Contrary to popular belief, there is surf to be had off New York City. Just as one can purchase a bagel (or passable facsimile) in San Diego, one can ride a wave off Queens. It's …

Two weeks before the Super Bowl, the conference championship games were played to determine what teams would make it to the big dance. Paul, a guy I know from my fantasy football league, thought he'd …

If you see some silk-suited slicker snooping around your favorite taco shop, he's probably from Wall Street. The investment community has gone gaga over so-called fast-casual Mexican restaurants, and two San Diego-based public companies, Jack …

In 1997, after six years of planning, the City of San Diego adopted the Multiple Species Conservation Program. The program proposed that 52,012 acres of undeveloped City land be set aside and maintained in perpetuity …

Air war With San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders's privatization and pension-reform measures barreling through the city council, November 2006 is shaping up as one of the busiest ballot seasons in memory. Adding to the lucre …

'I actually broke the story in the state. Pretty nice for your first time out.'

'I read the news. I know our foreign trade deficit and levels of credit card debt are at historic highs. People tend to talk about these things as if they were something new, some sort …

Some weeks back I wrote about yet another one of my many minor complaints. More annoyances than problems really, meaningless grousings about something or other. Like the one about sentence fragments. Only this time, the …

Dotted with weather-beaten pinyon pines, Villager Peak in the southern Santa Rosa Mountains rises nearly a mile above the lowlands of Anza-Borrego Desert. Serious "peak baggers" from around the state are drawn to its summit …

The crucified Christ hung against an intense aquamarine background in the contemporary-primitive painting that adorned the chapel at First Lutheran. His heart was exposed and bleeding. The rough-hewn character of the painting provided dramatic contrast …

Brother Love -- Gary Day's heavy-metal tribute to Neil Diamond -- came about, he says, because of American Idol forerunner Your Big Break. "In 2001 a camera crew from Dick Clark Productions came down to …

Non-drinker: Brianna Sheets, female, 17, Mt. Carmel High School What are your reasons for not drinking? "Honestly, I don't really have time to go out and party. Being involved with school, tennis, and community service, …

I lean into the telephone and say, "I'm curious about this Katharine Armstrong. She called the Corpus Christi paper and told them Cheney shot a hunting companion and that's how the story got out." "That's …

Dear Matt: I'm moving into a new gated community. What I want to know is, how will the fire department get in if there's a fire? Do they have keys to every gated community? To …

Movies reviewed this week: Eight Below, Final Destination 3, Firewall, Freedomland and The Pink Panther

Before Green Day's "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" was named "Record of the Year" at last Thursday's Grammy Awards, it was the only song ever to reach number one on the following Billboard charts: alternative, active …

Thirty Years Ago How do 13 parking controllers cover the entire city? "It isn't easy," said Sammons, sitting in his Traffic Department office near 6th and Market Street. Complaints of underenforcement are regularly received from …

Monday's "Bob Marley Day" show will be the last. San Diego has hosted a multi-band reggae festival every year since 1982 (a year after Marley's death). This year, as posters and flyers were being created …

"Our guitarist, Gretchen, moved to Leucadia about two years ago, and three of us are still in San Francisco, so we don't get to practice that often anymore," says Zepparella drummer Clementine, "but we know …

Jason Sears of Rich Kids on LSD died January 31 in a Tijuana clinic that reportedly specializes in alternative methods of drug detox. The clinic, operated by the U.S.-based Ibogaine Association, occupies a two-story house …

New York City hard rockers the Hold Steady count their October 22, 2005, appearance at the Casbah as one of their best shows ever...probably because their tour bus accommodated 17 people after the show. "The …

When I saw Los Angeles underground rapper Busdriver would make his only San Diego appearance on January 21 at Escondido's Metaphor Café, I decided to go. I'd never heard of the Metaphor Café, and its …

After broadcasting for more than 50 years in English, last week the Rosarito-based 690 AM dropped American music for noticias, chismes, and deportes (news, gossip, and sports). Clear Channel sold the station to Spain's Grupo …

"The following clauses must be agreed to prior to confirmation [of a February 17 House of Blues show] by the Sisters of Mercy. "1. The promoter must NOT USE any of the following terms, or …

Would you believe the Gaslamp has a new steakhouse? Duh! The ever-spreading Palm has taken root here. The chain's 30th location caused a stir when it opened, with celebs and local politicos flocking to the …

Twilight of the Superheroes: Stories by Deborah Eisenberg. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2006; $23; 240 pages. FROM THE DUST JACKET: Deborah Eisenberg is nearly unmatched in her mastery of the short-story form. Now, in her …

"Where the hell were you last night?" Mel's accusatory tone cracks across the space between our cell phones. "You were supposed to watch Project Runway with me." "Mel, now listen, this is important stuff," I …

It's Not You, It's Me I'm not a people person. I try not to be around them too much. I don't like to talk to them, and if I were ever to gain a large …

A person who is nice to you but rude to the waiter is not a nice person. -- Dave Barry David sat across from me at one end of the long table. Or, more accurately, …

Yes, I have an Uncle Buck, and yes, he's into "the ham," as he calls it. He's been messing about with amateur radio for about a year now and is forever peppering my husband Patrick …

“We like to eat and talk long, and we don’t eat just to fill up.”