Return to Refill + the Egyptian district

Yesterday morning, D and I had a planned morning date...

(as seen on Park Blvd, Hillcrest)

Making sure to get there early...

for the first of our planned three stops.  We parked a few blocks away because parking was free, number one. But also, to "get in our steps". As we headed south on Park, we noted the Egyptian themed art on many of the trash receptacles.  This one with the wings reminded me of a Journey album.

The motifs we saw were quite fitting since we were in the Egyptian District in Hillcrest (more info linked at the end).  You can see Egyptian design not only on the trash cans (these were started in 2014) but also in some of the buildings.

The building below, however is not Egyptian themed but I thought significant enough to mention. Bob Huey Laundry stands out between a condo complex and the now defunct lesbian bar, the Flame (which was once the Egyptian themed restaurant, Garden of Allah, then later renovated into an art deco themed supper club).  At first glance, I thought this establishment was abandoned but there was a sign that read, "We're open".

 After reading up on it when I got home later that day, found out it was one of the few remaining Chinese laundries in San Diego (the other two are New Life Laundry on Granada St. in North Park and Soon Lee Chinese Laundry on C St in downtown's East Village).  Wow, just wow.   "Huey" was also Anglicized from the Chinese last name "Hui".

While en route to our first coffee stop, we saw what was left of the Egyptian Theater, now flanked by apartment buildings. This was one of San Diego's first luxury theaters in 1926. It was renovated in 1954 and renamed the Capri. It was once again renovated in 1988 and became an art house theater, the now defunct Park (which I do remember from my college days). You can still see the original ticket window.

There are also  apartment buildings at the Egyptian complex on the corner of Park and University (not shown).

I hadn't been back here since 2016 and I had one of these burning a hole in my wallet.





Nutella mocha for D and a cortado for me, specified for here so we could have our drinks served in these cool handmade mugs from a local artisan.




Excellent drinks plus one was free! D's drink was really smooth as was my cortado. I really like the roast they used (didn't catch what it was). Sadly, we didn't really stay too long because we wanted to make sure we were at our next stop, which was around the corner, before it opened at 8 am.

More Egyptian art on the trash receptacles...

Above, this trash receptacle was slightly north of Essex on Park.

Below, this was across from the bus station and high rise condos on Park near University

"Born in Arizona,  gotta condo made of stone-a"

Quick, where's that line from?  Answer at the end.

Article on Chinese laundries:
"Chinese laundries used to be a way of life in San Diego" SD Union-Tribune, Aug. 12, 2007

plus info from New Life Cleaner's website
"Our History"

Peter Hui's obituary:
June 2017

Information about the Egyptian Revival in San Diego:
"The Development of Egyptian Revival architecture in San Diego County" San Diego History Journal, April 1992.

and a local bloggers' compilation of the new developments in Hillcrest, which include the Egyptian Quarter:
"Egyptian Quarter" San Diego Streets (2014) - This article mentions the demolition of the Egyptian Garage.

This article depicts the now torn down Egyptian Garage as recently as 2015:
"Egyptian architecture" Russell Ray Photos

I wish I could have seen this before it was torn down.

and this article about the Egyptian themed trash receptacles:
"Egyptian Revival" SD Uptown News, Nov. 8, 2013

Previous visit to Refill:
September 2016

Answer:
From Steve Martin's classic skit on SNL featuring his song, King Tut, created during the King Tut craze in 1978:

Totally un-PC but hilarious!