December 2013 by Pacific San Diego Magazine

The Hills star

Audrina Patridge

Reveals the1st Look at her new show on NBC

december 2013 PACIFICSANDIEGO.COM

editor’s NotE

Going Places...

ce storms in Texas don’t impact my life… unless they’re headed for the same crappyweather locale I am. In this case, that’s Philadelphia. Barring a ground delay at Lindbergh Field or an extended layover at Dulles International, we (the cold front and I) have the same arrival time:

early morning on Grey Wednesday, two days before Black Friday. I thought the jet stream blows from west to east. Today, however, it just blows. The freezing rain is headed almost due north. I’ll be arriving in the shi— sorry, make that City of Brotherly Love the day before Thanksgiving. Will t e n [december 2013]

Uncle Joel drink too much this year? Will Lex (my 18-month-old boy) eat turkey or run around my brother’s house sneezing and crapping his pants? The answers are “yes” and “the latter.” Every time I go “home” for the Holidays, I remember why I moved to San Diego 21 years ago, and why I intend to stay. It isn’t the beer,

GROUND CREW (from left): stylist’s assistant Alexus Shefts; stylist Ali Dariotis for Wear it My Way; hair stylist Robert Steinken for Bumble and Bumble; cover model Audrina Patridge; nail stylist Angel for Re:vive Salon & Spa; makeup artist Rosie Johnston for SoloArtists.com and Marc Jacobs Beauty; publicist Molly Schoneveld. Private jets and hangar provided by Schubach Aviation, schubachaviation.com. Luxury ground transportation provided by Epic Limo, epiclimo.com. photos by greg ronlov

although that helps, of course. And it isn’t the beach; you can’t drink beer there anymore (unless you pour it into a Big Gulp cup first). No, what I love about living in San Diego is that, whenever I leave, I can’t wait to come back. Landing here feels like victory, even when it’s 50 degrees, the local equivalent of freezing. This year, after serving my annual sentence on the East Coast, I’ll be looking forward to a very merry time in America’s Finest. Twinkling trees in Balboa Park (museum entry is free December 6 and 7), illuminated boats along the waterfront (the December 8 and 15 Parade of Lights are at once cooler and warmer

than Christmas trees) and Hillcrest’s Taste ‘n’ ‘Tinis (shop ‘til you drop, literally, on December 12) are just a few of the countless experiences that make life in this little town such a gift. Kidding about the little town part — San Diego is all growed up. We have cutting-edge biotech (see “Cell Service,” page 32), dozens of new restaurants (see “Edible Complex,” page 75) and even our very own Jay Z concert (December 7 at Sports Arena). And thanks to this issue’s cover model, Audrina Patridge, and her new NBC show 1st Look, some of the city’s gems are about to receive national TV coverage (see “Taking Flight,” page 58). E L E V EN [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

Patridge flew into town for a PacificSD photo shoot at Schubach Aviation, a jet charter company in Carlsbad. And as I prepare to take my seat in coach, having passed through security without anyone noticing the greenery in my carry-on (it helps make the Philly weather bearable), I’m grateful that I’ll be back in San Diego next week. Awww, look at that cute golden retriever walking this way with the TSA guy. Gotta fly… Stay warm, San Diego!

Sincerely, David Perloff, Editor-in-Chief

P A C I F I C S D

p r o m o t i o n

Calling all photographers (professionals, point-and-shooters, phone junkies)…

Winning submissions will be published in PacificSD’s January 2014 PHOTO ISSUE

Submit your best pics of life in San Diego to win cash, glory and gift certificates.

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PHOTO CONTEST GRAND PRIZE: $500 cash Enter at SEENDIEGO.com Send us your pics of San Diego people, places and things. Skip the selfies and tourist shots. Real life happens here. Shoot it, win big. t w e lv e [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

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San Diego

vol. 7

issue 12

december 2013

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF David Perloff

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kenny Boyer MANAGING EDITOR Patricia B. Dwyer EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Catlin Dorset EDITOR-AT-LARGE Ron Donoho CONTRIBUTING WRITERS John Brice, David Coddon, Tristan Dorian, Brandon Matzek, Scott McDonald, David Nelson, Frank Sabatini Jr. COVER PHOTOgrapher Brevin Blach CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Kate Auda, Michael Auda, Brevin Blach, Jeff “Turbo” Corrigan, Brandon Matzek, Sara Norris

PUBLISHERS David Perloff Simone Perloff DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Dana Schroedl (dana@pacificsandiego.com) MARKETING DIRECTOR Alyson C. Baker (alyson@pacificsandiego.com)

HAIR REMOVAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS: IF SANTA IS COMING DOWN THE CHIMNEY, MIGHT AS WELL MAKE YOUR DOWNSTAIRS LOOK NICE. (SO TO SPEAK)

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Vicki Marangos (vicki@pacificsandiego.com) PROMOTIONS MANAGER Katie Dunn (katie@pacificsandiego.com) ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Brennan MacLean (brennan@pacificsandiego.com) Johnny Wiskow (johnny@pacificsandiego.com) INTERNS Kevin Brazie, Jessica LaFontaine

CALL: 888.919.4223 CLICK: laseraway.net STOP IN: Hillcrest, la jolla/utc, carlsbad f o u r t e e n [december 2013]

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P A C I F I C S D

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, g n i k n i r d g e n i b y e u l b Yu e b l l i w D S c fi i c a P

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A TOUCH OF GLASS

REPEAL DAY

Jingle while you mingle

Celebrate the 80th anniversary of the end of prohibition by drinking just a teensy bit too much.

Thursday, December 12

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(Hosted food and drinks from 7:00 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9:00 p.m.)

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7:00 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 11:00 p.m.

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Glass Door (at the Porta Vista Hotel) 1835 Columbia St, Little Italy

Bootlegger, 804 Market St., East Village

e igh t e e n [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

contenTs

F E A TURE S

PAGE 58

Taking Flight

Audrina Patridge’s new show is cleared for takeoff

PAGE 66 Snow How

A how-to (and where, too) of Southern California snowboarding and skiing destinations

ON THE COVER: Audrina Patridge was photographed by Brevin Blach at Schubach Aviation in Carlsbad. Styled by Ali & Isabelle for Wear It My Way. Hair by Robert Steinken for Bumble and Bumble. Makeup by Rosie Johnston for SoloArtists.com and Marc Jacobs Beauty. Nails by Angel for Re:vive Salon & Spa. Audrina is wearing sequin shorts by Top Shop, $145. Silk blouse with zipper by Gerard Darel, $240. Diamond necklace by ABS Allen Schwartz, $95, Bloomingdales. Navy pumps by Luichiny. (See story, page 58.) THIS PAGE: Audrina is wearing black leather pants by Maje, $906; blue sequin blazer by Maje, $565; white tank with black and gold neck trim by Soft Joie, $98; all available at Bloomingdales. Sparkle peep toe heel by Jimmy Choo, $675. Gold ring by Saint Laurent, $300. Gold leaf and pearl earrings by Kuumba.

DECEMBER 2013

pacificsandiego.com t w e n t y [ DECEMBER 2 0 1 3 ]

contenTs d e pa r t m e n t s

december 2 0 1 3 pacificsandiego.com

CURRENTS F I RST TH I NGS 29 Hulaballoon Inflated expectations hover above harborfront hubbub 30 Care Package Happy Holidays assured at Camp Pendleton 32 Cell Service Answering the call for medical research 34 Twelve.Thirteen December event listings PULSE A RT 37 Art Seen December’s museum and gallery openings coolture 42 It Takes a Village Art putting its stamp on downtown neighborhood 48 Laughing Stock December stand-up round-up b e au t y 50 Look Again On making a good first impression and getting a second chance TASTE D I N I NG O U T 75 Edible Complex A mother lode of new San Diego restaurants 88 Mo Pho Enjoy another super bowl of soup W H A T ’ S C OO K I NG 96 Créme of the Crop One of the best desserts to wow Holiday guests DRINK 100 That’s The Spirit Three cheers and a taste of Finest City history GROOVE 103 Sound Decisions December concert calendar 114 Spin Cycle December EDM shows 118 Many Moons A long-time tenant leaves... and look whose back

THINK 130 Pho-Netics Sounds like soup’s on

Grilled Romaine hearts from Sea 180 in Imperial Beach (see story, page 86). t w e n t y - T W O [december 2013]

M I C H A EL A N D K A TE A U D A

LOVE 122 Blind Ambitions If at first we don’t succeed, we do it 11 more times each year

MADE BY ELVES

IN KIMONOS

THE RA SUSHI GIFT CARD Know someone who avoided the naughty list this year? There’s no better reward than a RA Sushi gift card. And for every $50 in gift cards you purchase, you’ll receive a $10 bonus card for yourself.* (Hey, you’ve been good, too.) *Gift card purchases must be made from 11/11/13 – 12/31/13. $10 bonus card valid from 1/2/14 – 3/31/14.

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first things CALENDAR

currenTs

inflated expectations HOVER ABOVE HARBORFRONT hubbub

hullabalLoon Tw e n t y - n i n e [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

What’s billed as “America’s Largest Balloon Parade” is expected to draw 100,000 spectators downtown to see world-class marching bands, intricate floats and the nation’s largest showing of enormous inflatable characters. 12/30: Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade Location: North Harbor Dr., Downtown Info: holidaybowl.com {continued on page 34}

C U RR E N T S { FIRST THINGS }

The new Naval Hospital at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. S o n ya K o

CARE PACKAGE

Vital Signs Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton

facts and figures

Happy holidays assured at Camp Pendleton B y D avid L . C o dd o n

an Diego’s active-duty military, veterans and their families are receiving something of an early gift this holiday season, as the new Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton is completed six months ahead of schedule. The $456 million, 500,000-square-foot, four-story hospital replaces one constructed in 1974. Vernan Ibong, one of the development’s key project managers, describes the facility as “newer, up-to-date and fully integrated.” In addition to more rooms for outpatient procedures and physician examinations, the state-of-the-art hospital will include eight labor and delivery rooms to accommodate all of the babies born on-base. That, in particular, resonates with Ibong, who was previously involved in the {continued on page 32} construction of Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego.

Cost of construction: $456 million Size: Four floors; 500,000 square-feet Personnel: Approximately 1,100 doctors, nurses and support staff Services: Emergency, primary, intensive and specialty care facilities Rooms: 205 examination rooms, 96 outpatient procedure rooms, 54 patient rooms for non-ambulatory patients, eight labor and delivery rooms with 16 post-partum suites.

“Hearing everyone from three-star generals to Wounded Warriors talking about the importance of the new hospital... it’s hard to beat that.” —Vernan Ibong

T H I RTY [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

C U RR E N T S { FIRST THINGS }

“Hearing everyone from three-star generals to Wounded Warriors talking about the importance of the new hospital… it’s hard to beat that,” Ibong says. “I’m getting chills just thinking about it.” Besides boasting facilities that reflect the latest health-care technologies, the es Parti new hospital features sustainable design features (like an open-air atrium and ises motions healing gardens) that will benefit not only patients but also the environment. h c n o r ra re P Some 70,000 active-duty and veteran members of the military and their its F ts In Sto es n xhib E e g Ev rts Gam s families will be e t Racin ra o lay ch served at the orpo ids’ Sp utdoor Disp Bea C s w K s o new hospital. A c h O i S / y n r r l Ca d Crafts Pic re Displa irs Indoo Shows tivals ribbon-cutting a t n n Sto es Re ffa de ng rts a is rketi arty Promotion A ltiple Use orate A cues Tra airs and F roduct Maceremony P s ing P e y scheduled d c p . u F b n a a r c l r a R is r M o isp Ba ons y B ch January ors ts M es moti or D se C Vend Parti Bea for o e Pro Even rutdo ispla al U g D s n Stor s h n t o i l t e In w s C transition r r o is oo se Pe s h s 31; ona t Spo i B c r Sh c t i n a t o n s’ n i e s C om Kidnew xhib rcial U ibits Fra rate Ev Game Rental d Crafts Pic layto the E from ping Comme acing Exh Corpo ’ Sports Party otion Arts an tore Disp hospital irs old one R ffathe ds Displays Brand Prom ics eS i h s n ting A c K c U i a P e arke e y r fts y es ltiple rporat becubegins s B in spla /Outdoo Cra how ispla dors Mu and o ar r e Di D r o B Arts C l ar S o o t a n d s December. e e S n e n V I s ti on r ti o U e a i o t P l s h m

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Electron micograph of a human neuron derived from a stem cell.

T H I RTY - t w o [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

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T H I RTY - t h r e e [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

calendartwelve.THIRTEEN B y ca t li n d o r s e t

12/6-7:

12/1: 2013 SoNo Fest & Chili Cook-Off

Location: 32nd and Thorn Sts., North Park Admission: Free Info: sonofestchilicookoff.com Twenty-five South and North Park restaurants battle for “Best Chili” bragging rights, while the tastetesting public visits the beer-and-wine garden and rocks out to live bands on the Casbah and Bar Pink stages.

Balboa Park December Nights Location: Throughout Balboa Park Admission: Free Info: balboapark.org San Diego’s largest annual community festival attracts 350,000 guests with live music and entertainment, free entry to all Balboa Park museums, and plenty of food and holiday cheer.

12/8: Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade

Location: Fourth and Fifth Aves., Gaslamp Admission: Free to view, $15-$20 to participate Info: gaslamp.org Bring Ma and paw to compete for prizes in pet (and owner) costume categories including Best Costume Made Out of Duct Tape and Ugliest Holiday Sweater.

12/7:

North Park Toyland Parade & Festival Location: University Ave., North Park Admission: Free Info: toylandparade.com After marching bands, beauty queens and yuletime floats lead the way for Santa’s sleigh, catch a free screening of Jim Carrey’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas at North Park Theatre.

11/16-12/28: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Location: The Old Globe, Balboa Park Admission: $37-$65 Info: theoldglobe.org The repentant green thief returns to Balboa Park for his 16th annual live musical performance.

12/7-23, 12/26-30: Garden of Lights

Location: San Diego Botanic Garden, Encinitas Admission: $14 Info: sdbgarden.org Christmas carolers, mariachis, 100,000 sparkling lights and falling snow (on select dates) illuminate the San Diego Botanic Garden.

12/12: Hillcrest Taste ‘N’ Tinis

Location: Several Hillcrest restaurants and shops Admission: $20-$25 Info: fabuloushillcrest.com Take a self-guided walking tour of Hillcrest’s boutiques, sampling fabulous fare from the neighborhood’s popular restaurants and sipping a different holiday martini at each retail stop/shop.

t hi r t y - f o u r [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

12/8, 12/15:

San Diego SAN DIEGO Bay Parade of Lights Location: San Diego Bay, from Shelter Island to Coronado Admission: Free Info: sdparadeoflights.org More than 80,000 spectators are expected to watch this annual procession of illuminated boats decked out in keeping with the 2013 theme: Big Bay Toy Parade.

Chargers Home Games 12/1: vs. Cincinnati Bengals 12/8: vs. New York Giants 12/22: vs. Oakland Raiders 12/29: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

12/14: Mission Bay Tecolote 5000

Location: Mission Bay Youth Aquatic Center, Fiesta Island Admission: $25-$30, and one unwrapped toy for donation Info: sdckt.net Paddlers will compete in 100-, 3,000- and 6,000-meter races in Mission Bay; show-offs vying to be named top Waterman/ Waterwoman can enter all three races.

12/14-22:

The Nutcracker Location: San Diego Civic Theatre, Downtown Admission: $40-$90 Info: sandiegotheatres.org The California Ballet performs Tchaikovsky’s classic to live orchestrated music. Meet the cast after each matinee during Sugar Plum Parties in Civic Theatre’s Grand Salon.

12/30:

18th Annual Bumble Bee 5K Run Location: North Harbor Dr. and Ash St., Downtown Admission: $30-$35 Info: active.com Participants will run the first leg of this 5K race in front of 100,000 Big Bay Balloon Parade spectators, and then loop around the Convention Center before crossing the finish line in time to catch the rest of the parade.

12/30:

Holiday Bowl

Location: Qualcomm Stadium, Mission Valley Admission: $96-$120 Info: holidaybowl.com Teams from the Big 12 and Pac-12 Conferences face off at this 36th annual college Bowl game, which features the Navy LeapFrog parachute jumpers, marching bands and a football-field-sized American flag.

t hi r t y - fiv e [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

12/26: Poinsettia Bowl

Location: Qualcomm Stadium, Mission Valley Admission: $52-$91 Info: poinsettiabowl.com A college football team from the Mountain West Conference will battle one from the Mid-American Conference at this year’s Poinsettia Bowl game benefiting Make-A-Wish San Diego.

PULSE

arts coolture beauty

art seen December’s museum and gallery openings B y P a t r icia B . D w y e r

12/7-1/24: Brian Bent

Surf Indian, Pacific Beach surfindian.com Hot rods, 1930s surf culture and 1950s rock ‘n’ roll inspire Brian Bent’s bold, geometric paintings, which take Old School appeal to a righteous new level. Find more art, apparel and random junk/goodies at Hot Rod Garage Sale, Bent’s new shop in North Park.

“Simplistic Beauty” by Brian Bent

{continued on page 38} T H I RTY - s e v e n [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

P U L S E { ARTS } {continued from page 37}

12/11-1/14: “Home” by Cathrine Edlinger-Kunze

ArtHatch, Escondido arthatch.org A German painter living in Carlsbad, Cathrine EdlingerKunze has focused on capturing the human form since age 16, when she began studying under famous German painter Max Mertz. Her recent paintings of dancers and other performers will be on display during this show at ArtHatch.

12/6-1/12: “The Painterly Art of Happiness & Other Stuff...” by Matte Stephens

Subtext Gallery, Little Italy subtextgallery.com Inspired by 1950s-era graphics, illustrator Matte Stephens has created whimsical imagery for the likes of Disney, Tiffany & Co. and American Express. This series of illustrations captures his world travels and the characters he’s met or seen along the way. CLOCKWISE (from top left): “Summer” by Matte Stephens; “Your Smile” by Cathrine Edlinger-Kunze; “Horned Owl” by Dion Terry; “Untitled” by Senz Wen.

12/13-1/12: Fast Forward

Low Gallery, North Park lowgallerysd.com More than 40 artists of various media and genres will come together for this group show at North Park’s new Low Gallery.

12/13-12/25: Ambition

Voz Alta Project, Barrio Logan Tattoo artist and painter Sergio “Splurgeo” Hernandez curated this show of urban and urbaninspired San Diego-bred artists whose ambitions involve bettering their artistry versus getting rich.

{continued on page 40} T H I RTY - E I G H T [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

TWOSDAYS

NEW YEAR’S EVE BASH

P U L S E { ARTS } {continued from page 38}

12/14-2/1: Fresh to Death

Rosewood San Diego, East Village rosewoodsandiego.com Los Angeles-based graffiti artist Freehand Profit — known for dismantling rare, expensive sneakers to build his famed sneakerhead gasmasks (see photo to left) — is joining other new-wave urban artists for this group show and charity art auction benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego.

f r e e h a n d p r o fi t. c o m

“White Cement III Mask” by Freehand Profit.

12/21-3/23: “Chicanitas: Small Paintings from the Cheech Marin Collection (size doesn’t matter)” Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Downtown mcasd.org See diminutive works (16-inches-square or smaller) from comedian Cheech Marin’s private collection of art created by Chicano artists.

F ORTY [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

“Donkey Show” by Jari WERC Álvarez.

P U L S E { coolture }

It Takes a Village Art putting its stamp on downtown neighborhood

B y D avid L . C o dd o n / P h o t o s b y J e ff “ Tu r b o ” C o r r iga n

he futuristic dome of the new Central Library isn’t the only landmark of change in downtown San Diego’s East Village. Not far away, on 15th Street, a black silo emblazoned with the letter “M” marks a distinctly urban community space where the creators of Makers Quarter hope to nurture the city’s creative culture. In East Village, art is “in.” The paramount question is whether urban sprawl and what artist Cheryl Nickel calls “the urban frontier” can co-exist and evolve together. Confidence is high among the visionaries behind Makers Quarter, a five-and-a-half-block, mixed-use neighborhood situated within developers David Malmuth and Pete Garcia’s 93-acre I.D.E.A. (Innovation, Design, Education, Arts) District. Connecting members of an emerging community with the arts is a critical aspect of the Makers Quarter mission, says Stacey Pennington, who is urban planner for the project. Already this year, Makers Quarter has hosted the Warehouse 1425 Art and Music Exhibition inside a warehouse converted into a gallery; and in September, a two-day San Diego Film Festival preview was held at the SILO space (at 15th and F), once the site of a lot used for loading cement trucks.

TOP TWO PHOTOS: Makers Quarter’s “SMARTS Farm” community garden. BOTTOM TWO: SILO event/ meeting space at Makers Quarter.

{continued on page 44} F ORTY - t w o [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

CELEBRATE ALL KINDS OF HAPPY WITH US !!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

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12/22 (Sun) UGLY HOLIDAY SWEATER PARTY

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WWW.THESHOUTHOUSE.COM/SD // 619.231.6700 // 655 4TH AVE, GASLAMP QUARTER

P U L S E { coolture } {continued from page 42}

When built out, over a period of seven to 15 years, Makers Quarter is expected to include office and retail space, residential housing and a central plaza, with space throughout the area dedicated to the arts. The SILO event space, says Pennington, is a prime example of what’s to come – “robust programming,” as she describes it. “As long as we keep up the great ideas and engagement in the events and continue to make Makers Quarter relevant to people’s day-to-day lives, it’s only going to get better,” she says. Infrastructure financing of Makers Quarter, valued at $900 million, is ongoing. Meanwhile, for the Space 4 Art warehouses — which boast 32 artist studios, live/work spaces, a gallery and more — a pending relocation is unavoidable. “We can’t afford to stay here,” says Cheryl Nickel, co-founder (with Robert Leathers and Chris Warr) of Space 4 Art. “People who are doing experimental work usually can’t afford these market-rate rents.” The 3-year-old East Village art center is likely bound for a location in nearby Sherman Heights, and Nickel is pragmatic about the move, emphasizing that Space 4 Art is “an incubator” for ideas and excitement that are transferrable. “We believe in nurturing creative thinking, which we believe is an essential part of a creative economy.” Despite the move, Nickel still believes in the viability of East Village. “This is going to be the area with the density that can provide vitality,” she says, “if it supports creativity.”

ALL PHOTOS: Space 4 Art gallery/studio/residential compound in East Village.

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P U L S E { coolture } {continued from page 44}

Creativity is certainly the idea behind RAD Lab, a 30,000-square-foot project on the corner of Park Boulevard and Market Street. This live/work/play space will occupy that corner for only two or three years under an agreement with the City of San Diego, the leaseholder. Capital raised for the project — $608,000 is targeted for the first two years; the third year would be an extension — would be recouped and applied to whatever new site RAD Lab might inhabit next. “Art is a big part of our project,” says David Loewenstein, chief operating officer and one of four New School of Architecture and Design graduate students who conceived RAD Lab. “We want to make sure that, from one month to the next, it doesn’t stay the same, and we want to give these young artists a chance to show what they’re capable of. The whole idea of ‘everchanging-ness’ is something we’re trying to convey.” The movers and shakers in East Village are counting on that idea. “We knew from looking at other cities,” says Makers Quarter’s Pennington, “that people are thirsty for unique, unpretentious experiences.” With the Gaslamp Quarter directly to the west, East Village has a chance to forge its own identity and personality, and there’s an artistic community primed to be part of it.

Renderings of what will become an urban park inside East Village’s RAD Lab.

F ORTY - si x [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

P U L S E { coolture }

laughing stock december stand-up round-up C OM P I L E D B y ca t li n d o r s e t

“Black folks were never worried about anthrax, ’cause half the time we don’t open our mail anyway. We might think that’s a bill. We might hold it to the light and go, ‘That’s a red slip... uhhuh.’ You wanna get us with anthrax, put that in a Jay-Z CD.” —Aries Spears on Comedy Central Presents: Aries Spears

12/6-8: Aries Spears @ The American Comedy Company, americancomedyco.com

ja s o n l e e

“I love lingerie. Oh, my god. I even have a subscription to the Victoria’s Secret catalog. Well, I don’t have a subscription, my neighbor does. She just hasn’t received it for a couple of years.” —Mitch Fatel on Comedy Central: Premium Blend 12/12-14: Mitch Fatel @ The American Comedy Company, americancomedyco.com

“I like Budweiser; that’s my favorite beer. Not because of the way it tastes or anything, but because it’s the easiest one to order when you’re hammered. Bartender says ‘Last call,’ you cannot say ‘Heineken’ after 15 Heinekens. —Jon Reep on Comedy Central Presents: John Reep

“I never saw Asian people on television or in movies, so my dreams were somewhat limited. I would dream, ‘Maybe someday, I could be an extra on M*A*S*H.’” —Margaret Cho on Notorious C.H.O. 12/5: Margaret Cho @ Balboa Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org

12/13-14: Jon Reep @ Mad House Comedy Club, madhousecomedyclub.com

au s t i n y o u n g

“Did you know the sensation of a sneeze is one-eighth of an orgasm? That’s why when I’m f***ing a chick, I keep a bit of pepper on the bedside table. As I’m coming, I chuck it in her face, because she deserves something.” —Jim Jefferies on Fully Functional 12/14: Jim Jefferies @ Pala Casino, palacasino.com

C r ai g La r s e n

“Here’s what a bad dad I am: I have twins, and once in a while people come up to me and go, ‘Hey man, we’re pregnant with twins, what can I expect?’ Well, I don’t know, I got a Guatemalan chick that comes over and she’s real good with them, if you want her number.” —Adam Carolla at The Irvine Improv 12/18: Adam Carolla @ The American Comedy Company, americancomedyco.com

f o r t y - E I G H T [december 2013]

“So, I was talking with my girlfriend, and she’s decided this year for Lent she’s gonna give up sex. So I decided that this year for Lent, I’m gonna give up my girlfriend.” —Taylor Williamson on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

leave-your-shirt-on body… this is a tell nobody.” —Felipe Esparza on Russell Simmons Presents: Stand-Up at the El Rey 12/27-29: Felipe Esparza @ The American Comedy Company, americancomedyco.com

12/19-22: Taylor Williamson @ The American Comedy Company, americancomedyco.com

“Here’s a fun fact: 36 percent of Americans say that they’ve heard the voice of God. Now, it’s not clear of that 36 percent how many people are mistaking the voice of God for the voice of Morgan Freeman. That’s an easy mistake to make.” —John Oliver on John Oliver’s New York Stand-up Show

12/31: Paula Poundstone @ Balboa Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org

“I get stopped 70 percent of the time that I’m going through airport security. They ask me to step aside; they’re profiling me. They don’t look at me and think, ‘Islamic terrorism,’ they look at me and think, ‘Oklahoma ‘95.’” —Jim Norton on Please Be Offended

12/27: John Oliver @ Spreckels Theatre, spreckels.net

F r a n ki e L e a l

“I could never have a threesome. This is not a threesome body. This is a turn-offthe-lights body,

12/31: Jim Norton @ The American Comedy Company, americancomedyco.com

f o r t y - N I NE [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

Mic h a e l Sc h wa r t z

“I actually hate golf; I think it’s a stupid game. I’m very happy for Tiger Woods breaking the color lines, but at the same time very sorry to see yet another race sucked into such a stupid-ass game.” —Paula Poundstone on the Late Show with David Letterman

P U L S E { beauty }

“I empower people from the inside and out.” —Michel Sproles

look Again

On making a good first impression… and getting a second chance B y R o n D o n o h o / P h o t o s b y B r e vi n B lach

ngelina Jolie, Christina Applegate and Giuliana Rancic are among the female celebrities whose double mastectomies made headlines. “I wanted to make this unselfish decision for my family,” says Michel Sproles, wife of former San Diego Chargers running back Darren Sproles. “I didn’t want to have to worry about it every day.” When Sproles, 29, took a preemptive strike against breast cancer by having a double mastectomy in October 2012, there were no headlines. In fact, because her husband now plays for the Saints, and the couple lives with their daughters (Devyn, 4, and Rhyan, 1) in New Orleans during football season, there wasn’t even much of her family around San Diego to offer support after the surgery.

Michel Sproles at 7 Image, her salon in Grantville.

{continued on page 52} fif t y [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

P U L S E { beauty } {continued from page 50}

“I live by the motto that 20 percent of life is what happens, and the other 80 percent is how you respond.”

fif t y - t w o [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

Despite an initial lack of findings by multiple physicians, Sproles still felt something was wrong, which is what propelled her to keep looking for answers. “I’d seen four doctors, and the fourth one finally had me do a mammogram,” she says. The test didn’t reveal a palpable lump, but rather “the earliest form of the disease,” as Sproles describes it. “Seven days after the mammogram,” she says, “I elected to do a double mastectomy.” A year after the surgery, the former track athlete is now open to discussing her journey. It’s fitting that her profession, which she’s had since 2010, involves helping people overcome adversity and, in effect, makeover their lives. “What happened to me shook my foundation, but I practice what I preach,” she says. Certified as an image consultant by the global nonprofit Association of Image Consultants International, Sproles launched 7 Image, a part-salon/part-consultancy business offering services ranging from hairstyling and wardrobe makeovers to etiquette training and life coaching. Customers include, for example, a former professional athlete who’s trying to feminize her image so she can pursue a career in broadcasting. “I empower people from the inside and out,” says Sproles. “The salon is where we do hair and facials and things, but the real goal is working on confidence on the inside.” Sproles, who’s studying for a master’s degree in Leadership Studies at the University of San Diego, says business is good. She enjoys spending time at her family’s home in Rancho Santa Fe and looks forward to the end of the NFL season, when she and Darren will continue their work on Sproles Empowered Youth, a San Diego-based nonprofit sports camp and educational program for kids. “I live by the motto that 20 percent of life is what happens, and the other 80 percent is how you respond,” Sproles says, her smile conveying an image of happiness and health. 7 Image Salon 6050 Mission Gorge Rd., Grantville 619.521.6807, 7image.com

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fif t y - t h r e e [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

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Winter P A C I F I C S D

in Fabulous Hillcrest

HILLCREST NEWSSTAND The best selection of rare international and domestic magazines, journals and foreignlanguage publications. Categories include: film, fashion, art and design, sports and fitness, travel, leisure and more. You’ll also find souvenirs, sundries, snacks, beverages and lottery tickets. 529 University Ave., 619.260.0492 Additional location at 4525 La Jolla Village Dr., D-31 858.535.8002

HILLCREST find more Fabulousness at

for the Holidays

ShopHillcrestfortheHolidays.com

FabulousHillcrest.com

D BAR RESTAURANT The “D” in D Bar stands for Drinks, Dining and Dessert. Chef/owner and Food Network star Keegan Gerhard invites you to dine with him and enjoy his culinary sanctuary, right in the heart of colorful Hillcrest. Check out our website for info on menus, happy hour, brunch and more. 3930 Fifth Ave., 619.299.3227 dbarsandiego.com

Designer Style Sunglasses We carry more than 250 styles of sunglasses for men and women. Get the latest styles and fashions at a fraction of the cost of namebrand sunglasses. Stop by and let our friendly staff help you pick out the perfect shades for all occasions. 3870 Fifth Ave., 619.255.1547 and 4919 Newport Ave., Ocean Beach, 619.677.2222 Beauty By Dolly Come see why InStyle Magazine calls us the Best Eyebrow Salon in San Diego. You won’t be disappointed. Leave with full, beautiful eyebrows that’ll keep you coming back for more. We also specialize in sugaring, a natural alternative to waxing and body hair removal. 3650 Fifth Ave., #101, 619.664.4740 beautybydolly.com

SH OP

p r o m o t i o n

Urban Optiks Optometry San Diego’s premier optical boutique features amazing eyewear with the most advanced exam equipment and digital lens technology. Your face is a masterpiece — frame it well. 3788 Park Blvd., Suite 5 619.683.2020, urban-optiks.com Adam & Eve Adam & Eve carries a wide range of products including lingerie and apparel, menswear, pleasure products, instructional videos and books and much more. Adam & Eve is a welcoming boutique, allowing customers to shop and explore in a fun and friendly environment. 415 University Ave. 619.291.6969 adamevesandiego.com

Uptown Tavern Like the neighborhood it’s proud to be a part of, there’s always something for everyone at Uptown Tavern. This casually hip bar and eatery invites guests to eat, drink and socialize in comfort and style, seven days a week. 1236 University Ave. 619.241.2710 uptowntavernsd.com

fif t y - si x [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

Hillcrest Farmers Market San Diego’s favorite farmers market has more than 175 vendors each week, with the freshest seasonal produce, a delicious food court, dozens of hand made artistry and crafts, unique retail displays and more. Now, you can park for FREE off Campus Ave. and take the FREE trolley to the heart of the market. Every Sunday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. University Ave. & Normal St. hillcrestfarmersmarket.com

T a k i n g

F l i g h t

Audrina Patridge’s new show is cleared for takeoff P h o t o g r a p h y

b y

B r e v i n

New York Times writer Gina Bellafante describes MTV’s mega-hit The Hills (2006 to 2010) as “pseudo-improvised,” but she admits being one of millions of viewers who regarded the popular reality series as a guilty pleasure. B y

D a v i d

P e r l o f f

fif t y - e igh t [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

B l a c h

Styled by Ali & Isabelle for Wear It My Way (wearitmyway.com) Hair by Robert Steinken for Bumble and Bumble Makeup by Rosie Johnston for SoloArtists.com and Marc Jacobs Beauty Nails by Angel for Re:vive Salon & Spa Stylist’s Assistant: Alexus Shefts Photographer’s Assistants: Greg Ronlov and Heidi Rote Shot on location at Schubach Aviation, San Diego’s Jet Charter Company, schubachaviation.com Luxury ground transportation provided by Epic Limo, epiclimo.com Catering courtesy of Bring it to Me, bringittome.com fif t y - n i n e [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

“I’m a mommy of two: my little dogs.”

Black leather pant by Maje, $906; blue sequin blazer by Maje, $565; white tank with black and gold neck trim by Soft Joie, $98; all available at Bloomingdales. Sparkle peep toe heel by Jimmy Choo, $675. Gold ring by Saint Laurent, $300. Gold leaf and pearl earrings by Kuumba. S I XTY [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

Audrina Patridge (third from left) starred in the MTV hit reality series The Hills with (from left to right) Spencer Pratt, Heidi Montag, Patridge herself, Lauren Conrad, Brody Jenner, Lo Bosworth, Justin Bobby Brescia and Stephanie Pratt.

mocks our hearts; it plays with our allegiances, and we welcome the abuse,” Bellafante says. Famous for blurring the lines between actual drama and scripted soap opera, The Hills fanned the flames of Lauren Conrad’s star power (ignited by the show’s predecessor, Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County), gave Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt a chance to soak in (and grope for) the limelight, and is now pushing another cast member’s career sky high. “It’s a dream job; I get to travel all over the country,” says Audrina Patridge of her new gig as host of LXTV’s 1st Look, the next season of which airs on NBC beginning in January. “Maybe it will go international one day.” Patridge, who was BFFs with Conrad during at least some of The Hills’ six seasons (TMZ reports Patridge has yet to be invited to Conrad’s upcoming wedding), steps into a hosting role previously held by Ali Fedotowsky, who appeared on ABC’s The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love and starred on the sixth season of the network’s Bachelorette (2010). Traveling to film 1st Look, an Emmy Award-winning lifestyle/ travel show, will take Patridge on a nationwide tour. “Basically, you’re giving everyone the first look into all

these new, fun, exciting restaurants and activities and cool bars around the country,” Patridge says. “It’s so much fun taking the audience with me, so they’re experiencing all these new things vicariously, through the lens.” In each city she visits, Patridge experiences daytime entertainment and adventure/exercise offerings in addition to nightlife. In L.A., she tried her hand at the trapeze. “It was a little scary; I don’t really like being upside down.” In New York, she jumped into a pool to burn calories Aqua Cycling before heading out on the town after sunset. “It’s basically underwater cycling, and it’s huge in France and Italy right now,” she says. “On the show, we do exercise segments, so you get a fair share of working out, and lots of eating and drinking and indulging.” During her three days taping the San Diego chapter of 1st Look, Patridge hung 10 with Surf Divas founders (and twin sisters) Coco and Izzy Tihanyi in Pacific Beach, and rocketed in and out of the water while Flyboarding near Shelter Island. “I face planted and bellyflopped so hard,” she says of the latter activity. All that exertion requires a lot of refueling, so she filled up at restaurants and bars that will soon catch national TV airtime:

Taco Surf in Pacific Beach “The burritos are gigantic and so good. Everything’s so fresh. Their fish tacos are great, and there are so many surfboards, it’s like a surfboard museum in there.” Cowboy Star in the Gaslamp “I got to help the chef cook in the back, and then we got to sit and talk about the restaurant and what it’s known for. It’s literally the best steak I’ve ever had.” Noble Experiment in East Village “It was actually kind of hard to find because it’s hidden. They have great, bold, beautiful drinks, mostly with bourbon, tequila and gin — no vodka.” Hash House a Go Go in Hillcrest. “They have huge, decadent, beautiful big portions, and I got to make fried chicken with corn flakes and sage on top of waffles with bacon inside… and homemade syrup.” In the coming months, Patridge will travel to Florida, Louisiana and Utah, among many other locales. And when the ostensibly down-toearth O.C. denizen boards her next flight, always with her dog Lady in tow, it won’t be on a private plane. “We fly commercial, and then I use Uber a lot for transportation,” she says. “I wish I had one of those fancy jets; they would come in handy.”

S I XTY - ONE [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

[Editor’s note: quoting any line from the 1973 Led Zeppelin song “Over the Hills and Far Away” seems apropos, so how about this one — “I live for my dream and a pocketful of gold.”] Patridge, who aspires to launch her own line of swimwear and lingerie someday, cites Heidi Klum as a hero in the fashion world. “She has that whole global, glamorous, Hollywood feeling about her, even though she’s from Germany,” she says. “As a supermodel, she can still pull off TV and also being a model and a businesswoman and a mother.” For now, however, starting a fashion brand, not to mention becoming a mother, will take a back seat to 1st Look. “After that, in the next five to 10 years, I’d love to get married and settle down and start a family,” Patridge says. With current boyfriend Corey Bohan? “Possibly,” Patridge says with a laugh. “We’ve been together for so long now, everyone asks us, ‘Everyone’s getting married; when are you guys?’ Right now I’m a mommy of two: my little dogs. But one day...” Buckle up for the 1st Look ridealong with Audrina Patridge as she shows NBC viewers her new reality — or something close to it — Saturday nights after Saturday Night Live beginning January 4.

“I wish I had one of those fancy jets. they would come in handy.”

Black and gold dress by Aqua, $98; diamond earrings by Nadri, $80; both available at Bloomingdales. Gold platform heels by Versace, $1,395. S I XTY - t w o [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

GlamRock white lace dress by Marla Guloien — price upon request. Red suede heels by Céline, $895. Crystal necklace by 4VR, $225, Bloomingdales. S I XTY - t h r e e [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

“It’s a dream job.”

Red dress by Ekaterina Kukhareva — price upon request. Diamond necklace by ABS Allen Schwartz, $95, Bloomingdales. Black heels by Ryan Haber, $645. si x t y - f o u r [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

Black leather pant by Maje, $906; white tank with black and gold neck trim by Soft Joie, $98; both available at Bloomingdales. Red blazer by Sandro, $425. Sparkle peep toe heel by Jimmy Choo, $675. Gold ring by Saint Laurent, $300. Gold leaf and pearl earrings by Kuumba.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I get to travel all over the country.â&#x20AC;? si x t y - fiv e [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

snow how A how-to (and where, too) of Southern California snowboarding and skiing destinations

By John Brice

Mountain High

m o u n t ai n h i g h

Late-December to-do list:

1. Drink more Red Bull 2. Get ready to watch Winter Olympics on February 7 3. Find skis and/or snowboard in garage mess

S i x t y - si x [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

he XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi Russia will spike interest in skiing and snowboarding globally, including in San Diego, where enthusiasm for snowsports has a deep base. In 1935, the San Diego Ski Club formed. By 1939, the club had a portable rope tow operating in East County’s Cuyamaca Mountains. In 1941, Club member Dorothy McClung Wullich was named America’s first woman ski patroller — she even got badge Numero Uno. Fast-forward to 2006, and San Diego native Shaun “Flying Tomato” White wins his first Olympic gold in snowboarding. White, like many San Diegans, got his first taste of snowsports in Southern California’s San Bernardino Mountains (east of I-15) and San Gabriel Mountains (west of I-15). The region boasts 22 mountains topping out above 10,000 feet, and several ski areas that operate two to three hours north of San Diego.

Ski and snowboarding trips to Lake Tahoe, Park City and Aspen don’t happen often enough for most San Diegans due to a combination lack of time and a private jet. I am here to tell you, however, to get the skis and snowboards out of the garage and into the car. Plenty of good mountains are closer (and more likely to fit your schedule and finances) than you might think. “You can have a real mountain experience close to home, with terrain and lessons to suit every member of the family,” says longtime Mountain High marketing guru and Coronado High grad, John McColly. “It doesn’t have to take a long time or be expensive.” Another keen observer of San Diego’s snowsports scene is Sport Chalet’s Darin Mekkers. “Shorter trips are increasingly common,” he says. “Skiing or snowboarding in the morning and retuning to San Diego for afternoon surfing or standup paddleboarding is no urban legend. It happens all the time.”

Mekkers reports a recent shift in the industry. “We have seen a resurgence in skiing after years of snowboard domination,” he says. “Snowboarding is still very popular, but we are definitely seeing a growing interest in skiing.” It’s all only a gas tank away: terrain parks, real bowls, steep chutes and beginner programs at the most popular Southern California ski areas — Bear Mountain, Mt. Baldy, Mountain High, Snow Summit and Snow Valley. Weather permitting, all of these ski areas are open every day and often at night, too (no nights at Bear Mountain). Each has a matrix of prices for lift tickets, lessons and equipment rentals. Rentals require either a valid credit card or cash deposit of about $350. All five resorts detailed here offer free passes to skiers/riders on their birthdays (ID required for proof); and during January 2014, most are participating in National Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month by offering screaming deals on lessons, including rental equipment.

Mt. Baldy

Snow Valley

bob torrez

m o u n t ai n h i g h

Mountain High

bobby ellingson

b i g b e a r m o u n t ai n r e s o r t s

Big Bear

how),

4. Find rest of snow gear, including tire chains 5. Wash or at least air-out base layers (aka long johns) 6. Call in sick 7. Go skiing or snowboarding (or learn

multiple trips recommended 8. Surf and ski on the same day S i x t y - s e v e n [december 2013]

snow valley

Après-ski: Warm up by Deer Meadow Grille’s fire pit at at the base of Lift 3 or enjoy table service at the new WR’s Smokehouse.

now Valley is best known as being perfect for newbies because of its slow pace and bevy of beginner, green runs off Chairlift 6. But when snow is plentiful, the ski area offers big bowls and steep, expert, double-black-diamond runs off Chairlifts 10 and 11 (try Show Me and Snake Run), and The Ladder off Chairlift 2. Intermediates will be at home on western Slide Peak’s Nord Valley and West Slide blue runs, also off Chairlift 11. Located in the San Bernardino Mountains (east of I-15) between the towns of Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear, Snow Valley has a 1,041-foot vertical drop, 240 skiable acres and 12 lifts feeding three terrain parks and 35 trails (14 percent beginner, 46 percent intermediate, 32 percent advanced, 7 percent expert). New this year is the Learn & Earn Program, wherein participants can earn a free 2013-2014 Snow Valley season pass by taking a total of four full lesson packages or private lessons. Some restrictions apply, and participants must register for programs. Find details at Snow-Valley.com.

Insider tip: After a big dump, checkout backcountry-like terrain that is actually in-bounds off Chairlifts 8, 9 and 11. Average annual snowfall: 160 inches. Snowmaking: All major trails on the front of the mountain are covered.

A LL THREE SNO W V A LLEY I M A GES BY b o b t o r r e z

S i x t y - E I G H T [december 2013]

Overnight accommodations: Try the four-diamond Lake Arrowhead Resort, 13 miles from the lifts, or try to coax the owners of Xanadu to rent you the one-of-a-kind lakefront estate on Harbor Cove — or buy the place for its listed price of $3.3 million. Lift tickets: $57/$62/$69 (regular/peak-weekends/ holiday) for full-day adult (ages 20+); ages 6 and under free with a paying adult. Equipment rentals and lesson packages: From $69. Snow report: Snow-Valley.com, or 800.680.SNOW. Other activities: Snow Play rates include sled rentals from $11; the cost is more with a lift ticket to what general manager Kevin A. Somes calls “the longest downhill sled ride in the region.”

Après-ski: On a clear day, grab a stool at The Top of the Notch bar and gaze out to the Pacific Ocean. Insider Tip: After a storm, get to Baldy early. There are more than 20 million people in Southern California, and the real skiers and riders know this secret. Average annual snowfall: 170 inches. Snowmaking: 40 percent of Thunder Mountain and 100 percent of Chairlift 2 (beginner runs). Overnight accommodations: No one ever confused Baldy with Deer Valley, but the Mt. Baldy Lodge offers cabin rentals and has a celeb link: in 1985, Arnold Schwarzenegger did a scene from Commando at the Lodge. Visit mtbaldy.com for details. Lift tickets: $69 full-day adult (ages 18-64); this price is constant and does not change for weekends or holidays.

mt. baldy m

t. Baldy, in the San Gabriel Mountains (west of I-15, off the I-210), might be the poor cousin of Southern California skiing, but it’s got the goods. “A serious skiers’ hill,” says the Los Angeles Times. Multiple slopes have a 40-plus-degree pitch, accounting for the steepest runs this side of Mammoth. (For a local comparison, check out the 22-degree slope on Ash Street between Sixth and Seventh Aves. in downtown San Diego.) Still want to ski it? If you do, and you’re the real deal, then ditch any newbie tag-alongs at Beginners’ Gulch off Chairlift 1. Then head downhill to the steepest runs, Nightmare and Bentley’s Dream, also off Chairlift 1. “There are no friends on a powder day,” as the saying goes. After a wicked storm, in-the-know, advanced-level skiers and snowboarders descend on old school Baldy for a gravity-activated workout on steep runs like Skyline and Robins. Thanks to Baldy’s 50-percent increase in making the white stuff in 2009, both are now covered top-to-bottom by snowmaking. Word is, $2 million gets you a nine-million-gallon water reservoir and lots of snow guns. With 800 skiable acres and a 2,100-foot vertical drop, Baldy is the region’s largest single ski area. Four lifts serve 26 trails (15 percent beginner, 31 percent intermediate, 31 percent advanced, 23 percent expert). There are glades, tree runs, moguls, groomers, cornices and a terrain park with jumps, rails and boxes.

Snow report: Mtbaldyskilifts.com, or 909.982.0800. Other activities: Snow tubing — riding down a slope on an inner tube.

si x t y - N I NE [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

Après-ski: Head to the Foggy Goggle at the base of West for live tunes throughout the season.

a l l i m a g e s f r o m m o u n t ai n h i g h

Insider tip: Check out the new Rossignol Experience Center. Only 15 percent of first-time skiers and snowboarders stick with these sports, so ski areas and equipment makers that want to stay in business are going the extra mile to make learning easier and more fun. Average annual snowfall: 132 inches. Snowmaking: 80 percent coverage of developed terrain. Overnight accommodations: Overnight accommodations at Mountain High are limited, but there are several options noted on the mountain’s website, mthigh.com. Heading back to San Diego or to Los Angeles might be the best bet. Lift tickets: $59 regular full-day adult passes (ages 22+); $69 for weekend/peak/holiday; ages 6 and under free with a paying adult. “Point” tickets — sold in blocks of 200, 500 or 1,000 points — let you choose the number of runs you wish to take per day. Visit: mthigh.com/tickets-passes/lift-tickets. Equipment rentals and lesson packages: From $75 for the Adult Beginner Half-Day package. On Tuesdays all season (and Monday through Friday during January Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month), there is a $49 lesson and rental package that includes an eight-hour lower-mountain lift ticket. Snow report: mthigh.com, or 888.754.7878 ext. 1. Other activities: The North Pole Tubing Park is the largest snow-tubing option in Southern California.

mountain high a

djacent to Wrightwood, Calif., in the San Gabriel Mountains (west of I-15), Mountain High is among North America’s top 25 most frequently visited ski areas. Maybe that’s because, for 16 years running, it’s been Southern California’s first ski area open each season. And as often as weather permits, it’s open seven days a week until 10 p.m. Mountain High consists of three separate areas — East, West and North — all served by a single lift ticket. Shuttles run between areas, frequently stopping at the ticket windows. Each area has its own equipment rentals, shops and dining facilities. The ski area offers 290 skiable acres; a vertical drop of 1,600 feet; and 29 runs (25 percent beginner, 40 percent intermediate, 35 percent advanced) served by 14 lifts, including two high-speed detachable quads. The West area tends to open first and includes the Children’s Learning Center and a variety of terrain from beginner to black-diamond runs, tree skiing, beginner jumps and competitive features on the Conquest run.

what a trip

TIME AND distance to the mountainS from the Gaslamp, according to Google Maps:

It’s also home to night skiing, with more than 85 percent of the area lit after dark, including three of the terrain parks and one halfpipe. The East area offers 1,600 vertical feet of uninterrupted corduroy (groomed runs; the grooming machines leave grooves), plus exciting steeps like the Olympic Bowl, one of Southern California’s steepest, longest bump runs. The North area operates only on peak weekends and holidays, and caters to families and newbies with 70 acres of beginner terrain. The biggest news this season at Mountain High is that the VIP Adult Season Pass gets you on the mountain anytime and delivers three free days of skiing and riding at 11 other western resorts, including Colorado’s Crested Butte, Utah’s Snowbasin, Lake Tahoe’s Sierra-at-Tahoe and the Arizona Snowbowl. There are some restrictions; it’s all detailed at powderalliance.com. The VIP pass is $399 until they’re sold out; or until December 13, when they go up to $749.

Mt. Baldy: 137 miles, 2 hours 25 minutes

s e v e n t y [december 2013]

Snow Valley: 134 miles, 2 hours 15 minutes

Mountain High: 142 miles, 2 hours 18 minutes

Bear Mountain: 149 miles, 2 hours 44 minutes

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Snow Summit: 147 miles, 2 hours 40 minutes

b i g b e a r m o u n t ai n r e s o r t s

Après-ski: Hit the 13,000-square-foot outdoor deck area at the Beach Bar, or the local brewery in the mountain town of Big Bear Lake. Insider tip: Bear Mountain is home to the United States Adaptive Recreation Center for children and adults with physical and cognitive disabilities who want to ski and snowboard. Average annual snowfall: 100 inches at both areas. Snowmaking: 100 percent coverage of developed terrain. Overnight Accommodations: Round-up a dozen or so of your closest skiing and snowboarding friends to pitch-in on the $1,700-per-night lakefront Peaceful Cove Estate, a nine bedroom, six-bath home in the Boulder Bay area off Cove Drive. Lift Tickets: $60 regular full-day adult; $75 peak/ weekend/holiday (ages 22+). Children ages 6 and younger ride for free with a paying adult. Equipment and lesson packages: Adult lesson packages begin at $70. Snow report: Bearmountain.com/snowboard/snowreport, 800.BEAR.MTN or 888.SUMMIT1 Other activities: The region is popular with snowshoers, especially during the annual Snowshoe the Bear 5K and 10K events, to be held February 22, 2014, in the town of Big Bear Lake. b i g b e a r m o u n t ai n r e s o r t s

bear mountain, snow summit d

espite having the same owner and one all-access lift ticket for both ski areas, Bear Mountain and Snow Summit deliver two distinct experiences. Located two miles apart in the San Bernardino Mountains (east of I-15), the two are connected by a free shuttle and offer a combined 438 skiable acres. Bear Mountain boasts a youthful environment for skiers and snowboarders and is ranked No. 3 among the Top 10 parks in the country by Carlsbad-based TransWorld SNOWBoarding magazine (the snowboarding bible). Its terrain parks offer an average of more than 165 jibs and four pipes, including Southern California’s only Superpipe. New in the popular Red Bull Plaza is The Ride Through; resembling a large shipping container, it has wall rides (on each side) and closeout rails. Bear is home to Southern California’s highest lift-served peak, at 8,805 feet. It offers a vertical drop of 1,665 feet, and 29 runs (30 percent beginner, 40 percent intermediate, 30 percent advanced) served by 12 chairlifts, including two highspeed detachable quads. The high-speed lifts are important, as they get skiers and

snowboarders up the mountain much faster than old slowpoke lifts. This allows for more runs per day. Beginners, take Chairlift 7. Bear Mountain is not open at night. Snow Summit, where the Winter X Games were born in 1997, has a 1,200foot vertical drop and 31 trails (35 percent beginner, 40 percent intermediate, 25 percent advanced) served by 14 lifts, including two high-speed detachable quads. It’s known for a variety of beginner and intermediate runs, mainstream cruising and a traditional alpine atmosphere that attracts skiing and snowboarding families (who enjoy the Family Fun Park and Westridge Run). Beginners, head to Chairlifts 4 and 8. Snow Summit is also popular for night skiing and riding on most Friday, Saturday and holiday evenings from 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. John Brice is a San Diego-based snowsports writer, because there is no better place to come home to. His work has been published in media including The Times (London), Los Angeles Times and Billboard magazine, among others.

S e v e n t y - t w o [december 2013]

P A C I F I C S D

p r o m o t i o n

A COLD WON

Win the ultimate cold-weather package from PacificSD: Two pairs of Cold-Activated Coors Light Skis One Coors Light Refresherator personal vending machine

San Diego

Enter to win at facebook.com/pacificsd No purchase necessary. Must be 21 years or older to enter.

S e v e n t y - t h r e e [december 2013]

C M

TASTE

DINING OUT WHAT’S COOKING DRINK

Edible Complex

taste A mother lode of new San Diego restaurants

B y F r a n k S aba t i n i J r . P h o t o s b y Micha e l a n d ka t e A uda ( u n l e ss n o t e d ) {continued on page 76}

Cucina Enoteca’s grilled octopus. s e v e n t y - fiv e [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

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Nudging into the kaleidoscope of restaurants, bars and breweries that call (and make) this town home is a fresh menu of places that have opened since September — or which are slated to open in the weeks to come. Cheers to a year’s end that has seen so many new beginnings, and a Here! Here! to 23 more drops in your Finest City bucket list.

a n d y h ay t

American Voodoo’s cornbread with honey butter.

sara norris

CLOCKWISE (from top left): Flatbread at Coin-Op Game Room; Bo-Beau Kitchen + Garden; Coin-Op Game Room.

American Voodoo (Opened in September) Filmmaker-turned-restaurateur Joshua Hamlin takes rustica to a new level by sprinkling his cozy space with handcrafted voodoo dolls meant to pacify hunger rather than provoke pangs. Classically trained toque Daniel San Augustin performs his magic on modern-American dishes stamped with Creole flair. His fried chicken is all the rage. 4655 Park Blvd., University Heights 619.255.8504, american-voodoo.com

Barrel Republic (Opened in November) Swap your credit card for a radio-frequency ID bracelet and serve yourself from 44 beer handles at Barrel Republic, which focuses largely on North County craft brews. With nary a beer bottle to be found, the bracelets activate the taps to dispense measured pours. Wine and cheese boards are available through traditional transactions. 1261 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach 858.270.9922, barrelrepublic.com S E V ENTY - si x [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse (Opened in November) What started out in 1978 as a pizza joint in Santa Ana, Calif., has turned into a big-menu restaurant chain that brews its own lagers, pale ales and IPAs. With six locations scattered throughout the county, BJ’s has now arrived at Hazard Center in Mission Valley, marking the company’s first splash into San Diego’s city limits. 1370 Frazee Rd., Mission Valley 619.814.6350, bjsrestaurants.com

American Voodoo

Bo-beau Kitchen + Garden (Opened in October) Cohn Restaurant Group has branched into La Mesa with a second, though slightly different version of its Euro-farmhouse Bo-Beau Kitchen in Ocean Beach. Here, we find a patio garden flourishing with olive trees and fresh herbs along with a more international menu headed by culinary veterans Benjamin Moore, Amiko Gubbins and Deborah Scott. 8384 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa 619.337.3445, bobeaugarden.com

Coin-op Game Room (Opened in October) What does $10 buy at Coin-Op Game Room? Easily a pint of local craft beer and several rounds of nostalgic arcade games that include the original Donkey Kong, Street Fighter and Ms. Pac-Man. For about five extra bucks, you can graze on chicken satay, sliders or grilled cheese with tomato jam — but it’s really about the booze and joysticks. 3926 30th St., North Park 619.225.8523, no website yet

Commonwealth (Opened in September) Numerous eateries have occupied this Googiestyle building in Hillcrest over the years, but none have displayed such swag until Commonwealth moved in with its dramatic chandeliers and baby grand piano. The two-level “ultra lounge” pampers patrons with innovative cocktails that play up to ahi tartar over seaweed and other stylish appetizers. 1263 University Ave., Hillcrest 619.756.6164, commonwealth-sd.com {continued on page 78}

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Cucina Enoteca’s burrata cheese and roasted garlic appetizer.

Cucina Enoteca (Opened in September) Del Martians who’ve motored down to Cucina Urbana in Bankers Hill for crafty, Italian-inspired fare can now save the gas money. Owner Tracy Borkum’s latest cucina in North County provides similar fixes with chicken meatball pizzas and bucatini pasta cuddling “burnt” cabbage leaves. The restaurant is equally urban in its approach, and with a rooftop patio to boot. 2730 Via De La Valle, Del Mar 858.704.4500, cucinaenoteca.com

Embargo Grill (Opened in September) Slow-roasted meats, housemade sauces and sandwiches made on a plancha grill (flattop grill from Spain) typify the Caribbean/Latin chow found at Embargo Grill. The fast-casual restaurant, located in the Midway Towne Center plaza, offers indoor/outdoor seating as well as takeout and catering, not to mention one of the liveliest Sangrias in town. 3960 W. Point Loma Blvd., Loma Portal 619.786.7522, embargogrill.com s e v e n t y - e igh t [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

Outcast Grill (Opened in September) Inspired by refugee soccer team Outcasts United, this neighborhood kitchen cranks out a mix of Israeli, Mediterranean and American fare without ignoring the local craft beer scene. Whether you’re on the hunt for laffa bread wraps, charry kabobs or an egg salad sandwich, the menu obliges. 6104 Regents Rd., University City 858.202.0097, outcastgrill.com

k e l ly ca m p b e l l

RESTAURANT WINE BAR

V E G E T A R I A N

“BEST THAI” 2009 - 2012 San Diego Magazine HAPPY HOUR Mon. - Sun. 5pm - 7pm Lunch Specials Mon. - Fri. DELIVERY AVAILABLE A Pizzeria Mozza pie with artichoke, stracchino cheese, olive and lemon zest.

DOWNTOWN (EAST VILLAGE) 906 Market St. San Diego, CA 92101

619.595.0115

HILLCREST 3761 6th Ave. San Diego, CA 92103

619.299.8272

OPEN FOR LUNCH & DINNER

tyler powell

Brazilian Camarón at Embargo Grill.

LOTUSTHAISD.COM

F R I E N D L Y

FRESH

Farm-fresh salad bar, fresh soups & hot pastas, freshly-baked muffins & focaccia breads, and more! Pizzeria Mozza (Opened in November) The famed pizzeria launched in Hollywood by a team of power chefs, including Food Network’s Mario Batali, makes its San Diego debut at The Headquarters at Seaport District. Replete with a wine bar and private dining rooms, Mozza pushes the artisan-pie envelope with unexpected toppings like escarole, leeks and squash blossoms. 789 W. Harbor Dr., Ste. 110, Marina District 619.376.4353, pizzeriamozza.com

DEL MAR/CARMEL VALLEY 0IAZZA #ARMEL #ENTER s 6ALLEY #ENTRE $RIVE

www.souplantation.com

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Pacific Magazine_August 2013 - Souplantation/Del Mar

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Plan 9 Alehouse (Opened in September) A generic office building in downtown Escondido has been converted into a small-production brewery that encompasses a restaurant and rear lounge. “We’re a team of unknowns,” says chef and co-owner David Brown, citing recent releases including spiced wit (Belgian wheat) beer and brown ale to compliment such dishes as pork belly BLTs and coffee/lavender-crusted skirt steak. 155 E. Grand Ave., Escondido 760.489.8817, no website yet Puesto (Opened in November) Unlike its fast-casual operation in La Jolla, Puesto in The Headquarters at Seaport District offers full service and a cocktail program headed by San Diego’s esteemed mixologist trio, QueenConnor-Ward. Popular Mexican dishes like chicken al pastor bowls and sustainable-meat tacos remain. 789 W. Harbor Dr., Ste. 115, Marina District 619.233.8880, eatpuesto.com RB Sushi (Opened in October) The colossal menu of Japanese fare, introduced first in Rancho Bernardo and then in Rolando, has arrived in Hillcrest along with an all-you-can-eat special that doesn’t involve a buffet. The deal is priced at $20.95 for lunch and $24.95 for dinner. Everything is made to order. But be warned: you’ll be charged extra for the food on your plate that you can’t finish. 3955 Fifth Ave., Ste. 100, Hillcrest 619.269.9901, rbsushi.com San Diego Cellars (Opened in October) When a marijuana dispensary recently went poof from this circa-1940s building, San Diego Cellars moved in and began upping its wine production, using grapes from California growers. It also created a kitchen and tasting room, which boasts a 30-foot bar crafted from wine barrels. 2215 Kettner Blvd., Middletown 619.269.9463, sdcellars.com

SandBox Pizza (Opened in October) When it comes to West Coast “pieology,” SandBox Pizza pulls all the punches with sauces like honey mustard, sweet chili and “buttermilk bliss.” Topping choices are equally ground-breaking when you consider buffalo meat, cranberries and pecans. 1014 Grand Ave., Pacific Beach 858.272.7263, sandboxsd.com Slides (Opened in October) Think of White Castle, but with more choices and ingredients that are perhaps fresher than In-n-Out Burger’s. Available in chicken, beef, turkey and fish, the mini patties are tucked into bakery-fresh buns with lettuce and tomatoes that are delivered daily. And, yes, there is a secret sauce, but what burger joint ever tells you what’s in theirs? The menu concludes succinctly with fries and shakes. 7406 University Ave., La Mesa 619.461.4462, slidesburgers.com Spotted Cow Viet Kitchen (Opened in October) The owners of Pho La Jolla have expanded to Zion Market with a food-court walkup that allows customers to build their own pho. Newbies to this hearty Vietnamese soup are especially struck with indecision as they first decide on a broth before pumping it up with a wide selection of noodles, veggies and meats. 7655 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Kearny Mesa 858.277.1808, no website yet Taste of the Bayou (Opened in September) Barbecue and traditional Louisiana cuisine are served from this small café fronting the offices of San Diego Lesbian and Gay Pride, but only on Sundays and Mondays. Owner Gujuan Smith, who everyone calls “Smitty,” has chosen to “start out slowly” until he secures a beer and wine license as well as shipments of crawfish from his native Pelican State. 3620 30th St., North Park 619.322.3821, no website yet {continued on page 82}

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robert benson

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Young Hickory in North Park.

j o - a l l a n y uc h o n g t ia n

Venga Venga Cantina and Tequila Bar (Opened in September) Celebrity chef and global restaurateur Richard Sandoval unleashes his Mexico City roots with skillful preparations of smoky beef barbacoa, creamy chicken zarape, masa flatbreads and more. The jumbo, chic cantina is stocked with more than 100 tequilas to fuel lunch, brunch and dinner. 2015 Birch Rd., Chula Vista 619.397.0977, richardsandoval.com/ vengavengachulavista Waypoint Public (Opened in October) Launched by a trio of local hospitality veterans that includes chef-butcher Amanda Baumgarten (previously at Herringbone), this beer-centric bistro wipes clean any sentiments left behind for the former Linkery. The remodel is kid-friendly, featuring an Astroturf play area that gives parents wiggle room for washing down charred octopus and pork-veal meatballs with more than 300 local and international beer choices. 3794 30th St., North Park 619.255.8778, waypointpublic.com

Shrimp ceviche at Venga Venga Cantina and Tequila Bar in Chula Vista.

Young Hickory (Opened in September) In the wake of Filter Coffee House’s sudden disappearance arrived Young Hickory, where life is pondered not over cups of joe but instead while drinking canned microbrew beers and sitting on ball-shaped stability chairs. Conventional seating and picnic tables enter into the hipster scheme as well, along with loaded bagels, panini and Wi-Fi. 4096 30th St., North Park 619.795.6574, younghickory.com

ZIGZAG Pizza (Opened in October) Beer and wine displayed in glass-door coolers are the come-ons to dishes named after bands forever etched in the Baby Boomer generation. Launched by Cohn Restaurant Group, the menu rocks with kale “Purple Haze” salad, and pizzas such as the meaty “ZZ Top” and the feisty “Light My Fire,” the latter of which is mantled with habanero salsa and chipotle sour cream. 333 N. Myers St., Oceanside 760.433.1555, cohnrestaurants.com {continued on page 84}

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DECEMBER 31, 2013

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9PM–2AM

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The Carbonade Flammande at Brabant Bar & Café.

Coming Soon

A A

ACME Southern Kitchen & Bar (Opening in December/January) Restaurateur Terryl Gavre (Café 222, Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurant, Market Restaurant + Bar) has an itch for the kind of “scratch-kitchen” cooking found in old Junior League cookbooks from the South. At her upcoming restaurant situated in a quaint, two-story brick building, she’s planning on smothered pork chops, classic fried chicken and chipped ham sandwiches. 901 E St., East Village 619.515.2225, acmekitchensd.com Brabant Bar & Café (Opening in December/January) Belgian beer and cuisine will take center stage in an Old World-style pub formerly occupied by Vagabond restaurant. And so will the glassware that Belgians take seriously. Owner Adam Parker has amassed a collection of the stuff that he’ll put on display and also use for serving the prized suds. 2310 30th St., South Park no phone number or website yet

Café La Rue (Opening in December) Replacing the Whaling Bar inside La Valencia Hotel is Café La Rue, which previously operated on the site during the mid-20th Century. Its rebirth features patio/sidewalk seating and original murals moved in from other sections of the historic property. Chef Daniel Barron’s French-leaning menu combines modern European cuisine with classics like duck confit and Croque Madames along with “flashback” dishes from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. 1132 Prospect St., La Jolla 858.454.0771, cafelaruelav.com

Green Dragon Tavern and Museum (Opening in December/January) This upcoming 22,000-square-foot space, constructed in convincing Colonial style, pays tribute to its namesake tavern in Massachusetts, where the Boston Tea Party was planned and the nation’s Founding Fathers (not counting the natives) gathered over ales. The Carlsbad replica will carry the additional weight of a museum, convention room and sizable restaurant, with French-trained chef Brandon Fortune helming the kitchen. 6115 Paseo del Norte, Carlsbad 760.918.2421, greendragontavernca.com

City Sights (Opening in December) Just in time for winter, the north side of Altitude on the 22nd floor of the San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter hotel has given way to an indoor cocktail lounge featuring a glass enclosed balcony. With a casual bar menu also in place, City Sights shares ranking with the adjoining open-air Altitude as being “the tallest rooftop bar on the West Coast.” The dizzying views prove it. 660 K St., Gaslamp 619.696.0234, sandiegogaslamphotel.com

Lucky Liu’s (Opening in December) Dim sum and other Chinese favorites fill an overdue niche in Downtown’s Asian Pacific Thematic Historic District at the stylish Lucky Liu’s. The restaurant was launched by RAMA owner Alex Thao, whose bao buns and oolongmarinated fish were inspired by his grandmother when she cooked for employees years ago at a nearby photography studio she ran. 332 J St., Gaslamp 619.255.5487, luckyliuschinese.com {continued on page 86}

E I G H TY - f o u r [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

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5)&*/4-*%&34% $0.

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RIGHT: The view from Sea 180 in Imperial Beach. BELOW: Sea 180’s Huevos “Diablos” truffled duck eggs.

OB Warehouse Street Food + Bar (Opening in December) Local restaurant designer Philippe Beltran has put his wizardry to work on an extreme industrial motif for a second-floor warehouse project, which ranks among a cache of new restaurants by Cohn Restaurant Group. Consumption of food and drinks will occur over a floor plan spanning 6,000 square-feet, which includes a central bar serving craft beer and cocktails. 4839 Newport Ave., Ocean Beach 619.222.1700, dinecrg.com

SEA 180 (Opening in December) Chef and commercial fisherman Ken Irvine of Bleu Bohème has partnered with Cohn Restaurant Group to bring Imperial Beach its first serious seafood house. Also onboard is pastry maestro Jack Fisher, who moves into a savory role as chef du cuisine. The result is a MediterraneanBaja menu spotlighting locally trawled treasures and served within steps of the sands. The restaurant is part of the new Pier South Hotel. 800 Seacoast Dr., Imperial Beach 619.631.4949, dinecrg.com

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Surfside Tap Grill (Opening by December) Former Marine Tracy Hemstreet is catering to his fellow comrades and their supporters with a 2,500-square-foot craft beer shop that includes a tasting room rigged with 20 taps. In the absence of a kitchen, he’ll summon food trucks while partnering with nearby Angelo’s Burgers and Venetos Italian Cuisine for food deliveries. 507 N. Coast Highway, Oceanside no phone number yet, surfsidetaproom.com

P A C I F I C S D

p r o m o t i o n

Fried Twinkies: Two Hostess Twinkies, lightly battered and then fried with housemade berry compote, housemade whipped cream and powdered sugar.

K N O TTY B A RRE L When East Village residents in the know are hungry for a hearty meal and starving for a great night out, they walk over to Knotty Barrel Gastropub, winner of the 2011 and 2012 A*List award for Best New American restaurant. Knotty Barrel is an understated locals’ joint serving up craft-beer-friendly fare that’s pure Americana, with subtle and savory twists on the classics. This is where potatoes are reborn as Parmesan and herb truffle fries, Angus beef is carved into juicy medallions topped with béarnaise and bleu cheese, burgers are available in beef or bison — and everything tastes better when paired with any of the more than 100 beers available at the full bar. For a big breakfast on the sunlit patio, lunch away from the fray or a wholesome dinner that makes everything feel okay, drop into Knotty Barrel today. Knotty Barrel Gastropub | 844 Market St., East Village | 619.269.7156 knottybarrel.com | facebook.com/knottybarrel

Th e F i e l d I r ish P u b & r e s t a u r an t

Espinaca con Queso and The Sunny Goat: empanadas stuffed with goat cheese, sundried tomatoes and sausage; served with a signature chimichurri sauce and aboveaverage house salad.

When it comes to the authentic Irish Pub experience, it doesn’t get any better than this. The Field Irish Pub & Restaurant actually imported everything from Ireland, including the floors, beams and mind-boggling amount of décor. And the food and drinks are splendid! Enjoy fish and chips, Boxties, Shepherd’s Pie and so much more. Shepherd’s Pie: Savory ground beef, vegetables and gravy topped with Irish-style mashed potatoes.

P apa L u na ’ s E m pana d as Fresh and filling, Papa Luna’s unique empanadas are filled with the freshest ingredients and local produce before being hand-folded and baked to flaky perfection. Stop in to enjoy more than 20 flavors of savory, veggie or dessert empanadas — from traditional Argentine-style fillings to Pacific Beach favorites including the Turkey Dinner or Blackened Ahi empanada. Papa Luna’s, one of the brightest spots on the beach-area dining scene. ¡Feliz Navidad! Let Papa Luna’s cater your holiday event. Mini, hors d’oeuvres-size empanadas available. The Field Irish Pub | 544 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp | 619.232.9840 thefield.com | facebook.com/fieldirishpub

Papa Luna’s Empanadas | 1404 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach | 858.255.8875 papalunas.com | facebook.com/PapaLunas

E I G H TY - S E V EN [ DECEMBER 2 0 1 3 ]

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Mo Pho*

A bowl of of pho from Downtown’s Pho Noodle and Sushi Bar.

a super bowl of soup... and then some

B y david n e ls o n / P h o t o s b y S a r a N o r r is

ho is the kind of square meal you can’t cut corners on, and not just because it’s served in a bowl. The most typical version of this fragrant Vietnamese soup plunges various cuts of beef and a mass of skinny rice noodles into steaming beef broth with chopped scallions and herbs floating on top; and additional herbs, crisp bean sprouts and various sauces hanging on the side. Most restaurants also offer seafood, chicken and vegetable variations, but beef’s the thing, and superior house specials crowd slices of rare and well-done steak, brisket, flank, tendon and tripe atop slippery noodles that can defy the best chopstick techniques. So use a fork to dredge up the noodles, a spoon to enjoy the broth and common sense with the sliced jalapeños and turbocharged chili sauces pho fanciers pile on to make their bowls sizzle at these San Diego soup-er stores. H LA Times reports that Pho Hoa, which has more than 70 locations in seven countries, is the nation’s largest pho chain. H

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* I f y ou dislike soup puns , y ou ’ ll hate “ P ho - netics ” on page 1 3 0 .

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Pho Ban Mi 8991 Mira Mesa Blvd., Mira Mesa 858.271.7199 There’s rarely an empty table at this somewhat upscale eatery, which offers a full menu of Vietnamese specialties (crispy crepes, stir-fries, elaborate rice entrees) in addition to 19 kinds of pho. Priced almost universally at $6.50 for a small (it’s

not) bowl and $7.50 for a large, these vary from soups rich with many cuts of beef to a seafood version with shrimp, squid, fish balls, imitation crab and vegetables. Dab slices of beef alternately in sweet hoisin sauce and sharp Sriracha, and by all means squeeze a hunk of lime into the bowl before the festivities commence.

Spotted Cow Viet Kitchen 7655 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Kearny Mesa 858.277.1808 In the terrifically bright food court inside Kearny Mesa’s colossal Zion Asian supermarket, Spotted Cow emphasizes the speedy nature of a pho meal. A banner over the counter more or less shrieks, “Home to the

Downtown’s Pho Noodle and Sushi Bar.

first-of-its-kind Vietnamese pho made to order!” Well, yes, but the beef pho proceeds in the classic style, which the counterman builds by filling the bowl with slithering noodles as tangled as deceit, slices and snippets of five cuts of beef (tender tripe is tasty dipped in hot sauce), beef broth, scallions and herbs. A side boat of bean sprouts, jalapeño shavings and herbs accompanies the pho… and the hunt for a free table. Pho Noodle & Sushi Bar 550 Cedar St., Downtown 619.235.1665, phonoodlebarsd.com This fairly new, decidedly attractive pho specialist at the base of Cortez Hill distinguishes itself by offering a sushi bar that doubles as a watering hole for happy hour patrons in search of half-price beer. The cooks are fearless with spice, so plan on eating truly piquant food if ordering entrées like the Saigon chicken. The 15 varieties of pho play the multiple beef-cut options like a lottery ticket, and the tai gau (No. 18) shows off the virtues of contrast by posing rare steak against well-done brisket. Pleiku Café 7596 Fay Ave., La Jolla 858.456.2069, pleiku-cafe.com Located a few steps from the city’s leading French restaurant, Tapenade, Pleiku Café emphasizes the Colonial French side of traditional Vietnamese cuisine with treats like hot paté served in flaky buns, and boeuf bourguignon-like beef stew served with crusty bread. Pleiku’s two phos are beautifully prepared and made with chicken or a pairing of brisket and rare steak. Cilantro, basil, bean sprouts, jalapeño and lime garnish the beef pho; no cilantro with the chicken, which features a wonderfully rich broth. {continued on page 92} n i n e t y [december 2013]

TA S T E { DINING OUT } {continued from page 90}

Pho to go from the mobile Pho Realz?!

Pho Ca Dao 8373 Mira Mesa Blvd., Mira Mesa (branches in City Heights, Santee and Rancho Bernardo) 858.564.0917 Pretty much the gold standard for pho fabulists who devour the dish on a regular basis, this popular local chain is built for action. Tabletop racks offer everything needed to empty a bowl of soup fast, from utensils to sauces, napkins and so forth. Soups spill out of the kitchen steaming and fragrant, and the options seem to verge on the unlimited. The first choice, an “extra-large combo” with all kinds of beef, costs all of $4.95. Finish the bowl and you’ll hear sloshing sounds as you waddle to the door. OB Noodle House 2218 Cable St., Ocean Beach 619.450.6868, obnoodlehouse.com No wonder there’s often a line out the door of this ever-popular noodlery a few blocks from the waves. Sixteen of the menu’s 19 phos are brawny with sturdy beef stock, six meat options (steak, brisket and so forth), onions and cilantro, all served with a plate of add-ons that includes sprouts and jalapeños. There is a vegetarian pho with lightly fried tofu and fresh veggies, as well as a shredded chicken breast pho and seafood number that go down swimmingly. Kim’s Vietnamese and Chinese Restaurant 745 S. Coast Highway, Encinitas 760.942.4816, kimsvietnamese.com North County’s original Vietnamese restaurant, which attracted attention by opening in handsome restored quarters in downtown Encinitas, has maintained it through the years by serving consistently highquality, authentic cuisine. Besides what Kim’s calls its “famous pho,” which is elaborately flavored and irresistible to the bottom of the bowl, the restaurant offers a long menu of classics including entrancing salads and vegetarian dishes. The crisp Vietnamese crepes share well as a preface to big, bad bowls of pho.

Saigon Star 10450 Friars Rd., Grantville 619.640.2985, phosaigonstar.com Stylish, comfortable and just a tailgate length (or several) from Qualcomm Stadium, Saigon Star shows off its sophistication by chasing a list of 13 traditional and attractive phos with a pair of only-here specialties. The first is a pho made in the style of the former imperial capital, Hue. It sets beef flank and steak a-swim in a complicated broth that is mild, spicy and lemongrass-tart all at once. The

second showers browned shallots over Vietnamese-style udon noodles garnished with shrimp, crab claws, quail eggs and mushrooms. This is the place to try meatball pho, which is like mama’s cooking, but better. Pho Hoa 4717 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights 619.283.6431 This is it, the authentic, downand-dirty pho experience, with TV monitors galore and enough karaoke to make anyone twist and shout. The menu kindly lists “Pho Noodle

Soup for the Beginners,” with some not-found-elsewhere options like steak with meatballs and all the trimmings; and The Adventurer’s Choice with “the most unusual yet tastiest meats,” including both fatty beef flank and crunchy flank. It’s enough to make you sing on key. Pho Convoy Noodle House 4647 Convoy St., Kearny Mesa (also in Chula Vista) 858.277.0133, phoconvoy.com One advantage of the menu at this {continued on page 94}

H Pho is typically eaten as a breakfast dish in Vietnam, where’s it’s sold at street-side stalls.H

n i n e t y - t w o [december 2013]

TA S T E { DINING OUT } {continued from page 92}

highly authentic long-timer on Convoy Street’s Asian Restaurant Row is the photographs that illustrate most dishes, revealing in advance what appetizers like the char-broiled meat rolls look like — and probably making you order some. As elsewhere, there’s nothing foo-foo about the pho here, which is offered in 14 varieties including a spicy, Hue-style house specialty comprised of well-done steak, pork meatballs and tendon. Pho La Jolla 3211 Holiday Ct., La Jolla 858.587.4688, pholajolla.com Vegan egg rolls are added attractions at this pleasant, somewhat hidden place tucked away off La Jolla Village Drive. The pho bowls are piled high with colorful ingredients; the large versions will satisfy even the famished quite nicely. Large sprigs of tangy herbs wait to be plucked and tossed into the broth, which is well textured and full of flavor. Besides the many meat phos, there are specialties like a tofu and vegetable pho in vegetable broth. This is also a place to enjoy pho bo kho, a Vietnamese beef stew with rice noodles. Mignon Pho & Grill 3860 Convoy St., Kearny Mesa 858.278.0669, sandiegopho.com Kudos to this friendly spot for creating an a la carte pho menu that allows guests to blueprint their own bowls of steaming goodness. Choose three ingredients from a long list of beef choices and an additional list of vegetables including bok choy, carrots and broccoli. Then (for small additional charges), upgrade the bowl with an egg, filet mignon or shrimp, or make the meal gluten-free by opting for brown rice noodles. Also welcome options include the medium-spicy Vietnamese curries served with baguette, or “boum real” soups based on an extra-savory n i n e t y - f o u r [december 2013]

Pho Realz?!

seafood-pork-tomato broth. Pho Fifth Avenue 3807 5th Ave., Hillcrest 619.260.3555, phofifthavenue.com Although the pho is fab at this Hillcrest hotspot, it’s fun to pair it with a different – radically different – Pho Fifth Avenue specialty, like the Shaking Beef. A bold dish, it doesn’t shake in its boots, but rather bravely supplies bowls the sharp flavors of finely seasoned seared beef served with fried or steamed rice. Deluxe pho options include one made with rare filet mignon; and pho tom, a chicken soup lavished with tender and succulent shrimp. Pho Realz?! phorealzsd.com Chase this mobile pho-teria around town as it moves from neighborhood farmers markets to breweries in North Park, Pacific Beach, La Jolla and beyond. Pho Realz?! serves big bowls of slowsimmered beef broth loaded with thinly sliced steak, rice noodles, scallions, cilantro, bean sprouts and lime. Perky egg rolls and other Vietnamese and Cambodian specialties round out the affordable menu. Pho Sao Bien 1958 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach 858.272.9612, ieatpho.com PB’s Pho Sao Bien is a welcoming spot with a big menu that encompasses many kinds of Vietnamese specialties and goes long on the pho. All of the 22 varieties are generously arranged in big bowls (have an even larger serving by upping the ante $1.25) and all are meaty classics, except the “no meat pho,” which is not for traditional pho-natics. On the beverage side, try a jackfruit smoothie, made with the notorious “stinky” fruit that has a wonderful flavor.

Viejas Casino & Resort, Moët & Chandon, and Belvedere Vodka Present...

NYE 2014:

What Happens at Viejas... Could ONLY Happen at Viejas!

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• Outdoor Mega Venue!

NYE 2013 at Viejas

Rising Star performs!

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Incredible food and drink options, including our Fire & Ice specials!

Viejas Hotel Fire & Ice New Year’s Eve Package

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Private food and drink menus included ALL NIGHT! Includes access to the exclusive All-In Venue PLUS entry to the Outdoor Mega Venue! Just $75!

• DreamCatcher Showroom DJ 2-RILLE performs!

Dedicated full bar with Fire & Ice drink specials! • $10 general admission, $20 for upgraded admission with Moët & Chandon Champagne split! Doors for all venues at 8pm, entertainment starts at 9pm! (All venues are 21+. No guests under 21 will be allowed. Admission to the casino is 18+.)

• Access to the Fire & Ice All-In Venue, with food and drink menus included all night. • An exclusive gift bag. • Special turndown service. • Late checkout up to 1pm on New Year’s Day.

Visit www.viejas.com to purchase tickets to any venue and book your hotel package NOW! Find us on: Viejas Casino & Resort 619-445-5400 Viejas.com 5000 Willows Road, Alpine, CA 91901

TA S T E { WHAT’S COOKING }

easy recipe: follow me!

Crème of the Crop a top dessert for wowing holiday guests

R e cip e a n d ph o t o s b y B r a n d o n Mat z e k

Whether you’re hosting a casual cocktail party or a formal sit-down dinner this Holiday season, there’s one detail that must be present: a showstopper dessert. Such a grand finale will absolve you from that overcooked turkey or the mashed potatoes you forgot to salt. {continued on page 98} n i n e t y - S I X [december 2013]

thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the spirit

TA S T E { WHAT’S COOKING } {continued from page 96}

he one dish that everyone will be talking about long after the party is over: a dish like this Chocolate Peppermint Crème Brûlée. Hidden beneath a caramelized sugar top lies a rich, creamy chocolate custard flavored with peppermint and coffee liqueur. A seasonal twist on a timeless classic, this Chocolate Peppermint Crème Brûlée will surely spark excitement in the eyes of your dinner guests. It’s a dessert that they can recognize, but with a non-traditional flavor profile. Crème Brûlée may sound intimidating to make, but I assure you it’s definitely doable. Before you start this recipe, be sure to have a blowtorch to brûlée (French for “burnt”) the sugar. I’d recommend skipping the wimpy kitchen torches, and instead purchasing a blowtorch head that attaches to a small canister of propane (available at Home Depot, Lowes or Ace Hardware). Brûlée the sugar in front of your dinner guests for added theatrics. Some Crème Brûlée recipes suggest you caramelize the sugar underneath your broiler. This method is not recommended, and may result in uneven caramelization. Finally, do not overcook your custard. If you do, your showstopper dessert will turn to chocolate-flavored scrambled eggs. Be sure to check for doneness based on the visual cues outlined here, and don’t rely completely on the timing suggestions.

Chocolate Peppermint Crème Brûlée Ingredients

2 cups heavy cream 3 oz. good quality bittersweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces (I used Valrhona here) 3 egg yolks 2 tbsp. sugar, plus an additional 6 teaspoons for the topping 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract 1 tbsp. coffee liqueur Mini candy canes, smashed into small bits Special equipment: blowtorch, 6 ramekins (oven-safe ceramic or glass bowls)

Process Be prepared. Preheat an oven to 325ºF. Have a full pot of boiling water ready. Place six 4-ounce ramekins in a baking dish. Set aside. Flavor base. Warm heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until small bubbles form around the edge of the pan, and steam is

rising from the surface of the cream. Remove from heat, add chocolate, and stir until melted and combined. Let cool slightly. In a bowl with a pour spout, whisk together egg yolks and 2 tablespoons of sugar until the mixture is thick and pale yellow (about 5 minutes; you can use a hand mixer here as well). Slowly stir in the warm chocolate/cream mixture, and then stir in vanilla, peppermint and coffee liqueur. Start with 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract, and then add more to taste. Cook and cool. Divide the chocolate mixture among the prepared

n i n e t y - e igh t [ d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 ]

ramekins, and then transfer the baking dish to the oven. Carefully add boiling water to the pan halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Cover the entire baking dish loosely with aluminum foil. Bake until the custards are set around the edges (25 – 35 minutes). Test for doneness by jiggling one of the ramekins. It’s done when the edges stay in place, and the center is still wobbly. Do not overcook. Transfer the ramekins to a wire rack and let cool to room temperate. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Fire works. Just before serving, sprinkle 1 teaspoon of sugar evenly over the surface of each custard. Using a blowtorch, caramelize the sugar on top until golden. Move the flame continuously over the sugar. The sugar will bubble, and then darken. Finish with a sprinkling of crushed candy cane.

easy recipe: follow me!

n i n e t y - n i n e [december 2013]

TA S T E { DRINK }

that’s the spirit Three cheers, and a taste of Finest City history

B y Ro n D o n o h o P h o t o b y S a r a N o r r is

uring Prohibition (1920 to 1933), F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (published in 1925) glamorized the bootlegging lifestyle of New York’s social elite. Around the same time, a Los Angeles distillery owned by real-life bootlegger Alfred Hart was cranking out bottles of illegal spirits in connection with infamous mobster Al Capone. Two such bottles recently fell into the hands of Jeff Josenhans, head mixologist and director of beverages at downtown’s The U.S. Grant hotel. “I didn’t think it was legit at first,” says Josenhans, who received a call from a woman claiming to have found the bottles and other antiques stamped with a “U.S. Grant” logo when cleaning out her deceased mother’s Chula Vista home.

Although skeptical, Josenhans drove to check it out. After poring over rows and rows of dusty boxes, he found his prize: two bottles of “U.S. Grant” label gin with the words “Federal Law Forbids Sale” embossed into the glass. He made the woman an offer she couldn’t refuse, trading her an overnight stay and dinner at Grant Grill for the bottles and some vintage glassware. One of the bottles is now on permanent display outside Grant Grill, the hotel’s lobby-level eatery. One of 12 guests who purchases

This 80-year-old bottle of U.S. Grant bootleg gin carries a warning: “Federal Law Forbids Sale.”

bottle-service ($650) at The U.S. Grant’s Gatsby-themed New Year’s eve gala — a tawdry affair to be held in the subterranean Celestial Ballroom, once a Prohibition-era speakeasy called Bivouac — will win the other. Despite the history, Josenhans says he’d crack open the bottle if he were the winner. ONE

“It’s sealed, and alcohol doesn’t go bad,” he says. “It’s going to taste like cheap gin — not the best, but it’s a very special bottle.” Thanks to Josenhans’ find, not to mention a little help from Fitzgerald and Leonardo DiCaprio (who stars in the film Gatsby, which hit theatres in May), 2013 is set to end with a bang

H U N D RE D [ DECEMBER 2 0 1 3 ]

at Downtown’s most historic hotel. And whoever wins The U.S. Grant’s mysterious bottle of bootlegged gin is sure to make some noise for the Roaring Twenties. The U.S. Grant 326 Broadway, Downtown 619.232.3121, usgrant.net

FACEBOOK.COM/TULLAMOREDEW

GROOVE

Sound Decisions SPIN CYCLE bartender

12.7

JAY Z

Valley View Casino Center, valleyviewcasinocenter.com

If this 14-time Grammy Award-winning rapper/producer/entrepreneur has “99 Problems” (seems like a high estimate), not being rich ain’t one either. In 2012, Forbes magazine estimated Shawn “Jay Z” Carter’s net-worth to be $450 million. Add to that what his better half, Beyoncé Knowles, brings home — not to mention the success of his 12th album, Magna Carta... Holy Grail, which dropped in July — and the Hard Knock Life H.O.V.A. rapped about in 1998 seems even farther from the truth. o n e

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[decembeR concert calendar[ B y C a t li n D o r s e t

12/5: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis @ Valley View Casino Center, valleyviewcasinocenter.com The notorious “thrift shopping” hip-hop duo is currently in the midst of a world tour.

12/3: B.B. King @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com The King of Blues sang “Sweet Home Chicago” with President Obama during a blues music celebration at the White House last year.

12/5: Will Hoge @ The Griffin, thegriffinsd.com This Southern rocker’s song “Strong” is featured in a TV commercial for the 2014 Chevy Silverado.

12/4: Star 94.1 Acoustic Christmas @ House of Blues, houseofblues.com Pop rockers Daughtry, Gavin DeGraw, Micheal Franti and ZZ Ward perform to benefit the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. 12/4: Tedeschi Trucks Band @ Balboa Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org This blues band recently performed the title track of its album Made Up Mind on Conan. 12/4: Howie Day @ The Griffin, thegriffinsd.com This Pop rocker is best known for “Collide” and “She Says,” his hits from nearly a decade ago.

12/6: Every Time I Die @ Che Cafe, sodabarmusic.com These metalcore dudes will tour with (and open for) A Day to Remember throughout Europe early next year. 12/6: 91X Holiday Bonus @ Valley View Casino Center, valleyviewcasinocenter.com In addition to its annual Wrex the Halls show (see 12/8 listing), 91X brings indie pop-rock bands Fitz and The Tantrums, The Airborne Toxic Event, Chvrches and The Royal Concept to Sports Arena Blvd.

[ [ 12.3

12/1: Less Than Jake @ House of Blues, houseofblues.com These punk rockers recently released their ninth album, See The Light, and are touring until mid-February to promote it.

Kaki King The Casbah casbahmusic.com

In 2007, this jazz instrumentalist was the only female included on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of “The New Guitar Gods.”

[ [ Rufus12.1 Wainwright Belly Up Tavern bellyup.com

Ti n a T y r e l l

Indie pop singer-songwriter dude keen on performing Judy Garland covers while wearing red lipstick and stilettos.

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g r o o ve { sound decisions } {continued from page 104} 12/6: Blood On The Dance Floor @ SOMA, somasandiego.com According to the group’s Facebook page, God sent this electro pop band to “piss the world off.” 12/7: Fu Manchu @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com This stoner rock band garnered lots of exposure in 2008, when its song “Mongoose” played in a Toyota Sequoia commercial during the Super Bowl. 12/7: MS MR @ Soda Bar, sodabarmusic.com Several songs from this indie pop twosome have been featured in TV shows Pretty Little Liars, Grey’s Anatomy and Revenge, among others.

12/8: KPRi Holiday Soiree @ California Center for the Arts, artcenter.org Bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to Toys for Tots and see indie rockers The Head & The Heart, Matt Nathanson and Dawes perform live. 12/9: Tommy & The High Pilots @ The Griffin, thegriffinsd.com These Santa Barbara rockers recently wrapped a tour with Plain White T’s and Parachute. 12/10: Third Eye Blind @ House of Blues, houseofblues.com The limited-edition vinyl boxed set these alt. rockers spent a year-and-a-half compiling sold out within a day of its release in mid-November.

[ [ 12.8

91x Wrex the Halls

Valley View Casino Center valleyviewcasinocenter.com

12/10: Exhumed @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com This death metal band just completed a monthlong nationwide tour with headliners Dying Fetus.

[ [

12/11: The Black Crowes @ Balboa Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org American rock band that elbowed its way onto VH1’s list of “100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock” at No. 92. 12/11: Lissie @ House of Blues, houseofblues.com Folk rock singer-songwriter on a world tour to promote her sophomore album, Back to Forever.

Nora Lezano

Queens of the Stone Age, Vampire Weekend, Cage the Elephant, Arctic Monkeys, Alt-J, The Silent Comedy and J Roddy Walston & the Business will rock 91X’s annual holiday showcase.

Merle12.8 Haggard

Pechanga Resort & Casino pechanga.com This country/western superstar admitted to dropping thousands of dollars on cocaine in the ‘80s, and then spending five months on a houseboat having what he called, “quite a party.”

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P A C I F I C S D p r o m o t i o n : u n d e r w r aps

ChristmasConsignment Stylish and price-savvy women know My Sister’s Closet is the place to shop for their favorite labels. We’re talking AUTHENTIC Louis Vuitton, Chanel, True Religion, and more — at 60-95 percent below retail. Plus, the store showcases hundreds of new items every day.

Earn some quick holiday cash and clear out your closet by consigning your gently used designer digs. Consigners are paid either 55 percent in store credit or 45 percent in cash of the selling price of each item sold. The in-store credit never expires and can be used in any of the 14 My Sister’s Closet or Well Suited stores in Arizona and California. Who needs Santa when you have your Sisters? My Sister’s Closet 8610 Genesee Ave., Suite 200 Costa Verde Center (Across from UTC) San Diego, CA 92122 858.455.0045

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New Location! My Sister’s Closet and Well Suited 146 N. El Camino Real Encinitas, CA 92024 760.436.3600 mysisterscloset.com

g r o o ve { sound decisions } {continued from page 106}

12.15

F r e d r ik - E t o a l l

[ [ Icona Pop

House of Blues houseofblues.com Singing about crashing a car into a bridge and not caring about it (in the 2013 hit, “I Love It”) made this electro pop duo an overnight success.

12.16

[ [ Tristan Prettyman

12/12: Willie Nelson & Family @ Pechanga Resort & Casino, pechanga.com This country singer serves on the advisory board for NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), supporting his long-time love — reefer. 12/12: The Story So Far @ SOMA, somasandiego.com Pop punk band that played several dates of the 2013 VANS Warped Tour. 12/12: The Mowgli’s @ The Griffin, thegriffinsd.com L.A.-based rock band currently headlining the Random Acts of Kindness Tour.

12/14: Trivium @ SOMA, somasandiego.com Heavy metal Floridians on tour to promote their album Trivium, released in October.

Belly Up Tavern bellyup.com

Best known for her 2012 hit “My Oh My,” this indie pop singersongwriter/surfer from San Diego had a brief modeling gig with Roxy when she was in high school.

12/15: The California Honeydrops @ The Griffin, thegriffinsd.com This R&B/soul band from Oakland raised $26,337 on Kickstarter last year to help fund its latest album, Like You Mean It. 12/18: Jake Miller @ House of Blues, houseofblues.com The 20-year-old hip-hop artist is touring to promote his debut album, Us Against Them. 12/18: Orgy @ Brick by Brick, brickbybrick.com Alt. rockers that performed alongside Korn, Limp Bizkit, Ice Cube and more during the 1998 Family Values Tour. o n e

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Capitol Records

12/13: Slightly Stoopid @ SOMA, somasandiego.com These psychedelic rockers from Ocean Beach will perform at the Jungle Jam in Costa Rica, January 16-19, with G Love, Dumpstaphunk, The Expendables and many more.

12/14: Joe Bonamassa @ Valley View Casino Center, valleyviewcasinocenter.com This bluesy rock guitarist impressed B.B. King so much so that, beginning at age 12, he was invited to perform as an opening act for the blues legend.

{continued on page 110}

WIN A FREE SHUTTERGRAM FOR YOUR NEXT PARTY!

P A C I F I C S D p r o m o t i o n : u n d e r w r aps

Flight’s Cool Give the gift of flight: paragliding or hang gliding (tandem flights) above the cliffs at Torrey Pines. Photo and video packages available upon request. Deli open daily; grill open on weekends. Torrey Pines Gliderport 2800 Torrey Pines Scenic Dr. 858.452.9858, flytorrey.com facebook.com/flytpg

WHAT IS SHUTTERGRAM? ShutterGram is a brand new, unique approach to event photography from Shutterbooth where your guests are the photographers! Guests simply have to upload photos to their Instagram feeds using an exclusive hashtag created just for your event. Once the photos are uploaded, ShutterGram ﬁnds the photos with that hashtag and displays them on a touch screen for guests to print on-site!

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK { SHUTTERBOOTHSD } FOR CONTEST DETAILS. (619) 870-1302 #shutterboothsd smile@shutterbooth.com www.shutterbooth.com

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House of Blues houseofblues.com

[

K at i e H o v l a n d

[

NOFX12.19

These punk rockers voiced their strong opinions of a certain U.S. president back in 2003 with two compilation albums titled Rock Against Bush, and then kicked off a U.S. tour by the same name.

12/20: Brian Setzer Orchestra @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com The rockabilly front man and his swinging blues band are on their Christmas Rocks 10th Anniversary Tour for the rest of the year. 12/21: Sheila E @ Sycuan Casino, sycuan.com Prince’s former drummer and back-up R&B singer recently won Season Three of CMT’s Gone Country reality show, in which she competed against other quasi celebs to become a country music singer. 12/21: U.S. Bombs @ Soda Bar, sodabarmusic.com Orange County punk rock bank rumored to be working on a new album for release in 2014. 12/21: Good Riddance @ Brick by Brick, brickbybrick.com These hardcore punkers called it quits in 2007 to work on other projects; they reunited in 2012. 12/22: The Animal in Me @ Brick by Brick, brickbybrick.com Check out this rock band’s cover of Carly Rae Jepsen’s hit, “Call Me Maybe” — unless you liked her version, in which case maybe don’t.

o n e

hu n d r e d

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12/22: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony @ House of Blues, houseofblues.com Recognized as one of the most successful hiphop groups after selling 50 million records, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony won a Grammy Award in 1997 for its song “The Crossroads.” 12/26: The Growlers @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com These rockers from Dana Point performed at the Coachella and Lollapalooza music festivals last year. 12/27-28: The Green & J Boog @ House of Blues, houseofblues.com Hawaiian reggae band The Green and former B2K R&B boy bander J Boog join forces for a postholiday show. 12/28 & 30: Donavon Frankenreiter @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com This soft/surf rocker’s song “Lovely Day” was featured on the motion picture soundtracks for Snakes on a Plane and Georgia Rule. 12/31: The Expendables @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com Reggae rockers from Santa Cruz in the midst of their Winter Blackout 2014 tour with Stick Figure and Seedless.

P A C I F I C S D p r o m o t i o n : u n d e r w r aps

Luxurious Lingerie

at Affordable Prices

Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, everyone deserves a little spice! Thrill your lover this holiday season with our sexy lingerie, couples’ games, massage candles and oils, bedtime toys and much more! Where Couples Love To Shop! Barnett Avenue Superstore 3610 Barnett Ave., Sports Arena 619.224.0187, barnetteaveadultsuperstore.com Déjà Vu Love Boutique 1560 N. Magnolia Ave., El Cajon 619.448.3791, loveboutiqueonline.com

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[

12.2

Nightmares on Wax Belly Up Tavern bellyup.com

Analogging On EDM meets instrumentation for an incredible live performance B y S c o t t Mc D o n ald

eeds-born DJ/composer George Evelyn, aka Nightmares on Wax, has been making groundbreaking electronic albums for nearly 25 years. His music reflects his strong ties to the hip-hop and breakdancing culture, as well as his being influenced by the rave movement of the late80s and early ‘90s. By infusing drum-machine beats into the organic sounds of soul, jazz and funk, Evelyn has created his own version of the EDM genre known as Laid Back. Now, having taken a five-year hiatus from recording while hosting the weekly “Wax The Jam” party at Las Dalias, Ibiza’s oldest nightclub, Evelyn has released his seventh full-length album, Feelin’ Good. “I wanted to take my time with this album,” he o n e

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says. “I wanted to live with the music and really ask what I had to say for myself. And the answer came from the heart: everyone’s sovereign right to feel good. It’s available to anybody and is just a thought away. So making music like that, and thinking like that, has been a joy.” A six-piece incarnation of Nightmares on Wax is currently on a 22-date tour to promote Feelin’ Good. Its December 2 stop at Belly Up marks the group’s second U.S. and first San Diego show ever. While this might be local fans’ only chance to catch the live show, it’s certainly not the last time they’ll hear from George Evelyn. “I believe in the art form,” he says. “And I believe in the manipulation of sound. I want to make the perfect marriage between the analog and the digital. My mission is to bring them together.”

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[decembeR edm shows[ B y D J T r is t a n D

12/5: Kill The Noise @ FLUXX New York-based Dubstep master Jake Stanczak’s unique sound has gained him a cult following. Get ready for big, dirty beats with a touch of grime.

12/14: Gabriel & Dresden @ Bassmnt, bassmntsd.com Best known for their hit “Tracking Treasure Down,” Trance/Tech duo Josh Gabriel and Dave Dresden reunited in 2011, having split up in 2008 on the same day they won the Best American DJ award at the famed Winter Music Conference in Miami.

12th Planet, Clicks & Whistles, Massiv

12.3AC Slater

12/7: Anna Lunoe @ Bang Bang, bangbangsd.com Producer/singer/DJ Anna Lunoe’s latest single, “Breathe,” has topped the iTunes charts in recent weeks. Her “Jump Up” sound sure gets the feet tapping.

12/12: Benny Benassi @ Bassmnt, bassmntsd.com Chart-topping Electro House artist Benny Benassi is the man behind some of the biggest EDM tracks of the past 10 years. His 2004 hit “Satisfaction” reached No. 1 on both sides of the pond.

Bang Bang bangbangsd.com Dubstep and Drum & Bass will be the order of play for this festival-caliber lineup, a big-booming treat for a Tuesday night in the Gaslamp.

Sasha12.1 Bassmnt bassmntsd.com

Considered by many to be the godfather of electronic music, Welsh producer/DJ Sasha has a euphoric, emotional, yet energetic edge that has spanned more than 25 years and stems from the Acid House era. {continued on page 116} o n e

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12/20: Viceroy @ Bang Bang, bangbangsd.com Viceroy, whose production techniques give him a quirky edge in the House arena, has collaborated with and remixed tracks by heavyweight artists including Lady Gaga, Maroon 5 and Passion Pit, to name but a few. 12/21: Emma Hewitt @ Bassmnt, bassmntsd.com Trance diva Emma Hewitt is an amazing vocalist who’s collaborated with some of the biggest names in EDM. 12/31: New Year’s Eve @ Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, sdnye.com Ring in the New Year with an impressive EDM line-up including Sidney Samson, Tony Arzadon, Chris Garcia, DJ Loczi, Scooter & Lavelle, DJ Fingaz and more. A special live vocal performance and midnight countdown by Eva Simons will signal that the best of the night is yet to come. 12/31: Alex Kenji @ Rooftop 600 at Andaz, rooftop600.com Italy’s finest House/Dubstep artist hits San Diego for an alfresco experience under the stars.

OMFG! NYE 2014 12.30-31 Valley View Casino Center mylifeeveryday.com

12/31: Sex Panther @ Stingaree, stingsandiego.com Electro House plus Dubstep equals supa-sexy.

A broad spectrum of EDM lights up the Sports Arena with a twonight stadium show featuring Boys Noize, Brazzabelle, Bro Safari, Cole Plante, Diplo, DJ Snake, Feed Me, GTA, Henrix, Laidback Luke, Madeon, Nero (DJ Set), Nervo and Ookay.

manufactured superstars12.27 Bassmnt bassmntsd.com This Denver-based DJ/production House duo bursts with non-stop energy from start to finish.

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30 DIFFERENT TASTES OVER 12 HOLIDAY MARTINIS

HOLIDAY SHOPPING SPECIALS ALL THROUGHOUT HILLCREST

THURSDAY DECEMBER

12th 5 - 9 PM

Advance tickets $20. Tickets on the day of are $25 SCAN THE CODE TO

B U Y T I C K E T S N O W AT FA B U LO U S H I L LC R E S T. CO M LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

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g r o o ve { bartender }

Behind the scenes at Lucky Bastards Saloon in the Gaslamp.

Many Moons A long-time tenant leaves... and look whose (sic.) back B y R o n D o n o h o / P h o t o s b y J e ff “ Tu r b o ” C o r r iga n

It seems so long ago that San Diego Hardware Company abandoned the Gaslamp location where it first opened shop in 1892. Since then, Cremolose, a European bakery/breakfast restaurant, has come and gone from the same site. Today, a rustic, biker-themed sports bar called Lucky Bastard Saloon calls the historic space home… and it seems to be kicking ass. As for what’s been drawing a crowd to the new venue, says owner/manager Nicole Dahm, “It’s probably the 30 girls we have in chaps… and the 70-inch TVs.” {continued on page 120} o n e

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Dahm, one of three triplets named Playboy Playmates in December 1998, leads the Lucky Bastard crew of body-confident bartenders and servers, who do their jobs in ass-less chaps (in case the photo left any confusion). When the bar’s pending entertainment license is finally issued, and the wait-staff is thereby allowed to perform choreography on the bar, Dahm intends to join the dance-line. “It only takes a couple cocktails,” she says. In the meantime, drink in the surroundings at Lucky Bastard Saloon, where it’s sure to be a Merry Christmass.

Jennifer Kendra Phillips Christiansonserver: “It gets Blansfield a little drafty, but bartender: “I we warm up as we work my ass off walk around.” at the gym to look good in these.”

}

Mandie Fenton bartender: “The chaps are the best, most unique work outfit I’ve ever seen.”

Alicia Wong server: “I like having my butt show. It helps with tips.”

Ashley Brinkley server: “They’re really breezy, and it makes me feel super sexy.”

}

Nicole Dahm (left) with her twin sisters Erica (middle) and Jaclyn. Their parents had one and two dots tattooed on Nicole and Erica’s butts, respectively, to tell their triplet daughters apart during infancy.

Nicole Dahm’s husband, Michael Kelly, played in a band called Lucky Bastards, hence the bar’s name.

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Nicole Dahm owner: “I’ve ridden my motorcycle with these on. They’re leather.”

Smart Ass

Brilliant things to say when hanging out at Lucky Bastard Saloon No ifs, and or butts. Okay, maybe some butts. Another drink? Butt, of course. I want to get left behind… third from the left, actually. I’m so bummed (works best with British accent). I can’t wait to get to the bottom of this drink. Nothing butt the truth (ideal for lawyers on lunch break). May I ass you a stupid question?

AManda Rickard Maegan Clements Katelyn Munn Allison Torres server: “It’s a server: “We bartender: “How bartender: “They little windy.” all look different can you go wrong don’t have any in chaps, and with girls in booty pockets. I don’t they bring out shorts and ass- have anywhere to our different less chaps?” put anything.” personalities.”

Lucky Bastard Saloon owner Nicole Dahm has two kids; so do each of her twins, Erica and Jaclyn. In fact, all three sisters had boys within a year of each other, and then each had a girl within a year after that.

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L O V E { BLIND DATE } LEGEND

♥ = a kiss (or more) or second date (or a promise thereof )

♨ = hot mess

⚐ = neutral

BLIND AMBITIONS If at first we don’t succeed, we do it eleven more times each year

As PacificSD closes the books on a seventh year of blind dates, here’s a look back at January through November’s adventures of the heart. None of this year’s would-be romantic interludes have spawned marriages or children (yet, that we know of ), but another blind date couple is indeed getting married next April (the first was in September 2009). Stay tuned for details.

♥January 2013: Dinner at RA Sushi in the Gaslamp; tequila tasting at The Blind Burro in East Village. ERICA: I’m having fun. He’s really nice. He’s very outgoing and personable, so we’re having a good time. IVAN: Gorgeous legs, pretty smile. Definitely a little reserved, but that’s probably the way she grew up. Very sweet. PacificSD: Will there be a second date? ERICA: I think so. We had a fun time. IVAN: We will see.

♥February 2013: Appetizers and drinks at Herringbone; perfume-making at Tijon; dinner at Cusp (all in La Jolla). LESLIE: He’s the type of guy I would want to date, because he has everything I’m looking for. ERIC: She’s smart, she’s independent, she’s kind of entrepreneurial like me, so that’s a good thing. PacificSD: Does your date want to kiss you right now? LESLIE: Absolutely. ERIC: Yes. What if I said that I already had? [Editor’s note: Watch for Eric on an upcoming episode of Bravo {continued on page 124} TV’s Millionaire Matchmaker.] ONE

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♥March 2013: Dinner and drinks at Luce; Salvador Santana concert at The Griffin (both in Bay Park). LIZ: He’s handsome, which is good. And friendly. MURPHI: Very pretty girl. Wasn’t shy, really complemented my style... It was a good rapport from the start. PacificSD: Was there a kiss or romantic exchange? LIZ: Bear hug. MURPHI: I couldn’t let Liz get away without giving her a sample. So, yes, we had a slight exchange of salivary fluids.

♨ April 2013: Science and cocktails at Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park; dinner at Davanti Enoteca in Little Italy. ALYSSA: I think I had more chemistry with the science exhibits. JAMIE: She was tall. I was shorter than her, but she was also in heels. But she was very pretty and very nice, very sincere and everything. PacificSD: Is this the type of person you’d normally date? ALYSSA: No, he’s too young for me. I typically date older guys... four years, or more, older. JAMIE: She seemed very nice and wasn’t on her phone the whole time like a lot of girls are, so that was cool.

♨May 2013: Failing to cross the border into Mexico; dinner and mariachis at Cafe Coyote in Old Town. LAURA: No kiss and not an ounce of romance. NATHAN: I usually go for exotic girls… like, not white. PacificSD: What was the worst part of the date? LAURA: Acting like I was interested was really tiring. NATHAN: Probably the mutual feeling that we weren’t all that into each other.

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♥JUNE 2013: Wakeboarding near Coronado; late lunch at C Level on Harbor Island. CHELSEA: First off, I noticed the tattoos, which I like. The conversation flowed really nice. RAYMOND: Definitely the right hair color, beautiful eyes. She seemed like she was down for fun. PacificSD: Will there be a second date? CHELSEA: I would like to see him again, but I’m old-fashioned. I would like to go on a proper date. RAYMOND: I think so. We’ve been in contact since the date, and it seems like there is a mutual interest in hanging out again.

⚐August 2013: Skydiving at Skydive San Diego in Jamul; dinner and drinks at Wonderland Ocean Pub in Ocean Beach. LIZZY: He’s motivated, he’s educated, open-minded. He seems like he’s definitely forward-focused, moving forward and growing. RYAN: She has extremely dreamy eyes, a sensational laugh and is just a vivacious, fun señorita. PacificSD: Will there be a second date? LIZZY: I think that we’ll definitely see each other again, as friends. RYAN: We’re planning on seeing each other at Opening Day at the races with all of our friends.

⚐July 2013: Alpha Warrior obstacle course at Qualcomm Stadium; dinner at Brooklyn Girl in Mission Hills. JOSEFINE: I don’t know what’s up with the nose ring. But I guess Lenny Kravitz has one, too, right? GIOVANNI: She’s pretty and she’s feisty. I don’t know if I’m the type she’d normally date, but that’s the great thing about your show. PacificSD: Will there be a second date? JOSEFINE: He’s a great guy. Maybe, maybe not. Gotta keep it a mystery. GIOVANNI: I could totally see us hanging out again. In fact, we kinda have to, because she’s got my sunglasses. ONE

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L O V E { BLIND DATE } {continued from page 126} 122}

⚐September 2013: Fashion photo shoot in the park; clouds prevent hot air ballooning; dinner at Sea & Smoke (all in Del Mar). TALIA: He’s really nice and funny, and has a great sense of humor… I also think he’s a little bit overly confident. OLIVER: She’s very pretty, without a doubt, and she’s got a great body, but I like these open, overzealous girls that are hilarious and super confident in themselves. PacificSD: What’s the most attractive thing about your date? TALIA: I think that he actually handles himself like a true gentleman. OLIVER: The most attractive thing she’s done so far is definitely not-wear a bra.

♨October 2013: Dueling pianos (and a serenade by Arun) at The Shout! House in the Gaslamp; San Diego Music Thing concert at U31 in North Park. JOYCE: My type is very blonde-haired, blue-eyed, corn-fed, Midwestern, plays football kind of thing. ARUN: I don’t usually date Asians. PacificSD: What’s the funniest thing that happened? JOYCE: I caught a glimpse of a text message from him that said, “Asian .” He groveled and said he wanted to take me out again… because I’d absolutely sign up for that. ARUN: I felt like an A-hole, but she was super cool, and we had a good laugh about it.

♥November 2013: Brewery tour to Hess Brewing in North Park, Karl Strauss Brewing Company near Pacific Beach and Culture Brewing Co. in Solana Beach; dinner at Lumberyard Tavern in Encinitas. COLETTE: He was cuter than I thought he would be. He’s the type of guy I’d usually be with. RYAN: Colette was awesome. She’s a good-looking girl. PacificSD: Will there be a second date? COLETTE: Signs point to yes. RYAN: I don’t know. I’m hoping my proposition for drinks at Applebees in El Cajon will seal the deal.

WANT TO STAR IN A PACIFICSD BLIND DATE? Email a photo or two along with a couple sentences about yourself and what you’re looking for in a date to blinddate@pacificsandiego.com. ONE

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KEEP IT COOL THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. ALWAYS DESIGNATE A DRIVER.

think

Pho-Netics Sounds like soup’s on B y D avid P e r l o ff

ome people say it’s “fuh.” Others insist it’s “fo.” But no matter how you pronounce the popular Vietnamese dish, there’s definitely something pho-knee about the hearty noodle soups described here.

Answer: Phogettaboutit.

Question: What should I do about the fly in my soup?

Answer: Pho kingdom.

Question: Where do soup-loving morons live?

Answer: Pho sho.

Question: Are you certain this is the best soup ever?

(For real phos, including those offered by Pho Realz?!, see “Mo Pho,” page 88.) Just pho fun, when reading these “fuh” and “fo” phrases aloud, imagine yourself as Carnac the Magnificent*, the legendary mystic from the East who could divine answers to questions before they were asked.

Answer: Pho queue.

Question: Why did you cut in front of me in the soup line?

Answer: Pho pas.

Question: How can I remember which is the proper spoon?

Answer: Mother pho curse.

Question: What did the Wicked Witch mutter while stirring up her toxic brew for Dorothy and Toto?

Answer: Pho Kim.

Question: What does Kanye West think while eating soup and watching the sex tape his wife made with Ray J?

Answer: Pho glee.

Question: How can someone so unattractive be so cheerful about soup?

Answer: Pho kit.

Question: What are the ingredients for making laissez faire soup?

Answer: Pho cup.

Question: Did you really spill half the bowl on your boss?

Answer: Pho cough.

Question: You think it’s this soup that gave me a sore throat? *Carnac the Magnificent is a character Johnny Carson (1925 – 2005) played on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. For vivid insight into the life and mind of the legendary television star, read Johnny Carson, a new biography (released October 15) by Carson’s former attorney Henry Bushkin. A reviewer from The New York Times describes the book as a “rare celebrity tell-all by an author who knows whom and what he’s talking about.” o n e

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