El Cajon Blvd.

Early in the blog’s history, I recall joking about the prospect of San Diego’s city fathers erecting a statue to us in the Gaslamp Quarter.

It’s more than a little exciting, then, to learn that our own David Fleminger now graces a banner on El Cajon Blvd. — one of this year’s crop of musical figures so honored by the El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement Association.

The association’s Beryl Forman explained to me that the organization (formed 25 years ago to raise a gateway sign over the boulevard) is hanging banners to recognize outstanding contributions to the area’s retail, dining and music experiences. Among other familiar names gracing banners on El Cajon Boulevard are Tim Mays; El Vez; Mojo Nixon; Joey Harris; Candye Kane; and Bart Mendoza, who initiated the effort to include David in the program.

(In the first installment of a series, roving correspondent/ photographer Kristen Tobiason revisits and documents the scenes of our youth. Today, a daylight visit to “Gay Denny’s,” 2008!)

Denny’s on El Cajon Blvd.: A night-time hang-out spot? I don’t see many hipsters hanging there today. Maybe pimps and their respective employees … but for us it was another after show/party place to kill time and wait for the sun to come up.

I recall sitting in front of a plate of hot French fries with a side bowl of brown gravy, cigarette in hand … Across from me, you might find Tom Ward with his classic shaded spectacles, Chris Negro wearing his black revolutionary coat, a couple of Gravedigger V members, Jerry Cornelius, Denise, Alena … among many others.

A banner year for David Fleminger

Then and now: El Cajon Blvd. Denny’s