Weekend warm-up on way

More rain! And this time the end of the storm may make it a wet morning commute. So slow down a bit. I’m a Californian and I admit it – we just aren’t the best drivers in the rain.

The rain’s just temporary, though. Community lasts. Two fixtures in La Mesa and the College Area are living proof.

They both had humble beginnings – early congregants at La Mesa First United Methodist Church met in a packing plant. And Woodstock’s Pizza opened in a former laundromat.

But 130 years later – that’s 1895, folks! – the church is thriving and history lives inside it. The current pastor even attended the church’s preschool. Our Sophia Sleap talked to a bunch of church members, including one man who joined the congregation 51 years ago when he was at San Diego State.

SDSU connects these two stories in a way. Woodstock’s hasn’t been around as long, but celebrating 40 years of doing business in one community is special, and San Diego State students have been a big part of the pizzeria’s legacy.

They enjoy a good pie for sure, but you can often find students serving them up too. As our Luis Monteagudo Jr. put it, “college ties are part of the sauce at Woodstock’s.”

History connects well with nostalgia, right? If you have a soft spot for the classic sitcom “The Golden Girls,” or know someone who does, definitely make plans to head to San Diego’s Bayside Kitchen where The Golden Girls Christmas Experience is now open. Find out about the pop-up and more in our latest Weekend Guide.

Thoughts? Opinions? Share them with us at news@timesofsandiego.com.