VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5


March 4-17, 2011 OLD TOWN • MISSION HILLS • HILLCREST ➤➤ART P. 8 BANKERS HILL • UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS • NORTH PARK • SOUTH PARK • GOLDEN HILL • NORMAL HEIGHTS • KENSINGTON • TALMADGE


Banksy-esque artist showcases work in University Heights


➤➤ FILM P. 9


FAT TUESDAYS Celebrating 10 years of


in Hillcrest


Expanding from a small community event to an Uptown attraction, this Mardi Gras tradition promises to keep the going strong for 2011


Bundle up for 'Cold Weather' at the Reading Cinemas Gaslamp


➤➤ DINING P. 11


By Dave Schwab SDUN Reporter


Billed as the “street party of the de-


cade,” Hillcrest Mardi Gras promises “a whimsical carnival honoring aban- donment and merriment” on Fat Tues- day, March 8, from 6 to 11 p.m. This year marks its 10th anniver-


sary, with the community fest on three blocks of University Avenue between


First and Fourth avenues growing from small beginnings to become what it is today—a signature event. “The first year it started in Urban


Mo’s parking lot and now it’s over 2,000 people across four blocks on Uni- versity with the street closed,” Chris Patrick said, one half of the marketing/ PR team for Hillcrest Mardi Gras along with Lisa Weir of Hillcrest Business As- sociation (HBA).


see Mardi Gras, page 14


Last year's revelers hit the streets of Hillcrest in high gear with high spirits. (Courtesy HBIA)


Gloria discusses challenges and


Head to Miguel's for a taste on the 'mild' side


➤➤GARDEN P. 15


success at District 3 forum Parking woes, emergency service cuts and the economy top the list for area residents during recent address


By Margie Palmer SDUN Reporter


Approximately 300 people packed the North Make your lawn beautiful with less water Index


Briefs……………………2 Calendar…………………4 Opinion…………………6 View from the Zoo……21 Classifieds……………22 Business Briefs…………27


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At the annual State of the District address, Council- member Todd Gloria spoke to attendees about District 3 updates, goals and policy. (Margie Palmer/SDUN)


Park Theatre auditorium on Feb. 23 to learn about San Diego City Councilmember Todd Glo- ria’s updates and future plans for Council District 3 during his State of the District address. Among the year’s accomplishments includ-


ed the implementation of Council policy setting the minimum staffing levels on fire engines and fire trucks and the creation of the North Park bike team.


Sen. Kehoe introduces bill to protect


the freedom of speech for tenants The new legislative bill hopes to allow California renters the right to display signs indicating political beliefs


By Margie Palmer SDUN Reporter


Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) has


introduced legislation that will protect the rights of tenants who wish to display po- litical signs in the windows of their rented apartments or homes. At current, the California Associations of


Realtor’s standard lease contains a provision that prohibits the display of signage. Failure to remove a sign from a window at the request


of a property manager or landlord would con- stitute a breach of the rental agreement, which could lead to eviction. Kehoe hopes the


passage of the bill, en- titled SB 337, would remedy that. “Every Californian’s political views are


Kehoe see Kehoe, page 22 “These minimum staffing levels on our fire


engines and trucks has created a critical baseline that will protect our response capabilities from further reductions due to the unfortunate imple- mentation of fire engine brownouts,” Gloria said. “And through the creation of the North Park Bike Team, now operating Wednesday through Sun- day nights, the visibility of officers patrolling our business district during peak hours has reversed an increase in crime trends in North Park.” Since Gloria, a Democrat, took office in De-


see Parking, page 20


PG. 18


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