PORT IDENTIFIES EXPECTED DELAYS ON HARBOR DRIVE

On Tuesday, May 7, the San Diego Port Authority expects Harbor Drive to be much busier than usual, with delays expected for much of the day. This is due in part to the ongoing construction, but it is expected to be much worse due to the arrival of three cruise ships. The first ship will arrive at the south side of the B St. pier at approximately 4 a.m., bringing 2,900 passengers to the area for the day. The second will Dock on the north side of the same pier at 5:30 a.m. with 1,937 passengers. The third ship, a 600 passenger regatta, will arrive at 11 a.m. at Broadway Pier. Passengers will be unloading between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., increasing the pedestrian, taxi and shuttle activity in the area. The Port expects traffic to peak between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and recommends motorists to avoid Harbor Drive between Grape Street and the Navy Pier during these hours.

SUPPORT FOR BIKE TO WORK DAY AT ALL TIME HIGH

With May designated as National Bike to Work Month, you have plenty of opportunities to get on your bike and support an environmentally friendly and cost-saving method of commuting. The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) not only encourages you ride every day of the month, but especially on Bike to Work Day, which is Friday, May 17. Register at one of this year’s record number 90 “pit stops” located around San Diego County that day, to get a free T-shirt and snacks, and then log your trips online at the TripTracker 511sd.com/iCommute and you will automatically be eligible for lots of prizes, including a new bicycle from either Electra Bikes or Performance Bike Shops. Pit stops will be open from 6 – 9 p.m. each day. “San Diego is a great place to bike year-round,” SANDAG Chair and Santee City Councilmember Jack Dale said in a press release. “We want to encourage people to use Bike to Work Month as an opportunity to explore their communities, get active, and try something new. There are more than 1,000 miles of existing bikeways for people to take advantage of throughout the region.” Commuter miles logged in 1012 for Bike to Work month exceeded 135,000 miles. Those wishing to participate in 2013 are encouraged to use the resources on the iCommute website, icommutesd.com/bike/bike-to-work, which includes a regional bike map, as well as safety, security and transit tips. For more information, visit 511sd.com/icommute or call 511 and say “icommute.”

PORT INVITES PUBLIC TO PICNIC WITH WORKING WATERFRONT

On Saturday, May 18, the Port of San Diego invites the public to take part in the Working Waterfront Family Picnic. This informative public picnic will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pepper Park in National City, along the San Diego Bayfront, just south of Downtown San Diego. Free bus tours of the marina will be offered and on Sunday, the Port will conduct two free boat tours of San Diego Bay. Also on Saturday, the picnic will offer arts and crafts, gymnastics performances, puppetry, a competitive gym for children, a bounce house, circus acts and live music. The Working Waterfront consists of all the Ports marine terminals and its marine and industrial businesses along San Diego Bay. An exhibit area will highlight the backgrounds of these maritime enterprises and their importance to the region. Families attending may bring their own food or food will be available for purchase. Free parking will be available. Reservations are required for boat tours. For more information, visit portofsandiego.org.

DOWNTOWN HOTELS STEPPING IN TO ASSIST WITH HOMELESS

Two popular Downtown hotels, the San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina, located at 33 W. Harbor Dr., and the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, located at 1 Park Blvd., recently joined the coalition to help end homelessness Downtown. The two hotels did so by installing red “donation stations,” from a program administered by the Downtown San Diego Partnership (DSDP), on their properties. These red meters are being placed in high traffic areas throughout Downtown to encourage the public to stop offering money to panhandlers and to feed the meters instead. Monies raised from the meters go directly to programs that the DSDP and it’s many partners have put in place that are not only housing homeless individuals, but also reconnecting them with their families across the country. On April 19 the newly installed meters at the two hotel properties brought the total number of Downtown donation stations to 12. For more information about the donation stations and the programs they support, visit downtownsandiego.org/clean-safe/ending-homelessness/.

BIRCH AQUARIUM ANNOUNCES GREEN FLASH CONCERT SERIES

Starting on Wednesday, May 15 and continuing every third Wednesday of the month through September, Birch Aquarium at the Scripps Institute of Technology, UC San Diego is offering a 21+ concert series in partnership with KPRi 102.1 FM. The monthly event, called the Green Flash Concert Series, includes performances by San Diego native Steve Poltz, and British new wave artists The FIXX, among others, and combines live music with the panoramic views offered at the aquarium’s Tide Pool Plaza. Appetizers and beer and wine will be served for a fee. Tickets are general admission and include parking and entrance to the aquarium’s exhibits. Season passes will also be available. For more information, visit: facebook.com/birchaquarium.

CULINARY HISTORIANS LAUNCH FIRST PUBLIC EVENT

The Culinary Historians of San Diego (CHSD) announced they will be kicking off the first of their monthly events on Saturday, May 18. Presentations and lectures about the local fishing industry, its evolution and impact on diet will be discussed. A fish-based lunch will be offered for purchase following the presentation. The event, which is open to the public, will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Star of the Sea Event Center, located at 1360 N. Harbor Dr., along the Embarcadero. The CHSD formed in 2013 to provide those interested with a history of food and drink and its role in society and is expected to have broad appeal. Memberships will be encouraged and the nonprofit will help support the Culinary Collection at the San Diego Public Library. For more information, contact President Marilyn Marx at [email protected].

OLD GLOBE ANNOUNCES NEW SEASON

The Old Globe Theatre announced Friday, April 26 their complete 2013-14 season, opening with “The Last Goodbye” Sept. 20 – Nov. 3. The rock musical fuses Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” with the songs of singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley. “I am proud, excited and just plain tickled to announce the 2013-14 season at The Old Globe, my first as artistic director,” Barry Edelstein said in a press release. “With two sensational new musicals, three award-winning plays about contemporary life by thrilling young American voices, a tour de force by an American comedic master and a poetic classic by a 20th century giant, this remarkable and wide-ranging lineup of productions stays true to the Globe’s storied reputation, even as it edges the company forward in some new directions.” The opening production is followed by the world premiere of “The Few,” the return of “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” directed by James Vasquez, “Bethany,” Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale,” “Time and the Conways,” Pulitzer Prize-winner “Water by the Spoonful, “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” and the musical comedy “Dog and Pony.” Edelstein will direct “The Winter’s Tale,” which will be the first indoor production of a Shakespeare play at the Old Globe in over 10 years. Before the 2013-14 season start, the company presents their 2013 summer season, including the annual Shakespeare Festival starting with “The Merchant of Venice” June 9 – Sept. 28. For information on the complete summer season as well as tickets for all shows, visit theoldglobe.org or call 619-234-5623.

VOLUNTEERS COME TOGETHER TO BEAUTIFY LINEAR PARK

Dozens of volunteers spent their Saturday morning working to restore the beauty of Linear Park on April, 27 located behind the Office Depot at 835 West E St., Downtown. Just a year ago the park was ignored and garbage was left in bushes and sprinklers, plants and grass was destroyed. People chose to walk in the adjacent parking lot rather than walk through the park’s walkway; but with the combined efforts of volunteers from Downtown San Diego Partnership’s Clean & Safe program, area residents, officers from the San Diego Police Department, and members of the Southwest Marina Community Action Group (SWMCAG), the park was restored in late 2012. Rotary 33 members and Council President Todd Gloria teamed up with the Clean & Safe team to continue the beautification for Rotarians at Work Day. “Park space is essential to all neighborhoods, including Downtown,” said Council President Todd Gloria. “I was happy to spend my morning alongside my friends from the Downtown San Diego Partnership and Rotary 33 to ensure this park is in good condition for local residents and visitors.” Rotary 33 – San Diego’s largest rotary organization based in Downtown – and many other volunteers planted new flowers and ornamental plants and fertilized the lawn. They also painted light poles and removed graffiti and stickers. More than 25,000 Rotarians and volunteers work to better their communities each year on Rotarians at Work Day. For more information about the Downtown San Diego Partnership and Rotary 33, visit downtownsandiego.org and rotary33.org, respectively.