Best of San Diego 2005

(page 4 of 6)

Bookstore

The independent bookstore has gone the way of the dinosaurs, for the most part. But after 109 years in business—and many renovations —Warwick’s continues to thrive. Founder W.T. Warwick moved the paper goods store to San Diego from Minnesota in the mid-1930s. Today, the fourth generation of Warwicks has assumed ownership. The quaint shop combines classic customer service and modern merchandising. 7812 Girard Avenue, La Jolla, 858-454-0347; warwicks.com

Indoor Climbing Gym

This is rock-rat heaven. Vertical Hold has 17,000 square feet of caves, boulders, major overhangs—and an adjustable crack system. If the thought of hanging by a finger while the earth dangles far below makes you smile, if you think chimneys are a blast, if you have forearms like Popeye’s, this is the place for you. 9580 Distribution Avenue, Miramar, 858-586-7572; verticalhold.com

Video Rental Store

Hands down, the best video store in San Diego is Kensington Video. If it’s a film really worth seeing, they probably have it. If not, they can get it. For classics, foreign and special interest films, there’s no better place to go, and even their selection of popular current films is better than those other places. 4067 Adams Avenue, 619-584-7725, 619-284-2477; members.cox.net/kenvideo/

Garlic Bread

Diners have been sopping up the fabulous red sauce at Caldo Pomodoro Restaurant for 15 years with the amazing garlic bread. (Owner Gina Branchforte is Sicilian by heritage, so there is indeed a lot of red sauce.) Split French bread is lathered with a mixture of butter, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, fresh parsley and oodles of chopped garlic, then toasted. You can try to do it at home, but it’s not the same. 2907 State Street, Carlsbad, 760-720-9998

Signature Dish

The fish taco is the staple dish at the 40 San Diego County Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill. The reason everyone loves the fish tacos at South Beach Bar & Grill is simple. Because they’re good. Most common customer response to their first taste of a mahi-mahi or wahoo (yes, that’s a fish) taco: “Oh, my God.” Rubio’s: rubio’s.com; South Beach Bar & Grill: 5059 Newport Avenue, Suite 104, Ocean Beach, 619-226-4577

Discount Store

It’s a little like an ongoing scavenger hunt: You may find an incredible bargain on something entirely unexpected, or you may find nothing. But one great deal at GTM Wholesale Liquidators makes up for a lot of unsuccessful searches, so prepare to run into a lot of regulars. 7663 Broadway, Lemon Grove, 619-460-2990

View for a Cheap Lunch

The Torrey Pines Gliderport restaurant may not have a cordon bleu chef, but you’re not here for the food. You’re here for the spectacular view. Watch the gliders defy gravity and soar with them, imagining the silence. 2800 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, 858-452-9858; www.flytorrey.com

Coffee Drink

It’s the time-honored strawberry-and-chocolate combo that makes the blended strawberry mocha at The Living Room so swooningly delicious. It’s more like a smoothie with a sudden kick than a coffee drink. 1417 University Avenue, 619-295-7911; also in the College area (619-286-8434), La Jolla (858-459-1187) & Point Loma (619-222-6852)

Mike Dawson, disc jockey, 103.7 The Planet

Guitar Tech

Joey St. Lucas at String Masters
“Joey converted my 1940s-era Kamico wide-body acoustic to electric with no visible modifications to the body. My grandfather, the guitar’s original owner, would be proud. Now I can play it at gigs.” 120 North Pacific Street, Suite C-3, San Marcos, 760-591-9152, 800-822-1991

Hair Salon Ambience

Ralph’s Hair Place is hard to miss, what with the Union Jack flying everywhere. One glance inside and you might think the characters working there are too hip to whip out the clippers for a simple buzz cut, but don’t be fooled. When you come to Ralph’s, you get what you want. From jar head to mohawk, they’ve got it covered— and at a very reasonable price. No piercings necessary. 409 University Avenue, Hillcrest, 619-291-2887

Mark Loretta, Padres second baseman

Contractor

The Mulvey Brothers, Inc.
“They built my house, and are building my next one. These guys are reliable, on time and honest. Can they build it? Yes, they can.” P.O. Box 8606, Rancho Santa Fe, 619-980-7845

Cheese Selection

Beyond the basics of white, yellow and bleu, choosing the right cheese can be complicated. Simplify by visiting Venissimo, a chic cheese boutique in Mission Hills. Owner Gina Freize keeps at least 120 varieties in the case, and she’ll help you through the maze. Her most popular exotic is boschetto, made from cow and sheep milks and white-truffle shavings. It’s $30 a pound—but hey, life’s short. 754 West Washington Street, 619-491-0708; venissimo.com

Hair Stylist

Call friends or old beaus, or make romantic dinner reservations for you and your husband. After an appointment with Rex at Dulcinea, you’ll want to show off. Rex offers women an alternative to typical haircuts and colorings. He uses your features to guide his stylistic approach and creates a masterpiece all your own. 4695 33rd Street, 619-640-1010

Haircuts, Tattoos & Piercings

Seth’s Chop Shop has it all, including a sort of hallucinatory psychedelic rockabilly ambience. Cutting edge in more ways than one, Seth and compadres have been putting a little kick into San Diego style for more than a decade. If you’re looking for color, stop right here. 4994-A Newport Avenue, Ocean Beach, 619-221-9254; sethschopshop.com

Coffeehouse

Lestat’s Coffeehouse offers live entertainment nightly, delicious pies, groovy ambience and a dog-friendly patio. Best of all, it’s open 24/7—just what every caffeine-addicted nouveau boho needs. 3343 Adams Avenue, 619-282-0437

Shoe Store

Mint is the place to go for those shoes you’re always oohing and aahing over in fashion spreads. From kitten heels to sneakers modified almost beyond recognition, they’re always right on top of the latest fashion trend. Just mind the attitude. 525 University Avenue, Hillcrest, 619-291-6468

Baby/Kid Store

Opened last summer by Rebecca Stempel, a former Hawaii resident with a knack for style, Little Baby Bird Rock carries fabulous children’s gear. The yellow walls are covered with colorful clothes, books and toys from well-known designers like Tiki Baby, Cotton Caboodle and Zutano, as well as products from local designers like Silky Sak, makers of sleep sacks for infants and toddlers. 5663 La Jolla Boulevard, La Jolla, 858-454-0215

Children’s Gym

Confidence, flexibility and, above all, fun. Those are the goals of J.W. Tumbles gyms, where kids of all ages learn teamwork, tumbling and sports training. Agr-appropriate classes—Tumbles Tykes, for children four months to 3 years old, and JWT Kids, for 3- to 9-year-olds—provide each group with appropriate and challenging activities. Specialty classes, private training, birthday parties and more at eight San Diego locations. jwtumbles.com

Yarn Shop

Billing itself as a fiber art store and learning center, Common Threads has everything your little knitting heart desires. Owned by dynamic mother-daughter duo Caryl and Nancy Nelson, it offers everything from a huge yarn selection (there’s a searchable online database) to classes to friendly, creative brainstorming. 466 South Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, 760-436-6119; fiberartshop.com

Animal Hospital

Founded 16 years ago by husband-and-wife team Drs. John and Sue Morizi, The Animal Hospital of La Jolla provides quality medical care to some of the best friends we’ve got. The 2,400-square-foot hospital has a sunny waiting room comfortable enough for all creatures large and small, and the staff of 15 makes certain each animal, canine or feline, gets divine attention. 7601 Draper Avenue, La Jolla, 858-459-2665; myvetonline.com/website/ahlj/

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