north park news august 2015

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Serving San Diego’s Premier Urban Communities for 23 Years

Vol. 23 No. 8 August 2015

‘Fins and Wings’ andOther ThingsThe origin of fins on cars beganwhen Harley Earl designed the 1948Cadillac, taking inspiration from theP38 Lightning jet fighter. The latestexhibit at the San Diego AutomotiveMuseum contains numerousnuggest of information about post-World War II autos. PAGE 13

‘Parlour Song’ DebutsBackyard Renaissance Theatre Com-pany will introduce itself to theater-goers with a show by one of theirfavorite playwrights. On Aug. 20, pre-views begin for Jez Butterworth’s“Parlour Song” starring husband andwife team Francis Gercke and JessicaJohn, and friend and fellow-artistMike Sears. PAGE 24

CONTACT US

EDITORIAL/LETTERSManny [email protected]

ADVERTISINGKelly [email protected]

Family owned and operated since 1931, the Peking Restaurant on University Avenue has retained its sense of another time, even as otherbusinesses in North Park have disappeared or reinvented themselves. Kenneth Fong, shown outside the eatery, runs the restaurant with wifeMaria with help from their three daughters. See story on PAGE 7. (Photo by Stephanie Fong Photography)

The Case of the Disappearing InkEngineer Carl Yee invents a novel way to save paper

The fabled history of disappearing ink has taken an intriguing new turn in aSouth Park garage. Engineer Carl Yee has received a $150,000 researchgrant to advance his Paper Saver self-erasing inkjet ink. Intended for doc-uments with short shelf lives, the ink gradually fades, leaving blank pagesthat can be reused for future printing jobs. Story on PAGE 7.(Photo by Neal Matthews)

FAMILY CHOPSTICKSPeking Restaurant — an unpretentious eatery that respects its roots

Beloved BeanieMaker RetiresJean Shaw has made more than8,600 beanies for Saint AugustineHigh School freshmen since 1973,but now that she’s retired, the schoolhas to come up with a replacement.PAGE 9

2 | AUGUST 2015 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP

MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | AUGUST 2015 | 3

Ask Dr. ZWhy is our 9-month-old wak-ing up screaming for us?

Babies don’t have a sense of self, asan entity separate from their parents,until about six to nine months. At thattime, parents notice “stranger anxiety.”

Nightly wake-ups are an extensionof this phenomenon. Think of it fromthe child’s perspective. They don’t haveobject permanence yet — they don’trealize when you put a ball behindyour back that it still exists behind yourback. To them, it has magically disap-peared.

Now picture a child falling asleep ina parent’s arms, and in a blink of aneye, being in a crib in the dark and theparent has vanished. Once they realizethey are separate from Mom, thenMom can go away and leave you for-ever. They do not know that Dad is inthe other room — he just simply does-n’t exist anymore. They get scared untilthey realize things out of sight stillexist. This takes time.

Reassurance in the middle of thenight is the norm at this age. In addi-tion, since they are independentbeings, they may feel that they may bestolen from their parents, or given

away, thus the reluctance to be held byanyone but their primary caretakers.

But what to do? Once you go in andreassure your child you are still there,be careful not to begin new habits —if they should not be hungry, don’toffer food. Let them ask if they arehungry. Comforting them, shushingthem, telling them you are always therefor them, you are just in the next room,help greatly. Keep the lights off or low,and speak softly. You know your childbest, so you will have an idea how tohelp most. Some people find thatsinging softly to them as you leave theroom, and continuing in the hall orother room helps them figure out youare not gone. Sometimes leaving andentering a few times while talking tothem will cement the idea as well. Mostof all, know it is normal, it is difficult,and it, too, shall pass. When it does,you may be in for some fun, as hideand seek becomes the new game in thehouse! !

Dr. Tara Zandvliet welcomes your ques-tions. Send them to questions@ south-parkdoctor.com. She practices at 2991Kalmia St. Phone: (619) 929-0032.

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COMINGGOING&

HELLOPink & White Nail and Spa, 2960 North Park

Way, North Park. Owner Khang Nguyen says,“Come by my shop for a friendly, clean, sanitarynail service in the heart of North Park. We are run-ning a grand opening special of 15 percent off allservices. We also validate parking and offer com-plimentary drinks w/service including wine andbeer for adults. We have large selection of brandname and chem-free products.”

Chi Extraordinary Kitchen, 2789 AdamsAve. A Thai-inspired restaurant owned by PimwaraThongchua, her third local restaurant. It is SanDiego’s only pescatarian Thai restaurant. She alsoowns Asian Bistro in Hillcrest and Plumeria onPark Boulevard.

Lemonade plans a Hillcrest opening this monthat 3958 Fifth Ave. Will have indoor and outdoorseating. It will serve cafeteria-style “Seasonal Cali-fornia Comfort Food,” according to founder AlanJackson. The eats include salads, sandwiches,braised meats, desserts and specialty lemonade.

Et Voila! French Bistro, Ludo Mifsud is ope-ing Et Voila! at 3015 Adams Ave. in early 2016,which will serve a menu ranging from escargo andcoq au vin to modern French cuisine.

GOODBYE and HELLOAlchemy Restaurant was sold and a new vege-tarian restaurant will be taking its place — Kindred,a cocktail bar with vegan food owned by Kory Steti-na. Stetina says that Kindred, 1503 30th St., will bea “completely fresh, unique and formidable drink-ing and dining destination.” The all-vegan menuwill include traditional starters and entrees andthere will be an emphasis on snacks and shareableplates geared to pair with drinks.

Chi Extraordinary Kitchen

Lemonade Rendering

Et Voila! French Bistro

Pink & White Nail and Spa

The San Diego City Council onJuly 27 removed a roadblock froma project meant to improve Uni-versity Avenue in North Park byunanimously rejecting an appeal ofan environmental impact report.

The appellant, Trenton Riley ofSan Diego City Homes Inc., con-tended that the project wouldremove parking spaces that smallbusinesses depend on for customerconvenience. He also objected tothe addition of a median along theroadway that would be installedwithout landscaping.

City staff said they planned to

compensate for the reduction of 91spaces on University Avenue by cre-ating head-in parking spots on thenearby state streets, so the neigh-borhood would see a net gain ofthree spaces. The area’s businesseswould have to fund maintenancefor any landscaping installed alongthe median, according to staff.

The project will cover a mile anda quarter of University Avenuebetween Florida and Boundarystreets, west of Interstate 805.

Besides the median, new left-turn pockets will be created, andlanes dedicated to bicycles and

public transit will be formed.Councilman Todd Gloria said

the small businesses that line theheavily used street will start gettingmore customers because the areawill be more walkable. The action,he said. would allow one of SanDiego’s hippest neighborhoods tocontinue growing and thriving.

Work is scheduled to begin inthe fiscal year that starts July 1,2016, and take around a year and ahalf to complete, according to Glo-ria’s office.

COMMUNITY4 | AUGUST 2015 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP

The UAMP project proposes multi-modal improvements along

University Avenue, between Florida Street and Boundary

Street, within the city of San Diego’s community of North

Park.

The project will incorporate:

• Roadway Improvements: traffic signals, raised medians,

turn pockets, and re-striping.

• Transit Improvements: transit-only lanes, transit stop con-

solidation.

• Pedestrian Improvements: Enhanced pedestrian crossings,

curb extensions/pop outs.

In addition, parking modifications will remove on-street park-

ing where the transit-only lanes will be plaved and the re-

striping of on-street parallel parking spaces to angled parking

spaces along both sides of several adjacent side streets north

of University Avenue. The project will also relocate some

existing utilities and infrastructure. The proposed improve-

ments would be constructed in phases, dependent on fund-

ing.

Why are these improvements being proposed?

The city of San Diego and community stakeholders developed

a series of innovative traffic calming concepts for University

Avenue to help enhance and rediscover the University

Avenue corridor as a pedestrian- and transit-friendly envi-

ronment. A concept plan was developed that integrates a

series of traffic calming elements and multi-modal improve-

ments with the goal of improving mobility along the Univer-

sity Avenue corridor.

The purpose and objectives of the UAMP project include:

• Improve traffic flow and safety

• Improve transit flow

• Create a pedestrian friendly environment

• Reduce speeding

• Accommodate bicyclists

• Reduce bus conflicts

• Beautify the corridor

The University Avenue Mobility Plan Project

Even with the shabby exterior, the vacant building sold for $925,000.

University Avenue ImprovementsComing Your Way

Project will improve traffic flow and createpedestrian friendly environment BY CITY NEWS SERVICE

North Park CommercialBuilding Sold for $925,000

A vacant commercial building inNorth Park that once housed theCabrillo Dental Lab has been soldand the new owner is marketing thespace for either a craft brewer oper-ation, a restaurant or office use.

The 2,500-square-foot building islocated on 30th Street, between Uni-versity and Lincoln avenues. It wasbuilt in 1947.

The sellers, Chester L. Willis andJanice B. Willis, originally purchasedthe building in 1993 for $130,000 andutilized the space for their business,

Cabrillo Dental Lab. It was purchased by Paul Sloman

and Virginia Sloman for $925,000.Limor Spilky, senior associate of

commercial property investmentsales for Location Matters BrokerageServices, represented the sellers in thetransaction.

The lease rate for the building is$2.25 per square feet.

The front of the building is shabby,but Paul Sloman said the it will berehabilitated.

Yo La Tengo, Blitzen Trapper HighlightSan Diego Music Thing Event

Yo La Tengo and special guest Blitzen Trap-per will perform at The Observatory (formerlythe North Park Theatre) on Nov. 12 as partof this year’s San Diego Music Thing.

The San Diego Music Thing is a two-daymusic and media conference and festivalscheduled for Nov. 12-14. Registrants havethe opportunity to improve their knowledgeof the music business through interactive androundtable sessions with nationally-knownpanelists and featured speakers who representthe best and most innovative aspects of themusic business.

Day time activities include a trade show,

happy hour parties, listening stations and popup live performances as well as a chance tomeet and mingle with top industry profes-sionals and artists.

Evening activities include the Music Fest,with over 150 local, regional and nationalbands performing at venues around SanDiego.

The conference portion of the festival ismoving back to the Lafayette Hotel in NorthPark.

OrderUp Food Delivery App to LaunchAug. 17 In San Diego — North ParkNext

Nationwide food delivery app OrderUp willofficially enter the San Diego market on Mon-day, Aug. 17, as OrderUp San Diego -- initiallyserving the communities of Pacific Beach andSan Diego State University. Long-term plansare to expand to additional neighborhoods,including North Park.

OrderUp, acquired by Groupon, allowsusers on-demand delivery of a variety of cui-sine and beverages from local eateries.

OrderUp San Diego is locally owned andoperated out of Pacific Beach. In preparationfor its San Diego launch, owner Andrew Koot-man carried out beta market testing nearSDSU, where the app became popular withcollege students and university employees. Thecompany then expanded its reach to PacificBeach, partnering with more than 25 addi-tional restaurants.

To date, OrderUp San Diego has deliveredmore than 30,000 orders, and long-term plansplace OrderUp San Diego in additional neigh-borhoods including North Park, Hillcrest,Downtown San Diego and more.

United Way Promotes North Park’sKatie Sawyer

Katie Sawyer, a resident of North Park, hasbeen promoted from senior developmentexecutive to director of philanthropy at UnitedWay of San Diego County.

Sawyer, who has successfully led corporatedevelopment efforts and managed theWomen’s Leadership Council as United Way’ssenior development executive, will work close-ly with the organization’s major philanthropicgroup the Alexis de Tocqueville Society in hernew role as director of phi-lanthropy. Prior to joiningUnited Way’s staff, Sawyerserved as executive directorof Girls on the Run of NewOrleans.

United Way also

announced the hiring of Valin Brown as seniorvice president and chief development officer,and Michele Predko as director of marketingand brand strategy. Brown served as CEO forthe Carlsbad Educational Foundation forseven years and previously worked with Unit-ed Way in Colorado and Tennessee. Predkowill lead advertising, communications, digitalmarketing and brand strategy – furthering theorganization’s message with key audiences.

Lemonade to Open Hillcrest Restaurant

Lemonade, the Los Angeles-based eaterythat advertises its “fresh, healthy dining,” isscheduled to opening a new restaurant in Hill-crest in August. The company also is openinga restaurant in Westgate UTC.

“We are so thrilled to be heading downsouth to the city of San Diego,” says ExecutiveChef and Founder Alan Jackson. “Hillcrest isa vibrant community known for its diversity,much like Lemonade — a place where every-one is welcome.”

The cafeteria-style setting invites guests toeat with their eyes by grabbing a tray andselecting from a colorful variety of prepareddishes. The wide-ranging menu stresses simplepreparations, celebrating California seasonalingredients. The summer menu includes:Oxnard Strawberries, Arugula, Blue Cheese,Sherry Vinaigrette Pineapple Chicken, GreenBeans, Coconut, Jalapeño, Jerk Dressing Roast-ed Beets, Melon, Frisée, and Hazelnut.

San Diego State Research: WorkingMoms Acceptance at All-Time High

Research conducted at San Diego State Uni-versity shows that societal acceptance of work-ing mothers is at an all-time high.

Researchers analyzed data from nearly

600,000 respondents from two nationally rep-resentative surveys — one of U.S. 12th gradersand the other of adults — taken between 1976and 2013. The goal was to understand howattitudes towards women’s work and familyroles have changed in the United States sincethe 1970s.

They found that millennials are significantlymore accepting of working mothers than pre-vious generations were at the same age. Only22 percent of 12th graders in the 2010sbelieved that a preschool-aged child wouldsuffer if their mother worked, down from 34percent in the 1990s and 59 percent in the1970s.

“This goes against the popular belief thatmillennials want to ‘turn back the clock,’ orthat they are less supportive of working momsbecause their own mothers worked. Insteadthey are more supportive,” said Jean Twenge,a psychology professor at SDSU and a leadauthor of the study. Twenge’s book, “Genera-tion Me,” describes a generational shift towardindividualism and narcissism.

Finest City Improv Debuts ‘PresidentHilary’

Finest City Improv will be premiering theSan Diego debut of “President Hilary,” a satir-ical look at the first day in the oval office forthe presidential hopeful. After a 3 a.m. phonecall on the crisis phone, Hillary’s first day inthe White House may be her last. The showopens Aug. 15 and runs Saturdays at 8 p.m.through Sept. 19 (closed on Aug. 29). Ticketsare $10 each for this limited run.

“President Hilary” comes to San Diego froma successful run at Second City Hollywood.Written by Marc Warzecha (Reno 911!, MadTV) and Andy Cobb (The Rachel MaddowShow), the hour-long sketch show covers thewhole Clinton family, Russia, FOX News, andeven Joe Biden (and his talking hairs).

Directed by Jeffery Howard. Jeffrey hasdirected in professional and academic theatersfor 20 years.

Finest City Improv is located at 4250Louisiana St.


COMMUNITY NEWS

Yo La Tengo

Blitzen Trapper

Viet Cong

The Joy Formidable

Here We Go Magic

Katie Sawyer

FUN & GAMES

Dining with Lola – Lola and Pierrot visit MAVEN on Adams Avenue



The fabled history of disappearingink has taken an intriguing new turnin a South Park garage with fundsfrom the National Science Founda-tion.

Engineer Carl Yee has received a$150,000 NSF Small Business Innova-tion Research grant to advance hisPaper Saver self-erasing inkjet ink.Intended for documents with shortshelf lives, the ink gradually fades, leav-ing blank pages that can be reused forfuture printing jobs.

Yee invented the ink in the garageof his South Park home, which is nowthe headquarters for his startup com-pany, Blue Planet Ink. A Stanford Uni-versity alumnus who holds 14 patents,he got the idea in 2009 when he was astay-at-home dad.

“I've always been interested in envi-ronmental issues,” he recalled. “Itoccurred to me that the amount ofpaper printed every day is incredible,so wouldn't it be great if we could

remove the ink and reuse the paper?”Yee began by rebooting skills he had

previously used to design cars andmedical devices. “Your first thought isalways, ‘If it’s a great idea, then some-body’s already done it.’ So I did anInternet search and a patent search,and I didn’t find anything like this.

“Then I thought, ‘I don’t know any-thing about printers or ink, but I knowa lot about problem-solving, so Ishould give this a shot.’”

Yee's first stop was the North ParkPublic Library, where he used the SanDiego Circuit Consortium interlibraryloan program to obtain advancedchemistry textbooks from the UC SanDiego Library. “It’s a fantasticresource,” he said. “The books guidedme in experimenting with differentink formulas using safe agents, becauseconsumers who are concerned aboutthe planet won’t want dangerouschemicals in their ink.”

By 2012, Yee had launched his com-

pany and approached the NSF forfunds to help him figure out how toprevent corrosion from damagingprinter heads. After the agency turnedhim down, he found a way to clear upthe problem. Last year, he reappliedfor NSF funding to refine his technol-ogy further, and the second time wasthe charm.

“When I went back to them, itshowed a level of commitment,” hesaid. “They told me, ‘You certainly aretenacious.’”

NSF officials also were impressedthat Yee had acquired an encyclopedicknowledge of printing processes andpaper use. “This project wouldn't havebeen possible 15 years ago,” he said.“Newer feed mechanisms are muchimproved, so there are fewer paperjams.”

Citing data from the U.S. Censusand the office supplies industry, Yeemapped out a burgeoning need fordirect reuse of printer paper. “Last year,we used 14,000 sheets of paper forevery office worker in America and2,600 sheets for every American,including babies,” he said.

“Business Week predicted 30 yearsago that we would have paperlessoffices,” Yee added. “When email andthe Internet first became popular, weexpected paper consumption to godown. It went up instead, becausethere is more information to be print-ed. But 90 percent of all the docu-

ments we print are only needed tem-porarily, and 21 percent are discardedthe same day they are produced.”

The inventor also has become an inkhistorian. “I've tried to educate myselfabout all things disappearing ink,” hesaid. “Over the years, it has been usedfor espionage and for crime. But thatwas done with pens. I’m the first oneto make it work with a printer.”

Yee is now focused on perfecting histechnology. For field tests, he usesprinters with two ink tanks, filling onetank with regular black ink and theother with his dark blue indigo ink to

compare the performance of both. Sofar, Blue Planet Ink is fading complete-ly after two weeks, leaving pristinepages ready for reuse.

Yee is eager to apply for a Phase 2grant, and he is encouraged by theNSF’s enthusiasm for his invention.“They really want to help you com-mercialize your product,” he said.“This ink would benefit society by pre-serving the environment, and thatwould be a good return on investmentfor public funding.”

FAMILY CHOPSTICKSPeking Restaurant — an unpretentious eatery that respects its roots BY SUSAN TAYLOR

Chinese restaurant menus can belong. It takes some time to readthrough one, and to finally select thischow mein, that rice, or a certain noo-dle dish. Peking Restaurant at 2877University Ave. does have a lengthymenu, and it has a long history.

Family owned and operated since1931, the establishment has retainedits sense of another time even as busi-nesses and storefronts in North Parkhave disappeared or reinvented them-selves to fulfill North Park’s “hipster”reputation.

Go back to May 1935, and experi-ence the growing economy andtourism in San Diego resulting fromthe California Pacific InternationalExposition in Balboa Park. Prohibitionhad ended two years earlier, and night-clubs came on the scene, promisingalcohol, dining, and dancing.

Frank Crover’s Furniture Companybecame Cho Book You Restaurant,serving patrons Chinese food a shortdistance from the activities in the park.Soon after, the name was changed toPekin Café. Its red, green, and gold“oriental-style” façade, shaped toresemble a curved pagoda, still existstoday.

Next door is the old North ParkTheatre, no longer showing cinema orstaging live drama; instead the venue— Observatory North Park — fea-tures rock bands and craft beer andattracts a new generation of nightlifeon University Avenue. Something foreveryone, that’s one of the great thingsabout the neighborhood.

Today the business card reads:“Peking Restaurant” with “Cantonese

Cuisine” printed under it. The elabo-rate signage out front still says “PekinCafé” and includes the words “ChopSuey.” Times change.

The original owners were Chow KayLeung and Leo Y. Fong, and althoughneither of them had any formal train-ing as chefs, they had worked in Chi-nese restaurants prepping food, andeventually cooking the Cantonese-style cuisine.

Leo Fong’s son, Ken, married toMaria, who grew up in Mexico, havelargely managed it in recent decades,and most of the family, including theirthree daughters, have worked and con-tinue to help out in the daily opera-tion. The girls remember starting inthe restaurant at age 11 or 12, sayingthat some of their friends didn’t wantto come to “dangerous” North Park inthe 90s.

Contrast that to the celebrity sight-ings and television stars who haveeaten at Peking Restaurant: KimberlinBrown of “The Young and the Rest-less,” Tim Thomerson of “Silk Stalk-ings,” Mark Christopher Lawrence of“Chuck,” Pro Skateboarder AndyMcDonald, Hector Jimenez from“Nacho Libre,” and Ali Landry, “theDoritos girl.”

Today’s customers are greeted andshown to tables or red leather booths.The wallpaper is a subtle tan bamboo-print, and Chinese lanterns, electric,of course, provide the lighting. Asianpicutures and photographs decoratethe walls.

The décor has changed very littlesince the 1930s, although new flooringwas recently installed. Back then, therewas more privacy, as floor-to-ceilingscreens separated dining parties.

Donald P. Covington, in his book,“North Park A San Diego Urban Vil-lage 1896-1946,” reproduced an adfrom 1935 in The San Diego Unionthat promised the allure of “exclusivebooths” and the chance to dine anddance in the center of the restaurant,a la Fred Astaire.

This was the place for the “best mealin the city” and, curiously, the menuthen had an “American Section” withitems such as French fries and a sideof lettuce and tomatoes.

As Chinese food became more pop-ular, orange chicken and Mongolianbeef were added to satisfy a taste forAsian dishes.

Service is prompt and friendly.Prices seem out of date; the bill for agenerous plate of Szechuan chickenand a steaming bowl of hot and soursoup, enough for four people, was only$20. The menu describes family stylemeals as Deluxe, Special, or Extra Spe-cial — that’s enough to tempt theadventurous eater!

Asked for their personal recommen-

dations, the Fongs say their favoritesare the crispy beef, Beef Cantonesewith pan fried noodles , and chow funwith black bean sauce. One customerswears by the egg foo yung, and ordersit every time she visits. Loyal patronsreturn again and again to see thefamiliar faces of Maria and Anna andother staff.

Personal touches are evident, aswhen, one rainy day, Maria was seenchasing after a lunch diner with hisleftovers in the small, white, to-go boxtypical of Chinese restaurants.

The satisfying experience of eatingat Peking Restaurant is culminatedwith a fortune cookie. What isn’t fore-told is the future of the restaurant. Thekids would like to see it make it to the100-year mark, and why not? It haslived on despite arson and burglary inthe 1980s, more robberies, moderntrends in popular food (no brusselsprouts or bacon here), streets whereperiod houses are remodeled and“flipped,” and the demise of neighbor-hood businesses such as the oldThrifty Drug where, if still hungry afew hours after chop suey, you couldbuy a nickel ice cream cone.

Hopefully, North Park will stillmake room for what some would callthis quaint, unpretentious eatery thatrespects its roots and adds flavor tothe area.

Someone thought well enough ofPeking Restaurant to paint its portraiton a utility box at the intersection ofArnold Street and University, so it isdoubtful that it will be forgotten any-time soon.

Since 1931, Peking Restaurant has kept its original neon sign—even with the old name.

The Case of the Disappearing InkEngineer Carl Yee invents a novelway to save paper BY KATE CALLAN SPECIAL TO NP NEWS

The ink on the page on the left that Carl Yee is holding is gradually disappearing. The pageon the right is the original. (Photo: Kate Callan)

Leo and Emily Fong. Leo Fong started therestaurant in 1931.


Year zero in the history of U.S.big-box stores was 1962: In that oneyear, the first Wal-Mart, Target andKmart stores opened. While thefirms’ origins varied, their commonfocus was on deep discounts andsuburban locations. Shoppers wouldarrive by car, not foot, so what mat-tered was highway access, acres ofparking and massive scale.

In the five decades since, theAmerican retail landscape and builtenvironment have been profoundlyaltered. At the end of 2013, Wal-Mart had 4,700 stores in the UnitedStates and Puerto Rico, while Targetoperated nearly 1,800 locations andKmart just over 1,200. Then thereare smaller chains — still huge byany measure — as well as “categorykillers” and all the diverse residentsof the shopping-mall ecosystem.

While big-box retailers havestumbled in recent years, hurt by thefinancial crisis, the rise of Internetcommerce and the increasing appealof cities, they remain a powerfulforce: Walmart alone is estimated toemploy approximately 1 percent ofthe American workforce and rangup sales of $444 billion in 2012,when it held the No. 1 spot in theFortune 500.

All that retail and economic mus-cle hasn’t come without significantcontroversy. A 2008 study from theMassachusetts Institute of Technol-ogy indicates that Wal-Mart’s rapidexpansion in the 1980s and 1990swas responsible for 40 percent to 50percent of the decline in the numberof small discount stores.

According to 2014 research inSocial Science Quarterly, a similareffect continues: On average, within15 months of a new Wal-Martstore’s opening, as many as 14 exist-ing retail establishments close. Otherresearch has found that the arrivalof Wal-Mart stores was associatedwith increased obesity of area resi-dents, higher crime rates relative tocommunities that were not bystores, lower overall employment atthe county level, and lower per-acretax revenues than mixed-use devel-opment.

Despite such well-documentedeffects, big-box retailers are oftencourted by cities and regions, as sug-gested by a 2014 paper from theHarvard Kennedy School. A 2011

report by a Missouri metropolitanplanning organization found thatover 20 years, more than $5.8 billionhad been given to private developersin the St. Louis region, with a sub-stantial portion going to retail-ori-ented projects.

And because big-box stores dom-inate the malls in which they oper-ate, subsidies continue long afteropening day: A study of more than2,500 stores found that 73 percentof mall anchors paid no rent.Instead, mall owners use their pres-ence to attract smaller retailers thatpay elevated rates in the hope ofbenefiting from the big stores. Someresearch suggests that small retailersin such malls indeed see morepatrons, and municipalities that doattract big box stores can seeincreased tax revenue, althoughthere may be revenue lost whensmaller businesses fail.

Still, a 2014 study fromresearchers at Stanford and the Uni-versity of Michigan finds positiveeffects for wages, relative to pay lev-els traditionally available throughsmall stores and firms: Indeed, the“spread of these chains has beenaccompanied by higher wages. Largechains and large establishments pay

considerably more than small mom-and-pop establishments. Moreover,large firms and large establishmentsgive access to managerial ranks andhierarchy, and managers, most ofwhom are first-line supervisors, area large fraction of the retail la borforce, and earn about 20 percentmore than other workers.”

Given the outsized role that chainretailers play in the U.S. economy,media coverage often focuses onbusiness issues, such as the wave ofclosures hitting J.C. Penney andother firms, or the rise of “small-box” urban stores. Wal-Mart’s over-seas operations get a lot of attention,including its recent pledge to sellmore U.S.-made goods, or an inves-tigation into its use of bribery inMexico. Workplace issues are alsoimportant, such as why openings atthe company often attract hundreds

of applicants.For state and local reporters, par-

ticularly those on a municipal beat,the challenge comes in understand-ing the positive and negative effectsthat the potential arrival or depar-ture of a big-box retailer can have.For example, if politicians proposetax-increment financing or othertax-based incentives for a retail pro-ject, is that an appropriate use ofpublic funds? What are the potentialeffects, long and short term, onother retailers and employers in thearea? Could an expansion of low-wage jobs increase use of taxpayer-funded assistance programs?

(From the Shorenstein Center onMedia, Politics and Public Policy —Harvard Kennedy School)

Big-Box Stores Have Profoundly Altered American Retail Landscape

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ADAMS AVENUE NEWS

Target has 1,800 stores nationwide.

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Kmart as of 2013 had 1,200 outlets


Making freshmen wear beanies isone of the more endearing traditionsat St. Augustine, the all-boys highschool located at Nutmeg and 32ndstreets. For “Welcome Week” at thebeginning of the school year, theincoming ninth graders must dontheir gold and purple beanies. And,heaven help the frosh wholeaves hisbeanie at home.

For decades those beanies havebeen handed out without much fan-fare. But no more. The person whohas been stitching together each andevery beanie since 1973 retired inJune.

What’s a 93-year-old Catholicschool going to do in the face of abeanie dilemma? Who will replaceJean Shaw, the venerable beaniemaker of Nutmeg Street?

Fortunately, she hasn’t left theschool in the lurch. “True to herongoing loyalty to the school, shemade her usual batch of 200 beaniesfor the Class of 2019 before takingher well-earned retirement,” saidEdwin Hearn, Saints president.

What about next year? The school is mum on a replace-

ment. “We’ve got a few months to gobefore we panic,” said Hearn.

If you do the math, that is morethan 8,600 beanies to date. “I'd have

never dreamt it would be that manywhen I started,” said Shaw, wife,mother, and grandmother to a longline of Saints graduates,“(but) I enjoysewing and it helps me feel connectedto Saints.”

In 1965, Jean Shaw began to workat St. Augustine High as alumni sec-retary. Since then she has workedwith five Augustinian and one layprincipal.

A native of Southport, Ind., Shaw

moved with her family to San Diegowhen she was 10 years old. She grad-uated from San Diego High and SanDiego State University. She marriedSaintsman Leo Shaw (Class of 1949)and the couple has had three sons atSaints and a daughter at OLP (Acade-my of Our Lady of Peace). Twograndsons have graduated fromSaints. Currently, she has threegranddaughters at OLP and anothergrandson at Saints.

Each purple and gold beanieencompasses the brotherhood, tradi-tion, and sense of community thatSt. Augustine High School proudlyrepresents. “No other school I knowof does anything like this, not “Uni,”not anyone,” insists Shaw, who cancomplete seven beanies in one hourwhen she is on a roll. However, thatdoesn’t mean the process is easy.Sometimes just one beanie alone cantake up to a half hour to make. Mul-tiply that by 200, and we’ve got a trulydedicated volunteer who believes inthe loyal sons of Saint Augustine.

Said Principal Jim Horne, “Thebeanies are special and very unique.It creates a bond for all Saintsmen,through all generations. They all worea beanie and are part of the special

brotherhood and camaraderie.”The beanies are a part of the Fresh-

man Welcome Week Tradition thathas been going on for more than 90years (even before Jean Shaw beganmaking them).

“The beanies are only worn duringFrosh Welcome Week ... However,many Saintsmen cherish the beanieand wear it again on graduation dayunder their graduation cap,” saidprincipal Horne. “These beaniescome full circle by the end of theirsenior year, standing as a symbol ofthe brotherhood of Saintsmen, andthe sense of community that is sostrong at Saints.”

Saints’ Beloved Beanie Maker Retires After 43 years and 8,600 beanies

Jean Shaw, an administrative assistant at St. Augustine High since 1965, retired in June.The school’s beloved beanie maker has sewn more than 8,600 freshman caps.

For one week during Frosh Welcome Week, new St. Augustine High ninth graders mustwear their traditional beanie.

This fall, St. Augustine High willlaunch a $25 million constructionproject that will add a new StudentCommunity Center — including anew gymnasium — to the 93-year-old North Park school.

Completion is set for February2017.

“The new gym is a dream cometrue for the school’s late PrincipalJohn Sanders, who first envisionedthe project in the 1990s,” said EdwinHearn, Saints president.

Additionally, a new off-street park-

ing lot will be constructed where thecurrent outside basketball courtsreside and the small auxiliary fieldwill be moved in between the newStudent Community Center and thecurrent Dougherty Gym.

The old gym will not be torn downbut will be repurposed by the Nut-meg Street school.

The construction should take 18months from start to finish. “If allgoes according to plan, the class of2017 will graduate from this newfacility,” said Hearn.

DPR Inc. was named the generalcontractor for this phase of construc-tion. This is the same company thatconstructed Villanova and MendelHalls and the underground parkinggarage below those buildings.

Project excavation is targeted tobegin Nov. 9.

On Sept. 16, Saints is holding aneighborhood informational meetingat 5 p.m. in rooms 101-102 in VaseyHall. David Pfeifer, the DPR architect,will formally present the constructionplan to the community.

Saint Augustine to Get Long-Awaited New GymWill be part of a new Student Community Center

Architect drawing of the planned Saints Community Center, which faces32nd Street between Palm and Nutmeg. Construction begins Nov. 9.

Aerial view of the 7.5-acre St. Augustine High campus surrounded by 32nd St. (left) Palm (top); 33rd St. (right) and Nutmeg (lower). The new Student Community Center will be on 32nd St. A new multi-purpose field will appearas shown when the project is complete in 2017.


By Bart Mendoza

AUG. 20Kevin Cavanaugh’s Tribute to MorrisseyBritish music icon Morrissey’s two shows at the Observatory Aug.20 and 21 are sold out, but on that first night, ticketless fans of hismusic are directed one block east, to Bar Pink. There the venue willhost a special piano bar night, featuring nothing but the music ofMorrissey and his prior group, The Smiths. The tunes will be per-formed by Kevin Cavanaugh, best known as the man behind longrunning Caliph-based lounge/cover trio, Blue Velvet, with a greatsense of humor to match his piano skills. While the music will berecast for solo piano and bar room antics, the spirit and melodywill remain intact from the originals. Who knows? — perhaps Mor-rissey will be intrigued enough by Cavanaugh’s concept to wanderover after the show. Either way, Morrissey fans will be thoroughlyentertained by Cavanaugh’s set. barpink.com

SEPT. 5Legendary Blasters Return to the CasbahWhen it comes to the roots rock revival of the 1980s, none didit better than the Blasters. The legendary band returns to theCasbah for a show on Sept. 5, in its latest incarnation, still fea-turing guitarist and frontman Phil Alvin, bassist John Bazz anddrummer Bill Bateman alongside “new” guitarist Keith Wyatt,who replaced original guitarist Dave Alvin in 1996. The bandreleased its most recent album, “Fun on Saturday Night,” in2012, but expect the biggest cheers to be for early and muchcovered favorites, such as “Marie, Marie” and “American Music.barpink.com

AUG. 20High-Energy Sounds from The Little RichardsFans of vintage rock ‘n’ roll won’t want to miss a special free perfor-mance by the Little Richards on Aug. 20 at 6 p.m., making an appear-ance at the third anniversary party for vintage clothing store, TheGirl Can’t Help It. Playing nothing but the classic ’50s-era songs oftheir namesake, Little Richard, the all-star band includes front manRobert Lopez, aka EL Vez, formerly of the Zero’s, keyboardist DianaDeath of Flaggs, guitarist Pat Beers and drummer Lety Beers of theSchizophonics, as well as bassist Kyle Hoffman and guitarist JustinCota of Gloomsday. It all adds up to a set of music that’s high energyfun and full of hits, from “Lucille” to “Rip it Up.” The Little Richardsare heading to Europe to promote their debut album this fall, makingthis one of the last chances to catch the band locally this year – don’tmiss it! facebook.com/thegirlcanthelpitvintage

AUG. 30Enjoy the Dizzying Sounds of Todo MundoIt almost sounds impossible, but on Aug. 4, members of punk legendsThe Sex Pistols, Blondie, Gen X will be at the Soda Bar. Performingunder the name the International Swingers, the quartet features drum-mer Clem Burke (Blondie), bassist Glen Matlock (The Sex Pistols),guitarist James Stevenson (Gen X) and frontman Gary Twinn, essen-tially performing their greatest hits, from “Dancing With Myself” to“Pretty Vacant.” It’s like an ultra-hip jukebox, with one classic trackreeled off after another, and stellar playing from all involved. But keepan eye on Burke — one of the world’s greatest drummer’s is also amaster showman. sodabarmusic.com

Thursdays in SeptemberThe Musical Genius of Gregory PageThere is a long list of under rated musicians in San Diego andwith three decades on local stages, acoustic troubadour GregoryPage is at the top of the list. He’ll have a Thursday night residencyat Java Joe’s throughout September, the intimate coffeehousethe perfect setting for his wonderful ballads. His most recentdisc, “One Way Journey Home,” produced by friend Jason Mraz,has brought him international acclaim, but one listen to any ofthe albums from this prolific musical genius will have you won-dering why he isn’t a household name just yet.javajoessd.com

AUG. 22P.O.D. Performs in CD-Release EventLocal heavy metal heroes P.O.D. perform at the House of Blues onAug. 22. One of the biggest successes to emerge from San Diego’smusic scene circa the 1990s, the show is a CD-release event inadvance of a major tour supporting their new album, “The Awak-ening,” which includes their new single, “This Goes Out To You.”It’s been over a decade since P.O.D. scored their biggest hit with,“Youth of A Nation,” but they have managed to keep their ferventfan base through touring and periodic releases that continue to hitthe charts as well as build on the band’s signature hard rock sounds. houseofblues.com/sandiego


‘Fins and Wings’ andOther ThingsAutomotive Museum puts spotlight onpostwar car design

It took a World War II fighter air-craft — Lockheed’s twin-tailed P38Lightning — to inspire the start ofone of the major design features ofthe American automobile in theyears following the war.

The origin of fins on cars beganwhen Harley Earl — bringing tomind the striking tails of the fighter— designed the 1948 Cadillac.

From then on, much of automo-tive design took cues from the latesttechnological advances and culturaltrends that were occurring duringthe prosperous years after the war.Cars were bigger, roads were better,and Americans took to the streetsand highways with a new passionfor driving.

The San Diego Automotive

Museum’s latest exhibit, “Fins andWings,” traces the history of thatperiod in the automobile industry.

Designs started off small andtransformed into the tall piercingfin with taillights. Some looked likejet flames and others had morecurves to look like the afterburnersof space rockets. The 1959 Cadillac

The 1948 Cadillac design by Harley Earl.

SEE BALBOA, Page 12

Harley Earl took inspiration from the P38 Lightning fighter when designing the 1948 Cadillac.

BALBOA14 | AUGUST 2015 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP

had two thruster “flames” on eachfin. The 1957-1959 Desoto had three.The incorporation of the tail lightinto the fin design was pushed to newheights and beauty. The 1960Chrysler New Yorker and 300 werestunning examples of fin design.

General Motors and Chryslerembraced the boldness of thefin. They engaged in a game of one-upmanship to see who could producethe highest, flashiest fins.

Ford took a more restrainedapproach and produced beauties suchas the 1957 Thunderbird with its sub-dued and elegant fin. Later, Fordenlarged the afterburner taillights inthe shape of turbine engines to ensure

the impact and flash of the design.While fins were sometimes hyped asfunctionally dysfunctional and onlyused for looks, they indeed had afunction. They were a symbol ofprosperity and a fine design toolwhich sold cars.

According to Harley Earl, tailfinsgave customers an “extra receipt fortheir money in the form of a visibleprestige marking.”

Some of the most iconic finsalmost did not exist. General Motorshad already perceived the fin to beoutdated by the late 1950s. They werealready planning to shelve the findesign. What GM had planned forcar design could be seen in the 1958Chevrolet with fins becoming morehorizontal and curvaceous.

General Motors went even moreradical with the 1959 “Bat Wing”

Chevy and the outstanding BuickElectra. A young designer namedChuck Jordan happened to drive tothe Chrysler Factory and saw rows ofthe big-finned “Forward Look” Ply-mouths. Jordan and other youngerdesigners warned the senior designstaff that General Motors was goingto be out-designed and also out-sold. General Motors tabled theplanned designs and developed thelarger fins, especially on the flagshipmake, Cadillac. The stellar 1959Cadillac fin was the result.

Fins were seen in every make andmodel. Station wagons had fins. Themodified pickups Chevrolet ElCamino and the Ford Rancheroproudly displayed fins. Some makes,such as the stunning Dodge Lancer,had staggered or double fins as didthe intriguing Dodge Polara and the1958 Packard. Plymouth had severaloutstanding fin designs. Even Euro-pean cars such as the Mercedes Benzsprouted fins.

The smaller auto manufacturershad notable fin designs. Studebaker,under the influence of RaymondLoewy, produced the outstandingHawk series in 1957. Kaiser Frasiershowed fins on the Henry J. The 1958Nash Rambler had compact yet strik-ing fins. Hudson had muted fins in1957, its last year of production.

As the postwar era moved onthrough the 1960s, the fin trans-formed into horizontal stylecues. Fins became lower, wider, moreincorporated into the body of thevehicle. The muscle car era producedone last notable aerodynamicallyfunctional fin, (which was now calleda “wing”) and it could be found onthe speed demon Super Bird and theDaytona. These were some of thefastest production cars made up untilthat time. Perhaps the fin has notentirely died. “Spoilers” remain apopular design detail, even on mod-ern automobiles.

While the glory days of the fin arepast, the models produced during thisera remain a testament to the joyousoptimism and stylistic mastery of thetimes. Finned vehicles remain highlycollectible and elicit sheer delightwith owners and viewers alike. Earl’sdirective in design was “Go all theway and then back off.” The radicaldesigns of the fin etched an indeliblemark on the legacy of car design.

BALBOACONTINUED FROM Page 11

The fins of the 1961 Cadillac Fleetwood resemble an aircraft’s wings.

Plymouth’s 1960 Fury.


Classic cars will fill the Balboa Ten-nis Club parking lot at Morley Fieldon Sept.12 from 10 a.m. to 2 pm.

This is the sixth year that the NorthPark Historical Society (NPHS) hasorganized its North Park Car Show, afamily-friendly event celebratingNorth Park’s love of the automobile.Attendance is free.

If you have a fine classic car or vin-tage motorcycle to show (pre-1990 ispreferred), the exhibition fee is $10 forone vehicle and $20 for two or three.Visit NorthParkHistory.org for a reg-istration form and car show informa-tion, or contact NPHS at [email protected] or (619) 294-8990.

The 2014 North Park Car Showgrand trophy winner, a cherry-red1954 Chevrolet Bel Air appropriatelynamed “Ruby,” reflects the historicperiod when North Park was a premiershopping district. On the northwestcorner of University Avenue and 30thStreet alone, a shopper could buystamps, prescriptions, and a sundae atPioneer Pharmacy; ladies apparel atBallard’s and men’s wear at Leo’s; aswell as office supplies, corsets, books,and fabric in other stores. This inter-section has been the “Busy Corner”since North Park’s beginnings in theearly 1900s.

The 2015 North Park Car Showposter car, an impeccably maintained1928 Ford Phaeton, reflects the timewhen the automobile began to domi-nate the street scene. Streetcars origi-nally provided the public transporta-tion that allowed thesagebrush-covered mesas surroundingDowntown to develop with homesand businesses. In the late 1920s, thestreetcars still served residents, shop-pers, and visitors. But increasingly, the“machine” that had been a toy for the

affluent was becoming a family neces-sity. Henry Ford’s assembly line pro-duction of his Model T and generouslabor practices of paying workersenough to buy the products they madeenabled families to afford a personalautomobile, and buy it they did. By1920, half of all cars in the U.S. wereModel Ts.

Businesses focused on the automo-bile naturally increased with its popu-larity. Garages and full-service gas sta-tions proliferated along UniversityAvenue and El Cajon Boulevard. InMarch 1925, L.D. Selmser obtained abuilding permit for a tile and brickbuilding on the southeast corner of28th Street and University Avenue esti-mated to cost $18,000. Now the loca-tion of the Mission Restaurant, thebuilding originally housed the PublicService Garage offering mechanic ser-vices, radiator repair, fluids, tires, andbottled gas.

The Miller Brothers, Charles andWilliam, operated an oil station theybought from Albert Winter at Univer-sity Avenue and 30th Street in 1923,with an improvement of offering blockice for operation of home kitchen “iceboxes” before the advent of residentialrefrigeration. In 1928, the brothersmoved to a larger facility they com-missioned that stretched along Uni-versity Avenue between HermanAvenue and 32nd Street. The elaborateautomotive center provided gas andoil operations, battery and brake ser-vice, tire re-treading, headlight testing,and wheel alignment. The entire blockbecame a Sav-On Drug Store andparking lot in the 1950s and has morerecently been a CVS.

Along with the convenience of per-sonal transport vehicles came severe

CRAZY FOR CARS Today’s car shows hark back to North Park’s early roots BY KATHERINE HON

1950 Studebaker

1958 Pontiac Bonneville

SEE CARS, Page 17

Gary and Sylvia Wright proudly hold their People’s Choice Grand Trophy for ‘Ruby,’ a 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air, at the 2014 North ParkCar Show. (Courtesy of Katherine Hon)

BUSINESS16 | AUGUST 2015 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP

Skyride From Downtown to Balboa Park

San Diego city planners have longstudied the possibility of creating aland corridor linking Downtownwith Balboa Park, but not until todayhas anyone suggested an aerial cablecar system that would carry peoplebetween the two destination points.

That would be the San DiegoAssociation of Governments(SANDAG) and the MetropolitanTransit System, who commissionedParsons-Brinkerhoff to prepare a fea-sibility study for constructing a “Sky-way” between San Diego Bay and thepark with the use of aerial cable cars.

“A ‘Bay to Park’ connection haslong been identified as a key anddesirable linkage between these twoiconic features of the San Diegolandscape, with the dual objectivesof re-establishing Balboa Park’s rela-tionship to Downtown and betterintegrating Downtown with the sur-rounding neighborhoods,” the feasi-bility study said.

The proposal is to build a two-mile Skyway in the Sixth Avenue cor-ridor from the Gaslamp QuarterDowntown to Balboa Park. The sys-tem would include four stations —two at the ends and two intermediateones. The Balboa terminus would beat the parking lot north and west ofthe Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Thecars would be strung along cablesfrom towers.

The study said aerial cableways areparticularly well suited to overcomeobstacles such as railway lines, free-way, water bodies or changes intopography. “The cableway can alsoavoid the need to build the highlyexpensive infrastructure typicallyrequired for light rail transit or majordedicated rapid bus facilities,”according to the study. The proposedSkyway, it said, is essentially barrierfree because it rises above the streetand the towers supporting the sysemrequire a minimal footprint.

The Skyway system initially wouldbe able to carry 2,000 passengers perhour, but has the potential for high-capacity ridership — serving 4,000to 5,000 passengers per hour.

The travel time from end to endof the Skyway would be less than 12minutes and, because of the four sta-tion locations, would have the abilityto serve a mix of both local com-muters and tourists.

The feasibility study also includedthese findings:

Market Research and Rider-ship Potential:

Assessment of the potential mar-ket for ridership indicates that thealignment would serve a mix of dailycommuters and a significant numberof local and out-of-town tourists. Anadditional ridership boost simplydue to the “novelty” nature of thesystem would also be expected. Con-servative ridership estimates rangefrom 3,000 to 4,000 a day, with anaverage of between 751,000 to1,100,000 patrons on an annualbasis. Depending on fare pricing, thislevel of ridership could generateannual revenues from $1.9 millionto $4.9 million.

Implementation Cost:Initial rough order-of-magnitude

construction costs are estimated torange from $65 million to $75 mil-lion for the two-mile alignment, orapproximately $32.5 million to $37.5million per mile. In comparison, thecost for a mile of light rail transit canrange from $150 million to $200 mil-lion per mile, indicating the antici-pated cost-effectiveness of the cable-way technology when compared toother transit modes for this corri-dor.

Operations & MaintenanceCost:

Preliminary annual operationsand maintenance costs were estimat-ed at $2.6 million to $2.8 million.

Energy Consumption:The all electrical system support-

ing the cableway would have a lowenergy demand, in the range of 1.8million kilowatts per year. By pro-viding an alternative mode of rans-portation for commuter trips, theSkyway could cause a mode shiftaway from automobile trips, whichwould result in a reduction in GHGemissions, thus supporting theregional efforts to reduce overall car-bon output. As the system expands,additional emission reductionswould be anticipated as commutertrips increase.

Funding Opportunities:Finding and securing funding for

any public transit project is a verycompetitive process. There are anumber of viable funding sources,ranging from local improvementsdistricts and public-private partner-ships, to federal, state, and local tran-sit improvement programs thatcould be sought. The innovative fea-

ture and cost effectiveness of the Sky-way makes the project a strong can-didate, setting the cableway apartfrom other more expensive transitsystems and making it more com-petitive for transit-project fundingopportunities and investments.

Skyway Challenges and Next Steps:

There will be a number of chal-lenges when moving forward withthe proposed Skyway project. Thestudied alignment traverses two des-ignated historic districts (BalboaPark and Gaslamp Quarter). Prelim-inary investigation indicates the Sky-way could be an enhancement toboth. Providing an aerial connectionwill increase access opportunitywhile lessening traffic and parkingdemands. Additional analysis andthoughtful integration will berequired.

The idea of cableway as an urbantransit mode is a unique concept.The Skyway is a new transit modethat has not been implemented inCalifornia or within the UnitedStates and has the potential to beboth a bold and creative solution forthe region’s future mobility. In the1980s, the San Diego region was anational leader in reintroducing lightrail transit, which helped set the stagefor light rail transit to again be con-sidered a viable mode of urbantransport across the county. In a sim-ilar manner, the Skyway has thepotential to be the next generationof mobility, once again placing SanDiego at the forefront of transit andmobility innovation.

Aerial cable car system proposed

Map of Skyride Route


More Apartments Coming toNorth ParkAlliance Residential purchase property to build

118-unit apartment communityAlliance Residential has purchased

property at 4220 Arizona St. fromCommunity Housing Works tobuild a 118-unit multifamily apart-ment community.

The property — which currentlyhas a 49,500-square-foot officebuilding that was previously used asan AT&T administrative office —was sold to Alliance for $7.1 million.

CBRE, which announced the sale,said the multifamily site will featurehigh-quality, urban contemporarydesign with stucco exterior andselect accents. The apartments willinclude studio, one- and two-bed-room units ranging in size from 550

to 1,300 square feet. Skyport Studio completed the

conceptual design and architecturalrenderings. 4220 Arizona wasdesigned to emphasize pedestrianactivity with a blending of the publicand private amenities through land-scaped plazas and community serv-ing areas.

The apartments will feature pri-vate balconies, washer/dryer unitsand community amenities includinga roof deck, bike storage, elevatorservices, storage units as well as largecommon amenities space.

Community HousingWorks enti-tled the site jointly with a 76-unit

proposed affordable senior develop-ment that will be immediately westof 4220 Arizona Street. CommunityHousingWorks is developing thesenior site into a complex of sevenstudios, 66 one-bedroom, and threetwo-bedroom apartments.

Community HousingWorks ispartnering with the San DiegoLGBT Community Center to designthe senior apartments as an affirm-ing and supportive environment forLGBT seniors, with The Center’sSenior Services staff providing ser-vices welcoming to the entire seniorcommunity of residents.

An artist’s rendering of the 118-unit apartment project that Alliance Residential will build at 4220 Arizona St.

LouisV Row Homes in North ParkCapture Attention and Awards

The LouisV row homes onLouisiana Street, completed earlierthis year by San Diego-basedNakhshab Development & Design,are catching the attention of neigh-bors and design organizations.

The five-unit development hascaptured Awards of Merit at the2015 Pacific Coast Builders Confer-ence Golden Nugget Awards.

At LouisV, a sleek wall of glassspans the trilevels’ street-facing res-idence to showcase a dramatic, float-ing staircase of steel and wood thatdoubles as an exterior and interiorsculptural feature. Four other rowhomes, each with large balconies forentertaining that flow seamlesslyfrom the indoor living area, com-plete the innovative development.

Four of the units are two-bed-room, two-bath, and one is three-bedroom, three-baths. Each unit isthree stories and features a largepatio on the top floor that extendsout from the open conceptliving/dining/kitchen area. And eachunit has a semi-private garage.

All of the units have been sold:• 1 unit, 2,278 square feet —

$780,000• 3 units, 1,705 square feet each

— $650,000 each• 1 unit, 1,570 square feet —

$630,000LouisV is regarded as effortlessly

fitting the neighborhood thanks to

its own simple, clean lines that, whilemodern and different, complementthe historic residences of NorthPark. Each of the three-story homesfeatures urban views and a large

indoor-outdoor living area on thetop floor. Designed to be luxurious,they offer sophisticated, modern fea-tures and finishes.

Quartz countertops are usedthroughout along with custommetal work and railings that endoweach unit with an impressive senseof uniqueness.

Atrium-style entrances floodedwith light create drama, and are idealspots to showcase the owner’s art.

Gourmet kitchens open ontolarge living areas and expansivedecks, and are equipped with top-of-the-line appliances and custommahogany cabinetry. Here, theindoors and outdoors merge in afree-flowing space ideal for enter-taining. The high-quality fixturesextend to the oversized bathrooms,which include luxury showers anddetails.

Nakhshab Development & Designincorporated other design elementslike positioning stairs along com-mon walls to serve several purposes,including building sound and visualbarriers that result in greater priva-cy. Each row home also includes aground-level, semi-private two-vehi-cle garage.

The LouisV row homes are locatedat 4106, 4108, 4110, 4112, 4114Louisiana St.

ARTS18 | AUGUST 2015 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP

Adults, get ready to soak up tropicaladventures for a great cause: Girl Scout-ing! Come out to play under the starson Friday, Sept. 11, 6-10:30 p.m. forUrban Campout: Island Treasures. Thetropical-themed event takes place at GirlScouts San Diego’s Balboa Park property,1231 Upas St. Dress in beach vacationattire, costume or casual, TGIF attire.

Dig your toes in the sand as you playcoconut bowling, pineapple ring tossand archery, savor gourmet fare, sipcocktails, bid on auction items anddance to live music by The Heroes.

Karen Benito and Denise Scott co-chair the 18th annual “fun fundraiser

for grown-ups,” which helps keep GirlScouting available and affordable forgirls in grades K-12.

Sponsors include Qualcomm (Silverlevel); Wells Fargo, Holland AmericaLine, Southwest Airlines and Nadine &Carlo Daleo (Bronze) and Trailblazercontributors SDG&E, Cox Communi-cations, Sharp Health Plan, Sycuan Casi-no, Tipton Honda, Barbara and DavidGroce, Patti Roscoe and Jim Tiffany, andDan and Katie Sullivan.

For details on sponsoring, volunteer-ing for, or attending Urban Campout:Island Treasures, visitwww.sdgirlscouts.org/uc or call (619)

Co-chaired by Karen Benito and Denise Scott (center row, standing, left to right), GirlScouts San Diego’s Urban Campout: Island Treasures is set for Friday, Sept. 11, 6-10:30p.m. Benito and Scott are surrounded by Urban Campout committee members (from left, cir-cling around back) Shannon Bryant, Halina Haddad, Nadine Daleo, Liza Crisafi, DebbieRider, Paul Nestor, Barbara Kramer and Tange Gavin.

3 Local Artists Exhibit in ‘Burnt Toast’TPG2 (Thumbpring Gallery 2) will

present the exhibition “Burnt Toast”featuring new works and muralinstallations by Eric Wixon, MR.DVICE and Nick McPherson.

The exhibition opened Aug. 1 andwill be open to the public for viewingthrough Aug. 31.

Having collaborated in the past onan indoor mural commissioned byAllett Wallets, Eric Wixon, MR.DVICE, and Nick McPherson reuniteonce again, producing all new workto be displayed alongside their respec-

tive indoor murals. Known for their colorful and

whimsical imagery, the three localartists remind us that fine art doesnot always have to be serious andintellectualized.

Wixon’s multi textured partiallyabstracted faces and DVICE’s seem-ingly mischievous “goons” beg to berecognized within chaotic line andbrush work while McPherson’s illus-trations extract and accent his imag-inative humor in found photos.

Thumbprint Gallery, located at

1475 University Ave., was foundedin 2009. The gallery curates

monthly exhibitions featuring emerg-ing, mid-career, and established artistswith a focus on urban art and popsurrealism.

The gallery seeks to provide anengaging atmosphere to view art bybringing people together in appreci-ation and support of local, national,and international artists.

Painting by Eric Wixon. found photo-nick McPherson

Girl Scouts’ Urban Campout:Island Treasures


traffic problems. In September 1928,the San Diego Daily Transcript noted,“The report of the U.S. Departmentof Commerce, just made public, inconnection with automobile fatalitiesin cities throughout the country,shows that San Diego again leads all...” Controls at busy intersections wereneeded, and North Park’s Busy Cornerwas one of the six intersections in thecity of San Diego deemed the mosthazardous due to the intensity ofvehicular traffic.

In January 1927, the San DiegoDaily Transcript reported, “The sixnew semaphore traffic signals decidedupon by the city Council will be locat-ed at fifth and B, sixth and C, fourthand C, and three on University Avenueat Park, Thirtieth, and Fifth.” Thesemaphore signal had a large disklabeled with the words “STOP” and“GO” mounted on a pole. Flashing redand green lights at the base of the disk

helped draw the driver’s attention tothe new concept of traffic control.

University Avenue was not the onlyfocal point for traffic. Before the street-car tracks were laid along UniversityAvenue east of Georgia Street in 1907,El Cajon Boulevard (then El CajonAvenue) was the main wagon roadconnecting Downtown with EastCounty’s rural settlements. In the 19-teens, the few owners of early auto-mobiles raced their machines on thesingle lane dirt road. Over the ensuingdecades, the road was paved andwidened.

On March 12, 1937, a city ordinancechanged the name of El Cajon Avenueto El Cajon Boulevard. In that year,the road was widened by 100 feet andreceived new pavement and lightingto recognize its status as the terminusof Interstate Highway 80.

The El Cajon Boulevard of ProgressFestival held Oct. 15, 1937 celebratedthe governmental acceptance of theofficial entrance of Interstate Highway80 into San Diego. California Gov.

Frank Merriam led a two-hour paradeof decorated automobiles and 80 floatsfrom Euclid Street to Texas Street, andcut a golden ribbon across Texas Streetofficially accepting the boulevard asthe final western segment of U.S.Highway 80.

Car-centric businesses along theboulevard included drive-in restau-rants as well as garages and service sta-tions. El Cajon Boulevard became thecenter of post-World War II hot rodcruising culture and the site of the“Dragster Riot” on Aug. 21 and 22,1960, when protests against the closingof a drag strip at Miramar Naval AirStation got out of hand.

An indelible community memoryformed along El Cajon Boulevard onJune 6, 1963, when President John F.Kennedy rode from Park Boulevardto Aztec Bowl to deliver the com-mencement address at San Diego StateCollege. More than 250,000 peoplelined the parade route to see hismotorcade pass. That moment is cap-tured in a mural on the outside wall

of Rudford’s Restaurant at 2900 ElCajon Blvd., a building originally con-structed in 1938 for a diner thatbecame the business of John T. Rud-ford in 1949.

The automobile has been part ofthe culture of North Park from thebeginning of the community. JoinNPHS at its annual celebration of carsand neighborhood on Sept. 12. Formore history, go to Paras Newsstand

at 3911 30th St. for Donald Coving-ton’s book, “North Park: A San DiegoUrban Village, 1896-1946,” publishedby NPHS in 2007. Also available atParas Newsstand (among other NorthPark stores including Kaleidoscopeand North Park Hardware) is NPHS’slatest book, “Images of America: SanDiego’s North Park.”

CARSCONTINUED FROM Page 15

James Daigh, a high school student in 1963, snapped this photo of JFK’s motorcade pastRudford’s Restaurant near El Cajon Boulevard at 30th Street. The president was headingto San Diego State College to deliver a speech and accept an honorary degree. (Photocourtesy of James Daigh and Tom Shess)

A semaphore traffic signal at UniversityAvenue and 30th Street installed in 1927had a simple design. (Courtesy of NorthPark Historical Society)

COMMUNITY20 | AUGUST 2015 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP

BY MCT REAL ESTATE GROUP

Putting Your Homeon the MarketTips on how to insure a sale

Homes in North Park are sellingquickly these days. When this hap-pens, people tend to think that sell-ing a home is very easy. I have heardpeople say “anyone can sell a homethese days.” Some people feel thatall they need to do is take photos,put a For Sale sign in front of thehouse, put an add on a free websiteand, viola!, offers will come in.

They may be right. Anyone canput a home on the market, but thisdoes not mean that they will be ableto sell it for top dollar or be able tosell the home at all. There is moreto selling a home than just receivingan offer. That is the easy part of theprocess. More important thanreceiving an offer is keeping thetransaction from falling apart sothat the buyer does not cancel.

Part of selling a home requirescross qualifying all potential buyers.Making sure that the potentialbuyer qualifies to buy your homeis extremely important so that in30-45 days after accepting the offerthe transaction does not fall apartbecause of financing. Another thingto ensure success is tohave great negotiating skills (this iscritical). It’s also important to knowwhat to do once the buyers do theirinspection and the inspector findsthings wrong with the home thatyou were not aware of.

There are certain things thatcome up when selling older homesin North Park and other metroneighborhoods of San Diego thattend to scare buyers. One, in par-

ticular, is a failing foundation(cracked perimeter wall, post, andpiers that need to be replaced) thatneeds approximately $20,000-$50,000 to fix. Other things thatworry them are leaking sewer linesthat are corroded that you, the sell-er, may have been unaware of.Other things that come up and arevery common with our olderhomes in North Park are sewer linesthat are shared with the neighbor’shouse. Most people are unaware ofthis until they have a plumbinginspection done. This is whenthings start to get a little tense inthe transaction and buyers back outof what could have been easilynegotiated with someone who isexperienced with these types of sit-uations. Part of the job as experi-enced Realtors is to educate thebuyer and the buyer’s agent on ourolder homes so they are notalarmed after doing their inspec-tions.

As local Realtors in North Parkand South Park since 2004, theseare things that we run into on adaily basis. There are ways to workthrough them without the buyerbecoming scared and ultimatelycanceling. Once a buyer cancels, anyand all inspection reports that theydid while under contract with yourproperty will have to be presentedto the next buyer. Of course, thenext potential buyer sees the inspec-tion report and will most likely offera lot less than theoriginal buyer. Still, you must pass

the reports to the new buyer. Thisis a must, or you will be looking atpotential lawsuits in the future ifanything goes wrong with the prop-erty and the buyer finds out thatreports were not presented to themduring the escrow process.

Knowing how to present a hometo the marketplace and how tonegotiate will protect you, the seller.You will ultimately receive the high-est return on your investment byhiring an experienced local Realtorthat knows how to work throughthese challenges. The Realtor thatyou hire should know how to han-dle such things that come up withselling older homes and should beable to negotiate on your behalf.

If you think selling a home isexpensive, imagine what it wouldcost if you were selling a home andrunning into these challenges. Nothaving an experienced Realtor towork through the maze of chal-lenges negotiating on your behalfcan be very costly to the seller.

So yes, anyone can try and sell ahome these days. The difference ofputting your home on the market,not falling out of escrow, and actu-ally selling it for the highest dollaramount possible is huge. It couldbe the difference of thousands ofdollars in your pocket and a lot lessstress for you when all is said anddone.

Market ReportSan Diego office market surges astennants gobble up space

The commercial real estate mar-ket in San Diego County continuedits strong recovery in Q2 2015.Coming on the heels of a flat firstquarter, this past second quarter sawanother 1,245,000 square feet ofoffice, lab and industrial space comeoff the market throughout theregion.

To put that number in perspec-tive, it amounts to 3.7 percent of allspace available being filled in justone quarter. If absorption were tocontinue at this same rate, 14.5 per-cent of all available commercialspace would come off the market injust one year.

Robust job growth is driving thedecline in office and lab space avail-ability, and continued corporatehealth has pushed available subleasespace down. Nearly a quarter of thespace absorbed in Q2 was subleasespace, with 300,000 square feet com-ing off the market, making subleaseavailability the lowest we have seenin years. Industrial space is fillingup as well, with supply shortagesseen in markets including Miramar,Kearny Mesa and Poway.

Businesses seeking to expandtheir facilities are making bets onlong-term leases to accommodate2016 and 2017 growth expectations.We expect this strong demand tocontinue throughout the year, andinto 2016.

The hot market for biotech IPOsand abundant private funding hasdriven unprecedented growth in thebiotech sector. In UTC, buildingsformerly occupied by office tenantsare being converted into life sciencefacilities, and three speculativebiotech buildings have brokenground, which will provide 300,000square feet of additional space.

Companies like Illumina and Lillyare breaking ground on new facili-ties, as there are no existing build-ings in UTC to support theirgrowth. Lab space in Torrey Pines

is also starting to fill up, and we canexpect there to be a general shortageof wet lab space by 2017 if the sectorcontinues to grow at the currentpace.

Class A office space in UTC, DelMar Heights and Downtown con-tinues to see a decline in availability,particularly in large blocks over20,000 square feet.

Tenants looking for office sub-leases in Mission Valley, KearnyMesa and Downtown are going tofind their value options limited,while there are still choices to be hadin the other major office submar-kets.

New development is on the hori-zon in Downtown, includingManchester Financial’s Pacific Gate-way project and Cisterra’s 7th andMarket site, which combined willadd roughly 1.3 million square feetof top-notch office space to the area.

With the broad economic recov-ery in full swing, it was only a matterof time until landlords started win-ning, and we are definitely in a land-lord’s market. There is tremendousoptimism in the commercial realestate sector, as this San Diegoregional recovery is being mirroredthroughout Southern California.Unfortunately, the byproducts ofthis are rising rents, decreasing con-cessions, and the virtual eliminationof free rent.

In the next two years, there willnot be nearly enough new construc-tion to offset the decline of availablespace, so tenants are going to havefewer choices, and may have tocompete for space. Tenants will needto move through their site selectionprocess quickly and efficiently ifthey want to control their optionsand get the best outcome from theirnegotiations.

David Marino is executive vice pres-ident of Hughes Marino, a San Diegocommercial real estate company spe-cializing in San Diego tenant repre-sentation and building purchases.

BY DAVID MARINO


The first decades of the 20th cen-tury produced the bungalow, a mid-dle-class housing type that coincidedwith the popularity of the AmericanArts & Crafts movement. But pros-perity also brought grander homesthat exhibited a variety of style influ-ences.

Many of these homes, designed byarchitects for wealthier clients, sharedelements of Arts & Crafts design —whether with English or Prairie orCalifornia tendencies. Today we callthe houses Tudor or Spanish Revivalor American Foursquare or SwissChalet; what they have in common istheir embrace by Arts & Craftstastemakers at the time they werebuilt.

A fine example is this stone houseon Summit Avenue in the Hill Districtof St. Paul, Minn. Built during theheight of the style wars, in 1911, it iswell articulated and confident. TheBeaux Arts and Colonial Revival stylesjump-started by the 1893 ChicagoWorld’s Fair were face-to-face with themodern Prairie School designs ofFrank Lloyd Wright and others. “His-torians have tied themselves in knotstrying to coax the house

on Summit Avenue into a stylisticpigeonhole,” writes Paul Clifford Lar-son, a Minnesota historian himself.

Indeed, the house has an underlyingGeorgian plan, both neoclassical andGothic ornament — and a foursquareexterior, with a vernacular use of localstone, which clearly shows PrairieSchool influence. To the extent thatArts & Crafts was not an academic,“period revival” style, but rather calledfor interpretation of ancient andfamiliar forms to create comfortablemodern homes, along with respect forlocal tradition and high-quality arti-san work, this is an Arts & Craftshouse. It is also large

and formal and quite unlike a bun-galow.

The man who commissioned thehouse was Charles Johnston (1861–1942), who made his fortune buyingand selling farmland. Perhaps the stol-id, rectilinear aspect of the houserecalls the prairie farmhouses in thearea, both the cubic Italianates of the19th century and the more recent

foursquare examples. The resem-blance stops there, however; this houseis monumental with its stone facing,large chimneys, tile roof, and the clas-sical entry portico echoed in a portecochere around back.

Charles and Jennie Johnston’s archi-tect was J. Walter Stevens, who haddesigned a Shingle Style summer cot-tage for them in 1890. Twenty yearslater, Stevens’ firm was called again to

An Arts & Classical House

The symmetrical plan is traditional; a wide hall points to Georgian precedent, while wood-work is Tudor.

BY MARY ELLEN POLSON | ARTS & CRAFTS HOMES AND THE REVIVAL

SEE CLASSICAL, Page 23


Every year for the past 10 years AmyMiller and her husband Keith andtheir two daughters — Chai and Sage— have been raising money for pedi-atric cancer research by setting up alemonade stand in their NormalHeights neighborhood — an effortthat has bloomed beyond any of theirexpectations.

The July 25 fundraiser, held at 3366Adams Ave. and at two other satellitelocations, set a goal of raising $12,500.Days later, Miller said a total of$13,200 was raised and she expectedanother $500 to $700 to come in.

The events have raised money forthe Alex’s Lemonade Stand Founda-tion for Childhood Cancer.

The foundation is named forAlexandra “Alex” Scott, an 8-year-oldwho died of cancer in August 2004.When Alex was 4, she received a stemcell transplant and told her mother,“When I get out of the hospital I wantto have a lemonade stand” to give themoney to doctors to allow them to“help other kids, like they helped me.”

Alex’s lemonade stand raised$2,000 and became so popular thatevents were staged across the countryin neighborhoods similar to NormalHeights. Today, more than $100 mil-lion has been raised by the founda-tion, which gives grants to more than500 research programs in the U.S.

That first year that the Millers put

up the lemonade stand a total of$4,800 was raised. Since that 2006event, the local campaign has raisedabout $114,000.

The Millers initially did not wantto put up another lemonade stand thisyear, but were coaxed into it by theirdaughters and by several of the vol-unteers who have worked the event.

“This is a part of us now, it’s a partof the community,” said Amy, a teach-er at Fuerte Elementary School in ElCajon. “It’s ridiculous to stop now.We’ll definitely do it again next year.”

Establishing two other lemonadestands — one in North Park and theother in Kensington — generated alot of excitement, which rekindledAmy’s excitement about the wholecampaign. “It’s a different kind ofwork now — getting other peopleinspired, getting other people excited,”she said.

This year’s lemonade event wasdedicated in honor of StephanThomas, who died of a rare form ofcancer a few years ago at the age of17.

“Stephan was a brilliant young manwho had a kind heart and insight intoothers,” said Amy. “He still teaches ustoday even though he is gone, aboutwhat it means to be brave.”

The Miller children will undoubt-edly be involve next year. Chai is goinginto seventh grade at Albert Einstein

Middle School and Sage is going intofifth grade at McKinley Elementary.

Several local businesses steppedinto the campaign by donating a por-tion of their sales or products. Theyinclude Blind Lady Ale House, ThornStreet Brewery, Ponce’s, The UnOpti-cal, Viva Pops, The Box Stop, Santos,Sabuku Sushi, and Sycamore Den,among others.

The “Miller Tribe and Crew SanDiego,” as the campaign calls itself, hasestablished a website at: www.alexsle-monade.org/mypage/1121680. Visi-tors can log on to get updates ondonations, view photos and get otherdetails about the campaign.

For example, the website describeshow Alex’s Lemonade Stand Founda-tion chooses its projects:

“We carefully select our projects,vetting applications to make sure thatour funding supports the most sub-stantive and critical contributions tothe field of childhood cancer research.Proposals are evaluated and rated byour scientific review board or nursingreview board and approved by ourboard of directors. We look for pro-jects that are likely to play a part inbringing the latest and most promis-ing lifesaving treatments to seriouslyill children. Specific guidelines are pro-vided for each type of grant. We havefunded over 500 projects at 102 insti-tutions in 32 states and Canada.”

Neighborhoods Fight Childhood Cancer Normal Heights, Kensington and North Park raise fundsfor children’s cancer research

Volunteers attract attention to Alex’sLemonade Stand in Normal Heights.

‘Team Captain’ Amy Miller with DJ Woodsfrom FM radio station 94.9.

Chai Miller offers a cup of lemonade.

Recently, Myanmar (Burma) liftedmajor restrictions on tourist entry andtravel into a wonderland of adventureand cultural highlights previously off-limits to all but the adventurous few.

The priority is to make travel plansnow before the genuineness and inno-cence of this grand experiencechanges and is lost forever by theonslaught of outside influences.

Present day travel to these newlyopened destinations, where the infras-tructure will take months if not yearsto improve, will on occasion challengethose who choose to avail themselvesof the opportunity. But with that chal-lenge comes the grand reward. Eachstepping stone to reach journey's endwill be full of unique and excitingexperiences. Untold treasures awaitthe willing traveler who may find theiraccommodation a bit Spartan, how-ever, find the sites and populace a truewonder.

Mruak-U is a prime example. Itrequires a flight from Yangon to Sit-twe, leading to a six-hour boat rideup river to the town. Impressive a siteas it is, the traveler should also includea journey further up the road toanother landing dock and boat rideup river to the Laytoo Chin villageswhere the generations-old farmingmethods and means of self-preserva-tion remain fully intact. It is herewhere the villagers are as interested inthe traveler as is the traveler in them.A rare opportunity, for this momentin time, to reach a site that has yet tobe affected by the scores of touristswho will soon arrive and place theirown mark on the region.

Another prime opportunity is tovisit the Elephant Camp outside ofKalaw, where, if you choose, you canavail yourself of the opportunity toride atop these graceful giants as theelephant commences its gentle swayalong the footpaths to the nearby riverfor its daily bath. The journey offers atrek down to Pindaya with a nighttimesleepover en route. One may choose avillage stay or within a monastery. Itis an easy passage, one not soon for-gotten as you follow the country pathsthrough villages en route to your wait-ing vehicle in Pindaya.

Vast and beautiful, Inle Lakestretches some nine miles in lengthand four miles in breadth. It is herethat you find the unique “Leg Rowers”who, while standing atop their long-board, wrap the lower leg around theoar and paddle both passenger andproduct to the innumerable floatingvillages and colorful markets. Thelong boats are used as well to fish thewaters of the lake, with woven basket

nets to bring in their catch. Embark-ing on your private craft, you will glideacross the waters to the western shoreof the lake to discover the beauty ofthe hidden Indein Pagoda. Followinga stair path, discover one of the moreamazing sights on the shoreline, con-sisting of hundreds of small stupaslaced with overgrown moss and veg-etation.

Continue on an easy pace along oneof the many creeks, passing rice pad-dies and cropland to the village of SaeMae, where you will find generations-old traditions to be a daily norm.

An onward flight carries you abovethe brilliance of glittering temples setafire by the morning sun as you followthe flow of the Irrawaddy to the plainof Bagan (Pagan). Dating back to 108A.D., the town was destroyed byKublai Khan in 1287. Most of the13,000 pagodas, stupas and templesthat once graced the plains of the cityare now long gone; however, theremaining 2,000 or more orate theformer elegance and stature once dis-played throughout this land. Thepanorama of temples and chortansagainst a backdrop of surroundinghillsides and the mighty Irrawaddyare as much an experience of feelingas they are a beautiful sight. Picturescannot capture the essence of what isfound on these plains; words cannotdescribe the feelings inspired by suchbeauty, such grace and such history.Pagan, known as the capital of Bud-dhism during its “Golden Age,” pro-vides local inhabitants with a measureof pride that reads clearly across theirfaces and in their strides.

First Cabin, established in 1989 isoffering the Burma Explorer(www.firstcabin.com/burma__explor-er.php) within its Special Offer selec-tion of tours; the itinerary of whichincludes an array of exciting sites andregions to visit within Myanmar. FirstCabin specializes in custom touring,offering a chauffeured driven car, pri-vate guide, accommodation withbreakfast and lunch daily at pricesbeginning at $185 per person per day,excluding airfare. Certainly the time isnow to be planning a visit before theonslaught of tourism begins to reachinto the backcountry, which willinevitably change the grandeur of theexperience.

First Cabin Travel [email protected]: (858) 395-1076

The Wonder That Is BurmaThe time is now to capture the inno-cence of times past

Dhammayan Gyi Temple

BY JONATHAN LANCASTER


There’s a Comic for ThatSan Diego State University’s ComicArts Collection celebrates the diverseworld of comics in both an artisticand academic sense

There’s more to the comic artsworld than pop art and Batman.

Go beyond the traditional scopeof the genre and you will find aprovocative world rich with diversetales of unlikely heroes and avant-garde artistic expression.

The San Diego State UniversityComic Arts Collection is one of thefastest growing academic comic col-lections on the west coast and is aninvaluable resource for academicsand the comic-obsessed alike.

Housed within SDSU’s SpecialCollections and University Archives,more than 20,000 comics make upthe colorful archive, with titles rang-ing from beloved protagonists tounderground, counterculture beats.The archive dates back to the 1930s,chronicling history from pre-WorldWar II to contemporary feministmanifestos.

“Comics explore what it meansto be human,” said Pamela Jackson,an information literacy librarian.“They tackle every subject and theyreally reflect societal and politicalviews of the time, so when you tracethe history of comics, you really geta feel for what was happening at thetime.”

Unconventional WisdomWhen people think of comics,

dynamic tales of superheroes anddamsels in distress often come tomind.

Contrary to popular belief, thecomics world does not exist merelyto entertain. A burgeoning realm ofacademia uses comic arts to explorehistorical and sociological perspec-tives of pop culture.

One of the goals of the ComicArts Collection is to serve as a havenfor academics interested in integrat-ing comics into curricula, and toincrease the awareness of the valueof comics and science fiction schol-arship.

SDSU’s Comic Arts Collectionspans decades worth of rich tales of

the human experiences, narratingthe darker sides of the human exis-tence in an atypical way. It’s notalways superheroes and save-the-day stories. Some of the darkerpieces housed within the collectioninclude tales of 9/11, abortion andautobiographical accounts depictingdepression and angst.

A comic Loving CommunityThe Comic Arts Collection is

thriving thanks to the donations ofindividuals devoted to the genre.

Although vintage and rare comicscan carry a hefty price tag, the comiccommunity prides sharing the loveof the art over hoarding valuablepieces.

“We benefit from a tangibly-shared philosophy of comics read-ership,” said Anna Culbertson, aSpecial Collections and UniversityArchives librarian. “Most comicreaders are more interested in shar-ing the experience with other read-ers.”

A Safe SpaceTo accommodate the extensive

collection, the Comic Arts Commit-tee is hoping to create a space withinthe library to house the collection.

“We want to make our collectionmore accessible,” Jackson said. “Wewant to alphabetize and organizeour collection and encourage stu-dents and professors to use what wehave. We also want to create moreopportunities for undergraduateresearch.”

A general need for more cata-loging support in the library cou-pled with the need for more usefulways to describe these highly visualmaterials prompted the librariansto think outside the box. Culbertsonand Jackson have turned to collectorsoftware that, with the help ofmuch-needed support staff, pro-vides an amazing publicly-brows-able database.

‘We want to make our collection more accessible,’ said Jackson.

design the Summit Avenue house.The firm’s buildings are known fortheir high level of construction anddesign mastery.

A walk through the house imme-diately recalls the motifs of the Arts& Crafts movement. Dark ceilingbeams and high wainscots comefrom the same well that fed bothbungalow and Tudor interiors.Hood moulds on the first-floorwindows, an arched fireplace sur-round in the library, and the wain-scots with chamfered battens haveTudor–Gothic antecedents. Com-pared to those in bungalows andsuburban Tudors, the elements andmotifs in this house are, of course,scaled up and elaborate. Ceilingbeams in the dining room, forexample, have a flowing grapevinecarving on the arching pilaster thatbecomes a ceiling beam.

The symmetrical plan of thehouse is an old standard: parlor andlibrary on one side, dining roomand kitchen on the other. The broadhall suggests Georgian design. Thestaircase is an interpretation ofGothic. The dining room has a

medieval feel in keeping with Arts& Crafts interiors. Yet the parlor islight-hearted, with an Adamesquemedallion in the plaster ceiling anda faceted bay. In the 1910s and ’20s,outfitting public rooms often ranon gender lines: the library wasalways masculine, the drawingroom or parlor often feminine.

Current owners Matt and LoriKustritz report that restoration ofthe first floor is complete, exceptfor the kitchen. “We find it amusingwhen our guests say, “Wow, you’relucky this house was so amazinglyintact!” says Lori. “If fact, we’vedone a lot to restore it” — includingwork on the exterior masonry,some new windows, and replace-ment of the heating system. Thebiggest interior project involved theornamental and plain plaster in theparlor. The couple bought thehouse frozen — no heat in a Min-nesota winter. While chasing waterleaks they’d chipped away at theceilings in entry foyer and parlor todiscover that suspended lath-and-plaster ceilings were covering beau-tiful originals. A team of plasterers— all mature craftsmen in their 70s— came in to do an authenticrestoration. As for the lustrousfloors: “We didn’t touch them!” Lori

says.In furnishing the house with

antiques, Matt and Lori Kustritz fol-lowed its history and spirit. QueenAnne and Georgian furnishingsbring lightness to the stronglyarchitectural rooms. Most of thepieces are 18th century, with a fewexceptions dating to the 19th cen-tury. In the dining room, theGeorge III three-pedestal table is ca.1790. The Philadelphia chairs areCentennial vintage, ca. 1875. Aterra-cotta figure, ca. 1880, lendspersonality.

One portrait captures the 18th-century Shakespearean actor DavidGarrick; the large pastoral paintingis Italian and dates to 1750. Chan-deliers, most with crystals, are ca.1910 antiques; the one in the diningroom is original to the house. Per-sian carpets warm the floors, as theydid in 1911. “A lot of people ask ifthe house came furnished,” Lorisays, “because our furniture just fitso well in the house.”

Thanks to historian Paul CliffordLarson, courtesy Big Picture Press,and photographer Karen Melvin fortheir contributions to this article.

(From Arts & Crafts Homes and theRevival)

CLASSICALCONTINUED FROM Page 21

The Tudor–Gothic stair hall features a painted balustrade with Gothic details against a backdrop of carved oak board-and-battenwainscoting. A Louis XV settee adds curvy elegance.


Backyard Renaissance TheatreCompany will introduce itself totheater-goers with a show by one oftheir favorite playwrights.

On Aug. 20, previews begin forJez Butterworth’s “Parlour Song”starring the company’s founders,husband and wife team Francis Ger-cke and Jessica John, and friend andfellow-artist Mike Sears.

The show is helmed by directorLisa Berger, who also happens to beSears’ wife. The two theater-coupleswill present the show Aug. 20through Sept. 6 in the BLKBOXTheatre at 3704 Sixth Ave. in Hill-crest.

“Parlour Song” sets its focus on ademolition expert named Ned(Sears) who lives in a nice newhouse in a nice new developmenton the edge of the English country-side with his lovely wife Joy (John).It is an ideal middle-class life, notall that different from yours or thatof your neighbor. In fact, Nedspends quite a bit of time with hisneighbor Dale (Gercke) who alsolives in a nice new house in the nicenew neighborhood with his nice

family, swapping workout tips andstories from their jobs. But lately,Ned’s not sleeping and it may be hisimagination, but it seems that itemby item, all of his possessions are

disappearing. Jez Butterworth, who cites Harold

Pinter as one of his most majorinfluences, is a master of exploringand exploding the unspoken in theeveryday lives of the people aroundyou. His other plays include theaward-winning, Broadway-hit“Jerusalem” as well as “Mojo” (win-ner of the Laurence Olivier, EveningStandard and the George Devineawards), “The Night Heron,” “The

Winterling” and his most recentwork, “The River.”

“Parlour Song” opened at theAtlantic Theatre Company in NewYork City in March 2008 and theAlmeida Theatre presented its Euro-pean premiere in London in March2009, directed by Ian Rickson.

Artistic director Francis Gerckeand executive director Jessica Johnspecifically selected Butterworth’s“Parlour Song” as a launch for thecompany, which aims to create an“art to the gut” sensibility to res-onate with the people they knowand love.

Gercke and John happened toknow just the people they wishedto collaborate with. San Diego-based artists Lisa Berger and MikeSears are not only respected theaterprofessionals but, like Gercke andJohn, are also married andimmersed in the “mid-life” the playtackles. Both couples connectedwith the play’s edgy humor and sur-prising sadness.

The four artists have workedtogether, in various pairings, before.Gercke directed Sears in CygnetTheatre’s “Man From Nebraska”and John costumed Sears for both“Nebraska” and Cygnet Theatre’s “A

Behanding in Spokane,” which wasdirected by Berger.

Later this year, John will be direct-ed by Berger, once again, in one ofthe La Jolla Playhouse’s CarPlays. “Parlour Song” marks thefoursome’s first group collabora-tion.

Backyard Renaissance’s perfor-mance schedule for all shows willbe Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m.,and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 7p.m. There will be one Pay-What-You-Can Industry Night Show on

Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m.

For more information regardingBackyard Renaissance TheatreCompany or to purchase tickets,visit BackyardRenaissance.com.Tickets can also be purchased inperson on the day of the show (ifavailable) beginning 1 hour beforeshow time. Prices range from $10to $24.

Two Theater-Couples in a duet

BACKYARD RENAISSANCE INAUGURAL SHOW

Mike Sears, Jessica John and Francis Gercke star in upcoming ‘Parlour Song.’ (Photo:Studio B Photo Productions)

Backyard Renaissance Theatre Company presents

“Parlour Song” Aug. 20-Sept. 6BLKBOX Theatre, 3704 Sixth Ave. in Hillcrest

Written by: Jez ButterworthDirected by: Lisa Berger

north park news august 2015

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