(Posted by Chelsea Lytle)

Here’s a remix of a country song called “Country Roads,” by John Denver. This dubstep remix was done by Pretty Lights, one of the featured artists that will be a part of San Diego’s Identity Festival 2011 on Friday, September 2nd at Cricket Wireless Amphitheater. [Yes, lucky for you, we are promoting this event ] This could possibly be the first dubstep mix of a country song. It’s interesting to say the least, what do you think about it?

(Posted by Rob Le)

Team Avicii or Team Leona Lewis? Wait, who’s Leona Lewis? Well if you’re a huge house music fan, you might be asking that same question. And if you’re a huge house music fan, you might be appalled when you found out that Leona Lewis’ new comeback track, “Collide”, sounded eerily familiar. Avicii’s track “Penguin” (now released as a single with vocal edit as “Fade Into Darkness”), was due to for mainstream success. It just needed some vocals. Well it went mainstream alright, with Leona Lewis’ vocals. Avicii recently tweeted “To answer everyone, the first time I heard Leona Lewis ‘Collide’ was today. I didn’t produce it and neither me nor my manager could approve it. I’m just upset for someone taking credit of our idea before I had a chance to release it. And for the time and effort that has been put into this by my manager and label.” Now, the issue at hand is whether or not an agreement for permission of use was made between Avicii’s label, Ministry of Sound, and Leona Lewis’ label, SyCo (founded by Simon Cowell :\ ). Team Avicii says no. Team Leona Lewis says yes. Only time will see how this will all pan out. In the end, Leona Lewis has released a song, to her credit as the artist, with Avicii’s catchy track as the background. But in my opinion, Avicii’s version of “Penguin” with vocal edit, “Fade Into Darkness”, is just so much better.

Avicii- Penguin

Leona Lewis- Collide

(Posted by Chelsea Lytle)

This weekend while strolling around downtown San Diego, don’t think that the people dressed in super hero outfits and wearing makeup are whack jobs or geeks! They’re Comic-Con fans!!!!

Comic-Con International started in San Diego during the early ’70s with a crowd of less than 200. This year’s event, occurring July 21-24, is expected to have an attendance well over 130,000. The event takes place in downtown San Diego every summer at the San Diego Convention Center and is the world’s largest convention of its kind. It features giveaways, autograph signings, celebrities, and much more. Although Comic-Con doesn’t only feature comics anymore, you can definitely expect a huge presence in this genre with 2011 summer blockbusters such as Thor and Captain America. But overall, Comic-Con is much more than that comics: it is a culture of science fiction, fantasy, horror, cartoons and action.

If you didn’t get your 4-day or 1-day passes, you are like the thousands of others who missed the opportunity to do so. Comic-Con 2011 passes sold out online in a matter of hours after going on sale, in record time. You can still take part in the festivities by going downtown and dining at the restaurants with Comic-Con specials as well hitting up various nightclubs that are offering specials all weekend long. No matter what, Comic-Con weekend is always a busy one and the Gaslamp District is the only place to be!

http://www.comic-con.org/cci/

(Posted by Chelsea Lytle)

Check out these videos from behind the scenes with Swedish House Mafia while they were in Miami for Ultra!

(Written by Remi Sorrentino)

When out of town-ers think of what to do, where to go, where to eat and where to stay in San Diego, the first thing that comes to mind is the Gaslamp Quarter. With many of San Diego’s best restaurants and hotels, numerous art galleries and boutique shops, accompanied by all the bars and nationally top rated clubs like Fluxx and Voyeur, it’s not hard to see why the Gaslamp Quarter is always buzzing with tourists and locals.

With its history dating back to the 1850s, the Gaslamp Quarter was then called New Town, as opposed to the area still called Old Town where Spanish settlers first came to San Diego in the late 1760s. It can credit its initial boom and development to a man named Alonzo Horton, giving the name to our multi-level outdoor mall in the Gaslamp Quarter, Horton Plaza.

In the 1880s, when the area was expanding north of Market Street, the area to the south became a red light district with prostitutes and gambling. Being dubbed “Stingaree”, it was said that you could get stung as badly in the Stingaree as you could in the nearby ocean. With the red light district entertaining gentlemen until the 1910s, San Diego became unpopular to navy men as a port of interest when locals decided it was time to end the immoral activities in the Stingaree.

However, throughout the 1900s, up until the 1970s, San Diego was known for its sailor-type entertainment, including pornographic theaters, peep shows, massage parlors, adult bookstores, tattoo parlors, pawn shops and bars. It wasn’t until 1974, when businesses banded together and got city council to invest in revitalizing the Gaslamp Quarter out of its continued state of decay. They wanted to preserve and restore historic Victorian buildings, like the current Old Spaghetti Factory and the Keating Hotel. Because of this project to rehabilitate the area, San Diego is now known for having one of the most extensive collections of architecturally significant historic buildings in the country.

The Gaslamp Quarter boasts of just about every type of cuisine, from high end steak and seafood restaurants to cute French cafes to late night Indian restaurants and popular Spanish/Mexican happy hour spots. There’s something for everyone’s taste buds. The Gaslamp Quarter is also home to block parties like St. Patrick’s Day’s ShamRock, Mardi Gras, Street Scene, and Halloween’s Monster Bash.

(Written by Chelsea Lytle)

Where: Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego
When: Saturday June 18^th and Sunday June 19^th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm

Taste of Gaslamp gives you the ability to get a taste of different restaurants Gaslamp has to offer. There are about 30 restaurants a day that have a sample menu for you to choose from.  Restaurants may include Quality Social, Quarter Kitchen, Whiskey Girl, Voyeur/Revolver, and even Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate.

If your dad lives nearby, this could be a great Father’s day gift or a fun outing with friends. You can buy tickets online and when you check-in at the San Diego Mariott Gaslamp Quarter, you will pick up a map and receive your wristband that allows sampling. Not only are their restaurants to visit, but there will also be a Samuel Adams beer garden, which is always what everyone tends to look forward to at large events.

So head to the Gaslamp District this  weekend for some casual fun before you head out to party at night or take your dad for a family outing day. Open to all, except of course the beer garden!

http://www.gaslamp.org/taste-of-gaslamp

(Written by Rob Le)

“Are you going to EDC?” seems to be a recurring question among EDM fans in recent weeks. One of the largest music festivals in America is packing its bags and moving to Las Vegas, after being held in Southern California the past 10 years. This year, although in a different city, Insomniac (the producers of EDC) refuses to settle for anything less than what they have accomplished in the past. With this year’s headliners Tiësto, David Guetta, and Swedish House Mafia already announced, fans are impatiently waiting for the full complete lineup. If history serves any indication, they will definitely not be disappointed. For those who have attended EDC in the past, you already know what to expect: an extravagant, over-the-top experience with eye-popping décor/lights, carnival rides, theatrics, art installations and world-class DJs. For those who haven’t, well let’s just say even Insomniac’s “Official” video gives little justice to the actual, overall, mind-blowing experience.

Having EDC hosted in Las Vegas comes with its positives and negatives. Positives such as plenty of lodging options and the combination with the Las Vegas party scene will entice fans to make the trip out there. But some drawbacks including the hot Nevada desert and higher transportation costs [although there is a rumor of a party bus going there, just ask me ] will raise some concerns. It seems, though, that even with all these changes, nothing will hold back all the true EDM fans from finding their way to EDC this year (single-day tickets, released in two batches, both sold out in hours).

Here is a short list of changes/additions to this year’s EDC:

-Ages 18+
-New City & Venue (Las Vegas, LV Motor Speedway)
-3 days (June 24-27, 2011)
-New Times: 8PM-7AM
-Water Refilling Stations
-No hosted alcohol for VIP
-World’s Largest 140′ X 300′ Misting Tent (Guinness World Records has been notified)

[For full EDC information, please click here]

All New Friday Nights at Side Bar – 5/20/11
Written by Remi Sorrentino

DTOWN has teamed up with Side Bar Nightclub for our ALL NEW Friday nights! Voted San Diego’s Best New Ultra Lounge in 2009, Side Bar is definitely more than the name implies. You walk through iron gates surrounding the front patio, and already you can hear the music bumpin. Upon entering, you immediately are seduced by a dimly-lit lounge area in the front that is surrounded by dark-red leather VIP booths, tasteful nude art wall paper and video reels, with a long bar to satisfy any drink concoction you’re up for. But that’s not all. Walk around either side of the bar, and you enter the rest of the nightclub, with more VIP tables, another equally long bar, the DJ booth, and maybe even a few provocative caged up dancers. This ultra lounge has it all. If you’re only up for a mellow night, come in early and enjoy the more relaxed lounge-vibe. If you’re here to party, don’t be mistaken, Side Bar is thee place to be once the nightclub doors open. Once the DJ starts spinnin the latest hip-hop, club, or house hits, Side Bar will be jam packed with people poppin’ bottles and dancing the night away. With beautiful and friendly staff, who will happily help you turn the notch up on your night out, there’s never a dull moment at Side Bar. The staff loves to dress up, not just for the events they throw, but for fun. They really do know how to party. If this sounds your kinda night, don’t be afraid to party with DTOWN crew on our ALL NEW Friday nights at Side Bar, starting this Friday, May 20, 2010. Make sure you RSVP, get there early, and dress to impress. You don’t wanna miss out!

(Written by Remi Sorrentino)

I have had a few gym memberships in my day. But I’ve never heard people rave about a gym like people have about Fit Athletic located at 350 10^th Avenue in Downtown San Diego. Then, when I got the tour, I understood what the hype was all about. For a $125 membership, you really do get the most “bang for your buck”. Not only does this gym offer gym equipment it provides a panoramic view of Petco Park, a rooftop exercise pool with a hot tub, couches and lounge chairs, and the “spa inspired” bathroom amenities that would fulfill prestigious resorts’ standards.

Aside from your everyday gym equipment, such as a treadmill, free-weights, and a stationary bike, this gym utilizes an MMA fitness area, yoga classes, and advanced fitness classes.

Just when you thought this luxury gym had it all, THERES MORE! They have implemented their own tanning beds, a steam room, delicious premade packaged meals, and “Fit Perks”. “Fit Perks” offers members discounts and deals at all the local/surrounding business located in Downtown San Diego. In comparison to the other gyms in our city, Fit is worth every penny.

http://www.fitathletic.com/sandiego/home.php