Kitchen island

Had been pondering how to handle the pink/peach and blue tile counter tops in the kitchen ever since moving into this house was just a twinkle in our eye. The kitchen also needed an island or some sort of table/bar/extra counter space to fill up an empty wall. So we asked the good folks at Vintage Revivals in OB to build us this, and gosh it came out great! Still on my to do list is to sew something with that floral fabric folded over the oven handle... it's meant to be a wall hanging/ table runner with colors that tie in the pink/peach and blue but also open the palette up to more greens and reds that match pre-existing kitchen items. It's got the makings of a great project... now I just have to start cutting and sewing!

Thanks to my sis for staging and the heavy lifter aka photog.

Comicrazy excited

Been doing some important research prepping for Comicon and getting quite excited. Still scratching the surface, but here's what I've found so far.

If you don't have Comicon badge you can still geek out majorly at all these events:

• Dawn of the Con on Thursday night is a free party at Petco park hosted by Rob Zombie to kick off the weekend. Me thinks this will contain some metal. 
• If you want something softer Thursday night, the symphony is performing music from Legend of Zelda. This is at the outdoor theater so you should be able to wander by and hear it. 
• There's the Extra Stage out by the waterfront sponsored by WB that will get a lot of attention, with some big names like Kevin Smith, Kevin Bacon, and all 6 batmobiles. You might be able to spend all day there if you walking around isn't your thing. Basic info link, specific schedule link
• Speaking of walking around, I'm all in on the Walking Dead Escape - an obstacle course you run through while avoiding zombies (you can also be a spectator). Seems like there will be tix available day of (thurs, fri or sat), or pre-order ASAP. This is officially sanctioned and their prep and background is awesome. Link to tix, link to the zombie tracking site
• Friday afternoon, party with the guys at the workaholics happy hour event (first come first served) at the Hard Rock Hotel's rooftop pool FLOAT from 2-5 link
• Yahoo is creating a Movieland at 520 5th ave across the street with movie props, some celebrities, and my favorite, photo booths 
• A black and white creepy Tim Burton garden? Right up my alley from 11-8 Fri-Sat you can go see this HGTV built Frankenweenie themed garden at the Hilton Gaslamp. Plus there's photo ops. 
• Sega arcade opens Wed-Sun at 200 Harbor drive and looks fun (says a non-gamer) 
• Panels at Nerd HQ link - some are sold out and these cost $ but I have to say I discovered NTSF:SD SUV (super funny watch here) a few days ago and love it. Tempted to buy tix for that panel... 
• The park at 5th and K is being taken over by NBC to promote Grimm, even the Tin Fish restaurant will be remade in theme and if that isn't enough their makeup artists will color your skin more
• The New Children's Museum is being taken over by the cartoon network featuring Finn and Jake 
• If you are a night owl you can watch a taping of Hollywood Babble on at the House of Blues. We saw Kevin and Ralph do a taping a few months ago in Solana Beach - damn funny stuff (and quite dirty)! 
• Gamers can go to the Gaslamp Hilton to play Bioware's new multiplayer game and communally melt into zeroes and ones 
• Spike tv is showing a live Comicon program Friday 1-4 PST (note to self, remember to set DVR) 
• Afterparty at whiskey girl Sunday at 6 
• Here's a list someone made of all the parties that is way too long for me to even thing about summarizing. Lots of geek partying about to be had. link

If you do have a Comicon badge:

• Congratulations on planning ahead, I'm sure you've already visited the official website. Cheers.

San Diego Restaurants

So much to share here... we are pretty blessed gastronomically here. Let's break it down by category. Ladies and gentlemen, our favorite restaurants (click on restaurant name to go to their website):

Restaurants with craft beer
Stone Brewery and World Bistro Gardens 
Counterpoint 
Toronados
Station Tavern
Blind Lady Ale House
Hamilton's (must be 21) food is from next door
Knotty Barrel
Tiger! Tiger!
Shakespeare's (British pub)
The Field (Irish pub - must be 21)
Pizza Port

For meat lovers
Rocky's (best burgers)
Phil's BBQ (best BBQ)
Hoedad's
Tractor Room
La Jolla Strip Club (must be 21 - cook your own food on a communal grill)
Linkery (house made sausages)

Cheap eats - also vegetarian friendly
Lolitas
Tao
Saffron 
Sipz (all vegetarian)
Robertos (a chain, we prefer 3095 Clairemont Dr  or  2206 Carmel Valley Road)
Bronx pizza
Mint

Seafood  - also expensive except for south beach
South Beach (best fish tacos - must be 21 and pay cash)
Oceanaire
Roy's 
Blue Pointe
Fish Market
Zensei (sushi)

Kid friendly (although you could bring kids most of the places on this list)
Station Tavern (has a playground!)
Broken Yolk (breakfast/lunch)
Blind Lady Ale House
Pizza Port

Focus on local foods
Kensington Grill
Sea Rocket
Linkery
Stone Brewery and World Bistro Gardens

Breakfast
Broken Yolk (breakfast/lunch)
The Cottage
Hash House a go go 

Close to Balboa Park
Deli Llama (lunch)
Bankers Hill bar/restaurant
El Prado
Hash House a go go 
Kiki Sushi
City Deli
Tractor Room
Babycakes (cupcakes and food and drinks)

Local restaurant: Sea Rocket Bistro

Among the neighborhood restaurants we frequent is one that features meals made with locally grown food. Sea Rocket Bistro has been a favorite for the last few years. And one night I took some pics of our food (not my regular habit but I was inspired for some reason)... This Northpark San Diego restaurant has personable staff, a fantastic regular menu of fresh food, and often they have specials which are excellent. Don't get me started telling you how good the bread pudding is. Now these pics are of fish, but there's meat and vegetarian options as well, and local beers and wine are featured. Consider this restaurant highly recommended.