{"id":236194,"date":"2013-05-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-05-04T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sdnews.com\/downtown-briefs-may-2013\/"},"modified":"2013-05-04T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2013-05-04T07:00:00","slug":"downtown-briefs-may-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/downtown-briefs-may-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"Downtown Briefs \u2013\u00a0May 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>PORT IDENTIFIES EXPECTED DELAYS ON HARBOR DRIVE<\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday, May 7, the San Diego Port Authority expects Harbor Drive to be much busier than usual, with delays expected for much of the day. This is due in part to the ongoing construction, but it is expected to be much worse due to the arrival of three cruise ships. The first ship will arrive at the south side of the B St. pier at approximately 4 a.m., bringing 2,900 passengers to the area for the day. The second will Dock on the north side of the same pier at 5:30 a.m. with 1,937 passengers. The third ship, a 600 passenger regatta, will arrive at 11 a.m. at Broadway Pier. Passengers will be unloading between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., increasing the pedestrian, taxi and shuttle activity in the area. The Port expects traffic to peak between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and recommends motorists to avoid Harbor Drive between Grape Street and the Navy Pier during these hours.<\/p>\n<p>SUPPORT FOR BIKE TO WORK DAY AT ALL TIME HIGH<\/p>\n<p>With May designated as National Bike to Work Month, you have plenty of opportunities to get on your bike and support an environmentally friendly and cost-saving method of commuting. The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) not only encourages you ride every day of the month, but especially on Bike to Work Day, which is Friday, May 17. Register at one of this year\u2019s record number 90 \u201cpit stops\u201d located around San Diego County that day, to get a free T-shirt and snacks, and then log your trips online at the TripTracker 511sd.com\/iCommute and you will automatically be eligible for lots of prizes, including a new bicycle from either Electra Bikes or Performance Bike Shops. Pit stops will be open from 6 \u2013 9 p.m. each day. \u201cSan Diego is a great place to bike year-round,\u201d SANDAG Chair and Santee City Councilmember Jack Dale said in a press release. \u201cWe want to encourage people to use Bike to Work Month as an opportunity to explore their communities, get active, and try something new. There are more than 1,000 miles of existing bikeways for people to take advantage of throughout the region.\u201d Commuter miles logged in 1012 for Bike to Work month exceeded 135,000 miles. Those wishing to participate in 2013 are encouraged to use the resources on the iCommute website, <a title=\"icommutesd.com\/bike\/bike-to-work\" href=\"http:\/\/www.icommutesd.com\/bike\/bike-to-work\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">icommutesd.com\/bike\/bike-to-work<\/a>, which includes a regional bike map, as well as safety, security and transit tips. For more information, visit <a title=\"511sd.com\/icommute\" href=\"http:\/\/www.511sd.com\/icommute\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">511sd.com\/icommute<\/a> or call 511 and say \u201cicommute.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>PORT INVITES PUBLIC TO PICNIC WITH WORKING WATERFRONT<\/p>\n<p>On Saturday, May 18, the Port of San Diego invites the public to take part in the Working Waterfront Family Picnic. This informative public picnic will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pepper Park in National City, along the San Diego Bayfront, just south of Downtown San Diego. Free bus tours of the marina will be offered and on Sunday, the Port will conduct two free boat tours of San Diego Bay. Also on Saturday, the picnic will offer arts and crafts, gymnastics performances, puppetry, a competitive gym for children, a bounce house, circus acts and live music. The Working Waterfront consists of all the Ports marine terminals and its marine and industrial businesses along San Diego Bay. An exhibit area will highlight the backgrounds of these maritime enterprises and their importance to the region. Families attending may bring their own food or food will be available for purchase. Free parking will be available. Reservations are required for boat tours. For more information, visit <a title=\"portofsandiego.org\" href=\"http:\/\/www.portofsandiego.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">portofsandiego.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>DOWNTOWN HOTELS STEPPING IN TO ASSIST WITH HOMELESS<\/p>\n<p>Two popular Downtown hotels, the San Diego Marriott Marquis &amp; Marina, located at 33 W. Harbor Dr., and the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, located at 1 Park Blvd., recently joined the coalition to help end homelessness Downtown. The two hotels did so by installing red \u201cdonation stations,\u201d from a program administered by the Downtown San Diego Partnership (DSDP), on their properties. These red meters are being placed in high traffic areas throughout Downtown to encourage the public to stop offering money to panhandlers and to feed the meters instead. Monies raised from the meters go directly to programs that the DSDP and it\u2019s many partners have put in place that are not only housing homeless individuals, but also reconnecting them with their families across the country. On April 19 the newly installed meters at the two hotel properties brought the total number of Downtown donation stations to 12. For more information about the donation stations and the programs they support, visit <a title=\"downtownsandiego.org\/clean-safe\/ending-homelessness\/\" href=\"http:\/\/www.downtownsandiego.org\/clean-safe\/ending-homelessness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">downtownsandiego.org\/clean-safe\/ending-homelessness\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>BIRCH AQUARIUM ANNOUNCES GREEN FLASH CONCERT SERIES<\/p>\n<p>Starting on Wednesday, May 15 and continuing every third Wednesday of the month through September, Birch Aquarium at the Scripps Institute of Technology, UC San Diego is offering a 21+ concert series in partnership with KPRi 102.1 FM. The monthly event, called the Green Flash Concert Series, includes performances by San Diego native Steve Poltz, and British new wave artists The FIXX, among others, and combines live music with the panoramic views offered at the aquarium\u2019s Tide Pool Plaza. Appetizers and beer and wine will be served for a fee. Tickets are general admission and include parking and entrance to the aquarium\u2019s exhibits. Season passes will also be available. For more information, visit: <a title=\"facebook.com\/birchaquarium\" href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/birchaquarium\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">facebook.com\/birchaquarium<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>CULINARY HISTORIANS LAUNCH FIRST PUBLIC EVENT<\/p>\n<p>The Culinary Historians of San Diego (CHSD) announced they will be kicking off the first of their monthly events on Saturday, May 18. Presentations and lectures about the local fishing industry, its evolution and impact on diet will be discussed. A fish-based lunch will be offered for purchase following the presentation. The event, which is open to the public, will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Star of the Sea Event Center, located at 1360 N. Harbor Dr., along the Embarcadero. The CHSD formed in 2013 to provide those interested with a history of food and drink and its role in society and is expected to have broad appeal. Memberships will be encouraged and the nonprofit will help support the Culinary Collection at the San Diego Public Library. For more information, contact President Marilyn Marx at geno97@cox.net.<\/p>\n<p>OLD GLOBE ANNOUNCES NEW SEASON<\/p>\n<p>The Old Globe Theatre announced Friday, April 26 their complete 2013-14 season, opening with \u201cThe Last Goodbye\u201d Sept. 20 \u2013 Nov. 3. The rock musical fuses Shakespeare\u2019s \u201cRomeo and Juliet\u201d with the songs of singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley. \u201cI am proud, excited and just plain tickled to announce the 2013-14 season at The Old Globe, my first as artistic director,\u201d Barry Edelstein said in a press release. \u201cWith two sensational new musicals, three award-winning plays about contemporary life by thrilling young American voices, a tour de force by an American comedic master and a poetic classic by a 20th century giant, this remarkable and wide-ranging lineup of productions stays true to the Globe\u2019s storied reputation, even as it edges the company forward in some new directions.\u201d The opening production is followed by the world premiere of \u201cThe Few,\u201d the return of \u201cDr. Seuss\u2019 How the Grinch Stole Christmas!\u201d directed by James Vasquez, \u201cBethany,\u201d Shakespeare\u2019s \u201cThe Winter\u2019s Tale,\u201d \u201cTime and the Conways,\u201d Pulitzer Prize-winner \u201cWater by the Spoonful, \u201cVanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,\u201d and the musical comedy \u201cDog and Pony.\u201d Edelstein will direct \u201cThe Winter\u2019s Tale,\u201d which will be the first indoor production of a Shakespeare play at the Old Globe in over 10 years. Before the 2013-14 season start, the company presents their 2013 summer season, including the annual Shakespeare Festival starting with \u201cThe Merchant of Venice\u201d June 9 \u2013 Sept. 28. For information on the complete summer season as well as tickets for all shows, visit theoldglobe.org or call 619-234-5623.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2927\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2927\" style=\"width: 225px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sandiegodowntownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/Gloria-planting-Rotary.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2927 lazyload\" alt=\"Council President Todd Gloria joined Rotary Members and volunteers from the Downtown San Diego Partnership to plant flowers in Linear Park. (Courtesy Downtown San Diego Partnership)\" data-src=\"https:\/\/sandiegodowntownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/Gloria-planting-Rotary-225x300.jpg\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 225px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 225\/300;\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2927\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Council President Todd Gloria joined Rotary Members and volunteers from the Downtown San Diego Partnership to plant flowers in Linear Park. (Courtesy Downtown San Diego Partnership)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>VOLUNTEERS COME TOGETHER TO BEAUTIFY LINEAR PARK<\/p>\n<p>Dozens of volunteers spent their Saturday morning working to restore the beauty of Linear Park on April, 27 located behind the Office Depot at 835 West E St., Downtown. Just a year ago the park was ignored and garbage was left in bushes and sprinklers, plants and grass was destroyed. People chose to walk in the adjacent parking lot rather than walk through the park\u2019s walkway; but with the combined efforts of volunteers from Downtown San Diego Partnership\u2019s Clean &amp; Safe program, area residents, officers from the San Diego Police Department, and members of the Southwest Marina Community Action Group (SWMCAG), the park was restored in late 2012. Rotary 33 members and Council President Todd Gloria teamed up with the Clean &amp; Safe team to continue the beautification for Rotarians at Work Day. \u201cPark space is essential to all neighborhoods, including Downtown,\u201d said Council President Todd Gloria. \u201cI was happy to spend my morning alongside my friends from the Downtown San Diego Partnership and Rotary 33 to ensure this park is in good condition for local residents and visitors.\u201d Rotary 33 \u2013 San Diego\u2019s largest rotary organization based in Downtown \u2013 and many other volunteers planted new flowers and ornamental plants and fertilized the lawn. They also painted light poles and removed graffiti and stickers. More than 25,000 Rotarians and volunteers work to better their communities\u00a0each year on Rotarians at Work Day. For more information about the Downtown San Diego Partnership and Rotary 33, visit <a title=\"www.downtownsandiego.org\" href=\"http:\/\/www.downtownsandiego.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">www.downtownsandiego.org<\/a> y <a title=\"rotary33.org\" href=\"http:\/\/www.rotary33.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rotary33.org<\/a>, respectively.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>PORT IDENTIFIES EXPECTED DELAYS ON HARBOR DRIVE On Tuesday, May 7, the San Diego Port Authority expects Harbor Drive to be much busier than usual, with delays expected for much of the day. This is due in part to the ongoing construction, but it is expected to be much worse due to the arrival of [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":726,"featured_media":236195,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"Downtown Briefs \u2013\u00a0May 2013","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[11551,11552,11600],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-236194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-opinion","category-sdnews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/236194","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/726"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=236194"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/236194\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/236195"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=236194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=236194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=236194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}