Jaunted - San Diego

Back of the Envelope Travel Guide: San Diego's Women's Film Festival

kjb — 2008-08-27T14:00:17-05:00

If you're looking for a good excuse to head to San Diego for a girls-only weekend, then the San Diego Women's Film Festival is probably a great one. The well established event is celebrating its sixth year of supporting female filmmakers and this year looks to welcome over 400 independent films.

From October 2 to 5, the festival seeks to illustrate positive messages about relevant social issues. The films will focus on ideas relating to ethnicity, class, culture and gender. Be sure to note your favorite, as the festival has screened some films that have gone on to win Oscars. The events begin on Thursday with a preview party at the UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley 7 and continue there throughout the weekend. An all access pass is $50.

Labor Day Travel: The Booze Free Beach

kjb — 2008-08-19T09:45:13-05:00

You know the drill when it comes to packing for the beach: chairs, towels, sunscreen, trashy magazines and some adult beverages. Well, not so fast. Come this Labor Day weekend, Silver Strand Beach, the last public beach to allow alcohol in San Diego County, is cutting us off.

Apparently, drinking has been causing some unwanted behaviors, including a stabbing over Fourth of July weekend.

But there is a silver lining. Although alcohol is banned on the beach, the campsites at the state park will have the taps flowing, as there are no current plans to ban alcohol for the campers. And if you're really sneaky, you can always go the plastic cup route!

Related Stories:
· Silver Strand to Be Booze-Free [KGTV]
· Labor Day Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: t_crescibene]

Back of the Envelope Travel Guide: San Diego Film Festival

kjb — 2008-08-06T13:06:38-05:00

You probably associate movies with Los Angeles, but we're here to tell you that the 2008 San Diego Film Festival is out to prove it can represent on its own.

Running September 25-28, the festival offers the usual in darkened-room entertainment, but also brings the fun. In fact, it was named best party festival in Chris Gore's Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide. The parties will be going right from the start at the Ivy Hotel, and there's no need to be a VIP to attend: All day pass holders will be admitted.

If you're hoping to rub some elbows, past celebrities at the fest have included James Woods, Joaquin Phoenix and Zach Braff.

Missed Connections in San Diego: Nerds Need Love Too

egw — 2008-07-25T15:00:22-05:00

Let's not play into stereotype: Nerds can be hot! And if they're out at Comic-Con for the weekend, they deserve to meet other like-minded folk and create a connection that goes beyond a mutual admiration of "Torchwood" or "Afro Samurai."

If you're reading this from your iPhone, air up at these hot spots and we'll see you at a midnight showing of "The Spirit" in December.

Fred's Mexican Cafe :: Find someone to handcuff at the $3 margarita happy hour. 2470 San Diego Ave.

Baja Betty's :: Gorge yourself at the all-you-can-eat Mexican buffet on Saturdays or drink on the patio with a hottie at the self-styled "only gay Mexican restaurant with over 100 tequilas." 1421 University Ave.

Nunu's Cocktail Lounge :: The cheesy '60s rumpus-room decor is more than made up for by the extra-strong drinks and beautiful chatty women. 3537 5th Ave.

Related Stories:
· Geeky Travel: Nerd Out At Comic-Con '08 [Jaunted]
· You Stay Classy, San Diego [HC]
· Missed Connections coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: adam gallardo]

Geeky Travel: Nerd Out at Comic-Con '08

egw — 2008-07-24T14:00:22-05:00

We're not fooled by your out-of-the-office message about your trip "to California": We know you're as excited about the prospect of bumping into Kevin Smith or Stan Lee at this year's edition of Comic-Con as we are. Don't miss our picks for each day this weekend:

Today: DC Nation Many a day have we walked past DC Comics' headquarters in New York and hoped Batman would walk out. Come and stump DC Senior VP Dan DiDio with your Justice League questions. 6 pm

Friday: "The Spirit," with Frank Miller, Eva Mendes and Samuel L. Jackson All the fanboys will be in the scrum for the "Watchmen" panel, and while the teaser before "The Dark Knight" looked cool, we're more into this Christmas release based on the classic Will Eisner superhero in a suit. 2:30 pm

Saturday: "Starship Troopers 3" Best. Straight-to-DVD. Movie. Ever. 5 pm

Sunday: "Hamlet 2" Panel Preview this offbeat summer comedy, a Sundance favorite, in which a wacky drama teacher (Steve Coogan) decides to write a sequel to a seemingly un-sequel-able Shakespeare play to save the theater. Amy Poehler and Catherine Keener assist. 11:30 am

Related Stories:
· Comic-Con 2008 [Official Site]
· Superhero Fans, Hollywood Execs Flock to Comic Con [Reuters]
· Comic-Con 2007: No Costume For Gwyneth Paltrow [Jaunted]
· Comic Con and Hotel Geeks Unite [HC]

[Photo of the "Harold and Kumar" unicorn at Comic-Con'08: spout-com]

Where Is the US Open?

pbb — 2008-06-16T16:50:15-05:00

The US Open just wrapped up at Torrey Pines outside San Diego; Tiger Woods won. The schmancy course has been hyping the golf tourney for more than a year, and they put on quite the contest.

Tiger Woods of course played well, but Rocco Mediate wasn't content to let him simply walk off with a win. After an entire 18-hole playoff, the two were still tied. On the first hole of a three-hole sudden death round, Tiger took the win.

Related Stories:
· US Open [Official Site]
· Torrey Pines [Official Site]
· The Course Is the Thing [Guardian]
· In the End, Players Find Little Fault with Torrey Pines [USA Today]
· Golf coverage [Jaunted]

Airport Photo Shoot: What? Is There a Plane Here?

egw — 2008-06-09T08:45:02-05:00

Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo look about as discombobulated as we do as they stumbled off a plane in San Diego recently. Jessica's lucky one of this season's in maxidresses is long enough to keep her warm on the coldest plane.

The heat's been off Simpson the Elder since Ashlee was married to Fall Out Boy singer Pete Wentz and announced her "surprise" pregnancy, but she's been re-establishing herself as a country music singer at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville, Tennessee.

No word yet on whether Mr. Romo joined her at the four-day summer fest or even likes country music.

[Photo: Dr. Funkenberry's Celeb News]