate ravioli” with a hand-rolled chocolate exterior and a salted caramel gelato inside. Her other passion is the drums. She played snare in the high school marching band and wore the hideous gold-and-green uniform with a big hat sporting a feather. Now, she’s on the prowl to join an indie-rock or blues band. Some nights after work, Spina doesn’t go straight to sleep. “I play my drums,” she says. Her Yamaha drum set is electric, so she can put on headphones, turn the volume down and play into the wee hours. “Sometimes I wake up at eight in the morning, play for awhile, and go back to sleep,” she notes. We should all be so lucky to start the day off with a bang.
“Dad and I would go to the car shows on the weekend. And since I was about four years old, I’d go cruising with him.”
True North 3815 30th St., North Park 619.291.3815 truenorthtavern.com
DAILY SPECIALS
MONDAY
INDUSTRY NIGHT 50% OFF BILL 9PM TO CLOSE
TUESDAY HALF OFF APPETIZERS 6PM TO CLOSE
Football WEDNESDAY season GOLDFISH RACING is here! 9PM TO CLOSE THURSDAY $3 U-CALL-IT! 9PM TO CLOSE
FRIDAY
GOOD-TIME DJS NO COVER
SATURDAY DJ JCEE NO COVER
SUNDAY
SUNDAY FUN DAY! DJs DURING THE DAY ALL STAR KARAOKE 9PM TO CLOSE $3 U-CALL-IT!
ALL DAY, EVERYDAY! $3 DOS XX & BUD $3 TACOS
PB Shore Club is the best place on the beach to watch your favorite team.
SPORTS PACKAGE s !,, &//4"!,, 0!#+!'%3 s 02/ !.$ #/,,%'% &//4"!,, s !,, 0!#+!'%3 ). ()'( $%& s ()'( $%& 0,!3-! 46g3 s 47/ &4 2%!, 4)-% 30/243 TICKERS
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SPECIALS
RIB NIGHT!!! $3 BUD LIGHTS &5,, 3,!" &2)%3 3!,!$ !.$ "5$ ,4 /2 N/A BEVERAGE
SUNSETS SERVED DAILY
UFC FIGHTS! EVERY EVENT! - KITCHEN OPEN TIL 10PM 858.272.SURF - PBSHORECLUB.COM - MYSPACE.COM/PBSHORECLUB ON THE BOARDWALK WHERE GRAND MEETS THE SAND
4343 OCEAN BOULEVARD - PACIFIC BEACH, CALIFORNIA
available at:
Gone Bananas 3785 Mission Blvd. s Pacific Beach
858.488.4900
gonebananasbeachwear.com Richard Horn
s
Negative Altitude Photography
s
negative-altitude.com
sept Photo by Michael Lamont
IT’S THE HOuSEWIVES! Laugh and sing along with this comedy musical about three moms who participate in a P.t.A.talent show and then go on to become rock stars. Date: September 4-27 tickets: $30 Venue: 10th Avenue theater, Downtown info: 888.663.3729, itsthehousewives.com
LITTLE ITALY STICKBALL TOuRNAMENT
While cheering fans chow down on pizza, San Diego’s best stickballers battle teams from New York, Boston and Puerto Rico. Date: September 5-7 tickets: free Venue: columbia st. & state st., Little italy info: 858.279.1924, littleitalysd.com
Submit events to calendar@pacificsandiego.com Compiled by Ryan Balke the mars Volta / Soma, somasandiego.com nickelback with Hinder and Papa roach / Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, ticketmaster.com 9/5: eek-a-mouse / Canes, canesbarandgrill.com 9/6: aC/DC / San Diego Sports Arena, ticketmaster.com 9/6: bob marley roots rock reggae fest / Del Mar Racetrack, delmarscene.com 9/9: Def leppard with Poison / Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, ticketmaster.com 9/10: David Cook (American Idol) / Spreckels theatre, spreckels.net 9/10: Schwayze / House of Blues, hob.com 9/11 air Supply / Humphrey’s Concerts By the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com 9/12: Dave matthews band with Switchfoot / Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, ticketmaster.com 9/15-16: mason Jennings and Crash Kings / Belly up tavern, bellyup.com 9/16: John legend / Humphrey’s Concerts By the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com 9/16: blink-182 with Weezer, taking back Sunday and asher roth / Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, ticketmaster.com 9/18: the Killers / Viejas Arena, ticketmaster.com 9/18: leann rimes / Humphrey’s Concerts By the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com 9/21: Pitbull / House of Blues, hob.com 9/22: flogging molly / House of Blues, hob.com 9/23: better than ezra / House of Blues, hob.com 9/24: Citizen Cope / WaveHouse, wavehousesandiego.com 9/24: britney Spears / San Diego Sports Arena, ticketmaster.com 9/25: the beach boys / Humphrey’s Concerts By the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com 9/28-29: Crosby, Stills & nash / Humphrey’s by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com 9/4: 9/5:
PADRES
CHARGERS
9/1-2 vs. Washington Nationals 9/11-13 vs. Colorado Rockies 9/14-16 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks 9/29-30 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
9/20 vs. Baltimore Ravens 9/27 vs. Miami Dolphins
SDSu FOOTBALL 9/12 vs. Southern utah
2009 PACIFIC CLASSIC
SAN DIEGO RESTAuRANT WEEK
Ziggy Marley performs where the surf meets the turf for the last race weekend of the season at Del Mar. Date: September 6 tickets: $6 Venue: Del Mar thoroughbred Club info: 858.755.1141, dmtc.com
Discover new flavors or savor your old favorites as 180 restaurants across the county offer three-course meals for just $20, $30 or $40 per person. Dates: September 13-18 tickets: Meal price only Venue: Restaurants countywide info: sandiegorestaurantweek.com
Photo by Joan Marcus
MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT experience a new musical based on the legendary comedy film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. the tony Award-winning performance features legless knights, flatulent frenchmen, even killer rabbits. Dates: September 8-13 tickets: $15-$71 Venue: San Diego Civic theatre info: 619.564.3000, broadwaysd.com 50
pacificsandiego.com | SEPTEMBER 2009
SAN DIEGO FESTIVAL OF BEER Sample more than 150 beers from 75 different breweries. Proceeds benefit local cancer-related charities. Cheers! Date: September 18 tickets: $25 (includes 10 four-ounce samples) Venue: Corner of Columbia St. and B St., Downtown info: 858.672.3972, sdbeerfest.org
WORLD SERIES OF POWERBOAT RACING
SKY SHOW XXXIV set to classic rock, kGB-fM’s annual fireworks extravaganza explodes over Qualcomm after the Aztecs home opener against Southern utah. Some lucky fans win zip code apparel from CodewearClothing.com. Date: September 12 tickets: $11-$31 Venue: Qualcomm Stadium info: 619.283.7378, goaztecs.com
Some of the world’s fastest drag boats and hydroplanes tear up Mission Bay at speeds of up to 265 mph. Date: September 18-20 tickets: $20-$40 for a three-day pass (children under 12 free) Venue: Mission Bay info: 619.225.9160, sandiegobayfair.org
HEART OF PACIFIC BEACH RESTAuRANT WALK
CALIFORNIA COASTAL CLEANuP DAY Help keep San Diego’s beaches beautiful from North County to South Bay at this 25th annual event, which drew a record-setting 7,700 volunteers last year. Date: September 19 tickets: free Venue: Area beaches info: cleanupday.org
BOOT CAMP CHALLENGE
2009 SAN DIEGO FILM FESTIVAL Watch premieres of more than 85 films. Q&A sessions with the cast and crew follow many screenings. Date: September 23-27 tickets: $12 film ticket, $39 daypass, $99 all-access festival pass Venue: Gaslamp theater info: 619.582.2368, sdff.org
endure a workout like no other. this intense three-mile course features Marine obstacles, screaming drill instructors and planes from Lindbergh roaring overhead. the post-race party includes food, music, beer and an awards ceremony. Date: September 26 tickets: $35 for individuals, $105-$175 for teams Venue: Marine Corps Recruit Depot info: 619.524.8083, bootcampchallenge.com
Photo by Pat Cubel
CORONADO SPEED FESTIVAL
Photo courtesy of San Diego Dance Theatre
See vintage, contemporary and futuristic automobiles at fleet Week’s marquee event, featuring military flyovers, a vendor village and more at n.A.s. north island. Date: September 26-27 tickets: $25-$35 for a one-day pass, $35-$45 for a two-day pass (free for military) Venue: naval Air station north island info: 619.858.1545, fleetweeksandiego.org
Sample the diverse eateries of Pacific Beach in this self-guided tour. enjoy selections from 20 neighborhood establishments for one low price. Date: September 19 tickets: $20 Venue: Pacific Beach, east of Cass St. info: 858.273.3303
MISSION BAY WINE FESTIVAL Savor gourmet food paired with wines from 60 prominent California, Oregon and Washington vineyards, as jazz musicians add harmony to the waterfront experience. Date: September 26 tickets: $55 in advance, $60 at the door Venue: Catamaran Resort Hotel, Mission Bay info: 858.488.1081, catamaranresort.com
ADAMS AVENuE STREET FAIR
11TH ANNuAL TROLLEY DANCES take one of six daily tours to watch a cast of 50 performers dance at San Diego trolley stops between Chula Vista and the border. Date: September 26-27, October 3-4 tickets: $15-$30 (includes trolley pass) Venue: Various trolley stops info: 619.225.1803, sandiegodancetheater.org
this free music festival rocks the whole family with more than 50 live musical acts performing on six stages. enjoy beer gardens and a bustling walk along the vendor-lined street. Date: September 26-27 tickets: free Venue: Along Adams Ave., Normal Heights info: 619.282.7329, adamsaveonline.com SEPTEMBER 2009 | pacificsandiego.com
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{love} blind date
Sex Drive
SAN DIEGO SINGLES RACE IN A HIGH-SPEED PURSUIT OF LOVE Photos by neens
G
ood afternoon, race fans, and welcome to the Freeway of Love. We’re so glad you took the time to drive over to join us for a day of blind date race action. Sorry you had to walk so far from the parking lot—attendance is about 200,000 this year. We’re also sorry about the state of the grass in the infield. It’s those new sprinkler laws, you know? In lane one, driving for team Pacific Beach, let’s hear it for Mallory (p.a. echo: allory… allory… allory... ). And in lane two, driving for team Carlsbad, please give a big Finest City welcome to Adam (dam… dam…
dam... ). Today’s race starts at an indoor Grand Prix-style course, then merges onto the 15 South before crossing the finish line at Liberty Station.
Before the starting lights turn green, let’s meet the racers. PacificSD asks…
She says...
He says...
Where are you from and where do you live now?
I’ve bounced around a few states—Kansas, Arizona and Oregon—but I live in P.B. now
I’m a little bit Midwest (born in Chicago), with a bit of Southern mixed in (grew up in Florida), now a California boy (been in Carlsbad about five years now).
Describe yourself in seven words.
Sarcastic, fun-loving, dependable, honest, entertaining, competitive, quirky.
Dads love me; moms wanna do me.
Rate yourself physically on a scale from one to 10.
I don’t know… maybe an eight.
Depends on the day of the week, I guess. I feel like a seven today.
What’s your favorite thing about yourself?
My spontaneity and the fact I’m game for pretty much anything.
That I’m a seven today.
Are you funny?
I think so, but that’s up for interpretation.
My nephew thinks so. I tell him jokes all the time. He’s two.
What’s the sexiest thing about you?
Hmm… Don’t know about sexiest, but my dimples are pretty fantastic.
I’ve got to defer that question to my date.
What will you be doing in 10 years?
I’m still trying to figure out what I’m doing next week.
Can you say PacificSD blind date, 10th anniversary style?
During what historical period would you liked to have lived and why?
I know it’s weird, but probably 18th-Century England. You had me at corsets and Mr. Darcy.
I’m a big technology nut, so I couldn’t imagine living without all the fun gadgets we have around today.
What’s your dream car?
Land Rover Defender.
Aston Martin DBS—I’ve always had a little man-crush on James Bond.
Describe the way you drive.
I’m terrible. I drive way too fast and follow way too close. I tend to piss people off and have gotten the bird a few times
If we are going strictly on driving record, I must drive like an old man. But when I’m in a fast car, I like to see what it’s got.
Does an R.V. count as a car?
Let’s keep it PG and I’ll say blasting around an oval racetrack at 170 mph
What’s the most fun you’ve had in a car?
A
dam and Mallory meet for the first time at Miramar Speed Circuit to compete in high-speed indoor kart racing. After getting acquainted for a few minutes, they throw on jumpsuits 52
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and climb into their vehicles. Before the race begins, pit crews fine-tune the karts’ 6.5 horsepower, gasoline-fueled Honda engines. Ladies and gentlemen, pull-start your engines!
(Race continues on Page 54)
{love} blind date Pedal to the Medal
READY, SET, GO!
T
he daters idle at the starting line. Red… yellow… green! They’re off, tearing down the straightaway toward turn one of a challenging, serpentine course. Adam takes an early and substantial lead, then slows a bit to let Mallory catch up. It’s a tight race for several turns, then Mallory spins out. Yellow flag. Back on track, Mallory speeds to within inches of Adam, who turns around and looks at her before shooting ahead again. At one point, Mallory takes the lead, but it’s a temporary and seemingly calculated setback for Adam, as he finishes each of three laps first and takes the checkered flag. Miramar Speed Circuit karts can hit 40 mph, but neither racer gets even close to that speed in race one. Back in the pits, they rehydrate as a professional race instructor gives them tips for improving their lap times. Pointing at a map of the course, he indicates where to accelerate, when to break and why. “I know that’s a lot of information,” the instructor says. “Pretty much your best bet is just to drive a lot faster.” Race two is indeed faster but otherwise reminiscent of
54
race one—Mallory spins out again, and Adam takes the flag. Average lap times: 32.528 seconds for Adam, 33.872 for Mallory. Despite what the clock says, it wasn’t even close. With their off-track clothes back on, the daters jump into Adam’s car and head to the brand-new Corvette Diner, temporarily escaping the photographer for the ride over to Liberty Station. The two are all smiles as PacificSD’s chase car catches up to them at a red light, then Adam guns it and beats the magazine crew to the 15 on-ramp. (We let him win.) After navigating south to the 163 to the 8 West, the daters and crew arrive at Liberty Station. Adam and Mallory take separate off-ramps for their middate debriefings.
PacificSD asks…
He says...
She says...
How’s it going so far?
She seems like a fun girl—she likes to go out, likes to party. She’s nice and easy to talk to. We’re having a good time.
It’s kind of a little awkward, kind of like interview status, but I think it’s going pretty well
How was the racing?
Fun. We didn’t get to talk much on the track, but it was fun to see a little competitive side in her.
It was fun. I kinda sucked at it, though. I spun out twice and he won both times.
Does your date have that new car smell?
Actually, she had perfume on when she came in. I hugged her and she smelled very nice.
I couldn’t necessarily pick out a scent, but he had a good hug.
Is this the kind of person you’d normally date?
Off the bat, I’d say no. I hate to use the San Diego cliché, but she’s like a Pacific Beach type of girl. That’s just never been my style so much. But she’s nice.
Yeah, I mean, I’m glad I didn’t wear heels ‘cause I think I’d be taller than him <laughs>, but, yeah, he’s cute. Definitely. Blonde hair, I kind of like that.
Rate your physically on a scale from one to 10.
I’d say a seven.
I’d give him probably about an eight.
And for personality?
She’s an eight-and-a-half and climbing.
I’d probably give him about the same.
Is the vibe more friendly or romantic?
I’d say for the most part it’s pretty friendly.
I think it’s more friendly at this point.
Could that switch?
Who knows? Yeah, it could possibly go that way.
Umm… maybe. I’m not sure; it’s kind of hard to tell right now.
What’s the best way that rest of the date could go?
I think just spend a little more time, have some cocktails and loosen up and just try to enjoy the evening.
We hang out and have some conversation and then maybe a drink afterwards, then call it a night. (Final lap, Page 56)
pacificsandiego.com | SEPTEMBER 2009
INAUGURAL
Mission Bay Wine Festival Saturday, September 26, 2009 1:00 to 4:00 PM Silent Auction with all proceeds to Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County
WINE FOOD MUSIC
MEDIA SPONSOR PRINT SPONSOR
Wine tastings from our most prominent wineries from the Napa, Sonoma, Temecula, Washington State, and International growing areas $55.00 • $60 AT THE DOOR MISSIONBAYWINEFESTIVAL.COM AT T H E CATAM A R A N R ESO RT H O TEL A N D SPA • 3999 M ISSIO N B O U L EVARD
U N D E RW R I T T E N B Y
{love} blind date Refueling
THE BLiND DATE ENTERS THE FINAl lAP
c
orvette Diner is hopping… Sock-Hopping. The 50sthemed restaurant feels like Happy Days reborn: neon clocks, beehive hairdos, a DJ spinning Elvis tunes. The exuberant staff, wearing giant smiles and period clothing, pause between food and drink deliveries to participate in group song-and-dance routines set to 50s tunes. Mallory and Adam stroll through the restaurant with cocktails, admiring the décor, requesting a song and touching things they shouldn’t. Once they’re seated and their food arrives, the couple is finally left alone for the rest of the evening. PacificSD calls the next day to see what we missed. PacificSD asks…
She says...
He says...
How was the Corvette Diner?
Loved the retro vibe with all the poodle skirts and wigs. Our waitress was great; she even let me steal a bit of her flare, a pin that says, “i eat anything that’s awesome.”
the Corvette Diner is certainly a unique restaurant with a unique atmosphere. the servers were all a lot of fun, good performers.
Describe the chemistry between you and your date.
started off slow, but i think it got better as the night went on.
she is a really nice girl, and we had a good time. i just didn’t feel a real strong connection.
What was the best part of the date?
After dinner, we went over to Wine Steals for a drink and to chat in a more relaxed setting.
standing on top of the podium after my victory lap. it’s the competitive side in me, i like to win.
Worst part?
Adam beating me at the go-karts.
it was a fun date, no complaints.
What happened after the magazine crew left you two al one?
We finished up dinner, went to Wine Steals, had a glass of wine, chatted for a bit and then he drove me home.
We finished up dinner at the diner, Mallory signed a few autographs for onlookers and we made our way to a little wine bar across the street.
Nope. He was a gentleman, though, and walked me to my door.
A goodnight hug was as about as romantic as it got.
Will there be a second date?
Perhaps. He got my number and we’ve talked a few times since the date, but no plans yet.
A second date is not in the cards. it would be fun to hang out under different circumstances with friends.
What car did your date remind you of?
i would say Jeep, but he actually owns one, so i’ll say Range Rover—it’s got the sporty sUV feel, but a bit more class.
i would consider her to be a Volkswagen bug—it’s a cute and unique car with lots of personality.
Was there a goodnight kiss or otherwise romantic exchange?
{Post-race wrap-up}
a
s with auto racing, dating can be unpredictable—it can make you feel like a winner or like you’re just going in circles. Adam may have won the race, but the trophy went home alone. Consider the irony: in racing, the best thing you can do is finish first. In love, finishing first just frustrates whoever’s riding shotgun. Thanks for coming to watch the race today, folks. If we’ve learned
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anything, and we probably haven’t, it’s that when complete strangers are put behind the wheel, sometimes their date can end up… well… in the pits. (Raise your hand if you were hoping for a different ending, like Adam saying, “Hey, that’s not a stick shift.”) This blind date was brought to you by Widmer Beer, reminding you that even if things don’t work out with your date, you can still fall in love with your beer. widmer.com
{Celebrity Observations} Zsa Zsa Gabor: “Pull me over and I’ll slap you.” New York Governor David Paterson: “Even I can drive better than that.” Al Gore: “I invented cars.” David Hasselhoff (to his talking car): “K.I.T.T., I’m hammered.”
THANK YOu Miramar Speed Circuit 8123 Miralani Drive, Miramar 858.586.7500 miramarspeedcircuit.com Corvette Diner 2965 Historic Decatur Road, Liberty Station 619.542.1476 cohnrestaurants.com Find love and glory, sign up for an upcoming PacificSD blind date. Email us today: setmeup@pacificsandiego.com
{think}
Unsafe at Any Speed
HOW TO APPEAR CALM WHILE SHE’S DRIVING By CRAIG BORETH
L
et’s face it, digging your nails into the dashboard every time she takes the wheel is bad for your blood pressure and your car’s re-sale value. You’ve got a few different options here: If you focus on the random stops, the distracted swerving and every nearly-missed turn, you’ll only make her more nervous, and you’ll invariably be blamed for any and all blunders. So your best bet is to remain calm—or at least to create the illusion of calmness. To achieve this trance-like state, we will rely on the wisdom of the Buddhist monks, whose practices of observational breathing and visualization have helped men remain calm while riding shotgun for thousands of years.
Assume the Position After she comes out of that hairpin turn and you dislodge your trachea from the shoulder strap, rest your feet flat on the floor and place your hands comfortably in your lap. Sit up straight, with your head tilted slightly forward (so you’re looking down at the reassuring sight of the passenger-side airbag).
Follow Your Breathing Breathe in through the nose, focusing on your breath as it flows down into the lungs. As you exhale slowly, imagine the sheer terror (and your impulse to make final peace with Jesus) exiting your body though the mouth. 58
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“A woman drove me to drink and I didn’t even have the decency to thank her.” —W.C. Fields Visualization After you are able to focus on your breath to the exclusion of the high-speed mayhem going on just a thin, plate-glass thickness from your head, you can try to further immerse yourself in meditation. Imagine yourself floating in a few feet of perfectly warm water, the sun on your face, with the waves gently rolling in on the rhythm of your breathing.
When All Else Fails If the car’s Joe Cocker-like gyrations are simply making it impossible for you to achieve calm, try this method: Tense up all the muscles in your left foot as tight as you can. Concentrate on the tension and focus solely on that feeling. Then, release the muscles and concentrate on the sense of relaxation you feel in that area. Repeat with your other foot, then move all around your body, tensing and relaxing. One of the best is tightening your whole face, then releasing. It’s fun, and you just know it looks ridiculous, but make sure she doesn’t see you doing it or she’ll think you’re having a stress-induced stroke. Become a PacificSD facebook fan to win gift certificates to some of San Diego’s top restaurants and bars. Check us out at pacificsandiego.com.
f
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1984
2008 Š2009 Widmer Brothers Brewing Company, Portland, OR