April 27th, 2015 at 9:00 am
One of the most unusual walking events in Southern California occurs in Los Angeles over the first weekend in May. The Big Parade is a two-day trek that involves more than 80 staircases across 40 miles through many L.A. neighborhoods. 2014’s walk started in Grand Park in downtown and meandered all the way up to Griffith Observatory, and will take the same route this year. The route and timetable are easy to pick up and catch up, and you can start at the beginning or join along the way.
Where:
Various locations throughout Los Angeles
When:
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April 24th, 2015 at 1:00 pm
Author: Margaret Irving
I marvel at the transformation of downtown San Diego over the last few decades. Once a stagnant, blighted urban area where few wanted to live, downtown San Diego has become a vibrant and diverse place where people live, work, shop, dine, and play. As the economy flourished in the early 2000s, the revitalization of downtown accelerated. Where vacant lots and decaying buildings once stood, residential high-rises were built that beautified our skyline and contributed to the live/work community we know today. In fact, the building boom that began in 2001 included a combination of low-, mid-, and high-rise buildings that now account for 80 percent of downtown’s residential units.
Downtown’s residential resurgence began with two pioneering low-rise condominium projects, Park Row (1983) and Marina Park (1984). Adjacent to Pantoja Park, these two communities are lushly landscaped with beautiful gardens and outdoor walkways. Next came two high-rises, the Meridian (1986), encompassing 172 elegant residential units, and Harbor Club (1992) with twin towers 41 stories high, built on downtown’s “front row”. These developments were followed by two mid-rises, Watermark (1992), and City Front Terrace (1994). An elegant beauty, Watermark is constructed of concrete and steel, unique for a mid-rise. A portion of City Front Terrace is built as part of the historic Soap Factory warehouse, 10 stories high, and all brick! All six of these communities are found in the Marina District, and within walking distance of the Horton Plaza shopping mall (1985).
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April 24th, 2015 at 9:30 am
Sand castles have gone big time. There’s “Sand Masters” on the Travel Channel, building competitions such as the Sun & Sea Festival in Imperial Beach south of San Diego, and now, thanks to a former math teacher, you can attend “sandcastle school.”
San Diegan JT Estrela came up with the idea after getting laid off from his charter school job. He looked for work at night and spent his days sculpting in the sand at a local beach. He decided to combine his love of teaching and art by showing others how to work with the grainy medium. So he cashed in his 401k, signed up his first students, and founded San Diego Sand Castles. In a very short time, his classes in Del Mar rose to No. 1 on TripAdvisor.com’s “Top 10 Things to Do in San Diego” list. He hopes to expand operations to other area beaches soon.
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April 24th, 2015 at 9:00 am
The water shortage in California has reached crisis status. This month, Gov. Jerry Brown took the unprecedented step of ordering mandatory water restrictions to achieve a 25 percent reduction in urban water usages throughout the state. With California’s hottest and driest months ahead, we all need to do our part to ensure that we have enough water to drink, fight fires, and irrigate the crops that bring in billions of dollars to the state. Unfortunately, while water demand rises, supply continues to shrink.
Therefore, municipal governments throughout the state are stepping up to help residents find new, innovative, and cost-effective ways to reduce water consumption in non-disruptive ways. Industry, agriculture, and population place significant strains on the water reserves, but the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) has created a strategy of helpful rebates for technological solutions that will help balance the needs of everyone.
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April 24th, 2015 at 8:30 am
Feeling adventurous? Want to soar with the eagles instead of flapping around the office all day?
Consider flying above Santa Barbara.
There’s more than one way to see the coastal city from the air, such as a helicopter tour or hot-air-balloon ride. But if you want to feel the wind whipping your face while navigating your own course through the skies, there’s nothing quite like paragliding, hang gliding, or, for an extra burst of power, paramotoring.
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