Latest news with #SanDiegoPrideFestival
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Local LGBTQ+ community deals with vandalism amid Pride Month
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The LGBTQ+ community has recently suffered a handful of acts of vandalism, leading some in the community to feel unsafe. 'Hillcrest is under attack and the LGBTQ+ community is under attack,' said Benjamin Nicholls, the executive director of the Hillcrest Business Association. That is the mutual feeling, according to activists and residence in the Hillcrest area. Pride Month events in San Diego: How to celebrate before July's parade, festival And across town in Allied Gardens at the Accession Lutheran Church, they too have had their Pride flags torn off their walls on several occasions. 'During Pride Month, it's really sad to hear that people are taking actions against our community,' said Gus Hernandez, an LGBT Community Center director. 'Taking down symbols from our community, in this case a Pride flag.' The Lutheran Church had put the Pride flags back up two times before, but Wednesday night the wall was bare. 'Lately there is a lot of anxiety and the temperature of the community is on high alert,' said Hernandez. 'Folks are used to these sorts of attacks on our rights.' Kehlani, Kim Petras to headline San Diego Pride Festival This latest vandalism comes on the heels of two other convictions of vandals targeting the Hillcrest community, who will be forced to pay for the damage they caused they painted with swastikas. 'This definitely feels like an important moment in history that we are dealing with,' said Hernandez. 'The way that Hillcrest responds to that is by showing up,' Nicholls added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City selects new operator for long-closed Village Grill eatery in Balboa Park
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The owners behind one of the most popular restaurants in Balboa Park and a storied neighborhood brew pub in Normal Heights have been tapped by the city to revive the park's shuttered fast dining option, the Village Grill. Jeff Motch and Clea Hantman, co-owners of Panama 66 in the San Diego Museum of Art and Blind Lady Ale House in Normal Heights, were announced Friday as the bidder selected to bring the window near the Spanish Village back to life. According to the city, the two pitched creating a fast-casual restaurant concept in the space that 'fosters a sense of community and gathering' on top of the food itself. San Diego Air and Space Museum offering free admission for kids ''We are excited to work with Jeff and Clea to develop an eatery that best serves the park and its visitors,' said Economic Development Director Christina Bibler in a release. 'Creating a vibrant restaurant in Balboa Park can come with unique complexities, but given their successful background and excitement for the project, we're confident it will become a beloved destination in the park,' she continued. Now that their proposal has been picked, the city says they will turn to negotiating lease terms and design process. Prior to its closure in 2017, the Village Grill had been a staple of Balboa Park since its construction in 1973. Throughout its lifespan, the building had never undergone a major renovation, only a series of repairs, the last of which was in 2012. Revitalization of derelict landmarks in the park — like the Village Grill — was a focal point of Mayor Todd Gloria's second State of Balboa Park address last year. Kehlani, Kim Petras to headline San Diego Pride Festival In the speech, which came ahead of the reopening of the Botanical Building following its years-long closure for renovation, he promised to pursue similar projects for these parts of the park in disrepair to bring it up to modern standards and ensure its long-term vitality. To that end, the city says it is currently in negotiations to lease out one of the other attractions Gloria mentioned in his speech, the Starlight Bowl. The negotiations began back in February with the group, Save Starlight. The historic Marston House, located on the northwestern corner of the park, is also undergoing a major restoration project funded by a grant from the State of California, according to the city. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
