North End Lounge open in Little Italy
Busalacchi group replaces L'Angolino with a flashier, seafood-centric version of itself.
Apparently, the Busalacchi-owned L’Angolino North End Lounge wasn’t cutting it. The successful group, which seems to comprise half the restaurants in Little Italy, gave the former “little corner” a facelift. NE Lounge (1971 India Street), presumably for the “north end” …
Origins: James Cameron's Piranha Part 2: The Spawning
The 1981 sequel was Cameron's first feature-length outing as a director.
Hello, and welcome to Origins, a look back at the early work of noted directors, with a special emphasis on how those early efforts foreshadowed what came later. I can't think of a better first subject for this column than …
Chula Vista from boom to bust to boom
Forbes calls Chula Vista "Second Fastest-Growing City Since Recession;" Growth Oversight Commission's report on fire, libraries, police and traffic
The Millenia project in Chula Vista broke ground September 26 only a short time after Forbes magazine called the city the second fastest-growing in the United States. The Forbes article looked at cities with a population of 200,000 or more …
Ace in La Mesa!
Ex-Kiss rocker spotted getting his antique on in the Village.
"I have a funny story for you," California Rangers drummer Jim Dougherty emails. "I was in La Mesa a couple of Mondays ago, just doing some errands. I walked past an antique shop (he confirms it was Park Estate on …
Predator drone maker and pot foe throws down for San Diego GOP
Uranium miner General Atomics, maker of deadly drones and other high-tech battle gear, joins the war for San Diego mayor
U-T San Diego publisher Douglas Manchester, the well-heeled Republican hotel magnate and associate of the conservative Koch brothers, has just received some more big time conservative reinforcement in his mayoral proxy war with San Diego's richest man, billionaire Obama Democrat …
Street, Padres blow last game of season in San Francisco
Leading by four runs, Padres pitching can’t hold off the Giants and lose in the last frame
Huston Street isn’t perfect, although he is extremely dependable as a closer, and he didn’t have his best stuff on Sunday. The Padres squandered a 6-2 lead and let the Giants come back and beat them 7-6 in walk-off fashion …
Dragon Rojo roars no more
Landmark Tijuana cantina closes doors in Zona Norte.
Historic Tijuana cantina Dragon Rojo closes its mural-incrusted doors on Monday, September 30. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru4aGSzYw9E Originally opened in 1977, The Red Dragon is located just west of the tacky arch/clock monument on Revolucion, where the jubilant abandon of Plaza Santa Cecilia …
Fresh Sound presents Ian David Rosenbaum, Oct. 1
Rosenbaum will perform on marimba and other percussion instruments at Bread & Salt.
Adventurous music promoter Bonnie Wright continues her dynamic concert series Fresh Sound with an evening of solo percussion by Ian David Rosenbaum on Oct. 1 at Bread & Salt, located at 1955 Julian Ave, at 8 pm. This is the …
Unions have given $560,000 in nine days to pro-David Alvarez committee
Most will be spent on polling and television ad buys; ads began airing this weekend.
Update: The Working Families for a Better San Diego added $22,000 to their television ad budget. San Diego's unions are united behind councilmember David Alvarez and are putting up major cash as a sign of their support. In the past …
The Standells with Johnny Echols of Love at the Adams Avenue Street Fair September 28
Reunited 1960's era garage rockers The Standells performed at the Adams Avenue Street Fair on September 28, joined for the last few numbers by guitarist Johnny Echols of Love. Five photos.
Legendary sixties garage rockers, The Standells, with guest guitarist Johnny Echols of Love, topped the bill on the first day of the 2013 Adams Avenue Street Fair. The Standells' current incarnation includes founding keyboardist Larry Tamblyn, mid-Sixties bassist John Fleck, …
Long balls helps the Padres past the Giants
Padres even the last series of the season at San Francisco
On Friday the Giants used the home run as their primary weapon and on Saturday the Padres turned the tables. Using 3 home runs as part of a 16-hit attack, San Diego downed San Francisco 9-3. Each side scored a …
SD Union birthday party with Photek
SD Union's MC Ridda celebrates cakeday with British drum and bass boss
Having just celebrated three years of mulit-genre bass and Amen breaks, SD Union organizer and resident MC Tyler ‘Ridda’ Rosier is celebrating his own birthday with legendary British producer Photek. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYsY4wYMQe8 Nominated for a Grammy 2 years in a row …
Giants best Padres and clubs tie for third place
Burch Smith gave up three bombs to Giants hitters and the Padres lose
Burch Smith (pictured) is like this great casserole dish you just know is going to turn out fantastic. The ingredients are promising and the recipe has been followed to the letter, and so you put that Corningware full of awesome …
Kornel Fekete-Kovacs Quintet live
Long, loose interpretations of classic material with lots of improvisation.
Hungarian trumpeter/flugelhornist Kornel Fekete-Kovacs blew into Dizzy's on Sept. 26, fronting a red-hot band comprised of LA pianist Mike Garson, flutist Lori Bell, bassist Bob Magnusson and drummer Duncan Moore for a night of loose improvisation on mostly standard material. …
Holy mole! Is this the center of the mole universe?
Ed gets drunk on Mole Poblano, yards from the border fence
You can call this every cliché in the book...the hidden jewel, the Shangri-Là, whatever. Fact is right here, yards south of the border... http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/sep/27/53838/ ...in the Casa del Mole (543 Aquiles Serdan, Colonia Libertad, 011.52.664.682-9074) delivers mole poblano like I've …
Coastal Commission staff says "No" on convention center expansion
The commission considers the matter Oct. 10
In a 24-page report, the staff of the California Coastal Commission recommended a "No" vote on the planned $520 million convention center expansion. The commission will take up the matter at a meeting Oct. 10. " The [proposal] will result …
The Tacoburger: Part Five
Downtown's Blind Burro puts an upscale twist on the humble tacoburger.
Nobody ever said the tacoburger would be forever relegated to plebian restaurants. Nothing stops high-concept ventures from mining taco shop culture and developing a next-generation burger for the upwardly mobile. In the restaurants Downtown, some of which are as far …
Review: I Am Divine: The True Story of the Most Beautiful Woman in the World
Pink Flamingos was my Rocky Horror Picture Show. Every weekend for 52 consecutive weeks you’d find me parked 4th row center inside Chicago’s crumbling Devon Theatre for a midnight screening. I dragged every one of my friends to see it …