The untold stories about Hillcrest’s Friendship Hotel would probably read like William Burroughs’ dream journal. Once a nurse’s dorm for the nearby hospital, by the turn of the 21st century the two buildings across the …
February 17, 2021
Latest News & Stories
Nothing friendly about Hillcrest's Friendship Hotel
Bitchin Sauce is everywhere now
About ten years ago, young mom and aspiring personal chef Starr Edwards started bringing her food samples to farmers markets in Leucadia and San Marcos, hoping to drum up business.The Bitchin name took off, and …
February 17, 2021
Battle fishing between Alaska and the Aleutians
“This night, we were stuck on a sand bar,” says Justin. “There’s weather out there, and strong current. There’s the potential for the boat to just get knocked over. The tide comes in very fast. …
February 17, 2021
Instagram gardeners
Dear Hipster: We can all agree that maintaining your own urban herb and vegetable garden is tres hipstère, particularly where you use your garden to grow unique foods for hosting elaborate dinner parties where each …
February 17, 2021
When dining is a choice between politics and survival
I’ve tried not to write about it, because I haven’t wanted to encourage readers to seek them out. But since December, despite state and local covid regulations restricting on-premise dining, hundreds of San Diego restaurants …
February 16, 2021
Trump and Hunter donors kick in for Faulconer's governor try
Another top California donor to last year's reelection campaign for Donald Trump is backing the California gubernatorial hopes of San Diego ex-mayor Kevin Faulconer. Probity International, a real estate development outfit run by Robert Zarnegin …
February 16, 2021
Uninvited guests on West Country Club Lane
A loud "boom" woke up Claribel Ramirez's household about 2:45 a.m. on February 4. "When we came out of our rooms, the whole house was like in a cloud of smoke. All seven of us, …
February 16, 2021
Improvements planned for Barrio Logan, just as rents drive out the locals
Barrio Logan has fewer residents today than in 2010, a reverse trend from most of San Diego. But as its new community plan takes shape, chock full of improvements from parks and bikeway links to …
February 16, 2021
Which is the better egg roll at Á Châu?
I'm not sure which happened first. Did we drive into City Heights because we had a craving for egg rolls? Or did the urge arise because we realized how close we already were to Á …
February 15, 2021
Wild lilac starts on coast, moves east to Ramona and Alpine
Tree Heights can be easily measured this week if the sun shines at midday. On or near February 18, at or very near 12 noon, the sun as seen from San Diego County stands at …
February 15, 2021
Czeslaw Milosz, T. Coraghessan Boyle, Quentin Bell, James Lee Burke, Tobias Wolff, David Lehman
Robert Faggen re Milosz In talking about American television, one would think that Milosz’scomplaints would be about television’s stupidity or insipidity. But what he said was, ‘The thing I don’t like most about television are …
February 15, 2021
Poker in PB, kegger in OB, 4th of July in Alpine, Crown Point pigroast
Poker 101 The next poker game I went to was in Pacific Beach. A guy I had met at a previous party invited me. It turned out to be another Texas Hold 'Em game. I …
February 14, 2021
To Arizona on bike, the San Diego River on foot, to OB hitching on semis, the Sea of Cortez with Dad
Say Ahoy, Somebody Their inability to tack against the wind cost the novices three agonizing hours from the time they reached Mission Bay until they landed. Somewhere in the bay there was a slip Rusty …
February 13, 2021
Bread & Cie and a Valentine’s quiche
This year marks the first I spend Valentine’s Day as a married man. Not to gloat too much, but I hit the jackpot. My gorgeous and successful bride happens to be an accomplished home chef. …
February 12, 2021
The original Queen of Black Magic
Before reviewing the current remake, the purist in me thought it wise to first examine the original feature of the same name. (It’s available on YouTube.) I suggest you do the same. The Queen of …
February 12, 2021