Hi Brooks,

I read your article, “36 Hours in San Diego” and hope you’ll take a moment to read my response. I’m a local of San Diego, born and raised so I love to read the visitor’s perspective and remind myself to get out and enjoy the fine city! I also handle the public relations for Seaport Village, so it is my job, as well as my interest as a local, to share with you why you incorrectly characterized it as a shopping plaza on the boardwalk with “pushy pedicab drivers and shops that sell obnoxious T-shirts.”

I agree with you in noting tourism as being such a stronghold in San Diego. Seaport Village actually thrives off tourism, so there must be something there, other than obnoxious t-shirts, that visitors are enjoying. It’s likely the one-stop entertainment: The historical carousel, the free sidewalk entertainers, the free weekend concerts, the waterfront dining options and the quality shops and galleries that are even drawing locals: Whit/Krauss Gallery, Wyland Galleries, and one of San Diego’s few and cherished independent bookstores, Upstart Crow.

I apologize that you had to experience the pushy pedicab drivers. We know how annoying they can be. We don’t allow them on the Seaport Village property so those pedicabs you associate with Seaport Village are actually in no way associated. I would also like to clarify that a large section of the Embarcadero, the two-mile stretch of downtown waterfront that you so enjoyed, is a part of Seaport Village.

It’s clear that you were not introduced to Seaport Village property and I apologize that I was not available to you for your visit. The next time you are in town, please contact me. I’ll be glad to host you for dinner and show you around some of Seaport’s charm, history and class.

And from the local in me, thank you for covering San Diego, the publicity is invaluable.

Thanks for your time,
Lizzie
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Lizzie Delaney
Public Relations
Bailey Gardiner
(619) 295-8232 x122
lizzie@baileygardiner.com