By Anthony King | SDUN Editor

Arborists, city employees, city and state leaders and students from South Park’s Albert Einstein Academy joined the Friends of Balboa Park early morning April 26 to celebrate Arbor Day by planting new trees in Balboa Park. Over 150 community members gathered near the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Quince Street for the ceremony.

(center, l to r) Council President Todd Gloria and Friends of Balboa Park Chair Jim Hughes, with Albert Einstein Academy students, help plant trees on Arbor Day. (Photo by Anulak Singphiphat)

“Thank you for being with us today to dedicate the 18 newest tress in Balboa Park,” said Jim Hughes, Friends of Balboa Park chair. “The planting of trees today is an example of what the Friends of Balboa Park does.”

The Balboa Park stewards have hosted an Arbor Day ceremony in the park for seven years, however the first celebration occurred on Saint Patrick’s Day in 1904. Botanist and landscape architect Kate Sessions – called by some the “Mother of Balboa Park” – hosted that first tree planting, which was attended by 3,500 school children. They planted 60 trees.

“What you’re doing today, when you help us plant some of these trees, you’re continuing something that started with Kate Sessions,” Council President Todd Gloria told the students. “This park belongs to all of you.”

Assembly Majority Leader Toni Atkins said she was excited to tell the students a history of Arbor Day, including its start in Nebraska and the first official celebration in 1872. In 1970, President Richard Nixon declared the last Friday in April National Arbor Day.

All speakers addressed the students directly, with Atkins telling of California’s history as the home of many greats in tree history and San Diego Urban Forestry Council chair and arborist Mike Palat telling jokes and giving environmental facts. For example, the world’s oldest tree, located in California, is 2,500 years old Atkins said, and Palat said urban trees live eight years on average.

Of the 18 trees planted April 26, two are Blue Atlantic cedars, six are Helen Borchers Peach trees, four are Alexandrina Saucer magnolias and six are St. Mary magnolias. Mayor Bob Filner described each species and thanked the city’s horticulturalist Mario Llanos for his work.

“We forget that we have a horticulturalist here in the park to make this the incredible beauty that it is. We thank you, Mario, for everything you do,” Filner said.

Albert Einstein Academy students received oak saplings, donated by the Cohen family. (Photo by Anulak Singphiphat)

Several private community members and local businesses donated the trees for planting, including Carol and Herman Wong, Jonathan Hayes, and The San Diego Foundation. Most were donated in the name of individuals with special connections to Balboa Park.

“All of those people that we’re honoring today are here today and they’ll be here forever in spirit. Let’s keep that in mind with these magnificent trees,” Hughes said.

One honoree was Rory Ruppert, the former director of Balboa Park Cultural Partnership’s Sustainability Program. Ruppert, who had a tree donated in her name by family and friends, died Feb. 21.

“She was a magnificent woman that worked every single day to make this park more energy efficient,” Gloria said. “Her family is here today to make sure that her legacy continues by planting a tree in her honor. I can’t think of something that Rory would want more.”

Another honoree was John “Jack” Krasovich, an Uptown resident and San Diego Park and Recreation employee who ran the Balboa Park division. Krasovich died March 1. Park and Recreation Director Stacey LoMedico attended the Arbor Day celebration, and honored Krasovich specifically.

“Jack loved many things, but he loved his country, he loved his family, he loved God and he loved this park,” LoMedico said. “For those of us that worked with Jack, we’re very honored to have a donated tree in his memory. It’s a very special day for us.”

Both LoMedico and Gloria thanked city employees, including Park and Recreation staff. “It is their dedication that we do have such a crown jewel,” LoMedico said.

Following the speakers, Park Ranger Kim Duclo invited the students to grab shovels and help cover the 18 nearby trees. Representatives from San Diego Gas & Electric and Urban Corps of San Diego County were on hand to help as well.

“When you plant a tree, it’s a little bit like building a time machine because you’re going to be sending something forward in time that says you were here this day,” Duclo said to the students.

“But a time machine can also go backwards,” he said. “Fifty days from now, 50 months from now or 50 years from now you can come back [and] visit the trees you helped plant today. I hope that you will remember your friends that are here, your family [and] loved ones.”

By Anthony King | SDUN Editor

The community is set to descend on North Park May 18 for the 17th annual North Park Festival of the Arts, featuring art for adults and children, live bands and dance performances, and the return of the Craft Brew Block, with beer and ale from a wide selection of local breweries. The yearly festival is organized by the North Park Main Street, and runs from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

‘Supportive’ by featured artist Sarah Stieber (Courtesy North Park Main Street)

“The Kids ART Block section is a crowd favorite,” organizers said on the official event website. “Kids are given the opportunity to participate in a variety of interactive arts related activities all geared to teach and inspire young minds to explore their own artistic creativity.” Planned activities include origami-making lessons, crafting with recycled items and multi-media and photography projects.

North Park Craft Mafia will once again host the festival’s Spring Line Up, which the arts and crafts nonprofit has overseen since founding in 2007.

Called the “hub” of North Park’s artistic community, Ray Street will be home to “local artist creations, live demonstrations and temporary installations created just for the festival,” organizers said.

There are over 35 juried artists for this year’s event, including Ashley Carattini, Eric Cantrell, Rowshan Dowlatabadi and Amy Baca-Lopez, a North Park Main Street artist. This year’s featured artist is Sarah Stieber, who was selected by festival organizers during an open search for new talent that would best represent the spirit of the festival.

Stieber, who recently participated in the Mission Federal ArtWalk in Little Italy and also hosted her own show called “Peaceful Chaos” at Cirello Gallery on Ray Street, spent time as a teenager in Florence, Italy, studying art at the Uffizi museum. During graduate school at Boston University, she also worked in Venice, Italy, and returned to California after graduation.

There will also be an interactive artist event centered at the San Diego Art Department (SDAD) located at 3830 Ray St. Called the Quick Draw Plein Air Competition, the event will see participants complete works of art throughout the festival between 12 and 1 p.m., which will then be on display in front of SDAD and available for purchase.

“The all-ages event invites artists, competition painters, professionals, amateurs and hobbyists to compete and have fun,” said Lesley Anderson of SDAD. “These artists have two hours to complete their work … giving onlookers the opportunity to see artists in action.” Registration for the competition begins at 9:30 a.m. at SDAD and  Anderson said they were hoping to have at least 20 participants.

Called “a festival within a festival,” this year sees the return of the Craft Beer Block, an enclosed beer-garden style venue featuring selections from several regional craft breweries. There are 25 participating breweries total, including Chuck Alek Independent Brewers, Julian Hard Cider, Mad Lab Craft Brewing, Hillcrest Brewing Company, Thorn St. Brewery and Iron Fist Brewing Co.

“North Park Festival of Arts is excited for the return of the Craft Beer Block,” organizers said. “Beer enthusiasts will have the opportunity to sample the best craft beer prepared by San Diego’s top brewers.”

The addition of the Craft Beer Block is described on the festival’s blog as a “more budget-friendly” beer fest. “This is perfect for seasoned beer lovers who don’t want to travel high and low for a good pastime. Because of the large space, beer enthusiasts [are] able to enjoy the festivities without the feeling of being in a mosh pit,” the blog stated.

2013 map of the May 18 festival (Click for full view)

Advance tickets for the Craft Beer Block are $25, rising to $30 the day of the event. Tickets include 12 four-ounce samples and a commemorative glass. Organizers said there will also be “beer-friendly bites” available for purchase, all from North Park restaurants. Entry into the Craft Beer block ends at 5:15 p.m.

Live entertainment rounds out the festival, with five stages placed along University Avenue. The main stage will be located at the intersection of 30th Street and University Avenue, and bands from almost all music genres will be represented.

“The local bands featured on this stage will engage your senses both musically and visually,” organizers said. “Musicians range in age from kids to seasoned professionals.”

There is also a World Music Stage at Grim and University avenues, with performances starting at 11:30 a.m., a Beats & Eats stage near the food court and the Dance Stage at 32nd Street and University Avenue, hosting over 23 different groups.

“Fine Arts in Motion will entertain audiences of all ages at the 32nd Street Dance Stage featuring performances by … over 300 dancers from all over San Diego,” organizers said.

Most performances will end closer to the 6 p.m. event end, however the Bar Pink Stage, located in the beer garden, will have bands throughout the evening, with the Wild Wild Wets taking the stage at 8 p.m.

“Located in the Public House Beer Garden on University Avenue and 31st Street, the Bar Pink stage is an eclectic mix of Indie Rock bands,” organizers said. “Find new sounds of San Diego and dance into the dark as the party in the Public House is extended into evening hours.”

Parking in the North Park parking garage, located at 3829 29th St., will be free for the day. Additionally, the San Diego Bike Coalition will be hosting a free bicycle valet to help decrease parking congestion at 30th Street and University Avenue. San Diego Metro buses will be running as well: lines 2, 6, 7 and 10.

For complete information, including ticket purchase, visit northparkfestivalofarts.com.

Main Stage

1 a.m. – School of Rock

11:50 a.m. – Chess Wars

12:40 p.m. – Fashion Show

1 p.m. – Midnight Pine

1:50 p.m. – Michael McGraw and the Butchers

2:40 p.m. – Bulletins

3:30 p.m. – Fasion Show

3:50 p.m. – I Wish I

4:40 p.m. – The Palace Ballroom

Beats & Eats Stage

11 a.m. – The San Diego Mandolin Orchestra

11:50 a.m. – Bossa Lounge Project

1 p.m. – Fat Man’s Misery

2:30 p.m. – Generik & Anek (LNC)

3:15 p.m. – Bee-Hive

4 p.m. – Lips

4:45 p.m. – Afrojazziacs

Bar Pink Stage

1 p.m. – Bloody Mary Bastards

2 p.m. – Gone Baby Gone

3 p.m. – Okapi Sun

4 p.m. – The Kabbs

5 p.m. – Stevie & the Hi-Stax

6 p.m. – The Widows

7 p.m. – Tropical Popsicle

8 p.m. – Wild Wild Wets

Dance Stage

11 a.m. – TOPS – Creative Dance Theatre

11:15 a.m. – Eveoke – Impulse Performing Group

11:30 a.m. – Jam Time Dance

11:45 a.m. – Alma Latina

12 p.m. – Zazz Productions

12:15 p.m. – City Ballet Junior Company

12:30 p.m. – Laurie Muniz

12:45 p.m. – Pride of Polynesia

1 p.m. – Casa Familiar

1:30 p.m. – Stage 7

1:45 p.m. – Kroc Kids

2 p.m. – Bonita Vista HS

2:15 p.m. – A Time to Dance

2:30 p.m. – Visionary Dance Theatre

2:45 p.m. – Vernetta Dance Studio

3 p.m. – Vernetta Dance Studio

3:15 p.m. – Vernetta Dance Studio

3:30 p.m. – Ballet Folklorico en Aztlan Dance Theatre

3:45 p.m. – Klika Scholarship Award

4 p.m. – Axxiom Dance

4:15 p.m. – Flamenco Sur

4:30 p.m. – Stage 7

4:45 p.m. – Ballet Folklorico Jalisciense

5 p.m. – Sohalia Stars

5:15 p.m. – Flamenco Arana

World Music Stage

11:30 a.m. – Eyo the StiltwalkerSekou

12 p.m. – Zimbeat Mbira

1 p.m. – Son de San Diego

2 p.m. – Sol e Mar

3 p.m. – Flamenco Arana

4 p.m. – Gender Wayang

5 p.m. – Los Bandaritos

By Dave Fidlin | SDUN Reporter

Since the school garden’s resurrection nearly a decade ago, Alice Birney Elementary School students have been able to play in the dirt – literally – as part of a hands-on garden program. Fiscal constraints at the state level have put the offering in doubt, but a local firm is lending its financial support.

(center in green hat) Dig Down Deep garden educator Mindy Swanson with Alice Birney Elementary students (Photo by Anulak Singphiphat)

Tomea Inc. Consulting, an upstart real estate firm with six employees in Bankers Hill, announced a partnership with Alice Birney staff and students earlier this spring. The firm has pledged its resources to ensure the garden program remains in the curriculum at Alice Birney for the foreseeable future.

Began a year ago, community involvement was a cornerstone of Tomea’s philosophy, Director of Operations Melania Mirzakhanian said.

“It’s something that’s important to all of us,” she said. “We began to reach out to local schools in the area and did some research. We liked the garden program at Alice Birney. It’s unique.”

Amanda Hammond-Williams, principal at Alice Birney, said the garden program returned eight years ago after a lengthy hiatus. The resurrection was due in large part to an active PTA group at the time. Students in kindergarten to grade five attend the University Heights magnet school, located at 4345 Campus Ave.

Since its return, the garden program has been incorporated into school curriculum as one of the regular specials alongside art, physical education and Spanish language.

With ongoing funding problems prevalent at the state level, officials within the San Diego Unified School District have faced difficult decisions in recent years. When funding deficits come into play, programs outside core curriculum tend to be first on the chopping block.

As part of its agreement with Alice Birney, Tomea staff have pledged the necessary funds to ensure the garden program will be offered in the winter and spring months for a total of 33 weeks. For the time being, regular school funds will ensure the program is offered in the fall.

While brainstorming potential causes, Mirzakhanian said she and other staffers overwhelmingly favored supporting local education.

“Children shouldn’t be the ones suffering from the budget cuts,” Mirzakhanian said. “They are the innocent ones in all this.”

Hammond-Williams said she sees great value in the program, as evidenced by the enthusiasm exhibited by students.

(center) Swanson with Alice Birney students (Photo by Anulak Singphiphat)

“The program works from seed to table,” she said, pointing out that students have a role in planting vegetables in the garden, caring for them and harvesting them when the time is appropriate. Once the array of produce is ripe, it is incorporated into the school salad bar at lunchtime.

Although it is considered a special program, the gardening does incorporate a few elements of core curriculum. For example, students learn about measurement and fractions during the planting process.

“Our fourth graders, for example, learn about seed germination, and that requires some calculating,” Hammond-Williams said.

Mirzakhanian said she and other Tomea staffers look forward to digging into the dirt alongside Alice Birney staff and students in the near future.

Mindy Swanson and Mickey McQuerry of Dig Down Deep garden educators work with the students every week in the Alice Birney gardens, and recently held a gardening camp at the school over spring break. Swanson said they were thankful for Tomea’s help, as well as their other supporters, Mission Hills Garden Club and Whole Foods Markets.

The school partnership is the second in what Mirzakhanian envisions a long string of events designed to bring the Uptown community together.

The firm’s debut effort, an art gallery event held inside the company’s offices at 2645 First Ave., took place in February. It featured nine artists and a wine and cheese tasting. Mirzakhanian said there were about 200 attendees.

“We really believe in the idea of bringing everyone together, even if it means being part of something that has nothing to do with real estate,” she said. “What we want to do is redefine real estate and change how it’s been perceived.”

By Monica Medina | KPBS

For as long as she can remember, Su-Mei Yu’s dream was to leave her home in Thailand to come to the United States. So when the opportunity arose at the age of 15, she seized it.

Su-Mei Yu (Courtesy Savor San Diego / KPBS)

Her Chinese parents didn’t think she’d be able to pull off making the journey to a new country on her own. They told her that they would only allow her to move to the United States if she could find a program that would not cost them any money. And that’s exactly what she did. With the help of a family friend who’d been a missionary in China, Yu relocated to Kentucky where she enrolled in a church-affiliated school for girls.

“It was a girls’ school,” Yu explained, “because my mother said I couldn’t go to a coed school. And, she didn’t want me to come by myself because I was so young, so of all the cousins, she selected my cousin, Susie, who didn’t have any choice. We were not asked in the olden days.”

After earning a master’s degree in social welfare from San Diego State University, Yu went on to become a renowned San Diego chef, cookbook author and restaurateur. She opened the small but popular Saffron Thai Grilled Chicken on India Street in Mission Hills in 1985, and followed it up in 2002 with a sit-down restaurant next door, Saffron Noodles and Sate. A third restaurant is expected to open late summer at the San Diego International Airport.

Yu didn’t arrive in the U.S. knowing how to cook. She learned to cook out of necessity. “Kentucky was so different from our home. It’s like being dropped on the moon,” she said. “The food was awful. I couldn’t eat anything that was put on my plate, and kept losing weight. I had to learn how to cook because I couldn’t eat the stuff and thought I would die if I had to eat it anymore.”

With the help of her cousin, Yu found ways to bring a taste of Thai food to her new home. “Food was always in our blood until I ended up in Kentucky and realized this is not good,” said Yu. “The main street had five stores and one of the stores was a combined grocery and hardware store where, lo and behold, I found some ginger, cabbages, and Uncle Ben’s instant rice, and I’d make stir-fry. That saved my life.”

Of course, whipping up stir-fry in a dorm had its challenges. “In a dormitory you only have limited space,” she explained. “There was a kitchenette for all the girls to use. We’d wait until everyone left to go eat in the cafeteria, to make our stir-fry because it smelled different. We’d open all the windows, boil water and add it to the rice.”

Yu attributes her passion for cooking to her mother, even though she never actually taught Yu, or her brother and sister, how to cook.

“My mother was an excellent cook,” stated Yu. “But she never let any of us cook. She would do all the cooking, especially when she had all these banquets, and it was incredible to watch her. It was like theater.”

Yu’s purpose for cooking Thai food goes beyond taste and presentation. She has great love and respect for the tradition of choosing ingredients that are seasonal and nurturing.

“Thai cooking is based on an old philosophical tradition,” Yu said, “that food is medicine. In the olden days, recipes were created by combining the natural taste and flavor in the ingredients in a balanced manner in order for the dish to not only taste good, but also be good for you. And, it is always based on the seasonality of the ingredients.”

For example, in the summer there are plenty of cucumbers, she continued, “and when the weather gets cool we have pumpkin. It’s more warming and better for your muscles. And, onions are good for your chest and good for colds. That is the basic philosophy of Thai food. If you adopt the same philosophical values for your lifestyle here, it can also enhance a better and more balanced diet.”

These days, Yu is working on her new cooking series, Savor San Diego, which debuted on KPBS Television May 2. She hopes that by watching the show, viewers will gain a new appreciation of San Diego’s bounty of food and how it can be used to create delicious and healthful meals at home.

“I want viewers to get excited about San Diego and our wonderful treasures here,” Yu said with relish. “I want them to get so excited that they will go find these things, get in the kitchen again and start cooking. Food is such a central part of all of us. We don’t realize it but once you put it in, that’s it. It goes every which way. You feel the way you feel because it nurtures you or destroys you.”

In the six-part series, viewers will meet people who raise, catch or find locally grown foods. “They are very committed and passionate in their own way of creating, finding and raising all these different foods,” Yu said.

The first show was titled “The Yin-Yang of Protein” and upcoming episodes will highlight orchards in Jamul and community gardens in National City and City Heights. Full episodes can be watched at kpbs.org following the original broadcast.

Spend a little time with Yu and you’ll be hard-pressed not to get caught up in her enthusiasm for cooking Thai food. And, her advice for getting started is simple: “Don’t be afraid, just go for it.”

—Monica Medina is director of diversity, engagement and grants at KPBS, and posts stories on their blog “Hey Neighbor!” about “extraordinary people in diverse communities.” This story on Su-Mei Yu was first posted on the blog April 25. Visit kpbs.org/news/blogs/hey-neighbor/.

By Cynthia Robertson | SDUN Reporter

To some, Downtown San Diego is a treasure to explore; to others it is a tangle of cars and crowds. Either way, Downtown possesses some of the city’s finest resources for residents, visitors and employees. The Downtown San Diego Partnership and San Diego Foundation co-hosted a town hall meeting in Uptown to discuss how to develop and integrate Downtown resources.

The Downtown Partnership is in the process of holding several town-hall style meetings over three months, including the April 30 meeting in Hillcrest. The goal is to take feedback from the greater San Diego region – called “stakeholders” – to develop an action plan to work with future growth.

“We believe that only through collaboration of all stakeholders can we truly craft a representative plan,” Downtown Partnership President and CEO Kris Michell said in a press release. “The conversation moves from Downtown outward to our regional communities.”

At the April 30 meeting, which was to solicit input from Hillcrest, Mission Hills and Old Town residents, Michell said they were working to “gather ideas” regarding greater San Diego and “how Downtown can fit” into those ideas.

“Downtown is a neighborhood at the same time that is a regional resource,” she said. Upcoming town halls will be held in North Park May 23, City Heights May 29 and Kensington and Normal Heights May 30, among others.

Council President Todd Gloria greeted the audience of more than 25 people at the Joyce Beers Community Center April 30. “Downtown belongs to everybody. The success of our Uptown is dependent on Downtown and the waterfront, as well as parking and transit,” he said.

Staci Ignell, director of external affairs for the Downtown Partnership, said they wanted to discuss tactics to handle a potential influx of people in the region. Currently, Downtown is home to 35,000 residents and 75,000 employees. The population of the entire San Diego region is expected to grow by 1.3 million people by 2050.

“That means we will need to accommodate for approximately 400,000 more housing units and 500,000 more jobs by that year,” Ignell said. “The Partnership is working to accommodate that growth, but we need all your input.”

Formed in 1993 with 14 staff, 40 maintenance workers and additional safety ambassadors, the Downtown Partnership represents over 10,000 property owners, residents and businesses. Called “Our Downtown Vision,” the nonprofit is working in conjunction with San Diego Foundation’s Our Greater San Diego Vision to gather input at the neighborhood town hall meetings.

A power point presentation outlined important points for the town hall participants to consider, including top priorities for Downtown’s future: affordable housing, quality learning, safe and vibrant neighborhoods, transportation, economy and jobs, accessible and protected nature, and trusted regional leadership.

Michell said the Downtown Partnership does not want to shift individuals who are homeless to other neighborhoods, including Uptown. “We respect the homeless population and are continuing to look all over for solutions,” she said.

Establishing a middle school is a priority for Downtown residents, Michell said, and the search is on for finding the proper location. In addition, Downtown residents want to have more higher education opportunities, including technical training and participation with senior citizens.

On the subject of maintaining a safe, vibrant and culturally active Downtown, many people said walking in Downtown needed to be more pleasurable and safe by establishing proper sidewalks and pocket parks, and implementing safety measures.

The participants viewed farmer’s markets as something worth promoting, even if it caused a bit of chaos with parking. “I love the idea of the farmer’s market, too,” Ignell said. “We plan to keep it going.”

One participant said that where he used to live, city managers would close certain streets to vehicles at certain times. The time determined the use, he said. Michell and Ignell both resolved to work that idea into the vision for Downtown’s future.

Michell said the Downtown Partnership is in the process of implementing a shuttle service to increase mobility. The plan for the service will include circuitous transportation between points at the airport, convention center, Balboa Park and Downtown.

“We believe that connectedness from the airport to all points in and along the way to Downtown is vital,” she said.

Michell closed the town hall meeting by thanking the participants. “Your being here is a good example of leadership,” she said.

The next town hall meeting in the Uptown area is May 23 from 5 – 6:30 p.m. at the North Park Recreation Center, 4044 Idaho St. The May 30 Kensington and Normal Heights meeting is from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at the Adams Recreation Center, 3491 Adams Ave.

The Downtown Partnership encourages participation by attending the meetings and completing an online survey at downtownsandiego.org. The results of all the town hall meetings and surveys will be compiled in a data report by summer, and implementation and action plans will begin in the fall.

By Dave Schwab | SDUN Reporter

The North Park Community Association (NCPA) elected officers and were updated on a number of important neighborhood issues, including battling graffiti, a citizens law enforcement patrol and this year’s Bird Park Summer Concert Series at its annual board meeting, held April 24 at Queen Bee’s Art & Cultural Center, 3925 Ohio St.

By affirmation, four board members – Nikki Berdy, Lynn Elliott, Omar Passons and Victor Flake – were reelected. New members elected were Sean Karafin, Alan Bennett and Jeff Kucharski, and they all join current board members Edwin Lohr, Mike Berry, Rimah Khouri, Chuck Van Hise and Coral VanLandingham to form a 12-person board. Rene Parada’s term on the board ended this year.

In candidate statements, the seven elected board members discussed their interest in civic affairs.

Current board President Berdy joined the NCPA after attending her first Bird Park Summer Concert. A nine-year North Park resident, she said she has “witnessed tremendous growth and change in the community,” adding “momentum has to keep going.”

A 30-plus year North Park resident, Elliott is a human services professional and current chair of the Bird Park Summer Concert Series. Elliott said she is “working toward the goal of making North Park an exciting, safe, thriving and comfortable place to live.”

The Saturday summer concerts kick off June 15. “We’ve got some good bands,” she said. “It will be a great year.”

A public works and land use attorney and former board president, Passons said he chose to live in North Park “because it was a good mix of the diverse people and places that I love about San Diego.” The best solutions to community issues “must start within our neighborhoods and be driven by those of us who live and work in North Park,” he said.

“I really appreciate what NCPA does for our community and am excited to become more involved in its work,” said Flake, an educator who appreciates “the unique qualities of our diverse population” while “enjoying safe, walkable, friendly neighborhoods.”

A new North Park homeowner and first-time board member, Karafin said the NCPA “provides … the opportunity to be engaged in, and improve, our community.” An economic policy analyst for the San Diego County Taxpayer Association, Karafin said he hopes to use the experience on the board to support the community.

Bennett, an Army veteran and retired land use planner, said he wants to “nurture the thriving diversity we enjoy in North Park,” and would like the NCPA to claim the title of “Gateway to Balboa Park” in time for the 2015 Balboa Park Centennial Celebration.

Also new to the board, Kucharski, a scientist for a small drug discovery company, cited “the ability to walk and ride our bikes throughout our neighborhood with ease” as his favorite trait about North Park. “I am looking for more opportunities to become involved in the community,” he said.

Following the board elections, Flake discussed the latest developments of the North Park Rangers, an NCPA-sponsored youth group created to provide youth with meaningful educational experiences while teaching them community pride and ownership.

“We’re doing weekly programs for kids, getting them involved in sketching local birds and plants [and] working with local artists to help develop their artistic talents,” he said, adding he would like to see a partnership with the North Park Historical Society to add a “local history component” to offer youth “hands-on learning.”

Graham Blair, who oversees the nonprofit’s Stop Graffiti Now! program updated the board and attendees on graffiti in North Park. Passons originally started the program, which relies on residents being proactive to fight graffiti in the neighborhood.

“We have a network of volunteers reporting and removing graffiti,” Blair said. “Five years ago we were covered with graffiti. … There’s a huge improvement with what we have now.”

Blair said graffiti is an ongoing issue, noting 500 locations with graffiti in North Park were reported this past year, some with multiple tags. Graffiti can be reported by e-mailing gblair@northparksd.org.

Current NCPA board member Lohr and San Diego Police Officer Jenny Hall discussed the North Park Citizens Patrol.

“We’re now doing day patrols,” Lohr said, adding that volunteer citizens’ law enforcement patrols are no longer “a night thing” only. He said the patrol’s significance “is all about exposure.”

“Burglars don’t really like to work. If they see us patrolling, they’ll move on. That’s what we’re hoping,” he said.

Hall warned that bicycle thefts are on the rise. “It’s been happening not just in North Park but all over mid-city,” she said, noting bike thieves have been concentrating along 30th Street and University Avenue.

Hall advised residents to report thefts and get their bikes engraved with serial numbers, which will greatly help in recovery.

For more information about or to join the NPCA visit northparksd.org.

A water main broke at the intersection of Georgia Street and Florida Court in North Park shortly after 5 p.m. Monday, May 6. Water from the break ran down Florida Court to Florida Street, reaching several apartment complexes. In response, water was turned off in the area so repair and cleaning crews could work on the pipe and city streets. Council President Todd Gloria said water service was completely restored by 1 a.m. “I appreciate the tireless work our employees demonstrated on Monday night and in the following days to help return this neighborhood to normalcy,” Gloria said in an enewsletter. Initial reports said the six-inch-diameter pipe is approximately 50 years old. Claim reports for damaged property are available from the City’s Risk Management department: sandiego.gov/riskmanagment or 619-236-6670.

HBA to unveil Hillcrest Pride Monument designs

The Hillcrest Business Association will release preliminary draft designs for the Hillcrest Pride Monument at a community meeting Thursday, May 16 at 5:30 p.m. The monument will be installed at the base of the Hillcrest Pride Flag located at the intersection of Normal Street and University Avenue, and will tell the history of San Diego and Hillcrest’s LGBT culture in a series of panels, a press release stated. Research for the panels was complied by Lambda Archives of San Diego, a nonprofit that collects, preserves and teaches regional LGBT history. The panels will include quotes and images, and the monument will also display names of donors to the monument and flagpole. HBA volunteers are currently raising money for the monument’s installation. The May 16 meeting will be at The San Diego LGBT Community Center, located at 3909 Centre St.

LGBT & ally professional networking event scheduled for May 21

The first Career and Professional Networking Night for the LGBT community presented by Equality Professionals Network (EPN) is scheduled for May 21, where registered attendees will have access to human resource professionals, executives and recruiters from a variety of industries. The event is specific to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community as well as allies to support a safe, open and diverse work environment. “EPN’s Career event is a place where LGBT business professionals can come to network and job hunt, and feel safe that the companies participating in this event are inclusive and welcoming of LGBT employees,” said EPN chair Jaye Whittaker in a press release. EPN is a group of over 125 LGBT business and corporate professionals. Union Bank is sponsoring the event, which is being held from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. at The San Diego LGBT Community Center, 3909 Centre St. “Union Bank is a strong supporter of the LGBT community in San Diego,” said Ken Triemstra, co-chair of UB Proud, the bank’s resource group for LGBT employees. Representatives from over 30 organizations will be present, and Union Bank human resource professionals will present workshops on job hunting and writing resumes, among other skills. For more information and to register for the free event visit epncareers.eventbrite.com.

North Park water tower receives historic designation

The State Historical Resources Commission approved listing the iconic North Park water tower and all related building to the California Register of Historical Resources in a unanimous decision May 1. Located at 4326 Idaho St., the water tower and surrounding areas are officially called the University Heights Water Storage and Pumping Station Historic District. The North Park Community Association made an announcement on their website, and thanked Alex Bevil for donating “time and energy” to prepare the required documents for the designation. “From 1898 to 1967, the University Heights Water Storage and Pumping Station evolved from a small privately owned water reservoir into one of the City of San Diego’s major municipal water storage, filtration and distribution facilities,” NPCA representatives said, adding that the water tower’s design is the only known example of a 12-legged, full hemispherical bottom, elevated metal water storage tank in Southern California. The Commission also recommended that the site be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mayor Filner to present traffic plan at Bankers Hill Residents Group

At the regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Bankers Hill Residents Group May 20, Mayor Bob Filner will discuss his plan for temporary traffic management in Balboa Park, including changes to the Plaza de Panama. The mayor’s proposal is to halt vehicle traffic on the Laurel Street bridge on weekends; remove all parking each day in the Plaza de Panama; and relocate handicapped and valet parking. The meeting will be from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at the top floor of Inn at the Park, located at 525 Spruce St. Representatives from the Residents Group said everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. There will be a no-host bar at 6 p.m. For more information on the group visit bankershillresidents.org.

North Park Community Association seeks website manager

The North Park Community Association (NPCA) is seeking a website manager and editor to administer information on the group’s website, including uploading content, organizing a community calendar and being the contact person for news and events pertinent to the North Park community. Additionally, the volunteer position will oversee the nonprofit’s enewsletters, and will have direct contact with the board of directors. NPCA is asking for individuals with website experience and editing skills to contact board President Nikki Berdy directly at nberdy@northparksd.org.

South Park art show features paintings by adults with disabilities

Rebecca’s Coffee House in South Park hosted more than 70 people April 26 for The Arc of San Diego’s Sulpizio Family Center Art Show. The organization is one of the largest nonprofit service providers for children and adults with disabilities in the region, and Sulpizio Family Center is one of five Arc locations in San Diego County. The spring-themed art show was to raise awareness and featured 18 paintings by adults with disabilities. All artwork was for sale, with proceeds benefiting program participants at the Sulpizio Family Center. “We couldn’t have asked for a better event,” said Melanie McCoy, Sulpizio Family Center area director, in a press release. “Our program participants are very talented and they truly brought this art show to life. Everyone at The Arc of San Diego is proud of them for their hard work and for showing the community that people with disabilities are capable of many things.” For more information on The Arc of San Diego or to volunteer, call 619-685-1175.

University Heights theater company announces cast for next production

Diversionary Theatre, located at 4545 Park Blvd. in University Heights, announced the complete cast for their production of Charles Busch’s “The Divine Sister,” which opens in previews May 23. The cast includes Maggie Carney as Mrs. Levinson, Yolanda Franklin as Sister Acacius, Lauren King as Agnes, Dangerfield G. Moore as Jeremy, Daren Scott as Mother Superior and Jacque Wilke as Sister Walburga. “The Divine Sister” tells the story of St. Veronica’s Mother Superior, who is determined to build a new school for her Pittsburgh convent, a press release stated. Creative team for the production includes Matt Scott, Luke Olson, Blair Nelson, Corey Johnston and David Medina. The show is directed by Glenn Paris of ion theatre and produced by Bret Young. John E. Alexander is the executive director of Diversionary Theatre, which was founded in 1986 to provide theater for and about the LGBT community. Following previews, “The Divine Sister” will open June 1 and run through June 30. Tickets are available at diversionary.org or by calling 619-220-0097.

Mission Hills artist donates $1,900 to Rady Children’s Hospital

Concetta Antico, a Mission Hills-based artist and instructor, donated $1,900 to Rady Children’s Hospital to help support their Healing Environments program. The donation, which was due in part to sales from Antico’s April 28 exhibition “Metamorphosis,” brings her donation level close to $4,000 for the fiscal year. Antico said she expects to pass the $5,000 donation level, which will make her a member of Rady’s Miracle Maker Council. “Supporting those that constantly improve children’s health and healing is something that is very important to me,” Antico said in a press release. “I am very thankful for the efforts and Healing Environments programs in place at Rady Children’s Hospital, and will support them through my donation of a portion of all original works sold and by donation of fine art materials.” Antico’s next exhibition will be Nov. 16 at Antico Fine Art Gallery, 1920 Fort Stockton Dr. Additionally, Antico is in discussion to create a mural-sized oil painting that would potentially be hung in the lobby of the hospital.

American Cancer Society seeks volunteers

Volunteers are being recruited to help plan the upcoming Relay for Life event July 7 – 8 at Alice Birney Elementary School in University Heights. The American Cancer Society is looking for individuals to organize teams, plan entertainment and fundraise, among other tasks. “There are dozens of different ways to get involved and help make this cancer’s last century,” organizers said in a press release. The July relay is a 24-hour event, where team members take turns walking or running around a designated path. The Society is asking for interested volunteers, as well as participants, to contact them at relayforlife.org or by calling 619-682-7423.

Rep. Scott Peters ‘sequesters’ his own paycheck

Congressmember Scott Peters announced he will implement a symbolic “across-the-board spending cut,” known as sequestration, to his own paycheck in an effort to raise awareness to the federal spending cuts implemented earlier this year. “While the idea for the sequester predates my time in Congress, we should all agree that it is terrible policy. None of us would run our business or household budget this way, and it is no way to run a country,” Peters said in a release. “Any rules Congress imposes on federal employees and all Americans ought to apply to us, too.” Peters will take eight percent of his monthly salary – a similar percentage of the currently implemented spending cuts – and donate it to the Senior Community Centers of San Diego in order to supplement meals for at-risk seniors. The Centers cut services to seniors due to lowered funding from the federal spending cuts. “Senior Community Centers has lost nearly $60,000 for our senior meal program due to sequestration,” said CEO and President Paul Downey in the release. The cuts equate to approximately 21,000 fewer meals available this year, he said. “Nearly 95 percent of the seniors we serve are at or below the poverty line, so these meals make a big difference to their health and their lives. We are grateful to Congressman Peters for his long-time interest and support of what we do,” Downey said.

Scripps purchases San Diego Hospice Hillcrest hospital, property

Scripps Health completed the purchase of the former San Diego Hospice hospital and eight-acre property in Hillcrest April 30 for $16.55 million. The medical company made the highest bid in a federal bankruptcy court auction, and announced they will use the facility for in-patient hospice care. Hospice San Diego filed bankruptcy in February. Scripps Health, which operates several medical buildings in Hillcrest, began hospice service in February previous to the bankruptcy filing. “We are very pleased to have this facility, which was designed and built specifically for hospice patience so that we can further expand our hospice program,” Scripps Health President and CEO Chris Van Gorder said in the announcement. “This unique facility and property are ideal for end-of-life care and will allow us the opportunity to serve our patient and the community for years to come.”

Susan Davis introduces bill to help veterans refinance homes

Announced Wednesday, May 8, Rep. Susan Davis introduced the Veterans Home Loan Refinance Opportunity Act, which would allow veterans in five states take advantage of low-interest home loan refinancing options. Veterans in Alaska, Oregon, California, Wisconsin and Texas can use lower interest-rate mortgage loans to purchase a primary residence, but are currently barred from refinancing. “Given the large number of foreclosures that have swept the nation, it makes sense to allow veterans the same opportunity to refinance into low-interest, affordable loans that so many Americans have been able to do,” Davis said in a press release. “Our veterans have fought and sacrificed to help keep the American Dream flourishing. It is only right that they should be allowed to take part in that dream.”

Undercover high school drug sting results in multiple charges

District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis announced felony drug charges Wednesday, May 1 against six adults arrested in connection with an undercover operation targeting four high schools. San Diego Sheriff deputies posed as high school seniors over the course of one year as part of “Operation A Team” in Poway, Abraxas, Mission Hills and Ramona high schools, all in North County. Mission Hills High School is located in San Marcos, Calif. The sting was, in part, an attempt to address a series of drug overdose deaths in the region, a press release stated. “Law enforcement identified schools where there were concerns over student deaths and illegal drug dealing,” Dumanis said in the release. “I’m proud of our office’s collaboration with the Sheriff’s Department on this undercover operation and prosecution. The six adults aged 18 to 45, each pleaded not guilty. There were also six juveniles arrested. The District Attorney’s Juvenile Division will review their cases.

Help make positive change in San Diego taxi industry

By Andrew Rae, Safe Cab San Diego

In San Diego’s ever-changing political landscape, reform of the taxi industry is now inevitable. The taxi industry is an integral part of our public transportation network, and its health and viability have an immediate impact on tourism, commerce and entertainment: industries of great significance to San Diego’s economy.

It is of utmost importance that an engaged citizenship participate in the process to ensure that the taxi industry maintains a high standard of service, as well as develop into a healthy sector attractive to small business people and entrepreneurs without devaluing the assets of current stakeholders.

On Feb. 12, 2011, Sam Hassan Daly, a driver for Emerald Cab taxi service jumped the curb in front of Stingaree Nightclub, plowing into a crowd of bar-goers. Twenty-five people were injured and 23 were hospitalized. A small businessman, a homeowner and a hardworking American, Daly was nearing the end of a 16-hour shift on an empty stomach. The circumstances of his working environment were unsafe and resulted in this tragic accident. Charges were dropped against Daly; no fault was found beyond the District Attorney’s Office statement that, “This was just an unfortunate accident.”

However, the Stingaree accident surfaced many of the stark realities of the taxi industry that many would like to not acknowledge. Taxi lease rates often mean that drivers who do not own their own cab must work these long hours simply to make up the cost of the lease, earning near $4.23 an hour.

Long shifts create hazardous circumstances on roads, and the standards at which taxi cabs are maintained leave much to be desired. Recent studies have indicated that 94.5 percent of taxi cabs up for vehicle maintenance inspection fail even the lax requirements that they are held to. On top of that, an insular culture of fear among drivers leave many with no other option than to operate a vehicle leased to them that is in many ways unsafe.

Safe Cab San Diego is a coalition seeking the support of individuals, small business people, and stakeholders who wish to encourage the taxi industry’s development into a safe and profitable sector for business. Safe Cab San Diego is seeking to unite the voices of positive reform of the industry in order to encourage best business practices, as well as protect the investments that businesses, stakeholders and individuals have.

By joining Safe Cab San Diego, your business or organization may have a hand in developing a sustainable, safe and efficient taxi industry. Please take a moment to review our research and read our fact sheet regarding the initiatives that we would like to bring forth to the City at safecabsandiego.org. Contact us with questions, and possibly join our coalition in order to effect positive change in San Diego: info@safecabsandiego.org.

A 360-degree vision to make San Diego the bicycle mecca it should be

By Andy Hanshaw, San Diego County Bicycle Coalition executive director

Fundamental changes in how our region moves to work, live and play are progressing fast in San Diego. Change like this is hard to come by, but we knew citizens and leaders would eventually stand together, working on solutions to the ailing public health, unstable local economies, and increasing costs of resources.

The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition loves the direction San Diego is heading, with the inclusion of bicycling as one solution to improve the quality of life for all San Diegans.

We envision San Diego as the most bicycle-friendly region in the world. Far to go? Certainly. This vision requires positive adjustments to our culture, neighborhoods, and streets, re-designing them to foster bicycling as an everyday activity for transportation and recreation.

Our region can continue to create a comprehensive approach to transportation policy and design, regarding the bicycle as a genuine mode of transportation, removing obstacles and empowering all people to choose to ride whenever and wherever they like. Our vision simply includes the bicycle as one piece of the comprehensive transportation pie.

With this vision, San Diego County will have a connected network of safe, convenient bike facilities and proper, secure, end-of-trip accommodations for people who ride. Constant encouragement of good roadway behaviors through education programs will also foster understanding and respect for all modes of transportation. Our vision includes all people of ethnic, economic and cultural diversity.

The great news is our vision is on its way to fruition. From fundraising records, to expansion of community advocacy groups, the Bicycle Coalition continued its all-inclusive presence in San Diego this past year, all while moving forward with new initiatives and a new mission: to advocate for and protect the rights of all people who ride bicycles.

Local leaders at all levels and in all communities have stepped up to support cycling initiatives, including the City of San Diego’s new mayor, who pledged to make the city better for cyclists and launched CicloSDias, the city’s first open streets event happening in August.

To continue these great successes, we encourage our businesses, leaders and advocates to continue working hard to support comprehensive transportation progress. It’s well known that active transportation like bicycling contributes to improved public health, local economies and more efficient use of natural resources. All of these are good for a vibrant San Diego for all people.

May 1 saw the start of National Bike Month in San Diego and across the U.S. It’s a perfect opportunity to participate in Bike to Work Day on May 17, or head to South Park and Balboa Park for Bike Local Sunday and CicloSDias Mini on May 19.

Just getting your family or friends together to take a ride along San Diego Bay’s miles of walking and biking paths can help strengthen the movement. So, let’s go for a ride.

San Diego Bicycle Coalition (SDCBC) is a nonprofit organization that advocates for and protects the rights of all people who ride bicycles. They promote bicycling as a mainstream, safe and enjoyable form of transportation and recreation.  For more information, go to sdcbc.org.

Letters

Drawing on love or fear

I was profiled recently in an article, “In Sync with the Stars” [see Vol. 5, Issue 7].

There were four comments posted, two very supportive statements by women who know me. The other two comments were written by men [and] were somewhat critical; neither man has met me.

I have experienced skepticism throughout my career and greet it excitedly as a wonderful opportunity to hone my ability to successfully serve others by utilizing my innate psychic healing gifts.

Cynicism, on the other hand, does not invite me closer nor does it create an opportunity for sharing or learning. In my lifelong study of human nature I have learned that there’s really only two driving emotions and most everything we think and do springs from one or the other. I am referring to love and fear.

Before I form an opinion, I ask myself if I am drawing on love or fear. The tone of my thoughts lets me know on which side of the fence I’ve landed.

Motivation is important to understand and acknowledge. When I work with a client, my Inspiration comes from a higher source. Call it what you like. I get results. That’s what matters to me. I don’t have the desire to convince others that what I do is valid. My client list continues to inform me that what I have to offer is being lovingly accepted and supported.

That’s good enough for me!

—Connie Stewart, via sduptownnews.com

Cartoon

From the man who brings us ginormous meal portions at Hash House a Go Go and puts a slick twist on game meats at The Tractor Room comes the sophisticated little sister of the two, charming us with her soft French accent and roving food boards.

Great Maple’s donut board (Photo by Kevin Andrew Falk)

Welcome to Great Maple, a brasserie-meets-diner housed in the mid-century building that operated as Topsy’s from 1963 to 1998, and then Brians’ American Eatery until 2012. Its latest incarnation is the brainchild of Johnny Rivera, who spared the landmark property from possibly becoming an IHOP.

“I used to come here as a little kid with my father when it was Topsy’s,” Rivera said, emphasizing that his custom redesign “stays true to the energy of the building.”

The interior features a terrazzo bar, crown molding, punch-button upholstery and a rebuilt kitchen. Above it hangs tweed-covered speakers that correspond to a turntable designated for use during happy hour, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. On the outdoor patio, designer cinder blocks bring Palm Springs to mind. Overall, the feel is both retro and rustic but without appearing forced.

A few surprises orbit Great Maple’s menu, which feeds us a little bit of everything: pastas, seafood, chops, sandwiches, flatbreads and the like. But at any given time and at the sound of a bell, the kitchen sends out spontaneous appetizers or bacon-speckled glazed donuts stacked on long wooden planks. Servers circulate the boards throughout the dining room, allowing customers to make “impulse purchases” tableside.

Visiting for dinner with a devoted customer who urged me to momentarily cast aside our lobster poutine when a board floated past, I tried my first bacon donut. The thing was hot, fresh and mouthwatering, and not the schizophrenic flavor profile I’ve encountered elsewhere when bacon lands in chocolate cake or ice cream. This tasted natural, much like a complete pancake breakfast.

Salad niçoise (Photo by Frank Sabatini Jr.)

Poutine is a French-Canadian dish involving French fries tossed in thin gravy and cheese curds. Here, it’s swooped up generously with chunks of Maine lobster, truffle oil and fresh chives. Miraculously, the sweetness of the lobster meat wasn’t compromised. Though listed as a starter, it qualifies as a full entrée if you choose not to share it.

Passing over a slate of other tempting appetizers such as mini beef Wellingtons, spicy grilled prawns and asparagus with egg, we encroached on the St. Germaine niçoise salad with creamy tarragon dressing accenting seared ahi, potatoes, green beans and a hard boiled egg. Equally refined was a white asparagus salad from the specials board.

Then came a flatbread pizza topped with artichoke hearts and Portobello mushrooms. The big draw was Taleggio cheese, an Italian curd coveted for its pungent aroma and mild, tangy flavor. Termed sometimes as “the Cadillac of mozzarella,” it doesn’t appear on many menus around town, so get it when you can.

Great Maple’s allusion of a “French dinette,” as Rivera likes to call it, is evidenced strongly through its wine list, which spotlights pleasant picks from the Alsatian, Bordeaux and Rhone regions. Creative and traditional cocktails also fuel the atmosphere. We savored a bottle of Domaine de Cristia from southern Rhone, a semi-fruity Grenache with enough discernible tannins to elevate the flavor of red meat.

My companion fell ecstatically silent over the “tale of two lambs,” which combined on the same plate three meaty chops cooked perfectly medium and a cast iron skillet of lamb Shepherd’s pie capped with an airy, house-baked popover. In spite of the alluring French influence of mirepoix and cream in the Shepherd’s pie, it was difficult deciding which lamb told the best tale.

I chose the “famous beef dip” served with onion au jus and horseradish sour cream. As the menu reliably states, the sliced rib eye “has got some good ole tasty fat on it.” Rightfully so since it contributed classic flavor and wasn’t overwhelming. But the jus wasn’t as robust. I would have preferred it saltier and beefier, although I give the kitchen kudos for serving the sandwich on a well-buttered roll.

Other entrées include duo of duck, New Zealand blue nose sea bass, venison chili and a 10-ounce Calvados pork chop. There’s also German-style bratwurst served on pretzel buns with sauerkraut.

Desserts are made fresh daily, with the mainstay being individual apple pies flaunting salted caramel and spiced pecans. For added fabulousness, we opted for the addition of Vermont cheddar cheese. A slice of silky key lime pie tasted ordinary in comparison, delivering a medium level of citrus contrasted against a sweet, sturdy crust.

(Photo by Frank Sabatini Jr.)

Rivera’s concept for Great Maple hails from the parent location in Newport Beach that he opened two years ago. “But this is the uber version,” he said, referring to the bakery line and menus tailored separately to brunch, lunch and dinner. In doing so, he’s created an eatery that smartly blends a good measure of panache with relaxed informality.

Great Maple
1451 Washington St. (Hillcrest)
619-255-2282
Prices: breakfast, $7 to $23; lunch, $8 to $25; dinner, $7 to $34

Since the late 1980s, so many restaurants have come and gone suddenly from this bungalow property, but it didn’t take long for Larry Malone to break the so-called curse blamed for their demise. With daily happy hour and various other deals firmly in place, plus a slat inserted into the floor of the patio that reads “this curse removed,” the only spirits infiltrating EmpireHouse Urban Palate are the kind you drink.

A raspberry mule in a 24-ounce jar (Photo by Dr. Ink)

Fans of Moscow mules, for example, will save about three dollars on luscious versions named after hats. They’re served in 24-ounce glass jars that Malone discovered when Ball Canning recently introduced them to the market. As cocktails, they turn out big and cost $7.50 during happy hour and all day Mondays, which is also the day you can wash down a juicy house burger with a beer for $10.

In two mules we tried, a ginger babushka with bitters and a raspberry beret with simple syrup, both contained ginger beer and Skyy Vodka. The raspberry recipe, Malone informed us, is the “femmed-up” version of the babushka, which much to our relief wasn’t so tutti-frutti sweet.

From the same menu card are a couple of beer cocktails using Pale Ale and lemonade as the base. Selling also for $7.50, one features the addition of VeeV Acai Berry Liquor while the other mixes Kentucky bourbon into the suds.

Happy hour also highlights specialty cocktails marked down to $5. In addition, wines by the glass and a variety of beer are $1 off their regular prices. The latter includes Lagunitas Maximum, which a friend in our group touted as “hoppy without being harsh.” Indeed, the fine print on the bottle indicates the predominant ingredient, stating that it’s made with “hops, malt, hops, hops, yeast, hops and water.” Enough said.

From EmpireHouse’s lengthy menu of gourmet-style comfort food, several items are marked down by at least $2. The pickle plate featuring spears and slices in mild, addicting brine is only 95 cents. It’s exactly the kind of crunchy nosh that keeps you drinking.

Red miso wings (Photo by Dr. Ink)

Red miso chicken wings have been on Malone’s menu since he opened two years ago. They’re big, sticky and delicious, and cost $5 for about a half dozen. Or for $4.50, you can dive into a fairly generous serving of mac-n-cheese made with white cheddar and tomatoes. Other nibbles include hummus, Tater Tots and sausage bread, all served in a comfy, homelike atmosphere that nowadays attracts the friendliest of souls.

RATINGS

Drinks: 5

The Moscow mules are tall and gingery. Other cocktails made with top-shelf liquors include basil lemonade, whisky with pear nectar and vodka-spiked P-Towns.

Food: 5

Standouts include red miso chicken wings, homey mac-n-cheese with tomatoes and plates of house-brined pickles.

Value: 4

Regular prices are generally moderate, although happy hour discounts save you between $1 and $4 on selected drinks and dishes.

Service: 5

The staff and owner make customers feel as though they’ve welcomed you into their home. This is after all, a bungalow.

Duration: 5

In addition to a three-hour happy hour seven days a week, additional food and drink deals are offered all day on Mondays.

EmpireHouse Urban Palate
127 University Ave. (Hillcrest)
619-688-9283
Happy Hour: 3 to 6 p.m., daily