Solana Beach, Calif. Chocolotier Jer's goes peanut butternutty w/ free Nat. Pnt. Dy. choc....

 On September 13, you can finally meet your neighbor and taste his wares, in honor of National Peanut Day. If you stop by Jer's headquarters, you can get a free Peanut Butter Square candy. From here, we switch to the company publicist, live on the scene, for the full story. Don't flip -- it's a free candy, it may be worth grabbing. (Oh, I wish they'd sent me a few samples, so I could tell whether yes or no.) Take it away, publicist:

"On September 13th, National Peanut Day, Jer’s Chocolates, the San Diego-based pioneer of peanut butter and chocolate combinations, is celebrating the national “holiday” with the public launch of Jer’s Squares, a new “bite-size” portion of Jer’s All-Natural Peanut Butter Bars.

"During National Peanut Day, the public is invited to come to Jer’s Chocolate’s headquarters located at 437 S. Highway 101, Suite 105, Solana Beach for a free Jer’s Squares, limited one per person. A 10% portion of the total sales of Jer’s Squares on National Peanut Day will go to Jer’s Cares, the trademarked charity component of Jer’s Chocolates that supports local non-profits such as the San Diego Food Bank and the Helen Woodward Animal Shelter."

For more info, visit http://www.jers.com/

Jer's chocolates (the chocolates, not the company) started as a gift.

Rewind to Jer’s college years: on a study break Jer created a unique peanut butter ball covered in rich milk chocolate. These "Balls," as they became affectionately called, were a hit. Friends insisted Jer make them again the following year, and the year after that.

After graduating college, Jer accepted a position with IBM and quickly became a top sales person and sales manager. From there, Jer moved to San Diego and led two local firms to success. By this time, Jer had really hit his stride, rising through the ranks to Executive Vice President. But Jer's entrepreneurial spirit and passion for creating those delicious chocolate continued to be part of life.

Then, after years of going to work, Jer decided to go into business.

Jer's Chocolates (the company, not the chocolates) started as a dream. Jer simply wanted to combine community service, business smarts, and those amazing chocolates into a company with purpose and passion.

Just one year after founding Jer's Chocolates, Jer's "Original IncrediBall™" was awarded the Silver Cup Award for "Best First Time Confection" at the International Confectioner's Conference in Boston. This was the first of four awards at this prestigious conference.

Jer's entire collection of 11 gourmet peanut butter confection including: the Original IncrediBall, Pretzo Change-O™, Cara Mella™ and Toffee Break™ are all award-winning. After that, the momentum and attention started to really pick up. Soon, there was no denying it: Jer's Balls were definitely on a roll.

With a solid foundation, a philanthropic mission, and a commitment to quality, Jer's Chocolates has become a successful company with a simple goal: produce delicious, unique, high-quality products that create a happy experience and make people feel good!

Play Ball with the Splendid Splinter at North Coast Repertory Theatre, Solana Beach, Calif.

THE SCOOP

“Ted Williams: A Tip of the Cap”

When: 7:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday

Where: North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach, Calif.

Tickets: $15-20

Phone: (858) 481-1055

Online: northcoastrep.org

June 20 & 21, 2011

7:30pm

Written by Matt Thompson

Directed by Tina Polzin &

Matt Thompson 

Commissioned by NCR Artistic Director David Ellenstein and underwritten by the San Diego Hall of Champions Museum.

This one person tour de force performance encompasses the life of one of baseball’s legendary greats: The Boston Red Sox’s Ted Williams. Through the art of performance and visual imagery, we follow Ted’s life from his humble beginnings in San Diego to his shining accomplishments on the diamond.

The Splendid Splinter recalls his life both on and off the field as we are privy to his failed marriages, distant sense of family and his scoffs with the media as well as his heroics of The Korean War, his near impossible accomplishment of hitting .406, and finally his entrance into baseball’s Hall of Fame.

“Baseball is the only place where you can fail seven out of ten times and be considered a success. Maybe my life mirrored the sport more than I could have ever known.” – Ted Williams.

(Photo: Johnny Clark portrays Ted Williams in the world premiere of "Ted Williams: A Tip of the Cap," at North Coast Rep in Solana Beach. — Courtesy of Valerie Henderson)

“A Tip of the Cap,” which stars the L.A.-based actor Johnny Clark, follows the Hoover High grad and batting hero’s career from his early days in the 1930s (Williams’ first pro team was the minor league Padres) to his post-playing time as manager of the Washington Senators.

In between came all those still-startling achievements by “Teddy Ballgame,” who died in 2002: his six American League batting titles, his career .344 average, his pair of Triple Crowns, his .406 average in 1941 (the last time any major league baseball player has hit above .400).

Its writer is Matt Thompson, a wide-ranging playwright, director and actor who also heads the Solana Beachcompany’s education programs. Thompson was commissioned by NCRT artistic director David Ellenstein two years ago to create the workshop piece, which will be restaged at the San Diego Hall of Champions later this summer.

The project’s original inspiration came from the hall’s late founder, Bob Breitbard, a childhood friend of Williams’ and a local sports legend in his own right. (He opened the San Diego Sports Arena and brought professional hockey and basketball franchises to town.)

Solana Beach, Calif.-based Amsolar supplies solar panels to San Diego Unified School District...

 Solana Beach-based Amsolar Corp. said June 8 that it plans to install 23,000 solar panels at 20 schools in the San Diego Unified School District. The project will generate 5 megawatts of electricity — enough to serve 64 percent of the school sites’ needs.

Amsolar will own, operate and maintain the system, selling the electricity to the schools under a power purchase agreement. Bill Kowba, the school district’s superintendent, said in a statement that the construction will require no taxpayer money.

The costs of the project were not immediately available, nor were the financial terms of the power purchase agreement.

Amsolar expects to break ground on the project in the summer. The panels will go on 80 rooftops. Amsolar will also install solar carports at six sites.

Once built, the system will be the second largest solar system in the California schools. As far as power generation is concerned, however, 5 megawatts is small compared with what is generated through conventional power sources. Carlsbad’s Encina power plant, aka Cabrillo I, produces 965 megawatts of electricity using oil and natural gas. NRG Energy Inc. owns the plant.

The solar initiative is not the first at the city schools. The new development will supplement 4.17 megawatts of solar power generated at 28 sites in the school district.

Originally set to begin last fall, the solar panel installation is set to be finished by early 2012.

Schools that are in line to relieve solar panels are: Baker, Benchley-Weinberger, Boone, Edison, Emerson-Bandini, Encanto, Freese, Gage, Johnson, Sherman, and Valencia Park elementary schools. Clairemont, Kearny, Lincoln, Madison, Mission Bay, Morse, Scripps Ranch and University City high schools are also on the list, as is the district’s Revere Center.

The district expects to save between $13 million and $20 million against its energy costs over the life of its 22-year contract with AMSOLAR.

San Diego Unified will buy $35 million worth of solar-generated electricity from the company in lieu of purchasing it from San Diego Gas and Electric.

Pinback goes Belly-Up at the tavern of the same day this May falalalala....

Local indie stalwarts Pinback recently wrapped up a month long tour with a sold out show at The Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach on May 13, 2011.

Starting in Washington D.C. on May 1, and making their way down the eastern seaboard and across Louisiana and Texas, the month long trek found the band playing classic hits and new material, like their recently released Record Store Day 7”. Originally formed in 1998 as a side-project between Zach Smith (Three Mile Pilot) and Rob Crow (Thingy, Heavy Vegetable), Pinback has since gone to release 4 full length albums and a slew of EP’s on their way to becoming the one of the most notable bands to emerge from America’s finest city. Opening the night was the band’s bassist and multi-instrumentalistKenseth Thibideau, performing songs off his recently released solo debut for Temporary Residence LTD, Repetition.

Pinback is currently gearing up for an Australian summer tour

Belly Up Tavern, 143 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach, CA 92075

Solana Beach, Calif. Earnest Eats natural foods partners with International Rescue Committee...

Earnest Eats, makers of natural and vegan foods, is partnering with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), a humanitarian organization that offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to millions of refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. The partnership will focus first on raising awareness of and funds for the IRC’s Wake Up Campaign.

The Wake Up Campaign, established on the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day (March 8, 2011), centers on the challenges being faced by women in conflict and post conflict settings around the world, and what the IRC does each day to protect and empower them. The campaign’s goal is to bring attention and focus to violence against women, obstacles to girls’ education and threats to maternal health. Wake Up reaches out to the IRC’s supporters and the public with an urgent call to action to join the cause.

Through May 31, Earnest Eats will donate 10 percent of all online sales to the Wake Up Campaign.  Additionally, Earnest Eats products in stores nationwide will feature IRC “Wake Up" stickers featuring the alarming statistics that incited the launch of the campaign, encouraging consumers to visit the organization’s website to learn more and donate.  

“Earnest Eats is both excited and humbled to partner with the International Rescue Committee on its Wake Up initiative," said Andrew Aussie, president and co-founder of Earnest Eats. “The IRC has established this important campaign to empower women in war and disaster zones, and we are glad we have a chance to help spread the word among our customers and encourage action to support this and other IRC programs."

In addition to its work with the IRC on the Wake Up campaign, Earnest Eats will collaborate with the organization to release a special flavor Baked Whole Food Bar using peppermint from the IRC’s New Roots Community Farm in San Diego.  The limited-run Chocolate Mint bar, due to hit shelves in fall 2011, will be the first refugee-harvested and produced IRC product, and proceeds from its sales will be donated back to the organization to further its mission.

Earnest Eats

444 S. Cedros Avenue, Suite 260

Solana Beach, CA 92075

O: 888.264.4599

F: 858.793.3662

Mainly, they're good common sense. At Earnest Eats, we are inspired by the flavorful simplicity of whole grains, hearty nuts and seeds, and the natural sweetness of fruit—they are the real stars here and we let them shine in everything we do. Our snacks are minimally processed, free of preservatives and artificial ingredients, made in small batches and baked in real baking trays! We use only premium, all-natural, whole food ingredients to give you an anytime snack you can feel good about.

VIDEO: PULLING A HOUDINI ACT AROUND SOLANA BEACH, CALIF. CIRCA NOW...

Foster the People - Houdini

Live at Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, CA on March 23rd 2011.

Eggs But How? Hens Only, No Roosters Allowed on 20,000-square foot Solana Beach properties as residents try to allow home range chickens for almost anyone...

Chicken feathers? Chicken S***? Chicken fight at Solana Beach. In a reversal of the commonly held theory that only poor people keep chickens at urban homes due to its class implications, you have to be wealthy to have LIVE chickens at Solana Beach. Cluck cluck. Chickens are allowed only on lots more than 20,000-square foot in nature. Some chicken-pickin' residents want to change that and let most people have chickens. Really? Rise and shine...

How 'Bout That Weather Dudes? KSWB-TV's Loren Nancarrow gets hailed around Encinitas virally while Chrissy Russo takes a stab at it (as usual)...

Seriously, the weather has been wacky. Why not tell it like it is? Blame the supersized moon or climate change, but here's a Thursday look at what the hell is happening around here lately.  Fox 5/69, KSWB-TV's Loren Nancarrow captured the Wednesday hail storm real-time by Belly-Up Tavern, Cedros Design District, Solana Beach, Calif. 92075, Earth, Milky Way, Space, Wherever. In a related clip, KSWB's Chrissy Russo kind of discusses stuff including, you know, like there's more rain, and things, coming like soon.

Devo Rocks Belly-Up This Week. Video At Right Now...Michael Pilmer/Devo-Obsesso Reporting

DEVO performs "Uncontrollable Urge" in Solana Beach, CA - 3/20/11. Video shot by Michael Pilmer/Devo-Obsesso. For more visit here or contact michael@devo-obsesso.com.

DEVO's lyrics exposed me to a whole new way of thinking when I was in my teens, and helped me snake through the chaos of Planet Earth. I realized that there was an escape from being caught up in what I saw going on around me, another way of thinking that made more sense. I saw the light - We're ALL Devo. 

I was able to meet the members of DEVO way back in the mid 1990's, and helped them with a few graphic projects as a hobby in those days. I now work for DEVO, Inc. on an official basis, and maintain several DEVO-related sites: Devo-Obsesso.com (of course),Club DEVO (Official DEVO site), DEVO's Myspace Page,Mutato Muzika's web site, & Mark Mothersbaugh's Art Gallery Tours.

-- - Michael Pilmer (aka Devo-Obsesso)

Find me on Twitter and Facebook

DEVO AT BELLY-UP

“Thirty years ago, people said that we were cynical, that we had a bad attitude,” says Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh. “But now, when you ask people if de-evolution is real, they understand that there was something to what we were saying. It’s not the kind of thing you want to see proven right, but it does make it easier to talk about.”

“The world is in sync with Devo,” says his band-mate and co-writer Gerald Casale. “We’re not the guys who freak people out and scare them—we’re like the house band on the Titanic, entertaining everybody as we go down.”

 And so, now is the time. More than three decades after the release of its visionary debut, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo, and a full 20 years since its last studio album, Devo is back with the aptly titled Something for Everybody. The long rumored, wildly anticipated album (which was launched with a memorable performance in Vancouver at the Winter Olympics) features the band’s classic line-up—Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh, Gerald and Bob Casale—joined by drummer Josh Freese (Nine Inch Nails, Guns n’ Roses). Produced by Greg Kurstin (The Bird & The Bee), the album also includes contributions from John Hill and Santi White (better known as hip-hop star Santigold), John King of the Dust Brothers, and the Teddybears.

Though the 12 songs on Something for Everybody are built on Devo’s signature mechanized swing, the recording and presentation of the album saw the band experimenting with an entirely new approach. Greg Scholl was brought in to serve as COO for Devo, Inc., and—working with the advertising agency Mother LA—conducted a series of studies through the www.clubdevo.com site to help the band with its creative decisions, from color selection to song mixes.

“We decided to actively seek comment and criticism from outside people and use that as a tool, rather than shunning or ignoring it,” says Gerald Casale. “Our experiences participating in secondary creativity—things like corporate consensus building, focus groups—make you appreciate the connection that an artist has to society.”

“In the past, Devo was very insular,” says Mark Mothersbaugh. “This time, I became intrigued with the idea of having people who understood Devo actually work on the songs, and to do to our songs what we did to ‘Satisfaction’ on our first record. Don’t put any boundaries on their production style, let them bring what they needed to make Devo be what it should be after waking up from suspended animation for 20 years.”

His revelation came when the Teddybears did a remix of the song “Watch Us Work It,” an idea initiated by the Mother agency. “They took Josh Freese’s drums off and put on a sample from something we did back in, like, 1982. And I thought, ‘That actually is better!’ That was when I first really saw that Devo had something to absorb, as well as something to impart.”

Certainly Devo has had plenty to convey since Gerald Casale founded the group in Akron, Ohio, in 1973. The band was an extension of a multi-media exploration of the concept that mankind’s progress had ceased, and the process of de-evolution had begun. Devo’s early work caught the attention of such icons as Neil Young and David Bowie, and, with such hits as “Whip It” and “Girl U Want,” and the accompanying, revolutionary music videos, the group became one of the defining acts of the 1980s.

Devo’s sound, style, and philosophy have been an influence on artists from Rage Against the Machine to Lady Gaga. Kurt Cobain once said, “Of all the bands who came from the underground and actually made it in the mainstream, Devo is the most challenging and subversive of all.”

In 1990, Devo morphed from a recording and concert act to putting more focus on individual pursuits and various creative enterprises. Mark Mothersbaugh, along with brother Bob, and Bob Casale, began making music for films and television, working on Pee-Wee’s Playhouse and Rugrats and the movies of Wes Anderson. Gerald Casale directed scores of commercials and music videos for the likes of Miller Lite Beer and Mrs. Butterworth’s to Rush, The Foo Fighters, and Soundgarden respectively. (“Everything we’ve done outside of Devo is basically a permutation on the theme we started with,” says Mark Mothersbaugh.) Meanwhile, Devo’s music remained a staple in movies, commercials, and videogames.

After appearing sporadically in concert and working on 2006’s Devo 2.0 project—with kids providing the vocals to Devo songs—the band began the stop-and-start project of making new music. “It was now or never,” says Gerald Casale. “We’re all still alive, and we can all play and sing—probably better than we ever did in the past. These new songs, like ’Don’t Shoot (I’m a Man)’ or ‘What We Do,’ are as Devo as anything Devo has ever done.”

Especially notable on Something for Everybody is the focus its songs bring to the vapid absurdity of so much contemporary speech (don’t miss the closing wail of “Don’t tase me, bro!” on “Don’t Shoot”). Mark Mothersbaugh points out that, for all the attention usually given to Devo’s funky robot sound, this has always been a central aspect of its work.

“We grew up in a time when we saw hippies become hip capitalists, when the real punks truly destroyed themselves, and we came to the conclusion that rebellion was obsolete,” he says. “We saw subversion as the most successful form of change, so we always had an attraction to loaded phrases that you can reshape and subvert to fit your own needs.”

Gerald Casale adds that Devo really was looking at today’s world when writing the new songs. “The tautology of a line like ‘What we do is what we do’ is taken straight from hip-hop,” he says. “And words like ‘bro’ and ’dude’—we’re surrounded by it all the time, 20-year-olds don’t even see any irony in it anymore.”

A Devo for our times. A band that evolves, even as the world around them confirms the decay they have long suspected. With Something for Everybody, Devo has gained from experience, honed its attack, and stands ready to sound the alarm for another generation.

“As angry young men who have been validated, we have the possibility to do something that resonates like it did back in the early days,” says Mark Mothersbaugh. “It’s the same car, just now with air bags, power brakes, and steering.”

“We’re inspired by reality,” says Gerald Casale, “because the world is so ridiculous and stupid. DE-EVOLUTION IS REAL.”

Aaron Chang Ocean Art Gallery Launches Art Contest to Inspire and Encourage Young Artists

Ocean art photographer Aaron Chang and artist Wade Koniakowsky – partners in the Aaron Chang Ocean Art Gallery – are sponsoring the First Annual Ocean Art Contest sponsored by the Aaron Chang Art Gallery for San Diego’s youth. The contest helps raise awareness and money for the Oceanside chapter of Stand Up For Kids, a non-profit organization that helps homeless and street kids.

The grand prize winner of the photography contest will receive one-on-one access to Aaron Chang with “A Day in the Field” of shooting photographs with the artist. The art/mixed media grand prize winner will receive on-on-one access to Wade Koniakowsky with “A Day in the Field” of painting on location with the artist. 

Winning selections will be formally printed and framed to museum quality and featured in a gallery exhibition as well as published on the Aaron Chang Ocean Art Gallery Web site. 

The contest is open to all students aged 18 and under and living in San Diego County. It includes photography and art/mixed media. All entries are due by March 18, 2011. Winners will be announced April 2, 2011 during a special award ceremony and exhibition at the Aaron Chang Ocean Art Gallery in which select entries will be displayed throughout the gallery. 

“We created this art contest when we noticed how many school youth were coming through the gallery asking to interview us for their school projects,” explained Aaron Chang, co-owner of the Aaron Chang Ocean Art Gallery. “Schools throughout San Diego County are cutting budgets and they don’t have the art programs they used to have. Kids now have to visit galleries to learn what they used to learn in the classroom when it comes to art.”

The competition is designed to inspire and encourage young artists through interaction, mentorship and community action.

“It’s amazing how long these students stay in the gallery when they visit,” added Wade Koniakowsky, co-owner. “They ask some very intelligent questions and they are so hungry to learn all they can about the different mediums. They’re genuinely interested in art. We felt that creating this contest is our way of giving them an opportunity to try their skills and display their own work. We hope it inspires them.”

To enter the art contest and for rules and regulations, log on to www.AaronChangOceanArt.com and click on 2011 Ocean Art Contest. 

The Aaron Chang Ocean Art Gallery is located at 415 S. Cedros Ave. in Solana Beach and provides comprehensive client guidance to the public, private collectors, interior designers and art consultants Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.AaronChangOceanArt.com. 

For more information about Stand Up For Kids, visit www.standupforkids.org.

Fashionlush XXX with Cardiff's Erica Stolman - Get out of that funk and into those Charlotte Olympia kicks; Followed by Nylon at Fashion Week '11 Jeremy Scott Video...

“I love the youngster hippies reppin’ their personal style way better than I ever did when I was growing up. If our beautiful city starts to evolve and appreciate the art of fashion, originality, and creativity — then we could really make our way up in the fashion food chain.”

 -- Erica Stolman http://www.fashionlushxx.com/

Erica also is manager of Pret A Porter clothes, 673 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach, CA 92075, (858) 481-5114, Hours: 10 am - 6 pm Mon-Fri 10 am - 4 pm Sat. 

Dreamin' of Charlotte Olympia kicks

Well, lately I have been in a funk...

Don't you just have those days where you just can't figure out what to wear... and you end up leaving the house looking way less cute than you thought?

Well, that is how I have been feeling lately. I have been searching for an answer to this "so-so" fashion approach my life has take. More clothes is definitely not the issue (you should see my closet), too many choices?

Maybe... gotta go through my closet soon. Yet, as none of these are the issue- I think I figured out the real quick fix to this problem. I am sure all of you know this, but the best way to spice your look up is definitely some awesome shoesies!!

You are out and about, and if the girls outfit is jeans and a white tee, some killer shoes always make you drool and identify her as "best dressed". You know you do it, we all do. So I think I will allow myself to browse some outfits based around shoes- and tomorrow, rain or shine, I am putting my flat over the knee boots in the back of the closet, and slip into my most fun pair of sky highs.

Now, only if I had some Charlotte Olympia kicks (most notably- the fruit shoe), I'd be set... but I don't- so therefore I improvise.

xx, fashionlush

MILK KILLS

thanks to NYLON, we were given this fabulous snippit of Mister Jeremy Scotts' fashion week 2011 show. Wish I were there, one day!!

Updated 4 P.M. 'Surfliner Stories' - New San Diego-Los Angeles express AMTRAK PACIFIC SURFLINER service began Tuesday...

I often ride Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner train between San Diego and Los Angeles. I find that the train windows offer a unique perspective on life if you take the time to look outside, so I started writing occasional reflections and vignettes about my ride and posting them on my diary at Daily Kos. With this blog, I collect them in one place and add some more. This is a non-political blog and I post irregularly.

-- SURFLINER STORIES

New SD-LA express service starts Tuesday Feb. 15

Amtrak on Tuesday, Feb. 15 replaced train number 565 with train number 563 on weekdays. This new train, which leaves San Diego at 7.05 and Solana Beach at 7.39, will make fewer stops in Orange County, scheduled into LA nearly 20 minutes sooner. 

If it manages to deliver on time arrival (more on which later), that makes the new 563 a viable alternative to 763 for me a few mornings a week, meaning I could sleep in for an extra hour. I'll let you know!

Where's my train?

• Amtrak CA status & alerts
• Surfliner twitter updates

Cars versus trains: the power commute

I needed to move some things out of my office so I commuted by car instead of by train. Because of the residue of the holiday, traffic was light in the morning and I breezed up to LA in 1h40m, significantly faster than my normal travel time. The train ride is only 2h10m, but driving or taking the shuttle to and from the station involves a built-in cushion of waiting time, so my door-to-door travel time by Amtrak is about 3hours each way.

But even with the fast drive to LA, I still missed the train ride. Driving is hard work, requires constant focus, and most significantly prevents doing anything else. Without my morning train time, I didn't have a chance to read my email, scan the news, or get going on work (or write a blogpost! ;-). I arrived at my office feeling behind. While at work, I loaded a bunch of work things to read on my computer for the ride home--only to realize that I wouldn't be able to read them. The drive back was over 2h, with traffic heavy in parts. I arrived home tired, stiff, my back sore, and again, feeling behind. I felt a lot less productive than on a train day, even though I "gained" a couple of hours.

So, the comparison:

Now, if only there were a regular evening Amtrak leaving LA between the 5.10 and the 8.30, I'd be all set….  

NEW! SD to LA Express

Introducing the new San Diego to Los Angeles Express!

With less stopping and more going, Amtrak California’s new Pacific Surfliner San Diego to Los Angeles Express (SD to LA) service will help make your commute a little easier to take.

The new SD to LA Express Train (563) begins pulling out of the station on Tuesday, February 15, 2011, and will operate Monday through Friday.

Express Train 563 replaces weekday Train 565 with fewer stops along the corridor. The Express Train departs San Diego’s Santa Fe Depot at 7:05 a.m. with stops in Solana Beach, Oceanside, Irvine, and Anaheim, before arriving at Los Angeles Union Station at 9:33 a.m.

VIEW SCHEDULE

Please note: Unlike Train 565, the new Express Train will no longer stop in San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Niguel-Mission Viejo, Santa Ana, Orange and Fullerton. Train 565 will continue to operate on Saturdays and Sundays (only) with no change in service.

In addition, Metrolink Orange County Line Train 687 will depart Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo at 8:33 a.m. instead of 8:20 a.m., arriving at Los Angeles Union Station at 9:55 a.m.

The SD to LA Express service is a regional cooperative pilot project between Caltrans, Amtrak, and local transportation agencies along the Pacific Surfliner corridor. Aligned with the strategic goals set forth by the Los Angeles - San Diego Rail Corridor, a Joint Powers Authority operating in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties, the SD to LA Express Train represents the beginning of many new enhancements to be implemented along the Pacific Surfliner rail corrirdor.

BOOK NOW!

For Amtrak California station information click here.

For more information regarding Metrolink trains click here.

Tickets going on sale today for special Belly Up, House of Blues concerts...Soundtrack of Our Lives, Gypsy Kings...

(Photo: Gypsy Kings)

Soundtrack of Our Lives ---- March 21; Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach; $16-$18; on sale at noon Feb. 10; 858-481-8140 orbellyup.com.

Foster the People ---- March 22; Belly Up Tavern; $10-$12; on sale at noon Feb. 11; 858-481-8140 orbellyup.com.

Sum 41 ---- March 27; House of Blues San Diego, 1055 Fifth Ave., San Diego; $20-$32.50; on sale at 10 a.m. Feb. 11; 619-299-2583 orhob.com/sandiego.

Brandon Flowers ---- April 14; House of Blues San Diego; $25-$42.50; on sale at 10 a.m. Feb. 11; 619-299-2583 or hob.com/sandiego.

Xavier Rudd ---- May 1; House of Blues San Diego; $25-$43; on sale at 10 a.m. Feb. 11; 619-299-2583 or hob.com/sandiego.

Gipsy Kings ---- 8 p.m. May 19; Belly Up Tavern; $125; on sale at noon Feb. 11; 858-481-8140 or bellyup.com.

North Coast Rep 2 Pianos 4 Hands Held Over Through Feb. 13

 By Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt 
Directed by Bruce Sevy

Show Held Over!

Due to popular demand

Show extended to February 13, 2011

Box Office: (858) 481-1055

87 lomas santa fe dr., ste. d

solana beach, ca 92075

 Buy tickets online >>

Learn about becoming a Subscriber >>

Get ready for an interlude of riotous laughter as Mark Anders and Carl Danielsen, representing the show’s creators, take us on a musical semi-autobiographical journey about their wouldbe careers as concert pianists. The talented duo trade stories about piano lessons, parents, teachers, and exams while playing everything from Bach to Billy Joel. 2 Pianos, 4 Hands has had audiences cheering around the globe.

“2 Pianos 4 Hands – an extended “two-hander” rich with banter, Bach and piano banging of the highest order”
San Diego Theatre Scene, Charlene Baldridge

click HERE for more

“It’s not every day you breakdowns as well as playing punishing piano pieces by Mozart, Bach, see two actors delectably adept at accents, dialects, comic timing and dramaticBeethoven – even Billy Joel! These are spectacular performances you must not miss.”

Pat Launer, Center Stage, Jazz88.org

click HERE for more
2 Pianos 4 Hands

 tickles the ivory, amuses audiences”

Jean Lowerison, sdgln.com

click HERE for more

“intoxicating celebration of music …deft comic timing”

David Codden, sandiego.com

click HERE for more

2 Pianos 4 Hands is the riotous tale of two boys in Canada, Ted and Richard, sharing the same goal: concert pianist stardom. They work fervently towards their dream amidst pushy parents, eccentric teachers, hours of repetitive practice, stage fright, the agony of competitions and the  dream of greatness. Two actors, two pianos and many, many characters grace the stage as fifteen years of learning the art of piano playing unfolds.  From classical to pops to jazz, the play provides the chance for two performers to give their all in a 120-minute virtuoso performance.   Along the journey the actors/pianists portray a dazzling range of characters embellished with a show of piano wizardry featuring the music of Bach, Beethoven and Jerry Lee Lewis. As they mature, Ted and Richard become more aware of the gap between the very good and the great, and come to the humbling realization that greatness may be out of reach.  And there lies the universal plight of all those with an ounce of training and talent and the will to "be" a professional musician, or athlete, or actor, or dancer. 2 Pianos, 4 Hands captures the humor that comes with learning to play the piano, and the sense of loss of eventually learning to let go of the dream. 2 Pianos 4 Hands was originally produced in April 1996 by Tarragon Theatre (Toronto, Canada), in association with Talking Fingers Inc., and Produced Off-Broadway, in London and throughout North America by Mirvish Productions, Toronto. 2 Pianos 4 Handsis produced by permission of Marquis Entertainment Inc.  (www.marquisent.ca).  PRODUCTION HISTORY In 1994, Ted and Richard formed Talking Fingers, and under this company name first workshopped  2 Pianos 4 Hands at the Tarragon Theatre, with generous support from the Ontario Arts Council. Tarragon Theatre subsequently programmed the show as part of its 1995-1996 season, where it garnered rave reviews, played a sold-out run, received the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Production (Toronto's theatre awards) and the prestigious Chalmers Award (Canada's top playwriting award). Tarragon Theatre then toured the production nationally from May 1996 to September 1997. In the fall of 1997, 2 Pianos 4 Hands was presented Off Broadway at The Promenade Theatre by a team of producers: David and Ed Mirvish, Ben Sprecher and William P. Miller.  The production was widely acclaimed, and ran for six months before transferring to the Kennedy Centre in Washington (both productions featured Dykstra and Greenblatt). 2 Pianos 4 Hands has since played to sold-out houses at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto and at the Comedy Theatre in the West End of London. In the fall of 2003, Ted and Richard reunited to perform in the greatly anticipated Toronto revival at the majestic Elgin Theatre, again playing to sold-out houses and spectacular reviews. And in the spring of 2004, Ted and Richard toured to Tokyo, Japan where they played for three weeks at prestigious Le Theatre Ginza, presented by Japan's largest theatre company, Shochiku. In 2006, Marquis Entertainment's production of 2 Pianos 4 Hands, featuring Richard Carsey and Tom Frey, was awarded the 2006 Connecticut Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Touring Production (winning over Broadway touring productions of The Lion King and Wicked). Since its humble Toronto premiere, 2 Pianos 4 Hands has had 5000+ performances at more 150 different theatres throughout North America, Europe, Asia (Japan and Hong Kong), Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa playing to more than 2 million people worldwide. For more information about 2 Pianos 4 Hands, please visit the official website:    www.2pianos4hands.com     Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt. Courtesy Lydia Pawelka. Ted Dykstra (Co-Writer) Ted has performed 2P4H over 750 times in 11 Canadian cities (including 4 Toronto runs) as well as New York, Washington, DC, London's West End and Tokyo. He has directed productions of 2P4H across the US, in Australia and Hong Kong. He has received Dora Mavor Moore Award (Canada's Tony) nominations as an actor, director, writer, producer and composer, and was awarded Doras for Fire (Acting + Musical Direction) and 2P4H (Producing) as well as a Chalmers Award for writing 2P4H. As an actor, he has played leading roles on every major stage in Canada. Some of his favourite memories are title roles in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Hamlet and Amadeus, Cousin Kevin in The Who's Tommy (Dora nomination), Daffyd Llewellen in A Chorus of Disapproval (Dora Nomination), Bottom in Midsummer Night's Dream, and Ariel in The Tempest. He has acted in dozens of movies and TV shows, and received a Gemini Award for his performance in Shattered City: The Halifax Explosion. Ted is a founding member of Toronto's Soulpepper Theatre, where he has directed many shows, including Jitters, Billy Bishop Goes To War, Leaving Home (Dora nomination), Under Milkwood, Salt Water Moon, and Fool for Love. He has directed numerous other productions including Frost/Nixon (Canadian Stage), Tuesdays with Morrie (Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company), Cinderella (Elgin Theatre), The Rocky Horror Show (Canadian Stage/MTC), Aladdin (National Tour/Elgin Theatre, Toronto Dora nomination) and To Kill a Mockingbird (Neptune Theatre, Halifax). Upcoming; he will reprise his acclaimed performance of his one man adaptation of Tolstoy's The Kreutzer Sonata, and will direct The Glass Menagerie, both for Soulpepper Theatre.   Richard Greenblatt (Co-Writer) Richard Greenblatt trained as an actor at RADA in London, and has acted, directed, and written for theatres across Canada and abroad, as well as in radio, television and feature films. He has directed well over 100 productions, the vast majority being original Canadian plays, as well as many classical texts, including several plays of Shakespeare, TheCherry Orchard, and Mother Courage, amongst many others. He has also directed numerous award-winning plays for young audiences, including Danny, King of theBasement, Wrecked, Mirror Game, and The Incredible Speediness of JamieCavanaugh. As an actor, he has played leading roles across Canada and in Toronto, including Creon in Anouilh's Antigone, the Father in Enda Walsh's bedbound, and the tile role in Spinoza, amongst many others.He has been a co-writer of the award winning plays i.d., 2Pianos 4 Hands, Letters from Lehrer, Care, and Sibs (which was also filmed for CBC Television). He performed 2 Pianos... a staggering 750 times, including four runs in Toronto, an extensive Canadian tour, The Promenade Theatre in New York, The Comedy Theatre in the West End of London, The Kennedy Centre in Washington, D.C. and Theatre Ginza in Tokyo, Japan. Richard has been Resident Director at Young People's Theatre, Deputy Artistic Director at Canadian Stage, and Artistic Director of The Hour Company. He has taught acting, directing and play creation at most of the theatre training institutions in Canada. He has won four Dora Mavor Moore Awards, two Chalmers Playwriting Awards, and received numerous other nominations. He lives in Toronto with his partner Tanya Greve and their one year old daughter, Amelia.   Bruce Sevy (Director) Associate Artistic Director and Director of New Play Development Denver Center Theatre Company Bruce has directed such memorable Denver Center productions as Mariela in the Desert, The Voysey Inheritance, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Doubt,All My Sons, Master Class, Mrs. Warren's Profession,A Christmas Carol,Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, The Little Foxes, Molly Sweeney, Amy's View, Valley Song, Pierre, Dinner With Friends, and The Cripple of Inishmaan. As Director of New Play Development, he oversees both the artistic and practical components of DCTC's successful Colorado New Play Summit, including commissions from outstanding American playwrights. He has directed for Arizona Theatre Company, Cleveland Play House, Lark Play Development Center, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Virginia Stage Company, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Northlight Theatre, San Jose Repertory Theatre, Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, Pioneer Theatre Company, A Contemporary Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Empty Space and Intiman Theatre in Seattle, the Kimo Theatre in Albuquerque, and Utah Shakespearean Festival.  His popular production of 2 Pianos, 4 Hands has been seen at more than twenty theatres nationally, including DCTC's successful 2003 production.   Mark Anders (Ted) Mark Anders is delighted to be at North Coast Rep for the first time. He has been playing Mr. Sevy's production of 2 Pianos 4 Hands with Mr. Danielsen since 2001, off and on - which is to say, long enough off between gigs for him to forget all his lines, so now that it's on again, please  be kind. He has devoted much of the last few years to performing a revue he co-devised with Mr. Danielsen, A Marvelous Party, in order to spread Noël Coward's wit in a century that badly needs it. Without Mr. Danielsen, but like him, Mark has appeared in several incarnations of the Florence Foster Jenkins tribute, Souvenir. In his home town of Seattle, he just finished a production of The Scarlet Letter at Intiman Theatre, where he also has appeared in Irma Vep, Hay Fever, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Rivals, and Gross Indecency. Other favorite Seattle shows include Dirty Blonde, Old Wicked Songs and The Woman in Black at ACT; Murderers at the Seattle Repertory Theatre; a couple of Hardy Boys adventures and Sideways Stories from Wayside School at the Seattle Children's Theatre; and Jeffrey Hatcher's unjustly under-produced play Hanging Lord Haw-Haw at the Empty Space. Mark writes plays and lyrics, when left to his own devices, which is not very often, alas. His beautiful and talented daughter Gemma can no longer be considered his production, if she ever could - she's a work of art all her own.   Carl Danielsen (Richard) NYC: Enter Laughing, York; The Big Voice: God or Merman?; Edgar, King Lear, Hudson Guild. Regional: A Marvelous Party; Northlight  (Jeff Award); Cole!, San Jose Rep, LACLO, (Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle award, Dramalogue award); 2 Pianos, 4 Hands,  20 cities; Homer, Morning's At Seven, Caldwell; World Goes 'Round, TheatreWorks (BATCC award); Taming of Shrew, Oh, Kay!, SF Shakespeare (BATTC award); Oedipus Rex, Denver Center Theatre Company; Room Service, Barrington Stage; John Adams, 1776, Barnum, Barnum,  Cat/Hat, Seussical, Cosmo, Singin' in the Rain, Woodminster Amphitheatre; Don, Singing in Rain, Bobby, Crazy for You Shenandoah Summer Musical Theatre; I Love You, YPNC, Flordia Studio Theatre. Law and Order, 'Quit Claim'. Webber Douglas Drama School, UK. BMI workshop, Harrington Award.  Hear compositions at  myspace.com/carldanielsen   MUSIC FEATURED IN 2 PIANOS 4 HANDS   ACT I Concerto in D minor, 1st Movement (J.S. Bach) Heart and Soul (Hoagy Carmichael) The Birch Canoe (Lelia Fletcher) By the Stream (Richard Greenblatt) Our Band Goes to Town (arrangement J. B. Duvernoy) Sonatina No. 6 in F Major (Beethoven) Sonata Facile in C Major, 1st Movement (Mozart) Sonata for One Piano, Four Hands in D Major, 1st Movement (Mozart) In der Halle des Bergkonigs, Peer Gynt Suite 1 (Edward Grieg) Concerto in D minor, 1st Movement (J.S. Bach)   ACT II Prelude in D flat Major (Chopin) Leyenda (I. Albeniz) Rondo for Two Pianos, Four Hands in C Major (Chopin) Fantasiestucke No. 2 (Schumann) Pathetique Sonata No. 8 in C minor, 1st and 2nd Movements (Beethoven) Ballade No. 2 in F Major (Chopin) Mephisto Waltz No. 1 (Franz Liszt) A Medley of Pop Tunes Impromptu in A flat (Schubert) My Funny Valentine (Richard Rogers / Lorenz Hart) Piano Man (Billy Joel) Horowitz Recording (Mephisto Waltz) Concerto in D minor, 1st Movement (J.S. Bach)   MUSIC CREDITS "Heart and Soul" Music by Hoagy Carmichael and Lyrics by Frank Loesser BMG Music Publishing Canada Inc. © 1938 by Famous Music Corp. Copyright Renewed 1965 by Famous Music Corp. (ASCAP).   THE BIRCH CANOE Music by LEILA FLETCHER MAYFAIR MONTGOMERY PUBLISHING All Rights Reserved.  Used by Permission.   "Bennie and the Jets" Words and Music by Elton John & Bernie Taupin All rights owned and administered by UNIVERSAL/DICK JAMES MUSIC LIMITED, ADMINISTERED BY UNIVERSAL-SONGS OF POLYGRAM INTERNATIONAL, INC./BMI   "Imagine" Written by John Lennon Courtesyof Lennon Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, L.I.C. All Rights Reserved.  Used by Permission.   "Linus and Lucy" Written by Vince Guraldi Courtesy of Lee Mendelson Film Productions, Inc. / The Harry Fox Agency, Inc.   "Nadia's Theme" Written by Barry Devorzon & Perry Botkin, Jr. Courtesy of Screen Gems EMI Music, Inc. All Rights Reserved.  Used by Permission.   "CHARIOTS OF FIRE" Written by VANGELIS CourtesyEMI ENTERTAINMENT WORLD, INC. All Rights Reserved.  Used by Permission.   "Great Balls of Fire" Words and Music by Otis Blackwell & Jack Hammer © 1957 (Renewed ©1975) Unichappell Music Inc. (BMI), Mijac Music (BMI), Chappell & Co. (ASCAP) & Mystical Light Music (ASCAP). Unichappell Music Inc. (BMI) administers all Rights on behalf of itself and Mijac Music (BMI). Chappell & Co. (ASCAP) administers all Rights on behalf of itself and Mystical Light Music (ASCAP). All Rights Reserved.  Used by Permission.   "My Funny Valentine" Music by Richard RoDgers and Lyrics by Lorenz Hart © 1937 Chappell & Co. (ASCAP) & Williamson Music, Inc. (ASCAP) All rights owned and administered by Warner/Chappell Music, Inc. (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved.  Used by Permission.   "Piano Man" Written by Billy Joel © 1973 JoelSongs All Rights Reserved.  Used by Permission.   "The Mephisto Waltz" Performed by Vladimir HoroWitz Used by Permission.  Courtesy of RCA Red Seal/BMG Classics.

Fashion session with Cardiff's Erica Stolman - She accessorizes With Marc Jacobs and CVS..

 “I love the youngster hippies reppin’ their personal style way better than I ever did when I was growing up,” says Stolman. “If our beautiful city starts to evolve and appreciate the art of fashion, originality, and creativity — then we could really make our way up in the fashion food chain.” -- Erica Stolman http://www.fashionlushxx.com/

Samintra Starr and Erica Stolman of Pret-a-Porter boutique in Solana Beach. 

Samintra Starr owns Pret-a-Porter boutique in Solana Beach, managed by Erica Stolman. They design dresses, custom jewelry, and separates (hello, shoulder-less chambray shirts!) that fit like a dream. Located in a tucked-away spot inside Solana Beach Town Center — around the corner from Sun Diego — Pret-a-Porter carries the private labels alongside merch by Skova and ANM. The stock sweeps easily from classic to avant-garde, a populist range that’s a result of Starr’s years as a stylist in L.A.

Stolman has a fashion blog at FashionLushXX.

These are her thoughts on fashion for the up-and-coming fashionista:

So, what are you wearing in this shot? 
This is quite the mishmash outfit — it was for a photoshoot, so more jewelry than I would ever wear normally. The t-shirt I am wearing is a vintage Coca-Cola tee with slogan "Coke, Good All the Way Down,” yet I cut the shoulders out to spruce it up a bit. I got the shirt from Home in Encinitas. 

The polka dot vest I am wearing was from Goodwill, it was a long, old-lady type blouse (probably part of a pantsuit at one time). I cut off the sleeves and turned it into a vest. The shoes are Jeffrey Campbell leopard Pixies, sent to me as a fabulous gift from Jeffrey Campbell. The chain around my leg was some weird chain belt I had that I never wore.

As for the gobs of jewelry?
I am also wearing some studded color leather bracelets from Target, spiky elastic bracelets from Forever 21, a vintage sterling silver cuff my Mom gave to all her bridesmaids at her wedding (a real gem of mine), a Marc Jacobs happy Buddha bracelet, and a cheapo little watch from CVS. 

Rings: My David Yurman pink tourmaline ring I never take off that my dad gave me, a vintage Navajo beaded ring that I got from the Community Resource Center thrift store, and a turquoise stone ring that was my Grandma’s.

And the lipstick is from...?
[It’s] actually a bright bright bright teal eyeshadow by Makeup Forever [that] I mixed with some Rosebud Salve from Sephora.

Your go-to pieces at the moment?
Knee-highs are awesome, paired with a short skirt, a super worn-in vintage Harley tee, and a scarf or sick jacket...Oh, and of course high, high heels — probably my Sam Edelman Zoey Booties. 

What are your favorite boutiques in S.D. right now?
I like Pret-a-Porter in Solana Beach — not only because I worked there and the store is close to my heart, but the custom clothes are amazing and the owner can really make or reconstruct anything your little heart desires. I also love LF, mainly because they are one of the only retailers in S.D. that has Jeffrey Campbell. I also have been a fan of Home in Encinitas and North Park. The buyers are very picky and only bring the best goods, so I don't have to dig much. 

And as far as vintage shops?
Mainly I am a thrift store shopper — except for my shoes. I shop thrift stores not only because I like to save my money (for expensive shoes), but I love the thrill of finding a good piece. I also love to get stuff that I can bring home, reconstruct, and sew into something awesome. I am a fan of the Community Resource Centers, Salvation Army, Goodwill, and Amvets. I don't have any specific location for any of them, because you really will never know what you find! I have came across a black rabbit fur vest for $4, Missoni, DVF, et cetera.

Most thrilling score as of late?
Oh man, I totally just grabbed this awesome Acne black silk dress with shoulder cutouts that is slouchy and totally doesn't show my shape at all — yet the dress is still extremely sexy in its own right. The best part though, found it at a thrift store which clearly didn't know what it was or how awesome it was and let it go to me for 7 bucks. It was the Community Resource Center in Encinitas... yay me. 

Your beauty essentials?
My beauty essentials would include my darkest black Almay eyeliner (best eyeliner yet), Bare Minerals makeup, Maybelline basic mascara (you know, the pink and green one), Rosebud Salve lip balm, Anastasia Brow Kit, and a spritz of my John Varvatos perfume. It is rare that you will ever catch me out with my nails and toes painted. I recently just fell in love with Sally Hansen Salon Effects nail designs, they are these stickers (kinda like Minx, yet way cheaper) that you stick to your nails and they last for 10 days, seriously. They come in a ton of different colors and patterns, and come off just like nail polish. Great idea!

Let's talk San Diego style. What excites you, what bugs you?
Style wise, S.D. has a handful of people with great style. I like the beachy-chic hippie look that S.D. has always been able to pull off. I am not a fan of the all done up, short dresses and strappy heels, too much cleavage, “I only party Downtown” look. 

S.D. has a new wave of fashion junkies coming in. I love the little youngster hippies reppin’ their personal style way better than I ever did when I was growing up. I have really seen a change in the fashion scene in San Diego, and it is about time. I really think that if our beautiful city starts to evolve and appreciate the art of fashion, originality, and creativity—then we could really make our way up in the fashion food chain!

Trends you're loving right now?
Trends I love include but are not limited to: chunky/sky high heels, flared jeans (thank goodness they are coming back), knee highs, deconstructed clothing, military pieces, fringe, wavy hair, too much being just right, excessive amounts of jewelry, shoulder-less tops, maxiskirts, newsboy hats, and ombre hair.

Trends you’re over? 
Most likely for life: kitten heels, capris, denim skirts, Lululemon as daytime apparel, strappy stilettos, shants, skintight dresses, dresses that are low in the front and the back, fedoras, platinum blonde hair, tights worn with t-shirts, Uggs with skirts.

Style icon?
Edie Sedgwick has always been a front runner, the 1960's in general, Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen, and Andy Warhol.

Sewing machine of choice?
I use a basic Singer. I had a fancy machine when I started sewing and it was great for a while. Yet when I was going to and from school and constantly dragging the machine with me, you notice the tensions will get thrown off quicker than you would want. Tensions keep your stitches legit and strong. I realized that I could just as easily buy a basic Singer for the same price and it works just as well — if not better than — my big old fancy machine.

Most surprising style tidbit?
My favorite thing to wear is my fleece one-piece pajamas. I was a kid my mom dressed me more awesome than I dress now or will probably ever dress.

Anything else you'd like to add?
I'm looking for a job in the fashion industry, so if you read this, employ me!

Pret A Porter

673 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach, CA 92075

Solana Beach

(858) 481-5114 

 Products: women's clothes accessories

Hours: Mon-Fri 10 am - 6 pm Sat 10 am - 4 pm

Jedidiah Clothing launches collection at Aaron Chang Gallery, Solana Beach on Saturday...

                                         (Photo: Aaron Chang and Kevin Murray, Cambodia, May 2010) 

Aaron Chang Gallery Opening This Saturday

This Saturday, we’re extremely excited to announce the launch for our collection with Aaron Chang.

In 2010, Chang accompanied Jedidiah’s founder, Kevin Murray, on a trip to Cambodia to meet and photograph the community. Four of his photos have been used in a collaborative collection by Jedidiah’s design team and are available for sale at www.JedidiahUSA.com. $10 from the sale of each shirt will be used to fund the construction of the international humanitarian agency’s trauma recovery center that will hold more than 70 children per year in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The show is open to the public and will feature a special Limited Edition collection of photographs of his trip to Cambodia with the Jedidiah team, as well as the collaborative clothing collection. Additionally, collaborative art pieces will be on display by Scott Hancock and Wade Koniakowsky. During the event, 50 percent of all art sales will be donated to the trauma recovery center. There will also be special musical guests performing. The opening reception will be held Saturday, Feb. 5 at the Aaron Chang Ocean Art Gallery located at 415 S. Cedros Avenue, Suite 110, Solana Beach, Calif.  858-345-1880, www.aaronchangoceanart.com.

The special edition collection of four T-shirts is of sublimated prints on a 50/50 blend of cotton and polyester. The shirts are printed in Los Angeles, CA and are available for sale atwww.JedidiahUSA.com. Each shirt is priced at $24 with $10 of each sale being donated to World Vision.

Solana Beach Transit Center renovation, Cedros District promo video, Del Mar leader retreat, Encinitas community garden...

SOLANA BEACH -- TRANSIT CENTER  BACK ON BURNER

Following two years of inaction, a proposal to renovate the Solana Beach Transit Center is back in play.

North County Transit District members approved a new memo of understanding with the city of Solana Beach "develop a transit-friendly, mixed-use project that is compatible with and complementary to the existing commercial district within the vicinity of the transit center."

The new center project will be compatible with surrounding neighborhoods, according to the agreement. Previous efforts to rebuild and rebrand the center fell apart two years ago when the transit district and city of Solana Beach could not agree on project details.

SOLANA BEACH -- CEDROS DEISGN DISTRICT ISSUE NEW PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

This just in: Cedros Design District promoters debuted a new video detailing some of the fun to be had on the branded street.

This is how the video came across the newswire....

Visit Cedros Design District - Solana Beach Businesses
Uploaded by CedrosInView. - More lifestyle, fashion and how-to videos.

http://www.cedrosdesigndistrict.net/

Visit Cedros Design District and browse local Solana Beach businesses.

2 1/2 blocks with more than 85 specialty shops, boutiques and galleries. Shop for that special gift, designer originals, antiques, and hand-made jewelry. Visit the spa or grab a bite at the cafe. Check out world-class live music and the weekly Farmer's Market.

Discover the magic of Cedros Avenue!

DEL MAR -- COUNCIL RETREATS TO.... 

 ...The tony Pacifica Del Mar restaurant for a $500 "goal-setting session."

Yeah, it's high school musical all over again for the council as members underwent "rigorous team building, communication and leadership style exercises" led by Dick Lyles.

Each council member had homework consisting of submitting their top five goals for 2011.

Darn, though, council members couldn't resolve the issue and will return  fir a second meeting in March to consider their Algonquins roundtable by the seaside.

ENCINITAS -- COMMUNITY GARDEN TAKES STEP FORWARD, MAYBE...

                       (Photo: Carlsbad community garden that Encinitas residents want to emulate in their city)

People trying to start an Encinitas community garden have been rooting around for years for a small place to call their own.

Something may be growing in the garden department as gardeneers are trying to sublease two acres at Quail Gardens Drive and Paseo de las Verdes owned by the Encinitas Unified School District. The school district scrapped plans to build an elementary school there due to flat enrollment numbers.

Don't light the celebratory fireworks just yet, but negotiations were proceeding smoothly, according to community garden organizers.

What would Sarah Palin and the Tea Party Say? Solana Beach goes big into public art biz...

Tea Party get government out of our business types and Sarah Palin may not like the move, but Wednesday night the city of Solana Beach went big into the public art business.

Solana Beach council members unanimously voted to install two "temporary" pieces of art -- in this case, giant street sculptures -- for six to 18 months with those pieces available for sale. The city public art fund would pay $500 to install each temporary piece.

 (Photo below: Got $8,000? For that paltry fee you, too, can own 'A Tree for All Seasons' slated for Highland Avenue at Sun Valley Road "as soon as possible," according to Solana Beach officials Wednesday, Jan. 26.)

City officials said they opted to call the arrangements temporary since designating them as permanent entailed additional expenses for insurance and other services. 

So, the heck with Cardiff and its 'Kook' surfer statue, public art fans, here comes 'Topiaries' and "A Tree for All Seasons' to the Solana Beach street scene.

'A Tree for All Seasons' from Pat Cranor is a flat-topped obelisk headed for Highland Avenue and Sun Valley Road. List price: $8,000.

'Topiaries' (photo, left) is as the name implies and by Christie Beniston. It's slated for North Cedros Avenue at Cliff Street. Keep your wallets tight for now art fans: List price not disclosed.

Nobody made any public comments on the public art project at Wednesday's council session. The pieces would be installed as soon as possible, Alli Dixon of the city's public art advisory commission said.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

CHRISTIE BENISTON

Christie Beniston is a Solana Beach artist who has been creating public art projects, residential and commercial commissions and fine art for more than 25 years. During this time her work has been exhibited at museums and galleries across the country. She is currently working on a series of mosaic murals for Rady Children's Hospital after recently completing a commission for permanent artwork at the San Diego Airport. Her large scale sculptures are installed in Reno, Nevada and Palm Desert, California. 

 --  http://www.christiebeniston.com/

PAT CRANOR

Pat Cranor is a California native now residing in the San Diego area. He stills remembers the day he knew he wanted to become an artist-the day he won his first art award in the sixth grade. After graduating from Idaho State University with a degree in Business Marketing and a minor in Art, he niftily linked the two disciplines and began a successful career as an advertising agency art director. In 1986 Pat moved to Japan. Living in Osaka and Kobe for more than five years, Pat started painting again and developed his own oriental style with watercolors and created striking, colorful, and culture-clashing scenes as viewed by a foreigner. 

With the birth of his first child, Pat painted a series of animals designed for his son’s nursery.  Child-development experts suggested that bright colors and repeated images were beneficial to a baby’s development, so Pat applied this knowledge by developing a style of taking one image, repeating it, and putting it into the composition. Upon returning to the United States, Pat started painting full-time and took his warm and humorous “animals” to the streets and into the greeting card market. His illustrated cards can be found in gallery and gift shops across the country, from the Smithsonian in Washington D. C., and the United Nations Center in New York to the San Diego Zoo and the Long Beach Aquarium, as well as many other stores and boutiques. 

 -- http://www.patcranor.com/Home_Page.html

SOLANA BEACH TEMPORARY PUBLIC ART PROGRAM

UTILITY BOX TRANSFORMATION 

With the support of the City Council, the Public Arts Advisory Commission, PAAC, launched a pilot project to paint utility boxes in Solana Beach. The examples shown are two cases on the corner of Lomas Santa Fe and Stevens Avenue, painted in 2004 by well known artist Garret Greve. The PAAC considers design proposals for this on-going project provided it will enhance the specific location. Please direct proposals or questions to the Community Services Department at 858- 720-2454.

A primary focus for the Public Arts Advisory Commission (PAAC) continues to be the Solana Beach Coastal Rail Trail (CRT) along Old Highway 101. To enhance the beauty of the Trail, the PAAC launched a fund raising plan to place mosaic tiles on eleven concrete benches located on the CRT.

Through the vision and generosity of several Solana Beach residents, the tireless work of long time Commissioner, Irene de Watteville, all eleven benches have been tiled. The benches are beautifully covered with sea creatures, seashells, turtles, and fish that are captured in smooth vivid colors designed by tile artist Michelle Griffoul. These benches are not only a convenient and pleasant place to sit and wait for the bus but are also a lively and colorful addition to the Coastal Rail Trail.

Taking Down 'Defragmentation' (ProjectX: Art, Solana Beach) -- Inspiration etc...from visual artist Michelle Guieu

(Editor's Note: Bay Area visual artist Michelle Guieu lived for six years at Solana Beach. Her recent show called 'Defragmentation ran last month at Project X: Art at 320 South Cedros Avenue. Her blog is at: http://micheleguieu.blogspot.com/.)

Defragmentation @ Project X Art - Last day of the show. Photos of some elements of the installation

60x20"

Michele Guieu’s work focuses on large-scale installations constructed from paintings and drawings, with secondary elements including murals, video, photography, furniture, decals, and found objects. Her imagery is both abstract and concrete: it draws on photographic images collected from mass media and her personal life, but is then abstracted through a high-contrast process that derives from her graphic design background. Scale is a crucial component in her installations, as it serves to reduce the constituent paintings and drawings to pure graphical-sculptural units in a bigger whole.

She has presented solo exhibitions at Art Produce Gallery and the San Diego Art Institute, and participated in group shows at the California Center for the Arts, Oceanside Museum of Art, and Cannon Art Gallery. In 2009 she was a San Diego Art Prize nominee for Emerging Artist, and more recently was part of the recent Summer Salon Series at the San Diego Museum of Art. Guieu lived and worked in San Diego for six years, before moving to San Jose in 2010.

-- Chris Martino, Project X: Art, Solana Beach, Calif.

60x12"

“I just moved to the Bay Area, and am coming back to San Diego to show ‘bits and pieces of memory.’ I never had a very good memory - that may be why I take so many photographs and videos. The installation is based on photos and video I took over the years and transformed via editing, painting, and digital manipulation. The idea of defragmentation came from watching a computer defragment a hard disk. The installation works the gallery like a large file system - tying together memories while making space for the ones to come.”

 -- Michele Guieu is a San Jose-based artist and a graduate of the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs de Paris, France (MA Graphic Design and Multimedia). 

Encinitas

I am back from my week-end in San Diego. Or, more precisely Solana Beach and Encinitas. I arrived Saturday night and went directly to the gallery in Solana Beach to take down the show. I've got some nice help from Lori and Janine.

Since I work on installations, taking down a show is never a nice moment because the show, in a way, is being destructed. I worked on "Defragmentation" for months and then I installed it, but now that it's gone, it's like I am really gone.

I felt I was really leaving San Diego yesterday.

I finished what I had to do at the gallery Sunday afternoon, it took hours to finish packing. Had the pleasure to see a couple of friends visiting while I was at the gallery. I went for a walk with Janine on the beach in Encinitas. The fast changing colors and lights were exhilarating. But it made me think about what I am missing since I've left.

The drive back went smoothly, I love that drive - except going through L.A. But there were not many people anywhere. My old car is not playing CDs, does not have a connection to allow listening to Pandora on my phone and the radio is really bad.

So I had some time to think and just enjoy the landscapes.

'Surfliner Stories' - Why does the dispatcher hate us? And other tales of the train set...

Railroad tracks cut through Del Mar beachside cliffs.

'The Surfliner' often rides Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner train between San Diego and Los Angeles. "I find that the train windows offer a unique perspective on life if you take the time to look outside, so I started writing occasional reflections and vignettes about my ride and posting them on my diary...This is a non-political blog and I post irregularly...I'll see you on the train!"

-- 'The Surfliner Stories' is at http://surflinerstories.blogspot.com/

Why does the dispatcher hate us?

Mobility along the train tracks is dependent upon the good will of the dispatcher, who serves as the rail equivalent of Air Traffic Control. The difference is that the dispatcher is controlling the physical signals and the switches that determine where the train goes (whereas the airtraffic controller tells the pilot what to do). If you sit at a red signal for a period of time, you can reflect on the will of the dispatcher.

Different parts of the system are controlled by different dispatchers--again, just as the air traffic control hands you off from district to district, my train ride involves hand-offs from Metrolink to the freight system BNSF, and so on. Since Amtrak doesn't own any rail, it relies on the good will of the responsible parties to switch it through. It doesn't take much of a cynic to think that if push comes to shove, a BNSF dispatcher is more likely to make the Amtrak wait if he can get his freight train past. 

Usually in the evenings I go home on train #582, which has a number of scheduled "meets" with other trains. Because of single track, often one train must wait "in the hole" on a passing track while another goes by. Amtrak 582 has been doing better lately because a Metrolink schedule change reduced the number of meets in Orange County, so we're more likely to be on schedule when we get to Oceanside, in San Diego County.

 But San DIego is mostly single track. And there's at least one meet with a northbound Coaster train between Oceanside and San Diego. We used to have this meet up in Carlsbad, but now we're doing it in Encinitas, much further south.

The other night we were all the way to Cardiff when we came to the stop. And we waited, and waited, and waited--almost 10 minutes, before the Coaster went by. Then we started up and ran into the Solana Beach Station, 3 minutes further along. The Solana Beach Station is double tracked.

Now, do you see my frustration? We were three minutes away from a double tracked station. YEt we waited 10 minutes for the coaster to come by. During some of that waiting time, the Coaster was in that station. Thus, we could have safely run into the station while he was still in it. Why did we wait? WHy didn't the dispatcher take us into the station (on time)?

My conclusion? The dispatcher hates us.

Apparently the North County Transit District (NCTD) is taking over the dispatching in San Diego County. Some commenters think that this is a bad thing for Amtrak, because they fear that the NCTD is likely to be provincial and favor Coaster trains, over the long-distance, regional Amtrak trains. 

Based on my nightly experience with Amtrak 582, I am starting to suspect they may be right.

A few years ago, we visited Denmark, and wanted to go to one of the islands off the coast. Imagine our surprise to find that the nice person in the railway station could sell us a ticket not only on the train to the coast, but for the ferry over the water, and back again. The system is seamlessly integrated, making for a smooth trip, because everyone recognizes that travel is regional, not local.

But here, Amtrak waits in the hole.

Missing your stop is not an emergency

I like to say that if you ride the train enough you will experience everything. A while back on my evening commute home, the train started to pull out of Oceanside station and then there was a loud WHOOSH sound and it stopped immediately. After a minute the conductor came on, and said in an annoyed voice.

"Ladies and gentlemen, pulling the emergency brake without an emergency is a felony and you will be removed by the police. Missing your stop is not an emergency."

We all looked around, wondering what sort of idiot pulls the emergency brake. The conductors, exasperated, walked through the train looking at each emergency handle for the one that had been pulled, so they could close it again. The emergency brake releases a valve that depressurizes the braking system, thus applying the brakes, so that the train cannot get going again until the valve is closed. 

Of course, the errant handle was in the last car of the train. The conductors quizzed the passengers and got a description of the kid around 17 or 18 with a skateboard who panicked when he realized the doors had closed, and pulled the handle. They found him, and after what I hope was a stern talking to, they let him off. I saw him jump on his skateboard and saucily swoop down the platform.

I thought that they should have kept him till the next station, at least, but as one conductor commented, by the time they got the police, and a report, we'd all be much later than we already were. So they cut their losses, and we rumbled home.

Where's my train?

When I travel, I almost never rent a car, but always take public transit, often rail or light rail, and often in countries where I don't speak the language. I pity those who come to the US and don't speak the language. It's difficult to figure out where your train is, particularly in LA Union Station, and particularly for Amtrak.

Union Station is a wonderful old art deco building (I'll blog about that later) that accesses the platforms via a long tunnel. The individual tracks are reached by ramps or stairs, two tracks per platform. So to find your train, you need to know which track it is on so you go up on the correct platform. If you're on the wrong platform, you have to go back downstairs to the tunnel to go up to the correct one.

Like most stations, LA Union has a big train board in it that lists the trains and their tracks. And, in the tunnels, there are lighted signs at the base of the ramps, that tell you which train is coming next at that platform. IF, that is, your train is a Metrolink. If you ride Amtrak, the signs say "Welcome to Amtrak!" And if you enter the tunnel at the end opposite the main station building, where many busses and the metro come in, there is no big board to help. So you either walk ALL the way down to the station building, or peer up the ramp to see whether you can spot a train. And, if you have a tight connection from your bus or metro, you aren't going to have time to run all the way down the tunnel and back again. 

Once on the platform, AMtrak has "crawler" signs that tell you what's coming and what's late (these tend to be more accurate than the Big Board in the main station, which often gets times wrong particularly if there are delays). But again, these are of limited use. They don't tell you a track number, and its the same sign for both the platforms Amtrak uses.

Say, for example, there are two Amtrak trains that arrive at the same time: one going North, the Santa Barbara on Track 10, and one going South, to San Diego on Track 12. Because LA is a dead end station, the trains all arrive and depart from the same direction. If you're running for the train, there is absolutely NO way to tell which train is which, if you don't already know the platform number. The regulars usually know which track a train comes in on, but if there's a delay, that isn't reliable. The loudspeakers on the platform are useless; you can't hear them over the noise of the train's ventilation and mechanical systems. 

Amtrak doesn't have a problem with this because they like everyone to line up in the station, and wait for the track to be posted on the Big Board. But the station is noisy and crowded, and many people don't come in that way.

Solution? Activate the signs in the tunnel with accurate information. I really don't understand why they can't do this. It works for Metrolink. 

You'd think it would be easier if you are at one of the downline stations, where you can at least tell which direction a train is going. And as long as you know an Amtrak from a Metrolink or a Coaster. But if you are a newbie, you might be unsure which train to take when it arrives at the platform. At least the Metrolink puts their destination on a sign in the train windows. Not so Amtrak. Most stations do have the crawler signs, but they aren't always working.

So, next time you get on a train, unless you are certain where it is going, ASK someone. It would be a real bummer to end up in Burbank when you wanted to go to Irvine.

WINE TASTING AT SOLANA BEACH? 

THE PLACE:  Carruth Cellars (WEB)

THE STORY:  Local winemaker opens a full blown winery on Cedros Ave in Solana Beach

THE VIBE:  Feels like Napa

 A lot of people think I've been too hard on Temecula, but I don't think so.  I love wine, I love wine tasting, and Temecula just misses the mark on both.  Their wines are average at best and the wine tasting experience typically involves fighting Girls Gone Wild bachelorette limo parties for a space at the bar.  I mean, it's pretty rare that I find a wine I love so much that I yell "WHOO HOOOO" in the winery, but that's pretty much the scene on any weekend in Temecula.

That's why I was so happy to find this place.  Carruth Cellars is located in the Cedros Design District in Solana Beach, one of my favorite places to go when I have nothing to do, especially on a Sunday afternoon when there's a Farmers Market.  We had just gotten back from Napa and Sonoma (have you seen my site on Napa yet?) and I was having wine tasting withdrawals, so up the driveway we went.  Keep going, it's all the way in the back.

Wow, this place looks like a real winery!  OK wiseguy, let me explain.  A lot of wineries, especially in T-town, look less like wineries and more like retail stores that just happen to sell wine.  I love boutique wineries with the barrels (not props) and giant vats of fermenting grapes (very young wine) in the same room as the tastings.  For $10 you get 4 or 5 pours, plus you get to keep the glass - and it's a Ridel glass, too.  So who is this guy who makes wine in a beach town?

Winemaker Adam Carruth is a local guy, a Carlsbad High School grad who started making wines as a hobby.  He sources his grapes from Northern California's coast and makes the wines right here on Cedros.  Now even though I write a website on Napa, I'm no wine expert - but I know enough to know when I hit on a wine I love, and that darn Pinot would make your mama cry it's so good.  In fact, all of their reds were every bit as nice as the wines we tasted in Napa, and that includes some that cost $100 or more.

 And isn't it cool that Adam the winemaker was right there pouring the wines for the tasters? Now here's a tip - if you're a visitor and you find yourself doing the North County Experience, make sure you stop in for a taste.  But if you're a local, go one step further and join their wine club.  You'll get two bottles for $50 every other month, you'll get 20% off all purchases, and you'll get FREE TASTINGS!  Come on, what's better than stopping in at a winery before dinner, tasting a few, then grabbing a bottle to take with you to open later that night?  Answer - nothing!  You'll also impress your friends, the ones who keep pestering you to go to Temecula!

(Local Tip:  Cicciotti's down the street has no corkage fee).

If you love wine, if you think you love wine, if you just want something fun to do, make sure you stop in at Carruth Cellars in Solana Beach.  It's just like Napa, only a lot closer.

Solana Beach-based PriceDoc.com goes joint venture with Quality Systems, a medical management company

Solana-based PriceDoc.com, a free, transparent health care pricing service for patients, announced Tuesday it has signed a joint venture agreement with Quality Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: QSII), a developer and provider of computer-based practice management, patient records and revenue cycle management solutions for physicians, dentists and small hospitals.

Through the partnership, patients who are uninsured, underinsured or seeking self-pay elective procedures can compare and negotiate prices for health care procedures or services directly on PriceDoc.com. In addition, providers using QSI Dental and NextGen Practice Management who promote their services and prices on PriceDoc, will gain access to "cash-paying" patients, and enable more efficient delivery of health care services by optimizing their office scheduling, securing fees-for-service, and offering cash payments that reduce paperwork and overhead costs.

"We're excited to be working with QSI to enhance their practice management technology with an online search marketing component," said Patrick Bradley, president of PriceDoc. "By integrating our technologies, doctors and dentists now have a seamless system in which patients can research providers, negotiate prices directly with doctors, and produce a coupon for the agreed-upon fee on one easy-to-use site."

Said Patrick B. Cline, president of Irvine-based Quality Systems, Inc., "Through our partnership with PriceDoc.com, QSI now offers a new way to deliver revenue to our providers," . "For years we've proven a return on investment to clients through practice management efficiencies. Now, we can incorporate a proactive marketing opportunity as well."

About PriceDoc.com

PriceDoc.com is a free consumer service that enables greater access to affordable medical, dental and other health care procedures. Through PriceDoc.com's patented technology, health care consumers who are uninsured, underinsured or seeking elective procedures can compare and negotiate prices for health care procedures or services in their area. PriceDoc.com launched nationally in November 2009. Learn more at: http://www.PriceDoc.com

About Quality Systems, Inc.

Irvine, Calif.-based Quality Systems, Inc. and its NextGen Healthcare subsidiary develop and market computer-based practice management, electronic health records and revenue cycle management applications as well as connectivity products and services for medical and dental group practices and small hospitals. Visit www.qsii.com and www.nextgen.com for additional 

Solana Beach-based SportsForce Launches Revolutionary Sports Recruiting Portal for Aspiring Student-Athletes 

Online Platform Provides On Demand Recruiting and Training Tools for Student Athletes, their Parents and College Coaches

SportsForce (www.sportsforceonline.com) launched a new website enabling high school athletes to take control of their sports careers by creating an online sports resume, showcasing their highlight video and best positioning themselves to secure a college roster spot.

SportsForce enables student-athletes, parents, coaches and college coaches to create, connect and manage their sports careers online. The website provides visitors a high quality online video experience and utilizes a sophisticated Web 2.0 style platform to help student-athletes, families and college coaches across the country save money and time throughout the recruiting process.  

“Our focus is on bridging the high school to college sports gap," said SportsForce CEO and co-founder Andrew Beinbrink who was an All-American baseball player at Arizona State and upon graduating, played for the Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays organizations.

"The Sports Force website serves as an on-demand, virtual recruiting trip via the Internet for college coaches to view an athlete’s resume including video, stats and academic scores with just a click of a mouse," Beinbrink said." As a collegiate athlete, I wish the recruiting process could have been simpler when I was a high school athlete. Through their online profile, athletes can proactively take control of their careers and market themselves to college coaches around the country while simultaneously providing a comprehensive resume and video for coaches to quickly evaluate.”

SportsForceOnline.com- Promo Video from Tom Antl on Vimeo.

For more information, visit www.sportsforceonline.com or contact CEO Andrew Beinbrink (858) 350-1786. 

Solana Beach Cedros Design District Feeling Pinch; Will Eat, Drink Places Make It Merry?

Have you heard, the recession is over -- or so sez the National Bureau of Economic Research, the official arbiter of national economic cycle naming rights --  and that's something to toast around Solana Beach, hopefully.

But its not all champagne and roses around Cedros Avenue as yet. So, maybe new eating, and drinking places will make for being shopping merry, leaders opine.

A new urban winery that hit the Cedros Avenue pavement this month combined with an art gallery/wine tasting room/bistro due to open next summer signals a change in the overall ambiance along Cedros Avenue, according to officials. They hope more food and drink opportunities will open up some wallets and purses in retail respects.

“We think part of the Cedros experience as it moves forward in the coming months and years is going to be additional wine bars, cafes, sidewalk bistros, that kind of small, charming deal," said Sean MacLeod, a former musician turned developer who assembled the leadership for the Cedros Design District in 1992-1993 along with Dave Hodges, co-owner of Belly-Up Tavern at the time.

 The district has hit the skids in terms of revenue, but the new eatery explosion is being counted on to increase foot traffic and shopping revenue, according to officials.

Cedros Avenue acounted for $126,947 in sales-tax revenue in the fall quarter of 2006. In the same time period of 2009, it generated $75,685, according to city financial statements released this week. This compared to the nearby Highway 101 corridor which brought in $122,672 through sales taxes in the fall quarter, 2006 that dropped to $95,583 in the fall quarter, 2009.

The Cedros Avenue district, as we all know, contains high-end jewelry and furniture stores, cafes, nurseries, galleries, health and beauty stores and the Belly-up Tavern, among other establishments.

Hodges opened the Belly-Up in 1974. McLeod moved to the area from Los Angeles in 1990 and together, along with 50 shopkeepers and property owners, started working with the city to shape up South Cedros. They led the Design District movement that evolved through the 1980s and took shape in 1993 as 50 shopkeepers and property owners formed the Cedros Design District Association.

So, in came bold, unexpected colors and building conversions. Out went manufacturing complexes and swampy backwater stores, as well as vacant structures. Now bustling with design industry types and art galleries, the 444 Building was a rocket-parts manufacturing facility. Wooden handcrafted furniture and Grecian vases replaced nuts, bolts and barbershops.

Highway and overhanging gateway street signs went up, about $350,000 worth of sidewalks, curbs, gutters and other street improvements went in, and city officials changed zoning designations to "special commercial" to encourage continued development.

Solana Beach sold bonds to help finance South Cedros improvements that property owners agreed to pay back over a 20-year period.