The Magical MV Worm Hole Opens Again
Plus: LV Update, Rose Donuts for Deli Sandwiches, Seeing the Long Blue Tarp as Art Commentary, and LV Road Fixed.
The Linda Vista Update
Like an exciting plot development in a Star Trek episode, I am happy to report that the magical Mission Valley worm hole—that science fiction-like portal allowing super fast travel to another dimension called Hillcrest—is once again open!
Back in the March 31, 2022 issue of this newsletter, we reported about the temporary closing of a route that normally ran from Mission Valley up to Hillcrest. This route, which starts at the intersection of Hotel Circle South and Bachman Place, had long allowed commuters to forego the oft congested SR-163 freeway as a way of getting to the Hillcrest/Mission Hills area. The Bachman Place route allowed people to end up near the Scripps Mercy Medical Center and eventually led to Washington Street in the heart of Hillcrest. We explained that this route was being closed for three years in order to complete major improvements to the road and better access to the UCSD (Hillcrest) Medical Center entrances. At the time, we compared this road to the science fiction concept of a temporal worm hole, which theoretically serves as a portal allowing beings to traverse from one galaxy or dimension to another without worrying about the normal limitations of physics. It so happens we often found ourselves cursing the normal law of physics when traveling to Hillcrest on SR-163 during rush hour.
Well, it’s now been three years and the road has opened up once again —much like how a temporal worm hole is supposed to function. And the street is indeed much improved.
If you are a commuter that needs to get to the Hillcrest area each morning, you will find the street is once again a quick, stress free way of traveling. Access to the USCD Medical Center parking facilities is much improved. New and attractive retaining walls butt up against the west side of the road to keep the slopes on UCSD property intact.
And if you are jogger, walker or cyclist looking for a fun but rigorous exercise route, the new improved Bachman Place will be much appreciated. The route has bike lanes on both sides of the road, as well as a wide sidewalk on the west side of the road that makes it easy for joggers and walkers to make their way up and down the street. Caution: the uphill route is not that steep but it’s a long one that gets a bit steep near the top, which lies at the main entrance of the UCSD complex.
On the day I tried the route for my exercise routine, I parked at the Fashion Valley Mall parking lot (near the trolley stop), and then started walking down Fashion Valley Road to Hotel Circle North. From there I turned left and eventually made my way under the I-8 freeway to Hotel Circle South. I then picked up the route at Bachman Place, located between the Days Inn and the Courtyard Hotel. Once at the top of the route, I took Bachman further into Hillcrest. After a few turns, I ended up on Washington Street and Fifth Avenue. Upon my return back down Bachman and to the Fashion Valley Mall parking lot I had logged about 3 3/4 miles. The uphill part of the route did a good job of raising my heart rate. Fortunately, the downhill return was very easy with a pleasant breeze to keep me cool.
If you find yourself traveling this route, make sure you don’t tell anyone else. Let’s keep it a secret, or before you know it, this route will become as congested as SR-163 during rush hour.
LV News Briefs:
—Celebrate 7/11 Day: Tomorrow, 7/11, is known as Free Slurpee Day at all 7/11 convenience stores. You can get a free Slurpee that day by stopping by a 7/11 store and asking for one. If you are a Loyalty Club member, you can also get a coupon for another free Slurpee on your next visit during July.
—Kids’ Activity at LV Library: —Noteworthy Puppets Puppet Musical: The Three Little Pigs will be held this Saturday, July 12 at 2:00 pm.
—Play Reading: One of our LV Update readers —Janet Tiger—will have a reading of her one act play “School of Fine Art” at a Scripteasers event held this Saturday July 12 at 1:30. The reading will be held at the Lakeside Public Library (12428 Woodside Avenue). The play is about a professor and his wife, in early 1900’s Vienna, who must deal with a young student desperately wanting to get into the School of Fine Art.
—Community Clean-up: The monthly Bayside Community Center Community Clean-Up will be held this Sunday July 13 (10:00 am to 11:00 am). Volunteers meet at the LV Library parking lot. For more information or to RSVP, email Tyana at tortiz@baysidecc.org.
—Parks After Dark program: The popular Parks After Dark Program resumes this Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Linda Vista Recreation Center. Fun activities and food are available for kids/families.
Rose Donuts is Not Just About Donuts
Well LV Update readers, we thought we had a very interesting food review locked on for this week. We had read about a place in Clairemont where you make your own Ramen, called Ramen Station. They have a bazillion different types of ramen, you pick one out, cook it yourself and add toppings. We were so looking forward to trying this place. The only problem was that when we got there, they told us they were not yet open. They had a soft opening and then they had to pause, I think to get licenses or permits. It is also supposed to be a brewery. We were stuck. Not only were we hungry, but had no idea where to go for review.
We started driving aimlessly around town, and found ourselves at the bottom of Linda Vista Road and Napa at the Ford Trolley Plaza. In our quest for an interesting eating establishment to review, we were literally at the end of the road. We went in the parking lot to turn around and then realized that we had never been in Rose Donuts for anything other than donuts. We know it is a beloved, very busy donut shop, but we are loyal to Yum-Yum so only had gone to Rose once. Although we didn’t think we could write a review about donuts, we decided to park and see if there was anything there we could have for lunch.
Turns out they have sandwiches such as turkey, ham, tuna, BLT, and more. Without trying we had found another deli option in Linda Vista! The server told us any sandwich could be made vegetarian by leaving out the meat. So, Steve got the vegetarian sandwich, and I ordered my old standby tuna - with a twist – I got it on a croissant.
Rose Donuts has seating outside and inside and we decided to sit inside. There was a steady stream of customers the whole time we were there. Mostly getting donuts, but some ordering lunch items like us. Everyone was very friendly.
When our sandwiches were served, we were surprised how big they were. Steve got his on toasted whole wheat and my croissant was toasted very nicely. It was loaded with tuna, tomato, cheese, lettuce, onion, pickle and overflowing. It was excellent and I could only eat half. It seems that I have become somewhat of a tuna sandwich bore. In the past we have reviewed a spinach tortilla tuna wrap from Yum Yum, a tuna melt from both Sandwich Emporium and Mr. Peabody’s, and others which I can’t even remember, and now a tuna croissant. Hopefully I don’t get mercury poisoning, but I do love tuna. Steve enjoyed his lettuce, onion, cheese, tomato, avocado, pickle veggie sandwich, and ate the whole thing. He said it tasted very fresh and healthy.
I know a sandwich review is not very exciting, but I am glad we finally got to try out a couple of Rose Donut’s deli selections. It’s always great to have some additional lunch time options. We also bought two donut holes and prided ourselves that we left without buying a dozen donuts. Did I mention that Rose Donuts has a million donut options and they all look great? We will keep checking on the Ramen Station and let you know when it opens up.
Commentary
Changing Attitudes About the Long Blue Tarp
Over the past year or two, the western part of the Mission Valley landscape has been subjected to what many consider a serious eyesore. No, I’m not talking about the constant placement of traffic cones and bollards to help direct traffic around endless street construction work on Friars Road. And I’m not talking about the numerous street potholes. I am instead referring to the long blue tarp being used on Friars Road to shield our eyes from the Riverwalk development construction site, where work has paused indefinitely as a result of current economic conditions—mainly high interest rates that make construction company borrowing unprofitable.
I have recently attended public meetings where residents of nearby townhouse developments on the Linda Vista side of Friars Road complained about the eyesore, and I have read similar Nextdoor social media complaints from MV commuters bemoaning the fact that we must view the blue tarp as an ugly replacement for what was once a nice view of a scenic golf course. I understand these complaints. However, I suggest we take on a very different perspective on this matter, one which may be considered somewhat naïve, but which nonetheless offers hope and positivity…and boy, do we ever need more hope and positivity these days!
I boldly offer first, that one could view the long blue tarp not as an eyesore but as an avant garde piece of artwork. Think in terms of Christo – he is the hip artist noted for his large scale, site specific art installations. He became famous for wrapping world famous structures with polypropylene fabric, rope, and steel cables. You may have seen his wrapping of the Reichstag building in Berlin, or his wrapping the Arc de Triumph in Paris in fabric and rope. I liked his use of orange-colored fabric on “The Gates” installation project in Central Park which consisted of 1,067,295 feet of fabric—these squares of fabric swayed in the wind throughout the park, suspended from arch-like structures. And then of course, there was his “Running Fence” project that involved 2,152,782 feet of fabric along Route 101 in Sonoma and Marin counties.
Christo is described as being part of the Nouveau Realism art movement – that sounds so cool, so hip, doesn’t it? Accordingly, I recommend we in the LV, Fashion Valley and Mission Valley communities embrace the hipness of the construction area blue tarp along Friars Road as an unintended work of Nouveau Realism. Whenever friends or family visiting us from out of town say something like “What’s the story with that ugly blue tarp that’s been there like forever?”…. you can respond by saying “That happens to be a fine example of Nouveau Realism art.” Better yet, say the words with a French flair, as in Nouveau Réalisme. Rest assured, you will come off as quite classy and sophisticated. And the public image of Mission Valley will be much enhanced in the process. Furthermore, you will feel hip and artsy.
In addition to the art perspective, I recommend looking at the blue tarp not as mere blue tarp, but as a ribbon, like the kind you place around a gift wrapped box. This will make you feel entirely different about the so-called Friars Road eyesore. For example, think of how you feel when presented with a gift box wrapped with a ribbon, perhaps one sitting under the Christmas tree, or in front of a birthday cake. You feel giddy with anticipation, happy that a pleasant surprise awaits. That is perhaps how we should look at the blue tarp – as a fancy ribbon wrapped around a gift. In doing so, we will not be mad about constantly viewing the blue tarp. Rather, we will feel great anticipation of what is to come once the ribbon is removed (no matter how far into the future that day may come).
I have always enjoyed the famous 1944 song “Accentuate the Positive.” It’s so positive mood-inducing. I like the refrain that says “You have to ac-cen-tu-ate the positive, e-lim-i-nate the negative. Latch on to the affirmative. Don’t mess with Mr. In-between.” Hence, I believe we should do the same with the long blue tarp. There will come a time in the distant future when it disappears. In the meantime, let us revel in its unique artistic presence. Allow it to inspire great anticipation. We will all feel much better.
Before and After
Crumbling LV Road Finally Fixed
It finally happened! One of the worse roads in Linda Vista was recently slurry sealed and it currently looks outstanding. David Street in Linda Vista—a short strip of a street located between Carson Elementary School and Holy Family Catholic Church was recently, along with several other LV streets, the beneficiary of the City’s busy construction crews.
In the November 2, 2023 issue of the Linda Vista Update, we highlighted the poor condition of the street which we described as looking as if it “was coming apart at the seams—and there indeed appears to be many seams”
Back in that November 2 issue, we posed our “Top Ten Reasons” for the City long ignoring David Street’s poor condition. As a way of celebrating the improved condition of the street, we wanted to re-post those reasons and thank the City government for graciously putting aside any/all of these reasons and finally delivering some much wanted road maintenance.
Vengeful city political operatives discovered that all of the street’s residents voted for Mayor Todd Gloria’s opponent in the last election.
The street has been designated a “historic” district and renovations are not allowed.
The street is suffering from an infestation of the rare Estonian concrete gopher—this is a gopher with genetically modified super-hard teeth capable of tearing up roads. The original pack of these gophers escaped several years ago from a secret Soviet Union laboratory and have since spread their way out west.
A number of years ago, several residents of David Street discovered the joys of driving All-Terrain (ATV) vehicles. However, they got tired of driving all the way to the desert to take advantage of their ATV’s, and decided instead to stay local by converting their street to natural terrain conditions.
These really aren’t cracks caused by vehicles and the weather, but rather an elaborate set of hieroglyphics etched onto the road by the San Diego office of NASA. They are meant to communicate friendly messages to extra-terrestrial beings flying high above us in their spaceships. We have this sacrifice imposed upon David Street residents to thank for not being attacked and conquered by extraterrestrials.
The cracks are the result of fissures caused by the little known Linda Vista earthquake fault line that happens to run right under David Street.
This segment of David Street intersects with Coolidge Street. U.S. President during the Roaring 20’s, Calvin Coolidge was known for his frugality and love of the status quo. The current condition of David Street is in keeping with those presidential virtues.
Rumor has it back in 1985, a clerk in the City’s Maintenance Department accidentally left off the name of David Street from the master list of City streets. The street has been ignored ever since, and no one at City Hall can find the necessary municipal form to get David Street back on the master list.
This battered block of David Street leads to the school formerly known as Kit Carson Elementary. It’s only fitting that David Street preserves the wheel gouge marks made by the numerous wagon trains that followed scout Kit Carson along this Linda Vista leg of the Oregon Trail.
City bureaucrats once asked the residents of David Street, “What should be the City’s major concern? They responded by answering, “The need for affordable housing.” The City bureaucrats replied “That’s too hard, but would you settle for even less-affordable street maintenance?”
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Jim and walked Bachman many times in years past. I’m happy it’s finally open again but I’ll have to get my legs in shape for the hike again before attempting the ascent 😳.