Batman Returns!

For all the zaniness this embodies Comic-Con, check out our Facebook Gallery!

Art takes to the streets this weekend for the La Jolla Festival of the Arts – June 26th & 27th.  Nearly 200 juried artists from the western US and Mexico will present their works from serigraphs to photography, sculpture to fine jewelry, and all mediums of paint.  Chalk artists from around the world will bring the streets themselves alive, with color and beautifully rendered works of art…

The Festival of the Arts recognizes talent in design and execution, and not just in artistic mediums.  Classic Austin Healeys will be on display from points across Southern California, and celebrity chef demonstrations will also be part of the festivities.  Live music will be featured throughout the day by favorites such as Fred Benedetti and George Svoboda, the Mar Dels, Monsoon Jazz, and the USN Southwest Brass Band.

Admission for adults is $10, while children 10 and under are free.  A children’s area will feature interactive booths, hands-on games and activities.  The event is from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the University of California San Diego’s East Campus, located at Genesee Avenue and Regents Road.

Miss Wheelchair California, Jennifer Kumiyama, and runner-up, Maggie Elizondo will be attending the event on Saturday. Nearly $1 million in funds have been raised by The Torrey Pines Kiwanis Foundation since the inception of the La Jolla Festival of the Arts, providing sports and recreation opportunities for disabled San Diegans as well as wounded warriors returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

San Diego county is alive with countless theater venues. From artsy to traditional, esoteric to mainstream, on any given week you’re sure to find a unique play to delight the senses. Enter playwright Annie Weisman. Annie  grew up in Del Mar, and has returned to her home turf to mount her new script, ‘Surf Report‘, at the acclaimed La Jolla Playhouse…

Actor Gregory Harrison plays the role of Bruce, a venture capitalist and surfer.  The central role of  Surf Report is his assistant, Judith (played by Linda Gehringer), who must balance the drive to excel in her career with her family relationships, strained with compromise and dreams put on hold.  Throughout the play surf reports are announced, acting as a barometer of the action of the play itself.  When Weisman attended Torry Pines High, she recalls, a daily surf report was part of the morning announcements.

Click here to view the embedded video.

In preparation for the role, Harrison and fellow actors Zoë Chao and Liv Rooth hit the waves with Surf Diva

The La Jolla Playhouse is legendary for giving new productions the support they need to florish, often resulting in Broadway success stories.  Just last week, ‘Memphis‘ (a musical that premiered here in 2008) won 4 Tony awards, including Best Musical! We hope that ‘Surf Report’ enjoys similar success, while showing audiences a glimpse into a Southern California lifestyle beyond the waves.

Just a few hours drive inland from San Diego lies a world apart.  The dramatic rolling hills and desert landscapes of Borrego Springs remind you of our coastal region, but the appearance of ocotillo and desert wildflowers point to something vastly different.

The Anza-Borrego Desert draws visitors from Southern California, Palm Desert, Nevada and beyond.  Off-road recreation, golf courses, and moderate to challenging hikes through desert hills and palm oases appeal to a wide range of visitors, from outdoor sports enthusiasts to  snow-birds fleeing colder climates.

Spring is when the desert springs to life with color. With varieties including the ghost flower, woody bottle washer, desert star, monkey flower, fagonia, evening primrose, desert sunflower, sand verbena, lupine, fish hook cactus, desert five spot and desert lilies – you never know what carpet of color lurks around the next bend.  Check out the California State Parks or Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association websites or the local wildflower report available on DesertUSA for current bloom information & prime viewing locations.

During summer, the oppressive heat can put a damper on the daytime fun, but throughout the rest of the year the desert climate is dry and inviting.  Before the sun reaches its heights, check out the one-of-a-kind outdoor gallery located in Galleta Meadows – 53 steel sculptures of creatures that used to inhabit this desert.

Catch up on the local news and sample innovative fudge flavors at The Latest Scoop Ice Cream & The Fudge Factory located on Palm Canyon Drive.  During the heat of the afternoon, boutique shopping and galleries can provide some shady distraction before returning to the rosy hills near sunset.  From camping provisions to domestic luxuries, Borrego Outfitters is the place to begin.  The shop owners have expanded to also host culinary delights in their second nearby shop, Gourmet Outfitters.  Across the small plaza at the Mall in Borrego Springs, Tumbleweed is a market-style treasure trove of vintage decorations, a small collection of clothing items, and charming finds of all kinds.

Slow to develop, Borrego Springs became the off-the-map destination for Hollywood celebrities seeking a reprieve from the spotlight.  The Hoberg Resort was a million-dollar attraction in the 1950’s with a beautiful swimming pool, a ‘very wet’ bar, and spectacular night skies.  After changing hands and purpose several times, the resort is now known as The Palms at Indian Head, and is in the process of being restored to its former mid-century glamor.  End your visit with a mid-day meal on their pet friendly patio, and savor a time when leisure ruled supreme!

Photos by: Susi B.

Coastal serendipity…

Maybe, it’s the unpretentious attitude in the air. After all, Cardiff occupies one of the more unique stretches of the San Diego county coastline. Maybe, it’s the friendly atmosphere that seems to permeate each business and beach. Reliable surf breaks (hey, Rob Machado calls Cardiff home) oceanfront camping, bluff walks along the Pacific… Laid back Cardiff is the quintessential relaxed beach town.

Legions of loyal patrons flock to Pipes Cafe, VG Donuts, Bestawan Pizza, La Olas… all unassuming, yet ultra popular local hot  spots.  Notice the controversial surfer statue at the corner of Chesterfield & Hwy 101 as you cruise down the coastline. The ‘Cardiff Kook’ as he is called by some, is often seen  sporting all sorts of garb and paraphernalia. Love him or not, he’s that high school prank we all secretly wished we’d pulled off…

Popular Pipes Cafe on any given morning… Dana (barista extraordinaire) remembers each regulars drink, no matter how  simple or complicated. Loyal patrons & pups line the rails… There are the two triathletes who log more miles on their cycles than I do in my car. There’s the film producer, the surfing legends, the young girl who knows each pet by name and has a treat for each. The wise fighter pilot whose buddy was pulled under an aircraft carrier, and lived to tell the tale. From tribal tattoos to business suits, Pipes Cafe offers a glimpse into the cross-section that is the Cardiff persona.

Offering panoramic  ocean views from many apartments & homes, Cardiff is a highly sought after place to call home. There’s no downtown really, just a smallish area off Vulcan & Chesterfield, with Seaside Market at its central core. Home of the tastiest roasted chicken and a well stocked upper-end deli, as well as hard-to-find organic and gourmet groceries – Seaside Market is a destination point on its own. There’s oceanfront dining, live music, even a campground so popular, that their oceanfront sites reserve out 6-8 months in advance.

So if your feeling a little stressed (or want to keep a relaxed mood going) – take a little drive to Cardiff. Check in with Dana and get a coffee, then drive past the kook wearing his tam and miniskirt ( or whatever else someone has stuck on him) and head over to Cardiff State Beach. Park. Sip your coffee as you watch the surfer head out to a solid break and breath in a little unfettered seaside air… Cardiff style!

Last year, The B-52’s had the entire audience on their feet!

2010 San Diego County Fair – Headliners

Send us your absolute BEST beach business recommendations & we’ll check them out…

If we agree, they’ll be featured on

SanDiegoSunCoast.com !

Daylight savings time begins at 2 a.m. ET Sunday,

Better set your clocks ahead by an hour before you go to bed Saturday night!

Sleeping catz by Fotolia/Urlaub-UA

“You may call me Sir”

Rascal was our favorite to win in the Ugly Dog category at the Del Mar Ugly Dog contest last Sunday, and win he did! To the delight of Rascal’s owner Dane Andrew, Rascal (a hairless Chinese Crested) won the coveted title of 2010 World’s Ugliest Dog.

Last year, tiny Rascal with his perennial bad hair day, was overshadowed by the towering behemoth Chomper, a mutt of dubious dental hygiene. SanDiegoSunCoast.com sponsored the Ugly Dog Category, so I had the honor of presenting the winning trophy to both Rascal and Dane. Victory never looked so good!

Atta Boy Rascal!!!!

Video taken by Petopia.tv (from our very own Del Mar!)

Poetry in motion

Coastal Del Mar is steeped in equestrian history. From thoroughbred racing to polo ponies, cowboys to dressage, hunter-jumpers  to pleasure riders,  all share a common bond – a deep love of horses. Since its inception in 1946, the Del Mar National Horse Show has steadily grown to become one of the most prestigious equestrian competitions in the Western United States. This years event, held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, will bring even more excitement to the coast!

Over 1,500 horses of every breed and training are expected at this eagerly anticipated event.  Some of the best competitors in the nation will be vying for prize money, coveted titles, ribbons and trophies. Purchase tickets – Official Show Site. The competition is broken down into three categories, and will run over a three week period…

Western Week  – April 22 – 25

Dressage Week  – April 29 – May 2

Hunter/Jumper Week  – May 4 – 9

Need a new Stetson to go with your chaps? The Wild West Expo preceeds the Del Mar National Horse Show April 16th to 18th, with three days of Western themed antiques, art, clothing, leather goods and jewelry for sale. Patrons will be able to peruse everything from Western Americana to Contemporary Western couture with lots of premier exhibitors on hand at the Bing Crosby Exhibition Hall, also at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Specialty antiques dealers will be showcasing Native American, Vaquero and Cowboy art, memorabilia and finery, as well as photography and furnishings.

Top photo from Fotolia, bottom  photo from Wild West Expo

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