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?

I love Off Track Gallery! Whenever I am looking for an original gift, I can always find something…read morehere. The gallery consists of a co-op of artists that rent space there to showcase their talent. They have everything from pictures to pottery and everything in between. I am big on buying from locals and supporting small business which is another reason that I like shopping here.

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!

Jackson Finn has wonderful art and is super fantastic to work with. Jackson helped us with a…read morepurchase of 2 custom sized abstract pieces on aluminum. We need to two pieces that could work together in our space and had specific needs on sizing. Jackson mocked up some options for us and made a great suggested pairing. Ordering and pick up was turn key and the pieces went into place today. We love them. Thanks Jackson! Great talent and professionalism.

My wife and I commissioned Jackson Finn to do a couple of oil paintings recently. The product we…read morereceived was more than we could have expected. The experience was wonderful and the personalized work that he did on our paintings made them extra special to us. We have multiple pieces of his work and recommend him if you have an eye for ocean art.

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 am so thrilled that Lux Art Institute exists in Encinitas! I say this, because I had no idea that…read moreit does exist. I've driven by a million times, and for some reason thought it was apartments. Yikes! It most certainly is not. It is a beautiful and well curated space that displays art by the current artist in residence. (I believe they stay two months at a time.) Today was my first visit and I didn't have time to see everything, so I will come back this weekend. What I did see was some extraordinary embroidery work. The people who work at the institute introduced themselves and approached me with inspiring information about the art when they saw me looking at it and heard that it was my first visit. I love this place! I agree with the other reviewer that it feels warm and inclusive and inviting. No attitude here. Can't wait to come back.

Cute good quality good price crystals store is a good vibe it's filled with hoho themed cute…read morejewelry too and clothes

I loved this store but a little feedback - when someone brings up the cards with the stones, they…read moreare wanting to take the cards home. That's why there are stacks of them next to the stone they are about.... Not only did I remind them that the cards went with my order, they still somehow didn't make it into my bag.

The Madison Gallery is amazing! Located in La Jolla area of San Diego. Known as one of the Top…read more500 Best Galleries Worldwide, and I wholeheartedly agree!! According to their website, the space is 10,000 square feet and features contemporary art (of emerging, mid-career and established artists). At the time of the visit (June 2016), significant other noticed a piece (also located in New York City in the Time Warner building)! Talk about a little bit of NYC in San Diego; makes us miss NYC a little less. Woot Woot! There are some other interesting pieces that "spoke" to significant other and I including a stairway that went to nowhere. Impressive collection. Great place to feel inspired and motivated! Link: - Current Exhibitions - http://www.madisongalleries.com/exhibitions-current/

Friendly staff, knowledgeable about art and artists. I have been in here a few times since they…read moreopened, but my first time reviewing. They carry modern to contemporary works. They also can get just about any world available work or artist representation you would need. If you are looking for a representative work for a wall in your La Jolla home, certainly check out the Madison Gallery. and or If you are looking for a late night spot to deck away during the cold.. certainly check out the Madison Gallery. There is no charge to look and be inspired.

Michael Seewald is beyond talented and meets you where you are at! He is a photographer, artist,…read moreenthusiast, teacher, mentor, and leader! The Michael Seewald Galleries = Legacy

This gallery is really great. Tasteful art. Knowledgable staff. I highly recommend. Check out the…read moremidnight Los Angeles panoramic by Nicholas MacConnell. Best view of LA I have seen.

This is a great gallery space. Over the years I have enjoyed dozens of varied shows here…read more I strongly recommend that you give it a try. The docents are helpful and the space is clean and well lit. The shows are well thought out and entriguing.

I love Cannon Art Gallery and wish it showed more than two exhibitions in a year…read more That said, the two they had in 2024 were very cool. The first, curated by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, featured wonderful and intimate photographs of many rock and roll and blues legends, by Baron Wolman, Rolling Stone magazine's first chief photographer. Some I'd seen before, and many I was seeing for the first time. The second exhibition focused on fiber arts, and it was really interesting, surprising and inspiring. Artists interpreted "fiber" in many different ways and their creations were terrific. My favorite was a kimono made from tea bags. Mounting an exhibition takes a lot of work, and the caliber of shows at this gallery is excellent. And, the price of admission is zero. The next exhibition at this special venue is scheduled to open in February 2025. I don't know what it will be, but I will definitely be checking it out!