Cardiff by the Sea’s popular Kooks Café at 2121 San Elijo Avenue, named after the town’s famed surfing statue, has closed. The restaurant’s owner, who also owns several other restaurants including the Swami’s Cafe chain, …

In the geographical wonders of the Anza-Borrego desert, you will find a unique Southern California feature: mud caves, deep caves created by flowing silt from an ancient lake bed, eroded by wind and rain. They're …

An anonymous tip from a caller fearing an "explosion with catastrophic consequences" led to the arrest of four men in Tijuana for allegedly storing stolen gasoline in a residential neighborhood and selling it on nearby …

There is a lot to be said for the exemplary response that several citizens of Ocean Beach exhibited last Sunday night, March 24, when a woman being sexually assaulted on Long Branch Avenue cried out …

The music, the people watching, and dancing side-by-side to the propulsive classic ska of the Specials at a packed House of Blues performance took listeners back to the 2 Tone ska scene of the late …

Denitia, a modern-day folkie from Texas, and Sene, a neo-classicist NYC rapper, met by accident and began recording together almost on a whim. They’ve since forged an unlikely union, but the result is nothing like …

Recent conversations with fellow craft beer fans recently got me to thinking about which of the 30-plus work-in-progress San Diego County breweries I’m most excited to see open. Last week, I tackled the top five. …

Ever since the peace accords of 1997, Northern Ireland has enjoyed a bit of a renaissance. Freed from 25 years of conflict, referred to locally as “The Troubles,” Northern Ireland has rebuilt its economy – …

There are many studies that have been compiled for decades on techniques that people use when they are conducting a job search. The one job search method that has consistently ranked at the top for …

When you're in Cancun – and are tired of white sand beaches and turquoise water – drive to Río Lagartos, where you have a chance to see bright pink flamingos, sea turtles, rare birds and …

An abandoned-baby cemetery has another angel watching over its little ones at El Camino Memorial Park after a hand-sculpted bronze statue was permanently placed on the grounds March 25. Carole Lee, of Vista, is a …

San Diego has it all; 300-plus days of sunshine, beautiful sandy beaches, great Mexican food… and theme parks. The world famous San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, Sea World, Legoland, even old-school Belmont Park bring …

“April is the cruelest month…”, begins the first line of T.S. Eliot’s poem “The Waste Land,” perhaps more aptly retitled “The Wait Land” for the border region. This April, federal budgetary squabbles and sequestration cuts …

For the second in a six-part series about stepping up your job search or job upgrade process, business coach Kate Hanley explains the importance of networking. Last time, we talked about the importance of the …

A group of about 25 puppy mill protesters waved signs and chanted for two hours on March 16 in front of San Diego Puppy, a puppy shop at 5827 Mission Gorge Road. The next protest …

The workplace generational gap appears to be shrinking – at least among some of the youngest and oldest workers. A new survey by Randstad, a global provider of human resource services, notes the unusual connections …

Stone’s first collaboration of 2013 yields bizarre breed of IPA.

SDSU’s emphasis seems to be on fundraising; teaching comes second in priority, say some. The money is in research, not teaching.

The threat of the federal government to close the air traffic control tower at the Ramona Airport has caused the County Board of Supervisors to protest. The Federal Aviation Administration had placed the Ramona tower …

Ed meets Sixth Avenue Bistro’s humble gumbo man.

Enjoy a pleasant walk along the southern section of the Tecolote Canyon Nature Park

If Ireland truly is the Island of Saints and Scholars, then Brothers McCullough, Dan and Nate — the Stout Public House’s own scholars of the dram and ounce — have canonized St. Germain liqueur into …

Adventures of San Diego tuna boats in WWII’s Pacific theater.

Stacy Antonel of Ocean Beach won the $10,000 grand prize at the conclusion of the first season of 3 Minutes to Stardom, a local singing competition.

What are you reading? “I’ve been poring over military history books — those big coffee-table reference books you see in the bargain section of Barnes & Noble. I have a huge one on tanks, one …

Heymatt: Once or twice a year, I will wake to a charlie-horse. In my leg. I always instinctively pound the offending muscle group with my fist. I’d like to know if this is a universal …

The release party for Hills Like Elephants’ new album, Feral Flocks, on the local Requiemme Records label and distributed by BMG/Chrysalis, happens March 29 at Bar Pink. Featuring a dance-centric sound that frontman Sean Davenport …

My sister and I clinked glasses filled with chilled wine (hers a straw-colored chardonnay, mine a blushing rosé) and then leaned back in our chairs with stoned smiles. My eyes wandered the expanse of Jane’s …

Matt: Going east along the I-8 before the College turn-off to SDSU, if you look left you will see a giant highchair on the hill below Del Cerro. Or a ladder. Or something. It’s out …

How do you say Neil Simon in French? A professional sperm donor, going by the name Starbuck (Patrick Huard), anonymously fathers what amounts to his own chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. Eventually, …

Watching the humiliation. There’s 4:49 left with the score, Florida Gulf Coast 70, San Diego 52. You can see the wheels falling off the Aztecs’ bandwagon from here. SDSU came into the tournament regarded as …

Heymatt: Back in the ’60’s, ’70s, there was a big statue of a go-go girl on a sign in Mission Valley/Grantville that was visible from the 8. I seem to remember that she was all …

Fresh from a big controversy over who gets to run kayaks at La Jolla Shores, the City of San Diego is now preparing to award an exclusive deal for parasailing operations on Mission Bay. But …

Del Mar City Council delays permitting of food trucks within city limits.

“You gotta have a passion for it. That’s got to be number one. Number two? You got to be willing to pay your dues by practicing day and night.” We meet up for lunch, Bill …

Anyone who doubts the politically incestuous nature of San Diego’s old money — still playing a big role at city hall these days — has only to review the family connections of the Evans clan, …

Dessert binge leads to diet including steak and lobster.

Nordy Customers Everywhere As a Nordstrom employee of many years, I’m a little embarrassed of how [the March 21 cover story] portrays employees to our customers (“100% Commission at Nordstrom”). I feel this is a …

He is truly happy, whatever may be his temporal condition, who can call God his Father in the full assurance of faith and hope. And amid all his trials, conflicts, and doubts, the feeblest Christian …

Krakow is special. Paris is fantastic, but so over-the-top and tourist-oriented that emotional connection is limited. When we arrived in Krakóv, and walked out on the Old Town square (above), my eyes teared up. I …

Driving back from my friend's house on the south side of Ocean Beach on Saturday night, March 23, I came across a police barricade involving seven police cars. They were rerouting traffic as they did …

Ten homeowners in Imperial Beach will have a chance at energy-efficiency improvements, and six Habitat for Humanity homes will be completed with money from the now-folded redevelopment agencies that the state Department of Finance has …

When Arizona State collegian Alex Van Horne was discovering craft beer at Tempe’s Four Peaks Brewery, he had no idea of the prevalence of artisanal suds and the companies that produce them back home in …

Here’s the thing about Mexico Beach: It’s not in Mexico. It’s on the panhandle 20 minutes south of Panama City and just off the tip of Port St. Joe – a little bit of yesterday …

On an early morning walk to the bus stop on University Avenue, I happened to notice a green box attached to the fence. In the alleyway on Polk Avenue, between Wilson and 36th, I found …

The Ladies Professional Golf Association’s four-day tournament began March 21 at Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad without one of its top players: defending champion Yani Tseng. The 24-year-old Taiwan native has earned more than $9 …

With Encinitas’ 4.8-million-dollar rehabilitation of Moonlight Beach and its facilities expected to open in just a few months, one of the final tasks is to choose a concessionaire to operate the food stand and beach-equipment …

Incorporated in 1962, the five-square-mile town of Vail, Colorado, was named for Charles Vail, the engineer who, in 1940, routed the highway that eventually became I-70 through the valley. It’s 100 miles west of mile-high …

Spring is all about mixing and matching prints. Stripes with floral, polka dots with graphic prints, and animal print on animal print abounds. The only problem is combining patterns can be dangerous task. It’s a …

Friends of Friendship Park, a group with an interest in the unique spot at the southwestern corner of the U.S. where it meets Mexico, is planning to protest the closure of the park, scheduled for …

The dangers of parking your car on a busy street became clear to some Ocean Beach residents who were woken up at around 1:30 a.m. on Friday, March 22, by the sound of crashing metal. …

Almost a dozen restaurants in the Carlsbad Village area now have permission to extend their dining areas into the street as part of the city’s newly adopted three-year program to introduce “curb cafés.” The parking-lot …

Papal Conclave inspires San Marcos breweries’ strongest beer to-date.

Dreams. Patterns in the clouds. Drug-fueled hallucinations. A life thoroughly well-lived. There are many answers to the question: where does a writer find their inspiration? But for some, it's all about the location. Some places …

San Carlos Navajo Community Planners, Inc. (NCPI) on March 18 voted 8-1 to take an alternate method of requesting a four-way stop at Cowles Mountain Boulevard and Boulder Lake Avenue, a San Carlos intersection that …

“Timbalake” is back! From the opening seconds of “Pusher Love Girl,” you can sense a new brand of swag. Luscious strings, sick beats, filthy vocals. It’s 9:23 a.m. and “Don’t Hold the Wall” is grooving …

Drummer Paul Motian died in New York City in 2011, on the 48th anniversary of John Kennedy’s assassination. He carried one cymbal around with him for the last 30 of his 80 years on Earth, …

"This is the second stop on a tour that will take us around the world," Bad Religion's lead singer and cofounder Greg Graffin informed a packed Soma, as the band opened their 26-song set with …

The upcoming local breweries I'm most excited about.

“Josefov.” The center of Jewish influence in Prague. A few other temples are scattered around the oldest part of the city, but Josefov is the vortex of Prague’s Jewish past. It was this name of …

Baja California residents spend three times more money in the U.S. than do Americans visiting south of the border, according to Armando Rogelio Lara Valle, the director of Baja California's planning and development committee. According …

On Monday, March 18, with currents and wind pushing north, the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health closed all beaches in Imperial Beach due to a suspected sewage spill from the Tijuana River mouth. …

Last week, from March 11–15, 19 students and two teachers from Minami High School in Toyama, Japan, attended San Dieguito Academy High School in Encinitas. The students attended Japanese and English classes every day and …

Behind Basel, Switzerland’s bourgeois persona is a mind-blowing history currently experiencing its 70th anniversary. Inside the walled-off compound where multinational pharmaceutical giant Novartis (formed when Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz merged) is headquartered is a futuristic glassy-steel …

Author Dave Good writes about the rabbit he found (and now owns) and the San Diego bunny scene.

On Monday morning, March 18, hundreds — if not thousands — of Talmadge and City Heights commuters found themselves trapped in long lines of traffic trying to access Aldine Drive through Talmadge. With horns honking …

Lore is a loser’s history of World War II, a less fantastical, more moving post-apocalyptic wasteland film out of Australia than the one that starred Mel Gibson back in 1979. Less fantastical because it’s set …

A writer for Out blog is amazed that readers misinterpreted the literary device she used in her book

Whew. Just hiked up West Washington from the Washington Street trolley. Quite a climb. Crazy traffic. No sidewalk. Then I spot this beautiful li’l French bistro. I know I shouldn’t go in. Too sophisticated, too …

New Hindsight Recording Studios records 18 local bands for free in order to get exposure for everybody.

No doubt I’m trespassing. An hour ago, I stretched a length of barbed wire, passing under a fence line and into this realm of green hills and rocky outcrops. Boats twinkle below on lower Otay …

Hoffer’s Cigar Bar in La Mesa is easy to miss, but that’s what locals like about it.

"Why do you think it’s always boys and never girls who go on these mass-shooting rampages?” I asked David, mostly rhetorically, because I already had my answer. “I think I know why; shooters are mostly …

‘In December, we changed the name to Stone Horse.” I tell Danielle Spade the new name rings of Linda Ronstadt. She giggles: “Yeah. Stone Ponys. But my sister said our other name was too long. …

In their short lifetime as a band, Neutral Milk Hotel could have been described as late bloomers. It took them almost a decade to become overnight successes, and even then, the love was delayed. In …

Ever since watching MTV’s Total Request Live (TRL) in high school, Rachel Frank has known she’s wanted to be a veejay. “I just loved watching [TRL] when I came home from school,” she says. “Everyone …

You see a great number in a musical and stop the show with rabid applause. But how many times have you really wanted the show to stop — and have them repeat the number on …

Tuna fishermen in San Diego were recruited along with their boats to function as supply vessels and mine-sweepers.

Time for our annual NCAA Tournament preview, wherein the Box picks the most improbable team to receive an invitation and gives you, oh Sporting Box regulars, an inside line. This year’s honoree is Liberty University …

On May 14, Natasha Kozaily will release her second CD, Serenading Renegades. She intends dual release parties, both in San Diego and back home on Cayman Island. The Caymanian has lived here since 2010, lured …

‘Shaggy and Scooby must be jealous,” Patrick said when Bernice pulled her bright yellow Dodge Sprinter down our driveway. The Sprinter has 12 seats, just like our Chevy Express, but it rides about two feet …

Homonyms vs. Homophones vs. Homographs vs. Heterographs vs. Heteronyms

Heymatt: If the Duggars have 20 kids — that’s a lot, by the way — I was wondering what Ma & Pa Duggar claim on their taxes. Is it possible to claim all the kids …

Inspiring views make this a great hike on cool days.

How much does it cost for the care and feeding of about 600 local VIPs and various hangers-on invited to watch a power plant being blown to smithereens? In the case of the San Diego …

Indian mystic Meher Baba defined involution as “the inner path of the human soul to the Self,” in which the ecstatic rapture of realization is the highest and ultimate purpose of the illusory material world. …

Chabad La Costa’s rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort trains to desire Godliness.

PREVIOUS RESIDENT: Mohammed Abduljawad LISTING PRICE: $40,000,000 BEDS: 8+ BATHS: 8 ½+ HOUSE SIZE: 31,000 sq ft This week, we visit a property that represents the highest of high end: the most expensive home currently …

In November 2012, the San Diego Grand Jury began investigating corruption allegations that encompassed three South Bay school districts: Southwestern College, the San Ysidro School District, and the Sweetwater Union High School District. The investigation …

Business is booming for La Jolla lobbyist Matt Peterson, whose most well known client is failed GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his beachside teardown in the Barber Tract. Homeowner Peter Winn has retained Peterson …

Sherri Lynn Difrancesco, caught with meth and syringes, seems also to have been caught with containers of pilfered jewelry.

Hi MA, In my neighborhood, the sidewalks have these metal buttons embedded in the sidewalk. They look like an oversized Levi’s jeans rivet, are made of copper or brass, and are stamped with “LS 5456.” …

100% Depression I would like to thank the author of the article “100% Commission at Nordstrom,” (March 14 cover story) and also the Reader for publishing it. Last year, my older brother was hired at …

There is no end, No limit to the cosmos, above, below, Around, about, stretching on every side. This I have proven, but the fact itself Cries loud in proclamation, nature’s deep Is luminous with proof. …

Spending time in Kenya with my Maasai friend Moses was an education in animal behavior. Wandering through the bush around his village together, he would point out tracks and scat, patiently explaining to this greenhorn …

Making my way through thick crowds of people slowly walking, talking on cell phones and holding shopping bags, I found the mounds of spices in the marketplace in Istanbul, Turkey. I'd arrived to buy various …

The unused AT&T (formerly Pacific Bell) building in North Park continues to have homeless transients, graffiti, the smell of urine, and trash. The fortress-like structure — a perfect canvas for taggers — is located at …

A man allegedly posing as an employee of the state water agency was arrested in Tijuana on Sunday, March 17, after one of his victims noted water spewing from a meter in front of his …

San Diego National Wildlife Refuge biologists are monitoring the movement of the 450,000 cubic yards sand dumped on Imperial Beach shores last fall, worried that southbound sand will block the river mouth as it did …

Sheriff's deputies and state Alcoholic Beverage Control agents arrested 19 people in a weekend crackdown in Encinitas. In a news release issued at 4 a.m. on Sunday, March 17, the sheriff's department said it had …

“The word death is not pronounced in New York, in Paris, in London, because it burns the lips. The Mexican, in contrast, is familiar with death, jokes about it, caresses it, sleeps with it, celebrates …

Josh Hammond, director of promotions and marketing at 91X, took to the station’s Facebook and Twitter pages on Friday, March 15, to put out the alert that "we have a serious problem." He posted an …

The privately owned, five-state In-N-Out Burger chain has secured property just east of the I-5 at Encinitas Blvd — currently the site of a Del Taco. Meetings with city planners will take place this week. …

When The Fooks began their set at the Blarney Stone three hours prior to St. Paddy's day, singer/guitarist Kirk O’Brien slurred into the microphone, "We are by no means sober. This is our third show …

Tijuana police responded to the shouts and pleas for help from an imprisoned, under-aged female at around 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 13. Based on a tip given by a passing stranger, the female was …

Bankruptcy Court Judge Louise Adler has awarded ailing Warner Springs Ranch to the low bidder, denying it to the Pala Indians, but an unusual twist suggests to some skeptics that the tribe will eventually get …

The name Gordon Biersch doesn’t get much play among San Diego craft beer fans. To them, the central San Diego brewpub is but another in a chain of cookie-cutter outlets spanning the country. This is …

Is there a concerted attempt by the Sweetwater Union High School District to silence or stifle criticism? That’s what many public speakers told the trustees during the March 11 board meeting. The meeting was prefaced …

A mailbox-like disposal bin for worn American flags that are no longer fit to display is a new fixture at the Dove Library in Carlsbad, thanks to a donation from the city 's fire department. …

On the front page of the Los Angeles Times’ business section this week, Cardiff by the Sea 92007 was rated in the top ten of Southern California zip codes that have best rebounded from the …

Lots of tourist amenities have sprung up around Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the U.S., and it’s no wonder. The stunning scenery and wildlife have attracted people to the …

Jimi Hendrix has been dead 43 years – and continues to be represented by a seemingly infinite stream of releases. If his Age of Aquarius idealism has been muddied, he can’t be held accountable for …

This show marked the seventh time I’ve seen the progressive rock band YES in concert, including the short-lived Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, and Howe at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. Gone are the Avatar-like stage …

Since 2007, the Princess Project San Diego has been "dressing and accessorizing financially-challenged high school girls for their proms." I found out about the project (the original chapter of which was founded over 10 years …

While scarfing down a bean and cheese burrito at Mauricio's in Normal Heights, I noticed something peculiar amongst the kiddie vending machines occupying a small section of wall space. Wedged between the bubblegum and sticky-hand …

Mira Mesa brewing company opening second brewery in Virginia.

San Diego’s southernmost brewery adding home brew supply store.

The Ho Chi Minh Trail follows the infamous supply route created by the North Vietnamese guerrillas during the Vietnam War. We began our motorbike journey from Hanoi (left), headed toward the south to Ho Chi …

If I had my wedding to do over again, I would have it in Balboa Park. In my opinion it’s the most romantic setting in San Diego. It’s no surprise that the majority of those …

To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, ‘…in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.’ Not to argue with Mr. Franklin, but there are many ways to avoid the tax man, while …

Joel Chrisco, of the International Rescue Committee, invites aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners to come learn about what it takes to start or grow a business. First, please tell me about your organization. The …

As authorities in beach areas and on Shelter Island have been cracking down on prolonged parking of motor-homes, some of those RV residents have migrated to the Sports Arena area’s parking lots. However, businesses — …

It is pretty easy to write a simple, declarative sentence without thinking too much. But it isn’t always as simple to write a sentence that communicates an idea that is easily understood by the reader. …

San Marcos’ lofty place in San Diego’s craft brewing history is firmly cemented. It was home to Stone Brewing Co.’s original brewery, a space that has since been taken over by the owners of Pizza …

The Lafayette Hotel & Swim Club (2223 El Cajon Boulevard) has taken their recent $8 million renovation and run with it, cranking out new events left and right. One of their tried-and-true events, the Dive …

Customer-service zombie in trendy attire.

The last time I saw the name Paul Castle it was printed in gold on the wall above the showers in the boys’ locker room, next to the school record for the mile. I don’t …

Ed finds the Red Rooster, a Louisiana-style eatery tucked away in Lincoln Park.

Brandon Van Ekelenburg (aka Van Brando) switched from heavy metal to rapping.

Name: Maria Hart Car: BMW X5 How do you like driving your car? I like it. It’s not as comfortable as my Explorer, believe it or not. The seat is not as comfortable. I like …

I make it a hard and fast rule when entering a theater: leave expectations at the door. Even if I know the play or the subject, I want as clean a slate as possible. Be …

The travesty of cable-company monopolies held by Time Warner and Cox Communications.

Science Fiction Jazz wants to cut a full-length LP but they expect it will be tricky because of their improvisational nature.

Hello Matt: I hope this finds you and the Elves doing well. I know I am un-hip to most things these days, but something has puzzled me for quite some time. Why do certain fellows …

"You want this?” David held up his buzzing phone so I could see the number displayed on the screen. After weighing the risk of answering an unknown number, I said, “Here, give it to me.” …

Stands of majestic oaks and sycamores line a bubbling stream along a section of the trail.

Like Someone in Love is a logical follow-up to Abbas Kiarostami’s Certified Copy (2010). From its opening long take — the lead character speaks from outside the frame — the director’s sleight of hand draws …

Republic Services, the big Phoenix-based solid-waste operation with a wide footprint in San Diego, has of late been anteing up the bucks at city hall. According to its latest lobbyist filing with the city clerk, …

Jessica Lange: unseen, is on view at the Museum of Photographic Arts until May 19, 1649 El Prado, San Diego, 619-238-7559; mopa.org Jessica Lange and Jeff Bridges have two things in common, photography and King …

Interview with Angie Elsbury, a butcher at Vons supermarkets who reshaped her life after being addicted to heroin and going to jail.

St. Patrick’s Day is fast approaching, and my Kelly hubby is heavy into party planning. “I bought green-striped thigh-high stockings [$4.99 at partycity.com] for you,” he announced, “and a little green top-hat hairband thingy [$9.99 …

Heavy Hawaii films video using fire extinguishers that draw fire trucks to the scene.

At 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 12, the normal traffic pattern at Gillespie Field was interrupted when a coyote decided to take a tour of the field. Six aircraft were ordered by the control tower …

Once a beach band, always a beach band? Thicker Than Thieves will kick off their spring tour in Ocean Beach, not so far from where it began for them more than a decade ago. That …

The race to replace ex–city councilman Tony Young in the Fourth District is being fed by a raft of out-of-town special interests. According to recent disclosures, “Californians for Quality Paramedic Services, Sponsored by Rural/Metro Corporation” …

Some kind of unhappy result of this madcap money printing by the Federal Reserve is inevitable: wait for the next disastrous economic bubble to burst.

San Diego State University’s owned and operated public broadcasting operation is out with its “2013 Local Content & Service Report,” touting what it says are various achievements of the previous year. The document is required …

The March 11 Sweetwater Union High School District meeting opened with a presentation “On Civility,” which was delivered by one of the district’s attorneys, Dan Shinoff. While Shinoff discoursed on the Constitution, Frederick Douglass, the …

A blogger is upset because the Beekman Boys website claims to sell products made in the USA (except for a few items) and is called out after she inquires about their provenance.

Kickstarter Follow-up Your December 13, 2012 cover story about Kickstarter highlights the San Diego Public Market as a major success at raising more than $165,000. But having a good idea or concept is one thing; …

Every true life has its Jerusalem, to which it is always going up. A life cannot be really considered as having begun to live until that far-off city in which its destiny awaits it, where …

The San Diego Unified Port District is set to put up $40,000 in seed money toward reviving Imperial Beach's U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition, which was washed out last year, ending a 31-year tradition that drew …

MONDAY I could write for hours, but I am toast. The Kibuye stadium is being torn down; the walls are gone and only a portion of the stands remain. It is best that the horrible …

Two persons were shot at Tijuana’s Ruta 6 bar on Saturday night, March 9. According to reports in Tijuana's daily Frontera, one of the victims has died, while the other remains hospitalized, status unknown. Gunfire …

Ocean Beach isn't just for the hippies. They also have a large population of skaters. I ran into these guys at Robb Field. I was expecting the guy on the right to have an Irish …

In an early-evening ceremony on Friday, March 8, the bridge on North Pacific Street (over the beach area of the San Luis Rey River, south of Oceanside Harbor) was dedicated to the memory of Oceanside …

A longtime Carlsbad resident named Paul Carreon came up with a unique way to pop the question to his true love — in green pepper slices, on top of a pizza, amid black olives and …

A bizarre crime that claimed the life of an unidentified man who was apparently trying to steal electrical equipment from transmission towers east of Tijuana left the 65,000 residents of Tecate without power for more …

I’m playing with my hair out of nervousness. I never do this. Isn’t this the behavior of a preteen boy, mustering up the courage to ask a girl out on his first date? Yet there’s …

I have always been charmed by Ocean Beach. On Newport Avenue you can browse stores that offer a wide variety of wares. One store sells shells, the next bongs, nearby you can purchase a wetsuit …

Should the police trailer in the Ocean Beach pier parking lot go somewhere else? Next week, the people will have their say. The trailer has been in the middle of the parking lot at the …

Neighbors in the 800 block of Nolbey Street in Cardiff awoke early on March 8, as fire trucks arrived at 3:00 a.m. to find a home engulfed in flames. The two-alarm fire brought out units …

At the March 6 San Carlos Area Council meeting, San Diego district attorney Bonnie Dumanis asked if anyone in the audience was the victim of identity theft. One woman raised her hand; another said, "A …

On Poinsettia Avenue in Vista, which runs parallel along the westbound side of Highway 78, catering trucks, vehicles for sale, and vehicles parked there to advertise services are a everyday sight from the freeway. According …

A 44-year-old man and a teenaged boy who lived across the street from one another on Herder Lane in Encinitas vented their mutual dislike by shouting insults and trading obscenities for years. Last summer, the …

An ordinance to ban recreational vehicles, boats, and trailers from parking overnight on public streets west of I-5 is in the works, said Michael Patton, representative for District 2 city councilmember Kevin Faulconer, at the …

Deep in the belly of Death Valley National Park, I pitched my tent up against sage bushes looking out at snowcapped mountains. Campers sat in their vehicles, some huddled in their tents, all dodging the …

When I was a kid, kids dressed like kids. We wore pastels, itchy sweaters, and Sesame Street themed overalls. In recent years toddlers have begun dressing like tiny adults. It’s not unusual to see 3-year-olds …

An effort to install a traffic light that would help cyclists on the Bayside Bike Trail — one supported and funded by the San Diego Association of Governments — failed to get off the ground …

Dear Foals,What are you doing? You used to have so much potential. When Antidotes was released in 2008, you were regarded as Battles for the pop listener! What a compliment! Your plinky guitar lines, math-rock …

If Muffs front woman Kim Shattuck regrets days gone by, as she sang during the final song of her band’s 100-minute set at Soda Bar, you’d never know it — she and bandmates Ronnie Barnett …

On Thursday, March 7, Carlsbad resident Doug was taking his daily 7:00 a.m. walk along the beach next to Carlsbad Boulevard. At the Agua Hedionda Lagoon’s outlet, just south of Tamarack Avenue, he spotted a …

Though it can be fairly said that Amsterdam is always ready for a party, this year the city is really celebrating. 2013 is the 400th anniversary of its famous canal ring, now a UNESCO World …

In no other country in the world are the two largest cities such polar opposites. Jerusalem, Israel's ancient and current capital city, is both informed and haunted by its history. Tel Aviv, on the other …

From the sublime to the ridiculous, the much-missed Madeline Kahn’s comedic genius shines in the unusual double feature of Paper Moon and Yellowbeard. We like having friends over for private movie screenings, and this pair …

Tijuana police say they arrested a man who allegedly disguised himself as a woman to steal from various businesses in the San Antonio de Los Buenos neighborhood. Officers captured 27-year-old Brian Roldán Cedillo at around …

Career and technical training used to be called vocational or trade school. San Diego Unified School District has tried to put a new face on the program with much success.

I doubted the man of the hour (or century, if you consider we were celebrating his 90th birthday) remembered me. I’d met David’s great-uncle, the Hungarian pianist Béla Síki, only once before, nearly a decade …

Church has become like an emergency room.

Can we all agree that garage rock has reached an impasse? Don’t get me wrong. I love fuzzed-out guitars, lo-fi drum tracks, and retro vocals as much as the next guy — and San Diego …

When Wild Wild Wets frontman Mike Turi released the debut EP Everyday Obstacle from his solo project Emerald Rats last month, he opened a window into a cerebral world of psychedelia. “It’s been exciting to …

Grace Potter in a nightgown: “I don’t want to be the one you forget,” sings Greta Morgan (née Salpeter) in “Medicine Man.” “I don’t wanna be the one you regret.” That’s regret — not forget. …

It’s no secret that San Diego has become world famous for its craft-beer culture over the past few years. Our county is home to several landmark breweries and brew pubs that have garnered praise from …

Before books travel across town to take their places on the new shelves, they will undergo a technology upgrade and take a fantastic journey through tubular space.

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/photos/2013/mar/05/41170/ http://www.sandiegoreader.com/photos/2013/mar/05/41176/ Title: Becky Charms & Co. | Address: beckycharms.com | From: Paradise Hills | Blogging since: October 2011

icPurple, the super PAC run by La Jolla computer magnate Ted Waitt that lost its bid to elect so-called independent Nathan Fletcher mayor last year, is still in business, barely. According to its monthly federal …

Jason “Blackie” Blackmore set to release film titled Records Collecting Dust, mostly interviews with San Diegans talking about their record collections.

My first recommendation is Disney’s Blu-ray release of the original Tron. I single out the Blu-ray release because it’s a stunning transformation from DVD to BR. The very nature of the film, with its groundbreaking …

The Ultimate Stones gets a slot on AXS TV’s program about tribute bands.

How much have San Diego taxpayers forked over to the giant law firm of Latham Watkins for legal services delegated to it by GOP city attorney Jan Goldsmith — the man lately in the middle …

Band Incomplete Neighbor discovers one of their songs in used on the soundtrack of a film titled Craigslist Joe.

Discover a little-known route to one of Anza-Borrego’s remote palm groves

The production notes for Oz the Great and Powerful came with a heads-up: “Please note that this movie stands alone and shouldn’t be compared to any other versions of the Oz films.” I’m fine with …

Where ’94 Chevy Suburbans go when they die.

Heymatt: For the last week I’ve been climbing Cowles Mountain every day. It takes me about 1 hour, round trip. At the bottom, I reward myself with an entire box of Girl Scout Thin Mints. …

"I didn’t see this one coming.” That is the subject line found on an email a friend sent me. Said friend teaches journalism at a private college. The link he provided takes me to fastcompany.com …

Many years ago I happened on Stranger Than Paradise at a college film festival. My first-ever Jim Jarmusch movie and still my favorite. Willie (John Lurie), living in low-rent New York, is compelled by his …

Vendors at the San Diego Public Market wonder what’s next as the management fields proposals to set up permanent spaces and prepares to become an everyday operation.

Former disgraced San Diego mayor Roger Hedgecock makes a big slug of money from a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization in Arlington, Virginia, the American Studies Center.

Hi Matt: Back when I was a kid, not too many people had wristwatches. This was not a problem, however, as all you had to do was turn on the radio to any station and, …

Mr. Alice: Whenever I encounter bridge construction on the interstate, or most any other highways and roads, fastened onto the temporary supports at both sides of the road is a painted and illuminated, white board …

Telecommunications giant AT&T spent a total of $32,737 in the last three months of 2012 on what is called “activity expenses,” also known as freebies awarded to public officials to get their time and attention. …

Big Pharma Joseph O’Brien’s February 21 cover story was important and I appreciated it very much. It was heartening to read that more doctors are refusing to participate in the Big Pharma System and, instead, …

A boat beneath a sunny sky, Lingering onward dreamily In an evening of July — Children three that nestle near, Eager eye and willing ear, Pleased a simple tale to hear — Long has paled …

It was still dark outside when the roosters' crows aroused me from my slumber. Surrounded by a mosquito net in an unfamiliar cabin, the aching of my body from the previous day's excursion reminded me …

The Sweetwater school district owns several properties that it is trying to flip into condo/apartment developments. The properties, located in western Chula Vista, are on L Street, Third Avenue, Fifth Avenue (district headquarters), and Moss …

Stonewash, the one style trend I hoped would never make a comeback, reared its ugly head on the SDSU campus. While at SDSU I spotted a mix-match of trends pulled from both the 1980s and …

Rolling into the small town of Beatty, Nevada, is a strange experience. One of the few settlements on the edge of the brutal Death Valley, it appears as a welcome rise of gaudy lights after …

All but two Navajo Community Planners, Inc. (NCPI) members voted February 25 to send a letter stating they supported the Kensington-Talmadge Planning Group (KTPG) and the City of San Diego applying for a Caltrans grant …

The longtime practice of offering Tijuana cops a little cash to buy your way out of a legal jam could now land you in jail. In a March 2 press release, the city's Department of …

Strangely, the noxious swarm of mosquitos intent on doing me harm had ebbed, and the growl of the Chiribiquete waterfall (below) no longer sounded, as if its familiarity to my ears after a few hours …

The Ocean Beach People's Food Co-op is looking to expand their grocery store located at 4765 Voltaire Street. General manager Nancy Cassidy addressed the issue in the March 2013 monthly newsletter. "We are reaching full …

The latest at Southwestern College is the sudden resignation of trustee William Stewart, who gave an exclusive interview to the student newspaper, the Sun, on March 1. He told news editor Thomas Baker that he …

The fifth case so far this year of a so-called "blind mule" was discovered on Thursday, February 28, in the Xicoténcatl Leyva Mortera neighborhood of Tijuana, police said in a press release. The term "blind …

The City of San Diego's plan to demolish and replace a pump station that has served San Carlos since 1967 received unanimous approval from Navajo Community Planners, Inc. (NCPI), on February 25. The estimated $7.5 …

Fresh off a food-fueled feud with late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, Morrissey rolled into town and delivered a rocking set at the Balboa Theatre downtown. Appearing forlorn as usual, Morrissey kept the ranting against …

Armando Perez, the admitted murderer and ex-husband of Diana Gonzalez, was in court on Thursday, February 28, for an arraignment hearing. In August 2012, when the defendant was brought into San Diego Superior Court after …

When I rolled into my parking space in Little Italy yesterday, I spotted this guy standing outside: "I think you'll be surprised when you figure out who I am. You should Google me," he said. …

I used to work with a goofy guy who was so restless in his job that he used to apply for nearly every position that came open in our company. It didn’t matter to him …

Temporary fencing went up on the morning of Wednesday, Febuary 27, in a section of the parking lot along the 3200 block of Sports Arena Boulevard, between the Union Bank and Petco in the Midway …

Sam France's voice has a hint of femininity to it as he introduces us to "In the Darkness," the gateway track to Foxygen’s second album. The L.A. indie-pop duo could have gone the campy route …