09.28.2023

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Today’s Forecast

🎠 He makes this landmark go ‘round

Meet Bill Brown: The heartbeat of the Balboa Park Carousel for the past 51 years

Bill Brown says this horse covered in roses is often requested by kids who love fairy tales. | Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday

As a kid, San Diego native Bill Brown loved going to the Balboa Park Carousel with his family. He even had a favorite animal among the menagerie that he’d always ride — a black horse adorned with a red-trimmed harness, with bright yellow details flowing from its saddle.

In 1972, Brown got a job at the carousel. Little did he know he’d work at the historic ride for the next 51 years and counting. Brown is the carousel’s heartbeat, a San Diegan through and through who cherishes every nook of the century-old ride located at 1889 Zoo Place. We asked Brown about his career — take the ride with us.

The Balboa Park Carousel in San Diego in September 2023 — The Balboa Park Carousel — newly restored — in September 2023.
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Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday

Q: This seems like a dream job — how did you get this gig?
A: I rode it when I was a kid. I saw how much fun the people who worked here were having so I asked the woman who owned the carousel at the time, Virginia Long, how old you had to be to work here and she said 16. As soon as I was 16, I came down and said, “OK, I’m ready to go.”

She said, “We don’t need anyone right now, but give me your number.”

About a week later, she called and said they had an opening. I started and I’ve been working here ever since.

Did you know? Last year, the City of San Diego proclaimed Oct. 3 Mr. Bill Brown Day.

Bill Brown the manager of the Balboa Park Carousel stands next to the horse he used to ride as a child. — Bill Brown stands next to the horse he used to often ride as a child at the Balboa Park Carousel — a horse now named “Buttons.”
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Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday

Q: When you got here and got to work, how did you feel?
A: It was like a dream job. I’d follow the other workers around. It was a great part-time job and it slowly evolved into a full-time job.

Q: What is your favorite part of working here?
A: It’s the atmosphere — seeing happy faces all day long. It keeps me young, at least mentally, seeing all these happy people.

Ride on: more Qs with Bill

Asked

What’s your favorite personal memory from the Balboa Park Carousel?

Please share with us.

'Round here, we love your answers

Events

Thursday, Sept. 28

Iliza | Thursday, Sept. 28 | 7 p.m. | San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., San Diego | $36-$176 | The writer, singer, actor, and “Elder Millennial” performs her “Hard Feelings Tour.”
A Queen Bey Rooftop Party: Silent Disco | Thursday, Sept. 28 | 8:30-11 p.m. | Rooftop Cinema Club Embarcadero, 1 Market Place, San Diego | $30 | Celebrate Queen Bey’s birthday month with games, drinks, and bay views while dancing to Beyoncé-inspired DJ sets via headphones.

Friday, Sept. 29

The Great Junk Hunt | Friday, Sept. 29 + Saturday, Sept. 30 | Times vary | Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. | $10-$20 | Flea market enthusiasts, this one’s for you: Browse vintage, upcycled, and repurposed goods from 130+ vendors while enjoying drinks and live music.
Mission Bayfest 2023 | Friday, Sept. 29 + Saturday, Sept. 30 | Times vary | Mariners Point Park, 3119 Mariners Way, San Diego | $60+ | Celebrate the sounds and views of Mission Bay at this music fest, plus dig into food and drinks from local vendors.
Bad Religion | Friday, Sept. 29 | 8 p.m. | The Observatory North Park, 2891 University Ave., San Diego | $120+ | The longtime punk band rocks San Diego.

Saturday, Sept. 30

San Diego International Dragon Boat Race | Saturday, Sept. 30 + Sunday, Oct. 1 | 8 a.m.-4 p.m. | Tecolote Shores North, Mission Bay Park, 1500 E. Mission Bay Dr. | Free | Watch crews of 16-20 paddle in boats decorated with an ornately carved dragon head at the bow and a tail in the stern.
Chula Vista ArtFest | Saturday, Sept. 30 | 12-9 p.m. | Chula Vista City Hall, 276 Fourth Ave. | Free | This inaugural community festival will feature 60+ local art vendors, exhibits, live music, live painting, and food trucks.
East Village Oktoberfest | Saturday, Sept. 30 | 1-7 p.m. | Quartyard, 1301 Market St., San Diego | $15-$60 | This German-inspired fest will feature craft beer, traditional Oktoberfest food, live polka music, tribute bands, a classic car show, and lots of games.
The Dan Band | Saturday, Sept. 30 | 7 p.m. | House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., San Diego | $10-$70 | The comedy band led by Dan Finnerty — you know, that band in movies like “Old School” and “The Hangover” — covers pop hits, ahem, with a flair.

Sunday, Oct. 1

Guns N’ Roses | Sunday, Oct. 1 | 6 p.m. | Snapdragon Stadium, 2101 Stadium Way, San Diego | $115+ | Take me down to the “Paradise City” — er, Mission Valley — as the iconic rockers perform their “2023 World Tour.”

Events calendar here

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News Notes

Civic

A $4.48 million Congressional Directive Spending grant will help expand the county’s Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT), which provides in-person support to San Diegans experiencing a mental health or substance-related crisis. The funding will help MCRT service areas with higher call volumes and pilot a team to respond to schools.

Transit

SANDAG will host a community workshop on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 6 p.m. at Del Mar Town Hall. The agency will discuss the importance of tunneling as it relates to the LOSSAN Rail Realignment, a project that plans to relocate the LOSSAN rail line off the Del Mar Bluffs.

Trending

Look up, SD. The “Harvest Moon” and final supermoon of 2023 will be visible overnight, around 1:57 a.m. As its name suggests, it’ll be so bright that farmers could, effectively, work late into the night. The next Harvest Moon won’t come until mid-September 2024. (Space.com + Fox 5)

Try This

Dreams do come true. Hannegan’s House Beer Co. and Creamery in National City features both craft beer and ice cream created with beer on its menu. Owner and South Bay native Andy Hannegan says he once curiously poured a little beer in his ice cream, bubbling up this grand idea. (NBC 7)

Number

71%. That’s how much bike trips have soared in the San Diego metro area between 2019 and 2022. Bloomberg reports that SD — with its increase in bike sales and cycling lanes — shows the second highest city growth for biking in the US. Take a ride back to our bike score. (Bloomberg)

Sports

The San Diego Padres’ payroll is a whopping $253 million, but the team reportedly plans to cut expenses to ~$200 million in 2024. While tough decisions may have to be made (we love you, Juan Soto), experts believe the Pads will be able to retain most of their core players. (San Diego Union-Tribune + FanSided)

Kids

Kids Free San Diego begins Sunday, Oct. 1, and families can score a deal with the San Diego Wave FC. The team is offering a free ticket for kids ages 12 and under with a paid adult ticket to the match at Snapdragon Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15.

Watch

The San Diego Filipino Film Festival is Tuesday, Oct. 3-Sunday, Oct. 8. The celebration of Filipino cinema features screenings, filmmaker Q+As, and special events at AMC Plaza Bonita 14 and THE LOT Liberty Station. Organizers say this year’s “Centerpiece Feature” film is “Searching for Kapwa,” screening Saturday, Oct. 7.

Seasonal

The local fall fun keeps on giving. TheNat will host a 21+, spooky soirée on Friday, Oct. 13, 7-10 p.m. The Secret Society of Adultologists: Old Hollywood will feature hands-on science, live music, and food and drink vendors. Wear your best “hauntingly glamorous” get-up — there’s a costume contest, too.

Drink

Six Sky Deck restaurants — Ambrogio15, Craft House, Glass Box, Marufuku Ramen, Understory, and URBANA Mexican Gastronomy & Mixology — will launch a “Collective Happy Hour” starting Monday, Oct. 2. Find happy hour deals Monday-Friday, 4-6 p.m., including $1 oysters at Glass Box and 50% off select cocktails at Understory.

Seasonal

🍂 Fallin’ for these themes

Things to do this fall in San Diego County

SD Belmont Park Beachside Fall Fest 2023

Oh, it’s fall at Belmont Park alright. | Photo via Belmont Park

From pumpkin patches to fun fall activities, San Diego is embracing the spirit of the season. Our county’s biggest theme parks are also fallin’ for autumn with these themed events:

Belmont Park is hosting its Beachside Fall Fest through Tuesday, Oct. 31, featuring a pumpkin patch, live music on weekends, treats, and seasonal beer on tap. Kids can also trick-or-treat for free every Sunday in October.
The San Diego Zoo is hosting HalGLOWeen, a Halloween-themed celebration Fridays-Sundays in October.
Brick-or-Treat is happening at LEGOLAND California Resort on select dates through October — think seasonal entertainment, costume contests, and trick-or-treating.
Sesame Place is hosting The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular on weekends through Sunday, Oct. 29, offering “not-too-spooky” shows, parades, and trick-or-treating.
SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular runs Fridays-Sundays through Oct. 29, with a themed dance party, scavenger hunts, and trick-or-treating.

More local fall fun

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Monica

From the editor

Love to cook? USA Today 10Best recently compiled a list of the 13 best cooking classes across the country and it includes classes at Sur La Table.

The kitchen and culinary retailer has two locations in San Diego County — Fashion Valley mall and The Forum at Carlsbad — and each offers frequent, in-store cooking classes. I’ve had my eye on the Great Pumpkin Feast demo, which puts the fall staple at the center of creations like pesto, risotto, and ice cream.

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