Gem of the Jewels Musica Vitale A Ferry to Remember
DECEMBER 2019
I N F O C U S | T I M N E W M A N P H O T O G R A P H Y. C O M
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CONTENTS | DECEMBER 2019
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In Focus
10 Team Note 12 Notables 16 Dolores Forsythe Jewels 22 Musica Vitale Performs 30 Crown City History 34 Ferry Memories 44 Island Girl Gives Back 49 Tartine's Holiday Cookies 50 Cooking Up Luck for the New Year 56 Spaces: Holiday Decorating 58 Winter in the Garden 62 Dining Guide
On the Front Cover: Vintage postcard image of
OOPS! We knew better, and it still happened. On page 52 in last month's issue when warning about sago palm seeds on the ground, the incorrect reference word ‘laying’ was used in place of the word ‘lying’. Thank you to the astute reader who pointed this out.
a poinsettia flower, circa 1915. Leslie Crawford Collection On the Back Cover: Willets are the largest birds in the sandpiper family, common in Southern California. They forage along the shoreline during low tides. Photo by Leslie Crawford Background photo: An early, foggy morning on Glorietta Bay. Photo by Leslie Crawford
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D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 9 | Vo l u m e 2 I s s u e 1 2
PUBLISHER | Amy Slack amy@crowncitypublishing.com
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER | Heather Canton heather@crowncitypublishing.com
EDITOR | Leslie Crawford leslie@crowncitypublishing.com
CREATIVE DIRECTOR | Martina Schimitschek MANAGING EDITOR | Martina Schimitschek PROOFREADER | Rose Wojnar GRAPHIC DESIGNER | Natasha Archer CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Samantha Bey, Christina Bulow, Karyn Frazier, Catherine Gaugh, Jessica Nicolls, Gina Petrone, Christine Van Tuyl CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Katie Karosich, Tim Newman ADVERTISING SALES Amy Slack Heather Canton Publisher Advertising Director amy@crowncitypublishing.com
(619) 288-8050 Kelley Moats
heather@crowncitypublishing.com
(619) 565-7789 Derrick Arce
derrick@crowncitypublishing.com
(619) 964-1499
(619) 708-1147
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CROWN CITY MAGAZINE & WELCOME TO CORONADO 830 Orange Ave., Suite B • Coronado, CA 92118 (619) 435-0334 • hello@crowncitypublishing.com
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Proud Supporter Of Coronado’s Public Schools
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. ©2019 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM
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LESLIE CRAWFORD
A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR | DECEMBER 2019
A sunrise walk along Glorietta Bay by the community center.
Celebrating the Big and Little Things
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his past year has been one of celebration for Coronado as we marked 50th anniversaries of the San Diego-Coronado Bridge, Coronado Cays, Coronado’s first traffic light, the announcement of the Coronado Shores high-rise development and a new, modern post office to name a few milestones of 1969. It was a big year of change for our little town. In this issue, we feature the Coronado car ferries, which made their last run 50 years ago when so many of the changes to Coronado were just beginning. You’ll meet the colorful and creative Dolores Forsythe and learn about her path to a successful jewelry business. One of Coronado’s best kept secrets is Musica Vitale, a choral ensemble that is sharing music with our kids. These stories are just part of a magazine full of fun and interesting content. 10
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In this hectic season, we remind ourselves that the simple things in life are often the best. They’re easy to find in Coronado, whether it’s running into friends while shopping or dining, watching a blaze of sunlight shine on the buildings downtown at sunset, or enjoying a quiet, early morning walk on the beach watching a line of pelicans coasting along the tops of waves. This year, we have reflected a lot on the good old days. With 2020 fast approaching, we’re gearing up for another wonderful year. The close of the year is a time of celebration, but during this holiday season also take time to enjoy the simpler things, give back to those less fortunate, and look toward the new year with hope and appreciation for all the great things happening in our little city. Season’s Greetings! — Leslie Crawford, Editor
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N O TA B L E S | D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 9
Dec. 1 and 15 ART IN THE PARK 9am-4pm; Spreckels Park Celebrating 70 years, Coronado Art Association’s Art in the Park is a great place to shop for gifts and support local artists. coronadoartassn.com Dec. 5-29 LAMB’S PLAYERS FESTIVAL OF CHRISTMAS An annual tradition by the acclaimed Lamb’s Players Theatre. “It’s Christmas and It’s Live” is set in a New York TV studio in 1954, with a live broadcast of a Christmas variety show thrown into hilarious chaos when a blizzard shuts down the city. lambsplayers.org Dec. 6 HOLIDAY PARADE AND OPEN HOUSE 3-9pm Festivities kick off at the Ferry Landing with carolers, a snow mountain and Santa arriving by ferry at 3:20 p.m. The Holiday Parade and
Open House on Orange Avenue begins at 6pm. Santa will light the tree at Rotary Plaza around 7pm and the Coronado Community Concert Band will be on hand to set a festive mood with holiday music. coronadochamber.com Dec. 8 and 15 SAN DIEGO BAY PARADE OF LIGHTS 5:30pm This year’s theme for the 48th annual parade is “Comic-Con on the Bay.” Find a spot on the bay front, bring some hot chocolate and watch the colorfully lit boats pass by. sdparadeoflights.org. Dec. 11 HOLIDAY FESTIVAL AT HOTEL DEL CORONADO 3:30-10pm The festivities include Santa’s Village with games, prizes and photos with St. Nick, student performances by local schools, a skating performance and fireworks. hoteldel.com/events/holiday-festival/
For a complete listing of events, visit CoronadoCalendar.com
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B E N E V O L E N T LY
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By SAMANTHA BEY
olores Forsythe was no stranger to travel, working as an international business consultant. But she was stressed and overworked, so in the mid-1990s, she and her husband, Allan, decided to take time off for a threemonth sojourn through Southeast Asia. While traveling through Hanoi, Vietnam, Forsythe was “deeply moved by the plight of the women there,” she said. “They worked so hard for very little financial reward.” Tapping into her consulting experience, Forsythe approached the Hanoi Business Council and offered to help teach the women strategic planning and other business skills that could help their pursuits become more lucrative. But the council advised her that the real leg up would be for the women to do business in America and introduced Forsythe to a woman named Huong. Forsythe went to Huong’s shop, where her now two-decades-long career venture in jewelry took flight. “It was this tiny little shop,” she described, “and these women were crouched on the floor in the corner knotting pearls.” Forsythe bought 13 strands of blush pearls and brought them back to America to try and figure out how to sell them for a profit that could be funneled
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KATIE KAROSICH
Dolores Forsythe’s Jewelry Makes Lasting Impressions
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Forsythe carefully curates gemstones, jewelry, and unique materials from marketplaces and artisans all over the world.
Dolores Forsythe in her charming and eclectic store in the second story of the Winchester building on the corner of Orange and Loma avenues. CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM
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COURTESY OF DOLORES FORSYTHE
back to the women in Vietnam. At that point, Forsythe’s only retail experience was working in a gift shop in high school. So she hired a marketing firm for guidance, which suggested selling the pearls wholesale to sorority headquarters. Forsythe sent pictures of the Greek organizations’ letters to Huong, who began making little sterling silver charms of the Greek letters to affix to pearl necklaces and bracelets. Forsythe sent samples to more than 40 sorority headquarters across the nation, until finally the customized pieces began selling with gusto. For about five years, Forsythe ordered pearls and silver charms from abroad, sold them wholesale to the sororities and passed a percentage of the proceeds back to the women in Vietnam, running the whole operation out of the studio apartment above her garage. “Business was good for Huong and me,” Forsythe said. Eventually, the Greek organizations consolidated and began sourcing and selling their own jewelry, so Forsythe decided to branch out and sell Houng’s pearl strands to a broader market. She became a vendor at women’s charity events around the country and set up a booth every weekend at the La Jolla farmers market – but business was slow going. “Most women already had a strand of pearls,” Forsythe said. “And even though I was a good salesperson, it wasn’t going well.” But Forsythe knew that women loved pearls, so she decided to sell pearl pieces that were unique; standouts from everyone’s strands of their grandmother’s pearls. At a sales event in Houston, Forsythe met a vendor who advised
Forsythe shops at marketplaces around the globe for handmade items. She often returns some of the profits to the artisans.
her that if she had long-term plans to sell jewelry, she had to go to the international jewelry show in Bangkok, Thailand. She went and found an enormous array of gemstones and designs in different metals. “I was totally overwhelmed. I felt like I was starting all over again. I had no idea what I was doing, so I decided I’d just buy what I liked and would wear myself,” she explained. She bought necklaces, bracelets, earrings and pendants made from gemstones and set in sterling silver and shipped them back to California. She sold them out of the above-garage apartment and quickly sold out. “That’s when I realized I loved the jewelry business and could make it a success, all while still helping women in cottage industries abroad financially,” Forsythe said. As her personal jewelry style took shape, her business was thriving as women here clambered for her funky, chunky, colorful, signa| DECEMBER 2019
ture pieces. She outgrew the studio apartment and rented an upstairs retail space in the historical Winchester Building at the corner of Loma and Orange avenues, where she still is today. She began traveling frequently to India, Bali, Turkey, Nepal, Paris, London, Australia, Hawaii, Vietnam and Thailand, visiting the weekend markets to source jewelry. “It was the up-and-coming, young jewelry designers doing fun and funky pieces in coral and turquoise,” Forsythe said. Making connections with these designers, Forsythe would ask them to tweak their designs, for example, asking them to reset pieces in sterling silver. Then she would order several to bring home and sell. She also began shopping via Skype with women she had connected with abroad. Her business with Huong also continued. Forsythe would affix funky gemstone pendants to the pearl strands, making each one
KATIE KAROSICH
unique. Or, she would have Huong knot pearls on leather strands or incorporate chunks of quartz crystals. “I think pearls can be more user-friendly this way,” she said. “You can dress them up or wear them with jeans, but no matter what, you have a real statement piece.” She no longer does any plain strands of pearls. “My business goal from the beginning was to offer the most unique, well-made jewelry from around the world at moderate prices and to always give back a portion of the profits to help women and girls in need,” she explained. Ten years ago, she started to make her own jewelry. A woman who happened to know the trade came into the shop wearing a huge chunky gemstone necklace Forsythe fell in love with. She asked the woman to teach her how to
Every piece Forsythe designs is a one-of-a-kind statement.
make something like that. The woman invited her to Des Moines, Iowa, where she taught Forsythe the fine art of jewelry design and construction for two weeks. Forsythe worked tirelessly on one necklace design the whole
week. Now she has one necklace with the same design for sale in her shop at all times. When someone buys it, she makes another, just as she was first taught. And Forsythe has paid it forward. Seven years ago, she taught a woman named Elsa how to make jewelry. Every Monday, she and Forsythe make jewelry together, and Elsa leaves with tasks like wire wrapping and knotting to bring to the women in her community who will benefit from the profits. “The thing about jewelry is that it’s an international language,” Forsythe said. “And it’s not so much about the pieces themselves – it’s about the relationships that they open up. When a woman puts on a piece of jewelry it’s an intimate connection. I’m so happy I’ve been able to use jewelry to make women feel good about themselves – in every way.”
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Voice Lessons Choral group introduces children to the classics By CATHERINE GAUGH
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hen was the first time you heard people singing a beautiful song in your presence? Perhaps it was in church, when the choir sang the rousing hallelujah chorus from Handel’s “Messiah.” Or maybe your parents took you and your siblings to a Wiggles concert, or to hear Nanki Poo proclaim his love for Yum Yum in Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado.” Recorded music is wonderful, but there is nothing as stirring as hearing it live with the singers performing right there, in front of you and for you. That experience is a yearly gift for some Coronado children from the classically trained vocalists who make up the Coronado-based Musica Vitale, a group devoted to the study, preservation and performance of historic and contemporary choral music. For the last three years, led by the group’s founder and artistic director Elena Vizuet, members of the chorus have presented a springtime program of live classical music at three local schools. The shows are always free. “We want them to stop looking at their phones and learn to listen,” Vizuet said of the students. “The human voice has the greatest capacity to express emotion. When the children hear those feelings in a live performance, they get so excited. They want to hear more; they want to know more.”
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Musica Vitale is comprised of professional performers and teachers, featuring a cappella choral music, from Gregorian Chants to the Beatles.
MUSICA VITALE
In 2017, the Musica Vitale chorus joined forces with the Coronado Middle School Choir and its director, Linda Kullmann, for performances at that school, the Sacred Heart Parish School and the Christ Church Day School, said Kathie Woiwode, a member of the group’s board of directors. That first year, the aim was to present a history of vocal music. “This may all sound dry and pedantic,” but it is certainly not, Woiwode said. The name of that first program was the “Magical Musical Tour.”
“It covered choral music from Gregorian chants to the Beatles,” Vizuet said. The theme changes each time. The second show was called “Music and Emotions,” and the third program, presented earlier this year, was called “The Building Blocks of Music.” Both addressed the science and language of music as an art. For the two most recent programs, the singers talked directly to the students about the songs, which represent a vast selection of styles, including American musicals, European operas, CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM
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MUSICA VITALE PHOTOS
Musica Vitale provides educational programming in Coronado, exposing elementary and middle school kids to music, with a different focus each year. City of Coronado provides grant funding to support the outreach programming.
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folk music and pop tunes. And it’s not just about the singing. Most of the Musica Vitale members have performed in musicals and operas on major stages in Europe as well the United States, so they also act the parts. “I love and admire these singers, they are at the top of the field,” Vizuet said. “They engage with the children, and it is so much fun.” For example, in the most recent program, opera baritone Michael Sokol sang “Captain Hook’s Soliloquy” from Leonard Bernstein’s “Peter Pan.” The words and music portrayed a scary, villainous pirate with a hook for a hand who was also a sad and very lonely man. The children were transfixed. At Silver Strand Elementary School, 23-year-old soprano McKenna Slack played the part of a young, joyous Juliet from Charles Gounod’s opera based on Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” Her aria, sung in French, has an early high A note, which surprised and delighted the children who probably never heard a human voice get that high and that loud. “The Musica Vitale performers relate very well to the students,” Woiwode said. “There’s always audience participation – they ask questions and get to sing along. The result is always the same. The kids, from fourth to eighth graders, absolutely love it.” Peter Harris, principal of the Sacred Heart Parish School, agreed. “Musica Vitale has done several programs with our students, which they greatly enjoy,” Harris said. “It is a wonderful experience for our students to be exposed to a variety of fine music, including classical and opera. “There is so much pressure on schools like ours for high academics, sometimes the arts get pushed to the side,” he said. “Musica Vitale helps enrich and round out our students’ educational experience.” Musica Vitale was founded in 2005, after
MUSICA VITALE
a combined concert of the San Diego Opera Chorus and the Sacred Heart Catholic Church choir was held to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina, the Category 5 hurricane that caused catastrophic damage to New Orleans and surrounding areas. Some of the performers discovered a shared interest in obscure choral music and decided to explore it together. Vizuet, also the director of the Sacred Heart church choir, says the group puts on four to five concerts a year. It specializes in a cappella compositions from Western Europe and Slavic countries as far back as 300 years, but it also performs contemporary works. They are honoring four living composers during the current 20192020 season. Why the interest in this genre? “Choral music brings all the different voices together, the bass, tenor, alto and soprano,” Vizuet said. “All the range of colors are mixed together, each a unique sound contributing to the whole. It is enormous. “Choral music brings us together. It creates positive emotions. It unites us.” As the 20 members of Musica Vitale are professional performers and teachers, they approach the schools program the same way they prepare for roles in the professional world, so the performances are as high quality as one would see in a ticketed event. The handful of participants in each year’s educational show are paid from a City of Coronado grant. “Musica Vitale is unlike any other music organization in San Diego County, and we are fortunate to have it in our community,” said Kelly Purvis, senior management analyst of Arts and Culture for the city of Coronado. “They present beautiful and important music from another time,” Purvis said. “It is of the highest artistic standards. Their concerts are not only lovely music, but also present the historical content of the works. Their program in our schools is exposing students to this music and giving them an appreciation for the classics.” In the past, city grants for the project were about $9,000 a year, but it was increased to $12,500 for the upcoming springtime 2020
Many Musica Vitale members have appeared in Europe as well as the United States, bringing a high level of professionalism to the performances.
program. That show is still in the planning stages, but Vizuet said it will follow the successful structure of the previous concerts and very likely will have an international theme. “Music is an enormous gift,” Vizuet said. “Those who sing share this gift with those who listen. Music is not a material substance that you can touch or smell or taste. But you can hear it and feel it.” Part of the group’s mission in its education program is to develop future classical music aficianados. “The children learn that our performers, through years of training, have learned the techniques of controlling their voices, to make amazing beautiful music,” Vizuet said. “We hope to see these students in concert halls in 20 years, either singing on stage or listening from the audience.” CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM
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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
The Navy’s First Flying Stunt Team B y C H R I S T I N A B U L O W, M U S E U M A S S O C I AT E , 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
Dec. 7, 1941
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CORONADO HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
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ear Adm. Aaron Putnam “Put” Storrs III was a naval aviator and member of a short-lived naval aerobatic team, along with Lt. D.W. Tomlinson and Lt.j.g. W.V. Davis Jr. called The Three Seahawks. The stunt team was based at North Island and is known as the precursor to the Navy’s Blue Angels. The three pilots did not receive permission to form an aerobatic team, so they worked on their own time and out of direct view of their superiors until they could prove their skills. Tomlinson modified the engines of their F2B aircraft so they would not stall while inverted. He taught Davis and Storrs first above the fog line. When they were able to perform rolls, dives and loops without touching the cloud line, they moved to areas near the mountains. The team first performed in San Francisco in spring 1928 before de-
The Three Seahawks: W.V. Davis, D.W. Tomlinson and A.P. Storrs.
Capt. Van Valkenburgh, commanding officer of the USS Arizona, was killed in the line of duty aboard his ship during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Van Valkenburgh’s widow and children lived on Star Park. He was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, Purple Heart, and in 1944, the Navy destroyer USS Van Valkenburgh (DD-656) was commissioned.
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LESLIE CRAWFORD COLLECTION
ploying to Hawaii onboard USS Langley. They then matched themselves against Army pilots in Hawaii after the USS Langley arrived at Pearl Harbor. Having impressed leadership of the Pacific command, the trio was then chosen to perform at the National Air Races at Mines Field, Los Angeles (now Los Angeles International Airport) in September 1928. At first, Storrs’ aerobatics team did not have a name. One spectator referred to them as the Suicide Trio, but the name did not stick. Instead, Storrs coined the name, The Three Seahawks. The team performed in air shows and was featured in Hollywood films, including “The Flying Fleet.” Scenes in the 1929 movie were filmed on North Island, then known as Naval Air Station San Diego, and had views of the USS Langley. It was the first film to coordinate with the Navy, and The Three Seahawks were considered a highlight of the movie. During his three-year stint on the team, Storrs came to know famous aviators such as Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart. The Three Seahawks disbanded in 1930 when the pilots received orders to separate squadrons and left Coronado. In 1946, Adm. Chester Nimitz directed the creation of the Blue Angels. Storrs retired from the Navy in 1957. He began a second career as the director of aeronautics for the State of Hawaii in 1965. Upon his retirement, he returned to live in Coronado until his death. The Coronado Historical Association holds documents and photographs from the Admiral Aaron Putnam Storrs III Collection. Researchers interested this topic or other Coronado history are welcome to make an appointment with our research library by calling (619) 435-7242.
Dec. 2, 1928
The Christian Science Church, on 1123 8th St., opened its doors to the public with two services the first day. Designed by Irving Gill, with an emphasis on light and natural ventilation, the church followed no specific architectural style but was built to be multifunctional based on need. Total cost for building the property was $35,000. Just two weeks after some health restrictions were lifted in November 1918, the State Board of Health imposed a quarantine in San Diego after new outbreaks of influenza were reported. Stores were kept closed from Dec. 6 to 9.
Dec. 6, 1918
Coronado was officially incorporated as a city, having seceded from San Diego. A board of trustees headed by a president governed Coronado until 1926 when a city council was formed and a mayor was appointed to office. In 1972, Coronado voters had their first opportunity to vote for mayor. Terms started at two years, but now last for four.
Dec. 9, 1890
The first official blackout after the attack on Pearl Harbor was executed shortly after 8 p.m. when three short blasts and one long blast repeated three times from the gas company whistle in San Diego. All streetlights, buildings, homes and cars were required to turn off. Air-raid wardens, assisted by volunteers, made sure that the blackout orders were obeyed. Cars were forced to pull over and were left at the curb during the blackout. Coronado City Council passed an ordinance allowing authorities to cite violators of the blackout regulations with a maximum fine of $300.
Dec. 10, 1941
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The Del’s First Royal Visitor
Dec. 15, 1919 The Navy’s aerial fish patrol was inaugurated. Earl Spencer, former commandant of North Island, was instrumental in establishing the fish patrol with two goals, more training for pilots and boosting the local fishing industry. Fishing boats had cruised for almost three months without spotting any fish, and consequently, the sardine-packing factories had been closed for weeks. Planes flew from North Island Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon, flying Curtiss HS 2L seaplanes up and down the coast at 400 feet, to spot schools of sardines up to 40 feet deep. When fish were spotted planes would send a wireless signal to a naval vessel below that would radio fishermen where to find the sardine schools. After one week, the results were overwhelming. Boats hauled in 40 tons of sardines and an abundance of sea bass and other fish, putting canneries and fish markets back in business.
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B y G I N A P E T R O N E , H E R I TA G E M A N A G E R HOTEL DEL CORONADO
ince Hotel del Coronado opened in 1888, it has played host to royalty from around the world, including England, Sweden, Italy, Japan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. It received its first royal visitor just two years after the opening, when Hawaii’s King Kalakaua set up residency during a tour of California in 1890. David Kalakaua was elected to the throne by the Hawaiian parliament in 1874. Well educated, Kalakaua was an eloquent speaker as well as an accomplished musician, writer and politician. He embarked on a world tour in 1881—meeting with heads of state, promoting Hawaiian culture and becoming the first ruling monarch to circumnavigate the globe. By the 1880s, the Hawaiian Kingdom had over 100 consulates and embassies in cities around the world, including one in San Diego with James W. Girvin serving as consul. The Reciprocity Treaty of 1875,
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a free-trade agreement between the United States and the Hawaiian Kingdom guaranteed a duty-free market for Hawaiian sugar in exchange for special economic privileges. That led to Kalakaua’s friendship and alliance with Claus Spreckels, a powerful sugar magnate who owned a huge plantation on Maui. Spreckels’ son, John D., soon became a partner in the Maui project, and it was this relationship that eventually led to Kalakaua’s visit to Hotel del Coronado, which was owned by John D. Spreckels. By 1890, Kalakaua’s health was failing and his physician advised treatment in San Francisco. The king was also said to be interested in direct steamer service from the West Coast to Hawaii, so he boarded the steamer Charleston for a tour that began in San Francisco on Dec. 4, 1890. From there, Kalakaua traveled south, stopping throughout California and arriving at The Del on the evening of Sunday, Dec. 28, 1890.
HOTEL DEL CORONADO
Manager Elisha Babcock was prepared for the king’s arrival, having written to Spreckels about the loan of a Hawaiian flag to be hoisted above the turret in honor of the monarch’s visit. The reigning royal was registered as “His Majesty King Kalakaua and Valet” and assigned a suite of rooms on the west side just off the Garden Patio. The following day, Kalakaua was greeted formally by San Diego Mayor Douglas Gunn and the directors of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce where the king expressed admiration for the hotel’s scenic surroundings. He hosted a reception for military officers as well as for the people of Coronado in the ladies’ parlor, which was next to the Ballroom. The monarch, in turn, was honored at numerous San Diego events, which overflowed with well-wishers, including a visit to Sweetwater Dam, National City and Tijuana. After leaving San Diego, Kalakaua suffered a stroke in Santa Barbara, lapsing into a coma. Even so, the traveling group continued back to San Francisco, where Kalakaua, with Claus Spreckels by his side, died on Jan. 20, 1891. After his death, Kalakaua’s sister, Lili’uokalani, became Hawaii’s last monarch. Her reign ended in January 1893.
Hawaii's King David Kalakaua
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LESLIE CRAWFORD COLLECTION
For 83 years, Coronado ferries made the trip between San Diego and Coronado offering newcomers a wondrous first impression of Coronado and commuters a relaxed start and finish to their workdays.
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Coronado Ferries Remain a Fond Memory By LESLIE CRAWFORD
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oronado celebrated many anniversaries in 2019, but one anniversary passed pretty quietly, noted for the most part only by the people who remembered it: the end of Coronado ferries service 50 years ago. During the ferry system’s 83 years in service, it is estimated 250 million people were shuttled across San Diego Bay. In 1961, it was reported there were 338 crossings daily with four ferries and departures every six minutes. Studies showed that 4,064,000 cars crossed in 1967. There were only two sizable interruptions to service in all those years: a ferry strike in 1954 and a seismic surge from an earthquake in Japan in 1960. While it wasn’t an official ferry of
the San Diego & Coronado Ferry Company, Della, a 21-foot-long steam yacht, owned by H. L. Story and named for his wife, Adella, was the first transport service between San Diego and Coronado, operating as a towboat for the Coronado Beach Company. It began in December 1885, ferrying laborers to Coronado to clear land for building. It was later used to move passengers and supplies across the bay. On April 16, 1886, Babcock and Story filed articles of incorporation for the San Diego & Coronado Ferry Company, retaining the sole right to provide transportation across the bay to and from San Diego. The first ferry was ordered to be built in San Francisco. CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM
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On the ride across the bay, you could sit in your car, look over the rail at the rushing water or go topside for a panoramic view of San Diego Bay in the comfort of an enclosed sitting area.
Not including Della, there were 10 official ferries taking people back and forth to Coronado during the years of service. The first five ferries were steam-powered paddle wheelers. The next five were diesel ships and were in operation up to the end of ferry service in 1969. The ferries were beloved but becoming impractical by the second half of the 1960s, with cars lined up on Orange Avenue to get off the island. There was simply too much traffic. The San Diego-Coronado Bridge was inevitable. Considered competitive against bridge toll revenue, the ferry company was required to cease operations at midnight on Aug. 2, 1969, the exact moment the bridge opened for business. The last five ferries were sold by the Toll Bridge Authority. Some went on to other services while others quietly disappeared. CORONADO (1886-1922) The Coronado cost $15,000, was a coal burning double-ender, built with side paddle wheels so it wouldn’t need to be turned around 36
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on each side of the bay. It was formally commissioned and put into service on Aug. 19, 1886. A round trip on Sunday cost 25 cents. The Coronado measured 100 feet long and accommodated 13 horse teams with buggies and 600 people. The boat was also used to transport materials and workers for the construction of the Hotel Del Coronado. It was in service until 1922 when it was sold to a motion picture company and remodeled to look like a Spanish galleon for the silent movie Captain Blood. It was eventually blown up and sunk for the movie. SILVERGATE (1888-1890) The eagerly awaited Silvergate was named for the entrance to San Diego Bay. Built in the Coronado shipyard on North Island, the Silvergate was hailed to be “new and different” with elaborate woodwork and a look of the “Gay Nineties.” The ferry measured 187 feet long by 51 feet wide, with a 7-foot draft. The lower deck was able to carry 50 horse teams and | DECEMBER 2019
the upper deck held 1,000 passengers. Launched on April 1, 1888, the ferry was a disaster from the beginning. It was unwieldy, and within a month of starting service, it crashed into piers, causing extensive damage on both sides of the bay. The Silvergate’s service ended in just two years. It was converted into a floating casino at Tent City in the early 1900s and was the headquarters for San Diego Yacht Club for a short time. It was dismantled after World War I. BENICIA (1888-1903) The Benicia was already 7 years old when it was purchased by the ferry company for $9,700 and was overhauled with a new boiler and fresh paint. Like the Coronado, the Benicia was 105 feet long. It was soon deemed too small and was replaced by the Ramona. RAMONA (1903-1931) The Ramona was the first ferry in the San Diego & Coronado Ferry Company's fleet to have incandescent lights. Built at Moore
MORENA (1920-1938) Built in Wilmington, California, for a cost of $200,000, the Morena was equipped with a 500-horsepower, 2-cylinder steam engine (the last steam-driven vessel in the fleet), and was considered to be advanced in design, allowing passengers to embark and disembark from the main and upper decks, speeding up the turnaround time at the docks. At 170 feet by 65 feet, the ferry could carry 800 passengers and 40 automobiles. Its service ended in 1938. It was then used by the Navy to train gun crews.
CORONADO II (1929-1969) The Coronado II was the first diesel/electric ship in service. Like the Ramona, it was built at Moore Shipbuilding & Drydock Company. At 190 feet by 60 feet by 9 feet, the hull was divided into seven steel watertight compartments and powered by two 500-horsepower Atlas-Imperial diesel engines. The lower level carried 58 cars and housed the purser’s office, restrooms and crew quarters. The second level was half open, half enclosed for passengers. The pilot house with centralized controls was on the third level. On the maiden voyage, Army pilot William Van Dusen circled over the ferry dropping flowers and a letter of congratulations from the San Diego Chamber of Commerce while other planes dropped flowers as well. After its time on San Diego
Bay, it was sold and sent to Nicaragua, eventually running aground and then abandoned. SAN DIEGO (1931-1969) This ship was an enlarged version of the Coronado II. Also built at Moore Shipbuilding, it had three 350-horesepower Atlas Imperial diesel engines and cost $300,000. At 205 feet by 60 feet by 9 feet, the San Diego could carry 200 passengers and 66 cars. Thanks to efforts of the Coronado Civic Club, a new rule was established that trucks would no longer get right of way ahead of cars. The ferry went on to Washington, running passengers between Port Townsend and Whidbey Island from 1970 to ’74 and then went Vancouver, British Columbia, where it languished for years. In 1984, an entrepreneur wanted to bring the ferry back to Coronado as a floating restaurant but failed. In 1994, it was towed up the Sacramento River and left to vandalism and theft. After a fire damaged the upper deck, it was towed to Mare Island and dismantled.
LESLIE CRAWFORD COLLECTION
Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. in Oakland, it measured 188 feet by 29 feet by 12 feet and could carry 14 automobiles. After it was decommissioned, it was remodeled into a beer-garden/café at the foot of Scott Street and Harbor Drive in San Diego, but a few years later it sank at the dock under mysterious circumstances.
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LESLIE CRAWFORD COLLECTION
The ferry landing on the San Diego side was at the base of Pacific Highway where Seaport Village sits now. It was a short trip straight across the channel.
NORTH ISLAND (1939-1969) Built in 1923 in Alameda, the North Island was formally known as the Golden West. Originally in service in San Francisco, its career up north ended when the Golden Gate Bridge was completed. Slightly larger than the two previous ferries at 214 feet by 58 feet by 9 feet, it could carry 550 passengers and 70 autos. The ferry ended up in Ensenada, where it was stripped of valuable material with plans to make a floating restaurant. SILVER STRAND (1944-1969) Originally named the Elwha, the Silver Strand was purchased from the Puget Sound Navigation Company for $300,000. After considerable work, it was a much-needed addition to the fleet allowing for increased trips across the bay each day. The Silver Strand could carry up to 66 autos per crossing. After 38
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it was sold, the boat was anchored in Los Angeles Harbor but broke its moorings and capsized during heavy weather. CROWN CITY (1954-1969) The Crown City was the first ferry to be constructed on the West Coast in 25 years. It was a different design, built without an upper deck and open to the elements. At 242 feet long, it could carry 70 automobiles. Like the San Diego, it went to Washington and plied the waters between Whidbey Island, Mukilteo and Columbia Beach. The ferry was eventually sold again, towed through the Panama Canal and since the late 1990s has been plying the waters of Martha’s Vineyard. The Coronado ferries left their mark and still resonate with anyone who remembers riding them. For a nickel and later a dime, you | DECEMBER 2019
could ride all day. Deck chairs provided comfortable lounging to enjoy the salt air and sea breezes. Friends settled into the cabins to play bridge during multiple round trips. Kids could take bikes across the bay and have a great day of adventure in San Diego. And you couldn’t ask for a better way to start and end a date with your sweetheart. It was a 10-minute trip each way with a spectacular view of the bay, Navy ships, fishing boats, downtown and old homes along Coronado’s waterfront. Centennial Park at Orange Avenue and First Street was established in 1986, on the 100th anniversary of the first Coronado ferry. The park stands in the corridor where cars got on and off the ferry. A salvaged ticket booth sits in the park as a reminder of the old ferry days. Gone but not forgotten.
Tales From the Senior Captain
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n 1986 veteran ferry captain Curtis Allen was interviewed by Jeanne Danis, reporter for the Coronado Journal about his time working for San Diego & Coronado Ferry Company. Starting as a deckhand and working his way to senior captain over a 36-year career, he said his job was never boring. Getting cars and people loaded onto the ferry, putting the retaining bar in place, traversing across the bay while dodging pleasure craft, Navy ships and fishing boats was non-stop work in a beautiful environment. Occasionally a rider would fall or jump overboard, which required quick thinking on the part of the captain to immediately reverse engines and get a life-ring in the water. Allen also remembered pregnant women occasionally holding up the ferry. It was not uncommon to hear someone yell, “Hold the boat – woman in labor,” Allen said. “I don’t know why, but mothers who lived in San Diego would want to give birth in Coronado, and Coronado mothers would want to go to Balboa Hospital.” No babies were born on the ferry on his watch, but a few were born aboard the ferries over the years. Sometimes people even forgot they had driven their car onto the ferry, leaving it behind as they walked home. “But everybody knew whose car it was,” Allen said. “It was that kind of a town back then.” – Leslie Crawford
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Peace on Earth and Goodwill to All
AR O UN D TOW N | C H R I ST I N E VAN T U Y L
’Tis the season for merry making, but does anything set your soul on fire like helping those in need? Giving back glows with its own special brand of magic, but sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin. It can be overwhelming to consider all holiday giving opportunities or to know you’re helping where it’s needed most. But there’s no need to get your tinsel in a tangle. Check out these festive ways to deck the halls of those in need.
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P L AY S A N T A T O M I L I TA R Y FA M I L I E S Did you know that many of our enlisted sailors qualify for food stamps? Most can’t afford to give their families things on the Christmas wish list. Thankfully, the San Diego Military Outreach organizes a delightful Christmas Store filled with donated toys at Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church. Here, junior enlisted military members can “shop” for their children for free, get their gifts wrapped and be thanked for their abundant service. You can help by dropping off a new, unwrapped toy for newborns to 13-year-olds. Dropoff stations include Graham Memorial, Coronado Fitness Club, BE Polished, the Coronado Police Station, the Coronado Library or the Coronado Cays Fire Station. Last year the organization helped more than 92 military children. • San Diego Military Outreach Christmas Store Contact: Christina Klave, 619-519-2401, klavechristina@gmail.com
BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR Many families are suffering from homelessness, disabilities, illnesses or extreme financial hardships just minutes away from Coronado. Amanda Russell started a Christmas giving opportunity a few years ago to help impoverished families with children attending Mueller Charter School in Chula Vista. The families are identified with the help of local Michele Albin, a teacher at the school, along with the school guidance counselor to ensure that the help is truly going to families in need. Last year, more than $17,858 was raised to help 12 families have a very merry Christmas. According to thank you notes sent from the families, new housing was secured; the family car was repaired; kids were purchased reading glasses; children ate who had not eaten in three days. To participate in this year’s giving opportunity, please contact Amanda and provide your name, email and contact info. Or drop off cash or check donations ($10 to $1,000) at 603 J Ave., or Venmo @amanda1977. • Christmas Giving Opportunity Contact: Amanda Russell 619-993-0710, amanda@creativeaffairsinc.com
HELP END HUNGER For some San Diego children, sugar plums and turkey dinners never make it to the table. Girl Scouts San Diego is partnering with the San Diego Food Bank and the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) for the “Stuff the Bus” winter food drive. Simply visit Vons in Coronado on Dec. 14 where the Girl Scouts will encourage shoppers to purchase specially requested items or pre-packaged bags. The MTS bus will carry your donations to the food bank to help bring food to the tables of impoverished families countywide. • Stuff the Bus with the Girl Scouts Vons, 868 Orange Ave CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM
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HELP FURRY FRIENDS Lots of cuddly companions will be spending the holidays at PAWS of Coronado while they await their forever homes. Help make their season a little sweeter by volunteering to walk and play with the dogs. The cats need lots of love, too. You can volunteer to socialize or groom the cats and kittens or help with the cat strolling team so the felines can smell the fresh air, watch the butterflies and check out our beautiful island from the safety of their specially designed cat strollers. In addition, PAWS always accepts donations on its website. • PAWS of Coronado, 1395 First St., 619-435-8247, pawsofcoronado.org
A D O P T A F A M I LY Sacred Heart Parish offers an opportunity to adopt a family in need from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, just over the bridge. Simply contact Bridgette Carlson to get a family assignment. You will then shop for items the family needs such as clothing, shoes, blankets, and toys to give them a Christmas they will remember forever. • Adopt a Family from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church with Sacred Heart Parish Contact: Bridgette Carlson: 619-857-5785, bridgecarlson@mac.com 46
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KATIE KAROSICH
R E C I P E | C O U R T E S Y O F TA R T I N E
Tartine’s Raspberry Linzer Cookies YIELDS APPROXIMATELY 2 DOZEN COOKIES
12 ounces (3 sticks) unsalted butter 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon almond extract ⅓ cup almond flour 3 cups all-Purpose flour ½ cup raspberry jam Extra powdered sugar for dusting
1. In a stand-up mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar for about 3 minutes, until it is soft and well incorporated. Add the salt and almond extract. Combine the almond and all-purpose flours and to the butter mixture. Mix just until the dough comes together; over-mixing will give you tough cookies. 2. Divide the dough into manageable pieces and turn one piece onto a floured board. Roll to approximately 1/8 inch thick. Cut with a 3-inch round fluted cutter, making sure you have an even number of cookies for the tops and bottoms. Cut out holiday shapes on the tops of your sandwich cookies. Repeat
the process incorporating fresh dough into the dough you have already rolled. This process helps to keep the dough from getting too tough or dry. 3. Place cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and chill for about half an hour. Chilling the cookies will preserve the shape while baking. 4. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 9 to 11 minutes or until the edges start to brown slightly. Let the cookies cool on a rack, then place approximately 1 to 2 teaspoons raspberry jam on the bottom cookies. Dust the top cookies with sifted powdered sugar and sandwich together with bottom/jam cookies. CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM
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A Southern classic, Hoppin' John is made with blackeyed peas and is considered a lucky meal on New Year's Day. It's served with corn bread and collard greens.
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Southern Tradition New Year's Meal Provides a Serving of Good Luck
C
ountless cultures prepare food on New Year’s Day that symbolize good luck, prosperity or longevity. The American South is no exception, and I was brought up in a Southern household eating foods we hoped would bring our family all the aforementioned. Southerners not only consider serving certain food to be good luck, they consider not serving them to be bad luck. The Holy Trinity of lucky foods in our house has always been Hoppin’ John, corn bread and collard greens. This trio is not exclusive to New Year’s Day – most of these dishes are Southern staples – but they have special significance when served as the first meal of a new year.
By CLYDE VAN ARSDALL IV
Hoppin’ John is a classic Southern dish of black-eyed peas cooked low and slow, flavored with smoked pork and loads of seasonings, traditionally served with Carolina Gold rice. The name Hoppin’ John is said to have come from an old hobbled street vendor in Charleston, South Carolina, who sold a popular dish of peas and rice. It starts with a Cajun mirepoix, a base for many dishes, especially in New Orleans, made from two parts onions, one part celery and one part green bell pepper. Hoppin’ John was my father’s favorite. He made it every year, and it took care of three symbolic essentials for our New Year’s Day meal, a hat trick of good luck. Black-eyed peas are said to symbolize coins, thus wealth. They
are also considered lucky because nearing the end of the Civil War, the Northern soldiers swept across the Confederate states leaving behind very little in the way of food for Southern families except black-eyed peas and collard greens, which were considered animal feed. These two staples kept many families alive. From that time forward, the two foods were considered lucky. Among the best black-eyed peas are the Camellia brand. The Hayward family has been selling them at the old French Market in New Orleans since 1923. They can be purchased on Amazon, and they are a staple in my Southern larder. Pork is symbolic of progress since pigs are always moving in a forward motion, head down to CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM
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the task at hand. The thought is that if you eat pork you will progress and move forward in the New Year. I use bacon in my Hoppin’ John, ham hock in the greens and bacon fat in cornbread. Rice is symbolic of abundance. Carolina Plantation Rice offers certified Carolina-grown Carolina Gold rice. This rice has been grown in South Carolina since 1685 and originated in Madagascar. It is also available on Amazon and is a staple in my kitchen as well. The green color of collard greens is also symbolic of money and is said to bring wealth in the New Year. Well-made collard greens also contain pork (a double dip in the luck department) in the form of a ham hock, which flavors the broth or pot likker as it is called regionally. Pot likker refers to the broth and juices left at the bottom of a pan and is typically served in a coffee cup along with the meal. Cornbread is king in the South and its gold color symbolizes wealth in the new year. A proper cornbread recipe contains pork in the form of bacon. Bacon is fried in an iron skillet then removed. A small amount of fat, enough to coat the surface of the skillet, is then heated until smoking hot. The cornbread batter is poured into the pan thus frying the batter and forming the amazing crust of all good cornbread. If you are feeling naughty, you can crumble the bacon
Sybil Van Arsdall's cornbread recipe
into the batter before it is added to the pan. According to most Southerners, the best cornbread is their mothers’ cornbread. I know my mother, Sybil,
R E C I P E | C O U R T E S Y O F C H E F C LY D E V A N A R S D A L L I V
Clyde’s Hoppin’ John SERVES 10
7 thick-cut bacon slices, chopped (maple or hickory smoked) 4 cups dried Camellia black-eyed peas (may use canned or frozen) 4 celery stalks, chopped (1 ½ cups) 1 medium-size yellow onion, chopped (1 ½ cups) 1 small green bell pepper, finely chopped (1 cup) 4 garlic cloves, chopped (1 tablespoon) ½ teaspoon black pepper ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon kosher salt 8 cups chicken broth (low sodium or homemade) 2 cups Carolina Gold rice 1 bunch sliced scallions
1. Cook bacon in large heavy pot over medium heat 10 to 12 minutes or until almost crisp. (Reserve bacon fat) 2. Add broth and dried Camillia black-eyed peas and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer one hour. (If using canned or frozen blacked eyed peas skip these first two steps. Sauté all ingredients in steps 3-5 and proceed.) 3. In separate skillet, heat 4 tablespoons of reserved bacon fat over medium heat. 4. Add celery, onion, and bell pepper (Cajun mirepoix) and sauté until tender about 8 minutes. 5. Add garlic, black pepper, cayenne, and 1 teaspoon of the salt, cook for 3 minutes. 6. Add mixture to broth and black-eyed peas and bring to a boil over medium-high. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until peas are tender, about 30 minutes. 7. Cover to keep warm; set aside. 8. Serve with Carolina Gold rice (follow instructions on package) and fresh sliced scallions.
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RECIPE | COURTESY OF C H E F C LY D E V A N A R S D A L L I V
Collard Greens
(INDIGO RESTAURANT, ATLANTA 1996) SERVES 10
Collard greens
made my favorite version. There are as many versions of cornbread as there are Southern cooks, some like it sweet, some like it dry and crumbly, while others like it moist. My mother’s cornbread is served with butter and a side of blackstrap molasses. Palmetto Farms makes wonderful yellow stone ground corn meal, which again I purchase through Amazon. The Plantation brand makes a good blackstrap molasses, which you can get locally. But if you can get your hands on Steen’s Homestyle Dark Molasses, it is the best. Steen’s has been made in Abbeville, Louisiana, since 1910 in an open kettle using the same steam equipment built by C. S Steen Sr. (Steen’s cannot be shipped to California due to Proposition 65). I require two things for this meal to be a success, a bourbon-based cocktail for the preparation and a fainting couch for after the meal. Good luck!
6 hickory-smoked bacon slices, finely chopped 1 medium-size sweet onions, finely chopped (approx. 3 cups) 1 ham hock (score with knife on all sides) 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1 ½ quarts chicken broth (homemade or low sodium) 1 ½ pounds fresh collard greens, stems removed, washed and chopped 6 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 2 teaspoons sugar 1 teaspoons crushed red pepper ½ teaspoon salt 1. Cook bacon in a 10-quart stockpot over medium heat 10 to 12 minutes or until almost crisp. (Pour off all but 3 tablespoons bacon fat.) 2. Add ham hock and brown over medium heat 3. Add onion and sauté until soft 4. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute 5. Add broth, collard greens and remaining ingredients, cook 2 hours or to desired degree of tenderness. 6. Drain greens and plate, reserve liquid (pot likker) and serve separately in a cup along with meal.
Veal Parmigiana • Ravioli Veal Scallopini • Spaghetti Lasagna • Torpedo Sandwich 285 Palm Ave., Imperial Beach, CA 91932 Open Daily 11am-10pm • Orders to Go Menu Online at RealCheesePizza.com
(619) 754-6650
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SAMANTHA GOH PHOTOGRAPHY
S PAC E S | K A R Y N F R A Z I E R + J E S S I C A N I C O L L S
Keep Things Simple When Decking the Halls T
he holidays are our favorite time of year and it is also one of our busiest so when it comes to planning holiday decor for our clients or our own homes, we like to keep things simple. We usually choose three or four focal points in the home to decorate: the tree, a mantle or someplace for stockings to hang, and the dining table. In this home, we got creative and used a buffet because there wasn’t a fireplace. If your home has a stair bannister that would be a great place to hang some fresh garlands too. We love to incorporate fresh greenery when possible, eucalyptus branches are a great choice and smell amazing, or you can use tree trimmings or a combination of both. Don’t forget the wreath on the front door.
Choose a color palette to use throughout your home. We chose classic Christmas colors of red, white, green and a bit of blue to set the tone for this space. 56
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PHOTOS BY SAMANTHA GOH PHOTOGRAPHY
THE TABLE DECOR A garland is an easy way to add greenery to any table scape or mantel. Pine or eucalyptus branches are easy to find at your local grocery store around the holidays. We added in some pomegranates, artichokes and pears for an organic look and to tie in our color scheme of reds, greens, blues and neutrals. For a neutral element, we added wooden candlesticks down the table. Candles are a nice touch to any dinner; we group them together to make a bigger statement.
THE WRAPPING
THE MANTEL If you don’t have a mantel, using a furniture piece works just as well to hang stockings and add holiday décor. On the mantel, we like to start with larger decor pieces, fill in some greenery and then add a few smaller decorative items. This year, we used white ceramic trees, blended in eucalyptus and added some small ornaments in our color palette.
We like to use the presents under the tree as part of the holiday decor and wrap gifts in the same color palette that we chose for the rest of the home so that everything works together. Whether you like to keep things neutral, bring in some coastal colors or stick to the more traditional colors of green and reds having a color palette established before you decorate will help things feel cohesive and put together. We picked a solid red paper, two floral papers (in red and blue) and a neutral color to blend them together using kraft paper. The bows we kept all in neutral tones with a pop of green ribbon. We love satin ribbon because it’s easy to tie and gives a professional finished look to the gifts.
• Karyn Frazier and Jessica Nicolls are the owners of interior design firm Bungalow 56.
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Winter in Southern California means it’s time for succulents to shine.
Winter in the Garden Southern California winters aren’t as dramatic as other places around the country, but there are still subtle changes in our gardens. During winter’s cooler months, plants are resting to store energy for spring growth. The next few months in the garden will set the stage for healthy plants and vigorous growth as we head toward spring. DECEMBER When you recycle your Christmas tree, sweep up all the loose needles and spread them around the base of your acid-loving plants such as azaleas, camellias, blueberries and hydrangeas. Fresh mulch and some worm castings are strong allies against garden pests and disease. There are good reasons to mulch your garden: it keeps soil from compacting during rains; retains moisture; insulates and regulates the temperature of the ground, protecting plants and their roots; and keeps weeds down. A layer of worm castings applied before the mulch is put down will add valuable nutrients. Apply three inches of mulch but remember to keep mulch away from the trunks of plants to avoid disease and rotting. 58
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Sasanqua camellias and azaleas are blooming now, making it a great time to shop the nurseries so you know you are getting exactly the color flower you want. Most plants are dormant, so reduce water in the garden but don’t cut it completely off. Plants do need some water because cold temperatures and lower humidity dries them out. Irrigate in the morning, so plants can dry during the day to avoid promoting disease. Pay attention to succulents and cactuses in containers. We had so much rain last year that I lost quite a few of my succulents because they didn’t dry out for weeks. Move your plants under eaves or protected areas to shield them from too much water, frost or even the occasional hail. | DECEMBER 2019
JANUARY January is bareroot season, so nurseries will be stocked with roses, fruit trees, strawberries, grapes and cane berries (raspberries, blackberries). Whatever you buy, make sure to keep the roots moist before and after you plant, and don't wait longer than a week to get them in the ground. While you dig your planting hole, soak the plant’s roots in a bucket of water for an hour. Strawberry plants that are more than three years old have passed their prime and should be replaced. Avoid locating strawberries where eggplants, peppers, potatoes or tomatoes were grown within the last three years, as they have similar disease problems. Summer blooming bulbs will also be in stock at the new year. Shop for cannas,
LESLIE CRAWFORD
T H E D I S H O N D I R T | B Y L E S L I E C R AW F O R D
crocosmia, dahlias, gladioli, lilies and tuberous begonias.
Aloes bloom in winter. Aloes arborens will be blooming on the
LESLIE CRAWFORD
FEBRUARY Heading into February, buddlejas, more commonly known as butterfly bushes, need to be pruned back heavily. You can cut back up to 75% of the plant and keep pinching the new growth to promote bushier growth over the next few months. Plumerias will drop their leaves with the cold weather. This is the time to take cuttings from your plant, before new leaves start sprouting. Let the cuttings dry up at the cut end and wait for two months before planting. Citrus is fertilized three times a year with the amount of nitrogen they need divided into three equal quantities. The amount of fertilizer you use will vary according to the age and size of the tree, and in some cases the variety of tree, so get guidance from a reputable nursery if you're not sure. Water the tree the day before, spread the fertilizer over the root zone and water well. The feeder roots of citrus trees are very close to the surface, so it's important not to over-fertilize, or you could burn your tree. I use three holidays as a guide for remembering to fertilize my citrus: Valentine’s Day, Memorial Day and Labor Day. There are some plants that shine this time of year. Aloes are sending up bloom spikes (a drive down Silver Strand highlights these plants in the center median). Ripe citrus fruit looks like decorative jewels, and at the same time trees are exploding with fragrance from blooms, setting the stage for next year’s crop. Lastly, this is your yearly reminder to check your shot record and make sure your tetanus shot is up to date. As gardeners, we stick our hands in the dirt, so it’s important to make sure we’re protected from icky things that lurk in the soil. Happy gardening!
Strand or visit the Succulent Garden in Balboa Park to see incredible varieties in bloom . CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM
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D I N I N G G U I D E | L O C A L R E S TA U R A N T S
CORONADO ALBACA Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa 2000 2nd St. (619) 435-3000 Amalo Brew Coffee Coronado Library 640 Orange Ave. (619) 537-9011 Avenue Liquor Wine & Subs 878 Orange Ave. (619) 435-4663 Babcock & Story Bar Hotel del Coronado 1500 Orange Ave. (619) 435-6611 Bistro d’Asia 1301 Orange Ave. (619) 437-6677 Bluewater Grill 701 Strand Way (619) 435-0155 Boney’s Bayside Market 155 Orange Ave. (619) 435-0776 The Brigantine 1333 Orange Ave. (619) 435-4166 Bruegger’s Bagels 1305 Orange Ave. (619) 435-3900 Burger King Ferry Landing 1201 1st St. (619) 435-8707 Burger Lounge 922 Orange Ave. (619) 435-6835 Café 1134 1134 Orange Ave. (619) 437-1134 62
Café Madrid Coffee Cart 1029 Orange Ave. (619) 843-2524 Calypso Cafe 505 Grand Caribe Causeway (619) 423-5144 Central Liquor & Deli 178 Orange Ave. (619) 435-0118 Chez Loma 1132 Loma Ave. (619) 435-0661 Clayton’s Bakery and Bistro 849 Orange Ave. (619) 319-5001 Clayton’s Coffee Shop 979 Orange Ave. (619) 435-5425 Clayton’s Mexican Takeout 1107 10th St. (619) 437-8811 Cold Stone Creamery Ferry Landing 1201 1st St. (619) 437-6919 Coronado Brewing Co. 170 Orange Ave. (619) 437-4452 Coronado Coffee Company Ferry Landing 1201 1st St. (619) 522-0217 Coronado Cupcakery Ferry Landing 1201 1st St. (619) 437-0166 Crown Bistro Crown City Inn 520 Orange Ave. (619) 435-3678
CROWN CITY MAGAZINE
Freshly prepared sushi at Saiko Sushi.
Crown Landing Loews Coronado Bay Resort 4000 Coronado Bay Road (619) 424-4000 Crown Room Hotel del Coronado 1500 Orange Ave. (619) 522-8490 Crown Town Deli Ferry Landing 1201 1st St. (619) 675-0013 Danny’s Palm Bar & Grill 965 Orange Ave. (619) 435-3171 Domino’s 1330 Orange Ave. (619) 437-4241 Eno Pizza Hotel del Coronado 1500 Orange Ave. (619) 522-8546 Feast & Fareway Coronado Golf Course 2000 Visalia Row (619) 996-3322 | DECEMBER 2019
Gelato Paradiso 918 Orange Ave. (619) 629-5343 High Tide Bottle Shop & Kitchen 933 Orange Ave. (619) 435-1380
Lil’ Piggy’s Bar-B-Q Ferry Landing 1201 1st St. (619) 522-0217 Little Club 132 Orange Ave. (619) 435-5885
Il Fornaio 1333 1st St. (619) 437-4911
Little Frenchie 1166 Orange Ave. (619) 675-0041
Island Pasta 1202 Orange Ave. (619) 435-4545
Lobster West 1033 B Ave. #102 (619) 675-0002
Juice Crafters 943 Orange Ave. (619) 319-5931
Mexican Village 126 Orange Ave. (619) 319-5955
KFC/ Taco Bell 100 B Ave. (619) 435-2055
Miguel’s Cocina 1351 Orange Ave. (619) 437-4237
La Salsa 1360 Orange Ave. (619) 435-7778
Mindful Cafe Sharp Coronado Hospital 250 Prospect Ave. (619) 522-3600
Leroy’s Kitchen + Lounge 1015 Orange Ave. (619) 437-6087
Mootime Creamery 1025 Orange Ave. (619) 435-2422
Nado Gelato Cafe 1017 C Ave. (619) 522-9053 Nado Republic 1007 C Ave. (619) 996-3271 Nicky Rotten’s Bar & Burger Joint 100 Orange Ave. (619) 537-0280 Night & Day Cafe 847 Orange Ave. (619) 435-9776 Panera 980 Orange Ave. (619) 437-4288 Park Place Liquor & Deli 1000 Park Place (619) 435-0116 Peohe’s Ferry Landing 1201 1st St. (619) 437-4474 Poke123 1009 Orange Ave. (571) 221-4649
Primavera 932 Orange Ave. (619) 435-0454
Village Pizzeria 1206 Orange Ave. (619) 522-0449
Rosemary Trattoria 120 Orange Ave. (619) 537-0054
Village Pizzeria Bayside Ferry Landing 1201 1st St. (619) 437-0650
Saiko Sushi 116 Orange Ave. (619) 435-0868 Serea Coastal Cuisine Hotel del Coronado 1500 Ocean Ave. (619) 435-6611 Sheerwater Hotel del Coronado 1500 Ocean Ave. (619) 522-8490 Spiro’s Greek Cafe Ferry Landing 1201 1st St. (619) 435-1225
Vons 868 Orange Ave. (619) 435-6811 Which Wich 926 Orange Ave. (619) 522-9424 Wine a Bit 928 Orange Ave. (619) 365-4953 Yogurt Escape 942 Orange Ave. (619) 435-9700 Yummy Sushi 1330 Orange Ave. (619) 435-2771
Starbucks 960 Orange Ave. (619) 437-8306
CATERING
Stake Chophouse & Bar 1309 Orange Ave. (619) 522-0077
Clyde Van Arsdall Neiman Marcus (619) 542-4451
Subway 1330 Orange Ave. (619) 435-8272 Swaddee Thai 1001 C Ave. (619) 435-8110 Tartine 1106 1st St. (619) 435-4323 Tavern 1310 Orange Ave. (619) 437-0611 The Henry 1031 Orange Ave. (619) 762-1022 Tent City 1100 Orange Ave. (619) 435-4611 Villa Nueva Bakery Café 956 Orange Ave. (619) 435-1256
BBQ Boss (619) 432-2677
Chef Drew McPartlin (619) 990-9201 Coronado Caterer (619) 917-3392 DiCristo Meals (858) 267-7161 Pret Gourmet (619) 990-2461 Scratch Gourmet (619) 987-4912
IMPERIAL BEACH Filippi’s Pizza 285 Palm Ave. (619) 754-6650 Red House Kitchen 775 13th St, (619) 934-3133 Siam Imperial Thai Kitchen 226 Palm Ave. (619) 621-6650 CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM
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CROWN CITY MAGAZINE
| DECEMBER 2019
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