It’s All Happening | Marc and Darlynne Menkin

While much of the country is battling frigid temperatures, San Diego is heating up with all sorts of fun, new additions. If you’re looking for something that’s fresh and exciting, here’s what’s happening in the 92101 zip code:

Cremolose (840 Fifth Ave.): For years, it was known as San Diego Hardware but now this historic space is home to Cremolose, the Gaslamp Quarter’s new Italian café and specialty dessert restaurant. Although the café offers everything from paninis to salads and pizzas, it’s the impressive dessert menu that will catch your eye. The 5,000 square-foot restaurant is the first of its kind in the U.S., featuring 24 flavors of authentic Italian gelato and 24 flavors of the Italian imported Cremolose—a new type of gelato that’s fresh-fruit based with a creamy texture of fruit, zest or nut mixed in. If that’s not enough to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings, Cremolose also features 40 cakes made in-house in individual serving sizes as well as larger cakes, available to go. Concept designer and co-builder John Russo calls the Gaslamp Quarter a perfect location for what they want to do. “The restaurant has a very unique, European concept. When you walk in, it is almost like being in an authentic, Italian eatery.” Cremolose is open Sunday to Thursday from 10 a.m. – 2 a.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 a.m.

Ra Sushi (474 Broadway): This popular restaurant has come up with the perfect solution for partygoers who are watching their waistline. Throughout the month of February, Ra Sushi is offering three new low-calorie skinny cocktails. Lychee-teenie, Skinny Ninja and Thin Ginger are less than 200 calories each. The fruity sweet cocktails may be light but they’re packed full of flavor, so they’re far from dull. We tried the Thin Ginger made with fresh strawberries, ginger and Voli Lemon Vodka as well as the Lychee-teenie: a sweet Asian lychee fruit mixed with Voli Vodka and Monin Agave Nectar. Our advice? Pair up the drinks with something from the 5 Spot Menu featuring popular appetizers that are only $5.  Ra’s specialty rolls, like the Crunchy Shrimp Tempura Roll or the Tootsy Maki, are sure bets. Of course, there’s always our favorite, Pineapple Cheese Wontons.   Monday to Thursday, 9 p.m. – midnight.

98 Bottles (2400 Kettner Blvd., Suite 110): Known for its cool, rotating art, live entertainment and firm stand against large television screens and sports, this eclectic gathering space is a great place to catch a flick. Every Wednesday at 6 p.m., Movie Night is held in the lower lounge. “Together, with happy hour pricing all night, Movie Night is a fun mid-week thing to do,” said Manager Jill Mesaros. All through February 98 Bottles will feature a His vs. Hers movie theme. In other words, they’ll be showing chick flicks and guy movies every week. Some of the movie pairs include “The Hangover” and “Bridesmaids;” “Sex & the City” and “Gangs of New York;” and “The Notebook” and “Fight Club.” We heard about this place when they showed “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” a few weeks ago. We hope they’ll bring Ferris back soon.

We want to hear from you:

Go to 98 Bottles and take a creative photo of you and one or two friends with something colorful and quirky in their back room. The most creative picture will win two tickets to a Saturday public Scavenger Hunt with WYWTB Tours and two tickets to a Discover Coronado Biking Adventure. E-mail your fun photo to [email protected]

—Marc & Darlynne Menkin are the co-owners of Where You Want To Be Tours. Many of their tours and teambuilding scavenger hunts feature secret Downtown areas. Visit them at wheretours.com