Paso Robles wineries confront challenge of changing tastes
Ancient Peaks Winery owner Karl Wittstrom is guiding his truck up, up, up a rocky, bone-jolting dirt road bordered by manzanita, white sage and coast...
Columns
Captain Courageous: When Duke saved the day at Disneyland
In the mid-1960s, Paul Strauch was ranked among the world’s best surfers. Those who saw him in his prime, including Greg Noll, Jeff Hackman and...
Happy birthday, Skipper!
He was born Harry Richard Frye on Sept. 7, 1941. Only a few years later, while he was still a child, his father said, “You’re...
Carlsbad festival is one in a melon
The Carlsbad Village Yoga studio did it again! Now in its 15th year, the annual Carlsbad Watermelon Festival took place on Sunday, Sept. 13, to...
Killing sales with tasteless promotions
Labor Day’s behind us, and retailers are promoting themselves with tie-ins to the fall holidays. Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Halloween are all coming up soon. Seemingly...
Napa Valley greats Groth and Orin Swift headline local wine dinners
West End Bar & Kitchen recently welcomed 80 guests for a sold-out, five-course dinner featuring Groth Vineyards & Winery. Among them were 24 members of...
Ask Rexy: Bedtimes, butterflies and new friends
Dear Rexy, I want to stay up late, but my parents always say no. Why do I have a bedtime if I am not tired?...
Five communities, one city: Encinitas celebrates 40 years
This October, Encinitas marks 40 years as an incorporated city—a milestone celebrating the fiercely local spirit that brought the community together. According to Carolyn Cope,...
Fun and specials galore for locals at VAGA
Before I get into the meat of this story, I must say that as a sunset chaser, I don’t think there is a better coastal...
Google me? Maybe not anymore
For most of my professional life, digital marketing came down to a simple instruction: Google me. Build the website, rank in search, get the click...
Surf spoken here
Nothing, in my experience, can replace the feeling of riding a wave. Nothing! Billabong had it right with their tagline: “Only a surfer knows the...
Rats in my belfry!
My condo complex has rounded roof tiles, each of which provides an entry point for rats. So for five years we’ve had critters doing the...
Replica San Salvador: Step aboard and back in time
The sight of the 16th-century galleon San Salvador slicing through the waters of San Diego Bay and beyond must look magnificent, but we can’t see...
How North County impresario deals with Knuckleheads
Editor’s note: This is Part 2 of a two-part Builders of North County series. Read Part 1 here. Yet perhaps the most interesting thing happening...
Watermelon wins the heat wave
In the heat of the summer, when all my Facebook gardening friends are sending photos of wilted cucumber and dried-up lettuce, we had one star...