The views expressed here are the author's own The North Coast Symphony Orchestra presents Voices of Spring at the San Dieguito United Methodist Church The performance features Katherine Polit (soprano) and Michael Sokol (baritone) and includes selections from operas by Delibes The orchestra will also premiere the orchestrated version of “A Long Trip,” a 17-minute opera by its conductor Jordan Kuspa Tuesday, 7:00 pmCarlsbad, CA Defined by its beach culture, the North County neighborhood of Encinitas is known for its optimal surf conditions flanked by the Pacific Ocean and Coaster train tracks and shops to visit during your next trip north.    If you don’t mind waiting in a long line to order, this Tijuana-style taco shop promises handmade tortillas and a salsa bar with options ranging from spicy to creamy. With large portions and modest prices, The Taco Stand pumps out favorites like tacos filled with al pastor or spicy shrimp and some of the best Rosarito-style churros this side of the border Founded by celebrity chef Brian Malarkey, Herb & Sea is a popular upscale seafood restaurant overseen by chef Aidan Owens who’s known for his butchery skills, often on display during live fish breakdowns at local farmers’ markets Owens showcases locally sourced seafood in dishes like mussel toast and fish crudos from its raw bar Sit outside on the back patio for a more casual setting or inside at the bar for a buzzy social scene Family-run Filipino restaurant Carin de Ria serves up traditional dishes like pancit with entrees including pork or chicken adobo served with rice The desserts are not to be missed here either Try one of its drinks of the month for a fun cocktail like a banana elote old fashioned and smashed salmon are best-sellers at this self-service eatery with a small outdoor patio overlooking Highway 101 You won’t miss the meat at this vegetarian Thai restaurant that puts protein sources like jackfruit, mixed beans, tofu, and mock duck atop curries, noodles, and rice dishes. Plumeria Thai is a no-frills restaurant attracting the health-conscious with its fresh spring rolls this elevated chicken spot uses top-notch ingredients ranging from miso-maple butter and Oaxacan cheeses to dipping sauces like housemade ranch a DJ transforms the vibey space into a dance party.      Lofty has plenty of indoor/outdoor space for families to move around or remote workers to hunker down Its smaller location is part of The Lofts shopping center and is convenient for grab & go orders Its namesake shrimp appetizer is a must-order Homemade ice cream shop Cali Cream may seem familiar if you’ve ever visited a Handel’s in the past. Crowd favorites like graham central station, banana cream pie, and chocolate peanut butter brownie are on the menu here, along with 50 other flavors They also have bakery items such as cookies This painted rock garden with inspiring messages is worth checking out during a visit to nearby Moonlight State Beach. Dave’s Rock Garden has beautiful succulents and upwards of 7,000 painted rocks from more than 115 countries Bring your own colorful rock to leave in the place of your choosing Arguably the most tranquil place in town, the Meditation Gardens are beautifully maintained at Self-Realization Fellowship Encinitas Temple or simply take in the sweeping views of Swami’s Beach from benches perched high above the bluffs Access to this famed surf spot is discrete, making it a favorite among locals trying to avoid summer crowds Beach access is via a staircase atop sea cliffs located across from the grassy Swami’s Seaside Park that provides restrooms Architecture buffs will appreciate its historic Spanish Colonial Revival style; others will be pleased to find out ticket admission is just $12 Don’t miss the sculpture trail featuring 11 nature-inspired installations Twice a year, Encinitas 101 MainStreet Association takes over several city blocks along Highway 101 to hold a Spring Street Fair (typically in April or May) and Holiday Street Fair (November) The community event invites pedestrians to shop from street vendors offering arts and crafts Trendy hats in men’s and women’s styles are the focal point of Brixton, an apparel brand born in North County. Its Encinitas shop is the brand’s first brick-and-mortar, which also includes a small clothing selection. Patrons can build their own hat with personalized customizations like feathers and bands and do a hat fitting to find their perfect size and style Aloha Collection wants to make sure you never come home with a soggy beach bag. Its Splash-Proof collection of totes weekender and cross-body bags are made with coated Tyvek fabric that’s water-resistant the bags have tropical designs available in a rainbow of colors Find your next swimsuit at BlackBook Bikini a vibrant boutique filled with suits from popular brands like Free People and other accessories for a stylish day on the sand New, used, and rare books in every genre can be found at Artifact Books Its hand-picked collection includes first-editions as well as a selection of signed and collectible books They also host author signing events and discussions Housed inside a 1930s beach bungalow, Salt Culture is a boutique founded by professional surfer Rob Machado and his wife Sophie and home goods was inspired by the owners’ global travels to far-flung beach locales You can even score a custom Machado-designed surfboard here New age shop SoulScape is where you can find tarot cards and other specialty items in the spiritual realm Soak in the good energy while picking out a soulful gift at this eclectic local gem Kai Oliver-Kurtin is a San Diego-based writer who covers travel Her writing has been published in USA Today 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 (KGTV) — Demonstrators gathered Saturday afternoon at the intersection of El Camino Real and Encinitas Boulevard to voice their opposition to President Donald Trump’s proposed cuts to various federal departments The "Stop the Cuts" rally drew hundreds of participants who gathered at the four corners of the busy intersection Many were concerned about the potential impact of the planned funding reductions on essential programs like Social Security and Medicaid “I am very concerned that we're losing our democracy that we are turning into an absolutely fascist state," protester Norelynn Pion-Goureau said a leader of the grassroots political group Indivisible 49 Her late husband was a veteran and she fears what will happen if the cuts make their way to the Department of Veterans Affairs “I am personally working on filing for compensation that I'm eligible for through my husband's service and these cuts mean that I may or may not be able to get the benefits I'm entitled to and deserve,” she said also expressed his anxieties about the funding cuts and I know other people who would be in the same boat,” he noted While demonstrators fear the repercussions of the proposed cuts the White House has stated that the administration does not intend to reduce Social Security This Encinitas protest was one of many held across the county and country reflecting widespread concern over the Trump administration's budget proposals For over 40 years, people in the community have relied on the Community Resource Center (CRC) in Encinitas for food and supportive services support to keep people housed and help for victims of domestic violence or abuse public transportation and public restrooms residents and business owners say they’ve noticed a surge of unhoused people in the area "There's an assumption being made that every person experiencing homelessness in Encinitas comes to CRC," said John Van Cleef He says the center’s food pantry serves a total of 410 people Assumptions about the center grew when a social media page began posting pictures and videos about the CRC and homeless in the area "Someone took the time to create a cartoon that had CRC in the background and a hand throwing crumbs out to rats and seagulls," Van Cleef said The page goes by the name of Save Encinitas Now and has 15,000 followers The page's bio says it covers key issues like homelessness Van Cleef did not find humor in the now-removed cartoon "There can be a lot of views about people experiencing homelessness There can be a lot of perspectives on the value of our building project or not in such a dehumanizing and morally reprehensible way The issue has gained enough traction to spill over into city council chambers especially as the CRC looks to expand their food pantry into the building next door "It really disappoints me that there is an expansion being considered With that expansion it's only going to expand the problem that we have," said Donnette Pool the general manager of Honey’s Bistro in downtown Encinitas and said she has seen the homeless population grow and become more aggressive "I've had two employees that have had hands on by mentally ill by the homeless that are aggressive when we .. we don't give them coffee anymore or food.  Last year’s Point in Time count data showed a 68% increase in the unsheltered population in Encinitas Pool says she has considered hiring private security but can't afford it due to a drop in patrons She wants the newly elected mayor to keep his campaign promise to increase patrols in the area Mayor Bruce Ehlers said sheriff’s deputies are doing their best to keep up with the issues sheriff's deputies reported 235 contacts with people experiencing homelessness from January to March in Encinitas During that time they issued 22 citations for camping on public property and 14 citations for sleeping in vehicles Ehlers said he wants to explore all options for continued enforcement "Either a security service that we hire or using the volunteer patrol We may have an opportunity there to use employees And they can be the eyes and ears for the police," Ehlers said Ehlers said the city has an obligation to continue offering resources to those in need and enforcing the law Additional security near the CRC and the city's homeless action plan will be discussed at the next council meeting on May 14 (KGTV) — A 12-year-old girl was killed in a two-vehicle collision and an investigation by San Diego County Sheriff's Department detectives is underway today Deputies from the department's North Coastal Sheriff's Station responded to a report of a collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian at 6:51 p.m Friday at Encinitas Boulevard and Village Square Drive a 44-year-old man who was driving a Nissan Xterra west collided with a southbound Ford Fusion driven by another 44-year-old man The victim was pronounced dead at the scene Both drivers remained on scene and were not injured in the collision The cause of the crash is under investigation by North Coastal Station Traffic investigators and the Sheriff's Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team The use of alcohol or drugs is not believed to be a factor in the investigation Anyone who witnessed the collision or may have captured it on video is asked to call 858-565-5200 Callers may also remain anonymous by calling San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or by visiting www.sdcrimestoppers.org (KGTV) — The Grauer School in Encinitas is opening affordable housing units for teachers just a quarter mile from campus addressing a critical need in San Diego's expensive housing market ABC 10News first reported on this affordable housing plan in 2023 Now that renovations on the property are complete 10News reporter Adam Campos went to check out the new units None of the school's teachers currently live within 30 minutes of campus educators commute from neighborhoods like Normal Heights battling morning traffic before starting their workday The new housing development includes a three-bedroom home This will allow five teachers to live where they work while saving money on housing costs.The units will be priced significantly below market rate for Encinitas where the average one-bedroom apartment costs over $2,500 per month and studios average around $2,100 monthly One teacher at the school who currently lives in Vista explained that the housing challenge goes beyond just cost it's just the fact that it's accessible and just for teachers," the educator said "You don't have to like — right now the market you find a place that you think you're interested in and it's gone the next day or faster and they said if you don't sign this contract now The head of the school emphasized that this initiative is crucial for maintaining educational quality "I fully recognize as a school administrator that the heart of our educational program is our teachers and we have to have the best teachers in order to have the best educational program for our students," she said it's become more and more difficult to attract and retain great teachers because it's so difficult to find housing in this particular region."Teachers will have the opportunity to stay in the housing for approximately two years giving them time to establish financial stability before transitioning to their own apartments The school is currently accepting applications from current faculty members with move-ins scheduled before the start of the next school year When ABC 10News asked how much the teachers would pay for this housing the Grauer School declined to give us an exact number This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy When Bruce Ehlers narrowly defeated incumbent Tony Kranz in the Encinitas mayoral race last fall it was seen as a rejection of how the city was run Ehlers ran on a platform of more local control and pushback on state housing mandates “The goal is to actually maintain our small beach town ambiance and clean coastal environment,” he said “That's kind of the main vision statement.” One of the biggest issues he wants to tackle is infrastructure, especially storm drains to prevent flooding in places like Leucadia which has been an issue since before Encinitas was incorporated as a city in 1986 Ehlers said the previous council has been prioritizing unneeded projects such as streetscaping and buying Surfer’s Point “What had happened is we'd spent $100 million over the last 10 years on nonessential vanity beautification projects where we should have been spending it on basic infrastructure pavement flooding and storm drain refurbishment,” he said This past November, voters rejected a one-cent sales tax increase that would have paid for road repairs and other infrastructure While Ehlers didn’t campaign against the measure he thinks the voters were correct in rejecting it He believes there’s enough money in the coffers to fund those infrastructure needs But he doesn’t think state housing mandates are the answer Encinitas is already in compliance with the state's requirements for affordable housing, but some residents are pushing for more. They want the Encinitas to turn the city-owned lot, L7 or Quail Gardens, into affordable housing He agrees with other residents that it should be turned into a park and said there are a number of new homes being built around that area “There's going to be 1,045 units with roughly 3,000 people moving in there over the next several years,” he said “It was the absolute place where we need a park and they were switching it out for a paltry number of units He also wants to tackle the issue of homelessness, saying it’s a regional issue that the county needs to step up on, especially by implementing CARE Court to get drug users off the streets and into treatment centers On both ends of Quail Gardens Drive in Encinitas Three housing developments are approved and underway off the two lane road They are Sunshine Gardens (140 units) and Moonlight Apartments (202 units) located off Encinitas Boulevard and Fox Point Farms (250 units) off of Leucadia Boulevard The Encinitas City Council recently approved one more: Quail Meadows a 448-unit development which includes 90 affordable units But the council did not want to approve it traffic and fire evacuation concerns over all of the developments on Quail Gardens Drive "We are approving this project under duress and only because the credible threats made by HCD (California Department of Housing and Community Development) and the state leave us no choice," said Encinitas Mayor Bruce Ehlers during the February meeting where the vote was taken That "credible threat" was a letter to the city from HCD warning what could happen if the project was denied Encinitas could lose its compliant housing element "That step that would occur — where we get (our housing element) decertified — is fatal and and catastrophic across the board in Encinitas," Ehlers said He said decertification would open the city up to builder's remedies which allow developers to bypass zoning rules and restrictions in order for the city to meet its housing goals We would have developers putting in builder's remedies and get maximum whatever they could get out of it because we're such an attractive market," Ehlers said So despite opposition from the community and city councilmembers Encinitas approved the Quail Meadows Project The development must also be approved by the California Coastal Commission which has received appeals against the project from three groups They cited environmental concerns over the nearby wetlands No date has been set for the Coastal Commission hearing While Encinitas awaits a final decision on the 448-unit project, Ehlers plans to challenge the state's housing mandates I'm committed to fighting the state to maintain our local control and and protect our paradise here in Encinitas," he said Other cities, such as Huntington Beach have tried to challenge the state's housing mandates in the past Ehlers says a united front will speak louder and plans to join other cities and coalitions to fight the state for local land use control Ehlers said many Northern California cities are already taking on the challenge and he hopes to have San Diego cities join them He also hopes the community will speak up and get the attention of their elected officials And when they start seeing the number of people fed up .. talking to their assemblymembers and senators saying a rare deep-sea oarfish has washed ashore in San Diego County giving scientists a chance to study the species without plumbing the depths of the ocean Scripps Institution of Oceanography PhD candidate Alison Laferriere found the deceased 9.5-foot specimen at Grandview Beach in Encinitas — just the 21st of its species documented to have washed up on California beaches since 1901 The previous 12.25-foot long fish was found in August by kayakers and snorkelers in La Jolla Cove manager of the Scripps Oceanography Marine Vertebrate Collection — one of the largest collections of deep-sea fish in the world — contacted the NOAA Fisheries West Coast team to recover the specimen and transport it to the Southwest Fisheries Science Center "We took samples and froze the specimen awaiting further study and final preservation in the Marine Vertebrate Collection," Frable said this specimen and the samples taken from it will be able to tell us much about the biology short-crested oarfish have washed up on local shores "It may have to do with changes in ocean conditions and increased numbers of oarfish off our coast," he said "Many researchers have suggested this as to why deep-water fish strand on beaches "Sometimes it may be linked to broader shifts such as the El Niño and La Niña cycle but this is not always the case There was a weak El Niño earlier this year This wash-up coincided with the recent red tide and Santa Ana winds last week but many variables could lead to these strandings." A long red dorsal fin crest extends from the top of the head oarfish can grow to lengths of 30 feet and are the longest bony fish in the world Oarfish have a mythical reputation as predictors of natural disasters and earthquakes If someone finds an unusual or rare creature on the beach they are encouraged to alert the local lifeguards members of the public can notify Scripps Institution of Oceanography at scrippsnews@ucsd.edu or 858-534-3624 Many beaches may be marine protected areas where taking of organisms — living or dead — is illegal At the Encinitas April Street Fair, enjoy unique food and the craft brewery beer garden guarantee that there will be fun for the whole family The emphasis of both the Encinitas Spring Street Fair and the Holiday Street Fair is on arts commercial vendors will be accepted and admitted upon consideration of merchandise and display appearance Please be aware that there are no refunds within 30 days of the event There is no parking on Hwy 101 from D to J Street on Saturday and Sunday from 4 a.m Your car will be towed by law enforcement if parked in the specified area There will be signage leading up to the Street Fair as a reminder Visit: https://www.encinitas101.com/spring-street-fair SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Deputies on patrol in Encinitas early Monday found a Tesla dealership defaced by profane and Nazi-themed graffiti San Diego County sheriff's officials reported The property crime in the 1300 block of Encinitas Boulevard was discovered shortly after 5 a.m. The vandal or vandals had spray-painted swastikas and profanity on vehicles and office windows at the business No suspects had been identified in the case as of Monday afternoon 2025 at 12:41 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}D Street is a popular access point to the mile-long stretch of beach running below the bluffs from Moonlight Beach south to Swami's Point CA — Emergency structural concerns prompted the city of Encinitas to close the D Street Beach access staircase Tuesday "The staircase is unsafe for public use," city officials said in a news release "The staircase will remain closed until repairs can be made." D Street is a popular access point to the mile-long stretch of beach running below the bluffs from Moonlight Beach south to Swami's Point barricades will be installed to secure the area around the staircase "Residents and visitors who typically access the beach via the D Street staircase are prohibited from using the staircase until access is officially restored by the city of Encinitas," officials said It has not yet been determined when the staircase will be reopened City officials encouraged beachgoers to use Moonlight Beach to access the D Street Beach area during the temporary closure All other beach access points within the city remain open to the public Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page As cars snake through the intersection at Coast Highway 101 and El Portal Street there are signs of accidents at this relatively new roundabout: Broken cement on the curb 'Was the design not so good?'” said Scott Campbell with the advocacy group Encinitas Citizen Review Panel so perhaps it’s time to take a second look at the design We're going to put more of these roundabouts in right up the street and we need to make sure that they're safe right off the bat and not have to do fixes.” He thinks the radius of the roundabout is too tight making it difficult for cars to go through safely “It doesn’t take much for a car to get out of control,” he said City engineers want to install rumble strips to slow down traffic and bollards to protect infrastructure and businesses who owns Leucadia Glass in that intersection and Encinitas Boulevard and Santa Fe (Drive) 'Yield to traffic in circle.' We don't," he said I'm petitioning that they put ‘to traffic in the circle’ because (not) everybody knows how to use a roundabout." He thinks they work but some drivers need a little extra help “If they could put in a blinking light or something,” he said Campbell is not against roundabouts either the city staff don’t think the design is the issue; rather and 12 of them involved drivers under the influence The City Council has asked city traffic engineers to come up with more options to make that traffic circle safer Campbell thinks the city should increase traffic enforcement in the area to curb drunk driving.