San Diego is My Home

24
Apr

Saturday Spring Events

Author: HelenKay, Category: All For Charity, Arts, Events & Happenings, Festivals, Food, Neighborhoods

Clearly spring has arrived in San Diego.  There are quite a few celebrate-spring type events to choose from this weekend.  Here is a sampling:

-The 5th Annual Spring Garden Festival - This one takes place at Cuyamaca College and is sponsored by the San Diego Watercolor Society. You, basically, go to the The Water Conservation Garden and paint. It’s free and outside…that’s a pretty big draw. The event is on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

-The 7th Annual Point Loma Garden Walk & Home Tour - This is exactly what it sounds like. You pay to go on guided tours of private gardens and homes in Point Loma. The proceeds benefit the Craniofacial Services at Rady Children’s Hospital. Good cause. Lots of fun. Check it out. this Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

-The Linda Vista Multicultural Fair and Parade - Music, food, floats, artisans showing their skills…what’s not to like. The event is Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Linda Vista Road, just north of USD.

Enjoy the festivities.

22
Apr

News Wrap-Up

Author: HelenKay, Category: Military, News, People

I go out of town to a conference for a few days and miss all the fun.  The newlywed Marine couple who went missing, thus kicking off a nationwide search, is back at Camp Pendleton…and likely in some trouble.  She’s back at work and he’s in the brig.  No idea why only one of them is in trouble, but I’m sure we’ll get more information on that situation soon.

The Padres had a game that went something like 40 innings…okay, 22 but still.  That’s a loooong game.  I usually get the munchies and my mind starts to wander around the 5th inning.  I’d probably have to jump off the bleachers somewhere around the 15th.  

And Cindy Sommer, the military wife who was accused of killing her husband with arsenic has been released.  At the time of her conviction it seemed to many of us (except those on the jury) that Sommers only crime was one of bad judgment in sleeping around so soon after her husband died.  Since additional tests have shown zero arsenic in her deceased husband’s system, it appears that sleeping around was her only crime.  Good news is that it looks as if she won’t have to spend her life in prison paying for that.

18
Apr

Day At The Docks

Author: HelenKay, Category: Beaches, Events & Happenings, Neighborhoods, Sports

Know anything about sportsfishing?  Me either.  But here’s your chance.  This Sunday (April 20th) is the 29th annual Day At The Docks event.  Eat, learn to fish, take a boat ride and attend seminars.  There’s a little bit of everything for everyone.

The event goes from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at  San Diego Sportfishing Landings in Point Loma. Check here for more details.

17
Apr

Taste Of Hillcrest

Author: HelenKay, Category: Food, Neighborhoods

Who doesn’t love Hillcrest?  If you love Hillcrest and love food, I’ve got an idea for you this weekend.  Taste of Uptown/Hillcrest takes place this Saturday from noon to 4:00 p.m.  Forty restaurants open their doors and you get to take a little taste from the menus…thus the name of the event.

Now, you don’t get to wander around and sample the goodies for free.  Of course not.  Don’t be silly.  You have to buy a ticket.  Those cost $30 and you can get them at participating restaurants or here.

16
Apr

Shaky Ground

Author: HelenKay, Category: Emergency Situations, Neighborhoods, Weather

New reports this week say there’s a 99.7% of a major earthquake (magnitude 6.7 of higher) hitting California by 2037.  The odds are 93% for Northern California and 97% for Southern California. 

This sounds kind of awful but…uh, is this really a big surprise?  Isn’t it kind of like saying there’s a 99% chance of wildfires and mudslides in California?  These strike me as the obvious downsides of living here.  I’m thinking the scary part here is that the percentages are high enough to be considered a guarantee.  Suspecting an earthquake will hit and knowing it will are two different things.

Here’s the good news according to ABC News:

Knowing the likelihood of a strong earthquake is the first step in allowing scientists to draw up hazard maps that show the potential severity of ground shaking in an area. The information can also help with updating building codes and emergency plans and setting earthquake insurance rates.

I say we all start working on these projects.

15
Apr

Homes Facts

Author: HelenKay, Category: Housing, Neighborhoods, News

It’s a fabulous day to be a San Diego resident.  The sun is out.  Then weather is lovely, as usual.  It’s spring.  And…your house is worth almost nothing.  Well, that’s not true.  It’s worth a lot less than it was at this time last year.  There’s that’s better.  Uh-huh.

A new report says the County’s median home price has dropped below $400,000 for the first time since 2003.  That’s great news for buyers.  Really bad news for anyone who purchased a home in the County since 2003.   Yeah, that would be me.  The culprit is the foreclosure crisis. 

There are a whole bunch of horrifying statistics about how the median was $517,000 in November 2005.    In case you’re mathematically challenged, that’s a decrease of more than $100,000 in two years.  I will refrain from passing on any additional bad news.  But is anyone else feeling queasy?

14
Apr

A Little About Me…

Author: HelenKay, Category: Arts, Books

I had to step out of town for a few days.  I was off promoting my newest book release.  For all of you who love romance and want to support a local romance/romantic suspense author (uh, that would be me), here you go…

Go forth and purchase here or here.

09
Apr

Wine Festival

Author: HelenKay, Category: All For Charity, Events & Happenings, Festivals, Wine Events

You don’t have to travel to Northern California or even Temecula to do some serious wine tasting.  This weekend you can stay in San Diego and…drink.

Friday (April 11th) is the first day of the California Wine Festival, complete with a wine tasting and silent auction.  The events start at 6:30 p.m. at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel, Seaport Plaza. You can then stumble home (walk, take a cab or have someone else drive) and start the whole process over at a new location on Saturday. In fact, Saturday’s event even gets a different name. It’s the:   “Reds, Whites & Blues” on the Bay - A California Wine Festival.  The blues part deals with music events happening during the festival. See, it makes sense.

The second day of fun takes place at the Embarcadero Marina Park North. Again you get to engage in wine tasting, enjoy a festival, listen to music and take part in a live auction.  Sunday you rest and recuperate before heading back to work.

Two days of drinking in the sunshine. I’m not sure why you’d go anywhere else this weekend.

08
Apr

Art Auction

Author: HelenKay, Category: All For Charity, Arts, Museums

Are you into art?  How about charity?  Well, you can combine the two.  The Museum of Contemporary Art is holding its 6th Annual Benefit Art Auction.  And you get to hang out in La Jolla.

The event is this Wednesday (April 9th).  The Silent Auction starts at 6:30 p.m.  The Live Auction (with the Vice President of Sothebys presiding) begins at 8:00 p.m.  The specifics go like this:  cocktail attired required.  Honestly, do you need to know more than that?  If so, think cocktails, light food and tickets prices starting at $100. 

05
Apr

Home Expo

Author: HelenKay, Category: Events & Happenings, Exhibits, Housing

This weekend the Convention Center plays host to the Home Design and Landscape Expo. If you’re thinking about decorating, remodeling or otherwise fixing up the inside or outside of your house, this is the place to be. There will be exhibitions and designers. Loads of folks ready to give you information and advice.

The event runs through Sunday. The hours today (Saturday) are 11:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. There is a price to get in the door.  Order online through the link above to get discounted tickets.