March 2008

Words On The Street

by The Editors on March 16, 2008

Marty Bush

As Marty said while posted up on Coast Highway just north of Cafe Elysa: “Sometimes you just have to take things into your own hands.”

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Dini’s Front Patio Is Always Loaded

by The Editors on March 16, 2008

Dinis 31608

Those looking to roll into St. Patrick’s Day smoothly have already posted up on the patio at Dini’s on Coast Highway. For people who enjoy watching the sun set with a good drink in their hand, Dini’s is always the place. Just be careful, their cocktails are so well-crafted that they can (and occasionally do) sneak up on you. Which can be trouble, especially when you’re peddling your Electra cruiser home.

[Link: Dini’s Bistro]

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Hoehn Supports Ban On Gay Marriage

by The Editors on March 16, 2008

Robert Hoehn, the co-owner of Carlsbad’s Hoehn Motors, has reportedly donated $25,000 to help support an initiative that would “ban same-sex marriage” in the state of California, according to a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune. But he’s not alone in getting behind this issue. San Diego developer Doug Manchester, Mission Valley developer Terry Caster, and La Jolla businessman Roger Benson have also donated a total of more than $300,000.

Damn, buying your way into right-wing California power politics is getting expensive.

[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]

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Environmentalists’ Blue Lagoon

by The Editors on March 15, 2008

Lagoon280Ten years ago more than $57 million was spent restoring Batiquitos Lagoon, but now some are saying that “the natural beauty is hiding an ecological time bomb” according to a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

“If you drive I-5 and look out over the east basin, you’ll see mud flats that historically haven’t been mud flats,” said Keith Merkel, principal ecologist for Merkel & Associates. . . . “That will have to be dredged and removed,” said Merkel, who monitors the lagoon for the California Department of Fish and Game, which manages Batiquitos.

When reading stories like this we’re always reminded of what one of writer Edward Abbey’s characters might have said: There’s nothing you can do to that lagoon that’s going to mitigate the freeway that runs right through the middle of it.

[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]

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More Free Parking In the Village

by The Editors on March 14, 2008

The North County Transit District will be adding 130 parking spaces to the lot at the Village train station according to a Barbara Henry story in the North County Times.

Construction work should be done by mid-April, giving regular Coaster train commuters a little welcome relief before the busy summer season arrives, transit district spokesman Tom Kelleher said Thursday. The parking project is expected to cost $203,900.

More parking is good, but a lot more parking would be better.

[Link: North County Times]

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Could La Costa Have Saved Elliot Spitzer?

by The Editors on March 14, 2008

Lacosta RubIn his March 14, 2008 Los Angeles Times column Joel Stein, like all of us lately, is trying to figure out what would motivate New York Governor Elliot Spitzer to spend up to $80,000 on high-end adult entertainment, and more importantly, what did he get for his money. Stein brought Carlsbad into the mix by titling it: “Maybe Spitzer just needed time at La Costa.”

In fact, I’m not sure why going to a brothel is illegal but visiting a spa is considered classy. Because, really, a spa is just all the parts of sex that women like: candles, soft music, scented oils, questions about how you feel. How can it be psychologically healthy in a marriage for either partner paying to be touched in pleasurable ways? As a husband, I know I can’t compete with a $100-an-hour shiatsu guy with an iPod full of flute music.

Not sure we’re really following your logic there, Joel. But thanks for mentioning our favorite spa. There’s nothing Carlsbad needs more than shady politicians visiting The La Costa Resort and Spa.

[Link: The Los Angeles Times]

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Share A Carlsbadistan Spring Break Story

by The Editors on March 13, 2008

SpringjpgIf you find yourself waiting behind a gaggle of 13-year-olds in neon sunglasses at the Slurpee machine at 7-Eleven, or diving for cover as mohawked, shirtless boys recklessly wail a boomerang into the air just remember: Spring Break will be over in four long, painful weeks.

If you have a “spring break in Carlsbadistan” story to share with us please leave it in the comments.

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Tijuana Tuscany In The Village

by Eero Lloyd Neutra on March 13, 2008

Pharmacy

The new building on State street was under construction a little too early to “benefit” from the City of Carlsbad’s “revised master plan,” so I really don’t know who is to blame for this Village eyesore. When the foundations were being laid I was excited to see what the new face of Carlsbad Village building design would look like. Now that it is completed, I see that the new face of Carlsbad Village is: Tijuana Tuscany. (Sadly, after researching the Tijuana pharmacies this new building reminded me of I discovered that most of them have a more pleasing aesthetic).

So, what is wrong with this structure? Well, from a retail perspective the windows are much too small, not to mention that they look like they were purchased at a Home Depot remnant sale. This probably has more to do with they way they are positioned on the front of the building. There appears to be no consistency or balance to the placement of the windows. And then, of course, there is the burnt salmon color.

While it is nice to see new buildings in the Village, it’s disappointing when they look like this.

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Isis Loses Less In Fourth Quarter

by The Editors on March 13, 2008

Home RightpicCarlsbad’s leading pharmaceutical company Isis announced today that they only lost $7 million dollars this quarter compared to a lost of $14.1 million in 2007.

Isis’ full-year loss after preferred dividends widened to $136.3 million, or $1.63 per share compared with a loss of $45.9 million, or 62 cents per share, in the previous year. The company said $1.50 of the 2007 per-share loss was attributable to the $120 million purchase of Symphony GenIsis.

There are millions in this business somewhere.

[Link: Forbes.com]

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Legoland’s Land of Adventure Opens

by The Editors on March 13, 2008

Loa20We’ve written about this before, but on March 10, 2008 Legoland California officially opened their newest theme section: The Land of Adventure.

A real live camel staring at his own LEGO image, a dancing snake charmer and a 16-foot tall LEGO Pharaoh weren’t the only surprises at LEGOLAND California today as the family theme park unveiled Land of Adventure. The brand new area opens just in time for spring break with four new attractions including the park’s first-ever dark ride, Lost Kingdom Adventure.

“Taking such a popular LEGO series and making it into an interactive area for families with children 2 to 12 has been an incredible experience,” says Master Model Designer Bill Vollbrecht who was a lead designer of the new area. “I am honored to have worked with the Merlin Entertainments Creative Team from beginning to end transporting guests into 1920s Egypt.” Vollbrecht even studied Egyptian history and hieroglyphics to make Land of Adventure more authentic, entertaining and educational.

Lego would also like to remind everyone that this is only part of it’s planned $20 million in improvement this year. The “two-story 36,000 square foot” Sea Life Aquarium will open in July. We are seriously looking forward to checking this new zone out and are guessing that this alone would be a great reason to visit the park, if you (like us) haven’t been there since New Year’s 2007. Follow the jump for the entire press release.

[click to continue…]

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