If the American version Monopoly, the classic board game, seems a bit blasé nowadays, you might want to give Tijuanopóly a try. The city south of the border has just announced that it will be …

O universal Mother, who dost keep From everlasting thy foundations deep, Eldest of things, Great Earth, I sing of thee! All shapes that have their dwelling in the sea, All things that fly, or on …

Shana Wride Director, Walter Cronkite Is Dead at San Diego REPertory Theatre If you love Absolutely Fabulous, then you’ll love the entire French & Saunders series. Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, the comedy team responsible …

Membership: 210 Pastor: Tony Wolfe Age: 63 Born: Parkersburg, West Virginia Formation: Union Theological Seminary, New York; Claremont Graduate School, Claremont Years Ordained: 33 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on which to …

“I could get into this.” My hubby Patrick sat grinning at the wheel of a 31-foot camper we had borrowed for the family vacation. The Kelly family was touring Southern California, visiting relatives and using …

Jägermeister and root beer schnapps...two not-so-great tastes that shouldn’t taste great together. But on any given Sunday during football season… And according to Matt Lowery, bartender at Pete’s Place, that’s how it started — with …

Recipe by Bradrick “Coop” Cooper of Coop’s West Texas Barbecue I’ve always had this thing for cooking. I grew up in San Diego with my mom. She and my aunt owned a soul-food restaurant in …

I woke up and — whoops — it was already mid-August. Nearly all my friends were vacationing in places with unbearable weather and aged parents. I wanted a little vacation of my own without those …

‘Fresh mozzarella?” says Giancarlo. “You eat it like a soft apple, while it’s still warm, and the warm milk oozes out and runs down your face. That’s the fresh mozzarella you can get in Italian …

“It seems natural that music and art go together,” says Irradio frontman Dan Dasher. “There is a big art scene in San Diego but not too many people know the names.” Dasher and co-coordinator Brigitte …

On any given Friday, around 5:00 p.m., I could hear Lynyrd Skynyrd or AC/DC blaring at a volume entirely inappropriate — even for Lakeside — from the rusted-out RV that would rumble to a stop …

Hey Matt: I have a great idea to send coffins into Outer Space so they can travel for 1 million to 100 billion years. This way we will donate our bodies to science and let …

Amid the 9/11 memorials, another salute is needed. This Saturday, September 3, marks a decade since Pauline Kael died at 82. She retired in 1991, ending 24 years as movie critic of The New Yorker. …

Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo never received full credit for exploring the Pacific Coast, complained historian Henry R. Wagner. In 1602, 60 years later, Sebastián Vizcaino sailed north, covered the same territory, and “arbitrarily changed” Cabrillo’s findings. …

John Meeks and Joanie Mendenhall will debut their From My Grave EP on September 3 at Tin Can Ale House. “We’ll play all the EP songs, plus a few you’ve never heard,” says Meeks, “as …

My buddy Mark and his girlfriend Liz recently moved from Pacific Beach to North Park and threw a housewarming barbecue to inaugurate their new place. Maybe 12 friends, many of them old pals from East …

“Boycott 4th&B!!!” That tweet could have come from a disgruntled ex-bouncer or a band that didn’t get drink tickets. It appeared August 21 on the Casbah’s Twitter stream and was gone the next day. The …

“I was raised in the idyllic beach town of Encinitas, the daughter of a surfboard shaper,” says singer/songwriter Nena Anderson, known for her soulful vocals, distinct phrasing, and charismatic stage presence. “Blues players like to …

Los Amigos Invisibles was discovered by accident. Their story begins in Venezuela in 1991. There they found a hometown audience still hungry for ’80s American disco, complete with glittery synth blasts, ubiquitous slap bass, and …

Say the name Lisa Fasulo in a San Diego tattoo shop and you may get blank stares from shop owners, employees, and hangers-around. Mention the Learning Channel’s one-hour reality-style television program about Fasulo’s tattoo school, …

No Facts, No Fun Wow, I had no idea the Reader was a shill for Irwin Jacobs until I saw this tasteless cartoon (Neal Obermeyer, August 25). SOHO and its members stand for historic preservation, …

Mayor Jerry Sanders and other local pols seeking a hint about how much longer the Chargers intend to continue playing in San Diego might do well to take a look at a sponsorship deal cemented …

There is an ancient Division 1 athletic department tradition about opening the football season against certified wimps. The idea is to make sure you win the first game no matter how degrading it is to …

It was a trip back to ’90s adult-contemporary radio when Michelle Branch and the Goo Goo Dolls took the stage at Humphreys by the Bay on this beautiful summer night. Branch played all of her …

Early copies of They Might Be Giants’ last CD, The Else, came with bonus disc Cast Your Pod to the Wind, a grab bag of 23 songs collected from the band's podcasts. The freebie proved …

“I get to keep my minivan,” says MP3tunes owner Michael Robertson, who is claiming a victory in the copyright infringement lawsuit filed by record label/music publisher EMI Group Ltd. against him and his company in …

No one is safe. The streets are unsafe. Even in the safety zones, it’s not safe. Even safe sex is not safe. Even things you lock in a safe are not safe. Never deposit anything …

Dan Boeckner has a great rock ’n’ roll voice, a craggy, croaking sound with a piercing tone on the top and some wavering vibrato on the low end. It sounds like a guy who’s shouting …

If you listen, carefully, you can hear the rattles under the house, beneath the bathroom floor. You disturb that snake, every time you set foot in the bathroom. Unnerving, the babysitter called it. Rodent control …

Hoi An is about midway between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi up the Vietnamese coast. If you’re traveling between the two largest cities in Vietnam, it is the perfect spot to take a break. …

At a preliminary hearing at the Vista courthouse on August 29, Christian Padilla faced charges for an incident that occurred August 14. On that night, a man taking out the garbage after 10 p.m. saw …

On Tuesday, August 30, at approximately 7:10 a.m., a man driving a Dodge minivan summoned police to a Vista gas station because he believed his front passenger side window had been destroyed in a random …

A long time ago I was new to the city, so I relied on my buddy and roommate to show me the sights. He worked over on University in that office complex between the library …

Interviews are the screening process that companies use to determine whom to hire. Are there other considerations other than the job interview? Yes. However, effective interviewing is vitally important to success in your job search. …

You might go to work everyday and barely notice that things have changed. Maybe it’s the employee in the staff meeting who insists on texting a friend rather than listening to what is being discussed. …

Tickets in hand: check. Place to stay in San Francisco: check. Ride secured: check. Last night for two hours I (legally) downloaded over 21 hours of tunes for the eight-hour car journey. Mobile music leading …

The Grand Canyon may be a geographical marvel that brings the state of Arizona immediate recognition, but just a few hundred miles south of that natural wonder is the lesser-known yet equally impressive Montezuma’s Castle. …

I’ve always assumed that dogs only mounted stuffed animals, people, or other dogs when they were “in the mood.” But, thanks to my friend Andy and his pal Ricky (who ceaselessly humps our friend Claire), …

The preliminary hearing for former attorney Michael T. Pines was suspended on Friday, August 26, and a subpoenaed witness — San Diego County district attorney Bonnie Dumanis — did not make an appearance. Instead, superior-court …

In the late afternoon of Friday, August 26, a San Diego police helicopter circled above the crowded beaches and busy Newport Avenue, apparently in search of a hit-and-run driver who struck a skateboarder. As firefighters, …

I’ve always been a bit of a voyeur. Not in a sexual fetishy way. I just have an innate curiosity about other people and how they live their lives. Shortly after we moved into our …

Though some residents of North Park call the City of San Diego's graffiti hotline or use its online graffiti report form, some complain that the city's response is slow. So, Graham Blair, a volunteer with …

At around 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, August 25, lifeguards near tower 15 in Mission Beach spotted the dorsal fin of a shark just off the coastline. First estimates were that the shark was approximately 12 …

For a month-long visit to Scotland, I decided to hunker down in just one spot – on the remote and rarely visited Isle of Eigg. At twelve square miles and with a community of just …

I didn’t know until I stepped foot in Columbus, Ohio, that it had become a foodie mecca. Sure, I knew they’re near some of the most valued farmland in the US. But I didn’t realize …

“Take it off!” shouted the salty ex-marine at the bow of the boat. “Take it off!” “What the hell is he talking about? Are we all supposed to strip?” I asked Lou, who was manning …

I never really understood why the Portuguese referred to Taiwan as Formosa, or “beautiful island.” The pollution, traffic and combined chaotic mess of Taipei and Taichung make you easily forget that Taiwan is, in fact, …

Neighborhood groups have previously fought proposed developments on a large sloping parcel on the northwest corner of Birmingham Drive at I-5. So, there was much concern on Thursday, August 18, when a green-canvas-covered fence was …

On Wednesday, August 24, a superior court judge declined to quash a subpoena that was served on San Diego County district attorney Bonnie Dumanis.The subpoena reportedly demands her as a witness in the case against …

Childhood experiences in England demonstrate composting as an easy, beneficial way to recycle organic waste, but in San Diego County the author encounters drought, animal pests, and the concerns of neighbors. Ancient compost piles were …

Hey Matthew: When my cat had kittens two of them looked exactly like each other. Are they twins? Is this common? I don’t remember seeing identical twin cats before. — Crazy Cat Lady, El Cajon …

Behold the sun, everywhere bright and warm, and all the immortal things that are bathed in heat and bright radiance. Behold the rain, everywhere dark and cold; and from the earth issue forth close-pressed and …

Contact: 1629 Columbia Street, San Diego (Little Italy); 619-234-4820; olrsd.org Membership: 2500 Pastor: Father Joseph Tabigue Age: 34 Born: Prosperadad, Agusan Delsur, Philippines Formation: Barnabite Fathers Novitiate (Seminary), Marikina City, Philippines; Pontifical Urbanian College, Rome. …

Into commercial territory, then on to higher ground and a fast, hot track: Sometimes a movie needs lines such as “Not in front of the chickens” and “He does pottery at the U.N.” The pleasing …

At the kitchen table, Andrea Manroe pauses her reading from The Story of the World and asks her three children a question about what they’ve just heard. “How did Shamshi-Adad get the people to obey? …

The recent passage of AB 1014, a bill initiated by San Diego’s own Nathan Fletcher, will make life a lot easier for the individuals behind our county’s craft-beer tasting bars. It also ensures that the …

There are two things that Colin Bryce Fraser III would like you to know about him: he would very much like not to be homeless and he and his band Mercury Legion are filming a …

How did this start? The first thing I remember is reading an ESPN.com item on Kobe Bryant questioning whether or not he’ll play in China this year. Which led to an article on another website, …

Buddy Holly's been dead 52 years. He died at 22 in a plane crash described "as the night the music died" by singer Don McLean in his classic-rock anthem "American Pie." Though his recording career …

Ex–Democratic assemblywoman Lori Saldaña, who apparently has had difficulty making up her mind on what office to run for next, recently announced she will take on GOP congressman Brian Bilbray in a newly redrawn district …

"Do you hear that? Is that my car alarm?” Gus Neves asked as we walked up Naga Way to La Jolla Shores Drive after an early morning surf session at Scripps Pier. We rounded the …

Seapony’s music is a classic indie-pop mix of jangling three-chord rhythm guitars, a clean, melodic lead guitar, a minimalistic drum machine, a barely noticeable bass, breathy, sleepy female vocals, and intentionally simple lyrics. The Seattle …

“Somebody is going to blink; someone is going to switch to talk.” That’s what one local rock DJ says about the inevitability of one of the four modern-rock stations in town dropping music for news, …

Thirty-Five Years Ago<br>San Diegans are meeting in churches, recreation centers, and living rooms, hoping that somehow, some way, they’ll make it through the night without a chocolate milkshake.... Most of them are fat...not just pleasingly …

How much do the Chargers love Los Angeles? First came word via L.A.’s Street-Hassle blog that the team’s PR honcho and all-around fix-it guru-in-chief Mark Fabiani gave $1000 to L.A. mayoral candidate Wendy Greuel. Now …

A top staffer for GOP congressman Darrell Issa recently traveled free of charge from Washington to Palo Alto to meet with a group of high-tech company executives, thanks to funding from an outfit called the …

More Questions Than Answers That pinup cover guy either hates himself or just his body (“It’s a Tough Crowd,” Cover Story, August 18). Will his neck tats get him a job once his few muscles …

UCAN agreed to pay $1 million to the production company in three installments. According to an internal document, UCAN has deposited two checks from Nucor — one for $600,000 and one for $400,000.

Formerly known as Tragic Tantrum, the goth theatrics of London Below will include bassist Randy Renaud and drummer Cruz Caudillo when they play Electric Ladyland on September 2. According to band cofounder Zoe Tantrum, “When …

“Do you hookah?” read the sign on a building as I passed by in the trolley. Not yet, I thought. But as a onetime smoker who enjoyed the ritual of it, I was curious. So …

Singer/guitarist Stoney B. grew up in Chicago listening to the music of his father, Lil’ Howlin’ Wolf, aka Jessie Sanders. “My dad was mentored by Howlin’ Wolf, and he introduced me to many blues legends …

In his youth, John Waters watched the Buddy Deane Show, Baltimore’s version of Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, on WJZ-TV. For years, both programs had white teenagers only. Deane called his “the Committee.” They were “the …

Recording technology has become more portable than ever, but Grammy-winning producer Alan Sanderson was still surprised when he received a call to engineer a vocal recording at Humphrey’s Half Moon Inn prior to America’s concert …

While the acoustics of Rimac strived for mediocrity, Death Cab for Cutie found a way to stretch their sound over a Division II basketball court on a brisk August night. A mellow, mid-tempo outfit at …

The Butthole Surfers proved they weren’t just another punk band with a foul name when they released Electriclarryland in 1996. “Pepper” was a chart topper then, and it still gets radio play. “Some will die …

O’Connells’ green trim went red in June when the bar was purchased by Mike Reidy, owner of Bar West in Pacific Beach. “We’re not Bar West Two,” manager Joe Gleason emphasizes from one of the …

Like streetlights still lit past dawn, the dead stare at us from the framed photographs. You may say otherwise, but there they are, still here traveling continuously backwards without a sound further and further into …

The boat ride to Santa Cruz, Guatemala, was cold. The wind blew fervently as the boat hit rough patches, splashing swaths of freezing water on the passengers seated in front. Lake Atitlan is very windy. …

Repainting the Normal Heights sign began Monday morning, August 22. The neon sign, suspended over the intersection of Adams Avenue and Felton Street, was last repainted and the neon rehabbed in 1995 by the Adams …

The unpleasant process of a short sale we began in February has finally come to an end, today, six months later. David just dropped off all of what used to be our keys (front door, …

I’m a frequent visitor to Hawaii – usually at least twice a year, and Kona on the Big Island has always been a favorite spot of mine. On a recent trip, and as I do …

About a one-hour drive from the densely populated San Francisco Bay Area, Point Reyes National Seashore was established to protect wilderness and natural ecosystems along the California coastline. Point Reyes is rich in biological diversity: …

In the next seven months, Panera Bread will open three stores in the San Diego area. Meghan Gates, regional training manager, talks management. Please tell me a little bit about your management-training program. It’s about …

If you’re too lazy to put on a suit and drive to a job fair to pass out a couple hundred copies of your résumé, check out a virtual job fair where you can get …

With graduation just completed at many colleges and universities, and new graduates preparing to jump into the job market, a question that often arises is: “Should I show my GPA on my résumé?” If there …

Our work world is far different from what it used to be. The workplace is always changing and adapting to our societal needs, but there has been an especially dramatic transformation over the past decade. …

Of all the etiquette breaches that ruffle my feathers, none seem to knock the boa off my back with the same force as negligent guests, by which I mean those who take a cavalier attitude …

We crossed over the continental divide this July and made our way into the mountain hamlet of Keystone, Colorado. I happened to be thinking about people like Oscar Wilde ("I like the West the best") …

Last month, the United States Postal Service published a list 3653 post offices to be studied for closure. In San Diego County, two offices are on the list: zip code 92140, located at the Marine …

Next time you visit the city of Coronado, be advised. The Police Department now has "a new high-tech device that will give Coronado Police officers the ability to scan license plates on parked or moving …

Tijuana’s daily, El Mexicano, reported in a front page story this week that the border city is rife with spies from the United States. “Espias de EU Operan en Tijuana” read the 2-inch tall headline …

The bus rolled into the Seattle Greyhound station. I can’t explain my excitement in getting off that bus. The passengers in front of me showed the highs and lows of riding the “dirty dog” – …

One hundred and fifty years ago, a French naturalist wandering the jungles of Cambodia stumbled upon an archaeological gold mine. Hidden in the jungle were several temples built by a succession of rulers of the …

The satiric message of a popular Shepard Fairey mural is being obscured by, of all things, upscale retail. The giant eye stares forever into a blank wall. One might assume the developer is opposed or …

One-hundred and fifty goats took to the streets of Downtown Lemon Grove Tuesday morning, doing their part in a unique fire-abatement program. In association with Heartland Fire & Rescue and Environmental Land Management, the company …

A Caltrans worker surveyed the broken fence area where a car reportedly traveling west at 100 MPH went off the Ocean Beach freeway in the early morning hours of Monday, August 15. A woman identified …

Coral is far more red than her lips’ red; If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. I have seen roses damasked, red …

The summer harvest, mid-August — we reap what we can: Rachel Weisz was excellent in Agora, one of the few movies to deal smartly with the cultural collapse of classical antiquity. Not many Americans paid …

Homemade compost adds nitrogen and other nutrients to soils. It improves tilth and contributes to microbial action that greatly enhances plant health. No wonder throwing good stuff from the kitchen down the drain or sending …

Plus And Minus Congratulations on a fine article regarding the new homeless storage program and its civil rights lawsuit (“Anatomy of a Good Idea,” “City Lights,” August 11). There are, however, things you did not …

It’s been too long since I’ve eaten at Restaurant Nine-Ten, but I’m always hoping for an excuse to revisit, as the restaurant’s reputation has slowly rocketed (forgive the oxymoron). July marked their tenth anniversary, with …

Stout people? My first encounter with these guys was a heady night in June, at Stout Public House at Sixth and C. It seemed like all of Canada had turned up to drink the Vancouver …

“As your Irish nanna would say, ‘A good-looking person looks good in anything,’” said hubby Patrick, as I tried on an evening gown for an upcoming wedding. “Assuming her bra fits properly,” I countered. “I’ve …

“Alberta Cross hasn’t had an original idea since the day they started,” if you follow music blogs or the rock press. The Cross sound is favorably compared to Van Morrison, the Black Crowes, the Band, …

Here’s what you’re supposed to do if you want to make it as a rock band: Record with big-name producers, build an online presence, tour constantly, work with the most buzzed-about record labels, partner with …

Hocus is fronted by Lando Martinez (aka Fat Lando), who retired from the U.S. Navy in 2008 after serving 20 years. “I’m a rarity,” he says. “I’ve served my country honorably, and I write great …

Last week, my iMac’s hard drive died by way of self-immolation. I’ve had computers die before, saying goodbye with a blue screen of death. One laptop emitted puffs of smoke from underneath its keyboard. But, …

How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it isTo have a thankless child! — Shakespeare’s King Lear Tyler Adams is accused of using the identities of his mom and dad to run up more than $3 …

In June, the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad closed its doors to remodel it’s galleries into an exploration of the history of American music and instrument-making from late 19th Century to present. “We’ve been …

“I never got to interview him because [doctors] had taken his voice away, and I didn’t want to do that.” When Leucadia-based filmmaker Clint Burkett began work on a documentary about Steve White last year, …

Last month, several members of the 1990s hardcore/screamo band Swing Kids reunited for a European tour under the name Blue Note, with local All Leather guitarist Nathan Joyner in place of the late Eric Allen, …

“We spent almost eight years in the lady’s room in Aztec Center.” Skot Norton, KCR faculty/staff advisor, makes no joke when he describes the many humble locations on campus that the KCR studios have been …

When the American furniture manufacturer Gustav Stickley returned from a trip to England in 1897, he brought back an idea promulgated by John Ruskin (social reformer, connoisseur, premier art critic of his day) and William …

Recipe by Ben Diaz, Executive Chef, McCormick & Schmicks at The Omni Hotel My father was a chef. When I was about 15, he used to bring me into his kitchen to peel potatoes. I …

Membership: 100 Pastor: Roger Wagner Age: 62 Born: Burbank Formation: Westmont College, Santa Barbara; Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia; Westminster Seminary, Escondido Years Ordained: 38 San Diego Reader: How long do you spend writing your sermon? …

(1) It is wise to hearken, not to me but to my word, and to confess that all things are one…. (57) Good and ill are one…. (59) Couples are things whole and things not …

It's a tough crowd. It’s such a tough crowd th at no one believed the repeated messages that the killer left on the victim’s cell phone threatening to “bust a cap” into him. Until Hector …

It’s a dangerous place out there in the public sector. Witness the County of San Diego, currently seeking a contractor “experienced in risk assessment for public entities in potential workplace violence.” According to a request …

Local politicos of both major parties continue to partake of the hospitality offered by Native American casinos around the county. During the second quarter of the year, according to state lobbyist disclosure filings, Barona spent …

When the economy weakens, resolve stiffens. Glum consumers do fewer giddy things. It’s becoming apparent that lack of buying by debt-sated consumers could push us into another recession, or close to one, and the pain …

Since the El Dorado Cocktail Lounge started offering what bartender Matthew Stanton calls “advanced cocktails” on its menu, he says they’ve been a hard sell to the status quo. In particular, Stanton says, he’d like …

The next Rosarito-Ensenada bike ride will take place May 5th. (2012) The 50-mile Rosarito-to-Ensenada bike ride started in 1979 and has achieved cult status among local connoisseurs. Although attendance and participation have declined in recent …

I was kidding when I tweeted, “Off to get my ‘watery eye’ checked out. Let’s hope the doc doesn’t suggest sticking a needle in my tear duct.” I never would have freaked myself out like …

On a recent visit to Portland, Oregon, I found myself unexpectedly with an extra day in my itinerary. So, being an aviation buff and former flight engineer in the Naval Air Reserve, it was a …

If there’s an equivalent to Ocean Beach in Taiwan, it’s Kenting. In Kenting, unpleasant weather is a rarity and swimmers can enjoy the water year round. The mood is relaxed, and almost…Californian. If you’re traveling …

Undergrounding of the utilities along Meade Avenue from I-805 to 44th Street began in April 2005 as part of the City's ongoing utility undergrounding program. Approximately $4 million dollars from the City's Surcharge Fund were …

The last thing I expected to see in my Yahoo inbox this morning was my father, who is currently in South Korea, pictured sidling up beside professional marathon eater Joey Chestnut. The subject of the …

The NOT DUMANIS Facebook page recently sent D.A. Bonnie Dumanis an open appeal to consider dropping out of the mayor's race. The group, of which I am a member, suggested that Dumanis should graciously step …

Wow. Where to even begin. My grandmother was born and raised in St. Catherine Parish, Jamaica. For as long as I can remember, she's always described Jamaica as "a beautiful and fun place." This summer, …

When the Fresh & Onlys hit the stage, there were only about 30 people in the room. Another Monday night at the Casbah. Early in the set, singer/guitarist Tim Cohen busted a string on his …

On Beirut's third full-length, the seasoned vocal cords of Zach Condon sing of longing and wandering in a pixilated world out of reach. The Baroque instrumentation that has defined the band's sound remains, but here …

The corner of Mission Boulevard and Mission Bay Drive in Mission Beach came alive on the morning of Saturday, August 13 with a dozen or so Surfrider volunteers who urged everyone to "Hold On To …

An afternoon spent at Payette Lake can be relaxing and refreshing – as long as you refrain from dwelling on what lies beneath. The 5,330-acre lake, around which the resort town of McCall, Idaho, was …

It’s been a full two weeks since I transitioned from sitting to standing while I work. I have to admit, despite my commitment to this occupation lifestyle change, I had my apprehensions. My reasons for …

Butterflies, lady bugs and hummingbirds fascinated me when I was a child. Raised by my grandparents, who were avid gardeners, I still mark my year by the growing seasons. Hummingbirds especially piqued my curiosity. For …

Memorial services for fallen San Diego Police Dept. Officer Jeremy Henwood took place at The Rock Church in Point Loma on Friday morning, August 12, 2011. Thousands of people, plus an additional overflow crowd paid …

An enormous gantry crane recently erected at the U.S. Border Station in San Ysidro, hovered above the U.S. landmark in order to begin the precision disassembly of the old 1972 Nixon-era structure in such a …

Bike riders are commonly seen riding along in the Midway District. For those residents without cars or who wish to not leave a carbon imprint, getting around the Midway business district is as simple as …

David Antin, a native New Yorker, was already a well-known figure in the avant-garde poetry and art circles of Manhattan when he flew west in 1968 to take a look around for a potential appointment …

Oh, man. That smell. That barbecue smell, reaching out and pulling you in by the nose. It’s coming from Phil’s BBQ, right past the sports arena. Even now — it’s early evening — streams of …

Know that guidance in belief in God and His prophets is not like guidance in what is legislated as to acts. And how does this disturb you? You call a man a true believer for …

San Diego Reader: How long do you spend writing your sermon? PL: I think, on average, more than 20 hours. I usually follow a book of the Bible, choose a passage and study the words …

The missus had decided on the destination for our yearly vacation: it was to be Greece. From a little kernel of an idea in my wife’s head comes a locale, in this case Athens, along …

Well, Blair Cannon, 40, finished his 21-mile Catalina to mainland swim. He shoved off from Catalina Friday midnight, 8 hours and 17 minutes later washed ashore at Palos Verdes, finishing with the third-fastest time ever …

“George Bernard Shaw” may have been his best fictional creation. The cantankerous genius loved to rant, like a spoiled brat, and turn conventions upside down. He renounced capitalism, organized religion, and social injustice, along with …

I once read that Ray Bradbury surrounded his work area — a basement, I think — with toys, mementos, bric-a-brac, movie posters, and odds and ends of curiosities so he did not have to look …

The City of San Diego Engineering website describes the North Ocean Beach Gateway Project as "a park incorporating a decorative plaza that provides pedestrian access into the adjacent Robb Field Community Park. The improvement will …

“I played piano for a porn star, Olivia O’Lovely, at the former Bing Crosby’s Piano Lounge in Linda Vista,” says frequent Red Fox Lounge performer David Owen. “I spotted her as soon as I walked …

The first thing you’ll notice about Air Conditioned Lounge is the distinct absence of air conditioning. In fact, the iconic “Air Conditioned” sign outside the lounge (their website calls it the “most unassuming building on …

Dave Alvin, the Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, guitarist, and younger brother of Phil Alvin, was at one time a Pleasure Baron. The Barons were a San Diego band formed in 1989 by Country Dick Montana, who …

“Oh, no,” I protested as Patrick unrolled the small, ornate rug he had purchased at an estate sale. “Look at that thing. It’s dingy, and there’s a stain right there in the middle.” “C’mon, it’s …

“In the hands of a properly prepared therapist, sandplay is a powerful, invaluable modality. The operative word is ‘powerful.’ To the extent that any method can heal, so can it do harm.” — Dora M. …

Heymatt: This summer I’ve done a lot of just sitting around not doing much. I don’t want to go back to school with a fat butt, so I was wondering how much energy I burn …

“I’ve managed to generate a very sustainable income in less than a year as a full-time musician,” says singer/songwriter Lenny Morris, “playing three to four shows a week for private events, upscale restaurants, and wine …

“Barry McGuire, best known for his antiwar hit ‘Eve of Destruction,’ has put together a musical show called Trippin’ the Sixties,” says promoter Carey Driscoll, who’ll bring the production to AMSD in Normal Heights on …

Last December in federal court, Dan Bamberg was trying to figure out how homeless men and women could store their belongings safely and out of sight rather than carry them around everywhere. Transport containers of …

Bright Eyes’ fourth album starts and ends with the voice of Randy Brewer, an old country singer who frontman Connor Oberst met while on his travels. Brewer's commanding tone opens the album discussing physics, Hitler, …

People using overseas pay phones are shelling out $54 and $55 for one-minute calls when using their credit cards, and they say that phone instructions give them no warning of such staggering charges. Understandably, the …

Weezer brought load of people (and traffic woes) to the Del Mar Summer Concert Series in 2010 and this year, the band kept it's streak alive. With an estimated 40,000 people attending, Rivers Cuomo and …

“Within a seated arrangement, the audience witnessed these works in pitch dark.” Larry Caveney is describing audio events he’s produced in his Alabama Street garage in North Park. Caveney launched “the Garage” events in 2009. …

Thirty-Five Years Ago<br>I had two phone calls. The first caller, a woman, began plaintively, “I find your reviews depressing. You’re always writing about how to save money, share meals, find bargains. My husband and I...don’t …

Not Offbeat, Just Tasteless I have been a faithful fan and reader of yours for decades. I especially have appreciated your inclusion of the offbeat and unusual in your choice of topics and humor. The …

A week after Evander dies I sweep the last of his fur from the plank floors. Dark, difficult floors that are a challenge to keep clean, with or without a cat. Death keeps company with …

I was concerned that the reality of Bali would not match my expectations. I’d heard raves from friends and read amazing accounts of the alluring island in Indonesia. I was excited – but also prepared …

A loud police chase ended in a quiet residential pocket of North Park on August 9. The target of the manhunt was apprehended just west of the 3100 block of 32nd Street. Area resident Brian …

My boyfriend, Pat, and I usually travel to run a marathon, attend a conference, complete fieldwork or visit family. So for our first real vacation in five years or so, we wanted to go big …

In the summer of 2001 I arranged a job, with my Czech girlfriend, Katka, to work in Corfu, Greece, at Club Barbati. Katka and I worked with a Czech liaison in Praha (Prague) in getting …

I was never so popular in my building as when I was moving out. Outside of the homeowner meetings I chaired, my conversations with 80 percent of my neighbors was limited to answering their questions …

An Oceanside man accused of murdering his wife last January was scheduled to be in court yesterday, but he “rammed his head into a sharp metal object on a wall” to get a medical deferral …

The new northern-most vehicle bridge, a key segment in Tijuana’s masterplan to expedite border inbound and outbound commuter traffic, is slowly taking shape just south off the ancient pedestrian bridge that crosses the Tijuana River. …

Perhaps the most misunderstood and most vilified concept in the private sector business world is profit. For many uninformed people, the word “profit” brings visions of vicious robber barons or greedy tycoons bent on stealing …

Adam and I drove into Seaside with a mission: to surf and sample the fried arts at Beach Bites. We'd stopped here on our way to Portland. Just 90 miles away, it was close enough …

A 48-year-old Vista man who admitted drunkenly evading pursuing officers by driving recklessly, and resisting police officers “with force,” hopes to be sentenced to nine months in county jail, according to his plea deal paperwork, …

The Ocean Beach thoroughfare called West Point Loma Boulevard is also known as "Wreck Point Loma Boulevard" for the copious amounts of car accidents that occur there on a regular basis. The morning of Thursday, …

It’s been one week and two days since David and I officially moved. I use the word “officially,” because there are still some odds and ends that need transporting. I haven’t been back to the …

Jason Ulsh, 33, explains how and why his job search led him out of sunny San Diego (and why he’s ok with it). Let’s start with your educational background. My degree is in cognitive science …

For many years there were rotting bungalows along Florida Street, between University Avenue and Robinson Avenue. The San Diego Housing Authority gave a loan of $4,900,000 over two years ago to Florida Street Housing Associates, …

A feisty crowd attended the Normal Heights Community Planning Group meeting August 2 to express displeasure with the sudden disruption of their lives caused by two projects: the 40th Street Promenade and the long-awaited reconfiguration …

Membership: 125 Pastor: Matthew Richardt Age: 42 Born: Holt, Michigan Formation: Concordia College, Ann Arbor, Mich., Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind.; U.S. Navy Chaplaincy (2002–2005). Years Ordained: 16 San Diego Reader: How long do …

Recipe by Colin Maclaggan, executive chef and owner, Avenue 5 Restaurant I’ve always enjoyed cooking. I grew up in Serra Mesa, and at family gatherings, the action was always in the kitchen. Even in college, …

On any regular Monday, most restaurants in San Diego are closed — on July 4, well, forget about it. That evening, Sam and I planned to see a movie in Hillcrest and wanted to get …

Mike Altman says, “People tell me, ‘I’m from Brooklyn. These bagels better be good.’ I get that all the time.” When you call your business Brooklyn Bagel and Bialy, I guess you’ve gotta expect it. …

When the Glossines came together in summer 2001, Kristin Warnken had just left the band Dizzy, for whom she played guitar (she’s also a drummer now). Bassist Amber Everson was a go-goth dancer at Sabbat, …

"Basically,” says Aaron Meleen, a deputy sheriff traffic investigator working the night shift in Poway, “we don’t have much going on right now.” It’s a Monday evening, the onset of his 12½-hour shift, and we’re …

The Tree Sometimes a “small” film eclipses a big one that wins the limelight. As a life statement, The Tree of Life implodes from its cosmic Texan gas. Far more modestly, The Tree sends out …

“It’s that altruistic beauty of the underground that rarely makes it to the mainstream,” says Wobble Events promoter Bryen Beglinger. “The mainstream is all about being treated like cattle by bouncers herding you in to …

Next week, the Box will report what happened with Blair Cannon’s August 5 midnight swim from Catalina Island to the mainland and provide an update on Monarch School and what they plan to do with …

“Our whole thing is never doing the same thing twice,” says Eugene, Oregon, native Hargo Khalsa. “There are a lot of moods and a lot of energies on the record, and that’s something that we …

Larry and His Flask are rehabilitated punks from Oregon. What was started as a scream-fest trio is now a six-piece fleshed-out hillbilly band that puts a torch to bluegrass and country and folk. The kicker …

Tip Of The Scamberg Thank you for printing the cover story “Would You Like Five Free Cell Phones?” featured in the July 28 issue. In this day and age, there is no shortage of scammers …

Giovanna Maimone Actress, Hellbenders I’m a comedy fanatic. The Farrelly brothers are by far my greatest inspiration as a comedy writer. Their Dumb and Dumber pretty much set the mark for its genre of sick …

A newly formed lobbying outfit in Sacramento has picked up some of San Diego County’s heaviest political hitters as clients, including one very influential public agency. According to state disclosure records, Capitol Strategic Advisors, LLC, …

n November 2010, Bernard Smith (not his real name) of Tree.com Inc. asked Peggy Gartin, leader of SD Tweetup — a local socialnetworking group with over 1100 members — to help him assemble what he …

Platinum Equity, financial swingers from Beverly Hills, bought the Union-Tribune in March of 2009 for a song. Now San Diegans wonder if that song is “A Cottage for Sale.” On July 11 of this year, …

Last time I saw Aaron Bowen, in 2007, he didn’t seem particularly happy. Now, seated at my dining-room table with his wife Kate, the Sweetwater High alum is beaming. “I was very depressed. My outlook …

Word last week that Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus had stripped ex-captain and swift-boat veteran Wade Sanders of his Silver Star rekindled the memories of political watchers about the brief Democratic primary campaign for …

Last year, Seattle rocker James Burns started a halfway-serious online campaign to raise $10 million to get Weezer to break up. He didn’t raise a lot of money, but he got a lot of attention, …

Homer and Hesiod have ascribed to the gods all things that are a shame and a disgrace among mortals, stealings and adulteries and deceivings of one another. Since they have uttered many lawless deeds of …

“‘Don’t you worry there, my honey/ We might not have any money, but we’ve got our love to pay the bills.’” The Ingrid Michaelson song “You and I” purred from my lips, aimed at my …

What are you reading? “I just finished Turning the Tide: How a Small Band of Allied Sailors Defeated the U-Boats and Won the Battle of the Atlantic, by Ed Offley. I thought it was fascinating. …

There will be no Beastie Boys music played at Geezer’s weekend poolside gigs at the Handlery this summer. “We’re trying,” says singer-guitarist Adam Gimbel, “to turn it down a little for the family-ness of it.” …

Word over all, beautiful as the sky! Beautiful that war, and all its deeds of carnage, must in time be utterly lost; That the hands of the sisters Death and Night, incessantly softly wash again, …

Thirty-Five Years Ago<br>Just as the people who live along the ocean shore are affected by the tides and the pull of the moon, the children of the street in inner territories like Shell Town and …

A nuclear steam generator is slowly making its way across North County on a top-secret route from San Onofre to Utah, where it will be disposed of. Officials say that the radiation levels are small …

The best months to visit Florida are September and October, when rates are lowest and you avoid the crowds. 70 miles west of Key West, you’ll find Dry Tortugas National Park, North America's most inaccessible …

In a closed meeting on July 29, SANDAG, the San Diego Association of Governments, voted to purchase the lease to operate the South Bay Expressway, the portion of SR-125 that is a toll road. According …

Couer d'Alene, Idaho, is a destination perfect for taking in fresh mountain air, clear, starry skies, and scenic wonders that us city folk can only imagine. Its glacier-fed lake, Lake Couer d'Alene, is a popular …

If you're feeling a bit hardened by modern life and sense a need to reconnect with the natural world – and even, perhaps, your own heart – try feeding an elephant that's been blinded by …

The son of Ingrid and the late Jim Croce took the stage at Anthology for a rare local appearance and, with a little help from his friends, proved once again he is one of San …

Note to the warm, dear, swing-dancing friend of mine who lamented, "Charlie Parker killed everything I love": you probably won't listen to this alto-sax/two-upright-basses/one-cello session, but I thought of you. I thought of you since …

For about two decades, economists have been holding up roadmaps directing workers toward small businesses. They argued that small business was the place of innovation, where American dreams of prosperity and upward mobility still were …

You might know the job description of a police, fire, and ambulance dispatcher by another name, the 911 operator. You know, the 911 operator is who you call when your house is on fire or …

I’m feeling magnanimous today, so I’m going to give a free word of advice to fledgling information peddlers and fund raisers. Okay, so it’s not actually a word -- it’s an acronym, and one that …