On Tour at Home:
A Groovy Weekend in the Gaslamp

I wear two hats wherever I land: behind the decks as a traveling DJ, and behind the keyboard as a travel blogger. So when a trip and a great night out collide, you get the best of both — the music and the map.

Home Base: Hard Rock Hotel San Diego

For a music-fueled weekend, where better to crash than a hotel built around the music? I checked into the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, right in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter. Even the Studio King leaned into the vibe — clean mid-century lines, a view straight onto the Liquid Sunshine pool deck, and a curated in-room playlist to set the tone.

A pro move at any music or boutique hotel: ask about the perks pass. The Hard Rock's All-Access Pass bundled a welcome drink, 10% off the diner and the Rock Shop, and 10–15% off a stack of partner restaurants around the Gaslamp — the kind of small savings that add up across a weekend.

A Museum You Can Sleep In

Here's the thing that truly sets this hotel apart: the memorabilia is everywhere. Every hallway, every floor, every elevator — and it spans every genre. As a die-hard Guns N' Roses fan, I geeked out hard: a striking portrait of Slash hung in one corridor, and around the next, the man's actual hat from his Velvet Revolver days. Down another wing, an actual Janis Joplin performance outfit. The Hard Rock's collection across all their properties sits at over 80,000 pieces, and what's on display rotates between locations — so whatever you walk past, that exact piece may not be there next year.

Take a walk-through and you'll see why this is a music lover's hotel. Here's a quick look at the Janis Joplin display in person:

Make a point of wandering the floors a little. Take the long way to the elevator. If you love music — and especially if you love Rock and Roll — this is the place to stay. I mean… it is the Hard Rock.

Friday Night: Gimme Gimme Disco at the House of Blues

Dance floor view, Gimme Gimme Disco.

And then — the disco dance-off broke out. Costumes, beads, full commitment:

The disco dance-off.

Gimme Gimme Disco: A DJ's Verdict

I never caught her name, but here's what stood out first: the DJ was a woman. In this industry, that's still rare enough that seeing it always makes my night. Things are changing for the better, and this was another reminder.

The set was solid overall, and she kept the energy up by throwing party favors into the crowd — beads, sunglasses, the works. As a DJ myself, the honest critique: I was hoping for an all-disco set, and a few transitions felt rough — there were seconds of dead air, and the beats didn't quite mash on some of them. Small stuff, but the kind of thing another DJ catches.

That said, the room was buzzing. The House of Blues is a perfect venue for this kind of party, and the crowd brought their A-game in full-on disco costumes — lovely ladies and gents, all in. Two heads-ups before you book your ticket: the bar was cash only, and drinks ran expensive. Good to know before you walk in.

Overall? A great night.

Saturday Morning: Sleep When You're Dead

If you're hoping to sleep in after a full night of Gimme Gimme Disco, The Hard Rock may not be your place. My Studio King came with a great view — and that view included a 9 a.m. rooftop workout class for hotel guests happening right outside my window. But hey: in the true spirit of Rock and Roll, you can sleep when you're dead.

The 9 a.m. wake-up call.

The Morning After: Mary Jane's Diner

Recovery brunch happened downstairs at Mary Jane's, the hotel's retro diner (open daily from 7 a.m., with a "Disco Happy Hour" midday Monday–Thursday). The menu is pure throwback fun — think Elvis French Toast and a Chicken & Waffle Benny.

Here's the diner in motion:

Mary Jane's Diner.

Here's the insider bit: scan that little "It's a secret…" code and you'll find a hidden menu called the Dirty Little Secret — off-menu plates like a PB&J Waffle Sandwich and a "Messi X" burger that comes with a mini collectible redeemable at the Rock Shop. Half the fun is discovering it yourself, so I'll let you scan and see. 😉

Liquid Sunshine

Saturday Afternoon · The After-Party You Didn't Plan

Here's the surprise highlight of the whole weekend. I checked out, stored my luggage with the bell desk, and got invited to the Hard Rock's rooftop dayclub — Liquid Sunshine. Five hours of pure energy, 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, complete with a VIP section. The only day party in the Gaslamp I'd say is genuinely worth your time.

I stepped out into the Gaslamp on my way around, taking in the scene before heading back upstairs:

The invite came from DJ Craig Smoove (@craig_smoove). I couldn't stay the full five hours, but I did catch DJ BenderBarbie (@benderbarbiedj) — and what a treat. Two great female DJs in 24 hours. She kept the crowd moving with exactly the kind of energy a rooftop demands.

DJ BenderBarbie on the rooftop.

Quick tour-life pro tip: I'd forgotten my shades. So I ducked across the street to Eyes on Fifth (@eyesonfifthsd) at 228 Fifth Avenue — their tagline is "Life's too short to wear boring glasses," and they were not lying. I walked out with a killer pair of Quay leopard frames. Because if you don't know — DJs don't travel without our signature shades. Especially not to a day party.

The best part for hotel guests: Liquid Sunshine is complimentary with your stay — Hard Rock guests get two free passes per room. Ask at the front desk. A perfect cap on a Disco / Rock and Roll weekend.

That's the rhythm of a working-vacation weekend: a great party, a music-loving home base, a surprise dayclub, and a few traveler hacks to pass along. Wherever the decks take me next, the notes will be right here.