Isn't Little Italy so fantastic? It's now my favorite place to be in SD. Incredibly vibrant, heaps of sidewalk and pedestrian activity/dining alfresco, and beautiful public spaces (i.e. the food arcade and public square you photographed). You wouldn't recognize the place 20 years ago given how much density and development have come through today...and it's in many ways replaced the Gaslamp District among locals who want downtown nightlife/eats. If I could afford a cute townhome there, I'd strongly consider relocating from LA, but it's just so damn expensive.
Also, North Park has really become one SD's best urban neighborhoods. I was just there last Friday night and University Ave/30th were popping with nightlife and restuarant goers. Again, 20 years ago most of the storefronts were derelict and the area was run down, now it is very hip and desirable. Did you happen to go to the Thai restaurant Kin Len Street Eats? I actually ate there and was blown away by how good it was.
You should be sure to check out other urban neighborhood gems such as
Normal Heights,
University Heights, Hillcrest and
Kensington on your next visit. I really think SD is underrated from an urbanist perspective. It has some really high quality streetcar suburbia bones.