When I informed my best friend almost nine years ago that I was expecting a male child, she said, after a distinct pause, "I can't even imagine you with boys." I couldn't imagine it either, …
May 11, 2006
News & Stories
Laura McNeal brings a small man into the world with a detailed account
Purple Teeth
'I can get a full-bodied Cab for 30 bucks? Right on!'
History Now
'Bringing a picture of your dog and saying, 'This is my family dog,' is not much of a story," says San Diego Public Library representative Lynn Whitehouse. "But if you bring a picture of your …
May 11, 2006
“Steak Satisfaction”
"Well, what did you think your Friday nights would be like?" one might well ask of oneself if one were in the habit of that sort of thing. Friday nights in San Diego cannot be …
May 11, 2006
Cowboy Caviar
I hit two parties in one day. The first was an afternoon affair in PB. A guy named Bruce wanted to get rid of a bunch of Rocky Mountain oysters, or as he called them, …
May 11, 2006
Learn about Kumeyaay culture and get a fine view of Lake Hodges on the Piedras Pintadas Trail near Escondido.
Just south of today's city of Escondido a lazy river once ran, fed by tentacle-like tributaries that drew water from as far away as the desert-bordering mountains, several days journey to the east. On the …
May 11, 2006
Note the Star
Dear Matt: When I opened my wallet this morning, I pulled out a dollar and noticed it had a little star printed on it, right after the serial number. None of my other dollars has …
May 11, 2006
Wandering Juice
Matthew: First of all, what do Tropicana and Minute Maid and companies like that do with all the orange peels they generate? Is there a use for them? Second, why is orange juice in containers …
May 11, 2006
Second Look
A year ago I wrote a column welcoming the Golden Baseball League (GBL) into the pitiless predatory jungle of sports capitalism. The GBL, an independent Class A baseball league headquartered in Pleasanton, California, opened for …
May 11, 2006
Mental Illness
Strange and Amazing 'If I leave, they're going to come get me. They're going to kill me. They want me dead." "Do you at least want your curtains open?" I asked. "No," he said. "They'll …
May 11, 2006
The Reader's Eye on Television
When you wake up in the morning, the alarm is worse than a nightmare. The sound of it sends waves of nausea through your body. That's how it works, on the principle that you're sickened …
May 11, 2006
Edge of Magic
DAMARU "The Damaru is a two-sided percussion instrument that is shaken with two balls striking the membranes as part of spiritual practices in Tibet, India, and Nepal. The most powerful Damarus are created from human …
May 11, 2006
The Death of Achilles: A Fandorin Mystery
The Death of Achilles: A Novel (Erast Fandorin Mystery) by Boris Akunin; translated by Andrew Bromfield. Random House, 2006; $12.95; 320 pages. FROM THE JACKET: In 1882, after six years of adventures abroad, the renowned …
May 11, 2006
Crosspointe Life Church, La Mesa
"Holy Spirit, we invite you into this place," intoned the singer from the stage of the plush green Sanctuary. "Have your way. We love you." Then he broke into buoyant song, his driving acoustic guitar …
May 11, 2006
The Girl in the Painting
“There must be some damned thing I can afford in there. Hell, I’m worth it.”
May 11, 2006
Where Is the Hate?
Lil Uno released his CD, The Streets, on his Sicko Records label. The title track borrows a riff from "Still Water (Love)," the 1970 hit by the Four Tops. "We had to go through an …
May 11, 2006
Stirred Up
"There was an incident that started inside ['Canes] and got carried outside," says Stone Senses sax player Mike Flanagan. He says "a riot" occurred outside the South Mission Beach nightclub on April 28. Irieside, C-Clan, …
May 11, 2006
Belly Up to the Band
During Devendra Banhart's near-sold-out show at the Belly Up Tavern on April 27, the performer said he needed a beer and then left the stage for a few minutes. While onstage, Banhart asked if there …
May 11, 2006
Small Labeled
"31G's financial situation is not [the] best at the moment," says record-label co-owner Allysia Edwards. "We left our old distributor, the Lumberjack Mordam music group, to go with Redeye. Lumberjack wasn't too happy about us …
May 11, 2006
Boy, Shakira
"I don't do drag, I do impersonation," says Louis Padilla of his Shakira lookalike act. "Drag is about looks, about being as much like a lady as possible, but an impersonation is a whole show; …
May 11, 2006
Roger Hedgecock and Merry Space Cadets
Thirty-seven years ago today (5/11/69), the Grateful Dead headlined SDSU's Spring Fling concert at the Aztec Bowl. One of Spring Fling's promoters was future city mayor Roger Hedgecock. The Dead appeared along with Canned Heat, …
May 11, 2006
Jeremy Menning in Providence, Rhode Island
Dog and Pony Show On a dreary Saturday with rain in the forecast and nowhere to go, Rhiana and I decided to practice dancing for our wedding. I queued up the music files in the …
May 11, 2006
Anti-Aguirre Plans Hatched Over Breakfast
'We are losing the war," lamented Kris Michell, an aide to Mayor Sanders, Saturday morning, April 22, at Ortega's restaurant in Ocean Beach. That's according to my source -- to be identified in this column …
May 11, 2006
Non-Alcoholic Beverages
I thought I was going to get off easy. This year's family reunion is slated for mid-June. There should be about 150 of us, but unlike years past, which have seen me cooking up a …
May 11, 2006
Reservoir Keepers Get Sweet Deals
In houses only minutes from their jobs, reservoir keepers remain on call 24 hours a day. Who would begrudge them the low rents they pay the city? I ask keeper Diane Dine what it's like …
May 11, 2006
Big Eaters
San Diego's legislative delegation continues to chow down and otherwise carouse at the expense of the Third House, Sacramento's nickname for the horde of free-spending lobbyists who frequently exercise more power over the fate of …
May 11, 2006
Political Costs
San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders has filed a disclosure statement covering the income and expenses of the Inaugural and Transition Fund, set up in late January by a group of wealthy donors. It was ostensibly …
May 11, 2006
Beam Me Up, Scotty
Three-course dinner for two: $130. Bottle of David Bruce Pinot Noir: $58. Panoramic view of the bay, the bridge, the downtown skyline: Priceless. The food is pretty good, too. Island Prime shares a building (formerly …
May 11, 2006