When Sweetwater Authority conducted a water transfer last November, draining Alpine's Loveland Reservoir to dead pool status for the first time ever, lake users thought it was the end of the free recreation program. Then …

On February 5 mothers of prisoners in La Mesa State Penitentiary in Tijuana demonstrated in front of the prison to denounce the financial struggle they have been through since their jailed relatives were moved to …

Mexican Coral Trees or “naked corals,” are showing their stuff this season by bearing and baring scarlet, flame-like flowers on the tips of their twisting, leafless branches. Commonly planted as park and freeway landscaping, this …

The Carmel Valley battle for square footage The bell has sounded in a heavyweight battle between two Carmel Valley developers and the City is caught in the middle of it all. Kilroy Realty, the Los …

Take a day trip to Los Angeles to eat your way through Persian Square. As a Persian-American, I loved walking through Persian Square, also called Little Persia, and having multiple Persian food options in one …

Worst roommates "I was sleeping and I woke up to a noise. I didn’t know what it was. Greg comes flying into my room. He throws my door open. He has his hands over his …

We've got to roll, brother From this distance it is impossible to see what companies the trucks belong to. At least one is surely from Moody’s, the oldest and largest company, with nearly a quarter …

“Hamburguesas de verdad,” reads the green neon sign behind the counter of The Food Box: “real hamburgers.” Not a lot of American restaurants would make so bold a declaration in Spanish, but here in San …

While scrolling through my Google feed, I saw an article entitled “15 Greatest Symphonies of all Time”. Of course, I clicked on it and was taken to Great Britain’s Classic FM website. Mozart’s Symphony No. …

Hilltop Baptist Church Contact: 740 Hilltop Dr., Chula Vista 619-422-7246 www.hilltopbc.com Weekly Attendance: 50 Pastor: Walt Hatch Age: 61 Born: El Cajon Formation: Pacific Coast Baptist College, San Dimas (now Heartland Baptist Bible College, Oklahoma …

A Higher Call “Our system is so discriminatory against Black and brown people…I want to do as much as I can to make their lives easier.” — Kim Kardashian I’m different now; I aim for …

The Aztec drums echo through the barrio. Even at this distance, you can hear the dancers’ ankle rattles shaking with each foot stomp. Chicano Park on this Monday night tells you better than anywhere else …

Technicolor Dreams, the new album from Christopher Leyva’s band Falling Doves, was mixed and recorded at London’s famed Abbey Road studio by producer Chris Bolster. A promotional tour kicks off this week; Leyva is calling …

The heavy rains and windy roads on SR-76 leading into Fallbrook added to the adventure of my January 15 visit to the Country Wine Dancing shindig at Monserate Winery. As I pulled up around 6 …

Drummer Matthew Smith has been a fixture in San Diego for quite a few years, playing with the Matt Smith Neu Jazz Trio, Juice Box, and Fresh Veggies Micro Brass. He gigs often enough around …

Jeff Schafer is a 61-year-old engineer at Viasat in Carlsbad. He is married with two sons, ages 24 and 27. He estimates that over the last ten years, he’s attended over 100 concerts, featuring such …

Undercover car tags missing The County of San Diego’s management of its fleet of government vehicles by the Department of General Services has been in dangerous disarray, per a recently posted audit dated September 29, …

The Democrat Reader? Good thing your rag is free. It is so biased against true Americans like President Trump. During his presidency, America was strong and proud. Numerous debunked scandals against him and constant harassment …

You’ll need to be familiar with at least two types of Mediterranean cooking appliances to understand what’s happening at FurnSaj Bakery & Restaurant. A furn may be thought of as similar to a clay pizza …

Jessica Johnson has been on many outings during which she has thought to herself, “We might die today.” Like the time she and some companions were six miles deep into the back country near the …

As housing costs push more people out of San Diego, those lucky enough to own a home or rental property aren't rushing to sell. A study of the state's 30 largest cities by Point2 Homes, …

On February 12, a wind advisory was made on I-8 from Willows Road in Alpine next to Viejas Casino & Resort to the Imperial County line a little past Jacumba, according to CA-17.com. The wind …

Ceanothus, or wild lilac, has been springing into bloom for some time -- at least in the warmer coastal areas. By early March, virtually every chaparral-covered canyon and hillside on the coastal strip may exhibit …

Golf Course headed for the rough? Retired Fallbrook elementary school teacher Joan McConnell had just returned on Sunday (January 24) from the site of the former San Luis Rey Downs Golf Club. Two years ago, …

Dock Totals 2/5– 2/18: 808 anglers aboard 46 half-day to 3-day trips out of San Diego landings over the past two weeks caught 1 blacksmith, 27 calico bass (103 released), 43 halfmoon, 1 halibut, 3 …

Japanese railroaded out of San Diego during WWII "There’s still some. People I went to school with in Coronado before the war, I see them at work; they still don’t speak to me. It’s like …

San Diego bungalows: Tudor, Dutch, French, Moorish, Egyptian, Spanish, and Mission Ron Wigginton, a young landscape designer who leads a well-ordered life, was out roaming the streets of Hillcrest one day four years ago, suddenly …

What was once known as Il Trittico, by Giacomo Puccini, is now being billed as The Puccini Duo by San Diego Opera. That’s probably for the best because the three one-act operas make for a …

Otis Barthoulameu, aka O, has passed away. The singer-guitarist played with Fluf, Makeup Sex, Systems Officer, Olivelawn, Harshmellow, Octagrape, Reeve Oliver, and Woofer. He also produced records and wrote and arranged for artists such as …

“HBC are the same folks that developed Mosaic, Citra, Loral, Sabro, and Talus,” says Jeremy Moynier, Stone Brewing Sr. Manager of Innovation and Supply Chain, when discussing the brewery’s partnership with Hop Breeding Company. He …

Miniaturized includes members of Rocket from the Crypt, Hot Snakes, Pinback, Earthless, Buckfast Superbee, No Knife, and others. Their new single “The Most,” precedes a self-titled debut album due March 31. “’The Most’ comes from …

Everything was going my way, including a cancer-free pathology report that finally came just hours before this event: the inaugural concert at the newly constructed Park & Market. It felt like I’d been waiting forever …

San Diego’s Jared Mattson has a new solo album, Peanut; it represents a bold step away from his work with twin brother Jonathan in Mattson 2. But as Jared testifies, he had to deal with …

When I turned 39, I took an inventory of my life. What I found there struck me thoroughly unremarkable. At best, it seemed my world and the life I had made in it could be …

Rent-a-pol Turo, Inc., a controversial peer-to-peer car-sharing company based in San Francisco, gave $7500 on January 31 to the ballot measure committee run by termed-out state Senator Toni Atkins, who is seeking to become the …

Located above Paso Picacho Campground in Cuyamaca, Cuyamaca Peak from Milk Ranch Road is a moderately strenuous hike. With a length of 8 miles and an elevation gain of around 1,900 feet, the hike will …

Raising large animals requires a bit more space than your average suburban tract lot yard can offer. Depending on where you are in the county, you’re going to need at least a half-acre lot, maybe …

A Valentine’s Day line formed almost the minute the shop opened for business. Probably, most people who wanted to mark the occasion with a box of chocolates had bought one days ago. Those of us …

The Cajon Valley Union School District board of trustees voted January 31 to give former board president Tamara Otero a $50,400 consulting contract. After 12 years on the board, she lost her bid for reelection …

The city council on Monday unanimously approved the terms and funding of a $2,446,500 state grant that will be used to house 40-50 homeless people in the East Village. Named the E Street Encampment Project, …

Manzanita Shrubs are starting to bloom this month in the foothill areas of the Cleveland National Forest. The various manzanitas, characterized by smooth, reddish bark and tough, leathery leaves, bear myriads of tiny, white to …

The removal of the Cupeños from Warner Springs Beginning on November 21, 1851, the Indians burned Warner’s buildings; stole his cattle, horses, and sheep; and killed nine Americans. The revolt was soon put down, Cupa …

The Valley Center far away from Harrah’s casino At the end of a winding asphalt road, past boulders and gated ranches, past riotous tumbles of magenta bougainvillea, past dirt roads that disappear into orange groves …

Finally, I caught up to Lia’s Lumpia. As a food truck, it’s repeatedly eluded me: starting service after I’d left a food truck park, or ending service before I showed up at a brewery where …

San Diego's intrepid metal finders The faint sound through the earphones is like the buzz of a mosquito on the other side of the room when you're trying to sleep. It nags at your attention, …

The San Diego Symphony has announced their 2023-2024 Jacobs Masterworks Series. This season promises to be a turning point in the organization's evolution under CEO Martha Gilmer. The most obvious element is the grand opening …

(All captions taken from local headlines/subheads.)

XXV Let those who are in favour with their stars Of public honour and proud titles boast, Whilst I, whom fortune of such triumph bars, Unlook’d for joy in that I honour most. Great princes’ …

“We’re eating British tonight, alright?” says Annie in that voice of hers. It’s been a hard day. We’ve been working together. Both beat. She’s my friend. You’d think she was my wife. But hey, she’s …

The Belly Up hosts a February 14 tribute to Dolly Parton curated by Nena Anderson and featuring Brawley, with proceeds to benefit the Keep A Breast Foundation. Prizes will be awarded for the best Dolly …

It’s a Wednesday at The Belly Up in Solana Beach, and I pass the time eavesdropping in line as a young woman named Abby discusses a helicopter that is flying at that very moment over …

When local hip-hop artist Brandon “B-Turn” Turner created a top 100 list of San Diego music artists to watch in 2023, he had no idea how wild the online ride he was about to take …

The first thing you realize once you start investigating “intelligence” is that it seems like no two people — people whose personalities, abilities, capacities, and traits are as different as their DNA — use the …

Old San Diego redux Competition for donor contributions between San Diego non-profit reporting outlets could be set to reach unprecedented levels, judging from a gauntlet-throwing January 31 pitch for money by the website of San …

Anti-Trump, pro-pal I’m not dropping my Trumper/MAGA friends just ‘cuz I’m Ridin’ With Biden (“Trump Trumps Love”, Cover Story, Feb 2). Politicians come and go. Friendships last forever. Trumpers come in two flavors: rich and …

Fraternal Spiritualist Fellowship Church Contact: 4720 Kensington Dr., San Diego 619-281-4557 www.fraternalspiritualistchurch.org Membership: 75 Pastor: Kimberly Hicks Age: 50 Born: Phoenix, AZ Formation: University of Phoenix; Fraternal Spiritualist Fellowship Church Years Ordained: 7 San Diego …

“But have you been to The Yogurt Mill?” My wife noticed that I’ve recently spent more time writing about food in her hometown, El Cajon. However, as I’ve mainly focused on skewered and rotisserie meats, …

Last month, San Diego's gnarly surf kept lifeguards busy towards the tail end of January. The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department lifeguards even helped rescue folks from a plane that landed on the surf. On January …

The owner of the Fallbrook Guns & Ammo store on Main Street in downtown Fallbrook called 911 a little before 9 p.m. on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. He told police that he could see a …

Happy Year of the Rabbit! San Diego’s three native rabbit species are the black-tailed jackrabbit, desert cottontail, and brush rabbit. Large rabbit populations are a sign of healthy grasslands, and after the recent rains, our …

Spring Valley is the new North Park About three months ago, the bar donned a large sign reading “The Bancroft” next to Fannie’s old marquee, which now entreats — perhaps tongue-in-cheek — “I assure you …

Dock Totals 1/22 – 2/4: 1,063 anglers aboard 51 half-day to 3-day trips out of San Diego landings over the past two weeks caught 9 barracuda, 1 black seabass (released), 2 bonito, 33 calico bass …

SEALS give first-hand account of America's Cup spying, part 1 I was knocking back triple espressos at Bay Books in Coronado when I came across this revelation buried in a feature article on "Wild Bill" …

The problem with Turkish rugs on West Lewis Street Yet it is not the artistry of many of Guzel’s rugs that makes this shop unique in San Diego, perhaps in all of western America. Guzel …

It was nice to be back in the concert hall on Thursday, February 2. It had been since before Christmas that I had darkened the door of a theater. The concert was of the San …

Dr. Sonia Sharma makes no bones about it: when she’s studying immune diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, she concentrates on women, not men. She is also one of those vital, loquacious academics who actually likes …

The new-ish rooftop bar Cococabana is what lures me to the Brick Hotel in Oceanside. But the Q&A bar below is where I start things off — by trying an oyster for the very first …

We tend to spend a lot of time here at Unreal on the coast – from Sunset Cliffs to Mission Beach, from La Jolla on to Del Mar and points north. It’s pretty clear that …

Jared Mattson (The Mattson 2) releases his debut solo full-length Peanut on March 31 via Chaz Bear’s Carpark imprint Company Records, preceded by a single and music video for “Please Come Here.” “I wrote the …

The recent storms and floods didn’t deter hundreds of electronica and house music fans — myself included — from bundling up and rendezvousing at downtown’s Bang Bang Japanese restaurant and nightclub on January 14. Electronic …

Bepul Kicks, a sneaker and fit shop in National City’s Westfield Plaza Bonita, has become command central for local hip-hop artists such as 22Gfay and Lil Weirdo. “Most of the time, my gear is in …

McGinty Mountain Located near Jamul, McGinty Mountain is a moderately strenuous hike. With a length of 4.5 miles and an elevation gain of around 1,300 feet, the hike will take most people 2 to 3 …

Kevin Williams is a popular musician, based out of North San Diego County, who has played in local clubs and bars for more than 20 years. His son Reagan Williams is a musician as well, …

The messy business of abortion A La Jolla biotech mogul who bankrolled RU-486, the lucrative day-after abortion drug, looms large in a new expose by Mother Jones. According to the piece, “In 1986, a North …

Cruelty in the captions? The photograph of a “granny cottage” in Del Mar (“Affordable housing laws descend on Del Mar”, Neighborhood News, Jan 10) was captioned “Why would you ever ruin such an adorable addition …

It’s no secret that our region’s best Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food is most often found in El Cajon. Though, for a while, some of it was found in the Gaslamp. For a few years, …