yeah, that would be a great feature. some of us have lived here forever and don’t mind sharing some secrets. i do admit that i tend to keep some of the things i do on the downlow so that they remain special.

oh and some of my favorite places i don’t mind sharing?

bronx pizza in hillcrest - get the white stone
mimmos in little italy - calzones, great sandwiches and salads
gelatos for coffee and free wifi
happy hour at dave and busters (half price drinks!)
piano bar at red fox room

i could go on and on and on…but i’ll save it for other people to comment.

I do have two favorites so far - probably not so “secret” any more. One is that Sorrento Valley Blvd. goes through to Camino Ruiz - the lights can be crazy on that road but it helps me avoid the Mira Mesa Mess between Vista Sorrento and Camino Ruiz. The second one is the LOCAL LANES at the 805/5 merge NB. I get my own four lane freeway right to my exit. I’d say I use both of those either daily or weekly.

luigi’s is better then bronx.
influx for coffee
turf supper club
red fox room IS cool
imperial house too
golden hill.

Sounds like a good feature. Match the question about San Diego with that area expert(s). I do this with my coffee web site all the time.

Cool. So the answers should be in the post, or the comments?

Or both? I love the answers so far lyn and cat dirt. anyone else care to chime in on “I don’t mean tourist attractions or the kind of thing you say is really great but only go to once a year. I mean the kind of places that you went to all the time… places that you found to be indispensable. They could be restaurants, coffee shops, theaters, beaches, thrift stores, street corners, parks, laundromats, convenient, free parking spots…whatever.”

Probably in the comments unless you know ahead of time who the expert on that topic might be. The question posed seems too broad for a single response.

I’m sure other local bloggers get San Diego questions emailed to them directly. Perhaps reprinting our responses (when we actually know the topic) here would make for a good –Ask San Diego Blog–. I’ll go through my email and see if I can come up with one.

I’d love to see a central resource for this kind of info. I’m always looking for new local favorites.

A few of mine:
Krakatoa in Golden Hill
The Golden Donut in North Park
Lalo’s Tacos in Hillcrest
and my favorite knitting shop-The Grove in South Park

Torrey Pines State Park. The most beautiful seaside space in the county. When you’re sad, or need to blow off steam, nothing like walking up that damn hill only to be rewarded at the top with an awesome view, and you can forget for just a moment how crowded it is here.

What dentist, plumber, gardener, etc. you recommend would be a great list/discussion to have. The alternative is the lists you have to pay for and become a member to view.

Some of my friends and I use Dodgeball. Tracks your movements (if you choose) and you can really see where people are going with their comments.

I just wonder how many times I see other SD Bloggers around town (it seems we all go to the same places) without realizing it.

Bloggers: always lurking about, buying coffee, eating… makes us sound a little sinister!

Spruce Street suspension bridge.

Surf crashing into the rocks/cliff in OB.

NEVER take the 163 North exit from Interstate 5 North. 4 lanes merge into one… always a mess.

Twigs in University Heights.

There’s an awesome sushi house on Convoy, Katzra. The two people that work there are very friendly, and their creations are awesome, and it doesn’t break the bank.

There’s also a thrift store in City Heights - UCP? - they have cool stuff. I think it’s across the street from Pearson Ford.

Oh, and what about the Chicken Pie Shop and the Olympic Cafe in North Park?

Excellent idea! Here are a few of mine:

Lolita’s Taco Shop on Clairemont Mesa
Karyina Thai in Pacific Beach
Hospitality Point (Mission Bay) — great place to walk around or just read a book
Kate Sessions Park
Petco Park (I am biased on that one!)
Tidelands at Coronado (though it’s getting crowded and I don’t go there as much as I used to)

I also like taking side streets from Hillcrest to Clairemont — through Mission Hills and Presidio Park, up Morena.

Cool. Here are a few of mine:

Lolita’s Taco Shop on Clairemont Mesa
Karyina Thai in Pacific Beach
Hospitality Point (Mission Bay) — great place to walk around or just read a book
Kate Sessions Park
Petco Park (I am biased on that one!)
Tidelands at Coronado (though it’s getting crowded and I don’t go there as much as I used to)

I also like taking side streets from Hillcrest to Clairemont — through Mission Hills and Presidio Park, up Morena.

Torrey Pines State Reserve is a slice of Heaven right in the middle of the city. Or go alone, and take a book, and sit on the edge of a cliff at the Torrey Pines GliderPort off Torrey Pines Rd. (by Salk Institute).

Fidel’s Mexican restaurant in Solana Beach. Get directions or you won’t find it.

Either Miguel’s Mexican rest. There’s one in Point Loma, with a fireplace, and one with a great courtyard in Coronado (hidden/get directions).

Shell Beach in La Jolla. Tiny. Just take a staircase down.

The 133 stairs down to The Cave in La Jolla. Awesome. You’re in a cave, with waves crashing in!

Take your bike on the Coronado Ferry from downtown, ride around the island, then ferry back to your car.

Walking on Torrey Pines Beach in the winter. Peaceful. A great spot for Christmas afternoon.

All the dog beaches and parks. Happy dogs with friendly owners.

El Indio on India Street. Can’t beat it for cheap Mexican food, although Sombrero’s is good too (several around town).

- Memorial Skatepark in Barrio Logan
- My ‘hood: Rolando Village
- Langs Loaf - College & El Cajon (Bagels)
- Encinitas and Cardiff in the summer
- Antique stores in downtown La Mesa
- Bronx Pizza
- Bombay Indian Restaurant in Hillcrest
- McGills Skateshop, Encinitas
- The Casbah
- Livewire

Great tips for someone traveling to San Diego for the 1st time. My husband and I are coming in Jan and love to go to the off the beaten path local favorite restraunts and such. If you have any suggestions on where some of the must have hidden treasures of the city are to experience either the great outdoors or the true heart of the city through sites, shops and restraunts, I would greatly apprecaite any insider tips you may have. We don’t like to do the normal tourist attractions, rather expereince the favorite parts of the city for those who love it, live there and frequent them. Thanks for your tips and feedback! Farm Girl and her husband from ND

Glad you will be visiting our city, Jody. I would recommend whale watching. Since you’re coming in January, this should be a must do on your list. I haven’t had any experience with one of the many harbor tours for whale watching, but you can get a good vantage point for a lot less by going to Cabrillo National Monument (bring your binoculars). While you’re there, you can also check out the tide pools that are just before you get to the visitor center. Take a picnic lunch and bundle up and make an afternoon of it!

Thank you sooo much, I sincerely appreciate your tip!! We were in Hawaii the last 2 January’s and saw some great whale watching so would LOVE to include it when we come to San Diego as it is our 1 Year Wedding Anniversary!

I love San Diego. We are so lucky to live here!

Some of our favorites are going to the Summer Pops concerts at San Diego Bay. For $4.00 you can listen to incredible music, (often the entire symphony is there) have a picnic and watch the boats go by. (Bring a chair) There are also great concerts in La Jolla that are FREE. Listen to FREE concerts right on the water and bring a picnic!

http://www.sandiegosymphony.org/summerpops/

If you have not taken the water ferry from Coronado to downtown, that is a great thing to do. (Really fun to do on Fourth of July also!) Only $6 a person round trip for a great ride.

The Discount Movers web site also updates a San Diego activity calendar each month, highlighting uique and interesting things to do every month. It is intended to help people who have just moved to San Diego….start enjoying some “off the beaten path” activities that are available. It is updated each month.
http://www.discountmovers.com/calendar/month.php

Cheers and happy living in San Diego!

THIS IS NOT A RESPONSE, BUT ANOTHER QUESTION. BUT SEEING HOW YOU ARE ALL SO HELPFUL AND KNOWLEDGABLE, AND I HAVE GOOGLED MY FINGERS TO THE BONE AND NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE ANSWER, I’M HOPING YOU CAN HELP.

MY HUSBAND IS A SAN DIEGO CITY POLICE OFFICER, AND AS YOU MAY KNOW, THE CITY HAS CUT THEIR PAY. I REALLY DON’T MEAN TO WHINE, BUT IT MEANS NO GREAT VACATION THIS YEAR FOR MY CHILDREN. BUT MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, (10 Y.O.) HAS ALWAYS WANTED TO BE AN EXTRA (NO VISIONS OF STARDOM REALLY, JUST AN EXTRA) SO I THOUGHT IF I COULD FIND OUT WHERE MOVIES (OR SITCOMS, OR COMMERCIALS, ETC) ARE BEING FILMED AROUND SAN DIEGO, I KNOW I COULD TALK HER WAY INTO BEING AN EXTRA. IT WOULD MAKE HER SUMMER VACATION UNFORGETTABLE - AND IT WOULD BE FREE!

ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHERE TO LOOK?

Stacy, I have no idea. But your caps lock key appears to be broken.

Good luck!

Stacy, Contact Stu Segall’s studio over in Kearny Mesa. Here’s their web site: http://www.stusegall.com/

Stacy,

There is also a great acting training program in San Diego that trains for commercials and film. They hold auditions at their facility. They have a beginners class. I did it for a few years and it was great fun. A lot of people find work, some paid and some just for fun.

http://www.actorsworkshopstudios.com

Hope that helps!
Good luck!
Kirstie

A great resource for metro San Diego hidden stuff/good establishments is:

http://www.92104.org

Its a wiki but for North Park/South Park/Golden Hill/Hillcrest/Kensignton/Mission Hills/City Heights, etc.

I love ethnic food and we have so much good cheap food here it’s crazy:

Saigon for Vietnamese El Cajon Blvd. City Heigts
Jasmine for Dim Sum - Kearny Mesa
Bai Yook for Thai in Hillcrest less expensive than other, but really good
Rudfords in North Park for classic down home diner food
Red Sea in City Heights for Ethiopian
Hodads for great burgers
La Posta in Hillcrest-my favorite beans anywhere
Valentines for Pollo Asada and Carnitas
El Zarape in University Heights for fish tacos
Mardi Gras Cafe in Sports Arena for food and all cajun imports from Community Coffee to authentic jarred roux

For the extra work maybe try contacting San Diego Film Commission. They list what’s going to be filming here on their site: http://www.sdfilm.com/

Also check out postings on San Diego’s Craigs List http://sandiego.craigslist.org/cwg/

Look under the section titles “Gigs” then subsection crew or talent.

Hi, this is my first post here! I lived in S.D. from 1972 until 1981 and have been trying to remember some of the restaurants that I used to go…a few seem to be testing my brain cells!

I loved the Aztec (both of them) and was wondering if there is any way to get recipes from the family that owned them. I was so sad to hear it had closed…it was my absolute favorite place to go! I’ve tried for years to get some kind of information about them but with no luck.

There was a great place for breakfasts in Mission Beach/PB but I can’t remember the name of it! I do remember Krishna Mulvaney’s well…and the great mudpies! I used to work at Farrells and The Halcyon in Pt. Loma….
Does anyone remember any restaurants in OB/MB/PB, Pt. Loma…and are any of them still around? Any memories that you might have during that time would be greatly appreciated…Nancy

See “Erin’s List of Things That Aren’t Here Anymore” under Pages on the sidebar of this blog.

Hi…I am a little confused. I moved here in April of this year, My husband is in the Navy and we moved to La mesa..we live on a hill! Where is everything..I live near Lemon Grove but hadnt seen anything remotely interesting besides the big lemon..lol I want to know about places to go etc but now that I have no car..I have not attempted to take a trolley or bus. I have no idea where the heck I am, I dont know anyone here. I really wish my husband hadnt licked la mesa..I am normally a nurse(LVN) but cant work yet til I get my license. I dont go anywhere lately. Is anyone here familiar with anything in la mesa..I guess this isnt san diego? I am form va beach and Norfolk va, lived in Abq nm for a while and lived in Phoenix AZ the last year before moving here. I am kinda goth/punk/metal..I like to go out and have a drink, liten to music, I realize the gaslamp area is busy but..my question is am I in some lame little city? Is there any kind of nightlife here..is this a suburb of SD? Any help is appreciated. I just feel lost and confused.

I like La Mesa. Make a friend by going over to the Grossmont Shopping Center and walking a puppy from the Pet Store. After that find your way to the Casa de Pico mexican restaurant and order their “swimming pool” margarita. Then stumble, uh I mean walk over to the Guitar Center store and hang with some musicians. Then drift over to 8076 La Mesa Blvd and check out the nightlife at Jolt’n Joes.

Check out the La Mesa village (or old La Mesa as it might be called). It’s pretty fun there. Check out Mission Valley, it’s not too far from you and there is a bit more going on there. And if you’re a little goth/punk/metal you should really check out the Ken club in Kensington which is not far away at all. Here’s a few other spots which really aren’t that far for you. http://www.discoversd.com/california/san-diego/ca/north-park-clubs-bars-nightlife.html

Heard that there’s a company in San Diego who’s happy to help L.A. actors get their SAG vouchers. Know anything about that?
Thanks!

When in the La Jolla/Torrey Pines area be sure to stop in at St. Germains Deli behind the Mobil Station at Hwy 5 on Holiday Court. Great selection of wines and beer, great people watching from the tables in front. Mingle with UCSD students,professors, San Diego police officers (GREAT STORIES) all walks of life. Kevin is the last word on anything and everything in the area. Tell them opeljoe sent you!