10 Perfect Weekends

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They are professional athletes, television personalities and politicians.

Be they university presidents, restaurateurs or chamber of commerce heads, they all have one thing in common: They’re working for the weekend.

We asked 10 high-profile personalities to fill us in on what they’d do in San Diego on a “perfect weekend.” Everybody has to eat—and the choices ranged from hot-and-spicy downtown to seaside spots in North County. These folks also spend their free time jogging, doing yoga and bike riding by the bay. The options—especially outdoors—are endless. Here’s a sampling.

Trevor Hoffman

Pitcher San Diego Padres

Friday
On Friday afternoon, my wife, Tracy, and our three boys like to make a family outing to the Ceramic Café, where everyone gets to paint an item. For dinner, we head over to Outback Steakhouse. Then we go home and “shut it down.”

Saturday
I take the kids to Pipes Café for breakfast—and give Tracy time to herself. Then I hit the couch for college football, snacking on the (in)famous Hoffman-family clam dip. Then we’ll walk up the beach to Starbucks. If I’ve worked out, I get a shortbread cookie. We’ll go to the park and watch the kids play. I head to Harvest Ranch store in Del Mar for fat rib-eye steaks; halibut for Tracy. I stoke up the grill and put on 101.5 FM. After dinner, I walk on the beach with a cigar. Then Tracy and I will watch Law & Order or CSI.

Sunday
When the Chargers are in town, we go to 9 a.m. Mass. Then I head down to the stadium. A bunch of us tailgate—Phil Nevin, Brad Ausmus and some other friends—and we go inside to watch the Chargers win. After the game, I head home, and Tracy makes pasta and her famous sauce. Then it’s the weekly last-minute scramble on homework, and we shut it down again.

Jessie Knight

President
San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce

Friday
My girlfriend, Joye, and I like to wind down from a hectic week at one of our favorite Gaslamp restaurants, de Medici. It’s a great place to people-watch, as the Gaslamp comes alive with the weekend migration of bohemians. After dinner, we saunter over to either Gaslamp 15 or Horton Plaza to catch the latest film sensation. Afterwards, it’s off for a nightcap to discuss the film at Fio’s

Saturday
I start with a picturesque 5-mile jog from La Playa in Point Loma to the end of Shelter Island. Breakfast: on the marina deck of the historic Red Sails Inn. Time to retrieve dry cleaning from Ultimate Fabric. Then to Fashion Nails for a manicure, pedicure and foot massage—and to listen in on neighborhood “news.” Night: dinner at Le Fontainebleau. The San Diego Opera or Mainly Mozart. And finally, the Westgate Hotel lounge, with Fran Laskoda on piano, accompanied by talented (and some not-so-blessed) amateurs.

Sunday
After a leisurely rise, the morning is graced with another 5-miler around Shelter Island. Back home, I cook a full breakfast for both of us, eaten on my deck overlooking San Diego Bay. We both tend to my Japanese garden. Then it’s time for La Jolla Playhouse or the Civic Theatre. After, off to one of San Diego’s great culinary and visual treasures: The Prado. That’s if we don’t get the urge to saunter over to La Jolla to seek the quiet dinner refuge of Barbarella, or the exotic atmosphere of Roppongi.

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