The self-anchored, 550-foot pedestrian suspension bridge in downtown San Diego connecting the East Village with the waterfront has recently won 3 prestigious awards.  Can you name them?  No?  Neither can I.  And who cares.  The proof is in the pudding (and, for argument’s sake, I’ll pretend like I know what that idiom means).  Here’s what you should care about:

1) It’s cool and iconic: This one’s pretty simple.  You don’t need to be an engineer to be wowed by it.  Not only is it a cool addition to the downtown San Diego urban landscape but the city views from the bridge itself are also amazing.

2) Increased walkability (and runability): I don’t think the latter is even a word but you get the idea. This is a crucial part of the City of San Diego’s Park-to-Bay link.  No need to clash with trolleys and trains at 5th and Harbor if you simply want to stroll or run along the water at Embarcadero Park South.

3) Do you like beer, food, and/or baseball?: Well then, things just got better.  Go to the new Mission Brewery and then go for a walk on the bay.  Dine at Fox Sports Grill and then walk over to Petco Park for a Padres game.  Grab a carne asada burrito at Lolita’s and then have a picnic in the grass between the Hilton San Diego Bayfront and the Convention Center.  (If they turn that park into more hotel, look for me protesting.)

So there you have it.  Downtown San Diego and downtown San Diego living just got cooler and better.  Just wait until the Quiet Zone and library are finished.  Then we’ll really be making some progress in 92101.