4th row center: Begging for a movie
He was a big, baby-faced dude; the needle would make several round trips whenever he set foot on a scale. Homeless? Not sure. His clothes were clean and even in the sweltering summer months, one never detected a trace of …
Not a story, says Maienschein of his lobbyist dating
San Diego Republican, famous locally for MTV party house fundraiser, makes Sacramento headlines by dating lobbyist for California Medical Association
Rack up another sex and politics case for San Diego's voluminous record books. While a horde of San Diego reporters has been chasing harassment allegation-plagued Democrat Bob Filner, one local Republican has been caught making his own hay, and headlines, …
Oceanside Mayor Jim Wood to take on Supervisor Bill Horn in 2014
Wood filed papers launching his run for District 5 Supervisor
Oceanside Mayor Jim Wood has officially launched off his campaign for San Diego County Supervisor, going up against longtime conservative Bill Horn. Wood filed the papers on July 15 with the California Secretary of State and were submitted to the …
Manning supporters rally in wake of verdict
Supporters of Pfc. Bradley Manning, the Army intelligence analyst who admitted leaking documents and video to the infamous WikiLeaks website, expressed mixed emotions at a rally in Hillcrest yesterday evening (July 30), after a military judge found Manning guilty on …
Mexico’s cruise stops struggling to maintain
Many port destinations are outdated or victims to bad marketing
Mexico’s Secretariat of Communications and Transport has announced that a makeover is due on many ports, which have ceased to host traffic from cruise ships. Port stops along Mexico’s coast line was once a booming business, yet in recent years …
El Cajon man removed from hiding spot under parked car by police dog
Man fled after ramming police car, attempting to run down CHP officer
A man and woman are in custody tonight after evading arrest from El Cajon Police and California Highway Patrol officers. Around 2 p.m., officers spotted Ali Alkafaji, a known fugitive, driving on the 1300 block of North Johnson Avenue in …
Q: How many times did Helen Keller meet Charlie Chaplin?
A: Never. They told her it was Buster Keaton. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/30/50360/
Barbara Dennerlein + Daniel Jackson: live in Balboa Park
Dennerlein did her best to make the huge outdoor pipe organ swing -- with mixed results.
I caught the first set of Barbara Dennerlein's concert at the Spreckles Organ Pavilion on July 29, my first experience listening to the much talked about outdoor pipe organ. Dennerlein, on the other hand, I've been enjoying since the early …
When you wish upon a fish
Yesterday, I spent two hours of my life mocking up this ingenious poster for a fake remake of The Incredible Mr. Limpet starring Bob Filner. (The folks over at the Pulitzers have my forwarding address.) In the eyes of many, …
Pasaje Rodríguez: Papas & Beer & El Muertho
Mamut microbrewery is the scene for eats and arts
“I estimate we have 60 microbreweries in Tijuana now,” says Juan Jose Quesada. “And maybe 20 in Mexicali, and 30 in Ensenada. We’re happening.” He’s happening too. We’re in the Pasaje Rodríguez, between 2nd and 3rd streets, and between Revolución …
Trailer Park: Paul Schrader's The Canyons
Ask Paul Schrader a question. Details inside.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/30/50318/ Paul Schrader has a new film opening and guess who snared an interview? That's right: Lickona! No offense, but that'll be the day! During the production, the tabloids made much ado about The Canyons. Schrader did not write the …
California rocker accused of hiring hitman is due in court this week
Hearing for heavy metal singer Tim Lambesis is set for Friday
The lead singer of a heavy metal rock band, accused of hiring a hitman to eliminate his wife during a difficult divorce, is due in court this Friday, August 2. The attorney for Timothy Lambesis, 32, is expected to request …
Councilmember Lorie Zapf collects $130k in six months nearly $36k from fundraisers hosted by Sudberry Properties
Zapf collects big-time cash from building and hotel industries
District six councilmember Lorie Zapf has a friend in Sudberry Properties. Recent campaign disclosures show that the developer of the 4,780-unit Civita mixed-use development in Mission Valley raised a total of $36,000 for Zapf's campaign to fill Kevin Faulconer's council …
$2.1 million in scholarship dollars awarded
The San Diego Foundation, which manages charitable funds for a host of other organizations, has announced that about 800 students will receive help from the 160-plus scholarship funds administrated by the Foundation for the 2013-2014 school year. Over $2.1 million …
A Midsummer Night's Dream, the Musical at Intrepid Shakespeare
Last summer, Intrepid mounted a three-week, workshop production of Shakespeare's popular comedy. It became such a hit that word of mouth could have filled the house for weeks, maybe even months, to come. Due to popular demand, Intrepid has re-staged …
More special interest cash rolls into Filner's political fund
Embattled mayor collects $39,400 from variety of those with business at city hall; money pays for ex-Hedgecock aide Tom Shepard and San Francisco political law firm
As previously reported here, San Diego mayor Bob Filner, now under fire in a sexual harassment scandal, has since February been accumulating money in a fund called the Mayor Bob Filner for San Diego Committee. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/30/50305/ At the time, speculation …
Local real estate values continue soaring
Still, values down 28% from late 2005 high
The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller real estate price index, published this morning (July 30) shows San Diego values rising 3.1% in May from April, outperforming the 2.4% gain of the top 20 metro areas. For the year to date through May, …
Wife of ranch manager is suspected of stealing items
Shelley Thorpe pleads not guilt to theft and drug charges
Property owners were pleased with the work of a ranch hand they hired, but phoned authorities when they suspected his wife was stealing things. Shelley Leigh Thorpe, 53, is accused of stealing property from a seven-acre parcel of land at …
"Flip" investors backing out of housing market
Cash investors still pushing out other potential buyers
In a sign that housing values may be approaching their peak, the California Association of Realtors trade group announced in its annual survey of real estate investors that more buyers of investment property are planning to hold onto their purchases …
City Attorney Jan Goldsmith says recall law is unconstitutional and should be struck down.
Opinion opens the door for a recall effort against Bob Filner.
Portions of the city law governing recall elections should be repealed, reads a July 26 memo from City Attorney Jan Goldsmith's office. If city council members agree, which is highly likely, then voters hoping to oust Mayor Bob Filner from …