Halloween in San Diego

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Are you excited for Halloween? Whether you are dressing up as a devil, a witch or a celebrity, San Diego has some amazing events for you to celebrate the night of the living dead. Ariva is in a great location to be able to get to all of these local events. Check them out and have a great Halloween in San Diego. 

Monster Mash

The 15th Annual Dox XX Monster Mash Block Party is scheduled for October 31st in San Diego. The event starts at 6pm in Gaslamp Quarter and the East Village neighborhoods. Monster Mash transforms eight blocks into the largest event in California. There are five stages that you will get to enjoy throughout this mega party.  Each location has a different Halloween theme. You can dance in the Doll House or take a trip in the Devil's Playground. Do not forget to channel your inner curiosities at the Freak Show location. This event features 20 DJS from all across San Diego to keep you entertained throughout the event. You can get tickets ahead of time for $50, but they are $60 dollars at the door. 

Scream Zone

Scream Zone is open Friday and Saturday nights from 7pm to midnight. Sunday through Thursday they are open from 7pm-11pm. There are a few different activities to enjoy at the Scream Zone. You can take a trip in the Zombie Paintball Safari or try to calm you nerves in the House of Horror. This house features 12 dens including 13 ghosts, Zombie House, Monster Attack, Texas Graveyard and the Underworld. You can also enjoy a terrifying trip on the haunted hayride. The Scream Zone is for teens and older. 

Haunted Trail at Balboa Park

This is not your normal stroll through Balboa Park. The Haunted Trail is one mile through the twisted grove of pines and gnarled oaks. You never know where something may appear so make sure to be on alert. This trail is not designed for children under ten or the easily scared. The year there is a new section featuring a haunted plantation and Bourbon Street where you can survive live scenes from American Horror Story. 

San Diego Road Trips

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Are you looking to get away for a weekend? We have all been there. The need to escape reality for a few days and enjoy time with friends or family. San Diego is in such a great location that there are plenty of places that you can escape to for a day or weekend. Ariva is an amazing place to live, but we would not blame you for wanting to go see the sights for a day or two.

Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree is only 2.5 hours by car from your home in San Diego. There are gorgeous trails throughout this hidden location. You can also learn to rock climb at the Joshua Tree Rock Climbing School. We recommend the summit hike and the Hidden valley Route, both of these trails let you finish the hike with a gorgeous panoramic view.

Idyllwild

This small town in the San Jacinto Mountains is perfect for a day of relaxation. You can unplug with over 50 trails throughout the National Park. These gorgeous locations are only two hours away from San Diego.

Ojai

Ojai is a little further from San Diego. You can get there by car in 3.5 hours. This old town with Spanish Revival architecture is packed with history and stores. We recommend making this a weekend trip so you can take it all in.  There is a famous outdoor bookstore, boutiques and the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa. 

Los Angeles

Maybe the rugged outdoor towns are not what you are looking for on your getaway.  Los Angeles is only two hours away by car which makes it the perfect weekend or day trip. Head to the arts district for some amazing restaurants, unique shops and great shows all throughout the weekend. You will never get bored in the busy city of Los Angeles.

Pasadena

You can hop in the car for two hours and visit the Rose Bowl, Old Pasadena and the Pacific Area Museum. You can spend the entire day exploring the gorgeous city of Pasadena and still get back to San Diego at night. Pasadena is a gorgeous and perfect day trip city.

We hope you get to enjoy this weekend and all the adventures that you have planned.

Best Happy Hours in San Diego

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The best happy hour has a combination of great food, great drinks, all with low prices. Everyone wants to find the best happy hour spot, but sometimes it seems like an impossible task. Give these San Diego bars a chance for happy hour and stop the seemingly endless search for the best happy hour.

Johnny V

Johnny V knows how to do happy hour. There are daily deals like half-off drinks and cheap appetizers. If you go on Fridays, you can enjoy a free appetizer when you buy a drink. On Saturdays you can grab a $1 fish taco and $4 you-call-its.

Taste and Thirst

Stop by Taste and Thirst for half-off drinks from 3 p.m. - 8 p.m for their happy hour. During that time you can also choose from a selection of half-off appetizers like chili cheese tater tots. Being less than 10 miles away from Ariva Apartments is another great reason to make this your new happy hour spot.

Dirty Birds

If you’re a wing lover this might be your sanctuary. A lot of people consider the wings at Dirty Birds to be some of the best. Get them for half-off during happy hour along with half-off domestic pitchers, and you’ll be a satisfied happy hour hunter.

Jose’s Courtroom

Jose’s Courtroom is the place to be on Tuesdays if you love mexican food. Chow down on $1.50 carne and pollo tacos or $2.50 lobster and shrimp tacos. Sip on a margarita and have them whip up some guacamole and you’ll be looking forward to Tuesdays.

Spike Africa’s Fresh Fish Grill & Bar

If you like your happy hours to include seafood, Spike Africa’s has deals for you. You can get fresh oysters for $1.25 and blackened mahi tacos for $4.50. On top of that, you can wash it down with a $3 shot of Fireball or a 16 ounce PBR for $4. Another big plus is that it’s less than 10 miles away from Ariva Apartments.

All’s well that ends well! Make sure your favorite happy hour spots are doing their jobs and sending you home happy after a long day at work.

Who Wants Cookies?

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Do you always crave desserts like us? You put anything sweet in front of us and we will be sure to eat it all. However, one of the simplest and best desserts to have at any time of the day is a cookie. It just so happens that it is also October which is National Cookie Month.  Here are some of the best places in San Diego to celebrate National Cookie Month.

Sugar Cravings

We love anything sugar, and Sugar Cravings might be the perfect place to indulge this craving. Christine Shen makes gorgeous customized sugar cookies that are perfect for any occasion. This started out as a small home business, but it turned into a full blown success with her hard work and delicious cookie treats. Make sure to put in your orders 3-4 weeks ahead of time for your specially designed cookie.

Sugar and Scribe

This Irish Bakery in La Jolla has won many awards for more than just their cookies. Their perfect double thick chocolate chip cookies are perfect for the chocolate fans of San Diego. They also have ginger cremes and more that are all baked from scratch. As an added bonus, you can also find some Irish goodies like bread puddings and coffee cakes throughout the day.  

The Cravory

The Cravory is serious about their cookies. They first cookies roll out at 4am every morning so they are fresh and ready for customers. They have eleven signature flavors with six new creative flavors every month. You can try a new cookie every week and always have a different flavor. Are you reluctant to try something you don’t know? At The Cravory, you can sample anything in the store before you buy it. This will let you decide on your favorites before you spend your money.

These are just a few of the delicious bakeries in San Diego. We are so excited to try all of these delicious desserts to help celebrate National Cookie Month. Do you have a favorite cookie recipe? Share it with your neighbors at Ariva and on Ariva’s Facebook Page! We do not think they will mind!

First Day Of Fall

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It might not feel like fall in San Diego, but fall is officially here. Luckily for us, just because it does not feel like fall we can still enjoy what fall has to offer. Parades, Oktoberfest and festivals are just some of the events that we look forward too during the fall season. Grab your pumpkin spiced latte and head to one of these great fall events around San Diego.

San Diego Restaurant Week

This week is San Diego Restaurant Week. All of your culinary favorites join forces to offer pre-fixe three course dinner options at many of your favorite restaurants. These dinner menus start at $20 a person and go up to $40 depending on the restaurant. There are also two-course lunch options for $10, $15 or $20 a person. You can sample all of the cuisine you have been meaning to try in one week without breaking the bank. 

Gaslamp Fall Back Festival

The Gaslamp Fall Festival in November brings back the history and culture of the Gaslamp Quarter from the 1880s. The blocks of the quarter are transformed into a western town from years past. This includes Wyatt Earp, blacksmith demonstrations and panning for gold. You can also enjoy food, music and arts and crafts during this festival of fall fun. 

San Diego Beer Week

San Diego Beer Week is a countrywide festival that highlights all of the award-winning craft beer in the San Diego Area. You can sample hundreds of your favorite beers or try a few new ones to add to your list. San Diego Beer Week occurs between November 6th-15th. 

San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival

San Diego is the place for foodies in November. The San Diego bay Wine and Food Festival is also a November tradition. This week long event costs between $45-$625 dollars, but it is well worth the money. The festival features gourmet food, celebrity chefs, wine tastings and cooking demonstrations. Come taste your way around the Bay and see a few of your favorite restaurants and bars at the same time. 

These great events are all reasons to love the fall in San Diego. Ariva is in such a great location it makes getting to these weekly events a breeze. We hope to see you at one of our favorite fall events this year. 

Other Sources:

SanDiego.org

Who Wants Pumpkin?

Image From Wikimedia and JR Conlin.

Pumpkin flavor is back everywhere, and we are so excited to try new drinks, dishes, and desserts in our favorite fall flavor. It may still be warm, but that does not mean we are not in the fall spirit. San Diego has some of the best pumpkin flavored foods for anyone who is obsessed with this fall flavor. We have found a few dishes we are super excited to try. What is your favorite pumpkin item? Share with your friends at Ariva.

Azucar

Azucar is located on Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach, but it is well worth the drive. You can sample many different options of fall flavors at Azucar. Try a cupcake with bold spices and cream cheese frosting. This pumpkin cake has a delicious pumpkin flan custard topping. Then, it is finished off by a salty-sweet and slightly bitter pumpkin seed brittle.

Bencotto Italian Kitchen

For more of a pumpkin flavored meal, head to Bencotto Italian Kitchen. We are so excited to try the pumpkin ravioli. This dish consists of sweet pumpkin-filled pasta in a sage cream sauce with crispy bites of bacon. It is all of your favorite fall flavors in one dish. All of Bencotto's pasta is made fresh daily for each customer. Bencotto is located on W. First Street in Little Italy.

Gelato Vero Caffe

It is still warm out, so maybe you need a cold pumpkin treat. The Gelato Vero Caffe is the perfect cafe to treat your pumpkin craving.  Their gelato is the equivalent of a rich pumpkin pie filling. This cold treat is perfect for a warm fall day in San Diego. Gelato Vero Caffee is located at 3753 India Street in Mission Hills.

Dark Horse Coffee Roasters

We love starting our mornings with a rich warm coffee. Dark Horse Coffee Roasters is not your average pumpkin spiced latte. They have coffee on tap. This is the base for their fall flavors. The coffee ends up being smooth, creamy and dessert-like without being too sweet. Dark Horse is located at Adams Avenue in Normal Heights.

These are just a few of the delicious cafes and restaurants in San Diego that will satisfy your pumpkin craving. This fall go find your new favorite way to eat pumpkin.

9/11 Memorial Climb

Image from Wikimedia

14 years ago we all watched the same event unfold before our eyes on our televisions and computers. Most people can remember the exact place they were standing when 9/11 started. Patriot Day, as it is now called, features many events around the globe to remember the day the earth stood still. However, San Diego has a unique memorial in the 9/11 Memorial Climb.

On September 5th, thousands of people packed the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel for the fourth annual San Diego Firefighter 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.  This event is meant to remember the firefighters, police and emergency responders that were killed in the World Trade Center collapse in 2011.

Teams of volunteers, emergency personnel and civilians climbed the hotel's more than 30 stories three times to equal the 110 stories that the first responders climbed on 9/11 to rescue civilians from the World Trade Center.

A Marine combat veteran Nathan Fletcher participated in the climb. He said, "Today as we climb the stairs, with each step we are honoring those who climbed but never came out."

The climbers each received a badge and photo representing one of 403 firefighters, police officers, port authority officers and emergency medical personnel who died in the terrorist attacks. This event is not only in San Diego, but there are 30 others that are similar across the United States.

This program raises money to assist firefighters and their families that are impacted by on-duty injuries and death. The 2015 event has raised $85,000 dollars, but the organizers are hoping to hit $100,000 in the next few weeks.

This year more than 1,100 people climbed the 110 stories. Everyone from children to military members participated in the record breaking climb.  This climb was also a memorable one in the team work aspect of the climb. The teams stayed together and helped each other out when needed. People yelled words of encouragement up and down the stairs to help people finish this important memorial.

If you want to participate in the event next year, make sure to visit the event's website to learn about how to register. You can get your friends from Ariva to create your team for the 2016 event.

Other Sources:
Fox 5
Firehouse