Best Neighborhood in San Diego

When it comes to lottery of awesome neighborhoods, I would say that Willis and I won hands down.  South Park (no, Cartman doesn’t live here) has a vibrant Main Street that makes it one of the most walkable neighborhoods in San Diego. As I get older and the traffic continues to get worse, the less I have to drive the better. Here are a few of the reasons I love my hood! Number one is the best Italian restaurant in San Diego, Il Posto.



They are tops in service, atmosphere, and cuisine. EVERY meal is a winner (and I frequent this place on a regular basis) and always a hit with whoever I go with.



If you like Tiramisu, theirs is the best you will find. I love to watch the face of people as they savor their first bite; it is a dessert like no others. All other versions of it pale in comparison.



If you like Indian food, Curryosity is an adorable option tucked away just off the main street.



In Naan We Trust, indeed!



The portions here make them perfect for sharing, as typically there are many items on the menu that you will want to try.



For pizza lovers, Mazara’s Pizzeria is a more than decent choice. I can’t say that heartily recommend their other food options, but for a night when pizza sounds good, ordering online means I can walk down the street in about 20 minutes and pick up my dinner. Plus, Willis loves the crust!



If you like Tater Tots, look no further than Station Tavern.



Half outdoor patio and half enclosed bar/restaurant seating, this local favorite is great for a casual lunch or dinner with friends and family.



The BEST Tater Tots you will find anywhere. Served hot and perfectly seasoned, you could make a meal out of them. The one downside to this place are the other tots; I’m not sure why this place attracts negligent parents, but it does. If you don’t mind screaming kids running around and throwing the gravel that covers the patio, then this is the place for you. 



Coffee lovers have a few fun options, beginning with Communal. Located in a little trailer parked at the back of a scenic patio, it’s a cool spot to sip your java, have a snack, and socialize or work remote.



Dark Horse also carries ice cream. Nice to have a little dessert spot just down the street!



Recently, Origins Grocer opened up. This place is INCREDIBLE to have within steps of my home. Their focus is organic and low waste. You bring the container, fill it up, and help cut down on the plethora of plastic that pervades the landfills. The owners are super nice, too.



If you’re into vintage vinyl, Vinyl Junkies is the place for you.



My hood also has some cool mural art, like the one shown below:



Other favorite neighborhood haunts include Whistle Stop Bar, Catapult Books, South Park Fitness, and The Rose Wine Bar. How about you? Have you been to South Park and if so, what are some of YOUR favorite spots?

See more South Park neighborhood in San Diego photos at my main website.

Sunday in Space

On the afternoon of April 10, a number of my friends texted me, “Are you photographing the landing?” I had just left a shoot at a nearby gym and had no idea what they were talking about. I was educated about the Artemis II first crewed lunar mission in over fifty years. Huh. Why hadn’t I heard about this? Growing up in the 60s/70s, anything related to space travel made frontpage headlines and EVERYONE knew about it. Seems kind of fitting I guess that I recently acquired this 1950s image showing the Disneyland Spaceman and Spacegirl, when the world was obsessed with the moon.

The gent in the previous photo is one of the most frequent cast members in my collection of Disneyland Spaceman shots. Here he is in color with two young adoring fans:



And again in black and white. Do you think the little nerd in front ever blossomed?



Again in color:



Circa 1956/1957:



Others portrayed this character, including the cast member captured below in this undated 1950s image:



Want a closeup of his gizmo? Of course you do! I believe the partially hidden patch is for early Disneyland sponsor Kaiser Aluminum.



This 1962 shot is a bit dark, but still a fave:



…because of this guest and his feathered hat. I wonder if that hat would have been allowed on Big Thunder Mountain?



In other news of my ignorance, I had no idea that the Spaceman and Spacegirl were semi-back at Disneyland. According to MC43 on X/Twitter, they make special guest appearances. I need to get out more.

See more Disneyland Spaceman/Spacegirl photos at my main website.

1960s Riviera in Palm Springs

Thanks to the miracle of genuine FauxD©, you can step back in time to November 1961 and see the Riveria Hotel in Palm Springs in all its vintage glory. According to the slide inscription, this was taken during a Grocers Convention. Sounds like a boondoggle to me. Below is the more panoramic composite view:



A closeup of the marquee and vintage cars:



Still craving more 1960’s Riviera shots? How about this batch from June 1961?



I couldn’t find anything on Billy Allen or the Nunez Brothers Trio, but came across a short bio on Jeri Sullivan:

American singer and songwriter. Birth name: Leona Louise Schlosser. Born November 14, 1918 in Jersey City, Hudson, New jersey, USA. Died June 276, 2003 in Palm Desert, Riverside, California, USA. She was known mostly as a nightclub singer and sang with many orchestras including those of Bernie Cummins, Orrin Tucker, Johnny White, Lou Bring, Bernie Leighton's Swing Four and Freddie Shumake and his band. She also sang with The Mel-Tones (who changed their name after she left to "Mel Torme and The Mel-Tones"). Sullivan also dubbed singing voices in movies, including for Virginia Mayo in "A Song Is Born" (also known as "That's Life") (1948). Though she wrote other songs, she is mostly known for a song she helped edit but was given full co-writing credit for: "Rum and Coca Cola". After the song hit #1 by The Andrew Sisters, lawsuits followed. These went on until it was settled in 1948-9, allowing her to keep copyright but she, Morey Amsterdam and Paul Baron had to pay $150,000 to the original lyricist and composer of the song in Trinidad. After taking time to settle the lawsuits, she returned to singing on the nightclub circuit.

Ah, those warm, lazy, summer days in Palm Springs when lounging by the pool is just about all a body can handle.



What I believe is a semi-matching shot from 2010:



A few more showcasing the multiple pools at the hotel and a few lovely ladies:







See more Palm Springs Riveria Hotel photos at my main website.