VERY, VERY BUSY DAY. WILL POST SOMETIME TOMORROW.

IS CRUISIN' GRAND UNTOUCHABLE? SHOULD IT BE?

I must admit I've never been a big car person. I can admire a gorgeous sports car once in awhile, but I basically see cars as something that gets you, your passengers and whatever you are carrying from here to there. I've never done well at recognzing friends' cars unless they're an odd color--an old friend had a pea green Mercedes I could spot everytime. I am sure this might be compounded by the fact that I am female and just don't get much of a thrill out of discussions of gear ratios, spoilers and the like.

So, back to Cruisin' Grand. It's been around for 10 years, has cost hundreds of thousands of dollars (I don't know if it's my anonymity or what, but I get no response from the DBA when I email and ask for actual numbers on the cost) and I'm not sure about how much income it brings into the city--and I can't find hard numbers on that either. But assuming CG stays, is there some ways we can make half the Friday nights of the year less single minded? Could we offer workshops on how to maintain your car? How to change a tire? What you can do to get better gas mileage? Could we have a competition among restaurants to create the best car "related" dish? How about Speedy Spedini, Lead Foot Stuffed Cabbage, High Gear Halibut. [Thanks for the names Chris.] How about a bike competition for the kids--maybe the DBA could provide ribbons and such to decorate bikes and then judge them? Just some ideas for Friday nights that would help to keep CG fresh for those of us who don't know a cam shaft from a push rod. See you tomorrow.

I GIVE YOU 25 REASONS TO SEE JULIE & JULIA

1.Meryl Streep 2.Stanley Tucci 3.Julia Child 4.Julie Powell 5.Paris 6.Sole menuiere 7. French onion soup 8.Shirtwaist dresses 9.Meryl Streep 10 It's playing in Escondido 11.Duck 12.Martinis 13.Restaurants 14.Old cars 15.Cordon Bleu 16.French accents 17.Tall women18.Short people19.Queens 20.Books 21.Beef Bourguignon 22.Brie 23.Butter 24.Waiters 25.Cambridge

Oh, and did I mention Meryl Streep? This movie is joyous, exuberant, funny, touching and I guess I would say rollicking, a word I rarely use. Everyone in the theater had a great time. See you tomorrow.

AN OPEN LETTER TO MAYOR LORI PFEILER

Dear Mayor, I hope this vacation from City Council meetings gave you a chance to relax and recharge. I see from Signon San Diego that you've been on the trapeze again and I applaud you for that. It takes optimism and nerve to fly through the air without being positive that you will land safely. Now that you will not be running for mayor again, that willingness to take risks gives you the chance to be bold. I applaud your support of the hotel, your ability to see what the future could hold. I assume it has been hard to see it so close and then to slip away, but I believe you will figure out a way to get the support to make it happen. But what else would you like to do while you're mayor? What ideas have you had that you didn't voice because they might be unpopular, might be a little "out there?" Well, now's your chance. People in this city want something to make them fall in love with Escondido. Something that knocks the naysayers back on their heels. Six months ago you gave your State of the City address. In it you said "As a community, we need to recognize that extraordinary times require extraordinary actions. We need to put aside our petty differences and our fears of those who may be different than us and work together to restore the “live and let live” attitude for which California used to be so well known. In our city we have a history, we have a story. Each one of us is a part of that story, we carry it and share it with others here in this city." Let's continue that story with exciting ideas that make this city an absoute gem. Then five years from now people will say "You live in Escondido? Aren't you lucky." See you tomorrow.

"NO" IS NOT AN IDEA.

This recession is tough for everyone to deal with. For some, it is a true disaster. For others, it is a time to hunker down and just get through it. And for those who have the nerve, it is a time to consider new ways of looking at things and new ways of doing things. I would love to see the members of the City Council step forward with some innovative ideas for the city. I had hoped that once the budget was finalized there might begin to be true discussions about where the city is heading. But when I look at the City Council agenda for 4 pm tomorrow, it seems just more of the same. I wish our representatives would talk about some big ideas. If people don't like something that's fine, but provide an alternative. My vision for this blog is to make it a place where people can float new ideas, big ideas, without fear of being shouted down by the naysayers. I hope that Escondido can avoid being that practical, serviceable city that provides the basics and nothing more. Hopefully each of us can begin to develop our own vision of Escondido. Maybe we could start by coming up with a new slogan to replace what's on the city website----Escondido City of Choice. See you tomorrow.

SOUTH COAST HIGHWAY VS. GRAND AVENUE

When I was in Oceanside last week, I decided to go home without getting on the freeway. I took 101 south until I hit Solana Beach and then went inland through Rancho Santa Fe and then Lake Hodges. Although the ride down the coast took much more time than I had expected, it was very illuminating. Of course it was busy in all the beach areas given that it was in the high 80s. But as I drove along I realized for most of these towns on the coast, South Coast Highway is their "Grand Avenue." Traffic zips by, trucks lumber along, all in all it's a little much for a leisurely meal outside or a casual walk and window shopping. The only street I found that was peaceful was off the highway-Cedros in Solana Beach. Of course, it was set up to be a shop and stroll street and it does the job well, but it lacked the feeling of a city with a vibrant center. When I returned to Escondido, I drove down Grand and saw again what a great avenue we have and why it was one of the reasons I chose to move here. It is sunny and shady and peaceful and makes you feel like you've walked into a different place and time. It is a mid-century treasure that few cities in Southern California can boast of. When you walk along you catch glimpse of our gorgeous City Hall and Arts Center that I consider a design gem. We have sidewalks made for walking/strolling/dallying--whatever is appropriate for the moment. I love seeing someone hurrying from their store to the bank, the salon to the coffee shop. I even like the new little gym, though I know there are some detractors. (But don't get me started on the new digital sign and car wrap shop kitty corner from O'Sullivans--what that is doing on Grand is befuddling.) With this wonderful boulevard, and a reputation for the arts that brings people from all over, there is no reason this city cannot flourish. I had a thoughtful comment posted Saturday and recommend you take a look at that. It's is a wonderful piece on the arts, the hotel, and the community. See you tomorrow. PS I shot many pictures of downtown last week and downloaded them to my computer, erasing them from the camera. Next thing I knew I hit the wrong key and erased them from my computer. Will go out this week and shoot again.

IF YOU CAN GET TO THE ARTS PARTNERSHIP THIS TUESDAY TO FRIDAY, YOU'RE IN FOR A TREAT.

I stopped in at the gallery on the corner of Grand and Juniper yesterday for a quick look at their show "In Dreams Local Color" which ends this week. It's a nice mixed media show. Some I like, some I didn't--and everybody gets to vote for their favorite piece. My personal choice was by Tzu-Fen Wang and was titled "In Dreams, California." Wonderful photograph, almost abstract of the ocean taken from under a pink and orange beach umbrella. It was printed on a watercolor paper which gave it a very interesting look. (I like it so much I'm even thinking of buying a print.) There was also a large bus/animal/airplane by artist Brian Gibson made of maybe paper mache with another animal resting on top-maybe ten feet long total. There were kids sitting inside the "bus/cockpit" portion and it was just a lot of fun. Since the gallery is free admission, you can just stop by one you have a few minutes to see a piece or two without feeling you have to stay longer to "get your money's worth." As always, there is also a nice selection of photographs from the Photo Arts Group as well as a few pieces I'm sure I missed. For details on all exhibits, you can go to their website here. They're open Tues-Sat 11-4. See you tomorrow.