Poverty level likely higher than official Census estimates
Study shows cost-of-living-adjusted rate would be 50% higher than official San Diego estimates
New data from the Public Policy Institute of California suggests that 8.1 million Californians, or 22 percent of the state’s population, lives in poverty. These numbers contrast the official U.S. Census Bureau numbers, which put statewide poverty levels at just …
How the Breaking Bad finale lied to you (and why you were so easily fooled)
Spoiler(s) Alert! Braining Bad and deconstucting the hoax
Okay Breaking Bad fans, I’m going on record with the belief that Walter White froze to death in that car and the rest of the finale was his dying fantasy. My evidence begins with the keys magically falling from the …
Family of man shot by Encinitas neighbor seek millions in damages
Civil suits filed against Michael Vilkin in San Diego Superior Court
John C. Upton Senior is requesting $5 million in general damages and $1 million in special damages and “reserves the right to seek $10 million in punitive damages,” according to papers filed last week, in a suit against the man …
Col. Cuauhtémoc: Perfect perch to watch the madness
Tiki Bar's an oasis hidden in plain sight near, well, the busiest crossing in the world.
Come here at sunset. Even though you can turn up any time of day or night. Because the Tiki Bar is open 24/7. And actually it's not a bar. It's a glorified coffee cart. Whatever, sunset is the time. This …
Mastermind of $100 million mortgage scam gets 8 years
Her former boyfriend got less than half that Friday
Former San Diegan Mary Armstrong, mastermind of a $100 million mortgage scam that generated almost $15 million in kickbacks, was sentenced today (Sept. 30) to 100 months in prison. Her former boyfriend, William Fountain, Friday got 42 months. Armstrong, Fountain, …
Shutdown will hit San Diego, already belted by sequestration
Military, including contracting, is 22% of local economy
The presence of the military and aerospace/defense contracting add up to 22% of the San Diego economy, says Kelly Cunningham, economist for the National University System Institute for Policy Research. If the government shuts down tonight -- as seems quite …
Ship builders unite against Barrio Logan's Community Plan Update; hire lobbying firm Southwest Strategies for help at City Hall
BAE Systems, NASSCO, and Continental Maritime San Diego among the companies to join in opposition against the newly amended update.
Ships are starting to hit the plan in Barrio Logan. A group of ship repair companies have united and hired a lobbyist to start pounding the pavement at City Hall in hopes of getting a more industry-friendly update to the …
Origins, Part II: more from James Cameron's Piranha Part 2: The Spawning
He must have been so tickled to do a remake and call it Aliens.
(Part 1 is here.) You all remember the chestburster from the first Alien movie, right? http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/sep/30/53953/ That nasty little fellow poked his head out in 1979. Two years later, James Cameron gave us this in Piranha Part 2: http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/sep/30/53954/ I'm …
North End Lounge open in Little Italy
Busalacchi group replaces L'Angolino with a flashier, seafood-centric version of itself.
Apparently, the Busalacchi-owned L’Angolino North End Lounge wasn’t cutting it. The successful group, which seems to comprise half the restaurants in Little Italy, gave the former “little corner” a facelift. NE Lounge (1971 India Street), presumably for the “north end” …
Origins: James Cameron's Piranha Part 2: The Spawning
The 1981 sequel was Cameron's first feature-length outing as a director.
Hello, and welcome to Origins, a look back at the early work of noted directors, with a special emphasis on how those early efforts foreshadowed what came later. I can't think of a better first subject for this column than …
Chula Vista from boom to bust to boom
Forbes calls Chula Vista "Second Fastest-Growing City Since Recession;" Growth Oversight Commission's report on fire, libraries, police and traffic
The Millenia project in Chula Vista broke ground September 26 only a short time after Forbes magazine called the city the second fastest-growing in the United States. The Forbes article looked at cities with a population of 200,000 or more …
Ace in La Mesa!
Ex-Kiss rocker spotted getting his antique on in the Village.
"I have a funny story for you," California Rangers drummer Jim Dougherty emails. "I was in La Mesa a couple of Mondays ago, just doing some errands. I walked past an antique shop (he confirms it was Park Estate on …
Predator drone maker and pot foe throws down for San Diego GOP
Uranium miner General Atomics, maker of deadly drones and other high-tech battle gear, joins the war for San Diego mayor
U-T San Diego publisher Douglas Manchester, the well-heeled Republican hotel magnate and associate of the conservative Koch brothers, has just received some more big time conservative reinforcement in his mayoral proxy war with San Diego's richest man, billionaire Obama Democrat …
Street, Padres blow last game of season in San Francisco
Leading by four runs, Padres pitching can’t hold off the Giants and lose in the last frame
Huston Street isn’t perfect, although he is extremely dependable as a closer, and he didn’t have his best stuff on Sunday. The Padres squandered a 6-2 lead and let the Giants come back and beat them 7-6 in walk-off fashion …
Dragon Rojo roars no more
Landmark Tijuana cantina closes doors in Zona Norte.
Historic Tijuana cantina Dragon Rojo closes its mural-incrusted doors on Monday, September 30. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru4aGSzYw9E Originally opened in 1977, The Red Dragon is located just west of the tacky arch/clock monument on Revolucion, where the jubilant abandon of Plaza Santa Cecilia …
Fresh Sound presents Ian David Rosenbaum, Oct. 1
Rosenbaum will perform on marimba and other percussion instruments at Bread & Salt.
Adventurous music promoter Bonnie Wright continues her dynamic concert series Fresh Sound with an evening of solo percussion by Ian David Rosenbaum on Oct. 1 at Bread & Salt, located at 1955 Julian Ave, at 8 pm. This is the …
Unions have given $560,000 in nine days to pro-David Alvarez committee
Most will be spent on polling and television ad buys; ads began airing this weekend.
Update: The Working Families for a Better San Diego added $22,000 to their television ad budget. San Diego's unions are united behind councilmember David Alvarez and are putting up major cash as a sign of their support. In the past …
The Standells with Johnny Echols of Love at the Adams Avenue Street Fair September 28
Reunited 1960's era garage rockers The Standells performed at the Adams Avenue Street Fair on September 28, joined for the last few numbers by guitarist Johnny Echols of Love. Five photos.
Legendary sixties garage rockers, The Standells, with guest guitarist Johnny Echols of Love, topped the bill on the first day of the 2013 Adams Avenue Street Fair. The Standells' current incarnation includes founding keyboardist Larry Tamblyn, mid-Sixties bassist John Fleck, …
Long balls helps the Padres past the Giants
Padres even the last series of the season at San Francisco
On Friday the Giants used the home run as their primary weapon and on Saturday the Padres turned the tables. Using 3 home runs as part of a 16-hit attack, San Diego downed San Francisco 9-3. Each side scored a …