Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Conventional decline

— It's just what local convention-center boosters don't need to hear right now: a big software outfit based in Fairfax, Virginia, has canceled its San Diego conference for 1450 analysts and customers. WebMethods, Inc., an e-business concern, told the Washington Post that travel budgets of its customers have suddenly dried up and therefore the event, set for next month, has got to go. "It became apparent in the current economic environment that many companies are severely restricting employee travel and that while there was high interest in attending the conference, many customers wondered whether there were alternate and less expensive ways to learn about our new offerings," Phillip Merrick, the company's chairman and chief executive said in an e-mail. Instead of the two-day, multimillion-dollar San Diego event, WebMethods plans to hold a downsized one-day gathering for partners only. Customers will get their information via webcast. San Diego city hall is counting on taxes collected from bigger and bigger convention business to help finance an array of projects, including the downtown baseball stadium and its attendant development. If the tourists don't come, observers expect the city council to eventually slash library budgets and other so-called "nonessential" city services to pay for the ballpark ... Speaking of travel, the Liberian-registered cruise liner Infinity coughed up a record toll of $201,531.69 to travel through the Panama Canal on its March maiden cruise from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to San Diego, says the Latin American Newsletter ... The economy isn't getting in the way of San Diego's Jaycor Tactical Systems, which makes the Pepperball Launcher, billed as the latest in "nonlethal and self-defense technology" for police and prison guards. South Carolina's Charleston Gazette reports that the device, which shoots up to 180 spheres filled with blinding pepper spray, is a big star at the fifth annual "Mock Prison Riot" being held this week at a former penitentiary in Moundsville, West Virginia.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Blushing rocker Soul singer Gladys Knight got married last week at the Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel to William McDowell, the ex-manager of La Costa's men's spa. "The intimate ceremony was attended by 80 family members and close friends, all of whom donned white or cream-colored clothing for the seaside nuptials," says a news release issued by MCA Records. "The ceremony was followed by a reception where the menu included Caesar salad, rack of lamb, sea bass, and apple tarts with caramel ice cream, as well as traditional wedding cake and a sparkling-cider toast to the bride and groom. Gladys and William first met about ten years ago at La Costa, one of Gladys's favorite spa/resorts. In January of this year, Gladys and several girlfriends met at La Costa to plan a friend's wedding, and Gladys saw William again. William asked Gladys to join him for a movie, and they had a great time. He then asked her on a second date, and they went to a beautiful private beach, where they gazed at the stars and talked about life. Since then, the couple has been inseparable, and they vowed to remain chaste before their marriage. Gladys and William haven't yet celebrated with a proper honeymoon. After the ceremony, the family returned to Las Vegas (Gladys's 'hometown'), where they celebrated Easter with the family traditions of an egg hunt for Gladys's 11 grandchildren and a big family dinner. Since the wedding, Gladys and William have spent cherished moments together, between Gladys's Smokey Joe's Cafe performances."

Cosmetic politics The deputy general manager of the Del Mar Fair, Bradley Gessner, will become head of WestWorld, a financially distressed equestrian special-events venue in Scottsdale, reports the Arizona Republic. Owned by the city, the center hosts such blue-blood events as the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Show and the All-Arabian Horse Show ... Campaigns and Elections reports that the clients of San Diego political consultant Chris Crotty, one-time aide to ex-mayor Maureen O'Connor, include Sempra Energy, General Motors Advanced Technology Vehicles, and the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association.

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Tigers In Cairo owes its existence to Craigslist

But it owes its name to a Cure tune and a tattoo

— It's just what local convention-center boosters don't need to hear right now: a big software outfit based in Fairfax, Virginia, has canceled its San Diego conference for 1450 analysts and customers. WebMethods, Inc., an e-business concern, told the Washington Post that travel budgets of its customers have suddenly dried up and therefore the event, set for next month, has got to go. "It became apparent in the current economic environment that many companies are severely restricting employee travel and that while there was high interest in attending the conference, many customers wondered whether there were alternate and less expensive ways to learn about our new offerings," Phillip Merrick, the company's chairman and chief executive said in an e-mail. Instead of the two-day, multimillion-dollar San Diego event, WebMethods plans to hold a downsized one-day gathering for partners only. Customers will get their information via webcast. San Diego city hall is counting on taxes collected from bigger and bigger convention business to help finance an array of projects, including the downtown baseball stadium and its attendant development. If the tourists don't come, observers expect the city council to eventually slash library budgets and other so-called "nonessential" city services to pay for the ballpark ... Speaking of travel, the Liberian-registered cruise liner Infinity coughed up a record toll of $201,531.69 to travel through the Panama Canal on its March maiden cruise from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to San Diego, says the Latin American Newsletter ... The economy isn't getting in the way of San Diego's Jaycor Tactical Systems, which makes the Pepperball Launcher, billed as the latest in "nonlethal and self-defense technology" for police and prison guards. South Carolina's Charleston Gazette reports that the device, which shoots up to 180 spheres filled with blinding pepper spray, is a big star at the fifth annual "Mock Prison Riot" being held this week at a former penitentiary in Moundsville, West Virginia.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Blushing rocker Soul singer Gladys Knight got married last week at the Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel to William McDowell, the ex-manager of La Costa's men's spa. "The intimate ceremony was attended by 80 family members and close friends, all of whom donned white or cream-colored clothing for the seaside nuptials," says a news release issued by MCA Records. "The ceremony was followed by a reception where the menu included Caesar salad, rack of lamb, sea bass, and apple tarts with caramel ice cream, as well as traditional wedding cake and a sparkling-cider toast to the bride and groom. Gladys and William first met about ten years ago at La Costa, one of Gladys's favorite spa/resorts. In January of this year, Gladys and several girlfriends met at La Costa to plan a friend's wedding, and Gladys saw William again. William asked Gladys to join him for a movie, and they had a great time. He then asked her on a second date, and they went to a beautiful private beach, where they gazed at the stars and talked about life. Since then, the couple has been inseparable, and they vowed to remain chaste before their marriage. Gladys and William haven't yet celebrated with a proper honeymoon. After the ceremony, the family returned to Las Vegas (Gladys's 'hometown'), where they celebrated Easter with the family traditions of an egg hunt for Gladys's 11 grandchildren and a big family dinner. Since the wedding, Gladys and William have spent cherished moments together, between Gladys's Smokey Joe's Cafe performances."

Cosmetic politics The deputy general manager of the Del Mar Fair, Bradley Gessner, will become head of WestWorld, a financially distressed equestrian special-events venue in Scottsdale, reports the Arizona Republic. Owned by the city, the center hosts such blue-blood events as the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Show and the All-Arabian Horse Show ... Campaigns and Elections reports that the clients of San Diego political consultant Chris Crotty, one-time aide to ex-mayor Maureen O'Connor, include Sempra Energy, General Motors Advanced Technology Vehicles, and the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association.

Comments
Sponsored

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Pie pleasure at Queenstown Public House

A taste of New Zealand brings back happy memories
Next Article

Trophy truck crushes four at Baja 1000

"Two other racers on quads died too,"
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader