Read Ranch & Coast Virtually Anywhere
Issue link: http://ranchandcoast.uberflip.com/i/1493521
What's Next A decade ago, brewer Johnny Johur moved on from the vaunted Pizza Port family of coastal brewpubs to start his own brewery in San Clemente. But his heart — and his residence — remained in San Diego, where he still can be found delivering the libationary offerings of his Artifex Brewing on a regular basis. That hands-on dedication to servicing his hometown has earned Artifex a following among local beer fans rarely amassed by out-of-town beer ops. Soon, those enthusiasts will be able to enjoy an immersive Artifex experience when the company's satellite tasting room inside Oceanside's art-deco Freeman Collective debuts later this year. Located a block east of Coast Highway on Vista Way, the sampling space will feature a bar segueing from the indoor area to an outdoor patio, plus a pass-through window allowing guests to order food from Corner Pizza next-door. As with most SoCal breweries, hoppy beers (IPAs, pale ales) are Artifex's calling cards, but their lineup is diverse, ranging from refreshing lagers to fruited sours and barrel-aged high-alcohol stouts, so there'll be something to satisfy about any palate. B.H. We are eagerly awaiting the debut of what will undoubtedly be yet another delicious offering from Davin and Jessica Waite, the husband and wife masterminds known for Wrench & Rodent, The Plot, and Shootz Fish & Beer, all in Oceanside. Work is currently underway on a new restaurant in the vacant building long occupied by Ruby's Diner at the end of the Oceanside Pier, which is slated to become a family-friendly seafood destination with a separate kiosk selling take-out orders. MIA PARK What's Now Visitors to The Brick Hotel can experience Miami nightlife vibes followed by an authentic taste of New Orleans. Start with cocktails at open-air rooftop bar Cococabana. Tropical flora and succulents spruce up assorted slat-roofed nooks perfect for sharing spirited conversation while the sun sets beyond Oceanside Pier. Fruit-forward rum drinks like Thirst Trap (cava, kumquat, elderflower, and ginger) and Caribe Welcome (a blend of rums, coconut water, apricot brandy, lime, and coconut cream served in a shaved coconut) up the vacay factor along with Caribbean-inspired eats (octopus ceviche, barbecued shrimp, jerk salmon). Back on the ground floor, Q&A Restaurant & Oyster Bar brings a taste of the cuisine NOLA-expat Chef Quinnton Austin has earned raves for at his North Park flagship Louisiana Purchase. Gulf Coast, Virginia, and Sequim Bay oysters are served raw, in a creative trio of shooters, Rockefeller-style, a la "Poppa Legba" (charbroiled with sriracha-lime butter and ghost pepper), or crispy fried in Buffalo sauce with gobs of soft bleu cheese. Classics like shrimp 'n' grits, blackened catfish topped with crawfish étouffée, and "uptown" gumbo (shrimp, crawfish, crab, chicken, and andouille) ring true in their classic composure, while jambalaya gets a Milano makeover, subbing in arborio rice for long-grain white. Let the good times roll! thebrickhotel.com BRANDON HERNÁNDEZ Oceanside's robust art scene provides opportunities to take in live performances and curated exhibitions across genres. Beginning March 11, Oceanside Museum of Art will feature Melissa Meier: Becoming Nature, showcasing the Brazilian artist's work from her current series, Skins, with a collection of a dozen 3D forms staged alongside large-scale photography of models in the pieces. Later, on March 24, put your own brush to canvas at OMA's workshop, "Taste of Art | Let's Get Textural: Landscape and Still Lifes with Henri Matisse and Richard Diebenkorn." oma-online.org D.M. Theatergoers looking for laughs should book a date for Oceanside Theatre Company's production of Lucky Stiffs, a Weekend at Bernie's-esque jaunt starring Harry, a man whose inheritance rests with the condition of fulfilling his dead uncle's last wish, co-produced by OTC with Scripps Ranch Theatre and running from March 3-19. oceansidetheatre.org D.M. Foolish are we who mistook Communal for simply a charming neighborhood coffee shop. The café-cum-neighborhood hotspot in Oceanside (with additional locations in North Park and South Park) is set to launch a wine club this month featuring a curated monthly selection of natural and biodynamic wines like those found on their menus. Bottles are chosen by Communal founder Jen Byard, and pickup is an experience itself, with monthly pickup parties offering a preview of the month's choices with tastings accompanied light bites. communalcoffee.com/oceanside D.M. Melissa Meier: Becoming Nature Q&A Restaurant & Oyster Bar Communal MELISSA MEIER: BECOMING NATURE: MOSS, 2019. CONSTRUCTION CREATED WITH MOSS. MODELED BY SOFIA MACDONALD @ranchandcoast RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE MARCH 2023 39