San Diego Downtown News 02-07-20 by San Diego Community Newspaper Group

VOLUME 21 ISSUE 2

February 2020

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As she patrols outside of the Joan Kroc Center, Celeste Dumas pauses on 16th Street where a pointed object lies. She swiftly pulls out a set of plastic gloves from her belt and clears the sidewalk of what could be drug paraphernalia. Later in her office, she threw the item in a bin for bio-hazardous materials. After 10 years working in security at Father Joe’s Villages, this small act is second nature. “We look for hazards all the time. It’s really weird. I do it naturally everywhere I go — even though I’m not working,” Dumas explained. “I’ve been doing it for over a decade.” As she has risen through the ranks at the nonprofit organization that provides services to much of San Diego’s homeless

The Sparks Gallery

LITTLE ITALY P. 7

Valentine’s Day celebrations

DINING P. 9

by Kendra Sitton)

Gaslamp promenade plans in progress Creating a car-free zone on Fifth Avenue could still be 3 to 5 years away SD’s bread from France

DAVE FIDLIN | Downtown News

It won’t happen overnight, and there are still plenty of logistical questions, but the path toward turning a portion of the Gaslamp Quarter into a car-free, pedestrian-friendly promenade is underway. In late 2019, representatives of the Gaslamp Quarter Association officially announced plans for the promenade project. Tentatively, the proposal calls for closing stretches of Fifth Avenue — from Broadway to L Street

FEATURE P. 11

History on utility boxes

Index 8

Classifieds

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SEE FIFTH AVENUE, Page 6

Overhead view of proposed promenade (Photos courtesy Gaslamp Association)

Tom Brooks is the founder and CEO of Cornerstone Managing Partners, a construction management firm whose expertise is taking on projects that leave most other companies spinning their wheels. Brooks has made high-rise residential projects his specialty, especially when it comes to the HOAs that come with the luxury units. This makes him a popular figure in Downtown San Diego given its surge in high-rise units in the last 20 years. If something goes wrong in these towers, it can be a monumental task to fix it. And the affluent tenants do not take kindly to being displaced. This is where Brooks earns his reputation as a “fixer” of sorts to these high-value HOAs. His company has earned tens of millions of dollars as well as a stellar reputation of not only fixing problems, but also getting the key permits and approvals to do so. This is something that Brooks excels at and its origin is in his grassroots construction upbringing. Brooks started out working with his uncle and his cousin doing entry-level house framing in Los Angeles during the ’80s. “I started out as a stick framer, I was working up in LA, I lived in Monrovia, and my uncle and my cousin, that’s what we did, we SEE CORNERSTONE, Page 13

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Security manager Celeste Dumas in the courtyard at Father Joe’s. (Photo SEE DUMAS, Page 15

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San Diego Downtown News February 2020

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NEWS

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The mixed use area includes a cafe.

Another area of the park

San Diego Downtown News February 2020

An additional sitting area

Children’s Park wants to play Art on the Land By DELLE WILLETT After years of planning, the City of San Diego is doing a $6.05 million overhaul of the Children’s Park, giving residents and nearby workers an invitation to come out and play. Children’s Park was originally designed by internationally renowned landscape architect Peter Walker. Completed in August 1996 in time for the Republican National Convention at a cost of $2.8 million, the park was originally called “Civic Pond,” and was later changed to “Children’s Park.” Covering two acres in San Diego’s urban fabric, this “passive” park is located between Front and First Streets on the south side of Island Avenue, with little to offer and little to do, and mostly frequented by downtown’s transient population. In 2016, the city’s then-Downtown development agency, Civic San Diego, selected landscape architects Schmidt Design Group (SDG) to craft a new Master Plan for the park to remedy its perceived flaws. The plan was unanimously approved by the city’s Parks and Recreation Board in 2017. The scope of the effort included robust community engagement with several public workshops where residents had the opportunity to express their ideas and desires for the park renovation. Much of the feedback received directly informed the final composition of the new reimagined master plan for the site. According to SDG landscape architect and principal, JT Barr, “The design team was committed to activating the park, increasing usability and safety while honoring its iconic attributes — the urban forest and Civic Pond — which remain significant features in the new open-space vision.”

In 2018, Spurlock Landscape Architects was selected to prepare construction documents, permitting, and to perform construction observation of the park. Spurlock Senior Associate Amelia Capron is project manager for the design team as the prime consultant, managing the completion of construction documents, permitting for the drawings, and coordination between the contractors and design team through construction. “The new park programming is a true reflection of the neighborhood’s desires,” she said“It will now be able to serve its community, activating the space again and creating a true asset.” The renovation effort, which is expected to be finished in the summer of 2021, will add family-friendly amenities intended to activate the entire space. New amenities include space for a future retail vendor, dog run, large and unique children’s play area, fitness equipment, a flexible-use lawn surrounding the Civic Pond, picnic areas, game tables for chess, ping pong and cornhole. A public restroom will be open 24 hours with an attendant who will be able to have eyes on the park. People will be buzzed in and out of the restroom by the attendant to reduce issues that have occurred in other Downtown public restrooms. There will also be an off-leash dog park with an artificial turf called “K9 Grass” by ForeverLawn, specifically created for wear and tear by dogs, and featuring a routine cleaning regimen. The children’s playscape includes a series of large custom play structures not found elsewhere in Southern California to create a destination playground. This equipment is primarily constructed of wooden components and includes a custom three-level tower structure with slides, wooden climbers, and equipment for

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BUSINESS / NEWS sdnews.com Brand incubator BASIS celebrates 1-year anniversary San Diego Downtown News February 2020

VINCE MEEHAN | Downtown News

Christopher Lander is the founder of BASIS, a Downtown brand incubator that has recently launched four separate e-commerce brands. His mission is to disrupt the dental, hair, and skin care industries with his new brands, and so far his plan is panning out. These direct-to-consumer brands include: TryAutoBrush. com, IvyLeaf Skincare.com, ShopUnt a n g l e d .c o m , a nd ShopTheCore.com — and they’re all owned and operated by BASIS. Lander and his team have reached the one-year anniversary landmark, and are looking forward to many more successful years here in San Diego. His office is located on the fifth floor of the San Diego Union Tribune building on B Street, where his team members work on their laptops while lounging on beanbag chairs. The laidback environment is typical of many of today’s young upstart companies, but the company has had to overcome a few major hurdles to get to the one-year anniversary intact. This includes a merger with a separate company called Ads, Inc., which was marred by the sudden death of its founder Asher Burke in a highly

publicized helicopter crash in Kenya in March. “Obviously, that was just a crazy time for us, and I had to decide if I was going to keep it all together and run both sides of the business,” Lander said. “I eventually decided to separate the businesses and that’s where BASIS stands today.” At the time of the merger, Lander and Burke sought out and hired leaders in the field of e-commerce in various different fields. But after Burke’s death, a lot of the cash flow that was to come along with the merger was lost. As a result, there was a round of layoffs, and the ones who survived were suddenly forced to take on additional responsibilities that were not necessarily in their comfort zone. But the wealth of experience that the new hires brought with them made this transition successful and resulted in the four brands currently owned by BASIS. The most popular brand is AutoBrush, “the unique electric toothbrush of the 21st century.” This product fits in your mouth like an athletic mouth guard, and the AutoBrush for Kids model is a hot seller. For the merger, Lander and Burke’s goal was to snatch up all the e-commerce marketing

The AutoBrush for Kids features happy animal face motifs. (Photo courtesy of BASIS)

Children’s Park CONTINUED FROM Page 3

2- to 5-year-olds, a saucer swing and a “Viking” swing. Spurlock principal landscape architect Brad Lents said that a major component of the design is the utilization of porous paving materials throughout the park to help treat stormwater and reduce large excavations for stormwater detention basins that would have impacted the preservation of many of the existing pine trees. Because of the grading, in order to provide new program areas and

ADA access throughout the park, a number of the existing trees will have to be removed. “We worked closely with an arborist to save as many of the existing trees as we could, while replacing some of those that were removed with new trees,” explained Lents. The removal of the existing Italian cypress around the perimeter of the park and replacement with Raywood ash will open up visibility into the park and provide better shade on the sidewalk. A focal point in the park is a sculpture by Miki Iwasaki called “Petrichor,” meaning a pleasant

(Top row l to r) Director of Brand Development Nikki Johnson, founder Christopher Lander, Project Manager Cori Taylor, (bottom row l to r) Media Buyer Lead Micheal Mariano, Media Buyer Lead Jonathan Roth, Mariel Bacci. (Photo by Vince Meehan)

stars and create a superpower that would dominate the field. This included running the whole show as opposed to marketing for other people. And Lander intends to hold true to that plan no matter what fate throws at him. “The back story is that we are good marketers, we are able to sell things online profitably. So, we wanted to be able to build assets instead of marketing for other people,” Lander said. Nikki Johnson is the director of brand development at BASIS, and one of the people Lander brought on board for the merger. Johnson is excited about the success that the AutoBrush for Kids

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have all reached out us because of seeing us out there and what kind of difference we’re trying to make in the oral health care space for kids.” As for the future, Lander wants his company to collectively catch its breath after the drama earlier in the year. But he also wants to springboard onto bigger things once that is done. “I want to stabilize and then grow version four of AutoBrush,” Lander said. “Then I’d like to expand outside of the United States, wherever that takes us.” —Vince Meehan can be reached at vinniemeehan@gmail.com. search of the clouds. Night lighting will illuminate the artwork, creating a strong evening presence and serving as a beacon in the park. Although the park is heavily amenitized, there is still room for flexibility and pop-up events. Construction is expected to start this summer so everyone can go out and play.

A play area for kids (Image courtesy Spurlock Landscape Architects) smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather. A s c u lp t u ra l i n s t a l la tion consisting of multiple

three-dimensional, interlocking abstract forms that “float” above the ground in a cloud-like shape, “Petrichor” is designed to take your eye up into the trees in

to the

—Delle Willett has been a marketing and public relations professional for over 30 years, with an emphasis on conservation of the environment. She can be reached at dellewillett@gmail.com. ju

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has enjoyed. “The whole idea is to change the way people look at health and beauty products, and make a dent in the health and beauty space,” Johnson noted. “It’s actually making kids enjoy brushing their teeth, so all of the parents are saying their kids are using it eight times a day because it plays jungle music and the kids are actually having little dance parties. And they’re actually excited to brush their teeth now, which is exciting for us because you just want to build the good habit of kids getting used to brushing their teeth and not making it such a negative thing for them. Kohl’s and CVS and Target

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FASHION

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San Diego Downtown News February 2020

Sparks has a Hart Fashion Files By DIANA CAVAGNARO Sparks Gallery is located in the heart of the Gaslamp between Island and Market on Sixth Avenue. This historic space was originally called the Sterling Hardware Building and was built in 1924. This 1920s period design has original maple floorboards and brick walls that were restored by hand, creating an amazing 4,500-square-foot space. There is also a mezzanine level, exterior patio, and a fully equipped kitchen. This gallery was designed for contemporary artwork. All of the artists live in San Diego or Southern California.

Upcoming Events March 7, 2020 Luncheon and fashion show to benefit Soroptimist International of San Diego. “Striving for the Stars” will be presented by Gretchen Productions at the Sheraton Harbor Island Marina Tower. For info: 619-670-9880. Tuesday, March 31, 2020 Globe Guilder’s Luncheon and Fashion Show at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine. All proceeds benefit The Old Globe. For information call 858-382-1672.

Alexandra Hart and Sonya Sparks (Photo by Diana Cavagnaro)

Sonya Sparks is the owner and chief curator of this luxurious gallery, which opened in 2013. Sparks collects talent with high impact and gives the public high-quality pieces of art with reasonable prices. In 2015, the gallery was awarded the People’s in Preservation Award for Adaptive Reuse by Save Our

Tantalus necklace (Courtesy photo)

Created for Alexandra’s solo exhibition, “Symbiosis” (Photo by

Heritage Organisation (SOHO). This month, the Gaslamp Quarter Association presented them with an award for the Best Gallery at the San Diego Union-Tribune’s 25th Anniversary Gaslamp Gala presented by the Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter. The Sparks Gallery hosts eight unique jewelers, who create amazing wearable art. I had the opportunity to interview Alexandra Hart about her couture jewelry featured there. Hart is inspired by natural symbiotic relationships with inanimate objects. In fact, she named the recent solo show she had at Sparks Gallery “Symbiosis.” The concept behind her art is a combination of abstract ideas with traditional

Raymond Elstad)

Feather wrap cuff bracelet (Photo by

Ginkgo leaf earring and necklace

Diana Cavagnaro)

(Photo by Diana Cavagnaro)

jewelry. Influenced by biology and plants, you will see some jewelry with petals and others have feathers. The exhibition had walls with sketches of human form renderings and then the jewelry was placed so that it looked like a necklace was around the neck or a bracelet around the wrist of the figure. There also were live mannequins walking around and interacting with the guests creating a nontraditional event. Hart began her business in 1995 and earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Art and Metalsmithing. She has fashion experience designing for Karl Lagerfeld and Givenchy fashion jewelry. Working as a metalsmith, she uses gold silver, platinum and copper. Her goal is to promote responsible sources of materials using ethical metalsmithing and fair trade gems. A sampling of the names she uses for her pieces inspired by nature are the feather wrap cuff bracelet, petal earring and necklace, quill earrings and rings, the Venus flytrap earrings and sea anemone. I especially like the filoblume

Wall rendering for solo exhibition (Courtesy photo)

feather as part of the Pure Flight collection and the ginkgo leaf necklace and earrings. I asked Hart what was next for her. She said that she would be teaching a class at the Anneville Studio in Liberty Station and Cogent Studio on Morena Boulevard. Sparks Gallery also brings different layers to the consumer with hands-on activities such as metal workshops, painting sessions, and a gold leaf workshop. The gallery is located at 530 Sixth Ave. For more information, visit sparksgallery.com. —Diana Cavagnaro is an internationally renowned couture milliner based in the historic Gaslamp Quarter. Learn more about our hat designer, teacher and blogger at DianaCavagnaro.com.

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San Diego Downtown News February 2020

OPINION / NEWS

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Guest Editorial

The disturbing tale of 101 Ash Street BARBARA BRY | Mayoral candidate

Mayor Faulconer’s five-year financial outlook projects four straight years of city budget deficits, despite one of the strongest economies in years. Why are the streets, sidewalks, parks and other city facilities continuing to deteriorate when San Diego’s economy is booming? Unfortunately, it’s difficult for San Diegans to get a straight answer to that question because our current city administration lacks transparency and accountability. But on Friday, Jan. 17, when city administration announced the city-purchased former Sempra Energy headquarters at 101 Ash St. must be vacated, again, we got a look behind the curtain. And what was revealed is a shocking example of mismanagement and lack of accountability plaguing our city. The lack of oversight and accountability at 101 Ash St. is reflective of bigger problems at City Hall. Although

Fifth Avenue CONTINUED FROM Page 1

— to vehicular traffic and adding a number of new features, including public art and street furniture. While the announcement officially bubbled to the surface last fall, Michael Trimble, executive director of the Gaslamp Quarter Association, said there had been talk of making changes to the layout of one of San Diego’s most visible neighborhoods. “As a concept, it’s actually been kicked around for decades,” Trimble said in a recent interview with Downtown News. “Obviously this is a large project, and a very expensive project.” Cost, actually, will be one of the sticking points. The transformation has been pegged at approximately $40 million, based on all of the plan components. Trimble and others involved with the preliminary planning have cited four possible funding sources: state and federal grants, corporate donations and private investment.

my predecessors on the City Council — including two of my opponents for the mayor’s office — approved this lease-purchase agreement, no one has yet accepted responsibility for this fiasco. I have asked the city auditor to investigate the process by which the building was purchased, the due diligence that was conducted on both the value and the physical condition, and the subsequent handling of the management of this project and the overall expenditures on the project. The city’s chief operating officer claimed on June 17, 2019, that the “project remains on schedule and within budget.” In August 2019, county regulators shut down renovations at 101 Ash St. due to asbestos violations. After “remediating” the violations, the building was subsequently occupied by city employees until Jan. 17, when once again, 101 Ash St. was deemed unfit for human occupation. 101 Ash St. is neither ontime, on-budget nor safe for

occupants. We need a city administration that is accountable for the management of our tax dollars. How much tax revenue has been wasted and who is responsible? These issues matter because while $18,000 per day is being spent just on lease payments, that revenue could be used to fix our roads, sidewalks and parks. We must demand more of city officials. We must demand leaders who have the skills and knowledge to successfully manage our city’s budget and administration. I continue to demand the city auditor provide the following information: • Why did the City Council and city attorney approve a lease/purchase agreement that effectively relieves the sellers of any responsibility for undisclosed defects in the building? • What due diligence occurred prior to consummating the lease/purchase agreement regarding valuation and the physical condition of 101 Ash St.?

• What is the total cost todate to relocate staff to and from Ash Street, including temporary locations? • What are the details on all budget items, including increases? • What is the economic impact of the suspension of Development Services Department services for the duration of the move and from this date until services are fully restored? • What measures have been put in place to stop this fiasco from happening again? It is a simple equation: When we elect officials who lack financial and management expertise and allow the city administration to be unaccountable, we expose the city and its residents to financial risk. That risk threatens the safety and welfare of our neighborhoods. We must demand better!

“There are complications. It’s not an easy task,” Trimble said of the various pieces of the puzzle that will need to come together for the project to see the light of day. “Working out the details will take time.” The Gaslamp Quarter plans have drawn comparisons to other well-known sites with similar amenities, including the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. Trimble said several factors contributed to the formal unveiling of the plans at this point. “Gaslamp is at a turning point right now,” Trimble said. “This is the front door to the city, and it gives visitors a first impression.” With other well-established San Diego neighborhoods making tweaks, Trimble said the promenade also is a logical next step in giving Gaslamp Quarter a distinctive edge in the greater cityscape. “There’s just a lot of options for people these days,” he said. “We want this to be a place where people can meet and enjoy life.” Based on current estimates, Trimble said the actual

groundbreaking of the targeted area of Fifth Avenue could still be three to five years off on the horizon. In the meantime, the Gaslamp Quarter Association, which is helming the planning process, is working to gather feedback from Downtown residents, business owners and other people interested in weighing in on the project. Since the project’s initial announcement, the association has been taking comments through an online form that can be accessed at gaslamp.org/ promenade. By his estimates, Trimble said the comments funneled into his office through the form have been “overwhelmingly positive,” with about 97% of respondents saying they favor the promenade plans. The next step in the association’s formal feedback process is an informational meeting, set for 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, at the Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter Hotel, 401 K St. While there is still a bounty of questions at this early stage, Trimble said he is encouraged

by the broad-level support from representatives of other closely aligned organizations, in addition to local election officials. “Activating the Gaslamp and investing in a pedestrian-focused promenade will enhance the experience of visitors and provide exciting opportunities for people to gather,” City Council member Chris Ward said in a statement. His 3rd District representation on the City Council includes Gaslamp Quarter. Joe Terzi, president and CEO of the San Diego Tourism Authority, also has gone on record in support of the plans. “It will create a sense of community, and a place for social connections and entertainment,” Terzi said in a statement. “Its completion will represent a vital renaissance for the city — one that will serve the community as a place to gather and celebrate life in America’s Finest City.” —Dave Fidlin is a freelance journalist with a special affinity for San Diego and its people. Contact him at dave.fidlin@thinkpost.net.

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EDITOR Kendra Sitton 858-270-3103 x136 kendra@sdnews.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Jeff Clemetson x130 Tom Melville x131 Emily Blackwood x 133 Dave Schwab x 132

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Barbara Bry Diana Cavagnaro Tom Cesarini Dave Fidlin Christopher Gomez Lana Harrison

—Barbara Bry represents District 1 on the City Council. She is also a candidate for San Diego mayor.

Vince Meehan Frank Sabatini Jr. Sandee Wilhoit Delle Willett

WEB / SOCIAL MEDIA Kendra Sitton ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Mike Rosensteel (619) 961-1958 miker@sdnews.com Heather Fine, x107 MARKETING DIRECTOR Francisco Tamayo (619) 961-1958 BUSINESS CONSULTANT David Mannis (619) 961-1951 david@sdcnn.com ACCOUNTING Heather Humble x120 accounting@sdnews.com PUBLISHER Julie Main x106 julie@sdnews.com

OPINIONS/LETTERS: San Diego Downtown News encourages letters to the editor and guest editorials. Please email either to kendra@sdnews.com and include your phone number and address for verification. We reserve the right to edit letters for brevity and accuracy. Letters and guest editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or staff. SUBMISSIONS/NEWS TIPS: Press releases and story ideas are welcomed. Send press releases, tips, photos or story ideas to kendra@sdnews.com. For breaking news and investigative story ideas contact the editor by phone or email. DISTRIBUTION: San Diego Downtown News is distributed free on the first Friday of every month. Copyright 2020. All rights reserved.

LA JOLLA

A rendering of the promenade versus how it appears now (Photos courtesy the Gaslamp Association)

COPY EDITOR Dustin Lothspeich

San Diego Downtown News LITTLE ITALY 7 February 2020 That’s amore! Celebrate a romantic Forget an American in Paris. How about a Neapolitan’s Valentine’s Day in Little Italy adventures in San Diego? Little Italy News sdnews.com

Little Italy Culture & Heritage

By CHRISTOPHER GOMEZ Make Valentine’s Day weekend extra special this year with a romantic getaway to San Diego’s Little Italy. Lovebirds everywhere are called to this popular Downtown neighborhood to enjoy a list of endless activities. Filled with award-winning restaurants, unique shops, and fine hotels, the 48-square-block neighborhood has everything you need to make this weekend special for you and your loved one. If you’re still on search for the perfect Valentine’s gift, Little Italy has one-of-a-kind shops to spoil your significant other. Search for small apothecary items and gifts at Love & Aesthetics or find a unique home decor while antique shopping at India Street Antiques. Take an afternoon stroll through the charming neighborhood and hit up a variety of bars and wineries. Swing by for a tasting at Pali Wine Co. Winery Tasting Room to sip on some of the best pinot noir and chardonnay from the central coast or Carruth Cellars Wine Garden, an urban winery offering premium wines from Northern and Central California. Before dinner reservations, stop by the European-styled Piazza della Famiglia to watch the sun set against gorgeous views of the San Diego Bay and reminisce shared memories with your sweetheart. Also in the Piazza, the Little Italy Food Hall has an amazing full service bar to grab pre-dinner drinks. Share an intimate Valentine’s Day dinner at one of Little Italy’s premier restaurants. It is the ultimate destination for authentic Italian cuisine with venues like Davanti Enoteca, Nonna Italian Comfort Food, Bencotto Italian Kitchen and Civico 1845. For fine dining, make a reservation at Herb & Wood or Juniper and Ivy to experience diverse menus designed by all-star chefs. After dinner or just because, treat your valentine with something sweet! Visit Salt & Straw to split a scoop of uniquely flavored,

By TOM CESARINI

Couples enjoying Valentine's Day in Little Italy (Photos courtesy Little Italy Association)

handcrafted ice cream or indulge in delicious baked goods at Extraordinary Desserts. Also, inside the Little Italy Food Hall, discover true Italian gelato at Bobboi Natural Gelato. For those looking to turn Valentine’s Day up a notch, enjoy a night out on the town at hot spots like Craft & Commerce’s speakeasy False Idol, San Diego’s oldest tavern Waterfront Bar & Grill or Born & Raised’s 1920s-style rooftop. To explore all of the romance the neighborhood has to offer, surprise your significant other

with a weekend staycation. Carte Hotel, Little Italy’s newest hotel, is near the Embarcadero waterfront, which is perfect for starry evening walks and offers stunning views from its rooftop pool and bar. Porto Vista Hotel is just steps away from all of the excitement of the neighborhood and is offering a special cupid’s deal including a complimentary Champagne bottle. From Valentine’s Day preparation to romantic celebrations, Little Italy is the place for a memorable Valentine’s Day weekend that will wow your beloved. —Christopher Gomez has been Little Italy’s district manager since 2000. Reach him at chris@littleitalysd.com. To stay connected with Little Italy, check out what’s going on in the neighborhood by following on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. For more information, visit LittleItalySD.com.

When you don’t s e e Neapolitan tenor and Little Italy favorite Rosario Monetti belting out a favorite aria in awe-inspiring programs and venues locally and globally, you can find him overseeing his newest venture — Meshuggah Shack in Mission Hills — serving up a great cup of coffee, and often with a tune at no additional charge. You can also see Rosario perform in Little Italy at Amici House in the coming months where he assembles unforgettable shows. We sat down with Rosario to ask him about his latest endeavor.

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THIS NEW VENTURE? It was by chance. A friend told me about the coffee kiosk on sale, and the funny thing is that we always talked about this little place and how much we loved it. Everything started from the previous owner who, about 10 years ago, turned a bank ATM into a coffee kiosk — yes, it was an ATM before. The quirkiness is basically the creativity of the old owner but even more the contribution over the years of the loyal customers — each of them has put in a bit of his own vision of the place.

AS AN ITALIAN ENTREPRENEUR IN SAN DIEGO, WHAT HAVE YOU NOTICED ABOUT DIFFERENCES IN BUSINESS (AND LIFESTYLE)

Rosario Monetti (center) is flanked by his amici, Italian researchers at UCSD, enjoying a visit to Meshuggah Shack. (Photos courtesy of Rosario Monetti)

PRACTICES BETWEEN ITALY AND THE U.S.? The main difference from a business point of view is the easier approach to bureaucracy here, from the very beginning to the final step for the business to be active and alive. In Italy, the bureaucracy is a nightmare, which pushes away many entrepreneurs from my native country. The lifestyle also is very different —everything in Italy is delayed — breakfast at 8 a.m., lunch at 1:30 p.m., and dinner at 8:30 p.m. And, of course, the nightlife as well — and I mean daily nightlife — you go out at 11 p.m. over there, and here at 11 p.m., you are already in your dreams, sleeping.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW ENTREPRENEURS COMING HERE? To learn the American and Californian culture and lifestyle first, which gives you a better perspective and perception of who your future clients will be. SEE NEAPOLITAN’S, Page 15

San Diego Downtown News February 2020

In the ongoing revitalization of Seaport Village, the Port of San Diego recently announced several incoming culinary concepts. They include a still-unnamed restaurant by television chef Sam Zien (a.k.a. Sam the Cooking Guy), and a convenience store called Seaport Market, which will sell beer, wine and prepared salads and sandwiches. Both are slated to open this summer. Zien’s full-service restaurant will feature a courtyard for cooking demonstrations, wine tastings and musical entertainment. It will operate in partnership with Grain & Grit Collective, which runs Carnitas Snack Shack and the Little Italy Food Hall. The latter is home to Zien’s Not Not Tacos stall. More than 50 craft and boutique beers are on tap at the new Ale Tales Taproom in the East Village. The spacious bottle shop has two other locations, one at 2569 Linda Vista Road, and the other in Albany, CA. Here,

DINING In an effort to reignite the dining experience at the Glass Door, which offers views of the bay and skyline from the fourth floor of Little Italy’s Porto Vista Hotel, a new breakfast and dinner menu has just rolled out. The menus were created by food and beverage director Josh Weast, who arrived several months ago from the Silverado Resort and Country Club in Napa Valley. Since opening in 2008, the restaurant’s momentum has fluctuated with a fleeting roster of chefs,

‘Sam the Cooking Guy’ has a downtown restaurant in the works. (H2 Public Relations)

The L os A ngele s -ba se d Mendocino Farms salad and sandwich shop opens Feb. 13 in the Gaslamp Quarter. With 32 locations in California and Texas, its downtown debut marks the company’s fourth outlet within San Diego County. The fast-casual eatery offers a chef-driven menu featuring

Other food-and-beverage vendors due in 2020 are Mr. Moto Pizza, Spill the Beans, Mike Hess Brewery and San Pasqual Wine Tasting Room. 849 W. Harbor Drive, seaportvillage.com. it shares space with Bread & Cheese Eatery, which sells soups, salads and gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. And the beer selection extends to cans and bottles as well. 1520 J St., 619-7862537, aletalestaproom.com.

Deborah Scott at Indigo Grill (By Frank Sabatini Jr.)

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sdnews.com general managers and culinary concepts. Now it’s all about coastal-American cuisine for breakfast/ brunch and French-inspired dishes for dinner — both relying on locally sourced ingredients. New items include pork belly Benedict, egg-white frittatas, avocado-asparagus salad, beef bourguignon, and pan-seared salmon. In addition, happy hour featuring discounts on drinks and share plates is held from 3 to 6 p.m. daily. 1835 Columbia St., 619-564-3755, portovistasd.com/eats. playful takes on cobb, taco and Chinese chicken salads, as well as hearty tuna melts, turkey clubs, vegan burgers and more. Totaling 2,700 square feet, the restaurant will fill the lower level of Tower 180 and feature live greenery, floor-to-ceiling windows and a raised patio. 1010 Second Ave., mendocinofarms.com. After a 26-year run, Indigo Grill in Little Italy will close. The modern-Latin restaurant, founded by chef Deborah Scott and later run in partnership with the Cohn Restaurant Group, will conduct its last day of service on Feb. 8. Scott is still in partnership with the Cohn Group at Coasterra and Island Prime/C Level, both perched along the waterfront. In a statement issued announcing the end of Indigo Grill, she offered no explanation, but said in part: “It feels like the end of an era. I will always remember and appreciate the opportunities this landmark as afforded me.” 1536 India St., 619-2346802, cohnrestaurants.com.

Salmon with carrot puree and seasonal veggies at the Glass Door (Courtesy of Olive Creative Strategies)

Mama Chen’s Chinese chicken salad at Mendocino Farms (Courtesy of Bay Bird PR)

Nearly two dozen restaurants and bars are taking part in the “Gaslamp Mardi Gras Big Easy Bites & Booze Tour.” The self-guided tour takes place A downtown from 1 to 5 p.m. walking tour the sights Feb. 22 along sever- offers and flavors of al blocks inside the Mardi Gras. (Facebook) Gaslamp Quarter. Food and drink samples will be doled out by the participating establishments, which include The Smoking Gun, Spill the Beans, The Field, Tropical Savor, Brian’s 24, and more. The cost is $25 per person, which includes 20 “bites,” 20 cocktail “sips” and beads at every stop. Attendees must be 21 years of age or older. Tickets can be purchased online at sdmardigras.com. —Frank Sabatini Jr. can be reached at fsabatini@san.rr.com.

DINING French fare sans the heaviness

San Diego Downtown News February 2020

sdnews.com

Restaurant Review By FRANK SABATINI JR. I’m always interested to learn where restaurants source their breads from, given the range of reputable wholesale bakeries sprinkled across our region. Though until lunching at Zinqué recently, I had never encountered a San Diego kitchen that receives loaves directly from France. For the tartines, which are open-face sandwiches topped with various proteins and spreads, the bread hails from Poilane Bakery The croque madame (Photo by Frank Sabatini Jr.) in Paris. The long-established business is famous for its slow-fer- coconut milk. Fresh cilantro and mentation technique using nat- hints of spiciness made the recipe ural sourdough leaven. It arrives all the more alluring. baked, packaged and ready for Most of the fare at Zinqué is consumption. lightly armed with dairy, which What you get are dense, rustic reflects the Mediterranean cuislices of goodness, which paired sine that owner Emmanuel swimmingly to our tartine of Dossetti grew up with in his nachoice — one that’s topped sim- tive Marseille, France. Where payply with butter, salami and cor- loads of cheese, cream and butter nichons. Other options include exist in other regional types of tuna nicoise, tomato-avocado, French cooking, they’re replaced and smoked salmon with crème here often by olive oil, vinegars, fraiche, egg and fresh dill. fresh veggies and fish. From yet a difThe “le bowl” is where France ferent bakery in meets wel l- Salami tartine (Photo by Frank Sabatini Jr.) France is where t he c r o i s ness-minded Southern sant dough Other lunch items include Ca l i for n ia. steak frites with chimichurri or or igi nates. Brown rice peppercorn sauce; mussels in The buttery, serves as the white wine and herbs with frites; flakey beaubedding for smoked salmon carpaccio; zucties are baked o n s it e a nd arugula, avoca- chini quiche, and the unexpected serve as vessels do and shavings findings of prawn and pork belly for chocolate of nutty-tasting tacos. or prosciutto The ‘le bowl’ with veggies and eggComte cheese. The dinner menu features many with Gruyere white frittata over brown rice (Photo It features a of the same items, with the addicheese. They’re by Frank Sabatini Jr.) choice of chick- tions of a charcuterie plate, assortavailable on the en or egg-white ed flatbreads and ratatouille. breakfast-brunch menu. frittata. We chose the latter, which Cocktails, and French wines As a twosome focused on lunch, harbored the salt given to the dish. and bubbly are in abundance from we dove straight into an order of My favorite sandwich in the a full bar sitting at the center of green curry soup made greener world (aside from a hefty Reuben) a modern-industrial layout that with broccoli and spinach. The is France’s signature croque-mon- opens to the street. curry notes were subtle. Thus if sieur — or “madame” if choosing Zinqué operates daily starting you don’t like curry, you could a sunny-side egg on top. Zinqué at 7 a.m. It closes at midnight end up cherishing this because of offers both, using bread in this Sunday through Thursday, and its upfront flavor of fresh-squeezed case from a Los Angeles bakery. at 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. lime and faux creaminess from I ordered the madame, which It also offers happy hour from 4 contained the obligatory layer of to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, ham inside, as well as the right when select drinks and small bites Zinqué measure of bechamel sauce. are discounted. 2101 Kettner Blvd. (Little Italy) The egg was perfectly cooked, although the amount of toasted —Frank Sabatini Jr. is the author 619-915-6172, lezinque.com Gruyere on top fell short. Perhaps of ‘Secret San Diego’ (ECW Press) Lunch prices: Soups, salads and it is in keeping with the menu’s and began his local writing career bowls, $10 to $15; tacos, burgers, lighter, healthier approach. But more than two decades ago as a staffsandwiches and tartines, $6 to ideally the cheese should encase er for the former San Diego Tribune. $17; quiche, $13 and $14; entrees, the entire sandwich, and the con- You can reach him at fsabatini@san. $14 to $33 sumer should suck up the guilt. rr.com.

A modern French eatery in Little Italy (Photo courtesy

Zinque offers plenty of sidewalk seating options (Photo

Haley Hill Photography)

courtesy Haley Hill Photography)

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HISTORY

San Diego Downtown News February 2020

Curtain going up! SANDEE WILHOIT | Downtown News

With pomp and circumstance, the magnificent Balboa Theatre opened on Friday, March 28, 1924. All of San Diego was excited to welcome screen stars Corrinne Griffith, Conway Tearle, Adele Rowland and “the funniest man Balboa Theatre 1924 648 4th Ave., southwest corner of Fourth and E Architectural Style: Spanish Renaissance Revival Architect: William Wheeler

in the world,” comedian Charles Murray. After guests entered the spacious lobby and passed into an auditorium featuring multi-colored reflective lighting, they settled in to watch “Lillies of the Field,” starring Griffith and Tearle. Also featured was Fanchon and Marco, a popular brother and sister vaudeville duo and their revue, the “Musical Melange.” The theater could accommodate films and live acts, both human and animal. Opening night was a huge success! Perhaps more noteworthy was that this elaborate and visually stunning building was produced by an all San Diego team. San Diego architect William Wheeler

designed the building for the owner, Robert E. Hicks, a former newspaperman from Colorado, who moved to San Diego in 1913. Wheeler was especially pleased to work on this project, as he was a former actor and vaudeville performer, and would ultimately perform at the Balboa on occasion. The general contractor was the Wurster Construction Company and Mr. J. Campbell did the sculpturing and modeling. Other San Diego sub-contractors were: the Pioneer Truck Company, excavating; Spreckels Brothers, portland cement; John Hanson, rock and sand; W.C. Merritt, plumbing; J. O’Neil, brick contractor; Benton Roof and Paint, roofing and paint; Ed Thayer, plastering contractor; and W.J. Baily, plasterer.

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sdnews.com Additionally, other San Diegans involved were National Iron Works, San Diego Tile and Woodstone Company, Southern Electrical Company and the Austin Safe and Desk Company, which provided the theater seating. The building combined the theater with 34 offices and six stores. It was primarily designed as a movie house, but it also had complete facilities for live stage performances. When the venue opened, it had a Robert Morton 4-32 pipe organ. In 1928, the organ was moved to the Fox Theatre. The cost of the building was $800,000 and was dubbed by the press as “a gem of a theater.” Beginning with the entrance, this steel reinforced concrete gem was a marvel of exquisite detail. Originally, there were two box offices, one on either side of the doorway. The entrance floor featured a tile mosaic commemorating Balboa’s discovery of the Pacific Ocean, and the walls were covered with elaborate maps of the Americas. The acoustics were unusual and seemed to anticipate modern stereophonic sound, as there were air registers to carry the backstage organ sound to various points all over the theater. On the side walls close to the stage were ornamental waterfalls cascading over artificial rocks, which provided a cooling effect as well as an interesting sight and sound display. Up a ramp from the foyer, patrons could retreat to a “pleasance.” This was a special feature of the theater, which provided comfortable davenports and chairs and soft music from the wall grills. Led into the auditorium by usherettes in Spanish-themed toreador costumes, guests could be seated in one of 904 leather cushioned opera seats, placed 36 inches apart. The ambience was further enhanced by reflective upward lighting, used both internally and externally, in four colors or any blend of the four. Rich tapestries covered the walls, and a large orchestra pit accommodating musicians associated with vaudeville and silent films was at the front of the stage. The 42-foot-wide and 28-footdeep stage included a special opening for a 1,200-pound elevator used to transport equipment from the basement or for special effects. Underneath the stage were lounges for musicians, which could be entered from the orchestra pit, dressing rooms for the performers, as well as spaces for carpenters, electricians, and stagehands. A 72-foot fly loft towered over the beautiful maple stage and was spacious enough to accommodate 29-line sets, which could be used for curtains, screens or scenery. The stage itself was well reinforced to provide for the weight of various animal acts that played. One, in particular, gained special recognition. It was a circus act which boasted an educated horse, a singing mule, performing monkeys and a trick elephant who danced the ballet. The trick was on the audience though, as the elephant was not given time

to relieve itself before the act, and did so onstage, spraying not only the entire orchestra pit, but also the first two rows of the audience. The theater had to pay a very large cleaning bill! There were no further animal acts.

The Balboa Theatre still has live shows today. (Photo by Tim Trevaskis) The exterior was no less thematically detailed. The building is crowned by a polychrome tiled dome, which echoes the Spanish influence seen on the nearby Santa Fe depot dome tower and the fountain in Horton Plaza park. Various businesses occupied the storefronts over the years and included restaurants, confectioners, tailors, jewelers, photographers, beauty salons, and later, tattoo parlors. In 1927, the KFBC broadcasting station operated from the roof of the building. The Fox West Coast Theatres Inc. art department occupied the fifth floor from 1931-34, and in 1943, half of the office rooms were converted to hotel rooms to accommodate the influx of WWII servicemen arriving in San Diego. These lodgings of dubious integrity operated until 1965. In 1930, the Balboa became a deluxe Spanish-language theater. The following year, local Spanish teachers made arrangements to bring in groups of Spanish students at reduced rates. Balboa Theatre advertisements included the phrase, “Learn Spanish while being entertained.” However, by 1932 the Great Depression put a stop to the reduced rates, and the Balboa returned to screening Hollywood films. The theater continued to operate until 1985, when it was acquired by the Center City Development Corporation, who intended to incorporate it into the Horton Plaza Redevelopment Plan. In 1986, the late Toni Michetti formed the Balboa Theatre Foundation, a nonprofit, which negotiated with the city to renovate and reuse the theater for live performance once more. With a $26.5 million restoration, the Balboa reopened for its inaugural season in 2008. It once again hosts international live entertainment of the highest caliber. —Sandee Wilhoit is the historian for the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation. She can be reached at swilhoit@gaslampfoundation.org.

San Diego Downtown News FEATURE February 2020 11 Utility box art provides glimpse into history of the Gaslamp Quarter sdnews.com

LANA HARRISON | Downtown San Diego Partnership

On the southwest corner of Fifth and G streets in the bustling heart of the Gaslamp Quarter, is a small piece of history. It’s a utility box, just one among a few in a recently completed project in the Gaslamp Quarter called “Gaslamp Did You Know?” While the utility box itself isn’t particularly old, its modern wrapped façade chronicles a bit of the intersection’s history from nearly 150 years ago. In 2019, diners move in and out of the building, ready for a night out in Downtown’s famous entertainment district. In 1874, occupying that corner of the block was a bank. And over the next couple decades, it would house the city library, the police department, and the mayor. “Gaslamp Did You Know?” is part of an ongoing effort by the Downtown San Diego Partnership to enhance the pedestrian experience in our urban core through visual storytelling. “Our Clean and Safe program works with each neighborhood to create projects that not only beautify our Downtown streetscapes, but also foster positive and memorable experiences that our

unique to that neighborhood,” said Sean Warner, director of Community Enhancement for the Partnership. “We’ve already seen the ‘Gaslamp Did You Know?’ utility boxes spark curiosity and delight in passersby.” Throughout the past couple of years, the organization partnered with Jason Gould and a network of artists through his North Parkbased art studio, Visual, to paint utility boxes in the Columbia District, City Center, and Marina with colors and themes that reflect the Downtown vibe. The Gaslamp Quarter presented a unique opportunity to highlight the neighborhood’s long and varied history through a collaboration with the Gaslamp Quarter Association (GQA), Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation (GQHA), and a local design studio with an office in the community, A7D Creative Group. “The GQHF is proud to have partnered on this innovative project that highlights the architecture and people that helped make modern day San Diego,” said Rhiannon Luna, executive director of the GQHA. “The historic images wrapped onto the utility boxes are a great way to engage the public and entice

them to learn more by visiting the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation and taking a guided walking tour.” Using images from the San Diego History Center, so far, five boxes along Broadway and Market Street have received this retro makeover, with another batch slated for installation in 2020 on Fourth and Sixth avenues. In addition to the box on Fifth and G, casual passersby and curious lay historians can discover Wyatt Earp, a gambling hall operator and prospector from the 19th century, on Fifth and E, or check out the Yuma Building on Fifth and Market. According to GQHA, this building was one of the first brick buildings in Downtown San Diego. Two other boxes, each with their own fascinating history lessons, are located on Fifth and Broadway, and Fifth and F. According to Liddell, communications manager for GQA, the idea here is that while visitors, employees, and residents partake in the neighborhood’s many restaurants, bars and shopping options, they can also get a glimpse of how the streets they tread and the buildings they encounter have changed over the years.

A utility box with a picture of City Hall (Photos by A7D Creative Group) “This project not only helps tell the story of the Gaslamp Quarter’s remarkable history, but also enhances the pedestrian experience for those who visit our thriving entertainment district throughout the year,” Liddell said. “We’re thrilled to see people, whether they

are visiting the Gaslamp Quarter for the first time or are regular patrons, interacting with these creatively refurbished utility boxes.” —Lana Harrison was the communications coordinator for the Downtown San Diego Partnership.

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A photo of Wyatt Earp in the Gaslamp Quarter on a utility box

The Yuma Building’s history told on a utility box

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San Diego Downtown News February 2020

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Founder and CEO of Cornerstone Managing Partners, Tom Brooks, atop the Harbor Club at the site of the former helipad. (Photo by Vince Meehan) me off payroll, take me off of overhead, put me on the jobs and I’ll figure it out. That’s when I started bidding my own jobs.” This led to his now successful DIY model of just getting things done on his own and eventually inspired him to create his own company. “When I was a residential guy doing kitchen and baths and homes and remodeling, I drew my own plans, I pulled my own permits. I wasn’t an architect, but back then you could do that as an owner, builder, and designer. I’m used to drawing my own plans, I had my light table, I had my little blueprint machines and I absolutely loved it. But I couldn’t make any money drawing plans, so I had to build. And so that’s what I did! I rebirthed my skill set and went back to my roots and started that process. I left that company after nine years and started Cornerstone. I really didn’t want to actually be a contractor, I really wanted to be a developer. But a couple of clients called up and said, ‘You know, we got a building we want you to build’ [and] the rest is history. In 2007, we turned more to construction management and we specialize in HOA high-rise luxury now.” Cornerstone now serves as a construction management firm as well as commercial construction and litigation consulting. They specialize in “outside of the box” projects including decommissioning a heliport atop the Harbor Club residential tower Downtown and designing a rocket-testing facility for SpaceDev/

The SpaceDev/Sierra Nevada Corporation rocket being tested at Brook’s Slaughterhouse Canyon test facility. (Photo courtesy of SpaceDev/Sierra Nevada Corporation)

Psychic Readin ngs g By Catthia

CONTINUED FROM Page 1

were stick framers,” Brooks said from the library of the Harbor Club in Downtown San Diego. “And we followed the 210 freeway out east as it was being built, and it was just all tract homes, and we were rough-framing the houses one a day; sometimes one and a half with the larger homes.” Brooks continued to gain more construction expertise until he hurt himself due to the nature of the trade. The injury lead to a series of events resulting in his success here in San Diego. “I hurt my back so I got out of that for a while and soon found myself in San Diego. I spent a day in the La Jolla Cove and I came out of the water going, ‘Why doesn’t everybody want to live here?’ Back then, there weren’t the seals, you could swim out around, you could jump off the rocks, this was the late ’80s and oh man, I was in love! I came out of the water and was dating a girl at the time – who became my first wife – and I told her, I don’t care what we have to do but I’m moving here.” Within a year, he found a way to move to San Diego for good. He migrated back into construction by installing cabinetry in kitchens, baths and remodels. At his church, he met a lot of contractors divided into two groups: residential contractors and commercial contractors. He said the residential contractors always looked at the commercial guys as having it made. They were making more money in less time than he was in doing remodels. “I started begging for a job at one of the commercial contractors in town and for three years I banged on their door and asked for a job. And they finally hired me!” “In those early years, I did mostly sales and marketing where I raised the amount of money being made for the company from $15 million a year to $50 million. But when the market crash came, it was no longer about sales and marketing, it was about relationships. You could drag in plans all day long, but if you couldn’t hit the numbers, you were in trouble. I pretty much got my notice. They said, ‘You’re not producing.’ So, I went OK, take

San Diego Downtown News February 2020

Sierra Nevada Corporation near Lakeside that came with its own unique permitting and logistical issues. He also oversaw a project at The Grand North, where an entire tower needed to be repiped without displacing the residents, and another at Diamond Terrace that suffered major flooding damage. Through it all, Brooks has relied on his instinctual skills to solve problems that others cannot. He never earned a degree; instead he tapped into a gift for problem solving that comes naturally. “I’m a builder! I mean, I can frame it, I can hang it. When I close my eyes, when I look at a building, I can close my eyes and I can see the systems.” Brooks said his most interesting project to date was his work for SpaceDev/Sierra Nevada Corporation. The company needed a rocket-testing site to develop a unique engine for Richard Branson and his Virgin Galactic spacecraft. This engine needed to be able to fire, then shut off, then fire and shut off again. This is not how normal rocket engines work, usually you fire them off and that’s it. Brooks found a plot of land in Slaughterhouse Canyon off Highway 67 near Lakeside. The owners had created a box canyon from past mining that served as a perfect test bed for the rocket. Brooks’ plan was to bore a tunnel into one of the canyon walls and back the rocket engine up to it. Then they would fire the rocket engine into the tunnel during testing. The tunnel curved upward and opened above the canyon so the exhaust plume would exit skyward. This proved successful and SpaceDev/ Sierra Nevada Corporation won the contract, but the part that amazed Brooks the most was how he got all the city, county and state agencies to sign off on the concept in one meeting. That is the forte of Tom Brooks and indicative of why he has so much respect as the go-to guy in the construction business here in San Diego. “That… was insane!’” added Brooks with a grin. —Vince Meehan can be reached at vinniemeehan@gmail.com.

Fill in the blank cells using number 1 to 9. Each number can appear only once in each row column and 3x3 block. Use logic and process elimination to solve the puzzle.

sdnews.com

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

CLUES ACROSS 1. Indicates number of days 6. When you hope to get there 9. Hairstyle 13. Black (Spanish) 14. Expresses pleasure 15. Away from wind 16. Tech pros organization 17. Wile E. Coyote is familiar with it 18. Clean 19. Saints’ signal caller 21. A way to hunt 22. Poetries 23. Automobile

24. Secondary school (abbr.) 25. Indicates before 28. Male parent 29. Short-billed rails 31. It pays to keep yours 33. On occasion 36. David __, US playwright 38. Slang for cigarette 39. Vaccine developer 41. Returned to health 44. Toni Morrison novel 45. Period between eclipses 46. Veterans battleground 48. Gang

49. A radio band 51. Jaws of a voracious animal 52. Elaborate garments 54. Chinese province 56. Checks 60. Horizontal passage 61. Steep hillsides 62. Fertility god 63. Dried-up 64. Signs a name 65. __ Winger, actress 66. German river 67. Gov’t lawyers 68. Take something somewhere

CLUES DOWN 1. __ Blyton, children’s author 2. Colleague 3. “The African Queen” writer 4. Crater on the moon 5. Toward 6. Overhang 7. Identifies something close at hand 8. Sign language 9. Unbroken views 10. Ancient Greek City 11. Stretch out to grasp 12. Alcohols that are unfit for drinking 14. Humorous stories 17. Long song for a solo

20. Barrels per day (abbr.) 21. City of Lights 23. A place to sleep 25. Advanced degree (abbr.) 26. The back 27. Furniture-makers Charles and “Ray” 29. Songs to a lover 30. Gland secretion 32. 10 meters 34. Disfigure 35. Stores grain 37. Sacred book of Judaism 40. Catch 42. Promise

43. Challenges 47. Russian space station 49. Banking giant 50. Served as an omen 52. Drenches 53. Type of sword 55. Minor planet 56. Messenger ribonucleic acid 57. Japanese ankle sock 58. Obtain in return for services 59. Waste matter 61. A proposal to buy at a specified price 65. Unit of loudness

San Diego Downtown News February 2020

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Downtown News

Community and Arts & Entertainment Calendar Thursday, Feb. 13 The Tiny Made Mighty A larger-than-life inflatable sea creature will be on display in Seaport Village: come visit the big blue octopus cyanea. This 12-foot-tall installation highlights the magnificent diversity of our oceans and draws attention to the risks climate change poses to endangered species while serving as an example of how everyone can make efforts to sustain the ecosystem.

Sunday, Feb. 9 Dancing in the Orange Groves The Maritime Museum’s concert season featuring the Hausman Quartet opens with an evocative California adventure featuring a mix of music, pairing two Haydn masterpieces with works suggestive of our own time and place. Terry Riley’s “Good Medicine Dance” is the final segment of his epic “Salome Dances for Peace,” which updates the legend of Salome to today (or at least to 1987). Caroline Shaw’s “Valencia” is an ode to the common supermarket orange, but also in the composer’s words “a kind of celebration of awareness of the natural, unadorned food that is still available to us.” General admission is $30. 1492 N Harbor Drive. 4-6 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 11

rates for Valentine’s Day, along with rose petal evening turndown service, a sunset Champagne toast for two at Above Ash Social and a fixed dinner for two at Watercolors, priced at $100 (excluding taxes and gratuities).

Saturday, Feb. 15

Friday, Feb. 14 Monster Jam The most action-packed motorsports experience for families in the world today returns to San Diego for a high-octane event featuring the ultimate mix of high-flying action and fourwheel excitement. Petco Park at 7 p.m. $15.

‘Smacked: An Adventure in Healing” Adventures by the Book is pleased to announce “Smacked: An Adventure in Healing” with international and New York Times business journalist Eilene Zimmerman on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 6:30 p.m., at Growth 1031, 9540 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 150, San Diego CA 92121. The event is ticketed ($27 per person, includes book) and is open to the public.

Valentine’s Day

At Vistal At the intersection of city skylines and the glistening water horizons, couples will enjoy gleaming views overlooking the bayfront as they savor a decadent four-course prix fixe menu by celebrated chef Amy DiBiase. $75 per person. Call 619535-0485 for reservations.

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strings and atmospheric percussion, the album oozes noir moodiness while maintaining an elegant charm. $12. Show starts at 9 p.m.

At Saffron + Sage The holistic health club in Little Italy is celebrating Valentine’s Day with two specials, offering special services to indulgent couples and to those who want a little self-love. They are offering couples massages ($300) as well as facials ($150).

twitter.com/sddowntownnews At Carté Hotel Little Italy’s Carte Hotel will be offering 20% off best available

Sunday, Feb. 16 3-D Plankton Theater Visitors are invited to put on plankton 3-D glasses and be wowed by an underwater world where the microscopic is magnified to three-dimensional glory — captured by Scripps Institution of Oceanography scientist Jules Jaffe. Each video is about 1-3 minutes long, and the series of short videos will be viewable on loop daily at Seaport Village. Feb. 16-21. Climate Clash The Climate Clash, a sea creature-costumed professional wrestling match, takes place live at Seaport Village at 2:30 p.m. Free to attend, the Climate Clash gives voice to the creatures and ecosystems threatened by climate change, pitting creatures against some of the things that are endangering them. Come watch the 660-pound giant Humboldt squid take on a school of local fish, or a “climate denier” versus a melting glacier. All matches will take place in the Lighthouse District, where a professional wrestling ring will be erected with plenty of seating for audiences.

Alexandra Savior at Soda Bar Alexandra Savior is in San Diego with her sophomore album, “The Archer.” Alexandra’s voice and lyrics are eerie and seductive, creating a melancholy, nostalgic soundscape. Backed by Western guitar riffs, swelling

Hope and Humor Comedy Tour Comedian Kristina Kuzmin will be in San Diego at American Comedy Co. for her book/comedy tour after the release of her new book “Hold On, But Don’t Hold Still.” 5 p.m. at 818 Sixth Ave. Tickets are $35.

Friday, Feb. 21 Meet the Winemaker Baja Wine + Food brings a unique opportunity to taste Valle de Guadalupe wines while learning about the wines directly from their makers, while enjoying the stunning San Diego skyline from IDEA1 Rooftop Lounge. The rooftop wine experience is accompanied with Baja cheeses and beautifully-styled charcuterie boards by Al ‘Freskō Experience. Photographer Josue Castro will provide artistic B&W portraits and live music will be performed by flamenco fusion extraordinaire David De Alva. A portion of the proceeds will support Vanguard Culture. 6-9 p.m. Tickets are $50.

Saturday, Feb. 22

The Big Easy Bites and Booze Tour Can’t make it to New Orleans for Mardi Gras this year? No problem, the Gaslamp Quarter is back to bring the NOLA

vibes to the Gaslamp Quarter with yet another dazzling Fat Tuesday-inspired jubilee! The Big Easy Bites and Booze Tour is making its way back on Saturday, Feb. 22, from 1-5 p.m. to bring you the decadent revelry this holiday is all about. Grab your crew and get the full Mardi experience with an edible twist this year with this tantalizing self-guided tour filled with 20 delicious bites and 20 New Orleans-inspired sips. Tickets start at $25. Commedia Italian Style San Diego Italian Film Festival and Italian Cultural Center present a lecture on Pietro Germi, his comedies, and Italy in the 1960s. The lecture will be taught by Antonio Iannotta, Ph.D., artistic director of SDIFF and professor of Italian at USD. Given that Italy is celebrating Carnival at this time, we will offer special Carnevale Sweets (frappe and castagnole) by Marco Blasi Chef Catering. 2-3:30 p.m. at Lower Hall, Our Lady of the Rosary (1654 State St.). Tickets are $30.

Saturday, Feb. 29 An Artist @ the Table Engage your senses with a beautiful four-course fine dining experience by Vanguard Culture’s culinary director, chef Daniella de la Puente and wine pairings from the Valle de Guadalupe presented by Baja Wine + Food, all while enjoying the scenic skyline views of IDEA1’s Rooftop Lounge, Downtown (899 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101.) Tickets range from $100-$175. Seating is very limited. 21-plus event only. 6-9 p.m.

Friday, March 6 ‘Balanchine and More’ City Ballet of San Diego, along with The City Ballet Orchestra, will be performing at Spreckels Theatre on March 6-8. A pre-concert free lecture from Artistic Director Steven Wistrich will be held before each performance. Tickets are $32-$92. Purchase at cityballet.org or through Ticketmaster. 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. 2 p.m. on Sunday.

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NEWS / LITTLE ITALY

Dumas

CONTINUED FROM Page 1

community, she has less time for patrolling the center and its surrounding streets. This also means less interactions with clients — something she misses. In her role as security manager, she has updated the security training program to make sure officers are responding instead of reacting to clients. Their approach now is to be compassionate and individualized. “Throughout the last three years, we really did a whole 360 because we noticed they were more heavy-handed, more of that authority figure, which we already know we are. We don’t need to present in that way,” Dumas said. In a class she pioneered on de-escalation, she teaches security to introduce themselves first and to ask someone how they’re doing and explain why they’re asking them to do something instead of just ordering them to do it. While

Dumas noticed a hazardous item on the sidewalk and stopped to dispose of it safely. on her patrol, Dumas greeted many people by name and some even mentioned it had been too long since they had seen her. More than 1,000 people are on-site at Father Joe’s Villages each day, whether because they live in permanent supportive housing or are seeking emergency shelter, food, or medical care, among other services. “I look at anyone as a person first,” Dumas said. She explained

Dumas carries a bright blue lanyard, which tells fellow staff members she has worked at Father Joe’s for 10 years. She is looking forward to getting a new lanyard when she celebrates her 15-year work anniversary.

Neapolitan’s CONTINUED FROM Page 7

What works in our own country, no matter how effective it is and how good we are over there, can be a failure over here. Long story short — whoever comes here for the first time and wants to be an entrepreneur has to put his native cultural ego on the side and be willing to accept the cultural differences of this place and be willing and happy to work with it; compromise and melt in with it; without, of course, losing his own authenticity and flavor.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR PASSION AND SINGING CAREER.

My passion for music started when I was a kid even if I was not really aware that I was able to sing. Eventually some friends of mine were playing in a bar, and because they previously heard me singing in the car with them asked me to sing something and join them at this club. The song was “With or Without You” by U2, and it was a success. The people went crazy and requested me even the day after, and so I became officially part of the band. That was the moment I understood that I had the potential and the talent to be a professional singer. The real game changer came later on when I started studying music and voice, and my first teacher told me that my voice was naturally made

she is intentional about being empathetic to people who may have trauma stemming from people in uniform. “We have to understand that that’s OK. How are we going to de-escalate [when] we already know that we’re a precipitating factor already because we wear a uniform, we’re looked at as the authority figure? “We are security, yes, we have to have rules and we have to enforce the rules. But at the end of day, we need to see what’s the ‘why’ behind ‘why is this individual here,’” she said. There are, of course, limits to what the security team can do and she has fostered a positive relationship with San Diego Police Department so they come whenever there is an issue her team is not equipped to handle. Recently, they were called in when Dumas spotted a man in view of a security camera waving a knife in an empty hallway. While he wasn’t waving the knife at anyone, Dumas said he didn’t look like he was having a good night and looked angry, so she decided to be proactive by bringing in SDPD. Her team is currently understaffed, with gaps being filled with contracted security companies (although they are relegated to roles where they will not interact with clients). This is an issue that may not be resolved quickly as Dumas is careful in the hiring process to make sure new officers can handle the stress of the job while avoiding becoming callous. Despite this, or perhaps because she wants the team to remain healthy, she emphasizes self-care to her officers. This was particularly important when one of the dogs in their K-9 unit died and many needed time to grieve.

to sing classical and opera, and here I am as an opera singer now.

Dumas inside her office at the Joan Kroc Center in Downtown. (Photos by In the past year, the security team also had to adapt to a growing number of overdoses that happened in and around the facility. Officers each carry a dose of Narcan, which can treat an overdose in an emergency situation. Dumas counted 30 overdoses in 2019; many occurred in a bathroom Father Joe’s keeps open to the public. Unlike many with dim views of the homeless, Dumas is careful not to stereotype people as drug abusers or mentally ill until she can learn their actual story. She said that often when she leaves psych evaluations, she is amazed by the people she serves. “I’ve heard some stories man, and I’m just like, ‘You’re amazing… you are so brave. I can’t even imagine going through what you’re in. Look at you! You are still trying to fight,’” Dumas said. “Even just trying to get help is a huge step. I just admire [them].” Dumas knows she could get a higher-paying job elsewhere, but there are advantages to working at Father Joe’s. She is filled with purpose each day and her

supervisors have invested in helping her grow within the organization. Instead of hiring outside help, her supervisors have helped her budget and schedule for the department, helping her after each promotion. She sees that the staff are not just invested in clients and residents, but also each other. Dumas’s dedication was recognized last year when she was given a CREED Award. Recipients are nominated by fellow staff members for going above and beyond in serving in the spirit of the Father Joe’s Villages CREED (Compassion, Respect, Empathy, Empowerment, Dignity). Many of the examples submitted for why she deserved the award related to the professional manor she conducts herself while working with different departments. “Multiple staff members put up how I’m CREED-like in how I speak to people, how I de-escalate things — things I do so natural, I didn’t know people were watching,” she said.

of an acclaimed orchestra director and music arranger who has arranged and directed the music for Andrea Bocelli and many other famous Italian singers. I am also going to Sicily for a week as a guest singer for an archeological and wine tour, and there are other projects that I will tell about and promote very soon.

Remember that a smile is always something available for everyone. For me, it’s all about my love for life, music, and a cup of great coffee.

WHAT NEW MUSICAL PROJECTS ARE YOU WORKING ON?

WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT ROSARIO MONETTI?

I am working on organizing a beautiful concert with a 25-piece orchestra with the collaboration

Come see me at the Meshuggah! When I am there, most likely I will be singing while making coffees!

REAL ESTATE SHOWCASE

Call 858.270.3103 to get your property featured today!

Kendra Sitton)

Rosario Monetti enjoying some relaxation at his newest hangout. (Photos courtesy of Rosario Monetti)

San Diego Downtown News February 2020

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—Kendra Sitton can be reached at kendra@sdnews.com.

Visit meshuggahshack.com for more information. —Tom Cesarini is the executive director and founder of Convivio and also serves as the Italian honorary consul of San Diego. Convivio cultivates community and fellowship, advances Italian cultural identity, and fosters multicultural awareness across myriad disciplines through education and research, social enrichment, and innovative programming. Visit or conviviosociety.org or follow along at @conviviosociety.

San Diego Downtown News February 2020

sdnews.com

Congratulations

TOP AGENTS

in 92101

Total Sales by Real Estate Agent in 2019

(Incl. buyer sales and listings sold, January 1 - December 31, 2019)

1. Gregg Neuman

14. Alan Hamrick

27. Maureen Tess

2. Chad Dannecker

15. Carlos Pastrana

28. Sean Zanganeh

3. Francine Finn

16. David Spiewak

29. Deb Herscovitz

4. Denny Oh

17. Gerry Burchard

30. Mark Hoppe

5. Michael Chious

18. Mike Althof

31. Jeannine Savory

6. Marla Hovland

19. Trudy Stambook

32. Thomas Holmes

7. Jamie Pullman

20. Jeff Grant

33. Lisa Padilla

8. John Husar

21. Jeffrey Walker

34. Eric Jones

9. Claudette Cooper

22. Melissa Goldstein Tucci

35. John Reeves

10. Greg Burnham

23. Franchesca Meram

36. Richard Combs

11. Robert Whalen

24. Pablo Martinez

37. Susana Mora

12. Ryan Ponce

25. David Stone

38. Jeffrey Sill

13. Michael Ciampa

26. Jorge Castellon

39. 21 tied with 4

REAL Marketing, Inc. Congratulates the Top Downtown San Diego Real Estate Agents in 2019! REAL Marketing Inc. has helped real estate agents build their market share and client retention for more than 28 years across North America, specializing in increasing market share and improving customer retention. We are pleased to announce our team has helped Gregg Neuman and the Neuman & Neuman Team extend their lead in Downtown sales for the NINTH consecutive year.

Results for 2019 Total sales for the 92101 zip code decreased to 789 units last year, which is a 6.1% decrease from 2018. The average sales price increased 3.35% to $666,323, while the average days on market have increased by 15.2% to 46 days. Gregg Neuman of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties tops the list for a TENTH consecutive year with 86 total 92101 sales. While his sales represent 53% of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties’ sales in Downtown, he continues to outsell

entire brokerages including Compass, Coldwell Banker Residential, Willis Allen, Welcome to San Diego Real Estate, Redfin Corporation, Big Block Realty, and Bennion Deville Homes. With a total of 161 sales according to data available from Trendgraphix, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties finished another strong year and also sustains their lead over all other Downtown brokerages.

TOP 10

in 92101

Total Sales by Company

1. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices 161 2. Coldwell Banker

143

3. Compass

138

4. Pacific Sothebys Intl Rlty

125

5. Big Block Rlty

6. Keller Williams

7. Redfin Corporation

8. Urban Pacific San Diego Realty

9. Welcome To San Diego R.E.

10. Windermere Homes & Estates

Congratulations to all Top Real Estate agents in Downtown San Diego for another outstanding year.

REAL Marketing, Inc. is a marketing company dedicated to promoting real estate agents and their businesses. Gregg Neuman is the team leader of Neuman & Neuman Real Estate, Inc. a team of more than two real estate agents working together for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties and the data above under Gregg Neuman includes all transactions closed by the Neuman & Neuman team. Many of the agents featured in this ad are also teams or sole practitioners. All information above was based upon data available at the end of December 2019, for January 1 through December 31, 2019. The information is based upon data supplied by Sandicor MLS and includes all transactions reported under the agents named above. Neither Sandicor nor the MLS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by Sandicor or their MLS may not reflect all real estate activities in the market. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Copyright © Trendgraphix, Inc. ©2020 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. DRE 01317331