I always liked f Fiesta del Sol event when I lived in SD…read moreyears back and since I moved back 4 years ago I have been attending regularly. Always so alive, so many people of all ages enjoying this free 2 day event filled with concerts, shows, food, drinks, new thinks to try out and beautiful people. Oh, and the sunset at Fletcher Cove. I love Solana Beach and this festival, thanks to the organizers to have a civilized party town for a couple days.

A significant cut above the typical street fair, and my spidey sense (or really just common sense)…read moretells me that Belly Up's involvement is the reason why. The lineup was primarily a bunch of fun party bands playing popular music that everyone knows and (mostly) loves, especially the older crowd, which seemed to be a sizable chunk of the attendees. The location, sandwiched right between the 101 and Fletcher Cove beach is prime. The selection of vendors, food, and drink is vast. And the freebies were an especially nice touch -- in my first half hour there, I had already collected free tickets to shows at the Music Box and Belly Up and to the races at Del Mar. Not too shabby! Yes, the food is expensive and parking seemed to be insanely difficult. (One woman's friend was a last minute no-show after she couldn't find parking. Pro tip: The 101 bus drops you off right at the festival's doorstep, so take that or the virtually just as convenient Coaster.) But since the festival and all of the live music that comes with it are free, the other costs and hassles are still a pretty damn good trade off. I look forward to next year's edition.

This place was really cool and a lot bigger than I thought! Got to speak with the artist as well…read morefor insight.

I went for fashion week San Diego. That's where they hosted it this year. The shows were great. Too…read morebad Friday got a bit rained out. Saturday show was amazing but very small space for the show. It would have been great if the stage was a bit more raised. As for the gallery, it's a beautiful and Small gallery that gives you the opportunity to interact with the artist creating the artwork. It's worth walking along the short path which features sculptures among the plants and has a nice little out door venue area between all the art. Great little local place to check out if you have never been

I've been coming to this event every year since it started and it's my favorite event of the year…read more This year I went both days and had another wonderful time. The food, the vendors, the weather, the location, the libations, and the people who put it all together really make it special. Every year I have a favorite thing that I ate. The first year I had VIP so I won't count the fantastic things I ate in there, but outside it was probably Tanner's and all the Brandt beef. The second year was either an enoki mushroom taco or hamachi crudo. This year it was Matsu's yellowtail flown in from Japan the night before. I look forward to this event every year and every year has been a bit different but I never leave disappointed. Looking forward to 2026

The third annual Del Mar Wine + Food Festival was held last month at the Surf Sports Park on Via De…read moreLa Valle. The venue was the soccer practice fields of the local women's professional club, the San Diego Wave. Having also attended the previous versions, this year's Grand Tasting weekend was even larger with over 300 vendors and close to 10,000 attendees over the two days. I have volunteered each time to help with different aspects of the festival including some of the ancillary events earlier in the week. One of the benefits of setting up on these grounds was that there was plenty of open space. The walk to reach some of the displays was quite far, and I felt bad at how isolated those vendors were. The VIP tent was placed in the back unlike the inaugural year when it was closer to the main entrance. Another aspect that I appreciated was the nearby on-site parking. The charge was $20 per vehicle, but the proximity was worth the price. They may want to improve the dirt road leading to the lot as it was filled with potholes. An area of needed enhancement was a closer drop-off/pick-up zone for attendees using a ride share service. I witnessed many people being dropped off where the toll booths were located. That meant a walk of over half a mile to reach the festival entrance which was not a good situation for those who were nattily dressed for the occasion. Perhaps a dedicated section located near the vendor entrance on the west end of the fields would be a solution. Upon checking in, we each received a bracelet that permitted in-and-out privileges and a complimentary wine glass commemorating the event. There were several spots that had sofas, chairs, stools, high top tables, etc where you could relax and enjoy the food and beverages. I still think more seating and shade were needed given the amount of unused space that was available. A kiosk near the entrance displayed a map of the grounds with all of the participating vendors listed. The different zones were also shown on the map. What was missing was the identification of which vendors were in each zone. That linkage would have been useful to guide attendees of where to find their favorite businesses. More such kiosks would have been beneficial too. My observation was that the Saturday spread was better than the one on Sunday. The diversity of offerings was also not as impressive this time. For example, we noticed that there were minimal dessert samples offered. Other than Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, where were the sweet treats like cookies, donuts, and pastries? I was also looking for a greater variety of seafood items. I didn't find any vendors using lobster or scallop and yet, caviar was used by a couple of places. The Brandt Beef zone was popular as different meat cuts provided by the purveyor were utilized to showcase the creations of the restaurants. The weather cooperated nicely on each day. A strong breeze kicked up occasionally which made objects (e.g. business cards and pamphlets) that were not secured a risk of becoming a flying hazard at the booths. Several more health and wellness vendors participated including one where you could receive a complimentary stretching session. A live demonstration stage was also added where you could watch chefs show off their skills like carving up a bluefin tuna. Overall, the DMWFF was a nice outdoor exhibition of the local culinary scene that will continue to grow and improve.

Vibe: A Secret Time Machine in Our Backyard! If you think…read morehistory is just dusty books, you haven't been to the San Dieguito Heritage Museum yet! We spent the afternoon at Heritage Ranch, and it felt like we stepped right out of 2026 and back over 100 years into the past. Real-Life Time Machines: You can walk through the Teten Farm House from 1893. There were no iPads or Netflix back then--just cool old furniture and a lot of imagination. * The Tiny House: We checked out a worker's cabin from the old poinsettia and lima bean farms. It's smaller than most of our bedrooms today! * Artifact Scavenger Hunt: The museum is packed with real tools, photos, and treasures from the seven towns right around us (like Cardiff and Del Mar).

Encinitas is changing fast and it's cool to see a place that is preserving the history of the area…read more And wow what great and dedicated volunteers, very friendly and they love what they do. Lots of fun community events too. My favorite picture is in the main museum building, a group of cowboys on Hwy 101. I like how the property is set up in a timeline and some of the buildings were moved there to preserve, one from 1885! Definitely worth checking out.

I was looking for a gift shop with a little more authenticity than just having typical city-themed…read moremagnets and such, and the name "Art N Soul" seemed to be exactly what I wanted! I was sold after previewing a few of the photos on the website- handmade candles, trinket bowls made with CA sand, and beautiful jewelry. The shop had everything I had seen online and so much more! Friendly service, high-quality items, and a great variety. Beautiful vibes! And now that I've read more about their mission of supporting local artists and non-profits, I love them even more

I finally got to check this amazing store out...they have interesting hours...very Encinitas of…read morethem! They support local artists and really care about supporting the local art scene so when you walking down 101, make sure you stop in here! The owner, Cindy, is a fascinating, wonderful woman. It took me three tries to get to the store but when I got there and she was about to close, she stayed longer to make sure I could check out the entire store. They have everything from jewelry to photography to canvases and clothing. Anything you can think of, you should check it out! I really loved this place and would definitely bring my friends and families there!

The La Costa Film Festival Gala was the pinnacle of a fantastic day for me. I enjoyed Spin, yoga, a…read morebeach swim and even a haircut before receiving a coveted invitation at the eleventh hour. I got my second wind, rustled up some festive attire and joined a group of friends for a night filled with outstanding food and drink from some of the best restaurants in San Diego. The effervescent crowd was dressed to the hilt in summer couture. Crowds mingled while sipping wine and beer and sampling the best that San Diego's restaurants have to offer. Urban plates colorful vegetarian salad was finished with a delightful dressing. I also really enjoyed the squash ravioli from Vigilucci's and the shrimp empanadas from BlueFire grill. Omni San Diego is a spectacular venue, it is one of the premier resorts in the nation with a panoramic and breathtaking view. As twilight settled to darkness I jumped into my pumpkin chariot and did not stay for the movie screening. I was exhausted and filled with gratitude for life's pleasures and great friends.

A four-day film festival based at the beautiful Omni La Costa Resort in Carlsbad?? Yes yes yes -…read moresign me up for that! This festival is definitely the place to be. Showing over 50 films & holding world-class galas & after parties, the La Costa Film Festival is all-around amazing. The event is perfect for everyone - whether you are a movie lover, a local food & drink connoisseur, or just a fan of a little nightlife, the festival truly has it all. Opening Night's 'Sip & Savor' Gala is hands down the best way to kick off the weekend. A perfect excuse to dress up and get a little fancy, the Gala is held on the resort's Great Terrace overlooking the estate's sprawling green acres and beautiful Carlsbad landscape. Local food and drink are flowing, and a great live band plays all the hits as the summer sun slowly sets over a truly five-star event. *Tip* - keep your eyes peeled for the many films' stars and crew - so chic! The films themselves are of the highest caliber. One look at the film list, and it is immediately clear that this event handpicks it's selection to create a stellar all-encompassing program. Documentaries, dramas, love stories, foreign films, sports and action... Every category is here and in good form! With three venues showing films around-the-clock the entire weekend, you will be starry-eyed and basking in movie-euphoria by the end of every night! The festival is on until Sunday evening, so jump in & join the party :)

We stumbled upon this Farmstand when we were killing time before a performance at The Hive up the…read morehill on a Sunday afternoon. While we didn't buy anything because we were headed to a show and didn't want it to wilt in the hot car. We were pleased by the variety of offerings. Theodore favorite is rainbow chard and they had some for sale. The staff was friendly, it pay what you can with suggested prices and for those who can't afford veggies you can check out in a special line with staff assistance. I was delighted to discover this hidden gem and will be back to support them!

Our friends told us about this farm and we were honestly blown away. We were visiting North County…read moreand kept saying the whole time how much we wish we had a place exactly like this closer to us! The farm stand is absolutely adorable. I love the concept of making fresh food accessible to everyone and anyone. It's such a great mission. The highlight for us was the nature play area; my little one could have stayed there for hours. They've done a fantastic job creating an outdoor experience that's genuinely fun and engaging for kids of all ages. I also loved the "lead experiences" they host every hour. We joined the chicken feeding, which was a huge hit thanks to Daniel! We felt very safe throughout our visit, and the security team was incredibly helpful and a special thanks to Stephanie for that. We're already looking forward to our next trip back!

This review is for the 'Mother's Day Weekend Art, Garden & Studio Tour' which is hosted by the San…read moreDieguito Art Guild/Off Track Gallery. I hope this review helps someone who is thinking about doing the tour. My mom and I enjoyed a wonderful day out touring 8 home gardens in the Encinitas area (2026). (A couple of the homes were in Carlsbad and one was in Olivenheim, the remainder were in Encinitas). I purchased the tickets on-line prior to the tour and showed the e-mail at the first house stop, where we received a color printed booklet that would be our ticket for the remainder of the tour. The booklet had a description and photo of each house, along with ads for the artists. You also have the option to pick up your booklet at the Off Track Gallery in Encinitas. The drive between some houses was a couple of minutes, and as much as about 8 minutes for others. This is where your GPS comes in handy! You can follow the order suggested in the booklet. I had studied the map before arrival and slightly adjusted the order for our convenience. Curb parking was always easy. Many of the houses featured pools. Some had art studios. One had chickens and goats. Another had some garden art and a photo opportunity. Some had views to die for. All of them featured a variety of plants, trees, flowers, succulents, cacti, shrubs, along with art vendors selling their wares and a table of finger foods. The variety of art ranged from jewelry, paintings and ceramics to mosaics, photography and fabric arts. Prices started at about $10 and went up into the hundreds and everything in between. All the talented vendors were very friendly and welcoming, although we felt bad when we walked away without buying something. We also met a couple of the house owners who were interesting to talk to. The complimentary food included fruit, crackers and cheese, cookies, cake, chips, hummus, water, lemonade and more. It was lovely to graze the food and sit for a bit and enjoy the surroundings. The home gardens were open between 10am and 4pm. We started at 10am and finished about 3:15pm. This included one house that permitted us to also see the interior, which was a pleasant surprise. We also stopped at a local grocery store to use the restroom as only one home had an available restroom for use. I highly recommend this tour if you get a chance. It's a unique way to spend Mother's Day weekend and you may see parts of San Diego that you've never seen before. It was definitely an eye opener to 'How the other half live'! You do quite a bit of walking and 'in and out of the car', so by the end you're quite tired, but my 78 year old mom did it! Be sure to wear comfy shoes and sun protection. Some areas of the gardens do offer shade, but not all. The photos attached are from the 2026 tour. I understand the homes change each year. We hope to visit the Off Track Gallery at a later date as it was closed by the time we got there after the tour, but we could see wonderful creations through the window. Helpful?

What a fun art gallery to visit every now & then. The artists are all local folks and there are…read moreabout 100 of them. All of the workers are artists who volunteer their time. They are all very friendly & helpful. A wide variation of goodies here. Lots of different jewelry Watercolors,paintings, nice cards...Nice spot to find a gift. Located in the back of the Lumberyard mall in Encinitas.