Whatever Happened to Manuel’s?

This recently acquired San Diego slide from March 1958 baffled me, as I didn’t recognize this building which according to Google was located in Old Town State Park. The historic landmark sign refers to it as Casa de Pedrorena, and the neon sign to the right says “Manuel’s Restaurante.”



Doing an address search, I discovered I had photographed the building! However, it looks nothing like the structure in the 1958 slide. No adobe wall in front, no awning, and no red roof.



Scouring eBay, I found this vintage postcard which matched the 1958 slide:



This photo postcard with a notation from 1962 shows the patio of Manuel’s:



An interior view:



Want to see the menu and prices? Get ready to faint. Here you go:



I love the “Comidas al Gringo” section, which basically translates to “Food for the Americans who should probably be dining elsewhere.” At least that’s my translation. Back in the day, free souvenir matchbooks were part of doing 



Apparently Manuel’s sponsored a map of Old San Diego:





Back to present day, this plaque on a rock sits on front of Casa de Pedrorena de Altamirano:



Miguel Pedrorena Jr. built this adobe structure in 1869. It was the final adobe built in Old Town. In January 1871 Pedrorena gave the building to his sister Isabel de Altamirano, joining together two pioneer California families. Isabel and her husband Jose Antonio Alta mirano raised their large family in the home. Isabel’s father, Miguel Pedrorena, was a prominent merchant in Mexican California, and represented the San Diego area at the California State Constitutional Convention held in 1849. Jose Antonio Altamirano was born in La Paz, Lower California in 1835, but came to San Diego in 1849 to explore the mining possibilities of the area. He also engaged in stock raising ventures on both sides of the border.

The porch has this timeline:



What baffled me was that there is no mention of Manuel’s Restaurant in either text.
 
Grokipedia to the rescue! Here’s an edited version of what it had to say:

Subsequent modifications in the 1890s converted portions into a Victorian bungalow aesthetic, introducing wood-frame additions that overlaid but did not fully supplant the adobe core, leading to eventual structural strain from material incompatibilities. From 1907 onward, the structure accommodated a range of commercial activities, reflecting the adaptive reuse common to surviving adobes in San Diego's Old Town district as the area's economic focus shifted southward. Notably, it operated as Manuel's Restaurante from 1945 to 1974, where owners Manuel and Thelma Moseley renovated the building and promoted it as a historic dining venue specializing in Mexican cuisine, capitalizing on its adobe authenticity to attract tourists. By 1974, severe deterioration necessitated vacancy, prompting a 1982 rehabilitation by California State Parks that stabilized the adobe framework while respecting its hybrid origins. By the late 20th century, the casa integrated into Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, with the California Department of Parks and Recreation completing a major renovation in 1996 to stabilize the adobe and preserve its integrity. Today, it functions as a retail space housing a gem, jewelry, and mineral shop, maintaining public access within the park while supporting interpretive tourism.

My question is why have any mentions of Manuel’s been removed from the descriptive signage? While a mineral shop is lovely, Manuel’s seems a lot more interesting.

See more Old Town State Park in San Diego photos at my main website.

Old Town: Church of the Immaculate Conception

At the heart of Old Town you can find the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Whether you are Catholic or not, it is hard to deny the beauty and serenity of this little gem surrounded by the festive businesses and restaurants of one of San Diego’s biggest tourist areas.



Edited from the church’s website:

Saint Junípero Serra celebrated his First Holy Mass in California on July 2, 1769, near the site of the present Immaculate Conception Church, and it was on the hill overlooking Old Town that he planted the cross which marked the site of the Mission and the Presidio. In 1849, the parish was established with the appointment of Rev. John C. Holbein as the first pastor. He laid the cornerstone for the old adobe church in 1851. Masses were celebrated in the homes of residents of Old Town. A chapel dedicated to The Immaculate Conception was dedicated in 1858. It still stands and is known as the Old Adobe Chapel on Conde Street. The cornerstone to the present Immaculate Conception Church was laid in 1868 under the direction of Father Antonio Ubach. Due to the population swing toward the south, a lack of funding and a devastating fire in Old Town, it was not until July 1917 that the church was completed and Masses began to be celebrated. It was dedicated by Archbishop John J. Cantwell of Los Angeles on July 6, 1919.



In 1998, the church was seismically retrofitted to withstand earthquakes and it was rededicated by Bishop Gilbert E. Chavez. On July 14, 2019, the parish celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the Dedication of Immaculate Conception Church with a Mass officiated by Bishop John P. Dolan. It now serves over 300 families throughout the San Diego region as well as visitors from around the world.



The decor is tasteful and simple; and unlike the surrounding areas of this church, inside it is very serene.







For those that didn’t take Latin, “Sanctus” means holy, sacred, or consecrated. Once a requirement in Western education, it began to be phased out in the 1960s. I was able to bypass it as a student; not sure if that was a good thing or not, but I remember being relieved as a kid that I didn’t have to take it after hearing what a struggle it was to learn and how nobody used it in the real world anyway. But I digress, as always.



If you decide to hit Old Town for a margarita or a meal, take a quiet moment first and check out this historic church.



See more Church of the Immaculate Conception photos at my main website.

Best Neighborhood in San Diego

When it comes to the lottery of awesome neighborhoods, I would say that Willis and I won hands down.  South Park (no, Cartman doesn’t live here) has a vibrant Main Street that makes it one of the most walkable neighborhoods in San Diego. As I get older and the traffic continues to get worse, the less I have to drive the better. Here are a few of the reasons I love my hood! Number one is the best Italian restaurant in San Diego, Il Posto.



They are tops in service, atmosphere, and cuisine. EVERY meal is a winner (and I frequent this place on a regular basis) and always a hit with whoever I go with.



If you like Tiramisu, theirs is the best you will find. I love to watch the face of people as they savor their first bite; it is a dessert like no others. All other versions of it pale in comparison.



If you like Indian food, Curryosity is an adorable option tucked away just off the main street.



In Naan We Trust, indeed!



The portions here make them perfect for sharing, as typically there are many items on the menu that you will want to try.



For pizza lovers, Mazara’s Pizzeria is a more than decent choice. I can’t say that heartily recommend their other food options, but for a night when pizza sounds good, ordering online means I can walk down the street in about 20 minutes and pick up my dinner. Plus, Willis loves the crust!



If you like Tater Tots, look no further than Station Tavern.



Half outdoor patio and half enclosed bar/restaurant seating, this local favorite is great for a casual lunch or dinner with friends and family.



The BEST Tater Tots you will find anywhere. Served hot and perfectly seasoned, you could make a meal out of them. The one downside to this place are the other tots; I’m not sure why this place attracts negligent parents, but it does. If you don’t mind screaming kids running around and throwing the gravel that covers the patio, then this is the place for you. 



Coffee lovers have a few fun options, beginning with Communal. Located in a little trailer parked at the back of a scenic patio, it’s a cool spot to sip your java, have a snack, and socialize or work remote:



Dark Horse also carries ice cream. Nice to have a little dessert spot just down the street:



Recently, Origins Grocer opened up. This place is INCREDIBLE to have within steps of my home. Their focus is organic and low waste. You bring the container, fill it up, and help cut down on the plethora of plastic that pervades the landfills. The owners are super nice, too.



If you’re into vintage vinyl, Vinyl Junkies is the place for you.



My hood also has some cool mural art, like the one shown below:



Other favorite neighborhood haunts include Whistle Stop Bar:



Catapult Books, South Park Fitness (I created the logo!):



and The Rose Wine Bar. How about you? Have you been to South Park and if so, what are some of YOUR favorite spots?

See more South Park neighborhood in San Diego photos at my main website.

Date Night in Kensington

When I first moved back to San Diego in 1999, the Kensington, Hillcrest, and University Heights neighborhoods of San Diego were my go-to choices for restaurants and fun. Over the years, Kensington dropped off my radar, mainly because it was the furthest out. When pressed for time, an extra five to ten minutes can make a huge difference; also, I am the type of person that easily gets caught in the rut of visiting my favorite haunts. Recently, I decided to rectify that and of course took my camera along. The Kensington sign calls to my inner vintage neon nut. Unknown to me, my photography was being captured behind-the-scenes by my date While I wasn't necessarily happy with how I looked or my posture, I was VERY relieved to see that I still have avoided the dreaded baldspot in back!



Club Kensington’s sign is even cooler than the main Kensington one:



This vintage car was appropriately parked in front of the retro-looking club:



The things I do to get the right angle; I sure hope my knees hold out!



The destination was Trattoria da Sofia, an Italian restaurant that had been on my radar for awhile. They follow me on social media, so naturally I had to check them out!



Capturing the required establishing shot:



The interior decor was interesting; I would call it eclectic. One would expect to see this type of fountain in the lobby of an Italian restaurant:



…but probably not the laundry hanging overhead. It was a very fun touch!



I was obsessed with this fish-shaped water bottle on the table:



Moving onto the food, the arancine appetizer was fantastic and generously portioned:



The crispy burrata was beyond yum!



One of my typical choices when I dine in an Italian restaurant is pollo parmigiana (aka chicken parmesan):



It was also delish. My sweet tooth was a bit disappointed that Spumoni ice cream was not on the menu, but the limocello cake was out of this world!



Sofia’s definitely rated a return visit!

See more Kensington neighborhood in San Diego photos at my main website.