I've driven by many times over the years and always wondered about it. Until now. I also wasn't…read moresure if you needed to be a member, but you don't. A friend of a friend was celebrating her birthday and singing for open mic night. She invited us to go. I really did not know what to expect but I did know that it was a neighborhood bar atmosphere. Parking was ample and we were able to park in front. You could hear the music from the outside and the doors were open. They also have a nice little patio that advertised they had had a barbecue earlier in the day. We walked in the front door to this very eclectic small bar and made our way to the front to find our seats with the birthday girl. The tables and chairs were tightly packed, and it was a little challenging to navigate. It was quite loud, but people were clearly having a great time. It was a fun atmosphere and lots of people were dancing. The musicians kept rotating out and different genres were performed on a very crowded stage. You can tell it's a locals' favorite spot and people seemed to know each other. It was definitely an older crowd that night as well. It's a funky little dive bar with a great energy (at least the night we went). They have a calendar of events on the wall behind the bar. They have different kinds of music and different foods depending on the night. If I am in Encinitas and wanting a drink or non-pretentious environment, I would return.

This is a review of American Legion as a music venue only. It's small and is overwhelmingly loud…read morewith certain type of music. Like punk or death metal is pretty much a no go as I found out a few weeks ago. The acoustics just aren't right for reallyoud music. Or maybe I'm just an old fart. Drinks are cheap.and there is no cover. They also sometimes are serving one meal that you can purchase for about 10 bucks. When I was there it was Chines Chicken Salad which my friend said was quite tasty.

I do not recommend using Vetcomm to help you achieve your VA disability rating because they are…read moreOverpriced, Disorganized, Questionable business practices, and implement a toxic work culture. OVERPRICED: They will charge you $1497 for their "Advanced VA Disability Course (OTP)", $2100 (3 monthly payments), $2400 (6 monthly payments), $1795 (Other than honorable), and $600 for extensions (if you want to try a second round to increase your rating). What you are technically paying for is the online course/video; not them doing the work for you. If you want someone holding your hand (especially if you are elderly and technologically challenged) this is not the best option for you in my opinion. Also, this payment is due upfront. If you cannot afford it, they will pressure you to use Klarna, Afterpay, Paypal, Cashapp to get a short term loan from them to use for this product. These companies will run your credit and typically give you a decent rate if you have credit over 650 FICO. They do guarantee a moneyback guarantee if they cant get you a 10% increase if you go through their program unless you are already at 90% or trying to change your OTH (other than honorable) rating. In that case they will try 2-3 rounds and if they can't help, you lost your money. DISORGANIZED: One hand does not know what the other hand is doing. Its a very top heavy medium sized company where the CEO (Kate Monroe) rules with an Iron hand. The overall group is alot of nice folks (especially the few veterans they have employed there). You might luck out and get a sales person who actually cares for you, OR get someone who will just go through their script to find out how to sell you THAT DAY! They are under tremendous pressure to sell, sell, sell... Everything else comes second. Do not be surprised if you talk to someone who has never served, has no clue how to relate to a veteran but is constantly pushing you to sign up THAT DAY! QUESTIONABLE BUSINESS PRACTICES: Their whole business model is toting a narrow line between getting more sales while technically not breaking the law. They do this by selling you a product (online videos, etc) rather than services which only VSOs can do. Once you are signed up, they will schedule you with an appointment to help you set up zoom (going forward that is how you will communicate) and make sure you can login to the VA website. sometimes it can take up to a month for this first appointment which a lot of veterans find frustrating. Your second appointment (could be another month or two out) will be with a "claims expert" who will go over your conditions and see what you should file for. Your mileage may vary. I had one person who had no clue and another (Marcel) who was extremely knowledgeable. Unfortunately I do not think he is with Vetcomm anymore. VA themselves can take up to 3 months for the overall process but Vecomm could add an additional 2-3 months (per round) for the overall process due to all the waiting. The good news is that once you have filed your LOI (letter of Intent), the VA will back pay you for all the time you waited for your approval (up to 12 months). TOXIC WORK CULTURE: It is very stressful to work there. You are under constant pressure to make sales. The CEO does not care that most Veterans, especially who are older, retired, on SSI cannot afford to pay this huge sum upfront. So she constantly threatens the employees that they will lose their job if the team does not sell 100 veterans that day (Even on days like Christmas EVE). So, even though most of the staff who work there are genuinely nice people, they cannot give the veteran their best as they are under contact stress to sell, sell, sell... They train how to sell, how get someone to borrow from their family, friends to sign up VS actually listening to the veteran and see how they can help them. In conclusion, I think its a shame that this company who had a lot of potential to do really well for all veterans chooses the almighty dollar as their main objective. If you are decent at technology you can do the same thing yourself by watching some good youtube videos, using ChatGPT/AI to help you and save yourself tons of money. If you are not good at technology and need some hand holding, this might work for you if you don't mind paying upfront, are patient, but then again they don't really hold your hand during the process; you still need to do the work - they just advise you on what to say or not to say. Other options to consider are Attorney, VSO (i.e DAV, American Legion) who are pro-bono. Also look into VeteransAI who I heard as 96% success rate. Good luck on your journey and wish all of you success!

They say they want to charge you up front rather than after you get rated as it's more ethical that…read moreway. The truth is they want your money up front just in case you don't have a case they won't have to give you your money back. Me being ignorant to how things work I should have done more investigating. Truthfully you should just go with a company that charges on a contingency plan. If you don't have a case you won't be out any money.

Family holds children's hands for a while, and their hearts forever…read more You may have noticed some houses have small flags or banners with a blue star hanging in a front window. It doesn't matter if you're in America or anywhere in the world, the flags or banners are all the same --and they hang quietly, solemnly in home windows. Why? Well, when a family member joins the military, some military families choose to display a Blue Star Service banner or flag in a window of their home to signify a loved one or more than one is an Active Duty Service member in one of the six US Armed Forces. There are also Blue Star pins to wear. As a Blue Star family myself, I believe that the worst part of being a Blue Star Family is waiting for the Active Duty family member to come home; for family gives children roots to grow from and wings to fly with. It might even be said one pulls oneself together as a Blue Star Family member. During that waiting, I find that connecting with others is very important, just as important as my connections with my Veterans organizations. These social connections such as joining non-profits like here Blue Star Families, lowers my anxiety and depression, help me regulate my emotions, leads to higher self-esteem and empathy, boosts my mood, and actually improve my immune systems and overall health. I am happier. When I'm at Blue Star Families meetings and events I feel valued, seen, heard, supported, and that the companionship and interactions with others are mutually rewarding. The minute someone takes the oath to Serve in the US. military, both their life and their family's lives change forever. All the things they heard about and prepared for - the moves, deployments, the time apart - all become a reality and life is never the same again, not only for the Service members, it changes also for their family. This special flag, displayed only by military families, is where the phrase "Blue Star Family" comes from and refers to the family members of an Active Duty Service member. The Blue Star Family tradition is rich in history and dates back to World War I. Blue Star organizations help military families and raise awareness of Blue Star Families' sacrifices. November is National Veterans & Military Family Month. Find out who are the Blue Star Families in your neighborhood and offer to help out 'em. Family is spouse, parents, stepparents, foster parents, father-in-law, mother-in-law, children, stepchildren, foster children, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, great and grandparents, great and grandchildren, brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and those who consider an Active Duty Service member a part of their family. There are numerous non-profits that have "Blue Star Families" or "Blue Star" in their names, and they are located throughout America and the world. None are officially a part of the US government. Blue Star Mothers, another Blue Star non-profit, is chartered by the US Congress. https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RL30340.html https://www.facebook.com/BlueStarFamilies/ https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/800369895

I used Ree Medical about 3 years ago and had a very positive experience which ultimately led to an…read moreincrease from 30% to 100%. I cannot recommend them more.

I hired your company to assist with obtaining an increase in my VA rating. After my initial denial,…read moreI proceeded with an appeal, which was also denied. I was later provided with a second DBQ and completed all required steps, yet there was still no change in my rating. Throughout the process, there were noticeable delays and a lack of timely guidance, which impacted my confidence in the service being provided. Despite my full participation and compliance, the outcome did not reflect the level of support or expertise I expected. Over the years, I have invested approximately $9,000 into your services. Given the overall experience and final outcome, I feel that I am simply out of a significant amount of money without receiving a meaningful return on that investment.

Transitioned!! That's what it's all about! Change is good. Also... Constant. This service will make…read moreit easier!

Russell, Kathy, and the team at Veterans Transition Support, I humbly thank you all for your love…read moreand support! The loving and caring of giving back to all of us veterans! Your time, dedication, and support to fellow brothers and sisters in arms as well as spouses is the utmost, absolute most professional care I've known and received! You all have helped hundreds in getting and pursuing exciting careers allowing us to find jobs and provide for our families! Thank you all so much for giving back to those who gave all! Thank you for your service to our country and our veterans! I love and thank you guys for providing this goldmine of certifications for us!

I've been to a lot of gyms over the years, but nothing compares this one. Amy the owner is truly…read moreone of the most knowledgeable and caring professionals in the fitness industry--hands down. Even though the workouts are in a group setting, they're always thoughtfully tailored to your individual needs and fitness level. It's clear there's a deep understanding and intention behind every movement and program. Every trainer genuinely cares, not just about your performance, but about your quality of life and long-term progress in and out of the gym. You're not just another member--you're part of a community. The atmosphere is also incredibly welcoming, fun and supportive. The programming is consistently challenging and effective no matter your background or goals. It's everything you need in a gym--and so much more. Highly recommend!

I've been training at MVMNT for 6 months now, and the transformation has been incredible. When I…read morestarted, as a almost 50 year old male, sitting at 43% body fat, barely active, and honestly feeling lazy and unmotivated. Fast forward half a year, and I'm now working out 5 days a week, feeling stronger, more mobile, and full of energy. My mobility and movement have drastically improved, and I've gained lean muscle while losing body fat, I'm fitting into clothes that hadn't fit in years and feeling more confident in my everyday life. I'm stronger both physically and mentally. My cardio endurance, flexibility, and overall strength have all improved dramatically. I actually look forward to every workout. Amy (the head coach) is such an amazing coach and person who genuinely cares about your well-being. She meets you exactly where you are and helps you progress safely and effectively. Every class feels like a personal training session. She's fully aware of my mobility limitations, makes smart modifications, and teaches techniques that build a strong, lasting foundation. Her approach ensures that you're not only getting fitter but also moving better and preventing injury. All of the coaches here are fantastic, knowledgeable, motivating, and supportive. They create an environment where everyone can succeed, no matter their fitness level. I've been to nine gyms in the past five years, and this one is by far the best. The community here is uplifting, supportive, and motivating, everyone encourages each other to keep showing up and doing their best. My health was going downhill before I started here, and I wasn't looking forward to turning 50. Now, I'm excited for the future, for my health, and for how I'm thriving again. Six months strong -- and I plan to be here for many years to come.

All items have fresh quality ingredients. Great salads! I will be one of their regular customersread more

From the owner: I specialize in representing veterans as an accredited VSO with the VA. I assist in all matters…read morepertaining to veterans benefits and related matters. I offer legal consultation as well.

Fun place and good vibe Played a private party there and it…read morewas loads of fun Great parking, location and nice staff Highly recommend this Elks lodge

I cannot say enough wonderful things about the Encinitas elks lodge! I grew up going to the elks…read moreand I love that I can continue coming in as an adult! As a member, there are many advantages (member pricing and access to member only events), however they have many public events including Bingo Wednesday evenings, family dinners Thursdays, live music & dancing on Friday nights and various special events over the weekend. Sunday often consist of football and brunches during the day, and dancing with Marty's big band at night! The elks is also available for rentals and they do an amazing job, as the staff is personable and accommodating to all different types of people!