San Diego’s budget deficit • Critical Mass • Feasting on Thanksgiving • December Nights

Monday, November 30, 2009	December Nights in Balboa Park this Friday & Saturday The 32nd annual holiday kick-off will be held Friday from 5-10pm and Saturday, noon-10pm. In the spirit of the holidays, participating Balboa Park museums will open their doors free of charge from 5-9pm both evenings. The largest free community festival in town is expected to attract more than 300,000 visitors over two days. Entertainment and holiday cheer top this classic San Diego celebration including food from around the globe at the International Christmas Festival at the House of Pacific Relations Cottages; unique gift shopping at the museum stores and with the artisans of Spanish Village; international choirs, musical and dance presentations from the San Diego Junior Theatre, SD Civic Youth Ballet and others. We encourage walking or biking...(but what to do with your car.) After 24 years “Christmas on the Prado” was renamed “December Nights in Balboa Park” in 2001.
Sunday, November 29, 2009	“It is unconscionable that the entire population of San Diego is put in jeopardy so that we can pay outrageous salaries for a group of government and city workers and fund an extravagant pension for them, in many cases paying them more than when they were working.” — Gillian Ackland in today’s letters to the Union-Tribune
Saturday, November 28, 2009	Did you get stuffed for Thanksgiving? 34.7% of HillQuest readers who took the Turkey Day poll said they feasted at home yesterday; 26% celebrated at a friend’s home; 17.3% drove outside of San Diego County; unfortunately 13% had no Thanksgiving feast and 8.6% flew to another destination for the Thanksgiving holiday. Burn off some of your Thanksgiving calories with a hike, bike ride or walk around Balboa Park. Or start your holiday shopping by strolling through the Hillcrest business district. Support local merchants instead of the malls.
Friday, November 27, 2009	Need some extra exercise after Thanksgiving feasting? This evening another SD Critical Mass will be taking off at about 7pm. “Those who ride in Critical Mass are participating in a form of street theater that is nothing less than an ecological revolution.” — Paul Krassner After a 1992 beginning in San Francisco, Critical Mass fever has spread around the globe — from London to Rio de Janeiro and hundreds of cities in between, finally finding its way back to San Diego. What is it, why is it, where is it and why is it spreading like wildfire? Meet up at the big fountain in Balboa Park along Park Boulevard. Word is that circus performers may be entertaining this month’s pre-ride crowd. Dress appropriately with lots of lights — and of course a helmet!
Thursday, November 26, 2009	“And I can tell, right now, in my office, we are extremely overworked, responding to constituent requests. One of my staff is out there removing graffiti on a day-to-day basis trying to prevent neighborhood blight. We are working very, very hard in our offices with very limited resources.” — Council President Ben Hueso re: San Diego’s budget deficit
Wednesday, November 25, 2009	What are you doing for Thanksgiving? (Please take the survey below.) Several Hillcrest restaurants will be serving both traditional and extraordinary dinners. Case in point...The Crest Cafe (open from 7am-5pm) is featuring a special prix fix menu of boneless fresh turkey breast in a BBQ orange chili glaze with pancetta, sourdough and apple stuffing, maple roasted butternut squash, choice of garlic mashers, scalloped potatoes or chipotle corn mashers with a cup of chicken tortilla, veggie chili or French onion soups and (if your belly still has room) a slice of homemade pumpkin pecan pie a la mode...all for only $18.50...or you may order from The Crest’s regular menus. Forget something while cooking at home? Whole Foods Market will be open from 8am-4pm on Turkey Day. City Deli (open ’til midnight) offers a $19.95 Thanksgiving feast (or $13.95 for children under 12). Their menu includes a choice of butternut squash soup or garden salad with homemade dressings, slices of young boneless turkey breast with gravy, country dressing, candied yams and homemade mashed potatoes, vegetables, cranberry salad, fresh bread & butter. San Diego will be having the best weather in the US this week. Get outside for a hike, bike ride or walk around Balboa Park. If more exercise is necessary, on Friday evening another Critical Mass will be taking off at about 7pm. Meet up at the big fountain in Balboa Park along Park Boulevard. Word is that circus performers will be entertaining the pre-ride crowd. Show up early...and dress appropriately with lots of lights.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009	“Our entire strategy was, in keeping our libraries open, our parks open, all the services that we provide: police, fire, trash collection, street maintenance, our goal was not to affect those last year. And I think that’s going to be our goal this year, and I feel very confident we’re going to meet our goal.” — Council President Ben Hueso re: the Mayor’s budget cuts

..Blog..