VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1


January 7–20, 2011 OLD TOWN • MISSION HILLS • HILLCREST ART P. 2 BANKERS HILL • UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS • NORTH PARK • SOUTH PARK • GOLDEN HILL • NORMAL HEIGHTS • KENSINGTON • TALMADGE


Coalition wants SANDAG to get on board with a public transit priority


Former Banker’s Hill resident tags Berlin Wall


OPERA P. 13


By Christy Scannell SDUN Reporter


Move San Diego and the California Public Inter-


est Research Group (CALPIRG) have joined forces to make public transit a higher priority in SAN- DAG’s 2050 Regional Transportation Plan—and they are seeking help from Uptown residents and businesses. Move San Diego and CALPIRG linked as the San


San Diego Opera’s 2011 season celebrates tradition with pomp and flair


FILM P. 16


Diego Regional Coalition for Transit Solutions in June. As SANDAG’s transportation plan is finalized over the next nine months—strategizing allocations of more than $100 billion for transit and freeway im- provements over the next 40 years—the coalition wants to secure increased funding and consideration for public transit, said Elyse Lowe, Move San Diego’s executive director. “We are targeting a group of stakeholders and


working toward a specific goal for investment, plan- ning and implementation for transit,” she said. “We want them to sign on to a specific platform and com- mit to meeting with SANDAG’s board of directors to influence the 2050 plan.” Lowe said public transit has been woefully un-


derserved in the draft plan, which continues to be revised.


Ben Stiller’s threequel ‘focks’ with viewers


MUSIC P. 18


Old school local band reunites for a weekend at The Casbah


DINING P. 25


North Park jazz musician gleans gilded Grammy nod


Composer Geoffrey Keezer discusses his recent nomination, love of North Park and future musical pursuits


It’s not often that San Diegans are nominated


Taste of Thai provides lunch, dinner and a taste of Southeast Asia to Hillcrest


Index


Briefs…………………3 Calendar……………7 Living Spaces…………9 House Calls…………10 Pet of the Week……21 Dr.Ink………………24


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Jazz composer Geoffrey Keezer


for Grammy Awards, but this year appears to be special, as seven former San Diegans have been given nods by the Recording Academy for 2010. One nominee—the only Uptown resi- dent—Geoffrey Keezer of North Park, has been nominated in the Best Instrumental Arrange- ment Accompanying Vocalist(s) category for his arrangement of the song “Don’t Explain” on artist Denise Donatelli’s album, “When Lights Are Low.” During a recent interview with Uptown


News, Keezer and his wife, Susan Wulff, princi- pal bassist for the San Diego Symphony, chatted about the Grammy nod, how it all came about and its possible impact on their lives. “A win might help generate more interest in


Public hearing Jan. 8 to cover $35 million Balboa Park traffic proposal


By Pat Sherman SDUN Assistant Editor The Balboa Park Committee will hold a


meeting Saturday, Jan. 8, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. to hear public testimony on proposed changes for Balboa Park, including a park- ing garage and bypass bridge. Critics say the project, spearheaded by Qualcomm co-founder Irwin Jacobs, would diminish the park’s historic character—par- ticularly at the entrance to the park off Sixth Avenue and Laurel Street. Topics of discussion will include the ad- dition of a bypass bridge off the existing Ca-


brillo Bridge that would divert traffic from entering the Plaza de Panama. Leading opposition to the project is the


Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO). The preservation group’s executive director, Bruce Coons, said the roughly $35 million plans would be “extremely destructive” to the park’s west entrance and its “magical city on the hill” character. Coons said this aesthetic element would


be blocked by the new bypass bridge (as it is now by untrimmed city trees). Traffic would still enter the park on the


see Bridge, page 20


our work, but it doesn’t affect things too much. You know, the jazz part of the Grammy’s are filmed in the afternoon, so it’s not too much a part of the regular show,” Keezer said chuckling. “I think it would definitely change the quality


of work that were to come in and be offered to us,” said Wulff, who also played on the album “Don’t Explain” during the string portion. “Of course, the more in demand one gets,


the higher you get paid for your creativity, so that’s nice too,” she added. “But as far as a pos- sible win taking us away from North Park—I don’t foresee that happening.” Keezer, 40, grew up in Eau Claire, Wis. and from an early age was a burgeoning pianist with


see Keezer, page 6 Joan 8PM (619/760/858) 570.1100


www.SDBalboa.org • Ticketmaster San Diego’s historic Balboa Theatre


868 Fourth Ave @ E St – San Diego, CA 92101 An Evening With


Rivers SAT, JAN 15


outrageously fun!!! see SANDAG, page 20


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