SD METRO NO 3 VOL xxxii

NO. 3 VOL. XXXII

Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger

HOW TO STEAL AN ELECTION (Image by Gage Skidmore)

The “Terminator” is back with a national plan to foil the gerrymanders

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GIVE DAD THE GIFT OF DONOVAN’S WORLD CLASS SERVICE OPEN 3PM - 9 PM, SUNDAY, JUNE 16, 2013.

2017 | ISSUE 3 Volume XXXII

Our mission is to always provide quality journalism for our readers by being fair, accurate and ethical and a credible resource for our advertisers.

COV E R STO RY How to Steal an Election The ‘Terminator,” former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the government watchdog group Common Cause are teaming up to try to overhaul how political maps are drawn in several other large states.

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Chairman | CEO Robert Page BobPage@sandiegometro.com Publisher Rebeca Page RebecaPage@sandiegometro.com Managing Editor Manny Cruz Manny@sandiegometro.com Graphic Designer Christopher Baker cbaker@sandiegometro.com Photography/Illustration Eric Peters David Rottenberg

Businesses Supporting Nonprofits

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As San Diegans, we are fortunate to live in a generous and supportive community where corporate sponsors significantly contribute to San Diego’s nonprofit organizations. As local nonprofit leaders will tell you, through company partnerships, their organizations — and others’ — receive more than just money.

Contributing Writers Andrew Dyer Stephen Moore Jennifer Coburn April Harter Enriquez Advertising SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR Rebeca Page

Get in the loop with SD Metro’s Daily Business Report. Sign up for daily emails on the latest business at sandiegometro.com

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The Judge as an Author

By day, Patricia D. Benke is an appellate judge on the Fourth District Court of Appeals in San Diego. But once she puts down her gavel, she picks up a pen and starts her second shift as an author. Her best-selling legal mystery series featured investigator Judith Thornton, but now she writes an account of Syrian immigrants.

BiCE Stands for Fine Italian Cuisine

Liz Goodgold is a branding expert who works with entrepreneurs and corporations to brand better and speak “gooder.”

Through consulting, coaching, training, and motivational speaking, she shares specific strategies on how to brand out, stand out, and cash in on your brand.

The Perfect Spring Staycation

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Nestled in the heart of San Pasqual Valley, The Bandy Canyon Ranch estate spans over 144 acres and is a short 30-minute drive from San Diego. You can explore the grounds and enjoy the rustic cabins, which offer a sense of charm and history unlike other vacation destinations nearby.

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P.O. BOX 3679 RANCHO SANTA FE, CA 92067 858.461.4484 FAX: 858.759.5755

SD METRO magazine is published by REP Publishing, Inc. The entire contents of SD METRO is copyrighted, 2017,

by REP Publishing, Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without prior written consent. All rights reserved. All editorial and advertising inquires can be made by calling or writing to the above. Editorial and ad deadline is the 24th of the month preceding the month of publication. Mail subscriptions of SD METRO are available for $50 a year for addresses within the United States. A PDF version of this issue is available at sandiegometro.com Additional information, including past articles, online-only content and the Daily Business Report can be found at sandiegometro.com. For reprints or plaques of articles published in SD METRO , please call Rebeca Page at 858-461-4484 All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any Preference limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or an intention, to make any preference, limitation or discrimination. “Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians; pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This magazine will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which in in violation of this law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this magazine are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD Toll-Free at 1-800-669-9777. Th Toll-free telephone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275.

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SAN DIEGO SCENE

SAN DIEGO SCENE

Rendering of the revamped buildings that once housed the San Diego Union-Tribune. (Photo courtesy of The Casey Brown Company)

Former Union-Tribune Property To Become Giant Office Campus The Mission Valley land that once housed the UnionTribune Publishing Co. will be turned into a 330,000square-foot office campus by The Casey Brown Company, which described the makeover as creating “a modern and highly amenitized work campus.”

The company announced that it is close to completing the first part of the revamping, and released several renderings of the property — to be called AMP&RSAND. “When the Union-Tribune stopped its presses in 2016, it made one final impression with the last characters of the traditional alphabet — the ampersand,” said Casey Brown, principal of Casey Brown. “AMP&RSAND is a historic location reimagined for the demands of the modern workforce. This final impression was not to mark the end of an era, but to signify that the best is yet to come, and we welcome you to explore the AMP&RSAND campus.”

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SAN DIEGO SCENE

Major Science and Technology Show Will Reside in San Diego When the world’s largest ocean science and technology show came to San Diego earlier this year, Scripps Institution of Oceanography staffed a pair of modest booths in the exhibit hall.

But the imprint of the institution on the show and its future was actually much larger. The San Diego officials who lobbied to bring an edition of Oceanology International to the area credited the institu-

tion’s reputation as an international leader in marine technology as one of the clinchers responsible for bringing the event to San Diego for the first time.

The show, which has drawn thousands of participants to its London location for decades, will now have a San Diego edition every other year.

Michael Jones, president of the Maritime Alliance, which led the effort to bring

Oceanology International to San Diego, said the symbolism of San Diego joining a city like London so rich in maritime history is unmistakable.

“Oceanology International is the largest ocean and science show in the world so to bring that to San Diego is a coup for the region,” said Jones. “Our goal is to grow this and maybe eclipse the mothership.”

Developer Kleege Enterprises Buys a Coronado City Block for $22 Million

Amobee Expands Digital Marketing Technology with Acquisition of Turn

Real estate developer Kleege Enterprises has paid $22 million to acquire a full city block in Coronado’s downtown section housing 29,665 square feet of retail buildings close to the Hotel del Coronado. The seller is a local family.

The property — called the Coronado Island Assemblage — consists of 29,665 square feet of retail buildings, situated on 49,948 square feet of land. Major tenants in the center include Mootime Creamery, Leroy’s Kitchen and Costa Azul. There are nine parcels that have been assembled over the past 40 years.

CBRE represented the buyer and seller in the transaction.

Singtel subsidiary Amobee, which has an office in San Diego, has signed an agreement to pay $310 million to acquire Turn, a longtime competitor in the ad tech space. Redwood Citybased Turn, founded in 2004, has more than 800 employees and 1,000 customers.

Singapore-based telecom company Singtel bought Amobee in 2012 to help the company expand further into online advertising. Since then, Foster City, Calif.-based Amobee has purchased four ad tech startups, including Gradient X, Adconion and Kontera.

The acquisition makes Amobee one of the largest independent buy-side

marketing technology providers globally, according to Amobee CEO Kim Perell, who is based in San Diego, The deal is expected to close within the first half of this year.

Turn offers advanced data and analytics solutions through a data management platform, allowing marketers to better understand customer interactions across ad formats and devices.

Turn also operates a demand-side platform that provides programmatic buying capabilities that automate the process of buying digital ads in real time across video, mobile and display for major brands including KraftHeinz, Toyota and L'Oréal USA.

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HOW TO STEAL AN ELECTION

COV E R STO RY

To make voters care about gerrymandering, cast it as action thriller villain?

By Laurel Rosenhall CALmatters

Grab a powerful political tool that few voters understand. Plan to fight in courts, statehouses and ballot boxes. Add an infusion of celebrity and more than a dash of cash.

It’s a recipe some activists are trying as they work to export to other states California’s model for drawing political lines — a change that ultimately could shake up Congress and the domination Republicans now enjoy.

Having collaborated to create California’s nonpartisan system for setting political boundaries nearly a decade ago, former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the government watchdog group Common Cause are now teaming up to try to overhaul how political maps are drawn in several other large states.

They’re supporting ballot measures in Ohio, Michigan and Missouri; helping with lawsuits in Wisconsin, North Carolina and Maryland; and lobbying legis-

latures in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Texas. The details vary in each state, but the overarching similarity is an attack on partisan gerrymandering in favor of a system more like California’s, which has removed a lot of the politics from the process of setting boundaries for legislative and congressional districts.

“The states that are thinking about these big changes are critical on the electoral map,” said Kathay Feng, director of the national redistricting effort at Common Cause. “These are all states where just in 2016… big battles were going on.”

The process for carving states into political districts is called “redistricting,” and while it may sound like a painfully boring word, it’s actually a potent political weapon. Drawing up the maps strikes at the bedrock of democracy: It influences how well elected officials represent their communities. That’s because regions can be divided in ways that dilute the concentration of Republicans or Democrats, giv-

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ing one party more power than it deserves based on its proportional share of the voters.

In North Carolina, the advocates note, 47 percent of the votes for Congress last year went to Democratic candidates—but Democrats only won 23 percent of that state’s seats. In Maryland, it was the reverse: Republican candidates for Congress won 35 percent of the votes, but less than 13 percent of the seats.

In those states, like most across the country, the party that holds power in the state legislature gets to set the boundaries for congressional districts. Supporters of independent redistricting say the system creates an inherently politicized process, where maps are drawn to continue to benefit the party in power. Critics of the independent system say elected lawmakers — unlike independent commissioners — are accountable to voters and can be thrown out of office if people grow unhappy with how they draw the maps.

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COV E R STO RY In California, voters passed ballot measures in 2008 and 2010 that took power to draw political maps away from the Legislature and handed it to an independent citizens commission made up of five Democrats, five Republicans and four people not affiliated with a major party. Politicians, lobbyists and campaign donors are not eligible to serve on the commission.

California is the only state that’s removed politicians from the map-drawing process, though 15 other states have taken the authority away from the legislature.

The change in California has benefited Democrats — they’ve picked up five seats in Congress in the last decade and won a supermajority in both houses of the state Legislature. That’s because the old maps were drawn to favor incumbents from both parties, and the new maps create more competition, said Eric McGhee, a researcher with the Public Policy Institute of California. More Democrats have been elected, he said, because the districts mirror the growing share of Democratic voters in the state.

“The plan is basically fair,” McGhee said. “The commission drew the lines to reflect the way the state had changed.”

Schwarzenegger is touting the California model — and urging change in other states — in a series of kitschy social media videos designed to maximize his movie star appeal. Using clips from his early films and a smattering of foul language, the videos are trying to make an arcane subject relevant to the masses.

“We’ve proven that gerrymandering can be permanently terminated,” the “Terminator” star says in one video. “Tell your

this state-capitol control has translated to growing Republican domination in Congress.

Democrats, beset by defeat in the presidential race last year and weakened by minority positions in both houses of Congress, are now crafting their own campaign to redraw political maps. Obama has said he wants to make redistricting a priority in his years after leaving office, and his former Attorney General Eric Holder is now leading the Democratic effort to be better positioned when lines are re-drawn in 2021.

Both the Democratic campaign and the nonpartisan Common Cause effort will need serious money to put initiatives on the ballot and fight lengthy battles in court. And that is where California — home to many politically-active billionaires — is also likely to come into play.

Feng, the Common Cause director, said she’s in early talks with Republican donor Charles Munger Jr., who bankrolled the ballot measures that created independent redistricting in California, and Democratic donor Tom Steyer, who has funded a variety of liberal initiatives. (Neither one has committed.) Schwarzenegger aide Bonnie Reiss said the former governor plans to raise money for the effort, as well as donate some of his own.

leaders to let the people decide who should draw their maps,” he says in another. “Hint: Not them.”

Schwarzenegger’s advocacy for the nonpartisan system marks a break from many others in the GOP. Republicans sued in 2011 to block California’s approach, but their case was thrown out by the courts.

Jim Brulte, who heads the California Republican Party, said independent redistricting is good “in concept” but not the way it’s played out in California.

“There were flat-out Democrat operatives on the commission in California that managed to get through the so-called independent process,” Brulte said. “So not everything that looks good on paper turns out the way it should.”

Nationally, Republicans have pursued a partisan approach to setting district boundaries that has been very successful.

After Barack Obama was first elected president in 2008, Republicans crafted a strategy to win control of state legislatures.

It worked. The GOP now controls 32 statehouses, while Democrats wield power in 14. Because in most states the congressional lines are drawn by state legislatures,

CALmatters is an independent public interest journalism venture covering California state politics and government. CALmatters.org

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Walk-ins Welcome © 2017 Church of Scientology of San Diego. All Rights Reserved. Scientology, Scientology Cross (Pointed), the Scientology Symbol and the Dianetics Symbol are trademarks and service marks owned by Religious Technology Center and are used with its permission. #S000105

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NONPROFITS

Businesses Supporting Nonprofits It’s more than just dollars As San Diegans, we are fortunate to live in a generous and supportive community where corporate sponsors significantly contribute to San Diego’s nonprofit organizations. As local nonprofit leaders will tell you, through company partnerships, their organizations — and others’ — receive more than just money.

When Teresa Stivers, the CEO of Walden Family Services, based in San Diego, talks about her corporate donors, she lights ups. In her nearly seven years with Walden, which provides services to foster and adoptive children and families, Stivers has formed many corporate relationships that have led to monetary contributions as well as in-kind donations. Many of these donors have employees who serve on Walden’s two boards of directors, which is a double bonus for her organization, as Walden receives support at the corporate level and from the volunteers. Not only do they have the company on their side, but the people behind the company as well.

Art Candland serves as chair of Walden’s Foundation Board of Directors, which oversees charitable fundraising and constituent services. Candland’s company, San Diego-based AJW Facilities & Construction, which provides restoration services for health care and life science industries, is a strong Walden supporter. So was his previous company Trust Employee Asset Management (TEAM), which Candland founded to assist with asset management for kids born with health or developmental

Scott Lewis of Voice of San Diego.

issues. As Walden serves foster and adopted children who are medically fragile, Candland’s understanding of special needs children makes his company and his personal commitment to Walden even more meaningful.

“Art is our chair, cheerleader, adviser for fund development, a mentor to some of the youth we serve and a motivator to our staff,” says Stivers.

Candland’s financial support to Walden goes far beyond his personal and company contributions. Under his guidance, Walden broke the $1 million mark in fundraising in 2016.

“Art is very generous himself and he tells everyone about Walden, even his dentist,” Stivers notes.

For Scott Lewis, editor-in-chief at Voice of San Diego, the first digital nonprofit news organization to serve a local community in the country, it is a flattering as well as mutually beneficial experience when a

Teresa Stivers of Walden Family Services (center) with donors, from left, Art and Michelle Candland of AJW Facilities & Construction, and Ron and Mary Alice Brady of the Brady Company 32 N D A N N I V E R SA RY 1 985 -20 1 7

corporate donor supports his organization.

“Corporate sponsors are attracted to the level of trust that Voice of San Diego has, and they want to be associated with that,” he says. “We have a bond with the community, and it is nice to recognized as bringing that to the community.”

Voice of San Diego has found a creative way to help its corporate partners promote the other non-profit organizations those partners support. Knowing it is difficult for nonprofits to generate awareness of their mission and the services they provide, Voice of San Diego founded Partner Voices. As a part of Voice of San Diego’s website, Partner Voices provides a platform for nonprofits to showcase who they are and what they do. Voice of San Diego’s corporate partners often pay for the nonprofits’ profiles. Partner Voices allows businesses to support their favorite organizations, those organizations to gain much needed visibility and Voice of San Diego to receive funding while helping others in the community — a true winwin-win.

Voice of San Diego also receives vital support through in-kind contributions from local firms. MindTouch Software has helped Voice of San Diego with its robust website. Local attorney Felix Tinkov and his law firm have provided in-kind legal services “far beyond what we could ever afford,” says Lewis.

Walden Family Services receives in-kind support from local businesses as well. Pamplemousse Grille and owner/chef Jeffrey Strauss opens the restaurant throughout the year to Walden to host special events. At the organization’s annual Wine D’Vine fundraising gala, Strauss auctions off the opportunity to have him personally prepare an in-home dinner.

“The great thing about Art, Jeffrey and all of our corporate donors is that they aren’t supporting us for their own rewards, they are in it for the kids that we help,” says Stivers. “Their kindness is phenomenal.”

And Stivers encourages all businesses to get involved with the community. “No matter what a business’ core services or products are, there is a San Diego nonprofit that could use their help,” she adds.

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L I T E R AT U R E

San Diego Judge Pens Tales of Syrian Immigrants Pat Benke leaves mystery series behind to write about the immigrant experience

By Jennifer Coburn By day, Patricia D. Benke is an appellate judge on the Fourth District Court of Appeals in San Diego. But once she puts down her gavel, she picks up a pen and starts her second shift as an author.

Her best-selling legal mystery series featured investigator Judith Thornton who had a loyal following of readers for more than a decade. The initial print runs on Benke’s books were 100,000. And her publisher splurged for extensive book tours where she was chauffeured to engagements in limousines. “They gave me the royal treatment,’ she says.

But Benke was being pulled in a different direction entirely, feeling compelled to write accounts of Syrian immigrants in the United States throughout the 20th century.

The collection of 12 short stories, “Qudeen the Magnificent,” was recently published independently by Benke. (Qudeen is a warhorse who shows up in various forms throughout the book.)

“I knew that walking away from the Judith Thornton series meant starting over entirely, but I had to write this book,” she says.

“I changed, and what became most important to me was sharing my great love of the immigrant experience.”

Her publisher told her she was on her own. Even her agent told her she was crazy. Benke says when she made this decision eight years ago, she understood the risks of abandoning her successful series to write about immigrants from a nation most Americans hadn’t never heard of, but took the leap anyway. “I desperately wanted to write about immigrants,” she says. “All of the stories are about Syrian girls, but the experiences are universal among people who maintain their deep connection to their past while embracing their new American culture.”

Benke’s family immigrated from Syria in 1911 where Christians were being persecuted. Throughout her life, Benke heard stories about Syrian immigrants in Pennsylvania where she was born, and California where she has spent most of her life. She moved from Pasadena to San Diego to attend

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CO LV I TEERR AT STO URY E San Diego State University from which she graduated in 1971.

Benke attended the University of San Diego Law School. After graduating in 1974 she was hired by the appellate division of the California Attorney General’s Office. In the nine years that followed she handled criminal appeals in the state courts of appeal and the California Supreme Court. She has called San Diego home for 50 years.

When George Deukmejian became governor, he appointed judges with prosecutorial backgrounds and moved them rapidly through the judicial system. Benke was one of those who saw a meteoric rise through the courts.

Deukmejian appointed Benke to the Municipal Court in San Diego. After two years he appointed her to the San Diego Superior Court. After just two years there, the governor appointed Benke to Division One of the Fourth District Court of Appeal in San Diego.

She was the first woman to sit on that court, and at the age of 37 she was the youngest person ever appointed to the appellate courts in the state.

In 1986, amidst turmoil in the courts, the voters of California removed three justices from the California Supreme Court. Benke was one of the seven finalists for the vacancies. Two years later the prospect of sitting on the California Supreme Court was more serious, but ultimately she was not appointed.

In the media flurry that surrounded the appointment process, though, Benke told a reporter that she enjoyed writing fiction.

Within a week of that news story, an agent contacted her and asked if she would be interested in writing a novel. The result was a fourbook contract with Avon/Hearst and the Judith Thornton series.

“So in many ways, my career on the bench led to a career as a novelist,” she says. “I didn’t want to give up a fulfilling career on the bench so I dug deep, drank a lot of coffee and pursued both.”

Benke, 67, and her husband Don have two grown sons, Michael and Peter. Michael is an attorney who is now attending medical school and Peter is a photographer and muralist.

As for her judicial history, Benke’s includes writing significant cases including the opinion on Proposition C in the long-controversial Soledad cross case.

Though she is no stranger to politically charged issues, Benke did not set out to make any sort of political commentary on the current immigration policy with her latest book. “While ‘Qudeen the Magnificent’ does not intend political comment or statements, it does comment on the culture and lives of immigrants and addresses their assimilation especially as it relates to young girls, says Benke.

“For me it was first and foremost an exercise in exploring complex universal themes. On a more literary note it is about all people who are displaced and how they obtain acceptance.”

Benke says she completed her research and developed themes nearly eight years ago, well before the current civil war in Syria. “No one had any interest in Aleppo when I began this journey, but if my book helps people connect with this magical place and the beauty of the Syrian culture, I will have accomplished something worthy.”

Benke relaxes at home.

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Modern Italian Tiramisu

BiCE! It Stands for Fine Italian Cuisine Restaurant dishes look to the culinary heritage of Italy as well as to modern culinary ideas

By David Rottenberg

BiCE! How do you pronounce it? “Beez”?

“Beys”? “Bike”? Surprise! The name of this outstanding restaurant is pronounced “beechay.”

The restaurant is named after its founder, Beatrice Ruggeri, who was affectionately nicknamed “Bice.” She was born on a farm in Italy, the eldest of 10 children. As such, she had to work hard to help her family. She married and moved with her husband, Dino, to Milan. She opened a “trattoria” named “Trattoris Da Dino e Bice.” Later, it became known simply as BiCE. She opened her restaurant over 90 years ago.

She cooked in the kitchen, while her husband and family served in the dining room.

The food was excellent, emphasizing farm to table recipes and a family setting. The concept was so successful that, over the years, restaurants were opened all around the world. There are locations in the U.S., pri-

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marily in Florida as well as in such exotic locales as Buenos Aires, Tokyo, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and more.

The restaurant group expanded to San Diego but, unfortunately, things did not work out. The restaurant closed after a short run. The economic downturn at the time just killed their business.

Several years later, the restaurant group tried again and opened in a new location in Downtown’s Gaslamp Quarter. This time, the restaurant — BiCE Ristorante — caught on and has been operating ever since.

Chef Mario Cassineri and his sous chef Francesca Penoncelli prepare excellent Northern Italian cuisine featuring local and seasonal items. Cassineri has over 25 years of culinary experience. Trained in Milan, he is passionate about his art. He opened his own restaurant at a young age, then worked with numerous well-known chefs in Italy and

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around the world. His dishes look both to the culinary heritage of Italy as well as to modern culinary ideas.

Both Cassineri and Penoncelli have been honored to cook at the James Beard house, like the Academy Award of their industry.

They have also been recognized by winning awards from the California Restaurant Association.

The interior of the restaurant is elegant, with high ceilings and subdued lighting. Tables are set in gleaming dishes and glassware on white tablecloths. Large windows permit diners to watch passersby in the Gaslamp.

BiCE is one of the few restaurants that feature a cheese bar. When seated, a cheesemonger will approach to help diners select from the varied offerings on the cheese menu. The gradient is “lighter, stronger, serious and intense” and the cheesemonger will explain the distinctions carefully.

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DINING

The interior of the restaurant is elegant, with high ceilings and subdued lighting. (Courtesy BiCE)

An example of a lighter cheese is the Mielito, a semi-soft cheese made from cow milk. A small amount of honey is added to milk during production and it is aged 30 days.

Then it is covered with beeswax and aged another 30 days. The cheese has subtle flavors of butter and hay, a real “country” fresh taste.

Among the “serious” items, lovers of provolone cheese will delight with Provolone Stra Vecchio, made from cow’s milk and aged 18 months in a slow, lengthy climate-controlled process. The result is a very sharp but distinct and pleasant flavor.

Wine may be paired beautifully with both cheese as well as the entrees to create memorable dining experiences. BiCE’s wine list is quite extensive, filled mostly with imports from Italy. The origin of each wine is identified. For Italian wines, the region of the country is identified. Some wines are available by the glass. Prices can be eye opening. One listed selection comes in at just under $900.

Chef Mario Cassineri has over 25 years of culinary experience.

Trained in Milan, he is passionate about his art. Sous Chef Francesca Penoncelli, like Cassineri, has been honored to cook at the James Beard house, the Academy Award of their industry.

For that truly memorable dinner.

The menu, on the other hand, is not extensive. Appetizers are typically Italian, such as Prosciutto di Parma con Burrata. The prosciutto is aged 18 months. One may also select Selezioni di Salami Artigianali, artisanal sulami from the cheese board.

The Roasted Vegetable Salad mixes fine, fresh seasonal offerings which, one evening I attended, included squash, asparagus and snap peas.

Entrees are typically Italian. For example, Pappardelle al Ragu d’Agnello features wonderfully prepared wide noodle pasta blended with a very meaty and tasty lamb ragu. The Costoletta di Vitello alla Milanese, prepared in the style of Milan, was a tender dish.

Everything is a la carte. Pasta dishes on the side include Soft Spinach Gnocchi in a pesto sauce and Penne in a tomato sauce.

Finally, desserts are typically Italian and include such sweet endings as Scrigno di Cioc-

colato, a golden chocolate cake with a gold dusted chocolate shell that is also gluten free.

Or, try a dish of Gelati e Sorbetti that is served with mixed berries.

BiCE offers a daily Happy Hour, featuring $5 food items and a broad choice of specialty cocktails.

Private dining is available in a number of attractively appointed rooms. The restaurant is within walking distance of the Convention Center.

There are no surprises on the current menu.

It is distinctively “northern Italian.” The food preparation is outstanding. The service is attentive and excellent. The setting is elegant.

And, going along with all that, prices are moderate to high. But quality costs. Well worth it for that special evening or anytime.

BiCE is open daily for dinner. It is located at 425 Island Ave in the Gaslamp. Call (619) 239-2423 for information and reservations.

The Veterans research Alliance (VRA) was formed to serve as an independent non-profit organization charged to raise critically needed private sector funds to supplement government grants. Our mission is to fund innovative, life saving research and programs that lead to increased health improvements and long-term medical cures for one of the largest veteran populations in the country.

Funds raised go to fund research conducted by scientists in the San Diego area, these dedicated scientists, doctors and educators will seek better treatments and develop effective programs addressing the critical needs of the existing and increasing veteran population.

As you're keenly aware, the daily lives of many veterans and their families have been dramatically altered by the effects of recent and past wars. Returning home with TBI & PTSD or without a limb was part of the riskyes, and for many, injury is now a reality. With your participation, the quality of veterans' lives will be enhanced. Also our aging veterans, with their increased likelihood of heart disease and diabetes, your investment will bring researchers and educators through outreach and technology. Government funding doesn't come close, Our projects bridge the gap between government funding and real dollars needed for this innovative, lifesaving research and life enhancing programs. www.veteransresearchalliance.org

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The Ranch at Bandy Canyon is nestled in the heart of San Pasqual Valley. The rural estate spans over 144 acres.

THE PERFECT SPRING STAYCATION THE RANCH AT BANDY CANYON With spring break around the corner, a family weekend getaway might be just what you’re looking for. You may consider visiting Baja California or taking the kids to Palm Springs. A family drive up to Lake Tahoe is certainly an option, but that’s quite a trek with young ones in the backseat.

This year, consider cutting travel time in half and getting right to the vacation.

Enter The Ranch at Bandy Canyon. Nestled in the heart of San Pasqual Valley, this rural estate spans over 144 acres and is a short 30-minute drive from San Diego. I re-

By Paige Nordeen

cently had the opportunity to explore the grounds and enjoy the rustic cabins, which offer a sense of charm and history unlike other vacation destinations nearby.

Slide into your cowboy boots and venture into the workings of a family-owned ranch, rich in history and tradition. The property was previously owned by The San Diego Wild Animal Park and The Main Lodge was the first Weir Brothers structure in San

Diego, built with the adobe bricks produced on property.

I spoke with Pauline Gourdie, one of the property owners, who shared newspaper articles they had collected over time of local stories dating back to the 1940’s. From first experiences, to changes in ownership and renovations, the collection of news stories made The Ranch stand still in time. In 2011, the property underwent a multimillion-dollar restoration to its original splendor and is now able to cater to getaways, weddings, corporate events and more.

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DINING “We have 15 cabins, a pool for lounging and entertaining and an authentic 1930’s adobe lodge for families to enjoy during their stay,” said Gourdie. “The children love visiting our petting zoo, which is home to 12 horses, sheep, goats, chickens, ducks, a donkey and a pony.”

I suggest packing a cooler full of your favorite foods to grill: hot dogs, burgers, buns and all the toppings. You won’t find a convenience store around here, and once you’ve settled in, you won’t want to leave. The cottages come with private baths, kitchenettes and are perfect for families seeking an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday city life. A few of the cabins on property offer outdoor showers — I certainly felt one with nature after rinsing off.

Start your mornings with a hike around the property and watch the sunrise over the mountains. Enjoy your afternoon by basking in the sun by the pool, grilling up some eats on the barbeque grill, or grabbing a drink and relaxing on the deck overlooking the stream of koi. When night falls, you and your family can cozy up to a fire pit outdoors and enjoy the simpler things in life; which of course are fireside s’mores, counting stars and seeing who can howl at the moon best.

“At The Ranch, we really encourage living off the land while also offering a cozy place to sleep,” said Gourdie. “In fact, we have a garden where produce is grown and handpicked by executive chef Patrick Ponsaty and chef Jonathan Freyberg of Bellamy’s restaurant in Escondido. They offer a farm-to-table menu, featuring some of the finest produce straight from The Ranch.

We’re all very proud of that.”

Ponsaty, incidentally, opened a restaurant in Rancho Santa Fe under his name a year ago and it is doing very well.

Today, we most likely fill our downtime by streaming Netflix movies, liking our friend’s social media posts and Snap Chatting every meal we consume. Say sayonara to the everyday comforts like TV and a constant stream of wi-fi, and hello to fresh air, exercise and family connection. If you need to connect — not to worry — the general store on site offers free wi-fi and a few toiletries.

This spring break, break away from the noise and check out the view. You and your family won’t forget it.

One of the 15 cabins at The Ranch at Bandy Canyon, a 30-minute drive from San Diego.

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A pool for lounging and entertaining.

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