I wanted to be the Julia Child of the art world. I would bring fabulous art and artists into your living room — inspiration was on its way! How hard could it be to get …

Tuesday night, January 10, the Chula Vista City Council wrangled for four hours over whether or not the chamber of commerce (aka the Tourism Marketing District) was doing an adequate job promoting motel/hotel businesses. Finally, …

The holiday cards started coming in around this time last month. I'd gone through dad's directory and contacted as many of his acquaintances as I could, informing them that he'd passed away in June. Still, …

Title: Hoppin’ ‘Round the World Address: hrtw.blogspot.com Author: Captain Pegleg From: Oceanside Blogging since: October 2011 Post Title: Prosthetic “Parity” in California Has a Long Way to Go Post Date: Saturday, December 31, 2011 In …

We spent an afternoon testing black tea in anticipation of my mother-in-law’s annual visit. Husband Patrick was assisting. The salesman at La Mesa’s All Things Bright and British said that it’s important to prepare tea …

If I’d known then what I know now, I might have stuck to life east of the I-5. I swear, what a hike. I get off the Blue Line trolley at 24th Street, National City. …

San Diego Reader food critic Naomi Wise (Joan Golomb Goodwin) 1945–2011 ★★★★★ (Superb) Ratings reflect the reviewers' affinity for the critic and reaction to food, ambience, and service. December 14, 2011 We all gathered around …

San Diego native Gary Ra’chac spent several years working at Tasha’s Music downtown before becoming a singer-songwriter and radio personality. His songs have been recorded by Ray Brandes and Nick Castro & the Young Elders. …

The term “dive bar” is thrown around pretty loosely these days and, not unlike “dude,” “epic,” and “excessive force,” the essential meaning has been all but lost. Enter Tobacco Rhoda’s. Famous for its Filipina bartenders …

According to bar manager Christian Siglin, the powers that be at Craft & Commerce have banished vodka. “A lot of people aren’t used to fresh ingredients and strong flavors,” he says. “That’s why we don’t …

Director Xavier Durringer imagines the political ascent of French president Nicolas Sarkozy. There is a touch of vulgar whimsy in the way the politicians phrase their frustration: “First the press licks you, then tricks you, …

Katherine Harroff Artistic director of theater company, circle2dot2.com The Royal Tenenbaums is an old favorite of mine that I’m continuously fascinated with and drawn to. I love Wes Anderson as a cinematic artist for his …

“The San Diego scene for our sound is all right,” says Beejay Buduan, guitarist and songwriter in Clockart, over coffee at Twiggs on Park Boulevard. “It’s more of a rock city. It was getting pretty …

The Dirt Daubers came to be because the organizers of the Raindance film festival in London couldn’t afford airfare for the Legendary Shack Shakers. Colonel J.D. Wilkes is a member of both bands. “It started …

The garage rock bands of the ’60s weren’t meant to last. Typically, they played a bunch of shows, cut a single or two, and then the members went off to college, marriage, or Vietnam. Modern …

If you look you can find some San Diego in Saturday’s 49ers/New Orleans playoff game. This, by the way, is as close to the NFL playoffs as we’re likely to get as long as Norv, …

“I had to wait for my contract to expire with [TV talent show] Platinum Hit, but my sophomore album Space.Bar.Love is finally being released,” says singer/songwriter Amber Ojeda. Though she didn’t win the Bravo network …

“I had sent him a text around 1:30 in the afternoon.” Lemon Grove prog-rocker Andy Gorman needed a bass player, and Gorman wanted Tim Garcia for the date. That was Thursday, December 22. “I told …

Hellhole Canyon Open Space Preserve east of Valley Center is a valuable resource for wildlife, hikers, and equestrians, with running water, a scenic canyon, and spring wildflowers. It is a place to learn about the …

Heymatt: I’m saving up vacation days at work so I can go into space. Who’s been up there longest, and does he have any tips for how to enjoy such a vacay? — Rocket Man, …

Last week, Sweetwater’s interim superintendent Ed Brand suspended the Funds for Education Committee, saying, “I can stop the grief right here.” This is the second time Brand’s private-sector fund-raising efforts have ended in controversy. Brand …

Last week’s revelation that San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders proceeded with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Stadium promotion even though the office of city attorney Jan Goldsmith said the gambit was illegal has drawn little public comment from …

The United States and San Diego economies should muddle through in 2012 — growing very slowly — unless an economic civil war of sorts erupts in Europe. It’s already rumbling and could cause a global …

South Bay Democratic assemblyman Marty Block, ramping up for a run for state senate this year, has shut down his old assembly campaign committee but not before making a final payment of $5000 to legendary …

Jerry Seinfeld had been a favorite in my mother's household ever since his hit TV show first aired in the late ’80s. Our favorite part was always the stand-up routine that opened and closed the …

Key concept for 21st-century Vince (Clarke) & Andy (Bell): convergence. That's right, everything's getting closer together, in the mix, in the lyrics, and not so as to stumble and fall, but so as to stand …

Membership: 65 Affiliation: Christian Reformed Church Interim Pastor: Adam Stout Age: 32 Born: Davenport, Iowa Formation: One year of Yucatán, Mexico, mission work; Calvin College and Calvin Theology Seminary, Grand Rapids, Mich. (2010). San Diego …

Better Bookie Service Being a longtime sports bettor and onetime bookie, I took interest in “My Bookie Says, ‘Meet Me at Arby’s” (Cover Story, January 5). Overall, it’s a good account of the small-time bettor. …

Concentration’s shot, my mind is full of light, my fingers smell deeper than honey. My heart is in my thighs, my groin — you don’t even want to know — it’s in my knees, my …