CORONADO Magazine - June 2023

L a J o l l a , D e l M a r H e i g h t s , a n d t h e s u r r o u n d i n g C o a s t a l S a n

D i e g o A r e a s . T h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f D e l C o r o n a d o R e a l t y a t t h e H i s t o r i c H o t e l D e l C o r o n a d o h a s b r o u g h t a n u n p a r a l l e l e d b e n e f i t t o t h i s b r o k e r a g e a n d o u r c l i e n t s o v e r t h e y e a r s .

Cassandra Goldberg DRE #02100680

Ruth Ann Fisher

DRE #01281432 Br te Stephanie Basden DRE #01783387 Realtor

Broker Associate Tina Twite-Chin DRE #01427355

o r

Happy June, Coronado!

As this year continues to fly by, we are finally approaching warmer weather and brighter days; summer is on the horizon! But the month of June is a time to celebrate much more than just sunshine.

This Father’s Day, we are taking time to honor some special fathers in town as they tell us what it truly means to be called “Dad.” Don’t worry, also included is something for all the dads that just need a cold drink… (hint, it’s whiskey). And for those (dads and otherwise) who are looking to get summer started a little early this year, fire up the grill and flip through some mouthwatering summer eats.

Coronado Cultural Arts is providing us with a must-see list of summer art and culture on island, while our favorite travel guide Kris Grant takes us far beyond the bridge to Pittsburgh and Niagara Falls.

Meet some amazing Coronado locals including CHS student Jesse Hill, who is bringing sustainability to Coronado Unified School District, and this month’s Island Icon, Kirk Henry.

We also take a deep dive into the timeless traditions that make this Navy community and the families in it so tight-knit and unique. Lastly, Hattie gives us our new favorites term, “Turtle Time” and explains why mental health is wealth. This June, I hope we can all continue to do what Coronadans do best; be kind to one-another, and have fun!

-Lauren Curtis

Cover and above photo by Susie Clifford

Publisher Dean Eckenroth publisher@eaglenewsca.com

Associate Publisher

Dean K. Eckenroth Jr. editor@eaglenewsca.com

Business Development

Advertising Director Patricia Ross patricia@eaglenewsca.com

Amanda Ramirez amanda@eaglenewsca.com

Renee Schoen renee@eaglenewsca.com

Editorial

Alessandra Selgi-Harrigan alessandra@eaglenewsca.com

Lauren Curtis copyeditor@eaglenewsca.com

Kel Casey kel@eaglenewsca.com

Christine Johnson christine@eaglenewsca.com

Brooke Clifford eaglenewsbrooke@gmail.com

Photographer Hattie Foote

Production

Andrew Koorey

Printing

Reed Printing

Distribution

Roberto Gamez

" A father holds his daughter' s hand for a short while , but he holds her heart forever . ”

Being a dad to a girl is about showing her the respect she deserves, supporting her dreams and making sure she believes she can do anything. And listening to a lot of Taylor Swift.

~Chris Foote, Lux's dad

Ella Rae is my little ray of sunshine! Since the day God blessed me with her, I knew there was a bond that couldn't be broken. Her smile lights up my heart. It's an honor to be her father and be called to love teach and protect her throughout her life.

~Bryan Mullin, Ella's dad

Simply put, words can not fully describe the feelings I have towards my daughter C.J. however, I am very blessed to have experienced her grow through the years personally and professionally. To see her now as a mother herself brings even more love and joy to my soul and reminds me of just how lucky I am.

~Mike Fisher, C.J.'s dad

Being a father to my daughter Taylor was a great learning experience. I learned how to do pigtails, coach micro soccer, become part Irish to fit in at Irish dance performances, and many more firsts. All the while, hoping to make a positive impact by example while empowering her to be a fun-loving , adventurous, and compassionate individual. From the second she came into this world, my daughter has brightened my heart. When she was just two, we would ride around Coronado singing “T-A-Y, LO-R, that’s the way you spell Taylor;” ever since that amazing feat, she continues to be the best at everything she goes after. I have been so proud to be her father, because as a father I take credit for the wonderful woman she has become.

~David Udell , Taylor’s Dad

Having twin boys as my first children felt like the blessing it was...and then, Michelle Rose was born! We share a special closeness and love for one another, as she chose to stay in Coronado to raise her family. We see each other often and share memories, reminding me how fortunate I am to have a daughter to love and care for.

~Phil Hammett, Michelle's Dad

I am so extremely blessed to be the dad of three amazing daughters. They mean the world to me. Each of my girls are so unique and bring so much joy to my life. They definitely make me strive to be a better person. I am proud to be their role model, protector, and someone they can trust. I love being a girl dad!

~Josh Barbera, Gracie, Annie, Lucy’s Dad

I have been blessed to work with my daughter Kate “officially” since she graduated from college. (Kate thinks she has been running my office since she was in middle school!) Obtaining her license in 2006 and her Broker’s license in 2012, Kate has successfully juggled a real estate career while raising two precocious daughters. But it’s still my office Kate!

~Dave Gillingham, Kate's Dad

Happy Fathers Day!

June Is For The Dads!

(And The Whiskey)

By Christine Johnson

When I think of the month of June, I immediately revert to being in school knowing that was when we were out for summer! In the good ol’ days, we had three full months of vacation and went back to classes in September. Now the education calendars are different everywhere, and parents spend their time scrambling to schedule trips around strange times. However, June is not just for summer vacations away from reality. JUNE IS FOR DADS! June brings us the nationally celebrated day to honor fathers and father figures each year on the third Sunday of the month. Yes, the day is filled with cards, dinners, and gifts, but it’s also a time to show true love and appreciation for these people in our lives. In my family, Father’s Day was always a special day. My daughter and I spent weeks trying to create the perfect day filled with surprises and laughter for Dad. It was never lost on us how much we looked forward to the simple fact that we were together and given time

to honor Dad and Husband. We look back on those times now with such love and sincere appreciation for all my husband did for us and the void in our lives now that he is gone. Once the sadness clears and we look at memories with more happiness, our family sees the incredible gifts he left. My daughter lives her life with strength, dedication and love through her dad. I live mine with the courage to raise my daughter without him, all the while knowing his love is guiding me along the way. After all, this is what dads do. They bring essential teaching, guidance, motivation and love to our hearts and souls, then send us out into the world ready for anything.

We are grateful for our dads and all they have contributed to the lives we live today. They are wise, caring, and strong and we love them in June and always. Fathers deserve a special drink this month. One that is traditional… a true man’s drink. For the fathers who sometimes just need a drink (not just on Father’s Day), I give you the Whiskey Smash.

Whiskey Smash Ingredients

3 lemon wedges

2 ounces Bourbon

¾ ounce simple syrup

4 mint leaves

Garnish: mint sprig

Mixology

Muddle the lemon wedges in a shaker

Add Bourbon, simple syrup, mint leaves and ice

Shake till chilled

Strain into a rocks glass over ice

Garnish with mint sprig

Photo by Hattie Foote

o n a t S p r e c k l e s P a r k , k i t t y c o r n e r f r o m t h e l i b r a r y , a n d a b l o c k f r o m t h e V i l l a g e T h e a t r e . S h o p p i n g , r e s t a u r a n t s , b a n k s , p u b l i c a n d p r i v a t e s c h o o l s a r e a l l w i t h i n a s h o r t w a l k . T w o b e d r o o m s , t w o b a t h s , a s p a c i o u s k i t c h e n , f i r e p l a c e i n t h e l i v i n g r o o m , a n d a l l n e w w i n d o w s a r e j u s t s o m e o f t h e m a n y a m e n i t i e s . T w o p a r k i n g s p a c e s p l u s E V c h a r g i n g O f f e r e d a t $ 1 , 3 3 5 , 0 0 0

Navy Families

Timeless Traditions

By Amy Steward

Captain Charlie Cole, USN (ret), was recently honored at the Avenue of Heroes ceremony along with 14 other honorees. CAPT Cole’s 30 year career spanned WWII to Vietnam and his awards include the Silver Star and two Bronze Stars (with V). He twice lived in Coronado — early in his career as a Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) and after the bridge was built. Following retirement from the Navy, he went on to an equally distinguished second career as a professor at the University of Oregon, volunteer and leader in numerous civic organizations, and distinguished humanitarian. Charlie Cole is my “second dad.”

My life as a Navy junior brought me to Coronado toward the end of the Vietnam War and I attended Crown, Glorietta, and Coronado Junior High Schools. My fondest memories of riding my bike, sailing my Sabot, swimming at the municipal pool, and playing at the beach are rooted in Coronado. I graduated high school in Arlington, VA, having attended 13 different schools.

My family first became acquainted with the Coles while both families were stationed in Japan. Our families were subsequently reunited in Coronado where our ties with Charlie and his wife, Colleen (CAPT and Mrs. Cole to me) — personal and professional — grew progressively deeper. While all three of their children were older, I distinctly remember their daughters at our home enjoying a traditional Coronado

Fourth of July barbeque. Inter-generational, extended Navy family events were the norm.

Fast forward: as my high school graduation approached, my parents encouraged me to attend the University of Oregon where Captain Cole was teaching. Simultaneous with my graduation, they transferred overseas to the Philippines. In those days — before cellphones and the internet, when overseas phone calls were prohibitively expensive — I was a typical college student on a shoestring budget. The Coles were my salvation — offering a home away from home and a helping hand or shoulder to cry on whenever needed.

While visiting my parents in the Philippines over Christmas break, a blind date led me to meet my future husband. My dad had warned me to “stay away from the Marines,” but he didn’t say anything about the SEALs. When extenuating

circumstances precluded my father giving me away at our wedding two years later in Oregon, my “second dad” once again came to the rescue. He graciously accepted my invitation and I held his arm tightly as he walked me down the aisle, grateful beyond measure for his presence in my life.

Now, over forty years later, our ties have only grown stronger with time. At 94, Charlie Cole is as sharp as ever. It was my honor and privilege to reciprocate his love and support by sponsoring him for Coronado’s Avenue of Heroes.

Charlie, his children, and their spouses stayed with us over the Ceremony weekend and Navy connections constantly surfaced. My daughter, D’amy, is living in Guam; Captain Cole and family were stationed in Guam in the 1960s; his son, Greg, and family were stationed there years later; and

my husband, Dan’l spent time in Guam as a SWO and SEAL. We all marveled at the advancements in technology that allowed us to FaceTime D’amy even as Typhoon Mawar bore down on the island. During that conversation and throughout the visit we were consistently warmed by old memories and new examples of Navy families helping Navy families. D’amy survived the super typhoon and is — as this is written — helping with cleanup efforts in her community and at the University of Guam Marine Lab.

The “Navy family” is a tradition that forms cross-generational, cross-cultural, unbreakable bonds and relationships with and between service members and families met during and after service. Grandpa to my daughter, dad to me, CAPT Cole personifies every positive aspect of this tradition. The tradition reinforces that we are all links in a chain as well as links within links. The Navy family is defined by kindness and assistance shown, paid forward, and repaid at every opportunity… even decades later. It is a tradition celebrated with a pride

perhaps best expressed in lyrics of the U.S. Naval Academy hymn, Navy Blue & Gold: “[When]… by the Service called away, We’re scattered far and wide; But still when two or three shall meet, And old tales be retold, From low to highest in the Fleet, We’ll pledge the Blue and Gold.”

Thank you, Coronado, for your support of the Navy and recognition of honorable service by all members of the armed forces.

Grills Gone Wild

By Lauren Curtis

June is upon us, and with it comes much to celebrate. Concerts in the Park are back in full swing, the sun is finally here to stay (crosses fingers), and the smell of backyard barbecues fill the air. This summer, impress all of your friends and family with your best Guy Fieri impression behind the grill (frosted tips not included). Here are just a few simple dishes you can make this June and beyond to welcome in the summer season in the most delicious way possible. For

|

Jalapeño Popper Mexican Street Corn

“Ball Park” Dogs

Grilled Pepper

And Black Olive

Couscous

Spicy Grilled Shrimp

Grilled Steak Tacos

What’s

In Season?

Blackberries are a juicy berry with a wide array of flavor depending on ripeness. In their ripest state, blackberries deliver a sweet and often tangy taste, but can be bitter and pack a sour punch when less ripe.

Other than their juicy texture and unique taste, blackberries are also considered to be a superfood that contain countless benefits. They are high in minerals, antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber while being low in carbs, calories, and fat.

There are close to 375 different species of blackberry, which can be found in almost any part of the world. Blackberries were once used to remedy gout by the Greeks, and made into a tea to treat a multitude of illnesses by the Romans.

The limit truly does not exist when it comes to how these delicious berries can be consumed; raw, dried, turned into jam, used as a pie filling, sprinkled on top of a summer salad, added to smoothies, juiced to drink on its own or in a refreshing cocktail, turned into ice cream, added to pancakes, made into syrup, and so much more.

Peak season for blackberries in Southern California is from June 1 through July 30. This is a smaller window than many other summer fruits, so no matter how you like to enjoy your blackberries, make sure to get them before they are gone!

Summer On The Beach!!

1 Bedroom - El Camino (Shores)

Available July & August

1 Bedroom - La Perla (Shores)

Available August

Why Buying a Vacation Home Beats Renting One This Summer

For many of us, visiting the same vacation spot every year is a summer tradition that’s fun, relaxing, and restful. If that sounds like you, now’s the time to think about your plans and determine if buying a vacation home this year makes more sense than renting one again.

Bene ts of Owning Your Vacation Home

It ’s an investment. Home values typically appreciate over the long haul. That holds true for your vacation home as well, especially if it’s in an area with growing market demand. This can help grow your net wo rth with time. Vacation homes may provide tax bene ts. If you own a vacation home, you may be eligible for tax deductions based on where it is. However, before buying, you’ll want to consult with a tax professional to discuss rst as taxes can vary by location. It could potentially turn into a retirement location. If you love the location of your vacation home, you could potentially sell your primary residence and retire there in the futur e.

Bottom Line

3 Bedroom - Las Palmas (Shores) Available May, June & August

2 Bedroom - La Princesa Long Term, Bay Views!

If any of these reasons for owning a vacation home resonate with you, let’s connec t. You still have time to enjoy spending the summer in your vacation home

Mental Health Is Wealth

By Hattie Foote

“Mommy do you know what Turtle Time is?” I looked down at my sweet kindergartener, internally panicking because the only Turtle Time I was aware of was when Ramona from Real Housewives of New York was chanting “Turtle Time” while drunk dancing after too much Pinot Grigio. Was he finally realizing his mother’s love of trash television? Instead, he took a booklet out of his backpack and taught me Turtle Time, a method that teaches children how to deal with big feelings. Thankfully it didn’t involve Pinot Grigio. I noticed the lesson was presented by Safe Harbor Coronado, which coincidently I had recently been invited to be on the Spring Fundraiser committee. I had mentioned a few months ago that I was going to put myself out there and get more involved in the community, and this cause really spoke to me. Mental health is wealth baby!

I was reflecting on my own elementary, middle, high school experience, and it is so interesting to think that we didn’t have a resource like Safe Harbor, which is our local community mental health non-profit providing support for families who are navigating life. Sure, we had DARE, which taught us the dangers of drugs. Although aside from don’t do drugs, my only memory of DARE was in fifth grade when an officer came to teach us a lesson and a boy in my class tooted. The whole class lost it because we were immature kids, and the officer was furious, like turning red mad and proceeded to yell at us for the next ten minutes

about manners. Ah good times, it’s funny the things that stick with you. Anywho, it was a different time, mental health simply wasn’t discussed. Now my generation is an anxious mess and could have definitely used some Turtle Time! As I parent in the age of social media and cell phones, I am wildly grateful to have the resources Safe Harbor provides at the ready.

It was so inspiring watching the Spring Fundraiser come to life. Led by Executive Director Georgia C. Ferrell and President Lyle Anderson, our committee was full of brilliant women with big ideas and hearts.

It may sound cliché, but it truly takes a village putting these events together. It was a magical night at the Blake Family Home, the perfect weather, wonderful music, delicious food, and a generous community. It truly touched me seeing how many people recognize the importance of providing guidance for our youth and their families. I feel so proud to have been able to lend a hand to this organization and will continue to do so. If you are interested in donating or volunteering, you can do so on their website www.safeharborcoronado.org. I would also suggest giving them a follow on Instagram (@safeharborcoronado), they are always posting valuable information and upcoming events.

I had a silly situation this year when I found out I had been exclusively left out of an upcoming event. I was legit devastated, I cried at The Henry when I realized it. Talk about mental health, I was in my own head for a while and I felt, as our girl Taylor Swift sings “I’m just too soft for all of it.” At that moment I wanted to not be involved in anything, I had a wounded ego and wanted to retreat and lick my wounds. I’m so proud of myself for snapping out of it and seeing the bigger picture. I appreciate my friends (hi Lyle) for pushing me outside my comfort zone, because we all bring something to the table. I met so many funny, kind, interesting people through this experience, and I hope this

motivates you to lend a helping hand to one of the many fantastic organizations in town. Let’s support them like they support us! Cheers to giving back.

Meet Jesse Hill

Bringing Kindness and Sustainability To CUSD

It is unusual for a freshman to start a new club on campus; but in 2019, this is exactly what now senior Jesse Hill did. She completed the paperwork to establish an Emerald Keepers Club on the Coronado High School campus and recruited members. When the pandemic hit, Jesse, along with co-president senior Marla Steel, worked with Emerald Keepers board members and school district administrators to find a plot of land where the Club could compost and grow vegetables for foodinsecure families. Soon a complete garden complex was up and running—raised beds, fruit trees, a tool shed, and compost bins. Best of all were the students she organized who came together once a week to tend the plot by composting over 4,000 pounds of organic waste, producing vegetables beyond their wildest expectations, and providing a safe space for students to learn and blossom. Last year, the club won the prestigious Superintendent’s Award which is given to the best club at the high school.

Jesse’s devotion, energy, and leadership were almost single-handedly responsible for the Club’s success over the past four years. If you visit the garden on Saturday morning, you will hear music playing; the voices of happy, hard-working, dedicated, collaborative Club members; and a vibe both unique and beautiful to behold—full of positive energy and life.

Last year, there was an opportunity for nonprofits to take part in a school internship program whereby students could earn

high school credit. Jesse, along with 12 members of her Club, applied to become interns with Emerald Keepers, in addition to their Club responsibilities. The interns worked the educational booths—talking with hundreds of people at various functions—and introduced speakers and greeted people at Emerald Keeper events. This year the program expanded to 17 interns, and Jesse created an Earth Month Camp for elementary students to learn how to compost, garden, and develop sustainable habits. She also worked with a team to establish Emerald Green, Ocean Blue Sustainable Classrooms at the elementary schools (This

program is currently on hold until recycle bins are placed in every classroom).

Emerald Keepers is just one of Jesse’s initiatives. She has served as Class President, both her junior and senior years, and was Secretary of her sophomore class. Through student government, Jesse organized dozens of events, managed social media, and promoted all manner of activities. She personifies school spirit.

Jesse’s work-life balance is impressive. Currently Vice-President of the Best Buddies Club, she shares her lunch period with students encumbered with intellectual and developmental disabilities and helps fun-

draise for accessible classroom equipment for her special friends. She participates in Mi Mitad, a monthly cultural exchange with students in Spain via zoom, to share holidays and traditions and improve her language skills. A student athlete, Jesse was Team Captain of the varsity golf team her junior year, and a four-year surfer with her high school team. Jesse is a role model for aspiring young surfers. It is no wonder she was elected to the homecoming court this past fall. Jesse is not only a role model for peers and youth, but an inspiration to adults. Jesse will attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the fall.

Congratulations to the May Emerald Keeper of the Month, Jesse Hill, for her four years of dedication to the CHS Emerald Keepers Club.

Summer Arts & Culture in Coronado

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer in Coronado despite the May gray, that is especially gray this year. The number and variety of arts offerings this summer (and year-round) are sure to keep residents and visitors busy and entertained. The Coronado Cultural Arts Commission established a Program Area to support local Arts Partners, the nonprofit organizations that create much of the arts programming in town. Commissioner Brenda Jones is the new Arts Partners Program Chair.

Coronado Cultural Arts Commission’s Art Partners are actively involved in the creation of opportunities for all to participate in and experience the arts. They contribute to our quality of life and have a positive community impact, including attracting new business and tourism. Tourists who come to town before an arts or culture event often eat in our restaurants, shop in our downtown and even spend the night at our hotels.

Coronado has a free Public Art Walking Tour App available for download on your phone's app store. The app features information on over 75+ pieces of public art in the City's Public Art Collection Explore the collection this summer The app includes images of the artwork, artist information and history of the piece

The Coronado Community Band is devoted to providing musical entertainment for the entire community The band creates opportunities for musicians of all ages to come together to exchange ideas and develop skills, with the common goal of having fun while making quality music The band will play at the Spreckels Bandstand on July 4 at 4 PM and on August 24 at 6:30 PM for the Twilight in the Park Concert Series in Balboa Park at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion Learn more at coronadoconcertband org

Photo credit Kel Casey 2023

Since the founding of the Cultural Arts Commission in 2011, the Arts Partners have met regularly and developed collaborative relationships with the community, other Arts Partner organizations, as well as the Cultural Arts Commission.

The Commission offers the Art Partners promotion of their art programming through community-wide marketing activities including Coronado Arts Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and a weekly commission e-mail “Five on Friday.” All promotion is aimed at developing new as well as loyal audiences and patrons for the arts in Coronado.

Currently the Cultural Arts Commission is collaborating with the Coronado Chamber of Commerce to launch a new online community calendar, CoronadoCalendar.com. The calendar will be the site for all arts and culture events in Coronado as well as other events It will not only help residents and visitors plan their calendars, but it will assist Coronado arts organizations to be mindful in their scheduling of events to maximize attendance How many times has there been multiple event on the same day and time that you would like to attend? It is hoped this will assist in

thoughtful and informed decisions when organizations plan events and enable more to attend events rather than have to choose.

Additionally, the Commission sponsors professional development for the Arts Partners including networking opportunities, assistance in identifying and securing grant funding for programs and sponsoring grant writing workshops. The goal is to strengthen Coronado’s nonprofit arts community and to continue to grow the offerings and quality of programs available for residents and visitors.

Looking at the summer ahead below are some highlights of events scheduled for the Cultural Arts Commission and their Arts Partners. For more ideas visit CoronadoARTS.com, and sign-up for “Five on Friday" highlighting five events happening in the upcoming week and watch for the launch of CoronadoCalendar.com later this month!

The C3 Gallery in the Coronado Community Center has a new exhibition of portraits "Heads Up! " will be up all summer and is free and open to the public during the Community Center hours The exhibition features 25 artists and 46 pieces of artwork with many for sale.

The Coronado Public Library has a gallery in the Spreckels Reading Room and is currently hosting an exhibition of Coronado Contemporary Art through July 9 There will be a free Artist Reception on June 11 at 2 PM

Coronado Promenade Concerts has been a tradition in Coronado for 53 years. Spreckels Park in the center of town fills up starting around 4:00 PM. Concerts are every Sunday and are free and open to all! Check out their website for a listing of upcoming bands The 2023 series features 16 concerts across five months sponsored by individuals and business patrons It truly is a happening spot to spend your Sunday evening with friends and family listening to a variety of musical performances coronadoconcert com

The Coronado Historical Association was established in 1969 by a group of concerned citizens with an eye toward saving the intriguing history of a unique community. The Association created the Museum of History & Art which opened to the public in October 2000 and houses the Museum’s galleries, a research library, a state-of-the-art Archives, a Museum Store, Tent City restaurant and an information desk. Their current exhibit is not to be missed, "Open Doors" Vietnam POW - 50 Years of Freedom.

Coronado Playhouse is the longest continuous running community theatre in San Diego County, and, according to the LA Times, is the longest continuous running playhouse on the West Coast. If you haven't been to a performance treat yourself to an evening this summer. The next three shows are musicals. "Underground" premieres July 7 and runs through July 23. "Nunsense" opens August 26 and ends September 10. And the 2023 Season concludes with "Xanadu" opening October 20. coronadoplayhouse.org

coronadohistory.org

The Suenamis will perform July 2 at the Promenade Concert in Spreckels Park! Concert begins at 6 PM

Coronado Public Library is a jewel in Coronado's crown A true cultural center for the community and the Summer Festival is the perfect destination for people of all ages, but aimed at adults, who seek a delightful and enriching experience this summer Immerse yourself in a world of literary wonders, engaging workshops, vibrant performances, and captivating storytelling sessions that will ignite your imagination and leave you inspired Discover a treasure trove of tea, explore the magic of shadow puppetry, and indulge in the joy of connecting with fellow library patrons Whether you're seeking adventure, entertainment, or a chance to relax with a good book under the warm sun, the Coronado Public Library Summer Festival is the place to be Mark your calendars, gather your loved ones, and get ready for an unforgettable celebration that will make this summer one to remember! All events are FREE thanks to the sponsorship of the Hotel Del Coronado and the Friends of the Coronado Public Library coronadolibrary org

Lamb's Players Theatre is coming off two remarkable music productions with "Million Dollar Quartet" and "RESPECT" both enjoying extended shows. Next up is "Cotton Patch Gospel" the off-Broadway sensation of the Gospel of Matthew in the American South. This production incluses a live band of amazing blues and bluegrass musicians! Not to be missed it opens June 17 through August 20th. lambsplayers.org

The Coronado Island Film Festival (CIFF) welcomes makers and lovers of film from all over the world to Coronado to celebrate the magical art of visual storytelling. Launched in 2016, and celebrating their 8th year in 2023 CIFF is known as a unique, walkable, destination film festival.

Don't miss the 2023 Classic Film Series this summer with "Father of the Bride" in June, "Grease" in July and "Vertigo" in August all screening at the Coronado Village Theatre! Tickets are available online or at the door. Doors open at 5:00 PM and program starts at 5:30 PM.

The 2023 Festival is scheduled for November 8 through 12. Festival passes are available online. coronadofilmfest.com

Day festivities every year. This year marks the 74th Annual Parade, Fireworks and other day of event activities. The Committee is an all-volunteer group and is seeking volunteers and sponsors for this year's festivities. No need to mark your calendar for this one - everyone is familiar with Coronado's Fourth of July!

coronadofourthofjuly com

Photo credit Kel Casey

From Steel City to natural wonder…

From the Observation Deck of the Duquesne Incline, you can easily see Downtown Pittsburgh. The fountain at Point State Park marks the joining of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers into the Ohio River. The triangular plot of land with the fountain at the tip of “The Golden Triangle” marks the birthplace of the city.

Exploring Pittsburgh and Niagara Falls

By Kris Grant

Pittsburgh has made a remarkable transformation in recent years. At the turn of the 20th century, the city’s unofficial moniker was “The Smoky City.” Later, as the producer of half the steel in America, it was known as “Steel City.” And while the Steel City moniker lives on (despite the closing of nearly all steel mills by the mid-1980s), it’s easy to see why Pittsburgh is known of late as “the City of Bridges.”

The Alleghany and Monongahela Rivers meet in Pittsburgh to form the Ohio River. Decades ago the rivers were so polluted that they were considered “dead.” But over the last four decades, governmental agencies brought about new treatment facilities and citizens’ activism coalesced to clean up the waterways. Today, the rivers are filled with tour and fishing boats and their banks invite biking and hiking.

In this article, I’ll share some Pittsburgh impressions, then head north to Niagara Falls. Always heard those falls were grand, but seeing is believing!

Aboard Niagara Fall’s Maid of the Mist, I had the ultimate bad hair day. But I didn’t care one bit! This was an E-ticket ride!

Pittsburgh is an amalgamation of 90 – yes 90! –distinct and charming neighborhoods. They came about largely as a result of the city’s hilly topography and three rivers. Later they came to be divided by railroad tracks and ethnic groups. People tended to live, work, play and worship within their own communities, most of them with their own main streets.

In addition to Downtown, where I stayed, here are a few popular neighborhoods you might wish to explore!

Oakland The vibe here is intellectual, international and cultural. That’s to be expected when you realize that the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, the University of Pittsburgh and the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens are all located here, along with world-class hospitals and medical centers.

The Strip District “The Strip,” as locals call it, is just that – a narrow strip (one-half mile) of land between the Allegheny River and a mountain of a hill, chock full of ethnic grocers, produce stands, meat and fish markets and sidewalk vendors. The District dates as its emergence as a wholesale produce district to the early 1900s, when the Pennsylvania Railroad relocated its warehouses a dozen blocks to the east of Downtown. Here you’ll find the Senator John Heinz History Center

Squirrel Hill This family-oriented community boasts over 1,000 acres of parkland and is home to some of the most delicious ethnic restaurants in the city. Try Aladdin’s Eatery, Bangkok Balcony, Gaby Et Jules, Silk Elephant or Bull River Taco. For more traditional American fare, head to Squirrel Hill Café. Pizza by the slice is offered everywhere here, and an age-old rivalry exists between Aiello’s and Mineo’s Pizza.

Lawrenceville This is Pittsburgh’s largest and hippest neighborhood, home to many artists and designers and host of some of the city’s biggest annual arts events. Located less than three miles from Downtown, it’s filled with one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants along its main drag, Butler Street. In 2019, the Lawrenceville Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Composer Stephen Foster (“Oh, Susanna,” “Camptown Races”) was born here and each July a “Doo Dah Day” music festival is held at the historic Allegheny Cemetery where Foster is buried alongside other Pittsburgh celebrities. You can also go on Cemetery tours.

Bloomfield is Pittsburgh’s “Little Italy.” Its Italian roots reaching back more than five generations. The Bloomfield Bridge connects the neighborhood to the universities and cultural attractions in Oakland. Its colorful mix of shops and restaurants are renowned.

I approached Pittsburgh from the West, plowing through Mt. Washington via the Fort Pitt tunnel. I emerged on the Fort Pitt Bridge with the downtown cityscape laid out before me. Photos by Kris Grant.

Two years ago I visited Fallingwater, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home for the Edgar Kaufmann family, which owned Kaufmann’s department store in downtown Pittsburgh. The former department store traces its founding to 1871 as a men’s store in Pittsburgh’s South Side founded by Morris, Jacob and Isaac Kaufman. Six years later they moved to a downtown location that came to be known as “The Big Store.” Edgar Kaufmann was Morris’s son, and eventually bought out the other family members and enlarged the store. The thirteen-story structure featured twelve floors of retail and Kaufmann’s private office, also designed by Wright, on the top floor.

It was the flagship of the Kaufmann’s department store empire that stretched across several states. By the 1910s, Edgar and Liliane Kaufmann were trendsetters of the city, and in the 1920s were listed in Pittsburgh’s Blue Book, the social registry of the time. The public clock was added in 1913. “Meet me under the Kaufmann’s clock” was the theme of the clock’s 100th anniversary celebration in 2013 when the store’s last owner, Macy’s, held a contest, asking for stories about meetings that took place under its hour hands. Alas, the ground floor is a now a neighborhood Target and the upper floors have been redeveloped into 311 apartments.

Pittsburgh’s early monikers of The Smoky City and Steel City were captured in this oil-on-canvas painting by prolific Pittsburgh artist Johanna K. W. Hailman ( 18711958). The painting of the former Jones and Laughlin Mill was done roughly between the years of 1925 and 1930. It is on display at the Carnegie Museum of Art. Photo courtesy of Carnegie Museum of Art

The Duquesne Incline

I love riding funiculars! They take you up steep grades and give you a glimpse back in time while you take in today’s city views. My first ride as a youngster was on Angels Flight in Los Angeles. A couple of years ago, I rode the Fenelon Place Elevator in Dubuque, Iowa and now I was about to ascend Mt. Washington on the Duquesne Incline (pronounced “doo-KANE”).

My first glimpse of Pittsburgh was emerging from the Fort Pitt tunnel through Mt. Washington. That mountain today is covered with homes on steep hillsides. In the 1800s, Pittsburghers were forced to move up to what was then called “Coal Hill” by industrial development below. To get to work, they could either climb long stairways or ride one of four inclines. Today, only two survive: the Duquesne Incline with its red cars and the Monongahela Incline with yellow cars. In fact, the Duquesne Incline almost succumbed, after

its former owner closed it in 1962 due to low ridership as residents increasingly turned to the automobile. But citizens created a nonprofit and a hugely successful fundraising campaign to restore the Incline, and it reopened in 1963. Today, some commuters still use the Incline, but ridership is mostly by visitors who love to take in the city skyline.

You might want to include lunch or dinner at a local restaurant within walking distance of the Upper Station. If so, some popular choices include:

Steel Mill Saloon (directly across the street), Le Mont restaurant (five-diamonds, dress up!), The Grandview Saloon & Coal Hill Steak House, Monterey Bay Fish Grotto (stunning views of Pittsburgh) or Vue.421.

Or, you might want to head over to Station Square before or after an Incline excursion. It’s less than a mile east and here

you’ll find Buca di Bepa (the popular Italian eatery chain) a Hard Rock Café and Grand Concourse restaurant. Here you can also access the Gateway Clipper Fleet dining and sightseeing tours of the three rivers.

Cautionary notes:

• There are no restrooms available at or near either station.

• You’ll need to provide exact fare ($5, round trip or $2.50, one way), no credit or debit cards accepted.

• The Upper Station and Observation Deck are handicapped accessible. Incline cars can accommodate wheelchairs of up to 25 inches in width.

• The Lower Station has a free parking lot but is not handicapped accessible. Indeed, you’ll need to climb about three flights of stairs to reach the station.

The Duquesne Incline is 793 feet in length and rises 400 feet in elevation at a grade of 30 degrees. Photos by Kris Grant.

Each of the original wooden cars can accommodate up to 25 passengers.

Photo by Kris Grant.

The Incline’s Observation Deck offers views of Downtown Pittsburgh and the convergence of its three rivers. Photo by Kris Grant.

Andrew Carnegie

opened his personal library of 400 volumes to working boys. At age 18, Carnegie went to work for the Pennsylvania Railroad as a secretary/telegraph operator, where he keenly anticipated greater prospects for career growth. By his late 20s, Carnegie ran the entire Western division of the railroad company. He also invested in Pullman sleeping cars for first-class travel.

During the Civil War, while still in charge of the railroad division, Carnegie made investments into iron works; the Pennsylvania Railroad, which needed steel for tracks, was his best customer. After the war, he supplied steel and owned shares in the landmark Eads Bridge project across the Mississippi River.

Oh, if only every city had its own Andrew Carnegie! This titan of industry left a legacy for Pittsburgh, our country and his homeland of Dunfermline, Scotland.

Carnegie was born Nov. 25, 1835 in Dunfermline, and immigrated with his parents to Pittsburgh at age 12. His first job was as a “bobbin boy,” charged with changing bobbins and running a boiler at Pittsburgh’s Anchor Cotton mill. By age 14, he was a messenger boy for the Ohio Telegraph Company and within a year promoted to operator. His passion for reading was given a boost and, unbeknownst to him at the time, planted the seed for funding libraries when

Col. James Anderson

From 1875 through the end of the century, Carnegie’s steel empire flourished, surpassing production of steel in the U.K. In 1901 he sold U.S. Steel for $225 million (about $8 billion today)

Carnegie devoted the rest of his life to providing capital for purposes of public interest and social and educational causes.

He donated to the founding of the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh and the Carnegie Institute in Washington, D. C. and continued funding to these schools and others.

He established public libraries throughout the United States, Britain, Canada and other English-speaking countries, asking only that local governments provide land and an operating fund.

A major patron of music, in 1891 he

built Carnegie Hall in New York City. He funded the construction of 7,000 pipe organs in churches and temples, with no apparent preference for any religious denomination or sect.

He was published widely in magazines on the subjects of industrialism and philanthropy.

His “Andrew Carnegie Dictum” advocated spending the first third of one’s life getting all the education one can; to spend the next third making all the money one can, and to spend the last third giving it all away for worthwhile causes.

In one of his many memos to himself, he wrote:

“It is the mind that makes the body rich. There is no class so pitiably wretched as that which possesses money and nothing else. Money can only be the useful drudge of things immeasurably higher than itself. Exalted beyond this, as it sometimes is, it remains Caliban still and still plays the beast. My aspirations take a higher flight. Mine be it to have contributed to the enlightenment and the joys of the mind, to the things of the spirit, to all that tends to bring into the lives of the toilers of Pittsburgh sweetness and light. I hold this the noblest possible use of wealth.”

Carnegie Museum of Art’s three-story marble Grand Staircase is the centerpiece of the museum’s 1907 addition. Long vertical panels along the perimeter cover almost 5,000 square feet. Called “The Crowning of Labor,” the murals are by Pittsburgh native John White Alexander and depict the theme of progress and resulting uplift as a result of hard work.

Photo by Kris Grant.

The Forbes street entrance to Carnegie Museum of Art at Fountain Plaza features sculptures by Richard Serra and Henry Moore (not included in this photo). Photo by Kris Grant.

Photo portrait of Andrew Carnegie by Theodore C. Marceau

Today there are four Carnegie Museums in Pittsburgh, two of which I visited, The Andy Warhol Museum and the Carnegie Museum of Art. I saved the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and Carnegie Science Center for my next visit to Pittsburgh!

Carnegie Museum of Art is arguably the first museum of contemporary art in the United States, collecting the “Old Masters of tomorrow” in keeping with Andrew Carnegie’s stated vision for the museum, which opened Nov. 5, 1895. Since then, there have been major expansions of the museum, tripling it in size. Its collection of more than 34,000 objects features a broad spectrum of visual arts. Through its programming, exhibitions, and publications, the museum frequently explores the role of art and artists in confronting key social issues of our time, providing local and global perspectives.

The Andy Warhol Museum is the largest museum in North America dedicated to the work of a single artist – Andy Warhol. The seven-story structure illuminates the art, life, and times of one of the most influential American artists of the 20th century. Combining artworks, images, and objects from Warhol’s colorful life, the museum takes visitors on a tour of Andy Warhol’s personal and professional life—from Andy Warhol the Pittsburgh art student to Andy Warhol the Pop icon. The tour starts on the top floor, where you learn about his early years, then winds its way down as his life and times heat up.

With some 500,000 artworks and objects, the museum is the global keeper of Warhol’s legacy. Works include 900 paintings; approximately 100 sculptures; nearly 2,000 works on paper; more than 1,000 published and unique prints; 4,000 photographs; 60 feature films, 200 screen tests and more than 4,000 videos, and more. The works rotate, so a visit one year to the museum may show a notably different collection than the next.

Andy Warhol was born Andrew Warhola on August 6, 1928, in a two-room apartment in a working-class neighborhood in Pittsburgh. His parents Andrej and Julia Warhola (also an artist) were immigrants from what is today Eastern Slovakia. They had three sons, Paul, John, and, their youngest, Andy.

“Extraordinary

Although Andy’s parents, like many Americans, were financially strapped during the Depression, they managed to buy him a camera at age 8. He enrolled in free art classes at the Carnegie Institute (today, the Carnegie Museum of Art). Recognizing his son’s talent, Andy’s father paid for him to attend Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University).

As a child, Andy was occasionally bedridden with a rare disease, Sydenham chorea, and he had pigment issues that caused skin discoloration, and his boyhood friends teased him with nicknames like “Spot” and “Andy the Red-nosed Warhola.” In defense, Andy cultivated different looks through his clothing, wigs, cosmetics and plastic surgery to reshape his nose.

After graduation, Andy moved to New York and began working as a commercial artist, with his first assignment being the illustration of a story entitled “What is

Sailing, 1911, by Edward Hopper

Portrait of a Boy, 1890 by John Singer Sargent

Girl under Apple Tree, 1904, Edvard Munch

Statues of Michelangelo, left, Galileo, right adorn the original entrance to the Carnegie Museum of Art. They were done by sculptor John Massey Rhind and are part of the “Nobel Quartet” of statues outside the museums that also included Shakespeare and Bach. Photos by Kris Grant.

Ordinary Things” encapsulates the museum’s approach to selecting objects for its decorative arts collection, including stools and tables by Isamu Noguchi, and Charles and Ray Eames. Photo by Kris Grant.

Success?” that appeared in a 1949 edition of Glamour magazine. At this time, he dropped the final “a” in Warhola.

Throughout the 1950s, he created awardwinning illustrations for clients that included Tiffany & Co., Columbia Records, Bonwit-Teller and Vogue magazine.

He became known for his blotted image drawings using a technique that he developed in college that combined drawing and basic printmaking that allowed him to create multiple illustrations along a similar theme.

Some of the most notable artworks include 1960s pop art paintings of consumer products, including Campbell’s Soup Cans and Coke, and celebrity portraits of stars like Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Presley.

His Manhattan studio, The Factory, became a well-known gathering place that brought together playwrights, Hollywood celebrities, famous musicians, drag queens, Bohemian street people and wealthy patrons. Warhol once said they didn’t come to see him but to see who else was there.

Warhol loved to shop and once referred to stores as the museums of our time. Following his untimely death at the age of 58 after gallbladder surgery, his collection of furniture, accessories, oddities and curiosities was sold in a Sotheby’s ten-day public auction that netted more than $25 million for the Andy

In 1956, the I. Millar shoe company embarked on a rebranding campaign, selecting Warhol as the sole illustrator. His drawings depicted actual products as well as whimsical and exaggerated visions of shoes and regularly appeared in the Sunday society section of the New York Times and national magazines. They propelled Warhol into one of the nation’s most sought-after illustrators.

Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.

Two self portraits by Andy Warhol show his preoccupation with his looks; the topp is a passport photo where he filled out his hair and shadowed his nose; the bottom shows him in with a wild wig.

The Judy Garland, 1979 (above right) and Elvis 11 Times, 1963 images demonstrate Warhol’s painting technique, allowing multiple versions of the same image. Photos by Kris Grant

The attendant’s station at the museum’s parking lot borrowed from one of Warhol’s iconic images, Brillo Soap Pads Box, 1964.

Photo by Kris Grant.

Photo by Kris Grant.

Andy Warhol, self portrait, 1986 Photo courtesy of The Andy Warhol Museum, © The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.

Niagara Falls

As I left Pittsburgh on a rainy, overcast morning, I was gradually making my way up to Vermont, but I didn’t need to be there for a few days. I noticed that Niagara Falls was just 239 miles, or four hours, away. I had always wanted to see the falls and even though it was a rainy day, I decided to head north to where New York meets the Canadian border.

I arrived in the early afternoon. The storm had passed, the sun had broken through and it had turned into a beautiful day. About five miles away from the falls, I saw an odd phenomenon on the horizon ahead. What the heck is that? I wondered. And then I realized it was a huge cloud of mist rising from the falls. As I approached the entrance to the Niagara Falls State Park and lowered my car window to pay the parking attendant, I heard a roar, like continuous thunder. Thus, I sensed the awesome power of the falls before I actually saw them.

I was so fortunate! The morning rain and cold had obviously dissuaded tourists from venturing out. I was able to walk right up to the Maid of the Mist ticket booth. Such a great deal for just $28.25! Before I boarded, I walked out on the observation deck to photograph the three falls and the Canadian skyline. Then I descended 200 feet

by elevator to the boats below. The boats can hold up to 600 passengers on their two decks, quite an improvement over the first steam-engine boats that plied the waters back in 1846. We were all provided blue rain ponchos with orders to don the flattering garb before boarding. From a distance I think we passengers looked like either blue mummies or the Blue Man group.

As we cruised past the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, my poncho rippled softly

in the breeze. But then we moved closer to Horseshoe Falls, and the fall’s waters grew thunderous. In the turbulent waters, the “mist” turned into a driving rain that almost obliterated the view. It was exhilarating and hilarious at the same time! I was laughing while I gripped my cell phone, wanting to capture the excitement but not drop my precious phone in the swirling wet wind. I tell you with all sincerity that you must visit Niagara Falls!

Thanks to the landscape design of Frederick Law Olmsted, you’ll find several parks and vistas to take in the magnificence of Niagara Falls. Here, you see the Canadian skyline in the background. Photo by Kris Grant.

We approached the swirling water below Horseshoe Falls aboard Maid of the Mist. Photo by Kris Grant

I learned that the waters that flow over the falls comes from four of the five Great Lakes – Erie, Huron, Michigan and Superior. Each second, 600,000 gallons spill over the falls and 90 percent of the fish who take the plunge over the falls survive (who measures this stuff?)

With the development of train travel in the 1800s, throngs of tourists made their way to the falls. In 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte’s younger brother, Jerome, and

his bride honeymooned at the falls. According to Niagara lore, that’s what kicked off Niagara Fall’s honeymoon tradition. In fact, my own parents visited the falls on their cross-country honeymoon trip in 1947.

Frederick Law Olmsted, perhaps best known for designing New York City’s Central Park, believed that parks should be places of natural beauty, where “the masses could be renewed.”

Olmstead first visited the falls in August 1869, taking a walk with friends on Goat Island, the last unspoiled area near the falls. He was appalled by what he saw –encroaching development had obscured much of the view of this natural wonder. He and his business partner Calvert Vaux began a long campaign to “Free Niagara.” They were joined by intellectuals of the era including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsforth Longfellow, Thomas Carlyle, John Ruskin and Charles Darwin, William Morris (founder of the arts and crafts movement), the Governor General of Canada, Lord Dufferin; and renowned landscape painter Frederic Edwin Church. Church’s 1857 panoramic painting captured the majesty of the falls and enticed visitors when it went on tour throughout the nation. Olmsted’s campaign was ultimately successful when Grover Cleveland was elected governor of New York and signed a bill calling for the establishment of a state park at Niagara and Olmsted was commissioned as its landscape architect.

In 1885 Niagara Falls State Park was dedicated. It is the oldest of America’s state parks. In addition to the falls and river, Olmsted’s design features a network of footpaths through wooded areas, preserving native vegetation and providing vistas and viewpoints of the falls and the Niagara River to be enjoyed by the masses for all time.

After the Maid of the Mist tour, I left Niagara, heading to New York’s state capital in Albany. I suppose most people spend the night in the little town of Niagara, but it seemed kind of Coney Island-like to me. I heard that they light up the falls at night and on the Canadian side of the border you can go on a Journey Behind the Falls walk. But the Maid of the Mist was all the thrill I needed! And, oh, I just remembered – I still have my blue poncho. I should have pulled it out with all the rain we had this past season!

Although it’s not an actual cave, you can’t get any closer to Bridal Veil Falls than going on a Cave of the Falls walk. You will be provided a yellow poncho and sandals. Photo by Kris Grant

Feeling blue never felt so refreshing!

Photo by Kris Grant

I stayed at Joinery Pittsburgh Hotel, a boutique hotel concept that is part of the Curio Collection of Hilton Hotels, so I knew before I arrived that it would offer a special character. The 185-room property is located in Downtown Pittsburgh’s “Golden Triangle” area near the convergence of the three rivers.

The Gothic Revival-style structure was built in 1924 as the Salvation Army of Western Pennsylvania. Re-christened The Evangeline Residence in 1951 (honoring the first woman to serve as the Army’s General, Evangeline Booth), the property served the city as a charitable institution for many years before becoming a hotel.

The Joinery’s warm and welcoming twolevel lobby is detailed with the original molding from the building that dates back to the 1920s. A staircase leads up to the mezzanine where you’ll find some of the Joinery’s event space.

On the lobby’s main level, the registration desk is integrated with a barista-style coffee bar, called “The Offering Table” where you can purchase coffee drinks and pastries pretty much like you would at your neighborhood go-to coffee bar. In fact, the hotel’s lobby is “stay like you own the place” and the lobby features a cozy family room vibe. Just beyond the bar stool seating, I found a comfortable sofa seating area with record players (with headphones) and a great choice selection of albums, plus a well curated library of more than 600 volumes; I grabbed a couple to take up to my room to read later.

Another favorite spot in the hotel was its 10th-floor rooftop terrace where I took in panoramic views of Mount Washington and the Downtown Pittsburgh cityscape.

The hotel had not yet opened its restaurant, The Christian James, so I wasn’t able to sample its cuisine. But you can – it’s open seven days a week now for breakfast, lunch and dinner and is just off the hotel’s lobby.

I walked over to nearby Market Square, an area of the city that in 1764 housed the city’s first courthouse, jail and newspaper. Today, it’s home to several restaurants and shops surrounding a central square that offers concerts and year-round events. On the square, I made a beeline for Primanti Bros. that has been serving the ultimate Pittsburgh sandwich stacked with French fries and coleslaw since 1933.

On a second night, I went to City Works Eatery & Pour House, also on the Square, where I tasted brews from a few of the 90 on-tap offerings.

A Pittsburgh dessert I urge you to sample is the Burnt Almond Torte at Prantl’s Bakery. A friend who hailed from Pittsburgh once brought one of these tortes back to a Coronado dinner, and I think it may have been what led me to Pittsburgh! There are five Prantl’s locations throughout the city – I visited the one in Squirrel Hill.

And finally, you must sample some pierogies! These are crescent-shaped, tender dumplings filled with a variety of ingredients. I recommend Pierogi’s Plus (open only Monday – Friday!), founded by Helen Mannarino, who grew up in Poland and immigrated to the United States in 1974.

Helen settled in McKees Rock, a Pittsburgh suburb about five miles from Downtown, and opened her pierogi business there in 1991 – in a renovated gas station! Locals have been beating their way to her door ever since, and the original 350 square foot production and retail space is now ten

times bigger. But be warned: it’s all take-out, although in the summer months they have some limited outside seating. About half of Pierogi’s Plus customers eat the pierogies as they are presented; just boiled; the other half take them home, and often fry them. I recommend you store them in your fridge at the Joinery, then take them on the plane and fry ‘em up at home.

You can choose from a vast array of ingredients that go inside Helen’s “secret recipe” dough of durum and semolina flours, water, canola oil, eggs and salt, with main dish entrees topped with sautéed onion sauce. Choose from cabbage, fillings (like cabbage and kielbasa or cabbage and mushrooms); cheese (cottage cheese and chives, mozzarella, provolone or ricotta.) and dozens more choices of potato, spinach and sauerkraut varieties. Dessert anyone? Fillings include but aren’t limited to apple pie, apricot and cheese or a sweet potato pierogi.

Joinery Hotel Pittsburgh features a welcoming and convivial lobby with barista coffee bar, and a place to listen to LPs or relax with a great book.

Photos by Kris Grant

Primanti Bros. is famous for its sandwiches stuffed with meat, fries and cole slaw.

Prantl’s Bakery is famous for its Burnt Almond Torte. Photos by Kris Grant

IF YOU GO…

Visit Pittsburgh

Today Pittsburgh is a major leisure tourism destination, and it’s largely because of all the experiences and activities you can see, do and find only in Pittsburgh! The city’s official website has all your connections to accommodations, restaurants, special events and more.

www.VisitPittsburgh.com

Where to Stay

Joinery Hotel Pittsburgh

You’ll find a full list of accommodations at Visit Pittsburgh (above). I enjoyed a delightful stay at Joinery Hotel Pittsburgh, which, like Hotel del Coronado, is a Curio Collection property. 453 Boulevard of the Allies, Downtown www.joineryhotel.com

Sports

The Pittsburgh Pirates play at PNC Park (for tickets: www.MLB.com) and the Pittsburgh Steelers play at Acrisure Stadium Field on Pittsburgh’s North Shore (For tickets, www.steelers.com). For both teams, don your black and gold!

Niagara

Falls

The website below is the USA visitor side of the falls site. It includes extensive lodging information including hotels, bed and breakfasts, RV and tent camping, dining, tours and more.

www.NiagaraFallsUSA.com

Niagara Falls State Park

You’ll find extensive information on all that the park offers including Top of the Falls restaurant, Maid of the Mist, trolley schedules, Cave of the Falls, hiking trails, special events, and honeymoon packages at local hotels.

www.niagarafallstatepark.com

Maid of the Mist

Operates April through November 5. www.Maidofthemist.com

Transportation

Uber, Lyft and zTrip are all readily available throughout Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh’s Port Authority light rail ‘T’ system offers free rides between Downtown and the North Shore.

www.ridepdt.org

Museums and Attractions

The Andy Warhol Museum www.warhol.org

Carnegie Museum of Natural History www.carnegiemnh.org

Carnegie Museum of Art www.carnegieart.org

Carnegie Science Center www.carnegiesciencecenter.org

Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh www.pittsburghkids.org

Duquesne Incline www.duquesneincline.org

Mattress Factory

The Mattress Factory is an artist-centered museum, international residency program and is a renowned producer and presenter of installation art. www.mattress.org

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Established in 1893 in the middle of Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood, Phipps provides a world-class garden experience encompassing 15 acres including a 14-room glasshouse and 23 distinct gardens.  www.phipps.conservatory.org

If you’d prefer to bike, Healthy Ride stations are conveniently located throughout the city.

www.pogoh.com

Senator John Heinz History Center

An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the Senator John Heinz History Center preserves and interprets the history of Western Pennsylvanians through six floors of interactive exhibitions that feature iconic artifacts like the TV set from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” and the world’s oldest jeep. The Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum is located on the second and third floors of the History Center. www.heinshistorycenter.org

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

First opened in 1989, the Zoo, located in Highland Park, sits on 77 acres and exhibits more than 4,000 animals representing 475 endangered species. www.pittsburghzoo.org

National Aviary

America’s only independent indoor nonprofit zoo dedicated to birds, the National Aviary is home to more than 500 birds representing more than 150 species from around the world, many of them threatened or endangered in the wild. Large walk-through habitats allow intimate, up-close interaction between visitors and free-flying birds, including opportunities to hand-feed and meet many species rarely found in zoos anywhere else in the world. Located in Allegheny Commons Park on Pittsburgh’s historic Northside. www.aviary.org

Exterior, Heinz History Center. Photo courtesy of Heinz History Center.

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.

Photo by Jin Wu.

Island Icon Kirk Henry

By Cate Gregory, Coronado Historical Association Intern

“Happy memories occur here all the time,” is what Kirk Henry first thinks when he recalls life in Coronado. While he didn’t grow up here, he has grown to love Coronado and has made a meaningful impact on this community through his work with the Coronado Roundtable.

Kirk Henry was born in 1941 in Meridian, Mississippi. His father worked for the Boy Scouts of America when Henry was born, but paused his work to serve in the United States Navy for four years during World War II. After the war, Henry’s family moved to Memphis, Tennessee where his father continued his work for the Boy Scouts and Henry became an Eagle Scout himself. He went on to graduate from Washington and Lee University in Virginia with an ROTC Army commission. Kirk reminisced on how he enjoyed the competitive energy the school brought forth both academically and socially.

After serving in the Army in the Panama Canal zone during non-combat circumstances, he became a corporate lobbyist. He spent thirty years working for a Fortune 50 company that owned four thousand retail stores and consumer lending offices, a major credit card company, an insurance company, a Fortune 500 manufacturing company, National Car

Rental, and a small airlines in Alaska. It was, as Kirk stated, “an investment banker’s dream.” During his career, Kirk worked in a variety of different legislatures including Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska before moving to corporate headquarters in the Chicago area. He eventually became the head of his government relations department and retired in 1995 at the age of fifty-five. He states that the most memorable aspect of his career was, “Over an extended period of time improving the laws and regulations concerning the consumer lending industry.”

Kirk has been happily married to his wife, Barbara, for fifty-five years. They have two sons, as well as two grandchildren, with whom he enjoys spending time in Coronado. After looking for a house for over two years, Kirk and his wife purchased a condo in Coronado in 1999 the first day they saw it. That night Kirk and his wife went out to eat at Mexican Village to celebrate.

After moving to Coronado, Kirk quickly joined the Coronado Roundtable because it was a good way to meet new people and challenge himself. The Coronado Roundtable is an organization for retired or semiretired people. They meet once a month on

Photos Courtesy of Kirk Henry

the fourth Friday in the Coronado Library’s Winn Room to hear from a variety of guest speakers. Kirk described the Roundtable’s mission as, “[To] provide interesting and wide-ranging, informative, and discussable programs. We seek input. We have a thirteen person board, which spends quite a bit of time assessing prospective speakers and their topics.” After serving as a board member since 2005, Kirk Henry was the president of this organization for the past five-and-a-half years, from May 2019 to the end of 2022. Kirk stated that his favorite parts of being president of the Coronado Roundtable were calling the meeting to order, introducing the speaker, and leading the Pledge of Allegiance. His favorite speaker so far has been Charles Martoglio, a United States Navy retired vice admiral. At this meeting, Martoglio discussed the

regional and global implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Kirk found particularly interesting due to the many matters Martoglio discussed not being readily available online, at that time. The Roundtable has featured many other speakers discussing a variety of topics, including Roberto Alcantor, an SDG&E public affairs manager; Tina Friend, Coronado city manager; Stacy Moy, an FBI special agent in San Diego; and Thomas Reott, Consul

General in Tijuana. Kirk has found that the Roundtable has affected his life and values, as it has held him to a higher level of appearance and preparation. The Roundtable has three hundred and fifty members and through them has been able to disseminate information on a wide variety of topics.

When Kirk is not at the Roundtable, you can find him spending time with the Optimist Club, Coronado Point Condo Association, and Nado Money Men. He has even served as a board member for the Optimist Club and is the current inspector of elections for the Coronado Point Condo Association. Aside from volunteering for these organizations, Kirk enjoys traveling with his wife, playing golf, bridge, and reading.

Kirk has lived an interesting life in and outside of Coronado. Not only has he had a successful career, but he has continued his love of learning during retirement with his work for the Coronado Roundtable, as well as spending quality time with his loving wife, sons, and grandchildren. His kindness and persistence have shined in Coronado, and his memories here, like many of our own, are irreplaceable.

Scott Aurich

(619) 987-9797

(619) 437-1614

ScottAurich.com

Scott@ScottAurich.com

DRE#00978974

Shelly Klessinger

(619) 519-3925

shellyklessinger@gmail.com

DRE#01355449

Beth Aiello

(619) 300-3577

realtybybeth@gmail.com

realtybybeth.com

DRE#01775191

Mariane Abbott

(619) 301-2452

marianeabbott@yahoo.com

DRE#01438122

Gerri-Lynn Fives

(619) 813-7193

justgl@coronadobeach.com

DRE#01274657

Ashley Arliss

(619) 519-3290

Youragentash@gmail.com

DRE#02077483

Marisa Ponce

(619) 321-9660

ponceh3@yahoo.com

DRE#01820090

Millie Chase

(760) 803-0140

prioritybychase@gmail.com

DRE#01800422

Lorena Saenz-Ruiz

(619) 252-0828

lorena92118@gmail.com

DRE #02102063

Greg Laird Miller

(619) 734-7720

greglairdmiller@gmail.com

DRE #02205685

ScottAurich.com

Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty

Fran Carrigan

(619) 852-3898

francescarrigan2@gmail.com

DRE#01017971

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices CA Properties

Jan Clements (619) 806-7052

Jan@JanClements.com

DRE#01120956

Lennie Clements

(619) 894-0033

LennieClements@yahoo.com

DRE#01864061

Chris Clements

(619) 203-8538

Christopher.L.Clements@gmail.com

DRE#01877934

ClementsGroupRE.com

Compass Real Estate

(619) 823-2142

cahern@bhhscal.com

DRE#01262309

Charles Ahern Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices CA Properties

Christine Baker

(858) 449-3200

chris@bakersellssandiego.com

BakerSellsSanDiego.com

DRE#01808132

Willis Allen Real Estate

Jaime Bea

(619) 357-5581

jnfbea@hotmail.com

DRE#01387894

Coronado Cays Realty

Stacy Bell Begin

(619) 200-9184

DRE#02014995

StacyBegin619@gmail.com

Felicia Bell

(619) 920-9184

DRE#00429681

FeliciaFBell@gmail.com

www.Shorelifeluxury.com

Coronado Shores Company

Jeff Brummitt

619-208-1342

JB@JeffBrummitt.com

DRE#00663912

Islander Realty

DRE#00636519

Charlotte Rudowicz (619) 865-0794

DRE#01435710

Frances MacCartee (619) 312-7466

DRE#0200954

Doni Corcoran (858) 922-0978

corcoran.doni@gmail.com

DRE#01951522

eXp Realty

Ruth Ann Fisher

(619) 733-4100

rfisher@delcoronadorealty.com

DRE#01909797

Broker

Zach Todaro (619) 302-9239

DRE#01881566 zach.todaro@compass.com

Erin Todaro (619) 302-0481

DRE#01947874 erin.todaro@compass.com

Compass Real Estate todarorealestate.com

Lisa Storey (619) 997-3112

Sales & Rentals

Lisa@CoronadoPremier Properties.com

DRE#01185272

Herlinda Sandoval-Ryan

(619) 917-8888

Hablo Español

Herlinda@CoronadoPremier Properties.com

DRE#0120853

Kina Fowler

(619) 823-6725

Sales & Rentals

Kina@CoronadoPremier Properties.com

DRE#01991990

Tazzie Treadwell

(619) 888-6401

Sales & Rentals

Tazzie@CoronadoPremier Properties.com

DRE# 02022372

CoronadoPremierProperties.com

CoronadoRentals.com

Hablamos Español

Coronado Premier Properties

(619) 339-2383

DRE#0045410

(619) 339-9736

ryankoubeserian@yahoo.com

Ara Koubeserian Ryan Koubeserian arakoubeserian yahoo.com

DRE#01738738

Coronado Shores Company

Myssie McCann (619) 435-6238

myssie@coronadoshoresco.com

DRE#02145422

Martha Kuenhold

(619) 987-7725

mkuenhold@gmail.com

DRE#01369875

John Harrington

(619) 200-8504

jharrington60@gmail.com

DRE#01210260

Raquel Fernandez (619) 453-4513

Raquel@coronadoshoresrealtor.com

DRE#01945891

CoronadoShoresCo.com

Coronado Shores Company

Olga Lavalle

(619) 995-6259

Olga.Lavalle@elliman.com

DRE#01724705

Stephanie Basden 619-708-6768

stephanie@delcoronadorealty.com

DRE#01783387

Broker Associate

Cassandra Goldberg 619-820-8477

cassandra@delcoronadorealty.com

DRE#02100680

Realtor

Nellie Harris-Ritter 619-540-0111

nellie@delcoronadorealty.com

DRE#02077055

Realtor

Tina Twite-Chin

(619) 488-0285

tina@delcoronadorealty.com

DRE#01427355

Broker Associate

delcoronadorealty.com

Del Coronado Realty

Adrienne Dente

(619) 850-2880

adriennedd@aol.com

DRE#00932112

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices CA Properties

Julia M. Elassaad

(619) 573-8350

jelassaad@cbwhomes.com

DRE#01937427

Maria Garate (619) 991-5073

Maria.Garate@elliman.com

DRE#02090976

Douglas Elliman Real Estate

Coldwell Banker West

Paulette Fennello (619) 318-5707

ownyourdreams123@aol.com

DRE#: 01124030

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Ca Properties

Carrie O’Brien

(619) 847-3524

DRE#01144127

Beth Delano

(619) 514-7740

DRE#0126197

Serena Bleam

480-235-5600

Cal DRE #2137496

Flagship.net

Flagship Properties, Inc.

Monique Fuzet

(619) 994-4453

fuzetpmonique@gmail.com

DRE#00949513

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices CA Properties

Apua Garbutt

(619) 372-2777

apuareagent@gmail.com

DRE#01859903

eXp Realty

Tina Gavzie

(619) 778-0955

tinagav@aol.com

MovetoCoronado.com

DRE#01205962

Compass Real Estate

Caroline Haines

(619) 435-5200

chaines@bhhscal.com

www.sellcoronadorealestate.com

DRE# 00953131

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices CA Properties

Kathleen K. Hanlon

(619) 339-6536 Mobile

kathleen.hanlon@yahoo.com

DRE#01386879

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices CA Properties

Shannon Herlihy

(619) 855-8655

shannon@kenpecus.com

DRE #01863573

eXp Realty

Katie Herrick

(619) 865-2085

kate@katieherrickgroup.com www.ktherrick.com

DRE#01800357

Compass Real Estate

Francine Howard (619) 302-0234

Francine@sd-realtor.com

DRE#01802654

RE/MAX Hometown Realtors

Karen Hust (619) 838-7021

karen@themorabitogroup.com

DRE#01708516

Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Napolitano & Associates

Vicki Inghram

(619) 204-3400

BestofCoronado.com

DRE#01293521

Compass Real Estate

Richard Inghram

(619) 301-7766

ringhram@gmail.com

DRE#01377744

Compass Real Estate

Neva Kaye

(619) 865-2019

neva.kaye@sothebysrealty.com

nevakayegroup.com

DRE#01925476

Pacific Sotheby’s Realty

Molly Korson

(619) 808-6610

mollykorson1@aol.com

DRE#01379254

Korson Properties

The Koop Group (619) 435-8722

Kathy Koop (619) 985-8722

DRE#00460840

Karrie Koop Gilby (619) 857-7665

DRE#01465419

Allison Koop Rice (619)490-9049

DRE#01818903

www.KathyKoop.com

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices CA Properties

Karen Lee (619) 861-4133

karenlee.realtor@gmail.com

DRE# 00962910

Willis Allen Real Estate

(619) 884-4193

karisellscoastal.com

kari@karisellscoastal.com

DRE#01475331

Kari Lyons Park Life | Compass

Ken May

(619) 254-7497

SocalKenm@gmail.com

FindCoronadoRealEstate.com

DRE#01260645

Compass Real Estate

Maryellen McMahon

(619) 252-4778

maryellen.mcmahon@elliman.com

maryellenmcmahon.elliman.com

DRE#01992431

Douglas Elliman

Molly Haines McKay

(619) 985-2726

MollyHainesMcKay@gmail.com

DRE#01876062

Carrie Mickel

(619) 630-3570

carriemickel@bhhscal.com

DRE#01999494

Lindsey Lyons

619.405.9208

lindseyblyons@gmail.com

DRE# 01993229

Ed Noonan

(619) 252-1232

enoonan12@aol.com

CoronadoCays LuxuryHomes.com

DRE#00993300

Noonan Properties

Kathy Pounds (619) 997-3171

kathypoundsteam@gmail.com

www.KathyPoundsTeam.com

DRE#01044960

Zack Thornton (619) 209-0169

zacharyj.thornton@outlook.com

DRE#01911180

(619) 518-7501

Renee@parklifeproperties.com

DRE #01192858

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices CA Properties

Meridith Metzger

(619) 850-8285

meridithmetzger@gmail.com

DRE#01435132

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices CA Properties

David Udell Chris Probasco

(619) 435-0988

David@justlistedhomes.com

DRE#01184568

(619) 435-0988

Chris@justlistedhomes.com

DRE#02118648

Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Napolitano & Associates

Cheryl Morabito Dino Morabito

DRE#01183389

DRE#01415017

(619) 987-3066

Dino@TheMorabitoGroup.com www.TheMorabitoGroup.com

Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Napolitano & Associates

Renee Wilson Scott Grimes Parklife | Compass

(619) 847-4282

Scott@parklifeproperties.com

DRE #01391946

www.parklifeproperties.com

Nancy Parrett

(619) 368-1898

Nancyparrett@sd-realtor.com

DRE#01256239

At Home Realty

Ken Pecus

(619) 977-8419

ken@kenpecus.com

DRE#: 01056969

eXp Realty

Gina Schnell

(619) 865-0650

Realtor® | Broker Associate gina.schnell@compass.com

DRE# 01945038

Compass Real Estate

Olga Stevens (619) 778-8011

Olgaminvielle1@gmail.com

OlgaCoronado.com

DRE#01105050

Willis Allen Real Estate

Taylor Smith (619) 762-8815

TaylorSmithRealEstate.com

Taylor@willisallen.com

DRE# 02076557

Willis Allen Real Estate

Mary H. Bowlby (727) 692-6516

mary.bowlby@compass.com

DRE#01994278

Steve Clinton (619) 279-1818

sclinton95@gmail.com

DRE#01006292

Diego Ocampo (858) 200-5780

diego.ocampo@compass.com

DRE#02015515

Victoria Wise (619) 519-0352

wiserealestateinfo@gmail.com

DRE#01464951

THE KATHY POUNDS TEAM Compass Real Estate

Shirley Smith

(619)559-6548

shirley@shirleysmith.com www.shirleysmith.com

DRE #02046865

Coldwell Banker West

Edith Salas (619) 905-5780

edith@salasproperties.com

DRE#01966248

Evan Piritz (619) 600-7817

evan@salasproperties.com

DRE#02022374

Josh Barbera (619) 957-5357

josh@salasproperties.com

DRE#02053563

Heather Vidal (619) 571-1700

heather@salasproperties.com

DRE#02150791

Stephanie Baker (619) 306-6317

stephanie@salasproperties.com

DRE#01986654

Greg Roberts (858) 731-6101

greg@salasproperties.com

DRE#02191947

Ken Nagel (619) 952-4486

ken@salasproperties.com

DRE#01946378

Anne Trombley (619) 318-6259

anne@salasproperties.com

DRE#02168533

Roberto Cornejo (619) 548-6306

roberto@salasproperties.com

DRE#01204327

Stacie Bales (619) 370-2467

stacie@salasproperties.com

DRE#02060775

Yvonne Fulp (626) 390-4953

yvonne@salasproperties.com

DRE#01821777

Romina Nassif Baloyan (619) 882-4100

romina@salasproperties.com

DRE#02190405

Sergio Munoz (619) 751-3415

sergio@salasproperties.com

DRE#02211855

Minerva Alvarez (619) 653-0288

minerva@salasproperties.com

DRE#02195687

www.salasproperties.com

Salas Properties

Carol Stanford

(619) 987-8766

carol@carolstanford.com

BuyCoronado.com

DRE#01390529

eXp Realty

Tom Tilford (619) 300-2218

tom@tomtilfordre.com

DRE#01897051

Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Napolitano & Associates

Kate Danilova

(619) 865-3402

DRE#01997872

Chris Toogood

(619) 865-3334

DRE#01882388

TooGoodRealty.com

chris@christoogood.com

Toogood Realty

Jeff Tyler (619) 865-7153

Jtyler@cbwhomes.com

JeffTylerCoronado.com

DRE#01900337

Coldwell Banker West

Suzanne Fahy (619) 841-5870

seashorepropertiescoronado@gmail.com

DRE#01454055

Tara Brown

(619) 869-1547

tara92118@gmail.com

DRE#01452962

Lisa Davenport

(619) 261-5963

lindadavenport007@gmail.com

DRE#01422713

Jill Lehr

(619) 981-2750 lehrpad@yahoo.com

DRE#02035838

Hope Baker

(480) 221-0516 hopebake4@aol.com

Seashorepropertiescoronado.com

Seashore Properties

Brunilda Zaragoza Dany Zaragoza

(619) 520-7799

DRE#00840495

(619) 520-0772

DRE#01826683

ZaragozaRealtors.com

ZaragozaRealtors@gmail.com

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices CA Properties

Emily Wendell (619) 348-9212

emilywendell@bhhscal.com

DRE#02032915

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices CA Properties

Barbara Wamhoff (619) 517-8880

barbarawamhoff@gmail.com

DRE#01225350

eXp realty