In the spirit of this holiday season, best wishes to all for a very Merry Christmas and may the coming year bring good health, happiness and prosperity to each of you.
Although December 6 was an eventful day in the Village, few paid note. For, on that day, the Gazebo, which has been a fixture on Washington Street since the 1970s, came down. Unlike the hoopla that often accompanies the demolition of towering structures in Las Vegas and elsewhere, the only crowd the Gazebo drew was the small number of workers who were there to dismantle it.
The countdown to lighting the Christmas tree had to yield until the very last performance had ended and applause erupted.
We knew that it was to arrive between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. yesterday afternoon and, like clockwork, the freshly cut Noble Fir from Riverside County arrived on time!
Photos provided by Kurt Burkhart
Many storefronts and other businesses not just in the Village, but throughout Carlsbad, as well, have enthusiastically agreed to place this poster in their window or on premises for customers and window shoppers to see. Click on the image for a larger, more readable version. Come out and support these holiday events that officially kicked off, today!
Thanks to the Carlsbad Village Business Association, the Village is starting to look at lot more like Christmas! It was great reading this morning's story in the North County Times about how businesses are lining up to have their windows painted by artists, Alli Thoeni. I walked the Village late this afternoon to get a first-hand inspection of each and every painted window. They're each different, and very creative. Can't wait to see which window wins 'The People's Choice!'
As Village businesses get dressed up for the holidays, the Executive Director for the Carlsbad Convention & Visitors Bureau, Kurt Burkhart, was caught washing down - top to bottom - the Historic Santa Fe Train Depot this afternoon. Word has it that its the first real bath for this building this century! The building was cleaned in preparation for some window painting, garlan and lights that will adorn our Visitor's Center.
After years of study, long debate and a series of public hearings before the Carlsbad City Council, Mayor Lewis and Council Members Ann Kulchin and Julie Nygaard last night agreed to support a slightly modified version of the proposed new development standards, while keeping an eye on maintaining the ambience of our Village and, at the same time, allowing for responsible and managed development.
Its been more than 6 months in the making and, this afternoon, the newly installed board of directors of the Carlsbad Village Improvement Partnership kicked off its first meeting in the Village. Today's agenda was light, which gave directors the opportunity to introduce themselves to board colleagues and to set future meeting dates. The board deferred on the election of officers until their next meeting on November 13.http://courtney.enriquez.googlepages.com/CarlsbdVIPBoardAnnouncement.pdf
http://courtney.enriquez.googlepages.com/Boardinformationform_1.pdf
Carlsbad has been waiting patiently to have a first-class performing arts venue in the Village, and now we're only days away from that happening.
And, all eyes are on the New Village Arts Theatre, as performers will bring to the theatre on June 23, Sam Shepard's, True West. We hope everyone will jump on board and support this exciting artful addition to the Village.
For more than 30 years, Carlsbad resident, Barbara Brill, knew just about everything there was to know about her city. As a local reporter, she brought to life many interesting and, sometimes, unknown aspects about Carlsbad and her beloved Village. Now, as she charts a new course to spend time with her grandchildren in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Barbara will be missed and remembered as one of our dearest friends. Best wishes, Barbara, from your Village friends!
The familiar wig and baseball card shops have given way to a new mixed-use project on South State Street. No word yet on who the retail tenant will be. If you haven't been by to see what's going on, take some time over the weekend to do so!
