Jetsettersblog

Visitors can be Super Man or Wonder Woman for a day at Comic-Con International, July 23 – 26, at the San Diego Convention Center. Comic-Con has become a signature summertime event for San Diego; it is the largest comics and pop culture event in the United States, attracting thousands of artists, celebrities and fans of comic books, movie memorabilia and all things related to pop culture. For more information, call 619-491-2475, or visit www.comic-con.org .

San Diego’s culinary community joins forces during September 13 – 18 for San Diego Restaurant Week. More than a hundred of the region’s top restaurants offer prix-fixe, three-course dinner menus at just $20, $30 or $40 per person, so visitors can sample the signature cuisine and sophisticated style that make San Diego’s dining scene one of the region’s top attractions.

For more information, call 858-523-9020, or visit www.sandiegorestaurantweek.com .

The “turf meets the surf” at the Del Mar Racetrack where home racing fans flock each summer to wager on their favorite horses during the popular, annual Del Mar Thoroughbred Club racing season, July 22 – September 9.

The races run six days weekly, except Tuesday. Every Friday, guests can catch 4 O’Clock Fridays, a free headliner concert following the day’s last race.

On September 6, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s Grade 1 Pacific Classic treats guests to a prestigious event with a race between the nation’s top thoroughbreds and $1 million purse. For more information, call 858-755-1141, or visit www.dmtc.com

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

In April 2009, the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park opened Flightline, a new zip-line adventure that transports guests more than 400 feet across the park at speeds up to 60 mph.

The 1.5-hour experience begins at the top of a mountain in Nairobi Village and features a brief training lesson, behind-the-scenes narration and an aerial adventure that soars across the Asian and African field exhibits, and ends at Kilima Point. Participants must be 10 years of age or older and weigh between 75 and 200 pounds; the cost is $70 in addition to regular park admission.

For more information, call 619-231-1515, or visit www.sandiegozoo.org/wap

On May 23, 2009, the San Diego Zoo unveiled a journey through time with the opening of its newest exhibit, The Harry and Grace Steele Elephant Odyssey. Highlighting animals of the past, present and future, the $44 million, seven-acre habitat features Asian elephants, a California condor, sloths, snakes and rodents, as well as life-sized replicas of animal species that dotted the Southern California landscape more than 10,000 years ago.

A herd of eight elephants roam a 2.5-acre exhibit that includes a 120,000-gallon pool, gentle rolling hills and the Conrad Prebys Elephant Management Facility, where visitors can see keepers and veterinarians at work with the animals.

Additional highlights of Elephant Odyssey include a tar pit replication, fossil dig, children’s play area and much more. For more information, call 619-231-1515, or visit www.sandiegozoo.org

On May 29, 2009, SEA LIFE Aquarium in Carlsbad launched a new exhibit, Sharks Revealed.

The new display will replace the Kelp Forrest exhibit and provide an up-close look at the evolution, development and lifestyles of sharks, including how they eat, breathe and sleep. Several unique shark species will roam through the exhibit like the brown banded bamboo shark, white spotted bamboo shark and coral catshark.

Sharks Revealed will also showcase a number of educational displays and interactive opportunities for guests.

For more information, call 760-918-5346, or visit www.sealifeus.com

NEW HOTEL DEVELOPMENTS

In August 2009, Hotel Indigo San Diego, a new alternative to traditional hotels, will open in the East Village neighborhood of downtown San Diego.

Catering to the style-conscious traveler, the hotel will offer personalized service, affordable luxury and intelligent design to create a one-of-a-kind, welcoming environment.

The 12-story, 210-room property will feature open spaces, bold colors, unique textures, natural imagery and spa-inspired touches throughout the property.

In addition, public spaces and guestrooms will undergo seasonal transformations so that aromas, music, artwork, murals and more correlate to match the four seasons.

Hotel Indigo San Diego will also offer a bistro-style Golden Bean restaurant and Phi bar, each offering seasonal gourmet fare for breakfast and dinner.

A 24-hour “Phi”tness Studio, rooftop terrace with a reflection pool and fire pits, business center, 6,200-sq. ft. of meeting space and free wireless internet will round out the amenities.

Hotel Indigo will be San Diego’s first LEED-certified hotel, and green building practices will be seen throughout the property, including green roofs on its 9th and 12th floors.

For more information, visit www.hotelindigo.com

HOTEL RENOVATIONS AND NAME CHANGES

Renovations and upgrades to the historic 1906 Lodge in Coronado were completed in May 2009.

The building was originally built in 1906 as a boarding house, and now serves as a charming 17-room hotel.

Six of the hotel’s guest rooms are located in the mail lodge and feature queen beds, period furniture and original leaded glass windows that provide gorgeous views of Coronado.

Eleven of the hotel’s guest rooms are located in newly built bungalows and feature king beds, spa tubs, private entrances and private balconies or porches. Additional upgrades to the building include renovated common areas like the parlor, dining room and veranda.

The 1906 Lodge also boasts meeting space that can accommodate up to 40 guests.

For more information, call 866-435-1906, or visit http://1906lodge.com

The Holiday Inn San Diego on the Bay recently unveiled a complete brand re-launch featuring a new look and feel throughout the 14-story property.

The hotel’s 600 rooms now feature comfortable beds with crisp linens and a selection of pillows that range from soft to firm.

Guestroom bathrooms have been enhanced with superior showerheads, a curved shower rod for a more spacious feel and premium bath products. Enhanced lighting and landscaping designs offer a warm arrival experience, while just inside the lobby, new stylish touches, signature sounds, scents and an efficient guest check-in round out the welcome experience.

For more information, call 619-232-3861, or visit www.hisandiegoonthebay.com

In May 2009, Pala Casino Spa and Resort in San Diego’s North County completed a $100 million expansion, which includes major improvements to the dining and gaming areas and a new parking garage.

Pala Casino’s buffet area was expanded to 20,000-sq. ft. and renamed Choices, providing guests a world-class, interactive dining experience featuring eight live-action cooking stations, seating for more than 625 guests, an area for private parties and great views of the neighboring scenic mountains.

Pala Casino also opened two new restaurants — Amigos, an authentic Mexican eatery with quick-style service, and Sushi Sake, a Japanese restaurant. Within Pala’s casino area, a Poker Room with 15 tables, private cage windows and tableside dining was also added. Additionally, the casino’s private High Limit Area features three redesigned, Feng Shui-inspired rooms.

For more information, call 877-946-7252, or visit www.palacasino.com

MEETING AND CONVENTION NEWS

When Hotel Indigo San Diego opens in August 2009, the hotel will feature 1,900 sq. ft. of ground-floor meeting space and over 4,000 sq. ft. of functional indoor and outdoor rooftop event space on the 9th floor.

The indoor meeting space will consist of three venues, the 1,000-sq. ft. Fibonacci Meeting Room, which can break out into two equal spaces, a 500-sq. ft. Boardroom with a built-in bar and 400-sq. ft. Boardroom Suite.

The 9th floor meeting space will offer a 350-sq. ft. Hospitality Suite with an adjoining private outdoor Phi Bar Terrace that spans views of the San Diego Padres’ PETCO Park and downtown San Diego.

For more information, visit www.hotelindigo.com (5/09)

In February 2009, the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego completed the transformation of its new Folsom Executive Meeting Space.

The new, multi-functional 7,500-sq. ft. space is a sleek dual-level meeting and events wing with seven breakout rooms that can accommodate groups of 10 – 150 people.

Taking advantage of the hotel’s hip, urban surroundings, each breakout room features floor-to-ceiling windows that maximize natural lighting while offering panoramic views of downtown San Diego.

Complimenting the hotel’s distinctive rock ‘n’ roll reputation, each room has edgy design elements like platinum, textured reptile-inspired wall coverings and stunning black-etched murals of rock legends. In addition, the wing is fully tech-enabled with WiFi-ready group connectivity, customizable electronic reader boards with optional video streams and individually-controlled music zones enabling clients to load in personal playlists.

With the addition of the Folsom Executive Meeting Space, the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego now houses over 40,000 sq. ft. of meetings and events space.

For more information, call 619-702-3000, or visit www.hardrockhotelsd.com

Crowne Plaza Hotel in Mission Valley recently began construction on a new ballroom slated for completion in fall 2009. The new space will encompass 6,600 sq. ft. and have the capability to break out into four smaller rooms, accommodating groups of up to 700 people.

For more information, call 888-444-0401, or visit www.crowneplaza.com

RESTAURANT NEWS

Back by popular demand, the Old Spaghetti Factory reopened in February 2009 in downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, returning to the location it occupied from 1974 until closing in 2005 as part of the building redevelopment.

After the closure, the owners received overwhelming requests from long-time diners to bring the restaurant back to the Gaslamp Quarter, and following an unsuccessful search for a new downtown location opted to return to the original location.

The Old Spaghetti Factory is best-known for family dining that offers complete meals at great value. The restaurant was recently recognized by Parents magazine as “one of the top 10 family-friendly chains in the United States.”

For more information, call 619-233-4323, or visit www.osf.com

In April 2009, the Point Loma Brigantine re-opened after completion of a major rennovation. Construction included knocking down the wall, which once closed off the restaurants dining space, and expanding the bar area.

Additional restyling included adding six new HD flat-screen TVs, a red brick veneer to the walls, an art sculpture simulating a rolling ocean wave that runs the full length of the ceiling and much more.

For more information, call 858-268-1030, or visit www.brigantine.com

Corvette Diner, a San Diego restaurant famous for its rock ‘n’ roll vibe, burgers, shakes and sassy waitresses in bouffant hairdos, closed its Hillcrest location in April and reopened in June 2009 in San Diego’s historic Liberty Station on Point Loma.

The restaurant is moving into one of first permanent buildings, built in 1923, on the old Naval Training Center site which now is home to Liberty Station. The new restaurant will seat up to 242 guests in three distinctively themed dining areas and feature a 5,000-sq. ft. arcade named the Gamers’ Garage, private dining rooms for birthday parties and events and a full bar for adults. This new location will be twice the size of the original with plenty of room to carry on the tradition of fun family dining and plenty of free parking.

For more information, call 619-236-1299, or visit www.dinecrg.com

NIGHTLIFE

Side Bar returned to downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter in May 2009 after a $1 million remodel. The 5,000-sq. ft, bar and lounge now embodies an art deco modern feel with a dark, moody ambiance. The decor includes a gypsy-like approach to furnishings with a collection of mismatched items appointed in varied textures and colors. Thirty deep red birdcages dangle from the lofted ceilings at various heights, contrasting the black painted brick walls lined with paintings of artistic nudes.

Behind a large silver curtain in the middle of the space is the club where DJs spin tunes Thursday through Saturday nights within a floor-to-ceiling, oversized birdcage DJ booth.

The club’s bottle service area features deep red diamond tufted custom sofas, giant custom chandeliers and a backlit acrylic image of a vintage nude scene hidden behind strands of crystal.

Also new to Side Bar is a late night dining menu featuring a bar menu and artisan pizzas from Chef Derek Dinublia.

For more information, visit www.sidebarsd.com

On May 14, 2009, the Keating Hotel replaced its former Minus 1 lounge and club with the new SWAY Lounge. Featuring the Keating’s signature Pininfarina Italian design, SWAY exudes sexy sophistication and a VIP setting with red lighting, black paneling, rich leather booths and candlelit candelabras.

SWAY also features two bars that serve only fine, premium liquors like Hennessey, Johnny Walker and Dom Perignon. In June, SWAY will open a third bar, the Bubble Bar, which will serve as San Diego’s first “champagne only” bar.

For more information, call 619-814-5700, or visitwww.thekeating.com

OUTDOOR RECREATION

Two new skate parks recently opened in the city of Oceanside in San Diego’s North County.

The Melba Bishop Park provides a “street”-style layout that includes ledges, banks, hips, rails, stairs and gaps for a well-rounded skateboarding experience.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Park offers a “flow”-style layout with a gently sloping bowl area that accommodates multiple riders.

Both parks enhance San Diego’s already popular skate scene and offer opportunities where skaters can develop and refine their skills.

For more information, call 760-435-5619, or visit www.ci.oceanside.ca.us

TRANSPORTATION AND TOURS

This summer, Hornblower Cruises & Events offers a casual and relaxed two-hour sunset San Diego Bay cruise with hors d’oeuvres and drink specials every Friday and Saturday.

The new Sights and Sips Sunset Cruise is like a happy hour on the water that the whole family can enjoy. A menu with kid-friendly drinks, beer, alcoholic beverages and appetizers rotate thematically, highlighting local favorites and seasonal picks from Hornblower chefs. Guests board the Sights and Sips Sunset Cruise at 5:30 p.m. and cruise from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., timed perfectly for sunset.

The cost is $30 for adults and $25 for children 4 – 12 years old.

For more information, call 619-686-8715, or visit www.hornblower.com

In June 2009, WestJet began seasonal, direct flights between San Diego and Calgary, Alberta three times a week.

For more information, visit www.westjet.com

On May 15, 2009, Air Canada began a daily nonstop service between San Diego and Calgary, Alberta.

The Air Canada flight 8307 departs Calgary daily at 12:55 p.m., arriving in San Diego at 3 p.m. Air Canada flight 8308 departs San Diego daily at 11:55 a.m., arriving in Calgary at 4:05 p.m. The flights are timed for convenient connections in Calgary to and from Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg and Toronto.

For more information, visit www.aircanada.com

VISUAL ARTS/MUSEUMS

In June 2009, Quail Botanical Gardens, located in Encinitas, will open its new one-acre Hamilton Children’s Garden, set to be the largest children’s garden on the West Coast. The garden will feature 14 different interactive areas for exploring and educating children about nature.

Highlights will include Toni’s Tree House, a 20 ft.-high climbable tree and tree house; Quail Haven, an enclosure for close-up viewing of quail; Rock Hoppers, a rock garden where children can hop from one rock to another without ever touching the ground; and Gardens and Music, which comes complete with a stage set for children to perform musical performances using instruments made from plants like grass whistles and bamboo chimes.

For more information, call 760-436-3036, or visit www.qbgardens.org

After a historical year in politics, the San Diego Museum of Art presents the exclusive West Coast premiere of Richard Avedon: Portraits of Power, June 6 – September 6, 2009.

The exhibition showcases more than 150 political portraits by Richard Avedon, one of the greatest portrait and fashion photographers in the world, and traces Avedon’s fascination with politics from the 1950s until his death in 2004.

Some rarely seen photographs and never published works are on display alongside some of Avedon’s most groundbreaking photo series.

For more information, call 619-232-7931, or visit www.sdmart.org

The San Diego Natural History Museum will present an enlightening new exhibition, Darwin: Evolution|Revolution, November 7, 2009 – February 28, 2010.

The exhibit will explore the life and work of Charles Darwin, whose evolutionary theories on natural selection and evolution changed the face of science.

Darwin’s personal manuscripts, notebooks and artworks will be on display, as well as fossils, taxidermy mounts and living specimens like Galapagos turtles, green iguanas and intricate orchids that Darwin used when developing his revolutionary theories.

For more information, call 877-946-7797, or visit www.sdnhm.org

PERFORMING ARTS

The Tony Award®-winning La Jolla Playhouse kicks off its 2009-2010 season with the U.S. West Coast premiere of Terrence McNally’s Unusual Acts of Devotion (June 2 – 28, 2009). During a hot summer night, a couple celebrates their fifth wedding anniversary with friends, but danger lurks in the air as each confronts unfulfilled desires and secret longings for one another.

Later this summer, the Playhouse presents the World Premier of Claudia Shear’s Resoration (until July 19, 2009).

Inspired by the restoration of Michelangelo’s David in 2004, this illuminating and imaginative play follows an unexpected love story and a comedic portrait of survival and endurance. Also playing is the World Premiere musical,

The Big Time by Douglas Carter Beane (November 10 – December 20, 2009). When a G8 cruise ship is taken hostage by terrorists with the intent of destroying the world, romance and mistaken identities take over as the hostages become heroes and the radicals become hoofers.

For more information, call 858-550-1010, or visit www.lajollaplayhouse.com

The Tony Award-winning Old Globe theater in Balboa Park will present the World Premiere of The First Wives Club — A New Musical (July 15 – August 23, 2009).

Based on the Hollywood blockbuster, this Broadway-bound musical will feature a book by Tony Award®-winner Rupert Holmes and score by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland.

The production will be directed by award-winning opera and theatrical director Francesca Zambello. Later this year, the Old Globe will present the World Premier of Sammy (September 17 – November 1, 2009).

Written by two-time Academy Award and Grammy Award-winner Leslie Bricusse, this delightful new musical will follow the life of Sammy Davis Jr., one of the greatest entertainers of all time.

For more information, call 619-231-1941, or visit www.theoldglobe.org

The Diversionary Theatre, the nation’s 3rd oldest LGBT theatre, presents TWIST!, a new musical based on the tale of Oliver Twist (July 9 – August 9, 2009).

In this clever retelling, Oliver is an attractive young man who encounters loneliness, adventure, Victorian erotica and redemption while on the search for love in London. Later this year, the Diversionary Theatre celebrates the 30th anniversary of BENT (October 29-November 22, 2009).

This riveting story highlights the persecution by the Nazis and the fight for gay love in the midst of the Holocaust.

For more information, call 619-220-0097, or visit www.diversionary.org

Happy happens in San Diego. For more information on San Diego offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Web site, www.sandiego.org or call 619-236-1212.

In San Diego, visit the International Visitor Information Center, located along the Embarcadero at the corner of West Broadway and Harbor Drive in downtown San Diego, or the La Jolla Visitor Center, located at the corner of Herschel Avenue and Prospect Street in La Jolla.