San Diego Locals

San Diego Magazine — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 04:11:00 +0000

Mike McCoy

Norv who? We’ve got all eyes on the new Chargers head coach. We thought about blacking out his photo, but … nah. Welcome to SD, Mike!

Gloria Allred

The celebrattorney representing Filner‘s first public accuser says more victims will come forward.

Dr. Helen V. Griffith

She‘s wrangling 250 students in E3 High, a new school inside the Central Library opening this month.

Mauricio Couturier

The designer of new resto Bang Bang, aka the guy who made the Ryan Gosling bathroom.

Michael Pallamary

The land use consultant started collecting signatures to recall the mayor in August. Sign.Us.Up.

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FIRST LOOK: Bang Bang

San Diego Magazine — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 03:03:00 +0000

Bang Bang

First it was The Witherby. Then Airr. Then a vacant room for moths and ghosts.

Some might call it a tough location. Others are calling it the most anticipated opening of the summer. Because it’s now Bang Bang.

Opening this weekend, Bang Bang is not a place for men with awful marriages. It’s an “over-the-top Japanese social house” from Mauricio Couturier (architect/designer/owner of Little Italy’s El Camino) and Johnny Shockey (co-founder of LED Presents and Voyeur). The duo first worked together on Voyeur, one of the few highly creative Downtown nightclubs that’s managed to not be overrun with farcically vain, impolite people who make real humans cringe. Bang Bang is their second major collaboration.

Executive chef Jose Ruigomez crafted a menu based on Asian street food, while Syd Marshal (former sushi chef for Carl Schroeder at Market) helms the raw fish program. There’s an extensive sake list, specialty cocktails and punch bowls. They’ll also have live music, focused mostly on DJ sets like Voyeur.

Now, the fun stuff. Couturier is one hell of a creative designer. Guests will enter through a tunneled staircase, reminiscent of a Tokyo subway station with all the fixings—shuffling feet, horns and hurried conversation playing through hidden speakers. There’s video projection, oversized Japanese lanterns, a women’s bathroom stall dedicated to Ryan Gosling, and yes, the largest disco ball on the west coast.

It’s pretty stunning. Enjoy the first photos known to the universe of Bang Bang.

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