PACIFIC San Diego Magazine, January 2019

ENTER INTO A NEW REALM DATERS GET REVVED UP

+ FUNNY PEOPLE,

ENGAGING ARTWORK, STAGE PERFORMANCES, CONCERTS, EVENTS, CONTEST GIVEAWAYS AND NEW MOVIE RELEASES

Sparkle + Shine

The Bachelor’s KRYSTAL NIELSON looks forward to love + growth of her Glitter Gang in 2019

January 2019

PACIFICSANDIEGO.COM

Cuvier Park, La Jolla, Photo by K.C. Alfred

NOT ALL RESOLUTIONS REQUIRE SACRIFICE

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EDITOR’S NOTE

CHAR LIE NEUM AN

In addition to being blessed with 72 degrees and sun most of the year, San Diego also boasts some of the most diverse terrain in the country. You can kick off the morning watching the waves crash against the shoreline, have lunch in the tree-lined mountains, then end the day staring in wonder at a star-filled sky in the desert.

And speckled throughout these varied regions are countless trails on which to explore them. I’m not usually one to set forth resolutions that I will inevitably cast aside after the glow of the new year wears off, but this year it must be done. And, to help keep myself accountable, I am putting it here, in writing, for everyone to see.

In 2019, I resolve to spend more time outdoors.

Seems like a pretty simple resolution, right? Well, in a world where I am totally guilty of spending 12-plus hours daily staring at a screen, I find a lot of excuses not to get up from my desk or couch to let the fresh air hit my face.

So, how exactly am I going to make this happen? To get things started I have compiled the following brief list of places and activities to get me out into the fresh air.

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JANUARY 2019 @PACIFICSD

As good as this list is to start from, in honor of this resolution, I really want to hear from you, dear reader: What are your favorite outdoor activities around San Diego?

Help hold me accountable and, in turn, hold yourself accountable to disconnecting from the digital world and getting out and enjoying nature a bit more often.

K.C. ALFR ED

Lagoons and bays: Mission Bay is an obvious choice for enjoying some salty air, but San Diego County’s coastline is also speckled with numerous protected lagoon areas, all of which have designated trails to explore coastal wildlife. One such place is the San Dieguito River Park in Del Mar, which has trails that range from less than a quarter of a mile for a casual stroll up to nearly 9 miles for the more ambitious hiker. Here, the Coast to Crest Trail, which will eventually stretch nearly 70 miles from

Camping: Some of my favorite childhood memories were centered around the campfire during annual camping trips outside the Lake Tahoe area. Just as diverse as the aforementioned hiking trails, there are San Diego-area camp sites located in every type of terrain as well (plus most also have trails, too). Head to the Laguna Mountains for fresh, pine tree-scented air or Cuyamaca Rancho State Park where hundred-yearold oak trees and a lake await explorers. And don’t forget the countless beach campgrounds along the coast, which are great for those who also love to surf. For a list of recommended sites around the county, head to pacificsandiego.com/camping.

HAYN E PALM OUR IV

5-Peak Challenge: Nestled among the 7,200 acres that make up Mission Trails Regional Park are 65 miles of trails and the City of San Diego’s tallest points. Launched in 2015 by park rangers Levi Dean and Heidi Gutknecht, the 5-Peak Challenge encourages explorers to ascend to the summit of five points throughout the park. For those who love trinkets that offer bragging rights, this is your challenge. Participants are encouraged to take a selfie at each summit and submit all five once completed. Upon verification, participants can receive an official 5-Peak Challenge certificate and logo pin. For more details about the challenge, go to mtrp.org/5-peak-challenge.

the ocean at Del Mar to the San Dieguito River’s source on Volcan Mountain near Julian, has a variety of offshoot paths. Talk about hitting all the terrains San Diego has to offer! For more info about this network of trails, go to sdrp.org/wordpress/trails.

CHAR LIE NEUM AN

Balboa Park: With all of its gorgeous architecture, diverse gardens and endless people watching, the 1,200-acre park is an obvious choice for enjoying some fresh air. But aside from the main walkways connecting numerous museums, did you know that there is a vast maze of trails that traverse the hills, valleys and plateaus of the area? Five gateways — Marston Point, Park Boulevard, Sixth and Upas, Golden Hills and Morley Field — are the starting point for trails that vary in length from 0.5 to 6.8 miles. To see the full network of trails, go to balboapark.org/enjoy/trails.

Cheers,

Leslie Hackett leslie@pacificsandiego.com

Let the fresh air of 2019 hit your face with a variety of outdoor activities including the 5-Peak Challenge within Mission Trails Regional Park, exploring local lagoons and camping in nearby mountains.

Volume #13 | Issue #1 | January 2019

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

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

Here’s what to keep your eyes and ears open for in January:

Dish It Up on Jan. 14 with guest Patti Finnegan of Niederfrank’s Ice Cream

Kiss My Glass on Jan. 28 with guest Jesse Fanning of Henebery Spirits

Leslie Hackett Kenny Boyer Jennifer Ianni Monica Hodes-Smail Michael Benninger, Kristina Davis, Lisa Deaderick, James Hebert, Scott McDonald, Kai Oliver-Kurtin, Peter Rowe K.C. Alfred, Auda & Coudayre Photography, David Brooks, Jared Gase, Isiah Jones

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES

Paul Ingegneri

SALES MANAGER

Katie Musolf

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Lisa Marsolais, Laura J. Schwartz Greg Johannsen

Reach America’s finest readers via print, web, social, email, street team and events.

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JANUARY 2019 @PACIFICSD

SD Campervans Rentals & Conversions 619.787.9214 | www.sdcampervans.com | @sdcampervans

CONTENTS JANUARY 2019

CURRENTS 16 One.Nineteen

January events calendar 32 Laughing Stock

January stand-up comedy shows PULSE 36 Art Beat

January gallery +

exhibition openings 44 Curtain Calls

January performing arts preview 46 The Reel Deal

January motion picture preview TASTE 52 A New Realm of Possibilities

New speakeasy brings elegance

to the Convoy Area 60 Full Plate

January food +

drink events 62 Take it From the Tap

A monthly taste of beer

from here GROOVE 64 Sounds Like a Plan

January concert calendar 80 Take a Spin

Upcoming EDM +

DJ performances LOVE 82 Krystal Clear

After lessons learned on two

Bachelor shows, alum has new

outlook and fresh career moves in

the works – not to mention a

wedding to plan 88 Road Hard

Blind daters Chris and Ellie

attempt to find love in the

fast lane

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JANUARY 2019 @PACIFICSD

ON THE COVER: Local reality star and fitness coach Krystal Nielson shows us what winter in San Diego looks like at Cuvier Park in La Jolla. See story, p. 82. Photo by K.C. Alfred. ON THIS PAGE: Kettle Coffee & Tea is just one of the many spots participating in Dine Out Escondido! from Jan. 27 through Feb. 2. For more January food and drink events, see p. 60. Photo Copyright 2016 Chevanon Wonganuchitmetha

W NG O N SI A E L

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CURRENTS WHAT’S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW

BY MICHAEL BENNINGER

1.24-27 FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN Torrey Pines Golf Course, La Jolla farmersinsuranceopen.com Top golfers from around the globe (along with throngs of ogling admirers) return to Torrey Pines as the PGA Tour makes its annual stop in San Diego.

PHOTO BY DONALD MIRALLE/GETTY IMAGES

TO WIN TICKETS, SEE PAGE 23!

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JANUARY 2019 @PACIFICSD

CURRENTS | EVENTS 1.1 LA JOLLA SHORES POLAR BEAR PLUNGE La Jolla Shores, La Jolla lajollacoveswimclub.com Members of the La Jolla Cove Swim Club wade, wallow and welter into the New Year at this annual splash-fest followed by a chili-centric potluck featuring plenty of coffee and cider to help the wet warm up.

PHOTO BY ALEJANDRO TAMAYO

1.9-27 SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY JANUARY FESTIVAL: HEARING THE FUTURE Various venues around the city sandiegosymphony.org Discover gifted artists of all ages and backgrounds — and learn about music from past to present — during this sprawling celebration of instruments and their output curated by the revered composer-conductor Matthew Aucoin.

PHOTO BY RAFAEL PORTRAITS

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JANUARY 2019 @PACIFICSD

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

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DOWNTOWN MARKET UPDATE # of homes for sale: 337 # of homes sold: 57 (Nov) Highest price: $1,410,000 Lowest price: $300,000 Average home price: $475,000

There are currently 337 active listings on the market right now with 47 pending properties. This does not include all of the new homes at Savina and Pacific Gate that are not on MLS. These numbers show that there is approximately a 7+ month supply of homes on the market. This is a clear shift from the seller’s market we’ve had for the past few years where we had been averaging about a 3.5 month supply of active listings. This new buyer’s market is bringing good opportunities for buyers and is slowing down the selling process for sellers. The average days on market for properties is now over 70 days. While forecasts for the San Diego housing market are positive for 2019- ranked as the 5th hottest market in the nation- we are definitely seeing a cooling off from the amazing 7 year run up we had coming out of the the last major recession. Economists are citing low unemployment rates, the 25% Chinese international tariff, and an increased military budget as positive indicators for the Southern California market. We would be honored to represent you, your family and your friends with any real estate needs in 2019.

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

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CURRENTS | EVENTS

1.10-12 SPRINGBOARD MUSIC FEST OB Playhouse & Theatre Company, Ocean Beach, springboardwest.com Fifty hand-selected musical acts receive two days of mentorship from celebrated masters before performing for the public on five stages during the neighborhood-wide Band & Brew Crawl.

PHOTO BY RAN DEBORD

1.12 PADRES FANFEST Petco Park, East Village padres.com/fanfest Score autographs, attend Q&A sessions and enjoy an assortment of interactive experiences at this free event that supports our city’s Major League team.

PHOTO BY HOWARD LIPIN

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JANUARY 2019 @PACIFICSD

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

DOWNTOWN, 92101 Stunning 2 bed 1.5 bath Southeast corner unit at elegant Alta in the Gaslamp! Open & bright floorplan features floor-to-ceiling windows, gleaming wood floors, abundant natural light, modern design with European style kitchen, quartz counters, high-end Fisher Paykel appliances, remote controlled shades, gorgeous baths w/ Italian marble counters & slate floors plus panoramic views of downtown & Petco Park from the balcony! Parking & separate storage space. Unparalleled amenities & the most prime location!

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DOWNTOWN MARKET UPDATE # of homes for sale: 284 # of homes sold: 32 (Nov) Highest price: $1,240,000 Lowest price: $300,000 Average price: $557,742

Headed into the New Year, buyers will start to become active again as we move out of the holiday season. It’s a good time for sellers to list their homes producing options that buyers were lacking at the end of the year. With a stable market and rates continuing to remain low, we look forward with optimism at the addition of new inventory and a prosperous New Year!

MELISSA GOLDSTEIN TUCCI

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CURRENTS | EVENTS

1.13 12TH ANNUAL RESOLUTION RUN Tecolote Shores, Mission Bay Park, resolutionrun.com Burn off some of those holiday carbs with a scenic 5K, 15K or half-marathon followed by a post-race wellness village overflowing with freebies.

PHOTO BY K.C. ALFRED

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JANUARY 2019 @PACIFICSD

1.13 BRIDAL BAZAAR

1.19 MARGARITA MADNESS 5K

San Diego Convention Center, downtown, bridalbazaar.com San Diego’s largest fall bridal show is back, giving would-be wives and their partners an opportunity to taste cakes, smell flowers, hear music and meet photographers all in one place.

East Mission Bay Drive, Mission Bay Park margaritamadness5krun.com It’s less about time and more lime at this unique fun run where everyone scores a free margarita at the finish line.

 �� �� � �  �� �

COLORFUL RADIATION

It’s a Gift

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

Life’s cool in San Diego. Here’s proof: PHOTO BY FRAZER HA RRI S ON/GETTY IMAGES

Chef’s Best

It’s Showtime!

FIND THE BEAUTY WITHIN THE HORRORS OF YOUR WONDERFUL LIFE.

Former MMA fighter and current cohost of The Fighter and the Kid podcast, Brendan Schaub is a man of many talents, including stand-up comedy.

Enter to win a pair of tickets as he films his first Showtime comedy special during this San Diego stop.

Jan. 19 at Spreckels Theatre

An exclusive dinner featuring five courses made by renowned celebrity chefs Susan Feniger and Brian Malarkey? Yes, please. Take a seat at the table for you and a guest by entering to win a pair of tickets to the Celebrity Chef Series dinner at Herb & Wood, Malarkey’s hot Little Italy eatery.

Jan. 24 at Herb & Wood

PHOTO BY BECCA BATISTA

Sluka Winter Tour 2019

MICHAEL REAVES/GETTY IMAGES

Fore You

Mix and mingle with elite golfers from around the world at the PGA Tour’s annual Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego at Torrey Pines. Take a swing at victory by entering to win a pair of tickets to this highly anticipated sporting event.

Jan. 24-27 at Torrey Pines Golf Course

Register to win at pacificsandiego.com/contests

Don’t miss Sluka

at 710 Beach Club on Tuesday,

January 15th at 9:00pm

710 Beach Club | 710 Garnet Ave. | Pacific Beach

Winters Tavern Motherlode Gril

Jub Jub’s Thirst Parlor / Reno, N

As heard on

Winters Tavern / San Francisco

: SLUKA @PACIFICSD

JANUARY 2019

23

CURRENTS | EVENTS 1.19 THIRD ANNUAL WOMEN’S MARCH SAN DIEGO Waterfront Park, Little Italy womensmarchsd.org Join a grassroots group of volunteers and carry on the mission of the marches in support of women’s rights, human rights, access to healthcare and the end of social and environmental injustice.

PHOTO BY HOWARD LIPIN

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JANUARY 2019 @PACIFICSD

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CURRENTS | EVENTS

1.19-20 SAN DIEGO TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE SHOW 2019 San Diego Convention Center, downtown, travelshows.com Discover more than 200 vacation destinations during two days of travel-centric seminars featuring handson demonstrations, a global beats stage and exclusive deals on epic experiences.

1.19, 26 MONSTER JAM Petco Park, East Village monsterjam.com Grave Digger, Max D and El Toro Loco among other famous monster trucks race around a dirt-filled Petco Park in this annual, action-packed auto event.

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JANUARY 2019 @PACIFICSD

1.20 CARLSBAD FULL- AND HALFMARATHON Three courses along coastal Carlsbad inmotionevents.com Choose the full marathon, half marathon or Surf Sun Run 5K, each of which offers breathtaking views, outstanding support stations and live entertainment at every mile.

@PACIFICSD

JANUARY 2019

27

CURRENTS | EVENTS

1.20 39TH ANNUAL DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. PARADE Harbor Drive, Embarcadero, alpha-zsl.org Drill teams, dazzling floats and high school bands among other organizations celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at one of the nation’s largest events held in the civil rights leader’s name.

PHOTO BY NELVIN C. CEPEDA

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JANUARY 2019 @PACIFICSD

PACIFIC HIGHLANDS D EN T I S T R Y A ND ORTHODONTI CS

CURRENTS | EVENTS

1.24-27 2019 SAN DIEGO SUNROAD MARINA BOAT SHOW Sunroad Resort Marina, Harbor Island, bigbayboatshow.com Meet marine vendors, soak up knowledge in boating seminars, and scope out the latest nautical products and services at this annual event that brings together the biggest brands on the water.

1.26 24TH ANNUAL HANOHANO HUKI OCEAN CHALLENGE Bonita Cove Park, Mission Bay, hanohano.com One of California’s longest-running paddlesport races returns, inviting athletes of all ages and experience levels to paddle their way across Mission Bay.

1.26-27 SAN DIEGO CAT SHOW Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, sandiegocat.org Up to 450 felines of 42 breeds compete in beauty and agility categories at the West Coast’s largest cat expo, which also features speakers, exhibitors and the opportunity to view, pet and take home cats of rare and popular breeds.

PHOTO BY NELVIN C. CEPEDA

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JANUARY 2019 @PACIFICSD

Just remember...

Dieting is when you eat food that makes you sad.

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CURRENTS

Laughing Stock January stand-up roundup

BY MICHAEL BENNINGER

1.18 ILIZA SHLESINGER @ The Balboa Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org

Push-up bra. That’s “ what we do for you gentlemen. You have no idea of the sacrifices. Push-up bra.

Not a woman in here wears a push-up bra when she’s at home with the flu. No one walking around, like, ‘I just like it when my nipples are near my tongue. It’s just safer that way.’

”

— Iliza Shlesinger on Elder Millennial PHOTO BY MIKE WINDLE/GETTY IMAGES

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JANUARY 2019 @PACIFICSD

1.3-5 SAM MORRIL

1.10 STAND UP SCIENCE! WITH SHANE MAUSS

@ The American Comedy Co., americancomedyco.com

What do you even ask on these “ first dates now? ‘What kind of music do you like?’ Who cares.

This is my new first date question: How likely are you to yell at me in public? That one’s going to come in handy. I don’t want to be in that relationship, and eight months in she’s screaming at me in front of strangers. I’m like, ‘It’s cool. We both like Chance the Rapper.’

”

@ The American Comedy Co., americancomedyco.com

I had this great idea the other “ day — I’m gonna be rich. There’s more to it than that. It’s basically for a bumper sticker, and it just says on it, ‘I am a child molester.’

I’m gonna sell a lot of those.

No? Oh, you know what, maybe I should explain. Sorry. You don’t put it on your car. That would be stupid.

”

1.11, 12 SHAWN WAYANS @ The American Comedy Co., americancomedyco.com

Donald Trump is white “ Kanye West. He’s always saying something to make you go, ‘What!?

What is wrong with you!?’

”

— Sam Morril on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

— Shane Mauss at the Boston Alternative Comedy Festival

— Shawn Wayans on Power 106 Los Angeles

PHOTO BY EUGENE GOLOGURSKY/GETTY IMAGES

PHOTO BY BRUCE SMITH

PHOTO BY BRIGITTE J OUXTEL PHOTOGRAPHY

1.11, 12 TOM SEGURA

@ The Balboa Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org

By the way, is “ there any more

satisfying feeling than letting an elevator door close on somebody? I did it at the hotel earlier.

I got such a warm rush through my body. It felt like the inside of my body hugged the outside of my body, you know?

”

— Tom Segura on Disgraceful

1.11, 13 BEN BAILEY

@ The Comedy Store, thecomedystore.com/la-jolla

I get this one a lot: ‘Oh my god, you’re a lot bigger “ than you look on TV. And I’m always like: ‘Well yeah, I mean how big is your television, lady? Unless you have a 9-foot TV at your house, I’m probably going to be a little bit larger here in reality. Isn’t everything a little bit larger here in reality? These buildings must be freaking you out right now. Look at them. They’re huge.’

— Ben Bailey on The Accidental Ornithologist

”

PHOTO BY ADAM BETTCHER/GETTY IMAGES

@PACIFICSD

JANUARY 2019

33

CURRENTS | COMEDY

TO WIN TICKETS, SEE PAGE 23!

1.17-19 PABLO FRANCISCO @ The American Comedy Co., americancomedyco.com

1.19 BRENDAN SCHAUB (live filming of Showtime comedy special)

The reason they call it ‘soft “ porn’ is because it doesn’t get

@ Spreckels Theatre, tfatk.com

God, I’m a f**kboy. I own it “ though, man. So weird. The thing

you hard. They’re straining so much from the waist down, it doesn’t even look like they’re having sex. It looks like they’re moving furniture.

is, it wasn’t like, one day I was like, oh, f**king, let me just wake up, dress like an asshole and get this f**ckin’ Hitler haircut. I would never do that.

— Pablo Francisco on Bits & Pieces

— Brendan Schaub on Getting Down with Big Brown

”

PHOTO BY EUGENE GOLOGURSKY/GETTY IMAGES

”

PHOTO BY ALBERTO E. RODRIGUEZ/GETTY IMAGES

1.19 LOUIE ANDERSON @ The Balboa Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org

I just got back from “ Vermont. It’s beautiful there, huh? It’s nice to stay in a hotel where you can hunt from the window.

”

1.17 SINBAD

@ Sycuan Casino, sycuan.com

Even if you look good, ’cause “ women at 40, 50, and 60, y’all workin’ out and lookin’ good, but you can’t wear them pants that say ‘Juicy.’ Stop that. You 60 years old. Take them pants off and give ’em back to your grandchild.

— Sinbad on Where U Been PHOTO BY ADAM BETTCHER/GETTY IMAGES

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JANUARY 2019 @PACIFICSD

”

— Louis Anderson on Late Night with Seth Meyers PHOTO BY ETHAN MILLER/GETTY IMAGES

1.24-26 THE SKLAR BROTHERS

@ The American Comedy Co., americancomedyco.com

Our parents would never let “ us watch Hee Haw when we were kids. Not because it was too risqué, but because they didn’t like comedy popping up out of corn fields. They felt that should only be reserved for dead baseball players.

”

— The Sklar Brothers on Twitter PHOTO BY ALBERTO E. RODRIGUEZ/GETTY IMAGES

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ARTS | COOLTURE ART BEAT

BY LISA DEADERICK

1.28-2.14

SPRING 2019 ALUMNI EXHIBITION San Diego Mesa College Art Gallery 7250 Mesa College Dr., D101, Clairemont Mesa 619.388.2829, sdmesa.edu With a goal to “enrich and engage our community through art,” the community college art department gives alumni to display their creative work to the public.

Falling by Nic Waszak

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JANUARY 2019 @PACIFICSD

PULSE | ART BEAT

1.1-26 ILLUMINATING RHYTHMS San Diego Watercolor Society 2825 Dewey Rd., Bldg. 202, Ste. 105, Liberty Station 619.876.4550, sdws.org A number of swirling watercolor works, alight with movement, and juried by award-winning artist Thomas Schaller.

Art Beat

January gallery + exhibit openings

BY LISA DEADERICK

Through Wind, Rain and Definitely Snow

by Jami Wright

1.8-26 HEAD TO TOE Brandon Gallery, 105 N. Main Ave., Fallbrook 760.723.1330, fallbrookbrandongallery.org This open, judged art show features two- and threedimensional works that include shoes and/or hats.

Frida with Black Cat by June Rubin

1.4-31 FRIDA FRENZY June Rubin Studio/Gallery, 2690 Historic Decatur Rd., Barracks 19, Ste. 214, Liberty Station, 858.229.4571, junerubin.com An homage to the brilliance of the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, through artist June Rubin’s whimsical watercolors and mixed media pieces.

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JANUARY 2019 @PACIFICSD

PULSE | ART BEAT

Envuelveme Con Amor (Swaddle Me With Love) by Santos Orellana

1.12-2.9 ASHTON GALLERY POP UP ART EXHIBITION Oceanside Museum of Art 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside 619.894.9009, ashtonartgallery.com A few select, talented local and regional artists have been chosen to show off their creative works at this pop-up exhibit, hosted and organized by the Oceanside Museum of Art.

1.12-3.10 MANZANAR: THE WARTIME PHOTOGRAPHS OF ANSEL ADAMS AND WENDY MARUYAMA: EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066 California Center for the Arts, Escondido 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido 760.839.4138, artcenter.org A look at daily life in Manzanar, one of 10 JapaneseAmerican internment camps in the United States during World War II, as seen through the lens of celebrated and respected photographer Ansel Adams and concurrently on view with work by Wendy Maruyama, who offers a contemporary analysis of these camps.

Sweet Bird by Wendy Maruyama

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PULSE | ART BEAT 1.19-3.11 JAMES AUSTIN MURRAY: BLACK DESERT Madison Galleries 320 S. Cedros Ave., Ste. 200, Solana Beach 858.523.9155, madisongalleries.com Artist James Austin Murray says his work as an artist “is about searching and it’s a little like searching in a dark room with a flashlight that will only brighten a few inches in front of it.” This exhibit also features the work of Mareo Rodriguez.

MELTS Installation

Portrait of an American Woman by Stephanie Goldman

1.28 FOUNDED ON JAPANESE ART: WHAT VINCENT VAN GOGH LEARNED FROM JAPANESE WOODBLOCK St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 334 14th St., Del Mar, 619.232.7931, sdmart.org This art lecture explores how van Gogh’s work was influenced by Japanese woodblock prints that he brought over by the hundreds during the winter of 1886 to 1887.

1.23-2.3 A TRIBUTE TO PAM WHIDDEN: MODELS ARE TO ARTISTS LIKE FLOWERS ARE TO BEES San Diego Art Institute, 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park 619.236.0011, sandiego-art.org The impact of art model Pam Whidden is highlighted in this exhibition, noting her as an “exceptional” and “expressive sitter with a reliable work ethic” for artists in the 1970s, teaching art modeling in the 1980s and creating The San Diego Artist Model’s Guild.

Courtesans of the Ogiya Brothel by Kikugawa Eizan

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PULSE | CURTAIN CALLS

Curtain Calls January performing arts

BY JAMES HEBERT

Hello, Dolly!

1.9-2.3 MOON OVER BUFFALO

1.20-2.17 HERLAND

North Coast Rep 987 Lomas Santa Fe Dr., Solana Beach 858.481.1055, northcoastrep.org The new year starts with a whole lot of farce, as NCRT revives the comic master Ken Ludwig’s saga of mistaken identities and plentiful pratfalls among actors in early-1950s Buffalo.

Moxie Theatre 6663 El Cajon Blvd., Rolando District 858.598.7620, moxietheatre.com The women-centered Moxie stages the local premiere of Grace McLeod’s comedy about a woman in her 70s who rebels against a retirementhome existence and strives to set up a utopian alternative in her garage.

1.11-2.17 A JEWEL IN THE CROWN CITY

1.24-2.17 AUBERGINE

Lamb’s Players Theatre 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado 619.437.6000, lambsplayers.org A Coronado institution, Lamb’s Players celebrates its quarter-century of making theater in the beachside city (whose name means “Crowned One” in Spanish) with this stage celebration featuring 14 performers.

San Diego Repertory Theatre Lyceum Theatre 79 Horton Plaza, downtown 619.544.1000, sdrep.org From the playwright and TV scribe Julia Cho (Big Love) comes this food-centric saga of a gourmet chef grappling with loss and finding family connection through something as simple as soup.

1.15-20 HELLO, DOLLY!

1.25-3.10 SMOKEY JOE’S CAFE

Broadway/San Diego San Diego Civic Theatre 1100 Third Ave., downtown 619/858/760.570.1100, broadwaysd.com The one and only Betty Buckley — the Tony Award-winning musicaltheater icon and voice behind the Cats smash Memory — hits town as the star of the touring Dolly, revived last year on Broadway.

New Village Arts Theatre 2787 State St., Carlsbad 760.433.3245, newvillagearts.org The go-to choreographer Michael Mizerany brings his dynamic dance sense to this much-revived celebration of the songs of Leiber & Stoller — including such eternal favorites as Jailhouse Rock and Stand

By Me.

1.16-2.16 MARIE AND ROSETTA Cygnet Theatre 4040 Twiggs St., Old Town 619.337.1525, cygnettheatre.com Music becomes the language of both hardship and freedom in George Brant’s play about two real-life figures — Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the soulful singer-guitarist who helped birth rock ’n’ roll, and her young gospel protégé Marie Knight — who unite to raise the roof in the segregated South of 1946.

1.19 AN EVENING WITH LORNA LUFT Moonlight Stage Productions’ ClubM Moonlight Amphitheatre 1250 Vale Terrace Dr., Vista 760.724.2110, moonlightstage.com The stage and screen veteran (and daughter of Judy Garland) opens Moonlight’s ClubM cabaret season with an evening of storytelling as well as music from the great American songbook and beyond. (Maybe even over the rainbow.)

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1.26-3.3 FAMILIAR Old Globe Theater Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park 619.234.5623, theoldglobe.org You might know Danai Gurira as Okoye, the heroic warrior from the movie Black Panther. But she’s also a Tony-nominated playwright, and the Globe stages the San Diego premiere of this comedy-laced work about a Minneapolis family thrown into turmoil by their daughter’s wish for a wedding ceremony like those in Zimbabwe, the country of their heritage.

1.31-3.3 THE HOUR OF GREAT MERCY Diversionary Theatre 4545 Park Blvd., University Heights 619.220.0097, diversionary.org The LGBTQ-focused Diversionary, a key incubator for new work here, stages the world premiere of Miranda Rose Hall’s play about a gay Jesuit priest reconnecting with family and reconciling with the past.

PULSE | MOVIES

The Reel Deal

January motion picture preview

BY MICHAEL BENNINGER

SERENITY Truth lies beneath the surface.

Drama | Thriller Directed by: Steven Knight Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway and Jason Clark In theaters: 1.25 When the ex-wife of a tour boat captain tracks down her one-time hubby and asks him to kill the man she’s currently married to, the former lover finds himself thrust back into a relationship he once struggled to escape.

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@PACIFICSD

JANUARY 2019

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PULSE | MOVIES A DOG’S WAY HOME There are some bonds no distance can break.

Drama | Adventure Directed by: Charles Martin Smith Starring: Bryce Dallas Howard, Jonah HauerKing and Alexandra Shipp In theaters: 1.11 After chasing a squirrel and losing her way home, a lost canine embarks on a 400mile adventure in hopes of finding her beloved owner.

ESCAPE ROOM

THE UPSIDE

GLASS

CAPERNAUM

STAN & OLLIE

Find the clues or die.

Drama | Mystery Directed by: Adam Robitel Starring: Deborah Ann Woll, Adam Robitel and Tyler Labine In theaters: 1.4 After six strangers receive invitations to test an experimental escape room with a million-dollar prize, their survival skills are put to the test as their sadistic host forces them through a series of increasingly mind-bending and life-threatening challenges.

Based on a true story.

Drama | Comedy Directed by: Neil Burger Starring: Kevin Hart, Bryan Cranston and Nicole Kidman In theaters: 1.11 When a down-onhis-luck parolee is forced to find a job, he interviews for a position as a caretaker for an ultra-rich man living with quadriplegia, leading to an incredible friendship few would expect.

You cannot contain what you are.

Fantasy | Mystery Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan Starring: James McAvoy, Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson In theaters: 1.18 Uniting the characters from 2000’s Unbreakable and 2016’s Split, this film follows a security guard with supernatural abilities on a mission to track down a disturbed man who harbors 24 unique personalities.

“Why are you suing your parents?” “For giving me life.”

Drama Directed by: Nadine Labaki Starring: Zain Al Rafeea, Yordanos Shiferaw and Boluwatife Treasure Bankole In theaters: 1.18 A young Lebanese boy absconds from his abusive family and — after being jailed for a violent crime — takes his parents to court for bringing him into this wretched world.

Discover the two sides of the world’s greatest double act.

Drama | Comedy Directed by: Jon S. Baird Starring: Steve Coogan, John C. Reilly and Shirley Henderson In theaters: 1.18 In an effort to revive their faltering careers, a pair of silver screen legends, Laurel & Hardy, reunite for one final tour that tests the limits of their friendship.

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THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING Kids rule and evil gets schooled.

Fantasy | Adventure Directed by: Joe Cornish Starring: Rebecca Ferguson, Tom Taylor and Patrick Stewart In theaters: 1.25 In this modern-day extension of the Arthurian legend, a young boy finds the mythical sword Excalibur and assembles a team of adolescent knights to take on the sinister sorceress Morgana.

Spotted: San Diego

12.9.18 It was a celebration of music, art and America’s Finest City at Celebrate San Diego, hosted by The Travelers Club and Reality House West, on Sunday, Dec. 9, at Beach House in Mission Bay. Photos by Isiah Jones.

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DE N I S E T R US C E L LO/GE T TY I M AGE S

DE N I S E TRUS C E L LO/GE TTY I M AGE S

JARED GASE PJARED GASE

12.14.18 San Diego rolled out the red carpet for a ribbon-cutting honoring the opening of Theatre Box and Sugar Factory American Brasserie in downtown San Diego with celebrities like Pitbull, Nick Cannon and Bill Walton in attendance on Friday, Dec. 15.

See more photos of San Diego’s best events at pacificsandiego.com. @PACIFICSD

JANUARY 2019

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TASTE EAT | DRINK | PUFF DINING OUT

BY KAI OLIVER-KURTIN PHOTOS BY AUDA & COUDAYRE PHOTOGRAPHY

A New Realm of Possibilities 52

JANUARY 2019 @PACIFICSD

New speakeasy brings elegance to the Convoy Area Finding the right cure for your ailments may be a lot easier now that Realm of the 52 Remedies speakeasy cocktail bar has arrived on the scene in Kearny Mesa. Housed within Common Theory Public House, the upscale, Asian-themed bar brings an edgy new nightlife option to the Convoy District’s Asian food and karaoke mecca.

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TASTE | DINING

T

he innovative cocktail list at Realm of the 52 Remedies, which officially opened in early December, is categorized into three parts: Recipes for Your Ailments, signature cocktails that put an Asian spin on classics; Prescriptions from the Old Days, straightforward cocktail classics; and Modern Remedies Around the World, more contemporary concoctions curated by mixologists from across the globe.

Some of the innovative flavor profiles seen on the cocktail menu are based on drinks that lead bartender Chris Lee (formerly of the now closed SOHO Gastropub) shared as a child with his grandmother in Seoul, South Korea.

Lee honed his skills while living in Seoul, where he worked at the pre-Prohibition themed Bar Old-Fashioned. The Sunday Morning cocktail on Realm of the 52 Remedies’ menu — containing black lava salt, egg white, baconinfused maple, Bittermens Xocolatl Mole Bitters, chocolate ice cream, Knob Creek Bourbon, Laphroaig Scotch Whisky and nutmeg — was created by Lee’s mentor in Korea.

When developing the new cocktail list, Lee spent a month perfecting The Opium Den (a twist on a Sazerac). The alternative concoction is made with shiitake mushroom cordial, salt, Aurora Oloroso Sherry, Chateau de Laubade VS Bas Armagnac and Monkey Shoulder Whiskey, smoked with brandy oak chips and served with pretzels. A whirl of smoke from the wood chips produces an incense-like aroma, while the drink has an earthy mushroom flavor that’s enhanced by pretzels.

“In Seoul, I told my mentor we should use all the fresh ingredients you can find in Korean markets,

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@PACIFICSD

JANUARY 2019

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TASTE | DINING

where you’ll see so many dried mushrooms,” Lee said. “I always wanted to make a mushroom cocktail.”

The drink menu, which is still being finalized and will continue to expand, also contains a few wines.

Soon, sparkling wines will be added, and bottle cocktails for larger groups will be available.

Co-owners Cristian Liang and Joon Lee both grew up frequenting the Kearny Mesa area to dine and shop with their families. They opened craft beer bar Common Theory Public House more than four years ago, and when the adjacent space became available, they were ready to take on a new project with a different focus.

“We had just gotten a liquor license and had always been big fans of craft cocktails,” Liang said.

“We wanted to splash Kearny Mesa with something out-of-the-box that would draw a younger generation.”

Their two concepts have different staffs and are adjoined by an apothecary shop that marks the discreet yet intriguing entrance to Realm of the 52 Remedies. The 56

JANUARY 2019 @PACIFICSD

shop plans to sell related novelty items like bottles of shrubs, bitters, teacups and cocktail sets.

Eventually, Realm of the 52 Remedies plans to offer an omakasestyle cocktail program where guests can book special seats at their emperor bar, decide on a price point, and work with Lee to develop custom cocktails. Similar to a sushi bar, the goal would be for guests to interact with the person serving them and ask questions about the ingredients as drinks are being made.

Behind the emperor bar, which seats four people at a bar top covered with leather, a secret shelf marked by the Jade Emperor (a supreme Chinese deity) swivels to reveal the speakeasy’s collection of top-shelf liquors, including a bottle of Yamazaki 18-year-old Japanese whisky that sells for about $80 per shot, or $1,200 for a bottle.

Creative cocktails may initially draw guests into Realm of the 52 Remedies, but the extravagant, Far East-inspired decor by designer Michael Soriano of Onairos Design (Vin de Syrah, The Pearl Hotel, Queenstown Public House) is

another key element of the project.

“I try to incorporate elements, palettes and sensibilities that discover exploration,” Soriano said.

“Sensory overload for the sense of shock value I don’t like — but if it teases you to want to know more or see more, that’s different.”

Soriano was particularly mindful that the cultures represented in his design elements were historically

accurate, and he worked with several independent artists to bring this project to life.

“We wanted to pay tribute to our backgrounds and to Convoy Street,” Liang said. “I’m Chinese and my business partner Joon Lee is Korean — so we wanted to tie in our Asian culture to the concept.”

“We gave Michael Soriano a lot of flexibility in researching our

TASTE | DINING

“Sensory overload for the sense of shock value I don’t like — but if it teases you to want to know more or see more, that’s different.”

— Designer Michael Soriano, Onairos Design

ethnic backgrounds for the design,” he said. “He stayed the course and made something classic but chic, with Asian accents that aren’t overpowering. He’s a true artist. “(For the food and drink offerings) we knew we wanted to use spices and ingredients that would differentiate ourselves, and while doing research, we stumbled across the ancient Chinese medicinal document 52 Recipes for 52 Ailments that paved the way for Eastern Medicine.”

Now, Liang and Lee think of the conjoined spaces as having Common Theory representing the present, the apothecary as the future, and Realm of the 52 Remedies as the past. To be transported to the past, guests must place their hand over a special Chinese character that’s part of the 52 Recipes for 52 Ailments document printed on a door inside 58

JANUARY 2019 @PACIFICSD

the apothecary.

Once inside the speakeasy, some of the standout design elements include an oversized booth shaped like a lotus flower, with light fixtures hanging down to resemble lotus tendrils; private, elevated tables custom-made with layered wood and resin, with Chinese lanterns and silks hanging above to give a nod to The Silk Road; a textured plaster motif of a mountainscape that hangs behind the bar, with iron fixtures shaped like smoke clouds floating from above; a section of the bar top made of jade onyx that’s backlit to give off a green glow; and strands of decorative dragon eggs hanging from the ceiling that were hand constructed using flotation buoys and cheesecloth.

“The use of mirrors and materials in the rafters creates a borderless environment for a full immersion

experience,” Soriano said. “You can get suspended in time there — four hours can go by and you don’t even realize it. I like to create spaces where you can just exist in the space and be present.”

And, while getting lost in time, Realm of the 52 Remedies offers a menu of shareable small appetizers that will evolve based on available seasonal ingredients. Lighter dishes offered in the speakeasy space are in contrast with heavier dishes seen at Common Theory, which is known for its popular duck fat fries.

Instead, Realm of the 52 Remedies works with an outside consulting chef to serve dishes like roasted carrots with crunchy sesame seed “granola,” fish sauce caramel, anise yogurt, mint and Thai basil.

Or, there’s the crispy sunchokes (a root vegetable that looks like ginger), served with Chinese long

beans, salsa matcha, sweet soy, puffed quinoa and cilantro, for a savory bite with a touch of heat.

For more filling bites, opt for the creamy crab and corn croquettes served with housemade tonkatsu sauce and Chinese mustard — which are comparable to fried crab cakes — or the crispy fried eggplant dish with scallions, jalapenos, chili and five-spice, served with a hoisinrhubarb-barbecue sauce that packs a flavorful punch. On the lighter side, the furikake chips or vegetable crudités are good for snacking.

Reservations are strongly recommended at Realm of the 52 Remedies, which seats up to 42 people or can accommodate up to 60 for a full buyout of the space.

Realm of the 52 Remedies 4805 Convoy St., Kearny Mesa 619.535.0118, 52remedies.com

TASTE | EVENTS

Full Plate

January food + drink happenings

BY MICHAEL BENNINGER San Diego Restaurant Week

1.10 TASTE & TEQUILA Old Town, Throughout Old Town oldtownsandiego.org Gorge on Old Town’s most famous meals while wetting your whistle with sensational spirits as lively music and engaging entertainers keep the good times going between bites.

Eighth annual San Diego Beer Festival

and sustainability efforts as it is for its brews, Pure Project Brewing celebrates the three-year anniversary of its Miramar location with a party featuring rare beer releases, games, raffles and prizes.

1.12-19 FARM TO FORK SAN DIEGO’S LOCAL LIBATIONS WEEK Various locations around San Diego County farmtoforksd.com Thirsty patrons are encouraged to explore a variety of restaurants, wineries and bars that focus on making their libations from locally sourced ingredients.

1.17 DOMAINE CHANDON AND NEWTON WINE DINNER Pala Casino, Spa & Resort, Pala palacasino.com Two of Napa Valley’s most revered vineyards join forces to host a five-course dinner paired with impeccable wines during this unique tasting held in Pala Casino’s subterranean cave.

1.12 EIGHTH ANNUAL SAN DIEGO BEER FESTIVAL Liberty Station, Point Loma sandiegobeerfest.com Toss back samples of more than 150 beers, then soak up those suds with grub from some of the city’s top food trucks during this day of drinking, eating and live music.

1.12 BIGA’S THIRD ANNUAL HOG ROAST & ANNIVERSARY PARTY Biga, Gaslamp Quarter bigasandiego.com Downtown’s acclaimed Italian restaurant kicks off San Diego’s Farm To Fork Week and simultaneously celebrates three years in business with a hog roast where guest chefs will prepare unique dishes with different parts of the pig.

Pacific Beach Shore Club, Pacific Beach facebook.com/bigjoshfoundation See how much pastry and filling you can cram down your piehole in this gustatory competition held in honor of one of San Diego’s most memorable hospitality heroes.

Domaine Chandon and Newton Wine Dinner

LAUREN DI MATTEO

1.14 ANNUAL BIG JOSH FOUNDATION PIE EATING CONTEST

Bagbyfest 3

1.19 BAGBYFEST 3 Bagby Beer Co., Oceanside bagbybeer.com Inspired by the atmosphere of Europe’s winter markets, this food and beverage festival centers around several cultural and historical experiences unique to the continent.

1.20-27 SAN DIEGO RESTAURANT WEEK Restaurants throughout the county sandiegorestaurantweek.com Don’t wait to make reservations as more than 180 restaurants around the county offer limited-time prix fixe menus during this eight-day celebration of San Diego’s culinary scene.

1.12 PURE PROJECT’S THIRD ANNIVERSARY

1.24 CELEBRITY CHEF SERIES WITH SUSAN FENIGER

Pure Project Brewing, Miramar purebrewing.org Known as much for its charitable endeavors

Herb & Wood, Little Italy eventbrite.com Chef Brian Malarkey welcomes

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TO WIN TICKETS, SEE PAGE 23!

’90s Bar Crawl

Celebrity Chef Series with Susan Feniger

1.25 TASTE OF EASTLAKE

1.26 ’90S BAR CRAWL

The Venue at Eastlake, Eastlake eefkids.org Sample an array of Eastlake’s best entrees as South Bay’s signature banquet hall fills with the neighborhood’s finest food along with local libations and a lineup of live entertainment.

Various bars throughout the Gaslamp Quarter, 90sbarcrawl.com Crimp your hair, find a fanny pack and bring some ’90s-era ephemera to this themed bar crawl featuring stops at several of downtown’s flyest bars.

JJEREMIAH JIMENO

1.26 THIRD ANNUAL SAN DIEGO ONESIE CRAWL Taste of Eastlake

the restauranteur, cookbook author, Top Chef Masters competitor and influential Los Angeles chef to his home turf as the two prepare a five-course dinner centered around a Baja-meets-modern-Mexican menu.

Bars throughout Pacific Beach and Gaslamp, welovepubcrawls.com With simultaneous events in P.B. and downtown, the world’s coziest bar crawl is back with LED pacifiers, reduced-priced food and discounted drinks at various venues.

1.27 S.D. BINATIONAL 5K INVITATIONAL BEER RUN AND BRUNCH FEST Embarcadero South, downtown redpodium.com Hungry runners from both sides of the border are invited to this inaugural event featuring a buffet overflowing with some of the region’s best Latin, Mexican and American cuisine.

Third annual San Diego Onesie Crawl

DAVID ZUMAYA

Dine Out Escondido

1.27-2.2 DINE OUT ESCONDIDO Throughout Escondido visitescondido.com More than 35 of Escondido’s most reputable restaurants offer scrumptious specials, farm-to-fork delights and unique culinary experiences inspired by fare from France, Italy and Mexico among other counties.

@PACIFICSD

JANUARY 2019

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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: Low Life Brut IPA From: Resident Brewing Why: Keep that bubbly New Year’s spirit with a refreshing Brut IPA. Sun-bleached straw in color, this super-dry brew has pinprick, champagne-like bubbles and biscuity malts.

Geeking out: 7.2% alcohol by volume, 25 bittering units.

Three hops: Motueka, Nelson and Citra.

Seeking out: Low Life hangs out at Resident’s home, the Local Eatery & Drinking Hole.

1065 Fourth Ave., downtown 619.717.6622, residentbrewing.com

GOING ON A BEER RUN Go: Resolve to get in shape — with beer! At least two local breweries sponsor running clubs, blending good cardiovascular workouts with good craft brews.

Know (1): The Thursday Beer Run Club meets 6:30 p.m. weekly at Eppig Brewing’s Shelter Island beer garden. After a 3-mile jog around Shelter Island, most athletes return to Eppig to, ahem, rehydrate.

Know (2): Mikkeller Running Club San Diego meets monthly, usually on a Saturday morning. Check the Facebook page — facebook.com/mrcsandiego — for times, places and beers.

Pro: At Eppig, runners are treated to $1 off the normal $7 pint price Thursday nights.

Glow: Stephanie Eppig, the brewery’s co-owner, says most runners order a pilsner or another lager. “Something light and refreshing,” she said. “But now that it’s getting colder, a few people are switching over to stouts and schwarzbier.”

Eppig Brewing Waterfront Biergarten 2817 Dickens St., Shelter Island 619.756.6825, eppigbrewing.com Mikkeller Brewing San Diego 9366 Cabot Dr., Mira Mesa 858.381.3500, mikkellersd.com 62

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GROOVE MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE SOUND DECISIONS

BY SCOTT MCDONALD

ELTON JOH N 1.29

@ Pechanga Arena, pechangaarenasd.com It’s happening! The Rocket Man is landing at the recently renamed Valley View Casino Center in Point Loma!

Sir Elton Hercules John, pop music icon, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and winner of five Grammys, an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Tony, returns to San Diego on what’s being billed as his final tour after last releasing original music in 2016.

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AG AV E

EX P R ESS IO N ISM

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MILAGRO MEANS MIRACLE

GROOVE

Sound Decisions January Concert Calendar

BY SCOTT MCDONALD

1.5 CALPURNIA @ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego Finn Wolfhard, best known for his roles in the Netflix series Stranger Things and 2017’s film adaptation of Stephen King’s It, leads this quartet which also features Ayla TeslerMabe on guitar, Jack Anderson on bass, and Malcolm Craig on drums. Calpurnia released their debut EP, Scout, last June.

1.9, 10 MELVINS @ Casbah, casbahmusic.com The Melvins head to the Casbah as part of the iconic venue’s 30th anniversary month of shows. The veteran sludge metal act first played The Casbah in 1989, currently holds the record of playing the club more times than any other band, and now boasts Steve McDonald of Redd Kross and Off! as an official member.

1.11 TONY! TONI! TONE! @ Sycuan, sycuan.com The veteran Oakland-based R&B group consists of guitarist D’wayne Wiggins and his cousins, drummer Timothy Christian Riley and vocalist Amar Khalil. The longrunning family act returns to Southern California for this sold-out show.

NAO 1.19

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com London-based electro soul singer Nao (aka Neo Joshua) released her second studio album, Saturn, last October. It’s the follow-up to her critically acclaimed debut, For All We Know, which was released in 2016.

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GROOVE | SOUND DECISIONS

1.1

M ICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARH EAD @ Belly Up, bellyup.com The final night of a three-night stand at the Belly Up, Franti closes down in Solana Beach before his new album, Stay Human Vol. II, drops at the end of the month.

Victoria Canal opens the show.

PHOTO BY JAY BLAKESBERG

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GROOVE | SOUND DECISIONS 1.11 THE DRAGONS

1.12 AMEN DUNES

1.13 YOUNG DOLPH

1.13 MATTSON 2

1.17 DAVE EAST

@ Casbah, casbahmusic.com Another sold-out show, and another one celebrating the Casbah’s 30th anniversary, the local rock and roll legends are fronted by Mario Escovedo and last released an album in 2004.

@ Belly Up, bellyup.com Amen Dunes (aka Damon McMahon) released his fifth album, Freedom, last March.

McMahon followed it by going on tour in support of Fleet Foxes, and heads to San Diego as a headliner for this show in Solana Beach.

@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/ sandiego After dropping his debut EP, N****s Get Shot Everyday, last February, Memphis rapper Young Dolph (aka Adolph Thornton Jr.) released his fifth full-length studio album, Role Model, last September. It features appearances from Snoop Dogg, Offset, Kash Doll and others.

@ Casbah, casbahmusic.com The local twin sibling duo left San Diego for seven years before moving back recently, and it’s been great having them back. The jazz-rock powerhouses help to celebrate the Casbah’s three-decade milestone with this special show.

@ SOMA, somasandiego.com The 30-year-old Harlem rapper has released a new mixtape each year since 2015. His fourth, Paranoia 2, dropped at the start of last year and features appearances from Tory Lanez, T.I., Lloyd Banks and more.

Could a new one be on the way?

1.21

PARQU ET COU RTS

@ Music Box, musicboxsd.com After just eight years together, the critically acclaimed New York artrock quartet released their seventh album, Wide Awake!, early last year. A three-song remix EP followed a few months later.

PHOTO BY EBRU YILDIZ

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EVERY GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD DESERVES AN EATERY WHERE LOCALS AND VISITORS CAN COME TOGETHER AND ENJOY “ .”

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GROOVE | SOUND DECISIONS

1.22 @ Balboa Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org The Country Music Hall of Famer, Oxford grad, songwriter of Me and Bobby McGee and Golden Globe winner picked up a Grammy Award nomination for his 2016 release, The Cedar Creek Sessions. He returns to San Diego backed by longtime Merle Haggard band, The Strangers.

PHOTO BY RICK DIAMOND/GETTY IMAGES

KRIS KRISTOFFERSON

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N O W

S E R V I N G

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PETER M U RPHY

GROOVE | SOUND DECISIONS

1.24 @ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com The “Godfather of Goth” returns to San Diego on a special tour: Peter Murphy — 40 years of Bauhaus, Ruby Celebration featuring (San Diegan) David J. The former band mates will play the iconic goth quartet’s 1980 debut, In The Flat Field, in its entirety, as well as an “extended encore” of favorites.

PHOTO BY CIHAN UNALAN

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BANANARAMA @ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com The ’80s trio that brought you mega-hits like Cruel Summer and Venus returns to San Diego after releasing its latest album, Live at the London Eventim Hammersmith Apollo, last September.

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PHOTO BY WENDY CARRIG

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GROOVE | SOUND DECISIONS

BAS 1.28

1.21-23 TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE

@ SOMA, somasandiego.com New York rapper Bas (aka Abbas Hamad) is signed to J. Cole’s Dreamville Records (Interscope) and dropped his third studio album, Milky Way, last August.

In addition to Cole, the album features collabs with Ari Lennox, A$AP Ferg and Correy C.

@ Belly Up, bellyup.com It seems as though Louisiana brass man Troy Andrews and his 10-piece ensemble have given up on the larger venue thing. Like this three-night run, Andrews and his crew would rather do multiple nights getting up close and personal with fans.

1.23 PINBACK @ Casbah, casbahmusic.com Rob Crow and Armistead Burwell Smith IV were just at the Casbah in September, but there’s nothing like the Casbah’s 30th anniversary to motivate the iconic local indie rockers to make a return trip in less than four months. The pair released a 9-track compilation of their first two EPs, Some Offcell Voices, in 2017.

1.23 JACQUEES @ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego After signing to Cash Money Records in 2014, Jacquees (aka Georgia rapper Rodriquez Jacquees Broadnax) spent 2018 dropping his first two full-length studio albums, 4275 and Lost At Sea 2. The former features an impressive guest roster including Young Thug, Chris Brown, Dej Loaf, and more, while the latter is a collaborative album with Cash Money co-founder Birdman.

1.25, 26 OZOMATLI @ Music Box, musicboxsd.com The long-running bilingual funk collective circles back around for another dual-purpose double-dip. On the 25th, it’s a night of partying for the adults. Then it’s back again on the 26th for a matinee with the kiddos.

Kudos to any parent who successfully makes it out to both shows.

1.31 THREE MILE PILOT @ Casbah, casbahmusic.com Legendary local rockers Three Mile Pilot return to the Casbah on the last day of the club’s 30th anniversary celebration. Pall Jenkins, Armistead Burwell Smith IV, and Tom Zinser once again reunite for a show from one of San Diego’s most influential acts.

1.31 ROBBY KRIEGER @ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego Robby Krieger, founding guitarist of The Doors, returns to San Diego for a career-spanning set from his more than 50 years in rock and roll.

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GROOVE | SOUND DECISIONS

1.30 @ Pechanga Arena, pechangaarenasd.com A$AP Rocky (aka New York rapper Rakim Mayers) hits San Diego as part of his current Injured Generation Tour. His latest album, last year’s Testing, features appearances from Frank Ocean, Moby, T.I. Kid Cudi, Juicy J, FKA Twigs, Skepta and others.

PHOTO BY DEXTER NAVY

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GROOVE

Spin Cycle January EDM + DJ performances

BY SCOTT MCDONALD

1.4 KIM ANN FOXMAN @ Bang Bang, bangbangsd.com After her latest solo offering, 2017’s 4-track Energy EP, this New York-based DJ and producer joined forces with Andrew Potter and Brian Hersey to form the electrohouse trio Pleasure Planet. The band’s self-titled 4-track EP was released last year. Expect Foxman to play cuts from both.

1.5 BRKLYN @ OMNIA, omnianightclub.com Following a pair of 2017 singles, I’m on Somethin’ (feat. Jocelyn Alice) and Heart of the City (feat. Mariah McManus), the L.A.-based DJ duo of Cameron Alexander and Cody Nadeau released their debut EP, Things I’ve Learned, last month. It finds the pair teamed with the likes of Zack Martino, Fairlane, Medii, and Disco Fries.

1.17 LOST KINGS @ Music Box, musicboxsd.com The L.A.-based DJ duo of Nick Shanholtz and Robert Abisi has remixed the likes of Halsey, Diplo, Rihanna, and Imagine Dragons. The pair released a trio of singles last year — Drunk As Hell (feat. Jesper Jenset), When We Were Young (feat.

Norma Jean Martine), and Stuck (feat. Tove Stryke).

1.18 NGHTMRE @ OMNIA, omnianightclub.com Last in San Diego for a November show at the Observatory, Connecticutborn/L.A.-based producer Tyler Marenyi returns for this highly

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anticipated club date. Marenyi had a huge 2018, collaborating on a slew of tracks with artists like Big Gigantic, Kill The Noise, The Chainsmokers, Wavedash, and Pell.

1.18 ROB GARZA @ Music Box, musicboxsd.com One-half of frequent local visitors Thievery Corporation, Rob Garza is no stranger to San Diego. He returns alone for a special DJ set after releasing his 4-track Dissolve EP last August.

1.19 HABSTRAKT @ OMNIA, omnianightclub.com French DJ Habstrakt (aka Adam Jouneau) was last in San Diego for May’s MY LED USA blowout and returns to the cozier confines of OMNIA for this special show. Jouneau has remixed the likes of DJ Snake, Die Antwoord, and Zeds Dead, and dropped three new singles in 2018 — Movie, About You and Vibin.

1.25 CASH CASH @ OMNIA, omnianightclub.com Releasing three singles in 2018 — Jewel (feat. Nikki Vianna), Finest Hour (feat. Abir), and November’s Call You (feat.

Nasri) — the N.Y.-based DJ trio of Jean Paul Makhlouf, Alex Makhlouf, and Samuel Frisch return to San Diego after hitting America’s Finest City a handful of times last year.

1.26 ELI & FUR @ Bang Bang, bangbangsd.com In addition to three singles, UK deep house DJ duo, Eli & Fur (aka Eliza Noble and Jennifer Skillman) released their Night Blooming Jasmine EP, as well as a 6-track remix EP for the single Parfume, last year.

1.26 CRANKDAT @ OMNIA, omnianightclub.com Twenty-one-year-old Ohiobased DJ Crankdat (aka Christian Smith) infamously gave up a full-ride athletic scholarship at Kent State when he dropped out of school to DJ. He has since remixed tracks for Travis Scott, Sheck Wes, Post Malone, Skrillex, The Chainsmokers and more. Smith released six singles last year, including collaborations with Ghastly, Tisoki, Slander and others.

Lee K @ Bang Bang, bangbangsd.com Local San Diego DJ and CRSSD veteran Lee Krysinski released her debut EP, Wet Behind The Ears, in November.

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PHOTO BY DEREK WOODEN

Rev Run & DJ Ruckus 1.20

@ OMNIA, omnianightclub.com Rev Run (aka Joseph Simmons of pioneering hip hop trio Run-D.M.C.) has teamed with celebrity DJ Ruckus (aka Gregory Andrews) for nearly a decade. And Andrews has been part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted group’s live shows since 2012. This time, they’ll hit OMNIA as a duo.

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What So Not @ Hard Rock, hardrockhotelsd.com Once a duo with EDM superstar Flume, What So Not is now the solo project of Australian producer Emoh Instead (aka Chris Emerson). What So Not released his 12-song, full-length debut, Not All The Beautiful Things, last March. Featuring collaborations with Skrillex, Toto, San Holo, SLUMBERJACK, a companion remix LP was released in November. Party Pupils, Pat Lok, and Erick Diaz open the show.

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LOVE | LIFESTYLE

After lessons learned on two Bachelor shows, alum has new outlook and fresh career moves in the works – not to mention a wedding to plan

BY KRISTINA DAVIS

Expansion.

It’s a word that Krystal Nielson has been contemplating of late.

“I spent a lot of time getting to the point where I’m at and I think now it’s time to really spread my wings and fly.”

Building on what she calls a “year of strenuous growth,” the Bachelor franchise alum and San Diego transformation coach is sprinting into the New Year with the launch of a YouTube channel, a book in the works and a destination wedding to plan.

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PHOTOGRAPHY: K.C. ALFRED FASHION STYLING: KRISTI BROOKS HAIR AND MAKEUP: THORNE ARTISTRY PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT: BRANDON SLOTER

While Krystal most enjoys morning workouts at home, she can also be found outdoors doing full-body circuit training on local cliff sides overlooking the Pacific Ocean. On Krystal: Varley rose sports bra, $68; Beyond Yoga metallic detail pants, $110; BDG Chevron Teddy jacket, $94, all Nordstrom Fashion Valley.

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Above on Krystal: Echo knit hat, $99, Bloomingdales Fashion Valley; Varley rose sports bra, $68; and Beyond Yoga metallic detail pants, $110, all Nordstrom Fashion Valley. Right page on Krystal: BEC + BRIDGE gold bias cut dress, $280; The Kooples leopard fur coat, $575; and Baublebar gold earrings, $38, all Bloomingdales Fashion Valley.

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he expansion has already started, as she and her fellow Bachelor in Paradise castmate and fiancée, Chris Randone, recently traded in a 300-square-foot bungalow for a more spacious place in Little Italy.

And can we expect an expanding belly after the wedding?

“Definitely,” Nielson, 31, told PACIFIC. “I want to start a family with Chris right away.”

It seems a lot to fit into the coming year, but not impossible when considering the rollercoaster of a year that got the duo here.

Nielson, who had bartended at the Tipsy Crow in the Gaslamp Quarter and was coaching at Orangetheory Fitness in Point Loma, was fresh out of a four-year relationship and looking for a self-discovery adventure when the Bachelor called up. But, in vying for race car driver Arie Luyendyk Jr.’s heart during Season 22, Nielson found herself in a role she didn’t expect — the villainess.

During the nearly three months between Luyendyk letting her go in Paris and the show’s premiere in early 2018, Nielson battled anxiety over how she would be portrayed to her friends and family — and to Bachelor Nation, the rabid fan base of the reality show.

The stress affected her health so much that she was hospitalized.

She would come to dread Monday nights, when new episodes aired. The alerts on her cellphone would start at 6 p.m. as East Coast viewers tuned in.

“People would write horrific things,” she said. “It was tough. My 83-year-old grandma got on Instagram just to stick up for me.” Late night host Jimmy Kimmel even poked fun at her soft, come-hither voice — which Nielson said was the result of “vocal distress.”

While it wasn’t the self-discovery retreat she’d expected, it’s one that she embraced.

“The show is a magnifying glass for the good and bad qualities,” she reflected. Raised by a single, working mother in Montana on government assistance, Nielson said she overperformed and overcompensated as a child.

She brought some of that persona to the Bachelor mansion, she said. “I wanted to present a more polished, packaged version of who I was. It wasn’t me.”

When invited to try for love again on the frothy, late summer escape Bachelor in Paradise Season 5 (which premiered in September), she flew to Mexico with a renewed sense of self and no expectations. (She also flew with two 10-pound dumbbells, lots of skimpy bikinis and her can’t-live-without apple cider vinegar.) Her approach worked with viewers — and Randone.

She immediately bonded with the Orlando sales trainer — who was sent home on Becca Kufrin’s Season 14 of The Bachelorette (ironically, she originally won the final rose from Luyendyk, the same season Nielson participated in) in similar dramatic fashion — but their on-air romance took a while to blossom. Once it did, it was intense.

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LOVE | LIFESTYLE

“You spend 20 hours a day with the person,” Nielson said. “The producers guide you on a deep, emotional level through the process.”

By the time they returned to their regular lives as an engaged couple, they’d worked out lots of big stuff but needed to learn the little stuff.

“I didn’t know what Chris looked like in regular clothes,” Nielson joked.

Their courtship is documented on their popular Instagram feeds, including a cruise on the Hornblower and kisses in Balboa Park. The couple — and their two Papillons, Wayne and Chucky — will be giving their fans even more access to their continuing journey via a YouTube channel that plays off their nicknames, “Glitter” and “The Goose.”

Nielson also plans to continue to coach her “Glitter Gang” through her Total Body Guide programs, teaching some lessons she had to experience herself — in front of millions of viewers — to truly understand.

“Those hard moments are where you grow and learn the most.” She added: “Once you can take that ownership and acceptance, the transformation can begin.”

GlitterGoose might be joined by some Bachelor reinforcements soon. Kufrin and her Bachelorette pick, fiancée Garrett Yrigoyen, announced plans to move from Minnesota to San Diego during a recent Instagram live.

“Come on over!” Nielson said.

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TOP ROW (from left): Krystal Nielson and Chris Randone appear on the reunion for Bachelor in Paradise; Krystal and fellow Bachelor in Paradise cast member Kenny Lane; BOTTOM ROW: Show and promo photos of Krystal on Bachelor in Paradise. All photos courtesy of ABC

Bits of Glitter Notable San Diego Bachelor alums: • Season 10’s Bachelor Navy Dr. Andy Baldwin moved from Hawaii to San Diego.

• Encinitas businessman Kiptyn Locke, who appeared on The Bachelorette (Season 5) and Bachelor Pad (Season 1).

• Locke’s former girlfriend, Tenley Molzahn Leopold (another Bachelor contender), also resides in Encinitas.

• Former San Diegan and PACIFIC cover model Becca Tilley (February 2017 issue), two-time Bachelor contestant in 2015 and 2016.

• Newly engaged off the Bachelorette in 2011, Ali Fedotowsky and Roberto Martinez moved to San Diego, but later broke up.

Why San Diego?: “It’s so close but far enough removed (from Los Angeles).

San Diego offers such a great quality of life,” said Nielson. “It’s chill. But those who hustle really shine.”

Date night go-to: Cocktails at Ironside Fish & Oyster. Dinner at Barbusa or Juniper & Ivy. Or stay in with a homemade charcuterie board and bottle of Cabernet.

“Friday night we make a point to have date night. ... As an entrepreneur and business owner it’s hard to create those boundaries for yourself, especially with social media. It never stops.”

Advice for someone stuck in a rut: Have a plan, work with a mentor and get accountability. “It’s the little wins every day. … Baby steps eventually turn into milestones,” said Nielson.

Favorite workout: At home, in the morning, full-body circuit training, followed by a nutrient-rich smoothie.

Fat-burning tip: An elixir of apple cider vinegar, cayenne pepper, lemon juice and water.

Instagram: @coachkrystal_ (480,493 followers) and @chrisrandone (225,723 followers)

Krystal and Chris enjoy their Friday date nights and are seen at the new Realm of the 52 Remedies in the Convoy Area. Read more about the new bar on page 52. On Krystal: BEC + BRIDGE gold bias cut dress, $280; Baublebar gold earrings, $38, all Bloomingdales Fashion Valley. On Chris: Topman jacket, $195; Topman pants, $85; and Topman shirt, $55, all Nordstrom Fashion Valley.

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LOVE | BLIND DATE

ROAD HARD

BY JENNIFER IANNI PHOTOS BY DAVID BROOKS MATCHMAKER JESSICA PELLIGRA

Blind daters Chris and Ellie attempt to find love in the fast lane

H

appy New Year, dear readers. It’s 2019 and, in an effort to start things off on the right track, we sent blind daters Chris and Ellie to take a few laps and play some games (but, hopefully not of the mental variety) on a chilly Sunday evening in America’s Finest City.

In addition to being the first blind date of 2019, this date also has some international flair added to the mix, 88

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as Chris is a Brit who hopped the pond to live in sunny San Diego.

Here’s hoping he can adapt to driving on the right side of the road because he’s about to be in the driver’s seat at K1 Speed with the beautiful Ellie, a local singer and digital marketer.

Can Chris jump-start Ellie’s heart? Will Ellie drive Chris to ask her on a second date? Are you tired of all the car puns yet? Sorry, not sorry, because this blind date is stocked with them.

So, buckle up, readers, and let’s meet our daters via their pre-date interviews.

as well as sing for a living.

CHRIS: Golf professional.

Where are you from and where do you live now?

CHRIS: (From) Great Britain, (currently live in) San Diego.

ELLIE: I am originally from Prescott, Ariz. I now live in San Diego in the Ocean Beach area.

What do you do for fun?

ELLIE: I enjoy yoga, running, attending concerts and spending time at the beach.

CHRIS: Playing and watching sports.

What do you do for a living?

ELLIE: I work in digital marketing,

What are you best at?

ELLIE: Singing. I love to sing.

CHRIS: Positivity.

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LOVE | BLIND DATE

What do you suck at?

ELLIE: Confrontation has never been my strong suit.

CHRIS: Questionnaires, apparently.

Describe your special brand of sex appeal in five words or less.

ELLIE: Charismatic, humorous lover with swag.

CHRIS: It is what it is!

What do you like least about yourself?

ELLIE: That I can be a procrastinator.

I’m working on this one.

CHRIS: I let (the matchmaker) Jess Pelligra make me do this.

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

ELLIE: 9.

CHRIS: A fluctuating 7.5.

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

ELLIE: 10.

CHRIS: See previous answer.

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What’s your biggest fear?

ELLIE: Not accomplishing my goals and or wasting my talent.

CHRIS: Receiving a text from (matchmaker) Jess Pelligra.

What traits could your date exhibit that would be complete deal-breakers?

ELLIE: Not having a sense of humor. Deal breaker!

CHRIS: Poor sense of humor.

How many people have you slept with?

ELLIE: Five people.

CHRIS: No comment!

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

ELLIE: I want my blind date to be adventurous and exciting.

CHRIS: In the right place at the right time.

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

ELLIE: I don’t usually kiss on the first date, but we’ll see.

CHRIS: Predicting the future was never my strong point.

What’s the most important thing in the world?

ELLIE: To love and be loved in return.

CHRIS: Currently, escaping this evening unscathed.

So far, so good? Chris and Ellie are both active singles who say that a poor sense of humor would drive them crazy. And while Chris’ personal brand of sex appeal might sound a little lacking, maybe Ellie can sing him a love song to try and rev his engine.

Let’s see if these two have what it takes to win a second date.

LOVE | BLIND DATE

DRIVE YOU CRAZY?

Chris and Ellie earn their racing stripes

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n Epic Limo picks up Chris and Ellie at their respective homes in Serra Mesa and Ocean Beach and zips them back to downtown San Diego to drop them off at K1 Speed. The indoor go-kart race track has more than 40 locations across the country, including two in San Diego County (downtown and 92

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Carlsbad).

Chris and Ellie are given a quick rundown of the track, put on their helmets and strap in for a safety lap.

Ellie immediately makes a wrong turn, but she manages to straighten herself out.

During their official race, Ellie finds herself in the slow lane with Chris somehow managing to lap her. In the end, Chris is the humble

go-kart race victor. He may have won the race, but now he needs to win Ellie’s heart.

The fun and games aren’t over just yet as Chris and Ellie speed over to Punch Bowl Social in East Village for dinner and more competitive opportunities. Now that they’re done driving, they can also freely partake in some alcohol, which might help grease the wheel.

Punch Bowl Social is an upscale restaurant, bar and gaming complex (with activities like karaoke, bowling, foosball, arcade games, ping-pong and more) that opened in San Diego in mid 2018. With

a menu by celebrity chef Hugh Acheson, it’s famous for its modern Tex-Mex cuisine and, of course, its glass punch bowls filled with spiked libations served with ladles and cups, making it an ideal drink for a group, or just a pair of blind daters.

Midway through their meal, we separate the daters to find out how things are going.

How’s it going so far?

ELLIE: It’s going great. It’s awesome.

CHRIS: It’s going better than expected. I wasn’t sure what to expect. Dating is not my forte, neither is blind dating.

N E LVI N C . C E P E DA

ELLIE: I mean, we both came in black, so that’s always a good sign.

Good jeans. Good tennis shoes. I like the hat. Overall, comfortable.

CHRIS: For driving? Because our activity involved using our feet, and she’s wearing knee-high boots, so if I was being a good Christian, I’d say, probably not. If I was being me, I like the way she’s dressed. If I was being an ambassador for K1 Speed, I wouldn’t advise it.

How was your experience at K1 Speed?

ELLIE: (Laughs) Bumpy fun. It was awesome, exciting. I started off going in the wrong direction. And then after that, I hit a few curbs and then it was fun. And I did it in high heels.

CHRIS: It was cool. I don’t remember what happened, per se, there may be footage, there may not be. For those of you that weren’t there, I won easily. That’s all I can remember, just winning very, very easily.

What were your first impressions of your date?

ELLIE: He’s charismatic, fun and outgoing.

CHRIS: Ellie’s fun, she’s cool.

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

ELLIE: Definitely, yeah.

CHRIS: Yeah, she ticks the boxes.

She’s good looking, she’s brunette.

I don’t have a type, but more often than not, if she can hang and she’s fun… So far, so good.

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

How was your experience at Punch Bowl Social?

ELLIE: I had tacos, we had the punch bowl with bourbon and (I) had a tequila Sprite. We bowled.

This space is awesome, there’s a lot to do here. A lot of fun energy and activities.

CHRIS: First time here. A lot more going on than I expected. I knew it was fun, but I didn’t realize it had so many activities, so many games.

Food was great. Old-Fashioned was phenomenal, actually. I’m a bit of an Old-Fashioned snob, a bit of a whiskey snob. I’m pleasantly surprised.

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

ELLIE: Great sense of humor.

CHRIS: Let me win at the racing.

I’m not sure what she’s told you, but as the one that won that race, letting me win was the most amazing thing.

Do you want to kiss your date right now?

ELLIE: Sure.

CHRIS: I’m not a kiss-and-tell type of guy.

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

ELLIE: I don’t think there really has been anything.

CHRIS: Probably telling you that she won.

Does your date want to kiss you?

ELLIE: Sure.

CHRIS: (Laughs) Probably.

Rate your date on a scale from one to 10 for looks.

ELLIE: I mean, nine?

CHRIS: 10.

And for personality?

ELLIE: 10.

CHRIS: 10.

What’s your date’s most attractive quality?

ELLIE: Tall.

CHRIS: Her hair. I love brunettes.

What’s your date’s least attractive quality?

ELLIE: I wasn’t focused on that.

CHRIS: It’s early. So far, so good.

How and when will the date end?

ELLIE: I guess when it ends? TBD. CHRIS: I have an early start tomorrow. I’m a working class guy who gets up early, does his thing, so maybe not too late, but we’ll see.

It seems like Chris and Ellie might be on the road to romance. After all, Chris repeatedly proclaims his love for brunettes, and says that Ellie “ticks the boxes.” And Ellie, the daredevil who’s willing to go-kart in high heels, appreciates Chris’ sense of humor and height.

It seems their hearts might be racing, as they both rated each other’s personalities as 10s and they are both sure the other wants to kiss them. But, will an impending early morning spoil their fun?

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LOVE | BLIND DATE

BOWLED OVER

This date ended up in the gutter

A

fter dinner and drinks at Punch Bowl, Chris and Ellie bowled a few games before deciding to call it an early night. The next day we follow up with each dater to get the inside track on the date as it approached the finish line.

How was your experience and dinner at Punch Bowl Social?

ELLIE: Punch Bowl Social was awesome. The environment was really exciting and vibrant. I loved the games.

The food and drinks were awesome as well. We did have the punch bowl and it was everything I expected.

CHRIS: Punch Bowl was good.

I’d never been there before. Food was great, drinks were great. I’m a bit of an Old-Fashioned snob, and I ordered one, I was a little apprehensive for a first time, first place, and it was surprisingly good. I was impressed with it.

What did you eat and drink there?

ELLIE: We both had the tacos. I believe they were chicken, but I’m not 94

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entirely sure (Editor’s note: They were actually brisket and barbacoa tacos).

They were really great, though. And we also had one punch bowl and a couple of Old-Fashioneds.

CHRIS: We had some tacos, we kept it light. We wanted to focus on getting a few drinks, keeping it social. I didn’t want to dive into a plate of food. It would kind of ruin the conversation.

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

ELLIE: Well, before dinner, we just went to the race track. We stayed at Punch Bowl for quite a while, so after dinner, we both just chatted and then went home.

CHRIS: Well, Punch Bowl was the conclusion. There were a bunch of activities there, so we kind of just stayed there for dinner, drinks, did some bowling and just hung out there for a minute. And then, wrapped it up.

When did you get home?

ELLIE: Let’s see, I believe I got

CLOCKWISE (from upper left): The Watermelon Polo Bowl from Punch Bowl Social consists of Sauza Blue Reposado tequila, Teakoe’s Watermelon Spearmint Tea, McClary Bro’s watermelon shrub, house-made strawberry syrup and fresh lime juice; the Chicken Fried Chicken is made with fried hormone and antibiotic-free chicken breast, crispy potatoes and mushroom gravy; barbacoa tacos made with chile braised brisket, cilantro, onion, queso cotija, salsa adobo and a soft corn tortilla; the Watermelon Polo Bowl.

home around 9 or so.

CHRIS: I got home about 11.

Was there a kiss or romantic exchange?

ELLIE: There was not a kiss, no.

We definitely had a great discussion, great time. We exchanged numbers, so that’s good.

CHRIS: No, it wasn’t that kind of a date. She was cool. It was more of a good time out than a romantic encounter.

How and when did the date end exactly?

ELLIE: We just wrapped it up after bowling and then that was about it.

Headed home about 8:45, got home around 9.

CHRIS: After bowling, towards the end of bowling, I spoke to her, said I had a great time. Monday is a busy day for me and I’m not trying to make a late night out of it. So we had the driver just take us to our respective houses.

Fill in the blanks: I wish my date had a bigger “blank” and a

smaller “blank.”

ELLIE: Oh, man. I was pretty satisfied with my date, so that’s a hard question.

CHRIS: Great question. I have to come back to that one.

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

ELLIE: We had a lot of laughs. This isn’t funny, but it did happen: This guy in front of us (on the bowling lanes at Punch Bowl), his ball was coming up the retractor and his fingers got smashed, but the way they got smashed and the way he handled it was very diva-like and funny. So, we kind of had a good laugh about it. The guy was OK. He had to call management over and they brought him a huge bag of ice, and so he just laid there with a bag of ice while we had our date.

CHRIS: The go-karting was pretty intense. You couldn’t hear the laughing with the helmets on, but when we pulled off to do our safety lap or our first lap, my date turned right, like the wrong way, and went the wrong way down the track. That was pretty funny.

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LOVE | BLIND DATE

What was the best part of the date and why?

ELLIE: Conversation at dinner, just because we were getting to know each other a little bit more and things started to get easy and conversational and fun.

CHRIS: Probably the go-karting, to be honest. Made me feel like I was a kid again. I haven’t done something like that in years.

What was the worst part of the date and why?

ELLIE: I hit my bumper car really hard when I was driving around the first corner. It was pretty rough because it shook me around a little bit and I was a little dizzy. But that was my own fault.

CHRIS: Drinking that late on a Sunday, probably. This morning was rough, but it was worth it.

Will there be a second date? Why or why not?

ELLIE: There may or may not. I feel like we definitely hit it off. I’m not sure how romantic it would be. I think he’s an overall awesome 96

JANUARY 2019 @PACIFICSD

person and I enjoyed his company and I would not mind seeing him again because it was a great time.

CHRIS: No, it’s unlikely. I’m down to hang out, she’s cool. I think we have similar friends, so I can definitely see us hanging out. I can’t see us dating, though.

What’s one thing your date really should know before going on another date?

ELLIE: I noticed that he was checking his phone often and I always put my phone down when I’m in the presence of someone else.

It didn’t bother me too much, but maybe for someone else, it would have been a little off-putting. But that would be it.

CHRIS: Don’t dominate in the go-karting. Let your partner have at least one good lap.

What could have made this date better?

ELLIE: I think the date was awesome. I think we were both a little bit nervous to go on it and it really exceeded my expectations, to

be honest. It was really fun.

CHRIS: Yeah, put it on a Saturday.

Anything else you’d like to add?

ELLIE: Shout out to Chris.

He’s an awesome guy. It was an amazing time. Shout out to (matchmaker) Jessica, she made us feel so comfortable and walked us through the entire process, as well as the photographer. He made everything so comfortable and easy.

It all seemed really natural. It was wonderful. Punch Bowl Social, they were really attentive.

CHRIS: Thanks for the opportunity. It was great to check out spots I never would have gone to on my own, so that was cool. It was great to meet someone new. A big thanks to PACIFIC magazine, it was great.

AFTERMATCH: Chris blamed the early night on a busy Monday, but we can’t help but feel the date ended abruptly because he really is an “oldfashioned snob” who can’t drink late on a school night? Things seemed to be going well, and then suddenly

veered off course.

While the daters had nothing but praise to offer for each other (aside from Ellie’s suggestion that Chris put his phone away on future dates, especially if he happens to be driving), they couldn’t manage to make the shift into a romantic encounter.

This date wasn’t a total clunker, but we wish it had been a better match. Good luck to Chris and Ellie as they search for a more permanent passenger in this crazy ride we call life.

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

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