One of the great advantages of living at Vantage Pointe is its proximity to the best of downtown, including Petco Park. On a summery afternoon when the FIRST-PLACE!!!, excuse us, first-place Padres are in town for a day game, we can walk from home down to the ballpark, enjoy watching our boys win, then stroll to a neighborhood restaurant for a late lunch or early dinner.

Actually, we don't even need to wait for a game. Today, we're going to highlight three restaurants -- El Vitral, Cowboy Star, and Phi -- that are marvelous East Village dining options. Each is open for lunch and dinner. And, they're all walking distance from Vantage Pointe. Now, they're not the only options out there by a long shot, but we need to start somewhere as we periodically share some of our favorite downtown dining spots. And these three are great places to start.

Now look at that patio. Just to the left is a view right into Petco. We're at El Vitral, which is at 815 J St. between 8th and 9th Aves. It's a beautiful restaurant with its bright and bold modernist flair and the food, too, is a modern twist on classic Mexican flavors. There's not a bland or greasy dish on the menu. Some favorites include any of the delightful ceviches; okay, we're partial to the Ceviche de Camaron, with shrimp, roasted tomatillo, onion, poblano chile, and orange and lime juices and the Ceviche del Almeja with clams, baby scallops, tomato juice, cucumber, and celery. Then there are the tacos -- like the unusual Salmon al Pastor with salmon, pastor adobo, grilled pineapple, onion, and cilantro on a corn tortilla. And any of their moles!

El Vitral is also known for its vast selection of tequilas. In fact, every first and third Thursday of the month they have a tequila tasting and food pairing dinner they call "Tequila 101."

When you walk into Cowboy Star, don't be surprised if you want to break into "Home on the Range" or, better yet, "Don't Fence Me In." It's cowboy chic the way you remember it from the movies only with a 21st-Century twist. Located at 640 10th Ave. just above Market St., Cowboy Star is both a restaurant and butcher shop. Yes, folks, you have a neighborhood butcher shop!

That's executive chef/owner Victor Jimenez above showing off some of the marvelous grass- and corn-fed cuts of meat you can buy. But you'll also find him in the open kitchen directing his team of chefs as they work their magic not just on meat but magnificent poultry, pork, lamb, and even seafood. Sure, order a mouth-watering grass-fed beef burger or 14 oz. American Bison Ribeye, or 10 oz. American Wagyu Skirt Steak. Or, consider pan-seared Alaskan halibut or Hudson Valley Duck. Favorite starters include Niman Crispy Pork Cheeks with porcinni mushroom polenta, broccoli rabe, and pork jus; American Wagyu Carpaccio with shaved parmesan, crispy capers, wild arugula, and a toasted baguette; and Heirloom Tomato Salad with gooseberries, mache, endive, and verjus vinaigrette.

San Diego has a number of terrific hotel restaurants and you can count Phi Bar and Bistro at the Hotel Indigo among them. Just a block away from Petco Park at 509 9th Ave. at Island Ave., Phi is a shiny modern little gem featuring seasonal vegetables from local Crows Pass Farms and cheeses from Venissimo (just up the street at 9th and G). Start with a plate of spicy hummus, pita chips, and spiced olives or the sweet potato fries tossed in white cheddar cheese and served with chipotle aioli. Move on to the roasted chicken flatbread served with ricotta, California blue cheese, pecans, applewood bacon, and mozzarella, topped with arugula and a sweet red chili sauce. At lunch, we liked the green salad served with chicken salad sliders. We want to return for dinner to try the pan-seared scallops with sweet corn puree, bacon Brussels sprouts, and roasted fingerling potatoes.

And, while you can enjoy all this ground-floor dining, you can also head up to the 9th floor terrace bar for a splendid view matched by equally splendid drinks and eats.

Do you have any favorite dishes at any of these three restaurants? How about recommendations for other East Village spots? Share with the neighbors!

It seemed that we'd never see the sun this summer. For weeks, we went from gray May to June gloom to -- well, what do you say when it's overcast in July? No-sky July? Well, the gloom broke this week and now we're in full-on summer heat.

So, we thought it might be a good time to remind you about some of the best points about Vantage Pointe, particularly this time of year when outdoor living is so SoCal, but AC is also our friend.

Let's start with some drama. We've got a 10th-floor pool deck that was built for these sultry days.

Look at those comfy poolside loungers, that sparkling blue pool, and the spa. And, well, that view. It goes all the way around the bay. Not a bad place to spend a warm afternoon. At night, it's a special place to view the city lights and take in the cooling breezes.

But, you don't have to be poolside to enjoy summer in San Diego. Not at Vantage Pointe. We've got a beautiful bar you can rent for parties; a game room with a pool table, big-screen TV, and plenty of comfy seating; and a dynamite screening room. It's baseball season -- have your friends over and watch an away game (VP is walking distance to Petco Park, so you might as well buy tickets for home games). Or gather your peeps for a movie or to watch the last day of the Tour de France. And, of course, everything's air conditioned.

Even working out doesn't have to be a heated experience. We've got a state-of-the-art work out room that will actually encourage you to stay in shape while everyone else is drooping from the heat.

And, we haven't even talked about the Vantage Pointe homes. They're air conditioned, of course, with plenty of light coming in through floor-to-ceiling windows. Every home comes with sleek cool granite countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms, and icy stainless steel kitchen appliances. Plus, there's either a balcony or spacious terrace for entertaining or just relaxing outdoors.

Vantage Pointe is a sweet spot in downtown San Diego. Between what we've got going on here and the fact that we're part of a walkable community filled with restaurants and cultural attractions, it's a great place for summertime living. Come on over -- we're at 9th Ave. between A and B streets. We'd love to show you around.

One of the advantages of being the largest new condominium building in San Diego is that we have the opportunity to give back to the neighborhood -- sometimes in rather unusual, even dramatic, ways.

Here's our latest example. We've made Vantage Pointe available to the San Diego Fire Department and SWAT team for the kind of trainings that make them so effective when a real emergency strikes. Recently, we had three fire stations here that make up the San Diego Fire Rescue Vertical Team.

According to our Tina West, "We had a series of drills whereby the scenarios were likened to what could take place on a high-rise building, such as when a window washer gets stuck and the hoist doesn't work."

Tina was hoping to get a chance to volunteer as a drill "victim" and even got suited up for it:

But, time went against her. Instead Jenny Magallanes, Vantage Pointe's general manager, got the privilege of going "aerial."

See that cage behind her? This is your typical window-washer box. Jenny was put inside and hoisted up. Waaay up. In this scenario, the rescue teams then scale the building to reach the box and either lower the victim -- Jenny -- to the 27th-story rooftop or raise her to the 42nd-story rooftop.

Randy Ballard, battalion chief for station #4 (on Market and J Sts.) and his team "rescued" Jenny without incident. San Diego Union-Tribune reporter Kristina Davis reported that firefighter Oscar Rodriguez rappelled down the side of the tower, secured Jenny to his rope system and lowered them safely onto the 27th-floor deck. Of course. These guys aren't called the "SWAT team of firefighters" for nothing.

"It was amazing, exhilarating, and really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Jenny says. "I initially volunteered jokingly, assuming that neither the Fire Department nor Sunrise Management would allow for it. But when one of the firemen said, 'Let's get you in this harness', all of a sudden it became real!"

 

Loosen your belt, Vantage Pointe residents! Put on that pair of jeans that's a size larger than usual And, don't forget a comfy pair of walking shoes! The 17th Annual Taste of Gaslamp is coming up Saturday and Sunday June 26 and 27 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Gaslamp.

The fundraiser, which benefits the Gaslamp Quarter Association to help enhance and protect this historic district, features more than 30 restaurants, including Cafe Sevilla, House of Blues, Hard Rock Cafe, Nobu, Royal India, Red Pearl Kitchen, and McCormick & Schmick's. Each participating restaurant will showcase house specialties with a two- to four-ounce sample for each ticketed patron. Buy your $30 ticket (and hurry; this event usually sells out) and you'll get a numbered ticket, a walking map that lists all the participating restaurants, and a copy of the Taste of Gaslamp recipe book. If you're 21 or older with a valid ID, you can also enjoy a Samuel Adams beer garden.

Speaking of Samuel Adams, here's one of the recipes featured in the cookbook:

Samuel Adams Beer Roasted Chicken

1 cup Samuel Adams Boston Lager
1 cup miso paste (or soy paste)
1 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 pounds boneless chicken breasts

1. In a large bowl, combine the miso paste, Samuel Adams Boston Lager, soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, and cayenne pepper. Mix together well until the miso and sugar have dissolved.
2. Submerge the chicken in the marinade, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium high heat and lightly oil grate.
3. Remove chicken from the marinade and transfer the marinade to a small sauce pan over medium heat. Bring just to a boil, reduce heat, and let simmer.
4. Grill the chicken over medium-high heat and baste with the boiled marinade while grilling. Chicken should take 5 to 10 minutes per side depending on thickness. The chicken is done with its juices run clear.

Serves 6

To buy tickets and see the full lineup of restaurants, visit www.gaslamp.org. And, if you have time, there are still a few openings to volunteer for the event and do a little "Tasting" on your own. Go the website to learn how to get in touch for volunteer.

Moving into a stylish new condo like Vantage Pointe certainly eliminates some design decision issues, including around spaces like the bathroom. You've got gorgeous granite countertops, beautiful cabinetry, tile floors, new decorator fixtures, and fresh paint. The question is how do you make it reflect your distinctive personality and lifestyle?

For the bathroom, most of your decisions will revolve around a variety of accessories. It's all about establishing a theme and creating a mood around it. It can be playful or high tech, urban or vintage, beach or desert. It doesn't have to have a label but it should be consistent as you pull together your look.

Here's what you should focus on :

Paint: Yes, you've got a nice new coat of paint up but maybe you want another color. Whether you opt for a classic feel with pure white or you go with a shade that complements the tile or fixtures, a couple of coats of paint is a quick, easy and inexpensive way to make a statement, your statement. For an open effect, paint the ceiling a lighter shade than the walls.

Towels. Soft, fluffy Turkish towels can turn your bathroom into a spa. With a rainbow of colors and patterns to choose from, you can do a 60s Mary Quant explosion to get you revved up in the morning or something more subdued and elegant. If 100 percent cotton's not for you, consider eco-friendly alternatives like cotton and wood-pulp Legna or bamboo. They're absorbent, odor resistant, and antibacterial.

Towel Rack. Warming racks, hotel racks, your basic horizontal bar. Hit any of the home design stores or go online and find a style that works for your space.

Storage and Accessories. Everyone needs a place to store everything from brushes and Qtips to cleaning supplies. Some of us like to have it all on display at our fingertips. Others want to clear the vanity of the signs of daily life. Hold It!; Hold Everything; Bed, Bath, and Beyond and other home stores have a huge selection of storage options and accessories. Or, hit the antique shops, flea markets, or little boutiques for unique pieces that aren't so "matchy matchy."

 Lighting. Your home at Vantage Pointe already has designer fixtures but just by adding a dimmer switch you can have bright light for putting on makeup or styling your hair (or putting in contact lenses), and also have the ability to create a serene light for a soothing bath.

Artwork. People forget that the walls in the bathroom can also house art or collectibles that inspire, calm, provoke, or even create a giggle. Keep your theme in mind as you select visual statements of your taste and style.

 Scent. Scented candles, essential oils, bath oils, and bath salts can set the mood for the day or the evening. Look for soy candles--they burn cleanly--and essential oils that are the real deal, not artificial scents. Remember that lavender, chamomile, vanilla, and lemon scents will help relax you while the mints, rosemary, and sage are more invigorating.

Cabinet Hardware. Wonderful knobs and pulls can be an inexpensive and easy way to establish your style. Choose hardware that matches or enhances the cabinet style, whether it's a pull, or handle, or a knob. If you're replacing pulls be sure to note the size by the placement of the holes, not the length of the pull so you don't have to drill new holes.

Mirrors. Decorative wall mirrors serve three functions - as a vanity for activities like putting on makeup and drying your hair, as a piece of décor, and to create the illusion of space. A wall-mounted reversible mirror with magnification can help with the vanity part of the design equation, as can a stand version for the countertop. If you have a window in the bathroom, placing a mirror across from it will open up the room as it reflects the outdoors. You can find ready-made mirrors at most home-furnishings stores but you can also have mirrors cut to size and then find just the right frame for them.

Area rug. Tie everything together with just the right floor covering. Be sure to measure the distance between the flooring and the bottom of your door as well as the size of the room so that you'll choose something that isn't so thick and high and long that you can't close the door.

Plants. Plants and bathrooms just go together. That is, assuming there's light available and you remember to water them. Natural light in the form of windows and skylights is best but you can also train grow-lights on plants. Identify your light situation and then look for plants that are appropriate for that source. If your bathroom has an often-used shower or bathtub, find plants that thrive in humidity, like orchids, philodendron, grape ivy, bromeliads, and ferns. Then have fun finding great-looking pots or baskets to dress them in.

It's the ultimate wake-me-up. Call it java, a cup of jolt, wakey juice, or the daily grind, more than half of American adults -- 54 percent -- are daily coffee drinkers, according to The National Coffee Association of U.S.A.'s 2009 National Coffee Drinking Trends Study. We like it leaded and unleaded, and with a java jive that often requires a deep breath before spewing out our order: grande, dry, skinny, half-caf Latte with wings (Grande Latte with non-fat foam, half decaffeinated with handles).

It takes a superior barista to turn our waking dreams into reality and launch the day correctly. Fortunately, downtown San Diego and its surrounding neighborhoods have several great coffee houses, and many are just down the street from Vantage Pointe. Here are some favorites for you to check out (and, yes, they serve tea as well):

Java Jones Cafe (631 9th Ave.): This is the East Village store of a small chain owned by Brett Winslow. Java Jones roasts its own organic fair trade coffee blends and offers delicious eats to go with your drink -- from bagel and croissant sandwiches, oatmeal, and acai bowls. Later in the day come build your own sandwiches and crepes.

Influx (1948 Broadway in Golden Hill and 750 West Fir in Little Italy): Sleek and modern, Influx is a hangout for local musicians and artists -- and at least one food writer. Susan Russo. "Influx has the best coffee -- bold, flavorful, clean," she says. "The mocha is the best I have ever had." Coffee, yes, but try the food, too. The menu includes croissants and bagels; bowls of granola, oatmeal, and yogurt; sandwiches and salads, and a variety of baked goods.

It's a Grind (935 J. St. and 690 1st Ave.): Think blues and jazz and Arabica coffees micro-roasted in small batches. This chain has two downtown locations: one near Petco Park in East Village and the other near Horton Plaza at 1st and G. Get your free Wi-Fi fix and maybe you'll run into local social media maven Jenn Van Grove, who names it and Java Jones as her downtown coffee house picks.

SoleLuna (702 Ash St.): Okay, this is more cafe than strictly coffee house, but Cortez Hill resident Ross Porter visits there most mornings with his cocker spaniel and sings its praises for its delicious coffees and pastries. He says they have a full kitchen that turns out authentic Italian cuisine, including pizza and lasagna, carpaccio and salmon alla griglia.

Caffe Italia (1704 India St.): Ready to hit the Little Italy Mercato? Fortify yourself first at one of Mercato Maestra Catt White's favorite coffee houses. At the crossroads of the neighborhood in the La Pensione Hotel, Caffe Italia is a unique espresso bar serving Lavazza coffee beans imported from Italy. They're known for their Sunday brunch waffle bar, and it doesn't hurt that they have free Wi-Fi and are dog friendly.

Zanzibar Cafe: (707 G. St.): Here's a wonderful example of a neighborhood coffee house (okay, they're also in PB and UCSD's Loft) that also has some delicious gourmet groceries and take-out mixed in. You can easily stroll here from Vantage Pointe and hang out with your morning cup of joe, an omelet or breakfast sandwich (actually they have a very lengthy breakfast and lunch menu), and a pastry made by pastry chef Amy O'Hara. When you're done, fill your larder with cheeses, herbal teas, Jackie's Jams, honey, bread from Bread & Cie, and chocolates from Eclipse Chocolat. Or fill the fridge with take-out salads and charcuterie. They even do a big catering business.

Pappalecco (1602 State St. and 3650 Fifth Ave.): Back to Little Italy (or Hillcrest) with a favorite of local food writer Luann Harris Gould, who loves the place "because the coffee is so authentic to Italy and plus, the baristas are hot!" The owners aren't bad either. Brothers Francesco and Lorenzo Bucci are from Pisa but decided to have an American adventure. That adventure, they say, is Pappalecco. To them coffee is love, as reflected in the story of their Grandpa Amedeo and Grandma Dora. But the love also extends to paninis and salads, and, of course, gelato. Check out their website, too, for their romantic storytelling.

Realtor® Jim Abbott is a longtime downtown dweller. A fourth generation San Diegan, he's also the managing partner of ARG Abbott Realty Group and an avid promoter of downtown San Diego. One of the ways he's done this is to co-found the San Diego Association of Realtors Downtown Real Estate Marketing Group to help show off new listings and provide broker agents and affiliates a way to exchange information and ideas. Abbott has served as a director of both the San Diego Association of Realtors and California Association of Realtors and has received any number of professional awards, from the Prudential Legend Awards to City of San Diego Awards for service to the Police and Planning Departments.

Given his unique perspective on downtown residential real estate and his experience living here, we decided to ask Abbott about life in downtown San Diego and his take on Vantage Pointe.

Q: How long have you lived and worked in downtown San Diego?

JA: I've worked down here since 1995 and lived here since 1999. I've owned multiple homes down here and currently live at the Meridian. A client brought us down here. I was living and working in Rancho Bernardo and was referred clients from a broker in Kansas City. The clients wanted either to be on a golf course or in a high-rise downtown. They bought a condo downtown. As a thank you, the project owner put me up for a weekend in a unit overlooking the Bay and I thought, "this has been such a great transaction with these guys and I had a blast over the weekend. It's a great lifestyle." I went to my business partners and told them that when my daughter was out of school I wanted to move my practice down there. They came back to me and asked what it would take to move now. So, we went.

Q: How has the area evolved in the last five to 10 years?

JA: It's gotten much better. There are many more choices for housing for consumers, there's more to do, there's more nightlife. We've found that while we live on the west side of downtown we're always just east of downtown. The cutting-edge places are at 8th, 9th, 10th up to about 14th St. We like Basic Pizza, Café Zanzibar, and even the Tilted Kilt. Our absolute favorite restaurant is El Vitral. It's unique, a gorgeous room, a cool spot. I've never had bad service or a bad meal there. Café Chloe catered my parents' 50th anniversary party.

But, there's still more to be done here. It's really important that we really get out and convince the City Council to raise the cap on CCDC so they can finish development of East Village. Otherwise, in 2024 the tax monies will go away out of the City and a lot of East Village won't flourish.

Q: How does Vantage Pointe fit into this new downtown vibe?

JA: It's a neighborhood - or it will be. It's an incredible retail opportunity for people. Give credit to the developer there who planted a bold vision on a hopscotch. It's going to be an economic driver.

Q: It's been said that Vantage Pointe has limitations because of its location. What do you think of this?

JA: I think for anyone to look at the physical size of downtown San Diego's blocks, which are very small, and the fact that these locational evaluations are being made literally over 100 or 200 feet that anyone making a negative evaluation over what are literally footsteps is naïve. You can't diss the location of Vantage Pointe and then praise Cortez Hill. It's stupid. Are there development opportunities around there? Yes? Would it be nice to have a pocket park around there? Yes. But people are ill-informed if they complain about the location.

I thought some of the comments made recently by my colleagues were simply baseless. Shame on them. When a major developer goes out on a limb, offers you twice as much to bring in clients, and has property to sell, you should be applauding them. Our clients are getting something brand new at Vantage Pointe, they're not competing with other buyers, and can see what they're getting instead of buying off of plans. That's compelling to our clients.

Q: What do you tell clients about the building and its potential?

JA: It's resort quality at the low end of the market. I don't know where you go downtown and spend less than half a million dollars and get that kind of common area. I think it's pretty impressive. The amenities package there is astounding. We have a tradition in our family to do backyard weddings. I can't imagine a nicer place for a downtown wedding than Vantage Pointe's common area.

Another cool thing about Vantage Pointe is that the HOA fee is reasonable. When we counsel clients, we tell them they're getting resort-quality amenities for very reasonable HOA fees because of the economy of scale such a large building provides. You can get a high-end experience at about half the price. So it also makes awesome sense for people looking for a second home and looking for a great time downtown.

Q: Where do you see this part of downtown in five years?

JA: Because Vantage Pointe planted a flag there, the rest of that Broadway spine will be nicely developed. Because of the numbers of people who live there, they'll create a retail demand that has to be met. There's going to be gentrification. What's happened deep in the East Village will go up there - assuming that Vantage Pointe gets fully occupied. Once people move in, you'll see great retail places move in to serve them.

Perhaps nothing says more about the level of stress in our lives than in the fact that there is actually an entity called "The American Institute of Stress." And this New York-based organization has pulled together some numbers that may just tighten the chest a little more:

·      Seventy-eight percent of Americans describe their jobs as stressful and that it has worsened over the past ten years.

·      Seventy-five to ninety percent of visits to primary care physicians are for stress-related problems.

·      The National Safety Council estimates that one million employees are absent on an average workday because of stress-related problems.

So, given that most of us are feeling more than a little nervous tension from day to day, how nice it would be if we could just give ourselves a break - perhaps even some time alone in a space that calms or rejuvenates, depending on our personality.

Traditionally, that's been our home. But, says architect Sarah Susanka, author of The Not So Big House books, while our houses today are really our primary retreat in terms of how we experience the world, there's no getting around the fact that if you live with other people, that retreat is shared. "People compromise for each other in terms of décor, but as a result, there's no one place for them to truly express themselves in their own homes," she says. "We give children their own place, but adults generally don't have that."

Novelist Virginia Woolf called it "a room of one's own." A generation ago it was the sewing room conversion from a now-grown child's bedroom for the wife and the garage or the basement workshop for the husband. Before that it might have been the elegant, paneled library with floor-to-ceiling bookcases, a leather chair and a full humidor on the mahogany desk.

Today's retreats are different. "It can be anything - an alcove in a room, a screened-off portion of the living room, wherever you can carve out some space," says Susanka. "One client of mine took over a closet in his grown child's old bedroom, opening it to the hallway instead of the room. It was a delightful little space for meditation."

The key to the perfect retreat, she says, is that you make it just what you want it to be. "In mine," says Susanka, "I have things that have meaning to me, that are an expression of myself. It's a serene place. I write there and read there sometimes, just when I want time alone."

Clinical and corporate psychologist Michael Mantell, or "Dr. San Diego," at San Diego Magazine, believes that having a place or space to "marinate" is essential in this world. "The use of color, probably more than anything else, is what most people think of as relaxing and the key to the perfect personal retreat," he says. "Music, art, a view are icing on the cake."

It's especially important in an urban setting. In that context the condo in a city's downtown can itself be the retreat from an active, stimulating street life. The spaces carved out, whether in a room or part of a room, can contain personal treasures, soothing textiles, comfortable furniture, and a place to set books, a cup of tea, or a glass of wine.

Of course, retreat means different things to different people. One person's easy easy chair is another's space to do yoga, equipped with a good sound system. It could be a bathroom outfitted to be a spa with candles, thick Turkish towels, and a large garden tub. It could be your bedroom, sans television and other distractions but with luxurious bedding and warm lighting. A home cook might find retreat in a good working kitchen while another person might turn to art, with a well-lit corner of a room set up with an easel for painting. Again, it's what you want it to be, what helps you unwind and decompress. You can get some ideas and tips for how to create your own sanctuary on a few different websites, including interiordec.about.com, HGTV, and Sunset.

Brady Architectural Photography

Sometimes, a room of one's own isn't a room at all but the open air outdoors, even if the outdoors is a balcony or terrace. The continuing boom in gardening, including container gardening, reflects a renewed desire to experience nature. And, in an urban setting like Vantage Pointe, that outdoor space can be a special refuge and source of serenity, whether it's a balcony or terrace that's part of the home or the 10th-floor pool deck with its comfortable seating and panoramic views.

For others, though, sanctuary is less a refuge of relaxation than a source of revitalization.

"When people think of stress, they typically think of relaxing, but it's not necessarily the antidote to stress," says Nancilee Wydra, founder of the Feng Shui Institute of America and author of RX for Living, a monthly column on feng shui. "The antidote is to thrive in any area of your life. Becoming calm is one antidote, but not the only one."

Wydra suggests that for some people creating a retreat that stimulates can be just as much of a sanctuary as one that calms. Wydra looks to five elemental areas - wood, earth, fire, water and metal - as suggesting lines, colors, sounds and textures that work to create the right type of sanctuary for a given person's needs.

"Earth, for example, suggests the color of soil in your area, things that are solid and firm, square, low and chunky," she explains. "It represents safety, security and reliability. Fire, on the other hand, suggests the color red, triangular shapes and surfaces that make you react - intellectual processes and energetic responses."

Whatever kind of retreat you create, it's important that it be away from the telephone, the computer, the television, and your communications gadgets.

"If you can spend a little time each day just being with yourself, thinking or meditating," says Susanka, "it gives you breathing space so you can keep things in perspective."

Vantage Pointe's developer, Pointe of View, is negotiating new terms with its construction lender. While the original construction loan matured last September,  the lender and developer have been working on renewal terms and anticipate moving into an agreement.

A nice walk with your pup is all well and good but sometimes you want to take a stroll with a destination. Drinks with friends. Brunch. A leisurely al fresco dinner. All with your dog in tow. Well, living at Vantage Pointe means you can put on your walking shoes, grab your wallet, snap on the leash, and head out to your local pub or restaurant. Downtown San Diego is flush with dog-friendly spots. Stay within just a few blocks of upper East Village or take a healthy walk to Seaport Village and points in between.

Of course, before you introduce your four-footed roomie to the delights of dining out be sure that she has the manners and attitude that will make you both welcome. It may require some classes (both the San Diego Humane Society and The Educated Pet offer instruction) or some practice being out and about around other dogs and people--and food--in a patio setting.

This isn't a comprehensive list of dog-friendly restaurants and bars in downtown San Diego, but here's what we found. If you know of others, please leave a comment so the rest of us can also enjoy them!

Brickyard Coffee & Tea at 675 West G Street (between 6th Ave & India St)

Cafe Chloe at 9th and G: Their little wrap-around patio welcomes well-behaved dogs.

Cafe 222 at 222 Island St.

Hotel Indigo at 509 9th Ave.: These folks love dogs. Bring your pal to the monthly canine cocktails events. The next one, set for Tuesday, May 4 from 5:30 to 8:30, has a Cinco de Mayo theme.

Java Jones at 9th and Market isn't just tolerant of the dog pals, they have a water bowl and jar of free doggie treats at the entrance.

McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant at 675 L. St. at the Omni Hotel welcomes dogs for patio dining.

The Ripassi Rooftop at the Porto Vista Hotel at 1835 Columbia St. is crazy for dogs and hos fun Mutt Mingle events. The Ripassi "Wooftop" Deck is the place to be on Fridays from 5 to 10 p.m. for cocktails in the cabanas, weather permitting.

Sally's Seafood at 1 Market Place in Seaport Village is another pup-struck venue. They have Yappy Hour Thursdays that include 50 percent off appetizers, $5 well cocktails and house wines, and $3 draft beer.