Encinitas, CA

Another one of the numerous outdoor street fairs in the North San Diego County coastal communities is here.

The Encinitas Holiday Street Fair takes place this coming Sunday, November 23, 2008 in the downtown area of Encintias along historic Route 101 (the Coast Highway), between D and J Streets.

The fiar runs from 9 am until 4 pm and will have something for everyone. Hard to believe the holidays are upon us again. Given the economy, perhaps this will be a great place for you to find some terrific bargains and enjoy our beautiful fall weather.

The Encinitas Street Fair is smaller than the monster in Carlsbad that happened just a few weeks ago, but will have about 450 vendors, with 40+ restaurants and 250 stores in the local area taking part. As you always find at these events, there will be music, rides and activities for the kids (at the Lumberyard at the south end of town).

Parking is available at the Coaster Station just a short walk away, at the City Hall parking lot on Vulcan (near the Coaster) and the Moonlight Beach parking lot, also a reasonable walk.

The Encinitas Street Fair is sponsored by the Downtown Encinitas Mainstreet Association. Stop by their website for more information.

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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

The landscape in funky Leucadia is going to be changing (along with Encinitas).

It has already changed over the years, but still retains much of the funky, surfing atmosphere that endears it to so many residents and visitors.

A streetscape project was initiated this year in Encinitas to change the landscape, so to speak, along the 2-mile stretch of Historic Route 101, the coast, that runs along the coast through downtown Encinitas and Leucadia - the affected area is from A Street in downtown Encinitas to La Costa Avenue at the north end of Leucadia at the Carlsbad line. The changes are significant - beautification, adding landscaping, parking and circulation of traffic improvements, and much more.

The city is getting residents involved to help with design concepts regarding plants, street furniture, lighting, and other changes. Workshops have been held to present tentative plans and to brainstorm other ideas for the final designs, and there have been displays at various locations to enable residents to better understand the proposed plans.

A significant change, which I'm sure many are not in favor of while others are, is a shift in the coast road usage in Leucadia/Encinitas. Specifically there are 3 plans to change how the road is used, add parking, and alter traffic circulation to, presumably, improve it.

The major change is that 1 of the 2 northbound lanes will disappear, roundabouts will be added (there were several plans ranging from 1 - 5 but 5 was the preferred plan) as well lights (from 1 to 4 as I understand, depending on the final design). The roundabouts will be at La Costa, Grandview, Jupiter, El Portal and Sea Bluff. They will also be adding angled parking, more lighting and a "replanted tree canopy."

For anyone familiar with this area, these are huge changes, and I can't help but wonder what this may do to northbound traffic, at least in the summer. And the thought of the consruction is, [perhaps, even more troubling. Additional parking will be helpful, and I imagine many merchants will be happy about the proposed changes. Along with the proposed development at Ponto Beach in Carlsbad just a short distance down the road (which is still under discussion and approval) one can expect more people to feed the retail and dining establishments, but along with that there will naturally be more traffic.

Stay tuned for further details on the progress of the Encinitas streetscape project and Carlsbad's Ponto development.

You can visit the city websitefor more information, and I will share other information as I come across it. Residents who are concerned about the development have opportunities now for input at the various workshops and should participate so their voices are heard. I admit I have mixed feeling about the changes, adnd o not look forward to the implementation. They say change is often good - time will tell. It will certainly change the face of this community in many ways.

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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

In case you aren't aware...

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 15th is AMERICA RECYCLES DAY.

Spread the word - Reblog - Tell your Clients - Put it on your calendar

Awareness about recycling, and using recycled products, is key to success, and reminding folks about all that they can do WILL make a difference.

Encinitas, California, in conjunction with California Recycles Day and Amercia Recycles Day will be sponsoring a FREE e-waste drop off at the Solana Center from 9 until Noon at 137 N. El Camino Real. The Solana Center for Environmental Innovation (760-436-7986) has been a pioneer in recycling, establishing the first curbside recycling in San Diego 25 years.

E-waste (batteries. monitors, cell phones, etc) is particularly hazardous to our environment with toxic substances such as lead, mercury and cadmium leaking into landfill through careless, and I suppose naive, behavior.

While we should all be doing as much as we can to recycle, November 15th is particularly important to raise awareness for those who perhaps are not participating in recycling efforts, AND to encourage folks to purchase recycled products (there are LOTS of them out there). Certainly much more needs to be done in many communities but progress continues to be made.

What's going on in YOUR community?

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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

Folks who know me, and those who have chanced upon my blog, know that I am a dedicated foodie (there is no doubt after seeing this pic I suppose). I really appreciate good food, enjoy finding new places to eat, and love to share what I find with others.

As you can see, eating good seafood can be a real hands-on affair. Some of the best seafood is eaten in casual surroundings with the fingers, a bunch of utensils, a pile of paper towels, and good wine (or beer).

I wrote about Auggie's House of Crab in Leucadia before so you can read more about it there, and enjoy some photos and a slide show. This was a serious dinner (the "big feast for two" - and yes, I shared it) which arrived in a gigantic bowl and was emptied on the paper on the table.

Snow crab, Alaska king crab legs, mussels, clams, head-on shrimp, corn on the cob, andouille sausage and red skins - what a feast. Terrific seasonings, great flavor, and every bite gone. A true compliment to any chef.

Auggie's is celebrating their 1 year anniversary and YOU get to celebrate too. It's happy hour all day every day (as you can see in the photo) with some great special prices and good house wine for only $3 a glass. The celebration lasts until New Year's Day 2009. Stop on by and enjoy. Tell Auggie I sent you - he'll appreciate it, and you will as well.

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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

I discovered another Encinitas restaurant over the weekend.

Perhaps discover is not quite correct. It is not a new restaurant, I just hadn't been there. Now that I have, I'd recommend you check it out some time if you are in the Encinitas/Carlsbad area.

Robbie's Roadhouse is on the coast highway (historic Route 101) in Encinitas between Encinitas and Leucadia Boulevards in the west side of the road. Robbie's Roadhouse is part of the Vigilucci's Restaurant Group, with locations in Carlsbad (downtown and on the Coast Road at Tamarack), Encinitas (downtown), Oceanside, La Jolla (in the village on Prospect Street) and soon to be in Coronado downtown. Each restaurant has a different feel, menu and ambiance.

After helping my wife (Something Old Linens and Vadiar Designs) and good friend Nancy Bahr Kelly (N. Bahr Designs) take down their booth at the Olivenhain Crafts Fair on Sunday, we got together with some other friends at Robbie's. It was a bit chilly so we opted to dine inside (outside dining is available with the usual heat lamps you find at every outdoor Southern California restaurant).

This casual, friendly tavern has a large bar area for folks to take in the sports scene on one of several large-screen TVs (not blaring, fortunately), an eclectic reasonably-priced menu with plenty of seafood, beef and burgers, appetizers and salads, and a respectable and extensive wine list ranging in price from $21 to $110 (as you would expect there are a good number of Italian reds and whites to choose from).

Robbie's is the kind of comfortable place you can drop in for lunch, dinner or brunch (Champagne brunch on Sunday's from 9 - 2), on a whim, after the beach or whenever. It can get crowded on weekends especially in the summer and reservations can be a good idea. Worth a visit.

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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