Little Italy, San Diego CA

Posted on January 23, 2012 by admin

Since the 1920’s, San Diego’s Little Italy has been a stable ethnic business and residential community.  Today it represents Downtown San Diego’s oldest continuous neighborhood business district occupying 48 square blocks.Little Italy is located North of Ash Street and South of Laurel, and runs from Pacific Highway to Front Street.  San Diego’s Little Italy is not only a model urban neighborhood for the City of San Diego, but is also serving as a model for the handful of Little Italy’s remaining throughout the country.

One of the most popular community events in all of San Diego is the “Little Italy FESTA”which celebrates Italian culture along India Street.  This year the festival will be held on Sunday, October 14, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Over the past 18 years, the Little Italy FESTA has grown to become one of the largest Italian American festivals on the West Coast.  With over 120,000 attendees, this event is filled with modern Italian music, arts and crafts, music on three states, cooking demonstrations, cooking contests, kids fun zone, face painting and balloon art.  And let’s not forget a wide variety of Italian cuisines to tantalize all palates!

Overall, there are an abundance of delicious Italian Restaurants in Little Italy.  A few located on India Street alone are Anthology, Bencotto Italian Restaurant, Buon Appetito & Sogno DiVino, Caffe Italia, Enoteca Style, Filippi’s Pizza Grotto, Indigo Grill, Landini’s Pizzeria, Mona Lisa, Po Pazzo, Puerto La Boca, Vincenzo Ristorante Italiano and Zia’s Bistro.  There are so many more restaurants on the surrounding blocks.

The question most people ask is “How many restaurants are in Little Italy?” and the answer is, “Approximately 35-40 restaurants, along with lounges and entertainment venues!”  As you can see, there is definitely something for everyone in San Diego’s Downtown Little Italy!

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AB 771 Common Interest Development (CID)

Posted on December 5, 2011 by admin

Information for you to know…….

AB  771 Common Interest Development (CID)

In late August, California Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 771 into law.  So what is AB 771?  AB771 is a bill that prevents home buyers in a common interest development (CID), such as a condominium or town home, from being charged excess document fees.  I’ve personally seen requests for fees as much as $500 for basic HOA and CCR documents.

Homeowner Associations (HOA’s) are required to provide specific documents to prospective purchasers of homes in a CID — a form of real estate ownership in which each homeowner has an exclusive interest in a unit and a shared interest in the common area property.  In addition to the standard residential property disclosures, purchasers of a unit within a CID must receive basic information about the structure, operation and management of the HOA that operates the CID.
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MISSION VALLEY – “The Epicenter of San Diego”

Posted on October 24, 2011 by admin

Mission Valley was the site of the first Spanish settlement in California, established in 1769 and nowadays serves as an important shopping and entertainment center for San Diego. In fact, its home to many San Diego residents with its condominiums and apartments in this area as well.

Mission Valley is easily accessible. Every major freeway leading into San Diego County passes by or through the valley. Thus, many attractions and suburbs are less than 30 minutes away.Mission Valley is known to all residents and visitors who travel around San Diego. It stretches as far west as Interstate 5 and as far east as Interstate 15. The exact boundary between Million Valley East and Mission Valley West is State Route 163.

While traveling through this area, it could sometimes be confusing where Interstate 805 crosses Mission Valley and connects with interstate 8. And then Interstate 15 and State Route 163 also cross Mission Valley and connect with Interstate 8. But once you’re familiar with all these interchanges, it’s second nature.

San Diego Trolley’s Green Line also runs through Mission Valley while the main hub for buses is located at the Fashion Valley Transit Center and Mall. There are other trolley stations in Mission Valley such as Qualcomm Stadium, Hazard Center, Mission Valley Center and many more.

San Diego River in Mission Valley

The beautiful San Diego River runs through Mission Valley. This 52-mile long river originates near Santa Ysabel in East San Diego County and runs down to the El Capitan Reservoir, and then through Lakeside, Santee, and Mission Valley. The River drains into the Pacific Ocean at Dog Beach in Ocean Beach.

Mission Valley Mall

There are two major malls located in Mission Valley. Both are popular and always very busy, especially around the holidays. The Westfield Mission Valley Mall is located at 1640 Camino Del Rio North in San Diego (Mission Valley). From book stores to Department stores to Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond and all kinds of specialty shops, dozens of restaurants, including a food court, this popular mall has an abundance of choices. They even have their own AMC Mission Valley 20-Screen Multiplex Theatre.

Fashion Valley Mall

Located in the heart of Mission Valley at 7007 Friars Rd., San Diego, there’s yet another shopping mall with over 200 stores. Fashion Valley is filled with class with such department stores as Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Bloomindale’s. J.C. Penney and Macy’s are also located in this two-level, upscale shopping wonderland. Fashion Valley has a number of sit-down restaurants, such the extremely popular Cheesecake Factory, PF Changes and California Pizza Kitchen. Also located in this mall is an 18 Screen Multiplex Stadium Seating AMC Theatre.

Good restaurants, an abundance of stores, restaurants and specialty shops to choose from to meet all your needs, why go anywhere else but Mission Valley? Come for a day and you’ll stay for a week.

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CARLSBAD “A Charming Seaside Village”

Posted on September 21, 2011 by admin

Carlsbad isn’t just another of San Diego’s coastal cities lying along the Pacific Ocean in North County. It’s located approximately 35 miles north of downtown San Diego. It’s one of the wealthiest communities in California with high property values and high median family incomes.

The 8th Annual Carlsbad Music Festival is taking place over the weekend of Friday to Sunday, September 23rd to 25th. This year’s event features different genres from pop to classical. The festival will kick off with the fun, free Village Music Walk on Friday evening and continues throughout the weekend with outdoor concerts at a variety of venues on Saturday and Sunday. All festivities are within short walking distance of the train, the beach and a variety of restaurants and hotels.

The Main Stage Concerts are being held at the Carlsbad Village Theatre located at 2822 State Street in Carlsbad. Tickets are $15 for general admission/$5.00 for students. You can also purchase tickets to all five concerts for $60.00. The ticketed concerts feature pianist Vicky Chow, vocalist Shara Worden, indie chamber pop band My Brightest Diamond, Brooklyn-based post-classical quintet Build, and the Festival’s Ensemble-in-Residence, the Calder Quartet. To purchase tickets to this musical event and to find out more details of the Carlsbad Music Festival, log on to www.carlsbadmusicfestival.org and have some fun!

Another “musical” thing to do in Carlsbad any time of the year is to visit theMuseum of Making Music located 5790 Armada Drive. You will feel as if you are time-traveling through the last 100 years as you learn about music making in America. At this museum you can take a leisurely stroll through their displays featuring music of different eras with many of them autographed by well-known musical talents. You will also see a collection of more than 450 musical instruments.

Besides the ever-popular LEGOLAND in Carlsbad, with all its attractions for both adults and children alike, you can’t drive on Interstate 5 without seeing the 50-acre rainbow of blooming Ranunculus flowers of Carlsbad’s Flower Field. The season for these flowers are short, March through May with the greatest display in early to mid-April. Every year it’s worth the wait for Spring!

Besides the allure of living near the beach, Carlsbad has a lot to offer with its upscale homes, picturesque golf courses, shopping centers, restaurants, antique shops, café’s, specialty shops and so much more.

Carlsbad – an ideal place to call home.

See all Carlsbad Homes for Sale.

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