Restaurants in Morro Bay – The Galley

Posted on February 21, 2013 by

When you travel to Morro Bay, it’s almost a given that you should get seafood. So when my roommate’s parents were in town, we went out to The Galley Seafood Grill & Bar for dinner.

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The first thing we found out when we walked into The Galley is that we should have made a reservation. As it was a holiday weekend, there were only two tables left open for walk-ins, which meant that if we hadn’t been standing outside right when the restaurant opened we wouldn’t have been seated for at least 4 hours. Lucky for us, we had good timing.

The waitstaff was very friendly and attentive, taking our drink orders as soon as we sat down. There were works from local artists on the walls, and over the bar there was a television that showed a live feed of the kitchen, so we could watch the cooks prepare the food. Our table was located next to the door, but it looked like the main dining room had a good view of the ocean and Morro Rock.

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We started our meal with ceviche and calamari strips as appetizers, which were both quite good considering I had never had them before. When it came time to order, I decided to try the “naked” Halibut with mango salsa, garlic mashed potatoes, and mixed veggies. For the price of the fish I was expecting it to be good, but I wasn’t expecting it to be as spectacular as it was. The halibut was so well prepared that it didn’t even need the mango salsa to go on top of it, and I probably would have eaten twice the mashed potatoes (but I possibly would have regretted it later.)

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The only downside to the entire dining experience was a trip to the restroom, when I discovered you actually have to go outside to the public restroom across the walkway. If I had known I would have to go out in the cold I probably would have just waited.

Overall, though, my dining experience at The Galley Seafood Grill & Bar was definitely a good one, and I cannot wait until I can go back again.

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Restaurants in SLO – The Wine Shed

Posted on February 6, 2013 by

Wine is a big part of San Luis Obispo county. There are wineries, wine tasting tours, wine pairing classes, wine blogs, wine radio shows, and most recently, an increase in wine bars around town. One such wine bar is the Wine Shed, which has been serving San Luis Obispo for about a year.

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The layout of the bar is very straightforward. When you walk in the door, the bar is directly in front of you, and on either end of the room there are open spaces with a few tables where you can sit with friends or stand and mingle. The room decor mixes hardware detailing with modern design, giving it a cool and casual vibe.

One thing that’s cool about the Wine Shed is that it isn’t just the beer that is on tap – the wines are as well. The tap reduces the amount of glass waste needed to be disposed of daily. But if you really like wine bottles, under each tap you can see the bottle the wine would have come in.

In addition to drinks, the Wine Shed does offer some snack items. The food is delicious, but there isn’t anything large enough to constitute a meal, so be prepared for that.

The bar is located on Broad Street at Capitolio, next to Blackhorse Espresso and Bakery. (If you are going south on Broad, it’s past the car dealership on the left.) Due to its location, the regular patrons are relatively older than the crowds that flock to the bars downtown. So if you are looking for a quieter scene, this is a good option.

Overall, I really enjoyed my experience at the Wine Shed, and I hope to be able to return soon.

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San Luis Obispo’s ShareSLO Social Ambassador

Posted on February 4, 2013 by

Rosetta is putting on a contest in San Luis Obispo to find the first ever ShareSLO Social Ambassador. The goal is to promote tourism in the city and, as the name implies, share SLO with the world.

I posted briefly when the contest started stating that I had submitted a video, but I didn’t really explain.

The winner of the ShareSLO contest will be contracted for a year to join the SLO City account team to run social media efforts for the city of San Luis Obispo, and will be chosen based on popular vote, creativity, charisma, writing ability, and social media experience.

There are currently 42 contestants who have submitted videos (among which are a TV reporter, a world famous magician, a Youtube Partner, a radio DJ, and a local musician) but only the top ten get the chance to interview with the company. Honestly at this point, it is a long shot for me to even make the top ten.

Despite the slim chances, I still feel that I’m qualified for the job for these three reasons:

1. I have a Bachelor of Science in Marketing with a Communications minor. From any other school, this may not mean anything, but at Cal Poly we learn by doing. So I have a portfolio of client-based school projects filled with research and recommendations on how to run a good social media marketing campaign, and I know how to put that to good use.

2. I have a creative streak. I’m experienced in video editing, photo editing, layout design, and more. Creating is usually something I do for personal enjoyment, but to have the platform to share my work while promoting the city of San Luis Obispo would be a great opportunity. I would make campaigns, contests, blog posts, directories, anything that would help your average SLO visitor get around. Sort of like this:

picture-yourself-poly-canyon (You may recognize the picture from THIS post.)

3. I LOVE SLO! I don’t think you even understand how much. I love the food, the weather, the people, the events. I love the Palm Theatre and the Sunset Drive-In. I love the collection of towns by the beach. I love the local wineries and the 805 beer. I love telling people about why SLO is so great.

Sure I don’t have thousands of Facebook friends or Twitter followers, but to be honest I haven’t made much of an attempt to get those. I spend more time reading and learning about social media and business strategy than practicing it. (Also, I can’t say I have the time to post 100 tweets per day. I’m lucky to read 1-2 articles in 24 hours. I do have to work at my actual job.)

So, if you want to help me get an interview for the social ambassador position, please vote for me by clicking #Vote4Becca here or in the menu bar. It would also help if you would like my Facebook page (in the sidebar) or comment on my video.

*Edit 2/18/13: The contest is now over. Like I’d assumed, I did not make the top ten, but that doesn’t mean I’ll stop promoting San Luis Obispo here. Congratulations to all of the top 10 finalists for the position.

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February Events and Activities

Posted on February 1, 2013 by

It’s officially February. So what is there to do in San Luis Obispo? When planning out your February calendar, try to incorporate some of these San Luis Obispo events:

Orchesis Suspension: February 1-3 and 7-9

The Cal Poly student dance company, Orchesis, is putting on their annual dance concert, titled “Suspension.” Styles include modern, jazz, ballet, hip hop, tap, world, and social dance.

Performances will be held at the Cal Poly Spanos Theatre in San Luis Obispo. Shows start at 8pm except for the one on Sunday the 3rd, which starts at 2pm. Tickets are $13 general admission ($10 for students) and can be purchased at the PAC box office or online at www.pacslo.org.

San Luis Obispo Symphony Free Dress Rehearsal: February 2 @ 1pm

Say you like classical music but can’t afford the price of a SLO Symphony concert ticket. Or you want to educate your children on classical music but don’t want them interrupting a real performance. Then this free dress rehearsal is for you.

The SLO Symphony dress rehearsals take place at 1pm in the Performing Arts Center. No tickets, and “no ties allowed.” Just make sure you get there relatively early so you can get a seat, as they are first come first served.

Dr. John at SLO Brew, February 8 @ 7:30 (21+)

If you want to listen to a 5 time Grammy Award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Famer play blues/pop/jazz/rock/etc., SLO Brewing Co. will be hosting singer-songwriter Dr. John. Tickets can be purchased from Boo Boo Records for $43 or at the door for $45.

Dollhouse & Miniatures Show, February 16-17

If you’ve ever felt the urge to look at a lot of very realistic little houses, check out the Dollhouse and Miniature Show at the Morro Bay Community Center. Hours are 10am – 4pm Saturday and 10am – 3pm Sunday, and admission is $5 ($4 for Seniors and $3 for children under 8).

Western Dance Jamboree, February 23

So line dancing is your thing. Good! The Western Dance Jamboree at the Cambria Veteran’s Hall attracts dancers from all over the Central Coast for an all day line dancing extravaganza. Workshops take place from early morning to late afternoon, where you can learn a new dance every hour. Then at 7pm the music starts up and you can practice what you learned until 11pm.  Admission is approximately $40, which can be paid in cash or check at the door.

Culinary Carnival, February 24 @ 2pm

Foodies take note, the 5th Annual Culinary Carnival is coming to Embassy Suites San Luis Obispo soon. You can sample food from some of the county’s best restaurants paired with drinks from local wineries and breweries.

Tickets are $50 (Buy them here), and the event benefits the Prado Day Center. There will also be live and silent auctions.

Personally, I’m looking forward to attending the line dancing event in Cambria and hopefully the Culinary Carnival. Will I see you there?

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The Fremont Theatre

Posted on January 31, 2013 by

San Luis Obispo’s Fremont Theatre, a 1000+ seat cinema landmark that has been in San Luis Obispo for the past 70 years, is celebrating its last night tonight. Or isn’t. Is. Isn’t. Is it?

The Fremont Facebook page posted a status this afternoon claiming that tonight would be its last night in operation, but the real outcome remains to be seen. The owner and the tenants are in negotiation for a new lease. Let’s hope for the best.

In the meantime, I thought I would share my favorite memories of the Fremont Theatre.

3. The first time I ever went to the Fremont Theatre actually wasn’t until Spring of 2009, when Star Trek first came out. All I remember was getting lost on the bus, running to the theater, walking in five minutes late and thinking “Why is Captain Kirk already dying?” But once the movie was over and I got to look around the room, I realized that this place wasn’t like most movie theaters. And I was hooked on the Fremont experience.

2. Last year when I was working at the door for the

San Luis Obispo International Film Festival’s awards night. I was sitting at the door minding my own business, about 10 minutes after the ceremony started, when all of a sudden two men came up and asked if this was “Richard’s ceremony.” And who were they? Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan from the Lord of the Rings, who had come to see Richard Taylor (founder of Weta Workshops) receive the King Vidor Award. Crazy.

And my number 1 favorite memory is…

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1. The Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 midnight premiere. Just like many other Fremont midnight showings, the Harry Potter finale was complete with lines around the block, news crews, avid fans, and honking cars. This one even had round Harry Potter 3D glasses.

But the best part, aside from the movie itself, was the costume contest. With all of the wacky characters in Harry Potter, there were a lot of options to choose from: a golden snitch, a few Snapes, a Luna Lovegood or two. Any of these would have made a lovely contest winner. But who won?

Batman.

So if you’re reading this, what is your favorite memory of the Fremont? Were you there for any of mine?

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Restaurants in SLO – Eating Challenges

Posted on January 30, 2013 by

Have you always wanted to channel your inner Adam Richman and eat inhuman amounts of food in the hopes of getting a prize? Well you’re in luck.

San Luis Obispo is home to two different restaurants, Frank’s Famous Hot Dogs and Rib Line, with behemoth menu offerings. So if you’re willing to live with indigestion, try the 10 Mini Burger Challenge or the Brahma Bull.

Frank’s 10 Mini Burger Challenge

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The concept is simple. Eat ten of Frank’s mini burgers in however long you want to take, and you get a t-shirt and a picture on the wall. It sounds easy enough, but once you get through the first plate of five, your stomach will start to protest. Continue through ten, and you will be in a food coma for the rest of the day.

If by some chance you finish the ten burgers and you’re still willing to keep going, you can attempt to eat the all time burger record, which they keep posted inside the restaurant by the counter.

The Brahma Bull

If you thought mini burgers sounded difficult, wait until you hear this one. The Brahma Bull, which you can find at The Rib Line on Los Osos Valley Road, consists of 3 lbs of tri-tip, covered in either barbecue sauce or salsa, on a 1 lb loaf of sourdough bread. For the math challenged, that’s a 4 lb sandwich, when a typical meal is 1 lb or less.

The sandwich costs $40 if you are competing ($55 if you are splitting it between your entire family), but if you beat the record for fastest time you will get free lunch from Rib Line every Friday. What’s the time to beat? 37 minutes, 24 seconds.

Happy eating!

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SLO Tourist Attractions

Posted on January 29, 2013 by

Anywhere you go, there are specific activities that you HAVE to do.

When you go to Hollywood for the first time, you have to see the Walk of Fame, even though the stars are dirty and Hollywood Blvd is sketchy and the area near the Kodak Theater is always so crowded with tourists you can’t think straight.

Similarly, when you go to San Luis Obispo, there are sights you have to see. Overrated? Possibly. Uniquely entertaining? Definitely. So here we have 3 slightly overemphasized tourist attractions that that you must check out before you leave town.

1. Bubblegum Alley

Germaphobes beware: this could literally be the most unsanitary place you will go in your entire life. Located between Garden and Broad downtown, this short alley is completely covered in bubblegum from one side to the other. You can add your own mark to the walls simply by chewing a piece of gum and sticking it wherever. Or if you have time, you can create gum art. If you decide on artwork, I would suggest wearing gloves.

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2. The Madonna Inn’s Waterfall Bathroom

If you get the chance to go to the restaurant at the Madonna Inn, you may have the opportunity to pee into a waterfall. Sadly, this opportunity is only available to men, as it is in the men’s restroom. However, it’s gotten to the point that it seems like anyone can walk into the bathroom to see this masterpiece of a urinal. Just make sure no one is using it when you walk in.

3. The Architecture Graveyard

For an architecture enthusiast, the Poly Canyon hike can be an educational experience. For everyone else, it’s just a giant jungle gym of fun things to climb on. There’s a giant building of squares with walls, a giant thing coming out of the ground, a hut that looks like it came straight out of Star Wars, and what looks like half of a pirate ship. I won’t ruin all the surprises though, so you’ll have to go check it out for yourself.

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Go on a weekend so you don’t have to pay for parking, and park in the H4 parking lot by the North Mountain dorms. Walk up Village Dr until you see the gated dirt road on the right. If you walk for about a mile you’ll see the entry to the architecture projects on the left, through the archway.

So there you have it. Three tourist attractions in San Luis Obispo that will complete any first time vacation to the central coast. If you’ve been to or lived in SLO, what would you put on this list? Let me know in the comments below.

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Cal Poly Cat Program

Posted on January 28, 2013 by

So, you love cats. But have you ever been in a building used for the sole purpose of housing more than fifty cats?

If the answer is no, then you have been missing out, my friend.


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The Cal Poly Cat Program was started in 1992 when a senior realized that there were more than 400 cats roaming around the campus and created it for his senior project. Since then, the program has rescued hundreds upon hundreds of cats and kittens, treated them with much needed vaccinations and other medical care, and either released (and tracked) them or put them up for adoption.


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Every once in a while, the program hosts nights for students and locals to come in and play with the cats while watching a movie and eating pizza. In my experience, the cats are extremely friendly and are starving for some personal attention. The events are perfect for animal lovers, cat lovers, future veterinarians, general do-gooders, and students who are missing their pets from home.

Although the program doesn’t have set hours, they welcome volunteers and visitors when they are open. Contact Edie at (805) 756-5220 to find out when you can visit. The Cal Poly Cat Program is located off of Mount Bishop Road on the Cal Poly campus, next to the Rose Float lab.

Find more information at the Cal Poly Cat Program Website!

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Restaurants in SLO – Slo Co Pasty Co

Posted on January 26, 2013 by

While I lived abroad, one food that I got to try and immediately fell in love with was the Cornish pasty. (PASS-tee, not PASTE-tee.) At the time, I had assumed that this was going to be a “one time, never get to eat this awesome dish in America unless I make it myself” thing. Lo and behold, when I came back to San Luis Obispo, there was Slo Co Pasty Company.

slo-co-pasty-co-signSince then, Slo Co has become one of my favorite places to eat in San Luis Obispo. Located right next to Bull’s Tavern, it’s easy and convenient to find whether you are working downtown or just enjoying a stroll down Higuera. (If you are going downtown specifically to eat, park in or near the Palm St. parking garage and walk down Chorro past the Mission.)

When you walk into the restaurant, you’re greeted by a server who usually lets you pick a table. Though the establishment is slightly small, about eight tables for four people each, the front wall of the restaurant opens out to the patio for more seating space if you have a big group.

They have both traditional and original pasties (Tri-tip pasty? Only on the Central Coast.), and every month they have specials like the Thanksgiving Dinner pasty or the Cajun Jambalaya pasty. As a traditionalist I tend to get the Oggy (steak, red potatoes, onions, and rutabaga), but I do mix it up occasionally by adding a side or a dessert pasty. Ever want to try one of Harry Potter’s pumpkin pasties? Try the pumpkin pie dessert pasty, it’s probably the closest you’ll ever get.

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To go along with the pasties, Slo Co Pasty Co has an awesome local wine list, and four British and Irish draught beers. If you’ve never had Magner’s Hard Cider before, now is the time to try it. Slo Co is the only place on the Central Coast that serves Magners on tap, and that alone makes the restaurant worth visiting.

There are happy hour specials from 4-6pm every day except for Saturday, and on Tuesdays and Wednesdays there is live music.  There are also lunch specials from 11am-2:30pm Monday through Friday and a brunch special on Sundays.

If you have read this post between January 25th and February 18th and you found it helpful, please vote for me to become San Luis Obispo’s first ever ShareSLO Social Ambassador. You can vote once every 24 hours, and I could definitely use the help. Just click HERE, find my video, and hit VOTE! (Make sure that your vote pops up immediately. If it doesn’t then your vote didn’t count!)

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January Events and Activities

Posted on January 25, 2013 by

No matter what the time of year, when you come to San Luis Obispo there is always something fun to do. So if you are looking for something to do in January, try one of the following:

Polar Bear Dip in Cayucos

If running into freezing ocean water with hundreds of other people is your ideal way to start off the New Year, you should definitely check out this event. To get the full effect of hundreds of people screaming because the water is cold, see the video below.

Visit the Monarchs in Pismo Beach

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Just down the coast off of Highway 1 in Pismo Beach, there is a grove of trees where thousands of monarch butterflies live when they migrate south each winter. According to http://www.monarchbutterfly.org, the grove is currently home to 28,000 butterflies. They gather in large clumps that almost look like they are part of the trees if you aren’t paying close attention. It’s quite a sight to see.

Bach in the Mission

On January 26th, the third annual “Bach in the Mission” concert will take place at Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. The Cal Poly Early Music Ensemble will be joined by professional featured soloists to perform works by J.S. Bach. (Get it? Bach in the mission.) Tickets can be purchased at www.pacslo.org or at the Performing Arts Center box office.

Restaurant Month

If you’ve been waiting for an opportunity to eat at one of the nicer restaurants in town, this month is for you. There are over 40 restaurants in San Luis Obispo county offering 3 course meals for a fixed price of $30. Included on the list are Apple Farm, Luna Red, Novo and Palazzo Giuseppe in San Luis Obispo.

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