OB FLASHES – News, Calendar and Discussion: January 26 – February 1, 2010

From the OB Pier to the snow-capped mountains. Photo: Jim Grant

Pier Re-opens and Is Mobbed

After the deluge subsided, the OB Pier re-opened on the 23rd – and within a few hours, it was mobbed.  Ever on the scene, photog Jim Grant was there and was the first person allowed. And that’s his photo as well. (Click on image to see if you were there.)

OB Historical Society Featured Steve Rowell’s Birds

The Ocean Beach Historical Society meets every third Thursday of the month at the Point Loma Methodist church on Sunset Cliffs Blvd.  (Thanks to Jon Carr.)

Old Rexalt Drug Sign Bites the Dust

The Rexalt Drug store on Newport has been gone for years. Yet its tall sign in the parking lot behind it has stood like a sentinel ever since.

Until last Thursday, January 21, when it proved to be no match for the strong winds that swept the neighborhood. The sign came crashing down, fortunately not damaging anyone or anything of value – only denting a dumpster. Thanks Pat James for the photo.

Ciao Bella to Open By Valentine’s Day

One of the owners of the new Italian restaurant, Ciao Bella, Luigi Toratone, told me that he hopes to open by Valentine’s Day.  Luigi and his partner, Franscisca Mezzetti, will throw the doors open at 4953 Newport, and allow the public to view their “Plaza” inside. The kitchen just passed inspection, Luigi told me, and everything inside looks ready to go.

That's Luigi, striking a handsome pose.

Surf Shop Opens at Old Rock Paper Scissors Building

Gabriel Berdugo outside his new smoke shop.

The OB Surf and Skate Shop moved into the old Rock Paper Scissors building (really the old Bank of America building) and has opened its doors at the new location.

Meanwhile, New Smoke Shop and Others to Open at the Old Surf Shop

In an apparent OB shop shuffle, a new smoke shop will be opening at the old Surf and Skate store, at 4881 Newport.  Called “Stuff 2 Smoke“, the new place will be opening around February 1st, says its owner, Gabriel Berdugo. The new shop has a brand spankin new wood floor, and has been divided up into three separate shops.

Behind Gabriel’s place, two new storefronts have fresh paint and doors.  Gabriel says one will be a soap shop and the other will offer body waxing.

Rich’s VW Closes

Not all is good news on Newport Ave.  Rich’s VW – a perennial volkswagon repair place has been forced to close its doors with the new year.  We heard that his rent was doubled from $2,000 a month to $4,000.

Skate Shop Closed

Across the alley from Rich’s VW is another vacancy – the Skate Shop. A “For Rent” sign is up.  It was connected to the surf shop, making an “L” shaped area.

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OB Planning Board to Hold Election March 9th

The Planning Board for Ocean Beach is holding its annual election on March 9th. Go here for more details.

Point Loma Planning Committee Seeks Candidates for March 18th Election

The Peninsula Community Planning Committee  is seeking candidates to run for several open seats. Candidates will vie for the positions during an election March 18 at the Hervey/Point Loma Branch Library, 3701 Voltaire St.  Ballots will be cast from 4 to 8 p.m., with a candidates’ forum prior to the election.  To qualify, a person must be at least 18 years of age, be a Peninsula community property owner or resident, or be a local businessperson with a business address in the Peninsula community.  Applications can be obtained online at www.pcpb.net or by calling (619) 224-9897.  Mail applications to Helen Kinnaird, 3215 Tennyson St., San Diego, 92106.

Channel 10 News Finds Sprinkler Going Outside OB Library During the Rains

Outside the Ocean Beach Library last Friday, (Jan. 22) 10News cameras caught the sprinklers turned on for more than 25 minutes — which translates into several hundred wasted gallons of water. City Library Director, Deborah Barrow, said that those sprinklers should not have been on. “We are very much aware of the goals of the city. A broken valve meant there was no automatic sprinklers, so someone had to manually turn it on. We’re trying to figure out who that was,” Barrow said.  For the remainder of this article, go here.

Noon Designs Is Celebrating Its First Birthday February 4th

Come celebrate Noon Designs first birthday, on the 4th of February, from 4 to 9 pm.  It’s located at 5022 Santa Monica Avenue, one block over from Newport.  They will be offering some wine, cheese, and discounts. Plus they will be featuring ceramic artist  jo zukovich, tradition pottery by alexandra fallon,  & emiy fischer’s spoon rings.

South Beach Bar & Grille Fish Tacos “Discovered” by Chicago Tribune

Chicago Tribune reporter, visiting Southern California, had this to say about our local fish tacos:

My San Diego friends gave me a list of fish taco places to check out: El Zarape, Blue Water Grill, Mariscos German and others. The one place that received the most recommendations was South Beach Bar & Grille. The bar restaurant is in a somewhat touristy and, shall we say, free-spirited neighborhood of Ocean Beach, just south of Sea World.

The Baja fish tacos here immediately brought me back to the crunchy, bright, clean-tasting, messy-handling tacos of my college days,… Here, pollock is beer-battered, topped with red cabbage, pico de gallo, crema and a squeeze of lime. This is what Southern California tastes like. Go here, if you don’t believe it.