Tracy Dezenzo found this random “street art” the other day in OB.
Newport Pizza to Close With Hopes of Moving to Jungle Java
There’s more news about Newport Pizza. The OB Rag first reported the ale and pizza house was set to close in October 2019. Now we’ve learned it will shut its doors on February 9 but with the hope of relocating in what’s now Jungle Java, the open-air coffee patio by the end of summer. The plan is to morph Newport Pizza into a “beer garden”, tied in with owner Mike Tajran’s OB Brewery, which he opened in 2016. SanDiegoVille reports:
Due to issues renewing the lease at 5050 Newport Avenue, Newport Pizza & Ale House will be forced to close up shop after end of business on Sunday, February 9. Ownership has been actively seeking a new home and is in the process of arranging to take over the space currently occupied by Jungle Java at 5047 Newport Avenue, almost directly across the street from the original location.
If the deal goes through, Newport Pizza will renovate the open air unit to have a beer garden vibe and have a section devoted to Jungle Java to allow the business to continue to operate. Newport Pizza aims to reopen by the end of summer. For more information about Newport Pizza & Ale House, visit obpizza.com.
Newport Pizza is being promoted by hoodline even while the place is closing.
City Prepares Groundwork for Massive Redevelopment of Midway District
Jennifer Van Grove wrote in the Feb. 7 issue of the San Diego Union-Tribune about how the City of San Diego is laying the groundwork for a massive redevelopment of the Midway District, centered around the old sports arena complex. The writer didn’t really report it that way, but that’s what is coming (which the OB Rag has been predicting for a couple of years now.) Here’s the first few paragraphs of her report:
The Midway District, home to San Diego’s 54-year-old sports arena and a hodgepodge of retail and industrial buildings, is not a landmark destination. But it could be. At least that’s the thinking behind the city’s long-held desire to dramatically remake the district, starting with 48 acres it owns around Pechanga Arena San Diego. The city will officially kick off its neighborhood revitalization effort on Friday with a formal request for redevelopment proposals.
The goal is to entice builders to dream up plans that introduce a mix of entertainment, housing, retail, office and public spaces — and ultimately add character to the Midway District. The successful bidder will need to lease the sports arena site from the city and must keep, restore or rebuild the arena.
“The city is looking for a game-changer in the sports arena area to reactivate and reinvigorate that area,” said Cybele Thompson, who heads the city’s real estate assets division. “Proposers can really do anything (with the property). We didn’t want to limit creativity.”
The relatively blank slate comes courtesy of a recently adopted community plan for the Midway District that encourages a mix of different building types in the region and envisions a community village. Prospective developers must work within the coastal zone’s 30-foot height limit and will need to craft a specific plan for the site. — For more, go here.
Pedestrian Severely Injured in Midway District Home Deport Parking Lot
A 57-year-old man suffered severe injuries when he was struck by a car in a Home Depot parking lot in the Midway District, police said Thursday. It happened around 4:05 p.m. Wednesday at the home improvement store off Sports Arena Boulevard and Kemper Street, San Diego police Officer John Buttle said. A 57-year-old man was walking on the sidewalk adjacent to the store when he was struck by an 80-year-old man driving a 2015 Toyota Prius westbound through the parking lot, Buttle said. The victim was taken to a hospital, where he was treated for internal bleeding and remained intubated early Thursday morning, the officer said, adding that the man’s injuries are believed to be life-threatening. Neither alcohol nor drugs were a factor. Times of San Diego
Bummer, Dude, Electricity Went Off in OB During Super-Bowl
San Diego Gas & Electric said 510 customers lost power in the Ocean Beach area around 5:30 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday. The power outage is affecting those in Ocean Beach, Sunset Cliffs, Point Loma, Midway and Lindbergh Field, as of 7:40 p.m. Only three customers in the Ocean Beach, Sunset Cliffs and Point Loma area were still without power at 8:30 p.m. SDG&E estimated originally that power would be restored for them at 9:00 p.m., but later said 11:00 p.m. NBCSanDiego
24 OB Businesses Impacted By Ancient Water Main Break
City crews repaired a broken water main at the intersection of Newport Avenue and Cable Street in Ocean Beach. The 8-inch water main broke before 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, sending water into the street of Newport Avenue. Crews had to shut off the water in the area while they made repairs. Twenty-four businesses were impacted along the 4900 block of Newport Avenue. Restaurants were affected the most by the loss of water. Some closed early. Repairs were made and water services restored around 1 a.m. Wednesday. City crews have not determined the cause of the water main break. 10News
Car Takes Out Fire Hydrant and Power for More than 500 Customers in Midway District
Firefighters were on the scene of a car crash that made hundreds lose power. It happened around 12:53 p.m. Tuesday at 2619 Tuscaloosa Street in the Midway District. Roughly 572 customers lost power in Ocean Beach, the Midway District, and Lindbergh Field. The estimated time of restoration was 6 p.m. Tuesday. The car also smashed into a fire hydrant. Crews with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department were on scene with San Diego Gas & Electric crews to assess the damage. The Public Utilities Department was also called to help with the hit hydrant. All of the occupants were able to exit the vehicle. There were no reports of injuries in the crash, according to firefighters. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. The driver in the crash has been detained, according to the San Diego Police Department. Fox5
PB and Mission Beach Residents Pleased with Council’s Scooter Bans – Bird Was Not
Reaction from local PB and Mission Beach residents was mostly positive to City Council’s recent 5-4 vote banning motorized vehicles, including electric scooters, on Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, and La Jolla Shores boardwalks, as well as along Mission Bay Park Bayside. Bird reacted to the recent scooter boardwalk ban. San Diego Community News Group
Memorial for David Diehl
Long-time resident, one-time lawyer and former community activist, David Diehl, passed away in late December. A memorial has been scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 23 at 11 am at the Sacred Heart Church, 4776 Saratoga. Diehl was involved in community activism in the 1970’s, particularly around the battle against the jetty and the beginnings of a community planning committee. He was involved in an OB newspaper, The OBcian, and was instrumental in blocking an effort to install a board walk across OB’s waterfront.
Community Garden Coming to OB? Doesn’t OB Already Have One?
The SDU-T reports: “Throughout San Diego County, in more than 80 active spaces, community gardens are measures of what we value and what we need: healthy, homegrown fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs; physical activity; interpersonal connections among those with common interests; the beauty of being surrounded by a vibrant, living space; somewhere to learn new skills and share ideas.” And a community garden is being planned for Ocean Beach. This writer thought OB has had a community garden since the 1970’s, the one next to Collier Park. What gives?
The Reader Reports on Gray Whales Fucking Off Point Loma
“Between 150-300 whales come past San Diego every day, relentlessly, regardless of the weather, from young juveniles doing their first trip by themselves, to single males — sometimes even a mother with an early-born calf.” San Diego Reader
2-Headed Dolphin Found in Turkey
A two-headed dolphin was found in Turkey with an amazing genetic malformation. … a totally unusual and never before seen finding took place on a beach in Turkey, where the body of a dolphin was found, which had an impressive genetic malformation. The animals two heads are not new, because in more than one occasion we have seen many findings of these specimens, mainly in reptiles such as turtles and snakes, being so common and so are pets of thousands of people.
It is said that this type of malformations is more susceptible in reptiles by its method of gestation, but this is one of the few times this malformation is seen in a mammal, especially in a marine one. This dolphin has made a great impression among the scientific community, because despite being born with two heads, he managed to survive for a season, which generated thousands of questions about how he managed to fend for himself. The dolphin was almost an adult. The finding took place on the shores of Izmir Beach in Turkey, where people passing through the place noticed a corpse that had reached the shore, thinking it was a shark or a small whale. The strange thing is that it is speculated that the dolphin was about a year old, almost a meter long, had one head over the other, with eyes only on one head, which were not completely open.
Local Businesses In Da Newz!
- Mysterious Galaxy soft opening in Point Loma
- Liberty Station‘s Pigment art gallery, Comickaze Comics, and Point Loma Tea
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
If the president of the United States can say “bull shit!” in the East Room of the White House, we can talk about whales …. off Point Loma, can’t we?
that is a hilarious ending to the column, although kind of gross. oh, our whale brothers and sisters understand nature better they we do.
… better than we do ….
Gracias bob for the props.
OB is a tough room, a tough crowd.
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