Enjoying Food and Brew at Yard House
Plus: SD Humane Society Announcement, LV Person on the Street Comments, Parks After Dark Announcement, the Fountains of LV (and thereabouts), Bayside Seed Class, and Volcano class at LV Library
Once again we ventured a little bit outside Linda Vista to visit a restaurant we had not visited in a long time. We are not talking too far, just down to the Mission Valley Mall and the Yard House restaurant next to the AMC theater. In looking at their menu online, we knew there were things we could order that were meat-less. We had noticed they use Gardein meatless products on their menu and since we use many of these items at home, we know they are good choices.
In my online search, I found there are approximately 89 Yard House restaurants across the US with the most being in California, where they originally started (Long Beach) in 1996. California has about 24 restaurants or about 27% of the total. It is American cuisine, with a gluten sensitive menu as well. Locations have over 100 beers on tap so if you can’t find a brew you like here, it probably doesn’t exist.
The Mission Valley location is a very large space with a “California vibe.” There are numerous TV screens for sports watching. There is a big bar area, and booths as well as regular and bar height tables throughout.
There is an extensive menu which includes starters, sandwiches, pizza, tacos, soups, entrees including seafood and meats, desserts, under 700 calories section, kids, Gardein, Gluten Sensitive, and a zillion different beers, many of them local brews. Steve was in heaven. I decided on the Shitake Garlic Noodles once I realized it contained all the major food groups, olive oil, parmesan cheese, mushrooms, garlic, and noodles. Yum! Steve decided on two blackened shrimp tacos, which included avocado, cabbage, sriracha aioli, salsa roja and cilantro and came with an order of rice and beans. Both items had a really nice presentation as you can see from the photos.
My selection was on the menu as an appetizer, but it was quite large and very delicious. With all the garlic, I don’t think I will have to worry about vampires for quite a while. It was about $11.49, so not bad. Steve said his blackened shrimp tacos were very good, and a little spicy. He may have missed the part about the sriracha aioli. He thought the dish was excellent and very filling with the rice and beans. He ordered two and they come out to about $6.99 apiece.
You can also check out their menu, order online, and pick up your order and enjoy your meal at home.
The service was very good and our server was especially helpful. There was a nice-sized crowd there for a Tuesday night and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. If you haven’t been to Yard House, I think you should give it a try. A great place to go before or after a movie, and the underground parking has a moving stairway that takes you up right to the front of the restaurant.
Important San Diego Humane Society News Brief
Thanks to a generous donor, SD Humane Society adoption fees for all dogs and puppies are just $20.00 from August 16 to August 18.
Additionally, adoption fees are 50% off for all pets through September 10 during the Clear the Shelters campaign.
You can check out all animals available for adoption at the SD Humane Society by clicking here.
Community Forum
LV Person on the Street Comments
We sometimes roam around Linda Vista to see what local residents have to say about current issues in the community. We like to solicit comments and publish them, and thereby let our readers know what kind of thoughts are swirling around the community. This allows everyone to see if they share similar thoughts/opinions, and/or if new and better ideas are out there.
This often means walking around parks or parking lots searching for people willing to share their thoughts. However, that kind of walking around and standing can be tough to do in the August heat. So this time we took it easy on ourselves and decided to take advantage of a convenient indoor gathering of dedicated local Linda Vista citizens. The Linda Vista Community Recreation Group met earlier this week for their monthly meeting over at the Linda Vista Recreation Center. These volunteer citizens meet once a month to discuss what is going on at the different Linda Vista parks, and especially the Recreation Center, and to provide input to the park staff. We figured these knowledgeable, community-minded residents would be the right ones to answer questions about Linda Vista, since they have their fingers on the pulse of the neighborhood…and most importantly, they all happened to be sitting down inside a comfortable indoor area, which made our job much easier (and cooler).
In search of community input, we asked them to respond to four Linda Vista-related questions. Here is some of what they had to say:
#1: What changes would you like to see made in Linda Vista in the next couple years?
—More one-way streets.
—Promotion of EV/golf carts (with safety training).
—Shaded bus stops.
—Taller trees and more shade.
—Fix residential parking issues (just because we have bus stops doesn’t mean that people don’t need to have a place to park their cars at home (applies to ADUs and new apartments).
—Fast food establishments form a committee and conduct healthy events (i.e. mini Olympics).
—Less graffiti.
—Community breakfast/dinner (for example, at San Diego Bakery).
—Improvements at LV Recreation Center.
—Multi-functional performing arts center built at the Linda Vista Community Park.
—More community space.
—More teen activties
#2: What is your favorite locale here in Linda Vista?
—Skateworld.
—The Linda Vista Recreation Center.
—Bayside Community Center.
—The new Linda Vista Community Garden.
—The BMX track and trails near Mesa College.
#3: Where is your favorite place to eat in Linda Vista?
—JV’s Mexican Restaurant.
—JT Thai.
—The Pho shop across from the laundromat.
—The corner Sushi shop (Sushi Yorimichi).
—Los Panchos.
—Giovanni’s.
—Tio Leo’s.
—Zab Linda.
—Filiberto’s.
#4: What are five words you would use to describe Linda Vista to somebody who has never visited?
—San Diego’s best kept secret.
—Central location, underserved, diverse, beautiful, inclusive.
—Family, love, diversity, home, happiness.
—Diverse, unique, community, changing, family.
—Diverse, walkable, resilient, multi-lingual/cultural, cool sea breeze.
***
We wish to thank the fine citizens who make up the Linda Vista Community Recreation Group for their responses.
Community Event
Final Weekend for Parks After Dark
The Fountains of Linda Vista (and thereabouts)
Beautiful fountains are enjoyed no matter the season or weather, but they are especially appreciated during the summer months, when they serve as refreshing oases capable of cooling people off both physically and mentally. During these hot days of August, one can stand next to a fountain and feel the wind blow droplets of water on our warmed up bodies, and when appropriate we can even dip our feet into a fountain and use the water to make the weather seem less oppressive. Fountains also have a way of relaxing us mentally as their relaxing, soothing aesthetics put us at ease and in some cases into a meditative state.
According to Wikipedia, fountains have been around quite a long time. First used by ancient civilizations to capture and hold precious drinking water, “a carved stone basin, dating to around 700 BC, was discovered in the ruins of the ancient Sumerian city of Lagash in modern Iraq.” Nowadays they are mainly used for decorative or celebratory purposes.
Since our local weather has been hot these past few weeks, we recently found our attention drawn to several fountains in the Linda Vista area. Each one has its own unique style and setting. Here is what we found.
First, over on the east side of the Fashion Valley Mall we found a nice fountain located next to an entrance of Bloomingdale’s. It is also situated next to the Rolex store and a few feet away from the fancy Italian shoe store Ferrgamo. Apparently, this is a classy fountain meant to exude luxury and style and the capitalistic way. But don’t worry, it doesn't cost anything to sit at one of the nearby benches/tables and take in the pleasing sound of the water. Being so close to Ferragamo, you may feel the urge to jump in the water like Anita Ekberg and Marcello Mastroianni in the movie La Dolce Vita, but if you just bought a pair of expensive Ferragamo shoes, I advise you to take them off before entering the water.
Next, up the hill at the Linda Vista Plaza Shopping Center we have a fountain in the parking lot, right in front of the Thuan Phat market. The concrete can get pretty hot in this parking lot, so the fountain offers a visual sense of coolness on a hot summer day. And it offers an appropriate Asian aesthetic before entering the store.
Over on the west side of Linda Vista you can find at least two beautiful fountains while walking through the grounds of the University of San Diego. They are both located at the center of the campus. They are one of the many reasons the campus is often voted in the Top Ten List of Beautiful U.S. Colleges/Universities. They create the perfect accent to the campus’s wonderful 16th century Spanish Renaissance architecture and the beautiful views offered of Mission Bay and the ocean.
Finally, though not technically a fountain, the splash pad over at Civita Park in Mission Valley follows in the modern day spirit of serving to refresh and entertain people…in this case, little kids. The splash pad consists of 48 jets. Perhaps during August they should have time reserved for adults (and their inner kid). We could use one of these splash pads over in the parking lot of the Linda Vista Plaza Shopping Center.
Upcoming Community Event
Seed Class at Bayside Community Center
Bayside's Environmental Learning Center Program invites you to sign up for and attend monthly seed starting classes.
Each month Bayside features a seasonally appropriate crop, growing guides, and supplies.
Classes are held at Bayside's Community Room, the third Friday of the month.
Bayside is located at 2202 Comstock Street, San Diego, CA 92111.
The next seed class is this Friday, August 16, 2024. Time: 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
This Friday’s class will feature Microgreens. Plant and take home Microgreens to grow in your kitchen.
The class and materials are free of charge.
PLEASE RSVP to khanson@baysidecc.org if you plan to attend, so Bayside can provide enough supplies for each participant.
Children are welcome !
With the help of the Master Gardeners of San Diego Grant program, Bayside’s Environmental Learning Center created an extensive SEED LIBRARY featuring seasonally appropriate seeds and growing guides to support gardens. Participants can take up to 3 seed packages each month during seed starting classes. They also accept seed donations.
Upcoming Community Event
STEAM Program for Kids at LV Library
Sign up your children to attend a STEAM class being offered on August 31 at the Linda Vista Library. In this class, kids will journey back to ancient Pompeii and explore the catastrophic volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius, and learn strategies for preparing for modern day volcanic events. Please use the QR code on the below photo/flyer to sign up or to get more information.
Subscribe to the Linda Vista Update
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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. We welcome ideas for stories. Let us know about any interesting people, places, or upcoming events.