Serving San Diego’s Premier Urban Communities for 21 Years sdnorthparknews.com
Vol. 21 No. 3 March 2013
The Peace Garden of Normal Heights Devotees of Indian spiritual master transform a patch of earth into a tranquil setting for meditation BY DAVE SCHWAB
OLP Wins Court Fight To Expand Its Normal Heights Campus After a protracted battle with some of its neighbors and a legal skirmish with the San Diego City Council, the Academy of Our Lady of Peace has won the right to expand its enrollment to 750 students and to build a two-story classroom building and a two-story parking structure. The victory for the all-girls Catholic school (OLP) came after the school sued the city, claiming that the City Council’s 2009 decision to deny the SEE OLP, Page 6
Pictured, from left: Mahiyan Savage, Gangadhar Rocherolle, Sujantra McKeever, Papaha Gosline and Gayatri Rocherolle with son, Durdam Rochelle.
East meets West at the newly minted peace garden on Adams Avenue in Normal Heights. A bronze statue of peace “apostle” Sri Chinmoy is the centerpiece of the rock- and wood-chip garden that now graces the once-vacant, quarter-acre dirt lot at the corner of Adams Avenue and Arizona. Chinmoy, who died in 2007, was an Indian spiritual master who began teaching meditation after moving to
New York City. A prolific author, artist, poet, athlete and musician, Chinmoy was best known for his association with the United Nations, and for holding public events — concerts, meditations, SEE GARDEN, Page11
NORTH PARK SCENE Community Corner Vol. VIII: Medical Marijuana and Our Community BY OMAR PASSONS
Saint Augustine Juniors Help the Homeless One Red Bag at a time
BYALEXANDER DANILOWICZ
(Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in the campus student newspaper, The Augustinian.) St. Augustine juniors Michael McRoskey and Kevin Bitar have teamed up outside of the classroom to change the lives of the homeless, one bag at a time. In 2010 Michael founded The Red Bag Inc., a nonprofit corporation devoted to providing material and spiritual nourishment to those who need it most. Kevin joined the project in August 2012, acting as The Red Bag’s director of ambassadors. What is a Red Bag? The better question: what isn’t a Red Bag? An energy bar, bottled water, raisins, trail mix, beef jerky, chewing gum, and a hand wipe, all packed into one reusable, recyclable, and waterproof drawstring bag. For $5 you get a care package of essentials to have at the ready in your car to distribute to a homeless person in need. Michael and Kevin encourage everyone who purchases a Red Bag to add a personal note or prayer, as well as toiletries, warm socks, fruit or a blanket. Have you ever felt compassion for a beggar on the street, but were SEE AUGUSTINE, Page 6
In about mid-February I saw a medical marijuana dispensary re-open on University Avenue here in North Park. For those who aren’t aware, the voters of the state passed Proposition 215 in 1996, which made it legal in the state to consume marijuana when prescribed by a physician. Our federal government still says its illegal, but that’s a story for another day. I am neither an advocate for the compassionate use of medical marijuana nor an anti-marijuana activist. What I am is someone who cares about whether and to what extent medical marijuana dispensaries are the Red Bag Ambassadors Juniors Kevin Bitar (left) and founder Michael McRoskey.
SEE SCENE, Page 5
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(619) 889-5420 | www.aftonmiller.com | amiller786@aol.com
A F TO N S E L L S S A N D I E G O Specializing in North Park and Metro Area since 1986 SOLD - $546,000
SOLD - $489,900
SOLD! - $605,000
SOLD - $692,000
SOLD - $769,000
SOLD - $562,000
3027 Granada | 3br 1ba
3655 31st St | 2br 1ba
4632 Marlborough | 2br 1.5ba
2914 Redwood St | 3br 3ba
2428 33rd St | 3br 2.5ba
2438 33rd St | 3br 2.5ba
SOLD - $428,000
SOLD - $276,500
SOLD - $649,000
SOLD - $845,000
SOLD - $650,000
SOLD - $175,000
3311 Juniper St | 2br 1ba
3681 Grim | 3br 2.5ba
4869 Marlborough | 3br 2ba*
3415 Villa Terrace | 3br 2ba
4558 Delaware St | 2br 2ba
3690 Florida | 1br condo
SOLD - $600,000
SOLD - $675,000
SOLD - $799,000
SOLD - $640,000
SOLD - $565,000
SOLD - $510,000
3674-72 Texas | 2 units
3161 1st St #2N | 2br 2ba *
2503 Bancroft St | 4br 2ba
3210-12 Felton St | 2br units
4365 Alder Dr | 3br 2ba
3788 Park #4 | work/live
SOLD - $475,000
SOLD - $628,000
SOLD - $387,000
SOLD - $530,000
SOLD - $460,000
SOLD - $559,000
4751 Jean | 3br 2ba
4607 Janet Pl | 4br 3.5ba
4502 Euclid Ave | 2br 1ba
4720 51st | 3br 2ba
2515 30th St. | 2br 1ba
4812 50th | 4br 2ba *
SOLD - $545,000
SOLD - $746,000
SOLD - $800,500
3687 4th #408 | 2br 2ba *
2735 33rd St | 4br 4.5ba
4165 Middlesex | 3br 2ba
SOLD SHORT SALE - $595,000
IN ESCROW - $775,000
IN ESCROW - $425,000
4142 Lymer Dr | 3br 2ba
3795 Alabama | 4 units
4615 Altadena | 2br+den 2ba
IN ESCROW - $675,000
IN ESCROW - $229,000
IN ESCROW - $489,000
NEW TALMADGE LISTING! $575,000 | 4912 Lorraine Drive
Private 2br 1.5ba Hacienda style with gorgeous courtyard is truly special! HW floors, fireplace, windows galore, French doors lead to backyard. Kitchen features granite counters, SS appliances.
NEW KENSINGTON LISTING! $679,000 | 4806 Sussex Drive 4654 Natalie | 3br 2ba
3774 33rd St #5 | 2br 2ba
4677 Winona | 3br 2ba
IN ESCROW - $850,000
IN ESCROW - $235,000
REDUCED - $629,000
4604 Edgeware | 3 units
4549 33rd #4 | 2br 2ba
3256 N Mtn View | 3br 2ba
AVAILABLE - $475,000
REDUCED - $460,000
NEW - $619,000
Unique and charming 3br 1.5ba Tudor-style English Country Cottage on canyon-like setting. HW floors, fireplace, high ceilings, French doors, built-ins. Vintage charm and potential galore! 2320 Landis | 2br 2ba
3523 Nile | 3br 2ba
4624 Lucille Dr | 3br 2ba
*BUYER
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Ask Dr. Z (Editor’s Note: South Park’s Dr. Tara Zandvliet -Dr. Z — answers common — and not so common — health questions for our readers.) Q. What is the best diaper rash cream? Potty Training! But seriously, any of the creams can be good, but you have to try different ones to see which ones are the best for your little one. Sometimes the cream is the cause of the rash, and changing it is the cure! You can use aloe creams, zinc creams (like Desitin) or vitamin creams; they all help as a barrier between the wetness and the skin. But if you use a zinc cream, use the thick ones, not the “creamy.” One favorite where I trained was “Happy Hiney,” which was a mixture of a zinc cream, an antifungal women’s cream like Monistat, and Cortaid (hydrocortisone 1percent) ointment (not cream) mixed in equal parts and put on at each diaper change. If nothing helps, get help from your pediatrician, since an infection may be brewing. Q: My allergies are really killing me! What medicines can I use that have the fewest side effects? Other than avoiding your triggers, nasal saline is the most effective allergy treatment and has almost no side effects. You can use the nasal spray or the netti pot, and you want to do it multiple times in the day. After that, Nasal Chrom, which is an anti-inflammatory nasal spray, is effective and low risk. You might sneeze when you use it, but that’s about it. Use two sprays each nostril three or four times a day. Quercetin is a natural antihistamine that dries you out a little less than the pharmaceutical versions, and is found in black tea, or in a health food store. After that, most allergy medicines come out about equal in terms of safety and side effects. Q: My daughter had diarrhea and a fever, and she got better, but still has the diarrhea. What gives? There is one main reasons for the diarrhea to continue after her illness has passed — sugar malabsorption. They often get a little lactose intolerant for a few weeks after a severe illness, and so the sugars in the milk pass right on through. Also, the rehydration solutions, like Pedialyte, juice and Gatorade have sugar in them and also won’t be absorbed after a major diarrheal illness. So if they are over 1-yearold, try giving one day of water for fluids, and see if it helps. If it does, give rice milk or soy milk for two weeks, and all should be normal again. Dr. Tara Zandvliet welcomes your questions. Send them to questions@southparkdoctor.com. She practices at 2991 Kalmia St. Phone: (619) 929-0032.
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types of places that create additional challenges for neighbors, other businesses and people who spend time in our community. The issue these dispensaries raise, in my opinion, isn’t whether there will be some widespread increase in the use of marijuana. The issue is how to make them as compatible as possible with the rest of the community. When we talk about the dispensaries, the big issue is what types of rules govern where they should be placed, when they can operate, what types of studies, if any, they have to do in preparation for opening and what impact do they have on their immediate surroundings. Before I can get into the specifics of this issue it’s probably useful to explain what the term “land use” means in the context of businesses in a community. Land use is the area of law that deals with how people and businesses can use
their property. Land use decisions are implemented using zoning laws, which is just a term about what areas (or “zones”) certain types of things are allowed versus not. You might be thinking at this point “it’s none of the government’s business what I do on property I own,” but in a community where we live relatively close to one another, that isn’t a very practical approach. We need to be sure that the business you want to open is compatible with what else goes on around you and doesn’t wreak havoc on the rest of the community. Our city has a fairly complicated set of land use laws that address most types of businesses and most ways that we might want to use our properties. One type of business that doesn’t yet have its own rules for operating within the city is a medical marijuana dispensary and that brings the story full circle. Back in 2011, the San Diego City Council passed an ordinance that would have regulated these dispensaries. In fact, it even set up a committee to hear from
all sides about what a fair set of rules might look like. Shortly after it passed the ordinance, a group of citizens gathered enough signatures to challenge the new law at the next local election. Their issue was essentially that the new law was so restrictive it wasn’t going to let almost any dispensaries open. In light of the threat of an expensive vote and probably other reasons that aren’t as relevant here, the city decided to essentially cancel that new law. As a result, we don’t presently have land use regulations specific to medical marijuana dispensaries. You may be thinking “that’s great, but why does this matter to me?” I’ll tell you why it might matter. If you have a sick family member who has been prescribed medical marijuana for pain but isn’t very mobile, you might think it should be safer and easier to fill a prescription than it is and having clearly defined regulations would make it easier for new dispensaries to open. On the other hand, if you are thinking about opening a business or buying a house
near the business cores on El Cajon Boulevard, or University Avenue or 30th Street, you might want to know whether a dispensary is the type of business you might end up next to. Without clear land use guidance, you wouldn’t be happy in either scenario I’ve described. And regardless of how you feel about medical marijuana usage in general or dispensaries specifically, there are other issues a comprehensive land use law can address. Do the businesses need to account for increased foot traffic or short-term parking spaces because of the nature of the use? Should there be a requirement of added security for these types of businesses? Will regulations about the need for security bars or other entry restrictions upset the overall pedestrian orientation of a main shopping district? Should the hours of operation be subject to any restrictions that don’t apply to other businesses? I don’t have the answers to these questions, and some of them may already be addressed. But these are questions our elected officials and experts in the field ought to answer so that residents can make decisions about where they want to spend their time, buy homes or open businesses. If we start to see more dispensaries open in North Park, we ought to have the peace of mind to know what type of regulation is required and where in our community they will be. Perhaps at some point medical marijuana dispensaries will be no different than coffee shops or pubs. But we haven’t reached that point. We do need a more consistent and clear set of rules that make it reasonable for dispensaries to comply with the law while protecting the needs of communities like ours in which they exist. Omar Passons is a local attorney and volunteer who writes a periodic column about community issues. Email him at opassons@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @omarpassons.
The Caregivers’ Journey A long and winding path Becoming your parents’ parent conjures up pictures of “tangled apron strings.” As a child, the strings seemed welldefined. You needed your parents and their role was to fulfill your needs. Now, with your parents aging and leaning increasingly on you, the apron strings are tangled and wound tightly around you. This role reversal isn’t easy for any of you. Your parents, no doubt, are fighting furiously to cling to their dignity and independence. At the same time, you’re pulled between the demands of your own family and the need to help your parents. You might be looking out for them — becoming their caregiver — out of love, caring for the people who loved and cared for you. Or you might feel a sense of duty to care for them, even though your relationship has been rocky. Regardless of why you ended up in this role, it’s a tricky one. Your parents will always think of you as their child. And listening to your advice and taking directions from their child is bound to rub them the wrong way at least some of the time. Neither is it a day at the beach for you to become the conductor of your parents’ later life. So you all do your best. Sometimes, you, as the caregiver, overstep your boundaries; often, they fight back. You
BY MARSHA KAY SEFF
push and they push harder. But the way I figure it, if you act lovingly, do what you believe is in their best interest, you can’t go too far wrong. At some time, you’ll probably have to take over your parents’ shopping, finances and medical decisions. You’ll be lucky if you can all agree on when the time is right. More likely, their dependency will be gradual. The biggest mistake you can all make is waiting until a crisis to make changes — until Dad trips on a rug and breaks a hip, until Mom forgets to turn off the stove and sets the kitchen on fire or until someone scams them and takes a big chunk out of their nest egg. The trick is to help steer your parents in the right direction without steamrolling them. You need to learn to suggest — not demand. After all, it’s still their life. I used to give my mom several choices — all of which I thought could work out — so that she could feel like she was still in control and making the decisions. “Mom, shall we install a shower seat or would a walk-in tub be better? Do you want to tell the doctor about your anxiety or would you like me to discuss it with him?” It’s not uncommon for aging parents to be unconcerned about their own safety, while that’s all the adult children worry about. The experts say we need to respect our parents’ wishes as much as possible, as long as they’re not endangering anyone else. I was more selfish about safety and
health. I knew if they got hurt or sick, I was the one who was going to have to nurse them. At one point, my mom, who was unsteady on her feet and used a walker, insisted on buying slip-on shoes. I know she liked them because she could put them on without help. But I was scared to death she was going to walk out of them, fall and break a hip — again. Neither of us would give in. Finally, I told her she could buy the clogs on the condition that if she hurt herself, I would not visit her in the hospital. She agreed and bought the shoes. And, you know what? She was so scared of falling and proving me right that she paid such close attention to walking in those shoes that she never did have an accident in them. Then, there was the no-salt requirement when Mom was in heart failure and on hospice. The doctor said no-salt and I made certain Mom followed that regimen. Why? Would it have meant an extra week, an extra day? She’d probably have traded that time for fries and salty ketchup. I try not to beat myself up about mistakes I made as a caregiver, because I know I did the best I could possibly do. Even so, if I had it to do over, I would have done some things differently. I regret that I refused to give my dad his wallet and some cash when he was in a skilled-nursing facility, because he didn’t need money and I was afraid if would be stolen. It probably would have been. But, again, so what? It was a small expense in order to allow Dad to claim a little independence. You’ll make mistakes, too. The knots in the apron strings will become tighter. But cut yourself and your parents some slack. All you can do is what seems best at the time.
North Park Little League Sets Opening Day for March 16 The North Park Little League has nearly 400 players ages 4-14 signed up for the upcoming season. Opening Day is scheduled for March 16 at Morley Field. The Little League, formed in 1957, serves the communities of North Park, University Heights, South Park, Golden Hill, Little Italy and Downtown. “Baseball and softball embody the discipline of teamwork,” sais Dominic Giammarinaro, information officer for the league. “They challenge players toward perfection of physical skills and bring into play the excitement of tactics and strategy. The very nature of baseball and softball also teach that while every player eventually strikes out or is on the losing team, there is always another chance for success in the next at-bat or game.” This year, the league is rasing funds to build a new batting cage for the players. Persons wanting to contribute should contact the league online at www.northparklittleleague.org.
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AUGUSTINE CONTINUED FROM Page 1
reluctant to give money that might be abetting substance abuse? Then Red Bag is for you. “By keeping a Red Bag in your car, you will be equipped with a kit that makes it easy to help our neighbors in need. Instead of giving cash that may feed an addiction or bad habit, you’re providing the gift of encouragement and nutrition in a way that treats our neighbors with dignity and respect,” said Michael. It all started three years ago, during Michael and Kevin’s freshman year. The concept behind The Red Bag was inspired by Mr. Cudal’s Honors English I class’ Downtown homeless service project. After handing out sack lunches for a mere 15 minutes, all of the
OLP CONTINUED FROM Page 1
expansion project violated its rights under the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. The federal jury that heard the case awarded OLP damages of $1.1 million, but the City Council voted in closed session on Feb. 13 on a settlement of $500,000. The city could have been liable for damages of $5.6 million had the lawsuit not been settled. OLP now will be allowed to build the two structures and to demolish a single-
class’ prepared food was allocated without even covering a city block. “What would Jesus do? Well, whatever he would do, Michael McRoskey and Kevin Bitar are getting it done,” said Cudal, who has been organizing the service project for the last three years. San Diego had the third largest homeless population of any American metropolitan area in 2012, surpassed only by New York City and Los Angeles. “Homeless people weren’t new to me — I had seen them on street corners and off my freeway exit — but something about seeing them so hungry and so thankful sparked an idea. What if anyone could do what my class did? And so the Red Bag began,” said Michael. Since its inception, The Red Bag has sold over 1,500 bags. After its first two years of operations and countless hours of hard work, The Red Bag was granted official nonprofit status in August 2012. “It’s going
family home that it owns on Uvada Place. The city will be responsible for removing two other houses — one on Collier Avenue and one on Copley Avenue — that the school owns, by May 1 of this year. City Council President Todd Gloria, who represents Council District 2, where the school is located, issued a statement after the consent decree was approved and noted that he had opposed the expansion project from the beginning. “The efforts of OLP will forever change the character of the neighborhood and has soured the relation-
really well,” said Kevin. In an effort to get their local community involved, Michael and Kevin speak at youth groups, local organizations, and businesses in the area. Additionally, The Red Bag has its own social media campaign to reach beyond San Diego. Michael and Kevin encourage students to “like” The Red Bag on Facebook and to visit www.red-bag.org for more information. You can purchase Red Bags individually or in bulk from the website, or by contacting Michael or Kevin. “Red Bag was founded on the principle that a small act of kindness can change lives – one person at a time,” said Michael. Clearly, Michael and Kevin are undertaking an effort that epitomizes the Catholic values of Saint Augustine High School. Thank you to Stephanie Castillo for her help contributing to this article.
“It is important to note that the case does not constitute a published decision,” Gloria said in his statement. “ It does not set precedent, meaning that it can’t be used to decide other cases. The case will be dismissed when the city has complied with all conditions. If the city had continued with the appeal, we would have run the risk of it becoming a precedent-setting case.” The City Council voted 6-2 to approve the consent decree. Council Pro Tem Sherri Lightner voted with Gloria agains the settlement agreement.
ship between the school and its neighbors,” said Gloria. “I wish the outcome had been different but am proud to stand with my constituents and oppose this project from beginning to end.” Gloria was referring to neighbors of the school who have vigorously opposed OLP’s expansion plans. One of their arguments was that the homes in question are historic and should not be removed. Gloria said that the city’s Real Estate Assets Department is investigating potential city-owned sites where the two homes may be placed.
OLP to Get New Principal The board of directors of the Academy of Our Lady of Peace have announced the selection of Lauren Clark Lek as the new principal following a national search. Lek, currently the principal of Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward, Calif., will join the Catholic girls school this summer. “The board found Lauren to be a woman of faith who has the appropriate education and experience to lead the academy,” the board said in a statement on the school website. “Her
numerous qualifications include her passion for Catholic education, her vitality, communication skills as well as her insight and vision for an all-girls’ high school in the 21st century.” The board statement said that in August 2012, Lek’s husband was offered a position in San Diego, which necessitated a move for the family. Before she became the eighth principal and firsty alumni principal at Moreau Catholic, Lek worked as an English and journalism teacher, and then
moved into administration serving as an assistant principal for admissions, and subsequently the assistant principal of instruction. Lek graduated from UC San Diego with a bachelor’s degree in literature and graduated from St. Mary’s College with a master’s degree in educational leadership. She has completed coursework for a doctorate in educational technology leadership from Pepperdine University.
Among the Lovely Bones
North Park Festival of Arts
If you’ve seen Quentin Tarantino’s latest movie, “Django Unchained,” you’ve seen a Bone Clone replica. It’s an amazing lifelike replica of a real body part. Leonardo DiCaprio’s character pontificates at the supper table about the old slave who raised him, while holding the slave’s skull — or rather, a bone clone. Bone Clones is a Los Angeles-based company that produces lifelike replicas of animal and human skeletons, including some from the collection of the San Diego Museum of Man. They make molds and then from the molds make replicas to be used in medical, forensic and science-related fields of study. The museum’s collection actively advances science and education and many of the bones in its “Footsteps Through Time” exhibit are casts of its originals created by Bone Clones. The museum’s Hrdlička (her-lish-ka) Collection is a 1,000-piece collection gathered for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition from previously looted gravesites in Peru. The Museum of Man’s collection of bones is the second largest in the country, surpassed only by that of the Smithsonian.
A North Park tradition continues. The North Park Festival of Arts is happening on Saturday, May 18, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. along University Avenue, between 30th and 32nd streets. The streets will be lined with artwork, vendors, food booths and live music performances spread across six stages. The free festival has gained the reputation for showcasing all that makes North Park unique. Festivalgoers can expect artworks from more than 40 local artists and craft brews at the Craft Beer Block. The Craft Beer Block is the only
North Park Historical Society Car Show The North Park Historical Society is planning on putting on the 2013 North Park Historical Society Car Show on Saturday, Sept. 7, in the parking lot in front of the Balboa Tennis Club at Morley Field. The 2012 car show was held in the parking lot of the Balboa Tennis Club tennis courts. Hundreds of attendees viewed nearly 60 classic and classy Chevys, Fords, Studebakers, Porsches and more. The oldest car was a 1914 Ford Model T and the newest was a 2008 Porsche Cayman S. By popular ballot, the People’s Choice trophy winners were a 1954 Studebaker Commander Regal Starlight Coupe (2nd Runner Up), 1949 Dodge Power Wagon (1st Runner Up), and a 1965 VW Westfalia Camper (Grand Trophy).
part of the festival that is not free. It costs $25 in advance or $30 the day of. This year, the Bar Pink Stage Area will remain open until 9 p.m. extending the experience of art and music into the night. Mark your calendars for a full day of activities. To learn more about the event or to purchase tickets to the Craft Beer Block, visit northparkfestivalofarts. com or call the sponsor, North Park Main Street, at (619) 294.2501.
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 kurisub@gmail.com Advertising Sales Ada Laura Duff (858) 442-7766 adaduff@gmail.com -----------------------------Writers/Columnists Todd Gloria Ann Jarmusch Jennifer Kester Donna Marganella Bart Mendoza Katelyn O’Riordan Sandy Pasqua David Raines Delle Willett
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.
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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, 2012, by REP Publishing, Inc. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without prior written consent. All rights reserved.
March 2013 | sdnorthparknews.com | 7
Activating the Community for Active Transportation San Diego’s First Parklet
BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT TODD GLORIA
When the subject of transportation arises, I make my preferences for public transit and active transportation clear. So when I was named chair of the Transportation Committee of the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) in January, I was excited about the possibilities ahead for our region. SANDAG serves as the regional planning agency for transportation and allocates millions of dollars each year in local, state and federal funds for the region’s transportation network. SANDAG develops the Regional Transportation Plan to implement a longrange vision for buses, trolleys, streetcars, rail, highways, major streets, bicycle travel, walking, goods movement and airport services. As a member of the Transportation Committee for the past four years, I am
well aware of the transportation-related challenges that face our region: air quality, scarcity of available land, growing population, lack of infrastructure for active transportation, funding, and a public transportation system that is not seen as efficient, are just a few. And as a lifelong San Diegan and resident of urban neighborhoods, I know that building and expanding freeways is not the primary way we will meet these challenges. I have been working with District 3 neighbors and SANDAG on two regional bike corridor projects. Of most interest to North Park, the North Park-MidCity Regional Bike Corridors Project will improve east-west travel all the way to the city of La Mesa through the creation of safe and convenient bicycle corridors that connect key community destinations, including schools, parks,
transit and commercial centers. To truly fit into the neighborhoods, the corridors will feature design elements that enhance the bicycling and pedestrian experience. The planning, design and construction of the North Park-Mid-City Regional Bike Corridors Project is being funded through TransNet, the voter-approved regional half-cent sales tax for transportation. The project is in the initial planning and conceptual design phase, and I love that so many dedicated community members are playing active roles in the process. Currently, the Community Advisory Group is assisting with development of the Existing Conditions Analysis, which will lead to Alignment Alternatives, and a discussion of the Preferred Design by this summer. The Community Advisory Group includes representatives from many local organizations and its meetings are open to the public. In addition, two larger public workshops will be forthcoming to ensure neighbors are informed and have the opportunity to weigh in on this critical bicycle infrastructure project. You can see the project map, submit comments, and more by visiting www.KeepSanDiegoMoving.com/Nort hParkMidCityBike. I welcome your input on this and all other transportation ideas and topics, and look forward to making real progress for District 3 and the San Diego region. Councilman Gloria can be reached at ToddGloria@sandiego.gov; (619) 2366633; 202 C Street, MS 10A, San Diego, CA 92101; and on Facebook and Twitter. Visit his website at sandiego.gov/cd3.
Scheduled to be installed in front of Cafe Calabria in May North Park will be home to the city’s first “parklet.” A parklet is the use of parking spaces as a park-like gathering area in heavy pedestrian-active communities. Parklets are available for use by all San Diego citizens, and they are intended to provide the populace with a space dedicated for enjoyable public interaction. Café Calabria will sponsor the construction and maintenance of the city’s first parklet, which is scheduled to be installed in front of the business at 3933 30th St. in May 2013. This urban outdoor space was designed by OBR Architecture and will include a platform deck, seating, shade and a meeting area for anyone to sit and enjoy the scenery. It is envisioned that the community space will be used for retail patrons, and to foster a more walkable, pedestrian-friendly environment. North Park Main Street has received unilateral support for the project from adjacent businesses, the North Park Community Planning Committee, the Business Improvement District Council, Council President Todd Gloria and Mayor Bob Filner.
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Eclipse Hits ‘Absolute Home Run’ at New Home in South Park BY BONNIE NICHOLLS
South Park is giving chocolatier Will Gustwiller a run for his money. Eclipse Chocolate Bar & Bistro relocated from North Park the first weekend in February, and business has been nonstop. “It’s an absolute home run, the absolute corner we should be on, the absolute building we should be in,” said Gustwiller, whose business is located at the corner of Ivy and Fern streets, kitty-corner across from Station Tavern. “I didn’t see the potential until we opened.” The corner he’s referring to attracts
Will Gustwiller, owner of Eclipse Chocolate Bar & Bistro.
lots of foot traffic, something he didn’t have at his previous location on El Cajon Boulevard in North Park. That tiny storefront was a destination company, a place you would drive to. But in South Park, it’s a different story. “Those windows, they’re made of gold,” he said. “They’re refreshing.” The only issue he’s encountered is what every business wants: more customers than anticipated. “We are dramatically understaffed for this level of patrons,” he admitted, which is why he is busily hiring to keep up. Gustwiller chose his new location, because it was the “only piece of real estate that suited our needs,” which is part chocolate making, part restaurant. The new space had been vacant for four years, according to Joe Sawaya, who owns the building that also houses his wholesale business, Rigel Meats, next door. The space had once housed an electronics and appliance store run by his parents. When they closed that business, he deliberately kept that part of the building empty. “I wanted the right tenant in there, not a fly-by-night business.” The building appealed to Gustwiller, because it was one big open space that allowed him to “slice it up into a series of exhibition areas,” such as the kitchen where the chocolate confections are made, and the large dining area in the back, which he plans to use for commu-
Eclipse Chocolate Bar & Bistro opened in South Park the first weekend of February.
nity gatherings. Those “people can see the internal workings into a transparent company,” he said. Transparency is important to Gustwiller. On a simpler level, it lets customers peer into the kitchen where he makes those yummy chocolate bars that marry flavors such as orange peel with anise or blackberry with sage. People are surprised that there’s no big machinery in the room, but everything is hand-crafted, just as it says on product label. “We have to run little batches to give the best product,” he explained. Last year, Eclipse hand-processed 30,000 pounds of chocolate into 10 pound-batches. This year, he expects to double that. Eclipse chocolate is sold not just at the South Park storefront, but at retailers and wineries all over California and beyond. But the drive for transparency runs deeper than that. The Eclipse mission statement, painted on the wall in the bar area, reminds customers that not only is
all of the company’s chocolate ethically sourced, but also that Eclipse is run sustainably and gives back 10 percent of its profits to nonprofits. Gustwiller, who has an Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture from San Diego State, says his unusual background as a business owner works to his advantage, especially in a tough economy. “The MFA has given me a unique set of skills that means I can do a lot on my own,” he explained. “I’m the creative director, executive chocolatier, executive chef, and doing everything such as branding, marketing, graphic design. It makes for a far more sustainable company, and I can share those rewards with my team.” His plans for Eclipse include building an open-air side patio and serving brunch every day, the latter which will be possible once the staffing is in place. “I want us to be one of San Diego’s more exciting brunch spots,” he said. Brunch appeals to Gustwiller in part because the
Photo by Chad Thompson.
ingredients that so often define Eclipse — chocolate, vanilla and caramel — easily translate into brunch items. Until then, he’s doing everything possible to manage the success. He’s grateful to his North Park clientele, who he said he has retained, and enjoying the welcome reception from his new South Park customers and neighboring businesses. “South Park is a great neighbor,” he said. “People here are infinitely invested in what’s in front of them. It’s a microcommunity with a micro-economy. That’s really important. It’s a gem of a community in a major metropolitan area.” Eclipse Chocolate Bar & Bistro is located at 2145 Fern St. Visit www.eclipsechocolat.com for more information. Bonnie Nicholls is a freelance writer based in South Park. You can follow her blog at www.southparkscribe.com.
March 2013 | sdnorthparknews.com | 9
Wild West Walkabout, Beech Street BBQ Scheduled for March 23 South Park’s merchants will open their doors and spread the sidewalk cheer again in 2013 with special events beginning with the Wild West Spring Walkabout on Saturday, March 23. Shops will stay open late (the special festivities run from 6 to 10 p.m.), entertaining customers with refreshments, sales, new merchandise and entertaining surprises. The restaurants along the southern side of South Park get in the spirit with the annual Beech Street Buckaroo BBQ, an outdoor dining opportunity with take-away plates at tasty special prices. As with all South Park Walkabouts, a trolley bus will circulate through the neighborhood offering free rides from Beech to Grape to Juniper Streets and stops along Beech and Fern. A free
Urban Safaris walking tour of the historic neighborhood departs at 6:30 p.m. from the Info Table on Juniper Street near The Grove. The community reminds visitors who plan to drive to South Park for the Walkabout that the event and shops are easily accessible from the south (via the 94 to the 30th Street or 28th Street exits), and from the west (from Downtown or Balboa Park, take Pershing Drive to 26th Street, then A Street to 28th or Golf Course Drive to Date Street). From North Park, the 30th Street route into South Park is often the busiest on Walkabout nights. FutureWalkabouts are set for July 20, Oct. 5, and Dec. 7. For more information on these and other events in South Park, visit www.SouthParkScene.com.
Paesano's Neighborhood Specials (Mon thru Fri. 11am-2pm) Lunch Special: Your Choice of Entree: Lasagna,Ravioli,Manicotti,or Spaghetti w/ meatballs. Served with salad and garlic bread. Only $4.99 SINCE1967
+10% of ALL TO GO ORDERS Dine in or Take Out Open 11-12/4:30-8:30 Sat 4:30 - 9:00 Sun 5:00 - 9:00
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will be donated to our neighborhood schools at St. Patricks (just tell us the school you would like to help when you pick up your order!)
Don't forget Tuesday Nights for live Italian music. Wine Wednesday 20% off all our wines!
Visit our website: PaesanoOfNorthpark.com
10 | sdnorthparknews.com | March 2013
Kensington Girl Scout Wins Big in Milk Contest BY MARIA ISABELLA BURRITT
And thank you, Girl Scouts, for giving me such cool opportunities to learn new things. I love everything Girl Scouts, especially science. My life goal is to discover a cure for my brother Ricky, who has autism and epilepsy. My love for science started in kindergarten, when I joined a Daisy troop. I was so excited because I had seen girls doing cool activities with their troops, and now it was my turn! I soon learned that science was my favorite Girl Scout activity. One day we dissected bugs and looked at them through microscopes. Another time, we went out at night to see the solar system through telescopes, then created presentations using the latest technology. My recent Girl Scout science adventures include helping to create a time capsule for the San Diego Science & Engineering Festival. I also got to “play scientist” for the GOT MILK? Contest. To prepare to enter, I conducted research on milk, and learned that a glass in the evening helps you sleep better and makes your brain stronger. Another thing I love about Girl Scouts is camp. We learn and do so much, like horse care and riding, astronomy, GPS scavenger hunts and archery. I also enjoy singing in the Girl Scouts San Diego Glee Chorus. Plus, through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, I’ve learned a lot about leadership, business Hello! I am a Junior Girl Scout from Troop 3081. Thank skills and helping my community. My troop is using some of you, GOT MILK?, for doing a campaign with Girl Scouts the money we earned to make baby blankets for homeless and and for choosing me to show how milk and Girl Scouting military families. I can’t wait to see what we’ll do next! help make girls strong, smart, healthy and confident. It’s a perfect blend, just like milk and cookies! (Editor’s Note: Meet 10-year-old Kensington Girl Scout Maria Isabella Burritt, one of the winners of the recent GOT MILK?Girl Scouts photo contest. The California Milk Processor Board teamed up with the state’s Girl Scout councils, including Balboa Park-based Girl Scouts San Diego, to illustrate how Girl Scouting and milk help make girls strong, healthy and confident. Each winner received $500 and a camp scholarship, and was featured in a billboard (pictured). Captioned “Milk and Girl Scouts make my mind strong,” Maria’s entry showed her holding a glass of the beverage while gazing through a telescope at the Milky Way (of course), flanked by scholarly books, her laptop and a box of her favorite cookies, Thin Mints. The spunky, home-schooled fifth-grader credits Girl Scouting for inspiring her to become a scientist. In the meantime, she stays busy with activities such as working on a CSI-style science badge and participating in Girl Scouts’ Technology Goddesses camp. Using the PhotoShop skills she learned at that camp, Maria launched a line of “Funny Bugs” greeting cards to raise money to send children with special needs to cultural events. She invested her prize money in her college savings fund. Read on for more in Maria’s own words.)
Maria Isabella Burritt’s entry in the California Milk Processor Board photo contest, which was made into a billboard.
March 2013 | sdnorthparknews.com | 11
GARDEN CONTINUED FROM Page 1
running races — on the theme of inner peace. Local devotees of Chinmoy’s, including the owner of a Normal Heights vegetarian restaurant, Jyoti Bihanga, and a yoga studio, Pilgrimage of the Heart, gathered with other acolytes of the philosopher to talk about the peace garden’s purpose. “We put this together in about 3 ½ weeks and we finished it Jan. 4,” said artist and garden designer Papaha Gosline. “We were searching for a place where people could come and meditate, contemplate world peace, sort of feel it inwardly and then offer that to the world.” “We’re trying to make this almost like a demonstration xeriscape garden whose plants should survive on natural rainfall and that takes little to maintain,” said Mahiyan Savage, owner of Jyoti Bihanga vegetarian restaurant, about the Zen-like minimalist rock garden laid out in ovals with trees and flowers, wooden benches and wood chips of varying hues. Gosline said Chinmoy’s message of peace is not religious but both individual and
universal. “Chinmoy taught that inner peace could be found inside your heart, and simply by meditating, silencing your mind, you really are cultivating inner peace inside of you and also offering that quality to the world,” he said. “That’s really the main focus of our offering: It’s to get people to understand that world peace will come about when each individual really feels or experiences inner peace, one by one.” Gosline described inner peace as “the light of your soul, those things you can feel and experience through meditation by quieting down your whole being, your mind, body, body’s energy, and simply listening and searching inside of you.” Marilyn Cooper Ongley, 73, of Kensington, owns the corner lot on which the peace garden sits. Though not a follower of Chinmoy per se, Cooper Ongley said she was more than happy to participate in a project for such a noble cause. “I'm very humbled by all of it,” she said adding, “It turned out wonderfully.” Cooper Ongley, who volunteers helping seniors, described the Sri Chinmoy group who approached her as “nice people” and “not pushy” when proposing alternative use of her property.
“I liked them from day 1, and I said, ‘Let’s go for it,’ ” she said, adding they’ve been very good about “keeping the property up.” “With so many things going on in the world,” Cooper Ongley said she’s proud to be associated with a project to create public space devoted to someone who was such a “student of peace,” which she added is what the garden “really represents.” This inscription on a plaque at the base of Sri Chinmoy’s bronze statue sums up the goals of the philsopher — and of the new peace garden dedicated in his honor. “There will come a time when this world of ours will be flooded with peace, who will bring about this radical change, it will be you, you and your sisters and brothers, you and your oneness heart will spread peace throghout the length and breadth of the world.” — Sri Chinmoy, student of peace, champion of the indomitable spirit of mankind “He felt like nothing’s impossible,” noted Mahiyan Savage after reading the inscription. “It’s important to manifest that, make it a reality in the world.” Sujantra McKeever, owner of Pilgrimage of the Heart yoga studio at 3287 Adams
Ave., has been a devotee of Chinmoy’s teachings since being exposed to them at a free concert in Phoenix at age 18. He said Chinmoy’s message is that “peace is an energy that we can bring into out lives … a way of life, to try and do things that unite people rather than divide people. He was not teaching religion. He was teaching spirituality.” Of Chinmoy, whom he knew for 27 years, McKeever said, “He embodied peace.” On what it was like to have him as a spiritual mentor, McKeever likened it to wanting to be a piano player and studying under one of the great masters. “If you want to be a more peaceful person, you surround yourself with more peaceful people,” McKeeve said of the philosophy of peace to which he has become a lifelong devotee. Gayatri Rocherolle, a Chinmoy follower visiting from Connecticut, said she was “astonished” by how well the peace garden is being received. “It’s great to see all the different people, young and old, who have a place to come and meditate and walk every day,” she said. “They can sit down here where there’s no fences, no gates. People are so
respectful. They really are.” Mahiyan Savage said he was having breakfast at a local restaurant recently when a total stranger walked up to him and asked, “Do you have anything to do with that statue?” “Yes,” Savage replied to which the stranger said, “It was so nice to have that place to go to.” “People are finding it somehow on their own,” Savage added. Noting the peace garden has taken on a life of its own, Savage said it remains a work in progress. “This was phase one,” he said of the garden’s status. “Phase two we want to create another big oval and a couple more benches, a place where people can sit and meditate or have a picnic.” “We really wanted to make something that would focus in on the statue, but also be just a nice place for people to come and meditate at a peaceful little park inside of Normal Heights,” said Papaha Gosline. More information is available at www.srichinmoy.org.
The Peace Garden has been laid out with trees and flowers, wood chips of varying hues and wooden benches, like the one pictured here.
From left to right in the Peace Garden: Mahiyan Savage, owner of Jyoti Bihanga vegetarian restaurant; Gangadhar Rocherolle; Sujantra McKeever, owner of Pilgrimage of the Heart yoga studio; Papaha Gosline; and Gayatri Rocherolle with her son, Durdam Rochelle. The Rochelles are visitors from Connecticut.
Durdam Rochelle takes a seat in the Peace Garden.
Sri Chinmoy, who died in 2007, was an Indian spiritual master who began teaching meditation after moving to New York City.
12 | sdnorthparknews.com | March 2013
TREASURES OF THE
ETERNAL CITY BY BAILEY HUGHES
The Eternal City is a marvelous mix of modernity and antiquity. Luxury shopping stores line the streets beside centuries-old buildings. There is a Prada store only a couple blocks from the Pantheon, and a pizzeria just outside the Vatican. The city is unique in a way you cannot truly explain, only experience. And although I had experienced it before, this time was different. Perhaps it was the season. The Roman winter is decidedly mild — the temperature averages between 50 and 60 degrees, not much different than in San Diego. And during the winter, Rome becomes an even more spectacular place. Christmas lights adorn the sides of streets, and enormous decorated trees tower in city squares. Or perhaps it was the hotel. The Hotel Hassler, after all, made the trip for me. At over a century old, the hotel maintains an aged, yet polished feel not at all unlike that of the city itself. And the employees are, in my experience, exemplary — they somehow managed to find us tickets to the Midnight Mass, one of the busiest events in Rome, with only a day’s notice, and can arrange visits to the Vatican that may be much harder to arrange without the hotel’s connections. There are several dining areas — you can choose to have hamburgers in a comfortable lounge area or risotto alla Romana in Salone Eva, the fine dining restaurant of the Hassler. The rooms themselves are neither too big nor too small; they are traditional and elaborate without feeling overly stiff or formal. Prices range anywhere from under $370 a night for a single room to over $1,300 for a suite. And the view over the Spanish Steps is a singular experience. From the hotel you can see the famous Roman skyline, the silhouette of St. Peter’s Basilica seeming to hang over the squat pastel buildings.
The hotel boasts more than a dedicated staff, fancy restaurants and pretty rooms. The location is, quite simply, peerless. Nearly anywhere you would wish to visit is within walking distance of the hotel. Following the thoroughfare straight down from the Spanish Steps will bring you to most of the high-quality Italian fashion brands — anything from Gucci to Ferragamo — as well as several very nice restaurants. You may wish to visit the Babington tearooms, located just at the bottom of the Spanish Steps, for a traditional tearoom experience. If your inclination is history rather than luxury, the location is also extremely convenient; it is minutes — and in some cases, seconds — from many of Rome’s most famous landmarks. In fact, most of them are within eyesight of the hotel. Only a short walk in the brisk Roman air is required to reach the Pantheon, the Vatican or the Coliseum. As expected, these monuments are absolutely astounding — standing in buildings nearly two millennia old is equal parts frightening and incredible. And be sure to get a guide if you want to have the true effect of understanding the story of these monuments, or are planning on visiting historyrich areas like the Vatican. But do not worry about having a driver; taxis, while in ready abundance, are hardly ever necessary. In fact, roaming the streets of the city holds a special delight. As impressive as they are, the famous landmarks of Rome are only one aspect of the ancient city. The true beauty of Rome lies in wandering its meandering streets —in the quaint tearooms and side-street cafes and anonymous gelato stands that hide in the shadows of history. Though I would advise discarding direction when walking through the city, you can always ask the hotel concierge for advice on where to visit. SEE TRAVEL, Page 16
The Hotel Hassler is over a century old, but maintains an aged, yet polished feel not unlike that of Rome itself.
Kyocera to Hold Earth Expo At San Diego’s Largest Solar Grove for Earth Day Kyocera will hold an Earth Expo on April 19 at San Diego’s largest solar grove and featuring close to 40 environmental vendors demonstrating the latest Earthfriendly products and services. Earth Expo — free of charge — will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kyocera International’s headquarters at 8611 Balboa Ave., San Diego. The solar grove features 25 solar trees providing shade for 186 cars while drawing power from the sun. Demonstrations will include a live bee hive; “Dr. Zoo Little” from the San Diego Zoo; solar energy solutions; and tips for sustainability. Kyocera will continue its eWaste Education & Reduction Campaign beginning April 1 to benefit Cell Phones for Soldiers.
Mobile devices will be donated to the nonprofit organization, which will then use the profits to give calling cards to the men and women serving in the military. Collection sites for old, obsolete or discarded mobile phones will be set up at various locations throughout San Diego and at the Earth Expo. Attendees at the Kyocera Earth Expo can bring any personal electronic device — cell phones, music players, cameras, accessories, etc. — to be properly disposed of or recycled for someone else to use. For more information on Earth Expo, environmental tips and eWaste drop off locations, visit kyocera-wireless.com/evergreen.
March 2013 | sdnorthparknews.com | 13
Quayle House, Vintage Row Added to Old House Fair 2013
Arts & Crafts Homes and the Revival Accessories for the Arts & Crafts Home An offering of small furnishings in the Depth Effect: Influenced by Arts & Arts & Crafts tradition made by today’s Crafts motifs and Japanese folklore, this artists and artisans. mixed media artist creates many-layered works of varied depths within a comIridescent Light: Louis Michael mon frame. “Peacock and Peonies Pulzetti produces lamps, mirrors and amongst Pines” measures 24 inches wide small furnishings. This mahogany and x 40 inches tall x 2.5 inches deep. It retails beech pagoda table lamp features both for $1,700. From Kim Dills, (828) 230opalescent 2940, kimdills.com. and iridescent glass. Pieces Branch or Bouquet: The hand-hamr a n g e mered copper vase offers a unique rectfrom$125 to angular shape with a shallow profile. The $1,585. From café size ($80) measures 5 inches tall x 6 Emmet’s Hill inches wide x 1 ½ inches deep. The bouWood & quet size is 7 inches tall x 10 inches wide Glass, (978) x 2 ¼ inches deep. It sells for $165. From 290-8379, Susan Hebert Imports, (503) 248-1111, emmetshill.com ecobre.com. FeatherLike: Evan Chambers uses mouthblown luster glass to create lampshades and vases in the Art Nouveau vein. Vases begin at about $120. From Pavonine Glass, (805) 215-9269, pavonineglass.com. Organic Form: Jonathan White throws and alters earthenware to create his suspended leaf vessels. The layered matte green glazes are reminiscent of those f r o m early Arts & Crafts potteries like Grueby and Teco. The 12-inch high vase sells for $750. From Odd Inq Pottery & Tile, (207) 767-3835, oddinq.com. Red and Strong: Newly available in Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous Cherokee Red, the buttress vase from Prairie Arts is an original Teco shape sculpted by William D. Gates. The 6 ½inch high vase is watertight. It sells for $75 from Fair Oak Wo r k s h o p s , (800) 341-0597, fairoak.com.
Pair of Tulips: New Deco Tulip vases offer a narrow profile perfect for mantels or window sills. In a choice of green or blue glazes, the vases measure 7 1/2″ high x 5″ wide x 3″ deep. They’re $67.50 each.
From Lonesomeville Pottery, (503) 7745387, lonesomeville.com From Board to Basket: Designed by a child, the artist and crafter supply tote is constructed from reclaimed fence wood. Finished in a choice of waterbased stains, it measures 9 ½ inches wide x 11 ¾ inches long. The carry basket is made to order for $29.50. From Misc K Designs, (509) 474-9350, etsy.com/shop/MiscKDesigns. Living Stoneware: Wheel-thrown dinnerware from a skilled studio potter showcases real botanical specimens. Available in seven glass/trim combinations, dinner and dessert plates and cereal bowls are food, oven and dishwasher safe. Prices range from $120 to $198 each. From Suzanne Crane Fine Stoneware, (434) 973-7943, artscraftspotteryandtiles.com.
Famed architect’s South Park residence, vintage vendors will highlight June 15 event At this year’s Old House Fair, as usual there will be some things “old” alongside some things “new.” The old at the June 15 event includes the five houses on the Historic Home Tour, this year featuring the residence designed and built in 1912-13 by renowned San Diego architect Edward “Ned” Quayle. One of the most interesting homes in South Park, this “shingle bungalow” was also included in the 2007 Old House Fair tour. New to this year’s Old House Fair (June 15, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) will be the Vintage Row of exhibitors arrayed along 30th Street and Beech Street in South Park. Organizers are adding this section of the festival, which also includes home restoration, repair and renewal services, artists and craftsman, along with local merchants. “Fairgoers will have the opportunity to browse and buy vintage merchandise collected and creatively displayed by
several of San Diego’s most interesting retailers,” explains Marsha Smelkinson, co-director of the event. “The Vintage Row is an excellent addition to the festivities.” Tanya McAnear of South Park’s popular Bad Madge & Company was an exhibitor at last year’s event and champions the idea of including more vintage sellers. “We have so much to show and share,” she says, “from mid-century and older, kitchenware to furniture, vintage dresses and jewelry — something stylish for every taste.” Admission to the Old House Fair festival is free, to enjoy the exhibits, vendors, live music, and arts and crafts. Tickets to the Historic Home Tour will be $25, and to the Guided Trolley Tour, $5. Walking tours of the historic streets of South Park will also be available. For more information, including exhibitor information, visit www.theoldhousefair.com.
14 | sdnorthparknews.com | March 2013
C O L L A B O R AT O R S I N A R T Artists Daphne Hill and Anna Stump unite their talents in ‘Butterfly Florals’ exhibit BY PRUDENCE HORNE
Winter lingers elsewhere in the country yet spring is in full bloom at Ray Street Custom Framing in North Park. San Diego artists Daphne Hill and Anna Stump unite their painting talents in a unique collaboration for a stunning exhibition titled “Butterfly Florals.” It is a rarity when artists form a partnership nevertheless paint on the same canvas. Usually, egos and stubbornness mar the course. Anna and Daphne, established artists in their own right, have mastered a working partnership in creating these thoughtful and elegant paintings. The process is simple. One artist begins with a loose painting of a flower-
ing plant or tree. A layer of resin, which creates a seductive, glassy surface, is poured over the painting. Once the resin is dry, the next artist takes over with the paints. She may add more contrast between the shapes, forms and space, or she may make changes to the composition. The alternating of artist input, paint and resin continues until there are six to eight layers resulting in strokes of color and metallic paint suspended between thin layers of resin. There is so much depth in the finished piece that some areas of color closest to the painting surface cast shadows onto the previous layers. They don’t stop lay-
Daphne Hill, left, and Anna Stump display one of their floral paintings at Ray Street Custom Framing.
‘Mauve Wildflowers’
ering until both agree that the painting is finished. Each painting can take several weeks to complete. The centerpiece of the show is “Cherry Blossom Triptych,” an alluring and seductive painting with deep layers of pink, gold and white paints. The cherry tree branches and flowers flow from one canvas to the next; the blossoms in the forefront represent the freshness of spring but the faded blossoms layered thickly below look as if a swath of snow has landed on the branches. The painting is strongly influenced by Japanese art and a feeling of calmness is created. “Red Bougainvillea” is an explosion of energy and colors taking off from the
canvas. The repetition of the floral shapes burst throughout the composition with the black under-painting anchoring the image. A bang of a firecracker ignited — a blast of spring, the red jumps and the canvas is alive. “Mauve Wildflowers” presents a swirling mass of more subdued colors and patterns. The image looks like an autumn flower bouquet, which could be a prop on the set of “Downton Abbey.” The shapes appear airborne, tossed like a bridal bouquet, about to fall their own separate ways. “Mauve Wildflowers” has a delicate and day- dreamy nature. The series of paintings are simplistic in theme, yet there is a complexity with
their depth of color and images. With the layering of colors and images there is a shifting brilliance, the background becomes equally as important and interesting as the foreground. There is a sensitive and contemplative quality to each painting. The uniqueness of these paintings is only matched by the uniqueness of the partnership. Anna and Daphne are each passionate artists, each with a voice and vision, and “Butterfly Florals” combines their great talents in a mass of colors, patterns, light and energy. “Butterfly Florals” will be showing through April 3. Ray Street Custom Framing, 3807 Ray St. (619) 255-2022.
‘Cherry Blossom Triptych’
‘Red Bougainvillea’
March 2013 | sdnorthparknews.com | 15
Desserts to
‘Swoon’
Over BY HANA EADES
While many dessert bars may only quench the cravings of one’s taste buds, “Swoon,” being under the same roof as “Art Produce,” offers a visual satisfaction as well. Since purchased by Lynn Shusholtz 13 years ago, the North Park building (3139 University Ave.) has been transformed from a bland storage-like atmosphere into an 8,000-square-foot venue unlike any other. This building offers an experience for all five senses. There are art studios, a meditation area, a free art gallery, a garden, and of course, the new dessert bar. The menu is seasonal because the chefs and owners, David Lamm and Ian Smith, rely on locally-grown produce. Some
Swoon co-owner Ian Smith
David Lamm, co-owner of Swoon
Meyer lemon croquembouche / grains of paradise caramel
of the plates include: tangerine or walnut scones, espresso or peanut macaron, orange rosemary sorbet and without a doubt, chocolate chip cookies. Before Shusholtz purchased the lot, it was a produce store with boarded up windows and a rear entrance. Having a desire to encourage more community interaction, one of her first moves was to take down the boards, which revealed floor-to-ceiling windows. Now, with an interactive gallery visible from the sidewalk, people strolling through North Park can observe local art from a distance or up close and personal with original tasty treats.
16 | sdnorthparknews.com | March 2013
Inside the Pantheon.
TRAVEL CONTINUED FROM Page 12
But this is not necessary. Nearly anywhere you go in the city, you can eat without fear of an unpleasant meal. In fact, Rome may be the only city where I The Vatican City
Tratoria Rosetta. Often the best restaurant is not the one recommended by the hotel concierge, but rather the one you discover tucked away on the side of the street.
can say I have never had bad food. And oftentimes the best restaurant is not the one recommended by the hotel concierge, but rather the one you discover tucked away on the side of the street. My family and I had dinner in one of those charming establishments, finding it
on a side street as narrow as a walking path, hidden behind what looked like a door to the building’s basement. Inside, the restaurant expanded into several large, wooden-paneled and elaborately decorated rooms — completely unlike the bland sign we saw outside.
One of the suites in The Hotel Hassler.
Both of these wonders — history and food — were not particularly new to me; this is, after all, perhaps my fifth time visiting Rome. But, as anyone who has been to the city can attest, Rome is not a place to visit only once. It appears different each and every time, changed
not by the passing of years, which seem to have little effect on the city, but rather by our own discoveries of the hidden and not-so-hidden treasures of Rome. Perhaps that is the beauty of the Eternal City.
March 2013 | sdnorthparknews.com | 17
‘All Aboard’ The Rocky Mountain Express IMAX film takes visitors through the Canadian Rockies
An IMAX film that propels audiences on a present-day steam train journey through the vistas of the Canadian Rockies — and relates the story of the building of the nation’s first transcontinental railway — is the next big screen experience at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center’s Heikoff Giant Dome Theater. “Rocky Mountain Express” opens March 9 for an open-ended engagement. The film, by award-winning filmmaker Stephen Low, weaves together spectacular IMAX aerial cinematography, archival photographs and maps to immerse audiences in a story from the age of steam. “Rocky Mountain Express” received top honors for Best Film in a first-ever tie with “To the Arctic” (currently playing at the Fleet) and was awarded Best Film Short Subject and Best Cinematography by the Giant Screen Cinema Association. Audiences will ride the rails along deep river canyons and over high mountain passes—discover some of the most beautiful and rugged landscapes on earth and join in the human drama
and epic engineering that shaped a continent. The completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in 1885 ranks among the greatest engineering feats in history. The project drew on the labor and expertise of thousands from around the world, including a young American railway superintendent named William Cornelius Van Horne. Born and raised in the Chicago area, Van Horne supervised the building of the CPR — the longest and most challenging railway on earth — and later rose to become president of the company and one of the greatest figures in Canadian history. On his death in 1915, Van Horne’s body was transported back to Joliet for burial in Oakwood Cemetery. If Van Horne and his builders had failed, would Canada exist today? The very existence of the young Dominion of Canada hinged on the decisions that were made about where to build the railway and on its success or failure. Spanning thousands of miles and some of the world’s greatest natural barriers, the CPR’s grand transconti-
nental project and its wandering ribbon of steel drew together far-flung communities isolated in the wilderness, shaped a new nation and changed the face of the North American continent forever. The success or failure of the venture was decided deep in the mountains. Retracing the original route aboard the majestic steam engine 2816, “Rocky Mountain Express” transports audiences back to the age of steam to re-live this alpine nation-building odyssey. The film is a culmination of Stephen Low’s 30year career shaping films for the giant screen. Low’s love of high-fidelity cinema and his fascination with the steam locomotive have come together in this new production. “There just isn’t a subject more perfect for the big screen than a giant steam locomotive,” says Low. “This is a film I’ve wanted to make since I was a kid. Couple this with an epic nation-building story of engineering one of the most impossible railways in the world, and it was just something that had to find its way onto the IMAX screen.”
Explains producer and long-time collaborator Pietro Serapiglia: “While the story of the building of the CPR has been told before, it’s never been seen or heard like this—with the visual scale and fidelity of IMAX and the power of a carefully crafted six-channel soundscape.” The film itself was in production for five years, as the production team worked to schedule perfect shooting opportunities with the star of the project, the Empress (CPR 2816), a steam locomotive built in 1930 and now restored and operated by the Canadian Pacific Railway. Low filmed extensively from the air using a helicopter and gyro-stabilized camera mount to capture the train’s journey and the great diversity of the western landscape. “Ultimately, we mounted IMAX cameras all over the train as well,” says Low. “We wanted to give audiences an intimate ’being there’ experience of steam power and this magic place that even train engineers don’t get to experience.”
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HUNGRY DINOSAURS The U.S. premiere of “Dino Jaws” opens April 12 at the San Diego Natural History Museum, an exhibition that introduces visitors to the fascinating — and sometimes messy — subject of dinosaurs and their food. The exhibit runs through Sept. 12. “Dino Jaws” will reveal what scientists now know about what and how dinosaurs ate, bringing together fossil evidence, hands-on exhibits, scientific insights and lifelike animatronics. “We see dinosaurs depicted in popular culture nearly every day, but don’t often think about dinosaurs as real, living animals with biological processes that every other animal alive today experience,” says Kesler Randall, paleontologist and local curator of the exhibition. “In ‘Dino Jaws,’ besides seeing very detailed and accurate life-sized animatronic models of dinosaurs, visitors will learn what and how dinosaurs ate, as well as how paleontologists determine a dinosaur’s (or other prehistoric animal’s) feeding behavior.” Visitors will find themselves stepping millions
of years back in time into a world populated by hungry dinosaurs. From slow-moving planteaters to fierce, agile flesh-eaters, these dinosaurs will demonstrate a variety of feeding strategies. Visitors will come face-to-face with the planteating Iguanodon and Euoplocephalus and the awesome Baryonyx as it tries to scoop a fish from the water. “Dino Jaws” also includes several interactive exhibits. A favorite is likely to be a huge steaming, stinking mound representing several weeks’ worth of Euoplocephalus poop, which visitors can touch and examine to discover what this massive plant-eater ate. Visitors can tackle a “virtual dig” to unearth fossilized teeth, claws or stomach contents using specialist tools, and then identify them. The virtual dig will be based on the discovery of Baryonyx – a giant fish-eating dinosaur – found just outside London. Visitors can also be detectives. By interacting with physical exhibits using a barcoded ticket, they can gather clues to the identity of a “mys-
tery” dinosaur. Using these clues, they can guess the identity of their dinosaur in the gallery, which contains 10 lifesized animatronic dinosaurs. At the end of the experience, visitors are invited to use their ticket to go home (or on their smart phone) to and join the online “Dino Club” that allows them to continue the detective activities and discover more about their mystery dinosaur. The exhibition was developed by The Natural History Museum, London. Support for the San Diego exhibition is provided by the city of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture.
San Diego Air & Space Museum Celebrates 50 Years The San Diego Air & Space Museum has published a guidebook in honor of its 50th birthday: “Celebrating: a History of the Museum and its Collections.” The museum first opened its doors on Feb. 15, 1963, in Balboa Park’s Food and Beverage Building. With a quickly growing collection, the museum moved into the nearby Electric Building in 1965, where it remained until 1978, when a fire destroyed the museum and its contents. The museum, with help from the San Diego community came together and immediately began to rebuild and moved into the historic Ford Building in 1980, where it resides today. Today, the museum is California’s Official Air and Space Museum, one of the four largest aviation and space museums in the country and home to the third largest aviation archives and library. An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution (only two in San Diego), the museum houses a collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft from all over the world, including a working flying replica of Lindbergh’s Spirit of
St. Louis, the actual Apollo 9 Command Module spacecraft and the only GPS satellite on display in the world. The museum also offers interactive exhibits including MaxFlight simulators, a 3D/4D theater, plus special exhibitions. The museum has a Gillespie Field annex that is home to various restoration projects and over 40 aircraft. The museum acquired the use of the historic and still operational wind tunnel on Pacific Highway where a variety of testing takes place. And it recently opened “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!”, a special exhibition exploring the weird and wacky world of Robert Ripley. The illustrated guidebook contains not only the history of the institution, but stories of its one-of-a-kind collections. “We are proud to carry on the tradition and legacy which was established by so many great people in 1963 to ensure our region’s air and space museum is the finest,” said Jim Kidrick, museum president and CEO. For more information, call (619) 234-8291 or visit www.sandiegoairandspace.org.
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By Bart Mendoza
Folding Mr. Lincoln in the Morning For most musicians, the thought of an early morning show would be slightly offputting, but Americana combo Folding Mr. Lincoln has built a following performing a monthly residency doing just that. Appearing at Rebecca’s on March 3, 10 a.m., the band has a lineup that includes Harry and Nancy Meyenstek on vocals guitar and percussion as well as Alicia Previn on fiddle. This is uplifting music at its best and a perfect accompaniment to Rebecca’s brunch. Best of all, each session includes guest musicians —many headliners in their own right — making this the only game in town when it comes to Sunday morning music. Folding Mr. Lincoln: Sunday, March 3, at Rebecca’s Coffeehouse, 3015 Juniper St. 10 a.m.-noon. All ages. No cover. myspace.com/foldingmisterlincoln.
Vinyl Soul a Fresh New Voice Los Angeles-based band Vinyl Soul performs an acoustic set at Clare de Lune on March 8. The group excels at dance-oriented music, ranging from electronica to modern rock, all topped by soulful vocals. While the night’s set will be toned down due to its acoustic nature, Vinyl Soul has solid songs at their core, all of which resonate well however they are performed. A fresh new voice, Vinyl Soul’s uptempo tunes are a welcome change from the typical coffeehouse fare. Vinyl Soul: Friday, March 8 at Claire de Lune, 2906 University Ave. 8 p.m. All ages. Free. www.clairedelune.com.
Rob Crow
Rendering of the USO building.
Award-Winner Janis Ian No One-Hit Wonder Although often considered a one-hit wonder for her 1975 No. 3 hit, “At Seventeen,” in fact Janis Ian has had a brilliant career either side of that career-defining record. Appearing March 22, 7:30 p.m., at AMSD Concerts, Ian’s career started off with a bang in 1965, with the first release of her controversial song, “Society’s Child,” a No. 14 hit despite its storyline of forbidden interracial romance. Only 13 years old and championed by the likes of Leonard Bernstein, it was clear she had a bright future ahead. Now with dozens of albums and two Grammy’s to her credit, Ian remains one of the countries finest singer-songwriters. Janis Ian: Friday March 22 at AMSD Concerts, 4650 Mansfield St. 7: 30 p.m. All ages. $30. www.amsdconcerts.com
Virtuoso Performance by Billy Watson
San Diego Experimental Guitar Show
One of the finest harmonica players in the area, bluesman Billy Watson, performs at Lestat’s on March 23, 9 p.m. While the idea of a harmonica as lead instrument might sound limiting, in Watson’s hands it’s as boundary free as a guitar or piano, with his virtuoso performances nothing less than astounding. Best of all, Watson is a master showman as well, with his over-the-top performances and between-song storytelling all combining to make him one of San Diego’s musical leading lights.
Anyone jaded by the idea of seeing yet another guitar player do his thing, whether as a singer-songwriter or playing lead, might want to check out the third annual San Diego Experimental Guitar Show taking place at the Soda Bar on March 23, 8 p.m. Forget chords, structure or any other templates, this show is about the guitar as a sound, with no limitations and extra points for experimentation. On hand will be such local luminaries as Rob Crow, Bill Wesley and Jon Calzo, but regardless, if you’re a fan in the slightest of the guitar and all it’s sonic possibilities, this is a show you won’t want to miss.
Billy Watson: Saturday March 23, at Lestats, 3343 Adams Ave. 9 p.m. All Ages. Cover TBD. www.Lestats.com
San Diego Experimental Guitar Show: Saturday March 23, at The Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd. 8 p.m. 21 and up. $7. www.sodabarmusic.com
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