TJ wine bar with mini-theater, home-grown eats
Place has its own ranch in Guadalupe Valley
I was wandering down Tijuana's Puente Mexico, aka First Street, ten at night. Near the wax museum. Only sign of life: a little low-lit balcony loaded with people. They were drinking wine and chatting quietly away. This is La Faraona …
Iraqi immigrant pleads not guilty to killing wife
Caused international sensation when hateful note found near body
There was a surprise witness and unexpected surveillance video presented today in a hearing for an Iraqi immigrant accused of killing his wife more than a year ago, in San Diego County. Kassim Irzoqi Alhimidi, 49, is charged with the …
Taste Baja! in Hillcrest
Whole Foods and 7th Ave Pub host some of Baja's finest food and drink.
Have unpredictable border waits deterred you from crossing south to experience the wines of Valle de Guadalupe, the world-renowned cuisine of Tijuana, or the many burgeoning breweries in Baja? Worry not! From Friday, July 26 through Sunday, July 28, Taste …
Woman arrested with over two pounds of cocaine inside shoes in Imperial County
Suspect was questioned at Border Patrol checkpoint, admitted to carrying drugs
A female suspect, who was questioned at the Highway 86 checkpoint in Imperial County, was arrested for carrying narcotics inside her shoes, on Tuesday, July 23. The suspect, who is a United States citizen, stated that she was carrying an …
Meet Dean Cropp, Storm Surfers 3D's underwater stereographer
The most exciting 3D thrill ride of the summer contains no special effects and the only costumes these heros don are wet suits. Directors Justin McMillan and Christopher Nelius follow tow-surfing legend Ross Clarke-Jones and two-time World Champion Tom Carroll …
Laura Fink's campaign role with Todd Gloria
Questions: didn't her allies vet her? Did the local press?
Several people who contribute to this blog have mentioned the relationship of Laura Fink, the second woman to claim Bob Filner harassed her, and Todd Gloria, council president who desperately wants Filner's job and loudly says he should resign. One …
Ministry claims it was stiffed by City
San Diego refuses to pay over $43K owed for services provided related to gang prevention, group alleges in lawsuit
San Diego-based Metro United Methodist Urban Ministry, in operation since 1966, has an established track history of working with low-income youth, helping them avoid jail and achieve stable employment. Last week, the group celebrated the award of $7.5 million in …
From the Fringe: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are born, part two
"I don't think writers are sacred," Tom Stoppard told an interviewer, "but words are. They deserve respect." Stoppard's statement may have come, in part, from his first experience as a playwright. A student company, the Oxford Players, was staging an …
Both City Attorney Goldsmith and Mayor Filner release public records at whim (or not at all)
Problems with the leaders' judgment indicated following closed-session incident in June
It's one for the record books: "The Quickest Response to a Public Records Request in San Diego's History: The U-T San Diego on June 20, with a time of under eight hours." [Sarcasm off.] The reporter was Trent Seibert. The …
Double whopper lobbyists want it their way with city hall
Big DeMaio backers with history of amending lobbying disclosure reports paid to turn up the heat on city over lagging burger project blocked by Filner
How many lobbying firms does it take to screw in a real estate development permit in San Diego? In the case of a controversial Jack in the Box currently blocked by besieged mayor Bob Filner, at least two, and those …
Meatball Cucina open for business
Downtown restaurant replaces Sora with an easy, fun concept and good wines by the glass.
Talk about taking something in the opposite direction! Sora, which wasn’t long for this world, tried an elaborate Japanese-Italian fusion concept that hinged on a grip of eccentricities to tie it all together. Meatball Cucina (655 West Broadway, 619-564-7100) replaced …
The Wolverine shows its roots
Can you imagine what Chicken George would have done with those lunchhooks? He'd have been a walking rotisserie! http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/25/50040/ Credit: Matt Kannenberg.
Bridgepoint stock bounces back up despite state suit
AG charged company refused to provide data, but stock had only hiccup yesterday
Stock of highly controversial Bridgepoint Education, which is under investigation by several state and federal bodies, is up 1.04% to $16.49 this morning (July 25). Yesterday, after the company was sued by California to turn over records about hits marketing …
Brewers tap Padres
Padres bats fail to flail as the Milwaukee Brewers shut down the Friars
The Padres pounded out fifteen hits on Tuesday and left so much unexploded ordnance on the field that could have been used on Wednesday against Brewers starter Kyle Lohse. All that Lohse did was shut down the Padres 3-1 and …
Mayor Filner responds to Taylor Baldwin's on-air claim, "He made me feel cheap."
"I need help. I make terrible jokes all the time."
On July 14, the Reader's website published a transcribed account of a UT-TV Prime Time with Taylor Baldwin segment in which she recalled an encounter with Mayor Bob Filner: “He loves women. He made that apparent to me the moment …
RA Sushi drops the bomb
Downtown sushi spot debuts bomb cocktail menu, but is it bomb?
Downtown sashimi spot RA Sushi (474 Broadway) recently dropped a new drink menu specializing in – wait for it – sake bombs. The menu offers eight traditional beer and sake bombs (featuring staples such as Sapporo, Orion, Echigo, and Asahi), …
Downtown retail property sold for $15M
Washington, D.C.-based ASB Real Estate Investments, which claims over $3.8 billion under management nationwide, has announced the purchase of three Gaslamp Quarter buildings on two parcels carrying a $15.25 million price tag. The units, at 643, 653, and 665 5th …
New UC head Janet Napolitano: "I believe the children are the future... of homeland security."
Former Secretary of Homeland Security makes first statement since confirmation as new head of UC system
"Who knows which young person at a UC school might be working on the next PRISM right now? I sure don't - but I will!" http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/24/50019/ New UC Magistrix Napolitano DEEP IN THE BOWELS OF THE GEISEL BUNKER, ER, LIBRARY …
San Diego hotel business lagging coast rivals
All told, 2013 has not been a very good year for local hotels
The occupancy rate in San Diego hotels dropped slightly in June compared with June 2012, to 79.8% from 80.2%, according to Smith Travel Research. Average daily room rate rose slightly to $137.05 from $136.73 a year ago, but San Francisco's …