Food: The Rockin' Baja, San Diego, CA

I've been neglecting my travel blog for too long, so I'm going to begin to make up for some lost time.  As you recall, I was out in San Diego for work the better parts of 2011-2012 and I sorely missed SoCal!  That being said, I took a family vacation to San Diego in August and had to go to my old stomping grounds, The Rockin' Baja as soon as we landed.

I must say, I felt right at home even if it had been over a year since the last time I was there.  Brooke, the best bartender in San Diego, remembered my favorite beer and was able to finally meet the rest of the family.

Mike and Devin love Brooke!

Jay, the manager, also remembered me and made us feel right at home.  The food was delicious (I had the shrimp fajitas), the drinks cold, and the atmosphere awesome.  It's nice to know that you have a place where people remember you, even if you're 3,000 miles away!  I can't wait to go back again!!!

The Family at the Rockin' Baja

Lea and Sami enjoying some refreshments

Nightlife: The Gaslamp District, San Diego, Day 26

July 13, 2012 -- "All good things come to an end."  That's a quote that we've all heard, and when I hear it I make sure I make the best of the situation.  With tonight being the final night in San Diego, me, Enrique, and Rocco hit the Gaslamp District.  Of course the first place we went to was the Rockin' Baja.  Did I mention before that we love Brooke?!?  Once her eyes locked on us, she started pouring the beers!  Being Comic-Con weekend, we saw plenty of sights, including the Zombie Walk down 5th Avenue.  Keeping in the spirit of the day, Brooke made me where a crown with horns -- how could I refuse.  I told her that if I needed to wear the crown, I wanted a picture with her.  Nice shot, huh?

Believe me, I hated having to leave my favorite spot in San Diego, but you know the phrase.  I said goodbye to Brooke, Drew, and Jay and vowed to be back sooner than later.

We ended our night at the Searsucker one last time where we saw Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots.  I tried to get his attention -- I was even wearing a Patriots shirt, just look at the picture above! -- but he was too busy heading to his table of friends.  I didn't recognize any other pro athletes and I'm not one of those guys that gets all stupid when it comes to celebrities and athletes.  At least Rocco saw him as well and confirmed that we had a celebrity sighting.

With a 6:30 AM flight out in the morning, I headed to the Residence Inn in La Jolla for my last quiet night in one of the best places I've ever been.  Twenty-six days went by faster than you might think, but it was time to come back home to RI.

Food: Yummy Maki Yummy Box, La Jolla, San Diego, Day 25

July 12, 2012 -- It's the second to the last night in San Diego.  I've chosen to lay low, get my final load of laundry done before flying home (a suitcase full of dirty clothes is not a good thing) and get some sushi.  I called Enrique, he comes out to dinner every night and he's NOT on per diem, and we went to Yummy Maki Yummy Box.  I found this little hole in the wall last time in La Jolla and I make sure I stop by for Rainbow and California rolls all the time.  Enrique didn't know about the place and he lives in La Jolla!  Not to sound like a broken record, but I needed to come here one last time.  Now, I head to bed and await my last night downtown ...

Food: The Spot, La Jolla, San Diego, Day 24

July 11, 2012 -- The days are winding down ... sadly.  Knowing that the last night in San Diego will in the Gaslamp District, I needed to go to La Jolla Cove one last time and check on my seals.  But before checking up on my flippered friends, I called Enrique and we went down Prospect St. to The Spot.  I've been to The Spot a few times and it's a reasonably priced, sports bar-like restaurant.  I had a nice meal and a ridiculous slab of five layer chocolate cake.  Enrique once again picked a wonderful dessert -- he's never seen a flambe he didn't like! -- then we left to check up on the seals.

I love downtown La Jolla, Prospect Street with all the eclectic shops and boutiques, the perfect sunny weather, palm trees, and exquisite views.  We strolled along the Ellen Browning Scripps Park, taking in the rolling waves ...

 until we came up to the Cove's main attraction -- the seals!

Though it was my last time here on this trip, I won't be my last time ever.  I fell in love with La Jolla and the next time I come I'll be bringing the family.  Bye for now seals, take care and watch out for Great Whites!

Sports: 2012 MLB All-Star Game, San Diego, Day 23

July 10, 2012 -- Being a huge baseball fan, and fantastic knuckleball pitcher myself, there was no way I was going to miss the MLB All-Star Game.  The nice thing about being on the West Coast is that you get to go home around 9:00, after the game is over.  The bad part?  The game starts at 5:00!  I told Rocco and Enrique to meet me at the Tilted Kilt -- where else do you think we'd go? -- and we made it just in time to see Justin Verlander give up five runs in the top of the first inning.  I didn't give the National League a prayer in the world to beat the AL's formidable line up.  Boy was I wrong!  Not only did the NL squad win, they shutout the AL 8-0!  Surprising doesn't even begin to tell the story!  At least the wings were great, the clams were fresh, and the waitresses looked great.  See:

Unfortunately, this would be my last time visiting the Tilted Kilt while in San Diego on this trip, but you bet I'll be back some day!!!

Events: Point Loma, San Diego, Day 21

July 8, 2012 -- Everyone kept telling me that I needed to go to Point Loma while I was out in San Diego, and being a Sunday with nothing else to do, I figured this would be as good a day as any to take in the sights.  I was not disappointed.  Point Loma is on the opposite side of San Diego Bay and climbs about 400 feet above sea level.  There's an information center with a lot of history about the lighthouse that sits at the top of Point Loma, the Cabrillo National Monument, and the Point Loma Tide Pools.  Parking for the national park is only $5 and your receipt is good for a week, so money is not an issue here!

I went to the information center first to get a feel of what was around the national site.  The views from here are unbelievable.  I did my best to get a shot of me with the city of San Diego behind me.

I then walked over to the Cabrillo National Monument.  Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was the first European to step foot on the West Coast back in 1542.  The monument in his memory might not look all that large, but you can see it from just about anywhere in San Diego.  I recall being able to see the monument from Pacific Beach and Coronado as well as downtown.

Next, I visited the Old Point Loma Lighthouse.  It's amazing to think that a man and his family operated the lighthouse from 1855 to 1891.  The picture of the beacon doesn't do it justice -- it's huge!

After the lighthouse visit, I walked the trails that gave me a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean and the huge kelp forests that slosh around the sea.  The colors were unreal, better than can be seen in the photos, again!

Finally, I drove my car to the Point Loma Tide Pools and walked around the area.  Once again, I was amazed by the beauty of the landscape and ocean.

If you're in San Diego, be sure to make a stop at Point Loma, it's well worth the trip!

Sports: Padres vs Reds, Petco Park, San Diego, Day 20

July 7, 2012 -- There's nothing like going to the ballpark, but Petco Park is truly something special.  Rocco and I went to cheer the Padres against the Reds.  We had $20 seats in the 300 level, but take a look at the view we had.

This marked the fourth time I was able to catch a Padres game while staying in San Diego.  Though the Padres lost again -- I haven't seen them win yet! -- I was able to see the Reds phenom, Aroldis Chapman,  close out the win for Cincinnati.  He struck out the side in the 9th inning, with his last pitch hitting 102 mph on the radar gun.  Unreal!

Food: Gaslamp District, San Diego, Day 20

July 7, 2012 -- It was nice to sleep in this morning, especially after such a fun night!  I didn't want breakfast food, but didn't feel like fajitas or hamburgers either.  Whenever I'm feeling that way, shellfish is usually the answer.  Luckily, down the boardwalk of Seaport Village rests my destiny -- Joe's Crab Shack!  You really can't go wrong with steamed crabs, now can you!

Having my fill of seafood, I took a stroll along the harbor.  Get a load this, for lack of a better word, yacht.  That's a helicopter sitting on the helo pad on the back of the vessel.  The picture doesn't do it justice; that boat was big!

Later in the day, I met up with Rocco for dinner before heading out to the Padres game.  We ate at Henry's Pub on 5th Avenue.  The food was great, I had a chicken dinner, and we were able to sit outside in the nice, warm San Diego air.  After dinner, it was game time!

Nightlife: Gaslamp Bars, San Diego, Day 19

July 6, 2012 -- We love Brooke!  Rocco and I started our Friday night at our favorite watering hole, The Rockin' Baja.  Brooke served us ice cold beers with a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eyes!  It's nice to know that the staff at the Rockin' Baja make you feel like you have a home away from home.  Love you, guys!  The shrimp fajitas filled our bellies -- a must since you need something other than beer in your belly for a night out in the Gaslamp District!  We bid Brooke, Drew, and Jay goodbye, promising that we'll be back again soon, and decided to check out some more hot spots.

Half way up 5th Avenue is the Searsucker, and eclectic bar and restaurant that caters to the young, chic professionals, like us!  Me and Rocco quickly took a liking to the place, grabbing some pints of local brews and mingling with the crowd.  You know those times when you're just "on"?  Yeah, this was the night!  Having an outgoing personality has its upside and me and Rocco made friends with just about everybody tonight!  If you're looking to meet some pretty people, drink fresh local beers, and sample some fine cuisine, the Searsucker needs to be on your list.

After spending a few hours at the same bar, Rocco and I decided to leave and check out a new place.  I was feeling fine, but Rocco was getting a little wobbly.  Across the street was another of our new staples, the Barley Mash.  We crossed the street and found a line wrapping around the corner waiting to get into the place.  I looked at Rocco and said, "We're not waiting in this line!  Come with me."

I walked up to the front of the line, approached the bouncer, and said, "I've been here the last five of seven nights.  I really don't have to wait in this line, do I?"

The bouncer asked, "Who else is with you?"

I jerked my thumb in Rocco's direction.  "Just him," I said.

The bouncer unclipped the velvet rope, waved us forward, and said, "Come on in!"  We walked in,to the chagrin of the others in line and without paying!  Rocco was dumbfounded and kept saying, "I can't believe we just walked right in!"  Enrique and AP would have been proud!

Alas,we lasted only about a half hour; Rocco had had enough, let's leave it at that!  All in all, it was a great night.  Boy, do I love the Gaslamp District!

Food: The Yard House, San Diego, Day 18

July 5, 2012 -- Man, are we tired!  Ever since AP left we kind of ran out of steam during the week, but that doesn't mean we sit in our hotel room!  Enrique took the rest of the holiday weekend to visit friends and relatives in San Francisco, leaving me and Rocco to fend for ourselves.  Rocco was a bit tired still, so I looked for food solo.  The first night sans Enrique found me heading to one of my favorite restaurants, The Yard House.  Again, with tons of beer on tap, how can you really go wrong?  As with my other visits to the Yard House, the Jambalaya was excellent and the beer was cold.  If you're in San Diego, get here if you can at least once, it's worth it.

Being a Thursday, and without Rocco to hang with, I decided to call it an early night, for the weekend was right around the corner ...

Event: Big Bay Boom Fireworks, San Diego, Day 17

July 4, 2012 -- After a successful sail on Mission Bay, we all went to the Tilted Kilt for wings, beer, and kilt viewing!  To be honest, we just needed some solid food and the Kilt did the trick.  We then said goodbye to Raul and Natasha, and after a few hours we found ourselves back at the Rockin' Baja for beers and Brooke! Our favorite bartender kept pouring the beers, which is what we love about her!  Alas, nighttime had come and it was time to head to the Seaport Village to see the Big Bay Boom fireworks.

OK, the Big Bay Boom was supposed to be a simultaneous firework display from five barges strategically placed in San Diego Bay.  It was hyped to be an unbelievable fireworks display, costing over $400,000 to put on.  Did you hear about this?  Five minutes before the show was supposed to begin, a software glitch triggered ALL the fireworks to go off at the SAME time!  The "show" lasted 14 seconds, leaving us all to wonder what the heck just happened!  After twenty minutes of waiting for the real show to begin, we and the rest of the crowd were told that the show was over!  What a bummer.  This looked like it was going to be a really good fireworks display, but nada, zippo, zilch!  Better luck next year!

Event: Sailing, Mission Bay, San Diego, Day 17

July 4, 2012 -- Happy Fourth of July!  To be honest, I'm a little bummed since I'm on work travel over the biggest holiday in my hometown, Bristol, RI.  The Fourth of July in Bristol isn't just a one day event, but lasts a good week before and barbecues and parties last long after.  In RI, it's the unofficial kickoff of the summer, so I was sad to miss all the events with my friends and family.

To forget about all the fun, parades and fireworks I'm missing, Enrique, Rocco, and I were invited to go sailing on Mission Bay with, let's call him Raul and his wife, hmmm, Natasha!  Enrique and Raul were a little confused on where to park, the place was packed!

Fortunately we found a parking spot right in the marina, and while we waited Raul secured our sailing vessel!

We all made it to the docks safely and began our two-hour tour of Mission Bay!  Raul was our well experienced captain.

Me, Natasha, Raul, and Rocco on the Bay!

Even Enrique assumed the helm for a bulk of our trip!

All in all, a great day was had by all.  Thanks Raul and Natasha!!!!  After a fun time on the water, it's off time find some grub!

Food: Rockin Baja, Nicky Rotten's Bar & Grill, San Diego, Day 16

July 3, 2012 -- Rocco was STILL tired from his cross country endeavor and early morning lab shift, so we decided to make it an early night the day before the Fourth of July.  We went to the Rockin Baja to start the night, as usual, and Brooke was tending bar with a smile on her face!  I'm really starting to like her!!!  After a few beers and shrimp fajitas, which are awesome if I might say, Rocco and I left our favorite place behind and trekked up 5th Avenue of the Gaslamp District.

Looking for a new sports bar to catch the Red Sox game, we found Nicky Rotten's Bar and Grill a few blocks up the street.  Even though we had just eaten, the smell of buffalo wings clinging in the air got our stomachs going again.  Yup, they were good!  I just wish the Red Sox could have played as well.  Either way it was a nice evening and we got to sleep in with the holiday tomorrow.  Ah, tomorrow ...

Food: Gaslamp Strip Club, San Diego, Day 15

July 2, 2012 -- Today, Rocco arrived.  With AP heading back to RI a few days ago, Enrique and I needed reinforcements.  After a tumultuous 22-hour travel extravaganza, Rocco landed in San Diego exhausted.  Severe storms on the East Coast had wreaked havoc with the airlines and poor Rocco spent more time in a North Carolina airport than flying to sunny California.  So, knowing that he would be tired and hungry I knew the perfect thing to cheer him up: The Gaslamp Strip Club.  Now don't get the wrong idea, this is a steak place, and an awesome one at that!

First and foremost, you need to know that you will be cooking your own steaks.  They have grills placed about the restaurant, loaded with spices and cooking utensils.  You simply choose the steak you want, side dishes, and anything else and the waitress (in fishnets, nice touch) will bring everything to you.

We both picked our steaks and headed to the grill.  That's Rocco seasoning their signature Gaslamp Strip Steak.

I also had the strip steak and helped myself to the grill, too.

Yeah, the food is as good as it looks!  I highly recommend the Gaslmap Strip Club for those who want to have fun cooking steaks without the high prices of traditional steak joints (Donovan's or Fleming's)  

After dinner, I brought Rocco to the Barley Mash for a beer and to let him check out the completed product (he was with us in April when the establishment was nearly finished.)  The beers were cold, but poor Rocco was dead tired.  Until another day ...

Food: Wang's, North Park San Diego, Day 14

July 1, 2012 -- Being a Sunday and still recovering from the day at the Safari Park, I figured a day poolside at my hotel, the Manchester Grand Hyatt, was in order.  Enrique was exhausted and he had things to do, so my day was set.  I took a nice, long stroll along the waterfront and Seaport Village before grabbing some food supplies from the local Ralph's super market.  After that, I finished reading the book I had brought with me to San Diego, The Last Templar.  A pretty good read if you like the mystique of the Templar Knights and the coveted treasures and secrets they have been hiding for a thousand years.

Later that day I had to take care of a good week's supply of laundry -- hey, even I need to be domestic from time to time!  Enrique pointed me to a laundromat in North Park called Get It Clean.

If you have to do laundry while on travel, and if you don't have services in your hotel, this is a fine place to go.  It took me a little over an hour to wash and dry my clothes.  But, I'm not here to blog about life's necessities!

Of course when I mentioned to Enrique that I was in the North Park area he had a restaurant in mind.  He said he heard about a great Chinese Food buffet called Wang's.  Well, they didn't have a buffet, but the food was by far some of the best Chinese Food I ever had.  And take a look at the size of this place ...

There were plenty of tables and seating, and the restaurant was suprisingly packed for a Sunday night.  There was even a function room that was under construction upstairs.  Very impressive and I'll be sure to go back there again some time.  Our hostess was gracious enough to pose for a picture, especially after we told her that she would be in my blog!

And no night would be complete if Enrique didn't have dessert.  I wasn't surprised when he said we had to stop in at Heaven Sent Desserts.  There was more chocolate there than meets the eye!  Believe it or not, I didn't get any snacks, but rest assured, Enrique took a doggy bag home!

Though nothing Earth shattering happened today, we both knew that Rocco was arriving tomorrow ...

Food: Bencotto, Little Italy, San Diego, Day 13

June 30, 2012 -- After a long afternoon at the Safari Park, Enrique and I figured a nice relaxing dinner in Little Italy would do the trick.  Since we had visited to Little Italy before, we remembered a chic restaurant called Bencotto that we knew we needed to try.  Bencotto specializes in home made pasta that they cook on the premises.  Let me tell you, that was the freshest pasta I ever had!  I had the traditional pasta and meatballs, and the meatballs were to die for!  Even the salads were made with hand-picked tomatoes and vegetables.  A must see place if you're ever in the Little Italy section of San Diego.  However, be prepared to wait a long time if you don't call for reservations.  Me and Enrique ate at the bar instead of waiting two hours for a table!!!

With full bellies and a stop for some chocolate gelato, we called it a night by 9:30 PM.  On a Saturday.  In San Diego.  I know, lame, but when you're tired, you're tired!

Travel: San Diego Zoo Safari Park, San Diego, Day 13

June 30, 2012 -- With AP gone, Enrique and I decided to spend the day at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

Having gone to the San Diego Zoo on my last trip, I figured the Safari Park would be a nice change of pace.  I wasn't disappointed!  The trip to the Safari Park is a good 30 to 40 minutes north and east of San Diego, but it has plenty of room for the animals to roam.  That's Eric the rhino pictured below (yes, Eric!)

The giraffes were out and about ...

Elephants were happy ...

And I was very intrigued with the okapi, discovered in the Congo only 100 years ago!

We had fun with the gorillas as well, and I'm happy to say that I'm nowhere near as large as a full grown ape!

We strolled about the park for a good 4 to 5 hours, so if you decide to go be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes.  The tram ride around the safari last for about 30 minutes and is well worth the wait.  I wished we could have seen the cheetah run, but it was already a long day and that event wouldn't start until 5 PM.  As with anything that deals with animals heed this sign's advice:

Bars: The Whiskey Girl, San Diego, Day 12

June 29, 2012 -- Being on the West Coast has its advantages, especially when it comes to catching my Red Sox while they're playing teams on the West Coast!  Enrique and I made the walk up 5th Avenue in the Gaslamp District until we reached the Whiskey Girl.

TVs broadcast a multitude of baseball games, including the Sox, and 80s music blared from the speakers.  Around 10 PM, the high top tables we sat at were cleared away, the music switched to today's pop, and our viewing area became a dance floor.  They even took off the baseball games and throw up videos!  The nerve.  But then again, the place filled up and was hopping.  Just another night in the Gaslamp District! 

Food: Restaurants and Bars, San Diego, Day 12

June 29, 2012 -- Enter Enrique!  And where else would we be, along the Pacific Beach boardwalk and Crystal Pier?  The Pacific Beach Shore Club of course!  Pacificos and appetizers at happy hour while watching the sun sink into the ocean can't be a bad thing, right?

Well, how does sushi sound?  Since they don't serve that at the PB Shore Club, me and Enrique made the short drive to La Jolla.

One of my favorite places on Prospect St. is Sushi on the Rock, and what better dish than a Rainbow Roll.

Sadly, Enrique needed more excitement ...

Travel: Crystal Pier, San Diego, Day 12

June 29, 2012 -- After my glorious run, me and Enrique embarked on a San Diego tour of restaurants and bars throughout the remainder of the day and night.  Lunch, as usual, was at Rockin' Baja Coastal Cantina.  Again, nothing but good things to say about my Jumbo shrimp fajitas and friendly wait staff.  Love those guys!

With lunch behind me, I headed to Pacific Beach where I took a walk on the Crystal Pier.  I had seen it many times before, but this time I took the walk all the way out to the end of the pier.

Here's a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean from the end of the pier.

Can't forget the California surfers!

Time for a walk on the Pacific Beach boardwalk ... lots of girls and bikinis!

By this time Enrique has called and said he was ten minutes away ... you know what that means!