Ocean Beach prices in Baja Between Tijuana and Rosarito, semi-upscale, gated communities catering to American ex-pats and retirees line the Baja coast. One of these communities, San Antonio del Mar, has been the subject of …

Proponents of community-choice energy programs are rallying opposition to a proposal from the California Public Utilities Commission that they say would kill or seriously hamper efforts to expand community-choice programs throughout the state. Community choice …

On Christmas morning, Rob Brand learned that his debit card had been skimmed and the card was used to try and purchase something from Amazon Prime. “I have not heard of this before,” said Brand, …

It may be temporarily, but San Diego has lost another craft brewery, and with it the county's first craft sake brewery. With identical posts to its social media accounts on the afternoon of December 23rd, …

Rest in Peace, Boss Lady Anilee Griffin, known to many punk and metal musicians as the tattooed music lover who hired bands at Hensley’s Flying Elephant in Carlsbad, Brick by Brick in Bay Park, and …

Dock Totals Dec 22 – Dec 28: 2,001 anglers aboard 66 boats out of San Diego landings this past week caught 272 bluefin tuna, 1 skipjack tuna, 1,657 yellowtail, 34 calico bass, 48 sand bass, …

I had never been to Utah before this trip, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Ranches, cowboys, Mormons? Southern Utah is canyons and valleys, red sandstone rocks and landscapes that Dr. Seuss would find …

When a star passes away at the age of 94 people are usually quick to remark, “Really? I thought they died years ago.” Not so of Rose Marie, the feisty comedienne who after working her …

Below, please find the most popular movie reviews of 2017, listed in descending order. It should go without saying that “popular” does not necessarily have any connection with “positive.” That goes double for the comments, …

Dec 23 - Harbor Patrol responded to the Sheraton Marina for a fuel spill. Harbor Patrol documented the incident, notified all environmental agencies and are still investigating as the suspect vessel is known. - Harbor …

San Diego's Porn Studios Fourteen women, ranging in age from 18 through 22, including one still in high school, may have felt like stars when they walked into the Hard Rock Hotel and the Kimptbn's …

I can't say how long the misspelling painted on the side of Ponderosa Market has been making me wonder, but it does claim the place has been serving hot subs to Barrio Logan since 1984. …

Legal problems continue to mount for the San Ysidro School District over the $400,000 severance package it gave to former superintendent Julio Fonseca earlier this year. On December 15, public watchdog group San Diegans for …

After spending time performing with Cape May and the Swedish Models, local bassist Mark Wiskowski joined the Jones Revival in the late 2000s. The cover band plays all over town, but perhaps most often at …

The world’s history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains have been pealing along down the centuries, and though there have …

San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer, struggling to right his political boat after the departure of the Chargers and the downtown hepatitis outbreak, has acquired another member for his public relations team. Marketing consultant and graphic …

It’s smack on 4:44. “Yea. Yeah! Yea!” “Good jaa-ob!” “Hasta la mañana, baby! Woo-hoo!” The voices just keep on rising to a roar. The setting sun flares on the horizon, then glows angrily like a …

Last we heard from Aaron Thompson he was playing about 100 dates a year in Stranger's Six. After over six years, Stranger's Six folded in 2009. Members Tommy Garcia and Evan Ehrich went on to …

Even with Christopher Plummer’s superb job of bottom-of-the-ninth, out-of-the-park pinch-hitting, Ridley Scott’s All the Money in the World needed more than just a Kevin Spacey substitute to keep it from drifting off into the land …

Another San Diego influence-peddler has entered the fray over the controversial case for so-called dockless bike rentals, picking up a Beijing-based client by the name of ofo (lower case intentional). The outfit is seeking “permission …

Dear Hipster: I was listening to 91X the other day and I heard “Everything Now,” by Arcade Fire, and I thought for a second there was some previously unreleased Duran Duran tune. In a way …

“I’m very concerned about the future,” says composer and UCSD professor Anthony Davis, who has never shied away from controversial subjects. “That’s why it’s important for me to continue to write about political events because …

Hike up to a spectacular red narrow gorge at the head of June Wash on the ridge of Whale Peak.

At the end of September, a new coffee roaster opened shop in Imperial Beach. However, customers won’t find an espresso machine, pour-over gear, or even a drip coffeemaker. Trident Coffee specializes in one type of …

Before the Go-Go’s became famous, there was the Dinettes, San Diego’s first (and only) all-female new-wave band that was there right alongside San Diego’s first-generation punksters the Zeros, Dils, and Hitmakers. “We weren’t really punk, …

“Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one.” — Brad Paisley I’m ready to rock 2018, write a fabulous 365-page book. So ahead of the celebrations ringing in the …

[Walter Mencken stands at a podium in the basement conference room of Cheetahs Gentlemen’s Club in Kearny Mesa and addresses his audience, a group of men reclining at table.] Good evening, gentlemen! Well, men, anyway. …

The grim reaper took its toll on the music world in a major way this year and San Diego was no exception. Here’s a look back at those we lost in 2017. ➢March 22, Bob …

Dear Hipster: Why do people say “cringe-y” when they so clearly mean “wince-y”? One doesn’t cringe when one hears something awkward or embarrassing, one winces. One cringes when one is afraid. Am I missing something? …

Alas, the public imprint from having notable parents. I’d resolved not to make mention of mother Ingrid, the famous restaurateur, nor Jim, the famous singer who died in his prime. But in the end, I …

The Spanish villa that Virginia LaGuardia and her husband built in the 1970s may soon be nestled against a massive parking garage, student housing, and an administrative building that the University of San Diego intends …

Looking West from Montecito, Late Afternoon Beneath hills of agave and eucalyptus, beneath the Spanish palms and walled estates, I look across the bird refuge to East Beach . . . mist in the channel …

The deputy director of San Diego’s Purchasing and Contracting department has agreed to fork over a $3000 penalty to the city’s ethics commission for failing to disclose that his spouse works for San Diego Gas …

Chicanos go into Mexico and violate Mexican laws Re: “Who does Chicano Park belong to?” Neighborhood News. An embarrassment of Chicano park and the Anti-American sentiment: I feel sad for Chicanos and immigrants who participate …

The San Diego Association of Governments is considering using eminent domain to take an entire downtown block. The land owners say they are concerned about what the agency plans to do with it, since the …

Call it economic anxiety, call it freelancing for a living, but for whatever reason this past year, my fine-dining experiences were limited to a handful of special occasions. When you spend more money than you’re …

While the scribes at his oddly named newspaper chain continue to worry about their jobs, year's end has brought considerable new riches for Michael Ferro, the Chicago-based wizard of tronc. That jolly word for Ferro …

Most county lakes and reservoirs offer fishing and are stocked with channel catfish, trout, blue catfish, sunfish, bluegill, and bass. For the city-bound, Chollas Lake, located centrally in Oak Park on the north side of …

San Diego beer enthusiasts get their choice of time zones to celebrate the end of 2017 — I mean, the beginning of 2018. Here are a few of the notable events scheduled at breweries and …

San Diego County non-farm unemployment dropped to 3.3 percent in November from a revised 3.7 percent in October and 4.3 percent a year ago. The big gainer was retail employment, a seasonal phenomenon. Retail employment …

San Diego beekeepers know all the flowering plants One time, Mikolich says, he got a call from a friend, a commercial beekeeper whose helper had driven a truckload of hives off a road and then …

Name: Mark De Salas Age: 21 From: Imperial Beach Occupation: Fire watch department in shipyards On December 17, at about 4:30 p.m. there was only one person by the Imperial Beach Pier capitalizing on the …

Holy Matcha, a tiny cafe specializing in the powdered green tea for which it’s named, feels like it was designed by an Instagram algorithm. The interior is all pink and green, and everything — down …

Residents in the Point Loma/Ocean Beach area have been on alert since an aggressive “solicitor” began knocking on their doors a couple weeks ago. On December 10th, a NextDoor post included a video of the …

The Oceanside City Council on December 20 voted 3-1 to forward the recommendations of the Medical Marijuana Ad Hoc Committee to staff and advisory boards/commissions for review and comments to be brought back to council. …

1. San Diego beer's unchecked growth Thirty-two new breweries started operating in San Diego in 2017, the most yet in a single year. Twenty-two of them were new enterprises, and two others returned from hiatus. …

Lemon Grove doesn’t get hyped as a dining destination like North Park or Little Italy, but it may be San Diego’s hole-in-the-wall capital. Foodies know that in between the chain restaurants are wonderful ma-and-pa type …

Cross-Country Skiers are in for a short-lived treat late this month through February if winter storms intense enough to drop several inches to two feet of snow hit San Diego County’s higher mountains. As the …

The City of Chula Vista will pay more than $1 million to settle a lawsuit filed by more then 120 city firefighters over unpaid overtime pay. The Reader obtained a proposed settlement in a case …

There are a few performances of note from 2017 which we will now revisit in a mood of celebration as we approach the rebirth of the light. I have four concerts in mind which were …

An ode to eros. A screed against greed. A plea for decency. A tribute to decency. A digital update of a board game. A threequel for the Bellas. Daddy issues. Chemical issues. And a trunkful …

Early Friday morning (December 22nd), the fire department responded at 2:50 a.m. to a car fire in Ocean Beach, but as dawn broke reports around town started coming in about punctured tires, broken car windows, …

Last week saw a pilgrimage (by me) to Los Angeles to cover the press conference for one of the most controversial pictures of the season, Ridley Scott’s All the Money in the World. For those …

The mammoth brokerage Merrill Lynch, a unit of Bank of America, was slapped yesterday (December 21) with several charges of money laundering by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm was given cease-and-desist orders by …

It's a rule that small composters love, trash haulers dread, and the city can live with. On December 7, the City of San Diego’s Environment Committee voted in favor of a code change that will …

Dock Totals Dec 17 – Dec 20: 709 anglers aboard 37 boats out of San Diego landings this past week (4 days) caught 246 bluefin tuna, 398 yellowtail, 54 calico bass, 16 sand bass, 1694 …

A part of the federal tax overhaul that passed through Congress this week was a provision likely to impact local craft-beverage business. The Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act lowers the federal excise tax …

Nov 17 09:42 Medical: Surfer with a bloody nose and concussion at Tourmaline. Patient is a 20-year-old female. Lifeguards respond and treat and release according to the report. 12:15 Cliff: Cliff rescue at Hully Gully, …

I’ve a Christmas playlist on Spotify which is full of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Karen Carpenter, Johnny Mathis, Nat King Cole, Kay Starr, and others. It’s not a very classical playlist. I’ve often found classical …

Lately there’s been a rash of theft in the Chula Vista neighborhoods, from home burglaries to Christmas-mail porch thieves. Although neighbors try to be vigilant, the recent use of unmarked vehicles by FedEx, UPS, and …

Marco Amaral has filed suit in federal court, saying he was beaten up by San Diego cops when he shouted at four police officers thrashing a protester at an anti-Trump rally. Amaral filed the suit …

Will longtime anchor Barbara-Lee Edwards be shown the door when News 8 gets swallowed up by a Virginia company next year? Could sports anchor Kyle Kraska get the axe when new owners get the keys …

The Encanto Planning Group gave 7-Eleven — which proposes to buy out the Greene Cat liquor store if the franchise chain's conditions are okayed — permission to stay open 24 hours at a meeting on …

A putative class-action suit was filed against Ace Parking Management on December 1 in federal court. Joseph Samo, and potentially others, get Ace credit and debit card receipts that give too much information, "subjecting them …

Minus a few empanada shops, there are only a handful of Argentine restaurants around San Diego, so I perked up when I heard that San Telmo Argentine Café had opened in the Gaslamp. Argentine cuisine …

After nearly ten months in the planning stages and contributions from more than 40 faith and community groups, Tuesday (December 19) saw the launch of the San Diego Rapid Response Network, a system designed to …

“It’s a political power grab,” says Andrew McKercher, chairman of Citizens for Real Term Limits in National City. His grassroots group formed in October as a response to a proposed ballot initiative that would allow …

Every Power Rangers toy known to man The exact moment the sleigh bells stopped jingling — by Chad Deal Sister Santa’s once-a-year smile I adored American Christmas — by Tam Hoang We were ruthless Christmas-letter …

Christmas Carol The kings they came from out the south, All dressed in ermine fine; They bore Him gold and chrysoprase, And gifts of precious wine. The shepherds came from out the north, Their coats …

Former 91X DJ Marco Collins resides in Seattle now, but he still rents a storage space in San Diego. The unit is notable because it houses a large amount of unique music memorabilia that he …

Longtime city hall influence-peddler Richard Ledford has been retained by Orange Barrel Media, a client seeking to “obtain a contract to provide way-finding kiosks in the City of San Diego.” The Columbus, Ohio-based company, famous …

As January draws near, Striders general manager Tony Martineau found a way to raise a glass for the old year rounding the last bend even as the new year comes galloping out of the gate. …

San Diego–born-and-raised guitarist Scott Szikla, 29, who grew up Poway a few years after blink-182 and Unwritten Law became popular, played his first awkward teenage gigs at the Epicentre. He eventually became assistant manager and …

“What of [Alcibiades’] beard? Are you not of Homer’s opinion, who says, ‘Youth is most charming when the beard first appears’? And that is now the charm of Alcibiades.” — Socrates, the Protagoras That is …

Bah, humbug! Seriously. Just once, I wanna be rich at Christmas. Be able to splurge, party, take folks out, presents for everybody, not sweat the lettuce. Already, the holiday thing’s starting to strain wallet, patience, …

Santiago, La Jolla’s Darger of the Hedgerows, lives most of his life in a sanctuary he carved for himself amid the dense trees and underbrush separating a kindly Frenchwoman’s home from the busy street on …

The city’s hepatitis A crisis continues unabated, and now the county health department is looking for a contractor to help tame a cross-border tuberculosis threat. “Among clients who are diagnosed with tuberculosis in San Diego, …

Place: University Lutheran Church Pastor: J.L. Precup Age: 71 Born: Aurora, IL Formation: Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO Years Ordained: 45 San Diego Reader: How long do you spend writing your sermon? Pastor J.L. Precup: …

Frontman Dave Wakeling is the only original member of the two-tone British ska band that moved from England to Southern California over 25 years ago. He calls all the shots. “The rest of us are …

The old Vallecito Ranch is now part of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and has been designated a preserve known as Hawi-Vallecito Cultural Preserve. Hawi is Kumeyaay for “the place where tules grow” and vallecito is …

My Christmas miracle came in a highball glass filled with ice and equal parts rum and mai tai mix. At the time, it was clear that the drink had done what it was supposed to …

A recent exhibition of works by the artist known as Santiago — aka Charlie Chimpo, aka “the Scripps Institute of Oceanography’s Retard Grandson” (a self-applied sobriquet) — during a festival at La Jolla’s Mary Star …

Last year, my wife and I hosted my entire family for a week over the Christmas break. All told, we had eight people in the house: me and Sara, my three brothers, my younger brother’s …

“I moved to San Diego from Philadelphia, and nothing really changed for me besides the weather,” says classically trained violinist Alex DePue. “I spilled out of the airplane with a suitcase and a fiddle and …

Dear Hipster: Does hipster-ism extend to multiple cultures? Living in SoCal, one gets to appreciate, and even integrate with, people and neighborhoods with distinct cultural identities. Are there branches of hipsters among different cultural pockets, …

I fell in love with America for the first time on a sweaty night in a Bangkok refugee center in March 1991. “In America people have meat with every meal,” my dad told me as …

Marketing copy for the three-bedroom condo at 202 Coast Boulevard (#3) says this “spectacular oceanfront property is ready for you.” Situated on a single level (the building’s second floor), the unit features direct elevator access …

“Expect 30-something minutes of reverb,” L.A. Witch frontwoman/guitarist Sade Sanchez has said of her band’s debut release. The L.A. music scene has long gone stale, but with this kind of raw music coming out today, …

I’ll never forget the day the great Santa swindle came crashing down around me. It was Christmas morning, and I was eight years old. When I bolted out of bed, Santa was as concrete a …

Despite labor shortage, San Diego is due for a good 2018.

When I married my husband Aaron I was well aware of his political leanings, his thoughts on religion, and that he was a saver not a spender. What I did not know was that he …

The board that runs the California State University system is expected to remain on the sidelines of the costly political battle between backers of SoccerCity and a group calling itself Friends of SDSU over the …

Lizst the rock star Re: “San Diego Symphony, good but not sublime” First, keep publishing Garrett Harris’s column on classical music. Second, his December 5 column on Chopin stated that “according to the symphony program …

As San Diego Republicans fret over organized labor's rising clout, a local GOP media stalwart is selling out to a national broadcast chain, ending an era of outsized influence by a clique of La Jolla …

In the early 1920s, Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz, was looking at the illuminated mouth of the cave from the darkness inside and remarked that the silhouette resembled Sunny Jim, the cartoon …

I haven’t had much opportunities to try Cuban food in San Diego — a taco shop always seems to get in the way — but I was intrigued when I discovered a new Cuban restaurant …

The City of San Diego says a Pacific Beach condominium complex has some liability in the death of a local musician who was killed when a large pine tree fell on her car in January …

It's fair to say Liberty Station has become a good place to find yourself hungry. I did on a recent Saturday afternoon, and since I only had a short window to remedy the situation, I …

“The seal’s right there. Originally when it burst it came off. The Water Department is on the way to shut it off,” a city employee of the General Services department told me at about 10:30 …

Housing the homeless is a sticky wicket in San Diego. It's even more daunting when those homeless are senior citizens with health issues. A proposed housing project in Grantville aims to help seniors with chronic …

Dock Totals Dec 10 – Dec 16: 1,128 anglers aboard 60 boats out of San Diego landings this past week caught 893 bluefin tuna, 4 yellowfin tuna, 567 yellowtail, 6 calico bass, 19 sand bass, …

Name: Melissa Beach: Ocean Beach Melissa moved here from Guam two months ago. She’s a 20-year-old college student that frequents Ocean Beach because of the friendlier vibes. “At PB by the pier, it was different,” …

“There’s an Arco by my house. It’s the same thing, just with more people in line because the gasoline is supposedly gabacha,” says Linda Goodman, a Tijuana local. “The gasoline liberation allowed foreign business to …

By definition, beer enthusiasts buy themselves beer all the time. So, if you're looking to make the gift of beer count, it has to be a special beer. Here are a few good bets produced …

Why locals mis-pronounce Garnet P.B.’s OGs (original gentry) pronounced the name as it should be, like the jewel, “GARnet.” Because they witnessed the name-change, they recognized that the street was part of a series of …

While local, national and international media delighted in the cross-border marriage through the open border gate at Friendship Park last month, federal agents with the U.S. Border Patrol were less than delighted. In stories for …

On Wednesday (December 13th), after a long day at work, “John” returned to his truck — which he had parked on Frontage Road, by the W. Washington Street trolley station — to find his gas …

On Thursday evening (December 14th), a city truck was seen clearing out the people on the Ocean Beach Pier shortly after sunset. This morning it remained closed and still is, but not because big waves …

That's not entirely fair, of course. This new Star Wars has lots more ladies than usual, and besides, the repeated bits are always given a little tweak here and there. Still, I did have a …

The late real estate billionaire Conrad Prebys gave more than $300 million to San Diego nonprofits. Thus, the Prebys name is all over San Diego. Laurie Anne Victoria, his longtime second-in-command, was named trustee of …

Beverly Hills radiologist Ronald Grusd was convicted by a federal San Diego jury December 12th of paying kickbacks to get patient referrals from many clinics in San Diego and Imperial Counties. With the referrals, he …

A hot topic of late is people around the world sharing selfies while standing in front of famous paintings that contain their doppelgängers…but one San Diego woman, Sarah Biggart, doesn’t just look like her doppelgänger …

The only problem I have with dedicated pie restuarants is there are not enough of them. The recently opened Pie Joint aims to fix that around Point Loma's Midway District. Originally a farmers market stand, …

“My head was opened up with a hit from the GoPro holder,” says Rafael Bautista, one of the founders of Tenants United, a group seeking to implement rent control in San Diego. But Bautista's activist …

Southern California Edison has a panel in San Juan Capistrano that is supposed to give balanced information on the controversial plan to bury nuclear waste near the ocean at the site of the shuttered San …

A new report by the California Craft Brewers Association (CCBA) reveals the myriad ways our state leads the nation in craft brewing and puts the continued growth of San Diego beer into context. According to …

The father of my friend rolled a beautiful 25-foot putt right into the heart of the hole — for a triple bogey. For those who don’t speak golf, a triple bogey is bad for a …

Whenever a high-profile political fight breaks out in America, wealthy San Diegans from both sides of the political spectrum can be counted on to ante up handsome sums to benefit their favorite causes, with this …

Three Spanish-language instructors at the San Diego Community College District filed suit Tuesday (December 12) against the institution and two faculty members for civil rights violations, retaliation, hostile work environment, and other alleged infractions. The …

This fall, rumors were flying about Nati's Mexican Restaurant closing. Nati's has been a staple for 57 years in the heart of Ocean Beach, on Bacon between Niagara and Newport avenues. A few people took …

Noe Colimas Valladares, 28, was sentenced to 180 days in local jail on Monday, December 11th. He was arrested in August after he reportedly entered a home in Escondido and was shot by the man …

Back in August, Alfredo Liburd, chief executive of San Diego–based defense contractor NevWest, pleaded guilty in federal court to aiding and abetting Navy port engineer John Nasshan, who improperly administered projects in which he had …

Back in October the city attorney’s office delivered a legal opinion that supported the city's decision to immediately appropriate recreation council funds, raised locally by each individual recreation center, and deposit the monies into the …

Dec 9 Harbor Patrol responded to an adrift vessel near Harbor Island. Harbor Patrol located an adrift kayak which was then taken to the Harbor Patrol dock and impounded. Dec 8 Harbor Patrol were dispatched …

It sounded like a bomb went off on the afternoon of December 9th. I was inside my house on Chandler Drive when I felt and heard the sound of a powerful impact followed by an …

Fifty years ago yesterday, on December 13, 1967, from Borrego Springs to downtown to Oceanside, snow fell in San Diego County. Perhaps the most dramatic scene was a blanket of snow on the beaches of …

Oceanside police attacker: "They’re trying to use their power." Talks to cellmates about L.A. cop killer Christopher Dorner.

He who undertakes work which he cannot carry out, Who vies with the multitude and disputes with the powerful, Who lets a woman know his thoughts — The four gods of death sit at his …

For a television show I pick the original Twilight Zone. For a movie I choose the documentary The Fog of War. Both of these pieces really deal with the same thing: humanity trying to identify …

Dear Hipster: As far as comparative Christmas-ruining is concerned, what would be worse — accidentally telling your four-year-old cousins the truth about Santa Claus or forgetting to get your boy- or girlfriend a Christmas present? …

Reports are rolling in by the basketful: Washington, New York, Wisconsin, Michigan — all the big apple-producing states are enjoying a bumper crop this year. And San Diego can take a bite out of this …

A U.S. Army veteran who was deported to Mexico has filed a complaint against the federal government in hopes of returning to the U.S. Hector Barajas, 40, filed the complaint on December 12, and while …

The Blue Guitar has undergone many changes since it was founded in 1961. It appears as if its final transformation may be an upcoming disappearing act. “Yuris Zeltins was our shop founder, he has now …

"Mmm. Helps with the cold,” croaks Ria. She’s leaning over the steam of her wonton soup. She fishes for a wonton that’s hiding beneath the cabbage and crispy croutons she dunked in the soup. Then …

Will Ferdinand’s bravery prove intrepid enough to win this weekend’s box-office battle against The Last Jedi or will the mighty (and mightily fey) cartoon bull prove to be no match for the Force? We all …

The Kargoyle, a chop-topped 1967 Cadillac Miller-Meteor Funeral Coach of dubious practicality and somewhat mysterious origin, slunk and slithered its way into the Adams Avenue Vons lot in Normal Heights and parked next to me. …

As the local political push for more high-density residential infill continues to mount, UCSD, accustomed to spinning out experts on cell phones and biotech, is expanding its curriculum into a more prosaic if similarly lucrative …

“The inspiration came from watching a documentary about a little girl with epilepsy who was seizing 300 times a week,” says composer Gary Rich, whose musical Ameriwanica extols the health benefits of the green leafy …

One of the film greats, Pandora’s Box gives us Louise Brooks (who never looked better) causing the perdition of men with her beauty and charisma. An unsuccessful case is made that there’s a supernatural quality …

let’s make a list of women in power now the trees are so still they are about to catch on fire we wake up for something to do someone to become the difference between aria …

Borrego Springs is the unincorporated town in San Diego’s desert area surrounded by Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. It is an official International Dark Sky Community where you can really see the stars at night. Borrego …

I like that Ichabod Crane believes in ghosts. Tom Zohar plays Ichabod in Backyard Renaissance Theatre Company’s debut production of Adam Wachter’s Tarrytown — with Katrina (Kay Marian McNellen) and Brom (Bryan Branville) similarly borrowed …

Brian Witkin’s dad performed at Woodstock as a member of Sha Na Na. The son had experienced success running a CD store at the all-ages Epicentre music venue. But a major setback ten years ago …

When my friend Jon visits from from the murk and damp of Michigan, he always looks up for what he thinks of as a real San Diego sky: not merely cloudless, not merely blue, but …

“We were shooting a documentary about the Beatles and [original drummer] Pete Best’s first journey to Hamburg about a year and a half ago,” says Christopher Leyva of how he came to be outside Best’s …

Dear Hipster: Fair warning, this is not a question. I just want to share with you a holiday tradition, followed by my family, because I think it will appeal to your hipster values. It all …

No toys this year. They don’t last. Activities get remembered. I could go for an exotic version of classic little-kid fun…how about camel rides instead of ponies? Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona (760-787-0983) may be …

Electric-guitar pioneer Mundell Lowe, who had made San Diego his base for the past 22 years, died at home on December 2. He was 95. Born in Shady Grove, Mississippi, Lowe’s curriculum vitae is so …

On November 1, local artist and entrepreneur Rachel Eva was hopeful about the impending holidays. Standard Spoon, the boutique barware company Eva founded two years ago with her collaborator and husband, Shawn Michael, was only …

A battle waged by well-paid lobbyists has broken out at San Diego city hall over whether the city should allow so-called dockless bicycle rental firms to ply their trade on city streets. The city already …

Bridge over troubled lingo In talking about the silver-haired man he should have spoken of his “constitutional,” not his “constitution” (although I imagined it benefitted from the outing). Dale Rodebaugh Kensington The United States grabbed …

Supergirl is a series my seven-year-old and I enjoy together. Kara Danvers (Supergirl’s alter-ego, heartfully portrayed by Mellissa Benoist) navigates the complexities of being both a superhero and millennial who’s landed her first job. I’m …

Last week on Madra Avenue, Madra Dog was decked out in a green and red cap, oversized sunglasses with red frames, and a large red bow. The 30-inch-tall rottweiler statue belongs to Janet Mika. Since …

It’s almost as if Starcrawler read the list of how to be a ’60s American garage rock band. Loud-ass lead guitarist with much skill and many exciting poses? Check. Smokin’ rock and roll rhythm section …

The widow of a man who was tasered to death by sheriff's deputies in May 2017 has filed a wrongful death claim against the County of San Diego. The claim is the first step before …

"Penske fails to see the value in the roundhouse of values," said Gregory May, who started a petition and a Facebook page to bring attention to the planned demolition of the 1960s Drew Ford roundhouse. …

In their push for the conversion of a Super 8 motel to a transitional housing facility for up to 84 people, the city attorney's office failed to honor a public records request by the Reader …

Twenty-seven-year-old David Enrique Meza of Imperial Beach was sentenced in federal court to life in prison today (December 11th). He had fatally stabbed and nearly decapitated Texas retiree Jake Clyde Merendino on May 2, 2015, …

No Mexican food without epazote When I finish cutting back my epazote, I can’t get the smell off my hands. It reminds me of a friend who, while living in rural Mexico, once purged herself …

Dock Totals Dec 3 – Dec 9: 1,032 anglers aboard 59 boats out of San Diego landings this past week caught 577 bluefin tuna, 16 yellowfin tuna, 146 yellowtail, 23 calico bass, 16 sand bass, …

The City of Chula Vista will pay a former deputy fire chief $350,000 over allegations that he was purposely passed up for promotions for blowing the whistle. Firefighter John Hess sued the city in 2014 …

I'm a huge fan of bento boxes, and perhaps a huger fan of Supernatural Sandwiches, the seafood specialist in Miramar I consider my favorite sandwich spot in the county. Imagine my excitement when I learned …

It's been about three years since the hashtag #southbayuprising started calling attention to the demand for craft beer south of Highway 94. In that time, a bevy of taprooms and breweries has established a strong …

There is a vast difference between what Uber was when they started in Tijuana in 2015 and what the company is now. Cars were new and clean. Drivers used to offer water, mints, candy, or …

Two activist groups in San Diego that ostensibly hold similar views have found themselves at odds over what one charges is the other's racially motivated refusal to seat people of color on its board of …

Bruce Henderson— stadium prophet "Every time they raise ticket prices it gives them more and more money to do what? To buy what they hope is a better and better team. The council will have …

What indeed, Elvis? But without war, hate, and myopia, we wouldn’t have the outsiders who drive the drama in so many of our stories. Like the fish-man and the woman with something fishy about her …

As holiday traffic makes the 805 freeway a little more congested, Christmas lights on the Market Street overpass contribute to the seasonal cheer. This is the fourth year since the lights went up, a collaboration …

San Diego attorneys Mike Aguirre and Maria Severson yesterday (December 7) wrote a letter to both houses of the state legislature, asking them to convene a joint select committee to investigate the California Public Utilities …

Julie Lee, the owner of Beasley Cleaners, said when Albertsons shuttered its doors her revenue went down, even though her rent continued to increase each year. “I’m trying my best, whatever I can do to …

March 15 – Harbor Patrol responded to the A-2 Anchorage (Americas Cup Harbor) to investigate a subject acting erratically aboard a sailboat he set adrift. The naked subject was throwing items from the vessel into …

It's one of those fuzzy numbers on a utility bill; in this case, a water-sevice fee charged by Carefree Ranch Mobile Home Park in Escondido, where 77 of its 185 spaces fall under the city's …

It’s been 26 years since Joe Flammini opened Java Joe’s, one of the few coffeehouses back then that offered live music with your latte. In 1991, Java Joe’s was located in Poway. The shop moved …

Thorn Brewing Co. opened to the public in Barrio Logan at the end of November. If you're thinking it's the same business as Thorn Street Brewery, you're partly right. Thorn Street founders Dennis O'Connor, Eric …

Oscar Vasquez-Alamilla, a Spring Valley resident, pleaded guilty in federal court today (December 7th) to smuggling narcotics through the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. He was using the Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Response Inspection, …

After visiting Chicano Park for a “patriot picnic” on September 3, Arthur Schaper wrote about the “Varrio Si, Yonkes No” mural in his blog along with his account of being driven out of the park …

“Recreational fishing in California is under attack every day,” says Wayne Kotow, executive director of the Coastal Conservation Association – California. In a year-end report to the Oceanside Senior Anglers on December 5th, he reported …

A hearing date has been set in the criminal prosecution of the father of a former tennis professional who was arrested for the rape of two nine-year-old girls. Nick Philippoussis will appear on January 4 …

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on Tuesday (December 5th) unveiled its plan to clean up three areas in the Sweetwater Marsh, bayfront land north and south of the boundary between National City and Chula …

It looks like a pop up business. The front entry doesn't even have a roof, just a glassed in door frame leading to the alley between a brick warehouse and corrugated metal shed. The only …

This is the time of year that gray whales follow their twelve-thousand mile migratory round-trip to the Pacific lagoons of Baja California Sur, where they calve and nurse their newborns in the tranquil and food-rich …

Surfers reported a large bluff collapse at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park two days prior to these photos taken on December 6th. The beach sand below Point Loma Nazarene University that is frequented by students and …

A holiday tourist in my own city Tree farms, Nativity scene, gondola and trolley rides, Christmas movies by the pool. By Siobhan Braun Why not a holiday bar crawl? Bike ride, Messiah sing-along, Santacon bar …

Spilling the Kool-Aid You can count your blessings if you have any or shut down in the neon haze that invades the parking lot and changes the way you think about moonlight knocking around at …

“In some cities, like New York, if you bring the goods they appreciate you for your art,” says homegrown jazz chanteuse Sacha Boutros, who just returned after spending a month in Paris (where she’ll move …

Get ready for a proliferation of paid plugs at San Diego’s International Airport. “Over the past decade, the Airport’s advertising has been confined to the interior of the passenger terminals and has consisted mainly of …

We get the conceit of Santa’s eight reindeer from the reindeer husbandry practiced by the indigenous people of Fennoscandia. In Siberia, the locals shave curlicues of meat from frozen reindeer steaks, which they eat raw …

We open inside the dank hull of a coal freighter — only these lumps have eyes. Khaled Ali’s (Sherwan Haji) peepers blink awake as the stowaway sits up in the lumpy bed of black that’s …

When Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson and his buddy Chip Roberts announced their “Cowboys in the Campfire” tour, the idea was that they would play unusual venues — rooms that don’t usually host rock shows. Andrew …

A combination of two of the world’s biggest oil companies has kicked in $50,000 to the California Latino Legislative Caucus Foundation at the behest of Democratic assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher. State disclosure records show that …

Hail to the chef! That’s what I’m thinking as Danny lowers two whole racks of pork ribs into the maws of his Smokaroma Bar-B-Q Boss. He says it’s a wood-fired pressure-cooker. No more fuming black …

Membership: 400 Pastor: Tim Spivey Age: 41 Born: Long Beach Formation: Pepperdine University, Malibu; Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX Years in ministry: 20 San Diego Reader: What is your main concern as a member of …

“You better watch out You better not cry Better not pout I’m telling you why Santa Claus is coming to town…” I’m ashamed to admit it, but I did pout a little bit for the …

Everybody’s got their own small rituals to enact this time of year. Holiday traditions vary by country, culture, region, and household, and in every instance they’re what make the season special. I’m a nontraditional kind …

Although there are some decent surf breaks back home, pro surfer Lindsay Perry says Central Florida is nothing like San Diego. “My dad used to catch alligators with his hands,” she says about her upbringing …

During the holiday season, thousands of Californians head south of the border to join their families for a Mexican Navidad mixed with customary American Christmas traditions. In the Spanglish world, as with the languages, the …

Del Mar Canyon Preserve, sometimes alternatively known as Anderson Canyon, has two of the best elements of San Diego County hikes: stunning views and unique biodiversity. The trail is short and easy, but take time …

Winter. It’s the five o’clock of the annum. God’s own cocktail hour. A time to rejoice and be merry and say things you’ll later frown about at family gatherings. New year, new you. This is …

A conflicted, somewhat confused Mission Bay Park Committee voted 5-3 to go forward with a plan for the DeAnza Cove Tuesday night (December 5th) after hours of passionate testimony from people who want different things …

Dear Hipster: Your list of great albums sucks. You suffer from a lack of taste. Go back to making jokes about mustaches and Cap’n Crunch. — Ethan Hipster: Nice work leaving out Paul’s Boutique, hipster. …

Traditionally, December is a month of buying stuff — whether for yourself, family, friends, coworkers, or whomever else is on that list you’re checking twice. So why not flex your spending power and use those …

When Christmas season rolls around I like to become a tourist in my own city. My kids are out of school, my husband takes a week or two off of work, and the family and …

For so many of us, favorite holiday memories take root with family and friends, and that certainly holds true for San Diegans. Whether it’s cutting down a tree in the local mountains, dancing the night …

With paying gigs becoming scarcer, and the economic outlook not too bright, we asked several current and former locals to share their best “I was so broke...” stories. Marcia Claire (Coyote Problem): “In 1986, I …

San Diego’s mild winter climate makes it an attractive spot for people who don’t want a white Christmas. So that means there is a good chance you’re hosting out-of-towners over the holidays. That means that …

“Welcome to the ‘King of the Hill,’” beckons the listing pitch for 5160 Rancho Del Mar Trail, a five-bedroom, six-and-a-half-bath home boasting more than 9500 square feet of living space situated “within the prestigious, private …

This year, the Lickona family is keeping to its Christmas traditions at home: the ancient carols, the crèche, the Christmas lights wrapped around the cactus in the front yard, the works. But also this year, …

Fracking is hydraulic fracturing, or horizontal shooting of water, sand, and chemicals into shale to bring up oil and gas. However, people complain of loud equipment, stealing of water, and widespread pollution through use of …

The City of Escondido’s 39th annual Trout Derby at Dixon Lake attracted hundreds of anglers from around Southern California on December 1–3. Even without the planting of huge Nebraska tailwalkers at this year’s opener, stringers …

This New England girl has finally adjusted to the warm weather Christmas season. It only took 20 years. During those years, I felt patronized by fake snow painted on windows, manmade snow hills, and ice …

The once-mighty United Auto Workers union has faced hard times of late. The most recent sign of the labor organization’s ebbing influence came last month when workers at the Fuyao Glass America plant in Dayton, …

Scripps Ranch was a real ranch Re: “Once upon a time: Scripps Ranch,” cover story. Your article is a collection of sarcastic comments that only slash and burn. God forbid you write something positive that …

Holiday lights make the early darkness of winter a beautiful thing. One of my favorite displays in San Diego is the simple strings of colorful lights that wind around the railings on the streets above …

Some years ago I was invited to sit in on a masterclass taught by blues guitarist Coco Montoya. I play blues sax. Possibly the organizer thought I’d gain some new insights. “I bet each of …

Growing up in the Chicago area, the holidays meant snowy hills and hushed landscapes, warm, woolly scarves and mittens, puffy down coats and sturdy boots. It also meant shoveling two feet of snow off the …

A group of El Cajon residents and business owners is accusing city officials of criminalizing commercial marijuana activity. El Cajon Residents for Responsible Governance filed a lawsuit in Superior Court over a newly adopted land-use …

Volunteers with San Diego Audubon used exceptionally high tides Tuesday morning (December 5) as an aid in counting threatened light-footed Ridgway's rails that reside in Kendall-Frost Marsh along the northeast shores of Mission Bay. "We …

The Senate and House have passed their own versions of new tax legislation, and now they must reconcile their differences in a conference committee. Wisely, the House version eliminates federal bond subsidies for pro sports …

David Danzmayr was yet another guest conductor at the San Diego Symphony for the concerts of the first weekend of December. If a super-energized conducting style is your cup of tea than Danzmayr is your …

Name Chad : Age: 37 Occupation: Law student at the University of San Diego Where: Ocean Beach Pier I found Chad surfing with his seven-foot Catch Surf Odysea in support for the “Paddle for Clean …

In August of 2015 I headed into the water at Mission Beach for a swim. As I swam out, the waves looked good and a big set was rolling in. I noticed five or six …

Next time you are strolling along the pier in Ocean Beach enjoying the views of the sunset and surfers, turn your back to the ocean to see something else pretty awesome — orange-colored trees — …

“Yesterday at 9:40 [p.m.] two Modelo 24 oz. cans fell out of his pants,” said Fredley. “I said, 'What the hell...what is this?' then he grabbed them and ran away…but his girlfriend is right behind …

It's been a while since the aroma of food lured me into a restaurant. But, as I was passing through North Park, whatever was cooking at Chris' Ono Grinds Island Grill made me hungry enough …

Donald Trump may be plagued by more than his share of leaks, but nothing like those of La Jolla's Doug Manchester, the president's ambassadorial nominee to the Bahamas, who reportedly needed real plumbers to handle …

Dock Totals Nov 26 – Dec 2: 1,547 anglers aboard 74 boats out of San Diego landings this past week caught 1,027 bluefin tuna, 35 yellowfin tuna, 14 bigeye tuna, 57 yellowtail, 11 calico bass, …

The trend to design exteriors of exposed brick and finished natural wood has made it to Tijuana. Many of the new and remodeled buildings have that modern look, clashing with the old sheet-metal carts of …

In 1930, while waiting for the rest of the players to show up for a volleyball match Paul Johnson of the Santa Monica Athletic Club suggested that he and the three others there early try …

On November 29 a jihadist media group published an image suggesting San Diego could be in the crosshairs of terrorists this holiday season. The San Diego California Temple in University City appears to be their …

According to the website of the California Employment Development Department, employers should give a 60-day notice to employees and their representatives in advance of a "plant closing or mass layoff." The notices are in the …

Oceanside's newest beer company, Northern Pine Brewing, celebrated its grand opening on the first of December. However, the assortment of beers served for the opening were not the first we've seen from cofounders and brewers …

On November 29, the Mexicali side of the Zona Centro border crossing was blocked by protesters demanding the jail release of Sunshine Antonio Rodríguez Peña, the organizer of the fishing communes in San Felipe. Rodríguez …

The Sport with No Clock Mexican baseball, like the Mexican economy, is just a half-step ahead of the creditors. The precipitous decline of the peso against the dollar has virtually destroyed the league’s ability to …

In the fall of 2016, the boards of Qualcomm and NXP Semiconductors agreed to merge the companies. It looked like a good deal all around: NXP is the biggest automotive chipmaker, providing diversification to Qualcomm, …

The impact from a hit-and-run collision was so strong that it pushed a 1970s Chevelle, parked on La Jolla Shores Boulevard, onto the sidewalk. Owner Jeff Sevadjian said the incident occurred between 7:05 a.m. and …

Legendary jazz guitarist Mundell Lowe passed away on the morning of December 2 at the age of 95. Lowe grew up in Mississippi and, at 17 years old in 1939, joined Pee Wee King’s western …

Matt Valenti, who has been battling San Diego Junior Theatre board over laxity in sex-with-minors incidents, filed suit in Superior Court this month to force the city to turn over documents he requested long ago. …

The Convoy district may be San Diego’s hub for Asian food, but that doesn’t mean all the good ones are concentrated in that area. For example, tucked into a strip mall on an otherwise restaurant-bare …

Poinsettias, a favorite of backyard gardeners, are now exhibiting their scarlet, petal-like bracts, just in time for the holidays. The onset of 14-hour-long nights triggers their behavior: In San Diego this condition is met just …

A Superior Court judge today (December 1) put a permanent stop to enforcement of the City of San Diego's mini-dorm ordinance. Judge Ronald Styn ruled that the city's Residential High Occupancy Permit, which forces landlords …

Solar power system owners connecting to the grid for the first time are in for a shock as power bills begin arriving, as are existing customers who failed to lock in a temporary reprieve. Effective …

Additional evidence has come out in the case of a Camp Pendleton Marine who used a government computer on base to download and exchange images of child pornography. Special agent for the Naval Criminal Investigative …

Memes are usually captioned photos or short repetitive videos that go viral and transform to amuse, inspire, humor, or mystify people. A meme can also be only text that convey how the meme-poster feels at …

In many different neighborhoods, L.A. is seeing a positive increase in the number of artistic and creative establishments: from hip clothing stores to shared workspaces to unique bars and cafes. Downtown, Highland Park, East Los …

“There are two words to describe you, just pure evil,” San Diego Superior Court judge Blaine Bowman told Robert Ignacio Flores at his sentencing hearing on November 30. Flores, 26, tried to kill Oceanside police …