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Vision Cafe January 2008
Buddha for You and Thai Food Too
Ever wanted to buy a Buddha but didn't know where to look? Buddha-for-You
in San Diego claims to have "the largest selection of Buddha in California."
With a statement like that, how can a Buddha-lover resist? From the moment
I walked into the Buddha-for-You store, I knew the claim had to be accurate.
"We've got just about every kind of Buddha you can imagine," says
store assistant Robert Rosenblum. Lining the floor and the walls and positioned
on tables are Buddha figures made from teak and other woods, marble, bronze,
even resin. Figures come from India, China, Nepal and elsewhere in Asia.
The store, which opened in 2000, also carries a large selection of items
from Hindu mythology.
"You can tell where a Buddha is from just by the dress and the material
it is made from," says Rosenblum, pointing out a Buddha from Thailand
with a pointed crown.
Buddha-for-You is owned by eighty-year-old Alfred Baron, who has been collecting
Buddhas since World War II. Many of the pieces come from his private collection.
In addition, a section of the store is dedicated to Nepalese singing bowls,
used for eating and ceremony by Buddhist monks. The bowls are made from
seven different metals. Half of the profits from sales of the bowls go
directly to the Nepalese artists themselves.
As an added treat, two doors down from Buddha-for-You, Baron and his wife, Amanrat, originally from Thailand, offer authentic Thai food at Best Thai Food. After my journey into all things Buddha, I decided to give their cuisine a try. I first ordered the Tom Kha soup with veggies and tofu. I was served a hardy portion and, at first bite, my taste buds leapt for joy. This was a Tom Kha I could get in to. It had just the right combination of sweet, sour and smooth without overdoing it. Next, I tried the Som Tum shredded papaya salad. It was true to form, garnished with peanuts and sprinkled with just the right amount of lime. The serving I was offered was a bit too spicy for my taste buds, but true heat-lovers will appreciate the kick that this salad has to offer. My next sampling was of the Spicy Noodles. Wide rice noodles were stir-fried with bean sprouts, basil and special chili sauce. I ordered mine with shrimp and they were steamed and lightly fried to perfection. And the spice level on this dish was on target for my taste buds. I also sampled the Thai ice tea and, for my sweet tooth later on, ordered the sweet rice with mango. Yum! Best Thai Food is an authentic sampling of Thai cuisine served in a warm and inviting atmosphere (it was a pleasure to be served by the Baron's son, Art). Their food is also reasonably priced, with entrees ranging from eight to thirteen dollars. Vegetarians and the health-conscious will appreciate the wide array of meatless selections as well as the option for brown rice instead of white. Treat yourself to an afternoon to peruse the options at Buddha-for-You. Then go next door for some tasty Thai food. You will be glad you did!–NLP
Bhudda-for-You and
Best Thai Food are located at 6360 and 6366 El Cajon Blvd, near SDSU in
San Diego. Call 619.582.1100 (Buddha-for-You) and 619.756.6130 (Best Thai
Food) for more information or visit www.Buddha-For-You.com.
Watch out Shakespeare— the newest and hottest playwrights in California are here! Join in the fun when the Playwrights Project presents the twenty-third season of Plays by Young Writers at the Lyceum Theatre, Horton Plaza in downtown San Diego from February 2 to February 10, 2008. The event highlights the best submissions to the Playwright Project's California Young Playwrights Contest. Winning writers ages 15-19 first work with theatre and writing professionals who help them revise and develop their scripts. Then Playwrights Project members and other theatre professionals produce the full stage version of these one-act plays. In addition, winning entries by playwrights under fourteen will be read by professional actors at each performance. "This year's entrants were really diverse," says Cecelia Kouma, the Playwrights Project Managing Director. "The subject matter of the productions ranges from lyrical drama about Alzheimer's Disease [Find You in the Forest by William Alden, 18, of Santa Monica] to a hilarious farce [Mister Wade Is Dead by Niv Brook, 17, of Newport Coast]. All of the readings are just as diverse. One is about an outdoor cat who wishes he were indoors [King of the Couch by Rory Gallagher, 14, of Carlsbad]. Another [The Case of the Missing Pencil Tips by Devyn Krevat, age 11 of San Diego] is about an inanimate object. Little Flower [by Jessica Mersten, 13, of Solana Beach] explores a young girl's acceptance of her culture through conversations with her grandmother." Other fully-produced plays featured are Hawaii by Justin Kuritzkes, 17, of Beverly Hills, an introspective look into the questions that face many adolescents and Step by Step by James Monrow, 17, a senior at San Pasqual Academy in Escondido. Step by Step shows life from the perspective of a foster teen. Audiences of all ages can enjoy weekend and evening performances of Plays by Young Writers. Weekday performances are reserved for school groups. The Playwrights Project was founded in 1985 by former teacher and arts programs director Deborah Salzer. Its mission is to "promote literacy, creativity, and communication through drama-based activities, with an emphasis on inspiring youth and seniors." Among the artistic advisors for the Playwrights Project is American playwriting icon Edward Albee. For more information, visit www.playwrightsproject.org or call the Lyceum Theatre boxoffice at 619.544.1000
In San Diego County alone, there are over 50,000 senior citizens living below the poverty level. Many are malnourished and must choose between buying food or medicine each month. The Angel's Depot has provided humanitarian relief to over 267,000 elderly individuals in San Diego County since it was established by founder and director Susan Stames Hall in June, 2006. The Angel's Depot's "Senior Food-for-a-Week" Emergency Meal Boxes are prepared by volunteers and distributed through pre-qualified senior citizens' centers, churches, government agencies, healthcare programs and other non-profit organizations and centers. Nutrition is the single most significant factor that affects and defines the health, and thus the basic quality of life, of all people. This is especially true for elderly citizens. "Given the resources we have the ability to garner, we believe we have a moral mandate to relieve this suffering," says the Angel's Depot website. "These citizens are living in poverty in the richest country in the world. They have courageously done their part for our great country . . . we cannot let them suffer in their fragile senior years. Let us never forget them or leave them behind." To volunteer with The Angel's Depot or to donate, please visit www.theangelsdepot.org or call 760.599.7093