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February 2021 volume 2 issue 6
COMMUNITY vOICes
lgbtqsd.news
NEW BiZ
On the BlOCk COVID-19 is not stopping new businesses from opening up in our neighborhood!
Photo by Rikke Photography
bIG MIke aNd frIeNds cocina calavera 3923 Fourth Ave., San Diego, CA 92103 619-241-2422 Re-inventing familiar Latin foods with a health-driven twist, free from gluten/dairy/sugar. Now open in Fabulous Hillcrest! cocinacalavera.com
big Mike Phillips —Big Mike Phillips is an activist, fundraiser, bartender and photographer who has lived in San Diego for 30 years. He has helped create two nonprofits and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity. He has been a photographer for more than 25 years and has recorded our LGBTQ history not only in San Diego but around the country, including three LGBTQ marches on Washington D.C. Contact Big Mike at 619-807-7324, or bmsd1957@gmail.com.
CaTHrINe OClasseN my detOx lOunge
A
s of this edition, I will be changing the format of my column ‘Big Mike and Friends’ to a Q&A format while still introducing you to people who live, work, play and do business in our community and city. Learning about people of every lifestyle, talents, and personalities who I think are interesting and easy for our readers to enjoy. San Diego has a wonderful diversity of individuals who make our slice of paradise a great place to live and enjoy each other’s uniqueness. This week’s Q&A is with Cathrine Oclassen
coco’s Poke 3739 Sixth Ave., San Diego, CA 92103 619-326-8676 New poke shop located in Hillcrest. They incorporate the traditional Hawaiian poke dish with a Latin twist to create the best of both worlds. cocospoke.com
How did you end up in San Diego and what do you love about it? “I moved to San Diego for the beautiful weather, the opportunity to expand my business and for the more relaxed atmosphere. There’s just something special about San Diego that I just cannot put my finger on, yet I love it here!”
Parlor on Fifth 3144 Fifth Ave., San Diego, CA 92103 619-230-5988 This shop has operated for the last 20 years under different names and in many different conditions. However, today they exist to pay homage to a decades-old neighborhood shop while having the opportunity to revamp and exist in the modern market of barbering. parloronfifthbarbershop.com
What gets you excited about life? “My true passion is educating people and the community on how to live a more abundant life through holistic and alternative ways of living. Teaching people to take charge of their well-being and empowering them to take action.”
(courtesy images)
As a businessowner, what makes your business stand out? “In my business, we have successfully married the beverage industry with the service industry creating the world’s most unique urban tea lounge and detox [‘My Detox Lounge’]. We truly are a millennial’s dream lounge.” What small act of kindness were you once shown that you’ll never forget? “Growing up poor, a family once brought me and my siblings into their house to share their dinner with us, but the kindness really came from the fact that they themselves were poor, only having beans and tortillas to feed us all.” If the universe could grant you one wish, what would you wish for? “I wish that one day everyone would wake up knowing how truly special they are and that they are exactly enough and worthy of love and respect. My golden rule: “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” If you wrote a book about your life, what would you title it and why? “The title of my book would be: ‘What Not To Do.’ I would like to consider myself an expert in the field of business and wellness, however I got there from learning what the HECK not to do...trial and error makes for the best teachers.” If you had a chance to spend $1 million on yourself, how would you spend it? “I would buy a small cottage home close
to the beach and reinvest the rest of the money.” If you could give someone advice about your art, hobby or business, what would you tell them? “I would tell them to find their true passion in life, whether it’s a hobby, job or sport and then turn that into your career. Only work your passion!” If you were granted one superpower for life, what would you choose and why? “Well, hell, we are all already super! [laughs] My superpower would be to access 100% of my brain’s capabilities, making me limitless.”
If you had the opportunity to join someone you love, admire, or wanted to meet over a cup of coffee, what coffee or tea house would you go to and what question would you ask them? “Honestly, I don’t know this one. Hmm? The boring answer is I would meet them at the world’s most unique tea lounge, My Detox Lounge, and I would ask them what their favorite cup of tea is and what it reminds them of.”
Contact: CATHRINE OCLASSEN 619-539-7707 instagram.com/mydetoxlounge/
664 TJ Birrieria 564 University Ave., San Diego, CA 92103 619-292-2498 National City’s eatery continues expanding in San Diego and has now opened a location in Hillcrest in the space that housed Capricho restaurant. The shop specializes in birria and shredded beef stew offered in tacos, quesadillas or meat piled atop of tostadas and served with a side of consome birria broth for dipping. The menu also includes an array of Mexican mariscos seafood.
record Family Wines Tasting room 1035 University Ave., San Diego, CA 92103 619-759-0153 Family-owned, premium wine brand from Paso Robles has opened a tasting room in Hillcrest for all the wine lovers. Currently the tasting room is open by appointment and limited retail hours. recordfamilywines.com
