San Dieguito Park (Suzie and Joe's Going Away Party)

Tori and I went to San Dieguito Park this weekend for the first time in many, many years for Suzie and Joe's Going Away Party. After working with Suzie for over 10 years, she and her husband are moving to Lake Tahoe for his new job. While she'll still be working remotely for us, I will miss having her in the same office. For the party, they reserved a spot in the Lower Park picnic area and hired the food truck, Taco Picasso, to cater. Great Idea!

The park's layout of the upper and lower picnic areas separated by hiking trails running through the natural chaparral terrain is what makes it so great. Tori and I both fondly remember exploring these trails with our friends as children. After socializing for awhile at the party, we went for a walk up to the nearby Hawk's Nest Lookout Tower. The towers have been updated since the last time we came here, replacing the old log entries with sets of stairs. While I understand the need for safer access, I missed the balancing fun of traversing the rounded logs to reach the platforms. I did appreciate the new push-button audio system that described the local animals of the park.

We thought we would only walk to the first tower, but we ended up visiting all three, climbing the wooden ladders and crossing the two suspension bridges along the way. While the Pine Tower described the local plants, the Osuna Overlook Tower explained the history of the park. We finished our walk by taking the Eucalyptus Trail back down to the party.

South Park Walkabout (Tori's Birthday)

After breakfast at The Original Pancake House and a day of clothes shopping for Tori's Birthday, we headed down to the San Diego neighborhood of South Park for dinner at Eclipse Chocolate. Since the area was holding their South Park Walkabout the same evening, we arrived early to find parking before it started at 6pm. We walked along Fern and 30th Streets where many establishments had booths set up for the event. It was cool to see so many historical houses built during the time of the world-famous 1915 and 1935 Expositions next door at Balboa Park. If we didn't have dinner reservations, I would have liked to try one of the many food trucks parked around the neighborhood.

After a drink at The South Park Abbey, we headed over to Eclipse Chocolate for Tori's birthday dinner. We both tried herb-muddled cocktails which tasted like luxurious versions of a mimosa. Tori ordered the Roasted Chicken Pot Pie (Amazing!) and the Blue Cheese Pecan Salad and I had the Meatball Panini and Garlic Parmesan Biscuits. The lemon curd and jam with the biscuits were so tasty. We normally share a desert but our meal came with two so Tori had the Flourless Brownie Sundae and I had the Salted Caramel Baklava Sundae. After a big meal, I thought mine was perfect, light and crisp but not too rich so I ate the whole thing. As if that wasn't enough food, we also received a box of chocolate truffles to take home.

After dinner, we explored more of the busy shops around the neighborhood. Every block seemed to have its own street band for the Walkabout. We both enjoyed visiting Plum Pottery, a community pottery studio where local artists make and sell their wares. There were a lot of nice pieces at good prices. The shop also provides classes.

Circus Wedding

Our friends, J and Corinna got married on Saturday at the Soledad Club in Pacific Beach. It was a beautiful outdoor ceremony overlooking the entire stretch of Mission Bay and the ocean beyond. Seeing the tears of joy in J and Corinna's faces during this moment made me so grateful that there are no longer any legal barriers to gay marriage in America. Before and after the ceremony, their aerialist friends performed silk and static trapeze routines on a portable freestanding rig set up at the venue.

While the Brides were having their formal pictures taken, we had fun hanging out with all our friends as we visited the open bar and watched the aerial performances. After a couple drinks, the Nacho Hat ended up on Kenny's head and Tommy joined him in a Two-High for the Photo Booth. The camera's narrow framing only captured Kenny's head and Tommy's feet so it didn't really work out. Ha!

After Corinna and J climbed up onto the aerial rig in their wedding dresses for a photos, they changed into more appropriate outfits for their First Dance routine on the Static Trapeze. I have watched them perform together several times and I thought this emotional performance was their best.

After their performance, dinner was served not a moment too soon. From the moment we arrived at the Soledad Club, we could smell the delicious scents wafting towards us as the caterers grilled up the meats. I was so starving, I ended up eating six of the delicious street-style tacos. We had a great time dancing and started a Conga Line that grew to at least a hundred people long. As the dancing line was passing the Photo Booth, Tori and I were in perfect position to photo bomb the J's group shot. It was a fun day!

On Sunday, Tori and I met Federica at Swami's for AcroYoga. It was a beautiful day and we finally got a picture of our Shoulder Stand B. I still can't believe that I can base it. Federica also learned how to get up in Star for the first time with good coaching from Amanda.

Pannikin, Chop Suey and a Mechanical Bull

On weekends, one of our local favorites for breakfast is the Pannikin inside the old Encinitas Train Station. Built in 1888, the historic building was moved down the road to its current spot in the 1970s after the station was retired. Tori and I enjoy walking along the North Coast Highway 101 to the coffee house for their pastries and delicious quiches. There is almost always a long line out front, but we always seem to easily find a table.

In the afternoon, Kenny and Jill invited us to go to a Roller Derby bout in Downtown San Diego. Since we were starving, we all went for dinner at Peking Chop Suey in North Park first. I really love their Cantonese-style Fried Rice, it closely resembles my favorite childhood dish from the Chinese Dragon in Leucadia. Ever since that restaurant closed down in the 90s, I have struggled to find a restaurant that can match it in taste. Kenny and Jill ordered the Chop Suey and Egg Foo Young while Tori really enjoyed her Lo Mein with chicken.

Since our dinner ran long, we ended up missing most of the Roller Derby bout so we decided to walk over to the Gaslamp Quarter instead. (Tommy joined us after arriving from Arizona to audition for a show at the San Diego Zoo.) Inside the Double Deuce we watched many people riding the mechanical bull before I convinced Tori to take a turn. Before we met, she had won a bull riding contest at this same bar and I wanted a chance to see her in action. She did great! She took two turns and they both lasted almost a minute. After cruising around the busy Gaslamp for a bit, we stopped at Ghirardelli's Chocolate to share a brownie sundae before heading home.

Valentine's Weekend (Chicken Pot Pie, High Tide and Wild Note Cafe)

Tori and I had a relaxing Valentine's weekend. Saturday morning, we went to Betty's Pie Whole Saloon for their delicious chicken pot pies as well as taking some desert pies home for later.

It was such a beautiful sunny day, we walked along the shore at high tide to Moonlight Beach and did some shopping in Downtown Encinitas. Before heading back we stopped at Solace and the Moonlight Lounge for drinks (Pim's Cup) and an appetizer (Cheddar and Chive Biscuits with Orange Honey Butter and Tomato Jam). Both were great! After watching a movie at home, we went down the road for dinner at Fish 101 for poke and shrimp tacos. There is always a long line outside when we drive past, but the wait is never bad.

Sunday, we went to the small park above Swami's Beach for AcroYoga. It was another day of heavy surf and the big lefts were continuously rolling around the point. Our friend, Federica, joined us and we helped her learn some of the basic positions. I have decided to start learning more arm-basing poses so Tori and I can still have fun while I am rehabbing my hip.

For our Valentine's Day dinner, Tori and I went to the Wild Note Cafe at the Belly Up. We loved the avocado-ranchero sauce that came with our Tequila Chicken Spring Rolls. I am also glad I ordered the Beef Albondigas, a Mexican meatball soup that was so hearty and flavorful. I will definitely order it next time. For our main courses, Tori ordered the Tandoori Chicken and I had the Filet Medallions. At the end, they gave us chocolate-covered strawberries as a special treat.

Balboa Park - Japanese Friendship Garden

Since Tori and I were down in San Diego for my sports therapy massage, we invited Jill and Kenny to go to the Hash House a Go Go afterwards. I ordered the Andy's Sage Fried Chicken Benedict. OMG! The portions were humongous! I really enjoyed the chicken and the mashed potatoes covered with chipotle cream but it was way too much for me to eat. Kenny and Jill had the same thing but they were smart to share one order between themselves. Afterwards, we all decided to go for a walk through Balboa Park to help digest our meal. Kenny mentioned that the Japanese Friendship Garden had finished its recent expansion last year so we paid the $8 dollar admission to check it out.

I had never visited the Japanese Friendship Garden which opened in 1991 in cooperation with San Diego's sister city, Yokohama, Japan and later expanded in 1999. The third phase was completed last year for the centennial celebration of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition where the original Japanese Tea Pavilion stood for forty years. After we admired the Koi Pond and Bonsai Tree collection in the Upper Garden, we descended into the newly landscaped canyon of the Lower Garden. This new expansion was my favorite part, the winding trails passing through groves of flowering trees and circling the picturesque creek crossed by bridges and stepping stone paths.

The wooden decks of the new Inamori Pavilion hung over the lower pond filled with giant Koi imported from Japan. According to our map, a new children's area will be completed next year beyond the pavilion. I am glad I finally got a chance to visit the garden, it was a beautiful day. At the bottom is a panoramic shot of the Lower Garden Canyon.