It's the Fourth of July, and that means backyard barbecues, overcrowded beaches, apple pie, fireworks, maybe even watching or listening to the Padres.
But there's a twist to this July 4; and it comes from, of all sports, soccer.
OK, so maybe it's not America's pastime, but the World Cup continues today with the first semifinal. It's especially interesting, of course, to those with ties to Germany and Italy, whose teams will be playing today (11:55 a.m., ESPN). The winner will play either France or Portugal, who meet at the same time tomorrow in the other semifinal.
Several places in San Diego are known as soccer hangouts, including the Princess Pub and Grille and Shakespeare Pub and Grille, both on India Street, and Players Sports Bar on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard in Kearny Mesa.
All three will be open as usual today, with Shakespeare and Players opening at 10:30 a.m. and Princess Pub at 11. Other traditional sports bars such as Seau's The Restaurant (11) and Trophy's (11:30) will be open as well. Closer to the beach, Hooters in Pacific Beach will welcome fans beginning at 11.
Here are additional options for fans of the four remaining countries:
Today, Italy vs. Germany: Several popular restaurants in Little Italy are closed today. But a recorded message yesterday at Kaiserhof German American restaurant on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard said it would be open for the game at 11:45 a.m. Heidi Williams, business manager of the German Club of San Diego, said she hadn't planned to open today but when a reporter called to inquire, she said, “That might not be a bad idea. We have a big screen in the clubhouse here (on S. Mollison Avenue in El Cajon); we could open the bar and make a few pennies.”
Tomorrow, France vs. Portugal: Rock Bottom on Villa La Jolla Drive had a large pro-French crowd for last weekend's game, and the San Diego French-American Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with France's TV5 Monde, is welcoming fans to La Bastide restaurant in Scripps Ranch to watch the game on French TV.
“We've been doing that since the start of the World Cup,” chamber President Philippe Cesson said. “Almost half the audience has been Americans that like soccer or France.”
Cesson said La Bastide would host one more lunch if France reaches Sunday's final. “I hope we will be bathing in champagne,” he said.
As for Portugal, an effort to reach representatives of Portuguese Hall in Point Loma was unsuccessful. One popular place figures to be Portugalia in Ocean Beach, which on its Web site describes itself as San Diego's first and only Portuguese restaurant.
Jay Posner: (619) 293-1834; jay.posner@uniontrib.com
