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Rejuvenating your garden – some tips for good soil

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Rejuvenating your garden – some tips for good soil

02/01/2013 , 3:27 PM by ABC NENW

A few weeks back David Maher was giving some tips on how to rejuevnate the soil in your garden. He tells us that sometimes soil after a while becomes hydrophobic and loses its ability to absorb water.

The following is David’s suggestion to combat that problem, or just give your garden a bit of a lift.

1. Scuff soil – break up the surface with pitch fork or
shovel

2. Apply gypsum and leave for 2-3 weeks and keep garden moist.

3. Fertilise the soil – blood and bone and potash will do just fine – keep well watered

 4. Mulch the bed, but not too close to the base of plants

 Happy gardening 

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Tim’s Tips: Make a resolution to garden better

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We have begun another year. May the new year be better for all of us than 2012 was. So, if 2012 was a great year for you, then you will have another great year!

A new year usually means making resolutions on how you will make your life better. How about this year’s resolution being that you will become a better gardener? Let me give you a few ideas.

Resolve that you will make sure that you check the pH of your soil. If the pH is low, some lime will correct the problem and in return, your plants will grow their best. This applies to your vegetable gardens, lawn and flowerbeds and, in some cases, the planters that you have in your yard.

Check the quality of your soil. For oh-so-many years, I have seen customers who have problems growing their lawns.They have re-seeded, fertilized and limed, and yet the lawn still does not do as well as they expected.

When this happens, the problem is generally with the soil. It may be that there is only two inches of topsoil or the quality of the existing topsoil may be poor. The answer is to fix the soil.

For a good lawn you need at least six inches of good topsoil. This may entail digging up the lawn and adding new soil, or mixing it in to the existing soil. Is this a lot of work? Of course it is! If you don’t repair the soil, then you are going to be trying the patch method for years to come. Repairing the soil may also means improving the soil in your gardens and planters too. If the plants are growing poorly in your gardens or containers, it may be time to fix the soil.

For years, I have used the line that plants are a lot like people: They both like to eat!

Make a resolution to keep your plants fertilized this coming season. Each year, many customers come in and inquire as to why their window boxes, hanging baskets, perennials, vegetable garden, etc. are “not growing that well.” I will ask them all the same question: how often they fertilize their plants.

Many times the customer will reply, “Well, I water the plants,” or they may answer, “I fertilized the plants when I planted them.” No matter what type of fertilizer you use, the plant will use that fertilizer up and you will have to replace it if you want the plants to grow properly. If you follow the directions on the package, you will apply the fertilizer at the proper interval and your plants will then grow the way you want.

These are just a few things you can resolve to do in 2013 to make your gardens a better place for your plants to grow. Remember, spring is just around the corner. It must be because we have received the 2013 seed packets in our store.

Well, that’s all for this week. I’ll talk to you again next week.

—

Tim Lamprey is the owner of Harbor Garden Center on Route 1 in Salisbury. His website is www.Harborgardens.com. Do you have questions for Tim? Send them to ndn@newburyportnews.com, and he will answer them in upcoming columns.

New designs on your outdoor space

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BORED with your garden? Want to make some design changes? Now is the time to plan how you’re going to do it. Hannah Stephenson reports

It may still be a bit nippy to be doing many jobs in the garden, so now’s a perfect time to relax with some of your Christmas leftovers and make design plans for the year to come.

Ideas may come from magazines, a TV programme or may simply be inspired by a neighbour’s garden, but it’s best to buy yourself a notebook and jot down your plans.

Whatever you decide to do, whether it’s creating a new bed or making radical changes with hard landscaping, work out how much time and effort you’re prepared to spend on the project and the subsequent maintenance that will require.

It’s no use planting a garden full of high-maintenance plants if you’re not going to be there to deadhead, water, feed and keep everything under control.

Think about where you are going to site any new project. If you’re planning a raised bed for vegetables, make sure it’s going to be in a sunny spot with not much shade from overhanging trees, or you won’t be able to grow a huge variety in there. And remember that veg patches can be high maintenance too, as weeding, watering and feeding is likely to be a regular requirement.

If you’re a seasoned gardener, you’ll already know what type of soil you have. If not, a simple soil test kit can be bought from any garden centre which will indicate what type of soil you have and, from there, you can find out what types of plants will grow in it.

If your garden is dry, shady, or you have clay or acid soil, you need to work with it. Don’t try to fight it by changing the make-up of the soil because no matter how much organic matter you add, eventually the original type will come through. If you want to grow acid-loving plants such as azaleas but have alkaline soil, you’re best off growing them in pots of ericaceous compost.

Other practicalities to consider when creating a new area include drainage, storage space, available electricity and water. If the garden’s on a slope, you may need to level the site or install a drainage system. If you’re planning a paved area, make sure it’s level but with enough camber to drain effectively or you’ll end up with puddles you don’t want.

Think outside the box and you may come up with a more interesting design. Never, for instance, make narrow borders along boundary fences, because following the boundary lines will just emphasise the shape of your garden and make it look smaller.

If you’re creating a new bed or border, the minimum width should be 1m (40in), and even that will restrict what can be grown. It’s better to go for a border twice or even three times that width for dwarf shrubs and modest perennials.

Strong shapes are important and need to blend with your house, keeping everything in proportion and making both outdoor and indoor space merge seamlessly.

The general rule of thumb with proportion of planting and features to open space is one-third planting to two-thirds space. Without the space, the planting and features within the garden cannot be seen to best advantage.

Even if you have an awkward-shaped garden, you can create spaces within it which can be explored – it might be a circular lawn or a winding path, fringed by planting and focal points to give it depth and structure.

You may want to create a change of level in your garden to define specific areas, using terracing, or install points of interest along the way such as a water feature, seating or an eye-catching statue. Consider light and shade, which can also be used to change the shape of a space by creating the illusion of depth and distance.

Of course, gardeners are always interested in new plants, but often the plants which can be guaranteed to steal the show are old favourites, so look at what you already grow successfully in your borders, the plants which like your soil and their situation, and perhaps consider repeat planting further along.

Most of all, when planning, work out what you want the garden for – is it to relax, to experiment with gardening or to use as a family-friendly play area? If your children are regularly playing football in it, forget a bowling green finish or planting delicate plants around the lawn which are likely to get their flowers knocked off by a ball.

And remember that fashion plays its part when planting. Years ago, hybrid tea and floribunda roses were in vogue but now alliums and tree ferns have become the must-have plants – but will they still be in fashion in a few years’ time?

You may be better off with something you’re happy with on an everyday basis as the basic structure of planting, but you can vary the colour and type of seasonal planting from year to year.

Rake and Hoe Garden Club of Westfield youth group presents floral designs to …

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The youth group from the Rake and Hoe Garden Club of Westfield, ages 5- to 15-years-old, created more than 70 floral designs to present to the hard working staff at the Jardine Academy.

The girls recognize the tremendous efforts that all the staff members do for the students at the academy and cheerfully put together a holiday-themed design for each to take home with them. The garden club is dedicated to the Jardine group; adult members had recently decorated the Jardine Academy tree with festive moons and stars.

Jardine provides an educational program designed for students of multiple disabilities and also has additional programs in Union. The Cerebral Palsy League operates both locations for students from 3 to 21 years of age. The essential skills curriculum is uniquely developed for each student’s requirements and can include student’s self care, health and fitness, interpersonal skills, mobility and functional academics.

If interested in joining the Rake and Hoe Club, call membership chair Karen Jolley-Gates 908-233-5125.

Chicago Botanic Garden selects landscape architects

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GLENCOE, Ill. – After an international search, the Chicago Botanic Garden has selected landscape architects Peter Wirtz/Wirtz International and Mikyoung Kim/Mikyoung Kim Design to design two new display gardens at the 385-acre Glencoe campus. Wirtz will design the garden associated with the Greenhouse and Nursery Campus and Kim has been selected to design the Learning Campus garden. This is the first public botanic garden commission for both and is the first United States non-residential assignment for Belgium-based Wirtz.

These are the Chicago Botanic Garden’s first commissions for new display gardens since 2002, when the Garden hired Dan Kiley to design the Esplanade and the Crescent and 2008, when Doug Hoerr’s renovation transformed the Dwarf Conifer Garden. When realized, the new Wirtz and Kim landscapes will fulfill critical goals of the Garden’s ten-year strategic plan, “Keep Growing” (http://strategicplan.chicagobotanic.org).

Wirtz’s preliminary design of the Greenhouse and Nursery Campus garden calls for an intriguing curvilinear scheme of lush plantings, using trees and structures to create areas for shade-loving plants. A winding pattern of staggered low and high hedges, masses of shrubs, ornamental grass mounds, and an 8-foot tunnel-like arbor of crabapples will create volume. Hedges will create intimate, peaceful spaces and rooms or “pockets” to show off plants under evaluation for their adaptability to shade, framing views of the Garden’s Dixon Prairie while protecting plants from strong westerly winds. Arbors will also allow Garden scientists to evaluate vines. The Chicago Botanic Garden’s shade plant evaluation program began in 1982; Garden scientists and horticulturists study plants to determine which are best suited for midwestern gardens and those in similar climates. “The spirit of the Greenhouse and Nursery gardens will be determined by the systematic use of materials and forms. We are giving this relatively unknown part of the Garden a new soul and are creating a new destination on the Garden’s south campus for visitors to experience,” Wirtz said.
The new Wirtz-designed display garden is part of a larger capital project to develop a new state-of-the-art production greenhouse and nursery facility to replace 40-year-old buildings and to maintain the Garden’s high horticultural standards. Over 250,000 plants each year are cared for and cultivated by horticulturists and volunteers in the Garden’s greenhouses.

Kim’s preliminary plan calls for the Chicago Botanic Garden Learning Campus garden to be a gateway to nature for children and their families. “Environments for art and nature become a forum for the imagination and teach children about their place in the larger ecosystem, as well as help them understand the cultural world they will eventually shape—one that is evolving every hour, every day, every season,” Kim said. “The initial proposal includes a series of teaching environment and outdoor classrooms shaped by sustainable initiatives. The concept design includes a canopy walk, an apiary for an apple orchard and a series of multi-sensory gardens that encourage engagement and botanical learning.”

The new Learning Campus will be the hub of the Garden’s education offerings and will feature a new 28,000-square-foot Education Center for year-round classes. The Campus already includes the Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden, designed by Scott Byron Company and the Kleinman Family Cove, designed by Lisa Delplace of Oehme van Sweden Associates; both of these compelling outdoor classrooms opened in 2012. The Learning Campus garden design calls for children to have direct engagement with plant life and the natural cycles of nature.

Wirtz and Kim will begin working with the Chicago Botanic Garden in January 2013 and will finalize schematic designs for the display gardens over the next year. The Garden is currently fundraising for the two new projects.

New designs on your outdoor space

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Ideas may come from magazines, a TV programme or may simply be inspired by a neighbour’s garden, but it’s best to buy yourself a notebook and jot down your plans.

Whatever you decide to do, whether it’s creating a new bed or making radical changes with hard landscaping, work out how much time and effort you’re prepared to spend on the project and the subsequent maintenance that will require.

It’s no use planting a garden full of high-maintenance plants if you’re not going to be there to deadhead, water, feed and keep everything under control.

Think about where you are going to site any new project. If you’re planning a raised bed for vegetables, make sure it’s going to be in a sunny spot with not much shade from overhanging trees, or you won’t be able to grow a huge variety in there. And remember that veg patches can be high maintenance too, as weeding, watering and feeding is likely to be a regular requirement.

If you’re a seasoned gardener, you’ll already know what type of soil you have. If not, a simple soil test kit can be bought from any garden centre which will indicate what type of soil you have and, from there, you can find out what types of plants will grow in it.

If your garden is dry, shady, or you have clay or acid soil, you need to work with it. Don’t try to fight it by changing the make-up of the soil because no matter how much organic matter you add, eventually the original type will come through. If you want to grow acid-loving plants such as azaleas but have alkaline soil, you’re best off growing them in pots of ericaceous compost.

Other practicalities to consider when creating a new area include drainage, storage space, available electricity and water. If the garden’s on a slope, you may need to level the site or install a drainage system. If you’re planning a paved area, make sure it’s level but with enough camber to drain effectively or you’ll end up with puddles you don’t want.

Think outside the box and you may come up with a more interesting design. Never, for instance, make narrow borders along boundary fences, because following the boundary lines will just emphasise the shape of your garden and make it look smaller.

If you’re creating a new bed or border, the minimum width should be 1m (40in), and even that will restrict what can be grown. It’s better to go for a border twice or even three times that width for dwarf shrubs and modest perennials.

Strong shapes are important and need to blend with your house, keeping everything in proportion and making both outdoor and indoor space merge seamlessly.

The general rule of thumb with proportion of planting and features to open space is one-third planting to two-thirds space. Without the space, the planting and features within the garden cannot be seen to best advantage.

Even if you have an awkward-shaped garden, you can create spaces within it which can be explored – it might be a circular lawn or a winding path, fringed by planting and focal points to give it depth and structure.

You may want to create a change of level in your garden to define specific areas, using terracing, or install points of interest along the way such as a water feature, seating or an eye-catching statue. Consider light and shade, which can also be used to change the shape of a space by creating the illusion of depth and distance.

Of course, gardeners are always interested in new plants, but often the plants which can be guaranteed to steal the show are old favourites, so look at what you already grow successfully in your borders, the plants which like your soil and their situation, and perhaps consider repeat planting further along.

Most of all, when planning, work out what you want the garden for – is it to relax, to experiment with gardening or to use as a family-friendly play area? If your children are regularly playing football in it, forget a bowling green finish or planting delicate plants around the lawn which are likely to get their flowers knocked off by a ball.

And remember that fashion plays its part when planting. Years ago, hybrid tea and floribunda roses were in vogue but now alliums and tree ferns have become the must-have plants – but will they still be in fashion in a few years’ time?

You may be better off with something you’re happy with on an everyday basis as the basic structure of planting, but you can vary the colour and type of seasonal planting from year to year.

Best of the bunch – Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis)

This clump-forming, tuberous perennial produces stemless, cup-shaped, bright yellow buttercup-like flowers on a ruff of light green leaves.

It grows to just two to three inches tall but makes a good ground cover plant from late winter to early spring and is ideal for naturalising in dappled shade beneath deciduous trees and large shrubs, especially in chalky soils.

Bulbs should be planted in autumn in fertile, moist but well-drained soil. Winter aconites spread rapidly to form colonies, which can be divided after flowering.

Good enough to eat – Forcing rhubarb

January is the perfect time to force established outdoor rhubarb by packing straw or leaves around a clump and then covering it with an old bucket or bin with some ventilation holes in it. Only force strong clumps of plants that are at least three years old. You may have to weight or rope the bin down to prevent it being blown away.

The plants should not normally need watering and the blanched shoots should be ready for pulling by the beginning of March.

Rhubarb that has been forced indoors in December can be harvested in January, pulling sticks about four to six weeks after forcing. Pick them every few days to reduce the risk of grey mould and throw the plants away when harvesting has finished.

Three ways to… dispose of Christmas tree

1. Recycle it yourself, trimming the branches and cutting it into small sections before shredding it in a good-quality shredder such as the Bosch AXT 23 TC, which was voted Which? Gardening’s best buy for more woody material in a recent trial. Pine trees are low in acid and, once shredded, the released nutrients are relished by perennials and shrubs, offering them additional protection for the final few months of winter.

2. Many local councils have their own recycling schemes in place for Christmas trees. Ring your local authority to find out if your refuse collectors will pick up your tree or if you have to take it to a recycling plant yourself.

3. If you have bought a container-grown tree, after Christmas it can either be planted out with a good chance of success or can be left to grow on in its pot, but it is much better in this case to re-pot the tree in a larger pot. It is seldom possible to re-pot trees in this way for more than one season.

What to do this week

On your winter rambles around the garden, take the hoe with you and knock out weed seedlings before they get too big.

Spread organic matter such as well-rotted manure or garden compost, even if the soil is rock hard. The soil will soon thaw when the weather improves.

Continue to remove leaves from the lawn on a regular basis.

Disperse worm casts on the lawn.

Check container plants which are sheltered from rain by the overhang of the house eaves and make sure they have not dried out.

Move displaced deciduous trees and shrubs, if you haven’t already done so.

Plant deciduous hedging plants such as beech, hawthorn and hornbeam in well-prepared ground, if weather permits.

Keep climbers such as ornamental vines, ivies and Virginia creeper in check to stop them working their way into window frames and doors or causing damage to drainpipes.

Start ordering summer-flowering bulbs to give you the best choice of variety.

Cover ground which you have dug over, but are not yet ready to plant, with polythene sheeting to stop weeds taking over and to warm up the soil for any young plants to be set outdoors early.

Natural Foodie: A Johnny Appleseed for the 21st century

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January 2

Natural Foodie: A Johnny Appleseed for the 21st century

By Avery Yale Kamila akamila@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

In this “get big or get out” world, sometimes small acts have great power.

Roger Doiron used this graphic and other outreach methods to lead a successful campaign to see a kitchen garden planted on the White House lawn.

Photo illustration courtesy of Roger Doiron

Jason and Jennifer Helvenston of Orlando, Fla., were ordered to remove this front-yard vegetable garden by local officials who said it was in violation of city code. Kitchen Gardeners International, based in Maine, launched an online campaign to help them, and within 48 hours the city announced that it was reversing its decision and that the Helvenstons would be allowed to keep their garden.

Photo courtesy of Jason Helvenston

APPLY NOW FOR A

SOW IT FORWARD GRANT

SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY garden organizers can apply for a package of seeds, tools and cash with a value of $600. Applications are due Jan. 11. To apply visit www.sowitforward.org.

‘OF BACKYARD CHICKENS AND FRONT YARD GARDENS’

SARAH SCHINDLER, associate law professor at the University of Maine School of Law, authored a paper in the Tulane Law Review earlier this year examining how the growing locavore movement is coming into conflict with zoning ordinances. The paper examines how municipalities are responding to property owners who want to raise their own food in urban and suburban settings. It also looks at why these bans exist and the changing societal needs that make them outdated. It concludes with guidance for municipalities who want to modernize their zoning ordinances. Here she answers a few questions about her work:

Did your research provide any gauge of how widespread zoning restrictions are on residential agriculture, such as front yard gardens and backyard chickens?

I did not conduct an empirical study or 50 state survey. Rather, my research assistant and I looked for newspaper articles that discussed municipalities where there was some conflict or debate about the existing or newly proposed urban agriculture ordinances and went from there. I also looked to some of the standard land use “thought leader” cities to see what they were doing, as I have found that oftentimes something that starts as a “wacky” or progressive ordinance in a place like San Francisco or Portland, Oregon, can wind up spreading to other parts of the country after a few years.

Is this more of an issue in certain types of communities or certain parts of the country? Or is it an issue throughout the nation?

My research suggested that these ordinances exist throughout the country. And it is not just in the standard progressive municipalities that citizens are taking a stand against these urban agriculture bans and petitioning their local elected officials to overturn them. It’s fairly widespread; more and more people seem to be seeking to incorporate locavorism into their lives.

 

Did your research reveal any trends in residential agricultural zoning? For instance, are bans on the increase, decrease or holding steady?

Again, it is hard to say because I didn’t do a survey of ordinances. However, the bans do not seem to be universally in decline. As urban and suburban chicken-raising is becoming more popular, you actually see some concerned citizens proactively petitioning to get bans in place where none existed before. The other element we must consider here is that zoning isn’t the last word. MANY people in the U.S now live in common interest communities that are governed by private recorded covenants, conditions and restrictions, or CCRs. If these are stricter than zoning ordinances and not against public policy, they control. So arguably, even if the local zoning code says you can have a front yard garden, if a restrictive covenant in your neighborhood restricts front yards to neatly mowed lawns, you’re probably stuck with a lawn.

Could you sum up why you argue that bans on urban agriculture are out-of-date and fail to address modern challenges?

Although there are some valid reasons for banning urban agricultural uses, those justifications are often antiquated and outweighed by more current conceptions of appropriate land use. Zoning was created as a land use control technique whose purpose was to protect residential uses, and particularly single family homes, from other uses, like industrial and agricultural uses, that were viewed as incompatible and potentially harmful.

But our views of what is harmful and what is beneficial have changed over time. I would suggest that the harms associated with industrial agricultural production and lack of access to locally-produced food — food insecurity, food deserts, obesity tied to processed foods, monoculture-induced catastrophes, harm to animals, and greenhouse gas emissions — are more harmful than the risks associated with urban agriculture. And these harms could all be alleviated, at least in part, through urban agriculture. Further, municipalities have begun to recognize that traditional zoning techniques were a direct cause of sprawl and unsustainable development in the U.S.

Thus, many localities are moving away from those traditional zoning methods and toward the creation of mixed-use zones, which allow uses that were previously viewed as incompatible to locate along side one another.

I see the removal of urban agriculture bans as part of a broader trend in land use, where municipalities are moving away from strict, centralized legal authority and toward deregulation, or at least toward more inclusive views of which segments of society zoning should seek to protect.

 

 

Scarborough resident Roger Doiron understands this principle well.

Doiron, who is the founder and head of the nonprofit Kitchen Gardeners International, encourages the simple act of planting a vegetable garden in your backyard, front yard or window box.

Both a front yard and backyard gardener himself, Doiron said he does it because, “I might not be able to save the planet, but I might be able to save tonight’s dinner.”

Doiron started the nonprofit in 2003 after working in Europe for an environmental group, where he said the work was critical but not very tangible. To him, gardening offers a hands-on way to improve the health of the planet and the health of his family.

Kitchen Gardeners International became more of a full-time endeavor for Doiron in 2008, when he landed a Kellogg Food Community fellowship. This also marked the year Kitchen Gardeners International launched its successful White House Kitchen Garden campaign.

The push to encourage the next president to plant a vegetable garden at the White House gained traction when Kitchen Gardeners International’s proposal for the idea garnered the most support on the Better World Campaign’s On Day One contest. The competition encouraged people to submit ideas that the incoming president could implement upon taking office.

First Lady Michelle Obama ended up embracing this initiative and planting a garden that supplies vegetables and fruits to the First Family, guests at official functions and a soup kitchen. The popular garden currently has its own tours, is the subject of the First Lady’s book “American Grown,” and is part of her wider effort to promote healthy eating.

Prior to the White House Garden campaign, Kitchen Gardeners International had fewer than 5,000 members. But by the time the garden was planted — and after the organization was mentioned by major news outlets including the New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal — it had amassed 20,000 members. Today, the nonprofit — with a budget of less than $100,000 — has a global reach of almost 27,000 people.

Once again the nonprofit is in the news. This time the coverage comes as a result of its work to help marshal support for front yard gardeners who run afoul of local zoning ordinances that prohibit landscaping that deviates from manicured lawns and shrubbery.

Kitchen Gardeners International became involved in the fight over front yard gardens in the summer of 2011. Doiron, like many gardeners around the country, was following the case of Julie Bass. At the time, Bass was a resident of Oak Park, Michigan, and was being threatened with jail time if she didn’t remove the raised beds in her front yard.

Doiron alerted the organization’s network and generated emails and calls in support of Bass and her garden. Since then, Kitchen Gardeners International has rallied support for front yard gardeners in Memphis, Orlando and Quebec. In all the cases Kitchen Gardeners International has worked on, the municipalities have backed down from taking action against the front yard gardeners.

Doiron said the Orlando case was resolved much more quickly than the others. He attributes this to the fact that Kitchen Gardeners International was “able to call out the mayor in a very public way because the mayor had launched a communications platform of Orlando as a green city and a garden city. We said it’s important that you walk the talk.”

This public chastising apparently struck a cord, because as Doiron said “it was really a matter of 48 hours from when we hit send (on an alert email to members) to when the director of sustainability for Orlando got out in front of some TV cameras saying ‘We’re not going to shut this garden down.”‘

Doiron doesn’t see the fight over front yard gardens going away anytime soon, as individual communities continue to grapple with the conflict between traditionalist neighbors and the desires of more sustainably minded residents.

“We have to rethink the suburban and urban aesthetics and consider the possibility that what might have worked for the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s is not appropriate for the world we’re currently living in,” Doiron said.

In addition to fighting for the rights of gardeners, Doiron’s organization is also working to help others create more gardens. Thanks to series of donations, Kitchen Gardeners International is offering 50 Sow It Forward grants worth $600 each to schools, community gardens, food pantries and other community groups wanting to start or maintain gardens.

“I’m really excited we’re at this point where we can become an enabler of kitchen gardens,” Doiron said. “We have a lot of amazing applications coming through, mostly from the U.S. and some from abroad.”

The grants include seeds from the Ark Institute, supplies from Gardeners Supply Co., gardening books from Storey Publishing, online garden planning tools from GrowVeg.com and $300 in cash from the Johnson Ohana Charitable Trust.

Application must be submittedby Jan. 11.

While a single garden — whether in a front yard or behind a school — is a small act and may not seem like a big deal, Doiron is confident it has the potential to create big change.

“There’s a cumulative effect if we all do some little things,” Doiron said. “It adds up to something quite substantial.”

Staff Writer Avery Yale Kamila can be contacted at 791-6297 or at:

akamila@pressherald.com

Twitter: AveryYaleKamilaPhoto courtesy of Jason Helvenston

 

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Cascade of projects may dominate news in 2013

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Strap on your seatbelt and get ready for a whirlwind year in which many of the issues that merited headlines in 2012 come around again — in the case of Napa Pipe, perhaps finally — while new projects come to the fore.

The Napa Pipe project will have a meeting before the Napa County Board of Supervisors Jan. 14 that could provide a long-awaited vote on the developers’ request for General Plan and zoning amendments. Those amendments, if approved, would allow for the project to eventually seek building permits and begin construction on more than 700 housing units and a Costco discount store.

The now-vacant Cinedome building in downtown Napa could be demolished early this year, setting the stage for private redevelopment once the flood control project protects the site from inundation.

This could be the year that one of the city’s oldest landmarks, the Borreo building at Third Street and Soscol Avenue, is restored for contemporary uses. The Land Trust of Napa County is negotiating with the city to purchase the structure, which may house the trust’s offices and a boutique winery.

In the coming year, the city plans to construct the China Point Overlook Park at the southwest corner of Soscol and First Street. And next summer, it plans build a million-dollar boat dock in front of the Riverfront mixed-use project.

On a smaller scale, the city is planning to build a more aesthetic trash enclosure at Dwight Murray Plaza and repair sidewalks in the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church area.

Opening up First through Fourth streets to two-way traffic in downtown could also begin this year, ending years of debate over traffic flow and what works best for merchants and the public.

A citizens group, with some city financing, may build the Napa 9/11 Memorial Garden in 2013 after overcoming financial issues.

The former Copia and future Ritz Carlton sites on First Street near Silverado Trail could also see development progress in 2013, assuming the city likes plans for the Copia site and financing for a high-end resort across the river is finally forthcoming.

The focus of attention at Lake Berryessa in 2013 will continue to be on the resorts’ operations and the number of tourists they are able to draw, as the Bureau of Reclamation seeks to line up new short- and long-term concessionaires.

It will be worth keeping an eye on the Mishewal Wappo Tribe of Alexander Valley’s pursuit for federal recognition; the tribe successfully ousted Napa and Sonoma counties from its lawsuit last fall, and the counties have appealed.

The counties fear that the tribe would pursue building a casino by wielding recognition as a means of taking some land into trust, thus exempting it from local land-use and zoning laws.

More developments on the appeal and the tribe’s attempt to settle the suit — which could result in it regaining recognition — are expected this year.

The Lincoln Theater in Yountville, dark for nearly all of 2012, will reopen in 2013 with a new game plan.

Michael Madden, interim managing director, and Barbara Brogliatti, president of the new Lincoln Theater Foundation board, announced in November that an infusion of support from IMG Artists, as well as residents, had pulled the theater back from the brink of bankruptcy. After moving back into the theater Dec. 1, a year after the theater closed, they said they would have a preliminary schedule in January and a more detailed schedule by March.

“Our goal is not to compete with the Opera House or the Uptown Theatre (as presenters),” Madden said, although he noted that IMG may also be presenting artists from its roster at the theater. IMG artists include violinist Joshua Bell and pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, who have performed in the valley as part of the summer Festival del Sole, an IMG production.

Madden said the response from locals so far has been enthusiastic and encouraging. “As we take time to explain that this is everyone’s theater, suddenly organizations — not just arts groups — are coming forward with really cool ideas,” he said.

Passage of a state revenue measure, Proposition 30, in November is expected to prevent deeper cuts to local schools, including Napa Valley College, and may allow education officials to restore some services.

Proposition 30 raises taxes to pay for education. As a result, Napa Valley College and the Napa Valley Unified School District will be left with flat funding instead of undergoing deeper cuts.

By January, after the governor’s budget is released, the school district and college will have a clearer picture of their budgets for 2013-14.

Napa Valley College plans to hire a permanent president by May. Ronald Kraft, who has more than 20 years of experience in higher education leadership, has served as interim president since August.

Queen of the Valley Medical Center’s new Herman Family Pavilion is estimated to officially open in the fall.

The three-story, 72,000-square-foot facility includes six operating suites, 20 private intensive care rooms, and a clinical pathology laboratory.

Private philanthropy is expected to contribute 20 to 30 percent of the funds to complete the surgical pavilion, which is estimated to cost $122 million.

American Canyon

Ongoing litigation, new development and transportation improvements are on the horizon for American Canyon in 2013.

The battle between the city and its card room, Napa Valley Casino, over a $2-per-visitor admission tax will continue, with pretrial motions in the criminal case scheduled to be heard later this month. Card room owners have repeatedly argued the tax, passed by American Canyon voters in 2010, is unconstitutional, despite court rulings otherwise. In October, the state Supreme Court declined to review the case.

American Canyon likely will see new development this year. Two proposed apartment projects, both roughly 200 units, could begin at the intersection of Silver Oak Drive and American Canyon Road, and on Oat Hill in the city’s northwest section. Also, construction should begin on a 70-unit affordable housing complex for seniors on Theresa Avenue at the foot of Oat Hill later this year.

After languishing for several years, the third phase of the Napa Junction shopping center development, which would include restaurants and more retail tenants east of Highway 29 at Napa Junction Road, may finally move forward.

As part of its transportation goals, American Canyon plans to update its traffic circulation plan, and work with Caltrans to make any possible improvements to Highway 29, such as traffic signal timing and landscaping improvements.

American Canyon and county officials are trying to put the Devlin Road extension on the fast-track. Once completed, Devlin Road could alleviate traffic congestion on Highway 29 between Green Island Road and the county airport.

American Canyon officials hope to have a draft environmental impact report for a long-desired town center project sometime this year.

Chantal Lovell, Michael Waterson, Isabelle Dills, Sasha Paulsen and Peter Jensen contributed to this story.

Happiness Happens In San Diego

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Downtown San Diego is one of the most dynamic metropolitan areas in the country, drawing both visitors and residents to a sophisticated city center.  Framed by inland mountains and a beautiful natural harbor, downtown San Diego’s alluring cityscape is a testament to years of redevelopment and urban revitalization.

Downtown is composed of eight distinct neighborhoods ― Columbia, the Core, Cortez Hill, East Village, Gaslamp Quarter, Horton Plaza, Little Italy and Marina ― each with their own personality and allure.

EAST VILLAGE

Downtown’s largest neighborhood, encompassing 130 city blocks, East Village burst into life in the past 5-10 years. The revitalization of this once blighted warehouse district was ignited by the building of PETCO Park, the San Diego Padres’ state-of-the-art baseball stadium that opened in April 2004. Today, visitors can enjoy luxury hotels and restaurants, rooftop bars, cafes, boutique shops, galleries and live music venues scattered throughout the neighborhood. www.sdeastvillage.com

Hotels

  • San Diego’s first LEED-certified hotel, Hotel Indigo San Diego opened in August 2009.  The 12-story, 210-room hotel features spa-inspired touches throughout the property and a rooftop terrace with a reflection pool, fire pits and views of PETCO Park. www.hotelindigo.com
  • In December 2008, the 1,190-room Hilton San Diego Bayfront opened as San Diego’s newest waterfront hotel. Located adjacent to the San Diego Convention Center, the 30-story hotel features a sun-and-sea inspired design that complements its stunning panoramic views of San Diego Bay and downtown San Diego.  www.sandiegobayfront.hilton.com 
  • The 159-room luxury Andaz San Diego features 16 suites, two presidential suites and one signature suite boasting two levels with a spiral staircase leading to a private poolside cabana.  Additional amenities include a rooftop bar, upscale restaurant, wine bar and underground nightclub.  www.sandiego.andaz.hyatt.com
  • The luxury 511-room Omni San Diego Hotel spans views of San Diego Bay and neighboring PETCO Park baseball stadium.  In addition to the hotel’s sophisticated rooms and suites, guests can enjoy special amenities like a private pedestrian skywalk to PETCO Park. www.omnihotels.com
  • The San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter offers stunning views of downtown San Diego and stylish comfort in its 306 guestrooms and suites, all appointed with custom made furniture, granite countertops, rich wood tones and premier bedding.  www.sandiegogaslamphotel.com
  • The 235-room Hotel Solamar, a Kimpton lifestyle hotel, serves as a “gateway” from the East Village to the historic Gaslamp Quarter.  Here, the city’s laid-back attitude blends with the hotel’s contemporary design creating a fresh, coastal-inspired vibe.   www.hotelsolamar.com

Restaurants

  • The Hilton San Diego Bayfront’s signature restaurant, Vela, features a nautical theme and a menu that offers experiential journeys to the finest culinary regions of the world.  www.sandiegobayfront.hilton.com
  • Combining a restaurant, bar and adjoining butcher shop, Cowboy Star offers foodies a unique dining environment.  Here, the highest quality meats and local produce are served up in contemporary American cuisine with a Western flare. www.thecowboystar.com
  • Neighborhood serves a creative take on upscale classic American dishes like burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches paired with homemade gourmet sauces and sweet potato fries.  In addition, over 27 local microbrews are always on tap.  www.neighborhoodsd.com
  • BASIC is an industrial lounge serving New Haven, Connecticut-style thin crust, brick oven pizzas and top-shelf cocktails. www.barbasic.com
  • Soleil@K in the San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter serves delicious and innovative dishes inspired by the culinary styles found in California’s Napa Valley wine country. www.soleilatk.com
  • Jsix Restaurant in Hotel Solamar focuses on local seafood and farm-fresh ingredients from area growers. www.jsixsandiego.com
  • Quarter Kitchen in the Andaz San Diego serves California cuisine with flavors and influences from around the world. www.quarterkitchen.com
  • A small, lively bistro, Café Chloe offers light French fare with substantial breakfasts, svelte lunches and dinners and sophisticated bar-nibbles. www.cafechloe.com
  • The Fleetwood serves up a menu of modern American dishes against a backdrop that marries an upscale sports bar with a chic lounge.  www.thefleetwood.com
  • The Japanese-inspired The Dragon’s Den offers a raw bar, sushi menu and an array of authentic Asian small dishes, complemented by a selection of fine sake, craft beer and specialty cocktails made with organic and gluten-free spirits. www.thedragonsdensd.com
  • The luxury Andaz San Diego boasts popular hot spots like Ivy Rooftop, a sultry rooftop lounge with a swimming pool, swinging chairs and beds, and Ivy Nightclub, a two- level underground lounge. www.sandiego.andaz.hyatt.com
Nightlife
  • Hotel Solamar’s LOUNGEsix is a rooftop oasis where sexy singles sip fresh fruit cocktails and lounge by a sparkling pool and roaring fire pits. www.jsixsandiego.com
  • Located on the 22nd floor of the San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter, Altitude offers guests breathtaking views of PETCO Park and the San Diego waterfront, along with music and martinis. www.sandiegogaslamphotel.com

Shopping

  • Bacchus Wine Market, a secluded wine shop and tasting room, features a wide variety of Italian wines, cheeses and caviar, along with weekly wine tastings and wine accessories. www.bacchuswinemarket.com
  • 5A Dime is the hottest stop for street wear, featuring men’s and women’s apparel and accessories from urban designers. www.5andadime.com
  • Scott James, a trendy and cutting-edge boutique, offers a creative combination of home accessories, jewelry and designer gifts like hand-made retro suitcases, Italian CDs and Red Monkey watches. www.scottjameseastvillage.com
  • The District appeals to the young and young at heart with some of the hottest names in today’s fashion. www.thedistrictsd.com
  • Dianne O Studios features high-fashion clothes, accessories, cosmetics and more from the world’s top fashion Meccas, including Milan, New York and Paris. www.dianneo.com

 

HORTON PLAZA

Occupying 15 blocks, Horton Plaza is named after its main resident, Westfield Horton Plaza Shopping Mall, a multi-level, outdoor shopping and entertainment center. Opened in 1985, Horton Plaza offers 130 specialty shops, restaurants, a movie theatre and performing arts theatre.  Well-known for its whimsical and vibrantly colored design, Horton Plaza was created to resemble a European market place and function like an amusement park with colorful pathways, bridges and staggered levels.

Hotels

  • Adjoining Horton Plaza, Westin Horton Plaza San Diego offers 450 guest rooms and suites, a restaurant, sports bar and grill, two lounges and health club. www.westin.com/hortonplaza

Restaurants

  • At Dobson’s Bar Restaurant, guests are served house specialties like pan-roasted Chilean sea bass and chicken breast stuffed with olive tapenade. www.dobsonsrestaurant.com
  • Local chain Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza specializes in pizzas with unique ingredients like Thai chicken and peanut sauce or duck sausage. www.sammyspizza.com
  • Exotic and healthy food awaits at Bandar, downtown’s award-winning Persian restaurant. www.bandarrestaurant.com
  • Hard Rock Café serves up American comfort food and classic tunes amongst rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia and décor.  www.hardrockcafe.com

Arts Culture/Entertainment

  • The Lyceum Theater is home to the San Diego Repertory Theatre, which annually produces a six-play season featuring comedies and dramas that explore cultural diversity.  www.sdrep.com
  • The 1,446-seat Spreckels Theater was built in 1912 and features neoclassical and art nouveau architecture; it currently houses everything from rock concerts to dance performances by the City Ballet of San Diego along with a healthy diet of special theater performances.  www.spreckels.net
  • The historic 1920’s vaudeville Balboa Theatre was rehabilitated into a 1,534-seat facility in December 2007.  The venue is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and hosts a year-round line-up of diverse arts and cultural performances.     www.sdbalboa.org

GASLAMP QUARTER

In the historic Gaslamp Quarter, consisting of 16½-blocks around Fourth and Fifth Avenues, grand Victorian-era buildings are home to more than 100 of the city’s finest restaurants, 40 bars and nightclubs and 100 retail shops, as well as theaters, art galleries, offices and residential/work lofts.  When the sun sets, this downtown neighborhood attracts thousands of diners, shoppers, theatergoers and nightclub patrons. www.gaslamp.org

Hotels

  • Opened in November 2009, the 14-story, 240-room Residence Inn San Diego Downtown/Gaslamp Quarter provides a residential feel with a strong sense of space and comfort. Amenities include pet-friendly guestrooms, a rooftop pool, fitness center, full-service lounge and bar.  www.marriott.com
  • Embracing its trademark rock ‘n’ roll attitude, the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego features cutting-edge design, 24-7 service and high-octane nightlife for which Hard Rock is famous.  Guests can take pleasure in 420 guestrooms, the hotel’s rooftop bar, a downstairs nightclub, two restaurants and the Rock Spa.  www.hardrockhotelsd.com
  • The boutique-style 35-room Keating Hotel features modern and expressive Italian design by Pininfarina, the world-renowned Italian design firm behind famed luxury brands Ferrari and Maserati. Guestrooms, called “stanzas,” are outfitted with exposed brick, wood trim, stainless steel lining, crimson plush bedding and hand-crafted Pininfarina furniture.  www.thekeating.com

·         Comprised of two hotels dating back to the 1880s, the Victorian-style 132-room Horton Grand Hotel was once home to Wyatt Earp during his seven-year stay in San Diego.  No two guestrooms are decorated alike, and each room futures elegant hand-crafted antique furniture with period decor and a gas marble fireplace. www.hortongrand.com

  • The 282-room Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter offers a selection of guestrooms and suites with signature Hilton amenities, in addition to 30 residential-style lofts that provide a “hotel within a hotel” environment. www.sandiegogaslampquarter.hilton.com
  • The restored late-Victorian Gaslamp Plaza Suites was San Diego’s first skyscraper at 11 stories when it was built in 1913.  Today, the 64-room hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as a welcoming reminder of downtown San Diego’s vibrant past. www.gaslampplaza.com

Restaurants

  • Originally built in 1974, the family friendly Old Spaghetti Factory is a San Diego institution for residents and visitors alike.  www.osf.com
  • A new neighborhood bar, The Lincoln Room pays respect to the 16th president of the United States with a penny-laid bar, log cabin-like walls and simple American fare influenced by San Diego’s seasonal produce. www.thelincolnroomsd.com
  • MerK Bistro Italiano in the Keating Hotel radiates a sleek sophistication while offering an affordable menu of rustic Italian dishes infused with a cool, California twist.  www.themerk.com
  • The Marble Room offers a unique menu of California Tapas-style cuisine and innovative selections that are seasonal, delicious and adventurous. www.marbleroom.com
  • La Puerta welcomes guests with an affordable menu of classic Mexican fare and an expansive tequila selection in a hip, neighborhood atmosphere.  http://taco619.com
  • Set in the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, Nobu, the signature restaurant from world-famous Nobu Matsuhisa, serves Matsuhisa’s classic sushi and modern Japanese cuisine. www.noburestaurants.com
  • Croce’s Restaurants Bars, established by Ingrid Croce as a tribute to her late husband ‘70s singer/songwriter Jim Croce, is a local landmark combining live jazz and fine dining for more than 25 years. www.croces.com
  • BICE San Diego offers a skillful mix of traditional and contemporary trends in Italian cuisine.  Using fresh local and seasonal ingredients, the menu includes a selection of homemade pastas, and its sophisticated Cheese Bar offers a variety of Italian cheeses, salumi plates and appetizers. www.bicesandiego.com
  • Visitors can embark on culinary journeys around the world when dining in the Gaslamp Quarter’s 100 restaurants.  Cuisines to be savored include Afghan, Brazilian, Chinese, Indian, Italian, Mexican, Persian, Spanish, Thai and more. www.gaslamp.org

Nightlife

  • FLUXX, a high-end dance club, opened in March 2010.  The venue incorporates organic décor amidst bright, bold colors and playful design elements including a large-scale adult tree house, a 15-ft. custom rope chandelier and eye-catching art. www.fluxxsd.com.
  • Opened in May 2009, Syrah Spirit Wine Parlor is a subterranean hideaway that evokes an Alice in Wonderland setting in look and feel.  Syrah offers hand-made cocktails, unique beers and a diverse wine list.  www.syrahwineparlor.com
  • Side Bar reopened in May 2009 after an extensive $1 million remodel.  Guests can drink and dance in this intimate and stylish club or grab a table and enjoy small bites from a delicious late-night menu. www.sidebarsd.com.

·         Located in an historic warehouse, Stingaree is a luxury restaurant and nightlife venue offering three stories, floor-to-ceiling waterfalls and translucent floating staircases leading to a rooftop bar retreat.  www.stingsandiego.com

  • Voyeur offers a seductive nightclub setting with a unique gothic-inspired design and house music pulsating from its multiple sound systems and stages. www.voyeursd.com
  • At Thin, partygoers perch on polished steel barstools and sip Cadillac margaritas in a futuristic setting.  In the Onyx Room, located directly downstairs, urban beats move an energetic dance area and swinging lounge.  www.onyxroom.com
  • At Café Sevilla, the DJ plays Latin disco and hip-hop music while flamenco dinner shows heat up the stage on Friday and Saturday nights. www.cafesevilla.com
  • Overlooking the Gaslamp Quarter, Float is a rooftop bar and lounge atop the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego that serves as a stylish hangout with a poolside bar, fire pit seating and private VIP cabanas.  Downstairs adjacent to the hotel lobby, 207 is a laid-back bar and lounge, perfect for cocktails and conversation.  www.hardrockhotelsd.com
  • Located throughout the bustling blocks of the Gaslamp Quarter, numerous bars and taverns offer patrons a friendly, laid-back atmosphere where award-winning local and national brews are on tap.  Popular venues include Nicky Rottens, Jimmy Loves, Whisky Girl, Henry’s Pub, the historic Tipsy Crow and many more.  www.gaslamp.org

 

Arts Culture/Entertainment

  • The William Heath Davis Historical House Museum, a saltbox-style home shipped around Cape Horn and assembled in San Diego in 1850, is the Gaslamp Quarter’s oldest surviving structure. www.gaslampquarter.org/history/thehouse.php
  • The Shout! House features dueling piano players sitting face-to-face at grand pianos and performing classic rock ‘n’ roll hits from the 50s to the present, driven by audience requests. www.theshouthouse.com
  • The Tim Cantor Gallery features oil paintings, writings and conceptual works of art, www.timcantor.com; CJ Gallery showcases the works of contemporary Asian artists, www.cjartgallery.com; Michael J. Wolf Fine Arts displays fine art and works from emerging national and international artists, www.mjwfinearts.com; and the Brokers Building Art Gallery offers one of the largest gallery spaces in downtown, www.brokersgallery.com.

 

Shopping

  • Visitors looking to expand their wardrobe can find cutting-edge fashion in quirky independent boutiques and retailers like Urban Outfitters, The Puma Store, Volcom and Quicksilver. Unusual shopping opportunities also abound, from the latest in skateboarding gear at Street Machine, to cigars hand-rolled on-site at the Cuban Cigar Factory, to outrageous pet fashions at Lucky Dog.  www.gaslamp.org

Tours

·         The Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation offers a vivid re-creation of the Gaslamp Quarter’s colorful history with a guided walking tour. Foundation guides share stories from the late 1800s when the area flourished as a red-light district. www.gaslampquarter.org
  • Back Alley Tours highlights the naughty secrets and scandals that took place in the Gaslamp Quarter during the early 1900s when the buildings housed brothels and gambling halls and the naughty ladies of the Stingaree roamed the streets. http://backalleytours.com

Events

  • Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp Quarter on Fat Tuesday is the largest Mardi Gras party on the U.S. West Coast and features a Mardi Gras parade and outdoor block party with several stages offering live musical acts. www.gaslamp.org/mardi-gras
  • The annual Monster Bash in the Gaslamp Quarter on Halloween weekend is an outdoor music festival in the streets featuring bewitching live bands and an extreme costume contest. www.sandiegomonsterbash.com
  • Occurring every St. Patrick’s Day, shamROCK is an evening of Irish food, live music and lucky libations including “green beer” and pints of Guinness. www.sandiegoshamrock.com

 

MARINA

The Marina district is home to the Embarcadero, Seaport Village and the bayside San Diego Convention Center with its unique architecture and sail-roofed Pavilion.

Hotels

  • The 1,362-room San Diego Marriott Hotel Marina’s two curved and glass-sheathed towers lend their distinctive features to the San Diego skyline. www.marriott.com/sandt
  • The double-towered, 1,625-room Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego features three restaurants and four bars, including The Top of the Hyatt on the 40th floor, offering panoramic views of the city. www.manchestergrand.hyatt.com
  • Located across the street from Seaport Village, the Embassy Suites Hotel San Diego Bay offers 337 spacious suites and a seafood restaurant. www.essandiegobay.com

Restaurants

  • Sally’s Seafood on the Water at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego offers a dynamic menu of the freshest flavors from both sea and land with special emphasis on seafood and sushi.  www.sallyssandiego.com
  • Roy’s at the San Diego Marriott Hotel Marina features exciting and innovative Hawaiian fusioncuisine by noted chef Roy Yamaguchi; the menu features local ingredients, European sauces, bold Asian spices and a focus on fresh seafood. www.roysrestaurant.com
  • A local breakfast favorite, the funky Café 222 serves up a menu of stuffed omelets, various benedicts and their signature peanut butter waffles. www.cafe222.com
  • The Fish Market offers a casual dining experience with oyster and cocktail bars; the fine-dining menu served at the second-floor Top of the Market is paired with spectacular views of Coronado and San Diego Bay. www.thefishmarket.com
  • The restaurants at Seaport Village can satisfy any craving with more than a dozen small eateries and restaurants that offer everything from surf and turf to burgers and pizza. www.seaportvillage.com/restaurants

 

Arts Culture

  • Opened in May 2008, The New Children’s Museum offers an interactive arts destination for children and families. The museum encourages children to think, play and create with innovative, hands-on art opportunities, along with classes and exhibitions designed by emerging and established contemporary artists. The museum is downtown San Diego’s first public ‘green’ project with environmentally friendly architecture and infrastructure practices.  www.thinkplaycreate.org

Shopping

  • Seaport Village, a 14-acre waterfront shopping, dining and entertainment complex, recreates a California harbor setting of a century ago with four miles of meandering cobblestone pathways, ponds, fountains, lush landscaping, 57 themed shops, restaurants and cafes. www.spvillage.com

Events

  • Occurring annually in November, the three-day San Diego Bay Wine Food Festival is the region’s largest wine and culinary extravaganza; it includes events held in various downtown venues and culminates with the Grand Tasting Event, set at the waterfront Embarcadero Park North.  www.worldofwineevents.com

CORE

The Core is downtown’s central business district, home to government and arts-related venues like City Hall, the World Trade Center, Copley Symphony Hall and the Civic Theatre.

Hotels

  • The Sé San Diego features 184 luxury rooms and suites with extensive room amenities, design and detail.  The 22-story hotel evokes a “zen-chic” theme with Asian elements throughout the property.  Sé San Diego also offers a world-class restaurant, 5,500-sq. ft. spa, an outdoor pool, bar and lounge.  www.setaisandiego.com
  • After a $16-million renovation, the historic Pickwick Hotel reopened in December 2006 as the modern and stylish Sofia Hotel. Built in 1926, the 212-room hotel now features a fine dining restaurant and spa-inspired amenities, including a 24-hour fitness center and yoga studio. www.thesofiahotel.com.

 

  • After a $52-million renovation, THE US GRANT reopened in November 2006 as a member of Starwood’s prestigious Luxury Collection. The historic 270-room hotel was enhanced to reflect its 1910 origins and now features roof-top gardens; original, one-of-a-kind art by noted French artist Yves Clement, and its signature 95-seat Grant Grill.  www.usgrant.net

 

  • The elegant 223-room Westgate Hotel transports guests to a world of classic art and refinement with Baccarat crystal chandeliers, French tapestries and Persian carpets. www.westgatehotel.com
  • The Bristol Hotel offers 102 casual and contemporary rooms with jazz-inspired décor. www.greystonehotels.com/bristol

Restaurants Nightlife

  • Suite Tender in the Sé San Diego hotel features a seasonally changing menu of fresh seafood, steaks, salads and signature surf and turf dishes.  www.sesandiego.com
  • The charming and sophisticated Grant Grill in THE US GRANT serves contemporary California cuisine with fresh, locally harvested ingredients and meticulous attention to detail. www.grantgrill.com
  • At The Yard House, known for its extensive menu and self-proclaimed “world’s largest selection of draft beer,” guests can find a wide range of brews, including classic lagers and obscure ales and stouts, served in authentic goblets, pints and half-yard glasses.  www.yardhouse.com
  • Located on the ground floor of the Sofia Hotel, Currant serves up chic bistro fare for lunch and dinner daily.  www.currantrestaurant.com
  • On Broadway is located in a two-story historic bank building where multiple rooms, luxury décor, a VIP lounge, sushi bar and giant dance floors make up the ultimate club experience. www.obec.tv
  • The extravagant and multifaceted House of Blues features a full-service restaurant and a multi-level Music Hall featuring national and local live entertainment.  www.hob.com

Arts Culture

  • Broadway/San Diego, presenter of national touring Broadway shows year-round, and the San Diego Opera, Southern California’s longest established opera company, present lavish productions at the San Diego Civic Theatre.  www.broadwaysd.com, www.sdopera.net
  • The San Diego Symphony Orchestra presents world-class orchestral works year-round in the historic Copley Symphony Hall.  www.sandiegosymphony.org

 

COLUMBIA

    Located along Broadway and stretching towards San Diego Bay, Columbia is comprised mostly of commercial development with residential condos dotted throughout the neighborhood.

 

Hotels

  • The stylish 259-room W Hotel incorporates a sunny coastal theme, especially apparent in its popular rooftop Beach Bar featuring heated sand and cabanas. www.thewsandiegohotel.com
  • Built in 1924, the historic Armed Services YMCA Building is now 500 West, an affordable, European-style hotel with 260 small and impeccably furnished rooms. www.500westhotel.com
  • Located directly across from San Diego Bay and San Diego’s cruise ship terminal, the Holiday Inn on the Bay features 600 rooms with panoramic views of the downtown skyline and the bay. www.holiday-inn.com/san-onthebay

Restaurants Nightlife

  • Established more than 60 years ago by the Ghio family, Anthony’s Fish Grotto on the Bay serves fresh seafood cooked with secret family recipes.  The full-service restaurant is complemented by its quick-service Fishette, which offers patio dining. www.gofishanthonys.com
  • At the W Hotel, guests can dine at RICE where meals include a contemporary take on global cuisine with flavors from around the world.  After dinner, guests can head to BEACH, the hotel’s rooftop bar, with a heated sand floor, fire pit and private tented cabanas that bring a seaside vibe downtown.  Downstairs, LIVING ROOM is a bustling lobby bar with high-energy music that caters to the see-and-be-seen crowd. www.whotels.com

Arts Culture

  • The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) offers 10,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space within its downtown gallery, along with the ‘baggage building’ of the active Santa Fe Depot, a Nationally Registered Historic Landmark, located across the street.  MCASD presents an ever-changing line-up of internationally recognized artists, contemporary art exhibits and site-specific installations. www.mcasd.org

 

  • The USS Midway Museum invites the public to learn about America’s longest-serving aircraft carrier with 35 exhibits and tours exploring its rich 47-year history. Many of the story-telling docents are veterans who served aboard the carrier. www.midway.org
  • The floating Maritime Museum of San Diego features one of the finest collections of historic ships in the world, including the Star of India, the oldest active sailing ship. www.sdmaritime.org

 

  • Thirty-one abstract tree sculptures are positioned along the North Embarcadero of San Diego Bay showcasing the talent and visions of local San Diego artists.  Titled Urban Trees, this fascinating display of tree art includes colourful and creative representations.  www.portofsandiego.org/sandiego_publicart/urbantrees

Activities

  • San Diego is a popular cruise port on the U.S. West Coast and welcomes passengers on a variety of cruise lines.  Ships docking in San Diego offer itineraries that include the Mexican Riviera, Hawaiian Islands, Pacific Coast, Central America and the Panama Canal. www.portofsandiego.org
  • Hornblower Cruises Events offers three-hour nightly dinner-dance cruises, Sunday champagne brunch cruises, daily one- and two-hour narrated harbor tours and seasonal whale watching adventures. www.hornblower.com.
  • San Diego Harbor Excursion features daily one- and two-hour narrated harbor tours, seasonal whale watching adventures, dinner-dance and Sunday brunch cruises with live entertainment and excursions to Los Coronado Islands in Mexican waters.  www.flagshipsd.com

 

LITTLE ITALY

Once home to San Diego’s flourishing tuna fishing industry and generations of Italian families who made their living on the sea, Little Italy is a quaint and lively neighborhood filled with patio cafes, restaurants, pubs, art galleries, shops, hotels and the beautiful Amici Park. www.littleitalysd.com

 

Hotels

  • The Porto Vista Hotel Suites offers 193 rooms and suites, a top-floor restaurant and lounge, 30-person Jacuzzi, fitness center and business center.  www.portovistasandiego.com
  • The 75-room, Mediterranean-style La Pensione Hotel – Little Italy offers quaint accommodations along with a bistro, open-air courtyard and Italian restaurant. www.lapensionehotel.com
  • Little Italy Inn is a boutique bed and breakfast with 23 rooms, each with their own style and décor. www.littleitalyhotel.com

Restaurants

  • India Street, Little Italy’s main thoroughfare, is lined with several restaurants featuring cuisines of both Southern and Northern Italy; they include Sicilian dishes served with a modern flair at Trattoria Fantastica, www.trattoriafantastica.com, and sophisticated Italian food with a cozy ambiance at Buon Appetito, www.buonappetito.signonsandiego.com. Filippi’s Pizza Grotto features an old-fashioned Italian dining experience along with a delicatessen and market, which offers everything from prosciutto to mascarpone. www.filippispizzagrotto.com
  • Indigo Grill’s varied colorful motifs and cuisines of the Pacific Northwest, Alaska and Oaxaca, Mexico provide a unique dining experience. www.cohnrestaurants.com
  • Craft Commerce serves up made-to-order libations with an inventive menu of comfort food classics. www.craft-commerce.com
  • Opened in June 2009, Burger Lounge serves organic burgers in a retro-meets-modern setting.  Burger Lounge is open for lunch and dinner and offers a menu of organic salads, homemade cupcakes, hand-cut fries and all-natural Tallgrass Beef burgers on house-made buns. www.burgerlounge.com
  • The Glass Door, atop the Porto Vista Hotel Suites, offers panoramic views of San Diego Bay and a creative menu of New American cuisine. www.glassdoorsd.com
  • Anthology embraces the spirit of a classic supper club from the 1940s with a decidedly modern spin; it draws renowned local and international musicians of jazz, classic rock, blues, Latin and world music to its stage. www.anthologysd.com
  • Caffé Italia offers street-side tables and a serene courtyard atrium along with paninis, salads and a wide selection of Italian gelato. www.caffeitalialittleitaly.com
  • The menu at Extraordinary Desserts is an innovative melding of the owner’s classic French background and her experiences in the tropics of Hawaii and Mexico. www.extraordinarydesserts.com

Nightlife

  • Since 1934, the Waterfront Bar Grill has been a favorite local watering hole serving locally brewed ales and great burgers. www.watefrontbarandgrill.com
  • British-owned and -operated, the British Princess Pub serves British and Irish beers along with traditional pub fare like fish and chips; patrons can also watch soccer and rugby via satellite TV. www.princesspubandgrille.com

 

Arts Culture

  • Art galleries include Scott White Contemporary Art, which promotes the works of emerging and mid-career artists, www.scottwhiteart.com, and Perry L. Miller Fine Art, specializing in everything from 18th-century art to contemporary works on paper, www.plmeyerfineart.com.

Shopping

·         The Kettner Art Design District along Kettner Street encompasses a group of retail shops and art galleries that feature selections of home furnishings and fashion accessories. Among its 21 shops are Mixture, featuring a young and fresh take on contemporary furniture, www.mixturedesigns.com, and Boomerang, featuring an ever-changing selection of quality vintage home décor items from America, Scandinavia and Europe, www.boomerangformodern.com.

  • Also on Kettner Street, Architectural Salvage is a haven of vintage home décor and accessories like antique drawer handles. www.architecturalsalvagesd.com
  • On Fir Street, a block of colorful cottages house boutiques that offer ultra-stylish options including independent designers of women’s clothing, accessories and shoes.  On India Street, shoppers find imported accessories of all kinds in an array of stylish boutiques.   www.littleitalysd.com
  • Italian-inspired retail includes contemporary Italian-designed house wares at Disegno Italiano, www.disegno-italiano.biz, and elegant Italian ceramics and gifts at Bella Stanza, www.bellastanzagifts.com.

Events

  • During the annual Art Walk in April, guests enjoy a variety of art displayed in outdoor venues, studios, galleries and local businesses, along with live entertainment. www.artwalksandiego.org
  • Every October, the Annual Little Italy Festa, a traditional street festival with music, fine foods and specialty crafts, and the colorful Chalk La Strada, a classic Italian street painting exhibit with chalk, take place. www.littleitalysd.com/events/little-italy-festa
  • Every May, the Annual Sicilian Festival comes to the streets of Little Italy with music, dance, culture, a parade of costumed dancers, Sicilian cuisine and more. www.sicilianfesta.com 
  • Every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., guests can enjoy the Little Italy Mercato, an artisan farmers market that sells everything from organic pet food to sea urchin fresh from the ocean. Among its 90 booths that line Date Street, guests can find food from more than a dozen certified California producers, specialty items, artworks, flowers and more.  www.littleitalysd.com/mercato 

GETTING AROUND

 

With short city blocks and most streets running one way in a grid pattern for easy navigation, downtown San Diego is best explored on foot.  However, for visitors looking to give their weary feet a rest, downtown also offers fun alternative modes of transportation.

 

  • The San Diego Trolley’s light-rail system offers routes running to various points in downtown; it operates seven days a week from 5 a.m. to midnight and runs every 15 minutes.  www.sdcommute.com
  • Numerous pedicabs are available daily along most downtown streets, particularly in the Gaslamp Quarter and along the Embarcadero in the Marina and Columbia neighborhoods. Pedicabs are a unique alternative to taking a taxi and the next best thing to riding a bike around downtown. www.vippedicab.com
  • Ivan Stewart’s Electric Bike Center rents electric bikes to guests interested in exploring the city in a new and environmentally friendly way.  Located in Little Italy, the Bike Center offers two-hour, half-day and full-day rental packages that include an electric bike, helmet and lock.  www.iselectricbikecenter.com
  • GoCar Tours offer a fleet of three-wheel mini-cars designed for guests wanting to escape tour buses. Up to two people can jump into the open, miniature vehicles and enjoy a GPS-guided audio tour highlighting 100 San Diego sites. www.gocartours.com
  • Cinderella Carriage Co. offers horse-drawn carriage rides along the Embarcadero and through the Gaslamp Quarter. www.cinderella-carriage.com

Happy happens in San Diego.  For more information on San Diego offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Convention Visitors Bureau’s Web site, www.sandiego.org, or call (619) 236-1212.  In San Diego, visit the International Visitor Information Center, located along the Embarcadero at the corner of West Broadway and Harbor Drive in downtown; the La Jolla Visitor Center, located at the corner of Herschel Avenue and Prospect Street in La Jolla; or the California Welcome Center, located at the Viejas Outlet Center in Alpine.

George Thomas

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on Jan 1 2013. Filed under Van Nuys News.
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