Love me some Hillcrest!…read more This very incredible mix of brunch, lunch, causal strolls, walkable streets, metro busses, perfect bike paths, cafes, shops, stores, bars, nightclubs, activities and essentials is a super hub in San Diego. From their weekly Farmers Market of the same name, to cool cafe meets coffee places like Divo Diva. Great hangs at Urban MO's (lived here for years when I'd visit more frequently), brunch at Great Maple (try everything that speaks to you, but especially that vegan hash). Grab at hat at Village Hat Shop. The Hub is a must especially for the Trader Joe's of it all. Love the Whole Foods on University Avenue and 7th. Buffalo Exchange on 5th is a gift, definitely discovered some fun finds here and even ugly Christmas Sweaters with the SD crew #ChosenFamily From Mexican to Himalayan American to Thai, Fusion to Cocktails, Cigar Wine Whiskey bars (Cigar Cave I'm talking about you) and more. Hillcrest is full of local flavor, culture, cuisine and extremely queer friendly. LGBTQ+ which included are allies too. Love a place that's welcoming of all, it's the way the entire world should be. As RuPaul would say, "If you can't love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else? Can I get an amen up in here?". And as I would say, "If you can't treat others the way you want to be treated or the people in your life... You know you ain't right!" Let Hillcrest be your light.

I was recently notified that I am now the Baron of Kensington. I had better review my barony before…read moreI get usurped. I am the Duke of the following: Kensington-Normal Heights Branch Library Refer to my separate review. This place is too cute. Stehly Farms Market I reviewed this place, too. I was once the Duke of Kensington Mini Park This one, too! In addition to the above, I can also recommend Kensington Club, Earthwell Refill, and Stella Jean. The Ken Club is one of the oldest bars in San Diego and they are old school. Cash only! I have seen bands here and I have sung Louis Prima and Faith No More during Sunday night karaoke. Check out their calendar of events. Earthwell Refill is a zero-waste shop that sells household and hygiene products. Bring in your empty bottle or purchase or borrow one from the shop. We get our shampoo here. Stella Jean has good ice cream. They do a few vegan flavors. I want to try the Date Shake Cake. Warning: Burger Lounge uses beef tallow to cook their French fries and their onion rings. Enjoy your visit to my barony, a community in which I would never be able to afford to live!

From the many travels that I have taken there is one place that when you walk through the many…read moreparts of the town there have been many places that have been places that have been stuck in time and the places that have the great food and he many smaller places that you can sit outside. The history of one place that has the many places that have the many places such as a cheesecake factory that was only used by Merv Griffin which is one place you may say is what is the place and the many things to discover. There are many that like to take trips through the many older neighborhoods which can be declared as some of the older neighborhoods are some of the many where the older times of San Diego can be found. I had taken the bus from the SDSU neighborhood and wanted to see the many other parts of San Diego that had remained hidden for many for some you have to take the bus to get to. To have taken the bus the travel to the area was a time of 25 minutes I had seen the many stops that when you travel on the San Diego Transit route 11 to the area of Kensington Adams Ave parking you can't find much. From the many years that when you look at Kensington the history of Kensington was the history and the background of Adams Avenue that had a Spanish background in the many house that were during the years of 1926. For many that knew Adams Avenue was streetcar row that in 1913, a massive trolley car barn was built, to store and perform and complete minor services to several hundred trolley cars would exit and enter if through a series of switches off. When you take a look at Adams Ave you are seeing the many areas that was the main track system that would take you to the many stops that would be along the many stops from the Antique Row and further on down Adams Avenue. With the many areas of Kensington, you are on a history walk that takes you to the many areas of the park and the many areas of the neighborhood that you see many of the art works that are still on the walls you see from the tattoo shops and the Lastat's coffee shop no that's not the Vampire it might be. The city of Kensington is one place that you can take a bus up to the area you can walk amongst the many locations and take connecting busses that can take you downtown and over to the area of North Park the many areas people do drive by and not know they have passed by history of the North Park area. As a Yelp Elite is take a day and take the bus you can save gas and time where you can visit the park and the many shops of Kensington and the many areas of Hillcrest you can ride the city bus number 11.

It is bordered by the Otay River Valley and the city of Chula Vista on the north; Interstate 805…read moreand the neighborhoods of Ocean View Hills and San Ysidro on the west; unincorporated San Diego County on the north and east including East Otay Mesa and the San Ysidro Mountains; and the Otay Centenario borough of Tijuana, Mexico on the south. Major thoroughfares include Otay Mesa Road/California State Route 905, Otay Valley Road/Heritage Road, Siempre Viva Road, and California State Route 125. Otay Mesa is the second-least walkable neighborhood of San Diego.

Love this stretch. From the big UH sign at Park & Madison down to El Cajon, it's all local coffee…read moreshops, thrift/vintage, good food - Park & Rec, Thai, tacos, wine bars, dives - without the Hillcrest/North Park crowds. Super walkable, chill, actually feels like a neighborhood. Perfect for a Saturday wander.

The coolness of all things University Heights in one Boulevard!…read more Very much the heart and center of San Diego's U.H. with great spots like Parkhouse Eatery, Plumeria Vegetarian, Good Omen Coffee Co, that cool dive Lancers, and let's not forget about Cheers, the bar #YouWannaBeWhereEverybodyKnowsYourName Some many cool finds such as Kairoa Brewing Company, awesome wall art by Summer's Market, the iconic archway, painted utility boxes, plenty of street parking though definitely pay attention to those signs for limits and street sweeping days on the more residential side streets of Park Blvd. It's just as vibrant as any part of SD, but more laid-back and casual, college friendly meets elder millennial, though very much open to and welcoming of all especially places like the Diversionary Theatre, the third oldest lgbtq+ theatre in the U.S. #ColorMeImpressed #ThatDOESImpressMeMuch It's come up a lot and enhanced it's mellow effect with a lot of modern touches. One of the more elevated areas in terms of the cost of living. And rightfully so since it's such a cool hub of local meets multiple communities. Only a skip over to Mission Valley, Hillcrest, North Park and many fellow great neighborhoods. Super walkable, super enjoyable and super more than the University Heights - Park Blvd: Business District.

I don't even know how to start this... Adams north at its finest has it's utmost pinnacle here. The…read moreview over mission valley is unmatched, the gardens and homes are each lovely, quaint, and unique in their own right, and obviously the monastery is amazing. It's a perfect walking neighborhood; no doubt why the rick n roll half is hosted here. Hawley point was the reason that my husband and I fell in love with this neighborhood, and the beautiful garden and unmatched hospitality of the local Carmelite nuns made our home purchase all the more sweet. Best secret neighborhood in San Diego, hands down!

Hawley Point is a wonderful hidden look out spot! Went with a friend tonight and was amazed of the…read moreview; the houses you see driving 8 East on the freeway that look ridiculously large are nestled within Hawley Point. New construction is popping up amongst the charmer Normal Heights classic homes, but does not take away from the views. Great place for photography or just learning a different view of the city layout below. Qualcom stadium looks like a dollhouse below and it's really intense. I hear there used to be benches and grass up on the hill before the homes were built, but with all developments, that goes away. Take a moment to stop and admire this look-out point next time you are cruisin' the 92116.

In recent decades, Grantville, an early suburb of San Diego, had devolved into a mess of bad…read moretraffic bordered by run-down apartments and old (not historic, just old) houses, used car lots, "massage" parlors and drive-thru junk food. But hope springs eternal, and strange and wonderful things are happening in Grantville. The Grantville Community Plan calls for road and traffic improvements, new and better housing and public spaces, and, importantly, "...[respect for] the vitality and livelihood of locally owned and operated businesses while promoting the expansion of new business opportunities." As evidence that civic planners can do good, I offer the soon-to-open PurpleMint - a vegetarian bistro set prominently amidst vendors of pizza, tacos and unhealthy sandwiches. The place hasn't opened yet, so I can't speak to the quality of the food, but it almost doesn't matter how well they cook. What's important is that PurpleMint's owners believe that the area will support alternatives to Arby's and El Pollo Loco, and they brought innovative investment to an underserved stretch of Mission Gorge Road. I'm not a fan of vegetarian cooking, but that doesn't matter, either. I appreciate the diversity that PurpleMint (and a few doors down, the vegan Donut Panic) offer Grantville's workers and residents. Now, if only Caffe Calabria would open a brick-and-mortar shop nearby... ****************************** Grantville Community Plan: http://www.sandiego.gov/planning/community/cpu/grantvillemasterplan/index.shtml The PurpleMint Bistro: http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-purplemint-bistro-san-diego Donut Panic: http://www.yelp.com/biz/donut-panic-san-diego-3?hrid=keC5OlD8-VQlyEbjTlhcmQ Caffe Calabria: http://www.yelp.com/biz/caffe-calabria-san-diego

I've been calling this area home for the last 3 years, so far the longest I've lived in one area…read moresince moving to San Diego. I really like living in the area, which is a hidden secret to me. It's on a main artery into mission valley. Close to freeways. Very centralized, but not actually living in Mission Valley and not as far East as Santee! The Good... *The convenience of the freeways. You can easily get to the 15, 8, and 805. Drive a few more minutes to the 163 and 94 which are also close. * We have your basic shopping needs here. Necessities like Starbucks, Jamba, Petco, Vons, Home depot, Rite aid and a CVS. * Decent dining options. Nothing super fancy, but good variety for lunch or dinner throughout the week. * Close to Costco and Costco gas. Yes, I love Costco! The Bad.... *Even though the freeways are close, the morning and evening traffic is horrible. It sucks going onto the 15N in the morning. You can easily wait 20-30 minutes waiting to get on the freeway. Heading West on Mission Gorge is the worst! Same with trying to get into the freeway after 5pm. *The crime. I hate to say it... Tons of cars get broken into. Definitely don't leave anything worth something visible in your car when you park on the street. *The ridiculous speedway called Mission gorge road. Prior to the road construction. Cars and motorcycles literally race towards Santee from the starting line at Zion. *The construction on Mission Gorge road. It was a 6 lane speedway that has been reduced to a single lane in each direction. They found the road is susceptible to a sink hole from the giant newly built apartment complex... Thanks Verge... You suck! Hopefully they'll soon solve the road problem and finish construction. If you can go to work early like I do, you don't have to wait as long in traffic in the mornings. Overall a pretty decent neighborhood to live in.

Welcome to the neighborhood city of North Park, San Diego…read more One of my favorites and an absolute must, day or night. Parking might be a challenge, but with so many great gems, finds and foodie spots, you will want to spend plenty of time here. From great all-inclusive bars like Redwing, a karaoke and sports bar with trivia Thursdays, comfort eats and a cozy patio. Ranchos Cocina, the reina of versalite Mexican cuisine with the most extensive selection of Vegetarian and Vegan dishes. North Park Community Park is a laid-back, slightly hidden park with park tables, playground area, sports fields and a community center on Idaho Street. Most streets in North Park are easy to follow or remember with names of States, Presidents and numbers. Great Craft Brew, Barcade, Pizza, Asian Fusion, Mexican, Taverns, Pubs and more. Some less common, but very notable places like Granada House, an event venue that you can reserve for a variety of things like special occasions, private gatherings, celebrations and more is quite the cool find. Similar to Queen Bee's: Cultural Center for enjoying the performing arts in all its forms or the Observatory Theatre. North Park Farmer's Market is a little more close knit than Hillcrest being a Thursday Market from 3pm til 7:30pm, but you'll feel just a welcomed, maybe even more so do to a slightly more intimate space. I can't say enough great things about NP. Rudford's Restaurant is a must, but I absolutely miss the rough around the edges charm of North Park Diner off Ohio Street and those dreamy home fries. The area is very trendy, hip and thriving with life of all ages, but more so in the college to late 40s crowd. Interstate 805 aka the 805 is your friend. Easy public transit. Great residential area and pockets. Parking can be smoother during the week and certain times of day. Like most of San Diego North Park welcomes all. Home to one of my favorite gay bars in California, Pecs. Live Wrestling at Queen B. I could go on, but ultimately I just want you to... Explore North Park!

This mural is the result of a program that transformed the southeast corner of Kettner Avenue and…read moreAsh Street from a plot of dirt into a colorful gateway to the Columbia district, featuring a mural and new landscaping. The mural is a nice welcome into the area and is very bright and vibrant. The mural depicts the words "Happy to Be in the Columbia District" with colorful triangles on both sides of it. It is all set against a dark blue, purplish background. It complements the words and shapes very well. It is in excellent shape and really draws your attention. The mural is the work of Phoebe and Roxy of Pandr Design Co, which was sponsored by the Downtown San Diego Partnership Clean & Safe. The duo was hired to transformed a plot of dirt on the southeast corner of Kettner Avenue and Ash Street into a colorful gateway to the Columbia district. Along with the mural, the project also included improved landscaping. There is metered street parking available, within a reasonable walking distance, if you want to park and get a closer look. . Anyway, as with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this I not a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. I highly recommend making this stop part of a larger itinerary or visiting another nearby attraction.