There are some spooky operas out there and nothing is better for a refined and dignified Halloween. Of course, a sugar-laden celebration is also appropriate but on this night of ghosts and devils, opera can …
November 1, 2024
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Halloween opera style
Two poems by Marvin Bell
To DorothyYou are not beautiful, exactly. You are beautiful, inexactly. You let a weed grow by the mulberry And a mulberry grow by the house. So close, in the personal quiet Of a windy night, it brushes the wall And sweeps …
November 1, 2024
Conservatives cry, “Turnabout is fair gay!”
In 2008, Californians voted to approve Proposition 8, which amended the state constitution to read, “Only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” This year, Californians will be …
November 1, 2024
Pranksters vandalize Padres billboard in wake of playoff loss
Last week, the Swinging Friar adorning the pro-Padres billboard mounted along the 94 in La Mesa was stripped of his bat. In its place, vandals mounted a Los Angeles Dodgers pennant. “Honestly, we meant no …
November 1, 2024
Domestic disturbance at the home of Mayor Gloria and partner
A recent television ad supporting Todd Gloria’s effort to remain as San Diego’s mayor boasted that “Gloria cracked down on homeless encampments and reduced the number of tents downtown by 82 percent.” But while critics …
November 1, 2024
Gonzo Report: Three nights of Mission Bayfest bring bliss
From September 27-29, Mariner’s Point Park hosted Mission Bayfest, put on by the same production team that created the San Diego Bayfest. Joe Rinaldi, partner and general manager at the Music Box in Little Italy …
October 31, 2024
Jazz guitarist Alex Ciavarelli pays tribute to pianist Oscar Peterson
Video:BLURT: Jazz guitarist Alex Ciavarelli pays tribute to pianist Oscar PetersonAlex Ciavarelli’s first instrument was the violin, but he stopped playing by the time he was ten. “My parents said they would give me some …
October 31, 2024
The Fellini of Clairemont High
A dazzling bright morningAround 50 years ago, I was hanging around with my best friend Bowie in the parking lot before the bell, just killing time. A half-minute’s walk away, a few of our more …
October 30, 2024
Todd Gloria gets cash from McDonald's franchise owners
Supersized campaign cashA developer-backed independent campaign committee being used to rescue the mayoral bid of incumbent Democrat Todd Gloria is also trying to beat back a California rent control measure. The group, officially titled San …
October 30, 2024
Wild Wild Wets, Todo Mundo, Creepy Creeps, Laura Cantrell, Graham Nancarrow
Video:LIVE FIVE: Rock, Latin reggae, and country music in Little Italy, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Harbor IslandWild Wild Wets at the CasbahOct 31Wild Wild Wets was founded in 2011 by former members of The Old In Out, …
October 30, 2024
The vicious cycle of Escondido's abandoned buildings
A glut of empty shopping centers, storefronts, office buildings, and warehouses in downtown Escondido shows no sign of stopping.Along Grand Avenue, businesses have been leaving at a rate of over 500 percent in the last …
October 29, 2024
At 4pm, this Farmer's Table restaurant in Chula Vista becomes Acqua e Farina
Video:FEAST!: At 4pm, this Farmer's Table restaurant in Chula Vista becomes Acqua e FarinaThere's a red tractor parked in the grass outside Farmer's Table in Chula Vista. It fits the rustic imagery cultivated by the …
October 29, 2024
The danger of San Diego's hoarders
In the early hours of October 13, a quiet neighborhood along Marline Avenue in El Cajon was jolted awake by fire trucks and first responders. 911 Video News was among the first on the scene, …
October 29, 2024
Temperature inversions bring smoggy weather, "ankle biters" still biting
The Smoggiest Days of the Year are most likely to occur during the next several weeks. Persistent temperature inversions (warmer air overlying cool marine air) are frequent this time of year, and those inversions conspire …
October 28, 2024
Big swordfish, big marlin, and big money
Dock Totals 10/20 – 10/26: 2125 anglers aboard 101 half-day to 3-day trips out of San Diego landings over the past week caught 180 bluefin tuna (up to 120 pounds), 23 bocaccio, 1 bonito, 90 …
October 27, 2024