My neighborhood is a memory. I’ve been gone so long I can’t remember what’s real and what’s invented. It doesn’t matter much, I’m in a very Forrest Gump state of mind, fighting a war most …
October 4, 2007
Blog Entries
- 47 Earthquakes in Early September
- The Tip of the Iceberg
- Tales of the Palms Hotel: Late '70s/early '80s Gaslamp, plus Local Website Review: CityVibz
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News & Stories
A Marine in Iraq Remembers La Jolla
City Heights Hell
On July15th, 1991, we moved into this house. After the last of the boxes had been delivered, we went to sleep with the windows open to let some air in on what had been one …
October 4, 2007
Intuition Led Her to Encinitas
The 100-degree days and the half-hour minimum commute to anywhere was beginning to suck the life out of me. I’ve always said, “Life’s too short to be unhappy,” and although I’d never considered selling my …
October 4, 2007
Borrego Springs, 92004
Sure it was 117 degrees a few days ago and we have to drive more than an hour to buy organic vegetables or underwear. We don’t have a movie theater or a Thai restaurant and …
October 4, 2007
Everyone Plays in Pacific Beach
People here see how it all fits together — earth, sea and sun; spirit touching flesh. Where I grew up, they just hope they can make it through the suffocating summers and the character-testing ferocity …
October 4, 2007
Valley Center Name-Dropping
Eleanor Roosevelt. Betty Crocker. Wyatt Earp. Those are some of the famous names associated with my neighborhood. And then there are the celebrities: Fred Astaire, Gary Cooper, June Allyson, Dick Powell, and John Wayne come …
October 4, 2007
A Name Change for Santee?
In my neighborhood, each driveway is pretty much a snapshot of the next on Halloween. Snapping fires rise from washtubs turned firepits or new Target-purchased varieties. Smiling folks in sweatshirts stand or sit around the …
October 4, 2007
Overstock.com goes after San Diego nay-sayers
Two guys sloshing it up in a bar decide they will never be real men until they kill a bear. They mortgage their homes, buy the most expensive bear-killing equipment and, with their wives and …
October 4, 2007
Judge overrules San Diego City Council on monster Hillcrest condos
After numerous San Diego Union-Tribune hit pieces, a brand on the city attorney's head now reads "frivolous and futile litigator." No need to heed this guy's advice. Could that be what the city council was …
October 4, 2007
Bill Lowery loses lobbying clients
Thanks in part to a Washington scandal, the San Diego State University Research Foundation, a major function of which is to come up with federal money for various projects at the school, is looking for …
October 4, 2007
San Diego Community Colleges push for more money
The state's community college lobby is pushing hard for passage next year of the California Community College Initiative, a ballot measure that would channel more state taxpayer money to the two-year institutions and place a …
October 4, 2007
Bill Lerach, city's biggest Democrat contributor, off to prison
San Diego's Bill Lerach, who cut a plea bargain deal with federal prosecutors two weeks ago that would send him to prison for at least a year for his role in a client kickback scandal, …
October 4, 2007
Fred Is the Bomb
"About one in 15 actually chomp their way through the whole thing."
October 4, 2007
Singin' the Bleus
Bleu Bohème, the new hot spot in Kensington, opened this summer on the former site of Green Tomato, which apparently rotted on the vine and landed in the compost heap. Bleu's owner, Philippe Beltran, is …
October 4, 2007
General Lee, G.I. Joe, Transformers
The girl, whom I had never met before, shoved a black, oblong box at me, hard into my stomach, and I wheezed when it crammed my breadbasket halfway up my throat. "Listen, you," she said, …
October 4, 2007
Best San Diego jams since Ritchie Valens
Both shows at the San Diego Arena on Eighth and Harbor Drive (aka Glacier Garden skating rink) for Presley's first full-length California concerts were sold out and police presence was heavy. "Some girls broke into …
October 4, 2007
Get Out of Here!
When Deep Purple played 4th&B on August 16, I hoped they wouldn't play "Smoke on the Water," which I consider one of the worst songs of all time. How could they not, though? That riff …
October 4, 2007
Trimming the Rat -- er, Mouse
About 700 people saw Eek-A-Mouse play on Saturday, September 22, at the Peter Tosh Day concert in Rosarito Beach; no one saw the reggae star perform the next day at Street Scene even though his …
October 4, 2007
i-i-i
Grand Ole Party, now on the road, has available for download on iTunes their debut full-length CD Humanimals. But the disc won't be sent to record stores until January. By the time the CD reaches …
October 4, 2007
No Pops or Scratches
Eight local artists -- including Alfred Howard and Wise Monkey Orchestra -- contributed music to Skid Marks, Karl Kozak's comedy about two ambulance companies trying to put each other out of business. What's in it …
October 4, 2007
Backstage Confidential
Brian Lewis is the former venue manager for Humphrey's. "I liked the backstage responsibilities best of all," he says, "because of the interaction with performers.... "Dana Carvey would come into the inside stage and just …
October 4, 2007
Chips and Beer for the Midnight Toker
When the Steve Miller Band appears at Pala Casino's Palomar Starlight Theater on Friday, October 5, their hospitality room requires tortilla chips ("one bag unsalted, two bags salted"), a pint of guacamole ("no supermarket prepackaged"), …
October 4, 2007
The G Manifesto: The Guide to Getting More out of Life
Title: The G Manifesto: The Guide to Getting More out of Life Address: www.thegmanifesto.com Author: Michael Porfirio Mason From: Little Italy/Miami Beach Blogging since: September 2005 Post Date: August 22, 2007 Post Title: Rooftop Bar …
October 4, 2007
Ssssssssssss
'There are so many people that seem to fear snakes. They think they're all venomous or dangerous," says Shawn Silva, president of the San Diego Herpetological Society. "A large part of that is that most …
October 4, 2007
KGB 101.5 FM
I remember my friend had the album Grand Illusion when I was around 17. I hadn't been a Styx fan before that. I heard that song and a few of the intros on the other …
October 4, 2007
The Moon Makes the Earth Breathe
"If you're filling the vines with chemicals they become lazy. They don't explore the soil."
Bonita Church of Religious Science
"I am loved," crooned singer Tiamo, standing on the tiny stage at the front of the church, strumming his guitar over keyboard accompaniment. "I am strong. I am peace. I am healed. I am strength. …
October 4, 2007
Come Early Morning, The Righteous Babes, Sleepless in Seattle
Renee HerrellFounder, San Diego Women's Film Festival To prepare for the fifth annual San Diego Women's Film Festival, I recommend the movie that kicked off last year's festival, Come Early Morning, directed by actress-turned-director Joey …
October 4, 2007
Balboa Park Carousel, 1957
The ride arrived in the West from New York in 1910. The operator of Coronado's seasonal Tent City bought it from an L.A. owner soon after. Some say the carousel was moved between the Tent …
October 4, 2007
Homosensual, Chad
Joshua Rego Age: 21 Occupation: Student Lives: La Jolla My guy friends and I give each other a really hard time about how we act around the ladies. If I think one of my friends …
October 4, 2007
Who Would You Fire?
'Kill them all, God will know his own." There are several versions of this quote -- I like this one. It was spoken in 1209, during the Albigensian Crusade and subsequent land grab (Catholic French …
October 4, 2007
Let's Stop at the Mall
Heymatt: I have a habit -- no, compulsion -- to run stop signs in mall parking lots, strip malls, and other private property locations. When it's safe, of course. Could I be ticketed by the …
October 4, 2007
Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done
Name: Michael Yates Occupation: I.T./Comms for the navy & drummer Neighborhood: Kensington Where Interviewed: San Diego Coffee, Tea & Spice IN Kensington What book are you currently reading?What page are you on? "Execution: The Discipline …
October 4, 2007
Tijuana is a Wonderland
Thirty Years Ago BOB CLARK: What are you up to? I'm cut off from civilization up here in hicktown with no Reader. "Charlie Mansoneer." YOU BETTER believe there are real women out here, but you …
South Park Eden
Behind my back garden, my ex-boyfriend with the golden eyes perches like a buzzard in the house my brother-in-law built for him. I avoid my garden, despite the plum tree, the towering aloe, and honeysuckle, …
October 4, 2007
Bartenders' Ball
I overheard a bartender at the Ould Sod talking about a party at Hotel Solamar downtown. I jotted the date on a napkin, and the following Monday, drove down to crash it. I knew there …
October 4, 2007
Stairway to Hell
When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money.-- Susan Heller The ridiculousness of my situation did not occur to me until …
October 4, 2007
Sleeping People, SDIB, Rob Crow
Artist: Sleeping People Song: "Yellow Guy/Pink Eye" (from the CD Growing) Heard By: Patricia Saylor, Poway The transitions were really good. It's definitely something that I could listen to over and over. I wouldn't compare …
October 4, 2007
Peanut Butter
'You ever wonder about the 'high fructose' in 'high fructose corn syrup'?" asked Patrick as he scanned the ingredients of his Rice Krispies. "It sounds like 'high octane.' I mean, what does corn syrup lack …
October 4, 2007
Catch a comprehensive view from the top of Oakzanita Peak in the Cuyamaca Mountains.
Oakzanita Peak is one of only a handful of named peaks in the Cuyamaca Mountains, yet its humble appearance -- at least on approach -- wouldn't inspire most hikers to climb it. Actually, the view …
October 4, 2007