Brea’s 8k usually takes place the last Sunday in Feburary and this year was not exception. Check out this video to see more:

Brea 8k Race 2010

Posted via email from Living in SoCal

 I took this photo of the Christmas Tree (yes not a holiday tree, at least to me) in downtown Brea on Birch Street. It’s a small area of quaint shops, eateries, movie theaters and loft apartments.  Also in walking distance to the nearby Ralph’s Market and RiteAide.  Something for everyone in Down Town Brea, CA. 92821.

Check it out!

It’s the 23^rd annual Brea Fest featuring great food, beverages from over 35 local eateries, Friday August 17th!

The fun and entertainment begins at 6:30 and goes to  10:00 at the Brea Civic and Cultural Centre. This community event is always a crowd pleaser, something for everyone and once again featuring Kidsville sponsor by the North Hills Community Church.

Funds raised at Brea Fest help support Brea’s local arts programs that take place in and around our city.  

Admission is FREE,  and “tastes” are $3 bucks.

Doors will be open to the Brea’s Curtis Theatre for the evening. Take a look, there’s not a bad seat in the house of this place!

The nearby Brea Art Galley will once again be featuring artists on display, I took this photo last year while at the Gallery.

Over the years I’ve attended this event many times, and it’s always been great fun. Enjoying the outdoors, listening to great music, watching the performances. It was always the place to be. In the past my daughter ran a booth for her employer a local beverage company. The speciality was margaritas. Needless to say that booth it was a huge success.

Brea’s Civic and Cultural Center is located on Birch Street, on the north side of the Brea Mall. For more information call, (714) 990-7771.

Address: One Civic Center, Brea, CA 92821

It’s a great day at Brea’s Relay For Life in support of the American Cancer Society!

Just take a look at the early participants. Cancer survivors kicked of the 10:00 a.m. start with the first lap! Look at them go, survivors of all ages.

Surviving Leukemia both Kristen and Katie jog the first lap! Both of these “K” girls are surviving cancer thanks to the efforts and contributions of many along the way.

This event takes place over 24 hours from 10:00 a.m. today (6/27)  until 10:00 a.m. tomorrow (6/28)  and raises funds for the American Cancer Society.

There is plenty of time to join the fun, come on out to Brea-Olinda High School at 789 Wildcat Way, Brea 92821 and check out the event!

Many thanks go to all the volunteers, sponsors and walkers!

• You all make a difference!

Single Family Homes for Brea:

• 68  re-sale homes were  for sale, down 17% from last month at 81 and 65/94/ respectively for the past few months.
• 23 pending sales and back-ups, up 22% from last month at 18 and  compared to 25/12/20/16/36/30/27/27/24 prior months.
• 15 homes closed in May compared to 24 last month and compared to  29/12/13/20/11/28/30/24/20/14/21 respectively in the prior 12 months.
• Average selling price for May was $537,480 (compared to $556,000 last month) for a home with an average of 1,986  square feet.
• The average days on the market was 70.

Condominium activity for May:

• 14 condo/town-homes were for sale, compared to 16/14/6/12/9/13 in the past few months.
• 6 pending sales/back-ups went into escrow up double from April, and  compared to 3/3/1/4/3/1/5/7/2/1/1/5/2/2 in prior months.
• 1 condo closed (yes 1) escrow in May compared to  2/6/0/5/3/4/2/5/4/2/2/0/3/3/2/4/6 respectively in preceding months.

Check out Southern Cal home prices per square foot to see how prices vary depending on your city.

Brea is a City is well known for excellence in education. The schools have been definite attraction for residents in our community. We often say Brea enjoys some of the bigger city benefits, yet maintains a small town feeling. Many of us who live here feel we have the best of both worlds.

Brea, CA is very well located in Northern Orange County ~ If you lived in the SoCal community of Brea you would be approximately:

• 30 Miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
• 39 Miles from LAX ~ Los Angeles International Airport,
• 16 Miles from John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, CA
• 10 Miles from the “Happiest Place on Earth” Disneyland ~ Anaheim, CA.

Here’s more on the new Sports Park, check it out. Looking for low/no cost fun in our city, read Brea Fun On A Budget.

If you’re interested in learning more about Brea see why Sunset Magazine named it one of the best places in the west, or check out Living In Dowtown Brea, or Downtown Brea Nights,

Visit Brea Family Fun, Brea’s Curtis Theatre or Downtown Brea Dining.

It’s important to note that according to city representatives available ”land-line”  phone numbers have been automatically pre-loaded into the system. Yet how many of us now use our cell phones more often than a home number? I’m one of many that does just that. Therefore it’s important to know multiple contact points are available. 

•  You can edit your own info to add your cell number and or your business/work number into the system.

Most os us remember it wasn’t all that long ago that friends and neighbors were evacuated as a result of the fires. This photo was taken in the front yard of my Brea home. So be ready, be prepared and do your part to participate, check out your listing at by checking out this link to the city.

Live outside of the city? Visit here to see if your city is participating.

To learn more about the system check out the overview and share this link with others!

Like many communities one only needs to look around to find low cost or no cost activities or events. Just take the time to discover the opportunities in your own back-yard.

Here’s a list of some of my favorites in good ole’ Brea:

• For the art lovers around town, Brea’s Art In Public Places is a true delight. Over 130 works of art in a variety a mediums are local treasures ready for discovery. To see these daily is something I never take for granted, they just make my day around town that much better.

And not that I’ve seen them all, every now and then I discover a new one and it’s always a treat for me. Take a tour and see for yourself. Cost~absolutely FREE!

• Orange County Library, Brea Branch ~ The Brea Library offers a variety videos, books, tapes and compact discs.  To make things more fun Brea’s Library offers special programs including a pre-school story time for the little ones and after school crafts and a summer reading club.The Brea Library is located at the Brea Civic and Cultural Center, (just across from the Brea Marketplace) at One Civic Center, main level.
• Open 5 days a week: Hours 10:00 – 6:00 Mondays & Thursdays. 12:00 – 8:00 Tuesdays & Wednesdays and 10: a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Saturdays. Closed on Friday and Sunday. Cost of a library card?  Absolutely FREE ~ For more information, call (714) 671-1722

• Stroll through Brea’s Certified Farmer’s Market in Downtown Brea on Birch Street. That’s right each Tuesday downtown Brea plays host to a wide variety of local growers, vendors and crafts. It’s a great way to spend the late afternoon or early evening. Cost: The event and PARKING is absolutely FREE.

Be a sport, head on over to Brea’s newest addition the brand new Brea Sport Park on Birch St. I was there myself on opening day the morning of Feb. 14^th, 2009! It was an exciting event. The park is loaded with something for everyone. Sports fields of almost every imaginable variety, a colorful unique playground and even a vendor/refreshment area. Truly something for everyone! Cost: Absolutely FREE and plenty of FREE PARKING.

Enjoy the Brea’s Art Gallery at the Civic Centre. In addition a gift shop is home to works of art from all over the world. When it comes to kids… a Children’s Art space allows them to use their own creativity with displays and participation in hands on fun. Don’t you just love that? The Gallery is located in the Brea Civic & Cultural Center (across from the Brea Marketplace) at One Civic Center Circle. Gallery hours are Wednesday – Sunday, 12 to 5 p.m. For more information, Call (714) 990-7730 for more info. or email breagallery@cityofbrea.net.

• Brea Museum and Heritage Center in Founders Park at 495 S. Brea Blvd. (At Elm St.) Take a look back in time and visit the days of Good Ole’ Brea, when Brea Blvd. was a little two-lane road that took visitors through the canyon on the way to the L.A. County Fair. That’s the journey we took as a family years ago. ~ Hours Saturdays 19:00 to 3:30. The museum is closed on holiday week-ends. Cost ~ Although donations are welcome, once again, the cost is absolutely FREE!

• Take a hike, Brea is surrounded on the north and a portion of the eastern boundary by the hills. Enjoy the outdoors with a nature hike. Consider one of the many trails in 12,500 acre Chino Hills State Park. I’ve hiked there many times myself, it’s always been a great experience.

  If you have something to share that low or no cost to do around town, please share it with others!