Tech-Ed San Diego - So close, so far

Despite the fact that I live in San Diego, I'm not able to go to Tech-Ed[1]. As an hourly perma-temp, I can't afford the double hit of Tech-Ed registration and a week off from work. Drat.

I'm hoping to be able to meet up with some of the blogging crowd if they leave the posh convention center and go slumming out in town with us regular folks.

I'm not Mr. San Diego by a long shot, but I can pass on a few pointers if you haven't been here and have no better information source than the blog of some goofball you've never met.

Napa Valley Grille is pretty cool - it's at the top of Horton Plaza and has pretty good food at around $20 for a main course.
Candelas is pretty cool for a sit down dinner, too.
Old Town is an old standard for Mexican restaurants.
The Padres have a cool new ballpark but unfortunately there aren't any games that week.
Kent (the SqlJunkie) was looking at lining up at tour of the Ballast Point Brewing Company.

[Update] Sushi recommendations (via my hip downtown friends)
Downtown: Taka Ra Sushi Deli
La Jolla: Cafe Japengo's Sushi on the Rocks Sushi Ota (good sushi, no glitz)

And the church I attend and highly recommend (meets in the Gasslamp Theatre): Harbor Presbyterian Church

SignOnSanDiego.com is a pretty good source of info. I looked and didn't see much in the way of local music to recommend that week.

Maybe I'll add some more stuff here if I think of it and this post gets at least two hits.

[1]And it's sold out, so don't try to guilt trip me about how I should steal the money somehow and go.