Lime-Flavored Joy At the End Of the Road
This is the end of the road. End of Harbor Drive. Here in National City it turns into Civic Center Drive. End of the week, too. But the start of my first true, real Mexican breakfast beer, along with a …
New Find on Fifth: Schiacciate (Ski-a-What?) at Cremalose
Open! Been waiting for this. Last time I was here, early January, they were frantically trying to turn a hardware store into a proper Italian-style caffe. We're talking about Cremalose (840 Fifth Avenue, between E and F). It's an Italian …
Prime Rib, Prime View
Whew. Travelin’ with da rich and famous now. Carla’s buddy Linda has just come back from Hong Kong with her hubby Bill, flying first class. Can you imagine how much that lightened their bank account? I’m thinking normal air fare …
Carla To Grumpy: A Little of What Ye Fancy...
“Code Stroke, ER, Bed Number Three! Code Stroke, ER, Bed Number Three…” It’s the hospital sound system. “Sounds like “Code Stroke, ER, Bedford numb and freezed,’” I say to Carla. “Let’s get da heck outta here.” We’re at Sharp Coronado, …
And More Haggis!
Hey, Mary Beth. I've got a haggis story too (see her story right below). Happened last Saturday. Carla's and my friend Annie is true-blue Scots. Asked us to her annual Robbie Burns party, featuring The Haggis as the main part …
Tijuana: Dogs de la Calle
Shout out to the real thing. Past couple of times coming back from TJ I’ve ended up on the street, looking for one last dog. This time it’s around ten at night, corner of Avenida de la Amistad (“Friendship Avenue”) …
Two Buck Sliders
Whoo hoo. What a deal. Popped in to Stout Public House (1125 6th Avenue, downtown, 619-702-7933) during happy hours (which are long and easy to remember: 4-8:00 p.m., seven days) to grab a bite and a pint before I jumped …
Tijuana: The Purse in the Ball
I walk into the hall in the ball. Seriously. Cecut. Centro Cultural, Tijuana. Around 8.30 at night. And man! You come in like you’re entering the sun itself. I mean some architect’s done something original for once. Beam me in, …
(Way) Better than Airplane Food
“Well, it’s better than airplane food,” says Ken. “And Surly Jim here makes a good vodka.” OK, so damned with faint praise on the food front. But hey, even though this is the airport, I’m actually chewing on some pretty …
Van Gogh and the Three Candles
The three candles burn bright in their candelabra. It sits on the console in the middle of this ol’ horseshoe bar. It’s the kind butlers hold to light the way through the hacienda in movies like, say, Zorro. Wax from …
Your Own Personal Skybox
Wandered up here by accident. Saw the sign by the elevators in the Marriott (at Marriott Gaslamp, 660 K Street, 619-446-6086) down here in the Gaslamp, and, zzzipp! Suddenly I’m walking out on the 9th floor, onto the roof patio, …
Catching The Wave
So after the adventure (see Rabbit For Breakfast?), and no rabbit to cook on a fire, and all that mud slogging, I'm starved. Andrea's giving me a ride up to Palm Avenue. She has one of those smart phones. “Imperial …
Rabbit for Breakfast?
Dang. Thought I was going to get me a free rabbit breakfast this morning. Went out into the fields of Suzie's Farm, the organic vegetable outfit with fields near Ream Field, east of Imperial Beach. I turned up around 6.30 …
Best Dog In the Galaxy?
Is this the best hot dog in the universe? OMG. It’s increíble! And tastes as good as it looks. I’m looking down at a viper’s nest of crispy candied onions, tomato chunks, a crooked line of yellow mustard with red …
Five Course Food Truck Meal?
A five-course dinner…from a food truck? Mangia Mangia, the Italian food truck, usually offers this deal Thursdays at 6.30 at 57 Degrees (1735 Hancock, near Washington Street, 619-234-5757). It’s kinda civilized. You can eat on the streetside patio (on Hancock …
Orange Blossom: Batter Matters
Ooh. Tongue-zipper! That's the thing you remember about crêpes here: the crêpes themselves. The batter has the tang of orange zest. Like shavings of the skin of oranges. Plus, cinnamon and a “vanilla beer batter." Whatever, they’re tasty in themselves. …
Candy Lady Confesses
Man. I feel like a kid in a candy store. Wait: I am in a candy store. Never meant to, but I just bought $4 worth of home-made maple walnut fudge. For Carla, you understand. OK, partly for me. I …
Bring Back the Manila Café!
Am I the last person to see this? There I was, wandering down Fifth in the Gaslamp the other night, and stopped outside Trattoria La Bocca (515 Fifth). Closed! Actually the place was above my pay grade, but I always …
Healthy Hardware Hangout?
There’s something new goin’ on behind two of the oldest windows in town. I’m in deepest Gaslamp. Standing outside where American Apparel was (for, what? Three years?) and before that, San Diego Hardware (for, can you believe, 90 years?) and …
Free Cupcakes Next Wednesday!
How did I find out about Free Cupcakes Next Wednesday? By just about colliding with the guy waving a huge arrow on the corner of 5th and Island. He was advertising Heavenly Cupcake (518 6th Avenue, at Island, downtown, 619-235-9235). …