San Diego, CA

Slightly Stoopid Frontman Buys Iconic Bar Where He Grew Up | San Diego Magazine

Published

2 years ago

March 16, 2024

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.

Courtesy of Red Light Management
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.

Interior of Ocean Beach Irish Pub The Harp on Newport Avenue in San Diego — Courtesy of Next Wave Commercial

“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 bar and restaurant The Lion's Share flyer about their — Courtesy of The Lion’s Share

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??)

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San Diego, CA

Gas prices soar nearly another dime overnight

Published

12 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Gas prices soar nearly another dime overnight

On Thursday, the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County recorded its largest increase since Sept. 28, 2023, rising 8.7 cents to $4.894, its highest amount since Nov. 13.

The average price has increased 15 consecutive days, rising 28.7 cents, including 7 cents on Wednesday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 22.4 cents more than one week ago, 38.6 cents higher than one month ago and 14.5 cents greater than one year ago.

The average price has dropped $1.541 since rising to a record $6.435 on Oct. 5, 2022.

“Gas prices are rising primarily due to a recent surge in crude oil following strikes on Iran by the U.S. and Israel,” Kandace Redd, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s senior public affairs specialist, told City News Service. “Any conflict with Iran can send oil prices higher, as Iran is a major oil producer and about a fifth of the oil consumed globally travels through the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman.

“Gas prices are increasing because of seasonal factors too. Refineries are beginning the switch to more expensive summer-blend fuel, and demand is picking up as we head into the spring break season with more people on the road.”

The national average price rose 5.3 cents to $3.251, its highest amount since Sept. 11, 2024. It has risen five consecutive days, increasing 26.9 cents, including 8.9 cents on Wednesday.

The national average price is 26.8 cents more than one week ago, 36 cents higher than one month ago and 14.4 cents greater than one year ago. It has dropped $1.765 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.

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San Diego, CA

UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance

Published

24 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance

UNLV Rebels (16-14, 11-8 MWC) at San Diego State Aztecs (19-10, 13-6 MWC)

San Diego; Friday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: UNLV faces San Diego State after Kimani Hamilton scored 24 points in UNLV’s 92-65 victory over the Utah State Aggies.

The Aztecs have gone 13-2 in home games. San Diego State is eighth in the MWC with 9.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Miles Heide averaging 2.0.

The Rebels have gone 11-8 against MWC opponents. UNLV ranks eighth in the MWC shooting 34.4% from 3-point range.

San Diego State averages 79.1 points per game, 0.6 more points than the 78.5 UNLV gives up. UNLV averages 7.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 fewer made shots on average than the 9.1 per game San Diego State allows.

The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. San Diego State won the last meeting 82-71 on Jan. 24. Miles Byrd scored 23 points points to help lead the Aztecs to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Reese Dixon-Waters is shooting 35.9% from beyond the arc with 1.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Aztecs, while averaging 13 points. Byrd is averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds over the past 10 games.

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is shooting 50.9% and averaging 20.6 points for the Rebels. Hamilton is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Aztecs: 5-5, averaging 74.9 points, 28.9 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.0 points per game.

Rebels: 6-4, averaging 84.1 points, 32.3 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.8 points.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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San Diego, CA

Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

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Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Military bases in San Diego County and nationwide have increased security measures due to last weekend’s U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, prompting traffic delays near base entrances, enhanced ID checks and access restrictions.

The Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado ports three aircraft carriers, including the San Diego-based USS Abraham Lincoln, which led some of the first-wave attacks on Saturday.

Naval Base Coronado warned motorists of possible traffic delays at all base entry points due to the increased security measures.

Targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields.

The U.S. operation, dubbed “Epic Fury,” and Israeli operation, “Raging Lion,” began striking targets at 1:15 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday.

As of Tuesday, at least six U.S. service members had been killed in action.

The strikes also killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, who had been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, making him the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East.

Iran’s offensive forces claimed to have struck USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles, but according to an X post from U.S central Command, “The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close. The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.”

Those with concerns regarding the heightened security can contact San Diego County’s Office of Emergency Services at 858-565-3490 or oes@sdcounty.ca.gov.

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