Trio of Change

Change is inevitable, and no matter how much we resist it, it typically manages to beat us over the head at some point. “They” say bad news comes in threes, so I am hoping that when it comes to favorite restaurant closures, this is it for a while. This spring, longtime favorite Hob Nob Hill closed down for good, after struggling for a year under the poor choices of the new owners. The place I originally fell in love with was fairly priced, large portions, great service, and made-from-scratch meals that tasted like mom made ’em. It was one of those staples that I ate at often, and my friends all dug it, too. No more Cincinnati Chili:



…and no more group gatherings where you didn’t feel like you needed to be ushered out. Nothing but good times, good food, and good memories.



Nearly every trip to LA featured a lunchtime stop at Mauro Cafe on Melrose, in the now defunct West Hollywood Fred Segal shopping center.



Every friend I took there raved; with both indoor and outdoor seating, you could guarantee that there would be fun people watching (and a celeb or two), delicious food, and servers who looked like they just stepped off the runway.



It was also Willis approved.





They had a lemonade slushee that was tart as could be and I LOVED it. On my most recent trip to LA, I was going to stop at the recently moved Mauro, but ran out of time. Oh well, I’ll catch it next time, I reasoned to myself. Next time is now never. It has permanently closed. Don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today. So many adages today.



Yesterday, I learned that local favorite Madison in University Heights is also closing down, to replaced by who knows what.



This was another place that I typically took out-of-town guests to, including my mom. It got her stamp of approval, which is no small feat; Tony is one tough customer.



The drinks were a tasty precursor to the meal, which was followed by their awesome desserts. Presentation was a hallmark of this place:



The barrel ceiling and mod design were unique, pairing perfectly with Madison’s vibe.



Many a special occasion was celebrated here, including a birthday or two.



Good friend Mona and her husband Patrick recently went there for a belated birthday celebration. We had no idea it would be our last time there. Had I known I would have brought my camera. Another lesson - never leave the camera at home.



The moral of the story: if there are places you want to go to, or a restaurant you enjoy dining at, get your ass there. Support it. Don’t let it languish. Like anything in life, nothing lasts forever, except maybe the sting of regret.

See more San Diego photos at my main website.

Reevaluating The Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego

When it comes to tourism, the Gaslamp Quarter is just behind the beaches when it comes to gravitational pull. Especially at night, tourists flock to this downtown area for the many restaurants and bars that fill the historic streets of this once “colorful” (aka seedy) part of town.



Walking around with a camera, you will find plenty of architectural details to shoot.



The kind you don’t find in the newer boxy high-rises that are popping up all over town, ruining the skyline and character of the quaint San Diego neighborhoods. And let’s not get into what they are doing for the street parking and traffic…



Back to the topic at hand…



Small branded details like this are a huge plus with me:



The fact that gritty art like this can still be found not only harks back to the once not-so-family friendly nature of the Gaslamp, but also helps give a quirkiness that counters the homogenous feel of some of the national chains that have invaded here over the years.



Last weekend, I got out of my introverted bubble to attend the Gaslamp Pet Parade, thanks to my friend Thomas.



Beau is not an introvert.



The parade was adorable. This type of thing is so California.



Santa was on hand…



and one of his elves, handing out candy canes (I wonder if they are organic?):



The pets and their owners were quite creative:












After the parade finished, I snapped a few more shots of the historic buildings that have survived, like this one from 1913:



closer:



…and closer for the interesting details one would typically miss from the street, just walking (or staggering) by.



I have often avoided the Gaslamp for its touristy reputation, but it pays to revisit and reevaluate every so often. I had a blast!
 
See more Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego photos at my main website.

A Day at USD

Last week I had the opportunity to visit the University of San Diego campus. Wow…what a view! Perched up on a hill overlooking Mission Bay, these students are living on prime San Diego real estate!



I'm also loving the architecture here, which makes the campus seem like an extension of Balboa Park.



The Immaculata Parish is a beauty, too.



Not surprisingly, there was a wedding photo shoot occurring while we were there.







The sunlight through the stained glass windows made some beautiful reflections.



I smell a donor:



Make you wish you were back at college? Pretend you are by visiting my main website and seeing more of USD.

D-Tours in San Diego

As a vacation destination, San Diego is a no-brainer. Beautiful weather, an abundance of restaurants, and coastal scenery that can make even the most novice photographer look good. My friend Sita from Indiana was going to be in town for little more than a day, so the itinerary had to be action-packed. Dinner was the first item on the agenda after she arrived. Barrio Star in the Bankers Hill area is one of my favorite places to get Mexican "soul" food. The place is festive and the dishes are tasty; my favorite is the Brazil Bowl, which is a combo of black beans, power rice, steamed greens, pico de gallo, cilantro lime sauce, and grilled chicken. Delicious without being heavy. And the chips...they are the best in town! Rather than the bland too-greasy chips you often get, these are crispy with plenty of spicy seasoning. DELISH!



The main reason to eat a healthy dinner is so that you can indulge with dessert; we headed over to Extraordinary Desserts for some of the most decadent pieces of cake ever concocted. I absolutely went nuts over the Blood Orange Cake.



Going to bed with a full belly meant that breakfast was a bit later. Before heading off to the La Jolla Cove, Sita and I ate at one of San Diego's best breakfast spots: The Mission in North Park. Definitely worth the wait! The Blackberry Banana pancakes are the bomb.



Willis joined us for our tour of La Jolla; he was pretty excited for the day's adventure! Who wouldn't appreciate scenery like this?





Sita and Willis became fast friends; the sweet potato treats she brought with her were a big help!



Willis was intrigued with all of the different birds and animals that he saw in La Jolla:



Especially the seals, who seemed to be living the life of Riley. Just looking at the smile on this seal's face, you'd never know the controversy these creatures have become a part of because they have taken up residence on the hoity-toity shores of this upscale beachside community.



Willis wanted to play with them; he was obviously fascinated.



I just can't imagine why people flock to La Jolla; can you?



After all of that walking, it was time for us to take a gelatto break. I'm sure Willis licked somebody's spoon.



Naps followed for all so that we could be rested up for dinner at Alexanders, one of my favorite Italian restaurants in North Park. I was enjoying my beet salad and Linguini di Kathleen too much to shoot any photos.



Dessert was Ben & Jerry's while watching "Pitch Perfect." It just doesn't get any better than that.

With a plane to catch, there wasn't much time for touring the next day, so Sita & I had a quick breafast at the Hob Nob in Bankers Hill. Best service/food/value in town.



I couldn't let Sita fly back to Indiana without a quick tour of the downtown, so we ventured into the Gaslamp Quarter before heading to the airport.



A few souvenirs were purchased before we hopped back into the car to make sure Sita caught her plane on time. No surprise that she is already planning a return trip! Another D-Tours success story!

See more vintage & current San Diego photos from my collection on my main website.