Grab a pint from across the Atlantic
It isn’t difficult to give any old dive bar an Irish pub feel. Tap the keg of Guinness, throw some Gaelic sayings on the wall and give yourself a classic Irish name — How does O’Shannon’s sound?
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Dining in the house of a former Charger is tasty
It’s 12:30 p.m. on a Friday in September. There’s no college football today, the MLB games don’t start until 4 and NFL action is a distant two days away. But somehow, Seau’s in Mission Valley gives you the feeling that your on the 50-yard line at the Super Bowl.
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It’s a little bit of rock, a touch of class and edge, but most of all, RA Sushi is undoubtedly the h
It’s a little bit of rock, a touch of class and edge, but most of all, RA Sushi is undoubtedly the hippest and trendiest sushi restaurant in San Diego when looking for some Japanese delicacies fused with a new-age vibe.
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Partying like a rock star becomes easy with the help of one San Diego lounge
Once the sun goes down, the Hard Rock Hotel transforms into a major local hot spot, hosting vibrant downtown San Diego nightlife in its two bars.
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An Italian restaurant that serves a main dish of class
When I hear the word “Hillcrest,” the first thought that comes to mind is the plethora of gay bars all boasting bartenders in teeny tiny shorts, giving out lap dances to all the inebriated females in the room — this coming from what my gay neighbor tells me about his work. But set aside the given stereotype for this neighborhood and you can actually find some unique restaurants boasting delectable cuisine and luscious bottles of vino.
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Dancing with the boys and girls of the neighborhood has never been so fun
A glowing red interior with large, comfy couches welcomes Hillcrest locals and crowds of barhopping singles — both gay and straight — to The Brass Rail. It could be its amazing weekly deals or perhaps its live music and DJs who spin cutting-edge sounds but, something of a unique camaraderie happens on the dance floor of The Brass Rail.
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A house built on the simple foundation of different types of rock
This place has energy, it has soul and best of all, it has good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll. Music venue, lounge and restaurant, House of Blues has multifaceted rooms for multifaceted personalities: from the headbanger to the hipster, and from the punk to the “umm, wait ... what am I?”
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Finding your inner vocalist through the help of a machine
Some say singing is an art. The Lamplighter says singing is a way of life. Karaoke consumes this bar’s life from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. every day, 365 days of the year … even Christmas. The Lamplighter is one of the oldest karaoke bars, located in the heart of San Diego on Washington Street. This 21 and up bar always has a line out the door, and the only days it has a $5 cover charge is after 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. “The Lamplighter was the first place the fisherman would come home to after their long journeys at sea,” employee Sarah Gilham said. “They would drink all night long and tell great stories.”
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The San Diego Museum of Art uses appetite as a muse
It is rare to find a place where viewing one-of-a-kind artwork and eating occur simultaneously. Fortunately, such a treasure has been established in the enchanting setting of Balboa Park. For at least five years, Waters Fine Catering has been running Sculpture Court Café on behalf of the San Diego Museum of Art.
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Downtown restaurant proves to be one jazzy ensemble
Chic and modern may be the first things that come to mind when you first enter Anthology. With its cool exterior design of metal cursive lettering and elegant interior of rich colored wood with accents of detail, you quickly realize there is something very different about this particular restaurant and bar.
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A waterfront eatery that serves up a menu the size of a wave
The summer of ’85 was full of some of the best and now, most important days for Tim and Debbie Nolan’s lives. Their romance started when Tim was a cook and Debbie was a waitress in a small restaurant. Between their love for each other and shared passion for the restaurant business, the two decided to move to Ocean Beach, start a family and eventually open a restaurant of their own.
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A Middle Eastern eatery brings home the flavors of beyond
Mama’s Bakery is an open, casual, colorful café-style establishment where one orders at a petite counter and waits for food on the patio or at tables along the street. At around 1 p.m. on a Sunday, the customers include people reading books, seemingly on dates and even a guy who just finished exercising. It takes a rather unique place to host such a variety of people.
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After a day on the beach, the only thing that hits the spot is a drink
The Sunshine Company Saloon Ltd. is one of the most unique and peculiar beach bars in the greater San Diego area. For starters, it’s strategically located on one of the best beaches that San Diego has to offer: Ocean Beach. Right off of Newport Avenue, The Sunshine Company caters to true beach lovers and enthusiasts. Unlike the increasingly popular Moondoggies and Typhoon Saloon, which now apparently require a dress code to enter, The Sunshine Company is an authentic beach bar.
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Get ready to depart on a beat-thumping flight for the masses
Since the beginning of 2008, San Diego has been steadily working on developing a club scene of epic proportion. The places that your parents got funky at back in the day no longer exist; there’s a new era meaning to the term “clubbing.” It’s all about living the magazine quality social lifestyles others wish they had. The Gaslamp District gives us that.
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Grabbing a drink can be humorous under the right roof, with the right act
Replace that same old Friday and Saturday night routine of senseless channel surfing or tiresome bar hopping with a trip down to the National Comedy Theatre. Its 90-minute long shows on both nights at 7:30 p.m., 9:45 p.m. and midnight will ensure that your abs leave sore and aching from laughter. At just $12 for students for the earlier shows and $10 for the midnight one, it’s a far smarter way of spending your money for entertainment and is worth every penny.
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A traditional dive bar sticks out from the rest
By all means, the little inconspicuous dive bar called Alibi is not a place for one to go on a first date. Upon entering, the darkness immediately engulfs you and as your eyes adjust, you see what you get: two dusty pool tables, one thoroughly uninteresting bar lined with greasy stools, and what dive bar would be complete without a jukebox? Lastly, what serves as a stage for free Saturday night bands is merely a flimsy plywood box that is construction painted black. Yep, that’s about it.
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Dealing with a dirty plate is the least of your worries here
Dick’s Last Resort. The name says it all.
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On-campus mexican food saves you a trip to the border
If you can’t find Mexican food in San Diego, you are probably no longer in San Diego. With a plethora of taco shops and places that end in “-berto’s,” the city has limitless possibilities for your taco cravings.
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An alternative to meat lies in the heart of North Park
With soft reggae music playing, tropical and ethnic trinkets all around and bamboo on the walls, one instantly feels welcomed and relaxed at Veg-N-Out. Of course, the only thing that isn’t welcome is meat.
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Smoothie enthusiasts enjoy their favorite cold refreshments by the beach
In a small and dilapidated building on Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach stands a smoothie bar that serves the community with fresh, tasty and refreshing treats.
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