Everything in San Diego You Must Do This Fall!

Looking for fun events and activities in the Fall? Check out our guide to what you absolutely must see and do this Fall!

Festival of Sail

September 1-4

Celebrate the largest tall ship festival on the West Coast over Labor Day Weekend with live entertainment, cannon battles and 100+ food, art and craft vendors. Hosted at Maritime Museum of San Diego, Festival of Sail transforms the North Embarcadero into a nautical theme park for 4 adventure filled days. Click here for more information.

Burgers & Beers

September 9

Try gourmet burgers from more than 30 of the San Diego’s best restaurants as they compete to win the “Best Burger” award at Burgers & Beers. Are you ready for the ultimate battle of the burgers? Of course no burger is complete without a beer! Enjoy unlimited beer samples from 30+ local breweries. Curated exclusively by our food writers, this event brings together the very best burger vendors and local breweries—and you decide who will ultimately win. Click here for more information.

KAABOO Del Mar

September 15-17

KAABOO is three days of fun, packed full with memories and it has all of the makings of a comfortable event. We have plenty of shade and seating, all restrooms are clean with flushable toilets (no porta-potties), and there is no dirt, dust or mud to fight through just to have a good time. Enjoy the world-class music, hilarious comedy, incredible cuisine, craft libations, inspiring contemporary art, and personal indulgences. Get ready for this journey of discovery! Click here for more information.

2017 MCAS Miramar Air Show

September 22 – 24

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar is once again hosting the largest military Air Show in the country! This year’s theme is A Salute to Vietnam Veterans. MCAS Miramar is honored to host an amazing lineup of military and civilian performers including the world famous U.S. Navy Blue Angels for what is sure to be another thrilling performance. Click here for more information.

San Diego Restaurant Week

September 24 – October 1

Dine at over 180 participating restaurants during the 8 days of San Diego Restaurant Week! Dine deliciously at restaurants offering prix-fixe menu options throughout San Diego County. This foodie-favorited week is the perfect time to take a culinary tour throughout the diverse and thriving food culture of San Diego.  Click here to find participating restaurants near you and browse their menus!

La Mesa Oktoberfest

Sep 29 – Oct 1

Since 1973, the La Mesa Oktoberfest has featured hundreds of exhibitors, family friendly activities, German food, music, dancing, games and of course beer. Celebrating its 44th year in 2017, the locally loved La Mesa Oktoberfest is going back to its roots to bring guests more entertainment, more vendors, more beer, and more “Prost!” (Cheers!) than ever before. Click here for more information.

The Scream Zone

Sep 29 – Aug 31

San Diego County’s largest haunted experience, The Scream Zone is considered among the scariest, and screaming-est fright fests to be found in the dark corners of Southern California. The Scream Zone is assembled from a collection of body parts and roughly stitched together into four terrifying haunts and other monstrous attractions. Click here for more information.

The Haunted Trail

Sep 29 – Oct 31

The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park is a stroll you will never forget. As you walk the mile-long Trail, spine-tingling sights and sounds will leave you trembling. Located in San Diego’s world famous Balboa Park, The Haunted Trail is a stroll through the park you will never forget! Click here for more information.

Día de los Muertos

October 28 – Nov 2

Old Town San Diego’s Día de los Muertos is a celebration of the history, culture, and heritage of the region that honors one of its most important holidays. Día de los Muertos, celebrated on November 1 and 2 of each year, is considered to be one of the most important holiday’s of the year by many in Mexico and other Latin American countries. The unity between life and death is celebrated when families come together and offer hospitality to the spirits of their loved ones.  Click here for more information.

 

Kids Free In October San Diego Zoo

October 1 – 31

Throughout October, kids receive free admission to the San Diego Zoo! Kids Free continues a long-standing dedication to youngsters by providing free admission for the month of October to every child ages 11 years old and younger, a maximum 10 children free per each supervised ticketed adult. Throughout the month, Saturdays and Sundays at the Zoo will feature special interactive activities and experiences to help kids connect with wildlife and nature. Click here for more information.

Pacific BeachFest

October 7

Pacific BeachFest has something for everyone including a fish taco contest, surf competition, beach volley ball, craft beer, kids activities and music! There will be plenty of free, fun and family friendly action on the beaches and along the boardwalk at this year’s Pacific BeachFest being held on Saturday, Oct. 7th  from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. This will be the 20th anniversary event for Pacific Beachfest! Click here for information.

MCRD San Diego Bootcamp Challenge

October 14

The MCRD Bootcamp Challenge features obstacles used only by Marine Recruits plus over 60 USMC Drill Instructors providing direction and encouragement. Includes a 3-mile obstacle course on paved roads and hard-packed dirt – flat and fast. Over 50 obstacles to complete, including tunnel crawls, trenches, cargo netting and push-up stations. Drill Instructors at each station to make sure you complete your obstacles! Come check it out! Click here for more information.

Fine Wine and Gourmet Food Walking Tour

October 20

Enjoy a 3 to 3.5 hr leisurely walking tour with a local resident guide and experience the tasty delights of La Jolla by-the-sea. Gourmet food, local and international wines, guided historic walk, wine tasting appreciation presentation. Tons of upscale fun! Their epicurean Walking Wine Tours introduce La Jolla’s wine, food and culture scene. On this delightful 3 to 3.5 hour tour you’ll be guided by a local expert with years of fine wine and culinary experience. Experience the tasty delights of La Jolla by-the-sea. Fore more information click here.

A Night with Janis Joplin

October 25-26

Like a comet that burns far too brightly to last, Janis Joplin exploded onto the music scene in 1967 and, almost overnight, became the queen of rock & roll. The unmistakable voice, filled with raw emotion and tinged with Southern Comfort, made her a must-see headliner from Monterey to Woodstock. Now, San Diego is invited to share an evening with the woman and her musical influences in the hit musical A Night With Janis Joplin! Click here for more information.

2017 Breeder’s Cup World Championship

November 3-4

The Breeders’ Cup makes its debut at another iconic racing venue for the first time: Del Mar, where the turf meets the surf Southern California style. With San Diego’s vibrant nightlife, beautiful beaches and sunny days creating a perfect trifecta. In the world of horse racing, the Breeders’ Cup is equivalent to the Super Bowl. The two-day event brings the best horses and riders from across the country and around the world. Click here for more information.

San Diego Beer Week

November 3-12

San Diego Beer Week is a ten-day celebration inspiring people to drink local beer and promoting San Diego’s brewing culture with events across the county. The San Diego Beer Week will kick off with the VIP Brewer Takeover and the San Diego Brewers Guild Festival on Friday and Saturday night. The 10-day “week” will feature over 500 brewery sponsored events and culminate at the Beer Garden at The Lodge at Torrey Pines on November 12th. Click here for more information.

The Hip Hop Nutcracker

November 18

The Hip Hop Nutcracker is an evening-length production performed by a supercharged cast of a dozen all-star dancers, DJ and violinist. A holiday mash-up for the entire family, The Hip Hop Nutcracker, a contemporary re-imagination of Tchaikovsky’s timeless music, sets out on a third national tour following the success of two previous sold-out tours. Click here for more information

Encinitas Fall Festival

November 19

With 450+ booths, plus dozens of unique downtown retailers, the Encinitas Fall Festival is a perfect opportunity to get a head start on your holiday shopping. Enjoy the music of popular local bands in The Lumberyard Courtyard and dance, music and other entertainment on the Community Stage next to Ace Hardware. Take your young ones to the Kids Zone for a variety of fun activities.  And walk your furry friends into Dog Zone for some treats and special attention. Click here for more information.

The Pinteresting 5: Outdoor Showers

If you’re an avid San Diego surfer, an outdoor shower is an absolute must: it’s the best way to keep sand outdoors where it belongs! Even if you’re not a surfer, there are many other uses for an outdoor shower: think dog wash or a place to rinse off after gardening. If you’ve been thinking of adding an outdoor shower, check out these great ideas to inspire your design!

All images via our Pinterest

What Dog Owners Should Know When Buying or Selling a Home

(Guest Blog By Medina James at DogEtiquette)

 

Image via Pixabay

 

Whether you’re buying or selling a home, if you’re a dog owner, there are some special preparations and precautions you must take. It may be one of the last things on your mind during this busy and stressful time, but real estate dog etiquette is extremely important. Here are some tips for both buyers and sellers who have to deal with canine friends throughout the process.

For sellers – your house smells more like dog than you think

When we live with certain smells for years, we get used to them. We all know that everyone’s house has a particular scent – and if you’re trying to sell your house you don’t want that scent to be eau de pooch. The natural way to get dog odor out of carpets and furniture involves baking soda and vinegar, but there are also plenty of sprays, shampoos, and other products you can purchase to help. Plug-in air fresheners work for the final touch. Also remember to pick up any dog poop in your yard. Here is a good article about removing pet odors from a house.

For sellers – make arrangements to have your dogs out of the house

This goes for scheduled showings and for open houses. You’ll want to make arrangements to have your dogs out of the house – and not just out of the house and in the backyard. You’ll want your dogs to be completely gone. Either board them for a day or ask a friend or neighbor to watch them for a few hours.

For buyers – ask ahead for dog visits

Some pet owners want to take their dog to a potential new home to see how they interact with it. Older dogs with mobility issues may have trouble with certain design elements of a home, and you may want to see if they can handle stairs, decks, porches, etc. before committing to purchase. If you want to do this, you need to ask. It’s rude to bring a dog into someone’s home without first clearing it. People have allergies, fears, and even other pets you must consider.

For both – think about moving day

Moving day is stressful for your pets, so it may be best to board them (here are some tips on that) or have them stay with a friend. If you can’t arrange this, it’s smart to put them in a “safe room” in your house and instruct the movers to move that room last. This is simply safer for the movers and for your dog.

For both – it’s best to leave your dog out of the process (no matter how cute)

You love your dog. Strangers may also love your dog. Most everyone you meet may love your dog. But somewhere there is someone who just doesn’t like dogs. Maybe they’re afraid or maybe they’re allergic. Whatever the case may be, some people just aren’t dog people. So why take the risk that a potential buyer/seller is in this small minority? Even if your dog is incredibly well-behaved and cute, it’s best to leave them out of the process altogether. Ask a friend to watch your dog, or hire a dog walker if the dog just needs to be out of the home briefly for a single showing.

Even dog lovers don’t really want to deal with other people’s animals during the home buying process. It’s not only considerate of others to leave dogs out of the process, but it’s better for your dogs too. Many dogs are stressed out by tons of strangers and new environments, so it’s best to protect them from the chaos that is buying or selling a home.

Recipe: Grilled Tilapia Piccata

 

What You Need:

• 1/4 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 4-1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 4-1/2 teaspoons minced fresh basil, divided
• 1 teaspoon capers, drained
• 2 tilapia fillets (6 ounces each)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper

 

How To:

1. In a small bowl, whisk lemon peel, lemon juice, oil and garlic until blended; stir in 3 teaspoons basil and capers. Brush remaining mixture on both sides of tilapia; add  salt and pepper.
2. Moisten a paper towel with cooking oil; using long-handled tongs, rub on grill rack to coat lightly. Grill tilapia, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from heat 3-4 minutes on each side or until fish just begins to flake easily with a fork. Drizzle with reserved lemon mixture; sprinkle with remaining basil.

Cafe of the Moment: Lofty Coffee

132 S Cedros Ave

Solana Beach, CA 92075

wwwloftycoffee.com

 

Lofty Coffee Co. is a beautiful, cozy cafe with a simple objective: to sell quality coffee and food in order to satisfy the wants and needs of San Diegans! Lofty Coffee is dedicated to sourcing the most delicious coffee available.  They seek out farms and importers from around the world that grow and transport their beans in a sustainable manner to ensure the quality and consistency of their coffee.

Each location of this local coffee chain is designed to serve as a place that friends and family can meet to enjoy their signature coffee and tea beverages and house made pastries.  All of the Lofty Coffee cafes feature ample patio seating to take advantage of the sunny San Diego weather!

The Solana Beach location on Cedros also serves a food in addition to pastries. Try their poached eggs or granola! For drinks, we recommend getting the Salted Caramel Latte or cold brew coffee.

With two other locations in Encinitas, and Little Italy, each cafe has its own character based on the neighborhood it is located in!  Come check out why everyone is raving about these tasteful coffee shops and order your first Lofty Coffee today!

Coastal Premier Properties Welcomes Don Wehner

Coastal Premier Properties is excited to welcome Don Wehner! Don will be working out of our Carmel Valley and 4S Ranch offices.

About Don:

I have professionally represented buyers and sellers of residential and investment real estate properties in San Diego for over 28 years.

My interest and goals are centered around helping people successfully find that perfect property at a specific time, and even more so in designing an overall long range strategy for owning real estate.

I do what I do because it has a big affect on people’s lives. Getting people into a residence that they like is very satisfying. But I am also very dedicated to helping people greatly increase their net worth and financial position through real estate.

When I get the opportunity to teach and show people how investing in real estate is so much better than anything else they can do, I get excited – for them. I love the challenge of looking at a person’s or a family’s specific situation, and developing a long term strategy to change and greatly improve their lives. And then to see that strategy work for them over a period of years is gratifying.

My true purpose is to help people not only increase their wealth and become financially secure through real estate, but also to put them in a position to help other people at some point in their lives. Isn’t that what we should do if we have the opportunity?

I have sold properties all over San Diego County. During the 28 years in real estate, I have lived in 6 different areas of the county, allowing me to become familiar with the towns and neighborhoods throughout San Diego.

Prior to my real estate career, I was in the computer and auto industries in various management positions. This experience provided a great customer service orientation that has been extremely helpful in the real estate business.

I have a B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of Dayton along with Teaching Credentials and graduate work from Xavier University in Ohio. I have hundreds of hours of graduate level courses in real estate and business.

During my real estate career I have sold residential and commercial/investment properties. I have analyzed numerous client’s property portfolios and directed acquisition and disposition plans to reach their goals. I have been involved in the CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) San Diego Chapter, 3 years as an officer and board member.

My experience includes a background in Building. I have successfully planned, organized and built many residential speculative projects over a 5 year period. I coordinated all aspects from initial development and plans, through city, community and coastal approvals. I also handled all the sales activities of those projects.

Click here to contact Don. For more about Coastal Premier Properties, visit our website!

Recipe: Italian Bread Salad

 

What You Need:

• 1 Pound loaf Italian bread
• 1 Cup chopped tomatoes
• 1 Cup cucumber – peeled, seeded and chopped
• 1 Cup chopped red onion
• 1 Clove garlic, minced
• 2 Cups chopped fresh basil
• 1/8 Cup chopped fresh thyme
• 1/4 Cup olive oil
• 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar

How To:

1. Rub a peeled clove of garlic around a wooden salad bowl.
2. Pull apart or chop the bread into bite-size pieces.
3. In the prepared salad bowl, combine the bread, tomatoes cucumbers, red onions, garlic, basil and thyme.  Add enough olive oil and vinegar to lightly coat, toss and serve.

Restaurant of the Moment: Coop’s BBQ

2625 Lemon Grove Ave

Lemon Grove, CA 91945

www.coopsbbq.com

For an amazing BBQ experience, you have to visit Coop’s West Texas BBQ in Lemon Grove! Trust us – it’s worth the drive!

The shop itself is small so be prepared to wait in line especially if it’s near lunch or dinner time. But all great things take time and Coop’s BBQ is no exception. The storefront definitely has a hole-in-the-wall feel…which is a nice change if you’re used to going to Phil’s. You definitely get the sense that you’re supporting a local San Diego institution!

You can order their meats on sandwiches, on a plate with sides, or just the meat by itself! Can’t decide what to get? Try the sampler platter! We recommend getting either the pulled pork sandwich or the pork ribs. The meat is tender, smoky, and topped with some of the best BBQ sauce we’ve ever had! For the sides, we recommend the mac ‘n’ cheese, cornbread, and red beans and rice.

For an authentic BBQ experience that’s a little off the beaten path, visit one of San Diego’s hidden gems, Coop’s West Texas BBQ!

The Pinteresting 5: Entryway Decor

Set a welcoming tone with a beautifully decorated entryway!  These entryways are not only gorgeous, but will serve as a hub for coming and going from your home with functional ideas for shoe storage, places to put your keys, jackets, mail, and more.

All images via our Pinterest 

 

 

 

Recipe: Citrus Grilled Chicken Breasts

 

What You Need:

• 6 skinless chicken breasts
• 4 lemons, halved
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, smashed

For Balsamic Dressing:

• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped oregano
• 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

How To:

1.  Place the chicken breasts in a large shallow pan. Squeeze the juice from the lemon halves into a separate bowl, then whisk in the oil, oregano, garlic, salt, and pepper.

2.  Pour this marinade over the chicken. Place the lemon halves in between the chicken breasts, cover the pan tightly. Refrigerate 6 hours or overnight.

3.  Grill the chicken, occasionally turning and brushing with any remaining marinade, until the juice runs clear or the inner temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Remove from the grill and place on a plate of greens and garnish with lemon slices and sprigs of oregano.

 

For the Balsamic Dressing:

Whisk ingredients together in small bowl and drizzle over the greens and chicken. Serve immediately.