Debunking Myths About La Jolla

Countless articles have been written about La Jolla, and when I read them I sometimes want to laugh out loud - or at least groan. To begin with, "La Jolla" does not mean "the jewel" in Spanish. That word would be "La Joya." Close, but no cigar.

In fact, "La Jolla" is a corruption of the word the Kumeyaay (Native American tribe) used to call this area. The Spanish explorers may have thought this scenic location was a jewel, but they didn't call it "La Joya."

Also - and this would come as a surprise to some local residents - La Jolla is not a separate town. It is a community within the City of San Diego, just like Pacific Beach, Mission Hills, and more than another dozen places. That means that - for better or for worse - we share the same school district, fire department, sanitation district, etc.

Having said that, much of what travelers have heard is true. We (I've lived here most of my life) have gorgeous beaches and sandstone cliffs, a wonderful variety of shopping options, great restaurants, a very good selection of hotels, and a wide range of recreation options.

Our cultural advantages are less known. La Jolla Playhouse has won a Tony Award for Best Regional Theatre. Birch Aquarium at Scripps is a world-class facility. The La Jolla branch of The San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art is right in the village, and classical music concerts are offered by The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library and the La Jolla Chamber Music Society. In addition, the University of California San Diego (UCSD) plays a very important role in our community.

In short, we don't just surf and sip wine here. La Jolla is a great place for families, adventurous travelers, culture vultures, "foodies," shop-until-you-drop folks, AND those who want to surf and sip wine.

And visitors are always welcome.

Peter and Paul added to Green Flash Line-up

SAN DIEGO ENTERTAINMENT NEWS:


Since I posted the line-up for the Green Flash Concerts at Birch Aquarium, legendary folk singers Peter Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary have been signed to perform a special concert on Saturday, September 11.

Doors open at 7 p.m. Concert begins at 7:30 p.m. General admission: $45-$100 with RSVP. Reservations: 858-534-4109; Ages 21+ only.

Yarrow and Stookey, ­along with bandmate Mary Travers - who died in 2009 after a battle with leukemia - comprised one of the most influential musical groups of the socially turbulent 1960s. Their popular songs such as "Blowin' in the Wind," "If I Had a Hammer" and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" became enduring anthems of the 1960's protest movement. Throughout their career, the trio won five Grammys, produced more than a dozen Top 40 hits ­of which six ascended into the Top 10 ­ as well as eight gold and five platinum albums.

I just can't imagine a more fitting way to acknowledge the events of September 11, 2001, than to watch the sun set into the ocean from the Birch Aquarium while listening to the thought-provoking music of these folk icons.


Photo credit: Birch Aquarium at Scripps

Redwood Hollow Cottages

SAN DIEGO'S SECRET LODGING:

One of La Jolla’s best-kept secrets, this colony of historic cottages is perfect for families and anyone seeking that home-away-from home feel. While not on the beach, it’s just a 5-minute walk to the coast and less than 10 minutes walk to La Jolla’s myriad shops and restaurants.

Two studios, 3 two-bedroom units, and 2 one-bedrooms come with kitchens stocked with popcorn, cookies, and microwave popcorn. Just what the kids want, right? And there’s coffee and tea for Mom and Dad. Another studio lacks a kitchen, but sleeps up to four people. Two of the two-bedroom cottages come with two bathrooms.

Built between 1915 – 1948, four of the 8 cottages have fireplaces, 4 offer private patios, and all are set in a garden bursting with plants.

Owner Martin Lizerbram goes out of his way to make sure that guests have what they need. He even painted a beach mural on one of the garden walls for those who wanted an “ocean view.” Laundry facilities are free of charge.

Redwood Hollow Cottages are located at 256 Prospect Street (tel. 858-459-8747; email lejolla@aol.com) Rates are by day, week, or month and vary seasonally.

A recent guest had this to say: "I've been meaning to e-mail you back since my daughter and I returned from our trip to California. We had an absolutely fantastic time and we LOVED LaJolla. I am so very glad we stayed there for part of our trip. It was just perfect. We ended up staying at Redwood Hollow. We loved our stay there. We stayed in a studio the first night - it was adorable and nicely furnished. Walking up to it and opening the door, made for a perfect start to our vacation. Since that was only available the first night, we moved to a 2 bedroom for the other 3 nights. Wow... much more room than we actually needed but it would sure be perfect for a family. We enjoyed the patio areas at both places and my daughter enjoyed taking some beautiful photos of the grounds. We walked down to the beach and sat on the rocks each evening to watch the sunset. The staff - Michele was so friendly and helpful. And it was nice to be able to do a load of laundry the night before we left for our stay downtown. I cannot say enough good things about LaJolla - it is just a beautiful, friendly and interesting place. I'm ready to go back - plan a family reunion and rent several of the cottages at Redwood Hollow. There is certainly something for everyone."