People strolling the seawall this evening saw some strange happenings in the surf just north of the Power Station. A group of guys had what looked like a snowboard box out in the waves and surfers were repeatedly trying to boardslide and 50-50 it.
We’re not exactly sure what was up, but we saw a Volcom van and a Transworld Surf truck, and from the looks of the number of cameras around it would appear that someone was filming for either a TV show or a movie.
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One month ago administrators of the Carlsbad Unified School District thought they would have to trim $5.6 million from the 2008-2009 budget, according to a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune. Now, thanks to being reclassified as a “basic aid” school district (because of high local property values) the district adopted a $96.6 million budget with only $2 million in cuts.
Carlsbad joins several other coastal North County districts – Del Mar, Solana Beach and Encinitas – that are designated as basic aid because property values are so high there. Only about 80 of California’s more than 1,000 public school districts are basic aid districts. . . . That means that over the next fiscal year, Carlsbad Unified is expected to have $3.1 million more to spend than it otherwise would have had as a revenue limit school district.
We don’t exactly understand all the technical details, but smaller-than-expected budget cuts on education are always a great thing.
[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]
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The sign on the roof at 377 Carlsbad Village Drive is all that’s left of Mariah’s Restaurant. Though the owners of the long-time Carlsbadistan breakfast spot tried fine dining and even went online last fall in hopes getting funding to give the business an upgrade, they just couldn’t pull it off and had to call it quits.
But it’s not all bad news for the old space. A new upscale “quick serve” tacos and beer restaurant (which may be called Grubby’s Tacos) is set to open within the next few weeks. The new restaurant is owned and operated by the same team responsible for Oceanside’s Los Tacos and Grubby’s Diner. They have completely renovated the space (it’s looking solid) and will be kicking down good food (including breakfast with a Mexican groove) and what just might be Carlsbadistan’s largest selection of Mexican beer on tap.
We’ll keep you posted.
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Okay, so the venue isn’t here, but Joanie Mendenhall is our new favorite Carlsbadistanian musician and whenever she plays we’re interested. Tomorrow night (June 28, 2008) she’s doing a duo set with violinist to the stars Ray Suen at Gregory Page’s album release party at Lestat’s.
If you can’t make the show tomorrow night, then be sure to put these dates on your calendar: July 9 at The Belly Up for the The Exfriends “Joy of Life” album release party with Escalera, Stripes and Lines and then Joanie’s big party on July 14 at The Casbah for her “On a String” album release party.
[Link: Joanie Mendenhall]
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We’re at a bit of a loss with the Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation’s Family Day tomorrow from 3 – 5 PM at the visitor center. Isn’t it always family day on Carlsbadistan’s hiking trails?
The San Diego Union-Tribune says there will be a “scavenger hunt followed by light refreshments,” but a visit to the Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation Nature Center’s website gives no illuminating information other than saying “bring the kids.”
[Link: Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation via San Diego Union-Tribune]
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This evening (June 26, 2008) at approximately 5:12 pm, traffic on the 4900 block of El Camino Real slowed down in both North and South lanes after two silver Toyotas collided in front of Bobby’s Hideaway Cafe.
The driver of the Carolla, a woman in her 20s, was unhurt, however, the driver of the Matrix, a woman who appeared to be in her late 60s was a bit shaken by the crash and was “pretty shaken up by her airbags” according to one witness.
Carlsbad Fire, Paremedic, and Police units responded within minutes.
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According to a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune the City of Carlsbad is still kicking when it comes to the California Department of Parks and Recreations plans to charge beach visitors $8 a day for parking in the lot at Tamarack.
Mayor Bud Lewis announced Tuesday that the City Council voted 4-1 in closed session, with Councilwoman Julie Nygaard dissenting, to possibly sue the state Coastal Commission for allowing the parks department to install a fee machine.
We didn’t think the City Council had it in them, but we appreciate their seemingly better-late-than-never attention to the issue.
[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]
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North County Times staff writer Pam Kragen was surprised to find that the New Village Arts Theatre presentation of Clifford Odets‘ “nearly three-hour long” boxing/violin/love story drama Golden Boy actually works, even though there are “huge casting demands, thick, ethnic accents, dated dialogue where women characters practically beg to be smacked around.”
Yet somehow, scrappy little New Village Arts Theatre in Carlsbad has made this play work, thanks to a smartly designed two-story set that keeps the action always in motion, and Joshua Everett Johnson’s thoughtful direction that holds the play firmly in period.
Golden Boy runs Thursday through Sunday at 8 PM (a 3 PM matinee on Saturdays) from June 21st – July 13th. For more information or to buy tickets please visit the New Village Arts Theatre website.
[Link: North County Times]
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Carlsbadistan real estate is getting pulled into to the recent foreclosure debacle according to a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune. Defaults in the 92010 are “up 85.7 percent over the past year.” And some of the stories are just plain sad.
The weak market is very much on the mind of Jan Terry, 54, who faces foreclosure on a $935,000, 2,300-square-foot house she bought a couple of blocks from the coast in Carlsbad early last year.
Terry acknowledges that she made a mistake in getting a high-risk loan for the investment property, but she thought beach properties should have been a no-brainer money maker. “Based on the way I could see the market going,” said the one-time real estate agent, “I would make a few bucks.”
But then the mortgage market tanked, her tenants left, she moved back in and her business partner skipped town. Terry now faces bankruptcy, eviction and possibly living on the streets. She has a daughter in college and was recently divorced.
Guess living on the streets is the downside of a “high-risk loan.”
[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]
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The Los Angeles Daily News has described award-winning vocalist Janiva Magness as “a superb, powerhouse R&B singer who delivers blues and soul with show-stopping authority.” And her new album What Love Will Do is reportedly amazing.
Magness reaches heights only hinted at in her previous recordings, interpreting new material written especially for her and songs from Little Milton, Tina Turner, Bill Withers, Al Green, Candi Staton, Dorothy Moore and Marvin Gaye. Her impassioned singing takes each song from deep within her being and projects it out directly into the heart and soul of her audience, making What Love Will Do essential listening for blues, roots, rock and soul music lovers everywhere.
In April 2008, Magness traveled to Iraq and Kuwait co-headlining Bluzapalooza, the first-ever blues concert tour to perform for American troops. And this Friday night (June 27, 2008), at 6 PM Magness will perform in Carlsbad’s Stagecoach Park. Don’t miss it.
[Link: Jazz In The Park]
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