Stand-up comedian Dustin Nickerson said he moved from Washington’s Seattle and Tacoma areas to San Diego County with his family 15 years ago because of the sunshine.
“I remember looking at my wife, and I’m like ‘I can’t believe you’re just allowed to move here,’” Nickerson remembered. “Like I know there are financial restrictions that I don’t mean to downplay, but it feels like when you move here from somewhere else, particularly a rainy culture, I feel like you literally won the lottery… . It’s like you should have to pass a test or something.”
Nickerson not only found sunnier days in San Diego County, but also his stand-up career. He said he was 27 years old and married for about nine years with two children when he went to an open mic night at the Mad House Comedy Club in downtown San Diego.
“I just had always wanted to try it, and it was almost like a bucket list thing,” he said. “There’s no like sexiness to the story. I just kept doing it. I just kept showing up and just kept showing up, and like so many things in life, a lot of good things happen when you just keep showing up.”
Nickerson’s determination and no-quit attitude have led to a full-time career in stand-up. He has appeared on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “After Midnight” with Taylor Tomlinson, “The Late Late Show with James Corden” and Kevin Hart’s “Hart of the City.”
Also, Nickerson released his first comedy special, “Overwhelmed” on Amazon’s Prime Video in 2020, and in 2022, he published his first book titled “How to be Married to Melissa,” where he wrote about marriage and parenting in a comedic manner. He is also constantly touring across the U.S. The next time he will perform in San Diego will be at Mic Drop Comedy from Nov. 28 to Nov. 30.
Plus, Nickerson produces a podcast with his wife Melissa called “Don’t Make Me Come Back There,” which features the couple, along with special guests, talking about family, relationships and comedy.
“We like showing people that we have more in common than we think,” Nickerson said. “One of the reasons that I love having my wife on it is because she’s not a comic, but she’s funny. We’re not just telling stories of comedy and bombing on stage. We are telling the stories of our everyday life, and I think that’s just very relatable to people. It kind of brings out a side of me that people don’t normally see because you (are) very different with your spouse or partner than you with other people, so yeah, I really enjoy.”
Nickerson and his family have lived in La Mesa for several years and record their podcast on top of Public Square, a cafe that also hosts live music events in downtown La Mesa.
“I feel like La Mesa is one of those great little secrets of San Diego, and I don’t even know how I feel about talking about it so publicly because I love it as a little secret,” Nickerson half-joked.
He did end up giving his top places for drinks, artwork, open space, shopping and community attraction in and near La Mesa.
Q: Where is your favorite dining option?
A: Public Square is great. It’s in the heart of downtown La Mesa. It is kind of like an old-school kind of coffee shop and has everything that my teenage daughter might be interested in, like a matcha drink. They have fantastically brewed coffee and the Gibraltar, an espresso beverage that my wife loves to get. And scones that — I would cut off family members before I cut them out of my life.
Q: What is your favorite small retail business or pop-up vendor to support?
A: Small Batch, also in downtown La Mesa. Who knows what to buy their mom? Small Batch does. Honestly, that should be their slogan. “Small Batch: We know your mom.” They have great gifts, posters, prints, huge card stations, candles, merch, shirts and art that they’ve been putting out. … They’re batting 1000% for me. I think I could go into Small Batch, blind and grab anything and my mom would be like “oh thanks, it’s so thoughtful.”
Maura Fox / The San Diego Union-Tribune
The view of Cowles Mountain, Mt. Helix and El Cajon Mountain from the top of Dictionary Hill. (Maura Fox / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Q: Where is your favorite open space?
A: Cowles Mountain. This answer is a little basic, but you really can’t beat it. It’s exercise that isn’t boring. Plus, rattlesnakes and maybe someone get emergency rescued here and there, thrilling.
Q: Where is the best piece of artwork?
A: The Rolando Halloween House. Anyone out here knows exactly what I’m referring to. Greg Jones, I believe, every year, puts together the most incredible Halloween decorations you’ve ever seen. Disneyland would fire every theme park decorator they have to get this guy. His house is the centerpiece of what has become America’s finest trick-or-treating neighborhood.
Q: Where is your favorite entertainment attraction or historic landmark?
A: The Salvation Army Kroc Center. Behind beaches and burritos, the Kroc Center should be the thing San Diegans are most proud of. It’s an institution that makes a real impact in our city. Pools, ice arena, sports leagues, theater, programs for seniors and so much more. It contributes enormous resources to the community and serves its under-resourced members. We’re blessed to have it here.