June 25, 2004/Tamuz 6 5764, Vol. 56, No. 40
Coronado: a sizzling summer escape
LENI REISS
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 Thelma and Jerry Gross, center, visit the beach with their family. At left are daughter Susan Arenson, her husband Perry and sons Josh, front, and Michael. At right are son Marc, his wife Marci and their children Haley, front, and Joey. Photo courtesy of Thelma and Jerry Gross |
As the story goes, Elisha Babcock, Jr., and Hampton Story had rowed across the bay from San Diego to hunt. But, impressed with Coro-nado's natural beauty, they agreed on the spot that it would be an ideal location for a resort hotel, and purchased the land. Their Hotel Del Coronado opened in 1888 and was sold, shortly afterward - and no doubt at a sweet profit - to John D. Spreckles, the "sugar king," whose family lived in the mansion that now is the island's popular Glorietta Bay Inn.
The Del Coronado, with its distinctive Victorian archi-tecture, broad expanse of beach, full range of services and designation as a National Historical Landmark, long has been a destination of choice for Valley residents seeking to escape the sizzling summers. But there is more to Coronado than just "The Del."
Zonies zero in
Gayle and Jay Weiss are among the Zonies (the semi-affectionate label for Arizonans who invade San Diego June through September) who have spent the last several summers in one of the 10 high-rise beachfront buildings that comprise The Shores. "Any beach is my favorite beach," says Gayle, "but this is the perfect spot for us. My mother lives three blocks from the ferry landing in San Diego," she explains, "so we can take the ferry to see her and we don't have to drive." The ferry makes daily roundtrips, beginning at 9 a.m., from San Diego's Broadway Pier to the Coronado Ferry Landing.
Jay Weiss routinely starts his day with coffee at "The Del," and in the evenings the couple often can be found at the Moo Town Creamery. "Life is good," Gayle says with a grin.
Were Arnie and Bobbie Serbin visionaries? Was it foresight? Or was it just plain good timing? The Phoenix couple, during a week-end stay at The Del in the mid-'60s, was walking along the beach when they came upon the sales office for The Shores. "The excavation had barely begun," Arnie recalls. "On an impulse, we bought a one-bedroom apartment - for more than what we had paid for our home in Phoenix," he adds. It turned out to be a good buy. Several years later they upgraded to a two-bedroom place in the same building and continue to spend summers and more at their parcel on the Pacific. "This is as close to heaven as you can get," says the retired physician, noting that his daily, self-assigned task is to "check the sand to make sure it all is there."
"Therapy" is the name of Sheila and Larry Landau's double cabin motor yacht moored at the Glorietta Bay Marina. "That's the name it came with, it works for us and, anyway, it is bad luck to change the name of a boat," Sheila explains. She and her husband have owned their apartment since 1996 and enjoy the double delights of condo comfort and "thera-peutic" cruising.
Janice and Herb Sperber are longtime Coronado fans. As long ago as 1988, when Herb was working full-time, they would head to the island for long weekends. In 1997, they "took the plunge," Herb says, purchasing the apartment where they now spend the bulk of the summer, typically returning to the Valley in time for Rosh Hashana. "There are a gazillion flights from Phoenix," he says, "so it is easy to sneak away the rest of the year when we want to."
Bridging the gap
On those occasions when Coronado loyalists leave the island and make the seven-minute drive across the 2.1-mile bridge to San Diego, options abound as to what to do and where to eat. Jewish News asked some people in the know for suggestions.
A "must-do" is a baseball game at Petco Park, says Micah Sachs, editor of the San Diego Jewish Journal. Here's his word to the wise: "A cheap way to catch a game is to go to the park behind center field. There aren't any seats, just a grassy hill and a wiffle ball field for the kids. You can bring a picnic, hang out and see the game reasonably well - for about $5."
Nate Stein was raised in Phoenix and served for several years as director of the local Jewish Community Center camp, prior to a stint in Hawaii to work for Jewish Federation. Presently the associate executive director at San Diego's Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, Nate says that members of the Valley of the Sun JCC here are entitled and welcome to reciprocal memberships. "We have great, one-week specialty camps for kids," he reports, "and a terrific mini-film festival set for Aug. 14 and 15." For information, call (858) 457-3030.
Downtown San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter, with clubs, art galleries and shops set among exquisitely restored 19th-century Victorian buildings, is the place to be when the sun goes down.
San Diego restaurants of note include Blue Point Coastal Cuisine, owned by David and Lesley Cohn. Nate Stein and Thelma and Jerry Gross all like Prado in Balboa Park. The Grosses also single out Hash House a Go-Go in the heart of Hillcrest for its "Sunday brunch to die for" and unusual menu with huge helpings.
For an idea of what is happening a little farther afield, consider these possi-bilities:
June 26 through Sept. 6: Nightly fireworks and en-tertainment at the San Diego Zoo.
July 21-Aug. 1: Women tennis pros compete in the Acura Classic at the La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, home also to outlet shopping at Carlsbad Company Stores, with 85 designer and factory outlets.
Aug. 2-3: International body surfers compete at the Oceanside Pier and Beach.