February 5th, from 6pm until midnight is when the party takes place. Mardi Gras is French for ‘Fat Tuesday’ and is more or less the last day for Catholics to ‘Indulge’ before Ash Wednesday. Many local businesses, restaurants, bands, DJs, and more are involved in the celebration. Check out this website for the line up.

For those of you that live in San Diego and for those of you that don’t, this is a great opportunity to expand your taste palate for San Diego’s numerous culinary delights. Twice a year in 2008, January 27 - February 1, 2008 and then June 22 - June 27, 2008, you can experience San Diego’s finest restaurants for a fraction of the cost. During San Diego’s restaurant week you can choose from over 130 of San Diego’s highly renowned restaurants, where you will enjoy a three-course dinner for either $30 or $40 dollars per person. Visit the San Diego Restaurant Week website to search all of this years participatin restaurants and menus.
You do not need any special tickets for this event, just show up at any of the participating restaurants
Note: It is a good idea to make reservations

Alright…here is some very useful information. If you live in Downtown San Diego or are planning to relocate…READ THIS!!! Parking in downtown can be a giant pain and costly! Meters, street sweeping, holiday and special event parking, tons of different colored curbs, inch regulations from car to curb…and with all this, the city of San Diego is not shy about distributing parking citations. Let’s get educated!

Parking Zones
Parking zones throughout the city of San Diego are all color coordinated identifying parking regulations. Do you know them?

RED = NO Parking/ NO Stopping
• If ANY part of your vehicle protrudes into the red zone, you may be ticketed

WHITE = Passenger Loading Zones
• Vehicles are allowed to STOP for the purpose of loading and unloading passengers…you know, like at the airport. The time limit is 3 minutes or 10 minutes in front of a hotel. White zones are in effect 24/7, unless posted otherwise.

YELLOW = Commercial Loading Zones
• Commercial Vehicles and trucks are allowed to stop for 20 minutes to load or unload goods
• Passenger vehicles may also stop to load or unload passengers, but for 3 minutes.
• These commercial loading zones are in effect between 6am and 6pm with Sundays and City Holidays (listed below!) as an exception, unless otherwise posted

BLUE = Disabled Persons Parking Zones
• Vehicles displaying a California Department of Motor Vehicles issued placard or license plate may park in this zone
• Out of state and out of country placards are also honored
• With a disabled placard or license plate, you can also park at Green Curbs or in time-limit zones with no time restriction!
• Meter parking spaces are also free with no time limit
• Note: parking in blue crosshatch area designated for wheelchair lifts is prohibited and subject to a fine

GREEN = Short-Term Time Limit Parking
• Parking is limited to the time-period stenciled on the curb or posted on a sign (usually about 15-30 minutes)
• Green Zones are in effect 8am-6pm with the exceptions of Sundays and City Holidays…unless otherwise posted

Alright…colored curbs covered…next PARKING METERS Downtown San Diego meters accept quarters, dimes, nickels and Pre-Paid Parking cards (see below!) Time limits, hourly rates and times of enforcement are posted directly on the meter. If it is posted that it is 2 hour meter parking…you are prohibited to keep feeding the meter to remain there longer…you will be ticketed, trust me :(…Parking meters with yellow poles are under the jurisdiction of the Port of San Diego and may have different enforcement regulations…follow this link to read more about that. The One-Hour and Two-Hour Time Limit Parking Zones are only in effect 8am to 6pm with the exceptions of Sundays and holidays…unless otherwise posted.

Parking meters aren’t cheap…but it’s good to know that a portion of the revenue collected by parking meters is reinvested to address parking shortages, street and sidewalk improvements and so on….

Highly recommended…Purchase Pre-Paid Parking!
Pre-Paid Parking Meter Cards are available in $10 and $45 increments and can be replenished with amounts up to $49…and best of all, unused time at a meter can be credited back to the cards. To find out where you can purchase these cards click here

Do Not Park…..
1. in intersections and crosswalks, or on sidewalks and parkways
2. in a center median strip, unless signs are posted permitting parking
3. within 15 feet of a fire station driveway or fire hydrant
4. Blocking any driveway
5. on the roadway side of a parked vehicle (double parking)
6. in a bus stop, in a tunnel, upon a bridge (unless otherwise posted)
7. for more than 72 hours in any one spot without moving your vehicle
8. in an alley, except for the purpose of unloading goods or passengers, unless the alley is specifically designated as an “alley parking zone”
9. a heavy duty commercial vehicle in a residential area, unless the vehicle is loading or unloading goods, or has a service call in the immediate vicinity
10. an unattached semi-trailer on any street, except for trailers used for carrying personal property or for recreational purposes
11. in any other such manner that obstructs the free use of the street

You’ll Want to Read This….
Your Vehicle will be impounded if…
1. parked on a city street and found to have five or more outstanding citations
2. the vehicle registration is expired over 6months
3. parked in a carpool lane
4. parked during a “No Stopping/Tow Away” time
5. in violation of any parking regulations listed above

City of San Diego Parking Enforcement Holidays

January New Year’s Day (January 1)
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Third Monday of January)

February Presidents Day (Third Monday of February)

March/April Cesar Chavez Day (March 31st or the neares Mon/Fri)

May Memorial Day (Last Monday of May)

July Independance Day (July 4)

September Labor Day (First Monday of September)

November Veteran’s Day (November 11)
Thanksgiving Day (Fourth Thursday of November)

December Christmas Day (December 25)

Feel free to add on anything I may have forgot.

*All information provided by the City of San Diego parking brochure*

One of the coolest things about a downtown lifestyle is that you can participate in cultural events and celebrations right outside your front door. This Saturday’s 2008 Martin Luther King Day Parade is a prefect example! This year the parade started on the MLK Promenade and wrapped around the Ballpark down J Street in the East Village. Each year high school bands, cultural groups, community organizations and local special interest groups get together to celebrate the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr. This event is filled with such joy and excitement that you can preview in the pictures of participants and onlookers. All along the Martin Luther King Promenade in the Marina District were music, food and cultural information booths. If you missed this fun event and beautiful day in Downtown San Diego, please enjoy the beautiful slideshow.

Make a slideshow - it’s easy!

Part of living in any downtown area is the art! Living in a downtown area is living in the pulse, where ideas gain form. Downtown San Diego does not lack in this aspect and art is celebrated in this fine city. Little Italy hosts a plethora of art events including the famous Art Walk that takes place every Spring (last weekend in April).
ArtWalk features the art of more than 350 artits of all styles. Every year the caliber of art escalaltes as more and more talented artists enter. Little Italy’s ArtWalk also will include some of San Diego’s top dance companies and musical performers as well as interactive art activities and plenty to do with the kids.

And lets not forget the Gesso Italiano Chalk Painting Event in Little Italy…check it out..

ArtWalk on the Bay is coming back this year as well (September 13th and 14th)

As San Diego changes before our eyes, so will it’s idenity. We should all get out there and support local artists in all genres for they will truly help create Downtowns cerebral landscape.

For more info. on San Diego Art events check out these websites
http://www.sandiegoartandsol.com/
http://sandiegoartist.com/galleries.htm
and Sign on San Diego’s entertainment section

There’s nothing quite like living in a downtown area, surrounded by the best restaurants, shops, nightlife, art and culture. But let’s face it; you’re paying for your surroundings when owning Downtown. So you just bought a place downtown in the best neighborhood in a great building…confused on how to make the most out of your 700sq.ft. pad?
So you may not have the largest home, but there are ways to maximize your living space. Due to the extensive amount of Loft and high-rise condo living, San Diego has some great local businesses dedicated to stylish options on making the most out of your downtown home.
Check out these two companies: Sliding Door Company and Space. It may help you make the most of your downtown living space.

Ever curious what $12,000,000 would get you in Downtown San Diego? This place is pretty amazing….

On the 8th of this month the Broadway Pier cruise ship terminal and the Lane Field Development, two major plans in the North Embarcadero Visionary plan (Check out our previous blog on the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan), gained the support of the San Diego Port Commission! However neither is a guaranteed deal yet…funding-funding-funding. Commissioners will solicit funds from the city and Centre City Development Corporation.

The previous home to the SD Padres, Lane Field, currently a parking lot, will be home to two luxury hotels gazing over the Broadway Pier cruise ship terminal and including rooftop terraces, shopping and dining.
Many leaders including Mayor Jerry Sanders pushed for the project approval while many other brought environmental concerns and warnings about state law violations. Read more about meeting details in this Union Tribune article.
This development will completely change the tidelands of Downtown San Diego bringing more tourism, shops, dining and local attractions. San Diego is preparing for a major facelift within this next decade.

This month, Downtown San Diego is premiering a new residential high rise, The Electra. Electra is a BOSA Development which automatically marks it as a design not to be ignored. BOSA is Downtown San Diego’s principal contributor and is responsible for such signature buildings as Park Place and The Legend.
Electra’s’ name derives from the site that this luxurious high rise is built upon, the historic San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) building, dating back to 1911. This historic landmark gives Electra an edge and style that is comparable to none with it’s renovated Art Deco detail of the 20th century columns and arches. The newly renovated SDG&E building will partially be used as commercial space, including an art gallery installed by the SDSU Art Department. Culture, history and elegant urban style are just a few things Electra offers.
Electra truly raises the bar for downtown living with its breath-taking entry, bay and city views, sophisticated style, amenities and location. Electra is currently San Diego’s tallest residential high rise soaring at 43 stories! There are 248 condos within Electra ranging from approximately 700-1,800 square feet. From up until about level 30 there are six units per floor, level 31-39 there are five units and only three per floor after that. These units were sold by the developer for prices ranging from $500,000 to $2,500,000. Electra’s services and amenities include: lush green landscaping and ‘Electra Park’ on the 5th floor, an outdoor fireplace, sparkling outdoor pool, hot tub, steam room, spa, fitness center, concierge, parking attendant and more!

View what properties are currently available at Electra. Don’t miss this opportunity…Electra quickly sold out, there are just a few units being turned over! Even if you are not planning on purchasing…Electra is a landmark well worth checking out.