Robert Downey, Jr. is looking forward to playing characters who aren't Iron Man
Because then, he won't have to suffer through photo-ops gone bad like this one.
Iron Man 3 was a film about a man who began to identify so completely with his creation that he used it as an avatar during physical affection with his girlfriend, asking her to smooch the armored faceplate while he …
Bad service in San Diego
The standard for service in San Diego is lower than it should be and diners need to stand up for themselves.
Since I started reviewing restaurants for the Reader, the only thing I’ve received hate mail over has been my tendency to call out bad servers and poor service. I’ve gone so far as to say that the standards for service …
Money well spent: after hiring local lobbying firm, exception carved into marijuana ordinance for vending machine manufacturer
Medbox, Inc., manufacturers of a marijuana vending machine marketed at medical marijuana collective storefronts, is touting its success in obtaining an amendment to proposed San Diego Municipal Code 42.1502 that would allow for the placement of its machines in local …
Padres complete sweep of Braves
Edinson Volquez threw well and the Braves fell to the Padres again amidst brooms and dustpans
The Atlanta Braves came to Petco Park as the best team in the National League while the Padres were limping along well below even on the season. Three games later, the tables have been turned as the scrappy Padres beat …
Marriott wants fat subsidy to keep Tony Robbins seminar in Palm Desert
Town asked to chip in $20,000 to keep motivational seminar
CORPORATE WELFARE REPORT: The J.W. Marriott Desert Springs resort is asking Palm Desert to cough up $20,000 to help keep a Tony Robbins motivational seminar from moving to Florida this year, according to the Desert Sun. Robbins's five-day "Date With …
Man born in Tijuana prison suspected of killing 7 in La Paz
Suspect has allegedly admitted to killing and burying victims
A 20 year old Tijuana native is in custody after allegedly killing seven victims in Baja California Sur. The victims were found in two mass graves, outside of the city of La Paz, early in the week of June 9. …
Kwassman Sextet storms Dizzy's
An extremely talented group of players helped the composer realize his ambitions.
Young composer/multi-instrumentalist Joshua Kwassman migrated into town from his NYC base on June 12, drawing a small but enthusiastic group of listeners to experience the wide-ranging and cinematic sound collages that constitute his Song of the Brother Spirits CD. This …
La Jolla Symphony: Transcendent (2 of 2)
*Dona nobis pacem* was a singular performance in the stream of San Diego music.
There have been some great collaborations between literary types and composers: Richard Strauss and von Hofmannsthal, Mahler and Ruckert, Mozart and Da Ponte, Verdi and Shakespeare, Schubert and Schiller and Goethe, Schumann and Heine, and I’m sure there are others …
Interview with The East star and co-writer Brit Marling
(Review and showtimes are here. Opening interview with Marling's director and co-writer Zal Batmanglij is here.) Matthew Lickona: Tell me about Sarah's naivete. Brit Marling: I thought of her as a thoroughbred racehorse. She's very well trained, and she gets …
Interview with The East director and co-writer Zal Batmanglij
The East tells the story of Sarah (co-writer Brit Marling, interviewed here), a rising star at a private espionage agency who gets assigned to infiltrate the domestic organization that gives the film its name. The group does punishment-fits-the-crime work; during …
Meet skateboarder Ryan Sheckler at premiere screening of The Motivation on June 13
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jun/13/47435/ "A movie told through the eyes of the 8 best street-skateboarders in the world." As far at The Movement goes, that's pretty much all I have to work with. What makes this event special is an in-person appearance by …
Author & Punisher: Women & Children
One-man industrial doom outfit drops new album, supports Phil Anselmo (Pantera, Down) on U.S. tour.
As visually provocative and he is sonically crushing, Tristan Shone designs open-source kinetic drone and dub machines to channel ecstatic, unbelievably heavy noisescapes as one-man industrial doom band Author & Punisher. “Doom metal is combining a feeling of devastation with …
Mitt Romney's renovation hits a snag. Appeal filed to halt project.
Planning Commission to discuss the appeal at an upcoming meeting.
Mitt Romney has seen some ups and downs this year. The latest bad news focuses on his plans to tear down his beachside home in La Jolla in order to put up a two-story, 11,062 square-foot home with an attached …
No conflicts of interest in hiring D.C. lobbyist, San Diego development honcho says
Fresh military base closure fears spawn new lobbying gig for Washington law firm of San Diego super lawyer and regional Economic Development Corporation board member
The process of deciding which of the nation's sprawling complex of military bases should be closed in the name of efficiency has always provided a lucrative arena for lobbyists, local politicos, civic boosters, and other influence peddlers. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jun/13/47419/ Another round …
Florida man charged with kidnapping boy in Escondido, California
Escondido policeman said he expects case to be tried here
Police say a 36-year-old man intercepted a 14-year-old boy on his way home from school in Escondido and absconded with the child across country, to Florida. On Monday, June 10, the boy’s parents immediately reported their son missing when he …
Please come to San Diego, Iron Press.
Orange County waffle sandwich restaurant is doing it right, so why not come to San Diego?
So, I was in Costa Mesa last weekend and I just happened to notice the Iron Press (3321 Hyland Ave, 714-426-8088). Installed in a bourgeois, OC mall and surrounded by corporate offices on all sides, it’s not like the restaurant …
San Diegans for Open Government challenges legality of assessment districts in a June 12 lawsuit
City must find legal justification for assessments or else might be on the hook for millions in refunds.
Some property and business owners say assessment districts are the perfect tool to revitalize and promote their neighborhoods. Others say they are often mismanaged and are an illegal way for municipalities to get more bang in regards to public services …
Someone spank crybabies Lucas & Spielberg and send them to bed without their suppers
WAAAAAAAA! There's "eventually going to be an implosion in the film industry." WAAAAAAAA! Lincoln was 'this close' to going to HBO. WAAAAAAAA! We barely got (Red Tails) into theaters. I'm disgusted with the two of you's! Can we say chutzpah? …