Week 75: A Boyfriend and Barrio Star

Week 75: June 2nd-June 8th, 2024

I'm usually pretty private about my dating life, and I plan on staying that way, but I'm happy to report this week I officially became a girlfriend! I'm happy and excited to start a new chapter with someone I care about. Ever since we've been dating, Fridays have been our fun activity days, alternating who picks what we're doing every week. This week, it was my turn to choose, so I did some Yelping and found Barrio Star near Balboa Park. Barrio Star is known for their take on Mexican Soul Food.

The difference in weather between La Mesa and San Diego is usually unnoticeable, but this week it was very evident when I went from lounging at the pool to shivering in the wind. As we drove more west toward Barrio Star, the sky got more grey and the temperature dropped a couple degrees.

Barrio Star on the corner

In an attempt to get there before happy hour ended, we're a little earlier than standard dinner date time and got lucky with a parking spot nearby. Sometimes, the streets near Balboa Park can get really congested and parking can be a nightmare, so we felt like the night was off to a good start.

The good vibes continued as we got seated inside and immediately ordered a margarita and chipotle chicken wings. The server was very friendly and said we were a cute couple, which earned him a generous tip.

A Blood Orange Margarita from Barrio Star!

The wings were really good

Sometimes at a new restaurant, I want to order as many different items off the menu as possible in order to get a taste of everything. However, as much as I like him, my new boyfriend is less adventurous with food and gets full after like two bites. This causes a conundrum for me as a food-oriented person, because I love to share dishes and try a bite of everything possible, but he does not always feel the same way. I ordered a spicy chicken taco and a bowl of pozole because soup felt right with the clouds outside. He ordered a "pequeño bowl" with beans, pico de gallo, and chicken as well as a chicken taco. All of our food came off the happy hour menu, which had some pretty good deals. The food was really good, and we enjoyed our meal sitting next to a couple of women with an adorable baby. They made for some good entertainment because the baby kept throwing things onto the floor and cackling.

The pequeño bowl

The Spicy chicken taco

The pozole was really good but needed more hominy

The regular chicken taco

The good thing about a boyfriend that gets full quickly is that we always have leftovers to take home and enjoy later. I plan to eat the leftovers with an egg to make it breakfast-worthy. After dinner, we took a little stroll around Balboa Park before we got too chilly and headed back to the warmth of the car.

As I prepare for a whirlwind of activity coming up (my best friend Sam is moving to Chicago, my mother is coming to visit, I'm going on a girls' trip in Tulum, and my cousin is getting married in Pennsylvania), I'm being gentle with myself as I balance productivity and relaxation. I am excited to have a busy schedule coming up, but this week, I took it easy to let myself recuperate before chaos ensues.

See you next week.