Fans of Coastal San Diego is Relocating

No doubt you have noticed I have not been including much information here recently. I am STILL a huge fan of San Diego but with my business and keeping up my other blogs it has gotten to be too difficult to continue to post here regularly, and I have been trying to consolidate some on-line activity.

I have been writing a lot on my ActiveRain blog and include lots of information there about Carlsbad and San Diego in general. So going forward I will be posting my Fans of Coastal San Diego stuff there. Please feel free to stop by and visit Carlsbad Homes And Real Estate Tidbits.

You may also be interested in my Carlsbad Video and Photobloggery. This is ONLY photos and videos about North Coast San Diego - no articles at all. If you have photos you would like to share, please fee free to send them along to me at JDowler@remax.net. I am happy to post them, anonymously if you wish.

This is a test post...Using JOTT

This is a test post using jott. I thought it would be interesting to see if it really works. So, I'm recording a short post to my fans of Coastal San Diego blog, using jott.com. Kinda cool. We'll see if it works. And, if so, I can use it going forward to record messages while on the road, on my phone, as long as you're under 30 seconds. Stay tuned. listen

Powered by Jott

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Jott.com is a pretty neat feature for recording messages to yourself while on the road and getting them emailed to you. You can also set up others in the system. Better yet, it's FREE. Check it out.

Jazz Concerts in the Park in Carlsbad

Do you enjoy outdoor concerts in the summer?

Carlsbad, where I live, has a 10 concert series on Friday nights in the local parks. Their TGIF Jazz in the Parks is a fun, free way to enjoy the summer evenings.

You can learn more about these concerts here.

Visit Auggie's House of Crab in Leucadia (Encinitas)

Discovering new restaurants in my area is always fun, even if the place is not actually new.

In this case I just tried out a place that has only been open for a few months in Leucadia, the funky community in north Encinitas along the coast.

Auggie's House of Crab opened a number of months ago and is well wroth the visit. I stopped in for the lunch special the other day and will definitely go back. If you like good fresh seafood in a no frills kind of place, Auggie's is worth the trip.

You can read more about Auggie's House of Crab here.

New Cell Phone Law Begins July 1, 2008

Do you know about the new cell phone law that goes into effect here in California on July 1, 2008?

You'd better, since violations of this law will cost you. And if you are under 18, no cell phone usage while driving at all (except emergencies).

This should make the makers of hands-free devices very happy.

Learn about this new hands free cell phone law.

Surfing and the Environment

There is a new ecologically-minded surfing school in Encinitas.

The founder not only teaches folks about surfing, but also about the environment, in particular the plight of the rain forests in Costa Rica and the negative impact of deforestation. And funds from the school go directly toward the purchase of rain forest acreage for preservation.

Read more about Surf eCo here.

A Trip Along Route 101 in Carlsbad

Route 101 is a historic road here in the San Diego area, perhaps more so in North County.

A trip along this coastal roadway leads past beautiful beaches, dozens of eateries, loads of shopping and so much more. Route 101 is NOT just a way to get from point A to point B (and avoid the freeway) but is really a visual experience.

Take a look at my recent post (which won a contest) for a trip along this coastal highway in Carlsbad, and enjoy the VIDEOS.

Del Mar Antique Show is in Town This Weekend

If you are an antique lover and collector, or even if you just have passing interest, you won't want to miss the DEL MAR ANTIQUE SHOW.

The Show starts TODAY and runs through Sunday April 20 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

The show hours Friday & Saturday are 11am to 8pm; Sunday is 11am to 5pm.

Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA 92014

General Admission: $8.00

One of the popular booths for visitors is the APPRAISAL BOOTH. Bring in one of your treasures and find out what it might be worth 5 fee per item). Who knows, you may have a real find.

Humphrey's By The Bay

Music lovers (and others) in San Diego have a terrific venue to enjoy in the summers.

Humphrey's By The Bay offers a broad range of musical and other entertainment through out the summer months (in addition to the Jazz Brunch concerts on Sundays sponsored by KIFM).

Here is a sampling of concerts to look forward to (with ticket prices ranging from $30 - $125 [the latter for Ringo Starr]) beginning on May 9 with Kathy Griffin:

The Gypsy Kings
The Beach Boys
Crosby, Stills and Nash
George Carlin
Emmylou Harris
Lyle Lovett
Huey Lewis and The New
Joe Cocker
Kenny G

Feng Shui Spring Spruce Up

Here is SOME information from FENG SHUI RESOURCE's latest newsletter.

Spring Spruce Up ~ April 2008

Greetings,

Most people associate this time of year with cleaning, organizing/uncluttering and updating. In the spirit of the season, here are a few ideas to assist you with your Spring spruce up . . .

It's really not surprising that a living space that is crowded, cramped or cluttered will stifle your creativity and ideas, as well as your productivity. Clutter is also not good for your ongoing health and vitality. In fact, physical clutter can cause you to feel depressed, unmotivated and stuck in life because it attracts low-level (stagnant) energy.

Interestingly, research studies show that people who "hoard" items can have an especially difficult time advancing forward in life and releasing the past. There are two common types of hoarding: emotional hoarding and intellectual hoarding. Emotional hoarders hold on to items because they fear they will lose the memories associated with a person or event. Intellectual hoarders hold on to items and, in particular, information, because they fear they might need that information one day. While hoarders make up a relatively small percentage of the general public, on average most of us hold on to far more "stuff" than we need to . . . Creating a healthy home is about living more simplistically and surrounding you and your family with only those belongings that bring you joy and/or provide a useful purpose in your life.

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HERE ARE SOME COMMON MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE WHEN SETTING UP THEIR SURROUNDINGS (by the way you may want to check out the series I hosted with guest Blogger Kathi Burns on Getting Organized to Move...even if you are not moving)

The failure to pare-down as you progress forward: Most people only wear 20-percent of the clothing that hangs in their closet. If you haven't worn (or used) something in the past year-chances are you never will, so it's safe to let it go.

Accessibility: Available space (in file cabinets, drawers, shelves, and cabinets) is a lot like real estate . . . it's all about location. The items that you use most often need to be placed in the most convenient locations. Store "like" items together.

Wasted Space: Invest in a closet or garage storage unit to take advantage of every inch of space available to you.

Repeat Performance: This usually occurs when there isn't an inventory system in place within a household so you continue to purchase duplicate supplies, or you continue to run out of items. Keep a master list, and stick to it, this will also help you to avoid impulse buying.

Home Base: Have designated areas for incoming/outgoing mail, keys, and other personal items you need quick and easy access to. Open your mail every day, and do not let it accumulate. Also, rethink your magazine and newspaper subscriptions, particularly if periodicals are going unread. Request to be taken off the junk mail and catalog distribution lists. For mail contact: Do Not Mail List: www.directmail.com, for catalogs: Opt Out: www.catalogchoice.org

For More information on Feng Shui, classes, and consultations from an expert,
contact KATHRYN HOLT at 858-492-8506
or by email: Info@fengshuiresource.com.

13th Annual ShamROCK 2008

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!

Today is the 13th Annual ShamROCK sponsored by Miller Lite in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter from 4 PM until 12 Midnight.

40,000 SF of astroturf will turn the area into the rolling hills of Ireland. Live entertainment, dancing, live DJs, plenty of Irish libations and green beer (of course), and much more.

The event is being held on F Street between 5th and 7th Avenues, and on 6th Avenue between F and G Streets.

Call McFarlane Productions for more information (619-233-5008) or visit the Gaslamp website. Tickets are $20 in advance (there is still time) and $25 at the door.

Beach Life in the San Diego Area

Here's my pictorial perspective on beach life in the Carlsbad area of San Diego.

New Postal Rates Effective MAY 12, 2008

The United States Postal Services has announced another increase in postal rates, effective May 12, 2008.

The price of a first class stamp will rise to 42 cents (from 41 cents); more Forever stamps will be made available at the 41 cent rate - buy them now and they will still get your mail delivered once the rates increase.

The cost of sending a post card will rise to 27 cents. Other rates will change as well.

See the UPSP website for more information on the rate increase.

Visit the Balboa Theatre in San Diego

San Diego has a number of venues for theatrical entertainment - The Balboa Theatre, at 868 Fourth Street in the Gaslamp District, is well worth a visit.

I attended the Brazilian Guitar Festival last night at the Balboa, my first visit. The theatre has a historic background, and an interesting interior (the huge wall fountains in lit alcoves are a curious feature which, while intriguing, don't do much to add to the acoustics IMO). The theatre has just been restored to its former glory and certainly has some character.

But the real enjoyment was the guitar festival, which was extraordinary. The Assad Brothers, Sergio and Odair, have an international reputation in the music world, and seeing them perform in person was remarkable. Their equally talented sister, Badi Assad (herself an inventive, talented guitarist with an incredible voice and a penchant for incorporating intriguing sounds in her music - see a video below) was also featured, as were two other accomplished guitarists, Celso Machado and Romero Lubambo.

The music, almost half of which was original compositions, was wonderful, showcasing each performer's particular talents, artistry, and interests. While I would have preferred a more intimate venue for this sort of performance, it was a most enjoyable performance

You might note that the Balboa has some other terrific offerings that may be worth a visit:

• The New Shanghai Circus - Sunday February 17 at 3 PM
• Bellydance Superstarts - Sunday February 24 at 3 PM
• Dublin's Irish Cabaret on March 7 and a series of other musical offerings.
  

Visit the Balboa Theatre website for more information Tickets may be purchased in a number of ways, including through Ticketmaster and at the box office (you may get a great deal if you buy rush tickets the evening of the performance).

Plan an evening at the theatre, and enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants within a few minutes walk. Park at the Horton Plaza Garage adjacent to the theatre - you may want to make a purchase at the Plaza to get your parking ticket validated. The Balboa does not validate but they will provide a coupon for a reduction in the parking after 3 hours.