All About Luxury

Inside

OUR COVER STORY is called “Living La Vida Luxe.” We take a longing look at not just the good life but San Diego’s ultra-luxury life. Try on a $5 million villa for size. Be welcomed into the world of Bentleys and Ferraris. Find out what goes in——and on——a $600,000 watch. Get pampered in a spa where a gentleman’s shave can run you $50.

And meet Cynthia Atkins. She’s the founder of Concierge At Large. Her company caters to clients whose average net worth exceeds $2 million. She can get you a meet-and-greet with your favorite Major League Baseball player, or a seat in any restaurant in town. There’s no “impossible” request she can’t fulfill.

Which brings us to Julia Beeson Polloreno. We put it in the capable hands of our associate editor to find the inside story to the local luxe lifestyle. It was no easy task. While some cities may have a flashier (but not better) high-flying social infrastructure, no other big city seems to have socialites so shy of the spotlight.

“Finding the services was not too challenging,” says Beeson Polloreno. “But finding people of affluence who wanted to talk about the ways they spent their wealth was very difficult.”

YES, LIFE IS TOUGH ALL OVER. But one thing that’s apparently not hard to do is to lay your hands on some pot. Proposition 215 legalized the distribution of medical marijuana in California. There have been efforts here in San Diego County to thwart this federally frowned-upon activity. But investigative reporter Marlise Kast found it’s no problem at all to get some area doctors to sign paperwork that allows you to buy limited amounts of pot. Even if you’re not sick.

But sick (at heart) is what writer Jamie Reno has been ever since the Chargers lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game. Time may never heal the hurt from the slap Eli Manning dealt San Diego by shunning the Chargers and playing for the New York Giants. But a Giants win over the Patriots in the Super Bowl was the lesser of two evils. As Reno looks back one last time on a great Chargers season, he looks ahead in the hope our team will be lined up on the Super sidelines next year. We know it’s nearly time to turn our attention to the Padres. But to tide you over until September, also take a look at Tom Blair’s Dialogue with Chargers coach Norv Turner. (We knew all along things would work out with him.)

And as always, look for our time-tested and trusted coverage of local dining, events and all things cultural. Pay special note to our Etc. page, where Fox6 News’ Lynda Martin tells us everything that tickles her fancy, and our profile of Laura Cain, the Jeff & Jer Showgram radio personality who’s kicked drug addiction and made a very public recovery.

Enjoy the issue. And you stay luxurious, San Diego.

RON DONOHO
Executive Editor

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