GLT » Nicole’s Visitor’s Guide to San Diego Pride

San Diego personal trainer Jamie Rice is available, call 661-330-9669

pride

Nicole’s Visitor’s Guide to San Diego Pride

Published Thursday, 10-Jul-2008 in issue 1072

Eating and Drinking

Newly opened hot spots

• Universal Hillcrest, 1202 University Ave.: $5 million nightclub, restaurant (Dish) and patio area; best new club on the West Coast, and now the place to be seen in San Diego

• Hawthorn’s Restaurant Lounge, 2895 University Ave.: The No. 1 restaurant in North Park with great food, a great atmosphere and great owners

• Hula’s, 142 University Ave.: Hawaii comes to San Diego; food and drink hot spot brings a bit of paradise to Hillcrest

• Viva Pasta!, 646 University Ave.: Incredible healthy pasta and salads at great prices

• Ciro’s Pizza, 1226 University Ave.: Delicious pizza, open and delivers until 3 a.m.

• Best Asian food and cutest Asian waiters: Saigon on Fifth, 3900 Fifth Ave.

• Best cabanas/outdoor restaurant: The award-winning Lei Lounge, 4622 Park Blvd.; follow the crowds to this fabulous spot

• Best Latino Bar: Bacchus House, 3054 University Ave.; hosts after-hours events

• Best built/god-like bartenders: Tug at Rich’s (1051 University Ave.) and Kyle and Jeremy at Universal (1202 University Ave.)

• Best Italian restaurant: Arrivederci, 3845 Fourth Ave.

• Best Tijuana nightclub: Club Extasis, Viva Tijuana Shopping Center at the U.S./Mexico border; 18+, nude dancers

• Best real leather bar: The San Diego Eagle, 3040 North Park Way

• Best video bar: Flicks, 1017 University Ave.

• Best sushi on the West Coast: Ono Sushi, 1236 University Ave.

• Best authentic Mexican cuisine: Ortega’s Bistro, 141 University Ave.

• Best drag/tranny pick-up spot: SRO Lounge, 1807 Fifth Ave.

• Best martinis and best steak: Martinis Above Fourth, 3940 Fourth Avenue; patio faces Club San Diego

• Best deli sandwiches, tea and wine: T-Deli and Bamboo Lounge, 1469 University Ave.

• Best three-story dance club: Club Montage, 2028 Hancock St.; rooftop patio

• Best 24-hour restaurant: Brian’s American Eatery, 1451 Washington St.

• Best piano/karaoke bar: Caliph, 3100 Fifth Ave.

• Best patio bar and cruising spot: Bourbon Street, 4612 Park Blvd.

• Best hamburgers: Urban Mo’s, 308 University Ave.

• Hottest go-go boys and best dance bar: Rich’s, 1051 University Ave.

• Best Mexican brunch: Baja Betty’s, 1421 University Ave.

• Best tapas-style restaurant: Bite, 1417 University Ave.

• Best deli: City Deli, 535 University Ave.; open late

• Best coffee shop/bakery and desserts: Babycakes@David’s Coffeehouse, great java

• Best Hillcrest neighborhood bar: #1 Fifth Avenue, 3845 Fifth Ave., great patio

• Best happy hour with a view: Friday nights at Park Manor Suites (Top of the Park), 525 Spruce St.

• Best North Park neighborhood bar: Redwing, 4012 30th St.

Shopping

• Freshest cucumbers: Whole Foods produce section, 711 University Ave.

• Best 24-hour drug store: Rite-Aid, 535 Robinson Ave.

• Best vegan market: Rancho’s Organic Market, 3918 30th St.

• Best pet store: Pet Palace, 3827 Ray St.

• Friendliest men & their tools: Ace Hardware, 1007 University Ave.

• Best farmer’s market: Sundays in the DMV parking lot, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 3960 Normal St.

• Best vitamin store: Great Earth Vitamins, 1050 University Ave.

• Best wig store: Secret Wigs, 2818 University Ave.

• Best vintage clothing: Buffalo Exchange, 3862 Fifth Ave.

• Best pawn shop: Hillcrest Pawnbroker, 3940 Fourth Ave.

• Best pharmacy: Priority Pharmacy, 3940 Fourth Ave.

Adults only

• Best two-story bathhouse: Club San Diego, 3955 Fourth Ave.

• Best bathhouse with patio sunbathing: Vulcan Steam & Sauna, 805 W. Cedar St.

• Cruisiest adult theaters: Adult Depot, 3489 Kurtz St.; 24 hours, two theaters, lots of military men, located behind the San Diego Sports Arena

• Cruisiest adult bookstore: F Street Bookstores (with more than six locations in town), 2004 University Ave.

• Newest, hottest adult store: MKV Mankind, 3425 Fifth Ave. in the heart of Hillcrest

• Kinkiest adult bookstore: The Crypt, 3847 Park Blvd.

• Best women’s adult store: The Rubber Rose, 3812 Ray St.

• Best North Park adult store: Pleasures & Treasures, 2228 University Ave.

Everything else

• Friendliest bank staff: California Bank & Trust, 3737 Fifth Ave.

• Best Web sites: www.gaylesbiantimes.com, www.hillquest.com, www.gsdba.org, www.mosuniverse.com

• Best banner/sign company: ROK Enterprises, Inc., 3118 University Ave.

• Best hair salon: Richard Joseph, 1717 University Ave.

• Best flower shop: Flowers by Sean, 3334 Fifth Ave.

• Best church services: Metropolitan Community Church, 3909 Centre St.

• Best dentist: Dr. Jeff Keeny, 1807 Robinson Ave.

• Best attorney: Richard J. Kerman, 619-595-1379

• Best bail bonds: Aladdin Bail Bonds, 220 W. Broadway

• Best childcare service: Lyrics Daycare, 619-501-2575 or 619-865-9976

• Best emergency pet hospital: Pet Emergency & Specialty Center, 619-462-4800; for all the out-of-towners who bring their children … I mean pets

• Best barbershop: Kevin’s Modern Barbershop, 4004 30th St.

• Hippest homo-friendly hotel: W Hotel, 421 West B St.

• Best rollercoaster ride: Giant Dipper, Belmont Park, 3190 Mission Blvd.

• Best alternative/progressive weekly paper: CityBeat

• Best lesbian magazine: Lavender Lens

• Best plastic surgeon: Dr. Pierre Rivet, 4033 Third Ave.

• Best movie theater: Hillcrest Cinemas, 3965 Fifth Ave.

• Best gym: Powerhouse Gym, 734 University Ave.

• Best trainer: Jamie Rice, 661-330-9669

• Best chiropractor: Dr. Chuck Ferrante, 619-665-2482; handsome, hunky and professional

• Best professional freelance photographer: Big Mike Phillips, 619-807-7324

• For marriage inquiries: San Diego County Clerk’s Office, 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 103, 619-236-3771

Must sees in San Diego

• Every other Friday, 9 a.m. to noon, Marine boot camp graduation ceremony at the MCRD on Pacific Coast Highway

• Hunky shirtless volleyball players playing every Sunday in Balboa Park along Sixth Avenue

• Nude sunbathers at Black’s Beach in Torrey Pines State Park (blacksbeach.org)

• Nighttime Zoo at the world-famous San Diego Zoo

• The Star Trek Exhibition at the San Diego Air & Space Museum

• Muscle-boy weightlifters at 24 Hour Fitness, 3955 Fifth Ave.

• Female impersonators at Lips restaurant/bar, 3036 El Cajon Blvd.; seven nights a week

• Sea World at night

• GLBT-themed plays at Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd.

Tug at Rich’s is just one of the many sexy bartenders in San Diego who will service you right!

• The San Diego LGBT Community Center, 3909 Centre St.

• Kobey’s Swap Meet, Friday through Sunday at the San Diego Sports Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd.

• Obelisk Bookstore, 1029 University Ave.; San Diego’s only GLBT bookstore

• Mission Beach, Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach; all great beaches filled with surfers, military boys, hot girls in bikinis and bodybuilders

Send the story “Nicole’s Visitor’s Guide to San Diego Pride”

E-mail Story

Print Story

Save to a social bookmarking site:

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.

Bookmark & Share Story

pride

Live, love, be: a new sense of Pride

An Insider’s Guide to San Diego LGBT Pride 2008 » by Ben Cartwright

Nicole’s Visitor’s Guide to San Diego Pride

Pride Parade Lineup and Route

2008 Bar and Clubbing Events

Club and Bar Directory

Beat Box » Pride 2008’s steamiest summer dance tracks » by Jimmy Newsum

Entertainment lineup