Peninsula Briefs for December 2019

Holiday event sponsors needed in Ocean Beach

The Ocean Beach Town Council welcomes community involvement and sponsorships to support the many year-end initiatives it is producing, including the OB Holiday Tree, Holiday Parade and the Annual Food & Toy Drive. (For details about these projects, see “What’s happeing in your neighborhood: Calendar of events for November/December 2019.”)

Sponsorship packages are $150-$2,000, each with its own way of promoting the sponsor’s business/brand throughout December.

To apply, e-mail Grace Quigley grace@obtowncouncil.org

Wine-tasting Dec. 12 for Shepherd Center

A wine tasting fundraiser will be held 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12 at Point Loma Assembly, 3035 Talbot St. in support of the Peninsula Shepherd Center at All Soul’s Episcopal Church, 1475 Catalina Blvd.

The Shepherd Center provides services for Peninsula seniors — everything from educational opportunities and outings to transportation for doctor visits and grocery shopping.

Jensen’s Foods is partnering with the Point Loma Assembly to host the event, which includes wines and Champagnes paired with hors d’oeuvres. All wines tasted will be discounted 15 percent. Tickets $25 at jensensfoods.com/winetasting or in the store.

OB parrot ornament on sale for gift-giving

The 2019 Holiday Ornament is available for purchase, $25 each, at the Ocean Beach MainStreet Association, 1868 Bacon St., or online at bit.ly/obparrotornament It is approximately 3 1/4 inches wide, with a gold ribbon for hanging. It depicts a colorful parrot wearing sunglasses to celebrate the OB parrots migrations, and comes in a commemorative box for gift-giving and storage.

Input wanted for older residents study

The City of San Diego is asking for comments from residents, ages 50 and older, via an online survey conducted by the Parks & Rec Department’s AgeWell Services program, to help prepare for the changing needs that come with an aging population. The survey has questions about public spaces, transportation, housing, social inclusion, work, civic engagement, communications and health services.

It takes about 10 minutes to complete and is available in English at bit.ly/agewellsurveyenglish and Spanish at bit.ly/agewellsurveyspanish

Responses will be accepted until Friday, Dec. 13. The survey is part of a broader effort to have San Diego become a member of the global network of “Age-Friendly Cities.” To complement the survey findings, the AgeWell Services program received a $50,000 grant from The San Diego Foundation to provide funding for future programming and materials designed for older residents. sandiego.gov/agewell

OB Brewers produce seasonal ‘benefit’ beer

Ocean Beach breweries and brewers are in the holiday spirit, combining their expertise to brew up a small, single batch beer they’ve dubbed “Crooked Tree Red IPA,” in homage to the iconic — and typically leaning — OB Christmas Tree.

A portion of the proceeds from the brew will help support the OB Town Council’s many upcoming holiday events — from the annual OB Holiday Parade to the OB Holiday Auction and the Food & Toy Drive.

The idea for a seasonal beer originated with the OB Town Council’s Events Committee in September. According to OB Town Council Corresponding Secretary Jon Carr, adding up the cost of paying the police overtime, the permits, road barricades and other factors, the pricetag on the OB Parade can reach $25,000 to $30,000. The $50 or so parade entry fee just doesn’t cover it — but that’s where the beer comes in.

Carr suggested reaching out to Pizza Port and OB Brewery about collaborating on a holiday brew to help this year’s events be better than ever. But word travels fast in the brewing community, and both local brewers and breweries wanted in on the project.

Now, Shawn Steele with Rincon Reservation Road Brewery said about 17 breweries total (about 22 brewers) have jumped on the Crooked Tree Bandwagon — from Stone Brewing and Karl Strauss Brewing to Societe Brewing Company, White Labs and more. The brewers met together on Oct. 15 and the batch was brewed on Nov. 5.

“The idea is that this celebratory, holiday ale is being brewed by OB, for OB,” said Carr. “Everybody involved either lives here or has a brewery here.” The Crooked Tree Red IPA’s flavor profile will be that of a pine-forward, West Coast IPA and will be gluten-reduced (but not quite gluten-free).

Pizza Port brewed the beer and contributed the brewing facilities; White Labs contributed the yeast, Clarity Ferm and the test to confirm that the beer is gluten-reduced; and Brewers Supply Group donated grain and brewing supplies.

The beer is a small, single batch (20-25 kegs) so once it’s gone, it’s gone, said Carr.

Steele said the date the brew will be available will likely be Dec. 6 in many OB bars, OB Brewery and Pizza Port, and will be offered while supplies lasts. The hope is that a seasonal OB beer will become a yearly tradition during the winter holidays. The price per beer is presently undetermined, and the beer will only be available on tap. T-shirts with the logos of the breweries involved in the collaboration will be available for purchase.

Kid Ventures/Rady Children’s Hospital launch project

Kid Ventures hosted a party in September to inaugurate its Preschool Academy and kick off the Solomon Family Ventures Fund, a partnership with Rady Children’s Hospital to create a Kid Ventures-type play center inside the hospital.

Kid Ventures raised $1,750 from cash donations and in-kind donations totaled around $2,500. Kid Ventures Preschool Academy, formerly Kid Ventures Liberty Station, is located at 2865 Sims Road.

Kid Ventures was founded by Debbie and Darren Solomon in 2008 with the intention to provide a space for children to build social and cognitive skills and stretch their imaginations and muscles in a clean and physically active environment. They’ve also brought a “mobile Kid Ventures” to Rady Children’s Hospital in past years, which led to the vision for the Solomon Family Kid Ventures Fund.

The Fund will be used to create an interactive play space for children and their caregivers to enjoy within the hospital campus. Rady Children’s Hospital provides care to 91 percent of the region’s youth, and more than 247,000 children rely on this hospital every year. The indoor play space is projected to feature amenities like those in Kid Ventures, such as a market, fire station and more.

To donate to the cause, visit bit.ly/solomonfund For more information on Kid Ventures Preschool Academy, visit indoorplaysandiego.com/preschool

Young choreographers contest opens

San Diego Dance Theater seeks dance choreographers, ages 18-30, to participate in the 10th annual Young Choreographers Showcase & Prize. Choreographers of all dance styles are invited to apply by Dec. 8. Finalists will be notified by Dec. 13. There will be 5 and 8 p.m. performances March 14 at White Box Live Arts, 2590 Truxtun Road. A panel of expert judges and the audience will award prizes: Audience Favorite Ensemble ($500), Most Compelling Singer Dancer ($500), Best Overall/ Most Original Choreography ($1,000 plus a night in Live Arts Fest, April 2021).

Apply at tinyurl.com/YCSP2020 For more information, e-mail info@sandiegodancetheater.org or visit bit.ly/2P6Av1j or call (619) 225-1803.

Boarded! Pirate adventure returns

Maritime Museum of San Diego welcomes back “Boarded!” the comedic, interactive show that allows participants to be sworn in as part of the ship’s crew, be trained to navigate, sword fight and bail water, escape from the King’s jail, swab the deck and engage in other pirate activities.

A Little Pirate costume contest is a new edition for ages 12 and younger. The winner will receive a pirate toy at the gift shop.

Performances take place Saturday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 28 at the Museum, 1492 N. Harbor Drive. Check-in times are 10:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m., with performances lasting 90 minutes. Tickets: $40 adults; $25 for ages 12 and younger at sdmaritime.org or the ticket booth or gift shop. (619) 234-9153.

Labyrinth illuminates the night at Liberty Station this winter

Artist Lauren LeVieux’s “Walk the Labyrinth” was selected as the 2019 “Illuminate the Night” temporary light installation, as part of ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station’s “Installations at the Station” program. This is the fifth annual public art light installation funded by the Naval Training Center Foundation to lighten the longer, dark nights between November and March.

LeVieux’s work is a digital interactive art installation featuring the interplay of technology and ancient form. The walkable projection will be located adjacent Barracks 15 and 16, and only visible after dark. To view the most recent installations, visit ntcfoundation.org/art-in-public-places

Chef Coulon joins Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern

Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern, 4990 N. Harbor Drive, welcomes Chef Nathan Coulon as its new Culinary Director, putting Coulon at the head of all five Southern California locations (San Diego, Dana Point, Brea, Santa Monica and Woodland Hills).

He will work with each outpost’s executive chef and is a proponent of locally-sourced and sustainable ingredients. Coulon has been Zagat Guide-rated several years in succession, as well as nominated for the James Beard Rising Star Chef Award in 2007. j-fat.com