Carlsbad Triathlon 2010 and Health Expo

It's that time of year again, for the popular Carlsbad Triathlon and Health Expo, being held this weekend, July 10 and 11. The Health Expo is Saturday and the race in Sunday. 

The Carlsbad Triathlon is one of the 5 longest running triathlon events in the world. 

The Carlsbad Triathlon is a sprint race, with a 1K open water ocean swim, a 25K bicycle ride, and a 5K run. The race is sold out, with 1000 participants at all levels from beginner to elite. 

The course begins at Tamarack Surf Beach at Route 101/the Coast Highway and runs along the coast. Roads will be closed so the race is considered very safe.

The terrain is fairly level with some rolling hills, and comes with great views! 

The Health and Fitness Expo is Saturday at the Westfield Plaza Camino Real on Saturday, July 10, 2010, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It continues on the day of the Carlsbad Triathlon at Tamarack Surf Beach along the seawall from 6 a.m. until noon. 

Why not stop by the Carlsbad Triathlon 2010 and Health Expo this weekend. The weather is expected to be sunnier but with coolish temperatures which will be great for the triathletes.

Carlsbad TGIF Jazz in the Park Series 

A favorite things to do in the summer in Carlsbad, besides spending more time at the beach, is attending the Carlsbad TGIF Jazz in the Park Series. 

There are a number of reasons to enjoy the Carlsbad TGIF Jazz in the Park Series

• The weather is great
• Concerts are free - who doesn't like free
• The music is great with lots of variety - blues, jazz, latin
• You can spend a few hours on a summer evening with friends and family enjoying music and outdoor dining in one of Carlsbad's many beautiful parks (Stagecoach, Poinsettia, and Calavera Hills) 

The 25^th season of this very popular series begins June 25^th, that's NEXT Friday, and runs through August 20^th.  The Carlsbad TGIF Jazz in the Park Series is the major fundraiser (by selling raffle tickets for numerous donated prizes) for Carlsbad Friends of the Arts, which provides numerous arts-related activities in Carlsbad, including Cannon Art Gallery exhibitions and the concert series. 

Here's the line-up for the Carlsbad TGIF Jazz in the Park Series (links are to websites so you can check out the music): 

Stagecoach Park

June 25 - Ruby and the Redhots (blues)

July 2 - Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca (Cuban, Afro-pop) - 4^th appearance

July 9 - Big Time Operator (big band swing) - 12^th appearance

Poinsettia Park

July 16 - Louie Cruz Beltran (latin)

July 23 - The Screaming Primas

July 30 - Rod Piazza and The Mighty Flyers (blues)

Calavera Hills Park

August 6 - Bill Magee Blues Band (blues) - 10^th appearance

August 13 - Sue Palmer & Her Motel Swing Orchestra (boogie woogie)

August 20 - Earl Thomas (rockin' blues)

Oh, did I mention these Carlsbad TGIF Jazz in the Park concerts ARE FREE? 9 free concerts in the summer in Carlsbad - What could be better??!!

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All content copyright © 2010 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

My wife and I were treated to a very special evening of international guitar music last night by a good friend here in Carlsbad, CA. 

I continue to be impressed with the breadth and depth of the Carlsbad arts scene available for free or at low cost to Carlsbad residents and visitors - the free TGIF Jazz in the Parks concerts in the summers, the wonderful art exhibits at the Cannon Art Gallery at the Carlsbad Public Library, the outdoor arts and crafts fairs, Art Splash, and other offerings which included the International Guitar Night last night. 

This spectacular event was sponsored by Carlsbad's Museum of Making Music, itself one of Carlsbad's treasures. 

Four very talented guitarists  - Brian Gore, Itamar Erez (from Israel), Stephen Bennett, and Lulo Reinhardt (from German, grandson of famed guitarist Django Reinhardt) - entertained us individually and in groups of 2 and 4 for about 2 ½ hours with an incredible array of music style and unique instruments (there were at least 7 guitars including Bennett's harp guitars, one which was 101 years old!). 

International Guitar Night was founded in 1995 by Brian Gore in San Francisco and has become one of the pre-eminent guitar events nationally and internationally. 

It was an amazing evening of incredible musical talent, and I feel blessed to have had the pleasure of being there. The next best thing, perhaps, may be to enjoy the brief video clips I took.

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All content copyright © 2010 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

The poplar and well-known (perhaps even world famous) Carlsbad Marathon will be taking place on Sunday January 24^th 2010 in Carlsbad California.

Runners from around the country and the world will be participating in the ___running of the Carlsbad Marathon course which takes them along our beautiful beaches as well as on some of the more popular areas roads, some of which have great views of the area. There will also be a half marathon (both marathons are sold out).

A number of roads will be closed at various times on the day of the marathon, so expect potential issues between 5 am and 2 pm. Signs are posted to make motorists aware of road closings. 

The Coast Road/101 (Carlsbad Boulevard) is a great place to watch along South Carlsbad State beach just north of La Costa Avenue. 

Having the marathon that Sunday seems a bit ironic, given San Diego Restaurant Week wraps up on Friday January 22 - perhaps this is a good time for carbo-loading!

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All content copyright © 2009 Jeff Dowler "The California Relocation Dude" Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

Minigolf "FORE" the Library

The Carlsbad Library is having a benefit, with a Minigolf tournament right in the library itself. 

READ MORE:  Carlsbad Village by the Sea 

Yes, it's true! Among the book stacks, the aisles, down the stairs, and elsewhere, the Carlsbad Library is hosting a Minigolf tournament to raise funds to benefit the Carlsbad library and arts facilities and programs.

Sponsors can design their own holes, with several levels of sponsorship which include tickets to the Saturday night VIP party, banners and ads, varying numbers of tournament players (depending on level) and a host of other benefits for being a sponsor (e.g., hats, program recognition).

• Presenting Sponsors - $5000 or 2 @ $2500
• Eagle - $1000
• Birdie - $500
• Par - $250
• Individual opportunities 

The Minigolf Tournament will be on Sunday November 8 from 10 am until 5 om in the Carlsbad Library at 1775 Dove Lane in Carlsbad just off El camino Real by the VONS Shopping Center.

Adult tickets are $10; children (12 and under with adult) are $5. There will be food, fun and a silent auction in the library courtyard, too. 

Visit their website for more information.

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All content copyright © 2009 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

Dining out is a favorite activity of mine. And of the Julian restaurants The Julian Grille in Julian CA is the best, in my opinion.

We take an annual trip (and sometimes more) to Julian CA to enjoy the town, the quaint shops, and of course the apples and apple pie for which Julian is famous.

We always take time to have lunch at The Julian Grille in the heart of town on Main Street. Taking a trip to Julian is a fun thing to do for a day or overnight and a beautilful drive through the mountains from Carlsbad. 

The Julian Grille is in a quaint old home and offers a number of individual dining rooms - the enclosed porch is the best, offering views of the street so you can take in Main Street while dining.

There is a miniscule bar (room for 3-4) plus plenty of outdoor dining on the cover patio under the trees in warmer weather.

Being at about 5000 feet above sea level, Julian gets cold enough for snow in the winter, which can be a great time to enjoy visiting without the hoards of tourists (and a treat for us Californians who want a taste of snow) during apple season on the weekends. 

The place gets jammed when there is a big event in town, especially the Apple Days Festival, but otherwise is not to hard to get seated in for lunch. Dinner on weekends in the summer and fall are more crowded - I suggest reservations to be sure. 

The lunch menu offers a wide range of salads (my spinach salad with grilled salmon was excellent), among other things, and dinner might consist of beef, fish, chicken, pasta and other creative offerings. They have a respectable wine list with reasonable prices for lunch and dinner. With linens and old silverware, you can't help but feel the history of this old house in the heart of one of the early California mining towns. Well worth a drive (less than 1.5 hours) from the coast. 

The Julian Grille is located at 2224 Main Street in Julian.

You can make reservations and other inquiries at (760) 765-0173.

Are you ready for a road trip? Great – here it is. This is all about Route 101 in Carlsbad – things to see and do, and a bit of the history. Have a great ride.

Carlsbad is located about 30 miles north of San Diego on the beautiful Southern California coastline, easily accessible from downtown as well as from California’s largest city, Los Angeles, about 100 miles to the north.

The 5 freeway may be the fastest way to travel north and south through our lovely community, but it is also the busiest. And you miss the colorful and eclectic beauty of this seaside paradise called Carlsbad by not taking the historic Route 101, also known as the Coast Highway, and more formally as Carlsbad Boulevard [each town along the coast from Oceanside to the Mexican border seems to have a different name for this historic coastal route].

Route 101 has an interesting history, following the route originally taken by Spanish explorer Juan Gaspar de Portola; this highway is also known as El Camino Real, the “King’s Highway” or “the Royal Road” (a popular name for major thoroughfares in many Southern California towns, sort of like Main Street).

It seems that a trip along Route 101 allows you a view of just about every slice of life on the west coast, along with spectacular views of the coastline, ocean, surfers, and sunsets.

Route 101 is a bit like other famous and historic roads in the US – Route 66 running east and west, and Route 1 (there is a Route 1 on both coasts – known as the Pacific Coast highway up in LA and beyond). There is a history behind each, as well as lots to see and experience depending on your whims.

Prior to the building of our massive freeway, the 5 (which runs parallel to the coast from the Mexican border all the way to Washington state to the Canadian border), Route 101 WAS the way to travel the coastline through Carlsbad from points north and south. It still is a reflection of a simpler, quieter lifestyle that IS so typical of Carlsbad and other seaside communities.

Like the 5, Route 101 runs the length of the Pacific Coast. Established as one of the earliest highways in 1925 by the Bureau of Public Roads, this roadway in the Carlsbad area was built beginning in 1952. At some points the 101 is more freeway-like, such as in the valley north of Los Angeles, but here in Carlsbad the road is a quieter, more peaceful trek (at times 4 lanes but in some areas just 2) with fabulous coastal views, stop lights, many opportunities for sightseeing, dining and shopping, and, simply, is THE way to see the wonderful town of Carlsbad and its neighborhoods.

Visit this website for a bit of history and some old photographs.

For many, Route 101 serves at the way to get to and from the beach;

• it provides a pathway for the annual Carlsbad marathon, Ironman triathalon, and the popular 5000K run
• bicyclists and runners find it a pleasant route along the edge of our continent
• it provides a point of orientation for those who are unfamiliar with the area – “just follow the 101 north…”
• and it is the best way to commute along the coast if you wish to avoid the freeway traffic jams that occur at rush hour

There is lots to do along Carlsbad’s Route 101 – shopping, dining, swimming, running, cycling, touring in your convertible, watching sunsets (a popular activity for many Carlsbadians), fishing, surfing, vacationing, and so much more. Indeed, it is impossible to list all the establishments and activities located alongside it – there is something for everyone. Many beachfront homes border the 101 (ranging in price from about $1.3 million to upwards of $8 million), as does more than one trailer park (the ones with views sell for over $600K), several gated communities (e.g., Poinsettia Cove), and the roadway is packed with vacation rentals just south of Carlsbad Village until you reach the Aqua Hedionda Lagoon. Several popular hotels line the 101 and offer ocean views – The Hilton, and the Carlsbad Inn right in the heart of Carlsbad Village, are the best known.

Read: 101 Things to do In and Around Carlsbad

The 101 is not just a road, but also serves as inspiration for many things: The 101 Diner, for example, and the 101 MainStreet Association in Encinitas (to the south). Herb Alpert recorded a song, “Route 101”, and Highway 101 is the name of a country western band. Why not check out this video by the surf band, The Super Stocks, and their song “Surf Route 101.”

Reading about Route 101 is one thing, but a drive is how you will really capture the feel of this historic road along the Carlsbad coast.

The Route 101 journey begins at the Oceanside border to the north and heads south into Carlsbad Village after leaving the Buena Vista Lagoon. After you pass the Army and Navy Academy you will find yourself cruising into the heart of Carlsbad Village. We pass a number of retail stores, a couple of surf shops, Jay’s Gourmet (a very popular and long-standing eatery in Carlsbad), the Ocean House and several other restaurants, Alt Karlsbad, a building built in the late 1800s and housing the first mineral springs in town (Carlsbad was named for the popular spa, Karlsbad, in the Czech Republic), Witch Creek Winery Tasting Room, and then the well-known Carlsbad Inn on the right with terrific ocean views (the main part of town is to the left for about 8 blocks). As you leave the village proper you will see the popular concrete boardwalk to your right high above the ocean affording terrific views, great people watching, and a pleasant place to walk, ride your bike or walk your dog.

We pass along Tamarack Beach and the Encina Power Plant, then we cruise through one of the residential areas with beach front housing and along one of the more dramatic views in Carlsbad (see video)

Online Videos by Veoh.com

We end our road trip along the South Carlsbad State beach by the Batiquitos Lagoon just before entering Encinitas (see video).

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Before we end our trip, take a look at some of the sights you will find along the 101, then watch the sun set as the day ends. I hope you enjoyed your trip.