So Cal Healthy Living

If you live in the OC it’s ranked #7 of 56 rated counties for healthy living. Other local rankings include:

• Los Angeles Co. #26
• Riverside Co. #27
• San Bernardino Co. #45

The study out of the University of Wisconson ranked counties using several factors including health factors, i.e. smoking, diet, excercise, alcohol use and sex practices. In addition  clinical care, availability and quality of health care and the quality of the physical enviroment. And to no surprise social and economic factors were included like education, employment, income and family and community support.

Check out my link to find out more about your own community.

So Cal Hiking in Palm Springs

Living in So Cal has so much to offer. Yes we put up with traffic, yes we experience crowds and long lines, yet we have some of the most wonderful places to visit and explore.

One of my favorites is the desert area of Southern California in and around Palm Springs. Here’s a recent visit and a very easy/moderate hike in the Taquitz Canyon area of Palm Springs. Check it out.

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 the 2008 FREE Concert Series courtesy of the Downtown Business Owner’s Association beginning Friday September 5^th through Saturday September 27.  Hours are 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm each night.

It’s Brea’s Sixth Annual Brea Jazz Festival  2008 ~  The concerts take place Friday and Saturday nights in downtown Brea on Birch Street just West of Brea Blvd. You will want to arrive early for seats, they’re limited. FREE parking is nearby in the multi-level parking garages in down town. Or, reserved tickets are also available here online.

New this year is the an Arts and Crafts event on Saturdays beginning at 4:00 pm to 10:30 pm. See the event line up and more here.

And for libation, those over the age of 21 can stroll on over to the  beer and wine garden . Local service clubs play host for this event serving beer and wine.

If you’ve spent any time in down town Brea you know there’s a variety of great eateries. Check out Carvao Grill (formerly Gaucho Grill) is one of my favorites. Another is the Fitness Grill, then there’s Jo Jo’s Pizza Kitchen, see why they’re a  Brea  Business with a Heart!

If you want to learn more about downtown Brea visit Living In Down Town Brea to start! Looking for information on Brea Real Estate, contact me Lynda@PreferredHomeBrokers.com

That right Sunday, August 3rd it’s time for the whole family to enjoy the sounds of the Pacific Symphony and enjoy the outdoors on a late Sunday afternoon.

Come early for a good seat, (some seats are reserved) some are first come first served. Family activities begin at 5:30 PM with the Children’s Musical Workshop and entertainment. The Pacific Symphony begins at 7:00 PM.

• General Admission is FREE ~ Over 700 seats are available on a first come-first-serve basis.
  Reserved Seating is Available ~ In a variety of Ways:
• Individual Reserve ~ $35 and you will receive a $20 Yard House Gift Certificate
  Seating for Two & Seating for Four including chocolate desserts from the Melting Pot, (been there myself several times and loved it!) by clicking here for more information.

And for the grand finale after dark (approximately 8:30) it’s roof top fireworks!

Brea’s Birch Street Downtown Promenade is located on Birch Street, just North of Imperial Hwy. and also West of Brea Blvd., it’s the heart of the city.

Brea’s Downtown Promenade is a unique area of Brea with shops, movie theaters and eateries, in addition to the famous Improv.  The Downtown Promenade is located on Birch Street, just North of Imperial Hwy. and also West of Brea Blvd., it’s the heart of the city.

One of my favorite eateries is the  Carvao Grill,  and Coli Piaggio is the proprietor and a wonderful host to all!  The Fitness Grillis just a short walk while still in the downtown area. Another great Brea business with a heart, pay a visit to Jo Jo’s Pizza Kitchen on Brea Blvd. and see why they’re special.

To learn more about Brea take a tour around our city at  All About Brea~ Brea, CA 92821 & 92823 and view Sunset Magazine, Brea The Best of The West and you will see why Brea’s the Place to Be. Looking for family entertainment in the City of Brea? View  Family Fun in Good Old Brea, or visit our City Hall Park, it’s like a step back in time.

Saturday, September 29 the City of Brea is sponsoring the annual Brea Wellness Festival from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This takes places in the beautiful Brea Community Center at 695 E. Madison Way, Brea.

• It’s time to participate and be on your personal journey, a quest of enhanced health and well being.
• This festival showcases a variety of special events including medical screenings, you can learn more about the cutting edge fitness trends, integrative medicine and more. In addition there will be free massages, heart healthy samples and much more to see and do.
• Musical entertainment will be be provided for the worthwhile event.
• Over eighty-five vendors are scheduled to participate.

The Brea Community Center is located on the corner of Madison and Randolph, directly behind the Brea Post office and just west of the Brea Mall.

Admission and parking is free.

For more info check out the city site here at the City of Brea ~ or call 714 990-7100. For information on Senior Real Estate, check out CaliforniaSeniorRealEstate.com

It’s the annual Brea Fest featuring great food, beverages, fun and entertainment takes place Friday, August 17th 6:30 to 10:00 at the Brea Civic and Cultural Center.This popular event is always a crowd pleaser for all. Funds raised at this event will benefit Brea arts.

Admission is FREE, and “tastes” are $2.75 each.

The City of Brea will also be spotlighted during the event with community displays of the Brea Historical Society, Friends of the Brea Library and Olinda Oil Museum to name just a few.

Our own Curtis Theater will also feature “An Evening of Live Performances”. Plus a look into the upcoming 2007-2008 theater season.

Since this is an event for all age, kids are treated to “Kidsville”- Kid Friendly Food, Entertainment and Crafts on level two of the community center. The cost for Kidsville ~ $1.50 per ticket.

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. Their specialty? Margaritas! Needless to say 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 or click here for more Brea Fest info.

To learn more on the fine City of Brea check out these links:

Saturday follow up: The Brea Fest was a wonderful event, I ate my way all the way across town and enjoyed it tremendously. In addition I had the opportunity of seeing many old friends and a few clients.

Paint Your Heart Out

This worthwhile organization has two homes scheduled in October and November in Orange County. I’ve talked with others over the years who have participated in this worthwhile project, it’s on my calendar for 2007, how about you?

Brea ~
August 9- Brea Meet & Greet Team Captains
September 6- Brea Team Captain Homeowner Assignment
October 6- Brea Prep Day
October 20- Brea Paint Day

Orange ~
November 3- Orange Prep Day
November 17- Orange Paint Day

• If you’re ready to volunteer click here for more information.
• To request to have your home painted click here.

For more information, please contact Debbie Schultz, Program Director, Debbie@pyho.org ~ Phone: 714-970-1150.

It’s that time once again! Brea’s FREE concerts at City Hall Park. Take a break mid-week to enjoy the fun and meet friends. Just bring the blankets, folding chair and the kids. Swimming is available in the Brea Plunge, Orange County’s oldest community pool.

I can tell you personally, we’ve done this many times over the years and it’s always been one of our favorite summer activities.

July 11 Kid and Nic ~ Classic American Music
July 18 Merchants of Moonshine ~ Country
July 25 Caravana ~ Latin Fusion
August 1 U.S. Navy Band – The Destroyers ~ Top 40
August 8 Firehouse Stompers ~ Dixieland Jazz
August 15 Steel Parade ~ Steel Drum and Calypso
August 22 Soundbytes ~ Rock and Roll Cover Tunes
August 29 Windmill ~ Big Band

Brea’s City Hall Park is located south of Imperial Hwy. at 120 S. Brea Blvd. at Elm Street.

For more information, check out the City of Brea or call (714) 9909-7733

City Hall Park (former home of our city hall, hence the name) on Brea Blvd. is the home of this California classic, built back just before the great depression in 1929. And the original cost to swim? Ten-cents for the afternoon.

Today the plunge continues to be a place for summer fun, just take a look at these kids. In addition life-guard training and aquatics take place in morning sessions this summer.