Serving San Diego’s Premier Urban Communities for 23 Years northparknews.biz/digital
WHAT’S INSIDE?
Vol. 23 No. 8 August 2015
FAMILY CHOPSTICKS
Peking Restaurant — an unpretentious eatery that respects its roots Beloved Beanie Maker Retires Jean Shaw has made more than 8,600 beanies for Saint Augustine High School freshmen since 1973, but now that she’s retired, the school has to come up with a replacement. PAGE 9
‘Fins and Wings’ and Other Things The origin of fins on cars began when Harley Earl designed the 1948 Cadillac, taking inspiration from the P38 Lightning jet fighter. The latest exhibit at the San Diego Automotive Museum contains numerous nuggest of information about postWorld War II autos. PAGE 13 Family owned and operated since 1931, the Peking Restaurant on University Avenue has retained its sense of another time, even as other businesses in North Park have disappeared or reinvented themselves. Kenneth Fong, shown outside the eatery, runs the restaurant with wife (Photo by Stephanie Fong Photography) Maria with help from their three daughters. See story on PAGE 7.
‘Parlour Song’ Debuts Backyard Renaissance Theatre Company will introduce itself to theatergoers with a show by one of their favorite playwrights. On Aug. 20, previews begin for Jez Butterworth’s “Parlour Song” starring husband and wife team Francis Gercke and Jessica John, and friend and fellow-artist Mike Sears. PAGE 24
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Kelly Pouliot kellysdnews@gmail.com
The Case of the Disappearing Ink Engineer Carl Yee invents a novel way to save paper The fabled history of disappearing ink has taken an intriguing new turn in a South Park garage. Engineer Carl Yee has received a $150,000 research grant to advance his Paper Saver self-erasing inkjet ink. Intended for documents with short shelf lives, the ink gradually fades, leaving blank pages that can be reused for future printing jobs. Story on PAGE 7. (Photo by Neal Matthews)
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COMING & GOING HELLO
Pink & White Nail and Spa, 2960 North Park Way, North Park. Owner Khang Nguyen says, “Come by my shop for a friendly, clean, sanitary nail service in the heart of North Park. We are running a grand opening special of 15 percent off all services. We also validate parking and offer complimentary drinks w/service including wine and beer for adults. We have large selection of brand Pink & White Nail and Spa name and chem-free products.” Chi Extraordinary Kitchen, 2789 Adams Ave. A Thai-inspired restaurant owned by Pimwara Thongchua, her third local restaurant. It is San Diego’s only pescatarian Thai restaurant. She also owns Asian Bistro in Hillcrest and Plumeria on Chi Extraordinary Kitchen Park Boulevard. Lemonade plans a Hillcrest opening this month at 3958 Fifth Ave. Will have indoor and outdoor seating. It will serve cafeteria-style “Seasonal California Comfort Food,” according to founder Alan Jackson. The eats include salads, sandwiches, braised meats, desserts and specialty lemonade. Et Voila! French Bistro, Ludo Mifsud is ope- Lemonade Rendering ing Et Voila! at 3015 Adams Ave. in early 2016, which will serve a menu ranging from escargo and coq au vin to modern French cuisine.
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Alchemy Restaurant was sold and a new vege-
tarian restaurant will be taking its place — Kindred, a cocktail bar with vegan food owned by Kory Stetina. Stetina says that Kindred, 1503 30th St., will be Et Voila! French Bistro a “completely fresh, unique and formidable drinking and dining destination.” The all-vegan menu will include traditional starters and entrees and there will be an emphasis on snacks and shareable plates geared to pair with drinks.
Ask Dr. Z Why is our 9-month-old waking up screaming for us? Babies don’t have a sense of self, as an entity separate from their parents, until about six to nine months. At that time, parents notice “stranger anxiety.” Nightly wake-ups are an extension of this phenomenon. Think of it from the child’s perspective. They don’t have object permanence yet — they don’t realize when you put a ball behind your back that it still exists behind your back. To them, it has magically disappeared. Now picture a child falling asleep in a parent’s arms, and in a blink of an eye, being in a crib in the dark and the parent has vanished. Once they realize they are separate from Mom, then Mom can go away and leave you forever. They do not know that Dad is in the other room — he just simply doesn’t exist anymore. They get scared until they realize things out of sight still exist. This takes time. Reassurance in the middle of the night is the norm at this age. In addition, since they are independent beings, they may feel that they may be stolen from their parents, or given
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away, thus the reluctance to be held by anyone but their primary caretakers. But what to do? Once you go in and reassure your child you are still there, be careful not to begin new habits — if they should not be hungry, don’t offer food. Let them ask if they are hungry. Comforting them, shushing them, telling them you are always there for them, you are just in the next room, help greatly. Keep the lights off or low, and speak softly. You know your child best, so you will have an idea how to help most. Some people find that singing softly to them as you leave the room, and continuing in the hall or other room helps them figure out you are not gone. Sometimes leaving and entering a few times while talking to them will cement the idea as well. Most of all, know it is normal, it is difficult, and it, too, shall pass. When it does, you may be in for some fun, as hide and seek becomes the new game in the house! ! Dr. Tara Zandvliet welcomes your questions. Send them to questions@ southparkdoctor.com. She practices at 2991 Kalmia St. Phone: (619) 929-0032.
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COMMUNITY
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University Avenue Improvements Coming Your Way
The University Avenue Mobility Plan Project The UAMP project proposes multi-modal improvements along University Avenue, between Florida Street and Boundary Street, within the city of San Diego’s community of North Park. The project will incorporate: • Roadway Improvements: traffic signals, raised medians, turn pockets, and re-striping. • Transit Improvements: transit-only lanes, transit stop consolidation. • Pedestrian Improvements: Enhanced pedestrian crossings, curb extensions/pop outs. In addition, parking modifications will remove on-street parking where the transit-only lanes will be plaved and the restriping of on-street parallel parking spaces to angled parking spaces along both sides of several adjacent side streets north of University Avenue. The project will also relocate some existing utilities and infrastructure. The proposed improvements would be constructed in phases, dependent on funding.
Project will improve traffic flow and create pedestrian friendly environment BY CITY NEWS SERVICE
The San Diego City Council on July 27 removed a roadblock from a project meant to improve University Avenue in North Park by unanimously rejecting an appeal of an environmental impact report. The appellant, Trenton Riley of San Diego City Homes Inc., contended that the project would remove parking spaces that small businesses depend on for customer convenience. He also objected to the addition of a median along the roadway that would be installed without landscaping. City staff said they planned to
compensate for the reduction of 91 spaces on University Avenue by creating head-in parking spots on the nearby state streets, so the neighborhood would see a net gain of three spaces. The area’s businesses would have to fund maintenance for any landscaping installed along the median, according to staff. The project will cover a mile and a quarter of University Avenue between Florida and Boundary streets, west of Interstate 805. Besides the median, new leftturn pockets will be created, and lanes dedicated to bicycles and
public transit will be formed. Councilman Todd Gloria said the small businesses that line the heavily used street will start getting more customers because the area will be more walkable. The action, he said. would allow one of San Diego’s hippest neighborhoods to continue growing and thriving. Work is scheduled to begin in the fiscal year that starts July 1, 2016, and take around a year and a half to complete, according to Gloria’s office.
Why are these improvements being proposed? The city of San Diego and community stakeholders developed a series of innovative traffic calming concepts for University Avenue to help enhance and rediscover the University Avenue corridor as a pedestrian- and transit-friendly environment. A concept plan was developed that integrates a series of traffic calming elements and multi-modal improvements with the goal of improving mobility along the University Avenue corridor. The purpose and objectives of the UAMP project include: • Improve traffic flow and safety • Improve transit flow • Create a pedestrian friendly environment • Reduce speeding • Accommodate bicyclists • Reduce bus conflicts • Beautify the corridor
North Park Commercial Building Sold for $925,000 A vacant commercial building in North Park that once housed the Cabrillo Dental Lab has been sold and the new owner is marketing the space for either a craft brewer operation, a restaurant or office use. The 2,500-square-foot building is located on 30th Street, between University and Lincoln avenues. It was built in 1947. The sellers, Chester L. Willis and Janice B. Willis, originally purchased the building in 1993 for $130,000 and utilized the space for their business,
Cabrillo Dental Lab. It was purchased by Paul Sloman and Virginia Sloman for $925,000. Limor Spilky, senior associate of commercial property investment sales for Location Matters Brokerage Services, represented the sellers in the transaction. The lease rate for the building is $2.25 per square feet. The front of the building is shabby, but Paul Sloman said the it will be rehabilitated.
Even with the shabby exterior, the vacant building sold for $925,000.
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COMMUNITY NEWS Yo La Tengo, Blitzen Trapper Highlight San Diego Music Thing Event
Yo La Tengo and special guest Blitzen Trapper will perform at The Observatory (formerly the North Park Theatre) on Nov. 12 as part of this year’s San Diego Music Thing. The San Diego Music Thing is a two-day music and media conference and festival scheduled for Nov. 12-14. Registrants have the opportunity to improve their knowledge of the music business through interactive and roundtable sessions with nationally-known panelists and featured speakers who represent the best and most innovative aspects of the music business. Day time activities include a trade show,
Yo La Tengo
Blitzen Trapper
Viet Cong
happy hour parties, listening stations and pop up live performances as well as a chance to meet and mingle with top industry professionals and artists. Evening activities include the Music Fest, with over 150 local, regional and national bands performing at venues around San Diego. The conference portion of the festival is moving back to the Lafayette Hotel in North Park. OrderUp Food Delivery App to Launch Aug. 17 In San Diego — North Park Next
Nationwide food delivery app OrderUp will officially enter the San Diego market on Monday, Aug. 17, as OrderUp San Diego -- initially serving the communities of Pacific Beach and San Diego State University. Long-term plans are to expand to additional neighborhoods, including North Park. OrderUp, acquired by Groupon, allows users on-demand delivery of a variety of cuisine and beverages from local eateries. OrderUp San Diego is locally owned and operated out of Pacific Beach. In preparation for its San Diego launch, owner Andrew Kootman carried out beta market testing near SDSU, where the app became popular with college students and university employees. The company then expanded its reach to Pacific Beach, partnering with more than 25 additional restaurants. To date, OrderUp San Diego has delivered more than 30,000 orders, and long-term plans place OrderUp San Diego in additional neighborhoods including North Park, Hillcrest, Downtown San Diego and more. United Way Promotes North Park’s Katie Sawyer
The Joy Formidable
Here We Go Magic
Katie Sawyer, a resident of North Park, has been promoted from senior development executive to director of philanthropy at United Way of San Diego County. Sawyer, who has successfully led corporate development efforts and managed the Women’s Leadership Council as United Way’s senior development executive, will work closely with the organization’s major philanthropic group the Alexis de Tocqueville Society in her new role as director of philanthropy. Prior to joining United Way’s staff, Sawyer served as executive director of Girls on the Run of New Orleans. United Way also
Katie Sawyer
announced the hiring of Valin Brown as senior vice president and chief development officer, and Michele Predko as director of marketing and brand strategy. Brown served as CEO for the Carlsbad Educational Foundation for seven years and previously worked with United Way in Colorado and Tennessee. Predko will lead advertising, communications, digital marketing and brand strategy – furthering the organization’s message with key audiences.
600,000 respondents from two nationally representative surveys — one of U.S. 12th graders and the other of adults — taken between 1976 and 2013. The goal was to understand how attitudes towards women’s work and family roles have changed in the United States since the 1970s. They found that millennials are significantly more accepting of working mothers than previous generations were at the same age. Only 22 percent of 12th graders in the 2010s believed that a preschool-aged child would suffer if their mother worked, down from 34 percent in the 1990s and 59 percent in the 1970s. “This goes against the popular belief that millennials want to ‘turn back the clock,’ or that they are less supportive of working moms because their own mothers worked. Instead they are more supportive,” said Jean Twenge, a psychology professor at SDSU and a lead author of the study. Twenge’s book, “Generation Me,” describes a generational shift toward individualism and narcissism. Finest City Improv Debuts ‘President Hilary’
Lemonade to Open Hillcrest Restaurant
Lemonade, the Los Angeles-based eatery that advertises its “fresh, healthy dining,” is scheduled to opening a new restaurant in Hillcrest in August. The company also is opening a restaurant in Westgate UTC. “We are so thrilled to be heading down south to the city of San Diego,” says Executive Chef and Founder Alan Jackson. “Hillcrest is a vibrant community known for its diversity, much like Lemonade — a place where everyone is welcome.” The cafeteria-style setting invites guests to eat with their eyes by grabbing a tray and selecting from a colorful variety of prepared dishes. The wide-ranging menu stresses simple preparations, celebrating California seasonal ingredients. The summer menu includes: Oxnard Strawberries, Arugula, Blue Cheese, Sherry Vinaigrette Pineapple Chicken, Green Beans, Coconut, Jalapeño, Jerk Dressing Roasted Beets, Melon, Frisée, and Hazelnut. San Diego State Research: Working Moms Acceptance at All-Time High
Research conducted at San Diego State University shows that societal acceptance of working mothers is at an all-time high. Researchers analyzed data from nearly
Finest City Improv will be premiering the San Diego debut of “President Hilary,” a satirical look at the first day in the oval office for the presidential hopeful. After a 3 a.m. phone call on the crisis phone, Hillary’s first day in the White House may be her last. The show opens Aug. 15 and runs Saturdays at 8 p.m. through Sept. 19 (closed on Aug. 29). Tickets are $10 each for this limited run. “President Hilary” comes to San Diego from a successful run at Second City Hollywood. Written by Marc Warzecha (Reno 911!, Mad TV) and Andy Cobb (The Rachel Maddow Show), the hour-long sketch show covers the whole Clinton family, Russia, FOX News, and even Joe Biden (and his talking hairs). Directed by Jeffery Howard. Jeffrey has directed in professional and academic theaters for 20 years. Finest City Improv is located at 4250 Louisiana St.
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FUN & GAMES
Dining with Lola – Lola and Pierrot visit MAVEN on Adams Avenue
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FAMILY CHOPSTICKS
Peking Restaurant — an unpretentious eatery that respects its roots Chinese restaurant menus can be long. It takes some time to read through one, and to finally select this chow mein, that rice, or a certain noodle dish. Peking Restaurant at 2877 University Ave. does have a lengthy menu, and it has a long history. Family owned and operated since 1931, the establishment has retained its sense of another time even as businesses and storefronts in North Park have disappeared or reinvented themselves to fulfill North Park’s “hipster” reputation. Go back to May 1935, and experience the growing economy and tourism in San Diego resulting from the California Pacific International Exposition in Balboa Park. Prohibition had ended two years earlier, and nightclubs came on the scene, promising alcohol, dining, and dancing. Frank Crover’s Furniture Company became Cho Book You Restaurant, serving patrons Chinese food a short distance from the activities in the park. Soon after, the name was changed to Pekin Café. Its red, green, and gold “oriental-style” façade, shaped to resemble a curved pagoda, still exists today. Next door is the old North Park Theatre, no longer showing cinema or staging live drama; instead the venue — Observatory North Park — features rock bands and craft beer and attracts a new generation of nightlife on University Avenue. Something for everyone, that’s one of the great things about the neighborhood. Today the business card reads: “Peking Restaurant” with “Cantonese
Since 1931, Peking Restaurant has kept its original neon sign—even with the old name.
Cuisine” printed under it. The elaborate signage out front still says “Pekin Café” and includes the words “Chop Suey.” Times change. The original owners were Chow Kay Leung and Leo Y. Fong, and although neither of them had any formal training as chefs, they had worked in Chinese restaurants prepping food, and eventually cooking the Cantonesestyle cuisine. Leo Fong’s son, Ken, married to Maria, who grew up in Mexico, have largely managed it in recent decades, and most of the family, including their three daughters, have worked and continue to help out in the daily operation. The girls remember starting in the restaurant at age 11 or 12, saying that some of their friends didn’t want to come to “dangerous” North Park in the 90s.
The Case of the Disappearing Ink Engineer Carl Yee invents a novel way to save paper BY KATE CALLAN SPECIAL TO NP NEWS
The fabled history of disappearing ink has taken an intriguing new turn in a South Park garage with funds from the National Science Foundation. Engineer Carl Yee has received a $150,000 NSF Small Business Innovation Research grant to advance his Paper Saver self-erasing inkjet ink. Intended for documents with short shelf lives, the ink gradually fades, leaving blank pages that can be reused for future printing jobs. Yee invented the ink in the garage of his South Park home, which is now the headquarters for his startup company, Blue Planet Ink. A Stanford University alumnus who holds 14 patents, he got the idea in 2009 when he was a stay-at-home dad. “I've always been interested in environmental issues,” he recalled. “It occurred to me that the amount of paper printed every day is incredible, so wouldn't it be great if we could
remove the ink and reuse the paper?” Yee began by rebooting skills he had previously used to design cars and medical devices. “Your first thought is always, ‘If it’s a great idea, then somebody’s already done it.’ So I did an Internet search and a patent search, and I didn’t find anything like this. “Then I thought, ‘I don’t know anything about printers or ink, but I know a lot about problem-solving, so I should give this a shot.’” Yee's first stop was the North Park Public Library, where he used the San Diego Circuit Consortium interlibrary loan program to obtain advanced chemistry textbooks from the UC San Diego Library. “It’s a fantastic resource,” he said. “The books guided me in experimenting with different ink formulas using safe agents, because consumers who are concerned about the planet won’t want dangerous chemicals in their ink.” By 2012, Yee had launched his com-
Donald P. Covington, in his book, “North Park A San Diego Urban Village 1896-1946,” reproduced an ad from 1935 in The San Diego Union that promised the allure of “exclusive booths” and the chance to dine and dance in the center of the restaurant, a la Fred Astaire. This was the place for the “best meal in the city” and, curiously, the menu then had an “American Section” with items such as French fries and a side of lettuce and tomatoes. As Chinese food became more popular, orange chicken and Mongolian beef were added to satisfy a taste for Asian dishes. Service is prompt and friendly. Prices seem out of date; the bill for a generous plate of Szechuan chicken and a steaming bowl of hot and sour soup, enough for four people, was only $20. The menu describes family style meals as Deluxe, Special, or Extra Special — that’s enough to tempt the adventurous eater! Asked for their personal recommen-
Contrast that to the celebrity sightings and television stars who have eaten at Peking Restaurant: Kimberlin Brown of “The Young and the Restless,” Tim Thomerson of “Silk Stalkings,” Mark Christopher Lawrence of “Chuck,” Pro Skateboarder Andy McDonald, Hector Jimenez from “Nacho Libre,” and Ali Landry, “the Doritos girl.” Today’s customers are greeted and shown to tables or red leather booths. The wallpaper is a subtle tan bambooprint, and Chinese lanterns, electric, of course, provide the lighting. Asian picutures and photographs decorate the walls. The décor has changed very little since the 1930s, although new flooring was recently installed. Back then, there was more privacy, as floor-to-ceiling Leo and Emily Fong. Leo Fong started the screens separated dining parties.
BY SUSAN TAYLOR
dations, the Fongs say their favorites are the crispy beef, Beef Cantonese with pan fried noodles , and chow fun with black bean sauce. One customer swears by the egg foo yung, and orders it every time she visits. Loyal patrons return again and again to see the familiar faces of Maria and Anna and other staff. Personal touches are evident, as when, one rainy day, Maria was seen chasing after a lunch diner with his leftovers in the small, white, to-go box typical of Chinese restaurants. The satisfying experience of eating at Peking Restaurant is culminated with a fortune cookie. What isn’t foretold is the future of the restaurant. The kids would like to see it make it to the 100-year mark, and why not? It has lived on despite arson and burglary in the 1980s, more robberies, modern trends in popular food (no brussel sprouts or bacon here), streets where period houses are remodeled and “flipped,” and the demise of neighborhood businesses such as the old Thrifty Drug where, if still hungry a few hours after chop suey, you could buy a nickel ice cream cone. Hopefully, North Park will still make room for what some would call this quaint, unpretentious eatery that respects its roots and adds flavor to the area. Someone thought well enough of Peking Restaurant to paint its portrait on a utility box at the intersection of Arnold Street and University, so it is doubtful that it will be forgotten anytime soon.
restaurant in 1931.
pany and approached the NSF for ments we print are only needed tem- compare the performance of both. So funds to help him figure out how to porarily, and 21 percent are discarded far, Blue Planet Ink is fading completeprevent corrosion from damaging the same day they are produced.” ly after two weeks, leaving pristine printer heads. After the agency turned The inventor also has become an ink pages ready for reuse. him down, he found a way to clear up historian. “I've tried to educate myself Yee is eager to apply for a Phase 2 the problem. Last year, he reapplied about all things disappearing ink,” he grant, and he is encouraged by the for NSF funding to refine his technol- said. “Over the years, it has been used NSF’s enthusiasm for his invention. ogy further, and the second time was for espionage and for crime. But that “They really want to help you comthe charm. was done with pens. I’m the first one mercialize your product,” he said. “When I went back to them, it to make it work with a printer.” “This ink would benefit society by preshowed a level of commitment,” he Yee is now focused on perfecting his serving the environment, and that said. “They told me, ‘You certainly are technology. For field tests, he uses would be a good return on investment tenacious.’” printers with two ink tanks, filling one for public funding.” NSF officials also were impressed tank with regular black ink and the that Yee had acquired an encyclopedic other with his dark blue indigo ink to knowledge of printing processes and paper use. “This project wouldn't have been possible 15 years ago,” he said. “Newer feed mechanisms are much improved, so there are fewer paper jams.” Citing data from the U.S. Census and the office supplies industry, Yee mapped out a burgeoning need for direct reuse of printer paper. “Last year, we used 14,000 sheets of paper for every office worker in America and 2,600 sheets for every American, including babies,” he said. “Business Week predicted 30 years ago that we would have paperless offices,” Yee added. “When email and the Internet first became popular, we expected paper consumption to go down. It went up instead, because there is more information to be print- The ink on the page on the left that Carl Yee is holding is gradually disappearing. The page ed. But 90 percent of all the docu- on the right is the original. (Photo: Kate Callan)
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Big-Box Stores Have Profoundly Altered American Retail Landscape Year zero in the history of U.S. big-box stores was 1962: In that one year, the first Wal-Mart, Target and Kmart stores opened. While the firms’ origins varied, their common focus was on deep discounts and suburban locations. Shoppers would arrive by car, not foot, so what mattered was highway access, acres of parking and massive scale. In the five decades since, the American retail landscape and built environment have been profoundly altered. At the end of 2013, WalMart had 4,700 stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, while Target operated nearly 1,800 locations and Kmart just over 1,200. Then there are smaller chains — still huge by any measure — as well as “category killers” and all the diverse residents of the shopping-mall ecosystem. While big-box retailers have stumbled in recent years, hurt by the financial crisis, the rise of Internet commerce and the increasing appeal of cities, they remain a powerful force: Walmart alone is estimated to employ approximately 1 percent of the American workforce and rang up sales of $444 billion in 2012, when it held the No. 1 spot in the Fortune 500. All that retail and economic muscle hasn’t come without significant controversy. A 2008 study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology indicates that Wal-Mart’s rapid expansion in the 1980s and 1990s was responsible for 40 percent to 50 percent of the decline in the number of small discount stores. According to 2014 research in Social Science Quarterly, a similar effect continues: On average, within 15 months of a new Wal-Mart store’s opening, as many as 14 existing retail establishments close. Other research has found that the arrival of Wal-Mart stores was associated with increased obesity of area residents, higher crime rates relative to communities that were not by stores, lower overall employment at the county level, and lower per-acre tax revenues than mixed-use development. Despite such well-documented effects, big-box retailers are often courted by cities and regions, as suggested by a 2014 paper from the Harvard Kennedy School. A 2011
ADAMS AVENUE NEWS northparknews.biz/digital MidCityNewspaperGroup.com Serving San Diego’s Premier Mid City Communities Chairman/CEO Bob Page BobPage@sandiegometro.com Publisher Rebeca Page RebecaPage@sandiegometro.com Associate Publisher Brad Weber ReachLocals@ MidCityNewspaperGroup.com Editor Manny Cruz Manny@sandiegometro.com Art Director Chris Baker cbaker@sandiegometro.com
Target has 1,800 stores nationwide.
report by a Missouri metropolitan planning organization found that over 20 years, more than $5.8 billion had been given to private developers in the St. Louis region, with a substantial portion going to retail-oriented projects. And because big-box stores dominate the malls in which they operate, subsidies continue long after opening day: A study of more than 2,500 stores found that 73 percent of mall anchors paid no rent. Instead, mall owners use their presence to attract smaller retailers that pay elevated rates in the hope of benefiting from the big stores. Some research suggests that small retailers in such malls indeed see more patrons, and municipalities that do attract big box stores can see increased tax revenue, although there may be revenue lost when smaller businesses fail. Still, a 2014 study from researchers at Stanford and the University of Michigan finds positive effects for wages, relative to pay levels traditionally available through small stores and firms: Indeed, the “spread of these chains has been accompanied by higher wages. Large chains and large establishments pay
Marketing/Advertising Kelly Pouliot kellysdnews@gmail.com -----------------------------Writers/Columnists Todd Gloria Bart Mendoza Delle Willett Anna Lee Fleming Sara Wacker Media Consultant Tom Shess Kmart as of 2013 had 1,200 outlets
considerably more than small momand-pop establishments. Moreover, large firms and large establishments give access to managerial ranks and hierarchy, and managers, most of whom are first-line supervisors, are a large fraction of the retail la bor force, and earn about 20 percent more than other workers.” Given the outsized role that chain retailers play in the U.S. economy, media coverage often focuses on business issues, such as the wave of closures hitting J.C. Penney and other firms, or the rise of “smallbox” urban stores. Wal-Mart’s overseas operations get a lot of attention, including its recent pledge to sell more U.S.-made goods, or an investigation into its use of bribery in Mexico. Workplace issues are also important, such as why openings at the company often attract hundreds
of applicants. For state and local reporters, particularly those on a municipal beat, the challenge comes in understanding the positive and negative effects that the potential arrival or departure of a big-box retailer can have. For example, if politicians propose tax-increment financing or other tax-based incentives for a retail project, is that an appropriate use of public funds? What are the potential effects, long and short term, on other retailers and employers in the area? Could an expansion of lowwage jobs increase use of taxpayerfunded assistance programs? (From the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy — Harvard Kennedy School)
Social Media Ali Hunt Photography Manny Cruz Sande Lollis Letters/Opinion Pieces North Park News encourage letters to the editor and guest editorials. Please address correspondence to Manny@sandiegometro.com or mail to Manny Cruz. Please include a phone number, address and name for verification purposes; no anonymous letters will be printed. We reserve the right to edit letters and editorials for brevity and accuracy. Story ideas/Press Releases Do you have an idea for an article you would like to see covered in this newspaper? We welcome your ideas, calendar item listings and press releases. For breaking news, please call us at (619) 287-1865. For all other news items, please email Manny@sandiegometro.com.
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Wal-Mart has 4,700 locations in U.S. and Puerto Rico
The entire contents of North Park News is copyrighted, 2015, by REP Publishing, Inc. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without prior written consent. All rights reserved.
MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | AUGUST 2015 | 9
Saints’ Beloved Beanie Maker Retires After 43 years and 8,600 beanies Making freshmen wear beanies is one of the more endearing traditions at St. Augustine, the all-boys high school located at Nutmeg and 32nd streets. For “Welcome Week” at the beginning of the school year, the incoming ninth graders must don their gold and purple beanies. And, heaven help the frosh wholeaves his beanie at home. For decades those beanies have been handed out without much fanfare. But no more. The person who has been stitching together each and every beanie since 1973 retired in June. What’s a 93-year-old Catholic school going to do in the face of a beanie dilemma? Who will replace Jean Shaw, the venerable beanie maker of Nutmeg Street? Fortunately, she hasn’t left the school in the lurch. “True to her ongoing loyalty to the school, she made her usual batch of 200 beanies for the Class of 2019 before taking her well-earned retirement,” said Edwin Hearn, Saints president. What about next year? The school is mum on a replacement. “We’ve got a few months to go before we panic,” said Hearn. If you do the math, that is more than 8,600 beanies to date. “I'd have
For one week during Frosh Welcome Week, new St. Augustine High ninth graders must wear their traditional beanie.
Jean Shaw, an administrative assistant at St. Augustine High since 1965, retired in June. The school’s beloved beanie maker has sewn more than 8,600 freshman caps.
never dreamt it would be that many when I started,” said Shaw, wife, mother, and grandmother to a long line of Saints graduates,“(but) I enjoy sewing and it helps me feel connected to Saints.” In 1965, Jean Shaw began to work at St. Augustine High as alumni secretary. Since then she has worked with five Augustinian and one lay principal. A native of Southport, Ind., Shaw
moved with her family to San Diego when she was 10 years old. She graduated from San Diego High and San Diego State University. She married Saintsman Leo Shaw (Class of 1949) and the couple has had three sons at Saints and a daughter at OLP (Academy of Our Lady of Peace). Two grandsons have graduated from Saints. Currently, she has three granddaughters at OLP and another grandson at Saints.
Each purple and gold beanie encompasses the brotherhood, tradition, and sense of community that St. Augustine High School proudly represents. “No other school I know of does anything like this, not “Uni,” not anyone,” insists Shaw, who can complete seven beanies in one hour when she is on a roll. However, that doesn’t mean the process is easy. Sometimes just one beanie alone can take up to a half hour to make. Multiply that by 200, and we’ve got a truly dedicated volunteer who believes in the loyal sons of Saint Augustine. Said Principal Jim Horne, “The beanies are special and very unique. It creates a bond for all Saintsmen, through all generations. They all wore a beanie and are part of the special
brotherhood and camaraderie.” The beanies are a part of the Freshman Welcome Week Tradition that has been going on for more than 90 years (even before Jean Shaw began making them). “The beanies are only worn during Frosh Welcome Week ... However, many Saintsmen cherish the beanie and wear it again on graduation day under their graduation cap,” said principal Horne. “These beanies come full circle by the end of their senior year, standing as a symbol of the brotherhood of Saintsmen, and the sense of community that is so strong at Saints.”
Saint Augustine to Get Long-Awaited New Gym Will be part of a new Student Community Center This fall, St. Augustine High will launch a $25 million construction project that will add a new Student Community Center — including a new gymnasium — to the 93-yearold North Park school. Completion is set for February 2017. “The new gym is a dream come true for the school’s late Principal John Sanders, who first envisioned the project in the 1990s,” said Edwin Hearn, Saints president. Additionally, a new off-street park-
ing lot will be constructed where the current outside basketball courts reside and the small auxiliary field will be moved in between the new Student Community Center and the current Dougherty Gym. The old gym will not be torn down but will be repurposed by the Nutmeg Street school. The construction should take 18 months from start to finish. “If all goes according to plan, the class of 2017 will graduate from this new facility,” said Hearn.
DPR Inc. was named the general contractor for this phase of construction. This is the same company that constructed Villanova and Mendel Halls and the underground parking garage below those buildings. Project excavation is targeted to begin Nov. 9. On Sept. 16, Saints is holding a neighborhood informational meeting at 5 p.m. in rooms 101-102 in Vasey Hall. David Pfeifer, the DPR architect, will formally present the construction plan to the community. Architect drawing of the planned Saints Community Center, which faces 32nd Street between Palm and Nutmeg. Construction begins Nov. 9.
Aerial view of the 7.5-acre St. Augustine High campus surrounded by 32nd St. (left) Palm (top); 33rd St. (right) and Nutmeg (lower). The new Student Community Center will be on 32nd St. A new multi-purpose field will appear as shown when the project is complete in 2017.
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By Bart Mendoza AUG. 20 High-Energy Sounds from The Little Richards Fans of vintage rock ‘n’ roll won’t want to miss a special free performance by the Little Richards on Aug. 20 at 6 p.m., making an appearance at the third anniversary party for vintage clothing store, The Girl Can’t Help It. Playing nothing but the classic ’50s-era songs of their namesake, Little Richard, the all-star band includes front man Robert Lopez, aka EL Vez, formerly of the Zero’s, keyboardist Diana Death of Flaggs, guitarist Pat Beers and drummer Lety Beers of the Schizophonics, as well as bassist Kyle Hoffman and guitarist Justin Cota of Gloomsday. It all adds up to a set of music that’s high energy fun and full of hits, from “Lucille” to “Rip it Up.” The Little Richards are heading to Europe to promote their debut album this fall, making this one of the last chances to catch the band locally this year – don’t miss it! facebook.com/thegirlcanthelpitvintage
AUG. 20 Kevin Cavanaugh’s Tribute to Morrissey British music icon Morrissey’s two shows at the Observatory Aug. 20 and 21 are sold out, but on that first night, ticketless fans of his music are directed one block east, to Bar Pink. There the venue will host a special piano bar night, featuring nothing but the music of Morrissey and his prior group, The Smiths. The tunes will be performed by Kevin Cavanaugh, best known as the man behind long running Caliph-based lounge/cover trio, Blue Velvet, with a great sense of humor to match his piano skills. While the music will be recast for solo piano and bar room antics, the spirit and melody will remain intact from the originals. Who knows? — perhaps Morrissey will be intrigued enough by Cavanaugh’s concept to wander over after the show. Either way, Morrissey fans will be thoroughly entertained by Cavanaugh’s set. barpink.com
Thursdays in September The Musical Genius of Gregory Page There is a long list of under rated musicians in San Diego and with three decades on local stages, acoustic troubadour Gregory Page is at the top of the list. He’ll have a Thursday night residency at Java Joe’s throughout September, the intimate coffeehouse the perfect setting for his wonderful ballads. His most recent disc, “One Way Journey Home,” produced by friend Jason Mraz, has brought him international acclaim, but one listen to any of the albums from this prolific musical genius will have you wondering why he isn’t a household name just yet. javajoessd.com
AUG. 22 P.O.D. Performs in CD-Release Event Local heavy metal heroes P.O.D. perform at the House of Blues on Aug. 22. One of the biggest successes to emerge from San Diego’s music scene circa the 1990s, the show is a CD-release event in advance of a major tour supporting their new album, “The Awakening,” which includes their new single, “This Goes Out To You.” It’s been over a decade since P.O.D. scored their biggest hit with, “Youth of A Nation,” but they have managed to keep their fervent fan base through touring and periodic releases that continue to hit the charts as well as build on the band’s signature hard rock sounds. houseofblues.com/sandiego
SEPT. 5 AUG. 30 Enjoy the Dizzying Sounds of Todo Mundo It almost sounds impossible, but on Aug. 4, members of punk legends The Sex Pistols, Blondie, Gen X will be at the Soda Bar. Performing under the name the International Swingers, the quartet features drummer Clem Burke (Blondie), bassist Glen Matlock (The Sex Pistols), guitarist James Stevenson (Gen X) and frontman Gary Twinn, essentially performing their greatest hits, from “Dancing With Myself” to “Pretty Vacant.” It’s like an ultra-hip jukebox, with one classic track reeled off after another, and stellar playing from all involved. But keep an eye on Burke — one of the world’s greatest drummer’s is also a master showman. sodabarmusic.com
Legendary Blasters Return to the Casbah When it comes to the roots rock revival of the 1980s, none did it better than the Blasters. The legendary band returns to the Casbah for a show on Sept. 5, in its latest incarnation, still featuring guitarist and frontman Phil Alvin, bassist John Bazz and drummer Bill Bateman alongside “new” guitarist Keith Wyatt, who replaced original guitarist Dave Alvin in 1996. The band released its most recent album, “Fun on Saturday Night,” in 2012, but expect the biggest cheers to be for early and much covered favorites, such as “Marie, Marie” and “American Music. barpink.com
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The 1948 Cadillac design by Harley Earl.
‘Fins and Wings’ and Other Things Automotive Museum puts spotlight on postwar car design It took a World War II fighter aircraft — Lockheed’s twin-tailed P38 Lightning — to inspire the start of one of the major design features of the American automobile in the years following the war. The origin of fins on cars began when Harley Earl — bringing to mind the striking tails of the fighter — designed the 1948 Cadillac.
From then on, much of automotive design took cues from the latest technological advances and cultural trends that were occurring during the prosperous years after the war. Cars were bigger, roads were better, and Americans took to the streets and highways with a new passion for driving. The San Diego Automotive
Museum’s latest exhibit, “Fins and Wings,” traces the history of that period in the automobile industry. Designs started off small and transformed into the tall piercing fin with taillights. Some looked like jet flames and others had more curves to look like the afterburners of space rockets. The 1959 Cadillac
Harley Earl took inspiration from the P38 Lightning fighter when designing the 1948 Cadillac.
SEE BALBOA, Page 12
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BALBOA
The fins of the 1961 Cadillac Fleetwood resemble an aircraft’s wings.
BALBOA Plymouth’s 1960 Fury.
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had two thruster “flames” on each fin. The 1957-1959 Desoto had three. The incorporation of the tail light into the fin design was pushed to new heights and beauty. The 1960 Chrysler New Yorker and 300 were stunning examples of fin design. General Motors and Chrysler embraced the boldness of the fin. They engaged in a game of oneupmanship to see who could produce the highest, flashiest fins. Ford took a more restrained approach and produced beauties such as the 1957 Thunderbird with its subdued and elegant fin. Later, Ford enlarged the afterburner taillights in the shape of turbine engines to ensure
the impact and flash of the design. While fins were sometimes hyped as functionally dysfunctional and only used for looks, they indeed had a function. They were a symbol of prosperity and a fine design tool which sold cars. According to Harley Earl, tailfins gave customers an “extra receipt for their money in the form of a visible prestige marking.” Some of the most iconic fins almost did not exist. General Motors had already perceived the fin to be outdated by the late 1950s. They were already planning to shelve the fin design. What GM had planned for car design could be seen in the 1958 Chevrolet with fins becoming more horizontal and curvaceous. General Motors went even more radical with the 1959 “Bat Wing”
Chevy and the outstanding Buick Electra. A young designer named Chuck Jordan happened to drive to the Chrysler Factory and saw rows of the big-finned “Forward Look” Plymouths. Jordan and other younger designers warned the senior design staff that General Motors was going to be out-designed and also outsold. General Motors tabled the planned designs and developed the larger fins, especially on the flagship make, Cadillac. The stellar 1959 Cadillac fin was the result. Fins were seen in every make and model. Station wagons had fins. The modified pickups Chevrolet El Camino and the Ford Ranchero proudly displayed fins. Some makes, such as the stunning Dodge Lancer, had staggered or double fins as did the intriguing Dodge Polara and the 1958 Packard. Plymouth had several outstanding fin designs. Even European cars such as the Mercedes Benz sprouted fins. The smaller auto manufacturers had notable fin designs. Studebaker, under the influence of Raymond Loewy, produced the outstanding Hawk series in 1957. Kaiser Frasier showed fins on the Henry J. The 1958 Nash Rambler had compact yet striking fins. Hudson had muted fins in 1957, its last year of production. As the postwar era moved on through the 1960s, the fin transformed into horizontal style cues. Fins became lower, wider, more incorporated into the body of the vehicle. The muscle car era produced one last notable aerodynamically functional fin, (which was now called a “wing”) and it could be found on the speed demon Super Bird and the Daytona. These were some of the fastest production cars made up until that time. Perhaps the fin has not entirely died. “Spoilers” remain a popular design detail, even on modern automobiles. While the glory days of the fin are past, the models produced during this era remain a testament to the joyous optimism and stylistic mastery of the times. Finned vehicles remain highly collectible and elicit sheer delight with owners and viewers alike. Earl’s directive in design was “Go all the way and then back off.” The radical designs of the fin etched an indelible mark on the legacy of car design.
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CRAZY FOR CARS Today’s car shows hark back to North Park’s early roots
1950 Studebaker
1958 Pontiac Bonneville
Gary and Sylvia Wright proudly hold their People’s Choice Grand Trophy for ‘Ruby,’ a 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air, at the 2014 North Park Car Show. (Courtesy of Katherine Hon)
BY KATHERINE HON
Classic cars will fill the Balboa Tennis Club parking lot at Morley Field on Sept.12 from 10 a.m. to 2 pm. This is the sixth year that the North Park Historical Society (NPHS) has organized its North Park Car Show, a family-friendly event celebrating North Park’s love of the automobile. Attendance is free. If you have a fine classic car or vintage motorcycle to show (pre-1990 is preferred), the exhibition fee is $10 for one vehicle and $20 for two or three. Visit NorthParkHistory.org for a registration form and car show information, or contact NPHS at info@northparkhistory.org or (619) 294-8990. The 2014 North Park Car Show grand trophy winner, a cherry-red 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air appropriately named “Ruby,” reflects the historic period when North Park was a premier shopping district. On the northwest corner of University Avenue and 30th Street alone, a shopper could buy stamps, prescriptions, and a sundae at Pioneer Pharmacy; ladies apparel at Ballard’s and men’s wear at Leo’s; as well as office supplies, corsets, books, and fabric in other stores. This intersection has been the “Busy Corner” since North Park’s beginnings in the early 1900s. The 2015 North Park Car Show poster car, an impeccably maintained 1928 Ford Phaeton, reflects the time when the automobile began to dominate the street scene. Streetcars originally provided the public transportation that allowed the sagebrush-covered mesas surrounding Downtown to develop with homes and businesses. In the late 1920s, the streetcars still served residents, shoppers, and visitors. But increasingly, the “machine” that had been a toy for the
affluent was becoming a family necessity. Henry Ford’s assembly line production of his Model T and generous labor practices of paying workers enough to buy the products they made enabled families to afford a personal automobile, and buy it they did. By 1920, half of all cars in the U.S. were Model Ts. Businesses focused on the automobile naturally increased with its popularity. Garages and full-service gas stations proliferated along University Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard. In March 1925, L.D. Selmser obtained a building permit for a tile and brick building on the southeast corner of 28th Street and University Avenue estimated to cost $18,000. Now the location of the Mission Restaurant, the building originally housed the Public Service Garage offering mechanic services, radiator repair, fluids, tires, and bottled gas. The Miller Brothers, Charles and William, operated an oil station they bought from Albert Winter at University Avenue and 30th Street in 1923, with an improvement of offering block ice for operation of home kitchen “ice boxes” before the advent of residential refrigeration. In 1928, the brothers moved to a larger facility they commissioned that stretched along University Avenue between Herman Avenue and 32nd Street. The elaborate automotive center provided gas and oil operations, battery and brake service, tire re-treading, headlight testing, and wheel alignment. The entire block became a Sav-On Drug Store and parking lot in the 1950s and has more recently been a CVS. Along with the convenience of personal transport vehicles came severe SEE CARS, Page 17
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BUSINESS
Skyride From Downtown to Balboa Park Aerial cable car system proposed San Diego city planners have long studied the possibility of creating a land corridor linking Downtown with Balboa Park, but not until today has anyone suggested an aerial cable car system that would carry people between the two destination points. That would be the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and the Metropolitan Transit System, who commissioned Parsons-Brinkerhoff to prepare a feasibility study for constructing a “Skyway” between San Diego Bay and the park with the use of aerial cable cars. “A ‘Bay to Park’ connection has long been identified as a key and desirable linkage between these two iconic features of the San Diego landscape, with the dual objectives of re-establishing Balboa Park’s relationship to Downtown and better integrating Downtown with the surrounding neighborhoods,” the feasibility study said. The proposal is to build a twomile Skyway in the Sixth Avenue corridor from the Gaslamp Quarter Downtown to Balboa Park. The system would include four stations — two at the ends and two intermediate ones. The Balboa terminus would be at the parking lot north and west of the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. The cars would be strung along cables from towers. The study said aerial cableways are particularly well suited to overcome obstacles such as railway lines, freeway, water bodies or changes in topography. “The cableway can also avoid the need to build the highly expensive infrastructure typically required for light rail transit or major dedicated rapid bus facilities,” according to the study. The proposed Skyway, it said, is essentially barrier free because it rises above the street and the towers supporting the sysem require a minimal footprint. The Skyway system initially would be able to carry 2,000 passengers per hour, but has the potential for highcapacity ridership — serving 4,000 to 5,000 passengers per hour. The travel time from end to end of the Skyway would be less than 12 minutes and, because of the four station locations, would have the ability to serve a mix of both local commuters and tourists. The feasibility study also included these findings: Market Research and Ridership Potential:
Assessment of the potential market for ridership indicates that the alignment would serve a mix of daily commuters and a significant number of local and out-of-town tourists. An additional ridership boost simply due to the “novelty” nature of the system would also be expected. Conservative ridership estimates range from 3,000 to 4,000 a day, with an average of between 751,000 to 1,100,000 patrons on an annual basis. Depending on fare pricing, this level of ridership could generate annual revenues from $1.9 million to $4.9 million.
Map of Skyride Route
Implementation Cost:
Initial rough order-of-magnitude construction costs are estimated to range from $65 million to $75 million for the two-mile alignment, or approximately $32.5 million to $37.5 million per mile. In comparison, the cost for a mile of light rail transit can range from $150 million to $200 million per mile, indicating the anticipated cost-effectiveness of the cableway technology when compared to other transit modes for this corridor. Operations & Maintenance Cost:
Preliminary annual operations and maintenance costs were estimated at $2.6 million to $2.8 million. Energy Consumption:
The all electrical system supporting the cableway would have a low energy demand, in the range of 1.8 million kilowatts per year. By providing an alternative mode of ransportation for commuter trips, the Skyway could cause a mode shift away from automobile trips, which would result in a reduction in GHG emissions, thus supporting the regional efforts to reduce overall carbon output. As the system expands, additional emission reductions would be anticipated as commuter trips increase. Funding Opportunities:
Finding and securing funding for any public transit project is a very competitive process. There are a number of viable funding sources, ranging from local improvements districts and public-private partnerships, to federal, state, and local transit improvement programs that could be sought. The innovative fea-
ture and cost effectiveness of the Skyway makes the project a strong candidate, setting the cableway apart from other more expensive transit systems and making it more competitive for transit-project funding opportunities and investments. Skyway Challenges and Next Steps:
There will be a number of challenges when moving forward with the proposed Skyway project. The studied alignment traverses two designated historic districts (Balboa Park and Gaslamp Quarter). Preliminary investigation indicates the Skyway could be an enhancement to both. Providing an aerial connection will increase access opportunity while lessening traffic and parking demands. Additional analysis and thoughtful integration will be required. The idea of cableway as an urban transit mode is a unique concept. The Skyway is a new transit mode that has not been implemented in California or within the United States and has the potential to be both a bold and creative solution for the region’s future mobility. In the 1980s, the San Diego region was a national leader in reintroducing light rail transit, which helped set the stage for light rail transit to again be considered a viable mode of urban transport across the county. In a similar manner, the Skyway has the potential to be the next generation of mobility, once again placing San Diego at the forefront of transit and mobility innovation.
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More Apartments Coming to North Park Alliance Residential purchase property to build 118-unit apartment community Alliance Residential has purchased property at 4220 Arizona St. from Community Housing Works to build a 118-unit multifamily apartment community. The property — which currently has a 49,500-square-foot office building that was previously used as an AT&T administrative office — was sold to Alliance for $7.1 million. CBRE, which announced the sale, said the multifamily site will feature high-quality, urban contemporary design with stucco exterior and select accents. The apartments will include studio, one- and two-bedroom units ranging in size from 550
to 1,300 square feet. Skyport Studio completed the conceptual design and architectural renderings. 4220 Arizona was designed to emphasize pedestrian activity with a blending of the public and private amenities through landscaped plazas and community serving areas. The apartments will feature private balconies, washer/dryer units and community amenities including a roof deck, bike storage, elevator services, storage units as well as large common amenities space. Community HousingWorks entitled the site jointly with a 76-unit
proposed affordable senior development that will be immediately west of 4220 Arizona Street. Community HousingWorks is developing the senior site into a complex of seven studios, 66 one-bedroom, and three two-bedroom apartments. Community HousingWorks is partnering with the San Diego LGBT Community Center to design the senior apartments as an affirming and supportive environment for LGBT seniors, with The Center’s Senior Services staff providing services welcoming to the entire senior community of residents.
An artist’s rendering of the 118-unit apartment project that Alliance Residential will build at 4220 Arizona St.
LouisV Row Homes in North Park Capture Attention and Awards The LouisV row homes on Louisiana Street, completed earlier this year by San Diego-based Nakhshab Development & Design, are catching the attention of neighbors and design organizations. The five-unit development has captured Awards of Merit at the 2015 Pacific Coast Builders Conference Golden Nugget Awards. At LouisV, a sleek wall of glass spans the trilevels’ street-facing residence to showcase a dramatic, floating staircase of steel and wood that doubles as an exterior and interior sculptural feature. Four other row homes, each with large balconies for entertaining that flow seamlessly from the indoor living area, complete the innovative development. Four of the units are two-bedroom, two-bath, and one is threebedroom, three-baths. Each unit is three stories and features a large patio on the top floor that extends out from the open concept living/dining/kitchen area. And each unit has a semi-private garage. All of the units have been sold: • 1 unit, 2,278 square feet — $780,000 • 3 units, 1,705 square feet each
— $650,000 each • 1 unit, 1,570 square feet — $630,000 LouisV is regarded as effortlessly fitting the neighborhood thanks to The LouisV row homes are located at 4106, 4108, 4110, 4112, 4114 Louisiana St.
its own simple, clean lines that, while modern and different, complement the historic residences of North Park. Each of the three-story homes features urban views and a large
indoor-outdoor living area on the top floor. Designed to be luxurious, they offer sophisticated, modern features and finishes. Quartz countertops are used throughout along with custom metal work and railings that endow each unit with an impressive sense of uniqueness. Atrium-style entrances flooded with light create drama, and are ideal spots to showcase the owner’s art. Gourmet kitchens open onto large living areas and expansive decks, and are equipped with topof-the-line appliances and custom mahogany cabinetry. Here, the indoors and outdoors merge in a free-flowing space ideal for entertaining. The high-quality fixtures extend to the oversized bathrooms, which include luxury showers and details. Nakhshab Development & Design incorporated other design elements like positioning stairs along common walls to serve several purposes, including building sound and visual barriers that result in greater privacy. Each row home also includes a ground-level, semi-private two-vehicle garage.
ARTS
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Girl Scouts’ Urban Campout: Island Treasures
3 Local Artists Exhibit in ‘Burnt Toast’ TPG2 (Thumbpring Gallery 2) will present the exhibition “Burnt Toast” featuring new works and mural installations by Eric Wixon, MR. DVICE and Nick McPherson. The exhibition opened Aug. 1 and will be open to the public for viewing through Aug. 31. Having collaborated in the past on an indoor mural commissioned by Allett Wallets, Eric Wixon, MR. DVICE, and Nick McPherson reunite once again, producing all new work to be displayed alongside their respec-
tive indoor murals. Known for their colorful and whimsical imagery, the three local artists remind us that fine art does not always have to be serious and intellectualized. Wixon’s multi textured partially abstracted faces and DVICE’s seemingly mischievous “goons” beg to be recognized within chaotic line and brush work while McPherson’s illustrations extract and accent his imaginative humor in found photos. Thumbprint Gallery, located at
1475 University Ave., was founded in 2009. The gallery curates monthly exhibitions featuring emerging, mid-career, and established artists with a focus on urban art and pop surrealism. The gallery seeks to provide an engaging atmosphere to view art by bringing people together in appreciation and support of local, national, and international artists.
Co-chaired by Karen Benito and Denise Scott (center row, standing, left to right), Girl Scouts San Diego’s Urban Campout: Island Treasures is set for Friday, Sept. 11, 6-10:30 p.m. Benito and Scott are surrounded by Urban Campout committee members (from left, circling around back) Shannon Bryant, Halina Haddad, Nadine Daleo, Liza Crisafi, Debbie Rider, Paul Nestor, Barbara Kramer and Tange Gavin.
Adults, get ready to soak up tropical adventures for a great cause: Girl Scouting! Come out to play under the stars on Friday, Sept. 11, 6-10:30 p.m. for Urban Campout: Island Treasures. The tropical-themed event takes place at Girl Scouts San Diego’s Balboa Park property, 1231 Upas St. Dress in beach vacation attire, costume or casual, TGIF attire. Dig your toes in the sand as you play coconut bowling, pineapple ring toss and archery, savor gourmet fare, sip cocktails, bid on auction items and dance to live music by The Heroes. Karen Benito and Denise Scott cochair the 18th annual “fun fundraiser
for grown-ups,” which helps keep Girl Scouting available and affordable for girls in grades K-12. Sponsors include Qualcomm (Silver level); Wells Fargo, Holland America Line, Southwest Airlines and Nadine & Carlo Daleo (Bronze) and Trailblazer contributors SDG&E, Cox Communications, Sharp Health Plan, Sycuan Casino, Tipton Honda, Barbara and David Groce, Patti Roscoe and Jim Tiffany, and Dan and Katie Sullivan. For details on sponsoring, volunteering for, or attending Urban Campout: Island Treasures, visit www.sdgirlscouts.org/uc or call (619)
Painting by Eric Wixon.
found photo-nick McPherson
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CARS
traffic problems. In September 1928, the San Diego Daily Transcript noted, “The report of the U.S. Department of Commerce, just made public, in connection with automobile fatalities in cities throughout the country, shows that San Diego again leads all ...” Controls at busy intersections were needed, and North Park’s Busy Corner was one of the six intersections in the city of San Diego deemed the most hazardous due to the intensity of vehicular traffic. In January 1927, the San Diego Daily Transcript reported, “The six new semaphore traffic signals decided upon by the city Council will be located at fifth and B, sixth and C, fourth and C, and three on University Avenue at Park, Thirtieth, and Fifth.” The semaphore signal had a large disk labeled with the words “STOP” and “GO” mounted on a pole. Flashing red and green lights at the base of the disk
helped draw the driver’s attention to the new concept of traffic control. University Avenue was not the only focal point for traffic. Before the streetcar tracks were laid along University Avenue east of Georgia Street in 1907, El Cajon Boulevard (then El Cajon Avenue) was the main wagon road connecting Downtown with East County’s rural settlements. In the 19teens, the few owners of early automobiles raced their machines on the single lane dirt road. Over the ensuing decades, the road was paved and widened. On March 12, 1937, a city ordinance changed the name of El Cajon Avenue to El Cajon Boulevard. In that year, the road was widened by 100 feet and received new pavement and lighting to recognize its status as the terminus of Interstate Highway 80. The El Cajon Boulevard of Progress Festival held Oct. 15, 1937 celebrated the governmental acceptance of the official entrance of Interstate Highway 80 into San Diego. California Gov.
A semaphore traffic signal at University Avenue and 30th Street installed in 1927 had a simple design. (Courtesy of North Park Historical Society)
James Daigh, a high school student in 1963, snapped this photo of JFK’s motorcade past Rudford’s Restaurant near El Cajon Boulevard at 30th Street. The president was heading to San Diego State College to deliver a speech and accept an honorary degree. (Photo courtesy of James Daigh and Tom Shess)
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Frank Merriam led a two-hour parade of decorated automobiles and 80 floats from Euclid Street to Texas Street, and cut a golden ribbon across Texas Street officially accepting the boulevard as the final western segment of U.S. Highway 80. Car-centric businesses along the boulevard included drive-in restaurants as well as garages and service stations. El Cajon Boulevard became the center of post-World War II hot rod cruising culture and the site of the “Dragster Riot” on Aug. 21 and 22, 1960, when protests against the closing of a drag strip at Miramar Naval Air Station got out of hand. An indelible community memory formed along El Cajon Boulevard on June 6, 1963, when President John F. Kennedy rode from Park Boulevard to Aztec Bowl to deliver the commencement address at San Diego State College. More than 250,000 people lined the parade route to see his motorcade pass. That moment is captured in a mural on the outside wall
of Rudford’s Restaurant at 2900 El Cajon Blvd., a building originally constructed in 1938 for a diner that became the business of John T. Rudford in 1949. The automobile has been part of the culture of North Park from the beginning of the community. Join NPHS at its annual celebration of cars and neighborhood on Sept. 12. For more history, go to Paras Newsstand
at 3911 30th St. for Donald Covington’s book, “North Park: A San Diego Urban Village, 1896-1946,” published by NPHS in 2007. Also available at Paras Newsstand (among other North Park stores including Kaleidoscope and North Park Hardware) is NPHS’s latest book, “Images of America: San Diego’s North Park.”
COMMUNITY
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Market Report San Diego office market surges as tennants gobble up space
Putting Your Home on the Market Tips on how to insure a sale Homes in North Park are selling quickly these days. When this happens, people tend to think that selling a home is very easy. I have heard people say “anyone can sell a home these days.” Some people feel that all they need to do is take photos, put a For Sale sign in front of the house, put an add on a free website and, viola!, offers will come in. They may be right. Anyone can put a home on the market, but this does not mean that they will be able to sell it for top dollar or be able to sell the home at all. There is more to selling a home than just receiving an offer. That is the easy part of the process. More important than receiving an offer is keeping the transaction from falling apart so that the buyer does not cancel. Part of selling a home requires cross qualifying all potential buyers. Making sure that the potential buyer qualifies to buy your home is extremely important so that in 30-45 days after accepting the offer the transaction does not fall apart because of financing. Another thing to ensure success is to have great negotiating skills (this is critical). It’s also important to know what to do once the buyers do their inspection and the inspector finds things wrong with the home that you were not aware of. There are certain things that come up when selling older homes in North Park and other metro neighborhoods of San Diego that tend to scare buyers. One, in par-
ticular, is a failing foundation (cracked perimeter wall, post, and piers that need to be replaced) that needs approximately $20,000$50,000 to fix. Other things that worry them are leaking sewer lines that are corroded that you, the seller, may have been unaware of. Other things that come up and are very common with our older homes in North Park are sewer lines that are shared with the neighbor’s house. Most people are unaware of this until they have a plumbing inspection done. This is when things start to get a little tense in the transaction and buyers back out of what could have been easily negotiated with someone who is experienced with these types of situations. Part of the job as experienced Realtors is to educate the buyer and the buyer’s agent on our older homes so they are not alarmed after doing their inspections. As local Realtors in North Park and South Park since 2004, these are things that we run into on a daily basis. There are ways to work through them without the buyer becoming scared and ultimately canceling. Once a buyer cancels, any and all inspection reports that they did while under contract with your property will have to be presented to the next buyer. Of course, the next potential buyer sees the inspection report and will most likely offer a lot less than the original buyer. Still, you must pass
BY MCT REAL ESTATE GROUP
the reports to the new buyer. This is a must, or you will be looking at potential lawsuits in the future if anything goes wrong with the property and the buyer finds out that reports were not presented to them during the escrow process. Knowing how to present a home to the marketplace and how to negotiate will protect you, the seller. You will ultimately receive the highest return on your investment by hiring an experienced local Realtor that knows how to work through these challenges. The Realtor that you hire should know how to handle such things that come up with selling older homes and should be able to negotiate on your behalf. If you think selling a home is expensive, imagine what it would cost if you were selling a home and running into these challenges. Not having an experienced Realtor to work through the maze of challenges negotiating on your behalf can be very costly to the seller. So yes, anyone can try and sell a home these days. The difference of putting your home on the market, not falling out of escrow, and actually selling it for the highest dollar amount possible is huge. It could be the difference of thousands of dollars in your pocket and a lot less stress for you when all is said and done.
BY DAVID MARINO
The commercial real estate market in San Diego County continued its strong recovery in Q2 2015. Coming on the heels of a flat first quarter, this past second quarter saw another 1,245,000 square feet of office, lab and industrial space come off the market throughout the region. To put that number in perspective, it amounts to 3.7 percent of all space available being filled in just one quarter. If absorption were to continue at this same rate, 14.5 percent of all available commercial space would come off the market in just one year. Robust job growth is driving the decline in office and lab space availability, and continued corporate health has pushed available sublease space down. Nearly a quarter of the space absorbed in Q2 was sublease space, with 300,000 square feet coming off the market, making sublease availability the lowest we have seen in years. Industrial space is filling up as well, with supply shortages seen in markets including Miramar, Kearny Mesa and Poway. Businesses seeking to expand their facilities are making bets on long-term leases to accommodate 2016 and 2017 growth expectations. We expect this strong demand to continue throughout the year, and into 2016. The hot market for biotech IPOs and abundant private funding has driven unprecedented growth in the biotech sector. In UTC, buildings formerly occupied by office tenants are being converted into life science facilities, and three speculative biotech buildings have broken ground, which will provide 300,000 square feet of additional space. Companies like Illumina and Lilly are breaking ground on new facilities, as there are no existing buildings in UTC to support their growth. Lab space in Torrey Pines
is also starting to fill up, and we can expect there to be a general shortage of wet lab space by 2017 if the sector continues to grow at the current pace. Class A office space in UTC, Del Mar Heights and Downtown continues to see a decline in availability, particularly in large blocks over 20,000 square feet. Tenants looking for office subleases in Mission Valley, Kearny Mesa and Downtown are going to find their value options limited, while there are still choices to be had in the other major office submarkets. New development is on the horizon in Downtown, including Manchester Financial’s Pacific Gateway project and Cisterra’s 7th and Market site, which combined will add roughly 1.3 million square feet of top-notch office space to the area. With the broad economic recovery in full swing, it was only a matter of time until landlords started winning, and we are definitely in a landlord’s market. There is tremendous optimism in the commercial real estate sector, as this San Diego regional recovery is being mirrored throughout Southern California. Unfortunately, the byproducts of this are rising rents, decreasing concessions, and the virtual elimination of free rent. In the next two years, there will not be nearly enough new construction to offset the decline of available space, so tenants are going to have fewer choices, and may have to compete for space. Tenants will need to move through their site selection process quickly and efficiently if they want to control their options and get the best outcome from their negotiations. David Marino is executive vice president of Hughes Marino, a San Diego commercial real estate company specializing in San Diego tenant representation and building purchases.
MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | AUGUST 2015 | 21
An Arts & Classical House
BY MARY ELLEN POLSON | ARTS & CRAFTS HOMES AND THE REVIVAL
The symmetrical plan is traditional; a wide hall points to Georgian precedent, while woodwork is Tudor.
The first decades of the 20th century produced the bungalow, a middle-class housing type that coincided with the popularity of the American Arts & Crafts movement. But prosperity also brought grander homes that exhibited a variety of style influences. Many of these homes, designed by architects for wealthier clients, shared elements of Arts & Crafts design — whether with English or Prairie or California tendencies. Today we call the houses Tudor or Spanish Revival or American Foursquare or Swiss Chalet; what they have in common is their embrace by Arts & Crafts tastemakers at the time they were built. A fine example is this stone house on Summit Avenue in the Hill District of St. Paul, Minn. Built during the height of the style wars, in 1911, it is well articulated and confident. The Beaux Arts and Colonial Revival styles jump-started by the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair were face-to-face with the modern Prairie School designs of Frank Lloyd Wright and others. “Historians have tied themselves in knots trying to coax the house on Summit Avenue into a stylistic pigeonhole,” writes Paul Clifford Larson, a Minnesota historian himself. Indeed, the house has an underlying Georgian plan, both neoclassical and Gothic ornament — and a foursquare exterior, with a vernacular use of local stone, which clearly shows Prairie School influence. To the extent that Arts & Crafts was not an academic, “period revival” style, but rather called for interpretation of ancient and familiar forms to create comfortable modern homes, along with respect for local tradition and high-quality artisan work, this is an Arts & Crafts house. It is also large and formal and quite unlike a bungalow. The man who commissioned the house was Charles Johnston (1861– 1942), who made his fortune buying and selling farmland. Perhaps the stolid, rectilinear aspect of the house recalls the prairie farmhouses in the area, both the cubic Italianates of the 19th century and the more recent
foursquare examples. The resemblance stops there, however; this house is monumental with its stone facing, large chimneys, tile roof, and the classical entry portico echoed in a porte cochere around back. Charles and Jennie Johnston’s architect was J. Walter Stevens, who had designed a Shingle Style summer cottage for them in 1890. Twenty years later, Stevens’ firm was called again to SEE CLASSICAL, Page 23
22 | AUGUST 2015 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP
Neighborhoods Fight Childhood Cancer
The Wonder That Is Burma
Normal Heights, Kensington and North Park raise funds The time is now to capture the innofor children’s cancer research cence of times past BY JONATHAN LANCASTER
Every year for the past 10 years Amy Miller and her husband Keith and their two daughters — Chai and Sage — have been raising money for pediatric cancer research by setting up a lemonade stand in their Normal Heights neighborhood — an effort that has bloomed beyond any of their expectations. The July 25 fundraiser, held at 3366 Adams Ave. and at two other satellite locations, set a goal of raising $12,500. Days later, Miller said a total of $13,200 was raised and she expected another $500 to $700 to come in. The events have raised money for the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer. The foundation is named for Alexandra “Alex” Scott, an 8-year-old who died of cancer in August 2004. When Alex was 4, she received a stem cell transplant and told her mother, “When I get out of the hospital I want to have a lemonade stand” to give the money to doctors to allow them to “help other kids, like they helped me.” Alex’s lemonade stand raised $2,000 and became so popular that events were staged across the country in neighborhoods similar to Normal Heights. Today, more than $100 million has been raised by the foundation, which gives grants to more than 500 research programs in the U.S. That first year that the Millers put
up the lemonade stand a total of $4,800 was raised. Since that 2006 event, the local campaign has raised about $114,000. The Millers initially did not want to put up another lemonade stand this year, but were coaxed into it by their daughters and by several of the volunteers who have worked the event. “This is a part of us now, it’s a part of the community,” said Amy, a teacher at Fuerte Elementary School in El Cajon. “It’s ridiculous to stop now. We’ll definitely do it again next year.” Establishing two other lemonade stands — one in North Park and the other in Kensington — generated a lot of excitement, which rekindled Amy’s excitement about the whole campaign. “It’s a different kind of work now — getting other people inspired, getting other people excited,” she said. This year’s lemonade event was dedicated in honor of Stephan Thomas, who died of a rare form of cancer a few years ago at the age of 17. “Stephan was a brilliant young man who had a kind heart and insight into others,” said Amy. “He still teaches us today even though he is gone, about what it means to be brave.” The Miller children will undoubtedly be involve next year. Chai is going into seventh grade at Albert Einstein
‘Team Captain’ Amy Miller with DJ Woods from FM radio station 94.9.
Chai Miller offers a cup of lemonade.
Middle School and Sage is going into fifth grade at McKinley Elementary. Several local businesses stepped into the campaign by donating a portion of their sales or products. They include Blind Lady Ale House, Thorn Street Brewery, Ponce’s, The UnOptical, Viva Pops, The Box Stop, Santos, Sabuku Sushi, and Sycamore Den, among others. The “Miller Tribe and Crew San Diego,” as the campaign calls itself, has established a website at: www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/1121680. Visitors can log on to get updates on donations, view photos and get other details about the campaign. For example, the website describes how Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation chooses its projects: “We carefully select our projects, vetting applications to make sure that our funding supports the most substantive and critical contributions to the field of childhood cancer research. Proposals are evaluated and rated by our scientific review board or nursing review board and approved by our board of directors. We look for projects that are likely to play a part in bringing the latest and most promising lifesaving treatments to seriously ill children. Specific guidelines are provided for each type of grant. We have funded over 500 projects at 102 institutions in 32 states and Canada.”
Volunteers attract attention to Alex’s Lemonade Stand in Normal Heights.
Recently, Myanmar (Burma) lifted major restrictions on tourist entry and travel into a wonderland of adventure and cultural highlights previously offlimits to all but the adventurous few. The priority is to make travel plans now before the genuineness and innocence of this grand experience changes and is lost forever by the onslaught of outside influences. Present day travel to these newly opened destinations, where the infrastructure will take months if not years to improve, will on occasion challenge those who choose to avail themselves of the opportunity. But with that challenge comes the grand reward. Each stepping stone to reach journey's end will be full of unique and exciting experiences. Untold treasures await the willing traveler who may find their accommodation a bit Spartan, however, find the sites and populace a true wonder. Mruak-U is a prime example. It requires a flight from Yangon to Sittwe, leading to a six-hour boat ride up river to the town. Impressive a site as it is, the traveler should also include a journey further up the road to another landing dock and boat ride up river to the Laytoo Chin villages where the generations-old farming methods and means of self-preservation remain fully intact. It is here where the villagers are as interested in the traveler as is the traveler in them. A rare opportunity, for this moment in time, to reach a site that has yet to be affected by the scores of tourists who will soon arrive and place their own mark on the region. Another prime opportunity is to visit the Elephant Camp outside of Kalaw, where, if you choose, you can avail yourself of the opportunity to ride atop these graceful giants as the elephant commences its gentle sway along the footpaths to the nearby river for its daily bath. The journey offers a trek down to Pindaya with a nighttime sleepover en route. One may choose a village stay or within a monastery. It is an easy passage, one not soon forgotten as you follow the country paths through villages en route to your waiting vehicle in Pindaya. Vast and beautiful, Inle Lake stretches some nine miles in length and four miles in breadth. It is here that you find the unique “Leg Rowers” who, while standing atop their longboard, wrap the lower leg around the oar and paddle both passenger and product to the innumerable floating villages and colorful markets. The long boats are used as well to fish the waters of the lake, with woven basket
Dhammayan Gyi Temple
nets to bring in their catch. Embarking on your private craft, you will glide across the waters to the western shore of the lake to discover the beauty of the hidden Indein Pagoda. Following a stair path, discover one of the more amazing sights on the shoreline, consisting of hundreds of small stupas laced with overgrown moss and vegetation. Continue on an easy pace along one of the many creeks, passing rice paddies and cropland to the village of Sae Mae, where you will find generationsold traditions to be a daily norm. An onward flight carries you above the brilliance of glittering temples set afire by the morning sun as you follow the flow of the Irrawaddy to the plain of Bagan (Pagan). Dating back to 108 A.D., the town was destroyed by Kublai Khan in 1287. Most of the 13,000 pagodas, stupas and temples that once graced the plains of the city are now long gone; however, the remaining 2,000 or more orate the former elegance and stature once displayed throughout this land. The panorama of temples and chortans against a backdrop of surrounding hillsides and the mighty Irrawaddy are as much an experience of feeling as they are a beautiful sight. Pictures cannot capture the essence of what is found on these plains; words cannot describe the feelings inspired by such beauty, such grace and such history. Pagan, known as the capital of Buddhism during its “Golden Age,” provides local inhabitants with a measure of pride that reads clearly across their faces and in their strides. First Cabin, established in 1989 is offering the Burma Explorer (www.firstcabin.com/burma__explorer.php) within its Special Offer selection of tours; the itinerary of which includes an array of exciting sites and regions to visit within Myanmar. First Cabin specializes in custom touring, offering a chauffeured driven car, private guide, accommodation with breakfast and lunch daily at prices beginning at $185 per person per day, excluding airfare. Certainly the time is now to be planning a visit before the onslaught of tourism begins to reach into the backcountry, which will inevitably change the grandeur of the experience. First Cabin Travel www.firstcabin.com customtouring@firstcabin.com Phone: (858) 395-1076
MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | AUGUST 2015 | 23
There’s a Comic for That San Diego State University’s Comic Arts Collection celebrates the diverse world of comics in both an artistic and academic sense There’s more to the comic arts world than pop art and Batman. Go beyond the traditional scope of the genre and you will find a provocative world rich with diverse tales of unlikely heroes and avantgarde artistic expression. The San Diego State University Comic Arts Collection is one of the fastest growing academic comic collections on the west coast and is an invaluable resource for academics and the comic-obsessed alike. Housed within SDSU’s Special Collections and University Archives, more than 20,000 comics make up the colorful archive, with titles ranging from beloved protagonists to underground, counterculture beats. The archive dates back to the 1930s, chronicling history from pre-World War II to contemporary feminist manifestos. “Comics explore what it means to be human,” said Pamela Jackson, an information literacy librarian. “They tackle every subject and they really reflect societal and political views of the time, so when you trace the history of comics, you really get a feel for what was happening at the time.” Unconventional Wisdom
When people think of comics, dynamic tales of superheroes and damsels in distress often come to mind. Contrary to popular belief, the comics world does not exist merely to entertain. A burgeoning realm of academia uses comic arts to explore historical and sociological perspectives of pop culture. One of the goals of the Comic Arts Collection is to serve as a haven for academics interested in integrating comics into curricula, and to increase the awareness of the value of comics and science fiction scholarship. SDSU’s Comic Arts Collection spans decades worth of rich tales of
the human experiences, narrating the darker sides of the human existence in an atypical way. It’s not always superheroes and save-theday stories. Some of the darker pieces housed within the collection include tales of 9/11, abortion and autobiographical accounts depicting depression and angst. A comic Loving Community
The Comic Arts Collection is thriving thanks to the donations of individuals devoted to the genre. Although vintage and rare comics can carry a hefty price tag, the comic community prides sharing the love of the art over hoarding valuable pieces. “We benefit from a tangiblyshared philosophy of comics readership,” said Anna Culbertson, a Special Collections and University Archives librarian. “Most comic readers are more interested in sharing the experience with other readers.” A Safe Space
To accommodate the extensive collection, the Comic Arts Committee is hoping to create a space within the library to house the collection. “We want to make our collection more accessible,” Jackson said. “We want to alphabetize and organize our collection and encourage students and professors to use what we have. We also want to create more opportunities for undergraduate research.” A general need for more cataloging support in the library coupled with the need for more useful ways to describe these highly visual materials prompted the librarians to think outside the box. Culbertson and Jackson have turned to collector software that, with the help of much-needed support staff, provides an amazing publicly-browsable database.
‘We want to make our collection more accessible,’ said Jackson.
The Tudor–Gothic stair hall features a painted balustrade with Gothic details against a backdrop of carved oak board-and-batten wainscoting. A Louis XV settee adds curvy elegance.
CLASSICAL CONTINUED FROM Page 21
design the Summit Avenue house. The firm’s buildings are known for their high level of construction and design mastery. A walk through the house immediately recalls the motifs of the Arts & Crafts movement. Dark ceiling beams and high wainscots come from the same well that fed both bungalow and Tudor interiors. Hood moulds on the first-floor windows, an arched fireplace surround in the library, and the wainscots with chamfered battens have Tudor–Gothic antecedents. Compared to those in bungalows and suburban Tudors, the elements and motifs in this house are, of course, scaled up and elaborate. Ceiling beams in the dining room, for example, have a flowing grapevine carving on the arching pilaster that becomes a ceiling beam. The symmetrical plan of the house is an old standard: parlor and library on one side, dining room and kitchen on the other. The broad hall suggests Georgian design. The staircase is an interpretation of Gothic. The dining room has a
medieval feel in keeping with Arts & Crafts interiors. Yet the parlor is light-hearted, with an Adamesque medallion in the plaster ceiling and a faceted bay. In the 1910s and ’20s, outfitting public rooms often ran on gender lines: the library was always masculine, the drawing room or parlor often feminine. Current owners Matt and Lori Kustritz report that restoration of the first floor is complete, except for the kitchen. “We find it amusing when our guests say, “Wow, you’re lucky this house was so amazingly intact!” says Lori. “If fact, we’ve done a lot to restore it” — including work on the exterior masonry, some new windows, and replacement of the heating system. The biggest interior project involved the ornamental and plain plaster in the parlor. The couple bought the house frozen — no heat in a Minnesota winter. While chasing water leaks they’d chipped away at the ceilings in entry foyer and parlor to discover that suspended lath-andplaster ceilings were covering beautiful originals. A team of plasterers — all mature craftsmen in their 70s — came in to do an authentic restoration. As for the lustrous floors: “We didn’t touch them!” Lori
says. In furnishing the house with antiques, Matt and Lori Kustritz followed its history and spirit. Queen Anne and Georgian furnishings bring lightness to the strongly architectural rooms. Most of the pieces are 18th century, with a few exceptions dating to the 19th century. In the dining room, the George III three-pedestal table is ca. 1790. The Philadelphia chairs are Centennial vintage, ca. 1875. A terra-cotta figure, ca. 1880, lends personality. One portrait captures the 18thcentury Shakespearean actor David Garrick; the large pastoral painting is Italian and dates to 1750. Chandeliers, most with crystals, are ca. 1910 antiques; the one in the dining room is original to the house. Persian carpets warm the floors, as they did in 1911. “A lot of people ask if the house came furnished,” Lori says, “because our furniture just fit so well in the house.” Thanks to historian Paul Clifford Larson, courtesy Big Picture Press, and photographer Karen Melvin for their contributions to this article. (From Arts & Crafts Homes and the Revival)
24 | AUGUST 2015 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP
BACKYARD RENAISSANCE INAUGURAL SHOW Two Theater-Couples in a duet Backyard Renaissance Theatre Company will introduce itself to theater-goers with a show by one of their favorite playwrights. On Aug. 20, previews begin for Jez Butterworth’s “Parlour Song” starring the company’s founders, husband and wife team Francis Gercke and Jessica John, and friend and fellow-artist Mike Sears. The show is helmed by director Lisa Berger, who also happens to be Sears’ wife. The two theater-couples will present the show Aug. 20 through Sept. 6 in the BLKBOX Theatre at 3704 Sixth Ave. in Hillcrest. “Parlour Song” sets its focus on a demolition expert named Ned (Sears) who lives in a nice new house in a nice new development on the edge of the English countryside with his lovely wife Joy (John). It is an ideal middle-class life, not all that different from yours or that of your neighbor. In fact, Ned spends quite a bit of time with his neighbor Dale (Gercke) who also lives in a nice new house in the nice new neighborhood with his nice
family, swapping workout tips and stories from their jobs. But lately, Ned’s not sleeping and it may be his imagination, but it seems that item by item, all of his possessions are Backyard Renaissance Theatre Company presents “Parlour Song” Aug. 20-Sept. 6 BLKBOX Theatre, 3704 Sixth Ave. in Hillcrest Written by: Jez Butterworth Directed by: Lisa Berger
disappearing. Jez Butterworth, who cites Harold Pinter as one of his most major influences, is a master of exploring and exploding the unspoken in the everyday lives of the people around you. His other plays include the award-winning, Broadway-hit “Jerusalem” as well as “Mojo” (winner of the Laurence Olivier, Evening Standard and the George Devine awards), “The Night Heron,” “The
Winterling” and his most recent work, “The River.” “Parlour Song” opened at the Atlantic Theatre Company in New York City in March 2008 and the Almeida Theatre presented its European premiere in London in March 2009, directed by Ian Rickson. Artistic director Francis Gercke and executive director Jessica John specifically selected Butterworth’s “Parlour Song” as a launch for the company, which aims to create an “art to the gut” sensibility to resonate with the people they know and love. Gercke and John happened to know just the people they wished to collaborate with. San Diegobased artists Lisa Berger and Mike Sears are not only respected theater professionals but, like Gercke and John, are also married and immersed in the “mid-life” the play tackles. Both couples connected with the play’s edgy humor and surprising sadness. The four artists have worked together, in various pairings, before. Gercke directed Sears in Cygnet Theatre’s “Man From Nebraska” and John costumed Sears for both “Nebraska” and Cygnet Theatre’s “A
Mike Sears, Jessica John and Francis Gercke star in upcoming ‘Parlour Song.’ (Photo: Studio B Photo Productions)
Behanding in Spokane,” which was directed by Berger. Later this year, John will be directed by Berger, once again, in one of the La Jolla Playhouse’s Car Plays. “Parlour Song” marks the foursome’s first group collaboration. Backyard Renaissance’s performance schedule for all shows will be Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. There will be one Pay-WhatYou-Can Industry Night Show on
Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. For more information regarding Backyard Renaissance Theatre Company or to purchase tickets, visit BackyardRenaissance.com. Tickets can also be purchased in person on the day of the show (if available) beginning 1 hour before show time. Prices range from $10 to $24.