Check Out the Formal Wear at Friar Tux
Plus: Bayside Community Center Proclamation, Sera Turley of Sushi Yorimichi in the Spotlight, Happy St. Patrick's Day in LV, and Fish and Chips
This year promises to be a huge one for weddings. After suffering through a long, pandemic-induced lull that discouraged couples from celebrating the taking of their vows, the wedding industry predicts this year will be the busiest one since 1984, with around 2.5 million weddings expected to occur. That’s a big jump from 1.3 million in 2020, and 1.9 million in 2021. And there’s at least one business here in Linda Vista that stands to profit from this boom in weddings. Friar Tux, located in the Presidio Plaza on Linda Vista Road, will be happy to take care of your formal wear by selling or renting you a tuxedo appropriate to your event and in keeping with your personal style preferences.
Friar Tux has been operating in Linda Vista since 2018, providing customers with tuxedos and accompanying wear. This store is one of 29 stores operating mainly in California. Along with many other businesses, Friar Tux felt the impact of the pandemic, having to close its Linda Vista store for several months. It relied on nationwide business generated from online rentals and sales during that time.
But they are now back and busier than ever. Although the Friar Tux storefront appears relatively small from the outside, you’ll find the interior spacy, comforting, and well organized, as if designed to put the typical customer at ease about his getting fitted for formal wear. Store manager Cole Levey is there to help guide customers through the experience. He has been with Friar Tux for 9 years, and it’s apparent his friendly personality and extensive knowledge of tuxedo styles goes far in providing fashion guidance to his customers. He confirmed that 2022 will be a busy year, with not only more weddings, but also high schools bringing back prom season this spring. In addition to those two kinds of events, Levey explained that his shop serves people attending various black-tie balls. He specifically mentioned the National Charity League Ball as a popular event. Furthermore, he also explained that his shop serves many San Diego customers traveling north to attend such formal events as the Oscars and the Emmys.
During our visit to Friar Tux, Levey showed us a variety of tuxedos, to include one in the smallest size (see photo above), while also informing us about the biggest size tuxedo in the shop—a size 74 long, fitting for someone like NBA great Shaquille O’Neal. He also directed our attention to some of the current popular styles like a forest green tuxedo, a steel blue colored tuxedo, a causal looking tan colored one, and a more traditional dark colored outfit.
In regard to one of our questions pertaining to weddings, he let us know that the biggest wedding party he has served involved 25 groomsmen!
When asked to explain what it’s like working at Friar Tux, Meyer eagerly explained he appreciates that “It is a very gratifying job because people come in for happy occasions. They have to get dressed up, and it’s my job to make sure renting a tux goes from something they dread to something they will be happy about. I want to make it a stress free and convenient experience. I also have a great team to work with.”
In terms of providing guidance to those thinking of renting or purchasing a tux, he advises customers to “Feel confident about what you’re wearing, while still paying attention to normal formal wear attire.”
So if you have an upcoming formal event scheduled on your calendar, anything from a wedding to attendance at one of Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee events, or if you know of a high schooler who will soon be required to look sharp for prom, keep in mind that Friar Tux is eager to take care of residents’ special sartorial needs. Store Manager Cole Levey and his crew will make your experience a happy one.
Friar Tux
5299 Linda Vista Road
San Diego, CA 92110
858-565-0111
Monday-Friday: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Bayside Community Center Honored with Proclamation
The Bayside Community Center, currently celebrating its 90th year of operating as a non-profit, neighborhood-based organization, was recently recognized by the city of San Diego with a proclamation declaring March 11, 2022, as Bayside Community Center Day. The proclamation was presented last Friday by District 7 Councilmember Raul Campillo at an event that took place at John Baca Park. Many Linda Vista residents were in attendance to observe the presentation of the proclamation to this long-time Linda Vista institution.
The Bayside Community Center was recognized in the proclamation for addressing the “immediate challenges of San Diegans by providing essential social services to thousands of residents annually,” and advocating “for long-term, systematic changes to improve the quality of life for everyone who lives in, or visits the region…”
The proclamation also acknowledged Bayside for going “above and beyond to meet the needs of our people, and to improve the quality of life for San Diegans, their families, and their communities, by providing education and training to community members.”
The Bayside Community Center first opened in 1932 as Bayside Settlement House, and was originally located in Little Italy. It was founded by the Sisters of Social Service “to empower and meet the needs of lower income immigrants and native-born residents in urban settings.” The Settlement House provided services to Italian and Portuguese fisherman and their families.
Bayside eventually changed its name and moved to Linda Vista in the 1970’s. It began to operate as a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization while providing support to the influx of immigrants that arrived from Southeast Asia. It is now located at 2202 Comstock Street.
The current mission of the Bayside Community Center is to “empower our diverse community to improve its quality of life through services, education, and advocacy.”
Bayside provides a number of services for the community to include a senior lunch program, emergency food distribution, an academic club, language assistance, the resident leadership academy, and an environmental center that teaches skills related to urban agriculture and sustainability.
You can catch up on or refresh your understanding of the Bayside Community Center by reading four previous Linda Vista Update articles that featured the Center’s Executive Director Kim Heinle, the Urban Farming Program, the Tiny Gardens Recipe Book, and its Resident Leadership Academy.
Bayside will continue to hold events celebrating its 90th anniversary during the year.
Linda Vistan in the Spotlight
Sera Turley at Sushi Yorimichi
In honor of Women’s History Month, we went in search of a Linda Vista business woman we could feature for our readers. We found her at the popular Sushi Yorimichi. Located at 2405 Ulric Street in downtown Linda Vista, Sushi Yorimichi has become one of Linda Vista’s top places to eat since it opened back in May of last year. We first featured Sera, who operates Sushi Yorimichi with her significant other/partner Fernando, in this newsletter soon after their restaurant opened. This week she was kind enough to sit down and answer our questions. This is what she had to say:
—How long have you lived in Linda Vista?
6 years.
—Where are you originally from?
I am from Yokohama, Japan.
—What do you enjoy most about operating a sushi restaurant?
Meeting new people. Many are getting to know sushi and they are trying new stuff. I love to see that! I like that they are curious about our cuisine, and that they come back.
—What are some of your most popular menu items?
The Yorimichi roll, the Bierra Ramen, (a Japanese-Mexican fusion dish), and the Loco Moco, (a Hawaiian dish).
—What is one thing that has surprised you about working at a Sushi restaurant?
I’m surprised at how much people like the California roll.
—Anything new happening at Sushi Yorimichi?
We now have a Happy Hour menu. Happy Hour happens Monday through Friday from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
—Complete this sentence…When you are not working, people can find you…
Shopping at the mall.
—What do you like about living in Linda Vista?
I like that it provides convenient access to everywhere, it’s quiet, and it’s safe.
—What do you miss the most about Japan?
The food, and in Japan everything runs on time.
—What did you do before working at Sushi Yorimichi?
Several things. I worked at another restaurant, I worked at a pre-school, and I worked as a case manager for a mental health non-profit organization.
—Since it is Women’s History Month, let me ask you if there are any women that have inspired you?
Yes, my grandmother. She married an American service member after World War II. She didn’t know any English. She faced a lot of discrimination while raising my dad and my aunt. I never got the chance to meet her, she passed away before I was born, but I heard many stories about her from my dad.
—What would you like to say to the people of Linda Vista?
Let’s make Linda Vista a fun place to be. Let’s add some more energy.
***
We thank Sera for taking the time to sit down and conduct the interview. We hope to return soon to Sushi Yorimichi to try out the Happy Hour menu (see menu below)
Happy St. Patrick’s Day in Linda Vista
We wish all Linda Vista residents a Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Today is the day that everyone is Irish—which, of course, adds to the already rich diversity of our community!!
In honor of St Patrick’s Day, I attempted to find the most Irish sounding places in all of Linda Vista. I searched an LV map, and at first glance, I thought I had quickly identified a fine Irish sounding street name—Camino del O’este. Unfortunately, upon a closer look at the map, I found out the proper spelling of this street was actually Oeste, as in Spanish for “West.”
Fortunately, I was able to find other places with authentic Irish names. A search of the internet allowed me to verify the Irish origins of these names.
Of course, there is O’Toole’s Pub, part of the University of San Diego’s restaurant La Gran Terraza. The name O’Toole is an Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Tuathail.
And then there is Kearny High School. According to one internet site, the surname of Kearny derives from the Gaelic "O Catharnaigh," which is derived from the word "cearnach," meaning "warlike" or “victorious”.
And finally, I was able to identify a handful of LV streets that qualify as proper Irish sounding names.
Quinn Court
Donahue Street
Maley Street
Kelly Street
Riley Street
If you don’t happen to live on one of these LV streets, don’t worry. You can still celebrate this Irish tradition. Today, everyone is encouraged to wear green, shout “Erin go bragh,” and drink a Guinness beer.
Fish Fry this Friday
The Knights of Columbus will be sponsoring a Fish Fry this Friday at Holy Family Catholic Church. Pick-up is available.
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The Linda Vista Update is a weekly digital newsletter that publishes informative, interesting and fun news about Linda Vista and its neighboring communities.
I absolutely love this wonderful publication. Many thanks for doing all of the research for each issue. I'm a LV native and so enjoy reading about each and every thing in each issue.
I’m wearing green today thanks for the reminder Steve