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editor’s note
{staff}
Celebrating the best of everyday life in San Diego VOL.4
ISSUE 04
APRIL 2010
PUBLISHERS David Perloff Simone Perloff EDITOR IN CHIEF David Perloff
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kenny Boyer CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Dave Good Brandon Hernández CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Christianna Ablahad Rebecca Chappell Michael Kinsman Cookie “Chainsaw” Randolph Frank Sabatini, Jr. John Thomson PHOTOGRAPHERS Brevin Blach, brevinblach.com Gabriela Lingenfelder, photographybygabriela.com EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Logan Broyles EDITORIAL INTERN Christina Dylag
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Kimberly Gates Jim Lucich Laura Rovick MARKETING Michael Capone
Do NOT advertise in this magazine
…unless you want your business to grow right away. In that case, call 619.296.6300 or visit pacificsandiego.com today to start benefiiting from immediate countywide exposure via print, web and social media.
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pacificsandiego.com | APRIL 2010
T
he most expensive Babe Ruth baseball card ever sold at auction went for about half-a-million dollars. I don’t know how much the ones my dad collected are worth today, but it’s not something I have to worry about—Grandma threw them away when he went to college. So, I keep working. My mom likes to get rid of stuff, too (mostly my stepfather’s these days). She used to collect boxes—little ones, big ones, metal, wood, whatever—hundreds of them, everywhere. They’re all gone now. She went through an Antique Pre-Electric Iron period, too. Of the 17 rusted, heavyweight gems, three were worth about seven dollars each. The others weren’t. Today, they’ve vanished like so many rusted-metal aspirin boxes. I’m not saying Mom should have kept all that crap— just that she didn’t. I turn 40 this month. The big day is April 20, and at this ripe age of holy-crap-I’m-40-in-a-couple-effing-weeks, Mom hasn’t surprised me in a while. She just did, though. Turns out there was one collection I hadn’t known about growing up, a double-secret stash that survived the decades—all four of them. As a gift for my birthday, Mom gave me her collection of the “art” I created, starting from when I could hold a paintbrush through about age 10. Judging from the book she put together, every time a crayon or paintbrush hit paper, she kept it. Turning the pages of my life—looking back at these tangible flashes of childhood—one thought fills my head: I suck at art. I mean, if a six-year-old Michelangelo were producing this kind of work, his parents would have pushed him toward a career in stucco. Mom didn’t think my creations were so awful, though. Actually, she probably did, she just never threw them away. And while my masterpieces won’t ever fetch Babe Ruth money on eBay, they’re worth even more to me sentimentally. (Yeah, right. Thanks, Mom—love the pics, but what I could really use is Dad’s friggin’ baseball cards.) Shown here are a few pieces borrowed from Mom’s private loose-leaf-binder gallery, and I think my portfolio speaks for itself. It says, “Wow, I’m really not good at this.” Luckily, my paintings are by far the worst you’ll find inside this art issue of PacificSD. Promise. The rest of the pages showcase the work of many of the region’s established and blossoming artists. And given the caliber of their work, if every picture is worth a thousand words, San Diego has a richer art scene than we’ve been given credit for. Check it out. And thank you for reading!
(Correction: last month, PacificSD published the wrong email address for personal chef Mike Garner. The correct one is: chefmikegarner@gmail.com. Hungry? He may be able to help.)
David Perloff, Editor in Chief
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{contents} pacific F e a t u r e s 33 Whet Paint Satisfying San Diego’s appetite for art, and starving artists’ appetite for food
On the cover: “Fortitude Mask,” by Derrick Little First Place Winner in PacificSD’s Whet Paint art contest (see Page 33)
38 Here We Grow Urban farming takes root in San Diego
BELOW: “Global Warming,” by Tyler Jordan Second Place Winner (see Page 34)
40 See Food What we eat, in a whole new light
D E P ART M E N TS CURRENTS 15 First Things ArtWalk, Padres Home Opener, Taste of Hillcrest, Univision anchor Susanna Torres 20 Take Me Out Of the Ballgame Unless you want the Padres to lose 22 Designs of the Times Spring fashions blossom in San Diego 26 Who Nose? How non-surgical nose jobs are changing the face of rhinoplasty
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pacificsandiego.com | APRIL 2010
28 Buy, Buy, Love? Reading the signs of life in San Diego’s real estate market GROOVE 44 Go, Fish! Meet a bartender who’s making a splash in the Gaslamp 46 All Hopped Up See what the Easter Bunny has in his basket for you
48 In Living Color Daters from different worlds, drawn together CALENDAR 56 Four.Ten April event listings THINK 58 Endless Summer It’s getting (and staying) hot in here
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first things
chainsaw
style
body
home
currents
Walk the Walk
Stroll through San Diego’s annual outdoor fine-art gallery
I
BY DAVE GOOD
IMAGES (clockwise from top): Artist Leah Devora’s Marilyn Freeway (see more of Devora’s work at ArtWalk Booth #804, on Fir St.); a budding artist hones her craft at ArtWalk 2009; artist Thomas Barbey’s Oh, Sheet!
t’s like we’re in Vietnam here,” says Leah Devora, a Los Angeles-based fine artist. “I’ve lived all over the country and I’ve never seen this.” The helicopters flying over her Westwood neighborhood are a constant annoyance. “I’m into conspiracy theories,” she says. “So, with the Marilyn Freeway (top image), I put in all the conspiracies of Marilyn Monroe’s murder and the Kennedys and the politics of the missile crisis, along with things about the L.A. landscape that I find the most frustrating.” Like the helicopters. “And the freeway,” she says. “It’s in every painting I do.” Devora and roughly 300 other fine artists will be at this year’s Mission Federal ArtWalk. The 26th annual event is expected to lure a crowd of 120,000 with two solid days of art, live music and dance, plus familyfriendly food and fun, April 24 and 25, on the streets of Little Italy. Mission Federal Art Walk Dates: April 24 - 25, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Location: The streets of Little Italy Admissinon: free Info: missionfederalartwalk.org pacificsandiego.com
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{currents}
first things
Courtesy of San Diego Padres
Coming Home
America’s Favorite pastime swings into America’s Finest City
T
he San Diego Padres host the Atlanta Braves for their April 12 home opener at Petco Park. And while last year’s season was no field of dreams, this game is still the best excuse for leaving work early on a Monday afternoon. (Tell your boss you’re networking.) Padres Home Opener Date: Monday, April 12, 3:35 p.m. Location: Petco Park Info: padres.com
Dine and Dash RESTAURANT OWNERS WILL THANK YOU
S
ample a panoply of international and local cuisines at the 10th annual Taste of Hillcrest, a self-guided culinary walking tour through 40 of the bustling neighborhood’s popular eateries. After enjoying appetizers, mini-entrees and desserts, check out the second annual Sidewalk Sale, where area merchants offer special shopping discounts for the day. Taste of Hillcrest
Date: Saturday, April 17, noon – 4 p.m. Location: Restaurants throughout Hillcrest Tickets: $30 in advance, $35 day of event Info: fabuloushillcrest.com 16
pacificsandiego.com | APRIL 2010
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Date Rape
{currents}
first things
It happens a lot more than you think. One reason is that not all sexual assaults are reported–to anyone, especially the police. In turn, the rapist learns the wrong lesson, and so do his friends.
Buenos Dias
But you can’t blame a woman for not calling the police or even telling her friends. I am representing three women right now who were raped, one through the use a date rape drug. All three women reported it to the police. All three men claimed the sex was consensual. None of the men were convicted.
Not so in Civil Court. Unlike in criminal cases, a woman suing her rapist in Civil Court must only show the rape was “more likely than not,” i.e., the burden of proof is just 51%. It boils down to whom the jury sees as more credible. Not many men willing to rape a woman have the capacity to appear credible in front of a jury. California’s “Gender Violence” law is powerful, and lets the woman not only obtain a money judgment for her damages (e.g., medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress), but the law also makes the rapist pay his victim’s attorney’s fees and costs. When he takes advantage of you, take advantage of the law and make him pay— possibly for the rest of his life.
D AV I D GOO D
Here’s how things can be different. Don’t resort just to calling the police. They can only investigate the case and refer it to the District Attorney, who then has to decide whether he can prove a criminal case “beyond a reasonable doubt,” i.e., well beyond a 90% likelihood. Since many rapes occur behind closed doors, a D.A. might view the “he said, she said” problem as insurmountable.
Wake up with one of San Diego’s favorite Spanish-language television anchors
S
usana Rivera Torres has a secret fan. He is unknown to anyone in her vast Univision (KBNT San Diego, Channel 17) television audience, but his dedication runs above and beyond the call of duty. At three in the morning, he is awake first. He goes to her room, wakes her, turns on the house lights, fixes her breakfast and starts her car, allowing it to warm up while she finishes eating. “Every day,” she says. “He hasn’t missed one day in nine months. He is an angel.” The angel’s name is Agustin Rivera Torres. “My dad,” she says, “is my biggest fan.” Torres moved with her family to San Diego more than a decade ago. She graduated from San Diego State University and has been with the staff at Univision for five years. Today, she is host of the morning news show, Despierta San Diego, a position she has held for the past 10 months. “I was in the right place at the right time,” she says. “I had no experience anchoring.” And if his daughter’s sudden stardom is causing Agustin, the hardest working dad in show business, to lose any sleep, he’s not complaining.
Art Imitates Art
PICASSO: THE MASTER AND HIS MASTERPIECES REBORN ON STAGE -Dan Gilleon
P
ablo Picasso once said, “When I was a child, my mother said to me, ‘If you become a soldier, you’ll be a general. If you become a monk you’ll end up as the pope.’ Instead I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.” He’s not the only one who wound up that way—so did Herbert Siguenza. Siguenza, a writer, actor and visual artist, created and stars in A Weekend with Pablo Picasso, inviting audiences to be flies on Picasso’s studio wall in France. During the performance, Siguenza channels the spirit of Picasso, actually painting and sculpting some of the artist’s masterpieces. He also dances, sings and plays a matador and a Minotaur. (Yes, it takes a Minotaur to climb into one of the most creative minds of our lifetimes.)
Daniel M. Gilleon, Esq. | Mitchell & Gilleon 1320 Columbia Street, Ste. 200 San Diego, CA 92101 619.702.8623 Office dmg@mglawyers.com www.mglawyers.com
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pacificsandiego.com | APRIL 2010
A Weekend with Pablo Picasso Dates: through April 11 Venue: Lyceum Space Theater, Downtown Tickets: $29 - $34 Info: sdrep.org
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{currents}
chainsaw WE REMEMBER: San Diego Padres all-time wins leader, pitcher Eric Show (May 19, 1956 – March 16, 1994)
Take Me Out Of the Ballgame
UNLESS YOU WANT THE PADRES TO LOSE BY COOKIE “CHAINSAW” RANDOLPH
S
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pacificsandiego.com | APRIL 2010
Photo courtesy of San Diego Padres
oon after I landed at KGB-FM in March 1987, the radio station’s promotions department arranged with the San Diego Padres to give away 20 pairs of tickets for each Wednesday night home game at Jack Murphy Stadium (now Qualcomm). Christened “Chainsaw’s Flagpole Gang,” the 40 winning listeners and I would watch the games from the cheap seats, some 500 feet from home plate and about 250 feet from the next closest fan. I was also invited to sing. During the seventh-inning stretch of 12 Wednesday night games, then-public address announcer Bruce Binkowski would recite what would become the low point of his illustrious career: “Ladies and gentlemen, we direct your attention to the centerfield flagpole, as KGB’s Cookie ‘Chainsaw’ Randolph leads you in singing ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame,’” whereupon I would lip-sync to a recording of my own voice into a prop microphone. The Padres went 65-97 that season. Chainsaw’s Flagpole Gang went 3-9. Then came 1988. Our debut night was Wednesday, April 13. The Padres were hosting that season’s eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. In the top of the eighth inning, soon after I’d “sung,” Pedro Guererro blasted a two-run shot off Padres all-time wins leader Eric Show (pictured). Guererro and Kirk Gibson circled the bases, and the Padres lost 4-3. On several subsequent Wednesday nights, I would serenade, and the Padres would lose. By June 8, Chainsaw’s Flagpole Gang was 0-5, and people began to notice. Ticket-winners would razz me when they arrived, and after the top of each seventh inning, as he trotted toward the dugout from right field, I could swear Tony Gwynn would cover his ears. It only got worse. Soon after I’d led the chorus on Wednesday, August 3 (my birthday), the Atlanta Braves scored three runs in the eighth inning to win 4-2. Chainsaw’s Flagpole Gang was 0-8, and the Padres were exactly eight games under .500. Coincidence? The Padres thought not. The next day I received a call from a Padres executive who expressed his appreciation for all the efforts I had made in promoting Wednesday nights. “…however...uhh…Cookie…umm….some of the players have been talking….how should I say…uhh…they have noticed that every time you sing…uhh…”
Meantime, I’m thinking, did they describe me as a curse or were they cursing as they described me? No matter. I spared him the anguish. “Say no more. We will end the promotion” (which, by then, was a contradiction of terms). After all, I wanted the Padres to win as much as anybody, and baseball is the most superstitious of sports. On the day Chainsaw’s Flagpole Gang ceased operations, the Padres stood at 50-58. Following my heroic stand-down, the Friars went on a tear, going 33-20 the rest of the way, including 4-1 on Wednesday home games. They finished 1988 with a record of 83-78, at the time the third greatest season in franchise history. Had I kept singing, their record would have been 79-82. You’re welcome. Four division titles and one World Series later, 2010 marks the 22nd consecutive season I have promised not to lead the Padres faithful in singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” Sing it loud and sing it proud. The jinx is long gone. n Cookie “Chainsaw” Randolph still loves attending Padres games, but his court-ordered ankle bracelet alerts security on Wednesday nights.
{currents}
style
Designs of the Times
Clothing Designer: Brooke Catherine for Bcat Threads Stylist: Jennafer Grace Production and Photography: Mahal Style Location: The Bitter End (now Tipsy Crow), Gaslamp
SPRING FASHION BLOSSOMs in SAN DIEGo BY CHRISTIANNA ABLAHAD
S
an Diego fashion designer Brooke Catherine Nevins creates California chic dresses, skirts and blouses—by hand. “I like to know what every piece looks like before it leaves my hands and heads to the store or to the customer,” she says. Nevins’ spring line is filled with ruffles, happy florals and feminine silhouettes. One of her favorite pieces is her ivory wrap ruffled dress (pictured above). “It is very versatile and the fabric is gorgeous,” she says. “As you can see, it can be styled with a ‘soft and hard’ look by adding the black corset belt and leggings. It also looks fabulous on its own. It is comfortable, feminine and classic.” See more of Nevins’ work at Cecilia Boutique in Mission Hills, The Local Boutique in La Jolla and on her online indie fashion boutique, bcatthreads.com, which also features creations by many other Southern California designers. (Continued on Page 24) 22
pacificsandiego.com | APRIL 2010
Nevins designed this season’s high-waisted floral skirts to be worn in the city, the country, even at a chill picnic in Julian
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{currents}
style
Green Tee BUY A SHIRT, SAVE A TREE PHOTO BY DYLAN OUSLEY
A
native New Yorker who landed in San Diego 12 years ago, Dave Brown launched Holiday Matinee in 1999. Since then, the creative-lifestyle brand and consulting firm has provided marketing, branding and PR services to the likes of MTV, Urban Outfitters, Zappos, The W Hotel and more. Holiday Matinee also publishes a daily blog that promotes creativity, good design and social responsiblity. To further satisfy his philanthropic yearnings, Brown uses his newly launched clothing line to help save the world, one t-shirt at a time. He says that his I Love U t-shirt (pictured) “is perfect for spring, because purchasing just one of these shirts will help plant 20 trees. The shirts are 100% organic, printed in San Diego, and we donate all proceeds to Plant-It 2020, a fantastic non-profit that helps plant, maintain and protect trees around the world.” See more of Brown’s tees at holidaymatinee.com.
{currents}
body
“Some patients like to ‘try on’ a nose before getting surgery.”
Who Nose?
HOW NON-SURGICAL NOSE JOBS ARE CHANGING THE FACE OF RHINOPLASTY BY Christianna ablahad
I
f your schnoz has a hideous hump or a barely discernable bridge, or you’ve already gone under the knife only to come out with a pinched beak (think the entire Michael Jackson family or Lil’ Kim) or an asymmetric one (think Teri Hatcher or Tori Spelling), you may be a candidate for a nonsurgical nose job. Rhinoplasty has long been the only solution for imperfect noses, but with the advent of hyaluronic acid-based facial fillers such as Juvederm, Restalyne and Perlane, inventive doctors are helping certain patients improve their looks and confidence without ever picking up a scalpel. Though using these temporary fillers for the nose is technically considered off-label—meaning the FDA has approved filler use for nasolabial folds (the laugh lines) only—Dr. John Hilinski, a San Diego facial plastic surgeon, is injecting fillers into other areas “very effectively and safely,” he says. Hilinski notes that the fillers can last longer in the nose than elsewhere on the face, because the nose doesn’t move nearly as much. Long story short, if your nose smells, that’s good news. If it just plain stinks, filler up! Hump Day: If you have a bothersome hump, Dr. Roy David of the La Jolla Center for Facial Plastic Surgery, says, “A nonsurgical nose job can camouflage it by adding filler above and below, almost making it look like the hump is gone.” Even though injections technically make the nose bigger, the fillers soften the appearance of the hump, creating an optical illusion that the nose is actually smaller. The Fix is In: If you’re the victim of a bad nose job, fillers may help. Various post-surgical deformities—from the pinched tip with unnaturally deep too-grooves on the side of the nose to a “saddle deformity,” which Dr. Hilinski describes as the cookiecutter nose with a ski-slope profile—can be corrected to make a nose look more natural and less surgically altered. Size It Up: Hilinski says, “some patients like to ‘try on’ a nose before getting surgery.” By injecting facial fillers, he can show patients what their noses would look like after surgery. If they don’t like what they see, a shot of hyaluronidase enzyme usually dissipates the filler within a few hours. Nose No-Nos: If your nose is too wide, adding to it with fillers might make you look like Elmo. If your skin is too thin, it might not camouflage the filler well enough. n 26
pacificsandiego.com | APRIL 2010
JUST SO YOU NOSE Costs: depending on which products your doctor uses, the average cost for a non-surgical nose job is about $500, versus about $6,000 for a surgical correction Time: usually just one 15-minute office visit Downtime: none, meaning no time off work and no weeks of bruising or swelling Visible results: immediate, can last six to nine months Pros: avoidance of surgery and its possible complications; no downtime; predictable results Cons: lack of permanence means maintenance costs add up over time; possible (but rare) contour abnormalities
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{currents}
home
Buy, Buy, Love?
READING THE SIGNS OF LIFE IN SAN DIEGO’s REAL ESTATE MARKET BY MICHAEL KINSMAN
The sky fell.
Three years ago, the Southern California residential real estate market went kerplunk. As the economy soured, home values tumbled, and paper fortunes disappeared overnight. Then unemployment began a climb to historic levels, and banks found themselves with so many credit problems that a federal bailout was mounted. But look around today, and you’ll notice that homes still go on the market every day in San Diego. And, people are buying them. The question is, should you…and can you? Depending upon whom you ask, you might get conflicting answers. Vince Kasperick, founder and president of the San Diego-based online mortgage lender AimLoan.com, sees a common misunderstanding among consumers that financing sources have dried up for would-be buyers. “People who can prove their income, have 10 to 20 percent for a down payment and a good credit history are going to get their loans approved in the vast majority of cases,” he says.
“Nothing has really changed for people who rely on sound fundamentals before buying a home.” Given that banks were approving home loans with zero money down just a few years ago, today’s need for such a large down payment may seem daunting. But 20 percent ($70,000) on a home valued at $350,000 today is considerably more affordable than it would have been three years ago, when that same home might have been valued at $500,000-plus. A 12-year-old company, AimLoan.com enjoyed its best year ever in 2009, when it made 5,900 mortgage loans totaling $1.7 billion. That tripled the 1,900 loans totaling $575 million it made in 2008. Kasperick credits the company’s success to making only loans that can be sold to government agencies such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two largest purchasers of mortgages. These government agencies typically buy mortgages that are under a $417,000 cap, but in high-cost areas such as San Diego, they accept certain mortgages as high as $699,500. Without that accommodation, Kasperick says, the more expensive homes found along the coast would not qualify for purchase by Fannie or Freddie, so smaller lenders might be less likely to approve loans and assume their inherent risks. But consumers who abide by the government limits should be able to find loans today. Brien Metcalf, an agent with Chris Love Coastal Properties in Mission Beach, says that many of the larger mortgages now cause lenders to examine loan applications more carefully and demand higher credit scores.
“The banks really have a microscope on everyone these days, and they are taking extra time to evaluate loans,” Metcalf says.
“We are living in a volatile economy, and life circumstances can change during the three months that a homebuyer is waiting for a deal to close.” One way to expedite the process, particularly for first-time buyers, is to apply for low-interest loans offered by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or Veterans Administration loan programs. At the downtown Smart Corner high-rise project at the corner of Park Boulevard and C Street, for example, a studio unit can be 28
pacificsandiego.com | APRIL 2010
20th floor rooftop terrace > fitness center > trolley at your doorstep > upgraded kitchens
purchased for as little as $150,000 under FHA financing that requires just a 3.5 percent down payment. “This is slightly less than 500 square feet, but you’re not going to find many condos downtown at that price,” says Lenette Hewitt, vice president of marketing for Urban Housing Partners, the project’s developers. In short, while lenders are being more careful, homebuyers should be, too. The good news is that great deals exist out there—ocean-view condos are available for $329,000, and homes in many San Diego neighborhoods can be picked up for less than $350,000. Peter Middleton, a broker from Keller Williams in La Jolla, recommends that would-be buyers pay close attention to estate sales, foreclosures and short sales. Sellers, he says, have to understand the economic realities of today’s market and remain flexible when they put properties on the market. “You have to be smart about how you price your home today,” Middleton says.
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“It’s a lot different selling something today than it was five years ago.”
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Middleton recently put a small condo on the market in La Jolla with a $499,000 price tag. The price was lower than the seller might have hoped for when the market was stronger, but within a week, the condo sold for $480,000. The faster, the better, Middleton says—with today’s volatility, the longer a loan is in escrow, the greater chance there will be an economic event that derails the loan process.
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Interest rates are low—they’ve been hovering near the five-percent rate for about a year-and-a-half now— and seem to work in harmony with falling home prices. As the market slows and home prices decline, so do interest rates. That’s good news for home-buyers who can get approved for loans in this economy. However, the reverse is also true, so when the market begins to show signs of life, home prices and interest rates often rise together. This trend has made some economists concerned that rates will climb rapidly once the market recovers, mitigating the rise in home sales. So, if there’s an upside to a down market and a downside to an up market, should you buy or sell? The answer remains cloudy, but there is a silver lining— even though the sky fell, bluer skies may be on San Diego’s real estate horizon. n
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Whet Paint
Satisfying San Diego’s appetite for art, and starving artists’ appetite for food
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Contest curator, Christina Dylag rom the bottom of our arts, THANK YOU! to the more than 100 local artists who submitted their work to PacificSD’s first annual Whet Paint art contest. From the incredible body of work received, 10 finalists were selected by San Diego art experts Amy Galpin, project curator for American Art at the San Diego Museum of Art, and Kevin Freitas, founder and editor of the art blog, Art as Authority (bios on following page). Shown here and on the cover is the first-place winner, a Fortitude Mask by Derrick Little. Whether or not he was a starving artist before, he isn’t any longer—Little wins $500 in food (in the form of gift certificates to popular San Diego restaurants).
Derrick Little: This is an original body-art creation from a new series I am painting called Fortitude Masks, which is based on the Native American idea of painting a vision. My “models” each share a story with me (based on a questionnaire I send them) about an incident, event, or trial in their life that they feel made them stronger. I also ask about their nocturnal dreams, symbols that are meaningful to them, and about their attitude towards what “strength” means. Based on their answers and their experience, I design a body-art piece that I apply to them, and then photograph them, creating a portrait of them wearing a Fortitude Mask, thus embodying their “experience” and owning it in this tangible form of witnessing their self.
ART EXPERTS SAY...
Amy Galpin: I think this piece is a really strong image; I was drawn to it immediately. It evokes a lot of different ideas and types of art—body art, painting, performance art, photography. I think the use of the human form in different ways makes it a really engaging image. The style of the work evokes a kind of pattern art, you know, figures of Picasso, for example. I think the use of pink in the piece is definitely unexpected, which makes it a particularly inspired work.
Kevin Freitas: Yeah, I’d have to agree. I think the historical art, the historical references to Picasso, graffiti, Keith Haring, all the things that Amy mentioned. I agree that it’s a very compelling image. I particularly like the eyes and the stare. The image is rather androgynous in a lot of ways. I like that blurring of identity, and the tattooing of the body is very effective.
From the series, Fortitude Masks
Artist: Derrick Little, 37, North Park
bodyartbyderrick.com
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Tyler Jordan: When the icebergs melt, and the polar ice caps have turned to sea, surfers around the world will be treated to some of the best and most interesting new breaks. Stonehenge will supply a perfect A-frame peak with nobody out. The Great Wall of China will be one of the longest lefts in the world, and Times Square will be the new Surf City, USA. American surfers will consider the man-made valleys of Manhattan the new frontier in a sport changed forever. Global Warming (acrylic on canvas, 36” x 24”)
Artist: Tyler Jordan, 36, Mission Hills
theartoftylerjordan.com
Second Place: Jordan receives $250
Maladjustment (acrylic, spray paint and drawing materials on canvas, 30” x 40”)
Artist: eric wixon, 32, GOLDEN HILL
ewixonartwork.com
Third Place: Wixon wins $100
Eric Wixon:
Maladjustment expresses feelings of jealousy, a realization of the detrimental effects caused by those feelings and the inability to control those feelings despite their known effects. Both figures are self-reflective: the left, jealousy; the right, melancholy. My significant other at the time is depicted as the birds—seemingly unaware of, or indifferent to, the internal struggles I was facing.
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ART EXPERTS SAY...
Galpin: I think this piece is particularly interesting because of the distraction. It definitely makes you think about graffiti. There’s a nice contrast between the figural forms and the horizontal lines in the background, which makes it very intriguing. The bird forms that emerge also add complexity to the overall composition. I found these two figures extremely engaging and I particularly like the sort of drifting from the graffiti, at least how I read it. It’s rather fascinating.
Freitas: I like the figures in relationship to the rest as well. I think it’s interesting, too, that the artist has done parts of the work that are very graffiti-esque, very quickly, very direct, and then he slowed down his process and gave much more attention to the birds that Amy mentioned. One of the figure’s hands, which is just nicely, delicately done, gives enough information to make it readable. The work in the back definitely makes those two figures pop, and the figures have a lot of expression through them and compel the viewer from the get-go.
ART EXPERTS SAY...
Kevin Freitas: I like Tyler Jordan’s piece for its relevancy to today.
Amy Galpin: The reflection of the signs in the windows
It’s titled Global Warming, and it looks like the streets of New York are being awash in this huge tsunami wave, but there’s also a lot of humor in the piece. I love that there are surfers riding the tsunami and water flowing into the sewer. It’s a compelling piece because of all the disastrous events that are going on in the world today, and it all seems rather poignant since global warming is definitely in the news.
demonstrates that the artist is a master of his technique. There are also some surprising elements in the piece; figures in wetsuits carrying surfboards and walking in the urban environment is surprising and therefore makes it an engaging image. I think that an attraction to a particular work of art really relates to how it’s important to our time, and this is a great moment for this piece.
ART EXPERTS SAY...
Galpin: What’s really interesting about this piece is the emphasis on color. The blue cabinets, the blue napkins, the purple flowers, the red vase; the color really comes through in this photograph. I, too, am drawn to sort of the element of the mundane, or daily life existence: the sort of stare off into nowhere, the eating of bagels and cornflakes, the man with one of those blue plastic bracelets. They’re very common; I like that element of it. In some ways there are a lot of serious undertones to this piece, but there’s also an artist playing with humor, and that’s really fun to see.
Freitas: This artist did a fabulous show a couple months Andrew Printer:
This image is part of an ongoing series titled Second Thoughts From Normal Heights. Each photograph in the series lifts a convoluted gesture employed by an iconic homosexual photographer of the twentieth century in the name of desire and drops it into a contemporary domestic space in Normal Heights, San Diego. My intention is to draw parallels between the convoluted tactics found in my source material (designed to circumvent censure by adhering to codes of Art, fitness, social documentation) and the equally peculiar drift of the broader LGBT community toward hetero-normative “respectability,” at the expense of its unique history.
Rob and Ted (photography)
ago in San Diego at the Agitprop Gallery. I was impressed by the show and the subject matter. I particularly love this image of two men sitting at a table eating breakfast, of a perfect quintessential couple, bored, distracted, disinterested—a lot of humor in this piece. A lot of social critique, a lot of cultural references. Compositionally, I think Andrew’s elements of domesticity are really strong and compelling.
Artist: ANDREW PRINTER, AGE UNREVEALED, AZALEA PARK
andrewprinter.com
Fourth Place
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Vulnerability (acrylic ink, ink wash, 11” x 14”) Artist: Jeff perkin, 22, mission valley Pressure (aerosol on plywood, 18” x 24”) Artist: JFEATHER, 33, NORTH PARK jfeather.com, artkillsartists.com
Sixth Place
Fifth Place
Their Beeswax Bliss No. 4 (acrylic on wood, 6” x 6”) Artist: CHRISTY PEPPER DAWSON, POINT LOMA peppermintdaydreams.com
Seventh Place
Strive (oil paint and resin on aged pages and books arranged over wood panel, 48” x 48”) Artist: DANNY HUGHES, 40, CHULA VISTA dannyhughes.net
Eigth Place
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Days Lost (oil on panel, 18”x24”)
Artist: aaron della vedova, oceanside
Ninth Place
ART EXPERTS...
My name is Amy Galpin. I’m project curator for American Art at the San Diego Museum of Art. I just moved to San Diego in September to begin working at the museum. For the most part, I work with the U.S. and Latin American art collections. My most recent exhibition is Brutal Beauty: Drawings by Hugo Crosthwaite, which opened at the museum on February 25th and will be up through July. I’m working on a project also on the work of Mexican painter, Raul Anguiano. Obviously, I’m so thrilled to be a juror for Pacific’s show, and it’s always great to see what artists are doing, especially in my own community here in San Diego. It’s great to have a magazine that’s interested in supporting artists, to have a forum—we need more forums for art everywhere, and particularly here in San Diego, so this contest is a great opportunity and I’m happy to see it.
Icy (Stencil, oil, spray paint, acrylic, paint pen, sticker, 18” x 24”) Artist: jack stricker, 23, ocean beach
Tenth Place
My name is Kevin Freitas. I am the founder-slash-editor for the art blog, Art as Authority. I started this blog maybe three and a half years ago. I have other contributors, Richard Gleaves, Kai One from Arizona, Marilyn Mitchell from San Diego (a painter) and quite a few other contributors who go out, look at shows and submit reviews for online publication. I’ve been in San Diego for a little bit over five years, made my career in the art world from either running a gallery to currently writing about it. I jumped on the opportunity to be part of Pacific San Diego Magazine, because this process is crucial for San Diego to come together as an art community. There is very limited coverage of the arts that exists here. I applaud the magazine’s initiative to do this. I’m honored to be a part of it. I would encourage more publications, more magazines, and Pacific San Diego to continue this process, to continue to support artists. It’s necessary. San Diego is in a really interesting point culturally. It’s got a great music/theatre scene, and with the help of Amy, with SDMA and MCA all working together with local publications, I think we could really bring quality and turn San Diego into viable, cultural city for art.
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URBAN FARMING TAKES ROOT IN SAN DIEGO
C o u r t e s y G r e e n Sc a p e d B u i l d i n g s
By REBECCA CHAPPELL
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rowing your own vegetables no longer requires a backyard. If you have a patio or a balcony and a big appetite for fresh produce, you might try your hand at urban farming, a trend that’s getting green thumbs up from city slickers and condo-dwellers countywide. “There is no space too small for a garden,” says Karen Contreras of Urban Plantations, a North Park company that specializes in edible landscaping for urban environments. “As long as you have some sun, the right plant choices, and you keep your garden watered, you can experience the satisfaction of growing food at home.” Container gardens provide an easy and often inexpensive solution for transforming your small outdoor space into an edible bounty. Just like in more bucolic settings, urban farming requires protecting sensitive foliage from overexposure, while maximizing rays for plants that thrive in the sun. And because even the smallest balconies can have extreme microclimates, Contreras says strategic placement of planter boxes and flower pots is crucial. One trick is to create small groups of pots with plants of different heights, enabling you to determine which varieties get the most shade. Another is to place larger pots on rollers to simplify moving them depending upon weather conditions. “Elements to consider are wind, heat, sun and shade,” Contreras says. She suggests growing peppers, eggplants and herbs in sun-drenched locations. For shadier areas, try lettuces, chards, mints, potatoes and peas.
PHOTOS THIS PAGE TOP: Jim Mumford’s first “green roof” installation BOTTOM: Dwarf citrus tree with herbs in planter RIGHT: Dwarf fig tree with herbs in planter OPPOSITE PAGE TOP: Jim Mumford and his “living wall” at Mario Batalia’s Pizzeria Mozza BOTTOM: “Living wall” installation
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pacificsandiego.com | APRIL 2010
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BOTH I M AGES t h i s p a g e C o u r t e s y G r e e n Sc a p e d B u i l d i n g S
Another Trick in the Wall When there’s no space on the ground, Jim Mumford plants on the walls and the roof. His Kearny Mesabased company, Good Earth Plant Company, has been providing plantscaping services for San Diego homeowners and businesses for more than 30 years. Today, Mumford’s new venture, GreenScaped Buildings, also creates “green roofs” and “living walls,” giving life to otherwise inanimate objects. Plants living on GreenScaped “green roofs” don’t spread roots down through the shingles. Rather, they are planted in soil in modular trays, which protect roofs from the sun and capture rainwater, which would otherwise flow to storm drains. Green roofs also provide insulation, says Mumford, but they are not practical for everyone (especially if you live in a high-rise and don’t have your own roof). Green walls, on the other hand, can be built in many more places and for a fraction of the cost—Mumford’s designs start at $50 per square-foot, with a minimum
order of $150. To construct green walls, Mumford’s team uses one or multiple customized modular trays, which are intertwined by an irrigation system that allows water to flow across the entire structure. With consideration for San Diego’s climate, Mumford generally outfits exterior walls with native plants (the next best thing to habitat restoration) and succulents, which help with water conservation. “Plus, we can create ‘living art’ with the myriad of patterns and architectural features that succulents possess,” Mumford says. Confirming the popularity of a recent trend toward “edible walls,” which actually produce vegetables to eat, the Food Network’s Iron Chef America star Mario Batali recently contracted a Mumford original for his Hollywood hotspot, Pizzeria Mozza. The 72-square-foot facade blooms with rosemary, parsley, mint, endive, Chinese celery, chicory, sage and edible geraniums.
Growing heavier crops will require more development on Mumford’s part. Tomatoes weigh so much that they can pull right out of the wall; corn and root crops remain out of the question due to the root-depth limitations of the wall design. Despite the challenges, however, local demand for Mumford’s edible walls, and urban farming in general, continues to grow. n
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c a r l k r av at s
Cindy Epstein, food stylist cindyepstein.com
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Cheese and fruit board styled by Cindy Epstein
Food
WHAT WE EAT, IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT BY FRANK SABATINI, JR.
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GREGORY BERTOLINI
o the food artist, a bowl of olives or a split lobster tail provides the same aesthetic fodder as what a watercolorist might derive from a clique of nude sunbathers lounging on the banks of a deep blue lake. But as many top-notch photographers, painters and stylists of food will attest, their subjects aren’t always as well-behaved. Capturing edible matter in its most luscious form requires sly manipulations to create images that provoke the senses. Thus we are warned that those glistening jewel-like scallops or golden-crusted tarte tatins jumping off magazine pages are oftentimes not fit for public consumption.
Sesame-encrusted Kurobuta pork tenderloin, styled by Cindy Epstein
indy Epstein has worked with food in various capacities for more than 30 years, starting with a catering company and gourmet takeout shop that she operated in Philadelphia before moving to San Diego. As a food stylist, she averages a couple jobs a week at the behest of restaurants, casinos and advertising agencies. “Tweezers are a food stylist’s best friend,” Epstein says, after having poked, prodded and polished the majority of complex dishes pictured in the recently released cookbook, Flying Pans, written by chefs Bernard Guillas and Ron Oliver of La Jolla’s Marine Room. In preparing a plate of sesame-encrusted Kurobuta pork tenderloin (image below) for the photographer, Epstein used undercooked meat in order for the camera to pick up its succulent fleshy color. The meat slices were propped up from behind with cotton balls, while the surrounding mirin sauce was applied with an eye dropper to highlight the meat’s soft curves. The pork was also rubbed with oil to make it glisten and to ensure the sesame seeds would stick; fallen seeds were reattached with tweezers. In similar scenarios, Epstein has used Vaseline as an adhesive. “We have to create a perception that allows viewers to say, ‘Oh my God, I wish I had a bite of that!’” For blood-orange glazed turkey, she glued down the wings and sprayed the bird with Kitchen Bouquet, a caramelizing agent that imparts the skin with a uniform golden tone. “It was only a quarter cooked, just until the fat started to melt.” When working with Manhattan Deli in Temecula for a photo shoot, Epstein water-spritzed a “milehigh” piling of different meats comprising a specialty sandwich, resulting in a moist, succulent sheen. Natural, morning light proved better than artificial for capturing the sandwich’s decadent details, although for an image of fruit and cheese (above left) on her web site, the food was artificially lit to create a moody, Old World style. “It’s a promotional piece for my business, and I got a lot of clients from it.”
IMAGES (clockwise from top left): scallops at Avenue 5, Downtown; shellfish and shrimp over pasta at Mediterranean Grill, Downtown; Jon Tiffin at work; chocolate-covered cheesecake at When in Rome, Encinitas; Italian coffee mousse at Fresco Trattoria, Carlsbad; steamed dumplings at Lotus Thai, Hillcrest
Jon Tiffin, food PHOTOGRAPHER jontiffin.com
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ince Jon Tiffin took up the craft of food photography six years ago, he has trained his lens on everything from haute cuisine to ribs and fried chicken. His primary goal when shooting for restaurants and magazines is to perfect lighting and camera settings so that “there is little post-production to be performed.” A rule of thumb, he notes, is to illuminate food from the back, which allows depth and textures in dishes to spring forth, such as in fish and bivalves over pasta, or chocolate-covered cheesecake garnished with fruit and flowers. But when steam is in the scheme, dark backgrounds are essential, as is dry ice for keeping the vapors alive. Tiffin adds that the gorgeous dishes chefs prepare for his spotlighting aren’t always cameraready. Flat bacon strips are injected with air from a syringe to restore their bubbles; leafy lettuces are broken down to make them look sumptuously bite-sized, and as for ice cream, “you’re often looking at mashed potatoes.” pacificsandiego.com
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PAINTINGS (clockwise from top): Stroke of Genius, Confiseur au travail (“specialty chef at work,” French), Itadakimasu (“etiquette,” Japanese)
Christopher M., oil-on-canvas artist ecgallery.com
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eatured in galleries across the country, including Exclusive Collections locations in San Diego, “the painter of chefs” is renowned for capturing food in preparation and on the plate. His works range from $1,000 to $10,000. Using a semi-impressionistic style, the artist admits that his biggest challenge in making food appear appetizing is choosing the right paint colors. “The slightest difference in colorization can make it look viscous or slimy, giving the wrong impression of what the chef actually cooked.” While chefs in action have become the focal points of his paintings, the dishes they construct often enter the scene as well. French cuisine, Mr. M. says, “is pretty complicated to paint because of the intricate structures in things like foie gras, duck and truffles.” When painting a chef preparing chocolate cake, “It was a bit tricky getting across the soft, spongy lightness of the cake and preventing it from looking solid and heavy. Patience solved that problem.” From his “still life period,” Christopher M.’s repertoire also includes paintings of commercial condiments such as Heinz Ketchup and French’s mustard. “I wanted to show some of the household items that I’ve lived with since I was a child.” In light of how well Andy Warhol’s “food art” appreciated in value when he painted Campbell’s Soup cans, Mr. M. may be on to something.
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Go, Fish! meet a bartender who’s making a splash in the gaslamp PHOTO BY brevin blach
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here are many fish in the sea, but only one who tends bar at Float, Hard Rock’s poollevel bar and outdoor concert venue. Brian Holland Fish, 26, has been in the bar industry since age 15. “By 30 or 32, my goal is to own and operate my own nightclub/bar,” he says. On the road to that dream, Fish will be living another: this spring and summer, he’ll be behind the bar at Float for Intervention Sundays. San Diego’s equivalent to the infamous Rehab pool parties at the Hard Rock in Vegas, Intervention features booming music from top-name DJs, plus sun, cocktails and insanity, and minus clothing and inhibition.
PacificSD: What’s the best thing about bartending at Intervention? Fish: The best part would have to be the scenery and the constant good concerts that I get to witness while working. How much will you make in tips each week? Fish: Umm…not sure I want to talk about that; it’s pretty damn good. On a big Sunday, like Memorial Day or Labor Day, it might be upwards of six hundred to a thousand dollars. What will be different about you at the end of the season? Fish: Other than the fact that I’ll be a lot better off financially, I’m just gonna have a whole lot of better memories. Tell Fish he owes you a drink for reading about him. He’ll be pouring the good times with the help of his his colleagues (pictured) at the April 18 kickoff of Intervention Sundays, featuring DJ Paul Oakenfold. 44
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Clockwise from lower left: Sidnev Muldrow, Lorena Ashmore, Erin Graham Holly Waters, Brian Holland Fish
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Boy Toy Story
TUNING-IN TO THE MAN BEHIND THE MIC
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hough he may not live up to his ladies’-man moniker, “Boy Toy” Jesse Lozano still gets around—his radio career takes him from San Diego to L.A. to Phoenix and back. Known locally for his weekday broadcast on Channel 933, Lozano grew up in San Diego and went to high school in Escondido. At 19, he interned at the station while enrolled at Palomar College, then worked his way up from gopher to part-time DJ. When he was 21, Lozano had a daughter, Savannah, who continues to influence his on-air performances now that he hosts 933’s highly-rated afternoon drive program. “I try to make G-rated cool,” he says. “Maybe a little bit like what Will Smith did, but in my own way.” Today, Savannah, is seven, and Lozano shares his fatherhood experiences with listeners via his Single Dad Diaries, a blog on singledad.com. His next goal is to help steer high school kids in the right direction. In addition to talking about teen pregnancy, his message to the kids will be, “You don’t have to be the chosen one. You don’t have to be Lebron James. You truly can be whatever you want. You just have to try.”
or at least, not quitting anytime soon.
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P h o t o c o u r t e s y o f U n i v e r s a l At t r a c t i o n s A g e n c y
Too Legit to Quit?
PacificSD: What’s the best thing about being Hammer? Hammer: Having been in the business now for over 20 years, it’s having this third generation of fans that still relates to my music. What do you think about the direction of rap music today? Hammer: More important than the direction of the music—because music itself is always about the ear of the beholder—is the influence of hip-hop. I’m very happy that hip-hop played a key role in getting the president elected. Political figures and business figures look to hip-hop as a way to embrace the younger audience. Who is your favorite rapper these days? Hammer: Man, I don’t know. I like too many rappers today to say he or she is my favorite. You know, artistically, I like where Kanye West goes with his music; he’s trying to do different things. I also like Ludacris a lot; he’s done a lot of great work over the years. What were your goals in co-creating of the website, dancejam.com? Hammer: I created dancejam from the perspective of the people, to be able to express themselves on a social network. The common denominator is love of dance. If you look at television over the previous four or five years, all these different shows are trying to catch the culture of dance—we were doing that ahead of them. Find out if Hammer is still too legit, April 2 at Pechanga. Tickets are $35-$45. pechanga.com
(been there, won that)
t’s Hammertime—again. He may have been laughed at when he was down and out, but the entertainer-turned-preacher left his mark. For a minute, even though he borrowed from everybody, M.C. Hammer (born Stanley Kirk Burrell) defined hip. Rap in general was stuck on itself when he first arrived in the late-‘80s. Then, in January 1990, the dancing rapper in the parachute pants raised the bar with his third album, Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em, which, propelled by the hit single “U Can’t Touch This,” sat at number one on the US pop charts for 21 weeks. Today, he may be more famous for his rapid fall from fame than for his music (2009 saw Hammer and another bankrupt star named Ed McMahon pitching Cash4Gold.com during the Super Bowl), but back in the day, no pop rapper worked harder.
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THE I RISH CHEER HAS ARRIVED ON GARNET
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1/4-PAGE FLYERS / CLUB FLYERS
1,000: $99 2,500: $159 5,000: $189
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f chocolates and marshmallow peeps don’t excite you, PacificSD has some sweet news. For the month of April, your favorite magazine will also be your Easter Bunny (sans the basket, giant ears and high fertility rate). But instead of hiding technicolor eggs in your backyard, we’ll be treating you to dinner and drinks at some of the city’s top venues, Sunday brunch by the beach, women’s and men’s swimwear and med-spa services. It’s all part of PacificSD’s $20,000 Everyday Giveaway, giving you a solid chance of winning a $50 gift certificate every single day in 2010.
Winning is easy: visit facebook.com/pacificsd and play the game of the day. You don’t even need a rabbit’s foot to score these great prizes in April:
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Brewley’s1261Pint is the newest member of the Verant family Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach s 858.270.9922 s www.brewleyspint.com
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500: $69 2,500: $89 5,000: $109 2253 Morena Blvd., Bay Park offshoretavern.com
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Free online advertising PacificSD is about to unveil version 2.0 of pacificsandiego.com. The site will generate heavy traffic with San Diego lifestyle information you won’t find anywhere else, plus fun photos and videos, reader-uploaded content, contests and a whole lot more. As an advertiser in the magazine, you get free advertising on the new web site. To get your free ad, just click your heels together three times and say, “I love free ads at Pacific San Diego dot com,” then send your logo, hyperlink and 20-word ad to ilovefreeads@pacificsandiego.com. (Advertisers: $0; Non-advertisers: $100)
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M A M A’ S D A Y 2 010 A FdSV[f[a` aX FSefW AN EXTRAORDINARY CULINARY EVENING
F R I D AY M AY 7 , 2 0 1 0 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. VIP Reception 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Event Hyatt Regency La Jolla Aventine
Feast on fabulous food from over sixty of San Diego’s top restaurants and chefs at our 19th annual tasting benefiting Mama’s Kitchen. Tickets are available at www.mamaskitchen.org or 619-233-6262. SPONSORED BY
APRIL 24 & 25, 2010 . 11 AM - 6 PM DOWNTOWN . LITTLE ITALY . SAN DIEGO w w w. m i s s i o n f e d e r a l a r t w a l k . o r g fine
SAN DIEGO’S ORIGINAL FINE ART FESTIVAL
Charles Sherman
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{love} blind date
In Living Color
DATERS FROM DIFFERENT WORLDS, DRAWN TOGETHER PHOTOS BY GABRIELA LINGENFELDER / caricatures by aaron philby
I
n the four years it took him to paint 12,000 square-feet of chapel ceiling, Michelangelo spent a lot of time on his back. Here at PacificSD, we work the same way (not so much on our backs, but painstakingly and for nearly four years) to create blind-date art. “Mich” (as his boyfriend called him, see gayheroes.com) created with paint. This evening, PacificSD aspires to Mich’s level of greatness, only in a different medium: Live Art. What are the critical elements that lead to a blind-date masterpiece? Hopefully it starts like this:
Two characters and a caricaturist walk into a bar…
Where are you from and where do you live now? Maria: I was born in San Francisco and grew up in Sonoma County. I’ve lived in P.B. for three years. Marco: <with pronounced accent> I am from Europe, Serbia. I live in San Diego now. What do you do for a living? Maria: Full-time nursing student. I graduate in May, finally. Six years of college was good enough
for me, and I sucked the life out of it. Marco: I am civil engineer. Describe your personality in seven words. Maria: Honest, intuitive, balanced, outspoken, analytical, playful, stimulating, drama-free, witty—is that seven, yet? Marco: Why? Why not? Always, food, education, more. What do you do for fun? Maria: I love to go shopping,
go to the gym and jog on the boardwalk, read, watch movies, hop on my beach cruiser, lay out and hit the beach, Sunday Fundays, explore S.D., get cocktails with my girls and dance to house music. And I really want to try rock climbing soon. Marco: I read or go out. Rate yourself physically on a scale from 1 to 10. Maria: <laughs> Umm, yeah…I don’t do that. Marco: Ten and growing. (Continued on Page 50)
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{love} blind date
I like to keep things exciting. Routine bores me. Marco: I am old-fashion man.
What’s your favorite thing about yourself? Maria: I can make any awkward situation fun. Marco: My messed-up mind. What do you like least about yourself? Maria: I can get very defensive when criticized, and maaaaybe I always think I’m right. Marco: I hate how I speak Japanese. What do you hope your date will look like? Maria: Tall, hot, dark hair, athletic body, dreamy eyes. Marco: I just hope she does not look like me. Specially not this hairy. What’s one thing you’d like to change about yourself? Maria: I tend to hold out on a lot of plans, because I guess I kinda want
everything to be perfect before I actually initiate anything. Marco: I would like to change my tires on my car. That’s about it. What person, food, drink, song and other item would you take to a deserted island? Maria: For the sake of survival, Bear Grylls (he’s damn resourceful, plus he’s not bad looking), Coronas, Oceanaire (I freakin’ love seafood), a dog and Chapstick—stuff I can’t live without. Marco: I do not need anyone. I would bring spear, since I like fish and there is plenty around island. Books instead of music, and wine. What makes you a good catch? Maria: I know who I am, what I want and where I’m going. I’m levelheaded, smart and I don’t put up with bullshit. If I get treated with respect, expect to get treated like a king. Plus,
To paint the picture—the daters meet for the first time at Bare Back Grill in the Gaslamp. Marco approaches the booth where Maria is sitting, kisses her on both cheeks, then sits down next to her. Bare Back’s owner sends over a few of his favorite mini-burgers (he’d be thrilled for us to point out that they’re delicious and made with 100 percent organic beef) and a round of shots. Ten minutes later, more drinks come. Maria laughs and touches Marco’s arm gently, as Aaron the caricaturist and Gabriela the photographer capture the scene. More drinks. About an hour later, the couple catches a cab over to Stingaree for dinner—the firstfloor lounge is bustling when they arrive arm-in-arm and are escorted to their dining pod. After another round of drinks, Marco and Maria are split for mid-date interviews.
How’s it going so far? Maria: It’s actually going very well, better than I thought it would. He’s very interesting, he’s smart, he’s fun to talk to, he’s cute. Marco: So far, so good. So far, so excellent. I got excited since I expected much less and I got a…nice.
(Continued on Page 52)
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{love} blind date
Is this the kind of person you would date normally? Maria: Actually, yeah. He’s tall, dark and handsome, which is what I want. Marco: Yeah, definitely—beautiful, smart, interesting, funny. No, not funny, but she has good sense of humor. Style, nice. Brunette. How was Bare Back Grill? Maria: It was good. I had a vodka soda and some fries. Marco: Great bar for sports and drinks. We had drinks. I had about, what, four or five double Disaronnos on rocks. I drink a lot, but I don’t even get drunk. I’m still not even buzzed. Rate your date physically on a scale of 1 to 10? Maria: Well, he has a suit on, so I can’t really tell. I mean, I touched his arms and he was muscular, so I would say like, a 10. Marco: I’ll tell you after tonight. Do I have to be more specific? Nine. And for personality? Maria: Probably an eight. Marco: Eight. Is the vibe friendly or romantic? Maria: Half and half. I can see it turning into something romantic, but it’s very friendly right now for me. Marco: Romantic. 52
pacificsandiego.com | APRIL 2010
PICTURE THIS: Caricaturist Aaron Philby captures the scene at Stingaree (see more of Philby’s work at aaronphilby.blogspot.com)
What is the best way that the date could end? Maria: I mentioned that I was going to meet up with my girls after, and I think Marco got a little offended by that. But I just expected this to go until nine, and then I had other plans after. I just don’t want any pressure. Marco: We decide to go out on the next date. What’s the worst way the date could end? Maria: Him expecting more than I want to give. Marco: The worst way is the girl getting drunk. I don’t like that one. Does your date want to kiss you now? Maria: I think so. Marco: Yes. Do you want to kiss him/her now? Maria: I don’t know if I would, because it’s our first date, but I definitely don’t have any aversion towards it. I think I would kiss him. Marco: Yes. What’s the sexiest thing about your date? Maria: He seems very intelligent and confident. Oh, and he doesn’t have Facebook. I’ve had drama in past relationships with my exes stepping over their boundaries with other girls on Facebook, and with just being
friends in general with people that they probably shouldn’t be. Marco: She’s very feminine. That’s the biggest turn-on. What’s the least attractive thing about your date? Maria: He corrected me a couple times. I really hate that. I had my elbow
on the table when I was drinking, and he told me that it’s not very feminine. And he told me that ladies shouldn’t swear. I mean, when someone tells you things like that, you feel like you need to act a certain way, and it doesn’t feel like you’re being yourself anymore. Marco: She likes Jamboree. <inside joke? editor unsure>
(Continued on Page 54)
{love}
blind date Celebrity
When their entrees arrive, Marco and Maria are finally left alone for the remainder of the evening. PacificSD calls the next day to see what we missed. How was Stingaree? Maria: I have always loved Stingaree. I feel comfortable there—the staff is so friendly and sweet, the lighting and atmosphere are relaxing. Mixed with a little wine, it’s the perfect combo for a first date. Marco: Food was great, specially shrimps. I like the ambiance.
Observations
your date did last night? Maria: We got in a couple disagreements because one or the other did something that was thought to be “disrespectful” to the other. Marco: Trying to argue.
What happened after the magazine crew left? Maria: We finished up our wine at Stingaree, met up with my girls at Sidebar, and walked What was the best part of the date? over to Fluxx together to check Maria: We went to Fluxx after dinner and got out the grand opening. We down on the dance floor. Marco was so fun to danced and hung out for about dance with. an hour longer there. Marco: Marco: We had to leave Beginning, while “Elbows on table? In my immediately, because her hopes of meeting friends were waiting in country of Kazakhstan, atypical girl of this woman is don’t even eat the new club, Fluxx. Of age were still high. course, they were not there, in same room.” –Borat so we went to pick them Worst part? up at the other club, Side Bar. Maria: The way the date ended was pretty Then we went to Fluxx. Just cold on both sides. I felt like he was a little too explaining this makes me tired. judgmental and a little too aggressive. Imagine doing it. Marco: Beginning, also. After hitting the top it can only go downwards. Was there a kiss or romantic moment? “Even without the suit, you’re gonna Describe any romantic connection between Maria: I think like the way he looks…I guarantee it.” independent for him. yourself and your date. when we were Marco: I would turn off –George Zimmer, owner of Men’s Wearhouse Maria: It was easy to kind of hold onto his arm being silly and her TV. and lean in against him and be close because there taking pictures outside of Stingaree that we might was that connection. have brushed each others lips once, but there was What advice would you give your date? Marco: This word, “romantic,” seems to stay only no tongue or lip-locking. Maria: Maybe to be a little less rough and aggressive in the Art History books. Marco: There was nothing that we can call “kiss” with a lady, and also to be less judgmental. or “romantic.” Marco: Grow up. Describe your date’s sense of style. How did the date end? “I can see Serbia from my Aftermatch: From the time they met at Bare Maria: He was backyard. <checks hand> Wait, Maria: It was pretty abrupt. He Back, and all the way through dinner at Stingaree, looking very sharp, did something that kind of made my palms are sweaty. That Maria and Marco seemed to admire each other. In the and I liked that he me upset. Apparently I did the end, however, they became each other’s worst critics. might say, ‘Arabia.’” –Sarah Palin wore some jewelry. I same to him. So we left it at that, Whether it was her drink number five, or the dozen think that’s cute for a guy and reveals a little more said it was nice meeting each other, and he took off. Disaronno shots that made him “not even buzzed,” personality, as long as it’s not Ed Hardy and it’s not Marco: The date ended up right about when she something clearly took a turn for the oops. bejeweled. had her fifth drink. It ended up with me trying to What have we learned? Probably nothing, but Marco: Feminine, but counterfeit. stay a gentleman and fulfill all demands. maybe this: despite the players, perhaps dating is more of an art and less of a game. Sometimes, human What’s the sexiest thing your date did last night? Will there be a second date? elements combine to create a living masterpiece. And Maria: He always made sure I was warm and Maria: I don’t think so. other times, as in the case of Vinny Van Gogh, you cut offered me his jacket numerous times. Marco: No, thank you. off your ear and give it to a prostitute. Marco: Pretend to be good, polite girl at the beginning. What would you change about your date to make THANK Bare Back Grill: 624 E Street, Downtown him/her more compatible with you? YOU! 619.237.9990, barebackgrill.com “I wasn’t even buzzed, What’s the most Maria: I’m not into double standards. Stingaree: 454 6th Avenue, Downtown either.” –Charlie Sheen It creates inequality. I may be a little too unattractive thing 619.544.9500, stingsandiego.com 54
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calendar
Submit events to calendar@pacificsandiego.com. Calendar by Logan Broyles
C o u r t e s y o f t h e F l o w e r F i e l d s at C a r l s b a d R a n c h
{Listen}
Through 5/9: Flower Fields Venue: Carlsbad Ranch Tickets: $5-$10 Info: theflowerfields.com There’s no better artist than Mother Nature. See some of her best work as nearly 8,000,000 giant ranunculus bloom on the hills of Carlsbad.
4/1: 91X presents Alkaline Trio @ House of Blues, hob.com 4/2: MC Hammer @ Pechanga, pechanga.com 4/3: Black Eyed Peas w/ Ludacris @ San Diego Sports Arena, sandiegoarena.com 4/5: RJD2 @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com 4/7: Five for Fighting w/ Matt Wertz @ House of Blues, hob.com 4/8: Citizen Cope @ WaveHouse, wavehousesandiego.com 4/9: 40 Oz. to Freedom @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com 4/9: Rolling the Stones w/ Don’t Stop Believin’ @ House of Blues, hob.com 4/11: Elvis Costello @ Balboa Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org
S ta c e y W e b b , Sc o u t P h o t o g r a p h y
{Home Games} San Diego Padres at Petco Park 4/12-15: vs. Atlanta Braves 4/16-18: vs. Arizona Cardinals 4/19-21: vs. San Francisco Giants 4/29-30: vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Become a fan of PacificSD on Facebook to win gift certificates to some of San Diego’s top restaurants and bars. Check us out at facebook.com/PacificSD and pacificsandiego.com.
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4/13-18: Cirque Dreams Illumination Venue: Balboa Theatre, Downtown Tickets: $15-$72 Info: sandiegotheatres.org Enter a magical dream city where acrobatic citizens and their environment are energized by powerful music.
4/12: Padres Opening Day Venue: Petco Park Tickets: $25-$324 Info: padres.mlb.com It’s the best time of year to be a Padres fan—our team is still undefeated.
4/16-22: Film Out San Diego Venue: Birch North Park Theatre Tickets: $10-$25 Info: filmoutsandiego.com Step out and enjoy The Big Gay Musical and other films at this festival, showcasing the work of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender filmmakers.
Courtesy of the San Diego Padres
4/17: Assassin @ 4th & B, 4thandb.com 4/17: Authority Zero and Voodoo Glow Skulls @ Soma, somasandiego.com 4/18: Tony Bennett @ Pala Casino, palacasino.com 4/18: Paul Oakenfold @ Hard Rock, wanttickets.com/intervention 4/21: John Brown’s Body @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com 4/24: Nora Jones @ Spreckels Theatre, spreckels.net 4/25: Tone Loc @ Bar West, barwestsd.com 4/30: Dark Star Orchestra @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com
courtesy of Carol Rosegg
C o u rt e s y o f J a m e s o ’ m a r a
4/10: WoofStock 2010 Venue: Balboa Park Tickets: $5 Info: 619.239.0512, cci.org/woofstock Say awww while watching hounds and their humans perform tricks at this festival for dogs and the people that love them. Proceeds benefit Canine Companions for Independence.
courtesy of the Head to Toe Women’s Expo
4/16-18: Head to Toe Women’s Expo Venue: Del Mar Fairgrounds Tickets: $8 Info: headtotoewomensexpo.com More than 10,000 women are expected to converge in Del Mar for three days of shopping, fashion shows, culinary seminars and educational and motivational speakers.
4/17: 10th Annual Taste of Hillcrest Venue: Restaurants throughout Hillcrest Tickets: $30 Info: fabuloushillcrest.com Sample appetizers, entrees and desserts on this selfguided culinary walking tour of 40 of Hillcrest’s popular eateries.
4/17: 2010 Tour de Cure Venue: Mira Costa College, Cardiff by the Sea Tickets: $25 to register (must raise minimum of $150) Info: diabetes.org/sandiegotourdecure Pedal your heart out in the race to find a cure for diabetes at the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure San Diego. The finish line celebration features live music, massage therapy and free lunch (for racers) from Phil’s BBQ.
c o u r t e s y o f M cFa r l a n e P r o m o t i o n s
c o u r t e s y o f S a n D i e g o Op e r a
4/17, 20, 23, 25: La Traviata Venue: San Diego Civic Theatre, Downtown Tickets: $35-$210 Info: sandiegotheatres.org Set in 19th century Paris, when many rich men paid to enjoy the company of beautiful women, Verdi’s La Traviata (the woman who strayed) tells the story of how one couple manages to find true love despite family and societal pressures.
{Of Note}
c o u r t e s y o f S a n D i e g o T h e at r e s
4/1: April Fools’ Day 4/2: Good Friday 4/4: Easter Sunday 4/15: Tax Day 4/22: Earth Day 4/30: Arbor Day
4/21: Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour Venue: Balboa Theatre, Downtown Tickets: $36-$66 Info: ticketmaster.com Grammy Award®-winning jazz all-stars from the 52nd Montreaux Jazz Festival perform live.
4/24-25: Roots Fest Venue: Along Adams Ave., University Heights Tickets: Free Info: adamsavenuebusiness.com Acoustic, folk, jazz, tango, bluegrass, reggae, blues and rockabilly music draw 40,000 to this annual, family-friendly celebration.
pacificsandiego.com
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{think}
Endless Summer
We’re a l l g o n n a die !
IT’S GETTING (AND STAYING) HOT IN HERE
R
ed and blue don’t just make a flag, they also make green. And if colors can do it, so can we. Just in time for the 40th annual Earth Day on April 22, here are some simple things San Diegans are doing to help save the planet from global warming.
The Electric Slide By slamming on their brakes and not slowing down, La Jolla Prius owners discover perpetual motion. Proceeds from the sale of their company, Don’t Stop, net the inventors just enough money to keep their now half-priced homes out of foreclosure.
What the Truck? Qualcomm Stadium promoters promise to allow only hybrid monster trucks.
Bay of Pigs Beach-area bar owners team up to drain Mission Bay, filling the empty beer bottles they’ve been stockpiling with the bay’s polluted water. The
“bottled” water is then poured onto parched residential lawns (made that way by the City’s stringent sprinkler laws) and sold as Arrowhead.
Windy City
Lakeside residents with teeth save water by limiting tooth-brushing to once a week.
Working with San Onofre City Council, Carlsbad manages to divert power from the Two Boobs nuclear facility to its own giant windmill, powering the outlet mall, the Flower Fields and half of North County.
Up in Smoke
Horsing Around
To reduce their neighborhood’s carbon footprint, O.B. residents pledge never to exhale.
By retrofitting their horses with
Hold Your Breath
the iStink (the latest in methanecatching technologies), Fairbanks Ranch property owners manage to compress and save enough natural gas to fuel their private jets.
Petco Perks The Padres agree to carpool to home games, which has the added benefit of reducing DUI arrests on the 5 South.
Under Study SDSU promises to save water by drinking only beer.
Become a fan of PacificSD on Facebook to win gift certificates to some of San Diego’s top restaurants and bars. Check us out at facebook.com/PacificSD and pacificsandiego.com.
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