Anthology

Contributor: Merilee Kern | JustLuxe.com
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Food & Spirits: My quest for all things “spectacular San Diego” inevitably led me to Anthology — a distinctive venue offering a combination of avant-garde dining with an eclectic mix of live entertainment. Located near the bustling Little Italy district adjacent to downtown San Diego, Anthology is wonderfully reminiscent of the intimate supper clubs of yore, though modernized to deliver a magnificent mélange of fine food, entertainment and ambiance in a sultry and sophisticated venue.

Having opened its doors in June of 2007, this bona fide hotspot is the brainchild of Howard and Marsha Berkson. Howard, a San Diego-based real estate developer, used his 20 years of world travel and jet-setting club experiences as the foundation for his vision, which came to fruition in the form of Anthology.

Attracting couples, small groups and large parties, alike, this hybrid fine dining and live music and entertainment establishment, which can accommodate 300 seated or 500 cocktail reception patrons throughout its two levels and mezzanine, offers something for everyone.

Enticing Entertainment
First, there is the music. There is not one bad seat in the house, whether enjoying performances from the ground floor, the mezzanine above, or the bar. The space, with its 30-foot high ceilings and an expansive draped wall bathed in a moody blue light, has been strategically designed for enhanced acoustics and to provide optimal viewing of the performers, also boasting a state-of-the-art digital sound, video and lighting system.

Anthology shows feature a diverse selection of musical genres — Jazz, Blues, Soul, Classic Rock, R&B, Latin and even some stand-up comedy in between. The venue showcases a house band when a headlining act is not scheduled. Recent shows have included Joe Piscopo, Stepping Feet — A Dave Matthews Tribute, Paula Poundstone, Thunder Road — A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen, and Saffire — Uppity Blues Women. Other artists who have performed include Ramsey Lewis Arturo Sandoval, Kenny Rankin, Larry Coryell, Mose Allison, Sonny Landreth, Chick Corea and Lee Ritenour. Shows typically run Tuesday through Sunday at 7:30 p.m. or 8 p.m. with two sets, and on Friday and Saturday a second seating and show kicks off at 9:30 p.m.

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