I've got a few days off and not a lot of cash... what can I do? I know – I'll go to Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains. I've taken my family there …

Does Sweetwater Union High School District superintendent Ed Brand have something to hide regarding the memorandum of understanding between Alliant International University and the district? Why else would he have stonewalled public record requests to …

Purple signs that designate parking spaces for wounded veterans have recently sprouted in Temecula's public parking lots. The city launched the campaign to honor Purple Heart recipients on June 21 by putting up signs at …

The first time I visited Thorn St. Brewery (3176 Thorn Street, North Park), I was enamored with the place. A former homebrew supply store that’s been converted into a brewery with indoor and semi-outdoor tasting …

The bankrupt Escondido Country Club property's new owners, Stuck in the Rough (a West Hollywood-based company), filed a lawsuit against the Escondido Country Club Homeowners Organization (ECCHO) and the City of Escondido on June 27. …

Lisa Culver, the CEO of Project Wildlife, has reported the condition of the two baby ospreys that fell out of their nest at Lake Murray on June 5 and June 21. The manmade nest is …

For years I had heard the song “Highway Patrol” used as bumper music on the Motor Man car-talk radio show on Sunday mornings on 790 KABC. I had no idea who Junior Brown was... Then …

Early reactions to Kanye West’s provocative sixth album, Yeezus, had some outlets calling him a revolutionary and others an egotistical prick obsessed with material excess and expedient croissant delivery. The reality may lie somewhere in …

Wesley Crusher coming to San Diego in the name of craft beer and collaboration.

On the evening of June 26, about three dozen people from the neighborhood around 33rd Street in Normal Heights finally learned the details of what one resident called "the sewer line project from hell.” Five …

About 2300 students have been housed in approximately 100 modular units at the “interim campus” of San Marcos High School for the past year and a half, since demolition and then construction began on their …

In multilingual Linda Vista, schoolchildren are learning to write in English. It’s not always easy. Fifteen-year-old Jacqueline Garza admitted that only a few months ago she was failing her eighth-grade English class. But on the …

Fes is my favorite city in Morocco. It has the best-preserved medina in the Arab world – dating back to the 14th century – as well as being one the largest living medieval cities in …

Barrio Logan’s mixture of residential and industrial use has taken its toll on the citizenry, who have higher rates of asthma than people in other San Diego neighborhoods.

Several youngsters were injured — one seriously enough to require hospitalization — when false reports of imminent gunfire outside a Tijuana kindergarten caused parents, teachers, and children to run for cover. The incident occurred at …

According to a few Baja newspapers, a large loggerhead sea turtle — weighing over 100 pounds and measuring about 96 inches in length and 66 inches in width — was saved from certain demise by …

North Park artist turns vintage objects into guitars, but he also builds high-end instruments worthy of art galleries.

Ed stumbles upon Sushi on a Roll, gets an education — for example, eat sushi with your fingers, not chopsticks. And by all means, don’t stab sushi with chopsticks (bad luck).

Nestled between URBN Coal Fired Pizza and the empty old F.W. Woolworth building in North Park sits a building that last housed the Windmill Thrift Shop. After it closed, the structure, owned by a Los …

The Hawaiian transplants in Pepper describe their beginnings in North County, where they moved about four years ago from Hawaii.

Interview with the Material, a San Diego band that started about five years ago and is often compared to Paramore due to their rock sound and frontwoman.

What is it about Great White Buffalo? It’s the kind of music that acts like the perfect tonic for rabid politics and sour television news. GWB is an L.A.-based indie band that is very much …

The varied topography and ecosystems of Louis A. Stelzer County Park make this 420-acre reserve a delight to visit. It is situated along Wildcat Canyon Creek and includes the rocky hillsides, ridgeline, and a peak …

Not all San Diego competitors are failures! A rundown of teams that have posted winning seasons.

15 properties in La Jolla's 92037 zip code are currently offered for sale at a list price of $10 million or higher.

Blogger Maura Larkins goes to court against Stutz Artiano Shinoff & Holtz, which represents the San Diego County Office of Education. They say she’s damaged their reputation.

Darrell Waterman remembers the names of the local hip-hop artists who drove a healthy local hip-hop scene when he was in high school (Oceanside’s El Camino, class of 2002). “The old-school cats that inspired me …

Band lineup changes are as common as busted guitar strings, but several local ensembles have undergone nearly complete personnel changeovers. “The entire band was fired by the singer who founded the band,” says Subliminal Trip …

Jenny, my wittiest sister, recently discovered a new app for her iPhone that has made group-texting with my sisters far more interesting. Though Heather and I benefit from the potentially endless supply of hilarity, the …

San Diego County Water Authority and the Metropolitan Water District continue to clash. UCSD political science professor Steve Erie says consumers are the losers.

Be Grateful, Lady Thank you, Ms. Mitchell, for a very well-written article about your dad (“God, Country, and My Dad,” June 20 cover story). Be thankful, in whatever way you choose to do that, because …

My towheads have turned into toads. My daughters’ hair, once so golden, has gone green from too many hours in the pool. And the standard stuff at Target and Walmart didn’t get the job done. …

Hell will not be a big party where we all run around naked.

Such a brave generation. We marched onto the streets in our T-shirts and jeans, holding the hand of the stranger next to us with a trust I can’t summon now, our voices raised in song. …

A Down syndrome boy seeks reassurance from his dad, a veritable mathematician with tons of guilt.

Yoshi, a white, three-year-old, female terrier mix has been missing since September 7 of last year. The owner has contacted a police detective because, as the “missing” poster notes, “The people who found Yoshi are …

A report released last week by the National Council on Teacher Quality, an advocacy group founded in 2000 and boasting board membership of veterans from the former Reagan, Clinton, and George W. Bush administrations, blasts …

Dulce Serrano went to Friendship Park in Border Field State Park on Sunday, June 23, to see her mother for the first time in five years and to introduce her to her boyfriend. Friendship Park …

When I arrived in Lone Pine, that sweet little town at the foot of the Sierra Nevadas, I planned to make a documentary about mountain climbing. I would try to climb Mt. Whitney, and I …

With Benchmark Brewing Company celebrating its grand opening this weekend, many a craft beer fan will finally know where Grantville is on a map of San Diego. As it turns out, this is a good …

Last week, Sacramento was besieged by emails and phone calls about the budget trailer bill that would have made the California Public Records Act “optional.” By June 20, the assembly, the house, and the governor …

When a small group of guys spend extensive periods of time in a closed-in space, one of two things typically occurs. Either they grow stir-crazy and find a thousand reasons to hate each other or, …

A 13-year-old boy led deputies on a short vehicle police chase that ended in a fiery crash at about 1:30 a.m. on June 24, according to authorities. No one was seriously hurt, and the boy …

It wasn’t long ago that we visited Girona. After a six-hour drive from Nice, France, and just a few drops of fuel left, we arrived in the northeast conurbation of Catalonia. It was impossible to …

Bobby Chocolate pulls up his socks and waits for his friend Jimi to complete his ride down the rail in the skate corridor of the City Heights Community Center walk next to Rosa Parks Field. …

In 1603, at a place Europeans then called Bantam, an English fleet trading for spices left behind a few merchants to organize the pepper trade for the arrival of the next voyage – two years …

Neon skulls and portraits of assholes artistically "booby trap" Fry's paintings.

Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church parishioners spent two days saying goodbye to Monsignor Michael Gallagher, the priest retiring after serving for 27 years as pastor. Receptions followed weekend services, and 600 people attended the …

The Greek Islands are on any traveler's list who envisions a Santorini sunset or a gorgeous Milos beach. @media screen and (max-width:479px) { .image-float.half-width, .image-float.third-width, .image-float.fourth-width { width: 100%; } } Santorini. Although prices have …

On June 21, at about 2:30 p.m., the second baby osprey at Lake Murray fell out of its nest. (Its sibling had fallen out on June 5 and was taken to Project Wildlife to be …

At approximately 7:30 a.m. on Friday, June 21, residents in an apartment complex in the 1400 block of 14th Street in Imperial Beach heard their neighbors yelling and screaming and called 911. The responding sheriff’s …

With an extremely high voter turnout for a one-issue special election, over 40 percent of Encinitas’ voters turned out on June 18 to express their opinion on Proposition A — the Right to Vote Initiative. …

Steven Brunner, aka Thundercat, was never one to be nailed to a single genre. Working alongside the likes of Eryka Badu and Suicidal Tendencies in the past, Brunner has melodically displayed dexterity both audibly and …

A decade into the game, the Thermals have become an afterthought, taken for granted by many rock critics and musical outlets. They never had a radio hit or took risks with their sound. And yet …

Nine months in, Year One has been one of adjustments for Tom Garcia, the owner and brewmaster at Offbeat Brewing Company (1223 Pacific Oaks Place, #101, Escondido). When he launched last fall, he didn’t go …

Tijuana police arrested 15 people and seized 15 roosters after raiding a clandestine cockfighting ring in the city's Niño Artillero neighborhood. According to accounts in several Tijuana newspapers, officers were summoned to the scene around …

Back in the day, the homebrewers I knew had pretty predictable goals: learn how to make beer, make beer, drink beer, repeat as needed. Nowadays, many of the recreational fermentation fanatics I meet are either …

Hundreds of Encinitas residents turned out last week for the reopening of Moonlight Beach. The city finished $4.8 million in renovations on June 13. While the increased sand area, new concession stand, view deck, and …

The on-again, off-again affordable Atmosphere apartment project in downtown San Diego is on again, but hurry up and wait if you want to qualify for an apartment there. The San Diego City Council approved the …

There’s a place in Florida where wildlife abounds, where you can snorkel, scuba dive, bird watch, canoe, kayak and hike in relative isolation in Mother Nature’s sanctuary. This same place is a haven for seafood: …

On Tuesday evening, June 18, the board of directors of ECCHO, a neighborhood group formed to stop housing development on Escondido Country Club property, reported to over 400 interested residents at Life Community Church. Also …

Associations vary as much as the industries they represent. Most provide resources for their members, including networking events, education, industry research, publications, professional services, and perhaps job listings. These events may be face-to-face, which is …

“Tonight we will see living national treasures!” our guide, Bao Chui, announced dramatically while poking his chopsticks around our noodle lunch in Beijing. To the uninitiated, the Beijing Opera can be either a dazzling visual …

Jamila DeCarli explains how The San Diego Community College District’s WorkAbility III program can help provide vocational counseling for students with disabilities. First, tell me about the WorkAbility program and your part in it. The …

There may be no more exciting moment for a business owner or executive than to see your employees fully engaged in their jobs, creatively and enthusiastically looking for ways to be more efficient. This is …

During the public-comment portion of La Mesa City Council meetings, people may speak for three minutes on any non-agenda item. At the June 11 meeting, a woman wearing a button with the message, "I [heart] …

Though the doors to their tasting room have been open for some time, Rip Current Brewing Company (1325 Grand Avenue, San Marcos) celebrated its official grand opening on June 7 and 8 with its Rip …

Wow. This corner. Market and 25th. Every time I come up and over the hump here, seems like this place has a different eatery. Think it was a tamale place, an Urban Chicken place, an …

I think this is a prologue. My dad and I aren’t close. There’s no big reason for this, we just don’t have much to say to each other. I grew up in southern Illinois living …

The busy Escondido Department of Motor Vehicles field office permanently closed its doors at 725 North Escondido Boulevard on May 10. DMV spokeswoman Jan Mendoza said Escondido residents can expect to be without a DMV …

In my last post, which is to say my first post, I yammered on about synchronous TV, when the sports stars align over the old satellite dish and deliver three, four doozies in one frenzied …

Ed Beford goes to Caesar’s Restaurant in Tijuana for a salad — THE Caesar’s salad.

Dallas McLaughlin says his days in Bad Credit (a comedy hip-hop crew that thrived at local clubs from 2002 to 2008) led to his hook-up with the Aquabats TV show and with an upcoming Padres post-game show on Fox Sports San Diego.

Summerfest at Kelly Manor will officially begin with a backyard dance party. We’re going to kick up the heels, down some sangria, and party. We’ve hired the band, sent out the Evites, and reserved a …

Heymatt: A few years back, a friend’s husband’s death required the coroner. His very expensive cowboy boots, sterling silver belt buckle on a nice leather belt, wedding ring, and watch were undamaged. He also had …

Everybody loves Mike and Sully, the scaresome monster team from Monsters, Inc. So, maybe they’ll be happy to see them again as college students in Monsters University. So happy that they won’t mind the clichéd …

The Touchies’ release party for Mess with the Unicorn, Get the Horn happens June 20 at the Casbah, on a bill that includes Dirty Sirens and Chica Diabla. With its first single “Freak Time” now …

Indian Creek Trail does not give up surprises easily. Hike this trail for woodlands, streams, and panoramic views in the Laguna Mountains.

It was a perfect day in Rancho Santa Fe — wisps of white clouds floated through an azure sky and a cool, easy breeze complemented the warmth of the sun. The only thing missing from …

The city is drilling a test well for water at 32nd and B streets in Golden Hill.

Pictures of the Year International, on view at the Museum of Photographic Arts until September 22. 1649 El Prado, Balboa Park, 619-238-7559; mopa.org In Kinsasha, a troubled, impoverished city in the Democratic Republic of Congo, …

The NFL of today will not exist in 20 years, says a retired player.

Performers at this year’s county fair in Del Mar are getting a variety of compensation, judging from a sampling of entertainment contracts taken up by the board of the state’s 22nd agricultural district, which operates …

Anilee Griffin, new owner of the Shakedown bar in the Midway District, says nothing is going to change.

Heymatt: What’s the tallest tree in San Diego? I have some guesses, but I suspect I’m completely wrong. And I wonder if the tallest tree in these parts is one that was planted by humans …

“It’s very keyboard-driven music,” says Bart Mendoza. Possibly this explains why he was trawling about Facebook one afternoon in search of a Farfisa electric organ and an amplifier, the desire for which in turn defines …

Grand del Mar resort owner and GOP publisher Douglas Manchester’s U-T San Diego appears to have gotten itself a pretty good deal from the board of the fair district. According to a board report on …

Correction In the June 16 City Lights article “Not So Darling,” we incorrectly referred to Nightingale Health Services as Nightingale Home Care. They are two different agencies. We regret the error. — Editor Alignment Issues …

The Peninsula Community Planning Board (PCPB) last month voted to remove three stop signs in the Wooded Area of Point Loma, but after allegations that the board violated the the state's open-meetings law (the Brown …

Heymatt: If we can develop bombs that level whole cities, why can’t scientists come up with the same stuff to obliterate tornadoes before landfall? What is it in these tornadoes that can’t be neutralized? Tornadoes …

I had just taken off from Montgomery Field with my friend in his Cessna 172 at 4:30pm on Sunday, June 16, and we turned to fly eastbound. Smoke was clearly visible just beginning to rise …

Civic San Diego, champion of corporate welfare as Centre City, now claims it supports affordable housing and the homeless.

OCD dad writes a good blog and is quite the chef, even while babysitting his Down syndrome son.

Being thus instructed by the god of gods, the divinities entered into alliance with the demons; and they jointly understood acquirement of the beverage of immortality. They collected various kinds of medicinal herbs, and cast …

While I wrought out these fitful Danaan rhymes, My heart would brim with dreams about the times When we bent down above the fading coals; And talked of the dark folk, who live in souls …

Rancho Santa Fe consultant David Bahr pleaded guilty today to criminal charges to commit securities fraud by pumping up a penny stock named "iTrackr." According to the U.S. Attorney's office, Bahr spoke in late November …

The Sweetwater Union High School District’s June 18 meeting had unexpected guests: Kamaal Martin from state-assembly member Shirley Weber’s office, Vivian Moreno from San Diego city councilmember David Alvarez’s office, and Albert Velasquez, a field …

In April, I shared details on the installation of the San Diego Brew Project inside wine storage and retail emporium 57 Degrees (1735 Hancock Street, Five Points). As far as new beer-centric spots go, it …

With limited free time and a bucket list growing by the day, a return trip to Yosemite National Park had been on the cards for a while, but sadly the only weekend we could spare …

Faced with huge budget cuts at the midpoint of their fiscal year, Border Patrol agents from the Imperial Beach station (and other stations along the border) are doubling up in many of the patrol vehicles …

Below us, the island came into view, encircled by a brittle ring of coral reefs made distinguishable by whitewater ripping at the edges. A turquoise iris skirted the white sandy edges of the Caribbean island …

AleSmith Brewing Company (9368 Cabot Drive, Miramar) is a local brewery with a line-up as steady as its stellar reputation. For many years, owner and brewmaster Peter Zien has gone about his business in a …

The warm weather and improved tourist climate have reportedly attracted prostitutes to Rosarito, Ensenada, and Tijuana, according to a recent report in Tijuana’s daily Frontera. The three cities, coastal and vacation-oriented, represent the axis of …

A makeover is under way for the Vermont Street bridge, which crosses Washington Street from University Heights to reach the Uptown shopping center in Hillcrest. The City of San Diego is overseeing the work, being …

Germany’s most ancient city is Trier, its name derived from the Roman name Augusta Trevororum under Caesar Augustus. It was known as the “Second Rome” before Constantinople. While the Romans had been in neighboring Gaul …

For the past 40 years, an equestrian group named the Asociación de Charros de Escondido has occupied a 1.5-acre area in northeastern Escondido just below Dixon Lake. Ensconced in a secluded, mostly wooded area also …

An online petition to ban the use of plastic shopping bags in Oceanside had acquired 586 signatures by June 15. Several weeks ago, Belinda Martinez-Canez, who wrote the petition in late April, was surprised to …

Eastbound San Diego Trolley traffic came to a standstill at the Linda Vista/Morena station from 7:15 to 7:45 p.m. on June 14, as did all traffic at the Friars Road/Morena Boulevard intersection. A car had …

Since my first visit, I’ve encountered beer of reliably good quality at Latitude 33 Brewing Company (1430 Vantage Court, Suite #104, Vista). Whenever I see a new creation from brewmaster Kevin Buckley, I order it …

And you thought Rocket from the Crypt ended abruptly the first time around... Nearly eight years after prematurely bidding its career farewell, Rocket roared back to life as part of the 2013 Ink-N-Iron Festival on …

After three years, Vampire Weekend gives us Modern Vampires of the City. The chamber pop they introduced to us on their debut continues but the band tones down the Paul Simon vibes they developed on …

Getting to Olympos, Turkey, our final destination, was turning out to be a real doozy. This sleeping spread-eagle business on the cold green floor of the Kharkiv, Ukraine, airport, catching a 3 a.m. flight with …

Since 2010, more than 2200 Romanians have come into California from Mexico illegally and surrendered to the first U.S. Border Patrol agent they saw, according to Border Patrol statistics and accounts. Many of them surrendered …

As many as 8000 motorcyclists are expected to converge this weekend at the Plaza Monumental bullring in Playas de Tijuana for the third Tijuana Bike Fest. The three-day event is scheduled to get under way …

Before participating in a beer judging, the thought of such an event conjured visions of a white walled, nondescript room filled with long tables flanked by rigid chairs supporting hard men focused to the nth …

On June 8, Justice/Overcoming Boundaries, a community-organizing group, hosted a neighborhood forum at St. Mark’s Church in Chula Vista. About 100 residents turned out to discuss neighborhood empowerment and participate in three breakout groups: transportation, …

Empires rise and they fall, leaving behind the ruins of their fortresses. Until armored warships rendered masonry forts and their black powder cannons obsolete, warring European empires set on colonizing the rest of the world …

Volunteers showed up to a table set up near the seawall at the foot of Newport Avenue in O.B. on June 12 to sign up and help out a new group trying to make a …

Polen cultivates art, music, food, drink, and fashion in Tijuana with periodic street fairs.

Tina, my male Malagasy guide, planned a trip to the Andasibe National Park and a small lemur reserve. On the walk there we discussed different cultural aspects of Madagascar and his history. Arriving in the …

Twenty-six-year-old Hassan Sheighei lost his leg in a gun battle ten years ago in Somalia. He was walking to the store when he heard gunfire. He saw someone running, and the Somali enemy mistook him …

These are desperate times. I’ve promised Carla a meal and it’s heading for nine o’clock at night and I’m still traipsing across the bridges over the open wound they call Chollas Creek. No bus, no …

75 fun, way out-of-the-ordinary things to do in San Diego County.

Residents of a modest Tijuana neighborhood are as much to blame as the out-of-control tractor-trailer trucks that have repeatedly damaged or destroyed homes, wrecked cars, and claimed at least one life during the past two …

No man-style religion at San Diego Bible Church.

Interview with Jason Farnan (aka Lieutenant Facemelter, the 2010 and 2012 San Diego air-guitar champion) about this year’s U.S. Air Guitar competition.

With a $30 budget (and on a mission to spend every cent of it), Ed hits Toscana Café & Wine Bar and the Rockin’ Baja Lobster.

Swimming-pool water filtration instead of replacement could save you thousands.

Lakeside. Unless you live there, you probably only know it as that rodeo alcove of tweekers, rednecks, and Klansmen out past Santee. Often the butt of the joke, Lakeside touts a handful of merits that …

The chicks dug Spandex. Brett Ellis did not.

Interview with Encinitas resident Tolan Shaw, who’s releasing his first album, inspired by a seven-and-a-half-month-long trip to South and Central America.

Ben Hecht was a writer’s writer. He won the first Academy Award for a screenplay (Underworld, 1927). He rewrote the first nine reels of Gone with the Wind in seven days. He wrote 35 books …

Pines, oaks, and incense cedar on this six-mile loop of the Gatos Big Laguna Trail Spur.

All about Miami Heat basketball player Chris Andersen’s troubles and good luck.

Listing price: $3,500,000 Beds: 3 Baths: 3 Lot size: 110 acres Has sunning on one of the coast’s pristine beaches become a bore? Is collecting cars a bit of a drag? For San Diego’s well-to-do …

San Diego city crews started sand removal from the Los Peñasquitos Lagoon on the morning of June 11. Less than a month ago, California State Parks did an emergency lagoon opening to release stagnant water …

Interview with author Tim Holsten about his book The Accidental Bachelor, which touches on San Diego’s ’80s scene and pop culture.

Interview with Slacker internet radio senior VP Jack Isquit.

Why do people mouth words while using ASL? Why “South” and not “Southern” Florida? Popularity of the surname South.

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 …

Border Patrol agents Kallie Helwig and Gerald Torello were both accused of being involved in a sex act in public at the Del Mar Fairgrounds last year that resulted in a physical altercation between Helwig and an accuser. A jury found Torello not guilty; Helwig got probation.

Squelchy Dear Ed Bedford: I don’t read everything you write, but the last five food reviews I did read used the word “squelchy.” I suggest you lose the word. It was kind of descriptive the …

Look! Up on the screen! It’s absurd! It’s inane! It’s Snyder’s Man! Zack Snyder sucker-punches Richard Lester’s Superman II to date Hollywood’s final say on how to film a comic book. Credit the man of …

I have been suffering from what I refer to as Cause Fatigue, brought on by a barrage of missions mowing me down on the street, at the grocery store, or wherever I am via tweets, …

JMI Sports, the big-money consulting outfit set up by controversial financier and ex-Padres owner John Moores, has picked up another client in the chronically scandal-tainted world of college athletics. This time it’s Alabama’s public Auburn …

Donna Lee Darling, accused of trying to kill nonagenarian Benjamin Farber, gets her day in court on June 25.

It took only a short time for Democrat Juan Vargas to conduct his first San Diego fundraiser as a newly elected Democratic congressman. On March 22, according to an invitation widely circulated here and on …

At the northeast corner of College Boulevard and Cannon Road, the Carlsbad Unified School District’s new high school is prepared to open this fall. After three years of processing an environmental impact report , another …

A blogger abroad ponders if the Greek beer named “FIX” is a bit too suggestive of the nature of his beer-drinking habit.

Who thought LT would be running for San Diego at this point in his career?

My friend Heather is an accessory junkie. She has a habit of wearing basic maxi dresses with gorgeous jewelry. She always looks polished. Meanwhile, whenever I wear accessories I feel like I am wearing a …

Outcry over the planned privatization of the only public sports park in Imperial Beach has caused the city council to postpone its decision on the matter. During a packed city-council meeting on June 5, everyone …

May 22 is the bicentennial of the birth of German composer Richard Wagner. Although born 1813 in Leipzig, the operatic genius has a strong connection to Switzerland. Wagner – then Royal Saxon Court Conductor – …

The June 8 "Community Dialogue on La Mesa's Fiscal Future,” hosted by La Mesa City Council members Ernest Ewin and Kristine Alessio, attracted eight people and consisted of conversation that extended 30 minutes beyond the …

Grantville family fermentorium to celebrate its debut June 28 & 29

I hung out the other day with a 50-something-year-old Bulgarian bus driver named Boris. He'd taken one of my classes on a field trip, and I’d offered to buy him and the tour guide a …

The California State Parks opened the iron gates to Border Field State Park to the public Saturday and Sunday — the first time the park has been open for anything other than special events since …

I had less than eight hours before my flight and I wanted to hike Matanuska Glacier, a two-and-a-half-hour drive each way from the Anchorage airport. It had been a fun weekend visiting friends, seeing the …

The preseason campaign games are upon the Sweetwater Union High School District. As early as June 4, “John McCann for School Board” signs dotted the roads that led to graduation ceremonies. Not to be outdone, …

The June 10 San Diego City Council 2014 budget deliberations will include requests from two new councilmembers for funds to reopen the Mission Trails Regional Park campground known as Kumeyaay Lake. Fifth District councilman Mark …

Miramar brewery hires accomplished young brewer Yiga Miyashiro.

Northern California doesn't begin with San Francisco, at least not to Humboldt County residents. It's not really a particular city that marks the split between north and south, but a vast stretch of forest – …

For the 28th consecutive year, Escondido’s Margaret Austin, known as the “Pink Pig Lady,” was the first to walk through the front gates at the opening of the San Diego County Fair on June 8. …

Held every other year, the World Beer Cup is the largest brewing competition on Earth. Medals earned there are proudly displayed as they equate to big-time bragging rights. One expects to see popular, veteran operations …

Miramar brewery without two highly touted veterans from preseason roster.

Helix Water District recently replaced its 64-year-old “Homelands” tank to increase the facility’s water-storage capacity to 800,000 gallons, enhance system reliability, and satisfy current seismic requirements. Located in an unincorporated area of San Diego County, …

Australia’s finest, Tame Impala, gave all in the house an early surprise by joining opening act Jonathan Wilson onstage for his final number. Wilson and his band had played a solid set, although for most …

The bar at Moscow’s Marriott Grand Hotel on Tverskaya Street – a hop, goose step and jump up the road from the Kremlin – is the place to learn the fine art of drinking vodka, …

Indie darlings Rilo Kiley called an end to its decade-spanning run in 2011. For those still tuning in, the band has released rkives, an 18-track compilation full of unreleased tracks and demos. rkives spans the …

Two brothers, Hector and Loreto Romero, were local contractors for Sweetwater Union High School District. Their company was named HAR Construction. They had landed an $8.5 million contract with Southwest High School and a $6.5 …

On Wednesday, May 29, local artist Giancarlo Pia installed his first outdoor large-scale mural — on the north wall of Jaroco Market at the corner of 25th and B streets. At approximately 17’5” wide by …

I love sports. Watching them, mostly (Padres, Giants, Red Sox, Galaxy, Xolos, Chivas, Sounders, U.S. men’s soccer, MLS, EPL, Serie A, La Liga, Liga MX, MLB, NFL, NBA, tennis, NHL, and billiards, which is too …

At about 8 a.m. on June 5, a baby osprey fell out of its nest, situated near the two-mile mark on the path that goes around Lake Murray. A more-fortunate sibling managed to remain in …

College grads, Class of 2013- congratulations, you did it! Now what? Well, first off you can tell all the naysayers and pessimists in the media, your family, and your group of friends to back off …

Brook Castrejón Solis, artists’ model booking agent, explains what it takes to make it as a figure-drawing model. First, please tell me what you do. I am one of a few artists’ model booking agents …

A hundred and eight miles from the city of Puebla in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental, mystical Cuetzalan is dotted with waterfalls, springs and natural pools set in tropical forest. Most guidebooks describe …

Jackie Robinson is an MVP once again, more than six decades after he broke baseball’s color barrier and became the most valuable player in the National League. Robinson died in 1972, yet he casts every …

It seems there has been a series of home burglaries in the past couple of weeks in the Sunset Cliffs neighborhood. After I registered to nextdoor.com (an info-sharing site similar to the Reader’s Holler pages, …

I’m about to head out on a run to celebrate National Running Day. I’m not going anywhere special, just around the block a few times. Truth be told, I probably wouldn’t run today if it …

Growing unemployment, persistent under-employment, and a steady influx of deportations from the U.S. have left the Catholic Church in Tijuana hard-pressed to meet the needs of the poor who turn to it for help, according …

Interviews with Pala tribe members who are at odds since Indian gaming was made legal in California.

HBO’s miniseries Angels in America is a DVD I watch a minimum of twice a year. The cast and production dream team take on the epic play by Tony Kushner and deliver a masterpiece. The …

‘GIT N ’ERE:” That’s what the sign says, so why not? I’ve got time before the Coaster. That sign’s under another that reads “Pierview Pub.” But inside, a big neon sign above the bar reads …

The rarest of rarities - a new brewing company that caught me off-guard.

Interview with Encinitas resident Nathan Young about his storytelling showcase called VAMP, held at the Whistle Stop in South Park.

Former Padres owner John Moores reputedly in talks to buy radio stations 91X and FM94/9.

(Charles)Book&Record’s Zack Wentz and wife Shelby create a song using Yellofier (an app), part of a contest orchestrated by the band Yello.

Lamb’s Players’ Fiddler on the Roof is one of the best shows they’ve ever done. Ever. The title comes from a wall painting Marc Chagall did for the Moscow State Yiddish Theatre in 1920. He …

Once you’ve gone under the knife, your thoughts of the sun change. Last year, I lost a chunk of eyelid. Basal cell carcinoma. They didn’t get all of it the first time, so I had …

The World Professional Billiard League hits stumbling blocks coming out of the gate.

Lindo Lake Park in Lakeside has become a hotspot for wildlife photographers. This year’s rains brought enough water to fill the east basin, bringing with it again an abundance of wildlife. Many shore birds have …

“We wanted to have something that represented chaos and congestion that is often the life we live, with the diverse traffic of our everyday lives,” says Mad Traffic singer Blaise Guld of their new City …

"I’m on a boat!” “I was wondering how long it would be before someone said that,” David said with a sideways smile. “Well, the answer is, ‘Before we’re even onboard,’” I said. I couldn’t tell …

Compliance is a disturbing indie that revisits themes of obedience and brutality from the world-famous Milgram Experiment. Riveting and eminently filmic exploration of the question “how far will people go when they are convinced they …

Water birds on the lake and chaparral vegetation on the slopes make this a pleasant walk.

Heymatt: How tall is the tallest building in San Diego? Is there a limit as to how high you can build in the county? — Jeff, via email There’s an easy answer to the first …

The little black book wasn’t necessary to determine that Tyree Paschall was the killer of Cindy Conaway.

After three controversial decades, San Diego State University’s vice president of business and financial affairs Sally Roush is finally retiring from her $230,400-a-year job. Originally director of personnel services, Roush was promoted to her current …

“Murder for Breakfast?” Oh, hell yes. The Nekromantix are making the rounds, still touring behind 2011’s What Happens in Hell Stays in Hell, and they have a stopover planned for San Diego. The Danish-American psychobilly …

A monumental achievement in cinema-as-time-travel. Writer, director Julien Temple (Absolute Beginners, The Filth and the Fury) and his frequent editor, Caroline Richards, availed themselves of the opportunity to boil down 800 hours of sparklingly restored …

Heymatt: Your answer about gender-specific bathrooms got me thinking about building codes. Since all these buildings have to be constructed with working restrooms, is it technically illegal for someone in a shop to tell me …

Heymatt: When I was a kid (a long, long time ago), all the cars had a strap hanging down under the frame that dragged on the street. We called them “grounding straps.” The story back …

A politically wired San Diego State University figure in the news of late has been Ricardo Lara, a Democratic California state senator. Two weeks ago, the SDSU alum was forced to cancel a $3000-a-head Memorial …

Golf courses got overbuilt in anticipation of baby boomer retirements. But do boomers have patience for golf? Golfing is on the decline in San Diego. What to do with all that land?

I’m still not sure if the documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop is a hoax or not. But regardless of its authenticity, it is a fascinating look at the work of Banksy and other street …

Unbelievable I’m calling about the story you guys printed on May 23 regarding the Labrador and his lover/owner (SD on the QT: “LGBTQIA-Z?”). That is so sick! I just can’t believe you guys printed something …

And certain women will run up and treat me like a movie star. Suddenly, i’ll become handsome and witty and perfect, and other men will hate my power. I’ll become a famous victim of jealousy. …

…every time we commit a mortal sin, there doth pass through our heart and mind (though we mark it not) a certain practic [sic] discourse of our understanding and will (as there doth also in …

A former North Park resident returns to San Diego and realizes the choices he made five years ago are what forced him to leave.

Growing Mira Mesa brewing company launching small-batch brewing project.

For folks in southwestern Riverside County, it was the first Sunday without their local newspaper — The Californian. With the purchase of the North County Times in September 2012, the U-T San Diego also acquired …

Québec is one of North America’s oldest cities, having been founded in 1608 by famous French explorer Samuel Champlain. It was the capital of New France (French North America) until the British captured it in …

Early Monday morning, June 3, calls were made to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department to report graffiti painted on many vehicles and the sidewalk on the 400 block of Poinsettia Avenue in Vista. Most …

Even during the dry season, there is water in the Serengeti. One of the region's most notable watering holes is the hippo pool. Fed by the Seronera River, the site is located towards the northwest …

During the interactive portion of the May 30 community workshop on La Mesa's Downtown Village Specific Plan Update, about 100 people spent an hour visiting five stations devoted to issues related to the update. The …

Alicia and Robert, the owners of a single-family house on Lewis Street in Hillcrest, had heard of people wearing gas masks and robbing houses while they were being tented for termites. So, they decided to …

"Il dolce far niente": The sweetness of doing nothing. Pleasant leisure. The joy of relaxation. Rome was a mighty city; an ominous feeling swept through the maze of narrow cobblestone streets and left me with …

Yet another new brewery online for Mira Mesa/Miramar area.

On May 30, the U-T published the testimony of Sweetwater Union High School superintendent Ed Brand, given to the San Diego County Grand Jury late last year. In November–December 2012, the grand jury conducted secret …

About 70 loud, enthusiastic, chanting individuals, many blowing whistles, took over the four corners of Sixth and University avenues in Hillcrest on June 1. Mostly from the LGBT community and Occupy movement, they called on …

At the May 28 La Mesa City Council meeting, police chief Ed Aceves joined vice mayor Mark Arapostathis in distributing school safety-patrol awards to fifth- and sixth-graders in the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District. The …

It took complaints from many different people and organizations in Ocean Beach, but the parking lot and shrubbery surrounding the now-shuttered Apple Tree market was trimmed and weeded so it could open today, June 1. …