We haven't been to the Linkery in a while, but with all the recent sausage-making in the San Diego Union Tribune about their controversial mandatory 18% tipping policy, we have to confess to a sudden hankering for some delicious hometown wieners.

In case you haven't heard the news, a couple of weeks ago the owner Jay Porter was dogged by reports that he might be headed to jail for maintaining such a policy, a ridiculous idea brought about by the assistant city attorney, only to have the case dropped the next day.

Looking for a unique gift this holiday season for that one person that is always hard to shop for?  You may need to look no farther than your own kitchen.  Perhaps you might have bought some sweet potatoes (or were they yams?) for Thanksgiving but succumbed to the seductive convenience of the 28 oz can instead, only to later find the neglected tubers still lurking unawares in the countertop shadows, now curiously sprouting what look to be small leaves.

Is it as simple as 'artists'?  Take some time and think what it takes to keep the 'starving artist' in your community.   It doesn't take much for the people that made the 'community' to find somewhere else to go.

Before I go any further, let me get this out of the way. I neither love, nor hate chain coffee. If you drink coffee, you've probably already got your opinion about Starbucks, and I won't try to steer you in any particular direction.

All I'll say is, the Starbucks at University & 29th Street is classy and comfy, fitting the neighborhood nicely. And I enjoyed my mocha very much.

If you're a coffee fan, you've most certainly been to Lestats in Normal Heights.

Lestats is the epitome of the eclectic local flair that is Normal Heights (a different link). It touts a quirky decor, diverse clientele and goth-y atmosphere... not to mention lots of live entertainment, including open-mic nights, stand-up comics and indie music acts.