9 FUN REASONS TO GO DOWNTOWN
People are heading downtown for a number of reasons: a night in Petco Park, dancing in the nightclubs, a new exhibit at the Museum of Art, a day in Balboa Park, even a romantic dinner. But like most cities that boom quickly, activities pop up that fly under the radar. Not all are elusive, but you might not find them on the usual lists of attractions, and so they make a whole other list. — Ryan Thomas

1: TNT
The first Thursday of every month, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego brings the underground art scene to the forefront with rare and unique exhibits, throwing in local music acts, panel discussions, and a club like atmosphere complete with two bars. It’s called TNT, and it is an artist-hipster’s dreamland. But don’t let the young crowd fool you, the artists know their stuff. Past nights have included fashion shows from Tijuana designers and mural projects by local graffiti artists, to name but a couple. October settles down a bit for expansion and renovations with an iLounge, where iPod users can play DJs to guests perusing the art, and picks up again in December with a project that invites the public down to draw art on the walls. "TNT is one of the only events in San Diego where the high life and contemporary art unite with today’s young crowd," says assistant curator Lucia Sanroman. "With bands, drinks, arts and crafts, and workshops, it allows people close contact with the artists." Entrance into TNT requires a small donation of at least $3 to help support the ongoing program. (www.mcasd.org)

2: Kettner Nights
Art walks are springing up all over the country, and Little Italy is sort of like San Diego’s answer to The Village in Manhattan, where artist lofts share space with contemporary design shops, offering the best of art and décor. On various Fridays throughout the year, artists open the doors to their studios while the stores provide wine and hors d’ouevres to browsers. The walk comprises some ten blocks, close to neighborhood restaurants and bars, so after you’ve purchased that new painting or imported sofa you’ve been after, you can celebrate with a cocktail. "Every Kettner Nights is different," says Aki Martin of the Scott White Contemporary Art Gallery. "It’s a progressive exhibition unlike anything else in downtown San Diego, running the gamut from fine contemporary art to what’s new in furniture design. Some galleries will have special guests, and other stores might have speakers giving tips on design. It’s really savvy and sophisticated." (www.taddsd.com)

3: Gallery Gallivanting
The museums of Balboa Park are among the best in the country, and routinely astound with unique exhibitions and events. However, downtown San Diego is a budding art scene, and sometimes the rarest and most ingenious pieces can be found in any of the small galleries nestled between restaurants, bars, and clothing shops. "There are a handful of galleries in the Gaslamp district and more in Little Italy, and that number will continue to grow," says Ruth Ann Thorn, owner of Exclusive Collections, which opens its newest location this month on Market and Fifth. Thorn says she’s been watching the downtown area for five years, anticipating the growing art scene. The time to open is now, she says, and one of her first orders of business will be to create a Gaslamp art gallery association. "The art scene in downtown is really beginning to happen, and we won’t even recognize it in five years. Not everybody wants to come downtown to party, many want to have a nice dinner and look at the galleries. It’s going to be a nice little art destination." (www.ecgallery.com)

4: Overture For An Overnight
When it comes to great maestros, Jahja Ling is one of the best. Under his direction, the San Diego Symphony has become a world-renowned outfit, attracting listeners from far and wide to experience the great works of Mozart, Vivaldi, Brahms, and everyone in between. But it doesn’t have to end there. Just a few blocks from Copley Symphony Hall are two exclusive hotels, the Westgate and the Omni, each of which offers excellent dining both for dinner and brunch, not to mention unique room packages such as the Omni’s Live Like A Rockstar package, which includes limo service to nearby concerts. "Whether you are heading downtown to enjoy a Padres game, see a show, or go out to dinner, it’s a hassle-free way to see the town," says Ed Netzhammer, general manager of the Omni San Diego Hotel. "Park your car, enjoy a cocktail, and experience all that the Gaslamp offers." (www.sandiegosymphony.com, www.westgatehotel.com, www.omnihotels.com)

5: Jazz It Up
Compact though it might seem, the Gaslamp quarter offers some of the best jazz this side of Chicago. Most notably is Croce’s, a piano bar culled straight from pages of a noir novel. Owned and operated by wife of the late, great Jim Croce, crooners are usually joined by small ensembles, bringing us back to the days of Billie Holiday. Order a highball and have fun invoking the spirit of Dean Martin. For a chance to be a part of the jazz event, head over to the Onyx Room on Tuesday nights, where Jazz 88.3 sponsors their Tuesday Night Jazz Live series. "We’ve had some great artists," explains Claudia Russell, program director for Jazz 88, "like Bobby Hutcherson and Ernie Andrew. They do a great 90-minute radio show, so the audience becomes part of the show." Russell also points to Dizzy’s on Seventh and J, which is an all ages venue that continually hosts jazz bands, as well as the Museum of Art’s Jazz In The park series in Balboa Park. "I’m finding a lot of bigger clubs downtown are doing jazz happy hours and jazz Sunday brunches, perhaps to get the younger crowd interested in it, or to pull in the older demographic. A lot of places are getting top-notch acts." (www.jazz88online.org)

6: Bay Racing
Sure, you could take a tour of the bay on one of the harbor cruise boats, but a more unique experience awaits aboard the only three America’s Cup sailing vessels in the nation open to the public, Abracadabra and Dennis Conner’s two Stars and Stripes. The 80-foot-long ships head out onto the water and then match race each other, just like in the America’s Cup race. Guests are invited to help out the crew, whether trimming the sails or even steering the boat. "The America’s Cup is huge right now," says Warren Allen of Next Level Sailing, which charters tours on the ships. "Right now is the first time ever the Cup has been raced in Europe and the Spanish government is spending 600 million euro on it. What we do is a full-on America’s Cup experience, and you get to pitch in or sit back and enjoy the experience." Next Level Sailing is also available for corporate events; reservations are required. (www.nextlevelsailing.com)

7: Play Hard
Downtown has its own version of Off Broadway (or Off Globe, if you will). Triple Espresso in the Gaslamp is a constant award winner that never fails to have audiences laughing. A short ride up through Little Italy and India Street is where you’ll find local improv at National Comedy Theatre. Notable improvers have been known to drop by, and KUSI’s own weatherwoman, Renee Kohn, routinely shows off her funny bone on stage. The setting is intimate, but the laughs are big. (www.nationalcomedy.com) If performance art (including music and visual exhibitions) is your thing, try Sushi Performance and Visual Art, which has been wowing audiences for years with a variety of acts from San Diego and Mexico. "The arts scene is very stable," says Jeremy Gaucher, artistic director for Sushi. "The city and county are really supportive of it all. The unifying theme downtown is that it’s contemporary. It reminds people of places like New York." Gaucher and Sushi have collaborated with several arts organizations downtown, and now offer Sushi Take Out, which brings performances around the city to different locations. "We’re going to have a Zimbabwe performance in City Heights, and we’ll be starting 4X4 at the Blue Foot Bar & Lounge in North Park, which will let local artists test their acts in front of live audiences before performing them on stage. It’s going to be a really cool thing for the community." (www.sushiart.org)

8: Taste The World
San Diegans know where to head for fine dining: French cuisine at Mille Fleurs, sushi at Cafe Japengo, steak at Donovan’s, seafood at Anthony’s. But too often overlooked are the rare world flavors of some downtown eateries. If you’ve never tried Afghan fare, stop at Chopahn Restaurant on Sixth Avenue and try their famous kebabs and dumplings. Chopahn not only wins kudos with the local foodies for the menu, but also for it’s classy dining room. (www.chopahnrestaurant.com) A hop, skip, and jump away in Mission Hills is Parallel 33, which features food from countries in the Tigris/Euphrates River Valley (who share our spot on the 33rd Parallel). Menu items include dishes from Lebanon, India, Morocco, and China to name a few, and all are top rate. If you’re there later in the night, mingle in the Blue Lotus, a sophisticated lounge where DJs spin low-key tunes. (www.parallel33sd.com) Mr. Tiki Mai Tai Lounge, on Fifth Ave, brings Polynesian fare in from the tropics and plops it in an urban setting. Grab some appetizers and a big island drink before seeing a show. (www.cohnrestaurants.com) Over on Fourth Ave is Bandar, a favorite for foodies with a Persian palette. Dishes range from such meaty favorites as the baby spring lamb shank to dolmeh (stuffed grape leaves). (www.bandarrestaurant.com) Not sure what you’re in the mood for? Spin a globe and stab a finger, chances are you’ll find it downtown.

9: The View From Above
The Padres are in full swing, but going to Petco requires a certain frame of mind, what with the dense crowds, high priced concession food, and boisterous shouting rattling your eardrums. San Diegans who would like to watch the game in a trendier, classier atmosphere head to the rooftop bars of surrounding hotels and sip martinis while getting a bird’s-eye view of the action. Altitude Skybar, high atop the Marriott Hotel, and J Bar, atop Hotel Solamar, are the two most popular ones. Both entertain a well-dressed, attractive crowd, while hip DJs provide loungy beats and large flat screen televisions play the game below. Centrally placed fire pits add an ambient, warm glow to the open night sky, and comfortable seating abounds for anyone striking up casual conversation, engaging in business deals, or meeting the Padres fan of their dreams. "A lot of people don’t know about it," says Reggie Parks, general manager of food and beverage operations for Altitude. "It’s one of the best kept secrets in San Diego. You can come up to the top and watch the game without binoculars, there’s no cover, and we do happy hours with free food. It’s a beautiful crowd, but there’s no pretense. There are 20-somethings, 30-somethings, 40-somethings, couples, all gathering in the same place with ease. You can get a dinner at the restaurant below, then head to the roof to watch the game. It’s a great reason to come downtown."