(insert title here) - Volume 2 Issue 1 - Local-eyes: San Diego, California by Suzanne Bestler

Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the desert is a twenty-mile strip of forced greenery commonly known as San Diego and it's suburbs. In this most southern part of California (where L.A. is commonly referred to as "up north") a disturbing sense of surreality is achieved between the ubiquitous tract homes and strip malls and our location only an hour away from one of the most destitute cities in all of the Americas: Tijuana. Here, one grows up with the fact that if the sprinklers are shut off for more than a week the entire city will crumble and fall back into the chaparral. Thankfully, this hotbed of postmodern angst has given rise to an incredible array of outlets for alternative cultures.

Best Alternative Record Store: Lou's Records

The small seaside town of Encinitas is home to Lou's Records, a wonderland of vinyl, dj equipment, videos, t-shirts, magazines and cds crammed into two small, ramshackle buildings - one for new and one for used. Their used vinyl selection I have never seen equaled in size, composition, organization, and price. It is here where I once had the opportunity to buy a rare Coil 12" for $1.99. The best part about Lou's is their attention to the entire spectrum of alternative music. My Dad can browse through the blues section and find rare re-issues of Hound Dog Taylor, while I can consistently find first pressings of my favourite imported experimental music superstars. It is truly a magical place.

Best Atmosphere: Best Place to Find Yourself: The Self-Realization Fellowship Meditation Gardens

One of the best examples of Middle Eastern architecture in North County also houses one of its most restful spots: The Self-Realization Fellowship Meditation Gardens. A large part of the job of the gardeners there is to simply walk around and pick up leaves as soon as they fall off the plants (no joke!). The highlight of the garden is its natural beauty: located on the rugged ocean cliffs of Encinitas, the precipitous drops and strong trees seem to both suggest and counter thoughts of man's inhumanity to man. It's a simple way to center oneself after a long day of oppression.

Best Area Coffee Shop (although now defunct): The Arthouse

It brought a tear to every grunge boy and goth girl's eye when the Arthouse shut down several years ago. A proving ground for the area's pop culture intelligentsia, highlights included the Loft (complete with snooty chess board), the ample bookshelves stuffed with bizarre novels (that were constantly stolen and returned) and the Arthouse "book": A huge journal on a pedestal where people wrote poems and notes of despair and desperation, to be answered in kind by people one would most likely never meet (but dream of, certainly). You went for the people, put it that way.

Best Place to See a Show: Soma Live

Soma: A huge box, 150' long, 100' high, and 25' wide. A stage at one end, two gutted bathrooms and the most tight-assed security guards at any venue in San Diego (they once made me throw away all of my art pencils for fear they would be used as weapons). When you're packed into this space with about 200 other people and the ashes of a thousand cigarettes glowing in the blacklight, you can't help but enjoy yourself. It's a simple sociological situation that always turns out strangely.

Best Local Artist: Kid 606/The Physics

A strange assortment of individuals have called San Diego home over the years, including Eddie Vedder and Jewel. But I have to say that my favourite person who ever spent a lot of time in San Diego is Kid 606. Come on, did you really think I was going to say Blink-182? As far as local bands, The Physics win hands down. Between the moody analog synths and the indie rock guitar, you simply can't go wrong.

Now, get out there and fight capitalism - and enjoy San Diego, too.

THE END.

Local-eyes™: San Diego/North County, California

by Suzanne Bestler