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HELLO NORTH PARK--New bistro coming to 30th Street, next to Lefty's Pizza at 30th & Myrtle Street |
STEPPING OUT--My doctor (and fitbit contraption) say we should all take 10,000 steps a day to keep heart healthy.
Here’s a
recent trek toward meeting that goal.
Embarking after dusk from 28th & Upas just when the moon
is rising over the I-805 (now how’s that for a romantic image), I fast walked
to 30th Street, where I turned north toward University Avenue. Pausing at 30th and Upas, I’ve
walked by one architectural firm and no less than a dozen restaurants within
half a block.
That
intersection was once dingy (din-gee) and a site of a couple of murders back
when the corner back was gloomed by a heavy leather bar. Now the entire corner is awash with bright
lights and hipster ambiance. Thank you,
gentrification. Take that any day compared with the blight that was there
before.
Glancing
up at the new high rent North Parker apartments, I notice one of the upper units
hasn’t drawn the shades. This is the
first look I’ve seen of the upstairs downstairs configuration of the uber
lofts. The unit is occupied with four or
five busily installing a monster TV.
Next, I
notice Lefty’s Pizza at Myrtle and 30th has a new all-weather
enclosed awning. It gives more privacy
to customers and yet they can still have that sidewalk café feeling.
Next door
to Lefty’s, the long-time vegan restaurant is no more. In its place will be a new eatery with a
distinctive Mexican flavor.
Moving
toward University, I’ve now gone by two more architectural firms, two hair
salons, pet hospital and someone has put a pre-construction fence around what
used to be the late (could have been great) Eddie’s cheesesteak emporium. What news awaits us at that spot?
WOW, the
waffle place next to the coin-operated laundry on 30th is closed but
only for the night. I wish my diet would
allow me to eat breakfast there every day.
On the
west side of 30th south of Capps there’s a stretch of homes that are
being converted into businesses. One
example is Charly Poppins Interior Design shop.

Subterr is owned by a young couple with first baby, who live on 28th Street. Locals quiz: if you know who Capps street was named after you are either old, a history buff or a native. I’m not giving up the answer and I’ve put it into your head that you will wake up at 3 am craving an answer.
At 30th
and North Park Way at the West end of Waypoint Restaurant, Dark Horse Coffee is
about to open its new shop (they’re also on Adams Ave). Looks like it’ll be a couple more hours by
the looks of the walk-by.
Dark Horse's second mid-city location, North Park Way near 30th. |
I spy
Cloud 9 Hookah lounge on North Park Way.
Hmmm. I’m just came back from
Istanbul and hookah-ing was commonplace.
Someday there may be a local hookah stop for me, but not now.
Turning
the corner at 30th and heading West on University, I notice there
will be a new beer/wine restaurant where Chito’s Shoe Repair store (now on
Lincoln near 30th) and Chester’s Furniture used to be. Both small spaces have been joined together.
Open in a month, maybe.
Swami’s
has put up bigger signs saying they’re open for dinner. So far, I LOVE them for lunch.
Next door
to Swami’s is Safehouse, a Raman and craft beer establishment.
It is
looking good and is finally busy.
Definitely will stop in very soon.
At West
Coast Tavern things look the same. New
owners are taking over the place.
I stopped
by Starbucks at 29th to try one of those new Flat Whites, plus take
advantage of the discount on the pastries just before closing.
Reminds
me to go buy some coffee beans at Claire de Lune. I buy my beans from a different North Park
coffee house on a rotating basis. I love
them all.
Just west
of North Park Carpet (world’s best rug and carpet store with the best prices
anywhere for quality stuff) is Saiko, a new sushi place. So far on my walk I’ve gone by two sushi
places, three architects, six coffee houses, dozen restaurants, including the
fabulous Heaven Sent Desserts, plus 3 in the works restaurants or coffee
houses.


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Pulmonia's in Mazatlan |
Also,
some smart entrepreneur will open up a Rickshaw operation between Upas and
Adams Avenue along 30th Street to take advantage of the craft beer
centric tourists flocking to historic and hipstoric North Park. Even better legalize scooter cabs like the
pulmonia’s that rule the streets in Mazalan.
Victory
for me. Full moon is rising. I hear Clearance Clearwater Revival in the
back of my mind. Despite the nighttime pitfalls of crummy sidewalks, I managed
5,000 fitbit steps in less than 40 minutes.
Tomorrow,
one of my favorite editorial interns from San
Diego Home/Garden magazine is buying me coffee and dessert at Heaven Sent. Expect a
menu report soon.
Cheers,
North Park and thanks for joining me on my walk.
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