In 1949, Tahitian artist Felix Lynch opened up what is now San Diego’s oldest tattoo shop, at 317 F Street, catering to sailors who landed in port just blocks away. Six location changes and two …
February 5, 2014
Just the right amount of South Pacific kitsch
Revolutionizing La Revu
About a year and a half ago, Jaime Brambila and five associates began transforming the 1800-square-foot curio stall above his family’s former restaurant, Café La Especial (1952–2008), into a contemporary gastro bar. La Justina — …
February 26, 2014
Macaulay Culkin's Pizza Underground underwhelms Tijuana hipster dive
Macaulay Culkin’s Pizza Underground turned out be exactly what everyone had expected — an over-hyped, under-talented group of friends who got stoned and took an inside joke (which should have worn off with the weed) …
March 14, 2014
San Diegans shocked by news of San Diego Opera's closure
Yesterday, U-T San Diego reported that the San Diego Opera will cease operations at the close of its current season. SD on the QT hit the streets to get the public's reaction to the stunning …
March 20, 2014
Fast-food workers vs. fat cats
Fast-food workers and their supporters took to the streets again on Thursday, September 4, in the latest round of one-day strikes in the "Fight for 15" campaign for a $15 minimum hourly wage. Before the …
September 5, 2014
Customs stopped me in San Ysidro as a sex offender
I stood silently as the customs official swiped my passport through the card reader at his station. He swiped it again then lifted his head and stared at me judgmentally. Turning to his terminal, he …
January 25, 2017
Farm to table? How about farm to barrel?
The scene at Nopalito Farm & Hopyard’s mid-June grand-opening party in Valley Center was something straight out of a Geico ad-exec’s wildest dreams. Cute-couple band the Dawsons played on a stage hosted by Grampadrew’s Flim …
August 19, 2015
Zonked out
The zonkey business seems to be dying of natural causes, not because of animal rights activism.
January 27, 2016
La Justina has grown up
A couple of years ago I stopped by the soft opening of La Justina to check out San Diego–based Bajaphile chef Chad White’s south-of-the-border debut. I was not disappointed. A creamy sea snail and almond …
March 4, 2016
Burgers for all in South Park
When family comes to town, everybody looks to Uncle Ian to ask a deceptively simple question: “Where should we meet for lunch?” Visiting friends often ask for recommendations such as “Where can I get good …
April 1, 2016
A dozen kinds of tasty
Aside from fresh-baked bagels, I wouldn’t say I had specific expectations going into Memo’s Bagel Café. It’s in a boxy shopping center storefront in Rancho San Diego surrounded by a litany of corporate food chains. …
April 5, 2016