Dolly in San Diego and Hollywood

I normally don’t get too affected by celebrity deaths, but Dolly Parton was an exception. She was one of a kind who could have inspired the phrase about breaking the mold. She could sing, write, and act, and had a personality that EVERYONE adored. Somehow, she also managed to keep her private life private, holding rude interviewers at bay with a witty quip and a smile. Despite patterning her look after the town tramp, she gave off a warm approachable vibe that made people feel as if they had known her for years. Another rare quality was her ability to be positive. ALL THE TIME. Instead of complaining about politics or griping about people, she did what one should: be a good example, keep your mouth shut, and do what is humanly possible and let the rest go. Too often the armchair critics just sit back and bitch about the state of affairs without offering true help or solutions; not Dolly. She put her money where her mouth was and used it for good, creating libraries for kids, helping underprivileged neighborhoods, donating for medical research, and so many other worthwhile philanthropic efforts that have probably gone under the radar. When I was getting my haircut the other day, I was reminded that there was a Dolly Parton mural in Normal Heights, by Sharky and Hassler outside Avalon Tattoo. From the Earthly Excursions website:

Avalon Tattoo’s owner commissioned the mural because he viewed Dolly as the quintessential American success story. She was a performer who rose from poverty and humble beginnings, and remained incredibly generous, authentic, and relatable to ordinary people. He later added the eagle and stars himself as a personal tribute to her.



My first introduction to Dolly was in 1977 with her song, “Here You Come Again.” One of the rare Parton hits that she didn’t write herself, it still packed a wallop, as she conveyed the emotion of someone falling in love with the wrong kind of person but not being able to help herself. Who hasn’t gone through that?!? After that, “9 to 5” (1980) was her breakout first role in the movies, captivating audiences with her portrayal of the “dumb blonde” who was anything but dumb. Despite looking like the town tramp, Dolly was a smart businesswoman who was able to use street smarts to outwit the fools who couldn’t see beyond the stereotype.



I was fortunate enough to see Dolly perform in San Diego at Humphreys by the Bay, August 1, 2008. I was impressed that despite being tiny in height, she was still able to radiate her gigantic warm energy to the audience and make them feel like she was singing to each and every one of them.

On September 13, 2008, I was asked to be part of the Dollypop! exhibit at the World of Wonder storefront gallery on Hollywood Boulevard. I LOVED being part of these popup gallery exhibits, which typically consisted of an email, “Hey, we have an exhibit coming up about _____; want to be part of it?”



I created this 3' x 3' painting using images from the fantasty/revenge sequences of “9 to 5.” It hangs in my office to this day; entertaining serious offers if anyone is interested.



Me on the left, looking appropriately dorky at the exhibit with co-curator Steven Corfe (right) and my friend Gene (center):



Marc Malkin was the other curator:



Although Dolly didn’t attend, there was an impersonator, Lenora Claire (thanks for the memory jog, Major!):



The other painting I created for the exhibit was “Dolly of the Caribbean,” creating a mashup of two of my favorite things. 24" x 36", I think I still have this…but haven’t located it yet. If I still have it, I might retool it a bit before offering it for sale.



Dolly left many amazing projects behind to still be carried out. Most importantly, I hope her legacy of laughter, positivity, and ability to get good things done can continue to inspire others. It would be almost too easy to ask oneself, “What would Dolly do?”

See more Normal Heights/Adams Avenue photos at my main website.

Date Night in Kensington

When I first moved back to San Diego in 1999, the Kensington, Hillcrest, and University Heights neighborhoods of San Diego were my go-to choices for restaurants and fun. Over the years, Kensington dropped off my radar, mainly because it was the furthest out. When pressed for time, an extra five to ten minutes can make a huge difference; also, I am the type of person that easily gets caught in the rut of visiting my favorite haunts. Recently, I decided to rectify that and of course took my camera along. The Kensington sign calls to my inner vintage neon nut. Unknown to me, my photography was being captured behind-the-scenes by my date While I wasn't necessarily happy with how I looked or my posture, I was VERY relieved to see that I still have avoided the dreaded baldspot in back!



Club Kensington’s sign is even cooler than the main Kensington one:



This vintage car was appropriately parked in front of the retro-looking club:



The things I do to get the right angle; I sure hope my knees hold out!



The destination was Trattoria da Sofia, an Italian restaurant that had been on my radar for awhile. They follow me on social media, so naturally I had to check them out!



Capturing the required establishing shot:



The interior decor was interesting; I would call it eclectic. One would expect to see this type of fountain in the lobby of an Italian restaurant:



…but probably not the laundry hanging overhead. It was a very fun touch!



I was obsessed with this fish-shaped water bottle on the table:



Moving onto the food, the arancine appetizer was fantastic and generously portioned:



The crispy burrata was beyond yum!



One of my typical choices when I dine in an Italian restaurant is pollo parmigiana (aka chicken parmesan):



It was also delish. My sweet tooth was a bit disappointed that Spumoni ice cream was not on the menu, but the limocello cake was out of this world!



Sofia’s definitely rated a return visit!

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

Smelling The Roses

It was time for my car to get its annual smog check. Most people would probably hang out at a coffee shop while waiting, or perhaps go grab a bite to eat at a local bistro. Not me. In the heat of the day, I took my camera and schlepped from Park Boulevard in University Heights down Adams Avenue to Normal Heights. San Diego is a fairly large city, but becomes quite small within each of the quaint historic neighborhoods that are spread throughout its borders.

There's something different about walking on foot versus driving a route day after day. No matter how many times you may have traveled on a road by car, I guarantee you that by hoofing it, you will notice details and treasures previously passed over. Case in point. Even though I lived in University Heights for two years, I had never really noticed these birds on top of the University Heights neon sign (not seen in photo below, as they exist on the extreme left and right sides of the sign).



These elephant heads on the top of Small Bar on Park Boulevard are so wacky; especially the one with the silver-starred eyes.



This pillar of river rock on Adams Avenue commemorates the Trolley Station/Barn that used to reside here. Today, it is a large park area with a scenic view of the freeway at the furthest edge.



All County Fire on Adams Avenue services fire extinguishers. I don't know much else about it, but I sure do love the Mondrian-style color squares on its façade.



As it is with all neon signs, this one hanging over Adams Avenue welcoming guests to Normal Heights looks much better at night. Unfortunately, the service of my car occurred during the day.



This terrazzo flooring can be found in front of the Discount Fabric store, which was once called the Adams Avenue Theatre. This beautiful deco design is one of the few remnants that tells shoppers here about the original tenant.



This vintage pharmaceutical sign hangs above a new bar on Adams Avenue called Polite Provisions. Note to myself: come back at night when the sign is lit.



I have always wished I was loaded so I could buy a Spanish-style apartment like the Alta Canada complex on Adams Avenue. I have no idea what the individual apartments look like on the inside, but the outside has been very well-maintained. Designed by Master architect Allen H. Hilton, they have always been a fave of mine.



This wacky structure on Adams and Boundary is known as the Triangle Building. I noticed two birds on top of the signage as I was approaching it.



When I moved in for a closeup, one bird had already flown the coup, proving that if you wait too long, life will often pass you by. Thanks for that important life lesson, Ferris!



Just in time to pick up my car (which mercifully passed!), I was back to where I started. My last shot for the day was of a local watering hole, The Lancers.



I hope you enjoyed my obscure photographic tour of San Diego—and be sure to stop (or at least slow down) and smell the roses whenever you get the chance!



See more vintage & current San Diego photos on my San Diego web pages.