When Life Gives You Lemons . . . Head to San Diego

Lemons might not be the first thing (or second thing) you think of when talking about San Diego, but our town actually has some historical ties to this bright yellow fruit.  When the Sweetwater Dam was completed in 1888, bringing in much needed water, the combination of our sunny skies and rich soil, led to massive lemon groves, especially in Chula Vista.  Believe it or not, today San Diego has plenty of lemony activities to try out.  

Did you know San Diego actually has a suburb named Lemon Grove?  It only makes sense that the largest lemon statue in the world is located here.  At over 3,000 pounds, 10 feet long and 6 feet wide, this impressive citrusy work of art has been on display for close to 90 years.  Located on the corner of Main Street and Broadway, originally created to be a parade float, the statue was plastered in 1930 to become a more permanent outdoor fixture in the community.  The base is engraved with San Diego's motto since 1925, "Best Climate on Earth," another reason why we deserve the title "America's Finest City."  

At one point Chula Vista was the largest grower of lemons in the world.  Whether or not this is true today doesn't stop the community from planning the popular Chula Vista Lemon Festival, a local favorite for over 20 years.  This Sunday, August 7th from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, stop by the free event for live music, crafts, hundreds of vendor booths, and of course, plenty of lemon-flavored drinks and eats.  You won't want to miss the lemon pie eating contest at noon and the largest lemon and lemon peel contest at 2:30 PM.  The Festival Fun Zone will make the kids happy, and the Craft Beer Garden will put a smile on the adults' faces.  Some of the craft beers served will be lemon-infused, and all beers will be priced at $5.  

We've raved about the desserts at Extraordinary Desserts before, and when it comes to lemony confections, we have to say, this place is the best.  All the sweets here look more like works of art than food and they never compromise on taste.  There are two locations, one in Little Italy and one near Balboa Park, and both are amazing.  You can start with their custardy lemon bars, a perfect mix of sweet and tart, or the lemon meringue tartlets, a perfect bite (or two) of lemon curd covering in their signature meringue.  The Lemon Ricotta Cake is a light and creamy torte made up of lemon whipped cream layered between ricotta cakes that have been moistened with lemon juice and fresh blueberries and blackberries.  The piece de resistance is their famous lemon meringue pie.  Imagine four layers of lemon soaked ricotta pound cake and lemon curd all enveloped in toasted whipped meringue.  You might need repeat visits to fully experience all the lemony dessert heaven served here.  

For the best lemonade in town head over to one of two locations of the newly opened California-chain named Lemonade.  This place looks like a cafeteria from the future, serving a seasonal menu that has health-conscience choices along with decadent options like white truffle mac and cheese and Nutella cheesecake.  The only complaint you might have is that there are too many delicious choices, including their wide selection of homemade lemonades.  The "Old-fashioned" never disappoints but there are also more exotic flavors like "Cucumber Mint" and "Blood Orange."  We recommend asking for a sample before choosing which flavor to indulge in.  

Talk about making lemonade out of lemons!  We've got plenty to eat, drink, and do thanks to that sour citrus fruit.  Plan a refreshing holiday starting with booking a beach house or bayside retreat from Mission Bay Vacation Rentals, then follow our guide to find some sweet lemony treats.

Shakespeare in San Diego

There are so many ways to spend a beautiful San Diego evening, one of which is to spend an evening out at an amazing restaurant and then at one of the greatest theaters in the county. Built in 1935 (after the Globe Theatre in London, where Shakespeare himself saw many of his plays performed), The Old Globe Theatre is a San Diego staple.  Also called the Simon Edison Centre of the Performing Arts, the beautiful tudor replica is made up of three stages, and is located in the heart of Balboa Park.  The Globe always has spectacular productions, and the next two months’ productions are going to add to its stellar reputation. 

This week, until July 26th, is the Shakespearean comedy Twelfth Night a classic tale of mixed identity, romance with a proper dose of hilarity.  This play is light-hearted fun and truly showcases ‘The Bard’s’ talent for elaborate word play.  Famed stage director Rebecca Taichman has created imaginative, modern sets that are visually stunning and will transept you to a magical world full of merry and wit. 

Starting on July 1st to August 2nd is the entertaining and uproarious Cole Porter musical, Kiss Me Kate, a modern take on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.  Filled with toe-tapping tunes, clever dialogue and lively dance numbers, this production has been newly staged by Tony award-winning director, Darko Tresnjak.  This is one of the greatest musical comedies ever staged and you won’t want to miss your chance to enjoy it.  

But, before you catch a show, you’ll want a delicious pre-theater meal and The Prado, located a short walk from the Globe, is the perfect choice.  Dine on creative small bites like the Seared American Kobe Beef Sushi Roll and entrees like the Pan Roasted Sea Bass while gazing at the Japanese Gardens.  They are known for having the prettiest outdoor dining space in San Diego. 

After the show, you might be craving something sweet, and Extraordinary Desserts (also close to the Globe) is the place to go.  Choose one of their decadent desserts like the Blueberry Cheesecake Coffee Cake, the  Salted Caramel Chocolate Tarts or the Creme Brûlée Aux Fruits Rogues — tart shells painted with white chocolate then filled with vanilla creme brûlée and topped with a fresh berry (yum!).  If you’re craving something savory, try the sea salt kettle chips or the avocado bruschetta.  They absolutely live up to their name, and they’re open until midnight on Friday and Saturday. 

If you want to grab a cocktail after the show and like to keep things very casual, then visit Nunu's, a local dive bar that’s been around for over 50 years.  This watering-hole is near the theater, always has great tunes playing, and sometimes you can catch cast members hanging out after a performance at The Old Globe.  Nunu’s is known for its cozy booths, friendly staff, and hearty bar (fried) food.  This joint isn’t fancy, but it is fun.

We can’t think of a better way to spend a night in San Diego than eating dinner al fresco, catching a play at our favorite theater, and ending the night with either dessert or hanging out with locals at an old-fashioned dive bar.  At Mission Bay Vacation Rentals we love any excuse to hop over to Balboa Park, which is just a few minutes away.  And if Shakespeare could see this Globe Theatre, we're sure he would have packed his bags and moved in a heartbeat.