Opera fathers
Garrett Harris 12:36 a.m., June 19
North Park Stories
Social Club
Social Club, of North Park, has invented a new genre they call “pull.” “It’s a really bad name,” says John Levan. He fronts the band, writes most of the lyrics, and sings most of the ...
Of nostalgia for a city
A realization on the Coronado bridge.
A former North Park resident returns to San Diego and realizes the choices he made five years ago are what forced him to leave.
North Park/University Heights residents host “Cookies with the Cops”
Area sees 17 percent drop in crime
A group of North Park/University Heights residents gathered at the intersection of Texas and Polk streets on May 15 at 6 p.m. for an informal meeting with three San Diego Police Department officers. The “Cookies ...
The Power Seat
Terri shimmied toward the car — shimmied, because there was no way she could get one whole leg in front of another. The only wiggle-room she had was from the shin down, where her long, ...
Coco's Restaurant in North Park is kaput
Wasn't kayoed by nearby “retro” restaurant
Closed down for a couple of months now, the empty Coco's Bakery Restaurant at 2644 El Cajon Boulevard in North Park is still hoping for a new leaseholder. The Coco's in Corona del Mar, California ...
AT&T building still a “public nuisance” in North Park?
Homeless sleep on premises amid graffiti, trash, and urine
The unused AT&T (formerly Pacific Bell) building in North Park continues to have homeless transients, graffiti, the smell of urine, and trash. The fortress-like structure — a perfect canvas for taggers — is located at ...
San Diego Musical Theatre presents a killer diller Chicago at the Birch in North Park
San Diego Musical Theatre’s knock-out production of Bob Fosse’s Chicago must close Sunday, March 3. If you like your entertainment steamy, decadent — and all that jazz — then sprint, don’t just run, to the ...
North Park’s Bodhi Animal Clinic gets new vets
Practice sold after $3M renovation
The Bodhi Veterinary Clinic and Animal Hospital at 2200 University Avenue in North Park has changed hands. The new owner is Tracy Dowdy, CVPM (certified veterinary practice manager). The purchase price was not disclosed. After ...
North Park Main Street update
Office remodel, financial snapshot
It appeared North Park Main Street, a business improvement district established by the City of San Diego, might be moving. Last month on two walkabouts it was dark inside, boxes and pictures were strewn about, ...
I try to never wear the same thing twice
“When people ask what my favorite decade is, my answer is ‘Now.’”
Tweed Ride includes penny farthings, costumes, and grand piano
Jolly good time, indeed
San Diego took a step back in time on Sunday, December 9, as over 125 people of all ages donned vintage clothing and rode old-school bikes in the fourth annual San Diego Tweed Ride. It ...
Pat's punted
“Hipsters” blamed for North Park gentrification
"It's a mom-and-pop operation with just Mom," says Pat (last name withheld) of North Park antique-and-collectible shop Pat's Corner. The boutique has been at its current location on 30th and Upas for eight years, offering ...
San Diego Restaurants to Try at Least Once
Even if it weren’t my job to go out and look for new places to eat, I still wouldn’t be able to eat the same thing over and over again. I rarely visit any place ...
- 2012 Feast Issue
- Del Mar
- East Village
- Encinitas
- La Jolla
- Little Italy
- Mission Hills
- Mission Valley
- North Park
- Rancho Bernardo
Accessible Gourmet Fare
Mid-range restaurants, gastropubs, and shops taking things to the next level.
Nowadays, I spend much of my time eating in restaurants or locked up in my office documenting those experiences. But before I wrote my first word about food, most of my time was spent in ...
More Than the Dish or the Deal
Restaurants you can take to heart.
There are some places that you kinda take to heart. They’re more than the dish or the deal. Something clicks about the people and the place, and you want to come back and be a part of it. These are just some.
Restaurants for Hardworking Foodie Freelancers
A roundup of eateries that are open when you, the hardworking foodie freelancer, need them to be.
North Park Could Blend with East San Diego
The demolition of an auto shop in East San Diego brings optimism and worry.
A Minute with Todd Gloria in North Park
District 3 councilmember Todd Gloria walked up 30th Street in North Park on September 15, with some constituents tagging along, to test a new Android app called “BestWALK” from WalkSanDiego. The free app (downloadable here) ...
Seven Grand — A Whiskey Selection Beyond Killer
There’s no room for shoulder angels at Seven Grand. They already had their share. They’re afraid of the tartan carpet and the dark wood paneling. They panic at the sight of the wall of whiskey. ...
New “Bike Corral” for North Park
Now there is even more convenient parking for cyclists near North Park's Ray Street Art District; a new “bicycle corral" has been installed at the southwest corner of 30th Street and North Park Way, next ...
Woolworth Building Renovation on Hold
When the city still had its Redevelopment Agency, the empty Woolworth building at 3067 University Avenue was acquired for $1,950,000. North Park Gateway and 31st Street LLC were chosen to develop the structure into a ...
Planning Commission Denies Jack in the Box’s North Park Project
The San Diego Planning Commission voted on August 23 to deny the demolition and reconstruction of the Jack in the Box at 2959 Upas Street in North Park. The corporation sought to "demolish an existing ...
The Story Store
Hang on. We must have it somewhere. We've got everything.
Author John Brizzolara interviews thrift-store magnate Jeff Clark.
North Park Eyesore to Become Irish Pub?
North Park has a few empty stores, including the long-vacant old Woolworth building at 3067 University Avenue. But a worse eyesore is at 3020 University Avenue, next to the cigarette store at 3018 University. The ...
North Park Prowler Gets Away
Police are reminding residents to keep their doors and windows locked in the North Park area after a burglar evaded arrest late early Tuesday morning, July 10. A burglar was reportedly busy around Idaho Street ...
North Park ElderHelp Facility to Get a Makeover
With financial assistance from block grants and fundraising , Elderhelp of San Diego will be getting an extreme makeover of their facility. The 501(c)(3) non-profit public benefit corporation received a new five-year lease from the ...
No One Cares About Being Cool
An outsider is permitted to experience a variety of San Diego social clubs from the inside.
Johnny's R Restaurant Sign Stops Spinning
The big revolving sign outside Johnny's R Restaurant at 2611 El Cajon Boulevard has stopped spinning. The inexpensive family restaurant, originated by Johnny Raizian, had a run of more than 30 years in North Park. ...
Zelda's Place
The waiter at Street Side Thai Kitchen set the Garden Fish ($19.95) down in the middle of the table. A crispy orb peeked from beneath a fringe of cilantro. Freshly sliced tomatoes lined one side ...
West Coast Superfood
“You might say it’s the French thing versus the German thing.”
Tiger! Tiger! Yeah, yeah, craft beer…and mushroom-lentil sandwiches?
Graffiti in North Park by Invisible Children Supporters?
Invisible Children, Inc., is the San Diego nonprofit company that created a video on Joseph Kony's rebel war in Central Africa. The video has reportedly garnered over 100 million views, but the organization may have ...
Two Toronados
The word Toronado carries a lot of meaning in West Coast craft-beer circles. For San Franciscans, it’s the name of a bar in the Lower Haight, where the stock has consisted of fine beer for ...
North Park Volunteer Patrol Will Target Rowdiness Outside Bars
At a March 13 meeting at the Lafayette Hotel, the North Park Community Association sponsored a meeting at which the Stonewall Citizens' Patrol presented their plans to expand into the North Park area. The volunteer ...
Saucy Since 1967
The first North Park Little League team meeting of the new season had ended at Morley Field, and we were starving. “Mom! Tonight’s the fundraiser for my school at Paesano’s. Can we go there?” I ...
Let’s Build an Even Bigger Jack in the Box in North Park
Christi Nail has spent thousands of dollars on double-pane windows to keep out the noise and wooden shutters to block out the headlights. She is thinking of building a concrete retaining wall to ward off ...
Tobacco Rhoda’s
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 ...
Champion Chew
“When you look in a gecko’s ear, you can see clear out the other side. True or [not]?”
"More people worldwide are killed by donkeys than die in plane crashes every year. True, or shit?” Tom’s standing on the stage where the band Napoleon Complex will be playing later tonight. This is Wednesday ...
Labor Ready Storefront in North Park Closes Shop
The Labor Ready office at 2884 University Avenue closed on December 27. A sign posted on the door stated: “This office will be closed until further notice.” It says to contact their branch at 1021 ...
Wang's North Park Restaurant Plans “Soft” Opening
While a little behind the planned opening date (but said to be right on budget), Wang's North Park restaurant will have a “soft opening” on November 21, said co-owner and operator Joel Herzer in a ...
Caltrans Deems Georgia Street Bridge Deficient
The San Diego City Council on November 1 approved an amended agreement with Simon Wong Engineering for services on the Georgia Street Bridge renovation. This will add an additional payment of $493,000, boosting the firm's ...
San Diego's Cardrooms Allowed to Add Tables
The San Diego City Council on October 18 unanimously approved the increase of tables from nine to eleven at the remaining two cardrooms in San Diego. This proposal was sanctioned last August by the Bureau ...
Alleged Bank of America Official Threatens Protester
Hearing about an October 11 demonstration at the Bank of America branch on University Avenue at 31st Street, I dropped by. Not connected with the Occupy San Diego movement, this protest was connected to the ...
Jamaican Promise at La Crêperie
“Bacon, avocado, cheese... Back in Tunis, Brittany, they’d freak out at that.”
The sun slants in through the venetian blinds, casting angled stripes across Christine’s arms and face. She’s wearing a striped dress, too, so it’s kinda cute. She’s chatting away with her old school buddy, Cathy, ...
City Heights, now East North Park
“I vowed long ago never to move east of route 805!” my friend C.C. admonished me when I told him I was looking for an apartment in an affordable area. My first choice was North ...
Redwing Bar & Grill
I’ve always enjoyed gay dives because the mood tends to outshine that of neighboring, dimly lit hipster hangouts. Nowhere is this accute sense of festivity more apparent than karaoke nights at Redwing Bar and Grill ...
Slo Jam at New Expression
Directed by Chris Aquavella, 14 mandolin players and three guitarists pluck and strum the poignant notes of “La Frisonette.” Avoiding the black-and-white depictions of Robert Johnson and Leadbelly lining the walls, I imagine sitting in ...
North Park’s Pilot Perpendicular Parking Project
Within the past few weeks, a perpendicular, or “head-in,” parking project has been completed in the 4300 block of Kansas Street, north of El Cajon Boulevard. The project was initiated by the Mid City Community ...
Claire World
“I have this dream,” Claire Magner says, looking around the partially renovated insides of the Sunset Temple. “I’m really gonna make this Claire World.” If all goes according to plan, the 300-seat meeting hall on ...
