Marcel "Empyrean" R.'s Profile

Under a French Quarter balcony and the auspicious black and white striped entry awning lay the enormous windows of House Boi, occupying a New Orleans architectural revivalist building. The interior basks in the signature citrusy shade of permanent green light, and several vignetted sitting areas have clothing and merchandise carefully/casually laid out, showing its potential place in your home. Modern pieces of metal and resin commingle with earthy, wooden exotic furnishings. The entire feel evokes a sense of Western romance (buckles and leather goods), meets rocker (studded black jeans and wristbands), an aesthetic concept that is immediately upscale Californian cowboy, with metro-grooming but still deliciously scruffy, who also travels the world.

Between major Hillcrest streets Center and Richmond, tucked between CoShow realty and Cohabitat, and just down the block from Bite and Mama Testa's, lies the year-old neighbour House Boi. House Boi has been a presence in the tri-community area (North Park, University Heights and Hillcrest) for three years, once occupying a place further up University Avenue at the foot of the hill near Georgia, and happily moving into its new home in 2009. Part of the move was an expansion of floor space, opening the door to more merchandise. House Boi now has, among its established brands, Hard 8, Gypsy 05, La Familia, True Honor, Fender & English Laundry and partnerships with many San Diego-, Phoenix-, LA- and San Francisco-based jewelry, accessory and visual artists.

Once upon a time, House Boi's success lay in the gay customer of two years ago: sexy, urban sportswear with an eclectic bachelor pad of worldly curiosities, Buddhist and Hindi icons, and contemporary barware. There were a few furniture pieces, mostly bar stools, and some cabinetry. This first iteration of House Boi captured a sensual, rough around the edges, gay magnate... the exact type of man who would enjoy the staffing of house boys, and would buy their uniforms from the same store he got his weekend casual wear. It worked really well and sold its wares like hotcakes.

In the advent of Prop 8, the 2008 election, and most recently the shut-down of Universal Hillcrest near Vermont St, House Boi has expanded its cross-section to include the modern day gay American: a socially-responsible advocate who seriously collects fine art, enjoys high-fashion tops and rock and roll jeans, and supports local businesses that in turn support the local gay community. House Boi has entrenched itself with brilliant cross-promotional marketing for many Hillcrest businesses such as Bourbon Street, Numbers, and Bite. It frequently shows its latest merch at fashion shows in the above mentioned nightlife hotspots, and also participates in all of the big San Diego liberal community fundraisers. House Boi is one of the most popular boys in town.

It was just over a year ago that I, recently transplanted back to San Diego from Boston, looked up the most highly recommended shops on some San Diego culture blogs, and "House Boi" kept recurring. The day I walked in, Ari immediately connected with me and my partner, recommending businesses left and right, talking about art and music, and turning what could have been just a curt welcome into a conversation that held meaning. Since then, we have remained ever-faithful patrons to this important San Diego landmark. Recently, House Boi celebrated its third birthday in high style, and when Ari so graciously took time away from mingling to take photos for this review and allowed my camera free reign to snap away, I realized he always will be among the helpful, supportive patriarchs of this community, urging all of our artistic leanings and being the cool, approachable guy he always had been.

Come to House Boi on a typical weekend night and you'll still find gyrating gogo dancers, a vodka bar hosted by painted toned-bodied sprites, and DJ Marcel, a Hillcrest favorite, spinning. Paul, who has been such a strong element of my patronage to House Boi, will be behind the saleswrap smiling warmly, and Ari Clare, the beloved and welcoming owner, will be on the floor speaking eloquently about the quality and integrity of his merchandise.

It is still the sexy, urban boutique. But among House Boi's customers you will see prominent local figures, scores of hip three-piece families (including same-sex parents) saying howdy, Adam4Adam madams (the straight girl-besties that are the backbone of the gay community), and yes, straight men who want to look good to everybody, of many ages, races, and affiliations. That's the kind of diversity a San Diego landmark hosts, and House Boi enjoys that wide customer base with much-deserved loyalty.

Neighbourhood Boutique is a well-sized shop engulfed by the Cream Coffee Bar on the corner of Park and Monroe. It feels like a place to stop by on a regular basis between the coffee shop and a hair appointment, or on the way to nearby theatres or performance venues. In its tenure at 4496 Park Boulevard, it has risen to be an icon of the University Heights community, living up to its namesake as a neighborhood landmark.

This store is a nexus of beautiful expressions. And I don't mean sterile, monotonous beauty; I mean really daring, adventurous styles. Neighbourhood, whose entire merchandise is scouted and stocked by the expert eye of owner Christine McLaughlin, has vintage finds and small brands that coalesce into a fashion feast.

I'm infatuated with buying gifts here, and recently I bought my partner a ring made of antler that had a tooth set into it, it was a David Higgs which can also be currently found in abundance at Neighbourhood. Elisa Gonsaves has long been stocking Neighbourhood with an elegant assortment of feathered items.

Sublime jewelry designer Micha Kuechenooff has a lot of her wares showcased in the store, which Christine ingeniously has draped over what she feels are the best garments to go with the pieces. Actually my boyfriend got me my first necklace and it's so special to me, it has a fleur-de-lis, a pearl rod, an old coin, and knotted chains. Micha's jewelry is very on par with the current green trends, since she seems to recycle notions and jewelry and gives them new life. They transcend being mere jewelry, they can completely define an outfit. For example, her wraparound chains which have both a necklace and a belt can elevate a simple t shirt and jeans ensemble. I bought my sister a metal ring with a sort of faceted dark glass and a silver cameo on it, and we both agree it was Sailor Galaxia chic. She recently wore it with a black tutu, and with her black eyeliner on heavy, the ring just pulled it together, turning her whimsical outfit clubworthy. The ring was a Micha.

The proprietor always greets you when she's working, and those who work there besides her are equally friendly. But beyond the pleasantries, Christine is someone with true style sensibilities who will get into it with you if you bring your own passion and tastes into the conversation. She is genuinely interested in the art of fashion, and her stock reflects that. It's all 100% ready to wear, but at the same time it is imaginative and unique, elegant and high fashion. She gets the beachy San Diego life and low-maintenance culture here, but she brings in a Metropolitan panache without it feeling too high-brow. It's a great balance of fashion perspectives that feels classic, current, and global.

Christine McLaughlin could style the stars, and rumours abound of her amazing private collection available only by appointment, but in Neighbourhood she uses her styling talents and retail skill to offer the San Diego community a boutique that is energetic and haute chic in the otherwise sleepy, laid back coastal city. In a more suburban cityscape where malls and name brands dominate the shopping experience, Neighbourhood is an artistic, inviting space where you will find that special tee shirt for a walk down Garnet, or that military style trench coat that will turn any lazy ocean avenue into Park Ave, NYC.

I hadn't had much Moroccan food before, but my partner has, and he took us to the prix-fixed Valentine's Day dinner at "Kous Kous" this past February. It's hard to describe Moroccan food without comparing it to bits of other cultures, which is not at all what I wish to do because it is absolutely delicious and distinct and should not be seen as a mix of cuisines. But it's safe to say that it draws strongly upon mediterranean, middle-eastern, and north African roots.

Upon making our reservation at Open Tables, the owner was immediately in touch with us via email and phone call to confirm our reservation and to offer us a warm greeting. Once there, the service was somewhat competitive but a projection screen showing Casablanca and conversation carried us through the pauses between courses. I only wish the water glass on my table was kept full more consistently!

The food served at "Kous Kous" was perfect. The flavoring was mild in such a way that you could savor it slow and appreciate the delicate complexity. Yes, the spice and season you would expect of Moroccan dishes is present in the food, but the best aspect of the dishes here are that they let the ingredients shine. I had the Chicken Tajine and rather be doused in buttered flavor as we enjoy it here in America, it tasted mostly like roasted chicken but with a bright first note of ginger and lemon that lingers on the tastebuds. The B'stilla is comparable to a baklava and empanada fusion, the pastry flakes apart in your mouth and the sweet meat keeps your brain sparkling with contrasts. Slices of pita with Shak-shouka and zaalouk (roasted tomato and roasted eggplant) are like elevated salsas with a less acidic tang, and are earthy and vibrant. Heaping amounts of the namesake cous cous were a part of the main course, and the delicious creme-brulee with almond crumble on top and orange watered berries on the side gave a glorious finish.

The triumphant "Marukai" San Diego Plaza complex. This strip mall is entirely owned by the "Marukai Corporation U.S.A.," and is comprised of a supermarket in one building, a housewares/appliance market in another, and finally, the ultimate Japanese "99 cents" store. The "99 cents" store, known as "Daiso Japan," is a catchall; having "everything else" you could think of needing or wanting. Tupperwares, frying pans, stickers, stamp pads, glittered boxes... it's all here and most of them are $1.50USD. It's a very extensive store, separated loosely into departments, and they do seem somewhat selective because rather than having a bunch of crap, they have specialty items that really do improve your day-to-day living. Recently I purchased for my sister some terry-cloth headbands and headwraps, for drying your hair while grooming and for keeping your bangs off your face when doing cleansings and treatments. I paid $3.00 total and though they were merely trifles, they go a long way into being that thoughtful, fun, just-because-it's-Sunday kind of gift for a friend. Also, I use print blocks as casual stamps because I make my own stationairy, and paid ten dollars in Little Italy for some designer stamp pad. "Daiso" had one for a buck that does the same job, and you can pick from some ten shades including glitter shades. Sometimes, it behooves you to check the "99 cents" store first.

It had a facelift while I was gone for college, sometime between 2005 and 2008, and during this time it had been renovated into a modern complex whose interior somewhat resembles an aakeido (Japanese shopping arcades) but with a select few stores. A cafeteria that houses two popular eateries greets you immediately: the Santouka ramen booth and the Kayaba Japanese cuisine booth. Between the two you can find various noodle and rice dishes and for the unseasoned westerner it can be a surprise the various ways noodles can be prepared and served, especially to those who partake of unembellished top ramen kits. To the right of the entryway is the best contemporary Japanese bookstore in San Diego, owned by the "Sanseido" publishing company (Kabushiki-gaisha Sanseido).

My favorite feature of this store is its rather current Top Ten bestseller CD shelf, which has the unfortunate tendency to sell out of the good stuff quickly without much back stock, but can be relied upon for updates as frequent as they are in mainland Japan. Besides this, the Sanseido sells an extensive holding of contemporary fiction, including translations of popular English fiction done in the rather cool Japanese style of book design, imaging, and marketing. They also have several magazine racks holding key Japanese titles, and a small assortment of novelty goods including Bathing Ape products, stationary, greeting cards, and charms. Craftspeople will be interested to know that knitting is a staple of Japanese culture and serves a variety of fashion styles, and at Sanseido you can find magazines with the current knitting techniques and trends to try out that are unique in America.

The rest of "Mitsuwa" is primarily a grocery store, where you can find the most accessible Japanese goods well-known here in the states, to the more epicurean or nostalgic brands that can be found in Japanese homes. They have an impressive snack food section in which the portions for each snack are just enough, packaged beautifully, and like all the other food in the market, have helpful stickers on the back with English descriptions and nutrition facts. This store should not scare even a casually curious American. Also worth mentioning are it's other boutiques, Trendy (for anime goods), Super Health (for supplements, like a Japanese GNC), Daikichi Sushi, Utsawa no Yakata (Japanese ceramics) which is a true highlight, Niitakaya (pickles), and a service counter with a travel agency. "Mitsuwa" is very beloved to its locals, to all San Diegan Asians, hipsters, college students, and cultured people from various classes. Many Naval families like to go, for example, if they have stayed for many years in Hawaii and yearn for some ingredients for the dishes they learned there. Another cool feature is an occasional Taiyaki kiosk in front of the "Mitsuwa." It appears to be a private business and happens once a month or so.They use a special griddle that creates a fish shape and fish stamp on the buns! Tiiiiight!

You will often find this studio teeming with clusters of Asian teenagers, but the overall vibe is playful and somewhat wholesome. The reason this is such a hot spot is that it houses several massive photo booths, purikura (Japanese abbreviation for 'print club,' though it seems to be modeled after the popular Korean print clubs known in Seoul. The photo booths not only offer photography, but they load a digital image into a rather neat photoshop-esque editor where you can customize your photo using a variety of templates and add-on 'clip art' (not to be totally archaic). The result is a somewhat chaotic but charming sticker (or sticker sheet, depending on your choice to share smaller images with friends or not), and each machine costs $6 to use for one print (which as mentioned can be comprised of various numbers of small images or one/couple big images). I admire the groups of regulars who come here because they know the time limits of each stage of production and have it pre-planned down to a science. A first time user will often fumble around and struggle with language barriers, though the icons of instruction are universally understandable. "Wow! Studio" is an energetic place to create an instant unique memento of the day.

This franchise misses out on the novel charm of small business, but as a company they iron out the kinks and quirks of bubble tea houses that too often have inconsistent beverage standards. Also, they have a rather gorgeous interior... contemporary architecture and modern café seating, plus a minimalist style, gives off the ambience of a high-class sushi resutoran. Tapex serves various tapiokatii (bubble tea beverages), and I order the 'honey dew snow bubble,' which is a flavor base, in this case melon, blended with ice and mixed-in with boba (tapioca) pearls. The effect is a brisk, juicy slush with a mild, fresh fuumi (flavor)--the lightly sweetened water of melon

It's all about what you're used to. I went to asian barbers for much of my childhood before I started going (and working in!) luxury salons, and I can tell you that while "Moga" is not a place for a mini-getaway, it is the perfect place for amazing cuts. Yeah, it goes somewhat short on the luxurious spa treatment, but big on style for notoriously cheap rates, and a very pleasant experience even when you lack the language for small talk. Americans may have to make their preferences clear beforehand if they are seeking to avoid an overly Asian style, however with trends being the way they are in hipster culture, most of the looks these artists produce are contemporary and fashion-forward, messy styles. They specialize in texturizing long hair for either sex: if you're a male, they will have your locks soaring upwards with product and skilled thinning, if you're female, they will give you an amazing shattered A-line in stacks cut to deliberately fall flat around your face and give you that demure blunt layering.