What’s the Value of My Carlsbad Home? Carlsbad Market Report for October 2023 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to shift, with changes from September 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 about the housing market speak in general terms. As a result they do not reflect local Carlsbad housing market conditions (read more - How Local IS Local?). Up-to-date information, and analysis, about local market conditions benefits you when you need to make important buying and/or selling decisions about Carlsbad Homes for Sale. READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBADCarlsbad Village by the Sea 79 homes sold in Carlsbad in October (92008, 92009,... 11/05/2023

Reasons to Love Living in Carlsbad CA~ Attractions ~ There are plenty of reasons to love living in, or visiting, Carlsbad CA. That includes our beaches, the arts, dining, shopping, recreational opportunities, housing, sports, parks and greenspace, and our weather. In this article the focus is on several attractions for residents and visitors to enjoy in Carlsbad. CARLSBAD FLOWER FIELDSThe Flower Fields have been a popular attraction for Carlsbadians and visitors for decades. The Flower Fields are 55 acres of Ranunculus flowers in multiple brilliant colors planted on the hill below Armada Drive and overlooking the ocean. The flowers bloom for about 6 to 8 weeks depending on the weather. The Flower Fields generally open at the beginning of March and typically close on Mother’s Day in mid-... 11/03/2023

Carlsbad Village Street Faire November 5, 2023 The Carlsbad Village Street Faire, a popular event for decades, returns to Carlsbad Village this coming Sunday, November 5th. The Faire is hosted by the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. The Carlsbad Village Street Faire is reportedly the largest outdoor 1-day fair in the US. There is also a Carlsbad Village Street Faire held every May. The Carlsbad Village Street Faire runs from 8 am until 4 pm. That should be ample opportunity to enjoy the hundreds of vendors and shop to your heart’s content. The Carlsbad Village Street Faire takes place in the center of town, along Grand Avenue from Carlsbad Boulevard to Jefferson. The Faire also spills over onto side streets, including State Street. (photo is from a prior art fair in Carlsbad.)  Be prepared... 10/29/2023

Museum of Making Music Petting Zoo The Museum of Making Music is a popular attraction offering a wonderful museum collection, with special events and concerts during the year. On November 4, 2023 the Museum of Making Music (MOMM) will host a Petting Zoo. (photo taken at MOMM)   No, it’s not the kind of petting zoo you’re thinking about, where kids get to mingle with, and pet, all sorts of cute animals. This is an Instrument Petting Zoo, with a chance for kids to "pet" all sorts of instruments in varying shapes and sizes, and which make a range of sounds. What a fun way for kids to experience a bunch of different instruments and make music! And of course the adults can get in on the instrument petting, too! The Instrument Petting Zoo will run from 11:00 am until 1:30. This is a Pay-What-... 10/28/2023

Reasons to Love Living in Carlsbad CA – Dining There are plenty of reasons to love living in, or visiting, Carlsbad CA. That includes our beaches, the arts, dining, shopping, recreational opportunities, tourist stuff, housing, sports, parks and greenspace, and our weather. In this article the focus is on dining options, and wow, are they plentiful.  I thought the dining options were fair when we moved here from Boston in 2005, but things have really improved with plenty of new restaurants in recent years. Granted, our dining scene is not LA, New York, San Francisco, Boston or Chicago, but the overall quality and diversity is pretty good given the size of our Village by the Sea. Just a quick disclaimer. I have eaten at most of the places I mention, but not all. And no one has requested t... 10/10/2023

What’s the Value of My Carlsbad Home? Carlsbad Market Report for September 2023 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to shift, with changes from August 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 generalities. 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 need to make important buying and/or selling decisions about Carlsbad homes for sale.   READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBAD Carlsbad Village by the Sea 89 homes sold in Carlsbad in September (92008, 92009, 92010 and 92011), 5% few... 10/05/2023

Reasons to Love Living in Carlsbad CA~ Shopping ~ There are plenty of reasons to love living in, or visiting, Carlsbad CA. That includes our beaches, the arts, dining, shopping, recreational opportunities, tourist stuff, housing, sports and our weather. In this 5th article in my series the focus is on the shopping opportunities. I confess I am not a big shopper. Oh, I go when needed – groceries, clothes, supplies – but I don’t spend a lot of time out shopping. But I’ve learned a lot in my travels about all the options, so here’s a summary of some of what shoppers can expect in Carlsbad.  MALLSIf you are interested in the mall-type shopping experience, there are 4 major ones (excluding smaller strip malls). The Shoppes at Carlsbad in the north just south of the 78 freeway offers a host o... 10/04/2023

Reasons to Love Living in Carlsbad CA~ Beaches ~ There are plenty of reasons to love living in, or visiting, Carlsbad CA. That includes our beaches, the arts, dining, shopping, recreational opportunities, tourist stuff, housing, sports and our weather.  In this article the focus is on the Carlsbad beaches. Carlsbad has about 7 miles of beach, from the Oceanside border at Point Malo and the mouth of the Buena Vista Lagoon to the north, and south along the Coast Road/Historic Route 101 to the Leucadia area of Encinitas.  There are lots of different beaches by name (e.g., Terramar, Warm Waters, Hole in the Fence, South Ponto, Frazee, Tamarack, Jetties, Carlsbad State Beach). However, it’s hard to tell where each one starts and ends, and perhaps it really doesn’t matter. It's one uninterrup... 09/27/2023

2023 Carlsbad Oktoberfest~ October 7 ~ The 41st annual Carlsbad Oktoberfest is Saturday, October 7, just 2 weeks from now! Carlsbad’s popular annual Oktoberfest Family Fall Festival, for years traditionally taking place the 1st Saturday in October, will be held at the Carlsbad Strawberry Company. The festival runs from 12 noon until 8 pm. Entrance fee (separate from food and drink) is $10 and paid at the gate, with children 5 and under free. Parking is complimentary. This is a cashless event. (graphic courtesy of Pixabay)  As in the past the 2023 Oktoberfest is sponsored by Carlsbad’s 2 rotary clubs – the Rotary Club of Carlsbad, and the Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club. The festival is a major fundraiser for the Carlsbad Rotary Clubs. There are other event sponsors, as well. Come enjoy a t... 09/22/2023

2023 Halloween Pumpkin Plunge~ Alga Norte Aquatic Center in Carlsbad ~ Fall is almost here, and stores are filled with Halloween decorations. The local pumpkin patches are opening soon, and it’s only 3 weeks to the 2023 Pumpkin Plunge in Carlsbad. This popular annual floating pumpkin patch is held at the Alga Norte Aquatics Center in South Carlsbad (La Costa area), at 6565 Alicante Road (at the corner of Poinsettia Lane), on Saturday October 14th from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. (photo below) Carlsbad kids get to lasso their favorite pumpkin from the floating pumpkin patch with a hula hoop to take them home for carving, decorating and Halloween festivities.  Be sure to bring a bathing suit so you can enjoy all the fun in the pool! The fun out of the pool will include several Halloween-themed lawn ... 09/21/2023

Reasons to Love Living in Carlsbad CA~ The Arts Part 3 ~ The arts are just one of many reasons to love living in Carlsbad CA.  In Part 1 of this series on the arts in Carlsbad we talked about theater and film including outdoor movies. Part 2 focused on the abundant music offerings in Carlsbad. Part 3 is about the visual arts, including galleries, art fairs, wall murals, sculpture and more. VISUAL ARTS Visual art in Carlsbad covers a wide range of public art such as sculpture and wall murals scattered around town, among other things. Here’s a link to an interactive site that shows where public art is located in the town. Just keep your eyes open, especially in the Village and you are sure to spot murals, painted utility boxes and fire hydrants, and more. WALL MURALSThe Carlsbad Art Wall ... 09/16/2023

Carlsbad Village LifestyleThe Carlsbad Sculpture Garden The Carlsbad Sculpture Garden near Carlsbad Village is a wonderful place to enjoy an outdoor stroll while enjoying beautiful works of art. The venue is small so you can enjoy the exhibit in a matter of minutes…or spend more time reflecting on what you see. The Carlsbad Sculpture Garden features changing exhibits of mid and large scale sculpture by local and regional artists in an intimate setting adjacent to the Georgina Cole Library. The Carlsbad Sculpture Garden is funded by the Carlsbad Cultural Arts Office.   The current exhibit at the Carlsbad Sculpture Garden features works by 7 different sculptors. The show entitled Geometric Garden is on display until August 30, 2024.  You can tour the sculpture garden in Carlsbad for free,... 09/15/2023

Reasons to Love Living in Carlsbad CA ~ The Arts - Part 2 ~ In Part 1 of this 3-part series on the Arts in Carlsbad we talked about theater and film/outdoor movies. In Part 2 we’ll focus on music in all its various forms in Carlsbad. The arts are just one of multiple reasons to love living in Carlsbad or visiting. And there are lots of popular options where music is concerned. The following is just a sampling of the music options throughout the year in Carlsbad. MUSIC TGIF CONCERTS IN THE PARKSThe TGIF Concerts offer a variety of different live bands, performing on consecutive Fridays each Summer in 4 of Carlsbad’s beautiful community parks. While in recent years there were more concerts each Summer, in 2023 there were 6 concerts.  What a great way to spend several hours in a beautiful ... 09/14/2023

Reasons to Love Living in Carlsbad CA ~ The Arts - Part 1 ~ There are plenty of reasons to love living in Carlsbad CA, the arts just being one of them. As an art lover and collector (and former art gallery owner), it’s a topic I enjoy talking about and sharing with others who may be like-minded and enjoy the arts.  And I keep learning about new things in Carlsbad, too! Certainly, there is a broad range of art available in Carlsbad, depending on your passion and preference. You’ll find performing arts (theater, live music), visual arts (galleries, arts and craft fairs), film and more. There are multiple opportunities throughout the year to enjoy whatever artistic endeavor pleases you. And of course, you can try new things, too! In Part 1 of this 3-part series on enjoying the arts in Carl... 09/13/2023

What’s the Value of My Carlsbad Home? Carlsbad Market Report for August 2023 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to shift, with changes from July 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 generalities. As a result they do not reflect local Carlsbad housing market conditions (read more -  How Local IS Local?). Up-to-date information, and analysis, about local market conditions will benefit you when making important buying and/or selling decisions about Carlsbad homes for sale. READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBADCarlsbad Village by the Sea 94 homes sold in Carlsbad in August (92008, 92009, 92010 and 92011), 10% fewer sales tha... 09/05/2023

 2023 San Diego Restaurant WeekSeptember 24 - October 1 Food lovers no doubt will be thrilled. San Diego Restaurant Week is September 24th through October 1st. This is the 2nd of 2 events for 2023 with 8 days of dining opportunities. San Diegans can enjoy a wide range of food offerings at terrific prices at dozens of restaurants all over San Diego! How can a dedicated food lover go wrong with all these options? The challenge will be deciding where to dine. San Diego Restaurant Week is about reduced prices on fixed price multi-course menus for lunch, brunch and/or dinner. You’ll even find a drink included as a course at some eateries. Be aware that not all restaurants offer 3 meals - many may just have dinner. Restaurants are found across a wide geography, including downtown, inland/East... 08/30/2023

Rustic Tomato Tart~ A Dedication ~ I don’t normally share recipes here. But this is a dedication to 2 of our AR chefs, Endre Barath, Jr. and Will Hamm, who often share delicious recipes and beautiful photos with those of us who appreciate good eating. And who doesn’t?! We have this a couple of times each year, and made it multiple times to take to the Hollywood Bowl Concerts in LA. It’s great right out of the oven (let it cool a little), or at room temperature.  I can’t claim chef status on this recipe – I am the sous chef while my wife, Kay, makes the crust, and the filling and assemble the tart. But it’s a vital role to the success of the dish. Fresh herbs are a must (thyme, basil, Italian parsley), as well as the freshest tomatoes you can find. Heirloom tomatoes work well, as do roma... 08/28/2023

ArtWalk Carlsbad~ September 9 and 10, 2023 ~ The 4th Annual ArtWalk Carlsbad is just a few weeks away on September 9 and 10. No doubt artists and art lovers alike are thrilled since this is a popular event. The inaugural ArtWalk Carlsbad was in 2018 and I had a great time then, and in 2022. Unfortunately, the 2020 and 2021 ArtWalks were canceled due to the pandemic. (Photos are from ArtWalk Carlsbad 2022.)  ArtWalk San Diego, the organization that produces the Mission Federal ArtWalk in Little Italy and the ArtWalk @ Liberty Square, is the organizer of this popular 2-day art festival in North San Diego County. Multiple sponsors also help make this art event affordable for attendees and artists. ArtWalk Carlsbad is free to attend, and will offer more than 150 local, regional and internat... 08/23/2023

Morning Glories  We have a pot of Morning Glories (several colors) on our back patio that have been blooming for weeks. It's such a pleasure to see them daily right outside the back door. Thankfully the blooms, especially the darker purple, have been abundant, since Morning Glory blossoms open in the morning and typically wither by midday or so. They don't last long but are glorious while they do! And it's such an appropriate name for them! 08/23/2023

Taste of Carlsbad Village~ October 12, 2023 ~ The 6th Annual Taste of Carlsbad Village returns in 2023 to the Village on October 12th. So why announce this almost 2 months early? First, the Taste of Carlsbad Village is historically very popular, selling out quickly each year. And second, tickets go on sale September 4 at 9 am so you’ll want to get that on your calendar. Carlsbad food lovers will spend 3 hours on Thursday October 12th on a self-guided tour with map and Passport (the ticket), tasting their way around charming Carlsbad Village. So what is the appeal? Why, the opportunity to enjoy bite-sized samples from dozens of local popular restaurants. This is a terrific opportunity to check out eateries you don’t know or haven’t tried, plus enjoy your favorites, too! Here’s a list of ... 08/18/2023