It's 2nd Saturday and it's Restaurant Week

That means Grand Avenue could be fun today. I understand there will be Chalk Art--don't have any details--and all the museums are open as well as the city gallery at Juniper. A number of restaurants will have special menus and I hope someplace has music. I will post this and then do a quick look round online, see what's up and post results. Okay, Children's Museum is open until 3 and will be doing chalk art on Grand. California Center for the Arts Museum is open until 4. The Mingei is the only one open late--until 8pm--and if you go after 4 it's FREE. I have links to all these down the pages. I must admit that I think 2nd Saturday needs a boosting if we want people to come to it repeatedly. Do we need interesting music? I love the idea of great street vendors for food and drinks....is there any reason why that shouldn't happen? Why not let a certain numbers of arists set up easels, small worktables or whatever and also be able to sell their work while showing us how it is done? Maybe choose them by lottery so everyone gets a chance. Any ideas out there?

That Shuttered Theater at Grand above Juniper.

When I moved here ten years ago, there were three big "abandoned" buildings. Today, there are just as many, if not more, with the exception of the old JC Penney building which is now the Mingei International Museum at Grand and Maple, a great addition to the city. But I always wonder most about the old theater on Grand near Juniper. I don't know how long ago it closed, but it seems so sad that it just sits there. I've been imaging what it would be like to have it become the place to go to see films they don't show at the cinema on Valley Parkway. It could become the Escondido International Theater: Asian films one night, Spanish language the next, European the third--all subtitled in English. It could show Oscar nominated documentaries, animation and shorts as well as classics and cults films. During Cruisin' Grand nights it could feature car movies--think Rebel Without a Cause, American Graffiti. I consider this something that would bring people to the city and add to our "arts" culture--which is getting lost in this economic downturn. What do you think? Have you thought about the best use for our empty buildings? (I know they are privately owned, but shouldn't the city help to bring buyers and sellers together for the good of the community?) Let's talk.

I don't think we should worry so about the deficit in Escondido.

I have always been an optimist so I believe this recession will end in a couple of years. Until then, the city does have some reserve. If the recession continues, well, my husband said there's a saying "You can't plan for the end of the world." So I believe the Mayor and city council members need to be looking at ways to improve our city so that when people have the money to spend they will do it here. Rather than spending hours and hours arguing over how to cut services--from what I heard last night most of that has been done already, unless you are willing to make life even harder for the poor, the elderly and the unfortuate--let's think about ways to make this city a gem. How could we use the old movie theater on Grand? What are the best ways to beautify the bike path? Shall we have a contest to name the bike path? Did you know the city has a program where you can adopt a piece of its property to beautify or at least keep it tidy? What about moving the library to the Center for the Arts? There is so much we could be talking out, thinking about and doing if we looked for the good--which is in our control--rather than focusing on the bad--which we can do little about.

I WENT TO THE MEETING--MARK JUNE 10 ON YOUR CALENDAR FOR BUDGET MEETING

I will blog on it tomorrow. Ed Gallo appeared, Abed said we need to truly balance the budget, and Olga suggested each council member come back next time with their own suggestion on where to save half a million. Current city staffing is at 1991 levels. "There is no fat in the budget," says City Manager Clay Phillips. Dick and Lori were both trying to keep everything level, and Marie was once again someone I do not understand.

THIS JUST IN---THERE WILL STILL BE A 4PM CITY COUNCIL MEETING BUT THE ONE AT 7PM HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

NCTimes front page story on budget

One of the ways the city of Escondido considered--and rejected--balancing their budget was "...closing both of the city's library branches." It goes on to say that "...city officials are planning no further cuts to libraries between now and 2013."

When they say "considered" what does that mean? Did someone say "We could close the libraries." and everyone else said "Are you crazy? No way we'd do that." Or did they go through the pros and cons, cost and benefits and then say "No." Or were some in favor of shutting the libraries but they were in the minority? Or did it go pretty far before someone mentioned there were lots of residents who might make a big fuss? The idea that they considered closing the libraries is frightening and that makes me wonder. I'll be at the 4pm City Council meeting to see what happens.

Escondido City Council meets Wednesday at 4 & 7

I'm planning on going to the 4 pm meeting tomorrow. There is an agenda up for it (nothing there this morning for the 7pm) and one item caught my eye.

UPDATE ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2009-10 GENERAL FUND OPERATING BUDGET Provide direction to the Council Budget Subcommittee and staff on preparation of the Fiscal Year 2009-10 General Fund Operating Budget.


It should be interesting to see what the "direction" entails and if this gives us an indication of where cuts may come in the new budget. I'm going to look around for more information and will post later if I find anything, Scroll down for more information on city council meetings and where you can watch it if you can't attend.

Woke up to the snorting of a Wart Hog

Or at least that's what it sounded like in the middle of the night. Motion detector light came on and there was one of the local possums rooting/snuffling/scrabbling around in the bushes. I think the bright light was too much because he bounced from fence to wall and back--about six feet--and then took off into the dark part of the yard. There's always a bowl of dry cat food out front for whatever creature feels peckish. When it's gone in the morning and the water bowl is messy, it means a possum has stopped by. If you think they are ugly, then you've never seen a mom with babies on her back, holding on tight as they sway from side to side or this video of a baby one being fed with an eye dropper http://www.yourdailycute.com/2009/03/its-baby-opossum-feeding-time.html

Another Lazy Sunday

It is always nice and quiet Sunday morning downtown. I love the church bells which seem to chime at unusual times on Sunday, rather than starting at 9am like during the week. Birds singing, fountain bubbling and the Sunday papers to read. If I didn't have a family commitment this afternoon, I might just settle for reading on the front porch followed by a late afternoon nap. (I know some have the energy to enjoy the great outdoors but that's not my idea of Sunday.) Another beautiful day in Escondido, you gotta love it.