grand avenue

End of an era for Champion’s Restaurant

Tough to cull the sweet from the bitter on Wednesday Jan. 20, 2016 as customers at Grand Avenue’s landmark, iconic Champion’s Family Restaurant ate their last meals with tears flooding food-splashed eyes. Like the condemned with no remaining reprieve, customers bade sad farewells to all that tasty comfort food with final portions of signature corned beef hash topped off by to-die-for cinnamon rolls. Come to…


HQ Wigs TOO provides comfort, and hair, to chemotherapy patients

Cathy Ketchum is flying down Grand Avenue on a wig and a dream. “I just love the work I do with chemo patients,” Ketchum said. “I want to go over and above making them feel good about themselves.” Ketchum has a lot of experience helping cancer patients although she isn’t a medical professional or health care worker. In some ways, though, her work sometimes can…


Putting off the Ritz: Theater renovation stalls

A much ballyhooed church project to renovate and re-purpose the abandoned, and historic, Ritz Theater in downtown Escondido will be delayed. Considering the historic failures of numerous groups seeking to re-purpose this long-abandoned historic theater over the years, the question is will it even happen. Promoted prominently by Escondido’s then-mayor Sam Abed and his allies, New Vintage Church (NVC) received unanimous approval from Escondido council…


Used books still in style at Cassidy’s

(Editor’s Note: Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end as Cassidy’s Books closed its doors in July 2020. This story, alas, must serve as an homage to what ws once an incredible experience for those who love books.) Tom McDevitt’ sat behind the large front counter at Cassidy’s Books, in the shadow of Fry’s Electronics at a back-of-the-curve, out-of-the-way strip mall considering North…


Champion’s aside, Rosie’s Cafe now open

Lines out Grand Avenue, tears on half-eaten cinnamon rolls, Champion’s Family Restaurant wrapped it up Friday, Jan. 29, after 44 years in business, the future be damned. Now, almost a year later, bookending Champion’s run is the new Rosie’s Cafe, which soft-opened with little notice on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 117 Grand Avenue in downtown Escondido. Owned and operated by the youthful Kaitlin Rose, under…


Scenes from the McClintic wedding

Gray skies couldn’t damper bright spirits as Tm McClintic and the former Crystal Henson, now Crystal McClintic Henson, celebrated their much-anticipated nuptials at a hilltop estate overlooking southeastern Escondido. Mother of the bride, Cindy Nelson, expressed her delight on “a day to remember to see two very special, kind, caring, genuine and loving people say their vows and become husband and wife. Words can not…


Farm Bureau golf tourney, building facades, lifesaving heart app and Cruisin’ Grand

Farm Bureau Golf Tournament The San Diego County Farm Bureau is holding a four player scramble golf tournament benefitting the Farm Bureau and its Scholarship Fund. The tournament will be held at The Vineyard at Escondido Golf Course beginning at 11 a.m. and a shotgun start at noon, on Thursday, April 14. Also on tap will be lunch, banquet and an awards ceremony following the…


Cruisin’ Grand car show returns for 2016

Escondido’s Cruisin’ Grand car show never truly ends. Like the day after Christmas or Mardi Gras for some, planning immediately began for Cruisin’ Grand 2016 after the 2015 version ended on Oct. 2. That 2016 event, the 17th incarnation of the annual rite of spring and summer, begins anew Friday, April 1. Swaying with the rhythms of spring and summer, almost in sync with the…


Panache 2016 makes a big splash for Escondido Municipal Arts Gallery

Around 200 art patrons and Escondido Arts Partnership and Escondido Municipal Art Gallery lovers flocked to the latest incarnation of the group’s annual major fundraiser, Panache 2016 on Saturday, March 19. Networking and noshing, auction bidding and general arts partnering went on for hours as patrons couldn’t get enough of art while a good time was had by all. “I live in Mira Mesa now,…


VINZ WINE BAR (NO WINE)

Thanks for stopping by to read mmm-yoso!!!, a food blog.  Kirk is having some technical difficulties, while Ed (from Yuma) is enjoying the pleasant weather (in Yuma) and Cathy is writing a quick post. We parked in front of Vinz a few weeks ago when stopping at EscoGelato for a sweet treat and The Mister kept it in mind when it was His turn to choose one…