by The Editors on August 13, 2008
The San Diego Weekly Reader’s Don Bauder asked executive compensation expert Graef Crystal to “figure out how the remuneration of head bean counters at five large San Diego companies compared with pay of their counterparts elsewhere.”
Turns out Invitrogen’s CFO David Hoffmeister, who made $2.2 million last year, was “a bit ahead of what he should have made by Crystals reckoning.” But, according to Bauder, Invitrogen stock beat the market by 60 percent. Maybe that is why Invitrogen CEO Gregory Lucier (pictured right) is doing so well.
Gregory Lucier, in pulling down $29 million, made a whopping 583 percent above the market based on company size and pay risk, says Crystal. But the company’s stock has to meet certain future targets. Lucier is not supposed to get another award until the end of next year. Crystal tends to pooh-pooh such declarations, stating that boards of directors often forget that they said they wouldn’t dole out any more for a long period. “You grant it, I count it,” says Crystal.
As long as Lucier and Hoffmeister keep that stock climbing, we’re all good with whatever they are getting paid.
[Link: San Diego Weekly Reader]
by The Editors on August 13, 2008
On August 11, 2008 Carlsbadistan’s municipal golf course celebrated its one-year birthday. Hard to believe the City’s $74 million baby is growing up so fast. The press release from KemperSports was jubilant, but it’ is the Canyon Restaurant that Kemper seems most happy about.
In the past 12 months, The Crossings has hosted 57,980 rounds of golf, exceeding its initial projection of 56,775 rounds. About 40 percent of the golfers were Carlsbad residents, while roughly 30 percent were from the surrounding San Diego County area. . . . Averaging 183 customers a day during the first seven months of 2008, the Canyons Restaurant has exceeded its daily ala- carte revenue budget for the first 12 months of operations by more than $400,000. Highlighting the fact that The Crossings is more than just a golf course is that approximately 90 percent of the restaurant’s daily patrons were non-golfers from the local community and surrounding business parks.
Happy Birthday, Crossings, though to be truthful we’d much rather be celebrating the first year birthday of Carlsbadistan’s new skatepark.
[Link: The Crossings-at-Carlsbad]
by The Editors on August 13, 2008
Last night the Carlsbad City Council approved a plan from Strategic Property Services Advisers for a PF Chang’s Chinese Bistro and a two-story, 44,000 square foot “complex of boutique clothing shops” (including H&M) across the street from the Carlsbad Premium Outlet stores on Paseo del Norte, according to a Barbara Henry story in the North County Times.
“That area has been waiting for a good (project) … and it seems that they have found something,” Councilman Mark Packard said before the council’s 4-0 vote, with Councilwoman Julie Nygaard absent.
If we’re going to have another mall in Carlsbad, it might as well be there.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on August 12, 2008
For more than a week we’ve been getting news tips telling us that the Apple store at the Carlsbad Forum was opening on August 16, 2008. Being good journalists, however, we wanted to check with the Apple PR before we said anything. Let’s put it this way: we did get one out-of-office reply.
Now, it’s official. On August 16, 2008 at 10 AM the doors of the Carlsbad Apple store will open. Here’s what they said in their official email (which we did not get).
Come to the new Apple Store, Carlsbad, and bring your curiosity. It’s the place to test-drive any Mac or iPod, experience iPhone, and catch free workshops to learn all the latest tips and tricks. When you get there, find our Concierge in the orange shirt. The Concierge is your guide to everything from checking in for an appointment to instant checkout. And if you’re one of the first 1000 visitors, you’ll get a free Apple T-shirt.*
Today, we cruised by the store and peeked in through the doors on the front of the big black box. Inside we could see a completely kitted-out Apple store loaded with product and employees getting ready to start selling. If you’re like us, then we’ll probably see you in line early Saturday morning waiting for the free shirt.
[Link: Apple Store Carlsbad]
by The Editors on August 12, 2008
After closing Carlsbad State Beach on Sunday morning, city wastewater chief Don Wasko says no sewage actually reached the beach, according to a story in the San Diego Union-Triubne.
. . . none of the sewage actually reached the beach because it flowed into a street gutter and city crews helped vacuum it up. The beach closure, he said, was “erring on the side of caution.”
We whole heartedly approve of erring on the side of caution when it comes to sewage and the beach. Sadly, this didn’t keep Encinitas from having similar problems at Moonlight Beach.
[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]
by The Editors on August 12, 2008
Carlsbad Legoland’s newest attraction opened yesterday (August 11, 2008) with the help of actor Cristian de la Fuente. The new Sea Life Aquarium has the distinction of reportedly being the “first Aquarium in the U.S. to incorporate LEGO® models.” Obviously, they never saw our fourth grade science aquarium that was literally loaded with Lego blocks from our secret “fish bombing” runs.
The mission of SEA LIFE Aquarium is to immerse guests in an interactive, educational and fun aquarium experience while increasing awareness of the importance of safeguarding the sea and its inhabitants. As guests explore the 36,000 square-foot, two-story Aquarium, they’ll discover 36 displays holding more than 250,000 gallons of water. Key features throughout 14 themed rooms include the Discovery Zone, where guests interact with marine life experts, touch tide pool animals and take an inside look at the lives of sea creatures from special pop-up viewing stations; the Shoaling Ring, where guests are surrounded 360 degrees by schools of swimming fish; and the Ray Lagoon where several species of rays appear to “fly” through the water in Mayan temple ruins.
We haven’t been in there yet, but we are looking forward to it.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on August 12, 2008
Jazz In The Park goes local on August 15 with Vista’s Cuban Salsa masters Luna Llena. This six piece group lays down smooth salsa rhythms with the horns to back it up. And there won’t be any in Calavera Hills Park who don’t feel it.
Luna Llenas stylized salsa music takes us back in time. Luna Llenas intoxicating rhythms invites you to dance, and is equally enjoyed by the more laid back listener or serious salsa dancers. The close knit vocal harmonies, the rhythm pulse of the conga, timbales, and the unique sound of the traditional spanish guitar, is sure to please any occasion.
Those who enjoyed the film The Buena Vista Social Club with love Luna Llena.
[Link: Jazz in The Park]
by The Editors on August 10, 2008
Last night at 8:01 PM a pump (that pumps “wastewater” into the ocean) failed and the poop backed up, busting out 1,000 gallons of sewage onto Coast Highway and, according to the County of San Diego Department of Evnironmental Health about 100 gallons made it to the beach through a storm drain.
This “100-gallon-spill” was large enough to force the closure of Carlsbad State Beach from “Palomar Airport Road to the breakwater,” according to a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune. The beach will reportedly open just as soon as the water tests show that its cleaned up.
Carlsbadistan’s poop surfers rejoice.
[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]
by The Editors on August 10, 2008
Logan Jenkins, the sometimes cranky San Diego Union-Tribune columnist, has a nice profile on Carlsbad City Council candidate Farrah Douglas telling her action-filled story of escaping Iran in 1979 after the fall of the Shah’s administration.
“I was crying all the time,” Farrah said. “We were stuck. Everybody else had left.” Finally, the U.S. Embassy, which had not yet been invaded, contacted Farrah with a scheme to get the family out of Iran. . . . They would take a special Pan American flight operated by volunteers. They would fly separately, not as husband and wife. Farrah would say she was visiting a sick sister in the United States.
Now, if we could just read a little about Farrah’s thoughts on the Alga Norte Park. Just by looking at Farrah’s list of establishment endorsements (including Mayor Bud Lewis) we’re guessing we already disagree with her.
[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]
by The Editors on August 8, 2008
The streets of the Carlsbadistan Village will be filled with “art” on Sunday, August 10, 2008 as the Carlsbad Village Business Association hosts the 10th Annual Art in the Village, Artists and Artisans in Carlsbad.
Art in the Village features 150 fine artists in mediums such as oil painting, watercolors, photography, mixed media, new media, classical and contemporary sculpture, as well as artisans who work in the mediums of jewelry making, woodworking, furniture, hand-painted clothing and accessories. . . . The one day art faire is a long standing tradition in the Village of Carlsbad, and is held on the second Sunday of August every year. “Art in the Village is a great way to spend the day in the Village.” says Robin Young, Executive Director of the CVBA, “its fun for the whole family with art, food, music and fun activity. And it gives tourists and local residents a real feel for what the Village has to offer.”
While our definition of “art” may differ from most of the “artisans” exhibiting their work this weekend, there are occasionally bits of magic to be found. Click here for photos from last year’s event.
The San Diego Weekly Reader’s Don Bauder asked executive compensation expert Graef Crystal to “figure out how the remuneration of head bean counters at five large San Diego companies compared with pay of their counterparts elsewhere.”
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