#1200 - Village Idiot, Los Angeles - 8/23/2010

I had an "Idiot's Cup #1" (Tru Lemon organic vodka, Pimm's, cucumber, lemon-lime soda), which was okay, but was also as close as I've yet come to a debunking of my theory that there are no bad cocktails that include cucumber.  (St. Germain seems to be another "always good cocktail" ingredient.)

7383 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90189 - (323) 655-3331
villageidiotla.com - la weekly - tripadvisor - yelp

#1199 - Club Monte Cristo, Los Angeles - 8/22/2010

This is a large, somewhat hidden space on the third floor of a Koreatown warehouse, where at night the music rattles the windows of the World Vision Full Gospel Church and other small businesses below.  The main room is a dance floor surrounded by couches and armchairs, though there are usually just as many people out on the capacious open patio.

 Obviously the vibe varies with the particular event -- I attended the Malediction Society gothic night, with DJ Amanda Jones, but where cameras were not allowed (with the exception of the house photographers).

3102 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010 - (213) 252-9343
citysearch - yelp - ladead gallery

#1198 - Encinitas Ale House, Encinitas CA - 8/22/2010

A good selection of beers (I had a tasty Mongo Double IPA, from Port Brewing) and monster hamburgers with various high quality beefs.

1044 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024 - (760) 943-7180
encinitasalehouse.com - facebook - beer advocate - yelp

#1197 - Barra Barra Saloon, San Diego - 8/21/2010

A fairly cool (in both senses of the word) space with pretty good magaritas.

4016 Wallace St, San Diego, CA 92110-2743 - (619) 291-3200
plazadelpasado - yelp

#1196 - Old Town Mexican Cafe, San Diego - 8/21/2010

The Old Town Mexican Cafe and Cantina is a fairly large place with pretty good food, and seemingly about an even split between tourists and locals.  Their magaritas and signature carnitas were both better than average.

One bizarre element of the decor is a series of gawdawful sculptures of clowns with balloons suspended from the ceiling.  One can hardly help speculating about the back story for these, perhaps the pressured purchases from the owner's senile aunt?

2489 San Diego Ave. (Harney St.) San Diego, CA 92110

2489 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110 - 619-297-4330
Links: oldtownmexcafe.com - The Atlas Heart - frommers - zagat - yelp

#1195 - Old Town Saloon, San Diego - 8/21/2010

A nice little dive in the Old Town section of San Diego, though inside it is the standard Bud Lite paraphenalia and etc. and not distinguishable from a thousand other dives across the country.

2495 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110-2839 - (619) 298-2209
yelp - citysearch 

#1194 - The Islands, San Diego - 8/19/2010

The Islands Sushi and Pupu Bar, in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, San Diego.

2270 Hotel Circle N., San Diego, CA 92108 - 619-297-1101
islandssushi.com