The Great Greek for Great Food
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The Great Greek for Great Food
Plus: Upcoming Theatre Production At LV Rec Center, Cat Looking for Home, Taking Care of Our Medians, and Talking About LV Traffic
A couple of weeks ago we did a review of a Ramen restaurant in the shopping center between the Business Costco and Target. While we were there we noticed a Mediterranean restaurant called The Great Greek and commented we would like to try it. This past Monday we did just that.
The Great Greek has many locations around the country and mostly in California. The restaurant was started by two friends in Las Vegas who in August 2015 began exploring the thought of opening a Greek restaurant. In January 2016 they took over the first Great Greek Mediterranean Grill. By mid 2023 there were 25 franchise locations in 12 states. We are lucky enough to have one located right here up Convoy a little out of Linda Vista.
The restaurant has a nice friendly atmosphere. There is indoor and outdoor seating. In looking at the menu, you can tell the focus is on fresh ingredients. Their website says they use the same family recipes they fell in love with and have not changed a thing. There are appetizers, sandwiches, salads, entrees and sides. There are a good number of items that do not include meat, so we had no trouble finding something we could eat. Having been in Greece a couple of years back, we knew that nothing beats a good Greek salad, so Steve ordered that. It consisted of romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, feta cheese, kalamata olives and lots of warm pita bread and tzatziki. It was so fresh looking and Steve said it was delicious. I ordered two appetizers. One was spanakopita, spinach and feta a puff pastry. It was small but wonderful and flaky. The other was Melitzanosalata. For those who have read these reviews before know, I love eggplant and this dish included roasted eggplant, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and tons of warm pita bread. The calorie count was 125 to 740 depending on how much pita you eat. I had a good share. This dish was so creamy and tasty. I did not eat all of it but will have enough for lunch.
They have lots of things for carnivores, including souvlaki, gyros, with chicken, lamb, and steak, and also shrimp and salmon. For desserts there is not only baklava, but also baklava ice cream.
So if you can’t take a trip to Greece, take a short trip to The Great Greek at 7951 Othello avenue, Suite 104. See you there.
Get Your Tickets Now
Upcoming Musical Production at LV Recreation Center
During the month of October, the Linda Vista Recreation Center (7064 Levant Street) will be transformed into the magical French village of Villanueve, as the Linda Vista Theatre Arts Program presents its musical production of A Tale as Old as Time. The production is based on Disney’s Beauty and Beast.
Performances will be held beginning this Saturday (preview night), with opening night on October 14, and two performances on October 21.
The Linda Vista Theatre Arts Program is led by director K.J LeCesne (City Park staff member), and is composed of local youngsters who range in age from 17 to 8 years of age. These 25 actors and crew members receive year-round instruction in drama, dance and design. They practice on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons, and also take part in a week-long summer camp.
Based on past years’ productions, attendees for A Tale as Old as Time can expect to see and hear witty dialogue, wonderful singing, dazzling choreography, fun costumes, and an enchanting set design.
As explained by director K.J. LeCesne, “Our ultimate goal is to transport you into a realm of wonder, and our remarkable cast and crew have gone above and beyond to achieve this. A Tale as Old as Time pushes the boundaries of what a recreation center can achieve, delivering a theatrical experience that will redefine your expectations.”
Check out the below flyer for further details on show times and how to get tickets.
Cat Still Looking for a Home
As mentioned in Monday’s edition of the LV Update, we are hoping one of our readers is interested in providing a home for a friendly gray cat that has been hanging out in a condo complex in Mission Valley. He is approximately two years old, neutered, and possessed of a friendly demeanor. We know plenty of our readers are animal lovers, so we thought we’d give it a try and see if there might be any takers. Since then we have had a couple inquiries, but nothing solid yet. In order to entice our readers, we want you to know that this cat comes with his own poem. Check it out below. We think all cats are deserving of their own poems.
If you are interested in this cat, or have any questions, please email us and we will gladly arrange a meeting between you and your new friend.
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Stray Gray Cat
Disregard the humble nature of my present circumstances.
A superficial glance in my direction may
evoke the wrong impression.
Instead, focus hard on my regal bearing, the graceful walk,
and the exquisite blue-hued coat.
One thing should certainly appear obvious.
I happen to be a prince-in-waiting;
a noble creature ready for my throne,
or a soft lap.
Once admitted to your royal court
I will do my best to act the part—with you as loyal courtier.
We will make a good team,
as I quickly determine how you can best serve me.
Don’t waste any more time. At this very moment
there is a ray of sunshine gracing your posh palace floor,
and my sleek, elegant body longs to stretch in its warmth.
MAD About Our Medians
The Linda Vista Community Planning Group is asking LV Update readers for help in protecting beautifully landscaped City owned property that is overseen by our local Maintenance Assessment District sub-committee.
A year ago this newsletter featured an article about Linda Vista’s Maintenance Assessment District (MAD). This city government mechanism is funded by money collected from tax assessments. Many communities in San Diego have their own MADs. The Linda Vista MAD is coordinated by a committee of residents belonging to the Linda Vista Community Planning Group. This MAD sub-committee is responsible for overseeing maintenance services on Linda Vista property owned by the City (including public rights-of-way, City-owned open space, and City-owned parkland) or on property with access rights granted to the City (including landscape easements, open space easements, or public access easements in favor of the City). This City owned property includes medians, rights of way/parkway landscaping strips, slopes, green belts, mini-parks and undeveloped areas).
Unfortunately, medians located in Linda Vista have recently been vandalized. Please read the below note from the chairof the LV MAD sub-committee to understand the problem and how you can help:
In 2022-23 the LV Management Assessment District (MAD) a sub-committee under the LV Planning Group) upgraded the LV medians on Linda Vista Road and Genesee with a new design and plants.
Recently, during September 2023 in the planted medians we found some plants completely missing between Ulric Street and Genesee on Linda Vista Road. We can only surmise that the myriad of patrons frequenting this area removed the plants. Specifically, four 15 gallon Agave desmettiana 'Variegata, two 5 gallon Euphorbia tirucalli 'Sticks of Fire and two 5 gallon Agave Attenuata. In addition, the following plants while not completely dead have been trampled and may not survive: One 5 gallon Agave Attenuata and two 5 gallon Hesperaloe parviflora.
The LV MAD sub-committee is requesting the Linda Vista community to be vigilant and respectful of their medians and to report any suspicious activity to our local police department.
Working to improve our Linda Vista community.
Victor Alberto Ochoa
(LV MAD Chairperson)
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The Linda Vista Update wishes to thank the MAD subcommittee members for making our reader community aware of this problem. Let’s hope people show more respect for these aesthetically pleasing medians.
Commentary
Traffic, Traffic, and More Traffic
The City reminded us last week that the huge Riverwalk development figures prominently in our near future as new traffic lights were installed at the intersection of Goshen Street and Friars Road. These new traffic lights were installed in anticipation of all the cars that new Mission Valley residents will be driving when they someday move into their new homes along the San Diego River.
Some Linda Vista residents are fretting about this development. After all, who wants more traffic along Friars Road? Who wants to put up with taking more time to reach a destination? No one wants to be slowed down by another red light. And no one is in favor of more traffic congestion. When we drive, we want to get to our destination quickly because driving in San Diego can oftentimes be highly stressful.
However, I have decided the best way to approach this foreseeable situation is to become a visionary. A visionary finds potential and opportunity in a time of change. And in my vision of the future, we are all going to be commuting to our destinations in driverless cars. Wide-spread use of driverless cars is just a matter of time. In my vision, driverless cars will provide us with stressless commuting experiences. In the future, I plan to read books, and watch sporting events and nightly Jeopardy episodes on my cell phone, while my artificially intelligent vehicle (which I will name HAL 9000) gets me to where I am going without any hassles. My driverless car can worry about having to put up with all the annoying stop-and-go driving that will occur on Friars Road in the future. I, on the other hand, will sit in the back seat and relax. Yes, I know…. there have been some minor problems with driverless cars up in the Bay Area (like horrible car crashes and fatalities and stalled driverless vehicles that delay emergency responders), but as a visionary, I assume the government and corporate America will eventually figure things out. They always do, right? I can’t wait to say the words “Hal, I won’t argue anymore with you. Open the doors.”
I really enjoy being a visionary. It makes me feel better. I now spend much less time worrying. You should try being a visionary as well.
***
Speaking about traffic lights, I was happy to see the City has installed a fancy “No right turn on red” traffic light at the corner of Fulton Street and Linda Vista Road. This traffic light restricts right turns on red during morning and afternoon rush hour periods. I contend the installation of this fancy traffic light serves as official recognition that little ol’ Linda Vista actually has a busy rush hour and that many San Diego drivers are dependent on our community to get to job sites or their homes. This makes me proud because it means Linda Vista is definitely moving up in the world! We are like the Silk Road of olden days that allowed traders to traverse between Europe and Asia. And having a rush hour is one of the first milestones that a community attains before advancing to the more sophisticated levels of “density” and “gentrification.”
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Finally, we want to report the San Diego Police Department has received a $1.25 million grant to provide additional programs and resources pertaining to traffic safety, including:
DUI checkpoints and patrols focused on stopping suspected impaired drivers.
High visibility distracted driving enforcement operations targeting drivers in violation of California’s hands-free cell phone law.
Enforcement operations focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk.
Enforcement operations focused on top violations that cause crashes: speeding, failure to yield, stop sign and/or red-light running, and improper turning or lane changes.
Community presentations on traffic safety issues such as distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding and bicycle and pedestrian safety.
Collaborative enforcement efforts with neighboring agencies.
The grant program will run through September 2024.to help increase safety on roads.
In conjunction with this grant—Officer David Surwilo, our community relations officer—recommends submitting traffic-related issues input to the Police Department’s Traffic Division by using the below website. According to Officer Surwilo, this site provides local residents with the opportunity to provide input about where traffic enforcement and education should go within the city of San Diego. You can also use this site for any traffic accidents, reports, tickets and other concerns. At this website you will find the information needed to obtain a copy of your Accident Report, report a hit and run, address parking or traffic citations and to report traffic related problems in your neighborhood using the online Citizen Traffic Concern form.
Just click here: https://www.sandiego.gov/police/services/traffic-accidents-reports-tickets-concerns .
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Happy driving, everyone!
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The Great Greek for Great Food
Your comment about not worrying about more traffic on Friars Rd. because everyone will have driverless cars. Sounds like it will still be a problem for a lot of us, because by the time everyone has driverless cars, I will be dead!
Hi, Steve & Betty, my 2nd editing remark was incorrect, sorry. I read your interesting story about Riverwalk construction and a new traffic light on Friars Rd, including clever and hilarious Visionary's viewpoint. Then I skipped down to the photo and thought the caption was meant to refer to the new light in the Visionary story. Nope, now that I look again, it's a different stand-along photo. My bad. (Worst drawback about being a life-long editor: I even read paperbacks with a red pencil in my hand. As always, my family and I always enjoy your stories.