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Stories by Justin Powell

Dandy Warhols dandy but distant

On a rainy December night, the Dandy Warhols rolled into the Belly Up on their Distortland tour. As much as I dig the Dandys, I have to say this latest show in San Diego was …

December 23, 2016
More animals in Pacific Beach?

ReWild Mission Bay gave a presentation in the Midway District on November 18 at the Loma Riviera community room under the auspices of the Friends of Famosa Slough organization. Rebecca Schwartz, the conservation program manager …

December 2, 2015
McCartney: “Out There,” right here

A crowd of 42,000 people descended on East Village and packed Petco Park for Paul McCartney's "Out There" tour. It was a sold-out wall-to-wall love fest. Concertgoers looked blissed out over getting the chance to …

October 3, 2014
Queens highlight this year's Wrex

The annual holiday event known as Wrex the Halls is a production of alt-rock radio station 91X. Usually composed of a smorgasbord of choice acts, 2013's Wrex was an exceptional bill. One attendee told me …

December 13, 2013
Stalled car backs up traffic in Midway District

At around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 7, a Toyota sedan ran out of gas and stalled along Sports Arena Boulevard., near the corner of Midway Drive. As traffic backed up in the Midway District, …

Brush fire on side of Nimitz Boulevard

Police officers and firefighters arrived on the west side of Nimitz Boulevard near West Point Loma Boulevard at around 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 30. A man was sitting on the side of the road …

RV residents chased from Sports Arena parking lots

As authorities in beach areas and on Shelter Island have been cracking down on prolonged parking of motor-homes, some of those RV residents have migrated to the Sports Arena area’s parking lots. However, businesses — …

New Retail construction in Midway District

Temporary fencing went up on the morning of Wednesday, Febuary 27, in a section of the parking lot along the 3200 block of Sports Arena Boulevard, between the Union Bank and Petco in the Midway …

Abuse of Shamu and friends continues, say SeaWorld protesters

It has been about a year since a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit that was filed against SeaWorld for enslaving their marine animals. But a hardy group of animal-abuse protesters did not let that fact …

February 18, 2013
Sidewalk makeover at College Blvd. and Alvarado Rd., at SDSU

A sidewalk makeover at the corner of College Boulevard and Alvarado Road near SDSU is making the congested area more user-friendly for the disabled and those in wheelchairs. Work crews were busy on the morning …

Remodel starts on Ocean Beach’s Apple Tree Market

The new occupants of the old Apple Tree Market that closed in Ocean Beach on December 31 have lost no time in gutting the aged supermarket and getting it ready to become a Foodland store. …

January 7, 2013
House fire in Ocean Beach

On Thursday, December 27, flames broke out in the living room of a house located on the 2300 block of Seaside Street in Ocean Beach. At least a dozen birds died in the blaze. Although …

December 29, 2012
Man’s wheelchair struck by car in Ocean Beach

An elderly man in a wheelchair was clipped by a car in an Ocean Beach crosswalk on Tuesday, December 19, at around 11:00 a.m. As the man crossed Voltaire Street at the Ebers Street intersection, …

December 21, 2012
O.B. Surf & Skate won’t have homeless problem

The Apple Tree Market in Ocean Beach is closing at the end of the year and a new Foodland Market is said to be moving into the 4949 Santa Monica Avenue location. The Hirmez brothers, …

December 20, 2012
No Starbucks Geisha coffee in La Jolla

While at the Starbucks in Pacific Beach this week, I overheard some of the employees saying that the La Jolla Starbucks was selling the new, $7-per-cup "Geisha" coffee. The new brew getting a lot of …

Crash in Barnett Avenue merge lanes

The merge from the 2300 block of Midway Drive where it turns left to become southbound Barnett Avenue in Point Loma did not go so smoothly on the morning of Sunday, December 2. At around …

December 3, 2012
Work Continues on Point Loma High’s Stadium

Behind green shade cloth at Point Loma High School's Bennie Edens Stadium, a snack bar and bathrooms are being built. Due to ongoing construction of the Prop. S–funded project, the field gate on Voltaire Street …

November 19, 2012
Loma Portal Gas Station Robbed

A suspect who robbed a Loma Portal gas station on Wednesday, November 14, at around 10:00 p.m. was still on the loose Thursday afternoon. The Shell gas station on the corner of West Point Loma …

November 15, 2012
Stuck Truck in Midway District

An enormous moving truck was stuck in the Point Loma Villa condos’ driveway in the Midway District on Friday morning, November 9, at around 11:00 a.m. Heavily laden with household items, the T & R …

Baja Ha Ha Sailors Depart San Diego Bay

Dozens of sailboats gathered off Shelter Island in Point Loma on Monday morning, October 29. They were preparing to start the 20th annual Baja Ha Ha race. According to the Port of San Diego website, …

Street Dip Stops Moving Van

U-Haul drama occurred on October 13 at around 10:00 a.m. as an Arizona-license-plated moving van got stuck in the street near the 4400 block of Mentone Street in the Midway District. The steeply inclined dip …

San Diego Police Help Mom in Ocean Beach

Several San Diego police officers arrived at Azucar bakery/café on Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach on October 9 at around noon. Two patrol cars parked in the adjacent gas-station parking lot; two more police cars …

October 11, 2012
La Jolla Villa up for Auction

It's a name-your-own-price auction for an 8400-square-foot custom villa perched on a 140-foot wide oceanfront bluff in La Jolla. New York-based real estate auctioneer Sheldon Good & Company is looking for buyers who might be …

October 5, 2012
Water Main Break in Midway District

Trying to find a parking spot in the Midway District's Loma Square strip mall is difficult even on a good day, with businesses such as Starbucks, Einstein's Bagels, and Jamba Juice occupying storefronts. But there …

September 28, 2012
Car Hits Moped Rider in Point Loma

A female moped rider was critically injured on Wednesday afternoon, September 12, in Point Loma. The woman, reportedly in her 20s, was "heading east on Coronado Avenue when she ran a stop sign at Catalina …

September 12, 2012
Bicyclist Run Over in Midway District

On September 7 at around noon, a man riding a bicycle was hit and run over by a delivery truck in the Dixieline Lumber driveway at 3250 Sports Arena Boulevard. Police responded by blocking off …

Newbreak Church’s New Place in Ocean Beach

Since the year 1917, there has been a house of worship at the corner of Cape May Avenue and Ebers Street in Ocean Beach. On August 25 at 5:00 p.m., the latest holy incarnation debuted …

August 28, 2012
Ocean Beach Entrance Sign Under Attack!

The OB Rag recently reported how bad things have gotten for the Ocean Beach entrance sign located on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. "The OB entryway sign is under attack — by termites and the weather. The …

August 21, 2012
Car Fire Under Lindbergh Field Flight Path

A late-model Toyota Corolla with Oregon license plates caught fire in the 2500 block of Pacific Highway at around 10:00 a.m. on August 9. The blue-gray car's engine looked to have exploded and the auto's …

August 10, 2012
Embers Out, Las Olas Rolling to Midway District?

The long -shuttered Embers Grill, previously located at 3924 West Point Loma Boulevard in the Midway Towne Center, is being remodeled for a new tenant. While shopping in the area recently, I noticed construction activity. …

Buy Chicken, Enjoy Kiss-In at Restaurant in Midway District

Chick-fil-A, the low-key fast food restaurant located at 3570 Sports Arena Boulevard, may get some undesired attention on Wednesday, August 1. Gay-marriage proponents, upset over the stance that Chick-fil-A CEO Dan T. Cathy took on …

“Safe Access Now!” Shout Pro-Pot Protesters at Downtown Rally

An estimated 50 people showed up in front of the downtown Federal Courthouse on Wednesday, July 25, to protest the closing of medical marijuana dispensaries countywide. The rally, held at noon, was directed against federal …

Photographer Attacked by Pit Bull in Ocean Beach

In October 2009, local photographer Jim Grant witnessed and photographed the shooting of a pit bull that was running loose at the Ocean Beach farmers’ market. San Diego police tried to corral the dog but …

New Off-Road Bicycle Park for Ocean Beach?

Freeride Famosa, the group behind the effort to create a bicycle park in Ocean Beach is gaining momentum, according to an article published last month in the Peninsula Beacon. The organization has asked the San …

Biker Down in Ocean Beach

Memorial Day 2012 will be memorable for a motorcyclist who was hit by a car at around 11:00 a.m. in the 2200 block of Catalina Boulevard near Whittier Street. Dave Stephens was "headed to the …

Rock Church’s Pastor McPherson on TV Too Much?

Pastor Miles McPherson of the Rock Church in Liberty Station went to lengths to reassure his flock on May 20. Apparently, the high-profile mega-church leader faced criticism for being too busy being all over the …

Suspect Stabs Then Goes to Rob Pills from Walgreens

A 34-year-old man was arrested at the Walgreens store located at 3005 Midway Drive early Saturday, May 5, after he allegedly stabbed another person in the head at a nearby apartment complex. The suspect also …

Ron Paul Criticizes DEA for Lockup of UCSD Student

Presidential candidate Ron Paul paid a visit to the UCSD campus on the evening of May 4, attracting an estimated 3500 supporters, mostly students. UCSD’s Youth for Ron Paul group invited the Texas Republican to …

May 6, 2012
Gas Pipeline Ruptured in Midway District

A gas leak snarled lunchtime traffic in the Midway District on May 1. As police and fire department personnel blocked the area off, safety officials ordered brief evacuations of the Sports Arena Home Depot store …

LAX Planespotting

Southern California airplane buffs and planespotters flock to Imperial Hill in El Segundo – a picturesque spot overlooking Los Angeles Int'l Airport. This windy overlook at the corner of E. Imperial Ave. and Sheldon St. …

Native Plants Create Wildlife Haven in Midway District

Signs of a native spring can be found in the vacant lot on the corner of Kenyon and Kemper streets in the Midway District. According to a sign posted at the site, the San Diego …

Point Loma Seafoods Builds New Lighthouse, Reopens

Point Loma Seafoods reopened its newly refurbished building on March 19. The eatery and seafood market — open since 1963 — had moved to a nearby temporary location while their premises underwent a major remodel. …

March 23, 2012
Rock Church Opens in San Marcos

The Rock Church of Liberty Station celebrated the opening of its North County location on Sunday, March 18. From its temporary sanctuary in Carlsbad, the popular mega-church moved to a permanent location in San Marcos. …

National Day of Action for Education at Mesa College

On March 1, students and faculty members at three local college campuses took part in the National Day of Action for Education. Walk-outs were staged at City College, SDSU, and UCSD. Student rallies decried higher …

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