The Obama's Top Dog Picks: Labradoodle or Portuguese Water Dog

My dog, Demi, a black labradoodle. Isn't she cute?!

All the news casts this morning were abuzz with updates on the Obama's ongoing search for the perfect puppy--apparently, the family has narrowed their search down to two breeds. They're considering either a Labradoodle, or a Portuguese Water Dog. Both of these dogs are hypoallergenic, which is obviously very important to this family. Also, President Elect Obama has been quoted as saying he wants a real dog, as a opposed to a little wimpy one, and both of these breeds feature dogs big enough to satisfy the future President. Labradoodles range in size from 14 inches to much, much bigger, depending on the line. Portuguese Water Dogs usually weight between 40 and 60 pounds. Ted Kennedy has Portuguese Water Dogs.

The reason this topic interests me particularly is because I have a small (16 inches!) black labradoodle, who is often mistaken for a Portuguese Water Dog, and I want to go on record as having my dog for almost 2 years now. Despite my great admiration for the Obama family, I am not copying them. I did this before they did. I expect a huge surge in the popularity of either of these breeds once one is picked, and I don't want people to think I am a copy cat! 

Also, I love my dog, Demi, and could spend all my time writing about her instead of real estate, but then who would that help? So, I will continue to keep all of you updated on real estate in the Silicon Valley, including Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Mountain View, and Sunnyvale, among other cities, and only occasionally bore you with my dog stories! 

Bay Area Highlights, Oct 21-Nov 5

The Peninsula and South Bay Edition

Music and Comedy:

Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band, 8:00PM-10/21

Rock/Pop Shoreline Ampitheatre, Mountain View

Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic, 8:00PM-10/23

HP Pavilion, San Jose

Craig Shoemaker, 8:00PM-10/23

Comedy Improv Comedy Club, San Jose

Palo Alto Philharmonic Orchestra, 8:00PM-10/25

Cubberley Community Center Theater, Palo Alto

Neil Young, Norah Jones, Wilco, ZZ Top, Death Cab for Cutie, Cat Power, Pegi Young, 9:00PM-10/25

Rock/Pop Shoreline Ampitheatre, Mountain View

San Jose Chamber Ochestra, 7:00PM-10/26

World premiere of Mimi Dye's One Beautiful Light. 

Le Petite Trianon Theatre, San Jose

The Assads, 6:00PM-10/28

Brothers Sergio & Odair amaze on Brazilian guitar. 

Community School of Music and Arts at Finn Center, Mountain View

English Beat, 7:00PM-11/1

Dave Wakeling tours across the States, Canada, & the UK.

Paris Piano Trio

Former Prize-winning students at Paris Conservatoire, 7:00PM-11/2

Classical Kohl Mansion, Burlingame

Phil Markowitz Trio, 4:40PM-11/12

Jazz Piano Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society, Half Moon Bay

More Things To Do:

Zappe Family Circus

An Italian Theatrical Circus since 1842

10/24-10/26, 4:00PM-6:00PM

Circus Tent, Redwood City

Haunted Hostel Halloween Festival

The 6th annual Haunted Halloween Festival at the Point Montara Lighthouse is a once-a-year spooktacular for kids of all ages! 

10/25, 2:00PM--Point Mantara Lighthouse Hostel, Montara

Book Group Expo

Meet authors, eat chocolate, attend lively discussions, taste wine, have books signed, and savor fine tea.

10/25, 10:00AM--McEnery Convention Center, San Jose

Trick or Treat on Twin Pines Lane

Trick or treat room, carnival games, crafts, snacks.

10/31, 6:00PM-9:00PM, Twin Pines Community Center, Belmont

Halloween Bash!

Biggest Bash in San Jose. Listen to the sounds of Latin Affect, Jammin, Tortilla Soup, & special guest GQ

10/31, 6:30-12:00AM. Mexican Heritage Plaza, San Jose

Bay Area Highlights, Oct 6-20

Enjoy October by taking advantage of some of the great events happening this week in the Bay Area!

Music--

7:30PM, 10/7

Earth, Wind, & Fire, Rock/Pop, Mountain Winery, Saratoga

8:00PM, 10/9

David Byrne, Mountain Winery, Saratoga

9:00PM, 10/10

New Kids on the Block, Lady Gaga, Rock/Pop, HP Pavilion, San Jose

7:00PM, 10/12

Classical Pianist Garrick Ohlsson, McAfee Performing Arts and Lecture Center, Saratoga

9:00PM, 10/16

Russ Barenberg and Byron Sutton, Bluegrass/Country, Little Fox, Redwood City

8:00PM, 10/17

Jeffrey Siegal plays Grieg, This celebrated pianist returns to kick off Peninsula Symphony's 60th Season, San Mateo Performing Arts Center, San Mateo

7:00PM, 10/19

Tina Turner, HP Pavilion, San Jose

More Things To Do--

26th Annual Chocolate Fest

Twenty different vendors of chocolate wares: ice cream, gelato, brownies, cakes, cookies, truffles, and candy. 

10/11. 7:30--10:00PM. First Congregational Church of Belmont, Belmont

San Carlos Art and Wine Faire

The San Carlos Chamber of Commerce's Art and Wine Faire will celebrate its 18th year. 

10/11-10/12. 11:00AM, Downtown San Carlos

Campbell's Oktoberfest

Many cities across the U.S and world celebrate Oktoberfest. Campbell might well be mistaken for a German village during this event. 

10/18-10/19. 10:00AM-5:00PM. Downtown Campbell.

Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival

Pumpkins reign supreme on the picturesque terrain surrounding the charming coastal areas. 

10/18. 9:00AM-5:00PM. Downtown Half Moon Bay

3rd Annual Midtown Fun Festival

Games giveaways, and fun for the family.

10/18. 11:00AM-4:00PM. Midtown Shopping Center, Palo Alto

Bay Area Highlights is brought to you by Cindy Solomon at North American Title Company. 

Enjoy your week! 

Vacation!

Hey everyone, I'll be taking a break from the blog until Monday because I am on vacation in Coronado this weekend. I hope you all enjoy your weekend, and I'll be back soon! 

Hungry? Head to the Backyard

Usually I don't post comments on Carol Lloyd's Surreal Estate articles (from the San Francisco Chronicle website), but this week I thought her discussion about urban farming was pretty interesting. Considering the rising price of food and the state of the economy, is the future of our food really in the plot of land out back? In urban/suburban CA, the rise of backyard farms and animal raising may be only slightly out of character, but it's definitely impractical considering space issues and costs of real estate. 

The legal issues might surprise you (or at least give you a laugh)--

"Residents are allowed three of one kind of animal and a total of four animals. (This means no more than three adult dogs without a kennel permit.) Legal pets include hares, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice, gerbils, chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, doves, pigeons, game birds of any species, as well as cats and dogs. According to the health code, donkeys, mules, cows and goats (all "even-toed" animals") require a permit, though senior health inspector Helen Zverina told me that pot bellied pigs and pygmy goats were also defined as pets. Contrary to common belief, roosters are not outlawed. But if there's a complaint, the city will take away the bird based on noise abatement."

Urban Farming: Back to the Land in your Tiny Backyard, Carol Lloyd, SURREAL ESTATE