I don't envy the native San Diegan. Being born and raised in paradise must be difficult. How do you avoid becoming hopelessly spoiled? How do you gain a sense of the great, big, messy, cold, …
November 8, 2007
Blog Entries
News & Stories
San Diego natives reflect on their lives as natives
Rick, Star 94.1
DJ: Rick Station: Star 94.1 Shift:Monday·Friday, 3:00·7:00 p.m. Adam Levine is the lead singer for the group Maroon 5. Adam Levine is cool. It is a warm summer afternoon on a Wednesday [in 2002], and …
November 8, 2007
350-Foot Yacht Angelita, 1958
In 1958, looky-loos tried to catch a glimpse of anyone aboard the 350-foot yacht Angelita, owned by Dominican general Rafael Trujillo Jr. (whose given first name was Ramfis). The 29-year-old and his crew docked in …
November 8, 2007
Super Seducer
Dracula, by Stephen Dietz, adapted from the Bram Stoker novel North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach Directed by Christopher Vened; cast: Matt Thompson, Brenda Dodge, Robert Grossman, Jason Heil, Sean …
November 8, 2007
Meld
Album: This and That (2007) Artist: Meld Label: self-released Where available/price: At live shows for $5 Songs: 1) Quickly 2) The Gambling Song 3) Sarah's Lullaby 4) Bad Ass 5) Manumana 6) Marbles 7) And …
November 8, 2007
Critical Time
A transparent phony playing a transparent phony is perhaps too much phoniness.
November 8, 2007
"Our roles are reversed. Now I'm taking care of you."
I have been living with my 30-year-old son for three days now. He invited me here while I transfer from one living situation to another. As yet I don't know what that will be. For …
November 8, 2007
Not A Chargers Column
I nod toward the refrigerator, call out, "No food, bucko." Frank turns around, disappointed. I pour two cups of coffee, hand one to guest, take the other, and sit down at my desk. "You know …
November 8, 2007
Emergency Kits
The fires hit close to home; a few friends were evacuated. "We took nothing with us," said Andra, "which wasn't the smartest. If the fire took our home we would have had nothing left." Helene …
November 8, 2007
Defensible Landscape
"With the fires, we saw just how dry it is," says Marty Eberhardt, executive director for the Water Conservation Garden. "We only get 10 percent of our water locally." At least 85 percent of the …
November 8, 2007
Defined by What We Hated
Michael Addis performed as a drummer 20 years ago in Playground Slap, a top original San Diego band of their day (they reunited a few months ago, sans Addis). More recently, the former SDSU film …
November 8, 2007
What's Your Name, Little Girl?
Sophie 103.7 FM switched from an all-talk format to an adventuresome "hot AC" (adult contemporary) format in June. The latest Arbitron ratings indicate the station is 28th in popularity among all local listeners. Those sluggish …
November 8, 2007
Don't Let the Bald Head Fool You
Bassist/songwriter Eric Verniere says the latest, local incarnation of the Wrecking Dead is "...a psychobilly band, but we don't do that whole silly zombie thing." Born in the U.S., Verniere moved with his family to …
November 8, 2007
One of Those Guys
After being hospitalized for a protracted illness, Guy Lopez, bass player of the late-'70s punk band the Upbeats, died October 2. The younger brother of Robert Lopez (better known as El Vez and one of …
November 8, 2007
People Think We're Bonkers
The just-released Madonna tribute Through the Wilderness includes the Prayers, who cover her 1989 single "Cherish." "We originally wanted to do the song 'Like a Prayer,' " says singer/sax player Brandon Welchez, "not only because …
November 8, 2007
As I Lay Dying, Da Bears, Pinback
Artist: As I Lay Dying Song: "Nothing Left" (from the CD An Ocean Between Us) Heard By: James Younger, Clairemont It reminds me a lot of really early Type O Negative. It's actually pretty decent; …
November 8, 2007
"I Love an Exotic-Berry Wine Cooler."
Jon Shimmin is a hard-working local drummer with a day job; at night, he's at area clubs behind the skins. He has played in several bands such as the Reaganomics, Junk, and Negative Filter. Sometimes …
November 8, 2007
Play That Thang
Casbah patron Marc Pierce got a surprise October 27 while watching Southern Culture on the Skids perform. "About three-quarters of the way through the show," he blogs, "midway through the song, [guitarist] Rick [Miller] pulls …
November 8, 2007
Imperial Beach, end of Imperial Beach Blvd/Coronado Avenue
Names: Jeff Knox and Seth Fisher Live: Imperial Beach Surfing: Imperial Beach, end of Imperial Beach Blvd/Coronado Avenue Drive to the end of Imperial Beach Boulevard. There you'll meet locals Seth Fisher and Jeff "The …
November 8, 2007
Go, Chargers?
Live Nation's major competitor, AEG, has consummated an agreement that will allow the concert company to open a 12,500-capacity outdoor venue on the grounds of the Chargers summer training facility at 4020 Murphy Canyon Road. …
November 8, 2007
Filner joins conservatives backing MEK anti-Iran group
Democratic congressman Bob Filner ranks as one of the most liberal members of the House, frequently castigating the Bush administration about everything from its economic policies to its invasion of Iraq. Yet Filner and some …
November 8, 2007
Sun sets on Gaslamp's Moon Cafe
Mistake. As soon as I mentioned the storyline, the Chinese lady waiting tables in the Gaslamp Quarter's Moon Cafe clammed up. "We don't talk to the newspapers," she said. That was that. Of course, she'd …
November 8, 2007
Economic effect of 2007 San Diego wildfires
When asked, "How's your wife?" the late comedian Henny Youngman used to crack, "Compared to what?" The local economy is like that these days. If someone asks, "How is the San Diego economy going to …
November 8, 2007
Stuffed
"Jahja Ling's always in. And the mayor, he sits here, at table number two."
November 8, 2007
The Naked Sommelier
"The people at Saturday School are my people; I keep it to groups of 12."
Faith Chapel, Spring Valley
At Faith Chapel on Sunday, the crisis had passed; the evacuees had returned to their homes. The 150 air mattresses, donated to the church along with blankets and pillows, had been packed away. The 150 …
November 8, 2007
Thanksgiving in the Ashes
My heart goes out to all who will have to give thanks for their lives and families in restaurants this year instead of at home, as a result of the fires. For whatever the reason, …
November 8, 2007
That's Show Biz
A month of moved or canceled shows at 4th&B (among them Big Head Todd and the Monsters, the Black Crowes, the Tragically Hip, Ghostface Killah, and Rakim) has culminated in some type of resolution. Insiders …
November 8, 2007
The Grace Awakening
Name: Moe Occupation: Navy Diesel mechanic Neighborhood: Downtown Where Interviewed: Koi Pond, Balboa Park What book are you currently reading? What page are you on? "The Grace Awakening by Charles R. Swindoll. Page one." Tell …
November 8, 2007
List
"Here," my girlfriend said and handed me a sheet of paper. "Read this." "All right." I cleared my throat and snapped the paper twice for theatrical effect. "Number one," I read. "You're too theatrical." "It's …
November 8, 2007
A Life of Vaginal Heroics
At church, my dad -- he's a pastor, have I mentioned that? -- sometimes invites the congregation over to the house for pizza and Scrabble. In a few months, it will have been a year since I last talked to my sister.
November 8, 2007
Keep Market Street Initiative
Thirty Years Ago You've got a good weekly newspaper. One way to make it even better would be to fire that ignorant pseudo-intellectual, Duncan Shepherd. His movie reviews are totally worthless to the general public …
November 8, 2007
Raising Arizona, Fargo, The Ladykillers
Marisa ScheinfeldDocent and educator programs manager, Museum of Photographic Arts With a new Coens' film coming out, we've chosen to highlight the Coens' cult classic The Big Lebowski for MoPA's next POP (Photos off the …
November 8, 2007
Non Capisco
I speak two languages, Body and English. -- Mae West Exposed as I was to the elements, I was relieved it wasn't raining, but I was thankful for the clouds, which muted the sun's glare …
November 8, 2007
Heavy Trash
The Casbah, Friday, November 9, 8:30 p.m. 619-232-4355. $12. Heavy Trash (Jon Spencer and Matt Verta-Ray) is like a snapshot of a familiar subject taken from a different angle and in harsh lighting. The Beat …
November 8, 2007
Visit three palm oases in the midst of one of Anza-Borrego's driest quarters.
Smack dab in the middle of the most desolate part of the Borrego Badlands stands a remarkable triad of palm oases. The best known of these, Seventeen Palms, is a popular destination for park visitors. …
November 8, 2007
Southpaw Cats, Pakistan, and Farts
Matt: Is my cat left-handed? Whenever she plays with her toys or her food, I've noticed that she uses her left paw more than her right. Do animals have a dominant side like people do? …
November 8, 2007