I eyed a tea kettle I wanted at Aubrey Rose Tea Room, a gnome at Homeland Florist, tried on some clothes at a trendy boutique and a few second hand stores. Things have changed, La Mesa Blvd. used to be a bunch of antique stores and a few places to eat and a hole in the wall bar; not anymore,  like many neighborhood stores the old goes and the new comes in. There are new bars, updates to old and the newest trend in this area, the resale shop and even a wine tasting store. Lots of second-hand clothing places. Almost as many as the antique and furniture resellers, as La Mesa Blvd. is known for their antiques and in the summer the Thursday night car shows. La Mesa Village is great for window shopping and small time people watching. Some of the Blvd. still has the original facades in tact but it still maintains the small town feel.

I went back in the evening with a friend and we ate dinner at Gingham. Greeted by a antique carousel horse in the window, the restaurant has a unique decor, part  hip saloon/part antique modern (Is there such a thing? ). There were a pair of cow skeleton chairs with a sign that says “Keep Gate Closed! Horses and Cattle Grazing.”    The menu was sort of like a riddle, oil boil instead of fried, smoked, not canned…you get the idea. The menu is mostly a la carte, but the creativity shines through and when you get the food. I am no food critic, but it is good and the servers are attentive. I am all for specialty cocktails which I need to return to try (they only had beer and wine that night).  I was thouroughly surprised of the night vibe. There was music at the bars and people of all ages around at 8 pm at night. Not quite the newest hip place in San Diego, but cool nevertheless. So with that said, venture out and enjoy the old school charm of La Mesa Village, you’ll be glad you did.

photo credit: Stuart Miles

Normally, I don’t write about things that I haven’t done before, but this looks fun and gets the community together- a local San Diego Cash Mob.

Cash Mobs are get togethers to spend money at the local level. An organizer usually announces a place and time for people to gather and then lets them know where they will be spending the money. This is usually $20 or so, the more people that join, naturally, the more influx of business that chosen place will take in that day. It is a fun way to meet people and grab a goodie or two that you have may not of had before.  The next San Diego cash mob is slated for Sunday at  4:30 pm, 5th and Robinson in Hillcrest. This looks like a monthly thing. Have you been a part of a cash mob before? Let me know by commenting below.

From time to time I have guest authors….So what do people go in the winter? San Diego of course. They hop in their RVs and go on a road trip. Joe Laing has given some tips to people that want to explore San Diego. In their RV or not these are some good places to explore.  JB

The clocks have turned back, the leaves fallen, and the temperatures dropped — winter will soon be upon us. And with it comes the cold-weather doldrums. So what’s the best way to survive the seasonal blues? How about snuggling up by a fire to dream about rolling into spring with an RV vacation. And with its warm climate and sunny disposition, San Diego makes a great destination. In addition to the big sites — LEGOLAND California, the San Diego Zoo, the Padres at PETCO Park — here are a few favorite places (divvied up by neighborhood) to get your West Coast cruise moving.

Del Mar: This haute spot, which is bisected by the Pacific Coast Highway, offers a nice selection of upscale shopping and oceanfront dining, as well as a handful of parks and beachfront picnic places. But the primary reason to steer your road pony this way is the equine experience. With its sprawling ranches, internationally recognized Del Mar Racetrack (open for the season in July), and San Diego Polo Club, Del Mar has plenty of spots to see world-class thoroughbreds. Best Bet: This spring, saddle up for a free polo lesson at the San Diego Polo School, where you’ll be introduced to the techniques, rules, and strategies of the sport. All equipment is supplied, so just pack a sense of adventure.

La Jolla: A prime daytime destination, colorful La Jolla is known for its breathtaking coastline. In the winter and spring, visitors can stand along the cliffs at La Jolla Cove and experience a poetic moodiness brought on by thundering waves and eerie fog. Continue south along Coast Boulevard, and you may also witness majestic gray whales making their way to Alaska. In addition to such natural wonders, La Jolla is home to the Museum of Contemporary Arts and the Birch Aquarium at Scripps. Best Bet: On any Sunday, stroll through the La Jolla Open Aire Market at Girard Avenue and Center Street. Here, you can mingle with 100-plus family farmers and local artisans, stock up on fresh produce, listen to live music, and indulge in endless food samples. It’s the perfect place to taste authentic tamales and purchase a souvenir.

Pacific Beach: This section of coast serves up the soft sand, calm waters, and sunny temperatures of many people’s California dreams. Visitors will discover kooky shops, dive bars, restaurants, and nightclubs along the three-mile boardwalk, which is filled with pedestrians, cyclists, skaters, and surfers. The main drags of Grand and Garnet avenues hold a treasure trove of vintage and thrift shops, coffeehouses, and hipster boutiques. For some fresh surfing, head over to Tourmaline Surf Park; a longtime longboarder hangout, this North “PB” waveriding nexus boasts 75-foot cliffs. Best Bet: True to the vintage vibe of Mission Beach (south of PB), the seven-acre Belmont Park features one of only two seaside roller coasters remaining on the Cali coast: the 1925 “Giant Dipper” wooden coaster. Other amusements include a traditional carousel, arcade games, a rock wall, a mirror maze, and high-ropes jungle. The bonus? Everything is priced individually, so you can choose your own adventures.

Mission Bay: For the fun-loving traveler, Mission Bay provides excitement at every corner. This beach hot spot boasts the 4,600-acre aquatic playground Mission Bay Park, which offers miles of beautiful coastline, myriad waterways and inlets to discover, and several opportunities for making a splash (think kite surfing, sailing, kayaking, skiing, and wind surfing). For even more wet and wild adventure, visit SeaWorld San Diego to meet Shamu, get close with polar bears and penguins, and explore the new Turtle Reef. Best Bet: Campland on the Bay makes an excellent home base for a West Coast RV retreat. Situated inside Mission Bay Park on the edge of the lagoon, the popular campground provides a 124-slip marina; a pool; watercraft and bike rentals; a restaurant and market; and nostalgic camp activities like scavenger hunts, campfire sing-alongs, and sandcastle-building contests. With its proximity to the Kendall Frost Wildlife Preserve, you can also venture out on foot to spot egrets, black-crowned night herons, least terns, and endangered clapper rails.

Point Loma: In addition to modern marvels such as multimillion-dollar mansions and luxurious yachts moored in the harbor, this peninsula (where European explorers first discovered San Diego in 1542) serves up lots of history. Sites include the Fort Rosecrans Military Reserve and National Cemetery, the Cabrillo National Monument, and the Old Point Lomo Lighthouse. Best Bet: Cruise out to the end of Cabrillo Memorial Drive, where a breathtaking vista awaits following an easy hike. This point, the most southwesterly spot in the contiguous United States, offers stunning 360-degree views of the immaculate sandy shoreline, the wide Pacific, downtown’s skyline, Coronado Island, and distant Tijuana.

Downtown: This cultural hub nestled between Interstate 5 and the harbor boasts a unique urban rhythm. Navigating the city’s one-mile-square road grid is pretty simple (just beware the ubiquitous one-way street), but as true city dwellers do, getting around on foot is really the way to go. Trek through artsy Little Italy for deep-dish dining options, tune in to the Opera House and Golden Hall music venues, and stroll along the scenic Embarcadero. Best Bet: The historic Gaslamp Quarter abounds with restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and dancing. For a little “tongue travelling,” choose one of the area’s many international dining spots; you’ll find flavors from Brazil, Afghanistan, Persia, Thailand, and more.

About the Guest Post Author: Joe Laing is the Marketing Director for El Monte RV Rentals. Be sure to check out their new Professional Football (NFL) Tailgating and RV Tailgating to College Football Games pages in preparation for the upcoming seasons.

Disclosure: I got the same pack I am giving away. It is good stuff.

photo credit Daren Scott

There is an off-broadway show theatre that produces excellent shows off the steps of Horton Plaza. The theatre is called the San Diego Repertory Theatre and the place that that holds these productions is the Lyceum. I have been to a photo show or two at the Lyceum. They usually hold gallery shows in their lobby such as Art of Photography, but have not attended a San Diego Repertory Theatre production before Saturday night. But I know I will be back. The next shows in the season are “A Hammer, a Bell, and a Song to Sing: the Music of Pete Seeger” then “In the Wake” and finally to close out the 2011-2012 season is the “Tortilla Curtain”.  The show that is playing now is called The Great American Trailer Park Musical which performs until December 4th. The title says it all- it truly is the Great American Trailer Park Musical. There’s no skimping on the sets, which is eclectic and kitschy. There are a couple of scenes in the musical that were not set in the “trailer park” but with a pull and a tug, the sets trailer home facades transformed into what they needed to be. This show is for mature audiences but if you are mature and like having a good time this show is for you. The show is a fun-filled hour and a half of escapism and the actors can actually sing. As the description on the website states –  ”Here’s a comic fable about agoraphobia, adultery, 80s nostalgia, spray cheese, road kill, hysterical pregnancy, a broken electric chair, kleptomania, strippers, flan, and disco. In short, it’s everything a musical should be.”

Follow on Twitter: @sandiegoREP
#TrailerParkMusical to follow the conversation about the musical

Tips: You get 4-hrs of free parking at Horton Plaza if you validate at the Lyceum. One of the ushers will help you validate.

Schedule the show around these special events before the show on 11/17, 11/18, 11/25 and 12/2.

Disclosure: I received complementary tickets for this show.

Last year’s Dia de los Muertos post- Dia de los Muertos Back from Tomboctou

A couple of Sundays ago, I went to an Alternative Gift Faire in La Mesa. I had stumbled upon this event when researching about Fair Trade after finding out that a proposal for declaring La Mesa, a Fair Trade Town was voted down. What I really enjoyed about the afternoon was everyone had a common thread- they all supported Fair Trade. All the vendors were committed to selling goods that were Fair Trade certified. What does this mean? What is Fair Trade? Well that means that the goods or the materials used to make the product were bought by a supplier that was given a fair wage, the working conditions were of ethical standard and no child labor was used in the making of the product. My favorite soap supplier Dr. Bronner was there, I swear by Dr. Bronner’s 18-in-one magic soaps. They truly are magical. My excitement went up a few notches that they had a booth at the event- I am a total evangelist of that stuff.

Dr. Bronner’s sells more than soaps, they actually weren’t selling anything that day, they were giving out samples of their soaps and coconut oil mixed with organic chocolate and flaxseed. I talked to a few San Diego Fair Trade Board Members about what Fair Trade is. The sentiment was it was all about taking care of one another, being fair, and taking pride in the products you use. I talked to the owner of franchise owner of Ben and Jerry’s in Seaport Village, He said that Ben and Jerry’s is committing to use all Fair Trade Ingredients by the year 2013.

This month is Fair Trade month, a month dedicated to promoting and celebrating the positive impact of Fair Trade. San Diego has a big Fair Trade community. There are over 100 merchants in that participate in Fair Trade in San Diego. I started thinking of all the products I buy and realized that it doesn’t take much to buy Fair Trade products.  Any little contribution to the greater good and quality products, I am all for.

Check out these local San Diego-based Fair Trade products/shops:

Angell Bars are made with organic and fair trade ingredients. The Angell Crisp bars are so good. The rice crispies embedded in the chocolate create a texture that is similar to a 100 Grand candy bar. This bar is gluten free and contains no corn syrup.

Soapmaking Studio: Take soapmaking classes and attend workshops in Lemon Grove

Seven Hopes United – A pop-up shop near Sears at UTC.

Around the World Gifts – A Fair Trade and Hand-Made shop in Old Town

Giveaway – Win this really cool paper maché bowl courtesy of Ethical Ocean. All you need to do is comment below and tell me what your favorite charitable cause is, I will randomly pick a winner using Random.org on Sunday , 10/30 at 10pm. Bowl will be sent direct to winner by representatives of Ethical Ocean.  CMP.LY/0    

About Bowls by Bundu: Gorgeous on a coffee table or as a fruit bowl, this paper maché bowl by Bundu was made by a group of HIV positive mothers who are earning an income and health education in Southern Africa. Many of the artisans that make the Fair Trade goods have a story behind the products. I guess this what makes Fair Trade items so special, there is a face and a purpose behind the person who made the product.

Giveaway: I am giving away 2 sets of passes away. That means if you win, you can bring your bestie and have a fun afternoon shopping, and the best part the admission is free. To win – Just comment below and tell me what your favorite store or designer is. I will pick the one winner by random and one winner with the most creative answer. Giveaway ends on Wednesday,  October 5th at 11:59 pm. Winners will be notified on Thursday. 

Information for the Thread Show: Sunday, October 9^th from 11AM-6PM, at the Horton Event Space.

Why go? – It is a brilliant day of shopping the latest holiday trends created by local designers. Plus, enjoy cocktails, gift bags, photo booths, DJs, giveaways, a style lounge, DIY gift wrapping Nail Bar, fashion installations, and THREAD Well Lounge.

Winner is #2. According to Random.org