Escape to Mission Trails Regional Park – an Urban Oasis

2012-04-16 By

While San Diego residents are  fortunate to have numerous parks and recreation areas, Mission Trails Regional Park is the real jewel. The sheer vastness of the park, nearly 5,800 acres winding through six distinct habitats, ensures visitors that they can ditch concrete and asphalt for an oasis of rugged valleys, hills, and lakes.

The beauty of Mission Trails, aside from its obvious aesthetic features, is its location. It’s only eight miles northeast of downtown San Diego, which makes it perfect for a quick getaway.  Home buyers in Lake Murray and San Carlos enjoy close access to Mission Trails, and Allied Gardens is just to the southwest.

What’s In the Outdoors?

Mission Trails is loaded with goodies. Apart from numerous picnic areas and over forty miles of trails for hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders, there’s an equestrian staging area equipped with four 12’ by 12’ public horse corrals.

Cowles Mountain, located in the neighborhood of San Carlos within Mission Trails Regional Park, provides hikers with a panoramic view of San Diego County. There’s also a rock climbing area within Mission Gorge and a campground adjacent to Lake Kumeyaay, the smaller of the two lakes.

The larger Lake Murray Reservoir is stocked with channel catfish, bluegill, Florida-strain largemouth bass, wild trout, and black crappie. Shore fishing is allowed as well as the use of private boats. You can jog, bike, and roller blade around parts of the lake or bring your own float tube and bob away.

If you love to gaze at the stars, join members of the San Diego Astronomy Association at Kumeyaay Lake campground on the second Friday of every month from sunset to 10 p.m. Telescopes are provided for your use.

Want some Arts with your Nature?

In addition to all of the nature activities, Mission Trails Regional Park also provides a bit of culture. The theater and amphitheater at The Visitor and Interpretive Center host theater productions by the SDSU Theater Arts Department. There’s also a regular concert series with performances by flutists, guitarists, harpists, and other fine musicians.

An “Art in the Park” fundraiser, which will feature original artwork of the plein air painters of the esteemed California Art Club, is scheduled for July 7. Participants of this event can mingle with the artists while sampling wine, chocolate, and cheese.

Drive around San Diego too much and you forget you’re in a place that has some natural beauty.  If you are looking for a home in San Diego and want some flora and fauna with your city,  Mission Trails provides an excellent dose of nature. Who doesn’t want to plug into this kind of beauty and recharge their internal batteries once in a while? Especially when you’re fortunate enough to have Mission Trails Regional Park practically tucked into your backyard.

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Park West and Little Italy Feast on Extraordinary Desserts

2012-03-23 By

Stroll into Extraordinary Desserts in the Park West neighborhood of San Diego on a Saturday afternoon and you step into a bistro of sublime sweets. Customers first feast on the glorious display case. There is lemon ricotta and blood orange ricotta tortes, toasted macadamia caramel cheesecake, Shangri-La: a heavenly creation of white chocolate mousse, guava mousse, fresh strawberries and whipped cream tucked between layers of vanilla cakes moistened with kirsch.

And more. So much more. Tarts, pies, puddings, petite desserts, cupcakes, ice cream, and cookies…

Of course, you have to get past the line that’s usually out the door. Patrons of this establishment don’t mind waiting for a chance to sample and re-sample the tempting array of desserts. Each delicacy is a work of art, decorated with fresh floral accents, luscious fruit, a signature gold leaf, or the finest imported chocolate.

Owner and dessert chef Karen Krasne, who trained in the elite Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, brought her pastry skills back to her native San Diego and opened Extraordinary Desserts in 1988 with only 10 seats. It was one of the first five coffee houses in San Diego county to serve espresso drinks.

That first year the patisserie was awarded “Best Desserts” by San Diego Home and Garden and San Diego Magazine.

More than twenty years later, this Park West favorite has graced the cover of Bon Appetit magazine and has been featured in dozens of other magazines as well as the television show “The Best Thing I Ever Ate.”

In addition to the delectable desserts and espresso drinks, Krasne offers her customers teas from the exclusive French tea company Mariage Frères. If you’re a tea aficionado, you’re in heaven. Flavored black teas include Love is Chocolate with chunks of semi-sweet chocolate and Falling In Love – with flavors of champagne and strawberries. A caffeine-free African Rooibos line features a vanilla-ish bourbon flavor.

There are also herbal teas, white teas, and exotic flavored green teas like Peachy Green with sweet Japanese white peaches and vanilla.

In 2004, Krasne opened a second Extraordinary Desserts on 1430 Union Street in Little Italy. While the original location in Park West is favored for its cozy, romantic atmosphere, the newer 7,000 square foot location in Little Italy is beloved for its sleek, modern architecture and expansive menu.

The Union Street location still serves the same fabulous desserts, espresso drinks and teas, but an expanded menu includes salads, breads, dips, Panini, artisan cheese, boutique beers, and organic fine wine. They also offer a European breakfast every Sunday featuring smoked salmon, rustic breads, imported cheeses, homemade granola, fresh fruit, and gourmet pastries.

The original location at 2929 Fifth Avenue in the Park West neighborhood, also known as Bankers Hill, has long since grown to include 110 seats. It’s a local favorite and the perfect place to take your date for a romantic outing. There’s even a little patio outside. Parking is available in the parking lot or on the street.

Extraordinary Desserts is just one more great reason to live in San Diego!

Both locations offer Krasne’s very own Extraordinary Gourmet line of products which include sugars, granola, syrups, jams, honeys, and chutneys. Whichever location you visit, keep in mind that menu items vary daily as fresh ingredients are available depending upon the season.

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San Diego’s Craft Breweries Bubbling to the Top

2012-03-09 By

California has always prided itself on being fresh and innovative. It should come as no surprise then that San Diego is emerging as a leader in the exclusive craft beer industry with over thirty craft breweries and brewpubs. Who knew?

The Brewers Association defines American craft brewers as small, independent, and traditional. The best ones take traditional ingredients like malted barley and combine them with unusual ingredients like dark chocolate, espresso, or local fruit, to develop new, exciting varieties and flavors.

San Diego’s own Karl Strauss Brewing Company, founded in 1988, has played a major role in fostering the county’s growing reputation in the craft beer industry. In 2010, Draft Magazine named the Karl Strauss brew, Endless Summer Light, as the best light craft beer in the nation. Karl Strauss has a variety of beer that is always available as well as seasonal releases, special releases (touted as Karl’s Coastal Reserves), a holiday series, and bomber additions. Their Old Columbia Barleywine is an English-style, full-bodied ale only available on tap. It features rich toffee and dark caramel malt flavors with undertones of dried fruit.

In addition to their main brewery on 5985 Santa Fe Street, there is a Karl Strauss Brewery & Grill located on 1157 Columbia Street in the downtown area that Core Columbia home owners can easily walk to! Other restaurants are located throughout San Diego County.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Hess Brewing, San Diego’s first licensed Nano-brewery. It specializes in brewing small, hand-crafted batches – only 1.6 barrels or 50 gallons per batch. Their flagship brews include Claritas, a Pilsner-malt based beer, Grazias, a craft twist on an old Mexican-style beer, Intrepidus, an India Pale Ale with citrus hops, Amplus, an ale with extra hops and malt, and Ex Umbris, a stout, dark beer.

Their 800 foot warehouse serves as both a brewery and tasting room and is located on 7955 Silverton Avenue in the Miramar area.

Craft beer enthusiasts say it is easy to pair craft beer with food as there are so many varieties and flavors of fine beer to choose from. A general rule of thumb is consider ale like red wine and lager like white wine. Strong, hoppy beer goes best with strong, spicy food like curry or barbeque. Dark beers are great in the winter months if paired with a substantial meal. Porters are exceptional with chocolate, peanut butter, or coconut. The Brewers Association offers a handy, expansive Craft Beer and Food Pairing Chart, available online.

Contact any of San Diego local breweries about tours and tastings. It’s a fun and informative, not to mention tasty introduction to craft beer. It’s also an ideal opportunity to inquire about beer and food pairings, glassware, and serving temperatures.  Another great reason to live in San Diego!

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Sherman Heights Preserves its Victorian History

2012-02-20 By

In 1867 future San Diego mayor Matthew Sherman fell in love with the area just east of what would later become downtown San Diego. He bought 160 prime acres, which offered breathtaking views of the San Diego Bay, and named his piece of heaven “Sherman’s Addiction.” It’s known today as Sherman Heights and was designated a historic district in 1987.

San Diego enjoyed great prosperity during the 1880s Victorian era, and many of Sherman Height’s stately Victorian style homes were built from 1880 through the 1920s.

While Victorian architecture includes several different styles, the  typical characteristics of all styles are the unique use of patterns, colors, and textures. Exteriors were often multi-colored and highly ornamented. Dark red was the primary color choice for roofs and many were steeply pitched. Porch ceilings were traditionally painted sky blue and porch floors were painted grey. Functional and ornamental details included weather vanes, water scuppers, lightning rods, finials, textured shingles, decorated gables, and towers with conical roofs.

Some of the finest examples of historic Victorian homes in Sherman Heights include the Russell House, the Pezzi House, Crellin Cottage, the Howard House, the Hollington House, and the Hamilton House.

None are more resplendent than the Villa Montezuma, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This grand Queen Anne Victorian mansion, built in 1887 on 20th and K Streets by musician and author Jesse Shepard, offers many surprises. Its unique details include water scuppers in the form of sea creatures, weathervanes and finials on each roof peak, roof finials with flora and animal motifs, a tower, a turret with a witches hat, and many lovely examples of stained art glass.

Villa Montezuma, also known as the Jesse Shepard House, was bought by the city in 1970 and now serves as a Victorian house museum. Due to water damage that occurred through the years, the museum closed its doors to the public in 2006 to undergo restoration and return the mansion to its former glory. Prior to this time, the mansion hosted musical recitals, weddings, and annual Valentine Teas.

Matthew Sherman’s own homes, a simple farmhouse and a large mansion, are still a part of the neighborhood.

In 1995, the community took part in the Sherman Heights Revitalization Program with a vision to improve the neighborhood. One of the items on the list was historic rehabilitation. The success of the program can be attributed to the pride, commitment, and involvement of the residents and local businesses of this historic community.

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Grant Hill Park Historic District

2012-02-10 By

San Diego has boasted its fair share of famous residents through the years, from professional athletes to actors to musicians and writers. As early as 1893, this city became home to one of the country’s most illustrious when Ulysses S. Grant Jr., second son of former President Ulysses S. Grant, arrived here from Ohio in search of a more temperate climate.

He and his wife settled in a three-story mansion on Prospect Hill and for the next 13 years, Grant dabbled in San Diego real estate and became active in California politics. In 1906, he took an interest in Mount Gilead, a prominent hill in the city largely made up orchards and small houses that offered spectacular views of the ocean, the bay, and the hills of Mexico. Grant purchased a large portion of this hill, including the summit, and renamed it U.S. Grant’s Hill as a personal tribute to his famous father.

In order to preserve the summit, Grant ordered J Street graded around the summit to the south. The topmost portion of the hill remained undeveloped and served as an unofficial reserve and retreat for the community for many years. In 1940, due to a contribution from George W. Marston, the city was able to purchase the summit for less than $3,000. On behalf of the community, they developed the area as a city park, known today as Grant Hill Park.

The development of Grant Hill and the area surrounded it spanned over eight decades and contributed to the eclectic mix of architectural styles from California Bungalow to Spanish Colonial Revival. The cobblestone retaining walls, a distinctive feature of the neighborhood today, date back to the early 1900s when a family of stone masons built a number of homes on the hill.

In 1990, eighty-four years after Grant purchased Mount Gilead, San Diego established the area south of Market Street, North of Imperial Avenue, East of 25th Street and West of 28th Street as The Grant Hill Park Historic District. Its distinction as a historic district prevents modifications to be made without the permission of the City’s Historical Site Review Board.  Many homes in the area date back to the early 1900′s.  You’ll find some Grant Hill homes are very affordable, but may require some work, as often is the case with historic homes.

Today, views from Grant Hill Park are still enjoyed by the city, thanks in large part to the contributions of one of San Diego’s most famous residents.

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Great Places to Live While Attending SDSU

2012-01-30 By

San Diego State University is conveniently location at the intersection of Montezuma Road and College Avenue just off Interstate 8 and east of Interstate 15, which makes it an ideal location for students, professors and anyone who wants to live next to a vibrant college campus. SDSU is surrounded by dozens of communities.

The ultimate in convenience is to live where you can use  public transportation or a bike to get around.  Relying upon relatively inexpensive trolley or bus service to and from the university means you won’t have to pay for a parking permit on campus.  Here are some options for close-by living to the San Diego State University Campus:

  • The College Area, made up of College East and College West, is located along the southern rim of Mission Valley in the heart of San Diego. It’s dominated by the university and is located just eight miles from the downtown area. It’s loaded with student friendly shops and restaurants and is close to sporting and entertainment venues like Qualcomm Stadium, home to the San Diego Chargers.The SDSU Transit Center, located underground on the campus is made up of a trolley station as well as a bus plaza. Transportation to the College Area, nearby towns, the airport and even the stadium is never a problem. There’s an abundance of housing options in College East and College West from condos to townhomes to single-family residences. You may pay for the convenience, however. The closer you live to SDSU, the more you’ll pay.
  •  Mission Valley is another popular choice. The SDSU campus is actually known as “Montezuma Mesa” as it perched on a mesa overlooking Mission Valley. It’s home to Qualcomm Stadium, Presidio Park, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, as well as major shopping malls. It’s serviced by trolleys and buses. Housing prices here are often more affordable for college students on a tighter budget.
  •  Normal Heights is located in the hills above Mission Valley. It’s close enough to SDSU to bike, but bus service is available to the university. It’s also near City Heights and North Park, eclectic neighborhoods with an abundance of trendy restaurants and art galleries.This hip town has mom and pop shops, a farmer’s market, book stores, and antique stores as well as music festivals and street fairs. You can walk to most everything in Normal Heights. Houses with garages and backyards can still be found for affordable prices.

The beautiful beach towns of Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, and Ocean Beach are always high on the wish list of many students. If you own a car or if carpooling with other students is an option, living in a beach town, is something to consider. The commute has the potential to be long, depending upon traffic conditions. Public transportation from the beach towns to SDSU is arduous as it requires taking a bus to the respective trolley station. Housing is more expensive on the beach, but more affordable options are available a few blocks away.

Determining your budget and priorities will give you a realistic idea of which of San Diego’s beautiful communities to consider when choosing your off campus home.

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In Search of the San Diego Artist Communities

2012-01-12 By

Most art galleries in San Diego are sprinkled across the county like little jewels. A few in downtown and Old Town, several in La Jolla and Solana Beach, and on and on. But, where’s the real art scene – the enclave in the community where artists come together to create and showcase their art?  The place where local retailers, businesses, and residents rally together to support their efforts and foster the arts?

New York has the Westbeth Artists Community, an entire city block in Manhattan’s West Village that houses artists, their families, and their studios in a complex of thirteen buildings. Chicago has the Hyde Park artist colonies and Los Angeles is home to The Brewery Art Colony.

For some time, the small San Diego artist community was virtually unknown to visitors and residents alike, save for a few of the savvy, devoted followers of the arts, many of them artists themselves. Today, the Ray Street Arts District in the neighborhood of North Park is emerging as a recognized art district. This area, located on Ray Street between University Avenue and North Park Way and 30th Street to the west, is the community’s cultural hub. It’s even been compared to New York’s SoHo District.

It’s rich in one-of-a-kind art galleries and studios, like the artist run Art Produce Gallery, a storefront exhibition space entirely visible from the sidewalk. Or the hip gallery a.k.a. and Disconnected Salon, an art gallery and full-service hair salon, artistically combined into one space that showcases San Diego’s underground, urban artists.

Zagrodnik + Thomas Architects (ZTA), a woman-owned architectural firm, uses their own Green Scene Gallery as a community showcase for both architecture and art with a sustainability theme.  Pigment, a relative newcomer to North Park, specializes in self-irrigated wall sculptures that grow from ceiling to floor.

Public and private art events and private viewings are held at the Mosaic Gallery at Mosaic Wine Bar. Here, serious collectors are introduced to local artists. Cirello Gallery specializes in hand-made fine art from local San Diego jeweler designers, photographers, glass blowers, sculptors, and painters. A new artist is featured each month.

The Art Academy of San Diego and the San Diego Art Department are both located in North Park as are performance venues The Eveoke Dance Theatre and Birch North Park Theatre, a registered historic landmark built in 1928.

San Diego’s largest and longest running bohemian art walk, Ray at Night, is featured in North Park on the second Saturday of each month, drawing more than 1500 art enthusiasts to the burgeoning art community.

The San Diego Art Institute has played an active role in nurturing the neighborhood as a recognized art district. North Park is shedding its invisible cloak. It’s a dynamic, innovative community with a flair for the creative arts that is embracing its role as the city’s newest artist community.

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Top Ratings for Del Mar Heights Elementary School

2012-01-12 By

Prospective home buyers often ask us which schools in San Diego are the best. Though “best” is subjective, there are certain schools and districts in San Diego and  San Diego county that receive top ratings each year based upon a variety of criteria.

In 1999, California passed the Public Schools Accountability Act. One of the main components of this act featured the Academic Performing Index (API), which measures a school’s academic performance and progress.  Schools and districts are assigned numeric scores ranging from 200 to 1000 with the ideal target for all schools set at 800. Growth is measured by how successful the school is in reaching this ideal target. The API relies heavily upon standardized testing but also includes factors such as graduation rates and attendance.

Del Mar Heights Elementary school, located in the seaside neighborhood of Del Mar Heights in San Diego’s Northern County, received an API score of 965 for the 2009-2010 school year.

The online resource, GreatSchools, compiles data from public schools across the country and assigns ratings based upon the results of the state’s main standardized tests scores of the past year. Schools and districts in San Diego County are assigned ratings of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest attainable rating.

Last year the Del Mar Union Elementary School District, in which Del Mar Heights Elementary school is located, received the highest possible rating of 10.

Private schools in San Diego County were not factored into the district ratings. The type of standardized testing offered in private schools is generally not the same as what is required in public schools.

California is one of many states that feature an open enrollment policy. This means you can enroll your child in any public school in the district (including charter schools) as long as there is space to accommodate them. Certain districts will allow you to enroll in neighboring districts, as well.

If schools are important to you when searching for a home, consider Del Mar  Heights.  We can help you find a great home in this area.

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