Carlsbad Art Wall Meet and GreetThe Carlsbad community is invited to a Meet and Greet event at the Carlsbad Art Wall, to celebrate the Valley Middle School Visual and Performing Arts Department. This fun event takes place Saturday January 27 from 10 am until 2 pm and is being coordinated by the school. A special feature will be the creation of a new collaborative art wall mural led by Carlsbad artist Bryan Snyder’s art students. This will be the 39th mural since the founding of the Carlsbad Art Wall in 2015. The Carlsbad Art Wall was founded by Bryan Snyder in cooperation with the owner of Senor Grubby’s Mexican Restaurant in Carlsbad Village. Here's a photo of a mural completed in 2016.  The Carlsbad Art Wall has been a wonderful opportunity for residents and visitors to enjoy temporar... 01/24/2024

Reasons to Love Living in Carlsbad~ Housing ~ There are plenty of reasons to love living in Carlsbad CA. That includes our beautiful beaches, the arts, dining, shopping, recreational opportunities, tourist stuff, housing, sports, parks and greenspace, and our weather. In this article the focus is on housing in Carlsbad. CARLSBAD HOUSING Carlsbad housing is diverse in terms of styles, prices and location. Here are some considerations and things to think about. Do you want to live near or on the beach? You can expect to pay a lot of money for that privilege. Maybe you want to own a home in or near Carlsbad Village. You have the opportunity to buy in a gated community, say a condo, townhome or single family home. Or you can live in an area where the homes are not cookie-cutter and may have... 01/20/2024

Single Story Homes for Sale in Carlsbad~ January 19, 2024 Market Update ~It’s not unusual for Carlsbad home buyers to prefer a 1-story single family house when looking for a new home.  For some buyers, it is a requirement, and reasons vary.Some buyers are OK with buying a 2-story home, provided there is a master bedroom with full bath on the main floor. But that type of floor plan tends to be trickier to find; in many cases the 1st floor bedroom is a smaller guest bedroom and the bath is a half bath.The overall Carlsbad inventory remains limited (here’s the December 2023 Housing Market Report for Carlsbad) but has increased modestly since December.At the time this report was written there is a 1.7 month supply of single story detached homes, based on the rate of sales for the last 3 mon... 01/19/2024

Hearts of Carlsbad Village ~ Blown Glass Treasure Hunt ~ The 4th Hearts of Carlsbad Village blown glass treasure hunt in Carlsbad Village is next month. What a fun opportunity to spend time in Carlsbad Village outdoors exploring! The Carlsbad Village Association and Barrio Glassworks are sponsoring this fun treasure hunt on February 10th and 11th. The treasure hunt begins at 8 am on Saturday and ends at 3 pm on Sunday. The event is supported by Visit Carlsbad, the official tourism marketing organization in the City of Carlsbad. February is American Heart Month, and Valentine’s Day is 3 days after the event. What’s more appropriate than a heart-themed treasure hunt? Here’s how the Hearts of Carlsbad Village works. 400 colorful hand-blown glass hearts created at Barrio Glassworks will be ... 01/09/2024

Heart of the Village Blood Drive~ Carlsbad Village February 10, 2024 ~ Once again here’s an opportunity for Carlsbad residents to help our community, specifically the San Diego Blood Bank, with their need for blood donations. The 7th Annual Heart of the Village Blood Drive will be held in Carlsbad Village on Saturday, February 10th from 9 am until 2 pm. Once again thanks are due Barrio Glassworks at 3060 Roosevelt Street for hosting the blood drive. Blood donations will be taken at the San Diego Blood Bank Bloodmobile in their parking lot.  Well over 200 pints have been donated through the previous Heart of the Village Blood Drive events! As in the past the Carlsbad Village Association is the sponsor. All donations are by Appointment Only, preferably in advance, but last minute appointm... 01/06/2024

What’s the Value of My Carlsbad Home? Carlsbad Market Report for December 2023 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to shift, with changes from November and 1 year ago. Private sales, mobile homes and multi-family housing are not included (the numbers are taken from the MLS and believed to be accurate when reported but are not guaranteed). Media reports speak in general terms. As a result they do not reflect local Carlsbad housing market conditions (read more - How Local IS Local?). Current information, and analysis, about local market conditions benefits you when you want to make important buying and/or selling decisions about Carlsbad homes for sale. READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBADCarlsbad Village by the Sea 46 homes sold in Carlsbad in December (92008, 92009, 92010 and 92011), 21% fewe... 01/04/2024

2nd to Last Sunset for 2023 in CarlsbadWe had a busy week - but then who didn't - and decided to head over to the beach yesterday to watch the sun set. There were lots of people out on the bluff above the ocean, cameras poised for photos and waiting for just the right moment. There were quite a few clouds which always make the sunsets and sky more interesting, even when the sun itself is hidden. You never know what you are going to see but it's always a wonderful time of relaxation at the end of the day.  It appears we made the right decision to go see the LAST sunset of 2023 in Carlsbad yesterday. There is so much cloud cover here this afternoon it appears we wouldn't be able to see the sun setting over the ocean at all, so we lucked out. UPDATE: Well, the skies cleared up a bit a few ... 12/31/2023

Free Christmas Tree Recycling in Carlsbad  Christmas is now behind us. And some people may already be thinking about taking down the holiday tree. As they do annually, the City of Carlsbad is offering free, curbside pickup of Christmas trees for Carlsbad residents now through January 14th. Christmas tree curbside pickup is on the regular trash pick-up day unless it falls on the Christmas and New Year’s observed holidays. Trash pick-up may be delayed during the after week after these holidays. Christmas trees should be placed next to the green compost bin at curbside. Be sure to remove all decorations, lights, tinsel and tree stands before recycling. If possible cut the tree and place it in the Green Waste recycling bin for pick-up.  If your tree is taller than 6 feet it must be cut in h... 12/26/2023

The 2024 Carlsbad Marathon~ Sunday January 14th ~ The popular Carlsbad Marathon is Sunday January 14th.  Remember that’s also the Martin Luther King holiday weekend – the official holiday is Monday the 15th! If you plan to participate hopefully you have been busy with training! The Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon is a popular world-class event. It’s also a qualifying race for the famed Boston Marathon. There are usually plenty of runners from other areas of the US planning on this event! The Marathon is limited to 1200 runners. The Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon also offers a Double Down Challenge. There are 2 races, first the 5K (3.1 miles) followed by the half marathon, a total of 16.2 miles. Up to 4500 runners can participate in the Half Marathon, and 1000 in the... 12/23/2023

Throwback Thursday - The Last Hand-cut Christmas Tree For years living in New England we had a tradition of getting a cut Christmas, hand-sawed down by yours truly. It was a fun activity which the kids enjoyed, despite dealing with the winter weather in early December that included cold weather and sometimes snow. There were plenty of tree farms in the Boston area to choose from, especially when we lived out in the suburbs in Bolton, Littleton and Stowe. The tradition continued when we spent a couple of years in the Twin Cities in Minnesota with even colder weather. The second winter we were there it was 25 degrees below zero when we went to saw down the tree. It's a bit of challenge to saw down a tree in that kind of cold, bundled up in a parka with heavy boots and gloves on. Tradition... 12/21/2023

Holiday Cookie Making - Round 2Yesterday we made granola using a new recipe with maple syrup instead of brown sugar. It turned out well and worthy of breakfast and sharing with a couple of the neighbors. Round 2 of our cookie making was today (Round 1 was made at Thanksgiving, our annual family tradition), the classic snowball cookies using my wife's Mom's recipe.  We decided to add a couple variations. In addition to the classic, rolled in powdered sugar once cooked, we rolled some of the dough in finely chopped pecans before baking. The other variation were thumbprint cookies with apricot jam. They turned out well and have been more than adequately taste tested by the chefs. And several of the neighbors were lucky recipients.  Are there special cookies that you make for the holidays? 12/17/2023

Ho Ho Highland in Carlsbad Lots of neighbors living along Highland Drive in Olde Carlsbad (just east of Carlsbad Village) celebrate the holiday season with large inflatable Santas at the front of their properties. Many of the homes on the hill offer distant views of the ocean. I took a drive down Highland south of Carlsbad Village Drive while out running errands to see them…a first for me. I can’t believe I didn’t know these existed!  I counted 30 of the large inflatable Santas in the 6 block drive I took. They are all pretty similar and I’d estimate about 20 feet tall, perhaps taller. I also saw a number of small ones as well…thus the appropriate nickname for this neighborhood being Ho Ho Highland. I don’t know how long this has been a tradition but it sounds like more and more homeown... 12/16/2023

Merry Melodies Holiday Music Series ~ Carlsbad Village 2023 ~ The Carlsbad Village Association continues to support the Village businesses, and encourages residents and visitors to enjoy the holiday season with the Merry Melodies Series. The free music takes place at the corner of Grand Avenue and State Street. This free series of holiday music kicked off Friday December 8 from 5 – 7 pm with songs by the Carlsbad High School Vocal Music Program. Free hot chocolate and candy canes were provided by First Team Real Estate. The Merry Melodies series continues this Friday the 15th with music by Laura and Leilani. These talented vocalists will share jazzy holiday music accompanied by Leilani on the piano and flute. Again the music will be offered from 5 pm. to 7 pm.  It’s a great time of year... 12/13/2023

Stuff the Bus in Carlsbad 2023 Saturday December 9th is going to be a very special day. This is your chance to help Stuff the Bus in Carlsbad Village. This special holiday event is sponsored by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Carlsbad and the Carlsbad Unified School District’s Youth Enrichment Services (YES!). There are many families in need of help this holiday season, and you can make a child’s holiday a bit more special! Here’s how.  Bring a new unwrapped toy, or more than one if you want (for ages 6 to 12), to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Carlsbad Clubhouse at 3115 Roosevelt between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm to help Stuff the Bus. Why a wonderful way you can share joy with a needy child this holiday season! Call the Boys and Girls Clubs of Carlsbad (Village Clubhouse) with questions or for mor... 12/07/2023

What’s the Value of My Carlsbad Home? Carlsbad Market Report for November 2023 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to shift, with changes from October and 1 year ago. Private sales, mobile homes and multi-family housing are not included (the numbers are taken from the MLS and believed to be accurate when reported but are not guaranteed). Media reports speak in general terms. As a result they do not reflect local Carlsbad housing market conditions (read more - How Local IS Local?). Current information, and analysis, about local market conditions benefits you when you want to make important buying and/or selling decisions about Carlsbad homes for sale. READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBADCarlsbad Village by the Sea 58 homes sold in Carlsbad in November (92008, 92009, 92010 and 92011), 27% fewer... 12/05/2023

Grateful to Live in Carlsbad This is my 4th entry for the November Gratitude Challenge hosted by Debe Maxwell, CRS. We moved to Carlsbad in April 2005 from Boston, and I am very thankful that we did. It was a tough decision to leave the Boston area after living there for 20+ years in multiple homes and communities. We loved the Boston area, other than the winter cold, snow and ice, and left behind lots of friends and family in New England and the northeast. Photo is from the winter before we moved, in Harvard Square (Cambridge) near where we last lived before relocating.   We spent a lot of time (several house hunting trips over 1 year) looking at properties in different communities around San Diego before settling on Carlsbad. Why? It worked for our budget (a good sized house with land... 11/30/2023

Holiday Tree Lighting in Carlsbad Village~ December 3, 2023 ~UPDATED 11/29/2023The 38th annual Holiday Tree Lighting is Sunday, December 3rd in Carlsbad Village.  As is the tradition, the Holiday Tree Lighting takes place at the front entrance to the Carlsbad Village Faire shopping center at 300 Carlsbad Village Drive.  It’s just west of the railroad tracks. The photo is from last year.  This festive annual event runs from 2:15 – 4:45 pm! The Tree Lighting is sure to get you into the holiday spirit if you aren’t already! Why not join this annual celebration, along with lots of Carlsbad residents, in the heart of Carlsbad Village. The Tree Lighting and festivities are sponsored by the Rotary Club of Carlsbad. Santa will arrive in the antique firetruck for photos, and along with Mrs. Clau... 11/21/2023

2023 Holiday Showcase Makers Market ~ December 2 in Carlsbad Village ~ The 2023 Holiday Showcase Makers Market takes place on Saturday December 2nd from 9 am until 4 pm. This is the 7th annual event. The Holiday Makers Market has been a popular event in Carlsbad Village for a number of years. Because of popularity the Makers Market has expanded, and now includes multiple events during the year, along with the special one at holiday time. The Holiday Showcase Makers Market is FREE to attend. Certainly you’ll want to bring credit cards or cash for your holiday shopping. And don’t forget you can #ShopSmall at Small Business Saturday in the Village on November 25th Thanksgiving weekend. The Makers Market is held outdoors at St. Michael’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church. The Church is located at... 11/13/2023

Celebrate Small Business Saturday~ Carlsbad Village ~ November 25, 2023 ~ The holiday shopping season seems to arrive earlier every year. Halloween is a distant memory, and Thanksgiving is less than 2 weeks away. Which also means the 14th annual Small Business Saturday in Carlsbad Village is coming soon. Small Business Saturday was initiated by American Express back in 2010 The first Saturday after Thanksgiving is the traditional day to support small businesses throughout the US. And you’ll find abundant opportunities at our Carlsbad Village retailers to #shopsmall. Many residents, and visitors, support small businesses in Carlsbad already but this is special opportunity to do so! And with the holiday shopping season upon is, that’s good news. The Carlsbad Village Association website no... 11/11/2023

Carlsbad Art Wall for November 2023 The 5th Carlsbad Art Wall mural of 2023 was just completed. And it’s so appropriate for our beach town. I thought the sunlight shining through the palm tree cast some interesting light on the mural, adding to the already brilliant colors. The wall was painted by Jeff Kukasik, a self-taught artist and surfer from San Clemente, CA. This is the 38th mural since the founding of the Carlsbad Art Wall. And we’ve seen impressive diversity, creativity, and beauty over the past 8+ years. The Carlsbad Art Wall was founded in 2015 by Carlsbad artist, Bryan Snyder in cooperation with the owner of Senor Grubby’s Mexican Restaurant in Carlsbad Village  The Carlsbad Art Wall affords residents and visitors the chance to enjoy temporary public art by local, regional, ... 11/08/2023