2009 Amgen Tour of California

The largest cycling event in America, the 2009 Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race presented by AEG that challenges the world’s top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding, recently expanded, 750-mile course from Sacramento to Escondido from February 14-22, 2009.

How exciting to be able to see the International event unfold here in San Diego North and finish in Escondido. It has become evident that we are becoming more bicycle savvy here in the Sunshine state. Oceanside has been designated as a 'Bicycle Friendly City' by the League of American Bicyclist and years ago initiated the Dasani Blue Bikes Program for their community members and guest. There are over 72 miles of class 2 bike lanes in the community and The Strand affords the opportunity to ride inches from the sand.

We salute Lance Armstrong for his return to cycling and his efforts with LIVESTRONG.COM

San Diego North Convention and Visitor Bureau has taken the lead in doing the local promotion for the event and has worked to provide accommodations for the thousands of participants, crews and spectators.

This promises to be a world-class event.

You may want to check out the 101 Cafe's contribution to cycling, our ten foot bicycle we use for a bike rack.

Rain at the 101

So we don't get much rain here in Oceanside, CA along the Historic Highway 101 which can be good and bad. Good is the endless amount of sunny days we can enjoy outside, bad is the few days we have to put up with our fire season. It seems like the last few years we have been reminded about the threat of fires in our backcountry. Even that would not be so bad if we had not allowed people to build their homes in these inland areas that you would bet would burn.

I guess most of us realize we live in an area that can be volatile. We trade off these concerns for the absolute beauty of our coast, mountains and desert. I love to read the predictions in the media about our weather because it seems as if they cannot get much right. Just last week I read where we were not getting much rain this season, yet our current storm has come to us about the same time as we might expect our rainy season to begin. I'll be the first to admit we don't get a lot of precipitation, but when you live in a desert you might expect that.

There will be a visit by the Mini Cooper Company this month at the 101 Cafe to let the press preview new models. The prospects of hosting them with about forty writers/photographers is so cool. These little cars have rolled onto asphalt in 1959 and eventually were manufactured and sold by BMW in 2002. The Cafe will be a part of a cruise the cars will make from Tower 23 along the Historic Route of the 101 to the 101 Cafe. The Cafe will be closed to the general public from 10:00 AM till 2:00 PM. You can Cruise by February 18Th and see all the cool Minis though.

January 10, 2009

What a beautiful day. When I took off from the Cafe for my morning walk It seemed a little special. It was a bit warmer, but clearer than usual. I had seen the papers prediction of warmer weather ahead, but as it happens often it can be overstated. When I had gotten to the Harbor I could feel a gentle gust of warm air. I mean warm air at 5:00 am in the morning. Did I say how big and bright the Moon was? I have walked in my community Oceanside along the beach, the Harbor and Highway 101 for over thirty-five years now and must say I truly enjoy each walk. The Moon was so cool I grabbed my camera at my office when I got back so I could get a picture of the moon setting over the Pier. I have hundreds of photos of the sun setting over the Pier, but not one of a Moon setting. So now I have some. Unless you get out early in the morning you miss it's incredible tranquility and beauty. You can also witness unbelievable sunrises, yes the opposite of the sunsets you do enjoy.

See you on the beach.

Any Reason is a good reason to come into the 101 Cafe

Since the 101 Cafe opened in 1928 people have stopped in for more reasons than we can count. About the time you think you seen it all some Else comes in for a new reason or using a new mode of transportation. I thought I'd share some images of folks and their rides at the Cafe.

Thanksgiving Day Meal is HOW much?

It may occur to you that we have reached a place in time that people are giving more thought to their daily budget than ever before.

That may not be true or at least some restaurants here in San Diego North are hoping its not.Much to surprise I spotted an ad in that touted a Thanksgiving day offerings for only $ 47.50 adults and $ 22.95 for children under 12 at a public golf course in Carlsbad. OK, if it was the Lodge at Torrey Pines I would not of have blinked, but, come on now. I did some checking to see if it was a little let's say aggressive so below are some offerings on Thanksgiving Day:

Adults and Kids prices;

Aviara $ 85 $ 42.50

La Costa $ 58 $ 27

The Lodge at Torrey Pines $ 75 $30

The Crossing $ 47.50 $ 22.95

El Camino Counrty Club $ 31.99 $ 11.99

Mimi's $ 14.99 $ 6.99

It is commonly known the first three have Chef's of known reputation.

For three years nowhttp://101cafe.net/has served a full Holiday Turkey dinner including everything for just $ 9.99 from now until January1.

We have been in the business of providing meals for over twenty years and now does not compare to anytime before when it comes to our business. So I may have just given you your choices for where to eat this Turkey day, but I hope it at least gives you cause for thought.

Comfort Food for our times

It is the perfect time to discover why Comfort Food appeals to us. Some people do no like the definition of Comfort Food; food prepared in a traditional style having a usually nostalgic or sentimental appeal, Merriam Webster Dictionary online Dictionary, Food that is simply prepared and associated with a sense of home or contentment, Answers.com,but it is clear that many people seek this type of food when facing uncertainty and trying times.

Trying times defines our now.

I have observed over the last twenty years that people often times come to the 101 Cafe after the death of a family member or a friend. This is probably the one event that made me think about people coming into the Cafe to seek comfort. Taking it to an extreme 911 brought thousands in seeking the solace, contentment and comfort for months afterwards. I felt a little guilty about our crowds when other businesses were challenged by the huge disruption brought about by terrorist

Comfort Food has accounted for a substantial number of our guest. It is clear that nostalgia is a big draw and over the years people have come back to see the Cafe. We get guest who's parents have brought them from the North on their way to San Diego from as early the 1920's and every decade since. We get veterans from the military who have come here since we've opened in 1928. We get returning Marines from Iraqi seeking the foods they have missed and the smiles from our staff. It is great to see the returning vacationers from all around the world bring family and friends to see the Cafe that they so love.

What ever you call it these foods help form an attraction to a place like the 101 Cafe we hope will never end.

Season Change in Oceanside

I like all the seasons, but I must admit I enjoy the change we make here in Oceanside as August ends and September begins. We have many humid days in June, July and August and our temperature only varies about eight or nine degrees. I like cool mornings and evenings and warm days and wait patiently for our September change into dry warm days with the cool evenings and mornings. OK we do get Santa Anas from now until whenever, but day in and day out this is our Best Beach weather. I think this month we started the change later than some and it felt like the change is imminent. I felt it as I rode my Schwinn cruiser along The Strand this morning. Today the skies cleared by mid-morning and Hot has returned. Lets hope the humidity leaves us soon.

Another sign of this change is the Woodies that cruise South along Highway 101 to Wavecrest in Encinitas where hundreds of these wooded wheeled Beach icons come to celebrate California's' Beach and Car culture. It is hard to describe how many different and totally unique vehicles are to be seen. A must see California original