Places
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IN GOOD TASTE: Hugo’s Cocina in Ocean Beach offers Mexican-style fare for vegans, too
It's not often you find a Mexican restaurant with a variety of vegan and vegetarian options, but Hugo's Cocina at 1830 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. in Ocean Beach does just that. The restaurant has been operating under new ownership for the past two years, maintaining the cozy ambiance and vegetarian-centric...
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La Jolla Healing Center takes personal approach to addiction
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Tucked away on the top floor of a suite of offices on Fay Avenue, you'll find a place where people go to face their fears, their shame, and their hopelessness to get help. The La Jolla Healing Center opened in 2006 and offers a holistic approach to treating addiction to drugs...
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Secret La Jolla: 11 Things only La Jollans know about their hometown
When you’ve lived in The Jewel long enough, you come to know things that tourists and snowbirds miss. (For instance, “La Jolla” probably isn’t Spanish for “the jewel,” but was translated from the Spanish from Kumeyaay Native-American for “land of holes.”) Below are 11 of our other favorite examples....
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ART-BREAKING: Rent increase likely to put La Jolla’s underground Misfit gallery out of business
Suddenly, the lights cut out and the room went pitch dark. Usually, gallery owners want people to be able to see the art at their art openings. But at La Jolla’s Misfit Pictures, you never know what might happen. And so, during former City Council member Donna Frye’s “Crazy Town” exhibit on Oct....
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Blondes on Beers: Stone Brewing is not just IPAs anymore
BLONDES ON BEERS: Stone Brewing. The very name evokes the Mount Rushmore of craft beer in San Diego. But even if you know the aggressively hoppy IPAs from Stone's 23-year history, the Liberty Station tasting room, brewery and restaurant in Point Loma known as the Stone Brewing World Bistro & Garden...
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At Kiwi Spa, it's natural, state-of-the-art skin care in Pacific Beach/San Diego
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: The first thing you notice when you enter Kiwi Spa is, well, the kiwis. They're everywhere. On pillows, on the wall, and even on the earrings that spa owner Maya Banks wears. The scrubs that Banks and her estheticians, Luna and Anastasia, wear are kiwi green. And Maya's nail...
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Photos: Ocean Beach through the years; Historical Society shares how OB got its groove
Ocean Beach Historical Society (OBHS) drew breath from a small ad placed in a local newspaper 25 years ago. In February 1994, a resident Carol Bowers — writer, teacher and publisher — ran a notice inviting anyone interested in the town's history to show up for a meeting at the library. A handful...
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Saving Sunset Cliffs: City-Community partnership protecting peninsula treasure in Point Loma/San Diego
If you've lived in San Diego longer than oh, about a week, you've probably come to discover that San Diegans share a love for a few specific things: dogs, surfing, organic food, Taco Tuesdays and, for many, Sunset Cliffs Natural Park. But if you've taken a stroll along Sunset Cliffs Boulevard in...
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High Times calls Ocean Beach's The Black 'legendary': Local smoke shop makes national Top 10 list
It stands as sentinel to the hippie generation that gave Ocean Beach so much of its eclectic character back in the 1960s. The Black, a one-of-a-kind smoke shop, has operated on Newport Avenue for more than 50 years — longer than any other business on the block. "We've been kind of the glue that's...
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Editor's Notebook: Set for take-off at USS Midway Museum in San Diego
EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK: If you call yourself a San Diegan and yet have never toured our great landmark — the USS Midway Museum at 910 N. Harbor Drive — you better get there soon! Wear your walking shoes and be prepared to become emotionally engrossed in military history for more than 4 hours! The aircraft...
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Waterbar seafood restaurant marks its first-year anniversary in Pacific Beach/San Diego
IN GOOD TASTE: One year ago, Waterbar opened its doors at the foot of Grand Avenue in Pacific Beach , replacing the old Joe's Crab Shack and proclaiming itself an up-and-comer in the densely populated restaurant jungle of those four corners overlooking the ocean. Surrounded by PB Shore Club, PB...
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THE 'DR. SEUSS-EUM': A visit to the cat in La Jolla's hat — UCSD library is home to special Dr. Seuss collection
With the Dec. 19 passing of Audrey Geisel, widow of Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel, much of the physical Seuss legacy shifts from an empty house on Mt. Soledad to the Geisel Library’s Mandeville Special Collections and Archives department at UC San Diego, which houses most of his original drawings.
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Photos: Town turns out for Ocean Beach Holiday Parade
The Ocean Beach Town Council sponsored the 39th annual OB Holiday Parade, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018 with the theme "It's a Wonderful Life." It sure looked as if a record crowd lined Newport Avenue for 90 minutes of cheer and civic pride.
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Blondes on Beers: Happy New Beer! Holiday beers from San Diego breweries and beer trends for 2019
Blondes on Beers: Bridging the gap from last year into the next, this month's column is actually two-in-one. For this installment, we look at area holiday-inspired beers (which are available at their respective tasting rooms until they run out, so those reading this in the last week of December...
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Photos: All Souls Christmas Home Tour in Point Loma is the oldest one, west of the Mississippi
A tradition and a beacon of the season to many, All Souls Episcopal Church's 67th annual Point Loma Christmas Home Tour took place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018 with 600 visitors to the marketplace, food trucks, tea social and five gorgeous houses decorated for the holidays and open...
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At Mitch's Seafood: 'They catch it, cook it and sell it!' at Point Loma/San Diego restaurant
In Good Taste: Mitch's Seafood was started in 2008 by three families with a long history of fishing in Point Loma . Located on San Diego's working waterfront at 1403 Scott St., the restaurant specializes in fresh seafood from the waters right off the dock it overlooks. The outdoor patio offers...
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Peninsula Family YMCA swim classes make a big splash for Correia students in Point Loma/Ocean Beach
A partnership between the Peninsula Family YMCA and Correia Middle School is giving eighth-graders a chance to learn life-saving skills in the water — something a quarter of them have never experienced. "You would assume every kid could swim in this coastal community, but that's not the case,"...
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Spectacular Stitching: Quilts are the stars at Visions Art Museum in Liberty Station; National 'Best Of' exhibit runs through Jan. 3, 2019
A quilt is "a bed coverlet of two layers of cloth filled with padding, held in place by ties or stitched designs," says Merriam-Webster's Dictionary. That hardly describes the quilts on display at Visions, a small but mighty art museum at Liberty Station devoted to contemporary quilts. These are...
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Isabel's Cantina: Where Latin and Asian flavors fly in Pacific Beach/San Diego
IN GOOD TASTE: You might expect from the name that Isabel's Cantina is just another Mexican restaurant in the beach area. But actually, you'd be wrong. Isabel's has been in business for 18 years, and through that time has evolved its menu into more of a California cuisine with some Asian influences,...
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Jimmy's Famous American Tavern offers comfort food with a twist in San Diego
IN GOOD TASTE: What started out as a marina owner's desire to have a restaurant as an amenity on Harbor Drive in Point Loma has grown into a small chain that is expanding throughout Southern California and beyond. Jimmy's Famous American Tavern is a concept developed by David Wilhelm, a former...
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Blondes on Beers: OB Brewery offers award-winning brews and award-worthy views in Ocean Beach/San Diego
BLONDES ON BEERS: OB Brewery, the namesake for Ocean Beach , is no stranger to winning awards. But this year had to feel particularly good. OB Brewery took home the Small Brewpub of the Year award at this year's Great American Beer Fest (and was the only representative of San Diego to place in...
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Plaque touting old Roseville Hotel dedicated at Bellamar
Most Point Lomans know their backstory well: "Here Louis Rose founded Roseville in 1869." There's an old map and an old plaque that proves it (see photos). The map reveals that 149 years ago, Rose spent $82 for 325 acres on the peninsula and set about creating a port town. The plaque was fixed...
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Feast your way through Ocean Beach's Farmers Market with flavors from around the world!
EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK: You can go around the world by flavor at the OB Farmers Market. And many people do! On my last visit, I sampled Euromorrocan, Turkish, Mexican, African, Italian, Indian and East Asian delights — topped off by a good ol' American grilled cheese sandwich, courtesy of Kate & Zach...
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Food and art connect at Aloha Poke Co. in Pacific Beach/San Diego
IN GOOD TASTE: At Aloha Poke Co., presentation isn't everything, but it's certainly key in this newcomer to PB's recipe for success. "We treat our bowls like a piece of art," says McKensie Kahnweiler, the affable West Coast executive director of the two-and-a-half-year-old company that was founded...
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Photos: Funk band has thousands dancin' in Point Loma Park for summer concert series in San Diego
The Full Strength Funk band drew thousands to the Friday, Aug. 3, 2018 summer concert in Point Loma Park, 1049 Catalina Blvd. The fun got underway at 5:30 p.m. and lasted through 8:30 p.m. Although the five-concert series (in its 18th year) has ended for the summer, organizers agree it was another...
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Dining at The Venetian is oh so Italian at popular Point Loma/San Diego restaurant
IN GOOD TASTE: The Venetian Restaurant in Point Loma is the epitome of a neighborhood restaurant that has been in operation for more than five decades. Chances are, if you're from the Peninsula, you know The Venetian and its owners, the Giacalone family. Self-described as "not a chic, fancy Italian...
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Blondes on Beers: Belching Beaver OB gives a 'dam' about dark beers in Ocean Beach/San Diego
BLONDES ON BEERS: In a city where you could find an IPA on every corner, Belching Beaver Brewery Ocean Beach has made a name for itself with its stouts — milk stouts, stouts on nitro, stouts with peanut butter, sweet stouts, imperial stouts ... you get the idea. While the OB tasting room has...
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At one of San Diego's oldest strip clubs, the Rock Church takes over
Before enthusiastic congregants and skeptical neighbors, the Rock Church on Thursday morning took over one of San Diego’s oldest strip clubs. “We’d definitely love to use this to help reverse the pain that this building has caused,” said Miles McPherson, the Rock’s senior pastor, addressing a crowd...
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New art display from NTC Foundation adds color to Liberty Station in Point Loma
Opening reception is 5-9 p.m. Friday Oct. 5 The walls along Barracks 14 in Liberty Station, once a plain deep tan, have received a creative, temporary "makeover." Beautiful murals depicting individuals in various emotional states now decorate the walls in black paint, overlaid by bright white...
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OB Playhouse Theatre Co. staging edgy (but fun) productions for Ocean Beach/San Diego region
When it comes to the shows produced by the fledgling OB Playhouse Theatre Co., size matters — at least when it comes to the marquee. Since Bill and Jennie Connard began staging productions in 2016 at their Newport Avenue venue, the titles have been short enough to not overtax the street-facing...
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Parakeet Café leads 'real food' revolution in La Jolla and San Diego area
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Carol and Jonathan Goldwasser have started a revolution on Silverado Street in La Jolla . The revolution is led by something very powerful, in their opinion — high-quality food. Their Parakeet Café just celebrated one year in business and their customers are still flocking to...
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Brazilian Bowls opens with 'affordable organic' in Pacific Beach/San Diego
IN GOOD TASTE: Once upon a time, there was a Brazilian couple who had their hearts set on opening an organic Brazilian restaurant somewhere in the United States. But they weren't sure where to go. So they hopped on a plane and traveled across the country for a year looking at prospects. New York?...
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Bali Hai restaurant at 64: Hosting magical moments for many in San Diego
Who serves the best-known cocktail in town? The Bali Hai, hands down. The family-owned Shelter Island restaurant calls its concoction the World Famous Bali Hai Mai Tai and the bar menu touts it as "Quite Possibly the Strongest Drink You'll Ever Consume." A lot of locals and tourists have consumed...
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Kaiserhof Restaurant & Biergarten: Wunderbar! Popular San Diego eatery continues to serve traditional German cuisine
IN GOOD TASTE: Maybe you've never dined at a German restaurant before, but without realizing it you've been eating German dishes all your life. "If you go back to the roots of it (German cuisine), it's everywhere," said Peter Bolter, chef and sole owner of Kaiserhof Restaurant & Biergarten in Ocean...
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Blondes on Beers: Eppig Brewing brings experience to experiments in Point Loma/San Diego
BLONDES ON BEERS: At Eppig Brewing's Waterfront Biergarten in Point Loma, beers poured are either really traditional, or really not. Specializing in German-style lagers and some "reinterpreted" styles, the tasting room on Dickens Street has a glorious view that begs for patrons to sit down and...
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Point Loma Summer Concert series runs Friday nights, July 20 to Aug. 17 for free, live music in San Diego
EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK: "Calling out around the world Are you ready for a brand new beat? Summer's here and the time is right For dancing in the streets! They're dancing in Chicago ... Down in New Orleans ... In New York City ..." Hey! Don't forget Point Loma ... and Ocean Beach, too! The original version...
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What's Happening: Calendar of Events for Point Loma, San Diego area for July-August 2018 features concerts, music events
What's Happening: Calendar of Events for Point Loma, San Diego area for July-August 2018 • ONGOING EVENTS: Bingo Games: 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, Portuguese Hall, 2818 Avenida de Portugal. (Doors open 4:30 p.m.) $21 to play all the games; food and drink for purchase, non-profit event. (619) 223-5880....
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Dining at Pernicano's: A family affair for three generations in Pacific Beach/San Diego
IN GOOD TASTE: Pernicano's Family Restaurant has been in Pacific Beach at 711 Turquoise St. — well, before Pacific Beach was even Pacific Beach as we know it. When the restaurant opened in 1947, there were only seven other restaurants on the entire thoroughfare. Pacific Beach literally grew up...
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'Wonderspaces' is wonderful: Immersive art experience comes to San Diego
Wonderspaces, a grand display of interactive art installations that first popped up in a circus-sized tent in Mission Valley last summer and attracted over 60,000 visitors during its two-month stay, is back again. This year's exhibition, called "With Creative License,'' is at the B Street Pier...
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Blondes on Beer: Kilowatt lights up Ocean Beach brewing scene
BLONDES ON BEER: Welcome to our inaugural Blondes on Beers column! As co-beer enthusiasts, we — Ashley Mackin-Solomon and Crystal Hoyt — will use this report to explore the breweries and tasting rooms in Ocean Beach and Point Loma. Though we are by no means "experts," we love beer and are here...
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Blondes on Beer: Modern Times - A standout in the craft-beer era
On this particular Saturday, there were nine India Pale Ales (IPAs) on tap. When asked what differentiates the Point Loma tasting room from their other four locations, our beertender explained that people travel from all over to visit “The Mothership.” He went on to say the beer selection is heavi
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Blondes on Beer: Mike Hess Brewing - A new take on an old tradition in Ocean Beach/San Diego
BLONDES ON BEER: Slightly off the beaten path of busy OB — about half a mile from the beach — sits the Mike Hess Brewing Ocean Beach tasting room. With a motto of "Great beer, no exceptions, no excuses," the brewery offers types you may know, with tastes you may not. The Claritas Kolsch for example,...
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Ocean Beach Library fans await word on its expansion
Ocean Beach 's biggest draw — to both insiders and outsiders — is its beach, but another big part of this tight-knit and friendly town is its library. The Ocean Beach Library is small, at just over 4,500 square feet, but it's mighty in its impact and significance to the community. The original...
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Community Garden poised for patronage
From sun-up to sun-down, the 44-year-old OB Community Garden teams with activity. Birds, butterflies, bugs and bees join the gardeners as they till and toil to produce organic fruits and vegetables, flowers and foliage. For added fun, the planters compete year round in growing competitions — tallest...
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Point Loma Playhouse toasts its 10th Anniversary
Theatrical group gala May 3 at Pt. Loma Assembly
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Wake up and smell the coffee
Editor’s Note: This is the first of a two-part series about the independent coffee shops in town whose owners are brewing up cupfuls of delicious decadence. Look for part-two in the May issue of Point Loma-OB Monthly. Point Loma and Ocean Beach have no shortage of special places to get a cup of...