San Diego, CA
Slightly Stoopid Frontman Buys Iconic Bar Where He Grew Up | San Diego Magazine
OB is weird. And locals like it that way. Change doesn’t come easily to the beach town that prides itself on offbeat as the norm and counterculture as the status quo. So when the former owner of The Harp Anthony “Tony” Fleming passed suddenly last October, the fate of the beloved Irish pub seemed murky.
Would it get snapped up by outside investors? Would it change the vibe of Newport Avenue? Would it turn into another quirky bar with moody bronze light fixtures, explosively kitschy patterned wallpaper, and ironically named $25 cocktails?
As of today, OBceians can rest easy. The Harp now officially has four new owners—all locals, all familiar faces.
Miles Doughty (fourth from L) and Slightly Stoopid
Miles Doughty is the frontman and lead singer of Slightly Stoopid, an Ocean Beach-based reggae-rock band that Doughty started with Kyle McDonald and Adam Bausch in 1994. Jeremy Diem is the current president and CEO of Hodad’s, the OG best burger in SD. Tyson Green and Steve Ashton are longtime best friends and regular fixtures behind Ocean Beach bars like Mother’s Saloon (R.I.P.), Sunshine Company Saloon, and Aquarius Bar & Grille.
The four friends initially banded together in order to get into the hospitality business, hoping to purchase Cheswick’s West on Newport Avenue. Negotiations didn’t pan out, and when Fleming passed away, Green says the opportunity to buy The Harp instead felt like fate.
“Things happen for a reason, and that was a blessing,” he says, explaining that a larger space with a kitchen and live music element better fit the group’s vision. Doughty agrees, adding that he hopes to leverage his music industry experience to bring more bands and live music to The Harp. It’s all their first experience with ownership, but none of them are worried.
“It’s cool to be able to do it with your friends that have been in the bar business for 25-years plus,” says Doughty. Green agrees, fully confident in the assembled team. “I have no fear,” he laughs. “It’s an amazing feeling to know we’re going to kill it and that’s just the way it’s going to be.”
Doughty is the only born-and-raised OB local, but everyone has roots in the beach town that go back decades and intend to keep the spirit of The Harp and Ocean Beach as it has been. However, Doughty adds, they do plan to eventually renovate and rebrand the space once they have a few months of summer service under their belts. But he assures me that everyone will still be welcome at the all-ages space with plenty of good music, food, and family fun.
Open today, the new owners are taking on what has historically been The Harp’s busiest weekend—St. Patrick’s Day as their first official debut. “We’re going to throw ourselves to the wolves and let it rip,” laughs Green. “We’re super fired up—OB’s in for some cool shit.”
San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events
San Diego Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day This Weekend
Corned beef is a great way to sop up Guinness and Jameson, and there will be plenty of all three across San Diego this weekend. Pacific Beach’s Duck Dive is serving a corned beef egg and hash breakfast special and traditional corned beef hash for dinner Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. North Park Beer Company’s Bankers Hill location is running a couple Irish food specials (plus plenty of beer, duh) on Saturday and Sunday.
On Sunday, The Smoking Gun in Gaslamp is slinging corned beef tacos, Barleymash will have a Reuben sandwich special (plus plenty of Irish-inspired cocktails and green beer), and The Lion’s Share will host an “Irish Goodbye” pop-up menu of Irish bites and cocktails from Ian Ward (bar manager at Addison).
Beth’s Bites
It’s the South Park Spring Walkabout this Saturday from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m., and there are like, a bajillion amazing places to stop, shop, sip, and savor. If you’re not sure where to start, The Rose just released a handful of new spring cocktails, so that seems as good a place as any.
A new Mexican restaurant coming to Little Italy? Sign me up.
I finally stopped by Shawarma Guys’ new brick and mortar location in La Mesa to get their lemon cream chop fries and a Wagyu beef shawarma cheesesteak. Both excellent, although I think the cheesesteak could have been a little bigger. (Am I challenging myself to a Shawarma Guys x Giorgino’s cheesesteak-off??)
The mariachi band broke into song as soon as the Tijuana Municipal Little League team stepped back onto its home field Monday afternoon. Cheers and applause erupted for the team, which over the weekend earned the coveted spot to represent Mexico in the Little League Baseball World Series.
The team of 11- and 12-year-olds won the Mexico region tournament title on Saturday by defeating the Matamoros Little League team 8-2 in Tamaulipas. They ended the tournament with a 7-1 record.
“We are very proud of what you have done and what you are about to embark on, because this is just the beginning,” said Darío Venegas, president of the Tijuana Municipal Children’s and Youth Baseball League, before handing out rings to commemorate the team’s regional crown.
This marks the third time that the Tijuana Municipal team has advanced to the tournament in Williamsport, Pa., following appearances in 2013 and 2023. Francisco Fimbres has been the manager for all three trips, and he hopes that the third time could be the charm.
“I feel blessed with these players,” he said. “(They) make me believe that we can get that championship.”
But the proud coach acknowledged that there’s still work to be done and that he has learned from the last two tournaments. In 2013, Mexico lost to Japan in the international championship and finished third. In 2023, they fell to Curaçao in the international semifinals.
During his speech at the Jorge Campillo baseball field in Tijuana on Monday, Fimbres urged players and parents to enjoy the moment, as he said it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
He described this year’s group of players as “una generación campeona,” or a “winning generation,” whom he has followed since they were 8 years old. “These kids have too much baseball in them,” he said. “They’re growing up and learning a lot, which will be great for their development.”
In 2023, an interaction between Fimbres and one of his players went viral. During the second inning, with the bases loaded, he noticed that his pitcher was nervous. He went to the mound to encourage him and remind him to have fun and not be afraid of making mistakes. “What if he hits a home run? Exactly, nothing happens,” he told him. “You’re a good pitcher. You’re better.” For many, this moment captured the spirit of the Little League competition.
This time will be special for Fimbres. He shared that this might be his last stint with the Tijuana Municipal team.
Pitcher and outfielder Jean Paul Lavenant said that he felt happy for “Pancho,” as he fondly calls his coach, and hoped to get the title for him.
Lavenant named Major League players Jonathan Aranda of the Tampa Bay Rays and Alejandro Kirk of the Toronto Blue Jays as his inspirations. Both players came from the Tijuana Municipal league.
The players said they have their minds set on bringing home the championship. “Nothing is impossible,” said pitcher and infielder Emiliano Kerber.
Coach Marcelo Santamaría, who was part of the 2023 coaching team, said he hopes this opportunity leaves a lasting impression on the players. “It’s every young baseball player’s dream to participate in this tournament,” he noted.
That’s what they emphasized to the players throughout their journey to earn a spot in Williamsport. Tijuana Municipal will kick off its Little League World Series run on Aug. 20 against the Australian region.
“Would you rather experience it on TV or in person?” pitcher and outfielder Esteban Bautista recalled his coaches asking them before the Mexico region championship game.
In person, it will be.
The Killer Tomatoes are loose in San Diego, and they’re ready to get sauced.
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is taking over Good Night John Boy (401 G Street) in the Gaslamp on Saturday, July 25 from 7pm-11pm for the official Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence after party, celebrating the wild new chapter in the cult classic franchise that first got its start in San Diego back in 1978.
Fans can party alongside cast and crew with meet and greets, “killer” cosplay, exclusive giveaways, DJs, and dancing. There will also be specialty themed cocktails and bites available for purchase, because fighting off killer produce apparently works up an appetite.
Tickets will be available here, though they’re not yet available. We’ll update once we know more.
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