Live. Laugh. Learn.

No Comments

Bay Park Neighborhood Spotlight

Join Danielle and me on a tour of the Bay Park neighborhood, unfamiliar to even some long-time San Diego residents!

For example, did you know that Bay Park was originally laid out in 1887, when it was called the “Morena Subdivision”? Today, Bay Park takes pride in its eclectic architecture ranging from Mid-century Modern to Eastlake Design. And it’s home to one of the largest populations of Finnish and Greek speakers in the US!
To learn all about Bay Park — including the current median home price — watch our latest episode of Live-Laugh-Learn!
No Comments

University Heights – San Diego Neighborhood Spotlight

In this episode of Live Laugh Learn, we check out all the fun things to do and see in the University Heights neighborhood of San Diego, CA.

Why is it called University Heights when there’s no university in the neighborhood? What’s with all the ostriches? And where is Shirley Ann Place?

Get answers to these questions plus tips on places to eat, drink and play. Enjoy!

No Comments

Marston Hills Neighborhood Spotlight & Balboa Park

If you’re anything like me — a long-time resident of San Diego who had never heard of Marston Hills — you’re not alone! Marston Hills is a true gem within a gem, nestled in between Balboa Park and Hillcrest.
There’s Marston House, built by George Marston, considered San Diego’s first resident. The 8,000-square foot Marston House was designed by architects Sterling and Gill. This gorgeous estate was built in 1905, with 70 luxury estates surrounding it.
The original homes in this neighborhood were designed by Gill and Hebbard and built 1923-1936. With their luxurious, mature landscaping, some boast the first garages in San Diego as cars became more commonplace. The area is also known for its urban finger trails, which connect to larger trails leading right into beautiful Balboa Park.
Balboa Park is the fourth largest urban park in North America. The park is home to 21 museums, including the Museum of Man, the Timken Museum of Art and the Museum of Photographic Arts. With gardens, the zoo and so much more to do, grab a drink or meal afterwards at one of the many restaurants in the park, such as Panama 66 or Prado.
So, that’s an introduction to world-famous Balboa Park and the neighborhood of Marston Hills. Thanks for joining us for another episode of Live-Laugh-Learn with Chris!
No Comments

Welcome To Mira Mesa!

Are you looking to live in a diverse San Diego neighborhood with great amenities? In this episode of Live, Laugh & Learn With Chris, I take you on a tour of Mira Mesa, in San Diego County. We’ll join my gal pal Danielle Berkeley to explore everything from the city’s Top Gun history to delicious eateries so you can get to know the area better.

Welcome To Mira Mesa

Mira Mesa is located in San Diego County, a bit north of central downtown. A lot of people consider the area to be extremely densely populated with tons of traffic.

However, despite its reputation for being a busy city, it’s actually more like a little suburb and a city within a larger city. Mira Mesa is quite lovely and a must-see for those looking to move to or within San Diego.

A Need For Speed

There are a variety of things that make Mira Mesa special—one of which is its association with the famous movie Top Gun. That “highway to the danger zone” was located at the Naval Air Station Miramar and has given its name to different streets around Mira Mesa, like Topgun Avenue. Many famous filming locations can still be visited by the general public.

In keeping with the theme of soaring through the skies, Mira Mesa is also home to the Leatherneck Museum. If you’re an aviation enthusiast, it’s an outstanding place to visit. You will see some very rare birds there as well (pun intended), as you can get into certain parts of the base. The Miramar Lake and Reservoir also provides access to the fish.

Diverse Eateries And Hidden Secrets

Another great thing about Mira Mesa is the excellent restaurants it offers. You’ll find eateries from all different ethnic backgrounds that are absolutely outstanding. Some examples include Tofu House, Manna BBQ for Korean Barbecue, and one of the most popular pho places, Pho Cow Cali, on Mira Mesa Boulevard.

Along with plenty of places to chow down, Mira Mesa is home to some hidden secrets most people don’t know about. While Danielle won’t give away all of this neighborhood’s secrets, there are supposedly some hidden haunted houses in the area. You’ll have to do your own research to find them, she says, but I bet it’s worth the hunt.

Another secret most people don’t know about is that many of the area’s industrial complexes have great stores and restaurants in them. While you’d think they were dead ends or just businesses, you can find a lot of great hidden gems in these areas. Lastly, Mira Mesa is the home of San Diego’s only Vietnamese New Year celebration. Called the San Diego Tet Festival, this fun event is held every year around early February.

Coming Soon

Does Mira Mesa sound like a place that would fit you and your family? If so, I’m very excited to share a sneak peek of a coming-soon property right here in Mira Mesa. This single-family, three-bedroom, two-bath home is undergoing an amazing renovation.

The property will be available in early 2022. Stay tuned to this channel to find out more, or you can always reach out to me and I’ll be happy to connect! Make sure to subscribe to my channel so you never miss an episode of Live, Laugh & Learn With Chris, and see what I feature next!

No Comments

You Don’t Want To Miss These Pacific Beach Gems

Are you thinking of living in Pacific Beach and want to know more about this amazing neighborhood? In this episode of Live, Laugh & Learn With Chris, I’m going to show you some special things that residents and tourists should check out in Pacific Beach. We’ll look at everything from parks to the beach and end with a teaser you won’t want to miss.

Pacific Beach Points of Interest

The first area on our list that you must visit is Kate Sessions Park. This park features absolutely stunning ocean and city views and covers a massive 79 acres. Tourmaline Beach is also a beautiful spot that not a lot of people know about. Another classic Pacific Beach attraction you won’t want to miss is the boardwalk and Crystal Pier. Crystal Pier is so much fun, featuring cottages right on the pier with water underneath.

Not everything is on the main streets of Pacific Beach; there are some areas known mostly to locals. One such hidden gem is Turquoise Street, an area full of little boutiques, good coffee shops, restaurants and smoothies. You can also easily bike or walk on the little canyon pathways to access La Jolla and Birdrock, both great surf spots. The Rose Creek bike pathway, which is a really great thoroughfare, connects to the trolley.

Food And Drink

Spending time in the beautiful sunshine is bound to make you a little bit hungry and thirsty. Here in PB, there are plenty of places to grab a drink and a bite. One option includes World Famous, a beachfront restaurant serving up fresh seafood.

You can also head to the iconic PB Shore Club, offering more beach views, great fish tacos and delicious pub bites. For a classy experience, try Tower 23, a hotel dining experience with excellent Sunday brunch. Who doesn’t love a beachside mimosa?

Make PB Your Home

I hope this gave you a good idea of some of the amazing things to do in Pacific Beach. As promised, I wanted to give you a little teaser for a “coming soon” property that will hit the market in about four to five weeks. We’re completely redoing a super unique, single-family, three-bedroom, two-bath house, bringing it from The Brady Bunch 1970s into the 2020s.

This home will be located on a street called Chalcedony, right here in Pacific Beach. For more details —or if you have questions about real estate in general—feel free to reach out to me and my gal pal Danielle Berkley at (619) 925-2322. Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel so you never miss an episode of Live, Laugh & Learn With Chris. Stay tuned to see what I feature next!

No Comments

Exploring The Diverse Community Of Logan Heights

Are you looking to live in a vibrant San Diego neighborhood with great amenities and community pride? In this episode of Live, Laugh & Learn with Chris, I’m going to give you a tour of the historic and vibrant Logan Heights neighborhood. We’ll chat with my friend Danielle Berkeley to learn about the top 3 things that you can’t miss if you call Logan Heights home.

Fun Things To Do And See In Logan Heights

Logan Heights is a great community that has a lot of pride. One of the reasons is because it’s one of the oldest communities and most ethnically diverse. There is no shortage of art here displaying the love and pride of their community.

One of the essential things you’ll want to check out in Logan Heights is Chicano Park. Over the 20 years that Danielle has lived in the area, this park has changed dramatically. It’s a beautiful site, offering residents a place to walk and explore. You can walk down Logan Avenue, explore the local shops and get some spring bling. Main Street includes many old warehouses that are awesome to look at.

As a diverse neighborhood, Logan Heights offers a variety of great options for eating and drinking. For example, Thorn Brewing is a great local brewery that offers a tasting room to enjoy their craft beer. Another option is Ciccia Osteria, a great little Italian restaurant on Logan Avenue. And of course, Tacos El Gordo is a delicious option for authentic Mexican food.

Make This Diverse Neighborhood Your Home

As you can see, there are some exciting things to see, do, eat and drink here in this awesome neighborhood of Logan Heights. If this seems like the right community for you, I want to give you a heads-up. In a very short time, I’m going to have a great new listing available here in Logan Heights. It’s going to be a three-bedroom, two-bathroom, single-family home with an auxiliary dwelling unit as well.

So, if you don’t want to miss out on this exciting opportunity at a great value, I’d be happy to provide you with more information. If you want to see it, please give me a shout at 619-925-2322. Stay tuned to the next episode of Live, Laugh & Learn with Chris to see what neighborhood we feature next!