nar 2009 convention san diego: Are you flying into San Diego this weekend? Weather forecast and be sure to wave - 11/11/09 11:27 AM
If you're flying into San Diego this weekend, when you hear the wheels go down on the plane, look down and wave because you'll be about 15 miles out in East County about 5,000 feet above our house.
You might bring:
sweater or jacket ear muffs mittens hat, cap, or hood wool socks long-sleeve shirts warm pants good shoes because we're expecting cold weather this weekend. You knew it was going to be that way, right?
Weather forecast is for daytime highs in the high 60s and nighttime lows in the high 50s from tomorrow until everyone leaves on Tuesday. We … (15 comments)

nar 2009 convention san diego: The ActiveRain Convention Station: The Gaslamp Quarter - 11/08/09 01:18 PM
If you're not getting a rental car for the Convention, not to fear. Directly across from the Convention Center is San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter. 
I'm not sure where the name "Quarter" came from because this thriving restaurant, shopping, and movie district is anything but a quarter, encompassing 16½ blocks. It's San Diego's version of the French Quarter in New Orleans. I don't think city regulations allow anything to stay open past 2:00 a.m., and that's well past my bedtime, but it seems whenever I go to the Gaslamp Quarter, it's happening.
The Gaslamp Quarter has a long and interesting history, which you … (6 comments)

nar 2009 convention san diego: The ActiveRain Convention Station: Joe's Crab Shack - 11/08/09 12:39 PM
If you need a great place to eat seafood, Joe's Crab Shack is right behind the San Diego Convention Center, south side.
I go here at least once a month because the food never disappoints, the atmosphere is alive, and it also has great views of the Convention Center, Hilton Bayside, and the big Dole ships at the dock across the way.
Joe's Crab Shack is a national chain of 120 restaurants in 28 states, with many of them being on the waterfront. It was founded in Houston in 1994, and there are four of them here in San Diego:
7610 Hazard Center Drive, in Hazard … (6 comments)

nar 2009 convention san diego: The ActiveRain Convention Station: Location, location, location, even on airplanes! - 11/08/09 11:46 AM
If you enjoy flying, and you're flying into San Diego for the 2009 National Association of Realtors Convention (or any other time, too), sit on the left side of the plane in a window seat. You won't be disappointed.
Personally I like the night flights, but the day flights won't disappoint either.
If you don't like flying, sit on the right side of the plane in a non-window seat, and maybe take your eyeshades with you, or just pull the airplane window shade down and close your eyes. That's about all I can do for you.
On the left side of … (8 comments)

nar 2009 convention san diego: The ActiveRain Convention Station: It's San Diego week! - 11/08/09 07:32 AM
Coming into town for the 2009 Convention of the National Association of Realtors?
Need help with something?
Places to go?
Places to eat?
Tourist traps?
Best beaches?
Speed traps?
Let Russel and me know and we'll help you out. I have taken time off from Borders Books and Music, and Russel is going to try to schedule his home inspections for early in the morning so that we'll have afternoons and evenings off to meet our ActiveRain friends.
We also will be playing docent for at least one tour of the San Diego Zoo, and I'll be posting all this coming … (4 comments)

nar 2009 convention san diego: You have to go here when you come to the NAR Convention in November - 10/31/09 03:14 AM
When you come to San Diego in a couple of weeks for the 2009 NAR Convention, put Cabrillo National Monument on your schedule of things to do.
It doesn't matter whether the day is sunny and clear, cloudy and raining, or just some good ol' Los Angeles haze, the views of North Island Navy Base, downtown San Diego, the Silver Strand, the Hotel del Coronado, and Tijuana are unmatched from anywhere else in the area.
Yesterday was, perhaps, the most beautiful day at Cabrillo that I've ever seen in the 31 years I've lived here, so I got some great pictures … (9 comments)

nar 2009 convention san diego: Hotel safety tips for those coming to the NAR Convention next month - 10/25/09 12:22 PM
Anytime one is in an unfamiliar location, especially an unfamiliar city and state, safety is a paramount concern.
Here are some safety hotel safety tips for those coming to the 2009 National Association of Realtors Convention here in San Diego next month:
Check-in clerks should write your room number down on your card-key sleeve or your room receipt but should never announce it to everyone within earshot. While I think this is standard practice now, if you get a newbie, or if you ask "What room am I in?", you might get a verbal answer. If so, it's prudent to ask … (5 comments)

nar 2009 convention san diego: 2009 NAR San Diego Convention Schedule of Events - 10/24/09 12:13 PM
If you haven't seen the schedule of events for the 2009 NAR Convention next month in San Diego, here it is:
Wednesday, November 11Habitat for Humanity volunteer build day Thursday, November 12Spouse and Guest ToursInaugural Celebration Friday, November 13Spouse and Guest ToursConference SessionsEntrepreneurial Excellence Series with Dr. Daniel ShapiroRealtors Expo Grand Opening Saturday, November 14Spouse and Guest ToursConference SessionsEntrepreneurial Excellence Series with Paul MartinelliRealtors ExpoGeneral Session with Condoleeza RiceInternational Night Out and Awards Ceremony Sunday, November 15Spouse and Guest ToursInspirational ProgramConference SessionsRealtors ExpoEntrepreneurial Excellence Series with Tara HuntRealtors Celebrity Concert starring Reba McEntire Monday, November 16Spouse and Guest ToursConference SessionsRealtors ExpoEntrepreneurial Excellence Series … (5 comments)

nar 2009 convention san diego: Need free tickets to the San Diego Zoo or Wild Animal Park? - 10/24/09 10:59 AM
If you're coming to the 2009 Convention for the National Association of Realtors next month, Russel and I have various coupons available for both the Zoo and the Wild Animal Park.
The Zoo is not too far from the Convention Center, but the Wild Animal Park is about 30 miles north near Escondido.
Here is what we have available:
Two guest passes good for free entrance to the San Diego Zoo. Two guest passes good for free entrance to the Wild Animal Park. Four "2 for 1" tour coupons. Buy one adult ticket for the Bus Tour at the Zoo or … (7 comments)

nar 2009 convention san diego: Need a roommate for the NAR Convention next month? - 10/18/09 03:40 PM
If you are coming to the 2009 Convention for the National Association of Realtors next month right here in San Diego, and you have a hotel room but would like a roommate, let me know.
If you don't have a room, but you want to come and think that staying with a roommate will solve your problems with trying to find a room at this late date, let me know that, too.
I just received my third inquiry as to whether or not I know anyone wanting roommates. I think the first two are going to be shacking up together.
Obviously … (7 comments)

nar 2009 convention san diego: A tour of Cancer Survivors Park in downtown San Diego - 10/18/09 06:46 AM
Since October is Cancer Awareness Month, here's a tour of San Diego's Cancer Survivors Park and the Positive Mental Attitude Walk downtown on Harbor Drive near Spanish Landing.
Figures 1-2 are the view across the marina from the Cancer Survivors Park.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5. West entrance.
Figure 6. Bench in the middle of Figure 5.
Figure 7. Pavilion at east entrance.
Figures 8-13 are pictures of the benches in the East entrance pavilion.
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11
Figure 12
Figure 13
Figures 14-16 are of the water fountain and sculpture.
… (4 comments)

nar 2009 convention san diego: San Diego's Mission Valley condos with Realtor Jim Frimmer: Dog beaches and parks - 09/06/09 01:48 PM
A couple of months ago I had the pleasure of meeting Dennis Volz, a State Farm Insurance agent and member of ActiveRain. I was even able to send him some business, but since the purchase didn't go through, I guess he didn't get to write a policy. I'll keep trying though.
Dennis sends out the best, most informative post cards. Always something good. One of the best listed all the dog beaches and parks in San Diego County. Since many people living in Mission Valley condos have dogs, I thought my blog would be a great place to put a list … (7 comments)

nar 2009 convention san diego: At the San Diego Zoo with Realtor Jim Frimmer: Zebras - 09/06/09 10:19 AM
Some of the animals at the San Diego Zoo are rarely visible, either because they need privacy to live well, or they just don't like to have their pictures taken.
I've never been able to determine which one the zebras fall under, but they rarely are visible or close enough to see well.
So a good telephoto lens will help, as long as they are out in the open. If they are just a few feet from you, AND you have a telephoto lens, well so much the better. That's just what I found at the Zoo the other day, so … (6 comments)

nar 2009 convention san diego: New ActiveRain Group for NAR 2009 Convention in San Diego - 09/02/09 07:37 AM
The site of the 2009 National Convention for the National Association of Realtors will be right here in downtown San Diego at the Convention Center.
My marketing guru (Russel Ray) and I are hoping for good great atttendance from the ActiveRain community. So I have created a new ActiveRain Group for those coming to, or thinking they might be coming to, the Convention.
Feel free to post questions about San Diego, or to ask us for pictures or opinions of hotels you are considering, places to go, things to do, wildlife to see, etc.
As the Convention gets closer, and during … (10 comments)

nar 2009 convention san diego: Nature's forces - 07/10/09 03:54 AM
Walking along the beaches in San Diego County provides one with the opportunity to see an abundance of wildlife -- birds, whales, dolphins, dogs -- as well as the many forces of Mother and Father Nature, especially wind and water.
Over in La Jolla, about 15 miles north of downtown San Diego, are some tidepools.
If you've never had the opportunity to visit tidepools before, La Jolla is a great place to experience it for the first time. Along with finding starfish, crabs, fish, anemones, and lots of other wildlife, the tidepools themselves look like a landscape from another planet.
So … (9 comments)

nar 2009 convention san diego: WWW (Wordless Wednesday with Words): Torrey Pines Gliderport slide show - 07/01/09 11:12 AM
The Torrey Pines Gliderport has an enviable location just across the street from the University of California at San Diego, right next to the Torrey Pines Golf Course where the 2008 U.S. Open was held and right above Blacks Beach, one of the world's best clothing-optional beaches.
Torrey Pines Gliderport was established in 1930 and is the home to hang gliding, paragliding, radio-controlled model sailplanes, and full-scale man-carrying sailplanes. It is a National Landmark of Soaring of the National Soaring Museum, a San Diego City Historical Site (#315), a Model Aviation Landmark of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (#1 in the … (7 comments)

nar 2009 convention san diego: WWW (Wordless Wednesday with Words): San Diego Zoo tiger slide show - 06/24/09 12:28 PM
The San Diego Zoo has five Malayan tigers in residence, but they usually spend most of their time sleeping.
Unfortunately, their sleeping quarters are out of view of the general public.
A recent visit, though, found three of the tigers running and frolicking.
Well, maybe running and frolicking might be putting it a little too strongly, especially for one of them.
You'll understand.
Just enjoy the slide show that I've put together for you. If the slide show here doesn't work on your computer, click here to watch it at slide.com. And remember to put the Zoo and the tigers on … (13 comments)

nar 2009 convention san diego: SST (Speechless Sunday with Text): I can too get up early! - 06/21/09 03:50 PM
My marketing guru got up very early the other day and went to the San Diego Zoo.
Without me!
Can you believe it?
Without me!
He claimed that I'm not a morning person. Well, okay, he's got a point there. However, he also told me that he discovered that the best time to go to the Zoo is in the morning when they first open because all the wildlife is being fed, or has been fed and is eating.
So he told me last night that he was going to go walking at the Zoo again this morning. Ha! Did I … (7 comments)

nar 2009 convention san diego: Make a splash on the SEAL! - 06/19/09 11:53 AM
If you live in San Diego, or you're coming to San Diego to visit, there's one thing that I think you absolutely have to do.
I can't believe that I've lived here since 1988 and never knew about this until very recently when my marketing guru and I discovered it and did it as part of our fifteenth anniversary.
It's Sea and Land Adventures' "San Diego Seal Tour." You board a strange-looking vehicle at Seaport Village in downtown San Diego, take a drive along the Embarcadero over to Shelter Island, and then, magically, your vehicle turns into a boat and takes … (14 comments)

nar 2009 convention san diego: WWW (Wordless Wednesday with Words): San Diego Zoo slide show - 06/17/09 02:33 PM
Since the National Association of Realtors 2009 Convention is coming to San Diego this November, I thought I'd take a lot of my unused San Diego Zoo pictures and make a slide show to help encourage you to come to San Diego, if not for the Convention, perhaps sometime this summer.
Although the San Diego Zoo is also an international arboretum, this slide show will focus on just the animals. I'll do another slide show in the future on the wonderful plants and flowers at the Zoo.
Other blog posts about the Convention can be found by clicking on NAR 2009 Convention … (22 comments)