Ulysses S. Grant, Jr. built this elegant hotel in 1910 to honor the memory of his father, the 18th President of the United States. Located 10 minutes from San Diego International Airport, in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter and downtown San Diego, UIST is very fortunate to have this fantastic venue. (For more information, please see www.usgranthotel.com)

Conference Venue: The U.S. Grant Hotel 326 Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 232-3121

Location:
Also known as "Tool Town" due to the skyline that vaguely resembles socket wrenches, screwdrivers, and/or electric shavers, San Diego (www.sandiego.org) is Southern California at its best. The city's prime entertainment and recreation spots are within a 5 minute walk to a 15 minute taxi ride from the conference center at the U.S. Grant Hotel.

Visit the adobe village at Old Town Historic Park. Sample the diverse cuisine and nightlife of the Gaslamp Quarter (www.gaslamp.org). Spend an afternoon at the world famous San Diego Zoo (www.sandiegozoo.org), Balboa Park (www.balboapark.org), or Sea World (www.seaworld.com).

Or use your afternoon off to take the trolley to Tijuana, Mexico. Cruise north to explore the ocean caves and cobblestone streets of the quaint coastal village of La Jolla. Catch a live show at one of the top performing arts theatres -- the Globe, La Jolla Playhouse, Lyceum Theatre and Spreckels Theatre (check the web for schedules).

If serious shopping is on your agenda, bring your sun glasses and sunblock because San Diego's best shopping areas are outdoors, for example the eclectic Horton Plaza is immediately across from the conference center.

Essential Info (Weather, Clothing, Dress Code):
San Diego has an enviable climate, so weather-wise November is as good a time as any other to visit. Put another way, chances are good if it is not in the 70’s and sunny on the day you arrive, it will be before you leave. Be sure to pack your sun block and hat (remember, no tan is a healthy tan) and a light jacket for the evenings.

Although there is no 'dress code' for the conference, downtown San Diego is fairly 'hip' at night.

Getting Oriented:
San Diego is an easy town to navigate. Downtown is a compact grid east of San Diego Bay. The U.S. Grant, the conference hotel, is on the main drag: Broadway. Broadway runs east from the waterfront right through the middle of town. The U.S. Grant is situated across the street from the massive and wacky Horton Plaza shopping mall. The popular Gaslamp Quarter, a few blocks to the south, is the place to go for great grub and entertainment.

Seaport Village (shopping) and the waterfront restaurants (Fish Market is a good one) run along the Embarcadero which is just west of downtown.

Head northeast and you’ll find one of San Diego’s treasures… Balboa Park. The park houses the Natural History Museum, a collection of art museums, IMAX Theater, and the famous San Diego Zoo.

The best beaches are to the north… for people watching and broad beaches, Mission Beach and Pacific Beach are good spots. For small, quaint coves and fabulous sandstone cliffs, head to La Jolla. You won’t be disappointed.

The San Diego International airport is 3 miles northwest of downtown. The main train station, the Santa Fe depot, is on the western edge of the city center. The Greyhound terminal is smack in the middle of downtown. California's main north-south freeway, I-5, runs parallel to the coast and passes within a few blocks of the city center.

Local (near the hotel) Restaurants:
Downtown San Diego has some of the best reataurants in Southern California. The "Gaslamp Quarter," in addition to being a National Historic district, offers your pick of good eats. From the U.S. Grant stroll west on 4th or 5th streets and explore on your own, or check out www.gaslamp.org for details. Here are our pics in no particular order:

• Royal Thai Restaurant. At the corner of 5th and Island. (619) 230-8424
  
• Cafe Seville. 555 Fourth Avenue. (619) 233-5979
  They've got salsa lessons, tasty Tapas and WONDERFUL Sangria. We hear they have a Flaminco Dinner Show these days... check it out!
• Fio's Cucina Italiana. 801 Fifth Ave. (619) 234-3467
  Upscale and very good food.
• Rubio's Fish Tacos. 901 Fourth Ave. (619) 231-7731
  Yes, you read that correctly... FISH tacos. You'll love them. Rubios is to fish tacos what McDonalds it to hamburgers. They invented the concept. VERY casual atmosphere, addictive food.
• Sushi Bar Nippon. 532 Fourth Ave. (619) 544-9779.
  
• Blue Pointe Coastal Cuisine. 565 Fifth Ave., (619) 233-6623
  On the expensive side, but we hear the food (seafood) is wonderful.
• Red Fish. 731 Fifth Ave., (619) 234-7226
  A cajun (New Orleans) style restaurant. Less expensive, great atmosphere and great food. You can even get fried-green tomatoes there.
• Baja Brewing Co. 203 Fifth Ave., (619) 231-6667
  Your typical brewery.
• Croce's Restaurant and Jazz Bar. 802 Fifth Ave., (619) 233-4355
  Very cool place and you can make a night of it (more of an older crowd). Great food, but on the expensive side.
• A smattering of Italian food:
  
  • Trattoria La Strada. 702 5th Ave, (619) 239-1235
  • Bella Luna. 748 5th Ave., (619) 239-3222
  • La Tavola. 515 5th Ave, (619) 232-3352
  • Asti Ristorante. 728 5th Ave., (619) 232-8844

Places to Think Twice About:

• Old Spaghetti Factory. 275 Fifth Ave.
  Although the decor is interesting, the food is less then authentic. Not worth the very LONG wait.
• Dick's Last Resort. 345 Fourth Ave.
  They have a nice patio and pretty good food, however you should know their servers pride themselves on having an abrasive attitude.

Local (near the hotel) Bars, Clubs, and such:

• The Bitter End. 770 5th Ave., (619) 338-9300
  The top floor is a fancy lounge area with big soft chairs, loveseats, couches, and fire places. A nice place to relax after work or a conference... it's very mellow and quiet. The main floor is your normal bar with tables and chairs, pool tables...a louder, more upbeat type crowd with the loud music. The bottom floor is a dance club....just dancing and very loud. There is a bar on all 3 floors, so you never have to go far for a drink. It's located on the corner of 5th and F.
• Jimmy Loves. 672 Fifth Ave., (619) 595-0123
  This is a pretty cool place to hang out as well. The main floor has a dance area and usually a live band. The bottom floor is more mellow... quiet, pool tables and much cooler in temperature. Both floors have a bar for drinks.
• "4th & B" 345 B St, (619) 231-4343
  Named for its location, literally being on the corner of 4th and B Street downtown, is a great place to see live music - bands more rock oriented than pop.

Afternoon Outings:
Downtown Walking and Shopping:
The hard-to-miss Horton Plaze (http://www.hortonplaza.com) is located just across from the U.S. Grant on Broadway and G Street, and First and Fourth Aves. With more than 140 specialty shops and restaurants, movie theaters and live theatre -- this urban mall is a favorite for tourists and locals alike. The big names are: Nordstrom, Macy's and Mervyn's. For Hollywood glitz, it has The Disney Store and Warner Bros. Studio. Planet Hollywood has the original costumes and props from famous movies on display, and the food is better than most mall restaurants.

San Diego's harbor, just west of downtown, is a remarkably clean and attractive area. On the Embarcadaro you can check out some of the military ships, large tour boats and old ships moored at the Maritime Museum. For shopping, head to the kitschy re-created turn of the century seafront architecture of Seaport Village.

Afternoon and Day Trips:
Old Town:
This area was the site of the first civilian Spanish settlement in California, known as the Pueblo de San Diego. A plaza was laid out here in the 1820s. It was the center of San Diego until 1872, when the city's focus moved to the current downtown area. In 1968, Old Town became a State Historic Park, archaeological work was undertaken, the few surviving original buildings were restored. The area is now a touristy pedestrian haven, but the open plaza with its shady trees is a pleasant place for a stroll, as long as you don't take it too seriously as a historical site. You'll get a good idea of San Diego's metamorphosis by visiting the 1820s Casa de Carrillo, the oldest house in San Diego, located just north of Old Town: it's now the pro shop for the Presidio Hills Golf Course. Old Town is 2.5 miles (4km) northwest of downtown. The rule for eating in Old Town is get there early or make a reservation.

Favorite restaurants/pubs in Old Town:

• Casa De Bandini. 2660 Calhoun St., (619) 297-8211
  Very authentic mexican food. Coolest feature is that you can eat while being senaraded by the roaving mariachi band (do remember to tip the band). If you can't think of a request, ask them to play Juan Tonamero.
• Casa de Pico. 2754 Calhoun St., (619) 296-3267
  HUGE margaritias. Very lively plaza.
• Old Town Mexican Cafe. 2489 San Diego Ave., 619) 297-4330
  Your standard mexican fare. You'll know you're in the right place if you see the tortilla makers dilligently making tortillas in the front window.
• O'Hungry's. 2547 San Diego Ave, (619) 298-0133
  Yard-long beer glasses, need we say more?

Hotel del Coronado:
This much-loved San Diego institution, commonly known as Hotel Del, is in the oh-so respectable seaside suburb of Coronado, just across the bay from downtown San Diego. It's a quirky timber building with a facade replete with conical towers, cupolas, turrets, balconies and dormer windows. Its cavernous public spaces reflect the architects' experience designing railway depots, though the acres of polished wood give the interior a warm old-fashioned ambiance. Opened in 1888, the hotel was where Edward (then Prince of Wales) first met Mrs Simpson and where parts of the 1959 Marilyn Monroe movie Some Like It Hot were filmed. Guided tours are available.

A ferry runs to Coronado from San Diego's Broadway Pier.

Sea World:
Undoubtedly one of San Diego's best known and most popular attractions, Sea World opened in Mission Bay in 1964, and Shamu, its resident killer whale, has become an unofficial symbol of the city. Sea World is very commercial, very entertaining and slightly educational. There are plenty of whales, sharks, dolphins and penguins on display and, if you like your marine life choreographed, various special animal performances. Note that Sea World has steep entry prices and long queues for some shows and exhibits at peak times. Sea World is 5 miles (8km) northwest of downtown. You'll need a cab or your own car.

The San Diego Zoo:
The world famous San Diego Zoo. Need we say more?

La Jolla:
This quaint but status-conscious seaside suburb is 12 miles (20km) northwest of downtown San Diego. Pronounced 'la hoya,' and meaning 'the jewell' it's noted for its red-tile roofs and pale stucco, and rugged, sandstone coastline, with pretty coves and small but beautiful beaches.

Highlights include the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Stephen Birch Aquarium-Museum, the La Jolla Glider Port, UCSD, and the nearby Torrey Pines State Reserve, home to the last mainland stands of the Torrey pine and some superb viewpoints out over the ocean. For a worthwhile 360° view of the suburb, drive to the top of modest Soledad Mountain, east of La Jolla.

A few restuarants in La Jolla:

• Trattoria Acqua. 1298 Prospect St., La Jolla (858) 454-0709
  Great Italian Cuisine. But on the expensive side. "The lobster ravioli is to die for." or so we hear.
• George's at the Cove. 1250 Prospect St., La Jolla (858) 454-4244
  Good selection and nice atmosphere
• Bird Rock Cafe. 5656 La Jolla Blvd, La Jolla (858) 551-4090

Tijuana, Mexico:
As a Mexican city, Tijuana is neither typical nor attractive, but as border towns go, it's almost an archetype, with gaudy souvenir shops, noisy bars and sleazy backstreets. Visiting Tijuana is a real eye-opener, largely because of the shocking contrast between the two sides of the border. You'll immediately notice the potholes in the sidewalk, the poverty of the street peddlers and the chaotic atmosphere, especially compared with orderly, affluent San Diego.

Attractions include Avenida Revolución, Tijuana's tourist heart. It's a raucous strip of seedy bars and dance clubs, tacky souvenir shops, cheap restaurants and street photographers with zebra-striped burros. Head to the end of town for the jai alai matches, a hybrid between tennis and handball. They're held at the Frontón on Avenida Revolución. Take the San Deigo trolly to the San Ysidro station. Cross over the bridge and you're there. Take your street smarts with you as well as YOUR PASSPORT. TIJUANA IS IN MEXICO. YOU WILL NEED A PASSPORT TO GET BACK TO SAN DIEGO. Non-US nationals are advised to check about reentry requirements before exiting the country.

Great Views and Sunsets:
The best place to catch the sunset and view the city at night is the top of the Ramada hotel. Take the elivator to the top floor. Grab a table by the windows and order a drink.

Get to any of the various beaches and cliffs north of the city. Face the Pacific. Sit down. Wait for the sun to disappear.

References: (and for information on concerts and theater events):

• http://www.lonelyplanet.com/dest/nam/san.htm
  
• http://www.insidesandiego.com/
  
• http://www.sandiego.org/
  
• http://sandiego.citysearch.com/
  

Special thanks to Kim Parra and Stacie Parra for their help.