Pacific San Diego Magazine, May 2012 issue

San Diego SAN DIEGO’S WHERE, WHEN AND WOW

Wild, Wild West Meet the free-range humans and other wild animals that call San Diego home

INSIDE: lions, dolphins, garibaldi, sea gulls, lizards, rattlesnakes, octopuses, hummingbirds, pelicans, sea horses, leopard sharks, grey squirrels, pigeons, opossums, parrots, sea urchins, skunks, owls, coyotes, an overindulging lifeguard and a FLOCK of drag queens.

MAY 2012 PA C I F I C S A N D I E G O . C O M

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SCOTT RANDALL

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Get Me Outta Here!

There’s something I like about the new Jeep Grand Cherokee. I don’t know what it is, exactly, because it’s not like I go off-roading or need to haul anything into the woods—I just want one.

Last night, after a seriously long-ass workday, I spent an hour online, clicking around to see if I could find a good deal on AutoTrader.com. (Bargain hunting— Mom would be proud.)

This morning, I’m trying to keep up with the yahoos on a P90X workout DVD, when a Jeep Grand Cherokee commercial interrupts my Pandora with news of an upgraded engine and leather seats.

Hmmm. Coincidence? Yeah, right.

Ten minutes later, another Jeep commercial comes on, this one promoting special financing offers. I think to myself, “Hey, I like special financing.” Then I think, “Wait, how did these auto-mofos find me so fast?”

I was born an analog guy, but I love the digital world. While some web surfers might feel invaded by algorithms that track their browsing behaviors, I think it’s a pretty cool marketing strategy to sell my car dreams to my free music provider.

And I’ve always loved cookies.

Anyway, here I am, jumping up and down in my garage, listening to my iPhone (plugged into an iThing that makes music), contemplating high-tech Jeeps between electro-house tunes on my Deadmau5 station and getting ready for another long day in front of a computer.

And then it strikes me—what the eff am I doing inside?

I leave my phone, grab a house key and head out for a quick run. Along the way, I see a seagull, two squirrels and a pigeon.

This issue of PacificSD celebrates life outdoors in America’s Finest. From mountain lions in La Mesa to sea lions in La Jolla to hipsters in North Park, this town is crawling with an incredible array of wildlife. It’s a jungle out there, and it’s time to put down our phones, pick up the pace and get outside to soak it all in.

As I round the final corner and return to my street, I see a little bird on a telephone pole, chirping. “Cheep, cheep. Cheep cheep.”

Or did he say, “Cheap Jeep”? Man, those Google guys are good.

760-743-0140

—David Perloff, Editor-in-Chief

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF David Perloff

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contents

pac i f i cs A N d I E G O . c o m 05.12

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42 Wild Life

San Diegans in their supernatural habitats 48 Creature Comforts

Meet the animals that call San Diego home

ON THE COVER: PELICANS ROCKINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; IT AT JOLLA COVE, PHOTO BY BRIAN DOLL th i s p a g e : G R O U N D S Q U I R R E L near L A J O L L A COVE, PHOTO BY BRIAN DOLL

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The Full Frontal

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contents

pac i f i cs A N d I E G O . c o m 05.12

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CURRENTS 23 Blinding you with Science

Chula Vista Playmate has the winning formula 26 Road Tripping

Adam Carolla returns to San Diego 28 Big Breaks

Surfing, on the big screen in a Quonset hut 30 Branch Manager

Historic horticulturist plants one on San Diego 32 Chainsaw’s Hawaiian Shirt

No man is an island, but I kinda created one 34 Louis V. Lipo

To gain L.V.s or lose lbs., that is the question 38 Hoofing it

Horsing around America’s Finest

TASTE 63 Feeling Hot, Hot, Haute

Get ready for scorching summer dining

80 Frozen in Time

The local history of the blended margarita GROOVE 83 Water Whirled

With poolside DJs playing mega-parties,

San Diego is set for another spin cycle 90 Concert Calendar

Shows and tell 94 Pop Rocks

New Top 40 station dials up the competition

LOVE 100 Outta Site

Turning online interactions

into real-life encounters BLIND DATE 104 Boy Story

Not the same old song and

dance CALENDAR 110 Five.Twelve

May event listings THINK 114 Hind Sight

Whatever you do, don’t

look back

96 Getting OFF!

Punk icons rock the Casbah 98 Film’s Cool

Movies and cocktails—that’s the ticket

ELLEN VON UNWERTH

RIHANNA ADDS TO THE FRESH NEW SOUND AT SAN DIEGO’S E N E R G Y 1 0 3 . 7 F M ( S T O R Y PAG E 9 6 )

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BLINDING YOU WITH SCIENCE

Chula Vista NATIVE has the winning formula

By Jim Ruland Every one of us is made up of the same sort of atoms and molecules. But as Raquel Pomplun knows, some arrangements are more pleasing to the eye than others.

The daughter of a biochemist, this Chula Vista native (who went to elementary school in Tijuana before returning to the United States) is following in her father’s footsteps by seeking a degree in biochemistry.

C O U R T E S Y O F P layboy

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(continued from page 23) courtesy of P layboy

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While she conducts experiments in the lab, she’ll be creating chemical reactions of a different kind as a Playboy Playmate, proving that not all cover models are cut from the same genetic cloth.

“If you look at the history of Playboy,” she says, “and look at every single Playmate, which I have had the opportunity to do, it’s been pretty diverse.”

Named Playboy’s Miss April 2012, Pomplun posed with Grammynominee Bruno Mars and is one of just a handful of Playmates to appear on the cover with a celebrity. On July 27, she’ll be hosting the San Diego Playboy Scramble, a one-day golf tournament at the Maderas Country Club in Poway.

Others might be overwhelmed by being plunged into the limelight, but Pomplun sees it differently: “I could not feel more blessed.”

“If you’re lucky enough to be Irish, you’re lucky enough.”



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C rai g L arsen

“It’s a blow to your ego when Taco Bell says you’re not Taco Bell material.”

road tripping

Adam Carolla returns to San Diego

By Jim Ruland Adam Carolla’s career has been all over the map. From short stints on Dancing with the Stars and Celebrity Apprentice to long hauls on Loveline with Dr. Drew, The Man Show (co-starring Jimmy Kimmel) and The Adam Carolla Show on CBS, Carolla is as versatile as he is entertaining.

That hasn’t changed since he set out on his own. In 2009, he launched “The Adam Carolla Show” from his home studio in Los Angeles, which has earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most downloaded podcast.

The native Southern Californian has a simple strategy for navigating the terrain of multiple mediums.

“The bottom line is, you take your sense of humor and you take your sensibility, and that’s what you bring to it.

You can bring it to a book, you can bring it to a podcast or you can bring it to a live show.”

Which is precisely what Carolla will be doing on Cinco de Mayo.

He’ll be making his way from L.A. to San Diego’s Spreckels Theater to do a two-man show with radio personality Dennis Prager. It seems like an odd combination: Prager is an orthodox Jew. Carolla is an unrepentant atheist. But the odd couple approach has worked for Carolla before, during his years working with the unflappable Dr. Drew Pinsky.

“When you have two guys whose combined radio experience is 50 years, you’re not going to have a lot of dead air.”

Carolla hopes this visit to San Diego will go more smoothly than his first trip. When he was 16 years old, he borrowed his dad’s VW Rabbit and set out with a friend for America’s Finest City on a “dude vacation.”

“I don’t know what we were doing.”

After dropping their stuff at a motel, they went to the zoo. When it got dark, they headed back to the motel, and that’s when the trouble started.

“Neither one of us had any idea where the motel was. There were no cell phones or print outs or GPS or anything. We couldn’t even remember the name of the place. It was back in the drive-around-find-a-motel-pullup-ask-if-they-had-an-open-room days. No one could help us.”

After driving around for three hours, they finally stumbled upon their motel. Moral of the story: It’s hard to find your way when you don’t know where you’re going. Sometimes you get lucky. Sometimes wandering off course provides the path your were meant to follow.

Case in point, a career in food service was derailed when Carolla’s application for employment at a North Hollywood Taco Bell was denied.

“It’s a blow to your ego when Taco Bell says you’re not Taco Bell material,” Carolla says.

The experience provided Carolla with a valuable life lesson—and the title for his new book, Not Taco Bell Material, a memoir structured around all the places he’s lived from childhood to now.

Luckily for his fans, Carolla has blazed a trail for which there is no roadmap.

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Surfing, on the big screen in a Quonset hut

By David Moye Hawaii transplant George Douglas Freeth, the first lifeguard at La Jolla Cove, introduced surfing to San Diego in 1907.

A century later, the city is writing a new chapter in surfing history, as the inaugural San Diego Surf Film Festival takes place May 11 to 13 at Bird’s Surf Shed, a Quonset hut in Bay Park stuffed with historically significant surfboards and artifacts.

Nearly 15 features and 30 shorts will be screened during the three-day festival, which co-founder Pierce Kavanagh hopes will become an annual event as important to the surfing community as Comic-Con is to Star Wars geeks.

“I used to watch surf films in the mid-’70s at the Cove Theater in La Jolla and the Roxy down in Pacific Beach,” Kavanagh says. “I want to recreate this atmosphere for the next generation, who has sadly missed out on these experiences.”

Kavanaugh’s film, Manufacturing Stoke, which delves into the concept of sustainability in the surf industry, played the surf festival circuit to great acclaim last year.

The Festival’s other co-founder, Ed Lewis, who runs a company that recycles broken surfboards and wetsuits, believes the best surf films do more than just immortalize radical rides on killer waves.

“The really successful surf film is one that defines a moment in time, what a culture is feeling and living,” Lewis says. “It is one that changes you and inspires you in new directions. In a day of mass media consumption, you watch a film once and never desire to see it again. The surf film is so different than that, as you may watch your favorite film 20 times or more. In fact, that is the test for a great surf film.”

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C L O C K W I S E ( from left ) : S urf F ilm F estival creators E d L ewis , P etra K avanagh and P ierce K avanagh pose in B ird ’ s S urf S hed I N B A Y P A R K ; S an D iego ’ s peeling waves inspire many S U R F filmmakers ; one of the countless rides to be shown at the inaugural festival .

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O L D ’ S C OO L

j ames norton

san die g o historical society

j ames norton

branch manager

Historic horticulturist plants one on San Diego

By David Moye To new transplants, Kate Sessions’ name is most associated with the Pacific Beach park that bears her name, but this pioneering horticulturalist’s legacy is much more fertile.

One of the first women scientists to graduate from the University of California Berkeley, Sessions moved to San Diego from San Francisco in 1884. During her 56-year career, she introduced many of the non-native plants that have thrived in the region’s semi-arid climate, including bougainvillea, various palm trees and the Jacaranda, a South American tree whose purple flowers are as common in May as gray skies and Cinco de Mayo drink specials.

“She knew what would adapt,” says Encinitas-based landscape historian Vonn Marie May. Sessions also had vision. When she arrived in San Diego at the age of 27, the city was a dusty desert town by the sea. By the time she died in 1940 at the age of 82, she had influenced landscapers and gardeners from Mexico to Santa Barbara.

“She would put certain trees on certain streets and made sure there were parkway strips,” May says. “At that time, the trees had to be hand-watered, and she helped out with that. Many locals did.”

Beginning in 1892, in exchange for permission to cultivate a swath of City-owned land, Sessions agreed to plant 100 trees per year in what was then called City Park. The program bloomed into a smashing success and helped to establish Sessions’ nickname: The Mother of Balboa Park.

But her legacy is not without controversy. Many of the plants Sessions introduced here thrived at the expense of the native vegetation and weren’t necessarily drought-tolerant.

Sustainability wasn’t an issue at the forefront back then, but May says Sessions was ahead of her time in that regard as well.

“Every decade she was here in San Diego, she evolved,” May says. “By the time of her death, she was planting almost all native plants and understood their beauty.”

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C L O C K W I S E ( from top left ) : K ate S essions , the “ M other of B alboa P ark ” ; sessions planted this T ipuana tipu tree ( aka rosewood ) , which still stands at the former location of her garnet avenue nursery in P acific beach ; a statue of S essions welcomes visitors to B alboa P ark .

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hawaiian shirt

No man is an island, but I kinda created one

By Cookie “Chainsaw” Randolph It’s been over a year now.

After inflicting devastation to the people, landscape and nuclear stability of eastern Japan, the Tohoku Tsunami of March 2011 rolled westward, wreaking havoc as far away as Santa Cruz, California, and points between, including Kona, Hawaii.

While the more robustly structured Four Seasons resort survived next door, the rustic beachside Kona Village Resort (KVR) was devastated by gigantic, pounding waves. Some 20 of the family huts, or hales (pronounced “hollies”) were destroyed, and the dining compound was damaged.

In a macabre twist, the tsunami also destroyed all evidence of a grisly crime I had committed some eight years previous, during a family vacation at KVR. The victim happened to be the best-selling saxophonist of all time, and I’m not sure he ever knew.

KVR is slated for reopening sometime in 2013. I hope they restore its original charm—when the beach was sprinkled with nearly identical open-air hales featuring modern amenities like furniture and plumbing, but no TV, phone or air conditioning. (Kinda like Thurston and Lovey Howell’s luxury hut on Gilligan’s Island, except for the plumbing part.)

One particular day in the dining compound, during a feast of fresh fish and tropical fruit, I looked up and announced to my wife and young sons, “Look, there’s the world famous Kenny G and his family of more normal-haired people finishing up lunch!” (It really was a quality celebrity pull, since, without a shirt on, he looked like Jesus or a poorly groomed Sarah Jessica Parker from the back.)

After dinner, my family and I escaped to the souvenir shop. While we were shopping, it became painfully obvious that a tsunami of roughage and seafood was building up a certain momentum inside of me.

Hopping in place as I concluded our purchases, I mumbled something and scurried away towards our hale.

It was six minutes away by footpath—I figured double-timing would not only avert disaster, but also buy me three minutes before my family caught up.

Drenched in sweat, I finally made it to the hale. Once inside, I jettisoned the camera, fanny pack and souvenirs, then flung my shirt into the hamper.

And then? Let’s just say there was busload of exceptionally rowdy summer campers that really, really needed to be dropped off at Lake Cuyamaca.

I finished expertly and fastidiously. I even toweled off my torso, since no human can resist a lush resort towel.

Feeling much, much better, I began wondering where my family was. I hadn’t raced that far ahead, had I? I threw open the closet for a clean shirt, and to my dismay: those weren’t my clothes! I don’t wear loosefitting muslin slacks with drawstrings at the waist!

And what in the world is that saxophone case doing on the closet shelf?!

Uh-oh. Did I mention these huts are nearly identical?

I grabbed my fanny pack, camera and souvenirs, retrieved my shirt out of the hamper and made my way out of there, Michael Corleone-style—you know, after you shoot the guy, walk out fast, but not too fast.

Don’t look anybody directly in the eye, but don’t look away, either.

I took the beach route instead of the main path to avoid any fatal bump-ins, and soon felt safe enough to look around. To my second greatest relief of the day, I discovered the coast was clear, although, through the mango trees, I could see Kenny G and his family blissfully sauntering toward their hale. I figured they’d arrive at ground zero in about 20 seconds, or about 75 seconds after initial impact.

I soon arrived at my actual hale, where my bewildered family wondered where I’d been. After quipping something about a real-life Gilligan moment, all was right in the world again, nobody the wiser.

Except for me. I soon felt a very different kind of inner turmoil, one that still haunts me whenever I accidentally tune into a smooth jazz radio station: What happened back there? Did the ocean breezes bail me out, or did the waves drown out the screams?

Kenny G hasn’t had a hit record since. Am I responsible for that? Should I say, “I’m sorry,” or, “You’re welcome?”

Now I know how Sophie felt, or Hawkeye in the last episode of M*A*S*H (“It was a baby!”).

Tormented.

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Cookie “Chainsaw” Randolph is banned from establishments coast to coast, but somehow remains at 100.7 JACK-fm, weekday mornings on the Dave, Shelly & Chainsaw show.

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STYLE

vs.

louis vs. lipo?

To gain L.V.s or lose lbs., that is the question

By Leslie Marcus the number one plastic surgery procedure in the United States, surpassing breast augmentation last year.

But it’s not all sunshine and roses.

“Despite the fact that you have liposuction doesn’t mean that you won’t continue to put on weight” says Marin. Miller echoes the sentiment: “If you don’t plan on getting off the couch, eating sensibly and living a healthy lifestyle, then I say go Louis all the way.”

Continuing my quest for answers, I turn to the fitness world, specifically to Dr. Booty (aka Anthony Farmer) at The Lab Training downtown.

Tell me, Dr. Booty, sexy bag or sexy body?

“You got this Gucci bag that you won’t even be able to hold up if you can’t stand up straight,” he says. “You can’t stand up straight if your body is weak or your core is weak.”

Dr. Booty trains some of the best-bodied women in San Diego, some of whom dance on stage (and in cages) at FLUXX and Side Bar downtown. He also trains less perfectly shaped women who have tried everything to drop the extra weight.

“I don’t think a hot bag has anything to do with how hot a girl is. It’s the complete package. That’s like wearing True Religion jeans when you don’t have a butt. Those jeans are designed for women with bodies; they’re not designed for women with flat backs.”

If a better derriere is what you’re after, Dr. Booty says he can give you one. It costs around a grand to “build a butt.”

“I say ditch the bag and get the butt, because the butt will get (continued on page 36)

If you walk out of the Louis Vuitton store in Fashion Valley with an espresso-colored shopping bag in hand, you’ve spent at least $415 dollars. And that’s for an enamel keychain. Upgrade to the ever-coveted monogram bag and you’re dropping $900 dollars, on the low end.

“For women, bags are a huge statement,” says celebrity stylist Jeni Elizabeth. “They give you a boost of self-confidence and make you feel fabulous. It’s an instant way to sexify yourself.”

I never understood how an expensive bag could up your sex appeal. Shoes, maybe—those stay on your feet, sometimes even in the bedroom­—but you can’t permanently attach a handbag to an appendage, which left me wondering: is money better spent on buying a handbag or removing saddlebags?

“If you’re not in shape, you can have the best-looking handbag and the best designer clothes money can buy, but still not be very happy with your look,” says La Jolla-based plastic surgeon Dr. Scott Miller.

Miller says trading in two or three designer handbags can indeed get you the body you want. And these days you can freeze your fat away during your lunch break with a cool-sculpting procedure called Zeltiq.

“The majority of my body-contouring patients already have the handbag, and that hasn’t filled their bucket,” Miller says. “Your body is still yours, while your handbag is in the back of your closet under three sweatshirts and an old dress.”

For quicker, more dramatic results, liposuction may be the answer. And according to Del Mar plastic surgeon Dr. Vince Marin, it’s seeing a rebirth: statistics show that liposuction is

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(continued from page 34) your man to buy you a bag,” he says, laughing.

It’s funny—I’ve been working out more than ever these days and just got my first Louis Vuitton bag as a birthday gift. But after owning knock-off purses, designer clutches and everything in between for years, it turns out not to be my big brown bag with the L.V.s all over it that brings me to my happy place. It’s actually my $20 nylon Adidas bag that I throw over my shoulder when leaving the gym after making the treadmill my bitch.

Having a toned body that I’ve worked hard for gives me a level of confidence that can’t be store-bought. If it could, it would cost a whole lot more than a Louis Vuitton bag (which I’m considering buying another one of, by the way).

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Entry-level Neverfull GM: $900 The Alma bag: $1,800 (with enamel keychain: add $415) COOL-SCULPTING WITH ZELTIQ

(by La Jolla-based plastic surgeon Dr. Scott Miller) Results: up to 25% fat removed in one area of body in one treatment Cost: $1,200 per treatment Treatment time: two hours per area Time to see results: 2-3 months Downtime: none

Jump start your health and weightloss goals.

LIPOSUCTION

(by Del Mar plastic surgeon Dr. Vince Marin) Results: 80% of fat lost in area treated (Dr. Marin says removing more would reduce skin’s elasticity) Cost: $1,500 and up to remove fat from one body area Treatment time: one hour Time to see results: instantly Downtime: three or four days, if only one area treated FITNESS AND PERSONAL TRAINING

Lose weight without starving while you improve your skin, feel nourished and energized. Our juices are all 100% raw and unpasteurized.

Gym membership at Downtown Fitness: $25 per month Personal trainer at The Lab Training: $50-85 per hour Group training: $37-42 per hour Build-a-butt or lose 15-20 pounds: $1,000 (takes 6-8 weeks)

1 or 3-day Juice Cleanse Master Weightloss Cleanse Aqua Foot Detox Infrared Sauna

Leslie Marcus, the supervising producer of the Fox 5 Morning Show in San Diego, says, “My days are filled dreaming up segment ideas and bringing them to life on your television sets. On a typical morning, you’ll find me running a five-and-a-half-hour circus of sorts at the Fox 5 studio. Tune in at 8 a.m., and by 9 you might catch Dr. Booty teaching a new workout, anchors licking iPads, dogs talking and bikini-clad models strutting on a boat in our back lot—all available for your viewing pleasure on YouTube.”

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hoofing it Horsing around America’s Finest

By Erin Goss Photos by Kristina Yamamoto Instead of waiting for Halloween or a themed pub-crawl to don that sexy cowgirl or cowboy outfit, saddle up now.

From romantic rides through the Temecula vineyards to polo lessons at the San Diego Polo Club, San Diego offers many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors from the back of a horse that don’t require the skills of an accomplished equestrian.

Check out these local spots to test the old proverb, “The world is best viewed through the ears of a horse.”

Vineyard Trail Rides

Experience the spirit of the Wild West on a ride through the Ramona countryside led by cowgirl Sabrina Fortyune, whose fearless attitude and horse whisperer-like intuition puts riders at ease and ensures that everyone’s four-legged transportation remains on its best behavior. Towards the end of the ride, enjoy a peaceful picnic beside a gentle pond, along with a glass of wine provided by the Vineyard Trail Rides guides. $100 per person; $160 per couple.

951.595.3503, vineyardtrailrides.com (Continued on page 40) R iding dirty in R amona T hi r ty – E I G H T

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V ineyard T rail R ides offers a mid - ride pond - side wine stop.

(continued from page 38)

Happy Trails Horse Rentals

Happy Trails offers romantic horseback rides, by sunlight or moonlight, that could be pulled straight from an episode of Millionaire Matchmaker. Explore the beaches of South Bay with the wind in your hair and a 1,000-pound animal between your legs. “Our horses are super gentle,” says manager Jessica Averilla, adding that her customers often ride right up to the Mexican border. “They get a kick out of that.” Prices range from $75 to $135.

619.662.2570, happytrails-usa.com San Diego Polo School

San Diego Polo School opens its doors to riders of all experience levels each May. And according to creative director Lindsey Chronert, even newcomers can expect to be able to hit the polo ball from atop a trusty steed by the end of their first lesson. “A lot of people are intimated at first, but end up loving it,” Chronert says. First lesson is free; additional lessons range from $50 to $175 each.

858.481.9217, sandiegopolo.com Wine Country Trails by Horseback

Escape the hustle and bustle of city life on a horseback ride through beautiful Temecula. Wine Country Trails leads guests along a stunning scenic trail that passes popular vineyards and ends at Wilson Creek Winery, where riders are treated to complimentary wine tasting. Packages range from $165 to $185 per couple.

951.506.8706, winecountrytrailsbyhorseback.com

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San Diegans in their supernatural habitats

Duck Soup Kristina Yamamoto (self portrait)

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love creating new and interesting, aesthetically pleasing things, using humor, color and storytelling to create hyper-real scenes and interesting portraits. I enjoy capturing both the ordinary and out-of-the-ordinary in unique ways, finding inspiration and humor in the everyday mundane. My goal is to make people think and feel through a single image, either thinking about the story behind the image or pushing people’s minds beyond reality to get imagination going. If people get some sort of entertainment from my photos, then I’m happy.”

—Kristina Yamamoto (studied graphic design, photography and illustration at SDSU and CSU Long Beach, kristinamoto.com)

Rabbit Test Tara Nichole: bunny-owning San Diego artist and musician

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Night Crawler Judy Vasquez: part-time model and occasional forgetter of house keys

Feeding Time Taylor Simpkins: devoted roommate and recreational smoothie maker

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l Animal House Members of San Diego alternative rock band, SECS: (from left) Shayna Burtman, Eric Egerstrom, Scott King and Chelsea Baker fo r ty â&#x20AC;&#x201C; S I X

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Lionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Share Eric Egerstrom: bassist

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Hummingbirds Costa’s hummingbird, Calypte costae Allen’s hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin Anna’s hummingbird, Calypte anna steve cirone

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Most hummingbirds beat their wings about 50 times per second, or about 3,000 times per minute. Unlike other birds, they produce lift by moving their wings in a figure-8 motion, which enables them to fly in any direction or simply hover—a skill perfect for gathering nectar from flowers or sugarwater from residential feeders.

Costa’s hummingbirds are found throughout the county, particularly in the Anza-Borrego desert. They prefer mountainous areas with plenty of flowers, but usually lay their eggs along coastal slopes.

When Philip Unitt was putting together his San Diego Bird Atlas a few years ago, he found that the Allen’s hummingbird was not yet prevalent in San Diego, breeding instead mostly in Orange County. “Since then, the Allen’s has spread south along the coast,” he says.

Hawks Red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis

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Red-tailed hawks, also called “chicken hawks,” are found throughout San Diego, often perched above open grasslands and sitting atop lampposts and highway signs, from which they look for prey. They’re heard anytime the sound of an eagle is used in television or movies, because their squawks are considered more regal-sounding than those of actual American eagles. Thanks to their ability to hunt, they are often captured and trained for falconry.

BRIAN DOLL

Pigeons Rock pigeon (aka Rock dove), Columba livia Pigeons are often referred to as rats with wings, having earned the bad rap by harboring parasites.

But before you run off to slather your neighborhood pigeons with Purell, consider that they don’t pose major threats to human health—which is good news, because they’re everywhere.

Comedian Charlie Day (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) once asked, “Where are the baby pigeons?”

Sarah Whorley from San Diego’s Project Wildlife says it’s a case of mistaken identity.

“We get calls for baby hawks, but they end up actually being pigeons,” she says. “They’re yellow, fuzzy things; they don’t look anything like pigeons. You wouldn’t think they would turn out to be gray.”

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Pelicans American white pelican, Pelicanus erythrorhynchus

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These coastal giants grow up to 67 inches tall and have the second largest wingspan of any North American bird. (Top honors go to the California condor.) Found along all of the county’s beaches, usually in flocks, American white pelicans plummet headfirst into the ocean to gulp fish.

They hang out in Southern California year-round, but larger numbers make San Diego home during winter months.

Seagulls Western gull, Larus occidentalis

GEORGE BARNES

Trish Jackman and Sarah Whorley from San Diego’s Project Wildlife (projectwildlife.org), an organization that rescues sick and injured animals, take in six different species of gulls, most frequently the Western gull.

These head-pooping, sandwich stealers sure are opportunistic feeders, scavenging sustenance along the coast and inland to East County, often while exhibiting what’s known as “mobbing behavior.”

As nestlings, Western gulls are fluffy, with black spots. They turn brown and grey as juveniles, and don’t get their signature white and grey plumage until they reach adulthood, which takes about four years.

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Red-crowned Amazons Amazona viridigenalis These feral parrots came to San Diego from Mexico under somewhat mysterious circumstances. Some say they escaped from an Ocean Beach bird collector’s home when it burned down in the early 1960s. Others believe they were released somewhere near the border when someone was trying to smuggle them into the country.

Whatever their origin, these loud-mouths have proliferated and are often spotted in Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Linda Vista, Coronado and along the harbor.

“It’s not uncommon to see them lined up on a pole, squawking,” says Cathy Montagne, adoption coordinator at the Parrot Rehabilitation Society in Lakeside.

“You feel like you’re in the middle of the jungle or something.”

Amazons flock in groups of up to 50 year-round. They’re most active (and noisy) in springtime, when they’re nesting and their eggs are hatching.

nic k chill

Owls Barn owl, Tyto alba California great horned owl, Bubo virginianus pacificus Various owls are found in San Diego, the most common of which is the barn owl.

According to the San Diego County Bird Atlas, a project

by Philip Unitt of the San Diego Natural History Museum, these birds are found throughout the county, often in barns (of course) and other manmade structures.

steve cirone

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Squirrels Grey squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis California ground squirrel, Spermophilus beecheyi

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With their fluffy little tails and funny way of eating nuts, squirrels are often the object of our adoration.

Lucky for us, we can spot them pretty much everywhere: running along telephone wires in urban sections of town, burrowing in the hills by La Jolla shores and hanging out in parks all over the county.

Two of the squirrels we coo at locally are the Grey squirrel and the California ground squirrel, the latter of which is smaller and brownish in color. While Greys are sometimes eaten by humans, the California groundâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s primary predators are rattlesnakes. Studies conducted at U.C. Davis show that certain squirrels have adapted to the threat of such predation by chewing on skins rattlers have shed, and then licking themselves and their pups to disguise their scent.

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Coyotes (aka American jackals), Canis latrans Much like that of mountain lions, local coyote habitat has been decimated by urban development, which has forced these feral canines to encroach on residential areas in Chula Vista, La Mesa, North Park and Encinitas, among many others.

Given the abatement of their natural hunting grounds, coyotes sometimes resort to attacking family pets and even small children. Bobbi Brink of the Lions, Tigers & Bears sanctuary in Alpine says the best ways to avoid such attacks is to keep pets inside the home or locked up in crates outside, and to refrain from leaving food out. If you do find yourself face-to-face with a coyote, she recommends making noise and trying to scare the animal away versus running or hiding. After all, they can reach speeds of up to 43 miles an hour, even when they aren’t chasing roadrunners.

Mountain Lions California mountain (aka cougar, puma, panther and catamount), Felis concolor californica

nic k chill

Urban sprawl has put housing developments and Wal-Mart stores in canyonlands that San Diego mountain lions (up to 6,000 of which live in the region) used to call home.

Bobbi Brink, founder and director of Alpine’s big cat and exotic animal rescue sanctuary, Lions, Tigers & Bears, says the elimination of their natural habitat has forced mountain lions to search for food (i.e., squirrels and house pets) in back yards and elementary school playgrounds from Alpine to North Park.

“Between 80 and 100 mountain lions are put down every year for encroaching on land,” Brink says. “They’re not an endangered species, but it’s important that we not seek them out.”

Opossums Didelphis marsupialis Opossums have a tendency to show up in unexpected places, scaring the bejeezus out of people with their beady little eyes and rat-like snouts. But don’t be too hard on them. They’re the only marsupials living in North America, which means they’re the ugly cousins to insanely adorable koalas. It’s not easy being the less cute member of a family of pretty creatures. Just ask Khloe Kardashian.

Kevin Lucier, a certified wildlife specialist with the San Diego branch of Critter Control, gets the call when people want opossums removed from kitchen cabinets, drain pipes and desk drawers. After a night of partying, one of Lucier’s customers was in for the surprise of her life. “When she came home, there was an opossum in her toilet,” he says. “It came up through the sewer system. She tried to flush him down, but he wouldn’t go.”

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Skunks Striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis According to Kevin Lucier, an animal trapper with Critter Control, instead of stocking up on cans of tomato juice, skunk-spray victims should head to the feminine hygiene aisle instead. “I’ve seen pet groomers use women’s douches that have white vinegar in them on dogs,” he says. “It’s probably the best thing to use.”

If the thought of douching your entire body gives you a not-so-fresh feeling, avoid La Jolla and Ocean Beach, since those are the areas of San Diego where skunks hang out most. And forget about leaving Fancy Feast on your porch for neighborhood cats—Lucier says this will attract the little stinkers to your house.

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Lizards San Diego alligator lizard, Elgaria multicarinata webbii California legless lizard, Anniella pulchra Great Basin fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis longipes Many lizards can be found in San Diego county, though none of them sell auto insurance.

The Alligator lizard lurks around garages, backyards and small spaces within people’s houses. Like spring break co-eds, these reptiles love soaking in the sun. “They can often be observed sunning themselves on fences and stucco walls in the early morning and evening hours,” says Susan Nowicke, president of the San Diego Herpetological Society.

California legless lizards take a cue from The Hunger Games’ Peeta Mellark by covering up with dirt to stay protected, making them very hard to find. “They’re the secret inhabitants of our San Diego gardens, where conditions of moist soil and ample ground-cover afford them protection,” Nowicke says.

The Great Basin fence lizard, another of San Diego’s most common creepy crawlers, is often referred to as a “blue belly lizard,” due to bright blue scales found on males’ stomachs.

Like dudes pumping at the gym, blue bellies communicate through a series of push-ups and head bobs.

ELENA JONES nic k chill

Rattlesnakes Western rattlesnake, Crotalus viridis Southwestern speckled rattlesnake, Crotalus mitchelli pyrrhus Red diamond rattlesnake, Crotalus ruber Three kinds of rattlesnakes call San Diego home: Western rattlesnakes, Southwestern speckled rattlesnakes and red diamond rattlesnakes. Unless you’re an expert, it’s difficult to know which are poisonous by looks alone. Ergo, if you encounter one, leave it alone—and hopefully you will walk away with your life.

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re RTS atu O cre MF O C Sea Lions California sea lion, Zalophus californianus These adorable guys laze about the cove in La Jolla and bark at passing boats from buoys on the bay, but don’t let their cute faces fool you. California sea lions are smart, capable creatures.

Sure, they bounce balls on their noses and give high-fives at the Zoo and SeaWorld, but those aren’t their only tricks.

The U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program in San Diego trains sea lions to assist with tasks for national security, including ship and harbor protection, mine detection and clearance, and equipment recovery. These guys are American heroes. Give them a salute—they might salute back.

Kristina Y A M A M oto

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Octopuses California two-spot octopus, Octopus bimaculoides The octopus is best known for its tentacles and for confusing people as to what the plural of “octopus” is. (Turns out, it’s “octopuses.”) Thriving in San Diego waters, the California two-spot octopus grows to about seven inches long and frequents local tide pools, especially in La Jolla and Point Loma during summer low tides.

These octopuses can be tough to spot because they’re not only nocturnal but also masters of disguise, changing their coloring and even their texture and size to blend with their surroundings. When camouflage isn’t enough, they shoot black ink to distract predators or inject a toxin through a bite to immobilize them.

Female two-spots have an interesting take on mating. Ben Vallejos of the Chula Vista Nature Center explains that they hold onto a “sperm packet” from a male during the mating process, saving the sperm until they’re ready to make babies. Because they rarely leave their eggs after fertilizing them, females often go so long without eating that they die of starvation shortly after the eggs hatch.

Sea Horses Pacific seahorse, Hippocampus ingens Sea horses prefer the warm waters of South America and Mexico, but some venture as far north as San Diego. The ones that do are among the largest species of their kind in the world, growing up to 14 inches tall.

Like party people at a nightclub, seahorses rely on dancing during the mating process. Fernando Nostratpour, aquarist at La Jolla’s Birch Aquarium, says male seahorses “do this dance where they twirl around” when encountering a potential mate. (In this case, no Jaegermeister shots are involved.) After the dance of seduction, the female deposits her eggs into a pouch on the male’s body to complete the fertilization process.

Unlike most other species, the male then carries the eggs for two weeks, releasing them after they hatch. The female is basically a deadbeat mom.

“She may hang out for a while after depositing her eggs, but usually she deposits them, and that’s it. The male takes all of the parenting care,” Nostratpour says.

However, it’s not unusual for a female to return to the same male seahorse to reproduce again in the future.

TROPICAL LEAFY SEA DRAGON AT BIRCH AQUARIUM

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ANDREW SALLMON

Garibaldi Hypsypops rubicundus These bright orange fishies are not only the official state marine fish of California, but also the gang members of the ocean. According to sea-life expert Ben Vallejos of the Chula Vista Nature Center, garibaldi are very territorial—if you swim up on their turf, they will get up in your grill. And maybe even dance a little.

“Once they establish their territory, they don’t move far from it,” Vallejos says.

“If a scuba diver comes towards them, they’ll defend their territory by swimming aggressively towards them. They’ll even come up to your mask to shoo you away.”

Visible (even from shore) yearround, garibaldi are most prevalent in summer. They tend to prefer rocky areas and kelp reefs along the coast, especially in La Jolla Cove.

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Dolphins Bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncates Short-beaked common dolphin, Dephinus delphis Long-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus capensis A San Diego ocean lifeguard for more than 30 years, Ed Vodrazka has spotted countless dolphins swimming in local waters. He has also seen people paddle for their lives when confusing the friendly mammals for maneating sharks. One day, he played a prank on an unsuspecting family.

“I was in the tower one late afternoon, when a new Range Rover pulls up,” he says.

“A family gets out, dressed impeccably, and I hear British accents. I see dolphins by the next tower over, so I yell out to them that we have sonar devices that will attract dolphins to come and play in front of us. It’s totally hogwash, but I knew they’d be swimming over in five minutes. So, I act like I’m turning a knob. Sure enough, the dolphins are there in six minutes. The kids were so excited.

Turns out the guy was the executive producer of American Idol. I spoofed one of the most powerful men in Hollywood.”

Leopard Sharks Triakis semifasciata While a leopard/shark hybrid might sound like a deadly combo, the real-life leopard shark poses no threat to humans. In fact, they are wary of people and will usually scatter when swimmers or surfers enter the waters at the south end of La Jolla Shores, where they can be found in large numbers.

Fernando Nostratpour, aquarist at La Jolla’s Birch Aquarium, says female leopard sharks aggregate by the Marine Room restaurant at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club in summertime, although he’s not certain why that section of the coastline is so popular with the fish.

“There’s some research going on at Scripps Institute of Oceanography,” he says. “No one is sure about the answer yet, because there’s food everywhere, and it’s mostly females, so they’re not there to mate. They’re trying to figure out what’s special about that spot. It’s definitely a highlight and something unique to San Diego.”

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Sea Urchins Purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus The porcupines of the ocean are identifiable by the long, sharp spines that grow out of their shells.

Locally, purple sea urchins inhabit rocky reef areas and tide pools along most beaches, particularly in La Jolla. During the day, they hang out under the rocks, making them more difficult to spot.

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KONA BREWING COMPANY • KONA, HAWAII • KONABREWINGCO.COM

F IR S T T H I N G S

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feeling hot, hot, haute

Get ready for a scorching summer

By Frank Sabatini Jr., David Nelson and Wendy Lemlin Is it spicy-hot or hot-hot? Actually, it’s both… and then some. For your dining enjoyment— and to put a little fire in your belly—this roadmap to Finest City dining makes three stops on the road to culinary heat: Hot, as in spicy; Hot, as in trending (i.e., “OMG, That’s hot!”); and Haute, as in fine-dining (i.e., “You’re using the wrong fork.”)

With a food scene this hot, no wonder our city is so cool. (continued on page 64)

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FRIED CHICKEN CUBES WITH HOT PEPPERS AT SPICY HOUSE IN KEARNY MESA

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HOT (SPICY) (continued from page 63)

Gaijin Noodle + Sake House 627 Fourth Ave., Gaslamp 619.238.0567, gaijinsd.com There are two ways to approach the crying tiger skirt steak at Gaijin Noodle + Sake House.

Either wash it down with chilled, sweet sake to balance its kicky Thai sauce or gnaw into a paper cone of mango kakigori (shaved ice) to prolong the heat. The latter sneaks chili flakes into the flavoring syrup, giving rise to the soju (rice vodka) contained within. Whatever liquids you choose, keep in mind that the steak’s spice level can’t be taken down because Thai chilies are built into the sauce along with discernible measures of garlic and onions. On the other hand, the kitchen obliges to masochists demanding more intensity by tossing additional peppers into the dish. —F.S., Jr.

Spicy House 3860 Convoy St., Ste. 105, Kearny Mesa 858.278.5883, sandiegospicyhouse.com Dishes marked by red stars at mainstream Chinese restaurants taste like cool water chestnuts compared to the blistering entrees served at Spicy House. The heat scale ranges only from 1 to 3 across a menu listing more than 200 Szechwan and Hunan-style meal choices. Order something like white fish with soft tofu at level two, and you’ll need an asbestos maw for withstanding the torrent of red and green chili peppers cloaking the proteins. (We counted at least 100 in the dish.) “Level two isn’t for beginners,” warns owner Mary Dang, citing that dishes prepared at the unimaginable top rung appeal primarily to daring, young customers who occasionally disappear into the restroom to rinse their tongues. —F.S., Jr.

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Sabuku 3027 Adams Ave., University Heights 619.281.9700, sabukusushi.com Bang! The “Naughty, Nice & Everything Spice” roll at Sabuku strikes your tongue with the force of a flaming cannon ball, thanks mainly to the accompanying XXX sauce, which flaunts nearly a dozen varieties of chili peppers. Spicy tuna and sliced jalapeños inside the roll spark the blaze, followed by spicy aioli drizzled over an innocuous sheathing of yellowtail and avocado. But all hell breaks out when a slice hits the sauce, an in-house blend of fearsome ghost peppers, habaneros, Thai chilies and others. The heat-seeking customers who offered input into the roll’s creation were undoubtedly given what they deserved. —F.S., Jr.

photos by brevin blach

Bayu’s Authentic Ethiopian Cuisine 530 University Ave., Hillcrest 619.269.6142, bayusethiopiancuisine.com If you experience a new form of painful pleasure after forking into the boro wot at Bayu’s Authentic Ethiopian Cuisine, don’t say you weren’t warned.

The menu tags the dish with an exclamation mark after the word “Spicy!” to indicate that a powerful berbere sauce is used for heating up the chicken and hard-boiled egg on your plate. The sauce packs a bouquet of chilies that jive fantastically to ginger, cardamom and allspice. “Back in Ethiopia, we use some serious chilies in our cooking, so hot that if you’re not used to them, they’ll make you sick,” says Bayu’s owner Reem Ali, who tones down the recipe a polite notch for American palates. —F.S., Jr. (continued on page 66)

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muy caliente

The fire and spice of Marcela Valladolid

ANDREW REILLY

Give her a can of chipotle peppers packed in adobo, and chef Marcela Valladolid of Food Network’s Mexican Made Easy will turn an everyday bowl of hummus into a three-alarm inferno. The Chula Vista resident, whose latest cookbook bears the name of her Saturday television show, admits that spicy foods rarely entered the kitchen when she was growing up in Tijuana, “because nobody in my family liked them.”

But that hasn’t stopped her from dabbling in capsaicin.

By adding chipotles packed in paprika-oregano sauce (the adobo) and a touch of honey to plain hummus, Valladolid puts the party into dips when entertaining.

She also incorporates her smoked jalapeños into mayonnaise for spreading on toast and uses them for jazzing up chicken dishes. “It’s my favorite chili pepper because it’s so versatile,” she says.

Since purchasing (with her brother) the tequila label, Hacienda de la Flor, and then presenting a sipping demo on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, Valladolid has injected sparks into a boozy sea urchin shooter popular throughout Mexico. After placing the urchin in the shot glass, she sprinkles it with feisty, dehydrated chili-lime mangos (available at Sprouts), then pours the tequila over the ingredients. “It’s an amazing experience,” she says. “The sea urchin adds a milky richness to the tequila, while the spiced mangos replace the common lime wedge.”

To avoid overwhelming her audience’s palates, Valladolid usually sticks to tamer consumables for her book and TV shows. But she really cranks the heat for her spiciest creation: lime-spiked habanero relish, a recipe from a vast collection culled from working at her aunt’s cooking school in Baja and then later attending the Los Angeles Culinary Institute. Additionally, she was a food editor for Bon Appetite Magazine and trained in pastry at the Ritz Escoffier Cooking School in Paris, discovering afterwards that guajillo chilies perform a hat dance when introduced to molten chocolate cake and Mexican hot chocolate.

“Once the chocolate melts from your tongue, the spice hits you in a beautiful way.”

As for the high-powered relish, she gave fans a onetime lesson for making it last year on her cooking show (now in its fifth year), which is recorded in San Diego.

In the segment, she applied it gingerly to cochinita pibil, a Yucatan-style preparation of shredded pork braised in orange juice and achiote.

“It’s really all about liking spice with your food,” Valladoid warns. She recommends eye drops of the relish on tacos, grilled fish, quesadillas and the Baja-style braised chicken thighs included in her 100-recipe book. —F.S., Jr. (continued on page 68)

Chef Marcela’s Habanero Relish

4 or 5 habaneros, finely diced Juice from one lime ¼ teaspoon of crumbled Mexican oregano 1 tablespoon water 1-2 tablespoons olive oil 1 pinch of sugar Combine the ingredients and let stand for 30 minutes, or until the peppers soften from the water and sugar. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

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HAUTE (SNAZZY)

(continued from page 66)

brevin blach

Donovan’s Prime Seafood 333 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp 619.906.4850, donovansprimeseafood.com French traditionalists might gape over the recent radical use of bouillabaisse by Kemar Durfield, the new executive chef at Donovan’s Prime Seafood. After taking laborious steps to construct the hearty fish stew, he purees the whole shebang for a luxurious sauce that forms the bedding for halibut. The silken puddles camouflage king crab, turbo and scallops, along with saffron and butter. In addition, two days are set aside for meticulously reducing roasted red peppers in vinegar and lavender, turning them into an accompanying jam. Rustic-style ratatouille serves as the vegetable component. Durfield’s underwater treasure chest of high-frill recipes coincides with a new oyster bar flaunting dozens of varieties. —F.S., Jr.

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RANCHO VALENCIA

R I G H T : C hef E ric B auer constructs a C hino F arms vegetable tart with goat cheese in the now gutted kitchen at R ancho V alencia . B oth the restaurant and kitchen are undergoing a complete remodel .

Rancho Valencia 5921 Valencia Cir., Rancho Santa Fe 858.756.1123, ranchovalencia.com Finally, the “restaurant at Rancho Valencia,” as it’s been called for nearly 24 years, will be given a solid identity this summer, when its 45-acre namesake resort and spa unveils a $20 million makeover. For chef Eric Bauer, the renovation means an on-site production garden and a rebuilt kitchen equipped with a wood-fired oven. “The restaurant will look completely different with a sexier and quainter feel. Our menus will change weekly, and I’ll be using different types of meats that people don’t see every day, such as boar and bison.” Prospects for a name, he adds, are still on the table. Ditto for the new, separate bar/lounge, boasting wines on draft and a 25-foot-high window facing the coast. —F.S., Jr. (continued on page 70)

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Sky Room La Valencia Hotel 1132 Prospect St., La Jolla 858.551.3744, lavalencia.com Prior to its first major redo in 2007, the Sky Room at La Valencia Hotel resembled something out of Titanic 3D, greeting patrons with heavy fabrics and antique chandeliers. Those were replaced with pinpoint halogen lighting and smoked mirrors. Now, the exclusive 10th-floor dining room with diamond views of La Jolla Cove will show off another facelift when it reopens in mid-summer. Sky Room’s intimacy will remain, with about 10 tables overseen by a new chef who has yet to be announced. Food and beverage director Andrew Mosblech promises “elevated, advance-technique cuisine and an enhanced wine program” presented within a refined atmosphere where dressing to the nines still won’t feel outlandish. —F.S., Jr. G oosenecked barnacles , called percebes , are presented with stones and seaweed , to reflect their natural habitat .

WENDY LEMLIN

TBL3 1250 Prospect St., La Jolla 858.454.4244, georgesatthecove.com/TBL3 Hotness is total surrender to a master, relinquishing control and sating appetites in new and unexpected ways. Exquisite palate pleasuring happens at TBL3, the epicurean adventure at George’s California Modern in La Jolla, on select nights, for the appreciative few. Executive chef Trey Foshee’s skills and creativity control the 14-course experience, which exemplifies the lifestyle, ingredients and sense of place that is San Diego. Guests surrender to the kitchen’s culinary whims—there are no choices, no substitutions, just pure enjoyment. Recent delicacies have included locally harvested percebes (aka gooseneck barnacles) and buttery-textured black cod with peas, clams and seaweed relish bathed in a rich carrot broth poured tableside. —W.L. (continued on page 72)

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HOT (TRENDING)

(continued from page 70)

A ndrew Jor g ensen B lack bean quinoa sliders with kale and B russels sprouts slaw , avocado and tomatillo spread ; served with sweet potato fries

ADAM MATTIVI

Analog 801 Fifth Ave., San Diego 619.233.1183, analogbar.com DJs keep the beat at Analog, where lively Sunday brunches stretch into a pleasurable eternity. You’ll see bubbly sparkling everywhere, thanks to this Gaslamp star’s “bottomless” champagne flutes and mimosas.

Ten bucks buys a convivial joyride driven by party-minded servers who pour freely for the crews jamming most tables. Generous servings of eye candy complement clever chow like barbecued pork “banh mi” street tacos, short rib hash, French toast mounded with fruit and whipped cream, and (absolutely killer) fresh-baked cinnamon rolls with Bananas Foster sauce. With a fresh face in the kitchen, that of chef Peter Ochoa (graduate of the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco and valedictorian at the California Sushi Academy in Los Angeles), Analog’s food just graduated from comfort to crave. —D.N.

D Bar 3930 Fifth Ave., Hillcrest dbarsandiego.com Just think “Denver” when you walk into Hillcrest’s sweet new D Bar, an offshoot of the famed Mile High destination for spectacular desserts as well as savory fare that sizzles with style. Trendy?

Yessir. After all, it’s the love child of master pastry chef Keegan Gerhard, a longtime Food Network star who designed his new baby to be a “cornerstone of Hillcrest hospitality.” Desserts dazzle and have cutesy names like “they lived appley ever after,” an Armagnac-ginger cake gilded with caramelized apples and brown sugar-buttermilk icing. Precede that with Kobe beef meatloaf or “southern fried Belgian,” a cheese-flavored waffle with fried chicken and honey mustard. —F.S., Jr. (continued on page 74)

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(continued from page 72) brevin blach

Marina Lower Lobby, South Tower 333 W. Harbor Dr., Embarcadero 619.234.1500, marriott.com Size matters. At downtown’s Marriott Marquis and Marina, the vast new Marina restaurant and bar encompasses more than 19,000 square-feet. Say “big bucks,” because this much space indicates a behemoth investment. Hotel general manager Steve Pagano hints at a new kind of trendiness by stressing a menu of “simple foods that people will recognize, served in a comfortable space.” Translate this not just as chicken noodle soup (with a jumbo Saltine), but also a daily roast and turkey pot pie. Sounds good. Even better, Pagano installed a wine-keg-on-tap system (there’s plenty of room) and says “some very high-end wineries are interested in getting their product to the customers in these kegs.” —D.N. (continued on page 76)

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E D G I nterior A rchitecture + D esi g n

Lucky’s Lunch Counter 338 Seventh Ave., East Village 619.255.4782, luckyslunchcounter.com An eatery slinging stacked pastrami sandwiches and chubby hot dogs crowned with cheddar confirm you’re in the shadows of Petco Park. Arriving just in time for baseball season, Lucky’s Lunch Counter affords East Village a taste of Chicago diner culture while paying tribute to the San Diego Padres with vintage team photographs hovering throughout. Nostalgia is further epitomized by the kitchen staffers slicing meats behind a nine-seat lunch counter. Among the culinary homeruns: Tyrone’s crispy pork tenderloin sandwich, capturing hammered pork rolled in Saltines and served with sweet onions and pickles on a mondo bun. Named after Lucky’s Chicago-transplant owner, Ty Hauter, it’s an exclusive Midwest stomach-buster that arrives without rivalry. —F.S., Jr.

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barebackgrill.com G A S L A M P : 6 2 4 E S T R E E T, 6 1 9 . 2 3 7 . 9 9 9 0 BARE BACK GRILL PA C I F I C B E A C H : 4 6 4 0 M I S S I O N B L V D. , 8 5 8 . 2 7 4 . 7 1 1 7 BARE BACK GRILL O C E A N B E A C H : 1 8 5 1 B A C O N S T. , 6 1 9 . 7 9 4 . 2 3 0 4 RAGLAN PUBLIC HOUSE

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(continued from page 74) Saltbox Hotel Palomar 1047 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp 619.515.3003, saltboxrestaurant.com Whatever Simon says, everybody eats. Simon Dolinky, that is, chef at downtown’s trendoidmagnet, Hotel Palomar (next to the House of Blues and a cut above most of the competition). Ever the trend-setter, Chef D. dares to offer chicken liver mousse with grilled scallions as a suave prelude to his knockout specialty, a “large plate” of perfectly prepared Jidori chicken: thyme and brown butterbasted breast; crispy skinned confit of leg with truffled Anson Mills grits; local mustard greens braised with his own apple wood smoked bacon; and a colorful variety of cauliflower. In what Dolinky calls “A Toast to Springtime,” mixologist Erin Williams has created new cocktails to complement the cuisine, popping a perfectly ripe strawberry into her Beefeater gin-based “Faint of Heart,” which also sports a dash of balsamic vinegar. —D.N.

brevin blach

le diner

Le Diner ledinerasandiego.info On May 25, San Diego is in store for a white out—in this case, a dining phenomenon that involves more than 3,500 people expected to gather at a secret outdoor venue for a “flash mob” picnic, many of them donning white threads, and all of them toting in their own food, drinks, table décor and chairs. Inspired by pop-up picnics in France and Germany, the epicurean affair arrives courtesy of Le Diner, a San Francisco partnership that pulled off its first mass picnic last year in Golden Gate Park. Here, the location remains top secret until it’s revealed to registrants via email the day of the event. Cofounder Garrett Sathre emphasizes that only the tables are provided. Guests are urged to “pull out all the stops with amazing meals, wear white and bring garbage bags for the cleanup.” The $25 registration fee, he adds, pays for his team’s effort in securing the space and alcohol permits. —F.S., Jr. (continued on page 78)

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Nine-time Winner Best Italian Restaurant, Gaslamp Quarter Association Winner Best Italian Restaurant 2010, California Restaurant Association 322 5TH AVE. GASLAMP ACQUAAL2.COM 619.230.0382 Visit our sister restaurant and wine bar Toast Enoteca & Cucina

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B revin blach

The Duck Dive 4650 Mission Blvd., Pacific Beach 858.273.3825, theduckdive.com The new Duck Dive in P.B. adds pizzazz to this neck of the beach, offering such fare as baked brie with blackberry “paint,” herb-crusted rib eye, duck-fat fries and a double dose of oink involving Italian-style pork loin wrapped in pork belly. Chef Juvencio Garcia clenches the fashionable pig recipe (known as porchetta) with fennel, oranges and cipollini onions. The bar obliges with “royal” mai tais and local craft beers, while a sweeping wood ceiling mimicking ocean waves might throw land-lubbers off balance. An illuminated and illuminating surfboard-slice wall adds fodder to this coastal-lounge environment, which demands perching on the patio when May grey clears. —F.S., Jr.

Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza Locations around San Diego County sammyspizza.com A friend who suffers from Celiac disease, or gluten intolerance, described an attack as “feeling like I ate ground glass.” Not nice.

Also not nice: no pizza, since crusts contain wheat flour, a no-no for riders on the Celiac Express. To the rescue: San Diego’s homegrown Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza, which serves a full gluten-free menu that puts pizza poppers back in business. When a pie arrives (let it be pepperoni with fresh organic oregano, mozzarella and really good tomato sauce), you’ll immediately notice the crust is pancake-flat, but it bakes up crisp and sure tastes good.

The many savory options prompted a host to exclaim, “Our gluten-free food rocks!” —D.N.

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Enjoy globally influenced seafood, paired with panoramic harbor views

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brevin blach

frozen in time

The history of the blended margarita

By Michelle Poveda

A B O V E : B arra B arra saloon ’ s WILDLY POPULAR FROZEN MARGARITA. B E L O W : L a P laza , birthplace of the frozen mar g arita , was located where Jose ’ s C ourtroom now stands on P rospect S treet .

Frozen Treat

When John Hernandez (son of frozen margarita inventor Albert Hernandez) was working as a sportscaster at a TV station in Anchorage, Alaska, he hired Sarah “I can see Russia from my house” Palin as his intern, which led to her first on-air appearance. Que Sarah Sarah…

Barra Barra Saloon 4016 Wallace St., Old Town 619.291.3200, barrabarrasaloon.com

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L a Jolla H istorical S ociety

One of the nation’s most popular drinks, the frozen margarita, was invented right here in San Diego. Cheers to Albert Hernandez, who created the gringo favorite in 1947, at La Plaza restaurant in La Jolla.

Controversy still looms over who invented the original margarita. Some say it was Don Carlos Orozco, a bartender from Husssong’s Cantina in Ensenada, Mexico, who mixed things up in 1941 for Margarita Henkel, the daughter of a German ambassador. Others swear credit should go to Carlos “Danny” Herrera, who supposedly invented the cocktail years earlier at a hotel near Rosarito.

Whatever the drink’s true beginnings, the history of the frozen/blended version goes something like this: In the 1940s, Morris Locke, owner of La Plaza, returned from a trip to Mexico, collaborating with one of his restaurant’s bartenders, Albert Hernandez, to concoct their own version of the sweet and sour drink. Once they fired up the blender, the frozen margarita was born.

Hernandez and his wife, Helen, purchased La Plaza in 1960, when the restaurant moved from Bird Rock to downtown La Jolla. Their son, John Hernandez, has fond memories of the bygone era. “Back in those days, the restaurant staff—all men—dressed to the nines, and my father would tend bar in a starched white shirt, bow tie and black jacket.”

Jose’s Courtroom on Prospect Street now sits on the site that used to be La Plaza. But while the original venue is gone, the legendary beverage carries on.

Shawn Barker, mixologist at Bertrand at Mister A’s and coowner of Smoke and Mirror Cocktail Co., says tourists are part of the reason the frozen margarita has maintained its popularity.

“It’s something that stays cold and is associated with climates like San Diego,” he says, adding that the recent trend of “skinny margaritas,” which is simply the classic recipe sans all the sugar, has given new life to one of the world’s coolest beverages.

What better way place to celebrate history than to enjoy a frozen margarita on Cinco de Mayo at the epicenter of gringodom: Old Town. Barra Barra Saloon’s signature “Best Margarita in Town” is made with top-shelf Herradura tequila, fresh-made sweet and sour, citrus juices, agave syrup and Cointreau. For $8.95, it’s 16 ounces of pure historic bliss.

Drink two, and the history of the margarita will continue to remain as hazy as ever.

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LaValencia.com

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GROOVE

JEFF “TURBO” CORRIGAN

water whirled

With poolside DJs playing mega-parties, San Diego is set for another spin cycle

One great way to make the weekend feel longer is to keep partying through Sunday afternoon and beyond. Here are nine ways to make a splash in San Diego this summer, from beachfront bashes to inland pool parties. For most, you don’t even need a swimsuit— just add water (but only between cocktails, of course).

Intervention Sundays Float at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego 207 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp 619.764.6924, interventionsd.com Las Vegas (once again) meets San Diego, as Downtown’s famous pool party rocks into its fourth year. Rivaling the talent bookings of Sin City herself, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego brings big names in music to its Intervention Sundays at Float. As usual, the season kicked off with a crowd of 1,500 and megastar DJ Paul Oakenfold. On deck are Roger Sanchez (May 6), Donald Glaude (May 13) and Steve Aoki (May 27).

Bring sun block, not much clothing.

Sundays, noon – 5-ish p.m. (continued on page 84)

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(continued from page 83) GARRETT WIESE

SunDaze WaveHouse 3125 Ocean Front Walk, Mission Beach 858.320.2111, wavehousesandiego.com It’s tough to improve on thousands of people in beachwear, dancing their derrieres off as some of the world’s top DJs (like Scotland’s Chris Lake, May 6, and Bingo Players, May 20) spin Mission Beach into a tizzy on a Sunday afternoon, but WaveHouse managed to amplify a good thing by offering shuttle bus transport to and from Pacific Beach for commuting partiers. Ride this wave of good times all summer long. Sundays, 2 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Pearl Hotel 1410 Rosecrans St., Point Loma 619.226.6100, thepearlsd.com

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PEARL HOTEL

Sunday’s popular Groove 24/7 brunch has returned to the poolside restaurant/bar at Pearl Hotel, where $22.50 gets you an entrée, endless mimosas and front-row seats to the DJ-driven poolside cocktail party that cooks well into the afternoon.

Brunch, Sundays, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; pool open until 4 p.m. (continued on page 86)

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(continued from page 84) MICHAEL STERLING EATON

Lafayette Hotel 2223 El Cajon Blvd., North Park 619.296.2101, lafayettehotelsd.com Whoever says hipsters and water don’t mix hasn’t been to the poppin’ pool parties at North Park’s Lafayette Hotel, where DJs and live bands play—and bottle-service guests partying in the poolside suites play even harder. Sundays, 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.

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Andaz 600 F St., Gaslamp 619.849.1234, ivyentertainmentsandiego.com Cheeks and chic collide on the sexy pool deck at Andaz, splashing into spring and summer with a new lineup of specialty cocktails that make sipsliding away to the city’s top DJs the chillest way to spend a hot day Downtown. “To top it off, we have San Diego’s hottest staff rocking the latest swimwear and poolside fashions,” says the hotel’s marketing director, Rachael Giannecchini.

Large-scale events on the Sundays before Memorial Day and Labor Day. (continued on page 88)

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(continued from page 86)

after splash

Because Sundays are too cool for just pool JAMES NORTON

REVIVE GuestHouse at Stingaree 454 Sixth Ave., Gaslamp 619.544.9500, stingsandiego.com Sunday Funday shenanigans reach new heights at REVIVE, the indoor, postpool dance party at GuestHouse, where portable oxygen tanks, anti-hangover shots and coconut water rejuvenate patrons, stretching the weekend into its final frenzied hours. An on-site salon lavishes women with complimentary hair and makeup touchups. And when it’s this late in the game, even the guys look good.

Sundays, 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.

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MILES VIVE, SFINX

Five/Ten Side Bar 536 Market St., Gaslamp 619.544.1241, sidebarsd.com Before Sundays end, Five/Ten begins—it’s when the pool parties empty out, and the indoor hot tubs fill up at Side Bar, a veritable swank-tank of who’s-who…followed on Monday morning by the inevitable “OMG, what did I do?!”

Sundays, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Bar West 959 Hornblend St., Pacific Beach 858.273.WEST (9378), barwestsd.com Industry Sundays at Bar West lure those in spiked heels, not to mention those who’ve been drinking the spiked punch at pool parties all afternoon. “It’s the perfect place to keep your day party going and keep wildin’ out, if you feel so inclined,” says operations director and hospitality honcho Chris Martin. “Def not for the faint of heart.”

Homegrown DJs and imports from L.A. and Vegas make the room go BOOM! Five-dollar specials make sure your wallet doesn’t.

Sundays, 6 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. (club gets rolling at 9 p.m.)

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C O N C E RT C A L E N D A R

By Tim Pyles 5/2: Sara Watkins

5/5: Harvard Bass

5/6: Allo Darlin

5/10: Mark Knight

@ Anthology, anthologysd.com Fiddle player from S.D.’s “New Grass” legends, Nickel Creek.

@ Voyeur, voyeursd.com Straight out of San Diego— breaks and beats from a local dude that’s blowing up.

@ Casbah, casbahmusic.com Indie rock/twee pop band from London, known for simple, sweet melodies and lyrics, often combined with jangling guitars.

@ FLUXX, fluxxsd.com Famous for his mega-sets lasting up to seven hours, DJ/ producer Mark Knight worked on the Black Eyed Peas’ multiplatinum album, “The-End.”

5/2: Say Anything

@ House of Blues, hob.com Emo-punk band from Los Angeles.

5/3: Middle Class Rut

@ House of Blues, hob.com Also known as M.C. Rut, but not a DJ—they actually rock!

5/6: Roger Sanchez

@ Float at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, interventionsd.com This American house music DJ has scored many hits on the European charts, plus he’s remixed No Doubt. It’s bikini season—are you ready?

5/7: Rocky Votolato

@ Casbah, casbahmusic.com Singer/songwriter (formerly of Waxwing) who will touch your heart with his songs.

5/9: The Wombats

@ Casbah, casbahmusic.com See this big indie rock band from the U.K. in a small club and make your English friends jealous.

5/3: David Tort

@ FLUXX, fluxxsd.com DJ/producer from Spain, mixing electro house with Old School sounds.

5/10: Brendan Benson 5/4: Deer Tick

@ Casbah, casbahmusic.com This guy’s also in The Raconteurs with Jack White.

His new solo record is due soon.

@ Casbah, casbahmusic.com Folk, blues and country, all wrapped up into one cool band.

5/4: Thrice

@ House of Blues, hob.com Since forming in Irvine around 1998, these alt rockers gone through many changes, recently incorporating electronic beats.

left : portugal , the man (PHOTO BY DON VANCLEAVE) B E L O W : delta spirit

5/11: Augustana

@ House of Blues, hob.com Great band that writes anthemic pop rock songs and got their start right here in S.D. You’ve probably heard their hits, “Boston” and “Sweet and Low.” 5/11: Hanni El Khatib

@ Casbah, casbahmusic.com His musical style includes elements of garage rock, blues and doo-wop, which is making a big comeback.

5/12: Delta Spirit

@ Belly Up, bellyup.com Our hometown rock/soul heroes have a new self-titled album. Check out the first single, “California.” (continued on page 92)

5/4: X

@ Belly Up, bellyup.com Iconic punk band from the heyday of the L.A. scene…and they still got it.

5/4: Morten Breum

@ Voyeur, voyeursd.com Danish DJ and producer for your dancing pleasure.

5/5: Portugal, The Man

M att wi g nall

@ 4th & B, 4thandb.com This band writes epic songs that leave you wanting more. Think a more-rocking Radiohead.

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(continued from page 90) 5/12: Devo

5/20: Moguai

@ Humphrey’s by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com

@ FLUXX, fluxxsd.com

This band formed in 1972, and they still “Whip It” good!

5/13: Roger Waters

@ Valley View Casino Center, valleyviewcasinocenter.com The wall will fall!

5/13: Donald Glaude

@ Float at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, interventionsd.com This house music maker and mixer consistently ranks on DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs.

German house music DJ and producer whose debut album, “We Ar Lyve” was the first nonDeadmau5 release under the Mau5trap label.

5/22: Daughtry

@ San Diego Civic Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org American Idol season 5 finalist Chris Daughtry fronts this rock band from North Carolina.

5/22: Imelda May

@ House of Blues, hob.com May has been compared to legendary jazz artist Billie Holliday.

5/16: Dum Dum Girls

@ Belly Up, bellyup.com Noise-pop/dream-pop band reminiscent of ’60s girl groups.

5/17: Joachim Garraud

@ FLUXX, fluxxsd.com Joachim blends the art of being a DJ with musical improvisation to give audiences a true concert experience.

5/18: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

@ Casbah, casbahmusic.com Cool indie rock band that achieved their initial fame and commercial success via the Internet rather than through a record label.

5/24: Toad the Wet Sprocket

@ Anthology, anthologysd.com Great ’90s band who took their name from a Monty Python skit.

Remember their hit “All I Want”?

5/25: The Cult

@ Humphrey’s by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com Ian Astbury is one of the best frontmen ever. Look for a new record from the band that’s been rocking for more than 30 years.

5/25: Beach Boys

@ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, cricketwireless.com

5/25: The Expendables

@ Belly Up, bellyup.com Blending reggae and punk rock with ’80s-style dueling guitar solos.

Jermaine S antia g o

The original sounds of summer, the Beach Boys reunite with Brian Wilson.

5/26: Lil Jon

@ Float at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, interventionsd.com In a word, CRUNK!

5/29: Greg Laswell

@ Belly Up, bellyup.com The ladies love this sensitive singer/songwriter from San Diego who graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University and has had his songs featured on TV shows including One Tree Hill, Cold Case, True Blood, Friday Night Lights, Grey’s Anatomy and 90210.

5/31: Sugarland

@ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, livenation.com The country pop rock duo will take audience requests to help form the set list for this outdoor show.

ABOVE: MOGUAI LEFT: ROGER SANCHEZ

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Padres Afterparties Friday, May 4 (9-10:30pm)

FREE Bbq Pork “Banh Mi” Tacos $3 Coors Lights 801 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp 619.233.1183, analogbar.com

Friday, May 18 (9-11pm)

FREE sliders $1 drafts

624 E St., Gaslamp 619.237.9990, barebackgrill.com

San Diego

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pop rocks

New Top 40 station dials up the competition

By Michelle Poveda In the a.m. and the p.m., Charese Fruge is focusing on the FM. “While a lot of the other stations aren’t live and local, we make a connection with the city that sticks,” says Fruge, program director for the new Energy 103.7 radio station (formerly Sophie 103.7), which went live March 29 at 8:00 p.m.

Owned by CBS (owner of San Diego soft rock mainstay, KYXYFM), Energy 103.7 will broadcast Top 40 hits to compete with Clear Channel’s ratings powerhouse Channel 933, playing 10,000 songs in a row without deejay or commercial interruption.

“It’s a combination of upbeat, fun music that makes people want to move,” Fruge says. “It was designed for young adults who are out and about all the time and looking for quality of life.”

Only time will tell who triumphs in the battle of the beats, but having more music in the air seems like a sure win for local listeners.

“We’re the underdog, but we are not afraid,” Fruge says. “We are here to have fun and to become a part of the fabric of San Diego.”

(Days after this interview, Fruge announced she’s moved to Las Vegas to program CBS radio stations there.) energy1037.cbslocal.com

nicki minaj ( U niversal R epublic R ecords & C ash M oney R ecords )

5/27: I LOVE THIS CITY

Petco Park, Downtown ilovethiscityfestival.com Skrillex, A Track, The Crystal Method, Dirty Loud, The Twelves and dozens more big-time electronic acts will transform Petco Park into the city’s biggest nightclub for one light-stick-filled evening on Memorial Day weekend.

skrille x ( P H O T O

by Joseph L lanes )

5/11: Channel 933 Summer Kickoff Concert

Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, Chula Vista channel933.com Nine of the nation’s hottest Top 40 artists— including Maroon 5, Flo Rida, Wiz Khalifa and Gym Class Heroes—are coming to San Diego for Channel 933’s annual Summer Kickoff Concert.

“I’m particularly excited to see Flo Rida this year,” says “Cabana Boy” Jeff Allen, Channel 933 on-air personality and director of promotions for San Diego’s Clear Channel radio stations. “He’s performed for us before as a tracked artist, but this year he’ll be playing with a live band. There aren’t many hip hop artists that do that.”

F L O - R I D A ( P H O T O B Y zach wolfe ) ninety – F O UR

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aaron farley

getting off!

Punk icons rock the Casbah

By Jim Ruland OFF! is coming to The Casbah May 14. It’s not a showcase for insect repellant but a punk rock band led by singer Keith Morris, formerly of Circle Jerks and Black Flag. Specializing in Old School ’80s hardcore, OFF! is something of a punk rock super group, featuring drummer Mario Rubalcaba, who used to play with legendary San Diego bands Rocket from the Crypt and Hot Snakes.

In addition to the musicians themselves, even the group’s album art—with illustrations by Raymond Pettibon, whose iconic four black vertical stripes helped made Black Flag famous—is a tribute to the genre. After numerous side projects that include the experimental jazz punk band, Midget Handjob (which remains the worst selling record in its label’s catalog), OFF! heralds Morris’ return to the style of music that made the Circle Jerks legends of the SoCal scene.

OFF!’s eponymous second “album” (the first was a collection of singles) has been released by the arbiters of hipster snark at Vice Magazine. The band’s short, intense, pissed-off songs will bring old punkers back to the way things were during the Reagan Regime and give younger audiences a taste of what it was like when there were only two kinds of punk rock: loud and fast.

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film’s cool

Movies and cocktails— that’s the ticket

By Ida Rosenberg Photo by Kristina Yamamoto Stefanie Holmes sees a piece of the action. She also sees the tear-jerkers, chick flicks and comedies.

“I’d love to be a movie star,” says the action sports lover from Seattle, “but only if I could get a role in a romantic comedy with Paul Walker.”

Walker starred in The Fast and the Furious series. Holmes is the star behind the bar at the new Cinépolis luxury cinema in La Costa, where she helps moviegoers cool off before (and during) summer’s scorching blockbusters.

The adults-only theaters at Cinépolis lavish customers with plush reclining lounge chairs and in-seat cocktail and food service. From fresh sushi and succulent short rib to cucumber martinis and cold beer, the movie-time menu selections are as diverse as the films listed on the marquis.

For traditionalists, there’s popcorn— butter, light, caramel and spicy chili.

As for the drink Holmes would serve Walker: “Sex on the Beach, of course.”

Time to dim the lights…

Now Playing (Stefanie Holmes on movies) Best movie ever: Jackass Worst movie ever: Glitter Scares the crap out of me: It Makes me cry: Lorax Makes me laugh: 21 Jump Street Best male actor: Chuck Norris Best female actor: Charlize Theron Sexiest male actor: Brad Pitt and Paul Walker combo.

Sexiest female actor: Angelina Jolie Best thing to eat during a drama: Chocolate Best drink for an action flick: Red Bull/ vodka—it gives you wings.

Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Del Mar Highlands 12905 El Camino Real, Del Mar 858.794.4045

La Costa 6941 El Camino Real, Carlsbad 760.603.8638 cinepolisusa.com

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STEVEN: “I hate the whole dinner-anda-movie thing. I’d rather get a glass of wine somewhere.”

AMY: “Brad is too young for me, but maybe he just looks young for his age.”

CANDICE: “Steven is very down to earth, but I think he’s

BRAD: “I’m having a good time, I’ll say that.”

married!” (He’s not.)

MONICA: “Jason’s is the only name I caught. He seems like a

JASON: “All the girls are nice, but Amy would be the only one I’d be romantically attracted to.”

sweet guy.”

j ohn mireles

outta site

Turning online interactions into real-life encounters

By Patricia B. Dwyer and make some real money.

“I was jealous of all these young billionaires,” he says. “I’m an old marketer and I thought that I have a lot of knowledge to bring to the Internet world, so I hired some great people and I’m doing a bunch of incubating.”

Earl’s dating dream team includes president Andrew Connell, former leader of Nokia’s global e-commerce division; V.P. of marketing Grant Hosford, the previous senior director of marketing and general manager of eHarmony’s new dating site, Jazzed.com; and Rolf Gehrung, once the Western U.S. sales manager for Fishbowl.com. (continued on page 108)

What if he’s charming in chats but a repulsive, misogynistic pig in person? What if she weighs 50 pounds more in real life than she does in her profile photo? In-person first dates among people who’ve met through Internet dating services can be disappointing…or a whole lot worse.

In an effort to help daters improve their chances of success (while also driving business to local restaurants), Robert Earl created DinnerDate.com, a new dating site that uses personality profiles to link six to 12 likeminded singles together for group dates.

“From the ladies’ perspective, it’s safe, low-risk,” says Earl. “From the guy’s side, you get to see six women at one dinner.”

Earl is the former owner of the Hard Rock Café chain and current owner of Planet Hollywood and Buca di Beppo. He knows a thing or two about themed dining and saw DinnerDate.com as an opportunity to capitalize on his success in the hospitality industry

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FREE in historic

3-DAY WEEKEND EVENT!

Friday May 4th 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm • Misa Azteca - Multi-cultural choral concert • Freestyle Moto X Demo - Red Bull Jams

OLD TOWN

Saturday May 5th 11:00 am – 10:00 pm • Red Bull Fiesta de Futbol • Live Entertainment Sunday May 6th 11:00 am – 5:00 pm • Red Bull Fiesta de Futbol • Live Entertainment

Drink & Food Specials at MORE THAN 10 Old Town Restaurants & Cantinas 3 Live Music Stages • Corona Cantina Beer Garden • Low Rider Car Show • Children’s Area

BEACON ARTWORKS GALLERY

Located at Fiesta de Reyes in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, Beacon Artworks Gallery is San Diego’s premier art gallery, exclusively featuring the San Diego artwork collection of American painter RD “Randy” Riccoboni. Themed from Old Town to New Town, his paintings tell the story of San Diego from the early days to the current.

25 Forty Bistro & bakehouse

Owner and head Chef Mark Pelliccia has developed a menu of contemporary-meets-classic cuisine at 25 Forty Bistro, in the heart of Old Town. Open for brunch, lunch and dinner, offerings are inspired by simplicity, fresh local ingredients and european flare. 25 Forty Bistro’s quaint, cottage-like setting is the perfect place to relax and treat yourself to a decadent meal. All pastries are baked in-house. Visit our website to view our new Summer menu.

Lunch: Thu. & Fri. only, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Dinner: Tue.- Fri., 5 p.m. – close; Sat. & Sun, 4 p.m. to close Weekend Brunch: Sat. & Sun., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

2540 Congress St., Old Town 619.294.2540, 25fortybistro.com

Casa de Reyes

Located in the center of the Fiesta de Reyes plaza, Casa de Reyes is more than just a restaurant, offering an authentic Mexican experience for all the senses. Enjoy homemade Mexican cuisine and frosty margaritas, while relaxing in the courtyard surrounded by lush gardens, water features and the San Diego sunshine.

2754 Calhoun St. (at Wallace St.), Old Town 619.297.3100, fiestadereyes.com

FiestaOldTown.com 619.296.3236

TIENDA DE REYES

Tienda de Reyes is one of the most popular souvenir shops in Old Town.

Located in Fiesta de Reyes, it boasts unique Mexican arts and crafts, the largest collection of “Day of the Dead” artwork and merchandise in San Diego, women’s fashions, and more to make your Old Town visit fun and unforgettable.

Old Town Trolley Tours LOCALS RIDE FREE

Introducing the Historic Tours of America Hometown Pass.

Local residents, take advantage of our tours in San Diego for FREE when accompanied by a full-paid adult guest.

Old Town Trolley Tours showcases the best of San Diego and Coronado. You can avoid costly parking and city driving. The tour is designed so you can hop on and off and explore on your own at any time. With frequent pickups at all our stops, this helps you avoid walking long distances.

619.298.8687 sign up today at hometownpass.com *some restrictions apply.

Barra Barra Saloon

Overlooking Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, Barra Barra Saloon offers visitors a unique chance to dine in the birthplace of California. Come in and check out our new and improved menu for 2012, which draws inspiration from border town barbecue and Mexican comfort food. Make sure not to miss the “Best Margarita in San Diego” for only $5. Barra Barra Saloon is the place to get your fiesta on.

4016 Wallace Ave., Old Town 619.297.3100, barrabarrasaloon.com

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(continued from page 100) After unveiling the site in Orlando, Florida, about six months ago, Earl and company decided to use San Diego as the company’s official launch city. The goal: to secure 10,000 local registrants within the first 30 days and ultimately take the concept global.

On April 9, the day the site went live locally, Earl appeared on San Diego radio and TV stations to promote his baby.

Typically, DinnerDate.com users create online profiles for free, and then pay for meals (plus a $5 booking fee) in advance to avoid the awkward wallet dance that can accompany first dates. Hoping to accelerate his sprint to 10,000, Earl is offering free meals to the first 3,000 users who sign-up.

Meeting for impromptu appetizers and drinks at former Top Chef contestant Rich Sweeney’s R Gang Eatery in Hillcrest, the fearless souls pictured here agreed to be DinnerDate.com’s Finest City guinea pigs—on the evening of the day the site went live.

a . Mon i c a has tried other dating sites and likes the idea of meeting in a group.

S he ’ s looking for someone with integrity and feels she is a good catch because of her intelligence and open mindedness . b . J a s on is looking for a genuine girl who isn ’ t too hard on the eyes . H e regards himself as intelligent , funny and an awesome dad to his son , but has had no success with online dating .

P H O T O S B Y j ohn mireles

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e . Br a d is an athletic e x trovert and a veteran blind - dater and speed - dater . H e ’ s looking for romance but really just wants to have a good time .

F. A m y is on the search for a smart and genuine man . boys in their late - twenties need not apply . newly single and new to S an D iego , S H E thinks D innerdate . com will help her find romance and new friends .

b.

c . C a nd i ce is searching for a smooth operator who can put on the charm . S he loves being outdoors , enjoys a good glass of wine and says the group date setting reduces stress and awkwardness . d . Steve is the V P of strategy and development for D innerdate . com , who is sitting on tonight ’ s dinner because one guy didn ’ t show .

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boy story

Not the same old song and dance

By David Perloff Photos by Brevin Blach Once upon a time, Prince Charming (Brandon) mounted his chariot (a town car) to pick up his princess (Megan) and dine with queens.

“Uhhhhh, you better make that ‘Her Royal Hotness,’ Sweetheart. You must know that I am waaaaaay hotter than you are, bitch!” yells a hot chick (in a man’s voice) from the other side of a packed dinner theater.

Tonight’s festivities begin at Lips in North Park, where fierce female impersonators will lip sync to our daters delight. Welcome to drag dining.

“We’re talking big hair, high heels and lots of duct tape, Honey.”

Before our fearless prince and princess arrive at Lips, let’s review the pre-date interviews.

PacificSD: What do you do for a living?

MEGAN: I’m a charge nurse at a skilled nursing facility in La Mesa.

BRANDON: I’m a field technician in the biotech/pharmaceutical industry.

Companies hire us to audit their cleanrooms where they make drugs, so that they are ready for FDA inspections.

What do you do for fun?

MEGAN: I love the beach and being in the sun.

BRANDON: I love surfing, snowboarding and beach volleyball.

What are you best at?

MEGAN: Making the best of any situation.

BRANDON: I feel like I’m really good at taking situations that don’t go as planned and still working them to my advantage.

What are you looking for in a date?

MEGAN: I like anyone with a good sense of humor that can make me laugh. A nice smile is always a plus.

BRANDON: I suppose I like brunettes, more exotic looking girls than your typical Southern California blondes.

O N E

What’s the sexiest thing about you?

MEGAN: I’ll let my date decide that one.

BRANDON: Being tall doesn’t seem to hurt my chances with the ladies.

Fill in the blanks: In general, the people I date are “blank” and “blank.”

MEGAN: Outgoing and funny.

BRANDON: Few and far between.

What do you like least about yourself?

MEGAN: I put things off to the last minute—huge procrastinator.

BRANDON: Being tall in an airplane or the backseat of cars.

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

MEGAN: Fun and memorable.

BRANDON: Hot and easy to talk to.

What is your biggest fear?

MEGAN: Heights.

BRANDON: That I will never own a home with an infinity pool and a swim-up bar.

What’s your sign, religion or spiritual belief system, if any?

MEGAN: Capricorn.

BRANDON: My sign is Aquarius, but I don’t really put much stock in that. I wasn’t raised going to church and I was a science major in school, so I’m a bit skeptical when it comes to religion. I do believe in trying to be a good person as much as possible, though.

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What’s the best thing that could happen during the date?

MEGAN: We hit it off and have a great time.

BRANDON: That, despite this being out of our comfort zone, we’re both able to relax and have fun with it.

What’s the worst thing that could happen?

MEGAN: He turns out to be a long lost relative.

BRANDON: That it’s awkward, I get too drunk, and then it gets really awkward.

Thank you!

Lips 3036 El Cajon Blvd., North Park 619.295.7900, lipssd.com (Continued on page 106)

LOVE

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(Continued from page 104)

what the tuck?

That’s a dude…right?

Having had about half an hour to get acquainted in the car, Brandon and Megan are now seated at Lips. They’re talking over drinks as the house lights go down, the music goes up and the emcee announces that a cast of “chicks with dicks” (her words) are about to wow the audience with their unique style of choreographed dance moves and lip sync-ing glamourosity.

I’m telling you, girl, these “chicks” can move. They’re friggin’ funny, too—flirting with girls, grinding their hips on straight boys and putting the whole crowd into hysterics.

When Megan heads to the bathroom, the emcee takes her empty seat. Brandon may have felt like an outsider at first, but he sure seems to have warmed up to the place. (Incidentally, the Japanese word for “outsider” is gaijin, which is also the name of the new Gaslamp joint the daters are headed to next. Coincidence?

Unlikely.) The couple jumps in the car and heads downtown. After they’ve had a chance to order dinner and a first round of drinks at Gaijin Noodle + Sake House, they’re split for mid-date debriefings.

PacificSD: How’s it going so far?

MEGAN: We’re having a really good time.

Everything’s been really exciting.

BRANDON: I’m having a great time.

I was a little nervous about Lips at first, because you have those preconceptions when you roll into a place like that, but very fun, definitely a perfect way to loosen up the evening.

What were your first impressions of your date?

MEGAN: I felt like he seemed nervous, but once we started talking he kind of snapped out of it and held a good conversation.

BRANDON: As soon as she got in the car she just brought a really awesome energy, was just super fun and put me at ease right away.

What have you been talking about?

MEGAN: He’s fun to talk with. He likes to joke like I do. It’s good.

BRANDON: She was definitely easy to talk to. The conversation flows. She’s just a fun girl. I couldn’t pick a better blind date.

Is this the type of person you would normally date?

MEGAN: No, not because there’s anything wrong with him, but I probably wouldn’t pick him out of the crowd. But since I’ve been here with him, I’ve actually had a really good time.

BRANDON: I would definitely date her, ’cause she’s super fun and easygoing.

What did you think of Lips?

MEGAN: Lips was awesome. I think he felt a little uncomfortable at the beginning, because he was like, “Oh, my god! What are we doing?” But we had a good time and we joked about it.

BRANDON: Definitely a very unique situation. You get in there at first, and it’s, like, kind of weird. The girl, Tootie, sat down with me for a second, and we just

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kind of chatted it up. Just a fun energy and fun crowd. Even if things were a little bit awkward at first, it put a good energy on the night.

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

MEGAN: Seven.

BRANDON: 8.5.

And for personality.

MEGAN: Eight.

BRANDON: Ten. Do you want to kiss your date now?

MEGAN: No. BRANDON: Maybe not right now. It’s almost at a friend level at this point.

Does your date want to kiss you now?

MEGAN: I don’t know, maybe.

BRANDON: I have no idea.

(Continued on page 108)

LOVE

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B L I N D D AT E

(Continued from page 106)

pho shizzle

Soup’s on at Gaijin Noodle + Sake House

After stuffing our mouths with executive chef Antonio Friscia’s yakitori (Japanese BBQ—what did you think we meant?), the magazine crew finally leaves Brandon and Megan alone to enjoy the rest of the evening in peace. We call the next morning to see what we missed.

PacificSD: How was Gaijin?

MEGAN: It was wonderful. The food and drinks were great, and the service was awesome.

BRANDON: Awesome. It had a really nice, relaxed atmosphere, and you can tell they put a lot of effort into creating a really cool ambiance. It was definitely the perfect change of pace to the high-energy insanity of Lips.

What did you eat and drink?

MEGAN: I think I had one of everything.

The bacon-wrapped quail eggs were amazing.

The lamb meatballs and steak skewers were some of my other faves. As for drinks, the craft cocktails were delicious and creative.

BRANDON: We ordered a lot of different things. It reminded me of getting tapas, where you get to try a little bit of everything rather than getting stuck with just one entree. The bacon-wrapped quail eggs were amazing, once again proving that you can wrap almost anything in bacon and turn it into a delicious meal.

For dessert we had caramel-bacon s’mores, which I thought were really original and every bit as good as they sound.

What happened after the magazine left?

MEGAN: We just finished up our drinks at the restaurant and then called it a night.

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BRANDON: We finished our drinks and then headed home. I felt bad for Megan, because she had to work at 7 a.m. the next morning. I was actually really impressed with her energy level the whole date, considering how early she had to get up.

Was there a kiss or romantic exchange?

MEGAN: No kisses.

BRANDON: No. What was the best part of the date?

MEGAN: I’m gonna have to say Lips. The drag queens put on a great show.

BRANDON: The best part of the date was Lips. It actually turned out to be a really fun show.

Will there be a second date?

MEGAN: Probably not. I think we had more of a friend vibe.

BRANDON: I would go out on another date with Megan. She was really fun to hang out with, and a lot of the ways she handled different situations during the night were very similar to how I would, which I really liked about her.

If you were to dress up in drag, who would you be and what song would you sing?

MEGAN: Madonna, and “Like a Virgin.”

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BRANDON: I think I would play to my height and do a really sexy Big Bird theme.

If your date were to dress in drag, who would he/she be?

MEGAN: Celine Dion?

BRANDON: I think Megan would look amazing in a super-sexy Snuffleupagusthemed outfit, and we would do a duet for our song.

Seems like Brandon was a little more into Megan than she was into him. But at Lips, where Tootie ended up leading an on-stage cheer for Brandon, our prince was treated like royalty.

Boys will be boys, and boys will be girls.

And sometimes, you can barely tell the difference—especially when there’s duct tape involved. For best results, keep an eye out for Eve’s favorite fruit (Adam’s apples).

As any mohel or squirrel would tell you, “That’s just nuts.”

The moral of the story: Going on a blind date might be scary, but it takes real balls to be a drag queen. You go, girls!

Thank you!

Gaijin Noodle + Sake House 627 Fourth Ave., Gaslamp 619.238.0567, gaijinsd.com

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PADRES HOMES GAMES

5/1-2: vs. Milwaukee Brewers 5/4-6: vs. Miami Marlins 5/7-9: vs. Colorado Rockies 5/16-17: vs. Los Angeles Dodgers 5/18-20: vs. Los Angeles Angels 5/4-6: Cinco de Mayo

Location: Old Town Admission: Free Info: fiestaoldtown.com The once two-day festival of margaritas, mariachis, cervezas and lowriders has tacked on an extra day this year.

5/8-13: CHICAGO

Location: San Diego Civic Theatre, Downtown Admission: $22-106 Info: sandiegotheatres.org See supermodel Christie Brinkley make her Broadway tour debut in this classic musical about women killing their husbands.

5/9: BJ Handjob 1.5 Workshop

A ndrew E ccles

Location: Pretty-Is Boutique, Little Italy Admission: $30-40 Info: bjm9.eventbrite.com Learn the tricks of the trade from a former exotic dancer as she shares her fellatio tips at this women-only class. Bring two bananas, cucumbers or carrots (not kidding).

5/9-6/17: Nobody Loves You

Location: Old Globe Theatre, Balboa Park Admission: $29-51 Info: theoldglobe.org Watch the world premier of this romantic comedy musical about life behind the scenes of a reality television show.

5/10-12: ITU World Triathlon San Diego

Location: Bahia Resort Hotel, Mission Beach Admission: Free to watch Info: sandiego.triatholon.org The World Triathlon returns to San Diego (where Triathlons originated) for this final Olympic-qualifying race.

5/11-5/13: Gator by the Bay Zydeco, Blues and Crawfish Festival

Location: Spanish Landing Park, Embarcadero Admission: $25-30 Info: gatorbythebay.com Feel the Cajun spirit of Louisiana at this threeday festival of Creole food, New Orleans-style bands and 8,000 pounds of crawfish.

H istoric O ld T own C ommunity F oundation

5/12: Asian Cultural Festival

Location: NTC Park, Liberty Station Admission: Free Info: asianculturalfestivalsd.com Kickoff Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month with cooking demos, traditional dancing and music, martial arts and more.

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L awrence C arlson

5/13: Cruisin’ Califas: The Art of Lowriding

Location: Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside Admission: $8-10 Info: oma-online.org Grab the homies and check out this collection of lowrider cars, bicycles and motorcycles; as well as paintings, sculptures and photographs inspired by the automotive culture.

5/13: North Park Festival of Arts

Location: Along University Ave., North Park Admission: Free ($30-35 for beer garden) Info: northparkfestivalofarts.com Indulge in the hipness of North Park at this annual festival, featuring live music and dance performances on six stages, more than 50 food and vendor booths and a Craft Beer Block.

Location: India St., between Ash St. and Grape St., Little Italy Admission: Free Info: sicilianfestival.org Carb-load at this Little Italy celebration of Sicilian-American culture, enriched by ethnic dancing, entertainment on four stages and all the pasta, Peroni and biscotti you can shake a slice of pizza at.

OMA

5/20: Bay Bridge Run/Walk

Location: One Park Blvd., Downtown Admission: $22-47 Info: mwrtoday.com/bridgerun Support the Navy’s Morale Welfare and Recreation programs by running or walking four miles from San Diego to Coronado via the Coronado Bay Bridge.

5/26: American Freedom Festival

Location: USS Midway Museum, Embarcadero Admission: $25-74.50 Info: americanfreedomfoundation.org Pay homage to the men and women who protect the red, white and blue at this Memorial Day festival featuring a concert by classic rock ‘n’ roll band Three Dog Night.

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north par k main street

S an D ie g o S icilian F estival

5/20: Sicilian Festival

OTHER MAY MILESTONES:

5/1: May Day 5/5: Cinco de Mayo 5/13: Mother’s Day 5/18: National Bike to Work day 5/20: Charles Lindbergh’s first flight (1927) 5/28: Memorial Day

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TAKING OBSTACLES RACES TO THE NEXT LEVEL! 5*3<+05. ;/, $693+J: (9.,:; 5Â (;()3, 30+,ĹŻ s and Costumeusness ridiculongly stro ged! encoura T-Shirt

for every participant

TS: S I T R A t s e ROC F (;: h 02,@ , D 6@O hn ris Cutz h e & Ch Fres h

WHO

Firs Beert

Free !

THINK

hind sight

Whatever you do, don’t look back

Ahhh, 2002, the summer of love.

Such great memories.

He was so hot.

The drinks were so cold.

May Grey seemed to burn away.

And then you caught him with your best friend.

Oops.

If you put the “ink” in “What was I thinking?” salvage your dignity by winning PacificSD’s worst tattoo contest.

Grand prize:

$2,500 worth of tattoo removal services from Laser Away

Second place: $1,000 IN LASER AWAY SERVICES third place: $500 IN LASER AWAY SERVICES To enter, email a photo of your regrettable tattoo (by June 10) to

whatwasithinking@ pacificsandiego.com

San Diego

M

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Hillcrest: 619.295.2929, La Jolla: 858.452.2929, Carlsbad: 760.929.9944 laseraway.net

Contest ends June 10, 2012. Be sure to include your name, age, neighborhood and a brief description of why you got such a lame tattoo and why you deserve to have it removed. Winners will be announced (and may have their photos published) in the July issue of PacificSD. Must 21 or older to win. No cash value, so don’t rush out and get an ugly tattoo in the hope of winning money.

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FASHION 2012 1019 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach | tuttocuoreshoes.com