Babe Offers Exotic, Refreshing Drinks
Plus: Mayor's Back to School Celebration, LV News Briefs, Commentary on Love, Linda Vista Farmers Market, Kearny Football Starts Season, and LV Themed Apparel to Buy.
As I was reading the sports page the other afternoon, Betty suddenly blurted out to me, “I’m in the mood for some Kombucha.”
Not exactly sure what she was talking about, I checked the music tracks loaded on my iPhone and responded, “I got some Reggae, a lot of classic rock, and some great sounding Cumbia music, but I don’t see any Kombucha.”
She shook her head in mild disgust, and said, “Kombucha isn’t a music genre. It’s a tea.”
I reminded her that I am simple man with not that much knowledge of the world. “How would I know what a Kombucha is?” I insisted. “When I’m in Starbucks, I don’t even know the difference between an Espresso and a Frappuccino.”
She then spent the next few minutes explaining to me what the beverage Kombucha is all about. And after she had adequately explained all the nuances of Kombucha and the various reasons people drink this unusual beverage, we headed out to Babe Kombucha to satisfy her thirst, as well as my own curiosity.
In case you haven’t visited this establishment, located in the same building as the popular Sur Coffee (at 5401 Linda Vista Road, Suite 409), Babe Kombucha is the place in Linda Vista to drink this exotic beverage. Babe Kombucha is essentially a tap or tasting room that allows customers to sample different Kombucha concoctions and pick which one or ones they want to drink in 8 or 16 ounce cups, or take home in a growler, or in cans. And here’s the interesting part….you can pick from non-alcoholic Kombucha, or so-called hard Kombucha which contains (depending on the flavor ) an average level of 7 or 8 percent alcohol. You can then sit in the room and leisurely sip on your drink. It’s a nice atmosphere there. While we were there, we saw a few USD students studying and sipping their Kombucha cups (I’m sure they were drinking the non-alcoholic version of the drink). There are many exotic flavors available, like Moroccan Mint, and Mango Mimosa, Passion Mate, and Hawaiian Pog, to name just a few.
Now, before I go any further, let me give readers a real quick summary about Kombucha (especially for any fellow non-hipsters who might be unfamiliar with this tea). According to one web site, “Kombucha is a fermented, lightly effervescent , sweetened black tea drink commonly consumed for its purported health benefits. Juice, spices, fruit, or other flavorings are often added.” It is thought to have originated in China as early as 221 B.C.. Many people think there are a number of health benefits to be derived from drinking this tea. To get real technical, “Kombucha is produced by symbiotic fermentation of sugared tea using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast commonly called a mother or a mushroom.”The living bacteria in this growth is considered to be a probiotic, which accounts for why many people feel drinking it has health benefits.
Readers can spend more time doing their own research on Kombucha to find out more details, but I am here to tell you that I enjoyed the drinking experience at Babe Kombucha. I asked the server behind the counter for a recommendation, and I ended up going for an 8 ounce cup of the Pina Colada flavor (pineapple and coconut). I thought the hard Kombucha drink, served cold, was just right for a hot summer afternoon. Not too sweet. It cost $4.00. Betty enjoyed the non-alcoholic Hawaiian Pog flavor version. She described it as “very refreshing.” Her 16 ounce drink was $5.00.
As explained by our server, Babe Kombucha is becoming a popular place to stop, relax, and sip a drink. It offers a very interesting alternative to coffee or regular tea.
It’s open from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm every day, except Monday.
I strongly recommend paying Babe Kombucha a visit, especially if you want to experiment and try something different, or if you want to feel like you are drinking something healthy.
LV Students Enjoy Back to School Celebration
This past Saturday, approximately 250 Linda Vista children were able to prepare for the new school year by attending Mayor Todd Gloria’s Back to School Celebration, held at Linda Vista Community Park. At the celebration, students were able to obtain school backpacks as well as various school supplies (i.e. books, markers, pencils, chrome book covers, and public transportation passes). The Mayor sponsored the event in collaboration with several non-profit organizations, several San Diego sports teams, local businesses, and the San Diego Unified School District. During the celebration Sharp Healthcare also hosted a health fair and a vaccine clinic.
Some of the organizations that helped sponsor the event and/or furnished the backpacks and school supplies included the San Diego Seals Lacrosse team, San Diego Loyal Soccer Club, the San Diego Wave FC soccer team, the San Diego Gulls Ice Hockey team, and the San Diego Padres. Also, AT&T, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, the University of San Diego, the Bayside Community Center, and Cox Communications.
In addition to Mayor Gloria, the Superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District Dr. Lamont A Jackson was also in attendance.
LV News Briefs
—Farmers Market: The Love, Linda Vista Farmers Market will be held today September 1 from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Linda Vista Plaza Shopping Center. Come out and buy some delicious fresh fruits and vegetables. There are also plenty of other vendors selling good food and other interesting products.
—USD Football: The University of San Diego football team opens up their new season by playing La Verne University at Torero Stadium this Saturday September 3 (6:00 pm).
—Community Clean-up: The monthly Clean-up, sponsored by Bayside Community Center, will be held this Sunday September 4. Volunteers will meet at the Linda Vista Library parking lot at 10:00 am.
—Monkeypox Town Hall: Congresswoman Sara Jacobs and Congressman Scott Peters are hosting an informational Monkeypox Town Hall event this upcoming Tuesday, September 6 virtually on Zoom, at 5:30pm. They will have public health experts and community leaders to answer your questions. You can register for the event by clicking here.
Commentary
Love, Linda Vista Farmers Market
People sometimes ask me why they should go to the Love, Linda Vista Farmers Market. What can they get there that they can’t get somewhere else cheaper? These kinds of questions got me thinking about the Farmers Market and why I go there.
I was not what you would call a Farmers Market person. I like to shop where I get bargains and therefore do most of my grocery shopping at the Military Base Commissary or Costco. No one can argue about Costco prices, but what I began to notice is how much stuff I was throwing away each week or so because at Costco you are forced to buy in large quantities. That is fine for a family with kids or multi-family households, but with just two of us, we find it impossible to eat as many strawberries or blueberries (my favorites) before they became too ripe and have to be tossed. I always feel guilty when I throw away food, and one can read about how much food is wasted in America. It is truly shameful.
I like the military commissary because of the good prices, but find that at certain times of the month because of military paydays, the selection is not always so great for fruits and veggies in season. It’s great for dry goods and non-perishable products.
Since Steve and I write the LV Update, we were asked by the President of the Farmers Market Board—Jonathan Widener—to occasionally write stories about the vendors so as to generate interest in local folks coming to the Market. So we started going up to the Market to show support and to find stories. We started buying products and speaking to the vendors on a weekly basis. We extolled the virtues of buying those fresh strawberries and blueberries that taste so much better than store bought ones; it would be hard to go back. The good thing is you can buy one or two boxes, and since buying there, I have yet to throw out any fruit. The eggs are unbelievable. So good and fresh, and they actually taste like eggs. Large celery, radishes, onions, and other vegetables that you will love. Again, you just get what you need.
Another nice thing about the Market is that you buy things repeatedly from vendors, they remember you, and you can actually have conversations. The brothers who sell hummus and dips have given me so many recipes for uses of their products that I will never look at hummus the same way. And they give you samples. Heather with the ice cream trolley, Big Al with the cookies, Bethany with the sourdough bread, Heidi with the pet bandanas and the others are so friendly you will feel like you are talking with friends. Ben Thomas, who sells Ethiopian coffee will tell you wonderful stories about his country and why his coffee is the best in the world. No one is rushing you. Paula and her crew with the outstanding catfish and fried chicken can tell you why Louisiana catfish is the best (and it is). Other food vendors like Gambino’s Filipino food, has been a staple at the LV Multicultural Fair and is very popular at the Market. The hot roasted peanuts and kettle corn can’t be beat. There are a couple of great Mexican food vendors, a new Chinese one which I haven’t tried yet, but will (I hear the fish is delicious), hot dogs, and many of the different types of drinks are so cool and tasty.
The Market also has vendors who sell homemade crafts, Hawaiian jewelry, crystals and stones, Mexican pottery, pet CBD products, ultrasonic coffee, and others I am probably missing. I think you will enjoy browsing. And if that is not enough, UCSD is there to take your blood pressure and give you other health information.
We always get something to take home for supper. (I never have to cook on Thursday). Steve is now on the Board of the Market, so we hang around at the Market booth and in the process meet and have conversations with many Linda Vista residents. If you go, stop by and say hi to the Board members who have worked extremely hard to make this Market what it is.
In reality, the Market is about so much more than the products or the vendors. It is the sense of community you get from purchasing from local vendors who could be your neighbors. It’s knowing you are establishing relationships with people who are not going to be taking advantage of you or selling you substandard products, because they know you will be back next week to say how you enjoyed using the produce, or craft item, or how good the dinner was that you bought. In my opinion the Love, Linda Vista Farmers Market adds so much to our community. We have taken a food desert and made it into an oasis. A true meeting place for community members to meet and get to know each other in a safe and welcoming atmosphere.
So, you wanted to know why you should come to the Market. I hope I have given you some reasons, and after visiting there you might come up with some of your own. See you there.
Kearny High Football Sports a 2-0 Record
Local fans who attended the Kearny High football team’s home opener last Friday quickly discovered they were in for a treat. Before they could say “It’s still summer, and the new school year doesn’t start till Monday with the first day of classes,” the Kearny Komets jumped to a lead over the visiting Monte Vista High Monarchs of Spring Valley. It was a lead they never surrendered, as the Komets eventually won the game 35-21. In doing so, Kearny found themselves securing a 2-0 record for the beginning of what promises to be an exciting season. During the previous week, the team won the season’s inaugural game with a 35-30 victory over the San Ysidro High Cougars. Both of these games were non-league contests.
The team is off to a fast 2022 start after coming back from last year’s 2-4 season.
In last Friday’s game against Monte Vista, the Kearny High offense was led by sophomore quarterback Brodie Stump, who enjoyed a second straight outstanding game performance. He successfully passed for 21 completions in 31 attempts, gaining a total of 308 yards. He ended up connecting for 4 touchdowns. The versatile quarterback also rushed for 76 yards. Kearny High receiver Isaiah Sutton caught 6 passes for 140 yards, while fellow senior Enrique Padua caught 5 passes for 72 yards, Rounding out Kearny’s elite receiving trio was Maximo Vaughn who caught 8 passes for 83 yards and a total of 2 touchdowns. Kearny running back Dominick Antonacci rushed 4 times for 18 yards.
On the defensive side, outside linebacker Kristoffer Ramses led the team with 14 tackles. Middle line backer Dominick Antonacci pitched in with 13 tackles.
On special teams, Zaiden Gravely, Enrique Padua, and Maximo Vaughn had kickoff returns totaling 35, 27, and 47 yards, respectively.
Kicker Kwali Wilson was perfect with 5 extra point kicks in 5 attempts.
Head Coach Jeremy Stump, in his third year at the helm, has been impressed by how his players “Have stuck together as a team.” In evaluating his team’s performance so far, he commented, “I have seen a lot of growth and maturity. Players encouraging each other after a mistake.” In comparison to last year’s young team, he offered, “Our players have some experience under their belt and are more confident.”
The undefeated Kearny Komets will now host Southwest High (Sweetwater Union High School District) this Friday (7:00 pm). The Southwest Raiders did not field a varsity team last year due to COVID and a low turnout of players, choosing to instead to focus on their junior varsity and freshman teams. However, they are not expected to be easy opponents for the Komets, as they too currently sport a 2-0 record. As Coach Stump explained, “We have a very challenging schedule this year. Week to week every team will be a challenge.”
Get Your Linda Vista Themed Apparel
The LV Update is always on the lookout for local businesses and/or those businesses that contribute to a sense of community identity. We recently discovered such a business at the recent Linda Vista Family Reunion, which was held a couple Sundays ago at the Linda Vista Community Park. At the Reunion was a local vendor which we had previously seen advertised on Facebook. The vendor is called Ink 1222, which calls itself a San Diego based apparel company. At the vendor’s booth, we met the company owners, Thomas and Barbie, who let us know a little bit about their products.
We took note of the interesting Linda Vista themed shirts that were being sold.
Thomas and Barbie let us know about their web site, which features an assortment of similar-themed shirts and hoodies. You can visit visit the site here and find apparel that will allow you to display your Linda Vista pride in a distinctive way, whether you are a native Linda Vistan or a newcomer to the community. We also found out that Ink 1222 shirts are sold at the Minit Mart Market (at 2351 Ulric Street) in downtown Linda Vista.
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