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Stories for April 2014

Wednesday, April 30

Feel sorry for Donald Sterling?

The National Basketball Association has banned Donald Sterling, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, for life. Sterling was done in by racist remarks. If three-fourths of the league's team owners agree, Sterling will be forced …

April 30, 2014
Ju-u-ust a bit outside

Meet Padre Joe and the Foul Balls. That’s the name of the band that played outside Petco Park on opening day disguised as friars. “We’ve been hired by the Padres to play before the games …

April 30, 2014
SD-Carlsbad particle pollution among nation’s worst

"California is making real and steady progress in the fight for clean air," says the American Lung Association's California chair Marsha Ramos, who spoke with media on April 29 in anticipation of the group releasing …

April 30, 2014
The Annette Funicello of cocktails

A perfect companion to SoCal clambakes or a beach blanket in Baja, it also harkens to the warmth and whitewashed villas of the Amalfi Coast. That’s the Roman Pipeline. This Annette Funicello of cocktails, according …

April 30, 2014
Giant, vinyl sac of uncoolness

Dear Hipster: I was thinking about getting a waterbed. Is that cool? — Bob Will you not get a waterbed without the okay from yours truly? I would love to wield such absolute control over …

April 30, 2014
Only beginning to express its potential

Behind a nondescript door next to the new TJINCHINA gallery and down a long hallway, the first batches of Tijuana’s greenest microbrewery are bubbling up in small, stainless steel tanks. “When I started at Beer …

April 30, 2014
Capture your rain

I have no idea how I ended up with a $600 water bill, but it spooked me to the point where I was hesitant to put in a garden this year. Then I saw my …

April 30, 2014
Performance anxiety and the mob

The mysterious owners of the Las Vegas–based Cheetahs strip joint in Kearny Mesa have opened a new legal front in federal court against San Diego police, claiming that raids by the cops have been illegally …

April 30, 2014
Jackass Journalism

Outrageous and Wonderful I’m a teacher/artist and I’ve lived in Mexico for 20 years. I’ve just come up recently for health reasons. When I come up, the Reader is the first magazine I get, and …

April 30, 2014
There was no scene here

Mexico City has always been a magnet. Post-Toltec Nahua tribes gravitated there to live along the shores of the now-drained Lake Texcoco. The Aztecs then claimed it as their promised land and the center of …

April 30, 2014
Country clubbin’

“It had become too macho and hyper-misogynistic and just seemed like it was more about who could be the toughest in the pit while having the cutest haircut and who could hate their ex-girlfriend the …

April 30, 2014
George Clinton, the elder funkster

William Collins, the bassist, once told an interviewer about the time he arrived at George Clinton’s house to audition for Parliament Funkadelic. He described a situation more suited to the Addams Family. The front room …

April 30, 2014
Escape the elephant graveyard

Dear Hipster: Now that Facebook has become the elephant graveyard of boomers searching for their lost youth, and Reddit and Imgur are full of trolls and creepers looking for a joke of the day, where …

April 30, 2014
Movement, pressure, and force

The Narrows Earth Trail, located at the “Narrows” where San Felipe Creek turns abruptly northeast just east of the junction with Pinyon Wash, is the perfect place to observe geology and earth movement in action. …

Record-release roundup

SDMA Best World Music winners Tribal Seeds will launch Representing on May 2 at SDSU’s Open Air Theatre, before spending the summer on tour with New Kingston. Folk-pop duo the Lovebirds recently signed with Big …

April 30, 2014
Padres training camp in Arizona 2014

Thomas Anthony Medica stood in the clubhouse, belly full of breakfast, dressing out as he had done every morning since camp opened. In an hour, there would be a brief meeting as there always was …

April 30, 2014
No pot in Rachel’s lobby

Rachel Laing, the ex-media handler for GOP mayor Jerry Sanders who later went to work for political consultant Tom Shepard only to quit during the sexual harassment scandal of his top client, fallen Democratic mayor …

April 30, 2014
I support them and give them food...

It hasn’t always been about glamor, fame, women, and good works for Donald Sterling, owner and, may I add, benefactor to the Los Angeles Clippers as well as a patron to all people of color …

April 30, 2014
This is heartbreaking

SRH founder Kevin Zinger started connecting with the action-sports crowd in 1991 by selling T-shirts and caps at local shows by Sublime, Slightly Stoopid, Pennywise, NOFX, 311, and Korn. This Saturday’s SRH Fest at the …

April 30, 2014
There is a role that each person is uniquely designed by God to fulfill

Membership: 2700 Pastor: Craig Brown Age: 46 Born: Long Beach Formation: Biola University, La Mirada; Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena Years Ordained: 21 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on which to preach? Pastor …

Cardiff is the new Del Mar? Says who?

Cardiff-by-the Sea was named for Cardiff, Wales; Del Mar was originally built to resemble an old English Village. But is the British connection where the similarity ends for these two North County beach towns? Realtors …

Base Details

If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath, I’d live with scarlet Majors at the Base, And speed glum heroes up the line to death. You’d see me with my puffy petulant face, …

April 30, 2014
Cheeky, handsome, and future Ivy League

Post Title: Looking for Miss Right Post Date: March 20, 2014 Male, English-American, almost one year old, looking for love. Cheeky, handsome, and future Ivy League–educated boy seeks a mischievous young girl with high energy …

April 30, 2014
Horning in

The race by Republican county supervisor Bill Horn to hold on to his seat against a challenge by Oceanside mayor Jim Wood is off with a financial bang, with backers of both sides lining up …

April 30, 2014

Tuesday, April 29

Denies assault, mayhem, torture

It was before 2 a.m. on Monday, April 21, when four Oceanside police officers responded to a report of yelling and fighting in a ground-floor unit at the Mission Hills apartment complex on Rancho Del …

April 29, 2014
Not a steak, but not a bad burger

Walking into Cali Steak Burger Bar forced me into a little semantic introspection. What makes a burger a "steak burger"? For that matter, what distinguishes steak from other cuts of beef? And if you make …

Men knocked dead

A Wisconsin filmmaker is revisiting a 2008 Pacific Beach beating death, among others across the country, in a documentary he hopes will spark a conversation about whether there should exist any acceptable level of violence …

Acting is doing

I wanted to interview Annie Hinton because she made her first “professional” directorial debut at New Village Arts earlier this year. And Annie Baker’s spare, almost voiceless collage, Circle Mirror Transformation, called for major directorial …

April 29, 2014
SD tech bounceback happened last year

By the end of last year, San Diego technology industries had more than bounced back from the Great Recession, according to a study by Kelly Cunningham of the National University System Institute for Policy Research. …

April 29, 2014
Workers Film Festival returns to Digital Gym

May Day! May Day! The second annual Workers Film Festival returns to the Media Arts Center Digital Gym starting this Friday. No heavy lifting required: the mission of this weekend’s three-day celebration of labor is …

April 29, 2014
Will money defeat Barrio Logan residents?

San Diego's largest military contractors continue to shovel money toward a political campaign whose goal is to sink the Barrio Logan community plan update at ballot boxes on June 3. General Dynamics spinoff National Steel …

April 29, 2014
This time you may really be fired, Sloat

It may finally be curtains for the Sacramento lobbying firm of Sloat Higgins Jensen & Associates, dumped by a host of big-name clients after it agreed earlier this year to pay a record $133,500 fine …

April 29, 2014
Frankencart to assist casino clients

Eight months after beginning the project, mechanics at Pechanga Resort & Casino’s auto shop unveiled their custom showpiece last week — a golf cart modified into a tow truck, which was made from parts of …

April 29, 2014

Monday, April 28

Conman/minister Minkow gets another five years

Barry Minkow, San Diego's most publicized man of the cloth, was sentenced today (April 28) to five years in prison for embezzling more than $3 million from parishioners of San Diego Community Bible Church. He …

April 28, 2014
Brahms, Beethoven, Ax, and Dohnányi at the San Diego Symphony

I was tempted to recite the musical biographies of Emanuel Ax and Christoph von Dohnányi but that is always boring, especially when the musicians are Emmanuel Ax and Christoph von Dohnányi — meaning they’re such …

Pocketful of coke and a spontaneous statement

Escondido police say they arrested a man in the parking lot of the donut shop down the street from headquarters, his pocket allegedly bulging with drugs. José Luis Fonseca, 23, pleaded not guilty to possession …

April 28, 2014
Texas two-steppin' in Fort Worth

Cowboy culture is alive and well in Fort Worth, a city of about 775,000 just to the west of Dallas (and often lumped in the same metropolitan area). Fort Worth's a colorful composite of cattle …

April 28, 2014
Look out — burglaries in Normal Heights

San Diego police say Normal Heights residents need to lock their doors and windows — a series of burglaries recently hit the normally quiet neighborhood north of Adams Avenue. The burglaries took place during the …

April 28, 2014
Opera members advise: fire the Campbells

Around 200 San Diego Opera members — considered a good turnout — gave advisory votes this morning (April 28) to: (1) Fire Ian Campbell, general director, and Ann Spira Campbell, his ex-wife and second in …

April 28, 2014
Corruption cut from Sweetwater schools?

Will superintendent Ed Brand be the last cheese standing on the Sweetwater dais? Former trustee Arlie Ricasa resigned from the Sweetwater board in December 2013, shortly before pleading guilty to a misdemeanor in relation to …

An American orders spaghetti and meatballs in Poway

I've eaten lunch in Poway a lot over the years, and have even walked past Mamma Teresa a few times, sometimes on my way to the Five Guys next door, or to the Japanese restaurant …

District attorney candidates face off

The three district-attorney candidates at the April 24 debate sponsored by the Del Cerro Action Council and San Carlos Area Council answered questions about medical marijuana, whether the DA's office is politicized, and the "peace …

April 28, 2014
Avant-garde trio the Bad Plus total UCSD this week

Wednesday 30 The Lou Damian/Nathan Hubbard/Jerome Salazar Trio do their thing at Tin Can Ale House (1863 Fifth Avenue) at 9:00 p.m. $5 cover… Gilbert Castellanos presents the Young Lions Series at Croce’s Park West …

April 28, 2014
Manchester gets his man on planning commission

The election of mayor Kevin Faulconer appears to have paid off as expected for developer and U-T San Diego owner Douglas Manchester, who backed the Republican's campaign earlier this year with $356,000, funneled through GOP …

April 28, 2014
Custom beers for Churchill’s and The Bellows

There are specialty beers, and then there are specialty beers. On the more common end of the spectrum, there are seasonal offerings that are readily available to the general beer-drinking public. When it comes to …

April 28, 2014
Drone crash update three months later

After months of requests and subsequent appeals, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials on Thursday, April 24, released a pair of documents related to a drone crash off the coast of San Diego. But government-transparency …

April 28, 2014

Sunday, April 27

Fest faves Temples take to smaller stage

The Casbah, being a smaller venue, was an opportune setting to see Temples up close. Temples is an English psychedelic-rock band that has played major European festivals (as well as this year’s Coachella) and supported …

April 27, 2014
Wasted Years, by OFF!

The second official LP by the blessedly angry OFF! is a hell of a ride. The group is taking the foot off the gas every once in a while, and the newfound dynamics pay dividends. …

April 27, 2014
Tanzania: the Stone Age lives

The diversity of cultural groups in Africa is unrivaled by any other continent. In East Africa, Kenya and Tanzania alone can boast close to 200 different tribal groups. The East African sites of Olduvai Gorge …

Watch out for the multiplier hooey

As savvy San Diegas brace themselves for absurd claims of how a football stadium will boost the economy, and how tourism advertising will bring in tax dollars, an April 24 article by Matthew Hennessey, in …

April 27, 2014

Saturday, April 26

Sterling's racial remarks cause a stir

The National Basketball Association and its players association are investigating whether Donald Sterling, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, made a racially insensitive remark that was captured on a recording, according to several publications, including …

April 26, 2014
Shelter Island's other fish sandwich

Having realized my dog enjoys scoping waterfowl while I eat, I head over to the Shelter Island area to try out the deck at Mitch's Seafood. The place sits right on top of America's Cup …

Where dog-fur yarn comes from

On Wednesdays during seasonal school breaks, a patch of grass near the baseball fields at Lake Murray hosts a gathering of spinners. Up to a dozen women meet at around 9 a.m. and set up …

April 26, 2014
Intergalactic goes to the Dark Side

With flavors of all types swirling about like planets within a rather delicious galaxy, I’d be hard-pressed — and likely entirely unable — to name the style of the beer business owner and brewmaster Alex …

April 26, 2014

Friday, April 25

Carlsbad hash-oil processor processed in Vista

A Carlsbad man was arrested on April 22 after police found ten empty butane cans in the trash container from his home. Authorities had gotten a tip that Daniel Clark Steadman, 32, was cooking hashish …

April 25, 2014
Eat like a caveman

On Sunday, April 27th, local Paleolithic diet advocates will host a dinner at Turquoise Cellars (5026 Cass Street, Pacific Beach) to demystify the so-called “Caveman Diet.” The dinner includes keynote speeches from local whole-animal butchers …

Pala Indians battle against Bill Horn

It's a strange-bedfellows tale of trash and casino chips. The Pala Band of Mission Indians and their affiliated entity Pala Casino came up with $20,000 on April 23 for a campaign committee calling itself Citizens …

April 25, 2014
Campbells on leave; SD Opera taking donations

Confirming what the Reader reported last evening (April 24), San Diego Opera announced today (April 25) that Ian Campbell, general director, and Ann Spira Campbell, his ex-wife and second in command, are now on leave. …

April 25, 2014
Alpine Beer Co. goes peoples’ choice route

They’ve learned to live with stymieing limitations over the years, but life is getting better for fans of Alpine Beer Co. (2351 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine). The deal owner and brewmaster Pat McIlhenney struck up with …

April 25, 2014
Councilman Harris: "Feed the cops, not the homeless!"

The Ocean Beach Town Council introduced new Western Division police captain David Rohowits at their packed April 23 meeting along with interim District 2 councilman Ed Harris. Harris is completing the eight months left in …

Balboa Theatre named one of world's 15 best

CNN Travel has named 15 of the world's most spectacular theaters. On the list is San Diego's Balboa Theatre, built in 1924. The Balboa fell into disrepair, and in 1959 it was set to be …

April 25, 2014

Thursday, April 24

Jeep theft thwarted, suspect escapes on skateboard

Ricki Colliflower is familiar with the sound of her car starting. She's not so used to hearing it start while she relaxes in her Imperial Beach apartment. Colliflower surprised a would-be car thief on April …

Wanted: my freakin’ paddleboard!

A Carlsbad man came home to find that someone had stolen the paddleboard stored on his back patio, in the 4000 block of Adams Street, about mid-day on Friday, April 4. The resident, identified as …

April 24, 2014
Guilty Trustees (is not, unfortunately, a band name)

The San Diego district attorney’s investigation into South Bay corruption involving Southwestern College, Sweetwater Union High School, and San Ysidro school districts is essentially over. Sweetwater Union High School trustees Jim Cartmill and Bertha Lopez …

The web at my fingertips, Thai at my front door

One perk of writing for Feast! is that I get to eat out a lot. But to look at it another way, I have to eat out a lot. Like anyone else, I have those …

Third-floor fire at Hotel Sanford

At approximately 7:00 p.m. on April 23, fire alarms went off at the Hotel Sanford in the 1300 block of Fifth Avenue. As the alarm is connected to the San Diego Fire Department, they and …

Friendly with weed, indeed

Two men who want to open a nonprofit medical-marijuana dispensary gave a presentation about their proposed business, Grantville Greens, at the April 21 Navajo Community Planners, Inc., (NCPI) meeting. Nick Hosig and Ron Miller were …

April 24, 2014
Kilroy is here. Whatcha gonna do about it?

When it comes to increased fire-response times as a result of a proposed development in Carmel Valley, according to Dennis Ridz, the city's thought process appears to be, “Oh, well. Service is poor throughout the …

$7.7 million spent, 130 jobs created

Officials gathered at the Bayshore Bikeway, where it meets Boulevard Avenue and 8th Street, in Imperial Beach on April 22 to mark the completion of the South San Diego Bay Coastal Wetland Restoration Project. Under …

Qualcomm faces China bribery probe

Qualcomm, San Diego's giant cell-phone chip-maker, yesterday (April 23) revealed that the Securities and Exchange Commission has warned that it could face a civil action over alleged bribery in China. The company revealed the possibility …

April 24, 2014
Last Call: Red and Spring Awakening

Mark Rothko and his fellow Abstract Expressionists (though they didn’t like the name) battered the Cubists to pulp. Now, as Rothko contemplates what could be his masterpiece — and the place to showcase his special …

Questionable political fundraising? Roger on that

Is one of San Diego's wealthiest women — whose family foundation backs nonprofits linked to the billionaire Koch brothers — abusing her lucrative radio and TV broadcasting licenses to muzzle an electoral opponent of Republican …

April 24, 2014
CPUC practices crooked as a dog's hind leg

In trying to work a deal in which Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric could get a $3.3 billion bailout over the failure of the San Onofre nuclear operation, the California Public …

April 24, 2014
Put a pink mustache on your car

Emily Moberly says you, too, can use your car to make a little extra money. What is Lyft? Lyft is a better alternative to a cab! It’s your “friend with a car” as they say …

An environment I love to be in

Living the life of an at-home professional can be daunting. While the perception of telecommuting is a pleasant one that evokes images of coffee house visits and sitting behind a computer while wearing flannel pajamas …

April 24, 2014
Nati’s: Ground zero for ground beef tacos

Few cities in America have a variety of Mexican food as wide as San Diego. There are Baja-style seafood places, Mexico City-style antojitos spots, Sonora-style taco places, and gourmet spots where nary a burrito can …

Hazardous waste and asthma? What hazardous waste and asthma?

A group of labor and environmental activists gathered Wednesday morning, April 23, outside the UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest to kick off a campaign in support of Propositions B and C, which will be put …

South Park Brewing in the hopper

When Scot Blair says he’s going to focus more on a new brewing project than anything beer-related that he’s applied his laser-keen attention to in the past, I believe it. One of the most passionate …

April 24, 2014
Three years until Hillcrest fire station is replaced

San Diego Fire Station 5 at University and Ninth avenues, is small, has asbestos, and is understaffed, but it still shoulders a full load. Placed into service in 1951, the Hillcrest station serves an area …

April 24, 2014
It’s heaven to heal a horse

Animals — they’re everywhere. Grumpy cats, silly puppies, bunnies, horses and kittens. They appear on TV, the Internet, and in homes. They’re dang cute, but who will take care of your cat when she can’t …

April 24, 2014
Interview with Dom Hemingway writer-director Richard Shepherd

Okay, my bad. Dom Hemingway came out last Friday, and I’m just getting to this now. Inexcusable. Still, I believe Dom would understand — he knows about time slipping away. And anyway, it’s still in …

April 24, 2014

Wednesday, April 23

San Diego officials shut down ballot measure to give public more access

The claim that an elected city attorney’s discussions of city business with reporters were off limits to other reporters didn’t sit well with those at NBC.

April 23, 2014
Howler's spirit of ragged imperfection

Howler is a good-time rock-and-roll quartet from Minneapolis, nothing more, nothing less. Just good ol’ garage-rock cast in the mold of Social D, only nicer, but not as nice as, say, Maroon 5. Not so …

April 23, 2014
Lowriders at Chicano Park Day

The old-school sirens were blaring as I drove through the cement pillars holding up the Coronado bridge on April 19. I pulled out my camera gear, and one of the members of the Klique car …

Now You Know: Meidai

“My new album will make you laugh, cry, want to get up and party, and also make you think,” says Michael May, aka Meidai, a hip-hop MC who launched his label Off Da Wall MusiQ …

April 23, 2014
Lighting by Cundey

With Dean Cundey comes a 24-carat-history of cinema. Forty years of irreproachable artistry and over eighty credits under his belt have earned the prolific cinematographer a place in the pantheon of contemporary shooters. He followed …

April 23, 2014
Voicemails, emails, and snail mail

Blowing It Maybe it’s not a good idea to tell people where bomb ranges are (City Lights, “Pearls, Petroglyphs, and Desert Shipwrecks,” April 17). People have been known to go out and collect pieces for …

April 23, 2014
Ken Cinema remains a Landmark in every sense

Landmark Cinemas and the Berkun Family Trust have reached an agreement. Our town’s last remaining single-screen theatre is and will remain a Landmark. The following letter just arrived from Mr. Ted Mundorff, CEO Landmark Theatres: …

April 23, 2014
The classic, current Drake Bell

Former TV star (Drake & Josh, filmed in San Diego)–turned–plunking tunester Drake Bell has a new persona ready to spit-shine: rockabilly boogie! He took some questions from the Reader over email. What are your memories …

April 23, 2014
Rico suave pork torta

"Things have been pretty horrible in the Congo for decades. So, their coffee is in this beer.”

Evil is impossible for Him

Evil is impossible for Him because He has what deters Him from it; knowledge of evil; and He has no motive for the motive would be either the need (or the wisdom) of evil, both …

Punk singing — good training for porn

“A lot of times, I get, ‘You look really familiar,’ and usually the recognition comes from a guy who’s really close to his wife,” says La Mesa–based porn actor Dick Chibbles. “I don’t know if …

April 23, 2014
Murder in Mexico

Drug-related homicides have been up sharply in Tijuana, but there’s a political shoot-out over just how much, according to a new report by the University of San Diego’s Justice in Mexico project. Though drug-gang conflict …

April 23, 2014
Bloody marys and Roman showers for Ma’s day

“You’ve got to help me,” my brother William said sotto voce while glancing at his wife Beth across the room. “Mother’s Day is coming, and I’ve got nothing.” Little brother looked terrified. He’s a lousy …

April 23, 2014
The Roof arrives

Just as the success of the Moonshine Flats country bar downtown seems to signal a turnaround in the live-music scene, word is that the Gaslamp will get another live venue in late May or June. …

Flannel fashion history need not be

Dear Hipster, I look good in flannels. I like them a lot, too. Does the whole world see me as a hipster wannabe for the rest of my days simply because I like the “dad’s …

April 23, 2014
Layers of history in Bow Willow

Visit a historic line shack made of rock on the vigorous Bow Willow-Rockhouse Canyon desert loop hike.

Dance on a minefield

He’s so addicted to alienation, he wouldn’t march in his “own parade.”

April 23, 2014
Don’t be a Dragula

Only Lovers Left Alive is less a movie than an extended, deadpan, highly stylized rant from director Jim Jarmusch. Adam (Tom Hiddleston) is a vampire. Adam listens to vinyl, collects vintage electric guitars, and makes …

April 23, 2014
Ginn’s discomfort

After meeting Samantha Ginn twice, I’m left with the impression that at the end of a long day, when the rest of us drink beer, snap at our children, or numb our brains on reruns …

April 23, 2014
Your only recourse is to gift ironically

Dear Hipster, I’ve been invited to a cookout where most everyone has an Ivy League pedigree and buttloads of money. I don’t have either. I need a host gift they won’t just throw out later. …

April 23, 2014
On the bluff tops of Olde Del Mar

Current Owner: Gary & Carol Arnold Listing Price: $6,795,000 Beds: 4 Baths: 4 “This entire home from the front curb to the rear fence was completely renovated” since it last sold in 1999, boast the …

April 23, 2014
Birthday boil

The first thing we asked for was a round of waters. “None for me, thanks,” Jenny said to our shock, opting instead for a diet soda. “You really should drink some water,” we insisted.

April 23, 2014
Life in the rich and political lane

Democratic Assembly speaker–elect Toni Atkins hasn’t wasted time cashing in her newly won influence for campaign dollars to support the party’s roster of San Diego City Council candidates. Democrats are throwing a $125-a-head (up to …

April 23, 2014
Love Is

A box of voices, a butt, a nose, a touch, a song, a torso’s twist; love is her sticking with me though I hurt her, what remains after burning through the lies and tentativeness and …

April 23, 2014
Millions for football in San Diego, zilch for opera

San Diego is the nation's symbol of pedestrian pursuits (subsidies to Chargers, Olympics) trumping the high arts.

Springfield still the heartthrob

“Jorge, it’s Rick. Do you want to play with us?? Let me know ASAP. Maybe we can do a rehearsal.” When drummer Jorge Palacios saw that message from Rick Springfield in his email inbox, the …

April 23, 2014
SEAL suits

War may be bloody hell, but life as a La Jolla venture capitalist isn’t a bed of roses either, according to an email making the rounds of local Harvard Club members. The group is offering …

April 23, 2014
Starting a brewery is mostly not about beer

Post Title: The Romanticism of the Brewing Industry Post Date: March 26, 2014 It’s easy to dream about working in a brewery, especially when you are working on a computer all day. The thought of …

April 23, 2014

Tuesday, April 22

Granada, Nicaragua: Central America on the cheap

Nicaragua may be one of the continent's last untarnished jewels that hasn't been flooded with foreign tourism. Lying just to the north of Costa Rica, it can be managed on an extremely low budget. Getting …

Bungling (suspected) burglars busted with stolen stuff

A Carlsbad man walked down the street to see why the cop car was there; he then saw his stolen possessions inside a car that was being detained, according to testimony at a hearing today, …

April 22, 2014
Let it out, let it all out

Tribal Baroque is in town for a handful of "prayformances" in Balboa Park near Casa del Prado Theater, on April 24 from 3-5 p.m., April 26 at 9 p.m., and April 27 from 3-5 p.m. …

Bikers’ and climbers’ stake in Mission Trails park

At the April 17 meeting on the Mission Trails Regional Park master plan update, speakers included rock climbers, mountain bikers, and property owners. Topics for the first two groups included access and the Quail Brush …

April 22, 2014
Local hotel business improves....but

According to Smith Travel Research figures, occupancy in San Diego hotels has risen from 67.6% year-to-date March of last year to 70.9% this year. Average daily room rate has climbed from $126.98 to $133.1. But …

April 22, 2014
Enchantment and injustice

It’s impossible to measure these things, but surely the book (1960), by Harper Lee, and the Oscar-winning movie (1962) must have had an impact on the Civil Rights Movement of the '60s. Along with an …

April 22, 2014
Port parking ruse — er, pilot program in effect

The Port of San Diego has decided to experiment with a "parking meter pilot program," which might better be described as a localized hike in parking-meter rates. There are 186 metered public parking spaces at …

April 22, 2014
"NO FEES for the skatepark" in Imperial Beach

In a compromise deal after months of heated public debate, the Imperial Beach City Council on April 16 unanimously approved resolutions that turned over management of the sports park to two private organizations. The final …

Lobster, lamb score big at Southpaw Social Club

When I went to Southpaw Social Club a while back, the menu had some good things on it, but the place was still feeling its way six months after opening. With its back patio smack …

Douglas Manchester backs a Horton

Real estate developer and U-T San Diego publisher Douglas Manchester has boarded the Board of Equalization bandwagon of GOP ex-assemblywoman and former Chula Vista mayor Shirley Horton, kicking in $6000 on April 21, according to …

April 22, 2014
Tomatoes to fly, bulls to run in Temecula this summer

Adrenaline junkies don’t have to travel far this summer, as a Southern California version of Pamplona’s running of the bulls is slated to come to Galway Downs Equestrian Center at 38801 Los Corralitos Road on …

April 22, 2014

Monday, April 21

Burrowing neighbors trigger near Mexican stand-off

A group of five possibly armed Mexican military came through the drug tunnel under the border the night of April 1 and tried to exit in an Otay Mesa warehouse being guarded by the Department …

April 21, 2014
Paint on the bumper is insufficient evidence

All charges were dropped for a man who was accused of felony hit-and-run with injury, in connection with a motorcycle crash in Vista seven months ago. A judge ruled there was insufficient evidence against 21-year-old …

April 21, 2014
Mayor's nominee withdraws from major appointment

Insurance consultant and Republican Lincoln Club leader Douglas E. Gray has backed out of an appointment by San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer to the city's civil service commission. Interviewed in his downtown C Street office …

April 21, 2014
Raising a glass to Watermark's Jennifer Baichwal

Jennifer Baichwal would loved to have been alongside co-director Edward Burtynsky when he introduced their latest collaboration, Watermark, at The Ken last night, but it was her daughter’s birthday. Joined by Baichwal’s husband, cinematographer Nick …

April 21, 2014
Benefit for local jazz treasure Daniel Jackson is on at Dizzy's

Wednesday 23 Gilbert Castellanos presents the Young Lions series at Croce’s Park West (2760 Fifth Avenue) featuring Lizzi Trumbore, 7 p.m. $5 cover… It’s the Jazz Jam Session this week at Seven Grand Whiskey Bar …

April 21, 2014
Human faces on a rarely told story

Lionel Goldstein’s world-premiere drama has some creaky dramaturgy and overuses a trick so much that, in the first 30 or so minutes, it was tempting to phase out and do character studies of various spectators. …

April 21, 2014
The Bailey, Julian Brewing Co. for sale

When news broke in early 2012 of two families with deep local brewing ties teaming up to bring Julian its first brewpub, the townspeople — and most of the beer fans in San Diego County …

April 21, 2014

Sunday, April 20

Scammed: California’s unclaimed property website

A group of eight Southern Californians are accused of defrauding the state of at least $1.5 million by filing false claims through California's unclaimed property website. A federal indictment against the group was unsealed in …

April 20, 2014
Doggone! The dog’s back after 7 years

A few weeks ago, Buddy, a ten-year old Lab, was reunited with his owners after having gone missing for seven years. During the San Diego County wildfires of October 2007, Buddy and his family were …

Saturday, April 19

Cross-genre jam session births massive IPA

I’ll admit it. When I first heard Stone Brewing Co. was conducting a collaboration brew with a member of jam band The String Cheese Incident and a journeyman guitarist who’d shredded with the likes of …

April 19, 2014
Hey, Chula Vista Elementary School District, test this

Earlier this year, parents from several Chula Vista Elementary School District campuses submitted forms to opt their children out of all tests other than those devised by classroom teachers. Parents outlined their opposition to testing …

Friday, April 18

Digital detox in Julian

A digital detox vacation is one where you can’t get cellphone, satellite or internet service of any kind. Ok, I might've just sent you into a panic attack with this thought – so take a …

"New Chicano" rapper Rossi on the rise

San Diego hip-hop artist Rossi rocked the mic at House of Blues during San Diego's inaugural DunkXChange, a trade show for sneaker heads and hip-hop enthusiasts. Rossi kicked off his set with “Crack and Some …

April 18, 2014
Familiar face remains as Faulconer cleans house

Continuing a string of appointments of political backers to key spots in San Diego city government, Republican mayor Kevin Faulconer has renewed the long tenure of downtown lobbyist Paul Robinson as chairman of the Mission …

April 18, 2014
Drake Bell's Ready Steady Go!

The Kinks’ “Sunny Afternoon,” with its grousing about the taxman taking “all my dough,” might refer on the sly to Drake Bell’s ongoing bankruptcy, just as sardonic observations elsewhere on the glitter life sound like …

April 18, 2014
Opera operative advised no discussion of fat checks

One of the biggest questions in the San Diego Opera brouhaha is about whether general director Ian Campbell and his ex-wife Ann Spira Campbell will get paid generous benefits if the opera closes down. Karen …

April 18, 2014
DUI sting for the stung?

El Cajon police set up a checkpoint in the parking lot of the El Cajon Superior Court on Thursday afternoon, April 17, checking drivers entering the lot for licenses, registration, and insurance. The checkpoint coincided …

April 18, 2014
Viva Cervecería Azteca

Even before Aztec Brewing Company (2330 La Mirada Drive, #300, Vista) was up and running, owners John Webster and Claudia Faulk received inquiries from businesses in Mexico asking to carry their beer. The reason — …

Thursday, April 17

Meet Watermark's Edward Burtynsky

The personal appearances just keep coming at Landmark. First Charlie Siskel in La Jolla and now Edward Burtynsky in Kensington. Director/executive producer and photographer/artist Edward Burtynsky will be at The Ken on Sunday, April 20 …

April 17, 2014
Baja tax hike screwed businesses over

Following a rancorous debate in Mexico City late last year, federal legislators voted to increase the sales tax from 11 percent to 16 percent, effective the first of the year. Baja California business leaders have …

April 17, 2014
Do the math: proper overtime pay demanded

Stephene Ortega, an employee of National City's Paradise Valley Hospital since 2007, filed suit this week against its parent company, the Ontario-based Prime Healthcare Paradise Valley, charging the hospital with "systematic miscalculation of the overtime …

April 17, 2014
Meet Finding Vivian Maier's Charlie Siskel

Charlie Siskel — who, along with John Maloof, produced and directed the documentary Finding Vivian Maier — will stop by the Landmark La Jolla Village Cinemas this weekend for a pair of audience Q & …

April 17, 2014
Kassim Alhimidi deemed a murderer

The courtroom erupted into shouting after Kassim Alhimidi, 49, was declared guilty of first-degree murder in the beating death of his wife two years ago. This afternoon, April 17, judge William McGrath was confirming the …

April 17, 2014
Cheesesteak isn't the only food from Philly

A lot's been said about Giorgino's cheesesteaks — after all, the sign over the Golden Hill shop boldly claims to have the best in town. But there's been another item on the menu that's aroused …

Who beat Shaima Alawadi to death?

According to testimony of a computer forensics expert, Shaima Alawadi was logging on to Yahoo Messenger at 10:41 a.m. on March 21, 2012, when she was attacked. The 32-year-old mother of five probably knew the …

April 17, 2014
It ain't over until they haul the projector out of The Ken

The Loma Theatre marquee came into view while snaking up Rosecrans en route to a meeting with members of the family that owns The Ken Cinema. Now Playing: “Barnes & Noble” and “10% Off On …

April 17, 2014
Last Call: All My Sons at Intrepid in Encinitas

If I had a penny for every time I heard someone say “I wanted to see that show. Now I hear it closed,” I could start my own theater — and have a permanent tee-time …

April 17, 2014
Immigrants bad for environment, TV ads say

An outfit calling itself “Californians for Population Stabilization” is buying San Diego television commercials as part of what it says is an Earth Day–linked campaign against “mass immigration.” The spots begin with a child asking …

April 17, 2014
Sneak Peek: Karl Strauss Brewery Gardens

With magnificent Japanese-style gardens, a waterfall, and a koi lagoon flanking its northern edge, Karl Strauss Brewing Company’s Brewery Gardens location (9675 Scranton Road, Sorrento Mesa) is the crown jewel of its brewery-restaurant empire. I’ve …

Final verdict on blood moon? Whatever.

I watched April 15’s much-hyped “blood moon” in two phases. I don’t understand the science behind the blood moon but the entire internet said that it was something that happened rarely. I was determined to …

Wednesday, April 16

San Diego Reader's 2014 Music issue

"Your favorite band sucks" — T-shirt Oh, Lord, has it come to this? We’re quoting T-shirts now? Well, yes — if only to illustrate a point about how good things can come from anywhere. Which …

To My Dear and Loving Husband

If ever two were one, then surely we. If ever man were loved by wife, then thee; If ever wife were happy in a man, Compare with me, ye women, if you can. I prize …

April 16, 2014
The Men go from punk to Huey Lewis

The Men is a five-piece Brooklyn guitar-rock band, somewhat new, and in touch with their inner Huey Lewis. Not the same band as the Men, a ’90s era Santa Monica group with two women as …

April 16, 2014
Mix CDs passé?

Dear Hipster: I was thinking of making my girlfriend a custom mix CD for her birthday. Good idea or bad idea? — Jamie Yeah. Sure. Great idea. If you guys still listen to CDs, which …

April 16, 2014
Sarah tells us about bad beer

Post Title: Bad Beer Post Date: October 28, 2013 Have you ever had a craft beer that didn’t taste right? Maybe it’s all the years I worked in a lab with bacteria and yeast, but …

April 16, 2014
Rothko is extremes

When courting his second wife-to-be, Mark Rothko gave her a copy of The Trial. In Franz Kafka’s uncompleted novel, an unnamed accuser arrests Josef K for an unnamed crime. According to his biographer, James E.B. …

April 16, 2014
Jude Law luxuriates in role of Dom Hemingway

Dom Hemingway opens with an extended (snicker) shot of a bare-chested and beefy Jude Law delivering an equally extended (snicker) panegyric on his penis. An encomium for his erection. A tribute to his tallywacker. On …

April 16, 2014
Hot, cool, beautifully squishy at La Fachada

Sherman Heights. Around seven in the evening. I’m standing over the grilled onions, breathing in their fumes. And the blackened green jalapeños. Man. You cannot beat this. With most Mexican food trucks, the health authorities …

Plastic Bag People

Fate and fortune turn quickly in San Diego politics, for none more so than Kimberly Hale Miller and Phil Rath, influence-peddlers once employed by a lobbying firm owned by Tom Shepard, political consultant to fallen …

April 16, 2014
Exploring a rare commodity in Anza-Borrego

Make your way through a lush riparian area and loop back to an overview of a historic spring.

Racism is not cool

Dear Hipster: My sister’s boyfriend let fly a few racist remarks at a recent family gathering, and I’m pretty sure his bigotry runs deeper than that. Am I out of line if I just hit …

April 16, 2014
Smoking, not pot

Smoking giant R.J. Reynolds of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has been handing out some big money lately to California politicos, including $1500 each to Democratic state senator Ben Hueso and Republican assemblyman Brian Maienschein. GOP senator …

April 16, 2014
Diazepam dandelions

The first thing you notice is the whistling: this sprightly ditty that feels familiar at first, but you can’t put your finger on it. Then he rounds the corner, a willowy, relaxed figure with a …

April 16, 2014
Del Mar's North Torrey Pines Bridge retrofitted

A ceremonial ribbon-cutting on Tuesday morning, April 15, marked the completion of the lengthy restoration process for a historic bridge between San Diego and Del Mar. The North Torrey Pines Bridge, named in 1996 at …

April 16, 2014
Spanish shipwreck from 1600s in Imperial Valley?

The Spanish ship was loaded with pearls when it ran aground in the spring of 1615. The shipwreck lies six miles northwest of present-day El Centro inside an active U.S. naval bombing range. The ship …

April 16, 2014
Country conundrum

Country music makes KSON San Diego’s second-most-popular radio station. So, why are there are so few venues for live country music? Sure, country superstars such as Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, and Tim McGraw can be …

April 16, 2014
The Falconer: Part 3

Finishing with Kate Marden, master falconer and owner of West Coast Falconry, an establishment that provides falconry classes and services. Marden says, “If you have a bird of prey, and you’re not hunting with that …

April 16, 2014
All things head-banger

Hard rock and heavy metal are not the same. They are often joined at the hip by outsiders, but to the true fan they are as different as Pantera and Britney Spears. Not to mention …

April 16, 2014
Jazz came knocking

“He’s like a breath of fresh air to our community. I don’t have to worry at all about the direction the music is taking because when you play with Joshua, he’s going to bring it. …

April 16, 2014
Syncopated space rockers

Progressive rock occasionally goes overboard with showy virtuosity and enough time-signature changes to induce epileptic fits. But contemporary Rush-loving, concept album-inclined bands are gaining popularity once again. One instrument endemic to the genre is the …

April 16, 2014
The Chapel at Grossmont in La Mesa

To be absent from the body is to be present to the Lord.

April 16, 2014
Those people are like rats. You'll never get rid of them.

New Moon = No Moon Re: “Naked and Alone in the Ocean at Night,” April 10 cover story. Near the end of the story it says that she entered the water “sometime around midnight.” Two …

April 16, 2014
Local cops have a soft spot for pop-punk?

San Diego may never get the national recognition of being a trendy musical hotbed alongside the likes of Seattle, Austin, and Brooklyn, but for the adventurous fan seeking quality indie and garage rock, the city …

April 16, 2014

Tuesday, April 15

El Cajon murder case now with jury

Prosecutor Kurt Mechals failed to prove that Kassim Alhimidi beat his 32-year-old wife to death in their home in 2012, his defense attorney told jurors today, April 15. A note reading “This is my county …

April 15, 2014
Must-see Stockholm

Though Stockholm has much in common with other Scandinavian cities, it has a look and cultural legacy all of its own. This harbor city gets both American tourists and lots of fresh seafood. Stockholm seems …

Happy Vegan meal, kitten included

In my search to adopt a kitten in Tijuana, a friend of mine directed me to Claudia Lomelí, an animal-rights activist who spends some of her time rescuing street animals and finding them homes. The …

Weighing in with A Haunted House 2’s Marlon Wayans

A little over an hour after watching Marlon Wayans demystify Fox5’s Raoul Martinez’s Clark Kent complex found me poolside at the W waiting to speak with a member of one of comedy’s reigning royal families. …

April 15, 2014
Former mayor Bob Filner and city face new lawsuit

Bob Filner's legacy as mayor continues to leave a mark on the City of San Diego. On April 9, more than six months after the former mayor was forced from office amid allegations of sexual …

April 15, 2014
Faulconer funder nails top airport spot

What a difference a year can make in San Diego's uniquely rough-and-tumble brand of municipal politics. In March of last year, then-mayor Bob Filner — a longtime critic of what he said were sweetheart Mission …

April 15, 2014
Getting to know you, Afghanistan

I doubt I'm alone in associating the word kabob (or kebab) with coastal Mediterranean countries — the skewered meat typically served alongside pitas and tahini, or tzatziki. However, Mira Mesa's Ariana Kabob House offers a …

SEC charges Total Wealth Management with fraud

The Securities and Exchange Commission today (April 15) charged a San Diego investment advisory firm, Total Wealth Management, and its owner, Jacob Cooper, with fraud. The firm's officials engaged in undislosed revenue-sharing agreements through which …

April 15, 2014
This week in the San Diego jazz clubs, April 16-21

Wednesday 16 L.A.-based violinist Nora Germain is the star of this weeks’ Young Lion’s series at Croce’s Park West (2760 Fifth Avenue) joined by pianist Ed Kornhauser and bassist Will Pierce. 7 p.m. $5 cover… …

April 15, 2014

Monday, April 14

Dave Mustaine and the San Diego Symphony

Saturday night at the Jacobs Music Center was about the most fun I’ve had at a symphony concert. The buzz before the April 12 concert was alien to those hallowed walls — at least in …

San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway to roll?

Problem: Two trains leave opposite ends of San Diego. Train A is traveling at 100 miles per hour loaded with allegations of fraud; Train B is traveling on the same track at the same rate …

April 14, 2014
Another music venue pulls the plug

Another San Diego music venue has pulled the plug. The Griffin, the Bay Park bar known for its quality sound system and presenting nationally touring headliners such as Imagine Dragons, Crosses, Nico Vega, Band of …

April 14, 2014
Ken Cinema to close on April 27

First the San Diego Opera and now this. Here’s what’s known: I have it on good authority that Landmark Cinemas, the company that operates the theatre, was not able to renew the lease on San …

April 14, 2014
For better or worse: the late-night Cali burrito

Burritos are tough to write about because they're not photogenic. That probably says more about what people want to read than it does burritos. But some nights, when the bar shuts down and a stomachful …

Might Chargers eye property occupied by opera studio?

San Diego Opera — in an internal struggle over dissolving — owns a set-making studio at 3064 Commercial Street. This studio has built more than 50 new productions for San Diego Opera through the years …

April 14, 2014
More delays in Brittany Killgore murder case

Murder defendant Dorothy Maraglino was in court on April 8, represented by the fourth attorney who has been assigned to her since 22-year-old Brittany Killgore went missing two years ago. Maraglino’s new attorney, Jane Kinsey, …

April 14, 2014
Major upgrade for Hillcrest crosswalk

A crosswalk in Hillcrest is getting upgraded after reports of serious accidents and complaints from residents. The crosswalk with no traffic light is at the southeast corner of Park Boulevard and Cypress Avenue, near the …

April 14, 2014
Afternoon at the (final?) opera

The confused yet honorable Don Quixote wandering the Civic Center stage vanquishing windmills and shaming robbers served as a perfect metaphor for the final performance of the San Diego Opera. Woven around and through the …

April 14, 2014
U-T San Diego key backer in "jobs tax" defeat

The battle over the City of San Diego's so-called linkage fee on commercial development to pay for subsidized housing ended with a whimper last month. San Diego Chamber of Commerce honcho and ex-GOP mayor Jerry …

April 14, 2014
Golden Hill "Renaissance Project” begins

City leaders on April 9 broke ground on a $1.7 million effort to ease traffic, upgrade sidewalks, and revamp parking along 25th Street in Golden Hill. Work on the thoroughfare connecting SR-94 and Balboa Park …

2014 World Beer Cup winners

The Olympics of beer, the World Beer Cup, went down last Friday, and while San Diego’s brewers didn’t get to parade into the event in matching jumpsuits to the cheers of their countrymen, they left …

April 14, 2014
Spring Valley hatchet attack committed by fugitive

A fugitive in violation of his parole terms is back in custody after adding robbery and attempted-murder charges to his rap sheet over the weekend. On Saturday afternoon, April 12, 24-year-old Harold Hill entered the …

April 14, 2014

Saturday, April 12

Three Bettys recognized in Oceanside

Three women named Betty, with a combined age of 284 years, were honored at the Oceanside Library’s Volunteer Appreciation Day on April 11. While 11 other library volunteers were honored for as “Volunteers of the …

April 12, 2014
Instant Checkmate defied Fair Credit Reporting Act

San Diego–based Instant Checkmate has agreed to pay $525,000 to the Federal Trade Commission to settle charges that it violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The company, using public records, sells information about consumers (addresses, …

April 12, 2014
Project Trio at the Symphony

The Project Trio was in town last weekend. I had recommended them sight-unseen earlier in the week. Having now seen them at the Jacobs Music Center on Sunday, I can say they are the most …

Beer of the Week: Rip Current Caught In A Rip IIIPA

Every time I go to Rip Current Brewing Company, I’m amazed at the large number of stylistically diverse beers they have available. Homebrewers at heart, brewers Paul Sangster and Guy Shobe do an impressive job …

April 12, 2014
Drywall company kicked off $6 million job

A Canadian drywall contractor was kicked off the job at the $150 million, 45-story Pinnacle Towers development on the 1400 block of Island Avenue downtown for failing to obtain a California contractor's license, the state …

Friday, April 11

Adventures in Adobada: Taquería Los Albañiles

Having finally come to terms with the jeering orange pile of disillusionment that is being marketed as the original taco al pastor in Mexico City, I returned to an old Tijuana favorite to reaffirm the …

U-T raises street sales price

The U-T has boosted the price of its street-sales papers to $1.50 from $1.00, confirmed Harry Woldt, circulation director. He does not expect street sales to go down much as a result of the boost, …

April 11, 2014
Dig a hole: Mickey Rooney

Sunday began with a prophetic Facebook post. Big Screen devotee Rob “Colonna” Martinez placed an article on my wall from the December 15, 1959 issue of Time magazine that dished the backstory on a drunken …

April 11, 2014
Hillary Clinton takes fire downtown

A pair of protest groups descended on the convention center Friday morning, April 11, to picket outside a medical convention, only to find that their target, former secretary of state and likely presidential candidate Hillary …

Camp Pendleton contractors settle fraud claims

A host of Southern California contractors has agreed to pay the federal government $1.9 million to settle claims that they made fraudulent allegations in order to win bids on major construction projects at Camp Lejeune …

$80,000 fine in Filner and Dumanis cash case

The San Diego city ethics commission has reached a stipulated agreement with La Jolla luxury car dealer Marc Chase to fork over a hefty penalty in the political-money-laundering case involving a Mexican national, GOP district …

April 11, 2014
ZIMMERMANHANDLED

On March 4, Shelley Zimmerman was confirmed as the new Chief of Police for San Diego. Hopes were high that the new chief — the first woman ever to hold the position — would bring …

Lost in the Dream with War on Drugs

The third album from Philadelphia band War On Drugs finds main man Andy Granduciel filling his hazy, melodic sound with scattered layers, long tones, and phantom drum machines, delivering a record that could soundtrack any …

April 11, 2014
La Mesa council rejects cell-phone ban

La Mesa mayor Art Madrid's city-council colleagues rejected his April 8 request to prohibit cell-phone use by councilmembers during forums, including meetings, town halls, and closed sessions. Madrid's proposal for city attorney Glenn Sabine to …

April 11, 2014
Greetings, fellow analog creatures

Annie Clark, better known by her moniker St. Vincent, has stated that she would like to change the concert-going experience for attendees by emanating fragrances throughout the venue. Although there were no new aromas that …

April 11, 2014
CSU San Marcos to study surfers

While surfers have long agreed that their pastime provides for an intense workout in addition to its recreational and psychological rewards, a professor at California State University San Marcos has set out with a team …

April 11, 2014
Fruit smoothies, superfoods and breakfast on the run

As quickly as the past several years of gentrification took over South Park, one problem lingered: access to organic produce. Crack parks became dog parks, empty buildings became restaurants and restaurants became fusion restaurants, and …

FreePB.org wins records act lawsuit against city

Emails, memos, and other communication explaining the San Diego's Police Department's reasoning for allowing some special events to be exempt from the city's alcohol ban must be turned over to the nonprofit anti-booze-ban group FreePB, …

Brewery wanna-bes or never-will-bes

At the time of this writing, I am keeping track of a whopping 42 brewing projects which are in the works within the boundaries of San Diego County. Of those, 35 are works-in-progress from new …

Fire rages through Logan Heights bar

A notorious neighborhood bar, Malena’s, located on the 2900 block of National Avenue, long closed due to an arson fire, was ablaze in the early morning hours of Friday, April 11. At around 2 in …

Thursday, April 10

Time and the Conways at the Old Globe

J.B. Priestley’s 1937 drama is not a great play. But it’s a haunter. The Old Globe’s excellent cast probably won’t have too many standing ovations because the spell doesn’t break until long after the curtain …

April 10, 2014
City cracks down on another pot dispensary

While the city's newly adopted medical marijuana ordinance awaits final approval from the California Coastal Commission, city attorney Jan Goldsmith has continued his legal assault on dispensary owners and the property owners who lease to …

April 10, 2014
New police trailer rolls into O.B. Pier parking lot

The old police trailer in the Ocean Beach Pier parking lot that has caused much controversy over the past couple of decades was replaced with a new smaller unit on April 10, courtesy of the …

David Gordon Green on his not-so-ordinary Joe

Director David Gordon Green is currently out promoting Joe, a rich, atmospheric comedy noir starring Nicolas Cage as a backwoods professional tree-poisoner and Tye Sheridan as the teenage boy in need of protection from a …

April 10, 2014
Arson follows domestic turmoil in Logan Heights

On Wednesday, April 9, shortly before 5 in the evening, police cars, fire trucks, and two ambulances responded to a house fire in the middle of the block on National Avenue between 30th and 31st. …

UCSD and SDSU Engage in Social Drinking Contest

ALL HANDS MANNING THE STOMACH PUMP, LA JOLLA — The battle between established party paradise SDSU and the upchucking upstart UCSD has officially gone public, thanks to the social networking platform Twitter. Two weeks ago, …

Manure stench plagues anti-Fletcher donor

Could a political contribution by any other name smell sweeter to San Diego Republicans? That seems to be one of two persistent questions for Los Angeles developer Michael Schlesinger, who has been battling nearby residents …

April 10, 2014
San Diego Opera head says all want to save company

Chairwoman Karen Cohn of the San Diego Opera today (April 10) issued a statement that suggests there has been a complete turnaround in sentiment. But her statement about the pay of Ian and Ann Campbell …

April 10, 2014
East Village: Hot hot hot!

Wow. Things are certainly taking off in East Village. Stone Brewery's setting up another Company Store at 795 J Street in the century-old Simon Levi Company building, tucked right in by the ballpark, where Proper …

Man admits Vista robbery — but not murder attempt

A man who has been fighting an attempted-murder charge for years made a plea deal on April 8, the day his case was set for jury selection. Phillip Edwards Miller, previously identified as Phillip Esquire …

April 10, 2014
PriceSmart suspends accounts of Cuban officials

PriceSmart Jamaica, subsidiary of San Diego's PriceSmart, suspended the accounts of residents and staff of the Cuban Embassy and consular offices in Jamaica, according to the publication Gleaner. PriceSmart has warehouse clubs throughout much of …

April 10, 2014
Active pursuit of happiness

Author Henry S. Miller explains why happiness may have everything to do with the success of your job search. How did you become so interested in happiness? When I read one of the very first …

April 10, 2014
Toronado blowing down wall

Though, at the right time of day, it can be a cozy, quiet, craft beer-equipped respite from the hustle and bustle of the outside world, at peak business hours, Toronado San Diego (4026 30th Street, …

April 10, 2014
Live the dream

Jeremy Dawson spent two years attending UCSD before he dropped out to be a mountain guide. His parents, while not thrilled with the prospect of their son climbing mountains for a living, gave their blessing. …

A ton of free sessions

My friend Tim is a dreamer. Every other week he has a new career. Six months ago, he dropped 2K on a camera bundle with the goal of becoming a professional photographer. That camera is …

April 10, 2014
Standardized tests shunned by South Bay parents

One night last year, Gretel Rodriguez was playing the word game Hangman with her son who attends HedenKamp Elementary in the Chula Vista Elementary School District. He chose an unusual word. When Rodriguez asked him …

Three border officials face charges

On Tuesday (April 8), the United States Office of Special Counsel filed complaints against three Customs and Border Protection officials, alleging they unlawfully manipulated the hiring process to put the favored candidates of Alan Bersin …

April 10, 2014
Camping at Doheny State Beach, CA

Our growing family of four is always up for an adventure, and recently we began mulling over this idea of a bicycle-train-camping expedition. Unsure if we'd be getting in over our heads, we decided to …

Wednesday, April 9

The death of Michelle Von Emster off Sunset Cliffs is adrift in mystery

Something you don’t see every day: seagulls standing on the ocean. A 20-year-old surfer named David Corriea would tell this to investigators and reporters later. It was a couple hours ahead of sunset and there …

To God the Father

Great God, within whose simple essence we Nothing but that which is thyself can find, When on thy self thou didst reflect thy mind, They thought was God which took the form of thee; And …

Two former Chargers file NFL concussion lawsuit

Not only did the National Football League spend years withholding critical information about head injuries from its players, the league's primary helmet supplier knowingly produced and equipped players with a defective product, two former Chargers …

April 9, 2014
Bonobo folds time

Simon Green, 38, is a British DJ/musician. He lives in New York now, but he was born in Hampshire and moved to Brighton. That’s where he began deejaying in clubs in the late ’90s. Whatever …

April 9, 2014
Encinitas mayor keeps campaign promise

In an announcement that stunned many supporters, populist Encinitas mayor Teresa Arballo Barth recently announced that she will not run for reelection. In her April 5 email to constituents, she cited her original campaign pledge …

Taste and vibe

When a collective of Pomona musicians and artists known as Moon Block Party got invited to host a show in Desert Hot Springs concurrent with the 2012 Coachella festival, they had no idea that they …

April 9, 2014
Vodka verus gin

Dear Hipster: My friend and I go back and forth on which is the right spirit for a Martini. Gin or vodka? — Joe, Kensington Gin drinkers are either old men or luxurious Noel Coward …

April 9, 2014
Escondido truck vandal faces charges

A man on probation is accused of causing $5000 damage to a truck sitting on an Escondido car lot two months ago. At a court hearing on April 7, defendant David Gordon Huntley heard evidence …

April 9, 2014
Lee Coulter, born with swagga

“Most of my songs consist of simple lyrical concepts in the form of a melodic pop song, broken down with raw, acoustic production,” says soulful troubadour Lee Coulter. “Then I like to change it up …

April 9, 2014
Nine-Ten’s Martinez

Knowing a lot about a lot and enough about the rest, Nine-Ten’s sommelier and food and beverage manager Summer Haines is a wearer of many hats. To help the bar’s hotel — the Grande Colonial …

April 9, 2014
Champagne and free BMWs

UCSD wants to build a costly new biology building, but the state hasn’t yet given it the cash, so University of California regents have said it’s okay for the school to start working on a …

April 9, 2014
Molecular biologist learns to brew

Post Title: About Me My name is Sarah and I am currently a student of UCSD Extension’s Brewing Certificate Program. I am a part of the first cohort of students in this brewing program, and …

April 9, 2014
Now you know: Flower Animals

Nineteen-year-old North Park native Gonzalo Meza recalls his garage-rock initiation: “I heard the White Stripes’ ‘Dead Leaves and Dirty Ground’ on my sister’s MP3 player in 2005. It sounded like nothing I’d ever heard. A …

April 9, 2014
The treasures of Ocean Beach

Visit Dog Beach, take a bicycle ride on the Ocean Beach Bike Path to Mission Valley and back, or check out the waves on the pier.

April 9, 2014
Bedford gets happy at the Factory

Trivia question: "Why are sliders called "sliders"?

Kicking, clawing

Pit anywhere from 5 to 15 thugs against one lone tough and instead of a dogpile, the bad guys line up like they’re in a bakery waiting for their numbers to be called. (Don’t any …

April 9, 2014
I did evil things

“When I went into prison I was under the delusion that I hadn’t done anything bad enough to merit prison time,” wrote Johnny Love (of San Diego band the Johnny Love Sound) in an email. …

April 9, 2014
Grabby god of sun

The recently released University of California report on the “campus climate” at UCSD warns students to be on the lookout for mashers at the upcoming Sun God festival. The document relates that 94 of those …

April 9, 2014
Lord of the prize

“There was a huge killer whale, but man, with all the recent press, that wouldn’t be a good thing.”

April 9, 2014
Long-distance monkey

“Coinciding with reestablishing the band and calling off our indefinite hiatus, I finally came to terms with the fact that these feet will never fit into corporate shoes,” says singer/guitarist Johnny Rukkus, whose band Monkeys …

April 9, 2014
Smartest home in Coronado

1041 G Avenue, Coronado, 92118 Current Owner: Scott Aurich Listing Price: $5,890,000 Beds: 2 Baths: 4 Local real estate broker Scott Aurich designed and built his 4500-square-foot custom “Hill Country Coastal Contemporary” home from the …

April 9, 2014
iPhone versus Nexus

Dear Hipster: It’s new cell phone time for me, but I can’t decide between the Nexus 5 and the iPhone 5. Which one should I get, and why? I use a Macbook, and the iPhone …

April 9, 2014
Letters of all shapes and sizes

Correction In the cover story of the March 20 issue, “Nobody Listens at Open Mics,” I quoted story subject Sydney Schumsky about a suicide attempt. Schumsky says this was a misunderstanding and that she had …

April 9, 2014
Why more people leave than enter San Diego

San Diegans pay a big cost to live in perpetual sunshine. Income is moderately above the nation's, the cost of living is far above.

April 9, 2014
Bersin’s bungling?

The Customs and Border Protection department’s Advanced Training Center in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia — to which San Diego Border Patrol sector trainees are regularly dispatched for a high-tech education in all manner of shooting, …

On Being Sixty

Addressed to Liu Mēng-tē Between thirty and forty, one is distracted by the Five Lusts; Between seventy and eighty, one is a prey to a hundred diseases. But from fifty to sixty one is free …

April 9, 2014

Tuesday, April 8

Former top executive embezzled from synagogue

Eric Levine yesterday (April 7) admitted embezzling $394,873 from La Jolla's Beth El, of which he was executive director from 2007 to December of last year. He had control over the synagogue's bank and credit …

April 8, 2014
Cheese plus steak doesn't always equal cheesesteak

I heard some Philly boys were serving up cheesesteaks in National City, so I set my hopes to high and hustled that way, past a half dozen dilapidated mini malls and food chains. Across from …

TJ cops threatening to tourism?

Tijuana police are at it again — stopping motorists with U.S. license plates for imaginary traffic infractions so they can extort money from visitors to the city’s struggling tourist district. "We are hoping that tourists …

April 8, 2014
Interview with Cuban Fury star Nick Frost

Nick Frost — perhaps best known as the Oliver Hardy to Simon Pegg’s Stan Laurel in the Cornetto trilogy (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World’s End) — salsas into the spotlight in the …

April 8, 2014
Phony construction worker busted by Border Patrol

A Mexican national was arrested on Monday, April 7, after attempting to pose as a construction worker, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials. At around 6:30 in the morning, a man arrived at …

Longtime city employee claims discrimination

A longtime San Diego city employee has sued for discrimination, claiming that his Iranian descent and age kept him from moving up the ranks in the transportation department. Seyed Ahmadi, 62, has worked as a …

April 8, 2014
Children of man shot by Encinitas neighbor file lawsuit

The children of a man who was allegedly shot to death by his neighbor on March 28, 2013, recently made new accusations against the alleged killer in their multimillion dollar wrongful-death suit. The last court …

April 8, 2014
Lakeside man arrested following stick assault

Lakeside resident Steve Nakho was arrested early Monday morning, April 7, after allegedly beating a man with a stick and chasing him while wielding a knife. Around 9:30 Sunday evening, sheriff's deputies received a call …

April 8, 2014
The Liar at Scripps Ranch Theatre

“The thing I’m not will make me live.” San Diego’s David Ives Victory Tour continues at Scripps Ranch Theatre with his re-invigoration of Pierre Corneille’s 1643 comedy. As with Venus in Fur at San Diego …

San Diego unions violated campaign finance law

Two San Diego County–based labor groups are up for charges at this month's meeting of the state's Fair Political Practices Commission. One of the cases dates back to 2010, according to the allegations, when the …

April 8, 2014
Golden Hill canyon to fill with 27 new homes

Where 29th meets B Street, in a quiet part of Golden Hill, a previously undeveloped, narrow green canyon will soon be the site of 27 new homes. The canyon, which for many years included the …

Monday, April 7

Opera: Campbells could get up to $3 million more

If the San Diego Opera closes down after this season, as administrative and artistic director Ian Campbell desires, Campbell and his ex-wife Ann could make $2.5 million to $3 million after their work is over, …

Opera Wednesday in La Jolla

Opera Wednesdays are starting this Wednesday at the La Jolla Community Center. As I’ve mentioned before, opera is not dead. The lineup on Wednesday is strong and features a slew of accomplished singers. All of …

April 7, 2014
San Diego Opera Director Ian Campbell brings down the final curtain

San Diego Opera Director Ian Campbell is being sought by police after allegedly igniting a blaze that consumed the San Diego Civic Theater during an onstage address to attendees at what may have been the …

Qualcomm-linked foundation pays for Davis travel

San Diego House Democrat Susan Davis, infamous for years of free world travel, thanks to various lobbyist-related groups, stuck closer to home in her latest gratis mid-winter foray from the nation's capital. A travel-disclosure form …

April 7, 2014
Toni Atkins pulls Community Benefit District legislation

Assemblymember Toni Atkins will not move ahead with legislation that would make it easier for large property owners to form assessment districts in San Diego County. As first reported by the Reader, Atkins introduced the …

April 7, 2014
Nurses push Susan Davis on Robin Hood tax

A contingent led by the California Nurses Association donned pointed green caps before meeting with staffers from Representative Susan Davis's office on Friday morning, requesting her support of HR 1579, a bill introduced last year …

April 7, 2014
Vapers beware

The Oceanside City Council on April 2 voted unanimously to advance an ordinance banning electronic smoking devices where traditional cigarettes are outlawed and restricting unaccompanied minors’ access to some businesses that sell them. Cited in …

Man arrested for jumping on cars in Vista

A Vista man was arrested early Sunday morning following a drunken escapade that left several cars parked near the Wave Water Park significantly damaged from vandalism. Shortly before midnight, sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the …

April 7, 2014
Meet Magnetic Brewing

“I am Magnetic Brewing,” replies Morgan McCarty when asked about the staff at his new brewery-to-be in Kearny Mesa. It’s a solo operation, and though he has the support of a loving wife and two …

April 7, 2014

Sunday, April 6

This week in the San Diego jazz clubs: April 8-13

Tuesday 8 Bassist Kyle Motl explores the music of Anthony Braxton with saxophonist Adam Tinkle, pianist Josh Charney and drummer Putu Hiranmayena, followed by a duet performance with Tobin Chodos on piano at the Loft …

April 6, 2014

Saturday, April 5

Ichiban: with rolls at $2.50, this hour is happy

Ichiban ("Number One" in Japanese) has been here three decades, and still gets as crowded as when it first opened. Why? All-Japanese crew, real bargains, and a real easy atmosphere. And did we mention a sushi happy hour?

Former SD councilman ruled off ballot in Nevada

John Michael "Mike" Schaefer, a 1960s San Diego Councilman who tried to establish himself in Los Angeles, Nevada, and elsewhere, is battling election officials in Nevada. Schaefer, who was disbarred by Nevada in 2001 and …

April 5, 2014
Paddling with gators in Florida's Myakka River State Park

Initially I was petrified at the thought of being in a body of water with alligators, but then I realized I didn’t sign up for this kayak trip to see birds. If you’ve spent much …

Beer of the Week: Mother Earth Brew Co. Printemps Houblon Ale

When the San Diego Brewers Guild presented its members with the opportunity to team with a European brewery, Dan Love, head of Mother Earth Brew Co. wasted no time taking the local advocacy group up …

April 5, 2014
Quiche envy in South Park

With crêpes, quiches, coffee and no shortage of charm, Café Madeleine gives Francophiles in South Park a destination to aim their morning strolls. The classy little shop pays attention to the small details while catering to the big picture; namely, that locals needed this sort of adorable little outpost to catch up with friends over light fare and hot beverages.

Friday, April 4

New York style delis aren't supposed to be street legal

New York associations aside, packing a deli into a food truck actually kind of makes sense. It's tough to do better than a sandwich for functional street food. These guys make their own mustard and dressings, use fresh artisanal breads, and their pastrami is legit. Their traditional NYC-style sandwiches work, but skipping any grilled options will probably net you a better lunch.

Judge rules Barrio Logan referendum should be on the ballot

It's settled. The Port of San Diego Ship Repair Association's petition drive to overturn the Barrio Logan Community Plan Update was steeped in lies and false representations, ruled Superior Court Judge Randa Trapp at today's …

April 4, 2014
Exit Through the Gift Shop's Brian Cross to launch opening night of Filmatic Festival

ArtPower! at UC San Diego is poised to debut their first annual Filmatic Festival later this month in Atkinson Hall, headquarters of the Qualcomm Institute on the UC San Diego campus. The event, billed as …

April 4, 2014
School officials Gandara and Sandoval plead guilty

Two major players in the South Bay corruption case, former Sweetwater superintendent Jesus Gandara and former Sweetwater trustee Gregorio Sandoval, both plead guilty to a conspiracy felony and a misdemeanor in a Chula Vista courthouse …

April 4, 2014
Mess by Liars

Like most Liars’ music, Mess is anxiety-ridden, dissonant, frantic. The seventh album is their third to be made in Los Angeles since leaving Brooklyn. With the change in location comes a change in sound: the …

April 4, 2014
Wiggin' out at Casbah...

Similar to Stephen Malkmus’s old band, Pavement, there is a Replacements-like quality to the Jicks’ live sets. They can be the best band in the world on one night, and they can be the worst …

April 4, 2014
U.S. Customs corruption is chronic, audit says

Cooked up in 1995 as a way of easing border travel from Mexico to the United States for those who qualify for pre-approval, the so-called Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection Program, SENTRI for …

April 4, 2014
Workers, clergy pour into Clairemont Taco Bell to fight wage theft

Following up on a promise last month to ramp up actions against illegal labor practices in the fast food industry, activists descended upon a Taco Bell/Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in Clairemont late Thursday morning, intent …

April 4, 2014
Modern Times & Half Door Hiring

Working at Stone Brewing Co., a business that regularly has between 50 and 100 job postings up at a time, I am intimately aware of how many employment opportunities exist within our burgeoning local brewing …

Edison execs dump $18 million of stock after rate deal

On March 27, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric struck a proposed deal that ratepayers have denounced, because, if the deal is approved by the full California Public Utilities Commission, ratepayers will …

April 4, 2014
Coffee Bak, Vietnam style

Very Vietnamese coffee place is where it's at with the local community. Coffee is all they have, but what coffee! Early morning is when the crowd really comes.

Thursday, April 3

Huge classical weekend ahead

It’s time to walk the talk folks. The musical community in San Diego is talking about saving the opera and the death of classical music. The simple solution is to get out there and go …

April 3, 2014
What the emails tell us

Did signature gatherers hired by San Diego's shipping conglomerates purposely spread misinformation in order to collect enough signatures to overturn the Barrio Logan Community Plan Update? Emails released in court from those in charge of …

April 3, 2014
Cravory's permanent location open in Point Loma

Brick-and-mortar location for the formerly farmers' market only cookie business that grew out of 410 Degrees. Some people seem to like the Cravory's cookies (which include flavors like "pancakes and bacon" and "rosemary-balsamic"), but the reality is that they are little more than underbaked sugar bombs. The price is fair enough ($2 for a cookie), and the people who work there are always super nice, but the cookies just aren't that good, more hype than anything else.

All My Sons at Intrepid Shakespeare Company

Okay, it isn’t Death of a Salesman, to which it will forever be compared. And its form lies just this side of calculated. But Arthur Miller’s earlier play, written during World War II, still packs …

April 3, 2014
The real reason Zimmerman got the SDPD chief gig?

In the day following ex-SDPD Chief William Lansdowne's February 25 announcement that he would retire, politicians, pundits, and police experts pronounced pious platitudes promising prolonged public participation in the process of picking a replacement. The …

Best Pizza and Brew makes a believer out of loyal Pizza Port customer

Best Pizza and Brew restaurant is an understated eatery serving up an uncommonly large variety of pizza by the slice and they offer freshly made salads (starting at $6 and served in a large modern …

Biking the Great Western Loop

A few friends and I went riding East County's Great Western Loop on a clear November morning. The GWL is a popular rural cycling route along Willow Glen, Dehesa, Japatul, Lyons Valley Roads and Jamul …

Kearny Mesa protesters lament McCutcheon decision

A hastily-assembled crowd of about 30 demonstrators gathered in Kearny Mesa on Wednesday afternoon, protesting a Supreme Court ruling handed down earlier in the day that weakens federal campaign contribution laws. On a 5-4 vote …

April 3, 2014
Appeals court orders U-T San Diego publisher to pay up

A Texas banking start-up owned by U-T San Diego publisher Douglas Manchester has lost another round in federal court in its long legal battle with an irate vendor alleging that the La Jolla real estate …

April 3, 2014
Adventures in Adobada: Melancholy in Mexico City

El Tizoncito invented the taco al pastor in 1966 by exchanging the lamb shawarma brought by Lebanese immigrants for marinated pork shoulder on a tortilla. Blame the half century since its inception, but these tacos regrettably don't hold a candle to Baja's succulent adobada tacos served on fresh masa tortillas.

Recycling robbers

Each week in Imperial Beach residents are putting out their blue recycling bins and thieves are stealing their aluminum cans and other beverage containers. Before the Edco garbage trucks arrive, many bins are picked clean …

Coming Soon: The Wizard of Opera

The Wizard of Opera tells the story of Dorothea, a sweet girl from Rolando who dreams of singing for an adoring and appreciative audience. But when a terrible financial maelstrom forces her home underwater, she …

Media publication says Manchester might sell

The publication Nieman Journalism Lab, in a Ken Doctor article published yesterday (April 2), says that Southern California could be the epicenter of big changes in the newspaper industry. One reason, says Doctor, is that …

April 3, 2014
Catching Up with Council Brewing

I entered to the sound of construction, but instead of a crew of burly dudes hammering and sanding away, I encountered a kindly looking couple wearing matching gear made dusty yet stylish by the addition …

April 3, 2014
PE class stacks riprap along Carlsbad's coast

A tale-tell sign that spring has arrived along the beaches of North County is the appearance of rock sculpture. Made by informal artisans, they’ll find various-sized riprap rock that has been added for erosion control. …

April 3, 2014

Wednesday, April 2

Noah Homes, an upside to Down syndrome

The residents deserve to live as well as anyone else, not better.

The Falconer: Part 2

In the United States, our falconry, we’re not pet keepers, it’s a hunting sport... Kate Marden, master falconer. Marden, 55, owns West Coast Falconry in Marysville, California. Onsite are a Barn Owl, Eurasian Eagle Owl, …

April 2, 2014
Teenage: A four-decade panacea of pop culture

Prior to 1904 and the National Child Labor Committee that was formed in the wake of the Industrial Revolution, there was no such thing as a period of adolescence. One was either a kid or …

April 2, 2014
Evil submarines

Determined to tackle something more adventurous, I find my answer in Vietnamese porridge.

April 2, 2014
Hot leather

“These songs are more of a coming-of-age progression with the band,” says Nathan Joyner of Hot Nerds’ upcoming three-song EP, Self Titled. “They bridge the gap between the last split 12-inch we put out...and the …

April 2, 2014
DVD picks from a theater director

Although not my favorite Coen brothers’ film, Blood Simple is their directorial debut and shows what makes them the top filmmakers in America today. Director’s cut DVD is a must. Three minutes shorter than the …

April 2, 2014
Oak Hills Covenant Church

Contact: 1920 Shadowridge Drive, Vista. 760-598-3852; oakhillschurch.tumblr.com Denomination: Evangelical Covenant Church Membership: 100 Pastor: Marilyn Williams Age: 48 Born: Chula Vista Formation: Vanguard University of Southern California, Costa Mesa; Bethel West Seminary, San Diego Years …

April 2, 2014
The three basics of proper piercing

Are your piercings medical-implant grade?

April 2, 2014
Black Canyon’s riparian habitat of waterfalls and pools

Cascading waterfalls, pools, and an historic three-hinge bridge built in 1913 make this an interesting canyon to explore.

April 2, 2014
Opera board not provided with information requested

"We have improperly been denied information," says a key board member of San Diego Opera. On March 28, eight board members of the opera sent a letter to opera director Ian Campbell and Chairwoman Karen …

Smoldering fire in Shelltown exposes a smoldering problem

At around 4 in the afternoon on Monday, March 31, fire trucks and vehicles were heading down National Avenue passing 32nd Street, then some of the trucks and vehicles came back and were heading down …

Potted plans

A noted pioneer of San Diego’s cannabis industry has turned up on an application for a medical pot license in Massachusetts by an outfit called Bay State Holistic. “Executive Director Corey Barnette brings 12 years …

April 2, 2014
North Park Theatre a game-changer?

The remodeled 85-year-old North Park Theatre is positioning itself as a viable concert venue. Co-owner David Cohen tells the Reader that they’ve installed a new sound system, a removable seat configuration that will allow the …

Letters — now with audio!

Believers and Unbelievers I am an atheist who supports the right to believe in God, the Devil, or anything else, as long as it does not intrude on me. Having read Siobhan Braun’s story on …

April 2, 2014
Anti-police, anti-prison

A protest against the proposed expansion of Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility brought over 60 people carrying signs and chanting slogans to a remote corner of Otay Mesa on March 29th. The new building is …

The many trials of Madame Tingley, part one

On January 8, 1903, just before his final remarks as attorney for the defense, Samuel Shortridge paused. He seemed to stare through the floor, as he struggled to find the crucial words. Then he rose …

Five elements of fun

Despite the never-ending sunshine, San Diego is rarely thought of as a “green” city. While it ranks 14th in a 2012 study by Corporate Knights (a publication that promotes “clean capitalism”), the city failed to …

April 2, 2014
UCSD’s god of debauchery

In the crosstown rivalry between UCSD and San Diego State University, one thing has always been seen as certain: SDSU is the town’s premier hard drinking party school, as attested to over many years by …

San Diego sued over Comic-Con murals

In December 2013, Pam Anderson, founder and owner of the now-defunct ArchitectureArt, a company that specialized in large hand-painted murals, filed a lawsuit against the City of San Diego for violating her right to free …

April 2, 2014
Chase that bunny

“This has been in the making since last August, but we couldn’t say anything until all of the higher-ups approved,” says singer/bassist Danny Tatulli of Danny & the Tramp, whose song “Chase That Bunny” was …

April 2, 2014
Quick, sell your bike before you get stabbed

Google “bike” and “stab” and “San Diego”.

April 2, 2014
A web monkey's DVD picks

The 1982 sword-and-sorcery fantasy Beastmaster was a staple on cable. So much so HBO was jokingly referred to as “Hey, Beastmaster’s on!” Sadly, you can’t just turn on your TV anymore and see Marc Singer …

April 2, 2014
A Psalm of Life

What the heart of the young man said to the psalmist Tell me not, in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream! — For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not …

April 2, 2014
DVD picks from a Derby girl

In Manhattan, Woody Allen’s middle-aged Isaac quits his TV writing gig to write the Great American Novel. Graced with a preternaturally perceptive 17-year-old girlfriend, Isaac trades quips with his amusingly pretentious writer friends and engages …

April 2, 2014

Tuesday, April 1

No pigeons, rats, broken windows

A longtime antique and collectibles store at 815 University Avenue in Hillcrest closed down sometime back. The code enforcement section of the City of San Diego posted a Notice of Abatement (Vacant and Unsecured Structure) …

Oceanside Sound System makes it safe to skank

Oceanside Sound System: not a stereo repair shop. The North County band started in 2009 as a four-piece with guitarist Ben Blessing and drummer Sid Sloth from Irieside, a jam-rock-reggae-hip-hop band, and a singer named …

April 1, 2014
Wings were not meant to be seen by daylight

It looks like a fast food restaurant, and operates like a fast food chain, but it focuses almost exclusively on wings, by all rights a bar food. Yes they serve beer and have a TV on, but the place would never work as a sports bar, and doesn't actually serve food quickly enough to qualify as convenient. It is extremely cheap though.

Fuel rods must be canned

Local environmental activist group San Clemente Green has launched a new petition aimed at pushing former San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station operator Southern California Edison into taking additional steps to secure highly radioactive waste from …

April 1, 2014
The Patio on Lamont Street is worth a little drive

Decent wine list. Cool cocktails. Tasty, cold beers. A few inventive dishes, executed with skill, and some more pedestrian fare for the less adventurous. Nice ambiance, though too dark at night. Competent servers. Really, everything about the Patio on Lamont is what you'd look for at the price point. No disappointments. Worth a drive from outside PB, for sure.

Faulconer inaugural tab exceeded $91,000, disclosure shows

The official report is in, and, as expected by many city hall insiders, new GOP mayor Kevin Faulconer picked up plenty of cash from the city's special interests to stage his inaugural festivities last month. …

April 1, 2014
Atkins pushes bill so 30% of your neighbors can redevelop you

Assembly Speaker-elect Toni Atkins wants to make it easier for property owners to levy assessments on their neighbors property tax bills to pay for community improvements. Last month, on February 21, Atkins introduced legislation aimed …

April 1, 2014
Flexibility Stigma

Recent trends toward allowing employees more flexible work schedules to care for children or address other life needs may be backfiring, according to a new study jointly published by Rice University and UC San Diego. …

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