Linda Vista Bump is Finally Repaired
Plus: Pachis Studio Provides Local Art Instruction, New Desserts at Farmers Market, LV News Briefs, and Commentary on Art and Culture and the LVTC
Who says the City of San Diego doesn’t care about our infrastructure?
We are happy to report on a recent improvement made to the infrastructure right here in Linda Vista. As we wrote in an article published over a year ago, a unique (and crumbling) feature of our community’s landscape—the dark and mysterious Linda Vista Bump—left us wondering how long it would take for the City to notice and act on fixing this hazardous eyesore, situated right in the middle of Linda Vista Road (in between John Baca Park and the Linda Vista Plaza Shopping Center). No one could say for sure how long the Linda Vista Bump had been in its current repair-worthy state. Years? Decades?
In case you don’t know anything about the Linda Vista Bump, the “structure” appeared so mysterious in its decaying and decrepit condition that we here at the Linda Vista Update went so far at the time as to speculate that it was perhaps not really a long-ignored segment of the pedestrian walkway, but actually something more exotic, scary or ancient. We came up with a list of 10 interesting possible scenarios, some of which individually involved a dormant volcano, Eleanor Roosevelt, and the Linda Vista Gold Rush of 1843. After reading the article, a few of our more imaginative readers joined in and offered several ideas of their own, contending that the Linda Vista Bump was actually:
An uncontrollable growth of hardened but non-lethal fungus
The destructive results of a high impact collision emanating from an off-season Fernando Tatis motorcycle accident.
The remnants of an ill-placed community garden
A Kearny High School freshman science class project that tried to recreate the surface of the moon
The site of a parade float-related toxic spill that occurred during a 1992 LV Multicultural Fair and Parade (this was supposedly the last time any local chemical company was allowed to have an entry in the parade).
But this past week, the City of San Diego finally came through and treated the supposed pedestrian walkway as an actual pedestrian walkway in need of repair. A couple construction crews took two days to patch up the crumbling asphalt structure, paint the perimeter a bright cautionary yellow, and insert two reflective caution signs, all in an effort to provide a safe protective haven for pedestrians who get stuck between stop and go streetlights while attempting to cross the wide expanse of Linda Vista Road. As you can tell from the “AFTER” photo, it’s still a bit rough around the edges, but you can say the same thing about Linda Vista.
The Linda Vista Update offers a tip of the hat to the City of San Diego for repairing the Linda Vista Bump and transforming it from something dark and mysterious back into a pedestrian walkway. I guess it’s true…good things happen to those who wait.
Pachis Studio Provides Local Art Instruction
If you have a child in school or if you are in the habit of following the latest U.S. educational trends, the acronym of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) will sound very familiar. In recent years, schools have made an effort to keep up with what has been seen as a demand for technological skills in the job market. In the process, some people believe other academic subjects like art have been sacrificed, thus denying students the opportunity to explore their creative side.
However, we are happy to report that one art teacher in Linda Vista has made it her business to ensure that children and adults are not denied the opportunity to express themselves, and that they are indeed given the opportunity to develop a love of art. Linda Vista resident Juliana Flores happens to operate her own business in the community called Pachis Studio that offers art classes and workshops for kids, adults and families. Her weekly classes are offered to children as young as 10 months old (and up to 3 years old), with other classes for older children and their families. She also offers monthly classes for adults. Check out her web site for exact information on the classes she offers to different age groups.
The classes are conducted in her back yard, which happens to be a large, beautiful area perfectly designed for instructional purposes. If you happen to find yourself in her backyard during one of these periods of instruction you will be fascinated by the creative energy that abounds amongst her young students (who are accompanied by their family members). You’ll want to jump in and join the students as they experiment with such materials as water colors and clay. Her friendly, welcoming demeanor will keep you motivated.
Flores, who graduated from UCSD, has been living in Linda Vista for six years, but her home art studio has been operating for a shorter time. Prior to the pandemic, she developed a following of students and their families while conducting her art instruction in a studio located at Liberty Station. During the pandemic she took the occasion to convert her business to an at-home one. After initially looking around for a commercial business establishment in the area, she concluded that her backyard offered the best option for an instructional setting.
As mentioned on Flores’ web site, the focus of Pachis art studio classes and workshops is “the creative development and expression of the whole child.” And she wants to “inspire families to live a more creative life.”
Her backyard gives her space to set up different stations for students to explore different fun activities promoting creativity. The children are free to move about and work at their own pace. Her emphasis in the toddlers’ class (these classes have a maximum of 10 students), is on helping them develop motor skills, allowing them to explore sensory experiences with different textures, and getting them to feel comfortable with their bodies. These classes end with 10-15-minute reading sessions that address the monthly curriculum theme.
Her monthly adult classes (for students 21 years and older) use art as an expressive art form, and also sometimes as a therapeutic approach. Flores also sees these classes as part of a process that builds community among the students.
Flores views her classes as a reaction to the fact that art has become “less of a priority” at many schools. She wants to ensure that children continue to be provided with expressive, creative outlets.
Since opening her at-home instruction she has developed an enthusiastic clientele from different areas of San Diego. However, she would like to see more Linda Vista residents attending her classes. And as an LV resident who happens to be an artist, she would also like to see “people working together to bring more color to the community.”
Whether you are a parent interested in addressing the creative needs of your children, or if you are an adult with a desire to bring out your expressive self, we encourage you to check out the Pachis Studio web site to find out about the availability of Ms. Flores’ classes and class prices. She provides the address of her residence upon signing up for the classes.
New Desserts at Farmers Market
Yes, of course everyone likes cheesecake. And it should come as no surprise that everyone enjoys cookies and cakes, too. And don’t forget cupcakes! You know there’s no one in the world who doesn’t like cupcakes, right?
So, it will come as no surprise to hear that the newest vendor at the Love, Linda Vista Farmers Market is selling delicious dessert items like cheesecake, cookies, cakes and cupcakes. Sweet Whisking by Mhanette just started at the Farmers Market last week, and the owner of this small business—Mhanette (pictured below)—clearly recognizes the Linda Vista community’s typical demand for tasty desserts. But what might come as a surprise is this vendor’s novel take on these traditional dessert items. Sweet Whisking, which offers Asian fusion desserts, specializes in adding a unique and colorful Filipino touch to address our craving for sweets.
Upon visiting the Sweet Whisking booth you will notice each of the desserts feature one of two exotic and colorful ingredients common to Filipino and South and Southeast Asian cuisine—Ube and Pandan. Both of these ingredients are currently finding a large following here in the United States as a result of this Filipino influence.
In case you don’t know, Ube (which means tuber in Tagalong) is, according to one web site, “a purple yam originally from the Philippines. Different than the purple sweet potato, it has an even sweeter, more mellow taste than its orange relative. Ube has a slightly nutty, vanilla taste and is popularly used in desserts in Filipino cuisine, often boiled and then mashed with condensed milk.” According to this web site, Ube started working its way into U.S. cuisine a few years ago when a New York city restaurant called “the Manila Social Club, introducing Ube doughnuts in 2016. From there, restaurants and bakeries across the country began coming up with creative ways to incorporate the technicolor root vegetable into their treats.”
At Sweet Whisking you will find Ube flan cupcakes, colorful Ube cheesecake, and Ube strawberry Crinkle Cookies. Speaking as a cheesecake aficiando, I found the Ube cheesecake very tasty. The texture was just right, and it wasn’t too sweet. I also enjoyed the Crinkle Cookies—the Ube accent gave the soft cookies a subtly sweet and interesting and fun taste. They went really well with my cup of tea. In some items the coconut flavor was very distinct and yummy.
The other ingredient—Pandan—is, according to another web site, a tropical plant made up of long green blades, like leaves. It is native to Southeast Asia and its aromatic property makes it a popular natural flavoring component for dishes and desserts.” As pointed out on this web site, “raw Pandan tastes quite grassy, but when it’s prepared with various dishes and desserts, it has a very unique taste that can be described as a creamy coconut, banana-leafy, slightly nutty flavor. However, these flavors are largely derived from the other ingredients that it is commonly combined with like coconuts, lemongrass and other garnishes.” Since being introduced to the United States, “avant-garde dessert shops in the US have been using Pandan in soft-serve ice cream, mochi ice cream, crepes, waffles, cookies, macarons and more.”
Sweet Whisking offers customers Pandan Macapuno Cupcakes with Swiss Merengue, Pandan Cheesecake, Pandan Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, and Pandan Chocolate Cakes. I really liked the Pandan Cheesecake, and I thought its bright green color made it a fun eating experience. The crinkle cookies had a nice texture and lightness to them. I plan to try out the Pandan Macapuno Cupcakes this week.
Plant-based foods are the latest craze here in the U.S., so it should come as no surprise that Pandan and Ube are both gaining in popularity. I personally feel I can justify eating these delicious desserts by reminding myself that they are plant-based (I figure they must be healthy). We encourage you to jump on both the plant-based and Asian fusion bandwagons by checking out Sweet Whisking by Mhanette the next time you visit the Love, Linda Vista Farmers Market. Take home some desserts. And tell Mhanette that you read about her booth in the Linda Vista Update!
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Check out the Sweet Whisking by Mhanette Facebook page here:https://www.facebook.com/SweetWhiskingByMhanette/
LV News Briefs
Farmers Market: The Love, Linda Vista Farmers Market will be open today from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The Market is held at the Linda Vista Plaza Shopping Center. Come and check out the fresh fruit and veggies. There are also plenty of other food and craft vendors. You can also visit informational booths belonging to various public and community service agencies. It’s a great place to meet your fellow Linda Vista residents.
Linda Vista Town Council (LVTC): During its monthly meeting held last night, the LVTC conducted an election for several positions on its board of directors. Congratulations to the following local residents who were elected: Ron Casper, Veronica Estrada, Becky Hunt, Daniela Ruiz, Jeff Schoellerman, Trina Tauer, Victor Tocco, Nowell Walker, and Christine Weinstein. The additional members of the board include Jonathan Widener and Dottie Greenan. We wish them good luck on their worthy pursuit of making the LVTC an active and vibrant part of the community, and we thank them for volunteering their time to help the community.
Kearny High Football: In a home game, the 3-1 Kearny High Komets face off against the Cavers of San Diego High School this Friday (September 23). Kick-off is at 7:00 pm.
USD Football: The University of San Diego Torero football team plays its next home game on October 1 at 1:00 pm. They will play Stetson University at Torero Stadium in their first Pioneer Football League game of the season.
Commentary
Arts and Culture and the LVTC
The Linda Vista Update is always eager to bring attention to any art or culture projects occurring in the community. We believe art and culture projects add so much to the vibrancy and appearance of Linda Vista. And those projects that reflect the diversity of our neighborhoods are especially valued.
During our two years of publishing, we have enjoyed writing articles about such things as community murals, like the one adjacent to the Buggy Bath Car Wash, and the one recently completed at the Access, Inc building on Daniel Avenue. We noted the two murals on the façade of the 7-11 convenience store located at the corner of Napa Street and Linda Vista Road, and the mural located off Linda Vista Road that faces the parking lot of San Diego Family Care.
We have also promoted the two recent Park Social projects commissioned by the City’s Arts and Culture Commission—to include the “Treeline” installation that is presently on display at John Baca Park, and the on-going “By Means of Smoke” project coordinated by Professor Brian Goeltzenleuchter. of SDSU.
We would like to see more art and culture projects in Linda Vista. We agree with local artist Juliana Flores’ suggestion of seeing more color in the community (see above article). We think many of our readers would agree.
How can we make it happen?
Such an undertaking requires energy and initiative on the part of local residents, along with some outside-the-box thinking. Also required is an organization that can provide some structure or forum to encourage, collect, and help implement creative ideas. Ideally, this organization would have the people, the money, and the access to public officials to help facilitate the collaboration required to advocate for and implement such projects.
Accordingly, we propose the Linda Vista Town Council serve as a local conduit for adding color to the community. With the addition of many new enthusiastic board members (see LV News Briefs above), we recommend the LVTC establish its own community arts and culture committee that can help initiate, coordinate, and financially support local individual artists and groups that want to work on creative projects benefitting Linda Vista in some way. The LVTC maintains a substantial amount of funds in its treasury and a relatively small amount of those funds could be used as seed money to help get artists started on projects. The LVTC is also capable of partnering with other organizations in the community to ensure the necessary degree of collaboration.
There is currently an aging, faded mural that faces the Linda Vista Library. Perhaps a new LVTC arts and culture committee (made up of board and general members and advisory artists from the community) could start planning a replacement mural as their first project. Sure, the community’s biggest problems are homelessness and affordable housing, but the beautification of the neighborhood and celebrating the diversity and talents of the residents is also a worthy goal.
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