“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 number 50 in an ongoing series.
Name: Lena Collins
Neighborhood: East Village
Personal deets: My hometown is Menifee, California. My husband, Michael, and I have lived downtown for two years. I am a cancer survivor! I was diagnosed when I was 19 years old; am now 30. My cancer experience was the catalyst for my health and fitness journey.
Work deets: I’m self-employed as an online fitness and nutrition coach. I get to help women in San Diego, and beyond, achieve their fitness goals and reclaim their lives through a unique approach to sustainable fitness that focuses on changing habits at the root, rather than crash diets that always fail.
Best aspect of living downtown: I love how walkable the city is, and we’re close to so many incredible coffee shops and Petco Park.
Worst aspect of living downtown: The open drug use surrounding the neighborhood. We have witnessed countless overdoses that led to deaths. Also, the human feces–you can’t walk downtown without paying close attention to where you are stepping.
Pets: Tikaani is a husky mix.
Fave coffee shop: Tough question because we have so many downtown. Village Cafe has the most incredible coffee and hospitality. The owner knows everyone by name and it feels like a small family there. They have incredible coffee, and it’s a great place to work remotely.
Lunch spot: Also Village Cafe. I typically get the acai bowl (heaven in a bowl!).
Best bar: Quartyard. It’s outdoors and they always have fun events throughout the week. It’s a great stop to play trivia on Wednesdays and make new friends.
Tops for take-out: Lola 55 Tacos & Cocktails. They are incredibly quick and never compromise quality. You aren’t living until you try their Caesar salad.
Let’s do dinner: Seneca at the InterContinental Hotel. The rooftop ambiance and the quality of their food are unmatched.
Transportation breakdown: Mostly walking.
Parking advice: Pay very close attention to the signs so you know when there’s street sweeping. And download the Park Smarter App.
Padres game parking tip: Park in East Village near Idea1 apartments to avoid traffic and outrageous parking fees.
Best memory: The way the streets came alive with people when the Padres won their home games in the postseason in 2022.
Scariest moment: Having to call 911 because someone overdosed in front of my apartment.
Homelessness: It’s actually pretty terrible, and unfortunately this is why we will not be renewing our lease downtown.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria: He needs to find a solution to the open drug scene downtown before it drives out more residents and tourists. We only see action being taken before Comic-Con and other large events.
Parting advice: If you’re a single female do not move to East Village. If you are set on living downtown, look into Little Italy. SDSun
