New Gastro Pub at Fashion Valley Mall
Plus: Scenic Exercise Trail, FP Girls Volleyball Advances, Sign Up for SDPD Experience, Community Garden Lottery, Remembering Howard Wayne, Kearny Students Spread Awareness, and Get LV Update T-shirts
With the exception of JC Penney, I find the upscale shops at Fashion Valley Mall a little too rich for my blood. In fact, a lot too rich, but I recently heard about a new restaurant that could be accessed the back way, across the street from the back garage, thus eliminating the need to walk by all the places I can’t afford to shop. We made arrangements for lunch at this venue. As luck would have it, the Carnivore Sidekick was also available (Did someone say ‘Free lunch’?)
The Craft House is what I would describe as an upscale gastro pub. Their website states they use the freshest ingredients and proudly serve local artisan products, while stressing the importance of organic ingredients. There are locations in North Park and Del Mar. The Fashion Valley location is behind the mall across from the parking garage on the 1st floor. It has a lovely outside seating area with a fire pit and a indoor seating area that has tables and bar height booths. The brew pub has been at this location for about 2 months.
We went for lunch on a Tuesday, so it was not very busy, but the staff told us that business is good, and that the evening crowd enjoys the weekend live music outside with the fire pit going. It has a hipster vibe, so you can see it was our kind of place.
The menu is very interesting and it appears burgers are king although there were many vegetarian options to choose from. The Starters include, among other thing Tuna Tostadas and short rib mini tacos; Several salads are available including beet and citrus and Caesar. There are many hand crafted burgers and you can get meatless burgers, which incidentally cost more than those with meat. House specialties such as Fisherman’s Stew and Charred Octopus are also available. We all decided to order from the Sando menu (which I think means sandwiches), and Steve being the hippest ordered Avocado Toast. It included heirloom tomatoes, arugula, pickled onions, pepitas, pomegranate, jalapeno piloncillo vinaigrette and avocado on artisan sourdough bread. He also ordered a small order of fries. It had a great presentation and Steve loved it. Everything looked really fresh and the seasonings were just slightly spicy – excellent.
The Carnivore ordered the Pork Belly Banh-Mi which included Chipotle Soy Glazed pork belly, pickled daikon and carrots, jalapeno, fresh cilantro and jalapeno aioli on a toasted baguette. He declared it “awesome” and actually thought it might have been too much - but he ate it anyway. It came with a very fresh looking side salad. He said it was one of the best pork belly sandwiches he ever had and believe me, he has had quite a few.
I ordered the Hipster Grilled Cheese. It included grilled cheese with herb roasted shitake mushrooms, black truffle oil, oven roasted tomatoes, house garlic aioli, arugula and served on rustic sourdough. I had a side of butter nut squash soup. It was huge and I could only eat half the sandwich so Steve ended up having the other half for dinner. It was one of the best sandwiches I have ever had. It had all my favorites and although a bit pricy, I enjoyed it immensely (about $15 I think). The soup was creamy and flavorful.
The Craft House had a good selection of local brews as well as cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks. As you might expect, anytime the words “artisanal”, “handcrafted”, or “organic” are associated with a menu, the prices will rise accordingly. This is not an inexpensive place, but the staff is super friendly, the food excellent, and you might want to go there for special occasions. The burgers are in the $20 range as are the starters.
A Scenic Exercise Trail Along SD River
With the Holiday season coming up, some of us are already looking ahead for ways to work off the anticipated increase in calorie consumption we inevitably experience during this time. If your plan involves cycling, jogging or walking, and you are looking for an interesting route to accomplish these types of exercise, then I recommend paying a visit to the Estuary Section of the San Diego River Trail. Following this route as part of your physical activity routine, which begins just a few feet away from the southwest borderline of Linda Vista, you will find a flat exercise course that provides a unique and picturesque view of our city. It’s a fun and mind- soothing option for burning off calories.
This is a course that involves heading west in the direction of Ocean Beach. It runs parallel to (and across the river from) the Old Sea World Drive path this newsletter profiled three years ago. It sits on the south side of the San Diego River, and offers slightly different views and perspectives.
I usually begin the exercise route at the Mission Valley YMCA parking lot, though you can start anywhere there is parking around the Friars Road/Napa Street/Morena Boulevard area. From the parking lot, I head west on Friars Road, take a right on Napa, and then a left on Linda Vista Road and continue for half a block until it merges with Morena Boulevard. As I finish walking along the overpass that crosses above Friars Road—just before walking under Interstate 8—I look for the sign that reads “Bike Path…Ocean Beach and Hotel Circle. I hang a right and begin following the asphalt path heading west. This is where the Estuary Section of the San Diego River Trail begins.
The initial part of this course—which involves going under several freeway/street overpasses— is not very scenic, to say the least. The sides of this section of the trail are often littered with trash and there are usually small groups of homeless people hanging out. However, once you get beyond the I-5 overpass, you will find yourself gazing at one of the best sights in San Diego. On your right you will see the estuary section of the river, often populated with various forms of wildlife. It makes for quite a scene—a serene and natural one. The rollercoasters of Sea World can be viewed off in the distance. In dramatic contrast, on your left you will find the noisy, hectic scene of an endless fleet of vehicles whizzing by you on Interstate 8. It is amazing how close to all that speedy traffic the trail sits—you’ll find cars and trucks speeding west, as if in a big hurry to reach the farthest edges of the California Dream. You will also see the aging Pechanga Arena across the freeway in the Midway district. Walking along this part of the route can make you feel as if you are momentarily sandwiched in between the harshness of our civilized society and a much more tranquil segment of our local geographic area.
I usually walk the trail west until it intersects with the West Mission Bay Drive Bridge overpass. Beginning at the Mission Valley YMCA parking lot, this route is a little over 2 miles long, which means a return trip will give you more than 4 miles worth of exercise—more than enough length to give yourself a 10,000 step day. If you want to get more steps in, you can continue west all the way to the Dog Beach section of Ocean Beach.
If you go in the late afternoon, make sure you bring your shades as the sun’s glare can be overwhelming.
On your return trip, it’s always great to look in the distance and view parts of Linda Vista and the majestic buildings that make up the University of San Diego campus, especially when the setting sun’s rays are reflecting off the buildings.
I strongly recommend exercising on this course if you are tired of climbing up Linda Vista’s many slopes and looking instead for a comfortable flat course. No matter how strenuous your exercise is, the peaceful views of the San Diego River on this course will put you in a good mood. Living so close and having access to this trail is truly one of the benefits of residing in Linda Vista
High School Sports
Francis Parker Girls V-Ball Keeps Winning
The Francis Parker Girls Volleyball team continued their victorious ways this past Tuesday night with a 3-0 win over Capistrano Valley Christian High in the first round of the CIF Division II State Girls Volleyball Championships. The Lancers swept past their opponents with three-set win scores of 25-22, 25-15, and 25-19.
In order to get to the CIF State Volleyball Championships, the Lancers won the San CIF San Diego Division I Section Championship on Saturday night with a 3-0 set win over El Capitan High School. The Lancers won the three sets with scores of 25-19, 25-23, and 25-13. On the way to the Championship game, the team (seeded number 2 in the bracket) defeated Sage Creek High and Poway High.
The team currently maintains a 23-8 overall record for the season.
As result of Tuesday night’s win, the Lancers will now advance to the next round of the State Championship bracket, hosting familiar rival El Capitan High School tonight (November 9) at 6:00 pm.
Sign Up for SDPD Experience
The San Diego Police Foundation is hosting Inside SDPD on Saturday, November 18. Inside SDPD is a dynamic, behind-the-scenes experience that allows community members to walk in the shoes of a police officer for a few hours. Attendees will see the K9 Unit in action and experience first-hand what it's like to be a cop. Tickets are a suggested donation of $20 for seniors and students, and $25 for children 12+ years old and adults. All proceeds go toward supporting SDPD.
Registration is at this link: https://give.classy.org/insideSDPD2023
LV Community Garden to Begin Lottery Process
Work will soon begin on the long-awaited Linda Vista Community Garden, to be located at the Linda Vista Community Park (7064 Levant Street). In anticipation of breaking ground on this project, the Linda Vista Grows Steering Committee (operating under the auspices of the Bayside Community Center) wants to let local residents know how the lottery process for selecting garden plots will work.
Requirements to enter the lottery are as follows;
Must be a Linda Vista Resident - please see the boundary map of Linda Vista here to verify you reside within the area.
Must have attended one of our Garden Gatherings. If you have been unable to attend past garden gatherings, another one will be taking place Saturday November, 11th at 10:00 am. If you are unable to attend in November but still would like to enter the lottery, please respond by contacting Amy Zink at azink@baysidecc.org .
Read and are willing to agree to the terms laid out in the document “LVCG Guidelines and Agreement” which can be read here.
Be able to pay a fee for garden bed rental of $144 per year ($12 per month).
Other Details;
Lottery #1 - Form must be filled out by December 1, 2023, in order to enter the Lottery. Drawing date for this lottery TBD.
One Garden Bed Entry per Household
Please read and understand the LVCG Guidelines and Agreements form which can be read here.
Priority Drawing - Please review the chart provided here to determine if your income allows you to be eligible for the Priority Drawing.
To enter the lottery please fill out this simple form:https://forms.gle/5zeEoaG9GYmPNnoLA. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Amy Zink,( Program Manager for Bayside’s Environmental Learning Center, at azink@baysidecc.org
Community Leader Howard Wayne Mourned
We at the Linda Vista Update mourn the passing of Howard Wayne, one of the most active civic leaders in the Linda Vista community. His experience, education and passion allowed him to play a strong leadership role at so many levels. During his lengthy career, he served in the State Assembly, the California Attorney General’s office (as a Deputy Attorney General), the San Diego County Grand Jury, and the San Diego County Democratic Central Committee. He also served as an advisor to several local political campaigns. Based on his legal background, he advised the South African government on establishing a new constitution. He most recently served as the chair of the Linda Vista Community Planning Group.
He was a graduate of San Diego State University and the University of San Diego School of Law.
Howard Wayne set the example for civic engagement. He regularly attended numerous local meetings and events to show support for his fellow residents and to stay attuned to what was going on in the community. The meetings he chaired for the Linda Vista Community Planning Group during the last few years served as effective models for how public meetings should be held—they were always well organized, informative, and a place where local residents could easily voice their concerns.
The Linda Vista community will miss his guidance, insight, enthusiasm, and friendly demeanor.
Kearny High Students Display Project Work
At last week’s Love, Linda Vista Farmers Market, students from Kearny High’s School of Biomedical Science and Technology recently displayed the work they completed as part of their Biomedical Innovations Capstone Course. The project involved coming up with solutions to address certain public health issues, while conducting research and surveys to design awareness campaigns that allow intended audiences to make informed decisions.
The public health issues that students addressed included spreading awareness of Tuberculosis, HPV, Syphilis, Chlamydia, and mental health issues. Students developed different prevention/awareness tools for their intended audiences, such as informational brochures, social media campaigns, and promotional merchandise.
At the Farmers Market, students answered questions from local residents and in the process continued to spread awareness of these public health issues.
This project was completed as part of the school’s participation in the San Diego County’s Public Health Peer Educator Project.
LV Update T-shirts are All the Rage
We caught three people at last week’s Love, Linda Vista Farmers Market wearing a sharp looking Linda Vista Update T-shirt. This T-shirt wearing phenomenon could have been just a coincidence, or it could be part of a larger ever-growing popular trend that is hitting our community. In any case, you don’t want to run the risk of being left out should this trend begin to multiply at an exponential rate. We suggest you hurry up and order your own Linda Vista Update T-shirt while supplies last. The T-shirts read “Linda Vista Update—a digital newsletter.” They are available (in small, medium, large and x-large sizes) for a discounted price of $15.00. If you are interested in being cool, trendy and an attractive walking advertisement for this newsletter, please email and let us know you would like to order a shirt (and what size). We can have you eventually pick up your shirt at the Love, Linda Vista Farmers Market booth on Thursday afternoons, or we can make special arrangements.
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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.