“A kid raised his hand in the back and said, ‘How long does it take to become a black belt?’”

New year, new resolutions. Whereas “normal humans” resolve to accomplish goals such as losing weight, swearing less, and cutting back on alcohol, musicians come from a different mindset. They’re “cut from a different cloth,” as …

His dream was always to make this the #1 jazz spot in the country. Or at least the county.

Trying to predict what’s next for San Diego–based Bumble Bee Tuna in the turbulent waters of international commerce is tough, as evidenced by a company history presented by Andrew F. Smith in his 2012 history …

When Andy Altman came home from Coachella this year, he had a revelation. “I’d been relying on Uber a lot,” he said. “At the same time, my dad mentioned, ‘If I wanted to hire a …

Capping a year of tremendous growth, 2014 finished strong for purveyors of specialty coffee in San Diego. Among the best-of lists making the rounds this month is the Top 30 Coffees of 2014, compiled by …

I spent about three hours at Legg Lake near Whittier, about 12 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. I caught a bluegill at the South Lake. Then moved to the North Lake at another spot. …

Crime rock from the nation’s capital! No, it’s not a new genre, but more of a joke thing from a rock and roll front man with an excess of dynamism. You get the feeling that …

Seth Rogen and James Franco leave no “Suk,” “Poon,” or “Dong” unturned in their quest to whack North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un in The Interview. Worth seeing, if just for the schizo opening logo and …

In December, Timothy Joseph took over as host of the Local 94/9, a radio show on FM94/9 that features local bands. This, following long-time show host Tim Pyles’s move to the Loudspeaker, also a locals-only …

The San Pasqual Valley has continuous, completed segments of the planned, 55-mile-long, Coast to Crest Trail of the San Dieguito River Park. When finally realized, the Coast to Crest Trail will extend from Volcan Mountain …

Dear Hipster: I remember reading about how you recommended that people should take an interest in their own security, rather than trusting firewalls or whatever. Now, the Sony hacking scandal is all in the news, …

A new venture called Quartyard will take over two-thirds of a downtown city block and present live concerts May through October. Attendees will be served by a full-bar, beer gardens, and food trucks. Quartyard is …

Admission prices for next year’s Del Mar fair are going up. “We anticipate a $1 increase in adult admission prices in this proposed budget,” says a staff report to the board of the 22nd Agricultural …

San Diego is finally catching up with the rest of the world, which has been “wall-less” for decades.

By way of indicating just how terrible a year it’s been for movies, for the first time in I don’t know how long English language films outnumber foreign entries. Sequels, comic books, and young adult …

Dear Hipster: Everyone associates hipsters with fixed-gear bicycles, albeit sometimes unfairly, but why isn’t there a strong association between hipsters and any particular kind of car? — Donny Urban hipsters admire the boxy lines of …

“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” Even wannabe geeks like me can raise a glass of the Elven-made miruvor to that.

Post Title: Find the hook Post Date: December 4, 2014 How do writers discover the hook that snags readers? Rather than hammer with the obvious, a nudge will do. Probe the intensity of sunset avoiding …

While Southern California is full of great surf spots, there still are not enough, considering the size of the surfing population. This can cause a lot of stress in the lineup. Most (if not all) …

This was to be the year for fat pills. It wasn't. Sex enhancement biotechs didn't set the world on fire, either.

Overreach of Power My letter is response to “Taxi Driver” in the December 25 issue. “I felt threatened” — as if that justifies assaulting someone. If the guy was a Navy SEAL he had the …

Enforcers who brought down a famous San Diego–based Navy scandal recently received a “CIGIE” award, handed out in Washington by the federal Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency. “You have taken risks, persevered, …

In the sci-fi movie Contact, Matthew McConaughey’s character (the religious leader) and Jodie Foster’s character (the scientist) debate the search for universal truth using religion and science. After watching this movie, I realized the extent …

December 30 dock totals H&M Landing 41 Anglers, 2 Boats, 4 Sheephead, 2 Sand Bass, 3 Calico Bass, 94 Rockfish, 1 Spider Crab, 2 Red Rock Crab, 9 California Spiny Lobster Helgren's Oceanside Sportfishing 34 …

— Kristin Naomi Garcia, Actor/movie and TV fan From the man who voiced the most famous animated robot of the 21st century (Bender in Futurama), John DiMaggio brings us the little known world of voice …

In June, Chula Vista voters approved Proposition B, which allows the city council to appoint an applicant to a seat that “will sit vacant for more than 13 months but fewer than 25 months.” When …

New Year’s Eve festivities in the Kelly home bounce between ringing in the year at private house parties to lounging at home with appetizers, drinks, and movies. “We’ve never done the Downtown NYE party scene, …

A quick review of 2014 is in order. For all the drama, I believe it was a good year for classical music in San Diego. We’ll start with the organizational bits. There were significant changes …

San Diego is a literal hot spot of high-grade military nuclear materials, from the nuke-tipped missiles on Point Loma–based submarines to the reactors powering the subs and aircraft carriers frequenting the harbor. "There are some …

Whale watch Gray whales are showing well. Hornblower reported over 50 since Christmas day. Spouts, backs out of the water even Wyland-esque flukes slowly sinking out in a slow dive. There was one report of …

A husband and wife art team has filed a federal complaint against the United Food and Commercial Workers union for destroying a mural the duo had painted at the union's headquarters in 1998. The following …

1) SeaWorld announces shift from orcas to sharks — Shark Week, every week Polling conducted via YouTube showed that 90% of people would rather watch a shark jump out of the water to eat a …

A member of San Diego Police Department's Special Weapons and Tactics team who shot and killed an unarmed man in 2013 is not eligible for immunity in a civil trial filed by the victim’s family. …

Nearly 208,000 pieces of trash were collected by volunteers along the San Diego coast in 2014, environmental groups San Diego Coastkeeper and the local Surfrider Foundation chapter are reporting. Once again, cigarette butts are the …

San Diego County superior court judge Gary Kreep, already in the crosshairs of the local judicial establishment, has filed suit against the state's Judicial Council and the California Public Employees Retirement System, alleging he's gotten …

Found this shot of the old Mission Bay bridge before the bay was dredged into the world's largest man-made water park. If you look closely, you will see what looks like long sticks. These aren't …

Hanna Tesfamichael has been cooking for San Diegans for over ten years via her catering company. It was three years ago that she opened a small storefront, and six months ago that she expanded the …

Pacific Beach has more than its share of boisterous bars and crowded restaurants that cater to binge-drinking college kids. But Pho Time, on the infamous Garnet Avenue strip, delivers the opposite experience with affordable Vietnamese …

Wednesday 31 Celebrate New Years Eve with Gilbert Castellanos and the Park West Ensemble at Croce’s Park West (2760 Fifth Avenue) from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. In addition to the music, a three-course dinner …

*½ Day - ¾ Day: Anglers are catching the normal winter fare of Rockfish, Sheephead and Lingcod on the local kelp beds off Point Loma and La Jolla with a few Yellowtail and Calico Bass …

We have visitors from Norway in our condo complex in Pacific Beach. The first thing they asked was where they could find a beginner’s beach for surfing. They picked the right place to live, as …

Krishna Haney, a former commissioner of the San Diego Ethics Commission appointed by ex-Mayor Jerry Sanders, got in trouble with the California State Bar last year. In 2011, her car struck an emergency call box. …

The Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, ruled December 26 that a woman who owned two pit bulls that killed a neighbor should not have been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter by a jury. Carla …

The nephew of Texas-bred mega-millionaire John Moores has died after a crashing his rare British-made Ariel Atom into an SUV on a curvy Rancho Santa Fe road on Christmas Eve. Barry Alexander Moores, 21, the …

Trying to decide on a sushi spot for dinner recently, I found myself facing a tough decision. There are easily five reliably good places I keep going back to, and a reputedly good couple I've …

December 26 dock totals Chubasco 2 Sportfishing 36 Anglers,1 Boat, 43 Rockfish, 2 Pacific Bonito, 1 Lingcod, 1 Sheephead, 10 Yellowtail H&M Landing 106 Anglers, 3 Boats, 16 Sheephead, 2 Sculpin, 368 Rockfish, 5 Lingcod, …

Grass and girls. That was what life was all about, at least viewed through the black, bulby eyes of Keswick, a seven-year-old alpaca. His muppet-like neck bobbing in front of my wife and me, Keswick …

Christmas Day seems to be the last sacred work holiday for most employees working in the retail, food, and service industries — for some anyway. Back in the 1970s, I worked several Christmases at the …

“Wimps,” Robert Christgau sneered, comparing them to Talking Heads — who were wimps, he proclaimed, without “vagueness or cheap romanticism.” But that was ’77; the Heads (whom I love) left us; and four Englishmen, fronted …

GETTING READY TO FEEL THE EARTH MOVE UNDER MY FEET, ESCONDIDO — Years ago, there were three northern white rhinoceroses living here at the Safari Park: male Angalifu, and females Noti and Nola. Tragically, they …

Though he has made music for decades, Brian Setzer’s own influences extend to the early 20th century. Which is why it only makes sense that one of his guitars now hangs in the Smithsonian Museum …

Santa made his rounds and I see lots of folks were blessed with fishing rods and reels and lures and guided trips and such. Most of you were fishing around under the tree, giving and …

Farm-to-table may be getting stale as a concept, but I for one sincerely hope the American tendency to become dismissive of cultural trends once they become overly familiar doesn't stop new restaurants from going the …

H&M Landing 34 Anglers, 1 Boat, 12 Sheephead, 4 Sand Bass, 97 Rockfish, 6 Calico Bass Point Loma Sportfishing 21 Anglers, 1 Boat, 1 Whitefish, 9 Sheephead, 79 Rockfish, 4 Sand Bass Seaforth Sportfishing 73 …

He looked at the shattered driver's side window of his cab and worried about how his boss would react. He never saw the punch coming.

For this your mother sweated in the cold, For this you bled upon the bitter tree: A yard of tinsel ribbon bought and sold; A paper wreath; a day at home for me. The merry …

Wages are stagnant, album sales miserable, and download revenues a joke. In this harsh, wintry economic climate, musicians are more dependent than ever on Santa Claus to deliver the goods. Circa 2014, it seems as …

Although it may not be the first genre one associates with San Diego, soul music is experiencing a resurgence here, with over a dozen soul bands playing and recording around town. Two of the groups …

She looks like Renée Zellweger. Wait. Maybe she is René Zellwegger. Maybe the real Renée got sick of the movie life and paid another chica to come out to the cameras after the “facelift,” pretending …

What could Tim Burton have possibly seen in Big Eyes, the story of a monotonous, marginally talented, yet enormously successful “artist?” Something of himself, perhaps? For years, even Burton’s staunchest detractors (I’m one of them) …

“I’m pretty dang happy right now...a steady paycheck would be groovy, though.”

A double-header with Cash’d Out and Rosie Flores for your holiday pleasure. Cash’d Out is a Johnny Cash tribute act. They’ve been around San Diego now for close to a decade. For what it’s worth, …

Touring bands and booking agents will tell you local opportunities are few compared to the thriving hard rock scenes in L.A., the Bay Area, or Texas. But the five guys in A New Challenger Approaches …

A Jerry Brown appointee to the board that runs the Del Mar fair has decided to throw in the towel after just one four-year term. “I am writing to inform you that I will not …

Much of what follows was regurgitated from capsule reviews with the occasional extra added dash of bonus bile. (You don’t really expect me to give any of these a second look, do you?) Haters gonna …

Hike this peak for dramatic views of the desert, mountains, and ocean all from one spot.

Who is this Elvis Presley character you speak of?

In terms of fan interest, yes, the Chargers Saturday night comeback ranks right up there. The Bolts push on with their December heroics, every game is a must-win game, every game is a walking–to-the-edge thriller, …

An elegant solution for those who enjoy entertaining formally.

Word out of Washington earlier this month that defeated GOP congressional candidate Carl DeMaio is starting up a new super PAC has been followed by a quick rollout of the committee’s website, which suggests the …

“Is that the actual key?” Eric Denton says with obvious delight. “And it still works?” It does. “We should raise the price,” he says, only half joking about the $99 price tagged onto an old …

Dear Hipster: How come you don’t have a personal blog? I thought all hipsters had to have personal blogs, or at least Tumblrs. I might read it, if that’s any consolation to you. — Bernie …

November Butterfly (my first poetry collection) comes out in 30 days! I’m anxious, nervous, and excited. Inadvertently, over the past seven years, as I wrote the poems that would become November Butterfly, I left a …

In 2006, when he was 17, Arturo Salazar came north from Oaxaca, Mexico. He attended El Camino High School in Oceanside where he met 15-year-old Edith Garcia. “She was the woman that I loved from …

Pastor Terry Brooks preached his first sermon at age eight.

Republican county supervisor Bill Horn has been getting some reflected financial love from one of the San Diego’s biggest landholders. Rancho Guejito, which is enmeshed in a struggle to develop its sprawling 22,000-acre holding in …

December 23 dock totals *Chubasco 2 Sportfishing 39 Anglers, 1 Boat, 27 Vermilion Rockfish, 3 California Sheephead, 128 Rockfish H&M Landing 86 Anglers, 5 Boats, *2 Spider Crab, 3 Red Rock Crab, 5 California Spiny …

We’ve all heard about people being depressed and alone on Christmas and if you haven’t heard about that, you have now. There are several tips on how to avoid holiday depression such as reading a …

Formulate a Plan Re: “I Make … $9 an Hour Plus Tips” (December 18 cover story). It took me nine years from the time I started college in 1974 to get my bachelor’s degree in …

The Oceanside Police Department has a new crime-fighting vehicle for their arsenal. No, it's not one of those surplus, armored Humvees being given away by the federal government. It’s a sleek 2015 Nissan GT-R, one …

Spirit of the Environment, an eastern-philosophical-based organization that promotes Bhakti-Yoga teachings and environmental sustainability, may once again sell t-shirts and pass out literature at San Diego's most popular tourist destinations and public parks, ruled a …

Governor Jerry Brown today (December 23) named two new commissioners to the scandal-ridden California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Long-time Sacramento public relations pro Michael Picker, who was named a commissioner in January of this year, …

When the Padres snagged Matt Kemp from the Los Angeles Dodgers, it was the biggest deal in the team's history. But when the word leaked out that a recent medical exam had detected arthritis in …

In a city filled with taco shops, everybody's got their local favorite. And in a place like Pacific Beach, it doesn't seem out of character that — to many — Taco Surf garners that distinction. …

The end of the year is approaching, time again for the California state auditor's report of crimes and malfeasance by state employees, some of which were attributed to a San Diego-based California Department of Transportation …

Yesterday's catch: Chubasco 2 Sportfishing 30 Anglers, 1 Boat, 3 California Sheephead, 7 California Yellowtail, 5 Lingcod, 123 Rockfish H&M Landing 32 Anglers, 3 Boats, 17 California Spiny Lobster, 14 Sheephead, 7 Sand Bass, 130 …

I tried to watch Silent Night on PBS on Sunday, December 21. I was drawn in by the promise of one of my favorite stories. The story is the Christmas Eve truce of 1914. German …

Here’s one list a small business may not want to be on: the highest price gas in San Diego County. With global demand for oil decreasing, and U.S. production increasing, gas prices are falling daily. …

Google Glass, the wearable gadget from the search engine giant that has yet to become a roaring consumer success, could make a big splash among San Diego sailors. At least that's what an experimental Navy …

While the limited-stop Rapid 215 bus route has been operating since October 12 (it was scheduled to begin service August 31), it's a different story with the electronic sign technology called Variable-Message Signs. There are …

Of 150 American metropolitan areas, San Diego ranks 34th as a location for swinging singles, according to WalletHub, which compiles statistics on states and metro areas. The study is broken down into two categories: the …

Tuesday 23 The Steph Johnson/ Rob Thorsen Duo will commence to making beautiful music together at Croce’s Park West (2760 Fifth Avenue) beginning at 6:00 p.m. and continuing until 9:00 p.m. No cover charge. Wednesday …

Pork sandwiches and beer in a garden in an empty downtown lot? And next to them, a folk concert tent next to a farmer's market next to a play park for your dog next to …

Last Thursday (December 18), the California Public Utilities Commission held a farewell for its president, Michael Peevey, retiring at the end of December after 12 years. The publication sfgate.com said the lovefest was "stage-managed to …

Clement Casillas, who teaches kids to box, likes to point to a saying in the fight world: somebody's got your number. "You fight the best fight you can, but somebody out there has your number," …

December 22 dock totals Chubasco 2 Sportfishing 28 Anglers, 1 Boat, 121 Rockfish H&M Landing 39 Anglers, 4 Boats, 12 Red Rock Crab, 14 California Spiny Lobster, 11 Bonito, 49 Rockfish, 1 Halibut, 46 Yellowtail, …

We bustling foodies tend to be so focused on what’s new and hip that it’s all too easy to forget the unassuming time-honored restaurants that have been steadily serving hungry San Diegans for generations. One …

December 20 dock totals Chubasco 2 Sportfishing, 18 Anglers, 1 Boat 4 Bocaccio, 2 California Sheephead, 12 Vermilion Rockfish, 61 Rockfish H&M Landing 77 Anglers, 5 Boats, 162 Rockfish, 1 Halibut, 31 Bonito, 105 Yellowtail, …

I’m asking veteran local actors to name five dream roles and say why. The answers not only reveal aspirations, they may put an idea in the minds of artistic directors and producers – even choices …

Five employees and a manager at Chronic Pain Releaf were recently given misdemeanor citations for working at an unlicensed business according to Oceanside Police spokesman Lt. Leonard Cosby. He says they were cited under Oceanside …

United Airlines announced this week that it will be closing its operation at Palomar-McClellan Airport. Operated as United Express through their partner, SkyWest Airlines, the up-to-seven flights daily to LAX will cease sometime before April …

The too-expensive deluxe version, which this isn’t, adds two of the most righteous songs, including one about a rendezvous with God; neither version omits the weakest cut, “Cathouse Blues,” an arched cat back before the …

When Taylor Swift announced she was taking Australian singer/songwriter Vance Joy on her 2015 World Tour, I was surprised. His hit “Riptide” is catchy and charming, but the acoustic vibe of his debut album doesn’t …

With the soft opening of another donut (or in this case doughnut) shop, North Park seems to be the city's new breakfast pastry destination. StreetCar Merchants becomes the second such spot to open on 30th …

Overshadowed by beach destinations of the south, Zagreb, Croatia’s inland capital, should not be missed. Like several other European capitals, Zagreb is a blend of nature, culture and the characteristic pace of Europeans. What sets …

With more than 100 brewhouses in San Diego, hundreds of new beers are produced throughout the county each year. I have the good fortune of sampling a great many of them, and the following is …

December 19 dock totals Chubasco 2 Sportfishing 16 Anglers, 1 Boat, 121 Rockfish, 20 Bocaccio, 19 Vermilion Rockfish, 2 California Yellowtail, 2 Pacific Bonito Fisherman's Landing 30 Anglers, 2 Boats, 44 Rockfish, 1 Sand Bass, …

After more than two hours in closed session on Thursday, December 18, the San Ysidro School Board President, Antonio Martinez, announced “… by unanimous vote to authorize a substitution of counsel be filed in the …

Navajo Community Planners voted unanimously on December 15 to recommend denial of a conditional-use permit for Living Green, a medical marijuana cooperative currently operating in a 2844 square-foot, two-story building on the 4400 block of …

Recently the city of Encinitas took bold action to cancel a 10-year lease with the YMCA which provided the best and most useful park and playing fields in the city, and replaced it with a …

A high-dollar fundraiser for the so-called health sciences branch of UCSD is heading off to the City of Hope in Duarte to become chief rainmaker there. Kristin Jean Bertell, who was named associate vice chancellor …

Penn National Gaming, which operates 35 gambling centers across the country, and Jamul Indian Village announced the completion of a $36 million site excavation, the first phase in constructing a long-contested casino in East County. …

Until contrary information comes to light, the wildly energetic proprietor’s claim that Chi Chocolat’s mocha is “the only one in town with liquid couverture chocolate in it” will have to stand. And what a mocha! …

The San Diego County unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in November, unchanged from October. In November of 2013, the rate was 7 percent. Between October and November of this year, the county gained 13,500 jobs. …

At a recent City Council Meeting, Councilman Spriggs asked that three items be pulled from the consent agenda. Normally consent agenda items are voted on Aye or Nay with no discussion. The items that were …

I live in a conflict area in Tijuana. It was bound to happen. I have been detained and frisked numerous times by the police in downtown TJ. Some of my friends have been arrested over …

Ever since the release of the 2013 documentary Blackfish, SeaWorld has been struggling to stay afloat amid accusations that it has mistreated both its killer whales and the trainers assigned to care for them, with …

On December 18, I shared the top five most intriguing upcoming brewery projects in San Diego County. The following are the seven that fill out the dozen top brewery-owned works in progress. 6. Project X …

An 11-judge federal appeals court panel on Tuesday affirmed an earlier ruling that "initiative power belongs to people," and wound up "butting heads" with a prominent conservative attorney behind the landmark Citizens United case, Courthouse …

A few Yellows showed in North County yesterday as the seas calmed from the last couple fronts. Expect lots of surge this week due to high tide flux. The incoming tides tend to work well …

“Tripspace”: 1. theater outside, beyond, sometimes even prior to the box; 2. slang term for “what box?” The “box,” well one of them, is the standard, stage-audience configuration of traditional theater. Actors perform a story …

The day after Barack Obama announced his recognition of Fidel Castro's Cuba this week, readers of U-T San Diego were greeted with another first: the paper's own rapprochement with the Communist dictator. "President Barack Obama’s …

What drew me to the Curbside Café was its claim to be "Home of Vista's #1 Cinnamon Roll." Now, I can't speak to how many cinnamon rolls in Vista vie for this distinction, but seeing …

Public Action Committees (PACs) of America's big banks shelled out lucre to Congress members to be able to gamble on derivatives trading and have taxpayers pick up their losses. At midmonth, the House and Senate …

"In this country, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, then you get the women." — Tony Montana, Scarface It's …

They say you haven’t made it until you’ve played Fort Wayne. Get ready world, for I am about to “arrive” thanks to the diligent efforts of a former student (and lifelong friend), Rob Martinez. Regular …

Per San Diego Beer News tradition, I’m closing out the year by taking a look back at some of the best 2014 had to offer, while keeping an eye trained on what 2015 holds. In …

The So Cal boats took the day off yesterday due to weather and rough seas. We should get a good idea how the local Yellowtail and offshore Tuna bites were affected by the front in …

Minimum wage is not meant to be a living wage.

From A Treatise of Penance with an Explication of the Rule and Manner of Living of the Brethren and Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis

The Casbah’s annual Rolling Stones–themed “Exile on Kettner” was retired last year after two decades, but the venue plans to keep the tradition of playing Stones music on Christmas Eve at least one more year. …

Matthew Lickona: How did you pitch this? Jennifer Kent: It’s funny, because all the things that people are liking about it are the things that the financiers said wouldn’t work. But I think it’s about …

“I think everybody kind of left cumbia, but we’re still doing it in this weird way,” says Marco Polo Gutierrez aka Siete Catorce, a Mexicali producer who fell in with Tijuana’s ruidosón crew after performing …

Moustache has always struck me as a Tijuana twist on North Park’s Bar Pink. Both are surefire spots to run into familiar faces most nights of the week and catch (often) free live music from …

Some things don’t change. Even into their 50s, Dicky Barrett and Joe Gittleman and the band they started 30 years ago still seem like an ongoing frat-house party. After all, it was the Mighty Mighty …

Under the stainless grill is a fire with a pleasant resinous flavor wafting up from it.

Craft brewers Ballast Point and Coronado Brewing Company recently added more hardware to their awards collections, medaling at the Brussels Beer Challenge for coffee flavored beers Victory at Sea porter and Blue Bridge stout. Sharing …

Yet another former congressman is plying his trade for a San Diego biomedical outfit. The latest big name politico is Tim Roemer, a Democrat from Indiana who graduated from UCSD back in 1979. “During his …

Two lifelong friends begin to drift apart when one grows to dislike the other’s taste in boyfriends. That’s the premise of Life Partners, a new romantic comedy opening Friday at Landmark’s Ken Cinema. Leighton Meester, …

Ours isn’t the first city people associate with Christmas, but the holiday has inspired many musicians with a local connection. Maybe it’s the location at the bottom west of the lower 48, but San Diego …

to Mikayo, an emperor among cats I went to bed early the night we attacked Iraq, was awake an hour later as if someone had tapped my shoulder, said, It’s war. I’d had a war …

Visit Balboa Park during the 100-year celebration of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition.

Dear Hipster: I don’t know why I’m writing you about this, but maybe you can advise. I’ve been dating the same guy for about two weeks, give or take. I like him a lot, but …

When a tree falls in San Diego, who will be there to listen and how much will she or he cost taxpayers? Such are the questions posed by a job listing posted on the city’s …

Brian insisted I download another game called Geometry Dash. I did as he requested, and he excitedly gave me a tutorial. Cool Aunt Level: Unlocked.

Thanksgiving and Christmas have always been my favorite time of the year. This year will be the first time I am away from my family for Thanksgiving, but I could not be more excited to …

DJ: What should I do if my wife and I want to wrap gifts for friends and family but we don’t like the usual holiday motifs? Call me crazy, but corpulent Santas and stylized sugarplums …

Americana singer/songwriter Mark Stuart has ricocheted between Austin and San Diego. The homegrown founder of Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash first relocated to Texas eight years ago. “Everything except the music scene is wonderful in …

All those troubles in the world could help San Diego's economy. So could even more easy money.

“There’s an ocean-themed wreath that uses starfish instead of poinsettias. It looks very cool.”

Return of Tent City? My comments concern the article in the December 11 edition, “Black Hole Development in Little Italy” (Neighborhood News). I don’t want to rain on Mr. LiMandri’s little parade, but what kind …

The public relations department at UCSD has long touted good news about the school’s purported academic standing, omitting the not-so-good. “The campus took the No. 18 spot in U.S. News and World Report’s first-ever global …

Not much to report on the fishing front for yesterday. The surf was chewed up, near and offshore conditions were horrible and only a few brave souls took a shot at some bonita from the …

During intermission I exchanged the awkward tight-lipped smiles symphony goers give each other. I texted a few friends about the David Bruce piece which, by the way, was entitled Fragile Light. Then the lights went …

Today (December 16), the Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, denied an appeal by law firm Aguirre & Severson to get intervenor fees from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for the firm's work in …

"You know what my Uncle Roy says Jews do on Christmas?" my ten-year-old, pillow-headed, goyisha-kop friend, Timmy Murphy asked. Instead of, "What we don't do is sit alone in our basements like Roy, drinking ourselves …

On December 9, San Diegans Sally and Louis Rumpf filed suit in federal court in Colorado, blaming faulty instructions for her injury falling from a ski lift. The suit charges that the lift attendant for …

On December 5, as noted in the Reader, former City Attorney Mike Aguirre sued the publication CityBeat for libel. It had stated in a November 12 column that Aguirre claimed that Representative Scott Peters, while …

The business of betting on California horseflesh has been on the decline, plagued by the rise of Indian casinos, a dearth of high rollers, and a rash of well-publicized equine deaths at Del Mar over …

Jeffrey S. Barton was brought into a San Diego Superior Courtroom yesterday, December 15, handcuffed and wearing black-framed eyeglasses, where he pleaded not guilty to 23 counts of felony child abuse. Barton turned 57 years …

I’d only ever been to Pacifica Del Mar around sunset, most often with reservations so I could be sure to sit at one of the primo tables that are cleverly arranged so diners are half-facing …

A man who got a settlement in a sexual harassment case can't file a second case for the same reason, the Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, ruled yesterday (December 15). Linda Greenberg, head of …

Last week, I shared an article about the improved beers at Acoustic Ales Brewing Experiment, and it got me to thinking of other breweries I’ve tasted progress from over the past 12 months. The following …

December 15 dock totals Fisherman's Landing 22 Anglers, 2 Boats, 11 Bonito, 6 Sheephead, 43 Sand Bass, 44 Rockfish, 110 Pacific Mackerel, 14 Sculpin Released H&M Landing 11 Anglers, 1 Boat, 1 Bonito, 35 Rockfish, …

The New York Times has reported that National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell says there is little progress on moving a team to the Los Angeles market. "I'm not at the point where I would …

For several years, Cygnet Theatre did a popular version of A Christmas Carol as a live, 1940s radio show — 100 years removed from the original. Sean Murray’s world premiere script returns the durable Dickens …

With construction of U-T San Diego publisher Douglas Manchester's convention hotel in Austin, Texas finally underway, some details of its unusual non-bank financing have become public. As previously reported here, the hotel project broke ground …

Bird Rock Sushi and Oyster and Sushi Bar took over the old Station Sushi, opening at the end of the summer. On paper, it seems like a great idea. Who doesn’t love mariscos and sushi …

An old man sitting behind me said, "Gil Shaham is good" to the lady accompanying him. God help me to stop being that guy. If we ever go to a concert together and I try …

December 14 Fishing Report Chubasco 2 Sportfishing 35 Anglers, 1 Boat, 4 Bocaccio, 4 California Sheephead, 33 Rockfish Fisherman's Landing 12 Anglers, 1 Boat, 4 Sheephead, 37 Rockfish, 22 Bonito, 52 Sand Bass, 9 Sculpin …

Tijuana III Millennium or “La Mona” is an iconic giant sculpture of a naked woman that doubles as a house. The sculpture is five stories tall and weighs over 18 tons. La Mona is located …

Carlsbad Council staves off converting two tennis courts to pickleball because of opposition.

During the winter months, there's nothing more accelerating for the spirit than peacefully camping out in a temperate desert like Joshua Tree National Park. Less than three hours away from downtown San Diego, the park …

For San Diego’s music insiders, one of the top events each holiday season is the annual party held by music magazine San Diego Troubadour. This year, on December 21, and for the first time, the …

When I hit up Great Maple, on the easier-to-park side of Hillcrest, it's usually mid-morning and I have two items on the brain: salad and doughnuts. I don’t even look at the menu anymore. Rather …

The battle lines have been drawn along Ingraham Street with only Grand Avenue separating the two sides. It may come as no surprise that oil is involved or that the conflict has an immediate impact …

Weekly Fishing Report ½ Day: The boats that were able to fish around the edges of the storm found good Rockfish, Sheephead and Lingcod on the local kelp beds off Point Loma and La Jolla …

GETTING READY TO MAKE SOME EXPANSIONS TO THE PROPERTY, TIJUANA — "At first, I didn't believe it was him," says La Mona builder-owner Armando Munoz Garcia, referring to the night when Kanye West called to …

On Wednesday, December 10, Trent Gene Veasey, Jr., charged in Superior Court that he was forced to perform oral copulation on former San Diego policeman Christopher Hays. The suit names Hays, former Police Chief William …

Wednesday 17 Now Time with Michael Oletta on bass, Reka Parker on piano, Jim Weiss on alto saxophone and Bob Daniels on drums settle in at Rebecca’s (3015 Juniper Street) from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. …

While 38th District state senator Joel Anderson showed up at the December 9 La Mesa City Council meeting to honor outgoing lawmakers Art Madrid and Ernie Ewin, former San Diego mayor Dick Murphy (a retired …

Paul and Marlene Page have owned Marts Appliance Service, at 7423 East Valley Parkway, since 1964. Since 2002, they have been the only small appliance “fix-it” shop left in the county. December 31 will be …

Advocates for San Diego's homeless population praised Mayor Kevin Faulconer after he announced his proposal to build a permanent homeless shelter in San Diego. The building would not only provide shelter but also showers and …

Would you look at that. Insects are popping up just everywhere! The Reader’s other Ian gagged on some crickets at Tacos Perla over the summer. Recently, little fried bugs crawled onto the specials board at …

On Friday, December 12, Ben Holden of Escondido caught the first trout of Lake Wohlford’s 2014/15 season. The two-plus pounder Nebraska Tailwalker rainbow was snagged on a nightcrawler and garlic Power Bait, around 6:50 a.m., …

I don’t know about you, but the words “don’t open ‘til Christmas” come across like a mandate not to think about pink elephants. Once communicated, all I can think of is what I’m not supposed …

Well, looks like the only thing to talk about for fishing yesterday, other than a few brave, soggy anglers catching Trout, is Baja. The Excel is on it's way up the line, trolling as they …

Most people only know the town of Saginaw, Michigan, from the song made popular in the 1960s by country singer Lefty Frizzel. Some hipsters might know another song, “If I Ever Get to Saginaw” by …

An elderly Valley Center man accused of threatening to bomb SDG&E trucks was briefly in court this morning, December 12. Frits Versteegh, 75, pleaded not guilty to making a false bomb report, charged as a …

Brazilian cuisine receives little exposure in the US. Churrascaria restaurants, like Rei do Gado and Fogo de Chao, contribute to the popular image of South American carnivorism, where diners disappear beneath mountains of roast meat. …

Heavy rain on the morning of December 12 damaged three businesses at 1002 North Coast Highway in Leucadia. After several hours of heavy downpour, employees arriving around 8:00 a.m. found four inches of water in …

As the next presidential campaign season relentlessly approaches, so it appears do the Bersins, the former San Diego Unified school district honcho Alan and his wife, ex-superior court judge Lisa Foster. As first locally reported …

Christmas shopping can be such a hassle. I have the tendency to avoid malls during the entire month of December. Parking is a nightmare and sales people are overworked and grumpy. Luckily for San Diegans …

The possibility of the death penalty was removed from three defendants, Louis Perez, 48, Jessica Lopez, 27, and Dorothy Maraglino, 39, who learned during a hearing today that the maximum penalty they might face will …

I got my introduction to the L.A.-based electro-pop band Capital Cities — beyond the megahit “Safe & Sound” — at Coachella this year. There I discovered their penchant for lazy hooks and lofty horns, which …

The Securities and Exchange Commission this month censured San Diego's Boros & Farrington Accountancy Corp. for engaging in "highly unreasonable conduct that resulted in violations of applicable professional standards," according to the securities agency. The …

Clifford Odets’ great drama (1937) is staged so rarely, it could qualify as a Lost Classic. As in all of Odets’ work, when it becomes “found,” the story of the rise and fall of a …

Nico & Vinz have crafted a pure, primal debut album that rejoices in the band’s chosen path while applauding others’ individuality. The reach of this singer/songwriter duo from Oslo, Norway, had touched several continents with …

Dozens of San Diego high school students descended on Metropolitan Transit System headquarters Wednesday afternoon, December 10, pleading for transit officials' assistance in securing free or reduced-cost bus passes. Following a rally in front of …

Guest editorial by The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe groundskeeper-in-chief, Arturo Mendes. Recently, a story in these pages took note of a New York Times article that took note of water use in the community …

It’s easy to typecast. You hear a tenured local restaurateur has purchased an East Village property in which to install a brewpub for his son to brew at and his daughter to manage, and you …

December 11 dock totals Fisherman's Landing 40 Anglers, 2 Boats, 1 Sand Bass, 238 Rockfish, 100 Pacific Mackerel, 3 Calico Bass, 1 Bonito, 3 Yellowtail, 64 Yellowfin Tuna, 1 Bluefin Tuna, 25 Calico Bass Released …

On Wednesday, December 10, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged San Diegan Bill C. (Billy) Crafton Jr., who counseled professional athletes on their finances, with fraudulent misconduct in violating federal securities laws. Importantly, Crafton agreed …

SeaWorld Entertainment today (December 11) ousted its president and chief executive officer, Jim Atchison, who will become vice chairman of the problem-plagued company. Chairman David D'Alessandro will be interim chief executive. The stock rose 2.88 …

If past campaign cash is an indication, some of San Diego's most prominent lobbyists and special interests aren't disappointed by the ascendency of Democrat Sherri Lightner to the presidency of the San Diego city council, …

San Diego is 18th among 100 cities in citizens having an active lifestyle, according to WalletHub, which puts together statistics on American metropolitan areas and states. San Diego is tied for third in percentage of …

I’m asking veteran local actors to name five dream roles and say why. The answers not only reveal aspirations, they may put an idea in the minds of artistic directors and producers – even choices …

Could wide receiver Eddie Royal replace “Royals” by Lorde? Could Brandon Flowers of the Chargers take the airwaves from Brandon Flowers of the Killers? Local radio stations KSON, KIFM, and FM94/9 were sold on Monday. …

I have a mix of fear and respect for volcanoes. They are imposing, difficult to climb, and can erupt with little warning. However, when my husband and I visited New Zealand, our friends strongly recommended …

Being a fan of pork, passing by a restaurant called the Whole Hog was bound to stir up some cravings. The place practically sits in the middle of the intersection of Robinson Avenue and Park …

Over the years, UltraStar Mission Valley at Hazard Center has played host to just about every film festival in town. This week one of its loyalist sublessees, the San Diego Latino Film Festival, announced it …

On December 3, a suit was filed in Arizona federal court charging that Bridgepoint Education is violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act by using an automatic dialing system to send prerecorded messages to sales prospects. …

Gift giving for the dudes on my Christmas list is a challenge. My husband is a minimalist, so anytime I ask him what he wants for Christmas he shrugs and says, "Nothing." While he acts …

"We couldn't be more excited," says Water Department head Thomas Crapper. "For years, we've been negotiating for the exclusive rights to a previously untapped water source, one with almost unlimited potential. Now that those rights …

It’s hard to believe that, although two-and-a-half-years ago there had never been a brewery in Kearny Mesa, there will soon be five. It’s even more inconceivable that three of those share a strange, unplanned thematic …

December 10 dock totals H&M Landing 10 Anglers,1 Boat, 42 Rockfish, 4 Calico Bass Helgren's Oceanside Sportfishing 30 Anglers, 1 Boat, 1 Sheephead, 45 Rockfish, 15 Vermilion Rockfish Point Loma Sportfishing 11 Anglers, 1 Boat, …

I'm not going to sleep for a week. I'll throw up and have the shakes.

We sit on the sun porch and watch the storm roll in from the Rock River, he with Jane Kenyon’s Otherwise, her luminous poems about dying, cradled in his lap, a book I bought him …

After an 11-year-long legal battle, the fight over De Anza Cove in Mission Bay is over. On Tuesday, December 16, city-council members will sign off on a $32-million payout in relocation fees for mobile-home owners. …

The first time I heard Mursic was at a coffee shop in La Mesa. No, they weren’t performing there — Clay Hackett, a drummer, had saved some of their demo tracks to his iPad. He …

New releases this week include Poor Life Choices by alt-country band Mark Kramer and the 12 Steps, Hurricane from Rob Bondurant (release party December 12 at 7 Grand), and 21st Century ShatMan by William Shatner …

Earn your shower!

"Best Breakfast in Town Coming Soon.” I’ve been watching this sign for months. We’re up on Hancock in the courtyard of 57 Degrees, the wine barn that hosts a monthly food-truck get-together. Not to mention …

La Jolla residents Robert Whitney and Michael Morton feel they should have had a chance to serve on the La Jolla Community Planning Association, so much so that the men are suing the city, community …

Matthew Lickona: Tell me about putting the soundtrack together. I thought it was a very interesting approach, having snatches of songs come in here and there, sometimes having them sung by the characters. Jean-Marc Vallée: …

UCSD administration first took aim at the Ché Café, and now it has its sights set on Porter’s Pub. “It’s like they’re giving themselves chemo but killing off all of the wrong organs,” says a …

Looking for an off-the-wall gift for your white-elephant holiday party? Get to Lou’s Records in Encinitas and pick up one of their random mystery boxes. Each box costs $5 and contains around 30 compact discs. …

“As things started to really break for me, I was blowing relationships and embarrassing myself in a lot of ways.”

Hike along this cliff edge for a spectacular view of the western and southern badlands.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, a month when studios, eager to rack up as many awards and nominations as possible, fill critics’ yuletide stockings (and inboxes) with dozens of “for your consideration” …

It’s official. Chris Cate is no longer a lobbyist for the San Diego County Taxpayers Association. So says a December 2 lobbyist disclosure statement filed by the group with the city clerk’s office. This month …

Dear Hipster: How do they make the stripes on candy canes? And when was the candy cane invented? And why canes? — Angie If I may condense a lot of accessible information into one super …

Singer/songwriter Cindy Lee Berryhill is in the middle of a Kickstarter campaign to fund an upcoming album, but now wonders if December was the best time. “The timing is challenging, but I’m at the mercy …

The city is getting ready to spend $280,000 for “artwork design, fabrication, and installation” to decorate the soon-to-be constructed Hillcrest and Mission Hills library. “The budget is all-inclusive and must cover all costs associated with …

“There was no shower. Molly told me she’d made the whole thing up. None of it is true.”

Dear Hipster: I just got back from an early-season ski trip with my kids’ families. Let’s just say it’s been a long time since I hit the slopes. Ski fashion has changed...a lot. I don’t …

Current Owner: Exploron Corp. Bedrooms: 10 Baths: 14 Price: $11,500,000 Come home to “one of Fairbanks Ranch’s finest creations,” boasts the opening in marketing material for the estate at 16715 Camino Sierra Del Sur, a …

Tricky topic. Civilians and athletes have different tolerances when it comes to pain, although, counterintuitively, they have similar “pain thresholds” (the point where pain begins to be felt). According to a research article in the …

Stolen chances.

The Chargers and their lobbyist Mark Fabiani, ex-president Bill Clinton’s onetime “master of disaster,” have ostensibly been hard at work on getting a new billion-dollar taxpayer-subsidized stadium in San Diego. But if they build it, …

Wild tells the story of a woman named Cheryl Strayed (an unadorned Reese Witherspoon) and her attempt to, in her words, “walk myself back to the way I was.” How was she? “I was strong,” …

“I’m a writer, and I use everything. Did all those people think I was just there to entertain them?”

Membership: 1500 Pastor: Al Valdez Age: 40 Born: Hollywood, CA Formation: Latin American Bible Institute, La Puente, CA; Facultad Teologia, Montebello, CA; Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA Years Ordained: 15 San Diego Reader: What is …

Well-Compensated at Walmart I’m calling you about the article in News Ticker, “Almost a Dirty Secret” by Dave Rice. For once, Dave has his facts completely wrong. For one thing, there is no Walmart in …

Seaforth Sportfishing 37 Anglers, 2 Boats, 4 Sheephead, 105 Rockfish, 1 Lingcod The Sea Watch 1/2 Day AM run with 14 Anglers aboard returned to the dock with 4 California Sheephead, 62 Rockfish, 1 Lingcod …

Sometimes we’ve gotta eat our veggies after we have dessert. I’ve never tried it, but it’s basically what happened during the last half of the San Diego Symphony concert on Saturday night. The first half …

Johnny and Wilfred were posted up by the side of the house chopping it up about their commonalities both being first-generation Filipino-Americans (naturalized in the 1970s and 1980s). Both lolos (“grandfathers” in Tagalog) were in …

“She’s 90 years old. That right there seems good enough to me. You know, she’s on borrowed time if you look at statistics. So, I am concerned about having this case drag on.” A superior …

A host of federal agencies are facing legal action after approving or modifying as many as 51 offshore-drilling permits allowing for the use of hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," Courthouse News Service is reporting. Earlier this …

Tempting as it is to mourn the Farm House Cafe’s departure from Adams Avenue until the prophesied reappearance of Olivier and Rochelle Bioteau’s restaurant in larger quarters somewhere far from University Heights, uptown diners ought …

Local innkeepers and restaurateurs hoping to make a killing on this year's Holiday Bowl battle between the University of Nebraska and the University of Southern California may have to lower their expectations, judging from an …

Rebecca Moores, ex-wife of former Padres owner John Moores, has purchased a Manhattan condo for $55.5 million, according to New York real estate publications 6sqft.com and the realdeal.com. She will have a full floor unit …

Some operations come a long way after initially disappointing. Such is the case with Acoustic Ales Brewing Experiment (1795 Hancock Street, Mission Brewery Plaza, Mission Hills). My first visit to Acoustic’s tasting room was roughly …

Pinus torreyana (aka Torrey pines) are among the rarest pine trees in the world. They occur naturally only on Santa Rosa Island (west of Ventura) and here in San Diego at Torrey Pines State Natural …

A year after the City of La Mesa installed two traffic circles, six low medians, and a "pork-chop island" on Harbinson Avenue to try to slow speeding traffic, most residents — and a small traffic …

December 8 dock totals Chubasco 2 Sportfishing 16 Anglers, 1 Boat, 6 Vermilion Rockfish, 1 California Sheephead, 33 Rockfish, 3 Lingcod, 41 Bocaccio H&M Landing 64 Anglers, 4 Boats, *564 Rockfish, 13 Bonito, 4 Barracuda, …

Ken Weatherwax, TV’s jocund and rotund Pugsley Addams on the beloved series The Addams Family, died Sunday after suffering a heart attack in his California home. He was 59. Weatherwax was a descendant of showbiz …

When the owners of Today’s Pizza and Salad in Encinitas took over the restaurant four years ago, they decided that the long-established live-music nights should remain. The play-along, amateur musician nights attracted from 20 to …

Stephanie Blythe is bringing her one-woman show about Kate Smith, "We'll Meet Again: The Songs of Kate Smith," to the Balboa Theater on Thursday, December 11 at 7 p.m. Blythe was here last April to …

With the only objection to the project coming from an Arizona couple who spend their summers living at the Bernardo Shores Adult Community RV park, the Imperial Beach City Council voted 4-1 last week to …

The long-smoldering intrigue over the potential use of so-called weaponized Ebola may soon receive a boost from obscurity by a Washington think tank with a notable tie to San Diego, already a national hotbed of …

Donut shops inspire a crazy amount of love. I can remember the first Krispy Kreme opening in greater Los Angeles some 15 years ago. It caused a number of sweet tooth breakfast pastry devotees to …

Looking for a spot to park the RV? The City of Encinitas has a deal for you — an RV spot with free hook-ups. The city is looking for a “park host” for their new, …

San Diego is among the American metropolitan areas with the lowest percentage of economically disadvantaged people, according to a study by WalletHub, a statistical tabulation organization. Among 150 American cities, ranked from best to worst, …

On December 1, four South Bay mayors met in National City to appoint a new member to the board of directors of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. The four mayors were: Ron Morrison …

December 7 dock totals Chubasco 2 Sportfishing 19 Anglers, 1 Boat, 42 Rockfish, 4 California Sheephead, 3 California Yellowtail, 6 Vermilion Rockfish, 13 Bocaccio H&M Landing 57 Anglers, 4 Boats, 28 California Spiny Lobster, 1 …

The 360° vista from Mount San Jacinto's 10,834-foot summit is breathtaking: Southern California’s parched land hopscotches sprawling metropolis in every direction. Palm Springs spreads like a patchwork quilt in the east. Riverside and San Bernardino …

While the renovated Lafayette Hotel on El Cajon Boulevard in University Heights has raised the bar, commercial properties nearby haven’t been so successful. Going west on El Cajon Boulevard from Louisiana Street to Florida Street, …

With opening day for trout fishing at Lake Wolhford this Saturday, December 13, Escondido’s public works department is making sure it will be a record opener. Lake ranger George Scako reports that 6,000 pounds of …

December 6 dock totals H&M Landing 107 Anglers, 6 Boats, 156 Skipjack Tuna, 219 Rockfish, 104 Bonito, 4 Bluefin Tuna, 117 Yellowfin Tuna, 4 Yellowtail, 14 Sheephead, 26 Sand Bass, 34 Vermilion Rockfish, 6 Lingcod, …

Monday 8 Get your swing happening with the Palomar College Big Bands under the direction of Paul Seaforth when they play at Dizzy’s (4275 Mission Bay Drive) at 7:30 p.m. $15 at the door. Tuesday …

Singer/songwriter Lucinda Williams is an acquired taste. If you have it, Christmas came early this year with the release of her new double-disc Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone. The set collects 19 new …

Erstwhile New Order member Peter Hook let his Light show shine in San Diego for the first time. It must have been a bitter pill when the band he cofounded reformed without him or his …

The Point Loma Beach Café closed a few months back after many years serving smoothies and sandwiches to the beachy denizens of south Ocean Beach. I stopped in once or twice a while back, usually …

Most holiday beers are high in alcohol, heavy in texture, and rife with flavors of winter spices, caramel, dried fruits, chocolate, and booze. The majority fall into two categories — Belgian strong ales and imperial …

Deputies say they arrested 75-year-old Frits Versteegh late on December 4, after he reportedly sent a bomb threat by email to a news station’s website. In a press release, a San Diego County sheriff’s spokesman …

H&M Landing 36 Anglers, 3 Boats, 12 Sheephead, 7 Sand Bass, 152 Rockfish, 2 Bonito, 29 California Spiny Lobster, 221 California Spiny Lobster Released Seaforth Sportfishing 54 Anglers, 2 Boats, 1 White Seabass, 12 Sheephead, …

Mike Aguirre, former city attorney, knows that he is a public figure in San Diego, but he nonetheless sued the publication CityBeat for libel today (December 5) in Superior Court. A public figure has a …

I resisted Spotify for years. Years, I tell you. I found their classical music to be spotty at best. I would search for Tannhauser and Placido Domingo and get all kinds of crazy unrelated items …

No big-name design firm attached itself to Solana Beach’s Pillbox Tavern, but the group that opened the bar and grill includes plenty of restaurant industry vets, and their collective expertise turned out a nice looking …

Maybe it’s no Boston, but the city of Lowell, Massachusetts, is not without its charms. It’s the fourth-largest city in the state and has been home to such notables as Ed McMahon, Bette Davis, and …

Alan Welch is a disabled Vietnam veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other afflictions such as heartbeat and heart-valve problems, breathing difficulty, high blood pressure, and diabetes. In October, Welch filed a suit against …

A book just came out on November 28 which thinks it’s going to expose Venezuela’s El Sistema as a tyrannical and corrupt petty kingdom. The author published an article about his findings in The Guardian. …

Before it begins to look a LOT like Christmas, there’s still time to catch three shows that must close Sunday. 1.) Les Miserables in Concert at SDSU. Lamb’s Players did a minimalist version of the …

In San Diego, award-winning, long-tenured brewers are treated like rock stars. Jeff Bagby (Bagby Beer, Pizza Port), Tomme Arthur (Lost Abbey, Port Brewing, Pizza Port), Chuck Silva (Green Flash Brewing), Peter Zien (AleSmith), Pat McIlhenney …

When the Associated Press Collegiate Sexual Assault Standings were published earlier this week, at least one person was not surprised to see San Diego State holding steady at number one: Chad Manhand, chief sexual assault …

December 4 dock totals 8 Anglers aboard the Premier 1/2 Day PM run caught 1 California Sheephead, 8 Barred Sand Bass, 41 Rockfish, 1 Kelp Bass, 1 Pacific Bonito The Red Rooster III fishing great …

A Tijuana prostitute who ridiculed the sexual performance of a client found herself fighting for her life when the angry man pulled a four-inch knife from his pocket and began attacking her. The unidentified woman's …

Michelle Shirley shakes some Ghirardelli cocoa powder on top of my beer. Am I surprised? No way. This gal is into experimentation big-time, specially when it comes to Cafe 1134's coffees and San Diego's craft …

One block of West Date Street, between Columbia and India, was permanently closed to car traffic on December 1st for the groundbreaking of Piazza Famiglia, a European-style pedestrian plaza projected "to become the new 'heart' …

Ryan Leaf, who has been called "the biggest bust in the history of professional sports," was released from a Montana prison yesterday (December 3) after getting two years for breaking into a home to nab …

Luis Antonio Trujillo, 34, Donnie Jack Massett, 32, and Elaina Lynn Paramore, 32, are all charged with murder for benefit of a street gang in connection with a killing in 2011. There was a hearing …

The federal government wants the Iipay Nation Native American tribe of Santa Ysabel to shut down an online gambling site where California residents over 18 years of age can log on and purchase bingo cards. …

As rumors of an impending thaw in relations with Cuba make the rounds, some well-heeled tourists affiliated with a UCSD-related think tank had planned to set off this weekend on a seven-day, $6100-a-person haute cuisine …

Texas governor Rick Perry, who suffered foot-in-mouth disease in his 2012 run for the Republican nomination, is assuring potential donors that this time he is doing his homework. According to a December 3 article in …

I’m asking veteran local actors to name five dream roles and say why. The answers not only reveal aspirations, they may put an idea in the minds of artistic directors and producers — even choices …

The unusually pungent aromas blanketing O.B.'s Dog Beach and Mission Bay on a Tuesday morning are enough to tell even the most casual observer that something's not right. Indeed, these two popular coastal destinations are …

My boss, Stone Brewing Co. co-founder and CEO Greg Koch, gets lots of attention. He’s a cult figure in the craft beer world, and when he makes appearances at craft beer bars and events, he’s …

The day after the City of Oceanside closed the Nature’s Leaf marijuana dispensary on October 31, city attorney John Mullen drove by the shuttered business near the intersection of Interstate 5 and Hwy 78. “I …

December 3 dock totals Well, the rain kept most local fishin' folk indoors yesterday, though the Premier made it out for a 1/2 Day PM run with 13 soggy but happy Anglers catching 4 California …

You don’t have to be a movie critic to know the cinematic cliché: you don’t get to choose your relatives, but you do have to spend the holidays with them. And hey-ho whaddya know: every …

Before “A Christian” indulged in a tirade about persons being “degraded by Asiatic effeminacy,” he should have recollected that almost all the ancient prophets and patriarchs venerated by Christians, nay even Jesus Christ himself, a …

I’m a sucker for character studies of unlikeable people, and Listen Up Philip (USA, 2014, Tribeca Films) pulls no punches. Jason Schwartzman is repellant and yet strangely relatable as a pompous author who alienates everyone …

Brandon “Tiny Doo” Duncan raps about gang life, but he had never been to jail until June 19. “I just got out of the shower and was headed to work,” Duncan, 34, tells the Reader …

Two San Diego County lawyers have gotten a public reproval from the California bar, both for drunken driving. According to the report by the bar, Richard James Schneiders of Carlsbad was reported October 4, 2013, …

Discount retailer Big Lots needs to pay closer attention to its surveillance cameras, and the company's negligence is responsible for failing to prevent an attempted sexual assault at a Clairemont store in March 2014, according …

Bebel Gilberto was born in New York in 1966, two years after a jazz record titled Getz/Gilberto made a style of music called bossa nova wildly popular in America. At the Grammy Awards in 1965, …

Aaron Calcagno fit the description: he is white, has sideburns, and is in his 30s. Aside from those similarities, claims Calcagno in a federal lawsuit that he filed against the County of San Diego and …

On a cold, wet night (on the rare occasion we get one in San Diego), my first suggestion is John Carpenter’s In the Mouth of Madness (USA, 1994, New Line Cinema). I recommend the Blu-ray …

Go the Extra Mile Re: “Good Fences Don’t Make Good Neighbors,” November 27 cover story. You have to wonder why Mr. Pastenes hasn’t sued her for defamation of character? I also wonder why he hasn’t …

East Village continues to attract specialty coffee shops. On November 12, North Park’s third-wave torchbearer Coffee & Tea Collective announced it would be opening a second location in early 2015, at 631 Ninth Ave. Technically, …

Over 1100 MP3 songs currently grace the 3900-plus band pages in the Reader’s Local Music Database, playable from the performer pages as well as on their upcoming event pages and via the website playlist at …

At night, that long walk up from the 8th Street trolley stop to National City Boulevard can get a little spooky. Especially when you’re walking the echoey stretch under the I-5. But then you cross …

Chew your way into a new world. Munch leaves. Molt. Rest. Molt again. Self-reinvention is everything. Spin many nests. Cultivate stinging bristles. Don’t get sentimental about your discarded skins. Grow quickly. Develop a yen for …

Diplomacy employs a brave dramatic premise: as the Allies approach Nazi-occupied Paris, the German military governor of the city prepares to follow his orders and blow up the City of Lights. Notre Dame, the Louvre, …

Dear Hipster: My company’s holiday party will feature a White Elephant, and I want to put something cool into the gift pool. I’d rather give people a laugh than a crock pot, if you know …

You might want trekking poles for that descent into Indian Valley.

I first met Terry Hendricks showering off by the lifeguard tower after a morning surf in Ocean Beach around 1970 or ’71. At the time I was unaware he was a noted scientist and held …

Either way, Santa Rancho Bernardo The 125-year-old Bernardo Winery keeps a holiday traditions alive at its Rancho Bernardo vineyard, where its Holiday Nights events run December 11th through the 14th, from 5:00–9:00 p.m. Lights and …

I cut in to mention that David is an avid amateur cook who loves to “bring it” for any culinary occasion, but that when one of our guests is a professional chef he pulls out the stops.

You can choose and cut your own tree, or if you are not feeling your inner lumberjack, the farm will cut your tree for you.

Piggy-bank friendly North Park Self-described as a “functional goods, kitchen essentials, tabletop decorations, and gifts” boutique, Kaleidoscope opened in May by two retail mavens with more than 20 years’ experience and whom designed the original, …

Handmade holiday at the downtown library From grandparents, moms, and dads to teens and toddlers, there’s something for every member of the family at this holiday fiesta. Enjoy live music presented by Rarefied Recording, and …

Dear Hipster: How do I get my roommate to wash more dishes? She always says she will do it “later,” but then the dishes pile up and pile up and she’s “too busy” to clean …

J. Douglass Jennings boasts that he knows the tax loopholes. But he and his wife owe more than $7 million in taxes and are charged with embezzlement.

Let nature provide Hills, valleys, and seaside Let the seasonal bouquet of East County and coastal chaparral inspire homespun holiday treats. A pungent whiff of Cleveland sage on Sycuan Peak or Sycamore Canyon might inspire …

Gift’s got stamina Hillcrest Craftsmen at the Planet Rooth Design Haus make heirloom-quality furniture out of reclaimed wine and bourbon barrels. Elegant in the way that overstuffed classic American furniture will never be. Sturdy and …

Post Title: Transformations Post Date: October 17, 2014 As a personal trainer, I encounter a diverse amount of personalities. Introverts, extroverts, people with all the confidence in the world, and people who need help building …

Well-traveled stuffers Solana Beach This shop is a bargain-hunter’s paradise amid the fun (but pricey) shops of the Cedros Avenue Design District in Solana Beach. Stocking stuffers galore, and all with a touch of thoughtfulness …

Warren Oates, the great character actor of many Sam Peckinpah films, got to be a star in Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (USA, 1974, United Artists). It was made after the commercial failure …

Get into the gourd Fallbrook Painting and carving gourds has to be the most fun gift-making hobby in, well, actually, 15,000 years. That’s how long our ancestors have been using and carving gourds. And we …

South Park Walkabout Bundle up and head to the South Park Walkabout on Saturday, December 6, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. The tree-lined business district is lit up for the holidays and will lead you …

Pauseworthy gift paper Fashion Valley, Westfield UTC, Del Mar Highlands Town Center The wrapping paper is your gift’s equivalent of a first impression, its chance to dress up for the party. It doesn’t need to …

Why not teach the teen to cook? Fashion Valley Practice and prepare for your holiday meals with hands-on cooking classes featuring instruction on classic dishes and treats from prime rib to eggnog, and from snowflake …

No local reports from the fleet due to weather... From the long-range fleet: The Red Rooster III fishing the first day of their 16 Day trip after arriving at the Clarion Island area south of …

Despite being a large city, a worthwhile sampling of Montreal can be explored in one day. A clean and efficient metro system makes the city easy to navigate. Some advanced planning is recommended, however; not …

Last month, the Navy’s proposed Coastal Campus on the Silver Strand took another step forward, despite concerns about natural resources, sea rise, and traffic and visual impacts on Coronado and Imperial Beach. Against a staff …

Fallbrook gang member Christopher Flores was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 30 years to life plus another 20 years in state prison on Monday, December 1. The total years were compounded because of …

I started out as a picky eater, one of those kids who plucks the olives off his pizza, or fishes the onions out of his goulash. I suppose I'm still fussy, though my pickiness has …

It’s December, which means the Messiah and pals are upon us again. Who are the pals of the Messiah? Bach and Vivaldi for sure. Sometimes Vaughan Williams gets invited to play, along with Puccini, but …

The steep slope into a drainage ditch on the U.S.-Mexico border — reportedly an entrance ramp to the U.S. for hundreds of Roma people since 2010 — is being blocked by new fencing. The slope, …

A passenger plane has yet to be taken down by a drone, but insiders at the San Diego–based Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control center — reportedly the busiest air-traffic facility in the world — …

Alan Ayckbourn’s three-act “black farce” (his word for it) takes place on three consecutive Christmas Eves. Each ends up in the kitchen. Over that span of time characters flip-flop and somber shenanigans prevail. Ayckbourn needed …

Uncomplicated hoppy beers from the people who know how to make them. This is the tagline of The Hop Concept, a new, third brand for the multifaceted Pizza Port production brewing arm that is Port …

One of the best things about the San Diego brewing scene is the fact that most of its players opt to regard each other as comrades versus competitors. Sure, they produce similar products and vie …

The journey of the Ocean Beach Christmas tree always has a good backstory and this year was no exception. The tree was donated by a family in the Loma Portal area. Sal and Nancy DeMaria, …

Cricket Communications, which has had a rocky history, agreed yesterday (December 1) to pay the federal government $2.17 million to resolve allegations that it overcharged law-enforcement agencies for the costs of carrying out court-ordered wiretaps …

December 1 dock totals H&M Landing 3 Anglers, 1 Boat, 1 Yellowtail, 1 Sheephead, 15 Vermilion Rockfish, 5 Lingcod, 5 Bonito Point Loma Sportfishing 20 Anglers, 1 Boat, 3 Sheephead, 2 Whitefish, 101 Rockfish, 2 …

The doorway between the Royal Cafe and the Royal Food Mart in Hillcrest disappeared during the recent remodel. In its place, a bigger menu materialized, replete with more substantial breakfast items (about $6-$10), and some …

A group of activists in San Diego's backcountry have launched an online petition seeking to block implementation of the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, which would potentially open up as many as 22 million acres …

In a new lawsuit, Manuel David Lugo, the former manager at the Mount Hope Cemetery, says his supervisors in the Parks and Recreation Department fired him because of his sexual orientation. But in order to …

Life in the city’s Qualcomm stadium box is not as civil as it used to be, judging by recent remarks recorded in the minutes of the stadium's advisory board. During the group's September meeting, chairman …

December 3 | Sour Mania: Any chance to select from a bevy of tart blondes, Flemish reds, and the like merits the “God bless us, everyone” tagline, but offer that opportunity on a weeknight and …

November 30 dock totals Chubasco 2 Sportfishing 19 Anglers, 1 Boat, 3 Vermilion Rockfish, 5 California Sheephead, 8 Barred Sand Bass, 27 Rockfish, 1 Lingcod, 1 Kelp Bass, 1 Pacific Bonito H&M Landing 73 Anglers, …