PACIFIC San Diego Magazine, April 2019

INSIDE: 14 NEW RESTAURANTS, A SMOKY BLIND DATE, NEW MOVIE RELEASES AND SCADS OF COOL EVENTS

Center

Stage April 2019

PACIFICSANDIEGO.COM

COMEDIAN ALI WONG WILL PERFORM SEVEN SAN DIEGO SHOWS BETWEEN APRIL 19-22

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Relax responsibly . ®

Corona Extra® and Corona Light ® Beers. Imported by Crown Imports, Chicago, IL

the 2019 Mazda3 HAS ARRIVED AT WESCOTT MAZDA

WESTCOTT MAZDA, 2800 NATIONAL CITY BLVD, NATIONAL CITY, CA 91950, 619.383.1901 WESTCOTTMAZDA.COM

OPEN SUNDAY - THURSDAY 11:00AM - SUNDOWN DAYBED + POOLSIDE LUNCH RESERVATIONS AVAILABLE

For reservations call: 619-738-7200 or email: reservations@poolhousesd.com @poolhousesd | 435 fifth, san diego, ca 92101

EDITOR’S NOTE

Comfort and pain in Solace

M

arch 12 was a day of mixed emotions.

Already on my calendar that evening was an invite to celebrate the second anniversary of You & Yours Distilling Co. The East Village spot, where owner Laura Johnson is crushing the vodka and gin spirits game, holds a special place in my heart as it was one of the first features I helped with when I started working for PACIFIC. A day with such a promising and happy ending turned sad around lunchtime when a notification hit my Facebook inbox.

“It is with a heavy heart that I write to you today,” chef Matt Gordon’s message read. “We have come to the very difficult decision that Solace Restaurants have run their course here in San Diego.”

There it was. A post straight from the chef-owner of Urban Solace and Solace & The Moonlight Lounge announcing he would be closing both his North Park and Encinitas restaurants the following day.

I have seen a lot of restaurant closings in my time in San Diego, but this one stung.

I started eating at Urban Solace 12 years ago when it opened in North Park and I lived in neighboring University Heights. So many great times with friends and family were spent over such comfort food orders as duckaroni, kitchen-sink biscuits and gravy, the irresistible tomato fennel soup, and specialty bites during 30th on 30th (including a very memorable bite of foie gras during the delicacy’s original 2012 ban when a couple North Park restaurants served up for “Foiemegeddon” specials).

I wouldn’t say I was a regular of Urban Solace — with my job, it’s difficult to be a true regular when I’m always out trying new restaurants and menu revamps. But, for a long time, I’d say it was the restaurant I most frequented and the one that, up until the end, I would recommend to anyone looking for a good place to eat.

In February, when chef Gordon was a guest on PACIFIC’s Dish It Up podcast, he said something that really got me thinking. The title of the

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APRIL 2019 @PACIFICSD

episode was forebodingly titled “The future of the industry is murky” (a direct quote of his) and he went on to say that many of the people who lived in North Park when he first opened had since aged out of the neighborhood and moved to places where it was better to raise a family.

I am one of those people who has since moved on from North Park, where I lived from 2011 until last year. It wasn’t to raise a family, but the neighborhood just became too expensive. With higher rents, I wasn’t able to enjoy the area as I had when I moved there. And now that I live in La Mesa, it’s not that I stopped loving the places I used to visit, but these days, I have a host of other local small businesses that I want to help support in my new community.

Is there a way to move to a new place and support those businesses in a new neighborhood AND still support those in the old? Or do you just have to put faith in the people who moved in behind you and hope that they find their way to those staple places?

I wish there was an easy answer here. If there were, maybe chef Gordon, or many other great restaurants for that matter, wouldn’t have had to make that farewell announcement. I could be way off base, too.

But either way, all was made a little more palatable remembering so many fond food memories sitting alongside all those who returned on March 12 for one more bite of comfort from chef Gordon.

Cheers,

Leslie Hackett leslie@pacificsandiego.com

Volume #13 | Issue #4 | April 2019

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / DIGITAL DIRECTOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR MANAGING EDITOR

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APRIL 2019 @PACIFICSD

CONTENTS APRIL 2019

CURRENTS 14 Four.Nineteen

April events calendar

PULSE 36 Art Beat

April gallery +

exhibition openings

32 Laughing Stock

April stand-up

comedy shows

44 Curtain Calls

April performing

arts preview

TASTE 54 14 New Restaurants

Slide into San Diego

The season of new

beginnings arrives

with fresh places

for dining and drinking

46 The Reel Deal

April motion

picture preview

64 Full Plate

April food +

drink happenings 66 Take it From the Tap

A monthly taste of

beer from here

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ON THE COVER: Comedian Ali Wong brings her signature brand of comedy to San Diego for seven shows in April. See page 32 for more info. Photo by Ed Herrera via Getty Images.

ON THIS PAGE: Carlsbad’s Petal to Plate, a 10-day culinary and wellness celebration showcasing the iconic flower fields, includes desserts like this one from the Argyle Steakhouse at the Park Hyatt Aviara, made with Carlsbad strawberry jasmine pavlova with crunch honey meringue, strawberry jam, vanilla whipped cream and jasmine strawberry sorbet.

See more April food and drink events on page 64.

GROOVE 68 Sounds Like a Plan

April concert calendar 86 Take a Spin

Upcoming EDM +

DJ performances

LOVE 88 Mezcal Me Maybe

Seafood, booze and

crickets on the

menu for this

poppin’ blind date

CURRENTS WHAT’S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW

BY MICHAEL BENNINGER

BLOOM BASH

4.12

San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa Park, sdmart.org Now featuring five additional activity areas, twice as many cocktail bars and even more mouth-watering munchie stations, the annual opening celebration for Art Alive weekend offers after-hours access to nearly 100 museum pieces reimagined as floral arrangements.

See page 40 for more info about the six-day Art Alive.

PHOTO BY BAUMAN PHOTOGRAPHERS

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SINCE 1925, SAN DIEGO’S ICONIC BEACHFRONT AMUSEMENT PARK

Brunch Directory

Oceanview

BOARDWALK DINING OLD TOWN TEQUILA FACTORY & CANTINA

(buffet style)

2467 Juan St., Old Town (across from Heritage Park) 619.260.8124 | oldtowntequilafactory.com A spectacular scenic hillside spot for your Saturday or Sunday Champagne brunch with panoramic views from the Coronado Islands, over Old Town to Mission Bay. This traditional Mexican buffet, served 9 a.m. to 2 p.m, features sizzling steak, shrimp, carnitas or chicken fajitas and includes favorites like fresh menudo and pozole, cheese enchiladas, homemade chile rellenos, agave glazed ribs, flowing Champagne and more. At $26.99 (kids under 12, $12.99), it’s perfect for bridal/baby showers, birthdays, anniversaries, holiday parties and reunions.

CHINA MAX

(table service)

4698 Convoy St., Kearny Mesa 858.650.3333 | chinamaxsd.com Experience the true delight of an authentic Chinese dim sum brunch, dozens of varieties (from $2.45) and their famous regular menu. Served Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m.

KAISERHOF GERMAN AMERICAN RESTAURANT

Rooftop Coastal Cuisine, Sushi & Cocktails Panoramic Ocean Views | Firepits | @CANNONBALLSD

(table service)

2253 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., Ocean Beach 619.224.0606 | kaiserhofrestaurant.com Enjoy Sunday brunch in Kaiserhof’s award-winning and quaint German American restaurant. Served from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. the brunch menu features dishes such as German pancakes, eggs benedict, Kaiserschmarren, steak & eggs, poached salmon, omelets and more. Includes a glass of Champagne, mimosa or orange juice and fresh rolls and butter. From $12.95.

OLD TOWN COSMOPOLITAN HOTEL & RESTAURANT

Handcrafted American Fare | 31ft TV Screen 69 Brews on Tap & 30+ Bottled | @DRAFTSANDIEGO

(table service)

2660 Calhoun St., Old Town 619.297.1874 | oldtowncosmopolitan.com A blend of American and Mexican favorites served in their uniquely historic setting, either on the patio or indoors. Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with entrees starting at $7.95 and $7 mimosas and Champagne. Kids under 12 eat free (one per paid adult). Additional kids, $5.95.

94TH AERO SQUADRON (buffet style)

8885 Balboa Ave., Kearny Mesa 858.560.6771 | 94thsandiego.com Join 94th Aero Squadron Sunday for their Champagne buffet brunch. Buffet includes omelet bar and eggs benedict, Belgian waffle station, carved meats, fajita station, pasta station, dessert station, chocolate fountain and much more. Served from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with an early brunch special from 9 a.m to 10 a.m. Early pricing is $29.95 and regular pricing is $34.95 (per adult). Children ages 4-10 are $16.95.

Outdoor Casual Bites & Drinks | Sandpits with Games SoCal Beach Boardwalk Views | @BEACHHOUSESD BELMONT PARK

BELMONTPARK.COM | Since 1925 | @BELMONTPARKSD @PACIFICSD

APRIL 2019

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CURRENTS | EVENTS

4.4, 6 HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX IN CONCERT Copley Symphony Hall, downtown sandiegosymphony.org Immerse yourself in the Wizarding World of the franchise’s fifth film as a symphony orchestra provides the score and the magical story unfolds on an enormous screen.

4.5 TRANSGENDER DAY OF EMPOWERMENT

4.6 IRONMAN 70.3 OCEANSIDE

San Diego LGBT Community Center, North Park, sdpride.org Celebrate the diversity of San Diego’s transgender community during this free event featuring speakers, entertainers, community awards and the announcement of scholarship recipients.

Oceanside Harbor, Oceanside ironman.com Swim across 2.4 miles of Oceanside Harbor before biking 112 miles to San Clemente and back then enjoying a leisurely 26.22-mile run to the Strand — without any breaks in between.

PHOTO BY DONALD MIRALLE/IRONMAN

WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. / JKR.

4.6-7 SAN DIEGO CREW CLASSIC Mission Bay Park, Pacific Beach, crewclassic.org San Diego’s premiere spring regatta showcases the competitive field of rowing and offers an array of activities and merchants in addition to world-class racing.

PHOTO BY K.C. ALFRED

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APRIL 2019 @PACIFICSD

Catch All the Padres Games At Shore Club!

Come Single Make It A Double slide into Third

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CURRENTS | EVENTS P HOTO BY V WE L L S

4.7-8 11TH ANNUAL CAMPAGNOLO GRANFONDO

4.12-13 RAGNAR SOCAL

Multiple routes originating in Little Italy, sdgranfondo.com Cyclists of all experience levels are invited to choose a 20-, 34-, 60- or 101-mile route for this two-day biking bonanza that features a fitness expo, an Italian feast and a beer garden on San Diego’s stunning waterfront.

Finish Line at Embarcadero Marina Park South, downtown runragnar.com Round up five or 11 fellow maniacs for this insane, overnight relay race that kicks off in Huntington Beach and carves through Orange County before concluding at the Embarcadero downtown.

TO WIN TICKETS, SEE PAGE 23!

4.11-18 SAN DIEGO ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL SPRING SHOWCASE

4.12-14 LA JOLLA CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE La Jolla Cove, La Jolla, lajollaconcours.com Feast your eyes on sports cars, Woodies and hundreds of other classic wheels from around the world at this annual auto show overlooking La Jolla’s coast.

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Venues throughout San Diego pacarts.org Run as a counterpart to the San Diego Asian Film Festival’s traditional November event, this mini-festival features even more of the best Asian and AsianAmerican cinema.

R E A L E STAT E M A R K E T WATC H

DOWNTOWN, 92101 2 BD + DEN | 2 BA | 1,806 SQ FT | $2,383,900

Pristine. Classy. Super Prime. Walls of windows follow the curvature of the building showcasing the unparalleled, stunning panoramic views of the San Diego Bay, Downtown skyline and the endless blue beyond. Luxury living at its finest - simply the best of the best. This highly upgraded residence features top-notch finishes and designer details throughout. Pacific Gate amenities are like no other - private luxury car fleet, yacht share, chef concierge, porter, open air heated pool with cabanas and grilling stations, theater, state-of-the-art fitness center, guest suite and more. Located at the south east corner of Pacific Highway and Broadway, the Pacific Gate luxury high rise condo building is certain to become an iconic landmark in Downtown San Diego. Pacific Gate is said to be the first super prime building to come to San Diego. Super prime defined: a building in a prime location with the highest architectural standards. Most thoughtfully crafted interiors and best amenities possible. Pacific Gate includes 41 stories and 215 residential condos.

Developed by Nat Bosa of Bosa Development with NY based architect Kohn Pederson Fox (KPF).

888 W E Street #2602, San Diego CA 92101

DOWNTOWN MARKET UPDATE # of homes for sale: 299 # of homes sold: 42 (Feb) Highest price: $2,700,000 Lowest price: $265,000 Average home price: $544,500

There is currently a 7+ month supply of homes on the market. This new buyer’s market is bringing good opportunities for buyers and is slowing down the selling process for sellers. The average days on market for properties is now over 70 days.

While forecasts for the San Diego housing market are positive for 2019- ranked as the 5th hottest market in the nation- we are definitely seeing a cooling off from the amazing 7 year run up we had. We would be honored to represent you, your family and your friends with any real estate needs in 2019.

Chad@DanneckerandAssociates.com | @welcometosandiego.com #welcometosandiego | @WelcometoSD 875 G St., Ste. 108, San Diego, CA 92101

|

619.356.3099

|

BRE#01459513

CHAD DANNECKER WELCOME TO SAN DIEGO REAL ESTATE - DANNECKER & ASSOCIATES

CURRENTS | EVENTS

4.13 10TH ANNUAL BOOB RIDE Fletcher Cove, Solana Beach, theboobride.org Bike for boobs during this tongue-in-cheek fundraiser for breast-cancer patients, then cheers to a successful ride at the event’s afterparty hosted by Tidewater Tavern.

4.13 EVARTS BLOCK PARTY Quartyard, East Village, quartyardsd.com With live music, artistic creations and a silent disco, this celebration of East Village’s evolution aims to unite locals through the power of art, coffee and craft beer.

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APRIL 2019 @PACIFICSD

R E A L E STAT E M A R K E T WATC H

NORTH PARK, 92104 Pristine North Park 3 bedroom home with 1 bedroom unit over garage only 2 blocks to Morley Field! All the charm of a 1907 home with modern updates: front house features 3 bed 2 bath with inviting front porch, maple wood flooring, high-end fixtures & finishes, fireplace, spacious kitchen, gas stove, built-ins, master retreat with bonus room perfect for office/gym/nursery, updated baths with tiled showers & finished attic/ loft. 1 bed/1 bath unit over garage built in 2017. Each unit has a garage with own laundry! Prime location near Balboa Park, museums, zoo, shopping, dining & night life!

North Park, 3646 Arizona St, San Diego 92104 $1,099,000 - $1,175,000

SAN DIEGO MARKET UPDATE # of homes for sale: 88 # of homes sold: 24 (Feb) Highest price: $1,700,000 Lowest price: $245,000 Average price: $676,267

Heading into the 2nd quarter of the year, rates have continued to remain low. With the increasing rise in rents and the growing inventory as we head into the Spring and Summer months, there could not be a better time to buy. A perfect time for sellers to list their homes as the need for inventory remains and buyers tend to become more active in their home search during these seasons. San Diego is predicted to be one of the hottest housing markets for 2019 and as the monthly rents quickly outpace monthly mortgage payments, there is no better time to make this monumental investment.

MELISSA GOLDSTEIN TUCCI

MelissaTucci.com | Sold@MelissaTucci.com 1820 Monroe Ave., San Diego, CA 92116

|

619.787.6852

|

BRE # 01380034

No. 1 ranked Coldwell Banker agent/broker and official real estate agent of the San Diego Padres.

BROKER/REALTOR (R)

CURRENTS | EVENTS 4.13 BIDI BIDI BOOGIE: A SELENA ART AND MUSIC TRIBUTE SHOW Centro Cultural de la Raza, Balboa Park centrodelaraza.com Honoring the rising Tejano music star who was slain in 1995, this 18+ show includes art, food and a Selena look-alike contest, plus live musical performances and celebrated guest DJs. PHOTO BY AP PHOTO/HOUSTO N CHRONICLE, DAVE EINSEL, FILE

4.14 DAY AT THE DOCKS Sportfishing Landing, Point Loma sportfishing.org With casting contests, historical displays and how-to seminars, this celebration of sportfishing boasts boat rides on San Diego Bay, displays by marine artists and open houses aboard luxurious vessels.

PHOTO BY K.C. ALFRED

4.17 CAJON CLASSIC CRUISE CAR SHOWS Prescott Promenade, El Cajon downtownelcajon.com Thousands of car fanatics from across Southern California descend upon downtown El Cajon for the opening day and mother of all classic auto shows, which will then run weekly through October.

PHOTO BY CHADD CADY

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on the airwaves Every month PACIFIC teams up with Facebook group Eating and Drinking in San Diego to bring podcast listeners the latest and greatest on San Diego’s food and drink scenes. You can find Dish It Up and Kiss My Glass on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month on your preferred podcasting platform.

Here’s what to keep your eyes and ears open for in April.

Dish It Up on April 8 with guest Carol Fodor Strong of Garden Kitchen

Kiss My Glass on April 22 with guest Jesse Pine of Pure Project

It’s a Gift

Actually, it’s a bunch of prizes Register to win tickets to these April events and more at pacificsandiego.com/contests.

Life’s cool in San Diego. Here’s proof:

Best Fest

Sometimes, one film festival just isn’t enough. The San Diego Asian Film Festival hosts its Spring Showcase as a counterpart to its November festival, and you can enter for a chance to win the grand prize of a pair of all-access film passes, or two tickets to a screening.

April 11-18 at venues throughout San Diego

Wine Down

It’s not a weekend in San Diego without a food festival. Lucky for us, this one also includes wine. Enter for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the VinDiego Wine and Food Festival, where lucky guests get unlimited food and wine tastings.

April 13 at Waterfront Park

Eat (and Drink) Crow

With three levels of entertainment, tasty bites and their infamous Drink Exchange happy hour, this Gaslamp hot spot invites visitors inside to “get tipsy.” Enter for a chance to win a hosted happy hour for you and up to 10 friends (a $200 value!).

PH OTO BY FRAZER H ARRISON/GETTY IMAGES

Hot Stuff

You never know: Colton Underwood just might give you a rose if you enter for a chance to win a pair of tickets to SUNBURN Pool Lounge, hosted by The Bachelor star.

April 20 at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego

Register to win at pacificsandiego.com/contests @PACIFICSD

APRIL 2019

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CURRENTS | EVENTS 4.20 BAYKED 2019 Embarcadero Marina Park, downtown baykedsd.com Revel in support of the cannabis revolution during this daytime festival featuring live music, cocktails and interactive exhibits adjacent to a Feel Good Lounge.

PHOTO BY BRADLEY SCHWEIT

4.20 49TH ANNUAL CHICANO PARK DAY Chicano Park, Logan Heights, chicano-park.com This free, family-friendly event includes traditional music, authentic Aztec dancing, a lowrider car show plus performances by ballet folklรณrico groups and several live bands.

PHOTO BY HOWARD LIPIN

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APRIL 2019 @PACIFICSD

4.26-27 QUEEN BEE MARKET Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar thequeenbeemarket.com The city’s original urban-style artisan market returns with more than 100 local and national merchants specializing in handmade and vintage accessories, along with clothing, home décor, furniture and more.

4.26 ROCK ‘N’ ROLL REBELLION BALL US Grant Hotel, downtown diversionary.org Celebrate the unyielding determination of Diversionary Theatre, the country’s thirdoldest LGBT theater, during this high-energy party complete with decadent dining, incredible auction items and an electrifying musical performance.

@PACIFICSD

APRIL 2019

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AG AV E

E X P R ESS I O N I S M

PLEASE ENJOY MILAGRO RESPONSIBLY. Milagro Tequila, 40% Alc./Vol. (80 Proof) ©2016 William Grant & Sons, Inc. New York, NY.

MI L AG R O

MEANS

MI RACLE

Who makes San Diego’s best margarita?

It’s time to get salty and find out!

PACIFIC’s fifth annual Margarita Month is a 31-day celebration of San Diego’s original craft cocktail. Cast your vote as dozens of the city’s top bars and restaurants battle to be named San Diego’s Best Margarita. Margarita Month runs through the month of May and leads up to the Margarita Festival Grand Tasting Event on June 1 at Broadway Pier. Keep an eye on our website for more details, and get your tickets now so you don’t miss out on the festivities!

#margaritamonth

MAY 1 – MAY 31

DON’T MISS THE JUNE 1 GRAND TASTING EVENT at Broadway Pier

Life’s cool.

Tickets available at

margaritamonth.com

CURRENTS | EVENTS

4.26-28 LAKESIDE RODEO

PHOTO BY HAYNE PALMOUR IV

Lakeside Rodeo Grounds, Lakeside, lakesiderodeo.com Get ready for bull riding, barrel racing, broncos bucking and more during a long weekend filled with edge-of-your-seat rodeo action.

4.27 3RD ANNUAL PACIFIC RIM FESTIVAL Bayside Park, Chula Vista pacificrimfest.com Celebrate some of the Pacific Rim’s many cultures during this free community event featuring food, live music, workshops and demonstrations from China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam, among other countries.

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APRIL APRIL 2019 2019 @PACIFICSD @PACIFICSD

4.27 ADAMS AVENUE UNPLUGGED Along Adams Avenue, from Kensington to University Heights adamsavenueunplugged.com Featuring 80 artists performing on 24 stages, this free event (except for headliner concerts from David Lindley and Gaby Moreno) showcases talent staged in participating restaurants, bars and coffeehouses.

PHOTO BY NANCEE E. LEWIS

4.27 23RD ANNUAL BARRIO LOGAN GRAND PRIX Newton Avenue, Barrio Logan, sdbc.org Professional cyclists, toplevel amateurs and first-time racers speed along a 0.8-mile course in one of SoCal’s largest cycling events followed by an expo at the Logan Heights Family Health Center.

4.27-28 MISSION FEDERAL ARTWALK Throughout Little Italy artwalksandiego.org Get lost amid 16 blocks of visual, performing and interactive exhibits during this annual event attended by thousands of art aficionados and lookie-loos from around the region.

4.28 LA JOLLA HALF MARATHON Begins at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, inmotionevents.com Starting at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, this 13.1-mile course follows a scenic coastal route before climbing to the summit of Torrey Pines State Park and concluding at La Jolla Cove.

PHOTO BY RICH CRUSE

4.28 30TH ANNUAL EARTHFAIR 2019 Balboa Park earthdayweb.org The annual environmental fair and Earth Day celebration returns with 60,000 attendees, 300 exhibitors, four entertainment venues and a Cleaner Car Concourse.

PHOTO BY K.C. ALFRED

@PACIFICSD

APRIL 2019

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CURRENTS | EVENTS

SPORTS PADRES HOME GAMES 4.1-3 vs Arizona Diamondbacks 4.15-16 vs Colorado Rockies 4.18-21 vs Cincinnati Reds 4.23-24 vs Seattle Mariners

GULLS HOME GAMES 4.5 vs Ontario Reign 4.10 vs San Jose Barracuda

PADRES PHOTO BY ROSS D. FRANKLIN/AP PHOTO

SOCKERS HOME GAMES 4.7 vs RGV Barracudas 4.13 vs Monterrey Flash

LEGION HOME GAMES 4.7 vs Austin Elite Rugby 4.20 vs Glendale Raptors

SEALS HOME GAMES 4.12 vs Saskatchewan Rush 4.19 vs Colorado Mammoth 4.27 vs Buffalo Bandits

FLEET HOME GAMES 4.15 vs Arizona Hot Shots

GULLS PHOTO BY CHADD CADY SEALS PHOTO BY CHADD CADY

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APRIL 2019 @PACIFICSD

CURRENTS

Laughing Stock April stand-up roundup

BY MICHAEL BENNINGER

4.19-21

ALI WONG

@ Balboa Theatre and Civic Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org

That’s how I know I love “ my baby more than anybody

else in the entire world. I told my husband ‘’til death do us part,’ and not once have I ever sniffed his ass to check if he s**t his pants. I’ve licked it, but I haven’t sniffed it.

— Ali Wong on Hard Knock Wife PHOTO BY ALEX CRICK/NETFLIX

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APRIL 2019 @PACIFICSD

”

Comedic Career

Ali Wong comes to San Diego for an impressive seven shows

BY MICHAEL BENNINGER

Comedian Ali Wong is perhaps best known for her uproarious Netflix stand-up specials, Baby Cobra (2016) and Hard Knock Wife (2018), each of which was filmed while she was more than 7 months pregnant (with different kids, of course). Wong, however, also has a number of writing credits to her name, and she has starred in more than twodozen television shows and movies.

This month, Wong, who was born and raised in California, brings her Milk & Money Tour to San Diego for six shows April 19-21 at the Balboa Theatre and one show April 22 at the Civic Theatre.

As was the case in other cities on her tour, shows were added in San Diego when tickets sold out faster than expected. At press time, all shows had nearly sold out.

If you’re unfamiliar with Wong and her work, here’s a by-the-numbers breakdown of her life and comedic career.

1982 – Born in San

3 – Years Wong has starred

2000 – Graduated from San

7 – Months pregnant Wong

Francisco as Alexandra Dawn Wong

Francisco University High School as president of the student body

2004 – Graduated from

UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in Asian-American studies

2014 – Married Justin

Hakuta, a tech exec and the son of inventor and TV personality “Dr. Fad”

as a series regular on the show American Housewife

was during the filming of both of her Netflix specials

10 – Record-setting number of shows Wong sold out at San Francisco’s Masonic Auditorium

23 – Age when Wong

attempted stand-up comedy for the first time

25 – Acting credits to her

2016 – Wong’s first

name, including several voice-acting roles

2020 – Expected premiere

audience size Wong will agree to perform in front of

comedy special, Baby Cobra, premieres on Netflix

3,500 – Maximum

127,800 Twitter followers 281,577 Likes on Facebook 1,000,000+

Instagram followers

Show note: If you’re lucky

enough to have scored tickets to one of Wong’s performances, be prepared to face smartphone separation anxiety. The comedian will be requiring all audience members to lock their devices in proprietary pouches that can be unlocked only at the end of the night or at certain locations in the lobby.

of Birds of Prey, a film in which Wong will star alongside Margot Robbie

2 – Seasons Wong wrote

for the television show Fresh Off the Boat

@PACIFICSD

APRIL 2019

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CURRENTS | COMEDY 4.5 DANIEL TOSH @ Pechanga Resort Casino, pechanga.com

It is great to be “ here in America,

the greatest country in the world if you haven’t traveled a lot.

”

— Daniel Tosh on People Pleaser

PHOTO BY ROBYN VON SWANK

4.5-7 MICHAEL YO @ The Comedy Store, thecomedystore.com/la-jolla

I am black and Asian, people. Blasian. White women “ love blasian dudes ’cause I’m a starter black. I’m a gateway drug to blackness, people.

I’m like weed for white women, you know what I mean? They start with me, and then they end up with Randall over there.

”

— Michael Yo at the Laugh Factory PHOTO BY DAVID BECKER/ GETTY IMAGES

4.12-13 MICHAEL KOSTA 4.7 DAVE CHAPPELLE @ Harrah’s Resort SoCal, harrahssocal.com

I don’t like “ looking at my

d*ck anymore.

My d*ck looks distinguished.

It’s old. An oldlookin’ d*ck. It’s got salt-andpepper hair all around it. My d*ck looks like Morgan Freeman in the ’90s — without the dots.

”

— Dave Chappelle on Equanimity MATHIEU BITTON/REX SHUTTERSTOCK/ZUMA PRESS/TNS

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APRIL 2019 @PACIFICSD

@ American Comedy Co., americancomedyco.com

Anyone who “ thinks USA is No. 1

should take Amtrak a few times.

”

— Michael Kosta on Twitter

PHOTO BY: BRIAN BOWEN SMITH/E! ENTERTAINMENT

4.16 LEV FER @ Comedy Store, thecomedystore.com/ lajolla

Man, Sour Patch “ Kids are so god-

damn good I wanna meet the Sour Patch parents

”

— Lev Fer on Twitter

4.12-14 NATASHA LEGGERO & MOSHE KASHER @ The Comedy Store, thecomedystore.com/la-jolla

“

Natasha Leggero: I will have to say, though, that the baby’s not mad, it just thinks I made a lot of sacrifices for you, you know? I’m carrying your child, I converted to Judaism for you.

Moshe Kasher: OK, that’s not fair. You didn’t convert for me. I simply told you I would never marry you unless you converted.

”

“

— Natasha Leggero & Moshe Kasher on The Honeymoon Stand Up Special

”

PHOTO BY JESSE GRANT/GETTY IMAGES

4.18-20 MARC MARON @ American Comedy Co., americancomedyco.com

I’m not the most courageous guy. “ I’m sort of an alpha-pu**y. ” — Marc Maron on Too Real KIRK MCKOY / LOS ANGELES TIMES

4.25-27 JANEANE GAROFALO @ American Comedy Co., americancomedyco.com

I’m not ageist, and “ I begrudge young

4.20 JOE ROGAN @ Viejas Arena, as.sdsu.edu/viejas_arena

For real, we don’t know what “ we’re doing. If this country was a

person, we’d be on coke, driving a yellow Corvette, singing Mötley Crüe songs in front of our ex’s house.

— Joe Rogan on Strange Times PHOTO BY ETHAN MILLER/GETTY IMAGES

”

people nothing. I’m on your side. I’m sorry you were born into such an aggressive culture. Cupcake Wars, Storage Wars, Cutthroat Kitchen.

Are the stakes that high?

”

— Janeane Garofalo at the City Winery PHOTO BY © STEVEN DEWALL

@PACIFICSD

APRIL 2019

35

ARTS | COOLTURE ART BEAT

BY LISA DEADERICK

4.12-7.14 Alfred Eisenstaedt: Life and Legacy

Policeman on Motorcycle Warning Chil dren to Stay Out of the Street as They Sit on the Curb by Alfred Eisenstaedt

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APRIL 2019 @PACIFICSD

The San Diego Museum of Art, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, 619.232.7931, sdmart.org Joining some of the first photographers for Life magazine, National Medal of Arts recipient Alfred Eisenstaedt was known for using compact cameras to demonstrate everything from the domestic to recreation with ordinary people and celebrities.

PULSE | ART BEAT

Art Beat

April gallery + exhibit openings

BY LISA DEADERICK

4.5-30 DREAMCATCHERS June Rubin Studio/Gallery 2690 Historic Decatur Rd., No. 214, Liberty Station 858.229.4571, junerubin.com Artist June Rubin’s watercolor visions and pinwheel technique combine in her interpretation of sacred, Ojibwe dreamcatchers.

Pinwheel Dreamcatcher

by June Rubin

4.6-5.12 CONVERGENCE/ CONVERGENCIA California Center for the Arts, Escondido 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido 760.839.4138, artcenter.org/museum Artists from San Diego and Tijuana “converge” their work in this exhibit, exploring the different ways in which perspectives can be seen and understood through sharing art.

All of Me (detail)

by Gilberto Rangel

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APRIL 2019 @PACIFICSD

PULSE | ART BEAT

The Young Shepherdess

4.6 RENOWNED ROMANTIC REALIST: LIUDMILA KONDAKOVA Martin Lawrence Galleries 1111 Prospect St., La Jolla 858.551.1122, martinlawrence.com Calling it her “kind of dream-like reality,� new, original works and limited-edition prints by artist Liudmila Kondakova celebrate the city of Paris through the clarity, light and attention to detail she brings to her work.

Terrace with a View of the Hotel de Ville by Liudmila Kondakova

4.13-14 ARTFEST 2019 San Diego Botanic Garden 230 Quail Gardens Dr., Encinitas 760.632.0917, sdbgarden.org More than 20 local and regional artists present sculptures, paintings, glass work, pottery and gourd and fiber arts in the form of pieces for a home or garden. Plus, the art of Asian horticulture will be on display by the Ohara School of Ikebana.

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APRIL 2019 @PACIFICSD

4.11-14 ART ALIVE 2019 The San Diego Museum of Art, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, 619.232.7931, sdmart.org A spring tradition with interpretations of famous works of art created by almost 100 floral designers, Art Alive raises money for the museum with events like the Bloom Bash, a flower crown workshop and garden activities.

ABOUT BROADSTONE MAKERS QUARTER Bearing the name of its surrounding neighborhood,

townhomes. Residents of this community will enjoy

Broadstone Makers Quarter is a community of

a vast array of custom-designed amenities, courtesy

entrepreneurs, artists and makers, situated in the

of BASILE Studio. These include an outdoor oasis

heart of San Diego’s East Village and inspired by

featuring a zero-edge pool, hot tub and cabanas,

the Maker Movement.

a state-of-the-art fitness center with Technogym,

This highly anticipated 265-unit development

TRX and Peloton Equipment, and a creative work/

includes a combination of studios, one- and

maker space boasting 3D-printing stations

two-bedroom apartments, and innovative 3-story

and collaborative work tables.

619.595.1601

FORGE DON’T FOLLOW

1601 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101

BROADSTONEMAKERSQUARTER.COM

PULSE | ART BEAT

4.27-7.7 OMA ARTIST ALLIANCE / A GROUP SHOW Sparks Gallery, 530 Sixth Ave., downtown 619.696.1416, sparksgallery.com More than two dozen works of art were selected for this exhibition of work by an affiliate group of members in the Oceanside Museum of Art’s Artist Alliance, with special attention paid to selecting works that focused on human encounters with nature and each other.

Fruits and Board by Viktoria Romanov

THROUGH 4.28 BODY OF OCEANS

Wrack by Renee Bareno

Fresh Paint Gallery 1020-B Prospect St., La Jolla freshpaintgallery.com Mixed media artist Renee Bareno presents a collection of abstract, oceaninspired work in this exhibition.

THROUGH 5.10 ANGEL RICARDO RIOS, LINO LAGO & DAMIAN AQUILES: VOICES Madison Galleries 320 S. Cedros Ave., Ste. 200, Solana Beach 858.523.9155, madisongalleries.com This group exhibition brings the work of three Latin artists whose work delves into “the dialogue between artist and canvas,” an exploration of color and art history, and a use of the energy from recycled materials like vintage cars or water tanks or refrigerators, respectively.

La caída de los ángeles rebeldes by Angel Ricardo Rios

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Bobby Riggs Tennis Club & Museum . Encinitas, CA Ages 21 and over . $75 general admission . $150 VIP

Feeding San Diego presents

Pairings with a Purpose, a signature fundraising event that brings together 50 of the best chefs, restaurants, local breweries, wineries and distilleries for the ultimate culinary competition.

feedingsandiego.Org/pairings

PULSE | CURTAIN CALLS

4.16 ALAN CUMMING: LEGAL IMMIGRANT California Center for the Arts, Escondido 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido 800.988.4253, artcenter.org The Scottish-born movie and stage star, who became an American citizen in 2008, serves up stories and songs about his new life in the New World.

Curtain Calls

4.16-21 CATS

April performing arts performances

Broadway/San Diego San Diego Civic Theatre 1100 Third Ave., downtown 619/858/760.570.1100, broadwaysd.org This will be the 11th time that the felineminded musical comes to town on a national tour — so much for that whole nine lives thing! — but the first since 2012.

BY JAMES HEBERT

4.3-28 VOLTA Cirque du Soleil at the Del Mar Fairgrounds 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar 877.924.7783, cirquedusoleil.com/volta Street sports serve as inspiration for this latest Cirque creation — the adventurous company’s first big-top show to visit here in seven years.

4.18-5.12 SWEAT San Diego Rep’s Lyceum Stage 79 Horton Plaza, downtown 619.544.1000, sdrep.org Playwright Lynn Nottage (of Ruined renown) won her second Pulitzer Prize for this piece, which explores the struggles of working-class people in industrial Pennsylvania.

4.3-7, 4.11-14 LIVE ARTS FEST 2019 San Diego Dance Theater at White Box Live Arts 2950 Truxtun Rd., No. 205, Liberty Station 619.225.1803, sandiegodancetheater.org From Mexico City to Malmö, Sweden (and lots of places in between) come the dances that make up this nine-night celebration — the seventh edition of the annual Live Arts Fest.

4.26-5.26 SISTER ACT San Diego Musical Theatre Horton Grand Theatre, 444 Fourth Ave., downtown 858.560.5740, sdmt.org SDMT stages its first-ever production of the movie-based musical comedy about a disco queen who takes refuge in a convent after witnessing a murder.

4.27-28 ROMANCE: EN POINTE!

4.5-5.5 SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS

Volta

New Village Arts Theatre 2787 State St., Carlsbad 760.433.3245, newvillagearts.org Carlo Goldoni’s commedia dell’arte classic has been splitting sides for centuries; now Samantha Ginn and AJ Knox unveil a brandnew take on the tale of a comically scheming servant.

4.6-5.5 THEY PROMISED HER THE MOON Old Globe’s White Theatre 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park 619.234.5623, theoldglobe.org There apparently was no place in space for the 13 real-life women showcased in Laurel Ollstein’s fact-based play (a world premiere); they underwent U.S. astronaut training in the 1960s, but then saw the men get all the glory.

4.10-5.5 ALL IN THE TIMING North Coast Rep 987 Lomas Santa Fe Dr., Solana Beach 858.481.1055, northcoastrep.org Playwright David Ives’ six-pack of c comic one-acts is a reliably laugh-worthy happening; David Ellenstein directs this revival.

4.12-14 CINDERELLA California Ballet at the Civic Theatre 1100 Third Ave., downtown 858.560.6741, californiaballet.org Guided by Jared Nelson’s choreographic eye, the fable of a mistreated would-be princess unspools to the music of Prokofiev.

VOLTA PHOTO BY MATT BAERD; CATS PHOTO BY MATTHEW MURPHY

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San Diego Ballet at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido 619.294.7378, sandiegoballet.org San Diego Ballet takes a road trip to North County for this ode to classical ballet, with excerpts from Romeo et Juliet, Giselle and more.

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@PACIFICSD

APRIL 2019

45

PULSE | MOVIES

The Reel Deal

April motion picture preview

BY MICHAEL BENNINGER

HELLBOY Give evil hell.

Fantasy | Sci-Fi Directed by: Neil Marshall Starring: David Harbour, Milla Jovovich and Sasha Lane In theaters: 4.12 In this cinematic reboot of the comic bookbased franchise, a halfdemon caught between the supernatural and human realms confronts a vengeful sorceress threatening Earth’s existence.

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APRIL 2019 @PACIFICSD

PET SEMATARY They don’t come back the same.

Thriller | Horror Directed by: Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer Starring: Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz and John Lithgow In theaters: 4.5 After a family of four discovers an ominous burial ground deep within the nearby woods, a sudden loss leads an inconsolable father down a dark path to bring back his dead daughter.

THE BEST OF ENEMIES Change is worth fighting for.

Drama | History Directed by: Robin Bissell Starring: Taraji P. Henson, Sam Rockwell and Wes Bentley In theaters: 4.5 Tempers flare when an outspoken civil rights activist and a local Ku Klux Klan leader co-chair a community summit about school desegregation in this film based on events that transpired in Durham, N.C., during 1971.

SHAZAM! Just say the word.

Fantasy | Adventure Directed by: David Sandberg Starring: Zachary Levi, Djimon Hounsou and Mark Strong In theaters: 4.5 When a scrawny, street-smart teen inherits the ability to transform into a brawny superhero simply by uttering a single word, he must adjust to temporary adulthood while also learning to protect his city.

BREAKTHROUGH

PETERLOO Drama | History Directed by: Mike Leigh Starring: Nico Mirallegro, Maxine Peake and Rory Kinnear In theaters: 4.5 Set in Manchester in 1819, British forces burst into a crowd of 60,000 peaceful, pro-democracy protesters, resulting in the Peterloo Massacre — one of the bloodiest chapters in England’s history.

AFTER Nothing will be the same.

Drama | Thriller Directed by: Jenny Gage Starring: Hero Fiennes-Tiffin, Josephine Langford and Pia Mia In theaters: 4.12 During her first semester of college, an inexperienced student begins a romantic and rocky relationship with a magnetic rebel who hides a troubled past.

LITTLE She woke up like this.

Comedy | Fantasy Directed by: Tina Gordon Starring: Regina Hall, Issa Rae and Marsai Martin In theaters: 4.12 An agonizing executive wakes up as her 13-yearold self and must enroll in high school and allow her former assistant to become her guardian while figuring out how to get back into her adult body.

Biography | Drama Directed by: Grant Nieporte Starring: Chrissy Metz, Josh Lucas and Topher Grace In theaters: 4.17 Just in time for Easter, this Christian flick tells the true story of a 14-yearold Missouri boy who fell through the ice atop a frozen lake and was declared dead for nearly an hour before his faithful mother used the power of prayer to resurrect him.

PENGUINS For Steve, his adventure isn’t all black and white.

Documentary Directed by: Alastair Fothergill and Jeff Wilson Narration by: Ed Helms In theaters: 4.17 An Adélie penguin embarks on a mission to find love and start a family in this Disneynature documentary set amid Antarctica’s unforgiving climate.

AVENGERS: ENDGAME Part of the journey is the end.

Fantasy | Sci-Fi Directed by: Anthony Russo and Joe Russo Starring: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Hemsworth In theaters: 4.26 In the wake of the Infinity War, the surviving Avengers unite to bring back their fallen allies for one final showdown with the demigod who wreaked havoc across the universe.

@PACIFICSD

APRIL 2019

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PROMOTION

[P O O L S

GET OUT! This summer, take the fun outside

& PA T I O S

]

There’s no denying that 2019 has already been the wettest year San Diego’s seen in some time, and this summer has the potential to be even wetter — depending on how you spend it. With paradisiacal rooftop pool parties and other adult playgrounds scattered around the city, nearby venues know exactly how to make summer memorable with some wet-and-wild fun.

some of San Diego’s most sizzling restaurants and bars regularly host lavish, liquefied socials in sleek outdoor settings that offer stunning views. With splashy soundtracks spun by rising DJs and a flurry of flirty activities to keep attendees entertained, these alfresco get-togethers are famous for decadent delicacies and potent potables guaranteed to leave an impression.

Locals who love venturing into the deep-end can take a dip at a rooftop splash bash replete with comfy daybeds, decked-out cabanas and fabulous, first-class bottle service.

These steamy scenes offer oodles of eye-candy and endless voyeuristic appeal while also serving as the perfect oases to unwind after a long week at work.

Whether you prefer poolside parties or more laid back outdoor dining, this summer is the perfect time to partake in a host of unforgettable happenings occurring across the city. So now that the weather is getting warmer, prepare to lather up your sunblock and have some outdoor fun in the company of kindred souls. Here are a handful of hot spots where you can turn the volume up and the stress level down.

Or, if you’re thirsty for a relaxing refuge away from the water,

PROMOTION

[P O O L S

& PA T I O S

]

RUSTIC ROOT Socialize, sip craft cocktails, and dine under the stars on Rustic Root’s buzzy open-air rooftop!

The expansive deck flaunts market street lights with a modern yet whimsical décor in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter.

Mingle with friends and intriguing strangers alike for boozy brunches, happy hour, dinner, or late-night socializing. Enjoy a timeless cocktail or seasonal specialty (don’t skip their frozen slushie!) and go wherever the evening takes you. San Diego was made for rooftops like this.

Rustic Root 535 Fifth Avenue | 619.232.1747 RusticRoot.com

PROMOTION

RUSTIC R

As the weather warms up, so does the brunch party on Rustic Root’s rooftop! Treat yourself to their gorgeous champagne tray and nibble on avocado toast or Socialize, sip craft co breakfast risotto.

The expansive deck heart of the Gaslamp Mingle with friends a late-night socializing slushie!) and go whe

Rustic Root 535 Fifth Avenue | 61 RusticRoot.com

PROMOTION

[P O O L S

& PA T I O S

]

THE POOL HOUSE The Pool House at Pendry San Diego returns for summer season on Monday, April 1 to kick off another season as the most prominent and sought after scene in San Diego, marked by its official grand opening on Sunday, May 5.

The mouth-watering new summer menu by Chef JoJo Ruiz of Pendry’s Lionfish will be sure to captivate visitors’ palates and it won’t be a surprise they’ll be returning for more.

The Pool House 435 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101 | 123.456.7890 poolhousesd.com

The contemporary rooftop pool is perched above the Gaslamp Quarter’s famed Fifth Avenue, located within the luxurious Pendry San Diego. The exclusive space will play host to a bevy of carefully curated daytime and evening events, such as the Pool House Sundays party series, featuring the hippest and hottest DJs. Daybed and poolside lunch reservations will also be available for guests.

The Pool House will be open five days a week from 11 a.m. to sundown, and extended to 7 p.m. on Sundays.

PROMOTION

[P O O L S

& PA T I O S

]

PROMOTION

Take summer to the next level at Sycuan’s retreat pool and cabanas.

SYCUAN CASINO RESORT Opening in March of 2019 at Sycuan Casino Resort, Retreat is an outdoor venue featuring two pools, an immense lazy river, a swim-up bar, and an expansive pool deck furnished with plush oversized daybeds and cabanas. The poolside menu will feature healthful seasonal bites and a full bar serving fresh mojitos, margaritas and champagne-infused cocktails. With a lineup of DJs and weekend activations, Retreat will be San Diego’s hottest summer destination. For more information, visit retreatpoolsd.com and follow on Instagram at @retreatpoolsd.

Sycuan Casino Resort 5469 Casino Way, El Cajon, CA 92019 619.445.6002 retreatpoolsd.com

RUSTIC R

Socialize, sip craft co The expansive deck fl heart of the Gaslamp Mingle with friends a late-night socializing slushie!) and go whe

Rustic Root 535 Fifth Avenue | 61 RusticRoot.com

PROMOTION

[P O O L S

& PA T I O S

]

THE FISH SHOP Established in 2010, The Fish Shop opened with the sole purpose of providing the best service and freshest fish in San Diego. Since then, The Fish Shop has become a local favorite, as well as a popular destination for the many thousands of visitors. Their menu is uniquely tailored, offering you a boatload of fresh fish selections to choose from, your preferred seasoning and a choice between having it all tucked within a taco, sandwich, salad or on a plate.

Dine in their comfortable, well-lit and heated patios, order take-out or buy one of their daily catch selections from their market to cook at home.

The Fish Shop Pacific Beach | 1775 Garnet Ave. San Diego CA 92109 | 858.483.1008 Encinitas | 1010 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024 | 858.436.4665 Point Loma | 1110 Rosecrans St #100 San Diego, CA 92106 | 619.756.7778 thefishshoppb.com

The Fish Shop in PaciďŹ c Beach features comfortable well-lit, heated patios minutes away from the beach.

PROMOTION

[P O O L S

& PA T I O S

]

PROMOTION

Summertime sunshine every Saturday on the roof of Hard Rock Hotel

SUNBURN POOL LOUNGE

RUSTIC R

Calling all weekend warriors! SUNBURN Pool Lounge returns to the Hard Rock Hotel rooftop every Saturday with a stellar lineup of DJ’s, fitness classes, local eats, and poolside cocktails. SUNBURN is the ultimate day party in San Diego, set atop the Hard Rock Hotel in a stylish oasis overlooking the vibrant Gaslamp Quarter.

Whether you’re in the mood for fitness or fun, SUNBURN

Socialize, sip craft co The expansive deck heart of the Gaslamp Mingle with friends a late-night socializing slushie!) and go whe

SUNBURN Pool Lounge 207 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101 | 619.814.25490 sunburnpool.com

is the one-stop shop to make the most of your San Diego summer. From yoga to boot camps to spin, SUNBURN offers a variety of fitness options to choose from each week so you can sweat it out before you drink up!

Celebrating something? Kick it up a notch with a lavish VIP poolside cabana, daybed, or table. So hurry up – summer is calling!

Rustic Root 535 Fifth Avenue | 61 RusticRoot.com

TASTE EAT | DRINK | PUFF DINING OUT

BY PAM KRAGEN

14 NEW RESTAURANTS SLIDE INTO SAN DIEGO The season of new beginnings arrives with fresh places for dining and drinking Heavy-hitting restaurants continue to open around San Diego as the year blossoms into the spring. And speaking of opening days, a few of these new spots will be great to check out now that the Padres have launched their season at Petco Park — the team’s 50th anniversary, too.

Here’s a look at 14 new places to eat, drink and bask in the sunlight the spring is sure to bring.

PHOTO BY JAMES TRAN

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SISTER RAY’S

SHE RMAN HE I G HTS In January, Balboa Bar & Grill owner Tom Logsdon and Pizzeria Luigi owner Luigi Agostini took over the lease on this American comfort food kitchen and craft beer spot in Sherman Heights. Since then, they’ve revamped and expanded the menu with a mix of burgers, chili dogs, sandwiches and vegan options.

549 25th St., Sherman Heights 619.237.8041, facebook.com/sisterrays

TASTE | DINING CESARINA

P OIN T LOMA Open since February, this authentic Italian trattoria has won raves for its lasagna and tiramisu, among other family recipes brought from the homeland of its young expatriate owners, Rome-born Niccolò Angius and Naplesbred cousins Giuseppe Scognamiglio and Giuseppe Capasso. The restaurant’s menu features a buildyour-own pasta plate, with choice of housemade pastas, sauces and other toppings.

4161 Voltaire St., Point Loma 619.226.6222, cesarinarestaurant.com

HIMMELBERG’S

E A S T V IL L AG E The Patio Group reopened its former Harvest by the Patio restaurant on March 25 as Himmelberg’s, a rock ’n’ roll surf-style fastcasual restaurant/bar with live music. It serves a sustainably sourced menu of American comfort foods and custom-made Himmelbrew beer.

Both the restaurant and beer are dedicated to owner Gina Champion-Cain’s close friend Joey Himmelberg, who died in 2016.

369 10th Ave., East Village 619.541.8301, himmelbergs.com 56

APRIL 2019 @PACIFICSD

HIRO NORI CRAFT RAMEN

H IL LC R E S T This Orange County-based ramen shop opened its first San Diego County store in February in Hillcrest. The four-store chain was started in Irvine in 2017 by Japanese-born ramen chef Hiromichi Igarashi and businessman Tadanori Akasaka.

It’s known for the authentic Japanese flavors in its tonkotsu and shoyu ramen dishes, pork buns and vegan offerings.

3805 Fifth Ave., Hillcrest 619-241-2856, hironoricraftramen.com

HOLY MATCHA

E AST V I LL AG E Geraldine Ridaura opened the first location of this Asian-inspired healthy cafĂŠ and matcha green tea room in North Park in 2017. Her second location opened in early March in the Park 12 development near Petco Park in East Village. Like the original, the new pink-walled Holy Matcha shop is certain to be a popular spot for Instagrammers. The new location has a unique menu with additional matcha drinks, snacks, toasts and soft-serve desserts.

201 Park Blvd., Unit 105, East Village, holymatchasd.com PHOTO BY STACY KECK @PACIFICSD

FEBRUARY 2019

57

TASTE | DINING

LOUISIANA PURCHASE

N O RT H PARK Grind & Prosper Hospitality opened this New Orleans-inspired courtyard restaurant and Southern cocktail bar in March. A recent graduate of the Culinary Institute of New Orleans, chef Quinnton Austin has created a menu featuring alligator cheesecake with crawfish cream sauce, Andouille-fried red beans and rice with chipotle mousse and Southern-style BBQ shrimp.

2305 University Ave., North Park 619.255.8278, louisianapurchasesd.com

MEDINA MOROCCAN BAJA KITCHEN N O RT H PA R K Chef/owner Alia Jaziri credits her North African and Chinese/Indonesian heritage and her passion for Baja cuisine for the eclectic Mediterranean/Mexican menu at this new fast-casual restaurant and wine bar that opened in October. It offers lunch and dinner service and brunch service will be added soon.

2850 El Cajon Blvd., Ste. 4, North Park 619.230.5037, medinakitchen.com PHOTO BY DANIEL-LEE

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APRIL 2019 @PACIFICSD

It’s BASEBALL SEASON! SWING BY THE GASLAMP’S BEST BAR BEFORE, DURING, OR AFTER PADRES GAMES! COCKTAILS | BURGERS | BARLEY PIES | CRAFT BEERS OPEN MONDAY - FRIDAY 11:30AM - 2AM | WEEKENDS 10 AM - 2 AM | 600 FITH AVE SAN DIEGO, CA 92101

BARLEY MASH

GASLAMP’S BEST MARTINI DOWNSTAIRS!

22019 019

O pening Da y

Pre Game and Post Game at The Smoking Gun 2 Blocks From Petco Park So Close You Can Smell It $1 Ballpark Dogs during home games 5 5 5 M A R KE T S T R E E T, S A N D I E G O , C A 9 2 1 0 1 6 1 9 . 2 3 3 . 3 8 3 6 | T H E S M O KI N G G U N S D . C O M T H E S M O KI N G G U N S D

TASTE | DINING MUSTANGS & BURROS LA JOLLA Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa reopened its signature restaurant in February with a new look and new coastalinspired menu. Signature dishes include blackened swordfish tacos, charred Spanish octopus, pineappleachiote pork ribs and ceviche negro.

Estancia La Jolla Hotel 9700 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla 858.964.6537, meritagecollection.com/estancia-la-jolla

THE OWL DRUG CO. SOCIAL EATING HOUSE

ONE PASEO C A RME L VAL L EY The first phase of this mixed-use community project opened its first group of restaurants in March and will continue opening more throughout April. They include Shake Shack, Salt & Straw ice cream, Parakeet CafĂŠ, a healthy foods venue, Blue Bottle Coffee, Susie Cakes, Joe & the Juice bar, Mizukiyama Sushi, Tender Greens and The Butchery meat, grocery and seafood market.

12860 El Camino Real, Carmel Valley, onepaseo.com PHOTO BY HAYNE PALMOUR IV

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D OW N TOW N In January, restaurateur Jason King took over the food side of the business at the 1-year-old Bell Marker brewpub. He relaunched the restaurant operation in March as the Owl Drug Co. Social Eating House, an elevated brew pub serving American comfort food. The existing brewery operation, run by the Artisinal Brewers Collective, has remained onsite. The name comes from the original tenant of the 1908 historic building, a drugstore that over the years was used as a bowling alley and a cafĂŠ.

602 E. Broadway, downtown 619.756.7598, owldrugco.com

THE PORCHETTA SHACK N O RT H PA R K After eight years running Carnitas’ Snack Shack in North Park, married co-owners Hanis Cavin and Sara Stroud shuttered their original pork-centric outdoor fast-food restaurant to give the outlet a refresh and new name. The Porchetta Shack, which opened in March, has a new menu focused around the porchetta pork loin roast. The menu will also feature sandwiches, burgers and side dishes. The bar menu now includes cocktails. The Carnitas’ Snack Shack locations on the Embarcadero and at Petco Park are now under the ownership of the Grain & Grit Collective, which launched a new menu on March 12.

2632 University Ave., North Park, porchettashack.com

@PACIFICSD

FEBRUARY 2019

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TASTE | DINING P HOTO BY HA L E Y HI L L

RICHARD WALKER’S PANCAKE HOUSE

C A RLSBAD Third-generation restaurateur Richard Walker Jr. of San Diego has opened a North County outlet of the familyowned gourmet pancake house concept in the new Square at Bressi Ranch shopping center. Launched in Illinois in 1989, Richard Walker’s is known for its oversize ovenbaked omelettes and Granny Smith apple and cinnamon pancakes. Everything on the 70-item menu is made from scratch daily with never-frozen ingredients.

2656 Gateway Rd., Carlsbad 760.893.8400, richardwalkers.com

STORYHOUSE SPIRITS E A S T V IL L AG E Co-founders Matt Kidd and Steve Kuftinec opened this two-story urban distillery and restaurant in February. The 7,600-square-foot project houses a distillery and production facility and a full-service bar, tasting room and lounge. Chef Nick Paulerio’s menu features seasonal plates, mostly cooked in a copper wood-fired oven.

1220 J St., East Village, 619.241.2780, storyhousespirits.com

RE IM AG IN ED SMALL BAR UN IV E RSI T Y H E IGHTS Longtime Small Bar owner Karen Barnett partnered this year with the Trust Restaurant Group to revamp her 10-year-old restaurant/ bar, with a refresh to the interior, updated menu, new staffing and a new cocktail program overseen by new part-owner Frank McGrath, formerly of Polite Provisions.

It reopened in late February.

4628, Park Blvd., University Heights 619.795.7998, smallbarsd.com 62

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TASTE | EVENTS

magnificent mushrooms and samples of more than 30 local ales and lagers.

a two-night stint cooking a selection of seafood sourced directly from Tuna Harbor Dockside Market.

4.6 FIFTH ANNUAL MEADING AT THE GARDEN

Full Plate

April food + drink happenings

BY MICHAEL BENNINGER

Alta Vista Botanical Gardens, Vista altavistabotanicalgardens.org More than 35 meaderies, cideries and breweries offer unlimited pours of the world’s oldest fermented beverage at the West Coast’s largest mead festival, which also features ax throwing, a Vikingthemed village and a five-course meal that pairs contemporary cuisine with modern honey wine.

BRA DL E Y S C HWEIT

4.1 PLAYING WITH FIRE The Lodge at Torrey Pines, La Jolla lodgetorreypines.com Guest chefs from the Mastiff Sausage Company ignite a new outdoor-grilling series during this unique al fresco experience featuring a family-style feast cooked on a custom-built rotisserie grill.

4.4-14 PETAL TO PLATE The Flower Fields, Carlsbad visitcarlsbad.com Drawing inspiration from the Flower Fields’ flourishing ranunculuses, Carlsbad’s best chefs, brewers, mixologists and wellness specialists converge to tickle guests’ senses with floral creations.

4.13 SEVENTH ANNUAL VINDIEGO WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL

TO WIN TICKETS, SEE PAGE 23!

Waterfront Park, Little Italy vindiego.com Wine, food and music collide at this oenophilic festival featuring more than 200 varietals from top-tier vintners alongside fare from some of San Diego’s best chefs.

4.6 FOURTH ANNUAL UNCORKED WINE FESTIVAL Embarcadero Marina Park North, Marina District uncorkedwinefestivals.com Swirl, sniff and sip to your heart’s content at this grape-centric event boasting more than 200 wines and champagnes in addition to gourmet food trucks, a live DJ and loads of lawn games.

4.6 12TH ANNUAL NORTH PARK FESTIVAL OF BEERS The Lafayette Hotel, North Park 91x.com Knock back limitless samples of more than 50 beers from dozens of local breweries at this event benefiting the San Diego Music Foundation.

4.13 BEERFEST AT DIVE Harrah’s Resort SoCal, Valley Center harrahssocal.com Showcasing beverages from more than a dozen of the nation’s best breweries, this event has the distinction of being the county’s only beer festival taking place adjacent to a swimming pool.

4.8-9 THE ANTI-CONVENTION 2019: CATALYST Idea1 Building, downtown anticonvention.com This inaugural event presented by Chef’s Roll includes a dinner under the stars and two days of legendary chefs, thought leaders and industry influencers offering insight into the farm-to-table movement.

4.5 THE MAD HATTER’S BEER PARTY The Lafayette Hotel, North Park eventbrite.com Venture through the looking glass at this psychedelic celebration offering live music,

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4.9-10 CHEF’S CATCH Ironside Fish and Oyster, Little Italy ironsidefishandoyster.com Continuing Ironside’s ongoing dinner series, executive chef James McLeod welcomes Chicago’s Lee Wolen — a two-time James Beard Award nominee — to join him for

4.13 EPPIG BIERGARTEN FRÜHLINGSFEST Eppig Brewing Waterfront Biergarten, Shelter Island eppigbrewing.com

Bust out your best Bavarian-wear to commemorate the arrival of spring — and the first anniversary of this waterfront biergarten — during a traditional event that serves as Oktoberfest’s sister celebration.

4.13 BREW DOWN BEER COMPETITION & FESTIVAL Green Flash Brewing, Mira Mesa sdbeer.com Enjoy unlimited samples and vote for your favorite as more than two dozen breweries compete for the title of San Diego’s most beloved beer at this inaugural event that awards the winner with a trophy, bragging rights and a $5,000 donation to the charity of their choice.

4.13 18TH ANNUAL TASTE OF HILLCREST JARED GASE

Throughout Hillcrest fabuloushillcrest.com Take your taste buds on a culinary tour to more than 35 of Hillcrest’s best restaurants during this annual uptown foodie fest featuring free shuttle service for all participants.

NELVIN C. CEPEDA

18th annual Taste of Hillcrest

includes beer tastings, food pairings and a gallery of local artists.

4.14 33RD ANNUAL FALLBROOK AVOCADO FESTIVAL Main Street, Fallbrook fallbrookchamberofcommerce.org Guacamole contests, inflatable avocados and even a race featuring vehicles made from SoCal’s Guacamole contests, inflatable avocados and even a race featuring vehicles made from SoCal’s signature fruit make this one-of-a-kind event an unmissable affair for lovers of “alligator pears.

4.20 10TH ANNUAL BIKES, BOARDS AND BREWS Crown Point Park, Pacific Beach pacificbeach.org Express your fondness for three facets of PB’s iconic culture at this annual event that

4.24 TASTE OF LIBERTY STATION Liberty Station, Point Loma libertystation.com Indulge in Liberty Station’s many gustatory experiences on this self-guided, art-infused food walk that also features live music all day long.

4.27 NINTH ANNUAL MISSION VALLEY CRAFT BEER & FOOD FESTIVAL SDCCU Stadium, Mission Valley mvcbf.com This all-inclusive festival features unlimited samples from several food-and-beverage vendors and offers guests a neck-based beer-holder that makes it easier to simultaneously eat and drink.

4.27-28 TEQUILA AND TACO MUSIC FESTIVAL Embarcadero Marina Park South, Marina District tequilaandtacomusicfestival.com This traveling tequila-and-taco music festival returns to San Diego for two days of fun in the sun with spirit sampling on Saturday, margarita madness on Sunday and gourmet tacos along with live music all weekend long.

4.28 DINNERS FOR GOOD Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation, Chollas Creek Villas kitchensforgood.org Tommy Gomes from Catalina Offshore invites guests to dine on a gourmet, fivecourse tasting menu (plus paired drinks) during a live cooking demonstration from chef Matt Gordon and Sam “The Cooking Guy” Zien.

@PACIFICSD

FEBRUARY 2019

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TASTE | BEER

Take it from the Tap

A monthly taste of beer from here

PHOTOS BY NANCEE E. LEWIS

BY PETER ROWE

PHENOL-MENAL BELGIAN BEERS Go: The Belgian Room at Clem’s Tap House Know: Two years ago, Paul Kasawdish opened a 50-tap annex to Kensington’s Clem’s Tap House, where 30 taps focus on made-in-San Diego brews. “I decided to theme it,” he said. “Why don’t we just do a bunch of Belgian beers?”

Glow: The annex also pours 20 Belgian imports, all fresh and all on tap.

Popular offerings include Cuvée de Jacobins Rouge, a sour ale; Saison Dupont, a classic farmhouse ale; and St. Bernardus Tripel.

Geeking out: Belgian beers usually feature distinctive aromas. Phenols are responsible for odors that can manifest as fruity, sour, herbal, clovelike and even reminiscent of Bazooka Joe bubblegum.

To and fro: Clem’s Tap House is behind Clem’s Bottle Shop, a liquor store owned by Wally Kasawdish, Paul’s father. Paul honed his beer expertise by expanding the store’s ale and lager offerings to its current 700-plus unique labels.

Pro: Photos of Will Farrell decorate this bar, but not because the comedian/ actor has Belgian roots. (He doesn’t.) Clem’s Tap House supports Cancer for College, a charity founded by one of Farrell’s USC fraternity brothers, Craig Pollard of Vista.

Clem’s Tap House 4108 Adams Ave., Kensington 619.255.4526, clemstaphouse.com

THIRST-QUENCHING

A local beer to spend some time with Beer: Swingin’ Friar Ale, “the official craft beer of the San Diego Padres,” has aromas of peach, berry, pine, grapefruit and other citrus fruits, biscuity malts and a crisp finish.

From: Ballast Point Brewing, San Diego.

Why: As if All-Star infielder Manny Machado’s Padres debut weren’t enough, here’s another reason to welcome the Friars’ 50th anniversary, which kicked off on March 28.

Geeking out: 5.5% alcohol by volume; 40 International Bittering Units; Simcoe hops.

Seeking out: Swingin’ Friar is found at Petco Park, on draft at local restaurants and taverns, and in six-packs at retailers.

Freaking out?: Relax. The other Padres-themed beer, AleSmith’s .394 Pale Ale, is still sold at Petco Park and around town.

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APRIL 2019

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GROOVE MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE SOUND DECISIONS

BY SCOTT MCDONALD

TLC 4.27

@ Pechanga, pechanga.com The Grammy-winning and platinum-selling R&B trio that featured Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes until her death 17 years ago still counts co-founders Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas as members.

The pair returns to San Diego after headlining the city’s PRIDE celebration last summer and performing at KAABOO in September.

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GROOVE

Sound Decisions April Concert Calendar

BY SCOTT MCDONALD

4.2 VINCE STAPLES

4.6, 7 TAKING BACK SUNDAY

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com The Long Beach rapper released his third studio album, FM!, last November. It’s once again packed with guest appearances from E-40 and Jay Rock to Kehlani and Tyga.

And the whole thing is framed around a running skit featuring longtime L.A. radio DJ Big Boy.

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com Last in San Diego as part of the final Vans Warped Tour, the Long Island, N.Y.-based emo punks return to America’s Finest City to celebrate their 20th year together with a two-night dip. A compilation album that coincides with the two-decade milestone, aptly named Twenty, was released in January.

4.3 GUNNA

Meat Puppets 4.7

@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego The Atlanta-based MC was a featured guest on multiple hit albums from the likes of Travis Scott, 21 Savage, Tory Lanez, Mariah Carey and more last year. In February, the rapper born Sergio Kitchens released his full-length studio debut, Drip or Drown 2. The album hit No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and features appearances from Young Thug, Lil Baby and Playboi Carti.

@ Soda Bar, sodabarmusic.com Marking the seminal band’s first run with the original lineup since 1995, Curt and Cris Kirkwood, alongside returning drummer Derrick Bostrom, hi the road to promote the March-released latest album, Dusty Notes. It’s the band’s first release since 2013’s Rat Farm.

PHOTO BY JOSEPH CULTICE

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4.7 BUDDY GUY @ Belly Up, bellyup.com The multiple Grammy-winner, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and beloved blues legend returns once again to his San Diego home away from home, the Belly Up, for yet another sold-out show.

4.7 TEN FÉ @ Casbah, casbahmusic.com Starting out as a duo before expanding into a five-piece, these London-based indie poppers released their sophomore album, Future Perfect, Present Tense, last month. Local rockers Creature Canyon open the show.

Sing for Spring!

HAPPY HOUR

M O N DAYS

­

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T U E S DAY

W E D N E S DAY

T H U R S DAY

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GROOVE | SOUND DECISIONS

T— Pain 4.9

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com The recent winner of FOX TV’s Masked Singer competition and the host of last month’s iHeartRadio Music Awards heads to San Diego after releasing his sixth studio album, 1UP, in February. The 12-song collection features appearances from Lil Wayne, Tory Lanez, O.T. Genasis, Flipp Dinero and more.

PHOTO BY TIM MOSENFELDER/GETTY IMAGES

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GROOVE | SOUND DECISIONS

FKJ

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@ Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com Vincent Fenton (aka Paris-based producer FKJ) released his latest single, Leave My Home, last month on Mom+Pop Records. A followup to Fenton’s 2017 self-titled debut is said to be on the way.

PHOTO BY JOSEPH CULTICE

4.15

GROOVE | SOUND DECISIONS

Julia Michaels

@ House of Blues houseofblues.com/sandiego After first writing hits for the likes of Justin Bieber, Gwen Stefani, Britney Spears, Shawn Mendes and others, Michaels released her first EP, Nervous System, in 2017. In January, the Grammy-nominated singer followed it up with the six-track Inner Monologue Part 1, which features both Selena Gomez and Niall Horan.

Michaels is playing a few one-off shows, like this one at House of Blues, while she also serves as the opening act on Pink’s Beautiful Trauma tour.

4.20

PHOTO BY NATHAN CONGLETON/NBC/NBCU PHOTO BANK VIA GETTY IMAGES

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N O W

S E R V I N G

M E AT | F I S H | V E G E TA R I A N | PA L E O Innovative, delicious, and unique tacos!

Traditional recipes with SoCal flavor.

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GROOVE | SOUND DECISIONS 4.12 KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD

4.17 BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY

4.19 DMX

@ Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com The guitarist, singer and songwriter hasn’t released any music since 2017’s Lay It On Down. However, that album, along with the six blues records Shepherd made before it, all hit the top spot on Billboard’s U.S. Blues Chart.

@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego Initially signed by Eazy-E to Ruthless Records, the veteran hip-hip outfit returns to San Diego for their seemingly annual visit. This time, the group is promoting last November’s The Lost Files: Unreleased Hits.

4.16 ICEAGE

@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego After being released from prison in January on a tax evasion charge, multi-platinumselling rapper DMX (Earl Simmons) is back on the road. Simmons also was seen in the studio with super producer Swizz Beatz last month, so new music is sure to be on the way.

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com One of the Coachella spillover dates hitting San Diego this year, the L.A.-based ska outfit makes a local headlining appearance after playing two festival dates here in 2018 — last October’s Ye Scallywag! at Waterfront Park and 91X’s Wrex The Halls at Pechanga Arena in December.

@ Casbah, casbahmusic.com Last time the Danish post-rockers were in town, they played the House of Blues with Atlanta punks Black Lips on a co-headlining bill. They move to the cozier confines of the Casbah for this show, but again with a great band in tow. Amazing U.K. punk fivepiece Shame opens the show — a band definitely worth the effort of arriving at the venue early.

4.19 THE INTERRUPTERS

Superorganism

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4.19 LOS LOBOS @ Belly Up, bellyup.com The legendary Los Angeles-based bilingual band was last here for a two-night, coheadlining set with veteran punks X over New Year’s Eve. That followed an earlier 2018 appearance in Poway where they did an (almost) entirely acoustic performance.

The band returns to standard operating procedure, as well as the Belly Up, for this sold-out show.

@ MusicBox, musicboxsd.com The London-based electro-pop octet released their self-titled debut album last year. The diverse collective features a roster of international musicians from Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the U.K.

4.23

GROOVE | SOUND DECISIONS

The

Reverend Horton Heat 4.25

@ Belly Up, bellyup.com Still led by front man Jim “Reverend Horton” Heath and longtime bassist Jimbo Wallace, the veteran psychobilly act heads back to the Belly Up with new members, pianist Matt Jordan and drummer Arjuna “RJ” Contreras, in tow. The band also has a new album, Whole New Life, which was released last November.

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4.20 BIG THIEF @ The Irenic, theirenic.com The Adrianne Lenker-led, Brooklynbased indie rock quartet head back out on the road after announcing the upcoming release of their third full-length, U.F.O.F., set for next month. The title track to the album is out now.

4.22 BEN KWELLER @ Casbah, casbahmusic.com The Texas-based singer-songwriter (and one-time child prodigy) had been on a self-imposed hiatus for the last five years after he and his family nearly died in a freak accident. But Kweller is back with new single Heart Attack Kid, which is taken from his upcoming album, Circuit Boredom, due later this year.

4.25 LOS AMIGOS INVISIBLES + ATERCIOPELADOS @ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com As Venezuelan Grammy-winning funk and disco party starters Los Amigos Invisibles head toward their 30-year anniversary, they hit the road with iconic Colombian electro-folk duo Aterciopelados. Both bands have released a new album over the last two years.

4.27 EARL SWEATSHIRT @ SOMA, somasandiego.com Some Rap Songs, Earl Sweatshirt’s third and most recent album (released last November), features 15 songs and clocks in at just 25 minutes. The longtime Odd Future collaborator born Thebe Kgositsile has said it will be his last album with Columbia Records.

PACIFIC HIGHLANDS D EN T I S T R Y AND O RT H O D ON T I C S

GROOVE | SOUND DECISIONS

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White Denim

4.28

@ MusicBox, musicboxsd.com James Petralli continues to lead these Austin, Texas, garage rockers after losing half of the band to Leon Bridges in 2010. Surprisingly, they’ve gotten even better since the departure and released their ninth full-length album, Side Effects, last month.

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GROOVE | SOUND DECISIONS

Tech N9NE

4.30

@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego After releasing the four-track EP, N9NA Collection 1, last November, Tech N9ne, aka Kansas City rapper Aaron Dontez Yates, returns to San Diego in support of the follow-up, last month’s fourtrack EP, N9NA Collection 2.

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GROOVE

SpinCycle April EDM + DJ performances

BY SCOTT MCDONALD

4.6

A-TRAK

@ Hard Rock, hardrockhotelsd.com Canadian DJ, producer and Fool’s Gold label boss A-Trak, aka Alain Macklovitch, is also half of DJ duo Duck Sauce with Armand Van Helden. The Grammynominated turntablist teamed with Young Thug, YEHME2 and Todd Terry on singles last year.

PHOTO BY NOAM GALAI/GETTY IMAGES

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4.5 SAN HOLO

4.12 ELEPHANTE

4.19 CRANKDAT

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com Dutch DJ Sander van Dijck released a slew of singles last year in addition to his highly anticipated full-length debut, the appropriately titled Album1. In February, he released Lead Me Back, the first single from his upcoming Gouldian Finch 3 compilation.

@ OMNIA, omnianightclub.com Michigan-born Harvard grad Tim Wu released his second EP, Glass Mansion, last year. The nine-song collection includes collaborations with Nevve, Matluck, Deb’s Daughter, Anjulie, Crystal and Knightly. An entire album of Glass Mansion remixes from the likes of Morgan Page, ZAXX, BRKLYN, YOOKiE and others followed in November.

@ OMNIA, omnianightclub.com Last here in January, this 22-year-old Ohiobased DJ born Christian Smith makes a quick return to America’s Finest City. Smith infamously gave up a full-ride athletic scholarship at Kent State when he dropped out of school to pursue a music career. His latest single, Welcome to the Jungle (feat.

Sara Skinner), dropped in March.

4.13 DOCTOR P

4.26 CALYX & TEEBEE

@ Bassmnt, bassmntsd.com English DJ Shaun Brockhurst, aka Doctor P, has remixed the likes of Britney Spears, Ed Sheeran and Dillon Francis. In February, he released the Chime Remix of his song Bulletproof (feat. Eva Simons) that was originally found on the 2012 EP Animal Vegetable Mineral, Pt. 1.

@ Spin, spinnightclub.com Calyx (aka U.K. drum and bass DJ Larry Cons) and Teebee (Norwegian drum and bass DJ Torgeir Byrknes) started working together back in 2007. Their latest collaboration, the 14-track 1X1, was released last year and features appearances from Doctor and Ayah Marar.

4.6 PARTY FAVOR @ OMNIA, omnianightclub.com Last in the city to shut down OMNIA on New Year’s Eve, Manhattan-born/L.A.based DJ Dylan Ragland returns to San Diego in what has been a busy 2019 for the producer thus far. BROHUG and 4B have already remixed his January-released single 2012, and Ragland teamed with graves and GTA, respectively, on latest singles Reach For Me and Work It Out.

4.6 BEAR GRILLZ @ Bassmnt, bassmntsd.com The Colorado-based, mask-wearing DJ really showcases a diverse production style with his two latest releases. February’s Demons (feat. RUNN) is a melodic, vocalled foray into pop territory, while the March-released single Flow is another hard-hitting, in-your-face dose of dubstep that has become synonymous with the mysterious producer.

4.6 DARIUS @ Quartyard, quartyardsd.com Roche Musique, a French House label based in Paris, brings a solid triple bill to Quartyard. Atmospheric headliner Darius released his debut full-length, Utopia, in 2017. And he’ll be supported by labelmates Zimmer and Kartell.

4.6 VICETONE @ Parq, parqsd.com Dutch DJ duo Ruben Den Boer and Victor Pool have remixed everyone from Bob Marley and The Weeknd to Maroon 5 and Kelly Clarkson, as well as releasing a handful of singles every year since 2013. In February, the pair released their 4-track sophomore EP, Elements, which features appearances from Haley Reinhart, Matt Wertz and Laur.

4.26 ILLENIUM @ OMNIA, omnianightclub.com Denver-based DJ Nicholas Miller really likes San Diego. He was here with Kaskade and Porter Robinson as part of OMFG NYE 2019 at Pechanga Arena and made a return solo trip here as recently as February. His latest single, Crashing, was released in January and features electro-duo Bahari on vocals.

4.27 COM TRUISE @ Music Box, musicboxsd.com Com Truise (aka New York-bred, L.A.-based DJ/producer Seth Haley) is set to release his fifth EP, the 9-track Persuasion System, next month on Ghostly International. The album’s lead single, Existence Schematic, is out now.

4.5

DE OR RO

@ OMNIA, omnianightclub.com Deorro (aka L.A.-based DJ Erick Orrosquieta) dropped his 26-song debut, Good Evening, in 2017. After cranking out 10 singles last year, Orrosquieta has already released two more in 2019. February’s Wild Like The Wind finds the producer playing the cello, and he teams with Henry Fong and Elvis Crespo on last month’s Pica.

@PACIFICSD

APRIL 2019

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LOVE | BLIND DATE

Mezcal Me Maybe

BY JENNIFER IANNI PHOTOS BY DAVID BROOKS MATCHMAKER JESSICA PELLIGRA

Seafood, booze and crickets on the menu for this poppin’ blind date

I

t was a cold and rainy night in San Diego, the kind of night you just want to stay in, cuddled up under a blanket and getting your Netflix and chill on.

But blind daters Jessica, 30, and Jimmy, 26, aren’t the kind of people to let a little rain get in the way of a good time. Instead, they put on their finest outfits (well, at least one of them did) and braved the cold in order to meet each other on PACIFIC magazine’s blind date.

Not even wet stuff falling from the sky could drown their hopes of finding love, or at least someone to lay close to for warmth during this long San Diego winter.

The pair first meet in an Epic Limo that picks up Jessica at her place in Hillcrest, followed by 88

APRIL 2019 @PACIFICSD

Jimmy at his spot in La Jolla, giving them plenty of time to get acquainted before being dropped off at this evening’s first stop: Fort Oak in Mission Hills.

Before we check in on how the date’s going, let’s get to know the daters better, via their pre-date interviews.

Where are you from and where do you live now?

JESSICA: I am from Sacramento originally and now I live in Hillcrest. I absolutely love Hillcrest, lots of restaurants and you can walk to them all.

JIMMY: From La Jolla and haven’t found a reason to leave.

What do you do for a living?

JESSICA: I have a salon suite

in Bird Rock. I do upscale men’s haircuts and grooming. It’s been my passion for a few years. Working for myself has been an amazing experience.

JIMMY: I run a gourmet-flavored popcorn company called Partypop, which makes the greatest popcorn this world has ever tasted. I also coach JV baseball at La Jolla High School and enjoy passing on my knowledge.

How long have you been single?

JESSICA: I have been single about two years now.

JIMMY: I have been single since October after dating a Swedish girl for four years, on and off.

What’s your Instagram handle?

JESSICA: @jessicaleslieharper JIMMY: @jimmeyerott

Currently, what dating apps can be found on your phone?

JESSICA: I recently was told to check out Hinge! Haven’t really started using it.

JIMMY: Bumble and Tinder.

Where can you be found on the weekends?

JESSICA: Weekends are always different. Could be relaxing around Hillcrest, brunch with the girls or exploring new things to do around S.D. The events are endless in San Diego.

JIMMY: Farmers markets, deep house/techno clubs or somewhere outside like Balboa Park or Kate Sessions Park or the beach.

LOVE | BLIND DATE What are you best at?

JESSICA: Home decor, men’s hairstyling and putting together charcuterie boards.

JIMMY: I’m really witty and good at having a conversation with anybody and making people feel like they’ve known me for 10 years.

What do you suck at?

JESSICA: Using my calendar, responding to emails and anything to do with my car.

JIMMY: I procrastinate so much and rush myself a lot.

What are you looking for in a date, physical or otherwise?

JESSICA: Someone genuine who is as social as I am.

Extra points if they work as much as I do! Also, some spontaneity and a great sense of humor.

JIMMY: Obviously, someone good-looking, but I need someone who is adventurous and not afraid to try new things. Someone who isn’t stressed about the little things all the time and DGAF (don’t give a f**k).

Rate yourself on a scale from one to 10 for looks.

JESSICA: I hate this game.

I’m feeling myself today, so I’m gonna go ahead and say I’m an 8.

JIMMY: 7.5.

Rate yourself on a scale from one to 10 for personality.

JESSICA: 10, 100%.

JIMMY: Hard 10.

What’s your cocktail of choice?

JESSICA: Skinny spicy marg, extra jalapeños please.

JIMMY: Margarita, baby.

What’s a total deal-breaker on a date?

JESSICA: On your phone the whole time. Nothing less attractive than not being attentive on a date.

JIMMY: Someone who talks about their past relationship and what they are looking for now. The past is the past.

How many people have you slept with?

JESSICA: 23. Michael Jordan. It’s a great number.

JIMMY: 32 confirmed, with a few extras that were questionable if you’d count them or not — depends who is keeping score.

Fill in the blanks: I want my date to be “blank” and “blank.”

JESSICA: Confident and ready to laugh with me!

JIMMY: I want my date to be down-to-earth and have a sense of humor.

Will the night end with a kiss, something more or something less?

JESSICA: We will have to find out! I love a good kiss on a first date.

JIMMY: If everything goes right, something more.

By the looks of it, these two have a lot in common: they both work for themselves, they both love margaritas and they both have zero problem disclosing to a local 90

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magazine how many people they’ve slept with, which we salute them for.

There’s one other thing that Jimmy and Jessica both love and that’s, well, themselves, as they each rated themselves a 10 in the personality department.

Let’s check in with these two to see if all this common ground is enough to make Jimmy’s prediction for the end of the night come true.

LOVE | BLIND DATE

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The Corvair Monzaa cocktail, which consists of reposado tequila, tepache, lime, and spiced maple; the crab claws; Walrus Pops; Goat Milk Cavatelli, made with charred broccoli, fennel sausage, truffle, soft herbs and grana di capra.

Fort Nite

Daters have an out-of-this-world dinner at Fort Oak

J

essica and Jimmy are dropped off for dinner at Fort Oak in Mission Hills, the newest jewel in the Trust Restaurant Group crown.

Open since early 2019, Fort Oak carries on the tradition of upscale, innovative dining that patrons have come to know and expect from the proprietors of other spots like Trust and Hundred Proof.

The daters continue to hit it off, diving into the menu and ordering a plethora of fresh seafood, including clams, mussels and oysters. Unfortunately for Jimmy, popcorn isn’t on the menu, although he does take a liking to the Walrus Pops, Fort Oak’s spin on the classic 92

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childhood Otter Pop dessert. Maybe it’s an age thing?

Read on, dear readers.

How’s it going so far?

JESSICA: It’s going really well.

Food’s good, conversation’s really good. We actually have a lot in common, which is amazing. He lives really close to my salon where I work in Bird Rock, like two blocks.

And he makes flavored popcorn for a living, which is like my ultimate favorite snack. All my friends know that flavored popcorn is my thing.

JIMMY: It’s going great. She’s an amazing girl.

What were your first impressions

of your date?

JESSICA: First impression was good. He was on time, ready to go. Came in, I guess I was a little nervous. We had a little beer to break the awkward silence a little bit. We just got to talking, and within five minutes, we were doing business.

JIMMY: Obviously, looks-wise, oh my God. And then we started to feel each other back. We’re both very easy-going. It’s a good, natural flow of conversation.

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

JESSICA: I was thinking about that. I don’t know if we’d ever cross paths, and I don’t know if we’d

ever talk to each other if we did.

But aside from that, after meeting him, yeah, absolutely. I think he’s somebody I would date.

JIMMY: Yes, absolutely.

What do you think of the way your date is dressed?

JESSICA: You can tell he’s definitely laid back, from La Jolla. He has his Converse on. And I’m wearing my leather leggings and stilettos. So, it’s a little opposite, but I live in San Diego, so I’m used to guys dressing casual. I think he looks good. He dresses well for himself.

JIMMY: She’s dressed very nice.

Relatively conservative, she didn’t have any cleavage showing or anything.

How was your experience at Fort Oak? JESSICA: I live really close to here, a couple blocks away. I didn’t know this restaurant was here. This is amazing.

Staff was really great. Venue is pretty cool. It’s very unique, I’ve never seen anything like this in San Diego. It’s definitely seafood-oriented. So, we’re sitting right in front of the chefs and there’s a raw bar right in front of us. We definitely did some seafood tonight. Everything was absolutely delicious. They recommended a couple things on the menu for us.

And everything they did, we loved.

Very unique stuff, down to the desserts. The homemade popsicles — the flavors were out of this world.

JIMMY: Service is amazing. They explain everything on the menu so well. The recommendations were amazing. I had mussels, I had clams, I had a really good chorizo and mussels mix, which was out of this world. And one of the coolest things was the Otter Pop-like dessert, which is something I haven’t had since I was a kid, so brings back memories there.

I can’t say enough about this place.

Amazing. Atmosphere is great.

What’s the most attractive thing your date has done so far?

JESSICA: Just being confident and talking about his business. Right

away, he was confident in what he does. He’s not afraid to be himself.

He’s not trying to be someone he’s not. He’s just being himself and that, for me, is the most attractive.

JIMMY: Her willingness to be herself. That’s something I really like. I can tell she’s not trying to put on a front. She’s real, she’s down-toearth. And for me, that’s the most attractive thing.

What’s the least attractive thing your date has done so far?

JESSICA: I would say talking about the prices of things on the menu.

I don’t think he was meaning to. I think it’s just an age thing.

JIMMY: She was responding to her friends a little bit while we were hanging out, which is not a big deal.

It’s not a deal-breaker, by any means.

But I got a couple phone calls and I just blew them off and she was responding to some friends. Not a big deal. Not ruining my night, by any means. But I had to pick something.

Rate your date on a scale from one to 10 for looks JESSICA: For looks, I would say he’s probably a 9.

JIMMY: For me, 10. She’s beautiful.

Gorgeous. Beautiful eyes.

And for personality?

JESSICA: Personality, 10.

JIMMY: 10 also. We’re clicking pretty hard right now.

What’s your date’s most attractive quality?

JESSICA: I’m going to say his hair.

He’s got great hair.

JIMMY: Physical? She has amazing boobs. I looked in her eyes, and then someone dropped something, and I was on my way down, so yeah.

I caught a glimpse.

What’s your date’s least attractive quality?

JESSICA: The not-cleaned-up facial hair. All about facial hair, but gotta tighten those lines up. If you’re going to have facial hair, you gotta clean up the edges.

JIMMY: She had on a lot of eye makeup.

Do you want to kiss your date right now?

JESSICA: Yeah. I’d say so.

JIMMY: Oh, yeah.

Does your date want to kiss you?

JESSICA: I think so.

JIMMY: I think so.

How and when will the date end?

JESSICA: I don’t know. He has an insane weekend, so our night will end well, but maybe not a late night.

JIMMY: I could see us definitely doing something more than just kissing. I could see it happening, yeah. I’ll be a little tired tomorrow.

I’ll work through it.

Things certainly seem to be heating up for Jessica and Jimmy. Jessica says flavored popcorn is her thing, and Jimmy is the self-proclaimed popcorn king of San Diego. And both daters used the same phrase to describe the food at Fort Oak: “out of this world.”

Jessica and Jimmy also praise each other for being themselves and not putting on a front. And they both say they think the other would like to kiss them.

And even though Jessica spent a little too much time on her phone (according to Jimmy), and Jessica thinks Jimmy could tighten up his lines and his date-night wardrobe, all was forgiven when Jimmy claimed that Jessica’s top physical feature are her boobs, despite her not even showing any cleavage.

By the end of dinner, Jimmy’s pretty confident that the night will end with “more than just kissing.”

Does Jessica agree? Maybe if she gets a little mezcal in her...

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LOVE | BLIND DATE

Shots Fired

Jimmy and Jessica throw back a few at Tahona

J

essica and Jimmy’s date isn’t over after their dinner.

Instead, they’re whisked away to Tahona in Old Town. The traditional mezcal cocktail bar and restaurant offers more than 120 different varieties of the smoky agave Mexican spirit to sip on.

Tahona opened in late 2018 and it’s a place that takes its mezcal seriously, offering tasting experiences that can include blindfolds and meditations (oh, my).

And, as our daters soon find out, the mezcal tastings at Tahona can also include cricket chasers.

Hey, it ain’t flavored popcorn, but hopefully Jimmy and Jessica will still be happily chirping away when it’s over.

After the mezcal tasting experience at Tahona, the PACIFIC crew leaves the daters alone to enjoy the rest of their evening. We called Jimmy and Jessica the next day to see how their night ended up.

How did everything go last night?

JESSICA: It was really great. The food was great. The mezcal tasting 94

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was great.

JIMMY: It was great. The food was good. The bar was amazing. And Jessica was super chill, down-toearth and fun to be around.

Where did you go and what did you do for the rest of the evening after Tahona?

JESSICA: We actually went and made flavored popcorn after and watched movies for a little bit.

JIMMY: We went back to her place.

We watched some stand-up comedy, hung out, had a great rest of the night. Had a couple drinks and had to have some popcorn, of course. It was great.

Did you guys exchange numbers?

JESSICA: We did.

JIMMY: Yeah, we’re planning on seeing each other again. She works two blocks from where I live, so it’s pretty convenient.

Hook up?

JESSICA: We did not.

JIMMY: We, I mean, just a kiss good night, but nothing past that.

We were both getting pretty tired.

What’s the funniest thing that happened during the date?

JESSICA: I would say that when we ate crickets for the mezcal tasting.

It was the funniest, most interesting thing. I’ve never eaten crickets before.

JIMMY: Definitely when we were taking pictures, looking up poses and stuff. We had a lot of fun with that, just messing around. The crickets at Tahona were cracking us up, too. We both liked that. They (pulled out all the stops). It was topnotch, 10 out of 10.

What was the best part of the date and why?

JESSICA: We just had a lot of fun, we had a lot of fun ordering the food, trying everything out, posing for the pictures. We were giving the camera guy better poses, because we’re so similar in coloring, he was doing us shoulders up, and we look like brother and sister! So we were just having fun with everything.

JIMMY: Best part of the date was probably when we got these Otter Pop desserts from Fort Oak. And we’d been looking up all these

pictures of all these poses we could do, and there was this one with a banana and a guy and a girl, having it both in their mouths. So we were joking around about putting the Otter Pops in our mouths. That was funny because I could tell she was super down-to-earth and had a good sense of humor. For me, that was the best part of the night. She was super cool, down to make fun of herself.

What was the worst part of the date and why?

JESSICA: I don’t know if there was a worst part, honestly. There really wasn’t.

JIMMY: There was a little bit of time where she was sending messages to her friends about what was going on. It wasn’t a big deal.

Do you follow each other on Instagram?

JESSICA: We did exchange Instagram (handles).

JIMMY: Oh, yeah. We went through all her Instagram pictures last, so I got her entire life story, back at her place.

She got to see what I do, the places I’ve been. We got the socials going.

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LOVE | BLIND DATE Will there be a second date? Why or why not?

JESSICA: I think so. He has a lot going on, but we made plans for next Wednesday, and we’ve already talked about doing a little business together too, which is pretty awesome.

JIMMY: I would say yes, because we connected on a lot of things. She owns a business, I own a business. We’re both thinkers, which is important. We have that in common. Always thinking of new ideas and stuff like that.

Do you have any dating tips for your date?

JESSICA: I would say maybe dress up a little bit more. I mean, he was a great date, but I would say that’s probably it. A little fancier.

JIMMY: I guess I have to say just the phone thing. I had a really good time, but if I had to nit-pick, I would say the phone thing.

Any final thoughts, parting words, shout-outs or anything else to add?

JESSICA: (The matchmaker) did such a good job.

JIMMY: Shout out Jessica for just being an awesome time. Very happy to have been able to meet her. You never know what’s going to happen on a blind date.

Jimmy’s right: You never know what’s going to happen on a blind date. You could end up eating crickets or you could end up doing “more than just kissing.” Jimmy seemed to be as taken with his date as he was with Fort Oak’s nostalgic desserts. And although neither dater will cop to anything more than a goodnight kiss, we’re confident these two will hang out again. Or maybe these brilliant minds will even end up as business partners.

Either way, if Jessica and Jimmy’s next hangout involves Netflix and chilling, you know Jimmy will bring the popcorn.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Daters’ answers may have been edited for length and clarity.

SPECIAL THANKS TO AND PROMOTIONAL CONSIDERATION FROM: EPIC LIMO 858.270.LIMO (5466), epiclimo.com FORT OAK 619.722.3398, fortoaksd.com TAHONA 619.255.2090, tahonabar.com MATCHMAKER JESSICA PELLIGRA matchandmagic.com

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STATUS UPDATE CHECKING IN WITH LAST MONTH’S BLIND DATERS Looking back to last month’s blind daters, Omid and Ashley (“Mission: Improv-ible,” March 2019), we can’t help but wonder if these two lovebirds are still dating or if the fairy tale ended when the blind date did. We checked in with the duo to see where things stand.

Are you still seeing your blind date?

ASHLEY: I am in Southeast Asia traveling right now, but yes, we have still been talking pretty much every day that I’ve been here.

OMID: Yes! She’s traveling in Bali currently, but we are still in touch.

What were the reactions of your friends/family after you went on the date?

ASHLEY: They were happy for me and thought it was really fun. Many of them have met him already as well.

OMID: Almost everyone is shocked I’d accepted going on a blind date, but think I’m pretty lucky to have been set up with a girl like Ashley.

Has your opinion of the date changed since you went on it?

ASHLEY: Nope!

OMID: No, it was great! Thanks (to PACIFIC and matchmaker Jessica) for setting it up and getting me out of my comfort zone.

Anyone slide into your DMs since the blind date went to print?

ASHLEY: Yes! (Laughs) So many people messaged me about it.

OMID: A couple, but not in a creepy way.

Would you ever go on another blind date, either in a magazine or otherwise?

ASHLEY: Let’s just say that Omid set the bar pretty high there.

OMID: Honestly, probably not. There is no way the next blind date would come close to this one and I’ll naturally have some unrealistic expectations going into it.

WRAP UP Read about and watch videos from all of PACIFIC’s blind dates at pacificsandiego.com/magazine/blind-date.

Want to be featured on the blind date? Or know someone you want to set up? Send an email to lifescool@pacificsandiego.com.