Little Italy

Friday, January 2

Dessert at Acqua Al 2 in the Gaslamp Quarter  

                                                              http://www.acquaal2.com

                                       And some words of wisdom for ...

                             
                                                               Saturday, January 3
Mom & I explored the Farmer's Market in Little Italy.

http://www.littleitalysd.com/mercato/

Jim kindly obliged my request for a photo of his sea urchins. This is a pic after consumption!             He told us they taste like oysters but the consistency is more runny, like eggs. I am not a convert.

At Joes On The Nose,  a coconut hot chocolate for Mom and a mint hot chocolate for me.     
http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/06/street-food-profiles-joes-on-the-nose-in-san-diego-ca-california-coffee-espressos-truck.html

                              Then we walked the main street of Little Italy, "India Street".

                                                 one column of the Little Italy sign

                   

In November 2003, the Little Italy Association dedicated a permanent public space to honor Gunnery Sgt John Basilone and the “boys that never came home” from all of the wars of the 20th century.

One of our planned stops was a visit to the Convivio Center. We arrived at the address and discovered a vacant building. Nearby a store was having a going out of business sale. I asked the owner about the center and heard all the sad details of a neighbourhood trying to stay alive in the midst of redevelopment. The store owner moved into the neighbourhood 20 years ago. A year ago, she began liquidating her store because she saw the community she knows and cares about become condos, bars, and coffee shops.  This Mona Lisa restaurant is across from Starbucks on a corner of a busy intersection.  The business owner I spoke with is optimistic that the family will stay in business because they own their land.

                                            second column of the Little Italy sign

                        Ham and Mushroom Crepe at Fabrisons French Creperie near Little Italy