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Coronado Weather Jul 07

June Gloom

As I look outside, I have to remind myself that it really is summer. With the Coronado weather being what it is, it doesn’t feel like summer at all.

They are saying that it is just June gloom carrying over into July. The mornings are gray and cool. It was even misting this morning. Sometimes the sun will burn off the thick marine layer for a few precious sunny hours. At those times, the sun is strong and standing in the direct sunlight feels hot. Yet there has been a cold breeze for a few months now that makes it cool in the shade even when the sun does manage to make an appearance.

I sit here wearing shorts (a concession to the fact that it is summer) and a sweatshirt (a concession to the chilled air flowing in through the sliding glass door of the balcony).

I’ve just read an article about the massive heat wave hitting the East coast and I realize that living in Coronado I have forgotten how hot the summer can be in other parts of the country. The contrast is especially true with today’s weather.

Having grown up on the East coast in the Mid-Hudson Valley, I can remember the suffocating heat and humidity that was summer. While I grew up in the country, I lived in new York City for six years and I remember a summer when my rommates and I sat through three showings of the same movie just to beat the heat. As I read of people’s creative ways to try to escape the heat and the worries of those whose health issues make the heat a very real danger, I guess I can tolerate a little gloom.

And, the weather reports are predicting sunny afternoons this weekend. Perhaps summer will make an appearance after all.

In the meantime, my thoughts are with those suffering through the heat wave. I hope that they will be safe and stay healthy.

Coronado Loews Membership Jun 25

The Coronado Loews (aka Loews Coronado Bay) has always offered a complimentary membership to it’s resident neighbors in the Coronado Cays in the form of the Cays Commodore Club.

For the first time, they are now offering complimentary membership to ALL Coronado residents and business owners, even those who reside in the village and at The Shores.

Membership includes the following perks:

  • 10-20% discount for purchases at Mistral, Market Cafe or Cafe Coffee Bar
  • 10% discount on spa services at Sea Spa
  • 10% discount at all retail shops
  • 10% discount at Action Sports Rentals
  • Complimentary Self Parking up to 3 hours
  • Discounted Valet Parking of $5 per visit
  • $50 discount on published room rates
  • $100 discount on catered functions of $500 or more

The Coronado Loews is a wonderful resort and I have been lucky enough to experience much of what it has to offer first hand. I’ve stayed in one of their luxurious rooms, eaten delicious meals from their brunch buffet and had snacks poolside. I’ve celebrated the holidays enjoying their Cat in the Hat reading of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Even just strolling the property grounds is a treat.

The one thing on my ‘to do’ list is to go on one of the gondola rides ;-)

This is an amazing offer from Loews Coronado and since it is absolutely free, there are no risks to signing up. Even if you used it just once to treat yourself, it would be worth it.

To sign up contact the membership department by e-mail at caysclub@loewshotels.com or call them at 619-424-4000, ext 6015.

Boney’s Bayside Market Jun 23
Various fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains; ...
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There are two major grocery stores in Coronado – Von’s in the village and Albertson’s down by the Ferry Landing. While I do shop occasionally at both for certain items, by far my favorite grocer in Coronado is Boney’s Bayside Market.

Anyone from the San Diego area is well aware of the Boney family. Members of the Boney family have operated grocery stores in the Southwest since the 1940s.

In the 1970’s, members of the Boney family opened a series of stores that blended traditional grocery products with natural food products. By the late 1990’s, they had built this series of stores into a small chain of Henry’s Marketplaces. They sold their interest in the Henry’s stores to Wild Oats in 1999.

But, the grocery business was in their blood and Stan went on to become chairman and chief executive officer of the Phoenix-based Sprouts Farmers Market chain.  Steve Boney owns Boney’s store in Oceanside and Scott owns Windmill Farms in Del Cerro.

Coronado’s own Bayside Market is owned and operated by Debbie Boney, a Boney by marriage and a great grocer!

Bayside Market isn’t as large as the other grocery stores, but it offers a wide variety of select and quality items. The produce section alone is worth a visit.

But don’t stop there; they have a fresh seafood and meat counter, a delightful deli counter, a wonderful selection of cheeses, a wine and beer section and many unique products on the shelves and in the cold and freezer sections. Plus, they the most amazing vitamin and natural health products section.

For me, the only negative is that due to a lack of space, they don’t carry as many bin items as some of their counterparts. Still all in all, they carry just about everything you’d want for healthy and delicious eating and living.

Watch for their sale flyer that is included with the Coronado Eagle every Wednesday.

Boney’s is located near the Ferry Landing at 155 Orange Avenue. Regular store hours are Mon – Sat from 8:30 am to 9:00 pm and Sun from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm. Although the coffee window opens earlier from 5:30 to 9:00 am.

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Coronado Home Harvest Jun 22

Coronado Home Harvest (CHH) was recently formed by a group of dedicated backyard gardeners and local foodies. Given the weather here in Coronado and the active gardening community, this may be the start of something big!

The outline for this all volunteer organization is based on a monthly meeting where members bring their extra homegrown fruit, vegetables, flowers and cuttings to share and exchange with a goal of promoting health and community.

If you do not have produce to share, you may donate baked or hand made goods, recipes, and such. Also, the CHH encourages neighbors to work together – perhaps you could harvest fruit from a tree in your neighborhood whose owner cannot do it alone and the fruit would otherwise fall to the ground and rot.

Donations are accepted between 8 and 10 am. The donations are sorted and divided up between 10 am and 12 pm. Once all the donations have been sorted and bagged, members may pick up their goodies between 12 and 1 pm.

The CHH also plans on holding talks on organic gardening methods, container farming, nutrition, cooking and related topics during the exchange.

The first meeting of Coronado Home Harvest is this coming Saturday, June 26, 2010 at the Winn Room, Coronado Library.

Future meetings have been scheduled for July 17th and August 21st with more dates to follow.

Membership is free – to sign up you need to send your contact information to CHH at info@coronadohomeharvest.org

You can view the participation guidelines to find out more information.

This is another wonderful example of the strong community spirit here in Coronado!

To your good health & harvest!

The Coronado Cookie

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Coronado Summer Solstice Jun 21

Today is the summer solstice and officially marks the start of summer in Coronado and elsewhere.

The first day of summer has dawned…cloudy. It is what we southern Californians refer to as “June Gloom”. A heavy marine layer – basically a fog bank that develops over the ocean – settles in overnight and lies sleepily between the earth and the sun, blotting out any ray of sunshine.

This time of year, I don’t need to look at the weather report to know that by noon the sun’s strength will burn through the marine layer forcing it back out to sea until sundown.

It is called “June Gloom” because it is a weather pattern that occurs during the month of June. In recent years this phenomena has started to infiltrate the days of May and is called “May Grey”.

With “May Grey” there are fewer days where the sun breaks through. With “June Gloom”, the cloudiness we wake up with tends to give way to the sun at some point during the day.

As I see children young and old filling the streets of Coronado whether walking, cycling, heading for the beach or just enjoying our small community, I am reminded of my own summers back East.

I have fond memories of long fun-filled days shared with family and friends. My mother used to lightly sing the Summertime, Summertime song. I had no idea where it came from, but I loved listening to its upbeat tune.

If my uncle were around, he would protest, “No, no, that’s too quick, summertime is about living easy.”

And he would start singing “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess. Although I preferred my mother’s catchy tune, I loved listening to my uncle sing. He would close his eyes and sway just a bit as he sang us his tune of summertime.

Whichever rhythm describes your summer, I hope you have a sun-filled, safe and happy one!

The Coronado Cookie