— A Carlsbad man has been arrested and charged for Indecent Exposure and Stalking was following a female walking down the street just after 8:30 Friday morning police say they learned that Rasul had exposed himself to another woman earlier that morning near Laguna Drive and State Street and he was booked into the Vista Detention facility This case remains under active investigation, and the Carlsbad Police Department urges anyone who may have additional information related to this case or who may have been a victim of similar behavior this morning to contact Detective Casey Burns at 760-607-9207 or casey.burns@carlsbadca.gov. Texas (KFOX14) — An earthquake was felt across the Borderland Saturday evening A 5.3 earthquake was reported 50 miles near Carlsbad around 7:47 p.m. Carlsbad is a coastal gem that offers a delightful blend of family-friendly attractions Whether you’re seeking budget-friendly accommodations or luxurious resorts par-3 course suitable for all skill levels Carlsbad’s beaches are perfect for surfing For those who prefer land-based adventures the city offers numerous hiking trails that pass through scenic lagoons and nature preserves providing opportunities for birdwatching and wildlife photography A must-visit for families, LEGOLAND California Resort features interactive rides, themed lands, and the adjacent SEA LIFE Aquarium The resort also offers themed accommodations at its on-site hotels making it a convenient and fun-filled destination for visitors of all ages From March through May, the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch transform into a vibrant tapestry of giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers Carlsbad’s dining scene is as diverse as it is delicious. Notable establishments include Jeune et Jolie, a French-inspired bistro known for its seasonal dishes and intimate atmosphere. Wildland is an all-day restaurant that celebrates local ingredients and sustainable practices. ​Lilo opened in April 2025; this 22-seat tasting menu restaurant offers a dining experience featuring dishes such as dry-aged Japanese kinmedai and 40-day-aged ribeye Whether teeing off at world-class golf courses, exploring vibrant floral displays, or indulging in exquisite cuisine, Carlsbad offers a memorable experience for every traveler. Its blend of beauty, family-friendly attractions, and culinary excellence makes it a top destination on California’s coast. Learn more at visitcarlsbad.com and website in this browser for the next time I comment HVS Brokerage & Advisory presents an exclusive opportunity to acquire the Post Time Inn The property's strategic location along Hobbs Highway/U.S Highway 62 ensures easy accessibility to Hobbs and Lea County This opportunity is particularly attractive considering the potential to associate the hotel with a leading franchise in line with the local market's demand trends The Post Time Inn has undergone widespread renovations The property has been meticulously maintained The motel's average room revenue exceeded $790,000 in 2023 and 2024 the hotel's average daily rate (ADR) stands at $73.95 significantly contributing to the overall revenue growth Managed by a third party (Lark Hospitality) the property offers an opportunity for a more active owner/operator to implement improvements The hotel registered an average gross operating profit (GOP) level of 34.4% in 2022 and 2023 the GOP margin could reach the 45.0% mark observed in similar independent or boutique hotels New Mexico's comparatively lower property taxes also add to the property's appeal the property's average annual tax has been around $1,600 ($40 per room) Priced at $74,000 per key based on the $2,950,000 pricing guidance considering that building a similar hotel with equivalent amenities would require a minimum investment of $90,000 to $100,000 per key Situated in the heart of the top oil-producing region in the United States the property benefits from the robust local oil and gas industry West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil prices have consistently hovered between $70 and $80 per barrel The Post Time Inn benefits from diverse demand sources including potential group business from energy companies The motel's location is close to several popular attractions such as the Carlsbad Caverns National Park Carlsbad Caverns alone attracts 400,000 to 500,000 visitors annually Inquire at HVS Click here to join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest hotel news and trends Copyright © Hotel News Resource & Nevistas | All rights reserved An official website of the United States government Open Search  Mobile Menu Quarterly cave search and rescue trainings paid off during two fast and successful cave rescues at Bureau of Land Management (BLM) caves in the Carlsbad area in March The Carlsbad area has the highest density of cave and karst in the world, and it is a mecca for recreational cavers, so incidents are inevitable, said Tom Evans, a geologist in the BLM’s Carlsbad Field Office (CFO) who has trained for cave rescues for 20 years and participated in both rescues They are rare events, however, and Evans had never participated in an actual rescue until the night of March 11-12 at the BLM’s Wind-Hicks Cave and the rescue took about an hour and a half from cave entry to completion Evans entered the cave and assisted local firefighters Thinking it would be a long time, if ever, before he participated in another cave rescue, fate proved Evans wrong when he received another call for an injured caver at the BLM’s Parks Ranch Cave on March 21 and a helicopter was necessary to fly the caver to a hospital in Texas It took about four hours from cave entry to completion They also highlighted the importance of the quarterly training of the area’s interagency cave search and rescue team the City of Carlsbad and Eddy County fire departments Forest Service and Carlsbad Caverns National Park Evans said he cannot understate how much it helped that everyone knew each other and had already worked together while training While rescuers found the caving party in the first rescue easily because the caller pinpointed where they were called authorities when the caver didn’t call by a certain time and although the cave register showed the caver had entered the cave includes more than four miles of passage and at least 20 entrances The caver could have been anywhere within the cave and might have even entered one of the hundreds of other caves in the area Evans sent six teams to points underground and a seventh to search a trench line that the caver had a high probability of coming out on if the caver had exited the cave That’s where a team of three City of Carlsbad firefighters found the caver The caver had exited the cave but tried to climb out of a large pit and became injured “This was a management nightmare [due to the layout of Parks Ranch Cave] and it turned out to be very easy,” Evans said “The only reason it was accomplishable was because we already had relationships with these groups It would not have been possible without those existing relationships.” about 15 firefighters from the City of Carlsbad and Eddy County Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Texas Search and Rescue a natural resource specialist for cave and karst in the BLM CFO an outdoor recreation planner for caves in the BLM CFO an environmental protection assistant in the BLM CFO were team leaders and went in the cave to search and he appreciates the respect the professional firefighters showed them during both rescues The Carlsbad-area cave search and rescue team plans to train again in May and they will have a renewed sense of purpose “It is just a matter of time before someone gets hurt again and it is important for all the agencies here to be prepared for that eventuality,” Evans said An official website of the Department of the Interior The Carlsbad Village Street Faire features over 750 unique vendors with a little of everything: arts & crafts and an old-fashioned pancake breakfast guarantee that you’ll find fun for the whole family Parking for this very popular event is limited so visitors are encouraged to use the complimentary shuttles that run to and from the faire every 15 minutes The shuttle pick-up locations are at the northwest corner of Sears at Shoppes at Carlsbad Plaza Camino Real (Highway 78 and Jefferson) as well as at the Poinsettia Coaster Station (Poinsettia exit off of I-5) There will be limited amount of handicap parking throughout the event Visit: Carlsbad Spring Village Faire Many know and love California for its ideal summer temperatures, vast topography and unique culture. As a newer resident of Arizona, I have only just begun to explore our neighbor to the west, and I am already taken aback by the beauty this state possesses. On my most recent trip, I had the pleasure of experiencing a city about an hour from Orange County the first thing that may come to your mind is the small coastal community vibes of Carlsbad Village a strip of charming beach and retail shops all mere steps from the five-mile beach.  During my stay, I was accommodated by the lovely Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach which is conveniently situated a few blocks from the beach and a quick drive to Carlsbad Village offers views of the Pacific Ocean and is the perfect spot for a cocktail and bite while basking in the beauty of the coast.  ICONIC Recommends: If your sweet tooth strikes YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: A MOMENT OF ZEN: CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ AT L’AUBERGE DEL MAR The next morning, my sister and I woke with excitement for the day we had ahead of us. In just a few short hours, we would be entirely surrounded by miles of wistful wildflowers at The Flower Fields in Carlsbad The breathtaking sight can be compared to the ICONIC opening scene of the blockbuster film Wicked when the children are seen running through an endless field of technicolor flora.   We spent the majority of our day biking through the darling neighborhoods of Carlsbad We returned to our room and got ready for our magical evening ahead After a short 10-minute Uber ride from the hotel to the fields The immediate fragrance of the flowers gave me a warm welcome Fresh aromas mixed with a rainbow of flowers lined in fields as far as the eye could see; it was nothing short of breathtaking.  We attended a welcome cocktail hour with a charcuterie spread, live music and craft cocktails. We were encouraged to explore the other attraction they have at The Flower Field: The Butterfly Exhibit, which is a must-do when you visit the vibrancy of their wings captivating your attention It was serene to be a calm observer of their beauty.  For those who want a more exciting interaction with these majestic creatures you are given a sugar swab that can be used to attract the butterflies; once they are on your swab you can gently place the butterflies on you where it stayed for a couple minutes before flying back with its butterfly companions.  YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: SIX OF THE BEST INTERNATIONAL CITY GARDENS WHERE YOU CAN ESCAPE  we were escorted to the heart of the flower fields where a chef-prepared meal was made for us The amber rose hue of the sun setting kissed the floral fields enhancing their saturation and making you feel as if you’ve been transported to a place where joy engulfs you It was a setting where the beauty could make any worry or stressor of outside life melt away transitioning your focus solely to the beauty of this fantastic planet.  Flowers often serve as a reminder to be present their fleeting beauty reminding us that there are no guarantees in life only the guarantee of the moment being lived right now Being surrounded by millions of flowers reminded me of that strengthened connections with familiar faces and forged connections with new friends.  The Flower Fields in Carlsbad are nothing short of blissful and sublime It was truly a life-changing experience.  Since the Carlsbad Village Clean-Up program began volunteers have collected an incredible 3,475.02 pounds of trash from our streets It’s a testament to the power of community we’re aiming for our next goal: 4,000 pounds meeting outside Pure Project Carlsbad (2825 State Street) Volunteers are welcome to bring their own tools to help reduce waste every participant will receive a free scoop from Handel’s Ice Cream And don’t forget: every clean-up brings you one step closer to winning our year-end Trash Champion Contest The volunteer or volunteer team who collects the most trash in 2025 will win six months of free trash service from Republic Services You could be our community’s top trash hero Whether it’s your first clean-up or your fifth Let’s keep Carlsbad Village beautiful together Join our mailing list and be the first to know about Carlsbad Village news and events Subscribe © 2025 Carlsbad Village Association We’re beyond excited to share that Taste of Carlsbad Village: Brunch Edition is officially SOLD OUT This marks the debut of our first-ever brunch-themed tasting event From mimosas and espresso martinis to breakfast bites and sweet treats this self-guided culinary stroll through the Village is shaping up to be something truly special To everyone who purchased a ticket - thank you for supporting local and helping us bring fresh We also want to give a huge shoutout to our participating restaurants and sip stop hosts who are going above and beyond to bring the brunch vibes to life If you didn’t snag a ticket, don’t give up hope just yet… there just might be a giveaway coming soon! Make sure to follow us on Instagram at @carlsbadvillage for your chance to join in the fun There’s something special happening on Oak Avenue Little Victory Wine Bar and Always Hungry Grocery & Goods have opened their doors at 505 Oak Avenue in Carlsbad Village and they’re already making the block a whole lot tastier Little Victory Wine Bar is all about natural wines served in a relaxed From the team behind Little Victory Wine Market in Encinitas this new wine bar offers a rotating list of wines made with minimal intervention plus a selection of small plates like cheeses and built for easy evenings and good conversations Always Hungry Grocery & Goods is a charming neighborhood market stocked with organic produce so you can swing by for something quick and delicious Everything on the shelves is thoughtfully sourced with an emphasis on local makers and small-batch finds Little Victory Wine Bar and Always Hungry Grocery & Goods are bringing something fresh to Carlsbad Village - great wine and get to know your new favorite neighbors Taste of Carlsbad Village is a fan-favorite every fall we’re giving brunch lovers something to look forward to Introducing the Taste of Carlsbad Village: Brunch Edition on Saturday Get ready to explore the Village’s top coffee houses many of which are unable to participate in our evening event you’ll embark on a self-guided culinary adventure through downtown Carlsbad meeting the passionate chefs and owners behind your favorite eateries Live music along the way will add to the vibrant atmosphere making this a must-attend experience for food lovers and brunch enthusiasts alike Tickets will be $50 per person (there is only one all inclusive ticket type available) and it will include all food and drink samples, including alcohol and non-alcohol beverages. Follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss a beat Don’t miss this exciting new way to experience Carlsbad Village downtown Carlsbad will come alive as the Carlsbad Village Street Faire returns for a full day of shopping visitors from across the region will gather to enjoy one of the largest one-day street festivals in the country and unique gifts from local artisans and small businesses The event provides a great opportunity to support local creators and discover one-of-a-kind treasures Families will find plenty of fun with children’s rides and games while adults can relax in the beer garden and enjoy live music from local performers throughout the day To ensure a safe and accessible environment several downtown roads will be closed from approximately 4:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Sunday so attendees are strongly encouraged to use the free shuttle service running every 20–30 minutes between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM Shuttles will depart from The Shoppes at Carlsbad (2525 El Camino Real) and the Poinsettia Coaster Station (6511 Avenida Encinas) Cyclists can also take advantage of a free bike valet located at 2965 Roosevelt Street provided by the San Diego County Bike Coalition Admission to the Carlsbad Village Street Faire is free and open to all this community favorite offers something for everyone For more event details, visit carlsbad.org/carlsbad-village-street-faire The Carlsbad City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to expand the city's illegal camping ordinance to include people sleeping in their cars The city has seen an uptick in the number of unsheltered people living in their cars that number nearly doubled from 29 to 56 in one year The number for the 2025 count is not yet available “We have seen an increase in families living in their vehicles,” Carlsbad police Chief Christie Calderwood told the Council on Tuesday night we've specifically been increasing the usage specific to families that are either homeless on the streets or homeless living in their vehicles." and expanding the ordinance to cover cars is another tool police use to help people get into permanent housing The ordinance requires officers to give warnings and offer services and shelter before issuing a citation “Our main goal is to end unlawful behavior and connect people to available services and resources," Calderwood said officers may elect to use warnings to interrupt unlawful behavior and make referrals to those social workers.” At least one resident at the meeting opposed the idea said she knows some students whose families live in their cars "In talking to people who are unsheltered that a lot of them do reside in their vehicles because they cannot find a home .. that they don't really have an alternative," she said "So I think it very important that the city — and I believe Oceanside did this already — provide However, Carlsbad's director of Housing and Homelessness Services said many residents reject the idea of a safe sleeping site and that a majority want to expand the illegal camping ordinance to include people sleeping in cars "People expressed the need for enforcement tools to uphold public safety when discussing restrictions on overnight parking in particular locations," she said "The predominant sentiment was that that did not offer a long-term solution to the problem and could only cause displacement to other areas." “The ban in and of itself does not solve homelessness What solves homelessness is housing and resources to help people access that housing," Interfaith's CEO Greg Anglea said "Carlsbad is working with Interfaith and other providers to provide those resources as a part of their effort to also put in place new rules.” He noted that people who live in their cars are those who have recently become homeless because of job loss or injuries that prevented them from working and those camping in Carlsbad are either residents or have deep ties to the city The amendment will go back to the city council in two weeks for a second reading The Carlsbad 5000 is back on Sunday bringing thousands of participants to one of the most scenic and exciting races in the world this legendary event features a breathtaking oceanfront course and a lively post-race celebration in Carlsbad Village Whether you’re a competitive runner chasing a personal best a weekend jogger looking for a fun challenge the Carlsbad 5000 is an unforgettable experience Participants can choose from multiple race options and a well-earned beer from Pizza Port Brewing Co Every registered runner receives a race shirt and a chance to be part of Carlsbad’s most exciting race-day tradition Registration is open now, and spots fill up fast! Don’t miss your chance to be part of this incredible event. Sign up today at Carlsbad5000.com and get ready to run along the coast St. Patrick’s Day falls on Monday, March 17, but the Village is kicking off the celebration early! From Friday, March 14 through the holiday itself, there’s no shortage of live music, drink specials, and festive fun all weekend long. You can find all of these great restaurants and others listed on our Dining page The weekend kicks off with live music at American Heroes & Brew and Coyote Bar & Grill will have bagpipers to add to the atmosphere Witch Creek Winery is hosting a special Sunday event complete with three bands Meanwhile, Dini’s Bistro is serving up Irish-inspired dishes and drinks and Pure Project is offering $5 pints of their dry stout and pub ale enjoy festive food and drinks at Hennessey’s Tavern and Dini’s Bistro where you’ll find classic Irish dishes like corned beef and cabbage Le Papagayo is serving up Guinness beef stew along with green beer and Irish Car Bombs. Crackheads will also have specials on Guinness and Jameson For those in the mood for live music, Coyote Bar & Grill will be hosting a fun performance and American Heroes & Brew will keep the celebration going all day long while Pure Taco offers $5 beers (green if you like!). Señor Grubby’s is also offering select $5 pints to keep the good times rolling Carlsbad Village has something for everyone this St Grab your green and join in the fun!  Taste of Carlsbad Village is a local favorite every fall, but this spring we’re bringing brunch into the spotlight! On Saturday, May 17th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., experience Carlsbad Village in a whole new way with the first-ever Taste of Carlsbad Village: Brunch Edition This brand-new event will feature some of the best coffee houses many of which aren’t able to participate in the evening event • Brunch cocktails and fresh morning sips you’ll set off on a self-guided tasting tour through downtown Carlsbad meeting the chefs and small business owners behind your favorite brunch bites making this a perfect way to spend a spring Saturday in the Village It is everything our years of fun at the fall Taste of Carlsbad Village has given us but with a delicious brunchtime menu just right for the season Stay tuned for more details and to learn when tickets go on sale in April. Tickets are limited, and if history is any indicator, they’ll sell out fast. Follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know when they become available Are you a Village restaurant or retail business interested in participating? If you’re located in Carlsbad Village and want to be part of this exciting event, contact Chanel at chanel@carlsbad-village.com for more information We can’t wait to brunch with you in the Village at the Dea Hurston New Village Arts Center for this month’s Village Voices meeting and an inspiring guest speaker you won’t want to miss We’ll kick off at 8:00 AM with coffee and networking giving you the perfect opportunity to meet fellow business owners and community leaders in a relaxed and engaging setting you’ll have plenty of time to connect and expand your local network offering a brief overview of upcoming events We’ll also introduce our newest members and highlight the latest businesses joining our community we’ll transition to our guest speaker portion starting with an introduction to our featured speaker from wildlife journalist and UN campaign coordinator to entrepreneur has shaped her unique approach to business all-natural gelato made with passion and tradition As GelatoLove celebrates its 10-year anniversary on May 22 Paola will share her experiences and insights into growing her business and staying true to the values that have made GelatoLove a beloved part of Carlsbad we’ll hold a door prize giveaway featuring Carlsbad Farmers Market Money and a Village-branded tote bag We can’t wait to see you on May 13th for a morning of inspiration Village Voices is where Carlsbad Village comes together to connect For details about future Village Voices meetings, click here Hard to overstate it—restaurateur John Resnick and chef Eric Bost have changed the face of North County’s food culture. Wasn’t easy.But in a few weeks National news kind of thing.Let’s back up a bit for context 2020 was a fairly terrible year for Bost (and everyone) He’d spent 20 years working his way through some of the world’s best kitchens—Le Cirque The big gig was when he was named executive chef for Guy Savoy opening the famed French chef’s elaborate Vegas restaurant and then overseeing his places in Singapore he was ready to do his own thing; he came back to SoCal and spent two years developing the idea—and finally opened his unpretentious tasting-menu restaurant Auburn on Melrose in LA in 2019 less formal version of the food Bost’s team was creating across the street Now, it’s time for Lilo It will retain the same type of narrative both men have tried to weave between all of the restaurants but at an even higher level of execution and attention to detail “Sometimes we kind of talk about our restaurants like they’re all different perspectives on the same thing,” says Resnick is connecting with guests through intentional design Lilo is an opportunity to give guests [a chance] to taste his creations through a new lens “Jeune is like a modern bistro—the starting point is France but it’s really through the lens of Southern California,” he explains from a cooking style perspective [with] West Coast flavors Wildland is much more Mediterranean as an aspect all these restaurants feel Californian—farm Bost says Lilo’s base will be Californian—plenty of local ingredients and seasonal bounty with a deep emphasis on coastal flair—along with inspiration from other places he feels are “kindred spirits” from around the world Lilo’s immersive chef’s counter format will run through 10 to 12 courses over a 2.5-hour span “People are giving us a big chunk of their time,” he says “We just want to make sure that people can kind of stay on the edge of their seats and really be engaged… fully Bost says one course he’s particularly excited to debut is a spot prawn dish at the beginning of the tasting menu “We’ve taken the spot prawns—they’re just killed, so served like, almost completely raw,” he explains, with a sauce made of sea buckthorn, gooseberry, lime leaves from Girl & Dug served with ice plants in a cold bowl to make the heat from the chile pop Bost says that the interplay between the spot prawn’s oceanic umami with the acidity and heat makes it a good representation of the direction he’s going for—seasonal Other dishes on the initial menu include a canapé with grilled peas and topped with caviar; roasted California squab with burnt vanilla oil preserved green juniper berries and a juniper au jus Wine director Savannah Riedler (Saison) and beverage director Andrew Cordero (Jeune et Jolie, Campfire, Wildland) will match what’s on the plate in the glass. Guests will be able to choose between several pairing options: one alcoholic, with wine, sake, beer, and spirits. Second is a non-alcoholic option created in tandem with the bar and culinary team both Resnick and Bost describe a sense of bittersweet finality “It’s the end of a four year journey,” Resnick says and they’re both ready to begin Lilo’s story.  Lilo opens at 2571 Roosevelt Street in Carlsbad on Thursday, April 17. Reservations are now available through OpenTable Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to [email protected] Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine By clicking subscribe you're confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions Email: [email protected] By clicking Subscribe you’re confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions Email: [email protected] © Copyright 2023 San Diego Magazine 1230 Columbia Street Climate change and the parks National Parks in Crisis Carlsbad Caverns National Parks / Rebecca Latson I’m taking a break from the continuing series of photography along Yellowstone’s Grand Loop Road to discuss photography of a subterranean nature How many of you have ever visited Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico As I marveled at the highly-ornamented speleothems (cave formations) Carlsbad Caverns may not be the largest or longest cave in the National Park System but it certainly is the most accessible cave in which to see a wide range of naturally-baroque ornamentation created from the precipitation of calcite out of water The trail through the natural entrance and down into and through the cavern Carlsbad Caverns National Park / Rebecca Latson Carlsbad Caverns is unique among cave-centric parks in that you can explore a 2.5-mile portion of this cavern on your own You don’t have to keep up with a guide who - while admittedly imparting fascinating information about the cave - is still maintaining a relatively quick pace on a tight schedule This self-guided tour conveniently allows me to take my time observing the cavern and its features while experimenting with different compositions and settings here’s a quick primer of formations you will encounter while hiking the self-guided trail Stalactites form when water containing dissolved minerals leaving behind deposits as the water evaporates drips onto the cave floor and deposits the minerals as the water evaporates creating a rounded or cone-shaped structure growing upwards from the ground Stalagmites and stalactites are often confusing to separate Which one hangs from the ceiling and which one pokes up from the ground the “g” in stalagmite stands for “ground,” and the “c” in stalactite stands for “ceiling.” Flowstone refers to sheets of calcium carbonate developing along cave walls or over stalagmites Flowstone hangs downward and may create rippling or curvy curtain-like sheaves known as draperies Whale’s Mouth on the trail down from the cavern’s natural entrance is a fine example of cave drapery Whale's Mouth is an excellent example of flowstone and drapery Soda Straws are the earliest growth phase of stalactites These extremely delicate “straws” are equal in diameter to the water drops conducted along their length The Doll’s Theater near the end of the Big Room trail is a large collection of soda straws The Doll's Theater is an excellent example of soda straws and some thin columns Columns occur when stalactites and stalagmites fuse together Popcorn are small knobs of calcite created when calcium carbonate-rich water flows over a bumpy surface The cave features known as “lion tails” are stalactites tipped with cave popcorn Popcorn at the tips of these stalactites give the speleothems their name of "Lion Tails," Carlsbad Caverns National Park / Rebecca Latson All these speleothems developed over thousands of years Think how many centuries it took to create the huge stalagmites covered in flowstone and drapery like the formations known as Rock of Ages (aka “Old Man”) or the Temple Of The Sun Can you imagine the thoulsands of years it took for the Rock of Ages speleothem to form Cave photography is low-light photography. If you’ve read my Traveler article about cave photography and SLR cameras in my attempts to photograph the amazing speleothems found within caves of the National Park System Think of this article as an addendum imparting even more information learned during the self-guided tours I took on three separate days while visiting this national park There might be the odd old NPS page for this park out there on the internet indicating the permitted use of tripods in Carlsbad Cavern tripods/bipods/monopods are absolutely NOT allowed You’ll read this in the park’s cave tour descriptions and on signs near the visitor center’s ticket counter all the shots in this article are hand held I’d be using a small aperture and ISO and a much much longer shutter speed because the camera would be stationary These were the settings for my shots regardless whether I used flash or ambient lighting within the cavern Note: the term “ambient light” is the general lighting within a space provided by natural or artificial sources it’s the park’s artificial lights along the trail as well as focused on various speleothems Using a slow shutter speed while handholding your camera with a wide aperture and a high ISO can be a recipe for a blurred composition I applied the “burst method” of pressing down the shutter button for several “clicks.” Out of those multiple shots I was guaranteed at least one relatively clear so bring spare cards – and spare camera/flash batteries if you choose to use this method The park allows flash on your cameras during your self-guided tour with the proviso to be courteous of other visitors A flash pointed directly at the subject – especially if there are people facing the camera - can be a total annoyance to those around you flash pointed straight ahead doesn’t necessarily capture shadowed distances very well and it usually blows out (overexposes) those features nearest you What I did discover after experimentation (no people were blinded during my tours) was that use of a bounce flash worked best Bounce flash means pointing your hot shoe-mounted flash head at an angle to or straight up toward the ceiling The light bounces from the ceiling or walls illuminating the subject area with a softer sometimes the resulting image still required massaging during editing And this brings me to the subject of editing If you only intend to use your photographs on your smartphone or as small images on a web page if you intend to use larger versions of your images on a website then a little (or a lot) of editing is required to bring out the scene and remove noise (grain) inherent with low-light photography I don’t intend to get into the weeds about this but I will suggest things here and there throughout the article Ambient light on these large stalagmites gives them a more mysterious look Whether you choose to use a flash as opposed to just  the ambient cave lighting is a matter of preference as well as what you wish to achieve I found the ambient lights imparted a sense of artful mystery and wonder to the cave features Flash reveals more detail and eliminates shadowing Flash performed a better job reaching out into the nether portions of the composition while simultaneously removing shadows and highlighting all the distinct details of a speleothem I also noticed much less noise in those flash images Using flash along with the cavern's ambient lighting will often create a more saturated yellow light to the composition requiring some specific color desaturation The cave’s artificial lights are cool white or warm yellow my ambient light shots were true to light color I noticed a saturated yellow or orange shade to my images It’s all about the white balance and the use of multiple light sources (flash + ambient lighting) If you keep your setting on Auto White Balance (which I usually do) your camera will struggle to compensate in terms of light color and strength Sometimes I left it alone because I liked the results and sometimes I worked with desaturating the yellow in the photo For those images I really liked but was unable to tone down that saturated yellow color Original color image of cave speleothems along the self-guided tour The above image converted to black-and-white which you will see quite often with low-light shots Noise consists of gritty little pixels colored pink They really do look like sand grains on your image and Topaz DeNoise reduces and may even eliminate that grain The key to success is judicious application Too much noise reduction and everything looks plastic An extreme example of noise in a cave image While this sounds like an awesome name for a music group hot pixels (aka sparkles) are really defects in digital camera sensors that appear as pin pricks of bright yellow and are most noticeable on the dark or shadowed portions of a photo This often occurs when using a longer exposure time and/or higher ISO Your photo editor’s spot healing tool will remove those tiny little dots of light but it can be a time-consuming process depending upon the number of “sparkles” you have My iPhone 16 did a decent job of capturing the scene resulting in very little to no editing although there is not as much detail included as in photos captured with my SLRs This surprised me since my iPhone shots in Wind Cave and Jewel Cave did not turn out even half as well A smartphone sensor is teeny compared to an SLR sensor and if you look closely at an enlarged shot on your desktop or laptop if you only look at these photos on your smartphone even when you expand the shot for a slightly closer look Smartphones tend to have a much better bead on automatically determining light color and intensity Turning off my iPhone’s flash and 3-second interval icons also improved my low light scenes Capture More Than Just Specific Speleothems As you photograph within the main Carlsbad Cavern make sure to capture not only specific speleothems but also larger areas (admittedly more difficult to edit) as well as parts of the trail Why parts of the trail with maybe people included Get those switchbacks leading you down to the Big Room They make nice leading lines taking your viewer’s eye from Point A to Point B in a composition The paved trail down from the natural entrance toward the Big Room but listening to the park's sounds is as much a park experience as seeing Stand still for a moment and you might hear the occasional drip of water How can you experience this if there are crowds of people on the trail If you thought of Carlsbad Caverns as nothing more than just a big hole in the ground maybe seeing these photos will entice you to take your camera and visit this national park for yourself and apply a little thought to your composition to get the most out of your low-light cave photography Carlsbad Cavern is more than just a hole in the ground Support Essential Coverage of Essential Places A copy of National Parks Traveler's financial statements may be obtained by sending a stamped self-addressed envelope to: National Parks Traveler National Parks Traveler was formed in the state of Utah for the purpose of informing and educating about national parks and protected areas Residents of the following states may obtain a copy of our financial and additional information as stated below: National Parks Traveler is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer National Parks Traveler is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit media organization the Carlsbad Village Association (CVA) invites you to take part in a month full of community or indulging in a delicious Village brunch experience The month kicks off with the Carlsbad Village Community Clean-Up on Saturday Volunteers are invited to meet at Pure Project Carlsbad at 9:30 AM to help keep our beautiful Village streets clean and vibrant it’s an easy and impactful way to start your weekend and contribute to CVA’s goal of removing more than 4,000 pounds of litter this year A few days later, on Tuesday, May 13, the community comes together again for Village Voices CVA’s bi-monthly networking and information-sharing meeting Held at the Dea Hurston New Village Arts Center and casual networking from 8:00 to 8:45 AM followed by a program highlighting important updates and opportunities in the Village from 8:45 AM to 9:30 AM and residents who want to stay connected and involved May is a great time to connect with your community and experience the energy of Carlsbad Village For full event details, tickets, and more, visit carlsbad-village.com/events join the City of Carlsbad and the artist team Greenmeme for a community meet-and-greet at the Carlsbad Village Association office (2695 State Street) a collaboration between artists Freyja Bardell and Brian Howe has been selected to create the city’s first permanent public art installation beneath a freeway underpass This event offers a unique opportunity to engage with the artists and share your thoughts on what makes Carlsbad special Your input will play a crucial role in shaping the artistic vision for the Chestnut Avenue underpass which serves as a vital link between the Barrio community and surrounding neighborhoods.  Greenmeme will also be hosting two additional meet-and-greet opportunities on Saturday you can share your ideas by emailing arts@carlsbadca.gov Greenmeme will continue to develop the concept in the coming months with an update expected to be presented to the Arts Commission this summer Learn more about Greenmeme’s work and their approach to public art at their official website: greenmeme.com Don’t miss this chance to contribute to a project that will enhance Carlsbad’s cultural landscape and foster a deeper connection within the community Potenza and Simpson opened Little Victory Wine Market in Encinitas in 2022 with the intent of expanding access to and education around natural wines But it was always their goal to grow from retail to a restaurant-slash-wine-bar modeled after European caves à manger—basically wine shops where you can also grab a bite to eat or try some of the wines onsite “They’re kind of places of wine education,” Simpson explains seasonal plates of food designed to pair with different wines but you can also just grab a bottle and go if you prefer But they’ve also brought some friends along to push it to the next level tapping chefs Kelly and Elliott Townsend to head the food program Simpson says that he and Potenza knew of the Townsends “we discovered we hit it off in all the right ways in terms of the style of food,” he explains Both duos find inspiration in European design and culinary tradition as well as a dedication to local and seasonal cooking without pretension Once they realized they shared a vision of creating a space of “informal excellence,” he says and seasonal mushrooms; and classic nibbles like cheese plates and tinned fish which Simpson is particularly excited about “All the tinned fish is going to be tinned in-house and they’re going to tin it themselves.” Simpson adds that he let his hair down, so to speak, when it came to sourcing wines, especially from around California “There’s a handful of folks … that we’re carrying that I’ve discovered the last few years that kind of cut their teeth in Europe with those natural winemakers that I’m talking about and have brought that approach back to California,” he explains “They’re meant to be paired with food all of our viewpoints on it—wine and food in tandem.” The space is small by design, inspired in part by what Potenza says they miss about more intimate spaces in places like New York and Europe. The wine bar will occupy around 700 square feet of space with seating for 38 inside and around 20 outside. Its co-tenant Always Hungry Grocery + Goods will act as a temporary pop-up and once Always Hungry find its forever location Potenza says the bar will expand into that additional 250 square feet for more retail space As an alum of other notable restaurants like the James Beard Award-nominated Bestia in LA and local icons like the Michelin-starred Jeune et Jolie and Campfire in Carlsbad Simpson says being a part of the local Carlsbad community is both a huge honor and responsibility with Potenza’s sister and brother-in-law Korin Potenza and Nick Huggins acting as the final two partners “You hear ‘mom-and-pop,’ and … we are the definition of that,” Simpson laughs But the space won’t just be for their family—its goal is to be a place for the entire county “I think we, as a community here, and probably the world at large, have a little bit of a connection crisis,” Potenza says. “Jeremy and I have felt it ourselves, every one of our friends, and so we really wanted the space to feel transportive—something that felt like a third place and really a place for friends and family to gather.”  adding that while small businesses like theirs sometimes have a hard time competing with restaurant groups with deeper pockets the flexibility to create without outside influence is priceless “That’s the benefit [of] being something that’s small and family-owned,” he says “What we’re doing is what we’re all about.” Little Victory Wine Bar opens April 9 in Carlsbad Village at 505 Oak Avenue Hours will run Wednesday through Sunday from 4 p.m Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Carlsbad Village’s newest culinary celebration, Taste of Carlsbad Village: Brunch Edition now’s the time to secure your spot for this one-day-only event happening Saturday GET YOUR TICKETS BEFORE THEY SELL OUT! This self-guided tasting tour invites you to explore the Village’s top coffee houses many of which are unable to participate in the evening event Brunch cocktails and morning sips will also be available to enhance your experience Tickets are $50 and include all food and beverage tastings Don’t miss this unique opportunity to savor the best of Carlsbad’s brunch offerings Purchase your tickets now here before they’re gone You know spring is near when the Carlsbad Flower Fields burst into bloom Just a quick drive up the coast from Carlsbad Village this world-famous floral wonderland is showing off its best germination yet making for one of the most breathtaking displays to date With 55 acres of vibrant Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers stretching as far as the eye can see it’s the ultimate springtime backdrop for picnics It’s a seasonal tradition you won’t want to miss and an amazing display of homemade baked goods) So much is new in Carlsbad Village these days But if you just take a minute to look around you will realize that so much still remains which truly makes up the fabric of downtown Carlsbad The Daily News Café is one of downtown's venerable businesses that has a storied history under new management with Aaron Williams at the helm the Daily News Café will continue to capture our hearts and senses for years to come built the Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort at the corner of what is now Carlsbad Village Drive and Carlsbad Blvd Jim built the resort and timeshare residences along with dining establishments and boutiques on one parcel of land His vision was to create a space where people could come and stay with everything they needed just steps away bright red British K6 phone booth to anchor the property; it still stands outside the Daily News Café today the first of a handful of restaurants to grace the iconic corner the restaurant would change hands several times and even be the start of a Danish bakery that went on to live for many years in the Village to finally become the Daily News Café in 1990 when Robert (Bob) and Linda Ruane took it over Linda was already operating a successful yogurt shop – Linda’s Frozen Yogurt & Deli – just south of the property and across the street from where Jim was building Jim visited her business every time he was in town and eventually he convinced her to take a chance on his new location She moved her little business to the resort location and she then proceeded to open California Wear on the property and in 1990 Linda and her husband Bob opened the Daily News Café where it has been for 35 years Aaron Williams had been leading the charge at the Coyote Bar & Grill in the Village Faire Shopping Center and then as the General Manager for 18 years “I was interested in the Daily News Café for years,” Aaron said “I had a tremendous amount of respect for Bob and Linda and what they built together I feel fortunate that they gave me the opportunity last year to take over their legacy I am very appreciative and excited about what's to come.” Chef Brad Thomas was also building his own name in the culinary world at the Compass Restaurant and eventually took over as Executive Chef elevating the menu to become one of the first gastropubs in downtown Carlsbad to turn heads With 10 years under his belt at the Compass it seemed natural for Brad to join Aaron as his chef on Aaron’s journey to make the Daily News Café all it was meant to be With possibly the single best downtown location just steps from the beloved Carlsbad sign Aaron and Brad are working together to make the Daily News Café known for its completely approachable but also upgraded menu that genuinely reflects the area “From fresh squeezed orange juice direct to your glass we are focusing on quality and core ingredients,” said Chef Brad Their signature Caramel Apple Cinnamon Roll and Blueberry Coffee cake are just two examples of baked goods that cannot be properly explained without tasting and you have the components of a winning breakfast seven days a week There is something magical about dining on historic highway 101 the road that strings together the charming beach cities along the Pacific coast While we celebrate what is new and innovative in downtown Carlsbad keeping this Village by the Sea relevant and desirable we also embrace that which makes us what we truly are The Daily New Café is a regular reminder and testament to what makes Carlsbad Village a premier location for visitors while always being home to those who call themselves locals The Daily News Café is open seven days a week from 7:00am to 2:00pm serving breakfast all day 3001 Carlsbad Blvd.www.dailynewscarlsbad.com Category: Event Calendar Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uGm2KqJ-T32SHPI3JlbJWw visit website Ready to explore building an ADU on your property we’ll guide you through the key steps to bringing your Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) to life Here’s what we’ll cover:✔️ What and where you can build an ADU✔️ ADU costs and timelines✔️ How to get started✔️ Frequently asked questions✔️ Live Q&A with our ADU experts This webinar is perfect for homeowners who are exploring the idea or ready to take the next step Carlsbad Caverns National Park in southern New Mexico A screenshot of a notice of all Carlsbad Caverns National Park guided tours being canceled from Recreation.gov a website where visitors can book self-guided and guided tours.  Tourists hoping to see Carlsbad Caverns National Park during its peak season in March may find that more challenging these days The federal government laid off 14 out of 25 seasonal interpreter rangers — who lead tours of the caverns man the information desk and sell tickets — according to a terminated employee who said Carlsbad Caverns may struggle to continue operation Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content You can reach staff writer Nakayla McClelland via email at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com Guided tours at Carlsbad Caverns National Park have been suspended an Albuquerque-based tribal college has no tutors left and veterans could … Email notifications are only sent once a day Stay informed with the latest top headlines from your trusted local source the Albuquerque Journal—delivered to your inbox every day Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist it provides narrative coverage of local trends going beyond the headlines to keep you informed Stay in the loop with the top stories of the week delivered straight to your inbox every Saturday Sign up to see what’s trending and get the latest on the stories that matter most to our readers Get breaking news and important alerts sent straight to your inbox as they happen Stay up-to-date with the latest sports headlines and highlights from the Albuquerque Journal Get the latest on local happenings delivered straight to your inbox Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Carlsbad Caverns National Park will reduce its timed A park representative said on the phone that the self-guided tour will no longer be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m The visitors center will also lose one hour of operation The representative could not comment on whether the change was due to the recent federal employee layoffs by DOGE President Donald Trump put Elon Musk in charge of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency which aims to cut government spending and regulations and DOGE is an advisory team to the Trump administration revealed the alert about the cavern's time changes "The following tours have been cancelled: Lower Cave, Kings Palace and Slaughter Canyon. We regret any inconvenience. Beginning on March 23, 2025, the 8:30 self-guided tours are cancelled. Visitor center hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last tickets will be sold at 2:15 p.m." the site states It is unsure how long the changes will take place More than 300,000 visitors travel to Carlsbad Caverns each year, according to the recreation.gov website María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com; @eptmaria.bsky.social on Bluesky – Madison Kinney was in her teens when she discovered her passion for nature and conservation After nearly a year as a ranger at Scottsbluff National Monument she set her sights on the Land of Enchantment “After college I really wanted to go into this field and I just started applying anywhere that would take me and Carlsbad was one of my dream parks because I really like rocks Little did she know it would all be over after four short months Kinney was one of the hundreds of thousands of federal employees fired at the direction of DOGE “It was kind of like this gut-wrenching feeling of ‘I just lost my job I am 12 hours away from my family,” she said She said rangers do a lot more than people think including maintaining the park and protecting the caves’ ecosystem In addition to the resources that go into training park rangers “It takes about $30,000 to hire and train somebody and so in our park alone you are looking at half a million dollars of tax dollars that have been wasted because they fired us 4.5 months into our job here basically,” she said she is doing her best to keep her head above water and find her next step I have just been applying to private sector jobs trying to find something but I had to go into work that day when I was supposed to be on my vacation still and basically sign away my dream job,” said Kinney Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public File may contact KOB via our online formor call 505-243-4411.