Hi-Fi Listening Bar Coming to Little Italy This Summer

If walls could talk, the ones at 2812 Kettner Boulevard could tell some gnarly tales. “I have pictures from Casbah owner [Tim Mays] with Kurt Cobain singing in that space; Alanis Morissette sang in that space,” explains Robert Richter.That space was the original location of San Diego’s iconic indie-music box, The Casbah (which moved down the street to its current location in 1994).June 7, 202418 of the Best Bars for Live Music in San DiegoRELATED ARTICLERichter and business partner Paul Scappechio plan to honor that history when they open Kiku Room, San Diego’s newest listening bar and cocktail lounge. Whereas most listening bar concepts lean toward a chill vibe, Richter says Kiku will up the energy. Rendering Courtesy of Kiku Room“Music with a pulse is definitely the key here,” he explains, pointing to dark disco, international dance music, Balearic house music. It won’t be a club environment, he’s clear to point out—more of an intimate neighborhood bar that spins tunes with a beat. Listening bars depend on prime acoustics and prime drinks. On the drinks side, Kiku enlisted Taylor Ivision, a bar consultant who tended at CH Projects’ Youngblood and Noble Experiment. The core will be riffs on classics—Negronis, martinis, and Midori sours—at a neighborly price. “We’re just kind of tired of paying $18 for a drink, and a lot of other people are too,” Richter says. Kiku will always have a rotating option of three or four classic cocktails for $10. “We’ll have our specialty cocktail menu that’s a bit higher priced, but we at least want to give the option to get a classic for 10 bucks.”Rendering Courtesy of Kiku RoomThe space doesn’t have a kitchen, and they’ve got no interest in adding one. “It’s always been a bar, on and off since the ’60s, and we’re going to keep that alive,” he says. Expect drink-friendly (nuts, olives), though Richter does hope to partner with food trucks and other pop-ups.Ralitsa Kombakis of Studio Rallou is designing the stripped-down space that Richter calls “a reprieve from the maximalist trend sweeping the city. We really want the space to feel like your neighborhood bar.” Kiku Room opens summer 2025 at 2812 Kettner Boulevard.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Valle (@valleoceanside)San Diego Restaurant News & Food EventsMichelin Star Chefs Coming for One Night at ValleOn January 30, Michelin-starred Valle hosts the fourth iteration of its Tres Amigos chef series. To kick it off, Valle chef Roberto Alcocer invites two fellow Southern California chefs to play for a night: Tony Esnault of Michelin-star L.A. spot, Knife Pleat, whose restaurants Church & State and Spring made Jonathan Gold’s annual “101 Best Restaurants;” and Chris Barnum-Dann (another Michelin man and James Beard semifinalist who’s done the Food Network thing). With three Michelin stars between the chefs, it probably won’t suck. Tickets are available right here while they last. January 9, 202510 Must-Try Meals from Carlsbad RestaurantsRELATED ARTICLEOceanside Launches Inaugural Swell Plates SeriesOceanside’s recent-ish food revolution has been well-documented, and this month you can taste a decent portion of the buzz in one fell swoop. From January 15 through February 13, the new Swell Plates Series will bring together restaurants like Flying Pig, Allmine, Matsu, 333 Pacific, Dija Mara, 24 Suns (newcomers from chefs who worked at Addison). See the full list of restaurants and dishes here. Courtesy of Spill The BeansBeth’s BitesWestfield UTC’s culinary transformation just added two more arrivals to its food city. Melo Melo’s silky jelly desserts have landed right behind Uniqlo, and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream lands on January 17. Would I try a ranch-flavored scoop? Inconclusive. Would I smash a pint of their coffee affogato on a Friday night? Absolutely.San Diego is finally getting the bagel scene we’ve all been waiting for. Spill the Beans is a coffee shop first, but their bagels shouldn’t be overlooked. Chef Karina Orozco’s signatures range from standards like plain and everything, plus sweets like French Toast and cinnamon raisin, and savories like onion and garlic and sundried tomato-cheese. She also does housemade spreads (like red chili & garlic, my personal obsession). Their fourth location at 980 Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach is now open seven days a week, and yes, after what feels like 200 years, their Ocean Beach spot is still coming soon.It’s time to say farewell to beloved bakery and cafe La Clochette in Pacific Beach, but the concept isn’t gone. Their Mission Valley location in Civita remains open, so we can still get our Croque Monsieur fix.Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to food@sdmag.com.The post Hi-Fi Listening Bar Coming to Little Italy This Summer appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

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Silver Bullet Brings a Fresh Take on Classic Rock

On a makeshift platform stage, San Diego rock band Silver Bullet stands poised before a packed crowd of 400 in a steamy backyard. Eager whispers ripple through the air—someone mentions that the leather-vested guitarist broke the stage at the band’s last show. Suddenly, a roar of instruments cuts through the chatter, instantly commanding the crowd’s full attention. In a split second, the yard erupts into wild energy.Any wandering eyes hypnotized by the dominant guitar and raw drums draw back to the center of the stage when the band’s dynamic heartbeat steps out in a black leather number accessorized with a studded ’70s chain belt and a shaggy white coat. Frontwoman Hannah Geller lets out a harmonic scream. This is what the San Diego music scene has been waiting for, I think.Courtesy of Sanchez Productions“I can just hold the microphone and run around the stage and jump off of things,” Geller says. “I love that element of being in Silver Bullet—to just release all of my energy I get from performing. I don’t hold back.”December 7, 202310 Lesser-Known San Diego Bands We're Loving Right NowRELATED ARTICLEGeller had already established her voice as a psychedelic and progressive musician before joining Silver Bullet. With over 200,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok, a few viral YouTube covers, and a discography of self-produced singles under her belt, Geller was looking to expand her scope. Working on her solo career and doing marketing at The Music Company in Pacific Beach left her craving what brought all of the members of Silver Bullet together in the first place: an outlet. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SILVER BULLET (@silverbulletca)John Kelly (guitar) and Ryan Simmons (drums) first started jamming together last year while studying at San Diego State University. Both grew up with blues and heavy metal in their repertoire, which brought cohesion and a solid musicality to their songwriting. But even after adding bassist Jake Quintanar, they were still not yet a band—just a few marketing, accounting, and graphic design majors looking to riff together. It was their lead singer who pulled the trigger on a greater sound.At her audition in November of 2023, Geller knew she needed to go big. When she let out a lurching, captivating belt that drowned out the instruments, Silver Bullet was born.“I think, out of anyone, Hannah might bring the most diverse influence to the band with her style of singing,” Kelly says.Photo Credit: Jacob Mackin“Something that makes us unique is our heavier rock sound mixed with my softer, breathy voice,” Geller adds. “Something you don’t get from male singers a lot are those real high ranges and the ability to belt crazy riffs. The female voice is so equipped for rock music.”June 7, 202418 of the Best Bars for Live Music in San DiegoRELATED ARTICLEOn the heels of their debut EP The Evil Cowboy, released September 2024, the band has evolved from jamming at college house shows and opening for local favorites (including 2024 San Diego Music Award–winner Matthew Phillips) to performing at venues like Music Box and SOMA. And they’re not only playing for undergrads.“The older crowd definitely appreciates our music more than people our age,” Geller says. “It’s what they grew up on, and they’re discovering this new, younger band that’s playing music from their era.”The four-song The Evil Cowboy EP bridges the gap between Gen X’s beloved classic rock music, millennials’ pull toward grunge, and the resurrection of psychedelic rock that’s following Gen Z’s affection for alternative and indie songs. Silver Bullet slips in metal and blues melodies, too.“The Evil Cowboy is very Black Sabbath—inspired [by] Bill Ward—for me, at least,” Simmons says of his drum instrumentals for the EP. “‘Joyride’ or ‘Wild Card’ might be more like Tommy Lee in Mötley Crüe.”Photo Credit: Jackob MackinThe results are both accessible and energizing, a shot of glittering espresso in a town dominated by sleepier reggae and surf rock. And audiences are responding—not just in San Diego, but online, too. Silver Bullet has amassed several viral videos on Instagram with over 20 million views combined, appeasing the algorithm by tying in trending memes, singing covers by rock legends, and creating videos that showcase their genre-blending and-bending singles.But there’s something about the band’s music that begs to be experienced live, in the company of others. Whether the audience consists of 10 people or 1,000, Silver Bullet shows are kinetic and loud.“I love performing more than anything,” Geller says. “This genre could not be more fun for me.”“You can have good music, but putting on a performance is a huge aspect of the show,” Kelly adds. “You’ve got to have both good music and stage presence. In my opinion, that’s what makes a good band great.”The post Silver Bullet Brings a Fresh Take on Classic Rock appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

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Inside the 5,000-Square-Foot Modernist Home Built Into a Cliff

When Kerry Marsh turned 70 last July, his wife Corinne threw a party at their oceanview home in Del Mar. The laidback festivities made full use of its friendly, open spaces. While a favorite musician performed Willie Nelson’s “Always on my Mind,” the couple’s three grown children and a smattering of close friends raised a toast, with the vast Pacific a scant distance away. It may have been Kerry’s birthday, but it was also the home’s debut.March 25, 2024Inside The Yen House, One of San Diego's Most Iconic HomesRELATED ARTICLECorinne and Kerry have been married for 41 years. Their family has migrated each summer from their hometown of Fort Lauderdale, Florida to North San Diego County since the kids were little. Kerry, a lifelong surfer, met Corinne at a Fort Lauderdale beach party when they were 16. He briefly studied architecture at college in Miami but soon dropped out to join friends on a five-month surfari from Baja to Guatemala. Back in Fort Lauderdale, he embarked on a development career. Today, his company converts abandoned big-box stores into storage facilities, among other large-scale projects.Architect Brian Church’s rendering shows how the home nestles into its steep site.Fifteen years ago, the Marshes began their search for a site in Del Mar where they could build their dream home. “In the end, it came down to a couple lots,” Kerry says. “Corinne liked this one best, and she was right.” Their one-third acre is only a stone’s throw from Torrey Pines State Beach—if the wind is right and you have a strong arm.The Pacific Surfliner runs nearby, which doesn’t bother the Marshes. “I wanted to be close to the tracks because I love the sights and sounds of trains passing by,” Corinne says.The Marshes’ lot formerly held a small 1950s bungalow designed by Del Mar modernist Herb Turner. While many other homes by Turner have been preserved, theirs was an obvious teardown. Their realtor had enlisted Solana Beach architect Brian Church to evaluate sites. He and the Marshes hit it off, and they tapped him for the new house’s design, which went through several iterations before it was approved by the Del Mar Design Review Board. Church’s plan was partly inspired by his love of Southern California modernists such as Richard Neutra and Rudolf Schindler, whose 100-year-old El Pueblo Ribera courtyard duplexes in La Jolla feature strong indoor-outdoor connections and simple materials.Photo Credit: Phillip Houston PhotographyTorrey Pines at the edge of the property were preserved as tributes to the Marshes’ three children.As work began, the Marshes were clear about their priorities. “I wanted to see whitewater and the waves rolling in,” Corinne says.“It’s always view, view, view,” Kerry adds. That may sound too simple, but it really captures the home’s essence.Kerry was not always a fan of modernist architecture, with its spare, no-frills approach. “The design changed at least four times,” he says. “The first version was French Country with a barrel tile roof, then it went more modern, like a lot of stuff I’d seen with wood, metal, glass, and stone. In the end, I’m glad it went the way it did. I really love the house now.Photo Credit: Phillip Houston PhotographyEvery level of the home features decks and outdoor living spaces.Construction began in 2018 and was completed in 2021. But it took two more years to “dial it in,” Kerry explains. “We worked on every room and went back and forth with ideas several times.”Church’s design spreads 5,000 square feet among five levels connected by steps zigzagging between wide landings. Smaller spaces tuck into the slope, while voluminous sections face sweeping coastal views. A foundation of two-foot-thick retaining walls is anchored deep in solid sandstone. The rugged base supports open interior areas as tall as 19 feet, though they seem even higher, since the open plan lets you gaze from the bottom level all the way up to the entry landing. The house may be barely visible from the street, but there’s drama over the edge.Walls of limestone blocks, dry-stacked without mortar, and smooth-troweled stucco precisely meet floors of limestone and wood. Railings and hardware are made of steel, stainless steel, and copper. Yucca, ocotillo, snake plant, agave, prairie grasses, and other species chosen by landscape architect Greg Hebert, who died in 2022, surround the home. Together, these elements conjure dreamy nights and days in Joshua Tree or Twentynine Palms.Photo Credit: Phillip Houston PhotographyA chandelier of crystal butterflies hangs in the entryway.Kerry has often collaborated with Fort Lauderdale interior designer Michael Beamish, whose resume includes resorts in far-flung locales along with custom homes. Beamish, a charming Brit, brought a simple but elegant aesthetic that resonates with Church’s architecture. Furnishings are contemporary but subtle. Beamish used natural materials including wood grain, soft linens, and light-hued stone.The primary suite is a fabulous lair, Corinne’s favorite place in the house for meditation, solitude, and pondering the ocean and sky. The Marshes enjoy sea views from a custom bed and swoopy freestanding tub. Beamish designed other bedroom furniture, too, like a daybed covered with organic chenille and additional pieces upholstered with fabrics from textile company Kravet. A wall of smart glass overlooks the vast, sometimes bustling central spaces. It goes opaque for privacy at the flick of a switch.Photo Credit: Phillip Houston PhotographyAbove the fireplace is a custom surfboard like ones designed for big waves at Todos Santos.A chandelier of crystal butterflies hangs in the entry. Nearby is an industrial-strength, steel-and-glass elevator like the one Kerry saw in a remodeled historical building in Switzerland. The kitchen features stainless steel appliances and light-toned Taj Mahal quartzite countertops. The adjacent dining and living room holds a plush Nathan Anthony sofa and Adriana Hoyos side chairs. Mounted over the built-in gas fireplace and flat-screen TV is a hardwood surfboard matching the contours of boards designed by legendary shaper Gary MacNabb for big waves at Todos Santos, the epic south-of-the-border break. This life-size replica is too heavy for surfing, but it’s a fabulous example of the surfboard shaper’s art.Photo Credit: Phillip Houston PhotographyThe primary suite is a romantic retreat with custom furniture and fabrics, as well as photographer Aaron Chang’s triptych of dried leaves.Recessed shelves line walls on each floor. They hold a fascinating, sometimes amusing array of family memorabilia, ranging from framed photos to ceramic objects and a model of cartoonish characters aboard a VW convertible towing a teardrop trailer. Most rooms showcase images by North County photographer Aaron Chang, best known for shots of surfers and coastal landscapes. Many of those are on view, but visitors wandering through will also see Chang’s abstract photos of oceanic textures and colors, as well as a triptych over the primary bed of large dried leaves that he came across in the Dominican Republic.All told, the home is an homage to the stretch of Southern California coastline just outside its doors—which, for the Marshes, is what it’s all about.“We wake up every morning, get our coffee, and sit on the patio, and my wife does not want to go back to Florida,” Kerry says. “I walk down the trail and surf behind the house. We walk on the beach every day.”Photo Credit: Phillip Houston PhotographyLimestone walls and white oak floors come together with soft-hued textiles and comfortable, modern furniture to create quietly elegant rooms.“I love waking up here,” Corinne adds. “I raise the blinds and do a prayer and look out and feel like I’m so blessed to have this view in the morning and the sunsets at night. We both grew up middle-class, and we feel very lucky we’ve come this far and get to live here. It was always our dream, when we were young, to live on the ocean and see the whitewater coming in. We got pretty much everything we asked for.”That includes a vanishing-edge pool, just past the built-in wet bar and custom pool table and through broad sliding glass doors. Lined with dark pea gravel, bordered by blue glass tiles and ipe hardwood decking, and furnished with chairs and chaise longues from RH Outdoor, it’s the centerpiece of this outdoor living room, a lovely place to relax most days of the year. At the property’s back edge grow three Torrey Pines that are special to Corinne—she preserved them as tributes to her three children. From just the right angle at sunset, you can imagine that the pool spills through the silhouetted trees and into the Pacific.The post Inside the 5,000-Square-Foot Modernist Home Built Into a Cliff appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

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