San Diego CityBeat • Apr 3, 2013

2 · San Diego CityBeat · April 3, 2013

April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 3

The high road and the low road In politics, there’s nothing more appealing than a politician who takes the highest road possible while still passionately pursuing a policy objective. We’re not talking about capitulating in the service of political harmony; we’re talking about forcefully taking a principled stand while avoiding unnecessarily burning down the legislative house.

Let’s look at San Diego Mayor Bob Filner and the Tourism Marketing District hostage crisis: Last November, the City Council authorized the mayor to sign a tourism-marketing agreement, but former Mayor Jerry Sanders didn’t sign the agreement the council had in mind before he left office a week later. As we learned when the matter later went to court, the council left Filner an opportunity when it didn’t specify precisely which agreement it wanted signed.

Filner hated the agreement the council wanted signed and held hostage the marketing money that was tied to it, sending leaders of the local tourism industry into a tizzy. Judge Timothy Taylor ruled in his favor—at least until the council regrouped and passed an ordinance ordering Filner to sign the agreement it and the tourism folks wanted. But much more time was guaranteed to tick off the marketing clock—and time is money: Filner would’ve vetoed the ordinance, the council would have to override the veto and Filner would continue to hold the money and force the tourism folks to take him back to court. Tick-tock.

Filner won. In a deal reportedly brokered by Filner ally and Councilmember David Alvarez, the tourism people acquiesced to some of Filner’s demands. The mayor got what he thinks is a better deal for San Diegans.

This is exactly what Filner said he’d do. He said he’d get all up in the grill of the kind of people who’ve always gotten their way—the suit-and-tie powerlunch people. He said he’d mess with the status quo.

And the power-lunch people, probably underestimating Filner’s battle skills, harrumphed their way to council chambers and court, incredulous at Filner’s nerve—which likely delighted Filner.

So far, so good. We supported Filner’s attempt to get an amended agreement. It was left on his desk, and he didn’t like it. He did what he needed

to do to get the leverage he needed to change it. Job well done.

But he didn’t stop there. He got into a cringe-inducing argument with an employee of the Tourism Authority while he was addressing the City Council in a public hearing. Worse, though, he haphazardly flung accusations of political patronage at the City Council and City Attorney Jan Goldsmith. Mind you, it’s not that we don’t think patronage happens all the time at City Hall. However, as was immediately pointed out, Filner can be accused of the same thing, at a much higher monetary level. As noted

by U-T San Diego, his campaign benefited from the generous support of the union representing hotel workers, and Filner was trying—righteously, we’d david rolland say—to get hotel workers better pay as part of a new marketing agreement. Linking campaign contributions to policy choices is never wrong, but its power is diminished when the stone’s being thrown from the window of a glass house.

Here’s the thing: As the U-T reported, City Councilmember Sherri Lightner has benefited the most from tourism-industry campaign donations. It would one thing if Lightner were a Republican who’d be expected to oppose Filner at every turn. But she’s an Bob Filner independent-minded Democrat who could be enormously useful to Filner, particularly now, as budget talks are about to begin. Filner has a long list of services he wants funded, but money is tight. He needs as many allies on the council as he can get.

We support Filner’s broader agenda. We want him to succeed, and so, too, we believe, do the Democrats on the City Council. We wish Lightner and Council President Todd Gloria had sided with Filner in the tourism flap; for whatever reason, they didn’t. But policy disagreement doesn’t always call for scorched-earth retribution.

We often agreed with former City Attorney Mike Aguirre’s positions, but his style and tactics were something else altogether, and he wasn’t reelected.

We want a better fate for Filner, and so we hope he chooses the higher road whenever possible.

What do you think? Write to editor@sdcitybeat.com.

This issue of CityBeat is not gluten-free.

Volume 11 • Issue 34 Editor David Rolland Associate Editor Kelly Davis Music Editor Peter Holslin Staff Writers David Taube, Alex Zaragoza Events Editor Shea Kopp Film Editor Anders Wright Web Editor Ryan Bradford Art director Adam Vieyra

Columnists Edwin Decker, John R. Lamb Contributors Ian Cheesman, Derrik Chinn, David L. Coddon, Seth Combs, Jeff “Turbo” Corrigan, Katrina Dodson, Michael A. Gardiner, Dave Maass, Scott McDonald, Jenny Montgomery, Kinsee Morlan, Sasha Orman, Mina Riazi, Jim Ruland, Marie TranMcCaslin, Jeff Terich, Quan Vu Interns Crystal Tellez-Giron, Wilson To, Rees Withrow Production Manager Efraim Manuel Senior account executive Jason Noble

Cover design by Adam Vieyra Advertising Account Executives Sean Eshelman, Beau Odom, Paulina Porter-Tapia director of marketing Chad Boyer Circulation / Office Assistant Shea Kopp Vice President of Finance Michael Nagami Human Resources Andrea Baker Accounting Alysia Chavez, Linda Lam, Monica MacCree Vice President of Operations David Comden Publisher Kevin Hellman

Advertising inquiries Interested in advertising?

Call 619-281-7526 or e-mail advertising@sdcitybeat.com. The advertising deadline is 5 p.m. every Friday for the following week’s issue.

Editorial and Advertising Office 3047 University Ave., Suite 202 San Diego, CA 92104 Phone: 619-281-7526 Fax: 619-281-5273 www.sdcitybeat.com

San Diego CityBeat is published and distributed every Wednesday by Southland Publishing Inc., free of charge but limited to one per reader. Reproduction of any material in this or any other issue is prohibited without written permission from the publisher and the author. Contents copyright 2013.

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April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 5

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The case for recycling Ed Decker’s Jan. 8 “Sordid Tales” column, “Why recycling is a waste of money, time and energy,” should be applauded for challenging the assumptions behind a hallmark cause of the environmental movement. As Decker rightly explains, we should never march blindly to the beat of liberalism, no matter how bright the colors on the do-gooder flag.

But, Decker’s conclusions about recycling are selective, superficial and in some instances, plainly inaccurate. For instance, he fails to consider that there are massive energy savings when producing from recycled materials instead of virgin materials.

Further, there is an assumption that the natural resources we ship from every corner of the Earth to feed production are infinite. They are not. In fact, one of the factors driving the profitability of recycling is the diminishing availability of resources like the petrochemicals that make plastic. Nor does Decker figure in the efficiencies that recycling achieves over traditional waste disposal. For instance, while trash trucks often have to drive long distances to reach the rural mega-dumps he points to, recycling facilities are typically local and reduce the vehicle miles traveled to handle the waste stream a city’s population produces.

Then there are the environmental-justice concerns surrounding traditional waste streams.

Countless studies document the disproportionate impact of landfills, waste transfer stations, toxicwaste incinerators, nuclear-waste disposal sites and other waste facilities on low-income communities of color. Decker’s answer—we can just build bigger landfills—is simplistic at best. He fails to consider that such mega-dumps often end up devastating sacred tribal land or burdening vulnerable communities with our most risky refuse.

What is most troubling about Decker’s article, though, is that he demands short-term profit to justify a decidedly long-term social, environmental and economic investment. If our nation subscribed to that errant standard, then Teddy Roosevelt would never have established a single national park, soccer moms would still be keeping their kids at home on bad-air days and we would be sourcing every wind turbine and solar panel from overseas.

In the rare instance our society takes the long view and builds up an industry like recycling, we must be certain that we weigh all the costs and benefits. When we do so, it’s an obvious conclusion that recycling is a worthwhile investment for this generation and, especially, those to come.

when he left office.

And during all this time, he collected money from a pension that he tried so hard to destroy.

I score his reign as one out of six.

Danielle and Tony LoPresti, City Heights

Brandon S. Sand, East Village

Ron Harris, Scripps Ranch

We got screwed Concerning your Feb. 20 editorial on Prop. B: I don’t feel the public really had anyone watching out for our interests for years, and we are the boss. So, what is wrong with voting on city workers’ employment?

They aren’t getting screwed. We already got that.

And with the public responsible for market losses, I do not see where we will ever get even. And do your employees tell you what they want to be paid, or do you tell them?

Thanx for the newspaper.

Joseph Strusienski, Downtown

Marketing happens About the brouhaha on the Tourist Marketing District [“Editorial,” Feb. 27]: Chairman of TMD Terry Brown, in a U-T San Diego op-ed, says they spent $12 million last year to advertise San Diego. As we know, Filner is holding up this year’s funding because he has the gall to tie it to a living wage for hotel workers.

The public probably thinks that this results in zero advertising for San Diego as a tourist attraction. Terry doesn’t mention the $60 million being spent by the city, which comes from the 10.5-percent transient-occupancy tax. Nor does the news media mention it. That’s why I’m writing this letter.

Mel Shapiro, Hillcrest

Hacker Decker Is it safe to assume that when CityBeat was preparing its local-music edition, Edwin Decker hacked into the file prior to press and inserted his nonsensical rant about how music piracy is acceptable [“Sordid Tales,” March 6] because he once purchased a Van Halen album in 1984 that didn’t meet his expectations?

Sanders hit .167

Vets, drugs and jobs

In regard to your Feb. 20 editorial about Jerry Sanders and the city of San Diego pension: I believe it’s relevant to identify this item along with various other activities that took place during Jerry Sanders’ reign as mayor: 1. He negotiated down city employee benefits.

2. He attempted to rebuild City Hall for $300 million.

3. He promoted the construction of a $180million Downtown library that very few San Diego residents will ever use.

4. He attempted to divert $500 million of redevelopment money to the Chargers.

5. He sponsored an initiative to convert the city pension to a 401(k).

6. He lied about the city having surplus money

Thank you for your story on deported vets who are former convicts [“News,” March 13]. My reaction is that we need to change the drug laws, as sentences of three years for selling pot is an injustice; it should be legalized. However, if it’s for selling methamphetmine, that is a serious illness that needs hospitalization, no jail.

I also don’t like illegals busting up union jobs, but we need to repeal NAFTA and stop taking their jobs away, too.

Bring this to the attention of Rep. Scott Peters or other Congress members who promote local veteran causes in Washington, D.C. Thank you.

Val Sanfilippo, Linda Vista

April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 7

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Stills from the camera that caught the last moments of Tommy Tucker’s life: 1. Tucker returning to his cell with a cup of water; 2. Tucker allegedly taking a “fighting stance”; 3. guards rushing Tucker; 4. Tucker carried down in a stretcher.

WHEELS OF FORCE How San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies killed a schizophrenic inmate and avoided a public investigation

BY DAVE MAASS The diagram looks like two carnival wheels, but it represents the array of options facing San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies when they confront a hostile inmate. It’s part of the “use of force” guidelines issued to guards.

The first wheel is labeled “Suspect’s Actions,” with spokes representing behaviors ranging from “non-compliance” to “active resistance” and “assaultive behavior.” The second wheel is “Deputy’s Response,” with spokes bearing terms such as “verbal directions,” “hands-on control” and “lethal

8 · San Diego CityBeat · April 3, 2013

force.” Connecting the wheels is a box that tells the deputy to select a “reasonable response” (underline included) from the second wheel to control the behavior in the first.

Tommy Tucker, a 35-year-old, obese inmate in a psychiatric unit at the San Diego Central Jail, spun those wheels on Feb. 22, 2009, and lost his life. His act of defiance: attempting to take a cup of hot water back to his cell while the unit was in lockdown. Within minutes, the perfect storm of brutality—pepper spray, a misplaced chokehold and being handcuffed, facedown on the floor—resulted in his death.

As CityBeat reported in the first installment of its investigative series, “60 Dead Inmates,” San Diego County has the highest mortality rate among California largest jail systems based on data from 2007 to 2012. Tucker was one of 12 deaths in San Diego jail custody in 2009, the highest number of deaths in a single year recorded by the five-facility system during that period.

Part two of a series: 60 Dead Inmates The official cause of Tucker’s death was anoxic encephalopathy—brain damage due to oxygen starvation. What makes Tucker’s death unique is the secrecy surrounding it.

Tucker’s family in Alabama didn’t know he’d died violently. They were informed through an organ-donation service, which originally had received false information that Tucker died from a traumatic brain injury. It wasn’t until another inmate contacted Tucker’s girlfriend that the family began to suspect foul play. A full 17 months passed before they received the medical examiner’s report. When they read it was a homicide, they hired a lawyer.

“They had no idea,” Alabama-based attorney Stan Morris tells CityBeat. “They weren’t told, ‘Six of the guards jumped your brother and put a carotid hold on him, and then they did this, that and the other.’ They just said he died.”

A

year before Tucker’s death, another obese inmate was mortally injured at the Central Jail. Jeffrey Dewall was acting strangely, running across his cell and banging his head against the wall. Guards peppersprayed him, strapped him to a restraint chair, kneed him in the face and held him doubled over for several minutes.

When they lifted him, they found he had stopped breathing. Dewall’s family sued and received justice in the form of a $600,000 settlement.

In September 2012, a third inmate from the Central Jail died, but outside of the jail’s walls. Anthony Dunton had been taken to UCSD Medical Center after a fight with deputies. When he broke free of his restraints in the MRI room, deputies first tried TASERs, then shot him twice.

Most local news outlets covered the death.

By comparison, Tucker’s death occurred in the dark. Only recently has Tucker’s family learned the details through their lawsuit. In addition to public records, CityBeat was granted access to depositions conducted in December and video and audio evidence obtained by Morris and his local co-counsel, Julia Yoo, via the discovery process.

Tucker was booked in January 2009 on domestic-violence charges. He was placed in a psychiatric unit due to his schizophrenia (he was prescribed two anti-psychotic medications) and a lifelong seizure disorder. He was also obese, asthmatic, visually impaired and partially deaf. One guard testified in his deposition that Tucker normally spoke loudly in a way that could have been mistaken for agitation.

FORCE CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 9

BONUS

NEWS FILNER WANTS MAILER PROBED Mayor Bob Filner is diving into another seal controversy. No, not the cute, big-eyed kind found lounging at Children’s Pool in La Jolla. This time, it’s over a likeness of the city of San Diego’s seal that appeared at the top of a recent negative campaign mailer aimed at District 4 City Council candidate Myrtle Cole, who finished first in Tuesday’s special election to replace Tony Young and will face Dwayne Crenshaw in a May 21 runoff.

In letters dated March 20 to District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and state Attorney General Kamala Harris (find a copy at sdcitybeat.com), Filner requested a “full and fair investigation and prosecution, if warranted” into the “misuse of a bastardized version of our City seal that would lead the average person to believe the City of San Diego is somehow making findings and recommendations regarding one of the candidates in that election.”

California election law is clear in such matters: “Any person who uses or allows to be used any reproduction or facsimile of the seal… of a local government agency in any campaign literature or mass mailing… with intent to deceive the voters, is guilty of a misdemeanor.”

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The seal on the mailer varies slightly from the city seal—details on a center shield are missing, as is a depiction of a bell above— but the wording on the seals is identical, including the city’s motto, “Semper Vigilans” (Latin for “Always Vigilant”). The mailer resembled an official city notice and included the words “urgent” and “open immediately.” San Diego Free Press first reported the hit piece.

Filner, who’s endorsed Cole in the race, said he reached out to the city’s Ethics Commission to investigate. “They claimed they didn’t have the authority,” the mayor told CityBeat. Stacey Fulhorst, the commission’s executive director, confirmed that. The matter was referred to the City Attorney’s office, but Filner balked.

The problem, he explained, is that City Attorney Jan Goldsmith and the murky political action committee responsible for the mailer—San Diego County Voters for Progress and Reform—share the same campaign treasurer, April Boling.

“Needless to say,” Filner wrote, “the City of San Diego cannot expect a fair and thorough investigation from the City Attorney into the matter given that to do so would implicate his own political interests.”

Calls to Goldsmith’s office, Boling and the PAC were not returned. The group lists a Girard Avenue address in La Jolla that appears to be a postal box. A spokesperson for Harris confirmed receipt of the letter but declined further comment. The DA’s office declined all comment.

—John R. Lamb

FORCE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 On the day of his death, inmates in Tucker’s unit were ordered to return to their cells because guards needed to transfer a suicidal inmate in another unit to a safety cell. Tucker instead went for a cup of hot water.

The video shows Tucker slowly descending the stairs from the second tier and crossing the empty main floor. He fills his plastic cup with water, returns to the stairs and walks up.

“It’s pretty dadgum obvious this guy is going back to his cell,” Morris says. “There’s not like a door up there where he can go out to a Jack-in-the-Box and get a burger.”

At the top of the tier, Tucker turned as two deputies called to him. According to the initial reports, Tucker cursed and threw hot water at the guard closest to him, but this isn’t clear in the video. The deputy later testified in his deposition that Tucker only tipped his cup forward, splashing water on the ground. The guards claimed they warned Tucker several times to return to his cell, but the inmate took a fighting stance.

The video, however, shows that seconds after the first deputies spoke to him, Tucker turned to flee as a cluster of guards charged up the stairs.

“If you look at what the deputies say actually happened, and time that with the pictures, there’s just not enough time for everything that they say happened to have actually happened,” Morris says. “A total of six deputies basically go up the stairs at a pretty good trot and proceed right to Tucker. Do not pass ‘Go’; do not collect $200. They jumped this guy and—down on the ground, boom. Boom-boom-boom.”

Three guards shot streams of pepper spray at Tucker’s face.

Then, using the “swarm” technique, they each grabbed different limbs, with one guard applying a carotid hold, or chokehold. A hood called a “spit sock” was placed over Tucker’s head as deputies pinned him facedown on the floor.

They used two sets of handcuffs to chain Tucker’s arms behind his back. When they lifted the inmate, his body was limp. They removed the spit sock and discovered his face was purple.

The guard who used the carotid hold said he held it for only two to five seconds. But when Chief Medical Examiner Glenn Wagner gave his deposition, he described

blunt force trauma to the neck, including hemorrhages on the windpipe, muscles, the soft tissue around the thyroid and the carotid body, the nerve ganglion that regulates heart rate. Wagner testified that the injury was consistent with strangulation, but that alone wasn’t what killed Tucker. It was also the way his breathing was hindered when they laid him on his belly and pulled his arms behind his back. It was also Tucker’s own weight, compounded by that of the guards on top of him. He noted that pepper spray could have caused an asthmatic episode.

“You have anywhere from 1,200 to 1,800 pounds or portions thereof being applied to a person who just by their own weight is going to have a problem,” Wagner said in his deposition. “Then you supersede that with the pepper spray, a carotid hold, which may be either a blood choke or an air choke, depending on how it’s applied, plus his general excitement and the epinephrine and norepinephrine. We know, from the autopsy, that he has an enlarged heart. So you’ve got [cardiac disease] setting the stage for the heart failing, you’ve got the lungs that are failing already and we’ve got a number of things going on, some of which he’s contributing to by the nature of his body and some things that are being contributed to by the circumstances that brought about his collapse.”

The guards said they rolled Tucker on his side into a “recovery” position while waiting for medics. However, the first nurse on the scene said in his deposition that Tucker was on his stomach and remained that way for at least another two minutes before being uncuffed and rolled onto his back.

These details weren’t caught on video, except for personnel running up and down the stairs, then carrying down Tucker’s body in a stretcher.

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he San Diego County District Attorney’s office issued a review letter, as it does for all law-enforcement-related homicides. Relying primarily on the Sheriff’s Department’s own investigation, the DA concluded the deputies “acted reasonably under the circumstances.” But the letter is rife with inaccuracies, including reporting Tucker’s age wrong by five years and his date of arrest off by a month. The let-

all deaths that result from the actions of deputies. Yet CLERB didn’t investigate Tucker’s death.

CLERB’s executive director, Patrick Hunter, didn’t respond to questions about Tucker, but he acknowledged that between 2009 and 2010, the Sheriff’s Department had failed to notify CLERB of several inmate deaths, leading the board to demand that the department amend its policies. The demand was refused.

“They jumped this guy and—down on the ground, boom. Boom-boom-boom.”

—Stan Morris ter claims Tucker threw the entire cup at the deputy and states that another deputy tried, but failed, to apply the carotid hold. Omitted from the narrative is how Tucker was returning to his cell when the confrontation began.

The Citizens’ Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB), an independent body of members of the public and investigators, is charged with reviewing

view. Lim answered that guards threatened him. Hearn says she doesn’t recall receiving the letter and would’ve investigated the death had she seen it.

The Sheriff’s Department referred CityBeat’s questions to the County Counsel, which in turn responded that it does not comment on ongoing litigation. However, Jan Caldwell, the sheriff’s publicaffairs officer, did add a remark about psychiatric inmates at the end of an email.

“I believe it is important to note our jail system provides not only excellent medical screening and care, but mental health resources to assist inmates re-enter society well-functioning after their sentences are completed,” Caldwell writes. “The Sheriff’s Department is one of the largest providers of mental health services in the county. At any given time, twenty-five to thirty percent of our inmate population is on psychotropic drugs.

“I hope this information is helpful to you and illuminates the challenges we face every day in caring for a segment of society, who is in the most need of help.”

Mark Lim, the inmate who contacted Tucker’s girlfriend, also sent a letter to the San Diego Union-Tribune, asking then-metro editor Lorie Hearn to “shine light” on the “murder.” The Sheriff’s homicide division intercepted the correspondence: A detective re-interviewed Lim—a Marine awaiting trial for murder—and asked why he hadn’t voiced the Write to davem@sdcitybeat.com allegations during the first inter- and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 11

edwin

sordid tales

decker The Ten Commandments of figuring out the restaurant bill More often than not, when dining out with friends, expected me to chip in.” the responsibility of figuring out the check typi1. Thou shalt be truthful about what thou orcally falls on me. dered: This is the first commandment for a reason.

It makes sense. As a sorta-kinda control freak When figuring out what thouest owes, remember who’s pretty quick with basic math and has worked thine appetizers, thy dessert, thy booze and thy tax in the service industry for the past 25 years, I’m an and tip. efficient and reliable check-figurer-outer (CFO).

2. Thou shalt not be a disappearing bathAnd I really don’t mind doing it, except, of course, room scallywag: If thou does leaveth the table to when having to deal with stingy little check-dodgavoid paying, thouest should expect everyone to be ing weasels. gone upon return—except security and manageYou know about these people, right? These ment—who will be waiting with bill in hand bechum-sucking, check-ducking, cheap-ass charlacause when we left, we said, “The guy in thy bathtans who’ll do whatever it takes to avoid paying room is paying.” their fair share? Such as the snake who conve3. Thou shalt have no false CFOs before me: niently slithers off to the bathroom moments beDo not alloweth more than one check-figurer-outfore the check arrives; or the dastard who neglects er to figure out the check. There is only one true to factor the tax and tip on his bill; or, worse, the CFO, and it gets confusing if too many people try rapscallion who pulls the old, “I had the frog-leg to do it at once. linguini, so all I owe is X,” conveniently forgetting 4. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s appehe also ordered three glasses of champagne, the tizers: Did thou sampleth the appetizers ordered coeur à la crème and the hunks of gruyere cheese by others? How was the shrimp cocktail thou hath aged in Catherine Deneuve’s scarfed? Did thou enjoy the timeless vagina. satay? Well, then, chip the Just calmly make thy case Then there’s Jonesy, a fuck in, Rikki Tikki Tavi. “friend” who likes to play Mr. 5. Thou shalt not say thy that thou would never have Big Spender when dining with server’s name in vain: Do not ordered the frog-leg linguini a big group. Jonesy will run forget a generous tip when facup the tab by ordering appetoring the amount thee oweth. because thou art allergic tizers, extra sides, booze and Do not complain of a mistake to amphibians. desserts. He will order shots on thy bill unless absolutely for the table and make grandisure. And, for crissake, do not ose statements like, “Y’all just ask for separate checks. have to try the Sumatran-orangutan tempura,” then 6. Thou shalt honor thy vegans: Do not make order five plates to be passed around the table, makthy vegan companion payeth as much as everyone ing everyone think, Wow, what a fine and generous else, because thy vegan only had a plate of celery and fellow. Only, he ain’t fine and generous. He’s a conthou had the minced monkey pancreas marinated niving, lowlife bloodsucking scallywag—because in the hormonal secretions of clubbed baby seal.

15 to 30 minutes before the check arrives, he’ll an7. Thou shalt not screweth over thy teetonounce that he has to pick up his wife at the airport, taler: If thou is having dinner with thy buddy who is on the wagon and drank only coffee, while thou drop a wad of bills on the table and be gone. had 10 beers, six cocktails and three shots, do not And you can’t count the money before he leaves expect him to pay the same as you. because that would make you the untrusting worm 8. Thou shalt not kill—the festive mood of who’s nickel-and-diming everyone. So it isn’t until the dinner party by making a big deal about long after he’s gone, when the bill arrives, that you small amounts: If thou has been asked to pay $20, realize the “wad” he left was composed of fives and but feel like thou only oweth $19, pay thine extra ones and barely enough of them to cover his entrée, dollar and suck it up already, thou. let alone tax, tip and five frickin’ plates of orang9. Thou shalt honor thy CFO: Being CFO is a utan tempura. high-pressure job: Do not sass him with any of thy There are countless other ruses, but you get the lip. Do not impugneth his credibility. Do not belpoint. We need to put a stop to this! Are you hearlow to the gods if a mistake is made. Just calmly ing me, you little weasels? No longer shall we fall make thy case that thou would never have ordered victim to your chicanery. To this end, I have crethe frog-leg linguini because thou art allergic to ated the Ten Commandments of Check Splitting. I amphibians. urge all you veteran and novice CFO’s to laminate 10. Thou shalt not commit adultery: Do not it and pass to your group whenever dining out: play footsy with thy buddy’s wife beneath the table.

It doesn’t have anything to do with check-splitting, Preamble: “Yea did the CFO climbeth Mt. Sinai but I needed a 10th commandment. and come upon a flaming soufflé. And the soufflé said, “I am the Lord thy God. Inscribed upon these Write to ed@sdcitybeat.com and editor@ tablets are Ten Commandments of Check Splitsdcitybeat.com. Listen to “Sordid Tales: ting, which I created one night after Satan ordered The Podcast!” at sdcitybeat.com. the pan-seared souls of bastard babies platter and

12 · San Diego CityBeat · April 3, 2013

no life

offline

by dave maass

I hate you, Google

I’m so furious with Google for killing off Reader that it borders on hatred.

I feel the raw grief of an 8-year-old whose parents euthanized the family dog because he’s the only one of the children who plays with it.

I feel the rancor of the senior citizen who’ll have to walk an extra three blocks each morning and night because transit bureaucrats eliminated his bus stop. I shake my cane at you, Google.

I feel the blind rage of an Abraham of an alternate universe, one where Google lets him go ahead and slaughter his son on the altar. Google has broken my faith.

Don’t be evil? How about don’t be cold? This is likely the first step in the parting of ways, and it breaks my little user heart that Google doesn’t seem to care.

I’m probably spending too much time articulating my aggravation rather than exploring suitable alternatives. It’s a false sense of entitlement, sure, but when someone suddenly eliminates a tool I use every single hour of the day, it cuts deep.

While I’m being dramatic, I might as well dredge up old resentments. There used to be a service called Meebo Messenger, a site that combined all of my instant-message services—Yahoo Messenger, AIM, Facebook Chat, Google Chat—into one web interface that I could tuck away in a browser.

Meebo was a constant presence in my personal and journalist life from 2006 until 2012. It was my portal to communicating with friends and sources, and before the advent of better live-blogging technologies, I used it as a live chat room from the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Last summer Google bought Meebo for a reported $100 million and shut it down.

On March 13, Google announced it was next shutting down Reader, its personal RSS aggregation app, effective July 1.

Google pays a lot of lip service to the institution of journalism, sponsoring scholarships and grants, but that’s nothing compared with the gross setback to all the individual journalists who use it. Google’s mistaken in its belief that Reader is used only to collect news articles and blog posts; for many years, it’s been the primary way I’ve tracked new federal lawsuits, new entries in the federal register and votes cast by members of Congress.

I realize that only a small percentage of the public uses it, but Google’s measuring success by the wrong scale. It’s losing its perspective on the single user’s life, the impact one good solid tool can cause through ripples of competent computing. This move proves that democracy will always result in a better world than a corporate utopia; if Google were an elected official, I’d run attack ads over this. It would be absolutely unacceptable if a government discontinued distributing meeting agendas and releasing spending data only because a sliver of the population reads them. Also, it’s not the size of the usership; it’s the quality of the us-

adam vieyra

ership. At the risk of elitism, I think if Google investigated a little further, it would see that a large percentage of journalists, policy analysts, activists and lawyers—people with a disproportionate amount of influence—rely on Reader.

I liked dwelling in the Google environment, where my email and docs and RSS feeds were all housed under the same digital roof. But now, I have to investigate replacements, and with my trust in tatters, Reader may not be the only egg I remove from the basket.

Among the decent options is Newsblur, which has most of the features I need; it has a slick mobile app, but its web interface feels a bit clunky and cheap. Feedly is another one frequently recommended by the blogs (the site itself reports 500,000 Google Reader user have migrated to it), but it requires the user to install plug-ins, which won’t work on computers where you don’t have administrative access. Perhaps the most promising I’ve seen so far is The Old Reader, which is modeled after Google Reader, but I can’t say for sure. When I went through the process of importing all my old feeds over, there were 30,000 people ahead of me in line.

The social-bookmarking site Digg plans to release its own RSS reader by July, and I might wait until then. Or I may take up a friend on his offer to subscribe to the open-source Tiny Tiny RSS program that he plans to install on his own web host.

In the meantime, I’ll continue to rant about— hold on. Did Google Street View just make it possible to virtually stroll through the no-go radiation zone around the Fukushima nuclear plant?

I love you, Google.

Write to davem@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 13

THE

E

ach of the nine letters spelling out “Food Issue” on our cover is also a letter from a restaurant sign in San Diego. How many of the represented restaurants can you name?

Identify as many as you can and email your list to editor@sdcitybeat.com (subject line: Food Issue Contest); she or he who gives us the most correct answers will win a $25

14 · San Diego CityBeat · April 3, 2013

gift card to Chronic Smoothies Blazin’ Grill in Pacific Beach. Good luck!

Oh, and we hope you enjoy this special annual issue. In it, Michael Gardiner travels to Brawley and visits Brandt Beef (Page 15), Alex Zaragoza profiles a tamale maker (Page 17), Kinsee Morlan goes fishing with Fathom Bistro’s Dennis Borlek (Page 18), Kelly Davis introduces

12 new restaurants (Page 20), Marie TranMcCaslin heads south for a Baja food tour (Page 23), Mina Riazi samples supermarket eats (Page 24), I add a few links to the Food Chain (Page 30) and Ryan Bradford argues that adding an egg to a burger is a good thing (Page 33). Blech!

— D a vi d Rolla nd

t he F ood is s ue

Se al Te am 6 o f t h e a g r i c u ltur e wa r s

michael a. gardiner

B r and t B eef s u rv i v e s a g a i ns t big comp et i t io n w i t h qu a l i t y a n d sma rt b u s in e ss se ns e

by Michael A. Gardiner Some see the small American ranch as an enduring symbol of freedom. Others see that rancher as an embattled relic of a past for which there is no realistic prospect of return.

It is, however, no stretch to describe Eric Brandt and his company as the Seal Team 6 of America’s corporate agriculture wars.

Brandt Beef has branded itself as a high-quality, “True Natural” operation, opposed to the corporate and conventional ag culture. The weapons Brandt uses are (not unlike the tactics of an accomplished Judo-master) the strengths of his opponents: vertical integration and a highly sophisticated just-in-time delivery supply chain. It is also this: unbelievably high quality beef. I have tasted none better.

Brandt Beef’s feedlot is 11 miles outside of Brawley, itself 15 miles north of El Centro, 113 miles east of San Diego. The heat in Brawley can be oppressive. The look and feel is of an early color film or maybe something in sepia tone. You suspect that a dust bowl could break out at any moment.

When Brandt returned from college to Brawley and his dad’s company, he did so proudly with ag degree in hand, along with expectations of a role greater than scraping out the manure-filled pens. No such luck; there were dues to be paid.

His way out of the pens lay not in his degree but in a magazine advertisement for a Denver seminar on composting. After pestering his father for weeks (“You read too michael a. gardiner

many magazines,” his dad would say) for his blessing (“OK, OK, go”) and money for the fee (“You expect me to pay for it?”) and the airfare, too (“I’m not paying to fly you there”), Bill Brandt finally relented, if only to shut his son up.

Upon his return, Brandt convinced his father to invest in a composting operation. One might think the payoff came when the equipment arrived. It’s a moment carved in Eric’s memory: “Eric?” said the voice over the walkie-talkie.

“Yes,” he replied.

“Eric, your turd flipper’s here.”

No. That was definitely not the payoff. The payoff was the transformation of one of the ranch’s biggest costs— cleaning manure out of pens—into a revenue stream.

The success of that venture gave Brandt the credibility to build what turned into Brandt Beef: a high-end beef company selling 100-percent natural meat, which, though not exactly organic and grass-fed, is hormone free. The business now accounts for anywhere from a quarter to a third of the parent company’s business (the rest is sold mostly to Brandt’s competitors).

Most of Brandt’s sales are outside of California. Among his New York chefs are Tom Colicchio, Mario Battali, Gordon Ramsay and Michael Lomonaco. To that list add Jay Murray of Boston’s Grill 23 and Uwe Opocensky of Hong Kong’s Mandarin Oriental. Indeed, a high percentage of Brandt Beef’s sales are to restaurants in the Far East. The reason, as Opocensky has made clear, is the quality of the meat.

But quality is not necessarily enough. Quality vendors go under every day. And Brandt Beef, a third generation, family-run operation, is facing some stiff, sizeable and ruthless competition. Four companies control more than 80 percent of all the beef slaughtered in this country: Tyson, Cargill, JBS and National Beef Packing. JBS attempted to buy National, but that effort was vetoed by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Brandt knows how the big boys play. Bill Brandt was one of the main investors in a local beef-processing plant that seemed to be their answer until National bought out the plant and “offered” to process Brandt’s beef—so long as National could buy at a sharp discount off wholesale. Eric Brandt wants to build a new plant; this time on a smaller scale and focusing on quality.

But that core concept—vertical integration—is one of Brandt’s primary defenses against the big boys. The centerpiece of that defense is the company’s feed mill. It allows it to control the key input to its key output: food for the cattle.

Partnership in Brawley’s granary and a sophisticated grassgrowing operation run by Brandt’s brother gives the company nearly complete control of a fresh supply chain.

Brandt Beef’s marketing is also a multifaceted hedge

Eric Brandt against the big players. While the company sells to many restaurants through distributors (and has experienced problems doing so), it also sells to many restaurants directly and goes direct to the consumer at four farmers markets in the San Diego area: Coronado, Hillcrest, Downtown and Pacific Beach.

Brandt has felt other pressures though, darker ones. Recently at a Los Angeles hotel bar, this happened: Dude: So who are you with?

Brandt: I’m with Brandt Beef. We—.

Dude: I know who you guys are. I know what you guys do. You use corn. You deserve to die.

Brandt: Um—you’re joking, right?

Dude (after a chuckle): No. Oh no. You’re going to be lucky to make it out of this place alive.

Was this scare tactics by Big Beef? Was it more of what brought us the foie gras ban? Was it the same people who attacked the Harris Beef processing plant in Fresno County?

Crazy or inebriated, Big Beef or Animal Liberation Front, barstool threats were little more likely to stop Brandt than they would Seal Team 6. There are missions to accomplish and business plans to execute. There is beef—some of the best in the world—to raise, sell and bring to people who otherwise would not really know how it truly good meat can taste.

Write to michaelg@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 15

16 · San Diego CityBeat · April 3, 2013

t he F ood is s ue

Hot ta ma l e

alex zaragoza

Longti me b a rri o bu s i n e s swo man h o p es n e w m a r k e t will invig o rat e h e r c a fé

by Alex Zaragoza Walking through the large Barrio Logan warehouse that contains San Diego Public Market, you’re greeted by the vibrant colors of fresh, locally grown produce and the spicy scents of culturally diverse foods. Among the few stands that set up shop every Wednesday and Sunday at the market is Saida Soto.

You can find Soto in her makeshift kitchen, her hair wrapped in a scarf, doting over her freshly made tortillas while simultaneously serving a plate of her chile rojo and hollering out directions to her small army of doñas who serve as sous chefs. She never seems to stop moving.

Soto, often sweetly referred to as “the tamale lady,” is a longtime Barrio Logan resident. Originally from Colima, Mexico, the 59-year-old immigrated to the United States and established roots in the barrio in the early 1970s. A few years later, she and her family took over New Mexico Café, which has been at Newton Avenue just around the corner from the market since 1942. She’s co-owned it for more than 30 years, watching as other businesses in her neighborhood come and go and fighting to stay afloat herself.

When San Diego Public Market was being planned in the largely Latino community, there was resistance. An us-versus-them mentality was fueled by the fear of gentrification, competition and the possible loss of Barrio Logan’s rich cultural history. However, Soto believed that the market could invigorate the community and quash Barrio Logan’s negative reputation. She spoke to community members to help quell their fears.

“This market is something good for the community, for us,” Soto says in her native Spanish. Seated in a bright-orange booth at her restaurant, she explains why.

“It’s going to bring a lot of benefits and tourism,” she says. “The people who created the market are very organized. A lot of people say, ‘They’re going to take this away or add that,’ but they don’t take anything from us. No one can take away our culture or what is our original cuisine.”

It wasn’t a one-way street. For the founders of the market, Soto offered an opportunity to bring in the area’s flavors and build a bridge with residents.

“Days before we opened the first farmers market at the San Diego Public Market, Saida confided in us that her existing restaurant in Barrio Logan was struggling,” says Catt White, the market’s co-founder, in an email. “We welcomed her to do a market booth to give her restaurant additional exposure, and also because it made sense for the tamales and tortillas and great Mexican food we wanted at the market to come from one of our Barrio Logan neighbors. We put Saida and her tamale cart right up front to remind people that our Barrio Logan community is a key element of the Public Market project.”

Since the market’s opening, Soto’s had more customers come to her restaurant on market off-days to eat her flavorful tamales, savory menudo and other tasty eats.

Saida Soto Even with her success at the market, Soto works hard to keep her business going, starting her work day at 3 a.m. and often not paying herself a wage.

A big problem for Soto is that the café doesn’t have a liquor license. As any restaurateur can tell you, the markup on alcohol can provide a huge boost to a small restaurant’s revenue. Soto’s applied for a license with the state Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) four times and been denied each time. She says she was denied most recently because New Mexico Café is across the street from Perkins Elementary School. However, Blueprint Café, which opened four years ago and is just 154 feet from New Mexico Café and Perkins Elementary, has a license to sell beer and wine.

“Sometimes I cry about it,” Soto says. “People want to have a beer with Mexican food, and we can’t give it to them. It affects my business. I don’t understand why we keep getting denied but they didn’t. It feels like an injustice. We don’t have the money or the connections, and sometimes it feels like discrimination. I don’t begrudge them the license. They’re very nice people. But why them and not us?”

Jennifer Hill, an ABC spokesperson, says the last record of an application by New Mexico Restaurant Corporation was in 1998, and it was denied in 1999 after about a year of investigation. No information as to why Soto was denied is available because records are purged every three years.

Soto says she re-applied for a license after Blueprint Café opened, but ABC has no record of that.

Hill says many factors come into play when deciding whether to approve an alcohol license, including a business’ proximity to schools and homes, crime rates and input from the community.

Soto doesn’t have the money to apply at the moment but hopes to try again. In the meantime, she’s excited about what the public market can do, not only for her café, but also Barrio Logan.

“The market has been a blessing,” she says. “I think it’s going to be a beautiful thing.”

Write to alexz@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 17

t h e F o o d i s s ue

S i t t i n ’ o n t he doc k o f t h e bay

kinsee morlan

New Fat hom B i s t ro B ai t & Tac kle i s a great p lac e to was t e t i m e

by Kinsee Morlan There are two methods of obtaining food at Fathom Bistro Bait & Tackle. One is pretty straightforward. Owner Dennis Borlek demonstrates the other by jumping over the counter of the bait shop, chopping up a frozen shrimp and pushing chunks of the flesh onto several hooks on a line dangling from a fishing pole. He shows off photos of some of his customers proudly displaying their catches—halibut, guitar fish, bass— and explains that while owning a restaurant and bar had always been his dream, operating a baitand-tackle shop was never part of the plan.

“But it’s always been a bait-and-tackle shop,” Borlek says, hopping back over the counter, heading to the edge of the Shelter Island pier, where the new restaurant-and-shop sits (1776 Shelter Island Drive, fathombistro.com) and dropping the line into the water below. “One of the stipulations [of the lease with the Port of San Diego] was keeping the bait shop, but I would have anyway. It’s awesome to be part of it all.”

Borlek knows the history of the pier—he’s been fishing off it since he was 4. He grew up in Point Loma.

And with a father who worked on submarines at Naval Base Point Loma and later ran a scuba school, he has a strong connection to San Diego Bay. Borlek’s father died last summer. Since then, the restaurant’s become partly a tribute to him. A bit of his ashes sit in an urn above the window in the restaurant looking out at the Naval Base. Vintage scuba gear from Borlek’s collection decorates the walls, and a line of old submarine crests, some from his father’s collection, lines one side.

Fathom Bistro Bait & Tackle came to be after Borlek and his girlfriend took a walk along the bay. He saw the “For Lease” sign, and his vision of one day owning a big urban restaurant and craft-beer bar morphed into owning a small, unique restaurant on the water with a bait shop attached to one end. He submitted his proposal to the port, noting his background in homebrewing, explaining that he wanted to support San Diego’s emerging beer scene by creating a place in a touristy area that celebrated smaller local breweries, not just the big ones like Stone Brewing Co., often the only local beer found at tourist spots in the area. kinsee morlan

Dennis Borlek “So, it’s kind of a hidden gem out here,” Borlek says, squinting into the afternoon sun reflecting off ripples of water.

Borlek eventually catches a small fish he says would be perfect to use as live bait (a method he recommends since he can’t sell live bait with a restaurant in the same building). It’s a municipal pier, he says, pulling the fish off the hook and tossing it back into the water, so a fishing license isn’t required.

Poles are rented out for $6 an hour, $10 for two hours or $15 for the day. He says the pier is productive, especially in the summer when the water warms up.

Halibut is the fish he recommends for frying up at home. And for those who turn up their noses at the idea of eating fish caught from the sometimes murky waters of San Diego Bay, he says they should read the Port of San Diego’s signs posted at the piers, which warn of the dangers of eating certain amounts, and proceed with just a touch of caution.

“But this is the closest pier to the opening of the ocean, and we have really strong tidal flows, so the water comes and goes through here a lot,” he says.

“I have no problem eating fish caught here on Shelter Island.”

The restaurant steers clear of seafood. “That’s what people would expect out here on the pier, and I want to do what people don’t expect,” he says. Instead, it serves creatively flavored sausages he makes by hand alongside dressed-up hotdogs, sandwiches and burgers. Borlek makes his own kimchi, the fermented super-food from Korea, and grinds his own beef for the burgers.

There are 15 taps boasting the kind of craft-beer selection that even the snobbiest of beer snobs would appreciate, and he says he never charges more than $7 for a pint (and that’s for the really top-shelf stuff ).

Look out for upcoming beer-pairing dinners this summer, expanded hours that will include a Hawaiian-inspired breakfast and a rotating list of special sausages with ingredients like orange zest, cranberries and clove.

“Everyone’s just been really great,” Borlek says after hanging up his pole and giving a tour of his tiny but shiny new restaurant. “Beer fans and people who live in Point Loma are discovering me. The people who live on their boats in the different marinas are even finding me. I’m here for the long haul.”

Truth-telling Write to editor@sdcitybeat.com.

18 · San Diego CityBeat · April 3, 2013

April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 19

t he F ood is s ue

Fr esh d o z e n

kelly davis

12 spo t s t h at h av e o p ened in t h e l a s t y e a r

menu’s based on Dr. Andrew Weil’s “anti-inflammatory diet” and includes tasty twists on comfort foods like Panang curry, street tacos (here

by Kelly Davis with sea bass or steak) and butternutsquash pizza. Open your mind, junkDozens of restaurants have opened in the year since our food junkie. At the least, the healthy last food issue—more than we could possibly list here. So, grub will give you energy to shop. we went down the list of newcomers and picked one that Fashion Valley Mall, facebook.com/ opened each month. Don’t see your latest favorite? Find TrueFoodKitchen this story on sdcitybeat.com and tell us about it.

April

August

Craftsman New American Tavern: This is the second restaurant for Wade and Kristi Hageman, whose Blue Ribbon Pizza had CityBeat food writer Jenny Montgomery swooning in October 2010. Montgomery hit up Craftsman last September and was equally impressed, especially with the chicken-liver mousse served on toasted country bread: “I could have May eaten toast after toast with a crisp Promiscuous Fork: PF started as a catering company and white wine and considered the meal then added a cozy brick-and-mortar (er, concrete-and- a smashing success.” 207 El Camino wood) location. The menu’s all about sandwiches and burg- Real in Encinitas, craftmantavern.com ers with a creative twist. The June Gloom, for instance, includes jalapeños, smoked bacon and cream cheese and the September side options of coconut jalapeño rice and sweet-potato tots Nutmeg Bakery & Café: Nutmeg’s another spot that are nice replacements for fries. 6984 La Jolla Blvd. in La Montgomery hit up recently. The title of her piece says it all: “Nutmeg raises the bar for suburban eateries.” She dug Jolla, thepromiscuousfork.com the coconut rice and mushroom soup (the soup selection June rotates daily), “Cheryl’s” panini (a can’t-go-wrong mix of Big Front Door: BFD’s big (glass) front door, among other walnut butter, Nutella, honey and smoked bacon) and the design features, garnered it a nomination for a 2012 Orchid croissant bread pudding with caramel sauce. 12640 Sabre Award. The menu is sandwich-focused, but these are huge, Springs Pkwy., Suite 107, in Sabre Springs, nutmegsd.com stuffed-full, meal-in-a-sandwich sandwiches that come hot and cold, savory and even sweet. There’s a small, really October nice beer and wine “shop” at the back where you can grab a Roseville Cozinha: This spot seeks to pay homage to San bottle to enjoy there or take home. Ditto with the excellent Diego’s Portuguese and Italian fishing communities with soups, which are available by the quart. 4135 Park Blvd. in offerings like salt-cod fritters, wood-fired pizzas, an excellent cioppino and ervilhas stew, a traditional Portuguese University Heights, bfdsandiego.com dish with peas, potatoes, sausage and a poached egg. Craig July Jimenez, who helmed The Guild (RIP), is the chef here, True Food Kitchen: It’s kind of a bummer that True Food’s and you can’t go wrong with that. 2750 Dewey Road in located in a mall. Regardless, it’s gotten rave reviews. The Point Loma, rosevillecozinha.com Imig’s Kitchen & Bar: With the Lafayette Hotel’s makeover came a new restaurant and bar named after Larry Imig, the hotel’s first owner. The food is upscale without being snooty (rock shrimp and goat-cheese chili relleno with chipotle sauce and lime crema, for example), and the cocktail menu alone is worth a visit. Try the “Flamin Stamen” (Blade gin, cucumber, serrano chili and Crème Yvette). 2223 El Cajon Blvd. in North Park, imigskitchen.com

kelly davis

November

Nate’s Garden Grill cheddar and two eggs. 3797 Park Blvd. in Hillcrest, heat barandkitchen.com

January Kafe Sobaka: Owned by the folks behind Russian / Georgian restaurant Pomegranate on El Cajon Boulevard, Sobaka has the same great food and brilliantly written menu.

To wit: “Derevenskaya Skovorodka: Golden fried potatoes / onions / mushrooms / herbs fried in duck fat served in a cast iron skillet. This sets the stage for gulping beer. For this dish I could easily kill my older brother.” And “Shashlik: Is tantalizing meat fire roasted on long evil-looking daggers until it is as tender and juicy as the lips of your lover. Just be patient it could take 20 minutes until the flesh is just right.” 2469 Broadway in Golden Hill, kafesobakarestoranpomegranate.com

February Nate’s Garden Grill: This Nate’s replaced a previous Nate’s that had long occupied a space right next to City Farmers Nursery. It’s open until 10 p.m. each night except Sunday and Monday, making the big, covered wood deck that’s strung with Edison bulbs an ideal place to spend summer evenings. The beer menu is sizable, and they have a house-made sarsaparilla. Eats include flatbread pizzas, sandwiches, a burger and an artisan cheese and Meatmen salumi spread. 3120 Euclid Ave. in City Heights, natesgardengrill.com

Sherman’s Shack: Three words: coconut-crusted churros. Sherman’s, a hip spot with big windows that took over the space formerly occupied by Urban Chicken, is all about comfort food: carne asada fries, ricotta-herb fish fritters, “stuffed” burgers, tacos (including a vegan Baja “fish” taco) and those churros. 549 25th St. in Sherman Heights, March Salt & Cleaver: OK, so we couldn’t find any restaurants shermansshack.com that opened in March. Salt & Cleaver came closest, openDecember ing in early April, so it wins the final spot. As San Diego Heat Bar & Kitchen: The former Magazine’s Nate Martins blogged, original plans to call location of Urban Grind got a major this place Abe Froman’s were thankfully scrapped (if you makeover to become this upscale don’t get the Ferris Bueller reference, shame on you). The brunch and dinner spot. The dinner focus here is on sausages—all kinds, including vegetarian menu’s small yet manages to keep options and a lobster sausage—and beer. Few better pairall sorts of eaters in mind. But it’s ings exist than sausage and beer. 3805 Fifth Ave. in Hillthe brunch menu that looks espe- crest, enjoysausage.com cially delish, with plenty of savory options, like the Chef’s Breakfast of Write to kellyd@sdcitybeat.com Big Front Door house-made chili con carne, melted and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

20 · San Diego CityBeat · April 3, 2013

April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 21

22 · San Diego CityBeat · April 3, 2013

t he F ood is s ue marie tran-mccaslin

of the iconic tortas (sandwiches), which were developed when a hot dog vendor needed a way to heat his lunch. The vendor made tortas de lomo for lunch—somewhat like a French dip sandwich without the jus—and the hot dog trays steamed the tortas, resulting in fluffy bread and tender meat. A customer asked to purchase one, which prompted El Turco, the hot dog guy, to switch his product from hot dogs to tortas de lomo.

El Turco (real name Daniel Perez-Perez) ended up building a small empire of diners. Tijuanese of a certain age fondly remember heading to Tortas El Turco for an after-school snack of a sandwich and fries. Ultimately, the empire fell, until Fitch got the torta recipe from El Turco’s first wife. He tinGrilled Pismo clam au gratin with octopus and shrimp kered with the old recipe until he could reproduce it with current resources. While no one on the tour knew what the original was like, the new version is damned good.

Club Tengo Hambre’s tours include a dish or two at every stop, but there’s plenty of opportunity to orB loggers c reat e a r ov i ng der extra dishes. I resisted ordering extras until the supper cl u b t h at tou r s end, and I was glad I did, because the last stop was Tij u a na a n d b ey on d my favorite. Mariscos Rubén serves Sonoran-style seafood from a truck parked at the edge of downtown. Owner Ruben Rodriguez grilled while wife

by Marie Tran-McCaslin Mirta ran the kitchen in the truck. I was struck by Baja California cuisine seems to be everywhere in the mesquite, where the grooves in the bark were San Diego. From the authentic to fusion to guest- covered with ash and glowing embers. This was gostarring chefs popping up in local restaurants, we ing to be good. have lots of ways to experience it. Yet, do we know Our menu featured a marlin taco and clam au what it’s really like? For the real thing, Club Tengo gratin. Large Pismo clams were grilled and mixed Hambre (clubtengohambre.com) is at your service. with shrimp, octopus and cheese. The clam’s juices Translated as “I’m Hungry Club,” it’s a food-ori- served as a base for a tomato broth and were served ented-tourism group founded by bloggers Kristin on one side of the shell, while the meat mixture was and Antonio Díaz de Sandi (lifeandfoodblog.com), served on the other. I was pondering the dozen large Bill Esparza (streetgourmetla.com) and Jason Thom- jars of homemade salsas when the Rodriguez’s sous as Fritz (tijuanalandia.com). The Díaz de Sandis lead chef approached. the tours, while Esparza and Fritz help develop the “Do you like it spicy?” she asked. She reached for tour programs. the habañero salsa and placed a big spoonful in the “We have become inspired with many of our broth-filled half of the shell. “Here, you need lime,” own experiences that we have had in Baja Califor- she added, squeezing half a large lime into the shell. nia, and we want to recreate those experiences for Mixed with the tomato-clam broth, it was nothing our guests that join us on the tours,” Kristin Díaz de short of incredible. It was fiery, tangy and somehow Sandi says. refreshing, and I ended up sipping the leftovers afAlong with the lesser-known eateries and in- ter the meat was consumed. My extra dish was the sider information about each stop, Club Tengo scallop tostada. Fried tortillas—like big chips—were Hambre provides transportation. Participants served with a scallop ceviche made spicy with crummeet the tour group at the San Ysidro crossing and bled peppercorns. The scallops, some the size of a walk across to a private bus. Once aboard, there’s small filet mignon, were fresh, flavorful and dressed a tequila service. Mind you, it’s the sipping kind of simply with lime, hot sauce and peppercorns. tequila, not the shooting kind. On the tours, cockWe ended the day with a stop at Baja Craft Beer tails, artisanal tequila and craft beer share the spot- tasting room. The modern and urbane décor was a light with the food. stark contrast to the trucks and street-side stands The most recent tour focused on “street-side cu- we’d just visited. There are a few in-house brews and linary.” The first stop, Tacos Aaron, features tacos a large list of craft brews from Tijuana and San Diego. made in the casual style that mirrors those from There’s also an extensive bottle selection for sale. home. It serves everything from birria tacos to egg Club Tengo Hambre’s next tour takes Baja food and machaca. Participants dined on a quesabirria exploration farther south with a trip to Valle de Guataco, stewed beef rich with spices served in a corn delupe for wine tasting and a lamb roast with Javier tortilla lined with cheese. The cheese is not only de- Plascencia. Future tours will include Vendimias, a big licious; it also provides a protective layer to keep the wine festival, and more Tijuana food outings. crisp tortilla from becoming soggy.

The next stop was Tortas El Turco, owned by the Write to marietm@sdcitybeat.com gregarious Luis Fitch. He regaled us with the story and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

Ba j a bo u n d

April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 23

t h e F o o d i s s ue

’ M a rt m e a ls

mina riazi

Your nei ghb orhood s up erm arket m i ght b e good for m ore t han j us t groc eri es

by Mina Riazi Though I’m no food snob, supermarket fare doesn’t usually tempt my appetite. The beige and boxy grocery stores of my O.C. childhood offered too-sweet cookies, cupcakes and donuts in bright, fluorescent shades. More than that, they were dry and rock-hard, disappearing into crumbs when I’d attempt my first bite. The tubs of mac ’n’ cheese, potato salad and fusilli noodles sweating inside display cases only provided comfort when I was craving something overpriced and under-seasoned. It wasn’t until I was older that I began discovering supermarket eats that didn’t offend taste buds: Northgate Gonzalez: Enter this Latin-themed mart and you’ll instantly be distracted by a sweet, buttery smell. You then might devote several seconds to locating the aroma’s source. At least that’s how I spent my first few minutes inside Barrio Logan’s Northgate Gonzalez supermarket (1950 Main St.).

The sunlit, high-ceilinged store opened in December 2012—after more than two decades of community-wide anticipation—as part of the Mercado Project. Upon entering, I followed my nose to a shiny display case packed with Mexican sweet breads, or pan dulces. There were jam-filled besos, turtlebacked conchas, horn-shaped cuernos and curvy elotitos. And the five-for-$3 bargain ensured that both my wallet and I would stay full and happy. I slung a few of the pillowy pastries into a plastic bag and continued my trek through the superstore.

Hot food options—from catfish soup to stuffed chili peppers to fried fish—awaited me on the other side. But I was too focused on devouring my sweets to make a last-minute dash for the savory. I ended up digging through my mixed bag while sitting in the car. The ear-shaped oreja was the solid winner, brittle and crunchy with a satisfying snap.

Its crisp, burnt-sugar edges won me over, and I ducked into the store once more for an extra bag of the flaky delights.

Zion Market: Zion’s dizzying pastry selection yanked my attention when I first entered the Kearny Mesa Korean supermarket (4611 Mercury St.). But I knew better than to linger around sweets, so I rushed to a fridge jam-packed with ready-to-eat sides like

Pan dulce at Northgate Gonzalez

steamed lotus root and seaweed salad. I grabbed a container of bean leaves with soybean before sidling towards the market’s freshly prepared meals. These include signature Korean dishes like gimpop and bibimpap. Chili-flecked fried chicken, steamed purple sweet potato and deep-fried seaweed rolls were other enticing options.

I settled for a plate of chive pancakes, which looked chewy and flavorful. I then tossed a container of seaweed chips into my cart for good measure and carefully avoided the bakery on my way to the cashier. The chive pancakes were cut into two-bite squares, making for easy, chopstick-free enjoyment.

They were delightfully springy, perfectly oily and specked with meaty bits of shrimp. Unfortunately, with their earthy, pungent flavor, the bean leaves were not a dish I’d try again. I felt the same way about the seaweed chips, which packed a rich, salty punch, and left my sodium-singed tongue feeling a little tender.

Nijiya Market: Nijiya’s bright, sleek interior is reason enough to visit the Japanese market (3860 Convoy St. in Kearny Mesa). The place flaunts an impressive selection of fresh fish, bento boxes and pastries. Nijiya’s ready-to-eat options include everything from fried chicken to sushi rolls to big, steaming bowls of udon. I’ve always preferred slick soba to chewy udon, so I opted for a bento box and fried chicken.

Outside of the store, a cluster of tables and chairs mina riazi await eager gluttons. I grabbed a seat and broke into my meal. Though cold, the Japanese-style fried chicken—or chicken karaage— was delectable. The chicken is first marinated in ginger, garlic and soy sauce before it’s coated in a flour and potato-starch mixture. The potato starch creates a thick, crisp crust while keeping the chicken moist. My bento box was chockfull of goodies, including a silky slab of fried tofu. A potato croquette and a rather flavorless scallion pancake joined the mix, along with a heap of brown rice. Vibrant, zingy pickles completed the sturdy meal, which, though not resplendent, was savory enough for supermarket food.

Tofu genmai bento at Nijiya Market

24 · San Diego CityBeat · April 3, 2013

Write to minar@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 25

26 · San Diego CityBeat · April 3, 2013

April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 27

San Diego’s

Best

Restaurants

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April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 29

t he F ood is s ue

The Fo o d C h a i n Restau r at eu r s ( som e o f the m, a n yway ) pay it fo rwa r d

by David Rolland Friends, The Food Chain is being held together not with sturdy metal, but, instead, a single frayed thread. It’s a precarious situation, one that I don’t fully understand.

The chain began in 2008, when I asked my friend Neal Wasserman at Nine-Ten restaurant to recommend one of his favorite eateries and write 100 words or so about it. Then I went to that restaurant and asked the owner to pick the next link on the chain, which carried on unbroken in each of our annual Food issues thereafter.

We believe it to be a popular feature, but it’s been incomprehensibly difficult to get some restaurants to play ball, despite the nolose publicity benefit to them. This year was the worst: The owner of one restaurant, Izakaya Masa in Mission Hills, finally coughed up a name but refused to tells us why he likes it. Repeated phone messages to another one, Robbie’s / Vigilucci’s in Leucadia, clearly explaining the feature, went unreturned. Sad. Let’s not allow that to dampen our enthusiasm for those who cooperate, and we

30 · San Diego CityBeat · April 3, 2013

had a few this year who did. We’ll start the recommendation from with the final link in last year’s chain, Market in Del Mar, which was recommended by Matt Othick of Crust Pizzeria:

Izakaya Masa

david rolland

ed corn, made with cilantro, Cotija cheese and lime. The high ceiling contributes to a lively, boisterous atmosphere, the bar seating is convivial and the décor is whimsical, including an elaborate chalkboard at the building’s north end, which doubles as fine art.” Brooklyn Girl, 4033 Goldfinch St. in Mission Hills, brooklyngirleatery.com

El Callejon

Michael McGeath, co-owner of Brooklyn Girl, says: “As a restaurateur who’s pretty much tied to his own restaurant, it can be difficult to find the time to travel south. Fortunately, we found El Callejon in Encinitas, and it’s become our favorite go-to place on our day off. My wife and I have our favorite dishes and rarely stray from them. For me, it’s the Carnitas Plate, with chunks of tender marinated pork served with Mexican rice, frijoles, rajas and guacamole. My wife is partial to a special shrimp dish they do, the Camarones al Chipotle—giant shrimp cooked in a silky chipotle-pepper sauce. She usually has enough left over for a snack the Brooklyn Girl next day. We’ve had the same server almost The owner of Izakaya Masa chooses every time, Antonio, and he’s a real pro. He Brooklyn Girl but says nothing, so I’ll brings us a special margarita to start, and pick up the slack: “One of my favorite we are in heaven.” El Callejon, 345 S. Coast meals is a burger and a bourbon cocktail, Hwy. 101 in Encinitas, el-callejon.com and Brooklyn Girl doesn’t disappoint. The burger is delightfully seasoned and the Old Robbie’s Restaurant / Fashioned cocktail well mixed. She who Vigilucci’s dines regularly with me loves the All Kale Bernard Jourdain, owner of El Callejon, Caesar salad with a side of the Baja roast- says: “I like to go frequently to these restauJohn Thompson, chef de cuisine of Market, says: “For those of us working in the industry, it’s always difficult to find a latenight spot to get good food after you get off work. Izakaya Masa in Mission Hills is open until 1 a.m. It’s off the beaten path, authentic and totally affordable. They have a delicious array of Japanese-style tapas, sushi and noodles. I like the clay pot and dumplings. Their draft beer is ice cold, which is always nice after working all night in a hot kitchen.” Izakaya Masa, 928 Fort Stockton Drive in Mission Hills, izakayamasa.com

Brooklyn Girl rants for many reasons: The menu is great with many different selections, from Italian to great steaks, great hamburgers and anything else you can think of. The ambiance is always great, with live music and good entertainment. The selection of wines is amazing, and the other great thing is that they have a Vigilucci’s restaurant in the same building, which has the greatest pizzas that you can eat. I really recommend this restaurant to go and try.” Robbie’s / Vigilucci’s, 530 N. Coast Hwy. 101 in Encinitas, vigiluccis.com Dear Robbie’s / Vigilucci’s: If we call you next spring, please call us back—The Food Chain’s future depends on it. Your pal, Dave.

Write to davidr@sdcitybeat.com.

April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 31

32 · San Diego CityBeat · April 3, 2013

t he Food iss ue

Standi n g o va - t i on

ryan bradford

Eggs-o n - b u r ger s is no yo l k

by Ryan Bradford Back in 2012, when we were talking about what trends we would like to see disap pear in 2013, CityBeat editor David Rolland piped up with something along the lines of, “I would love to see restaurants stop putting goddamn eggs on burgers.” It was the equivalent to making the chillwave record skip (remember, this was 2012). Perhaps it was the vehemence of his distaste for something I’d never heard of, or the fact that it elicited such a strong reaction from the pro-egg camp in our department, but it’s a moment that found residency among the permanent compartments of my brain (somewhere between “Wedding Anniversary” and “Netflix Login Info”).

When we were coming up with topics for the Food Issue, I pitched a Rolland vs. Bradford egg-on-burgers standoff.

The subject has come up so many times in subsequent meetings that it’s practically an inside joke. My pitch would allow each side to present the pros and cons of what’s probably the most non-Kosher hipster food trend.

We’d present our arguments in articulate and sternyet-gentlemanly terms.

So here’s Rolland’s side: “It’s gross.”

Now, I’m not a contrarian by nature, and I believed myself to be an impartial judge. I’m no egg lover, per se. To me, the idea of eggs-on-burgers seemed like a gimmick, and my attitude toward them was neutral bordering on ambivalence. But—but!—you only get so many chances to prove your boss wrong, especially in a public forum. My heart swelled at the prospect of rubbing the figurative yolk of victory in his and every other naysayer’s face.

(This was before my heart swelled, quite literally, from intake of calories endured to research this article.)

The first stop in my quest was Downtown’s The Lion’s Share (629 Kettner Blvd., lionssharesd.com), a restaurant tucked inconveniently between two trolley tracks. The menu offers The Wild Style—a burger so gamey that you practically need a hunting license to eat it: “Grass Fed Beef, Boar Bacon and Fried Farm Egg.” My wife—a vegetarian and a pacifist—didn’t even want to watch me eat it.

“You’re on your own,” she said, and hinted that I’d probably spend the night on the couch or somewhere else with decent ventilation.

For being a testament to the American/stoner model of innovation—combining shit with other shit to make food—The Wild Style sure is a pretty burger.

Even the table next to us was awed by the stack of humanely slaughtered animals, the glistening bun, the egg that hugged it all, and the toupée of caramelized onion. I didn’t know whether to eat it or buy it its own dinner.

The first bite: Oh my. It was the taste of opulence.

I felt guilty in the way new money must feel when it buys fur coats or blood diamonds. It was delicious.

The egg was subtle—cooked soft enough to bleed with the medium-rare-tinted juice that dripped onto my truffle fries. And if that sounds gross to you, then you’ve never had the opportunity to turn into a were-

The Wild Style wolf: I growled territorially at the server when she asked if everything was OK. The bill, however, was sobering. Twenty bucks for a burger is pricy, and I felt like Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction and his milkshake. I don’t know if it’s worth $20, but it’s pretty fucking good.

With any high-quality product, there’s bound to be the affordable knock-offs—what Marshmallow Mateys is to Lucky Charms, or what Jim Beam is to Jack Daniels, or what paint thinner is to Jim Beam.

However, I was raised on these off-brands and still prefer a big bag of those friendly marshmallow pirates to that highfalutin’ leprechaun. After eating what I consider the Cadillac of carnage, I wanted to see if an affordable variation exists. The blue-collar egg-on-a-burger, if you will.

Smashburger (smashburger.com) will let you throw a fried egg on any burger for an extra dollar.

Even with the extra charge, my cheeseburger was about one-third the price of The Wild Style. Granted, it’s not as visually appealing—pretty much the equivalent of having your East Coast Uncle Louie slap an egg on your burger after an hour of bothering him: “There. Ya happy?!”

But the Smashburger was actually really good.

The egg flavor was more prominent—not as integrated with the other meats as with The Wild Style—but not overbearing. The egg was fried a little harder, so it’s not going to be an indulgent pile of slop by the end, but it had the taste that you’d want if you were going to eat these things for breakfast. And the fact that I had that thought while eating it by myself was not at all depressing.

After two consecutive days of eating these things, I woke up in the middle of the night with a sharp pain in my chest. I want to think it was due to the anxiety of showing up my boss and ultimately claiming victory, but it was probably just the result of my struggling arteries.

Editor’s note: Ew. Gross. Write to ryanb@sd citybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 33

the

SHORTlist

1

COORDINATED BY ALEX ZARAGOZA

IN A WHITE ROOM

When an artist is presented with a completely blank and open space, it’s exciting and a little bit terrifying. The possibilities seem endless, as do the challenges.

Jean Isaacs’ San Diego Dance Theater and the newly formed White Box Collective is giving local artists and performers a new empty canvas on which to create performance and visual art at White Box Theater in Liberty Station (2590 Truxtun Road, Studio 205, in Point Loma).

“There are such rich, creative groups here,” says Blythe Barton, office manager for San Diego Dance Theater. “Talking to many of the young artists, we found that there’s a lack of venues that are accessible, price-wise and availability-wise. With this space, White Box Collective is looking to share voices and experimental art. That’s why we called it the White Box. It’s a blank slate you can just fill with whatever your creative drive is.”

The collective will introduce the new performance space to the public with its inaugural Live Arts Festival, beginning Friday, April 5, and running through April 21.

For three weeks, the theater will host dance concerts, live art, musicians, workshops, sound art and other special performances from the likes of Jerry Hager, Michael Mizerany, Margaret Noble and many other local, national and international artists.

At the April 5 event, starting at 7:30 p.m., choreographer Maria Juan will present “Light in the Attic,” a dance piece in which she performs alongside projected holograms of other dancers.

“We want to bring awareness to this performance space so people can see the different types of perfor-

2

ART

BASEBALL IS BACK!

Whether you’re headed to the Padres game or not, you can guzzle beer and devour local food at the third annual East Village Opening Day Block Party along with thousands of others, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 9.

The city will close off J Street to traffic between Sixth and 10th avenues Downtown, allowing folks to roam freely on the street, hang out in a “beverage garden” that’ll dispense Stone microbrews and Svedka vodka cocktails or groove to live music by The Yes Team, The Paul Cannon Band and Left4Dead. There’ll also be games and more than 30 food and retail booths.

The party is free and open to all ages, and the 3:40 p.m. game between the Padres and the Dodgers will be broadcast live for attendees. eastvillagesandiego.com

34 · San Diego CityBeat · April 3, 2013

MARIA JUAN

St. Baldrick’s Foundation Art Show at The Commons, 901 Fourth Ave., Downtown. Enjoy bar fare and the original paintings of Heidi Brucks, which will be sold with part of the proceeds going to the foundation. From 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 4. 619-696-8888, thecommonssd. com HMorgan Ervin at McNabb Martin Contemporary Art, 1990 Columbia St., Little Italy. The artist’s paintings in “Too Late For Goodbyes” show images of celebrities who met sudden, tragic ends. On view through May 31. Opening from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, April 4. RSVP to 619546-5888 or info@mcnabbmartin.com, mcnabbmartincontemporaryart.com Greg Murr and Joan Winter at Susan Street Fine Art, 415 South Cedros Ave., Solana Beach. The artists discuss their drawings, paintings and prints inspired by nature. Opening from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 4. 858-793-4442, susanstreet fineart.com Richard Stergulz at Ballast Point Gallery, 2770 Historic Decatur Road, Point Loma.

Meet the artist and view his oil portraits and landscapes. On view through April 28.

Opening from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 5. ballastpointgallery.com/index.html Ben Horton at Linksoul Lab, 530 S. Coast Hwy., Oceanside. An ex-skater turned artist debuts his solo project, “Landline,” which showcases his acrylic paintings and ink drawings. On view through May 15.

Opening at 6 p.m. Friday, April 5. thehill streetcountryclub.org

From the performance piece “Light in the Attic” mances that can take place there,” says Barton, who will also present a choreographed dance piece during the festival. “I know I’m excited to have a space to share my art and experiment.”

Tickets for the performances range from $10 to $20. Find details at sandiegodancetheater.org/ whitebox/live_arts_fest.html.

3

REEFER GLADNESS

It’s not a new bumper sticker, but the idea that “Cannabis users shouldn’t be stereotyped” is one of the reasons for an art show this coming weekend. CannaBazaar: A Tribute to Cannabis Culture—opening from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at Artlab Studios (3536 Adams Ave. in Normal Heights)—will feature marijuana-related art by Cathy Lee, Anita Toke, sik.star, Hiroko Reaney and LaceFace Glass. The show, hosted by stand-up comic Medicinal Mike, founder of nugliferadioshow.com, will be hotboxed with lots of extras, like live reggae-rock

by DevOcean, jewelry and clothing booths and refreshments. The event is free, and all proceeds from a raffle will benefit San Diego County NORML and San Diego Americans for Safe Access.

The show will be on view through April 15. misunart. com/upcoming-events “Ganja” by Cathy Lee

HDan Adams at Sophie’s Gallery NTC, 2825 Dewey Road, Gallery 101, Point Loma. The self-taught artist debuts his oil painting series, “Hot Dogs,” which features depictions of all things canine.

Live music by Doug Walker Duo. On view through May 31. Opening from 5 to 8 p.m.

Friday, April 5. 619-593-2205, stmsc.com HSan Diego Art Prize Exhibition at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. The 2012 Art Prize winners Arline Fisch, Vincent Robles, Jeffrey Laudenslager and Deanne Sabeck display their work. Opening from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Friday, April 5. 858-454-5872, ljathenae um.org HLight In The Attic at White Box Contemporary Art, 1040 Seventh Ave., Downtown. Artists Blythe Barton, Anne Gehman and Maria Juan transform the White Box into an environment of escapism with light installations, live body painting and textile arts. At 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 5. $15$20. sandiegodancetheater.org/whitebox/ yt13.html

open artist studios, galleries and performances. At 5 p.m. Friday, April 5. 619573-9260, ntclibertystation.com HAnniversary Art Auction at Alexander Salazar Fine Art, 640 Broadway, Downtown. The gallery celebrates three years of operation with works from more than 50 artists. Meet the artists and enjoy music by DJ Scott Roberts and Jason Whitmore on sax. From 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 6. facebook.com/events/510648165632177 HFernando Apodaca at Craftlab, 821A South Tremont St., Oceanside. The gallery hosts its grand opening with Apodaca, who’s a filmmaker, sculptor and musician.

Runs until April 20. Opening from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 6. 760-332-8096, craftlabgallery.com/index.html Art Through the Generations at Coronado Library, 640 Orange Ave., Coronado.

Esther Painter Hagstrom’s watercolors will be on display among her students’ work, which was inspired by her teachings. On view through May 31. Opening at 3 p.m.

Saturday, April 6. 619-522-7390, esther painterhagstrom.vpweb.com Rites of Passage: Our Journeys through Life at San Diego Museum of Man, Balboa Park. View thousands of photos capturing important life events such as baptism, graduation, marriage and other celebrations from cultures around the world. Runs through Dec. 8. Opens Saturday, April 6. 619-239-2001, museumof man.org/ritesofpassage CannaBazaar at ArtLab Studios, 3536 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. In a tribute to cannabis culture, artists Cathy Lee, Anita Toke, sik.star and Hiroko Keaney display marijuana-themed work. Medicinal Mike will be the master of ceremonies.

From 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 6. 619283-1199, ext.115, ArtLabSD.com HFigment at Chicano Park, Barrio Logan. The free event turns the park into a large-scale collaborative art piece where anything is possible and everyone can participate. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 7. sandiego.figmentproject.org April in Paris at Chula Vista Marina, 550 Marina Pkwy., Chula Vista. South Bayfront Artists hold their fourth annual spring juried art show and exhibition. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 7. 619-862-2835, facebook.com/events/339107026209343 Art a la Carte at Aventine, 8910 University Center Lane, La Jolla. ArtWalk San Diego teams up with restaurants Fleming’s, Truluck’s, The Melting Pot and Cafe Japengo to introduce a monthly pop-up art series.

Opening from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, April 7. 619-236-8397, aventine.com

Daniel Ryan at EC Gallery, Fashion Valley Mall. See Daniel Ryan’s tree-scapes inspired by the enchantment of landscape.

From 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 5-6. 800-204-0062, ecgallery.com

AIGA San Diego Link at Space 4 Art, 325 15th St., East Village. At-risk teens paired up with artists and professionals to create art. See their work at this exhibit. Opening from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 7. sdspace4art.org

HGennaro Garcia at Casa Artelexia, 2419 Kettner Blvd., Little Italy. The artist displays his colorful wood carving series, “Trees of Life,” which draw inspiration from his childhood in Mexico. From 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 5. facebook.com/ events/231406877005577/

HSeven Stencil Samurai at Quality Social, 789 6th Ave., Downtown. Thumbprint Gallery hosts a stencil art exhibition with work from Grandlarsen, Jack Stricker, Paigom Fetanat, Victor Villa and others. At 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 10. facebook. com/events/137843899730956

Rummage Arts Show at Bamboo Lounge, 1475 University Ave., Hillcrest.

Enjoy a sushi and wine reception with artists Gypsy Dutch Arts, My Lucky Dragon, CeceiPunch, Indigo Pomegranate and others. From 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, April 5. 619-291-8221, facebook.com/ events/531251920260103

HJames Chronister at Lux Art Institute, 1550 S. El Camino Real, Encinitas. Drink wine with the resident artist as he discusses his work. At 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 10. $5-$10. 760-436-6611, luxart institute.com

Friday Night Liberty at NTC Promenade in Liberty Station, Point Loma. The free monthly art and culture event features

BOOKS Bonnie ZoBell at House of Imago, 3585 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. Judy Reeves and Shayna Roberts host the launch party

for ZoBell’s novel, The Whack-Job Girls.

Music by The Blue Jazz Trio. At 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 6. 619-295-8021, bonnie zobell.com Laura Preble at Mysterious Galaxy Book Store, 7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Clairemont. The author discusses and signs her new fiction novel, Out. At noon Saturday, April 6. 858-268-4747, mystgalaxy.com Weekend with Locals: David Lucero at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. As part of their continuing series, Warwick’s hosts the author of Who’s Minding the Store on Sunday. At noon Sunday, April 7. 858-454-0347, warwicks. indiebound.com

COMEDY

WOW! First Wednesdays at California Center for the Arts, 340 North Escondido Blvd., Escondido. David de Alva, the guitarist and Flamenco recording artist, performs as a part of this free series. At 4 and 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 3. 760-8394190, artcenter.org/performances Camera Lucida #6 at Conrad Prebys Music Center, UCSD campus, La Jolla.

The performance includes selections from Beethoven, Faure and Mozart as played on strings and piano. At 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 3. $25. 619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org H333’s Jazz at the Museum at Oceanside Museum of Art, 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside. Enjoy wine, dessert and appetizers as the Susanna Kurner Trio plays a

selection of original material and covers.

From 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 4. $20$30. 760-435-3720, oma-online.org HThe Tilt at Museum of Making Music, 5790 Armada Drive, Carlsbad. The Southern blues quintet plays at the opening of the Local Flavor Series. Food and drink sponsored by Stone Brewing Company, Flippin’ Pizza and Knockout Pizza. At 7 p.m. Friday, April 5. $10. 760-438-5996, museumofmakingmusic.org Alison Balsom and Scottish Ensemble at Sherwood Auditorium, 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. Award-winning trumpeter plays compositions by Geminiani, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky and others alongside the string ensemble. At 8 p.m. Saturday, April 6. $25-$75. 858-454-3541, ljms.org

Rishta: Kinship at Qualcomm Auditorium, 6455 Lusk Blvd., Mission Valley. A benefit concert for CRY, a stay in school campaign, with Indian and Persian classical performances by Kartik Seshadri, Kayhan Kalhor and Arup Chattopadhyay.

From 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 6. $20$50. 760-753-2860, ragarasa.org HMusic Backed Bradbury at Spreckels Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park. Enjoy Ray Bradbury poems accompanied by the civic organist Carol Williams’ music selections. At 2 p.m. Sunday, April 7. writeout loudsd.com Chris Montgomery Quartet at Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Drive, Encinitas. As a part of the Friends of the Encinitas Library series, the jazz group performs. From 2

to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 7. encinitaslib friends.org Athenaeum Mini-Concerts at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. The free afternoon concert series hosts pianist Kelvin Chan. At noon Monday, April 8. 858-454-5872, ljathenaeum. org/miniconcerts.html HKyoko Takezawa at Scripps Ranch Institute, 10640 John Jay Hopkins Drive, La Jolla. Members of the San Diego Symphony join the violinist to perform works

by Dohanyi and Tchaikovsky. At 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 9. $30. 619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org HKartik Seshadri at Conrad Prebys Mu-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 37

HNew Best Thing Present: NBT Lite at Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St, South Park.

Stand-up and sketches in the spirit of summer by local comedians. Hosted by Sam Wiles and Dan Venti. At 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 3. 619-284-6784, sosayweall online.com

DANCE HAlvin Ailey American Dance Theatre at Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., Downtown. Six choreographers feature pieces to be performed over two nights with Ailey’s masterpiece, “Revelations,” concluding each night. At 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, April 9-10. $22-$77.

619-235-0804, ljms.org

FASHION Runway for the Roses at Chillers Showroom, 4667 Cass St., Pacific Beach. Take in a Derby-inspired fashion show complete with style advice you need to wow at the Kentucky Derby-themed 13th Annual Food & Wine Festival on May 4. From 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 4, facebook.com/ events/149236698576779

FOOD & DRINK Taste of Leucadia More than a dozen restaurants on the 101 Highway in Leucadia take part in the event with the theme Food For Thought. Live music and poetry will be featured at various locations. From 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 4. See website for participating restaurants. $20 advance, $25 day of. 619-955-8600, leucadia 101.com/Taste_of_Leucadia.html Saltbox Pig Roast at SummerSalt Rooftop Pool & Lounge, 1047 Fifth Ave., Downtown. Entry gets you all the meat you can eat, from pork belly to bacon to sliders, and a Mission Brewery beer. Lady Dottie and the Diamonds performs. At 1 p.m.

Sunday, April 7. $20. 619-515-3003, saltboxrestaurant.com/summersalt.php Craft Beer Tour Tuesdays at Roseville Cozinha, 2750 Dewey Rd. #104, San Diego, Point Loma. Visit three San Diego craft beer bars, Roseville Cozinha, Regal Beagle and OB Noodle House. The shuttle is free and passengers get a complimentary beer glass. From 6 to 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 9. 619-794-2192, facebook. com/events/355586554546683

MUSIC Athenaeum Jazz at Scripps Ranch Institute, 10640 John Jay Hopkins Drive, La Jolla. As a part of the annual spring series, Gerald Clayton Trio with Mark Turner perform. At 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 3. $32-$37. 858-459-3728, ljathenaeum.org/ jazz.html

April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 35

36 · San Diego CityBeat · April 3, 2013

THEATER Globe shows A Doll’s House can still resonate

her, Nora realizes her better self. This Globe staging, ruminative and then finally emphatic, makes Nora’s realization ours as well.

A Doll’s House runs through April 21 at The Old Globe Theatre. $29 and up. oldglobe.org

Whether Henrik Ibsen intended A Doll’s near-flightiness to desperation to fierce House to be a proto-feminist work remains a resolve. Hall’s real-life husband, Fred Artopic for literary debate. But there’s no ques- senault, makes Torvald Helmer proud and, —David L. Coddon tion that the tense and revelatory story is ul- in the end, clueless, without being an outtimately one of Nora Helmer’s self-awaken- right antagonist (though it’s hard to feel any Write to davidc@sdcitybeat.com ing. Her discoveries, and the bold break she sympathy for Torvald, who reaps what he and editor@sdcitybeat.com. makes with her previous acquiescence, won’t sows). Richard Baird, a familiar presence on HENRY DiROCCO the San Diego theater scene, stir an audience the way they OPENING did more than 130 years ago. also avoids mere villainy as Haiti’s Children of God: In a staged reading, Haiti’s But theater-goers can still be Krogstad, the discarded em- disenfranchised population is personified by a young engrossed in Nora’s overdue ployee at Torvald’s bank who pregnant woman who must choose between the life of metamorphosis. had loaned Nora money and her brother and the future of her country. It’ll be performed on April 8 at the Lyceum Theatre at Horton At The Old Globe, Kirstis subsequently blackmail- Plaza, Downtown. lyceumevents.org en Brandt directs a cogent ing her in an effort to regain Oleanna: Playwright David Mamet pits a female colproduction that’s faithful to his post. Admiring of both lege student against her male professor in this tense, Ibsen’s sociopolitical comTorvald (his best friend) and two-person play, about power and gender politics, that mentary and at the same time Nora (whom he has admired premiered in the wake of the Clarence Thomas / Anita indulgent of the play’s rich deeply, from afar) is the dy- Hill hubbub in the early 1990s. Presented by Intrepid Shakespeare Company, it opens April 4 at San Dieguito characters. Credit, too, Anneing Dr. Rank, vividly por- Academy Performing Arts Center in Encinitas. intrepidCharlotte Hanes Harvey, with trayed here by Jack Koenig, shakespeare.com whom Brandt created this Gretchen Hall as both hapless and touching. Pageant: You pick the winner in a musical comedy adaptation for the Sheryl and and Fred Arsenault The gentle sound of breaking about a beauty contest. Opens April 5 at the Coronado Harvey White Stage. In their waves, intermittent in this Playhouse. coronadoplayhouse.com hands, A Doll’s House is far from a period piece. production, heightens the atmosphere of References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot: A As Nora, Gretchen Hall is prepossess- wintertime in Norway and is also a remind- struggling Gulf War vet returns home to his heartsick in the California desert in a play that’s alternately ing and very much in the buoyancy of a er of the constancy of life. The world goes wife real and surreal. Opens April 6 at Moxie Theatre in Rowoman who, at the outset, believes that on even as those briefly inhabiting it lust, lando. moxietheatre.com life is as good as it can get. She’s also agile deceive and connive. In tossing aside her and athletic when called for, and it’s mes- flirtations and abandoning her submission For full listings, please visit merizing to watch her Nora journey from to a man who does not know how to love “T heater ” at sdcit yb eat.com

sic Center, UCSD campus, La Jolla. The world-renowned sitar master performs Indian classical ragas with Arup Chattopadhyay on tabla. At 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 10. $10.50-$15.50. kartikseshadri. com

PERFORMANCE HMurder in the Cathedral at San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., Downtown.

Based on the T.S. Eliot play, the opera covers the last month of Archbishop Thomas Becket’s life as he struggles with religion and temptation. At 7 p.m. Friday, April 5 and Sunday, April 7. $45-$275. sdopera. com/Operas/Murder_in_the_Cathedral Jerry Hager at White Box Contemporary Art, 1040 Seventh Ave., Downtown. The pantomime artist depicts the story of a happy-go-lucky character with problems out of his control. At 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 10. $10. sandiegodance theater.org

POETRY & SPOKEN WORD HTrain of Thought at Mosaic San Diego, 1402 Commercial St., Downtown. The series is back and in a new space downtown.

Everyone is invited to share their poetry, music, comedy and hip-hop to win cash prizes. From 8:30 to 11 p.m. Wednesday, April 3. 619-230-8710, facebook.com/ events/448005778609536 South Park Reads Bradbury at Progress, 2225 30th St. #1, South Park. A free, public reading of the first section of Fahrenheit 415 followed by a discussion of the

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April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 37

book. At 7 p.m. Thursday, April 4. 619280-5501, writeoutloudsd.com

POLITICS & COMMUNITY One Hope Act Today 5/10k at Mission Bay Park, 3000 E. Mission Drive, Mission Bay. Run or walk a flat, scenic course with music, beer and carnival games at the finish line. Entry includes an event T-shirt, complimentary coffee and mini sub from Jersey Mike’s Subs. From 6:30 to 11 a.m.

Saturday, April 6. acttodayformilitary families.kintera.org Cesar E. Chavez Community Breakfast at Hilton Bayfront, One Park Blvd., Downtown. The 15th annual breakfast to honor the political activist features astronaut Jose Hernandez as keynote speaker. At 7:30 a.m. Monday, April 8. $40. sdchavez. org/programs/breakfast.htm Civilized Conversation Club at Coco’s Restaurant Mission Valley, 13040 Friars Road, Mission Valley. This week’s open roundtable discussion topic: “Why Do Great Nations Fail? Will We?” From 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, April 8. 858-231-6209, civilizedconversation.wordpress.com

SPECIAL EVENTS Goodguys 13th Meguiar’s Del Mar Nationals at Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. 3,000 hot rods, customs, classics and other vintage vehicles on display at Southern California’s largest hot rod festival. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 5-6, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 7. $6$18. 858-755-1161, good-guys.com Bottled & Kegged at San Diego History

Center, Balboa Park. Learn about San Diego’s craft brew culture and why our city has become a national brew capital in this interactive exhibition. On view through Jan. 20. Opening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Friday, April 5. 619-232-6203, sandiego history.org

St., La Jolla. Art historian James W. Grebl leads a virtual tour of the history, architecture and art of these relics from the British Isles, France, Germany and Austria. At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4. $12-$17. 858-454-5872, ljathenaeum. org/lectures

V Elements Festival at Liberty Station, Point Loma. An all-ages alternativeenergy-powered culture, yoga art and music festival with a focus on balancing the five elements earth, wind, fire, water and space. Saturday, April 6. $25-$40. velementsfest.com

HThis is Jazz! at Schulman Auditorium, 1775 Dove Lane, Carlsbad. Dirk Sutro continues his jazz lecture series with a discussion about 1920s swing and a musical performance by Six Jazz Band. From 4 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6. 760-6022012, tinyurl.com/d5af7zj

Golden Comb International Hair Show at World Beat Cultural Center, 2100 Park Blvd., Balboa Park. A competition between natural hair stylists and barbers to promote natural beauty. The winner gets to compete in Senegal for the Grand Finale. At 5 p.m. Saturday, April 6. 619-230-1190, facebook.com/events/484969571538392

Liliana Leopardi at Timken Museum of Art, Balboa Park. Dr. Leopardi outlines the evolution of the male portrait in armor from the late 15th century and how it shaped political identity. At 10 a.m. Monday, April 8. Free. 619-239-5548, timken museum.org

Iipay Tipay Mateyum Powwow & Bird Gathering at SDSU, 5500 Campanile Drive, College Area. All singers, drums and dancers welcome at this native arts event. From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 6-7. 619-594-5200, facebook.com/events/147006382127232 Saturday Road Tour at San Diego Automotive Museum, 2080 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park. Join the car caravan to cruise over 70 miles of San Diego’s scenic locations. Enjoy a catered lunch and entry into collector car museums. At 7:30 a.m.

Saturday, April 6. 619-231-2886, sdauto museum.org Go Local Day at Golden Hill Farmers Market, 28th and B streets, Golden Hill. Free family festival with face painting, bounce houses, food, music and more. From 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6. facebook.com/events/446619845417995

“Eraser” by Vija Celmins is on view as part of the exhibition Lifelike, which runs through May 27 at the Museum of Contemporary Art’s La Jolla location (700 Prospect St.).

OTL Past and Current Champions Celebration at Mariners Point, W. Mission Bay Drive, Mission Beach. The Old Mission Beach Athletic Club has all your favorite Over the Line champions take the plate in this daylong tournament. At 8 a.m.

Saturday, April 6. otlplayers.com East Village Opening Day Block Party Before the game, stop by J Street between 7th and 10th avenues to enjoy music from The Yes Team and Paul Cannon Band,

brews from Stone Brewing Co., food trucks and a live motocross exhibition.

From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 9. eastvillagesandiego.com

TALKS & DISCUSSIONS Romantic Castles of Europe at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall

Musical Milestones: An Anniversary Series at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. Violinist Victoria Martino performs music from the Renaissance and discusses the historical and cultural context. At 7:30 p.m.

Monday, April 8. $25. 858-454-5872, ljathenaeum.org Love, Sex and Desire at Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. Dr. David Miano introduces you to the ancient cultures of Sumer, Egypt and Greece through old poetry, love letters and romantic novels. At 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 9. 858457-3030, lfjcc.org Roger Chartier at Atkinson Hall Auditorium, UCSD campus, La Jolla. Chartier, a professor at the College de France and Ecole des Hautes Etudes, discusses the materiality of text and people’s obsession with the author’s hand. At 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 9. literature.ucsd.edu Jacquelyne Silver at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. In this series, the renowned pianist discusses the surprising classical origins of many Broadway musicals. At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 9. 858-454-5872, ljathenaeum. org/lectures Energy Supply in San Diego: How Sustainable Are We? at World Resources Simulation Center, 1088 Third Ave., Downtown. Experts from SDG&E and the California Center for Sustainable Energy talk about new efforts to make the Southern California region energy efficient. From 5:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 9. 619-2341088, wrsc.org

Fo r m o r e list ings, visit “E ve nt s” a t sd c it yb e a t.c o m

38 · San Diego CityBeat · April 3, 2013

Amanda Smith

The next showcase, on Tuesday, April 9, will feature photography by Noa AzoulaySclater, owner of Feather Love Photography (featherlove.com). Sacri Monti will perform their brand of psychedelic rock and take part in the Freakout Jam after their set.

The Brotherhood is currently working on a documentary with Kajiki Productions about Space 4 Art (sdspace4art.org), the Downtown nonprofit arts center that hosts live experimental music, exhibits art of all kinds and provides live / work space for artists.

The future’s so bright Despite what those psychic hotlines of the 1990s told us, it’s impossible to know what the future holds. Even so, artists from San Diego and Tijuana were challenged to think about the future and present art that Danica Molenaar articulated their hopes, fears and beliefs of what’s to come.

Those predictions will be on view at Art Produce Gallery in North Park (3139 University Ave., art produce.org) starting Thursday, April 4, in Altered Horizons, an exhibition that explores the changing urban landscape. San Diego Mesa College museWhere the magic happens um-studies students, under the guidance of Mesa Certain moments—whether it’s meeting the love of College Art Gallery director and museum-studies your life or when things all seem to go your way—are professor Alessandra Moctezuma, teamed up with often described as magic. For arts organization Mag- Art Produce to curate the exhibition. ic Brotherhood, the moments that are most magical The project aims to teach students about the cuare those that bring people together to experience ratorial process, from finding a venue to choosing a creative expression. theme and artists to exhibit. In the past, Mesa College The project (facebook.com/magikbrotherhood, students have created exhibits for the now-defunct magicbrotherhood.blogspot.com) was started a couple ICE Gallery, Voz Alta, Garage 4141 and others. of years ago by Danica Molenaar and Robert Khasho For Altered Horizons, students held an open call in Portland, Ore. for artists on both sides of the border and eventually “We would argue about art all the time, but I chose seven, including Marcos Ramirez ERRE, Qais think we both saw that as passion,” Molenaar says Al-Sindy, Luis Alderete and Jennifer Bennett. via email. “We wanted to open up our dialogue to “The students specifically wanted to reach out to anyone willing to have it. That’s kind of where it all Tijuana artists,” Moctezuma says in an email. “One began. I spend most of my free time playing music or of the students crosses [the border] every week to painting. I guess I’m kind of obsessed with art and take my class, and he offered to reach out to gallerthe people that create it. It gets me going, and I sup- ies and artists in TJ. They were interested in findpose that’s what drives Magic Brotherhood.” ing artwork that complemented the mission of Art Since relocating to San Diego, the outfit has pro- Produce, the concern with connecting the urban moted art with events and commissioned projects, fabric with community and constantly shifting debringing creative people together to visualize ideas mographics. I really loved this idea because our art and see them through. department is interested in binational collabora“Even though Magic Brotherhood is still in its tions, and I have invited Tijuana artists to show in first year in San Diego, I think it has helped bring a our college gallery.” lot of different kinds of people The art ranges from twotogether,” Molenaar says. “A lot dimensional works to video and of times when strangers cross installation pieces all exploring paths, it’s a great way to learn contemporary space and offerabout the things that we share ing a multicultural glimpse of with others. Many times we what the future might hold. learn that we share apprecia“Through these various arttion for similar art and music. … ists’ exploration of how humans That’s the magic brotherhood.” have an impact on their surOne of the regular events roundings, the students wanted Magic Brotherhood holds is an to give us a glimpse into our artist’s showcase at Tin Can continually altered horizons,” Ale House in Bankers Hill Moctezuma says.

(1863 Fifth Ave.) every second An opening reception for AlTuesday of the month. The ortered Horizons will be held from ganization curates an exhibi6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 13. The tion featuring a local artist and exhibition runs through May 18. also invites whichever band is —Alex Zaragoza on the bill that evening to take Write to alexz@sdcitybeat.com part in a jam session dubbed “Freakout Jam.” “Directorio” by César Vázquez and editor@sdcitybeat.com

seen local

April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 39

Singing sisters Chris O’Dowd is the key to lightweight Vietnam drama

lisa tomasetti

by Anders Wright The Irish comic actor Chris O’Dowd, who became known to American audiences when he played the love interest opposite Kristen Wiig in Bridesmaids, had quite a showing at last year’s San Diego Film Festival. He appeared in two films, playing Charlie Hunnam’s ne’erdo-well brother in 3, 2, 1... Frankie Go Boom and a ne’er-do-well Irish musician in the fest’s opening-night movie, The Sapphires, which opens Friday, April 5, at Hillcrest Cinemas.

The two roles are sort of similar—O’Dowd’s The soulful Chris O’Dowd done well for himself playing moderately attractive geeks who eventually find their way in the it’s good morning Vietnam for all five. world, and it’s to his credit that he’s managed to spin The good news is that The Sapphires are a hit in this into some leading-man success. And though Vietnam, and the girls—who’ve been treated so poorly these two parts have some things in common, the two down under—are now stars and have all kinds of men films are very different. The Sapphires is burdened who want to get with them all the time. Kay finds her with clichés and doesn’t break much new ground, but own issues aren’t so black-and-white when she meets it’s sweet and sincere, co-written by the sons of one of Robby (Tory Kittles), an African-American medic who the women whose story is presented on screen. quickly catches her eye. But Vietnam is also kind of a The Sapphires were a girl group composed of bummer, mostly because it’s, well, Vietnam during the four young Aboriginal women who traveled to Viet- Vietnam War, and the people they’re singing to one nam in the late 1960s to entertain American troops day could be blown up the next. with Motown songs. In the All of these issues—war, film, the group starts as a trio violence, racism and infidelity, The Sapphires of sisters. There’s Gail (Debotoo—are merely touched upon, Directed by Wayne Blair rah Mailman), the oldest, and designed not to distract from Starring Chris O’Dowd, Deborah Cynthia (Miranda Tapsell), the the drama that takes place bewild one, and always tagging tween four women and their Mailman, Jessica Mauboy along with them is Julie (Jesmanager. It’s all set in a very and Miranda Tapsell sica Mauboy), the youngest sisPG-13 environment, and though Rated PG-13 ter, who already has a child but there’s a bit of violence toward also has the best voice. They’re the very end, the end is never talented singers, desperate to get out of their small truly in doubt. Things are going to wind up OK: Kay’s Australian hometown, and when they meet drunken going to accept that she’s black, and Dave and Gail Irish musician Dave Lovelace (O’Dowd) at a local will end up together, once he quits drinking and putmusic competition, he agrees to manage them and to ting everyone’s lives in danger because he’s an idiot. arrange for a USO audition in the big city.

Based on a stage play of the same title, The SapIt’s in that city where Kay (Shari Sebbens) lives, phires is harmless entertainment, blessed with a cast the light-skinned cousin they haven’t seen since she interesting enough to make up for the small budget was snatched away by authorities during the time of and uninventive script. Director Wayne Blair’s wisthe Stolen Generation. There’s bad blood between est move was casting O’Dowd, who’s able to hold toKay and Gail, because Kay now identifies as a white gether not just the girl group, but also the entire film, girl. That sounds heavy, and The Sapphires touches and inject it with a little bit of heart and, for a white on issues of race, but it does so in a fairly safe, light- guy, a lot of soul. weight way, mostly because it’s a fairly safe, lightweight film. Regardless, a quick montage prepares Write to anders@sdcitybeat.com them for their audition, and the next thing you know, and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

Hipster happening

I Am Not a Hipster

40 · San Diego CityBeat · April 3, 2013

Two weeks ago, I wrote about Destin Daniel Cretton, the SDSU alum whose latest film, a featurelength edition of Short Term 12, won the Jury Prize for Best Film at South by Southwest. And last week, I covered the opening of the Media Arts Center’s Digital Gym Cinema (digitalgym.org), the new 49-seat theater in North Park that’s dedicated to independent, foreign and documentary films.

This week, I’m putting those two things together, because Cretton’s movie I Am Not a Hipster will open at Digital Gym on Friday, April 5. The film, shot in and around San Diego, has screened here several times, but I think this is its first theatrical run.

Hipster stars Dominic Bogart as Brook Hyde, an abrasive singer-songwriter who’s enjoyed

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April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 41

a bit of success and is more than happy to wallow in his own unhappiness about it. He’s not a very nice guy, but all that is challenged when his three sisters and his estranged dad show up in the wake of his mother’s death. Cretton isn’t the bastard that Brook tries to be, but Hipster is autobiographical.

Cretton enjoyed his own success at Sundance a few years ago, when his SDSU thesis film, a short version of Short Term 12, was given Best Short Film honors, and he does have three sisters (whose names are the same as the characters in this film).

This is a movie about retaining one’s sense of creativity through life’s hard times, and, more importantly, it marks another interesting step in Cretton’s career. Though it was shot on a meager budget, it’s well-written, well-acted, well-shot and well-considered. Hopefully, the feature-length version of Short Term 12 will find its way into theaters sooner rather than later and, with any luck, garner the same sort of attention nationally that it did in Austin. If you want to see the genesis of that film, swing by North Park this week and take a look.

—Anders Wright

Opening 6 Souls: Julianne Moore plays a forensic psychiatrist who winds up neck-deep in a dangerous, decades-old mystery when she begins to treat a new patient, Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

A Deeper Shade of Blue: Director Jack McCoy will be on hand this weekend, as this epic surf film opens at La Paloma Theatre in Encinitas.

Blancanieves: This twisted version of Snow White is set in 1920s Spain and centered on a female bullfighter. It’s shot in glorious black and white.

Evil Dead: The updated version of Sam Raimi’s classic is a serious gore-fest.

Jurassic Park 3D: Now with more velociraptor!

Love & Honor: A U.S. soldier in Vietnam returns to the states in hopes of winning back his girlfriend, who’s joined the antiwar movement.

The Place Beyond the Pines: Ryan Gosling re-teams with Blue Valentine director Derek Cianfrance, playing a motorcycle daredevil who starts robbing banks because he’s got a kid on the way. Bradley Cooper is the lawman on his trail.

The Sapphires: Though it’s standard stuff, this story of four young Aboriginal women who go to Vietnam with their obnoxious Irish manager (Chris O’Dowd) wears its heart on its sleeve. Loosely based on a true story. See our review on Page 40.

Scary Movie 5: Both Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan make cameos, which really is kind of terrifying.

The Waiting Room: Documentary about U.S. hospitals struggling to care for patients, most of whom are uninsured. Screens for one week only at the Ken Cinema.

42 · San Diego CityBeat · April 3, 2013

Screens at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 5 and 6, at Cinema Under the Stars in Mission Hills.

The Romantics: A wedding reunites Harvard buddies like Anna Paquin, Katie Holmes and Josh Duhamel and makes them deal with their onetime closeness. Screens at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 7, at the Central Library, Downtown.

Evil Dead Welcome to the Punch: Mark Strong plays a former criminal who has to return to London, which gives detective James McAvoy the opportunity to finally nab him.

One Time Only Superman: The Movie: Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s the 35th anniversary of the 1978 Christopher Reeve version. Screens at 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 3, at the Central Library, Downtown.

A Late Quartet: When one member of a famous string quartet, whose lineup includes Christopher Walken, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Catherine Keener, gets an awful diagnosis, it throws the group into chaos and brings up decades of simmering hostility. Screens at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, at the Central Library, Downtown.

Them!: Classic 1950s horror film about giant irradiated ants trying to take over the world. Screens at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, at the San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park.

There’s Something About Mary: The Farrelly brothers at their best. You’ll never look at hair gel the same way again.

Screens at 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, at The Pearl Hotel in Point Loma.

Two Who Cared: Documentary about a minister and his wife who selflessly worked to save innocent lives during World War II. Screens at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 4, at the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Hillcrest.

Somewhere: Sofia Coppola’s meditation on fame stars Stephen Dorff as a disengaged movie star forced to examine his life when he’s unexpectedly saddled with his 11-year-old daughter, played by Elle Fanning. Screens at 2:30 p.m. Friday, April 5, at the Central Library, Downtown.

The Story of Luke: Luke (Lou Taylor Picci), a 25-year-old man who has autism, is forced to move in with his dysfunctional relatives after his grandmother dies.

Screens at 5 p.m. Friday, April 5, at AMC Mission Valley.

The Sound of Carceri: This investigation of the relationship between music and visual art features cellist Yo-Yo Ma playing Bach in a prison designed by 18th-century artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi. There’s a lecture an hour before the movie starts at 8 p.m. Friday, April 5, at the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park.

Ghostbusters: Actually, if you were facing off against the undead, and you were trying to decide who you were gonna call, it might as well be Bill Murray. Screens at 8 p.m. Friday, April 5, at the Lafayette Hotel in North Park.

Magic Mike: Steven Soderbergh directs Channing Tatum in this semi-autobiographical tale of a male stripper. It’s Matthew McConaughey who steals the show, though.

Watershed: Exploring a New Water Ethic for the New West: The title pretty much says it all.

Screens at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, at the Malcolm X Library in Valencia Park.

American Beauty: Kevin Spacey won the Best Actor Oscar in Sam Mendes’ debut, which explores the seamy underbelly of American suburbia.

Now Playing K-11: This prison flick has a hard time straddling the line between jailhouse horror movie and campy extravaganza. A highpowered record executive (Goran Visnjic) is charged with murder and ends up in a branch of the Los Angeles jail reserved for gay and transgendered inmates. Screens at Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

The End of Love: A struggling actor has to grow up overnight when the mother of his newborn child dies unexpectedly. Mark Webber wrote, directed and stars in the film, which features appearances from a slew of interesting actors.

A Fierce Green Fire: This documentary, which features narration from the likes of Meryl Streep, Robert Redford and Ashley Judd, chronicles the environmental movement from its roots in the 1960s through the present day. Ends April 4 at the Ken Cinema.

From Up On Poppy Hill: Director Goro Miyazaki’s brother, legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, wrote the screenplay, about Japanese teens trying to save their school from the wrecking ball as the 1964 Olympics approach.

G.I. Joe: Retaliation: Channing Tatum returns as Duke, and this time Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis join him in blowing things up.

The Host: The new movie from author Stephanie Meyer—aka the woman who wrote the Twilight books—stars Saoirse Ronan as a teen trying to save the world from some bodysnatching aliens.

Lore: German film about a young girl who must lead her siblings across the shattered remains of her country in the days after World War II. Mental: Toni Collette reteams with P.J. Hogan, director of Muriel’s Wedding, playing a nanny who has to take care of five kids after their mother cracked under the strain.

Starbuck: A 42-year-old Montreal slacker learns that his secret past as a sperm donor resulted in more than 500 children— and that almost 150 of them have filed a class-action suit to uncover his identity.

Tyler Perry’s Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor: A marriage counselor ends up in a serious affair with one of her clients. Perry’s not actually in this one; Kim Kardashian, however, is.

For a complete listing

of movies pla ying locally, please see “F ilm S creenings” at sdcit yb eat.com under the “E vents” tab.

April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 43

44 · San Diego CityBeat · April 3, 2013

Myriam Santos

If you don’t know what to ask a country-music god, start with his boots · by seth combs

I

’d just hit the “call” button on my cell phone. The number was Merle Haggard’s office line. I’d prepared questions for almost a week, but as the phone began to ring, I suddenly realized I had no icebreaker—an opening question that would prove to this country-music god that he was safe in my hands.

“Hello,” says a voice on the other line.

“Is this, uh, Mr. Haggard?”

“Why, yes it is.”

Holy shit! I think. What do I ask?! This is Merle. Fucking.

Haggard!

Haggard, 75, has 50-plus years experience playing country music. He’s got more than 38 No. 1 hits, and so many albums that his discography needed its own Wikipedia page.

He basically invented the “Bakersfield sound” of country music—rougher and more rocking than the slick stuff coming out of Nashville in the 1950s—and he once said he escaped from 17 jails and institutions in his life before he ever even got into music.

I look over from my desk and spot my copy of Haggard’s 1981 album, Big City. On the cover, he’s sitting on a bed, Telecaster in hand, wearing a big pair of yellow cowboy boots. I once read a story in which Haggard confessed that he’d been wearing only cowboy boots since the early ’50s, when, as a teenager, he and a friend hitchhiked to Texas. He claimed he bought his first pair of boots and lost his virginity in an Amarillo brothel on the same day. The boots changed his life.

“Sir, I thought we could talk a little about boots,” I say over the phone. “What are the best boots, in your opinion, and why do you love them so much?”

He says he’s been through a lot of brands over the years, and, these days, he gets his custom made by a fella in El Paso who once did John Wayne’s boots.

This proves to be a great ice-breaker. Soon enough, we’re talking about a range of topics. It’s a lot like talking with your grandfather. You mostly just shut up and listen, ’cause who knows what kind of knowledge he’s about to drop on you.

Here’s Haggard on spirituality: “The good Lord’s been good to me. I’m not sure why, but I’ll take it.”

And on politics: “Well, I keep waiting for them to actually do something. It really doesn’t change much, but I still believe that this is the greatest country on Earth and I’ve always thought that.”

On love: “When it comes to the songs, it’s a subject that never gets old. I live with two women right now, and they supply me with endless inspiration, both good and bad.”

(The two women are his wife and daughter.)

On current country music: “I don’t listen to a lot of it. It all kind of sounds the same to me, and they don’t seem to be interested in doing anything new. I keep waiting for them to come up with a new melody.”

On death: “I think about why I’ve made it this far every day. There were certainly good guys out there over the years, guys that were better than me that I thought would make it, but they didn’t.”

No matter the era or the state of the world, there’ll always be someone who relates to Haggard’s mix of egalitarian anger and everyman pride. He’s garnered a reputation as a spokesperson for the “silent majority,” and nicknames like “The Poet of the Common Man.” Whether on his 1969

hit “Okie from Muskogee” or his 2005 anti-Iraq War lament “America First,” he’s never been afraid to speak his mind.

On Haggard’s recent work, the instrumentation sounds roughly the same, the lyrics are just as surly and Haggard’s voice remains mostly intact. But like Johnny Cash before him, Haggard now has both the privilege and burden of singing from hindsight. Similarly to Cash’s work with Rick Rubin toward the end of his career, Haggard’s current material is a lovely mix of pleasing memories and regretful lamentation.

Listening to a new Haggard song is like listening to a man coming to grips not only with his past, but also with the realization that there may not be much future left. On his 2010 song “I’ve Seen it Go Away,” he sings: “I’ve seen it in all its pride and all its glory / I’ve seen it through the bars on a dark and stormy day / I’ve seen it from on high through the tears I’ve had to cry / The sad part is I’ve seen it go away.”

With our interview coming to a close, I ask Haggard my final question.

“Sir, you’ve talked a lot about not looking back and speaking your mind, but a lot of your songs are full of remorse. At the end of the day, do you have any regrets?”

“I don’t spend a lot of time looking at the past,” he says.

“All you can do is apologize and get out of bed in the morning and try to do better.”

“And hopefully not make the same mistakes twice?” I ask.

“That’s right.”

Merle Haggard plays at Belly Up Tavern on Wednesday, April 10. The show is sold out. merlehaggard.com

April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 45

notes from the smoking patio Courtesy: Cindy Lee Berryhill

Locals Only Pop artists, music writers and fans of rock ’n’ roll have spent the past week paying tribute to Encinitas resident Paul Williams, a pioneering rock critic who died at age 64 last Wednesday after struggling for years with early-onset dementia.

In a way, every music writer today owes a debt of gratitude to Williams. As the founder of the music magazine Crawdaddy—which launched in 1966, more than a year before Rolling Stone started—he was one of the first writers to offer thoughtful analyses on artists like Bob Dylan and The Beach Boys, laying the foundation for the future of music journalism.

Williams went on to write numerous books and spend time with the likes of Timothy Leary and Beach Boys frontman Brian Wilson. He managed to pop up in some of the most memorable cultural moments of the 1960s and ’70s, and modern-day cyberpunks have Williams to thank for bringing wider attention to the boundary-pushing sci-fi novelist Philip K. Dick.

As CityBeat reported in 2010, Williams’ problems with dementia stemmed from a bicycle accident he had in 1995. In recent days, his wife, Cindy Lee Berryhill, has heard from countless admirers of Williams—including Wilson, who went on Facebook on Saturday to pay his condolences.

“I’m overwhelmed by the amount of, and the beauty and heartfelt sincerity in, the comments and emails I have received,” Berryhill, a celebrated singer-songwriter, says in an email. “My feeling is that this energy we collectively send him in this way is like rocket fuel for his spirit as he rides now that rocket ship to heaven.”

Paul Williams (right) with Philip K. Dick and Christopher Dick ing close to the stage. For the next hour or so, I was treated to a free set that was announced at the last minute—a warm-up for a reunion tour through Europe in April—by one of San Diego’s most badass rock bands.

Though Rocket hasn’t been active for eight years, they’re still well versed in the art of smash, bash and grind. As frontman John “Speedo” Reis barked himself hoarse, he and guitarist N.D. dished up forceful, bottom-heavy riffs over tight, punchy horn hooks (courtesy of saxophonist Apollo 9 and trumpeter JC 2000) and a lithe, rhythmic beating from bassist Petey X and drummer Ruby Mars. The audience mostly kept calm, but there were plenty of cheers and pumped fists as the band spanned its catalog with songs like “Born in ’69,” “Ditch Digger” and “When in Rome.”

The guys didn’t wear matching suits, as they’ve been known to do in the past. But Reis certainly showed off his flair for oratory: In an epic take on “Come See, Come Saw,”

over a bruising bass-and-drums breakdown, Speedo spun an elaborate, head-scratching tale about the wicked ways of a force called The Beat, which, he said, almost sodomized one of his bandmates.

Of course, a lot has changed since the ’90s, when Rocket released most of their material.

At one point, when Reis told the audience to raise their lighters in celebration, only one guy did. A handful of others held up cameraphones instead. But unlike some of the rock that emerged in the ’90s and early ’00s, which now sounds rusty and dated, Rocket’s visceral, brass-plated stuff still holds firm.

I can only imagine that audiences will be getting good and sweaty in Europe and when the band plays at Long Beach’s InkN-Iron festival in June.

If you missed Sunday’s surprise show, too bad for you.

—Peter Holslin Write to peterh@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

Courtesy: Dang Nguyen

View from a Stool It was 7 p.m. on Easter Sunday, and I was just laying down for a nap when I looked at my phone and noticed a tweet from CityBeat staff writer Alex Zaragoza: “At Bar Pink for a super not so secret Rocket from the Crypt show.

Are you aware of this shindig @ PeterHolslin?”

Five minutes later, I was on my bike, pedaling as fast as I could to the North Park bar.

By the time I got to Bar Pink at around 7:15 p.m., the place wasn’t even close to being at capacity, but the audience was rapt, press-

46 · San Diego CityBeat · April 3, 2013

Rocket from the Crypt at Bar Pink

April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 47

if i were u Wednesday, April 3

BY peter holslin

Saturday, April 6

PLAN A: Phosphorescent, Strand of Oaks @ The Casbah. Critics have been going wild over Phosphorescent’s new album, Muchacho. Partially dreamed up while main man Matthew Houck was taking refuge in a seaside Mexican community, the album’s mix of gorgeous, heartrending country rockers and ballads would make even the rowdiest bar fall quiet. PLAN B: Gun Outfit, Dancing Strangers, Comet Calendar @ Soda Bar. If you long for the days when indie rock still had a rough ’n’ tumble bite, Olympia’s Gun Outfit have you covered: They’ve got messy guitars, nervy melodies, raw vocal parts and lo-fi production values up the wazoo.

PLAN A: The Heavy Guilt, Little Hurricane, Dead Feather Moon, Trouble in the Wind @ The Irenic. If you’ve ever seen The Heavy Guilt on a good night, you’d know this local folk-rock outfit knows how to put on a jaw-dropping live show. Expect things to get stupid-good tonight as they team up with three formidable local bands to celebrate the release of a new, self-titled album of pensive, sultry folk rock. PLAN B: Amigo the Devil, The Haters 714, Straight Laced Crooks, The Gates, Underground Alliance, The Seks @ The Shakedown Bar (11 a.m.).

Local murder-balladeer Amigo the Devil is perhaps best known for his song “Perfect Wife,” in which he describes in vivid detail how he torments and abuses his wife before she blows him away with a shotgun. It’s evil Thursday, April 4 stuff, and yet I can’t turn away. BACKUP PLAN A: Widowspeak, Colleen Green PLAN: Esben and the Witch, Heliotropes, @ The Void. Depending on whom you Sundrop Electric @ Soda Bar. ask, Colleen Green’s slacker-tastic, drumSteve Gullick machine-driven bedroom Sunday, April 7 punk is either RamonesPLAN A: Mac DeMarco, level infectious or utterly Catwalk, Mothlight @ uninspired. I’m still on The Void. Mac DeMarco the fence, but I’d love to is only 22, but he’s already see Brooklyn’s Widowgot two solo efforts, a speak make their sweet, detailed Wikipedia page smoky indie pop. PLAN and a glowing Pitchfork B: The Heartaches, Suireview to his name. That cide Notes, Chango Rey bastard! Taking cues from & His Broken HeartJonathan Richman, he beat, Tigerbomb @ The pens soft, sun-dappled Casbah. The Heartaches indie-pop tunes with nuaren’t the most active anced lyrics and a seedy, rockers out there—the Phosphorescent off-kilter underbelly. Ononly profiles they have online are an Angelfire website (!) and a stage, meanwhile, he’s been known to crack long-dormant MySpace page. But this Swa- raunchy jokes and stick things up his butt. mi-approved power-pop combo sure knows BACKUP PLAN: Thao & The Get Down how to bang out kinky, white-knuckle Stay Down, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outhooks. BACKUP PLAN: Adrián Terrazas side @ The Casbah.

González Quartet @ 98 Bottles.

Friday, April 5 PLAN A: Kopecky Family Band, The Palace Ballroom, The Eastern Sea @ Soda Bar. Contrary to what the name suggests, Nashville six-piece Kopecky Family Band isn’t some mom ’n’ pop affair with the kids filling out the rhythm section and grandma on tambourine. But they do have a welcoming, familial vibe as they stir up folksy songs with warm vocal harmonies, explosive choruses and flourishes of cello. PLAN B: Blackout Party, Low Volts, The Hollerin, Crash and the Burns @ The Casbah. Blackout Party and Low Volts apparently had a pretty wild time at South by Southwest—at one show, Blackout Party’s Daniel Crawford reportedly broke his guitar in half and started using it as a drum. Here’s hoping they’re ready to throw down once more. BACKUP PLAN: Three Loco, Fashen, DJ Decon, Boonie Walker, Erik Till @ Stingaree.

48 · San Diego CityBeat · April 3, 2013

Monday, April 8 PLAN A: The Silent Comedy, Family Wagon, North Beach, Deadly Birds @ El Dorado. I can crack jokes all day about Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers, but I’m rooting for local Americana bruisers The Silent Comedy. The dapperly dressed boys recently embarked on a tour of the United Kingdom, and this should make for a triumphant homecoming show.

Tuesday, April 9 PLAN A: Dirty Sirens, Schitzophonics, The New Kinetics, Gloomsday, Neighbors to the North @ The Griffin. Go ahead and check out Dirty Sirens’ Bandcamp page (dirtysirens.bandcamp.com) to hear their bluesrock banger “Siren Song.” With its scorching riffs, hurricane drums and howling vocals, it’ll make your hair stand on end. BACKUP PLAN: Arlo Guthrie @ Balboa Theatre.

HOT! NEW! FRESH! Fool’s Gold (Griffin, 4/17), Tegan and Sara (Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, 4/17), Flobots (Casbah, 5/21), Psychedelic Furs (BUT, 6/1), Chvrches (BUT, 6/2), Jewel (Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, 6/3), Cyndi Lauper (Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, 6/12), Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs (Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, 6/18), Erykah Badu (Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, 6/27), Yes (Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, 7/14), Xavier Rudd (BUT, 8/6-7), Willie Nelson (Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, 8/7), D’Angelo (Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, 8/10), Toad the Wet Sprocket (Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, 8/24), Frampton’s Guitar Circus w/ B.B. King (Civic Theatre, 8/25), Lil Wayne (Sleep Train Amphitheatre, 8/27), Lynyrd Skynyrd (Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, 9/19), Lila Downs (Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, 9/21), Fall Out Boy (Valley View Casino Center, 9/22), Leon Russell (BUT, 10/16),

GET YER TICKETS Slum Village (HOB, 4/19), AraabMuzik (Voyeur, 4/24), Os Mutantes, Capsula (Casbah, 5/1), Prince (Hard Rock Hotel, 5/3-4), Devendra Banhart (BUT, 5/9), X-Fest w/ The Offspring, 30 Seconds to Mars, Silversun Pickups, Jimmy Eat World, Wavves (Sleep Train Amphitheatre, 5/17), Twin Shadow, Elliphant (BUT, 5/22), Green Day’s American Idiot (Civic Theatre, 5/28), Mumford & Sons (Sleep Train Amphitheatre, 6/3), Fleetwood Mac (Viejas Arena, 7/5), They Might Be Giants (BUT, 6/16), Depeche Mode (Sleep Train Amphitheatre, 9/22).

April Wednesday, April 3 Dark Star Orchestra at Belly Up Tavern.

Phosphorescent at The Casbah. Gun Outfit at Soda Bar.

Thursday, April 4 Soul Asylum at Belly Up Tavern.

Friday, April 5 Big Head Todd and The Monsters at Belly Up Tavern.

Saturday, April 6 Esben and The Witch at Soda Bar. William Beckett, Jillette Johnson at House of Blues. Jarred Benton, Vital Mindz, Ryan Bowers at Porter’s Pub.

Sunday, April 7 Thao and The Get Down Stay Down, Sallie Ford at The Casbah. Tyler, the Creator at Porter’s Pub (UCSD; sold out).

Jaymay, Kayoko at Soda Bar.

Tuesday, April 9 Angel Olsen, Villages at The Casbah.

Local H at Soda Bar.

Wednesday, April 10 Kip Moore at House of Blues. Merle Haggard at Belly Up Tavern. The Evens at The Irenic.

Thursday, April 11 Rihanna, A$AP Rocky at Valley View Casino Center. Ben Howard at Belly Up Tavern. Alexander Balanescu + Ada Milea at The Loft @ UCSD. GWAR, Wilson & Warbeast at House of Blues.

Friday, April 12 The Expendables at House of Blues. Kurt Vile and The Violators at The Casbah.

Saturday, April 13 Pep Love, Opio, Equipto at Porter’s Pub. XXYYXX, Mister Lies at Porter’s Pub (2 p.m.).

Sunday, April 14 Lucero at The Casbah.

Monday, April 15 Foals, Neighbourhood at Porter’s Pub. Wild Nothing at The Casbah. Franz Ferdinand at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay. Survival Knife at Soda Bar.

Tuesday, April 16 Alt-J, Hundred Waters at Belly Up Tavern. J Mascis at The Casbah. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Sharon Van Etten at Balboa Theatre. DIIV at The Casbah. Action Bronson at Porter’s Pub.

Wednesday, April 17 Mamak Khadem at The Loft @ UCSD. The Faint at Fluxx. Aesop Rock, Busdriver at Belly Up Tavern. Alex Clare at House of Blues. The King Khan and BBQ Show at The Casbah. Tegan and Sara at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay. Fool’s Gold at The Griffin.

Thursday, April 18 Tippa Irie at Belly Up Tavern. Parov Stelar at House of Blues.

Friday, April 19 Tyrone Wells at House of Blues. Cloud Nothings at The Casbah. Slum Village at House of Blues.

Saturday, April 20 Beach Fossils at The Irenic.

Sunday, April 21 A Tribe Called Red at The Casbah. Paul Kelly at House of Blues. Juicy J, A$AP Ferg at House of Blues.

Monday, April 22 Peter Pants, White Mystery at The Ché Café. The Gaslight Anthem at Belly Up Tavern.

Tuesday, April 23 Black Bananas at Soda Bar. Boris, Marriages at The Casbah. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Bass Drum of Death at House of Blues.

rCLUBSr

710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave, Pacific Beach. 710bc.com. Wed: Open mic, jam. Thu: DJs Mada, Beefam. Fri: Cash’d Out and The Drinking Cowboy Band. Sat: Social Club, Cochino, So Far Gone, Curt Own. Sun: This Is Confusing, Roman Watchdogs. Mon: San Diego Music TV Showcase. Tue: Underground Electro DJs. 98 Bottles, 2400 Kettner Blvd. Ste. 110, Little Italy. 98bottlessd.com. Thu: Adrian Terrazas Gonzalez Quartet. Fri: Steph Johnson. Sun: ‘Andy T’ Talamantez and Nick Nixon.

Air Conditioned Lounge, 4673 30th St, Normal Heights. airconditionedbar. com. Wed: ‘Breezy Bliss’ w/ Us vs THEM, JoshthebeaR, Giana, Viking. Thu: DJs Bala, Lucky J, Lehder. Fri: DJ Junior the

DiscoPunk. Sat: ‘Juicy’ w/ Mike Czech.

Sun: DJs Watch .44, Sunday Sauce.

American Comedy Co., 818 B Sixth Ave, Downtown. americancomedyco.com. Wed: Clayton Thomas. Thu-Sat: Heather McDonald. Sun: Doug Benson. Tue: Open mic.

Bar Pink, 3829 30th St, North Park. barpink.com. Wed: DJ Grandmasta Rats.

Thu: Shake Before Us, North Beach, Super Buffet. Fri: DJ Artistic, NosuckerDJs. Sat: The Creepy Creeps, The Widows, El Mysterioso. Sun: DJs Joemama, Tramlife.

Tue: ‘Tiki Tuesday’.

Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave, Solana Beach. bellyup.com. Wed: Dark Star Orchestra. Thu: Soul Asylum, Hargo. Fri: Big Head Todd and the Monsters (sold out). Sat: One Drop, The Expanders. Tue: Belly Up Beer Fest w/ Aloha Radio, Acoustic Ales, Belching Beaver.

Blarney Stone Pub, 5617 Balboa Clairemont. 858-279-2033. Wed & The Barmen. Thu: Dirty Sue. Fri: Fooks. Mon: Trivia. Tue: Irish Jam, Tedde.

Ave, Sat: The Bob

Block No. 16 Union & Spirits, 344 7th Ave., Downtown. blockno16.com. Fri-Sat: DJ Marc Thrasher. Tue: Safety Orange.

Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave, Bay Park. brickbybrick.com. Wed: SD Music TV Open Mic. Thu: SDMusic TV’s Battle of the Bands 2013 w/ Special Delivery, Plastic Fix, Roni Lee Band. Fri: Days to Change, Viscous, Turle Click, James Dean, Streetcar Rendezvous, Cult Vegas. Sat: The Hoop Unit, Hell on Heels Burlesque Revue, Wino Boogie, DJ Abel. Sun: P.D.P., Aghori, One Theory, Beneath Lanston.

Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd, Midtown. casbahmusic.com. Wed: Phosphorescent, Strand of Oaks. Thu: The Heartaches, Suicide Notes, Chango Rey and His Broken Heartbeat, Tigerbomb. Fri: Blackout Party, Low Volts, The Hollerin, Crash and The Burns. Sat: TV Girl, Vacationer, Tiny Telephones, Okapi Sun, DJ Velvet Touch.

Sun: Thao and The Get Down Stay Down, Sallie Ford and The Sound Outside. Mon: Neighbors to the North, Latex Grenade, Little Dove. Tue: Angel Olsen, Villages.

Che Cafe, UCSD campus, La Jolla. thechecafe.blogspot.com. Wed: ACxDC, Media Blitz, Desperate Living. Fri: Tan Sister Radio, Nostalgic People, Proud Moon, Crisis Arm. Sat: Comadre, Ghostlimb, No Sir, Holy Fever, Malone.

Croce’s, 802 Fifth Ave, Downtown. croces.com. Wed: Fuzzy. Thu: Sue Palmer.

Fri: Lady Dottie and The Diamonds. Sat: Daniel Jackson (11:30 a.m.); Yavaz (8:30 p.m.). Sun: Elliott Lawrence (11:30 a.m.); Mark Fisher Trio (7:30 p.m.).

Dizzy’s, 4275 Mission Bay Dr, Downtown. dizzyssandiego.com. Fri: Fred Benedetti and George Svoboda. Sat: Joni Mitchell tribute w/ Robin Adler and Mutts of the Planet. Sun: Gerard Nolan w/ Gunnar Biggs, Brian Swartz, Bob Weller, Matt Taylor.

El Dorado Bar, 1030 Broadway, Downtown. eldoradobar.com. Wed: ‘Trill’ w/ Cliqclik, Takecover, Sasha, Andre Power, Naveed. Thu: In the Cut, Unite, J-Blow.

Fri: Don’t Go Jason Waterfalls, Saul Q. Sat: Ese’ and Zain, Adam Salter. Mon: The Silent Comedy, Family Wagon, North Beach, Deadly Birds.

Fluxx, 500 Fourth Ave, Downtown. fluxxsd. com. Thu: MakJ. Fri: DJs Scooter, Craig Smoove. Sat: DJs Brett Bodley, JLouis.

Griffin, 1310 Morena Blvd, Bay Park. thegriffinsd.com. Wed: Gypsyhawk, Purple Church, Mothership, Sister Steel. Thu: The TonTons, Branches, A House for Lions.

Fri: Quino from Big Mountain, Shaka feat.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 50 April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 49

the hit list Spring-breakin’ in the city Spring break is in full swing in this warm and beau- tel (432 F St., Downtown). The Pussycat Dolls tiful metropolis by the sea. While San Diego can’t nightclub seems completely ridiculous, but this hold a candle to Florida when it comes to wet-T- may be exactly what you need to party away what shirt contests, hot-tub parties and other Spring might have been the semester from hell. On FriCourtesy: We Party Naked Break-type hijinks, we still have day, April 5, the Dollhouse hosts some wildin’-out fun to offer. Pa23-year-old producer Reid Stefan, cific Beach and Mission Beach will who looks about 14 but somehow have your bikini-clad tomfoolery manages to get the ladies and covered, or you can try some of dudes jumping in the club as if it these cool alternatives. were a bouncy castle.

South Park’s Whistle Stop Bar The Ruby Room (1271 Univer(2236 Fern St.) will travel through sity Ave. in Hillcrest) will also be time on Thursday, April 4, for spring-breaking on Saturday, April the kickoff of its new club night, 6, at elektrofied, a night of raging, Timelines. Every first Thursday art and odd entertainment. DJs of the month, the freaks and geeks InsanelyLoud and Nikolbag will that dreamed up “Worst Music be on the 1s and 2s, dropping ’80s, Ever” will choose a year in rock ’n’ electroclash, new wave and darkroll history and play their favorite wave bangers while fire dancers records from that year. For the first and belly dancers shake it for your Timelines, DJs Dan Sant and Mark visual pleasure. You can also get PCD Dollhouse: Smith will spin tunes from 1967 as a tarot-card reading from Bianca Spring break woooo! the classic ’67 film Cool Hand Luke Waxlax between shots. Maybe she is projected on the wall. Drink, dance and, if you’re can tell your midterm grade. feeling bold, try eating 50 eggs.

—Alex Zaragoza You might be thinking, Hey! It’s spring break!

And this table isn’t going to dance on itself. If so, Write to alexz@sdcitybeat.com get wild at PCD Dollhouse in the Keating Ho- and editor@sdcitybeat.com.

50 · San Diego CityBeat · April 3, 2013

Jerome Cruz from Big Mountain, Psydecar, Selektah Reefah, Lady Piracy. Sat: American Aquarium, Alex Woodard, Nancarrow. Sun: Dumpstaphunk, TEN, Eric McFadden, Norwood Fisher. Tue: Dirty Sirens, Schitzophonics, The New Kinetics, Gloomsday, Neighbors to the North.

House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave, Downtown. houseofblues.com/sandiego. Wed: Jammingout the House of Blues. Fri: El Gran Silencio, Inspector, Malacates Trebol Shop, Maskatesta. Sat: Zona Preferente, William Beckett, Jillette Johnson, Noise Floor. Sun: Rock for Rady Children’s Hospital. Mon: Modern Day Moonshine. Tue: 321 Stereo, Special Delivery.

Ivy @ Andaz, 600 F St, Downtown. ivyentertainmentsandiego.com. Thu: Mr. Dee Jay, Static Promenade, Frankie M., Angle, Tristan D, IDeal. Fri: Luke Skyy vs. Rohr, Kurch, Emulate, Este, Logic, Murphi Kennedy, Tylerty. Sat: The Dancers of Lipstik Inc. Kava Lounge, 2812 Kettner Blvd, Midtown. kavalounge.com. Wed: ‘Siesta.’

Thu: ‘Kinetic’ w/ [Malta Visual Show], Mr. Y, Thought Tempo Carolina. Fri: Marques Wyatt, Cris Herrera, William Hansen, Soulonbeat. Sat: ‘Ascension’ w/ DJs Robin Roth, Ladynoir, Michael. Sun: Preteen Pornstar, Skrapez, The Cemetery Improvement Society, Antiquark, DJ Dr. Zaius.

La Gran Tapa, 611 B St, Downtown. lagrantapa.com. Wed: Latin Magic. Thu: Dusty Brough Guitar. Fri: Juan Moro, flamenco. Sat: Live Art by Davina. Sat: Latin Magic. Sun: Carlos Velasco, Grupo Bohemio. Tue: Tomcat Courtney.

Lestat’s Coffee House, 3343 Adams Ave, Normal Heights. lestats.com. Wed: Catherine Feeny, Sama Dams. Thu: Aural Gravy Records, Sledding with Tigers. Fri: Corey Powers, Roxxanne Reed. Sat: Ernie Halter, Josh Damigo. Sun: Jessica Fine, Mauru.

Loft @ UCSD, Price Center East, La Jolla. theloft.ucsd.edu. Wed: Mark Sexton Band, Soda Pants. Fri: Sun God Battle of the Bands. Tue: Trivia Night.

Mc P’s Irish Pub, 1107 Orange Ave, Coronado. mcpspub.com. Wed: Jackson and Jesus. Thu: Big City Shaman. Fri: Mystique. Sat: 4-Way Street.

Numbers, 3811 Park Blvd, Hillcrest. numberssd.com. Thu: ‘Tagged’ w/ DJ Angel X; ‘Varsity’. Fri: ‘Harness’; ‘Viernes Calientes’ w/ DJ Sebastian La Madrid. Sat: ‘Bear Night’ w/ DJs Jon Williams, Candy. Sun: ‘Joe’s GameNite’.

Office, 3936 30th St, North Park. officebarinc.com. Wed: ‘Club 1979’ w/ Deck B, Beat Panther, Boys Don’t Disco, Pablo Stanley. Fri: ‘Overtime’ w/ DJ Beatnick, Mr. Mention.

Pal Joey’s Cocktail Lounge, 5147 Waring Road, Mission Valley. paljoeysonline. com. Wed, Thu, Sun, Tue: Karaoke.

Mon: Vicious Phishes.

Patricks II, 428 F St, Downtown. patricksii.com. Wed: DD and The Down Beats.

Thu: Johnny Vernazza. Fri: WG and The G-Men. Sat: Bill Magee Blues Band. Sun: Bayou Brothers. Mon: WG and The GMen. Tue: Walter’s Chicken Jam. Porter’s Pub, 9500 Gilman Dr., UCSD campus, La Jolla. porterspub.net. Sat: Jarren Benton, Vital Mindz. Sun: Tyler, the Creator (sold out).

Queen Bee’s, 3925 Ohio St, North Park. queenbeessd.com.

Wed: Firehouse Swing Night. Sun: Salsa. Tue: ‘Lyrical Exchange’ open mic.

Rich’s, 1051 University Ave, Hillcrest. richssandiego.com. Wed: ‘Mischief’ w/ Bianca, DJ Taj. Thu: ‘Repent Ladies Night’.

Fri: DJs Dirty KURTY, Will Z. Sat: DJ Corey

Craig. Sun: DJs Cros, John Joseph.

Riviera Supper Club, 7777 University Ave, La Mesa. rivierasupperclub.com.

Wed: Kice Simko. Thu: Bart Mendoza and True Stories. Fri: Kurt Young. Sat: Baja Bugs. Tue: Party Planet Karaoke.

Ruby Room, 1271 University Ave, Hillcrest. rubyroomsd.com. Wed: Mochipet, Zoogma. Thu: Project Analogue, Bar Elements, Well Hung Heart, The Body Rampant. Fri: Pagan Funeral, Bridge Jumper, Old Man Wizard, Ghosts. Sat: ‘Elektrofied’ w/ Iza Moon Dance Collective, Anna Firebird. Sun: Breakthrough Performance.

Tue: ‘Ruby Tuesday’.

Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd, City Heights. sodabarmusic.com. Wed: Dancing Strangers, Comet Calendar. Thu: The Fixtures, Jara, New House. Fri: Kopecky Family Band, The Palace Ballroom, The Eastern Sea. Sat: Esben and The Witch, Heliotropes, Sundrop Electric. Sun: Jaymay, Kayoko, Saba. Mon: Secondhand Serenade, Juliet Simms, Veronica Ballestrini, Belmont Lights. Tue: Local H, Subsurfer.

SOMA, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd, Midway. somasandiego.com. Thu: Sammy Adams, T. Mills. Fri: As They Burn Alive, Forever Ends Now, The I In Self, Disposable Being, A Truth Betrayed. Sat: Adestria, Close to Home, Alive in Standby, Oh, Guardian, Myka Relocate.

Spin, 2028 Hancock St, Midtown. spinnightclub.com. Fri: DJs SixFoota, Grove Boy. Sun: Reggae w/ Shotta Crew, Wreckin Krew, Fayah Heart.

Stingaree, 454 Sixth Ave, Downtown. stingsandiego.com. Fri: Three Loco, Fashen, DJ Decon, Boonie Walker, Erik Till. Sat: DJs Crooked, Dynamiq, Flesch, Eric Love.

The Flame, 3780 Park Blvd, Hillcrest.

flamesandiego.com. Fri: ‘Klub Therapy’ w/ DJs Bryan Pollard, DarkAngel, Pnm; ‘Darkwave Garden’ w/ DJs B. Pollard, Draikette.

The Void, 3519 El Cajon Blvd, North Park. tinyurl.com/axnjs56. Thu: Widowspeak, Colleen Green. Sun: Mac DeMarco, Catwalk, Mothlight.

Til-Two Club, 4746 El Cajon Blvd, City Heights. tiltwoclub.com. Wed: ‘A Brief History of Rhyme’ w/ Heather Hardcore, Dr. Eye Marclar. Thu: Mark and The Wild Ones.

Fri: Douglas and The Furs, Alfa Cologne, Whales. Sat: Coda Reactor, Chica Diabla, Focke Wolves, Masteria. Sun: Hoodrat, The Shames, Dead on the Wire. Mon: Karaoke. Tue: Kim Gordon Comedy Night.

Tin Can Ale House, 1863 Fifth Ave, Bankers Hill. thetincan1.wordpress.com. Wed: Miss Erika Davies, Emily Jane White, Eliza Rickman, Jennie Buss. Thu: Harsh Toke feat. Zack Oakley, California 666, Leather Nun. Fri: Goonam, Lowdown 30, No Brain. Sat: Psicomagia, Midday Veil, Brain Fruit. Mon: Tin Can Country Club w/ Justin Rodriguez. Tue: Noa Azoulay (art), DJ King of Pentacles, Sacri Monti.

Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St, Bay Park. tioleos. com. Wed: Bayou Brothers. Thu: Rockin’ Aces. Fri: Leon’s Old School Karaoke Show. Sat: Serious Guise. Sun: Salsa.

Tower Bar, 4757 University Ave, City Heights. thetowerbar.com. Thu: Bloodgeon, Sectarian Collapse. Fri: ‘Hip-Hop vs. Punk Rock’ w/ Stalins of Sound, Artoo and Admant, Odessa Kane, Poontang Clam, DJs Unite, Sesh, Pelengue, Mr. Hensha. Sat: Babysitter, Shiva Trash, Kids in Heat. Sun: The Beach Bum Alcoholics (comedy). Mon: Psychosomatic, Christ Killer, Groove of Death.

Turquoise, 873 Turquoise St, Pacific

Beach. theturquoise.com/wordpress. Wed: Tomcat Courtney. Thu: Pan Am. Fri: Tomcat Courtney (6 p.m.); Afro Jazziacs (9 p.m.).

Sat: Tomcat Courtney (6 p.m.); Peligroso Caramelo (9 p.m.). Sun: Sounds Like Four (4 p.m.); Um Cantinho do Samba (7 p.m.).

Mon: Pan Am. Tue: Afro Jazziacs.

U-31, 3112 University Ave, North Park. u31bar.com. Thu: DJ Schoeny. Fri: DJs VonKiss, Noel, Byrd. Sat: Junior the Discopunk. Sun: Rasta Nation Posse w/ Nico Dread, Swerve, Angel Roots, Danny Dread, Freddy Figs. Mon: ‘Taking Back Monday’.

Voyeur, 755 Fifth Ave, Downtown. voyeursd.com. Thu: A-Trak. Fri: Audien. Sun: Martin Solveig.

Voz Alta, 1754 National Ave, Barrio Logan. vozaltaprojectgallery.com. Thu: Bill Caballero’s Latin Jazz Jam. Whistle Stop, 2236 Fern St, South Park. whistlestopbar.com. Wed: ‘New Best Thing’ w/ Dan Venti, Sam Wiles. Thu: ‘Return of 45 Calibre’ w/ Dimitri, Dan. Fri: The Amandas.

Sat: ‘Records with Roger’ (4 p.m.); ‘Sleepwalking’ w/ DJs Michelle Rubano, Jeff ‘Guero’ Graves. Tue: ‘Friends Chill’.

Winstons, 1921 Bacon St, Ocean Beach. winstonsob.com. Wed: Open mic w/ Jefferson Jay (6 p.m.); Dubtonic Kru, DJ Carlos Culture (9 p.m.). Thu: O.B. Comedy Competition (6 p.m.); Poor Man’s Whiskey, Homesick Hitchers (9:30 p.m.).

Fri: OBC w/ Chase Brockett and Laura Condi (6 p.m.); Ocean Beach Elementary Fundraiser (9:30 p.m.). Sat: Hootenanny for the Kids w/ Toothless George, Revenge Death Ball, Nick Bone and The Big Scene, Downspell (5 p.m.); GrooveSession,. Sun: Rockface (5 p.m.); ‘O.B.-o-ke’ w/ Jose Sinatra (10 p.m.). Mon: Electric Waste Band. Tue: Battle of the Bands w/ Ital Vibes, Irieality, Devocean, Solective.

April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 51

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52 ¡ San Diego CityBeat ¡ April 3, 2013

April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 53

Proud sponsor:

Ink Well Xwords by Ben Tausig

Across 1. Blow sound 5. They start with 7-Down 8. Nicks and Buckingham bandmate Christine 13. It might prevent a gas explosion 14. Necklace in Obama’s birth state 15. Bill mentioned often in the course of 2008 presidential mudslinging 16. Sheets for shoppers 17. Seven-foot golf assistant?

19. Boundary 20. Commit election fraud, perhaps 21. Restraint choice for a root beer magnate’s dog?

24. Beastie Boys rapper who died in 2012 27. Low-rent NYC building 28. Her full name has just one vowel repeated four times (aaaaand this entry officially jumps the shark) 29. Array of food 32. They’re beneficial to the core 35. Barbera’s partner in animation 36. “Jacques, I rate your face a perfect score, but your butt is tres mediocre!”

40. Met field 41. Cops might make them wail 42. Heavily Hispanic California region 44. Tribe near Salt Lake City 45. Bon ___ (witticism) 48. Banned bug killer 49. Device that automatically cooks a certain French dish “au vin”?

53. Car company that makes the Tribeca 56. Middle alternative?

57. Copy of a copy of a Persian Gulf republic?

60. Historic European waterway, to the Germans 61. Sucks or blows, as it were 62. A Turner 63. Certain minced oaths 64. Mr. T’s crew 65. Scottish criminal 66. Gross lid issue

8. Wrap condiment 9. A doctor might tell you to cut it out 10. Fierce 11. Kaplan of indie rock fame 12. Atty.’s letters 13. Fails to reserve a juicy bit 18. Saves for later, in a way, as “Girls” 22. “Moving ___ the next topic, please ...”

23. Big dummies 25. Yankee Robinson who was MVP of the 2013 World Baseball Classic 26. ___ Yauch (real name of 24-Across) 30. Long-distance options 31. “Foiled!”

32. Two of four, e.g.: Abbr.

33. Golden ratio letter 34. Truth ___ (what the U.S. military once hoped LSD could be) 36. For all kinds of students, in a way 37. Popular glowing rectangle 38. Domestic decision for a duck 39. It lost to VHS in part because the porn industry didn’t adopt it 43. Celebrity-endorsed diet supplement berry 45. Company lover?

46. Like much modern shopping and dating 47. Terrifying (or at least super-irritating) group for anyone who isn’t their age, often 50. Senator Hatch 51. One might scare a visitor to California 52. Zildjian product 54. Chemical in fertilizer 55. Practice with blindfolds and gags, for short 57. Sked note where a cancellation happened, maybe 58. Blockbuster 59. “That which was to be demonstrated,” in proofs

Last week’s answers

Down 1. City where Bach, Goethe, and Marlene Dietrich lived 2. Company whose Monopoly is fully legal 3. Not contemp.

4. Like someone smoking in bed, stereotypically 5. Small business’s designation 6. Tone similar to eggshell 7. See 5-Across

Two $20 gift certificates to Mitch’s Seafood will be awarded weekly. Email a picture of your answers to crossword@sdcitybeat.com or fax it to 619-325-1393. Limit one win per person per 30 days.

54 · San Diego CityBeat · April 3, 2013

April 3, 2013 · San Diego CityBeat · 55