Which San Diego nightclubs made the top 100?

Did your favorite club make the list?

It may not be Vegas or L.A., but San Diego is increasingly recognized as a hip nightlife destination, with new clubs opening each year.

As evidence of its new-found reputation, the just released list of the top 100 money-making clubs in the U.S. included seven local venues. Just a year earlier, only four local clubs made their way onto the list.

Compiled by Technomic, a market research firm, and Nightclub & Bar, an industry trade group, the list is based on a survey late last year of more than 800 nightclubs in the U.S. and takes into account 2011 revenues.

According to the research, 70 percent of the ranked venues reported increased revenue growth in 2011, with nearly half saying they had increases exceeding 10 percent.

“Overall, the top clubs and bars continue to generate growth well in excess of the overall bar and nightclub segment, which grew 1 percent in 2011,” said David Henkes, who heads Technomic's Adult Beverage Practice. “Although the economy and the industry did show signs of recovery last year, these venues obviously excelled at concept innovation and operational execution, as well as promotion, which enabled them to experience such exceptional growth.”

San Diego's Fluxx nightclub, which opened in March of 2010, was the highest revenue producer among San Diego venues, at No. 24. Its revenues last year, like most of the San Diego clubs on the list, were between $10 million and $15 million, a healthy return but still far off the $35 million to $80 million generated by Las Vegas night spots.

Technomic and Nightclub & Bar were able to more precisely rank the various clubs by using survey data, plus secondary research that included public databases and industry sources.

Last year was an exceptional one for the 8,000-square-foot Fluxx, said manager Dave Renzella,. Revenues in December, for example, shot up 30 percent over the same month a year earlier.

"It's been a good year for nightclubs in general," said Renzella, "This past holiday weekend there were a lot of places downtown that were packed, lines outside the door."

Read more: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/feb/22/which-sd-nightclubs-made-the-top-100/

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Sixth Annual Busker Festival at Seaport Village 3/24 and 3/25

This looks like a blast! Have you gone before?

Seaport Village will welcome the unthinkable from across the country at its sixth annual Spring Busker Festival, Saturday, March 24th and Sunday, March 25th, 2012 from 12 noon to 5pm. The celebration brings colorful street performers like sword swallowers, jugglers on unicycles, escape artists and comedic stuntmen to the cobblestone streets of downtown's Seaport Village. The extraordinary and bizarre talents at this year's festival will provide outdoor amusement for all unlike any other festival in the region.

Shops, restaurants and eateries will add to Seaport's Spring Busker Festival flair with special sales. Enjoy two hours of parking in the Seaport Village lot for only $1 with any purchase and pay only $4 per hour thereafter. In addition, a complimentary shuttle will be provided from the County Administration Building (1600 Pacific Highway). Parking is $10 for the day and shuttles will run every 15 minutes from 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. The event runs March 24 and 25, 2012, from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. with Buskers After Dark on March 24 from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. All shops, restaurants and eateries will be open for shopping and dining from 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. While the Spring Busker Festival is free of charge, all buskers will be accepting tips.

For more information, visit: www.seaportvillage.com/entertainment/busker-festival

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5 to Try in San Diego: Valentine’s Day Edition

Got plans for the big day? Check out these great suggestions.

No matter how long you’ve been with your valentine (or looking for one!) here’s our 5 to Try for Valentine’s Day celebrations throughout San Diego.

1. Valentine’s Beer Tasting Dinner: Spoil your man with a Beer Tasting Dinner brought to you by La Jolla Wine Tours. Dinner includes four-course dinner with dessert, each course paired with a local San Diego craft brew. Includes a behind the scenes tour of a brewery.

 

2. San Diego Symphony: A Valentine’s Romance with Broadway’s Best: Love is in the air. He’s Hugh Panaro, Broadway’s Phantom. She’s Jennifer Holliday, star of the original Dreamgirls. As Cupid takes aim, sparks will fly when two of our favorite performers return to San Diego. Performances are February 10th and 11th at 8:00 p.m.

 

3. Magic 92.5 Valentine’s Hook Up Singles Cruise: Don’t miss your chance to mix and mingle with other San Diego singles as you cruise on your own private yacht around San Diego Bay. This annual Valentine’s Hook Up Singles Cruise could be the most unique and romantic place to meet that special someone!

 

4. The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show: Add a little mystery to your Valentine’s Day with this interactive dinner. The show takes place throughout the entire room, and performers may actually be seated at your table, so part of the fun from the beginning is trying to figure out who’s involved in the crime and who’s not. Throughout the night, murders and mayhem will occur, hidden clues will come forth and our Detectives will help everyone try to solve the crime.

 

5. Love is in the Air: A Valentine’s Day Tribute to Sinatra: Snuggle up to your sweetie at Anthology for the most romantic show of the year. Singer, John Vincent, brings his signature Sinatra tribute show to San Diego just in time for Valentine’s Day. Vincent’s show is so spot on, you’ll think you’re being serenaded by Old Blue Eyes himself.

Read more http://blog.sandiego.org/2012/02/5-to-try-in-san-diego-valentines-day-edition/

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7 Unexpected Uses for Your Microwave

What's the best recipe you've ever made in a microwave?

Chances are you have a microwave sitting somewhere in your kitchen. They've gotten smaller over the years, but even the most svelte version takes up precious real estate. It's time to put that baby to work.


Here are 7 unexpected uses for your microwave:


1. Cook fish - Cook a steak in the microwave and you'll end up with shoe leather. Fish, on the other hand, can be cooked perfectly in the microwave. Simply wrap your fish in microwave-safe plastic with a little seasoning (salt and pepper and some lemon, perhaps) and cook for about 2 minutes on high. (The time for doneness will vary depending on the strength of your microwave and the size and shape of your fillet. Watch it closely to prevent overcooking.) 


2. Sanitize your kitchen sponge - Sponges are a breeding ground for germs. It's easy to just throw them away, but they're not cheap, so extend the use of your sponge by zapping away harmful bacteria in your microwave daily! Just place your (wet) sponge in the microwave and nuke it for 2 minutes on High. That should be enough to kill 99% of the harmful bacteria that set up camp there. 


3. Make potato chips - It's hard to believe anything can get as crispy as a potato chip in the microwave, but believe it! Thinly sliced potatoes crisp up beautifully in the microwave (see the recipe below) and since these crispy chips aren't fried, they're healthier for you, too, with around 8 grams less fat per serving than regular chips. Who knew?


4. Steam vegetables - Put that annoying steamer basket away and cook your veggies in the microwave. Not only is it easier, but it's better for you. The longer and hotter you cook a food, the more you'll lose certain heat- and water-sensitive nutrients, especially vitamin C and thiamin ­- a B vitamin. Because microwave cooking often cooks foods more quickly, it can actually help to minimize nutrient losses. 


5. Soften brown sugar - Ever go to make cookies and find your brown sugar is as hard as a rock? Put down your chisel, moisten some paper towels and place them on top of your brick of brown sugar. Microwave in 30-second increments and your brown sugar will loosen up. Crisis averted. 


6. Cook bacon - No room for another pan on your stove to cook bacon in for breakfast? No worries. You can get crispy bacon in your microwave. (With less mess!) Cover a microwave-safe dish with a couple of paper towels. Add bacon in a single layer. Cover the bacon with a couple more paper towels and cook in 2-minute increments until crispy.


7. Use it as a proofer - Calling all bakers! Need a warm, moist place for your dough to rise? The microwave is the perfect place to set up a temporary proofer (for nonbakers, a proofer is a contraption that creates ideal conditions, i.e., warm and moist, for yeast breads to rise.) The sealed environment of your microwave will keep the moisture and heat in. Just heat a cup of water in your microwave until it's steaming, then put your dough in along with it, shut the door and let it do its thing.


Microwave Potato Chips 


Active time: 30 minutes | Total: 30 minutes | To make ahead: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.


You don't need a deep fryer to make crispy potato chips. We toss thinly sliced potatoes with just a touch of olive oil, pop them in the microwave and voilà! Crispy, crunchy homemade potato chips with 8 grams less fat per serving than regular chips.


1 1/3 pounds Yukon Gold or red potatoes, unpeeled, scrubbed 
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil 
1/2 teaspoon salt


1. Slice potatoes into thin (1/8-inch) rounds. Toss the slices in a medium bowl with oil and salt to coat evenly. 


2. Coat a large microwave-proof plate with cooking spray. Arrange some potato slices in a single layer on the plate. Microwave, uncovered, on High until some slices start to brown, 2 to 3 minutes (depending on potato thickness and microwave power). Turn the slices over and continue microwaving until they start to crisp and brown around the edges, 2 to 4 minutes more. Check frequently and rearrange slices as needed to prevent scorching. Transfer the chips to another plate and allow to cool completely. (They will crisp more as they cool.) Repeat with the remaining potato slices.


Makes 4 servings, 12-14 chips each. 


Per serving: 141 calories; 2 g fat (0 g sat, 2 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 26 g carbohydrate; 3 g protein; 2 g fiber; 291 mg sodium; 807 mg potassium.

How do you use your microwave?

Read more: http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/7-unexpected-uses-microwave-164800328.html

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