San Diego Archives -

REVUE Makes a Splash at Pride at Dive

Duane Wells — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 06:24:51 +0000

LivingWells Lifestyle Events is thrilled to announce that REVUE is set to make its inaugural appearance at Pride at Dive on October 3, 2015 at Harrah’s Resort SoCal.

On the heels of a successful debut at a Graton Resort and Casino over Memorial Day Weekend, REVUE returns with Candis Cayne (I Am Cait, Elementary) as Mistress of Ceremonies and an exciting new line up that will include performances by Season 3 RuPaul’s Drag Race winner, Raja, drag superstars, Trixie Mattel and Delta Work, Dutch diva Glennis Grace, American Idol finalist Jacob Lusk and drag icon, Lady Bunny, who will also take over the DJ booth for the post party. A very special surprise guest is also planned for the show along with a smattering of special surprise performances. Show time is 8PM.

Candis Cayne hosts REVUE at Pride at Dive

Prior to REVUE, Pride at Dive will take place at the pool at Harrah’s Resort SoCal with Junior, Von Kiss and DJ Lezley taking turns spinning the party into a frenzy. Putt Putt golf, volleyball and a swim up bar are just a few of the amenities guests can expect to enjoy at this all day pool party that will kick off the month of October as only Southern California can.

So why not take the leap and dive into fall at Pride at Dive.

Tickets are $25 for the pool party; $40 for REVUE or $60 for both. Special VIP packages including a Meet & Greet are also available. For more information, visit www.prideatdive.com.

The post REVUE Makes a Splash at Pride at Dive appeared first on .

Day 12 -13 | LivingWells California Road Trip – San Diego, Part 2

Duane Wells — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 17:58:24 +0000

Pier at Imperial BeachIn keeping with my plan to explore the previously unexplored, the Southern California leg of the LivingWells California road trip ended with two relatively lazy days in two oceanfront properties that had heretofore been mere points on a map to me. I, of course, already knew the chic seaside community that is La Jolla, an always favored destination of mine when in San Diego. Ditto for the Gaslamp District which has increasingly become one of the most exciting areas for me to delve into when my travels take me to San Diego. Imperial Beach and Pacific Beach were, however, a completely different story.

In keeping with my plan to explore the previously unexplored, the Southern California leg of the LivingWells California road trip ended with two relatively lazy days in two oceanfront properties that had heretofore been mere points on a map to me. I, of course, already knew the chic seaside community that is La Jolla, an always favored destination of mine when in San Diego. Ditto for the Gaslamp District which has increasingly become one of the most exciting areas for me to delve into when my travels take me to San Diego. Imperial Beach and Pacific Beach were, however, a completely different story.

I actually arrived at the Pier South Resort on the shores of Imperial Beach under cover of night on Day 11, but it was not until I woke up in the Studio Suite overlooking the Pacific Ocean that the majesty of the hotel properly struck me. As the second property from the Autograph Collection in which I’ve stayed on this tour, I’m starting to get the sense that the real autograph of the Autograph Collection has a great deal to with spectacular views in spectacular locations . In that sense (and in so many others) the Pier South exceeds expectation.

The road that leads to Pier South is lined with a residential community dotted with with strip malls, beachy corner stores and more than a few Mexican restaurants worthy of a quick, casual bite courtesy of their authenticity, given that Imperial Beach is just about five miles from the Mexican border. A quick turn at the end of that road and the Pier South Resort appears towering over a relatively unpopulated stretch of the southernmost beach city in San Diego. Sleek, ultra-modern and eco-friendly, the LEED Silver-certified the 78-room Pier South Resort is an idyllic escape for its location alone. You could go horseback riding on the beach, hiking or biking along nearby trails or even surfing, which seemed to be quite the thing during my stay. In fact, the hotel staff is happy to arrange any of the aforementioned and indeed offered to do the same for me. However, after nearly two weeks on the road, I opted to simply relax and enjoy the view from a few of hotel’s best vantage points — the terrace of my refreshingly stylish studio suite, the pool overlooking the Pacific and the hotel rooftop. Which brings me to the third rule to come out of this road trip experience.

A view to die for, Pier South Resort

Rule #3: Though the temptation will be great to schedule every minute of your trip, never forget to schedule time to simply relax, particularly when an amazing view is in the offing. Sure, you can sleep when you die, but believe me there’s nothing wrong with sleeping while you’re on vacation especially when you have the sounds of the Pacific lapping up on the shores to lull you into a restful slumber.

I concluded my final night at the Pier South with dinner at the hotel’s Sea180 Tavern indulging in the innovative coastal cuisine of Executive Chef Ken Irvine. I ordered the chowder and the fish and chips while my friend enjoyed a gorgeously presented and equally flavorful plate of rare mignons, but not before we sampled a smattering of delights from the kitchen that married crispy wontons with poke, pineapple and avocado in various combinations and included a delightful seaweed salad. Paired with surprisingly unique Mexican wine and beer options, the meal represented a fitting end to a seamless stay at this new highly favored getaway of mine.

En route to my next stop I popped into the RGang Eatery in Hillcrest for brunch. I had stopped by former Top Chef contestant Rich Sweeney‘s restaurant for dinner on my last stop in San Diego and he told me that if I loved dinner I would love the brunch at RGang and he couldn’t have been more directly on point. Loud, fun and super casual, brunch at RGang is like stopping by a friend’s place for a bite and the menu is just as homey and comfort driven as you might expect of the Sweeney. I ordered the decadently wonderful Jalapeno Cheddar Cornmeal Waffle and Fried Chicken while my friend had the massive Breakfast Sandy piled high with bacon, eggs, cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomato on grilled brioche. The service was as friendly and warm as ever and we both left sated, which explains why RGang has assured its place as another of new regular fave stops in San Diego.

My final stop in San Diego was at Tower23 on Pacific Beach. Busy, lively and lined with beach bums of every variation, Pacific Beach is the opposite of Imperial Beach in the sense that is anything but removed from the action. In the thick of it all, Tower23 sits on corner of the busy Pacific Beach scene, with an Urban Outfitters on one side and the ocean on the other. A boutique little luxury jewel box of a hotel, Tower23 specializes in cool.

Rooms have names like Serenity Pad, Sweet Suite, Sky Pad and Spirit Pad and all have a clean, modern aesthetic and an array of state of the art amenities. I stayed in the Sanctuary Suite, which boasted all of the aforementioned attributes along with a private patio steps away from the beach and some truly amazing views. Pacific Beach isn’t upscale La Jolla by far (though La Jolla is only a short drive away) but it is a fun, beach community with local bars lacking in pretense or anything of the like where you can let your hair down and enjoy some wings and beer and unwind which is exactly what I did with my final 18 hours in San Diego at Tower 23, which is the epicenter of hip in that corner of San Diego.

Next stop Wine Country and a whole different side of California.

(Additional photography by Rob Musick}

The post Day 12 -13 | LivingWells California Road Trip – San Diego, Part 2 appeared first on .

Day 10 – 11 | LivingWells California – San Diego, Part 1

Duane Wells — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 08:12:07 +0000

Outside the Castillo Suite at the stunning Rancho Bernardo Inn

Day 10 of the LivingWells California adventure began with an hour and a half drive from Palm Springs to the Rancho Bernardo Inn, which is located in the picturesquely suburban northern climes of San Diego County. Fittingly, the timing of my arrival coincided with the one-year anniversary of Rancho Bernardo’s Mediterranean-themed Avant Kitchen helmed by Argentinian Chef Tomás Baistrocchi. To mark the occasion Chef Tomás and his team held a little soiree for a few guests to preview the restaurant’s fall menu and I was fortunate enough to be among them.

With the sun setting over the expansive property, waiters served the house Smoked Paloma cocktails, an intoxicating combo comprised of Avant’s own double barrel aged Herradura Reposada Tequila, smoked grapefruit juice and Herradura agave nectar, while guests noshed on just a few of Chef Tomás’ soon to debut creations which included a richly flavored duck and pork sausage on braised red cabbage served atop a crostini, shrimp served with what I can only describe as a mini-croquette that was its perfectly crisp complement and a selection of the most delectably bejeweled cupcakes. After the tasting, the team at Avant was kind enough to send me back to my suite with a selection of starters from the current menu which included an Heirloom Beet and Carrot Salad with almond & cocoa dust and tarragon crème fraiche, a delicately crispy Dungeness Crab and Corn Fritter with avocado, hearts of palm and jalapeño aioli and a Warm Maine Lobster Salad with fingerling potato, summer squash and curry. Not only was each creation a brilliant explosion of complex yet perfectly balanced flavors, they were all presented with artful sophistication (even in takeout containers) which made them a feast for the eyes and the palate.

My only sadness as I checked out of the Castillo Suite at Rancho Bernardo Inn the next morning was that I did not get to spend more time in this sprawling, quietly luxurious corner of San Diego (or enjoy more of Chef Tomás’ creations). Ah well, I suppose that is the reason for which return visits are made.

The next stop on Day 11 was the historic Hotel del Coronado on Coronado Island, a place I never miss visiting on a stop in San Diego. I’ve said it before but it bears repeating here —while the beauty of Coronado epitomizes the allure of Southern California, at the heart of the island’s charms is its grande dame, the Hotel del Coronado. An institution dating back to the late 19^th century, when presidents, socialites and their families would escape to the prestigious property to avoid the chilly winter temperatures in other parts of the country, the Del remains, more than a century later, Coronado’s premiere destination.

Though I didn’t stay at the Del on this trip, I did manage to squeeze in a ‘daycation’ at the hotel, which I consider to be the next best thing and an option I highly recommend should you find the hotel fully booked, as is often the case. Just before diving into my daycation, I took a quick tour of the exclusive Beach Village at The Del, a collection of beautifully appointed one, two- and three-bedroom residences that represent the penultimate in luxury. Taking the Del experience to the next level, a stay at the recently renovated Beach Village offers guests a private entrance, a private pool, access to the members only VIP Windsor Clubhouse and a host of other exclusive amenities that add new luster to The Del experience.

Hard at work at The Del

Finally, it was on to my daycation which began with checking in at the Spa at The Del, making a quick costume changing and heading down to the beach for a working lunch and cocktails on a canopied day bed with the best view of the Pacific Ocean in San Diego. After a couple hours of sun and sand, I returned to the spa for the signature Coronado Shell Massage for which Tiger clam shells are gently heated and combined with a massage employing long Swedish strokes and aromatherapy that delivers an hour of pure unadulterated relaxation.

To cap my daycation, I stopped In at one of the Del’s most popular restaurants, Eno, for a sampling of artisan pizzas (the Salsiccia with spicy housemade fennel sausage, charred broccolini and garlic oil is among my personal favorites) and few pours of the eatery’s extensive collection of more than 500 wines and once again with the sun setting in the distance, Day 11 in San Diego ended with that unique touch of dazzling that reminded me why Southern California such a treasure.

Next, it’s on to Autograph Collection’s Pier South in Imperial Beach.

(Additional photography by Rob Musick)

The post Day 10 – 11 | LivingWells California – San Diego, Part 1 appeared first on .

25 Fabulous Reasons to Visit Rancho Valencia

Duane Wells — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 00:14:53 +0000

Generously swathed in the attributes for which Southern California is legendary, Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa is, not surprisingly, no stranger to accolades. However, as this year marks the much lauded resort’s 25th anniversary, I thought I would add to the accolades by highlighting 25 fabulous reasons to visit the lush California hideaway that is consistently ranked one of the top resorts in the world by just about everyone on the planet, including me.

And, because a picture is, as they say, worth a thousand words, rather than listing those reasons, I thought I’d show you. So in honor of Rancho Valencia’s silver anniversary, I present you with 25 glorious reasons to “Rancho” in 2014:

The post 25 Fabulous Reasons to Visit Rancho Valencia appeared first on .

Doing The Del—Coronado, That Is…

Duane Wells — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 08:41:56 +0000

Doing The Del—Coronado, That Is…
Overnight at the landmark Hotel del Coronado
Duane Wells
8/2/2012

Pulling into the driveway of the Hotel del Coronado (more familiarly known simply as “The Del”), I was at first torn. As a swarm of tourists set upon the busy entrance to the legendary property, intermingling with a veritable army of valets darting hither and thither as the hotel’s trademark red turrets loomed above, my immediate reaction was that I had arrived at something more akin to the Magic Castle at Disney World than to the award-winning hotel frequented by presidents, starlets and royalty I had been predisposed to fall in love with. Oh, yes, I had done my research. I had heard about and seen The Del for years, but I had never found the right chance to visit. Still, sight unseen, I already knew that there was nothing quite ordinary about The Del. In fact, I had already categorized it as downright iconic.

For more than a century (120 years to be exact), The Del has been one of Southern California’s buzziest destinations. It has played host to 11 presidents—starting with Benjamin Harrison in 1891—entertained Hollywood’s biggest names—ranging from Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin to Brad Pitt and Madonna—rolled out the red carpet for royals like King Edward VIII (pre-abdication) and provided the backdrop for Tinseltown classics like Some Like It Hot, among others. So, understandably, with that kind of history, hopes for my stay at The Del were high to say the least. And, to be honest, at first blush, I wasn’t exactly sure those hopes were justified. That feeling of uncertainty, however, lasted all of a whopping 10 minutes.

Once past the fray in the lobby of the hotel and checked into my oceanfront room in the Victorian builiding, I glimpsed the magic of The Del. I quickly realized that my initial reaction had not really been that off at all. The Del is indeed like a Magic Castle, but unlike the one at Disney, it is the real deal—a place charmed by the ages and blessed to be surrounded by pure, awe-inspiring natural beauty. The spacious, comfortably appointed King Room had a full balcony that ran the expanse of the entire room, serving up a bird’s eye view of not only the extensive grounds that make up The Del but also of the magnificent sunsets that have become part and parcel of the Coronado experience.

Sitting on that balcony, lounging in the sun as the cool ocean breeze enveloped us, was intoxicating to be sure, but the call of the beach itself was too strong to resist. However, the urge wasn’t so strong that it prevented us from stopping off at the Eno Wine Bar to sample its international selection of cheeses and chocolates along with a few glasses of Puligny-Montrachet before sunset.

Eno is a real treat. Sophisticated but relaxed, the Eno Wine Bar makes the wine-tasting experience suitably casual for its seaside location. I dare say it’s practically Mediterranean in feel. The selection of wines, cheese and chocolates is quite considerable, and the servers are well-versed in the varying characteristics of the menu selections. Best of all, throughout the week, Eno Wine Bar offers a number of opportunities for the everyday oenophile to get better acquainted with wine and cheese that won’t break the bank. There’s “Tasting Tuesday,” where guests get to sample 10 wines for $12, “Say Cheese Wednesday,” where cheese flights are offered at half-price, “1/2 Off Thursday,” where bottles of wine are offered at half their normal price and “$5 Friday,” where you can enjoy a glass of wine for $5. Think of it as a more upscale happy hour. Now how bad can that be?

Sated with wine and cheese, we ambled down to the beach to get a closer look at the intricate sandcastles that had been built during the day and to take in the sunset before ending the night with dinner at The Del’s signature beachfront restaurant, 1500 Ocean. Perhaps the most formal of the property’s restaurants, 1500 Ocean delivers a rotating farm-to-table menu inspired by the sea. Halibut Fritters, Pacific Oysters and the Hiramaso Crudo Duo make great starters, while the Wild Striped Bass, Local Golden Grouper and the Braised Lamb Shank make for great mains.

During our meal, fireworks were shot off in the courtyard outside of the restaurant. It seems there was a mini-convention in-house on that evening, the organizers of which had ordered the sky above The Del lit up for the evening. No matter the reason or who was responsible for it, as we stood there, wine in hand, staring at the fireworks lighting up the starlit sky while the waves lapped up on the nearby shore, I was more convinced than ever that this was a magical place—The Del … Coronado, that is.

Until next time, cheers!

The post Doing The Del—Coronado, That Is… appeared first on .