In This Issue  

• Calendar of Events
• November Details
• January Details
• Downtown News of the Day
• Holiday Tree Safety
• Recurring Events
• Free Downtown Tours
• Masthead
• Downtown Editions Index

November Details 

On Friday 11 November starting at 11am the annual Veterans Day Parade will kick off at Cedar Street and Pacific Highway.   The original concept of Veterans Day was that the fighting stopped at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month to end World War I.   Of course this year it will be the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of the eleventh year as they celebrate the 93rd anniversary of the end of "the war to end all wars" as WWI was called.   This occurred in 1918 and calling it "the war to end all wars" was a rather poor choice, for the First World War, as the world was at war again less that 21 years later in September 1939.  For more information on the parade sdvetparade.org.

On Friday 11, Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 November the San Diego Symphony will present Mahler’s ninth as part of the Jacobs Masterworks concerts at Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B Street.   For information or tickets 235-0804 / www.sandiegosymphony.com.

On Saturday 12 November, starting with registration at 7am, there will be a walk to cure diabetes at Sixth Avenue and Laurel Street next to Balboa Park.   The walk will feature two routes, a 3k stroll or a 5k nature.   For more information Alexis Rodriguez (858)-597-0240 / arodriguez@jdrf.org / www.walk.jdrf.org / www2.jdrf.org/site/tr/walk-ca/chapter-sandiego4053?fr_id=1553&pg=entry.

America’s Cup Parking, Detours and Traffic Information

Thousands are expected downtown for the America's Cup World Series.  It will take place from Saturday 12 November through Sunday 20 November.  Nine vessels will compete in the sailing regatta that can be viewed from

the Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier, 1000 North Harbor Drive

the USS Midway Museum, alongside Navy Pier

Harbor Island.

The America's Cup Village will be open from 10am to 6pm on Saturday 12 November through Tuesday 15 November and from 10am to 10pm on Wednesday 16 November through Sunday 20 November.   North Harbor Drive between the Navy and Broadway Piers will be closed to vehicular traffic from Wednesday 9 November through Tuesday 22 November.  This includes the dates that the America's Cup Village is operating and dates to set it up and to dismantle it.   Vehicles, pedi-cabs and personal mobility vehicles traveling south on North Harbor Drive will be rerouted up West Broadway to Pacific Highway, where they can reconnect with Harbor Drive.   For more information www.portofsandiego.org.

This is a jazz version of Tchaikovsky’s famous Nutcracker Suite.  It will be presented on Sunday 13 November at 2pm at the Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Avenue (corner E Street).  For additional information www.classics4kids.com.

The San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival will be held Wednesday 16 - Sunday 20 November at the Embarcadero Marina Park North at the end of Kettner Boulevard behind the Hyatt and Seaport Village.   The festival is a showcase of wine and spirits producers, chefs and culinary personalities along with gourmet foods.  The event benefits the American Institute of Wine & Food culinary arts scholarship program.  More than 800 wines, 40 restaurants plus gourmet food companies and other exhibitors participated in the 2010 festival.  For more information www.worldofwineevents.com / 342-7337. 

If you want to experience skating ice skating in the heart of downtown while benefiting a great cause then come to Horton Plaza.  Starting on Thursday 17 November and running through Sunday 8 January 2012 the outdoor ice rink at Horton Plaza will be open and all receipts will benefit the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Rady Children's Hospital here in San Diego.  The grand opening will be held at 5pm that day.   Additional information www.sdice.com. 

There are eight monthly free Speaking of Architecture lectures provided each year by FSDA.   The lecture for Saturday 19 November will be The Intelligent Kitchen: Getting Past Green and Towards Healthier Living.   The presenter will be Certified Kitchen Designer Lisa Wilson – Wirth.    She is the President and owner of Arclinea San Diego which is an award winning kitchen design firm.   The monthly lectures are held the third Saturday each month – except for June, July, August and December – at the New School of Architecture & Design (NSAD), 1249 F Street from 9:30-11:30am.    The lectures are free but a $3-5 donation is suggested.  For additional information www.friendsofsdarch.com.

car2go was created by Daimler (parent of Mercedes-Benz) and is using electric vehicles.   For more information about the event and car2go sandiego.car2go.com.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas opens at the Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Glove Way, Balboa Park on Saturday 19 November.   It plays until the end of December.   For additional information 234-5623 / www.theoldglobe.org.

The club will meet on Monday 21 November at 7:30pm in the South Tower Lounge of Horizons at 510 First Avenue.   It usually meets on the third Monday of each month except for June - September.   For more information about the book club contact Heather Forward, humblef@aol.com or Pat Getzel, pbgetzel@cox.net .

Starting on Tuesday 22 November the Model Railroad Museum will be presenting their annual Lego train club exhibit.   It will run through Saturday 14 January.   The exhibit will consist of building, landscape and trains made entirely of Lego building blocks.   The museum is located at 1649 El Prado #4, Balboa Park in the Casa de Balboa Building.  For additional information www.sdmrm.org / info@sdmrm.org / 696-0199.

This will be the 10th anniversary of this fund raiser for Saint Vincent de Paul Village.   The course starts and ends in Balboa Park.   The event starts at 8am of Thursday 24 November, Thanksgiving Day, at the Balboa Park Spreckels Organ Pavilion.  Event day registration opens at 6:30am.   Early registration and additional information www.thanksgivingrun.org / (800)-466-3537.

Santa will be arriving almost a full month early at Seaport Village.   In this annual event he will be trading his usual red suit for shorts and sailing into Seaport Village on Saturday 26 November at around 1pm.   Santa will arrive via pirate ship after which he will head to shore for a variety of holiday festivities throughout the afternoon.   There will also be an LED free holiday light exchange, provided by SDG&E at the event.   There will be a parade after the arrival of Santa followed by picture taking opportunities. The light exchange will allow the trading of up to three incandescent holiday light strands for multi-colored LED holiday light strands.   LCD lights use about 90% less energy that incandescent lights.   Rules for the exchange can be found at www.sdge.com/leds.   The day’s activities will terminate at 5pm. Information on surfing Santa can be found at www.seaportvillage.com.

Some Lovers will be premiered at the Old Globe from Saturday 26 November to Saturday 31 December.   The show features a new score by Burt Bacharach and the book and lyrics are by Steven Sater.   For more information or tickets 234-5623 / www.theoldglobe.org.

On Wednesday 30 November at 7:30pm there will the annual tree lighting ceremony at the Horton Plaza ice rink.  Immediately following the ceremony there will be the annual Holidays on Horton Square ice skating show.  After the short show the rink will open again to the public at about 8pm.   For more information www.sdice.com.

Balboa Park December Nights will take place for the 34th consecutive year on Friday 2 and Saturday 3 December.  Hours are Friday 5-10pm and Saturday noon-10pm.  Most park museums open their doors free of charge from 5-9pm both days and more than 300,000 visitors are expected to attend. It is San Diego’s largest free community festival.  For more information www.balboapark.org.

On Friday 2, Saturday 3 & Sunday 4 December the San Diego Symphony will present Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons as part of the Jacobs Masterworks concerts at Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B Street.   For information or tickets 235-0804 / www.sandiegosymphony.com.

This monthly event will be held on Tuesday 6 December from noon to 1pm at the Sheila R. Hardin Downtown Information Center (DIC).  It will feature Bob Marinaccio, Executive Director of the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation, as the speaker covering topics of interest to downtown with a question and answer period to follow the presentation.  No reservations are required to attend these free monthly meetings at the DIC, located in Horton Plaza on Level One (above CVS pharmacy between Sam Goody and Victoria's Secret).  Lunch is not provided but you are encouraged to bring your own.   Information at www.ccdc.com.

On Tuesday 6 December at 7:30pm and the Civic Theatre there will be a single performance of Mannheim Steamroller.   They will perform Christmas music much by Grammy Award Winner Chip Davis.  For information (888)-937-8995 / www.broadwaysd.com. 

On Friday 9, Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 December the San Diego Symphony will present Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony as part of the Jacobs Masterworks concerts at Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B Street.   For information or tickets 235-0804 / www.sandiegosymphony.com.

The Pet Parade originates and concludes at the Hilton Park adjacent to the Hilton Gaslamp Quarter at 4th Avenue and K Street.  The Parade starts at 3pm on Sunday 11 December.  Enjoy our Pet Expo in Hilton Park from 1-5pm  that afternoon.  There will also be a pet expo and pet talent show in the Hilton Park subsequent to the parade.  For more information http://gaslamp.org/pet-parade.

As is usually the case this annual event will be held on two consecutive Sundays just prior to Christmas.   On Sunday 11 and 18 December from 5:30-9pm.   For more information and best places for viewing sdparadeoflights.org.

Light Up A Life is put on by Hospice each December.   This year it is on Tuesday 13 at 8pm in the Civic Theatre.  This is largely a musical event to include a Menorah and a Christmas tree lighting.   It is free and there is a holiday dessert reception after the presentation in Golden Hall lobby.   Additional information 278-6440 / www.sdhospice.org.

From Friday 16–Sunday 18 December the Symphony will be presenting their annual holiday show.  The show will feature various vocals from several choirs.   All performances are at Copley Symphony Hall.   For more information 235-0804 / www.sandiegosymphony.org.

The club will meet on Monday 19 December at 7:30pm in the South Tower Lounge of Horizons at 510 First Avenue.   It usually meets on the third Monday of each month except for June - September.   For more information about the book club contact Heather Forward, humblef@aol.com or Pat Getzel, pbgetzel@cox.net .

This monthly event will be held on Tuesday 3 January from noon to 1pm at the Sheila R. Hardin Downtown Information Center (DIC).  It will feature a speaker covering topics of interest to downtown with a question and answer period to follow the presentation.  No reservations are required to attend these free monthly meetings at the DIC, located in Horton Plaza on Level One (above CVS pharmacy).  Lunch is not provided but you are encouraged to bring your own.   Information at www.ccdc.com.

A Hammer, A Bell, and A Song to Sing: The Music of Pete Seeger will open at the Lyceum Theatre, 79 Horton Plaza, on Saturday 7 January and closes on Sunday 5 February.   This brand new musical will feature the music of the famous songwriter and activist.  It is part of the San Diego Repertory Theatre’s 36th season.   For tickets or more information www.sdrep.org.

The Port, the City of San Diego and CCDC will be hosting a groundbreaking ceremony at 10am on Thursday 5 January for the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan Phase I at 10am.  It will take place at 1000 North Harbor Drive at the intersection with West Broadway, at the Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier.   For more information www.ccdc.com.

One of the countries most beloved family musicals will be at the Civic Theatre from Tuesday 10-Sunday 15 January.  It originally opened on Broadway 7 October 1982 and ended its 18 year run on 10 September 2000 after 7,485 performances.  That record was broken by The Phantom of the Opera in January 2006.  Based on T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, and with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cats won seven 1983 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Lighting and Best Costumes.  In October of 1991 Cats became the longest continuously touring show in US theatre history. For more information or tickets www.broadwaysd.com.

From Friday 13 to Sunday 15 January the Symphony’s Jacobs Masterworks series will feature Schumann, Wagner and Brahms with Louis Lortie at the piano.   The performances will be at Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B Street.  For information or tickets 235-0804 / www.sandiegosymphony.org.  

Pulitzer Prize winning journalist José Antonio Vargas will give the keynote address at the 24th annual All People’s Breakfast—"All People Speak"—Monday 16 January at the Hilton Bayfront.  The two-hour program begins at 7:30am.  The event is being presented by Equality Alliance of San Diego County.  Admission is $40 per person.  The legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be honored.  Vargas is the author of an essay, "My Life As An Undocumented Immigrant," that was published by the New York Times Magazine in June 2011.  Prior to the publishing of the essay last June it was not generally known that he was in the country illegally.   Vargas was born in the Philippines in 1981 and emigrated to the United States at the age of 12 but remains an undocumented immigrant.  None of his employers knew that he was not in the country legally.  He has been a journalist for more than a decade, writing for several news organizations such as The San Francisco Chronicle, The Washington Post and The New Yorker and Rolling Stone magazines.   For more information www.equalitysandiego.org.

The club will meet on Monday 16 January at 7:30pm in the South Tower Lounge of Horizons at 510 First Avenue.   It usually meets on the third Monday of each month except for June - September.   For more information about the book club contact Heather Forward, humblef@aol.com or Pat Getzel, pbgetzel@cox.net .

On Friday 20 and Saturday 21 January the winter pops will feature Ballroom with a Twist.  This dance concert will feature Jane Seymour as celebrity guest host.   The event will start each evening at 8pm at Copley Symphony Hall, Seventh Avenue and B Street.   For additional information or tickets www.sandiegosymphony.org / 235-0804.

There are eight monthly free Speaking of Architecture lectures provided each year by FSDA.   The lecture for Saturday 21 January will be Modernist Morning: A Chat with Robert Mosher & Keith York.   The monthly lectures are held the third Saturday each month – except for June, July, August and December – at the New School of Architecture & Design (NSAD), 1249 F Street from 9:30-11:30am.    The lectures are free but a $3-5 donation is suggested.  For additional information www.friendsofsdarch.com.

Downtown News 

The Port has announced the appointment of lieutenant Mark Stainbrook to the newly created position of Assistant Harbor Police Chief.   His previous position was as the head of the Anti-Terrorism Intelligence Section of the Los Angeles Police Department.   He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and a Fulbright Fellow from Leeds University in London.   He also has a masters degree in public administration from California State University (CSU), Long Beach.   He will be sworn in on Friday 18 November.   The Harbor Police Department is the law enforcement arm of the Port with more than 130 sworn officers—all trained as firefighters and police officers.  Their jurisdiction includes the bay, airport and the tidelands of the five member cities:

• San Diego

• Chula Vista

• Coronado

• Imperial Beach

• National City.

For more information www.portofsandiego.org.

New Lights On Seven Bridges
CCDC, acting on behalf of the City’s Redevelopment Agency, has installed twenty-five new, energy efficient induction streetlights on seven bridges that connect downtown with the adjacent neighborhoods.  The lights should improve public safety and promote environmental efficiency.   The bridges all cross the I-5 freeway.   The streetlights were installed on the Market Street, Island Avenue and J Street bridges that allow pedestrians to travel to and from Sherman Heights just east of downtown.  To the north, the First, Second, Third, and Sixth Avenue bridges all connect downtown to Bankers Hill and help to get to Balboa Park from downtown.  These lights will help enhance public safety while saving energy and therefore money for the city.  The project, which cost about one quarter of a million dollars, was completed two months ahead of schedule and under budget.   For more information www.ccdc.com

 Port Awards Contract For Waterfront Makeover  

The Board of Port Commissioners has awarded an $18.3 million construction contract for the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan Phase I (NEVP) project.   The construction contract was awarded at the Tuesday 8 November meeting of the Board.  Work is expected to begin next January.   Phase I will be broken into Phase 1a, which includes the area of West Broadway from North Harbor Drive to the railroad tracks, and Phase 1b, which includes the area of North Harbor Drive along the waterfront from the B Street Pier to the Navy Pier.   The NEVP will beautify the waterfront and create a new public space.  A joint project between the Port, the City of San Diego and Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC), it also includes significant improvements to the roadways, utilities, and storm water systems.   The work includes a 105-foot wide promenade with gardens, plazas and pavilions along the waterfront.  Public artwork by internationally-acclaimed artist Pae White will be integrated into the promenade architecture.  Other features include new restrooms, a café and an information center.  A groundbreaking ceremony will be held at 10am on Thursday 5 January.  Construction is anticipated to take about 1.5 years.   For additional information www.ccdc.com.

The developers said the project incorporates part of the 1941 landmark Top’s Night Club, the predecessor of Fat City.   Segal maintains that the project complies with existing zoning and that it can co-exist with Solar Turbines.  The developers have agreed that all Solar Turbines operations should continue and will put in writing that they will not challenge any permit renewals from the 48 regulators Solar Turbines must deal with.  Apartment renters will be required to sign the same agreement.  it will be interesting how CCDC will rule on this request.   For more information www.ccdc.com.

After 13 straight years this annual January event has been canceled for 2012.  The reason given by CCDC is that the current state budget challenges are directly affecting redevelopment agencies in California and their ability to fund activities.   CCDC is hoping that the festival can be resumed in January 2013.   For more information www.ccdc.com.

Normally, state agencies have no role in reviewing developments on federally owned land.   But federal coastal zone laws give state agencies the authority to declare if such developments are consistent with state law.   The coastal commission declared the Broadway project plan consistent long before Manchester was involved with it and its staff says federal law allows the consistency finding to be reconsidered if changes in the project or the setting have changed substantially.   The Navy and its supporters said nothing major has changed, but the coastal commission agreed with its staff that the growth of downtown, especially in the proliferation of residential towers, and questions about security and seismic safety make it possible to reconsider the consistency question.   For additional information www.ccdc.com.

Navy Pier, at the foot of E Street, now is mainly used for parking and the mooring of the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum.   Under a proposal by the Museum a park, to be called Veterans Park, would be built above the current parking area by building a bridge like structure on the pier.  The park would also provide a permanent home for the Symphony’s Summer Pops.   The summer pops had Navy Pier as its home prior to the opening of the aircraft carrier museum in 2004.   Since then it has been making the Embarcadero Marina Park South its home.   Navy Pier is considered a more central location for the pops.  There would be no retail in the park under the current proposal.   The museum was required by its lease and costal development agreement with the port from 2001 to provide a plan for a park on Navy Pier.  The museum is also paying $150,000 a year into a parking fund and was required to look for replacement parking away from the bayfront.   It is not clear if this would meet that requirement.  The effect on the proposed Veterans Park of the Costal Commission’s rejecting of the Navy Broadway Complex (NBC) plan recently is unknown at this time.   For more information www.portofsandiego.org.

Balboa Park Celebration—which is the nonprofit organization set up to coordinate the park’s centennial celebration in 1915—received City Council approval to plan the year-long festivities.  At the same time the council authorized $450,000 to get it started.  The seed money should be the only funds from the cities’ general funds as all other money would come from donations, tourism dollars and foundations.   For additional information www.sandiego.gov.

Chipotle Mexican Grill quick-service restaurants is opening a facility at 101 West Broadway.   It is the Irvine Company’s Downtown office building where the Chase bank is located.   The facility will be about about 3,000 square feet and will be located on the ground-floor of the building.   It  is expected to open prior to the end of the year. Terms of the lease were not disclosed.   Chipotle is based in Denver and has been looking for a suitable downtown San Diego location for some time.   More information at www.chipotle.com.

The Little Italy Association Board of Directors’ Meetings are open to the public.  They discuss the Little Italy Association's general business, upcoming events and downtown issues.  This monthly meeting is usually held on the first Tuesday at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish Hall, 1654 State Street at 8:30am.   For more information Chris Gomez 233-3898 / www.littleitalysd.com/events.asp.

There will be more than 30 participating locations in and around the Gaslamp Quarter.  The suggested starting point for the tour is the corner of Fourth and Island Avenues in the pocket park at the William Heath Davis House (Gaslamp Museum), 410 Island Avenue, where you can pick up a map and register to win prizes.  For additional information www.gaslamp.org/locals-lifestyle-design-tour. 

The Downtown Sound Bites Speaker Series is held on the first Tuesday of every month from noon-1pm at the Sheila Hardin Downtown Information Center (DIC) in Horton Plaza.  The DIC is located just above the CVS drug store between Victoria's Secret and Sam Goody's.  You are asked to bring your own lunch to this free event and then listen and learn from a variety of interesting speakers all of whom will approach issues that are important to downtown's future.  A question and answer period will follow each presentation. The event sponsor is CCDC and further information can be found at www.ccdc.com. 

Free walking tour of downtown condominiums that are for sale.   They are usually held on the first Sunday of each month by local real estate agents Margaret Irving and Ryan Johnstone.   They cover information about the various downtown neighborhoods as well as the condominium developments.  Reservations are required as space is limited to 10 participants.  For reservations 246-8400 / citybythesea92101@gmail.com.   There will be a tour on Sunday 4 September beginning at 1pm.

This bi-monthly event toggles between either the first Thursday evening (February, June & October) or the first Friday morning (April, August & December) each even numbered month.  It is held at the Sheila Hardin Downtown Information Center (DIC) in Horton Plaza.   It is a good chance to learn what is happening with the redevelopment agency arm of the City of San Diego.   It is held in all even numbered months.   For more information www.ccdc.com.

On the third Monday of each month, not to include the summer, the group usually meets in the Horizons' South Tower Lounge, 510 First venue, at 7:30pm to discus the current club book selection.   All are welcome to attend and help create a lively discussion.   For additional information or to find out what book is currently to be covered: Heather Forward hhumblef@aol.com / Pat Getzel pbgetzel@cox.net.

San Diego Critical Mass is a loosely affiliated group of over 700 bicycle riders that take over San Diego streets and public rights of way to conduct a group bike ride on the last Friday of every month.  The group meets at the large fountain in Balboa Park in front of the Ruben H. Fleet Theatre / Science Center and the National History Museum at 7pm and participants should be prepared for up to 20 miles of riding.  The ride may go in any direction from the fountain but usually goes through downtown.   Additional information at www.sdcriticalmass.com.

The Commander of the San Diego Police Department's (SDPD) Central Division, Captain Mark Jones, holds a bimonthly meeting with the public to address problems and provide information on what the division is doing to keep us safe.   The meeting is usually well attended and lasts about one and a half hours.   The meeting is always on the fourth Tuesday of each odd numbered month at 5:30pm at the SDPD's Central Division Headquarters, 2501 Imperial Avenue.   For additional information www.sandiego.gov/police/neighborhood/ccm.shtml.

On the third Thursday each month the MCA, 1100 Kettner Blvd, will open its doors from 5-7pm to the public to allow free admission.   Visitors can browse anywhere in the museum on their own or join an organized tour that will begin at 5pm and 6pm.  For additional information (858)-454-3541 / www.mcasd.org.

All items in this publication are the opinion of the writer of the piece.   Any item without a named author is the responsibility of the editor.   Any submissions for inclusion in this publication should be submitted to the editor via email within the body of a message (not as an attachment).   All telephone numbers are in the 619 area code unless otherwise noted.   To subscribe or unsubscribe to this publication please email the editor, Stan Marder smarder1@alum.ups.edu.  Publisher: San Diego Mesa Company (SDMC), 550 Front Street #2804, San Diego California 92101-7105