East Village San Diego

DECEMBER 15, 2009 -- Personal training sessions at Sweat Personal Training Studio begin with a one-hour inquisition—a one-on-one consultation with East Village studio owner Joan Lindley.

“I already know they want to lose weight and have tighter abs or glutes,” says Lindley. “So, why bother asking those questions? I want to know specifically what other body parts my clients want to change.”

Lindley’s 550-square-foot studio is the only one in San Diego with Corepole—resistance training through bands—which she believes is ideal for female backs. She also uses body weight training and The PowerStraps, as well as traditional items like Pilates rings, BOSU and balance balls.

During that initial meeting, she starts with the ankles and goes through the body—literally muscle by muscle—forcing clients to describe satisfaction level and desired changes. All the while, notations are made on injuries, access to fitness equipment and the current routine.

After copious note taking and careful consideration to body parts that you may not even know you can change, Lindley conducts a strength test. Clients embark on some basic push-ups, squats and triceps curls, targeting 20 reps to reveal endurance at specific weight levels.

Next, she conducts a flexibility and posture exam, taking notice of the body leaning forward or back, versus a fully upright spine. Findings are reviewed. Any needed modifications are explained with illustrated anatomy, pointing out every muscle affected.

“If you educate the client, they have a better adherence rate, which means a better success rate,” says Lindley.

I left my first session with a “Restore Your Core” homework assignment. She describes the transverse abdominal muscle as a corset that you want to pull in, tighten and squeeze. She drives the concept into my mind to visualize every muscle I need to train for future abdominal work, since nearly everything is developed to incorporate the core.

The first few sessions are one-on-one, customized workouts based on specific goals and needs. “Sweat-isms” (Lindley phrases that will make you smile while you feel the burn) are used to keep you focused. Over and over she repeats: “Shaking is desired.” (Personal favorite: “Fire all three of those glute muscles. They all want to go to the cocktail party.”)

Again, every movement is explained as to what muscle it will modify and she repeats: “put your brain in that muscle.” The goal is to isolate, squeeze and exhaust the targeted muscle.

During cool downs, Lindley explains that muscle building results from micro muscle tears and rebuilding. She encourages clients to eat complete proteins within an hour to help the restoration process and reduce soreness.

Sessions remain one-on-one until the client truly understands what they are doing, and how to engage muscles. Then, she encourages small group sessions of four clients maximum. Solo, or in small groups, the training remains personalized.

Lindley’s focus on education is based on her belief that “people strive for education and no one is giving it.” Her personal attention to each client and dedication to results has earned her about 50 clients who have trained with her for more than a year. She is available anytime for clients who have questions, or need motivation.

(Heather Back covers fitness and wine bars for sandiegoDTOWN.com.)

DECEMBER 10, 2009 -- Cowboy Star bartender Garth Flood improvised his way to a close win in the first Preiss Imports Cocktail Competition, held Tuesday night at downtown’s El Dorado Cocktail Lounge.

Eight local bartenders battled though a NCAA basketball-style bracket to compete for the title. Each had to create cocktails on the fly, using pre-determined base liquors and adding their own choice of ingredients.

Flood says he didn’t necessarily begin the night with a firm game plan. “I really had no idea coming in,” he says. “I don’t have names for the drinks I made—it was all spur of the moment. I took the ingredients that were here and modified them.”

The bartenders’ concoctions were graded by a panel of five judges. “Garth took some risks and pulled out a win,” says judge Sarah Daoust, managing editor of 944 magazine. “All these bartenders seemed very focused, and took this very seriously.” Daoust says her favorite cocktail was a drink called an Orange Eyeball.

El Dorado Cocktail Lounge first opened its doors last November. It’s owned by twin brothers Marshall and Matt Stanton, their older brother Nate, and Ryan Koontz, lead singer of local band Dirty Sweet.

El Dorado is in a fairly undeveloped part of downtown, on Broadway between Tenth and Eleventh streets. For decades, the bar was, as Marshall Stanton describes it, a “nasty dive” called Hong Kong. The new management group cleaned it up. The exterior façade is still a little foreboding. But inside there are Western cowboy and Indian prints on the wall, mirrors behind the bar and a huge, white buffalo head mounted above a juke box (the buffalo’s name is Otis.)

When El Dorado first opened, the bartenders were mixing “craft” cocktails. There were 16 on a specialty menu, and all the muddling and mixing and extra production was taking too long. The menu now holds five special drinks that are less craft and more “classic,” says Stanton.

They’re classic, but with updated twists. Consider the El Dorado Old Fashioned. The traditional liquor in an old fashioned is bourbon whiskey. But while surfing the Web one day, Stanton found a brand of 12-year-old rum called El Dorado. And that became the base for the cocktail.

El Dorado’s specialty drink list was pared to 5 (but there’s also a “bartender’s choice” listed, so they will go off the menu for special requests). The classic cocktails are $9 at night and $5 during Happy Hour, which runs until 9 p.m. every night. Even when there’s not a cocktail contest underway.

DECEMBER 4, 2009 -- A group has gathered to help celebrate my sixth 29^th birthday. We all enjoy wine, but have different tastes. You know how it goes—sometimes when a group of gals gets together for grape-bred libations it’s hard to agree on a bottle—or even two—for the table.

Thank goodness for the new Ultra Lounge and Wine Bar at the downtown Ivy Hotel. Both novices and oenophiles will delight at the ability to purchase a taste, half or full glass from more than 80 selections.

Tastes (1.5 ounces) range from $1.50 to $15 per glass; full glasses range from $7 to $60.

The concepts was uncorked late this year, and has been embraced by hotel guests who sip and sample before ordering a full bottle for dinner at The Ivy’s upscale restaurant, Quarter Kitchen. Premium wines like Opus One, for example, are available to guests who may hesitate to splurge without a sample taste.

“The concept allows an informed decision with a leap of faith that you may not be willing to take from a wine list,” says wine lounge director Lindsay Pomeroy.  

Each member of my group purchases a pre-loaded smart card from the bartender, at our desired increments. Then, we select our stem wear of preference. The wall of wine is expansive, and it takes awhile to hone in on a favorite. With wines selected we insert our debit cards and select the pour amount: taste, half or full glass. The wine stations hold up to four bottles of wine, which allows for experimentation, and for a few of us, discovery of a new favorite label.

To enhance the tasting experience, onsite chef Nathan Coulon created a wine-pairing menu. Highlights include a prosciutto-and-arugula pizza, a chacuterie plate, blue cheese-stuffed dates wrapped in bacon with grated parmesan and duck rillets. Wine-friendly desserts include gingerbread cake with poached pears, apple and cranberry frangipane tarts and Belgian chocolate torte.

I’ll be back before my next birthday.

(The Ivy Ultra Lounge and Wine Bar is open Sunday through Wednesday from 3 p.m.-midnight and Thursday through Saturday from 3-9 p.m.)

DECEMBER 1, 2009 -- If the head-to-head battles seen in Iron Chef and the NCAA Basketball Tournament were rolled into one event, it’d be akin to the Cocktail Competition, coming to El Dorado Cocktail Lounge on December 8.

Eight local standout bartenders will be put into a single-elimination bracket, and compete with each other until one is declared the top ’tender.

“The goal is to showcase the bartenders in San Diego who are paying more attention to the products they’re using, and the techniques,” says El Dorado co-owner Nate Stanton. “We want to encourage bartenders all over town to have more integrity with the drinks.”

The “Elite 8” bartenders will include: Trevor Thorpe (The Merk), Ian Ward (Whisknladle), Eric Johnson (El Dorado), Scott Shumate (Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina), Frankie Thaheld (Alchemy), Ariana Johnson (Confidential), Garth Flood (Cowboy Star) and Tim Stevens (Prohibition).

The competition will require bartenders to create a well-balanced cocktail in five minutes, one-on-one, using pre-determined liquors and other fresh ingredients. Contestants can muddle, shake or stir to the requirements of their personal recipes.

A panel of judges will determine the winner, who will receive a $500 Preiss Imports Spirits spending spree. To RSVP for the event, go to El Dorado, or call 858-458-9172, xt. 116.  

NOVEMBER 19, 2009 -- San Diego fitness trainer Renessa Williams is quick to point out that the word “reality” is loosely applied when it comes to Reality TV shows. She experienced the drama first-hand as part of the third-season cast booked on the Bravo Network offering Work Out.

The show’s hook: The boss of a Beverly Hills uber-gym is a sexy-but-scary lesbian. The show is not a contest. Nobody gets voted off or eliminated—but one male trainer did get fired. The boss lady interacts with the trainers, and in one episode takes her female minions on an all-lesbian cruise.

“I cried myself to sleep one night on that cruise,” says Williams. “Some of them were pretty aggressive.”

On another episode, it appeared that Williams “hooked up” with another male trainer. “It was all in the way they shot the scenes, and then how they edited them,” she says. “There’s a lot of smoke and mirrors involved.”

Nonetheless, Williams says doing the show was a huge positive. “I have to say, I loved having the cameras follow me around,” she says. “That was a huge motivator to be strict with my diet. We were often in swimsuits and sports bras, on display for the whole world to see.”

Another plus: Williams was training her L.A. clients while taping the show, and sometimes got them on TV. And, she says the show generated publicity, “that you’d have to say you couldn’t buy for a million dollars.” Several San Diego clients hired her because they saw her on the street and recognized her from the show, she adds.

The South Dakota-born blonde—who is an impressive scrapbooker—moved from L.A. to San Diego last year after the show. She “followed her heart here” (read: a boy). They are currently married.

“I love San Diego much better than Los Angeles, and I think it’s the people,” she says. “Everybody you meet here has a fun story. And downtown San Diego definitely has a great young professional networking scene.”

Williams trains clients in her East Village live/work loft. She recently signed on to be a fitness specialist at Paradise Village in National City. But for individual clients she’s got a nifty deal: unlimited personal training for $199 a month. Yes, you can train with her every day of the week for that price.

And don’t worry—no one will be filming you.

NOVEMBER 3, 2009 -- Step into the Cask Room and you’ll quickly forget the trolley tracks and the East Village urbanity just outside the door. Faux barrel-covered walls replicate a wine cellar. The lighting is ambient and mellow—just like the mood you’ll be in while sipping among 50 different wines, rotated each month, along with 20 craft beers.

You’re certain to make friends with other patrons in this very intimate setting with little pretense. There’s a welcoming mentality, and lots of good cheer.

There isn’t a full kitchen, but notable noshes include paninis made with Horsehead deli cuts and fresh-baked bread from Bread On Market. Unique tapas include prosciutto and goat cheese-stuffed dates, and sweet-and-spicy peppadew pepper bites.

Wine by the glass averages $8. You can imbibe guilt-free while searching for the perfect bottle—leaving room in your wallet to Secret Santa yourself with a wine club membership. And as the holidays approach, The Cask Room has an option that will show you that if it’s not really better to give than to receive, both are at least on even par.

The nearly-four-year-old wine bar offers a $30 wine club that provides a minimum of two bottles per month. Wine club members must pick up their selections, but that’s a chore you’ll be pleased to check off your to-do list.

“Wineries have reduced their prices due to the slow economy, and new vintages are ready to premiere,” says owner Mike Kallay, “so I’m passing the savings on to my loyal members.”

Wine club members can also attend tastings for free, or at a significantly reduced fee, including a free food-and-wine pairing before Thanksgiving (to find that perfect toast for tryptophan).

The November offerings provide an economic-friendly buy with three magnums suitable for turkey feast pairings (valued at $130).

The Cask Room has promotions nearly every day of the week. Monday is half-priced bottle night, and Sundays bring out half-priced glasses. During weekday Happy Hours there’s always one red and one white glass of wine for $5.

THE CASK ROOM

550 Park Boulevard, #2104

619-822-1606

caskroom.com

Hours: Sun. 5-9 p.m.; Mon-Thurs 5-11 p.m.; Fri-Sat 5 p.m.-midnight.

NOVEMBER 1, 2009 -- The Monster Bash drew thousands of people downtown last night. Most dressed up in costume. Check out these pictures of Prince, Beaker, The Flintstones, Jack in the Box, Santa Claus, Gilligan, Marilyn Monroe, Cruella DaVille, the Axe body spray guy, the Geico googly-eyed money character and many, many others...

OCTOBER 29, 2009 – In movies—Four Weddings and a Funeral comes to mind—wacky things happen after a bride marches down the aisle. In Four Weddings, Hugh Grant changes his mind at the altar, and the bride-not-to-be punches him in the face.

I’ve never been to a real wedding where something like that has happened. Have you? I’ll just say it—I think that would be awesome. You’d get to go to an open-bar dinner reception…and keep the present.

For anyone with a demented sense of humor or a hunger for nuptial-related drama, consider Joey and Maria’s Comedy Italian Wedding. It’s an interactive play in which audience members are guests at the big event. It runs on selected Fridays at downtown’s Culy Warehouse.

The couple (notice they are not described as a happy couple) are Guiseppe Antonio Gnocchi and Maria Angelina Cavatelli. Each has a bridal party with an assortment of hang-ups, social deviations and names like Al Dente and Connie Calzone. There are bouffant-styled mothers, a medicine-bottle-swilling priest who’s dressed like the pope and one uninvited guest—Joey’s ex-girlfriend, Viola Vermicelli.

Throughout the evening, the machinations of a real wedding are performed: the vows, the dances, the squabbling among in-laws. A buffet of salad, pasta and chewable chicken is served to all guests, and the full bar is reasonably priced.

You’d never catch me doing The Chicken Dance or a Congo Line at a real wedding; here, it’s all part of the price of admission ($60 plus tax).

Would I recommend this show to everybody? No. But the crowd I attended with loved nearly every minute of it. There were couples in the audience who rarely get out—and this was a grand respite. A pair of actual bachelorette parties also came to celebrate with Joey and Maria.

The show is campy and over-the-top. Feeling urbane and hip, I laughed out loud for the first half hour, not necessarily at the jokes, but with a head-shaking realization that this kind of a show actually exists, and people pay to see it.

But if your idea of a good wedding is a public comedy of errors, pay your respects to the Gnocchis and the Cavatellis.

OCTOBER 19, 2009 -- On Sunday mornings, lululemon athletica welcomes downtowners to its storefront (G Street, between Seventh and Eighth streets) for a free workout that leaves your gluts taut and tired.  I tried it out, and this Urban Bootcamp is definitely no day at the beach.

Susannah Stucchio usually leads these city workouts, but my guides were the uber-able Trish Davis and Leslie Thomas. We kicked off with an easy jog to Petco Park. We shuffled, squatted and sprinted away—before realizing we left our water bottles behind. We made a jaunt back to pick up the liquids, and our trainers made us work all the harder while we circled back.

With water bottles in hand, we jogged past hotels and eateries where tourists dined and raised eyebrows as our group panted by.

Our next destination was the stairs at the San Diego Convention Center. Ugh. As we headed that way, I wondered if I was in shape for this. With all the different exercises we did—sudden bursts, isolated pushups and jumps to get the heart pumping—we all seemed to hit a wall at one point or another.

Davis describes the fitness technique as being: “Based off of the CrossFit methodology, utilizing the San Diego urban landscape and architecture as our workout equipment. The workouts are varied in functional movements, with a mixture of calisthenics, plyometrics, sprints and stair climbs, done in a bootcamp fashion.”

This 60-minute workout went by so fast because despite the intensity, we were outside on a glorious day in the Gaslamp. In some ways, it was just as fun as a day at the beach. Every week, the routines are different—so they remain interesting and challenging.

OCTOBER 15, 2009 -- Last Night's The Big Lebowski bowling party at East Village Tavern + Bowl drew a cast of characters. If you're familiar with the characters--and even if you're not--have fun looking at the party pictures. The Dude, Walter, Jesus and even a Nihilist showed up to roll. You'll notice that a pair of very nice ladies showed up in costume--one was a cat woman, they other was Marilyn Monroe. Everybody seemed content to down a version of The Dude's favorite drink, a White Knight, poured with St. Petersburg Vodka. One robe-wearing dude brought his own creamer. Among the raffle prizes: EVT gift cards, and a pair of VIP tickets to the October 31 Monster Bash. The bash is, of course, a costumed affair, and don't be surprised if last night's Lebowski crew decide to party as a team on Halloween.

OCTOBER 13, 2009 -- Mike Judge’s movie Office Space didn’t hit box office gold, but it later became a rental cult classic. Same with The Big Lebowski—though its fans are a bit more eclectic. The Coen brothers’ offering is an acquired taste. That’s partly because there’s so much more packed into the tale of three slacker bowling buddies than is easily digested on first viewing.

And then there’s the sandiegoDTOWN.com bowling party on Wednesday at East Village Tavern + Bowl. It’s themed on the Lebowski movie. We’ll be serving “The Dude’s” favorite drink—White Russians. Fueled by St. Petersburg Vodka, you can drink “White Knights” for $1 a pop for the whole party (6-9 p.m.).  

Wait, what’s a White Russian and/or a White Knight? And who’s The Dude?

Good questions. Curiosity, by the way, was a grounding and primary characteristic of Donny (played in the movie by Steve Buscemi).

A White Russian cocktail is made with vodka, coffee liqueur (like Kahlua) and light cream. White Nights is an annual phenomenon that occurs in St. Petersburg, Russia, whereupon the sky stays bright all day and all night (each year from June 11-July 2).

The Dude is Jeffrey Lebowski. But nobody calls the movie title character (played by Jeff Bridges) by his given name. From the film’s dialog:

The Dude: “Let me explain something to you. Um, I am not ‘Mr. Lebowski.’...I'm the Dude. So that's what you call me. You know, that or, uh, His Dudeness, or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing.”

Are you following this thing? To recap, we are hosting a party at EVT + Bowl on October 14 from 6-9 p.m. It’s just for fun. You can dress up like your favorite Lebowski character and try to win a prize. There will also be other raffle prizes.

Oh, and there will be bowling. And remember what movie character Walter Sobchak said: “Smokey, this is not 'Nam. This is bowling. There are rules.” Games cost $5 per person. There will also be special lanes set aside for a strike contest. Rolling one gets you a raffle ticket.

As we learn at the end of The Big Lebowski: “The Dude abides.” Come abide with our downtown crowd.

(RSVP at feelthepulse@sandiegoDTOWN.com)

SEPTEMBER 25, 2009 -- Lululemon has opened a downtown storefront to sell men’s and women’s fitness clothing. The hope is that demand will support the launch of a full showroom serving 92101.

The company aims to create a sense of community, says Lululemon’s Sarah Mendelson. “Our company employees and ambassadors strive to be experts in yoga, fitness and Pilates so fitness enthusiasts consider them a go-to-resource,” she says.

Lululemon (677 Seventh Avenue) carries fitness clothing offering fit and function beyond other retailers. Private shopping arrangements called “Fit Sessions” are available for individuals or groups outside of usual business hours (Fridays from noon to 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.).

Each store is required to offer a minimum of one free class a week. Currently, LuLulemon offers Crossfit sessions, urban outdoor workouts on Sunday at 10 a.m.

With an all-time record high attndance, the summer Vino & Vinyasa classes at The W Hotel concluded in style under the tutelage of LuLu ambassador, Bonnie Salvidar-Jones. But you won’t have to wait until next spring to continue your Vinyasa flow. Downtown’s FIT athletic club has partnered with LuLuLemon to continue the classes on Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. Yoga participants can stick around and work out the rest of their kinks at the gym.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2009 -- There was this exchange in the classic 1989 baseball movie “Field of Dreams” between Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta) and farmer Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner):

Shoeless Joe Jackson: What's with the lights?

Ray Kinsella: Oh, all the stadiums have them now. Even Wrigley Field.

Shoeless Joe Jackson: Makes it harder to see the ball.

Ray Kinsella: Yeah, well, the owners found that more people can attend night games.

Shoeless Joe Jackson: [Shakes his head] Owners.

Indeed. What’s next, movies being shown up on ballpark walls?

Well, yeah. Shoeless Joe and the famous “If you build it, he will come” line will step up to the plate Saturday evening on the big screen on the outfield side of (well-lighted) Petco Park. Movie-goers should show up and look for a good patch of grass at Petco’s Park at the Park. The free event begins at 6 p.m.; the movie starts at 7 p.m.

Anyone can bring blankets, food and nonalcoholic beverages. Chairs are not permitted. Park concession stands will sell hot dogs, beverages and treats. Organizers encourage movie-goers to bring canned food donations that will go to St. Vincent de Paul Village.

 “As the community grows, events like Movies at the Park bring families downtown for a fun evening, and to see all that downtown San Diego has to offer,” says Centre City Development Corporation vice president of marketing and communications Derek Danziger.

Now if only the field of dreams inside Petco Park had some quality baseball to offer.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2009 -- The monthly Dtown Mixer moved to The FleetWood late last week, and host Jason Gregory emptied out his usual goodie bag of raffle prizes. Svedka Vodka was poured gratis for the first hour. And the pictures from Ivan S. Harris are in, featuring a lot of new faces. Enjoy the photos, and imagine yourself at the next party. Stay tuned for details...

SEPTEMBER 1, 2009 -- Every Mike Ditka-worshiping Chicagoan loves Da Bulls and Da Bears. And according to Bob Wolff, they also go nutty over Da Beef—Italian beef, that is. Wolff says his new East Village restaurant, Wolffy’s Place, will provide an absolutely authentic taste of the Second City.

“Ribs, hot dogs—the Italian beef—this is soul food for people who are from Chicago,” says Wolff. “These are staples for Chicago—the way Mexican food is a staple here. An Italian beef hot dog is almost like a religion.”

Wolffy’s Place is at the downtown corner of Ninth and Market, just blocks from where Wolff just bought a condo unit. His Chicago eatery had a soft opening just over a week ago, and he’s waiting…and waiting… and waiting…for the city to issue him liquor license before doing a grand opening.

Staffed by fedora-wearing servers dressed all in black, the restaurant offers Chicago-style wings, deep dish pizzas and Wolffy’s original hot dog tacos. The meat falls off the bone of the hickory-smoked barbecued ribs.

Wolff, who spends a great deal of time in his restaurant, offers a money-back guarantee on the ribs. “If you eat one rib and don’t like it, I will give you your money back,” he says. “I’ll know if you’re not telling the truth—because you’ll already be eating the second rib.”

AUGUST 28, 2009 -- For the five years she was employed as a local DJ on FM 94.9, Anya Marina worked all day at Street Scene. Now, with a successful album of her own out, and as she tours the country with Jason Mraz and other big names of indie rock, the wiry blonde dynamo is playing Street Scene tonight for the first time.

“I used to interview all the bands,” says Marina, who will drive down to San Diego today from L.A. for her 8 p.m. set at the downtown music festival. “We’d spend all day in an air-conditioned trailer, and [music director Mike] Halloran and I would try to sneak out and see some of the shows.”

Marina, whose new album is called “Slow and Steady Seduction: Phase II,” fondly recalls a Pixies show she caught at a Street Scene past, and brings up the year Fergie from Black Eyed Peas allegedly pee-ed her pants while onstage.

For old-time’s sake, Marina hopes Halloran will let her sit in while he interviews some of the other bands. “More than likely, he’ll just bark at me, and want to show off what celebrity phone numbers he has in his speed dial.”

Marina would love to interview Modest Mouse, which plays tonight at 9:35 on the Fulana Stage. “I was set to record a song in Portland with Britt Daniel [of Spoon] and Modest Mouse called and asked if they could have our time,” she says. “They were very nice about it—and they even refunded me for a flight I’d booked. But I love the idea that I let Modest Mouse have my day.”

She inquires what other bands are playing tonight. Informed she will appear on the Green Stage after Canadian electronica group Holy Fuck, Marina pauses for just a second.

“Holy Fuck,” she says. “I’d like to interview those potty mouths. I hear they’re almost as good as Fuck Buttons. Hey, that makes me wonder, has anybody named a band Shit Eating Grins?”

For information about all the bands playing today and tomorrow, go to street-scene.com.

AUGUST 27, 2009 -- Want to manage your Street Scene experience like a pro? Go to iTunes on your iPhone and download a free StreetScene application. Just type in StreetScene2009 and use the app to get instant updates on bands, hear their music and download your pictures of the concerts.

You know what Street Scene is, right? From 4 p.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday, nearly 50 bands will perform on five stages set up in East Village while tens of thousands of music aficionados eat, drink and gesticulate wildly to the music of Black Eyed Peas, Cake, M.I.A, Public Enemy and Ozomatli.

Street Scene is celebrating its 25^th anniversary. This is the second year it’s been held in this East Village location (the main drag is 14^th Street between J Street and Imperial Avenue). Before that it was at Coors Ampitheater (now Cricket Wireless), and in 2005 and ’06 it was staged at Qualcomm Stadium. Street Scene abutted Petco Park in ’04, and was in the Gaslamp Quarter years prior.

“We’ve been like a traveling show,” says Street Scene director of community relations Michael Trimble. “But we’re happy to be downtown, because people seem to like best the urban, gritty feel.”

Unlike last year, there will be two exit/entrances, including a new one at 14^th and Imperial (near a trolley stop). An organic tequila bar will debut, as well as a Green Stage that’ll be totally solar-powered, and VIP tickets will be sold for $125/day. The VIP experience (inside the Wonder Bread building) includes special food and drink privileges and private concerts.

Regular tickets are $65/day; $95 for both days. Ticket booths are now onsite, and tickets can also be purchased at street-scene.com.  

AUGUST 22, 2009 -- Today’s workout lesson begins with a list of similar words. Choose the one that’s most beneficial to your exercise regimen:

1. Kettle corn.

2. Kettle chips.

3. Ketel One.

4. Kettlebells.

Answer: Choosing the first three will lead to a much-needed workout with the last.

Kettlebell workouts have been around for decades, and originated in Russia (who we also thank for mail-order brides, vodka, fur hats and nesting dolls). The Russian word for kettlebells is "girya," and the Russian men who used them were called "gireviks," a term still used today. 

The Russian military has long used kettlebells for conditioning troops. Instead of testing strength and endurance with push-ups, they use a high repetition kettlebell snatch test, (similar to a “clean-and-press,” which is not for the faint of heart).

Kettlebells became mainstream in this country thanks to Pavel Tsatsouline, a kettlebell trainer for the United States and Soviet Union armed forces. When the U.S. noticed Russian counterparts seemed to have more endurance in competitions, they began incorporating kettlebell training routines.

Imagine a flat bottomed bowling ball made of iron, with a handle. You don’t throw these bad boys, you lift them. Kettlebell workouts are designed to increase strength, endurance, agility and balance. They challenge both the muscular and cardiovascular system with dynamic, total-body movements.

These workouts engage many muscle groups at once, so the workout forces you to control your entire body, especially your core. The lifting and controlling of a kettlebell builds strength and stability at the same time, so it’s a great way to get a whole body workout in a short time.

Kettlebells vary in weight and size and come in “poods,” an old Russian measure of weight, which equals 16 kilograms, or roughly 35 pounds. An average man can start with a 35-pounder and the average woman can begin with an 18 pounder. This may not seem like much, but after a high number of reps, it’ll feel much heavier. 

Most men will progress to a 53-pounder, the standard issue size in the Russian military. Seventy-pounders are used only by a few advanced guys. There are 88-pounders, but that’s for mutants with freakish strength.

The best way to begin this type of training is with an experienced, certified professional. Choose an RKC (Russian Kettlebell Certification) trainer and not some kettlebell-totin’ know-it-all who has taken a few classes in between clients.

Your first kettlebell session will be a killer (prepare for soreness), but your body will adapt quickly to the controlled, motion-based lifts and rotations. By the time you’ve mastered advanced reps (Turkish Getups, Renegade Rows and Pistols), you’ll feel worth your weight in gold.

Kettlebells develop strength, but a kettlebell-trained body is not bulky. It’s a leaner, more athletic look. Kettlebell workouts increase density, making your muscles stronger and harder, especially in your low back, hip, and glute areas. This is a bonus for women who like having a firm, rounded, derriere, or, “kettle butt.”

For more information, go to dragondoor.com.

(Connie Cook is a freelance writer and fitness director at FIT Athletic Club. When she's not working out she’s stomping grapes in her bath tub or laying the groundwork for an insanity defense.)

AUGUST 18, 2009 -- A real-life wedding can become a dramatic event. But “The Original Joey & Maria’s Comedy Italian Wedding” is guaranteed to be a theatrical offering. And it’s back in San Diego after a four-year absence.

Most folks who haven’t seen the two-and-a-half-hour production are at least vaguely familiar with it. “Wedding” is an interactive, improvisational play featuring nutty nuptials that bring the Cavatelli and Gnocchi families together. Audience members are treated like guests at the wedding.

Not to give away the plot, but mothers cry, an ex-girlfriend crashes and lots of Sinatra music is played. And all guests have access to a full Italian buffet of pasta, chicken and lasagna.

“Wedding” played all over San Diego from 1997-2005. It was staged in The Witherby, Dave & Buster’s, Holiday Inn on the Bay and several other locations. The show left for Las Vegas, and a troupe is still doing “The Soprano’s Last Supper” at the Tropicana.

Starting September 5, the “Wedding” pathos will play out at downtown San Diego’s Culy Warehouse. Seating will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $59.50 per person.

“Triple Espresso is gone from downtown,” says Walker Media & Entertainment chief operation officer Steven Picanza. “Downtown San Diego needs this, and we’re glad to be back.”

Picanza has insider knowledge about the show’s interactivity—he plays best man Larry Gabagool. So fuhgetaboutit. And, Funiculi, Funicula.

AUGUST 5, 2009 -- The Bulgarian Training Bag is an unorthodox workout that’s a heart-pumping, gut-wrenching, full-throttle, body-blasting mission. It’s the newest training method for the uber-fit.

Steve Nave, “The Bag Boy of Fitness,” brings to East Village an unusual approach to his workouts and challenges you to “get your grip on.” A former Navy SEAL, Nave invites all into his circle of “tough love.”

Nave came across the bag when he was looking to increase his grip strength. Originally created by U.S. Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling coach Ivan Ivanov, Nave found the design simple, yet intriguing.

Nave says the shape of the bag is designed to allow for both upper and lower body training while emphasizing grip strength at all times. You can push, twist, swing, pull, bend, rotate, squat, lunge and throw it. Most, if not all, of the exercises that can be performed with kettle bells, dumbbells or barbells can be performed with the Bulgarian Training Bag.

“The bag is a full body exercise tool,” says FIT Athletic Club GM Brandon Buzarde. “All the movements are based on momentum, like a kettle bell workout. So grip strength and technique are crucial to your performance. It’s like a pre-Chuck Norris total body gym. You can strap it to your back and do push-ups, use it for power cleans and presses and put it on your feet and use it as a counter weight for sit-ups…And if you’re near a desert, it would probably make a great camel saddle.”

How hard is this workout? According to Buzarde, who has practiced martial arts for more than 20 years and is no stranger to grueling cross-training sessions: “It’s ridiculously hard, but very effective. The movements are based on centrifugal motion, which hits intermediary muscle groups that you sometimes have trouble targeting. 

“I don't know much about Bulgaria-just that their bag is friggin' hard!”

Nave's company is called Competitive Performance Strategies, Inc. Reach him at 888-995-2224. or go to stephennave.com.

(Connie Cook is a freelance writer and fitness director at FIT Athletic Club. When she's not working out she’s stomping grapes in her bath tub or laying the groundwork for an insanity defense.)

JULY 31, 2009 -- It's time to get your body in tip-top shape with one of my favorite workouts. No more doing your own thing and taking your own sweet time. It's time to jump in full-force, grab the bull by the horns and ride that baby into the wild.

Join boot camp, get in real shape and have fun while you’re doing it.

Step out of your comfort zone and step up to a  challenge that moves you beyond your daily (non)workout routine of surfing channels, running late and dodging work.

Boot camp workouts push you to become physically and mentally fit. They set high standards and help you reach goals you might not reach on your own. They’re also very efficient—your entire body gets a beating and you burn calories like crazy.

These high-energy indoor/outdoor group workouts will challenge you to try new ways of testing your limits and improving your skills. There are: Hill drills and bleacher running at Petco Park; obstacle courses in Balboa Park; boxing and cycling workouts; stair running at the convention center; push-ups, sit-ups and possible throw-ups.

As with any routine, the best way to know if what you’re doing is working is to chart your progress. You need to know your baseline of fitness when you start so you will know how much you’ve improved. All the boot camps I’ve instructed start with a one mile run, two minutes of non-stop sit-ups and pushups to failure.

We just finished our first boot camp session at FIT Athletic Club. Each of our participants averaged over a minute improvement in their one-mile run. Boot camp is hard, but it works. Ours has a 100 percent re-sign rate. All the blood, sweat and tears were worth it.

I’m blowing the whistle on your workout and recruiting you for ours. The next session begins August 3. You don’t have to be a Fit member to sign up. The group will be cut off at 50. For more information, email connie@fitathletic.com.

(Connie Cook is a freelance writer and fitness director at FIT Athletic Club. When she's not working out she’s stomping grapes in her bath tub or laying the groundwork for an insanity defense.)

JULY 29, 2009 -- City Digz is kinda like “Ross meets Buffalo Exchange” explains store manager Adriana Perelson. The East Village thrift shop (1550 Market Street) has been open since March. It’s worth going slightly off the beaten path to check out.

City Digz is on the ground floor of an affordable-housing condominium called 16^th and Market. The cool-yet-unpretentious thriftie is part of Father Joe’s Villages, so sales proceeds go to charity. The store accepts donations.

It’s the kind of place where you never know what you’re going to find. It’s developing a following—young and old, says Perelson—and if you put it on your To-Do list once a week, you’ll discover new treasures each time.

About three-fourths of the merchandise is new product; the other quarter is resale items. There are racks of men’s and women’s clothes—some t-shirts go for $1; I didn’t see anything over $20.

City Digz resells art, luggage, shoes, baby strollers and golf clubs. They have an extensive collection of record albums for a buck each. During my visit they had a red tandem bike with a $300 price tag on it. Perelson says she recently unloaded an $800 digital camera for $450.

If you’re lucky enough to come in when a flat-screen TV has arrived, you could pay as little as $400 for it. “The TVs go immediately,” says Perelson.

You should, too.

JULY 23, 2009 -- Calling all retro-roller-skating stars. It’s nearly time to start burnin’ down the house with your slick set of quads and white lace-up boots with sparkly pink wheels.

East Village is soon to be the new home of Homies Cinnamon Roller Restaurant. It’s at 10th and J Street, and owned by Harold Rose, (“Butch” as he’s known to his homies). Patrons can smack down one of his delicious cinnamon rolls, pop on their skates and immediately burn off those tasty calories—while jammin’ out to tunes played by a live DJ.

Homies plans to open its doors on August 29^th, in conjunction with Street Scene.

For exercise, roller skating rocks. It’s a complete and fun aerobic workout. You can burn about 350 calories if you skate moderately (6 mph) or if you really get your game on and pump it up to 10 mph, you can boost the burn to up to 600 calories an hour.

You can also experience outstanding aerobic benefits without pounding your joints. It’s less stressful on your knees. Roller skating really hones in on your legs by using natural and smooth side-to-side movements that exercise your adductor (inner thigh) and abductor (outer thigh) muscles.  It also requires a strong core, and back muscles, so you can get down into a lower, more aerodynamic posture to increase your speed.

If you’re just lacing up for the nostalgia of it all and want to have a little fun, join Homies Hip Hop Roller Class and learn some cool dance moves to incorporate into your laps. Why just cruise around the rink in circles when you can roll in style to the rhythm of the music? Besides, you’ll need some fresh moves when it’s time for the “couple skate.” (Ahhh, the adolescent make-out memories.)

Homies will also have an outdoor pet café, so your best little furry friend can tag along as you quietly hum “Xanadu,” and realize your roller skating dreams have come true in downtown San Diego.

JULY 20, 2009 -- San Diego’s first certified LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) hotel has opened its doors. Hotel Indigo San Diego is the city’s most eco-friendly hotel—and one of just three LEED certified properties in Southern California and seven in the state.

Some flooring is made of recycled materials (grocery bags, milk jugs, etc.). There’s an onsite recycling program, and recycling containers in guest rooms. Certain floor-to-ceiling glass walls allow natural daylighting and ventilation. Guests who drive low-emitting and fuel-efficient cars get a parking discount. There’s also an herb garden growing basil, spearmint, rosemary and other items to be used in the hotel’s bar and bistro.

Also, a much ballyhooed eco-roof will be used to grow drought-tolerant, native grasses. This practice serves to insulate the building, and helps use less energy for heating and cooling.

The 12-story, 210-room property is pet-friendly. But don’t get any ideas about taking Rover for a walkabout on the grassy roof—it won’t be open to the general public.

Hotel Indigo is part of the huge InterContinental Hotels Group. San Diego’s is the 29^th of the brand, but first with a LEED certification. To San Diego-ize the property, rooms and public areas are decorated with photos of local scenes shot by Ian Cummings. Yes, to chip in for the green effect, the posters of Cummings’ shots are printed in a soy-based ink.

JULY 15, 2009 -- With the All-Star Game over and done, it’s time to trudge through the second half of pro baseball’s 162-game season. The Padres, at 36-52, are last in the National League West, 20 games behind the Dodgers.

If you’re a die-hard fan—and I hope all 20 of you are reading this—or if you’re forced to take your company’s season tickets, here’s a fun and easy way to enjoy that night’s loss: Add up the home team’s home runs.

Trust me, it won’t require a calculator—and your ticket could be worth big discounts at downtown’s Manchester Grand Hyatt. A ticket to a home game where a Padre hits a home run gets you 20 percent off a hotel room or any other service at the property, including bars, restaurants or spa.

Two home runs equal 30 percent off; three homers get you 40 percent; four dingers means your next Hyatt purchase is half off. One grand slam by the hometown boys also chops 50 percent off your bill.

Before you start eying the Hyatt’s Presidential Suite, know that the Padres are not exactly knocking the cover off the ball, and Petco Park is a notoriously bad hitter’s field.

The Padres hit 79 four-baggers in 88 games before the All-Star break (in comparison, the Philadelphia Phillies went yard 122 times in 86 first-half games). In 43 home games so far, the Padres have just 35 round-trippers. Slugger Adrian Gonzalez had 24 long balls in the first half—but only eight were at Petco.

Nonetheless, should you find yourself at a game in which some unknown prospect just brought up from the minors hits a grand salami, lean over to your loved one and…propose marriage. Then, head over to the Hyatt (it doesn’t have to be that night) and book the ceremony. If you spend the average price of a wedding ($30,000), that means you get $15,000 off.      

If you saved your stubs, check for these two-tater/30-percent-off dates: May 19, June 17 & 21 and July 5. Remember the 16-inning game on May 16? The three moonshots in that marathon make the ticket worth 40 percent off a Hyatt purchase. The offer is valid until March 31, 2010.