Carlsbad Real Estate News and Views

Sandwiched between Encinitas and the San Elijo Lagoon, Cardiff by the Sea (a.k.a. simply as Cardiff) is the quintessential Southern California beach town.

With surf shops, casual eateries (including some directly on the ocean), an easily walkable downtown (in the Walking District of Cardiff), a mix of new and old (its shops as well as its housing) and of course fabulous beaches and sunset views, Cardiff exudes a charm that rarely fails to appeal to first time visitors, and keeps folks coming back. 

Certainly residents who live here, many of them for years, enjoy the charm, ocean views, and small-town feel and comradery of a community with long surfing roots, one that is comfortable with the past and being a bit different, but with a eye to the future as well.

Cardiff is a place to discover - an eclectic blend of housing and unique shops. One place absolutely worth a visit is Good Morning, in a small colorful strip mall (neighbors include the Chamber of Commerce, VG Donuts, and a Tatoo place),  just a block from the coast road and beach.

Good Morning, a shop of many Treasures, as owner Darrell Kitaen calls it, is an amazing collection of souvenirs, clothing, jewelry, crafts, art, and a myriad of other items that remind you of the 1960s. Words fail to adequately describe this unique shop with views of the ocean, so enjoy the photos in the virtual tour below. 

Darreld was a pleasure to meet and talk with. He has been in this location for about 30 years, with his first indoor business location in the building that is now Las Olas along Restaurant Row on the Coast Highway. I had a great time hearing about his early life in Hollywood, then in Idyllwild (a hiker's paradise, by the way), and his start in the business in San Diego, first with outdoor venues on street corners and later moving indoors. Darreld has seen a lot, knows a lot, has many friends, and is someone I would consider to be pretty wise about the ways of the world. I'm not the only one - he was recently featured in an article in the star News publication, San Diego Seniors: Prime, A Lifestyle guide for the 50+ Generation. 

Walking into Good Morning, and meeting Darreld, made me smile. You will too. When you stop by, please let him how you found out about his shop. He found my video about Cardiff on YouTube, so I am returning a favor here.

By the way here's a YouTube video about Darreld made by Leah (StellaBelle).

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We have all been hearing negative "doom and gloom" messages, forever it seems. And many folks have commented they are tired of them or ignore it. And there have been lots of posts written about "enough is enough." Yep, we know the economy sucks in many ways, but focusing on how awful it is gets tiresome, and promotes more negativity.

A Carlsbad retailer (actually in La Costa, where I live), has had it and is doing something about it.

Dale Condy (as reported in Today's Local News) is now creating playful signs, stickers and coffee mugs in his efforts to help chase away the negativity that are so much a part of our recession.

Condy is the owner of Gems of La Costa in Carlsbad, a long-time jewelry store operated by him and his wife, Linda. Products thus far include mugs, stickers, magnets, bumper stickers.

And Dale and Linda have entered the world of blogging - check out their blog at No Doom Gloom for product information.

If you can, stop by the store at 6985 El Camino Real #107, Carlsbad, CA  92009, or send a SASE to them to receive 4 free stickers. (Note - copy of sticker from Dale Condy's blog and is a link too)

Let's help stomp out DOOM and GLOOM. They are closed on Mondays (and Sundays) so I couldn't stop by, but I sure will.

REBLOG TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT

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If I can provide more information about Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2008 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

Folks who know me know that I have quite a sweet tooth, especially for chocolate. Elizabethan Desserts, in Encinitas, helps to fulfill the need for sweets in many ways. Oh so many ways!

I have been acquainted with pastry chef Elizabeth Harris for several years now since she opened her fabulous Elizabethan Desserts bakery shop at the Sunshine Gardens nursery in Encinitas near Moonlight Beach (just a short hop from Carlsbad). Yes, it is a totally unexpected place to find a sweet shop, but who cares?! You go buy some flowers, and you stop in to buy sweets, or just visit for the sweets.  

While I like everything Elizabethan Desserts offers (her dedication to freshness and flavor, the use of organic fruits), there are some top faves - the red Velvet cupcakes are probably my #1 (top photo, seond shelf on the right). They are incredible - and an amazing color, and Elizabeth knows I like these best.

Her Magic Bars are to die for, and the Lemon Squares have the most wonderful fresh lemon flavor. Oh, and the Mississippi Mudpies...I could go on and on.

Elizabeth continues to add goodies to her repertoire, as you can see in the cases in the photos. Her pies at holiday time can, and should, be ordered well in advance, and there are a host of different cakes for birthdays and other celebrations. She will create speciality platters of goodies for your events with advanced notice, too. 

Visit her website (and her sweet blog) for more about this terrific dessert place in Encinitas. 

Elizabethan Desserts is located at Sunshine Gardens Nursery in the Red Roof Building at 155 Quail Gardens Drive in Encinitas. Open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 AM until 5 PM. (760) 230-6780

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If I can provide more information about Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2008 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

The newest health and wellness center in Carlsbad is at the Tri-City Medical Center on El Camino Real within sight of Bressi Ranch, sound of Palomar Airport Road.

The Tri-City Wellness Center is unique in this region, in that it is an integrated health and fitness center of approximately 58,000 SF, where medicine blends with fitness for those who are ill, but more so with a focus on creating a healthy body and mind for folks at all levels of fitness. day-to-day health maintenance to sports performance training and rehabilitation.

The focus is on personalized service, with a team of degreed and certified fitness specialists, dietitians and health educators.

The facility, adjacent to the Aspirations Child Care Center, offers star of the art fitness equipment (cardio, circuit training, free weights, flexibility), an aquatic center (25-meter lap pool, exercise and therapy pools), childcare with activities, group exercise studios, and 1/10 mile cushioned walking/jogging track, locker rooms, personal raining, pilates, and massage therapy, and a health café. See their website for more information on their services.

The Tri-City Wellness Center will officially open on January 4, 2009. If you join before that time you can receive 75% off the enrollment - quite a deal, IMO.

The center is located at 6250 El Camino Real.

You may contact them at (877) 931-3171

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Subscribe in a reader

If I can provide more information about Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2008 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

Need a special fun gift for the holidays? Heading to a party and want to take along something for your hosts? Want to show clients or employees how much you care by sharing a gift basket over the holidays?

Queen Eileen's IS the place in Encinitas to visit. Here's why.

GIFT BASKETS - They make them right there (yep, I was there to grab a few pics and chat with Queenie [Eileen] herself in the midst of creating - see the show) and there are many choices for all occasions. They ARE impressive and beautiful!

The holidays are especially popular for these baskets -  choose one of their pre-arranged baskets or, better yet, customize your own. From $25 and up. Locals can bring in their own special wine to include or Queenie will select for you. Order on line from anywhere in the country but please feel free to call and personalize the transaction to get just what you want. You may need to order by December 12 for long distance delivery but check with the store. The website will give you a good idea of the huge selection of options.

THE STORE ITSELF - hopefully the pictures and the tour below will give you some idea of all the fun stuff you can find here, some of it a bit racy and not for the kiddies, but what an array of gift options - frig magnets, gift cards, PJs, Tees, martini glasses and other fun and artistic glassware, cards for all occasions, scarves, ornaments, napkins, spa items, novelty and gag gifts, and the list goes on and on. The beach theme is common here, with plenty of humor. Best way to get an idea is to stop in - the place will make you smile and laugh - or visit her Queen Eileens website.

WANT SOME BLING? Queenie stocks gobs of great jewelry (necklaces, earrings, rings) from Bali - she makes a couple of buying trips per year to keep the inventory fresh and interesting (I know, my wife has been there, and there).

QUEEN EILEEN'S MARTINIS ON FRIDAYS - what a fun activity for the holidays! Held on Fridays from now until Christmas, from 5 - 7 PM. Stop by for free martinis and gourmet snacks.

• Come yourself or bring 1 friend and you both get 10% off anything in the store
• 2 or more friends and you get 20% off.

Pretty good deal along with a freebie martini! What a terrific way to end the work week, or start the weekend.

The staff is friendly and helpful and you can't help but have a good time doing your shopping here.

Queen Eileen's is located in the heart of downtown Encinitas (just a short distance down the road from Carlsbad) on the west side of the coast road at 548 S. Coast Highway 101. (760) 436-4845 or (800) 233-4386

Take a tour of QUEEN EILEEN'S

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If I can provide more information about Encinitas, Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2008 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

Cardiff, more formally known as Cardiff by the Sea, is a charming beach town just north of Solana Beach in San Diego's North County.

Known for years as a surfing town, this small community's history is evident with several surf shops, the surfing statue on the Coast Road, and folks along the coast road and walking through town with surf boards under their arms.

Cardiff is growing and changing, fortunately not too quickly, and the small town charm appeals to residents living on the adjacent ocean-view hills and attracts many visitors, who enjoy the beaches, ocean-front dining, the ever-popular Pipes (perhaps THE best breakfast place around), the Seaside Market, and other small retail establishments.

Read More:

Cardiff by the Sea

Like to Walk? Live in the Walking District of Cardiff

A new retail building has been recently completed along the main thoroughfare (Chesterfield) within a couple blocks of the sea, adding several new retail shops to the eclectic shopping already available.

Artists by the Sea is a new contemporary art gallery and absolutely worth a visit...more than once. There is lots to be excited about this new art offering from Michelle Hovis and Anne Latham, jewelry artists in their own right - a small area of the shop is set aside for their business, Bling Girls. When you stop by you very well may meet one or both and can watch them work on their wonderful creations.

In addition to a broad range of artist works in many mediums - oil, watercolor, paper, glass, wood -  with paintings, sculpture, blown glass, music, mixed media, photography and unique gifts, Artists by the Sea offers numerous classes in their small Creative Arts Room that can be rented by the hour by artists wishing to teach. There is a working artist studio as well next to Bling Girls for artist-in-residence John Mosely, who also teaches. In December (Dec. 22 - Jan 2) the gallery will be offering an art camp for children ($40 per day including all supplies).

Artists by the Sea will be offering gallery receptions for their new shows throughout the year, and the featured artists will change to provide a continuing mix of art appealing to a broad audience.

Current works range from several hundred dollars up to $8,000. Most works are original but some prints are available.

Stop by the Artists by the Sea website for more information and photos, but better yet stop by the gallery in person to better appreciate the beauty of original works of art by the artists by the sea.

The gallery is located at 111 Chesterfield Drive in Suite 121.  (760) 479-0700.

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If I can provide more information about Cardiff, Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2008 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

As many of you likely know, whether you read this blog regularly or not, the Southern California area is known for terrific surfing. Though I am a non-surfer, I know enough to recognize areas like Cardiff, Swami's Beach in Encinitas, and other areas as being top-areas for surfing.

Cardiff (more formally known as Cardiff-by-the-Sea), to me, exudes a sense of beachiness (is that a word?). The beaches are close by (walking distance from many homes) surfers are lined up along the coast road, and the overall feel is of a small seaside town that is struggling to retain the feel of yesteryear, but growing enough to include amenities that will appeal to folks who live here and visit, with retail offerings,.

This building screams "surfer town," doesn't it? There is no doubt about where we are (near the beach) nor what lies within. The artwork outside says it all (well, the signs don't hurt). And it works so well in this eclectic surfing town along the Southern California coastline.

This surf shop has rentals, will sell you a board, and does repairs. All within a couple of blocks of the beach. What a deal.

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Subscribe in a reader

If I can provide more information about Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2008 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

The new Scripps Health Medical Office Building is set to open in Carlsbad on October 20, 2008, joining the facility that already exists in Encinitas.

This multi-story 40,000+ SF building set high on a high (with fab views I might add) is just off El Camino Real north of Faraday at 2176 Salk Avenue (appropriately named, I assume, after Jonas Salk, the polio vaccine guy). Carlsbad doesn't have a hospital so this is viewed as a positive addition despite some concerns about traffic in the office park area.

The Carlsbad Planning Commission has recently approved a second Scripps medical facility to be built in the same general area on a 5-acre parcel and expected to be completed in about 3 years.

The wall, above, is an interesting sight, at the entrance road to the office park. This was built at the edge of the hilly land along El Camino Real - I imagine there are some environmental/erosion issues at stake here. It's pretty impressive.

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If I can provide more information about Leucadia, Encinitas, Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360
or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2008 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

The annual Carlsbad business expo is coming to town at the Westfield Mall in north Carlsbad just south of the 78 freeway.

This event, hosted by the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, is an excellent way to gain more information about some of Carlsbad's best businesses and services. Specialty pavilions, featuring the latest updates and trends in goods and services, will focus on Health and Wellness, Technology, Travel and Tourism, and the Home.

One of the cool features is that E-World Recyclers will be there, recycling e-waste for free (computers, MP3 players, TVs, phones, stereo systems and much more). Anyone bringing e-waste for recycling will be admitted to the Expo for free; admission for others is $5, a real bargain. And if you pre-register at the Chamber website they will send an email for free admission.

There will be a beer and wine garden, free gourmet food samples, business counseling at the Small Business Success Center.

There is still time to register for an exhibitor's booth too; visit the Chamber website or call (760) 931-8400.

LOCATION: 2525 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, in the Plaza parking lot. Hours are NOON to 6 PM