“The breath is the first to go,” a LIVV Cardiff staff member says, moments before I immerse myself in water that stands at a toasty 50 degrees Fahrenheit. “Your body enters a state of shock, and it kind of knocks the wind out of you. Expect that, and don’t worry. The first minute is the worst.”April

It’s easy to bemoan it, but the sunshine tax is, well, kinda worth it. Outdoor living is a luxury we can claim year-round—so why not make it truly fabulous? We asked Michael Rounds, general manager of Solana Beach retailer Native Coast Appliance Gallery, to shout out cookers, coolers, heaters, and g

By ALEX VEIGA, Associated PressLOS ANGELES (AP) — This spring homebuying season is shaping up to be more favorable for home shoppers than it’s been in recent years — as long as they can afford to buy.Home prices are rising more slowly. Mortgage rates remain elevated, but have been mostly easing and

More people are turning to alternative housing as sustainable living becomes a priority. With growing awareness of environmental impact, eco-friendly and off-grid homes are now both practical and stylish. Here are some of the most popular designs reshaping the way we live.Cob HousesCob is an ancient

A rammed earth house is a structure built with walls made by compacting a mixture of damp soil under high pressure. This natural building method creates thick, durable walls that are both sustainable and visually striking. Although the technique has ancient roots, it’s making a comeback as an eco-fr

San Diego’s lead transportation agency has moved into its new home at a trendy skyscraper on the west side of downtown, its relocation emblematic of shifting office dynamics in the market.On Tuesday, the San Diego Association of Governments officially started its residency as the anchor office tenan

One hundred years ago, San Diego architect Lilian J. Rice set out on a trip through southern Spain. As she explored, the 36-year-old took hundreds of photographs and made constant sketches. Eventually, she found herself in the ancient town of Tarifa, positioned at the country’s southernmost tip, whe

Unions are losing their clout in California’s construction industry.My trusty spreadsheet, filled with numbers from UnionStats.com that track federal labor movement data back to 1983, found 129,800 unionized construction workers across the state last year — the lowest since 2014.Union membership in

Fifty of San Diego’s top women founders, CEOs, and CFOs gathered on the lawn at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar on Thursday, March 27 for an evening of wine, local food, and unfiltered conversation about leadership, mentorship, and the messier parts of ambition. Hosted with J.P. Morgan for International

California’s economy is suffering an extended pandemic hangover, as statewide job creation cooled 81% after coronavirus upended the business climate.My trusty spreadsheet, looking at state jobs data through February, found that California employers added 340,000 jobs in the last five years to push t

San Diego County has shattered construction records over the past few years for apartments.Yet when it comes to finding a newly built home, one that is actually for sale rather than a rental, potential buyers may be shocked just how limited the options are.There were 50 active developments in March

The pursuit of optimal health and wellness has been hardwired into human nature long before Herodotus mused about the Fountain of Youth. And while people have been tinkering with their bodies for centuries—mixing potions, creating elixirs, and testing the limits of longevity—modern biohacking takes

From San Marcos’s free Spring Fling Festival to a full day of country at Boots in the Park, this weekend is fit for festivals galore. San Diego will flex its muscles as the Capital of Craft at the North Park Festival of Beers while local writers can gain insight from dozens of authors at the San Die

Surrounded by eucalyptus and olive trees at the end of a cul-de-sac is a friendly take on a typically hard-edged style—a midcentury modern home softened by gabled roofs and judicious use of wood and brick, elements more typical of early-20th-century Craftsman houses. It was designed by a physician a

Hard to overstate it—restaurateur John Resnick and chef Eric Bost have rewritten the book of North County’s food culture. But after fighting to the top, facing headwinds at the apex, losing—then finding—their footing, they’re back, and poised to be better than ever.In a few weeks, they’ll open Lilo,

She sheds are the feminine take on the man cave—a personal retreat for relaxing, creating, or unwinding in peace. Whether for reading, crafting, or simply escaping, it’s a cozy backyard sanctuary that’s all your own.Erika Katie, who wrote the book on she sheds, said, “this is a place they’ve designe

There’s no such thing as a fireproof house, yet, but that hasn’t stopped one builder from trying.Los Angeles-based KB Home unveiled its Dixon Trail development in Escondido this week that it calls “wildfire resistant.” It comes with 10-foot buffers between homes, flame-resistant vents, noncombustibl

By ALEX VEIGA, AP Business WriterThe average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. fell slightly this week, a welcome reversal for homebuyers in what’s traditionally the housing market’s busiest time of the year.The rate fell to 6.65% from 6.67% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday.

A recent transaction involving more than 10 acres of land on Miramar Road newly zoned for housing signals that big change is on the horizon for a major industrial hub.In January, three limited liability companies associated with San Diego-based real estate company Pacifica Companies purchased the pa

More than 130 guests filled the dining room at Callie for Feeding San Diego’s second annual Pairings with a Purpose Dinner Party, where chef-owner Travis Swikard served a four-course meal with wine pairings by sommelier Tracy Latimer. The evening raised over $300,000—enough to provide more than 600,