It occured to me that there are (myself included) only four dadbloggers here in San Diego (please don't send me nasty emails if you are a San Diego dadblogger and I didn't mention you), all of us will be at BlogHer '11 in some capacity, and none of us has (as of this writing) stepped up to offer our fellow male attendees any tips on Guy-Specific things to do while in San Diego, apart from hanging out with hundreds of women who'll be fawning all over us, because I don't give a fuck what you say, that's one of the reasons guys go to BlogHer. Own it, and be free.
Anyway, I'll keep it short and sweet. Here's 5 suggestions for you. You're welcome.
5. Drink some beer at Karl Strauss. San Diego is one of America's best beer towns; our micro- and local breweries can go head-to-head (pun intended) with the nation's best. Pop in to the Karl Strauss brewpub downtown and sample their wares. Recommended: the Amber Lager, of course, and whatever the current special happens to be.
4. Eat a fish taco. San Diego has the best Mexican food in the U.S. We sit right on the border, we don't serve microwaved Velveeta and try to pass it off as "queso" (sorry, Texas, but real queso fundido is actual melted cheese, not Pasteurized Processed Cheese Food), and residents can be fined if caught dining at El Torito. Regarding the fish taco: you may have them where you live, and they may be decent, but they are cheap knock-offs. For the real deal, go to Rubio's - they're generally good, and Rubio's is widely credited as being the first place to offer authetic Baja-style fish tacos to the gueros, but if you don't get them fresh out of the fryer, they lose a little something. (And wash it down with a Pacifico and lime, or a Negra Modelo. Because Coronas are for frat boys and tourists.)
3. Hit the beach. Are you really going to sit through all of those conference sessions while outside the sun shines and the ocean breezes beckon? Of course you're not. You're in Paradise, for Chrissake. Take the Coronado Bay Bridge, and follow the signs to the water. Chill out, maybe bodysurf (and try not to drown - the beachbreak can be punishing), then grab a beer at McP's or show a little class with a martini at the Hotel Del's famous B & S Bar. Also, if you were looking for a Rubio's downtown, you're out of luck, but there is one on Coronado, so hey, now you have another excuse.
2. Check out the ballpark. Petco Park is pretty sweet, even if you're not a baseball fan. There aren't any games scheduled during BlogHer, but it's worth a look. (Fun Fact: my grandmother used to work in the Western Metal Supply building, which now serves as one of the ballpark's walls.) And once you've done that - it'll only take a few minutes - go grab a Mule and a genuine Chicago hot dog (Vienna Beef, flown in from Chicago) at Wolffy's Place. Especially if you're a midwesterner who's confused and frightened by our heretical California ways.
1. Roam The Gaslamp in search of adventure. There are all sorts of killer places awaiting you in the Gaslamp District. Explore! Do I have a favorite? I'd be hard-pressed to pick one. The Field is an authentic Irish pub - and by "authentic", I mean "literally shipped brick-by-brick from Ireland to San Diego" - with a massive selection of whisky (they claim to have 50 different labels). Vin de Syrah is a great place to chill out before or after a night of carousing. And the Cuban Cigar Factory on 5th has beer, wine, and cigars. Cigars!
That ought to get you started. I'll be around, and will probably see some of you there. You know, even though I'm a surly bastard who hates crowds and has little use for tourists, I'm almost excited for BlogHer. Almost.