Davis celebrates Mother’s Day with troops in Afghanistan

Congressmember Susan Davis (D-CA 53) made her ninth trip to Afghanistan this past Mother’s Day to honor female service members deployed overseas. Accompanied by a bipartisan group of female congressmembers, Davis hosted a luncheon with the mothers, where they discussed challenges facing soldiers with children at home.

The congressional delegation visited with soldiers at Camp Marmel in Masar-E-Sharif, Afghanistan. Cards handmade by U.S. elementary school students were also distributed to the service members.

‘Flavordome’ opens in North Parker

San Diego’s Modern Times Beer held a soft opening for its new North Park tasting room located in the imminent North Parker at 3000 Upas St.

The facility, labeled the “Flavordome,” features vaulted ceilings with a modern, industrial feel. Modern Times founder Jacob McKean says the tasting room will be open from noon to 10 p.m., but may close periodically to allow the brewery to add some finishing touches before their official grand opening in early June.

The 1,624-square-foot tasting room features 16 taps that will pour beer brewed at their Sports Arena production facility, the “Lomaland Fermentorium.” According to Eater.com, Modern Times will not yet fill growlers at the Flavordome, but will sell their cans onsite.

Craft beer comes to Balboa Park

Balboa Park visitors will soon be able to enjoy an ice-cold craft beer in the May S. Marcy Sculpture Garden, located adjacent to the San Diego Museum of Art.

The owners of Uptown beer bars Blind Lady Ale house and Tiger! Tiger! have won a bid to take over the Sculpture Garden Court Cafe this summer, where they will serve lunch and take-out picnic boxes as well as local craft beer. Tiger! Tiger! Chef Sharon Wilson will oversee the menu at the eatery, which will feature a weekend brunch as well. Patrons will be able to enjoy fine food and craft beer amid the sculptures of 20th century artists including Louise Nevelson, Claire Falkenstein and Henry Moore.  This will be the third eatery opened in Uptown by owners Lee Chase, Jenniffer Chase, Jeff Motch and Clea Hantman.

Bridge classes offered

Starting June 4, the Balboa Park-based San Diego Bridge Academy will offer bridge classes twice weekly for their eight-week Introduction to Bridge course.

Classes take place on Monday and Wednesday from either 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. or 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. The course costs $120 including the necessary textbook. Bridge has been shown to ward off the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease by exercising mental capacities in a social setting.

Located at 3111 Sixth Ave., the courses are led by Bridge Academy Director David Walters, who also offers private lessons. He may be contacted at 619-298-5756. For more information about the San Diego Bridge Academy, visit sandiegobridgeacademy.com.

Community celebration for Speaker Atkins

The San Diego Democrats for Equality and Hillcrest’s Bamboo Lounge will hold a celebration for the newly sworn in California Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins (D–San Diego) on the evening of May 24.

The event is not a fundraiser, but a toast to the former San Diego City Councilmember now leading the state legislature’s lower house. Atkins, an Appalachian native, was sworn in as speaker on Monday, May 12, replacing John A. Pérez (D–Los Angeles) after serving as assembly majority leader.

The Democrat is both the first openly gay woman and the first San Diegan to serve as speaker of California’s Assembly. The event is free, but those wishing to attend are encouraged to RSVP at [email protected] or 619-709-0675. Bamboo Lounge is located at 1475 University Ave.

Bike to Work Day postponed

The San Diego County Bike Coalition announced San Diego’s Bike to Work Day to Friday, May 30 in response to a series of wildfires plaguing San Diego County on the weekend of the eco-friendly holiday.

The Bike Coalition supported San Diego Association of Government’s (SANDAG’s) decision to postpone the event originally scheduled for May 16 in order to keep riders, the general public and emergency personnel away from safety hazards caused by the fires.

In celebration of National Bike Month, bicyclists can stop at various pit stops during their commute from 6 – 9 a.m. to refuel with snacks and Bike to Work Day t-shirts. Participants can look forward to free massages at Elements Massage in Carlsbad, burritos at Snooze Restaurant in Hillcrest and coffee and bagels at the Civic Center Plaza in Downtown San Diego, to name a few. Companies can also get involved with the Bike to Work Corporate Challenge from May 27-30, when companies will encourage employees to get the highest percentage of ridership during the week.

Participants are encouraged to make safety a top priority as they make their commute during Bike to Work Day. Visit icommutesd.com to locate more pit stops near them and find out more information about the Corporate Challenge.