The Thrill of the Grill

No one can turn down a barbecue.  Americans love to cook and they love to eat outdoors.  Increasingly, people are claiming the outdoors as an extension of the comforts and convenience of home.  Cooking and dining alfresco is more popular than ever before.  Whether it's the fresh air, soaring coals, or a relaxed atmosphere, food just tastes better when it's cooked outside.

The most coveted room in the house, the kitchen, has moved outside into the great outdoors.  Outdoor kitchens offer a perfect place to prepare meals without missing out on all the backyard and poolside fun.  

Like all outdoor spaces, an outdoor kitchen should have a style that matches its surroundings.  Its location should be convenient for entertaining and relaxing.  Extra space used for dining tables and chairs, or for a counter bar with seating where you can mingle with the chef while he's concocting his favorite dish is important.  Dining areas outside need to be more generous than their counterparts inside.  Room for a table and chairs, plus space to move around easily is best.  Outdoor fireplaces should have plenty of space for comfortable seating and lounging for guests as well.  

Outdoor kitchens can be an a tremendous asset if they're well planned and well equiped.

Choosing materials that withstand the weather, are durable, and shed water, is practical.  Weatherproof surfaces for counter tops and workspaces such as ceramic tile or granite, guarantees years of durability and good looks throughout the seasons.  These materials also add a sense of luxury to the outdoor kitchen. 

Cabinet storage is an important element to an outdoor kitchen.  Cabinets alleviate the need to bring out necessary cooking equipment and utensils from inside that are used outdoors.  Storage is a luxury in any space, but especially in the outdoor kitchen.  Preparing meals with everything at hand as you would in the kitchen inside your home makes good sense.  No need to leave the party and make trips into the house time and time again.

Barbecuing has gone high-tech.  And the market for barbecue grills is hot. "Consumers are grilling much more than burgers and chicken today - and they are looking for quality tools and a greater range of accessories to have the versatility to cook any meal on the outdoor grill," said Trace Weskamp, Director of Accessories Product Development at Weber, the world's leading manufacturer of outdoor gas and charcoal grills..  New smoking accessories are one of the areas of focus for Weber.  Some of these accessories includes smoking woods such as hickory, apple, mesquite, cherry, pecan or beech, depending on the chef's choice of flavor.  Other new product lines are stainless steel smoker boxes which when placed on the cooking grates transforms any gas grill into a smoker.  I find the new Plancha Universal Griddle,  very interesting.  This flat top griddle enables grillers to cook a variety of dishes on the barbecue.  The Plancha features a slightly angled cooking surface, draining fats away from the food.  The cast-iron construction retains heat, while the porcelain-enameled surface resists sticking.

Spicy Italian outdoor kitchens whould likely feature an imported wood-fired pizza oven, perhaps from Naples.  They're integrated into a wall, create amazing flavors, and retain heat very well.  You can cook other foods beside pizza in these ovens such as fresh veggies.... (more)

My wife and I have so much fun when we travel and find anything... like stray cats and squirrels.  Eric Roberts

Recently, I had the great good fortune to stay at Hotel Maya in Long Beach, for several days while up in the greater Los Angeles area.  The experience instantly became an unexpected combination of exotic getaway, urban voyeurism and comfort.  I use the word ‘experience’ because Hotel Maya is far more than a room, far greater than the sum of its parts.  Similar to the soothing quality that high quality ‘comfort food’ evokes, the place felt like an unusual combination of luxury and home – with all the comfort and quirks that implies.

     While Hotel Maya is a Doubletree property (Hilton Hotels family), it has little-to-none of that regimented, predictable, institutionalized feel of a ‘chain’.  Instead, as a separately branded hotel, the Maya and Latin influence and motif is felt nearly everywhere I roamed – from the colors, to the art, to an array of events they host, offering educational opportunities and a sense of cultural adventure without ever having to get a passport or board a plane.  

     As a boutique property (my favorite size), Hotel Maya has 194 guest rooms spread across 4 buildings, plus the main facility that offers meeting rooms, the Fuego restaurant and a hookah lounge.  The front door to the lobby is made of gorgeous wood, is oversized and designed to swing open from either side.  As soon as I walked in, my feet were instantly stimulated by river rock imbedded into the flooring, flanked by reclaimed barn board and vibrant colored and clear glass on the walls.  The entire feel of the place was stimulating with color and texture and sported a fun eclecticism that was unpredictable, displaying gigantic carved wooden benches and tables and loads of art on the walls. 

     The staff was warm, inviting, accommodating.  What’s more, the place exuded a decidedly unfussy feel while being personally hospitable, the kind of behavior you might get from neighbors you love and respect.  Once I got to my room, my smitten-ness quickly became complete.  I melted into the room which was luxuriously large and overlooked the water, specifically the Harborlight Yacht Club, which Hotel Maya owns.  This view was set against the larger bay and backdrop of the Long Beach cityscape.  It was mesmerizing, watching about 20 pelicans resting on the dock.  Then, a surprise; I was transfixed as one pelican plunged into the water for his dinner.... (more)

Frank Iszak – One Man’s Journey from Hijacking Mastermind to Celebrated Yogi

Local author of Free For All To Freedom, Frank Iszak’s life story challenged the scales of morality as he transitioned from youthful hijacking mastermind to world wise yogi with the grace and poise of a man who has known internment and found freedom.

Frank Iszak grew up in communist Hungary behind the Iron Curtain. After 25 years in virtual slavery, Frank, and six associates participated in the first hijacking of a commercial airliner in 1956. The only possible outcomes they faced were escape and freedom, or capture and execution.

After three hours of unimaginable fear and suspense, including a brutal fight for the control of the aircraft at ten thousand feet, a two- hour flight over the Alps in blinding cloud cover, and a landing without navigational aids, Frank and his team touched down in West Germany, the free world.

Approached by military personnel at the airstrip, as Frank describes it, “The answer of life or death came in the form of the Stars and Stripes, flying from an American army military Jeep: I was free, I was born again this time to live the real life of a free man.”... (more)

“I don’t feel old.  I don’t feel anything till noon.  That’s when it’s time for my nap.”  Bob Hope

And so it was that a crowd of relatives and friends celebrated Bennet Mermel’s 90^th birthday recently, complete with sunshine, fabulous food and a shocked face as we all yelled SURPRISE when he walked through the door.  They say it’s not wise to startle old men yet, in Bennet’s case, it’s so very clear he can take it.  After all, you don’t survive multiple concentration camps and death marches without building a thick layer of skin. 

As Bennet made his way through the throng of people wishing him “Happy Birthday”, shaking hands and extending hugs, it was quickly obvious how affected he was by all this attention, as well as those responding back, like the boomerang that love symbiotically is.  When working on his memoir, he once told me “what you give out comes back to you”, a karmic law if there ever was one.  And of course that morning an infectious load of it was on display, the room pulsing out its unmistakable beat.

Writing Bennet’s life story has been one of my life’s greatest privileges; one that afforded a particular view through the lens of one man’s experience.  While so much of Bennet’s life was shaped by his endurance through concentration camps, he has never been defined or confined by them.  Instead, what has always struck me is his uncanny ability to recover his own sense of self, a changed man from the experience, to be sure, yet one who preserved both dignity and decency, surmounting many obstacles even in the years initially following his release.

After creating an astonishing life of successes – as an opera singer, an early pioneer in LA’s garment district, a father and world traveler – Bennet certainly has earned his afternoon naps, though I defy you to find many 90-year-olds who still walk a treadmill, do Sudoku and crossword puzzles with as much vigor as he.  Upon starting his short speech after we sang “Happy Birthday” and he blew out his candles, he joked and said, “I can’t see very well, I can’t hear much, etc., and while we all laughed at his litany of complaints, in an abrupt turn, he broke down sobbing.  This was not on account of his physical losses, mind you.  Rather, it sprang instantly from the place where both gratitude and sorrow reside. 

I know he knows how blessed he’s been throughout his life.   While Bennet has sustained images of horror, both actual and re-lived, he has gained insight and sensitivity from the depths of his head and heart, mining and polishing a hard-won maturity with honor and wit.  Though innocent by his own admission, he’s also nobody’s fool.... (more)

15th Anniversary of Heaven's Gate mass suicide at Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. March 26, 1997...

Views of Heaven's Gate:An Oral History

The largest mass suicide in U.S. history took place at a rented mansion off Camino Del Norte in March 1997. Presented here is a graphic -- viewer discretion advised -- video detailing the incident.

Following the video is a timeline of the cult's activity and it's 1997 news release detailing its plans.

Then, we present two "exit" videos -- the group made about 15 -- with members explaining their mind-sets and some of the particulars of their behaviors.

The final video presented here is one of leader Marshal Applewhite's numerous indoctrination videos.

For more information, follow the video links to additional presentations on several video sites.

This is presented in the interest of providing a partial oral historical record of one of the most disturbing chapters in recent American history as well as partially detailing the most spectacular, and disturbing, event in Rancho Santa Fe history.

Again, viewer discretion advised...

-- Editor's Note

Heaven’s Gate: A timeline

Many of the Heaven’s Gate adherents who were found dead in a Rancho Santa Fe mansion March 26, 1997, had been with the group for most of their adult lives. Their leader was Marshall Applewhite.

They were found with their bags packed. Most were neatly laid out on beds, covered with purple shrouds. They wore running shoes and matching uniforms with “Heaven’s Gate Away Team” patches. Each had a $5 bill and quarters in his or her pockets.

The Heaven’s Gate group believed that once free of their earthly bodies, they would be whisked by spaceship to a celestial paradise and a “level beyond human.” They associated the Hale-Bopp comet, which could be seen in the sky that winter, with the spacecraft they awaited. They thought it was traveling behind the comet.

The Heaven’s Gate cult had existed for more than two decades. Its recruiting drives were followed by periods spent in near hiding. In its final years, its message was spread through the Internet. Here is a timeline of the group’s history.

1972: Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles, a nurse, meet at a Houston hospital. They set out on a spiritual quest and open a metaphysical bookstore.

January 1973: Applewhite and Nettles close their bookstore and set out to find their spiritual mission.

February 1973-August 1974: Applewhite and Nettles travel around the country, camping in parks and skipping out on motel-room bills.

Aug. 27, 1974: Applewhite and Nettles are arrested in Harlingen, Texas, on charges of credit-card fraud and auto theft. The charges against Nettles are dropped, but Applewhite is extradited to St. Louis and spends six months in jail.

March 1975: Applewhite and Nettles go to Ojai. Two of their recruits are a mother and her adult daughter.

April 1975: About 80 people meet at a Hollywood Hills home to hear Applewhite and Nettles. Twenty-four people from that meeting agree to meet in Gold Beach, Ore., with Applewhite and Nettles two weeks later.

May 5, 1975: The followers meet Applewhite and Nettles in Gold Beach. The leaders now call themselves Bo and Peep.

June 1975: Applewhite and Nettles abandon several followers in Sedona, Ariz.

Aug. 24, 1975: Applewhite and Nettles make a public appearance at Cañada College in Redwood City.

Sept. 14, 1975: The group meets in Waldport, Ore., expecting a spaceship to land. No spaceship shows up, but more than 30 people agree to join the group. The cult gets its first negative publicity over the fiasco.

Fall 1975: The group camps at the Colorado National Monument, waiting for a spaceship to pick up the members.

April 21, 1976: Nettles announces that the group no longer will hold public meetings. Many people leave the group during the next year. Its numbers drop from about 100 to two dozen. Nettles now calls herself Ti, while Applewhite goes by the name of Do.

June 19, 1985: Nettles dies of liver cancer.

May 27, 1993: The cult places a one-third-page ad in USA Today and once again begins recruiting members, this time using the Internet to spread its message.

June-October 1995: Heaven’s Gate members spend several months living in a compound in a remote New Mexico town.

October 1996: After living in several north San Diego County homes the year before, the cult moves into a mansion in Rancho Santa Fe.

March 26, 1997: The bodies of 39 cult members are discovered in the mansion.

May 1997: The husband of one of the dead cult members kills himself at an Encinitas motel. A member for 20 years, he had left the group in 1994. He had expressed regret that he was not with them when they died. A second former cult member who attempted death with him is revived.

February 1998: The second former cult member’s body is found in a tent in the Arizona desert, nine months after he survived the earlier suicide attempt.... (more)

Rosalie Cushman Explores 'Warwick's Books - A Local Gem'

Loaded with programs, including authors, publisher representatives, along with a commensurate plethora of books, Warwick’s Books of La Jolla tickles the avid reader’s fancy.  I recently attended a delightful panel discussion of three local authors’ self-professed “path to publishing”.  While there are as many stories about how any author got started, there remain core strategies that can accomplish the persistent writer’s goal to publication, whichever path he or she chooses.  The industry has been shifting, of course, as the advent and ever-burgeoning presence of self and eBook publishing continues to bloom (some say ‘explode’).

The authors at Warwick’s on March 20 included Caitlin Rother, author and co-author of eight books, including Poisoned Love, Margaret Dilloway, author of How to be an American Housewife and Marjorie Hart, author of Summer at Tiffany.  All of these women had interesting stories of their writing histories and paths to publication.  The audience was filled with would-be, aspiring and/or semi-accomplished writers, all (including my humble little self) eager to gobble up potential advice.

It is a sobering prospect, this writing business; even more sobering trying to sell a piece of fiction or non-fiction, particularly in light of the current paradigm shift in the publishing world.  It is just such a publishing paradigm shift that also includes a decade (or more) of massive advances given to ‘celebrity’ authors’ which swamp the industry, elbowing the little guys/gals increasingly off to the sidelines (or ditches).  Case in point; in her early days Margaret Dilloway described ‘selling’ the manuscript Bluetooth for Dummies, only to have it cancelled.  (The publisher didn’t think it would sell!!)  To add insult to injury, her agent then dropped her.  If an author cannot demonstrate immediate ROI for an agent or publisher, the uphill climb is made that much more difficult. 

Still, like the independent bookstore the event was set in, all three women offered promise and hope in the form of meaningful suggestions, albeit conventional.  Even with less accounting for the industry shift, they were still long on practical strategies for certain promotional activities and agent-snagging techniques.  The aspect I liked most about their program was the setting – an independent bookstore.  Warwick’s demonstrates they can not only have their cake but eat it too, in the age of internet superiority and B & N type domination.  Warwick’s offers an inviting environment, exceedingly helpful staff and is bullish in creating events that bring in a crowd.... (more)

Style Matters with Penelope Voisen -- 'Spring Trends Are In The Air'

There’s a pretty outlook for Spring 2012.  On the home decorating front, it’s a season of renewal and reinvention.  Spring is the perfect time to change out a few accessories or introduce new colors to refresh the interior of your home.  Gorgeous new fabrics, embellished pillows, wall art, eco-friendly bedding, and stylish lighting are just a few examples that can invigorate a room.

Living responsibly with eco-awareness in furnishings and accessories continue to be a definite trend for Spring 2012.  Green design, using resource efficient and healthy materials, is good design.  Luxurious organic bed and bath linens, eco-silk draperies and table linens are making a strong debut.   Eco-friendly furniture made of recycled or reclaimed woods is very popular for the spring season, and are showing up more than ever throughout designer showrooms.  Bamboo, cork and other natural materials not only are a trend, but contain a certain character and texture that create a wonderful feel to a room.

 Color palettes for spring include beautiful upbeat yellows, fresh blues and lively pinks, along with a wide variety of clean whites.  Cheerful, happy and right-this-minute yellow for example, is popping up in furniture, linens, dishware and other accessories.  The power of optimistic yellow in interiors will bring a smile to everyone.

PENELOPE’S STYLE TIPS:

Dress your bed in luxury, organic linens.

Paint a guest room warm yellow, add dramatic coral accents.

Dazzle your dining table with gleaming silk or satin linens.  Your tableware will glow!

Add some sparkle to your sofa with bronze leather or sequined bordered pillows.

Use a silver leaf or metallic finish accent chair for a posh, glamorous addition to a room.

Sense the Italian influence this spring.  Serve pasta!  Open a bottle of red wine and listen to Luciano Pavorotti in the background – who could resist?

Other influences from cultures around the world are design trends that will be evident this spring season.  Furnishings from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East will be making a strong statement.  

 Hollywood glamour has caught the eye of the interior design industry as well.  Metallic home furnishings, fabrics, and accessories are a hot trend this spring.  New collections of rich opulence and couture flair in shimmering silver, pewter, gold and bronze are popular in everything from furniture and fabrics to the tabletop.

 We want our home to be stylish, comfortable and increasingly eco-friendly.  The trends for Spring 2012 offer many terrific options for creating and up-to-date home with classic past and present design elements that will create a spring-like ambiance of comfort and elegance.

Former Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club GM Nordstrom Lands on Feet at Payson, Ariz. Rim Golf Club

 The Rim Golf Club at Payson, Arizona named Steve Nordstrom as the new general manager. Nordstrom is responsible for all club operations, golf operations, food and beverage, membership marketing and merchandising for this club that was recently ranked #24 in Golfweek's 2012 Top 100 Ranking Best Residential Courses in the Country. "I am really excited to be here at such a highly regarded club...one that is at the top of the private club lists not only in Arizona but throughout the country," Nordstrom said. "I look forward to working with the members and ownership to make The Rim Golf Club experience an even better one for our members and guests."

Nordstrom brings a wealth of private club experience to The Rim Golf Club. His well-versed skillsets are highlighted with over two decades of club management of experience and additionally, over twenty-two years of experience in food and beverage/restaurant management. Prior to joining The Rim Club, Nordstrom recently served as the General Manager and Chief Operating Officer at the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club, a club consistently rated as one of the top twenty five golf courses in California and regarded as the top course in San Diego County. From 1995 through 2000, Nordstrom served as the General Manager at San Diego Country Club, a member-owned club that has hosted US Women's Open and is the home course of the legendary champion Billy Casper.

... (more)

STALKING DA SHADOWS WITH CATHERINE CARLTON FINE ARTIST (at Solana Beach City Hall Gallery)

 Carlsbad artist Catherine Carlton was in the catbird's seat for an art show continuing through next month at Solana Beach City Hall, HER art show. She was joined in the sculpture gallery by the renowned Syd Harris.

The unique expression that has its own language of form, color, space, emotion and technique THAT IS Catherine Carlton attracted quite a few people to the artists' opening.

This shadow of a series exposes the vulnerability of the creative process, in Catherine's words, while questioning assumptions about art, an audience and the artist incognito. The shadows began to tug at all from canvases speaking to the hidden parts in all of us; the personal, private, mysterious reaches of the soul.

As always, a cornucopia of treats and sweets greeted the guests, including many of the North Coast's cognoscenti and fellow artists. As in the lyrics of a song or a verse in a poem, the audience was asked to pause, reflect, remember...and feel their own connection. All the better, art for the home or office? Ever the egalitarian, Catherine sells her images by the square-foot, so bring your ruler to the gallery.

Want to know more? Visit www.catherinecarlton.com. The show continues through March 31 at Solana Beach City Hall Gallery, 635 South Highway 101.

  (Despite a slight blemish provided by a disagreement between a couple of Edwardian gents, the night was adjudged fit and fun for all.) 

 ... (more)

Wine Lists, We Don't Need No Stinking Wine Lists At Delicias. We got I-somme apps...

 Award Winning Wine Lists Passe' at Delicias: C'est i-Somme interactive wine apps for peeps

Delicias Restaurant Owner Removes Paper Wine Lists for Wine List App i-Somm.

Delicias owner Owen Perry ditched the last of his restaurant’s paper wine lists this week, replacing them with the i-Somm interactive wine application.  Released in 2010, the app was written for iPads to display the restaurant’s wine list, along with information on each wine, including ratings, pricing and pairing suggestions. (Delicias is known in the region for its award-winning wine list, y'all.)

“I came in one night, collected all the printed wine lists, stuck them in the trunk of my car and drove off,” said Perry (pictured, right with new wine list I-pod app).  “Printed wine lists are expensive and constantly have to be updated.  We had a long transition period going from the printed lists to the i-Somm, and I thought it was time to make Delicias fully electronic.”

The i-Somm wine app is for restaurants, hotels, private clubs and retail wine stores.  Designed for use by establishments with a large selection of wines, 10 restaurants nationwide have already adopted the app, including Delicias, the Hilton BayFront in San Diego, Oneida Indian Nation in Verona, New York, Café Largo in Key Largo, Florida and The Wine Mapp in Greenwich, Connecticut.  Waiters present diners an iPad with the app, on which they can find search options for name, price, region, color, flavor profile or critics’ ratings.  Another option displays the food menu and suggests wine pairings along with detailed tasting notes for each wine as well.

... (more)

Uh-Oh, It's Minkow, Marsch v. The Bridges Again with Casey Anthony Attny. Macaluso in Mix...

 A real estate developer accused one of the world's largest law firms of legal malpractice involving a gated golf project in one of the world's richest communities, Rancho Santa Fe.

Nicolas Marsch and Briarwood Capital sued DLA Piper US LLP and law firm partner Brian Foster, in Superior Court. Marsch claims the defendants represented both Briarwood and Lennar Corp. during the development The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe DLA Piper, Foster and Nicolas Marsch in May 2010, claiming that Foster and DLA Piper helped Marsch get the better of Miami-based Lennar, causing it millions of dollars in losses. That case was settled for $37.5 million.

See the previous Ah-Ha Rancho Santa Fe News stories on the subject here...

(Photos: The two faces of Barry Minkow...)

The disputes surrounding the real estate project also have ties to convicted fraudster Barry Minkow, who is serving a second prison sentence for fraud after pleading guilty to conspiring to damage Lennar by falsely accusing it of deceptive accounting. After Minkow's comments on YouTube and the Internet, Lennar's market value declined by more than $500 million. As part of his plea deal, Minkow agreed to help federal prosecutors investigate Marsch, which hired Minkow after his partnership with Lennar soured. Marsch has denied any wrongdoing

In his new complaint, Marsch claims that since 1997, DLA Piper represented Marsch's Briarwood, and Lennar Corp., Lennar San Jose Holdings Inc., Lennar Land Partners II LLP II, HCC Holdings LLC and Lennar Bridges LLC in connection with The Bridges golf project.

HHC Investors was founded by Lennar and Briarwood Capital to develop the project, according to the Bradenton Herald.

Marsch and Briarwood now claim that DLA Piper's "appalling and irreconcilable" negligence "caused continuous disputes between the parties," leading to a judgment against Briarwood and "various bankruptcies filed by the plaintiff."... (more)

Don't just watch the race at Del Mar, buy a horse ready to roll from Barretts at the track...

A new Thoroughbred sale is scheduled for this summer in Southern California. Barretts, in cooperation with Del Mar, plans to conduct the auction of horses in training in the racetrack's paddock July 22. The date falls on the first Sunday of Del Mar's 2012 meeting.

“Our goal is to get horses from outside the state of California to run at Del Mar and participate in Southern California’s racing program,” said Barretts general manager Kim Lloyd in a Feb. 27 telephone interview. “We want to continue to address the horse inventory shortage in Southern California and this is a way to do that. It (the sale) will be held immediately after the day’s last race at Del Mar and it will be a lot of fun. Another aspect of the sale will be to introduce the racing public and new owners to the auction process. It will give people a chance to buy a horse and get into racing immediately. It’s kind of preliminary how we are going to market it, but we’re looking for it to be something we can hopefully do annually at Del Mar and grow it as we go along.”

The target number of horses for the sale is 30. Barretts management wants to recruit runners at a variety of competitive levels, from claimers to stakes winners, according to Lloyd.

The total “probably won’t be less than 30, but it could be a little more,” Lloyd said. “What we’re really looking for are horses that will be eligible for Del Mar’s ‘Ship and Win’ program, which was very successful last year.”

... (more)

CARQUEST takes a walk on the wild side of the law, fined $240K by county for overcharging

 A resolution of an investigation of Golden State Supply, doing business as CARQUEST Auto Parts stores, has resulted in a $242,715 judgment against the retail and wholesale corporation, the San Diego County District Attorney's Office announced today.

The case was filed jointly by the District Attorney's Office and the San Diego City Attorney’s Office in San Diego Superior Court. The case alleged CARQUEST stores in California charged customers more than the advertised or posted price on items in violation of unfair competition and false advertising laws.

“This judgment reflects the significance of the County’sDepartment of Agriculture, Weights and Measures in protecting consumers,” District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis said. “It’s important that businesses compete fairly in the marketplace and charge the prices they advertise.”

In addition, inspectors observed in eight stores that the cash registers failed to display the price of items where the consumer could see the display, which is a violation of state law. There was no admission of wrongdoing or liability by CARQUEST, which cooperated with prosecutors to reach a stipulated judgment.... (more)

WANT TO SEE A SUCCESSFUL COMMUNTY ONLINE DIGITAL JOURNALISM SOURCE? FOLLOW THE STATS FEB. 15 TO FEB. 21, 2012...

YOU REALIZE THE PATCH, NORTH COUNTY TIMES, RANCHO SANTA FE REVIEW, COAST NEWS WON'T TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE COME TO THEIR SITE DAILY. THEY WON'T TELL YOU BECAUSE - IN TRUTH - THE NUMBERS ARE SO TINY AS TO BE EMBARRASSINGLY IRRELEVANT TO TODAY'S COMMUNITY NEWS MEDIA.

WE'RE THE REAL DEAL AND SHOWING YOU THE GOOGLE ANALYTICS FOR THE LAST WEEK. IF YOU'RE A SITE VISITOR: THANK YOU AND FEEL FREE TO PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS. IF YOU'RE A LOSING COMPETITOR: TOUGH LUCK. IF YOU WANT TO GET THE WORD OUT: WE'RE HERE FOR YOU. CALL!

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO ADVERTISE ON THIS SITE OR PARTNER WITH US, EMAIL AT 92067FREEPRESS@GMAIL.COM.

STATS FEB. 15 TO FEB. 21, 2012:

Ah-Ha Rancho Santa Fe News

www.AhHaRSFNews.com

ABOUT US:

-  Born out of a desire to bring daily journalism coverage to Rancho Santa Fe, and surrounding communities, Ah-Ha Rancho Santa Fe News was launched in June 2010.

-  Ah-Ha RSF News is one of the top community journalism sites in the nation and is the top in per capita page views.... (more)

Bilbray-Saldana (Peters, Stahl) square off in first debate for new 52nd. Cong. Dist.(spans La Jolla to Rancho Bernardo)

The newly redrawn 52nd Congressional District offers candidates a challenge: its voters are neither predominantly registered Republicans nor Democrats.

The four main candidates in the 52nd Congressional District race talked gas prices, illegal immigration, small business and bailouts during a debate at the Country Club of Rancho Bernardo on Tuesday.

The lunchtime crowd at the Country Club of Rancho Bernardo provided a welcome setting for Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Carlsbad), who is competing against Democrats Scott Peters, a port commissioner and former president of the San Diego City Council, and Lori Saldaña, a former state assemblywoman and educator.

The debate, hosted by the Conservative Order of Good Government, brought together three challengers—Peters, Saldaña and John Stahl—and the incumbent, Bilbray, who is fighting to retain a seat after redistricting shifted him out of his current District 50.

The new 52nd covers several communities. In addition to Rancho Bernardo and nearby Poway, it reaches west to include La Jolla and Coronado.

Bilbray was at the center of several barbs against Washington, with all of the challengers arguing it is time for someone different to head to the nation's capital.

Bilbray, who first ran for Congress in 1995, has been in and out of the House for more than a decade. He lost his seat to Democrat Susan Davis after redistricting in 2000.

But in 2006 he won the 50th congressional seat after Randy Cunningham resigned, and he has represented it ever since.

"We need a new approach in Washington," said Democratic candidate Scott Peters, a former city councilman who represents San Diego on the Board of Port Commissioners. "Let's get the right person and stop worrying so much about the party."

The candidates answered a series of questions on a variety of topics, with one-minute each to respond. A couple of questions were targeted for specific candidates, with one providing Peters the chance to respond to Bilbray's characterization of him as the "father of San Diego's pension mess."... (more)

Machel Penn Shull of 'Machel's Ranch' TAKES CHARGE AT MILLE FLEURS Mardi Gras 2012...

 Think its easy organizing social events? Check out Machel Penn Shull, of Machel's Ranch Social Column, taking charge of the photo opp at Mille Fleurs on Mardi Gras Day for an upcoming column. Identify the ladies in the photo for bonus points. Or check them out next month at Machel's Ranch. 

... (more)

Occupy This: Eight Protestors Marching From Del Mar, Calif. to Delmar, Del. or thereabouts...

#OccupyWalk

The Occupy Walk is a National March starting at San Diego, California February 11th, walking across the United States taking a southern route to bypass winter in the first months of the walk. They plan on meeting up with people from other Occupations, groups who plan their own route to meet up with the national march, and anyone in any town that wants to walk for the cause. This walk will help promote the Occupy cause by drawing attention to the injustices that were first presented by the Occupy Wall Street Movement in 2011. Roll tide...

The group was scheduled to spend Monday night at a home in Leucadia and Tuesday night in Oceanside. They had hopes of reaching the Temecula area by sometime Wednesday night.

Members of the Occupy movement have launched a coast-to-coast walk that will bring them through North County and Southwest Riverside County, it was reported today.

A group of eight walkers ---- some from Occupy San Diego and some from Los Angeles ---- left Sunday from San Diego, and by noon Monday had reached Del Mar, publicist Nan DiGiovanni said.

They plan to walk to Washington, D.C., staying with host families along the way, DiGiovanni said. She did not have an estimated time for when they are expected to arrive at their destination, but said walkers are inviting people to join them along the way.... (more)

San Diego gas prices HIT NEW LOWS while reaching new seasonal HIGH, HIGHER, HIGHEST PRICES...

(EDITOR'S NOTE; WE HAVE ADDED A LOWEST GAS PRICE WIDGET TO THE MARGIN TO HELP IN THE QUEST FOR CHEAPER GAS.)

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County rose today to its highest amount since May 24, increasing 1.2 cents to $4.071.

The average price has risen for 26 consecutive days and is 20.3 cents more than one week ago, 34.2 cents higher than a month ago and 50.9 cents more than a year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

The average price has risen 31.4 cents over the past 26 days, including 2.5 cents on Sunday.

Analysts have cited increasing oil prices and the closure of some refineries that supply California customers as reasons for the rising gasoline prices.

Crude oil costs account for two-thirds to three-quarters of the price of a gallon of gasoline, according to Tupper Hull of the Western States Petroleum Association, a trade association representing oil companies in six western states.

THIS JUST IN FROM CHARLES LANGLEY, SAN DIEGO UCAN.ORG FUEL TRACKER. FOR MORE VISIT HERE...

 In the last 48 hours, gas prices in San Diego have surged by nearly 10¢ a gallon. At $4.07 a gallon, San Diego's gas prices are the highest on record for any February in County history, including the year 2008, when gasoline prices hit an all-time record high of $4.64 a gallon on June 13, 2008. This trend is paralleled by a a national average of more than $3.54 a gallon, which is also the highest price on record.

Since last Monday, San Diego prices have increased 17.6¢ a gallon.

According to a report published in Businessweek last Wednesday, two major Southern California refineries have shut down for maintenance in order to comply with State and Federal clean air mandates.  These annual shutdowns are famous for causing shortages and price spikes.  Every spring, refineries must change their gasoline formulation to accommodate seasonal changes in air quality. The summer blend is more expensive to produce and requires a shutdown of the refinery. Refiners must then buy their fuel on the "spot market."

How the spot market affects your gas prices

When a refinery shuts down, it will often buy the fuel it needs from other refiners, who sell it for cash on the spot.   This is where the term "Cash on the barrel head" and "cash on the spot" come from, and it is where the term "spot market" originates. 

Spot fuel is surplus fuel.  In San Diego, there are a large number of gas stations that sell surplus fuel at deep discounts. These stations are the independents that aren't affiliated with a major brand such as Chevron, Shell, Arco, etc.  Normally, unbranded independents are the most competitive players in San Diego's retail gas market. Usually, an unbranded station will charge as much as ten or twenty cents a gallon less for its gasoline than a brand-name competitor.  Brand name retailers, on the other hand, must pay a predetermined "rack price" for their gasoline, which is almost always higher.

Because the unbranded stations are intensely competitive, they tend to force the prices down. But right now, surplus gasoline is hard to find.  On Thursday, we reported that average retail price in San Diego was $3.96 a gallon, but our estimate of the price an independent dealer must charge to break even was $4.06 a gallon, which is more than many brand names stations are charging as their retail price.  This phenomena, where unbranded dealers pay more for their gasoline than brand-name dealers is called a "rack inversion," and in our experience, rack inversions are always accompanied by higher gas prices on the street.

New York Fashion Week Goes to the Dogs at Helen Woodward Animal Center

Last week so many wonderful things happened for dogs, many I was able to report to you on a very timely basis, this event actually occurred on February 15th and was inspired by Fashion Week and the models hitting the runways in New York.  The emphasis last week during this fashion event was that ‘Saving Lives Never Goes Out of Style!’

The Helen Woodward Animal Center out of Rancho Santa Fe, California mimicked Fashion Week and conducted their very own extremely special photo shoot.  The fashion models that strutted their stuff in California were more of the furry canine variety though.

The wonderful Jessica Gercke, Public Relations Manager of the Helen Woodward Animal Center provided me with all of the details.  With every other good dog thing going on locally and throughout the U.S., I certainly wanted to give this event the due it deserved albeit a few days after it occurred.  It is wonderful to be able to pay respects to those whose hearts exist in the canine world; appreciating all of the great efforts that are made by outstanding individuals each and every day of the year!

Ricki Douglas, Volunteer Photographer for the Helen Woodward Animal Center caught the swankier-sides of adoptable canine friends.  Ricki’s intention was to capture the sweet dispositions displayed candidly so that potential adopters would be just begging to meet these beloved pets and make them a forever family member rather than seeing them as abandoned.  Just because the animal was left on its own to defend its own life, does not mean that the animal is not deserving of love and attention!

As with training, metrics display proof positive that adoption rates increase when an animal has a great photo of it as opposed to showing a photo of the animal in its original surroundings; those photos proving much less flattering.  Just as with a home that is up for sale but untidy, people have a hard time imagining an animal being happy when its photo displays it as unhappy and solemn, appearing behind bars many times.  Seriously, wouldn’t you rather see an animal displaying its gentle nature and true beauty in a photo where the dog has been saved and is ready to love again?

Ricki Douglas, of Ricki Douglas Photography, agrees that photo shoots in pleasant settings with the focus on happiness and love, are much more appealing and she was thrilled at the opportunity to be able to provide the photos that could potentially help these animals locate their forever homes.  Ricki also provides Pet-of-the-Week photos for the Center, helping to increase the turn-around time for many pets; helping place abandoned animals more frequently.... (more)

Gourmet Veggie Tales - Chino's Farm: Story, Paintings-Keiko Tanabe; Photos-Dan Weisman

 There is a farm sitting quietly in the middle of one of the America's most expensive communities, Rancho Santa Fe, just north of San Diego, California.  I drive by it often and see a few workers tending the vegetables.  Considering suburban sprawl rapidly approaching to nearby communities, I can hardly believe there is still a place so simple and serene right here.

The Vegetable Shop at The Chino Family Farm

Featuring: Multiple varieties of most produce: Tomatoes, squash, squash blossoms, beans, shell beans, dried beans, melons, cucumbers, sprouts, greens and lettuces, celery root, carrots, turnips, parsnips, salsafy, radishes, brussels sprouts, okra, onions, Jerusalem artichokes, peppers, herbs, strawberries, strawberry figs, Concord grapes.

Location: 6123 Calzada del Bosque, Rancho Santa Fe (off Via de la Valle, S6)

Open year round:
Fall/Winter: Tuesday-Saturday 10-4; Sunday 10-1
Spring/Summer: Tuesday-Saturday 10-5; Sunday 10-1
Closed Mondays.

Recorded farmstand information: (858) 756-3184

 Chino's Farm is one of the best-kept secrets here in San Diego as the owner family keeps a very low profile (there’s not even a sign nearby) and their higher prices make it a little harder to reach the mainstream market (but you get the money's worth).  That being said, their produce is much sought after by many gourmet chefs from all over California as well as people looking for the best-tasting vegetables.  As a Japanese, I am also intrigued by the story of the Japanese immigrant family and their children who are behind the success of this farm (read more).

Wolfgang Puck, one of their customers, wrote this recipe, Chino Farm Carrot and Ginger Soup.  I haven't tried it yet but it sounds awfully good especially in the cooler months.  Bon appétit!... (more)

A motorcyclist was seriously injured in Encinitas Saturday when the rider hit an SUV that was making a U-turn on South Coast Highway 101, sheriff’s officials said.

The driver of a Nissan Pathfinder sport utility vehicle made the U-turn in front of the southbound motorcycle south of Santa Fe Drive about 3 p.m. Saturday.

Sheriff’s officials said the motorcycle rider suffered serious, but not life-threatening injuries, and was taken to a hospital.

Authorities did not release the age or gender of either driver.

Two From Don Bauder on Rancho Santa Fe's Own: Lady Catarina, Charles Brandes and 'The News'

(Photo:  Lady Catarina Pietra Toumei, left, with attorney Gretchen Von Helms at U.S. District Court, San Diego.)

Daily newspapers still report titillating items regularly. Early in February, the shapely Lady Catarina Pietra Toumei was charged in Manhattan with claiming she was a representative of the storied Guggenheim family as she tried to peddle fake diamond, gold, and oil investments. She is a social butterfly residing in Rancho Santa Fe (where else?). Trouble is, prurient readers could get this news for free online many hours before the newspaper reported the story the next morning.

So, it was not surprising that only a few days after the lady (who may or may not be a countess) dominated front pages that the big Sacramento-based newspaper chain McClatchy reported a 10 percent plunge in its January advertising revenue, compared with a year earlier. McClatchy’s earnings were about cut in half during the period. The stock plunged 12.2 percent that day.

Admittedly, the adventures of the comely Lady Catarina Pietra Toumei are more captivating than the plunging profits of McClatchy Company. But the ad sales drop of the newspaper company does interest us old fogies who concentrate on (1) money and (2) the media. Bottom line: it’s clear that investors, and perhaps the daily newspaper industry itself, are convinced that advertisers will continue to migrate to digital media, and even though dailies are stepping up their own efforts to make money online, it’s a losing battle. Ink and paper will continue in sick bay.

Daily newspapers are slashing costs, but that won’t be enough. There are rumors that the San Diego Union-Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register, and smaller papers owned by MediaNews Group could consolidate under common ownership. Hedge funds that have scooped up debt of overleveraged Southern California papers “are intent on driving consolidation,” says columnist James Rainey of the Los Angeles Times. The individual newspapers would retain their identities and news staffs but would combine efforts in advertising sales, distribution, printing, and human resources, says Rainey.

Such consolidation would no doubt lead to even more personnel head chopping. But would more pogroms work? Wall Street analysts don’t think so. They think the future of the daily newspaper is grim. “We are skeptical of the New York Times’ ability to keep reducing costs, and are concerned that the company will run out of fat to trim and have to cut into muscle, hurting the quality of its product,” says Joscelyn MacKay of Morningstar Research. “The growing number of free online information sources continues to weigh on New York Times’ core business,” which is newspapers, representing 84 percent of sales.... (more)

It's a weiner, it's a burger; it's a burger in a weiner. Ah, just visit Dog House Diner

(Erin Jackson is a food writer and photographer who is obsessed with discovering the best cheap and tasty eats in San Diego, including all things sweet and sugary, for her dessert blog San Diego Sugar. On Twitter, she's @ErinJax.)

Dog House Diner

1001 N. El Camino Real, Encinitas CA 92024 (map); 760-635-3647;thedoghousediner.com
Cooking method: Griddled
Short Order: A burger inspired by Chicago-style hot dogs that's surprisingly tasty
Want Fries With That? Go for it. The lightly salted shoestrings are classic and simple
Price: Cheese weiner burger, $6.50; fries, $3.50

Most hamburger innovations involve tweaking toppings, high shock factor bun swaps (doughnuts come to mind), or making them mega- or micro-sized. Until last weekend, I'd never seen anything like what's happening at Dog House Diner, home of the Weiner Burger. The registered trademark item features a hot dog-shaped cylinder of beef served in a toasted hot dog bun, with tomato, a pickle spear, and house-made special sauce. Owner Sandy Cherman describes it as a "family creation." His son, Justin, (a Culinary Institute of America grad) dreamed up the idea when he was 12 years old, and perfected the recipe for the sauce on top with his wife over a decade later.

There's a version with cheese, another with cheese and bacon, and the "Mammoth Wiener Burger", which is served between grilled cheese sandwiches. Since it was my first time, I took things slow and started with the cheese wiener burger.

It made a funny first impression, but dismissing the wiener burger because of its quirkiness would be a mistake. The elongated Twinkie-shaped angus beef had a nice sear on all sides and deep, beefy flavors. It was fairly moist, despite being cooked to medium well. A slice of American cheese and Russian dressing-style special sauce upped the moisture and flavor significantly. I'm not a fan of most special sauces, but the sweet and spicy composition of this version was supremely addictive—five days later, I'm still thinking about it.... (more)

View from Machel's Ranch: 'Sunshine fills Rancho Santa Fe with inspiration and parties'

(From left: 1. Timothy Nunn, Artist Joelle Blouin and her agent, Edward at Legends Gallery in La Jolla; 2. Make your Valentine’s reservations at Mille Fleurs this year! Chef Martin Woesle is featured here with Jill Drouin and Joe, two of Mille Fleurs’ fantastic staff members; 3. Order you flowers or chocolate covered strawberries from Lemon Twist on Valentine’s Day, located on Del Dios Highway across from Cielo. Photos: Machel Penn Shull.)

How do you keep yourself inspired every day? Do you ever get up and think, “This is it, same thing as yesterday. How long will life continue on with this same routine?” Yes, life can be boring, methodical and sometimes just plain humdrum. What do you do when this happens? Do you decide to pity yourself? Feel like life is predictable and what is the point?

 I admit the reason I am writing this is because I encountered these feelings this week. Yes, I too, can find the eucalyptus trees and the design of the perfect landscape in California just a bit on the blah side. While winter is happening elsewhere in the world, we are constantly blessed with pretty amazing weather. No reason to whine about that, right? Well, we must hibernate, recharge, regroup and reinvent ourselves. Even though there are moments that can eclipse us that make us feel bored, we must remind ourselves of each and every blessing. I recently looked through some of my photos and thought, “These pictures show a beautiful life.”

I soon realized that although it’s tempting to indulge in idleness, we must stop ourselves from this pitfall. The challenge is to remain upbeat, youthful and hopeful with each new day. We may think we know what’s going to happen and that we’ve got it all figured out. However, life still remains a mystery … just like the nature of true love. With the “Month of Love” upon us, I found some fun events in and around the Ranch. Happy Valentine’s Day Rancho Santa Fe!

Around Town

On Jan. 28, Karian Forsyth, one of the top five women I love to feature in “Machel’s Ranch” held her first 2012 monthly spa party in The Crosby. On a hot Saturday afternoon, these ladies enjoyed fine pampering, good company and excellent food that day.

I turned out to be the unlucky one that at the last minute was unable to make it due to some unexpected events, which prohibited me from indulging with some of my favorite friends. I have included a stolen moment from that day that shows these women making the most of their time by sharing their souls and time with each other. How wonderful.

On Jan. 30, I received some exciting news about one my favorite friend’s family members. Claude Whitney — a superior judge in Orange County for over 30 years — turned 81 on a fabulous Sunday with his loved ones. Talk about making life fun and worth living; Claude is a black diamond skier who “Skis for Free” as he is more than 70 years old. From Skiing in Aspen and Telluride to Deer Valley, nothing is going to slow down Claude Whitney.
I have include a beautiful photo of him surrounded by his wife and loved ones. Happy birthday Claude. Meredith MacDonald is the very proud stepdaughter of Claude Whitney.... (more)

Saldana v. Bilbray in newly reconstituted 52nd Cong. Dist. (Oh yeah, Scott Peters, too, but who cares.)

 

Former California state legislator Lori Saldaña, a Democrat, is seeking to represent San Diego's redrawn 52nd District in the U.S. Congress with a campaign based on her work in education, environmental causes and the defense of immigrants.

The daughter of Frank Saldaña, a Marine veteran who pursued a career as a reporter at the San Diego Evening Tribune, she grew up in the city's Claremont neighborhood.

Lori Saldaña will compete in the June 5 open primary against fellow Democrat Scott Peters, chair of the Port of San Diego; Republican Rep. Brian P. Bilbray, who currently represents the 50th District in Washington; and two other GOP hopefuls, John Stahl and Wayne Iverson.

Under California's new election law, the top two vote-getters in June regardless of party will face off in the November general election.

Saldaña was elected to the state Assembly for the first time in 2004, was reelected twice and also has been an instructor for San Diego Community College, associate dean at San Diego Mesa College and is an acknowledged expert on water quality.

"Traditional Democrats and Republicans don't know what to do with me. I'm not a traditional Latina, since instead of participating in established organizations I directed the Sierra Club and grew up in the middle class neighborhood of Claremont," said Saldaña in an interview with Efe, adding that she is very proud of her Panamanian and Mexican roots.

Her work in the state Assembly led her to sponsor bills to reduce greenhouse gases, make solar energy cheaper and train small businessowners to take advantage of development opportunities.

"I was married to an oceanographer, and so for many years I crossed over to Ensenada every day so that I learned the trans-border dynamics," said Saldaña, who has a B.A. and M.A. in education from San Diego State University.

"After college I taught at the community college where I also administered the scholarships for the technical training of students by the Labor Department. Due to budget cuts, those scholarships disappeared, which made me take note of the need to do legislative work to restore them," she said.

The 52nd District, where the population is about 15 percent Hispanic, is facing challenges mainly associated with the high cost of education and the reduction of well-paid jobs.... (more)