Bound for Glory?; Memo to all visitors: Toss that official San Diego tourist guide and try ours instead. Think bohemian Home Edition

• Published in: The Los Angeles times
• Main Author: Romero, Dennis
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, Calif Los Angeles Times Communications LLC 09.08.1996
• Subjects: SAN DIEGO
• ISSN: 0458-3035

During the televised portions of the Republican National Convention on Aug. 12-15, you'll probably see the tourism-friendly side of San Diego--the beautiful new waterfront Convention Center, Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, the beaches and Balboa Park. So whether you go this week or later, keep in mind that the San Diego area has five main night-life areas to check out: the Gaslamp Quarter downtown (bustling with restaurants, bars and live music venues), the Garnet Avenue strip in Pacific Beach (the Melrose Avenue of San Diego), La Jolla's Prospect Avenue (an upscale dining and shopping mecca), Tijuana's Aveneda Revolucion (where it's always spring break) and Tijuana's Zona Rio (where upscale Mexicans party in world-class clubs). * Big Kitchen, 3003 Grape St., San Diego (Golden Hill), (619) 234-5789. This daily breakfast and lunch spot is a bohemian gathering place complete with a Jerry Garcia photo illustration and El Salvadoran art. During the convention, owner Judy Forman is holding nightly fund-raisers for such causes as the Peace Resource Center, the Native American Health Clinic and the Big Kitchen Endowment for the Arts. And in the wake of the Republicans' bash, she plans to organize a "cleansing of the Convention Center" on Aug. 18 that will include the burning of sage and the beating of drums outside the waterfront center. Open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.