May 2006

"There are those of us who appreciate San Diego’s transit system. There are those of us who, in fact, rely on it for our daily commutes to and from work."

ON A ROLL

While [author] Rachel Laing can run back to her car, grateful that her old man was wrong, and enjoy her forays in and out of Point Loma without sharing space with the unwashed masses, there are those of us who appreciate San Diego’s transit system [“Not a Car in the World,” March]. There are those of us who, in fact, rely on it for our daily commutes to and from work.

I moved here from a big Eastern city almost 10 years ago, and so I find it easy and natural to get on a bus. Yes, this system could be improved—and one day, when enough people in this region find it impossible to get from point to point in their sanitary personal bubbles, they’ll wish all the negative outlook on public transport hadn’t kept this place from developing a solution while it was easier. In the meantime, most can go about talking on the phone and applying makeup or switching out the DVDs for the backseat passengers while driving in the relative quiet and sanctity of their vehicles.

Why worry about changing anything? Things are headed in the right direction, aren’t they?

BRAD MAXEY
SAN DIEGO

KNOWS IT ALL

San Diego Magazine is a great source of laughter, surprise and wonder at where and when all the self-aggrandizement will end. (Y’all are certainly impressed with yourselves.) We thoroughly enjoyed the hometowner’s quiz in the March issue [“How San Diegan Are You?” by Ron Donoho]. However, we were struck by the glaring omission of several “uniquely San Diego things” that you, obviously not “real” San Diegans, apparently never heard of. Such as:

1. Watched the Padres play at Lane Field, long before their move to Mission Valley.

2. Watched the San Diego Chargers play at San Diego High School’s Balboa Stadium, long before their move to Mission Valley.

3. “The Murph”? Real San Diegans still call it San Diego Stadium.

4. Gazed in wonderment at the waxed mustache on the owner of the Old Town Tamale Factory, one of San Diego’s best-ever Mexican restaurants. Many years later, it became Eric’s Ribs and “bookie joint” . . . and, no surprise here, it also burned to the ground.

5. Enjoyed a half-pound steerburger and pitcher of beer at Boll Weevil (not some prissy, overpriced bistro in the Gaslamp).

6. Ate at the Cotton Patch restaurant on Midway Drive, where the Boll Weevil began in the first place.

7. Lunched on crab salad and chocolate cheesecake at the venerable Lubach’s restaurant.

8. Waited in long lines to enjoy Margaritas, dinner and strolling mariachis at Old Town’s Casa de Pico. Diane Powers lost her Bazaar del Mundo lease—reason enough to leave town.

9. Recall seeing the albino mule deer of Mission Hills.

10. Remember the payday when all Rohr factory employees were paid in silver dollars to emphasize Rohr’s importance to the local economy.

11. Remember the PD-5 playing at their high school dance.

12. Remember the 153 Club across from the old police station at 801 West Market Street (it’s now Kansas City Barbeque). A cops’ hangout for many years, it was named for a police department miscellaneous report form.

13. Ran for your life when the current population of self-absorbed, nipped-and-tucked “newbie” twits made their presence known around 1985.

We fondly remember the lost treasures of San Diego from far away. How far? We hesitate to tell, for fear half of San Diego will move here next year when they learn they can breathe clean air and actually afford to buy a house!

ERNIE & PAT FOUCAULT
KRESGEVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA

SOLID CREDENTIALS

Being a native and in my mid-40s, I know true San Diegans will have:

1. Eaten carnitas at Juanita’s on the old 101 in Leucadia.

2. Watched it, played it or at least remember when the over-the-line tournament was in San Felipe.

3. Swam in the Mission Beach Plunge.

4. Enjoyed a Bloody Mary from the Pennant or Beachcomber bars while standing on the sidewalk at the stop signs on Mission Boulevard on a Sunday.

DEB ABRAHAMSON
SAN DIEGUITO ACADEMY
ENCINITAS

NOSTALGIA TIP

I was born in San Diego in 1966 and lived in San Diego until 1989. Here’s some more nostalgia to think about:

1. Ate at the Old Spaghetti Factory at Fifth and K when there was nothing else there. What Gaslamp Quarter?

2. Visited the International Houses in Balboa Park on a Sunday afternoon.

3. Took a ferry to Coronado (because there was no bridge).

4. Walked the ranuncula fields in Carlsbad in spring.

5. Were there when the Padres wore brown and gold.

6. Went to a Clippers home game in San Diego.

7. Ate fried chicken from Woolworth’s in Fashion Valley.

8. Bought a Christmas tree or sack of groceries from Fedmart—or Gemco.

9. Drove on freeways that weren’t filled with cars.

Thanks for the memories, San Diego Magazine. We receive our subscription in Davis, California, courtesy of my mother, Pat Geanacou, who adored everything about San Diego, especially the weather. She passed away last year.

SUSAN GEANACOU
GLEN BROWNING
DAVIS

FOR THE KIDS

I was delighted to open your magazine and see San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne [Etc. by Thomas K. Arnold, Front Pages, March]. Since coming to San Diego, Chief Lansdowne has been a strong supporter of the Child Abuse Prevention Foundation, and addressed the local law enforcement community at our first Chief ’s Summit on Child Abuse Issues last October.

Additionally, his comment in your magazine stating that he “absolutely can’t stand” child abuse was a bonus. When prominent citizens begin to talk about child abuse in public and help us spread awareness, it can only help to prevent this horrible tragedy and ultimately break the terrible cycle for future generations.

TERESA STIVERS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION
FOUNDATION

FOND REMEMBRANCE

I want to commend Thomas K. Arnold for his Perspective piece on Bill Robinson in the January edition (which I admittedly read yesterday in my doctor’s office). Bill was one of the most selfless people I have ever met, and I’m proud to say we were friends. I am a retired police sergeant and got to know and appreciate Bill over the years. He was a great promoter of the working patrol officers on the department and I thought Arnold covered all those facts quite well.

HANK HISKES
SAN DIEGO

FIRST THINGS FIRST

In your April issue, you profiled Monique from Jack FM, calling her San Diego’s first female morning show host [“Up and Down the FM Dial” by Rachel Laing]. I believe it was actually Roxy (a.k.a. Delana Bennett) on Jammin’ Z90 who holds that distinction. It was “Roxy and da’ Mizfitz.”

I love your restaurant profiles, by the way. I always send a copy to friends who are coming into town. Saves us time selecting where we’ll go for dinner.

Keep up the great work!

JULIA DAWSON
SAN DIEGO

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