Hey Neighbor!
After spending a month in Europe, I’m ecstatic to be home to celebrate our great nation’s 250th birthday. And with the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team winning their World Cup game last night, the celebration is even sweeter. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
How are you celebrating the 4th of July festivities this year? Drop me a line and let me know. My sister-in-law, Chris, shares a birthday with America, so I’ll be celebrating with her. Hopefully, we’ll stop off at Bay Park Social’s shindig in Bay Park, where they’ll kick off the holiday with cornhole, music, and pizza from Pit Stop Pizza. Sounds perfectly American!
Let’s dig into this week’s news.
~Tanja
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What started off as a small neighborhood event to show off a restored Mustang in 2020 has turned into a bona fide block party complete with a car show, bands, free food, vendors, and kids’ activities. The Serra Mesa Big Block Party shows how one neighbor could transform a simple idea into something bigger than he’d imagined. Join the party Saturday, July 11, and read on to find out how it all began.
Serra Mesa Big Block Party & Car Show Returns for Sixth Year
Stay Close to the Neighborhood You Love
The next chapter for you or your parent doesn’t have to mean leaving the community that already feels like home. Canyon Villas Retirement Community in Clairemont offers independent living, assisted living, respite care, and hospice care in a familiar neighborhood setting.
Canyon Villas provides a comfortable local option with daily meals, community spaces, activities, transportation, and 24/7 on-site care. Residents can stay connected to the places, people, routines, and nearby neighborhoods they already know, all while receiving the support they need for this season of life.
Stop by any Saturday from 11–3, or call 858-273-1306 to make an appointment. 4282 Balboa Avenue.
Comings & Goings
🍦People have been wondering what might replace Starbucks at 4227 Genesee Avenue in the Genesee Plaza Shopping Center in Clairemont. It looks poised to become a Handel’s Ice Cream, part of a national franchise chain. The opening is slated for next spring.
San Diego Vacancy Rates Highest This Century—Including Serra Mesa’s AMLI
San Diego apartment vacancies have topped 6.2%, an all-time record this century. And one local apartment complex, AMLI in Serra Mesa, has a staggering 72% vacancy rate. This lines up with what we heard when visiting nearby BoujieMana restaurant recently. There are plenty of units, but pricing is out of reach for many.
Violent Streak Continues
Another week, another shooting in the neighborhood. This time, it was an officer-involved shooting on Morena Boulevard near Pacific Highway. The officer shot at a parolee he believed had a gun. The suspect evaded police for multiple hours before he was finally caught.
Kearny Mesa Gentleman’s Club Stripped of $1 Bills
Expose strip club in Kearny Mesa was robbed of more than $25,000 on Monday, the bulk of that being $1 bills. The thief remains at large, and it’s believed to be an inside job. Owner Dino Palmitto is offering a $3,000 reward (not in $1 bills) to anyone who comes forward with information leading to an arrest.
This Serra Mesa home, located at 2642 W Canyon Avenue in Stonecrest Village, is 4BR and 3BA in a sprawling 2,418 sq ft. It’s on a corner lot and gets bathed in daily sunlight. The open floor plan and high ceilings give it an even roomier feel. The complex has a clubhouse, multiple pool areas, a gym, tennis and pickleball courts, and canyon walking paths.
- Your neighborhood one-stop for all things beauty — hair, brows, lashes, facials, massage, and more. It’s a women-run collective on Clairemont Drive where you get real one-on-one attention. Appointment only, the way it should be. Grab the Explorer Exclusive deal: 20% off any service from Unique Impressions Collective, a full-service boutique salon in Clairemont.
- Need someone to walk your dog or check in on your cat? Going out of town and need an in-home pet sitter? The Daily Wag is here to help! Grey Valdes is a Bay Ho resident with a passion for pets, and she has been actively involved with dog rescues for more than a decade (which is why she is a 2x foster fail pet parent). If you’re looking for a trustworthy person to care for your pet, The Daily Wag is offering $10 off any service.
- A yoga studio and wine bar on Balboa—take a class, stay for a glass. Patrick and Victoria are Clairemont neighbors who built Vinya from scratch, and it’s genuinely one of the coolest things in the neighborhood. Grab the Explorer Exclusive deal here: 10% off a meal and/or a free yoga class at Vinya: vino+vinyasa
- Renate is a Clairemont neighbor who bakes authentic German breads and pastries from scratch. You order ahead online and pick up from her home on Fridays. Everything sells out fast! Get the Explorer Exclusive deal while it lasts: 15% off your first order of baked goods from Little Backstube microbakery
Meet Drake
Drake is a lovable 3.5-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier mix looking for his fur-ever home. He weighs in at a stocky 76 pounds, but he is all heart. Drake loves people but prefers to be the solo dog in the household. He loves playing, rolling in grass, and he’s crate-trained. Visit him at the San Diego Humane Society.
Here’s what’s happening in the neighborhood this week! For the full events calendar and for any recurring events, like trivia nights, hit the button below.
Thursday, July 2
🎸 Live Music | Laurel Canyon Revival | Tio Leo’s Mexican Restaurant | 7 pm
🤣 Comedy | BRET ERNST | Mic Drop Comedy | 7 pm
Friday, July 3
🎸 Live Music | Ristand | Clairemont Town Square | 6 pm
🎸 Live Music | Totally 80’s Band! | Fast Times | 7 pm
🎸 Live Music | Mercedes Moore | Tio Leo’s Mexican Restaurant | 7 pm
🤣 Comedy | DAN PULZELLO | Mic Drop Comedy | 7:30 pm
Saturday, July 4
❤️ Charity/Community Event | Bay Park Fourth of July | 9 am
🏘️ Community | Movie and Fireworks | Clairemont Emmanuel
Sunday, July 5
🎸 Live Music | West of 5 | Fast Times | 3 pm
🤣 Comedy | KALI SCOTT | Mic Drop Comedy | 6 pm
🤣 Comedy | CLIFF CASH | Mic Drop Comedy | 6 pm
Wednesday, July 8
🤣 Comedy | EELAND STRIBLING | Mic Drop Comedy | 7:30 pm
🎸 Live Music | Trumpeter Curtis Taylor & his Quintet | Dizzy’s | 8 pm
Fast Times is 100% free and independently owned and operated (heck, it’s just me). Your contributions help keep it going so we can have more fun and continue to build a stronger community. I appreciate any and all support.
