Articles by The Grapevine

Safari Park re-opening to people June 20

Not that the animals minded at all, but officials announced Wednesday that the San Diego Zoo Safari Park at San Pasqual Valley near Escondido and the zoo’s main campus in San Diego will reopen on June 20, ending the longest closure in the organization’s 103-year history. Both parks were shuttered in mid-March to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Before the official reopenings, the Zoo and…


When are the Hunters going to jail already?

Who knew that the easy part of Duncan and Margaret Hunter taking the heat for their campaign finance fraud would be arranging plea agreements sending them to prison. The hard part, apparently, is for them actually to serve time in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to use over $250,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses. Last week, Margaret Hunter’s sentencing was moved to July…


We’re having a (minor) heat wave

A rare late spring windy Santa Ana heat blast from the east is expected to cause temperatures to rise as much as 20 degree over seasonal averages, meteorologists say. Hot temperatures are expected Tuesday throughout San Diego County amid a heat wave that will last through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. KGTV-10 News Meteorologist Megan Parry says temperatures are expected to near record…


Escondido takes a knee for George Floyd

Escondido took a knee at high noon Wednesday, June 3, 2020. That’s when Mayor Paul “Mac” McNamara, Council member Mike Morasco, Escondido Police Chief Varso, Yusef Miller of Racial Justice Coalition San Diego, Rev. Meg Decker of Escondido Together and other leaders and community members held a peaceful vigil in honor of George Floyd at City Hall. An estimated 200 people attended. With the coronavirus devil…


‘Round Town: Panache, puppies, meals, mo’

(Here are a few random items relating to Escondido, San Marcos, Rancho Santa Fe and Valley Center that might have missed in the rush to societal protest and coronavirus relief…) Coronavirus be damned, time for some Panache Panache is the most important event on Escondido Arts Partnership Municipal Gallery (EAP)’s busy calendar of exhibitions, educational programming, and special activities benefiting San Diego county residents and…


Three-Dot Lounge Coronavirus Edition

We are going to consider a few outstanding three-dot items stripped from below, well below, today’s coronavirus headlines. But first, a reminder and salute about he who pioneered the three-dot way It’s been over 20 years since famed San Francisco journalist Herb Caen (1916-1997) died. For journalists and San Franciscans, Caen was a superstar. Known as “Mr. San Francisco,” his columns were a vital piece…


Tri-City nurses protest working conditions

Over 100 Tri-City Medical Center nurses and community supporters held a public action at 7 a.m. Friday, May 29. They were protesting the facility’s Chief Nurse Executive, Barbara Vogelsang, who they said was mismanaging break nurses, failing to safely staff the ICU and provide needed resources like breaks and Rapid Response Team nurse resources. Nurses also demanded safe staffing for every unit, every shift and…


Rosie’s Cafe back on Food Network Thursday

Rosie’s Cafe hasn’t had much success as an actual eatery, but it has become something of a cause celebre and a virtual hit on television thanks to TV makeover chef Robert Irvine and his Food Network’s “Restaurant: Impossible” show. The televised journey into somethingness continues at 9 p.m. Thursday May 28 with a 60-minute special on The Food Network. Check your local listings for channels….


Wide World of (coronavirus-related) Sports

With all due respect to ABC’s Wide World of Sports…Spanning the world to bring you the constant variety of sports… the thrill of victory… and the agony of defeat… the human drama of athletic competition…This is The Escondido Grapevine’s Wide World of Coronavirus-related Sports. Tyler Saladino turning South Korean (Baseball) Your browser does not support iframes. You remember Tyler Saladino. Some of you anyway. Saladino,…


No more Nordstrom, Souplantation for you

Coronavirus has killed a lot of business and commerce during the past few months. A national retail giant and locally based restaurant chain are getting out of Escondido and North County. By the same token, an Escondido shopping center and apartment complex changed hands recently as well. Here are the highlights. No more Nordstrom for you Want to get some high-end retail goods for whenever…