North Park Neighborhood

 

(Sigh). I am sure going to miss our North Park neighborhood ;)

Besides being centrally located in town and right off the freeway - we are a block or 2 away from the urban and bustling night life as well as wonderful street festivals throughout the year.

This past Sunday we walked down our alley and 2 blocks over to the North Park Arts Festival. We didn't stay too long as we had much to do, but, as usual: it afforded us a lovely walk, people-watching, street photography ops and a pleasant time spent together.

Click on separate slideshows below for 2 festivals - -

North Park Arts Festival

San Diego Independent Music Festival

A North Park New Year!

 

Patrick and I have been working on our condo all week while he is on vacation and didn't go to Ireland for the holidays - per the norm.

Although invited to a few outings and house parties for the New Year - we both lagged on making a decision, preferring to finish as much work as possible while we had the time and were motivated.

 

Let me put it this way - - by 9:30pm we were covered in paint and concrete dust, and don't even get me started on the heavy doses of Ibuprofen we were both taking as we were both in a lot of pain from all the work. We figured time was running short so we better clean up so we could mosy down the street and see what we can find without investing too much effort or money so last-minute.



One of the things I love about our location in North Park is that we are a quick and easy walk to the bars and restaurants that have sprung up the past few years. We found ourselves turning our noses up at some of our regular hangouts with huge cover charges and pretentious crowds and opted for the free -- oh yes -- -F R E E - party at the gay dive bar (yes, you read it correctly although it sounds wrong) REDWING on 30th Street.

I have to give it to the folks there. We were easily able to join in on the fun at 11pm - - not a cent was paid in cover, we were given tickets to win door prizes as our IDs were checked -- there were noise-makers, hats and tiaras for everyone - - not to mention karaoke (George Michael and Beyonce songs were the favorite of the evening)... this also included free champagne toast at midnight for all and STRONG, cheap drinks. (Take THAT, foofy West Coast bar - - who were charging $50 at the door, the drinks aren't strong, only party masks for the first 50 through the door, and no champagne toast).

The evening was perfect, I got my gay man quota for the week - - everyone was in a super mood and neighborly with each other, the drag queens looked magnificent -- we even were able to find a place at the bar to crowd watch and for me to sing along with the karaoke 80s songs.

Happy NEW YEAR to all my loved ones!

Click on Slideshow below!

New Years Eve 2009

Adams Avenue Street Fair 2009

I love living in this area. Don't get me wrong, growing up in Bonita, San Diego was lovely in the 70s and 80s - total horse country and rural. Now it has been so built around that the traffic is awful with Starbucks on every corner. After college in Orange County and some time pursuing acting in Los Angeles I have pretty much as an adult lived in certain parts of San Diego: gay Hillcrest, or neighboring Mission Hills, Kensington or North Park.

Here in North Park it is becoming even more up and coming to live in as Hillcrest is just too crowded. With the influx of more gay men moving here we are seeing better restaurants and lounge bars with that low mood lighting that I just love. Walking to the dog-friendly coffee shops is a staple for local artists to perform in. And another fabulous thing are the street fairs that occur a few times a year. Just perfect for live-music lovers and street photographers like Patrick and I!


Last September we walked around the very hot but lively Adams Avenue Street Fair. One of the largest free music street fairs in California, it has over 70 live music acts on 6 stages, three beer gardens, Giant Carnival rides and 300 hundred craft & food vendors.

One of our local favorite bands, Red Pony Clock was performing so we shot pics to send to the band. They warrant a blog later, so I won't give up too much on them now except that they are a great time and unique!

We had only been married a week when we went to this fair and I remember almost dropping with pride when Patrick yearned for a cold beer at Ye Ould Sod pub, and so we decided to drop in. I, however, had forgotten my ID and Patrick told the bouncer, "My wife left her ID at home, she isn't having any alcohol, can she still come in?"

Well, we weren't allowed in without it, but it didn't matter. Because it was the first time I heard Patrick call me 'his wife' in public and hearing it uttered on his curved lips just made my day!

Enjoy the slide show below!

Adams Avenue Street Fair 2009

September Living

Yes. You read correctly. This blog and it's pictures figure from our North Park life in September. Although we are now in November. At least I got the "ember" right....

Click on slideshow below:

September Living 2009

MEXX band

MEXX AKA "The Mario Escovedo Experience" plays my fave Bar Pink in North Park on Cinco De Mayo. Just down the street from my pad, I reach for my camera and saunter over after my modeling gig. Click on slideshow below and check out the many facial expressions of Chuck - hehehe

5deMayo

Linked in at the Linkery

Call it nostalgia, call it insane - but I worked a ton this summer and still have many little blogs and pictures to post from the past. Even though I am literally fighting back the tears looking at my companion in most of the subject matter - I can only say that no matter how much he continues to hurt me daily by his actions and decisions, I cannot, unlike him, deny our so very recent history together and thus get the strength to publish these anyway. Actually my strength comes from my Love for him that cannot be, doesn't want to be, nor should be expected to be gone in only 3 weeks. Nor do I believe for one moment that deep down he isn't hurting as much as I am. Well, almost as much as I am... sigh

 

This was taken at this summer at the Linkery in Northpark. A memorable night out with Richele, P, and Dave - a former coworker of Patricks.

 

Between the great sausages (big weenies, really) at the Linkery, dancing dizzily to the very loud band with Richele at the Pink Elephant Bar, to Fred-the-Basset bursting to get to Richele's lap, and Dave's mega interest in Fred, the Spanish waitress and then Richele (all in that order) - - all made for good times.

 

Click below on slideshow!

Linkery Night

Valentine's Day of Love, Friendship (and SKAKEDOWN)

Hee hee hee. If you don't know what I mean by the term "shakedown" please refer to this previous blog here.

 





So tomorrow is Valentine's Day. It will be my 2nd with Patrick. And for the 2nd year we will be doing nothing to celebrate it. Last year we had his daughter Ciara that night. This year we have his childhood friend, Billy, visiting from Ireland - whew hew - I get to hear P's Irish accent come out (he only uses it with his Irish 'peeps').

I read that the average amount of money that men spend on their women on V Day is $122.79. Holy frijoles! Our plan tomorrow night is to go to 80s Night (loyal elsamart readers know I just LOVE my 80s music) up the street at the North Park bar/disco "Shooters". Totally radical - I can't wait to put my dancing shoes on! Shoot - maybe I will make P pay my $5 cover charge - he he he.

That said: I'm in love, I love my God, family and cat, too. In fact I love many things in this life and world and I am appreciative of the friends and family I have - including you: my readers around the world - so consider yourself all my Valentines ... and none of you have to buy me dinner! Hugs and Kisses!!!

Next time I'll just have some Vodka

So the other night I went out to dinner with a few people to a fabulous Georgian (as in south of Russia, not OUR South) restaurant in North Park, San Diego called "Pomegranate". In one aspect I had no idea what I was getting myself into as I don't eat meat and had no idea what the menu would be like besides vodka.

Anyhow, it was a pleasant time out at a very cool place (but extremely loud), complete with real Russian (hey can I call the migra on them, too???) waiter and waitress (man, her voice was so low and sexy) and an old, grumpy Russian man who sat in a corner by a bunch of wine and glared at all of us as he opened any bottles of wine as anyone would order some. We never really knew what his deal was - he looked like he hated us and he didn't move from there - maybe he was the owner??

There was an old piano in the middle of the restaurant that some of us tinkered on - it was so loud in this small place that it actually didn't even bother the tables right next to us who were yelling to be heard anyway. The decor was very interesting - a combination of cool Russian artwork and trinkets but then set off by mood lighting created by (a la trailer park) a hung light string of plastic jalapeno different colored lights. Also, one was able to write and scribble on pen ANYWHERE in the restaurant - walls, the ceiling fan, (gasp!) the wooden grey upright piano - some of the writing was in Russian, we saw Chinese characters, Spanish, English - some were jokes, some were crude, some were complimentary. Favorite examples: by the metal rooster artwork someone commented, "Nice Cock!" Also, "Stomach full, everyone's happy, now time to go home and take a Nappy". There also was a dare I say - worn - pair of tighty whiteys pinned up on the wall and scribbled on but being a lady I diverted my eyes, of course.

I had never had Russian wine before and, in fact, don't really like wine at all. But the group, of course, ordered a bottle and I was obliged at the toast to try a little bit. It was... utterly DELICIOUS!! Sweet, dark cherry and grape juice-tasting - I had never had anything like it. Everyone was impressed and another bottle was promptly ordered by someone with a big mouth and opened by the Grumpy man in the corner. The downside of it being so juice-like and sweet was that it was a quick drink - like punch - and then it crept on you since it is alcohol after all. I had only about 2 real swallows of it and was decidedly more relaxed after a rough week. But then of course the bill came. Hence the title of this blog. Why the heck is it that when you go out with a group of people you get stuck putting in a crap load of money when you just had the equivalent of a salad and water??? Sheet!!!

God Bless them - but some people had an appetizer or 2 and an entree. I had an appetizer only. Now, even though I only had a couple sips of wine compared to others who had 2 small tumblers of it, I wasn't NOT going to put in for the wine. Well, my appetizer was $9.50, tip it 2 more bucks is plenty, right? I'm thinking I'll be a big spender and put in the whole $20 dollar bill I just got out of the ATM earlier that day. Meanwhile, one gal got up and left early to 'get to her dog' and threw an indeterminate couple bills down. (When I saw her leave, I knew what what up - the sneaky devil). Translate: she probably got off not paying what she should - oldest trick in the book..

Meanwhile, everyone else is digging in pockets and then we count up. We are, OF COURSE, totally short. I ain't budging. I put in plenty and I had nothing else on me, truthfully. That is when it happened, and I saw it coming a mile away: someone suggested easily, "Well, there were 8 of us, divide it and everyone owes 40 bucks."

**Sound of the needle scratching the record**

"What the???!!!" I am thinking inside to myself. 40 bucks for a small appetizer less than 10 bucks and a couple sips of wine, when others ate their fill - oh hell, no!!!

Alas, and it has always happened in the past, and always will in the future when one goes out in a big group of people to eat - best start asking to try everyone's else food as well cus you gonna end up paying for it!!

Only shots at Shooters

So last night, Patrick and I ventured down the street to "Shooters" bar/club on 30th Street, in the heart of North Park, San Diego. I've only gone 3 times before and enjoy my Thursday nights because it's "80s Night". And if you've been reading my blog you ought to know by now that Elsa loves her 80s music!

As we sipped our Citron-Tonics the sad fact was not lost on us that it was the least crowded we had ever seen it. Well, it did get better by the time we were leaving around midnight but it just plum made us sad. The music was great: hits from Duran Duran, Pet Shop Boys, Midnite Drexy Runners, Falco, A-Ha, Devo - to name a few. Also there is no cover charge to get into the bar with pool tables and a minescule $5 to get into the actual dance floor club - they are playing the same music on both sides.

So P and I just don't get it. The club is situated in a great, central part of town, plenty of parking, great nostalgic music, a choice to go to the dance floor portion or stay on the calmer side of the bar, no waiting in line out in the cold to make it look like it's packed (like they do in the fru fru clubs downtown). Even the drinks aren't expensive. And we know there are plenty of 30 and 40-somethings that are huge 80s fans who would enjoy the atmosphere and music. I mean, I dont' even know of anohter club that does all 80s nights off the top of my head.

Such a shame... I'm afraid that if it doesn't pick up they might do away with my beloved 80s Nights there. And where else can I get my 'skank' dance on where it's appreciated???!!!