Sad. Reason #177 not to litter.
February 29, 2012
Wetlands Park
Did you know Las Vegas has Wetlands? That's right we do. Wetlands in the desert, it's pretty remarkable. This gem will make you feel like your hundreds of miles away when you're actually minutes from the strip. When Tropicana ends on the eastside you'll find the Wetlands Park. A good sum has been spent out there as of late. There is a visitors center that is due to open next month. Several trails and a play area for kids. It's a nice little refuge in our backyard.
Sad. Reason #177 not to litter.
Sad. Reason #177 not to litter.
February 28, 2012
Color Run 2012
Saturday was the Color Run. It's a 5k benefiting Three Square Food Bank. We started on Las Vegas Blvd and weaved a few blocks east coming up on the recently shuttered Western and we finished on Fremont near El Cortez. Each 1K we hit a color check point and we were doused in colored dust. It was great fun! People were having a ball. It's the first 5k I saw people enjoying drinks before and after.
Frank and I ran the first K to yellow and then walked the rest of the way. I didn't want to overdue it - I was happy enough that my ankle held up that long. Plus, Frank shin was giving him fits.
All clean, white and bright just past the start...
Then, let the color splashing begin!
The costumes were such fun. I loved that we saw the Colonel.
No one escaped being colored.
After the 5k, Frank was determined to play blackjack. We couldn't find at open seat at El Cortez. We tried again at Fremont, but came up empty until we hit the craps table. He bought in and began to roll...
He rolled twenty or so rolls before the pit phone rang. I just knew the call was about us. Sure enough the pitposs came over and told us we had to leave. He had bets spread across the table. They colored them up and sent us on our way. Our dust was not welcome.
The weather couldn't have been nicer, and the Color Run was great fun! I'm already looking forward to next year.
Frank and I ran the first K to yellow and then walked the rest of the way. I didn't want to overdue it - I was happy enough that my ankle held up that long. Plus, Frank shin was giving him fits.
All clean, white and bright just past the start...
Then, let the color splashing begin!
The costumes were such fun. I loved that we saw the Colonel.
No one escaped being colored.
After the 5k, Frank was determined to play blackjack. We couldn't find at open seat at El Cortez. We tried again at Fremont, but came up empty until we hit the craps table. He bought in and began to roll...
He rolled twenty or so rolls before the pit phone rang. I just knew the call was about us. Sure enough the pitposs came over and told us we had to leave. He had bets spread across the table. They colored them up and sent us on our way. Our dust was not welcome.
The weather couldn't have been nicer, and the Color Run was great fun! I'm already looking forward to next year.
February 27, 2012
Photo a Day: Week 8
February 19, 2012 ~ The power of a .44 Magnum is insane!
February 20, 2012 ~ PB & J picnics on the cliffs in La Jolla, CA will become tradition.
February 21, 2012 ~ Happy Mardi Gras
February 22, 2012 ~ regrowing green onions actually works.
February 23, 2012 ~ Picked up the gear for the Color Run, we're all set for Saturday.
February 24, 2012 ~ Today's bauble.
February 25, 2012 ~ The Color Run was indeed colorful.
February 24, 2012
Christmas Comes Twice
Well, that's what it is like, anyway. The most glorious week of the year is now two. That's right, restaurant week is making a spring debut, it begins on Monday. Then, it will return for its regular stint in September.
The only shame of it is that we're supposed to be sticking with a strict healthy diet while Frank competes in the Get Fit weightloss challenge. We've already cheated while we were in San Diego - it was worth every extra calorie, too. But I think we might get out for a meal or two. It benefits charity after all.
We're both walking in tomorrow's Color Run. Which also supports Three Square. It takes place downtown. I'm very much looking forward to it.
I don't suppose the 5k will erase the effects of one of these meals, would it?
30.12 Addiction
1. FIRST COURSE:
Choice of: French Onion Soup; Sherry French Onion Soup & Gruyere Croutons or Mac Bites; Deep Fried Smoked Gouda and Cheddar Mac& Cheese tossed in Parmesan Cheese and Served with Garlic Aioli
2. SECOND COURSE:
Mixed greens with Toasted Walnuts and a Citrus Vinaigrette
3. THIRD COURSE:
Choice of: Short& Sweet; Seared then Braised Short Ribs with Sweet Potato Puree, Crispy Potato Strings, Smoked Salt, and a Wild Honey Port-Burgundy Sauce ~OR~ 5 Spice Seared Tuna; Seared Rare Tuna, Spicy Tempura Crunch, Caramelized Onions and Drizzled with a Prickly Pear-Ponzu Vinaigrette
4. FOURTH COURSE:
Gossip Sundae
20.12 Lunch Due Forni
1. FIRST COURSE:
Choice of: Eggplant Caprese; Roasted Eggplant, Bufala Mozzarella, Basil Pesto ~OR~ Caesar; Romaine Hearts, Herb Croutons, Parmesan, Garlic Vinaigrette
2. SECOND COURSE:
Choice of: Panino; House Made Sausage and Pepper Panino ~OR~ Margherita; San Marzano Tomato, Bufala Mozzarella, Fresh Basil
3. THIRD COURSE:
Choice of: Dolci; Sweet Bufala Ricotta, Toasted Pistachios, Artisanal Honey ~OR~ Gelato; Choice of Vanilla, Chocolate or Strawberry
30.12 Dinner Due Forni
4. FIRST COURSE:
Choice of: Eggplant Caprese; Roasted Eggplant, Bufala Mozzarella, Basil Pesto ~OR~ Caesar; Romaine Hearts, Herb Croutons, Parmesan, Garlic Vinaigrette ~OR~ Tortellacci; Wild Mushroom, Large Tortelli, Butter, Pecorino Romano
5. SECOND COURSE:
Choice of: Pizza; Margherita San Marzano Tomato, Bufala Mozzarella, Fresh Basil ~OR~ Calzone; Turkey Meatballs, Mozzarella, Ricotta, San Marzano ~OR~ Pizza Speck---- Recla Smoked Prosciutto, Bufala Mozzarella, Roasted Mushrooms, Fresh Parsley
6. THIRD COURSE:
Choice of: Dolci; Sweet Bufala Ricotta, Toasted Pistachios, Artisanal Honey ~OR~ Gelato; Choice of Vanilla, Chocolate or Strawberry
30.12 Lunch Mozen Bistro
1. FIRST COURSE:
Courses served Bento box style: MURGH MAKHANI; Tandoori roasted marinated chicken, in creamy Indian curry; YAM NEUA- Grilled prime strip loin, tossed with cucumbers, mint, shallots and Thai sweet basil with bird’s eye chili – lime vinaigrette;
2. SECOND COURSE:
Courses served Bento box style: BULGOGI- Stir fried marinated beef tips served with Kim chee & jasmine rice; TOM YUM GOONG- Shrimp, lemongrass and kafir lime in a rich broth, flavored with chili and cilantro;
3. THIRD COURSE:
Courses served Bento box style: WASABI PRAWN - Crispy shrimp tossed in wasabi aioli, mango-chili relish and tobiko SUSHI & SASHIMI; Spicy Tempura roll, salmon & tuna sashimi
4. FOURTH COURSE:
Five Spiced Flourless Cake with Sesame Florentine
50.12 Dinner Circo
1. FIRST COURSE:
Choice of: Mozzarella di Bufala; Fresh Buffalo Mozzarella from Camapania Vine Ripe Tomatoes, Genovese Basil, Balsamic Vinegar ~OR~ Fritto Misto; Calamari, Green Beans and Zucchini “Fritti”, Cherry Tomato Sauce ~OR~ Carpaccio di Manzo; Beef Carpaccio, Pickled Vegetables, Parmigiano Reggiano, Baby Arugula, Limoncello Dressing
2. SECOND COURSE:
Choice of: Ravioli; Egi’s Ravioli of Sheep’s Milk Ricotta, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Butter Sage Sauce ~OR~ Quaglie alla Griglia; Grilled Napa Valley Quails, Semolina Gnocchi, Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta, Marsala Wine Reduction ~OR~ Il Salmone; Grilled Scottish Salmon, Baby Spinach and Citrus Salad, Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
3. THIRD COURSE:
Choice of: Tiramisù Tradizionale; Traditional Tiramisù ~OR~ Panna Cotta; Vanilla Panna Cotta, Seasonal Fruit
30.12 Dinner Todd’s
1. FIRST COURSE:
Choice of: Grumpy’s Salad; Our Version of The Wedge ~OR~ Cream of Heirloom Tomato ~OR~ Sweet Corn Ravioli; Chipotle Sauce and Micro Herbs
2. SECOND COURSE:
Choice of: Roast Prime Rib of Pork; Apple Pan Sauce and Sausage Stuffing ~OR~ Grilled Steelhead; Meyer Lemon Aioli, Toasted Cous Cous ~OR~ Filet Medallions with Wild Mushroom Cabernet Sauce ~OR~ Surf and Turf with a Maine Lobster Tail ($20 supplement) ~OR~ Vegetable Risotto, Parmesan Cheese
3. THIRD COURSE:
Choice of: Flourless Chocolate Cake with Raspberry and Vanilla Sauce ~OR~ Hazelnut Crème Brûlée ~OR~ Salted Butterscotch Pudding; Fresh Cream ~OR~ Assorted Housemade Ice Creams
Yep, that's my list of those being considered. I sent it off to Frank for his thoughts... We'll see where we end up.
The only shame of it is that we're supposed to be sticking with a strict healthy diet while Frank competes in the Get Fit weightloss challenge. We've already cheated while we were in San Diego - it was worth every extra calorie, too. But I think we might get out for a meal or two. It benefits charity after all.
We're both walking in tomorrow's Color Run. Which also supports Three Square. It takes place downtown. I'm very much looking forward to it.
I don't suppose the 5k will erase the effects of one of these meals, would it?
30.12 Addiction
1. FIRST COURSE:
Choice of: French Onion Soup; Sherry French Onion Soup & Gruyere Croutons or Mac Bites; Deep Fried Smoked Gouda and Cheddar Mac& Cheese tossed in Parmesan Cheese and Served with Garlic Aioli
2. SECOND COURSE:
Mixed greens with Toasted Walnuts and a Citrus Vinaigrette
3. THIRD COURSE:
Choice of: Short& Sweet; Seared then Braised Short Ribs with Sweet Potato Puree, Crispy Potato Strings, Smoked Salt, and a Wild Honey Port-Burgundy Sauce ~OR~ 5 Spice Seared Tuna; Seared Rare Tuna, Spicy Tempura Crunch, Caramelized Onions and Drizzled with a Prickly Pear-Ponzu Vinaigrette
4. FOURTH COURSE:
Gossip Sundae
20.12 Lunch Due Forni
1. FIRST COURSE:
Choice of: Eggplant Caprese; Roasted Eggplant, Bufala Mozzarella, Basil Pesto ~OR~ Caesar; Romaine Hearts, Herb Croutons, Parmesan, Garlic Vinaigrette
2. SECOND COURSE:
Choice of: Panino; House Made Sausage and Pepper Panino ~OR~ Margherita; San Marzano Tomato, Bufala Mozzarella, Fresh Basil
3. THIRD COURSE:
Choice of: Dolci; Sweet Bufala Ricotta, Toasted Pistachios, Artisanal Honey ~OR~ Gelato; Choice of Vanilla, Chocolate or Strawberry
30.12 Dinner Due Forni
4. FIRST COURSE:
Choice of: Eggplant Caprese; Roasted Eggplant, Bufala Mozzarella, Basil Pesto ~OR~ Caesar; Romaine Hearts, Herb Croutons, Parmesan, Garlic Vinaigrette ~OR~ Tortellacci; Wild Mushroom, Large Tortelli, Butter, Pecorino Romano
5. SECOND COURSE:
Choice of: Pizza; Margherita San Marzano Tomato, Bufala Mozzarella, Fresh Basil ~OR~ Calzone; Turkey Meatballs, Mozzarella, Ricotta, San Marzano ~OR~ Pizza Speck---- Recla Smoked Prosciutto, Bufala Mozzarella, Roasted Mushrooms, Fresh Parsley
6. THIRD COURSE:
Choice of: Dolci; Sweet Bufala Ricotta, Toasted Pistachios, Artisanal Honey ~OR~ Gelato; Choice of Vanilla, Chocolate or Strawberry
30.12 Lunch Mozen Bistro
1. FIRST COURSE:
Courses served Bento box style: MURGH MAKHANI; Tandoori roasted marinated chicken, in creamy Indian curry; YAM NEUA- Grilled prime strip loin, tossed with cucumbers, mint, shallots and Thai sweet basil with bird’s eye chili – lime vinaigrette;
2. SECOND COURSE:
Courses served Bento box style: BULGOGI- Stir fried marinated beef tips served with Kim chee & jasmine rice; TOM YUM GOONG- Shrimp, lemongrass and kafir lime in a rich broth, flavored with chili and cilantro;
3. THIRD COURSE:
Courses served Bento box style: WASABI PRAWN - Crispy shrimp tossed in wasabi aioli, mango-chili relish and tobiko SUSHI & SASHIMI; Spicy Tempura roll, salmon & tuna sashimi
4. FOURTH COURSE:
Five Spiced Flourless Cake with Sesame Florentine
50.12 Dinner Circo
1. FIRST COURSE:
Choice of: Mozzarella di Bufala; Fresh Buffalo Mozzarella from Camapania Vine Ripe Tomatoes, Genovese Basil, Balsamic Vinegar ~OR~ Fritto Misto; Calamari, Green Beans and Zucchini “Fritti”, Cherry Tomato Sauce ~OR~ Carpaccio di Manzo; Beef Carpaccio, Pickled Vegetables, Parmigiano Reggiano, Baby Arugula, Limoncello Dressing
2. SECOND COURSE:
Choice of: Ravioli; Egi’s Ravioli of Sheep’s Milk Ricotta, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Butter Sage Sauce ~OR~ Quaglie alla Griglia; Grilled Napa Valley Quails, Semolina Gnocchi, Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta, Marsala Wine Reduction ~OR~ Il Salmone; Grilled Scottish Salmon, Baby Spinach and Citrus Salad, Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
3. THIRD COURSE:
Choice of: Tiramisù Tradizionale; Traditional Tiramisù ~OR~ Panna Cotta; Vanilla Panna Cotta, Seasonal Fruit
30.12 Dinner Todd’s
1. FIRST COURSE:
Choice of: Grumpy’s Salad; Our Version of The Wedge ~OR~ Cream of Heirloom Tomato ~OR~ Sweet Corn Ravioli; Chipotle Sauce and Micro Herbs
2. SECOND COURSE:
Choice of: Roast Prime Rib of Pork; Apple Pan Sauce and Sausage Stuffing ~OR~ Grilled Steelhead; Meyer Lemon Aioli, Toasted Cous Cous ~OR~ Filet Medallions with Wild Mushroom Cabernet Sauce ~OR~ Surf and Turf with a Maine Lobster Tail ($20 supplement) ~OR~ Vegetable Risotto, Parmesan Cheese
3. THIRD COURSE:
Choice of: Flourless Chocolate Cake with Raspberry and Vanilla Sauce ~OR~ Hazelnut Crème Brûlée ~OR~ Salted Butterscotch Pudding; Fresh Cream ~OR~ Assorted Housemade Ice Creams
Yep, that's my list of those being considered. I sent it off to Frank for his thoughts... We'll see where we end up.
February 23, 2012
San Diego: Part II
Sunday, we stopped at Con Pane for another Italian, then we were off to Camp Pendleton to meet up with friends. Bill took us to a couple tactical and hunting stores then we went to the shooting range on base. It was very busy and there was more women there than I've ever seen at a range before.
The guys were going to rent S&W 500, but they ended up with a 44 Magnum since it was a bit less coin and still a nice bang for the buck. Bill has a .40 Springfield XD it was my first time shooting that caliber. I still prefer 9mm and like the .45 best. I also much prefer shooting outdoors than in the range, I'm reminded of that every time. There are just too many distractions when with 23 other guns going off every few seconds. I wasn't meant for combat. I did fire the 44 Magnum. That is one heavy gun and the power is positively insane especially when coupled with the hairpin trigger. You see a burst of flames before you even release the trigger. It's so fast and smooth.
Frank's target shooting with the 44 magnum at 15 yards.
44 magnum vs .40
Good times! We grabbed a bite at Senor Pancho's in Oceanside. I had a couple carne asada tacos that were greasy and wreaked havoc on my stomach for the next few hours. We went back to Bill's, we visited a bit and played with James. Later, we returned to the hotel and napped.
Then, we set out for more Mexican. This time, we went out to La Puerta. It's another favorite spot. You can't beat the $2 ice cold Pacifico. I also think they have the best tortilla chips. Muy Bueno! We walked over to the Tipsy Crow, but they were way too busy. When we saw they didn't have Thunderweizen either we continued on our way. We later bellied up to Gaslamp Tavern. We drank Pacifico drafts until they called last call. We then walked back to the hotel and hit the sack.
Monday, we packed up and checked out. We went to El Indio one last time. I tried the Chile Relleno this time. Their version is pretty good. We shopped a bit. Then, went to Con Pane for PB & J to go. We drove up to La Jolla and had a picnic at our new favorite spot. We sat on the edge of the cliff and soaked it in as long as we could.
Then, sadly, it was time to go. 4.5 hours later we pulled into the driveway, and we were missing it already.
The guys were going to rent S&W 500, but they ended up with a 44 Magnum since it was a bit less coin and still a nice bang for the buck. Bill has a .40 Springfield XD it was my first time shooting that caliber. I still prefer 9mm and like the .45 best. I also much prefer shooting outdoors than in the range, I'm reminded of that every time. There are just too many distractions when with 23 other guns going off every few seconds. I wasn't meant for combat. I did fire the 44 Magnum. That is one heavy gun and the power is positively insane especially when coupled with the hairpin trigger. You see a burst of flames before you even release the trigger. It's so fast and smooth.
Frank's target shooting with the 44 magnum at 15 yards.
44 magnum vs .40
Good times! We grabbed a bite at Senor Pancho's in Oceanside. I had a couple carne asada tacos that were greasy and wreaked havoc on my stomach for the next few hours. We went back to Bill's, we visited a bit and played with James. Later, we returned to the hotel and napped.
Then, we set out for more Mexican. This time, we went out to La Puerta. It's another favorite spot. You can't beat the $2 ice cold Pacifico. I also think they have the best tortilla chips. Muy Bueno! We walked over to the Tipsy Crow, but they were way too busy. When we saw they didn't have Thunderweizen either we continued on our way. We later bellied up to Gaslamp Tavern. We drank Pacifico drafts until they called last call. We then walked back to the hotel and hit the sack.
Monday, we packed up and checked out. We went to El Indio one last time. I tried the Chile Relleno this time. Their version is pretty good. We shopped a bit. Then, went to Con Pane for PB & J to go. We drove up to La Jolla and had a picnic at our new favorite spot. We sat on the edge of the cliff and soaked it in as long as we could.
Then, sadly, it was time to go. 4.5 hours later we pulled into the driveway, and we were missing it already.
February 22, 2012
San Diego: Part I
Friday, we got on the road shortly after 3 o'clock. Four and a half hours later we were pulling into El Indio for dinner. El Indio is one of our favorite spots for Mexican food in San Diego. We couldn't wait to dig into our tamale, taquitos and California burrito. It was good to be back! We checked into our hotel for the night, Seven Seas Best Western on hotel circle. We didn't want to pay the price for the gaslamp knowing we'd be getting in late - though, we did arrive earlier than we anticipated since Frank and I were able to leave work early.
The Best Western was a bit nicer than I expected. With the exception of the bathroom it was newly remodeled. It smelled like fresh carpet. Parking and wifi was free and our room had a fridge. Well worth the $49, thanks, hotwire.com!
Frank napped and I read a bit. We headed about about midnight. We thought we'd check out the Pacific Beach Shore Club that was featured on Drinking Made Easy. Gold fish races are only on Wednesday nights so we knew we'd miss those, but a scooner of Pacifico lured us over. When we got there the line a mile out the door turned us away. Leaving we were stopped at a DUI check point. It was nice to be able to say we hadn't had a drink in the last 6 hours. We were quickly on our way.
We went to Los Panchos in the Gaslamp for Cadillac Margaritas. We knew it wouldn't be too busy, still, finding a place to park was a major task. Fortunately, we found an open meter a couple blocks away. Frank ordered a Tapatio burrito and I had fish taquitos for a snack, but it was the margaritas that hit the spot. Last call was already upon us so we headed back to the hotel to rest up for the fun ahead.
Saturday we checked out of Seven Seas and headed directly to Con Pane Bakery. Its been seven months since we had the sweet taste of their goodies. They did not disappoint. An Italian and cinnamon roll. The perfect brunch.
Our bellies were beyond full, it was time to walk off some of that carby goodness. We drove up to La Jolla and we checked out a couple spots that a friend (who grew up in La Jolla - lucky!) recommended. The first was a Coastal Reserve mainly frequented by those studying at UCSD. It has a short trail and stunning views. Including one of the house that will someday be mine. I just need to scrape together 15 million.
After the Coastal Reserve, we stopped at another overlook. It too was gorgeous, but I preferred the cliffs on the beach.
Our next stop was downtown La Jolla. We were going to grab a bite at Whisknladle only they were serving brunch and we have previously had most of the offerings. Plus, I really wanted a Thunderweizen, but it was taken off the rotation. We grabbed a beer at Karl Strauss instead. Then, walked to El Pescador Fish Market. We split a dungeness crab cocktail and it was delicious. On the way back, we stopped at Bibby's Crepe Cafe. We shared a banana nutella crepe. It was delicious.
We walked back to our car and headed back toward San Diego. The car found its own way back to El Indio. We'd be eating dinner late so we shared taquitos and I tried Morditos which are broken taquitos topped with nacho cheese and jalapenos. Eh, the taquitos on their own are way better.
We checked into the W which is was our home for the next two nights. I booked for $98/night on hotwire. There wasn't as great of value here though. It was real nice on the surface, but little things added up so it never wooed me. The bed was real comfy. That's all that really matters. But it was annoying that they wanted $14.95 for internet, $35/day for parking, and the location was further out from the Gaslamp than I would have liked. The walk back to the hotel later that night seemed pretty sketchy. Anyway, we napped a bit and then got ready to meet up with friends from Vegas that were in town too.
We had reservations for six at 9 o'clock for the Oceanaire Room. We met our friends outside and grabbed beers at the Blarney Stone around the corner beforehand. I had my first Smithwick's it was far lighter and smooth than I imagined. Back at the restaurant, it took a while to be seated and service was pretty slow. At least the food was tasty. I had Snapper with lump crab and Frank had the Yellowtail dirty and black and blue. Which meant it had some kick and it was topped with blue cheese butter. One of our friends had a monster plate filled with 2lbs of king crab and a lobster tail. Other entrees were stuffed shrimp, Swordfish and mixed grill. We were all happy with our selections. The sides were a bit weak. The au gratin potatoes were the best out of the bunch. We finished up with a comped baked Alaska since service was sluggish. It was really good!
After dinner, we walked over to Bub's for another round of drinks. Which was a pretty cool bar. It was just a shame it was filled with drunks that were obliterated and douchy. I guess that's the risk you run when hitting a bar so close to last call. We were all pretty beat so we called it a night and said good-bye.
We took the trolley over but service stopped so we were stuck walking back which wasn't bad, but it was annoying since we paid for round trip fare. I never would've thought the last train would be 12:55 on a Saturday night.
The Best Western was a bit nicer than I expected. With the exception of the bathroom it was newly remodeled. It smelled like fresh carpet. Parking and wifi was free and our room had a fridge. Well worth the $49, thanks, hotwire.com!
Frank napped and I read a bit. We headed about about midnight. We thought we'd check out the Pacific Beach Shore Club that was featured on Drinking Made Easy. Gold fish races are only on Wednesday nights so we knew we'd miss those, but a scooner of Pacifico lured us over. When we got there the line a mile out the door turned us away. Leaving we were stopped at a DUI check point. It was nice to be able to say we hadn't had a drink in the last 6 hours. We were quickly on our way.
We went to Los Panchos in the Gaslamp for Cadillac Margaritas. We knew it wouldn't be too busy, still, finding a place to park was a major task. Fortunately, we found an open meter a couple blocks away. Frank ordered a Tapatio burrito and I had fish taquitos for a snack, but it was the margaritas that hit the spot. Last call was already upon us so we headed back to the hotel to rest up for the fun ahead.
Saturday we checked out of Seven Seas and headed directly to Con Pane Bakery. Its been seven months since we had the sweet taste of their goodies. They did not disappoint. An Italian and cinnamon roll. The perfect brunch.
Our bellies were beyond full, it was time to walk off some of that carby goodness. We drove up to La Jolla and we checked out a couple spots that a friend (who grew up in La Jolla - lucky!) recommended. The first was a Coastal Reserve mainly frequented by those studying at UCSD. It has a short trail and stunning views. Including one of the house that will someday be mine. I just need to scrape together 15 million.
After the Coastal Reserve, we stopped at another overlook. It too was gorgeous, but I preferred the cliffs on the beach.
Our next stop was downtown La Jolla. We were going to grab a bite at Whisknladle only they were serving brunch and we have previously had most of the offerings. Plus, I really wanted a Thunderweizen, but it was taken off the rotation. We grabbed a beer at Karl Strauss instead. Then, walked to El Pescador Fish Market. We split a dungeness crab cocktail and it was delicious. On the way back, we stopped at Bibby's Crepe Cafe. We shared a banana nutella crepe. It was delicious.
We walked back to our car and headed back toward San Diego. The car found its own way back to El Indio. We'd be eating dinner late so we shared taquitos and I tried Morditos which are broken taquitos topped with nacho cheese and jalapenos. Eh, the taquitos on their own are way better.
We checked into the W which is was our home for the next two nights. I booked for $98/night on hotwire. There wasn't as great of value here though. It was real nice on the surface, but little things added up so it never wooed me. The bed was real comfy. That's all that really matters. But it was annoying that they wanted $14.95 for internet, $35/day for parking, and the location was further out from the Gaslamp than I would have liked. The walk back to the hotel later that night seemed pretty sketchy. Anyway, we napped a bit and then got ready to meet up with friends from Vegas that were in town too.
We had reservations for six at 9 o'clock for the Oceanaire Room. We met our friends outside and grabbed beers at the Blarney Stone around the corner beforehand. I had my first Smithwick's it was far lighter and smooth than I imagined. Back at the restaurant, it took a while to be seated and service was pretty slow. At least the food was tasty. I had Snapper with lump crab and Frank had the Yellowtail dirty and black and blue. Which meant it had some kick and it was topped with blue cheese butter. One of our friends had a monster plate filled with 2lbs of king crab and a lobster tail. Other entrees were stuffed shrimp, Swordfish and mixed grill. We were all happy with our selections. The sides were a bit weak. The au gratin potatoes were the best out of the bunch. We finished up with a comped baked Alaska since service was sluggish. It was really good!
After dinner, we walked over to Bub's for another round of drinks. Which was a pretty cool bar. It was just a shame it was filled with drunks that were obliterated and douchy. I guess that's the risk you run when hitting a bar so close to last call. We were all pretty beat so we called it a night and said good-bye.
We took the trolley over but service stopped so we were stuck walking back which wasn't bad, but it was annoying since we paid for round trip fare. I never would've thought the last train would be 12:55 on a Saturday night.
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