San Diego, CA

‘It gets a bad wrap:’ East Village block party aims to change the narrative

Published

2 years ago

July 13, 2024

‘It gets a bad wrap:’ East Village block party aims to change the narrative

East Village came alive Saturday, hours before the San Diego Padres game.

The 12th annual East Village Block Party, on J Street between 7th and 10th avenues, featured food, music, games and plenty of Friar Faithful. In the morning, it was mainly residents attending who said they were happy for a community event and hoped it might change the perception of the neighborhood.

East Village has San Diego’s largest homeless population and can be jarring to new visitors to Petco Park, or the upcoming Comic-Con International. Still, it’s not the same as East Village of 15, 10 or five years ago, with the addition of 22 apartment complexes added in the last decade and an estimated 20,000 residents.

“The (block party) helps to rehabilitate that perception,” said Dominic Li Mandri, district manager for the East Village Association. “We want people to know it isn’t just a business district, but a residential district now.”

Li Mandri credits the opening of Petco Park in 2004 as the catalyst in the revitalization of the area. In fact, the block party was a bit of a mix between a community event and a Padres fan festival. Li Mandri said they expected 5,000 and 10,000 people to attend the event, with the majority coming in the hours before the 4:15 p.m. game between the Padres and Atlanta Braves. The block party was originally scheduled for the start of the Padres season but was canceled due to rain.

Dozens of people walk between vendors during the East Village Block Party along J Street on Saturday, July 13, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

J Street was filled Saturday with the smell of grilled food, two DJs playing pop hits and plenty of venders. Some of the food options included Bosforo, with wood-fired pizza; Doggus Gus, with bacon-wrapped hot dogs; and Pacific Island Crave, with Hawaiian and other types. As the sun came out and the temperature hit 80 degrees, Topo Chico was on the case, handing out bottles of its sparkling water.

Jesse Fuentes, 40, and his wife Brittany Fuentes, 39, were at the event with their Padres jerseys on. They rent an apartment a few blocks away and Jesse Fuentes works at the nearby San Diego Central Library.

“I wish there were more events like this to highlight how great this community is,” Jesse Fuentes said.

East Village pride was a common theme among many participants. Jill Benbow, 46, was at the event with her husband and two senior dogs, Huey, 13, wearing a Padres bow tie, and his sister Ruby 14, who was too hot to wear her regular Padres shirt.

Benbow, wearing a Manny Machado shirt, said they have lived in the Legend Condominiums building — overlooking the ball field — for two and a half years. She said they love living downtown and its access to plenty of things to do.

“I think it gets a bad wrap,” Benbow said of East Village. “It’s fun, safe, and let’s go Padres.”

Other sports teams were on hand to promote upcoming events and build awareness. SD Legion, the city’s professional rugby team, had an inflatable wall with holes where participants tried to throw or kick a rugby ball into. It also sold merchandise, including jerseys ($100), hats ($35) and flags ($25).

San Diego FC, the new Major League Soccer team beginning play next year, had a spinning wheel where participants could win sunglasses, a flag, scarf or tote bag. It also had hats (around $30) and key rings from $5 to $7.

San Diego Mojo, a professional indoor volleyball team, just finished its inaugural season and was in East Village to spread the word. The team also had a spinning wheel, with the the chance to win a Mojo embroidered towel, T-shirt, bag or sunglasses. Team spokesperson Ryan Tewes said they were grateful to have the opportunity to be at the block party.

“We’re here to introduce ourselves,” he said. “We’re trying to get to as many events as possible.”

Next up for East Village is Comic-Con, which has stretched beyond the convention center and the Gaslamp Quarter. In addition to events at the library, last year featured a mini-Jurassic Park (complete with animatronic dinosaurs) at a warehouse on 15th Street.

Paul Motl, 42, recently moved into an East Village apartment because he wanted to live downtown for all the attractions. He was wearing a yellow Padres shirt and a classic brown hat. Motl said he is slightly nervous about how big the Comic-Con crowd will be but thinks it might be OK.

“To me, the Comic-Con crowd seems very respectful,” he said.

Originally Published: July 13, 2024 at 4:28 p.m.

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San Diego, CA

Here are the 9 San Diego County communities that set or tied heat records

Published

58 minutes ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Here are the 9 San Diego County communities that set or tied heat records

San Diego County is known for having wet, cold weather in February. But it had numerous hot spells this year. And when the month ended on Saturday a high pressure system produced heat that broke or tied temperature records in nine communities from the desert to the sea, the National Weather Service said.

The most notable temperature occurred in Borrego Springs, which reached 99, five degrees higher than the previous record for Feb. 28, set in 1986. The 99 reading is also the highest temperature ever recorded in Borrego in February.

Escondido reached 95, tying a record set in 1901.

El Cajon reached 92, three degrees higher than the record set in 2009.

Ramona topped out at 88, five degrees higher than the record set in 2009.

Alpine hit 88, four degrees higher the record set in 1986.

Campo reached 87, four degrees higher than the record set in 1999.

Vista hit 86, four degrees higher than the record set in 2020.

Chula Vista reached 84, one degree higher than the record set in 2020.

Lake Cuyamaca rose to 76, four degrees higher than the record set in 1986.

Forecasters say the weather is not likely to broadly produce new highs on Sunday. Cooler air is moving to the coast, and on Monday, San Diego’s high will only reach 67, a degree above normal.

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San Diego, CA

Francis Parker captures Open Division girls basketball title

Published

13 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Francis Parker captures Open Division girls basketball title

OCEANSIDE — The Frontwave Arena scoreboard showed 23 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Up 16, Francis Parker’s win over Westview High School for the CIF San Diego Section Open Division girls basketball championship was secure.

“No, no, no!” Parker head coach Courtney Clements screamed to freshman guard Jordan Brown, telling her there was no need to score.

So Brown walked the ball up the floor, from the backcourt, across midcourt, a 1,000-watt smile etched across her face.

With no Wolverines defending her, Brown dribbled from side to side across the logo. Then, a fraction of a moment before the final buzzer sounded, Brown flung the basketball high toward the rafters, then was engulfed by teammates.

The job was complete. Parker’s first Open Division title in program history was secure, the final reading 66-50 on Saturday night.

Of those final seconds, said Brown, who scored 23 points. “It was a surreal moment, knowing we worked for this all year long. It’s amazing.”

One reason it was amazing was because the top-seeded Lancers (21-7) were a decided favorite, but were stressed by the sixth-seeded Wolverines (20-9). Led by UC Santa Barbara-bound senior guard Sarah Heyn (18 points in the first half), Westview led 35-28 early in the third quarter.

“I just knew I had to do whatever it took to win,” said Brown. “Whether that was defense or offense. I just wanted to win, period.”

Sparked by its defense, Parker closed the quarter on a 14-0 run. Westview’s final 11 possessions of the quarter ended with five missed shots and six turnovers.

Still, the game wasn’t over. Heyn cut the deficit to 48-44 with just over six minutes to play on a bucket. But with 5:47 to play, Heyn was whistled for her fifth foul on a reach-in.

“Knowing their best player fouled out, we sealed the win,” said Brown.

As for Heyn, who finished with 23 points, she sat on the bench and pulled her jersey over her eyes, hiding tears.

Clements’ thoughts when Heyn fouled out? “I hope we can put this game away now.”

Francis Parker High’s Jordan Brown shoots against Westview High during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

That the Lancers did, outscoring Westview 18-6 down the stretch.

The Lancers’ players and coach were effusive in their praise for Heyn, a four-year starter.

“She’s a great player,” said Brown.

“She played phenomenally,” said Clements. “She played the way you would think a senior would play in a championship game. She played desperately. She played every possession like it was the last 20 seconds of the game. She was extremely impressive. (Heyn buried five 3s, missing only once from deep.) She should be proud of herself.”

Clements was proud of her team for another reason. After blowing out two-time reigning Open Division champion Mission Hills by 26 in the semis, some thought Parker might cruise in the title game.

“I figured it was going to be a fight, and it was,” said Clements. “It was good that our girls had to come together, had to stick together. That’s what this is all about, developing character via the sport of basketball. When the kids face adversity, they have to make a decision. Who do they want to be? They showed the best version of themselves. That’s what I want to remember from a game like this.”

Francis Parker’s primary color is brown, which is fitting for the girls basketball team. They are led not only by the freshman Jordan Brown, but also junior Brieana Brown, a strong, aggressive and athletic 5-foot-11 wing.

Brieana Brown scored 25 points and yanked down a team-best eight rebounds.

About the team in brown being led by the Browns (who are not related), Jordan Brown said: “It’s super cool. I love Bri and our story. So many people think we’re related, that we’re siblings. In reality, we’re not, but we play like it.”

Francis Parker High's Brieana Brown shoots against Westview during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune) — Francis Parker High’s Brieana Brown shoots against Westview during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Francis Parker and Westview both will advance to the Southern California Regionals.

Earlier in the season, Clements — who was dressed in all black for the championship game — confessed she wasn’t crazy about Parker’s primary color. Her mood shifted Saturday night.

“Brown’s doing well for me now,” she said.

Asked if Lancers’ Brown squared tandem represents the best one-two girls basketball punch in the San Diego Section, Clements gave the questioner a “What do you think?” smirk.

“That,” said the coach of the Open Division champions, “is a no-brainer.”

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