by The Editors on June 30, 2010
At the City Council meeting last night (June 29, 2010) the City announced that to cover the $4.2 million in loans it has made to “keep the golf course in the black” it is now planning to “transfer” and possibly sell two pieces of City-owned property, according to a story in the North County Times.
Initially, the two lots were to be leased to golf-related businesses, but they have stood vacant since they were created. . . One parcel is about 5 acres and the other is about 7 acres. They sit on each side of College Boulevard on the eastern edge of The Crossings at Carlsbad course. . . Joe Garuba, who is handing the issue for the city, said after Tuesday’s meeting that there has been “some interest” recently in the properties, but declined to provide specifics about the negotiations. . . . “I’m not going to talk about who or what,” he said.
We have one question: How much of Carlsbadistan is this golf course going to eat up before someone puts a stop to it? The Lossings has already cost the City of Carlsbad nearly $70 million and now the City want’s to begin slicing off pieces of itself to pay for more?
If the City is going to sell anything to cover its golf course loans it should simply cut it losses and sell the golf course to Legoland. They can throw up a few block sculptures, create some Lego golf carts, call it the “World First Lego Golf Course” and charge $350 green fees.
We’re not usually in favor of privatization, but The Lossings has been a revenue suck for over a decade and the sooner the City gets out of it the better. Then the City can spend a tiny fraction of that money on things everyone will use like parks, swimming pools, and skateboard parks. . .
[Link: North County Times via VoteJonWantz]
by The Editors on June 23, 2010
Apple fans are posted up and ready to spend the night at the Carlsbadistan Apple store at the Forum Stores to be the first to get the new Apple iPhone 4.0. By 10:15 PM tonight (June 23, 2010) there were close to 80 people waiting. Some in chairs, others in sleeping bags, and a few even brought aero beds so they could sleep on the sidewalk in comfort.
“I’ve been here since 2:30 this afternoon,” said the girl at the front of the line. She was in a chair with her laptop and wrapped in a Snuggie blanket ready to stay all night in front of the store.
The rest in the crowd were doing much the same thing. Some played cards, others worked on laptops while their batteries lasted. Apple for there part had done nothing but put up a couple signs and covered the front windows with heavy black drapes. Inside, Apple employees busily set up the store for tomorrow morning’s sales rush.
Apple, which has sold 3 million iPads in the last 80 days, pre-sold 600,000 on June 15 and could sell and estimated 42 million of the phones during 2010, according to story in Fortune. With the looks of the line in Carlsbad, Apple seems to be right on track.
by The Editors on June 21, 2010
Following who exactly owns Carlsbadistan’s Legoland California theme park gets even more fun today as both Reuters and the Wall Street Journal are reporting that Luxembourg-based CVC Capital Partners is buying a 30 percent stake in Legoland (and SeaWorld) parent company Merlin Entertainments.
The deal would value Merlin Entertainments at about 2.5 billion pounds ($3.71 billion), one of the sources said, with CVC Capital Partners, Blackstone and Kirkbi A/S — the Danish investment company owned by the family behind the Lego brand — owning about 30 percent of the business each. . . Management will own the remaining portion, while Dubai International Capital, which reduced its stake earlier this year from about 16.5 percent to single digits will fully exit the business that counts Madame Tussauds and Legoland among its attractions, sources said.
It’s totally confusing and has little effect on the Carlsbadistan park, but we like to stay current just for fun.
[Link: Reuters and Wall Street Journal]
by The Editors on June 21, 2010
After more than a year of disputing between resort owner Broadreach Capital and Four Seasons Resorts (something we called the Battle of Aviara) Carlsbadistan’s Aviara Resort officially became the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort yesterday, according to a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Hyatt Hotels Corp. representatives insist that guests at the 329-room resort will notice no difference after the Aviara becomes a Park Hyatt, which is the Hyatt chain’s upscale, contemporary brand. All signage will be changed during the first two days of the changeover, they said. . . “We are thrilled to be managing one of California’s most beautiful resorts,” Chuck Floyd, Hyatt’s chief operating officer for North America, said in a news release. “Park Hyatt Aviara Resort will be a wonderful addition to our luxury Park Hyatt portfolio and Hyatt Resort properties worldwide.”
It will take a while to get things straightened out. A Google search for “Aviara Resort” still returns a list of links to the Four Season’s webpage which “regrets to inform you that the resort is no longer managed by Four Season Resorts and Hotels” but does not offer a link to the new site. It does, however, offer links to other Four Season’s properties. We’re sure the Park Hyatt Aviara wil eventually begin showing up properly.
We have more questions, but we’ll have more info after we give the new Hyatt a test run.
by The Editors on June 5, 2010
On Monday night, June 7, 2010 Carlsbadistan 25-year-old twin brothers and business parters Cory and Kyle Miholich will go for a million dollars on TV’s popular game show Wheel of Fortune, according to a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune.
“We were very lucky on the ‘Wheel,’ ” said Kyle Miholich, whose “Family Week” episode airs Monday. “We had a chance to win a million dollars, which we blew. Actually, my brother blew it on the first puzzle. But we were able to walk away with a decent chunk of change.
And that money they say is going to help them with their Fiji Yogurt business. Wonder how much mileage Kyle will get out of that million dollar loss over the next couple years?
[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]
by The Editors on May 27, 2010
Legoland’s parent Merlin Entertainments is taking the whole SeaLife Aquarium concept to the America’s malls, according to a story in the Fort Worth Business Press.
The city of Grapevine [Texas] and The Mills, a division of the Simon Co. that owns Grapevine Mills Mall, signed an agreement with Merlin Entertainments to open the Sea Life aquarium attraction at the mall in the summer of 2011. The attraction will be located directly across from Merlin’s Legoland Discovery Centre, a $12 million Lego attraction announced last year and set to open at Grapevine Mills mall in March 2011.
Sounds like at least a few Texan’s won’t have to make the long trip to Carlsbadistan to see submerged Lego men swimming with sharks. Can’t say we’ll miss them.
[Link: Fort Worth Business Press]
by The Editors on May 26, 2010
![[Waterpark]452X297 Key](http://www.carlsbadistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/waterpark452x297_key-tm.jpg)
Legoland California only presented their water park plans to the City of Carlsbad in September 2009 saying it would be open by summer and it appears that they’ve stayed right on track. Starting Friday, May 28, 2010 the world’s first Legoland Water Park will be open to the public from 10 AM to 5 PM each day (click here for full schedule).
Guests will explore eight areas of the 5.5 acre water wonderland including Orange Rush, a family tube slide where up to four people can ride together down a 312-foot long curving track on an 11-foot in diameter half pipe; Twin Chasers, two side-by-side enclosed red tube slides that stretch nearly 130 feet, Splash Out, an open body slide that invites guests to slide 240 feet and “splash out” into the water below; Joker Soaker, a fun interactive platform in the wade pool where kids can aim water cannons at each other as a LEGO jester model tells jokes and pours 350 gallons of water down upon them; a one-of-a-kind concept, Build-A-Raft River, where kids customize their own raft made of soft LEGO bricks before floating down a lazy river; Kid Creek, a lazy river built with younger kids in mind and DUPLO® Splash Safari, a water play area designed especially for toddlers with three small slides and interactive DUPLO creatures including an alligator, polar bear and an elephant.
But how much does it cost? Glad you asked. It’s only $77 for adults and $67 for kids 3 – 12. Huh? That’s right – the only way to visit the water park is to visit Legoland and pay extra for the slides. For locals with a season pass ($159 for adults, $129 for kids) it’s free. . . kinda.
[Link: Legoland Water Park]
by The Editors on May 18, 2010
The Carlsbadistan based fish taco popularizer Rubio’s just announced that they are planning to sell the company and already at least one shareholder is suing, according to the North County Times.
The lawsuit was filed Wednesday on behalf of investor Gregory Burt and other shareholders by the San Diego law firm Robbins Umeda LLP. Attorneys are seeking class action status for the suit, filed in the Vista branch of San Diego Superior Court. . . The lawsuit asks that the court declare the purchase agreement “unlawful and unenforceable,” and to order the defendants to redo the sale to get the best price for Rubio’s shareholders.
Looks like they’re headed for a fish taco showdown.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on May 12, 2010
Michelle Frye, the former spa director at SE Dan Deigo Hotel, has been appointed director at the La Costa Resort & Spa, according to a story on Hotel Interactive.
Frye will manage The Spa at La Costa, an elegant 43,000-square-foot sanctuary envisioned by world-renowned spa specialist Sylvia Sepielli. Divided into two spaces, a 28,000-square-foot interior and 15,000-square-foot outdoor courtyard, the spa creates an environment in which guests feel connected to nature whether they are indoors or out.
As long as she doesn’t change the Roman Waterfalls or cut the Cucumber Water we’re happy she’s here. Sounds like it might be a good time for a double-dip deal.
[Link: Hotel Interactive]
by The Editors on May 12, 2010
At the City Council meeting last night (June 29, 2010) the City announced that to cover the $4.2 million in loans it has made to “keep the golf course in the black” it is now planning to “transfer” and possibly sell two pieces of City-owned property, according to a story in the North County Times.
![[Waterpark]452X297 Key](http://www.carlsbadistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/waterpark452x297_key.png)
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