10 Perfect Weekends

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Brian Maienschein

District 5 Councilman City of San Diego

Friday
I meet my wife and some friends for dinner in the Gaslamp or Little Italy. (My mom and dad love their new role as grandparents, so they are ecstatic to baby-sit.) Afterwards, we walk around, stopping for a drink at Martini Ranch or Bitter End.

Saturday
Since my wife and I just had our first child, a perfect weekend involves sleeping in. After a full night’s sleep, I go to 24 Hour Fitness in Rancho Bernardo to get in my workout. Then I head for the Wild Animal Park with my wife and daughter. Dinner: Bernardo’s, French Market Grille, Athens Market or California Pizza Kitchen. We’d next go to Mira Mesa 15 to catch a movie, and spend some time at Barnes & Noble.

Sunday
More sleeping in—another 50 weekends like this and I’m caught up. We go to church, and then brunch at the Rancho Bernardo Inn with my parents. Then off to Balboa Park to stroll through the museums and have a picnic. I go home to take some time to read—I love history and biography, but Michael Crichton’s new Prey sneaks in. Now it’s time to get ready for my softball game. We handily beat our opponent, then stay after to have a good time together. Then home to read, and get ready for work.

David & Lesley Cohn

Owners Cohn Restaurants

Friday
Dinner and a concert (preferably Lyle Lovett or John Hiatt) at Humphrey’s by the Bay. The trick is to reserve the dinner package, guaranteeing seating in the first 15 rows. After the concert, we’ll check out Eve Selis and get a nightcap in the Backstage lounge.

Saturday
Sleep in, then roust our (grown-up) kids for a ferry ride from downtown to Coronado. Rent bikes at The Landing. After a scenic ride along the bay, lunch at Sheerwater in the Hotel del Coronado. We’ll catch an afternoon movie. In the evening we have to make the rounds at our restaurants, meeting and greeting guests. We’ll catch a bite at The Prado, then head to the Gaslamp Quarter and Little Italy.

Sunday
A morning walk that loops through Balboa Park. We’ll stop for a Citrus Squeeze at Jamba Juice, or an olive cream-cheese pumpernickel at Big City Bagels. Football season, we take the trolley to catch the Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. After the game, we have a barbecue. Invited couples are responsible for a great red wine that goes with our famous cheeseburgers. At night, we wind down to The Sopranos or that week’s TiVo.

Larry Himmel

Reporter Channel 8 (KFMB-TV)

Friday
After a tough day of toiling in Kearny Mesa (gateway to the Miramar landfill), I love a Bombay martini at the Turf Supper Club. Okay, the bartender is 25 years younger than me, but the piano player is at least 30 years older. The jukebox alone (Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue, Aretha Franklin’s Greatest Hits) makes the trip worthwhile. If the spirit (or the spirits) moves me, it’s down to Chula Vista’s Baja Lobster for authentic Puerto Nuevo–style lobster with all the rice and beans you can devour.

Saturday
I spend the day driving my son, Miles, to his sporting events. When the schedule is clear, I stay in da hood and take the dog and family for a walk around Lake Hodges. We like Little Italy for lunch, and a spitini (breaded veal) sandwich from Pete’s Quality Meats. Then we’ll catch a water taxi to Coronado, to play touch football on the Hotel Del beach, then rent bikes for a ride to Loews Hotel. Dinner: Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Del Mar. Nightcap: Belly Up Tavern for some Chicago-style blues.

Sunday
Father-son bonding at Jim Brogan’s basketball program at La Jolla Country Day. Brogan teaches young men and women life skills through basketball. The ex-NBA player also has a strong goal-setting message for parents. It’s moving. Lunch: Poma’s Italian Deli for San Diego’s best roast beef sandwich.

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