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Casa de Luz Serves Up Healthy Goodness

Casa de Luz interior

Casa de Luz has opened their plant-based cuisine (nay macrobiotics) restaurant at 2920 University Avenue, just two doors down from Claire de Lune, and what a beauty of a space.

Formerly a Salvation Army outlet, the entire space has been gutted and reimagined, with community tables installed to encourage interaction with others; a self-serve soup and salad line; and a cooking school upstairs that includes UCSD as a partner.

Their menu changes daily so visit their website to find out what's cooking for your visit.

Miss Vintage Clothing Boutique
Asian-infused Wang's North Park has opened their doors. Located in the old JC Penny building at 3029 University Avenue at Ray Street, the huge space has been transformed in to a modern and swank restaurant and bar. The motif here is centered around trees (their Palm Springs location is centered on water), with a large metal tree standing as the centerpiece, and individual elements throughout the space echoing tree branches. While there's nary a carpet thread to be found, the high ceilings dissipate the noise level so it's possible to have a conversation without having to scream (as too many other restaurants suffer from).

Most rewarding however is the food itself. Our party of four loved each of the dishes we sampled (with the Korean ribs a particular stand-out). Staff are still working out the kinks, as to be expected with a soft opening, but were stellar in their attitude and attempts to please.

Miss Vintage Clothing Boutique
Ms Vintage Clothing Boutique is now displaying her wares at 3011 University Avenue. The interior looks like it was plucked straight out of Valley of the Dolls (in a completely retro fantastic way). It carries women's vintage clothing with focus on the last few decades. Being next to Home Mercantile Company, across the street from Mimi & Red's, and around the corner from Pigment, the east block of University Avenue at 30th is becoming quite the retail corridor.


Aloha Sunday
Two New Retailers Open in North Park
Hot new retailer Aloha Sunday Supply Company has opened its doors at 3118 University Avenue. The retailer offers a mix of mostly new with some vintage clothing, shoes, and accessories, with a major focus on supporting local based clothing designers and manufacturers.

The store also carries beautiful leather satchels, jewelry, surfboards, and accessories.

There's a well-produced video about how the new interior has largely been constructed using materials reclaimed from Northern Origine over on Vimeo.

Hunt & Gather
Previously located in University Heights, and now just five blocks to the west of Aloha Sunday, Hunt & Gather has opened up at 2871 University Avenue in the Granada Building. Owned by Zoe and Lee Reynolds, the store carries vintage men's and women's clothing, and accessories.

The store also has a robust collection of vinyl records and carries vintage jewelry as well. The shop has a quite the fan club over on Yelp, and should be a hit with the hipster crowd in the neighborhood.

Parking Garage art
4 years in the making, art panels were installed on the North Park parking garage this past week. Designed by artist Blair Thornley and commissioned by the North Park Redevelopment Agency, a total of 16 artworks now hang on the structure exterior.

Ubrn Pizza interior
The highly-anticipated opening of Urbn Pizza Yelp* has occurred, and the wait was well worth it!

Located where Drowsy Maggie's once was (3085 University Avenue [MAP]), the completely re-built building sports brick walls, exposed beam ceilings, and the Basic/Urbn Pizza signature 'big-ass fan'. Groovy low-level lighting and two large garage doors that open out to the street create a lively yet relaxing space.

All the better to enjoy Basic/Urbn's fantastic thin-crust pizza, gorgeous and tasty salads, and wide selection of beer, wine, and harder libations.

Fresh & Easy
Fresh & Easy [MAP] have opened at 3231 University Avenue at 32nd Street, in what was recently an decrepit lot with an auto repair store. Housed in the same complex as the new US Bank, AT&T store, and UPS store, this opening completes all tenant spaces save for one small space still located at the lower end of the property.

The store offers the same mix of products found at all their locations, with a focus on organic and store-brand products outweighing national brands.

Architecturally, the facade is modern-esque and is slightly better than what one typically finds with these new developments. Positively, windows on the North side of the grocery store provide some stunning views of mountains, minimizing any feeling of claustrophobia one might get. Considering the other grocery choices currently available in the neighborhood, one expects this store to do quite well financially.

Street Side Thai Restaurant
Street Side Thai Yelp* has opened, next door to North Park Sushi, and what a relief to report the neighborhood now has a good Thai restaurant!

Decorated with bamboo, tree cut-outs, and photos of Thailand, the atmosphere is quite pleasant, though typically noisy (as a result of hard floor and ceiling). Service is gracious and attentive. Most importantly, the food we sampled left us happy and excited to return to try other items. Stop by and welcome to the neighborhood.

El Take it Easy
Home Mercantile has opened in the old Kate Ross Clothing location. And while the closing of Kate Ross was quite a loss for the neighborhood, at least the wounds aren't too deep.

A mix of new and restored clothing, shoes, hats and accessories at extremely resonable prices awaits the shopper. Vintage Mickey Mouse t-shirts hang next to plaid from who know which decade...it doesn't really matter, because whomever is doing the stocking has an eye for style.

The space has been transformed from a high-end boutique to a open-beamed, artist-inspired stop, with groovy music and amiable sales assistants ready to help out. This is the second location of Home, with the first store up in Encinitas. Stop by and say hello at 3013 University Avenue.

El Take it Easy
El Take It Easy, Yelp* the newest creation from Jay Porter, has opened.

Located at 3926 30th Street, the space that once housed Apertivo has been transformed in to an extraordinary space. What once could be described charitably as a drab Denny's now showcases a exposed beam vaulted ceiling that not only creates wonderful atmosphere, but also goes a long way in addressing the bad acoustics that haunted the space previously. The owners have removed any front-facing windows, creating a speakeasy feel, with moody lighting, music, and bar area.

Conceptually the food is Baja-inspired tapas plates, with enough variation to easily satisfy the adventurous diner. Dishes we saw included octopus, rabbit, beef cheek, and chicken spleens, with a fair amount of vegetarian options to boot (see full menu). Beer and wine are available, but no hard liquor.

  
updates
North Park Festival of Arts

April 8, 2012
The North Park Festival of the Arts is coming Sunday, May 20th. Tickets are now on sale.
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Hess Brewing
Hess Brewing has announced plans to open at the old Evangelical Bookstore at 3812 Grim Street. A walk-by revealed that demolition work is well under way. Plans call for on-site beer consumption as well as sales.
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Across the street, the developer of South Park's Counterpoint is rumored to have purchased the old US Post Office building at North Park Way and Grim. No word yet on plans for the lot.
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North Park Fitness has begun expanding in to the space that formerly housed the office supply store. This will give North Park Fitness the entire east side of the Norberg building.
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Seven Grand
We hear that Seven Grand is getting close to opening, with a target date of May 20 (the day of the Festival of the Arts).
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March 14, 2012
Mural at Wang's North Park
The exterior west wall of Wang's North Park is getting a huge mural installed by the artist known as Madsteez. See a large version of the work in progress.
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Glenn's Market exterior signage
Glenn's Market has finished their move to Granada and University by installing their classic neon signage. Not as dramatic as the old location, but wonderful that they saved it nonetheless. See a large version.
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February 18, 2012
Wells Fargo Bank is installing an ATM on University Avenue between Ms Vintage and Home Mercantile. While wonderful to have Wells Fargo join the neighborhood, Ms Vintage lost one of their windows, which has been displaying some major fabulousness since they moved in.
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The new home of Glenn's Market at University and Granada Avenue got a fresh coat of paint today, making the once-decrepit building quite presentatble.
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January 31, 2012
Casa de Luz
Casa de Luz has announced their grand opening for Thursday, February 2, and has installed their exterior signage and awnings in preparation. (see a large version)
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Ramzees
Spices Mediterranean is changing their name to Ramzees, still specializing (can that be said here?) in Mediterranean AND Mexican food. They also have a new website.
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Glenn's Market is moving one block East of their current location, from 29th and University, to Granada and University. They removed their pretty fantastic neon-lit signage this past week and plan on installing it at the new location.
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December 29, 2011
Casa de Luz is beginning to show major progress in both the interior and exterior of the new vegan restaurant. See a detailed photo here.
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The holidays have brought a huge influx of foodies and craft beer fans to North Park, with a walk-by survey showing good sized mid-week crowds at Il Postino, West Coast Tavern, Urbn Pizza, Riki Sushi, Urban Solace, Sipz Vegitarian, Caffe Calabria, Street Side Thai, and North Park Sushi.
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December 18, 2011
Oprah Winfrey is apparently a big fan of local restaurant/peanut butter haven Spread, featuring them on her website as one of "O's Favorite Things: 2011 Gift Guide".
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In case you missed the news, Carnita's Snack Shack officially opened, and the reviews on Yelp are good.
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December 5, 2011

Carnitas' Snack Shack
Carnita's Snack Shack launched their official website today with a tantalizing menu (lots o' pork, and surprisingly, at least one vegetarian entry), and state that their grand opening will be Wednesday, December 7th. Hours are from 11am to midnight each day. Good to see that they're also offering delivery.
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December 3, 2011
Sipz Fusion Cafe opened their doors on December 1st. Offering vegetarian fare, with most dishes also meeting vegan standards, they have a comfortable space at 3930 30th Street, two doors up from Rancho's. They also have quite a delectable display of desserts in the front case!
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November 27, 2011
We that Carnita's Snack Shack, while behind schedule, is close to opening. They posted on Facebook this week that they're received their final approvals from the city and expect to be open any day.
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Seven Grand found they had much more work to do before opening so have missed their November opening. While hoping to be open before New Year's, it's looking like mid-January is more likely.
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November 6, 2011
Clothing retailer Alwayz In has shuttered their doors. Located at 2980 North Park Way in the bottom of the parking garage, this was the former space of Mesh Clothing, and it seems that it's a tough place for a retail because of relatively low-visibility (especially compared to 30th Street or University Avenue).
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November 1, 2011
The second Community Workshop for the North Park Mini-Park behind the North Park Theater has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 16 at 6:30pm (open house starts at 5:30pm). This second workshop will be held at the Jefferson Elementary School gymnasium at 3770 Utah Street. This is a great opportunity to participate in creating a public space for North Park that will accommodate many functions, and will tie in to the new public-use field being built along Utah Street.
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October 27, 2011
North Park Acupuncture
North Park Acupuncture is celebrating 10 years with an open house on Saturday, November 12 from 11:30am to 2:30pm. To celebrate, they'll be offering raffles for free acupuncture, Qi analysis, free 10 minute chair massages, plus food and drinks. Call 619-294-6616 for more info.
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October 23, 2011
Tiger Tiger, the new restaurant from the owners of Blind Lady Ale House, has opened at 3025 El Cajon Boulevard, the former location of SoHo restaurant. Looks like another place with a decent collection of craft beers.
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Work continues at a furious pace on Wang's North Park, with the interior looking quite lux. Still, by the looks of things, it won't make the October debut they were hoping for. Work on the whiskey bar Seven Grand also continues, and we'd be shocked if they make their planned November 15th target date. When we last looked inside two weeks ago, the interior was stripped down to the studs and the floor was completely removed.
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September 30, 2011
This and that... Remington Tattoo has announced a grand opening party on October 8th at 8pm... 30th Street Cafe has re-opened with their larger kitchen and enhanced food offerings... We received a tip that the owner's of Blind Lady Ale House have taken over the old SOHO restaurant space on El Cajon Boulevard and plan to open a new eatery called Tiger! Tiger!
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September 24, 2011
The Foundry
A new pizzeria and craft beer joint has opened up at 2859 University Avenue between 29th Street and Granada. Called The Foundry, the place looks great on the inside and is getting good initial reviews on Yelp. Lots of buzz about their close to 50 craft beers and "cake balls" being especially tasty.
 
   
   
                         
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The opinions expressed on this site are those of the owner (except those expressed on the blog), and have no connection to any city or community entity.