Monday at Ocean Beach

A photo shoot the other week took me back to Ocean Beach (or “OB” as the locals call it) for the first time in years. When it comes to San Diego beaches, this one probably has the most personality and is the least touristy of the bunch.



You can probably understand why NBC San Diego calls the OB Pier “iconic but beleaguered.”



The face carved into the rock below was probably made when the sculptor attempted to figure out when the Pier replacement project was going to actually begin.



Yes, graffiti abounds…



and the signage spray painted on the beach wall is completely ignored…



yet it is still one of the most quirky and beloved spots in our city.



Artistic touches of branding abound…



and you all know I love a good light fixture!



Shall I take my mother to her local namesake watering hole when she visits next month? What a photo opp that would be.



Not sure what’s inside but this place wins points with me just based on the entry:



Even advertisements are given the local “artistic” touch in OB:



And finally, it’s the perfect place to “dance like nobody is watching.”



See more Ocean Beach photos at my main website.

Arrivederci, Hob Nob Hill

It was with great sadness that I read on SanDiegoVille that my beloved Hob Nob Hill Restaurant had been bought out and would be closing temporarily until the new owners do whatever they plan to do with this historic San Diego eatery. I had to go one last time under the current regime; naturally, Mar Mar joined me.



The Hob Nob was always on the list for out-of-town friends, and it never disappointed. From 2017:

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A vintage 1975 postcard showing how the restaurant looked at that time:



During the pandemic lockdowns, the restaurant underwent a remodel that added a bar…



a few “Wizard of Oz” murals…







…and a photo of original owner,  Dorothy Hoersch. When the “Oz” murals appeared, I was told by the staff that they thought they were a nod to Dorothy; other sources say it’s a tribute to “Wizard of Oz” author L. Frank Baum who lived in Coronado. The restaurant is located in the Bankers Hill area, so I would tend to go with the Dorothy Hoersch link.



Oftentimes, the lobby area was packed. Patrons knew that the freshly prepared food and service were worth the wait; informed locals (like me and Mar Mar) knew the best times to avoid the crowds. 7am on a Sunday morning was juuuuuuuust right.



I had many a delicious meal and memorable times with friends and family in these booths over the years.



Another Hob Nob trick was that if the lobby was full, you might be able to grab a seat at the counter without any wait.



For my Sunday breakfast, I chose the Belgian waffle stuffed with bacon. It was delicious. I was tempted to buy one of the homemade blueberry pies to take home, but my waist definitely did not need it.



Sadly, I have been told that the entire staff is being laid off and must reapply for their jobs. They have not been told when the restaurant will reopen, but have been instructed to get unemployment in the meantime. Unfortunately for the workforce there (many who have served over 20 years), tips are not covered with unemployment. What a rotten way to begin.

Thanks for the wonderful memories, Hob Nob. I sure hope the new owners follow in the footsteps of their honorable predecessors, but it’s not looking good so far.

See more San Diego Hob Nob Hill restaurant photos at my main website.

Rudford’s Diner: The Real Thing

While other places attempt to replicate the genuine diner experience, Rudford’s in San Diego doesn’t have to try. It’s the real thing. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, it’s been serving the North Park neighborhood since 1949. The photo mural below graces the side of the building.



President John F. Kennedy’s motorcade drove by the restaurant on June 6th, 1963, just a few months before he was assassinated.



Rudford’s has a milkshake named in his honor. The JFK Bacon Caramel Shake is not for the faint of heart, and guaranteed to induce a food coma. And speaking of shakes, this one comes with a good sized portion of extra shake in the cup it was made in. Little extras like that are what makes a great diner!



Signage and tchotchkes adorn the walls and shelves.



Atmosphere like this just can’t be created.



So much neon…I love it!



The patty melt is a favorite of mine; plenty of meat and just the right amount of grease. It is DELICIOUS!



Do not skip the pie for dessert; they are made fresh here at the restaurant from scratch.



The service is super friendly, too. Not the canned kind that is attempted through training; the real kind.

See more North Park/Rudford’s Diner photos at my main website.

Monday at the Diner: One Year Later

With today being Veteran’s Day and having it off from work, I decided on an early morning breakfast at the Lafayette Hotel’s Beginner’s Diner. It has been a little over a year since this historic San Diego hotel reopened to great fanfare after a $31 million renovation. First, a genuine FauxD© shot of the hotel’s exterior. The fire inside the lobby was lit to keep the guests warm; the outside temperature this morning was a chilly 59°!



While my goal was the Diner, I had to snap a few other photos along the way, including the unique light fixtures that hang above the lobby desk.



The Diner itself looks pretty much the same since my first visit in August 2023.



The same cannot be said for the buckwheat pancakes.



When compared to the August 2023 photo below, you can see that they look (and tasted) less rich without the abundance of toppings.



Compare the biscuits and gravy; this morning, the biscuits tasted as if they had been left out on the counter all week.



The gravy had more filler and less meat than their September 2023 counterpart, and as a result, less flavor.



The clock has changed, too. Below is the current one:



…and the one originally installed when the Diner first opened:



This change didn’t bother me as much, although I would say that the original clock seemed more authentic. Overall, it would appear that the restaurant is cutting back or perhaps I just caught them on an off day. I might have to try Rudford’s down the street next time! Stay tuned…

See more Lafayette Hotel photos at my main website.

Halloween Season in South Park

Every year I look forward to seeing what my neighbors put together for their Halloween display. At night, with the lighting and the animatronics going, it really is quite spectacular.



Unlike other neighborhood displays, this one changes each time, as old figures are replaced and new ones join the mix. There’s also a “tunnel” off to the side with even more things to see.



Open every Friday and Saturday night in October, if you live in San Diego, you really need to check this out from 7pm–9pm.



Like the rest of San Diego, parking can be tight (that’s an entirely different topic that I cannot begin to unpack here in this post), so best to take that into consideration.



Yes, the figures light up AND move!



I don’t think Willis cares for this figure, though. Even in the daytime.



This figure reminds me of the neighborhood “Karen” who asked me the other day, “What do you think about the Halloween display on our street?” I replied, “I think it’s great!” “Really? It’s pretty noisy. I can hear it across the street.” Me: “It’s only two nights a week from 7-9 in October, and people really seem to love it. I think it’s great to have it here!” That was pretty much the end of the convo. She probably turns off her lights on Halloween to avoid giving candy to the kids.






For more info about South Park Horror House, visit them on Instagram.






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