Opinion

In a town like Coronado – with North Island units involved in the war and many military-connected community members  – we are not all that insulated from the conflict raging in the Middle East. In fact, for so many of our neighbors, the news headlines hit very close to home.  We’re entering the fourth week […]

In honor of the old Irish patron, St. Patrick, I went to McP’s Irish Pub in Coronado for this week’s review. Ireland’s culture has always been whimsical to me: a land of writers, cliffside seascapes, rolling hills and witty storytellers. Oh, and Guinness (unfortunately something I cannot drink more than a sip of). When I […]

Jolie, located on the ferry end of Orange Avenue, is generous in all the ways you might not expect. Self-identified as French-California coastal, Jolie — meaning “pretty” in French — is Chef Jason Witzl’s fifth concept. It began as a butchery with a six-item menu: oysters, crudo, scallops and a few salads. Executive Chef Jack […]

Orange Avenue is not your run-of-the-mill street. It’s the island’s main street dripping in character, peppered with funky mom-and-pop establishments and coastal art. It can also be a parking nightmare. The boutique shops make Coronado unique, but it’s getting harder and harder for them to stay afloat, and more common for chains to swoop in.  […]

Situated on C Street, tucked into the corner of a small commercial plaza, sits Nado Republic, owned by Chef Gorgio Cortelli. From outside, the sectioned-off terrace gives the impression of two separate restaurants, but inside feels like someone’s living room.   In the spacious bar, stacks of wine, champagne and liquor bottles backdrop the bartender. A […]

For passersby strolling the beach walk in front of the Hotel del Coronado, intricate sandcastles have been an occasional and welcome discovery.  At least they were for years. On Feb. 5, the hotel parted ways with the Sandcastle Man, Bill Pavlacka, after nearly 20 years of allowing his sand designs in the hotel’s backyard. Engagements, […]

Swaddee Thai is not exactly the type of restaurant that comes to mind when I think of Thai food, a cuisine I associate with casual street vendors, family-style meals and tropical, sticky weather.  Swaddee — a traditional Thai greeting — lives up to its name, as servers welcome guests with warm smiles upon arrival. Still, […]

The classic liquor deli is usually underrated. Hardly anyone ever thinks that going into a liquor store filled with mini vodkas in plastic bottles, standing next to trucker-style spiced pumpkin seeds and packaged gummy bears typical of road trips, could yield a juicy, satisfying sub. But lo and behold, a liquor store deli always has […]

Valentine’s Day is about romance. And romance, as kitschy as it can be, may also be translated to indulgence. Kisses, chocolate, fondue, wine, dreamy weekend getaways. It’s about getting lost in the senses of life. And who loves indulgence better than the French? Their joy of life, or joie de vivre, is sacred, and their […]

A significant number of sailors stationed in Coronado are not actually living on land. They’re bunking in the ships docked around San Diego Bay. It’s a lot tougher living than most people realize – cramped quarters and a lack of privacy, to name a couple of conditions.  James Honea, the former master chief petty officer […]