Brea, CA

Brea's downtown area on Birch Street is well known for eateries, fine dining and great eats. The Carvao Grill a South American steakhouse is one of my personal favorites. My last trip was for lunch a few weeks ago on what I call "earthquake day", July 29. Immediately after the shaker my power was out at the office and at home, so what else was there to do but have lunch?

Then I received a cell call from fellow Rainer Marlene Bridges making sure things were good in Brea, (I swear it felt like we were sitting n top the epicenter although it was next door in beautiful Chino Hills.

We met in downtown since they still were up and running with power. We had an outstanding lunch at the Carvao Gill on Birch Street. There's indoor and outdoor dinning to choose from. The proprietor Piaggio (aka Coli) waw born and raised in Argentina He's also the perfect host. I took this photo of him out in front of his restaurant one day during the Brea Farmer's Market held on Tuesdays. As for my lunch the serving size was so large it became my dinner the next day.

Then to our nice surprise Coli sent us over a very special dessert.

If you're looking for a wonderful place of lunch or dinner in Brea try the Carvao Grill, check out their menu here.

You won't be disappointed! Oh, how about dinner at a movie? You know the Carvao is just across the street from the Edwards Theaters. Save your movie ticket and get a discount on dinner at Caravo, what deal!

It's interesting to know Caravo means charcoal in Portuguese ~ It describes a ways food is grilled in Argentia and Brazil. You will love it!

Location: 210 Birch Street, Unit 102, Brea, CA 92821

Phone: (714) 990-2140

From the 57 Freeway ~ Exit on Imperial Hwy. Drive west towards Brea Blvd. turn right (north) to Birch St. then left (west) on Birch Street. Plenty of nearby parking.

To see more on downtown Brea visit Living In Downtown Brea. Need help with Brea real estate, contact us, Lynda@PreferredHomeBrokers.com. Want to learn more about Brea, take a tour around our city at All About Brea~ Brea, CA 92821 & 92823 and view Sunset Magazine, Brea The Best of The West and you will see why Brea's the Place to Be.

North Hills Brea is a well kept secret in many ways. Home are set at the base of the hills which separate Orange County from Los Angeles County over the hills to the North. Located primarily between the streets of Puente to the West and Berry Street to the East it's a quiet residential community of one and two-story homes.

Several different builders developed in this area beginning in the late 60's through the early/mid-eighties depending on the builder. Some homes, yet not all (also depending on the builder) are in a home owner's association with amenities like pools, clubhouse, tennis courts, playground/tot lot as examples.

Floor plans range from a the smaller single story plan with 3 bedrooms 2 baths at about 1,800 square feet to the larger models up to 5 bedrooms 3 ½ baths and approximately 3,200 square feet. Many have 3-car garages while the smaller ones usually have a 2-car garage. Lot sizes can range anywhere from about 6,000 square feet and a few up to 14,000 depending on locations. Most of the large lots have cul-de-sac locations.

North Hills has been a great place for young families, retirees and single folks alike. I've lived here many years myself as an original owner and I can personally say my neighbors fit into all three catagories mentioned.

As a family we've celebrated numerous events at this clubhouse including birthdays, anniversaries amd even two weddings. It's also our local polling place to vote at election time.

Many of us moved to Brea knowing the city offered top notch public schools. Schools for the North Hills area include the award winning Mariposa Elementary, Brea Jr. High and Brea-Olinda High School. My own kids have experience them all over the years.

Current North Hills prices range from the upper $600,000's to the upper $700,000 range. To view more on home prices in Brea click here to see the most recent real estate report for our city.

• Today the North Hills neighborhood of approximately 625 homes is adjacent to Amber Hills (built 1988/89, Fieldstone Terrace built in 1992,and Tomilson Park built in 2004 all in the North West area of Brea.

If you're looking for a great Brea neighborhood, consider North Hills, it's a great place to call home.

To learn more about Brea take a tour around our city at All About Brea~ Brea, CA 92821 & 92823 and view Sunset Magazine, Brea The Best of The West and you will see why Brea's the Place to Be or visit our City Hall Park, it's like a step back in time.

Planning on spending a day or two here? Check out, Brea ~ CA as Featured in Westways Magazine for day tripping around town. If you're want more on Brea real estate contract me, Lynda Eisenmann at Preferred Home Brokers for Real Estate Help, we're one of longest established real estate companies in Orange County under the same ownership.

I will be a part of the City of Brea's 'Brea Fest', Friday, August 15th. It is an evening of music, food and activities for adults and children. Tickets are sold at the event which you can use to sample the foods from the many restaurants in Brea, like TAPS, The Yard House, and Octopus. There are games for the kids, located in the upper levels of the City Hall. There are live bands, local dancers and singers and two stages to view.

I have volunteered for this event for over 10 years, and it is always one of the events I look forward to. All the proceeds go to the Brea Arts Foundation. The event runs from 6PM to 10PM. It is located at 100 Civic Center Drive, Brea, CA 92821. You are more than welcome to come and join in on the fun. For more information, you can go to www.cityofbrea.net.

Brea's own Curtis Theatre announces the 2008~2009 lineup.

• 2008 Schedule ~

Elvis ~ The King of Rock and Roll ~ It's Scott Bruce
October 3, 4 & 5 th
Friday: 8 p.m.; Saturday: 5 & 8 p.m.; Sunday: 2 p.m.
Adults $35 ~ Seniors $32 ~ Children $30

No Sex Please, We're British
A funny English comedy that will make you laugh!
October 17-19, 24-26 & 31, November 1 & 2
Friday & Saturday: 8 pm & Sunday Afternoon 2 p.m.
Adults are $20 ~ Seniors $18 (not appropriate for children)

The Wonder Bread Years,by former Seinfeld writer Pat Hazell
November 14, 15 & 16
Friday & Saturday 8 pm Sunday 2 pm
Adults $28 ~ Seniors ~ $25 Children $23

Christmas with The Alley Cats~ Back in Brea Once Again as a Holiday Favorite
December 4, 5, 6, 7
Thursday & Friday 8 pm ~ Saturday 2 & 8 pm Sunday afternoon 2 pm
Adults $28 ~ Seniors $25 ~ Children $23

• 2009 Schedule ~

Fritz Coleman stars in Tonight at 11! ~That's right our SoCal news and weather man on KNBC.

February 7, ~ Two Performances ~ One Night ONLY
Saturday: 5 pm & 8 pm
Adults $28 ~ Seniors $25 ~ Children $23


Oscar's Memorable Musical Moments ~ And the Winner Is...
About Magical Movie Moments ~ February 20 & 21
Friday 8 p.m. ~ Saturday: 5 & 8 pm
Adult: $28 ~ Seniors ~ $25; Children $23

Sweet Charity ~ A Long-Time Broadway Favorite set in New York City in the 1960's.
March 13-15 ~ 20-22 ~ 27-29 2009
Friday & Saturday: 8 pm ~ Sunday Afternoon 2 pm.
Adults are $26 ~ Seniors $24 ~ Children $20

Bearfoot Bluegrass ~ Alaska's popular acoustic band from Anchorage!
April 4, 2009 ~ One Night Performance
Saturday: 5 pm & 8 pm
Adults are $22 ~ Seniors $19 ~ Children $18

Cathie Ryan ~ Celtic Vocalist
April 18, 2009 ~ One Night Only ~ Two Performances
Saturday 5 pm & 8 pm.
Adults are $22 ~ Seniors 19 ~ Children $18

Disney's Wildly Popular High School Musical
Production is based on Disney's Hit Movie
May 22-24 ~ 29-31 ~ 2009
Friday 8 pm ~ Saturday Two Performances 2 pm. & 8 pm Sunday Afternoon 2 p.m.
Adult: $18; Senior: $16; Child: $16

• Watch for more to follow in part II on Brea's Youth Theatre

The Curtis Theater is locatedat the Brea Civic and Cultural Center at 100 Civic Center Circle on Birch Street, Brea, CA 92821. The Civic Center is located on the North side of the Brea Mall and across the street from Brea's Post office to the West and the Brea Marketplace to the North.

• The Curtis is such a terrific venue, not a bad seat in the house!

Click here to see more on ticket information and box office hours.

Brea, California 92821 is located:

• 30 Miles East of downtown Los Angeles. CA
• 39 Miles East of LAX ~ Los Angeles International Airport
• 16 Miles North of John Wayne Airport ~ Santa Ana ~ Orange County
• 10 Miles North of Disneyland, the "Happiest Place on Earth" ~ Anaheim, CA

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If you're looking for help with Brea Real Estate contact me: Lynda Eisenmann, Broker Owner Preferred Home Brokers, Brea CA 92821 ~ Lynda @PreferredHomeBrokers.com. Brea's oldest independent real estate brokerage. Proudly serving Brea and surrounding communities.

Brea, Ca Real Estate

Being the Buyer's Market that it is, one of the top questions I'm asked by families moving in to the area is "How are the schools?" The other comment given by families moving in to bigger homes are "I'd like to keep my kids in the Brea Olinda School District." So I know this is very important in many peoples minds. Education is important to me and my family. My wife and I have a daughter that is 7 months old, so what school she'll be going has been mentioned. Plus my my wife is a six grade school teacher in La Habra, Ca at Washington Middle School, so it's of big concern.

It's still all about Location, Location, Location and now a days people can be picky. With the increase of housing affordabilty and homes on the market, people are finding homes at a good prices, good neighborhoods, and perfect for children. Brea homes fits right into all three those categories. If schools area important to you, Brea should be on your places to live list. To give you an idea of Brea Schools I'd pulled information from www.greatschools.com. The list below are of each of Brea's public schools and their Academic Performance Index or API numbers .

BREA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

API SCORES

AROVISTA (K-6) 869

COUNTRY HILLS (K-6) 887

FANNING (K-6) 833

LAUREL (K-6) 794

MARIPOSA (K-6) 877

OLINDA (K-6) 906

BREA JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL API SCORES

BREA JUNIOR HIGH (7-8) 835

BREA HIGH SCHOOL API SCORES

BREA OLDINA HIGH (9-12) 801

The purpose of Academic Performance Index (API) is to measure the year-over-year growth in academic performance for California schools. The API summarizes a school's stnadardized test scores into a single number, which ranges from 200 to 1000. The statewide API goal is 800 for all schools; higher numbers generally indicate better performance on the tests.

Brea Schools are California Distinguished Schools

You can vist more information about the school district on their official site at

by CLICKING HERE

I thank you again for taking the time to read my blog. If you have any questions about Brea Homes and Brea Real Estate please feel free to contact me or visit my website at www.tafuahomes.com