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editor’s note

BY DAVID PERLOFF

“Just think of all those women on the Titanic who said, ‘No, thank you,’ to dessert that night. And for what!” —Erma Bombeck

y grandmother turns 102 on January 25. No sh!t. No blood relation, of course—it’s my stepmom’s mom. If there were one, she’d have checked out decades ago. I’ve mentioned Ruth before. She rode a horse to college and didn’t see a car until she was 15. Her first boyfriend was a guy named Ben. They flew a kite together in a thunderstorm and discovered electricity. Ruth’s one tough cookie. She was speed-walking down a hill last week when the brakes went out on her walker. No joke. Or maybe she didn’t squeeze the thing hard enough. Either way, she jackknifed and hit the pavement, breaking three ribs, one collarbone and one hip. Knocked her head, too. Poor thing. My stepmother watched the incident transpire in slow-mo and feels guilty as hell about it. “I feel like I broke my Mom,” she said. She had been walking right behind Ruth at the time, and when she told me about it, she sounded as if she were going to cry, which is out of character. She’s tough, too. (Katharine, it ain’t your fault. If you can stop gravity, I have a couple other things for you to come take a look at.) You must have seen that “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” chick on TV. She’s like 80 years old and stranded in the middle of her living room floor. I’m not trying to make light of her situation; I’m just saying—compared to Ruth, she’s a complete wuss. Ruth could kick LifeAlert chick’s ass with one hand tied behind her cracked ribs. Now, seven days after the fall, despite the ribs, the collarbone, even the hip, Ruth is already walking around. She’s bored out her crystal-clear mind in the hospital room and doesn’t understand why the doctors won’t let her go home today. Actually, they probably will tomorrow—Christmas Day. Ruth is my hero. She doesn’t make resolutions. She just plain is resolute. “F#ck carpe diem,” she says. “I’m living for this instant.” Kidding. She would never talk like that. (Sorry, Gran, couldn’t resist.) But, regardless of how she would describe it, when I see how Ruth reacts to a smile, a hug, a sunset, I can envision the man I want to become.

Resolutions are for old ladies who forgot to buy their emergencybutton necklaces. If you were to ask Ruth, she’d tell you not to promise yourself to be a better person tomorrow. She’d tell you to go outside, smile at someone, share some love and improve your surroundings before the second hand hits the 12 again. Don’t wait, do it now! (Remember, this is Ruth talking. I’m still just sitting here, typing, trying to count how many Santa cookies I’ve eaten. I really need to start cutting down on desserts.) Carpe momento, San Diego. Love you guys for making PacificSD what it is today—the city’s most popular magazine. I’m so happy to be with you as we enter our fifth year together. And happy birthday, Gran. My gift to you—new brakes. Let’s resolve to sue whomever made that damn walker you’ve been rolling around on.

David Perloff, Editor-In-Chief

(Ardo, I can’t believe you read this crap. I swear, it’s just you and my mom.)

We have a winner! It’s you! Every day in 2010, PacificSD lovers won $50 gift certificates—and then some. In fact, the world’s most adored group of magazine readers won just over $23,400 in bar tabs, gourmet dinners, concert tickets, VIP passes, clothing, spa services, laser treatments (‘cause that tattoo just had to go) and so much more. The love shower continues throughout 2011. In January, PacificSD is giving away more than 450 cheeseburgers (see page 52 for the yummy details on that), hot event tickets and gift certificates to these generous sponsors:

pacificsandiego.com { January 2011}

Happy 2011, guys! To match your unwavering sexiness, we’ve overhauled PacificSD’s look for the New Year, making it easier to navigate and more fun to read. Hope you like!

Click yourself the prize of the day at facebook.com/pacificsd. Thanks for playing from

PacificSD, the magazine that loves you back.

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staff

VOL.5

ISSUE 1

JANUARY 2011

San Diego

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

David Perloff PUBLISHERS

David Perloff Simone Perloff C R E AT I V E DIRECTOR MANAGING EDITOR

Kenny Boyer Logan Broyles

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Brandon Hernández

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Ta y l o r D o m s Steven Froehlich Dave Good Loren Graves Catharine Kaufman Cookie “Chainsaw” Randolph Pat Sherman Genevieve Suzuki

PHOTOGRAPHERS

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

SOCIAL MEDIA INTERN

Brevin Blach brevinblach.com Jeff “Turbo” Corrigan turbo.fm Stacy Marie Keck stacymariesd.com James Norton shootnorton.com Greg Ronlov Jason Gregory j a s o n @ p a c i f i c s a n d i e g o . co m Alyson Baker a ly s o n @ p a c i f i c s a n d i e g o . co m Joseph Maldonado Laura Ricci

Call PacificSD at 619.296.6300 or visit pacificsandiego.com today to benefit from dramatic countywide exposure via print, web and social media.

contributors

Steve Froehlich

Steve Froehlich is vice president of business development for BOSU® Fitness, the preeminent fitness company teaching professional athletes balance training today. “My whole life, I wanted to play professional baseball,” Froehlich says. “It’s a dream that fought a hard death, well after I finished playing Division-I NCAA football.” Froehlich chose to write about U.S. Marine intelligence officer and bikini competitor, Samantha Fishow, because his lifelong experience in sports, combined with a career devoted to training elite pro athletes, drew him to Fishow’s intensely competitive nature. See Froehlich’s “Operation Bikini Freedom,” page 32.

Pat Sherman

Pat Sherman studied writing at Southwestern and City Colleges and was a San Diego Union-Tribune staff writer for over five years. His fascination with historic structures led him to write about the El Cortez Apartment Hotel’s storied past. “Prior to its renovation, while the El Cortez was populated only by vagrants and ghosts,” he says, “its neon sign seemed to blink in Morse code: S.A.V.E. M.E.” Sherman believes Patrick Bilbray’s performance on the Imperial Beach City Council will be something to watch. “It will be interesting to see how far up the political ladder the more moderate, surf-minded son can follow his congressman father,” he says. See Sherman’s “The ‘El’ Word,” page 26, and “The Life of Brians,” page 30.

Catharine Kaufman

Catharine Kaufman, aka “The Kitchen Shrink,” is a nationally syndicated food columnist and partner in RangeClub.com, a healthy gourmet cooking blog. “I follow the advice of Hippocrates, father of modern medicine, who said to ‘use food as your medicine,’” she says. As a cancer survivor, Kaufman researches nutritional means of prevention and healing to help people avoid and recover from illnesses. See Kaufman’s “Feed Your Mind,” page 59.

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P A C I F I C S D

P R O M O T I O N

Is That a Projector in Your Pocket? If not, it should be Win this $449 MicroVision SHOWWX+™ Hand-Held Laser Pico Projector. Visit pacificsandiego.com for contest details. Plug this ultra-portable little gem into your mobile phone (or laptop, desktop, whatever) to project a crystal-clear, HD image on any surface. Wow your friends—anywhere, anytime—with YouTube videos, full-length movies, you name it. The projected display size ranges from 12” to 100”. If there’s something cooler on this planet that money can buy, please get two and send us one. In the meantime, check this thing out at microvision.com. PacificSD’s prize patrol discovered this MicroVision SHOWWX+™ Hand-Held Laser Pico Projector at the San Diego Film Festival this past fall. We begged and pleaded for one, somehow managed to score two (keeping one for ourselves :P) and now want to give one to you. pacificsandiego.com Click, love, win. Thanks for playing from PacificSD, the magazine that loves you back.

OOPS, WE DID IT AGAIN

TYPOS AND EFF-UPS 12

pacificsandiego.com {January 2011}

Diss-robed

IT’S A DATE

BE THE TALK OF THE TOWN Want to go on a PacificSD Blind Date? Matchmakers are standing by. Submit a photo and a few sentences about yourself and what you’re looking for in a date to: blinddate@pacificsandiego.com

At 2,200 square-feet, Pacific Beach’s Madison Boutique is one of the neighborhood’s largest clothing stores. They sell shoes, denim, basics, Vegas dresses, you name it, and almost everything is under $40. This is why we sent a photographer to shoot the place, but then we neglected to publish any of the photos. So, yeah, we feel silly about it. Anyway, check out Madison, 1031 Garnet Avenue, PB, 858.270.2222.

San Diego

San Diego San Diego

WHAT A TANGLED WEB

New this month on pacificsandiego.com

‘

Rock n Roll

S E R G I O F E RNAN D E Z

ianos P g n i l e u D

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH ANTONIO GATES Check out exclusive, behind-the-scenes photos from the Antonio Gates fashion shoot at his home in Poway, plus extra pics from most of the stories in this issue. Coming soon: industry discounts on bar tabs from the county’s hottest venues, insider access to concert and event tickets, blind date videos and more!

IT’S A PLAN

UPCOMING EVENTS, PLEASE COME

Friday, 12.31.11:

PacificSD’s New Year’s Eve at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego If you don’t have tickets yet, what are you waiting for? Put this magazine down immediately and go to hardrocknye.com! Even if the event is sold out, you still might be able to score a VIP table.

Friday, 1.21.11:

PacificSD’s 4-year anniversary party at FLUXX (details Page 14) DJ Cobra and Craig Smoove on the decks, Jason Whitmore on sax, FLUXX girls on fire, drinks and food on PacificSD.

Saturday, 1.29.11:

PacificSD’s spa day at Anatomy Day Spa in Hillcrest Come by for FREE eyebrow or bikini wax for the first 50 guests; FREE Vitamin B-12 injections; 45-minute facials for $10; 45-minute massages for $10; Botox for $7/unit and lots more. Anatomy Day Spa, 1205 University Ave., Hillcrest, 619.296.6224, anatomywellness.com. Get event details pacificsandiego.com

Sun, Tue, Wed, Thu - Open at 7pm, Pianos at 8pm Fri, Sat - Open at 6pm, Pianos at 6:30pm

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2011

BEER BELLY BUCKETS

What the FLUXX?! Downtown’s U.S. Grant hotel is an exquisite San Diego landmark, but it is not pictured on the December 2010 cover of PacificSD. Sadly, we wrote that it was. Dumb! The cover was actually shot at FLUXX, 500 4th Avenue, in the Gaslamp. You can tell, because it’s a picture of FLUXX, not the U.S. Grant. Duh! Sorry, RMD Group (Rodrigo, Mikey and Dave).

655 4th Ave, WWW.THESHOUTHOUSE.COM

San Diego

Please join PacificSD for our Four-YearAtAnniversary Celebration the risk of overstatement, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be a doozie. San Diego

San Diego

Friday, January 21, 2011 at M

San Diego

DJ sets by DJ Cobra and DJ Craig Smoove Live saxophone by Jason Whitmore FlUXX Dancers Additional entertainment and special guests appearances TBA Complimentary guest-list admission before 10 PM for PacificSD insiders

Four years, one love: San Diego RSVP: fluxx@pacificsandiego.com STAY INFORMED AT: pacificsandiego.com, facebook.com/pacificsd, Twitter @pacificsd

01 . 1 1

pa c i f i c s d O n the Co v e r :

NFL superstar Antonio Gates was photographed at his Poway home by Brevin Blach. He was styled by Georgie Brown, with hair and makeup by Jeanette Marie. Mr. Gates is wearing a Lacoste shirt, $88; and a Michael Kors leather jacket, $895; both available at Bloomingdale’s Fashion Valley, Bloomingdales.com. Watch and earrings, Mr Gates’ own.

THIS PAGE:

Antonio Gates is wearing a Giorgio Armani tie, $145; Hugo Boss shirt, $125; Ben Sherman vest, $99; all available at Bloomingdale’s Fashion Valley, bloomingdales.com. Blazer and earrings, Mr. Gates’ own. Photo b y b r e v i n b l a c h

features

O U T O F T H E G AT E S Life beyond the gridiron, from the mouth of NFL superstar Antonio Gates

m eat i n g p l a c es Where to connect with the county’s hottest burgers

pacificsandiego.com { January 2011}

“If I’m out in San Diego, I’m going to enjoy the sun and go grab some sushi.” –ANTONIO GATES

01 . 1 1

pa c i f i c s d

departments CURRENTS 2 3 A R i v e r s Ru n s T h r ough It

The triumphant return of an irreverent superstar

2 6 T he “ E l ” W o r d

The history and renovation of a San Diego landmark

2 8 L i tt l e B o y B l ue

The curious case of the blue ice bomber (a true story)

3 0 T he L i fe of B r i a n s

A new political dynasty has washed ashore in San Diego County

3 2 O P E R A T I O N : B I K INI F R E E D O M

Fighting for peace, wearing a two-piece

3 6 Ch i c Mag n ets

Del Marvelous boutiques lure fashionistas with style

TASTE 5 9 F ee d You r M i n d

How what you eat (grey) matters

6 2 R i s i n g S o n

The next in line grabs the reins of the family business

6 4 F u l l of S c h m i d t

The perfect pour from one of San Diego’s top ‘tenders

GROOVE 6 7 F r o m H ot to Co l d p l a y

Tracking down a rumor about a local band gone big-time

7 0 Ra d H a i r Da y

A dreaded bartender returns from “reality” BLIND DATE 7 2 F RI E ND S W I T H B E N E F I T S

Strangers in the night...that’s the plan, anyway

CALENDAR 7 8 O N E . E L E V E N

January event listings

IT’S JUST BUSINESS 8 1 A d v e r t i se r s IND E X

VOICE P h o t o B Y ( f r o m t o p ) : B r evi n B l a c h , B r evi n B l a c h , S ta c y Ke c k , T ess a A n g u s , J eff “ T u r b o ” C o r r i n g a n

pacificsandiego.com {January 2011}

8 2 O P E NIN G D O O R S Helping bar-goers break the ice

A New Vision for Nightlife

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cur re nt s coolture

first things

ch a ins aw

PROFILE

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STYLE

runs through it The triumphant return of an irreverent superstar

B y Al y s o n B a k e r Ph o t o s CO U R T ESY OF SAN DIEGO T H EA T R ES n support of her January 15 stand-up comedy performance at the Gaslampâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Balboa Theatre, entertainer extraordinaire Joan Rivers talks with PacificSD. Out of respect for Ms. Riversâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; precious time, we ask only the important questions.

(Continued on page 24.)

pacificsandiego.com

currents coolture

ch a ins aw

PROFILE

2011

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Q: If you could spend only $10,000 more on plastic surgery for the rest of your life, what work would you have done? A: Oh, I think for a woman my age, it’s all about the jawline. I think it’s very important. And for $10,000, you wouldn’t get anything. You might get half a jawline. Especially men—nobody wants to see turkey necks. They’re so unpleasant looking.

STYLE

North County

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first things

Q: The new crop of Disney celebs is already heading to rehab or worse. What do you think about that? A: I think it’s terribly, terribly sad. The more you hear about Lindsay Lohan, the sorrier you are for her, because you hear about the background and the home environment, and you go, “No wonder.” I think rehab’s the safest place for that poor girl. Q: It seems that Hollywood is full of back-stabbers. Have you ever sought revenge against anyone who wronged you during your rise to fame? A: I can’t hold a grudge. I think that’s because my life is such a lucky life. You’ll meet somebody who was a real son of a bitch to you five years ago, and you go, “Ah, look what’s happened to me since. F#ck you.” It’s easy to move forward when things are good. Q: And when times are bad? A: When times are bad, you should be so busy digging yourself out. Don’t waste the energy. Q: Speaking of busy, you do everything from acting to jewelry design to being the Celebrity

Apprentice to stand-up. What aspect of your career do you enjoy the most? A: I’m like a whore and I like whatever I’m doing. I just love the business. Q: What can San Diegans expect from your upcoming show here? A: First of all, every gay man in San Diego better show up! That’s number one, because they’re the best audience in the world. So, they should expect an awful lot of gay men. And, they should expect just having fun and telling the truth. It isn’t going be going down memory lane, ‘cause I couldn’t give a sh!t about memory lane.

“If you don’t enjoy the good times, you’re an idiot. Nothing stays forever and nothing lasts forever. And if it’s a good time today, enjoy it today, because you don’t know what the hell is going to hit you tomorrow. Really, really live with that. I know when it’s a good moment in my life, and boy, oh boy, do I appreciate it.”

An Evening With Joan Rivers Saturday, January 15 • Tickets: $28 - $88 Balboa Theatre, 868 4th Avenue, Gaslamp, 619.570.1100, sandiegotheatres.org

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PROFILE

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coolture

“...a series of additions and innovations made El Cortez the destination of choice for

“

The

WORD

The history and renovation of a San Diego landmark

W The colorful history of El Cortez’ Don Room is matched by its ornate ceiling and chandelier

pacificsandiego.com { January 2011}

B y P a t Sh e r m a n • Ph o t o s b y S T ACY K EC K hen it opened in 1927, the El Cortez Apartment Hotel was San Diego’s tallest and most elegant building. Constructed on the former site of Ulysses S. Grant, Jr.’s home at Ash Street and Seventh Avenue, the $2.5 million Spanish Colonial Revival hotel boasted jawdropping views of a San Diego Bay that, at the time, included neither the Coronado Bridge nor Harbor and Shelter Islands. During the next three decades, a series of additions and innovations made El Cortez the destination of choice for visiting celebrities and dignitaries, from President Dwight Eisenhower to Bing Crosby. Elvis Presley stayed at El Cortez in April 1956 during his first visit to San Diego. After one of his two sold-out concerts, police reportedly arrested 12 girls running naked through the halls of El Cortez in search of “The King.” Mayor Charles Dail was so incensed by the libidinal hysteria that he reportedly passed a resolution barring Presley from performing in San Diego again (Presley wouldn’t return until 1970). Senator Robert F. Kennedy appeared in El Cortez’s 3,300-square-foot Don Room for a fundraiser on June 5, 1968, the night before his assassination. Nearly collapsing minutes into his speech, Kennedy had to be rushed into the bathroom, where he vomited then briefly lay on the floor. In 1940, the art deco Sky Room lounge was added to the 15th story, providing a panoramic view of the San Diego skyline. The cost for Lobster

S ee m ore photos a t

pacificsandiego.com

visiting celebrities and dignitaries, from President Dwight Eisenhower to Bing Crosby.”

Leaders who’ve visited El Cortez Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Dwight Eisenhower; Vice President Al Gore; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Robert F. Kennedy

D ON M I RRA P HO T O G RA P H Y

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: the Don Room is set for an elegant wedding, the main entrance to the El Cortez, bright lights over the big city

Thermidor in the hotel’s dining room that year was just $4.95. The spacious Starlight restaurant was added to the 12th story in 1956, along with the world’s first exterior glass elevator. On weekends, people waited in a line stretching around the block to ride the “Starlight Express” skyward for dinner and dancing. In 1959, owner Harry Handlrey added another first—a moving walkway called the Travolator, which arched over 7th Avenue, connecting El Cortez with an annex hotel and garage (today a Holiday Inn Express) across the street. During the 1960s and ‘70s, the hotel’s image became tarnished, and the property fell into disrepair. In 1978, El Cortez was purchased by San Diego evangelist Morris Cerullo, who closed it. It was sold again in 1981, but stood as a ghostly shell for more than two decades while several renovation schemes fell by the wayside. Vagrants were known to sleep on the Travolator bridge until its demolition in 1986. The entire El Cortez complex narrowly escaped demolition, in 1990, when it received historic designation by the San Diego Historic Site Board. Anthony Block, part of the development team that returned El Cortez to its 1927 splendor, said that when he first walked into the heavily vandalized building in the 1990s, there was nothing left but graffiti, bird droppings and “empty wino bottles.” The ornate sandalwood roof of the octagonal Don Room had partially collapsed. Block and former business partner Peter Janopaul purchased the property in 1997 for $2.4 million—less than it cost to build it in 1926. Though Block said they had hoped to re-create the Sky Room experience and restore the exterior glass elevator, modern building codes precluded those plans. Instead, the duo focused their attention on the Don Room, which has become “the premier destination for wedding events,” Block says. “That’s pretty much what it’s going to be for the next generation.” El Cortez was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 for its architecture and engineering. Today, its iconic neon sign, installed in 1937, continues to illuminate the skyline, welcoming passengers landing at Lindbergh Field and serving as a beacon of history above the downtown neighborhood that’s official name is now Cortez Hill.

Celebrities who’ve visited El Cortez Ginger Rogers, Ethel Barrymore, Bo Derek, Leeza Gibbons, John Stamos, Leslie Nielson, John Ritter, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze, Jr., John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Burgess Meredith, Spencer Tracy, Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, Jack Benny, Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix El Cortez in TV and Film Film: Almost Famous (2000) and A Ticklish Affair (1963); TV: How to Marry a Billionaire and Extreme Makeover Prominent features and year added The El Cortez’s iconic neon sign with 12-foot-tall letters (added in 1937, restored in 1999) Sky Room (1940) 100-room Caribbean Wing and grand ballroom (1946) Starlight restaurant and glass elevator (1956) Travolator bridge (1959) El Cortez 702 Ash Street, Downtown, 619.232.6730, elc.cc pacificsandiego.com

currents first things

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C OOKIE “ C HAINSA W ” RANDOLPH Cookie “Chainsaw” Randolph provides a well-thawed-out perspective, weekday mornings with Dave, Shelly & Chainsaw on 100.7 Jack-FM.

Little

Boy Blue

The curious case of the Blue Ice Bomber (a true story)

anuary is the month of renewal, of fresh beginnings, of rebirth. Yet, for me at least, the idea of rebirth can never be contemplated without thinking of my original birth. It’s a strange tale, but, according to those who know me best, it explains a lot. I’d like to share it with you. My mother, San Francisco Bay Bomber roller derby queen Hallie Randolph, was midway through a flight from San Francisco to Denver in August 1955 for a game versus the Colorado Sea Munchers, when she felt her belly rumble. As was her way, she enlisted a teammate to whip her down the aisle, knocking down three passengers ahead of her in line to the lavatory. Once she squeezed into the lavatory and upon the throne, the volume of the payload surprised her, but she chalked it up to her voracious appetite. Little did she know, what hurtled from that Douglas DC-7 was not only the first and only blue-ice baby on record, but the first to survive the tumble. For her part, Hallie gave her ensuing trauma little concern, having survived much worse on the banked oval at Kezar Stadium, home of the Bay Bombers. That she soon began lactating was a bit off-putting at first, but it soon became a favored parlor trick at team parties. As told by my adoptive godmothers, the chunk of blue ice (me) crashed through the hull of a rowboat in the middle of Trout Lake, Colorado. The single occupant, one Chester Phelps, was thrown from the watercraft. Summoning a courage he didn’t know he possessed, Mr. Phelps wailed so plaintively that a rescue team from nearby Telluride beckoned. His boat having sunk, a shivering Phelps was found clinging to the chunk of blue ice (me), which had popped to the surface after initial impact. The rescuers were so curious about the chunk of blue ice (me), they hoisted it (me) into the rescue boat before they hoisted Phelps, who soon began to sink. The rescuers snagged

him with a grappling hook, which would leave him with a nine-inch scar on his inner left thigh. After dropping Phelps off at a local bait and tackle shop to get stitched up, the rescuers took the chunk of blue ice (me) to a nearby saloon for examination, but not before using it (me) to chill a bucket of Coors. After a few hours and several beers, the ice had melted and a baby wailed. To my rescuers’ astonishment and ever-lasting epiphanies, they believed a beer-baptized messiah had fallen from heaven. Blue heaven. Overwhelmed by the responsibility, my drunken rescuers swaddled me in a burlap potato sack and dumped the bundle on the doorstep of the Midnight Ranch, a combination Spanish mission/whore-house on the outskirts of town. It must have been that place that inspired my life-long devotions to the Padres and disinfectant. As you can imagine, despite the initial trauma, I proceeded to enjoy a typically idyllic American upbringing. Likely due to that burlap swaddling, I never lost a potato sack race during Telluride’s summer festivals, plus I won 11 diving competitions at Trout Lake over the years (I hope this doesn’t sound like bragging). Having now shared this deeply personal tale, I hereby open the bidding war for the movie rights to my life story. (I’m thinking it’s a perfect vehicle for Brad Pitt, spinning off his wide acclaim in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, not to mention his striking resemblance to what I wish I looked like.) The journey includes hardships (bullies who called me sh!tbaby) and triumphs (a tearful reunion with my birth-mother at a traveling carnival, where she was making ends meet as a bearded lady/alligator wrestler). The most amazing thing about this story? My mom played the entire game the night of my birth, as her Bay Bombers totally face-planted the Sea Munchers, 169-54.

Overwhelmed by the responsibility, my drunken rescuers swaddled me in a burlap potato sack and dumped the bundle on the doorstep of the Midnight Ranch, a combination Spanish mission/whore-house on the outskirts of town. It must have been that place that inspired my life-long devotions to Padres and disinfectant.

pacificsandiego.com { January 2011}

Happy New Year!

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This page: The political tides are changing for Imperial Beach town councilman Brian Bilbray, pictured here underneath the I.B. pier OPPOSITE: Father and son Bilbray celebrate their respective victories at downtownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Golden Hall on election day, November 2

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“We used to pull Mexican nationals out of our swimming pool, because they would jump our backyard fence not realizing that we had a pool.”

the life of Brians

A new political dynasty has washed ashore in San Diego County

Like Father, Like Son Comparing the region’s Republican dynasties Duncan Duane Hunter, 34, and father Duncan Lee Hunter, 62: The elder Hunter served as a congressional representative from 1981 to 2009. His son, a U.S. Marine and veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, replaced his father in the 52nd District (East County) seat in January of 2009. Duncan D. holds a degree in business administration from SDSU; Duncan L. attended Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego.

Pat S h e r m a n

B y P a t Sh e r m a n • MAIN Ph o t o b y g r e g r o n l o v andy-haired surfer Brian Patrick dotted with closure signs (his father championed Bilbray won his bid for a seat on a sewage treatment plant in Tijuana that never the Imperial Beach City Council came to fruition). on November 2—the same day his “I just felt that City Hall wasn’t really taking father, Brian Phillip Bilbray, won the leadership role that I would like them to take another term as a Representative for with the Tijuana sewage,” he says. “I thought if California’s 50th Congressional District in coastal I got on there I could really start pushing City North County. Hall to petition the federal government like we The elder Bilbray began his own career as an should. Having my dad in there helps; we can IB city councilman in 1976, eventually becoming start really putting pressure on Mexico.” that city’s mayor and a county supervisor. Bilbray says he doesn’t feel enough federal “I’ve lived in Imperial Beach pretty much my money flows into his seaside hamlet, given that whole life,” says “Pat” Bilbray, as he’s known to I.B. is home to a federal wildlife preserve and friends and locals at I.B. gathering spots such the Navy’s Ream Field. The City also collects the as Scoreboard II and Ye Olde Plank Inn. “I love lowest per capita sales tax revenue in the county. the small town kind of feel. I’ve tried to get away He believes he can help I.B. businesses prosper from it, but it keeps drawing me back.” and clean up the town’s shabby image. An avid surfer, sailor and Republican (like his Bilbray and his younger sister, Briana, father), Bilbray says he caught his first wave at attended West Potomac High School in age eight, while on a trip to Baja with his father, Alexandria, Virginia, while their father was then a county supervisor. serving as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C. As “The first time I properly dropped into a wave a boy, Bilbray says he longed to follow in his was down just south of Ensenada,” Bilbray says. father’s footsteps, but he lost his passion for “I was so proud of myself. My dad jokes that my politics after high school. While enrolled in first steps were on a boat going from San Diego courses at Mesa and San Diego City Colleges (he to San Clemente Island.” never graduated), he briefly worked in his older Bilbray was elected to complete the four-year brother’s plumbing business in Nevada. term of Councilman Fred McLean, who died of “I wanted to be more of a surfer than pneumonia in 2009. Though on his Facebook anything,” says Bilbray, who rides a six-foot page Bilbray describes his political stance as “right “potato chip” short board. of middle,” he says he is more liberal on social “I ended up going off to Europe, working on a issues than his father, favoring amnesty for illegal pleasure yacht for two years. I was the deckhandimmigrants once the border is secure and certain slash-engineer’s mate.” conditions are met. His father is strongly opposed Bilbray says he did not tell his father he was to offering citizenship to illegal immigrants. planning to run for office last year. “I’ve been knee-deep in this issue since I was “I was kind of trying to keep it a secret from little,” Bilbray says. “We used to pull Mexican him,” he says. “He was excited, but a little nationals out of our swimming pool, because they apprehensive because he knows how mellow of would jump our backyard fence not realizing that a guy I am. He didn’t think that I would be able we had a pool. I probably understand (the issue) a to take the criticism that goes along with politics, little bit better than someone from Wisconsin.” but I think I’ll be all right. When you grow up Bilbray says part of his motivation to run for around this type of stuff, you learn how to let City Council was seeing the beach continuously things roll off your back.”

Brian Patrick Bilbray, 25, and father Brian Phillip Bilbray, 59: The elder Bilbray served as Imperial Beach’s mayor before going on to join the San Diego County Board of Supervisors and the U.S. Congress. The younger Bilbray was elected to the Imperial Beach City Council in November. Brian Philip is a graduate of Southwestern College; Brian Patrick attended classes at City and Mesa community colleges. pacificsandiego.com

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Know Body What it takes to be among the few, the proud… the bikini contest winners COMPETITION SEASON workouts Weights—always lifts as heavy as possible Monday: Back/Triceps Tuesday: Chest/Biceps Wednesday: Legs Thursday: Shoulders Friday: Just cardio, minimum 30 minutes Saturday: Train weak areas with coach Meg Kruse at FitnessQuest10 Sunday: Off Sergeant Samantha Fishow takes 1st Place at the 2010 National Physique Committee Tournament of Champions, in Culver City, California.

Cardio—DAILY, except Sunday and leg day Spinning: 40-50 minutes Double-up two weeks before competition, with 30-45 minutes of intervals on different cardio machines

OFF-SEASON workouts

OPERATION: BIKINI FREEDOM Fighting for peace, wearing a two-piece

“I’m always t asked abou . s b a my It’s all diet.”

B y St e v e Fr o e hl i c h • Ph o t o s b y B r e v i n B l a c h eauty and brains—a combination too rich for most men to handle, and assuredly lethal when exhibited by a United States Marine. Add aggressiveness, a bikini, a pair of sexy stilettos and a tan, and you have the ultimate competitor, Sergeant Samantha Fishow. Fresh off her rookie season competing in the amateur ranks of the National Physique Committee (NPC) Bikini Division, Sgt. Fishow captured 1st Place in her height class (Over 5’7”) in her first two NPC contests, as well as a 1st Place Overall finish. “Fitness has always played a big role in my life,” says the 25-year-old intelligence officer. “I get out of the military early next year. Fitness has opened doors for me with personal training and created a new realm of possibilities.” Having deployed overseas three times during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Sgt. Fishow loves the adrenaline of combat and embraces challenge. Case in point: entering four competitions in her first three months was a grueling test. (Continued on page 34.)

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Same schedule, but no stress if a day is missed Reduced cardio Off-season is the time to try new things Sgt. Fishow pulls her weight in the offseason at De Anza Cove on Mission Bay

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“I get cravings like nobody’s business, and it’s really hard,” she says. “All I thought about was food, all the time. The hardest thing about competing is not giving into cravings.” Fishow finished the season strong, ranking in her final two competitions, including the NPC National Championships in Atlanta, thereby positioning herself closer to her next goal— qualifying for her Pro Card with the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness. What will she do while she’s waiting to turn pro and become a certified personal trainer? “I would join the reserves if I could deploy again,” she says. “I want to kill an enemy. Everyone knows that, though.” If looks could kill, Sgt. Fishow’s enemies would already be dead. Sitting at the dock of the bay? Fat chance for Sgt. Fishow

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS Sgt. Fishow’s Pre-Competition Diet When getting her body bikini-ready, Fishow eats only lean proteins, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats. To closely monitor her intake, she weighs and pre-packages her foods, most of which have only one ingredient. Daily Eating Schedule Five meals, plus protein shakes after workouts and 80 oz. of water 7:30 a.m. 6 egg whites 1 packet plain instant oatmeal 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. 5 oz. chicken breast 1/2-cup brown rice 5 asparagus spears 4:30 p.m. 5 oz. chicken breast 5 asparagus spears 6 - 7:30 p.m. 1 tablespoon all natural peanut butter 1/2 pita 7 egg whites, scrambled No-Nos Fast, fried, processed foods; sugar; white bread Go-to Cheat Meals Tortilla chips with salsa and guacamole Frozen yogurt Wienerschnitzel chili cheese dog on pretzel bun

“You have to h push throug when you’re ot nn tired; you ca ng ni ai tr a s is m day, ever!” 34

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“I got so desperate for carbs before a competition that I ate dog treats. They tasted good and I convinced myself it wasn’t cheating because it wasn’t regular people food. Eating the same foods all the time is boring. Let yourself cheat once a week.”

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Del Marvelous boutiques lure fashionistas with style B y Tay lo r D o m s Ph o t o s b y J a m e s N o rt o n

he forecast may call for rain, but the weekend always calls for a cute, new look. Whether beachbound or livin’ it up in a Downtown loft, a girl always needs something sassy to strut. And even though track season doesn’t start until July, there are plenty of safe bets (for turf and surf) to be found at any of these fabulous Del Mar boutiques.

Matti D 2689 Via De La Valle, Del Mar 858.523.0693, matti-d.com Something glimmers from every direction at the trésenchanting chictopia, Matti D, where countless baubles, layer upon layer of glamorous chains and an enormous disco ball compete for shoppers’ attention. There’s even a sparkling fountain with a crystal chandelier dangling above. All that glitters at this popular boutique is juxtaposed by shabby-chic furniture and sea-shell-encrusted decor. Despite the humdrum, strip-mall view from the exterior, inside, the aesthetic is pure whimsy.

Ladies, strut your scenester style with paneled leggings by David Lerner, or channel your inner urban bohème with quirky-colored vintage cowgirl boots. An ahhhhmazing selection of soft-leather jackets and an entire rack devoted to denim cutoffs would have even world-renowned (and formerly San Diego-based) fashion blogger Rumi Neely quivering with fiendish delight. Upmarket flannel shirts, slick denim and outerwear by Howe; plus hipster-fab cardigans by Caulfield Prepatory make up just a few of the notable handsome selections for the fellas. 36

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A stylish sophisticate herself, Mattie D owner Marie Ferris does more than just stay au courant on all things fabulous. Aside from sourcing many of her pieces from fashion enclaves and exclusive designers in Europe and beyond, she also launched her own line of one-of-a-kind belts consisting of vintage brooches that she meticulously reignites with semi-precious stones and inspired designs. A cultish following hungers for her unique and stunning creations. Lust du Jour: Metal-studded, sawdust-colored suede Oxford ankle boots by Sam Edelman.

The Backroom 2683 Via de la Valle, Suite C, Del Mar 858.720.1458, shopthebackroom.com The Backroom is a ladies’ lair of deluscious finds, where a solid selection of sensible footwear includes versatile knee-high suede flat-foot boots perfect for the city girl and a fine collection of UGGS ready to warm those frosty toesies. A girlie, zebra/ hot-pink theme runs across the store, while dripping glass chandeliers dangle from above, giving the space its ultra-edgy look. Stacks upon stacks of the most fabulous jeans by Hudson and True Religion lay in pristinely constructed piles; the place even stocks those coveted Seven “jeggings.” Stop in for a sweet selection of sparkly party dresses, silky tunics and cozy hippie-chic shawls, comprising an adorable array of daytime-to-dance-floor get-ups. Lust du Jour: The über-sexy Karina Grimaldi hot magenta silk, with black fringe that cuts across the center, could be worn in front for an ultra seductive look. This top plus Valentines Day equals Oh, baby!

TRE Clothing 2710 Via De La Valle, Del Mar (in the Flower Hill Promenade) 858.755.7227 (other locations: Carlsbad, 760.942.0227; 4S Ranch, 858.485.8000) As hip as it is high-quality, TRE Clothing’s ever-rotating stock features flouncy silk numbers, slinky dresses that gleam with embellishments and racks of fabulous faux furs in funky designs. Two levels of diverse offerings showcase glamorous gala attire in fresh, yet elegant silhouettes, as well as a wide selection of versatile everyday options. Lust du Jour: The black jersey top by Bordeaux has an impossibly low-draped back that’s just so seductive.

Julie’s Beachwear 1414 Camino del Mar, Del Mar 858.792.1359 Wintertime rarely has San Diegans scrambling for beachwear, but for those fortunate enough to be enjoying a vacay in the opposite hemisphere this season, this store is the hotspot. Offering a yearround selection of top swimwear lines including L*Space, Beach Bunny, VIX, Agua Bandita and Poko Pano, Julie’s is always prepared for those itching to hit the sand six months early. Come fall and winter, the boutique’s stock is chock full of cozy knits as well, most of which are sourced from fair-trade practices and outlets. Lust du Jour: A multicolored fair-trade scarf looks soft enough to nuzzle our chilly noses into. (Continued on page 38)

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Jolie Femme 2609 Via de la Valle, Suite D250, Del Mar (in the Flower Hill Promenade) 858.792.1222, joliefemmeboutique.com

BellocCio 1219 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar 858.259.8636, belloccio.com Belloccio offers a mixed-up bit of everything, including fine accessories by Cirello Jewelry, a reclaimed stainless steel line handcrafted locally and inspired by “sacred geometry.” With an enormous collection of denim styles, pretty plaid shirts and even a saucy selection of lingerie by Cosabella, the boutique is home to both unique and stylish, crowd-pleasing pieces. Lust du Jour: We’re lovin’ an adorable faux-fur vest by Jenny Han that would look sassy over a hippish blouse.

Flawless frocks require perfect beneath-the-sheath attire, and Jolie Femme offers all the right solutions, including Nu Bra’s full line and other options to help nix almost any booby dilemma. The boutique also satisfies minxy needs with salacious goodies ranging from elegant and seductive teddies by Arianne to thighhigh lacey peekaboo tights by Leg Avenue. There’s even a “badgirl corner” filled with all kinds of naughtiness guaranteed to make any girl giggle and blush. Lust du Jour: Some things are better left unsaid.

Sundancer 1418 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar 858.259.4722 Perfectly suited for the everyday gal who fancies a bit more dazzle in her daily affairs, Sundancer offers a wide selection of cute comfortables from lines including Hale Bob, Hard Tail, Sky, Michael Stars, Bailey 44 and Yummie Tummies. With a few sassy, cocktail-hour-ready pieces, plus well-constructed and impeccably tailored outwear and a unique selection of handbags, the quaint boutique is a great place to round out that haute new look. Lust du Jour: We’ve got our eyes fixated on a luscious pair of Marcia Moran dangly earrings fitted with a lux, yet earthy, light-blue druzy. 38

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Out of the Life BEYOND THE GRIDIRON, from the mouth of an NFL superstar 40

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On a breezy, early-December afternoon in Poway, Antonio Gates, the San Diego Chargers’ six-time Pro Bowl tight-end, opened his home and his heart to PacificSD. Smiling for the camera, our dapper hometown hero is a man’s-man’s fashion plate, all decked out in the latest looks from Bloomingdale’s—not counting the shoes. The luxury department store carries plenty of men’s size-14 footwear, but Mr. Gates has been nursing a toe injury and didn’t want to risk making it worse. Clothes may make the man, but when you’re rocking a five-year, $36 million contract, putting your best foot forward on the field (rather than for your favorite magazine) just makes sense. Enough of the fan chatter. Here’s what Number 85 has to say…in his own words.

P hotogr a pher :

Brevin Blach, brevinblach.com S t y list :

Georgie Brown Merch a ndiser :

Bloomingdale’s Fashion Valley H a ir

a nd

M a k eup :

Jeanette Marie, jeanjeanette-marie.com I N T E R V I E W :

JENNY CAVNAR, CHANNEL 4 SAN DIEGO

On life after football…

“I’ve thought about staying in San Diego and going into coaching, but you know the coaches gotta be there earlier than the players— and I don’t even get there on time now.”

Giorgio Armani tie, $145; Hugo Boss shirt, $125; Ben Sherman vest, $99; all available at Bloomingdale’s Fashion Valley, bloomingdales.com. Earrings, Mr. Gates’ own.

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Zegna sport shirt, $245; Michael Kors watch, $225; both available at Bloomingdaleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fashion Valley, bloomingdales.com. Earrings, Mr. Gatesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; own. .

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On fatherhood…

“I want to continue to raise my children to treat people how they would want to be treated.”

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Zegna Sport sweater, $245; Armani Collezioni pants, $195; all available at Bloomingdale’s Fashion Valley, bloomingdales.com. Earrings, Mr. Gates’ own. RLX hoodie, $145; Zegna shirt, $95; RLX pants, $125; all available at Bloomingdale’s Fashion Valley, bloomingdales.com. Earrings, Mr. Gates’ own.

On his style…

“I was the bestdressed in high school, but I think my fashion has grown over time. Back then, having a jersey on Was sweet.”

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On his signature smile...

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what people recognize. I look totally different to people on TV than I do in person.â&#x20AC;?

pacificsandiego.com

On television…

“I did some broadcasting. I was on a set in New York and I did the whole ESPN thing. I felt pretty comfortable doing that.”

Lacoste shirt, $88; Michael Kors leather jacket, $895; both available at Bloomingdale’s Fashion Valley, bloomingdales.com. Watch and earrings, Mr. Gates’ own.

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Salvatore Ferragamo coat, $2,250; Hugo Boss shirt, $95; Burberry tie, $140; Michael Kors pants, $145; Bloomingdaleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fashion Valley, bloomingdales.com. Belt and earrings, Mr. Gatesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; own.

pacificsandiego.com

PLACES

Where to connect with the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hottest burgers

Bare Back Grill barebackgrill.com This Down Under-themed spot is head and shoulders above the competition when it comes to the sheer volume of toppings (and protein) on their Big, Bare and Dirty, a monster loaded with two organic beef patties, two fried eggs, bacon, cheese and an Aussie favorite, beet root. Bare Backâ&#x20AC;ŚAustralian for burger. 624 E St., Downtown, 619.237.9990 4640 Mission Blvd., Pacific Beach, 858.274.7117

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Burger Lounge burgerlounge.com SoCal restaurants are at the forefront of the country’s responsible-eating movement, and this chain applies that approach to burgers on a grand scale. Their all-natural organic burgers are not only conscious-fortifying, but also delicious and one of the best on-the-go options in town. 922 Orange Ave., Coronado, 619.435.6835 406 University Ave., Hillcrest, 619.487.1183 4116 Adams Ave., Kensington, 619.584.2929 1101 Wall St., La Jolla, 858.456.0196 1608 India St., Little Italy, 619.237.7878

hether it’s a molten slice of cheese, crispy bacon strips or fresh avocado, nearly everything seems right at home atop a glistening patty of ground beef sandwiched between toasted buns. The versatility of the almighty burger allows it to adapt to anyone’s taste, making it a great menu staple for every type of restaurant from greasy spoon to gourmet. Modern life may have us scrambling for cost-efficient comfort, but burgers can provide our palates with a taste of affordable luxury. Savor the richness by sinking your teeth into any of these man-sized, prime-beef numbers. By Brandon Hernández • Photos by Brevin Blach pacificsandiego.com

The Grill lodgeattorreypines.com

Canada Steak Burger canadasteakburger.com

Take a trip back in time to an American standard, courtesy of this golf-course adjacent Lodge at Torrey Pines eatery. Simple and straightforward, their Drug Store Burger is so juicy that the bottom half of the bun acts as a soft, delicious sponge, soaking up all that beefy goodness.

Rife with the scintillating scent of sizzling meat, this smallish urban outpost has been serving up burgers and gyros for decades. Both of these sandwich options are great, but carnivore nirvana is achieved when they slap a heaping spatula of slow-roasted lamb atop a freshly grilled beef patty.

Being featured on the Food Network gave the place cred, but not as much as decades of milelong, wrap-around-the-building lines of ravenous patrons have. Since 1969, the Hodad’s family of “burgermeisters” has been serving up hearty two-handers in Ocean Beach. In 2011, they’ll spread that beefy love to a second location, a downtown spot at 10th and Broadway.

11480 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, 858.453.4420

3604 University Ave., Normal Heights, 619.283.4345

5010 Newport Ave., Ocean Beach, 619.224.4623

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Hodad’s hodadies.com

Neighborhood neighborhoodsd.com

Five Guys fiveguys.com

Inspired by the unpretentious, yet thoughtful grub of international gastropubs, this East Village spot is the local cornerstone of a movement toward casual, ultra-modern consumption. Neighborhood’s burgers have a fine, homogenous texture rivaling that of any restaurant in San Diego. Now, if only they’d bring back the mushroom Masala burger!

These guys have bucked the big-business trend by keeping it real—despite having more than 600 US locations, the mega-chain has adhered to an always-fresh ideology that has driven the company since its first location opened in Virginia a quarter-century ago. Everything’s fresh, including the laundry list of toppings customers can use to customize their burger experience.

777 G St., East Village, 619.446.0002

1020 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach, 858.272.2105 2445 Truxtun Rd. (in Liberty Station), Point Loma, 619.223.1679

Rocky’s Crown Pub rockyburgers.com Most pubs have a regular following of neighborhood denizens looking to knock back a few while brushing off the dust from a hard day’s work, but this spot enjoys a downright cult following for its lusciously greasy burgers that go down just as easily as the first sip of an ice-cold pint. 3786 Ingraham St., Pacific Beach, 858.273.9140

Encinitas Alehouse encinitasalehouse.com This beer haven has been open just over a year and has already created enough buzz to justify the claim they’ve staked for their “locally world-famous burgers.” A favorite among their North County coastal clientele is the 10-ounce Wagyu (Australian version of Kobe beef) burger with gruyere and gorgonzola cheeses and crispy onion straws. 1044 South Coast Hwy. 101, Encinitas, 760.943.7180 Public House opening soon at 830 Kline St., La Jolla

O’Brothers obrothersburgers.com The ideal of responsible eating is cool, but only when it resonates as well on the palate as it does with dietary dogma. Such is the case at O’Brothers at Horton Plaza, where everything is 100 percent organic, including not only the burgers, but also every topping and even all the beverages. 188 Horton Plaza, Downtown, 619.615.0909

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Stingaree stingsandiego.com Chef Antonio Friscia’s menu at Stingaree is loaded with gourmet options, not the least of which is his Brandt Beef Burger, made with organic, locally-sourced beef topped with white cheddar, savory Nueske bacon and a secret sauce. The chef’s Kobe beef burger is also top-notch. And forget the guilt—even the extra calories that come with the side of shoestring fries are easily burned off on the dance floor. 454 Sixth Ave., Downtown, 619.544.9500

If you think these photos look good enough to eat, win yourself a delicious burger from any of these restaurants at facebook.com/pacificsd: Bare Back Grill, Burger Lounge, Crazee Burger, Dirty Birds, Encinitas Alehouse, O’Brothers, Smashburger, The Local Eatery & Drinking Hole, The Waterfront 52

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Smashburger smashburger.com When typical chain restaurants roll into a new city, they tend to try winning customers over with an alreadyestablished style of food or take on a specific dish. This nationwide, Denverbased macro-burgery is different, having arrived bearing a different kind of gift: the regionally-inspired San Diego Smashburger, served with avocado, cilantro and chipotle mayo on a torta roll. Welcome, neighbor! 7610 Hazard Center, Ste. 507, Mission Valley, 619.684.1550 1000 Prospect St., La Jolla, 858.750.2531 1555 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, 858.461.4105

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Nicky Rotten’s nickyrottens.com Big, unwieldy burgers are the name of the game at this gangster-motif bar and grill, where no one goes hungry thanks to offerings like the Dirty Sanchez (chili, jalapeños, pepper Jack, guacamole), Pizza Burger (pepperoni, provolone, marinara) or Da Ultimate Burga: 2½ pounds of beef with all the fixin’s (yours for free if you can finish it). 560 Fifth Ave., Downtown, 619.702.8068

The Waterfront waterfrontbarandgrill.com When it comes to food, quality is often inversely proportional to serving size. At this beloved Little Italy sanctuary, however, quality comes in half-pound servings via an array of burgers that have helped keep the joint packed since it was actually on the water, back before the San Diego airport was built. 2044 Kettner Blvd., Little Italy, 619.232.9656

Crazee Burger crazeeburger.com Exotic proteins are the name of the game at this North Park spot, serving up burgers made of everything from ground antelope and alligator to ostrich and kangaroo. With dozens of options on the menu, Crazee Burger is a great choice for burger fans craving the ultimate in variety. 4201 30th St., North Park, 619.282.6044 Second location opening soon in Old Town

Boomerangs boomerangburgers.com This cult favorite is stocked with a smorgasbord of top-shelf toppings. Choose from an astounding 15 cheeses, 32 sauces, 40 veggies and other toppings, but only after deciding whether all that goodness is to be piled atop a patty made from beef, turkey, buffalo, lamb, chicken or…bratwurst?! It’s all about building from the ground (meat) up. 4577 Clairemont Drive, Clairemont Mesa, 858.483.9500

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Dirty Birds dirtybirdspb.com Tell the guys behind the counter to take your burger and stuff it! It’s not an insult, it’s how they do things at Dirty Birds, where the Ja-Colby, like the majority of the burgers on the menu, is stuffed with wholesome goodness (in this case, Colby Jack cheese) then topped with a mound of fried onion strings and slathered with their specialty “dirty” ranch sauce. 4656 Mission Boulevard, Pacific Beach, 858.274.2473

The Local thelocalsandiego.com At this popular drinking hole, a half-pound of beef (or a vegetarian Boca patty, for those so inclined) is regarded as a blank canvas on which to create a customer’s dream burger. They provide the basics—lettuce, tomato, onion—but beyond that, it’s a build-it-yourself deal, and no combination is out of bounds. Hankering for something as outlandish as Gouda, guacamole and teriyaki sauce? Can (and will) do. 1065 Fourth Avenue, Downtown, 619.231.4447

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A D V E R T I S E M E N T

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Dr. Christopher Walinski is a widely respected expert in Laser Dentistry. He practices Minimally Invasive Dentistry in Hillcrest, and has published a book that’s been translated into 10 languages. Between patients, Dr. Walinski took a moment to tell us about the spa located inside his clinic and why chewing gum with Xylitol is the worst kept secret in Europe. What inspired your dentistry career? Dr. Walinski: I’m really not sure. I hated going to the dentist when I was a kid. Hated the pain. Hated the smell. Hated the sound of the drill. In hindsight, I think that’s why I’ve become so compassionate with my own patients. What sets your dentistry practice apart from others in San Diego? Dr. Walinski: Three things. Obviously, the fact that Zen Diego has a fullblown spa is just a bit different. Secondly, I practice Minimally Invasive Dentistry (MID), which is a very conservative approach to patient care, where we try to do as little as possible and leave as much of the natural, healthy tooth structure as possible. And, the fact that I’ve been called an expert in Laser Dentistry is also pretty unique. My book on laser dentistry has been published around the world in ten languages. That still amazes me! Why the marriage of spa care and dental needs? Dr. Walinski: I always thought it would be really nice to offer our patients a head and neck massage after longer dental appointments. I didn’t think people would book their massage appointments at a dental office, but offering a unique service would be a great way to differentiate our business from other, more established dental offices in the area. Well, at the same time I was actively adding staff to Zen Diego, a very prominent spa in La Jolla was shutting

Zen Diego Dental Arts

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its doors. This gave us an amazing opportunity to bring on some highly experienced spa staff members and gave us a boost right away, since they were able to start working even before our dental equipment had been installed. We now offer the services of a male or female massage therapist, aesthetician and acupuncturist who has a Masters degree in Chinese medicine. What’s one thing most non-dentists don’t know that we really should? Dr. Walinski: When I get a chance to step up onto my soapbox, I tell everyone about Xylitol. It is a naturally-occurring sugar that STOPS cavities PERIOD. Two of my favorite brands are Zellies (www. zellies.com) and Epic (www.epicdental. com), which actually comes with a cavity-free guarantee. If you use Epic gum or mints and ever get another cavity, they will give you a full refund. Xylitol is also very effective in decreasing ear infections in infants and toddlers, since cavities and ear infections are caused by similar bacteria. Ask a friend or relative in Europe about Xylitol, and you’ll find that it’s benefits are common knowledge.

There are so many more advantages to using a laser instead of a scalpel or drill, but I don’t want this to turn into a lecture.

Why do you think some dentists still drill instead of using a laser? Dr. Walinski: It’s just a matter of educating them so they completely understand the benefits of using a laser instead of a drill. One of my most gratifying experiences as an instructor is when a dentist “gets it” and changes their practice philosophy to incorporate some of the less invasive technologies like lasers and digital radiography instead of regular x-rays. Drills cause heat and vibration, creating tiny cracks. If you have ever had a tooth break for apparently no reason, you have experienced the result of these tiny cracks caused by drilling the tooth. Drilling also causes the cavity preparation to be coated with debris. This results in fillings that are sensitive or fall out. There are so many more advantages to using a laser instead of a scalpel or drill, but I don’t want this to turn into a lecture.

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A D V E R T I S E M E N T

The Undisputed Difference The Heavyweight Champs of San Diego Fight Training By

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Undisputed training center is nestled on the corner of 16th and K Streets in downtown’s East Village. Marked with intentional graffiti and secured with barbwire fences, Undisputed gives off an ominous first impression. The regular passerby would see the MMA/ Boxing/Jiu Jitsu signage as a warning to all that, here, on this block, is a place to get hurt and hurt others. Don’t judge a book by its cover. Following his vision, Undisputed downtown owner Ted Johnson opened this location in 2008. A long-time boxing and martial arts enthusiast, Johnson wanted to create a community training center that facilitates the beginner, the fitness enthusiast and the professional, all under the same roof. “I just saw the need for a place that people could come and—no matter what experience level—learn something and get a great workout,” Johnson says. With a growing membership base of 400, Undisputed has created success by offering a huge variety of classes (set at times to accommodate anyone’s schedule) for a price that no downtown facility can beat. Beginners through intermediates benefit from first-class

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instruction and individual attention not often found in group-fitness today. “People come in here all the time to get in shape and accidentally learn how to fight,” says one of Undisputed Muay Thai instructors Brett Albee. The facility’s vast open space and rugged equipment allow for unorthodox training applications that have created quite a buzz among fitness fanatics. Members can devise Spartanstyle workouts, implementing tractor tires, sledgehammers and large vessel ropes. Featuring only the essential equipment, an outdoor weight yard, reminiscent of Venice, California’s Muscle Beach, offers that old-schoolgym vibe that traditional bodybuilders made famous. The full-size, regulation boxing ring makes up-and-coming local pros feel like heavyweight champs.

“The presence of Undisputed in the area has helped other businesses sustain and attract new business,” says one local business owner.

“This place is like the Cheers of gyms,” says Undisputed member Ryan Girard. “Sometimes you want to go where everybody, including the owner, knows your name.” Undisputed has impacted its surrounding area by pioneering the business community past 15th Street. “The presence of Undisputed in the area has helped other businesses sustain and attract new business,” says one local business owner. Kids from all over the neighborhood take part in a youth outreach program called The Undisputed Kids Foundation, which, for a minimal price, allows local youth to take part in instructional boxing classes focused on positively channeling energy and staying out of trouble. A family environment that reaches out to its community and provides a first-class service at a great price is the Undisputed difference. See you there.

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in nature, its natural state. (You eat the potato, not the potato chip.) Once you start changing the quality of a naturally grown food by adding preservatives to extend its shelf life, or artificial flavors to change its taste, you rob yourself of all the nutritional value food can provide and end up doing your body more harm than good. The more processed your food is the harder it is for your body to digest, absorb, and eliminate it. Processed foods, like those hanging out in a vending machine, offer your body very little nutritional value and leave your body feeling sluggish and depleted. The only thing you have to lose is weight. So what are you waiting for? Log on to Foodatfit.com and sign up for meals that are designed to nourish your body, satisfy your taste buds and satisfy your cravings.

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Feed Your Mind How what you eat (grey) matters

B y C a th a r i n e L . K a u f m a n ( a k a T h e K i t c h e n Shr i n k ) hen it was analyzed during autopsy, Albert Einstein’s brain was shown to have 73% more glial cells than average. These cells form during the embryo’s development, so Mama Pauline must have been eating right while her budding genius was still in utero. Leonardo Da Vinci enjoyed a popular Renaissance dish of grilled eel and orange slices, and studies have shown that eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like carefully chosen seafood, may help boost IQs. Beethoven had a penchant for strong coffee (60 beans to the cup), the Dalai Lama is a chocoholic, and Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel was a fan of green eggs and ham (made green by healthy herbs, no doubt). Einstein said, “There’s a genius in all of us.” If he’s right, then perhaps all we have to do to realize our mental potential is eat healthy foods. Here’s a list of no-brainers.

TOP: An assortment of brain foods from Jimbo’s market ABOVE: Piatti chef Pepe Ccapatinta presents his salmonstuffed avocados

Fish and Tips Swap red meat for red snapper or other omega-3 fatty acid powerhouses (especially wild-caught, deep sea, cold-water varieties) including salmon, herring, sardines and mackerel. One of the omega-3s in fish, DHA, is a key building block in components of grey matter. So, a diet rich in omega-3s may keep brain cells well-lubricated and vibrant, improving mood, brain-wiring and cell-to-cell communications. That all adds up to quick thinking. Wild-caught salmon is also a rich source of niacin, which is believed to ward off age-related cognitive decline from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. As Dr. Seuss says, “One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish.” Pepe Ccapatinta, executive chef at Piatti in La Jolla Shores, puts sardines, wild-caught salmon and anchovies on his A-list of brain foods. “A lot of people don’t like sardines because of a bad experience as kids, but they need to move beyond that (Continued on Page 60) pacificsandiego.com

taste FROM TOP: An açaí bowl, which is the most popular way the berry is enjoyed in Brazil, is like a sorbet sundae; bushels of freshly harvested açaí; chef Claire Allison spices it up with rosemary; lamb sandwich marinated in rosemary and mint

W H AT ’ S C O O K I N G DINING OUT

and add them to their diet,” he says. Ccapatinta decorates pizzas and antipasti platters with anchovies, balancing the salty fish with sweet tomatoes and fresh mozzarella. Another of his faves is wild-caught salmon salad stuffed inside avocado halves.

C O C K TA I L

Brazilian Bombshell Açaí (meaning “fruit that cries” in Portuguese) is a brainy berry packed with antioxidants, omega fatty acids, amino acids, fiber, vitamins (A, B6, C and E), iron and calcium. A Brazilian import linked to staving off age-related brain ailments, açaí is available as a juice, fruit pulp or freezedried powder. Its rich taste is a blend of purple berries and bittersweet chocolate, making it delightful in smoothies and traditional Brazilian frozen açaí bowls.

Feeling Berry Good Blueberries are packed with a variety of micronutrients including Vitamins B6, C and K, along with manganese, antioxidant pigments and phytochemicals attributed to enhancing long-term memory and boosting cognitive processing. Studies have also shown that wild blueberries may lessen deterioration in Alzheimer’s patients by shielding the brain from free-radical attack. So, toss them in your muffins, cereal and yogurt, and rejoice. (Stoli Bluberi vodka may make you feel smart for an hour or two, but a “brain food” it is not.)

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(better jot them down to be safe) Rosemary not only jazzes up boring chicken and tames the gamey flavor of lamb, but also snaps memory back into shape. The aromatic evergreen of Mediterranean roots contains carnosic acid, which has been found to put the skids on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s by warding off free radicals from the brain. Claire Allison, chef/owner of Claire’s on Cedros in Solana Beach, recommends her hormone-free lamb sandwich, marinated in rosemary and mint (picked fresh from her restaurant’s on-site garden). “When you see rosemary, you just want to grab it in your hands, smell it and crush it,” says Allison. “The fresh, clean, piney

fragrance invigorates you and transports you to a warm, sunny Mediterranean clime. We’re so fortunate it grows here, copiously, like a weed.”

Use Your Bean Arabica rules—more than 100 million people in this country can’t start their day until they’ve had their java jolt. In its most pristine form (sans the double-caramelmocha-crème-brûlée-like infusions) coffee is now, after decades of debate, widely considered to be a high-octane brain fuel when consumed in moderate amounts. The caffeine, in particular, has been shown to boost short-term memory, increase focus and enhance problem-solving skills. In addition to being a brain-friendly upper, the coffee bean is packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, just like its close cousin, the cocoa bean. Pure, dark chocolate with a cocoa content of over 70 percent is a brainstimulating food packed with catechins and antioxidant flavonoids—eight times the number found in strawberries. This blissful bean endowed with aphrodisiacal properties elevates mood and cognitive functions, so indulge guiltlessly. “We’re especially happy to give people a brainy sweet chocolate fix,” says vegan Jim “Jimbo” Someck, owner of Jimbo’s natural markets across San Diego. Jimbo’s not only embraces “brain foods,” but also carries them in organic, hormone- and antibioticfree varieties. “Anytime you eat simply, you’re more alert, sleep better and wake up with a clearer head,” says Someck.

Go Nuts How fitting it is that walnuts, loaded with brain-boosting plant-based omega-3s (i.e., alpha-linolenic acid), resemble miniature hemispheres of the brain? The fatty acids in these little gems, which are said to increase cognitive functioning as omega-3s from animal sources do, have also been linked to blocking signals produced by free radicals that could eventually create inflammation in the brain. Walnuts have also been found to hike melatonin levels, one of the body’s sleep-regulating hormones. Crazy? Maybe. Nuts? For sure. S ee m ore photos a t

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RISING SON The next in line grabs the reins of the family business

B y G e n e v i e v e A . Su z uk i Ph o t o s b y J e f f “ T urb o ” C o rr i g a n s Jewish deli D.Z. Akin’s bounds into its third decade, another generation of Akins has stepped up to the plate to continue pushing Matzo ball soup on the masses. Having studied film at USC in LA, Elan Akin, 29, never imagined returning home to assume general management duties of his family’s restaurant just east of SDSU. He was working as a television producer for HGTV when his parents, Debi and Zvika (“D” and “Z”) told him they were thinking of selling the place. His older brother, Neal, who everyone had thought would take over the business, had opted instead for a career in real estate. Younger brother, David, works in the bakery, but at age 19, he’s still too young to take over. “[Neal] always wanted to do this. I didn’t feel strongly either way,” Akin says. Nevertheless, when D and Z told their middle son about the possibility of a non-Akin-owned deli, he returned to San Diego without regret, despite admitting that, at the time, he didn’t think he was “leaving-leaving” LA for good. Akin soon warmed to the idea of

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: D.Z. Akin’s famous Reuben sandwich; Elan Akin, the new GM; the mighty elixir, matzo ball soup

A Family of Fare

Keeping it in the family runs in the family when it comes to the Akins and the Epsteins. Brian’s 24, a Gaslamp restaurant popular among the post-clubbing crowd, was passed on to the next generation of Epsteins after its owner, Steve Epstein, died a few months ago. Steve was Debi Akin’s (the “D” in D.Z. Akins) brother. He was also a good friend of PacificSD, offering warm support and kind guidance. We miss him a lot. Working with his mother, Steve’s son, Brian, has asumed the role of running the restaurant, which serves up breakfast 24 hours a day. Coincidentally, Brian’s 24 was not named for the new guy in charge. “There had been two Brian’s restaurants in San Diego, but eventually the owners split the businesses, and the one who owned the downtown Brian’s sold it to my family,” explains Elan Akin, Brian Epstein’s cousin. “The Epsteins did wonders to improve the restaurant into a success, day and night alike. They’re especially proud of their pancakes—fresh daily with all real ingredients really make these hotcakes stand out.”

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playing a larger role at D.Z. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a family business, after all, and who better to help keep the name and tradition alive? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s my parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; being here that made the business,â&#x20AC;? he says. Zvika, originally from Israel, was working as a kosher butcher in Los Angeles when he met Debi. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They fell in love over a bowl of chopped liver,â&#x20AC;? says Akin with a chuckle. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a very Jewish story.â&#x20AC;? That love the couple had for each other spilled over into the restaurant they opened together. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The deli, when it started, was tiny,â&#x20AC;? Akin says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a family business and luckily it was a successful family business. That meant my parents worked a lot.â&#x20AC;? Now, the workload is largely his, and Akin has embraced the challenge. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is the beginning of the future,â&#x20AC;? he says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;but you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t change something that works.â&#x20AC;? With one eye focused on modernization, Akin remains eager to preserve the deliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heritage. As itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always been, diners will continue to be able to nosh deli pickles at the table while the waitstaff

serves up personality-plus. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new, among other things, is that the once-photocopied table tents have been replaced with digitallyprinted, full-color versions. Akin has also created the Noshers Club, an opt-in email program that notifies customers of specials and discounts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just to sort of acknowledge that there are always things to evolve to,â&#x20AC;? he says. Mother Debi continues to offer input, such as the addition of designer salads to whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been mostly a traditional Jewish deli menu. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For every client who comes in wanting a Reuben,â&#x20AC;? Akin says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;they might have a daughter whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d want a salad.â&#x20AC;? Despite leaving the glitz of show biz behind, Akin regards his (sorta) new career as a wonderful opportunity. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not everyone has a successful business handed to them,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If I ever felt the need for that side of me to come out, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d shoot a commercial.â&#x20AC;?

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JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED In addition to the Reuben sandwich (â&#x20AC;&#x153;smoked, pickled meats are the icons of the deliâ&#x20AC;?), D.Z. Akinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s general manager Elan Akin says the deliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s defining menu item is matzo ball soup, which is not only delicious but also a favorite elixir among under-the-weather customers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We joke that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jewish penicillin,â&#x20AC;? he says. D.Z. Akinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 6930 Alvarado Rd., 619.265.0218, dzakinsdeli.com

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Full of Schmidt

The perfect pour from one of San Diego’s top ‘tenders By Brandon Hernández

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n November 30, eight of our Finest City’s finest bartenders converged on one of San Diego’s most respected cocktail destinations, downtown’s El Dorado, to determine, once and for all, who is the pourest of the pour. Eight mixologists battled in a head-to-head, Iron Chef-style competition that was conducted in single-elimination rounds where only three types of liquor were allowed. Adding to the challenge, each round featured a surprise ingredient that had to be added to the mix. The action got off to a shaky start, and when all the glasses were half-empty, it was Anthony Schmidt from the East Village hideaway, Noble Experiment (the speakeasy hidden inside Neighborhood), that won top honors and bragging rights with his Wry Grin, a minty sweet-and-sour tipple with a rye whiskey base. “Serving five judges with various interests can be challenging, so I tried using a drink that appeals to as wide an audience as possible,” says Schmidt. “It’s an approachable drink for the novice palate, but the use of Fernet Branca 64

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[an Italian digestif made with herbs and spices] adds deep complexity and appeals to the more experienced drinker.” Despite being a technician who’s studied the art of craftbartending at spirit-centric spots across the country, Schmidt admits to having been anxious about the competition, which was stacked with bartenders that are not only local titans, but also some of his best friends. “I respect all the pros who had the guts to show up at the event at El Dorado,” he says. “It takes courage to put yourself out in the open like that. I know I was nervous as all get out.” Victory is sweet, but it’s the satisfaction of a job well done that drives this intoxicating innovator. “I love Noble Experiment because it gives me every possible tool I need to make sure every customer who sits on the other side of the bar is as happy as possible,” Schmidt says. “The rest is up to me. If I make the right decisions, if I study up on cocktails and ingredients, if I’m nice and engage the golden rule, I get instant gratification—happy new friends.” Cheers to that.

Top of the Glass El Dorado’s bartender contenders Jacqueline Coulon Starlite Garth Flood Cowboy Star Eric Johnson Craft and Commerce Seth Laufman URBN Eric Plambeck Jaynes Gastropub Anthony Schmidt Noble Experiment Mathew Stanton El Dorado Tim Stevens Prohibition

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CLOCKWISE FROM OPPOSITE PAGE: Anthony Schmidt, Noble Experiment; Matthew Stanton, El Dorado; Seth Laufman, URBN; Anthony Schmidt takes 1st Place; Jacqueline Coulon, Starlite; Tim Stevens, Prohibition; Eric Plambeck, Jaynes Gastropub; Garth Flood, Cowboy Star; Eric Johnson, Craft & Commerce

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Tracking down a rumor about a local band gone big-time

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ack in the US from a recent European tour with the Killers’ frontman, Brandon Flowers, San Diego alt rockers Transfer are poised to match their success abroad right here at home. Across the pond, the British press showered our local boys with accolades. Q Magazine placed the band among its “10 New Faces of 2010,” and Clash Magazine included the quartet in its “Ones to Watch” feature.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Matthew Molarius, vocals and guitar; Jason Cardenas, lead guitar; Shaun Cornell, bass; Andy Ridley, drums (all shot by Tessa Angus at Brixton Academy, London)

(Continued on Page 68) pacificsandiego.com

groove It’s been rumored that Transfer will be d w hitting the road with n Coldplay in the coming months, which is why I find myself lost in BFE Kearny Mesa, looking for White Horse Recorders—the studio that Transfer owns. It’s a fact-finding mission, which is off to a poor start considering I can’t find the address. Three U-turns later, I manage to park and interrupt the band in the middle of a practice session. They agree to sit down with me. I lead with the question at hand: “What’s up with your tour with Coldplay?” <crickets> I couldn’t tell if it was the first they had heard of it or if I had somehow been leaked some confidential info. Andy Ridley, the drummer, broke the silence. “We’re into putting good things in the atmosphere and seeing what happens, like with

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THIS PAGE: Transfer’s lead guitarist, Jason Cardenas OPPOSITE: DJ Antony Ross moves ahead

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that AC/DC tour coming up…not really sure how they’re gonna like opening up for us.” With Ridley’s English accent, you can’t be sure what’s true. We spend an hour catching up on the last six months, which has been anything but slow for Transfer—their opening of the studio, their recording and online releases of “Future Selves” and “Losing Composure” and their love of San Diego. “When you hit that Mission Bay turn on the drive, when you see downtown, that’s why I live here,” Ridley says. “We’re looking forward to playing Soundwave [in Mission Beach]. It’s been a while since we’ve been home,” says bassist Shaun Cornell, cleaning his shotgun as he talks. When asked how the tour with Brandon Flowers went, frontman Matt Molarius understates that “the swell around the last tour was a good response.” But none of it gets me any closer to the Coldplay rumor.

When I push, Molarius finally offers up a solid lead. “Chris Martin and Andy [Ridley] were actually soccer mates back in England,” he says. (Chris Martin, Coldplay’s lead singer, is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow.) Ridley confirms, “Me and Elton John, also.” Yeah, that sounds reasonable—Chris Martin, Sir Elton and Andy Ridley, all doing bicycle kicks on the Queen’s lawn. Cornell cuts Ridley off before he can elaborate. “I don’t want you to print that,” he says. “It’s nepotism.” And that’s where they end the interview, leaving me lost, again, as to whether or not Transfer may soon be embarking with Coldplay on the biggest tour of their career. See Transfer perform live in concert New Year’s Eve at: The Casbah 2501 Kettner Boulevard, Little Italy 619.232.4355, casbahmusic.com

See excl ive photos and us st DJ Anthon ream most recent yreRoss’ and dance mixleases pacificsandieg es at o.com.

HEAR NOW The latest and greatest from one of San Diego’s rising-star DJs

B y Tay lo r D o m s Ph o t o b y J a m e s N o rt o n nthony Ross has gotten plenty of local press of late, but his latest accomplishment has taken the Voyeur resident DJ global. The recent news is big—world-renowned superstar DJ Tiesto played Ross’ track, “Feel Me” (Enton Mushi Remix), on his wildly popular podcast/radio show, “Club Life.” Such exposure can propel a music-maker to the top of the charts. Case in point—Ross’ release “Feel Me To” just hit number 35 (and is still climbing) on the taste-making hub for electronic music, beatport.com’s Progressive House chart. Ross’ yet-to-be-released track “Funky (Like it, Like it)” has already been signed by German DJ/producer Tocadisco’s label, TOCA45. His remix of “Freak” by UK Producer Mike Foyle has been swooped up by Smu[th] Music, and his remix of “Camberwick Green” by Chris Dunn is forthcoming at Hardphaze Recordings. All of these releases are slated for early 2011, so it’s sure to be a happy New Year for Ross.

DIDJA KNOW: Anthony Ross is half of the indie-electro production duo Bubblegum Sci-Fi (featured in PacificSD’s August 2010 issue). He also produces and DJs under the pseudonym Grey Ghost, which also happens to be his dog’s nickname. S ee m ore photos a t

januaryconcertcalendar

1/1: Pato Banton @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com* 1/1: Porn & Eggs @ El Dorado, eldoradobar.com 1/7: Pharcyde @ 4th&B, 4thandbevents.com* 1/7: 40 oz. to Freedom @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com* 1/8: Anthony B @ Soundwave, wavehousesandiego.com 1/10-11: Pinback @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com 1/11-12: Thirty Seconds to Mars @ House of Blues, hob.com 1/13: Cedric Gervais @ Voyeur, voyeursd.com 1/13-14: Rebelution Winter Greens Tour @ House of Blues, hob.com* 1/14: Rolling the Stones @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com* 1/14: Teengirl Fantasy w/ Pictureplane @ Soda Bar, sodabarmusic.com 1/14: Feel the Noise w/ Saul Q & Gabe Vega @ U31 Bar, myspace.com/u31sd 1/14: Baths w/ Lesands @ the Loft at UCSD, theloft.ucsd.edu 1/15: Kevin Hart @ San Diego Civic Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org 1/15: Pase Rock @ U31 Bar, myspace.com/u31sd 1/15: We Came As Romans @ Soma, somasandiego.com 1/16: Willie Nelson @ Pechanga, pechanga.com 1/18: The Album Leaf @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com 1/19: Jagermeister Music Tour @ 4th&B, 4thandbevents.com 1/19: No Use for a Name @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com 1/20: Bone Thugs-n-Harmony @ House of Blues, hob.com 1/20: TV Girl @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com 1/21: Best Coast w/ Wavves @ Soma, somasandiego.com 1/21: Bonnie Raitt @ Pala Casino, palacasino.com 1/21-22: OzomatLI @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com* 1/22: Dashboard Confessional @ House of Blues, hob.com* 1/22: Le Castle Vania @ Voyeur, voyeursd.com 1/22: Styx @ Pechanga, pechanga.com 1/23: Guster @ House of Blues, hob.com 1/27: Infected Mushroom @Fluxx, fluxxsd.com* 1/29: Thursday @ Soma, somasandiego.com *PacificSD will be giving away tickets to this show via Facebook, Twitter and pacificsandiego.com. Add us, follow us, click us!

pacificsandiego.com pacificsandiego.com

sho

bar

Kelly Sharbaugh adds Jameson Whiskey to Quality Social’s homemade pickle brine

l yc

groove

-i

spin

RAD HAIR DAY

A dreaded bartender returns from “reality” By Dave Good Ph o t o b y J e f f “ T urb o ” C o rr i g a n

elly Sharbaugh thinks her blond dreads may have been the ticket that got her a free trip to Samoa in 2009. Once on the island, she joined the Galu tribe on the long-running reality show Survivor—she lasted 24 out of 39 days. People Magazine’s TV Watch says Sharbaugh was “shocked and dumbfounded” to be, as they say, “voted off the island.” Banished from her tribe, she returned home to West Hollywood (where she lived at the time) some 14 pounds lighter. “You just didn’t really eat. Period. Well, you could eat weird sh!t, or just not eat,” she says. When she moved to California from her native Delaware, the hairdresser-turnedmixologist wasn’t into sporting the blond Barbie look that has infiltrated the West Coast. “I wanted something different,” she says. Despite appearances, however, this is no Rasta chick. “I definitely wear lots of makeup and dress girly.” These days, Sharbaugh, 26, is on a different kind of adventure, doing a whole lot better than just surviving behind the bar at Quality Social in East Village, where she’s worked since the place opened in March. “Right now, I’m enjoying the freedom and the lifestyle bartending gives me, and being able to travel whenever I want,” she says. “I meet a lot of interesting people. For the foreseeable future, this is where I’ll be.” Given how her regulars flock to Quality Social when she’s behind the bar, it seems that Sharbaugh won’t be voted off this gig any time soon. 70

pacificsandiego.com {January 2011}

at photos S ee m ore o.com

nd pacificsa

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Cures What Ails Ya’ Using locally-sourced ingredients, Quality Social cures all of their own charcuterie in-house. (They even make their own ketchup and mustard.) Nonbelievers are encouraged to check out the on-site meat-locker and consider the fact that the bar’s phone number is 619.501.PORK. Quality Social 789 6th Avenue, Downtown, 619.501.7675, qualitysocial.com

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love D AT E

FRIENDS WITH

BENEFITS Strangers in the night… that’s the plan, anyway

b y d a v i d p e rl o f f Ph o t o s b y B R EVIN B L AC H uring the day, Jessica promotes nightlife. She’s a publicist for a prominent local public relations firm and focuses her energy on servicing the company’s hospitality accounts. For work and pleasure, she’s always on the scene. She grew up in San Diego and seems to know everybody in town. Finding a guy Jessica doesn’t know is a tall order, but tonight’s date is meant to be a blind one. Failure is not an option. J.R. is a mechanical engineer from Mission Viejo, California. He moved to San Diego less than a year ago and isn’t friends with Jessica on Facebook (a PacificSD blind date prerequisite), so it feels like a safe bet that they haven’t met before. As we speak, J.R. is riding in style in a mega-stretch N Style limousine. He’s being chauffeured from his downtown apartment to Jessica’s place in Pacific Beach. Before the vehicle exits The Five at Grand/Garnet, let’s review the pre-date interviews.

What do you do for fun? JESSICA: Just about anything social. I love going out downtown, grabbing dinner with friends, going to Padres games, going up to LA—whatever I feel like at the moment. J.R.: Anything to do with the beach—Jet Ski, volleyball, boating, fishing, et cetera.   What makes you a good catch? JESSICA: I’m smart, funny, have a great job, am down to earth and just like to have fun no matter what I’m doing or where I’m at. J.R.: I’ve had my fair share of practice in relationships, so my relationship commonsense is on point.

Fill in the blanks: In general, the people I date are “blank” and “blank.” JESSICA: Outgoing and funny. J.R.: Social butterflies and electric personalities.

pacificsandiego.com {January 2011}

How and why did your last relationship end? JESSICA: We were just in two different places in our lives. J.R.: Restraining order. What’s your favorite thing about yourself? JESSICA: Not taking myself too seriously— definitely not afraid to laugh and have fun with things. Life’s too short to be uptight. J.R.: My drive.

What’s your biggest fear? JESSICA: Bad first dates. Oh, and heights. J.R.: Hot air balloons. What animal are you most like and how? JESSICA: A polar bear—I’m cute and fluffy, but don’t f#ck with me. J.R.: A dolphin. Don’t all girls like dolphins?

fter the limousine pops over to PB to collect Jessica, the daters pop a bottle of champagne for the ride north to dinner at Flavor Del Mar. As they step out of the limo in front of Del Mar Plaza, Jessica and J.R. flicker amid flashes from PacificSD’s paparazzo. There isn’t enough U! O Y space in the magazine to print 100 K photos of the couple disembarking their chariot, but it’s a blast to watch passers-by stop, whisper and point, expecting to spot someone N Style Limousine, famous. Works every time. 619.866.1616,

What are you looking for in a date, physically and in terms of personality? JESSICA: I like the standard—tall, dark, handsome, athletic—but personality is definitely important. No douche bags, please. I don’t care how hot you are. J.R.: I like a girl that has a good balance, physically, mentally and spiritually. Bubbly personality helps, too.

PacificSD: What do you do for a living? JESSICA: I’m a publicist at J Public Relations, a hospitality and luxury-lifestyle public relations firm based here in San Diego. We represent restaurants, nightclubs, hotels, et cetera, all over the world. Love my job! J.R.: I am an engineer.

(Continued on page 74)

nstylelimos.com

love (Continued from page 72 )

Flavor of the Day

D AT E

Dinnertime in Del Mar

t’s Friday night, and Flavor Del Mar is packed. In the main bar/lounge area, after-work stock broker types in loosened ties are rubbing elbows with dudes in flannels and dudettes in high-boots and short-shorts. Despite their differences in appearance, the factions are comingling well (and you just know that suits and scenesters alike will all end up across the street at Jimmy O’s later this evening—it’s not just Del Mar’s finest night spot, it’s also the only one). A smiling hostess escorts the daters across a small footbridge to a private table by the fireplace in the main dining room. They order dinner, drinks and dessert, chatting and smiling the entire time. From the magazine crew’s vantage point, the couple seems to be hitting it off. After about an hour and a half at Flavor, Jessica and J.R. head back to the limo for the quick ride inland to Club M, the new restaurant, nightclub and sports bar at the luxurious and regal five-star Grand Del Mar resort. Before they go inside to enjoy exclusive bottle service by the dance floor. they’re split for mid-date debriefings.

How was dinner at Flavor? JESSICA: I had the scallops and he had the short ribs. Everything was amazing, I’m a huge fan of the chef there. J.R.: Flavor was awesome. I had the short ribs, which were amazing. It was prepared a little different than what I’m used to, unbelievable. She had the scallops, which were really good, too. What was your first impression of your date? JESSICA: I have a confession I have to make— J.R. and I actually know each other. He’s kind of casually dating one of my best friends. J.R.: Let’s just say I was shocked, because we knew each other. Is this the type of person that you would normally date? JESSICA: Yeah, he’s cool, he’s sweet, he’s outgoing 74

pacificsandiego.com {January 2011}

and fun—and just, like, down-to-earth. We get along really well. J.R.: She’s great; she’s everything that I look for. What’s the least attractive thing your date has done so far? JESSICA: Nothing. J.R.: I guess the least attractive thing is that I went out with her best friend. What would your parents say if you brought your date home? JESSICA: I think they would approve. He’s like a generally nice guy. J.R.: Oh, they would love her. I come from a big family—I have seven brothers and sisters—and she’s kind of got like a little spunky personality, which goes a long way with my family. Rate your date’s looks on a scale from one to 10. JESSICA: I would say probably like an eight. J.R.: She’s a 10. How about for personality? JESSICA: Like a nine or a 10. He’s funny. J.R.: Ten.

Does your date want to kiss you right now? JESSICA: No. J.R.: Yes. Do you want to kiss your date right now? JESSICA: No J.R.: Yes

ut of 49 PacificSD blind dates, this is the first time (we know of) that a dater was already dating the other dater’s best friend. Here at America’s Finest magazine, while we certainly wouldn’t want to break up BFFs—with Jessica giving J.R. an eight and a 10, and J.R. being ready to give and/or receive a kiss—at least we can cross our fingers and hope for melodrama. U! After the mid-date interviews, Jessica YO and J.R. head into Club M for K drinks and dancing. Inside, the crowd is a little older than what you’d find on Garnet Avenue Flavor Del Mar or in the Gaslamp, but the 1555 Camino Del energy level is high, and the Mar, Del Mar, dance floor is hopping. 858.755.3663,

TH AN

PacificSD: How’s it going so far? JESSICA: He’s really sweet. He’s fun. We get along really well. J.R.: It’s going really well. I think that she’s a really cute girl and she’s got a great personality, which goes a long way with me.

(Continued on page 76 )

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love (Continued from page 74 )

D AT E

M-azing

The blind date heats up at North County’s new nighttime hotspot

itting at their private table by the fireplace at Club M, Jessica and J.R. pour drinks from their complimentary bottle of Grey Goose vodka. They talk and laugh together briefly, then step into the action to shake their respective groove thangs—first with each other, then with other Club M patrons. Once the daters have boogied all the way over to the side of the room, the magazine crew (minus the designated driver) drains a few fingers (each) of the Grey Goose bottle (it’d be a shame to waste it) and begins to pack up. Then, like so many Frenchmen, we vanish into the night without a word, finally leaving the daters alone to enjoy the rest of their evening in privacy. The next morning, we call to see what we missed.

How was Club M? JESSICA: Club M was a trip. I don’t venture into North County too often, and it definitely upheld its “Cougar Den” reputation. We drank a couple of vodka-cranberries, then decided to socialize, make new friends and have a good laugh. J.R.: Had some Jäger bombs and vodka and danced with Jessica a while. Then we quickly S ee m ore photos , v iew p a st d a tes a nd sign up for y our own blind d a te a d v enture a t

pacificsandiego.com

pacificsandiego.com {January 2011}

realized the cougars at this place is where it’s at. They couldn’t keep their hands off of us.

came off. Oh, wait, was that at the end of the night? I don’t remember.

Describe the limo experience. JESSICA: Limos are always fun. We drank champagne, laughed about what a small world San Diego is, blasted the radio. You know, the usual. J.R.: Well, this limo wasn’t as big as mine, but it worked for the occasion. Put a little Jay Z on—big pimpin’, baby! I had her at “hello.”

What was the best part of the date? JESSICA: Dinner at Flavor Del Mar for sure. J.R.: Cougar hunting at Club M. What happened after the magazine crew left? JESSICA: We finished the rest of our drinks, hopped in the limo and went down to Fluxx to meet up with some friends. J.R.: We decided to head over to Fluxx nightclub, or should I say, “The best place on earth.” Disney has nothing on Fluxx! We did a little Spanish Lambada on the dance floor until our clothes

here are plenty of fish in the sea, but somehow J.R. managed to get hooked up with two of them that were already best friends. Perhaps the “relationship commonsense” he spoke of earlier is really something more akin to ESP. When asked if J.R. were the kind of person she’d date, Jessica said, “Yeah, he’s cool, he’s sweet, he’s outgoing and fun.” She said she didn’t want to kiss him, though, which means U! she’s a best friend that comes with YO K benefits—in this case, loyalty. Not counting any real or imagined pantsless Lambada Club M at Fluxx, for J.R., it seems (at the Grand Del Mar) that Jessica is a friend 5300 Grand without benefits. But don’t Del Mar Court, shed a tear for our young San Diego, engineer. He’s probably 858.314.2700, chin-deep in cougars by thegranddelmar.com/ club-m now. Rawrrrrrrrr!

TH AN

PacificSD: Overall, how was the big night? JESSICA: It was fun. To be honest, part of me was super-relieved that I knew J.R., so we were able to just relax and have fun—even though that kind of defeats the purpose of a blind date. J.R.: The overall date was great. Dinner was great, and drinks at club M in Del Mar was a blast. You go on a date with me, and it’s kind of hard not to have a good time.

calendar

01.11

Submit events to calendar@pacificsandiego.com. Compiled by Laura Ricci

1/4-9: West Side Story Venue: Civic Center, downtown Tickets: $26-$102 Info: broadwaysd.com See the Jets battle the Sharks in this classic musical (scored by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim) about starcrossed lovers caught in the middle of rival New York gangs.

12/30-1/2: San Diego International Auto Show Venue: San Diego Convention Center, downtown Tickets: $10 Info: sdautoshow.com Join more than 100,000 people expected to converge on the Convention Center to see, sit in and even testdrive hundreds of new, domestic, imported, exotic, eco-friendly and concept cars. A special art exhibit features sculptures made from old car parts.

1/9: 2011 San Diego Resolution Run Venue: De Anza Cove, Mission Bay Registration fee: $25 per team member, $35-$40 per individual Info: sandyfeetevents.com Leave your green footprint on either a 5K or 15K run around Fiesta Island at this social and athletic race for to promote environmental consciousness.

12/30-1/2

01/13

1/13: Sex Ed for the Real World Venue: Wine Steals, Point Loma (at Liberty Station) Tickets: $25 Info: winestealssd.com Sip wine while learning about orgasms, oral sex and the G-, P- and C-spots from San Diego sex educator and creator of sexy-toy website onjenoo.com, Yvonne Silva.

01/4-9

01/15

01/9

01/15

01/16-21

1/15: Laugh at My Pain Tour

1/16- 1/21: Restaurant Week

Venue: Civic Theatre, downtown

Venue: 180+ San Diego restaurants

Tickets: $42

Meals: $20, $30 or $40

Info: sandiegotheatres.org

Info: sandiegorestaurantweek.com

Known for his roles in The 40-Year-

Sample new flavors while enjoying

Old Virgin, Scary Movie 3 and his own

discounted, three-course meals at more

special on Comedy Central, comedian

than 180 participating restaurants around

Kevin Hart performs stand-up.

San Diego. Reservations recommended.

1/15: Stephen Strasburg 5K Walk & Fun Run with Tony Gwynn Venue: Tony Gwynn Stadium, SDSU Registration Fee: $40-$45 Info: strasburg5k.com SDSU phenom pitcher Stephen Strasburg and Padres superstar Tony Gwynn host this inaugural 5K run to support the Aztecsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; baseball program. All participants receive an autographed Strasburg photo; the first 1,000 get a free pair of Padres tickets.

pacificsandiego.com {January 2011}

calendar

01.11

1/18: Pourwars Flair Bartender Challenge Venue: Millers Field, Pacific Beach Admission: Free Info: pourwars.com Juggling and performance art meet drinkmaking, as the nation’s top flair bartenders compete for cash and glory in the fourth annual Pour Wars in Pacific Beach.

1/21: A Night with Airedale Brewing Venue: Handlery Hotel & Resort, Mission Valley Tickets: $50 Info: handlery.com/sd Come hungry and thirsty to this fourhour taste-fest, where San Diego’s own Airdale Brewing will pair its best local drafts with a five-course menu. Joan Marcus

01/18

T iffa n y A r c a n d

Reggie Cl a ib o u r n e

1/18-23: Next to Normal Venue: Balboa Theatre, downtown Tickets: $26.50-$99.50 Info: broadwaysd.com This Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical from the director of Rent addresses modern family issues including bipolar disorder, drug abuse and suicide.

01/21

01/18-23

01/24-01/30

01/22-2/27 1/22- 2/27: Death of a Salesman  Venue: Old Globe Theatre, Balboa Park Tickets: $29-$67 Info: theoldglobe.org Arthur Miller’s Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning play tells a cynical tale of the American Dream through the life of salesman Willie Loman.

Sunroad Marina

MJ Johnson

t h e Old G l o be pacificsandiego.com {January 2011}

01/27-30

01/22

01/30

1/27-30: San Diego Sunroad Boat Show Venue: Harbor Island, downtown Tickets: $10 Info: bigbayboatshow.com Take free boat rides and soak in San Diego’s exquisite waterfront while checking out hundreds of vessels for sale.

1/24- 1/30: Farmers Insurance Open Venue: Torrey Pines Golf Course, La Jolla Tickets: $16-$26 per day, $105 for the week Info: farmersinsuranceopen.com Fore! Tiger Woods, San Diego star Phil Mickelson and returning champion Ben Crane hit the links to compete against top PGA golfers in this nationally televised weeklong tournament (formerly the Buick Invitational). 80

1/22: Monster Jam Venue: Qualcomm Stadium, Mission Valley Tickets: $15.35-$106 Info: monsterjam.com Eco-unfriendly monster trucks, including returning champion Dennis Anderson’s trademark Grave Digger, race as they jump over and demolish cars.

1/30: Bridal Bazaar Venue: San Diego Convention Center, downtown Tickets: $9 in advance, $12 at the door Info: bridalbazaar.com Brides-to-be, rejoice! Fawn over dresses for yourself and dowdy sacks with which to punish your bridesmaids, as more than 300 wedding-industry pros guide you through the dos and don’ts for creating your perfect day.

advertiser index ADVERTISER

PAGE

6 Degrees, sd6degrees.com....................................................................................... 24 7th Avenue Cleaners, drycleansd.com...................................................................... 71 207 (at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego), 207sd.com.................................................. 16 Analog, analogbar.com.............................................................................................. 3 Anatomy Day Spa, anatomywellness.com................................................................ 22 Aztec Graphics, posteramerica.com.......................................................................... 71 Bare Back Grill, barebackgrill.com.......................................................................... 75 Bar West, barwestsd.com......................................................................................... 15 Boardwalk—Mission Beach, boardwalkmissionbeach.com..................................... 63 Boomerangs, boomerangburgers.com....................................................................... 73 Brewley’s Pint, brewleyspint.com............................................................................. 77 Brian’s 24, brians24.com......................................................................................... 19 Broken Yolk Cafe, thebrokenyolkcafe.com................................................................ 71 Coors Light, coorslight.com . ......................................................................back cover Dirty Birds, dirtybirdspb.com.................................................................................. 65 Eden, edensandiego.com.......................................................................................... 21 Firehouse American Eatery Lounge, firehousepb.com.............................................. 66 Fit Athletic, fitathletic.com...................................................................................... 58 Float (at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego), hardrockhotelsd.com.................................. 17 Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, hardrockhotelsd.com............................................16-17 Hooters, hooters.com................................................................................................. 4 Johnny V, johnnyvsd.com.......................................................................................... 7 Just My Ticket, justmyticket.com............................................................................. 75 Mitchell & Gilleon Law Firm, mglawyers.com......................................................... 2 Miller Lite, millerlite.com......................................................................................... 5 Lahaina Beach House, facebook.com/lahainabeachhouse............................................ 8 Laser Away, laseraway.net........................................................................................ 11 Lotus Thai, lotusthaisd.com.................................................................................... 71 Naked Pizza, nakedpizza.biz.................................................................................. 29 O’Brothers, obrothersburgers.com............................................................................ 10 P.B. Shore Club, pbshoreclub.com........................................................................... 29 Quality Social, qualitysocial.com............................................................................. 33 Re:vive Salon & Spa, revivesalonandspa.com........................................................... 25 Sandbar Sportsgrill, sandbarsportsgrill.com.............................................................. 77 San Diego Restaurant Week, sandiegorestaurantweek.com....................................... 81 Side Bar, sidebarsd.com............................................................................................. 9 Stadium Sports Bar, stadiumsandiego.com............................................................... 25 Tavern at the Beach, tavernatthebeach.com............................................................. 77 The Local Eatery & Drinking Hole, thelocalsandiego.com...................................... 73 The Shout House, theshouthouse.com..................................................................... 13 Tutto Cuorre, tuttocuorreshoes.com......................................................................... 83 U31, u31bar.com..................................................................................................... 8 Undisputed Downtown, undisputeddowntown.com................................................ 57 Verant Group, verantgroup.com.............................................................................. 77 San Diego Vin de Syrah, syrahwineparlor.com.......................................................................... 39 Wavehouse, wavehouseathleticclub.com................................................................... 35 World Famous, worldfamous.signonsandiego.com.................................................... 61 Zen Diego, zen-dentistry.com. .A ................................................................................ M G A Z I N E56

San Diego

San Diego San Diego

pacificsandiego.com

619.296.6300

voice

Opening Doors Helping bar-goers break the ice B y Al y s o n B a k e r

•

Ph o t o s b y J a m e s N o rt o n

ild chicks in leopard print mini-skirts, cougars running around like college girls, dudes behaving like party animals—it’s a jungle out there. In the hopes of catching free-range singles in their natural habitat, PacificSD hits the town to help otherwise solitary souls mate…or at least meet. Closing deals isn’t part of the game—the goal is just to open doors. It’s Friday night and it’s freezing as we arrive at La Puerta in the

ICE-BREAKER: Keith P., 25, New York TARGET: Mia P., 23, La Mesa KEITH SAYS: “The girl in the stripes. She’s pretty cute.” RESULT: The couple hits it off and ends up sitting together for hours.

ICE-BREAKER: Tyson G., 25, East Village TARGET: Natalie E., 25, Pacific Beach TYSON SAYS: “That chick in the red. She has nice eyes.” RESULT: Natalie’s scores twice in one night—picked by two guys in less than hour.

La Puerta 560 4th Avenue, Gaslamp 619.696.3466, taco619.com The same guys who own La Puerta just opened The Lincoln Room (901 Fourth Avenue, across from Horton Plaza) on the site that used to be Confidential Restaurant + Loft. The new spot offers classic American dishes and drinks, wallto-wall Lincoln logs and an 1850s vibe. It’s like pennies from heaven. 82

pacificsandiego.com {January 2011}

Gaslamp to spark hook-ups with firewater. (Puerta means “door” in Spanish. If you don’t know at least that much Spanish, please return to Wisconsin immediately, and may el dios help you.) Armed with a photographer and a bar tab, the PacificSD crew approaches La Puerta’s wildlife with a simple proposal: point out whom you’d like to meet, then we’ll buy that wild thing a drink on your behalf, as long he or she agrees to pose, with you, for a photo. Game on…

ICE-BREAKER: Dan The Man, 28, Bay Park TARGET: Me (Alyson), 25, Pacific Beach DAN SAYS: “You. You have beautiful brown hair.” RESULT: He sweeps me off my feet, but I need to finish buying drinks for everyone else.

ICE-BREAKER: Alex S., 37, Downtown TARGET: James M. (left), 23, England ALEX SAYS: “This guy, ‘cause he kind of looks like me.” RESULT: Age ain’t nothin’ but a number— these two forge an instant connection.

S ee m ore photos a nd a ni m a l a ttr a ctions online a t

pacificsandiego.com

ICE-BREAKER: Roger D., 45, Downtown TARGET: Rafael N., 42, Freemont, California ROGER SAYS: “There’s no cute chicks here, because I would already have bought them a drink. So I choose him, ‘cause he’s a cool motherf#cker.” RESULT: BFFs, single and staying that way… for the moment, anyway.

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