Neighborhoods To Know And Go: San Diego's North Park

San Diego's beaches get top billing for obvious reasons, but some of the city's best places to hang are offshore, like hipster hub North Park. It used to be a rough place, but then gentrification started and with it came boutiques, cafes and the neighborhood's own restaurant row. North Park gets its hipster cred from its artsy side, with galleries and other cultural institutions calling it home. Centered around University Avenue and 30th Street, the nabe has a central location; it's only 10 minutes away from the beaches and blocks from Balboa Park.

Get hip to North Park after the jump.

Where to Eat

· Urban Solace
The most talked-about restaurant is this contemporary American comfort food haven. You can take comfort in starters like warm cheese biscuits with orange-honey butter and standout entrees like the Not Your Momma's Meatloaf, with ground lamb, figs, pine nuts and feta splashed with fig jus.

· Heaven Sent Desserts
For dessert, walk around the corner to Heaven Sent. Its menu of upscale desserts changes frequently, but we're partial to the fruity goodies. Warning: the place counts Beyonc� as a client, so you know that the rich desserts will make you bootylicious.

· Alexander's
If you're want romance, go this small Italian-Mediterranean restaurant, which oozes chic amore with all-white decor and lots of candlelight. You'll fall for the walnut Gorgonzola�with garlic, onions, tomato, caramelized walnuts, saut�ed in a Gorgonzola cream sauce over veggies and rigatoni.

Where to Shop

· Pigment
Head here for one-of-a-kind accessories, art and accents for your casa. You'll find everything from dainty tea towels printed with menacing skulls to palm-sized glass plant orbs, popular window eye candy that always draws people into the store.

· Mimi & Red
This women's clothing shop offers trendy boutique threads at affordable prices. Be sure to check out the cute jewelry, which is even more of a steal.

Where to Find Culture

· Ray Street
North Park may be most well known for the art galleries that line a small block of Ray Street. You'll find everything from paintings from tattoo artists to custom furniture made out of wine barrels. If you're in town on the second Saturday of the month, the galleries along the one-way road open their doors for Ray at Night, an art walk that allows you to see great local pieces and get drunk on free wine.

· Birch North Park Theatre
If you prefer your divas to be less Beyonc� and more Ren�e Fleming, come to this 730-seat theater, which is the home of the Lyric Opera San Diego. When sopranos aren't belting it out, the theater hosts other shows, like a monthly jazz series that will debut in February and feature prominent players such as saxophonist-composer Benny Golson. Tickets go on sale January 1.

Related Stories:
· Other 'Neighborhoods to Know and Go' [Jaunted]

[Photos: Jennifer Kester]

Comments (2)

Return to » Neighborhoods To Know And Go: San Diego's North Park

44thfloor Collective, tweeted about North Park last weekend, "Made it to U31, university & 31st. north park, http://bit.ly/6cJIgQ , I had given up on north park but this may be my reason to return," from http://twitter.com/44thfloor

Im still not sold, North Park remains a neighborhood looking for an identity thats trapped in a visible past. Over the past few years i have watched as they converted low rent apartments into 200 thousand dollar condos with a little paint and some grass, without cultivating the feel of a real community. Certain places feel like a snow globe in a dumpster, beautiful to look into but, the view from the inside looking out is another story.

This neighborhood has become one of the most interesting, eclectic, and walkable areas in San Diego. Good retail, some fantastic restaurants and bars, art galleries and cultural venues, and a sense of community between residents and businesses that makes the neighborhood a great place to live.

Jaunted

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