Adopt an avocado tree and help a small farm!

Perhaps you saw these guys on television news. When I noticed them at the San Diego County Fair yesterday, I recalled their unique offer. Any member of the public can adopt an avocado tree on a 34-acre organic Hass avocado farm in Bonsall, California!

Years ago, when you drove up Interstate 15 north of Escondido, the steep hillsides would be absolutely covered with avocado trees. Not so much anymore. As the Heal the Earth website explains: San Diego’s avocados are celebrated as the best in the world for their creamy texture and rich flavor—but that heritage is disappearing. Local acreage has dropped by nearly 47% since 2008 as rising water costs and wholesale pressures force family farms to close… Meanwhile, 90% of U.S. avocados now come from imports, crowding out local growers.

These friendly people have developed a solution that helps local avocado farmers. You can adopt a tree at Wild Acres Farm!

You’ll learn all about your unique tree, including a photograph and updates on its growth. Most importantly, you’ll receive shipments of hand-harvested organic avocados from your tree! I was told you can visit your tree on the farm, too, and harvest avocados by hand. By supporting a direct-to-consumer connection between farm and table, you’re keeping San Diego’s organic avocado tradition alive—while enjoying the world’s finest organic avocados, shipped fresh from our groves to your home.

Cool idea!

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Fun Zone at the San Diego County Fair!

The San Diego County Fair is always tons of fun for the entire family. The Fun Zone features so much pure, unadulterated fun, however, that the sanest, most self-controlled visitor might be tempted to go completely berserk!

I headed up to Del Mar today. The free shuttle from the train station dropped us off at the fair’s West Gate, which leads directly into the Fun Zone. My camera got busy right away!

So many cool, colorful sights! I arrived in the late morning shortly after the fair opened, so the crowds hadn’t grown too much yet. What most caught my eye were the flashy graphics splashed on the carnival rides and games.

Walk through the Fun Zone and you’ll encounter superheroes, rock stars, dinosaurs, race cars, pirates, spooky ghosts, circus animals, friendly carnies challenging you to knock over bottles or shoot a basket to win a big prize, not to mention sugary, fatty treats galore!

Is it possible to have too much fun?

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Photos of 15th Annual Vista Strawberry Festival!

Strawberries here, strawberries there, strawberries everywhere!

At today’s 15th Annual Vista Strawberry Festival in historic downtown Vista, tens of thousands would crowd into multiple city blocks, exploring over 500 vendors, buying strawberry-themed gifts, enjoying live entertainment, having bushels of fun, devouring every sort of strawberry treat imaginable!

Families wore strawberry costumes, strawberry hats, strawberry dresses and shirts. Dogs often resembled berries. The standout color at the festival was red, not surprisingly.

Kids filled with sugar didn’t need the bounce houses to get jumping.

Smiles and funny surprises everywhere!

Almost forgot to mention–there were loads and loads of actual fresh strawberries for sale, too!

Photographs…

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Feeding San Diego brings smiles to Goldenpalooza!

Everyone was smiling at Goldenpalooza in Golden Hill today, especially those at tables stocked with free healthy food, courtesy of Feeding San Diego!

The cost of living seems higher than ever in San Diego, so keeping food on the table is a struggle for too many residents. Feeding San Diego is there to fill in the gaps (and hungry stomachs).

At the Goldenpalooza community festival, people could fill a bag with potatoes, melons, tuna, low fat milk, and other nutritious essentials.

On behalf of so many in San Diego, thank you!

If you’d like to help Feeding San Diego fulfill their mission, or receive help putting food on your own table, visit their website here.

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One Piece pirates wanted on Imperial Beach Pier!

Wanted posters picturing One Piece pirates and other scoundrels have been hung inside the IB Kitchen at the end of the Imperial Beach Pier! I looked right and left for pirates inside the restaurant today, hoping to receive a reward. No luck!

Imperial Beach Kitchen has operated at the end of the IB Pier for about 8 months now. They serve Korean food, seafood tacos, and good old American staples like hamburgers. Fish and chips, too! The friendly owner with whom I briefly spoke loves Asian anime and manga, including the very popular One Piece from Japan.

Arranged along the ceiling is a Who’s Who of pirates and other rascally characters in that fantasy world!

I’ll be blogging about San Diego Comic-Con trolley wraps in a couple weeks, most likely, so a post concerning pop culture is timely now. (If you’re interesting in seeing my past Comic-Con related coverage, click here!)

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Amazing burger and fries at Santa Fe Depot!

Where can you find one of the best burger and fries combinations in San Diego? At the downtown Santa Fe Depot!

You don’t need to be an Amtrak or Coaster passenger to enjoy this tasty, restaurant quality meal. Simply walk into the train station and place your order at the Silver Streak Cafe.

What you’re seeing is today’s cheeseburger and French fries lunch, which I enjoyed inside the beautiful old train station. The historic Santa Fe Depot was built to accomodate people arriving in San Diego for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition.

And here’s a smile at the Silver Streak Cafe kiosk that will greet you!

The original palace of the Fish Taco King.

You’re looking at a true landmark in San Diego.

In 1983 a modest Orange Julius stand in Pacific Beach was converted into a palace. It would become the original palace of Ralph Rubio, who today is known as the Fish Taco King.

Rubio, credited with making fish tacos popular in Southern California, opened this very first restaurant on Mission Bay Drive. Lovers of nostalgia and tasty Mexican food can still visit it today.

The first Rubio’s location retains its simple charm. To me it resembles both a taco stand and a vintage roadside diner. The menu might have expanded from the original (when fish tacos sold for 99 cents), but I can attest their food remains mouth-watering good. I enjoyed a couple fish tacos the other day. I also took this photo.

If you’d like to visit the original home of Rubio’s Coastal Grill, head over to 4504 E. Mission Bay Drive, just off Interstate 5 in Pacific Beach. Then perhaps head to the beach for a perfect San Diego day!

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A walk in WorldBeat Center’s Healing Peace Garden.

There’s a special garden in Balboa Park you might not know about. It’s located outside the WorldBeat Cultural Center. Those heading along Park Boulevard can glimpse the greenery just south of the circular WorldBeat Cultural Center building.

Known by several names, including the Healing Peace Garden and Children’s Ethnobotany Garden, this green oasis can be visited by appointment or on special occasions.

Fortunately, the garden was open during the Global Earth Day festival last weekend. Having never stepped inside, I took advantage of the opportunity!

When I entered the Healing Peace Garden, I did feel at peace. The nearby street and urban surroundings seemed to vanish. I had entered what felt like a wholly natural place–a world of deep green, full of life and living.

Several footpaths pass shady nooks–places for mediation and contemplation. There are bits of art among the trees and plants, including a seating ring where people can gather to talk, create music, or simply absorb the surrounding beauty.

I was interested to learn the award-winning garden is considered the first sustainable, edible garden in Balboa Park, as well as a monarch butterfly waystation certified by Monarch Watch, and a wildlife habitat certified by the National Wildlife Federation.

The garden is used as an outdoor classroom, too. This webpage explains: The unique organic herb, fruit, and vegetable garden honors the memory of George Washington Carver, and is dedicated to teaching young people about the role of plants in society. Gardening classes are available to schools, youth programs, individuals and families by booking a workshop or requesting a docent at the WorldBeat Center.

Now let’s enter the garden and walk around…

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Fun culture at House of Ireland lawn program!

The House of Ireland in Balboa Park hosted their lawn program today, two days before St. Patrick’s Day.

As usual, there was a lot of green, Irish food, Irish dance and Irish fun!

A big crowd on the lawn enjoyed the sunshine anticipating exciting cultural entertainment. Irish stew was being served at the House of Ireland cottage. Tasty baked goods, too!

The cultural program began in earnest at two o’clock. A festive procession onto the lawn and up to the stage was led by the bagpipers and drummers of The Cameron Highlanders. Several dancing groups in colorful traditional costume would follow them.

Soon thereafter, the Irish dancing would begin!

Dancers young and old, including members of several academies of Irish dance, would kick it up on the stage. Reels, jigs and hornpipes had the performers moving energetically to the rhythm of live music.

Enjoy a few photos…

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Checking out the Wienermobile in Santee!

The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile was in Santee today for Fido Fest! The iconic vehicle attracted lots of curious people, who could even enjoy a peek inside!

I took photos!

The two smiling drivers (hotdoggers) were greeting everybody and passing out hotdog whistles. Several signs on the grass nearby provided information about the Wienermobile. I learned there are six wieners-on-wheels that travel around the country.

Let’s see . . .

The Wienermobile weighs the same as 140,500 hot dogs. It has a hot dog shaped dashboard. It has a ketchup walkway and condiment splattered carpet. The bunroof is removable. It has an official Wiener Jingle horn…

Also, Carl Mayer, nephew of Oscar Mayer, designed the first Wienermobile in 1936…

The next sign contains images of the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile through the years…

I had a fast look inside. Looks quite comfortable!

Okay! Let’s all sing along!

My bologna has a first name, it’s O-S-C-A-R…

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