When Kip Ives (known to his friends as Pinky) started hanging out in the Kearney Mesa Butcher Shop, he meant Joe “Smoothie” De Silva. Smoothie was a fishing legend and icon in the Portuguese community and the owner of one of the top fishing seiners that fished out of Samoa. With the common interest of fishing, drinking and pretty women, they both became very good friends, so … [Read more...] about Seal Bombs – Was It The Start Of Destruction?
Mac Meda Stories – La Jolla Beach Crowd
Bastardization of Portuguese Merda, Became Meda
Bob Rakestraw's first real job was on a Scripps Research vessel. His adopted parents had already seen an alcohol problem developing, so, since drinking was forbidden on these ships it seems the logical thing to do. The "dry out theory" so to say. However, the experience did give him the opportunity to seek other means, something that had more excitement and adventurous … [Read more...] about Bastardization of Portuguese Merda, Became Meda
Robert “Bob” Rakestraw – Mac Meda’s Co-Founder
Robert “Bob” Norris Rakestraw (or aka, the Meda in Mac Meda) was born a Fergurson in Nova Scotia, Canada on December 8, 1940. He was adopted by famed Scripps Oceanography Dr. Norris and Hazel Rakestraw about eight years later. Norris was the number two man at Scripps and a renowned expert on marine chemistry. He died in 1982 in Morongo Valley, where they retired. In … [Read more...] about Robert “Bob” Rakestraw – Mac Meda’s Co-Founder
Albert, The Silverback Gorilla, Mac Meda’s President
Everyone knows Albert, the San Diego Zoo's famous silverback gorilla. Albert is famous for three things. 1) He was responsible for starting the gorilla population at the San Diego Zoo, which drew world-wide attention and became the star attraction with his ability to put Viagra to shame. 2) He got a restaurant named in his honor at the San Diego Zoo. 3) He was the … [Read more...] about Albert, The Silverback Gorilla, Mac Meda’s President
Del Mar Fairgrounds – The Beer Gardens
In 1880, a group of San Diegans organized an agricultural Fair to bring county farmers together to share ideas, see who had the best citrus fruit, who baked the best pie, and who had the fastest horse. By the 1930s, faced with fairs that struggled each year for survival, voters approved pari-mutuel racetrack betting to help fund the state's agricultural fairs. In 1936, the 22nd … [Read more...] about Del Mar Fairgrounds – The Beer Gardens
