by The Editors on July 9, 2007
Looks like all that tasty trans fat that we used to love at Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill is going to be gone soon. The Carlsbad-based restaurant chain is completing its conversion to using zero trans fat canola oil for cooking all menu products, in all 160 restaurants by mid-August.
Our goal in transitioning to zero trans fat oil was to continue delivering unsurpassed flavor and quality in all the foods we serve,” said Larry Rusinko, vice president of marketing, Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill. “We look at this milestone as an improvement to our menu and a way to enhance our guests’ experience by incorporating a more healthful cooking ingredient,” he said.
How are we going to clog our arteries now?
[Link: CNN/Money]
by The Editors on July 9, 2007
According to the North County Times State Lifeguards recused a woman surfer from the rocks on South Ponto Beach.
The incident was reported at 3 p.m., as the woman and a man she was surfing with were attempting to return to the south side of the shore, which required moving against the current, authorities said. A wave then crashed into the woman, knocking her into jagged rocks, state lifeguard supervisor Brian Ketterer said.
She reportedly had lacerations on about 70 percent of her body and was taken to Scripps Encinitas Hospital.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on July 8, 2007
Today’s Carlsbad Triathlon, which basically took over all of Carlsbadistan for the day, was won by a Canadian. Yes, blame Canada. Michael Simpson of Vancouver, B.C. Canada took the swim, bike, run with an unofficial time of 1:07:03, a full two minutes faster than last year’s time set by Luke Bell.
For triathletes unaccustomed to ocean surf the set waves can be a problem. And there was some surf action inside. “The waves smoked me,” Simpson said after the race. “I was in second pretty much the whole swim and then as we were coming in I looked over and saw Michellie go sliding past me on a wave. I thought, no way.”
But that didn’t slow Simpson. He rolled the bike course right where he wanted to be. It wasn’t until the run that he got worried. Caue Suplicy moved passed him on the sea wall just out of the transition. “He surged and I said, when he fades I’m going to go and not look back for half a mile. I didn’t want to leave it up to the end. It’s more entertaining for the spectators, but I didn’t want to put myself through that. When I finally looked back he wasn’t there.”
For women’s winner (defending champ, Olympic medalist, and 2006 Iron Man World Champion) Michellie Jones the hardest part about winning her sixth Carlsbad Triathlon was rolling past her house on the bike. “I went past my driveway twice and each time the bike just wanted to turn in,” said the Carlsbadistanian. “But some of my neighbors were out so they cheered me on. The spectators were awesome today. And that really helps.”
A journalist asked Michellie how much longer she was going to be doing triathlons, she nodded her head toward her husband/coach/agent Pete Coulson and said, “You better ask him.”
Pete answered back, “As long as she wants to.” Then, after a second thought, “Or as long as her sponsor keeps letting her.”
Click the continue for more photos from the day (click the images to see them larger) and elite unofficial results.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on July 7, 2007
The Islands @ Carlsbad at the corner of College and Faraday transformed into fair Verona today from noon to 5 PM as the Order Sons of Italy in America (La Costa Dei Fiori Lodge) of Encinitas brought their Festa Italiana to Carlsbad.
Under overcast skies, Sicilian folk dancers entertained the crowd while vendors sold cookies, wine, and even promoted treatments at a day spa. There was also instrumental music, arts and crafts, European art and photography, and most importantly information about bocce ball.
Organizers were happy with the the turn out. “We believe that over the course of the day today we had a couple thousand people come through,” said Joe Zazzaro, vice president of the La Costa Dei Fiori Lodge.
We arrived late and are bummed that we didn’t get to see more of the event. We’re not going to miss it next year, and you shouldn’t either. Click continue for more photos.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on July 7, 2007
This town doesn’t seem like it’s big on Ferraris, Maseratis and Lamborghinis, but according to a North County Times story by Shannon Wingard it does have one of Southern California’s finest restoration and repair shops with Cavallo Motorsports.
With its painted black-and-white checkered exterior, Cavallo Motorsports signals its dedication to race cars. And not just any race cars —- the company services, repairs and reconstructs vintage Ferraris, Maseratis and Lamborghinis. “I like them because the old cars have personality; they have history,” said Chris Dugan, who established the business in 2004.
While we don’t see us owning any of these cars in the near future, it’s good to know if we ever stumble onto a 250GTO we’ll know where to take it for a tune.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on July 7, 2007
According to the North County Times workers are still busy cleaning up after the twin engine plane crashed into The Crossings at Carlsbad golf course.
Repairmen with San Diego Gas & Electric Co. have completed rebuilding the transmission tower damaged in the 6 a.m. crash just west of McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad. On Friday, working high above the golf course, they strung high-tension cables between the repaired towers. They are expected to finish by Sunday, said SDG&E spokeswoman Rachael Laing.
Killed in the crash was George Swink, 57, of Escondido and another man who has not yet been identified. A National Transportation Safety Board report on the crash is due out today.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on July 7, 2007
The California Coastal Commission has been on their game lately with Poseidon Resources, the company that wants to put a $300 million desalination plant in on the lagoon near the Encina Power Plant. For the fourth time this year they have rejected the plan saying it is sill “incomplete.”
Commission staff scientist Tom Luster rejected Poseidon’s latest application Tuesday, citing several topics on which he needed more information. Among those were alternative water-intake methods, environmental mitigation measures and the project’s financial feasibility.
While we like the idea of stealing less water from Northern California, it just seems like there must be better places for this than the Agua Hedionda Lagoon. (Click here for all of Carlsbadistan’s desalination plant coverage.)
[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]
by The Editors on July 7, 2007
Former Disney CEO Micheal Eisner currently “finds himself the unwitting star of the second installment of his own worst nightmare,” according to Businessweek. This time it all hinges on his bid to take over bubblegum maker Topps, a business that the Carlsbad-based trading card company Upper Deck would very much like to own.
After initially resisting the overture from Upper Deck, the Topps board will announce on Monday, July 9, whether it intends to entertain Upper Deck’s offer. That would likely send Eisner to the showers, according to those with knowledge of the media mogul, who say he is unlikely to increase his $9.75-per-share offer.
I guess we’ll see on Monday.
[Link: Businessweek and Chicago Tribune]
by The Editors on July 6, 2007
Seems everywhere we look lately we’re stumbling into stories about the La Costa Resort & Spa. The golf course has a new “Legends Trail,” the Acura Classic is leaving, a reporter may have impersonated the mayor of Chicago, a pond cleaner dies, and now LA Times writer Valli Herman says that the resort has a lot to offer, but you have to find it yourself.
. . . during my late June visit to the iconic Carlsbad complex, I found that even if you’re paying $350 a night ($409 with taxes and fees), the world demands a measure of self-reliance before those proverbial doors open or wet towels vanish and newspapers appear. . . .Instead of the anticipation of their needs, guests need to make their needs clear by phoning housekeeping. . .
Ouch. What’s that they say about there being no such thing as bad PR?
[Link: LA Times]
by The Editors on July 6, 2007
We’ve already mentioned that Tamarack Beach (all the way north to Pine Street) will be closed Sunday July 8 due to the Carlsbad Triathlon, but now the North County Times presents a more level, fact-filled version of the story. It even features quotes from people involved.
Amateur competitors from as far away as Hawaii, New York and Mexico City are registered to participate in the event, which includes a 1-kilometer ocean swim, a 25k bike race and a 5k footrace along the Carlsbad coastline, said Carlsbad recreation supervisor Rachel Shay. “Carlsbad is a city geared to (a triathlon) with the ocean and the scenic seawall,” Shay said, “And with the sprint nature of this race, anyone can compete and succeed.”
Now that’s what we call reporting. Click the link for all the details.
[Link: North County Times]
Looks like all that tasty trans fat that we used to love at Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill is going to be gone soon. The Carlsbad-based restaurant chain is completing its conversion to using zero trans fat canola oil for cooking all menu products, in all 160 restaurants by mid-August.
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