The Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild Bites the Dust -- Union Bank Forecloses Art Show 

The latest Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild Show titled "Passions" opened this week to record gallery crowds but it didn't go off quite as advertised.

The show was scheduled to run until July 5. However, Union Bank, the Guild's landlord foreclosed on the Guild and the show. They have been evicted from their Paseo Delicias space with two weeks notice and must vacate the premises by the end of the month.

Looks like the Rancho Santa Fe Art  Guild has outs own problems with financial institutions, namely the Union Bank a subject of frequent criticism for its financial practices.

A larger than usual crowd gathered at the Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild on Thursday, it turned out because this was the final art show ever after 15 years at the location in the rear of the Union Bank building on Paseo Delicias.

Union Bank officials who were not named told Guild officials last week they had to be off the premises by the end of May. They said they needed to expand the bank facility.

Also evicted with one months warning, the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation. 

Guild officials said they had no new location identified or idea how they would find one. However, they said they had several good options they hoped to pursue. Until that time, it was unclear how members or the guild would show work locally.

The new show will be held at a member's house, according to officials.

Union Bank officials could not be reached for comment.

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For more information, visit: http://ranchosantafeartguild.org

The Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild was formed in 1993 for the following purposes;

1. To support and encourage visual artists in our community and county

2. To provide funds for art education and outreach efforts such as scholarships for art majors, programs in schools, art programs, art teaching, education to the public on the benefits of art education and collecting. 

3. To provide talks on how important the arts are to our lives and society.

4. To host field trips to view collections and artist's studios.

5. To support a gallery with art for sale for the purpose of supporting guild activities and outreach programs.

The majority of our Artist Members are residents of Rancho Santa Fe (51%) and the surrounding area. Each member serves on one or more committees, or holds a position on the board of directors, or both.  Committees are organized around guild functions or events, and each committee has a chair who reports to the board.

 The Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild maintains 501 c3 status.

The primary Guild functions and events are as follows;

Hanging and promoting new art exhibits in our main gallery and several satellite galleries every 2 months.

Fund Raising events throughout the year in support of the guild and our charities.

The Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild strives to provide a focus on art in our lives, community, and county. We provide a place where our residents can browse the latest show in our gallery, attend receptions and fundraisers, and purchase art knowing that proceeds support local charities and outreach programs. Please join us and visit our gallery!

The Lemon Twist also rises: From the ashes to fresh strawberries and more...

Once a lonely spot on the wide open road from nowhere to far away, the Lemon Twist Fruit Stand has weathered fires, frost and floods over the last 30-plus years, only to emerge in 2013 with fresh local strawberries and much, much more. 

The legend that is the Del Dios Highway farm stand began in 1981 with two recent college graduates, best friends Katie Shull and Trudy Tunstall. They figured the scenic two-lane road from Escondido to Rancho Santa Fe would be the perfect spot for local fruit and fresh produce.

(Photos: Kaie Shull et al at this used to be the Lemon Twist after the 2007 fire.)

The surrounding area featured significant citrus production, including world class lemons and oranges. The Shull family, as well as the McKrinks on the maternal side, ran significant citrus acreage, later opening packing and growing operations still in business at nearby Vista.

The San Dieguito River Valley that runs alongside the stand has flooded several times. Cold weather, on occasion, has hurt the nearby citrus farms. All that was trivial, however, compared to the 2007 Witch Creek Fire that raced down Del Dios Gorge to Lusardi Preserve utterly devastating the small wood farm stand structure along with anything that stood in its path.

With only a small, fragmented outer gate still standing, Robin Shull, the 30 year old co-owner and manager, and family, set out to rebuild the Lemon Twist, going bigger and better, to the delight of an ever-growing number of highway travelers. The reconstructed stand is several times larger, featuring expanded facilities and offerings.

Since it's strawberry season in North County, dammit, the fresh crop of locally grown berries are going into everything from chocolate confections made with fresh daily fruit to salads, desserts and kitchen tables from hither to yon. The Lemon Twist has created a national name for itself in this regard with chocolate-dipped strawberries, and other fruits and gourmet products shipped from its online store.

Also available: Seasonal organic produce an citrus; gifts, local gourmet items, fruit and gift baskets; flowers, orchid, plans and succulent gardens; local, raw, organic Rancho Santa Fe honey, Talavera pottery, garden art, fountains and statuary.

The Lemon Twist is  at 8175 Del Dios Highway. It's open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. The website features additional information and online orders visit http://lemontwistfruitstand.com/ . The stand can be reached by phone at (858) 756-0826.

SAN DIEGO LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER RESPONDS TO SUPREME COURT DECISION TO DECIDE GAY MARRIAGE LAW --  CALIFORNIA’S PROPOSITION 8

Today, the United States Supreme Court has decided that it will review and rule on the Perry case regarding Proposition 8 in its current term. Proposition 8 was the 2008 California ballot measure that rescinded marriage equality for same-sex couples in California.

(Jan Garbosky (left) and Bonny Russell (right), who have been a couple for 20 years were congratulated yesterday by Caroline Dessert, a staff member at The San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center in Hillcrest.)

“To have the opportunity to have this case heard before the United States Supreme Court is an historic step forward in our movement for full equality,” said Dr. Delores A. Jacobs, chief executive officer of The Center.

“This is one of the most significant civil rights cases to reach the high court since , and provides an opportunity for the Supreme... (more)

Party hardy goes awry on Los Morros with stabbing, fights, underage drinking and arrests

A party in exclusive Rancho Santa Fe attended by more than 200 people late Friday night led to a stabbing, fights and arrests for disorderly conduct and resisting officers, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said.

One person was stabbed, another hit with a sheriff's stun gun, and six people arrested at a raucous house party at 17434 Los Morros. 

Deputies said the stabbing suspect got away in the confusion as they arrived just after midnight to a report of a stabbing at a home on the 17400 block of Los Morros, near the intersection of La Bajada, a crossroads just southeast of Encinitas.

The owner of the property on Los Morros was arrested for violating the county's social host ordinance against allowing underage drinking. Deputies used a Taser to arrest one person on the property. Several people younger than 21 were found drunk.

San Diego Sheriff's Sgt. Joe Passalacqua said arriving deputies... (more)

Super-luxury Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa back in business following $30 million facelift

Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa in San Diego’s upscale neighborhood of Rancho Santa Fe, has officially re-opened its doors following a $30 million transformation. The Mediterranean-inspired, all-suite property offers 49 guest casitas, spanning 45 acres.

Upon arrival, guests enter the San Diego resort’s private gates followed by a short drive to the clubhouse, exuding the newly designed reception lounge and courtyard, Sheridan boutique and new restaurant and bar.

The resort’s 49 all-suite, guest rooms average 1,000 square feet – among the largest in the United States – now feature custom-made, rustic furnishings, high-beam roofs, walk-in closets, spacious bathrooms with deep soaking tubs, expansive living spaces, fireplaces, intricate design pieces and private patios boasting private fireplaces and whirlpools. Special design enhancements were also made to the property’s 5,000-square-foot Hacienda. The estate-styled, private guest... (more)

Be Wise Organics, gnat flies and San Diego County supervisors reach 'last resort' measure

 A 4-0 vote, with Bill Horn recusing himself from the vote and discussion because he owns an organic farm, gave initial approval with adoption scheduled for Dec. 5. If approved, the ordinance would take effect Jan. 4.

“I think the ordinance we have before us today is an excellent ordinance,” said Supervisor Dianne Jacob.

“One of our charges here is to protect the public,” said Supervisor Pam Slater-Price. “We have a lot of people who cannot use their own property.”

Eye gnats, approximately 1/16 of an inch long, feed on protein from body fluids including the eyes, noses, and mouths of humans and animals. They are native to San Diego County and breed in organically-rich soil.

“Eye gnats are a nuisance for which we have no existing authority to address,” said Jack Miller, director of the county’s Department of Environmental Health (DEH).

Approximately 350 organic farms have commercial operations in San Diego County. Complaints... (more)

Want to learn about Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. -- Let the Manions be your guide (VIDEO)

(Editor's note: Who knows more about Rancho Santa Fe living than the Manions, longtime residents involved in all aspects of Ranch life since the word Go...Here's a video from their real estate company that, in the words of the cognoscenti such as nguyen chelinh: "Now, that's what I call a good video!" Enjoy.)

Wondering what to do the week of Nov. 1...Here's some arts and entertainment events Part 2

Collie Buddz & New Kingston: Reggae/dance hall music with Los Rakas, Nala Kete and DJ Carlos Culture; 9 p.m. today; Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach; $23-$25; bellyup.com or (858) 481-8140.

“If You Ever Leave Me … I’m Going With You!”: Longtime married performers Renee Taylor and Joe Bologna co-star in this new 100-minute comedy on the real-life whirlwind ride of their marriage, with anecdotes, film clips and scenes from many of their best-known shows; opens today and runs through Nov. 11; showtimes, 1 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 6:30 p.m. Sundays; Welk Resorts Theatre, 8860 Lawrence Welk Drive, Escondido; $44 ($59 with buffet meal); welktheatresandiego.com or (888) 802-7469.

“The Wizard of Oz”: The Classical Academy presents a student production of this stage musical based on the 1939 film version of L. Frank Baum’... (more)

Wondering what to do the week of Nov. 1...Here's some arts and entertainment events

 The Hutchins Consort: Classical violin octet performs neoclassical and romantic Russian works by Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky and Balakirev; 7:30 p.m. Friday; Schulman Auditorium, 1775 Dove Lane, Carlsbad; $15-$25; hutchinsconsort.org or (888) 996-2838.

Rome: Lead singer of Sublime With Rome; 9 p.m. Friday; Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach; bellyup.com or (858) 481-8140.

Palomar Chamber Singers and Palomar Chorale: “There and Back Again”: Choral music from American composers such as Samuel Barber, Alice Parker, Kirke Mechem, Libby Larsen, Leonard Bernstein; 8 p.m. Saturday; Performance Lab (D10), Palomar College, 1140 W. Mission Ave., San Marcos; $12, general; $10, seniors and staff; $8, students; palomarperforms.com or (760) 744-1150, ext. 2453.

La Jolla Symphony & Chorus: “Hero/Anti-Hero”: Season-opening program features Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, “Eroica&... (more)

I'M OUTTA MONEY...BUT MY BEST FRIEND'S STILL HUNGRY

by John Van Zante for Rancho Coastal Humane Society

Seniors living on fixed incomes, the working poor, people with disabilities or terminal illnesses, and the homeless will benefit when Rancho Coastal Humane Society expands the services of its Community Pet Food Bank starting Saturday, Nov. 3. Homeless and financially disadvantaged pet owners are invited to pick up free pet food and other supplies during the Grand Opening from 9:00 to 11:00 Saturday morning at 389 Requeza Street in Encinitas.

"These are people who have so little, yet share everything they have with their pets," says RCHS Community Liaison, Nick Winfrey. "RCHS has been providing pet food for needy people for quite some time. Now it's time to increase our efforts." 

RCHS spokesman John Van Zante relates the story of a homeless girl who was asked why she didn't give up her dog. "She said she had been homeless four months, and that her dog was her only source of support and stability. She said she would 'lose it' if it wasn't for her dog."

Winfrey adds, "Pets give unconditional love and a sense of normalcy for someone living on the streets, on a fixed income, or the working poor. Homeless shelters are not equipped to take pets so their owners stay on the street, share their meals, or go without food so their pets can eat." 

The National Coalition for the Homeless says many homeless pet owners avoid veterinary care because they're afraid they won't get their pets back. The Drake Center for Veterinary Care in Encinitas will join the Community Pet Food Bank at RCHS to offer free examinations and vaccinations for the dogs and cats of clients during the grand opening. 

Winfrey explains, "We'll have leashes and collars, blankets, flea treatment, and more. RCHS has received lots of donations, but this problem is not going away anytime soon. We're asking people to give until if feels good."  

The Community Pet Food Bank at RCHS will be open two Saturdays per month from 9:00 to 11:00 AM at 389 Requeza Street in Encinitas. Donations to the Community Pet Food Bank can be made any time. For more information visit RCHS, log on to www.sdpets.org, or call Nick Winfrey at 760-753-6413 x 104. 

The Country Friends 57th Annual Art of Fashion Show transforms Rancho Santa Fe into center of fall/winter fashion on Thursday, Sept. 20... 

Something very happening catwalks Rancho Santa Fe way on Thursday, Sept. 20, across a plain public green magically transformed into one of the largest outdoor fashion shows in the nation.

The Country Friends, in partnership with trendsetting South Coast Plaza, and The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, stages the ultimate in outdoor fashion events, the 57th Annual Art of Fashion runway show. 

It's a must-attend event for fashionistas, usually featuring creations from the world's leading designers and front-line, center-stage fall/winter collections. Upwards of 550 people generally make the day's activities.

The amazing festivities begins at 10:30 a.m. with boutique shopping on the lawn at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe followed by lunch at 11 a.m. The ultimate in outdoor runway shows kicks its heels "PROMPTLY" at 1:30 p.m. Then, an Apres' Affair Wine Tasting hosted, by Falkner Winery, Lemon Twist and Allure Chocolates, back at The Inn toasts off around 2:30 p.m as boutique shopping continues until credit cards are maxxed.

 The show highlights fashions from the 2012 fall/winter collections of renowned international designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, Valentino, Celine, Donna Karan, Roberto Cavalli, as well as clothes from Saks Fifth Avenue and Gucci. It's garnished with jewelry from such as  David Yurman and Black, Starr & Frost.

The Country Friends was founded in 1954 with 167 members. It has grown to more than 1,200 members and has distributed more than $12 million to San Diego County charities.

 The group funds more than two dozen charitable agencies each year, through events such as the Art of Fashion, and also proceeds from its consignment shop at Rancho Santa Fe, specializing in exquisite furniture, antiques, rugs, silver, china and objets d’art. Its mission is “helping people to help themselves.”

The event usually is sold out, so tickets probably are not available. However, it never hurts to check even at this late date. 

Valet parking is available at the event entrance. Tickets cost $225 for the fashion show and lunch, or $125 for the fashion show alone. They are available online at www.thecountryfriends.org or by calling (858) 756-1192, ext. 4.

Students Visit "Finding Nemo"'s Home -- The Australia Great Barrier Reef

"Finding Nemo"'s is coming to Rancho Santa Fe! The husband and wife, marine biologist and underwater photographer team, Wayne and Karen Brown, are presenting one of their nationally-acclaimed school assemblies, The Australia Great Barrier Reef Expedition, at Rancho Santa Fe School, this Friday, September 14. This fun and exciting program documents the Brown's expedition to visit and study the home of "Finding Nemo" -- The Australia Great Barrier Reef. The Browns take their audience on a virtual expedition using unique props, biological models, modern SCUBA diving equipment, and breath-taking underwater photography!

At the start of the program a life-sized coral reef is bulit on stage. Student volunteers help demonstrate some of the specialized underwater equipment we will need to visit this unique ecosystem. Using their reef and additional models, the Browns then show how Nemo's home is actually made of millions of tiny animals, called "coral polyps".

After their introduction to coral biology, undersea explorers Wayne and Karen Brown, then take students on a thrilling adventure to Nemo's home -- The Australia Great Barrier reef, via an engaging, high-definition digital presentation.

In this HD digital presentation students are invited to join the Browns on the expedition boat, where they meet the captain. As they accompany Wayne and Karen on their scuba dive, students see the incredible diversity of life on the largest coral reef on Earth. Students also meet the animals that live with Nemo and make the coral reefs their home. We see a fascinating variety of marine creatures big and small, from the most docile to the most dangerous. The students learn about the special relationships between different creatures. They also learn how fishes protect themselves from predators and how some fishes search for food.

After the "expedition", a gigantic, 8' tall inflatable, coral polyp appears on stage to dramatically show the anatomy of a coral polyp.

Quest for hats: A hat is a hat is a hat, but not actually, especially come Del Mar racing

                           Could that be designer Claudia Hapeman sporting veil, mask, and, possiby, hat?

Come opening day at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club; hats, hats and more hats are the madcap sidebar to the main story of the moment, namely the excitement of racing's return.

Thus begins the big fat hat dilemma for otherwise fashionable and well-appointed ladies.

Many women say they love hats, but never have occasion to wear them. Others complain a top hat, design-wise, is hard to find.

"Hat Day is opening Day," said Karen Moller, an official in the Country Friends. It's one of Rancho Santa Fe's leading charitable groups, with 1,100 members and a history of donating more than $12 million to local social service organizations since its inception in 1954. the ladies also have held a very impressive hat contest during their annual Day at the Races event, traditionally the second day of the meet, for 50 years.

"We have a hat parade and contest," Moller said. "It's just fun for women to find that perfect hat for the perfect outfit, but there are not many opportunities for women to wear hats.

"Hats are hard to find," Moller continued. "Nordstrom has a ton of them and boutiques in Del Mar Plaza, but that's about it."

Or consider the perspective of Ara Shamlyan, owner of the now defunct Scalini Restaurant, a longtime former fixture mere minutes from the Del Mar track.

Also a racing enthusiast, Shamlyan knows Royal Ascot at York, the premiere English thoroughbred racing event where hats have been the main course for hundreds of years. He has had is photo taken in the winner's circle at the Kentucky Derby with victorious Rancho Santa Fe horse breeders, and owners, such as Bob and Beverly Lewis.

"I've been going to the races here for many years," Shamlyan said. "Wearing hats is the perfect thing to do here.

"But buying hats in San Diego is difficult," Shamlyan quickly added. "There are no hat shops. It's not like the Kentucky Derby where the hotels set up hat boutiques for the women so they can match their hats to their dresses."

Claudia Hapeman models one of her designer hats.

 It is not enough to have just any hat, people say. those in the fashionable know must have a great hat, a hat with character and panache, a hat that stands up and out, over, and above the crowd of ordinary, more pedestrian, walking around hats.

Enter artist/designer Claudia Hapeman, best known locally for her ornate carnival masks. Seeing the need for high quality, exquisite and distinctive hats., and realizing the Del Mar racing crowd was counting down the days to the big show of hats at the track, Hapeman sprang into action.

Hats to her left, hats to her right, hats morning, noon and night. Hapeman spent the last few weeks buried at her studio on a quest for hats. She designed and personally constructed about 30 hats -- chic, stylish, smart, cool, hot, coolly coolly hot, in vogue, hip and smashing hats.

And now, the fruits of Hapeman's hat designs, part of her Modern Millinery collection and dot.com, are ready for their close-ups.

"Variety and variation, combination and customization," Hapeman said. "The sky is the limit for these hats. They are wearable, comfortable, well-balanced. They can be conversation pieces, works of art, decorated and highly individualized."

Another Hapeman in hat, hat.

 Hapeman's hats are priced from $65 to $500 depending on materials and complexity. She constructs them as one would a story or work of art. There's a background, middle ground and foreground providing a layered, and structurally sound look. Simpler hats may take a few off-and-on hours. Ornate, potential hat contest winners may take two or three days.

Most importantly, while a store such as Nordstrom has quality hats to be sure, they also are available to the many, not the only. Hapeman's collection is unique in offering one-of-a-kind hats nobody else will wear.

Hapeman grew up in Dutchess County, New York, horse country in the Hudson River Valley, about 90 miles north of New York City. She graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology.

An artist specializing in 3-D imagery and sculpture among other disciplines, Hapeman lived around Rancho Santa Fe for more than 10 years before recently relocating back to Dutchess County. She has been a longtime horse trainer and professional show jumper rider, winning numerous awards and competitions.

Hats may be commissioned, or obtained, through SoCal Venetian Masks at www.SoCalDesignCo.com .

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Hats aside, Claudia Hapeman has been busy this year. She is well known as a master mask-maker with Venetian carnival, and decorative designer masks featured at numerous A-List events throughout the nation. Her SoCal Design Company also has lines of capes and accessories such as mask sticks and stands, and yes, who doesn't need one -- feather boas.

Hapeman appeared in June on the season premiere of Gene Simmons' "Family Jewels" when she worked with the family on designs for daughter Sophie's Sweet 16 party.

Hapeman also designed masks for the Touchstone movie "You Again",  from Disney Pictures, and directed by Andy Fickman. The movie featured Kristen Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver, Kristin Chenowith and Betty White.

More than 100 of Hapeman's high-end, designer masks are featured by the Gilt Groupe, an invitation-only luxury shopping web site. She also has a relationship with high-end costume designer Frankie Stein. And not least, but last, she has created several masks for a super A-List personality whose name can not be publicly revealed due to contractual obligations.

Could that be designer Claudia Hapeman sporting veil, mask, and, possiby, hat?

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.

“Our citizens need to have confidence when they shop that the price advertised is the one that is charged,” said City Attorney Jan Goldsmith. “Actions like this are a reminder for businesses that they will be regulated to protect consumers.”

The judgment requires CARQUEST to pay $165,975 in penalties, $46,740 in costs to weights and measures agencies and to prosecutors’ offices and $30,000 to organizations as restitution. CARQUEST is also prohibited from charging an amount greater than the currently-advertised price for items in the future.

The case against CARQUEST was based on inspection reports from 10 California counties as well as consumer complaints about overcharging. In San Diego, the County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures inspected local CARQUEST stores.

Weights and measures take complaints from members of the public who believe they have been overcharged by businesses, at (858) 694-2778. The District Attorney’s Office also maintains a Consumer Hotline at (619) 531-3507.

The City Attorney’s Consumer Hotline phone number is (619) 533-5600. The office has a Consumer & Environmental Protection Unit, which prosecutes violations of law that arise from consumer transactions or actions that damage the environment. CEPU also investigates complaints of false or misleading advertising.

Ah-Ha Rancho Santa Fe News Visits The Cradle of Mardi Gras...

Enjoy

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!

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.

There were a few executional flubs, all of which could be easily corrected. The giant pickle spear does give the wiener burger most of its whimsy, but it was so large that most bites were too pickle heavy. Pickle slices or a sandwich stacker would be a better move. The sauce and cheese were also not uniformly applied, meaning some bites were sadly under sauced. Still, a Home Depot parking lot isn't the place to get too picky, and even though each bite was a bit different, they were all good.

 There are plenty of permutations of fries (garlic, cheese, and chili cheese), but the wiener burger was enough excitement for one morning, so I kept it simple with an order of plain french fries. It was a good call. The golden brown, lightly salted fries were a good compliment to a "burger" with a lot going on.

I'll admit I didn't have the highest expectations for the wiener burger, but what may look like a gimmick actually turned out to be a worthy reconstruction of an item I previously considered sacred. It's good as is, but with a few adjustments, it could easily be great. For now, it's definitely worth the drive to North County.

It seems like somebody always is DISCOVERING CHINO FARM. Enjoy!

                                                      (Tom Chino with Trey Foshee at the Nojo)

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

(For more from Laura Magnarelli follow the non-bouncing link...)

If you've ever ordered a dish with produce off of an upscale menu that touts fresh locally grown products chances are good that some of it came from Chino Farm. Most San Diegans have no idea that some of the best, and understandably expensive, produce comes from our own backyard. I have seen their name pop up in menu descriptions often enough to feel like I already know the farm. So recently when I heard that they had a farm stand open to the public, I knew I had to visit them.

It's great to go to a restaurant and eat delicious local, well cared produce, but when the general public has access to the same product gourmet can really come into the home. Just up the road on the edge of Del Mar and Rancho Santa Fe, the Chino farm sits on some pretty pricey real estate. That aside, it's a great way to introduce the kids to a functioning farm and increase their interaction with their food. As soon as we pulled in my son spotted the building off to the left and began demanding to “go into the farm house”.

Since we were in the area already I used yesterday as a good excuse to stop by Chino Farm for the first time. It was afternoon, so I had missed some of the variety of the lettuces. Go early if you are hunting down just picked, less common varieties. Since lettuce is growing right now, it's the perfect time for any kind you could want. I selected two kinds of arugula and a green heirloom tomato for a fresh tossed salad with blue cheese and olive oil for dinner. There were temptations all along the farm stand display. Another red striped heirloom tomato called out to me as well as red and orange bell pepper, green onions, and baskets of figs. Everything looks so well groomed, even the potatoes were clean.

The wonderful thing about getting produce at a farm stand is that you know it was in the ground yesterday. And, the people taking your money are the ones who put the love into growing it. Hey that's reason enough to pay the price difference. It's an easy way to make gourmet without spending a lot of time sprucing it up ingredients or dropping even larger amounts of money in fine dining. I grilled the potatoes and purple carrots on a stone plate with nothing more than olive oil, salt, and pepper. The flavor of the vegetables gives them the ability to stand alone. Plus, interestingly colored veggies are exciting and fun for the kids.

Sniff Sniff Pounce Seize: San Diego County Crime Dog Stops Ag Pests In Their Tracks...

 (Dog handler Jeremy Partch and his 4-year-old Labrador retriever, Friday, work conveyor belts at county shipping centers in San Diego and North County five days a week, looking for plant and animal material that might be carrying crop-killing insects from out of town.)

The San Diego County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures recently seized 10 Kaffir lime trees from Florida after detector dog Drake discovered them in an unmarked box at a North County commercial shipping terminal.

Detector dog Drake and his handler, Ted Olsen, found the shipment two weeks ago during a routine inspection of packages coming into San Diego County. Each tree had leaves, roots and soil which increase the potential for pests to be present. The shipment was in violation of federal domestic quarantines that guard against the importation of plants that may carry certain agricultural threats. Those include citrus canker, citrus greening and the Asian citrus psyllid, imported fire ant, citrus black spot, and sweet orange scab. Quarantine violations against burrowing and reniform nematodes and other citrus pests were also cited in the case. If introduced into local agriculture, any one of these pests could have a serious impact on San Diego County’s $78.5 million citrus industry.

“Kaffir lime from the state of Florida is prohibited,” said County Agricultural Commissioner Lisa Leondis, “This one shipment of trees violated seven different quarantine requirements, and is a perfect example of how valuable our detector dogs are in protecting the County’s $1.652 billion agriculture industry.”

San Diego County has two United States Department of Agriculture-trained detector dog teams that are part of a statewide network of 13 teams coordinated by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Our first team, Jeremy Partch and Friday, came on board in January, 2009 followed by Ted Olsen and Drake in January, 2010. Last year, the two teams inspected 10,571 marked packages and found 747 unmarked packages containing fruit, plants and live animals. Unmarked packages of illegal plants and certain live animals represent a route of entry for unwanted, damaging pests.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture are handling the investigation regarding the origin and intended destination of the shipment. After testing for other pests, the trees will ultimately be destroyed.

For more information about the county Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures and its role in protecting county agriculture, visit the department's website.

July Real Estate Sales Not So Hot:Rancho Santa Fe Down 26.7 Pct. Solana Beach Down 71 Pct...

Buyers acquired fewer houses in July in North San Diego County than in any July since the first Reagan administration, according to data from the San Diego County Assessor. Rancho Santa Fe 92067 had a median sales price of $2.25 million with 11 units sold in July, a 26.7 percent drop in sales. However, home prices rose in 92067  about 23 percent. Solana Beach 92075 was even worse, a disaster actually. Only two  home sold in July, down 71.4 percent  for an average price of $881,000. Del Mar? Cardiff? No change with seven single-family detached homes dold at Cardiff and six at the home of Carson Palmer, Del Mar.

Prospective homebuyers in July worried about national and international economic problems, from a potential U.S. government default to European debt to high unemployment, real estate agents said. Buyers who did enter the market bid low on houses attempting to score deals.

Meanwhile, some sellers decided to wait it out for better prices. Yet others decided to rent their houses instead of selling. But it all added up to a historically slow July.

"It was rough," said Fred Bradley, a Rancho Penasquitos broker. "July isn't supposed to be rough, but it was."

The 721 houses sold in July in North County were the fewest since 1984, down 11 percent from June and 8.7 percent from last July. Rancho Penasquitos, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Santa Fe and Carmel Valley sold 35 percent fewer homes in July than in July 2010.

Normally, summer is a real estate agent's busiest season as people try to make purchases and move before school starts.

The median price fell to $425,000, down 5.3 percent from June and 7.6 percent from July 2010, according to the assessor records.

"I think there's a lot of folks right now that are really concerned about the global economy," said Brian Westre, a Rancho Bernardo broker. "Anytime markets are rocked, they start to worry about their own job."

Overall, North County foreclosures in the first half of the year are at their lowest since 2007; mortgage interest rates are well under 5 percent; and the median price of $425,000 is at the same level it was in 2002, or 33 percent off its 2007 peak.

But prices may be too high for local buyers: Many tried to get deals with low offers.

"The buyers, by and large, are waiting for prices to go down, and sellers are waiting for prices to go up," Bradley said. "We're stuck in the middle."

Some sellers are choosing to rent their houses instead of selling. The house rental market is hot, as credit-troubled residents still need somewhere to live.

"Rents are pretty good. A lot of people are renting their property out; if they have the equity, they do it," said Sharon Johnston Mead, a Vista broker. "I'm not having any trouble renting mine, knock on wood."

Casey Gerry Announces $1.25 Million Settlement Following Mediation with Troon Golf, LLC, The Crosby National Golf Club, LLC...

Northridge Woman Awarded Settlement Following Rancho Santa Fe Accident

In a case that reaffirms the right to safe public access for the physically disabled, Casey Gerry announced today that  a $1.25 million out-of-court settlement has been reached in a lawsuit involving the country’s longest survivor of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) — a disease in which victims progressively lose muscle control.

Defendants Troon Golf, LLC and The Crosby National Golf Club, LLC agreed to pay more than $1.1 million to Northridge, Calif. resident Marilyn Cooper, 67.

The rest of the settlement was paid by Summers/Murphy & Partners, Inc., a landscape architect and Masson and Associates, Inc. an engineering firm. According to attorney Robert J. Francavilla, a partner with Casey Gerry, his client Marilyn Cooper, who has had ALS -- also known as Lou Gehrig's disease -- for 36 years, suffered... (more)

The Prestige Estates Endorses The Philanthropy Club Foundation at Rancho Santa Fe Back-to-School Social...

Local businessmen Steve Knight and Dave Baker are “Changing the Age of Philanthropy.” To introduce the rewards ofgiving to the youth of the community, the co-owners of The Prestige Estates created The Philanthropy Club Foundation.“We wanted to teach kids the importance of philanthropy, and to do so, we break down and explain the valueof selflessly giving one’s time, talent, and treasure,” says Steve. Dave adds that it was important to them that thechildren “learn what philanthropy is in the classroom and then take it home to their families to spread the lesson ofgiving.”

After Steve and Dave introduce the concept in the classroom, they give the students a homework assignment; they mustgo home and discuss philanthropy with their parents or guardians. Additionally, the students are given a short list ofcharities and, from this list, they decide how much each will receive and why. They discuss their decisions back in classwith their peers, and the funds are then allocated among the selected charities.

The Philanthropy Club’s classroom–to–dinner table approach has been well received by Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary,Solana Highlands Elementary, and Solana Vista Elementary, and will also be part of the Rancho Santa Fe School Districtbeginning fall semester of 2011.

 (PHOTO: Solana Vista School presents The Philanthropy Club check to Rady to Children's Hospital.)

The Philanthropy Club Foundation provides the funding for each school project and, to date, the following charitableorganizations have been recipients: Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation, Community Resource Center, Helen WoodwardAnimal Center, La Jolla Playhouse, North Coast Repertory Theater, Rady Children’s Hospital, Rancho Coastal HumaneSociety, San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy, Solana Center for the Environment, Special Olympics North San Diego, Surfrider Foundation, and United Through Reading.

To support the great work The Philanthropy Club is doing and to attract new donors, The Prestige Estates is hosting a Back to School–themed event in Rancho Santa Fe on August 25th from 6:00pm until 8:00pm.

IN A NUTSHELL:

	The foundation's primary goal is to teach youth the meaning and rewards of giving without expectations. Whether it be time, talent or treasure, everyone has something they can give.
	The Philanthropy Club Foundation was established in 2009, and has presented to multiple classes and donated considerable funds on their behalf to numerous nonprofit organizations.
I	Goals & Objectives - Educate today's youth about philanthropy and how to become a philanthropist - Clearly differentiate between giving with expectations and giving with no expectations - Demonstrate that philathropy includes giving of your time or your talent or your treasure ...See More
	Here's How You Can Help 1. Donate Money: 100% of your donations go directly to the students' classrooms for them to donate out to qualified nonprofit organizations. 2. When referrals are made to The Prestige Estates, the company will contribute 10% of the net commissions to The Philanthropy Club Foundation. 3. We are looking for individuals to take the program into their schools of choice and personally present to the students. The presentation materials are easily adapted to your own philanthropic stories to share with the students.

	info@theprestigeestates.com
	http://thephilanthropyclub.org/default.aspx http://www.theprestigeestates.com/our-fo...

 

Please feel free to bring a guest and make sure to RSVP by August 19, 2011, to Yvette at Admin@thephilanthropyclub.org or call 760-419-6270. Location is The Prestige Estates offices at 6030 El Tordo, Suite #B, in Rancho Santa Fe.

Citrus experts ask help in finding pestPsyllids are carriers of disease that kills trees, threatening state’s citrus crop

The Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program wants San Diego County residents to keep an eye out for a pest that has caused extensive damage to citrus crops in other areas.

The pest, called the Asian citrus psyllid, already has been found in Imperial, San Diego, Orange, Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties, leading to quarantines in some areas. The pest can be a carrier of a fatal tree disease called Huanglongbing, also known as HLB or citrus greening disease. Once a tree is infected with the disease, there is no cure; the tree will eventually die.

While the psyllids in Californiahave not been found to be carrying the disease, the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program believes home-owners can play a critical role in keeping the disease out of California.

“The best way to protect California citrus is to inspect for the pest,” said Ted... (more)

'Feeding the Rich' RETURNS With Twist! 'The Kingdom of Eric Parker, Where I Rule the Internet'...

Editor's Note: Enough of this cookie-cutter commentary claptrap. Eric Parker is back WITH A VENGEANCE, or at least an edge. Good for you!

When last we met the longtime local resident and former Leucadia Pizza delivery driver around Rancho Santa Fe -- hence the name f his legendary 'Feeding the Rich ' blog -- he was laid off, out of unemployment benefits and recently relocated to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to an appointment as an English instructor at the University of Alabama.

Eric survived the deadly Tuscaloosa tornadoes, and now, like the Anicent Mariner, is here to enthrall you.

Visit his blog directly at  http://networkedblogs.com/kcw6n.

 

"cutest. picture. ever." bullshit!

We've all seen this poor behavior. As unregenerate children, we have probably done it ourselves. In the social media world, we want our friends to know how great of a time we're having or how wonderful something of theirs is, so we resort to hyperbole and punctuation abuse: "cutest. picture. ever." (This was an actual facebook comment made on a picture of a woman and her baby.) One of the major downsides to the Internet Age is that office speak travels like wildfire. (Office speak? Think of the rising intonation people use when describing the list of shit they did at work today.) This kind of behavior will not be tolerated in the Kingdom of Eric Parker for several reasons:

1) You sound like an idiot. If you verbalize that comment above aloud––"cutest. picture. ever." [emphasis added]––you sound like what people my age would call a stupid Valley Girl (not a good thing). It really translates to "Oh, my God, that is, like, the cutest picture, ever!" The Valley girl dialect, unfortunately, has become the dialect of reality television and much of everyday life. Avoid it.

2) You're following a trend, which makes you boring. Think of something original to say.

3) You're misusing the period. I know, rules are meant to be broken, you punker, but not in my kingdom. A period follows an independent clause that can stand alone. It does not mean a pause. It needs a noun and verb; that's it. Eric rules. That is a complete sentence (and true). If you insist on sounding like a stupid Valley Girl who works in an office, try this: "That is the cutest . . . picture . . . ever." At least you're using proper punctuation.

4) You're lying, on several fronts.

First, the said picture or nail job or day at the beach was probably not the cutest or best in the history of the world, or even your own dumb life. I get it: you're using hyperbole. You're smart. You're funny. All your friends like you. But good hyperbole, while always an exaggeration, captures an emotional truth: "It took an eternity for me to lose my virginity." We know, for most people who haven't entered a monastery, this isn't true. But the two to four (six? eight? ten? twenty? are you serious?) years it took from reaching puberty to losing your virginity felt like an eternity, and it gave most young boys a distinct understanding of what hell must be like.

Second, you're being insincere, which makes you a bad person, an ego stroker.

Third, you're lying. Especially in the case of the comment mentioned above: "cutest. picture. ever." The baby wasn't even that cute. The mom was actually much better looking. And on the scale of cuteness, human babies don't even come close to other animals. Do you need evidence?

 The above image of a polar bear cub is, on a cuteness scale of one to ten, as close to a ten as you can get. The picture of the mom and baby, if we're being honest (and honesty is valued in my kingdom), would be a five.