Entertainment Guide producer Claire Madigan answered questions from readers during a Thursday afternoon online chat at
signonsandiego.com/chat.
moderator(P) Good afternoon and welcome to our entertainment chat. Claire is here, and Jennifer may join us a little later. We want to help you have a memorable weekend, and to pay us back you could help us find "Pinky."
moderator(P) So Claire, what are your weekend plans?
claire_madigan(P) well. Friday I plan on heading over to the Guild for an art show. And Saturday the Hard Rock Hotel is having an opeing party for a few of its bars ... I may also go to a secert dance hall party with Erin and KP. You?
moderator(P) Well I'm relaxing and trying to catch up on some chores. I'm also thinking of actually going to Balboa and seeing those Dead Sea scrolls
sd72(Q) Does you know when the new Zagat survey is coming out?
claire_madigan(A) Hmm. Gosh i think it's sometime in early 2008. Zagat is pretty cool. But I often you Chowhound.com when i'm looking for restaurant suggestion. Too bad Zagat didn't wait utnil the Nobu opened up here. I ate there on Monday. I know it's a chain but it was delish.
moderator(P) That's right, you went there. What did you think of it. Details, details.
claire_madigan(P) wow. well, how much time do you have?
moderator(P) That good. Well we do have an hour.
claire_madigan(P) Ok, well. First of all Nobu is NOT A SUSHI PLACE. You're supposed to order sushi last. if you still have room. Which you will probably run out of money before you get there. But the food is amazing. There's this japanese citrius fruit called "yizu" or something. Put it an anything and it tastes wonderful.
claire_madigan(P) And, um, the have a patent on dry red miso. They put it on this white fish wiht jalepeno. very good. get teh kobe beef thing, too.
moderator(P) So this is my burning question. I have a friend coming into town. She's never been to San Diego and I wanted to go out with her and introduce her to San Diego in style. I am debating between C Level Lounge and the Altitude Sky Bar. Any suggestions?
claire_madigan(P) Oh, and they make all the desserts there. even the caramel
claire_madigan(P) to be honest, i've never been to altitude. my fave rooftop bar so far is Eden at the Ivy hotel. sometimes they charge a cover on the weekends so that's a bummer.
moderator(P) Is it a good view? That is what I'm after. A good bar with a to-kill-for view.
claire_madigan(P) yes. great view
claire_madigan(P) when i've had people in town in the past. I took them too Extraordinary desserts in Little Italy, Starlite, Turf Club, Red Pearl and to at least one burrito shop.
moderator(P) You got to take visitors to Extraordinary Desserts, and I've promised her fish tacos (what is more San Diego). And I'm thinking of gelato in Little Italy. But I haven't heard of the Turf Club or Read Pearl. Tell me more (Wow, I'm being demanding today).
claire_madigan(P) turf is a neighborhood stop that you go to after the upscale joints. you can grill your own steak and stuff there.
moderator(P) Can't you also do that at the Strip Club in the Gaslamp? (Did I get the name right)
moderator(P) Welcome paperback. What are you reading?
moderator(P) OK, I admit that was a little corney. But feel free to join in the discussion. We're talking about grill-your-own steak places in town.
claire_madigan(P) yes, you did. but turf has way more personality.
paperback(Q) Hi -- actually, writing -- don't get much time to read anymore...
moderator(A) What are you writing?
claire_madigan(P) you also might take them to this art show im going to on friday. it's cool becuase its a restaurant that has also has a woodshop/gallery next door
moderator(P) Interesting. Where is it?
paperback(C) Cool -- I used to go to a place like that in Moline, Illinois -- the Old Oaks. It was GREAT.
claire_madigan(P) The Guild. In barrio logan. it's this modern, sleek place. hope it lasts.
claire_madigan(P) the artists are actually friends of mine.
paperback(Q) Doing a book on Shamans in South America. Very enlightening. I think.
moderator(A) Fascinating. It also sounds like a lot of research.
claire_madigan(P) yes. been there?
paperback(Q) Gotta get there some day soon!
claire_madigan(A) well this art show i believe is free ...
moderator(P) Welcome taco_timmy
paperback(Q) I used to work in the barrio -- MANY lunches at 4 Milpas and Porvenir...
claire_madigan(A) Yes! Porvenir.
taco_timmy(Q) thanks ... i'm happy to be here.
moderator(A) Can we answer any questions? But first, do you know of any good taco stands?
paperback(Q) The Guild sounds WAY different from the barrio status quo...
claire_madigan(A) yea, it is. but it's still welcoming in there.
taco_timmy(Q) i have information regarding the lost donkey.
claire_madigan(A) stapeled to a telephone pole in L.A.?
taco_timmy(Q) after meeting and falling in love with a luscious even if large clydesdale near del mar, the lost donkey has decided to return to his home in the mountains of tecate, where they have parented a small family of mules.
claire_madigan(A) rusty lives on.
taco_timmy(Q) he asks that you please invest in a new manner of getting to work.
claire_madigan(A) just finished polishing my black skittle....
moderator(P) I have decided to walk to work, donkey's are so temperamental. And they have attitudes.
moderator(P) Welcome canttouchthis.
moderator(P) What are you doing this weekend?
taco_timmy(Q) what's going on this weekend that's worth changing out of my sweat pants?
claire_madigan(A) Man, Iove sweat pants. Not the kind with elastic around the ankles though. i saw don't change out of them then. espeically if they are black. black goes with everything.
claire_madigan(P) i meant say. not saw.
claire_madigan(P) oh. you can wear sweat pants to the moives. the daft punk film is playing at midnight friday and saturday.
moderator(P) I would love to lounge around in some sweat pants for a while. Thanksgiving went by way too fast.
claire_madigan(P) at ken cinema.
claire_madigan(P) one other thing im toying of doing on friday is going to see the Oohlas at Beauty Bar.
canttouchthis(C) that'll be a really interesting crowd, i'd say, at the ken for dp.
canttouchthis(Q) black DOES go with everything. except with pink skin. then brown is better. did you know everyone in montreal wears black? like, all the time? so if you ever go to montreal, take one piece of black everything.
claire_madigan(A) everyone here wears "thongs" i've never been able to call flip flops taht with a straight face.
moderator(P) Is it cold up there now?
claire_madigan(P) up where? montreal? i was talking about Sandy Ego.
canttouchthis(Q) yes of course it is cold.
moderator(A) My parents live in northern Minnesota, where it is very cold too. So what is there to do in Montreal during a cold winter weekend?
claire_madigan(P) pee out the window and see if it freezes before it hits the ground?
claire_madigan(P) er, uh. did i just say that out loud?
moderator(P) I'm looking forward to seeing the snow in the mountains this winter. It has been a while since I've seen any. At least two years.
canttouchthis(Q) sorry i had to take out the dog. to pee, actually.
claire_madigan(A) i meant from INSIDE.
canttouchthis(Q) well this was better than sex. thanks for keeping me company while i clipped my toenails.
moderator(A) We are always here to help you
claire_madigan(P) see you 'round.
moderator(P) Well that is it folks. Remember to visit us next week. Have a good weekend.