San Diego subcultures
Moonies, Asian refugees, boxing aspirants, craftsmen, Chabad Jews, future ballet dancers
Various Authors 8:30 a.m., Oct. 20
Vista Stories
VR will not replace skating
Tony Hawk busts out his 360-degree loop in Vista Sunday
On August 26, former skateboard champion Tony Hawk busted out his 360-degree loop to give a few young skateboarders a chance to demo it — by his headquarters in Vista. The loop resembles that of ...
Pigs make a smooth landing in downtown Vista
Music festival tickets motivated restaurant founders
The Ginos thought they were saving money on tickets into a music festival, but it turns out they were opening a tasty BBQ restaurant in Vista Village. Granted, the entire process took over a decade. ...
Vista house party horror
Another reason to check Airbnb renters
Homie arrived at the party on Barsby Street about 11 p.m. He lived nearby so he walked with friends. It was cold that Friday night, January 26, 2018, almost freezing, which is unusual in San ...
Sanctuary city and pot become Vista fault lines
Dispensary signature gatherers fake out soccer moms
Although fists didn’t actually fly at the June 26 Vista City Council meeting, after a seven week summer break, Councilman Joe Green apologized to council colleague John Franklin at the very next meeting August 14.
It's not just for homebrewers
Bear Roots brings good taste to Vista Village
When I go to Vista, it usually has something to do with beer. Seventeen brewhouses call the hourglass shaped North County city home, offering at least that many reasons to visit. However, twelve of them ...
Fingerprints the clincher
Wind blew wig off robber at Vista's BBVA Compass bank
A woman said she was working behind the counter at a bank in Vista, two years ago, when a man put a bag onto her countertop and said, “Give me all your money.” The bank ...
Older sister in Vista tries to help
But Snapchat friend doesn't fall for it
Three young men skateboarding in a Vista parking lot were robbed at gunpoint last February, according to testimony this week. One victim’s sister tried to get their belongings back through her Snapchat connections, according to ...
Vista computer burglary shows right up on Google Cloud
Selfies taken by burglar lead cops to suspect
Two burglars climbed a tree, broke through a roof skylight, and used rope to rappel down into a Vista computer business and get away with $60,000 in loot, according to a prosecutor in court yesterday, ...
The missing wallet
Strangers in his truck on Nettleton Road
Juan (not his real name) Martinez said he parked his truck in the 200 block of Nettleton Road, Vista on a Friday night, June 8, 2018. “Because I am a musician and I play, and ...
A thief, a thief, a thief, a thief, a thief...
Our friendship is ceased and null
“I was gonna take Lyft and I wanted to check my balance. I had a negative fourteen cents. She took my very last dollar.” A woman identified as “Sharon” testified this morning that her former ...
Thirsty for sunshine
Five outdoor brewery destinations for the summer
Long summer days mean opportunities for drinking outdoors. Here are the top five brewery destinations to catch fresh air and sunshine with your craft beers this summer Eppig Brewing Waterfront Biergarten 2817 Dickens Street, Shelter ...
Gin and whiskey hoppers
Craft spirits for a West Coast palate in Vista
Back in 2012, decorated Tennessee distiller Darek Bell published the book Alt Whiskey, which offered recipes and techniques for distilling craft beer into nontraditional whiskies, including the addition of hops. “It got my brain working,” ...
Who’s about the kids and who’s about the money?
San Diego school district loses money if charters approved
On April 3 the San Diego Unified School Board granted the charter school petition of National University Academy 1001 STEAM, the first approval of a charter school new to the district in over four years. ...
Industrial vacancies lowest ever for San Diego
This can drive up prices, lengthen leases
It appears that San Diegans go to craft brewers located in industrial parks, put on weight, then go to to a fitness centers in industrial parks to shed that excess blubber. These are two reasons ...
Skating, surfing, hot-rodding, and beer
Beach Grease plants beer brand at former SpecHops brewhouse
"We're open!" So shouted a tasting room employee of Beach Grease Beer Co. at noon, Saturday, March 10th as the new beer company opened for business in Vista. A hint of surprise could almost be ...
There's no booze in this gose
Unique fermentations for a beer counterculture
Booze is kind of a nebulous term to describe fermented and/or distilled beverages. So it seems fitting that Vista beer company, Booze Brothers Brewing Co., would spin-off a brand of beverages that hang at the ...
The Beaver has more to belch about
Vista brewery's Pub 980 revamp features restaurant as star
Belching Beaver Brewery debuted its new Pub 980 concept in January, taking the unusual step of converting the tasting room of its original Vista brewery location into a casual eatery with a taproom bar. Since ...
His best friend and a good girl accused of murder
D'Angelo Maurice Charon's body was found on the side of the road
A man and woman were held equally liable in the death of their friend and ordered to face murder charges at the end of a hearing on January 24th. Shyrehl Joseph Wesley, 21, and Sheffah ...
Contenders list is long for Rocky's seat
New blood for North County's 76th Assembly District
Election season is heating up in coastal North County with incumbent Rocky Chávez (R-Oceanside) not running for re-election in the 76th Assembly District. He was elected to the seat in 2012. The district runs from ...
North County congressman Issa to retire
He faced a tough reelection and "barely survived the 2016 election”
Republican North County congressman Darrell Issa today (January 10) announced that he will be retiring from his post in the 49th District this fall. The publication Politico called Issa’s move “the latest sign of a ...
SpecHops the last brewery closure of 2017
Founded in 2010, but Vista tasting room opened last year
As 2017 came to an end, so did another San Diego area brewery. On the afternoon of December 31st, Vista-based SpecHops Brewing Company announced via Facebook that it was closing its doors. The post reads: ...
Lovejoy and McDavid guilty of attempted murder
Defense story was too far-fetched, says juror
After half a day of deliberations, a jury declared both Diana Jean Lovejoy, 45, and Weldon Kermit McDavid Jr., 50, guilty of the attempted murder of her husband, Greg Mulvhill, 47, during a bitter divorce ...
Middle-aged cops were alleged targets of rage
Did Roberto Flores intend to steer his car into officer Brad Hunter?
Oceanside police officer Brad Hunter was struck down as he stood next to a car he had pulled over for a traffic stop on Foussat Road on July 19, 2017. A jury was seated on ...
Devil in details of Carlsbad divorce case
Split involved shooter in bushes and young boy
A divorce between a Carlsbad couple that began in 2014 was interrupted by gunfire more than two years later. Diana Jean Lovejoy, 44, is set to go on trial tomorrow (October 17). She has pleaded ...
Vista councilman regrets leash-free vote
John Franklin aims to get Buena Vista Park ordinance rescinded
On August 22, the Vista City Council approved a one-year experiment to allow unleashed dogs at the “Trails” area of Buena Vista Park in Vista’s Shadowridge area. Its passage allowed dogs to legally run free ...
Blindsided by a lug wrench at the bus stop
"I bet you didn’t think I could sneak up on you like that, did you?”
Armando said he was seated on a bench, minding his own business the morning of February 22, 2017, when he was attacked. “I was waiting for the bus.” It was almost time for his regular ...
Meth-troubled dad faces court dates
Repeat offender accused of kidnapping wife and child and more
A man who allegedly invaded a home in the remote eastern edges of Escondido, and was reportedly shot multiple times by the homeowner, is due in court on Wednesday, September 13. Noe Colimas Valladares, 28 ...
Plastic-bag ban led to hep A health crisis?
“The outbreak was completely predictable — it's why I left San Diego.”
“The plastic bag ban is the main reason for the hepatitis outbreak,” says the homeless man who writes the Homeless Survival Guide. “The hepatitis outbreak was completely predictable — it's why I left San Diego.” ...
Ebullition bubbles in to Vista
Do the math: city's 18th brewhouse, 4 more in planning stages
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 ...
Nancy won’t leave
Eighty-nine-year-old mom fears her adult daughter
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 ...
Man whose home is metal box in Vista park admits drug sales
Sixty-five-year-old man began career at 20
A man living in a metal shipping container in a Vista park was arrested this month after he sold drugs to undercover officers. James William Harris, 65, was reportedly living in the graffiti-decorated container located ...
Latitude 33 distributed to 38 states
Beer-of-the-month subscriber service sends Vista brew far and wide
A new, national beer-of-the-month service launched this summer, featuring a San Diego brewery in its inaugural shipments. Two beers from Vista's Latitude 33 Brewing were offered for the June delivery of CraftX, a Los Angeles–based ...
Vista sisters fighting ends in arrest
One spit at officer who responded with mace
“Christine said, ‘I’m going to stab your pretty little face,’” according to a deputy who testified in San Diego Superior Court yesterday, June 26. Sheriff’s deputy Adrian Moses arrived at a home in the 1600 ...
Henebery brings production home
Legacy whiskey brand opens tasting room and distillery in Vista
Producing whiskey requires fermented grain, a still, a barrel, and patience. Henebery Spirits has shown plenty of the latter. Jesse Fanning launched Henebery in 2013 with his wife Natalie and her family, including parents Annette ...
Tased again and again in Vista parking lot
County pays $3 million for deputy's aggressiveness
The County of San Diego has agreed to pay $3 million in damages to a man who suffered a severe brain injury and multiple amputations after a Sheriff's deputy repeatedly fired his taser at him ...
Vista makes new wireless tower rules
First choice is city land, then business and industrial property. Schools — up to them.
Vista planners wants to make it easier, or in some cases harder, to operate cell towers and antennas. On March 21, the planning commission held a public hearing to discuss two proposed zoning ordinances (see ...
Belching Beaver’s change of art
Brewer renews logo, makes case for old one’s non-sexist origin
With a March 12 party at its Vista brewpub, Belching Beaver Brewery celebrated a brand refresh that includes a cleaner redesign of its can and bottle labels; also the punny new slogan, "Dam Good Times." ...
Wizards, warriors, and the magic of beer
Homebrewing educators add to Vista's brewery ranks
The brewery in Vista continues to rise. Battlemage Brewing Company enjoyed its first brew day on March 8th, making it the 16th beer company in the city of 100,000. There will be more opening this ...
The whopping return of Indian Joe
After two years dormant, the Vista brand comes back big time
In most cases, shutting down a business for two years would probably not be good for its growth. But don't tell Max Moran and Geri Lawson. When their Vista nanobrewery, Indian Joe Brewing, reached the ...
North County has less heroin today
Forty-six gang members rounded up
Federal indictments unsealed yesterday (March 1) charge 55 drug dealers and gang members with crimes including money-laundering, robberies, vehicle thefts, burglaries, assaults, and trafficking in heroin, methamphetamine, and firearms. The gang members operated in North ...
Marine intelligence yields better brews
A tributary place to drink craft beer
As any recruiter will tell you, military service provides on-the-job training and work experience that may be applied to future careers. While those recruiters likely don't have brewing in mind, David Casperson makes a convincing ...
Immigration info session scrapped in Vista school district
"If it was their children or their neighbors' children they would understand."
A Vista school meeting with an immigration attorney — set up to help parents prepare to protect their families should they be suddenly deported — was abruptly canceled Thursday (February 23), hours before it was ...
Congressman Issa missed at town-hall meeting
Facing repeal of Affordable Care Act, protesters ask, "Where is Darrell?"
Hundreds of North County residents packed Jim Porter Recreation Center in Vista on Tuesday night (February 21), while a thousand or more were left to gather outside for a town-hall event missing only its guest ...
Virtually electrocuted at the shopping center
Now–brain damaged amputee sues sheriff's dept. for tasing
A 30-year-old North County man who suffered a brain injury and multiple amputations after being repeatedly tased by a sheriff's deputy has agreed to settle his lawsuit. According to court documents obtained by the Reader, ...
Viking feasting hall opens in Vista
Drink mead and cider from a horn
Vince Obarski recalls first hearing about mead as a kid, referenced in fantasy games such as Dungeons & Dragons. He associated it with beer, and medieval times, but didn't grasp how far back it actually ...
Barrel Harbor brewery branches out into gaming center
Unique business models in Miramar
Three-year-old Vista brewery Barrel Harbor has been getting active of late. It began releasing cans of Fenris IPA earlier this year and aims to begin canning South Island pilsner by the end of the month. ...
North County wealth study
Poverty lower, incomes higher than countywide
North County is better off economically than the rest of San Diego County, according to a study released yesterday (December 7) by the Center on Policy Initiatives. It used data from the Census Bureau's 2015 ...
San Diego beer, brewing in Idaho
Mother Earth built a large, robust, fully functional brewery
Earlier this month, Mother Earth Brewing Co. opened a tasting room in the town of Nampa, Idaho, about 20 miles west of Boise. That's because in August the brewery fired up a 40,000-square-foot production facility ...
A food truck saves the day at a brewery, again
Fried, not braised, but still good
Leave it to me to order fried chicken from a food truck with the word braise in its name. I promise there was beer involved. Toolbox Brewing was pouring a few rare beers for its ...
God seen in both gutters and high-rises
Pastor Derek DaPena of New Community Church of Vista
Membership: 250 Pastor: Derek DaPena Age: 35 Born: Bellflower Formation: Biola University, La Mirada; Azusa Pacific University Seminary, Azusa Years Ordained: 8 San Diego Reader: How long do you spend writing your sermon? Pastor Derek ...
The science of wild ales
Toolbox brewer Ehren Schmidt crafts beer in a lab
Vista barrel-aged and wild ale specialist Toolbox Brewing Company has enjoyed a year of recognition and growth since bringing on head brewer Ehren Schmidt last summer. The four barrel brewhouse expanded into an adjacent industrial ...
The only cemitas shop in San Diego
Cemitas Fandanguero takes on New York
While chatting with a friend in New York recently, he told me, “I know you don’t think we have good Mexican food in the city, but I just got the best cemita in Brooklyn.” “Yeah, ...
