“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 52 in an ongoing series.
Name: Rana Kay
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Personal deets: Raised in a small Northern California town and moved to San Diego in 1997. Lived in several parts of the county and settled into Little Italy at least 15 years ago. It’s been so long, I’ve lost count. It’s easily my favorite neighborhood in the city.
Work deets: After a long stint heading public relations for a downtown San Diego hotel, in 2020, I started a PR consultancy specializing in hotels and resorts across the country.
Working from home: Started working from home during the pandemic; now it’s my full-time office. I wake up before the hustle and bustle of downtown (including the constant sounds of nearby construction). The street sweeper is often my wake-up call. My computer is surrounded by windows. I benefit from a flood of natural light and have a beautiful view of…the adjacent parking garage. I love to cook my own lunch and routinely walk to The Market at Buon Appetito for fresh produce or a nice piece of salmon. In the early evening, I walk a few blocks to Elevate Training for a Lagree class four to five times a week.
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Why move downtown: I hate driving. I’ll get in my car twice a week at most, sometimes not at all. Everything is within walking distance: exercise classes, waterfront strolls, restaurants, dry cleaners, hair salons, markets and neighborhood services.
Transportation breakdown: 90% walking, 10% driving.
Best aspects of living downtown: In addition to being pedestrian-friendly it’s very accessible to freeways. Plus, hailing an Uber or Lyft is so easy downtown. They’re usually no more than four minutes away. And it’s just seven minutes to the airport, so no need to stress before a morning flight.
Worst aspect of living downtown: The single worst aspect for me is the lack of parking for visiting friends and family. Nobody wants their loved ones to have to pay for parking or keep refilling their meters when they come to visit.
Describe Downtown SD in 3 words: Dynamic. Energetic. Diverse.
Top dinner spots: Ironside Fish & Oyster is my top pick in the neighborhood. Seafood towers? Check. Ceviches? Yes. Beautiful space? Indeed. I also love:
- Vinarius Wine Bar & Restaurant on India Street, with my favorite dish being the pollo al rosmarino. The service is so kind and homey you feel like you’ve been transported to Italy. Amazing wine list. Top off your meal with a shot of limoncello.
- Shino Sushi is another favorite for nigiri and simple, well-prepared rolls. It’s a small, intimate and great spot for a date night.
- For special occasions, the Beef Wellington at Born and Raised is a treat.
Best breakfast: I’m not a big breakfast person but I do love the smoothies at Choice Juicery on India Street.
Fave lunch places: Queenstown Public House, specifically their ahi nicoise salad. It’s so cute there and it has a great neighborhood feel. I also recently picked up lunch at Darband Persian Grill on Kettner and it was delicious, and service was friendly. Love that we are getting more diverse food options in the area.
Best bars: I’ve largely transitioned out of the bar scene. My favorite “bar” is Little Italy’s Piazza della Famiglia, which was a wonderful respite from the isolation of the pandemic–with outdoor seating to enjoy a glass of wine in the sunshine and refreshing sea breezes wafting from the bay. Note: I do love M Winehouse, the coziest little renovated house in Little Italy with a great wine list and delicious bites.
Best place to take visitors: The Little Italy piazza, a walk along the water to Seaport Village, Portside Pier and Balboa Park.
Memorable downtown moment: I’m not proud of this story. A woman stopped me on Fifth Avenue and begged me to take her and her cat, which she clutched in a covered pet carrier, to the local emergency animal hospital. I didn’t know what to do because she was crying that her cat was dying. I loaded her in my car and drove them to the hospital. I called the vet later the next day to see if the cat made it. They told me the woman was well-known to the medical staff there. And that the cat had been deceased for at least a week.
Love or hate Comic-Con: I work closely with San Diego’s hotels and tourism industry and have experienced many Comic Cons. I love it! It’s a huge revenue driver for the city and a boost for our economy that trickles down through all the local businesses–restaurants, bars, retail shops. It’s also a lot of fun to see all the people dressed up!
Most surprising part of living downtown: In Little Italy, it’s the sense of community. Every time I leave my building, I see people I know, and it feels very “small-townish” for a large city. It’s very friendly.
Homelessness: We often hear about the annoyances of homelessness. It leaves a bad impression on visitors, but the issue hurts my heart. During my time living downtown, I’ve gotten to know a lot of the unhoused locals in Little Italy. Some are really cool, intelligent people with interesting stories. It’s hard to see people struggling. I do help when I can, whether it’s buying dry socks or handing out Thanksgiving food.
The city needs more: Parking, public restrooms to serve the homeless, and grocery stores in Little Italy. We keep crossing our fingers for a bigger name grocery store in my neighborhood and our pleas have yet to be answered. (Trader Joe’s, I’m talking to you.)
The city needs less: Overpriced housing options. $4,000 studio apartments? Stop. SDSun
