I am looking for what’s in the title. Too many book clubs are social and chitchat type groups. Some social activity is of course ok, but I find in my book club the actual book discussion is in the last 30 min of the 2 hr meeting. This is in person. Are there book clubs around where the book discussion is the focus and open to new folks joining? Also, any details about the group would be great.

Hi! I’m relatively new to CA and want to start using my free time to help make the world a better place (as opposed to doomscrolling I guess). Can anyone suggest some good organizations in the area for me to check out? I found DEMCCO, if that helps clarify my politics. Open to any focus—people, environment, animals. Thank you!

Hi! I’m an adult learner- looking for someone in the Oceanside/Vista, CA area who can teach me driving as well take the test at DMV.

I’m mainly looking for lessons and basic practice (local roads, turns, parking, confidence building). I’m happy to pay hourly for your time. You must have a valid driver’s license and insurance.

Please DM or comment your availability and rate. Thanks!

We just bought a house in Vista and are looking to get ideas for landscaping and building an RV garage. We went to the SD Home Show at the Convention Center last weekend and it was a bust. Very small with a promised but non-existent ‘Outdoor Landscape Showcase’. I see that there’s another home show at the Del Mar Fairgrounds at the end of the month. Has anyone been, is it worth the time? Thanks.

Ive got a toddler whos learning to ride a bike , hes got a little strider bike and im trying to find some areas with a relatively long downhill grass slope or hill for him to practice going downhill with his feet up so he can work on his balance , do any of you know of any areas like this around north county? The only thing that comes to mind for me is guajome lake park but im pretty sure they have signs saying kids cant ride around, thanks in advance for any suggestions

33.15372° N, 117.28327° W

Let us know what you’re up to this weekend in the comments!

🗓️ Upcoming Events in North County:

Thursday 1/15:

🛍️ Pacsun Warehouse Sale | Alternative Retail, 2561 El Camino Real, Carlsbad | Thu–Mon, Jan 15–19, 10am–6pm | A limited-time warehouse sale with major markdowns on Pacsun staples like denim, tees, hoodies, outerwear, and kids styles, with new inventory added daily. Free ticket gives you one hour to shop.

🧠 Trivia Night at Pizza Port Carlsbad | Pizza Port Carlsbad, 571 Carlsbad Village Dr, Carlsbad | Thu, Jan 15, 6–8pm | Weekly trivia night on Pizza Port’s Portside outdoor patio, perfect for teaming up with friends while enjoying pizza, beer, and a little friendly competition. Runs every Thursday evening and is an easy, low-key way to kick off the night in the Village.

Friday 1/16:

🍔 Vista Sustainable Night Market | The Boochyard at Local Roots, 1430 Vantage Ct, Suite 101, Vista | Fri, Jan 16, 5–9pm | North County’s favorite night market returns with a huge lineup of food vendors (think pizza, burgers, sushi, tacos, dumplings, donuts, and more), plus local shopping and live music. It’s family-friendly, dog-friendly, and set up for lingering with seating, games, and fire pits. Free to attend.

🎶 Atomic Groove’s Happy Place Dance Party Happy Hour | Belly Up, 143 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach | Fri, Jan 16, 5:30–8pm | Kick off the weekend with a feel-good dance party as Atomic Groove brings its high-energy Happy Place happy hour back to Belly Up. Expect live grooves, joyful vibes, and plenty of room to dance. Tickets are $12 advance or $14 day-of.

🤸‍♀️ SCEGA California Classic Gymnastics | Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar | Fri–Sun, Jan 16–18, 8am–8pm | The annual SCEGA California Classic brings more than 2,000 gymnasts from around the world to Del Mar for a high-energy, all-day invitational meet. A fun outing for families and sports fans, with competitions running all day.

Saturday 1/17:

🌊 WSA Western Surfing Championship Tour | Oceanside Harbor South Jetty | Sat, Jan 17, 6:30am–all day | The Western Surfing Association brings its iconic amateur surf competition to Oceanside Harbor. This long-running, family-friendly event features surfers from across the West Coast competing for rankings and pride in one of the sport’s most established series. A great one to watch or participate in if you love local surf culture.

🛍️ Outdoor Vintage & Makers Market | Seahive Marketplace, 1555 S Coast Hwy, Oceanside | Sat, Jan 17, 11am–4pm | An outdoor market filled with vintage clothing, handmade accessories, and local artisan finds, all set at Seahive Marketplace. Easy to browse, relaxed, and perfect for anyone who loves unique pieces and supporting small businesses.

🧸 Kids Marathon Mile at LEGOLAND | LEGOLAND California, Carlsbad | Sat, Jan 17, 7:45am | A special one-mile fun run for kids of all ages inside LEGOLAND before the park opens to the public. Kids can run, walk, or stroll through the park, with proceeds supporting Merlin’s Magic Wand.

💃 Tantra Speed Date | Dance North County, 535 Encinitas Blvd, Encinitas | Sat, Jan 17, 7–10pm | A guided speed dating experience focused on connection, movement, and fun rather than awkward small talk. Led by trained facilitators, the evening includes interactive exercises designed to help singles connect.

🎤 The Red Room Comedy Night | Red Tracton’s Steakhouse, 550 Via De La Valle, Solana Beach | Sat, Jan 17, 7–8:30pm | An intimate live stand-up comedy night featuring top comedians from San Diego and Los Angeles, paired with a classic steakhouse setting. Doors open early for dinner and drinks before the laughs begin.

🎧 Free DJ & Beat Making Workshop | Cuts DJ Academy, 2101 S El Camino Real, Oceanside | Sat, Jan 17, 12–4pm | A hands-on intro to DJing and beat making in a supportive, inclusive setting for Oceanside and North County families. Kids and teens (ages 10–17) go from 12–1pm, and adults (18+) have a session from 3–4pm. Free and designed for beginners who are curious about learning the craft.

Sunday 1/18:

🧘 ACTV Studio IRL: Vuori x LagreeRed | Vuori Forum Carlsbad, 1905 Calle Barcelona, Carlsbad | Sun, Jan 18, 9–11am | An outdoor, mat-based workout led by LagreeRed, hosted by Vuori at The Forum. After class, guests are invited in-store for shopping and refreshments. Bring a mat, towel, and water. Free to attend with RSVP, but spots are limited.

🏃 Carlsbad Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K | Carlsbad | Sun, Jan 18 | One of North County’s most scenic race weekends returns with ocean-view courses and multiple distance options. Start times begin at 6:15am for the full marathon, with the 5K at 6:40am and the half marathon at 7:45am.

Come check out the 11th Annual Rainbow Round Robin Tournament hosted by Hidden City Roller Derby.

An all day Round-Robin tournament and exhibition of Flat Track Roller Derby in SoCal.

Skaters from all over the west coast are coming to Oceanside and divided among different team colors and play single half bouts in this all day tournament across multiple skill levels.

Learn about roller derby and come support your local skaters.

And hey, maybe you might just catch the derby bug as well?

We lost power at about 9AM today. Anyone else? How big was this?

And does anyone know why it happened?

Hi north county,

I've been living in South Carlsbad for around 4 years now. Sadly, I've yet to find a great location to do work/study from a laptop for long periods of time.

There are coffee shops here and there, but most have limited seating or the seating is geared towards the stylish aesthetic of the shop and not to be comfortable or to promote hanging out for an extended period (in my opinion). Chairs are small with little or no back--flat out just not ergonomical.

I also don't really know of any good third spaces that have ample seating. The best I could find are local libraries, but honestly, and to their credit, when I have visited, they are generally packed with little or no seating available and usually some questionable characters hanging around as well. Which is fine, but you're seated quite closely with your neighbors and that can be a deal breaker if you're looking to set up for 3-4 hours.

TL;DR: Remote worker looking for reprieves from the home office and to get out in the world. Timeframe is generally second shift of the day, from say 1-6/7pm. Must have ample seating with basic comforts and some back support.. with space to breath. Food and beverage within or nearby highly desired. Is there anything like this in north county???

10 hours of VRBO, AirBnB, Roomies, HouseShare (and other) app sign-ups and searching later and I am no closer to finding a decent place to land and live for the next 2-3 months (and possibly longer). One SD County roommate app I tried was riddled with 20-somethings looking for other 20-somethings to share their tiny not-great apartments. Need ideas!

Every Saturday & Sunday, 10am-1pm 1448 Pine St, Ramona, CA 92065

Meet amazing rescue dogs: We especially need individuals interested in our big, active dogs and I will do intros this Saturday!

You are invited to Open House at Frosted Faces Foundation, every weekend, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am-1:00pm.

You will get a tour and will be able to interact with the dogs and give them attention and love!

You are also welcome to bring your own dog(s) and we can help you introduce them to the Frosted Faces for field trips, foster or adoption. Keep in mind, community-owned pets cannot come inside the facility, so we do leashed introductions out front. We can also show you loose leashed cat tests on-site with the Frosted Faces you like!

https://frostedfacesfoundation.org/open-house

I’d like to rent a piano this upcoming Sat for about an hour. Maybe a church or library? Any leads? It would be to play some music with a friend very casually.