San Diego Spring Home/Garden Show will be at the Del Mar Fairgrounds

March 5^th through the 7^th, 2010 

Just because the San Diego weather is milder and less wintry than many other parts of the country doesn't mean you can't get excited about spring and the San Diego Spring Home/Garden Show. 

Now who doesn't like a home and garden show?

It can be so much fun to see all the flower and garden exhibits and dream about what your yard could look like. Or, if you are thinking of spiffing up or remodeling your home, whether you are planning to move or not, you can explore the many products, services, home furnishings and exhibits at the San Diego Home/Garden Show.

See some gardens from the 2009 San Diego Home/Garden Show

You can also Ask the Experts if you have particular questions about building permits, for example. And there will be a large display of art work. 

The San Diego Home/Garden Show is being held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar California beginning tomorrow, Friday March 5, through Sunday March 7. There is a large list of exhibitors (the list contains links to many of the vendor websites). 

Hours are 11 - 6 on Friday, 10 - 6 on Saturday, and 10 - 5 on Sunday. You can buy tickets on-line - regular admission is $8 but e-tickets are only $6. Admission after 3 PM is $5.

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 If I can provide more information about Del Mar real estate 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 © 2010 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

Yes, it's true. Foodies in San Diego are getting excited. 

Restaurant Week will hit San Diego January 17^th(that's THIS Sunday) and lasts until Friday January 22nd. 

San Diego Restaurant Week is a terrific way to dine at your old favorites, or explore some new eateries with special menus and reduced prices. No tickets are needed but because of the popularity of this event, reservations are pretty darn important (probably essential). 

The San Diego Restaurant Week website gives you the opportunity to search for places to eat by cuisine, location, price and name. There are dozens of restaurants (over 180) participating with a wide range of food styles and prices ($20, $30 and $40 for 3 course meals). Many restaurants are downtown but they go as far north as BlueFire Grill in La Costa/Carlsbad (walking distance from MY house) and a number of places in Del Mar.

Orange County and Los Angeles (offers 2 weeks) also offer their own restaurant weeks:

Orange County Restaurant Week

Dine LA Restaurant Week

So take your appetite for good food and try out one, or more, of the great places to dine in San Diego during Restaurant Week, January 17 through the 22^nd.

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If I can provide more information about San Diego real estate 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 © 2010 Jeff Dowler "The California Relocation Dude" Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

Being a foodie, I gravitate toward new restaurants, dining out, and just eating in general. San Diego surprisingly has quite a selection of restaurants, many of which are not celebrity chef eateries, nor on the list of the Best Places to Eat on Zagat. But if you are interested in culinary tours in San Diego, A Taste of San Diego tour is well worth your time and money, and lots of fun, to explore some of the non-mainstream places to eat.

A Taste of San Diego is a culinary tour in San Diego that will surprise, and delight you - here's why!

A Taste of San Diego is not a tour of the tourist spots, or the restaurants owned by celebrity chefs. In fact, chances are you won't have heard of these places and they likely aren't in the guide books, with few exceptions.

But the locals know. And these restaurants have been in business for a significant amount of time in most cases (one as long as 76 years!!)...without the benefit of websites (again, a few exceptions), glitzy interiors, and food that looks like it stepped off the pages of Gourmet with prices to match.

So, if you:

• Are looking for a fun way to discover some great food in some hidden spots in San Diego (plus see some interesting areas of the city)?

• Want to give a special friend or family member and great gift (Christmas is coming, you know).

• Are you visiting from out of town and want to have some good food that is NOT a chain eatery loaded with tourists?

• Want to try some foods you may never have had...

Then book a culinary tour with A Taste of San Diego.

I have the great pleasure of doing just that yesterday, courtesy of owner/founder Annette Legaspi. We met at Seau's: The Restaurant in Mission Valley, the first restaurant on the tour to talk and for the video interview I did (check it out below).

And of course I got to sample Mama's Combo (chicken and beef teriyaki with rice, a special recipe of the Mother of owner Junior Seau [NFL All-pro linebacker with the New England Patriots and formerly with the San Diego Chargers, and of the Junior Seau Foundation), their special offering for A Taste of San Diego tour attendees.

There are two tours offered: (1) TOUR 1 from 9:30 - 2:00 with breakfast and lunch, hitting 7 - 8 area restaurants; (2) TOUR 2 from 3 til 6 with 5 or 6 restaurants. You can make your reservation for A Taste of San Diego tour on their website.

Here is the tour I did (the restaurants MAY vary depending on the tour day and time given when the restaurants operate). And by the way the food was great, and more than I could eat by myself (it's best shared with another person):

Seau's (Mission Valley) - about 14 years in existence; Mama's Combo

Nicolosi's Italian Restaurant (Allied Gardens) - 57 years; Torpedo Sandwich

Chicken Pie Shop (North Park) - 76 years; chicken pot pie

Chiquita's (City Heights) - 42 years; carne asada crispy quesadilla

Pt. Loma Seafood (Pt. Loma) - 32 years, with great views of the marina and downtown; ceviche

El Indio (San Diego) - 69 years; fruit burrito (dessert)

Some other restaurants you may find on the tour include Los Quatros Milpas, Penchita's,, the Old Town Mexican Café, and El Coyote Grill. 

A Taste of San Diego is a fun way to explore some out-of-the-way places with really good food. Fancy , it's not. And if you want trendy, forget it. But if you want to sample "a meal of tastes" from some long-standing places that aren't in every guide book, and experience some of the local color, a culinary tour of San Diego with A Taste of San Diego will bring a smile to your face and a very full stomach. Don't eat before you go - trust me.

For a discount of 20% use code JD2010 for purchases of $150 or more, good until June 30, 2010.

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If I can provide more information about San Diego real estate 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 © 2009 Jeff Dowler "The California Relocation Dude" Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

Today, July 22, is the long-awaited Del Mar Races opening day for thoroughbred racing at the famed Del Mar Race Track at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar California.

READ MORE: Del Mar - Affluent Seaside Community

The horses have been racing at Del Mar for decades now, attracting crowds from all over the country. The Del mar races gained a reputation as a place to hobnob with the Hollywood set years ago (Bing Crosby, Jimmy Durante, the Rat Pack, among many others) and remain a popular celebrity-sighting venue today.

And the Del Mar Races Opening Day is THE event on the summer social scene, with the ever-popular "One and Only Truly Fabulous Hats contest." Wonder if I have time to dredge up an old chapeau, decorate it and still get to the races? I don't think I could compete with the likes of some of the contestants and past winners.

The races run through September 9 and folks traveling the 5 freeway can expect traffic congestion as a result, in addition to the summer crowds. 

On perhaps a more important note for AR members, there will be a meet-up of San Diego area bloggers on August 14 - Some ActiveRainers (who know who you are) will remember Active Rain Day at Del Mar back in 2007 with the Sellsius dudes where we welcomed folks from San Diego and Orange Counties to the festivities. This one should be a blast as well with some well-known and popular bloggers from our midst joining in on the Aloha theme.

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If I can provide more information about Del Mar real estate 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 © 2009 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

This Sunday in La Jolla California is a very special day. It's the Tour de Cove.

The Tour de Cove is a significant fund raising event for the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF). Monies raised benefits CAH who helps folks with physical challenge pursue active ifestyle through physical fitness and atheltics. The funds are used to purchase prosthetics (which can cost $15,000), wheelchairs and handcycles (about $2000) for these athletes, many of whom compete locally, nationally and internationally in a host of events.

[graphic is a link to the website]

The Tour de Cove is held every year at La Jolla Cove, although last year's event had to be canceled becuase of teh fires and concerns about the athletes who were participating in the spin-a-thon as well as the triatholon.

There is a 4 and 1/2 hour spin-a-thon with 100 bikes and krankcycles on the lawn overlooking the beautiful Pacific. Spinners sign up for varying periods of time (e.g., someone spinning for the entire period had to raise $2000 and gets a front row spin bike). Bikes are being provided by Frog's Fitness in Encinitas and Solana Beach. The event runs from 9 until 3:30.

The other fund raising event what has, to date, raised over $16 million, is the San Diego Triathlon Challenge, a half-Ironman distance event; this is the 15th anniversary of this inspiring event which begins with swimming at 8 AM .

The other associated event occuring just before this is the Qualcomm Million Dollar Challenge, which ends on Friday OCtober 24th in La Jolla, although cyclists have the option to also ride a final stage of 55 miles on Sunday over the course used for the San Diego Trathlon.

The Qualcomm Million Dollar Challenge is a 600-mile 7-day journey on bicycle from San Francisco to La Jolla, with each of the participants attempting to raise a minimum of  $10,000. The funds raised through this event are being used to "seed a capital campaign for the construction of a Challenged Athletes Foundation headquarters facility, unless otherwise directed by the donor, in which event, such donations will be applied towards the payment of additional handcycles, racing chairs, sports chairs and sports prosthetics for challenged athletes, as well as help subsidize their competition and training expenses." [from the website]

There are all sorts of activities for non-participants, and it's a great way to support all those who are contributing to this amazing event. And of course the scenery along teh oean in La Jolla can't be beat.

Stop by!

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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