the LOCALS

The Good Life, If You Know Where to Look.

Inside Valentina on a Tuesday taste testing the dinner menu. Read about their delicious dinner items we love here.

A peach-colored bicycle with a wicker basket parked against a wooden railing overlooking a calm body of water on a cloudy day.

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Sliced fish fillets garnished with red chili slices, herbs, and edible flowers in a creamy sauce

No DISHES - Dinner Out

Dinner out with CBar, Valentino, Breakers and more

A woman standing with her back against a white wall outdoors, wearing sunglasses, a white sleeveless top, white wide-leg pants, a brown belt, and open-toe sandals, with a palm tree and part of a house in the background.

Rolodex

An Encinitas Art’s Comissioner, a psychedelics integration coach/creative director, a GC and a personal recipe coach. Meet your neighbors.

A woman sitting on a folding chair at an outdoor fruit stand, holding a popsicle in her right hand, with rows of oranges behind her.

Entertaining: serving up ice cold creamy popsicles from Just Peachy

A two-story white house with a red tile roof, small balconies on the second floor, and surrounded by palm trees. The house has a black arched door and is enclosed by a white wall with an arched entrance.

Buying a House in North County

When you buy here it’s choosing a place where your life doesn’t feel separate from your environment. We talked with 3 experts in town to help you transition into paradise.

Close-up of cooked pork chops with seasoning, grilling on a barbecue or oven. The meat has a browned, slightly charred surface with some black pepper visible.

Recipe Cards

Using locally grown produce (or at least we try) we’re inviting chefs to cook up meals for us and hand over the recipe. IN this case I had Chef Jarle Saupstad cook in my rental kitchen and backyard with Fox Point Farms produce and the results are pants pushing.

Silhouettes of two people running by the beach during sunset with waves in the background.

Business Highlight: Running for a cause anytime you want with “I Run For Movement.

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Crosswalk at a busy intersection with people walking, traffic lights, street signs for D Street and Encinitas, palm trees, and storefronts in the background on a sunny day.

Classifieds

Writers needed for LOCALS content. Looking for Wellness, Cultural and Surf focused writers in North County. Please submit references and work samples to Editor@thelocals.club

Need someone to restore or repair a 1982 Jeep Wrangler that isn’t running at present. email

Hiring? Had a baby? Have good news? Need a roommate? Missed connection?

350 character count.

Click to submit your classified post for approval. No filth please.

Bump Coffee now hiring: flexible schedules, free meals, 401K, Fun workplace. Send resume to hello@bumpcoffee.co

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Street view of a white building with a sign that reads 'Valentina', outdoor seating with small tables and chairs, potted plants, and passing cars.
Woman smiling and holding a bouquet of pink, red, and white flowers at a lively indoor party or bar, with other people in the background and colorful hanging lights.

UPCOMING EVENTS

A person wearing a green cap working on a woodworking project at a cluttered workbench inside a workshop, with sunlight coming through a window and greenery visible outside.
A promotional poster for a comedy event presented by Breakers, featuring the text 'Comedy Night' with stylized design elements, scheduled for May 20th.
Learn more
White camper van parked on street with colorful houses and palm trees in the background under a clear blue sky.

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Products we found and love

A multi-color patterned outdoor chair with cup holder, with smaller images of four similar chairs in different colors in the background.

Saw a dude sitting in this at Beacons Beach. Unfortunately it’s sold out everywhere BUT Amazon (last resort site). But here it tis. Just bought my husband this. It’s so great. -summer

A blue and white speckled ceramic mug with a handle, against a white background.
Guess Who? card game box featuring National Parks theme with cards depicting a desert tortoise, plains bison, and great horned owl.

I need a mug to keep in my car that withstand toddlers and turbulence. Found at Shout & About in Encinitas although you can purchase online here or in person.

Because every beach van, classic car, or at home pantry needs a family friendly card game. And let me be clear. A group of tipsy adults are the most competitive guess who game I’ve ever seen. Find here. Was a gift from a friend in Leucadia who works here!

A beige notepad with the words 'Welcome to: To do list' written on it, along with sections for 'Prize for line:' and 'Prize for bingo:'. The notepad features decorative swirling fonts and is positioned on a light wooden surface.

I saw this at Threadspun in Leucadia and my first thought was: I’m going to hand a sheet out to my girlfriends and we’re going to write down things we do for ourselves and then lets see who wins first. Find here or just walk in and grab it (I mean pay for it but yes it’s in store.)

Modern house exterior with glass walls, patio, and lush landscaping under a partly cloudy sky.

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Write In -

Using this prompt write a short story or essay. Selected submissions will be featured by May 15th.

There was a tree…..

Important to note that this prompt came from writer and, apparently my friends cousin, Anne Lamott.

A beach scene with people relaxing on the sand and playing near the water, mountains in the background, and a white paper with handwritten text and a paperclip attached to the top in the foreground.

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Two women with electric bicycles outdoors on a sunny day, with the Bluejay logo in the center. The woman on the left is near the water, and the woman on the right is on a dirt path surrounded by greenery.

Because analogue is becoming cool again, here’s my recs on books and magazines before summer.

Speaking of Reading

Cover of the book 'Bird by Bird' by Anne Lamott, marking its 25th anniversary edition. The cover features an illustration of a bird with a green branch in its beak.

Anne Lamott was just here giving a talk (with her husband Neal)at Balboa Theater and honestly I had no idea she was that funny. Reading this for the first time with her voice in my head. The least boring book about writing on earth. Find here.

My husband and I listened to this on a two day road trip through Baja before we had kids and it was GRIPPING. We’d often sit in the car longer to finish a chapter. A multigenerational cowboy coming of age novel that you’ll loose sleep over. Find here first.

Book cover for 'The Son' by Philipp Meyer featuring a black-and-white image of a man in period clothing with a wide-brimmed hat and beard, holding a pistol.

When you’re ready to conquer, you need a boost not just creatively but to jumpstart your intuition and motivation and all the things that come with building something that has vision, pick this book up. Life changing. Find here first.

A person holding a book titled 'The Creative Act: A Way of Being', with a circle graphic on the cover, on a wooden table with a rug with black and white geometric pattern in the background.

When a friend texts you after 10pm to recommend a book then it’s obviously good. Thank you Jess Mazza. I’ll be picking this up from Warwicks this weekend. All the reviews online and insane so stay tuned. Or buy from here maybe.

Book cover for 'Demon Copperhead' by Barbara Kingsolver, featuring illustrations of a snake, eagle, flowers, and a landscape.

Reading comes in all forms and reading about Francis Mallmann’s approach to life while learning how to cook is honestly super sexy. I picked it up used but find here. AND you’re not killing animals over this one, just trees.

Book cover titled 'Green Fire' by Francis Mallmann featuring a person outdoors near a fire with a metal greenhouse structure filled with vegetables and grapes, sunset background.

What’s Coming Up

Below you will find upcoming works and articles. Yes it’s quite unconventional but again the point of this site is to connect and participate. To contribute or drop hot tips email the editor.

Plate with two eggs sunny side up, black beans, salsa, and a sprig of dill.

Farm to Table - No really we are taking you to the farms and showing you what it looks like on your table

How are people living or working in our community?

People at the beach with a large umbrella, a woman in a bikini with a big straw hat, a white towel on the sand, and some personal items like a basket and shoes. The beach has white sand, shells, and rocks.

How to lowkey pack for the beach

Gear, swag, and outfits for beach outtings.
A white vintage camper van parked on the street, with palm trees and residential houses in the background under a clear blue sky.

The new Second Home

Vans - all you need to know, where to go to build and fix them and inside some locals "2nd homes".
A man with light hair, seen from behind, standing in water wearing striped swim trunks, holding a fishing rod, with a lakeside town and mountains in the background.

Getting Summer Bod Ready

Inside the houses of LOCALS

COMING SOON. This future feature will tour the lives of LOCALS. To participate please email Summer.

A brick wall with a window, climbing plants on the wall, and a black metal fence in the foreground.
Outdoor bathtub surrounded by tropical plants with a small wooden stool holding lit candles, bamboo walkway, and palm trees in the background.
Modern multi-story house on a hillside with large glass windows and balconies, surrounded by lush plants and flowers, under a partly cloudy sky.
View of a street with cars and pedestrians, a white building with a garden in front, and the ocean in the background under a cloudy sky.
Two people sitting on a couch with a cat, surrounded by art and decorative objects in a cozy room.

Previous Features on the LOCALS