BY LOCALS FOR LOCALS /// WHERE TO BE MONDAY-SUNDAY
HOME
DE-CURE EXPERT: Sean Cameron Barnes CREDENTIALS: Curator/Owner, love & aesthetics
Ò With my rigorous Friday training appointment in mind, I’m dying for a midday break at Prep Kitchen Little Italy, their fusilli bolognese makes the most stressful day disappear. When work is done I join my close friends for the sunset view and strong cocktails at Top of The Bay on the Porto Vista Hotel roof. We usually start craving a big dinner after that, so the night ends with my good friends, the Busalacchis, at Trattoria Fantastica & Cafe Zucchero. www.prepkitchenlittleitaly.com www.portovistasd.com www.trattoriafantastica.com www.cafezucchero.com
Ò I work every single day of the week. It’s par for the course of being a business owner and buyer. I try to mix hard work and strong ethic with delicious leisuretime. My week begins with Henry, my personal trainer at FIX Body Group in Hillcrest, we’ve been partners in health for a long time and he keeps me on track. Of course, I wreck it all later with the best chips and salsa at Ponces in Kensington. If I’m not tending to my shops, I visit my favorite boutiques nearby: Pigment just down the street from our North Park store, and Vitreum next door to our Little Italy store.
Ò Rushing to the love & aesthetics NoPa location from my training appointment, I start my day with Holsem Coffee. After I close the shop for the day I cruise through Uptown Tavern. Incredible happy hour of delicious bites and craft cocktails.
www.heartsleevescoffee.com www.waterfrontbarandgrill.com www.98bottlessd.com
www.sdweeklymarkets.com www.starlitesandiego.com
www.holsemcoffee.com www.uptowntavernsd.com
www.fixbodygroup.com www.poncesrestaurant.com www.shoppigment.com www.vitreum-us.com
Ò Tuesday’s a big day for my company so I have to start off with a cold brew at Heartsleeves Coffee in Little Italy, then I just walk right into our shop connected at the courtyard. While I’m working, I’m dreaming about the all-day Taco Tuesday at Waterfront Bar and Grill, which I try to get to as soon as possible. I finish my night with a glass of Evolution wine at 98 Bottles and call it a day.
Ò It’s not easy, but the big reward to an early Saturday morning is the Mercato, the Little Italy Farmers Market. I have my favorite small businesses and farms that I always hit up, and grab something for lunch at work later. Saturday nights are Starlite’s farm-to-table dinners and delicious drinks. I love that their mule is such a classic in San Diego.
Ò Breakfast Republic’s scrambles and pancakes fill my tummy with love to start the day. Dinner it’s all about Fireside in Liberty Station. Perfect ambiance, wonderful staff, and outstanding food. The various yakitori selections, romaine salad, and bone-in pork chop are what dreams are made of. www.breakfastrepublic.com www.firesidesd.com
“
I try to mix hard work and strong ethic with delicious leisure-time.
”
Ò Again, if I can be up early, then quiet walks in Balboa Park set the tone of the day. Brunch with friends at Madison in University Heights fill my day with laughter, and bombs my belly with joy. I get inspired by the treasures at Kobey’s Swap Meet, hunting antiques as props and fixtures for the stores. After shopping, the last thing I want to do is cook. So I go to Bankers Hill Bar and Grill for their heirloom tomato and ricotta linguine, and their butterscotch pudding is the perfect end to the busy week! www.madisononpark.com www.kobeyswap.com www.bankershillsd.com
PHOTO BY: Sean Drews
14 | LOCALE MAGAZINE
Breakfast Republic - Photo By: Eder Escamilla
NATIVE KNOWLEDGE