Bird Rock’s poster child for a local, successful business

A great article about Bird Rock Coffee Roasters came out in the La Jolla Village News 3/25 by Adriane Tillman. The story describes how Bird Rock Coffee Roasters owner Chuck Patton turned his hobby into a business that has also become a social hub for neighbors at 5627 La Jolla Blvd. To read the article click here.
It's an inspiring example of how he found a niche in the competitive coffee industry (he's accross the street from Starbucks) and followed through on his vision. For the past two years, Patton has traveled to places like Ethiopia, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Columbia, Sumatra and Ecuador to build partnerships with individual farmers based on the quality of their beans. As residents have experienced, Patton has also made his shop a pillar of the local community. Bird Rock Coffee Roasters supports fundraisers at Bird Rock Elementary School, and donated space in the store for the Bird Rock History Museum. In addition,  promoted local artists and is working with the non-profit ArtReach to bring art to classrooms. You should also know, Bird Rock Coffee Roasters sells their beans onsite and online. Delivery available within range of thier BRCR electric delivery truck to Bird Rock, La Jolla Village and Pacific Beach.
You can also fan them on Face Book & Follow on Twitter for news & events.

Source: LJVN

Surfrider debuts Water Conservation Film at The Loft at UCSD

To celebrate World Day of Water, the Surfrider Foundation's San Diego Chapter will premiere its animated short film, "The Cycle of Insanity: The Real Story of Water," as a public service at 6 and 7:30 p.m. March 22 at The Loft at UCSD, Price Center East, second floor, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. A happy hour menu will be available. Seating is free, but reservations are recommended at water@surfridersd.org.
The film is narrated by actress Zuleikha Robinson of "Lost." Its premise is that "the water cycle taught to students in fourth grade has been dramatically altered over time, leaving Americans with a broken system that wastes water and energy, pollutes the natural waterways, harms critical marine life, and poorly deals with flooding and other water management problems."
The film takes a holistic look at water management, highlights controversial problems, and suggests solutions that integrate multiple economic and environmental benefits.
The intended audience includes entire communities: from homeowners and the general public, to public agencies and elected government officials.
After each showing, there will be a Q & A session. The discussion will dive into subjects that range from steps each person can take at home, creative solutions to restore natural functions to urban watersheds, and the controversial topics of recycled wastewater and ocean desalination.
The international observance of World Water Day is an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. It is still a reality that an estimated 1.1 billion people rely on unsafe drinking-water sources.
Improving healthy ocean water quality has been one of the Surfrider Foundation's priorities since the organization was founded 25 years ago. Thanks to its Blue Water Task Force water-quality monitoring program, the foundation raised nationwide awareness of the ongoing decline in marine water quality - inspiring municipalities across the country to adopt monitoring programs of their own.
In 2010, the Surfrider Foundation will roll out the program "Know Your H2O," to "proactively educate and mobilize the public on actions to be part of the solution to pollution and a multitude of other threats to a healthy coast and ocean." Central to this effort will be a flash media Web site, where the story of water can be told.
http://www.surfridersd.org/

Source: LJLN

LeLe's Now Offers Environmentally-Safe Dry Cleaning

LeLe's just upgraded their store with new equipment that uses the latest non-toxic, environmentally safe dry cleaning solvent for use in the industry today. It's AQMD Approved, and benefits include being non-toxic and non-allergencic. It is actually better for fabrics too!

5617 La Jolla Blvd (at Forward St.). LeLe's also provides additional services, laundry (fluff & fold), and tailoring. Their customer service is highly valued, one resident said Lele's wife home delivered a pair of pants when they couldn't pick up on time for an event.  Now becoming eco-friendly is a greater incentive to take your clothes in!

Celebrate St. Patricks Day at Beaumont's in Bird Rock!

Beaumont's is featuring Lamb stew, Guinness & Harp beers, corned beef & cabbage, Irish tunes and more!
Beaumont's was just voted the La Jolla Village News Readers Choice Award Winner for Best Restaurant with Live Music. Also check out weekly Happy Hour. We had a fabulous dinner here last week (try the fish tacos), our waiter Adam took great care of us. Very family friendly too. For news and updates follow Beaumont's on Twitter @BeaumontsLJ or visit http://www.beaumontseatery.com/

Armonia Offering Unlimited Manicure and Pedicures for One Month!

Armonia Skincare 5636 La Jolla Blvd. (Bird Rock Business District) 858-459-9011. Click here to read La Jolla Mom's recent review.

http://www.armoniaskincare.com/

Did you know you can make your blog carbon-neutral? It’s free!

This program was recently brought to my attention by La Jolla Mom and I think it’s a great idea. The “My Blog is Carbon Neutral” program was started by the Make it Green Programme in Germany. In the US, they work with the Arbor Day Foundation, a non-profit conservation and education organization. The Arbor Day Foundation’s goal is to reforest 5,500 acres, destroyed by fires, of the Plumas National Forest in Northern California with 792,000 trees.


You can help this initiative by making your blog carbon neutral. A Harvard physicist determined that a blog with 15,000 monthly visitors generates about 8lbs of carbon dioxide emissions per year. This is from sources such as computer usage, servers and cooling systems. It’s difficult to say how much carbon dioxide one tree absorbs due to species, age of tree, latitude, soil conditions and more. However, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) assumes a yearly absorption of one tree at approximately 22lbs (10kg) of carbon dioxide emissions. To be conservative, the Make It Green Programme assumes 11lbs (5kg) for the “Make Your Blog Carbon Neutral” initiative.

This means that ONE TREE neutralizes the carbon dioxide emissions of your blog, assuming you receive about 15,000 visitors or less per month.

Here’s how you get a tree planted in the Plumas National Forest:

1. Write a blog post about the program including the “My Blog is Carbon Neutral” button.

2. Email the link to CO2-neutral@kaufda.de

3. A tree will be planted for you

It's that easy!

Calumet Park Stairway Proposed for Beach Access

Bird Rock has a beautiful, tranquil coastline, but it’s difficult to access. Bird Rock resident Claudia Anderson is a surfer who would like to see more access points to the coastline. She proposes building a staircase at Calumet Park to enable more people to visit the tide pools in Bird Rock. A well-worn dirt path currently leads from the park down to the beach. Anderson aired her suggestion at the Bird Rock Community Council (BRCC) meeting on March 2. “The question is, ‘What is Bird Rock?’” Anderson said. “We’re not just restaurants and shops. People are missing the fact that we have a great natural resource in our backyard — tide pools. Access to the beach will help bring people to visit Bird Rock.
The city needs to secure all the funding for the project before it can begin construction, which is estimated to start in late 2011. To voice your opinion about building a staircase at Calumet Park e-mail brcc@san.rr.com.

Source: LJVN

New! Bird Rock Summer Camp

The FIRST and ONLY full-day summer camp, right here in the Bird Rock! Brought to you in partnership by Key of Blue Music, Tap Fever Dance Studio, & La Jolla Art Studio. For details and registration visit: http://birdrocksummercamp.com/

Will you be attending La Jolla Fashion Film Festival 2010?

Be part of the evolution of fashion with La Jolla’s two-day fashion event. The La Jolla Fashion Film Festival centers on a digital vision set in La Jolla. Utilizing outdoor showings on giant seaside movie screen, the "Show on Prospect". Also, a screening held in the center of the "Village", fashion webcasts, twitter pop-up shows, film debuts, and more. Begins Friday, April 23, 2010 and will conclude Saturday, April 24, 2010. The events will take place in and around La Jolla's coastline, parks, bays and famous Prospect Street. For information and to purchase tickets: http://ljfff.com/

San Diego's Most Influential in Social Media

Find out who is making news by their use of social media. Vote until March 24. Awards program is on April 7 at Anthology and hosted by Chris Cantore.



Source: San Diego's Most Influential in Social Media
NBC San Diego

Cups La Jolla, building a sweet business!

There has been a trend of specialty cupcake shops that have recently opened, but none of them can compare to Cups La Jolla. First off, they are a cupcake "lounge", have free wifi and also spin records with their own DJ (Sweet beats & Eats is their tagline). They also offer, gourmet flavors that will please adults and traditional flavors that kids will love. The cupcakes come in two sizes a full cup and a little cup. I liked that their focus is on making organic cupcakes, not just for the flavor, but also for the health benefits. Gluten free and vegan are offered daily too. I was also impressed to learn they support smaller, sustainable farms when buying all their ingredients. Founder Michelle Lerach’s goal of creating a destination instead of simply a cupcake catering operation has been a huge success. Cups La Jolla is located at 7857 Girard Ave, in La Jolla village.

My favorite this visit was the "Mozart" Almond scented cup filled with dark chocolate chips and topped with vanilla buttercream.

http://www.cupslj.com/

YouTube Cups LJ

Twitter @cupslj

Bird Rock Station Update, a proposed three story project

Bird Rock Station, a proposed three story project, lost a legal challenge brought on by interested La Jolla residents. The court found that the proposed project would have a significant impact on the environment, requiring further studies and land use proceedings. This could effect the viability of the project as currently planned.  For more details on the project and timeline click here.

Have you visited Bird Rock's G-Whiz Party Supply Store?

G-Whiz moved to Bird Rock from its Turquoise Street location in Pacific Beach in 2009. This is great store for party decorations, wrapping paper, greeting cards, and balloon. Owner, Nicole Gerle does a great job of planning and stocking for every occasion. Located at 5687 La Jolla Boulevard, Bird Rock Business District.

 Wednesday, the 17th of March is St. Patrick's Day

Great Special on Greeting Cards! Buy 2, Get 1 Free