Domino's Pizza Grand Opening

 Today, from 3-8pm there will be a grand opening celebration at the new Dominos Pizza in Carlsbad.  The store is the companies 9,999th store and features a brand new design.  There is also a contest to see what guests can win the year's worth of pizza that is hidden in one of the 999 boxes in the store.

The newest Dominos Pizza to hit Carlsbad is also a milestone for the global company. 

The new store located at 1854 Marron Drive, #102 is the company's 9,999th store and features the “Pizza Theater” design. According to Dominos, the new look includes, "a comfortable lobby, open area for viewing the pizza-making process, seating for in-store dining, and the ability to order from an in-store kiosk and track your carryout order electronically."
 
The new store is having a celebration Wednesday Sept. 26 from 3–8 p.m. There will be pizza sampling, face-painters, a bounce house, prize wheel and more entertainment. Customers and visitors will also have the chance to select one of 999 boxes at the Carlsbad store. Inside each box will be a certificate for a free food product and some lucky customers may find a certificate for a year’s worth of free pizza.

Additionally, to celebrate the milestone, all stores in the San Diego market will be giving away free Handmade Pan Pizzas to the first 99 carryout customers who visit those locations on Wednesday.

Domino’s will also be making a donation of $9,999 to Rady Children’s Hospital of San Diego.

Domino's Pizza also has a Carlsbad store located at 6986 El Camino Real.

For more information see Carlsbad Patch.

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Haunted Hotels to Fast Cars

Food, beer, and haunted attractions are just some of the things to do this weekend in San Diego. Check out these events and festivals happening throughout the area.  From fast cars to the festival of beer, there is something for every member of your family this week.

1. San Diego Restaurant Week

Get ready to grub! San Diego Restaurant Week ends September 21 and you do not want to miss out on the delicious meals and fabulous deals being served up by over 180 local restaurants. Sample the signature cuisine and sophisticated style that makes San Diego’s dining scene one of the region’s top attractions.

2. Annual Pacific Islander Festival

Picture courtesy of yelper Kaliloa O.

From September 22-23, head down to Ski Beach in Mission Bay between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM to enjoy this FREE event showcasing the cultures, food, crafts and customs of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.

3. Fleet Week Coronado Speed Festival

From September 22-23, enjoy the thrill of fast-paced auto racing and exhibitions at one of the most distinctive race track locations – Naval Air Station North Island, the birthplace of Naval Aviation.  San Diego Fleet Week’s marquee event will be held from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, or until the last race, and allows the general public a rare glimpse of the daily activities happening at the base as well as racing excitement.

4. Festival of Beer

On September 21, join your beer-loving brethren in downtown San Diego at the 18^thannual San Diego Festival of Beer. Seventy-five local and regional brewers will be in attendance, providing samples and tastings of their signature and award-winning beers along with music, vendors, food booths and more.

5. The Haunted Hotel

Let the haunting begin! Starting on September 21, San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter welcomes The Haunted Hotel back for another season of terror. Get ready to scream as you weave your way through Hollywood’s favorite horror films.

For more information see SanDiego.org

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Frugal Ways to Welcome in Fall

 It is only the beginning of September, but fall will soon be here.  No matter where you live there is some sort of change with the seasons and these tips will get your house ready too.  Read below to learn how to get yours house ready for fall on a budget.

1. Switch out bed linens. As soon as the nighttime temperatures cooperate, ditch the summery coverlet for a heavier comforter or duvet. It's also a good time to turn your mattress, wash or replace any pillows that need it, and get your bed ready for snuggling down in colder weather. To save a few bucks, pick some cozy fall-hued fabrics, and make your own duvet! See our tips for more information: Tips for Sewing Your Own Duvet.
 
2. Consider switching out wall art. If you're like me and love to constantly rearrange artwork on your walls, make this a good time to try something new. I have lots of light, summery prints and illustrations that I'll trade out for a wall hanging--I have lots of quilts my grandmother made that would be perfect hanging over my mantle for the fall season. For a neat quilt-hanging idea, see How To: Hang a Quilt Artistically.

3. Add some candles--especially the fall-scented kind! Nothing says cozy like the glow and flicker of a flame; and for me, nothing says fall like apple pie and pumpkin scented candles in my living room and kitchen. It's an easy — and cheap — way to celebrate the scents of the season; I always pick out 5 or 6 little candles to kick off the first cool afternoon. Rather go a more DIY route? Check out 5 Simmer Pot Recipes To Make Your Home Smell Like Fall.

4. Rethink your throws and pillows for the sofa. I like to use some of my old quilts on the couch this time of year, and I'm also thinking about covering some of my throw pillows--maybe that worn out pair of corduroy pants would make a fantastic pillow cover! See How To: Sew an Envelope-Back Pillow Cover for ideas on making your own covers.

5. Ready your fireplace. If you use your wood-burning fireplace, give it a good clean and arrange some logs and kindling nearby. Or if you're like me, and have an unusable fireplace, give it a little glow of its own. Last year I arranged pumpkins and white lights; birch logs would also be nice! If you've also got a sealed-up fireplace, get some ideas with this post on Sprucing Up An Unused Fireplace.

6. Prepare doorways with a mud tray for boots. When the wet weather strikes — along with mud and lots of leaf litter — you'll be grateful you did! Here are seven boot trays to get you inspired: Practical to Pretty: 7 Boot Trays.

7. Speaking of doorways, try a new wreath — indoors or out! Use some bittersweet, or tuck leaves into a grapevine wreath. For some more ideas, see 5 DIY Ideas for Fall Wreaths.

8. Treat yourself to a new thermal mug and a fresh selection of teas. You could even make yourself a tea station, ready to go when the urge to indulge strikes. Need more direction in the tea department? Check out Tea Time: Everything You Need for a Perfect Cup.

9. Spruce up your table with some fall-hued table linens or fabrics. Dark, rich fabrics can add lots of warmth to the dining table. For inspiration, see our Table Linens for Fall Roundup.

10. Bring the outdoors in. I love to decorate with twigs and branches, and dried flowers from the end of summer. Bittersweet and chrysanthemums are also great ways to bring the fall colors indoors; for more ideas, see Setting the Autumn Table with Plants.

For more information see Apartment Therapy.

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Are You Prepared for an Emergency?

No one ever wants an emergency to happen near their home, but it is better to be prepared just in case something would happen.  Carlsbad is offering free emergency guides for residents at the city libraries during September.  These handbooks will have everything you need to know about emergency preparation in the City of Carlsbad.

In honor of National Preparedness Month the City of Carlsbad is making free emergency preparedness guides available to residents here and at city libraries during the month of September while supplies last.  

National Preparedness Month is held each September to encourage Americans to make sure they are prepared for disasters or emergencies in their homes, businesses and communities. The City of Carlsbad first created the guides in 2011, and they have proven to be very popular, according to Emergency Preparedness Manager David Harrison. “We are making them available again as a way to remind residents of very easy things they can do to be prepared for a major earthquake, wildfire or other disaster.” Harrison added that recent concerns about summer heat, earthquake activity in Imperial County, and even hurricanes and tropical storms in the east, have piqued interest in preparedness. The guide features important safety tips, including:

• How to make a family emergency plan
• What should go in a home emergency kit
• What to do in an evacuation
• What to do if there is a power outage, downed or broken power lines or a natural gas leak
• How to find other emergency preparedness resources

 “The city is committed to keeping our community safe—especially during an emergency,” said Harrison. “We conduct extensive training for our first responders and other city workers, but for our community to be fully prepared, we need residents and businesses to be ready too.” 

For more information see the Patch.

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Green Back to School Tips

 It is back to school time in Carslbad.  This involves buying clothes, getting school supplies, and organizing everything for your kids in the morning.  Here are some great tips for back to school that will also help your family be a little more green.



Making a list for the back-to-school shopping? Consider focusing on what's good for the environment.

Waste Management of San Diego offers four Mother Nature-friendly habits worth adopting this school year.

• Pack a lunch with reusable gear: Buy a reusable lunch box or recycle those brown paper bags. Doing this will also help families save money on food.
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• Purchase products made from recycled materials: Buy products that can be recycled like an ink-cartridge that can be refilled rather than buying a new one.
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• Utilize carpools or public transportation: Team up with another family and carpool your children to school. Or even better, use public transportation.
  
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• Turn off and unplug appliances when you are not using them: Turn off those desktop computers, lights and other appliances when you're not using them.
  For more information see the Carlsbad Patch.
  

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School Safety Tips for Drivers

 It is back to school time in Carlsbad, which means kids will be crossing the street and playing outside.  This means it is time for parents, drivers, and citizens to be extra careful when driving around town.   The Carlsbad Police are offering some important safety tips to keep ourselves and children safe during the school year.

 With kids throughout Carlsbad heading back to school, the City of Carlsbad Police Department offers these important safety tips:

• Serve as a role model with safe driving habits
  
  • Slow to 25 miles per hour and be especially alert while driving near a school
  • Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, medians and curbs
  • Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully
  • Watch for children on and near the road in the morning and after school hours
  • Yield to pedestrians
  • Reduce any distractions inside your car, so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings. Talking and texting on the phone while driving are illegal.
• Follow basic safety rules
  • Use seat belts, car seats or booster seats for children
  • Use the crosswalk to cross the street. Do not jaywalk
  • Pay attention to school buses. If the bus is stopped, there might be children exiting or entering
• Talk with children about the importance of traffic safety
  • Teach them how to cross the street at corners and in crosswalks. Watch a video about crosswalk safety.
  • Use a crossing guard to cross the street, when available
  • Teach children to follow safe biking rules, such as wearing a helmet and stopping at street corners and stop signs
  • Remind children not to run into streets or cross in between parked cars
  • Walk with children to school for the first few days to familiarize them with the route and to point out possible traffic hazards
  • Teach children what do if they need help, including how to dial 9-1-1
• Take an active role in helping teens learn to drive responsibly
  • Remind teens they are not allowed to have passengers for the first year that they are licensed to drive
  • Remind teens that texting and talking on the phone while driving are illegal
   

For more information please see Carlsbad, CA. 

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The Circus is Coming to Town!

The circus is coming to town August 23-26th. Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey present Dragons! This circus is a once in a lifetime event honoring the year of the dragon. Along with the circus there are great activities for all ages 90 minutes before showtime, so make sure to get there early

 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^® presents DRAGONS is a once-in-a-millennium event that honors The Year of the Dragon!  Circus performers from the farthest reaches of the earth have assembled for Ringling Bros. presents DRAGONS to showcase their astounding acts of bravery and astonishing athleticism. Ringling Bros. Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson presides over this fantastical celebratory tournament of circus champions that brings together mystic dragon lore with authentic circus feats. DRAGONS is a never-before-seen circus adventure of renowned legends and real-life spectacle that is coming to San Diego for eight action-packed shows from August 23-26 at the Valley View Casino Center (formerly San Diego Sports Arena).
 
 Be sure to arrive early to join in on several exciting interactive elements before the show starts!  Opening 90-minutes prior to each performance, all ticket holders are invited to tour the Animal Open House to get up-close with amazing animals.  Then, one hour before show time for the interactive All Access Pre-Show, FREE admission with your ticket! Families can join in on the fun on the arena floor and participate in hands-on experiences such as learning juggling and balancing skills, get performer autographs, and meet the Ringling Bros. Clowns.

We’ll see you at the Greatest Show on Earth^®!

For more information see the Carlsbad Patch.

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