Little Miss Sunshine in CA, Pt. 1

It was a case of perfect timing - just when I needed my bestie of 30+ years most, Christy (aka Little Miss Sunshine) came to visit me in California. It had been seven years since we’d last hung out in person, but it was as if no time had passed at all. Some say she’s the Grace to my Will, but since I never really cared for the Grace Adler character (self-centered, whiny, and obnoxious), I will skip that comparison and just say I am grateful to still have her in my life! Faithful readers of my blog will not be surprised to find out that the first stop for us when she arrived was Station Tavern for a “light snack” of their legendary tater tots. For Christy, it was love at first bite. 



And because it’s all about the food, our next event was dinner at Sonny’s in University Heights, one of my new faves.



This is the go-to place when my friend Kevin and I grab dinner, so he tagged along for the ride and got to meet Christy. With Kevin, it’s typically a text at 6pm-ish: “Sonny's?” Nothing else needs to be said other than “yes” or “no.” Back to Sunshine…of course she enjoyed the Pepp Rolls.



I really love the vibe of this place, and so do Kevin & Christy!



The dessert options at Sonny’s are meh, so we headed over to Jeni’s afterwards.





The next morning, Christy had her first addictive taste of the vanilla bean lattés at Communal Coffee in South Park:



Making ourselves more presentable, we drove over the bridge to Coronado Island into Nirvana, aka Little Frenchie’s:



In the early years of our friendship, this is what we did:



Now we sample French pastries. A much better choice!



We kind of walked off the calories with a stroll along the beach in front of the Hotel del Coronado:



…just like Marilyn Monroe did in 1959 for “Some Like it Hot.”



A cute tiki sand sculpture:



Inside the Hotel del was this display with pieces related to Frank Baum and his Oz books:



Christy had never seen the Crown Room before. That wooden ceiling is GOR-GEOUS!



The prices of gas in Indiana looked much better after Christy saw what they were in San Diego!



We attempted to catch a movie at Coronado’s Village Theatre, but unbeknownst to me it had shut down and was undergoing a change in ownership. Nothing like a dinner at San Diego’s best Italian restaurant, Il Posto, to make things better!







Until the next meal…this concludes Pt. 1 of Little Miss Sunshine’s California visit!
 
See more of my photos at my main website.

Sonny's Pizza in University Heights

When I moved back to San Diego, I lived in the University Heights neighborhood for about a year. It’s still one of my favorite hoods around. I don’t spend as much time there now as I used to, and a lot has changed there since 1999. A number of high-rise mixed used buildings have sprung up, changing the quaint skyline, and some of my favorite haunts have been replaced by soul-less brewpubs. So…I was happily surprised on a recent visit when I saw this neon sign just off Park Boulevard (the main drag) on Madison. When did Sonny's Pizza go in?!? It wasn’t long before I checked it out for myself.



According to my sources, it is part of the Consortium Holdings collection (the group that renovated/runs the Lafayette Hotel). From the attention to detail and interesting art featured there, it doesn’t surprise me. Notice the TVs in the window, all playing vintage movies. The TVs are marked “Sonnys” instead of “Sony.” Brilliant.



While less than a year old, when you walk inside, the place feels as if it’s been in the neighborhood for decades. The design and decor are spot-on for an east coast pizza joint. Not a restaurant…a joint.



LOVE the high ceilings.



A bright orange pizza oven dominates the interior, along with the cool Swiss-chalet styled staircase up to the second level.



Unlike most of the Consortium Holdings ventures, this place has food that is worth going back for. Typically, their restaurants are high on the Instagram factor, but “meh” on the food offerings. The Pepp (as in Pepperoni) Rolls are a fave of mine.



The pizzas are good, but they also have other fare that I really enjoy, like the Tagliatelle Bolognese:



…and the Chicken Francese, a pan-fried cutlet in lemon-butter sauce.



Besides indoor dining, there is a vibrant outdoor patio:



 Reservations are suggested, even for a joint - especially on the weekends. My one caveat to this place would be the service - the staff is fairly friendly, but don’t go expecting the staff to go overboard for you. When you are seated, using the QR code on the table to order for yourself is suggested vs. ordering from the wait staff. Food is not brought out at the right time either; typically entrées arrive much earlier than the appetizer. The wait staff is hip, young, and don’t seem to really be concerned by what they SHOULD be doing. And yet…at this place it doesn’t bother me. It goes along with the east coast vibe. I highly recommend it!

See more University Heights neighborhood photos at my main website.