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Stories for August 2017

Thursday, August 31

Eclipse road trip: Weisler, Idaho

Rolling up to my destination at 1 a.m., a couple of miles north of Weiser, Idaho, where there were two little side roads I had picked out on Google Maps as being a few hundred …

Ebullition bubbles in to Vista

Ebullition Brew Works soft-opened in Vista at the beginning of July. Nearly two months later, the brewery has yet to announce a grand-opening date but has been keeping regular hours and served nine different beers …

August 31, 2017
No master plan for Maple Canyon

Maple Canyon lovers heard the echo of the freeway building in the early 1960s at the start of summer, when they found about 50 feet of the west entry to the canyon had been paved …

Thanks for the gas-price hike, Harvey (big jerk)

Local gas prices jumped around 10 cents a gallon overnight on August 30, in response to the destruction and flooding from Hurricane Harvey. San Diego gas prices started rising slightly on August 25, the day …

A Rumble: “Indian” vs. “Native American”

Political correctness is a game one must master in order to keep the paychecks coming. One thing this woefully incorrect chronicler has learned the hard way is: what plays in the head need not always …

August 31, 2017
Anti-Target demonstration in Ocean Beach

Anti-Target protesters gathered at the ocean end of Newport Avenue on the afternoon of August 31 before marching down the street and through the weekly farmers’ market. Vendors encouraged the protesters with hoots of support. …

August 31, 2017
Debate on community choice for electricity heats up

The city's goal of reaching 100 percent renewable energy by 2035 is kicking in to high gear with a new study that explores the feasibility of community choice — a program that would hand over …

August 31, 2017
San Diego medical marijuana product for Mexico

Since early 2016, the San Diego–based Medical Marijuana Inc., doing business as HempMeds Mexico, has been exporting a version of its cannabidol (CBD) oil across the border. Last week, the company announced its first major …

August 31, 2017
Conductor’s podium now a political platform

I assume I’m not the only one who is experiencing political fatigue. I’m not talking about the shuffling of White House personnel, North Korea, or what have you. I’m referring to all the political posturing …

August 31, 2017
Mira Mesa tempura crab a star on Yelp and Instagram

It's a simple rule of thumb that any place calling itself fancy ain't really all that fancy. Such is the case with The Fancy Fish, a casual seafood spot sitting in the elbow slot of …

Wednesday, August 30

Albatross Street in Hillcrest loses its canyon

A developer’s plan to build on a canyon property in Hillcrest sparked an ever-escalating two-year dispute with the project’s immediate neighbors. As the differences have become more contentious, one or the other side has appealed …

August 30, 2017
Hot wax and new ones and zeros

Bastille Day, the new full-length from instrumental-experimental dream-jazz trio Gunther’s Grass, debuts September 8 at Teros Gallery. “In the past ten years, we’ve only performed two or three times,” says Marcelo Radulovich. “I’ll be droning …

August 30, 2017
Kissed Alive drummer well after heart attack

For the past seven years, veteran local drummer Jason Lee has played in the Kiss tribute band Kissed Alive. “My first heart attack happened when I was in Target six years ago. I started having …

August 30, 2017
Trump stalking

Economist Peter Navarro, the onetime perennial San Diego candidate for office who is now one of Donald Trump’s top trade advisors, has his own way of influencing policy, according to Politico. “Navarro has earned a …

August 30, 2017
Sycamore Den's bartender apologizes profusely

The Stalk Market is Sycamore Den’s newest cocktail, and according to Sycamore bartender Jesse Ross, this liquor-based commodity’s success stems from a portfolio of ingredients — including acid phosphate, the same ingredient soda jerks used …

August 30, 2017
Local boy Dylan Moran makes good, and also makes a movie, Get Big

If last year’s The Edge of Seventeen felt like the kids of today as portrayed by a (smart, sensitive) grown-up, this year’s Get Big is very much the kids of today as portrayed by the …

August 30, 2017
Misses moon shadow but not french toast

This happened on the morning of the eclipse. I’m speed-walking down Palm Avenue, trying to get to the I.B. pier in time to catch the big event, and maybe some brekky out there at the …

August 30, 2017
Spooky Cigarette's infectious intersection

Spooky Cigarette has just wrapped up a full-house set at Space Bar. The show was well-attended and the audience more than enthusiastic, yet frontman Frank Mindingall gives off little more than a sense of calm …

August 30, 2017
Another good turn at La Mesa Walmart

The wife and I like cream in our coffee. So do our kids. Trader Joe’s in La Mesa charges $3.29 for a half-pint. Walmart charges $4.14 for a full pint. I resolved to make the …

August 30, 2017
Starbucks client may be working a bold departure from mainstream nonmainstreamism

DJ: Here’s a couple of softballs for you: (1) What do you think of an apparent hipster walking past one of the hippest coffee shops in SD to visit a Starbucks? (2) Does living life …

August 30, 2017
SDSU’s newest rainmaker

As San Diego State University and a group of loyal alumni continue to wage war against SoccerCity, the proposal by some wealthy La Jolla hedge-fund managers to convince city voters to give them control of …

August 30, 2017
Japacha Peak — like Cuyamaca without antennas

While Cuyamaca Peak gets all the fame as being San Diego County’s second-highest peak at 6512 feet, its lesser-known neighbor to the south, Japacha Peak, sports panoramic views without antenna towers adorning the summit. This …

August 30, 2017
Earl Thomas, back from Europe (again)

Earl Thomas, the soulful belter from Pikeville, Tennessee, who started singing the blues locally after getting kicked out of the Navy for being gay, has released 15 albums. He has recorded with the late BB …

August 30, 2017
The subtle distinctions of a five-star rating system no longer apply

Dear Hipster: What’s the deal with adding exclamation marks to everything?! Emails! Texts! They’re everywhere! It’s like everybody is just super excited all the time! When did we start overpunctuating?! — Just an Excitable Boy …

August 30, 2017
Border Angel supporters continue to sound off

Making America Great Again Re: “You Left Water in the Desert for Illegals?”, cover story, August 16. So who says that our fearless leader is not being (somewhat) effective? Just read the first column of …

August 30, 2017
The Indians Who Rocked the World

Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World, is a new documentary that celebrates the contributions Native American musicians made to popular music. The film tells the stories of artists such as Link Wray, Robbie Robertson, …

August 30, 2017
Live just north of Bird Rock for special price: $14,888,000

“This astounding La Jolla estate exemplifies the best of modern luxury,” promise listing materials for the newly constructed blufftop home at 5910 Camino de la Costa. Located just north of Bird Rock, the luxury residence …

August 30, 2017
No one calls Thundercat Stephen Bruner

Thundercat claims Miles Davis as an inspiration, along with jazz bassist Ron Carter and a pianist named Mary Lou Williams who was mostly active during the golden era of jazz, but you’d have to dig …

August 30, 2017
Horton Plaza has gone to seed

On my first morning in San Diego — July 1995 — I set off walking toward downtown. I was young and I didn’t know anybody, so I went to be where people were. Once there, …

Sleep Monster Growls Beneath the Mattress

I Go to School in America At 5 AM I stir from sleep. go to school in America. Deep bruise sky lightens into cool streaks of purple, gray. Rooster calls the sun to the horizon; …

August 30, 2017
Judge orders Jehovah’s Witnesses to release molestation files

Did Jehovah’s Witnesses’ policies create a “pedophile’s paradise”?

August 30, 2017
Orthodox priests attracted attention in Coronado

Membership: 670 families Pastor: Father Bratso Krsic Age: 46 Born: Crnojevic, Serbia Formation: The Holy Three Hierarchs Seminary, Southern Croatia (five-year high school); St. Sava Serbian Orthodox School of Theology, Libertyville, IL; Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, …

August 30, 2017
Union-Tribune, apple of Jobs’s eye?

The carnival that is Chicago-based newspaper chain tronc’s attempt to boost plunging revenue and circulation picked up another colorful act last week with the announcement that L.A. Times publisher and editor Davan Maharaj was being …

August 30, 2017

Tuesday, August 29

City Heights' Fire Station 17 rehab near done

“It will be beautiful,” said Sandra. “[It’s] another gem in the community, like the police station.” Sandra, 63, was referring to the almost-completed Fire Station 17 at 4206 Chamoune Avenue in City Heights. Like many …

Savory and satisfying and gigantic at The Original Pancake House

We hadn’t intended to go to The Original Pancake House. One goes to Convoy for excellent Asian food, not old Americana, but alas, upon arrival at 10:30 a.m. David and I realized that all of …

Much ado about triggers

Much Ado About Nothing was the 21st Annual Free Classical production by The Coronado Playhouse. The show ran through August 13th and was presented free of charge. Next year’s Annual Free Classical will be Shakespeare’s …

August 29, 2017
More Tijuana robberies, more murder

On Sunday, August 27th, a young man wearing a black cap, black shirt, and black jeans walked into a small coffee shop located in Colonia Buena Vista and pointed a gun at a customer who …

August 29, 2017
Oceanside's feelings ajumble over Animal Kingdom

The final, 13th episode of the second season of Animal Kingdom airs tonight (August 29) at 9 p.m. TNT announced on August 27 that the series has been renewed for a third season, claiming it …

Sorry, Houston, writes SD Lifeguard union head

They're well-practiced at water rescues — 9000 last year — and at handling boats. They practice swift-water rescues and perform them, most often in Mission Valley and the Tijuana River Valley. They've deployed to floods …

August 29, 2017

Monday, August 28

Lightning Brewery (still) open for business

When news broke in June that Lightning Brewery had sold its assets to Orange County–based Cismontane Brewing Co., rumor spread that the 11-year-old brewery had joined the ranks of San Diego ex-breweries. But reports of …

August 28, 2017
Councilwoman Zapf dodges financial hardship

Eric Zapf, husband of councilwoman Lorie Zapf, has been discharged from a Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy he filed in May of this year. In 2014, the Fourth District Court of Appeal found that Eric Zapf …

August 28, 2017
Agreement to move nuclear waste from San Onofre

Southern California Edison today (August 28) agreed to move 3.6 million pounds of nuclear waste that it had planned to bury 100 feet from the ocean at the now-shuttered San Onofre site in North County. …

August 28, 2017
Patient says former Charger molested her

An unnamed woman has accused a former Chargers player of sexually assaulting her in October of last year while she was under sedation at a UCSD hospital. The 52-year-old woman filed a civil lawsuit against …

August 28, 2017
Public employee unions wield hefty Atkins stick

Democratic assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher’s high-profile bill to restructure wonky-sounding SANDAG may be getting all the attention, but San Diego's Democratic legislative delegation is also busy doing quiet favors for the county's labor unions, a …

August 28, 2017
Judgment day for bilked pro athletes

The Securities and Exchange Commission last week wrapped up the case against Aaron Parthemer, a Florida resident who sold more than $5 million worth of unregistered and illiquid investments in a San Diego company, Global …

August 28, 2017
Good fishing means deckhand shortage

Dock Totals August 20 – August 26: 6,921 anglers aboard 255 boats out of San Diego landings this past week caught 1,749 bluefin tuna, 2,022 yellowfin tuna, 508 skipjack tuna, 1,032 dorado, 12,916 yellowtail, 1,045 …

August 28, 2017
Girls cheer each other on

Name: Carla Verbrugghen Age: 54 Location: Ocean Beach Occupation: Surf Instructor Carla Verbrugghen and her daughter were at the showers in OB when I meet up with them. Verbrugghen has been surfing since she was …

August 28, 2017
You want rent control in San Diego? Sign here.

“I’m paying $950 [for rent per month] there, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed [that it doesn’t go up],” said Cat Mendoza on August 26. She lives off of 44th Street in City Heights, just …

Sunday, August 27

24 years of martians, murder, magic, and mayhem

Eat. Sleep. Read. Local. For years these edicts have presented themselves in the form of a bold red-and-white poster gracing the entryway of Mysterious Galaxy, an independent bookshop specializing in science fiction, mystery, fantasy, and …

August 27, 2017
Southern California home prices barely above bubble peak

San Diego metro home prices are now above their median home values when prices peaked roughly a decade ago — $550,900 today and $543,600 when the bubble burst in 2007 — a gain of 1.3 …

August 27, 2017
Don’t give up on the beach

Warm Water Temperatures, into the ’70s Fahrenheit over the past several weeks, won’t last much longer. As fall approaches, shorter days and increasingly oblique solar radiation will mean that less and less energy will be …

August 27, 2017

Saturday, August 26

Linda Vista skaters snort at park completion date

San Diego's largest skate park is 90 percent complete, says the city. Many hoped it would open in August and then September. Last week, a worker at the skate park, located at the intersection of …

August 26, 2017
Parks & Rec truck runs over transient

A city Parks & Rec employee emptying trashcans in Ocean Beach on Saturday (August 26) accidentally ran over a man who appears to have situated himself under the truck on purpose. The incident occurred in …

August 26, 2017
Huntington Library & Botanic Gardens: L.A. day trip

Looking for a hidden gem of a day trip from San Diego? The Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens, a private nonprofit organization located in tony San Marino near Pasadena, is one of the best possible …

Damning evidence dogs accused pet abuser

David Christopher Herbert, 36, was ordered to answer six felony counts of animal abuse and cruelty at the end of a three-day preliminary hearing on August 25. The prosecutor said that three of the felonies …

August 26, 2017
Characters I have known

Bill’s Memory Machine “My mother and father,” Mike said, “were very frugal. They were very cost-conscious, so my mother didn’t have money for carpeting, obviously, or even rugs, so she’d take old pieces of clothing …

August 26, 2017

Friday, August 25

Faulconer commands the merry-go-round

Call it a revolving door or merry-go-round, the faltering city-hall operation of San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer continues to reshuffle its deck chairs to the benefit of a major financial booster, the San Diego Regional …

August 25, 2017
Lawsuit against Lyft following alleged rape

A woman who was allegedly raped by a Lyft driver in Cardiff in December 2016 has filed a lawsuit against the company and the driver in state court. The lawsuit, filed by the unnamed victim, …

Escape to a good time at the movies

It’s stupid jokes week here at The Big Screen... Patti Cake$ fails to rise. Good Time mostly isn't, though it is pretty good. Leap! should take a flying...leap. Lemon is a lemon. The Trip to …

August 25, 2017
Smokehouse in a food court?

The thought of a food court evokes strong sensory memories burned into my consciousness by the presence of trashy mall franchises: the baked cinnamon aromas of Cinnabon, the pulpy viscosity of Orange Julius, the slab …

National City puts Perry Ford under "green" spotlight

Over the next two weeks, the National City Council will make a list. A green list. It will include, among other conditions, the "certified biodegradable" products Perry Ford can use at its auto shop across …

Black's Beach knife-wielder found on trail

August 6 01:37 Boating: Boat aground at Tourmaline. Reporting person states three occupants ran ashore and up Sea Ridge Drive. Lifeguard units respond. SDPD, Coast Guard, and Border Patrol are notified. Lifeguard confirms no occupants …

Tantalizing chance to fish in Encinitas forbidden zone

Recreational anglers, along with a scientist from Scripps Institute of Oceanography at UCSD, got to fish where the rest of us can’t — in the Marine Protected Area of Encinitas — a no-take area for …

August 25, 2017

Thursday, August 24

Scorsese to produce a comic book movie

My response is always the same: “I’ll attend Comic-Con when Scorsese puts in a personal appearance.” Be careful what you bitch for. Seven months ago Scorsese proclaimed, “Cinema is gone!”, in effect admitting that he’s …

August 24, 2017
Who, us? Fox News wrongly implicates local union

UniteHere, the union that represents some 6500 hotel, gaming, and food-service workers in San Diego County’s hospitality industry, has never been shy about flexing its political muscles. When the Chargers developed Measure C for a …

August 24, 2017
Dogs doused with acid in Oceanside

After more than an hour of grueling cross-examination by a defense attorney, witness Maria Morales Juares began telling him that his questions were “stupid” and she was “bored” of his repeated questions on the same …

August 24, 2017
Festival of Sail — not fuel-driven design

Though steam-driven or steam-assisted vessels first ventured onto the high seas in 1831, the main turning point from sail to side-wheel and eventually propeller for naval technology was during the Civil War. During the war, …

Unable to re-attach his arm but saved his leg.

August 12 HP investigated a theft of some property that was taken from a boat in the A-2 Americas Cup Harbor. August 11 HP located an adrift dinghy in the area of the Grape Street …

NFL blamed for sleepy trash-truck drivers

The Chargers' extended farewell to San Diego may be complete, but a local company claims in a study released this week the NFL poses an unlikely threat to Americans everywhere in the form of sleepy …

August 24, 2017

Wednesday, August 23

Redbeard ministers to the Sweetwater homeless jungle

I once saw Redbeard riding his skateboard along Otay Lakes Road. It was close to midnight, there were only a few cars on the road, and the light from the streetlamps was dim. As he …

August 23, 2017
Sitting by a Rivulet: An Image of Eternity

Ah lovely stream, how fitly may’st thou be, By thy immutability, Thy gentle motion and perennity, To us the emblem of eternity: And to us thou do’st no less A kind of omnipresence too express. …

Meals and wheels

California assemblyman Adam Gray picked up a free meal worth $160.23 at the Barona gambling tribe’s resort in Lakeside on June 30. Fellow Democrat Marc Berman settled for a $14.87 meal and a free $137.50 …

August 23, 2017
Al Howard fertilizes the Redwoods

The Redwoods collective started its musical journey in 2015. Designed akin to a modern-day Muscle Shoals or Stax, the Redwoods use an in-house collection of session players that back the label’s individual artists. The label …

August 23, 2017
Reckless Brewing slaughters sacred cows

A metal ball rolls down a ramp, launching an RC car into a series of homemade 2˝x4˝ dominoes. Clack, clack, slam! A stuffed bunny hangs from a noose, a baseball glove drops, and a jug …

August 23, 2017
The politics and image of real punk

Things were different when the Widows started playing punk rock 12 years ago. Singer/guitarist Aaron Pores liked it better when things were more DIY. “I love making physical flyers,” says Pores. “The visual art on …

August 23, 2017
Kettner's grape pushback

"Stop and smell the rosé,” says the sidewalk sign. Huh. Are we seeing the start of a wine pushback, after all these glorious beer years? This is happening quite a ways up Kettner, Little Italy’s …

August 23, 2017
Good Time, a soundtrack in search of a movie

My first thought upon leaving co-directors Benny and Josh Safdie’s Good Time (Josh co-wrote, while Benny co-stars alongside an intense, controlled Robert Pattinson) was: A soundtrack in search of a movie. That’s not altogether fair, …

August 23, 2017
Rock city’s hard cash

Hanson Aggregates, the San Diego cement giant owned by a giant British-based multinational, has been trying to up its lucrative real estate development game with big changes to Mira Mesa’s Carroll Canyon Master Plan. “The …

August 23, 2017
Thanks for the Grys-Grys, Loons

“We actually love them so much, we got them a whole tour in California, so that people can see them,” says Anja Stax, who can be thanked for bringing Les Grys-Grys, often billed as “the …

August 23, 2017
Hamlet — infinite tragedy

You could say that Shakespeare’s Hamlet wakes up in the ultimate actor’s nightmare. He’s thrust onstage with no training. He’ll perform without rehearsals, or even peeking at the text. He must find out the play …

August 23, 2017
Get close to sagebrush, toyon, lemonadeberry, laurel sumac, and black sage — in a wheelchair

The Trail for All People is one of the few trails in the county that is wheelchair accessible, built to ADA requirements. The trail was created for people with mobility issues within Black Mountain Open …

Escapes, a docu-biography

Contemporary documentarians, adrift without historical recordings to help illustrate their case, too often try and pass off stock shots from vintage black-and-white studio releases as the emmes. Michael Almereyda’s docu-biography Escapes never once attempts to …

August 23, 2017
U.S. Bombs target Soda Bar

If there is any truth to the rumor, the last thing Joey Ramone heard in this life was U2’s In a Little While. He died in a New York hospital in 2001. But, there are …

August 23, 2017
What to do on Labor Day

Rich Uncle Max is coming for Labor Day. He’s always been one of those old dudes who can hang around young people and somehow not come off as creepy or embarrassing. So we’re a little …

August 23, 2017
Polish horseshoes — DIY good clean fun

Dear Hipster, I just learned how to play Polish horseshoes this last weekend, and I have to say it’s super fun. Basically, you just hammer some four-foot garden stakes into the ground with about 25 …

August 23, 2017
Penny pinchers and pikers rarely do well at the track

I want to bet on Summer Buddha in the first race and Packin Heat in the third. Call it a lukewarm tip from a half-baked pal back in Jersey. But if his hunches are right …

August 23, 2017
Eyes are the best bullet proof vests

My Armenian Neighbor Argues about Mushrooms Eta ni lisitchka, my neighbor bellows, words through the threshold — the best place for argument, they say, and the timefield through which he will not pass. I hold …

August 23, 2017
Heartbreaka: no gangsta he

Rapper Heartbreaka got no support from his family. “They hated it,” says the 23-year-old hip-hop artist who grew up in Southeast San Diego as Brandon Nambounmy. “They thought it was something Asians just did not …

August 23, 2017
Fake news, real attrition

The Union-Tribune broke exclusive word on its front business page last week of a smart new online advertising player in town. “Stats Digital is part of the tronc family of companies, which includes the San …

August 23, 2017
Unabashed Nazism?

No Person Is Illegal I’m disappointed that you chose to use the word “illegals” in your cover story for your August 16 issue [“You left water in the desert for illegals?”]. No person is illegal. …

August 23, 2017

Tuesday, August 22

Fight for truck leads to court

Oceanside police officer Brett Shields said he was on patrol July 30 when a woman flagged him down on Genine Drive. The distraught woman told him she saw a man climb through a window on …

August 22, 2017
Rocky road: Civita residents to push back plan

On Thursday, August 24, San Diego's planning commissioners will consider a proposal to build a freeway connector from Mission Valley through the heart of one of San Diego's largest master-planned communities and into Serra Mesa. …

Wetsuit gets stuck to my body

Name: Jonathan Du Age: 20 School: UCSD La Jolla Location: La Jolla Shores Near Life Tower 33 in La Jolla, Jonathan Du was heading to the showers after a day of surfing. The UCSD student …

August 22, 2017
Lakeside Nextdoor monitor adrift after online kerfuffle

On August 4, Dawn Espedal needed to verify a Lakeside resident on the Nextdoor app. “Please help me verify a new neighbor. Jane Smith [name changed for the story] on Riverview would like to join …

August 22, 2017

Monday, August 21

Limbo doesn't last long at Circle 9 Brewing

Back in June, the Reader reported a new nanobrewery, Circle 9 Brewing, had debuted its first beer at a fighting float festival in Japan. As of August 19th, the Kearny Mesa craft brewer is officially …

August 21, 2017
Chicago bosses clean out top editors at LA Times

Top editors of the Los Angeles Times were suddenly sacked by tronc, the Chicago-based company that owns the Times, this afternoon (Aug. 21). A memo announcing the personnel changes from tronc CEO Justin Dearborn was …

August 21, 2017
Mako my day — bonito sharks following the fray

Dock Totals August 13-19: 6,385 anglers aboard 244 boats out of San Diego landings this past week caught 686 bluefin tuna, 2,406 yellowfin tuna, 4 bigeye tuna, 300 skipjack tuna, 3,687 dorado, 7,910 yellowtail, 885 …

August 21, 2017
The shark guy of Ocean Beach Pier

“I’ve been coming to this pier for over 20 years to fish — every Sunday and at least four times a week,” José Plascencia told me as he was loading his grandson Ethan into his …

Cornhole finally on California beaches

During summer, especially in the Midwest, one can usually find a game of cornhole (tossing a corn-filled sack onto a tilted plank) in progress at the local park. During winter, it is played indoors where …

Homeless camp cleanup stymied by city

“I did get a fist put to my face [and] that was one of the motivating factors to leave the scene,” said Lashbrook. On August 18, at about 10:45 a.m., Worden “Tom” Lashbrook met with …

Cohn Restaurant Group sued over text message

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 was well-meaning legislation, attempting to protect consumers from unwanted telephone solicitation. But it appears that some lawyers are abusing the act to shake down businesses for settlements. This …

August 21, 2017

Sunday, August 20

Rooster gripes in City Heights

City Heights resident Jen said she is startled by two roosters at four o’clock almost every morning. “If they wake me up, sometimes it’s hard to fall back asleep,” she said. “I asked for suggestions …

Doctors disciplined by state medical board

San Diego area physicians have received discipline from the Medical Board of California. Jeffrey Douglas Lovin of Del Mar has been placed on probation for five years. In August of 2009 in California, Lovin was …

August 20, 2017

Saturday, August 19

U.S. Navy fraud case involving Fat Leonard snares captain

United States Navy captain Jesus Vasquez Cantu admitted in federal court yesterday (August 18) that he accepted bribes, including the services of multiple prostitutes, to pass critical information to Leonard Glenn Francis (aka Fat Leonard) …

August 19, 2017
San Diego Union-Tribune — the Copley era

The Last Rewrite That night I spoke to winos and street types who talked about murder, to councilmen and cops who spoke of shooting “to incapacitate,” and to people at the Knickerbocker Hotel who knew …

August 19, 2017
Meatballs on Kettner

In Japan, you'd call this an izakaya. In Spain, a bodega. Both of them are basically kinds of after-work snack and drink pubs. Mainly sake in izakayas (you pronounce it "i-ZAK-aya," as in "saké place"), …

Interview with a Balboa Park transient

Back in 2007, it was reported that a group of transients was evicted from inside the columns of Cabrillo Bridge. A photograph featured in an article showed a makeshift apartment inside the bridge complete with …

August 19, 2017

Friday, August 18

The other Haydn

Michael Haydn died on August 10, 1806. He was younger brother to Joseph Haydn and counted Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart amongst his friends and admirers. The anniversary of his death prompted me to give his Requiem …

August 18, 2017
Go east, Green Flash

Mira Mesa–based Green Flash Brewing announced this week it has purchased a 10,000-square-foot production brewery and restaurant in Lincoln, Nebraska, where it plans to expand its bicoastal beer brand by the end of the year. …

County worker’s racial slur didn’t infer he was a “lover”

Tyler Fowler, an appraiser for the County Assessor's Office who is African-American, says her supervisor Mark Sitzer made racially disparaging remarks on numerous occasions and county administrators failed to address it. She is suing Sitzer …

August 18, 2017
SD County unemployment higher than in the U.S.

San Diego County's unemployment rate in July was higher than the United States rate for the first time since November of 2015, according to Emerson Figueroa of the California Employment Development Department. San Diego County's …

August 18, 2017
Tonnage report on Manzanita Canyon cleanup

“In your cleanup efforts, did you come across any evidence of the fatal Maddux Air Lines Ford Tri-Motor crash of 1929?” asked Mike Gerow. “Contemporary news accounts cited Lexington Park, which I understand is in …

Potato stuffed with meat sounds appealing enough

I can't pretend to have much experience eating at a Cuban bakery. To be specific, I was dealing with exactly zero experience before I stumbled across Los Pollos Rotisserie & Cuban Bakery. Which was all …

Exploring the underbelly and outliers

You know what I’d like to do? I’ll tell you what I’d like to do. I’d like to host a redneck film festival. Maybe not this year, what with all the awfulness surrounding disenfranchised white …

August 18, 2017
Miramar Air Show protesters get Japanese bump

A group of local anti-war protesters got a boost Thursday afternoon (August 17) when their freeway overpass picket in opposition to the annual Miramar Air Show received an approving visit from members of the Japanese …

August 18, 2017

Thursday, August 17

Gate-crashing repo man flees Escondido impound yard

On July 30, 2017, LeDarral Shakouriel Hollingsworth went to the Allied Gardens tow yard in Escondido to get some paperwork from his car, which had been impounded, according to his attorney. It was there, at …

August 17, 2017
Dog in meditation at Ocean Beach farmers' market

At the Ocean Beach farmers' market on August 16, I noticed Colton sitting in for his boss — a chiropractor — who was on a vacation. “I’m just out here maintaining a presence,” he casually …

August 17, 2017
How do you like your popcorn?

Popcorn became part of the moviegoing experience beginning in the late ’20s. The cinematic staple was originally dispensed in a paper sack, the crinkling of which by inconsiderate patrons was said to drown out dialogue. …

August 17, 2017
Mass shutdown of Tijuana's Chinese restaurants

Citing various violations of health regulations, municipal health inspectors in Tijuana have ordered the closure of 18 Chinese restaurants until the problems are corrected. According to a report published by the daily newspaper El Sol …

August 17, 2017
Transients block access to Cabrillo Bridge interior

"We've had some transients living in the bridge," Balboa Park operations district manager Mario Llanos said last month. "They're going in and out of the manholes on the bridge, so I'm not sure what we …

August 17, 2017
No pulse at Magnetic Brewing

One of San Diego's smallest breweries appears to be closed following an eviction notice and a $12,000 judgment from a recent lawsuit related to the brewery's attempt last year to sell 1 percent stakes of …

August 17, 2017
Surprised by vegan tacos in middle of South Park

I'm fortunate to have my favorite fish tacos within easy reach. A Mariscos Nine Seas food truck sets up daily in what is now the Target Express parking lot, by the corner of Hawthorn and …

City to pay for public-records case fumble

A state appellate court on August 15 ruled the City of San Diego failed to turn over documents requested in a Public Records Act request and is liable to pay attorney fees. On August 7, …

August 17, 2017

Wednesday, August 16

Border Angels takes water out to Jacumba area for migrants

A small crowd gathers in the courtyard outside the Border Angels headquarters located at the Sherman Heights Community Center on Island Avenue four blocks south of State Route 94 and five blocks east of Interstate …

August 16, 2017
Los Cruzadores invite all to ride and rock show

Subtropics bassist Dana Chavarria just got a master’s degree in Peace and Justice from USD after completing studies on both sides of the border. He knows what an American president who decries Mexican “rapists” and …

August 16, 2017
Taz Taylor will drive trucks for rock

"I have dual British and USA citizenship,” says guitarist Taz Taylor, who grew up in England before moving to San Diego in 1997. Since settling in Imperial Beach, he’s released a series of guitar-centered albums, …

August 16, 2017
Any new employment at the U-T will be digitally related

Struggling with an explanation to investors as to why tronc, Inc., the oddly named newspaper chain from Chicago, has slipped in both revenue and web traffic from last year, chief executive Justin Dearborn managed to …

August 16, 2017
Buyout talk at 10 Barrel

‘Yeah, some folks in San Diego gave us a hard time, but I think they’re over that now,” says Chris. The grumbling? 10 Barrel Brewing, the new brew pub at 15th and E, had ridden …

August 16, 2017
Endless Poetry, very much a picture show

With Endless Poetry, Chilean surrealist (super-realist?) Alejandro Jodorowsky continues the fantastical memoir he began in 2013’s Dance of Reality. But where that first film made a tragic-absurdist hero out of young Alejandro’s father — he …

August 16, 2017
Lafayette Falkquay's purple Strat shoots straight

Pure and greasy, raw, nasty, sexy, down-home Texas-style blues: there are possibly three or four authentic blues performers in San Diego, and Lafayette Falkquay is at the top of the stack. He’s a product of …

August 16, 2017
When posting Soundcloud comments about some obscure, terrible trap artist...

Dear Hipster: Perhaps you can settle this matter once and for all. If I wrote an inflammatory letter to the editor, is it okay to do so anonymously, or should I attach my name for …

August 16, 2017
Breakfast Republic wakes up the sleepy sipper

Whiskey isn’t just for breakfast anymore; however, the amber-hued wake-up call remains an institutional fixture in the land of Breakfast Republic. According to Brock Harold, bar manager at Breakfast Republic’s Ocean Beach location, the Whiskey …

August 16, 2017
Kill Local brings savagery to La Jolla Playhouse

Mat Smart’s Kill Local opens way up in a high-rise either under construction or in development-limbo. Yellow “Caution” tape demarcates where windows will be, or should have been. Same with a ladder and orange wheelbarrow …

August 16, 2017
Ideas for college care-packages

All the kids coveted Steve’s care packages from his mom — homemade walnut–chocolate chip cookies, twice wrapped individually in plastic wrap and shipped by the dozens in freezer bags. Mouths watered as he sliced open …

August 16, 2017
Some don’t want to think about the reality of hell

Membership: 800 Pastor: Tony Miller Age: 54 Born: Beaver, OK Formation: Northwest Nazarene University, Nampa, ID; Nazarene Theological Seminary, Kansas City, MO; Trevecca Nazarene, Nashville, TN Years Ordained: 28 San Diego Reader: What is your …

August 16, 2017
No rap against Putin

Now seems like the time for a locally based Russian rapper to come up with some rhymes about Moscow election scams. But Anton Romashev, who performs locally as Tonik Slam, won’t be. “It’s not that …

August 16, 2017
Was Big Boy Groves another rap daddy?

“Its rhyme and lyrical style has made collectors call it one of the first rap songs,” says archivist Andy Rasmussen of the song titled “Bucket O’ Blood.” Rasmussen will soon reissue the 1962 track recorded …

August 16, 2017
Hike along the redwood flume that brought water to La Mesa

The newest segment of the Helix Flume Trail between the old El Monte Pump Station on El Monte Road to Lake Jennings opened to the public in February 2017. The opening of this trail was …

August 16, 2017
The most ocean frontage of any Coronado home

“Seashore,” as the waterfront Coronado estate located at 519 Ocean Boulevard is dubbed, lays claim to “the most ocean frontage of any Coronado home,” roughly 250 feet along the peninsula’s southern edge midway between Sunset …

August 16, 2017
You want to “do something” about homelessness? Good luck.

Hey D.J., How do hipsters feel about the homeless? — Mr. Stinko de Mayo Himself Like almost everyone, hipsters feel bad for the homeless. But, in keeping with the sentiments of Question 1 (above), I …

August 16, 2017
Leonard Patton Quartet bags Guinness gig record

“We actually broke the record with gig number 66 at Public Square Coffee House in La Mesa about 7:45 in the morning with two and a half hours to spare,” recalls vocalist Leonard Patton, whose …

August 16, 2017
Glenn and Karen Doshay: Our son is not a monster

The little girl was seven years old when she was grabbed by a man she later described as “dumb and stupid.” The 22-year-old man first approached her on a Monday afternoon in March 2015 while …

August 16, 2017
The worms will come for you soon

My Golden Coast For Adrian Ernesto Cepeda Caught in my first traffic jam, just south of The Getty Center — I love this stretch of freeway — the congestion gave me stillness, time to memorize …

August 16, 2017
Faulconer’s next Scaramouch

While Donald Trump has made headlines with turmoil in his presidential briefing room, San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer — seeking to recover face following a rough six months of political setbacks — is taking to …

August 16, 2017
Thanks to North Park firemen, no thanks to Walmart scammers, flack tells his side

Pinned inside our car Thank you for re-printing the June 8, 2000 article “A shift at San Diego’s 2nd busiest fire station") by Ernie Grimm about the North Park fire station. We recently had an …

August 16, 2017
10 Things I love about roof decks

Method Center Actors’ production of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, directed by Jasmin Haddad, makes use of the rooftop performance space at the Tenth Avenue Arts Center. The company intends to make “Shakes …

August 16, 2017

Tuesday, August 15

Second Chance Beer Co. celebrates second anniversary

This Labor Day weekend, Second Chance Beer Co. will celebrate a busy first two years in business with a three-day party at its Carmel Mountain brewery. Second Chance already distributes six varieties of beer in …

Chargers and Raiders — on our airwaves but not in our stadium

For the first time, two key San Diego FM music stations are giving up part of their Sundays for out-of-town NFL teams. Radio insiders say there’s a master plan behind why KGB/101.5 carries the L.A. …

August 15, 2017
Ocean Beach bubble man's boomerang boomerangs

There are several “bubble guys” in Ocean Beach and San Diego, but there’s only one, Paul Saccone, with a boomerang. You’ll often find him on the beach, or pier, holding up his giant soap-dipped wands …

SDG&E shocks solar users with rate change

A letter sent by San Diego Gas & Electric to customers with home solar systems has left some subscribers confused and even worried about the future of their ratepayer agreements with the utility. "Basically, I …

August 15, 2017
Contraceptive device nightmare

An El Cajon woman is one of 73 plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed in San Diego Superior Court against the Bayer Corporation. The major pharmaceutical company is being sued over their permanent contraceptive device, Essure. …

August 15, 2017
Mexico: Keep that s*** out of the Tijuana River

Kevin Vaillancort, a foreign-service officer assigned to the U.S. embassy in Tijuana, wants to assure the people who have banded together to stop the sewage and contaminants flowing across the border that applying pressure on …

Don't fight it

Name: Ray Vanta Age: 62 From: Clairemont area. Location: Tourmaline Surf Park Vanta ‘s surfing career all started when his kids wanted to learn. “I wanted to be with them.” “For good surfing I go …

August 15, 2017
Tim Bessell will make you an Andy Warhol surfboard — for $8,000 to $40,000

Artist Andy Warhol became famous for finding art in things as common as soup cans. While surfboards are not that common, pop art’s crown prince did have a brief brush with the functional art form. …

Monday, August 14

Koch brothers to fund San Diego paramedic takeover

American Medical Response Inc., proprietor of AMR Rural/Metro of San Diego, the city's always-controversial but politically munificent paramedic operator, is about to get a new owner itself, though Republican mayor Kevin Faulconer doesn't appear eager …

August 14, 2017
The new kindergarten next door in North Park

On August 11, Ted received a letter from his next-door neighbor of eight years. He said that he rarely spoke to her until last month. “They sent me a letter,” said Ted, a 47-year-old videographer …

August 14, 2017
Warming up to cold noodles

My ramen consumption has been down. Not because I'm over it, and definitely not for lack of availability — Yelp tells me I have roughly 300 ramen choices within a 15-minute drive. I've just been …

Little Flower's nuns stymied by La Mesa city council

A La Mesa City Council 2-2 vote on August 8 stalled Silvergate Development’s plan to convert the now-closed Little Flower Haven Catholic retirement home at 8585 La Mesa Boulevard into the 130-unit Little Flower apartment …

August 14, 2017
A 3,900-peso surf perch

Dock Totals August 6-12: 6,782 anglers aboard 253 boats out of San Diego landings this past week caught 106 bluefin tuna, 2,633 yellowfin tuna, 47 skipjack tuna, 3,010 dorado, 12,021 yellowtail, 546 calico bass, 7 …

August 14, 2017
Perpetual war between Evergreen and the city

"How did you find out about this?" asked Mark Collins, owner of Evergreen Nursery. I told him I spotted an item on the Rancho Penasquitos planning group agenda about his near 50-acre wholesale nursery going …

Sunday, August 13

The Beyond Burger lives up to its name

Santa Monica-based fast casual vegetarian chain Veggie Grill rotates their menu with the seasons, highlighting crisper, more refreshing offerings over the summer months. San Diego claims two of their more-than-thirty nationwide locations. About three years …

Prevost ducks trial by Bar court

Mary Frances Prevost, who bills herself as "California's Top Criminal & DUI Attorney," has been recommended for disbarment by the State Bar's Office of Chief Trial Counsel. As of July 31, she is ineligible to …

August 13, 2017
Etchells sailboats will race this week from Pt. Loma along Coronado

In 1965, Stamford, Connecticut boat designer and builder Skip Etchells saw a notice by the International Yacht Racing Union announcing a contest to build four new classes of racing sailboats, including a new three-man keelboat …

Literary life

The Debris of What You Really Do When I was in high school, the Summer of Love hit, and grudgingly I became a hippie, tried to pull off laid-back when in my heart of hearts …

August 13, 2017

Saturday, August 12

Alta Brewing's no-get-rich-quick scheme

New breweries in San Diego join a crowded field. With over 150 brewhouses at work in the county, there's a growing sense that the time has passed for startup breweries to achieve the scope of …

Overturned kayakers, pier jumpers, and seal harassers

July 30 0757 - Medical: 28 year-old male with a stingray injury at Blacks Beach. Lifeguard unit responds. Unable to locate. 0940 - Boating: Overturned kayak with 3 people in the water at Dana Landing. …

T-storms green up the desert

Thunderstorms have visited the Imperial Valley and parts of eastern San Diego County over the past several weeks. The seasonal arrival of moisture from the east and south, more or less typical for late summer, …

August 12, 2017
Chula Vista Fire Department heads back to court

Two months after settling a discrimination lawsuit filed by a former deputy fire chief for $2.1 million, attorneys for the city of Chula Vista are preparing for another trial in an unrelated discrimination case filed …

August 12, 2017

Friday, August 11

Kids today — and yesterday

A strong week at the movies, if not necessarily a happy one for the kiddies. Not so much the ones in the seats — though we’re not holding out much hope for The Nut Job …

August 11, 2017
Stop picking the Wagnerian scab

Whatever would we do without PC culture to judge the recent past (last 200 years) for us and then share its verdict of guilty based on the precious shell which has been slowly swallowing culture …

August 11, 2017
San Diego big labor’s deceit on propositions K and L

Tom Shepard started, and almost finished, his career as a political guru back in the1980s when he masterminded the victorious bid for mayor by Republican county supervisor Roger Hedgecock, subsequently brought down by the infamous …

August 11, 2017
Band booted off Imperial Beach farmers market stage

After getting kicked off the stage at the Imperial Beach Farmers Market on Friday, August 4th, a San Diego music group's humorous video about the incident is going viral. "We were devastated," said Catie Ryan …

3 Punk Ales goes live in Chula Vista

Thr3e Punk Ales Brewing Co. has officially returned, adding to Chula Vista's rising status as a craft beer destination. Following an 18-month build-out, Punk cofounders John Marshall, Steve Garcia, and Kevin Lewis opened their new …

August 11, 2017
Nancy won’t leave

Grace knew she wasn’t supposed to have guests stay longer than one week, at the retirement place where she lives in Vista. But she wanted to help her daughter. Sixty years ago, she named her …

August 11, 2017
Volvo technician gives middle finger to the rest of you

“I would never be caught dead in that car,” said Michelle Van Rooyen. She was referring to Mason Shipman’s 1984 Volvo 244 Turbo. On July 29, Shipman and Van Rooyen were both competing at the …

August 11, 2017

Thursday, August 10

“The diesel death zone is a thousand feet”

A group of residents have begun organizing a fight against a proposed‘fly-over freeway ramp from westbound state route 56 to the northbound Interstate 5, a ramp they fear will bring noise, soot and cut-through traffic …

What it means to be wealthy

How much money does one need in order to be considered wealthy? According to a new survey from the investment advisory firm Charles Schwab, the average San Diegan's answer is about $2.7 million. That's more …

August 10, 2017
Some North Park storefronts get leased, others don’t

While numerous older North Park storefronts have been snapped up recently for new businesses, others sit there with no takers. Following are examples. Discount International Fashions, 3002 University Avenue at 30th Street has remained vacant …

August 10, 2017
Salty water kills beneficial bugs at San Elijo

Most wastewater treatment plants rely on microorganisms to dine on sewage and render it harmless during secondary treatment; and, much like wine and sourdough bread, if the beneficial bugs die, what’s left is an unappetizing …

American Vandal mockumentary of Oceanside High doesn't ring a bell

Former Encinitas resident, Lukas Gage, credits his past as a local surfer with helping him land a leading role in the upcoming Netflix series, American Vandal. The eight-episode show uploads to the online network on …

Wednesday, August 9

San Diego Reader Feast — 2017 restaurant issue

It's a mess. A glorious mess. Azerbaijan on Adams Ave., the Buzz Burger with bacon jam, Surf Check in Shasta travel trailer, old-school Japanese in Chula Vista. — Ed Bedford Save room for the Mexican …

The Koran

“The Opening” In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate Praise be to God, the Lord of the Universe, the Merciful, the Compassionate, the Authority on Judgment Day. It is You whom we worship …

The Local band not yet big in Ethiopia

“Scott is presently on some sort of trek with hippos and crocodiles in southern Ethiopia,” says Amy Day, whose band the Local suddenly finds itself minus cofounding singer-guitarist Scott Walsh just as their debut album …

August 9, 2017
You will be curmudgeons

Hipster: This question is almost like that summer road trip with the folks as a kid, and the endless questions in the car: “Dad, what would happen if...? What was it like when...? Where do...come …

August 9, 2017
Harpooned swordfish at India Street's Ironside

‘This is how you make a decent cocktail,” says Doug. He sneaks out a nubbly silver pocket flask, opens it, then slides his glass of whiskey sour under the counter and starts secretly pouring bourbon …

August 9, 2017
Bonnie Dumanis’s self-service ATM

Bonnie Dumanis may be out as the county’s district attorney, having stepped down last month — thereby giving her establishment-backed successor Summer Stephan the advantage of the incumbency to run for election next year, but …

August 9, 2017
Mohawked moshers and girls with tutus don’t mix

Zak Prescott, drummer with Lemon Grove punk band P-S-O, suggests culture clash caused Industry, an all-ages music venue in Chula Vista’s Eastlake area, to close in January. The 250-capacity Industry hosted eight to ten shows …

Damaged parents

An old joke came to mind while watching Destin Daniel Cretton’s The Glass Castle. A father and his two young children stand outside a 7-Eleven, asking all who enter to spare a little change. Before …

August 9, 2017
Charge it to the Chargers

The co-creator of those oddball movies in the Killer Tomatoes series didn’t do as well with the media he pumped out for the ill-fated ballot bid of the then–San Diego Chargers to build a new …

August 9, 2017
The Glass Castle: local director goes from self-made DVD to Naomi Watts

Flash back a decade: I’m working the counter at Citizen Video in South Park. Enter Destin Daniel Cretton, a lanky, well-scrubbed local lad in his late 20s with a DVD copy of Drakmar: A Vassal’s …

August 9, 2017
Blues no more, Aristotle Georgio

Aristotle Georgio (aka Mike Smith) spent the last year of his life hooked up to a feeding tube after being assaulted in the Gaslamp Quarter on July 1st of 2016, when a sucker-punch caused him …

August 9, 2017
Get an early start on Descanso’s Blue Ribbon Loop along Sweetwater Creek

If you are looking for a loop hike in the Cuyamacas with a mix of sun and shade, old road and narrow trail, a variety of wildflowers, and a shady creekside spot to rest, then …

August 9, 2017
A slice of Chicago

You don’t “grab a slice,” you order it and then settle in. Check your phone. Read a novella. There is no getting around the time it takes until — as the Regents Pizzeria reheating instructions …

Maid Marian has Errol Flynn's DNA

It’s difficult to characterize Ken Ludwig’s Robin Hood, now in its world premiere at the Old Globe. It isn’t the 1938 swashbuckling movie, The Adventures of Robin Hood, where elongated shadows of Errol Flynn and …

August 9, 2017
Fusion is foremost

Prep Kitchen is quintessentially Californian in that it exalts comfort food by making it seasonal, and in that fusion is foremost. On this menu, you’ll find fish tacos (tomatillo salsa, cabbage, cilantro, avocado crema: $14.95) …

August 9, 2017
Courier — perfect typeface for those making a stand

Dear Hipster: I just wrapped up a summer internship (which went well), but I kept encountering a weird point of contention between myself and the higher-ups. My job involved preparing a lot of memos and …

August 9, 2017
Why slow and low cooking is worth the wait

You won’t find a better sandwich for $3.75 than you will among the bánh mì of this low-key Vietnamese deli counter. Bánh mì literally translates as “bread,” and Paris Bakery does well to live up …

August 9, 2017
Save room for the Mexican chocolate bread pudding

An unabashed fan of Rick Bayless, I was thrilled when Red O finally opened in May. You could make a statement by ordering the tablita for two, a grilled 32 oz. prime tomahawk chop, one-pound …

August 9, 2017
Kasowitz flack cut his teeth in San Diego

Last month, President Trump’s personal lawyer, Marc Kasowitz, got an anonymous email advising him, “Resign Now,” according to ProPublica. Kasowitz shot back by email, “You are f––king with me…Watch your back, bitch…You piece of s––t.” …

August 9, 2017
Sweet, spicy, satisfying

BBQ aficionados can be particular, but this hole-in-the-wall in La Mesa should satisfy lovers of brisket and tri-tip. The meat is smoked for hours until tender in a tangy rub. Customers then can add the …

August 9, 2017
I went outside just now and laughed

1967: “My World Fell Down” Imperial Beach remains remote and intolerable, Both in memory and all its stammering desire. My radio flourished with L.A.’s visionary decibels. I feared its LSD as friendly fire. The hippies …

August 9, 2017
U-T’s Hoy is so yesterday

In Chicago, the downsizing of the once-mighty daily Spanish-language newspaper Hoy to a weekly by parent tronc, Inc. has caused only a muted outcry. Launched in 2003, the paper “that began as a daily and …

It's a mess, a glorious mess

Azerbaijan meets California. The cutest patio this side of the Black Sea, with birds singing as you eat, long communal tables, medieval drapes, lovers’ nooks, and a happy hour bursting with totally interesting tapas, $5 …

August 9, 2017
Icons under attack

Who Wrote “Gravy Waltz”? In Just Announced it was nice you mentioned Mike Wofford’s upcoming “Some of My Best Friends” concert. However Mr. Sanford’s statement that Mr. Wofford composed “Gravy Waltz” is contradictory to any …

August 9, 2017

Tuesday, August 8

Bad weather coming? No, it's Steve Earle.

He seems to own a measure of calm, but one watches Steve Earle in the same manner you’d track storm clouds. Long of beard, aging into his own vision of himself, Earle, 62, is like …

August 8, 2017
Schoenberg and his truth

One of my early tactics for exploring music was to simply find recordings with orchestra and chorus. I sang in choirs all through high school and college, so I was into works with chorus. I …

August 8, 2017
Metallica fans debate Encanto in-filling

On August 6, at about 3:30 p.m., Nancy parked her car at the Massachusetts Avenue trolley stop because the other parking lot at the 62nd Street trolley stop was closed down for construction. “We are …

August 8, 2017
Cajun/Creole in East Village

Between Emeril’s “Bam!” and the House of Blues chain Disneyfying the concept of a bayou restaurant, I’ve subconsciously come to expect all Cajun eateries in California to be in some way larger than life. Bud …

Jeffrey Barton gets maximum sentence yesterday, Aug. 8

Jeffrey Barton spoke to a judge this morning, August 7, complaining and denying for more than 30 minutes, before he was sentenced to 48 years in prison for molesting a boy in his care. “This …

August 8, 2017
San Diego's other media

Mr. Jello Will See You Now While we have been talking, the sun has been relentless, but Jack remains impervious to my discomfort in my heavy clothing. At one point, I ask whether I can …

August 8, 2017

Monday, August 7

Embarcadero accident — Coast Guard crew jumped in, clothes and all (video)

Saturday, Aug. 5th, A man fell out of his boat this afternoon while in front of the South Embarcadero around 1:30 PM. Witnesses stated the man was then struck by his boat and received serious …

August 7, 2017
Less foreign cafeteria food, pledges San Diego Unified

Public school cafeteria food is the latest battleground in the war against foreign intrusion into American commerce. That word comes not from president Donald Trump, but instead via a new report from the California state …

August 7, 2017
Dorado by kayak off La Jolla's Children's Pool

Dock Totals July 30 — August 5: 6,658 anglers aboard 244 boats out of San Diego landings this past week caught 520 bluefin tuna, 1,527 yellowfin tuna, 28 skipjack tuna, 3,826 dorado, 15,653 yellowtail, 3 …

August 7, 2017
Clydesdale and Athena categories in Chula Vista Challenge

What is probably the most inclusive triathlon event on the West Coast will be held at South Bay’s Bayside Park this Sunday. The Chula Vista Challenge features race events for entrants in groups the ‘Itsy …

Sunday, August 6

South Pacific's mythic Marquesas

The South Pacific’s remote, pristine Marquesas Islands make Hawaii look like Harlem. I can honestly say these South Seas sojourns to French Polynesia’s untrammeled atolls and isles have been the greatest excursions of my life. …

Mid-summer treasures: orioles and true jasmine

Orioles, the bright-yellow or yellow-orange-and-black birds seen flitting among the palm trees, are summer residents of San Diego County’s coastal areas. A century ago the orioles preferred to nest in sycamore trees, which were then …

August 6, 2017
San Diego's public servants

Dead Reckoning The coroner’s longest day on the job was, of course. September 25. 1978, the day of PSA Flight 182. When the airliner crashed at 9:04 that morning. Stark was in his office, finishing …

August 6, 2017

Saturday, August 5

Do growlers count as open containers?

Following a recent story I wrote about the growler concept taking hold at an urban winery, a commenter asked whether filled growlers can be considered open containers during a traffic stop. Good question. I posed …

August 5, 2017
Arguably the classiest joint in Tijuana

The year is 1924. Bootleggers and feds are playing cat-and-mouse and legends such as Louis Armstrong are playing jazz. Italian restaurateur Caesar Cardini, who had settled briefly in San Diego five years earlier, evades the …

Big theft from Workforce Partnership

Jared Palmer, former facilities manager for the San Diego Workforce Partnership, pleaded guilty yesterday (August 3) to embezzling more than $450,000 from the organization that provides job training and placement to county residents. As facilities …

August 5, 2017
Black teenagers stopped in Memorial Park, patted down, handcuffed

The city of San Diego has "substantially settled," according to the federal court's website, a lawsuit filed on behalf of a black teenager who was coerced into giving his DNA sample to police without parental …

August 5, 2017

Friday, August 4

Game of Thrones, a musical?

My neighbor thought sure she saw John Bradley-West standing discreetly in the shadows at the 10th Avenue Art Space during Game of Thrones: the Musical, but it turned out to be some rando who looked …

August 4, 2017
Caltrans signs in City Heights are backfiring

On July 29 at noon, it took D.R. Peck six minutes to get on the 15 Freeway — from one block away. “Whoever created the new signage obviously does not live here, as now there …

New Tijuana pedestrian entry: a mix of Six Flags and prison

“It looks like I’m entering a ride in Six Flags,” regular border crosser Yesenia Huerta comments after using the new southbound entry to Tijuana via PedWest. “It feels like you are getting out of prison,” …

Will Carlsbad allow drinking and driving?

A group of Carlsbad residents fighting to keep K1 Speed kart racing from getting city permission to serve wine and beer to onlookers includes the teenager who holds the top scoring position nationwide for performance …

August 4, 2017
Cultural relativity sucks

What is becoming the summer of the curmudgeon continues now that I’ve read an article in the New York Times regarding Pres. Trump and a remark he made about symphonies. The remark was made in …

August 4, 2017
Summer Stephan's family money tree

Back in Richard Nixon's presidential days, San Diego's most infamous saga of family loyalty involved the powerful Alessio clan, popularly viewed as the border town's version of the Corleone family. Progenitor Johnny Alessio, the big-money …

August 4, 2017
An inconvenient weekend at the movies

This was...not a great week for movies. The big drama? Well acted, badly built. The big adaptation? A fizzle by all accounts. (Your humble correspondents saw it coming and steered clear.) The “starring Academy-Award winning …

August 4, 2017

Thursday, August 3

The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs

To continue the theme of innovation versus truth and beauty, I present to you, The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs. This new opera by Mason Bates had its world premiere at Santa Fe Opera on Saturday, …

August 3, 2017
Cardiff’s lifeguard tower project is bumping campers

Since the 1970s, Mira Mesa’s Dave Timms has been camping for a week, once a year at the San Elijo State Beach campground. Recently when he tried to make his usual reservation, he found his …

Valerian is a...dim the lights, would ya?

The private screening, generally a matinee performance that plays to an audience of one, is becoming an all-too-common occurrence. At a time when patrons can’t log off long enough to survive a feature without developing …

August 3, 2017
Garden State Bagels in Encinitas sees nit-picking by County Health

Steve Amster, the owner of Garden State Bagels got his Encinitas restaurant’s health rating dropped from a long-term “A” to a less-than-90% “B” rating. He was cited for what county health inspector, Diego Velasquez, reported …

August 3, 2017
"He was going to shoot me right there."

Luis said he woke up to someone knocking against his window, and when he looked up the stranger put a gun in his face. “He told me to give him the keys and get out …

August 3, 2017
A snowball’s chance in Escondido

If you’re interested in trying the sweetest, coldest treat you can get your hands on this summer, turn your attention to Escondido and a small shack called Baltimore Snowball. As its name suggests, the snowball …

Water quality improving across San Diego

For the first time in four years, water quality in the San Diego region is showing signs of improvement. Still, that may not be cause for celebration just yet, conservationists warn. While any improvement is …

August 3, 2017
Ché Café okay to stay

Thanks to an intervention by UCSD chancellor Pradeep Kholsa, the Ché Café has been saved. A lease has been signed by members of the Ché Café Collective that will allow the all-ages venue to reopen …

Schooler brothers' sister disbarred for mishandling family estate

The late Louis Schooler and his brother John Schooler took a lot of investors to the cleaners, as the Reader has been reporting for seven years. Now their sister is in trouble: Jane L. Schooler …

August 3, 2017

Wednesday, August 2

Camp Pendleton: A hell of a place to grow up

We were nearing the end of a late-afternoon soccer practice, trying to squeeze in a few more minutes of scrimmage time before the sun set when coach blew his whistle. The long, shrill tweet stopped …

Actors who move from Lord of the Rings movie to Marvel movie

Dear Hipster: Have you noticed that anyone who plays some sort of elven royalty in a Lord of the Rings movie goes on to play an ugly-ass villain in a Marvel movie? — Dean Lee …

August 2, 2017
A cornhole by any other name

The name may have been changed to shield a city councilman from off-color jokes, but big money is still being provided by a lineup of city hall’s favored corporate special interests. Such is news about …

August 2, 2017
The Littlest Hurricane

“I think it’s safe to say I’ll be the only pregnant drummer playing at Kaaboo,” says C.C. Spina of Little Hurricane. “I will be almost nine months pregnant. That will be our last show of …

August 2, 2017
Burger of short rib, chuck, and brisket no longer trending

Hipster: What’s up the #hipsterbooks hagtash on Twitter? Um... it’s “trending”? Also, if I’m at an arts, crafts, & brew place, and I order a $17 burger of short rib, chuck, and brisket from that …

August 2, 2017
Surprised by ceviche in City Heights

All I wanted was a poke place. Because poke places are popping up like mushrooms. They’re the thing. I mean, raw fish makes it into the cool crowd’s diet? This I gotta see. That’s what …

August 2, 2017
Comic-Con sideshows: the $6 million yacht, the preacher, the cigarette bummer

Mark came to Comic-Con from Laguna aboard his friend’s 85-foot, $6 million yacht Motown, a sleek gray vessel tied up alongside the Embarcadero just south of the convention center. “I’ve been here every year for …

Pony Death Ride Realty Co.

“We were surprised how being an agent is so similar to being in a band,” says Joe MacAskill. “Lots of marketing, having a website, maintaining connections, networking.” Along with his wife Jaye, MacAskill brokers real …

August 2, 2017
Seize control of that stadium land

Wealthy ex–city manager Jack McGrory, who has emerged as a key foe of the SoccerCity plan to privatize the city-owned land now occupied by Qualcomm Stadium, has put some money into the battle, kicking in …

August 2, 2017
Housebound — a woman forced to live back at home under house arrest

Lost Girl is one of my all-time favorite shows. The story revolves around Bo (the amazing Anna Silk) as she navigates a world of magical creatures, and Kenzi (Ksenia Solo), Bo’s wisecracking best friend. I …

August 2, 2017
She’s doing the internet troll thing all wrong by mixing pejoratives

Dear Hipster: How did you feel about that reader calling you a “beta male” (at least by implication) a week or so ago? — Joe Unimpressed. She’s doing the internet troll thing all wrong by …

August 2, 2017
Blind Mountain Holler, like family

Scotty Bones’s gritty, plaintive vocals and soul-bearing lyrics remind many of early Tom Waits. Scotty and Amanda Bones’ husband/wife harmonic wailings bring to mind Johnny Cash/June Carter or Southern Culture on the Skids. With cello …

August 2, 2017
Part of Cuyamaca spared by 2003 Cedar Fire

In 1923, wealthy Beverly Hills residents Ralph and Helen Dyar purchased 20,000 acres of the original 35,500-acre Rancho Cuyamaca Spanish land grant and built their summer home near what is now the Park’s Visitor Center …

August 2, 2017
An NBC series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Midnight, Texas, is a new NBC series that reminds me a lot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with its quirky characters, supernatural influences, and murder. Manfred, a psychic able to communicate with the dead, is …

August 2, 2017
The best part about being a bookstore owner

Name: JUSTINE EPSTEIN Age: 31 Occupation: OWNER, VERBATIM BOOKS Neighborhood: SHERMAN HEIGHTS Where interviewed:: VERBATIM BOOKS What are you reading? “Some Ross MacDonald short stories about the private eye Lew Archer. They’re kind of noirish. …

August 2, 2017
Mideast woman and child get baby back ribs and ribeye steaks at Walmart

Walmart Neighborhood Market carries El Jimador reposado tequila for $15.97 a bottle, which is $4 cheaper than my local liquor store, which is why I went there on the night of July 7th. As I …

August 2, 2017
Park Hill — a church on Fir Street planted from Portland

Membership: 125 Pastor: Evan Wickham Age: 36 Born: San Diego Formation: Western Seminary, Portland, OR Years Ordained: 15 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on which to preach? Pastor Evan Wickham: God is …

Bobby Cressey hustled to bring the organ to Petco Park

“I heard through a friend that the team was thinking about bringing back a live organist,” muses Bobby Cressey. “They hadn’t had one since they moved to Petco Park. I’ve always been a big baseball …

August 2, 2017
Summer, do your worst!

August When my eyes are weeds, And my lips are petals, spinning Down the wind that has beginning Where the crumpled beeches start In a fringe of salty reeds; When my arms are elder-bushes, And …

August 2, 2017
El Cajon councilman sued over Miss Middle East pageant

In El Cajon city councilmember Ben Kalasho’s words, he created the Miss Middle East Beauty Pageant to “empower” Middle Eastern women and award them the freedom to “wear what you want, marry who you want, …

August 2, 2017
Wheeler Walker Jr: consistently revolting and funny

Parental advisory: Wheeler Walker Jr is possibly the filthiest country singer on record. “But tonight it’ll do,” sings Walker Jr, about a man facing thin odds and even poorer options on the tail end of …

August 2, 2017
Surf Dog at 8:00 p.m., pedestrians going into Mexico, and the issue of Name Withheld

Obviously Incorrect I was looking at a Reader yesterday and observed that the Surf Dog Competition coming up in Imperial Beach on Saturday was shown in two different places (Your Week and event listings), both …

August 2, 2017
Trump’s local lady

President Donald Trump may not be the most popular politico on the Left Coast, but San Diego County’s super-rich enclave known as Rancho Santa Fe is continuing to produce much of his California campaign cash, …

August 2, 2017
Repo! The Genetic Opera casts shadow on transplants

What if you needed a new liver? Or a new heart? What if replacing an organ were as easy as buying a new washing machine? Repo! The Genetic Opera takes that idea and makes it …

August 2, 2017

Tuesday, August 1

August’s main crime is not being July

Dear Hipster, Why does August always seem like such a sad month? — Jules Poor August. Notwithstanding the perpetual, residual back-to-school blues, August’s main crime is, and always has been, not being July. Among months, …

August 1, 2017
Escondido Feed & Pet Supply and Brewing Company

A 14-year homebrewer, Ketchen Smith has long dreamed of leaving his job in the medical device industry to start a brewery. "I wanted to go 15-barrel," he says, "and retire to brewing." Doing so would …

August 1, 2017
Lockheed Martin to pay $5.8 million to clean up bay

Aerospace and defense contractor Lockheed Martin has agreed to pay the Port of San Diego $5.8 million to clean up the contamination in San Diego Bay. In 1970 Lockheed Martin leased a 61,000 square-foot property …

August 1, 2017
Passing out food on the Pala reservation

It's a slow Tuesday for Michelle Silva, a recreational aide at the Pala Youth Center near the northern border of San Diego County. Most of the center's charges, which number as many as 70 during …

Bunny-mania at 36th and Landis

“These are desirable rabbits,” Cindy said, “Lionheads are show bunnies that can go for $100 each, the other rabbits with black rings around their eyes; are Hotots.” On July 30, Cindy, a registered veterinary technician, …

Nearly 700 sign petition to protect Lake Miramar nutrients

The city of San Diego’s plans to pump purified water into Lake Miramar is running into trouble with fishing aficionados who like to lure large-mouth bass at the lake. “Over time, pumping reclaimed potty water …

Carlsbad man claimed his mines were worth $30 billion

Long before Mark Twain defined a gold mine as a hole in the ground with a liar on the top, slippery salesmen have tried to peddle highly inflated mining claims to naive investors. On Friday …

August 1, 2017
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