“Japanese people NEVER drink hot sake.” I had no reason to doubt the authenticity of this statement, made by our waitress, Yuka Nakai, a daughter of the owner of the best sake joint in north San Diego county. Yu Me Ya is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it sake bar and restaurant on the 101; we did, until one day we didn’t. Our first visit, a few years back, was a crash course in the art of sake drinking. The glasses are served on a saucer, and filled to the point of overflow (it’s bad form to pick up the glass for the first sip; instead, lean over and sip it as it sits on the table – and make sure you drink what spilled into that saucer). There are hundreds of sake brewers in Japan, and they are no less serious about their varietals of rice than Napa Valley vintners are about their grapes. And after you’ve had a glass of good, cold sake, you’ll never want to drink it hot again.

The sake bar at Yu Me Ya Sake House.

We’ve since become regulars – well, as regular as anyone can be at one of the worst “best-kept secrets” in SD County. Get there after 6:00 on any given night and you’re out of luck. The place is small; the bar seats maybe 12 people, and there are only a handful of tables. And it’s always packed. For good reason. The sake list boasts well over 100 different sakes, which can be purchased by the glass or the bottle. Newbies to sake are advised to try a flight – three 1 or 2 oz. glasses of either regular, premium, or super-premium sakes. Prices range from $5 to $14 per flight; it’s best to let Yuka or her sister Fumika pick for you (they’ll invariably recommend a sake that was the favorite of a particular Japanese Prime Minister – I have no way of verifying the accuracy of their claims, but I’ve yet to be disappointed). Sake is not a distilled “hard” alcohol; it’s sipped like wine, and good sakes have the complexity of a good Cab or Pinot. I found some amazing flavors in each glass – licorice, bourbon, citrus – that simply aren’t found in the stuff that you buy at your local chain grocery store. (And like good wine, drink a few and you’ll get a tremendously pleasant buzz.) On our last visit, this past weekend, I enjoyed…well, I couldn’t tell you the names of each sake, but they were all delicious. (Of course, at the end of the evening, I probably wouldn’t have been able to tell you the names of my kids.) In addition to sake, Yu Me Ya serves some excellent – and unusual – Japanese beers.

Iwate Kura Bakushu Oyster Stout. Yes. It's made with oysters.

(I drank that bottle. It was excellent – hints of coffee and chocolate and a miso-y finish, and not at all oystery.)

Yu Me Ya has an excellent menu; the udon is legendary, and the hot and cold izakaya – Japanese tapas – are amazing. (Best bets – the spicy tuna “carpaccio” and the takoyaki, fried dumplings filled with diced octopus, and the BBQ beef salad.) But the sake is the reason to come here. Diving into Japan’s signature beverage is a treat, and Yu Me Ya is the perfect place to discover what real sake is all about.

(Photos: Jason Avant)

Above the stage at House of Blues - Las Vegas

When you think of a resort named Mandalay Bay, you probably picture beach-like pools surrounded by bikini-clad hotties and as many umbrellas stuck in tropical drinks as in the sand. That image isn’t wrong. However, you need to append that vision when you realize a corner of the casino floor has been cordoned off for a music-themed restaurant and two-story palace of rock, better known as the House of Blues.

I’ve seen more shows at HOB-LV than I can count since it opened in 1999 and, time after time, it rarely disappoints when it comes to the quality of the musicians, the courtesy and professionalism of the staff, and the value of the shows. It’s no wonder that bands like Ben Folds, Cake, Sevendust, AFI, Bad Religion, Saliva, and more. It’s a great venue for bands with loyal fan followings or for smaller acts who’ve banded together for mini-festival like showcases. The acoustics are great. There’s generally not a bad place to listen. If you’re going to a hard rock or punk show, be advised to pack some ear plugs or risk ringing in your ears for days afterward. The sounds guys at HOB-LV like it loud.

Most shows are general admission, so wear comfy shoes. You’ll be standing. In some cases, you can buy premium seats or opt for the second-floor theater-style seating. Yes, you won’t get trampled up there, but the energy is not nearly as good as being in the crush of sweaty fans on the floor.

Like any Vegas casino-based club, drinks are not cheap, so I wouldn’t plan to come here and get smashed cheaply. A round of two mixed drinks with house liquor will run you about $20 (including tip). That said, the bartenders are very nice and prompt in taking your money and serving your beverages. The cocktail waitresses are some of the bravest in the business, cruising through crowds with trays held inches above mohawk after mohawk. That, in and of itself, it a sight to see. The security staff are some of the nicest in town. In these days of liability-conscious venue management, they do allow mosh pits and supervise them well. They clear “unfriendly fans” from the floor within seconds so the music continues uninterrupted.

Staff and drinks aside, this place is all about the music. All kinds, all types, all the time. If you’re coming to Vegas, be sure to check the schedule and see if there’s anyone you like at the venue during your stay. Or, even better, see a band you’ve never heard of. Meet some new prople Getting some diversity in your personal playlist and your contacts is a definite win if you’re in Vegas. In the end, that’s what this place is all about: Unity through Diversity.

[Photo by Nancy Syzdek]

Park Ciutadella, Barcelona

A group of friends and I came across Can Luis one summer night in 2009. We had been having a picnic at Barcelona’s Ciutadella Park, where all summer long they have free jazz concerts on Friday nights. It was one of those balmy nights where everyone has had a bit too much wine, too much good food, and too much fun. The concert ended, but we weren’t ready to go home. We rallied and set off into El Born, the neighborhood siding Park Ciutadella.

Jam Session at Can Luis

The brave leader of our expedition was Dolores, a Barcelona native, who planned to take us to the grungy and often packed, Bar Pony. We arrived to find Pony closed, and so ducked into Can Luis on the other side of the street from Bar Pony. This is usually how I come across interesting places – by accident. Can Luis has a series of instruments set up in the pack of the bar, and musicians of all skill levels are invited to jam,sing, strum the guitar, shake a maraca, tweet on a flute or run their fingers across the piano. Usually, there are quite a lot of people playing, and the result is pretty good.

Jorge plays at Can Luis

A friend of mine immediately went over and bumped a girl playing the piano off, taking her spot and then playing some very inspired numbers. Not a musician, I hugged the bar and sipped my drink, which was a bit expensive for a place like Can Luis, which has charm, but is by no means fancy. Drinks are expensive at Can Luis I assume, because of the live music. Still, I can’t really figure that one out, because the music is supplied for free by random customers jamming…..Either way, it is worth it to pay almost 3 Euros for your beer in order to check out this lively scene and hear some (probably) good live tunes.

Grab your map and find Can Luis on : Calle Portal Nou 18, Barcelona, Spain

Tucked into Barrio Barceloneta - El Vaso de Oro

I have lived in beautiful Barcelona, Spain, for over four years. In the first week I was here back in 2005, I stumbled into The Golden Glass, or El Vaso de Oro, while wandering map-less in Barcelona’s seaside neighborhood, La Barceloneta.

El Vaso de Oro in many ways looks more like a hallway, or a train carriage than a restaurant. Long and skinny, the restaurant is dominated by an enormous wooden bar, stretching from one end of the place to the other. Customers line up along the bar, some lucky enough to get a stool, and others standing, placing their beers and small plates of fried Padron peppers on little shelves attached to the walls made for just that reason. There are a couple tables in El Vaso de Oro, but they fill up fast.

Wine and beer is served at El Vaso, but beer is the more popular drink, served on tap. This makes for a perfect place to begin your night out in Barcelona. El Vaso de Oro is located down by the sea near the old part of the city and several nice bars. Start here with tapas and beers, and then make your way into the nearby Barri Gotic or Born neighborhoods for bar hopping and after 2am, clubbing.

El Vaso de Oro is near Barcelona's Old Port

Oh yes, and I should add that the tapas at El Vaso are delicious. Made to order right before your eyes, try the Spanish ham, a plate of spicy potatoes, garlic shrimp or calamari. Enough tapas to make a meal of it plus beers will cost you between 15 and 20 Euros per person.

Address: El Vaso de Oro – Calle Balboa 6, Barcelona, Spain

Photo Credit: The Spain Scoop