Downtown San Diego Stories
Piano recital at Thearle Music Co., 640 Broadway, c. 1930. The Chicago-based firm opened a store in San Diego in 1903. The article that announced their arrival included this: "It has been and is today …
Parking downtown is a pain. I was surprised to find a pay lot for $4. Even more surprised when, as we paid, my date and I overheard a couple having sex in a van. As …
"We'll be filming at Mardi Gras and several clubs downtown from February 19 through the 21st," says XL Staffing and Security owner Joe Mackey of the still-unnamed reality show being produced about his firm. "It'll …
When I went to see the Zombies at the Belly Up Tavern, I hadn't planned on crashing a party there. But when I saw that a section of the venue was set up for a …
I had taken eight or nine guided tours of San Diego in two weeks when a friend asked if I was tired of sightseeing. I had to say no. Being out on buses and boats …
One of the hottest new spots is Stingaree -- a giant (22,000 square feet) disco palace with a serious restaurant on the first floor, under the charge of chef Antonio Friscia (previously at Alfieres at …
As of early this week, only one campaign committee weighing in on the move of San Diego International Airport from Lindbergh to Miramar had filed its official papers with the county registrar of voters. A …
'Bringing a picture of your dog and saying, 'This is my family dog,' is not much of a story," says San Diego Public Library representative Lynn Whitehouse. "But if you bring a picture of your …
"Welcome to the 15th Annual Good Friday 'Walk with the Suffering,'" said Rosemary Johnston from the flatbed of the truck parked in front of the County Health Building on Pacific Highway. "We're going to be …
"You are our shield and protector, the lifter of our head," prayed Site Pastor Mark Maliepaard, quoting the song that the band -- guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, and saxophone -- had just finished. "We thank …
The crucified Christ hung against an intense aquamarine background in the contemporary-primitive painting that adorned the chapel at First Lutheran. His heart was exposed and bleeding. The rough-hewn character of the painting provided dramatic contrast …
Whether you're goth or you just dig celebrity graves (that's "dig" as in "enjoy"), you might be interested to know of these famous former neighbors entombed at a gravesite near you. BOBBY DRISCOLL (1937-1968) starred …
Few legislators have had as great an impact on San Diego as former state senator James R. Mills. Recently, in a Coronado café, he sat down for an interview. Today there is a proposal to …
“My background is on the front lines. I’ve had no formal training, but I’ve done a lot of tasting.”
When I got an invitation to attend the grand opening of the House of Blues, I was jazzed. Those parties have great food, lots of booze, and interesting people. The entertainment for the evening was …
When I have to fit three parties in on one day, it helps to start in the afternoon. At Mimi's Cafe one night for dinner, I overheard a waitress named Melissa talking about a CD …
I went to two events downtown. The first was trying to fight traffic after a Padres game. The second was me getting lost. The Hyatt Hotel near the convention center had a festival showcasing American …
I went to a few interesting parties in March that I'm just getting around to writing about. One was at a place downtown called the Shout House. It was their first anniversary and also a …
"This is the first time we've done this," said Chuck Perrin, manager of Dizzy's, a jazz club in East Village. The Seventh Avenue venue -- a converted trucking warehouse that was also the first stage …
What do people spend money on when they go out Saturday night? I went to a variety of locations to ask a variety of people. I hit Horton Plaza downtown, the Belmont Park roller coaster …
WE REALLY HAVE, from a pedestrian's point of view, two kinds of places in San Diego," said Stephan Vance of the San Diego Association of Governments. "There's the older urban core that was built around …
Startling changes seem to be occurring at an ever-increasing pace in downtown San Diego -- or "Centre City" as it is sometimes known. Back in 1972, when I first arrived, I'd bicycle over from San …
Michelangelo, no. Mundane, yes. Although there is no money in the till, most San Diego politicians still talk about prodigious projects as if they were a painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, rather …
There was an attractive woman in her 40s standing near me. As I was leaving, I heard her say, "It's such an honor to meet you." I turned to see she was talking to Mr. Flynt, not me.
She introduced me to her boyfriend, a 6'3" redhead named Cenoura. She told me, "That means carrot. When they see you, they give you a nickname by looking at you."
YWCA Women's "Passages" program 1012 C Street, Downtown 619-239-2341 The folks at the YWCA believe they're unique (and they probably are) with their "Passages" program. It gives single homeless women a bed and food while …
City Council Chambers 202 C Street, 12th floor, Downtown Monday through Friday, from 2 p.m. to whenever they're done doing whatever it is they do 619-236-6440 It's cool in the summer, warm in the winter, …
Living History Program Aboard the Star of India 1492 North Harbor Drive, Downtown www.sdmaritime.com 619-234-STAR Pioneered by the National Park Service, this overnight program takes kids back in time on an imaginary voyage. According to …
Matthew Peterson 530 B Street, Suite 1700, Downtown 619-234-0361 Say you need politicians to create legislation so your hovercraft taxi can get licensed. Or you're pulling your pro tiddlywinks team out of San Diego because …
Journey to Aztlan Harbor Drive between First and Fifth, Downtown Visible from the San Diego Convention Center, the images within this colorful mural re-create the laughing masks of South America's pre-Columbian Veracruz period. The public …
Tom Turman, The Westgate Hotel 1055 Second Avenue, Downtown 619-557-3645 Just ask Mrs. B., 90-something and a 12-year resident at the Westgate: Tom is the best concierge she knows. And she's a regular at swank …
The Grape 823 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp 619-238-8010 You could walk right past this uniquely shaped bar on a busy Saturday night if you weren't looking for it. The Grape, with its long narrow bar, sits …
The Jewel Box 805 16th Street, Downtown 619-236-8685 The Jewel Box is a little bar with a big future once the ballpark opens. So visit while it's still a neighborhood bar with great eats. And …
Outdoor deck at the Fish Market 750 North Harbor Drive, Downtown www.thefishmarket.com/san_diego.htm 619-232-FISH (3474) You're not in the mood for company, but you still want a drink. And a little bite. And a view, if …
Sushi Performance and Visual Art 320 Eleventh Avenue, Downtown www.sushiart.org 619-235-8466 This 6000-square-foot facility houses a 3000-square-foot performance space that seats up to 200 patrons. "Sushi audience members and performers are within hands' reach of …
Monday nights at the Westgate Hotel Bar 1055 Second Avenue, Downtown 619-238-1818 Guitarist Julio de la Huerta was approached by the general manager of the Westgate Hotel. "He said, 'We'd like to have you come …
San Diego Public Library, Central 820 E Street, Downtown www.sandiego.gov/public-library/news-events/screenings.shtml 619-236-5800 Every Monday at 6:30 p.m. and every other Sunday at 2 p.m., the downtown public library offers free film screenings in its third-floor auditorium. …
Volunteers Of America Detox Center 1111 Island Avenue, Downtown 619-232-9343 If the San Diego Police Department finds you drunk in public (or in private, if someone files a complaint), this is where you'll likely end …
Buffalo Joe's 600 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp 619-236-1616 This is a fantastic place for showing off your dance moves. If you don't want the entire intersection of Fifth and Market watching you shake your groove thing, …
Café 222 222 Island Avenue, Downtown 619-236-9902 Weekday mornings, businessmen crowd in. Later, you see politicians and conventioneers. But weekends, 222 belongs to downtown's young urban professionals. They come here to see -- and be …
Broadway Pizza 1008 Broadway, Downtown 619-232-6264 The pizza is decent -- way above average, miles better than the national chains. Portions are generous and the grub's pretty good -- try the sausage link sub or …
Alfiere Sheraton Harbor Island, West Tower 1590 Harbor Island Drive, Downtown 619-692-2778 There's nothing like Chef Antonio Friscia's braised short-rib ravioli. The squares of pasta are about three inches across and so thinly rolled that …
Sicilian Village Deli 895 Fourth Avenue, Downtown 619-234-4002 This place was once part of the late lamented Farmer's Bazaar in East Village. Happily their prices haven't gone Gaslamp. One of downtown's best values, and a …
Nutter's 428 C Street, Downtown www.nutterspeanutbutter.com 619-239-7075 Still have pangs for that mouthwatering "PB&J" from your childhood? Nutter's offers new twists on the old standard. But first you have to choose your peanut butter: white …
Vida Cart Corner of Fifth Avenue and Island, Downtown (No phone) When the vibes are right, usually around one or two in the morning, this hot dog stand becomes a café des artistes, the kind …
Sevilla Restaurant & Tapas Bar 555 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp www.cafesevilla.com 619-233-5979 Energized but not manic, crowded but courteous, with almost as many European as American patrons, this is a sophisticated scene for nibbling in the …
Rei Do Gado Churrasceria 939 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp 619-702-8464 The meats just keep coming at a Brazilian rodizio, skewer after skewer of churrasco (Brazilian barbecue). Sirloin shish kebab, skirt steak, top sirloin, tri-tip, linguiça, shrimp, …
E Street Alley 919 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp www.estreetalley.com 619-231-9200 Located down a flight of stairs at the end of a downtown alley, this restaurant and nightclub opened in July 1994. Filling its 18,000-square-foot space are …
Mini Cab Company, Inc. 526 J Street, Downtown 619-234-1818 Nepal is the only other place on the planet that Greg Paquette and Paul Basile think this is happening: electric, nonpolluting, short-distance cabs beetling about downtown …
Laura Smith-Moritz, Adventure Travel Company 7 Horton Plaza, Downtown 619-544-0800 Get in line if you want to consult with this ebullient and meticulous veteran (and be prepared to pay the up-front fees that have become …
Superior Mattress Factory 3376 Main Street, San Diego 619-233-6643 These guys have been in business just east of Barrio Logan since 1932. And they're factory-direct. And because they make their mattresses and box springs there …
Lilo's New American Cuisine 1125 Sixth Avenue, Downtown 619-231-1969 Close to all the downtown office towers, the food at Lilo's is reasonable, quick, generous, and sophisticated. Dishes like pear and walnut salad with bleu cheese …