Comedian George Lopez jokes that every Mexican family has a haunted room somewhere on the premises — “the cucuy room.” It’s the one you sprint past on your way to the commode in the middle …

Longtime Rancho Santa Fe resident and Cayman Islands tax-haven figure Gerald Parsky, who in 2006 bitterly battled a new school in the wealthy enclave north of San Diego, is now in the crosshairs of a …

Before there were people on the earth, the Chief of the Sky Spirits grew tired of his home in the Above World, because the air was always brittle with an icy cold. So he carved …

“Even today I’ll meet a 15-, 16-year-old girl who will tell me, ‘You wrote that song for me.’ That puts a warm, fuzzy feeling in my heart.” Former San Diegan Gary Puckett is talking about …

Changes are in the offing at Landmark’s Hillcrest Cinemas that include the addition of electronic seats, a lobby makeover, reserved seating, alcohol, and even newly designed finishes and fixtures to make every bathroom encounter feel …

At first, I’m thinking Tacos El Gordo, because it’s near Chula Vista’s H Street trolley. Then I go in. Wall-to-wall! Three lines stretching right to the doors. Fuggedaboutit. And, actually, a steak’s what I’ve got …

The political committee set up to defeat the Chargers drive to build a downtown, taxpayer-subsidized stadium and meeting complex finally has a name: “No Downtown Stadium – Jobs and Streets First!” More interesting to local …

Dear Hipster: Since it’s becoming pretty mainstream these days, I want to start spinning vinyl at home, but I don’t know where to begin. I don’t necessarily trust the guys at Fry’s because I think …

“Being able to DJ at this year’s Pride Festival is a surreal kind of homecoming. I get to come home and do what I love to do in front of my hometown crowd...but as my …

Last month, New York–based dance troupe, Monica Bill Barnes & Company put on a single performance of Every Night’s a Show Night, a self-styled work-in-progress, at San Diego Dance Theatre. To the tune of excellent …

July 5th All the flag-clad oohs and ahhs fizzle just past midnight, a slight singe of burn hovering over today: patriotic hangover with stars and stripes banging about in brains that never OK’d reciting names …

My friend Sophie’s eyeliner is permanently perfect — because it’s permanent. “Permanent makeup is a tattoo,” explained Jeanee Lusby, owner of Natural Look of Permanent Cosmetics in La Jolla (866-550-LOOK), “but it isn’t really permanent …

Most jobs associated with concerts have been around for years — musician, roadie, sound tech, merch guy. Jimmy Ovadia created a new job description, and he says it’s been his primary means of support for …

The Broken Hill Trail is the longest and one of the most scenic trails at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, winding through a thicket of chaparral until the trail opens up to reveal spectacular ocean …

In French, “rester avec” sounds pleasant. It means to “stay with.” In Haiti, a “restavek” is a child from a family so poor they cannot support it. Haiti is the poorest country in the Caribbean …

Someone hollering “Shark!” at the beach is akin to a person yelling “Fire!” in a theater. Folks react whether or not they see a fin rising out of the water or smoke filling the room. …

This week sees two films that feature adventures on the fringe of civilization, Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Captain Fantastic. Wilderpeople — which zigs and zags from silly to somber (retaining perfect emotional frankness throughout) …

Dear Hipster: It’s once again that saddest time of year, when Game of Thrones goes off the air, and I’m left with nothing to look forward to every week. I know it’s summer, and I …

When Mom “joked” about working for me, I called her bluff. “Don’t say it if you don’t mean it, because I could use some help,” I said. Instead of the “gotcha” laugh I expected, Mom’s face lit up.

“Superstars in the making,” is what Los Angeles tastemakers KROQ radio once called them. Bad Suns is a young band (ages range from 20 to 23), and they started in a garage in a Los …

Clickety-clink-clack. Toques! Toques! A man wearing polished shoes, a zoot suit, and a fancy hat walks through a bar with a decorated electric box attached to his hip. Two metal tubes that he smashes together …

There is a This American Life podcast called “Good Guys.” It is about always asking when you buy something if you can get the “good-guy” discount. As Ira Glass says, “You know, you’re a good …

For eight years Mikey Erg played drums and wrote a bunch of songs for the Ergs!, a hyperactive punk band born and bred in New Jersey. Since their breakup in 2008, he has spent most …

Throughout Britain in the month of June, anti-Brexit propaganda was ubiquitous. Brexit, the vote on Britain dropping out of the European Union, or EU, “was dismissed, mocked and ridiculed. It was for lunatics and madmen,” …

Far be it from me to deride any exhibition chain that’s okay with showcasing repertoire fare a few weeks out of the year, but have we not heard the chimes at midnight? The last time …

Gone is the era when hacksaws were smuggled into prisons via cakes and other baked goods produced by wives and grandmothers. These days, the contraband items of choice are smartphones and the tiny subscriber identification …

Soak Your Feet Re: “Like Trying to Come up for Air,” July 7 cover story I am a lifetime holistic chiropodist foot specialist. I’m 75 years old. I am a therapist and a holistic dietician. …

Evil Bliss Beedle, Encinitas, 12. Gregory Chauncey, La Jolla, 12. Joseph Ciprian, Little Italy, 12. Alford Claibone, San Diego, 12. Patrick Driscoll, Santee, 12. Rafael Gaceta, San Diego, 12. Don Ganoe, San Diego, 12. Terry …

L. Barling, El Cajon, 12. Evelyn Bowser, Hillcrest, 12. Dennis Butterworth, San Diego, 12. Chris Byzewski, San Diego, 12. Joseph Ciprian, Little Italy, 12. (winner!) Annette Coppede, San Diego, 12. Allan Dorfman, Del Mar, 12. …