I have a weird relationship with running. I don’t particularly enjoy it, but somehow I’ve completed 2 half-marathons and 2 full. I think that speaks more to my love of schedules, regimens and checking figurative boxes, which makes me sound so free-spirited and fun. That said, I woke up Sunday morning with an immediate urge to go outside and run like the wind, preferably by the beach and before the temperature hit 90 degrees. (San Diego basically skipped winter and spring.)
I give Mission Beach and Pacific Beach (better known here as PB) a lot of flack for its red cup reputation, but I must admit, there’s such great positive energy. From runners and cyclists to skateboarders and rollerbladers, almost everyone is doing something active, and as I was reminded yesterday, living in a weather wonderland like San Diego really does make us all so happy here.
Since I’m not all that religious about running, I stopped to snap evidence of those positive vibes along the way. Here are some sunny pics to start the week:
You know that feeling when the winter frost has melted, flowers begin to bloom and you can smell spring in the air? There’s an intangible excitement about being able to frolic outdoors and ditch the heavy coats. There’s an extra skip in your step.
Well, even though we SoCal folks are spoiled with phenomenal weather year-round, after last week’s “storm”—4 days of a little pouring, a lot of drizzling—some San Diegans seemed to have that same out-of-the-woodworks excitement—like we had just endured a horrid polar vortex. Even I was a little extra excited about being outdoors. I guess California does make you a bit soft.
Minus less-jazzy tasks like laundry and work, we spent much of the weekend out and about. It was just so good. I actually got a little nostalgic for it last night. Here’s a little glimpse at the action:
Above: I felt like I hadn’t had a proper brunch out in some time, so Eaman and I tried Naked Cafe in Point Loma. It’s located in a strip mall littered with Core Power Yoga devotees, so expect to see lots of fit bodies here, as the menu leans extremely healthy. We got the multi-grain blueberry pancakes, which were more healthy than delicious (not necessarily a bad thing), and the green & red pagoda, an egg entree with rosemary toast, soy sausage, avocado, artichoke and sun-dried tomatoes. That was amazing. Bonus points for a dog-friendly patio.
My favorite foods veer into the adolescent arena: pizza, sandwiches and ice cream. Since moving to San Diego, I’ve secured two favorite pizzerias (Buona Forchetta in South Park for Neapolitan, Luigi’s in Golden Hill and North Park for New York-style) and a mom-and-pop ice cream parlor (Mariposa in Normal Heights), but oh, the elusive sandwich.
Much like the duality of pizza, I believe in two camps of sandwiches: gourmet and casual (subs are a whole other category; don’t get me started). The casual spot is TBD, but I have a new favorite spot for gourmet sandwiches: Con Pane Rustic Breads & Cafe.
On the spectrum of San Diego neighborhoods, La Mesa doesn’t usually rank high on the “cool” end, but you’d be surprised to know that this quaint suburban area with a pedestrian-friendly downtown village is absolutely worth checking out. It’s charming and laid-back, with a small-town feel. The people are warm, the time seems to move so much more slowly, and much like South Park, it feels like a community.
No, there aren’t blocks upon blocks to explore, but what La Mesa lacks in size it makes up for in quality. You’ll find hip restaurants, a ridiculously cool florist shop and a phenomenal selection of antique shops. (We all know the antique shops in less-visited ‘hoods have the best stuff—and just wait until you see what I scored for $25.)
La Mesa is also incredibly dog-friendly. Errbody wanted to meet Teddy. One woman stopped her car in the middle of the street—it’s that quiet there—once she saw him and showed us her 6-month-old golden retriever pup in the front seat. Even the antique shops were happy to have Teddy inside (we didn’t bring him in; that animated tail would knock over everything)!
Here’s a look at the best of La Mesa, thanks in large part to recs from La Mesa local Cara-Mia:
On Friday I mentioned that I’d be sharing a neighborhood guide for South Park, so here I am! I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to do one on South Park, considering it’s my favorite place in all of San Diego. It’s small (comprised of just a few blocks here and there), quiet, filled with mostly small business (save one 7-Eleven!) and populated by a lot of young families. It is home to many of my San Diego favorites, but what I love most about South Park is the sense of community. Despite plenty of of hip(ster) spots, it manages to retain an Anytown, U.S.A. vibe. Oh, and it’s one of the most dog-friendly places I’ve ever seen.
If we decide to stay in San Diego, the dream is to buy one of South Park’s small, cottage-style homes. (We have one in mind and may or may not have snuck into the vacant house right before its new occupants moved in.) Here’s a look at why I <3 South Park.
My parents arrived Saturday night for a week-long visit, which got me thinking about my San Diego Musts. We’ve lived here for only a year and there’s tons more to see, but I already have a list of favorite restaurants, parks and activities that I share with all my visitors. And not to toot my own horn, but I’ve been told that I have some really excellent picks in here. Hope this gives you some pointers the next time you’re in San Diego!
Caffe Calabria (North Park): This Italian cafe/pizzeria is top-notch quality; their exquisite lattes are the sirens that beckon me at least once a week, and not just because it’s a great place to work. Food-wise, their Neapolitan pizzas are delicious and vibe at dinnertime is lovely. (But my favorite pizzeria is Buona Forchetta; see below.)
San Diego Restaurant Week kicks off this Sunday, and to scope out the scene for my very first RW, I checked out what the menu looked like at participating restaurant JRDN, Pacific Beach’s seaside restaurant at the Tower23 Hotel. The restaurant is all about fresh, local California cuisine. Even their menu lists which local farms their meat came from, which was great news for me because I love knowing where my food comes from. (Shouldn’t we all?)
We started with a potato gnocchi topped with super creamy burrata, made our way through a chicken confit and side of fregola (a larger, more chewy Israeli couscous), and ended with my favorite of the night, the coconut pain perdu, which was essentially ladyfinger-size pieces of coconut dough surrounding lime sherbert, goat cheese and chocolate- and coconut-coated macadamia nuts. I could’ve had a three-course meal of just that and been happy. Also, I would love some notes from the chef on how to cook chicken that turns out that juicy.
And while we’re on the subject of beachfront dining, it’s a bit embarrassing to admit that in the year we’ve lived here, this was the first by-the-beach meal we’ve had. But what a good one to start with! In terms of restaurants/bars, JRDN is one of the best places in San Diego to watch a sunset. (I love Sunset Cliffs for a nature-themed spot to watch.) Beyond their formal dining area, they have a stylish garden lounge where you can sit at the bar or at tables and enjoy the sun, sand and many characters of Pacific Beach. If you live in San Diego, you know what I’m talking about.
To find out which 180+ restaurants are participating, check out San Diego Restaurant Week. And scroll ahead for some hunger-inducing food pictures, gorgeous sunset views and a peek at JRDN’s beach-cool interiors.
I don’t like the idea of straight-up juice cleanses. Though juice cleanses swear they’re not meant to deprive, that’s what they sound like to me. And anytime I’ve attempted one, I almost always end up stuffing my face with cookies by the end of the day.
But then I got to know Beaming, a new juice bar in Del Mar (that ships nationally, too), and they had a novel idea: What if a juice cleanse combined cold-pressed juices with actual food and the freedom to snack? You’d get the same detoxifying properties without feelings of deprivation or guilt. The company’s founder, Lisa Odenweller, has a laid-back, relatable approach. “If you’re hungry, eat half an avocado or some almonds.” There’s no reason to starve yourself, she had told me.
Inspired to take better care of the mind-body-soul connection after I came back from India, I decided to try Beaming’s 4-day Total Rejuvenation Cleanse. I had always, always, always wanted to try a cleanse but had never found a company that structured their cleanses in a way that made sense to me. Beaming’s would be the jump start I needed. Was it hard? Some days. Was it worth it? Yes.
Straight from the mouth of a real girl who likes her food, here’s my honest account of the four days:
