Please excuse my absence last week, but I had a baby to attend to. My brother and sister-in-law had a new baby, and Sean and I headed down to San Diego to visit the family. She is a beautiful baby girl named Julia, and I can’t wait for you to meet her.

This is me and baby Julia, making her grumpy old man face. When we arrived in San Diego, Julia was only three days old. And so incredibly tiny. She looks just like her big sister, Eliana, and I’m sure they are going to be great friends. Julia is the sweetest little thing, so quiet and calm, with that wonderful, intoxicating milky baby scent. I’m so in love with my two beautiful nieces, and so happy that I get to be a part of their lives.

Clearly, baby Julia and not-a-baby Eliana are the very best of my Friday Favorites this week.

But there are other great things about San Diego! I grew up there, and I have to admit that I didn’t appreciate it until after I moved away. I didn’t like the suburbs and the freeways, and I wasn’t a beach girl or a surfer. I still think I belong in Northern California, but I love visiting San Diego these days, for its natural beauty, its burgeoning restaurant scene, the excellent weather, and of course, my awesome family.

This time around we tried out a few new places, and visited some long time favorites. I wish that I had pictures of all of these places, but my camera was pretty well trained on my girls.

Eating

I didn’t know much about San Diego’s restaurant scene when I was growing up, but the revitalization of the downtown area has definitely upped the game around here. We always eat somewhere fantastic when I go home, and this time was no different. We had lunch one afternoon at URBN Coal Fired Pizza in North Park. The spot (and the whole neighborhood, really) is highly recommended. We ordered a cheese plate to share (the cheese was the right temperature, and the bread was warm and crusty), some locally brewed beers, and a crispy-crusted pizza topped with tender beef, mashed potatoes (!), parmesan, and arugula. So good.

We also had lunch one day at Casa Machado at Montgomery Field. We’ve been eating here as long as I can remember. It’s not just the novelty of watching small aircraft take off and land while you’re eating lunch. The food is really outstanding. This time I had a chile colorado burrito that had me swooning. The sauce was perfect, the beef was tender, the tortilla was soft and chewy. I’ve never had a bad meal here. It’s a bit out of the way, but totally worth the trek.

Finally, we had a really special brunch at Big Kitchen in South Park. This tiny cafe has been my brother’s and sister-in-law’s spot for a long time. They even had their engagement photos taken here. It’s a special and quirky place, with a very friendly and casual owner, eye-catching decor, a ramshackle, cobbled together and cozy feeling, and some damn good breakfast. I had a big ol’ breakfast burrito with eggs and avocados, and some super tasty herbes de provence potatoes. The biscuits and gravy were superb with a little something-something (curry powder?) that made them stand out. And the warmth of this place just made me feel at home. At one point everyone at our table was singing along to The Beatles’ song that was playing in the restaurant. That was pretty spectacular.

Other favorite spots we’ve visited in the past: The Tractor Room (excellent cocktails and MEAT), Banker’s Hill Bar and Grill, Charisma Cucina Italiana, and Vagabond.

Outdoors

I grew up going to the beach and playing in the Pacific Ocean, but it’s been a really long time. I’m so glad we squeezed in an afternoon at Torrey Pines this year!

It was sunny and warm, the water was refreshing (ok, it’s cold right when you get in, but you get used to it quickly), and it was so relaxing to sit in the sun and read while listening to the waves. It was also a total blast to play in the waves with my three year old niece. Her delight was palpable, and reminded me of my own childhood beach feelings: awe, joy, and the tiniest twinge of fear (in a roller-coaster-adrenaline way, not a terror-filled way).

We also took a drive out to Point Loma to walk at Cabrillo National Monument. There is a path that leads from the monument down to the waterfront, and back up. It was a beautiful day, and an easy hike (about 2 miles each way, and not too steep), with terrific views of downtown San Diego and all the sailors out enjoying the gorgeous Bay. It was a pretty crowded day at the Monument itself, but the path was much less crowded.

Some other favorite spots to visit in San Diego: La Jolla Cove, Los Peñasquitos Preserve, Pacific Beach and the boardwalk, and Balboa Park.

And my final San Diego Friday Favorite? Waking up in the morning and sitting in my parents’ kitchen with a cup of coffee, checking email with Dad, sharing funny videos with Mom, and watching the birds splash outside the window.