The Starbucks on Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach recently posted a sign that directed non-customers to use restrooms at nearby businesses. When the sign was posted on the restroom door earlier this week, someone asked …
February 18, 2017
Back to profile
Stories by Delinda Lombardo
< Newer stories
Older stories >
Coffee's king rankles in Ocean Beach
Longtime local business closes on Newport Avenue
After 16 years, Lola Luna women’s clothing boutique in Ocean Beach will close its doors at the end of February, as they have opted to not renew their lease. Owner Kimberly Johnson and longtime employee …
February 11, 2017
Post-rain O.B. bluff crumble
Two properties just south of the Ocean Beach Pier lost their bluffs over the weekend, dropping large boulders, wooden planks, and debris on the sandstone below. Pelican Point apartment complex, located at 5107 Narragansett Avenue, …
January 30, 2017
Interview with a dreamcatcher maker
Before heading out of O.B. to a gem show in Arizona, Christian Fischer explained how he became a fabricator of dreamcatchers. “I moved out here from Wisconsin and there was a point where I felt …
January 20, 2017
Ambitious slack-liners under O.B. Pier
Last week, what looked like red "caution" tape was strung up between two pilings at the far end of the Ocean Beach Pier, a few feet above the water line. “No there wasn’t any danger…someone …
January 15, 2017
Car-creeper suspect disrupted
On Wednesday morning (January 10), "Jane" went outside to her car in Point Loma and found it had been ransacked — and the perpetrator was still inside. “She was just sitting there, with the window …
January 15, 2017
Low tide reveals Marine's remains at Sunset Cliffs
You never know what you’re going to find at low tide along the coast — sea-glass, coins, wallets, and sunglasses aren't so out of the ordinary. On Sunday afternoon, Frank Gaffney found something rather unique. …
January 10, 2017
O.B. graffiti queen not too Sharpie
In early October 2016, residents in Ocean Beach began complaining on Facebook about graffiti that started appearing everywhere around town. “Has anyone been noticing this 'Mama Bear' person tagging up the seawall and memorial benches …
January 4, 2017
Worries over monster eucalyptus in Loma Portal
Shelly Schwartlander has been living at the Point Loma Tennis Club since 1991. The complex, built in 1968, sits on 13 acres and has approximately 260 trees of many different species. But it’s the eucalyptus …
December 29, 2016
Can't you smell that smell in Ocean Beach?
Residents in Ocean Beach and Loma Portal woke up this morning (December 22) to a mysterious odor hanging in the damp air. Over the course of an hour, dozens of people reported the smell via …
December 22, 2016
Shot at the O.B. pier the old-fashioned way
On Monday morning (December 12), Scott Basile was set up with an unusual camera to take photos of the pier in Ocean Beach. “I was just about to pour another plate and get it rolling …
December 13, 2016
O.B. park treehouse lacked only walls
San Diego County’s Regional Task Force on Homeless estimated in January 2016 that there were 8692 homeless people in San Diego. And while many are living in tents and on sidewalks, Ocean Beach has some …
December 9, 2016
A grocery store for downtown Ocean Beach
In 1988, Apple Tree Market took over the space used by Safeway at the corner of Cable Street and Santa Monica Avenue in Ocean Beach. The market served the community until about a year after …
December 2, 2016
A window for Ocean Beach's Pac Shores? NO!
Back in September of this year, OBecians expressed concern about Pacific Shores — a Newport Avenue "dive bar," according to many — installing a front window. Known for its darkness, black lights, and cave-like feel, …
November 22, 2016
Willie's Shoe Shine must move
For over 30 years, Willie’s Shoe Shine has been on the southwest corner of Cable Street and Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach. Now his shack being replaced by a coffee cart. Willie is being forced …
November 21, 2016
How much is that doggie on the streetcorner?
On November 3rd, Lisandra Antonio was at work in Hillcrest when a client of hers came in and asked her to help "save" a puppy from a man who was trying to selling it. “My …
November 7, 2016
Did Ocean Beach coyote do it?
Raccoons are everywhere in Ocean Beach, so much so, that on any given night, you can find at least several scavenging in the neighborhood, turning over garbage cans and hanging from the trees. I’ve even …
October 14, 2016
Dog tossed off Sunset Cliffs
The photos were posted at approximately 7:40 p.m. Saturday evening (September 17) on the Ocean Beach Facebook group page — well, the screen shot of the photo was posted, due to the original photo being …
September 19, 2016
Missing kangaroo pelt recovered in O.B.
On Monday (September 12), Buck sent out an SOS on the O.B. Facebook group page asking if anyone had found his missing kangaroo pelt. By the end of the day, owner and pelt were reunited, …
September 16, 2016
Unexplained explosion explained in Ocean Beach
On August 22 at about 7 p.m., San Diego Police Department cruisers, fire and rescue vehicles, and SDG&E crews responded a complaint of a natural-gas odor in a garage located near Santa Cruz and Del …
August 26, 2016
Ocean Beach lemonade stand tops $100 in profits
About ten weeks ago, six-year-old Dylan Rodrigues told his parents that he really wanted a hundred-dollar bill. His parents, Holly Raines and Marco Rodrigues, told him — somewhat jokingly — that he better get to …
August 12, 2016
Sgt. Yu and yoga to occupy O.B.
Over the years, Ocean Beach has earned a reputation as a panhandlers' paradise, with aggressive groups of travelers and homeless taking over the beaches, seawall, and parks that used to be frequented by locals and …
August 2, 2016
Point Loma prowler about-faces in wee hours
On the night of July 30, "Jane" was battling the flu, but when she awoke in the early-morning hours, she noticed what she thought "could have been a potential crime." She shared her story via …
August 1, 2016
It's his truck, it's his life, it's his life-truck
At first glance I thought, OMG what the...? As I drew closer, the details of the truck, covered bumper-to-bumper with...things, came into focus. Decorative crystals; butterflies; owls; wind chimes; ceramic dogs, ducks, pigs; fishing buoys; …
June 21, 2016
Ocean Beach seawall graffiti problem continues
Ocean Beach residents have been asked to report graffiti and tagging that occurs along the Sunset Cliffs seawall, from south of the Ocean Beach Pier to Orchard Street via the city’s Street Division online reporting …
June 11, 2016
Sunset gunfire with a side of stabbing in O.B.
Tuesday night’s sunset in Ocean Beach was interrupted by a gunshot and stabbing after an altercation broke out at Santa Cruz Cove. “I could see it out my window,” wrote resident Jeremy Borum on Facebook. …
May 26, 2016
Tagger nabbed in the act in Ocean Beach
At 3:45 in the afternoon on May 18 a tagger went to work on the seawall at the end of Del Monte Avenue in Ocean Beach. The local who witnessed the event (“Alex”) said, “I …
May 19, 2016
Anybody seen an Indian ring-neck around Point Loma?
On April 19, Kristin Choi’s parrot flew away — but he’s not any parrot, he’s Booberry, an Indian ring-neck parrot, aka a rose-ringed parrot, a breed that is well known for their intelligence and speaking …
May 13, 2016
O.B. gull's piercing definitely not intentional
Speculation arose recently on an Ocean Beach Facebook page as to what happened to a gull on the pier that had its tongue protruding out of the bottom of his beak. It's not the first …
May 5, 2016
Where are the cops when you need them in Ocean Beach?
On February 28, a longtime Ocean Beach resident, “Alex,” says she called 911 to ask for help after a “tweaked-out guy” parked in a private lot and was drinking alcohol and "sucking on his pipe." …
April 30, 2016
Car windows smashed in Ocean Beach
Monday morning (April 25), residents along the 4800 block of Coronado Avenue in Ocean Beach woke up to find their cars had been vandalized in what appeared to be a drive-by smashing of windows between …
April 26, 2016
Suspicious seagulls in Ocean Beach
Anyone recognize this innocent looking guy? He’s wanted in connection to a series of attempted break-ins (or should I say beak-ins?) around Ocean Beach. Gulls are well known as clever birds: they learn, remember, and …
April 25, 2016
Black tar balls rolls on to Ocean Beach
Ranging in size from a pebble to a quarter, sticky black tar balls have been washing ashore along the beaches in Ocean Beach since yesterday (March 30). The balls are sticking to feet and have …
March 31, 2016
Good news/bad news for bees
Bee colonies have been dying at such alarming rate that even Honey Nut Cheerios has temporarily done away with their bee mascot Buzz in an effort to raise awareness. So what to do? Jesse Adcock, …
March 24, 2016
Get a reward for nabbing a tagger
Over the past few years, the sandstone cliffs and similarly colored retaining walls in Ocean Beach have been plagued by graffiti and tagging. The City of San Diego has a rewards program if you nab …
March 16, 2016
Freak bir-bir-bird hangs at beach
On March 1, a medium-sized brown-and-white bird was spotted on Lotus Street in O.B. Some thought it to be a variety of vulture or a tumbler pigeon but it mostly closely resembles a Jacobin pigeon. …
March 7, 2016
Graffiti backs up citizens to the seawall
Over the past few years, the sandstone cliffs and similarly colored retaining walls in Ocean Beach have been plagued by graffiti and tagging. The City of San Diego has a rewards program if you nab …
March 1, 2016
Gas pump gives bad vibe
There have been recent reports of possible credit-card data skimming occurring at the gas stations in Ocean Beach. According to numerous folks in O.B., after purchasing gas by “swiping at the pump,” they soon noticed …
February 25, 2016
Magic castles made of sand in O.B.
Syd and Spike have been drawing a daily crowd along the seawall in Ocean Beach lately with their impressive sand sculptures. They’ve built an O.B. sandcastle, a mermaid lounging on the wall, and, the most …
February 4, 2016
So, this monkey walks into a grocery store...
On Wednesday evening (December 2), the folks at Barons Market on West Point Loma Boulevard had a special shopper wander into their store. According to the Facebook post, a marmoset "just ran into Barons and …
December 3, 2015