May the Fourth. International Star Wars day to some, but to La Jolla kayak fishermen, it will forever be the beginning of the Wide Open Thresher Bite of 2016. The gray, windless day — with …
May 18, 2016
News & Stories
Sharks rampage in La Jolla
Ashley Nell Tipton, Empire Builder
Tipton’s rise to stardom began on season 14 of Project Runway.
May 18, 2016
Now read this, Cookie Monster
My daughter likes to bake at home, so when her birthday comes along, she likes to make it special by bringing in professional confections. But this year, she has begged off cake — including cake …
May 18, 2016
May, a parody of real Spring
Under the Willows May is a pious fraud of the almanac. A ghastly parody of real Spring Shaped out of snow and breathed with eastern wind; Or if, o’er-confident, she trust the date, And, with …
May 18, 2016
Dragon Inn, guaranteed to out-Marvel any of the major blockbusters
For the first 15 years or so of my life, I was weaned almost exclusively on English-language movies. At the time, a Taiwanese martial arts epic (badly dubbed or otherwise) would not have ranked high …
May 18, 2016
Punk band pines for "Oceanslime"
The boys in Shit Outta Luck are protective of their turf, which they say is slipping away. “We are old-school punk, and we all grew up in Oceanside,” says the drummer, proudly named One-Eyed Jew. …
May 18, 2016
Burger phase continues in Carlsbad
“But whatever you do,” he says confidentially, “don’t eat crabs from Southern California.”
May 18, 2016
What happens when bodies clash
A Bigger Splash tells the story of Paul and Marianne — he’s a filmmaker recovering from a suicide attempt, she’s a rock star recovering from damaged vocal chords — and their quasi-reluctant hosting of old …
May 18, 2016
Toni and Todd’s whale grease
SeaWorld, besieged by animal-rights proponents who have forced a radical change in course for San Diego’s venerable whale emporium, remains popular as a free ticket destination for California lawmakers and staffers. As controversy over captive …
May 18, 2016
Skeleton keyed up
“Writing for a large ensemble in San Diego is just ridiculous,” says drummer/composer Nathan Hubbard, the winner of the 2014 San Diego Music Award for Best Jazz Recording. Hubbard is back in the news with …
May 18, 2016
Lady of the Word
On November 28, 1981, 17-year-old Alphonsine Mumureke was serving lunch to classmates at the Kibeho school for girls in Rwanda. She heard a woman’s soft voice call, “My daughter.” “Here I am,” Alphonsine replied. She …
May 18, 2016
Cowles Mountain trail wins the popularity contest
If popularity is any indication of quality, then the Cowles Mountain trail from the staging area at the intersection of Golfcrest Drive and Navajo Road is among the best in San Diego, if not the …
May 18, 2016
Bawdy shots
I was 11 or 12 when I befriended an older neighborhood boy who was a fanatical bodybuilder. Johnny pumped iron in the basement and would interrupt any conversation to do handstand pushups against a wall. …
May 18, 2016
Pickled on a pickle
A path of rose petals led us to the waiting area. Fresh croissants and an assortment of pastries and colorful cookies, along with porcelain teapots, cucumbers, and red roses were spread out on tiny wooden …
May 18, 2016
It's a new Nada day
They got older. And as a band, they got better. But, where does Nada Surf fit into the bigger picture today? There’s good argument that Nada Surf is a one-hit wonder. Lightning struck only once …
May 18, 2016
Sriracha, equal parts dragon tears and the American Dream
Dear Hipster: I applaud Hipsterdom’s emphasis on hand craft in an increasingly digital world. I think the disciplining of our hands and minds to craft art, food, drink, furniture, clothing, and what have you is …
May 18, 2016
Industrial-strength Filter
In 1987, R. Budd Dwyer, state treasurer of Pennsylvania, climaxed a press conference by killing himself with a revolver. Filter’s signature tune, the facetious-but-still-regretful “Hey Man Nice Shot,” released in 1995, is about Dwyer, who …
May 18, 2016
Dear Mr. Smiechowski
San Diego’s Most Expensive Property The historic Melrose Ranch property on the market for $28 million (has an Escondido mailing address but is actually in Valley Center. In the 1930s, this was the single most …
May 18, 2016
A moral question about Francis Parker school’s expansion goes unanswered
Lights, traffic among residents’ objections to the school’s plans
May 18, 2016
College credit for beach volleyball
On the bay side of the Silver Strand north of Lowes Coronado Resort, there is a branch of Southwestern Community College tailored to water sports. The Crown Cove Aquatic Center is now offering credit courses …
May 18, 2016
Suite spots
The GOP Lincoln Club, backing Republican mayor Kevin Faulconer’s reelection bid this June, has spent $278,672 for the cause, through April 23, according to an April 27 disclosure report. Expenses include “slate mail” worth $257,147 …
May 18, 2016
The Origin of the Curing Ceremony
[T]he One Who Made the Earth…planned for each person to have a piece of land that he could live on and call his own. Our people were living in one such place, but they didn’t …
May 18, 2016
O, sue me
A lot of musicians feel they have to leave San Diego in order to “make it.” Jacob Underwood felt he made it when he was able to move back. “I live in the Gaslamp, but …
May 18, 2016
At a certain point, the Cupeño stopped looking back.
The wagons came at sunrise. Over 40 teams passed through the barb-wired gate and lurched up the dirt road to Kupa like a giant snake. They came to drive the Cupeño from their land. Stacked …
May 18, 2016
May 12 Crossword Contenders
Martha Awdziewicz, Clairemont, 4. L. Barling, El Cajon, 4. Evelyn Bowser, Hillcrest, 4. Dennis Butterworth, San Diego, 4. Chris Byzewski, San Diego, 4. Joseph Ciprian, Little Italy, 4. Annette Coppede, San Diego, 4. Allan Dorfman, …
May 18, 2016
May 12 Sudoku Contenders
Evil Bliss Beedle, Encinitas, 4. Gregory Chauncey, La Jolla, 4. Joseph Ciprian, Little Italy, 4. Alford Claibone, San Diego, 4. Patrick Driscoll, Santee, 4. Don Ganoe, San Diego, 4. Larry Lewis, Poway, 4. Terry Messina, …
May 18, 2016