A banner year for David Fleminger

David Fleminger BannerEarly 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.

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The Casbah turns 20!

(Dean Curtis hails a major anniversary for a San Diego institution.)

The Casbah — live since 1989In 1988, I finally got serious about a higher education. I previously tried college at SDSU in 1980/81 but it interfered with my social life and record-buying fund, so I dropped out. (I hated SDSU anyway.) But in 1988 I packed up the 1967 VW van, and me and my girlfriend Michelle headed off for Humboldt State University, after a fine summer living in the van and beach-combing up the California coast.

Soon after I left San Diego, the Casbah was opened by legendary San Diego show promoter Tim Mays (who with Laura Frasier operated the Skeleton Club in the late ’70s, and with Peter Verbrugge and Bob Bennett opened the Pink Panther in 1986).

Since he started the Casbah in 1989 (before moving it in 1994 down the street to its current location on Kettner and Laurel), Mays has also opened some great restaurants, including the Turf Club and Starlite.

Read moreThe Casbah turns 20!

The Che Underground