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Serving San Diego’s Premier Urban Communities for 23 Years northparknews.biz/digital
Vol. 23 No. 2 February 2015
Normal Heights to Rally for Dog-Park Neighborhood seeking funding from the city
Chris Ward
Chris Ward Enters 3rd District City Council Race Marty Block’s chief of staff wants to succeed Todd Gloria Chris Ward, chief of staff for state Sen. Marty Block, will seek election to the San Diego City Council’s District 3 seat in the 2016 election, hoping to succeed Todd Gloria, who will be termed out of office. Ward, 38, directs both the Capitol and district offices for Block and has worked on a number of local political campaigns. He is a member of the Uptown Planning Board and is an active member in the LGBT community. City Council District 3 encompasses Balboa park, Bankers Hill/Park West, Downtown San Diego, Golden Hill, Hillcrest, Little Italy, Mission Hills, Normal Heights, North Park, Old Town, South Park, University Heights. Ward has responded to a series of questions from the North Park News:
Advocates for an off-leash dog park and community garden in the Ward Canyon Neighborhood Park in Normal Heights will stage a Feb. 15 rally and block party to galvanize community support for a project that has been in the planning stages for the past decade. The Normal Heights Community Association, the organization spearheading the rally, wants the city to allocate funds for the dog park and community garden in the next city budget — and gained an imporSEE DOGPARK, Page 2
Sharing is Good for Business at Union Co Work Stylish shared office space attracting entrepreneurs BY STORY AND PHOTOS BY COLETTE MAUZERALLE
A. I want to use my background and preparation to build better neighborhoods in District 3 for the next generation and beyond. My work in both the private and public sector as an environmental
Sharing has become a business. People share rides with carpool-driven companies like Sidecar, share homes with AirBnb, and now, they are splitting office space in shared workspaces like North Park’s Union Co Work. The share-style business model appears to be picking up in popularity, as Union Co Work’s founder Jamie Miller can attest to. In July 2014, he opened a second location at 3919 30th St. after experiencing success with his first space on University Avenue. Both spots serve a variety of local business owners through rentable offices; however, while both locations feature private offices, the 30th street location features a new spin via “floating memberships,” which provide access to communal workspaces. The cost of a floating membership at Union Co Work begins at $200 per month, an affordable fee that grants members 24-hour access to the facility as well
SEE WARD, Page 4
SEE UNION, Page 5
Q. What are your principal reasons for wanting to represent District 3 on the San Diego City Council?
The sign on the marquee of Discount Fabrics was arranged by the Adams Avenue Business Association.
The overall feel of the Union Co Work space is modern-rustic and just eclectic enough for the North Park set with an on-trend mixture of metal, wood and glass surfaces.
UNDERBELLY II North Park’s latest ramen eatery
UnderBelly II is located on the corner of 30th and Upas streets. The restaurant opened its doors in mid-October. (Photo by Zack Benson)
For the past three years, Little Italy has been home to one of San Diego’s favorite ramen restaurants, UnderBelly, the cozy concept eatery. Full of charm and bursting with flavor, it’s a style patrons just couldn’t get enough of. In fact, to accommodate its ever-growing customer base, the restaurant has added a second location, UnderBelly II, in North Park. Located on the corner of 30th and Upas, the restaurant opened its doors in mid-October. The bigger, more versatile UnderBelly II has been drawing patrons ever since, including its predecessor’s regulars, said Shane Gerde, general manager. In fact, having been with Little Italy since UnderBelly, the original, opened its doors, he was able to make the transition as a manager, and alongside his customers.
BY BETHANEY WALLACE
“It’s nice that we’re able to accommodate them in their neighborhood,” he said. Adding that, with just over a month in business, the restaurant is already hitting its stride. The dishes, he says, “taste like home. Everything is really coming together.” Though UnderBelly II offers the same fare as its Little Italy location, it also serves a few unique options, such as a second choice of broth (a number that may increase with time), and a yakatori grill. Starting each night at 5 p.m. —a time Gerde said is traditional — patrons can order dishes skewered over a specialized Japanese Binchotan charcoal fire. Offerings, which are created by chef Michael Mora, change each night to add variety and ongoing flavors. The 20 yakatori options include exotic ingredients such as SEE UNDERBELLY, Page 6
CHOOSE LOCAL FIRST!
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DOGPARK CONTINUED FROM Page 1
tant ally in Councilman Todd Gloria, whose District 3 includes the park. “Ward Canyon Neighborhood Park is the top priority for the Normal Heights community,” Gloria told the Reader late last month. “ I am advocating $1.2 million be allocated to design Phase 1 of the project in next year’s budget to get it moving forward.” The rally and block party will be held from noon to 2 p.m. on 40th Street. The event will include an appearance by Gloria, who is scheduled to speak at 12:30 p.m., live music by Gabriela Aparicio and Adopt A Pet from the San Diego Humane Society. Dogs on a leash are welcome. “Liberate them,” says the association. A 24,000-square-foot, off-leash dog park and an 11,300-square-foot community garden are part of
Ron Ferrero-Pham, president of the Normal Heights Community Association.
a redevelopment plan for Ward Canyon Neighborhood Park that was approved by the city 10 years ago. Also included in the general development plan approved by the city Parks and Recreation Department are basketball and volleyball courts and a parking lot. A new 2,500-square-foot community building would be a separate project. Ward Canyon Neighborhood Park is located between Adams Avenue, 39th Street and 40th Street. The park was built in conjunction with Caltrans I15 corridor improvements in 2000. It would be necessary to reroute the southbound Interstate 15 freeway ramps and eliminating 18 parking spaces to provide room for the dog park. We’re encouraging city to do (the redevelopment) in stages, where the first stage would be the offleash park,” said Ron Ferrero-Pham, president of the Normal Heights Community Association. According to Gloria, construction of the dog park, freeway ramps and community garden, as part of the first phase, is pegged at $3.9 million, or more than half of the $7.5 million cost of the park redevelopment. “We want to show the city that there is a great amount of support for this project,” said FerreroPham in explaining the reason for the rally and block party. “We want to engage people to follow the budget process through the summer and into the fall.” Ferrero-Pham said the schools in the area — Adams Avenue Elementary and Normal Heights Elementary — are very supportive of the dog-park plan. “They have become defacto dog parks at night,” he said.
Ward Canyon Neighborhood Park sign. Photo by Suzanne Ledeboer. Site plan for Ward Canyon Neighborhood Park.
February 2015 | northparknews.biz/digital | 3
Ask Dr. Z Is measles really deadly, and to help decide which vaccines you should what do you think about vacci- give your child and when. No vaccine is ever “Perfectly safe,” but nation? in general, the vaccine is much safer than getting the disease. There are exceptions, Yes, measles can be deadly. “In the old days, everyone had measles but that is generally the case. I chose to and most of them did fine with it” is the vaccinate my own children, but did so usual thought, but approximately 400 on a slightly different schedule than the children a day still die of measles in the normal. Measles has been fairly rare in the U.S., world. It is also one of the most contagious but this year the incidence has tripled, diseases out there, so if you are anywhere and it is in our backyard now. We are near a child with measles and you are losing the herd immunity that universal not vaccinated, you can almost guarantee vaccination gave us in the past. Since the disease is much more dangerous than an infection. It starts one to two weeks after infec- the vaccine, it is tipping the scales on the tion, with runny nose, fever, cough and side of pro-vaccination. When to give the measles vaccine? At red eyes. Sounds like a cold or pink eye, right? Why stay home? Then a few days 1 year old, but not long after that birthlater the rash comes, starting at the hair- day. After 14 months, caution should be used until the child is 2 years old, when line. Many of the deaths (1-2 per 1,000 the brain’s critical period for developcases) are from pneumonia or encephali- ment of social interaction and speech is tis (50 percent fatality) from the virus. over. In this manner, the vaccine will not I once cared for a young woman with a delayed and deadly form of brain infec- trigger any recently discovered latent tion from measles — SSPE (Subacute genetic tendencies for developmental Sclerosing Panencephalitis). In SSPE, problems. (Other triggers include viral about 10 years after the infection the infections and traumas). Given the brain begins to deteriorate. The normal measles outbreak here in San Diego of youngster becomes more and more inca- 10 children in January, I would lean pacitated, until they are unable to walk, toward giving the measles vaccine, even eat, speak, see or hear. Watching this is during those ages, as the disease is an heartbreaking. And yet, there are a few imminent threat. There is a booster shot rare cases of this tragedy appearing from between 4 and 6 years old, but you can have a blood draw to check a titer to find the vaccine rather than the disease. My patient was one of those, and I out if you can skip the second injection. More questions about vaccination cared for her until she passed. So I have seen first-hand both the most tragic of next month. For more information about SSPE: measles complications and the horror of a vaccine-related death. I understand the www.vaccinestoday.eu/vaccines/howimportance of vaccinating as well as why measles-can-change-a-life/ Dr. Tara Zandvliet welcomes your a parent would think twice. Vaccines are medical interventions, questions. Send them to questions@ just like surgery. A good pro/con discus- southparkdoctor.com. She practices at sion should take place with your doctor 2991 Kalmia St. Phone: (619) 929-0032.
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WARD
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planner and legislative chief of staff, and personal volunteer leadership in the community, have given me the experience necessary to meet the daily demands and expectations of a council member. I understand the high bar of constituent service needed by residents, business owners and stakeholders following decades of exceptional work by District 3 council members, and I’m committed to raising the bar one more time. Q. What are the major issues facing the residents of District 3 and the city of San Diego as a whole? A. Keeping our communities safe and giving public safety officials the resources they need is a major priority. We know about the recruitment and retention challenges our police force faces, and especially with the recent, frightening attacks on women in North Park, this is foremost on my mind. Infrastructure and neighborhood services are not far behind — whether it is 100-year-old sewer lines, cratered streets, or the deficiency of parkland for our kids to get outdoors, we have waited on promised public services for too long. As your councilmember, I will fight for District 3’s overdue needs as a city priority. To ensure continued growth, I’m committed to providing support to the small businesses on our main streets, attracting high-tech talent to growing incubators and creative markets in the East Village, and ensuring our competitive job sectors are thriving and sustainable. I’ve been out for months at events across the district asking community members exactly what their most pressing issues are. While I hear about a wide array of concerns and will take all issues seriously, those are some of the more common and pressing issues. Q. District 3 takes in a lot of diverse communities and neighborhoods. Is there any issue or problem that you see that permeates all of those communities and neighborhoods?
A. Whether I am talking with residents in Mission Hills, Downtown, Normal Heights, South Park or any of our neighborhoods — homelessness is pervasive throughout District 3, and we all see it. I know residents are sympathetic to the plight of the homeless. We embrace the community’s moral responsibility to provide adequate resources to address the mental health, socioeconomic, addiction, and other factors that can push lives off track. At the same time, there are public safety, public health, small business and quality of life issues for the rest of us that homelessness impacts, and constituents expect their elected officials to respond. I’m committed to finding the comprehensive resources necessary to help San Diego’s homeless find the support they need for a new path. Q. Todd Gloria has built an enviable record in his two terms on the City Council. If you are elected, will you model yourself after him? A. And those before him. Like Christine Kehoe and Toni Atkins, Todd has written an historic chapter our district’s decades-long civic leadership. I know these are huge shoes to fill, but I am excited to build on their work. Just as all of them came to office with exceptional qualifications and skills that exceeded the demands of the job, I am running on my record of constituent service, community planning, leadership, and understanding of neighborhood issues. We know our District 3 councilmembers are successful because they are personally present in community affairs, do their homework, prioritize excellent staff support in representatives to District 3 communities, and are relentlessly focused on doing the job well. I share that passion, and would continue delivering results for all communities, with a seamless transition and without a steep learning curve. Q. You have been a key adviser to candidates for mayor, district, attorney, city attorney, state Assembly, City Council and Superior Court judge — what have you taken away from that experience?
Chris Ward, at right, sitting next to the man he wants to replace, Councilman Todd Gloria.
A. I’ve seen firsthand the demands of a campaign, and how important it is to effectively organize grassroots volunteers and truly provide them with a personal stake in the campaign and the outcome of the election. You don’t get that buy-
deeply understand the diverse concerns from every corner of their district. This approach prepares me to hit the ground running for everyone in the district on day one. Q. The San Diego Chargers were less than enthused about Mayor Faulconer’s decision to form a task force to recommend a plan for a new stadium. What is your opinion on the mayor’s action?
Chris Ward Profile: Age: 38 Place of Birth: Frankfurt, Germany Schools Attended: Carlisle High School, Penn., Frankfurt American High School, Johns Hopkins University, Harvard Kennedy School of Government Degrees: B.A. in Neuroscience; Masters of Public Policy and Urban Planning Marital status: Domestic Partner Previous employment: Legislative Chief of Staff, Environmental Planner Honors: San Diego Metropolitan Magazine 40 Under 40; Greater San Diego Business Association “Community Leader of the Year”; Fellow, Truman National Security Project. Family background: Partner; One daughter. Mother, brother, sister-in-law and nephews live in neighborhood.
in from negative campaigning, but by conducting yourself with integrity and a passion for problem-solving. I know that successful candidates not only seek a win but, more importantly, use the experience of a campaign to engage a wide range of community members and
A. I was at the State of the City address and I know that we’ve been wrestling with the issue of a new Chargers stadium for more than a decade, so if it’s going to be announced in such a speech, I was disappointed we didn’t hear any concrete ideas. Instead, the mayor is punting a decision to yet another group, apparently without involving the Chargers in the plan. I think we have to deal with this and all problems by engaging not just the stakeholders but also the public directly and openly, and that will be my approach to addressing a stadium and every other issue I face on council. As a member of the City Council, my number one priority related to this issue would be to protect the interests of residents and taxpayers. Q. Do you have any particular ideas on how the city can come to grips with the homeless problem? A. The good news is, we have models we know work. I have spent time with Connections Housing downtown, an all-in-one facility providing shelter, job training, mental health assistance, life coaching and so many more avenues to help individuals stabilize and plan for success. Now it’s our job to expand and replicate this success, which means continuing to identify and secure assistance from private, federal and state sources. The key is insisting on this remaining a major civic priority, and I will work to make sure that happens. Q. Have you decided on any particular initiatives that you would want to immediately tackle if you win election? A. History has taught us that there will be challenges in two years we don’t
see coming today. I want to help facilitate the ground-up creation of a whole new, exciting neighborhood in the East Village that will transform 70 city blocks from their underutilized state today. By that time, we are all hoping the Uptown, North Park and Golden Hill Community Plan Updates will be adopted, providing me the opportunity to help those communities implement their goals and objectives. Q. What endorsements have you received to date on your candidacy? A. I have the strong and early support of so many leaders we have known and trusted for years — women like (Assembly) Speaker Toni Atkins and former Sen. Christine Kehoe, who served District 3 admirably and care deeply about who will build on their efforts; honorable public servants like Donna Frye, Councilmember David Alvarez, and my own boss, Sen. Marty Block, who know my character and ability to do the job; and hundreds more from the community who are excited for the years ahead and the skills I would bring to the office — a full list is located at my website www.voteforward.com. Q. What, in your opinion, is your best personality trait? A. It’s a tie between open-mindedness and determination. People that know me in the community and professionally would attest I give 110 percent every day and respond as fast as humanly possible to input, stay on top of tasks to see them through to completion, and take everyone’s concerns with sincerity and appreciation. While staying true to my perspectives and progressive beliefs, I do get troubled by divisive and unproductive rhetoric and have always resolved to treat parties with whom I don’t agree with respect; I find that usually is reciprocated, and challenges can be worked through with better outcomes. I think we have a responsibility to do our best to find common ground and come up with new ways for everyone to benefit. And for that value, I believe my reputation is trustworthy and sincere.
February 2015 | northparknews.biz/digital | 5
UNION
Miller. “That was when I found a space on University Avenue, and I wanted to CONTINUED FROM Page 1 provide co-working space.” as high-speed Internet, common printThe locals were quick to embrace that ing facilities, parking discounts and first location, and as demand increased more. Miller opened the second location in While this cost is low — as far as what was formerly a bank (in fact, one offices go — Union Co Work’s space is of the private offices is the bank’s old plenty stylish. From clean, open work vault). This second office now serves a areas featuring walnut and steel desks variety of companies, from marketing crafted by local artists to a private con- and design firms to commodities ference room with Apple TV and Com- traders and BitCoin businesses. More cast, the space is laden with amenities. often than not, tenant reviews are posDuring breaks, tenants snack from a itive. full-size refrigerator in the back kitchen. “There’s definitely the serendipity of Outdoorsy types can step out to the meeting people you wouldn’t normally shaded garden patio, where a large table meet in a traditional office space,” said is flanked by garden beds bearing tan- Stephanie Hardman of Explore That gerines, lemons, limes and decorative Store, a digital marketing firm that spebotany. cializes in increasing clients’ online presBack inside, the overall feel of the ence. “There isn’t that awkward elevator space is modern-rustic and just eclectic situation here.” enough for the North Park set with an Being in the heart of North Park on-trend mixture of metal, wood and doesn’t hurt either. Many tenants find glass surfaces. Color makes an appear- that their clients are excited to travel to ance as needed, particuNorth Park, often for larly via bold orange meetings at Caffe Calstools in the kitchen and abria, located next door. a chevron-style wall near Others simply enjoy the building’s entrance. being in such a lively Such style is partially community. the result of partnering "We really love this with creative agency and neighborhood and the Union Co Work tenant businesses around it,” said Oui Will; it is also the Paul Puey, co-founder of result of founder Miller’s Airbitz, a BitCoin wallet background in architecand business directory ture. The North Park reswith a mobile app and ident, who has lived in Union Co Work owner Jamie Web presence. “This interSan Diego since 2001, Miller. (Photo by Evelyn Moli- section is (supposedly) the graduated from The na, www.evelynmolina.com) busiest one in all of San NewSchool of ArchitecDiego. I can take a quick ture in East Village and is a licensed break and walk outside and see people architect in three states. It was, in fact, walking around. I feel the life around architecture that led him to launching me; I’m not on the third floor in an Union Co Work. office building in Sorrento Valley.” “I went out on my own as an architect Miller and his staff also embrace the and worked out of a coffee shop, and North Park neighborhood through then out of my house. Neither worked, community events. At the end of so I rented a desk at a company that November, Union Co Work on 30th used to be across the street from where Street held a Movember social event for the second Union Co Work is now,” said members and anyone in the commu-
A large open space is one of the features of Union Co Work.
Jamie Miller opened a second location at 3919 30th St. in July 2014.
The space is laden with amenities, including a private conference room with Apple TV and Comcast.
nity who cared to drop in. It wasn’t the first on-site event, nor will it be the last. “Sometimes there are pop-up parties,” said tenant Hardman. “Once, we were working late on a Friday and all of a sudden there was a DJ and food and art all around us. That was really fun.” A final plus for the location on 30th is Laurence Flamecourt, the personable and petite office manager who has been with Union Co Work since its early days in March 2013. Flamecourt is an extension of the brand’s tendency for embracing its community. “I know the tenants and I have a great connection with them because I think it’s important,” said Flamecourt. “I love people and I’m genuinely social, not fake.” North Park won’t be Miller’s last stop. While details are in limbo, he has revealed that Union Co Work will expand to up to 30 locations nationwide. The next installment in his growing empire will be an office space in Encinitas, estimated to open its doors by mid-2015. Beyond that, he plans to open locations in neighborhoods that possess a sense of community, using San Diego County’s northern neighbor as an analogy: “We’re not going to go to downtown Los Angeles. We’ll go to Pasadena instead.”
Once multiple locations are up and running, those with floating memberships will have access to all Union Co Work locations nationwide, a giant plus for those who travel for business. A final addition will be the launch of a monthly roundtable session created to bring innovators, leaders and business owners together in discussion. The first roundtable will be led by Bud-
dyTruck, a truck-sharing business not yet in San Diego, as well as Union Co Work tenants Airbitz and PostMates. “I love the idea of the connections people can make,” said Miller. “I want to have diversity. I want people to have a shared space.” For now, tenants are gladly sharing that space at the first and second of many Union Co Work spaces to come.
6 | northparknews.biz/digital | February 2015
Ahi Tataki.
northparknews.biz/digital Serving San Diego’s Premier Bungalow Communities Chairman/CEO Bob Page BobPage@sandiegometro.com
Shrimp Gyoza.
Bellly of the Beast ramen bowl.
Shane Gerde, general manager of UnderBelly II in North Park.
UNDERBELLY CONTINUED FROM Page 1
squid legs, beef tongue, quail eggs and chicken hearts and livers, while more traditional fare can also be found on the list. Such as beef sirloin, chicken thighs and vegetables. The Belly of the Beast ramen bowl remains a best-seller, which is made with a soft-boiled egg, char-stu belly, bacon, and kurobuta sausage, as are dumplings and pork buns (also made with pork belly), and served with pickled cucumber and ginger hoisin mayo. “People are usually pretty intimidated by hearing things like that,” Gerde said. “But once they try it, they’re hooked.” He also said many guests bring in friends, who — after a positive experience — prompt others to try more adventurous foods. “Most who take the plunge are really happy with it.” Those looking for UnderBelly’s original dishes can also find their favorites, including the famous ramen broth. Gerde said this is one of the best features,
offering food that’s timely, but without skimping on flavor. “We take a lot of time and effort, even though it’s quick,” he said. Each round of broth takes about 36 hours of prep and cook time — starting from scratch and avoiding shortcuts at all costs. “San Diego really has a love affair with quality meats, especially pork. That spurred our interest to make a quality broth,” he said. But the efforts don’t stop there. Rather than sticking to traditional ramen, UnderBelly puts its own spin on the cuisine, opting for something that’s just as delicious, but with a new twist. “We’ve found what we really like to make and stick with it,” Gerde said. “We take something we admire and make it our own. An homage to something traditional that we love.” By using local fare and incorporating it into recipes, the restaurant is also able to create “honest” dishes that are close to home. UnderBelly II is open seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Stop by at 3000 Upas St., or head to ch-projects.com for a full look at the menu.
Publisher Rebeca Page RebecaPage@sandiegometro.com Editor Manny Cruz Manny@sandiegometro.com Art Director Chris Baker cbaker@sandiegometro.com -----------------------------Writers/Columnists Todd Gloria Bart Mendoza Delle Willett Anna Lee Fleming Sara Wacker
House Ramen.
Underbelly Ramen.
Photography Manny Cruz Sande Lollis Letters/Opinion Pieces North Park News encourage letters to the editor and guest editorials. Please address correspondence to Manny@sandiegometro.com or mail to Manny Cruz. Please include a phone number, address and name for verification purposes; no anonymous letters will be printed. We reserve the right to edit letters and editorials for brevity and accuracy. Story ideas/Press Releases Do you have an idea for an article you would like to see covered in this newspaper? We welcome your ideas, calendar item listings and press releases. For breaking news, please call us at (619) 287-1865. For all other news items, please email Manny@sandiegometro.com.
Arsalun Tafazoli
Nathan Stanton
Larger UnderBelly CH Projects, helmed by restaurateurs Arsalun Tafazoli & Nathan Stanton, moved full steam ahead on their second UnderBelly outpost in North Park, paying homage to the prized porcine cut with a larger, breathtaking urban beacon on the corner of 30th & Upas within Architect Jonathan Segal’s North Parker.
ADDRESS PO Box 3679, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067 PHONE (858) 461-4484
North Park News distributes copies monthly to residents and businesses of North Park, South Park, Golden Hill and Normal Heights. The entire contents of North Park News is copyrighted, 2015, by REP Publishing, Inc. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without prior written consent. All rights reserved.
Patrons can order dishes skewered over a specialized Japanese Binchotan charcoal fire. (Photo by ZackBenson)
February 2015 | northparknews.biz/digital | 7
THE WORLD OF THEODOR GEISEL History Center exhibit shows the little-known personal work of the creator of Dr. Seuss The fantastical world created within his home. Characters with the corridors of Theodor Geisel’s wild, palm tree-like mind is inescapable to anyone that manes, vibrant birds, trees grew up with his books, penned that resemble San Diego’s under the iconic pseudonym native acacia trees and Dr. Seuss. bright landscapes fill the While as children we may pages of his famed chilhave feared a visit to the docdren’s books. Any San tor, imagining the world of Diegan can easily recognize pain that would be inflicted their city within those by a horrible, needle-wieldpages. ing monster, Dr. Seuss In return, San served as a wonderfully Diego pays homage wacky respite. Here’s a to Geisel year-round doctor whose sole purin the form of an pose was to tickle our eccentricallyfunny bone with his wit designed library and colorful imagination. in the heart of He was part of most chilthe UC San dren’s lives and his legacy Diego campus continues to live on that bears his throughout the world. name. Geisel His legacy is especially Library doesn’t just felt in one small corner serve as a place of the world — San Diego. study for students, Around 1953, Geisel it also is home to and his first wife Helen a large special collecmoved to La Jolla. There, tion of priceless ‘Cat Behind the Hat’ he wrote many of his manuscripts, most beloved and popuimagery and adverlar stories, including “Horton Hears a tisements that featured Geisel’s illustraWho!,” “The Cat in the Hat,” “How the tions. There’s also a yearly performance Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Green of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” Eggs and Ham.” He spent decades in San performed at the Old Globe Theatre. Diego, until he passed away in 1991. While we know Dr. Seuss for his cherWithin each of his book’s illustrations, ished children’s books, Theodor Geisel you can see pieces of the place he made was also a visual artist who spent a lot
of time creating what he called his “midnight paintings.” “He would work during the day, and at night the one thing he enjoyed doing more than anything was to relax by painting,” says Bill Dreyer, curator of the Seussian collection, The Art of Dr. Seuss. Dreyer has teamed up with the San Diego History Center for a special exhibition dedicated to Geisel’s personal art work. “Ingenious! The World of Dr. Seuss” features high-quality copies of his reproductions early works, paintings, sculptures, illustrations and neverbefore-seen work that highlight Geisel’s creative genius and unrelenting sense of whimsy. Unfortunately, original copies are never shown in public as per the request of his widow, Audrey. Still, the exhibition is fascinating and familiar to all those who know Geisel as Seuss but would love to get to know the man. “What is fascinating about this exhibition is that we’re highlighting a side of Dr. Seuss very few people are familiar with,” says Dreyer. “Everyone is familiar with his children’s books, but he also created a body of art work that has rarely, if ever, been exhibited to the public.” The exhibition offers a glimpse into Theodor Geisel as a person and artist. His humor is evident in many of the pieces. One, for example, features a bird woman lying in a coffin as she is talking on a telephone. The caption reads, “I’d love to go to the party but I'm absolutely dead.”
‘Raising Money for the Arts’
“The imagery we see in these paintings stretches beyond all pre-conceived notions of Dr. Seuss,” says Dreyer. “In some cases it’s a little risqué and has a bit of an adult humor and wit to it.” That same haughty bird woman serves as a vehicle for social commentary in a number of other pieces by Geisel. Dreyer explains that the bird woman mocks the arrogant upper class female socialites Geisel often encountered in La Jolla. The delightfully good natured ribbing was classic Geisel. The character is seen in 11 of Geisel’s paintings, six of them are on display at "Ingenious!" He also pays homage to San Diego in other pieces of art. Geisel’s home studio had a 180-degree view of the Pacific Ocean. Three of his midnight paintings appear to feature that view: “Firebird,” “Freebird” and “I Dreamed I was a Door-
man at the Hotel Del Coronado.” “You get the sense that his artworks were inspired by his view,” says Dreyer, who included a photo of Geisel in front of his window in the exhibition to make the connection. “They have that San Diego look and feel. A lot of his imagery and landscapes have a San Diego feeling.” With this exhibition, fans of Dr. Seuss are given the privilege to meet Theodor Geisel and the city he made his home in a way that feels personal and intimate. His personality shines through, and you'll be sure to walk away with a greater understanding of Geisel as a wholly unique visual artist. “Ingenious!” is on view through the end of 2015.
See more on pg. 8
8 | northparknews.biz/digital | February 2015
Theodor Geisel at his easel
Lion stroll
‘I dreamed I was a Doorman at the Hotel Del Coronado’
Martini Bird
‘Earth Friendly Lorax’
February 2015 | northparknews.biz/digital | 9
These North Park Girl Scouts recently stopped by Girl Scouts San Diego’s Balboa Park headquarters to pick up cookie marketing supplies. Pictured, back row, from left: Girl Scout Cadettes Molly, Abril and Reneé of Troop 4339; and front, Girl Scout Daisies Kaia and Maya of Troop 4035. Maya’s oversized box of Samoas touts the chocolate-coconut-caramel cookie’s 40th anniversary.
It’s Girl Scout Cookie Time! You can buy online for the first time
Our friendly neighborhood Girl Scouts are gladly helping residents stock up on America's favorite confection … Girl Scout cookies! Offerings include two brand new varieties — Rah-Rah Raisins and gluten-free Toffee-tastics — and returning favorites Thin Mints, Samoas, Do-si-dos, Trefoils and Tagalongs. Other new developments include the Digital Cookie program, through which Girl Scouts can sell cookies online for the first time, and the 40th anniversary of Samoa cookies. All proceeds from each $5 box stay local to help fund Girl Scout activities and programs. Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program — the world’s biggest girl-led business — girls like the members of North Park Troops 4339 and 4035 gain key skills like goal-setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics. They also help serve the military by inviting customers to donate to the Operation Thin Mint (OTM) campaign, in which deployed military troops receive cookies with “notes to show we care.” This year, Girl Scouts will celebrate sending the 2.5 millionth box of OTM cookies. Local cookie entrepreneurs include the Girl Scouts of North Park, Kensington, Mission Hills, South Park, University Heights and surrounding communities comprising Girl Scouts San Diego’s Park Hills Service Unit (volunteer support cluster). The service unit is home to nearly 1,000 girl and adult members — among them, the Girl Scout Cadettes of Troop 4339. The girls have big plans for their earnings, including a special trip. “We’re saving up go to Hawaii!” said seventh grader Renee, adding that while there, they will “bridge,” or transition to the next program level: Girl Scout Seniors. Her troop also recently used cookie proceeds to create holiday stocking care packages for the military. Parents and volunteers appreciate the Girl Scout Cookie Program as much as the girls. “I really love the cookie season because it's an opportunity to teach our Girl Scouts so many valuable skills that benefit them for years to come,” said troop leader Sheila Cavanaugh. She and her husband Chad have two Girl Scout daughters —Shelby (Troop 4339) and Kaia (Daisy Troop 4035).
“They learn that hard work really does pay off,” Sheila explained. “The girls earn great rewards, plus the funds we raise go towards troop supplies and fun adventures. This year, we plan to ‘give back’ by donating funds and supplies to help the San Diego House Rabbit Society, which is San Diego’s first all-bunny animal shelter to help rescued bunnies.” Chad, also a Girl Scout volunteer, agrees that the program is a positive experience. “It’s extremely valuable — way more than just eating and selling cookies,” he said. “The cookie program gives girls an opportunity to learn values and skills, like how to speak in public and how to approach people … how to handle rejection with grace when they are told ‘no.’ And I love that through cookies, the girls get to collectively earn money as a troop so they can go and have fun experiences.
BY JANINE ROJAS
“Our oldest daughter Shelby went with her whole troop to San Francisco for their (Juniors to Cadette) bridging ceremony. Cookie money paid for the whole trip.” Chad noted that the girls are excited about earning funds for their upcoming Hawaii trip. The troop has used proceeds for excursions to Legoland and to see the Broadway musical “Wicked.” The cookie program ends on Sunday, March 8. New Girl Scouts and adult volunteers are welcome to join the cookie season action, as well as participate in Girl Scouting adventures year-round. To sign up, contact Alex Metz, (619) 610-0793, or ametz@sdgirlscouts.org. For more information, visit the Girl Scouts San Diego website, www.sdgirlscouts.org.
Girl Scout volunteer Chad Cavanaugh and daughter Kaia appreciate how the cookie program funds local Girl Scouting adventures.
10 | northparknews.biz/digital | February 2015
Former Qualcomm Vice Chairman Launches New Music Gig With Son GigTown app used for booking local musicians Steve Altman, chief architect of Qualcomm Inc.’s technology licensing strategy, retired in January from his post as vice chairman, but he’s got a new gig in town that he’s launching with son Andy. It’s called, appropriately, GigTown LLC, a company developing a new mobile application designed to simplify the process of booking live local musicians for parties, events and other gatherings. The company announced this week that it is conducting a large-scale trial of the app. After the trial phase, it would be made commercially available first in San Diego and then move to other major music markets throughout the U.S. in 2015. The app allows users to easily browse musicians, listen to their featured songs and view video footage of performances. Users simply set their location, choose the date and time of the event, select an available artist, and submit a booking
request. Altman, who spent 25 years with Qualcomm, and Andy, who is in the JD/MBA program at the University of San Diego, are both passionate fans of local music. They saw a need for a simple and easy way to discover local artists and hire them to perform. “We’re thrilled to launch GigTown and propel local music and the musicians behind it,” said Andy. “People have the perception that booking music is complex, time-consuming, and expensive. However, with GigTown, it’s easier than ever to discover and book talented local musicians.” GigTown was developed to put the power of booking in the hands of consumers. The founders say it sets itself apart with its simplicity and clear pricing structure. Artists set their own hourly rates, which includes setup, takedown, basic sound equipment and tip, so users know exactly what
San Diego musician Ryan Hiller, serves on the Musician Advisory Board for GigTown. He said he is confident that the app has the power to be a disruptive force in the music industry. “This app will connect musicians with fans in a totally unprecedented and revolutionary way,” said Hiller. Following the trial phase, the app will be available in the iOS App Store mid-January and will be available for Android shortly after. Altman joined Qualcomm in 1989 as a young lawyer, moving up from general counsel, head of technology licensing, president of the company and then vice chairman. He played a key role in getting the company’s CDMA technology established in the market. It is now used in many of today’s 3G and 4G smartphones. Through the first nine months of Qualcomm’s fiscal year, technology licensing made up $5.9 billion of the company’s $18.3 billion in revenue.
they will pay with no additional fees. Independent GigTown musicians range from solo guitarists to 12-piece bands and vary widely in price, from $25 per hour to over $4,000 per hour. From signed Pacific Record artists to newlydiscovered talent, the diversity of musicians offered on GigTown is endless, according to the founders. “I always enjoyed discovering new artists by watching shows like ‘The Voice’ and ‘American Idol’”, said Steve Altman. “As amazingly talented as these musicians are, I found it equally amazing that they were unable to earn enough money in the music profession to follow their passion. “When Andy and I thought about the idea behind GigTown, we knew we were onto something. By making it easier for music fans to discover and book local music, the market for live music expands greatly, enabling talented and creative musicians to pursue their dreams.”
Former Qualcomm Vice Chairman Steve Altman and his son, Andy, have launched a new company developing a mobile application for booking local musicians.
A screenshot of the Gigtown app.
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February 2015 | northparknews.biz/digital | 11
12 | northparknews.biz/digital | February 2015
NEW EYE IN THE SKY A new telescope will let San Diego State University astronomers see farther into the universe than ever before BY MICHAEL PRICE |SDSU NEWSCENTER
You couldn’t ask for a much better spot for gazing into the heavens than the Laguna Mountains in eastern San Diego County. At 6,100 feet above sea level, you’re above a good chunk of the ground-level atmosphere that occludes a telescope’s view. The weather is clear most days of the year, and the calm westerly winds keep the air smooth, like the surface of an undisturbed pond. It’s far enough away from civilization that light pollution is minimal, yet San Diego State University’s Mount Laguna Observatory is only about an hour’s drive from the main campus. “I would argue that in the continental United States, we have the best astronomical site,” said Allen Shafter, professor and chair of the SDSU astronomy department. What has always been an outstanding site for astronomical research just got even better, thanks to the addition of the brand new 1.25meter (about 50-inch) Phillips Claud Telescope. The $1.5 million state-of-the-art instrument was made possible by a gift from the late amateur astronomer and philanthropist Phillips L. Claud Jr., who funded more than half of the telescope’s cost. The Claud Telescope is a reflecting telescope, meaning it uses precisely polished curved mirrors to reflect light and form an image. There is no magnifying lens. While it can’t compete with the world’s largest reflecting telescopes, which measure around 10 meters in diameters, the Claud Telescope is about 10 inches larger in diameter than the 40-inch instrument that was formerly the observatory’s largest. Because a telescope’s light-gathering power grows
The Phillips Claud Telescope.
exponentially with the surface area of its primary mirror, the new telescope is approximately 50 percent more powerful than the older 40-inch telescope. In other words, it’s a dramatic upgrade for the Mount Laguna Observatory, one that will allow SDSU’s astronomers to see farther and more clearly into the night sky than before, as well as encourage students to hone their stargazing skills. High on the Mountain SDSU’s astronomy department is one of only a handful of universities around the
Robert Quimby, associate professor of astronomy and director of the Mount Laguna Observatory.
world that operates its own mountaintop observatory. Including the Claud, the observatory has four operable telescopes, two of which are considered to be “research-grade.” A couple of rustic, cabin-like apartments are available to guests, but most researchers and graduate students stay overnight in a windowless fireproof bunker, complete with a science fiction library, a spartan collection of VHS tapes (including, naturally, the original “Star Wars” trilogy), and a Nintendo
Entertainment System. The dome for the Claud Telescope was originally built to house an experimental “ULTRA” (Ultra Lightweight Technology for Research in Astronomy) telescope using a polished carbon-fiber mirror. Around 2005, it became apparent that this speculative technology just wasn’t going to work. Wanting to advance SDSU’s astronomical research capabilities — and not wanting to waste a perfectly good building and dome — Shafter and others in the department, including former department chair Paul Etzel, sought funding for a new telescope, which led to the Claud. One of the biggest strengths of the new telescope is that it is designed to be robotic and remotely operable. That means astronomers won’t have to physically be up at Mount Laguna to point the telescope and collect data. “Having a remote facility enables us to have a modern observing campaign,” said Robert Quimby, associate professor of astronomy and the observatory’s newly hired director. The young astronomer is notable for having discovered several of the brightest supernovae ever observed, as well as for his ongoing research into why some of these supernovae are up to 100 times brighter than average. Observing Time Remote, robotic capabilities make it easier for Quimby and his colleagues to do longitudinal astronomical studies, which are important for many cutting-edge lines of research. For example, with Quimby’s super-
Professor Allen Shafter, chair of the SDSU astronomy department.
nova research, he doesn’t need to watch the same point in the sky for hours at a time. He would rather observe a single point for a couple minutes per day over the course of a few months, freeing up the telescope for other astronomers who want to observe their own coordinates. The Claud Telescope makes this possible, although it will be some time before the instrument becomes fully robotic. “Limited observing time simply is not an issue here, unlike at some other facilities,” Shafter said. Shafter and Quimby said that although the Claud Telescope probably isn’t large enough to beat bigger telescopes in detecting any new secrets of the galaxy, it can pay closer attention to discoveries that the world’s enormous telescopes just don’t have the time to follow up on. “To do quality research, you don’t have to look deeper and further than the other guys,” Quimby said. “You just have to be there at the right place and the right time.” (This story is featured in the fall 2014 issue of 360:The Magazine of San Diego State University.)
February 2015 | northparknews.biz/digital | 13
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14 | northparknews.biz/digital | February 2015 Car-Sharing car2go Brings New Electric Fleet to San Diego
San Diego members of the car-sharing company car2go will be able drive new, more powerful 2014 models of Daimler smart fortwo electric vehicles starting Wednesday. The company said 400 of the new vehicles are now available to its 33,000 local members. The previous fleet dated to 2010. “San Diego is fast becoming the nation’s electric vehicle capital, and with the largest electric car-sharing fleet in the nation, we are proud to continue our commitment in pre-
serving the local environment of our great city,” said Will Berry, car2go San Diego Location Manager. “The new 2014 vehicles, while maintaining the zero-emissions footprint, have a much smoother acceleration, and overall, a more comfortable car2go driving experience that our members will truly enjoy,” Berry said. Since its launch in 2011, the company has tallied over 1,000,000 trips in the San Diego area. Car2go is a subsidiary of Daimler AG, the maker of Mercedes-Benz automobiles. -- Times of San Diego
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February 2015 | northparknews.biz/digital | 15
Arts & Crafts Furniture and Objects of Art Arts & Crafts Homes and the Revival BY PATRICIA POORE
The oak sideboard reproduces a Gustav Stickley design of 1902; from today’s Stickley.
Many people are uncomfortable buying furniture — and not only because of the cost. Here is some basic advice: 1. Embrace what you love and can live with long-term. 2. Buy good furniture, even if it means living with folding chairs and patio wicker while you save to buy one high-quality piece a year. Later on, you can move the wicker from the living room to the porch. 3. Take cues from the age and style of the house. You may not want to live in a museum, but furnishing in sync with the date and design vocabulary of the house is a shortcut to non-faddish rooms that “look right.” Your house is giving you clues, so you might as well start there.
A period classic — a Morris chair, a spindle daybed — can anchor a room. Do mix in antiques to avoid the boring, matched-set look of some contemporary interiors. Antiques add history and personality to a room, but many times they are not practical — as with chairs that are used every day, for example. “The majority of collectors we know are happy buying new objects to put alongside their antiques,” says Aminy Audi, president and owner of Stickley, a company of the original Craftsman period, which the Audis revived. Reproductions are great for hardworking rooms and when you need a full set. Seek out specialty suppliers and artisans who do reproduction or adapted styles. Arts & Crafts-period homes are forgiving of an eclectic approach.
Right from the beginning, the house probably mixed Craftsman and Colonial Revival motifs in woodwork, and certainly in the furniture. Sturdy colonial-era classics (like benches and Windsor chairs), rustic furnishings, wicker, iron, and more typical Arts & Crafts styles work together. Rectilinear Stickley-type furniture also marries well with Modern furniture. To get an integrated, usable room at reasonable cost, many people mix good-enough pieces with reissues of classic designs, future heirlooms, and antiques. Vocabularies For years, a growing number of artisans and manufacturers has been offering period-inspired furniture, as well as such decorative SEE FURNITURE, Page 16
An original Gustav Stickley Morris chair in fumed oak at Craftsman Farms, Stickley’s home in New Jersey.
16 | northparknews.biz/digital | February 2015
FURNITURE CONTINUED FROM Page 15
pieces as pottery and art prints. The work includes documentary reproductions (near copies of original pieces). Many more artisans create interpretive new designs, with allusions to previous Arts & Crafts styles and also such earlier American furniture as that produced by the Shakers. As was true 100 years ago, there are many lan-
guages of Arts & Crafts. British work (by Godwin, Voysey, and Mackintosh) is often more delicate, and later work leans toward Art Nouveau. American Craftsman pieces by Stickley and the Roycrofters are sturdy and rectilinear; Wright’s Prairie School designs are proto-Modern, like the reproduction Barrel chair below; Greene and Greene’s are strongly Japanesque. German, Austrian, Russian, and Swedish influence may be present. This diversity continues.
North Park Theatre and West Coast Tavern Sold David Cohen and the Verant Group, who bought the North Park Theatre in 2013 from the bankrupt Lyric Opera San Diego, have sold it to SD Observatory LLC. The West Coast Tavern was also part of the sale. That group is the owner of the Orange County concert venue “The Observatory.” “SD Observatory promises a seamless transition, but adds that there will be a lot more buzz in town, with big names in entertainment lined up to draw audiences in from all areas of San Diego and beyond,” according to a statement from the Verant Group’s publicist, William Lopez. Cohen and the Verant Group, who also sold their restaurant at the front of the theater, the West Coast Tavern, to Observatory LLC, had already removed the theater’s seats
and brought in pop acts. But Verant also allowed room for organizations like the San Diego Musical Theatre and the LGBT Film Festival. In an interview in December, Cohen had expressed a desire to balance and broaden the theater’s offerings even further. Cohen released a statement through Lopez: “Deciding to sell the property was not an easy one, as both of these venues are near and dear to us. But I know that under this particular new ownership, both establishments will reach new levels of success, and that is not only good for the businesses themselves, it will also greatly benefit the community of North Park as a whole.”
Community and Board Meetings
A Rohlfs-inspired tabouret holds a jardinière with a lily-of-the-valley motif; both represent new work available at Nest & Co.
In a 1906 California bungalow, the dining room is furnished with antique oak pieces and plein-air paintings, Native American baskets, and a bowl chandelier by Michael Adams of Aurora Studios. Photo: William Wright
Greater Golden Hill Community Development Corp. The CDC normally meets at 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of the month at the Golden Hill Recreation Center, 2600 Golf Course Drive. Email: info@goldenhillcdc.org.
each month. The Historical Society conducts research and educational outreach in order to facilitate preservation of North Park's cultural and architectural history. For more information, visit www.northparkhistory.org.
Greater Golden Hill Planning Committee meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month at the Balboa Golf Course clubhouse, 2600 Golf Course Drive. For information, call (619) 533-5284.
The South Park Business Group meets on the last Wednesday of each month at 8:30 a.m. at Alchemy Restaurant, 30th & Beech. The SPBG is comprised of business owners with storefronts and service businesses located in South Park. The organization produces the quarterly South Park Walkabouts and the annual Old House Fair. For more information, call (619) 233-6679 or email PBG@lucyslist.net.
The North Park Redevelopment Project Area Committee meets at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at the Lafayette Hotel, 2223 El Cajon Blvd. Meetings focus on redevelopment projects in construction or planning. For information, visit sandiego.gov/redevelopment-agency. The North Park Main Street board meets at 7 a.m. the second Wednesday of the month at its storefront office, 3076 University Ave. North Park Main Street has more than 250 members, primarily businesses paying annual assessments in the city-authorized North Park BID. For information, call 294-2501. The North Park Maintenance Assessment District Committee normally meets at 6 p.m. the second Monday of every other month at North Park Community Adult Center, 2719 Howard Ave. The North Park Planning Committee meets meets at 6:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month at North Park Christian Fellowship, 2901 North Park Way. The committee is an advisory group to the city on North Park land use, including the general plan, infrastructure and density. For information, visit northparkplanning.org. The North Park Community Association meets from 6 to 8 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Lafayette Hotel, 2223 El Cajon Blvd. The Community Association provides a forum for issues and concerns about public safety, education, land use, public facilities and services, commercial revitalization, community image and cultural activities. For more information, visit www.northparksd.org. In a 1915 Prairie-influenced Foursquare, the home of an avid collector, antiques include the sideboard, dining table, and chairs, all early pieces by Stickley. The reproduction rug is a Voysey design. Photo: Edward Addeo
The North Park Historical Society meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. the third Thursday of
The University Heights Community Association meets at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of the month in the auditorium of Birney Elementary School, 4345 Campus Ave. For information, call 297-3166. The Adams Avenue Business Association board of directors normally meets at 7:30 a.m. the first Tuesday of the month at the Normal Heights Community Center, 4649 Hawley Blvd. For time, place and more information, call (619) 282-7329 or visit adamsaveonline.com. The Kensington/Talmadge Planning Group meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month at Kensington Community Church, 4773 Marlborough Drive. For information, call 287-3157. The Lions Club of North Park meets for lunch every Wednesday from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the club, 3927 Utah St. Prospective members are welcome to enjoy their first lunch on the club. For information, call (619) 692-0540. Uptown Rotary welcomes prospective members at its 7 a.m. Thursday breakfasts at Jimmy Carter’s Mexican Café, 3172 Fifth Ave. For more, call (619) 500-3229 or visit sdurotary.org. The North Park Recreation Council meets at 6 p.m. the fourth Monday of every other month at North Park Recreation Center, 4044 Idaho St. For information, call 235-1152.
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February 2015 | northparknews.biz/digital | 19
By Bart Mendoza
Music That Touches the Soul Troubadour Tom Brousseau stops in at Java Joe’s on Feb. 28. A former San Diego resident, Brosseau returns on a regular basis and the beloved performer’s shows are never less than events. Currently touring in support of his new single, “Roll Along With Me,” Brosseau’s profile has been raised in recent years via work with actor John C. Reilly as well as a starring role in indie film, “Wonder Valley,” but it’s his music that continues to touch the soul and set hearts aflutter. If you’re jaded at the thought of hearing yet another guy with an acoustic guitar, rest assured, Brosseau is the real deal, continually setting the bar higher for all the other singer-songwriters who follow. Tom Brousseau: Feb. 28 at Java Joe’s, 3536 Adams Ave., 8 p.m. All ages. www.javajoessd.com
The Bassics Deliver an Explosion of Sound It’s been awhile since a new band got San Diego’s rock fans truly excited, but South Bay quartet The Bassics are that good. Taking a sonic template from the likes of The Jam, The Who and other like-minded combos, this sharp-suited mod group delivers an explosion of sound, with truly ace originals and a winning stage presence. Their youthful energy comes naturally — some of the bands members are still in high school. The Bassics perform at the Kensington Club on Feb. 21, opening up for a new project from San Diego legend, Ron Silva, a great mix of the well established and the promisingly new. The Bassics: Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Kensington Club, 4079 Adams Ave, 10 p.m. 21 and up. Cover TBD
Echoes of Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan and Earth, Wind & Fire Louis Brazier has been pulling in some amazing bookings at Lestat’s in recent months and Feb. 26 sees the venue bring in another top tier talent: soul, jazz and funk group The Hipstones. With shared male/female vocals from Australians Mark Palmer and Anthea White, you’ll hear echoes of Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan and Earth, Wind & Fire in the seven-piece group’s smooth, groove-filled sound. At their best, such as on funky dance number “Spread It Around,” their tunes capture the spirit of their influences, with well-written songs that hit their mark. The Hipstones: Feb. 26 at Lestats, 3343 Adams Ave. 9 p.m. All ages. Cover TBD. www.Lestats.comm
Surf’s Up at Bar Pink
Wilson’s Music is a Perfect Soundtrack
North Park may not be terribly close to the ocean, but at least once a week, surf’s up at Bar Pink with their Tiki Tuesday nights. On Feb. 15, the club will host a set from instrumental surf rockers Alvino & The Dwells, featuring guitarist David Fleminger and the Suarez brothers, Tony and Didier. The band excels at obscure genre gems and even a few of the hits, but in a way that’s almost secondary — the main attraction here is Fleminger’s death-defying fretwork. Simply one of the best musicians to ever call San Diego home, his musicianship can be awe inspiring and is definitely worth this mid-week stop at Bar Pink
Normandie Wilson’s Wednesday afternoon residency at the Lafayette Hotel has been extended through at least May. With her stylish ‘60s gowns and repertoire of classics from the likes of Bacharach, Jobim and more, Wilson music is the perfect soundtrack for the Lafayette’s spacious lobby. A low-key affair, her music is the perfect way to take a pause from the midweek hustle and bustle — just pull up to one of the venues couches and have a listen. Whether you like classic tunes or just need a momentary getaway, Normandie Wilson’s music will take you there.
Alvino & The Dwells: Saturday, Feb. 15. Bar Pink, 3829 30th St. 9 p.m. 21 and up. Free. www.barpink.com
Normandie Wilson: Every Wednesday at The Lafayette Hotel, 2223 El Cajon Blvd. 4 p.m. All ages. Free
20 | northparknews.biz/digital | February 2015