It’s kind of scary how lost I feel without my phone but, I guess that’s my reality these days. I use that phone for just about EVERYTHING. Then, to discover the apps out there to enhance my experience of living in downtown San Diego…fabulous! Here are a few that caught my eye (and there are lots more):

• Balboa Park
• San Diego Zoo Guide
• San Diego Parking
• iTransit Buddy San Diego MTS
• Ride the City San Diego
• City Walks San Diego
• San Diego Chargers
• King of Happy Hour
• Locurious (a must have)

On September 23rd, 2010 a meeting for the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan (NEVP) in Downtown San Diego was held at the Port of the San Diego Administration Building. The meeting included;

• an update on the public’s response to four recent outreach meeting on potential design revisions to the NEVP Phase I Project
• a short presentation on the current Phase I concept that was proposed and rejected by the California Coastal Commission in April, 2010
• a three possible revised design concepts for the area at the foot of Broadway (one concept has less numbers of trees, one removes all trees and replaces them with lawn space, and one shows water features)

The project includes;

• Construction of a 105 foot wide bayfront Esplanade along Harbor Drive between Navy Pier and the B Street Pier
• Design of West Broadway from Harbor Drive to the railroad tracks just east of Pacific Highway

The next step is now for the NEVP’s first phase to include conducting additional public outreach in October and to finalize the design. For more information visit www.ccdc.com

To read 92101 Urban Living’s former blogclick on Public Infrastructure Project - “North Embarcadero Visionary Plan Phase 1″ in Downtown San Diego!

Apparently that’s what is needed, from the public, for the proposed Chargers Stadium. As a resident, and owner, of a downtown San Diego loft in the East Village, the idea of cohabitating with this stadium is very exciting for a number of reasons. Here’s a few staduim stats:

• 62,000 seats for fans
• 11 acres to work with
• 17th St. and Imperial is the spot
• Talk of a retractable roof
• Retractable roof=events other than football!
• 32 months to build

But, $500 million is a lot of dough and that dough would most likely come in the form of tax increment bonds-if we, the voters, say so. That is also assuming that the NFL pulls through with it’s measly $100 million as well as the Chargers with a mere $200 million. That’s a lot of cash. But, living near Petco Park and seeing the revenue that has brought to downtown San Diego, I can’t help but hope that we, the public, can gather up that 500 mil!

Don’t miss out on the Second Annual Fifth Avenue Auto Showcase that is taking place in the Gaslamp District in Downtown San Diego on Sunday Ocober 10th, 2010 from 11 am to 4pm. For more information visit Auto Show.

The Little Italy’s District Identity & Street-Scape Improvement (DISI) Committee Meeting is taking place on October 1st, 2010 at 3.30pm to 4.30pm at Lady of Rosary Pastral Center at 1654 Columbia Street in Downtown San Diego. Do you want to be apart of and support your neighborhood? Join the Little Italy Board of Directors and Downtown San Diego Condo home owners, Loft home owners and business owners to discuss special events, promotions and street-scape improvements.

If you would like to be apart of the committe contact chris@littleitalysd.com or visit www.littleitalysandiego.com.

Get ready downtown San Diego! The 12th annual Trolley Dances is making an appearance this year in our city once again. What the heck is Trolley Dances you say? Check this out:

For $30 ($20 seniors/$15 students) you receive a guided trolley tour, as well as an all day trolley pass. Clearly, this isn’t your typical trolley tour. Along this ride, stops will be made (the New Children’s Museum and Hilton Bayfront are a couple) as these spots transform into impromptu dance studios. Dancers will bust out some fantastic moves for your enjoyment. It’s art and life right here in downtown San Diego.

Tours run for 4 days (Sept. 25-26/Oct. 2-3) from 10-3pm. Sashay on over.

Looking out for and addressing the need for safer vehicle and pedestrian traffic at major intersection is what the Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC) has been doing recently. They have just finished the installation of six new traffic signals throughout Downtown San Diego. Here is a list of the new crossings that has been upgraded;

• Market & Union Streets
• Market Street & Third Avenue
• Market Street & Ninth Avenue
• Park Boulevard & Island Avenue
• Park Boulevard & J Street
• Front & Cedar Streets

This project was already approved in September of 2008 by the City of San Diego to improve traffic circulation and increase pedestrian safety in the Cortez Hill District, the Marina District and the East Village/Ballpark District. The total cost of the project was $1,25 million and was funded through a combination of revenue sources including Downtown property taxes and a SANDAG Transnet grant of $283,000.

For more information visit www.ccdc.com

Throwing a dinner party? Craving a bottle of wine and baguette? Hungry for a hearty sandwich? Have delicious cheeses but need bread? Go to Bread on Market.

Artisanal, always homemade, bread from a bakery whose primary focus is quality not quantity-you can’t go wrong. A local bakery for the past 7 years, Bread on Market is a staple in downtown San Diego’s  East Village . You walk through its doors to the aroma of fresh baked bread and a menu that is simple yet decadent. The bread you eat here is made on site from the loving hands of a family.

If you do decide to eat here, expect to wait patiently for your order. Food is not prepared in a fast paced kitchen but rather a kitchen you would expect to see your mother in, gently and lovingly putting together a meal for her most beloved children. That’s the kind of place this is.

Living in a downtown San Diego loft in the East Village has many perks, Bread on Market tops that list.

San Diego’s largest waterfront hotel in the Marina District in Downtown San Diego is planning a $200 million renovation that will include a promenade with palm trees and a clear view of the water and with direct access to the San Diego Harbor. The ambitious remodel is focused in part on enhancing convention and meeting business that is a key driver to the hotel’s revenues. The project will include;

• Expansion of ballroom space
• Large exhibit hall
• Promenade to the harbor

The Marriott Hotel leases land from The San Diego Port District, so its promenade and the exhibit hall reconstruction will require approval from Port Commissioners in October following a 30-day comment period for the public.

There is already one completed renovation of the hotel that includes guestrooms with flat screen TV’s, modernized bathrooms with walk in showers and new carpet and bedding, color scheme of blues, corals and greens in one of its two towers and they are also planning to finish the $41 million redo of the north tower by next April. A new makeover of the lobby and front entrance is also planned and that will cost about $4.2 million. Another plan is to redo the pool area that will includes two new waterfalls, Jacuzzi, pool bar and restaurant and new lighting and sound system.

The hotels owner, Host Hotels and Resorts is spending an overall of $200 million on this investment and this is higher than they have ever spent on one of its properties.

For more information visit www.portofsandiego.com.

The Blue line which run from San Ysidro to Old Town and was a part of the original Trolley system in Downtown San Diego will receive a facelift over the next three years that will cost about $600 million in state, local and federal money.

This line is about 18.8 miles and features older cars that will be phased out. The MTS and its engineering and planning partner SANDAG will start shelling the funds to bring the 40 year old Blue line and the Orange line up to the Green lines standard.

The Trolley Renewal Project will include;

• Replacing a lot of the 100 year old railroad ties and mismatched rails
• Replacing over head power lines that keep breaking
• Installing a fiber optic communication line for security cameras and next train boards
• Rebuilding all of the stations
• 57 new low floor cars

For more information visit Trolley Renewal Project.