Sober in San Diego

Last weekend (August 20-22) was a return to San Diego for me.  With Jenn leaving for Europe in a week, it was easier for me to come out west (we all know how women tend to stress more about long trips than guys.. oh well).  After an uneventful flight on Friday evening (although I watched the hilarious movie Hot Tub Time Machine), I was in San Diego at 8pm and Jenn was not there to welcome me.  So much for excitement to see me huh?  Just kidding.  This evening was a good-bye celebration for our good friend Jake.  Jake will be leaving San Diego next week for a return home to Visalia after some 18 months in San Diego.  The festivities had started earlier in the day, and it was easier for me to just meet the group at the dinner restaurant, Cucina Urbana…. again.  With such a short trip, I only had a backpack and was in a taxi to Cucina Urbana in no time; actually beating the group to the restaurant (reservations were for 8:30pm).  How does the guy flying 1,200+ miles make it there first?  Dinner was again a huge success.  As I did 2 weeks ago, I ordered and feasted on the Veal Piccata.  Being the good P90Xer that I am, I only had one little piece of bread with gorgonzola mouse on it and ½ a teaspoon of the chocolate mouse dessert; I only drank water too (sober destination 1).

After dinner it was off to Cantina in Hillcrest.  To the group’s surprise, there was a line at Cantina; the 2 for 1 late night happy hour was going to have to wait.  So we ventured into Mo’s for a few drinks and dancing; I only drank water (sober destination 2).  Close to 2am it was time to call it a night.

Saturday morning required an early wake up; considering at what time we got to sleep.  Jake and Jeremy were at Jenn’s late morning so we could all go get some brunch.  We decided St Tropez would be our destination.  I had a wonderful egg white omelet with ham and swiss (nice and French).  I saw a lot of better options on the menu, but I had to stay in my P90X mode; next time I will indulge.  I drank water (sober destination 3).  After brunch, Jenn and I had to hit up the grocery store for some necessities (Jenn was preparing a couple dishes for an afternoon BBQ and I had to have some workout supplements handy).  After the store, it was back to Jenn’s.  She prepared her dishes and I did my P90X Saturday session.  I know Jenn was laughing at me, but I’ll let her off the hook. 

Saturday afternoon was a nice BBQ at our friends the Claisse’s (Karin, Chris and Zoe).  Our friend Missa came down with her son Ethan (Scott and daughter Sydney couldn’t come down due to Sydney catching a fever).  We enjoyed laughing at the kids playing around and ate some awesome food.  Jenn had concocted up a Tuna Tartar and Chris fired up some yummy Boar Sausage (wow!).  We were even privy to some interesting activities from Zoe that can not be posted on this blog (Karin/Chris… I will never forget…  can’t wait for her to be 16+ to tell her).  Again, I only drank water (sober destination 4).  I did enjoy a evil slice of Red Velvet Cake (from Nothing Bundt Cake).  If you know me, you know I LOVE THAT CAKE!

After the BBQ, Jenn and I started watching Hot Tub Time Machine (yes, I had watched it already, but Jenn wanted to see it).  Around 9:30pm we got the call that our friends KHayes, Perkins, Triplett and Chris Matthews were heading into Gaslamp for some bar time.  We met at Perkin’s apartment (walking distance from Jenn’s).  We caught a ride down to Gaslamp and went straight to Altitude (yep, you’ve already heard of Altitude from my other trip(s) to SD).  The line to Altitude at 11pm is long.  Thankfully, KHayes has a “connection” there and we cut.  Shortly after arriving we were able to commandeer a roped off private seating area (the previous party had vacated).  We hung out drinking, taking lots of pictures and laughing among friends until closing time; I drank water (sober destination 5).  We all taxied it back to Perkin’s place when Jenn and I walked home (close to 3am).

Sunday morning came too quick.  San Diego does not allow for much rest if you ask me ;-P.  Jenn had to attend a virtual seminar around 8:30am (yeah, I didn’t get up).  Soon after her seminar, we were off to the mall to watch Step Up 3D.  After the movie, we snagged lunch at The Cheesecake Factory.  They had a killer P90X acceptable meal called Energy Breakfast (scrambled egg whites and grilled chicken).  Since we were running short on time until I had to head back to Dallas, we just ran a few errands at the mall.  Eventually, I was on American Airline flight 480 to Dallas.  I slept most of the flight.  We had to abort the landing since the lights that tell the pilots that the landing gear is safely down had blown the bulb; that was a first.  I got home past 11pm and another weekend in San Diego was finished.  The next time I see Jenn will be in France (rough I know).  

San Diego... Trying to conquer Gaslamp.

Just a quick note before I summarize this past weekend - upon return from this small trip, Tripit tells me I have now flown over 100,000 miles in 2010.  In addition, I have calculated that I have spent 65% of nights away from home in 2010 through July.  It has been a mobile year for sure.

OK.. on to the fun stuff.  After being out of town for 4 straight weeks (OK, I was home for 2 nights in between my trips to Australia and Canada), I decided to exercise my right to a day off and took Friday off in order to spend a nice 3-day weekend (August 5-8) in my awesome girlfriend's home town of San Diego.  As you can imagine, it's not my first time here.  Heck, I practically lived there in the latter part of 2007 between the Beith's home and Jenn's apartment (as a FRIEND!!!!).

Anyways, with so many friends out there, Jenn had managed to book me solid for the weekend.  So much for needed rest.

I arrived Thursday night and Jenn prepared me a first home-cooked dinner (by her).  I enjoyed a delicious breaded chicken with garlic infused mushrooms, homemade garlic bread, wild rice and caesar salad.  Jenn, I'm impressed!  By arriving so late, there wasn't much else to do on Thursday, so it was a short night.

Friday came around and Jenn had to work.  I tried to sleep in, but Jenn wouldn't let me sleep while she worked (she works at home).  So I veg'd a little while she did her thing.  Eventually, it was time to start the festivities.  Tonight was a bet payoff I owed Scott Beith.  He and I have a long standing bet regarding the SF Giants (my team) and LA Dodgers (his team).  If our respective team wins the NL West, it's pay up by way of nice dinner.  Freeloaders (read: wife/girlfriends welcome).  Well, the Dodgers won last year, so I was due to pay up.  Prior to meeting up with the Beiths, Jenn, our friend Jake, and I decided to try and new wine-bar 10 steps away from Jenn's apartment, Voyou.  We enjoyed a couple of glasses while I talked some French with the owner.

At 6pm it was on to San Diego's world famous premier nightlife destination: Gaslamp.  We met the Beiths at their hotel (Andaz; part of Hyatt family) and enjoyed another payoff (Jenn and Scott made a bet during this year's Yankees/Dodgers series and Jenn won.  Scotts paid out was a nice bottle of wine and had to wear a Yankees jersey during dinner).  So we enjoyed the bottle of wine in their room, a drink at the rooftop bar, and then walked to the dinner restaurant.

We ate at Suite and Tender.  Can I just say, FANTASTIC.  I think everyone ate something they loved.  We all enjoyed the various appetizers we ordered to split; the mussels were excellent.  Scott and I split a 36oz porterhouse while Monica and Jenn had differing Surf and Turf type meals.  Overall, it was a great choice for dinner.  The unisex bathrooms were also something different.

After filling our bellies, it was time to rip it up. We walked back to the hotel to take advantage of their complimentary Cadillac Escalade service.  We had them drop us off at Altitude (rooftop bar of the Marriott).  Altitude is one of Jenn's favorite bars in San Diego.  It is a great place to hang out with lots of trendy people and a great view of the city; especially the ballpark.  After a couple of drinks at Altitude we walked over to Wine Steals.  The wine-bar side of Wine Steals was closed, but the regular bar was sorta open.  They seemed to be closing down, but we still were able to get a drink.  Once done with our drink, we called the Escalade to come pick us up and return us to the hotel.

With our VIP passes, we went to the rooftop bar at the hotel and finished the night off with beverages in a nice roped off area.  Jenn didn't seem to be able to hang with the big dogs, but we'll forgive her for that.  Afterall, it was darn late.

After a few drinks, it was time to shut it down.  Oh my, how were we going to feel tomorrow??????



Saturday morning came too quick.  I don't think I even slept.  Poor Monica and Scott had to check out pretty early so they were at Jenn's apartment by noon.  Monica did NOT look good.  We all relaxed there for a while before the Beiths had to return to their kids (good luck with that; feeling the way they did).  Jenn and I ran some errands and we were back at home preparing for round 2.  Tonight was date night with Scott and Melissa (Missa) Nezos.  No bets to settle here; just good food and drinks.

Soon after Scott and Missa showed up we taxi'd it to Cucina Urbana.  Oh what a gem this place is.  Tough to explain; I think gastropub is the description now.  For relatively inexpensive, we ate like kings/queens.  I had a veal piccata that I would get over and over again.  As with the night before, everyone had a great meal along with awesome appetizers.  YUMMY.  By the way, the carmel macchiato flavored gelato is AMAZING; can you say CRACK?

From Cucina Urbana we taxi's back to.. surprise surprise... Gaslamp. Our first destination was LOUNGEsix on top of Solamar Terrace (I do love these rooftop bars).  Unfortunately, most of the bar was corded off for a high school reunion.  So we just had a couple of drinks while we waited for our friend Kristen to show up.

Once Kristen made her entrance, we walked  a few blocks to the Indigo Hotel.  Our friend Tuyen had pimped the only room that had a patio attached to their open-air bar (OK, so his sister pimped it, but Tuyen was calling in all the visitors).

Here the drinks flowed quick and strong.  Among the pleasures were vodka/tonics, vodka/sodas, jaeger shots, buttery nipple shots and beers.  Yeah, hello pain tomorrow.  At some point we called it quits and it was time to crash back at Jenn's.

Sunday was an ALARM wake-up..... huh?  Dragging (check).  Jenn drove me up to Carlsbad for a brunch with her friend Karin, Karin's daughter Zoe, Karin's mom and Todd (a friend from college).  We tried to enjoy a solid breakfast at Don's Country Kitchen, but I have to admit that it "ain't what it used to be."  I used to enjoy some hangover cures here many years ago, but new owners have come in and I could not enjoy the food.  Too bad; I was actually sad.

Pressed for time until my flight, Jenn and I jammed back to San Diego and walked around the Hillcrest Cityfest (small festival in Hillcrest).  Wow, the food smelled good.  There were lots of proud people out having a grand old time and it was great weather to boot.  I grabbed an amazing Tri-Tip sandwich from a vendor for an early dinner.  So good.

Soon however, it was time to drop me off at the airport for a return home.  With the time difference and delay, I got home around 11pm; ready for P90X in the morning.

All in all, I think we tried to conquer San Diego's Gaslamp district, but I think it won.  The weekend tired me out.  I did however eat very well.. for the most part (read: Don's sucked!).