I was at a party once with local author and radio personality Richard Lederer. He told us that his son Howard (nicknamed "the Professor") is a professional poker player, as is his daughter, Annie Duke …
June 30, 2005
Pacific Beach News & Stories
Poker 101
The Resolved, Pacific Beach
"Beer is one of our core values. We enjoy it and like to drink it. Drinking is part of our culture and a great way to spend time with others," said Pastor Justin Bragg of …
June 23, 2005
Free Long Distance
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 …
May 26, 2005
Christ Lutheran Church, Pacific Beach
Denomination: Lutheran Founded locally: 1946 Pastor: Interim senior pastor Paul Thomton Congregation size: 750 members Staff size: 5 full-time, 3 part-time Sunday school enrollment: 15 Annual budget: $700,000 Weekly giving: $13,500 Singles program: third Sunday …
January 27, 2005
The Fog Thickens
In a booming James Earl Jones voice: When we last left our hero, he had successfully crashed a Pee Wee Herman party. As he walked briskly across the street to another party, he saw the …
January 13, 2005
Pee Wee and Me
"Julia" was always one of my favorite Beatles ballads. Now it would be one of my favorite party people. She called to invite me to her Pee Wee Herman party. I refrained from making a …
January 6, 2005
Fast Times at Clairemont High
A round the time of my ten-year high school reunion, two movies about reunions came out (Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion and Grosse Pointe Blank). I always thought writing about a reunion would be …
November 4, 2004
Navy-Marine Party of Epic Proportions
Most of these guys are stationed at Miramar. A few were from Camp Pendleton. "Most of us were at El Toro, and that's where these parties used to be. A few people are here from Yuma, too."
June 24, 2004
Pacific Beach parties with big boys
Jim's wife brought a bunch of deviled eggs, and I asked Jim how many of those Paul Newman would be able to eat. "I think 84. Wasn't it 42 eggs he ate [in Cool Hand Luke]?"
April 29, 2004
Hapy Birthday
And, along with the same refrigerator Richard has been trying to dump as a grand prize, this year he put a $50 gift certificate inside it to tempt the winner into taking it.
April 22, 2004
Baby Scatters Chips
When Sean Penn finally won his first Oscar (after three previous nominations), a woman asked, "Is there a seven-second delay?" Penn has been known in the past for cussing, and even punching, reporters
March 11, 2004
Best of 2003: Best Bridge Buddies
OK Bridge Club 4655 Cass Street, Pacific Beach www.okbridge.com 858-490-6770 Established in 1994, OK Bridge is the oldest online card players' forum. On the site, members can play bridge with thousands of people worldwide 24 …
December 25, 2003
Best of 2003: Best Open Mic For Performers
Tiki House 1152 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach 858-273-9734 If you think it's time to take your show on the road but lean toward the shy side, take it to the Tiki House in Pacific Beach …
December 25, 2003
Best of 2003: Best Ear Plugs For Your Next Concert
Dietsch's Hearing Aid Center, North Park 3952 30th Street 619-297-4145 (Also El Cajon, Pacific Beach, and Mobile Service) Savvy rock stars order hollow plugs with special filters to protect their ears. They're not going deaf...why …
December 25, 2003
Best of 2003: Best Dive From Down Under
Australian Pub 1014 Grand Avenue, Pacific Beach 858-273-9921 The Australian Pub has been open in P.B. for six years now, and the decor includes Australian flags and World Cup soccer memorabilia intended to invoke a …
December 25, 2003
Best of 2003: Best Paella
Costa Brava 1653 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach 858-273-1218 At Costa Brava, the seafood paella goes into the pan right after (not before) you order it, and it's served to you straight out of the paellera, …
December 25, 2003
Best of 2003: Best Monkfish Liver Appetizer
The Surfside 4527 Mission Boulevard, Pacific Beach 858-273-2979 Monkfish liver is a Japanese delicacy that resembles -- well, it's best described as the duck-liver mousse of the ocean. It shows up only intermittently, usually at …
December 25, 2003
Best of 2003: Best Indian Buffet
Star of India 1820 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach 858-483-1372 It's the freshness of the food and the owners' originality that make this great. They even made their own tandoor -- the oven -- from clay …
December 25, 2003
Best of 2003: Best Inexpensive Massage
School of Healing Arts 1001 Garnet Avenue, Suite 200, Pacific Beach www.schoolof healingarts.com 858-490-2560 At the School of Healing Arts Clinic, they'll knead your body for one hour. The massage therapists are students in the …
December 25, 2003
Best of 2003: Best Hawaiian Goods
Motu Hawaii 4150 Mission Boulevard, Pacific Beach www.motuhawaii.com 858-272-6688 Motu Hawaii offers a full range of authentic leis, handmade in the store from imported Hawaiian flowers. Made from plumeria, tuberose, ginger, ti leaves, and crown …
December 25, 2003