"Why should San Diego’s bartenders have all the fun?” Felicia Vieira found the answer to this question and put it in a bottle. Since opening last year, Vieira’s San Diego–based Crafted Cocktails has been bringing …
April 15, 2015
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Stories by Joseph O'Brien
Crafted Cocktails brings that taste home
Earth, the purgatorial planet
Membership: 80 Pastor: Brian Grandon Age: 53 Born: Tacoma, WA Formation: Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA; Unity Institute and Seminary, Kansas City, MO Years Ordained: 1 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite topic on …
April 15, 2015
After we die, we’re going to be part of that dream
No longer assume that everyone goes to church, synagogue, mosque, or temple.
April 1, 2015
Story in a glass at Aero Club
Opened in 1947 as a flyboy-and-gal joint by aviatrix Maryann Prophet, the Aero Club has made its mark for serving whiskey flights like they mean it. “The thing about being a whiskey bartender is that …
March 18, 2015
Jesus crashed into my darkness in a radical way
Membership: 2500 Pastor: Mike Reed Age: 49 Born: Fort Sill, OK Formation: Southern California College (now Vanguard University), Costa Mesa. Years Ordained: 28 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on which to preach? …
March 18, 2015
My spirit will live in the presence of God
Looking forward to no more sin, racism, sexism, murder, or deception.
March 4, 2015
Wine boom meets whiskey craze
If there’s going to be a bar in town that serves a wine-and-whiskey cocktail — and make it work — why not Asian-fusion eatery Roppongi Restaurant and Sushi Bar? It makes sense, coming from the …
February 25, 2015
The cross is everything
After a week of being beaten up by the world, listen to Pastor Henderson.
February 18, 2015
Kiss-friendly tipple
It ain’t pink or red, doesn’t include anything remotely chocolate, and it doesn’t come with a rose garnish, but for Valentine’s Day you’d hardly do better than suggest a drink that brings out a bit …
February 11, 2015
We have a Father-Mother God
Membership: 200 Pastor: Blair Tabor Age: 63 Born: Minneapolis, MN Formation: University of California-San Diego; Unity Village, Kansas City, MO Years Ordained: 34 San Diego Reader: How long do you spend writing your sermon? Pastor …
February 3, 2015
We are encouraged and enlightened
Membership: 500 Pastor: Jim Henkell Age: 42 Born: Chicago Formation: Concordia University, Irvine; Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO Years Ordained: 17 SDR: How long do you spend writing your sermon? Pastor Jim Henkell: We tend …
January 21, 2015
The Lord really spoke to us
Membership: 200 Pastor: Carolyn Nichols Age: 81 Born: San Bernardino Formation: University of La Verne, La Verne; Claremont Graduate University, Claremont; the King’s Seminary, Van Nuys Years Ordained: 22 San Diego Reader: What is your …
January 7, 2015
Humanity is not all written off
Pastor Terry Brooks preached his first sermon at age eight.
December 24, 2014
The Bible is clear
Membership: 1500 Pastor: Al Valdez Age: 40 Born: Hollywood, CA Formation: Latin American Bible Institute, La Puente, CA; Facultad Teologia, Montebello, CA; Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA Years Ordained: 15 San Diego Reader: What is …
December 10, 2014
Our vision is to glorify God
Far Easterners with folky beliefs, or brain-washed by Communists, find counsel at Chinese Bible Church.
November 26, 2014
Citrus savory showcase of balance
Yes, summer is over, but in San Diego, the season makes subtle adjustments to her wardrobe, calls herself “Indian,” and parties on…. To that end, Mister A’s Southern Dove could serve as official drink of …
November 26, 2014
The most American drink on the menu
"A disaster in a glass.” So says Kanai Williams, the Salty Dog’s front man behind the bar, about this Imperial Beach joint’s premiere chockablock chug-a-lug — the Rum Runner. “And that’s probably the only reason …
November 19, 2014
Many people don’t understand the truth about God
Membership: 1100 Pastor: Luis Mendez Age: 55 Born: Tijuana, Mexico Formation: San Diego State University; San Diego Church of Christ Missionary Years Ordained: 15 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on which to …
November 12, 2014
Equal parts sun and shade
Mixers and historians of the dram are both debating: does the Mojito derive its name from the spiced Cuban citrus seasoning known in those parts as mojo, or from the Spanish word mojadito (“a little …
October 29, 2014
He succumbed to the study of theology
Membership: 125 Pastor: Mark Menacher Age: 53 Born: Detroit Formation: Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI; Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, OH; University of Goettingen, (West) Germany; Theological Seminary, Leipzig, (East) Germany; (PhD) University of Manchester, …
October 29, 2014
Not saying that secularism is evil, but...
The world misses something important when we turn away from our spiritual journeys.
October 15, 2014
I experienced the calling myself
Membership: 280 Pastor: Robert Davis Age: 50 Born: Dunellen, New Jersey Formation: Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA; Robert H. McKinney School of Law, Indiana University-Indianapolis; Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena Years Ordained: 13 San Diego Reader: What …
October 1, 2014
It’s all a matter of relationship
Membership: 185 Pastor: J.D. McQueen Age: 31 Born: Peoria, Ill. Formation: Eureka College, Eureka, IL; Nashotah House Theological Seminary, Nashotah, WI Years Ordained: 6 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on which to …
September 17, 2014
God among prostitutes, drug addicts, and gang lords
Membership: 160 Pastor: Tim Captain Age: 27 Born: Logansport, IN Formation: Cincinnati Christian University, Cincinnati, OH Years Ordained: 5 years San Diego Reader: What is your favorite topic on which to preach? Pastor Tim Captain: …
September 3, 2014
Serious Manhattan
Every so often in life, paperback utility ought to give over to leather-bound editions; the joy of a Swisher Sweet to the experience of a Romeo y Julieta; the usual Manhattan cocktail to nothing less …
August 27, 2014
How to get the church back into the world?
Membership: 120 Pastor: Brent Ross Age: 40 Born: Albuquerque, NM Formation: Vanderbilt Divinity School, Nashville, TN; Garrett Evangelical Seminary, Evanston, IL Years Ordained: 5 San Diego Reader: What’s your favorite subject on which to preach? …
August 20, 2014
Letting the Lord have his way in us
Membership: 250 Pastor: Brad Lambert Age: 61 Born: Venice, CA Formation: University of Redlands, Redlands; Point Loma Nazarene University; University of California-Fullerton; Calvary Chapel Bible College, Murietta (professor/director) Years Ordained: 23 San Diego Reader: How …
August 6, 2014
Strawberry blusters, bourbon finishes
The 22-story high Altitude Sky Lounge stays grounded in the fundamentals of good cocktails, says head mixologist Jeremy LeBlanc. Southern cousin to the Moscow Mule, the Kentucky Buck is a great example. According to LeBlanc, …
July 30, 2014
Jesus has enough fans but not so many followers
Membership: 200 (adults) Denomination: Independent Executive Pastor: Raymond van Pletsen Age: 66 Born: Johannesburg, South Africa Formation: Calvary Bible College, Kansas City, MO; Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, TX Years Ordained: 34 San Diego Reader: What …
July 23, 2014
If you can help me, I’ll give you my life
Membership: 2200 Pastor: Mike MacIntosh Age: 70 Born: Portland, OR Formation: Azusa Pacific University, Azusa; Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena Years Ordained: 42 San Diego Reader: What’s your favorite subject on which to preach? Pastor Mike …
July 9, 2014
I didn’t have to accept sickness, and didn’t deserve it
Membership (estimated): 20 at a time Elected Reader: Marsha Pecaut Born: West Covina Formation: California State Polytechnic University of Pomona, California State University of Fresno Years Associated with Society: “Since a child.” San Diego Reader: …
June 25, 2014
Sophisticated simplicity
‘We have signs outside that say, ‘Home of the Salty Dog,’ so people think we’re claiming we invented the Salty Dog,” bartender Daniel Baker says with a laugh. “But I have to tell them that, …
June 4, 2014
What is the one thing in life I was created for?
Membership: 700 Affiliation: Association of Related Churches (ARC) Pastor: Aaron Jayne Age: 38 Born: Wichita, KS Formation: Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, AZ; planted Dream Center, Los Angeles Years Ordained: 10 San Diego Reader: What’s your …
May 28, 2014
Trunk of bourbon, branches of syrup, roots of Chartreuse
The Seven Grand’s bar manager Brett Winfield wants to give it to you straight. But before he does, you better have a cocktail — or, as he calls it, “a Whiskey Delivery Method.” “We don’t …
May 21, 2014
Nothing else makes any sense for me
Membership: 45 (regular attendance) Pastor: James West Age: 57 Born: Bismarck, ND Formation: Northwestern University, Evansville, IL; Lutheran Seminary, St. Paul, MN Years Ordained: 32 San Diego Reader: How long do you spend writing your …
May 14, 2014
The Annette Funicello of cocktails
A perfect companion to SoCal clambakes or a beach blanket in Baja, it also harkens to the warmth and whitewashed villas of the Amalfi Coast. That’s the Roman Pipeline. This Annette Funicello of cocktails, according …
April 30, 2014
There is a role that each person is uniquely designed by God to fulfill
Membership: 2700 Pastor: Craig Brown Age: 46 Born: Long Beach Formation: Biola University, La Mirada; Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena Years Ordained: 21 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on which to preach? Pastor …
April 30, 2014
The Chapel at Grossmont in La Mesa
To be absent from the body is to be present to the Lord.
April 16, 2014
Nine-Ten’s Martinez
Knowing a lot about a lot and enough about the rest, Nine-Ten’s sommelier and food and beverage manager Summer Haines is a wearer of many hats. To help the bar’s hotel — the Grande Colonial …
April 9, 2014
Oak Hills Covenant Church
Contact: 1920 Shadowridge Drive, Vista. 760-598-3852; oakhillschurch.tumblr.com Denomination: Evangelical Covenant Church Membership: 100 Pastor: Marilyn Williams Age: 48 Born: Chula Vista Formation: Vanguard University of Southern California, Costa Mesa; Bethel West Seminary, San Diego Years …
April 2, 2014
Rumbling Tins Construction’s Old Rye Sage
The fellows from Rumbling Tins Construction brought their pleasant clamor to the Westgate Hotel to offer patrons a trifecta of cocktails as part of a recent tasting soirée. A five-member collaboration of jiggering journeymen, Rumbling …
March 19, 2014
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints — San Diego Ward
Elder: Gary Sabin Seventy Membership: 50,000 Age: 59 Born: Provo, Utah Formation: Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah; Stanford University, Stanford; “and a lot of on-the-job training.” Years Ordained: one year San Diego Reader: What is …
March 19, 2014
Christ the King Lutheran Church
Membership: 1200 Pastor: Mark Johnson Age: 46 Born: Minneapolis, MI Formation: Lutheran Bible Institute, Anaheim; Concordia University, Irvine; Lutheran Seminary, St. Paul Years Ordained: 17 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on which …
March 5, 2014
Johnny's Fire & Berry Old Fashioned
According to bartender Faith Taylor, the Tractor Room offers high-quality cocktails with a low-altitude attitude. “It’s kind of like Manhattan meets Montana,” she says. But if the restaurant tries not to take itself too seriously, …
February 28, 2014
Prince of Peace Lutheran
Membership: 60 Pastor: Paul Willweber Age: 45 Born: Mission Hills Formation: Concordia College, Seward, NE; Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO Years Ordained: 18 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on which to preach? …
February 19, 2014
Shiloh Spiritual Center
Contact: 3288 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego 619-640-2020; shilohspiritualcenter.com Membership: 50 Pastor: Reverend Roxie Hart Age: “Young enough to enjoy life and old enough to know I really want to.” Born: Oakland Formation: Holmes Institute, …
February 5, 2014
The Commons Bar's Skinny Scorpion
The owner of The Commons Bar, Jake Pescatello, does more than deliver the rent and sign the paychecks of his employees. Starting in his father’s modest East Coast restaurant empire as a dishwasher and busboy, …
January 29, 2014
Miguelito’s Rye Manhattan
Uptown Tavern’s bar back Miguel Duran is in the advanced placement class of bartenders-in-training. Observing Uptown’s bartenders at work, he’s come up with his own signature cocktail. When he began creating what’s now known as …
January 21, 2014
Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church
Contact: 858-277-2511; holyangelssandiego.com Membership: 60 households Pastor: Father Robert Pipta Age: 46 Born: Anaheim Formation: St. Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary, Pittsburgh, PA Years Ordained: 20 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject …
January 8, 2014