The view from Hillcrest, San Diego’s gayborhood

The queer heart of the city, Hillcrest, has been compared to Greenwich Village and the Castro. All are all described as “hip,” “trendy,” “diverse” or “vibrant” neighborhoods – in tourism–speak that means gay.

You know it from the moment you turn on the main drag, University Avenue – there are rainbows everywhere, and a vibrant retail district filled with shops and restaurants lining the streets around the dense, eclectic apartment buildings lined with feathery palm trees.

There must be something about LGBT people and hills or neighborhoods with the word “hill” in them. There’s the Capitol Hill neighborhoods in Denver and Seattle, the Castro in San Francisco sits on a large hillside in a city known for its steep hills, West Hollywood lies at the base of an enormous hill, and Hillcrest is, as you may expect, on a hill – or rather a mesa, which towers over the Mission Valley Freeway. Nearby is Balboa Park, an enormous park with winding roads and the famous San Diego Zoo.

In Hillcrest we went directly to a trendy urban restaurant, Gossip Grill, for brunch. I knew we were in the right place when I saw all–female artwork on the wall and a group of boys with their best girlfriends in pearls and sunglasses on the patio for cocktails.

There is a straight bar on the main drag. It’s called The Alibi Club Grill –  “The best kept secret in town.” I was surprised to learn that it was a straight bar since everybody I saw playing pool was definitely gay.

With an official fundraising event every year to hoist a giant rainbow flag that flies over Hillcrest 24/7 (theamazinghighheelrace.com), San Diego’s Hillcrest neighborhood is a little slice of gay heaven. We claim this land by the sea to be ours – cue the rainbow–lit palm trees.

All the chatter at Gossip Grill

Gossip Grill is one of four spots in Hillcrest owned by a restaurant group called Mo’s Universe – Urban Mo’s, opened 21 years ago, Baja Betty’s, Hillcrest Brewery (the only openly LGBT brewery in the country) and Gossip Grill. I sat down with co-owner and general manager Moe Girton to discuss managing an almost all female crew – Gossip Grill opened three and half years ago, originally pitched as a “female–friendly” bar, she said.

“When they approached me about four years ago to open a lesbian bar, I didn’t quite want to open a lesbian bar. That’s the key to our success – we did an everybody/everything bar. We keep it open and everyone’s welcome here.”

If you don’t notice the sign telling you that this is a “Gay Establishment” and while you’re there “you are a guest of the gay community,” you know you’re someplace different when you first get your drink menu. Want a mojito? Boys, your menu has a “Morning Wood Mojito” and girls can have a “Camel Toe Mojito.” Maybe you’d rather have a “Wick Dipper” or a “Clam Slammer.” Whatever you choose, come early for brunch and return later for the DJ and happy hour – if you can get in. It gets packed.