Over the river and through the trees lie the Mayan ruins of Xunantunich. First unearthed in British Honduras at the turn of the last century, this ancient archeological site is one of the finest in …

Kevin looked more confused than surprised when he found me on his doorstep. “Are you C.C.’s chauffer?” He gestured at my father, who was standing behind me. Though I had indeed done the driving, it …

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 …

When you’re staring at a deer beneath a grove of oak trees, it might be difficult to realize that you’re within the city limits of Los Angeles. Topanga is a hilly, wooded oasis located within …

It’s no longer difficult to find a restaurant serving Thanksgiving dinner, in part because, in these hard times, it’s a good opportunity (like Valentine’s Day) for a restaurant to reap a little profit and possibly …

“We were the first bar to have Arrogant Bastard,” says Downtown Johnny Brown’s owner Todd Alexander. “Stone had their release party here. John Brown really embraced the local beer movement. When I bought the bar …

If I were more of a man, I’d actually do this. I’m looking at a sign on an artist’s easel: “McGonagle’s Cheesesteak Challenge: Eat 3 and Win $50!...Three double-meat cheesesteaks in 30 minutes.” Hmm…double-meat. Meaning …

The days are still warm, but the nights are getting cold enough for cider. Patrick and I hail from the Northeast, and this time of year starts us hankering. I didn’t make it up to …

As Declan Halloran sees it, the all-age local band scene is easy to sum up. “The bands that play at Soma are either pop-punk, cookie monster [sreamo], or ska. They pretty much come in one …

For my birthday, my husband bought me a house. I like to mention this nonchalantly to strangers because I think it makes us sound like the type of people who might own a yacht or …

During OnStage Playhouse’s intermissions, the houselights come up, but the actors remain in character onstage. As audience members talk among themselves or scan text messages, the characters play cards and do small tasks in whispers. …

And what in the fuck is it with me that I can’t roll a straight joint? Todd snorts. “The one from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez. The one that’s gonna hire 20,000 people. The one that’s …

Remembering that even this bastard is presumed innocent, it’s a quick transformation between a breaking news story and a corporate media storyline about said breaking news story. This is how torture becomes enhanced interrogation. You …

“We just returned from our 15th trip to China,” says Scott Stephens of Liquid Blue, the first San Diego band to sign with a Chinese record label (Shanghai Audio and Video). “Some of us are …

This is a true story. This was told to me by a man I’ll call Tom Fuller. The story came to me outside of a meeting hall where an anonymous group meeting had been held. …

The hellbillies formerly known as the Beat Farmers are no strangers to lineup changes. Their longtime pedigree assures that some folks will find fault with any version of the band, including the omission of those …

Born in 1960, the African-American artist Glenn Ligon grew up in housing projects in the Bronx but attended the privileged, mostly white Walden School in Manhattan, a one-hour commute each way. Later, after majoring in …

Tuesday, November 8, 2011: Finding Your “Inner Chef” at Hipcooks I’m a cooking class slut. Okay, that’s pretty dramatic. But, I just love them. You just never know what great little tip you’ll walk out …

because Halloween is the greatest holiday of the year, especially when it falls on a Monday and, therefore, begins the previous Thursday, your humble crasher went to about 39 celebrations this All Hallows’ Eve megaweekend. …

Heymatt: As usual, while contemplating my navel I came up with another Matthew Alice question. How big is the biggest hole ever dug in the earth? And please tell us some ridiculous facts about it, …

Greg Palast is a corporate fraud investigator turned investigative journalist. In his new book, Vultures’ Picnic: In Pursuit of Petroleum Pigs, Power Pirates, and High-Finance Carnivores, he and his team crisscross the globe in a …

The past couple of years have seen a wealth of good records from Raphael Saadiq, Fitz & the Tantrums, Mayer Hawthorne, and others working in the style of ’60s and ’70s soul and funk. But …

Forget Occupy Wall Street. Forget Occupy Oakland and Occupy San Diego. The next protest movement should be OccupyTowers Watson. Or Occupy Mercer. Or Occupy International Business Machines or San Diego’s Sempra Energy. Towers Watson and …

Former city development director Marcela Escobar-Eck, let go along with colleague and land-use chief Jim Waring during 2007’s Sunroad Montgomery Field building fiasco, is now plying the lobbying trade. Her October 19 filing as principal …

Beset by sex scandals, a bad audit, budget cuts, and city hall demonstrators, some good news for the San Diego Police Department seemed last week to have finally arrived in the form of its latest …

There’s a new hired gun in town, and it’s smoking. Sacramento lobbying shop California Capitol Solutions has registered to cast its spell on San Diego city hall on behalf of five medical pot shops, including …

Comparisons to Blondie, says Jesper Anderberg, are to be forgiven. “I think there’s a slight similarity between us.” Anderberg plays keyboards and guitar in a Swedish indie-rock band called the Sounds. “I mean, we have …

I hate this entire year, the way it stops and starts, dries you out, soaks you, lulls you to sleep, then wakes you up in a cold sweat. Not to mention the pills that are …

“I had my moment as a rock star,” says Larry Groupe. “I now equate being on tour with the directions on a bottle of shampoo: lather, rinse, repeat.” When Groupe, a San Diego–based composer/keyboardist chanced …

Happy Ron Hill’s 1500th performance happens at Lestat’s on Wednesday, November 23. It’ll also be the native San Diegan’s first full show with his “smooth jazz combo,” the Smoothies. “I’ve been saying for years that …

Membership: 250 Pastor: David Montajes Age: 55 Born: Manila, Philippines Formation: Bethel Bible College, Venezuela City, Philippines Years Ordained: 13 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on which to preach? Pastor David Montajes: …

Nostalgia Bump I just love that Fred Hardin III’s letter “Chicken-Killing Thursdays” (November 3). It’s just really well written. I enjoyed it. It’s humorous. He should think about writing. It really gave me a bump …