Carlsbadistan

Relive the wild west days of Southern California at the Leo Carrillo Ranch on Saturday, May 19, 2012 as the City of Carlsbad celebrates Native American culture with the Wild West Fest.

This year, Wild West Fest celebrates the Native American culture with demonstrations, crafts, activities, and entertainment. There will be pony rides, a salsa tasting contest, and an Adventure Activity card taking you through Native American themed activities and projects. Bring the entire family out for an exciting afternoon at Leo Carrillo Ranch. Activity cards are required for some activities and can be purchased at the event. . . Food, beverages, and merchandise will be available for an additional cost.

Leo Carrillo Ranch is located at 6200 Flying L.C. Lane in Carlsbad. For complete information click here for the official website or follow the jump. Continue reading ‘Wild West Fest At Leo Carrillo Ranch’

City crews are out this morning (May 14, 2012) on Garfield Street in the heart of Carlsbadistan adding four-way stops at the intersections of Garfield and Walnut Ave, and Garfield and Juniper Ave. These new stop signs will give speeding drivers the slow-down that neighborhood residents have been hoping for for years.

“I can’t believe how happy the residents are,” said one city worker. “Everyone who has come by has been glad we’re doing this.”

These improvements were made just in time for the summer traffic rush and are set to make Garfield a much safer street for people who live in the neighborhood.

Follow the jump for more photos. Continue reading ‘City Adds Four-Way Stops To Garfield’

For those who spend several hours of each day on their bikes riding to and from work the idea of National Bike To Work Day (Friday, May 18, 2012) must seem kind of funny.

Yes, those who ride probably laugh a little with superior mustachioed smirks, at the quaintness of a day set aside when people who usually pilot their monstrous SUVs to work slum it out in the bike lane. But we’re guessing they also smile because they’re happy that “official days” like this get more people thinking about riding their bikes to work every day. And that’s good.

If you need a little encouragement the iCommuteSD website is offering up prizes for people who ride their bikes to work.

Those who register for Bike to Work Day will be automatically entered to win one of many great prizes, including the grand prize — a new bicycle! In addition, every time you bike to work in May, and log your trip in TripTracker at 511sd.com/iCommute, you will be entered for chances to win additional prizes. Register for Bike to Work Day to be automatically eligible for these weekly prize drawings in May. Weekly prizes include San Diego Zoo and Safari Park passes, spa gift certificates, free Car2Go memberships, transit passes, and much more.

Not only that, but if you bike to work on Friday, may 18, 2012 the City of Carlsbadistan is going to help you out with two “pit stops” that will provide free T-shirts, snacks, beverages and giveaways while supplies last. One pit-stop will be on the west side of Carlsbad Boulevard at Pine Avenue and the other at Zone 5 Park on Faraday Avenue and Camino Hills Drive.

For more info on Carlsbadistan’s Bike to Work Day follow the jump. Continue reading ‘Carlsbadistan Bike To Work Day: May 18, 2012′

The Village now has a new place to grab a cup of coffee and some sweets. The Goodyvan will be parked near the corner of State Street in front of the New Village Arts Theater Tuesday through Saturday mornings.

The food truck offers cupcakes, cake pops, dipped pretzels and more. Flavors rotate daily and the truck’s menu and hotspot location is updated online at Goodyvan.com The truck is also available for weddings, parties and other special events. For more info, click the link or follow the jump for more photos. Continue reading ‘Goodyvan Sweetens Up The Village’

The Friends of the Carlsbad Library are hosting their Spring Better Books Sale on Saturday and Sunday April 28-29, 2012. In addition to books, there will be a special group of collectible records and CDS.

There are books of current and classic fiction, coffee table books, beautiful art books, cookbooks, travel, sports, music, history, biography, children’s and many other categories of books to choose from. And they are all very affordably priced (cash and checks accepted). . . All profits from the sale are used for Carlsbad Library programs. The Friends provide major support for the children’s Summer Reading Program, the Carlsbad Reads Together community event and the Magee Park Poetry program. We also pay for enhanced technology, extra copies of bestsellers and programs for kids and teens. Friends volunteers staff the Friends Book Store at the Dove Library and keep the bookstore area at the Cole stocked with books for all interests.

The sales is at the Georgina Cole Library Community Room, at 1250 Carlsbad Village Drive in Carlsbad. Follow the jump for details. Continue reading ‘Spring Better Book Sale At Cole Library’

You can tell from his most recent mailer that Assemblyman Martin Garrick, R-Carlsbad, hates his job. He complains about having to work year-round in Sacramento, with little time to ask local voters what they want him to do there. Forced to accept an overblown salary while working full-time on issues that “are not priorities for the hard-working people of this state,” he can’t take a second job in the real world.

So what’s an unhappy State Assembly member to do? Survey his constituents, of course, to see if they agree he and his colleagues are overpaid, out of touch and underemployed.

Mindful of how busy we all are, Garrick boils his survey down to four simple, yes, or no questions and one “positive” or “negative” opinion. If you answer yes to the first question, lawmakers should have full-time careers and be part-time politicians, the next three are easy. Yes, you want a part-time legislature, yes, the legislature passes too many bills, and yes your representative is grossly overpaid. If you think “no” answers are acceptable, check out the answer sheet included or just Google “Congress: job ratings.” Continue reading ‘The Riehl World: A Lawmaker’s Lament’

On Thursday, April 19, 2012 the California Energy Commission is meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn Wavecrest Ballroom. At 5 PM citizens will have a chance to comment on NRG’s plans to build another powerplant on their property between the railroad tracks and Interstate 5.

NRG, owner of the 57-year old Encina Power Station, has made no guarantee that it will tear Encina down if the new plant is approved, meaning that Carlsbad would be home to two power plants on its coast. Several thousand local residents have opposed this project because: I-5 widening will create a dangerous situation. This plant will the closest ever to a major freeway; Fire safety concerns; Increase in air pollution; Disruption of view corridors; Violates Carlsbad land-use rules.

For more on why this powerplant is a bad idea and what you can do to make your voice heard, follow the jump. Continue reading ‘Speak Out Against Lagoon Industrialization’

On Friday, April 20-21, 2012 Carlsbadistan’s Black Box Distribution is having a sample sale at their warehouse. Get great deals on samples and discontinued styles from skateboard (and surf) brands like Fallen, Insight, Zero, Mystery, Slave, Super and Destroyer. Stuff like T-shirts, flannels, fleece, denim, shorts, belts, bags, socks, decks, and surfboards.

This is a great chance to get all set for summer. The sale begin Friday, April 20 at 11 AM. Block Box is located at 2777 Loker Ave. West Ste-A, Carlsbad (back left parking lot). Follow the jump for all the details. Continue reading ‘Big Skate & Surf Sample Sale This Weekend’

Thanks to a special deal created through a partnership between the Carlsbad Education Foundation and Legoland called Celebrate Carlsbad Day local families will have the chance to purchase advance tickets to visit Legoland on April 28, 2012 (after 1 PM) for $20 (a price locals should get all year).

The annual Celebrate Carlsbad Day at LEGOLAND® will be held on Saturday, April 28th. Specially-priced $20 LEGOLAND tickets include admission starting at 1:00 pm with park hours extended to 9:00 and a special fireworks display at 8:30. SEA LIFE Aquarium tickets are also available at a discounted rate of $6 each. Parking is $12 at the gate. . . Live student performances and donor recognition will take place from 3:00 to 5:00 on a stage in Miniland USA. LEGOLAND will donate a portion of the event proceeds to the Carlsbad Educational Foundation (CEF) to support district-wide science initiatives at Carlsbad schools.

Yes, it’s amazing to us that Legoland won’t allow a full day in the park for $20, but we guess the Carlsbad Education Foundation has to take what they can get. Tickets must be purchased in advance by calling the CEF office at (760) 929-1555 or by emailing Patty@CarlsbadEd.org

An even better way to support the Carlsbad Education Foundation is to make a direct donation. Click here for more info. Or, follow the jump for the official word from the CEF. Continue reading ‘CEF Makes Legoland Affordable For A Half Day’

Have some kids who love nothing more than putting on shows? Now, thanks to Carlsbadistan’s New Village Arts Theatre they can get some professional training even if they’re as young as 4 years old with Kids Act.

Kids Act can help motivate, inspire and enrich your child. . . With 2 distinct age groups (4-6yrs & 7-11yrs) and class sizes small enough to tailor each child’s experience, Kids Act is a special way to ignite your student’s imagination.

Session start on April 16, 2012. For more details, or to sign up click here.

[Link: New Village Arts Theatre]