Crown City Magazine April 2021 by Crown City Magazine

Flower Show Memories Useful Gardening Apps MotorCars on MainStreet

APRIL 2021

I N F O C U S | M A R Y LY ' S M A S T E R P I E C E B Y H E A T H E R C A N T O N

CROWN CITY MAGAZINE

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IN FOCUS: Maryly’s Masterpiece by Heather Canton

A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHERS

LOCAL BUZZ: Search Local Happenings in Real Time

IN THE GARDEN: Gardening Tips and Tricks from Roberta Lenert

GIVING BACK: Girl Scout Climate Control Patch Collaboration

COMMUNITY: 2021 Banners on Orange Avenue

CROWN CITY HISTORY: Flower Show Memories

IN THE KITCHEN: Greek Easter by Chef Clyde

AROUND TOWN: Island Girl Blog with Apps for Gardening!

LIFESTYLE: Bungalow 56 Elevates Cabinets with the Right Hardware

FORKS & CORKS: Christine Van Tuyl Reviews Nado Republic

COMMUNITY: MotorCars on MainStreet 2021

Art & Photo Credits Front Cover: Heather Canton of Crown City Publishing was inspired by her friend and local artist and photographer Katie Karosich who recently took a similar photo. Located at 1021 Olive Avenue, Heather grew up just a couple doors down from this iconic Coronado cottage that for decades now has been admired for its beautiful garden. Heather’s former neighbor and homeowner Lynne Scott says she planted all of the trees herself, noting that when she first moved in, there were only two palm trees on the property. Lynne has also served as a judge every year for many, many years for the Flower Show Homefront Judging. Lynne, we applaud your beautiful home front garden! Photo Credit: Heather Canton In Focus (pages 2 & 3): A lovely, colorful panoramic photo of the Benzian family home at 1037 Star Park Circle, captured by Heather Canton of Crown City Publishing. Longtime residents Maryly and Peter Benzian have been delighting locals and visitors alike with their home front garden year after year, and when this photo was taken in April of 2019, they won the coveted award for Best Home-Front. Maryly chooses several types of flowers and various plant species grow here, including artichokes and even an apple tree! Maryly, your garden truly is a masterpiece! Photo Credit: Heather Canton Back Cover: This dreamy shot was captured by local artist and photographer Katie Karosich. It’s a sight that says so much to anyone who keeps Coronado close to their heart. Gazing down the sidewalk on the 10th block of Olive Avenue, there are few words that describe how this photo gives such a great feeling about our small town. Katie’s artwork is available for purchase online at KatieKArtwork.com. Katie, you have an incredible eye for beauty and art! Photo Credit: Katie Karosich | Website: KatieKArtPhotography.com | Instagram: @KatieKarosichArt | On Facebook at Katie Karosich Artist 6

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PHOTO BY KATIE KAROSICH

CONTENTS & CREDITS | APRIL 2021

A p r i l 2 0 2 1 | Vo l u m e 4 I s s u e 4

PUBLISHER | Amy Slack amy@crowncitypublishing.com

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER | Heather Canton heather@crowncitypublishing.com

EDITOR | Heather Canton heather@crowncitypublishing.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR | Gina Falletta Design SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER | Gina Falletta Design COPY EDITORS Sydney Zoehrer, Alex Larratt, Rose Wojnar CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mariah Gillespie, Christine Van Tuyl, Aly Lawson, Kelly Purvis, Carol Pastor, Clyde Van Arsdall IV, Karyn Frazier, and Jessica Nicolls CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Katie Karosich, Heather Canton, Roberta Lenert, Girl Scouts of San Diego, Coronado Cultural Arts Commission, Coronado Public Library, Coronado Historical Association, Clyde Van Arsdall IV, Christine Van Tuyl, Samantha Goh Photography, Coronado Mainstreet and Christopher Canton SPECIAL THANKS TO: Swinerton Renewable Energy, Feeding San Diego, San Diego Girl Scouts and Coronado Girl Scouts, Coronado Cultural Arts Commission, Coronado Public Library and Coronado Historical Association ADVERTISING SALES

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We make every effort to avoid errors, misspellings and omissions. If you find any, please bring them to our attention and accept our sincerest apologies.Thanks! Crown City Magazine is proudly printed by: SOUTHWEST OFFSET PRINTIING 13650 Gramercy Place • Gardena, CA 90249 (310) 323-0112 • southwestoffset.com Crown City Magazine is published monthly. No part of this publication may be used without written permission of the publisher. ©2021 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM

This April Garden issue pays tribute to the Flower Show, which was cancelled this year, and MotorCars on MainStreet, that has been modified. Without these events taking place as they usually do, April in Coronado feels different, leaving residents and visitors longing for these beloved events. Closing your eyes can take you back to familiar sights and smells of strolling through the world’s largest tented flower show held in Spreckels Park: the cute and imaginative children’s submissions of bean plate artwork and funny vegetable creatures, the hilarious Men’s section, incredible floral arrangements, rare plant specimens, rose displays from local home gardens and leaving the event with a pile of used books from the Coronado Public Library’s used book sale. Another cherished Coronado tradition, MotorCars on MainStreet, is a fun opportunity to admire an array of vintage cars. Find out how this event will be modified this year on page 54. We will surely miss some local festivities this month, but one thing we don’t have to miss out on are the beautiful gardens all over town. Let their beauty delight your senses with a simple walk through the neighborhood. In honor of Earth Day, this month we share a story of Emerald Keepers, Swinerton Energy, Feeding San Diego and Girl Scouts of San Diego and Coronado — organizations that have combined forces to help fight against hunger and climate change. This issue, we also feature Nado Republic with a Crown City restaurant review that will leave you hungry to try some authentic Italian! Learn about Greek Easter and explore useful gardening apps. Read about how the Coronado Arts Banner Program transforms Orange Avenue into an outdoor art gallery and check out some of the new banners going up around town this year. Regardless of how different our lives are these days, there is still much to enjoy in our beautiful city. Enjoy this April Garden issue! Here’s to appreciating life in Coronado as things slowly but surely return to normal. Cheers! Amy Slack and Heather Canton, Publishers

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PHOTO BY KATIE KAROSICH

A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHERS | APRIL 2021

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LOCAL BUZZ | APRIL 2021

the Coronado Public Art App designed to guide residents & visitors to more than 75 works of public art throughout Coronado.

Click here!

The Coronado Cultural Arts Commission makes it easy to find local activities with an online calendar. Check out the array of activities offered at www.coronadoarts.com/artsonline.

For the first time since March 2020, live entertainment will be allowed outdoors where food is served in Coronado. This past January, Gov. Gavin Newsom lifted the stay-athome orders statewide, and some businesses will be able to provide live entertainment, including those in Coronado.

Coronado’s live music schedule at www.coronadoarts.com/livemusic will continue to be updated as our beloved musicians get back to work. Upcoming performances include: • Live music at Emerald C Gallery on Saturdays from 6-8 pm (Matt Heinecke, Jennifer Franks, Ron’s Garage, and more) • Sunday concert series at the Coronado Ferry Landing from 1-4 pm • Jake Lyons at live at Garage Buona Forchetta Sundays 12-2 pm • Gonzo at the Hotel Del (Babcock and Story) Fridays and Saturdays 5:30-9:30 pm • Live Music at Costa Azul Saturdays at 5:30 pm For a complete listing of events including both virtual and live music concerts, social events, art lessons, fitness and wellness classes, visit www.coronadoarts.com/artsonline. To add an event to the calendar, please e-mail Arts Education Commissioner Mariah Gillespie at mariah@msmariahsmusic.com. 10

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Roberta's "Organic Mermaid Garden" supplies her family with most of their fruits and vegetables. 12

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Good Things Growing

Tips and Tricks from Coronado’s Plant Enchantress Roberta Lenert By Christine Van Tuyl Photos by Roberta Lenert CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM

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Gardening with kids is good for the soul. - Roberta Lenert

Rotating your crops, enriching your soil and using seeds from a local seed company help your garden grow delicious vegetables, like yellow squash. CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM

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Roberta loves raising Monarch butterflies, and enjoys watching them spread their wings and fly for the very first time.

• Christine Van Tuyl is a freelance writer who lives in Coronado with her husband and two children. CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM

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GIRL SCOUTS G I V I N G B A C K | G I R L S C O U T C L I M AT E C O N T R O L L E R PAT C H

Starting Sustainability, Stopping Starvation Local Partnerships and Girl Scouts combine forces to fight hunger and climate change By Aly Lawson Photos Courtesy of San Diego Girls Scouts

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Terms like “climate controller” and “food rescue” are novel for many, but area Girl Scouts are finding education and inspiration when learning about the environment, as well as the link between hunger and climate change. Girl Scouts San Diego, Feeding San Diego, and Swinerton Renewable Energy launched a Climate Controller patch last year in honor of Earth Day’s 50th anniversary April 22. The United Nations Environment Programme officially endorsed the partnership informing and motivating girls about the importance of food rescue. The recently developed patch and corresponding lessons encourage girls to connect the dots and take any action regarding food waste, helping people and the environment simultaneously as well as making Girls Scouts into climate controllers who are making a difference. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations shares how food waste accounts for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. When we discard still-edible food into the trash it ends up in landfills, where it generates carbon dioxide and methane, Swinerton explains. Additionally due to the pandemic, more people are experiencing hunger, heightening food rescue’s importance. Girl Scouts can earn their Climate Controller patch safely and remotely with simple activities they can do in their own homes such as taking a no food waste pledge, conducting a food waste audit, making recipes out of food that would otherwise go to waste, and growing vegetables from scraps. “The lessons are written for girls from Daisies to Cadets,” says Jennifer Hershman, Coronado resident and Swinerton’s community relations liaison whose office also creates the Girl Scouts patches and lessons they offer communities. Now that in-person meetings are being allowed again, Coronado Girl Scouts are beginning to plan conservationminded activities for the spring, says Melissa Bennett, the island scouts’ volunteer service unit manager. She adds how under normal circumstances, they do more beach clean-ups, garden planting, and recycling projects. “We have encouraged individual Girl Scouts to participate in neighborhood trash pick-ups,” she says. “Some of our older Girl Scouts hope to earn the Climate Controller patch by learning about how to prevent food waste. We also look forward to our upcoming spring STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) event, where girls will explore how the sun’s energy can be used to move a toy solar car.” The Girl Scouts mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place, Girl Scouts San Diego shares. They add how the Climate Controller patch is a great addition to their environmental, STEM, and community service offerings. Through the collaboration with Feeding San Diego and Swinerton Renewable Energy, Girl Scouts in kindergarten through grade 12 learn about the food waste issue and see how food rescue reduces environmental impacts. Hershman discusses how responsible consumption can be just as much about what you can do as one person, even if not in a troop. From planting a celery stalk or avocado pit to eating a funny-looking or beat-up carrot that’s still healthy and tastes good, the environment benefits from these choices and actions. “That’s what this is about; you can impact it by yourself,” Hershman says. Feeding San Diego is a nonprofit started in 2007 with the mission to connect every person facing hunger with nutritious meals by maximizing food rescue. The group is San Diego County’s leading hunger-relief and food rescue organization and the only Feeding America affiliate in the region. Its efforts provide more than 26 million meals every year to children, families, seniors, college students, military families and veterans, and people facing homelessness — in partnership with a network of 300 local charities, schools, faith communities, meal sites, and food pantries. The nonprofit shares how one in eight people in San Diego County face hunger, including one in six children; yet 40 percent of all food produced is wasted, more than enough to end that hunger. In 2019, Feeding San Diego diverted that nearly 26 million pounds of good food from landfills, providing nourishment to people across the county facing hunger — concurrently reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 23,020 metric tons of carbon dioxide, the group adds. “Swinerton is guided by a goal to serve our communities, not only through the clean energy our solar projects provide, but through partnerships with local organizations like Feeding San Diego and Girl Scouts San Diego,” Hershman says. “You don’t need to work for a solar company to make a difference. We all have a role to play in building a brighter future. The five-part Climate Controller patch program provides STEM education through easy, at-home activities and empowers girls to take action to help fight climate change.” CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM

The nonprofit organization, Feeding San Diego shares how one in eight people in San Diego County face hunger, including one in six children.

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Hershman talks about the continued collaboration with Girl Scouts as they have and will roll out additional patches focusing on solar energy, trees, ocean and rivers/clean water. The tree patch will be released on this month’s Earth Day. She adds how Girl Scouts may have started being a Climate Controller at home on their own, but maybe they’ll earn their patch soon sorting nutritious food at Feeding San Diego for those in need. “Seeing young people care about the environment and take action is heartwarming for Emerald Keepers,” says Amy Steward, president of Coronado’s Emerald Keepers, which includes Jr. Emerald Keepers and is a group of volunteers leading a community-based effort to care for our coastal community and its sustainability. “We owe it to our children’s children to have an Emerald Green, Ocean Blue Coronado. When young people pick up trash, are excited about composting and sustainable gardening, and take it upon themselves to educate others about sustainable practices, they can change the world. If one young person can influence another, and that person influences others, and so on, Coronado will be full of Emerald Keepers — a community of people who care about the health of our beach community, our oceans, and the world.”

TO LEARN MORE

Feeding San Diego’s efficiency model focused on reducing our impact on the environment and providing nutritious meals to individuals in need, visit feedingsandiego.org. For more about your area Girl Scout troops, visit sdgirlscouts.org. Swinerton Renewable Energy has delivered over 8 GW of solar utility scale power plants, and its SOLV team manages over 9.5 GW of PV plants across 26 states. swinertonrenewable.com. Learn more about Coronado’s Emerald Keepers for all ages at emeraldkeepers.org. They invite everyone to celebrate Earth Day April 22, and their theme is Restore the Earth by Being an Emerald Keeper. Visit their website to find out more about their Earth Day celebration as well as upcoming events and activities. Plus check out instructions at the webpage emeraldkeepers.org/MarineDebrisApp to use the app built in partnership with National Geographic; it allows users to select the Emerald Keepers to track marine debris from Coronado! •Aly Lawson is a freelance writer who lives in Coronado with her husband and children. 24

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C O M M U N I T Y | O R A N G E AV E N U E B A N N E R P R O G R A M

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• Kelly Purvis lives in Coronado with her family and serves as the Senior Management Analyst in the City Manager’s Office, focusing on Arts and Culture and supporting the Coronado Cultural Arts Commission.

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Crown City History I N C O L L A B O R AT I O N W I T H H O T E L D E L C O R O N A D O & C O R O N A D O H I S T O R I C A L A S S O C I AT I O N

Flower Show Memories B y C A R O L PA S T O R , C O R O N A D O H I S T O R I C A L A S S O C I AT I O N V O L U N T E E R S P E C I A L T H A N K S T O T H E C O R O N A D O P U B L I C L I B R A RY F O R P H O T O A N D R E S E A R C H H E L P.

pril in Coronado does not just mean the arrival of spring. It brings forth once again community traditions and the beauty of our town. We start with the results of the Home Front judging, followed in mid-April by our Flower Show weekend at Spreckels Park.

The first Flower Show was held in 1922. It then became an annual event taking place in midApril every year, except during the World War II years, continuing again until 2020, when it was canceled due to the pandemic. Harold Taylor, a local resident, took on the project back in 1922 and continued running this event for the next ten years. We look forward to the time when we can once again enjoy our Flower Show in Coronado. Although the history of the commencement of the Flower Show is a story for another time, let me just bring you up to date on how our spring events take place. By the later part of March, home fronts are judged each year for their flowers, design and overall beauty. To achieve this you will see homeowners have worked industrially planting flowers, caring for existing shrubs and plants, carefully grooming lawns and especially watching over those treasured rose bushes—essentially refurbishing their yards. The ultimate prize is the coveted blue ribbon for that block. Volunteer judges canvas each block in the town, ultimately awarding the top ten properties of special significance. The results of all of this hard work are also noted in the local newspaper, always noteworthy to our residents. In April, the Flower Show comes, the signs go up and tents start rising in Spreckels Park. As one writer expressed it many years ago, this was Southern California’s premier flower show. It holds that distinction to this day. There are many categories of entries ranging from children’s displays to men’s, to roses, wildflowers and many more. Originally there was no charge to come The tent at an early flower show. 1928. Coronado to town and enjoy the displays. Some ten Historical Association Collection. years later it was deemed necessary to charge ten cents for admission. Although this event is co-sponsored to this day by the Coronado Floral Association and the city of Coronado, with ever-rising costs there has continued to be the need for fundraising events to keep

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this event running. Along the way, the Coronado Community Band joined the event, as did the beer garden. Both have been welcome and fun additions to the festivities. Many of the trophies have been donated by various organizations, some are perpetual cups and other such trophies. CHA displays its large collection from time to time, and the Coronado Public Library has a permanent display. In 2002, local resident and historian, Ann Goodfellow, tracked down a trophy that had been awarded some forty years earlier. She had traced it to an antique dealer in Maine, proving that these items are treasured items of history. Ms. Goodfellow was able to return the trophy to Coronado. So once again we have both our history and our traditions to look back upon. And, no doubt, there will be more to come. If you would like to learn more about Coronado traditions visit or contact the Coronado Historical Association.

(Above) First prize design in the Children’s section, 1969. Coronado Public Library. (Left) A homefront winner, 1964. Coronado Public Library Collection.

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I N T H E K I T C H E N | C H E F C LY D E VA N A R S DA L L I V

Red eggs a symbolic and festive part of Greek Easter. Ouzo is an aperitif that is widely enjoyed in Greece. It has a dry anise flavor. 36

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Tzatziki & Greek Pita.

The movie, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” was my first glimpse into the many stereotypes associated with being Greek. Prior to this hilarious movie my only image of a Greek person was wearing a toga. I had no idea that some Greeks have a bit of a superiority complex. The father, Mr. Potokalos, tells Toula, his daughter, in no uncertain terms that “Greeks should educate non-Greeks about being Greek.” Then, he spends the rest of the film driving home all the essential things Greeks have contributed to society. Surely these were just colorful characters in a movie, and some comedic license must have been applied. It is a funny thing about stereotypes — as much as we hate to admit it, there is usually a kernel of truth in there somewhere. The influence of that kernel would shape my understanding of what it meant to be “Greek” for another 20 years. My girlfriend is Scottish in origin on her mother’s side. Her name, however, Georgia Chakos, does not sound very Scottish. A quick trip to the Celtic Corner uptown was not turning up any Chakos tartans, as she is half Greek on her father’s side — a fact that, had I been listening, she was quick to point out, along with the proper Greek pronunciation and spelling of her name (Γεωργία Tzakos). When Georgia tells people she is Greek — and trust me, she tells them — there is only a slight pause before sharing the following: “My dad always said, there are two types of people, Greeks and those that wish to be Greek.” I am not complaining about the repetition of this statement because along with her superior intellect comes all this great Greek food … And let me tell you, Georgia can cook. The movie’s description of Greek food as “warmth and wisdom served with a side of guilt” is partially lost on me. I can vouch for the warmth and wisdom part; you would have to ask the characters about the guilt. Big Greek meals are laced with show stopping theatrics like a flaming cheese dish called Saganaki, smashing plates, ouzo shots and if you are lucky, belly dancing. All this to the sound of the Greeks shouting “Opa,” a resounding expression of excitement. Greek Easter is no exception; in fact, it is the biggest feast of the year. Greek Easter is different from the Easter most of us grew up celebrating. The eggs are all red and the ham tastes a lot like lamb. Even the date is different, as the Greeks use the Julian calendar. There are appetizers like spanakopita, delicate layers of filo dough buttered and filled with a spinach-feta mixture and baked to a golden crisp. The feta is also served simply with olives and bread. Georgia made one thing clear: “I don’t just buy any feta. I drive to North Park Produce to buy the good feta by the pound. There are many different types of feta: Bulgarian, French, Greek … They are all good, but each has very distinct characteristics. For my family — including most of my seven siblings and their families — we love the smooth, silky texture and flavor of French feta.” I pointed out that the Greeks must not be the best at everything if she conceded that French feta is superior. Ignoring my comment, she started into a description of a popular Greek appetizer. One of the simplest appetizers that everyone loves — Greek or not — is good feta with kalamata olives, topped with Greek (not Mexican) oregano, doused with pungent first press olive oil and a squeeze of lemon. Add to that a nice glass of wine and…” “Easy Dionysus, let’s not get sidetracked with the wine,” I chuckled. “Focus on the food. What about that cheese you set on fire?” Georgia- “Ah yes, Saganaki. The wow factor that seems to permeate every family gathering we have. Kasseri cheese is melted in an iron skillet, doused with ouzo and set ablaze with a loud ‘Opa,’ hit with a squeeze of lemon and eaten with warm flat bread CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM

A shot of Ouzo is usually followed by the exclamation of emotion, Opa! Spanakopita, savory spinach pies.

or pita.” I joked that because I am neither wise nor Greek, I would defer to Georgia’s explanation of the red eggs. According to Georgia, the eggs are hard boiled then they are all colored red to symbolize the blood of Christ. At some point after the meal everyone grabs an egg and pairs up to compete with one another. Each egg has two ends, or two chances. Hit your egg, end to end, against your opponent’s; if your egg cracks on one end, you have the other end. The game goes on until there is one winner and the prize is good luck for the year. The cracking of the egg symbolizes the opening of the tomb of Christ. Christos Anesti — He has risen — and Alithos Anesti — surely He has — are the two lines of a call and response heard throughout the day. With those few Greek words I am instantly transported to the Greek Orthodox Church of my childhood, the epicenter of our Greek community. While I don’t remember the whole service, I can’t forget the smell of incense and the cadence of the Greek being spoken. After church we would head home; as we got close, I could smell the lamb roasting on the spit. The family would be arriving soon en masse. While I do not have 27 first cousins like Toula in the movie, I am one of eight children with 16 nieces and nephews — you get the picture. I loved hearing the laughter of my father, brothers and uncles drinking ouzo as they crowded around the lamb on the spit. Dad would sneak me a piece of crispy lamb, then shoo me away. I remember dancing; there was lots of dancing, as Greeks love to dance. We still drink ouzo and there is always lots of laughter, but the whole lamb on a spit is a bit much these days, and a hard sell with the kids. If you want to have some fun, try Friday and Saturday nights at Zorba’s in Chula Vista: an affordable buffet, ouzo shots, dishes breaking and belly dancing. What more can I say? They catered my mother’s funeral. They are like family. That is Greek Easter to me. Thanks Georgia, I think you did a great job painting a fun picture of Greek Easter and I was happy to take a back seat in the process. While we do not agree on everything, I think we both can agree that just being with a Greek makes me a better person. I am honored that you have included me and my children in your family’s rich and wonderful tradition. Thanks to the entire Tzakos family as well! I think this is where I shout, “Opa!”

French Feta, kalamata olives, Greek olive oil and dry Greek oregano.

• Clyde Van Arsdall is a third generation Coronado local, a chef and storyteller. For more stories and follow -ups to his articles go to www.oliveavenuesupperclub.com. 38

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R E C I P E S | G E O R G I A C H A KO S

Flaming Saganaki (Fried Cheese).

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D E N T I S T R Y

A guy with f ive kids knows wha t it me a ns to be a

family dentist.

R E S T O R A T I O N

A P P L I A N C E T

Michael B. Copp, D.D.S E M E R G E N C Y C

A V A I L A B L E

( 619 ) 435-3185 1 2 0 C Av e n u e , S u i t e 1 5 0 , C o r o n a d o Between First & Second on C w w w. d r c o p p . c o m CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM

Gardening

AR O UN D TOW N | C H R I ST I N E VAN T U Y L

H OW D O E S YO U R G A R D E N G R OW ? Much better with these apps, thank you!

Allow me to indulge you in my seediest gardening fantasy: The sun beams down on my back as I watch my flowers bloom in sweet succession, petal after colorful petal of springtime delight. A butterfly flutters by to investigate the enchanting uprising just as I pluck a red, juicy tomato off the vine, savoring its sweetness. Then, I wake up. Nothing is growing in my garden, probably because it does not exist. But if it did exist, I would surely need lots of help. Fortunately, my green-thumbed gardening friends have recommended some helpful gardening apps, check it out!

BURPEE GARDEN TIME PLANNER This helpful app is the perfect tool to help gardeners know when to sow, transplant and expect to harvest vegetables and herbs specific to their garden region. It automatically creates a task list and notifies the user of important dates. You’ll also find a full database of plants, a guide to local weather and links to helpful gardening videos. 42

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PLANTSNAP This brainy app, powered by deep learning and artificial intelligence, helps you identify plants with your phone camera. Simply open the PlantSnap app, snap a pic, and watch the PlantSnap database spring to life and name the plant, tree or flower in seconds. The app currently has 90% of all known plant species on earth in its database, so you’re sure to get a solid answer. You can even share pics of the plants you snap on the PlantSnappers social feed and connect with more than 35 million plant and nature lovers in more than 200 countries. The best part? PlantSnap plants a tree for each person who downloads the app and becomes a registered user. Their goal is to plant 100 million trees in 2021!

SMART PLANT HOME Grow healthy plants and you’ll create a happy home! That’s the idea behind the Smart Plant Home app which allows you to learn more about plants, create a custom homepage to track your plant needs and scan barcodes from the gardening store to instantly add plants to your digital garden. You’ll even get a monthly plant care calendar for indoors and outdoors, as well an easy way to identify pests lurking in your garden. It’s like having a team of horticulturalists in your pocket!

FROM SEED TO SPOON GARDENING

This app makes growing food simple. You’ll find complete growing guides for more than 100 vegetables, herbs and fruits, as well as customized planting dates (with reminders) based on your GPS location. The app will help gardeners avoid pests and diseases with proven planting strategies, and help you intelligently build and plan your garden space. Feeling unsure? Simply download the app and get organized (and excited) about growing your own garden. Developed by a family of six who wanted to grow and eat from their own garden, you’ll find real-world tips and examples. CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM

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LIFESTYLE | BY KARYN FRAZIER + JESSICA NICOLLS

By Jessica Nicolls + Karyn Frazier

hether you are switching out old hardware to create a fresh look or adorning your brand new cabinets with knobs, hardware elevates any look. If done right, it can take your kitchen from basic to custom looking. We consider the hardware one of the most important elements in the kitchen, it often defines the style of the space. You can take a simple shaker style cabinet and add custom looking hardware that is traditional or really modern looking to change the look and feel of the room. We have a few key words in design that help us pull a space together and scale is a word that we use daily. We like to “scale” the size of the pull to a cabinet drawer, meaning the wider the drawer, the bigger the pull we will put on the drawer front. In a traditional style kitchen we would put knobs on cabinet doors and pulls on cabinet drawers however, in a more modern, clean lined space we would use all pulls.

HARDWARE T IP S Hardware finish: We choose cabinet hardware last when putting together a design. If the space needs some contrast we use a matte black or bronze finish and if the space calls for more neutrals we use a polished nickel or brass. Knob vs pull: We typically use a knob for cabinet doors and pulls for drawers. Pulls are great for larger cupboards and appliances as well. Cost: Knobs tend to be less expensive so if you are on a budget using two knobs on a drawer instead of a pull is a great way to save money. If the hardware is going in a high traffic area it is a good idea to spend a bit more and make sure they are durable. • Karyn Frazier and Jessica Nicolls are the owners of the interior design firm Bungalow 56. 46

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PHOTOS BY SAMANTHA GOH PHOTOGRAPHY

(Top Left): Black knobs on cabinet doors. (Top Right): Brass pulls on drawer and knobs on doors. (Bottom Left): Modern brass hardware on bathroom vanity. (Bottom Right): Bronze pulls used on cabinet doors. CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM

FORKS & CORKS | NADO REPUBLIC

One of Chef Corletti’s specialties is the rigatoni carbonara, a savory indulgence that’s fantastic by the forkful. 48

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CROWN CITY MAGAZINE

APRIL 2021

Picturesque and inviting, the dining space bursts with greenery and mismatched antique-y goodness. CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM

The lasagna bolognese is decadent and delightful down to the last bite.

The Brussels sprouts with Pecorino San Diego Modelover Railroad cheese bubble withMuseum flavor, offered an engineering lesson about the structure of bridges. roasted to perfection. Photo courtesy of San Diego Model Railroad Museum. 52

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Guests are lucky to enjoy specials like the mouthwatering truffle risotto with porcini mushrooms.

• Christine Van Tuyl is a freelance writer who lives in Coronado with her husband and two children. CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM

MotorCars on MainStreet is Coronado’s annual classic car show that takes place every April. Bill Gise, who has been involved for many years says, “people bring their vintage cars from as far away as Arizona and San Francisco.” Bill took over as chairman of the show in 1998 and has since passed the torch to our current chairmen, Joe Aldous and Tim Shortt. This year’s show has been modified to be a “walk, pedal or drive by” event to avoid attracting large crowds to town. Local residents with classic cars will have the chance to showcase their vintage cars in their driveway or on their street. Coronado MainStreet, who proudly produces the event every year, will provide a location map so you can tour the town and admire these classic cars. Local retailers and restaurants will be offering their own surprises, there will be vintage MotorCars t-shirts available for sale and there are rumors of prizes for folks who come out to view the cars, dine and/or shop. Details are still in the works. For more information for any car owners or businesses that want to participate, call (619) 437-0254, email LizRiebe@CoronadoMainStreet.com or visit their website: CoronadoMainStreet.com. 54

CROWN CITY MAGAZINE

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PHOTO COURTESY OF CORONADO MAINSTREET

CO M M U N I T Y | M OTO R C A R S O N M A I N ST R E E T

PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER CANTON

1964 SHELBY COBRA & 1927 MODEL T ROADSTER & 1966 SHELBY GT 1964 SHELBY COBRA, 289 Cubic Inches, CSX-2278. Bill Gise purchased the Cobra in 1970 from one of two previous owners. Bill continued to race and show the car until a recent restoration was completed in 2017. Bill fully intends to hold onto the car for another 48 years in Coronado.

Bill Gise recently gave Crown City Magazine a tour of his legendary garage, where he works on his cars and Coronado Police Officer Keith James stopped in to join in on the fun. (Left to right: Bill Gise, Officer Keith James, Heather Canton, and taking the photo is Crown City Magazine photographer Christopher Canton). The Immortal Offy Engine The engine going in Bill’s Model T Roadster is an Offenhauser, the legendary American racing motor from the 20’s and through the 1980’s.

1927 Model T Roadster - Body is Model T and frame is custom built by Bill in his garage.

1966 Shelby GT 350 Hertz Rental. As part of innovative marketing, Shelby produced racing cars to lease through Hertz. Only 40 “blue” models were made and Bill’s is one of only 17 of these blue beauties that are still known to exist today. CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER CANTON

1950 GMC TRUCK

This truck has a brand new 350 engine, 4-speed auto transmission with overdrive, plus power disc brakes and electronic power steering. Owner Ara Koubeserian is an active real estate broker selling beachfront properties in Coronado for over 35 years. Classic cars are one of Ara’s passions and he has enjoyed the MotorCars on MainStreet for many years.

CROWN CITY MAGAZINE

APRIL 2021

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“If the path be beautiful, let us not ask where it leads.” — ANATOLE FRANCE