Serving San Diego’s Premier Urban Communities for 22 Years Vol. 22 No. 12 December 2014
Vol. 22 No. 12 December 2014
Portrait of an Artist
BY DELLE WILLETT
Duke Windsor finds mystery, drama in North Park alleys
Erin Holko in her shop, Bee Happy Beekeeping Supply. (Photo by Delle Willett)
Don’t Worry, Bee Happy Erin Holko’s beekeeping store is a honey BY DELLE WILLETT
“By now, most of us have heard that the honeybees of the world are in trouble. Not as many know what they can do about it,” said Erin Holko, owner of Bee Happy Beekeeping Supply. “But I’d like to change that.” Holko started a buzz in November, opening Bee Happy at 2637 University Ave. in North Park with the goal of making it easy for people to help the honeybees. She wants to show people what they can do even in their small backyard that will have a big impact on the bees. Her slogan is, “Helping the honey bees, one backyard at a time.” Many are surprised to learn that honeybees can be safely (and legally) kept
within the city of San Diego. Holko’s bee boutique is swarming with beekeeping supplies geared toward small-scale, urban beekeepers. She carries everything to get a new beekeeper started, as well as to maintain a productive hive. A new beekeeper can get started for less than $200. “With my shop, people won’t have to buy beekeeping supplies on line. Plus, they can stop in to ask questions, tell us all about their honeybees, and take their supplies home that day,” she said. Holko, 35, encourages families to get into the hobby together. She stocks childsize beekeeping suits and encourages kids SEE BEE, Page 8
When Duke Windsor wakes up in the morning he can choose who he wants to be that day: a musician, a 4thdegree Black Belt, an artist, an opera singer, an exhibit planner and designer, an art teacher, a U.S. Marine veteran, a student. He can choose because he is all of these and more. An African-American, Windsor was born in 1960 as Lester Colleen Tumblin in Texarkana, Texas, into a poor family with a single mother who eventually had 11 children. “I was the sixth child in the family, with three older brothers ‘I never thought of art being a career. It was just and two older We something I did,’ says sisters. Windsor. ‘My art teacher were so poor tried to get me to see my that the welpotential; he was a chamfare system pion of my work.’ could not support the care of one more child,” said Windsor. So when he was 3 years old, he was adopted by his aunt and uncle into the Windsor household. “I vividly remember the judge at the hearing asking me if I wanted to live with them. I later knew and understood that this adoption insured me of a better life. I was never without food or clothing, had new shoes every year, and my Christmas was always full
Overhead wires dominate the painting of this North Park alley by Windsor.
of joy, fun and lots of toys,” said Wind- and warplanes. He copied N. C. sor. Wyeth’s paintings from “Treasure As part of the Windsor family he Island” and was fascinated by Norman was free to develop his talents. By the SEE DUKE, Page 4 age of 5 he was sketching battleships
Connections Frankie Webb takes a shine to countless judges and lawyers BY MARTIN KRUMING
More than half a century ago, at age 16, Frankie Webb started shining shoes in a barber shop at 50th and Imperial Avenue. On Nov. 30 he turned 61 and for the past 16 years he’s been shining shoes at his stand in the Men’s Shoe Department of Nordstrom in Fashion Valley. “I found my niche,” says Webb, who grew up in Southeast San Diego and over the years has shined the shoes of countless judges and lawyers as well as Herb Klein, former communications director in the Nixon White House, former San Diego City Councilman George Stevens and businessmen John Mabee and Robert McNeely. As for Stevens, “he showed me how to shine shoes” because that’s what he did to put himself through college. “He shined my shoes.”
But it’s the lawyers and judges who have been a big part of Frankie’s customer base. Some, such as retired U.S. Magistrate Judge Bill McCurine, came to know Frankie as a friend though other connections. When Frankie set up different stands Downtown in the basement of the Westgate Hotel and the Marston Building, he had “lots of lawyers.” He later took over the shoeshine booth at Eighth Avenue and C Street for a veteran shoeshiner named Amos, who was known by “most of the legal community.” Frankie even opened up a stand at Ace Uniform and Accessories, where he shined shoes for many of the police officers attending funerals and other formal ceremonies. “They would get their shoes shined because that was protoSEE WEBB, Page 5
Frankie Webb at work.
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Ask Dr. Z Why does the optometrist say contact with it before storing in the not to rinse my contacts or solution. Do not use just saline. Use fresh solution daily. After putting contheir case in water? tacts in your eye, dump out old solution Many of us contact wearers are told in the case, rinse with solution and rub to use the contact solutions, but not the inside of the case. Then store upside really told how to clean our cases, what down to drain, lids off. Boil case weekly, to do if it comes out and there is no and replace case every three months. If you swim or go into a hot tub, wear solution around, etc. So most of us have made the mistake goggles or take out your contacts. of rinsing our cases with tap water, or using it to wet the contact to put it back I heard mistletoe and poinsetin the eye in case of emergency. Unfor- tias are poisonous. Is it true? tunately, this carries a small but very Yes, for mistletoe, and sort of for serious risk of infection with Acanthamoeba. This little bug is an amoeba, poinsettias! This holiday season, please which sticks to the eye. It is everywhere keep your pets and small children away there is water — hot tubs, bath tubs, from these plants. Mistletoe poisoning showers, chlorinated pools, sinks, wells, causes severe vomiting and diarrhea, rivers, etc. It can get in your eye when- stomach pain, blurred vision, and weakever water gets in your eye, or on your ness. Call poison control and go to the ER. contacts. Poinsettia exposure is actually more Fortunately, most contact cleaning solutions (or multi-purpose solutions) of an irritant. It causes burning and redare designed to kill these bugs provided ness to the mouth, tongue, throat, rash you rub the contact with them before wherever it was touched, and vomiting storing. No-rub solutions are not pro- with stomach pain if swallowed. Call poison control, but usually rinsing out tective. Symptoms include a red and painful the mouth with water will suffice unless eye after you take out your contacts, severe. tearing, light sensitivity, blurred vision, Remember, open enrollment for and a feeling something is in your eye. It feels similar to pink eye, so only an medical coverage runs through Feb. optometrist can do the slit lamp test to 15. If you don’t sign up, there will be a penalty on 2015 taxes of up to 3 perknow for sure. If you get treated for pink eye and cent of your income. are not better in days, go to see your Dr. Tara Zandvliet welcomes your optometrist. If not treated promptly, this can cause permanent damage to questions. Send them to questions@ southparkdoctor.com. She practices at your eyes. To prevent: always wash hands before 2991 Kalmia St. Phone: (619) 929-0032. touching contacts. Never use water or homemade saline solution. Use a disinfecting solution at night, and rub the
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DUKE
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Rockwell’s covers for The Saturday Evening Post. From his family Bible he copied the art in pencil. His favorites were “Daniel in the Lion’s Den,” “Jacob Sacrificing Isaac,” and one he will never forget— “The Destruction of Jerusalem.” “As a kid I won many awards in poster contests, art shows, and the Four State Fair. One of my first sculptures was a 36-inch-long, double-mast sailing ship made completely out of tooth picks,” said Windsor. His skill as an artist was recognizable because he mixed his own colors on his first paint-by-number set, finding what came with it to be incorrect. In the third grade he started selling art for extra lunch money to kids that needed it for class projects. This continued on into high school, where he was voted “Most Talented.” “I never thought of art being a career. It was just something I did. My art teacher tried to get me to see my potential; he was a champion of my work. His wife even bought one of my early acrylic paintings,” said Windsor. His other love is music. By the age of 10 Windsor was playing the saxophone and was vocal soloist in the choir. In high school he was a Texas All-state choir finalist tenor. A lifelong student, he’s currently taking classes in blues guitar and still studying the saxophone. He can be seen singing opera while working on a painting in a YouTube video called “Opera Singing Artist Creates Abstract Masterpiece Paintings.” When high-school hopes fell through for acceptance to Southern Methodist University to study music, Windsor opted for the U.S. Marines, joining at age 17 in the beginning of his senior year. “As a low-income kid who wanted to make something of myself, my only other option to get out of Texarkana and do something meaningful was to join the Marines and serve my country. So that’s what I did,” said Windsor. (He later
Windsor at work in his ‘lab.’
received a two-year offer to study music at Stephen F. Austin University, which he was not available to accept.) Windsor left for boot camp in San Diego the day after graduation, May 1978. During his 10-year tour of duty he was a combat illustrator, having received extensive training in illustration, graphic design and photography with dark-room work. He graduated at the top of his class. Also during his life as a Marine he began training as a martial artist, studying Shito Ryu Karate and later studying at the American Schools of Shaolin Kempo where he became an assistant instructor. Eventually, he opened his own school, Windsor Kempo Club and Kickboxing Fitness, in North Park, which he had until closing in 2004. He is a 4th-Degree Black Belt in Kempo and is currently studying Aikido at Jiai Aikido. When Windsor’s Marine brothers saw his last name on his locker they changed “Lester” to “Duke.” When he began marketing his paintings, signing them “Duke,” he accepted his new identity, and in 1995 legally changed his name. In the 1990s, Windsor spent years as a “starving artist” and finally decided he liked having money, food on the table, nice clothes on his back, and a better place to live. So while he was teaching martial arts in the evening, he took parttime, temporary day jobs working on exhibits at various museums in Balboa Park, and continued to work at home on his paintings. In 2007 he took a fulltime position as director of exhibits at the USS Midway. During his years as a starving artist he lived in North Park (1994–2004) and discovered the beauty of North Park’s alleys and ultimately developed a series, “Alleys of North Park,” now called “Urbanscapes.” “There’s some kind of drama in those alleys that attracted me — a feeling of mystery,” he said. Since doing his alley series he has also created “Men at Work,” “Contemporary Landscapes,” “Jewels” and “Sidewalks.” Today, Windsor continues to create art in his Lemon Grove “lab” where he
experiments with a variety of techniques in unique combinations to create new exciting concepts and ideas. Windsor is a former member of the Fine Art Society Mentor Program (formerly, ARTPulse Gallery, now closed). His past mentor, Norm Gil of Los Angeles, coached him to step out of his comfort zone and get into abstracts. “I was reluctant, but now I’m a lot more confident with abstract painting. I’ve become a braver artist, thanks to Norm Gil,” said Windsor. My abstracts are really natural abstracts, they are representational at the same time as being abstracts, zooming in on the details of my alleys.” “After spending time as an abstract painter, I found when I return to representational pieces, I am much freer with my vision of color, and line when composing — like a classical musician set free to play jazz,” said Windsor. Windsor’s work was recently selected by The San Diego International Airport Art Program, which was seeking artists to exhibit original artwork in celebration of the centennial of the Panama-California Exposition. The exhibit is installed in the presecurity area of Terminal 2, so it can be viewed by all visitors through December 2015. Windsor’s paintings on display are all from his “Urbanscapes” series that features the alleys of North Park: “Golden Garages,” “Wired,” “To the Ocean,” and “Sidewalk Serenity.” To say who is his favorite artist gets more difficult every time he is asked. “I’m a student of the masters, so I have many favorites for all different reasons. Today it would probably be Jack Whitten, a New York City artist, because he has lived through the period of Abstract Expressionism, POP, and Modern Art, and yet today remained true to his ideals of art. And as an AfricanAmerican from the south, he has experienced the freedom art has played in his life, as it has in mine.”
Windsor’s artistic tribute to Balboa Park.
Windsor’s depiction of North Park ‘Golden Garages.’
Duke Windsor’s ‘Sidewalk Serenity’ offers a unique view of an ordinary street and sidewalk scene.
‘To the Ocean’ by Duke Windsor.
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col,” he noted. But it was the lawyers and judges with whom Frankie connected the most. “They supported my efforts in shining shoes.” “I’m an average home boy who has gone through the ranks,” said Frankie, who didn’t let a speech impediment stop him from communicating with customers. “I keep it simple. I rejoice. I look forward to coming to work.” His son is a Marine at 29 Palms, having served in Afghanistan; his daughter is in college. Presidential Library Close to Home Presidential libraries are located around the country but the closest one for San Diegans is the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, less than a two-hour drive away. Nixon’s connections to San Diego were significant. After the Dita Beard/ITT scandal broke, Republicans moved their National Convention in 1972 out of San Diego to Miami Beach which provided the opportunity for then-Mayor Pete Wilson to come up with American’s Finest City Week, a week-long series of civic activities. The unofficial tag, “America’s Finest City,” stuck. Wilson, after service in the Marine Corps, went on to become a California Assemblyman, San Diego mayor, U.S. senator and California governor, and it was during his term as mayor that Horton Plaza and Downtown redevelopment began.
“It’s hard to imagine a world without Richard Nixon,” said Wilson on the passing of the former president in 1994. He was also one of several eulogists for Nixon’s wife, Pat, during a service for her in 1993. An exhibit called “Play Ball: Presidents and Baseball” was featured recently at the Nixon Library and included at least two references to San Diego ballplayers — Hall of Famer Ted Williams and Steve Garvey, pictured playing first base in a photo with Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds, who has yet to make in into the Baseball Hall of Fame. A visit to the Nixon Library and Museum is well worth the drive. Then continue north to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. How to Motivate People At the University of San Diego last month, Professor Susan Fowler addressed a packed auditorium on “Why Motivating People Doesn’t Work … and What Does.” She believes they’re already motivated; leaders only need to discover what motivates them and turn that into a positive. It’s all about taking the time to connect with people. Once you learn what motivates people, you then link that knowledge with their values and principles. She cited this example: While addressing a crowd of about 300 persons in Malaysia, she had everyone stand up and answer a series of questions. The one who answered all the questions won an iPod. It turned out to be a gentleman who was so overwhelmed that he accepted the prize and broke into karaoke singing. He was the center of attention.
During lunch, Fowler discovered that the fellow wanted to return the iPod because he had cheated. His motivation was money and15 seconds of fame. However, his principles and values condoned cheating. When a woman came forward to receive her prize, the audience gave our friend a standing ovation for honesty. Discover what motivates people, connect their values and productive outcomes will follow. Diplomacy Council Builds Global Connections On Oct. 25, the San Diego Diplomacy Council celebrated its 35th anniversary with a gala event at the Horton Grand Hotel for more than 200 persons with all sorts of connections from around the world. The SDDC’s mission is “to build global relationships by arranging professional, educational and cultural exchanges.” Among the featured guests were U.S. Representatives Susan Davis and Juan Vargas, and U.S. Consul General in Tijuana, Andrew Erickson, who has served in Afghanistan, North Africa, Bolivia, Haiti, Luxembourg, Switzerland and the Seychelles Islands, among others. Erickson noted that there are 328 POEs (Points of Entry) into the United ‘I found my niche,’ says Webb, who grew up in Southeast San Diego and over the years States with the San Diego-Tijuana has shined the shoes of countless judges and lawyers. megalopolis being the largest. Yet, he observed, the vast majority of San Die- Kenya, Moldova, Turkey, Georgia, Hostler, an extraordinary American gans have never set foot in Mexico. Latvia, Botswana, Mongolia; the list who passed away on Sept. 28 after a The Diplomacy Council has been goes on and on, as do the connections. lifetime as a diplomat, scholar, war connecting San Diegans with people During the gala, the SDCD honored hero, businessman and philanthropist from around the globe for more than J.W. August, senior investigative pro- who had visited 175 countries. three decades yet remains one of our ducer at KGTV’s Channel 10, and San city’s best kept secrets. If it hadn’t been Diego LGBT Pride as its Citizen Diplofor the SDDC, we would never have mats of the Year. It also paid special met visitors from Azerbaijan, France, tribute to former Ambassador Charles
Congresswoman Susan Davis listens to a talk at the Diplomacy Council gala.
Congressman Juan Vargas shares a laugh with Diplomacy Council guests.
Andrew Erickson, U.S. Consul General in Tijuana, was a featured guest at the Diplomacy Council gala.
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The Little College Doing Big Things You may have driven past Platt College many times and never even noticed it. A short walk from the San Diego State campus, the small media arts college blends into the community unobtrusively. But make no mistake, the 300student college may be small, but it’s having a big impact on the community — from the graduates who contribute to the California economy to the current students who are actively engaged in community service. Platt San Diego School of Media Art has been in San Diego for more than 30 years, and was actually the first multimedia program in the city, says Meg Leiker, president of the college. “We chose to remain small because its allows us to give each student a truly personal experience and to fulfill our mission of providing a rigorous academic curricu-
lum while ensuring our graduates are highly employable web designers, graphic artists, and multimedia designers,” says Leiker. About 70 percent of Platt College graduates stay in San Diego County and put their skills to work in the entertainment industry, graphic design, web development and more. Graduates have worked at local TV stations and magazines as well as in corporate settings. “This contributes to the economy, but also improves the quality of life in our community,” says Leiker. Some graduates move to Hollywood, like Jason Giles, who became a technical animator with Sony Pictures after earning his degree at Platt College. Jose Cabral was able to put his multimedia design skills to work at the Microsoft Surface product launch event, and on
the Lady Gaga “Born This Way” tour. And recent graduate Daren Horwege has worked as a production assistant on several music videos at Walt Disney Studios. “We are very proud of how our web classes offer such excellent training in usability,” says Dean of Education, Marketa Hancova. “Employers are looking for students who are not only excellent designers who understand code, but who also have a grasp of usability concepts, which is an analysis of the users of websites, their habits, and their psychology.” When the workforce is highly skilled, the economic benefit to the community is clear. Platt College takes their commitment to San Diego a step further, though, and encourages students to do community service. The school pro-
vides opportunities to participate in beach clean up, blood drives, and many fundraisers. Students also provide free workshops through public libraries and summer camps. “Being a student goes beyond learning skills in the classroom,” says Hancova. “It’s also about engaging with the world in which we live.” To that end, Platt College also attends performances of opera, music, and theatre. Recently, the school brought several members of the San Diego Symphony to campus in its courtyard celebration of Constitution Day. “We feel very passionate about educating our students in a way so they become well-informed citizens who embrace art and culture,” says Hancova.
www.sdnorthparknews.com Serving San Diego’s Premier Bungalow Communities Chairman/CEO Bob Page BobPage@sandiegometro.com 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
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.
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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.
Banner by Vincent Brown.
By Ariana Kennedy
Logo by Justin Hurst.
Freelancer Wins Press Club Awards Delle Willett, freelance writer for North Park News and SD METRO Magazine, won a first place award and a second place award in the San Diego Press Club’s 2014 Excellence in Journalism awards for articles she wrote that appeared in SD METRO Magazine this past year. Willett won the first place award in the Magazines: Business and Financial category for her article, “Mind the Gap,” which described the pay gap between women and men, why it is happening, who it affects and how it affects them,
and how society would benefit if the gap were closed. It offers suggestions on how an individual can mind the gap in concrete and effective ways. Her second place award — in the category of Magazines: Arts and Entertainment Reporting — was for “Gender Diversity Missing in Film: SDSU professor documents lack of women directors.” The article describes the work done by the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at SDSU, founded in 2007 by professor Martha Lauzen. Using data from the center’s
research, the article looks at gender inequities in the big-budgeted film world, the shortage of opportunities for women to direct large-budget studio features, theories on labor-market inequities, lack of leadership by film studio heads and union executives, and several women who have broken through the celluloid ceiling. Last year, Willett won a second place San Diego Press Club award for an article published in both the North Park News and SD METRO — “North Park’s Funky Newsstand Delle Willett
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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, 2014, by REP Publishing, Inc. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without prior written consent. All rights reserved.
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to come in, try some honey, and ask lots of questions. Her own sons, Ryan 5 and Jacob 7, are beekeepers. The shop is about keeping bees as well as enjoying what they have created. Bee Happy carries many tasty treats, like honey candies, local and exotic honeys, and a variety of honey butters. There’s a tasting bar where visitors can taste the wide variety of flavors the different honeys have. In addition to edible treats, there’s hand-made beeswax candles, all-natural handmade bath, hair and skincare products, lip balms, gift baskets and books. “We are working with locally owned companies, family-owned businesses, and small companies who share our goal of making great products and helping to save the honeybees. I’m especially interested in products made by local women,” said Holko. A plant-loving beekeeper, Holko is a mom with two boys and an “incredibly supportive husband, Benjamin, who doesn’t (usually) tell me I’m crazy when I want to try something new.” She grew up just outside of Buffalo, N.Y., where she worked in her dad’s garden center. While studying Russian at the University of Rochester she met her husband, who was from San Diego, and they moved back to San Diego after graduating. “I thought I was done with the whole plant/garden part of my life, but when I came to San Diego I went to work at Evergreen Nursery. I guess it was in my blood all along,” she said. Bees were a natural next step in the progression for her. Gardening, then chickens, then bees. “We were ‘chosen’ by the bees a few years ago when a swarm moved into an old birdhouse in our little Serra Mesa yard. We knew we didn’t want to hurt them, and figured they could stay as long as they could co-exist peacefully in our busy yard with three dogs, chickens, two boys, and lots of outdoor entertaining,” said Holko. “A few years and more hives later, we are all still living together peacefully and the bees are thriving in this urban environment. I think that’s pretty
Erin Holko’s son, Jacob, 7, can’t keep his hands off the honey. (Photo by Delle Willett)
cool.” Getting started in beekeeping was frustrating to Holko. There weren’t many places she could go to talk about bees, look at supplies, or try on gloves. The closest place was City Farmer’s Nursery in City Heights and a candlemaking shop in Del Mar. Both carried a minimum of what she needed. The next option is a warehouse in Los Angeles. “So I thought it would be fun to open up a store. The timing was right. There was a lot in the news about the distress of bees, including a cover story in Time magazine, she said. Coincidently, Holko’s father’s nursery in Buffalo had started carrying beekeeping supplies and they did very well. Holko works with the same vendor, who extends her excellent credit. With plants being her first love, Holko hopes to expand her shop in the future
Holko’s slogan is, ‘Helping the honey bees, one backyard at a time.’ (Photo by Delle Willett)
Soap products made from honey. (Photo by Delle Willett)
to include regional native plants, which are most mutually beneficial to visiting honey bees. “I am by no means an expert (at anything really), but I love doing what I do and I hope that my experiences with beekeeping will help my customers to become successful beekeepers and honeybee advocates, too,” said Holko. She added: “If you’ve ever had the crazy idea that maybe becoming a beekeeper is for you, I think you’re probably right! Stop in and chat sometime.” The ABeeC’s of Bees The most common type of backyard bees in San Diego are “Italian” honeybees. These, along with the native bees, were here first. Then about 20 years ago, Africanized honeybees moved into town and helped to give bees a bad name because of their very defensive nature. Some call them “killer bees.” The difference between the two species of bees is mostly how protective they are with their hives, Africanized being the more protective. In recent years, there has been much crossbreeding with the Italian bees and other more docile varieties, mellowing out the “killers.” New-bee beekeepers can find lots of support, information and continuing education from the San Diego Beekeeping Society, the San Diego Sustainable Living Institute, and YouTube. Rules and regulations for keeping bees in the city and county vary. Good idea to check them out before going shopping.
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Hone and honey comb.
Store shelves with an assortment of honey products. (Photo by Delle Willett)
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Community and Board Meetings 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. 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 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.
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 culThe North Park Maintenance Assess- tural activities. For more information, ment District Committee normally visit www.northparksd.org. meets at 6 p.m. the second Monday of every other month at North Park Com- The North Park Historical Society munity Adult Center, 2719 Howard Ave. meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. the third Thursday of each month. The Historical The North Park Planning Committee Society conducts research and educameets meets at 6:30 p.m. the third Tues- tional outreach in order to facilitate day of the month at North Park Chris- preservation of North Park's cultural tian Fellowship, 2901 North Park Way. and architectural history. For more The committee is an advisory group to information, visit www.northparkhisthe city on North Park land use, includ- tory.org. ing the general plan, infrastructure and density. For information, visit north- The South Park Business Group parkplanning.org. meets on the last Wednesday of each month at 8:30 a.m. at Alchemy RestauThe North Park Community Associa- rant, 30th & Beech. The SPBG is comtion meets from 6 to 8 p.m. the fourth prised of business owners with storeWednesday of each month at the fronts 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.
Community Church, 4773 Marlborough Drive. For information, call 2873157. 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.
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 2973166. Uptown Rotary welcomes prospective members at its 7 a.m. Thursday breakThe Adams Avenue Business Associ- fasts at Jimmy Carter’s Mexican Café, ation board of directors normally 3172 Fifth Ave. For more, call (619) 500meets at 7:30 a.m. the first Tuesday of 3229 or visit sdurotary.org. the month at the Normal Heights Community Center, 4649 Hawley Blvd. For The North Park Recreation Council time, place and more information, call meets at 6 p.m. the fourth Monday of (619) 282-7329 or visit adamsaveon- every other month at North Park Recreline.com. ation Center, 4044 Idaho St. For information, call 235-1152. The Kensington/Talmadge Planning Group meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month at Kensington
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Comparing Microbreweries and Marijuana Dispensaries Editor: Microbreweries are the latest fad in California. Municipalities are scrambling to place as many as they can in their communities. What’s that all about? I thought it might be useful to compare and contrast microbreweries and marijuana dispensaries. • They both needed to get laws changed in order
to operate. • Both promise increase tax revenue to local and state government. • Both have big money backing them. • Both peddle products that are natural intoxicants. Marijuana dispensaries were put to a vote of the people; microbreweries rely on loopholes and
foolish public officials to game the system. Marijuana is usually consumed at home, microbrewery beer is usually consumed in public places. Marijuana dispensaries are exiled to industrial zones. Microbreweries are being placed in residential neighborhoods. The effects of marijuana consumption are largely unknown, while the effects of beer con-
sumption are widely known to be a plague on the community. Do you want San Diego to be the “Microbrewery (beer bar ) Capital of the World?” Contact your councilperson and tell them what you think. Richard Gardiol North Park
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GENOME UNLOCKING LIFE’S CODE
This interactive program available at the exhibition invites you to consider different opinions about some of the issues surrounding genomic technologies and how they relate to your life.
Capturing the revolutionary nature of genomic science
D
o you have your mother’s dimples? Or your father’s hairline? What is it about us that makes us us? And how much of it actually sets us apart from not only other human beings but from every other living thing on Earth? “Genome: Unlocking Life’s Code,” an exhibition making its West Coast premiere at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, begins to unravel the mystery behind the complete set of instructions needed for every living thing on Earth to grow and function: the genome. The exhibition, which closes on Jan. 4, 2015, immerses you in a high-tech environment that captures the revolutionary nature of genomic science.
Genomics is the study of the entire genome of an organism; the genome is the entire set of genetic instructions found in a cell. In “Genome: Unlocking Life’s Code,” you can explore what the genome is, its scale and structure and find out how genomics plays a role in modern life. Discover the fascinating diversity of living things, how their genomes differ — and their surprising similarities. Learn how genomics has added to archaeological and fossil evidence, increasing knowledge of human origins and helping to answer questions about recent ancestry. Investigate how genomics may point to ways to
What do a fruit fly, a platypus, and a chickpea have in common? These are just a few of the organisms that have had their genomes sequenced and studied. However, when it comes to sizing up those genomes you may be surprised to discover who (or what) comes out on top
stop deadly epidemics in their tracks. See yourself in a new way: as an individual, as a member of a family, and as part of the diversity of life on Earth. It took nearly a decade, three billion dollars, and thousands of scientists to sequence the human genome in 2003. And thanks to the pioneering work of the Human Genome Project, we are starting to know so much more about ourselves, and our world. Your genome is a roadmap that can help you trace your ancestral past, and take charge of your future health. Discover how our newfound ability to identify thousands of genes that contribute to disease has helped open the way to more personalized health care. Weigh in on the legal and ethical issues sur-
rounding cutting-edge genomic research and its implications on society. The exhibition was developed through a partnership between the National Museum of Natural History and the National Human Genome Research Institute. It was made possible in part by financial support from Life Technologies and other sponsors. Take a virtual tour of the exhibition: http://unlockinglifescode.org/explore/virtual-tour Meet a family changed by sequencing technology: http://unlockinglifescode.org/explore/genomicmedicine/feature-story-the-beerys
In ‘Genome: Unlocking Life’s Code,’ you can explore what the genome is, its scale and structure and find out how genomics plays a role in modern life.
December 2014 | sdnorthparknews.com | 11
You may not look much like a mouse or a jellyfish but you share thousands of genes with them. By comparing the genomes of different organisms, we can gain a better understanding of our own DNA.
Genomics has shown that trillions of microbes grow in nearly every part of your body and make up your microbiome. Maintaining a healthy microbiome is very important. In fact, changes in the microbiome may even contribute to the onset of diabetes, obesity, and other disorders.
The Genome Zone is an interactive education space in which young people, and the young at heart, can enjoy hands-on activities. A rotating schedule of activities provides visitors with opportunities to examine their own traits, listen to talks by genomic scientists, discuss issues raised in the exhibit, or respond to opinion polls on topics related to genetics and genomics.
Explore the advances in genomic medicine and how genomic information can contribute to your health. Discover how genomic variants affect disease risk, may point to lifestyle changes, choices of medications, or ways to stop deadly epidemics in their tracks.
Your genome is a roadmap that can help you trace your ancestral past. Embark on a Genomic Journey and see yourself in a new way: as an individual, as a member of a family, and as part of the diversity of life on Earth.
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December Nights: One Big Holiday Festival
The entire park is lit up for the big holiday celebration.
Balboa Park December Nights, the nation’s premier holiday festival, will take place for the 36th consecutive year on Friday, Dec. 5, from 3 to 11 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 6, from noon to 11 p.m. As always, the event brings families and friends together to spread holiday joy, learn more about the cultural value of Balboa Park and kick-off the “most wonderful time of the year.” Participating Balboa Park museums open their doors free of charge from 5-9 p.m.
both evenings and more than 350,000 visitors are expected to experience the joy of San Diego’s largest free community festival. Those who attend will participate in a truly multicultural experience, enjoying food, music and entertainment from around the world. Revelers can watch top-notch musical and dance performances, enjoy delicious and diverse food choices and help spread a heavy dose of holiday cheer. Some of the more well-known traditions
include food from around the globe at the International Christmas Festival at the House of Pacific Relations Cottages; the annual Santa Lucia Procession at the Plaza de California; unique gift shopping at the museum stores and with the artisans of Spanish Village; and musical and dance presentations from the San Diego Junior Theatre, San Diego Civic Youth Ballet, Del Cerro Baptist’s Christmas Story Tree, and more.
Lily Pond and Botanical Building.
Happy Holidays from all of us at the North Park News! See you in 2015!
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Idyllic Weekend in the Desert The Willows evokes imagined memories of Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Albert Einstein BY BOB PAGE
Never would I have imagined that I’d sleep in the same hotel room where Clark Gable honeymooned an Academy award-winning screenplay was written or where Albert Einstein spent a few nights. But such was our good fortune. As you would surely suspect, this was no ordinary hotel room. To call it a hotel room would be a grave injustice. This was an escape to a mansion tucked against the very base of the rugged Mt. San Jacinto Mountain in Palm Springs. The story of how this 1925 home, left to die in its own bones in the late 1980s/early 1990s, is one of how two visionaries brought it back to life. What began as a celebratory lunch turned into an unexpected real estate investment and a lifetime labor of love. Tracy Conrad and Paul Marut had just completed their medical residencies at USC in 1994 when they decided to celebrate with a weekend in Palm Springs. Sitting across the street from Le Vallauris, where they had dined on classic French fare, was a for sale sign on a rundown mansion, known as The Willows and the former home of silent film star Marion Davies. Davies may be best known for her 30year affair with publisher William Randolph Hearst but she was very much a savvy real estate investor and brilliant businesswoman. “The affair with Hearst overshadowed the multi-faceted woman that she truly was and history has not always been kind to her legacy,” Conrad said. Today, the Willows, after years of a painstaking re-do, and now known as The Willows Historic Palm Springs Inn, is an AAA Four Diamond property, all thanks to the tireless work, energy and smart restoration skills of Conrad and Marut. If you’re like the two of them were
then and looking for an idyllic weekend until Conrad and Marut opened its in the desert, make your first call to The doors to their first guests in 1996. Willows. There are only eight rooms but The Willows functions somewhat as each has its own unique history. a B & B but its sophisticated charm is so We stayed in The Library Suite. much more than that. The Willows was built as a luxurious SEE TRAVEL, Page 14 private home in 1925 and remained so
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TRAVEL CONTINUED FROM Page 13
What fun to think that we were staying in the very rooms where Clark Gable had honeymooned with Carole Lombard, where Hollywood director Paul Thomas Anderson spent four months writing his screenplay for “There Will Be Blood” and where a decade or two earlier Dr. Albert Einstein and Upton Sinclair had also popped in for a few days of desert relaxation. The eight suites all share the same amenities in this classic and romantic Mediterranean villa. Each room has its own distinct style, charm and design with fireplaces, tamden claw tubs, private balconies and separate entrances, plush linens and king or queen size beds. There is a heated swimming pool and Jacuzzi, free gated parking, 24-hour security, a delicious full three-course gourmet breakfast served overlooking a stunning 50-foot waterfall and evening wine and ors d’loeuvres. And one of its best features, among the many, is its free Wi-Fi throughout. The folks at Le Vallauris will walk over lunch to your room or bring it to you poolside. That’s part of the marvelous experience to be enjoyed during your Willows stay. The distance between Le Vallauris and The Willows is about 75 steps. Luminaries galore have called The Willows their desert retreat . Actresses Cameron Diaz, Suzanne Somers and Diane Keaton, Arianna Huffington, and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush are among the many who have pillowed down at The Willows. You can reserve all eight rooms for a special occasion. Conrad said, “The Inn lends itself well to small gatherings, and the guests seem to really enjoy not having to share the common areas with anyone other than themselves.” Guests can reserve the Inn in its entirety for $3,400 per night for up to 16
guests. Or, if you want to leave the entourage behind, you can escape to The Willows for four days and receive the fifth night free. The Willows is perfectly situated for the enjoyment of all that Palm Springs offers. It is only a block from Palm Canyon Drive, the heartbeat of downtown Palm Springs. So close, yet a world away, says Conrad. “Palm Springs offers an eclectic of hotels, shops and restaurants . It is unique and has the only downtown in the Coachella Valley. It draws a different crowd than the large resorts down valley. People that appreciate Palm Springs like the quirkiness, originality, art and culture. It isn’t just about the sun and golf,” Conrad added. The Willows draws guests from throughout the United States as well as from England, Germany, Australia, Japan and Latin America. The Willows will celebrate its 90th birthday next year , yet the mansion remains a timeless retreat for travelers seeking a respite totally out of the ordinary. Not sitting still and starring at another incredible real estate investment opportunity, Conrad and Marut bought The Thomas O’Donnell House in 2000, also built in 1925, and located above the hill from The Willows. The O’Donnell House offers breathtaking views of Palm Springs. It is perfect for corporate retreats, fundraising galas and special events. The 4,100-square-foot O’Donnell House can accommodate up to 125 guests for weddings, receptions and events. It has four bedrooms and four baths. The Willows books early in season so the word is to jump on the phone or email and make your reservations now. Don’t miss The Willows. There is nothing like it elsewhere in the Coachella Valley. Or maybe in all of Southern California.
The Willows functions somewhat as a B & B but its sophisticated charm is so much more than that.
Each room has its own distinct style, charm and design with fireplaces, tamden claw tubs, private balconies and separate entrances, plush linens and king or queen size beds.
There is delicious full three-course gourmet breakfast served overlooking a stunning 50-foot waterfall and evening wine and ors d’loeuvres.
December 2014 | sdnorthparknews.com | 15
CALENDAR OF EVENTS ural materials and rugged texture of wood shingles and clinker brick. The prominent gables and projecting rafter beams, like the rest of the main house and carriage house, retain their original integrity. The style is echoed by similar homes in the nearby Bluff Park Historic District. 2300 E. Ocean Blvd. (562) 439-2119.
Coronado Museum Of History And Art “Hotel del Coronado Tour”: The Coronado Museum of History and Art offers a one-hour, docent-led tour of the Hotel del Coroado and its history. It is the only tour to go inside the hotel. Make reservations through the Coronado Visitors Center by calling (619) 437-8788. The fee is $15. Tours run Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. and Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at Stanley Ranch Museum 2 p.m. Ongoing, Garden Grove “Promenade Through the Past”: Departs from the lobby of A California bungalow built in 1916 is one focal point of this the Museum of History and Art, 1100 Orange Ave, Wednes- two-acre property, home to some of Garden Grove’s oldest days at 2 p.m. Learn about some of Coronado’s famous build- homes and business buildings. Phone the Garden Grove Hisings and architectural sites, including Tent City resort. Tour torical Society at (714) 530-8871. fee includes “Promenade through the Past – A Walking Tour Guidebook of Coronado” and covers admission into the Lummis Home Museum Museum of History and Art. $10. (619) 437-8788. Reserva- Ongoing, Highland Park tions Required. Hebbard and Gill, with Gill as the lead designer, to design a large, boxy red brick house that broke with the English Arts and Crafts cottage style in favor of the more modern streamlined style of its neighbor, the Marston house. Mead and Requa designed a stripped-down, geometric home inspired by Pueblo architecture for Lorenze and Miriam Barney in 1913. It stands next to the house Lorenze’s parents had commissioned two years earlier from Pacific Building Company, a San Diego design and construction firm staffed by Gill’s former draftsmen
The arroyo-stone home built by Charles Fletcher Lummis, founder of the Southwest Museum, is a state historic monument listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 200 E. Ave. 43. Friday-Sunday, noon-4 p.m. Free; donations accepted. For information, call (323) 222-0546. Lanterman House Tour Ongoing, La Canada
Gamble House Ongoing, Pasadena The David B. Gamble House, constructed in 1908, is an internationally recognized masterpiece of the turn-of-the-century Arts & Crafts movement in America. It is the most complete and original example of the work of architects Charles and Henry Greene and a National Historic Landmark. One-hour guided tours Thursday-Sunday noon to 3 p.m. Closed national holidays. General admission: $8; Students/65+: $5; Children under 12 with an adult, free. Group tours available by reservation. For information call (626) 793-3334. The Craftsman-style house, built in 1914 by Arthur Haley, was the region’s first concrete residence. Located at 4420 Encinas Dr., it is open Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the first and third Sundays of the month, from 1-4 p.m. Adults, $3; students, $1; under 12, free. For more information, call (818) 790-1421. Homestead Museum Ongoing, City Of Industry Documenting a century of Southern California history, the six-acre museum features the Workman House, La Casa Nueva and El Campo Santo cemetery; 15415 E. Don Julian Road. Tuesday through Friday, 1 to 4 p.m. (626) 968-8492. Museum Of Art Ongoing, Long Beach The museum home includes a splendid, imposing example of the Craftsman bungalow. Built in 1912 as the summer home of heiress Elizabeth Milbank Anderson, it has the nat-
L.A. Art Deco Tours Ongoing, Los Angeles Tours of downtown Los Angeles are led on Saturdays; $5 admission. For reservations, call (213) 623-CITY. SEE CRAFTSMAN, Page 16
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS CRAFTSMAN
ceilings with carved beams, massive stone walk-in fireplace, some original hardware and lighting. See permanent exhibit of early mansion photos and Judson Studios original blueprints, including an ink-on-linen drawOngoing, Los Angeles ing. Open all year, generally Monday through SatThe Judson Studios served as the turn-of-the-cen- urday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday varies. On 110 foresttury core of the Arroyo Craftsman movement, locat- ed acres with views of the Continental Divide and ed at 200 S. Ave. 66. For more information, call (800) the Colorado plains. Twenty minutes from Denver. 445-8376 or click on judsonstudios.com. Free for touring. Call (303) 526-0855. CONTINUED FROM Page 15
Heritage Village Tour Ongoing, Claremont The first Saturday of each month. The 1 3/4 hour walk begins at 10 a.m. in front of the Historic Claremont Metrolink Depot, 200 W. First St. (Walk is canceled if it’s raining at 8 a.m.) Call (909) 6218871.
Moss Mansion Ongoing, Billings, Mont. Nearly unchanged since 1903, Moss Mansion, designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, can be found on the National Register of Historical Places. Visitors will find original furniture, Oriental carpets, handmade light fixtures, and a variety of design styles inside the mansion. Contact (406) 256-5100.
Van Briggle Pottery Ongoing, Colorado Springs Nearly unchanged since 1903, Moss Mansion, designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, can be found on the National Register of Historical Places. Visitors will find original furniture, Oriental carpets, handmade light fixtures, and a variety of design styles inside the mansion. Contact (406) Frank Lloyd Wright Home And Studio Ongoing, Oak Park, Ill. These 45-minute guided tours of the restored Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio are offered yearround at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 951 Chicago, Oak Park, IL 60302, (708) 848-1976.
community. Specialty tours by request. The cathedral was built between 1919-1927 using a purist idea of the Arts & Crafts Artisan Guild System. Some of the original guild shops are still in use and continue to house craftsmen. This building and its environment are unique among Arts & Crafts communities in that the religious beliefs of the Swedenborgian community were blended with the Arts & Crafts ideology. Tours for individuals are free. Tours for large groups $2 per person. Contact the cathedral between the hours of 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at (215) 947-0266. Gustav Stickley Exhibit Ongoing, Syracuse, N.Y. A small ongoing exhibit of Gustav Stickley and the Arts & Crafts era. Showing period examples of his work along with his peers. At the Everson Museum, corner of Harrison and State streets. Call (315) 4476064.
Unity Temple Ongoing, Oak Park, Ill. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the temple is open Kell House weekdays, 1-4 p.m., with weekend guided tours. Call Guggenheim Museum Ongoing, Wichita Falls, Texas Frank Kell built one of the most architecturally sig- (708) 383-8873. More Craftsman gems are evident Ongoing, New York Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the museum is nificant buildings in Wichita Falls, the red-brick neo- throughout Chicagoland neighborhoods open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday classic Kell House in 1909. It features distinctive and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Call (212) architecture, original family furnishings, textiles, dec- Johnson Wax Co. Building 423-3500 for more. orative arts and early-20th-century costumes. Exhi- Ongoing, Racine, Wis. bitions change in April and September. Ask for direc- Reservations are required for tours, held Fridays tions to the Southland and Floral Heights bungalow only, of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building. neighborhoods when you visit. The Kell House is Call (262) 260-2000 for information. Boettcher Mansion of Lookout Mountain open Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday from 2-4 p.m. Ongoing, Golden, Colo. Adults, $3; children 12 and under, $1. For informa- Bryn Athyn Cathedral Tour a 1917 Arts & Crafts mansion, a 10,000-square- tion, call (940) 723-2712. Ongoing, Bryn Athyn, Pa. foot summer home built by Charles Boettcher, Guided tours of the center of the Swedenborgian famous Colorado entrepreneur. Dramatic cathedral Riordan Mansion Park Ongoing, Flagstaff, Ariz. One of Arizona’s best examples of Craftsman architecture, the mansion was designed by Charles Whittlesey and built as a duplex. Original furnishings, including pieces by Ellis, Stickley and Tiffany Studios, are found at the house museum. Guided, handicapped-accessible tours are held daily. The house is located at 409 Riordan Road. Further details are available at (520) 779-4395.
Bryn Athyn Cathedral
Judson Studios
Frank Lloyd Wright Home And Studio
Homestead Museum
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SKELETON CREW SDSU’s Mammalogy Collection boasts an impressive collection of skins and skeletons BY MICHAEL PRICE | SDSU
Somewhere on campus at San Diego State University, there are Tasmanian devils, kangaroos, mountain lions, tigers, a fin whale, a gray whale, grizzly bears, lemurs, cape buffalo, hippos and rhinos. They may lack muscles, organs and the spark of life, but still — you’ve got to admit that’s pretty impressive. This bony menagerie constitutes the SDSU Mammalogy Collection, curated by J. David Archibald, professor emeritus of biology, and Annalisa Berta, professor of biology, and managed by biologist Mike Van Patten. The collection contains approximately 6,000 individual specimens of hundreds of different species, both terrestrial and marine, many of them quite rare. SDSU professors started the collection sometime in the 1930s, if not a little earlier. From the 1970s through the early 1990s, it was housed in the building that is today Professional Studies and Fine Arts, but back then was a library. Today the majority of the collection resides in a large room in the basement of South Life Sciences. Some animals are mounted in living poses, others while away their days in cabinets and drawers. Critter Collection Catalog item No. 1 is an opossum. Aside from its tail, the end of which has been snapped off and reattached some time ago, it’s in remarkably good condition for an animal that’s older than the California State University system. And this opossum isn’t even the oldest animal in the collection; some of the preserved specimens date back to the 1860s. Among the rarer species are a Sumatran tiger, three different species of rhinoceros (Sumatran, white and black), and a Steller’s sea cow — an extinct relative of manatees that grew to the size of a small
sailboat. Archibald describes the collection as one of the best in Southern California. Others might have greater numbers of individual species, but few can match the SDSU Mammalogy Collection’s breadth and diversity. The collection supports the education of undergraduates and graduate students studying biology, anthropology and geology at SDSU. Many graduate students use various specimens for their master’s theses. More than 3,000 students work with the collection every year, Archibald noted. “It’s very valuable for the students to have opportunities to work with the collection,” he said. “There’s no substitute for holding these specimens in your own hands and seeing how everything fits together. You can’t get the same experience with online learning, just seeing the anatomy on a website.” Bone donations Where do the bones come from? Donations, mostly. SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo regularly contribute animals that have passed away. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton donates animals that have perished on base. Some individuals also provide animals. One woman donated her beloved pet wolf after its death. After SDSU acquires a specimen, Van Patten and students prep them for long-term storage. That involves another group of tiny assistants: dermestid beetles that swarm over a carcass and consume its flesh, cleaning the bones. “A good colony of beetles can clean a squirrel in a couple weeks,” Van Patten said. Enjoy that mental image. (From San Diego State University NewsCenter)
David Archibald’s New Book J. David Archibald’s new book, “Aristotle’s Ladder, Darwin’s Tree,” was released in August to glowing reviews. It takes an authoritative look at the history of biologists wrestling with how to visualize taxonomic relationships. In addition to the fascinating history, the book features some truly gorgeous images of evolutionary branching. Born in 1950 in Lawrence, Kansas, Archibald received his bachelor’s degree (Magna cum Laude) from Kent State University in 1972 and his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley in 1977. Bones and skins from some 6,000 specimens reside in the collection.
His dissertation dealt with biotic change, notably of mammals across the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary in eastern Montana. From 1977 through 1983 he was J. Willard Gibbs Postdoctoral Fellow in Geology and then Assistant Professor in Biology at Yale University. He declined promotion to Associate Professor to return to California, where he has been since 1983. In May, 2011 he became professor and curator emeritus of biology. His fieldwork has taken him to the American West innumerable times and to Pakistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan 13 times. He lectures in the U.S and overseas. He has written over 150 articles, essays, and reviews on the systematics and evolution of early mammals, biostratigraphy, faunal analysis, extinction, and evolutionary history, which have appeared in many journals including Nature and Science. Annilisa Berta, professor of biology.
J. David Archibald, professor emeritus of biology.
December 2014 | sdnorthparknews.com | 19
By Bart Mendoza
Cory Stiers Teams with Gabe Rodriguez It’s hard enough being in one succesful band, but being in three, plus being the booker at one of the area’s top night spots? Unheard of! Yet that’s the case with drummer Cory Stiers, who not only books the Soda Bar, but also plays drums with acclaimed combos Mrs. Magician, Cults and now Hideout, who perform at his venue on Dec. 30. Teaming up with Cults band mate Gabriel Rodriguez, the duo have released a new album, “Rookie,” and it’s yet another winner, full of kitchen sink, dissonant pop tunes such as “Where’ve You Been,” that skimps on neither melody or indie rock asthetics. Hideout: Saturday, Dec. 27, at The Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd. 8 p.m. 21 and up. $8. www.sodabarmusic.com.
Rollicking Musical Journey with Sue Palmer The best pianist in San Diego? That’s a tough call, but near the top of the list would have to be boogie woogie queen Sue Palmer. A virtuoso in just about every style of piano playing there is, Palmer’s secret to success is her great stage persona, which makes everybody her friend, long for a rollicking musical journey. She performs on Dec. 18 as part of the annual KSDS / Jazz 88 Christmas Party at the Lafayette Hotel. Anyone who’s seen her perform, wowing crowds of all ages, knows what a major talent Palmer is, as well as how lucky San Diego is to have her in our music community. Sue Palmer: Thursday Dec. 18 at The Lafayette Hotel, 2223 El Cajon Blvd. 5 p.m. 21 and up. $10.
Roni Lee in a Hard Rockin’ Mode
Alison Marae Brings a Recital to Java Joe’s
Jet-Propelled Tunes and Manic Music
One of the pioneers of the American punk rock scene, Roni Lee performs at Lestat’s Coffeehouse on Dec. 21. An original member of the Kim Fowley-backed band, Venus & The Razor Blades, Lee is perhaps known for co-writing the song “Where The Boys Are,” for her friends, the Runaways, but these days is in hard rockin’ mode. For this show Lee plans a special set highlighted by Christmas music, mixed in with originals and a few guest cameos. If you’re into rock ‘n’ roll, ala Joan Jett, this show is the perfect excuse to get in to the holiday spirit.
Nominated for a 2014 San Diego Music Award for Best Local Recording, Alison Marae gives ukulele music a wonderful sound harkening back to the early days of the last century. An excellent songwriter and performer, Marae is also a gifted teacher. On Dec. 20, Java Joe’s will be the site of a recital by her latest crop of students. The event is open to the public and promises to be a lot of fun. While a few holiday tunes will likely be in the mix due to the timing, the real magic here is in seeing youngsters discover the joy in making music. Who knows? There may even be a future headliner among the students.
Not very many venues run their own record label, but then again there aren’t a lot of places left like the Tower Bar. Opened in 1932, it’s a dive bar, but a great one, with most weekend nights devoted to great rock ‘n’ roll. On Dec. 12, the club will feature a killer three-band bill, highlighting three acts from their label, garage rockers Shake Before Us, The Lumps and Kids in Heat, all with recent vinyl releases. All are worthy additions to your record collection, but the Lumps are especially fun. Led by vivacious bassist Melissa LaFara, the trio’s brand of punk ‘n’ roll is eveything a good dive bar needs — jet propelled tunes, with manic energy to spare and a good natured spirit. Anyone who thinks rock music is past its sell by date just needs to stop into this show for a few moments to see how wrong that assessment is.
Roni Lee: Sunday, Dec. 21 at Lestats, 3343 Adams Ave. 9 p.m. All ages. Cover TBD. www.Lestats.com.
Alison Marae’s Student Recital: Saturday, Dec. 20, Java Joe’s, 3536 Adams Ave., 2 p.m. All ages. www.javajoessd.com.
Tower Bar Records Night: Friday, Dec. 12 at The Tower Bar, 9 p.m. 21 and up. Cover TBD. /www.thetowerbar.com..
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