PACIFIC San Diego Magazine, December 2018 by Pacific San Diego Magazine

Loud &Clear

The Daily Showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Trevor Noah brings comedy tour to San Diego

A holiday beer overnighter, 15 restaurant openings, stage performances, concerts that rock, cool events (including NYE), colorful exhibits and contest giveaways.

December 2018

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EDITOR’S NOTE

BRAD WISE PHOTO BY NELVIN C. CEPEDA; LOLA 55 PHOTO BY SAM WELLS.

A Few of My Favorite Things I can’t believe 2018 is coming to a close. This year — as years increasingly seem to do — has passed in the blink of an eye. And, as I’m wont to do each year, I have been looking back on all the great things that happened. Here are some of my 2018 highlights:

LIFE No matter how many great meals I ate or shows I saw in 2018, the absolute top highlight of the year was getting engaged in April at the base of Yosemite Falls. Sorry (no, not sorry) to get a bit gushy, but this day couldn’t have been better. My parents were there, his dad and brother were there, it was a spot special to his grandfather and the ring was my grandmother’s. I don’t think you can pack much more sentiment into one particular moment.

FOOD As an editor of a lifestyle/entertainment magazine, my weeks are filled with lots of food. From checking out the newest restaurant opening to trying ever-changing seasonal menus, plus throwing in a few golden oldies, food is at the forefront of my job. I do it all for you, dear reader — not even the fact that I have to fit into a wedding dress can deter me from finding great dining spots to feature in PACIFIC. So, here are a few standout experiences from 2018: Top-of-the-line ingredients at a low price point in a casual setting is just the start of greatness at Lola 55 in East Village. The restaurant, which opened in August, is set in a colorful, inviting space with a menu that begs you to order one of everything. From the Quesadillas Oaxaca to the Pozole Verde or the bright, fresh Aguachile to the Ribeye Carne Asada or Squash Blossom Relleno tacos, there hasn’t been a bite chef Drew Bent has put forth that I haven’t enjoyed tremendously. Cocktails? You can’t go wrong there either, thanks to the fine list created by Gareth Moore. The many-months-delayed STK finally opened its doors over the summer just before ComicCon rolled into town. And, while the steak and sundry appetizers I’ve had there are all tasty, it is the foraged mushrooms side dish that sticks in my mind. The umami dish was the perfect accompaniment to the dry-aged Delmonico steak on my plate (well worth the $18 charge) during one visit. The mix includes six different kinds of mushrooms (golden chanterelle, maitake, oyster and enokitake to name a few), all collected by 6

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

foragers from FreshPoint, based in the City of Industry, and cooked up by chef David Burke and his team. Most fresh in my mind, and what I’ll call my top dining experience of 2018, was when chef Brad Wise and his team at Trust restaurant recreated the “Sunny San Diego” meal they presented in October at the James Beard House in New York City. The star dish, in my mind, was the barbecued quail with pine nut risotto, apple butter, smoky yogurt and cilantro pistou. Luckily, if you missed out on this special night, you’ll still be able to find a dish or two (including my second favorite course of grilled octopus) featured on the regular Trust menu in Hillcrest.

Chef Brad Wise

ENTERTAINMENT While great food filled my belly, it was great entertainment that filled my soul in 2018. Highlights included: From a small, newly built theater in Logan Heights comes a moving (literally) dance performance from Keone & Mari Madrid (The Ellen DeGeneres Show and So You Think You Can Dance) and Hideaway Circus. Continuing through Dec. 16, Beyond Babel features West Coast urban dance style and is inspired by Romeo and Juliet and the modern-day walls that divide families, friends and communities. If you’ve never seen a live performance from Mexico City artists Rodrigo y Gabriella I insist you do when and wherever you can. Close your eyes and you’d think the duo, armed only with guitars, was backed by full percussions. Open your eyes and you’ll find yourself captivated by the incredibly fast-moving hands of both performers. Rodrigo y Gabriella played not one, not two, but three shows (Aug. 16, 28, 29) at Solana Beach’s intimate Belly Up — an ideal venue to enjoy the tantalizing music inspired by rock, heavy metal and nuevo flamenco.

Beyond Babel

Lola 55

With so much greatness in 2018, I can’t wait to see what 2019 has in store. And, I’d love to hear about your favorite moments of the year. Please share with me at leslie@pacificsandiego.com. Cheers,

Leslie Hackett leslie@pacificsandiego.com

Volume #12 | Issue #12 | December 2018

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / DIGITAL DIRECTOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR MANAGING EDITOR COPY EDITOR CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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It’s a Gift

Rapper Lil Jon, aka the “King of Crunk,” returns to San Diego to get behind the decks at an epic nightclub appearance. It’s a prize you won’t be able to turn down (for what). Dec. 14 at OMNIA San Diego

Actually, it’s a bunch of prizes

’Tis the Season Raise a glass to the holidays and enjoy cocktail and food samples from 24 of the top Gaslamp restaurants and bars (plus shopping deals from 10 area retailers) at the annual Toast of Gaslamp. Dec. 8 at venues throughout the Gaslamp

CHADD CADY

Register to win tickets to these December events and more at pacificsandiego.com/contests. Life’s cool in San Diego. Here’s proof:

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Puck Off

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Get a piece of the action by winning a pair of tickets to a San Diego Gulls game at their home in the Midway District against the Ontario Reign.

Dec. 8 at Liberty Station

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CONTENTS DECEMBER 2018

CURRENTS 16 Twelve.Eighteen December events calendar

PULSE 36 Art Beat December gallery + exhibition openings

32 Laughing Stock December stand-up comedy shows

44 Curtain Calls December performing arts preview 46 The Reel Deal December motion picture preview

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

TASTE 52 Season’s Eatings A dashing list of new restaurants, bars and distilleries is sure to make spirits bright 66 Full Plate December food + drink events 68 Take it From the Tap A monthly taste of beer from here

ON THE COVER: South African born Trevor Noah, host of The Daily Show, brings the gift of insightful and cutting political humor to San Diego on his Loud & Clear tour. Photo by Matt Sayles. For more December comedy shows, see page 32. ON THIS PAGE: A still from Warren Miller’s Face of Winter, an annual ski and snowboard movie (airing at the La Paloma Theatre in Encinitas on Dec. 8) that highlights the stunning work of some of the world’s greatest skiers and snowboarders. Image by Richard Hallman. For more December events, see page 16.

GROOVE 70 Sounds Like a Plan December concert calendar 84 Take a Spin Upcoming EDM + DJ performances

LOVE 86 The Cold and the Beautiful A pair of Geminis attempt a holiday romance on ice

Introducing ORBIUM

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CURRENTS WHAT’S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW BY MICHAEL BENNINGER

12.8 WARREN MILLER’S FACE OF WINTER La Paloma Theatre, Encinitas lapalomatheatre.com Warren Miller, who practically invented the modern ski movie, passed earlier this year. This movie screening pays homage to the great filmmaker and showcases some of the world’s greatest skiers and snowboarders carving powder in stunning, remote locations. PHOTO BY CHAD CHOMLACK

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

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CURRENTS | EVENTS

THROUGH 1.5.19 HOLIDAY BY THE BAY Hilton San Diego Bayfront, East Village hiltonholidaybythebay.com Barrel down a 100-foot ice slide, take a spin on an ice-bound bumper boat, then try your hand at riding a bucking reindeer at this breathtaking winter wonderland.

12.1 SUGAR RUSH 5K Embarcadero Park North, Marina District thesugarrush5k.com In this unique exhibit of athleticism, runners consume Krispy Kreme donuts at each mile-marker before attending a finish line celebration that includes cornhole, oversized checkers and ladder ball, among other games. PHOTO BY JARED GASE

12.1 WINTER WONDERLAND FESTIVAL California Center for the Arts, Escondido artcenter.org Scamper around in real snow, create winter-themed crafts and rub noses with live reindeer as the North Pole takes over the heart of Escondido.

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

12.2 THE LOCAL HOLIDAY BAZAAR The Corky McMillin Event Center, Liberty Station thelocal-bazaar.com Cross off any remaining names from your shopping list at this pop-up holiday market offering a curated selection of local fashion, handmade gifts and vintage treasures from more than 150 vendors. PHOTO BY RACHAEL SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

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The market in downtown seems to be cooling off some as we head into the 4th quarter of 2018. This time last year there were approximately 260 properties on the market and today we sit at 358 properties for sale in 92101. The increase in inventory has taken some of the urgency away from buyers and properties are taking more time on average to sell. Buyers have more properties to chose from and sellers need to be smart about how they position their property for sale now more than anytime in the last 6 years, representation matters for sellers!

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CURRENTS | EVENTS

12.2 WINTERFEST 2018 Vista Village, downtown Vista winteriscomingtovista.com Enjoy holiday carolers, a horsedrawn carriage and colorful ballet dancers at this familyfriendly fête that also includes a holiday marketplace and a snowcovered-tree lighting.

12.7-8 41ST ANNUAL DECEMBER NIGHTS Throughout Balboa Park, sandiego.gov/december-nights During this iconic two-day extravaganza – the largest free festival in the city – enjoy holiday exhibits and entertainers throughout Balboa Park.

12.8 OCEANSIDE HARBOR PARADE OF LIGHTS

12.8 FIFTH ANNUAL MAKERS HOLIDAY FAIRE

Oceanside Harbor, Oceanside, visitoceanside.org Bring a blanket, a jacket and some cocoa to sip on while watching decked-out boats of all shapes and sizes in this seafaring celebration along O’side’s coast.

Port Pavilion at Broadway Pier, Marina District, makersarcade.com Meet makers, listen to live music and express yourself at the make-and-take craft center during this unique event that includes scrumptious bites, a free photo booth and finely crafted cocktails. PHOTO BY DAVECHRISTOPHER.COM

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

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CARMEL VALLEY MARKET UPDATE # of homes for sale: 111 # of homes sold: 36 (Oct) Highest price: $3,700,000 Lowest price: $390,000 Average price: $1,139,705

As we move into the holiday season, the market continues at a steady pace. Many new listings have come available. It is a perfect time for buyers who are actively looking to move forward with their home purchase as there are an abundance of properties and interest rates continue to remain low. The temperate climate makes home shopping easy during the Winter season. San Diego was also recently ranked one of the safest big cities in America, so there is no better time to establish roots in “America’s Finest City.”

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CURRENTS | EVENTS

12.8 27TH ANNUAL JINGLE BELL RUN Liberty Station, Point Loma events.arthritis.org Do your part to help find a cure for arthritis at this holidaythemed 5K that welcomes runners to dress up in their NorthPole best.

12.8 MISSION BAY PARADE OF LIGHTS Santa Clara Point, Mission Bay, mbyc.org In this distinctly Californian celebration, an armada of seaworthy vessels decorated for the season cruises along the waters of Mission Bay. PHOTO BY JOHN GASTALDO

12.9 RED NOSE RUN Del Mar Beach, Del Mar, therednoserun.com Choose either a 3K or a 5K on this fundraising, Fido-friendly holiday run followed by drinks and bites at the iconic Poseidon Restaurant.

12.9, 16 47TH ANNUAL SAN DIEGO PARADE OF LIGHTS Several viewing areas along the San Diego Bay, sdparadeoflights.org More than 100,000 locals are expected to attend this bayfront tradition showcasing 80 lavishly decorated boats fitting this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theme: Tropical Island Christmas. PHOTO BY JOHN GASTALDO

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

12.9 OVER THE EDGE FOR BRAIN CANCER Manchester Grand Hyatt, Downtown events.abc2.org Show your fear of heights who’s boss while rappelling down the tallest building on downtown’s waterfront during this no-experiencenecessary event benefiting brain-cancer research. PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER COCHRAN

12.14 LOVE ACTUALLY SCREENING AT SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY Copley Symphony Hall, downtown sandiegosymphony.org Find the antidote to your inner Grinch at this screening of the 2003 romantic comedy accompanied by a live performance from the San Diego Symphony.

@PACIFICSD

DECEMBER 2018

CURRENTS | EVENTS

12.14-15 QUEEN BEE MARKET Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, thequeenbeemarket.com The city’s original urban-style, artisan market features more than 100 local and national vendors specializing in handmade and vintage accessories, along with clothing, home décor, furniture and more. PHOTO BY IVETTE WEST PHOTOGRAPHY

12.15 SIXTH ANNUAL SAN DIEGO SANTA RUN Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach, sandiegorunningco.com Choose the 5K or one-mile route and race along the streets of P.B. with 3,000 other Santas, then put your free drink ticket to good use at Mavericks Beach Club’s post-race celebration. PHOTO BY 3PIX STUDIOS

12.15 SIXTH ANNUAL SAN DIEGO HOLIDAY HALF MARATHON From Rancho Penasquitos to Torrey Pines State Beach, sandiegoholidayhalf.com Burn some of those holiday calories on this fast, 13.1-mile course that travels from Penasquitos Drive to Carmel Mountain Road, then follows the bike path along State Route 56 all the way to Torrey Pines State Beach. PHOTO BY AL FERNANDEZ

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

Holiday Gifts with a Creative Twist

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

Here’s what to keep your eyes and ears open for in December. Dish It Up on Dec. 10 with guest Davin Waite of Wrench & Rodent and Whet Noodle in Oceanside

Start your holidays here Kiss My Glass on Dec. 24 with guest Kelsey McNair of North Park Beer Co. Skating through Jan 6

Dec 2 | 5 PM

Dec 1, 8, 15 & 22 | 5 PM

Rady Children’s Ice Rink at Liberty Station

Friday Night Liberty

Celebration with Santa & Friends

SKATE • CREATE • CELEBRATE • BUY LOCAL ART ARTSDISTRICTLibertyStation.com

#SaluteTheSeason @PACIFICSD

DECEMBER 2018

CURRENTS | EVENTS

12.16 11TH ANNUAL VET + PET WEST GASLAMP HOLIDAY PET PARADE MLK Promenade Park, downtown, gaslamp.org Pet owners and their furry, feathered or scaled friends are invited to don costumes and compete in several categories during this romp through the Gaslamp followed by a free pet expo. PHOTO BY NANCEE E. LEWIS

12.31 PORT OF SAN DIEGO HOLIDAY BOWL PARADE

San Diego Convention Center, downtown sdautoshow.com Auto aficionados can feast their eyes on more than 400 vehicles from 40 manufacturers at this year-end show that includes many models that haven’t yet hit the road.

Pacific Highway and Harbor Drive, downtown holidaybowl.com Amid a sea of gargantuan floats and inflatables, this annual balloon parade begins on downtown’s bayside streets and brings together world-class marching bands and entertaining drill teams.

PHOTO BY HAYNE PALMOUR IV

PHOTO BY JOHN GIBBINS

12.27-30 SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

Bourbon, Bubbles & Bow Ties

NEW YEAR'S EVE

2019 WITH

CURRENTS | EVENTS

NYE Beach Party

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DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

16TH ANNUAL BIG NIGHT SAN DIEGO Hilton Bayfront, East Village bignightsandiego.com Your all-inclusive ticket to this unforgettable event includes unlimited drinks, a bountiful buffet, and access to eight dance floors, 10 distinct party zones and more than a dozen musical acts.

NYE CRUISE Broadway Pier, downtown newyearscruise.com This cruise aboard the multileveled Adventure Yacht includes two climate-controlled interior decks, a four-hour open bar and a world-class DJ to deliver you into 2019 on a high note.

CRAFT BEER NEW YEAR

LATIN NYE AT WESTGATE HOTEL Westgate Hotel, downtown westgatehotel.com Step into 2019 in style at this elegant celebration featuring finely crafted cocktails, a Latininfluenced buffet dinner and live music well past midnight.

Maritime Museum of San Diego, Little Italy, sdmaritime.org Ring in the New Year aboard a historic steam ferry that sports a classy lounge, an expansive dance floor, and a 30-foot dessert bar overflowing with sweet treats.

NEW YEAR’S EVE: THE WORLD’S GREATEST LEGEND Hotel Del Coronado, Coronado hoteldel.com The Hotel Del’s oceanfront ballroom transforms into a lavish black-tie affair that includes an open bar, an exceptional five-course feast, and dancing to the tunes of the Mighty Untouchables.

PHOTO BY DANIEL BOCZARSKI/GETTY IMAGES

Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens, Liberty Station stonebrewing.com Tell 2018 to hit the road at this swanky, end-of-year extravaganza that includes two floors of live music, an oldfashioned speakeasy and a New Year’s Resolution chalk wall where you can scribble your annual aspirations.

BLACK & GOLD NYE

NYE AT HARD ROCK HOTEL SAN DIEGO Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, Gaslamp, nyermd.com Yeah, buddy! Fist pump your way into 2019 at this epic party spanning eight rooms and three floors, with entertainment provided by 15 DJs and headliners including MTV star DJ Pauly D.

NYE BEACH PARTY

BOTTOMS UP AT ALTITUDE

Catamaran Resort, Pacific Beach, Nyebeachparty.com Boasting all-inclusive drinks and expanded bar service for minimal lines, this NYE experience encompasses four rooms replete with top-tier entertainment, delicious hors d’oeuvres and some of the city’s hottest DJs.

San Diego Marriott, Gaslamp sandiegogaslamphotel.com/nye From a sprawling dining station on the street level to a sushi bar and chocolate fountain on the 22nd floor, the Marriott has you covered this New Year’s Eve with free-flowing champagne and unlimited well drinks every step of the way.

@PACIFICSD

DECEMBER 2018

CURRENTS | EVENTS

12.31 SAN DIEGO HOLIDAY BOWL SDCCU Stadium, downtown holidaybowl.com Two Division I football teams face off after a heart-pounding pregame featuring marching bands, parachute jumpers and a football-field-sized American flag. PHOTO BY CHADD CADY

SPORTS

TO WIN TICKETS, SEE PAGE 10!

SAN DIEGO GULLS HOME GAMES 12.5 vs. Tucson Roadrunners 12.15, 19 vs. San Jose Barracuda 12.21 vs. Ontario Reign 12.27 vs. Bakersfield Condors PHOTO BY JOHN HOWARD

SAN DIEGO SOCKERS HOME GAMES 12.16 vs. Rio Grande Valley Barracudas 12.22 vs. Tacoma Stars

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

CURRENTS

Laughing Stock

December stand-up roundup BY MICHAEL BENNINGER

It Takes One to Noah One Trevor Noah’s politically charged Loud & Clear tour makes two stops in the San Diego area BY MICHAEL BENNINGER

The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah brings his Loud & Clear tour to San Diego this month with a pair of performances at Pechanga Casino in Temecula and SDSU’s Viejas Arena. If you’re not familiar with the leader of “the world’s fakest news team,” here’s a look at some of his career highlights.

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: CHRISTOPHER SMITH/INVISION/AP; EVAN AGOSTINI/ INVISION/AP; MATT SAYLES/INVISION.

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

ABOVE: Noah behind the desk on The Daily Show. BELOW: Noah takes a selfie with actor Bryan Tyree Henry on the red carpet at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Noah’s Arc: A Timeline of Trevor’s Milestones Feb. 20, 1984: Born in Johannesburg, South Africa 2011: Noah moves to the United States Jan. 6, 2012: Becomes the first South African comedian to perform on The Tonight Show December 2014: Gets hired as a recurring correspondent for The Daily Show March 30, 2015: Comedy Central announces that Noah will succeed Jon Stewart as host of The Daily Show Sept. 28, 2015: Hosts his first episode of The Daily Show Nov. 22, 2015: Lost in Translation, Trevor’s first Comedy Central special, premieres Nov. 15, 2016: His autobiography, Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood, is published (The book went on to win the James Thurber Prize for American Humor and two NAACP Image Awards.) Feb. 21, 2017: Trevor Noah: Afraid of the Dark premieres on Netflix May 7, 2017: Wins Best Host at the MTV Movie and TV Awards Sept. 17, 2017: The Daily Show wins a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Short Form Variety Series Feb. 16, 2018: Supplies the voice of Griot in Marvel’s blockbuster hit Black Panther April 19, 2018: Time magazine names him one of the 100 most influential people in the world Nov. 20, 2018: Noah’s second Netflix special, Trevor Noah: Son of Patricia, debuts Sept. 2022: When his current contract with Comedy Central will be up for renewal

Noah’s Numbers: Social Media Stats Twitter: @trevornoah — 9.35 million followers; @thedailyshow — 7.7 million followers YouTube: Trevor Noah — 594,000 subscribers; The Daily Show — 3.9 million subscribers Instagram: @trevornoah — 3.1 million followers; @thedailyshow — 2 million followers Facebook: @trevornoah — 5.3 million likes; @thedailyshow 7.9 million likes

Trevor’s Tidbits • The son of a white father and a black mother, Noah was born during South Africa’s apartheid era, when his parents could not legally marry due to the color of his mother’s skin. • Noah speaks eight languages: English, German, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Tswana and Tsonga. • Noah is currently dating singer and model Jordyn Taylor. • Earlier this year, it was announced that a film adaptation of Noah’s autobiography will be produced staring Lupita Nyong’o as Trevor’s mother, Patricia.

12.14 TREVOR NOAH

@ Pechanga Resort & Casino, pechanga.com

12.15 TREVOR NOAH

@ Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl, as.sdsu.edu/viejas_arena

One of the greatest things you can do when you travel is traveling to a country where they don’t speak your language. That’s probably my favorite thing, going to a place where they don’t speak English, just to make you realize how insignificant you really are. You’re not the center of the universe. There’s another world that exists beyond you. I try and do that all the time. I try my utmost. I go to English-speaking countries, but I try every now and again to go to a country where they speak no English. Like, recently, I went to Scotland. — Trevor Noah on Afraid of the Dark

@PACIFICSD

DECEMBER 2018

CURRENTS | COMEDY

11.30-12.1 ROD MAN @ The American Comedy Co., americancomedyco.com

I got a ticket for being in the carpool “ lane. And I thought I was helping traffic because there was a lot of cars in the other lanes. So I got in the carpool lane and started riding good. But then a police on a motorcycle got right behind me, and I was like, man, he is after somebody. Let me get out of the way. Then he come up to the car, and I thought like maybe I’m a witness to something, I don’t know. He told me I can’t be in this lane, and I said why not, and he said, ‘Because you’ve got to have another occupant in the vehicle.’ I looked at him, and I looked at his motorcycle, and I said, ‘Well, you don’t have an occupant in your motorcycle, so I’d like to press charges too, that’s all I’m sayin’. As a matter of fact, leave the motorcycle, and get in the car with me. Then we both will be in compliance with the law.’ — Rod Man at The Funny Bone

”

12.14 NEAL BRENNAN @ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego

The Internet is like a Choose Your Own “ Adventure book except every adventure ends with me masturbating. ” — Neal Brennan on 3 Mics

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

NEAL BRENNAN PHOTO BY RICH POLK/GETTY IMAGES; ROBERT KELLY PHOTO BY DIMITRIOS KAMBOURIS; JOEY DIAZ PHOTO BY MARK BENNINGTON; BOBBY LEE PHOTO BY JASON KEMPIN/GETTY IMAGES; REX NAVARRETE PHOTO BY DAN DION; STEVE TREVINO PHOTO BY LISA BOOKO; GARETH REYNOLDSPHOTO BY MANDEE JOHNSON; ALONZO BODDEN PHOTO BY TODD ROSENBERG.

12.6-8 ROBERT KELLY

a grown man as he puffs on flavored steam. Listen, you’re a man. You want to smoke, you risk cancer like a man. You don’t walk up to me puffing Cherry Jubilee for god’s sake.

@ The American Comedy Co., americancomedyco.com

If I have to tie my shoe, I could “ die. I could die. ’Cause I have to hold

”

my breath like I’m swimming for conch shells off the coast of Puerto Rico.

— Alonzo Bodden on Historically Incorrect

12.27-29 GARETH REYNOLDS

” — Robert Kelly

@ The American Comedy Co., americancomedyco.com

What I love about Marvel movies “ is the unpredictability. Like, will the

at the Gotham Comedy Club

12.14–16 REX NAVARRETE @ The American Comedy Co., americancomedyco.com

I’m so proud to finally see Filipino “ food featured on Food Network instead of Fear Factor. ” — Rex Navarrete

12.20-22 BOBBY LEE @ The American Comedy Co., americancomedyco.com

superhero beat the bad guy, or defeat the bad guy, or perhaps they will win and beat the bad guy? You just never know. You never. Know. — Gareth Reynolds on Twitter

”

I was at a Starbucks, this really “ happened, this old man came up to

12.7-8 JOEY DIAZ @ The Comedy Store, lajolla.thecomedystore.com

I lit a bum on fire one time in “ Hollywood. Not because I wanted to — I was smoking a joint. I threw the flame out the window. And he was downstairs with a Kmart sweater on with like a f**king blanket. It lit up on flames. And I’m good. I went down and brought him another blanket. You know me; I’m tight with that. I heard him down there f**king yelling and screaming, so I brought him down another blanket. But that’s the type of guy I am. — Joey Diaz on The Degenerates

”

me, and he goes, ‘Are you Korean?’ I got scared. I’m like, ‘Yeah.’ Then he goes, ‘I fought in the Korean War.’ I didn’t know whether to say, ‘Thank you,’ or ‘F**king cool!’ or I don’t f**king know, ya know? But what came out of my mouth was ‘Me too.’ Then he got mad. ‘WHAAAT!’ So I started improvising. ‘That’s my name, Mi Too.’

” — Bobby Lee at the Laugh Factory.

12.21-23 ALONZO BODDEN @ The Comedy Store, thecomedystore. com/la-jolla

There is “ nothing more

bitch-ass than

12.28–30 STEVE TREVINO @ The Comedy Store, thecomedystore.com/la-jolla

Some of you women, you get “ insecure about your t*ts. And I’m telling you, as a man, don’t. Do not. Some women, ‘My t*ts are small.’ Uh, I would like to see them. ‘I only have one t*t.’ Can I see it? I would like to uh … ‘I’m an old lady. My t*tties sag.’ Ma’am, if you don’t mind, I’d … I’m telling you. If an old lady came up to me and said, ‘Young man, would you like to see these old-lady t*tties?’ I’d go, ‘Ugh … yes. Yes, I would. Yes. Yes. Make it quick, make it quick. My wife’s coming. Make it quick.’

”

— Steve Treviño on Relatable

@PACIFICSD

DECEMBER 2018

ARTS | COOLTURE ART BEAT BY LISA DEADERICK

Laguna Beach by Lin Fealing

National Watercolor Society:

Southern California Inspirations, Past and Present Oceanside Museum of Art, 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside, 760.435.3720, oma-online.org Selected paintings from artists in the National Watercolor Society who live in Southern California will be part of this special exhibition, alongside curated works from former society members.

12.22-4.21.19

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

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The Nightmare by Jessica Justus

PULSE | ART BEAT

Art Beat

December gallery + exhibit openings BY LISA DEADERICK

12.1-1.6 BRIAN AND RYAN | A PORTO VISTA HOTEL KITSCHMAS SPECIAL Porto Vista Hotel, 1835 Columbia St., Little Italy, 619.888.8288, 1805gallery.com The collaborative artistic team of Brian Black and Ryan Bulis build a Christmas installation in the Porto Vista Hotel’s lobby with holiday designs from the mid-century through the present — and challenge traditions and conventions in the process.

12.1 PHANTASMAGORIA Thumbprint Gallery, 920 Kline St., La Jolla 858.354.6294, thumbprintgallerysd.com Some images are real, others are imaginary, both are like a dream.

Garden Fresh by Shuang Li

12.2-30 MAGNETIC CONTENT San Diego Watercolor Society 2825 Dewey Road, Liberty Station 619.876.4550, sdws.org Award-winning artist Joan McKasson has juried this exhibition, featuring between 95 and 100 original watercolor paintings that are ready to hang and waiting to be sold.

12.7 RECEPTION & ARTIST TALK: ASHLEY V. BLALOCK Lux Art Institute, 1550 S. El Camino Real, Encinitas, 760.436.6611, luxartinstitute.org Artist Ashley V. Blalock, who has an evolving series of large-scale, site-specific works featuring red, crochet doilies, will discuss her work and her process at this event. PHOTO BY STACY KECK

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

A D O P T. FOS TE R . V OL U N TE ER . www.paws4thoughtrescue.com | 323-363-4129 |

/PAWS4thoughtrescue

PULSE | ART BEAT

THROUGH 12.30 ROCOCO, RIVALS AND REVIVALS Timken Museum of Art 1500 El Prado, Balboa Park 619.239.5548, timkenmuseum.org The genre of Rococo, and the flirtation and seduction common during this period, are exhibited in 12 pieces that represent various personalities and schools of the genre.

THROUGH 1.27.19 I LOVE TO RIDE MY BICYCLE SDSU Downtown Gallery 725 W. Broadway, downtown 619.501.6370, art.sdsu.edu From drawings to paintings, photography to performance, sculpture to video installation, artists from all over the world have created pieces that revolve around their love for, and the significance they see in, bicycles. Madonna with Tricycle by Kristen Morgin

Roberts Cottages on the Oceanside StrandÂ by David Fobes

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

Covet by Chris Antemann

Reconstruction #090911 by Scott Polach

THROUGH 2.3.19 ASSEMBLE, RE-ASSEMBLE, REPEAT

THROUGH 2.17.19 EVA STRUBLE & SCOTT POLACH / A DUO SHOW

Oceanside Museum of Art 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside 760.435.3720, oma-online.org This exhibition is a sequel by artists David Fobes and Mark Siprut, picking up where their immersive installation project took off, using a hands-on interactive kiosk with original visual content solicited from people in Oceanside and Southern California.

Sparks Gallery 530 Sixth Ave., Gaslamp 619.696.1416, sparksgallery.com This show within a show is part of the ongoing Convergence exhibition, with a selection of featured works by former Space 4 Art residents Eva Struble and Scott Polach.

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PULSE | ART BEAT

THROUGH 2.17.19 IRVING PENN: BEYOND BEAUTY Museum of Photographic Arts 1649 El Prado, Balboa Park 619.238.7559, mopa.org Known for his fashion, portrait and stilllife photography that has been featured in Vogue magazine, this exhibition of the work of Irving Penn is the first retrospective of his work in almost 20 years, with pieces from each stage of his long and respected career.

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

TOP ROW (left to right): Ball Dress by Olivier Theyskens for Nina Ricci; Beauty Shop; Bedside Lamp; Bee; Chicks in a Jar. SECOND ROW (left to right): Frozen Foods; Girl Behind the Bottle; Head in Ice; Irving Penn: In a Cracked Mirror; Issey Myake Fashion: White and Black. THIRD ROW (left to right): Kerchief Glove (Dior); Leontyne Price; Mouth (for Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Oreal); Mud Glove; Nude No. 58. BOTTOM ROW (left to right): Red Rooster; Salvador Dali; Sitting Enga Woman; Truman Capote; Woman in Moroccan Palace; Young Boy, Pause Pause.

PULSE | CURTAIN CALLS

Curtain Calls

December performing arts BY JAMES HEBERT

12.1 THE DOO-WOP PROJECT CHRISTMAS Moonlight Stage Productions Moonlight Amphitheatre 1250 Vale Terrace Dr., Vista 760.724.2110, moonlightstage.com Tight harmonies get a holiday tribute in this one-night singing celebration that features past performers from the Broadway hits Jersey Boys and Motown the Musical.

12.4-30 THE YEAR TO COME La Jolla Playhouse 2910 La Jolla Village Dr., La Jolla 858.550.1010, lajollaplayhouse.org The Playhouse stages the world-premiere of this time-warping work by the rising Lindsey Ferrentino; the piece tracks the fate of a Florida family as its story unfolds backward from 2017 to 2000.

12.20 THE GREAT RUSSIAN NUTCRACKER Moscow Ballet, Jacobs Music Center’s Copley Symphony Hall 750 B St., downtown, 619.235.0804, nutcracker.com Moscow Ballet’s Dove of Peace tour brings spectacular costumes and a large-scale staging to town once again.

The Great Russian Nutcracker

12.4 SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE LIVE! San Diego Civic Theatre 1100 Third Ave., downtown 619/858/760.570.1100, sdcivic.org The touring version of the Emmy Awardwinning TV hit returns, with the Top 10 contestants from Season 15 of the show.

12.7-9 ALL IS CALM: THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914 San Diego Opera, San Diego Civic Theatre 1100 Third Ave., downtown 619.533.7000, sdopera.org Enemy soldiers put down their guns to share the Christmas spirit during World War I; this family-friendly work (a copresentation with Bodhi Tree Concerts and SACRA/PROFANA) pays tribute to that real-life moment.

12.7-23 THE NUTCRACKER City Ballet, Spreckels Theatre 121 Broadway, downtown 858.272.8663, cityballet.org The beloved Tchaikovsky ballet gets one

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

of its earliest 2018 productions at the Spreckels, with dancers accompanied by the City Ballet Orchestra and Chorus.

12.12-30 ALWAYS … PATSY CLINE North Coast Rep 987 Lomas Santa Fe Dr., Solana Beach 858.481.1055, northcoastrep.org Patsy Cline oughta have her own national holiday, but North Coast Rep gets the season swinging with this ode to the voice behind Crazy, I Fall to Pieces and Walking After Midnight.

12.14-23 THE NUTCRACKER California Ballet, San Diego Civic Theatre 1100 Third Ave., downtown 858.560.6741, californiaballet.org CalBal’s take on the holiday classic brings a cast of more than 150 to the stage of the Civic.

12.29-30 THE NUTCRACKER San Diego Ballet, Jacobs Music Center’s Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., downtown

619.294.7378, sandiegoballet.org Sugarplums? Check. Snowfall? Check. San Diego Ballet returns to The Nutcracker with a cast of 100-plus.

12.29 MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMAS Broadway/San Diego San Diego Civic Theatre 1100 Third Ave., downtown 619/858/760.570.1100, broadwaysd.com The electronic-meets-symphonic act, a Christmas fixture for decades, brings its distinctive take on the sounds of the season back to the Civic.

12.31 THE SECOND CITY IMPROV ALL-STARS California Center for the Arts, Escondido 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido 800.988.4253, artcenter.org Those improv aces from the fabled Second City troupe offer a chance for you to laugh all the way into 2019.

PULSE | MOVIES

The Reel Deal December motion picture preview BY MICHAEL BENNINGER

VICE The untold true story that changed the course of history forever. Biography | Drama Directed by: Adam McKay Starring: Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Steve Carell In theaters: 12.25 This biopic about the most powerful vice president in modern history sheds light on the events leading up to the 2000 election and demonstrates how Dick Cheney used his position to mold the world to his whim.

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

PULSE | MOVIES SECOND ACT No matter who you want to be, never forget who you are. Romance | Comedy Directed by: Peter Segal Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Milo Ventimiglia and Vanessa Hudgens In theaters: 12.21 A 40-year-old employee at a bigbox store makes a last-gasp attempt at realizing her unfulfilled dreams and cons her way into a career on Madison Avenue.

MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS Bow to no one. Drama | History Directed by: Josie Rourke Starring: Margot Robbie, Saoirse Ronan and Gemma Chan In theaters: 12.7 Set during the 16th century, this period piece focuses on the turbulent relationship and bitter rivalry between two young queens vying for the English throne.

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

BEN IS BACK Drama Directed by: Peter Hedges Starring: Lucas Hedges, Julia Roberts and Kathryn Newton In theaters: 12.7 After a wayward 19-year-old suddenly reappears on his family’s doorstep, his mother’s love is put to the test as she spends the following 24 hours doing everything possible to keep her drug-addled son safe.

SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE Enter a universe where more than one wears the mask. Action | Adventure Directed by: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman Starring: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson and Hailee Steinfeld In theaters: 12.14 In this computeranimated superhero spectacle, Spider-Men from parallel dimensions join forces to keep an existential threat from unraveling the fabric of the multiverse.

MORTAL ENGINES

THE MULE

Some scars never heal. Fantasy | Sci-Fi Directed by: Christian Rivers Starring: Robert Sheehan, Hera Hilmarsdóttir and Stephen Lang In theaters: 12.14 Centuries after a cataclysm obliterates civilization, entire cities roam the landscape like predators on wheels, and an enigmatic young woman must fight to keep London from consuming everything around it.

Nobody runs forever. Crime | Drama Directed by: Clint Eastwood Starring: Clint Eastwood, Taissa Farmiga and Bradley Cooper In theaters: 12.14 A 90-year-old man with little to live for gets busted smuggling coke for a Mexican cartel, forcing him to rethink his life choices and right some wrongs before it’s too late.

BUMBLEBEE Every adventure has a beginning. Action | Adventure Directed by: Travis Knight Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena and Gracie Dzienny In theaters: 12.21 In this origin story for everyone’s favorite autobot, a yellow Volkswagen is brought back to life by a California girl on the cusp of her 18th birthday.

WELCOME TO MARWEN To dream is to heal. Comedy | Drama Directed by: Robert Zemeckis Starring: Steve Carell, Eiza González and Janelle Monáe In theaters: 12.21 In this touching film based on actual events, the victim of a vicious attack puts the pieces of his life back together by constructing a sprawling, scale-model town where he can be a hero.

AQUAMAN A tide is coming. Fantasy | Adventure Directed by: James Wan Starring: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard and Patrick Wilson In theaters: 12.21 The uncouth, halfhuman heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis must step forward to lead his seadwelling people when a battle on the surface threatens the lives of millions of Atlanteans.

ON THE BASIS OF SEX Her story made history. Drama | Biography Directed by: Mimi Leder Starring: Felicity Jones, Armie Hammer and Justin Theroux In theaters: 12.25 This dramatization of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s rise from scrappy young lawyer to legendary Supreme Court Justice shines a light on the struggles, sacrifices and successes of the notorious R.B.G.

DESTROYER You can’t run from yourself. Drama | Thriller Directed by: Karyn Kusama Starring: Nicole Kidman, Sebastian Stan and Tatiana Maslany In theaters: 12.25 A police detective who once worked undercover to infiltrate a violent California gang must re-enter the ruinous world she thought she left behind after the group’s leader rears his head after years on the run.

HOLMES & WATSON Comedy | Mystery Directed by: Etan Cohen Starring: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly and Ralph Fiennes In theaters: 12.25 In this this wry take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s signature characters, an unorthodox detective and his bumbling sidekick investigate a murder at Buckingham Palace and must solve the case in four days in order to keep the queen safe.

@PACIFICSD

DECEMBER 2018

Spotted: San Diego

11.17.18 Yogis at Sweat for Service experienced a dynamic yoga session aboard the USS Midway to raise funds for the families of fallen soldiers. Photos by Rick Nocon

See more photos of San Diegoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best events at pacificsandiego.com. 50

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

Mother Nature was at play throughout November by providing San Diego some pretty amazing sunsets. Cotton candy pink, tangerine orange and firey red painted the sky on more than one occasion, including on Nov. 5 when a hot air balloon was seen floating amidst the colors above Rancho Penasquitos. Photo by Howard Lipin

@PACIFICSD

DECEMBER 2018

TASTE EAT | DRINK | PUFF DINING OUT

BY PAM KRAGEN

eason’s atings

A dashing list of new restaurants, bars and distilleries is sure to make spirits bright. If you’re looking for culinary stocking-stuffers this holiday season, consider a gift card from one of these newly opened or soon-to-open restaurants around the county this month.

Del Frisco’s Prime Rib. PHOTO COURTESY OF DEL FRISCO’S DOUBLE EAGLE STEAKHOUSE

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

TAJIMASANDIEGO.COM

/TAJIMARESTAURANTS

@TAJIMARESTAURANTS

@TAJIMASANDIEGO

TASTE | DINING

619pirits S North Park

San Diego distiller Nick Apostolopoulos has opened this 4,200-square-foot distillery and tasting room in a former industrial space at the corner of 30th Street and Lincoln Avenue. Named for San Diegoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s area code, 619 features a 1,000-liter still, a dog-friendly patio and lunch, dinner and late-night food service. Launched in 2012, 619 is known for its cane sugar-based vodka and its all-natural vodka infusions made with local ingredients, including scorpion peppers, coffee, pickles and rose petals. Customers can buy the housemade spirits by the bottle or sip them in vodka-focused cocktails at the bar. Its elevated bar menu features Mediterranean-inspired dishes like gyro and hummus, as well as steak frites and beef tartar. Brunch is served on weekends. 3015 Lincoln Ave., North Park, 619.269.2757, 619vodka.com PHOTO BY EDUARDO CONTRERAS

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

C HIKO Encinitas

California native Drew Kim and his partners, chefs Danny Lee and Scott Drewno, bring to the shores of California their East Coast-born restaurant that mixes Chinese and Korean (get it, Chi-Ko?) flavors with modern cooking techniques. Start with wok-blistered Chinese broccoli or Korean fried chicken wings then turn to the orange-ish chicken or Korean sweet potato noodles for the main dishes of the night. For a uniquely SoCal dish, the Encinitas location has The San Diego Spice Bag complete with crispy shrimp, tater tots and chili miso aioli — a nod to nearby DB Hacker’s Seafood Café. For an interactive experience, groups of two or four people can sit at one of only a few available counter seats and watch the action in the kitchen. 101 N. Coast Hwy. 101, Encinitas 760.230.1076, chikoca.com

PHOTO BY EDUARDO CONTRERAS

C lara Carlsbad

Carlsbad Village’s newest restaurant/cocktail bar isn’t named after a woman. Clara is the Spanish word for “clear,” which describes chef Alex Carballo’s straightforward approach to food at the 90-seat restaurant that opened Sept. 1. He aims for simplicity over heavy sauces in his dishes, which are made with locally sourced, seasonal and sustainable ingredients. The menu of shareable plates features a mix of animal protein and plant-based options. Specialties include flatbreads, chili-braised cauliflower tacos, salt-and-pepper-fried chicken and lettuce wraps with lemongrass tofu. 300 Carlsbad Village Dr., Ste. 213, Carlsbad 760.994.0699, claracarlsbad.com

C urbsideE atery &D rinkery La Mesa

Open since early October, Curbside is a new 2,200-square-foot social restaurant and bar serving craft cocktails and elevated gastropub fare. It’s the dream project of La Mesa native Jonathan Baron, who also owns nearby Regal Bar. As part of downtown La Mesa’s vibrant revitalization, Curbside opens up to the street with roll-up garage door-style windows and wraparound curbside patios. Menu specialties include ahi poke, short rib nachos, corn bread calamari, entrée salads, gourmet burgers, tostadas and grilled steaks. 8353 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa, 619.825.7759, curbsidelamesa.com

@PACIFICSD

DECEMBER 2018

TASTE | DINING

C urryosity South Park

Raj Mutti opened this sunny Indian restaurant in October in the long-shuttered Fire Horse space at Juniper and Fern streets. Mutti owns the Spice Lounge space in Pacific Beach, and many of that restaurant’s menu items can be found at Curryosity. Specialties of the house are tikka masala, chicken vindaloo, Nirvana chicken, tandoori shrimp and housemade naan bread cooked in a clay oven. It’s now open for dinner. Lunch service is planned soon. 3023 Juniper St., South Park 619.255.0660, curryositysd.com

DDuckonuts Encinitas

One of the East Coast’s most beloved doughnut chains opened its first San Diego County store on Oct. 20 in Encinitas. Named for the North Carolina town where the first shop opened in 2007, Duck Donuts is famous for its unique style of service. Every $2.25 vanilla cake doughnut is cooked to order (in about five minutes), served warm and custom-topped to customers’ specifications with more than 40 choices of coatings, toppings and drizzle sauces. Top-selling flavors are maple bacon and sugar cinnamon. The Encinitas franchise is owned by Brad and Laura Aughinbaugh of San Marcos. They are looking to open two to three more San Diego County locations in the coming years. 1452 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas 760.452.6849, duckdonuts.com/location/ encinitas-ca

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

D F D E S H el

risco’s agle teak

downtown

ouble ouse

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEL FRISCO’S DOUBLE EAGLE STEAKHOUSE

Billed as America’s ultra-premium steakhouse, Texas-born Del Frisco’s opened its 16th — and first in California — location on Nov. 3 on the bottom two floors of the new InterContinental San Diego hotel. The $10 million, 480-seat restaurant, helmed by executive chef Brian Christman, is known for the exclusivity of its beef program, which includes a nightly selection of 12 to 15 prime cuts. Diners can choose from 21-day wet-aged steaks to steaks that have been dry-aged for 14 to 45 days. There are also Wagyu beef cuts from Japan, Australia and Texas. Its signature is the $140 Double Eagle, a 32-ounce, 45-day dry-aged double-bone prime rib-eye. The restaurant’s wine list boasts 1,400 labels. 900 Bayfront Ct., No. 105 (at the InterContinental San Diego Hotel), downtown 619.272.5060, delfriscos.com/steakhouse

PROMOTION

The open-air, beachfront dining space features floor-to-ceiling windows that capture the beauty of Southern California’s pristine coastline.

WATERBAR Perched above the Pacific Beach Boardwalk is Waterbar, a 6,700-squarefoot beachside eatery. The floor-to-ceiling windows showcase unparalleled ocean views and provide the perfect backdrop to a seafood-forward menu inspired by East Coast, West Coast and coastal cuisine. The “Social Seafood” fresh dining experience at Waterbar captures the heart and soul of sunny San Diego. Chef Steven Lona has introduced an innovative menu that transforms well known coastal classics into unique and delicious renditions. Waterbar’s open air atmosphere embraces the obvious: a panoramic view of San Diego’s most spectacular coastlines. The event

space options include clusters of large community table dining, partial venue buyout receptions, and VIP lounge areas perfect for bottle service and intimate gatherings. Event space options are available for groups of 25 to 250. Waterbar is available for fully private receptions of up to 500 guests. Their commitment to excellence is marked by an ability to correctly position their products and personnel to the benefit of every guest. From sip to savor to service, they choose to focus on the development of a wellrounded “craft culture” that is centered on the guest experience. Planning a holiday celebration? Contact their private event sales team today!

Waterbar, 4325 Ocean Blvd., San Diego, CA 92109, 858.291.8687, events@waterbarsd.com, waterbarsd.com

TASTE | DINING

F armer’sT able Bay Park

Farmer’s Table, the rustic Italian restaurant company founded in La Mesa in 2017 by Alberto Morreale and Vincenzo Lo Verso, opened its second location in Bay Park’s Clairemont Village shopping center in October. The 3,500-square-foot location serves updated versions of Sicilian-style housemade pastas and Neopolitan-style pizzas baked in a Stefano Ferrara oven imported from Italy. Still to come, a third location planned in Little Italy. Read more about Farmer’s Table Bay Park in this month’s Blind Date on page 86. 3055 Clairemont Dr., Bay Park 619.359.4485, myfarmerstable.com

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

PROMOTION

FARMER’S TABLE Every good neighborhood deserves an eatery where locals and visitors can come together and enjoy “honest food done right.” Welcome to Farmer’s Table, your foodto-fork destination, that brings locally sourced organic ingredients together to be savored in an inviting atmosphere. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, they’ve incorporated innovative spins on time-tested, family recipes that dig down into Sicilian roots. A Stefano Ferrara pizza oven was even imported directly from Napoli to demonstrate a commitment to authentic cooking methods and flavors. Along with a slate of wood-fired pizza selections, Farmer’s Table offers specialties such as wood-fired pizzas, organic eggs and local seasonal vegetables to satisfy every hungry guest.

Farmer’s Table La Mesa location: 8141 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa, CA 91942 | 619.724.6465 Bay Park location: 3055 Clairemont Dr., San Diego, CA 92117 | 619.359.4485 Little Italy location: Coming soon myfarmerstable.com

Farmer’s Table’s famous Barnyard Bloody Mary is a brunch-lovers dream. Served in a full pitcher with a whole roasted chicken, roasted seasonal and pickled veggies, baconwrapped shrimp, fresh mozzarella and cherry tomato skewers.

TASTE | DINING

K etchG rill andT aps Shelter Island

The Brigantine restaurant chain opened this $3.5 million restaurant, beer and gelato venue in October in the former Red Sails Inn location on Shelter Island. Ketch is a 203-seat indoor/outdoor eatery featuring a mix of seafood and American pub fare, plus 18 craft beers on tap. The restaurant/bar joins the previously opened sister eatery Portside Gelato & Coffee. Ketch is now open for dinner daily; weekend brunch and breakfast service is available Wednesdays through Fridays. 2614 Shelter Island Dr., Shelter Island, 619.814.8080, ketchgrillandtaps.com

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

L aC atrinaT apas &C antina North Park

This modern-casual Baja-style Mexican bistro opened Oct. 19 in North Park in the former Tostadas restaurant space. Co-owner Roger Canez said the restaurant celebrates the culinary expertise of Mexican-born chefs Brandon Rodriguez and Omar Ramirez and the wines of Bajaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Valle de Guadalupe. The menu features a variety of ceviches, shareable plates, two-taco plates and more substantial entrees. Specialties include ribeye and bone marrow tacos, aguachile shrimp and carnitas and octopus sopes. 3139 University Ave., North Park, 619.436.0060, facebook.com/lacatrinasd

@PACIFICSD

DECEMBER 2018

TASTE | DINING

N orthI talia Fashion Valley

Phoenix-based Fox Restaurant Concepts opens the latest branch of its North Italia brand, a modern Italian restaurant chain with 15 locations nationwide. The 8,500-square-foot restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating for 295 diners. San Diego chef and former Top Chef contestant Rich Sweeney oversees the menu of antipasti, pizzas, entrĂŠe salads, seafood, steaks and grilled breads. The restaurant is open for dinner nightly, weekday lunch and weekend brunch service. A second San Diego County location is planned in 2019 in the One Paseo project in Del Mar Heights. 7055 Friars Rd. (at Fashion Valley mall), Mission Valley, 619.343.2301, northitaliarestaurant.com

M attarello C ookingL ab Gaslamp

This 25-seat Italian bistro is the brainchild of Italian ex-patriates Lucia Celi and Francesco Guardini. The menu features fresh-made pasta, soups, salads, pizzas, focaccia and desserts. Diners can eat in-house or dine at home. The house specialties are meatballs, lasagna, ravioli stuffed with spinach and ricotta and ravioli stuffed with bacon, potato and nutmeg with butter and sage sauce. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also fresh Italian pastries and breakfast served all day. 518 Sixth Ave., downtown 619.722.9110, mattarellocooking.com PHOTO BY PAM KRAGEN

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

S ideB ar Gaslamp

RMD Group’s 15-year-old nightclub/bar recently emerged from a major renovation by Davis Ink that added a new lounge area with a chic new bar including eye-popping sunburst-style lighting design. The new lounge offers a menu of elevated bites, such as a poke-style jackfruit and Tokyo Bites made with mushroom, ahi and crab. The new Side Bar Lounge is now open at 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. On Side Bar’s nightclub side is a new custom-designed LED lighting sculpture designed by SJ Lighting of Los Angeles. The club side is open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. S536 Market St., downtown, 619.696.0946, sidebarsd.com

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DECEMBER 2018

TASTE | DINING ean S tella J I ceC ream University Heights

From the creators of the hipster coffee and pie joint Pop Pie Co. comes this new artisan small-batch ice cream shop right next door. Chef Gan Suebsarakham and business partner Steven Torres opened Stella Jean in mid-October. Suebsarakham is creating all of the gourmet flavors in-house using ingredients from Scott Brothers Dairy, Specialty Produce, Nibble Chocolate, Mizuba Tea Co., Good Taste Farms, Heart Roasters and many more. Recent flavor concoctions include Thai tea with black caramel; chocolate with spiced pecans; mango sticky rice; cold brew coffee; and mint chocolate chunk. The bite-size pies from next door are also available for a la mode treatment. Vegan, gluten-free waffle cones are made fresh, as well as brioche buns for gourmet ice cream sandwiches. 4404 Park Blvd., University Heights, 619.501.8252, stellajeans.com

V istal downtown

Located on the third floor of the new InterContinental San Diego Hotel (just above the new Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House), this new seafood-centric restaurant overlooking San Diego Bay is overseen by two of San Diego’s best-known chefs, Amy DiBiase (formerly of Tidal) and Paul McCabe (most recently of the Town & Country Resort). Open since mid-September, Vistal’s menu is sourced almost entirely from local fisherman, local produce farms and regional chicken and pork ranches. Specialties include sheep’s milk ricotta gnudi dumplings, crispy skin white sea bass and coriander cider-glazed pork cheeks. 901 Bayfront Ct., Ste. 1 (at the InterContinental San Diego Hotel), downtown, 619.501.9400, vistalsd.com

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

CRISPY TUNA: Sweet soy marinated ahi tuna with pickled jalapeno and spicy mayo on crispy sushi rice.

PREP KITCHEN San Diego’s bustling neighborhoods of La Jolla, Del Mar, North County and Little Italy are all home to local hotspot Prep Kitchen. The expertly curated dining spaces are a reflection of relaxed, chic coastal living, and each location is accentuated by subtle nods to its unique community. Step inside and be greeted by an unexpected juxtaposition of warm, inviting coastal tones and elegant, urban townhouse style. Thoughtfully selected textiles like luxe Belgian linen sofas, plush chenille throws, and hand-thrown pottery plateware set the welcome against a backdrop of fine wine and sun-drenched Euro grooves. The thriving interior canvases of each location are specially designed to highlight the culinary artwork from the experienced and versatile Visit one of the 4 locations Del Mar | La Jolla | Little Italy | San Marcos prepkitchen.com

PROMOTION

INSIDER TIP: The refreshing, hand-crafted cocktails are equally amazing. The master mixology team has carefully hidden their creations in a collection of rare books. During Social Hour, these #secretdrinks are definitely whisper-worthy. To learn more about this sensory dining experience, visit prepkitchen.com.

kitchen team, which is stacked with award-winning Chefs from Wynn Las Vegas and SBE Entertainment (Katsuya cool, to be exact). Top toque Joseph Elevado has a cult following for his signature use of oceanfresh fish, continental cattle, and distinctive spice blends inspired by all corners of the globe. He leads the team while counting accolades such as Forbes Five Star, AAA & Mobil Five Star ratings, as well as a best restaurant achievement. The ever-evolving seasonal menu is best experienced “vibe style,” which cultivates a fun and intimate environment perfect for sharing while allowing you and your dining mates to expand your palates with a range of diverse and surprising flavors.

C R A I G COL L I N S

TASTE | EVENTS

Full Plate

December food + drink happenings BY MICHAEL BENNINGER

THROUGH 12.25 MIRACLE ON 30TH STREET Polite Provisions, Normal Heights miraclepopup.com Normal Heights’ happening cocktail spot transforms into a winter wonderland all month long, serving Christmasy libations amid kitschy holiday décor that’s certain to delight even the grouchiest Grinch.

Craft Beer Festival

12.1 CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar dmtc.com Showcasing more than 100 local and international brews — including many hard-to-find craft concoctions and limitedrelease ales and ciders — this event also includes admission to the track, a steinholding contest and access to silent disco dance party.

12.1 BOLT BREWERY FOURTH ANNIVERSARY PARTY Bolt Brewery, La Mesa, boltbrewery.com Celebrate the fourth birthday of this burgeoning beermaker with a bash at their 10-barrel brewhouse in La Mesa.

TO WIN TICKETS, SEE PAGE 10! 12.8 TOAST OF GASLAMP Throughout the Gaslamp Quarter gaslamp.org Raise a glass to the heart of our beloved city during this decadent evening teeming with treats from 24 of the Gaslamp’s top restaurants and complemented by scorching deals at many of downtown’s most desirable retailers.

11.30-12.1 PIZZA PORT 22ND ANNUAL STRONG ALE FESTIVAL Pizza Port Bottle Shop, Carlsbad pizzaport.com Sample more than 60 drafts with ABVs north of 8% ABV and enjoy a bevy of rare bottled brews at Pizza Port’s yearly beer bonanza.

12.1 EPPIG BREWING’S SECOND ANNIVERSARY AND REPEAL DAY CELEBRATION MISAEL VIRGEN

Eppig Brewing Waterfront Biergarten, Point Loma, eppigbrewing.com Cheers to Eppig’s second birthday and the 85th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition by treating yourself to a selection of the brewery’s Natural Bridge Lagers.

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

ANDY MCRORY

12.2 SONO FEST & CHILI COOKOFF 32nd Street at Thorn Street, North Park sonofestchilicookoff.com More than three dozen of the city’s best restaurants compete in this volunteerrun chili showdown brimming with craft beverages, local merchants and three stages of live music.

12.7, 15 NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS BREWS CRUISE Spirit of San Diego, San Diego Bay eventbrite.com Fans of Tim Burton’s cinematic, stop-motion classic won’t want to miss this night as the Spirit of San Diego yacht converts into a holiday-themed Halloween Town complete with two floors of entertainment, three hours of breathtaking bay views and unlimited samples from 20 nearby breweries.

Sono Fest & Chili Cookoff

K E L L I E TAT UM

12.13 HILLCREST TASTE ’N’ TINIS Throughout Hillcrest, fabuloushillcrest.com Shop till you drop (or drink till you flop) during this self-guided sip ‘n’ stroll when many Hillcrestaurants will serve samples of signature dishes while local boutiques encourage you to wet your whistle with holiday martinis and other festive cocktails.

12.15 COLD BREW CITY 2018

TO WIN TICKETS, SEE PAGE 10!

Bread & Salt, Barrio Logan facebook.com/coldbrewcityfest Artists, merchants and musicians unite over their shared love of caffeine during this creative and collaborative coffeecentric cultural event that culminates with a friendly competition to suss out the city’s best cold-brewers.

Tequila, Taco & Cerveza Fest

12.8 TEQUILA, TACO & CERVEZA FEST

12.8 SECOND ANNUAL ISLAND FOOD & BEER FEST

Liberty Station, Point Loma, ttcfest.com Showcasing more than 40 brands of tequila alongside tons of taco recipes, this inaugural event also includes a live lucha libre show and authentic Mexican mariachi music.

Waterfront Park, Little Italy coconutsandcocktailspromotions.com Knock back unlimited tastings of locally brewed beer, then soak up those suds with delicious dishes from the Pacific Islands while the ’80s hit-band The Jets headlines the day’s live entertainment.

12.15 SECOND ANNUAL 12 BARS OF CHARITY Venues throughout downtown 12barsofcharity.com Helping local nonprofits build awareness, raise money and attract more members, this charitable pub crawl invites dedicated drinkers to donate $10 to their choice of eight charity teams before taking a free shuttle to a dozen watering holes offering a selection of drink specials. ELJAY MANABAT

Second annual Island Food & Beer Fest

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DECEMBER 2018

P HOTOS BY E DUA R DO CON TRE RAS

TASTE | BEER

Take it from the Tap

A monthly taste of beer from here BY PETER ROWE

THIRST-QUENCHING

A local beer to spend some time with Beer: 9 Bonfires Blazing From: Karl Strauss Brewing, San Diego Why: This golden stout, made with coffee, vanilla beans and rolled oats, is the ninth in Karl’s annual series of holiday ales. They’ve all been Noel knockouts. Geeking out: 7.5% ABV; 25 IBUs. Seeking out: Karl’s beers are found in markets, restaurants and bars across California. Perhaps the best place to sample Bonfires — and other beers in the series — is the Rose Canyon tasting room and beer garden, 5985 Santa Fe St.

MAKING PINT GLASSES BRIGHT

Harrah’s SoCal offers liquid holiday cheer

Go: Be of good holiday cheer and good local beer with the Oh Hoppy Day! package at Harrah’s Southern California Resort in Valley Center, aka Funner. Know: Available Thursday through Monday until Dec. 31, the deal includes a room; a tour of SR76, Southern California’s first tribal-owned brewery; a flight of beers and two pints. Rates start at $125.99. Pro: To make reservations online, use the Oh Hoppy Day! code: MKCBP. Or call the reservations desk and mention the promotion. Glow: Two-year-old SR76 has 11 house beers on tap. Supul, the Belgian-style saison, is a favorite, and don’t miss Eight & Quarter, the porter. Ales 4 A.L.S., an unfiltered IPA, is a liquid fundraiser for research into Lou Gehrig’s disease (good news since the holidays are all about giving). To and Fro: While SR76’s quiet, comfortable tasting room occupies its own building outside the main casino complex, several eateries inside the resort pour SR76 beers. Harrah’s Resort Southern California 777 Harrah’s Rincon Way, Funner 760.751.3100, harrahssocal.com

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

PROMOTION

MISS B’S COCONUT CLUB Miss B’s Coconut Club is nestled in the heart of Mission Beach just steps from the beach and bay. This open-air restaurant serves up beautiful tropical drinks and island vibes, making it the perfect place to enjoy San Diego’s beautiful weather year round. Miss B’s is entering their third year and spicing up

their already popular Caribbean menu with the addition of their new Culinary Director, Chef Quinnton Austin, ho joins the hot spot from New Orleans. With a passion for plate artistry, creole Caribbean food and vibrant spice blends, it’s a perfect match and one that is sure to wow in both flavor and presentation.

Miss B’s Coconut Club, 3704 Mission Blvd., San Diego, CA 92109, 858.381.0855, missbcoconutclub.com

Whole snapper cooked to order in roasted pepper and lemon butter, seasoned with herb smoked salt and cracked pepper. Served with rosemary potatoes and cauliflower broccolini blend.

GROOVE MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE SOUND DECISIONS BY SCOTT MCDONALD

John Legend

Legend 12.30

@ Civic Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org The 10-time Grammy Awardwinning singer, songwriter, musician and actor earned EGOT status — the name bestowed to winners of an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony — this past September after winning an Emmy for producing the best variety special winner, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (which he also starred in). His sixth studio album, A Legendary Christmas, was released in October and features appearances from Esperanza Spalding and Stevie Wonder. PHOTO BY GEORGIOS KEFALAS

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

A RED CARPET AFFAIR

PHOTOBOOTH

NEW YEAR'S DAY PARTY

GROOVE

Sound Decisions December Concert Calendar BY SCOTT MCDONALD

12.1 BROCKHAMPTON @ Valley View Casino Center, valleyviewcasinocenter.com Back on the road after ousting main rapper Ameer Vann amid multiple accusations of sexual misconduct, the self-professed boy band (aka Texas-based rap collective) seemingly hasn’t missed a beat. Their September-released fourth album, Iridescence, debuted at the top spot of Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart.

12.2 OLD 97’S HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA @ Belly Up, bellyup.com Bandleader Rhett Miller was here at the Soda Bar in March, but returns with his long-running quartet for this special Christmas-themed show. The group is winding down their 25th year together and released their 12th studio album, Love the Holidays, last month.

12.3 DWEEZIL ZAPPA @ Belly Up, bellyup.com The torchbearer of the Zappa legacy has performed his father’s music as Zappa Plays Zappa for years, but recently has gone with his full name on the marquee. The Grammywinning scion is still playing family tunes, however, and calls this tour Choice Cuts.

Neko Case

12.8

Case

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com After appearing in San Diego this summer as an opener for Ray Lamontagne, the singer/ songwriter returns for a headlining show of her own. Case released her seventh solo studio album, Hell-On, in June. It was co-produced by Bjorn Yttling of Swedish indie trio Peter Bjorn and John. PHOTO BY VIVIEN KILLILEA/GETTY IMAGES

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

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GROOVE | SOUND DECISIONS

Fleetwood Mac Mac

12.8

@ Viejas Arena, viejasarena.com Mick Fleetwood and former Fleetwood Mac member Rick Vito were in San Diego two years ago. Stevie Nicks brought The Pretenders with her when she was here last year. But Lindsey Buckingham was just here in October — which is good, because he’s been replaced by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers’ Mike Campbell and Crowded House’s Neil Finn while the iconic group tackles their current farewell tour. PHOTO BY ANGELA WEISS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

12.4 MAC DEMARCO

12.6 THE BUTTERTONES

12.7 DOM KENNEDY

12.7, 9 BEACH FOSSILS & WAVVES

12.9 949’S NOT SO SILENT NIGHT

@ Music Box, musicboxsd.com The singer/songwriter and current indie-rock class president released the demos to his 2017 third full-length album, This Old Dog, earlier this year. Although he usually performs with a band, this will be a solo set from the Canadian multi-instrumentalist.

@ The Irenic, theirenic.com The L.A.-based rockers with a penchant for saxophone and throwback sounds released their fourth full-length studio album, Midnight in a Moonless Dream, earlier this year. Former Corners frontman Tracy Bryant opens the show.

@ SOMA, somasandiego.com The 34-year-old, L.A.based rapper has collaborated with the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Ty Dolla $ign, YG, DJ Quik, Rick Ross and many others. His sixth studio album, Volume Two, was released in September.

@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/ sandiego It’s a non-consecutive double dip of indie rock goodness as Beach Fossils and Wavves team up for a co-headlining tour. Brooklyn-based indie trio Beach Fossils pair with long-time San Diegan Nathan Williams’ Wavves, who played the Irenic the last time they were in town.

@ Del Mar Arena, alt949.radio.com It’s time for some holiday music by the ocean. Academy Awardwinner Jared Leto and Thirty Seconds to Mars headline Alt 949’s winter show, which also features appearances from AJR, Elle King and Alice Merton at the Del Mar Arena.

Aminé

12.11

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com The 24-year-old Portland-born, L.A.-based rapper scored a hit with the 2017 single, Caroline. In August, he released his second studio album, OnePointFive, which featured appearances from G Herbo, Gunna and Rico Nasty.

@PACIFICSD

DECEMBER 2018

GROOVE | SOUND DECISIONS 12.9 KURT VILE & THE VIOLATORS @ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com Performing in San Diego last year with Courtney Barnett to promote the release of their collaborative album, Lotta Sea Lice, Vile heads back out on the road with The Violators after the October release of his eighth studio album, Bottle It In.

12.9 TONY BENNETT

12.13 LA SANTA CECILIA

@ Pechanga, pechanga.com This 92-year-old living legend has won 19 Grammy Awards and sold more than 50 million albums. What more is there to say?

@ Music Box, musicboxsd.com The Grammy-winning, L.A.based quartet has made frequent trips to San Diego in recent years promoting the release of 2017’s Amar y Vivir.

Wrex The Halls

The Halls

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

12.14 LYRICS BORN + ZION I @ Music Box, musicboxsd.com Veteran Bay Area rappers Lyrics Born (Tsutomu “Tom” Shimura) and Zion I (Steve “Baba Zumbi” Gaines) join forces for a heavy dose of hip-hop. Gaines’ latest album, The Tonite Show with Zion I, as well as Shimura’s most recent, Quite a Life, were both released this year.

@ Valley View Casino Center, valleyviewcasinocenter.com 91X is back at it, spreading musical holiday cheer with their somewhat annual end-of-year fiesta. This year, Death Cab for Cutie (pictured), Third Eye Blind, Billie Eilish, Lord Huron, The Interrupters and Barns Courtney will all be taking part in the celebration.

12.14

GROOVE | SOUND DECISIONS

Thom Yorke 12.17

Yorke

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com Sold out just mere moments after it went on sale, the Radiohead frontman returns to San Diego to play solo stuff and (we’re guessing) cuts from his October-released soundtrack to Luca Guadagnino’s remake of the horror film Suspiria. PHOTO BY AMY HARRIS/INVISION/AP

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

NEWYEAR’SEVE

CELEBRATION DECEMBER 31, 2018

Join us at Jamul Casino to say hello to 2019 with all the action you can handle! ®

Live Entertainment • Special Buffets Prix Fixe Dinners • Free Play for Everyone And More!

jamulcasinosd.com/nye2019 20 minutes from downtown San Diego • 94 to Campo Road 619.315.2250 • 14145 Campo Road, Jamul, CA 91935 • jamulcasinosd.com Must be 21 or over. NEED HELP? Call 1.800.GAMBLER (426-2537). Please play responsibly.

GROOVE | SOUND DECISIONS 12.21 ERIC RACHMANY @ Belly Up, bellyup.com The lead singer of reggae rockers Rebelution has a go at it solo this time around.

12.28, 29 DONOVON FRANKENREITER @ Belly Up, bellyup.com “All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I’m fine!” The people’s favorite surfer/ musician returns for yet another show at the Belly Up (whether or not he counts Spicoli as an influence).

12.29, 30 X + LOS LOBOS @ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com Two legendary Los Angeles-based bands, both (amazingly) still featuring all original members and sharing nearly 70 years of making music between them, join forces for two nights of coheadlining tunes that will undoubtedly span a wildly diverse crosssection of genres.

12.30, 31 MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD @ Belly Up, bellyup.com The tall, barefoot troubadour and KAABOO veteran was just at Humphreys on his Stay Human Summer Tour in June. He returns to the Belly Up for an intimate, doubledip New Year’s Eve extravaganza.

12.31 MAGIC GIANT @ The Irenic, theirenic.com The L.A.-based indiefolkers released their In the Wind (Acoustic) EP in July. The 5-song set features stripped down versions taken from their 2017 full-length album of the same name.

12.18 @ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego The legendary industrial act is celebrating a few milestones this year. Not only did iconic frontman Al Jourgensen just turn 60, the band’s breakthrough album, The Land of Rape and Honey, has now officially been around for three decades. Ministry also released their 14th studio album in 2018, the 9-track AmeriKKKant.

Ministry PHOTO BY PHIL PARMET

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

GROOVE | SOUND DECISIONS

12.28 @ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com Like peanut butter and jelly. Or maybe that’s chocolate. Either way, Primus’ genius Les Claypool joining forces with the songwriting son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono is a winning combination. The pair’s upcoming third release together, South of Reality, will drop in February.

The Claypool Lennon Delirium

Lennon Delirium

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

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GROOVE

Spin Cycle

12.1 TWO FRIENDS

12.1 DAY MVS

12.7 3LAU

@ OMNIA, omnianightclub.com L.A.-based DJ duo Two Friends (Matt Halper and Eli Sones) have remixed Steve Aoki, 3LAU, Audien, and more. After dropping their latest single, Bandaid, in June, Halper and Sones have seen their song remixed by Bad Color and Castion in recent months.

@ The Park at Petco Park, petcoparkevents.com Petco Park provides the backdrop for this all-day, 21+ CRSSD event that features sets from Jai Wolf, Lane 8, Snakehips, Hotel Garuda, Kill Frenzy, Phantoms and more.

@ OMNIA, omnianightclub.com New York-born, Vegas-based DJ Justin Blau released his 11-song full-length debut, Ultraviolet, in February. A remixed version featuring new versions by Zeds Dead, Zaxx, and more followed in May. And last month, Blau teamed with HYO on new single, Punk Right Now.

December EDM + DJ performances

BY SCOTT MCDONALD

BIG GIGANTIC 12.14

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com The Colorado-based drum/production duo of Dominic Lalli and Jeremy Salken broke through with their 2016 sixth studio album, Brighter Future, which featured collabs with Waka Flocka Flame, Logic and others. Last year, Kasbo, Pham, Kill the Zo, KRANE and others contributed versions to a followup remix album. PHOTO BY JASON SIEGEL

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

12.7 TIGA @ Spin, spinnightclub.com Canadian DJ, producer and musician Tiga was last in San Diego for this year’s CRSSD Spring edition. He returns after releasing the four-track Blessed EP, Pt. 1 with The Martinez Brothers last month.

12.8 BROHUG @ OMNIA, omnianightclub.com The Swedish DJ and production trio of Christopher Lunde, Niklas Lunde and John Dahlbäck was last here in February as part of the LED Anniversary VII. The threesome has kept busy in 2018, releasing seven singles (Sinner, Fun, My Place, Charlie, Be Somebody, The Hunt, In My Hand) as well as a pair of remixes.

12.12 KSHMR @ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com Bay-Area electro-house DJ Niles Hollowell-Dhar (aka KSHMR) has collaborated with the likes of Tiesto, Bassjackers, R3hab, Hardwell and more. His latest single, Magic, was released last month through Spinnin’ Records.

12.13 SCOOTER AND LAVELLE @ Oxford Social Club, theoxfordsd.com San Diego’s own two-headed DJ beast concludes their almost year-old residency at Oxford with their 10th and final show of the 2018 run. The veteran turntablists are also set to perform together at the 15th anniversary of Groove Cruise Miami in January.

12.14 LIL JON @ OMNIA, omnianightclub.com This dude loves San Diego. The DJ, producer and Grammywinning King of Crunk was last here in October, at the same venue, fresh from teaming with Lil Buddha on new single, No Hook.

12.14 MK @ Spin, spinnightclub.com Detroit-bred, L.A.-based DJ MK (Marc Kinchen) is best known for charting a pair of No. 1’s on

the Billboard 200 and producing tracks for Pitbull. In September, he teamed with Jonas Blue and Becky Hill on new single, Back & Forth. Since, Franky Rizardo, KDA and Boston Bun have taken turns remixing it.

12.15 COONE @ Bassmnt, bassmntsd.com Belgian hardstyle DJ and producer Koen Bauweraerts (aka Coone) is also the founder of the Dirty Workz record label. Bauweraerts just released his sixth studio album, Trip To Tomorrow, in October. The eight-song collection features collaborations with Technotronic, Jelle van Dael, Belle Humble and others.

12.20 HIPPIE SABOTAGE @ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com Calif.-based sibling DJ and production duo Hippie Sabotage (aka Kevin and Jeff Saurer) are perhaps best known for remixing Swedish crooner Tove Lo’s breakthrough hit, Habits (Stay High). The brothers have also released a handful of their own singles this year — I Found You, The Mist and the three-song Hentai collection.

12.21 COAST CLUB @ OMNIA, omnianightclub.com DJ and production trio Trevor Shawn, Ace Future and Spencer Regan performed as WeAreTreo for years, remixing Drake’s Fake Love and Twenty One Pilots’ Ride as self-proclaimed “surfers by day, DJs by night.” But with Regan out, the L.A.-based duo of Shawn and Future released their first single under the new moniker, Coastin’ (feat. Sammy Johnson), in August.

12.21 BAAUER @ OMNIA, omnianightclub.com Remember all those Harlem Shake videos? Well, the DJ and producer behind the song that fueled them all — 29-year-old Harry Bauer Rodrigues — has since worked with the likes of Jay-Z, Pusha T, Future, M.I.A., Rae Sremmurd and more. His latest single, Company (feat. Soleima), was released in October.

12.22 SLUSHII @ Parq, parqsd.com Twenty-one-year-old L.A.-based DJ/producer Julian Scanlan (aka Slushii) has remixed everyone from Skrillex, Kaskade, and Drake to The Chainsmokers, Maroon 5 and Ariana Grande. Scanlan released his debut fulllength studio album, Out of Light, last year.

12.28 TYGA @ OMNIA, omnianightclub.com Back for more! Compton-born rapper Michael Stevenson (aka Tyga) was just here in October, but apparently can’t get enough of America’s Finest City. Stevenson released his sixth studio album, Kyoto, earlier this year, and also starred in the third season of MTV’s Scream, an episodic reboot of the famous horror film franchise. New singles Swap Meet, Dip, SWISH and Taste (feat. Offset) are out now.

12.29-31 OMFG NYE 2019 @ Valley View Casino Center, valleyviewcasinocenter.com Top shelf EDM all-stars Kaskade, Illenium and Porter Robinson headline three straight nights of music and madness in Point Loma. Support acts like Valentino Khan, San Holo, Tritonal, Boombox Cartel and many others round out the 72hour mega-bill.

12.31

PARTY FAVOR @ OMNIA, omnianightclub.com Back at OMNIA for a third time this year, Manhattanborn/L.A.-based DJ Dylan Ragland makes another stop in San Diego to close out the year. In addition to an amped-up NYE set, Ragland is sure to play a pair of recent singles — MDR with fellow Pacific EDM lister Baauer and October’s Circle Up with U.K. pop singer Bipolar Sunshine. PHOTO BY KOURY ANGELO

12.31 DJ 4B @ Bassmnt, bassmntsd.com New Jersey-based DJ and producer Bobby McKeon Jr. (aka DJ 4B) has released tracks on both Diplo’s Mad Decent Records and Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak Records. McKeon has released a few singles this year, including Drown, Whistle with TEEZ and Ice Cold (feat. Megan Lee), the latter also getting its own 18-track remix album.

@PACIFICSD

DECEMBER 2018

LOVE | BLIND DATE

BY JENNIFER IANNI PHOTOS BY DAVID BROOKS MATCHMAKER JESSICA PELLIGRA

THE COLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL

A pair of Geminis attempt a holiday romance on ice

t’s the holiday season in San Diego, and while we may not have fresh snowfall to create a picture-perfect winter backdrop, we do have several seasonal ice skating rinks to help get us into the spirit. Ice skating rinks also happen to make great date spots, and it’s where singles Tierra and Chad will have their first on this chilly (for San Diego) evening. The daters first lay eyes on each other after an Epic Limo picks up Chad at his Mission Hills pad, and then swings over to Pacific Beach to pick up Tierra, who, while getting ready for her date, accidentally misses the text from the limo driver informing her they have arrived. Chad, ever the gentleman, patiently waits for Tierra, who eventually makes her appearance. Here’s hoping Chad thinks Tierra is worth the wait, especially after we review the daters’ pre-date interviews. Where are you from and where do you live now? TIERRA: I’m from San Clemente, but I’ve lived in San Diego for just as long as I lived there. I currently live in Pacific Beach. CHAD: I was born and raised in San Diego. I currently live in Mission Hills. I lived in New York City for three years post-college, but San Diego has my heart. What do you do for a living? TIERRA: I’m a student services adviser at UC San Diego. I coordinate admissions, enrollment and employment for my department. CHAD: My father and I run a construction company. 86

DECEMBER 2018 @PACIFICSD

Why are you going on a blind date in PACIFIC? TIERRA: A friend of mine recommended me as a dater, and after reading through the past dates, it seemed like a great way to meet fun people and discover new places in San Diego. CHAD: No harm, no foul. There’s nothing to lose by going on a blind date. I’m not expecting to meet “the one,” but having an open mind will eventually lead you to the right person. What do you do for fun? TIERRA: Equal parts relaxing at home and packing my schedule to the brim. One week, I’ll go to a trivia night, hit up happy hour with coworkers, make dinner with my friends and go rollerblading along the bay, but the next week, I’ll need at least three days to myself to recoup. CHAD: I have a passion for fitness and being outdoors. Not sure how many people will consider this fun, but I enjoy pushing my body past its limits, so I recently started competing in triathlons and men’s physique bodybuilding competitions. What are you best at? TIERRA: To ask this question assumes that I’m only really good at one thing, which isn’t true. But I am weirdly good at remembering people’s names. CHAD: Making my sister laugh.

get better, though! CHAD: Eating slow and portion control.

What do you suck at? TIERRA: Eye contact. It intimidates me. I feel like someone is staring directly into my soul and I’m not comfortable with being vulnerable like that. I am trying to

What are you looking for in a date, physically and/or otherwise? TIERRA: I’m looking for someone who is easy to talk to, interesting and interested, intelligent, witty and

confident, but not cocky. CHAD: Chemistry, there needs to be that “click.” And it wouldn’t hurt if she were super hot. Describe your special brand of sex appeal in five words or less. TIERRA: Crazy, sexy, cool a la TLC. CHAD: Depends which ex you talk to.

LOVE | BLIND DATE

What do you like least about yourself? TIERRA: Honestly, I’m pretty happy with myself overall, so I don’t really know. I guess I could be a little more spontaneous? CHAD: I worry more than I should. Everything always works out in the end. Also, my tendency to shop and spend money to forget about my troubles. At least I always have nice things! Rate yourself on a scale from one to 10 for looks. TIERRA: I hate this question. I would say I’m a solid eight. With makeup, maybe a nine? CHAD: To my mom, I’m a 10. Rate yourself on a scale from one to 10 for personality. TIERRA: That really depends on when you catch me. I feel like I can’t answer this, someone else should. Overall, I’d say I’m pretty damn fun, maybe an eight or nine. I asked a friend and she said 11, so there’s that. CHAD: Depends on how many carbs I had the day before. 88

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What’s your biggest fear? TIERRA: Looking back on my life and realizing that I didn’t accomplish the things I wanted to accomplish. CHAD: I’ll go with my irrational one: When I go to drink from a water fountain, I’m afraid that someone will come up behind me and smack my teeth into the fountain. What traits could your date exhibit that would be complete deal-breakers? TIERRA: Being totally full of himself, being rude to the people who are serving or helping us, condescension, really just anything that signals a lack of respect for people around him. CHAD: Having nothing in common. Cue awkward silence when you find yourself sitting across from someone and you realize you have absolutely nothing in common. Also, drawn-on eyebrows. How many people have you slept with? TIERRA: Does anyone ever actually answer this? CHAD: Boys will be boys.

Fill in the blanks: I want my blind date to be “blank” and “blank.” TIERRA: Handsome and engaging. CHAD: Admirable and adorable. Will the night end with a kiss, something more or something less? TIERRA: I guess it will depend on how things go when I actually meet this mystery man. CHAD: Hopefully the night starts with a kiss. What’s the most important thing in the world? TIERRA: Love. I’ve come to realize that unconditionally loving yourself and striving to become a better version of yourself creates the best kind of happiness. People like being around happy people, so you get the added benefit of opening yourself to some great opportunities. Also,

having love and empathy for other people’s experiences is so important and would probably solve all of the world’s problems. CHAD: Family, friends and selfconfidence. Both daters say their wish list for a potential cuffing season partner includes chemistry and a lack of awkward silences. And while Chad claims he isn’t expecting to meet “the one,” he would be wise to be more optimistic. The holidays can be a magical time and you never know what will happen on a PACIFIC blind date. Let’s find out if these two have what it takes to break the ice.

LOVE | BLIND DATE

ICE TO MEET YOU

Blind daters show off their skate skills (and take a few spills)

he Epic Limo drops the daters off at the Rady Children’s Ice Rink at Liberty Station, where 100% of the proceeds benefit the Thriving After Cancer program at the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. Both daters are dressed for the season in sweaters and jeans and, after lacing up their skates, Chad and Tierra take a few spins around the rink. Tierra, being the avid rollerblader, has a slightly easier time, while Chad takes a few falls here and there. Luckily, Tierra is there to pick him back up. Eventually, the daters wear themselves out and turn in their skates. They are then whisked away to dinner at the newly-opened Farmer’s Table Bay Park to replenish with fresh, farm-to-table (or, as they like to say, “farm-to-fork”) food and some welldeserved alcoholic beverages. The dinner conversation is flowing like the wine in their glasses. These two don’t know it yet, 90

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but they’re about to find out their romantic destiny may have been written in the stars. How’s it going so far? TIERRA: It’s great, I really like him. Things are going smoothly. There’s no awkward pauses and that’s what I was most nervous about. It’s really a fun time. CHAD: It’s actually going really well. She’s really cute, a lot cuter than I anticipated. I don’t want to be rude to the people that have done the dates in the past, but I looked at all the dates and there’s like maybe one or two girls that I was like, all right, these could be potential girls. And then when she walked out of the house, 45 minutes late, she was a lot cuter than I thought. Worth the 45 minutes. What were your first impressions of your date? TIERRA: My first impression was that he seemed like someone that I

would be attracted to, but almost maybe apprehensive about. Just because I would think that he would be kind of a douchebag. Which is so sad. (Laughs) He looks like he would be a douchebag, but he’s so not. He’s so sweet, he’s so nice, he’s so open. CHAD: My first impression, she was 45 minutes late, so at first, I was a little ticked off and annoyed. But when she walked out, she was super bubbly and cute and very pretty, so I forgot about having to wait. Fourth column, first paragraph, please remove the last sentence in Chad’s answer, “Her sweater was super cute.” Is this the type of person you’d normally date? TIERRA: Yes. CHAD: I would say so. She’s absolutely gorgeous; down-to-earth girl. She’s bubbly and fun and can hold a conversation, so yeah. What do you think of the way your date is dressed?

TIERRA: He’s dressed great. CHAD: I think she found out that we were ice skating. She got the hint from somebody, so she wore an appropriate outfit for ice skating. Very cute little sweater. I liked her shoes. Her sweater was super cute. How was your experience at the Rady Children’s Ice Rink at Liberty Station? TIERRA: I love the ice skating rink there. I actually have been going there with my friends for a couple of years now. We’re probably going to go again in a couple of weeks, so it’s somewhere I would have gone on my own, regardless of whether or not the date was there. I think it’s very apt for San Diego. CHAD: I just absolutely love Liberty Station in general. I spend a lot of time down there because I live pretty close, and there’s just so much good stuff to do in that area. And then having the ice skating rink in that litup area, they did a really good job.

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LOVE | BLIND DATE

How is your experience at Farmer’s Table Bay Park? TIERRA: Delicious. It’s so great. It’s such a little hidden gem. I’ve never heard of it, never seen it before. We got pasta, we got this really good short rib flatbread, we also got a short rib entrée. CHAD: The food is phenomenal. We started off with some flatbread and burrata cheese. And I’m a huge burrata guy, so that was delicious. I think I ate 90% of that. I made sure she got a little bit, but I took most of it. The pasta was super good. But the short rib was next level. We got the short rib flatbread and the short rib entrée. What’s the most attractive thing your date has done so far? TIERRA: I don’t really know, but I really liked how he wasn’t afraid to fall when we were ice skating. I didn’t feel like I had to always be on. I felt like if I did fall, it was natural and completely fine. We talked about our families. He’s a great guy. 92

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CHAD: She’s always smiling. I find that really attractive. What’s the least attractive thing your date has done so far? TIERRA: (Laughs) I don’t know, there’s nothing that I’ve noticed that is a deal-breaker. CHAD: That she was sleeping when we went to go pick her up. Rate your date on a scale from one to 10 for looks TIERRA: Maybe an eight? CHAD: 10. And for personality? TIERRA: A 10, for sure. CHAD: She’s a 10. She’s very loud. Her voice is very loud, but I’ve been told my voice is very loud, so we just connect. What’s your date’s most attractive quality? TIERRA: Physically, he’s very confident. He holds himself well, he has a good understanding of who he is. He’s not shy about what he

can and cannot do. The honesty with how he approaches life is really attractive. If he were to try to pretend that he were one way versus another, I wouldn’t be into that, but he’s very real. CHAD: Her smile. And her real eyebrows. Do you want to kiss your date right now? TIERRA: I do, yeah. I would kiss him. CHAD: Of course. Does your date want to kiss you? TIERRA: I would say yes, but I can’t really speak to that. CHAD: I’d say yes. How and when will the date end? TIERRA: I think it will end in a respectful way. We had dinner, we’ll talk, exchange numbers, things like that. We’ll probably sit and talk a couple hours. Until things change, we’ll hang out. CHAD: I think we’ll probably end up hanging out and making our limo

driver drive us around until 11. He’s great. I mean, we got to kick it for 45 minutes, so we’re friends now. Anything you’d like to add? TIERRA: We have the same birthday, which I didn’t know until I was telling him I went to New York for my birthday. So we’re both Geminis, both May 24. Super cool. I’ve never really met someone with my same birthday. CHAD: The most interesting thing that happened is that we actually have the same birthday. The daters are delighted to find out they share the same birthday, May 24. Could this be a sign of an impending Christmas miracle? Or is it just a happy coincidence? It should also be noted that Tierra passed Chad’s all-important eyebrow test with flying colors, and that Chad isn’t the douchebag Tierra may have assumed. It’s not a done deal yet, but chances are good that these two will be double celebrating next May.

LOVE | BLIND DATE

BLADES OF GLORY

The daters skate off into the night after sharing a kiss (or two)

nce the daters have finished their meal, the PACIFIC crew leaves them alone to enjoy the rest of their evening. We follow up with them the next day to find out what we missed. How was your dinner at Farmer’s Table Bay Park? TIERRA: It was delicious, it was amazing. You could see the kitchen when we were sitting in the dining room, and so it was very transparent and fresh. I’ll be dreaming about that short rib. CHAD: That restaurant is super cool and super nice. I grew up nearby, so seeing a restaurant like that in my neighborhood is super cool because there’s great food, the staff was super nice and everything went well there. I don’t know exactly what kind of wine we had, 94

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but it was a cabernet, a red. Then they brought out these really cool, fun drinks. One was a blackberry cocktail. I don’t even know what kind of alcohol was in it, but it tasted amazing. It went down super smooth. They brought another fun drink that was in a pig cup. The presentation was cool. Where did you go and what did you do for the rest of the evening after dinner? TIERRA: They told us we had the car until 11, and I wanted to make sure that he could get home on time. We just went to P.B., which is where I live. I live right by the bars, so there’s a ton of stuff to do. We ended up going and getting another drink and talking more. We exchanged numbers and then they dropped me off. CHAD: She lives in P.B., so we took the limo on a tour of her

neighborhood and went to Tavern, which is right down the street from her house. It was nice because we didn’t have the PACIFIC crew there, so we were able to open up and have a good time. It was fun.

CHAD: We definitely kissed. It wasn’t very romantic or anything, because it was right in front of her house. But it was nice. I’m sure we’ll hang out again and I’m sure there will be more kisses in the future.

When did you get home? TIERRA: Probably about 11. CHAD: I knew we only had the limo until 11 p.m., so I got home at like 10:58 p.m. That’s when we called it a night.

What’s the funniest thing that happened during the date? TIERRA: (Laughs) He fell when we were ice skating. And I was trying to help him, and then I ended up falling. I think that was probably the funniest. It let us be a little more comfortable. It wasn’t so formal. Obviously, we fell, so it kind of took the edge off a little bit. CHAD: We went ice skating, and neither of us are professional ice skaters, to say the least, so we had a couple spills. One in particular, I started falling, and she tried to help hold me up and we both ended up falling. So that was pretty funny. No one got hurt, but we did have wet butts for the rest of the night.

Was there a kiss or romantic exchange? TIERRA: Yes, we kissed. Actually, at the restaurant, there were these two kissing swans that were carved out of some kind of squash and zucchini, so we recreated that. So, we had already kind of explored that, so it wasn’t a big surprise, but yeah, he kissed me at the end of the night.

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LOVE | BLIND DATE

What was the best part of the date and why? TIERRA: I don’t know if I would say there was one specific best part, it was just really great all around. He was really sweet, he made me feel very comfortable. I didn’t feel like I was on this blind date with someone that I didn’t know. CHAD: Probably finding out that we share the same birthday. And just seeing her for the first time. I was waiting for about 45 minutes for her. But just seeing her and seeing how pretty she was, that was the best part of the date. Will there be a second date? Why or why not? TIERRA: Probably, yes. I’m sure we’ll hang out again. I don’t know when, but we’re texting now. We’ll probably plan something in the foreseeable future. CHAD: I definitely anticipate a second date. 96

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What’s one thing your date really should know before going on another date? TIERRA: I guess just keep doing what he’s doing. It was a fun date. I have no complaints. CHAD: Be on time. What could have made this date better? TIERRA: I feel like I would have liked to stalk him before, so I would know what I was getting myself into. That’s nothing against him, but [that’s the way things are done]. [But on a blind date], you go in completely blind. In this day and age, that doesn’t happen, ever. CHAD: Honestly, the date went smooth. From the matchmaker, to the camera man, to the staff at all the places, everyone was super nice and welcoming. Anything else you’d like to add? TIERRA: This was a great

opportunity. Thank you so much for allowing me to go on the date. I think it’s awesome that you get to go hang out, meet new people and try new places. Thanks to all the people who made it happen. CHAD: If any future blind daters are reading this, it’s a lot less awkward than you anticipate. And hopefully, if you get a date as fun as mine, it’s going to be a wonderful night.

in all, it looks like this date turned out to be a gift that neither wants to return. And, while Chad and Tierra may have fallen a time or two on the ice, we think it’s clear that these two have also fallen for each other.

AFTERMATCH: It appears that Chad and Tierra have both been very good this year, because they each got what they asked for: physical chemistry, a natural rapport with each other and no dreaded awkward silences. And both daters agreed that Chad’s fall, and Tierra’s fall while attempting to hold him up, was the funniest thing that happened on the date. Both are also sure that there will be future dates (and kisses, according to Chad). All

SPECIAL THANKS TO AND PROMOTIONAL CONSIDERATION FROM:

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

EPIC LIMO 858.270.LIMO (5466), epiclimo.com RADY CHILDREN’S ICE RINK AT LIBERTY STATION (OPEN UNTIL 1.6.19) 619.221.1970, radychildrensicerink.com FARMER’S TABLE BAY PARK 619.359.4485, myfarmerstable.com MATCHMAKER JESSICA PELLIGRA matchandmagic.com