Gnocchi. Ricotta Gnocchi. Ricotta Gnocchi atop a bed of gently sautéed Bloomsdale spinach. Gnocchi in a brown butter sauce. Gnocchi with a dusting of artichoke fritti. This is a glorious dish and I hope it remains as a revolving item on the menu at Ember. But you never know what inspired new dishes might arrive…
One of the best gifts we can give to our children these days is to turn off the technology, shut out the daily chaos, focus on them and share a fantastic skill and pleasure: the value of a good read. Jack and I love to cozy up with a good book and now we alternate reading every…
It’s been said that humans are creatures of habit and I am afraid this describes me rather well. I go to the same places for the same things and I tend not to expand my horizons as often as I should. When Harry and David first moved into the Pismo Beach Premium Outlets I thought…
My husband and I are no strangers to gym membership. We have belonged to many over our years — in our small town and in major metropolitan areas. That makes us a bit picky when it comes to shelling our our hard-earned dollars — especially because we want to avoid the classic scenario of paying…
How often is it that you can walk out of your office door in Pismo Beach and say “I feel like having the best burger on Maui” and not twenty minutes later be taking a huge yummy bite? Well it can be as often as every day if you are in San Luis Obispo and…
It’s next to impossible to be a co-inhabitant of our planet today and not recognize that humans are having an impact on our climate, our resources and the realization that we need to do something — however small — to make it better for future generations. Ever since our son was born we made the…
First you have to love the name … doesn’t it sound official?! Great for that lunchtime “business” meeting. You can just tell your boss you’ll be in “The Board Room.” Before he figures out that you don’t have one you’ll be gone! This great little brew pub and eatery is right in the heart of…
On November 3rd, 2013, 2-5pm we are having our 3rd Annual Chemistry of Cocktails fundraising event, where chemistry and cocktails collide! The public is invited to the Exploration Station to enjoy an afternoon of food, live music, fun activities, a silent auction, and cocktail tastings. Local mixologists from the area’s top restaurants and social gathering…
The best place to buy/order your new iPhone 5S/5C! My relationship with Phone &Wireless has been an evolution. When we returned to the Central Coast 12 years ago we had became At&t clients because our employers were, and so followed the herd without thinking of researching our options (not something we would recommend!) So while…
When you’ve lived in one place pretty much your entire life you know the history of all things and how they’ve evolved — both good and bad. The nice thing about the quaint Village of Arroyo Grande is that while things have changed, they’ve mostly stayed the same. And that is true of one of…
Those of us that have the awesome gift of living where most other people only get to visit on vacation know that we frequently take it for granted. Months can go by without a visit to the beach or stopping to really enjoy a sunset. But when we want to be a tourist in our…
I have come to the conclusion that the decisions you have made in your life up until you have a child were nothing compared to the decisions you make when it comes to the health and care of that new little human being that now is totally reliant on you. Let me tell you, deciding…
The theme this Summer has been “Stay-cation” for our little Central Coast Family. Since we are lucky enough to live where many people vacation we are playing backyard tourists and enjoying all that the Central Coast has to offer within 20 minutes of our doorstep. One of our absolute favorite day-off activities is to pack…
Over the years I have become a huge fan of Pilates. I like Yoga, but I really love what Pilates challenges me to do and how it effects my body. That being said, it seems that there is a large range in the quality of the instruction offered all around the Central Coast. From gym…
Annual 4th of July Fireworks Celebration in Pismo Beach was ruined by the weather: Low Coastal Fog obscured the entire 770 shell show. People come from all over the country to experience our nation’s independence day on the 1200′ Pismo Beach Pier. With nearly 100,000 people on the beach and in downtown Pismo, its a…
The 23rd Annual Roll Out The Barrels summer celebration has set the pace for good times, good vibes and good wines in San Luis Obispo County. The festivities began with a Thursday evening “Barrels in The Plaza” grand tasting adjacent to the historic Mission in downtown San Luis Obispo. Here, the wines of SLO Wine…
Downtown Pismo Beach played host to the 28th Annual Classic at Pismo Beach Car Show this Father’s Day weekend as it has for nearly thirty years. It is a Father’s Day tradition in our family to stroll through the cars and try to recognize the ones that my folks’ drove back in their hey days…
We arrived at the Pismo Beach Vet’s Hall to attend the Pismo Beach City Council meeting to witness the vote on Spanish Springs development and were greeted by hundreds of concerned citizens here to listen and make public comment on the project. We had to leave at 9:30pm, but as we arrived home we immediately…
Being locals, it can be hard to surprise us. On the other hand we also find ourselves falling victim to routine, returning to the same ol’ haunts over and over again. So it was through an effort to help our son learn to navigate traffic on his bicycle better that we were pleased to discover…
There are a few icons that define the Central Coast of California and this past Friday all of them were on display at a great event I had the opportunity to attend for the first time. This past Friday evening was the Barrel to Barrel night during the annual four day Wine, Waves & Beyond…
Today, we attended a “Community Luncheon” at the Arroyo Grande Community Hospital with the Hospital Administrator Kenneth Dalebout. The invitation was interesting as we didn’t have much exposure to the hospital other then a couple of visits to the ER over the past 12 years. During lunch we had a discussion about the history and…
This year we celebrate the 30th Annual Strawberry Festival. Every year Memorial Day weekend brings thousands of people to the Village of Arroyo Grande to celebrate summer and our wonderful locally produced strawberries. Some people say the central coast produces the best strawberries in the world. Yum! 🙂 This year was amazing with hundreds of…
Arani Salon and Day Spa is breathing a breath of fresh air into the Village of Arroyo Grande as we witness a total Village Transformation over the past few years! Not your mother’s Beauty Parlor, this Salon and Spa was designed to be an oasis — and succeed! It is a sanctuary. Yes, all the…
I have to admit that while I scrolled through some of the reviews for Rooster Creek, I found myself nodding my head in agreement… some were spot-on. I will say that the service left much to be desired in the beginning, however they seemed to have listened to the feedback and have made adjustments —…
Nothing sells a house like a spectacular view — and nothing distracts from that fantastic attribute than dingy windows. That’s why it is critical that a Realtor have in her arsenal of referral resources a skilled and professional window washer. Dwayne makes the windows literally disappear! Extremely detail-oriented, he attacks each job with gusto and…
My memory may be fading (I am turning 40 this year after all) but of the many Taste of Pismo events my hubby and I have attended I think this year was unequivocally the best. Maybe it was the great “Farm Fest” Farm to Fork event that ushered in the Taste the Friday night before.…
My family has known Dan Jones for as long as I can remember … the unassuming name of this family company — Jones Janitorial and Carpet Cleaning — downplays how well they do what they do. They are carpet and tile cleaning magicians! I knew Dan was great when I was new to real estate…
There aren’t many restaurants that take a break during the holidays and go on holiday themselves… and there aren’t many restaurants that when they do take a break make my grown husband cry. It was so bad I even drove by during their break once to make sure they hadn’t returned early. This is what…
Justin and I first had the opportunity to get to know one another while he was working with another company within our office in Pismo Beach. He started with what appeared to be no leads from his parent company and not only won over the realtors working all around him, but simultaneously went out and…
Be still my beating heart …. the Coach store finally arrived with great anticipation throughout my circle and has sprinkled handbags everywhere! This is truly the dawn of a new day on the Central Coast. Ok, ok, I grew up here so I have a little more history with the shopping void that existed just…
Being the Past President of the Rotary Club of Pismo Beach/Five Cities that has met for a decade in the beautiful banquet room downstairs at the now Ventana Grill, our little group of 60+ members had the unusual opportunity to watch the current management go through an extensive remodel of what had become a slightly…
Well I have never written a review of the Lido at Dolphin Bay because it had all of the makings of a fantastic restaurant … without the food, in my opinion. Partly because it was trying to be a little too “metropolitan” for the area, and partly because it ignored what is going on all…
Woodstone Marketplace has become our regular pit-stop as we chase our speed-demon four year old son down the Bob Jones Trail — either on foot, bicycles or scooter. It is like an oasis when we come up from under the bridge that gives us safe passage to the other side of San Luis Bay Drive…
Being in my profession, you learn a great deal about amenities and upgrades in a home and their true value. Meaning, no matter what the price, if you don’t use it, it was too expensive. My parents’ trash compactor is just such an item …. a hot ticket in the 80s and 90s featured in…
Linda Osty has been a cornerstone in our community for decades — even recently recognized as such this year by the Arroyo Grande Chamber of Commerce as it’s “Outstanding Citizen” award. She participates as an active member of our Rotary — as International Service Chair — and on many different organizations that send care packages,…
Mo’s is one of those “hang-out” type places, decorated with old photos and rusting signs, and of course an amazing variety of pigs out of various materials, in various sizes. It is a no-nonsense rib joint, with a few other notable items on the menu. My husband loves the Philthy Phil’s Ribs and the Sampler…
Growing up on the Central Coast, we’ve had our share of Pizza Places come and go … but in the past few years there hadn’t really been one that stood out from the crowd. Then one night when Gather Wine Bar was just getting started — maybe even during her “Soft Opening” — Kari ordered…
As a real estate team with a combined 33 years of service on the Central Coast, we have gathered a team of trusted inspectors, contractors, escrow and lending professionals. Although sometimes we are compelled to use another company by a request from the other side of a transaction, it only serves to solidify in our…
I have to admit that I am a fan … just like the four stars says. Right on the beach, this is a fantastic little boutique hotel that we often use for “Staycations” to celebrate Valentine’s Day, Birthdays and Anniversaries. From the moment you pull into the covered parking, you feel appreciated and well taken…
I’m a Central Coast Native and small business owner… so there are very few restaurants in our area that I haven’t visited. However the owners at Golden Moon and their fantastic Chinese offerings are what keep me returning! Jack and his wife remember us by our phone number — even if it’s been months since…
When Tutta Bella Salon opened it’s doors in our area I couldn’t believe my eyes… it was a salon like those I had enjoyed living in Newport Beach during my ten years away from the Central Coast. I gave that type of full service salon with spa-like atmosphere up when I decided to return —…
I am an AGHS alum, so I remember the days when the Clark Center was just a grove of pine trees and grass with a large wooden thermometer sign showing how much more money was needed before a professional performing arts center would materialize in that spot. When I returned to the area after college,…
If you don’t know what “show us your stacked” means, then you obviously haven’t sampled the scrumptious handcrafted sandwiches at this South County gem. I heard the rumors a few years ago that the “best” sandwiches were at Stacked. When I finally made it in, I fell in love! I have a tendency to always…
Nestled in the heart of Shell Beach, right on Shell Beach Road, you might drive by any day of the week and see a line on the sidewalk for this popular cafe. Originally just open for breakfast and lunch, they now serve dinner … which is always a great place to find yourself on a…
Brian Portesi is a CPA. We have been working with Brian and his staff for many years. Brian brings a fresh approach in working with individuals and businesses to provide great tax and business operational advice to all of his clients. Whether you are in need of a full service CPA firm to handle all…
While I may not have the names of everyone that has helped me on our thankfully few visits, I can say that this entire hospital and it’s staff has grown and evolved with our community. I truly appreciate that we have this facility and it’s caring staff so close at hand. After returning to the…
Having grown up on the Central Coast, Miner’s is a fixture in our family. My parent’s have been loyal Miner’s customer’s for years, through projects large and small. My dad has always marveled at the wealth of knowledge found in the Miner’s staff. Men and women who seem to have every washer, nut, bolt and…
As a busy family we frequently have to rely on take-out when the day becomes a little bit too hectic. Luckily, we have Yanagi just a few blocks from home and office. They are awesome when it comes to speedy and fresh take-out — everything from the true, quality Sashimi that my husband and son…
Growing up in a small town, it’s difficult to break the cycle of “going to the same vet your parents always did” etc., etc. However lately I was beginning to feel that no matter what was needed, a trip to my previous vet meant a $300 bill every time. It was beginning to be a…
Ron’s Nursery is aptly named after it’s owner, Ron Carlock. This man is the human definition of why I love living and owning a small business here on the Central Coast. You will notice that many of my Yelps revolve around Customer Service. I believe that in many cases, great customer service is under-valued and…
