Hotel Indigo San Diego Del Mar
Having worked the front desk at the hotel formerly known as the Stratford Inn (Best Western) for 10 years, Barbara DuRand loves knowing the Del Mar hotel’s many regular guests — and their dogs — by name. Now, she’s getting a kick out of seeing their reactions when they enter to see the results of its multimillion-dollar renovation.
On April 12, the hotel announced its grand opening as Hotel Indigo San Diego Del Mar. Hotel Indigo is a boutique hotel brand that’s found in major cities worldwide. There will be a more formal opening event on May 14.
But even though the brand is internationally recognized and growing — the company plans to double Hotel Indigo locations in 2012 — it’s still a neighborhood hotel.
North County Del Mar Coastal Living
Each location is characterized by contemporary decor and is designed to complement the surroundings of the neighborhood. For example, each room at the Del Mar hotel has floor-to-ceiling murals of beach- and horse racing-related artwork, such as hooves in the sand or crashing waves. Even the food of each location is adapted according to the area. Del Mar’s “modern California coastal” breakfast menu features a Creme Brulee French Toast and Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict built upon potato pancakes. The breakfast burrito is also an area signature, and the kitchen boasts an in-house pastry chef.
In addition, the property offers a full-service day-spa, two pools, hot tub and sauna, among other amenities.
Del Mar Coastal Views | North County San Diego
When it comes to staying local, another motto of Hotel Indigo is to keep business local. For example, hotel staff members will suggest guests rent surfboards from Rusty’s or visit Dog Beach before sending them to La Jolla or Pacific Beach.
“We’re considered a local hotel with a neighborhood story, so we’re going to send guests places in Del Mar,” said Laura Wildeman, the hotel’s director of sales.
Hotel Indigo is fully pet-friendly and has no size or breed restrictions for dogs. Since many of Del Mar’s canine-loving guests therefore choose the hotel, the staff makes sure to have dog treats stocked at the front desk at all times. Wildeman said the hotel will also offer Hotel Indigo dog tags to inform people where the visiting dogs’ hotel is located in case the dogs get lost.
The Hotel Indigo San Diego Del Mar is the site of the original Stratford Inn, built in 1910. Pacifica Host Hotels owns and manages the Hotel Indigo San Diego Del Mar, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group (www.ihg.com). Pacifica Host Hotels also manages the La Valencia hotel in La Jolla and several local Holiday Inns, among others.
Hotel Indigo Front Dest and Lobby
“Aligning with Hotel Indigo was a natural fit,” said Susan Knapp, the hotel’s general manager. “Not only does the hotel’s new design incorporate community staples like the beach and the racetrack, but the friendly service makes guests feel welcome in a neighborly setting.”
Do you have specific questions about any homes in the North County San Diego real estate market? Contact Alvin Newton and the Newton3 team by email (Alvin@Newton3.com ), phone (858-876-5153), or on Facebook with your questions or to set up a viewing appointment. Our team can provide customized services, help you navigate the San Diego MLS and set up a customized email-based home search for you to track a specific North County Home, and other San Diego properties at your leisure. Thank you for visiting the San Diego North County Real Estate blog and we look forward to serving you and your real estate needs.
Make the Most of your San Diego Small Backyard
For city dwellers and those who live in small spaces, creating an outdoor space that you can enjoy at home can be a challenge. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your small outdoor space.
Include Multifunctional Pieces
It’s important to treat an outdoor space just like you would any room inside of your home. And with small outdoor spaces, that principle should be carried even further. Look for multifunctional furnishings that address all of the needs and possible uses of your outdoor room. Interior designer Matthew Lanphier advises, ‘Multifunctional pieces are important in small spaces. Tables that can also be seating, stools that can also be tables. This coffee table spins, so it’s user-friendly when the space is packed with guests.’
San Diego Back Yards | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton
Marry Form and Function
The structure of your outdoor space can be a guide for the type of furniture and accessories you will need. Here, a dining table is nested next to a curved stair that can double as additional seating for large gatherings.
San Diego Back Yards | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton
Less Is More
In a small outdoor space, less can definitely mean more. Even a few key choices of furniture can have a big impact when furnishing a small lounge area or patio. ‘Don’t clutter small spaces with small objects. Less is more, as always. I only accessorize and furnish outdoor spaces with a few choice, properly scaled objects. This means easier maintenance too.
San Diego Back Yards | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton
Make Your Small Space Work Overtime
Just because your patio or terrace is small doesn’t mean that it can’t meet all your needs for outdoor living. This rooftop deck is only 11 feet by 7 feet, but it has enough room to seat six around the dining table and additional people in the adjacent lounge area. Use furniture that is slim with clean lines to accommodate a crowd without being crowded.
San Diego Back Yards | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton
Maximize Space
Look for pieces that can help you maximize your small outdoor space. This vintage bookshelf was turned into a full-service bar on a rooftop deck. It doubles as a storage shelf for tableware and serving pieces.
San Diego Back Yards | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton
Go Vertical
No room for a traditional garden? Think up! Vertical gardens add much-needed greenery to city spaces without taking up precious square footage.
San Diego Back Yards | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton
Do you have specific questions about any homes in the North County San Diego real estate market? Contact Alvin Newton and the Newton3 team by email (Alvin@Newton3.com ), phone (858-876-5153), or on Facebook with your questions or to set up a viewing appointment. Our team can provide customized services, help you navigate the San Diego MLS and set up a customized email-based home search for you to track a specific North County Home, and other San Diego properties at your leisure. Thank you for visiting the San Diego North County Real Estate blog and we look forward to serving you and your real estate needs.
Stylish Walk-In Bedroom Closets
Masculine Design
The combination of bold green, stark white and rich brown cabinetry brings a masculine look to this spacious closet. Multiple levels of hanging rods add height to the space, and white storage bins bring a crisp, clean feel. The bold-green wall color is carried through to the cabinet doors for a unified look, and the delicate white chandelier adds the only feminine touch in the space.
San Diego Homes | By San Diego Realtors
Stylish and Colorful
Painting the walls in your walk-in closet can transform it from an ordinary space to a stylish, refreshing area. This closet by ClosetMaid features a cozy area rug, a comfortable bench and chic storage boxes. White shelving makes the space feel more spacious and open.
San Diego Homes | By San Diego Realtors
Crisp, Clean and Elegant
This space hardly looks like a closet, with its elegant lighting, open space and inviting accessories. Designer Julie Massucco Kleiner implemented the pattern from the plush area rug to the sliding door to create visual appeal. The luxurious closet seamlessly blends with the adjacent bedroom when the sliding door is open. A full-length mirror and vanity area provide a space to get ready for the day.
San Diego Homes | By San Diego Realtors
Boutique Chic
This Asian-inspired master suite closet features dual frosted-glass doors and cherry cabinetry. The drawers and hanging rod compartments provide different storage options, and recessed lights allow for different levels of lighting. Open upper shelving provides extra storage.
San Diego Homes | By San Diego Realtors
High-End Touches
This extravagant closet looks more like a high-end boutique. Crown molding, an elegant bookshelf and maple cabinetry by Wellborn Cabinet, Inc. bring a lavish, vintage touch to the space.
San Diego Homes | By San Diego Realtors
Spa-Like Closet
Wicker basket drawers keep closet essentials at hand in the master bedroom closet. The open shelving makes the small space feel more open, and wooden hangers, spa-like accessories and a few personal touches bring a luxurious, serene look.
San Diego Homes | By San Diego Realtors
Shoe Shelving
RMS user amessis wanted a combination closet and dressing room, so she turned her old bedroom into a large walk-in closet. Different compartments provide storage for a variety of items, and an entire wall of open shelving makes shoes easily accessible.
San Diego Homes | By San Diego Realtors
Dressing Room
Open shelving dominates this combination walk-in closet and dressing area. RMS user Homegurl chose bold storage bins to add a splash of color to the neutral space. A vanity area, complete with a magnifying mirror and plenty of lighting, provides a space to put on makeup. A dresser island with a granite countertop takes storage to the next level.
San Diego Homes | By San Diego Realtors
Do you have specific questions about any homes in the North County San Diego real estate market? Contact Alvin Newton and the Newton3 team by email (Alvin@Newton3.com ), phone (858-876-5153), or on Facebook with your questions or to set up a viewing appointment. Our team can provide customized services, help you navigate the San Diego MLS and set up a customized email-based home search for you to track a specific North County Home, and other San Diego properties at your leisure. Thank you for visiting the San Diego North County Real Estate blog and we look forward to serving you and your real estate needs.
Southern California home sales hit five-year high
Southern California home sales posted a five-year high in February as record numbers of investors and cash buyers helped to spur purchases of homes under $300,000, according to a report released Wednesday. An extra day of sales due to Leap Year was also credited for the larger sales numbers.
A total of 15, 573 new and resale homes and condos sold in Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Ventura and Orange counties last month, up 7.2 percent from January and up 8.4 percent from February 2011, reported San Diego-based DataQuick. The increase in sales between January and February was larger than the average increase of 1.1 percent since DataQuick started keeping track in 1988.
In Riverside County the number of home sales increased 5.9 percent year over year, to 3,011 sales in February from 2,842 sales a year earlier. San Bernardino County posted 2,082 sales, up 5.5 percent from 1,974 in February, 2011.
At the same time the median Inland Southern California home price —where half sold for more and half for less– dropped slightly in February from a year earlier, down 1 percent in Riverside to $193,000 and down 1.3 percent in San Bernardino County to $148,000. For all of Southern California the median home price last month was $264,750, a drop of 3.7 percent from a year earlier.
In Southern California absentee buyers—mostly investors and some second-home purchasers bought a record 29.7 percent of homes sold in February, up from 26.4 percent in February, 2011. Cash purchasers accounted for a record 32.8 percent of February home sales, up from 32.3 percent a year earlier.
“February sales got a big boost from investors and others paying cash for relatively affordable homes, as well as from an extra day’s worth of sales thanks to the leap year. Without the latter, sales might have been up a bit, but not to a five year high. It’s just one more reason for us to remind everyone that January and February usually aren’t good months to use for forecasting purposes,” said DataQuick President John Walsh.
Do you have specific questions about any homes in the North County San Diego real estate market? Contact Alvin Newton and the Newton3 team by email (Alvin@Newton3.com ), phone (858-876-5153), or on Facebook with your questions or to set up a viewing appointment. Our team can provide customized services, help you navigate the San Diego MLS and set up a customized email-based home search for you to track a specific North County Home, and other San Diego properties at your leisure. Thank you for visiting the San Diego North County Real Estate blog and we look forward to serving you and your real estate needs.
Performers for 2012 San Diego County Fair in Del Mar
American Idol winner and country music sensation Scotty McCreery, classic pop singer Kenny Loggins, comedian Jeff Dunham and Latin crooner Joan Sebastian are among the acts that will take the grandstand stage during this summer’s San Diego County Fair.
The board of the 22nd District Agricultural Association, which manages the state-owned Del Mar fairgrounds, unanimously approved contracts with a number of performers at its meeting on Tuesday, March 13.
Fairgrounds officials said the list of performers approved Tuesday was partial, and that additional contracts will be brought to the board at its meeting next month. The 2012 San Diego County Fair runs from Friday, June 8, through Wednesday, July 4. The fair will be closed on Mondays, except for July 2. 
Many of the concerts are free with fair admission, and tickets for those that require an additional charge will go on sale this Saturday, March 17, at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster and the fairgrounds box office. More information can be found at www.sdfair.com.
Dunham, a ventriloquist, will be the highest-paid among the performers approved Tuesday, at $200,000. Next was Joan Sebastian, who will be paid $190,000.
A fair staffer announced that McCreery, last year’s American Idol winner, will also be performing, although his contract had not been finalized and was not on the board’s agenda for approval. McCreery made history in October, when his debut album, “Clear as Day,” entered the Billboard charts at No. 1. He was the first country and western performer, and the youngest, at age 18, to debut in the top spot.
Other grandstand acts include San Diego-based alternative rock band Switchfoot, pop singer Cody Simpson, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, KC and the Sunshine Band, Matisyahu and Weird Al Yankovic.
Gospel artist Donnie McClurkin will perform on Saturday, June 9, following a performance by a 1,000-voice gospel choir composed of San Diego County residents, fair officials said.
Rounding out the grandstand shows approved Tuesday by the board are Larry Hernandez, Latin; Demi Lovato, pop; Hot Chelle Rae, pop; La Arrolladora Banda El Limon, Latin; and Julian Alvarez, Latin.
Also approved by the board was a list of performers at other fairgrounds venues, including popular hypnotist Mark Yuzuik, the Doggies of the Wild West and Calamity Jo’s Magic Show.
Singer Jim Messina, former partner of Kenny Loggins, will perform on a different day than Loggins as part of the Paddock Concert Series. Other Paddock series performers will include Eric Burdon and the Animals, Ben E. King, Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers and John Tesh.
Michael Jackson and Doors tribute shows are also planned.
Addison at The Grand Del Mar
With every detail in tune and finely orchestrated, The Grand Del Mar’s leading dining venue, The Addison, rises as one of San Diego most noted destinations; beyond top honours and accolades from around the world, the restaurant’s menu and wine selections are well worth a reservation.
While the dining scene in San Diego has known a great many of restaurants noted for their quality, flavors and talent (including Lubach’s, Star of the Sea, Cuyamaca Club and Tambo de Oro), the arrival of Addison at The Grand Del Mar Resort [in 2006] has prompted a new standard in fine dining. Spearheaded by Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef William Bradley since its inception, the Forbes’ Five-Star restaurant (and Top 10 Destination by Gayot.com) provides a Michelin-starred European dining experience without the 11-hour flight or subsequent jet lag.
San Diego Homes For Sale | By San Diego Realtors
Situated above the 18th green, Addison hosts magnificent views of the resort’s golf course and lush garden landscape. And with an interior inspired by European and Moroccan design, Chef Bradley directs a kitchen staff of 12 that meticulously prepares every dish following an ‘artisanal approach’ to cooking, offering contemporary French cuisine using the best of seasonal ingredients. Without a name or logo appearing, his coat tells it all as he believes – returning to the concept that Addison is about what is on the plate.
San Diego Homes | By San Diego Realtors
In December, the culinary staff took another step upwards with the addition of Anthony Secviar as its new chef de cuisine. Secviar is known for his leadership in the kitchen, depth of knowledge of cuisine and extraordinary work ethic; he honed his skills in Spain, where he staged at the Michelin three-star Akelarre and Michelin one-star Kokotxa, both in San Sebastian, and worked in the kitchen at Ferran Adria’s El Bulli for six months. Prior to joining the team, Chef Secviar was at the Michelin three-star The French Laundry in Napa; he is in fact the second significant alum of the esteemed dining destination to join the Addison culinary team. The wine list is considered one of the most extensive (and yes, expensive) in the county, with Jesse Rodriguez (formerly of The French Laundry) at the helm; he has compiled an exemplary wine list deserving of its many accolades, including the Grand Award of the “Wine Spectator.” Most important, is that every wine on the list is good-to-great and, with a bit of guidance, some less expensive and unknown wines (i.e. Grüner Veltliner from Austria or a tempranillo from Rioja, Spain) may pair beautifully with your dinner; merely ask your sommelier.
The nightly tasting menu is three or four prix-fixed courses – with multiple choices for each; a true epicurean delight! As would be expected of a fine dining restaurant, the menu selections are seasonal, fresh, artistically presented. Selections available may be a turbot flown in from Brittany, halibut from Alaska, or salmon from Washington State. The mushroom dishes or tasty accompaniments are similarly fresh and seasonal, be they chanterelles, porcinis, or truffles. Other dishes may be a homage to one of the world’s great chefs, such as Langoustine à la Robuchon (Joel Robuchon) with golden osetra caviar and scampi.
San Diego Homes | By San Diego Realtors
Most European dining experiences include a cheese course, and Addison provides that opportunity with offerings such as a Cana de Cabra (creamy goat cheese from Muricia, Spain), a Noord Hollander (cow milk from Netherlands), Quadrello di Bufala (buffalo milk from Italy), and Ardrahan (cow milk from Ireland), that can be added upon request. If you want to be truly extravagant, go for “Carte Blanche” (seven course menu) or “The Gourmand” (10 course menu) where Chef Bradley and his team get to strut their stuff.
Some of the courses offered recently include; Taylor Bay Scallops with caviar, celery and dashi; Butter Baked Salmon, calamari and bouillabaisse; a Cremini Mushroom Veloute, coddled egg and black truffles; and Veau Deux Façon. And in case your sweet tooth needs a fix, their Tourte au Chocolat, with ganache and toasted coffee gelato can provide a lingering taste and memories of a meal well orchestrated.
Unlike the revolving doors of many restaurants with changing chefs and a wait staff of students, Chef Bradley and Wine Director Rodriguez take great pride (as do every member of their staff) in creating the ultimate dining experience in San Diego County. The attention to every detail at Addison does not go unnoticed; however, the hand signals used by the wait staff to inform others of the needs at a particular table are done so discreetly that one may not realize they are occurring until the need is met.
The Addison addisondelmar.com
Alvin Newton  Office: 619.987.6987 Mobile: 858.876.5153 newton3realestate@gmail.com www.newton3.com |
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| Alvin Newton Office: 619.987.6987 Mobile: 858.876.5153 newton3realestate@gmail.com www.newton3.com |
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