in the cage with yonder alonso, the padres’ rookie slugger
MEDAL SHOP olympians train in chula vista
Opening Day and where to go after
Reuben H. Fleet the man with wings Comic-Con returns with a KA-POW! JULY 2012 PACIFICSANDIEGO.COM
Team USA’s Susan Francia
Editor’s Note May the Fourth be with You Just because the economy sucks is no reason to mope around America’s Finest City this summer. Sure, we may all lose our jobs and houses and have to move to Santee, but at least there’s no June Gloom out there. Not feeling the red and white, but just blue? Turn that frown upside down with this list of things to do to make it a killer July in San Diego: • Go up to a guy dressed as a Klingon outside Comic-Con and say, “Dude, that’s the worst Darth Vader outfit I’ve ever seen!” • Light some sparklers and watch how fast the cops show up. • Put on a pair of overalls and flirt with a sheep at the County Fair (and notice how no one says anything).
• Sprinkle old coins on the beach, then hunt for them with a metal detector and scream, “No way!” each time you find one. • Turn those extra resumes into a hat, then bet your life savings on a long shot at Opening Day at Del Mar. • Get your straight friends to take off their shirts at Pride. • Wear a star spangled Speedo to the beach and tell everyone you just came from the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista… …Which reminds me of a joke my dad used to tell—This guy is striking out with the girls on the beach. He walks up to them; they walk away. Then he notices another guy, who isn’t any better looking than he is, but who’s got women swarming around him. When he sees a break, he goes up to the guy. “Hey, what’s your secret? What do you do to make all the ladies come to you?” The other guys says, “I’ll tell you, but you can’t tell anyone else. All you do is put a potato in your bathing suit. The women will go crazy.” The first guy takes the other guy’s advice, but things get worse. Now, women run from him before he even gets close enough to say hi. He sees the other guy on the beach and walks up to him. “Hey, I did what you said with the potato, but the women still don’t like me.” And the other guy says, “Try putting the potato in front next time.”
Summer is here—time to get out there and have some fun. Stuff your face, stuff your Speedo, have a blast! (Don’t forget the SPF.) —David Perloff Editor-In-Chief E I G H T
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Contents 07.12
pacifics A N d I E G O . com
FEATURES 54 Hit Man
Warming up with San Diego’s rookie slugger
62 Medal Shop
Where Olympians get ready for what’s in store
O N T H E C OV E R : t e a m U SA’ s S us a n F r a n c i a is h e a d e d t o t h e 2 0 1 2 Su m m e r O ly m p i c s in L o n d o n , competing in wo m e n ’ s e i g h t row i n g (se e s t o r y pag e 6 2 ) . P hoto b y Ro b H a m m er. T H I S PAG E : pa r a ly m p i c g o l d m e d a l is t da v i d wag n e r is ta k i n g another swing at g o l d at t h e su m m e r g a m e s i n l o n d o n . P hoto b y Ro b H a m m er. S I X T E E N
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P a cific S D
P r o m o ti o n
LOCATION Block No. 16 344 7th Ave., East Village 619.255.ROCK, blockno16.com NERD MACHINE Free admission Conversations for a Cause: $20 donation www.thenerdmachine.com
And the crowd goes wild, Nerd HQ 2011
The Coolest Nerds on the Planet
FROM LEFT: Zachary Levi, Scott Bakula and David Coleman at Nerd HQ 2011
Enter Nerd HQ
By Crystal McGwyer / Photos by Eric Blackmon In case you haven’t heard, Nerd HQ is the place to be when you aren’t booth hopping at the convention center at this year’s Comic-Con. You won’t find Snoopy and Darth Vader dueling outside Nerd HQ, but you will find some of the coolest nerds on the planet, yet-to-be released video games, exclusive parties and some amazing autograph signings. It’s all the brainchild of actor Zachary Levi, best known for his starring role on “Chuck”. Zac’s vision was to bring an experience to Comic-Con in which fans could have real conversations with some of their favorite celebrities. So was born Nerd HQ in 2011, produced by The Nerd Machine, a multi-media company dedicated to bringing the best of apparel, accessories and amazing video content to customers around the globe. Coming to San Diego’s own Block No. 16 July 12-15, Nerd HQ is powered by Xbox, Square Enix, Break Media and VIZIO. This year fans can look forward to 40 gaming stations, next-gen 3D technologies and the very popular “Conversations for a Cause” panel series, which benefits Operation Smile, a not-for-profit organization that pays for corrective surgery for children with cleft palates. The conversations will be streamed worldwide through the Nerd Machine’s Break Media partnership at www.break.com/nerdhq. This will be the destination for all the Conversations and daily highlights from the event. “SDCC does an amazing job presenting panels for thousands of fans to experience together. Our venue is a great deal smaller, so our ‘Conversations’ will be less than 250 people. Guests attending the panels ask the questions one-on-one to the celebs. It makes for some pretty interesting conversations
E I G H T een
and creates a unique experience for the fans and celebrities alike,” says David Coleman, co-founder of The Nerd Machine. If the panels weren’t enough, fans will also get the chance to play the yet-tobe released, completely reborn Tomb Raider game. “Square Enix is debuting the first-ever playable demo of the soon-to-bereleased Tomb Raider,” says Coleman. “This is a world exclusive only found at Nerd HQ.” While admission to Nerd HQ is free, tickets to “Conversations for a Cause” are $20. “Walk in, catch a Conversation, take photos, play video games, have a drink, hang out, have fun, be nerdy.” After you enjoy Comic-Con, head over to Nerd HQ and check it out. The new Tomb Raider to be featured at Nerd HQ
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Contents pacifics A N d I E G O . com
07.12
see more of joe phillips’ art on page 34
DEPARTMENTS C U RREN TS FIRST THINGS 25 Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are San Diego celebrates another year of LGBT Pride 28
Hay There During race season, Del Mar is where it’s hat
COOLTURE 32 A Stone’s Throw Oliver Stone’s new film about Mexican drug cartels features a local actor 34 toon In Comic-Con returns to America’s Finest with a KA-POW! OLD’S COOL 40 In Plane Site How Reuben H. Fleet helped launch San Diego into the stratosphere CHAINSAW 44 Gosh Bless America! OMG, I love this country HOME 46 Windy City A fan-tastic breath of fresh air for fan fans
TECH 48 Cool Runnings Virtual coaches help runners find their stride BEAUTY 50 Get Your Fix Prescription-strength beauty TASTE DINING OUT 75 Mane Course Where to eat after the races—a photo finish 82
Home Plates Batter up, in more ways than one
WHAT’S COOKING 84 Smoothie Moves A cool recipe for chilling out
LOVE 100 Don’t Look Now… How a negative body image can affect your sex life
DRINK 86 Sour Grapes When the world gives you lemons, fly to Peru
102 Heels Over Head Two daters fall for each other…or just fall.
GROOVE 90 Comin’ Atcha Live The news in music venues
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90 Now Ear This New releases from San Diego artists
98 Patriot Games Playing around with an all-American drink-slinger
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Just for Show July concert calendar
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CA L E N D A R 110 SEVEN.TWELVE July event listings THI NK 114 ASS FACE Some things stay in Vegas, but not tattoos
Fourth of July Pool Party Sunday, July 1, 12pm-8pm
Elevation Pool Party Sunday, Aug. 12, 12pm-8pm
Labor Day Pool Party Sunday, Sept. 2, 12pm-8pm For advanced discount tickets visit www.wantickets.com/fortune421 For DJ lineups and more information visit www.fortune421.com VIP Bottle Service 619.814.2055
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IT’S A HIT! Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso is in the running to be the National League Rookie of the Year. Tag along for a behind-the-scenes workout with No. 23 as he prepares for the big game against the Los Angeles Angels (see “Hit Man,” page 54).
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PacificSD is proud to be the official media partner of the Padres Friday Night Home Game Pre-Parties.
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Comic-con: the largest comic book and popular arts convention in the world! page 28
Come Out, Come Out
Hay There
Currents
a stone’s throw
Toon In
In Plane Site
Windy City
COME OUT, COME OUT, WHEREVER YOU ARE San Diego celebrates another year of LGBT Pride By Aaron Heier / Photo by Cali Griebel
cool runnings
Get Your Fix
From the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell to President Obama’s public support of same-sex marriage to the unveiling of the nation’s first street named for slain civil rights leader Harvey Milk*, the LGBT community has seen a tremendous shift towards acceptance and equality in the past year. Help celebrate those and other important milestones at America’s Pride, the 38th annual San Diego LGBT Pride Festival. (continued on page 26)
*The street memorializing Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, runs parallel to University Avenue, between Cleveland Avenue and Center Street, in Hillcrest.
(continued on page 26) T wenty – F I V E
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LIVE ENTERTAINMENT 7 NIGHTS A WEEK SAN DIEGO’S BEST HAPPY HOUR AND LATE NIGHT DINING DESTINATION NOW OPEN FOR LUNCH ON SATURDAYS $18.95 SUNDAY BRUNCH… BOTTOMLESS SANGRIA AND MIMOSAS. 10:30 TO 2
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(continued from page 25) “Equality is an American value,” says Pride’s executive director, Dwayne Crenshaw. “The promise for America is liberty and justice for all. It is founded on the notion that all are created equal. This has been the source of America’s pride contained in our Constitution, engraved on the Statue of Liberty and ingrained in our Pledge of Allegiance. Our 2012 theme boldly proclaims the LGBT community’s inclusion in that pride.” This year’s festivities begin Friday night, July 20, with the Pride of Hillcrest Block Party, starting with the Spirit of Stonewall Rally at the intersection of Normal Street and Harvey Milk Street, where local community leaders will raise the first Pride Flag on a new 65-foot flagpole. The revelry continues with live music, drinks and dancing in the streets. Along with Saturday’s parade and the two-day festival in Balboa Park—offering music and dancing in six diverse entertainment areas, art exhibits and food booths Saturday and Sunday— America’s Pride will host an official Military Party (Saturday) and Women’s Party (Sunday) at the popular University Heights gay enclave, Bourbon Street Bar & Grill. Dance music diva and founding member of R&B supergroup Destiny’s Child, Kelly Rowland was slated to headline the event, but she canceled in late-June. British singer/ songwriter Natasha Bedingfield will perform Sunday at the festival, while actor/comedian Sandra Bernhard will serve as Grand Marshall. Together, the block party, parade and festival are expected to draw a crowd of nearly 200,000 people, creating San Diego’s largest civic event. “It takes nearly 1,000 volunteers and other community partners working year-round to make [Pride] a success,” says Fernando Lopez, Pride’s director of administration and public affairs. “Our community members who work and volunteer with Pride take great care to honor our evergrowing and diverse community.” Pride is such an undertaking that Lopez and his team are already planning the 2013 and 2014 events, giving San Diego something to be proud of years to come. LEFT: Comedian/actress Sandra Berhard IS Grand Marshall OF this year’s Pride. BELOW: headliner Natasha Bedingfield will take the FESTIVAL stage Sunday night.
for more info, check out sdpride.org
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The promise for America is liberty and justice for all. It is founded on the notion that all are created equal. This has been the source of America’s pride... T wenty – six
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P HOTO S C o u r t e s y o f D E L M A R THOROU G H B RE D C L U B
HAY THERE During race season, Del Mar is where it’s hat By David Nelson
What to wear to the fair is never the issue. How to star at Del Mar always is. Of the 365 days each year that make San Diego the best place on earth, there is precisely one on which sartorial success really matters: Opening Day at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, that wonderfully horsey place where the surf meets the turf (and from which you may venture forth after the races for surf ‘n’ turf…if you bet right. See “Mane Course,” page 75). The thing to keep in mind? Hats. Not baseball caps. Real hats, with brims, bands, feathers, flowers and other whimsical decorations, like baby pandas in cute poses, and working windmills that generate electrical power. You get the idea. You can buy a hat, of course, which most guys usually do, as do women who plan ahead by shopping at chic London milliners in the spring. Otherwise, construct your own daffy bonnet. On Opening Day, lots of homemade hair-raisers float above the crowd. Upwards of 45,000 fans of “the sport of kings and the king of sports,” as thoroughbred racing likes to be known, are expected to turn out on Wednesday, July 18—not just for fast action on the track, but also for festivities like The One and Only Truly Fabulous Hats Contest. (continued on page 30)
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top: CHOMPING AT THE BIT F O ANOTHER BIG P UR S E AT DEL MAR. INSET: B ETTING ON HORS E S AND CHOOS ING THE RIGHT HAT FOR OPENING DAY — ALWAY S A GAMBLE .
SILVER BULLET SPECIAL EDITION CAN 速
EXPOSED FOR SUMMER 2012 OFFICIAL PARTNER OF
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B ELOW : S IZING U P THORO UGH B RED S IN THE PADDOCK AT DEL MAR. RIGHT : Mario Lo pez (seco n d fro m rig ht) and then girlfriend K a r i n a Sm irno ff (far right, fro m “Dancing with the Stars”) celebrate w ith friends at Opening Day.
DEL MAR TRACK INFO
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(continued from page 28) The Turf Club is the place to hang, if you’re the Turf Club type, but there’s plenty of party just about everywhere else. For example, spending $30 per person grants entry to the Coors Light Opening Day Party, offering private betting windows and bars, first-come table seating under the tent and DJ-spun music. The 2012 season runs 37 race days through September 5, including the 75th Anniversary celebration on July 21. On this occasion, every 75th person through the gates will receive a $75 voucher for track expenditures; and every other person entering will be given two passes for a return visit. On July 22, the first-ever Paddock Horse Auction will offer ready-to-run thoroughbreds priced from $10,000 to $100,000 (bring cash). Also new this year, the “Del Mar at 75” book of track photography by Jay Privman will tempt memorabilia hounds; and the new 17 Hands Pub (horses’ heights are sometimes measured in hands), serving gourmet tacos and local beers. Favorite events returning from past seasons include the Miss Cougar Del Mar competition on July 27; the Summer Concert Series, with performers including Ziggy Marley, Cake and Ben Harper; beer festivals; and the August 4 Western Regional Chili Cookoff and Salsa Contest. A top national race, the $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic, will run August 26 and star top owners, top jockeys and the fleetest fillies. Unless you’re a jockey, just Say “Neigh” to work on Opening Day. See you at Del Mar.
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Del Mar Race Season Wednesday, July 18, through Wednesday, September 5. (The track closes Mondays and Tuesdays; exception on Labor Day.) Post Time: 2 p.m., except on Fridays, when the first race commences at 4 p.m. (Gates open 2 hours prior to post; 2.5 hours prior on Opening Day and Pacific Classic Day.) Del Mar Thoroughbred Club 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar 858.755.1141, dmtc.com
Ope n afte DAYing r p BurlaP, 12995 El Camino Real #21, Del Mar artie s 858.369.5700, burlapeats.com
HORSING AROUND
DJs Decon and Cobra spin into the night amidst koi ponds and fire pits; dinner served indoors and under the stars. GuestHouse at Stingaree, 454 6th Ave., Gaslamp 619.544.9500, stingsandiego.com After the “Go, Baby, go!” at Del Mar, it’s hot go-gos going all night at GuestHouse; free shuttle service from Pacific Beach for those who attend the Bar West preparty (see below). L’Auberge, 1540 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar 800.245.9757, openingdayafterparty.com Keep the day classy with bites from Kitchen 1540 and delicious cocktails at this gorgeous waterfront resort and spa. Hilton Del Mar, 15575 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar 858.792.5200, sfinx.com Lose, win or place, this party promises to be the show after the races. Sfinx and LED Entertainment are teaming up to bring 1,100 people and big-name DJs (yet to be announced as of this magazine’s printing) to the Hilton Del Mar. Bar West, 959 Hornblend St., Pacific Beach 858.273.9378, barwestsd.com One day in the hay is never enough, so get started early at the Bar West preparty, offering shuttle service to and from the track and an afterparty at GuestHouse at Stingaree.
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SPORTS REPORT
San Diego’s place for co-ed sports leagues, happy hours and social events
CHAMPION’S CORNER: MAY WINNERS Volleyball, Carmel Valley - The Wolfclap Volleyball, Carmel Valley - The Outsiders Flag Football, Clairemont - Sex Panthers Flag Football, PB - Daddy Woodheads Soccer, Downtown - SDFC Soccer, Downtown - The Outsiders Basketball, Kearny Mesa - SideBar Softball, La Jolla - Luscious Lushes Kickball, La Jolla - Rolling Balls Kickball, La Jolla - Boom Goes the Dynamite Softball, Linda Vista - The Money Shots Soccer, Mira Mesa - Legends Soccer, Mira Mesa - Scrubs Kickball, Ocean Beach - Suck My Kick Softball, Old Town - Rady's Kickball, Old Town - Stepfathers Kickball, PB - Hot Pitches & Big Kicks Dodgeball, PB - Wolfpack Softball, Point Loma - Booze Bags
TEAM OF THE MONTH: RECESS WARRIORS
a stone’s throw
With members of this team playing Kickball since early 2008, the Recess Warriors have definitely picked up some amazing Kickball skills. But it is their non-stop spirit and amusement on and off the field that has earned them July’s Team of the Month.
Oliver Stone film about Mexican drug cartels features local actor By Allie Daugherty / Photo by Peter Konerko Every drug cartel needs an accountant. For the Mexican cartel in Oliver Stone’s new movie, Savages, that role is filled by Jaime, a character played by San Diego native Antonio Jarmillo. The flick follows the story of two pot growers whose shared girlfriend gets kidnapped by the cartel when the duo refuses to form an alliance. The groups wage war against each other, resulting in a string of brutal ploys and maneuvers. The Savages cast includes Benicio Del Toro, Salma Hayek, Blake Lively, Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson, Emile Hirsch, John Travolta and Uma Thurman—and, of course, Jarmillo, whose resume lists the recurring role of Jesus in TV’s “Meet the Browns,” a character in the popular Rockstar Games video game “Red Dead Redemption,” as well as many stage credits. “It’s not an action film where a lot of things blow up, and people run away from the fire,” Jarmillo says. “It actually has dialogue and it actually has a story.” opens in theaters nationwide July 6.
Check out their antics and pick up some Kickball tips Thursday nights at Adams Avenue all summer!
SUMMER OF YOU: INDIVIDUAL SPORTS Don’t miss out on summer just because you’re not a team player.
Find your own game at govavi.com
T H I R T Y – T W O
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toon in Comic-Con returns to America’s Finest with a kaboom! By David Nelson When the summertime sizzle switches from surfboards to drawing boards, it’s time once again for Comic-Con. The event, billed as “the largest comic book and popular arts convention in the world,” lures a crowd of more than 125,000 to the Convention Center. As legions of tourists dressed as Darth Vader transform Downtown into the pop culture
J o e P h i l l i ps h i g hlight s t h e h o m o e ro t i c u n d e r t o n e s t h at r u n t h ro u g h c om ic b o o k p l o ts i n h is pa i n t i n g s .
center of the universe for a few days each July, it’s easy to overlook the fact that San Diego has a thriving comic book industry the other 51 weeks of the year, too. Artist Jim Lee, for instance, who’s famous for his work on The Avengers and The Uncanny X-Men, is co-publisher of DC Comics (the company that gave the world Batman and Superman) and does most of
Joe Phillips
his work at his office in La Jolla. Meanwhile, IDW Publishing in Bay Park is one of the top five comics publishers in the world and is acclaimed for its work on popular movies and TV shows including Transformers, Star Trek and “CSI.” In addition, America’s Finest is home to some of America’s finest comic artists, three of whom are drawn together here.
A native of Atlanta, Joe Phillips came to San Diego 16 years ago. He describes his first Con as “four magical days” where he could “indulge in the sheer joy of looking at art and toys and not worry about anything.” Phillips has drawn mainstream superheroes including The Incredible Hulk, X-Men and The Silver check out more Surfer, but also creates fine art renditions that bring out the gay subtext of familiar characters. of PHILLIPS’ art at joephillips.com “Think about it,” he says. “A guy develops the ability to do something incredible, and the first thing he does is to wear something tight-fitting and colorful and tell the world, ‘I’m going to fight crime?’” Phillips’ approach to comics is to treat them as a means of escape. “We’re not trying to change anyone’s views, just being thought-provoking and entertaining.” (continued on page 36)
T H I R T Y – F O U R
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(continued from page 34)
Billy Martinez
Billy Martinez’s credits range from the publication Heavy Metal to The SyFy Channel’s “The Chronicle” and “Family Guy” trading cards, but his main focus is on creating original titles check out more like “Wildflower,” an acclaimed series which recently celebrated its 15th anniversary; and of MARTINEZ’S art at nekopresscomics.com “Kickass Girl,” which, like the artist himself, is based in San Diego. “I’d like people to know that comic art is a lot of hard work, and that people do still draw them, not computers,” says Martinez, who holds comic art classes at his La Mesa studio, Neko Press. Although he’ll be promoting his new book, In Your Face (which teaches how to paint and draw facial expressions), at the Con, Martinez doesn’t seem thrilled with the direction the event has taken over the past 15 years. “Now, it is less about comics and more about movies, toys and pop culture,” he says. “I’d like to see it become more about comics again, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon.” (continued on page 38)
I’d like people to know that comic art is a lot of hard work, and that people do still draw them, not computers T H I R T Y – S I X
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San Diego is terrific because of the sheer diversity of the various neighborhoods
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congamE Also playing at Comic-Con
Worst Cartoons Ever Animation historian Jerry Beck hosts 90 minutes of the worst cartoons ever made, including “Super President,” a 1960s series about a superhero who is also the president.
(continued from page 36)
San Diego-based “Transformers” artist Livio Ramondelli will show his work at Comic- Con this year.
Livio Ramondelli
Livio Ramondelli spends much of his time working on the Transformers comic for Bay Park-based IDW Publishing—and admits his five years in San Diego have transformed him. check out more “San Diego is terrific because of the sheer diversity of the various of RAMONDELLI’S art at livioramondelli.com neighborhoods,” he says. “North Park looks completely different from La Jolla, which looks different than the Gaslamp. It can be inspiring to just drive around and study the various architecture as it changes along the way.” Being a comic artist is a solitary job, so Ramondelli tries to get out of the house to hang out with fellow artists at comic coffee klatches at Rebecca’s in South Park. And he digs going to the Con. “That week is certainly the biggest professional week out of the year,” he says. “More eyes are on your work than any other time, and it’s a great way to promote what you’re doing. Also, it brings other professional friends to San Diego that I don’t get to see as often.”
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Klingon Community Theatre San Diego is home to one of the largest Klingon populations in the U.S. Each year, the local community, or “Stranglehold,” performs an original play featuring authenticlooking costumes, spirited amatuerish acting and references only a geek could appreciate.
WHAT: San Diego Comic-Con International WHEN: July 12-15 (Preview Night July 11) WHERE: San Diego Convention Center, 111 W. Harbor Dr., Downtown HOW MUCH: Sold out for months, Dude! (beware of scalpers selling fake tickets) INFO: comic-con.org
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How Reuben H. Fleet helped launch San Diego into the stratosphere By David Moye / Photo by Kristina Yamamoto If not for the sensitive sniffer of Reuben H. Fleet, America’s Finest might not have become a headquarters for the aerospace industry. Fleet is the namesake of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park. But in 1935, he was the head of Consolidated Aircraft Corporation located in chilly Buffalo, New York, where frequent snowstorms made testing aircraft difficult, according to his daughter Susan Welsch. “Dad wanted to move to the West Coast, and both Long Beach and San Diego wanted him to relocate to their cities,” Welsch says. “At the time, Long Beach had a lot of oil wells, and he didn’t like the smell.” That nose was good news for San Diego, which became a major player in the world of aerospace, and for Consolidated Aircraft Corporation (aka
Convair), which became the world’s leading producer of military training planes, also building seaplanes in larger numbers than all other flying boat manufacturers combined. Convair’s World War II landplane bombers were built in greater quantity than any other aircraft ever produced and helped win victory for the allies. However, Fleet’s impact on San Diego, the U.S. and even the world goes way beyond defense contracts. In 1918, Fleet, then a 31-year-old Army major, was pulled from his assigned duty of training pilots to fight in World War I and put in charge of something else: A new and experimental concept known as “airmail.” “Dad was given just a couple of weeks to start up the airmail service,” Welsch says. “He liked to do things right and (continued on page 42)
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A 1/4 -s c a l e m o d e l of a B 2 4 b o m b er p la n e (AKA “ T he Liberat o r” ), w hi ch wa s used in WWII a n d m a n ufact u red by C o n s o li dat ed A i rcra f t Cor p o r at i o n ( r . h . F l e e t ’s co m pa n y) i s o n d i s p lay o ut si d e t h e V e t e r a ns Museu m a n d M em o ri a l C en t er i n Ba lb oa Pa rk .
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(continued from page 40) didn’t think that was enough time.” Still, he made the deadline. The first regularly scheduled airmail service, between Washington, D.C. and New York City, started May 15, 1918. In his later years, Fleet split his time between homes in Point Loma and Palm Springs. “Dad was a stickler for education,” Welsch says. “He said that was the best thing you could give a child. He said that a good education could make up for bad shoes or clothes.” That inclination toward education came out in different ways, both personally and professionally. “He gave us a summer reading list,” Welsch says. “And he was a stickler for grammar. If you said something the wrong way, he would clear his throat. But, he was a big softie.” Fleet helped create not only the museum that bears his name, but also the San Diego Aerospace Museum. “He really wanted to promote the study of math and science,” Welsch says. “If you were to ask him what accomplishment he was proudest of, he’d probably say it was the scholarships he provided for students who needed education.” Reuben H. Fleet—one for the books, in more ways than one.
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CLOCKWISE ( from top): Re ube n H. Fleet (1887-1975) flew f o r t h e National Guard; the Reube n H. F l e e t Science Center in Balboa Pa r k ; Fleet appeared on the c over o f Ti m e Magazine on November 1 7 , 1 9 4 1 .
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OMG, I love this country By Cookie “Chainsaw” Randolph
Feeling very Patriotic this July. It was only 236 years ago this month that John Hancock tweeted, “Check out my me-moment on the D of I. T.J.’s signature was only half as big, and he authored it! Doesn’t matter, this thing won’t last. LOL.” I love little-known facts about American history. Did you know Lincoln was running supermodels in and out of the Oval Office more often than JFK? That’s why Booth shot him—Honest Abe was slamming his chick! (Too soon?) And barely a month later, during the 1865 Stanley Cup Finals, the Toronto Maple Leafs caused a stir when they promoted “Bloody Stovepipe Hat Night” to boost ticket sales for Game Seven. Those Canadians are so cynical. Serves them right the Kings beat them in overtime (3-2). Interesting stuff, our folklore. Like the very first high-five hand slap. Most people think it was invented in the ’70s during some random baseball or basketball game, but it can actually be traced back to the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. After Jesse Owens won his fourth gold medal, Adolph Hitler agreed to meet the great champion, albeit reluctantly. After all, this was an achievement that flew in the face of Hitler’s notion of white supremacy. When they met, Owens thought Hitler was congratulating him with some new-fangled gesture, so as Owens was thinking, “When in Berlin, do as the Berliners do,” he reached up and slapped Adolph’s raised palm. So technically, it was a “Heil Five,” but nevertheless… Baseball, of course, is the great American pastime. And never more patriotic than when former Philadelphia Phillies slugger Greg Luzinski hit a mammoth, All-American home run that hit the Liberty Bell monument perched atop the upper deck at old Veterans Stadium. You could look it up. 1972. What makes it even more amazing: the Phillies
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were playing in Cincinnati that day. STEROIDS! Sadly, however, not everything that comes out of America is all that great. Embarrassing sometimes, actually. Did you see that none other than Clint Eastwood’s daughter set a $100,000 Hermes Birkin handbag on fire to promote her photographer boyfriend’s art project? Suck on that, Third World! That 100K could have sustained your village for another 500 years. And here we thought The Bridges of Madison County was the worst crime Clint had ever perpetrated on the world. No, it was his own spawn! I try to avoid writing about current politics too much, but when you have Mitt Romney deciding not to campaign his home state of Massachusetts because they supposedly hate him there, what are the rest of us supposed to think? At least President Obama made it fair by promising not to campaign in Kenya. The delightfully humble Donald Trump is still banging the “birther” drum. Isn’t he a little late? I’m not sure where Donald Trump was hatched, but that silver spoon he was born with must have made for an uncomfortable delivery. Thank goodness for his mother it wasn’t a spork. Oh, well. November is a long way off, so we still have a few months to enjoy before we play our increasingly divisive election game of “Would You Rather?” We’re supposed to be indivisible, but sadly, there are only two certifiably unanimous things in the history of our great nation that “Everybody Loves”: Kung Fu Fighting and Raymond.
Cookie “Chainsaw” Randolph delivers messages weekday mornings on the Dave, Shelly & Chainsaw Show at 100.7 JACK-fm.
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A fan-tastic breath of fresh air for fan fans By Patricia B. Dwyer
Summertime, and the livin’ is breezy. When the days get hot, and the room gets musty, stay cool with a fan… and make things gusty.
Ceiling the Deal Design junkies needn’t look any further than this remote-controlled stainless steel ceiling fan with a stylish spherical centerpiece. Have a ball shopping online at roomandboard.com. Ball Ceiling Fan $324 at Room & Board roomandboard.com
Big Ass Fan With diameters of up to 24 feet, aptly named Big Ass Fans (one of which chills the masses at Downtown’s Bar Basic) move air around large spaces by using big blades versus high speed. Element $1,000 to $5,000 at Big Ass Fans bigassfans.com
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Trade Winds Feeling crafty? Check out the cool cooling contraptions at etsy.com, like this oscillating device, made with deconstructed vintage fan parts by “Industrial Rewind” online shop owners David and Jackie from Indiana. Steampunk Oscillating Articulating Arm Fan $264 at etsy.com/shop/industrialrewind
Work Blows Outfitted with a smart motor, this desk fan stops when its soft blades come into contact with a foreign object, resuming once the object is removed. Perfect for an office setting—when shit hits this fan, it won’t fly far. SoleusAir 8” Soft Blade Table Fan $19.99 at Staples staples.com
Easy As AC Many handheld fans are for suckers, but this fan actually does the sucking, taking in warm air, passing it through a small wet sponge inside the device and blowing out cooled air. Power it up by USB, A/C or batteries, and add aromatherapy oils to the sponge to cool and calm at the same time. Handy Cooler $49.99 on Amazon amazon.com myhandycooler.com
Air Apparent Offering the aesthetic of vintage without the noise, smell or impracticality, this whisper-silent floor fan telescopes up to 6’ 8”, oscillates and tilts—tricks grandma’s old fan could never do.
The Big O The sleekest fan on the block, this quiet, oscillating, bladeless beauty delivers a solid stream of air without dust or dangerous blades.
Allaire Telescoping Floor Fan $219-249 at Restoration Hardware restorationhardware.com
Dyson Air Multiplier 10” Table Fan $299.99 at Target target.com
Fan-Knee Keep your laptop cool and your vibes cooler with this laptop stand, featuring a fan, two 10-watt speakers and a subwoofer. Macally TuneFan $74.99 at Costco costco.com
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THE PEAR SQUARE ONE DIGITAL RUNNING COACH
Fitbit Ultra Wireless Fitness Tracker When it comes to fitness, knowledge is power. Get in shape by getting on top of your body’s overall wellness with the Fitbit Ultra Wireless Fitness Tracker, which gives users comprehensive feedback on sleep patterns, daily calories burned and steps taken. The data is then transferred to a smartphone app for easy access. $99.99. brookstone.com
COOL RUNNINGS Virtual coaches help runners find their stride By Erin Goss / Photo by John Mireles
Fooducate When choosing healthy foods, there’s more to the nutritional equation than counting calories. Luckily, the smartphone app Fooducate acts as a nutritional cheat-sheet. Just scan foods in the grocery story with your phone and instantly find out if there’s excessive sugar, misleading serving sizes or healthier alternatives available. Available for iPhone and Android. Free.
Each day, between working for a living and caring for her sons, Solana Beach resident Ruth Voorhies trains with the nation’s top running coaches. On-call personal trainers may sound like a luxury only celebrities or “real housewives” could afford, but Voorhies is neither of these. So, how does she do it? The PEAR Square One. Designed by San Diegans Kristian Rauhala and Bob Allison, the $250 PEAR Square One is a training device that utilizes programs designed by world-class running coaches to create personalized workouts. It assesses a user’s physical thresholds via an introductory workout that tracks the heart rate through a wireless monitor, and then suggests appropriate programs to push the user to a higher level. “I trust the training, and it let’s me push past what I thought was my edge,” Voorhies says. Rabuhala, who is currently training for his first full-distance Ironman race, says his invention is the latest evolution in heart rate monitor technology. “I tested and tried all of the fitness gadgets out there, but none really did what I wanted them to do,” he says. “They gave me data, but not an explanation of what to do with it. I just wanted a coach to tell me what to do. The PEAR solves this by combining the coaching and heart rate monitoring into an easy-to-use system.” Today, PEAR Square One users can access more than 500 personalized workouts and get real-time advice straight to their headphones during runs. “It’s just like having a coach next to you when you are working out,” Rabuhala says. “It’s very much a human-to-human connection.” pearsports.com
BeatBurn Treadmill/Outdoor Trainer Before pounding the pavement, download the BeatBurn Treadmill/ Out Trainer app to rev up those runs. This app combines a digital personal trainer and beat-sync technology, creating a playlist from your music library to match your desired intensity and shift the tempo to help you keep the pace. $3.99. Available for iPhone, Android, Mac, and PC.
PEAR SPORTS CO- FO U NDERS KRISTIAN RAUHALA (LEF T ) AND B O B ALLI S ON
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STYLE read below to learn about dr. wood’s orgasm shot
get your fix Prescription-strength beauty By Leslie Marcus / Photo by Lisa Kimberly
Brown eyes making you blue? Enslaved to an anti-climactic climax? Cellulite spoiling your enjoyment of goodies? In the modern era of 21st Century cosmetic surgery, exotic, light-colored eyes become the norm, and a single shot can yield the sex life dreams are made of. It’s not fantasy, folks. It’s real science, and your fix could be right around the corner.
Fat Chance First up, a newly FDA-approved procedure that claims to kill an enemy of women everywhere (especially in the U.S.): cellulite. “We think this is probably one of the holy grails of cosmetic surgery,” says William Umansky, M.D., who shares a practice with his brother Jeffrey (also an M.D.). They’re the only ones in town offering the procedure called Cellulaze, in which a surgeon makes small incisions underneath the surface of the skin and then shoots a laser at the internal structures that cause dimpling. “It’s not a perfect procedure,” Jeffrey says. “You can’t take someone who has extreme cellulite and make them as smooth as a table.” Still, the treatment received 100 percent consumer satisfaction ratings on realself.com, a consumer-driven site for information on everything plastic. But it’s not all pretty—post-surgery photos reveal heavy bruising, so don’t expect to be sporting a bikini come the weekend. Treating one area, like the outer thighs, costs
around $3,000. For now, studies show results for only two years following the procedure, so there’s no telling how the treatment will affect cellulite over longer periods of time.
O, MY! Not to be confused with the “G Spot,” it turns out women have an “O Spot,” too. And it’s been in hiding…until now. “Women are starving. They’re starving for something to help them. They’re starving for good sex, for passion,” says Dr. Samuel Wood, a fertility and sexual medicine specialist practicing in the UTC area. “It’s incredibly
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common and a major problem, even in otherwise good relationships.” Wood and his colleague created the O Shot, and now women of all ages, from all over the country, are on a waiting list to get what Dr. Wood’s got—a single injection, promising near immediate results. “We’ve had a couple women, some extreme cases, where they have the shot, got in the car, hit a bump, had an orgasm, made a sharp turn to get onto the freeway and got another one,” Wood says. “And she proceeded to have like 80 orgasms in the first three or four days.” Here’s how it works: a woman’s own blood is centrifuged down to platelet-rich plasma that’s (continued on page 52)
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(continued from page 50) injected into her O Spot. (Dr. Wood stresses that the shot isn’t painful.) The plasma cocktail rejuvenates tissues and increases sensitivity, er, downtown. “Only 20 percent of women have orgasms during intercourse. By injecting the gel down there, we’ve found it nearly triples the chance of having a vaginal orgasm.” Could this be a potential ego-bruiser for men? Wood says no. “Women will do this for their boyfriend’s or husband’s birthday, because he is going to feel like Superman. It also does tighten things, so it feels better for him, and he feels better about his sexual prowess.” Those with no sexual problems report their orgasms becoming 10 times better after the shot. How do you go back to regular sex after that? Dr. Wood says there’s no need to, because the results of the shot can last for years. The shot: around $1,200 bucks. That the surgeon’s name is Dr. Wood: priceless.
BLUE BUY YOU Some 50-million people wear colored contacts…and don’t fool anyone. That’s about to change. “Whether it’s a wig or toupee that leads to hair transplants, or pushup bra that leads to artificial breasts, or wrinkle cream that eventually moves to Botox, almost all aspects of cosmetic surgery have evolved from a temporary solution to a permanent one,” says Doug Daniels, CEO of Stroma All we’re Medical, the company that created the doing world’s first eye-color-changing laser. is helping The laser removes pigment from the iris people go of the eye, revealing those original baby back to the blues. Currently in clinical studies, the 10natural minute procedure should be available in the color that U.S. within three years. A permanent pair of baby blues will cost around $5,000. they all Ophthalmologist Sandy Feldman, M.D., have of ClearView Eye and Medical Center in Sorrento Valley, says the technology is in its infancy, but she has no doubt it will make it to market. And she’ll be one of the doctors using it on patients. “I don’t think that I could have conceived people would think about a medical procedure to actually change the color of someone’s eye, internally,” she says. “Before laser vision correction, people couldn’t even conceive that we would be able to operate on a healthy eye and get them out of glasses or contact lenses.” It’s not a one-size-fits-all procedure, as there are actually 16 shades of blue eyes. The pigment level you start with predicts what color of blue your eyes have the potential to become. Daniels says most people will end up with a steely-blue eye like Cameron Diaz. Not a bad deal. What’s more, you’ll know ahead of time what you’re going to look like after the procedure. “All we’re doing is helping people go back to the natural color that they all have,” Daniels says. “I mean, everybody has blue eyes, but there’s a dark pigment that covers the iris that gives us the brown or hazel eyes. Once you remove that, everyone has blue eyes.” It’s just like nature…only completely different.
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H
it SUBJECT TEAM TARGET
DATE OF BIRTH:
6’2”
WEIGHT:
240 LBS.
EDUCATION:
San Diego Padres Petco Park
WORDS BY
David Perloff
PHOTOS BY
John Mireles
OPPONENT
L.A. Angels
04.08.1987
HEIGHT:
BIRTHPLACE:
Yonder Alonso
Havana, Cuba University of Miami
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Warming up with San Diego’s rookie slugger
Tonight, thousands of Finest City sports fans will root, root, root for the home team as the Padres face the Los Angeles Angels. For now, however, Petco Park sits empty—no fans in the stands, no pitcher on the mound, no umpires cleaning their contact lenses.
Alonso prepares for his next victim. F I F T Y – five
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First pitch is at 7:05 p.m., eight hours from now. Who’s on first? No one, yet, but the Friars’ star first baseman just showed up for batting practice. “Being a baseball player, it may look easy, but there’s a lot of preparation that goes into it,” says the soft-spoken Yonder Alonso. “We’re not just sitting in the locker room hanging out, going online, 60’ 6” from pitcher’s mound to home plate 90’ to first base 400’ to the centerfield fence
We’re working out, getting ready for the game, hitting in the cage.”
YONDER ALONSO’S CAREER STATS: GAMES: 139 AT BATS: 369 RUNS: 33 HITS: 99 RBI: 36 BB: 35 AVG.: 268
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Born in Havana, Cuba, in 1987, Alonso joined the Pads this year, having spent part of the 2011 season with the Cincinnati Reds—and a lifetime knowing he wanted to be in the game. “My dad was a baseball player, so growing up I was always around the games.
He said that since I could walk, I always had a baseball and a bat with me.” Now, the heavy-hitting 25-year-old is in the running to become the National League 2012 Rookie of the Year. But unlike a lot of professional athletes, No. 23 seems to accept rising fame with humility, acknowledging that converting naturalborn talent into a Major League career requires hard work…and a lot of it.
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TARGET STATS: “The ball shall be a sphere formed by yarn wound around a small core of cork, rubber or similar material, covered with two stripes of white horsehide or cowhide, tightly stitched together. It shall weigh not less than five nor more than 5 1/4 ounces and measure not less than nine nor more than 9 1/4 inches in circumference." —mlb.com
FROM TOP: The L.A. Angels’ pre-game stretch Who could say no to this kid? Hit the dirt! Yonder Alonso’s on deck.
OPPOSITE PAGE: Strength, focus and the ability to crush the ball come naturally to Alonso, shown here in the Padres private gym at Petco Park
BATS: THROWS: DRAFT INFO: CONTRACT STATUS: POSITION:
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Left Right 2008, Cincinnati Reds 5 Years/$4.55M (2008-12) First Base
“You have to take care of your body, the way you eat, the way you rest and the way you train,” he says. “It’s a full, year-round sport. I don’t really take any time off.” Teddy Roosevelt said, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” Yonder Alonso may be the guy he was talking about. He doesn’t talk a big game, he just plays one. Actually, make that 162.
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With his name in lights, San Diegoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hardball hero takes the plate. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a hit! Mission accomplished.
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“At the end of the game, it’s easy to say, ‘We can get them tomorrow.’ But I don’t really think about tomorrow,” Alonso says.
“I think, ‘This is my last game I’m going to play and I gotta go all out.’” Swing, batter batter, swing!
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Where Olympians get ready for what’s in store By Patricia B. Dwyer
Photos by Rob Hammer
Of the 300 athletes now preparing their minds and bodies at the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center—many of whom have set world records and won medals at the Olympics and other international competitions—as many as 80 will compete on the world stage this summer: the 2012 Summer Olympics, to be held in London, July 27 to August 12. “These athletes are dedicated because they have passion to improve or to represent our country,” says Tracy Lamb, the training center’s director. Lamb, an Olympic biathlon coach whose brother was an Olympian and whose father was an Olympic organizer, oversees the immense facility, which boasts four multipurpose fields used for soccer and rugby, North America’s largest outdoor archery range, an exact replica of the London BMX racing course, six beach volleyball courts and canoe/kayak practice space in the adjacent Lower Otay Reservoir. “It’s a 155-acre sports playground,” he says. “We’re like a college campus, except that everybody’s in great shape.” Those selected to come to the training center, one of only three in the nation, are provided with coaches, nutritionists, sports psychologists, educational support and help finding a “real job.” “They are not going to get rich doing this,” says Lamb. “These kids are highly motivated and they’re doing it for the right reasons.” What’s it take to make it to the Olympics? It depends who you ask…so PacificSD asked seven of America’s finest athletes, who’ve been training right here in our own backyard.
are athletes se “These becau cated i ded passion have y the or rove to imp our resent ep r to ry,” a countamb, Chula Vist L —Tracy raining Center T c Olympi
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Elexis “Lex” Gillette
EVENTS: Long jump, triple jump, 100- and 200-meter sprints
Age: 27 Height: 6’1” Weight: 172 lbs. Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina Alma mater: East Carolina University Hours trained daily: 20-25 hours per week Accolades: two Paralympic silver medals; current long jump worldrecord holder for totally blind athletes Qualified for London?: “No, but I’m hopeful.” “I was seven years old when I started having issues with my eyes. I had to have 10 operations, and after the 10th one, they didn’t know what else to do. Over the next year, I just started losing vision to the point where I was only able to see lights and shadows. By the time I was nine, that’s all I was able to see, and it’s still like that ’til this day.”
“I love track and field because I’m vision-impaired, and it gives me a sense of accomplishment and it brings me into a world of normalcy with my friends and peers. And when you’re winning, it’s pretty fun.” “I love riding bicycles, and that just comes from when I was a child and when I was able to see. I’ve ridden on the BMX track here. I have one of my friends, she’s a BMX rider, and she was on the track just telling me which way to go.” [Editor’s note: search “Lex tries BMX” on YouTube] Favorite place in San Diego: “Mission Beach. One of my friends that’s taken me out there taught me how to surf, and since then we go out there and ride the waves and have fun.” On the day after the Olympics… “Probably me and some of the athletes will find somewhere to go hang out.”
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Winning at the Olympics —a tall order
OAR
Susan Francia, a Hungarian-born Olympic rower, moved to Pennsylvania when she was two. Her boyfriend is training to be a Navy Seal. “I’ve trained in San Diego before,” she says, “but when he got stationed there, it was like, ‘Yes! We’re moving to paradise!” Francia has excelled at rowing since first picking up an oar during her sophomore year at University of Pennsylvania. She grew up playing multiple sports, encouraged by numerous coaches because of her stature, but sitting in
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Susan Francia
a boat was the first time she felt innately skilled. “In basketball, I was the clumsiest 6’2” athlete out there,” she says. “But with rowing, right of the bat it was going well. I could finally work hard and see results, and it was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, you could go to the Olympic team!’” And go she did—all the way to Olympic gold at the 2008 Games in Beijing. Francia’s event: the Women’s Eight—eight women, eight oars, one intense competition. She was part of the team that holds the current world record of 5:54.7 (that’s minutes) for 2,000 meters (that’s 1.25 miles). After reaching the top of the podium, Francia considered hanging up her oars, but the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista helped keep her feet on the water.
Event: Rowing, Women’s eight
Height: 6’2” Weight: 175 lbs. World ranking: 3rd World championship medals: five gold, one bronze Olympic medals: 1 gold, 2008 Games in Beijing World records: world’s best time (5:54.7) in Women’s Eight at 2,000 meters Bench press: 140 lbs. Vice: Peanut M&Ms Favorite place in San Diego: Cabrillo National Monument
“My coach sent out a fleet of boats to the San Diego training center, and I wasn’t doing anything that day. It was the most wonderful experience. I think just being in San Diego, in that environment, really kind of did it for me. I was like, ‘You know what, I’ll go for another round.’ And here I am, four years later.” S I X T Y – six
Currently ranked third in the world, Francia is now 3,000 miles from her Coronado paradise, preparing to win her second Olympic gold at a training facility in New Jersey. Will there be gold Number Three at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro? Only time will tell. In the meantime, Francia’s grandmother back in Hungary, whom Francia visits every year, has more important questions: “My grandmother will always ask me when I’m going to settle down and start a family. And I’m like, ‘Christ, Grandmother, I’m rowing!’” And winning.
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David Wagner Sport: Wheelchair Tennis
Age: 37 Height: 5’10” Weight: 150 lbs. Hometown: Portland, Oregon Alma mater: Walla Walla University Hours trained daily: four to seven, sometimes eight Accolades: two gold, one silver and one bronze Paralympic medal; ranked first in the world in singles and doubles wheelchair tennis Qualified for London?: Yes
“I love playing tennis. You can play with someone that’s standing or in a chair, so it’s a nice thing to do with the able-body population. It’s a cool sport to be a part of and it’s a sport you can play for life.” “In August of 1995, I was on the beach in Redondo…and as I jumped over a wave, the wave broke and hit my legs and knocked my legs from underneath me and pretty much jack-knifed my body. I hit headfirst onto the ocean floor and I busted my neck and instantly became paralyzed. I played tennis on the community college team before that, so I was able to pick [wheelchair tennis] up pretty fast because of that.” Favorite place in San Diego: “Bars, like P.B. Ale House. I like it ’cause they’re also an Oregon bar, so they play a lot of Oregon sports. The day after the Olympics… “If I win, I’ll go out. My friends and family will be there, so I’m sure we’ll go find a pub somewhere and have a good time and let loose a little.”
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Jarred Rome Sport: Discus
Age: 27 Height: 6’5” Weight: 310 lbs. Hometown: Seattle, Washington Alma mater: Boise State University Hours trained daily: Six now, eight in the offseason Accolades: ranked first in the U.S. and third in the world; silver medalist at 2011 PanAmerican Games; 2004 Olympic team member in discus; fourtime Championship Team member (2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011). Qualified for London: “No, but I have the Olympic A standard, which is the hard part.”
“I don’t have to rely on anyone. On team sports, you have to worry about someone messing up. I really like to train, and it’s just been a lot of fun. I’ve been doing it for 20 years.”
“I’m single. Girls come up to me Downtown and ask me if I’m a Charger. I say, ‘No, I’m an Olympian,’ and before I’m done talking, they’re walking away. So now I just say I’m a Charger.” “I missed a medal in Athens in 2004, so I’d really like to bring home a medal. I’m not going to do Rio in four years, so this is my last go.” Favorite place in San Diego: Ocean Beach. I love South Beach Bar and Grill. I love Tony’s, the pizza place. There’s lots of hippies; it’s more laidback and liberal there. The day after the Olympics… “Depends on how I did. Probably hang out with friends and family. I’ll have quite a few people going, and hopefully we’ll celebrate.” S I X T Y – N I N E
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Carrie Johnson Sport: Sprint kayak
Age: 28 Height: 5’6” Weight: 135 lbs. Hometown: San Diego Alma mater: University of California, San Diego Hours trained daily: four or five on the water plus time in the weight room or cross training Accolades: two gold (200- and 1,000-meter sprints) and three bronze World Cup medals; ranked first nationally in the women’s 200- and 500-meter sprints Qualified for London?: Yes “When I started paddling, I came from 11 years of gymnastics. It started out just as a challenge, and I loved being able to train outside. There was just a really cool feeling in being able to get the boat moving quickly when you’re sprinting. It’s just always been fun.”
“I enjoy just going to the beach to hang out. I like painting and scrapbooking and keeping memories of the things I’ve done and places I’ve been.” Favorite place in San Diego: “Walking around the zoo.” The day after the Olympics… “I’m actually going to get on a plane and fly to Sacramento to start school at U.C. Davis. I was accepted to the veterinary program, and it actually starts on August 13th, so I literally will fly back the day after the games are done and start school. It’s going to be crazy. It’s really going to be focused 100 percent on competing—and then you have to turn that off and focus on school.”
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Kara Patterson Sport: Javelin
Age: 26 Height: 6’ Weight: 180-185 lbs. Hometown: Vancouver, Washington Alma Mater: Purdue University Hours trained daily: six or seven Accolades: American record holder in javelin with a throw of 66.67 meters (218’ 9”); four-time USA Outdoor champion (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011); ranked first in the USA, 12th in the world Qualified for London?: Not yet; finals are July 11
“The person who tries the hardest isn’t necessarily the one that’s going to win. It’s a competition of mind and body—you have to be calm and collected and really focused on what you’re doing and relaxed, as well as aggressive.” “When I started javelin, I was a freshmen in high school and I had no muscles. I was kind of lanky and uncoordinated, so it was nice to pick something up that was weird, that not a lot of people did, and I could figure out on my own terms and not have to be super strong at first.” Favorite place in San Diego: “Coronado, specifically Dog Beach. I’ll steal my friend’s dog sometimes and just watch her run back and forth and sit in the sun.” The day after the Olympics… “My parents bought tickets to the Olympics, so probably some sightseeing with them afterwards. I think I used to be more excited about the party afterwards, but now I’m just so grateful to have the support team I have.”
In case you haven’t heard, Nerd HQ is the place to be when you aren’t booth hopping at the convention center at this year’s Comic-Con. You won’t find Snoopy and Darth Vader dueling outside Nerd HQ, but you will find some of the coolest nerds on the planet, yet-to-be released video games, exclusive parties and some amazing autograph signings. It’s all the brainchild of actor S eventy – o ne
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Jessica Cosby Sport: Hammer Throw
Age: 30 Height: 5’8½” Weight: 175 lbs. Hometown: Mission Hills (Los Angeles County), California Alma mater: University of California, Los Angeles Hours trained daily: five or six Accolades: current women’s hammer throw world-record holder with 74.19 meters (249 feet); ranked first the in U.S.; four-time U.S. Champion; 2008 Olympic team member; made U.S. World Championship teams in 2007, 2009 and 2011 Qualified for London? “I have a really good chance.”
“I love being active, I love competing, I love pushing my limits and accomplishing things that I never thought I would be able to do. Just the thrill of that is what keeps me going.”
“I’m engaged. We’re getting married August 25th, two weeks after the Olympic games are done.” Favorite place in San Diego: “I like going to Coronado. It’s a nice, peaceful kind of a little walking city.” The day after the Olympics… “I’m actually going to hop back on a plane and get back to L.A. so I can start getting ready for my wedding.”
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britney henry
Sport: Hammer Throw
Age: 27 Height: 5’6” Weight: 155 lbs. Hometown: Spokane, Washington, but lived in Pacific Beach as a child Alma mater: University of Oregon Hours trained daily: two to three Accolades: three-time All-American Pac-10 champion; University of Oregon record holder; placed top three at U.S. Nationals; has been ranked among the top 20 in the world Qualified for London?: Not yet
“Once I started throwing the hammer, there became a big possibility of being an Olympian. So the thought of being able to represent my country and wear the red, white and blue on the grand stage—it’s definitely kept me going and kept me fighting for my dream.” Favorite place in San Diego: “Pacific Beach. I know it’s changed a lot, but it’s still kind of my home, and I know what’s there and where to go.” On the day after the Olympics… “I’ll probably be in bed. I’ll be hungover either way, if I make it or if I don’t. S eventy – th r ee
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“I’ve always been a speed demon since I was a little kid, so being able to spin around really fast with a metal ball and throw it is pretty cool. That’s what’s got me hooked and keeps me throwing every day.” 2 0 1 2
Taste
SMOOTHIE MOVES CHECK OUT THE SWEET BEETS ON page 84
B r a n d o n Ma t z e k
MANE COURSE
HOME PLATES
SMOOTHIE MOVES
SOUR GRAPES
Tu n a tac o s TANTALIZE at flavor del m ar
mane course
Lucky you! You got to spend a gloriously sunny
Where to eat after the races—a photo finish By David Nelson / Photos by Jeff “Turbo” Corrigan
day at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and won enough bucks to treat the crew to a great meal. Nice. No trouble finding the right place to celebrate in an area that has catered to exuberant racing fans since the 1930s. If you’ve dressed for the occasion (hey, it happens), there are swanked-out eateries where you’ll fit in like a pony prancing into the Winner’s Circle. Not feeling snazzy and all that jazz, no problemo—all the same places will make you every bit as welcome. On the menu: wildly creative cocktails; sky’s-the-limit wine lists; the finest meats, seafood and produce creatively prepared by some of Southern California’s top chefs. Gambling’s for the track, not dinner, so don’t risk it on a long shot. Saddle up to one of these safe bets instead. (continued on page 76)
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M i a F r a n c e sc a’s carpaccio con ar ug ula: thinly s l i c e d r aw s i rlo in w ith capers, to m ato es, m ush ro o m s , arug ula, o live o il and parm igiano.
(continued from page 75) Del Mar Rendezvous Del Mar Plaza 1555 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar 858.755.2669, delmarrendezvous.com This cozy little place on the street level of upscale Del Mar Plaza is in fact the perfect post-track rendezvous, both for the intimate atmosphere and for Chinese cuisine that unquestionably is the best on the North County coast. Some of the fare is cross-cultural, like such “tapas” as rare seared ahi drizzled with a dazzlingly flavorful sauce, but the traditional chow is even better. And if you savor hot-n-sour soup, get it here. Crisp fried noodle cakes topped with succulent stir-fries, richly portioned meat and seafood dishes and a full menu of expertly prepared, gluten-free dishes all delight.
Mia Francesca Del Mar Highlands Shopping Center 12995 El Camino Real, Del Mar 858.519.5055, miafrancesca.com Recipe for a memorable day: eight races at Del Mar, a lively Italian dinner at Mia Francesca and then a flick steps away at the ultra-luxe Cinepolis theater. Buon apetito! We’re talking true Italian dishes like gutsy tomato, onion and blue cheese salad; quattro stagione pizza crowned with an egg; and spaghetti sautéed with ham and garlic in perky lemon sauce. Pastas delight with bright flavors and colors.
Red Tracton’s 550 Via De La Valle, Solana Beach 858.755.6600, redtractonssteakhouse.com It’s no accident that Red Tracton’s is across the street from the track. Built for high rollers and big winners, Tracton’s serves the best and lots of it, highlighted by colossal Australian lobster tails drenched with garlic butter. Add spritz to the ritz by dining in the candle-lit bar where track types talk horses and civilians sip frosty Martinis to live piano. Nothing nouvelle about this 1940s throwback, just amazing food like the Sinatra-style New York sirloin, sautéed walleye pike amandine and pork back ribs so succulent they melt on the tongue. (continued on page 78)
LEFT: OPEN-FACED LOBSTER CLUB AT RED TRACTON’S. RIGHT: TRACTON’S Prime Rib with Alaskan King Crab Legs
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Time to
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LE F T : K i t chen 1 5 4 0 ’s B B Q P i g Roa s t ; BELOW : the dining ro o m at 1 5 4 0 .
Kitchen 1540 L’Auberge Del Mar 1540 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar 858.793.6460, kitchen1540.com Del Mar doesn’t get much more glamorous than the elegant L’Auberge Del Mar, but by design, the Kitchen 1540 restaurant is very much a blue jeans kind of place. Not that you won’t be welcomed in Armani, but a casual mood rules in the sophisticated dining room, where chef Scott Thomas Dolbee excites with dishes like the “heirloom tomato array,” a summery salad garnished with lobster and grapefruit sorbet. Main events, big deals: Douglas fir smoke-flavored venison; the “bbq pig roast” with leg, shoulder, belly and cracklings; iron jaw snapper with warm spinach salad. Burlap Del Mar Highlands Shopping Center 12995 El Camino Real, Del Mar 858.369.5700, burlapeats.com Chase the races with social dining and Brian Malarkey’s “Asian Cowboy” cuisine. Burlap invokes the East with an outdoor koi pond and a Chinese dragon circling above the bar. Chef Anthony Sinisay injects bold flavors into specialties like Sloppy Nicko (grilled char su pork, spicy slaw, steamed buns and jalapenos) and Filipino-style mussels in broth so good you’ll want a straw. Hit the trifecta by adding halibut with coconut lobster sauce and green papaya salad.
The Brigantine
Pacifica Del Mar Del Mar Plaza 1555 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar 858.792.0476, pacificadelmar.com Hard to believe this vastly popular favorite is more than 20 years old, but chef Tommy DiMella strives daily to create flavors so fresh that they taste like tomorrow. Wonderfully near the track and just plain wonderful, Pacifica is another place where you’d best reserve ahead to avoid disappointment. The exquisite coastal views from the sheltered terrace and the smooth, professional service never disappoint. DiMella’s menu includes fine meats but focuses on seafood: baked Pacific oysters, grilled shrimp with minted Thai vinaigrette, local clams steamed in white wine scented with chorizo and sweet onions. It’s all memorable. (continued on page 80)
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3263 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar 858.481.1166, brigantine.com Undergoing a full remodel— slated to reopen before opening day on July 18 Overlooking the west end of the track, The Brigantine sits like a giant skybox above the action. Jammed after the races, it’s a destination to reach with reservations made a day or two ahead, ensuring access to sizable drinks poured by bartenders who know what they’re doing, oysters that taste like they were just mined from the sea (which they were), other fresh-as-can-be seafood options and steaks that would make Bing Crosby sing.
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(continued from page 78)
F l a vo r D e l Mar’s so ft s h e l l c r ab pro s ci utto b ouillabaisse.
Flavor Del Mar Del Mar Plaza 1555 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar 858.755.3663, flavordelmar.com Tuna crisps with red onion; scallops ceviche with racy serrano peppers, lime and tomato; chicken-coconut soup with lemongrass, ginger, cilantro and chile oil—the flavors are as bright as the sunlight that floods this terrace restaurant high above a sweeping coastal view that tricks you into thinking you’re dining on the Riviera. Chef Brian Redzikowski justifies Flavor’s name with powerhouse entrees like a bouillabaisse based on lobster and prosciutto, ingredients that pair like a daily double win at the track.
Crush 437 S. Highway 101, Solana Beach 858.481.2787, solanabeachcrush.com Just around the bend from the track in laidback Solana Beach, wine-themed Crush welcomes with a living roomlike dining area, a library of choice vintage books displayed around the restaurant and an Italian-accented menu that hits all the right notes. “Mom’s meatballs” are just that, a tasty, homestyle snack in a heady roasted tomato sauce. A “gremolata” of roasted sweet corn fancies up the day’s fish, fennel scents accent shellfish-rich cioppino, and while many local kitchens give chicken the bird, Crush serves an admirable, truffle-roasted specialty with herb-flavored gnocchi and Parmesan cream.
CLOCKWIS E ( from top le ft): Market’ s wild A l a s k a n s o c k eye salm o n w ith Tand o o ris p i c e d J i d o r i chicken and red thai c urry e m u l s i o n ; t h e dining room at M a r k e t ; M a r k et’ s o rganic b a b y b e e t a n d lo cal c i t r us s a l a d.
Market 3702 Via De La Valle, Del Mar 858.523.0007, marketdelmar.com Chef Carl Schroeder prefers his kitchen to the spotlight, but his reputation is national, as it should be. Among the first to preach local, farm-to-table cooking, Schroeder builds handsome plates, served by cheerful staffers in an atmosphere that pretty much percolates during racing season. Don’t stroll in without reservations, because you might miss out on marvels like crispy duck confit with organic figs and suave Penacorada blue cheese, colorful baby beet and citrus salad, and a spicy “roast” of Maine scallops and crayfish with an andouille sausage-corn saute and jalapeño butter.
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B R E A K FA S T
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Chef William Todd’s dining are a s eat s 4 2 , 4 4 5 PEOPLE.
Batter up, in more ways than one By David Nelson / Photo by Kristina Yamamoto Will Todd keeps a lot of balls in the air. At this moment, he’s answering questions about his career while simultaneously juggling masses of pork bellies on a 750-pound smoker table—a chore he could have passed to any of his 350 cooks. But he’s having fun, like when he created Petco Park’s new signature salsa. “Another cool thing I started doing this season is asking the groundskeeper to plant vegetables by the bullpen,” says Todd, 37, Petco’s executive chef. “He’s growing 17 varieties of heirloom peppers, hot and sweet, and four kinds of tomatoes. I’m making a salsa called Bullpen Hot Sauce, and it’s available all over the park.” Some home cooks are intimidated by cooking dinner for eight, but feeding tens of thousands at Padres games is no biggie to Todd. From hot dogs and pizza to barbecued meats and lavish catered buffets, the man is in charge. And while he doesn’t flip burgers at the stadium’s new Hodad’s or prepare filets at Anthony’s Fish Grotto, he does oversee this and all other franchise eateries. At age 14, the then chef-to-be washed dishes in St. Mary’s, Montana, then cooked, then “felt my passion” and headed to the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. Hired by Delaware North Companies Sports Service (which operates Petco’s food service), he got his start at the company’s operation in
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Glacier National Park, just miles from his hometown. Now, Todd supervises 350 cooks, divided among the ritzy Sony Home Plate Club, seven restaurants, concession stands, the press box, swanky private sky boxes and catered events. “I like the ever-changing challenges of the job, managing so many personalities, dealing with food from very upscale down to hot dogs,” he says. “And all the things I love about my job are the same things I don’t love about it.” One duty Todd loves is supervising enormous catered events, like a meal for 8,000 coming up in a few days. The event will occupy both the field and the Park at the Park. “I’m pretty focused on this right now. It’s pretty big and should be pretty impressive,” he says, summarizing an affair that will include Cirque de Soleil performers, a Ferris wheel and specialties including ahi street tacos, beef sliders, house-made tamales and barbecued pork buns filled with the sweet soy-brined pork bellies he himself will prepare. When he eats at Petco, Todd favors Pretzel Reubens—pastrami piled atop pretzel-dough hoagie rolls. And on Friday night games, he enjoys the pork tacos he serves at the Park at the Park...with plenty of his Bullpen Hot Sauce. Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack? Not on Will Todd’s watch.
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C OOKIN G
smoothie A COOL RECIPE FOR CHILLING OUT Story and photos by Brandon Matzek
moves
During the warm months of summer, there is nothing I want less in the morning than a steaming hot cup of dark coffee. Instead, I prefer to jump-start my day with an icy cold, refreshing smoothie— particularly something packed with protein, fiber and, of course, flavor. One might recoil at beets for breakfast (or dessert). However, I assure you that their sweet, earthy flavor works. Roasting beets intensifies their natural sugars, creating a perfect accompaniment to tart mixed berries. When blended into the smoothie, Greek yogurt lends silkiness while
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providing a hit of protein. Almonds are for texture, and honey offers a warm, floral sweetness. The finished smoothie is balanced and bold, touting the most vibrant shade of purple. Utterly useless before my morning beverage, I find the task of roasting beets for a smoothie at 6 a.m. a bit ridiculous. To prepare for the workweek, I simply roast a small bunch of baby candy beets over the weekend and store them in the refrigerator. You’ll need about two beets per smoothie.
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for THIS AND OTHER MATZEK RECIPES VISIT PACIFICSANDIEGO.com
Process Roast the beets. Preheat oven to 375°F. Place beets on a square of aluminum foil. Drizzle with canola oil, then wrap foil tightly around the beets. Cook beets in the oven until an inserted knife meets little resistance (25 – 35 minutes). Remove from oven and set aside to cool. Prepare the beets. Once the beets are cool enough to handle, rub the skin off using a paper towel. You can also use a spoon to gently scrape off skin. Discard skins. Rough-chop two beets and measure out a heaping 1/3 cup. Save leftovers for future use. Assemble the smoothie. To a blender, add Greek yogurt, honey, orange juice, almonds, berries, chopped beets and ice. Blend until smooth (at least 1 minute). Serve. Pour smoothie into a glass and garnish with slice of fresh orange. You can prepare this smoothie a few hours in advance, but it is best enjoyed immediately.
Mixed Berry and Candy Beet Smoothie (serves 1) Ingredients
Watch out. For brain freeze. Cool, man, cool...
2 baby candy beets, washed and trimmed of greens* Canola oil (or other unflavored oil) 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt (low-fat is fine) 1 teaspoon honey 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice 2 tablespoons almonds 1 cup frozen mixed berries 2 to 3 ice cubes Orange slices, to garnish
*If you can’t find baby candy beets, use regular beets. Larger beets require additional time roasting in the oven (50 minutes to an hour). Add a heaping 1/3 cup of chopped beets to the smoothie.
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sour grapes When the world gives you lemons, fly to Peru By David Nelson Photos by Brandon Matzek
July 22 is Peru’s National Pisco Day, and they’re celebrating in the nation’s capitol of Lima by filling a fountain with 2,000 liters of the white liquor. Talk about big gulp. Like brandy, pisco is distilled from grapes, but it shares some of the feisty qualities of vodka and gin. Spanish settlers who arrived in Peru in the early 1500s invented the beverage when their vines first bore fruit, and it has lubricated festivities ever since. Pisco flows freely at San Diego watering holes, ranging from ritzy rendezvous like the bar at George’s California Modern in La Jolla, to earthy joints like Sessions Public in Ocean Beach, conscientious cocktaileries like El Dorado and Noble Experiment, and Downtown’s new Saltbox. Although the Pisco Sour is the most familiar version of the drink (the plush 1920s-style cocktail gains a silky texture from being shaken with a raw egg white), local barkeeps tart things up with all kinds of tasty additions: lavender laps the Pisco Sour recently created by Sessions, while Noble Ex uses pisco to accent a summery Champagne refresher. Working behind a bar decorated with Gerbera daisies, driftwood bowls filled with peaches and bananas, and bottles of rare bitters like Dandelion & Burdock from Scotland, Frankie Thaheld shakes a mean drink. As George’s official mixologist, he created the Andes Pisco Sour as a contemporary upgrade to the classic formula. And it kicks like a llama. The most eye-catching, tongue-teasing and unorthodox ingredient in Thaheld’s mix is the sprinkling of safflower petals that float atop the foam like hot red rays harvested from the sunset over La Jolla Cove. The $13 cocktail is built with premium Pisco Logia from Ica, the center of Peruvian pisco distilling. It’s classy stuff and too expensive to fill a fountain with, but definitely worth diving into.
The Andes Pisco Sour (George’s California Modern) In the Mix 1 ½ ounces premium Pisco, such as Pisco Logia ½ ounce Dimmi (an Italian aperitif ) ¼ ounce Campari ¼ ounce simple syrup ½ ounce fresh lemon juice 1 egg white 3 drops Peychaud’s Bitters Pinch of safflower petals Classic Martini glass, chilled SHAKE YOUR THANG Fill a shaker with ice, add all ingredients except safflower, then shake until thick and foamy. Strained into into glass, sprinkle with safflower and serve.
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2760 5th Ave. / San Diego 92103 619 542 0394 / avenue5restaurant.com eighty – S E V E N
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EC TWINS at hard rock hotel san diego page 94
COMIN’ ATCHA LIVE
NOW EAR THIS
CALENDAR
Groove
PATRIOT GAMES
7/12: Willie Nelson at Belly Up
D av i d M c Cl i s t e r
T h e “R e d -He a d e d S t ra n g er” ha s a m o m en t w i t h T ri g g er.
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ComiN’
Atcha
The news in music venues By Tim Pyles
Kitty Diamond 3780 Park Blvd., Hillcrest 619.546.4642, kittydiamondsd.com As Hillcrest’s The Flame (one of the city’s longest-running lesbian bars) has finally burned out, a new beauty now sparkles in its prime location on Park Boulevard: Kitty Diamond, a live music venue designed by celebrated firm Bells & Whistles. Erica Jessup (Beauty Bar, U-31, Voyeur) is overseeing the project, which also includes a new dive bar called 40th Door.
TY S ON WIRT Z FE L D
Live
THE Propagandist 835 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp 619.238.7117, thepropagandistsd.com Billed as “A Town Hall,” The Propagandist recently opened in a clean and inviting subterranean space on Fifth Avenue, Downtown. Owner Brian Divine created the venue to host live concerts and art events, offering seating in pews and sleek black booths. Wednesday is movie night; happy hour is Friday 5 to 9 p.m.
NOW EAR THIS
“Strange Heaven” By Mrs. Magician Mrs. Magician’s “Strange Heaven” arrived in May and sounds like a darker Beach Boys, mixed with a little punk. Let’s call it “beach goth.” This band sounds perfect while driving down the 101 and should appeal to anyone who loves jangly ’60s surf rock. Thirteen songs total, and any one of them could be your favorite song of the summer. mrsmagicianband.wordpress.com
“Tightrope Walker” By Maren Parusel Loaded with feel-good pop rock tracks, Maren Parusel’s second album, “Tightrope Walker,” takes a slightly different turn from her last effort (partially due to all of the band’s gear being stolen in New York City last year), relying less on guitar-driven licks and more on electronics and synths. Originally from Germany, Parusel has been a staple on the local scene since her “Artifical Gardens” won Best Pop Album at the 2011 San Diego Music Awards. marenparusel.com
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MO L L Y B A RR A CK
COURTE S Y OF KITTY D I A MON D
New releases from San Diego artists By Tim Pyles
SCUBA | SNORKEL | KAYAK | SURF | PADDLE BOARD
Book A Tour:
diveandkayaklajolla.com 2243 avenida de la playa | la jolla, CA | 858.454.6195
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JUST FOR SHOW july concerts By Tim Pyles
L I Z F L YNT Z
7/1: Beach House @ House of Blues, hob.com
This show is sold out, but don’t let that stop you. If there’s a will, there’s always a way. This dream pop duo just released their new record, “Bloom,” on SubPop Records. 7/1: The Crystal Method @ Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, hardrockhotelsd.com
Born in Las Vegas in the ’90s, The Crystal Method has been forging electronica for nearly two decades. Their album “Vegas” went platinum in ’07. 7/2: Marcy Playground @ 4th & B, 4thandbevents.com
One hit wonders, with their track “Sex And Candy.” 7/6: Mates of State @ House of Blues, hob.com
Husband and wife team that put out great indie dance pop—and seven albums so far. 7/8: Blind Pilot @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com D REW REYNO L D S
Indie folk rockers who once staged a “Bicycle Tour,” riding and playing from Washington State to San Diego. 7/8: Reverend Horton Heat @ House Of Blues, hob.com
The man and the band will slay you with their mix of rock, country and blues. It will be a “Psychobilly Freakout.” 7/8: Manufactured Superstars @ Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, hardrockhotelsd.com
Progressive house music duo from Colorado stops in San Diego to play Intervention Sundays. 7/11: The Bouncing Souls @ House Of Blues, hob.com
New Jersey-based punk band that has been at it since the late ’80s. 7/12: Willie Nelson @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com
The “Red Headed Stranger” plays an intimate show. 7/13: Vivian Girls @ Casbah, casbahmusic.com
D av i d M c Cl i s t e r
All-girl band from Brooklyn, New York, playing a nice mix of dreamy pop and indie rock, with a little lo-fi mixed in for good measure. (continued on page 94) F ROM TOP : B EACH HOU S E REVEREND HORTON HEAT WILLIE NEL S ON MAN U FACT U RED S U PERSTAR S
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JUST FOR SHOW july concerts
(continued from page 92) 7/14: Howard Jones @ Sycuan, sycuan.com
This ’80s New Wave legend keeps has continued to put out new music over the decades. 7/14: The Aquabats Super Show @ House Of Blues, hob.com
These guys are behind the children’s TV show “Yo Gabba Gabba,” a Comic-Con mainstay. 7/15: EC Twins @ Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, hardrockhotelsd.com
This British DJ duo’s remix of Adele’s “Someone Like You” was a chart-topper. Catch their electronic poolside at Intervention Sundays. 7/18: The Meteors @ Brick By Brick, brickbybrick.com
Formed in the UK in 1980, this is the first band to utilize the “Psychobilly” moniker and is cited as the genre’s creators. rob shanahan
7/20: Ringo Starr and his All-Star Band @ Humphrey’s by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com
The former Beatle brings some of his friends to town for his annual tour. 7/20: Swingin’ Utters @ Casbah, casbahmusic.com D av i d sa f i a n
Late ’80s California punk band. 7/20: Sydney Blu/Tatiana Fontes @ Voyeur, voyeursd.com
Tag-team DJ action from two sexy ladies spinning house beats.
F ROM TOP : ri n g o s ta r yo u n g d ub li n ers ec t w i n s
7/21: The Jacksons @ Harrah’s Rincon, harrahsrincon.com
The Jackson Four—fingers crossed for a Michael hologram. 7/21: Young Dubliners @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com
Rocking their own brand of “Celtic Rock” since 1988. 7/22: Alberta Cross and Everest @ Casbah, casbahmusic.com
Dual bill, featuring two amazing bands that meld Americana and Southern Rock. 7/22: Bob Sinclar @ Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, hardrockhotelsd.com S A M HON
France’s proprietor of “peace, love and house music” plays disco-laced beats at Intervention Sundays. (continued on page 96) ninety – f o u r
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(continued from page 94) 7/22: Ray Davies @ House Of Blues, hob.com
The last record from The Kinks was 1993’s “Phobia,” but frontman Davies has never stopped performing or putting out new music. 7/26: The Stafford Brothers @ FLUXX, fluxxsd.com
Brother DJs from Australia who have a reality show back home. 7/26: Reel Big Fish @ House Of Blues, hob.com
Third Wave American Ska band from Huntington Beach, best known for their 1997 hit “Sell Out.” c o u r t e s y o f F u e l e d b y Ra m e n
7/26: Sheryl Crow @ Humphrey’s by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com
Despite her recent diagnosis of having a benign brain tumor, Sheryl Crow is bringing her brand of pop country rock to the San Diego waterfront. 7/27: Dan Sartain @ Soda Bar, sodabarmusic.com
Throwback rocker who mixes rockabilly with blues. 7/27: Sublime with Rome, Cypress Hill and Pepper @ Cricket Wireless, ticketmater.com
This show pretty much sums up Southern California in one fell swoop! 7/29: Earth, Wind & Fire @ Humphrey’s by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com
Hard to believe that this band has been mixing Funk, R&B, Disco, Soul, Jazz and Rock since 1969.
C o u r t e s y o f t h e S T A FFOR D B ROTHER S
7/29: Barenaked Ladies, Blues Traveler, Cracker and Big Head Todd @ Harrah’s Rincon, harrahsrincon.com
The 1990s are calling…on a land line. 7/29: Tenacious D @ Open Air Amphitheater, as.sdsu.edu/viejas_arena
The comedic saviors of Rock ‘n’ Roll, fronted by Jack Black.
Rob Inderrieden
FROM TOP: : Sub lime with Rome the staff ord brothers REEL BIG FISH
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B ARTEN D ER
PATRIOT
games Playing around with an all-American drink-slinger Photo by Jeff “Turbo” Corrigan Pamela Pyrtko whizzes around behind the bar at Maloney’s Tavern in the Gaslamp like a bottle rocket. Her hair looks like fireworks, her name sounds like pyrotechnics, and her explosive party spirit never fails to fire up the crowd. This red-blooded bartender in red, white and blue grew up in Point Pleasant, New Jersey (which we assume is unpleasant, because she lives in San Diego now), and moved to America’s Finest to show her stars and stripes by supporting the military. Well, kinda… PacificSD: You come from a military family, right? Pyrtko: Yes, I have two brothers that have served. One’s a Marine, and he served three deployments—first in Iraq, then to Afghanistan, then back to Iraq. My other brother is serving in the Army right now, in Afghanistan, and my grandfather’s a World War II Navy veteran. Is that what brought you to San Diego? No, I moved here because I met a sailor. We met online, at plentyoffish.com. Cool. How’s that relationship going? I’m single now. Is that your natural hair color? Absolutely! I was born and raised in New Jersey. What’s the most un-American thing you’ve ever done? Flashed the White House. What do you love most about the U.S.A.? Guns, football, beer and opportunity.
What do you love most about the U.S.A.? Guns, football, beer and opportunity.
Maloney’s Tavern
777 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp 619.232.6000, maloneystavern.com
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AN EXPERIENCE TO
dive FOR
4650 Mission Blvd SAN DIEGO, CA 858.273.duck theduckdive.com /theduckdive @theduckdive
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LOVE
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SE X
don’t lo ok now How a negative body image By Dr. Jenn Gunsaullus
can affect sex life
Do you try to hide parts of your body when you’re getting frisky in the bedroom? Does body shame or embarrassment distract you during sex? According to a 2011 Fitness Magazine study of 2,400 women, 51% reported that they would forego sex for a year if they could be skinny. And don’t think that men are immune. Men are suffering from higher rates of anorexia, exercise addiction and body hatred than in the past, with a growing societal emphasis on men’s weight, attractiveness and “manscaping.” Body image is how we perceive the appearance of our body, based on our self-observation as well as how others react. Mainstream media images shape what we consider beautiful, attractive and sexy. Despite ongoing research pointing to how unrealistic and altered these images are, most people compare themselves, and then end up dissatisfied. A negative body image can wreak havoc with sexual pleasure in multiple ways. If you’re distracted by your body during sex, thinking it’s too fat, hairy or uneven, you can’t be present for the pleasurable sensations of sex, or may avoid sexual interactions altogether. You might limit your variety of sexual positions, or only have sex in the dark. Poor body image can even reduce overall selfworth, discouraging you from stating your needs and desires. This can all feed a downward spiral of negativity. What can you do to halt this assault of the psyche? I suggest approaching this from two angles. First, consider your level of exercise, and know that exercise has a heap of connections to sex and mental health. Physical exertion increases sex hormones and reduces stress—both incredibly important for libido. Exercise also improves mood, as anyone who’s experienced a runner’s high can attest. There are some specific links to better sex as well. Want the endurance for longer love making sessions? Then increase your cardio fitness. This also helps maintain genital
blood flow necessary for sexual arousal. Want to attempt more adventurous sexual positions? Then start a regular yoga practice to develop strength and flexibility. As a bonus, if your partner is your workout buddy, this can serve as foreplay for an evening escapade. While physical fitness is valuable, emotional fitness is imperative. The second angle is to focus on what you do well and appreciate your body’s strengths. Appreciate that you can get out of bed in the morning, have strong legs for running, pretty brown eyes, good balance in yoga class or are multi-orgasmic. Keep a “Body Gratitude Journal” and start every day by jotting down three aspects of your body that you appreciate. During the day, if you notice that downward spiral of negative body-talk, switch to thinking about one of your body qualities. Also, seek media sources that depict a variety of male and female bodies, of all shapes, sizes and colors, so you have images that validate you. The suggestions above create a shift from body shame and distraction to self-acceptance and intimacy. This builds confidence to help you both look sexy and feel sexy. And you know what that means? No more hiding in the bedroom! Jennifer “Dr. Jenn” Gunsaullus, Ph.D., is a sociologist with a passion for gently pushing people outside their sexual comfort zones. She has a private practice, addressing concerns from sexual “dysfunction” to intimate communication, self-esteem to fetish, and pornography to spiritual sexuality. Dr. Jenn is a sex and relationship expert on San Diego Fox 5 News and a frequent lecturer and workshop presenter on an array of topics related to sex, intimacy, healthy relationships, sexual health, holistic health and mindfulness. She is also the writer and host of In the Den with Dr. Jenn, a free online educational video series celebrating 150 episodes. www. drjennsden.com
A negative body image can wreak havoc with sexual pleasure in multiple ways. O N E
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facebook.com/maloneyssandiego O N E
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| 619.450.4201 | serenitysd.com
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Head Over Heels One way to fall in love
By David Perloff / Photos by John Audley Mayra is a full-time model and a Maxim magazine 2011 Hometown Hotties finalist. She was born in small-town Texas and currently lives in La Jolla. Bud, a mechanical engineer living in Mission Beach, grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He moved to San Diego nine years ago. The two are about to meet for the first time at the famed La Valencia Hotel for a drink overlooking La Jolla Cove, which they’ll be kayaking across in about an hour. Before they arrive, let’s review the pre-date interviews.
PacificSD: What do you do for fun? MAYRA: I love to ride dirt bikes, hike, generally just be outside, cook for my friends, hit up some beach bars and go out downtown. BUD: Surf, snowboard, play golf, basketball, football, tennis, beach volleyball—pretty much any active activity that is fun, I enjoy. What are you best at? MAYRA: I’m a champ at singing in my car. BUD: I’m not great at any one thing but am pretty damn good at most things. My ping-pong skills are pretty legit. What’s the sexiest thing about you? MAYRA: My favorite physical feature that I consider sexy is my lips. BUD: Sexiest? About me? Not too sure me and sexy go hand in hand. What are you looking for in a date? MAYRA: Physically, I’d like my date to
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be in shape and taller than me. I’m not too specific about hair and eye color, but admittedly I don’t typically go for blondes. And he better not look like he spends more time on himself than I do. Personality— I’m hoping he’s outgoing, easy to converse with and able to handle my randomness, silliness and opinionated personality. I do like the wild ones. BUD: I’m looking for a girl that I can completely enjoy myself with, a girl that can have fun and enjoy herself in almost any situation—the type of person who goes with the flow and makes the best of what life throws at her instead of complaining or dwelling on things. Upbeat, fun-loving, happy people are who I like to surround myself with and what I look for in a potential partner. What’s the best thing that could happen during the date? MAYRA: We get totally boozed up and make some mistakes. Just kidding. The
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best thing that could happen is that we genuinely have a good time together. BUD: I meet the coolest person I’ve ever encountered and am just head-over-heels infatuated with every part of her, and we somehow have a crazy windfall in which we win millions of dollars. What’s the worst thing that could happen? MAYRA: He turns out to be unbearably boring, in which case I will crawl out of a ladies room window and run for it. BUD: I meet a terribly rude, self-centered brat who has nothing nice to say about anything, and during this awful experience I get attacked and killed by a gorilla that escaped from the San Diego Zoo.
Thank you! La Valencia Hotel 1132 Prospect St., La Jolla 858.454.0771, lavalencia.com
(Continued on page 104)
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(Continued from page 102)
a SHORE THING
Ready oar not, the daters make a splash Having already shared some conversation (and most of a six-pack of Coors Light) in the town car that just dropped them off, Mayra and Bud arrive at La Valencia, order cocktails at the Whaling Bar and grab a seat on the balcony. After strolling around the hotel grounds for a while, they jump back in the car and head to OEX Dive and Kayak, in La Jolla Shores. Raven, an OEX expedition leader, helps the couple gear up and gives them a little on-the-sand training. Having declined wetsuits, they get soaked as they’re pushed out past the breakers for the trip over to the sea caves surrounding La Jolla Cove. About an hour later, the daters return to shore, wet and smiling, and head back to OEX to change for dinner in Pacific Beach. When they arrive at the new Duck Dive on Mission Boulevard, they order shots and look over the menu. Once they’ve had a chance to enjoy their appetizers, they’re split for mid-date debriefings.
PacificSD: How’s it going so far? MAYRA: Good. For me to meet somebody and actually feel like they can hang with my randomness and intensity has been relieving. I do like it. BUD: Great. She’s a really cool girl, good conversation, having a good time. What were your first impressions? MAYRA: He kind of seemed preppy and straightedge for me, so I was a little wary at first, but getting him into a conversation put me off of that worry. BUD: Gorgeous, very pretty girl. And then on the ride to La Jolla, just really
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cool, really easy to talk to—everything just flowed pretty naturally. Is this the type of person you would normally date? MAYRA: Initially, I would have overlooked him, because he has a bit of a subdued demeanor. The type of people I normally date tend to have a more intense personality. BUD: Yeah, she is, for sure. How was La Valencia? MAYRA: The views were spectacular, even on an overcast day. And the way they decorated and the landscaping and the
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ocean—it just really brought it together to make it beautiful. BUD: La Valencia was really nice. Actually, my sister and brother-in-law had their rehearsal dinner there, and a buddy of mine used to work at the restaurant. Great views, really nice romantic environment and really cool place.
Thank you! OEX Dive & Kayak 2243 Avenida de la Playa, La Jolla Shores 858.454.6195, oexcalifornia.com
(Continued on page 106)
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(Continued from page 104) How was kayaking? MAYRA: It was so much fun. And it was beautiful. Being out in the water was really cool, and Raven was a very good tour guide. BUD: Kayaking was fun; it was really cool. She had never done it before, so she really dug it. What would your parents say? MAYRA: My parents would probably really like him. He’s very gentlemanly, a great guy and comes off as just a very positive person. The only thing they would probably say as a negative is that he’s not a Mexican guy. My parents are very traditional Mexican Catholic people, so being a white guy is probably the only negative thing they could find about him. BUD: My parents would totally dig her, but her parents probably wouldn’t dig me so much, because I’m not bilingual. She told me that in order for her to bring a guy home, he has to be bilingual, and therefore she hasn’t brought that many dudes home to meet her parents. Rate your date on a scale from 1 to 10 for looks. MAYRA: Seven or eight. BUD: Nine.
And for personality. MAYRA: Seven or eight. BUD: Ten. Well, he ain’t Mexican and doesn’t speak Spanish, but Bud’s still scoring a solid B-minus on Mayra’s straightedge scale. Felicidades, amigo! And the more they talk, the more she seems to like him. Who knows what could happen after a few more shots? As their entrees arrive, the magazine crew finally leaves the daters alone. We call the next morning to see what we missed. PacificSD: How was Duck Dive? MAYRA: We ran into his ex-girlfriend. I guess that’s one of her spots. He handled it smoothly, though, and it turned out to be a cool place. BUD: Duck Dive was cool. We enjoyed some good conversation over some good food and quality craft cocktails. What did you eat? MAYRA: We had ahi poke and a white bean dip to start. Well, actually we had Rumple
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Minze shots to start; Gin Mules, definitely going back for some more of those; There Will Be Bloods, which must have been a premonition; Fireball shots. Eventually, we paused on the booze for some dinner of sea bass and steak. For dessert, we had a competition on who could make the best s’more. For the record, I won. BUD: We had the ahi poke and the roasted red pepper and bean dip for starters. The ahi was really good, and the craft cocktails we drank were even better. My favorite was the Gin Mule. For dinner we had the sea bass and the bavette [flank steak]. We also put back a couple shots of Rumple Minze and Fireball. (Continued on page 108)
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nobody nose
About face—the evening date takes a surprising turn PacificSD: What was the best part of the date? MAYRA: Kayaking was so much fun. I was pretty excited we got to do an outdoor adventure. It’s more my thing than dressing up and trying to be well-behaved and entertaining when you’re just sitting there across the table from each other. BUD: The best part of the date was Mayra herself. It was great getting to know her, and I loved how easy it was for us to maintain good conversation. What was the worst part? MAYRA: Well, you know when I said that the worst-case scenario would be that he’d be boring? Yeah, I was way wrong. Worstcase scenario would be completely faceplanting on concrete, cutting my face open, bleeding all over my blouse and him having to bandage me up. It happened. My face is swollen and cut up today. BUD: I’ll let Mayra describe what the worst part of the date was. Let’s just say it involved driveway basketball after we were a lil’ sauced up at the end of the night. No way! What happened? MAYRA: After the crew left, we hung out at Duck Dive for a bit, then hit up another bar and met up with some of his friends and went to his friend’s house, where I
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would endure the injury. BUD: After leaving Duck Dive, we made a stop by Red’s Saloon and had a couple drinks with some of my friends. We then ended up at my friend’s house and played some late-night driveway basketball before calling it a night. What did you learn about yourself last night? MAYRA: I learned that I tolerate pain pretty well. And I need to practice wearing a purse more, because I forgot it at his friend’s house. BUD: That I am not the best s’more maker on earth, like I previously thought. Will there be a second date? MAYRA: I would go out with him again, but I don’t think we’re each other’s typical type. I’m not a cutesie, girly person, and I totally see him with someone like that. The guys I’m into are more bad-boy types than he is. BUD: I’d like to think there will be. I really enjoyed myself and I think she did as well.
PacificSD’s blind daters have jumped out of an airplane, flown in a hot air balloon, ridden the wave at WaveHouse, gone indoor rock climbing at Solid Rock and paraglided off the cliffs above Torrey Pines. And on
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exactly zero of these would-be romantic adventures has anyone been injured… physically, anyway. However, despite the safety measures taken on their blind date last night—life jackets, meeting in a public place, a designated driver—Mayra managed to get hurt. At least now, the aspiring Maxim model can add “Hometown Hurtie” to her list of accolades. Nice guys may finish last (Mayra’s really looking for a “bad boy,” after all), but at least they don’t have to meet the parents and be called a gringo estúpido. Sometimes, love just hurts…especially when you’re falling heels over head. CELEBRITY OBSERVATIONS “It wasn’t basketball, but I’ve fallen down in court before, too.” —Lindsay Lohan “Face-plant on concrete…talk about romancing the stone!” —Michael Douglas “Definitely not the kind of facial I had in mind.” —Ron Jeremy “I can’t speak Spanish, but I think I can pass as Mexican.” —Mario Lopez “Seriously, who writes this crap?” —Danielle Steel
Thank you! Duck Dive 4650 Mission Blvd., Pacific Beach 858.273.DUCK (3825), theduckdive.com
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PADRES HOME GAMES:
7/5-8: vs. Cincinnati Reds 7/16-19: vs. Houston Astros 7/20-22: vs. Colorado Rockies
pacifics A N d I E G O . com
05.12
OLD’S COOL: WATCH J ULY 4 TH FIREWORKS FROM AN ANTI Q UE S HIP
Ma r i t i m e M u s e u m o f S a n D i e g o
7/4: Fourth of July Fun on San Diego Bay
7/12: Air Guitar Regional Competitions
Location: Maritime Museum, Embarcadero Admission: $18-85 Info: sdmaritime.org Chow down on BBQ and watch fireworks from the decks of San Diego’s historical ships.
Location: Soda Bar, North Park Admission: $12-14 Info: usairguitar.com Let your fingers fly at this rockin’-mime qualifier for the upcoming nationals in Denver and the Air Guitar World Championships in Finland.
7/5-8: IDEA World Fitness Convention
7/12-14: The Walking Dead Escape
Location: San Diego Convention Center, Downtown Admission: $469-559 for all-access; tickets available for individual sessions Info: ideafit.com See what’s new in the world of working out at the world’s largest fitness and wellness expo and convention.
Location: Petco Park, Downtown Admission: $80 to do; $15 to watch; $19-149 to be a zombie Info: thewalkingdeadescape.com Live the apocalypse at this haunted house 5K with the option of being chased by zombies or getting done-up in zombie gear to do the chasing. 7/12-15: Comic-Con INTERNATIONAL
7/7: San Diego Soul Food Festival
Location: Qualcomm Stadium, Mission Valley Admission: $60 Info: sandiegosoulfoodfestival.com Be a soul survivor with a crowd of 2,000 people chowing BBQ chicken and ribs, cornbread and more, then wash it all down in the beer garden and check out the live bands.
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Location: San Diego Convention Center, Downtown Admission: Sold out Info: comic-con.org They’re baaaack. Orcs, Jawas, Jedis, Darths and C3P0s return to the Gaslamp for the 42nd annual original Comic-Con pop culture convention. (See page 34 to learn about some of the local artists exhibiting this year.)
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pacifics A N d I E G O . com
7/13: Lisa Lampanelli
Location: Humphrey’s by the Bay, Mission Bay Admission: $71.90-141.90 Info: humphreysconcerts.com Cringe at the Queen of Mean’s jokes that straddle the line between funny and over-the-top in a stand-up comedy show not intended for the faint of heart. 7/14-15 & 21-22: Over the Line Tournament
OM B A C
Location: Fiesta Island, Mission Bay Admission: $90 per team, free to watch Info: ombac.org Join the more than 50,000 competitors and fans flocking to Fiesta Island to drink beer while playing and/or watching this San Diego-born, three-man baseball game for the 59th annual good time.
COURTE S Y OF D E L M A R THOROU G H B RE D C L U B
7/18: Opening Day
Location: Del Mar Racetrack, Del Mar Admission: $10-100 Info: dmtc.com Big hats, bigger spenders, short guys and tall horses (see story page 28). 7/20-22: San Diego Pride
Location: Balboa Park at 6th and Laurel, Hillcrest Admission: $15 Info: sdpride.org Be loud and proud with a crowd of 200,000 people at this parade, festival and afterparty extravaganza, celebrating and supporting San Diego’s fabulous LGBT population with headliner Natasha Bendingfield (see story page 25). 7/21: Outdoor Pet Snow Park
Location: Unleashed by Petco, Chula Vista Admission: Free Info: unleashedby.petco.com Watch dogs bound around in this leash-free snow park, cooling the summer sizzle with doggie ice cream and 20 tons of snow. 7/21: Streetbeat
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G ER A R D O S OMO Z A
Location: Anthology, Little Italy Admission: $49-160 Info: anthologysd.com Rock out with Blue Oyster Cult, Steppenwolf and the Lowrider Band at this Little Italy music festival featuring the finest local booze and bites.
FROM TOP B OTTOM: OVER THE LINE opening day AT DEL MAR PETCO ’S SNOW PARK lol with lisa LAMAPNELLI
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Rally:
Block Party:
Parade:
Festival:
Friday July 20 6 PM: Between Harvey Milk St & University Ave
Friday July 20 7 PM to 11 PM Corner of University Ave & Normal St
Saturday, July 21 11 AM: Grand Marshal Sandra Bernhard
Saturday July 21 12 PM to 10 PM Sunday, July 22 11AM to 8 PM
AMERICA’S SAN DIEGO
JULY 20-22, 2012
™
FEATURING: NATASHA BEDINGFIELD & SANDRA BERNHARD POWERED BY PACIFIC SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE
TICKETS & TRAVEL DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE! @SanDiegoPride
SPONSORED BY:
Facebook.com/SanDiegoLGBTPride
www.SanDiegoPride.org
THINK
ASS FACE
Some stuff stays in Vegas, but not tattoos Dear PacificSD, This is all true. I have pictures to prove it. It all started a few weeks ago. Friends were at my house, and Jimmy comes over and starts talking about how he wants a new tattoo. I’m a little drunk and say, “You should totally get my face on your ass.” He laughs. “Only if you pay me,” he says. Then I said, “Name your price.” He thinks for a second. “I don’t know, $2,000?” “Done deal!” we high-five. Two weeks go by, and all the meanwhile he’s harassing me for money. I mean, he actually wants to get the tattoo for the two grand. So we’re in Vegas last week, lying in a cabana at the Planet Hollywood pool, partying. Jimmy, buzzed like he gets, pulls out a camera, takes a picture of my face and says he’s going to take the photo to a tattoo artist. An hour later, he calls me and says he’s in a chair at a tattoo shop off the strip. He gives me the address, and I cab over to the place only to find him lying face down…with a stencil of my face on his backside. The photo he took was sitting on the tattoo artists’ knee. Long story short, four hours later, an almost full-sized rendition of my face is forever forged on my friend’s ass. I pay him the $2,000, in casino chips, and he immediately turns around, gambles it and loses. All of it. A week later, Jimmy’s girlfriend dumped him, basically for being such a moron. So, the lesson of it all: stay in school and get a job, so your friends don’t have to pay you to do stupid shit (‘cause that shit will end up on the Internet or in the magazine in the town you’re living in). It gets better. Or maybe worse. Jimmy still needs money, so he’s seriously considering getting our other friend’s face tattooed on his other cheek, and the two of us tattoos will be high-fiving in the middle. I can’t really say that this tattoo should win your “worst tattoo” contest, because I think I look kinda good. In fact, I’m not sure there’s any “winning” going on here at all. Peace. —Richard, avid PacificSD reader (on behalf of my friend Jimmy)
Second-place ($1,000 Laser Away gift certificate) Bryan H., Downtown: EXIT ONLY
Third-place ($500 Laser Away gift certificate) River M., Pacific Beach: MUFF DIVR
laseraway.net
“One small squirt for man, one giant douche for mankind!” Congratulations to Sean D. from Pacific Beach for winning PacificSD’s June 2012 caption contest and scoring $250 in gift certificates—that’s $50 each from Azul La Jolla, barleymash, Bar West, Broken Yolk and Firehouse.
Dear Richard, We are at once amused and repulsed by you and your friends. Hoping we can help stave off the impending doubling of his Ass Face status, PacificSD hereby names your friend, Jimmy, winner of the “What Was I Thinking?” worst tattoo contest. And congratulations to you, Jimmy. You just won $2,500 worth of tattoo removal services from Laser Away. We trust you’ll do the right thing and trade the gift certificate for a case of beer. Viva la jackass!
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SAN DIEGO WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED
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