Who knew? Why San Diego is my new favorite West Coast city.
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Introduction
So, I spent this week at the annual WEFTEC Conference in San Diego. Now, the last time I spent any time in San Diego, it was a Navy town. Probably still is, but I loved it any way.
Wanna know why?
1
It is beautiful. The weather, the sea, the people.
Nights were in the 50s, days in the mid 60s. Blue sky, blue pacific. Just really really nice.
Building in foreground is Convention Center.
Building in foreground is Convention Center.
2
Gaslamp Quarter
About 40 square blocks downtown packed with clubs, bars, and restaurants. My hotel was in the quarter, so no car was required.
Every club and bar has live music, and it is all good.
Every club and bar has live music, and it is all good.
3
It seems like an East Coast city.
The combination of high gas prices, and horrible traffic has sparked a downtown renaissance. People are moving downtown in droves. Every spare warehouse or factory has been converted to lofts and condos; new upscale buildings are everywhere.
Every night I was there, the streets were packed like Boston's North End, or New York's West Village.
Every night I was there, the streets were packed like Boston's North End, or New York's West Village.
4
Dublin Square - Irish Pub
www.dublinsquareirishpub.com/home.html
A great place to finish an evening; so I did; every night. Live Irish bands and singers. Packed with friendly people. Black and tans are so good. I did buy drinks for a couple of Navy guys who had been in the Persian Gulf; I told them I loved them but hated the war. They hated the war too.
5
Sunday evening: Blue Point Costal Cuisine
www.cohnrestaurants.com/cohn/cohnrestaurants/blue…
I start the conference every year by hosting a small dinner with an interesting melange of associates. It is the invite everyone wants, but only four receive. This year I invited a 40 year old pro-life devout Catholic from South Carolina, a 43 year old gay man from Chicago (an old friend I hired the day he graduated from KU), a 40ish single mother engineer with a nasty sense of humor, and a 38 year old engineer from Denver.
I had an oyster shot with Absolut Pepper vodka, followed by sashimi with truffle oil. Had an unbelievable sauced sea bass stuffed with crab as a main course, with a couple of bottles of '03 Redgate Shiraz. Perfect with the fish. Had peach/blackberry cobbler for desert.
Big fun, good food, good talk.
I had an oyster shot with Absolut Pepper vodka, followed by sashimi with truffle oil. Had an unbelievable sauced sea bass stuffed with crab as a main course, with a couple of bottles of '03 Redgate Shiraz. Perfect with the fish. Had peach/blackberry cobbler for desert.
Big fun, good food, good talk.
6
Monday lunch: Lou and Mickey's
A great place for lunch, near the convention center. Had lunch with some potential Japanese clients. They had steak sandwiches, and salads, I had a chicken parmigiana sandwich. A great place for a business lunch.
7
Monday evening: A sit down dinner for 200 at the San Diego Wine and Culinary Center
One of the major manufacturers throws a big dinner on Monday night. This year, they had it at the San Diego Wine and Culinary Center.
Had bruschetta, crab cake, and grilled salmon with couscous and mango salsa. Not bad for a corporate affair.
Had bruschetta, crab cake, and grilled salmon with couscous and mango salsa. Not bad for a corporate affair.
8
Later Monday: Croce's Jazz Bar
Owned by Jim Croce's widow; a great place to unwind with a few drinks and some good live jazz.
9
Tuesday lunch: Fred's Mexican Cafe
www.mooserestaurantgroup.com/fred/branch1/index.h…
Need a fix of Mexican food, so we hoped over to Fred's. Great food, no good pictures. I had one chicken enchilada, and two cheese enchiladas. Also broke a long standing rule about drinking at lunch and had a bottle of Dos Equis Amber.
10
Tuesday evening: Chianti Restaurant
Italian food and wine with a couple of friends. I had Antipasto Misto, Pasta e Fagioli, Linguine al Granchio (crab meat and white sauce to die for), and a couple of bottles of a nice Santa Barbara Pinot Blanc.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Tuscan food.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Tuscan food.
11
Wednesday evening: Kicked back at Royal Thai.
Thai food, Thai beer great relaxed meal. I had, katoang thong (pot of gold), and kang quah main course. and mango ice cream. yummy.
Rest.
Then, return.
Then, return.
Well, that was a quick nap!
No wonder you like San Diego.
No wonder you like San Diego.
From A Friend In The Fire In San Diego
Hi,
It is the worst its ever been. Worse than the cedar fires from 3 years ago. They can't get it under control. It's hot, windy and very low humidity.
The wealthiest part of town - Rancho Sante Fe has been evacuated. Huge, polo ranch properties on massive acreage.
My friend Beth has evacuated her house in Poway 20 minutes north and brought her daughter, 3 cats and dog to come stay at my house. I'm off to fix dinner for my wayward houseguests which is a frightening prospect. I'm not much of a cook.
I've never seen one Terminator movie. Not my type. I sure was glad, though, to see Ahnuld at the local fire dept. saying he was putting the full resources behind getting this thing under control.
Ashes all over everything.
Smoke hangs in the air.
Yesterday I couldn't see 200 yards down the highway due to smoke.
We received the reverse 911 calls to desktop & cell to advise that school is cancelled.
I dropped Bella at school this morning and she was one of about 6 who showed up in her class of 20.
Ey-yi-yi.
It is frightening. ( October 23 , 2007 )
Hi,
It is the worst its ever been. Worse than the cedar fires from 3 years ago. They can't get it under control. It's hot, windy and very low humidity.
The wealthiest part of town - Rancho Sante Fe has been evacuated. Huge, polo ranch properties on massive acreage.
My friend Beth has evacuated her house in Poway 20 minutes north and brought her daughter, 3 cats and dog to come stay at my house. I'm off to fix dinner for my wayward houseguests which is a frightening prospect. I'm not much of a cook.
I've never seen one Terminator movie. Not my type. I sure was glad, though, to see Ahnuld at the local fire dept. saying he was putting the full resources behind getting this thing under control.
Ashes all over everything.
Smoke hangs in the air.
Yesterday I couldn't see 200 yards down the highway due to smoke.
We received the reverse 911 calls to desktop & cell to advise that school is cancelled.
I dropped Bella at school this morning and she was one of about 6 who showed up in her class of 20.
Ey-yi-yi.
It is frightening. ( October 23 , 2007 )
Yesterday
My neck of the woods is Serra Mesa/ Mission Valley.
We are directly up the hill on a road called Mission Village/Gramercy right out of the QUALCOMM stadium where the evacuated folks all ended up.
Lots of smoke and ash still today and not high percents of containment but we're back at work.
Bella's school has been cancelled all week. The courts are closed.
The immediate threat of danger to the central city has now passed.
Thanks for checking in.
My neck of the woods is Serra Mesa/ Mission Valley.
We are directly up the hill on a road called Mission Village/Gramercy right out of the QUALCOMM stadium where the evacuated folks all ended up.
Lots of smoke and ash still today and not high percents of containment but we're back at work.
Bella's school has been cancelled all week. The courts are closed.
The immediate threat of danger to the central city has now passed.
Thanks for checking in.
You're in our thoughts and prayers, IdamNosam. I hope they get it completely under control soon.
To Ol' Hippie: If I had all of the money in the world I would live in San Diego. I grew up visiting my Gramma there and have always loved it. We haven't been back in 24 years so a lot has changed. Anthony's Fish Grotto was our favorite place, just next to the Star of India. Low brow compared to the places you visited; but fun.
To our San Diego OML friends and their friends and family:
You are all in our thoughts and prayers. I still have a cousin there; she is fine; but friends just 15 minutes away lost everything.
To our San Diego OML friends and their friends and family:
You are all in our thoughts and prayers. I still have a cousin there; she is fine; but friends just 15 minutes away lost everything.
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