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Best of San Diego 2004 - People, Places and Things

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This annual exercise involves both legwork and spadework. We hike all over the county to unearth the best—and a few of the worst—people, places and things. Downtown. Uptown. North County. South Bay. East County. And this year we turn a special eye toward a certain diamond now located in East Village. Enjoy the editors’ picks. See if your candidates won in the readers’ choice section. And if you’re steaming mad that your favorite fill-in-the-blank didn’t make our list, let us know about it. E-mail your suggestion to rdonoho@sandiegomag.com. Maybe it’ll make it into these pages next year. Who knows, maybe sooner...

Best Farm

Wolfgang Puck is a longtime regular at Chino Farms in Rancho Santa Fe, picking out gourmet fruits and vegetables like French melons, Concord grapes or any of the dozen or more types of tomatoes grown and sold here. Lettuce, strawberries, beets, carrots—everything you’d expect to find at the biggest Vons, but a whole lot fresher and tastier. 6123 Calzada de Bosque, 858-756-3184.

Best People
Concerned Citizen

Few of us have the San Diego City Employees’ Retirement System on our daily radar. But the group has gotten a lot of ink since city retirement board member Diann Shipione stood up and blew her whistle. She was the first to decry the practice of underfunding the city’s retirement fund. She did her job when nobody would listen. And she was right.
Political Veteran

He hasn’t held office for 20 years, but former Congressman Lionel van Deerlin, now in his 80s, is one of the freshest political voices around. Always a moderate Democrat, van Deerlin is intellectually limber, lucid and literate. His op-ed columns in The San Diego Union-Tribune are a welcome counterpoint to the U-T’s predictably conservative drumbeat.
Candidates for Job Training

It was bad enough murder suspect Richard Tuite managed to mayonnaise his way out of handcuffs during a lunch break. But when two witnesses alerted Hall of Justice guards that they’d seen the high-profile suspect loose and on the lam, both alert citizens were summarily dismissed.

Aromatherapist

As purists know, aromatherapy is more than just a pretty scent. Stacy Walsh, owner of Solitude Face & Body Care, is a serious student of the power of essential oils and healing herbs. She’s blended her knowledge and enthusiasm to provide restorative facials and craniosacral therapy that go way beyond relaxation and rejuvenation. 4286 Voltaire Street, Point Loma, 619-224-5891.

Much Ado over Nobody

More than 10,000 people crammed into the Westfield Shoppingtown North County for a March concert. The star? William Hung, the most popular untalented singer to be chaffed off the Fox reality juggernaut American Idol. The concert was free. But time is money, and 10,000 man-hours were wasted that night. Collector

It started with sports. Then Poway’s Jeff Figler branched into presidential and celebrity memorabilia. His home complex houses a stand-alone building with three rooms (1,500 square feet) filled with 500 classic objects. Highlights of the multimillion-dollar collection: a 1909 Honus Wagner baseball card; signed letters from every U.S. president; and a pair of John Lennon’s eyeglasses. It’s a private collection, but Figler is considering going public.

Psychic

Jacqueline Valdez prefers the moniker “intuitive counselor,” a more natural description for the supernatural talent she claims to possess. Indeed, there’s nothing outré or occultish about this charming, insightful woman, whose office is in Encinitas. Her preferred medium is the tarot, and she uses the cards to help you learn from your particular space in time. 227 North Camino Real, 760-753-9148.

Musical Couple

He’s the founder/front man of the Rugburns. She’s a singer/ songwriter who triples as a deejay on 94.9 FM. Soulmates Steve Poltz and Anya Marina are our local king and queen of the musical prom. Each is a talented artist in his or her own right. As a team, they make beautiful music together—on and off the stage.


To be seen (still)

The hippest and trendiest—not to mention biggest and gaudiest—nightclub in town is not yet passé. The On Broadway Event Center, with a capacity of 2,000, still lures the beautiful people Friday and Saturday nights in the Gaslamp Quarter. We’ve lost count of the number of dance floors spread over the club’s two stories. 615 Broadway, 619-231-0011. Horton Plaza Eatery

If you’ve had your fill of Cinnabon and Hot Dog on a Stick, hike one level up from the feeding frenzy of the food court and slip into something more comfortable—and a lot better-tasting: Napa Valley Grille. Chow down on wood-grilled salmon with roasted beets, turnips and mustard greens. You’ll forget you’re at a shopping mall. 619-238-5440.

Homemade Soap

Find that special bath bomb for that special someone at Swoomp! Adventures in Bathing. This suds-inducing new boutique makes its own soap on site. Get roped into a specialty bar, and check out the eclectic selection of lotions and bath oils. 3827 Fifth Avenue, Hillcrest, 619-574-2535.

Hold Your Horses

Sort of a Chopra Center for equines, Horse of the Sun is a 36-acre retreat nestled in Pine Valley. Created by designer Stephanie Parisi (yes, of La Jolla’s Hotel Parisi acclaim), the newly opened facility offers horse massage, acupuncture and demonstrations from renowned horse whisperers. Ask about the Mare Motel. For directions, call 619-473-8151.

Ice Cream & Religion

Lighthouse Ice Cream & Yogurt has been in Ocean Beach for decades. The ice cream is Bud’s from San Francisco, creamy and rich, and you can still get regular ol’ sugar and wafer cones. For those looking for spiritual guidance, there’s also a plastic jar for written prayers—and a tally of those answered beside it. 5059 Newport Avenue, 619-222-8600.

Religion & Cool Kids

The Rock Church is all about Jesus. Since its humble beginnings four years ago, this hip church, on the San Diego State University campus, has captivated young people with its message of love and understanding—and the personal charisma of pastor (and founder) Miles McPherson, a former defensive back for the Chargers, who often preaches in a Hawaiian shirt. 858-455-7625; www.therocksandiego.com.

Sugar-Free Bakery

Offerings at Indulgence include a flourless chocolate cake, nonfat cheesecake and a full-fat “Atkins-friendly” cheesecake. The sugar-free sorbets and ice creams are made in-house. The chocolate truffles are custom-made—sweetened with Splenda or fructose—and diabetic friendly. 4207 Park Boulevard, 619-299-3404.

Sole Saver

In these days of franchised everything, not even the neighborhood shoe-repair shop is safe. Remember the Computerized Cobbler? Nothing computerized about Gilbert’s in Hillcrest. Certainly not the service. For owner Gilbert Perez, the business is a family affair. Mix in fair prices and fast turnaround, and it’s a win-win-win situation. 441 University Avenue, 619-291-7007.

Place To Meditate

It may be the best viewpoint in all of San Diego, but if you close your eyes as you stand atop La Jolla’s Mount Soledad, the view is within. With or without the controversial cross, Mount Soledad is a great break from the frantic pace of everyday San Diego. Best time to go: break of dawn. After sundown, this spot is the domain of young lovers less in touch with mind than body.

Pier Fishing

Grab a rod and dangle your line into the ocean from high atop the Ocean Beach Pier, at 1,971 feet, the longest concrete pier in the world. Here at the foot of Niagara Avenue, fish-cleaning stations are scattered along the railing; a mid-pier bait shop has a wide selection of equipment. Tip: Don’t leave bait unattended. The seagulls are savage.

Beach Volleyball

Near the jetty at South Mission Beach. Thank basketball legend Bill Walton for orchestrating construction of the dozen or so courts. All levels of players are welcome, but the serious game is on Cohassett court. Never heard of it? Exactly. Ask to play next, and the regulars will appear not to understand English.

Pick-Up Basketball

This one’s a slam dunk: the Pacific Beach Recreation Center. One full court inside—split to two half-courts on Saturdays —and six full courts (including PB Middle School) outside. Check with the desk for open-court times and days. Saturday mornings are always “open” inside. Highly skilled ballers battle here—Chargers QB Doug Flutie plays on occasion. Quite well. 1405 Diamond Street, 858-581-9927.

Pumpkin Patch

Now that Bell Gardens is gone, Bates Nut Farm moves up a notch to No. 1. This sprawling Valley Center farm, in an oak-filled valley, is a required stop for kids from all over the county every Halloween. In addition to a huge pumpkin patch, the farm offers hayrides, a straw maze and a petting corral. 15954 Woods Valley Road, 760-749-3333.

Hiking Trail

Where else but Torrey Pines State Reserve can you hike from a pine-tree forest overlooking the gorgeous blue Pacific all the way down to the beach, through winding sandstone passages and meandering bramble, past glorious red-rock formations and acres of sage and other native flora? It’s all happening on the reserve’s Beach Trail, a 1.5-mile climb that starts in the top parking lot next to the ranger station. www. torreypine.org.

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