Grilled Chicken Quesadillas

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The hot, humid weather that has plagued the rest of the country this summer has finally hit southern California. Not to rub it in, but we're usually pretty steady around 75°F for most of the summer months, with about 50% or less humidity. The last two weeks, though, we've seen temps in the 90s and higher, with humidity getting up to 70-80%.

Needless to say, those aren't exactly the conditions you want to be baking or roasting up a storm in, so we've been having a lot of grilled meals around here. Most times I go pretty simple - grilled chicken or pork with a side salad, turkey burgers, shrimp kabobs, etc. But I had a hankering for Mexican food (and 2 avocados that needed to be made into guacamole stat!), so I decided to try making quesadillas on the grill. Turns out - it's super easy, and super delicious!

Grilled Chicken Quesadillas
(Makes 4 6" quesadillas)

Ingredients:
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. onion powder
salt & pepper
1 green pepper
1 jalapeno pepper, diced
8 6" corn tortillas
2-3 Tbsp. chopped cilantro
1.5 c. shredded cheese (I used a "Mexican" blend)
olive oil spray (if you don't have an oil sprayer yet, I highly recommend getting one! you'll never need "non-stick spray in a can" again!)

sour cream, salsa and/or guacamole for dipping, if desired

Method:
Preheat grill to medium heat (about 350-400°F). Spray chicken breasts lightly with olive oil. Sprinkle with garlic powder, onion powder, salt & pepper. Place on grill for about 10 minutes. Turn, then grill another 10 minutes or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Remove chicken from grill and let rest 10-15 minutes.
While the chicken is resting, cut your green pepper in half and place it skin-side down on the hot grill. Grill 5-10 minutes until it starts to char and soften. Remove and let cool.
Once chicken and green pepper are cool enough to touch, cut them into thin strips. Assemble a tray with cut chicken, green pepper, diced jalapenos, chopped cilantro and shredded cheese.
Lay out 8 tortillas on a baking sheet. Generously spray 1 side of each tortillas with olive oil.
Bring everything out to the grill. Reduce the heat slightly - to about 300°F.
Carefully place all 8 tortillas on the grill with the oiled side facing down (on the grill plates). Let cook about 3-4 minutes until the bottoms start to brown.
Then, evenly distribute chicken, green pepper, jalapeno and cilantro across 4 (ONLY 4!) of the tortillas. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top. Place the remaining 4 tortillas on top of the "loaded" ones and press down to flatten. Close the grill cover and cook another 3-4 minutes until cheese is melted and tortillas have nice brown grill marks on both sides.
Cool 2-3 minutes before cutting & serving.
Enjoy!

 

Famous Sprinkles Cupcakes & An Afternoon in La Jolla

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Since I started working from home a little over a year ago, I've become a little antsy about needing to get out and about on the weekends. While many people (including my hubby) enjoy relaxing on the couch or patio after a long week of work, I feel the need to get out and have a change of scenery. So, I usually try to come up with at least one afternoon trip each week - whether it be walking the beach, going out to dinner, wine tasting, or, in the case of this weekend - cupcake hunting!

I know that cupcakes have been all the rage for several years now, but I honestly haven't jumped on the bandwagon. I think I've had 2 cupcakes from "cupcakeries" in 3 or 4 years, maybe? But, when I heard the famous, "original" cupcakery "Sprinkles" had a location nearby us in La Jolla - I had to go. According to celebrities and blogs, these high-quality, uniquely-flavored cupcakes are the cupcakes to end all cupcakes.

So, off we went to La Jolla. The store isn't too fancy - just a small shop in a shopping plaza near the University of California-San Diego:

I didn't spy any celebrities in line, but I did spy a whole lotta cupcakes:

They had a few of the classic flavors you'd expect to see, like red velvet, chocolate marshmallow (like a Hostess®) and vanilla. But many of their flavors were things I'd personally never seen before in a cupcake - s'mores, vanilla hazelnut, peanut butter chocolate, cinnamon sugar. While they all looked good, we narrowed it down to 4 with a little help from the friendly servers:
 Clockwise, from the top left: Banana, Coconut, Chocolate Marshmallow, S'mores.

I'm a sucker for s'mores, so I dug into that right away. It had an amazingly rich semi-sweet chocolate ganache in the center of light, fluffy chocolate cake, with a graham cracker bottom and that ooey-gooey toasted marshmallow on top. It was delicious! If it was warm, it would've spot on tasted like a s'more to me - well, perhaps a refined version with that luxurious ganache. (Sorry but "America's favorite chocolate" can't hold a candle to that...)

Hubby had the coconut then, which had a denser cake, but still very good flavor. We saved the other 2 for the next day, and they were still nice and moist. The thing I think I liked most about all of the Sprinkles cupcakes is that they weren't rot-your-teeth-out sweet. You know how sometimes frosting can get that way? Not Sprinkles frosting. It had a great balance between being sweet enough to be a dessert but still really letting the flavor (dark chocolate, coconut, vanilla, etc.) shine through. The only cupcake I wouldn't order again was the banana. It was really just banana bread with frosting on top, which is something I can easily make at home - not worth $3.50 in my opinion.

But, I assure you that La Jolla, CA is much more than just gourmet cupcakes! One of our favorite places to visit is the cove and Children's Pool Beach. I love walking on the rocks and listening to the waves:
  And when we're lucky, getting to see the seals sunning themselves and playing in the water: 
There's also a nice main street you can walk around. Definitely a fun little town!

Chickpea Salad with Feta & Oven-Dried Tomatoes

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I don't know about you, but sometimes I get stuck in a rut when it comes to side dishes. Lately it seems like it's been zucchini, rice, quinoa, green salad, repeat. After having grilled chicken with a garden salad one too many times in the last few weeks, I decided I absolutely had to change it up. And so this chickpea salad was born.


It's very flavorful - and very garlicky (not a date-night food!) - and makes a nice alternative to traditional BBQ sides. To date, I've served it with grilled chicken & grilled pork tenderloin, and I've also eaten it over baby greens for lunch. Though it doesn't make a giant bowl-full, with the flavor it packs, a little goes a long way. If you're looking for an easy salad to bring to a Labor Day BBQ - look no further!

Chickpea Salad with Feta & Oven-Dried Tomatoes
(makes about 2 cups)

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas (about 1 15 oz. can, rinsed and drained)
1/2 cup homemade oven-dried cherry tomatoes, roughly chopped (or prepared sun-dried tomatoes)
1/2 cup fat-free feta cheese, crumbled
2 small cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil
2 tsp. chopped fresh mint
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp. salt (or to taste)

Method:
Combine chickpeas, tomatoes, feta cheese, garlic, cilantro, basil and mint in a medium-sized bowl.
In a separate small bowl, whisk olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar and salt until blended.
Pour the oil-herb mixture over the chickpea mixture and toss to coat.
Refrigerate at least 12 hours before serving to allow flavors to develop.

Adapted from AllRecipes.com

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

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I've seen variations of this recipe floating around the blogosphere lately - and I even saw some of these muffins at Starbucks the other day - so I decided they were just calling to me to give them a try. I started out with a base recipe from on of my favorite baking blogs, Annie's Eats, but I lightened them up by cutting the fat and sugar, so I felt like I was eating a breakfast muffin and not a cupcake. The result is a spicy, moist muffin with a creamy, sweet surprise in the center.


I thought they were a great breakfast treat. My hubby took some to work and said they were a big hit with his employees, too. So these is definitely going into the rotation for fall baking recipes! Here's my version:

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
(Makes 12)

Ingredients:
For the cream cheese filling:
4 oz. light cream cheese
1/3 c. confectioner's sugar

For the muffins:
1 1/2 c. white flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
3/4 c. granulated sugar
1 c. pumpkin puree
1/2 c. vegetable oil

For the cinnamon sugar topping (optional):
1/4 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 Tbsp. white flour
2 Tbsp. cold butter, cut into small pieces

Method:
About 2-3 hours before you plan to bake, beat cream cheese and confectioner's sugar until smooth. Shape into a 6-8" log on plastic wrap. Fold up the wrap until completely covered, then place in the freezer.
Once the cream cheese mixture has firmed up, preheat oven to 350&F. Line muffin pan with paper liners.
In a large bowl, combine 1 1/2 c. flour, baking soda, 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger and salt. Add eggs, granulated sugar, pumpkin puree and oil. Beat on low speed just until combined.
Remove the cream cheese mixture from the freezer and cut into 12 small blocks.
Fill each of the muffin liners 1/3 of the way with the pumpkin mixture. Place 1 block of cream cheese mixture into the center of each muffin, then top with remaining pumpkin batter. The muffins tins will be very full - almost (but not quite) to the top of the liner.
In a separate small bowl, mix brown sugar, 1 tsp. cinnamon and 2 Tbsp. flour. Cut butter into mixture with a fork until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over the tops of the uncooked muffins.
Place the muffins in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted (into the side - not the cream cheese center) comes out clean.
Cool completely before enjoying.
(If storing for more than few hours - keep these in the refrigerator. Pop them in the microwave for about 15-20 seconds each before eating - delish!!)

Things to do in San Diego

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If you’re looking for a special place to take your family this year that offers endless fun, San Diego is ideal. This coastal city has great, sandy beaches and beautiful weather year round. There is something for all ages to find to do in San Diego. With all of the family oriented attractions, you're sure to find something to please even the pickiest members of your family.

The San Diego Zoo, located in Balboa Park, offers visitors a view of over 4,000 different animals. The Skyfari, which is a gondola lift, offers you aerial views of the park. This zoo is famous for housing the first giant panda baby born in North America. Currently, four giant pandas are on display. Some of the other major exhibits at the zoo include the Polar Bear Plunge. This exhibit houses 30 different species of animals including deer and polar bear. These animals are separated by a moat for safety, but when a visitor approaches the exhibit, it appears to be one huge enclosure.

Monkey Trails and Forest Tales is another great family destination. It showcases monkeys and other animals from the rainforests of Asia and Africa. The Wild Animal Park is an expansion of The San Diego Zoo. It offers views of a large number of animals from other continents. These animals are allowed to live in an expanded and open zoo setting. There are over 2500 animals at the park, and many of them are endangered.

Another option for family fun in San Diego is Lego Land. Who doesn't love those fun little building blocks from their childhood? Now the entire family can ride on roller coasters that look as though they are built completely from Lego blocks.

Lego Land is an interactive park that is designed for children ages 2 to 12, but all ages have incredible fun at this family fun stop. You can also purchase Lego blocks by the pound. Your Lego purchases will be held at the front desk until you are ready to leave.

Sea World is another fabulous family attraction in San Diego. It is a marine zoological park that is built on 22 acres located on the shores of Mission Bay. It is home to Shamu, the world’s most famous killer whale. The dolphin shows are literally a big splash at the park and you and your family will not want to miss it. You just have to get a little water on you if you want the full Sea World experience. This is one of San Diego’s most beloved spots and there are over one million visitors to these gates annually.

The beaches of San Diego cannot be overlooked as a family destination. Coronado Silver Strand Beach offers access from four different parking lots, and the sloping shoreline makes the beach safe for children. The Del Mar location is another great family beach. This location is perfect for picnics and the grassy area above the beach has a large and modern playground for the children. A lifeguard is also on site so swimming can be done at almost any time.

Find more fun things to do in Southern California at www.3boysinsandiego.com

Commercial Agents - Referral Opportunity for New Business and Listings

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It is no secret that the commercial property market is a challenge at the moment for real estate agents as property owners struggle with high vacancy levels and unsold listings. This then says that we need to be proactive and productive when it comes to building relationships and opportunities for our clients. The referral process should be a formal part of your marketing strategy and used in your real estate business.

So many referrals can come from people that you know or have had something to do with as a specialist commercial agent. They people to provide you with leads would normally be:

• Previous property owners that you have acted for in the sale of a property


• Property Investors and portfolio owners that own other property in and about the local area


• Previous landlord clients that you have supported in property leasing and or property management


• The maintenance contractors that look after your managed properties for the landlord clients within your agency


• Tenants that you have successfully placed into other commercial or retail properties locally


• Tenants in your managed properties will always know a lot about the local business activity and other businesses nearby


• Engineers, architects, solicitors, and accountants, that have something to do with property activity in the local area


• Local councilors or members of the municipal level of government


• Previous people that have enquired about other listings that were on your books for sale or for lease

This list can be expanded given your local property precinct. Who do you know that can be a source of leads?

Property developers that you know and have served with regard to other transactions locally will be prepared to share information with you providing you have established a good foundation of trust with them.

When you have listed a property locally for sale or lease, the other businesses nearby will be a significant source of local market intelligence and potential referral. The listing on your books gives you an advantage to network and a reason to talk to all adjacent property owners and occupiers. Ask them about the local property market any changes that they are aware of.

Property planning consultants that have been involved with property changes or challenges in some of your listings are another source of opportunity. These people understand the changes that are active in the local area and they can give you significant leads.

The local planning committee or planning authority is constantly dealing with property changes and property zoning issues. Keep close to the activities of the planning committee to check on any pending approvals or current issues under discussion. Normally there are publicly available minutes from the Planning Committee of current matters of consideration.

So this is a significant group of people to network and seek referrals from. They will all know other people that have links to property activity. The referral opportunity that exists within this list is significant. To tap into this opportunity is just a matter of asking the right questions wherever and whenever possible.

Business conversions from a referral are much higher in success than that which you get in a cold call contact. Referral opportunity is based on relationships and those relationships can help you open doors with new people. To convert more referral business, you simply need the mindset and the ability to ask the right questions in every meeting.

If you want some more tips and ideas to help your commercial real estate agency and convert more opportunity into listings and commissions, you can get a free ebook of tips and tools at http://www.commercial-realestate-training.com

John Highman is an experienced Commercial Real Estate Agent, International Speaker, and Sales Coach.

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Finding Right and Affordable Apartments

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San Diego in southwest coast of California is one of the largest cities and top ten places to live in US. Living in apartments in San Diego can be expensive. With an Annual Median Household income of $66715 (2008 study) it has a well-to-do population and is a safe place. Its economy is driven by industries like biotechnology, military, telecommunication, software, shipbuilding, computer & sports good manufacturing, agriculture, etc.

The city is headquarters for industrial giants like NASSCO, General Atomics, Qualcomm, etc. With long beaches, very attractive climate (AMT close to 23 C) and trendy and quiet neighborhoods, this place has attracted many people to settle after retirement. However, since the job market tended to take a downturn in recent years due to recession, affordability of apartments decreased by more than 20% and people started migrating from the costly areas of the city to away-from-city locations in order to settle in affordable areas.

The cost of San Diego California apartments in recent years has gone up and created a "Housing Affordability Crisis." However, efforts were made by San Diego Housing Commission and as a part of affordable housing program, with the participation of San Diego city, California state and Federal administrations a number of Housing Projects are executed by private developers. To be eligible for affordable apartments under such schemes, your family size and annual income restrictions apply depending on the cost of housing development, which is calculated as a percentage of Area Median Income (AMI) as well as the location in the city zones.

Greater the AMI, greater is the annual income limit and greater is the rent. Typically at the low end of AMI (say 30% AMI), for a family of four a 3 BR apartments for rent will cost $479 as rent per month and at the high end say 100% AMI for a similar family size and similar apartment the rent is $1498.

San Diego apartments for rent under the names Rancho del Norte (rent range $214-$914), Maripose apartments ($216-$896), Rancho Buena Vista ($663-1024$), The Crossing ($772-$869), La Costa Polana ($570-$1000), Fullbrook View Apartments ($295-$757) fall under the right and affordable category.

You have to evaluate your income-expenditure and can decide using online realty sites for renting apartments. You could also take help from local news papers and real estate magazines to find the right place to rent and at an affordable price.

If you are looking for San Diego apartments, internet is the best place to look. For hassle free experience finding San Diego California apartments, get a local realtor who is experienced. Good apartments are available in plenty, but you have to rely on the best resource there is. There are quite a few San Diego apartments for rent as well if you are not looking to buy one right now.

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Local Service Business Online Promotion

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Search Engine Optimization

The first topic I will discuss is Search Engine Optimization. This involves tweaking your website and performing backlinking activities, as well as providing good quality content for your visitors. You already have some content on your main site, and this is sufficient for getting started. Also you can use some free WordPress plugins can be used to tweak your site without any complicated computer code.

So what you want to start doing is getting as many good backlinks to your site as possible. This involves contacting or registering with as many top ranked, high traffic sites and forums and linking back to your site. This improves search engine positions - you want to be in the top ten page of a Google unless you'll not get much business this way.

You should only get a maximum of three backlinks a day, otherwise Google will flare you up as a spammer and ban your site. Also be cautious with people offering you packages where you get 4000 backlinks in a week. This will destroy your ranking, as Google's algorithms are quite smart these days and you'll be snared right away.

Keyword Research

Before you begin generating backlinks to your site, you must find out which keywords to target, so the search engine users get specifically what they want (content relevance). The tool I use is the Google keyword suggestion tool

What you want to look for here is high traffic keywords with local monthly searches. So choose around ten of the keywords you think are most relevant to your services.

Now for each backlink title, you must include a title with your main keyword (law, lawyer, etc) and one secondary keyword phrase, for example:

LisaWong Law - Top San Diego Criminal Law Experts

Now for each of your ten chosen keywords, create titles like those above and save in a text file. Also, you'll need a 25 - 30 word description, and around three or four of those too. Reason for this is because Google will detect duplicate content and the backlink will not count.

Submitting to Directories

Online directory sites are a bit like the Yellow Pages online, and most are free. You need to visit each site, register and post your title and description you've just made up. Now some of the directory sites are manually reviewed by humans, and can take a couple of months for your link to be made public, and for this reason I do this first. It can be a bit tedious doing this, but the links are well worth it. I use a free software for this, and it speeds things up a little.

Remember to rotate your titles and descriptions here.

Social Bookmarking

When someone visits your site and likes your blog post or article, they can bookmark it, vote on it and share it with others. However, you can do this yourself and get the links back to your site. So you'll need to register for the following sites, and place your links to your site. Here are the top social bookmarking sites I use:

Slashdot.org
Digg.com
Del.icio.us
Reddit.com
Fark.com
Newsvine.com
Connotea.org
Links Marker
Blinklist.com
Bibsonomy.org
Folkd.com
Linkagogo.com
Buddy Marks
Karmalynx.com
bookmarksdiary.com

Article Marketing

Another great free way to get backlinks and traffic to your site. You write about three or so articles, each one based on a keyword phrase, and should not include that keyword phrase no more than 3 times in the article body, and just once in the article title. It should be 400 - 600 words long, and must not contain any promotional text or links out.

So for promoting your site using articles, you have a bio box at the bottom. Here you place a little classified ad and your backlink to your site. The important thing here is to have the link include the main keyword of the page you are linking to.

Then you must submit your article to the top five or so article directories.

Press Releases

Similar to article marketing, only it must be newsworthy and something new. For example, you've just opened up a new law firm in San Diego, so a press release to a local newspaper could bring some welcome business.

Blogs

Another free way to drive traffic. WordPress is the best one, but you could use Blogger.com or hubpages.com. I will refer to WordPress here.

Now, take the articles you created earlier for the article directories, and re-write them. These should be used for blog content. Or even write a few new ones based on your keywords. Now using WordPress, you can schedule your posts to go live on the times/dates of your choice. I suggest you set your posts to go live between 4 - 7 days apart, as the search engines like new content. Don't go and post five articles at once.

WordPress Plugins

WordPress blogs make it easy to set up your own site without writing a single line of computer code. However, there are hundreds of plugins and it can be hard to know which to use and which are best suited to your website. Here is a brief description of the ones I use most:

WP Policies

This one installs all the necessary legal documents every website should have. It hides these from website visitors because no-one hardly reads them but the search engines acknowledge them. Includes privacy policy, anti-spam policy, disclaimer, email policy, terms of use, earnings disclaimer and more. These can be tailored to the needs of each individual site.

Google Analytics for WordPress

Used for tracking site visitors, which pages they visit, length of time on the page, where they came from - Google, other sites etc, and displays graphs and charts on monthly statistics.

Quick AdSense

This makes it easy to add Google adverts on your blog posts and pages. You simply sign up for a free AdSense account with Google, copy and paste some code into the plugin, and you make money when visitors click on the ads. Good for a little extra income from your site.

Socializer

This plugin will place a row of little Facebook, Twitter, Digg icons at the top of your blog pages and posts, and when clicked on, the user can tweet or share the link to your posts on the social networks.

No blog should be without this one, as Facebook and the like are widely used nowadays, with ten percent of the world's population using them.

That sums up this report on promoting a local business online on a tight budget. There are many other ways you can promote online, but the can be costly and most people get their fingers burnt and lose their whole marketing budget quickly. Google AdWords being one of them. It's just so competitive and hard to succeed on a limited budget. And the big boys with deep pockets will just eat you up.

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Family Camping and Eco-Tourism

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Before heading out for a weekend of camping, get a few handbooks on local birds and other animals. Birding is again becoming a very popular past time and an event that everyone can enjoy from childhood through their entire life. Even going to a city park is more fun with a bird handbook. Make a game of identifying as many birds as possible as a family. Next trip, try to get a higher score. The whole family will quickly learn which birds live in your area and how to identify them by their calls. Expand searches to plants as well. An extra benefit is that it's always good to know what poison oak and poison ivy look like so everyone can stay away from it.

Almost every state and national park have guided tours conducted by park rangers or volunteers. Contact your local offices for dates and times. Many large city parks such as Balboa Park in San Diego, California, have guided hikes like the Botanical Walk through Florida Canyon. It's not only educational, but good exercise as well. And kids just eat this stuff up.

The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and other national parks frequently offer week-long camping tours such as the river rafting down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. This type of vacation is a once-in-a-lifetime experiences for everyone involved. These guided experiences are some of the best eco-tours available in the United States. But it's not necessary to go to these extremes to have a rich camping experience.A good resource for finding local tours is museums in the area you will be visiting.You local newspaper has a section for upcoming events which will give you great ideas as well.

Our large and beautiful country offers virtually every type of environment available in the world. Denali National Park in Alaska offers alpine hiking on Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in the United States. However, if you only want to travel as far as California, Mr. Whitney has white-out conditions even in the summer because it is the highest peak in the lower 48 states. If you prefer to visit the tropics, Jean Lafitte National Park in Louisiana offers guided swamp tours. Maybe the rain forest calls you. If so, visit the Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park in Oregon. When you return to work after your vacation, when your co-workers ask how you spent your vacation, you can tell them that you spent three days hiking through a rain forest. How cool is that?

With just a little research, you will find that family camping in the United States provides an unparalleled camping experience. What are you waiting for? Go camping!!

Family camping is inexpensive and rewarding travel for the whole family. Enrich your family camping experience today.

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Current Affairs: The Next American Economy by William Holstein Technology Clusters and Ecosystems

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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an unemployment rate of 9.2 percent in June 2011. That number remains frustratingly consistent each month as millions of Americans struggle to find work.

It's clear that many of the jobs lost over the last several decades, and during the Great Recession of 2008, are extinct. It's said that the definition of insanity is repeatedly doing the same thing, yet hoping for different results.

Government stimulus packages and extended unemployment benefits are Band-aids for what, William Holstein, author of the new book, "The Next American Economy-A Blueprint for a Real Recovery," identifies as structural challenges in America's economy. Holstein has traveled the United States writing about globalization and economics for major business publications.

How will our country reinvent its workforce for the 21st century, and in what industries? Holstein believes our economic rebirth lies in technology clusters and ecosystems.

Following is a cross-sectional synopsis of America and how it's revitalizing itself with technology clusters and ecosystems. Discussed too, are lessons for all Americans Holstein addresses regarding the country's current economic challenges.

Technology Clusters
Clusters promote knowledge-sharing and product innovation. They also champion technical and business processes by providing thick networks of formal and informal relationships across organizations. Clusters tend to happen by accident and are difficult to create.

Orlando's technology cluster is based on computer simulation and modeling; and is rooted in part by U.S. military and major defense contractors' decision in the 1950s to locate operations in the Orlando area. Disney's influence in computer gaming and entertainment is also influential. Every cluster needs an idea factory and Orlando has approximately 140 research and development companies located near universities. "Cross-pollination" of ideas is easily promoted. Simulation and modeling are being used in multiple industries. Healthcare is included, as it uses virtual reality to help rehabilitate stroke victims.

Pittsburgh is reinventing itself from a city of steel (the mills are non-existent today), to one of advanced robotics dominance. Making advanced robotics systems is complex and challenging. They surpass performing repetitive tasks in an auto factory, which is simple, closed loop automation. The nascent industry lacks a Google or Apple presence in the city. But, area universities, engineers and government are among its collaborating cluster, committed to seeing the industry thrive and create new jobs.

San Diego is home to over 600 life science companies and 700 wireless communication companies. In the 1970s, science and medicine seldom collaborated. Today, the blend of biotech know-how and massive computing power helps San Diego dominate in medical research and development, including Genomics. The opportunity is great for "creative collisions" among university students and faculty, business leaders and area government. San Diego boasts a high percentage of risk-taking entrepreneurs and venture capital funding, which is continually pursued to spark further technological advancements.

Ecosystems
Technology ecosystems are idea factories that embody different scientific and academic disciplines located in close proximity. They include a presence of large, established companies that often invest in start-ups, license their technology, and/or sit on their board of directors. CEOs mentor less experienced leaders of small companies. Government agencies are partners but companies don't depend on them solely. Angel investors and private sector investors are key players too. There are no guarantees in any ecosystem.

North Carolina has shed its furniture, textiles and tobacco industries. Today it's a state whose small and medium-sized companies are committed to exporting, which is key to creating economic growth, wealth, and jobs. Companies that export typically pay higher wages and stay in business longer. Holstein says exporting is a huge untapped economic potential. America's export promotion and finance system is fragmented and ineffectual. North Carolina triumphs, as agencies from the local, state and federal levels are collaborating to promote exporting. They provide information to small business CEOs about trade shows in foreign capitals. They also play matchmaker with potential distributors and customers, and help companies translate their sales materials into local languages, among other things.

Atlanta, like many U.S towns dependent on manufacturing for economic viability, in the past decades, relied heavily on offshoring and outsourcing to cut costs. Today, the city exemplifies companies that are returning operations to U.S. soil, a trend known, as "backshoring." It's especially true of high-end technology, telecommunications and healthcare organizations. Jetting around the world to tweak production and design changes is both costly and time-consuming. Shipping expenses, complicated logistics, political unrest and the threat of intellectual property theft are also motivators. Atlanta's ecosystem of regional government, universities and supplier and logistics experts is among those committed to revitalizing the area's job market.

Cleveland is at the forefront of America's twelve hundred community colleges for workforce retraining. Cleveland's strength is retraining displaced workers in their forties and fifties, a demographic hit hard by global employment trends. Current and future workers need a higher set of knowledge-based skills to be competitive; and Cleveland delivers. The city's community colleges treat education less as a business, and more as schooling, enabling the unemployed to quickly transition into new viable careers. Cleveland's educational ecosystem includes local business leaders, and government officials. Community colleges can often be more flexible than four-year academia. Funding flows from federal, state and local government, and private foundations too.

Lessons for All Americans
Holstein concludes that America is the center of a global economy and the competitive pressure is permanent. He believes we're a culture of creativity, innovation and freedom. Our comparative advantage is our ability to leapfrog over existing technologies by being disruptive. To maximize that advantage, future generations will need to master math and science-based skills. It's the only way to thrive in a knowledge-based economy. "This is a defining moment for America, similar to the Great Depression, when we had to summon forth a new vision of our future," he says. "I truly believe that we can recover the optimism many seem to have lost."

To stay abreast of America's next economy, visit, http://www.williamholstein.com.

Timothy Zaun is a blogger, speaker and freelance writer. Visit him online at http://timzaun.com.

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Nacho Showdown! #SFTasteTest + a Chance to Win!

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My friends over at Smart & Final asked me to try out another one of their First Street products and do a comparison with the brand name version. I've always found first Street products to be of great quality - and they have a money back guarantee if you don't like them - so I was in. And when I found out I'd be trying out chili with beans - I got even more excited. Instantly, I decided we had to make nachos. I don't have nachos that often, but boy do I crave them like crazy sometimes.

To make this even more fun, my hubby and I decided that we'd each make a pan of nachos - one with First Street ingredients and one with brand name - and have our friends judge them in the now infamous Nacho Showdown of 2012.

First, we headed off to Smart & Final to do our shopping. They were all set up for Labor Day party shopping - which was exactly what we were doing.

 I was in charge of First Street ingredients and he was in charge of brand name. So we went around gathering our ingredients:First Street roundup - $5.27 for chili, sour cream & shredded cheese Brand name equivalents - $6.27 (would've been $7.27 if the sour cream hadn't been on sale)
You can check out our full shopping trip - including a picture of hubby actually smiling while shopping (a rare sight!) - HERE.

Before we did the taste test & Nacho Showdown, I moved all of the branded ingredients to separate containers and labeled them with just numbers, so no one would know which was which:
(We both used the same chips & salsa, as we couldn't find First Street versions.)
Then hubby & I did a taste test comparison of just the chili itself so we would know what we were working with for ingredients. (Well, I didn't tell him which brand was which - hee hee). First, the First Street Version:
We agreed it was nice & meaty and the beans were firm, not mushy, which made it seem "fresh." It was pretty mild, though, in terms of spices. My only minor gripe is that I had to use a can opener to open it up, whereas the Hormel had a pop-top. Yup, sometimes I'm lazy ;-D

Next up the Hormel:
The sauce here was thicker and there was more kick to the flavor - but there wasn't as much meat and the beans were on the mushy side. Hubby was able to guess this was the brand name due to the spices.
However, we both agreed the First Street Version was a better base to start with because of the quality of beans and the "meatiness." Plus, when serving a crowd, it's sometimes better to go on the milder side. You can always add more spice (like yummy jalapenos) but you can't take it away!

So that was the chili all by itself. But how would they stack up in the nacho showdown? We packed up all the ingredients and headed over to the party at our friend's house. While a bunch of our friends gabbed & hung out on the patio, we took over the kitchen and set to creating our masterpieces.
 We layered chips, chili, salsa, cheese & jalapenosFirst Street on the left, brand name on the right (I numbered the pans to keep track of them - otherwise it would've been a disaster!)
Into the oven for 10 minutes and voila! Nachos are served:
First Street still on the left, brand name on the right
The comments started rolling in... #1 had a little kick, #2 had a richer flavor, you could taste all the ingredients in #1, "they're both good" and so on... Finally, we called for the final vote to see whose nachos would reign supreme. And the winner is...


It's a TIE! So there you have - the First Street chili easily held its own against the brand name - as did the other First Street ingredients. Yet more evidence that you don't have to compromise taste & quality when you save money with store brands. But Smart & Final doesn't just want to save you money - they want to give you money! That's right, they've have a Pinterest Party going on right now where you could win a $100, $300 or even $500 Smart & Final SmartCash gift card! Check out all the details at www.bit.ly/sftastetest Find out more about Smart & Final and all of their great deals by following them on Twitter and Facebook.

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias All opinions expressed are my own.

Easy Homemade Heath Bar Ice Cream Cake (with pictorial!)

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The 100+ temps today have me reminiscing fondly of this ice cream cake I recently made for a friend's BBQ. With creamy vanilla ice cream & decadent chocolate-caramel fillings, it is both delicious - and surprisingly simple. The secret? Ice cream sandwiches! Yup, that's what makes up the ice cream & "cake" layers in this delicious dessert. Here's the full recipe - with photos on putting it together.

Easy Homemade Heath Bar Crunch Ice Cream Cake
(Serves 12)

Ingredients:
12 classic ice cream sandwiches (vanilla ice cream & chocolate cake)
8 oz. tub whipped topping, divided
1 small box (3.4 oz) instant chocolate pudding
1 cup caramel topping, divided
2 Heath® toffee candy bars

Method:
Remove all wrappers from ice cream sandwiches, then put back in the freezer for 30 minutes to firm back up.
Meanwhile, unwrap the candy bars and put them in a plastic bag. Crush them with a rolling pin (or other heavy object). In a medium-sized bowl, mix 1 cup of the whipped topping, 1/2 cup of the caramel topping and the package of instant chocolate pudding until smooth. Stir in the candy bar pieces.
Lay out a large sheet of foil (approx. 24 x 12).
Take your unwrapped ice cream sandwiches out of the freezer and lay 4 of them side-by-side on the foil to form a rectangle:
Spread 1/2 of the pudding/candy topping mixture on top:


Drizzle about 1/3 of the remaining caramel topping on top:
Place another 4 ice cream sandwiches side-by-side on top of the caramel layer:
Spread remaining pudding/candy mixture on top:
 Drizzle with another 1/3 of the caramel topping (I had a little bit of a heavy hand here.... oops!):Top with remaining ice cream sandwiches:Cover with remaining whipped topping:Carefully fold up the sides of the foil to create a "pan" for your ice cream cake. Place on a level surface in the freezer for at least 3 hours. Just before serving, unwrap and drizzle with remaining caramel topping. Then slice & enjoy! 

Eating with Acid Reflux

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I haven't mentioned it yet because I keep hoping it will go away - but I've been dealing with a pretty bad case of acid reflux since May. It all seemed to start because of a medication I was taking. And even though I stopped that medication, the reflux hasn't gone on its merry way (we're talking heartburn/sore throat/feeling like food gets "stuck" most of the day for most days of the week - ugh). So far, I've tried a few over-the-counter and prescription acid medications to get it under control. I've also started taking a teaspoon of wild honey 20 minutes before every meal. Those have helped some, but we're still not quite there.

So my doctor says it's time to get serious about cutting "trigger foods" out of my diet. Over the past 2-3 months, I had already stopped eating some things that very obviously bothered me:
-tomato sauce
-red wine
-grapes
-coffee
-fizzy water/seltzer
-citrus
-spicy food
-most salad dressing.

Now, that seems like a lot to cut out to me. But, apparently, there's a whole lot more to the "avoid" list. In the past week, I've also stopped eating/drinking:
-garlic
-onions
-all alcohol
-all full-fat dairy (ice cream, cheese, etc.)
-fried foods (not that I ate a lot of these... but I do like a good french fry!)
-chocolate
-mint
-bananas (this isn't on any official list, but it seems to be a trigger for me).

So what the heck is left to eat?!? Some days, it feels like not much - especially when it comes to dinner. I used to cook with tomatoes and garlic a lot. And spicy foods are a favorite. Dinners have, almost needless to say, been pretty bland around here - especially because foods have to be on the softer side to feel OK on my throat. Chicken & rice and turkey burgers with sweet potatoes have been on the menu far too much.

So I call on you readers - got any good ideas for reflux-friendly recipes that are still healthy & delicious? Or any other ideas for calming the burn?

Cold Asian Noodle Salad with Cucumbers and Chicken

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Here's a very tasty recipe that I've adapted to be more reflux-friendly. It's a nice mix of salty and sweet, as well as crunch and soft. Enjoy it as a main meal or a side dish - either way, if you like Asian flavors - I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Cold Asian Noodle Salad with Cucumbers and Chicken
(Adapted from Cooking Light - Serves 3)

Ingredients:
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 Tbsp. miso paste*
6 ounces buckwheat soba noodles (or regular udon noodles)
1/4 c. seasoned rice wine vinegar
2 Tbsp. sesame oil2 Tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce
1 Tbsp. honey
1 tsp. freshly grated ginger
1 6" English cucumber, cut into quarters and sliced
3 Tbsp. salted cashews, chopped

Method:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Place boneless skinless chicken breasts on a foil-lined baking sheet. Spread 1 Tbsp. miso paste on top of each piece of chicken.
Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes or until fully cooked. Set aside to cool. (You can also make this a few hours or a day ahead of time and refrigerate until you need it.)
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook soba noodles as directed on the package. Once finished cooking, drain and rinse with cold water until noodles feel cold to the touch.
In a small bowl, whisk together rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, honey and ginger.
Once chicken has cooled, cut into bite-sized chunks.
Place chicken, noodles and cucumbers in a larger bowl. Pour vinegar/soy sauce mixture over the top and toss to coat. Sprinkle with cashews just before serving.

*A note about miso paste: You can usually find this at a natural food store or Asian market. Don't be put off by having to buy a larger tub - it's already fermented, lasts forever (well, at least several months...) in the fridge!

Things to Do in San Diego's Balboa Park

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There are many well-known San Diego attractions that you will want to consider when you are planning a visit to this popular Southern California city. Whether you are in the city for business or pleasure, or even if you're a local that needs to entertain out-of-town visitors, you definitely won't run out of things to see. One of the best places you could go -- especially if you like the outdoors -- is Balboa Park.
Although there are plenty of attractions to see, Balboa Park is unique in that it offers a lot of diversions to keep you and your guests busy. Among the various attractions you can see on the park, there are some must-see locations which you should visit to make your sightseeing excursion complete.
One of these "must-see" attractions is the Star Trek exhibition. It contains all the original costumes and props as well as the sets that were used in all series and films of Star Trek. If you are going to get an admission ticket, you would also be granted access to other exhibits on the Air and Space Museum.
If flowers are more to your taste, then the poinsettia display will rank as your number one among the San Diego attractions. The display can be found on the Botanical Building and features more than five hundred poinsettias that were arranged in harmony with the rest of the botanical wonders around which came from all over the world. You do not have to spend anything to see the display because it is for free.
If you are searching for IMAX film among the San Diego attractions, then you can have a single ticket so that you can be admitted to one of the new films on IMAX that are shown on a seamless dome screen which is very modern. If you know of the zoo in San Diego, you would probably visit it too; but if you are going to go there, it is advisable that you go early so that you can avoid the business of the day. One of the unique things to see in the zoo is the Panda Research Station and perhaps you could go there directly.
You may have a long list of other San Diego attractions that are worth seeing, just be sure to save at least a few days of your vacation for exploring Balboa Park and all the sites it has to offer. You won't be disappointed.


Romel have been writing articles for nearly 2 years. Come visit his blogs more often for tips and advice that helps people with the interest for short sales in San Diego and great passion and knowledge for San Diego Coastal and all the different options & providers available in the market today. Find out for more info also here sandiegorealestatecafe.com

Want to be a professor of organic chemistry? (2012 edition)

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The 2012 back-to-school edition of Chemical and Engineering News was almost two weeks ago, but I wanted to do my traditional listing of openings in the print edition for assistant professors of organic chemistry. I included all ads that had the word "organic" or "bioorganic", but none of the ones that said "any field." (Medicinal/drug discovery professorships were not included.) I've put an asterisk next to the universities that were looking for professors of organic chemistry last year.

Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS*
Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
California Lutheran University, Thousands Oaks, CA
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
College of Charleston, Charleston, SC
DePaul University, Chicago, IL
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA*
Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY
University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
University of Mary Washington, Fredricksburg (Fredricksburg! Fredricksburg!), VA
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY*
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Berry College, Mount Berry, GA
Utah State University, Logan, UT
University of Houston, Houston, TX

12 slots of professors at PhD-granting universities among 19 advertised slots overall. Best wishes to all applying. 

Process Wednesday: Continuous flow microwave chemistry?

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Credit: Morschhäuser et al., Green Process Synth.

From this week's C&EN, a look at microwave chemistry from Stephen Ritter; the article ends with an industrial-scale appplication:

For example, Kappe has been engaged in determining how to translate the benefits of the high temperature and pressure of batch microwave reactions to microwave-assisted continuous flow. 

In collaboration with scientists at specialty chemical firm Clariant, Kappe recently used his model benzimidazole synthesis and carried out what he believes is the first reported description of microwave-assisted continuous-flow chemistry at the production scale (Green Process Synth., DOI: 10.1515/gps-2012-0032). The researchers used a flow reactor capable of operating at up to 310 °C and 60 atm pressure and at flow rates as high as 20 L per hour, which works out to about 1,000 metric tons per year. The reactants need to spend only about 30 seconds in the microwave-irradiated zone for the reaction to be complete. 

“For many researchers in the lab, microwaves have become the first choice and not a last resort,” Kappe says. “Now, in moving to microwave flow chemistry, we may be seeing a new game-changer in sustainable process chemistry.” 

Looks interesting to me. Obviously, capital costs and maintenance would be an issue, as well as the broad applicability of the specific setup.

[The concerns about safety and microwave leakage become really real -- does anyone remember the "Microwave Oven in Use" signs from the early 80's?]

[You can click through to the actual Green Process Synthesis article and download the PDF, stunningly.]

This statement will be retracted, right?

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From a Chronicle of Higher Education article by Jennifer Howard on the recent SUNY-Potsdam-stops-ACS-subscriptions kerfluffle comes a rather hot quote:

A spokesman for the American Chemical Society said that the group would not offer a response to Ms. Rogers's blog post or the conversation that's sprung up around it. "We find little constructive dialogue can be had on blogs and other listservs where logic, balance, and common courtesy are not practiced and observed," Glenn S. Ruskin, the group's director of public affairs, said in an e-mail message. "As a matter of practice, ACS finds that direct engagement via telephone or face-to-face with individuals expressing concern over pricing or other related matters is the most productive means to finding common ground and resolution."

There are two statements here, one of which is reasonable, in my opinion. The latter statement is basically "we don't negotiate on price very much, and we certainly do not negotiate on price through the press." Leaving aside ACS' pricing structure (a big thing to leave aside), that's a predictable "no comment."

As for the former statement, it's silly on its face. It seems to me that the most prominent communicators of chemistry are all communicating through blogs. It is no mistake that ACS' Division of Chemical Health and Safety runs a useful and quite civil listserv, and has been doing so for years.

I think that Mr. Ruskin generalized broadly and wrongly; I trust that he will clarify or retract* this statement soon.

UPDATE: The statement has been clarified.

*"or retract" added later. 

Glenn Ruskin clarifies his statement

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This morning, I send the following e-mail to Glenn Ruskin, director of the ACS Office of Public Affairs:

Dear Mr. Ruskin: 

I saw your recent comments in The Chronicle of Higher Education. I am writing to express my disappointment with your statement about blogs and other forms of electronic communication. I have also written on it in my blog, Chemjobber.  

I sincerely hope that you were somehow misquoted. If not, I hope that I can convince you that your generalizations about the incivility of blogs were incorrect.  

Best wishes,  

Chemjobber 

P.S. I am an ACS member; if so desired, I can prove it. 

This afternoon, I received this reply:

Dear Chemjobber:

Good afternoon, and thank you for reaching out to me on this matter.

It was not my intention, nor the intention of ACS, to denigrate blogs or users/contributors of blogs.   My comment was directed toward the blog that was the subject of the Chronicle of Higher Education (CHE) story.  Unfortunately, CHE did not use the totality of my comment as I think it would have been clear that I was speaking specifically to the blog that was the point of the story.  Here is the totality of my statement (bolded section was omitted by CHE):

"We find little constructive dialogue can be had on blogs and other listservs where logic, balance and common courtesy are not practiced and observed.  As a matter of practice, ACS finds that direct engagement via telephone or face-to-face with individuals expressing concern over pricing or other related matters is the most productive means to finding common ground and resolution. Therefore, we will not be offering any response  to this blog posting or the conversation that has ensued."

I respect and appreciate responsible bloggers, those that thoughtfully engage on those blogs as well as those that utilize listservs.  No insult was intended, and apologies to those that interpreted the comment that way.  These outlets provide important avenues to further dialogue and collaboration and are valuable assets in the ever evolving digital age.

The individual responsible for the above cited blog certainly has the right to her opinion, but that does not excuse rude behavior or her use of profanity and vulgarity in addressing ACS or its employees. While not evident in the most recent postings, I won’t repeat what she has posted in the past.  But I think you would agree that vulgarity and profanity postings do not lead themselves to meaningful, productive and civil discourse, thus our decision not to engage any further with her on this topic.

I hope that helps clarify this matter and I thank you for reaching out to me to share your concern.

Glenn

I find this to be an interesting response (and assertion!), but there we have it.

Things to Do in San Diego's Balboa Park

To contact us Click HERE

There are many well-known San Diego attractions that you will want to consider when you are planning a visit to this popular Southern California city. Whether you are in the city for business or pleasure, or even if you're a local that needs to entertain out-of-town visitors, you definitely won't run out of things to see. One of the best places you could go -- especially if you like the outdoors -- is Balboa Park.
Although there are plenty of attractions to see, Balboa Park is unique in that it offers a lot of diversions to keep you and your guests busy. Among the various attractions you can see on the park, there are some must-see locations which you should visit to make your sightseeing excursion complete.
One of these "must-see" attractions is the Star Trek exhibition. It contains all the original costumes and props as well as the sets that were used in all series and films of Star Trek. If you are going to get an admission ticket, you would also be granted access to other exhibits on the Air and Space Museum.
If flowers are more to your taste, then the poinsettia display will rank as your number one among the San Diego attractions. The display can be found on the Botanical Building and features more than five hundred poinsettias that were arranged in harmony with the rest of the botanical wonders around which came from all over the world. You do not have to spend anything to see the display because it is for free.
If you are searching for IMAX film among the San Diego attractions, then you can have a single ticket so that you can be admitted to one of the new films on IMAX that are shown on a seamless dome screen which is very modern. If you know of the zoo in San Diego, you would probably visit it too; but if you are going to go there, it is advisable that you go early so that you can avoid the business of the day. One of the unique things to see in the zoo is the Panda Research Station and perhaps you could go there directly.
You may have a long list of other San Diego attractions that are worth seeing, just be sure to save at least a few days of your vacation for exploring Balboa Park and all the sites it has to offer. You won't be disappointed.


Romel have been writing articles for nearly 2 years. Come visit his blogs more often for tips and advice that helps people with the interest for short sales in San Diego and great passion and knowledge for San Diego Coastal and all the different options & providers available in the market today. Find out for more info also here sandiegorealestatecafe.com

La Jolla Restaurants Offer Something For Everyone

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La Jolla California is known by many throughout the world as an incredible place to visit and live. Despite its relatively small small size, the community has achieved its fame due to its natural beauty and many attractions including its world-class shopping, dining, art and educational institutions. And with near perfect weather, people to play golf, tennis and all sorts of water and on-land activities far more days each year than almost any other local in the world.

With its fame, residents are not the only people enjoying what La Jolla has to offer. To satisfy the combination of many hungry residents and visitors, the town is home to a plethora of dining options that people can visit to find a great meal. With so of the best restaurants in San Diego, no matter what cuisine you feel like, you will find something to satisfy your appetite and craving within the La Jolla community.

If formal dining is your desire, there are some great options serving gourmet steak and seafood cuisine in beautiful settings including the Marine Room, the Sky Room at La Valencia and Fleming's Steakhouse among many others. If sushi is what you want, you came to the right place as the community is home to some of the best sushi restaurants including the elegant Café Japengo, Fugu's Sushi, and Tabu Sushi among other great dining options. For Italian food, Manhattan restaurant is intimate and authentic, Bistro Pazzo is a neighborhood eatery that locals love and Carino's Italian restaurant is a hidden gem with some of the best pizza in San Diego. The community also has great Mexican food, Thai cuisine, and just about anything and everything you might ever possibly desire.

If you find yourself in the Village at lunchtime, there are some great casual options. If you would like to take your lunch to go so that you can eat overlooking the ocean, Girard Gourmet offers delicious salads and sandwiches, El Pescador Fish Market serves up the freshest fish on salads and sandwiches, and you can order coffee, tea or food from Goldfish Point Café which overlooks the ocean and seals at La Jolla Cove. For sit down, there are some great eateries to enjoy including Harry's Cofffee Shop, Brockton Villa and Museum Café By Giuseppe. There are obviously many options to consider beyond just the few included here.

With the proximity to the Pacific Ocean, you won't have to look hard to find a romantic restaurant offering a view of the ocean. Simply choose from the many different restaurants on Prospect Street perched up above La Jolla Cove area or visit the La Jolla Shores where you will find Italian favorite Piatti Ristorante and many other restaurants located just steps from the sand. Most restaurants in town offer takeout as well which is great you romantics who want to enjoy dinner while watching the sunset dip behind the Pacific.

Whether you are searching for the perfect restaurant for business, for the entire family or to help spark romantic fireworks, hopefully by now you can see that La Jolla is home to number of unique options offering both great atmosphere and great food.

When it comes to finding the best La Jolla restaurants along with all other community and business information, look no further than La Jolla Blue Book where you can find the best La Jolla California dining, shopping, hotels, local professionals, specials from the local businesses and community attractions, events and helpful resources.

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Retirement Homes in San Diego Area - Want to Live by the Water?

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Chula Vista is a coastal community and one of the best kept secrets for retirement homes in San Diego area. San Diego, California's topography is as diverse as the housing styles found in the different communities. Chula Vista is one of those diverse areas where coastal living as well as inland communities is still reasonably priced.

Chula Vista, as I mentioned is a coastal community where the Kumeyaay Indians lived thousands of years before the Europeans came to this beautiful area located at the southern end of the San Diego Bay. The Kumeyaay were called Diegueno Indians for some 200 years upon the Spanish arrival in the area. The Spanish had a propensity to rename the indigenous tribes after the missions where they taught the Spanish cultural to the local Native Americans.

Around 1769 a leader of the Spaniards named Fr. Junipero Serra a priest passed through Chula Vista around July 1 to help establish a the first California mission known as the San Diego Mission. Not far from the mission to the east the Spanish soldiers established a fort known today as Presidio Hill according to the Imagines of America Chula Vista (Roseman and Watery 2008).

The land holdings that is known today as the City of Chula Vista were used during the Spanish reign as grazing pasture for their horses and cattle. During the time California was part of Mexico, the Chula Vista area flourished with cattle ranching. The large cattle ranches provided hides and tallow which were traded with passing American as well as British ships making Chula Vista part of the world trading process during the early 1800's.

In 1868 El Rancho de la Nacion, 26000 Mexican land grant rancho in the San Diego area was purchased by Frank Kimball and his brothers. The coastal area of Chula Vista, know today as Western Chula Vista was a part of the land grant. The purpose of the land grant purchase was to create an agriculture distribution point. Mr. Kimball need access to water and transportation. This land grant became part of the Santa Fe Railway. The Santa Fe Railroad built the Sweetwater Dam which is located in the eastern community of Chula Vista.

One of the many fascinating homes in the coastal community of Chula Vista is the Sallmon House Estate. The Sallmon House was built in 1916. A home which embraced the Spanish Pueblo Revival architecture style. Mr. Sallmon was a graduate of Yale University with a MA in 1894. He was associated and participated in the China-Yale Association and helped establish a mission station which included a medical college and hospital in Changasha China along the Yangtze River.

This mission station hospital later became the Xiangya Reproductive and Genetic Hospital and is currently the leading genetic research hospital in China. After leaving China, Mr. Sallmon came west to Chula Vista via Connecticut around 1915. Mr. Sallmon planted 5 acres of avocado featuring 350 trees on the estate property. The avocado trees were Taft, Perfecto, Fuerte, Puebla, Dickinson, Montezuma, Queen, Knight, Linda and Nabal varieties of the fruit.

According to The Journal of San Diego History, Mr. Sallmon worked with Kate Sessions (San Diego horticulturist), Dr. Fairchild (USDA Explorer) and Frank Meyer (Agricultural Explorer, also known for Meyer Lemons and Meyer Medal award). These four pioneers worked to introduce many of the first plants and fruits into Chula Vista and the San Diego Region, through a work station in Florida. The Sallmon House was one of the federally funded sub-stations that introduced avocados into California from Peru and Chile around the 1920's.

The City of Chula Vista is rich with history which has contributed to the diverse lifestyles, communities topographies and culture of this coastal community. The Sallmon House is one of many historic homes that dotted the western side of the city. This home recently was purchased last year. There are still many opportunities to own one of the many homes in the area.

According to the "Action Market Index" of Altos Research Corp., as of the March 2010 this coastal community is still presenting a "Buyers Market". The "Action Market Index" answers the question "How's the Market?" by measuring the current rate of sale versus the amount of the inventory. You can preview information on property pricing and inventory levels for the area at Altos Research website.

Some of the interesting housing styles available in this coastal community:

Historic Victorian Orchard Homes

Spanish Revival Estate Homes

Craftsman Bungalows

50's Style Ranch Housing

Spanish Mediterranean

Contemporary

There are many reasons to live in Chula Vista with all the different home styles available. The top three reasons to live in this particular community by the water in southern California in my opinion are weather, weather and weather. Chula Vista has one of the mildest climates in the USA. Most often the day is 72 degrees, sunny with a slight coastal breeze.

The San Diego area of Chula Vista, California is one of my favorite locations in the county. I am a resident and can honestly share the "weather is terrific". Located at the southern most part of the county we are still a bargain when comparing our city's housing options to the rest of San Diego' communities.

If living by the water is in your future plans for retirement and cold snowy winters is a season to forget; Chula Vista is a coastal community to keep in mind. Visitors are welcomed. See you soon.

I have been a real estate practitioner in the State of California for over 20 years. My educational background is a MBA with a concentration in finance from the University of Phoenix located in Arizona. I am a member of the National Association of Realtors, California Association of Realtors, Pacific Southwest Association Board of Realtors, the International Real Estate Federation based in Paris, France and World Trade Center San Diego. I am a designated Certified International Property Specialist. You are welcome to contact me with questions by visiting my website http://juliekaysellshomes.com or blog site http://juliekaysellshomesoverseas.wordpress.com/

Julie K. Danielson, Realtor. MBA.
Certified International Property Specialist, FIABCI.
McMillin Realty, Inc.
619.888.2948
email:jdan5284@sbcglobal.net

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