“Living In the City” is the San Diego Sun‘s feature Q&A with downtown San Diego residents. It’s a way to get to know the city by meeting the people who live here. This is the first in an ongoing series.
Name: Danny Rolls
Location: Marina Park Condominiums (Marina District)
Personal deets: Lived in San Diego seven years; downtown for four years. I’m an Escalation Management Leader at Dell Technologies. Live with my girlfriend, Alina. Originally from Blackstone, Massachusetts
Danny and Alina celebrate a night on the San Diego Bay. |
Working from home: Yes. Most of my work includes virtual meetings so it’s very easy to work remotely.
Best aspect of your location: My building is in between the Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy and Seaport Village. It’s a short walk to each, but we don’t have the heavy traffic or partying noise of those areas.
Worst aspect of your location: We live in an older building, with older living conditions/technology. There are often elevator issues.
Best reason to live downtown: There’s no need to leave the immediate area for necessities. Grocery stores, liquor stores, restaurants, bars, entertainment and gyms are all within walking distance.
Worst part of living downtown: The cost. Having all of those amenities within close proximity is great but expect to pay a price for it.
Vixen, aka Pink Tail. |
Pets: I have a 6-pound Pomeranian named Vixen who’s one year old. She’s easily recognizable by her pink tail. She’s well known in the area as “Pink Tail.”
Walking/biking/driving: I try to do a four-mile harbor walk four nights a week. Having the harbor so close is a good excuse to exercise.
Scooters: It’s more about the user than the scooter. Perhaps have a breathalyzer test to get them started?
Coffee shop: Kuma Café. Run by a couple who’re following their dream to start a coffee shop. They serve an incredible cold brew, great lattes and a strong iced Americano.
Lunch place: Beach Hut Deli near the harbor. Incredible sandwiches and a true beach vibe.
Dinner spot: Water Grill San Diego on J Street. They have the best clam chowder I’ve ever had (and I’m from Massachusetts, so that’s saying something). Their seafood is always fresh.
The view of Petco Park from ALTITUDE Sky Lounge. |
Bar(s) of choice: Taste and Thirst on Fourth Avenue has a daily happy hour (3-8 p.m.) with half-priced drinks…Urban India on Fifth Avenue is a great late-night stop…The Marriot Gaslamp has an incredible rooftop bar (ALTITUDE Sky Lounge) where you can look down and actually see Padres games.
Safety: The popular areas in downtown offer safety in numbers. That said, there have been a few recent shootings in downtown San Diego. One was near Taste and Thirst.
Scariest moment: Alina and I were driving back into the city on Broadway during a demonstration. A very large group of individuals started to surround us–screaming and pounding on the car. I took a wrong turn down a one-way street to avoid the situation.
Homelessness: Most people experiencing homelessness are not bothering anyone. The few who seem to be on something can be unpredictable and scary.
The Big Bay Boom fireworks show over San Diego Bay. |
Favorite event: The 4th of July Big Bay Boom fireworks show.
Padres games: I have season tickets. I would recommend it for anyone living downtown. The blue package is affordable and flexible. I took my family from Boston to games a few years ago. All three games we went to were less expensive than seeing one Red Sox game in Boston.
Best insider tip: Happy Hours. Try as many as you can. You’ll be surprised how creative the food items are and how cheap the drinks can be. SDSun
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