San Diego Unseen: An Urban Portrait
Gondola at Loews
Caffé Calabria (3933 30th St. in North Park), my favorite place to relax with a nice cup of tea, has expanded its menu, embracing more of Italy’s offerings. From Neapolitan-style pizza to charcuterie plates in the form of several meaty imports (think: soppressata, prosciutto and a gem containing the essence of truffle), the menu’s widening is a result of owner Arne Holt’s wanderlust. Wander on, Arne, if it means we get to enjoy the tastiness of your travels. caffecalabria.com
Sambazon, maker of acaí drinks, quietly opened its first café, designed with reclaimed and non-toxic materials, selecting Cardiff as its home base. From smoothies, acaí bowls, oatmeal and dessert bowls, Sambazon Acaí Café’s (2031 San Elijo Ave.) menu items are meant to give diners a healthy energy boost. Well, except for the Brazilian cheese bread—a rather odd addition to the menu, but I’m sure tasty nonetheless. sambazon.com
Broken Border Bar & Grill (524 Island Ave., Downtown) opened last month, serving Mexican-American food, beer, Margaritas and the like. You can get three tacos for $5 and the joint's open until 4 a.m. on weekends.
Garde Manger, an event pairing food and art, takes place Saturday, March 19, at Thumbprint Gallery (2637 University Ave. in North Park). Five local chefs each prepared a meal—the process of which served as a muse for five local artists. The event is free, but 10 percent of proceeds from the sale of art will go to Archi’s Acres VSAT (Veterans Sustainable Agriculture Training) program. thumbprintgallerysd.com
LOUNGEsix at Hotel Solamar will celebrate the full moon on Saturday, March 19, by throwing a party from 9 p.m. to closing. Get swanky and enjoy a light show and themed music and drinks (e.g. Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” paired with the eponymous drink of Guinness and Blue Moon).
The folks behind Ocean Beach burger fixture Hodad’s swear on a vegan’s grave that their second location, Downtown at 945 Broadway, will open April 5. Given that the opening date has changed more times than Beyonce’s purported birth year, we’re not holding our breath, but we plan to show up hungry on 4/5. If it’s not open, we’re heading to Rocky’s Crown Pub.
Moving on to St. Patty’s Day.…
I promised deets about an Irish-like offering at Loews Coronado. March 17 through 19, the resort will offer a one-hour whiskey gondola cruise around the Coronado Cays for $30. You get: Three Irish whiskeys, Irish soda bread, Dubliner cheese and Irish sausage. Watch it, friends: A drunken gondolier does not a nice evening make, so don’t entice the man (or woman) steering your vessel. loewshotels.com
El Vitral (815 J St. in East Village) may not be the first place you think of when you’re testing the luck of the Irish, but Thursday’s St. Patty’s menu sounds too tasty to pass up, especially if you’re not down with c-beef and cabbage. Get slow-cooked green mole sauce, green halibut ceviche, green Margis and emerald Bloody Marys and kiss the Blarney Stone goodbye. elvitralrestaurant.com
Feeling less celebratory, but still interested in holiday hijinks? The Counter (1923 Calle Barcelona in Carlsbad) will serve $3 green beer and shakes on March 17. “Like” The Counter on Facebook and get the latter for free.
Write to brookl@sdcitybeat.com.
