The weather is warm and the happenings are hot. This is a rundown of nightlife, party-related events and fun things to do in San Diego for the weekend of July 14-16. Plus some more cool info on bars and upcoming events.
Opening Of The Lafayette Hotel
Here’s a hot nightlife tip for you: the Lafayette Hotel just opened (today, as I write this, in fact) and you can bet that the new Lobby Bar will be rocking this weekend. Friday, especially. I actually predict this to be a hot spot for the next several weekends. There is also a pool bar, which is open until dusk and that could be a happening place to chill out on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The Lafayette Hotel is where the opening bar scene of the original Top Gun was filmed, tho it was not in the Lobby Bar.
Over The Line Opening Weekend
The OTL begins its two-weekend run on Saturday, which is it traditionally its biggest party day. It’s free to go to and you can even take your own drinks! No glass bottles, tho. I suggest having some water, too, because there’s no shade and it’s going to be hot on Fiesta Island. This is the 70th anniversary of this long-standing event that is a San Diego institution.
Mezcal Sip & Savor Thursday June 13
Here’s an event to start your weekend off the right way. Understory and Urbana Mexican Gastronomy & Mixology join forces to present Sip & Savor, a Mezcal pairing experience on Thursday, July 13th. From 7 -9 p.m, it involves a four-course menu by Urbana’s Chef Ernie Alvarado, each course paired with Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal cocktails and neat pours.
Tickets are $120 and include the following:
• Agua Chile Tostadita (avocado, cucumber, spicy aioli, micro cilantro, on a house made corn tostadita) paired with a refreshing Agua Fresca cocktail.
• Cochinita Pibil Taco (Cochinita pibil shredded pork, pickled habanero & red onion, queso fresco, on a house made blue corn tortilla, micro cilantro) savored with a neat pour of Mezcal.
• Lobster Enchilada Roja (Filled with sauteed garlic butter lobster, heirloom tomato salsa, red onion, radish, crema, micro cilantro) paired with a creamy Horchata cocktail.
• Guava Flan (Creamy caramel custard infused with guava, topped with cajeta, vanilla ice cream, guava leaves) enjoyed with a closing neat pour.
Tickets are available here.
A Tequila Festival In Tijuana – For Only 8 Bucks!
Expo Tequila Tijuana is this weekend. In fact, it’s already started. Running thru July 16 from 1-11 p.m., it features agave distillates: sotol, bacanora, tequila, mezcal and raicilla. The location is on Revolución Ave., between 8th & 9th Streets. Specific highlights are as follows:
– Daily art show, music, singing and dancing | Family atmosphere
– Mexican appetizers
– Tickets: Admission is $130.00 pesos | Adults. That’s about $8 USD.
There’s no advance tickets so just show up to it. Here’s the event’s Facebook page.
Del Mar Opening Day Tickets
Del Mar Opening Day is coming up but if you’re expecting to show up and snag a GA ticket as in the past, then you’re SOL. That’s because all the GA tickets are sold out; track officials cut them off at 25,000. There used to be no limit and crowds exceeded 50,000. So if you want to go you’re going to have to pony up for grandstand or Turf Club seats. Bummer!
Margaritaville Gaslamp Update
The tiki bar is not yet open but the pool bar is; in fact it has a daily Happy Hour. I’ve been to it, which is called the Five O’Clock Somewhere Bar, and posted the scoop here. The downstairs bar won’t be open until at least mid-August. Initially Jimmy Buffett was looking into performing but that’s up in the air because of his health. Although, he recently made a surprise appearance in New England and popped into a radio station there, so maybe it will happen as a private event.
Party Events Taking Place Around The World
San Diego is hardly the only hot party spot in the world this weekend. Here’s what else is happening; the links provide more details:
• Bastille Day, July 14
• Running Of The Bulls, Pamplona, Spain
• The Calgary Stampede, Calgary Canada
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