Diving In

One of the sleazy charms of Southern California is the sheer preponderance of dated, slightly tacky mid-20th century houses of entertainment strung like cheap pearls along the major thoroughfares. The rapid growth and development of the 1950s has many legacies, but one of the most enjoyable are these living time capsules. I'm a sucker for Americana, especially postwar / Cold War populist architecture - L.A. coffee shops, family diners, tiki lounges, roadside motels, mall prototypes. And dive bars. I love a good dive bar.

West Coast dive bars are a much different breed than East Coast dive bars, which present a woolier brand of seediness - the reek of old cigars and the urine-sticky floors. California dive bars display a different face- the transitory-Charles Bukowski-old Vegas kind of tattiness. Where the drinks are cheap and the service is cheaper. And where the mahogany booths blot out the ever-present exterior sunshine.

I'm no expert when it comes to dive bars, but when some friends stopped by in Ocean Beach last night and suggested checking out a local joint, I was game, especially as the venue was a place I'd walked by countless times, perhaps daily, since moving to the area three years ago, but had never gone into. The Pacific Shores bar (or PAC Shores, as it's also confusingly called) is one of many bars found along Newport Avenue, but it differs from the vast majority (hello Sunshine Company, hello Tony's) by catering less to bikers and unrepentant hippies and more to original California types and the retro crowd. I mean, this place has a gigantic faux scallop shell hanging over the bar itself, and glowing-pastel renderings of ocean life (complete with winking mermaid) on the walls. They have an old-fashioned telephone booth tucked into the corner that has no telephone inside. They have a jukebox that my friend had heard raves about, although it wasn't playing when we visited. Instead, a radio was blasting the Foo Fighters, to the possible consternation of the five other patrons inside, all retirees, one on oxygen. By the time the Clash started banging out "Clampdown," the radio had been turned so low we were keeping our voices down so as not to bother those around us.

We ordered three drinks (one beer, two mixed), and paid $9.50 total. I've paid close to double that for a decent martini at The Pearl on Rosecrans. True, they had nothing on draft, and when I asked the bartender if she knew how to make a Bronx Cocktail, she looked at me as if I'd brought up something rude from her past. "Is it in the book?" she asked. Well, not sure which book we're referring to, but it is listed as an International Bartender's Association (IBA) Official Cocktail, which means it sure as hell's in somebody's book. Needless to say, I didn't get a Bronx Cocktail, especially after the bartender told another patron what I had asked for, and the lady made some crack about how this was San Diego, not New York. (Come on, folks. I realize this is the West Coast and all, but The Bronx Cocktail is an icon!) I settled for a drambuie on the rocks (scotch whiskey with herbs and honey - one of Scotland's major contributions to food culture) and nursed it with an appropriately surly attitude

At one point, the older gentleman next to us upended his dish of salted nuts, sending glass shards and almond scraps across the bartop. You know it's a dive when the dude on oxygen starts smashing up the place.

$3 strong drinks, giant scallop shells, black mood lighting, mixed clientle - and quiet during the week. What more could you ask of a dive bar?

A Decision Deferred

The meeting in City Council chambers wrapped up last night with the fate of seven San Diego city library branches and nine recreation areas still up in the air. There had been speculation that the council might accept the recommendation of the Independent Budget Analysis (IBA) study and hold off on any action until February 2009. But Mayor Sanders launched a withering attack against the IBA and analyst Andrea Tevlin in particular, accusing her of "procrastination" and warning that her behavior was costing the city $330,000 a week (this is the same individual who last week attacked representatives of the fire and police departments of using "baloney" scare tactics to make their points). Sanders also left the proceedings immediately after speaking and before the public was allowed to make their case. Council member Donna Frye angrily commented on the Mayor's absence: "It would be nice, just once," she told the audience, "to see someone delivering bad news to not only deliver the bad news, but hear your input in person at a public hearing".

One of the key arguments over this budget would seem to be council frustrations with how the mayor's office has made information available to council members. There is a general sense that many key details have been glossed over, that little information has been shared, and that many recommendations have been held back until the last minute, allowing time for less perusal and consideration. At any rate, we'll now have to wait until this Monday, November 24th, for a city council vote on the matter. No public comments will be accepted at that time, but the public may still attend (and bring signs).

More public rallies in front of the threatened libraries and rec centers will take place this Saturday at noon. I heartily recommend following either (or both) The Voice of San Diego or the OB Rag for updates and information. So far, they've been vocal and informative on this issue in a way our city's major newspaper has not.

Decisions Coming Soon (or Not Soon) on Library's Fate

Our City Council meets today to potentially vote on whether or not to accept the mayor's proposal for needed budget cuts, including some which would close down city library locations and park and rec facilities. The public will once again have the opportunity to address council members and plead their respective cases.

However, in some developing news, the Independent Budget Analysis (IBA) report issued yesterday seems to suggest that the council will be recommended not to move forward on closing any library branches at this time. Rather, they recommend a more comprehensive plan concerning closures should be presented to the council in February of 2009, at which point the matter may be decided. This decision would seem to suggest that the council's new members should be the ones voting on the matter, and should receive proper background information. A library contact sent me this release (which I've since come across on other sites, including this excellent overview and commentary courtesy of the OB Rag), and noted that while it does seem like little more than a stalling tactic, they believe anything that keeps the branches open and buys more time for advocacy is a good thing.

So, a halt to the process, perhaps? The report makes clear that this "deferral of library and recreation center closures should be considered a temporary measure, intended only to keep these facilities open until a more deliberate and comprehensive plan for facility closures is developed and presented..." Which means nothing has been decided yet. Which gives me hope and leaves me skeptical.

In Watermelon Sugar: Harvest Time

The little (very little) watermelon that could has offered itself up for the picking. This was to be no ten-pound giant. The little handful of fruit popped off the shriveling vine, and it was time to sample the inside. Our friend Sean witnessed the picking, and tried to hold back a few chuckles after seeing how tiny the melon really was. Later, after dinner, Jane split it open, and we were pleased to discover that her little project tasted exactly as a watermelon should. And for the first time in our lives, we were able to say that we ate an entire watermelon (seeds excluded, of course - those will be saved to grow future mini-melons).

Weekend Protests: San Diego Library Closures IV

Over the weekend, San Diego hosted what has been reported as the largest rally against the passage of Proposition 8 in the country. A crowd estimated at 20,000 - 25,000 assembled in the neighborhood of Hillcrest and marched to the County Administration Center on the waterfront, a considerable distance. The march was peaceful and upbeat, and the event attracted remarkably few counter-protesters. Others have noted with some surprise that the San Diego rally was much larger than similar rallies held in San Francisco (7,500 people), Los Angeles (10,000) and New York (12,000). I'm not sure whether to credit the impressive turnout to some latent San Diego activism or our perfect weather, but it was striking nonetheless.

A much smaller but equally passionate protest took place a few blocks from our home, as residents and community leaders of Ocean Beach rallied in front of the O.B. library branch. Jane and I went down to take part, and were quickly handed signs to wave at passing motorists (unfortunately, Jane's was heartfelt but misspelled - "San Deigo [sic], America's Dumbest City"). The honks from passing motorists were constant, and the speeches given by Frank Gormile (editor of the local and excellent OB Rag Blog), Pat James (OB Historical Society), Suzi More (Friends of the Library President), Steve Heverly (OB Town Council) and others were passionate and informative.

The OB People's Food Co-Op showed its solidarity with the cause by closing the co-op's doors for one hour during the protest. Petitions were passed around, for people to express opposition to the library's closure and another for individuals to volunteer as workers for the branch. And then, the assembled crowd of about 150 citizens began a short march from the library down Newport Avenue, to the Ocean Beach pier.

I wish we had marched in the street and not on the sidewalk, but our route did allow for plenty of interaction with the many small business owners and startled tourists along Newport. And Jane and I weren't the biggest fans of the prepared chant - "We Are Hopin' / To Keep the Doors Open". Catchy, though (I'm not sure if my idea, "Books / Not Crooks", would have been any better). But it was uplifting to see people turn out and show support for our struggling little library branch.

There will be a Strategy Meeting this Tuesday, Nov. 18th, at 7 PM (see the OB Rag for details), and the City Council Hearing for the budget takes place Wednesday, Nov. 19th, from 2 - 5 PM. Car pooling will be available to the hearing from the O.B. Library.

And, of course, Ocean Beach isn't the only neighborhood being impacted by these cuts. Time to make some more signs.

The Heat of November

I'm well aware that most of the country is settling into chilly temperatures and evenings of mulled cider and hot chocolate, but here in San Diego, we're still feeling the effects of the hot Santa Ana winds that have fanned new fires up in Santa Barbara and the San Fernando Valley. There may not be any fires burning down here (yet), but we've had bright sunshine and warm breezes over the last few days. Given the fact that we've also lately been inundated with a surplus of fresh limes from our farmer's CSA box (or just "the box," as we like to call it), I decided it was time to take drastic action and make a little limeade.

The proliferation of food blogs on the web are a bit of a mixed blessing. There's far too many of them, and it can be difficult to discern the quality of the recipes or food tips they offer. Many also seem to be boasts of what somebody ate the night the before, complete with fuzzy photos of unidentifiable food. No thanks. I've added a link to a helpful food blog compendium to the right, under the new(ish) "BlogRoll," but the sheer numbers can be exhausting.

Far more useful can be simply Googling the food item you wish to investigate. My search for "limeade" led to several good blog hits. I was tempted by one offering sprigs of mint, which we have growing in our back yard. But when I came across a link to "rosemary limeade," I knew I had to follow it up (we also have fresh rosemary growing on the front porch). Courtesy of The Accidental Scientist food blog (and adapted from a cookbook entitled "A Measure of Grace,") this was a winner - the tang of the limes played off nicely with the deep richness of the rosemary. Bitter and sweet, all in one.

Both recipes, and most of the serious lemonade or limeade recipes I've used, take a little longer to make than standard lemonade because they call for making a simple syrup rather than dumping sugar into the water / juice mixture. This makes a huge difference in taste - the sugar becomes dissolved, leaving the drink finely integrated and balanced.

Apologies to those currently cranking up the heat and mulling the cider. Maybe set this one aside for next spring?

Rosemary Limeade

Makes 1/2 Gallon (I changed the proportions)

2 cups simple syrup:
1.5 cups water
1.5 cups sugar
2 stems fresh rosemary

2 cups fresh lime juice
5 cups water

Make the simple syrup. Combine water and sugar in a sauce pan, and bring to a boil. Stir until the sugar dissolves, and then boil, undisturbed and uncovered, for 10 minutes.

Remove from the heat and add the rosemary stems. Cover, and leave to steep for 1 hour. Add the simple syrup to the lime juice and water, stir, and serve over ice.

OCLC / WorldCat Love

There's not many exciting aspects to getting a master's in library science, but once in a while I do stumble across some tool or feature that strikes me as being particularly useful or just plain cool. And as I am an Information Professional (drums and trumpets, please), I like to share these findings with others of a curious bent, so they can incorporate them into their daily lives or wherever else they could use a quick search.

So, listen up, folks! I want to let you in on a little secret. There is one easy-to-use and very effective website / database operation that allows any user to see where, in their city or beyond, a particular library book lies at a particular moment. This goes beyond calling up the local library or searching their online catalog, which doesn't always work satisfactorily. This is a method that ranks, by physical distance from your home address, all the holdings of the title you seek, be it public library, county library or university library.

The program is WorldCat, which is itself a product of the larger organization Online Computer Library Center, Inc. (OCLC). What WorldCat does is function as the world's largest (sheesh, terminology, sorry) OPAC, or Online Public Access Catalog. An OPAC is any old online catalog you find at a library these days, that is, the system which supplanted the old card catalog. Most OPACs serve their library and a few city or county locations. What WorldCat does is link up the catalogs of all these libraries (or most of them, anyway), with 90 countries and 10,000 institutions represented.

WorldCat has the same relation to a regular library catalog as the Internet has to your home computer. For many years, this service was only available to librarians and paying subscribers, but in 2003, Open WorldCat began making motions towards non-professionals. Today, there are numerous ways to tap into WorldCat, such as through the OCLC page or through WorldCat.org.

Once you're on the website, just type in the name of a book you're curious to find. You may be asked to fill in your zip code, so the program can determine where to start looking for items. A screen should then offer specific listings. Clicking on them will reveal which libraries have holdings, and how close those libraries are to your home. And through a decent Inter Library Loan system, you should be able to get your hands on most any of these.

This all presupposes that there's some of you out there still tracking down books, and that you don't accept Borders or Barnes and Noble as the final stop on the journey. Give WorldCat a try. I've found it to be somewhat addictive.