North Park New, August 2013

When I was growing up in the ’60s it seemedlike my choice of professions was limited to beinga teacher, a secretary or a nurse. Being under 5-foot-2, flight attendant was not an option.

I don’t know why I never heard about the pro-fession of landscape architecture. After all, theterm “landscape architect” became common after1863 when Frederick Law Olmsted and CalvertVaux designed New York’s Central Park. Yet, eventoday, the profession continues to be elusive tomuch of the general public.

According to Thaisa Way, author of“Unbounded Practice: Women and Landscape

Architecture in the Early Twentieth Century,”women have practiced as landscape architectsfor over a century, since the founding of the pro-fession in the U.S. in the 1890s. They practiced asgardeners, garden designers, horticulturalists andfine artists.

These women, then and now, will tell you theyare some of the luckiest professionals in theworld because they get to work with nature everyday, making the world even more beautiful.

They love what they do and the fact that theycan make the world a better place, not just forpeople, but for every living thing.

They’ll also tell you they are on a mission tolead, educate and participate in the careful stew-ardship, wise planning and artful design of ourcultural and natural environments. (A perfectfit for ’60s greenie me!)

An elevator speech for landscape architectsmight be: Architects design buildings; landscapearchitects design the environment for the build-ings, from airports to zoos.

The professional organization for landscapearchitects is the American Society of LandscapeArchitects (ASLA), established in 1899 by 11

It’s common sense that the future leadersof this city will come from the neighborhoodranks.

Omar Passons, a land-use attorney, mar-ried and lives in North Park, is someone whohas taken the high road by becoming involvedin neighborhood issues. He’s gone the extramile.

He was interviewed by North Park resi-dent Thomas Shess, a former San FranciscoExaminer reporter, founder of North ParkNews and currently creative director for SanDiego Home/Garden Lifestyles.

Q: You’ve volunteered countlesshours on behalf of North Park.What are some of the organizationsand what motivated you to supportthem?

sdnorthparknews.com

Serving San Diego’s Premier Urban Communities for 21 Years

Quartermass/Wildehouse a monument toGolden Hill’s elite sta-tus of the late 1800s

Omar Passons at a recent craft beer symposium on business opportunities in craft beerbrewing for the local economy.

BY DELLE WILLETT

Vol. 21 No. 8 August 2013

University Heights Celebrating 125 YearsUniversity Heights is celebrating its 125th anniversary in and around Trolly BarnPark on August 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a series of community events, raf-fles, music and other activities. Activities include a costume walkabout, student art

NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSNorth Park’s Omar Passons: Passionate About his Community

Coming up Broadway fromDowntown, it’s the one thing youcan’t miss: the Quartermass/Wildehouse, the Xanadu of Golden Hill.In the heart of a district of historichomes, this one serves as a monu-ment to the elite status of GoldenHill in the beginning of the last cen-tury. One of the biggest of theremaining Victorian mansions inthe city, it is also one of San Diego’smost spectacular historic structures.

With its marvelous rococo tow-

What do women in North Park think about the reve-lations, allegations and accusations surrounding MayorBob Filner? Here is a cross section of opinions exclusiveto North Park News.

Rebecca Zearing, Rebecca’s Coffee, South Park/ North Park

I have always thought Mayor Filner was a good person.Prior to being mayor he was a visible, viable, work-on-the-behalf-of-his-constituents kind of guy. I believe thereshould definitely be justice if the women were sexuallyassaulted or touched inappropriately or spoken to inap-propriately. A lot of what I have read makes me wonder,

simply curious, why people do not come forward themoment someone puts them in an unwanted headlock forinstance. I don’t understand why people wait. I believesometimes people don’t want to upset things. I at ayounger age worked for a large plumbing company andconstruction men numbering 90.. they would say innuen-dos, but even at age 21 I could handle the situation andwithin a few weeks of seeing that I could not be baited itstopped. I would never let that go on and on and thenyears later bring it up. On the other hand, I was druggedat a party of so-called friends once and I never reportedit. I felt I should have been smarter and I was the new kid

SEE SCENE, Page 5

NORTH PARK SCENE

NEIGHBORHOOD SURVEY BY THOMAS SHESS

The Mansion on the Hill

North Park Women to Filner: Get Healthy, Then Get Out

The Plaza de Panama fountain wasdesigned by Vicki Estrada.

BY JIM MILLER

SEE OMAR, Page 6SEE MANSION, Page 16

Landscape Architects: Artists with the Earth as a Canvas

SEE LANDSCAPE, Page 10

SEE FILNER, Page 7

SEE THE BEST OF NORTH PARK WINNERS PG. 21

2 | sdnorthparknews.com | August 2013

(619) 889-5420 | www.aftonmiller.com | [email protected]

AFTON SELL S SAN DIEGOSpecializing in North Park and Metro Area since 1986

SOLD - $657,000

4215 Alder | 3br 1ba

SOLD - $330,750

3611 Ray | 1br fixer

SOLD - $845,000

3415 Villa Terrace | 3br 2ba

SOLD - $441,000

4615 Altadena | 2br+den 2ba

SOLD - $469,000

4677 Winona | 3br 2ba

SOLD - $458,000

3412 32nd D, 2br+loft

SOLD - $407,000

3585 Redwood St. | 2br 1ba

SOLD - $589,000

4780 49th | 3br 2ba

SOLD - $425,000

4490 47th | 3br 1ba

SOLD - $665,000

4654 Natalie | 3br 2ba

SOLD - $500,000

4535 49th | 3br 2ba

SOLD - $750,000

3795 Alabama | 4 units

SOLD - $682,500

4806 Sussex | 3br 1.5ba

SOLD - $429,000

5621 Adelaide | 2br 2ba

SOLD - $632,000

4624 Lucille Dr | 3br 2ba

SOLD - $339,000

2504 54th | 3br 1ba

*BUYER

SOLD - $510,000

3788 Park #4 | work/live

NEW! - $215,000

4223 Arizona #2 | 1br

IN ESCROW - $679,000

4664 Biona | 3br 2ba

SOLD - $460,000

2515 30th St. | 2br 1ba

AVAILABLE - $319,000

1445 32nd | 1br fixer

AVAILABLE! $585,000 | 3448 Palm Street, North Park

2br 2ba Beautiful Tudor Revival! Hardwood floors, fireplace, lots of light, gumwood trim galore, coved ceilings. Re-modeled kitchen, breakfast room, laundry room, double garage. Remodeled master bath, hall bath features clawfoottub. Many upgrades and a great combination of taste and excellent craftsmanship.

AVAILABLE - $439,000

4535 Highland | 2br 1ba

SOLD - $442,000

3521 Nile | 2br 1ba

SOLD - $387,000

4502 Euclid Ave | 2br 1ba

SOLD - $746,000

2735 33rd St | 4br 4.5ba

SOLD - $153,000

4545 Collwood #57 | 1br 1ba

SOLD! - $605,000

4632 Marlborough | 2br 1.5ba

SOLD - $800,500

4165 Middlesex | 3br 2ba


5355 Penny Pl | 4br 2ba

SOLD - $550,000

4912 Lorraine Drive | 2 br 1.5ba

SOLD - $452,000

2320 Landis | 2br 2ba


4488 41st | 3br 2ba


3256 N Mtn View | 3br 2ba

SOLD - $559,000

4812 50th | 4br 2ba *

SOLD - $545,000

3687 4th #408 | 2br 2ba *

IN ESCROW! $689,000 | 2736 Teresita St.

Charming and beautiful 3br 2ba 1,468 ESF St. Augustine area Spanish home on one of the quietest streets in NorthPark! Inset ceiling, hardwood floors, fireplace, dual-paned windows, art deco hall bath. Remodeled kitchen andlarge breakfast room. Forced air heat and AC. New landscaping, lovely flagstone patio and arbor covered patio.

SOLD - $746,000

4604 Edgeware | 3 units

SOLD - $485,000

1044 Edgemont | 2br 2ba

SOLD - $429,000

4351 E Overlook | 3br 2ba


4850 E Alder | 3br 2ba

August 2013 | sdnorthparknews.com | 3


Ask Dr. Z(Editor’s Note: South Park’s Dr. Tara Zandvliet -Dr. Z — answers common — andnot so common — health questions for our readers.)

Q. To be as comfortable as possible, what’s the best kind of show-er to take before going out on a very hot day — hot, cold, warm, cool?Cool, but not cold; showers are the way to cool off your body temperature themost. It is the strategy doctors use when we are trying to reduce a fever, too. But whyis that? Isn’t colder better? Actually, no. If the water is very cold, the blood vessels inyour arms and legs, ears and nose, all constrict to keep your body core at the samenormal temperature. So your body stays warm, and you don’t really cool off. If youhave a cool, but not cold, shower, your blood vessels all stay open, the blood coolsoff while in the limbs, and then travels all around the body cooling it off some, beforeyou go out into that really hot day.

Q. Why do we have fingernails?Fingernails are actually an equivalent to animals’ hooves, talons, or claws. They aremade out of a specialized type of protein in skin called keratin, the same stuff hornsare made of. They are meant to protect the tips of our fingers and toes, which aremost likely to be injured, and exist in some form in all animals with a backbone(vertebrates). In all vertebrates the form these appendages take depends on the needof the animal in their particular environment. Hawks and owls, for example, needto grab and hold onto prey tightly as they fly. Hooved animals use them to walkupon. Humans and apes have them only on the top part of their fingers so theyprotect but don’t limit the sensitivity or mobility of our fingertips. They can alsohelp pry things open. And in humans they make for a fine decoration!

Q. Why can’t I find my child’s favorite cold medicine on the shelfanymore?They are still available, but you have to ask for them from the actual pharmacist now,so she can explain to you what dose they need and what combinations to avoid. Doc-tors and pharmacist began to become concerned when there were a few more deathsin children than usual due to accidental overdose of these medications. They werebeing mixed by their parents with other cold medicines, not realizing that the tworemedies contained the same medication and the child got a double dose.When they began investigating, it turns out even adults mix medicines in a poten-tial lethal manner when it comes to colds. Fortunately for us, none of these medicinesare NEEDED for a cold, because none of them cure it. A cold is also not deadly, sowe will survive just fine without them. Because they only help sometimes withsymptoms, and because of the potential risk of death with the medications, it wasdecided that for children under 2 years old the risk wasn’t worth it and it is no longerrecommended by doctors or pharmacists, and is generally unavailable. For adults andolder children, choose wisely and try to match the specific medicine with the spe-cific symptom rather than mixing combination medications so you can minimizethe risk. And don’t forget the chicken soup!

Dr. Tara Zandvliet welcomes your questions. Send them to [email protected]. She practices at 2991 Kalmia St. Phone: (619) 929-0032.

In your job as acaregiver, youprobably won’t beable to avoid a cri-sis. But being pre-pared for one willhelp make thingseasier for you and

your parents. The biggest mistake you can make is

being complacent until the inevitablehappens.

By then, you will have to move tooquickly with limited options and a bigchance of making mistakes.

Don’t waste time in denial. It’s a giventhat your parents will get older and frail-er. By the time they fall, are hospital-ized or end up with full-blown demen-tia, it’s too late to set up a plan.

Now, you can take your time, makewiser choices and even include yourparents in the decision-making process.

First off, make sure they’re safe, thatthey’re eating well, still getting aroundand socializing with friends and that thecookware isn’t charred or the car begin-ning to show dents.

Information is the key to a good plan.Start educating yourself about what’savailable where they live or closer toyou. San Diego has some of the bestresources for older folks and their care-givers in the country. Among the phonenumbers you’ll want to keep handy areAging & Independence Services, (800)510-2020, Southern CaregivingResource Center, (858) (858) 268-4432

and the Alzheimer’s Association – SanDiego/Imperial Chapter, (858) 492-4400.

Get to know your parents’ doctors.You can’t expect to barge in at the lastmoment and be treated as part of theteam.

Introduce yourself to your folks’friends, neighbors and fellow churchmembers and collect phone numbers.

Though it might not be easy tobroach the subject, it’s not too early totalk with parents about their desires,opinions and concerns about possibleaging and care.

Look around their house to makesure there are no loose rugs to trip upyour parents or clutter in the pathwaysor cupboards stuffed with things thatmight fall on their heads.

Be honest with yourself from thebeginning. What care are you able andwilling to give now and later on? Be real-istic about your feelings, physical abili-ties, financial means and other familysupport.

Though they might be hesitant toconfide in you about their finances, tryto get your parents to talk honestlyabout the subject. Consider their ages,health, expected inflation in the cost ofcare and housing, uncovered health-insurance costs (you know these aregoing to increase), retirement and pen-sion plans and Social Security paymentsand savings.

Consult with an attorney to makesure all legal and financial documents

are in order. Among them, make sureyou have a signed HIPAA waiver, whichwill allow you or your siblings to talkdirectly with doctors and others on yourparents’ behalf.

Call a family meeting to divvy upresponsibilities today and in the future.Sharing the load will help ease tensions.And even family members across thecountry can pitch in with some duties.

Though your folks might not needin-home care and assistance yet, it’s agood idea to begin interviewing a fewcompanies. That way, when the timecomes, you won’t have to scurry aroundstarting from scratch and, perhaps, set-tle for less than you’d like. If your par-ents can afford just a few hours of helpa week, it’s a good idea to get it now.

This will lessen the fear later of havingto open their door to a stranger.

There also are some shared-housingprograms in San Diego. Among themElderHelp, at (619) 284-9281, will helpfind someone to live with your parentsfree or for low rent in exchange for help-ing them out with chores, etc.

Look into retirement homes now.Visit a few and even enjoy lunch andsome activities there. Do you parentsprefer the places where they have todress up for meals or the more-casualhomes? Do they like smaller home-likesettings or a campus atmosphere? Try-ing the facilities out now will take someof the fear out of moving later on.

And there’s an important caveat tobeing prepared for a crisis. Remember

that not everything is a crisis. I used touse “the 24-hour rule” — When some-thing goes wrong, see if it’s possible towait 24 hours before going into panicmode. Most situations will resolvethemselves if you’re patient and wait forthe sun to come up.

Sponsored by Right at Home, In-HomeCare & Assistance, www.rahlajolla.com,(858) 277-5900, [email protected] Marsha Kay Seff [email protected].

contest awards, Lion dance performers,lawn games, stilt artists and live music.Attendees may also join the UH125Heritage Tour, which sets off from Trol-ley Barn Park every half hour between10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to view prominentfeatures of the neighborhood. Ticketsfor the tour are $5.Established in 1888, University Heightshas witnessed and been shaped by manydevelopments of early San Diego, fromthe first trolley system, to the PanamaCalifornia International Exposition of1915 and the fashion industry of theearly 1900s. The community is also fullof residential and commercial structuresbearing the fingerprints of local lumi-naries like John Spreckels, GeorgeMarston, Irving Gill and David Dryden.

Final Bird Park Concert Set for Aug. 10

Big Papa and the TCB are the stars ofthe last Bird Park Summer ConcertSeries on Aug. 10. The performance willbe from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the park at28th and Thorn streets. The 11th annu-al concert series is produced by theNorth Park Community Association.

South Park’s James Lepanto Honored

James Lepanto of South Park, seniorvice president of clinical services forMental Health Systems, is the recipient ofthe 2013 Herbert G. Klein Award for sig-nificant contributions to the communi-ty. He was selected by his peers in the 56-member Impact Class of LEAD SanDiego. Lepanto also was honored fordemonstrating a potential to effect morechanges following graduation from theprogram. The award is named for thelate Herbert G. Klein, longtime newspa-per executive.

Founding Director of the Owen ClinicHonored

Chris Mathews, founding director ofthe Owen Clinic at UC San Diego Med-ical Center, has been honored for hisand the clinic’s role in providing com-

prehensive specialty care for patientswith HIV and AIDS. Under Mathews’leadership, the Owen Clinic has becomean international role model for provid-ing of state-of-the-art, quality HIV care,fostering patient empowerment andencouraging them to actively partici-pate in their care. Mathews, who hasstepped down from his role as director,was feted at the medical center at 200 W.Arbor in Hillcrest.

Mathews’ honors and awards overmore than four decades leading the fightagainst HIV and AIDS are numerous,including two Humanism in Medicineawards from the American Academy ofMedical Colleges (2002 and 2005), out-standing teaching awards from UC SanDiego (1993, 1996, 2001), a university-wide diversity award (2008), faculty-physician of the year (2000), Physician-Citizen of the Year Award from the SanDiego County Medical Society (1992),and the Dr. A. Brad Truax Award fromthe San Diego County Regional TaskForce on AIDS (1990), among manyothers.

Jay Porter Movin’ On

Jay Porter, one of the owners at theLinkery and the Hub Cap restaurants(nee El Take it Easy) has closed bothoperations. He says it is time to moveon. Linkery partners have developedother interests, including Porter, whosays he is looking to open a restaurant inthe Bay Area. For the entire story, link toJay’s blog: thelinkery.com/blog/farewell-fortnight-at-the-linkery.

Hello is in order to North Park retail-er David Gleason, who purchased thebuilding on University Avenue (betweenold Woolworth’s and Urbn Pizza). Glea-son operates United Records & Soundacross from the building he is now inthe process of renovating. God SpeedJay Porter and crew.

Normal Heights Apartment ComplexSold

A five-unit apartment complex at4356-4360 39th St. in Normal Heightshas been sold for $500,000 to buyer Dan

Feder. The seller was Gregory Yule.Jim Taylor of Sperry Van Ness Finest

City Commercial represented both thebuyer and the seller. The one-storybuilding consists of five one bed/onebath units, and was built on 1936.

Medical Office Building Sold to SevaProperty Holdings

Seva Property Holdings has pur-chased the medical office property at770 Washington St. in Hillcrest for $3.79million. The seller was Park North Med-ical Center. Cushman & Wakefield rep-resented the buyer and seller.

Seva intents to use a portion of the20,832-square-foot medical office prop-erty for various clinical research studies.Built in 1973, the three-story buildingfeatures a ground-floor surgery centerwith second and third floor medicaloffice tenants.

Utah Street Apartments SoldAn private investor has purchased the

seven-unit apartment building at 4366Utah St. for $1.45 million. Neither thebuyer nor seller were identified by thebroker in the transaction, Marcus &Millichap Real Estate Investment Ser-vices. The building was built in 1992and has mainly two-bedroom, two-bathunits with garages.


BY MARSHA KAY SEFF

SCENECONTINUED FROM Page 1

The Caregivers’ Journey Don’t Wait Until a Crisis

Chris Mathews

Jay Porter (Photo courtesy of WestCoast-ersd.com

James Lepanto

A: I’ve volunteered with the NorthPark Community Association for thelongest amount of time, about nineyears. I started with them because itseemed like a group very interested inthe quality of life here and doing thingsto improve the neighborhood. That’sstill true today, though the issues havechanged. I also like that there are oppor-tunities to make a difference. It’s a small

nonprofit group, but an important partof North Park. A few years ago I wasasked to head up the community’s par-ticipation in the ALBA/North Park Part-nership, and was able to help securemajor improvements for our communi-ty, which made the long hours andsometimes difficult issues well worth it.I’ve also volunteered with the Commu-nity Planning Group — North ParkPlanning Committee, the North ParkRecreation Center Council and volun-teered to help North Park Main Streetand the Boulevard Business Improve-ment Association with more specificproject-based items.

Q: What type of law do youpractice?

A: I am a construction and land useattorney, which means I split my timebetween two areas mostly. In one, I helpeither construction companies or own-ers of projects (developers or publicentities) when they are building things.In land use, I work to help businesses orcities understand what the rules are forhow they can use their property.

Q: How long have you been aNorth Parker?

A: I’ve lived in North Park since 2004.My first place in the neighborhood wasnear 30th and Upas, right behind theKwik Stop market, and then about sixyears ago we bought a condo in theMorley Field area, near what is nowCarnitas’ Snack Shack.

Q: Where did you go to college?A: I went to undergrad first at More-

house College in Atlanta and then Uni-versity of Arizona in Tucson, which isalso where I got my Master’s Degree inPublic Health. I then moved to Wash-ington, D.C., and after working in pro-gram evaluation for a couple years wentto George Mason University School ofLaw in Arlington, Virginia.

Q. Do you have any political ambi-

tions short- or long-term?A: People ask me this a lot. And have

been asking for years. We (my wife andI make all major decisions together)haven’t decided. On the one hand, notbeing in elective office gives my wife andI certain freedom to travel, to spendtime with friends and family and to vol-unteer on the issues I’m most passion-ate about that I’m not sure is alwaysthere in public office. On the otherhand, as the wife of one elected officialsaid to me, “If you like helping peopleit’s one of the very best ways to help a

whole lot of people.” I’ve gotteninvolved in several regional issues that Icare about like foster youth, homeless-ness and civic infrastructure, so I dothink about what it would be like tohave a greater opportunity to help shapethe future on those and other issues.

Q: With all your communityactivity what are some accom-plishments your group(s) havemade that you are proud of?

A: In North Park, I’m most proud ofan almost three year effort to improvethe area around the North Park Com-munity Park (south of the water tower).As president of the NPCA, I workedwith the school district, the PoliceDepartment, several neighbors, Coun-cilmember Todd Gloria’s office and theParks & Recreation Department toreplace all the chewed up sidewalk, theold, gray dingy chain link fence thatused to surround the park, getting ahigh-power pump for the irrigation sys-tem on the joint use field and getting abunch of neighbors to work togetheron something important. The projectcost several hundred thousand dollarsthat the city of San Diego didn’t have tospend, so it was rewarding.

I’m also proud of having raised sever-al thousand dollars for groups likePromises-2-Kids to help foster childrenand Rachel’s Women’s Center to helphomeless women. I haven’t had as muchsuccess as I’d hoped in trying to bringmore Latino leadership into our com-munity groups nor in partnering withlarge property owners to make biggerchanges, but there’s always tomorrow.I’ve been working with two businessowners who have what I’ll call aesthet-ically challenged storefronts. After abouta year and a half of patience and offer-ing to help, both are now movingtowards improving their buildings. Thiswill make two of our gateways reallyinviting. I’m thrilled about this.

Q: What needs to be improved in

North Park?A: I believe our projected city budget

deficit this year is something like $20million. And we’ve got a citywide infras-tructure (storm drains, city buildings,parks, and roads, etc) backlog of prob-ably $1 billion or more. So when we talkabout what North Park needs, I thinkthe top of that list is a local source offunds to take care of ourselves. We havea Maintenance Assessment District,which provides very limited opportu-nity for improvement in specific areas.But if we worked with the business dis-

tricts on El Cajon and University/30thand the surrounding residential areas,we could do a very large financing dis-trict that could help us deal with every-thing from business promotion to per-manent supportive housing forhomeless to tree trimming and our ownlocal sidewalk repair matching program.

Q: What are your favorite funthings to do in North Park.

A: San Diego is the Napa Valley ofcraft beer in the United States and ispoised to pass places like Munich andBelgium in international reputation.And North Park is, in my opinion, theepicenter of that tradition in San Diego.Well, North Park and South Park andNormal Heights. So I like to ride mybike to any number of great craft beer-centric, independent small businesseson 30th Street, Adams Avenue, El CajonBoulevard or University Avenue andenjoy a beer with friends (or strangers,really). I also like bringing people fromother parts of the city to North Park togo on walks.

Q: What do you think about thefuture of the Birch North ParkTheatre?

A: I’ve known David Cohen, theowner of West Coast Tavern (andUptown Tavern in Hillcrest) since West

Coast was Hawthorn’s. We haven’t seeneye to eye on everything, but I havefound him to be generally interested indoing things that are both good forbusiness and for the area. So I think if heis able to turn that theater into a placethat brings in great music or other actsit is likely to be great for our communi-ty’s growth.

Q: What do you think about theopening of craft or microbrew-eries in North Park?

A: I think the breweries are great forNorth Park. Thorn Street is co-ownedby a guy who went to St. Augustine andwho is a good neighbor down at T-32 inAltadena. Hess Brewing has really excep-tional craft beer and they are the type offamily/close-friend run business whowill activate that whole part of the com-munity. People are still learning abouthow rich and diverse craft beer is andthe community assets responsible brew-ers can be. Having breweries and craftbeer-centric bars and restaurants along30th Street is great for our community,in my opinion. And it makes our com-munity a destination for tourists (and,not coincidentally, lots of my friendswho live out in Poway and RanchoBernardo) who want to experience SanDiego at the neighborhood level.

Q: What do you think about theboundary issue with theUptown community and ElCajon Boulevard specifically?

A: I thought that might come up. Theboundary issue — that is, whether theboundary of Greater North Park shouldbe shrunk and the western part of thecommunity moved into the Uptownplan area — is important. And I’ll be thefirst to say that this is one where peoplecan have different views. I think thatarea should stay in North Park becausewe want to encourage growth along ElCajon Boulevard where more peoplemeans a diverse mix of businesses andbetter use of transit and more housingthat is affordable for residents who livehere but struggle to make ends meet. Ithink we should be encouraging thattype of growth all the way from the 805to Park. It’s a complicated issue, but inmy view it is about important basic con-cepts that help people and make life abit better like alternative transportationand mixes of market and affordablehousing and creating an alive, pedestri-an-oriented business area for people toreally enjoy. Improving El Cajon Boule-vard has been important to me since Istarted getting involved because I thinkpeople who live in the northern part ofNorth Park should have the same accessto the amenities — and safety and walk-ability — as the people who live furthersouth in North Park.

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OMARCONTINUED FROM Page 1

A few years ago, Passons was asked to head up the community’s participation in the ALBA/North Park Partnership.

Thorn Street Brewery. ‘People are still learning about how rich and diverse craft beer is andthe community assets responsible brewers can be,’ says Passons.


in the group. That sits badly with me. If, as it seems from all theaccounts, Mayor Filner is guilty, he needs help. I see that he hasrequested rehab. It is an illness, the same as substance addiction. Dowe give him the same consideration as any other “addict”? I listenclosely to the hubbub at the coffeehouse about it and I hear a lot ofsupport for him. I don’t know how he will come out of this. He seemsconfident in his staying power.

Nancy Rankin, University Administrator, North ParkI was very excited about Bob Filner running for mayor. I was excit-

ed to have a Democrat running despite the mayor’s office supposed-ly being a non-partisan position. I knew he was very well thought ofin the South Bay district he represented for so many years in theHouse. Our political leanings were similar. He did not come acrossas a slick politico or a smooth talker; he seemed to shoot straight fromthe hip. It was time for our sleepy little Navy town to have a grown-up mayor; a mayor with some huevos (I doubt that would make it inyour article, but it best describes how I felt!).

So when the allegations first came out, I was not necessarily cyni-cal regarding the charges, but I felt I needed more information beforeI jumped on the Filner Must Resign bandwagon. I just did not wantto believe a man I voted for and was so hopeful for leading our citycould be guilty of these major transgressions. But like so many, I soonrealized the allegations were true.

I could never support a man (or woman) whose ego and narcissis-tic behavior compromises not only his position, but the quality of lifefor even one single person. He is no longer deserving of leading ourcity; he is no longer deserving of any public office. His complete dis-

regard for the safety one should feel in their workplace is totally unac-ceptable. While two weeks of intense rehab might be the beginning ofhis path to mental health, this new- found knowledge that he has, foryears, exhibited this type of despicable behavior has forever marredwhatever leadership and commitment he has given to the South Baycommunity and our city. It is time for him to move on and move out.

Terry Williams, Executive Director, San Diego Press Club, District 3

For Filner to contend that his boorish behavior is “generational” isan insult to not only the men of his generation but to all men. No gen-eration gives their men permission to behave in this reprehensiblemanner. I only hope the Queen doesn’t visit San Diego again — Ishudder to imagine the consequences his lack of impulse controlmight bring on! He should do the right thing for the people of SanDiego and for himself and resign.

Casey Callery, School Administrator, North ParkI could not be more disappointed in Bob Filner, and regrettably, in

myself for voting for him. When he first ran for office, I supported him.His vision to maintain historic San Diego was something I believed in.I thought he shared the values of San Diegans to keep our city’s his-tory and roots, while promoting its growth and development. Ibelieved he had the strength and dedication to carry out his plans.With everything that has happened in the past few weeks and thewomen that have come forward, I can see that his only dedication isto himself and his own agenda. Public office comes with a responsi-bility to your city to provide your personal best in representing yourconstituents. How can you be your best when you’re too busy chas-ing after other, less noble, pursuits?

As a woman, I feel a very personal anger toward Filner as sexualharassment is a sign of blatant and shameless disrespect. I expect

more of the people I help to elect into governing office and Filner isno exception from those expectations that I’m sure we all share. Hisrefusal to resign from office and his appeal to City Council to financehis defense are simply further signs of his narcissism and sense of enti-tlement. I can only hope that he will be held accountable to the peo-ple whom he has failed to serve so undoubtedly. Two weeks of “inten-sive therapy” will NOT cure 40 years of predatory conduct!

Ashley Carattini, Businesswoman, to Hell in a HandbagBoutique, North Park

As a woman who runs a business in San Diego, it is extremelyembarrassing to have Bob Filner represent our city. If it was that hardfor him to conduct himself as professional businessman with womenco-workers, he should not have run for office.

Holly Ferrari, North ParkI am a woman and a resident of North Park (for over 18 years). I

am extremely dissatisfied with Mayor Filner, and I don’t think it isspecifically because I am a woman. I didn’t initially vote for him at elec-tion time and I certainly do not want him to remain in office follow-ing his latest public embarrassments. He is a man who has abused hisoffice over and over again and at this stage is doing more harm to thecity than he is good — locally and nationally. I am horrified andoffended that this type of behavior can occur in a public office. It iseven more disheartening to think his “illness” can be cured in twoweeks at the city’s cost. Men should be just as alarmed as women withhis behavior. In any other place of business his behavior would begrounds for termination or at least removal from the position. Howcan anyone expect to work comfortably and confidently around thisman again? To what expense will his behavior be permitted? Will allwomen be chaperoned in the mayor’s office indefinitely. Silliness andabsurdity. Remove Filner today.

FILNERCONTINUED FROM Page 1

“There’s new trams (for Balboa Park) that havebeen purchased that are soon going to be in opera-tion,” Mayor Bob Filner said at a June 18 gatheringto unveil plans for the Balboa Park Centennial cel-ebration.

Determination: True.Analysis: Philanthropist Irwin Jacobs’ plan to clear

the Plaza de Panama of cars is history – and Filnerhas come up with a temporary solution of his own– but the mayor recently claimed one element ofJacob’s blueprint will be incorporated regardless.

Filner told residents and reporters gathered thatnew trams will ease parking woes ahead of the year-long celebration in Balboa Park planned for 2015.Filner, who spoke at a June 18 event at The OldGlobe, said the city had long planned to use a tramsystem to get residents from outer parking lots to thecenter of the park.

The improved system was a key component ofJacobs’ $45 million plan to clear the park’s centralmesa, and city leaders have been mum on whetherthe city still plans to use them (Disclosure: Jacobs isa major supporter of Voice of San Diego).

Jacobs had aimed to renovate the plaza, build abypass bridge and add a parking garage behind theSpreckels Organ Pavilion. His vision crumbled inFebruary after a judge ruled that the city broke itsown rules by approving the plan.

At Filner’s direction, the city has since removedcars from the plaza and allowed pedestrians to takeover, achieving a major goal of Jacobs’ plan at afraction of the cost.

Filner has repeatedly emphasized the temporarynature of this new configuration but the City Coun-cil took steps to proceed with a more permanent ele-ment of Jacobs’ vision last year.

The City Council approved a lease financingagreement in October to allow the city to buy threemotorized trams and nine trailers for $1 million.

A staff report presented ahead of the Councilvote estimated the trams would carry about 100passengers each, and would last 10 to 20 years. Thereport also outlined previously discussed plans tohave the Plaza de Panama Committee, the organi-zation behind Jacobs’ plan, cover operating costsfor the trams before a 797-car parking garage wasbuilt. The city would begin picking up the tab afterthe underground garage opened and provided rev-enue to cover costs.

The city’s independent budget analyst estimated

it would cost $543,000 to operate the additionaltrams. (The city already contracts with Old TownTrolley Tours of San Diego to operate four vehiclesat an annual cost of $300,000 though that contract.)

City officials later ordered the trams but therewas confusion about how to proceed after thejudge’s ruling sullied Jacobs’ plans, thus also quash-ing the parking garage that would’ve covered tram-related costs.

At a March City Council meeting, CouncilmanDavid Alvarez questioned the status of the trams. Atthe time, Filner acknowledged he wasn’t surewhether they had been purchased and called onPark and Recreation Director Stacey LoMedico togive Council members a more detailed update.

“Those trams are still on order because we don’thave a definitive plan on how to move forward,”LoMedico said. “We obviously have a judgment bythe judge but with that being said, they are still onorder because we don’t have any definitive policy

calls in terms of how we are going to proceed.”Alvarez asked whether it was possible to cancel

the order. LoMedico said the city was looking intothat.

In the weeks to follow, Council President ToddGloria sent two memos to the mayor requestingmore information and dialogue about traffic man-agement plans at the park. Filner’s office neverresponded and has since cleared the plaza of cars.

It turns out city officials went ahead with plans tobring the new vehicles to Balboa Park.

An Indiana-based company recently finishedbuilding two new sets of trams and delivered themto the city.

The city plans to begin using the trams to ferrypark visitors soon, though it will need to secure acontract with an operator first, city spokesman BillHarris said. He said the city expects to cover oper-ating and maintenance costs with cash from hoteltax collections that are funneled into the city’s Park

and Recreation budget.Meanwhile, the city set up a tram stop near the El

Cid statue so visitors can be dropped off in front ofthe Plaza de Panama.

But tram routes and hours haven’t been solidifiedyet. The city expects to set specific schedules after afew weeks of testing and observation.

One objective is already clear, though. The citywants to encourage more San Diegans to park at theInspiration Point parking lot and then take a quicktram ride to the park’s central mesa. Officials hopethe new trams, which are more accessible for dis-abled park visitors and carry far more passengers,will entice them.

“The goal is to expand tram operations at Inspi-ration Point, making that large parking reservoir amuch more viable resource for park visitors,” Har-ris said.

So Filner’s statement that new trams would soonbe coming to Balboa Park is true.

TRAMS COMING TO BALBOA PARK BY VOICE OF SAN DIEGO

An Indiana-based company recently finished building twonew sets of trams and delivered them to the city. (Photocourtesy of the city of San Diego)


Making Bikes a Real Transportation OptionThis sum-

mer, the CityCouncil took agiant steptoward finallybringing bikesharing to SanDiego. Weapproved ac o r p o r a t epar tnership

agreement withDecoBike LLC

for the financing, implementation, man-agement and operation of a self-servicebike sharing system for a 10-year term.While I appreciate that the agreement

represents a capital investment to the cityvalued at $7.2 million, I’m more excitedabout this latest way of delivering a newtransportation option to San Diegans.

Bike sharing has been implementedeffectively in many major cities, includingWashington, D.C. Bikes are secured atstations and available for public rental.Users can then park them at any stationwhen their rides are complete. In addi-tion to increasing the number of bikes inour city, I believe bike sharing couldincrease transit ridership by providing anew option linking transit riders to theirdestination other than walking.

This effort, which began last yearunder the leadership of then-Mayor Jerry

Sanders, will generate great benefit to ourcommunity and will be implementedcitywide, likely between January andMarch 2014. Approximately 2,000 bikesand 200 stations with about 3,500 bikedocks will be part of the program.

Now that the city has a bike sharingpartner, DecoBike will begin the processof gathering community input anddesigning the network. This process willinclude the selection of bike share sta-tion sites. Stay tuned for ways you canprovide your input.

When combined with the improve-ments on the horizon with the UptownRegional Bike Corridor and the NorthPark – Mid-City Regional Bike Corridor,

bike sharing has the potential to dramat-ically increase the use of bikes for dailytransportation. The impacts that couldhave on personal and environmentalhealth are hugely positive.

If you haven’t ridden a bike since youwere a carefree kid riding around yourcul-de-sac, bicycling hitting the streetson two wheels can be intimidating. Tobecome more confident in your knowl-edge of biking safety, the San DiegoCounty Bicycle Coalition is now offeringfree monthly classes that include infor-mation on route planning, bike laws, fix-ing a flat, and more. Appropriately, thefirst one was scheduled for Council Dis-trict 3 and occurred in July. For more,

visit www.sdcbc.org or call (858) 248-0664.

North Park neighbors have beenstrong advocates for biking and bikeinfrastructure, and I’m grateful for yourhelp accomplishing so much. Go exploreall San Diego has to offer, and be a safecyclist.

Council President Todd Gloria can bereached at [email protected];(619) 236-6633; 202 C Street, MS 10A,San Diego, CA 92101; and on Facebookand Twitter. Visit his website atwww.sandiego.gov/cd3.

BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

TODD GLORIA

The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition shows off bikes advertising San Diego Bike Friendly Districts at an event last September. Sharrows make motorists aware that bicyclists have a right to the road and to educate bicy-clists on proper lane positioning and direction.

Committee and Board MeetingsGreater Golden Hill Community DevelopmentCorp. The CDC normally meets at 6:30 p.m. thethird Thursday of the month at the SDYS GoldenHill Center, 2220 Broadway. For information, call(619) 696-9992.

Greater Golden Hill Planning Committee meets at6:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month atthe Balboa Golf Course clubhouse, 2600 GolfCourse Drive. For information, call (619) 533-5284.

The North Park Redevelopment Project AreaCommittee meets at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday ofthe month at the Lafayette Hotel, 2223 El CajonBlvd. Meetings focus on redevelopment projects inconstruction or planning. For information, visitsandiego.gov/redevelopment-agency.

The North Park Main Street board meets at 7a.m. the second Wednesday of the month at itsstorefront office, 3076 University Ave. North ParkMain Street has more than 250 members, primar-ily businesses paying annual assessments in thecity-authorized North Park BID. For information,call 294-2501.

The North Park Maintenance Assessment Dis-trict Committee normally meets at 6 p.m. the sec-ond Monday of every other month at North ParkCommunity Adult Center, 2719 Howard Ave.

The North Park Planning Committee meets at6:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month at NorthPark Christian Fellowship, 2901 North Park Way.The committee is an advisory group to the cityon North Park land use, including the general plan,infrastructure and density. For information, visitnorthparkplanning.org.

The North Park Community Association meetsfrom 6 to 8 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of eachmonth at the Lafayette Hotel, 2223 El Cajon Blvd.The Community Association provides a forum forissues and concerns about public safety, educa-tion, land use, public facilities and services, com-mercial revitalization, community image and cul-tural activities. For more information, visitwww.northparksd.org.

The North Park Historical Society meets from6:30 to 8 p.m. the third Thursday of each month.The Historical Society conducts research and edu-

cational outreach in order to facilitate preservationof North Park's cultural and architectural history.For more information, visit www.northparkhis-tory.org.

The South Park Business Groupmeets on the last Wednesday of each month at8:30 a.m. at Alchemy Restaurant, 30th & Beech.The SPBG is comprised of business owners withstorefronts and service businesses located inSouth Park. The organization produces the quar-terly South Park Walkabouts and the annual OldHouse Fair. For more information, call (619)233-6679 or email [email protected].

The University Heights Community Associationmeets at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of the month inthe auditorium of Birney Elementary School, 4345Campus Ave. For information, call 297-3166.

The Adams Avenue Business Association boardof directors normally meets at 7:30 a.m. the firstTuesday of the month at the Normal HeightsCommunity Center, 4649 Hawley Blvd. For time,place and more information, call (619) 282-7329or visit adamsaveonline.com.

The Kensington/Talmadge Planning Group meetsat 6:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the monthat Kensington Community Church, 4773 Marl-borough Drive. For information, call 287-3157.

The Lions Club of North Park meets for lunchevery Wednesday from noon to 1:30 p.m. at theclub, 3927 Utah St. Prospective members are wel-come to enjoy their first lunch on the club. Forinformation, call (619) 692-0540.

Uptown Rotary welcomes prospective members atits 7 a.m. Thursday breakfasts at Jimmy Carter’sMexican Café, 3172 Fifth Ave. For more, call (619)500-3229 or visit sdurotary.org.

The North Park Recreation Council meets at 6p.m. the fourth Monday of every other month atNorth Park Recreation Center, 4044 Idaho St. Forinformation, call 235-1152.

Talmadge resident Price Adams hasjoined the board of HomeAid SanDiego,the nonprofit organization that buildsand maintains facilities that help home-less San Diegans get back on their feet.

Adams, an account supervisor atNuffer, Smith, Tucker Public Relations, isone of several new board members ofthe organization.

The other new members are: RichAlexander, owner of Kick Content Inc.,and Shannon Gaunt, mortgage loanoriginator at U.S. Bank Home Mortgage.

Charlie Abdi, president of Finest CityRealty Advisors, has taken on the role ofboard president and board development

chair for the organization.“HomeAid San Diego’s success relies

on its ability to leverage relationshipswithin the building and real estate indus-tries to help build or renovate our pro-jects,” said Alexis Parker, executive direc-tor for HomeAid San Diego. “Each one ofour new board members brings excel-lent relationships and years of experi-ence in their respective disciplines thatwill help us better serve San Diego’shomeless community.”

Price Adams brings more than eightyears of marketing, communications andpublic relations experience to her role onHomeAid San Diego’s board of direc-

tors. Adams has planned and coordinat-ed a variety of strategic public relationsactivities, including press events, websitedevelopment, branding strategies, mediatraining, social media strategies, issuesmanagement and marketing communi-cations plans, on behalf of the firm’sclients, including many nonprofit organi-zations.

Rich Alexander launched Kick Con-tent Inc. in 2011, a San Diego-based webdevelopment and content productioncompany. He has nearly 10 years of pro-fessional experience in web design anddevelopment and online marketing andhas worked on projects in a variety ofindustries including fitness, pharmaceu-tical, real estate, retail, nonprofit, legaland hospitality.

Shannon Gaunt has been workingwith U.S. Bank Home Mortgage for fiveyears as a construction loan specialist,specializing in construction and lot lend-ing. Gaunt has more than 15 years ofexperience, including wholesale, sec-ondary marketing, and builder and retaillending. In addition, to serving on theboard of U.S. Bank’s “AREA” as a con-struction and lot-lending specialist,Gaunt is also active with the local RealtorAssociation and San Diego BuildingIndustry Association (BIA), serving onthat organization’s membership, salesand marketing, and SMC educationcommittee.

For more information on HomeAidSan Diego, visit www.homeaidsd.org orcall (858) 793-6292.


The organization builds and maintains facilitiesfor the homeless

Talmadge Resident Price AdamsJoins HomeAid San Diego Board

We thank the readersof the North Park

News for naming usBEST SALON IN NORTH PARK!

3605 30th Street619 542-0044

[email protected]

Price Adams


founding members, one of whom was a woman,Beatrix Jones Farrand. Nationally, there are some15,000 members of ASLA (5,526 being women),with 49 chapters representing all 50 states, U.S. ter-ritories, and 62 countries around the world. TheASLA San Diego chapter (ASLA SD) currently hasover 200 members, including 46 women, three ofwhom you will meet here.

Vicki EstradaWith one year left at CalPoly San Luis Obispo to

earn her degree in architecture, Vicki Estradaswitched her major to landscape architecture. Ithappened suddenly after Estrada heard RobertoBurle Marx, a world-famous Brazilian landscapearchitect, describe a landscape architect as “an artistwith the earth as a canvas.”

When she told her parents about the change, inshock they envisioned their well-educated childhauling a wheelbarrow in the back of a pickup.

“Like my parents, people don’t understand whatlandscape architects do,” said Estrada. “We aren’tposy planters. To be a landscape architect you haveto be part architect, part engineer, part sociologist,part biologist, part botanist and part geologist. Weare unique because we can design, write, think bigpicture — outside the box, and stick our necks out.”

Estrada switched from architecture to landscapearchitecture when she realized “What makes a citygreat is not an Eiffel Tower here or an Empire StateBuilding there, it’s what happens in between.”

People expect parks from landscape architects,but they don’t always expect large-scale projects likethe kind Estrada designs, such as the Balboa ParkMaster Plan (1,400 acres), the Otay Ranch NewTown Plan (22,000 acres) and the Rancho San DiegoSpecific Plan (2,500 acres).

“The 100-acre Renaissance La Jolla is one of a fewprojects where I laid out the entire land plan, includ-ing every street, every house, every building and allof the landscape architecture,” said Estrada.

Estrada, 61, started Estrada Land Planning 28years ago when she had two kids, no money, noclients; and grew at one point to having 25 on staffwith a second office in Phoenix. She’s at a morecomfortable size now with a staff of eight.

Unlike her competitors, her clients are not archi-

tects; they are builders and developers who go to herand say, “Vicki, here’s the land, what do we do with it?”

With uncountable awards Estrada says her biggestaward is seeing people enjoying the spaces she hascreated, “…like when I go to Rob Field and see the kidsusing the skateboard park — that’s an award to me.”

In 2000 the ASLA bestowed its highest honor of“Fellow” on Estrada for her contributions to theprofession and to society at large. “To have my peershonor me, that’s an award.” She’s also very proud ofreceiving the Committee of 100 Gertrude GilbertAward for her contributions to Balboa Park, and theCasa Familiar ABRAZO urbanist award.

While Estrada’s projects are diverse in both scaleand scope, she is best known for her work on Bal-boa Park.

Nearly a native, Estrada lives in South Park, withher computer-consultant wife of five years, LyndaArnett.

Kathleen GarciaBy her senior year at an all-girls Catholic high

school, Kathleen Garcia was sure about two things:she wanted to go to UC Berkeley College of Envi-ronmental Design and she wanted to study land-scape architecture. But the protective nuns would-n’t send her transcripts to Berkeley, thinking, “thisnaive little girl would be chewed up on that big1970sBerkeley campus,” Garcia explains.

So she went to San Francisco State for her firstyear of college and then transferred. After graduat-ing from Berkeley she went to Harvard University’sGraduate School of Design for her master’s in land-scape architecture.

“When I got into my landscape architecturecourses I realized that it was far more interesting and

far better choice for me than any other. It was real-ly where my passions lie,” she said.

Garcia, 57, was in traditional practice for 25 yearsas a principal in the nationally recognized firm Wal-lace Roberts & Todd LLC (WRT), where she was thedirector of the San Diego office.

Her early work in San Diego in the mid-1980s ini-tiated the planning for the Otay Ranch when it wasin private ownership. She has also done park planningfor the East Mesa of Balboa Park and Mission BayPark as well as many park-system master plans anddesigns including Santee and the Baldwin Hills Over-look, and multiple projects on university campuses.

A highlight of her career is a 10-year project withthe city of Santa Monica that resulted in the designsof the award-winning Palisades Park and SouthBeach. Her career has also included the new SanDiego County Operations Center and the planningand landscape conceptual design for Civita in Mis-sion Valley (formerly Quarry Falls) and Millenia inChula Vista.

Since 2010, Garcia has been the planning andcommunity development director for the city ofDel Mar where she oversees current and advancedplanning, code enforcement, the building depart-ment and the clean water program.

She completed eight years of a mayoral appoint-ment as vice chair of the San Diego Planning Com-mission, the first landscape architect to have servedin that capacity. In addition to this citywide appoint-ment, Garcia has also served on the board of direc-tors for the Southeastern Economic DevelopmentCorp. and chaired the Citizen’s Subcommittee onUrban Form & Environment for the city of SanDiego’s Strategic Framework 2020 Plan, which gaverise to San Diego’s City of Villages.

Throughout her involvement in these activities,Garcia has been a strong advocate for the responsi-ble stewardship of the landscape, demonstratingleadership capabilities that position landscape archi-tects to have a greater impact on the environment.

Garcia is married to David Rapaport, a professorat UC San Diego School of Medicine. They live ina 101-year-old home in San Diego’s historicBurlingame district.

Robin ShiffletRobin Shifflet started at Cal Poly San Luis Obis-

po as a bio-science major, but after she nearly blewup the chem lab she realized it wasn’t her calling.Taking an inventory of her interests (history, archi-tecture, art and horticulture), she changed her majorto landscape architecture, graduating in 1982 withhonors.

Soon thereafter she landed an apprenticeshipwith landscape architects Wimmer, Yamada & Asso-ciates and obtained her landscape architecture Cal-ifornia state license in 1987. She formed her ownfirm in 1992 and then went to work as a landscapeplanner for the city of San Diego in 1995. She wasattracted to working for the city because, “In pub-lic practice you make land-use policies for outdoorspaces that are enjoyed by a wide variety of users.”

Today, still with the city, she is a park planner inthe Development Services Department, workingwith two other landscape architects on long-rangeplanning for the city’s community planning areas,forecasting needs for future city parks, preparingpublic financing plans to fund the parks and provid-ing guidance on land entitlements that include theconstruction of public parks.

“Working in the public realm requires patience

LANDSCAPECONTINUED FROM Page 1

Vicki Estrada Kathy Garcia Robin Shifflet

Green roof of the County Operations Center. Kathy Garcia.


AFTON SELL S SAN DIEGO

(619) 889-5420 | www.aftonmiller.com [email protected]

THANK YOU NORTH PARK NEWSREADERS FOR VOTING MEBEST REALTOR INNORTH PARK

and the understanding that the public pol-icy takes time to develop and implement.It is important to be a good listener and tobe able to find a compromise among var-ious stakeholders,” she said.

Shifflet is excited about and most proudof the following recent projects.

• San Diego River Park Master Plan. Apolicy document to guide future devel-opment along the 17.5 miles of the SanDiego River, the master plan vision is to“reclaim the valley as a common, a syner-gy of water, wildlife and people.” Workingwith 10 very diverse advisory bodies, shewrote new code language that wouldimplement the plan over the next 20 years.

One of the most significant aspects ofthe plan is to create a river pathway con-necting Ocean Beach Park to the city ofSantee, providing new recreation facilitiesalong it as well as link to other existingrecreation facilities.

• Otay Valley Regional Park. Locatedalong 13 miles of the Otay River fromSouth San Diego Bay to the Otay Lakes,this park is made up of approximately8,500 acres of open-space lands. In thisjoint effort with the county of San Diegoand the city of Chula Vista, Shifflet wrotethe design standards and guidelines forthe park, and then went on to build thefirst trail segments and ranger station. In2009, ASLA SD awarded the project theUrban Design Merit Award for thethoughtful planning and sustainabilityof the trail system.

Shifflet, 54, lives in North Park withher husband and is involved in a numberof organizations including the SierraClub, San Diego River Coalition and theAudubon Society.

Baldwin Hills Overlook. Kathy Garcia.

Mission Trails Regional Park. Work by Robin Shifflet.

Otay Valley River Park. Robin Shifflet.

Path at Palisades Park. Work by Kathy Garcia.


Graffiti Beach and owner Melanie Michaud specializes in work by ‘emerging creatives,’ and cel-ebrates them in Artist Showcase events several times each season. (Photo by Bonnie Nicholls)

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He couldn’t predict the future, but JeffreyParish noticed that something wonderfulwas going to happen on his block inSouth Park.The owner of Junc Life & Style (www.jun-clifeandstyle.com) opened his shop at2209 Fern St. in 2006, because the rentwas cheap and the timing seemed rightfor a store like his, a schizophrenic snap-shot of his mind that merges new cloth-ing, taxidermy, and “reimagined” homedécor in one space. A self-described “pur-veyor of oddities,” Parish is a master atrepurposing old furniture so that thepiece has an entirely new look. Since hemoved in, three other shops have openedwithin a stone’s throw of each other, alloffering an unusual mix of clothing, jew-elry, gifts, and items for the home.“We personally designed our little block,”Parish said. Tanya McAnear, his former teacher fromthe Fashion Careers College, arrived on

Fern Street in 2011. She’d been flirtingwith the idea of running her own busi-ness, and, encouraged by Parish, sheopened Bad Madge & Company(www.badmadge.com) two doors down.Named after her fashion show produc-tion company, the shop carries vintagegoods, which McAnear, as a profession-al “picker,” unearths at estate sales. Themid-century treasures she finds includeeverything from furniture and costumejewelry to Jackie O-style dresses.“I think people like things that are uniqueand don’t want the same old stuff youwould find in a mall,” she said. “It's like atime-warp at Bad Madge and you willfind something that takes you back to ahappier time. It’s all about nostalgia.”Sophia Hall of Make Good (www.the-makegood.com) came next. A formerreal estate broker with “creative ADD,”she first displayed her crafted items in asmall corner rented to local artists at TheDaily Scoop on the corner of 30th andJuniper. When the ice cream store decid-

ed to expand, she began selling her stuffat Citizen Video, which was then next toJunc Life & Style. After Citizen Video’sowner moved to Northern Californiaand closed the business, Hall took overthe space. Make Good now carries cloth-ing, gift items and jewelry made by 125artists from San Diego and Baja.The store was “so sparse in the begin-ning,” said Hall, who started with justseven artists. “Now it’s stuff up the walls.”So connected are Parish, McAnear andHall that they share employees and buyitems from some of the same artists,although never the same thing. They’lleven walk customers to each others’stores or send them to other neighbor-hood merchants if they don’t carrysomething the customer is looking for. “It’s very ‘Mayberry’ style here,” Parishsaid, referring to a late-’60s TV showabout small-town life.Across the street, Melanie Michaudopened Graffiti Beach (shopgraf-fitibeach.com) in March 2012. Her store,

which she describes as “beach meetsstreet,” carries eco-friendly clothing andmerchandise made by emerging artistsand designers. Michaud, who has a degree in marketing,first started Graffiti Beach as a “pop-up”concept in 2009, where she would opena temporary store or host an event whereemerging creatives could sell their prod-ucts directly to the public. “Graffiti Beach popped up all over Cali-fornia in art galleries, inside hotels, oncollege campuses and in empty retailspaces,” she said. Now the emergingartists whose products she carries havemore than just a brick-and-mortar placeto sell their wares – they also benefit fromher e-commerce site, her branding pro-gram and her magazine. The first printed version of the maga-zine appeared this year and focused onstreet art. To raise awareness, Michaudhired Marcy Kraft of Crochet Grenade tocome “yarn bomb our tree, light post,gate and bicycle rack. I was amazed at

the positive response we received.”South Park’s welcoming business climateattracted all four Fern Street shop own-ers. Michaud, who relocated from VeniceBeach, said there was something aboutSouth Park she couldn’t refuse. “It feltfresh, new, creative and consisted of otherlike-minded business owners that want-ed to take not only their business to thenext level but wanted to take South Parkto the next level.”But to do that, a business has to survive,and Parish credits the supportive envi-ronment within the South Park commu-nity as critical to everyone’s success. Heshould know – he’s owned other busi-nesses before Junc, including a metaphys-ical book store in the exact same locationas his shop today.“It’s why we all survived the really badeconomic downturn,” he said. “Not onlythe business owners supported us, butSouth Park residents appreciate what wehave built. People get that it will go awayreally quickly if it’s not supported.”

Fern Street Shop Owners Create Mini-District for Fashion, Gifts

Celebrating the ‘Fabulous on Fern’ style of their unique shops on the 2200 block of Fern Street (between Juniper and Ivy) are Jeffrey Parish ofJunc Life & Style, Sophia Hall of Make Good and Tanya McAnear with ‘mascot’ Fritz. (Photo by Bonnie Nicholls)

BY BONNIE NICHOLLS


South Park EventsThe neighborhood of South Park will be busy with several upcoming events inthe late summer and early fall. More information is available at www.southparkscene and www.facebook.com/southparkbiz.

On the calendar:Sunday, Aug. 11 CicloSDias San Diego.

Saturday, Sept. 28 Tour de Fat (festival is in Golden Hill Park, costumedbike parade through South Park begins at 11 a.m).

Saturday, Oct. 5 Altars & Icons, the ArtOberftest Walkabout, 6-10 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 30 Small Business Saturday, specials throughout the shopsof South Park.

Sunday, Dec. 1 Luminaria First Light, tree-lighting ceremony and neighbor-hood party, 5 to 9 p.m. Kicks off month-long Luminaria festival in South Park.

Craft Breweries Making a Big Splash

Driven by consumers’ growing appetite for high-quality craft beers, the number of breweries has sky-rocketed throughout San Diego and this in turn ispositively impacting the local industrial and retail realestate markets. According to Cassidy Turley, a com-mercial real estate services provider in the U.S., brew-ers are forecast to account for close to 5 percent ofoverall industrial space demand in San Diego Coun-ty over the next 12 to 24 months, translating intoapproximately 215,000 square feet of space. “The craft beer industry in San Diego is barrelingwith momentum, driving industrial sales and leas-ing activity as well as spillover demand in the retailand restaurant sectors,” said Todd Davis of with Cas-sidy Turley. “More than half of all new brewerylicenses in San Diego County have been issued in thelast two years. Additionally, San Diego now has morethan twice the number of Type 23 licenses issued tobreweries that produce up to 60,000 barrels per yearthan any other county in the state.”

A just released report by Cassidy Turley on “What’sHot” in San Diego shows that brewers and brewpubs generated a direct $299.5 million economicimpact on San Diego and $680.9 million in sales. Thestudy shows the impact on the local economy is evengreater when taking into account the wholesale, retailand other industries that indirectly support brewers,in which case more than 24,400 jobs are being sus-tained. In 2012, this translated into $3.5 billion ineconomic output.

“San Diego has evolved into one of the top craft beermarkets in the U.S.,” Davis said. “There are very fewrestaurants, pubs or stores that do not carry locallybrewed beer. The popularity of beer and beer-relat-ed events, including tastings, is now integrating intothe marketing strategies of many local retail andrestaurant establishments. This is also driving theemergence of many new restaurant and pub con-cepts that are supporting demand for retail space.”According to Danny Fitzgerald, a retail specialistwith Cassidy Turley, in addition to a substantial boostto the restaurant industry, new pub concepts areurban and coastal tasting rooms by Coronado, Stone,Ballast Point, Belching Beaver and Aztec. “Neighbor-hood tasting rooms are being added all throughoutthe county, and the intention is that eventually beerfans will be able to walk or bike to their local tastingroom to have a local pint or fill a growler,” he said. San Diego is home to over 60 breweries includingsuperstars such as Pizza Port, one of the most deco-

rated brewpubs in the nation; Lost Abbey, one of thetop barrel programs in the nation; Alpine, one of thepioneers in West Coast styled beers; AleSmith, one ofthe most innovative local breweries; Stone, which islargely responsible for the proliferation of craft beerin San Diego; and Green Flash. Additionally, KarlStrauss Brewing Company (San Diego’s originalmicrowbrewery) has been a major driver in the WestCoast-style India Pale Ale category. “White Labs in Miramar is one of the few laborato-ries in the nation that specializes in providing dataand specialty yeasts to the brewing industry,” Davissaid. “Without the help of White Labs, the quality ofthe local beer would not be what it is today. Very fewbreweries have the resources brewers will find atWhite Labs.”More than 10 annual beer festivals draw crowds toSan Diego from all over the world including the2012 World Beer Cup, also known as the “Olympicsof Beer.”“Well-known breweries are expanding and newbreweries are faced with challenges of finding a spacethat meets their unique requirements,” said Davis.“When adding the total licenses issued to craft brew-eries that produce more than 60,000 barrels per year(Type 1) and to supporting businesses such as restau-rants, tasting rooms, pubs, bars and taverns (Type 40-42, 47) authorized to sell beer, it is clear that thedemand for commercial real estate catering to theindustry is ‘hot’ and ‘getting hotter.’”

Growth is positively impacting industrial and retail real estate markets


“On the Fly: Technology Takes Off” is anew exhibition debuting at the ReubenH. Fleet Science Center. It will remain atthe Fleet through the end of December. Whether through the air, on the groundor in the water, the use of unmannedaerial vehicle (UAV) technology holdsenormous potential to make individualssafer, more secure and more productive.These systems allow police, fire and otherfirst responders to locate missing chil-dren, help fight wildfires and respond tonatural disasters. They assist the CoastGuard in rescue missions and help theBorder Patrol keep our borders secure.They boost agricultural production andefficiency and allow us to better protectthe environment. And they create high-quality, well-paying jobs across the coun-try in a variety of fields.“On the Fly: Technology Takes Off” will

center on a demonstration presentedthroughout the day in the Fleet’s MainGallery, using small-scale UAVs, whichuse an electronic control system drivenby computer software to guide theirflight. The demonstration for On the Flywill be controlled by a laptop. The UAVsuse symmetrically pitched blades, whichcan be adjusted as a group. Control ofvehicle motion is achieved by altering therotation rate of one or more rotor discs,thereby changing its torque load andthrust/lift characteristics. Very robust andstable, each is equipped with an embed-ded high-definition camera enablingvideo and photo recording and sharing.With their small size and agile maneuver-ability, these UAVs can be flown indoorsin an intricate performance.A number of ancillary exhibits exploreaerodynamics, including Wind Tubes

and a state-of-the-art motorized AirplaneLauncher, along with supplies andtrained facilitators who will work withvisitors to create their own flying objectswith which to experiment. Digital mediawill feature up-to-date presentations ofcurrent events involving this developingtechnology and its uses.Additional exhibit components willexamine related questions: Why fourpropellers? How does propeller shapeaffect flight? How does it know where togo? How do the sensors determine itspath? How can unmanned aircraft beused? The many existing uses for thisdeveloping technology range from agri-cultural applications, military uses, easeof filming for commercials and sports,search and rescue, wildlife management,hurricane tracking and mapping arche-ological ruins.

TECHNOLOGY TAKING OFFFleet Science Center exhibit examines UAVs

Handling a drone.

Demonstrating remote control.

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The Fleet exhibit will include a number of ancillary exhibits.Hovering drone.


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During the Museum of Photographic Arts’sannual acquisitions dinner in June, membersof the museum’s collecting group decidedwhat photographs to add to the permanentcollection. Julie Blackmon’s “Hair” receivedthe most votes.Julie Blackmon’s photographs depict disor-derly scenes of domestic life. Her work isinspired by the 17th century Dutch painter,Jan Steen, who frequently depicted his ownboisterous family gatherings. Similarly, Black-mon inserts her own personal narratives intoher images.

New Addition toMOPA’s PermanentCollection

The Veterans Museum and Memorial Center will host San Diego’s Spirit of 45 National Day of Remembrance Celebration onAug. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center at 2115 Park Blvd. Attendees will enjoy a specialprogram of music, entertainment, and meet with WWII Veterans and Hometown Heroes to share their memories of the warand its end on Aug. 14 1945. The Spirit of ‘45 Day honors the legacy of service of America’s “greatest generation” and is mobi-lizing youth to help record their personal stories through the Stories of Service oral history program. In 2010 Congress unani-mously approved “Spirit of ‘45 Day, ”a new National Day of Remembrance to recall the victory celebrations at the end of WWII.

Veterans Museum and Memorial Center To Celebrate ‘Spirit of ’45 Day’

Fascinating and Sometimes GrossEating Habits of DinosaursWhat did dinosaurs eat — and how do we know? Featuring the most lifelikemoving dinosaurs ever created (that one Hollywood movie notwithstanding),family-friendly “Dino Jaws” explores the sometimes gross and always fascinatingsubject of dinosaurs and their food. The current exhibit will be on display throughSept. 12 at the San Diego Natural History Museum.From the infamous flesh-eating T. rex to the plant-munching Iguanodon, what doyou know about dinosaurs and their food? Sometimes shocking, “Dino Jaws” willcombine fun hands-on exhibits with scientific insights. Animatronics will showwhat paleontologists know about what those dinos had for dinner. From slow-moving plant-eaters to fierce, agile flesh-eaters, learn about the vari-ety of feeding strategies used by dinosaurs. See how diverse plant-eating dinosaurswere, from the big, bulky Iguanadon to the spiky-armored Euoplocephalus. Comeface-to-face with the remarkable Baryonyx as it tries to scoop a fish from thewater. Touch real fossilized dinosaur poop.

Balboa Park’s Kids-Eye View Photo Contestreturns this summer to give budding shutter-bugs a chance to develop their photograph-ic skills in the park. Entries can be submittedonline through Aug. 26 at www.balboapark.org/KidsEyeView2013.Prizes include a week-long summer camp atthe Museum of Photographic Arts, a Fami-ly 4-Pack to the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park,gift cards, and tickets to park attractions.Prizes will be awarded for the best three pho-tos in two different age categories: 6-11 and12-17. The contest is sponsored by BalboaPark Central in partnership with the Muse-um of Photographic Arts.Participants are encouraged to scout BalboaPark’s attractions, grounds, historic archi-tecture and animals in the San Diego Zoo tosnap their winning shot. Photos that includeany identifiable persons will not be eligible.Winning photos will be digitally displayedfor one month on both MoPA’s Local Pho-tography Program monitor and the BalboaPark website.

Kids-Eye View PhotoContest Returns

The Old Globe will present a one-night-only Jeff Buckley Tribute Concert on Monday, Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. that will featureseveral prominent San Diego artists covering the songs of the legendary musician. The concert coincides with the Globe’supcoming production of “The Last Goodbye,” a fusion of Buckley’s music with Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” The JeffBuckley Tribute Concert, which will benefit the Globe’s student Shakespeare programs, will take place in the outdoor Low-ell Davies Festival Theatre. Ticket prices start at $20 and can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at(619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park. The bands scheduled to perform atthe concert include Jeff Berkley, Israel Maldonado and Fernando Apodaca with Todd Hannigan, Veronica May, Eve Selis,The Sinclairs, Gayle Skidmore, Superunloader and Pete Thurston. The concert will be emceed by Cathryn Beeks, host of KPRi-FM’s “The Homegrown Hour,” and Chris Cantore, U-T San Diego’s director of lifestyle and entertainment.

Old Globe to Present Jeff Buckley Tribute Concert

Past Winners


ers, Doric columns, and stunning domed cupo-la, the Quartermass/Wilde House looms atopthe hill. This gorgeous Queen Anne Victorianmixes in elements of classical revival style as itsits above the street on stone retaining wallsamidst a beautifully landscaped yard featuringa huge Star Pine. When one approaches thehouse from the intersection of Broadway and24th, the stairway of the unique corner entrancebeckons like Gatsby with the promise ofunspeakable wonder.

Once inside, one is greeted by an ornatelycarved stairwell, walls covered with wood pan-eling and elaborate tapestries, stained glass win-dows on the landing, a wine cellar, and 8,800square feet of elegant domestic space. Built in1897 by department store owner Ruben Quar-termass, this mansion spoke the status that wasthe elite enclave of Golden Hill.

But while Quartermass built the house, it wasits subsequent owner, Louis J. Wilde, who was itsmost important resident. It was Wilde whoshamelessly lobbied to have the name of DStreet changed to Broadway to enhance thevalue and image of his home and spent his timein San Diego relentlessly engaging in self-inter-ested boosterism that frequently veered intounscrupulous dealings, as both a businessmanand a politician.

Wilde embodied the capitalist ethos of hisage. Coming to California during the booming1880s, he worked in Los Angeles until he couldafford to buy real estate, but left when the bustensued, returning to Minnesota, where he

bought and sold farmland, became a banker,and eventually got rich speculating in the Texasoil fields.

Wilde then returned to California and movedto San Diego in 1903. His other business adven-tures included a scandalous investment schemein Oregon where he was accused of embezzle-ment, and the notorious “Jazz Cat Gamble” hepromoted while mayor of San Diego in 1919.More specifically, San Diego’s huckster mayorgot legions of gullible San Diegans to invest ina Community Oil Company that would quick-ly come up dry, leaving Wilde’s fellow gamblersempty-handed. He was consequently eviscerat-ed by the local press and pilloried by many of hisfellow elites who accused him of messing upeverything he touched.

Despite this controversy, while in San Diego,Wilde was also known for founding banks,financing successful business ventures, build-ing theaters and apartment buildings, fundingthe completion of the U.S. Grant Hotel, andmore. Thus he was well positioned to run formayor when the impulse struck him in 1917.And it was that campaign, the contest betweenWilde and George Marston, which would domuch to shape the future of San Diego.

The infamous “Geraniums versusSmokestacks” campaign pitted Wilde againstSan Diego’s most articulate advocate of the “citybeautiful” and a key figure in the developmentof Balboa Park — George Marston. Simply put,Marston advocated for a vision of San Diegothat emphasized better city planning, preservingopen space, and beautifying the boulevards. Hewas not anti-business, but he was an advocatefor controlled growth. Marston enjoyed the sup-

MANSIONCONTINUED FROM Page 1

The Quartermass/Wilde house once belonged to a man who beat George Marston for mayor, but fell from grace.

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port of many of the city’s elite and eventhe lukewarm backing of San Diego’spower broker extraordinaire, John D.Spreckels, who saw parts of Marston’svision as being useful for promoting hisgrowing interests in the tourism indus-try.

Nonetheless, the Wilde campaign rana relentless assault on “GeraniumGeorge,” who Wilde accused of wantingto preserve San Diego as an “Eden” forthe upper class. In a stunningly boldand nakedly hypocritical rhetoricalflourish, Wilde, the mansion-dwellingrobber baron, ran as a kind of populisthero of the workingman, exhortinglaborers to: “Remember, that this is afight to the last ditch for the wage earn-er, against big interests, high taxes, bondissues and expensive parks and flowersalong millionaire row, against bigexpenditures for the pleasure of a fewsmug plutocrats.”

And it worked. Wilde won big asworkingmen flocked to his cause alongwith a good segment of the businesscommunity who abandoned Marstonfor quick buck Wilde, who promised tobring industry and riches to San Diegoinstead of flowers and effete snobbery.Thus the full-throated rejection of thecity beautiful helped bring Wilde a suc-cessful political career until his second

term ended in humiliating scandal andhe left the town, scorning San Diego asa home to “old tight wads, pessimists,”and “vacillating, visionary dreamers” infavor of the “boosters and brains” in LosAngeles where he died a short timeafterwards.

The irony is that, as Mike Davispoints out in his section of “Under thePerfect Sun,” it was Marston’s programthat persevered rather than Wilde’s sothat:

[D]espite his electoral defeats,Marston’s vision of amenity based“clean growth,” with preference toretirees, tourists, and sailors rather thanheavy industries and industrial unions,would provide an enduring template towhich the city’s dominant business eliteswould repeatedly return until, in the1980s, it simply became holy scripture.[In addition to this] the city’s labormovement, except for a brief left-winginterval in the New Deal years, wouldperennially put “growth” ahead of anyother issue of principle. In effect, thiswould propel the San Diego LaborCouncil into serial marriages of desper-ation with the demagogic politiciansand reactionary local capitalists.

Wilde’s ability to rally much of laborbehind him with only a significant, butsmaller segment of socialist workerssupporting Marston was made possibleby the brutal suppression of the FreeSpeech Fight and the accompanyingblunting of the possibility of a moreprogressive labor movement a few yearsearlier in 1912.

Of course the irony here is that it wasMarston who was supportive of civilliberties during this period whileSpreckels (Marston’s unenthusiasticbacker in 1917) was the King of the Vig-ilantes, tacitly supporting those whobeat, tortured, and even murdered theWobblies they nabbed off the streetsnear 5th and E just a short distance fromWilde’s mansion on the hill.

So, in effect, the moneyed interestswho ruled early San Diego won eitherway. It didn’t really matter whether the

Smokestacks or Geraniums were victo-rious because real power stayed in thesame hands regardless of the outcomeof the election. Indeed, it took nearly100 years until the city had a mayor whowasn’t seamlessly aligned with the city’spower elite. That mayor is Bob Filnerand, predictably, San Diego’s tradition-al owners don’t like him one bit.

So the next time you pass the cornerof 24th and Broadway, now a quiethome to professional offices, rememberit once belonged to the man who beat“Geranium George” but fell from graceafter the “Jazz Cat Gamble”—one of themost colorful of a long line of oppor-tunistic plutocrats and their proxies whohave ruled San Diego for most of thelast century. And that stunning man-sion on the hill, like much of our beau-tiful city, is a pretty landmark that mostof us could never afford to own.

Thanks to Jim Miller, a professor atSan Diego City College and the co-authorof “Under the Perfect Sun: The San DiegoTourists Never See” and “Better to Reignin Hell,” and author of the novel “Drift.”His most recent novel on the San Diegofree speech fights and the IWW, Flash, ison AK Press. Thanks also to San DiegoFree Press.

When one approaches the house from the intersection of Broad-way and 24th, the stairway of the unique corner entrance beckonslike Gatsby with the promise of unspeakable wonder.

Portrait of Louis J. Wilde, mayor of SanDiego, 1915. (Photo: San Diego HistoryCenter).

George Marston


Summer is about beingseen. It’s about more skin,

less clothes and lots of people watching. It’s allabout gazing at passersby while sitting outsideat the West Coast Tavern having a cocktail likethe delicious Blood and Sand, which featuresStoli Salted Karamel and Johnny Walker Blackwith an orange twist. North Park is not knownfor being shy on fashion, consider this yourguide to looking good in the nation’s (13th)hippest neighborhood. First off you need some high waisted shorts.Fourth of July is coming and in order to be acool kid you should most definitely have a pairof hand-painted shorts. To Hell in a Handbagon 32nd and Thorn has a variety to pick fromor you can even customize your own. Black and White anything. It’s here to stay sograb a jumpsuit, squeeze into some skinny

jeans or transform yourself with this amazingoverall suit from HOME onUniversity. blackand white makes anyone look their slimmestself.Vintage, take a note from the Gucci runwayand pop on over to The Girl Can’t Help It forsome true 1960s throwbacks. Obsessed withthe vintage bathing suit come back this season?Do it right, grab an actual vintage suit fromSparkle at The Girl Can’t Help it on GrimAvenue. We dare you to try and leave without amatching dress. Men, they have great retrocardigans and lightweight summer button upsto match those Raybans you’ve been sporting. Maybe you’re a little punky or edgy. Don’t fret.HOME has some great antique band T’s to sat-isfy your grunge craving. You can even repre-sent your love of local shops by sporting a“HOME” tank top. Warning: it pairs best with

sun, sand and a cold beverage in hand. Natural Stones are as unique as the wearer;each one has its colorations, its variety and itsown shape. Shop the new UnEarthed Collec-tion featuring raw stones at To Hell in a Hand-bag. We loved the geo lariat that wears threeways, including draped down the back or lay-ered long in front. Chevron stripes. Check out the twiggy dress,an affordable option from Mimi & Red ($44).We love the ultra girly floral print trend. TheYumi Kim Liz romper with its composition of100 percent silk fits wonderfully and it’s a nicealternative to a dress. You don’t need to beflashing all your goods in order to be sexy, menlove this long maxi (a big trend for summer).Chasing kids or your boyfriend around town?We recommend these boyfriend jeans by Level99 paired with a fedora (sun burns and skin

cancer are very out offashion). Fashion is everywhere butit’s how you wear it, (nothow it wears you) that sayssomething about your per-sonality, what you like to doand who you are. If you take one lesson fromthis Hip guide let itbe Shop Local,Shop Small,ShopUnique.

Everly Twiggy dress. $44Mimi & Red3032 University Ave.

Band T’sHOME: A Mercantile Company

Chaser American Flag tee. $64Level 99 Casey tomboy jeans. $146

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Yumi Kim Liz romper. $189Mimi & Red

Band T’sHOME: A Mercantile Company3013 University Ave.

1950s dress. $149The Girl Can’t Help It3806 Grim Ave.

1950s men’s shirt. $165

24 K gold chain. $40-$60 24 K gold chain. $130To Hell in a Handbag

To Hell in a Handbag. $32

Lani paisley maxi. $64Level 99 misfit vest. $140Mimi & Red

BY ASHLEY CARATTINI


In Chinese history,there were many

military leaders named “General Wang.”But there is only one in San Diego,Wang’s in North Park. This new “fusion”restaurant has taken over the JC Pennybuilding on University Avenue near 30thStreet and has transformed the locationinto a striking and relaxing venue whereboth small and large parties can enjoyinnovative cuisine.

The exterior looks like a retail store-front. It is even easy to walk by and notnotice the location’s transformation. But,the interior’s high ceilings and open vol-ume are impressive immediately.

A far wall on the left as one enters hasChinese posters, including one of “Chair-

man Meow.” Comfortable booths ringthe back walls, facing a sea of tables. Theupstairs area works well for large groupsof private parties. The noise level can behigh, when the restaurant is crowded.Come prepared to speak loudly.

On the right, a large bar area becomesthe focal point for groups of “happyhour” devotees. A specialty drink menulists creative ways to achieve a buzz. Thereis also a good selection of sake and beer,including five Asian beers.

Tom Eads and his partner are creatingnew, tasty approaches to Chinese dining.Incidentally, Chinese cuisine is one of themost popular in the United States, not farbehind hamburgers. Eads learned thebusiness side of the industry in his years

working the “front of the room” for PFChang. But an extraordinary chef,Richard Torres, was found who createsspecial unique recipes for Wang’s. Hisapproach combines fresh ingredients,tangy sauces and spicy heat.

In traditional fashion, the menu isquite large, divided into categories tomake choosing easier. Start with Appetiz-ers like Jalapena Calamari, an old favoriteto which spicy garlic bring new taste sen-sations. Shrimp Spring Rolls are light andvery fresh tasting.

There are traditional Noodle & Ricedishes such as Garlic Noodle and SpicyThai Basil Noodle, both with spicy fla-vors. For real heat, look under the “Fire”category for Kung Pao, which can come

with chicken, tofu or seafood. GeneralWang’s Chicken adds sweetness to thespice with candied walnuts.

Less spicy offerings (“Sweet”) substi-tute sweetness for the heat and includeWalnut Shrimp, with a honey mustardaioli and a delightful Lemon Chicken,which is sweet and tart at the same time,teasing the palate.

Dishes like Mongolian Beef and VelvetShrimp & Chicken are great selectionsfor non-spicy eaters. The full natural fla-vors of the fresh ingredients are broughtout by the creative sauces that come withthe ingredients.

Emperor’s Chocolate Delight is one ofthe listed dessert options. More are avail-able but not listed such as Andrea’s Truf-

fles — truffles, dark chocolate infusedwith mandarin orange juice, topped withmandarin pecans. Be sure to ask for whatelse is offered.

A “special menu” is available in addi-tion to the regular menu. Be sure to askfor it as well.

Wang’s is located at 3829 UniversityAve. Call (619) 291-7500 for reservationsor information. Prices are moderate tohigh. Parking on University can be diffi-cult but there are parking lots aroundthe corner. Parking is free, with a vouch-er available at the restaurant. It may payto stop in front for a moment, pick up avoucher and then park, to avoid a lot ofback-and-forth walking.

C H I N E S E F U S I O NW A N G ’ S I N N O R T H P A R K

The bar becomes a focal point for groups of Happy Hour devotees. A whimsical painting draws attention to Wang’s. Happy Hour at Wang’s.

BY DAVID ROTTENBERG

San Diego Musical Theatre pays tributeto musical legend Thomas “Fats” Wallerand the swing era of the 1930s with itsSept. 27 opening of “Ain’t Misbehavin’— The Fats Waller Musical Show” atthe Birch North Park Theatre. “The outrageously prodigious comicand musical soul of 1930’s Harlem liveson in this rollicking, swinging, finger-snapping revue that is still consideredone of Broadway’s best,” the theatercompany boasts of the musical, whichcontinues through Oct. 13.According to a biographical sketch,“Fats” Waller rose to international fameduring the Golden Age of Harlem’s Cot-

ton Club, honky tonk dives along LenoxAvenue, rent parties, stride piano play-ers and that jumpin’ new beat, Swing.Although not quite a biography, “Ain’tMisbehavin’” evokes the delightfulhumor and infectious energy of thisAmerican original as a versatile caststruts, strums and sings the songs hemade famous in a career that rangedfrom uptown clubs to downtown TinPan Alley to Hollywood and concertstages in the U.S., Canada and Europe.Assembled under the eye ofdirector/lyricist Richard Maltby Jr.,“Ain’t Misbehavin’” is one of the mostpopular, well-crafted revues.


TRIBUTE TO THOMAS ‘FATS’ WALLERSAN DIEGO MUSICAL THEATRE TO PRESENT ‘AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’’

THE CAST:Rufus Bonds Jr. as Ken (Broadway: Rent, Once On This Island and Parade -National Tours: Lion King, Color Purple, Miss Saigon).

Sylvia MacCalla as Nell (National Tours: Rent and Hairspray - Regional: Beehiveand Working).

Jenelle Randall as Charlaine (Broadway: All Shook Up - National Tours: Brooklyn andDreamgirls at the Muny with Jennifer Holliday).

Amber Mercomes as Armelia (Regional: Rent, Sweeney Todd, Anything Goes).

David LaMarr as Andre(Regional: Smokey Joe’s Café, Hairspray, Mulan and Lit-tle Mermaid).

CREATIVE TEAM:Ron KellumDirector/Choreographer. Within the past few years, Kel-lum penned his first book, “The Gypsy Survival Guide toShow Business,” choreographed the blockbuster hit movie,“Iron Man 2” starring Robert Downey Jr., appeared on“The Amazing Race” and directed many musicals includ-ing, “Rent,” “Joseph and The Amazing TechnicolorDreamcoat,” “Smokey Joe’s Cafe,” “Chicago,” and “A Cho-rus Line.” He’s appeared on Broadway in “Joseph and theAmazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “Chicago” andtoured nationally in “Fosse,” “Chicago,” “Aida,” “Dream-girls,” “Beauty and The Beast” and “Smokey Joe’s Cafe.”

Don Le Master Music Director.As resident musical director for San DiegoMusical Theatre, Le Master received the OutstandingMusical Direction award at the 2007 Theater Critic Cir-cle Awards for SDMT’s inaugural production “The FullMonty” and a nomination for “A Chorus Line.” Mostrecently, he was onstage, conducting the SDMT orchestrain “The Sound of Music.” Le Master has worked for manytheaters including Moonlight Amphitheatre, Cygnet,South Bay, Starlight, The Globe and McCoy Rigby.

Matthew NovotnyLighting Designer.

Janet Pitcher Costume Coordinator.

Jill Townsend Stage Manager.

Single tickets for SDMT’s production of “Ain’t Misbehavin’”are $26, $36, $46 and $56. Children 16 years and underreceive a $10 discount. Seniors 65 years and older receive a$5 discount. For individual or group tickets, contact theadministrative office at (858) 560-5740 or visit SDMTonline at www.sdmt.org.

Show times are Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Sat-urday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Rufus Bonds Jr.Sylvia MacCalla Amber Mercomes David LaMarr Jenelle Randall

Thomas ‘Fats’ Waller (1904-1943)

RETAIL/SHOPPINGArt Gallery Cirello Gallery

Apparel (Women’s)The Girl Can’t Help It

Best Place to Buy JeansAuntie Helen’s

Best Consignment ShopTo Hell In a Handbag

Bicycle ShopThomas Bike

Book StoreThe Grove

Grocery StoreParkside Market

Pet StoreSouth Bark Dog Wash

Pet HospitalBodhi Animal Hospital

SERVICESAttorneySan Diego Law Firm

Best Private SchoolOur Lady of Peace

Best RealtorAfton Miller

Best Real Estate FirmRancho Buena Vista

Web DesignA7D Graphics

HEALTH/BEAUTYDoctorSouth Park Doctor

Hair SalonGorgeous Salon

Health Club/GYMBoulevard Fitness

Yoga FacilityGinseng Yoga

RESTAURANTS/NIGHT LIFEBakeryHeavenly Deserts

ChineseWang’s

ItalianPaesano’s

FrenchSmoking Goat

GreekOlympic Café

MexicanEl Comal

PizzaSicilian Thing

SeafoodSea Rocket Bistro

SteakUrban Solace

VegetarianCasa de Luz

BurgersThe Station

Best BarToronado

Best CoffeeCaffe Calabria

Best ChefMatt Kiser (West Coast Tavern)

Best Ice CreamScoop

Best WaiterLani Peters (West Coast Tavern)

Best Dog Friendly RestaurantTrue North

Best ManhattanSeven Grand

Bes MargaritaRanchos Cocina


THANK YOU NORTH PARKFOR VOTING US

BEST YOGA FACILITY IN NORTH PARK

2985 BEECH ST. • SAN DIEGO, CA 92102619.338.9642 • GINSENGYOGA.COM

BEST OFNORTH PARK

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS! CHOSEN BY OUR READERS!

2013 WINNERS



Rendering of the USO building.

By Bart Mendoza

Great Jazz Sounds With Reka ParkerJazz aficionados will want to check out the Jazz Session withNow Time at Rebecca’s Coffeehouse on two consecutive Fri-days, Aug. 2 and Aug. 9. Reka Parker is a sublime pianist, witha wonderful rhythmic phrasing, backed by an excellentrhythm section consisting of bassist Jeff Blanco anddrummes Bob Daniels. An accomplished composer, Parkerarrived in San Diego, via Boston’s Berklee College of Music,performing and teaching in the area ever since. If you’re a fanof piano-based jazz, you won’t be disappointed. Parker’smelodies make a great soundtrack for the comfy environ-ment of Rebecca’s Coffeehouse, and are the perfect way tokick off the weekend.

Now Time Jazz Session: Aug. 2 and Aug. 9, at Rebecca’s Coffeehouse, 3015 Juniper St. 6 p.m. All ages. No cover. www.rebeccascoffeehouse.com

Electronic Dance Music FromOkapi SunMaren Parusel, appearing Aug. 18 at Bar Pink (10 p.m.), isnot one to rest on her laurels. Arriving in San Diego from hernative Germany in 2005, Parusel has been in some of thearea’s best known buzz bands over the past few years, includ-ing Squiddo and Wild Weekend. She’s also pursued a well-received solo career that has scored her a 2011 San DiegoMusic Award for the album “Artificial Sun,” but her latestproject is electronic-based duo, Okapi Sun.Whereas her pre-vious bands have been rock inspired, this is pure modernelectronic dance music, with a melody gliding across thebeats. Songs like “Johnny Kiss” and “Sidewalk” are as good asanything in the genre. If you’re looking for a reason to visitthe dance floor, Okapi Sun will provide an ample supply atthis show.

Okapi Sun: Sunday, Aug. 18. Bar Pink, 3829 30th St. 9 p.m. 21 and up. $5. www.barpink.com

Experience Billy Joe Shaver’s Song-writing Prowess It’s a testament to Billy Joe Shaver’s songwriting prowess thatBob Dylan mentions listening to him in his song, “ I Feel AChange Comin’ On.” Appearing at AMSD Concerts on Aug. 23,(7:30 p.m.). Shaver is just shy of household name status, but hissongs aren’t. He’s penned tunes as well know as “Honky TonkHeroes” and “Try and Try Again,” for the likes of Elvis Presley,Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. We’re losing music legendsat an alarming rate these days, so if you’re remotely interestedin country music, singer-songwriters or just plain old goodsongs, you won’t want to miss this concert from Billy Joe Shaver.

Bily Joe Shaver: Friday , Aug. 23 at AMSD Concerts, 4650 Mansfield St., 7:30 p.m.All ages. $25-$52. www.amsdconcerts.com.

High-Octane Rock Courtesy of The Bloody HolliesThough they haven’t released an album since 2011’s “Yours Until the Bitter End,” theBloody Hollies remain a force to be reckoned with. A blistering live band, the quartet per-forms at the Soda Bar on Aug. 23 (10 p.m.), a warm-up gig for a two-week tour of Europeset to kick off in Amsterdam on Aug. 29. At their best, the Bloody Hollies deliver high-octanerock, touching on garage and punk, heavy on adrenaline. It’s the perfect recipe for a liveshow, and indeed that’s the secret to their longetivity. Any band that rocks this hard is alwaysgoing to draw attention.

Bloody Hollies: Friday, Aug. 23, at The Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd. 8:30 p.m. 21 and up. $5. www.sodabarmusic.com.

A Killer Mix From The BlondiesAnyone worried about the state of rock ‘n’ roll need look no further than Bay area group, The

Blondies, performing at Lestat’s on Aug. 18 (9 p.m.). Endorsed by Gibson Guitars, the five-pieceband plays a killer mix of garage rock, pop songcraft, inspired arrangements and excellent musi-

cianship. The Blondies are impressive, particularly when you take in the fact that the band’smembers are all between the ages of 14 and 17. Don’t let their age fool you, these guys have lots

of great songs, such as “Count The Days” and “I Want You” full of youthful spirit and energy, justthe way rock ‘n’ roll was meant to be.

The Blondies: Sunday, Aug. 18at Lestats, 3343 Adams Ave. 9 p.m.

All ages. Cover TBD. www.Lestats.com


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North Park New, August 2013

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