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On Friday, Sept. 11, a meeting at the New City America, Inc. office is open to the public to review the Union and Ash project. This project proposes to build the largest 36-story, 408 feet tall residential building in Little Italy with 389 residential development including 32 units of affordable housing. It includes three levels of underground parking and four and a half levels of above grade parking. Residential units begin on the sixth floor and continue up the 36th floor. The current plan includes amenity space and common outdoor spaces on the sixth, 35th and 3th floors. The sixth floor includes a 10,000 square feet terrace, and a2,000 square feet fitness areas. The 36th floor includes a 1,400 square feet terrace and a 2,200 square feet Sky Club/lounge area along with a 5,000 square feet pool deck and spa area that faces to the west. This meeting is open to the public at 11 a.m. 710 West Ivy. For more information about the project visit bit.ly/2MROk3B. Read More
‘A Christmas Carol’
Through Dec. 30
Tickets are now on sale for the Cygnet Theatre’s holiday musical classic, adapted from Charles Dickens’ timeless tale. This reimagined stage production features original music, creative stagecraft and puppetry, and live sound effects. Tier one ($30) tickets are now available, so buy soon before they go up to tier two. 4040 Twiggs St. Read More
By B. J. Coleman
Offering Downtown movie lovers a variety of classics and recent releases
Dinner and a movie are main features of a couple’s classic date night. One Downtown San Diego venue offers a one-stop, new-and-greatly-improved version of that night-out experience for adults on the town. Read More
[Editor’s note: This editorial first appeared in the Voice of San Diego on Aug. 31. View the original article at bit.ly/vosd-valenti.]
By Matt Valenti | Guest Editorial
The sky is falling.
Or so it would seem, if you believe the claims the vacation rental industry is making.
They’re upset about the compromise ordinance passed by San Diego’s City Council. Brainchild of Councilwoman Barbara Bry, the ordinance is the final result of years of back and forth between the two sides of the issue.
The mayor and many others have praised the compromise. Housing advocates have breathed a sigh of relief. We can’t make headway on the housing crisis when we’re currently losing two housing units to vacation rentals for each three new ones we build.
But Airbnb and the vacation rental industry aren’t happy. Read More
[Ref: SDRC advertisement]
I was expecting the legalization of marijuana to have an effect in Downtown San Diego. On my trip to federal jury duty, I could not help but notice the billboard for marijuana along 9th Avenue. What really disappointed me was to see your paper have a front and center advertising space for a local dispensary. Your paper is free and accessible to anyone who may decide to pick it up. This includes minors such as me. I was days before my 20th birthday. Seeing this adds to the normalization and usage of marijuana to our local community. It is seen as fine to buy and acceptable. I wonder why we chastise cigarette advertising but go ahead with promoting marijuana. Is smoking another “natural” plant really going to benefit our lungs or our heart health? I hope that you will consider the negative consequences that marijuana consumption will have on our community and remove the marijuana advertising. Read More
By B. J. Coleman
Chinese Historical museum celebrates young musical prodigies
For the first time in its history, the Bravo! International Music Academy (BIMA) brought a collaborative concert of talented young Asian and Asian-American musicians to Downtown’s San Diego Chinese Historical Museum (SDCHM) on Aug. 11. Staging of classical string performances filled the SDCHM’s Dr. Chuang Archive & Learning Center with attendees eager to hear beautiful music during the concert titled “A Bridge to Connect.” Read More
By Frank Sabatini Jr. | Restaurant Review
Worldly foods and beers create an international delight
Step slightly outside the Gaslamp Quarter and into Broadway Circle and you’ll encounter Tapas & Beers, a casual yet stylish restaurant specializing in Spanish, French and American dishes. The cuisine is represented by flags of those countries looming from an interior front wall. Read More
By SDCNN staff
Against breast cancer
What’s a special way to show your support for those afflicted with a life-threatening disease or condition? One creative method is getting dunked in a water tank in front of hundreds of co-workers. Read More
By Jean Lowerison
‘Much Ado’ tosses many classic tunes
Ah, Will, you gave us so many wonderful — and awful — stories and characters. Sometimes even in the same play.
The Old Globe’s summer festival brings us what Globe artistic director Barry Edelstein calls “the first English-language romantic comedy” in a sprightly production of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing.”
Primarily known for the two central characters Beatrice and Benedick — who spend most of the play denying their mutual attraction until their friends trick them into admitting the truth — the play also gets serious when a bad actor named Don John tries to scotch the wedding plans of two other important characters, soldier Claudio and pretty young thing Hero. Read More
By Tom Cesarini | Little Italy Heritage
What’s in a name? Everything
The Convivio Now and Again Series comprises oral histories from Italian-community members. In this excerpt from an interview with Louis Palestini, the treasurer of the Little Italy Association, Louis discusses the new neighborhood piazza and his sentiment about heritage preservation in the community.
By Christopher Gomez | Little Italy News
This year, San Diegans and visitors can experience a one-of-a-kind, Tuscan-inspired evening at the Little Italy Association of San Diego’s (LIA) brand new, premier event, Solo Italiano: Dinner in Rosso (Dinner in Red) presented by PenFed Credit Union. The event will transform the recently opened Piazza della Famiglia into a magical evening on Saturday, Oct. 6, from 5-10 p.m. The flagship event features a curated and immersive dining experience that encourages guests to dress in their best red attire. Solo Italiano: Dinner in Rosso will help raise funds for the LIA to continue its efforts to enhance and preserve the rich history and charm of the community, while creating a truly authentic Italian experience for guests. Read More
By District Attorney | Summer Stephan
As your District Attorney, I’m committed to increasing communication and accessibility between the DA’s Office and you, the community. One way I have been doing that is through this monthly column, where I provide consumer tips on public safety matters. Read More
By Dora McCann Guerreiro | East Village News Read More
By Delle Willett | Art on the Land
Landscape architect Rocio Gertler (nee Rocio Lastras Montano) grew up in San Luis Potosí, México, the capital city of the state with the same name. The geographic location of the state provides a rich variation of ecosystems. While the capital is in the lower desert, the state ecosystems vary from high deserts to deep jungle. Here Rocio enjoyed a great variety of outdoor experiences from hiking desert trails lined with cacti to swimming in turquoise waters adjacent to waterfalls. Read More
By Diana Cavagnaro | Fashion Files
St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC) presented the 41st Haute with Heart Fashion Show & Luncheon on Aug. 4 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. This year’s theme “Born to Sparkle” was centered on a portrait of Elizabeth Taylor. The featured artist for this incredible portrait was John Agostini who is a SMSC student and his art was featured six times at St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center’s annual fashion show. Read More
If you ever went out drinking in The Netherlands with Dutch hosts, you probably encountered their national high-powered gin known as Bols Genever. The recipe for the malty spirit dates back to 1820 and will be explained in further detail at a four-course pairing dinner held at 6 p.m., Sept. 17 in the underground atmosphere of Prohibition in the Gaslamp Quarter. Read More
By Lana Harrison | Downtown Partnership News
Food can be the window into the soul of a city. Fortunately for San Diego, the view is looking pretty good.
From craft brews to luxurious wines, and steaks to authentic curry dishes, you’re just as likely to find your favorite local dining spot on any random corner as you are to find it perusing Yelp. Read More
By Toni G. Atkins | Notes from Toni
Sept. 29, 2017 was a momentous day for me professionally and personally – it was the day Governor Jerry Brown signed my bill, Senate Bill 2, the Building Homes and Jobs Act, creating a permanent, reliable source of funding for affordable housing. With the help of countless others, I had worked on that policy priority for seven years, and we finally got it across the finish line. It was exciting and extremely gratifying. Read More
By Sandee Wilhoit | Gaslamp Landmarks
The Granger Building
Once again, it is summertime in America’s Finest City, and many San Diegans clamor to spend time outdoors enjoying the many attractions it offers. Unique to San Diego is the world-famous San Diego Zoo, which actually got its start in the Gaslamp in the historic Granger Building. Read More
‘The Phantom of the Opera,’ bigger, bolder and just as beautiful
By Jess Winans
Eva Tavares shattered the glass chandelier atop theater seats in the San Diego Civic Theater during the latest rendition of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera.” Well, the chandelier actually fell from alternatives, but that might as well have been caused by Tavares’ breathtaking notes. Read More
By B. J. Coleman
Downtown painter gears up for ArtWalk
Rebecca Noelle is a plein air painter, an artist who paints scenes on-site outdoors. Noelle is slated to be one of the artists displaying their creative original artwork during ArtWalk @ Liberty Station Aug. 11-12. The theme for this year’s 13th annual staging of the event at the former Naval Training Center is “Connecting Creative Communities.” Read More
By Jean Lowerison | Theater Review
A funny thing is happening at the North Coast Rep
The title underestimates the show. A whole lot of funny things happen in “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” the 1962 winner of six Tony’s which hasn’t seen a major local production in more than a decade. Read More
By Frank Sabatini Jr. | Restaurant Review
Cafe 21 brings detail and originality to the table
For those stuck on tacos, burgers, ramen and other hyped-to-death fare, Cafe 21’s poetically structured dishes will seem like the wheel was reinvented. It’s the kind of food that doesn’t jibe to any particular category and tastes as pretty as it looks. Read More
By Lucia Viti
A collection of photographs, years in the making
“Photography was brought into being by a desire to make pictures.”—Beaumont Newhall
Curated by Deborah Klochko, executive director and chief curator of MOPA, the exhibition segments Bank of America’s Art in Our Communities, a photographic expose designed to inspire audiences worldwide. Read More
By Frank Sabatini Jr.
Chic and upscale best describe STK, the 8,300-square-foot international chain restaurant that recently opened in the Andaz San Diego hotel. Executive chef David Burke, formerly of Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Pacifica Del Mar, has rolled out a menu that focuses on numerous cuts of beef and various seafood, including oysters and ceviche. Other choices include herb-crusted rack of lamb, organic chicken, braised short ribs and more, all served amid stylish décor, theatrical lighting and a full cocktail bar. 600 F St., 619-354-5988, togrp.com. Read More
