For many months, transients have hunkered down in front of the Albertsons supermarket at 2235 University Avenue in North Park. They panhandle for change and sometimes fall asleep on the sidewalk. After contacting the Albertsons …

An assortment of peaceniks, activists, war veterans, and their families gathered on the Sixth Avenue overpass of Interstate 5 at around 4 p.m. on June 14, Flag Day. They were there, in the words of …

Hey, Matthew: Is there any practical limit to how big passenger planes can get? They seem so huge now, I was just wondering if there’s some top size that they can get to before they …

Imperial Beach’s beaches are not as glamorous as others farther north, but they do include some very secluded stretches of sand, including the one described here, lying within the Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge. To …

When the Sess split up in late 2008, members went on to form Beaters, Ale Mania, and most recently, Shiva Trash. Mark Rivera (guitar/vox) of the Sess joined his girlfriend Lisa Phelps (guitar/vox) of Xerox, …

Mike Elliott’s father disappeared when he was 13 years old. Not disappeared as in vanished mysteriously. Disappeared as in left and never came back. Some 27 years later, on a rainy afternoon, Mike drove through …

Some clichés smell okay, others stink. Whenever I hear a California enthusiast hyperventilating about how the West Coast is culturally “cutting edge” and so “out there,” I remember that the last time David Smith (the …

I see no point in holding back good news, so let’s get right to: Buck There are precious few real heroes in movies. John Wayne was not a hero, he was more a stellar commodity …

On bright, sunny, San Diego days, I often crave a crisp, Ensenada-style fish taco. With apologies to Ralph Rubio — and the popular bar-and-grill that tops their fish tacos with a concoction that includes ranch …

“Henna is usually part of joyful occasions,” explained Wardah Halim of HennaTrendz in Chula Vista (858-366-3374; hennatrendz.com). “Marriages, birthdays, graduations, sweet 16s, bar mitzvahs.” A few of those occasions are in the Kelly family’s near …

“I see Tommy Castro maybe once a year,” says Michael Kinsman, “and he always says, when are we gonna do another blues fest in San Diego?” Castro, a Bay Area blues artist, performed at two …

This would be a Friday night some weeks back, the most recent Friday the 13th, technically not a full moon but close enough for rock and roll. I was walking along C Street, downtown, past …

A few weeks ago, The New York Times had an interesting article about how white rappers had moved from being outsiders in hip-hop to being the people carrying the torch of the old school — …

Critics called A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out electro-dance and emo and vaudeville, but I heard power pop. In many ways, Panic! at the Disco reminded me of the Nerves, a 1970s pre-new-wave band that …

Since it became a modern-rock station eight years ago, FM 94/9 has carried syndicated alternative-oldies show New Wave Nation on Sunday mornings. Hosted by the raspy-voiced Nina Blackwood, the show is dedicated to ’80s-era punk …

The surprise witness identified the defendant right away. “He sits in front of us at the Charger games,” said Sara Anderson. She had video and photographs of him at the game on the night of …

Once again presidential election season is about to begin, with potential GOP candidates jostling for position in a crowded and confusing pack. A few possible contenders have already made their way to San Diego County …

Diego’s Qualcomm Inc. has already spent $1,930,000 on federal lobbying through May 2, according to the website OpenSecrets.org. That’s more or less on the same pace as in 2010, when the cell phone giant spent …

We may not suffer an economic double dip, but we’re in for double trouble, and it could last several more years. Both in the nation and San Diego, recent signs of weakness portend more years …

We’ll start with the University of Southern California (USC) bust. You remember the school criminals: O.J. Mayo (received improper benefits) played college basketball for one year, skipped to the NBA (Memphis Grizzlies), and made $4,456,000 …

Recipe by Anthony Sinsay, executive chef, Harney Sushi, Old Town I come from an Asian and Filipino background. My dad was in the Navy for 17 years and was the cook in our house. He …

Thirty-Five Years Ago<br>Dear Matthew Alice:<br>Why don’t cats have to have licenses?<br>Paul Bloom, Point Loma Dear Paul:<br>Cats in San Diego are clasified “wild animals,” just like opposums and werewolves. Not only does this allow cats to …

David Rinck’s local ties date back to 1981, when the singer/guitarist/sax player cofounded the original Wallflowers. Somewhat punk, a little mod, and always rockin’, the band wrote songs about dangerous San Diego locales of the …

"How can evil and ugliness make a gift of beauty?" When he was six, Asher Lev began noticing the contours and textures of the world. He became alert to shadings of color, to the degrees …

“Wherefore I much marvel why these things are thus turned upside down, and the punishment of wickedness oppresses the good, while evil men obtain the rewards of the good. And I desire to know of …

Can’t Get No Satisfaction Re “I Want Love Now” by Heather Augello (Cover Story, June 9). No matter what you do, you can never make everyone happy! All you can hope to do is do …

I was not born with the mothering bone, so it’s not the young woman my own age on the 48 bus hoisting her off- spring aloft who trains my attention, or catches my heart but …

Attendance: 2400 Pastor: Ed Noble Age: 52 Born: Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Formation: California State University, Long Beach; Biola College (University), La Mirada; Talbot School of Theology, La Mirada Years Ordained: 24 San Diego Reader: How …

I strive to give people the benefit of the doubt; I should know better. My gut tells me people lie and cheat, that they’re selfish and terrible. But then my brain interferes and supersedes, always …