Where NOT to eat in La Jolla

This won't make me popular with a couple of local restaurateurs, but I have had two very disappointing meals in the village recently.

Until they mend their ways (hire a new chef?), I suggest you avoid Bistro 101 and Alfonso's - both restaurants are on Prospect Street.

I don't like reporting negative experiences, but the whole point of this blog is to help you get the most out of your time in La Jolla -- and that includes leading you away from cold soup and cardboard burritos.

La Jolla Art & Wine Festival

Shopping opportunities draw visitors to Girard Avenue every day, but this will be especially true on Saturday and Sunday, October 10 and 11, from 9am - 5pm. The La Jolla Art & Wine Festival will showcase the work of 300 artists from Southern California and Northern Baja (selected by jury).

The street fair will take place on upper Girard Avenue, between Pearl and Genter, and will include live entertainment and a wine and beer garden (11am - 5pm). To date, six local wineries and Ballast Point Brewery (http://www.ballastpoint.com/) are participating.

Admission is $7 for adults, $3 for children age 3-12; and free for age 2 and under. All proceeds benefit underfunded programs at three local public schools. The Open Aire Market on the La Jolla Elementary School playground will remain free of charge on Sunday.

For more information, see http://www.lajollaartandwinefestival.com/ or email info@lajollaartandwinefestival.com

This is going to be a wonderful community event and out-of-towners are welcome to join the fun.

Photo courtesy Milagro Farm Vineyards & Winery

The Children's Pool Has Gone to the Dogs....er Seals

To fully appreciate La Jolla's Children's Pool - the lovely little cove along Coast Boulevard where the seals hang out - it helps to know the back story.

In 1931, philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps funded the construction of a sea wall around the cove so that La Jolla kids would have a safe place to swim. All was well until about ten years ago when seal numbers in the area increased noticeably and, in fact, the area became a rookery.

At this point, some La Jollans began defending the rights of the seals and others became very vociferous about how this should be a place for children, blah, blah, blah. At times the battle bordered on ridiculous and, of course, it ended up in court.

The city (remember, La Jolla is part of San Diego) roped off the area so that humans couldn't pester the seals, but in 2005 a judge ordered the rope removed. The judge also directed the city to reduce the bacteria level in the area so that it would be safe for swimming.

The California Supreme Court has refused to overturn the ruling, and to dredge or not to dredge is hotly debated every week in the two La Jolla newspapers. In the meantime, pro-seal volunteers patrol the area 24/7 and answer visitors' questions.

March and April are great months to visit the Children's Pool because it's pupping season - and while you're there, you might say thanks to the seal's tireless supporters.

Shiley Eye Center at UCSD

I just finished reading an article about a professor of ophthalmology at Shiley Eye Center at the University of California San Diego, who helped discover a gene associated with the dry form of macular degeneration.

How on earth, you're asking yourself, is this relevant to a blog About La Jolla?

Well, it reminded me how lucky I am to live in a community that is a treasuretrove of medical facilities and that I should mention this to potential visitors.

I realize that cataract surgery isn't a common vacation activity, but you wouldn't be the first. Patients come from all over the world to be treated by Shiley doctors. So why not have the best possible care and beautiful surroundings?

At Shiley (http://health.ucsd.edu/specialties/eyes/), services range from serious stuff like pediatric ophthalmology and cornea transplants to image enhancing "lid lifts." The center is located on the UCSD campus, a stone's throw from Thornton Hospital - also know as the "Ritz Thornton" - but most procedures are done in Shiley's own surgery center.

Beaches, shopping and dining options, and some of the area's best hotels are all nearby.

Come and see for yourself.

La Taverna

La Jolla has lots of “destination restaurants” that serve good food – and sometimes a view – to out-of-towners.

Then there are the restaurants the locals patronize…places that depend on return business and don’t have a vista to distract from other weaknesses. One of these is La Taverna – snuggled between a dry cleaners and a shoe repair shop at 927 Silverado Street (858-454-0100; http://www.lataverna.com/).

The tiny restaurant offers only a half dozen tables inside and about the same number on a sidewalk patio. The menu of Italian comfort food includes grilled salmon on white bean salad (my favorite), pan-roasted shrimp with garlic and arugula-basil pesto, Parmesan chicken on roasted garlic mashed potatoes, and other satisfying dishes.

At La Taverna, everything is made on site, including wonderful bread, sausages, and gnocchi. If you go, leave room for dessert. The restaurant's multi-layer banana cake is the stuff of legends. Lunch is served Monday - Friday and dinner is Monday - Saturday.

Chef/Proprietor Mary Ann Vitale also owns Sorella della Taverna (7420 Girard Ave., La Jolla, 858-866-6400), a deli where locals load up on items such as eggplant lasagna, penne pasta, and grilled vegetables. She also offers salads, sandwiches, and pizza. This gourmet-to-go spot is the perfect place for assembling an extraordinary picnic. They're open 10-5 Monday - Friday during the summer. Best to call for winter hours.

Bon appetito.

The La Jolla YMCA

The La Jolla Y is one of the best deals in town. Locals pay as little as $30 a month to use the heated outdoor pool and a very well-equipped gym. We can also take any number of classes from an extensive weekly menu that includes Pilates, aqua jogging, studio cycling, line dancing, stretch & strength, cardio kick boxing, and yoga (basic, hatha, hatha flow, vinyasa flow, power, and restorative). Surf lessons are offered for adults and teens during the summer.

And here's the surprising part: visitors can use all of the Y's facilities for only $10 a day. I know that many La Jolla hotels and resorts have their own fitness centers, but none compare with the options at the Y. This is the perfect set-up for out-of-towners who want a great workout in a top-notch place. It's also a good option for folks who don't like sweating alone. For instance, "Walk Fit" draws a congenial group of local women who take a serious stride around the neighborhood three mornings a week.

Don't have a hard body? No worries. Our Y caters to little kids and great-grandparents and every age in between. Seriously - an 85-year-old woman is a regular in my favorite Pilates class.

Located off La Jolla Scenic Drive North (just south of La Jolla Village Drive and UCSD), the Y also offers tennis courts, racquetball courts, saunas, a whirlpool spa, and special classes and camps for kids. Two hours of childcare are complimentary while parents are working out.

The Y (8355 Cliffridge Ave., La Jolla; tel. 858-453-3483) is open Monday to Thursday from 5am to 10pm; Friday from 5am to 9pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 7am to 6pm. Check out the website at http://www.lajolla.ymca.org/.

See you there.