A 1930s gas station in Oceanside has transformed into The Rising Co., a bright, open retail space for more than a dozen San Diego businesses to share as a co-op. The South Coast Highway gem also serves as a community hub for locals to gather and connect—a valuable business model in today’s physically distant world.
“You have your home, you have work, and you’ve got this other place where you come and feel just as comfortable, and connect with in a different way,” says Jessica Vargas, designer and owner of Adobe by Jess Vargas. “We really want this to become everyone’s third home.”
The Rising Co., named for brands that are on the rise, is home to local businesses who share similar values of sustainability, community, and producing artisanal goods. More than half of the businesses are also minority- or women-owned.
Each merchant leases a space and works eight hours a week inside the store, allowing for low overhead costs.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t be able to afford a place to get started in,” Vargas says. “To have that brick-and-mortar for customers to come in and see and touch the product, and have that conversation. You’re able to tell your story in a different way; it takes it to another level.”
The Rising Co. opened its doors last December. Three months later, they closed because of the pandemic. The team quickly developed a website and created hours for pickup and window shopping. Some merchants helped the community by making masks and gift bags for first responders, and they opened their parking lot for free to gyms to hold outdoor classes. They reopened in June.
“I don’t think my business could have survived if I had been a new business owner with my own lease and possibly employees. I think it would have been devastating in the first year to have all of this happen and try to make it through,” says Janet Shepard, owner of Ornamental Plant Boutique.
The Rising Co. is not only helping support local businesses—it’s also provided a much-needed space for the community during the pandemic. Shepard says, “People who are coming in are like, ‘I want to support you guys because I know you just started. This is such a cool thing; we want to have this in our neighborhood and we want to support you.’”
“We wanted to create a place where we could come with our kids, hang out, and not feel obligated to shop. Get a coffee but be able to stay longer than you can at a normal, indoor coffee shop,” says Julie Rais Ellis, designer and owner of Rais Case. “That was originally part of the plan for that space, and then with the pandemic, it’s shown that is working.”
Elena Gomez is a freelance journalist. Her lifestyle blog, Wander North San Diego, focuses on all things North County.
Growing up in Carlsbad, I never quite understood why people vacationed there. What, so you want to check out the field where I have soccer practice? Pay my orthodontist a visit? Carlsbad just felt like a town by the beach, no better or worse than any other in the country. It took going to college out of state for me to actually understand just how rare a place like Carlsbad is.
Thanksgiving break my freshman year, my first time coming home after three months in the Midwest, my shoulders dropped. I rolled down the windows and drove to lifeguard tower 37—the hangout magnet for Carlsbad’s youths (and, in the summer, tourists)—and the smells of the ocean woke me right up like smelling salts do. I finally got it.
Carlsbad isn’t just a stopover town on your way to something better. It is the destination. Travel + Leisure named Carlsbad one of the top 50 places around the world to travel in 2026. From the whole globe, the travel magazine picked my home. Sure, we’ve got the Flower Fields and Legoland—but now it’s the smaller ships and indier dreams that are giving it street-level character.
It’s not just Carlsbad, either. People have talked about the “North County bubble” for decades—a force field that prevents its residents from traveling south of the 56. It’s often used derogatorily, and it’s a fairly accurate burn.
For decades, living up in North County meant giving up on culture, or at least culture within close proximity. But now, the main expansion of San Diego culture is happening up north. Central San Diego restaurants have started taking notice and are expanding into the area—spurred no doubt by Oceanside’s food boom and the Jeune et Jolie–Campfire–Wildland–Lilo constellation in Carlsbad. City Heights burger joint Key & Cleaver opened a new spot in Oceanside; the owners of Parc Bistro-Brasserie in Bankers Hill opened Parc Lounge in Rancho Santa Fe. Possibly the strongest market indicator is that Sam Fox—one of the most successful restaurateurs west of the Rockies—has started focusing on North County for his concepts. In 2025, he opened both The Henry in Carlsbad and Culinary Dropout in Del Mar.
For the ultimate insider guide, we found a handful of inspiring people who live and create and truly know six North County neighborhoods—San Marcos, Escondido, Oceanside, Leucadia, Rancho Santa Fe, and Vista—and asked them how they’d spend a dream day out and about in their town.
Courtesy of North City Farmers Market
San Marcos
San Marcos is in full renaissance mode. The biggest story is that the grand North City vision is starting to peek through the scaffolding. It’s essentially the North County Downtown that’s been written in the tea leaves and discussed whenever someone gets stuck in traffic at the 5/805 merge: a 200-acre, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use face-changer that’s slated for 2,600 homes, 350,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, 250 hotel rooms, and about a million square feet of offices and labs. Its most recent manifestation is 222 North City—a 12-story residential tower with over 450 residences, rooftop garden, pool cabanas, art installations, and almost 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail (Necessity Coffee, Buona Forchetta, Draft Republic, Milonga Empanadas, and a grocery store anchor on its way).
Which means Restaurant Row is no longer burdened with being the primary caregiver for the hungry or the socially inclined. Patricia Prado-Olmos has watched the city morph during her nearly three-decade tenure at CSUSM, having spent the past six years as the school’s chief community engagement officer. She also just announced her forthcoming retirement at the end of the 2026–2027 school year, so she’ll have even more time to haunt local haunts.
Meet the Local: Patricia Prado-Olmos
Those in the know call the university “Cal State StairMaster” from the Sisyphean amount of stairs on the hillside campus. So, any day at or around CSUSM should start with a homestyle carbo-load (biscuits and gravy) from Mama Kat’s.
“There’s something about this breakfast spot that immediately puts me in a good mood,” she says. Mama Kat’s is also known for its pie (strawberry-rhubarb), which is breakfast if you change your perspective.
After a few hours on campus—with a break to pet the university’s official therapy goldendoodle, Frank, who helps ease finals tremors or apprehension of on-campus stairs—Prado-Olmos will wander into North City, just steps away. She says the almond croissant and coffee at Christophe Rull Patisserie rival Parisian cafés: “It feels like the kind of place you’d stumble across in a much bigger city.”
Rull, a Michelin-trained pastry chef who’s done stints on Netflix (Bake Squad) and Food Network (Super Mega Cakes, Halloween Wars), opened his patisserie last fall. The hype hasn’t cooled off yet: Get there early because the crowds do.
Emma Veidt is an editor at San Diego Magazine. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from the Missouri School of Journalism. She loves running, hiking, and rock climbing, but really, she mostly loves encounters with the street cats around North Park.
Listen to our Ultimate California Mixtape below featuring each artist
Some of the most famous musicians on the planet got their start in California—the Eagles, the Grateful Dead, Cher, Snoop Dogg, and Fergie, to name a modest handful. But before they were topping charts and selling out stadiums, these heavy-hitters were just kids with a dream.
California’s still full of dreamers, talented artists playing garages and filming TikToks in the hope of making their voices heard. Among them are the next Metallica, Dr. Dre, or Billie Eilish (three more Golden State stars). So, we asked 15 music experts from venues, record shops, and radio stations throughout the state to cut through the noise and tell us who they think is poised to go platinum. Here’s your chance to beat the inevitable Ticketmaster battle royale and see ’em while they’re still up-and-coming.
Courtesy of The Schizophonics
The Schizophonics
Recommended by: Tim Mays | Founder of The Casbah | San Diego
“I’ve long thought that The Schizophonics (@theschizophonics) are on the verge of going big. They just played a high-profile opening slot for Jack White at the Hollywood Palladium. They’ve got an established national booking agency working for them and a couple big tours over the next few months. They’ve consistently drawn large local crowds and their show is one of the best live shows out there—it must be seen to fully understand.”
Must-Listen Track: “Desert Girl”
Courtesy of Wikipedia
Rexx Life Raj
Recommended by: Pendarvis Harshaw | Arts & Culture Writer KQED-FM | San Francisco
“Rexx Life Raj (@rexxliferaj) can rap. He can sing. He’s a clever jokester who talks about the powers of psilocybin, as well as a poet who readily discusses the -isms that plague our society. He is from Berkeley, played college football in Idaho, and [has] done shows around the world. There are a lot of entry points to his catalog for someone who has never heard of him—the California Poppyand Father Figureseries are dope. And he’s done a number of remarkable features on other people’s projects.
But The Blue Hour album is a must-listen. In the wake of losing both his parents, he took that pain and made beautiful music for those who are in pain. (Isn’t that what music is for?) He’s dropping another project; it’s titled In Rhythm. I expect more of all of it.”
Must-Listen Track: “New Normal”
Courtesy of Anna Thoresen
Anna Thoresen
Recommended by: Jake Perry | Talent Buyer Whisky a Go Go | West Hollywood
“I’ve been the talent buyer at The Whisky for 15 years, and an artist named Anna Thoresen (@anna__thoresen) recently sent over her music and I’m very impressed. She’s in her early 20s and lives in Los Angeles. Her music is a blend of soulful rock and pop—a Gen-Z Stevie Nicks who produces her own music. I think she’s the next big thing!”
Must-Listen Track: “Dirty Laundry”
Photo Credit: Carlo Aranda
Shua
Recommended by: Julia Dixon Evans, KPBS Arts Reporter & Host of The Finest KPBS-FM, San Diego
“On my radar is Shua (@shuatheshua), a San Diego–based artist who, in his words, creates music ‘for lonely people.’ Throughout his career so far, he’s seen highs and lows—[he’s been] on the brink of making it, with record deals inked and songs with millions of streams, and he’s also been on the brink of homelessness, unsure where his next meal might come from. Throughout it all, he’s committed to raw, compelling, and honest storytelling—all with a stunning voice and sonic energy that’s both urgent and delicate.”
Must-Listen Track:“How To Let Go”
Courtesy of Mareux
Mareux
Recommended by: Brad Schelden | Head Buyer Amoeba Music | Los Angeles
“Mareux (@__mareux__) is a totally unique, new LA darkwave genius that also sounds completely familiar—a new kind of goth making music to help us cope with our brave new world.”
Must-Listen Track: “The Perfect Girl”
Courtesy of Live Nation
Sitting On Saturn
Recommended by: Candace Mandracia | Talent Buyer Humphreys Concerts By The Bay | San Diego
“Sitting on Saturn (@sittingonsaturnband) [is a] really upbeat trio playing a blend of ska, punk, and indie. Best of all, they are from San Diego and graduated from [San Diego State University]. They’ve made appearances at festivals like Riot Fest and toured with 311, Sublime with Rome, Dirty Heads, and even the Jonas Brothers and have collaborated with artists like G. Love, NOFX, and Simple Plan.”
Must-Listen Track: “Tokyo”
Courtesy of The Neighborhood Kids
The Neighborhood Kids
Recommended by: Lou Niles | Co-host of Loudspeaker, San Diego Music Foundation Executive Board Member, 91X FM | San Diego
“The Neighborhood Kids (@theneighborhoodkidsmusic) are poised to break out. They are a young, emerging hip-hop group produced by Jon the Funky Monk. They have a great, old-school hip-hop base to their sound while speaking to important political and social issues happening today. The Neighborhood Kids recently won best new artist at the San Diego Music Awards.”
Sloane Moriarty is a rising Junior at the University of California, Berkeley where she studies English and Education and writes for the Daily Californian newspaper. When she is not at a coffee shop doing work, you will find her in front of a bowl of pasta and a good book.
For some, September signals the bittersweet end of summer. For others, it’s a new beginning: the height of harvest season in California wine country. Vineyard grapes reach optimal ripeness for picking, stomping, and fermenting, while the warm, dry, and temperate weather invites wine lovers across the country outdoors to see the vineyards for themselves. Craving a vino vacation of your own? Here’s what to do, eat, and drink, plus where to stay.
Courtesy of South Coast Winery Resort & Spa South Coast Winery Resort & Spa’s villas come equipped with cozy patios where guests can gaze out at lush hills of vineyards.
Temecula
Families, in particular, should start in the Riverside County city of Temecula, where anyone age 6 or above can sightsee from the skies with family-run company Cielo Balloons. Those who prefer to keep their feet firmly on the ground might go for a sunset horseback ride with California Ranch Company before turning in for the night at the ultra-luxurious South Coast Winery Resort & Spa—the first and only five-time winner of the “Golden State Winery of the Year” award, as granted by the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition—or a room at the Spanish-style Ponte Vineyard Inn, which has its own vineyard and is within walking distance of two more.
Courtesy of Peltzer Family Cellars
From there, stroll to Bottaia Winery, where creative types looking to play winemaker for a day can blend their own vinos and bring them home as a souvenir to age. Hop in the car for your five-minute drive to lunch at the upper veranda of Flower Hill Bistro at Miramonte Winery. Wrap up your day with a tasting at the nearby Peltzer Family Cellars before heading into town for a last hurrah dinner at the 98-year-old, storied Swing Inn Cafe & BBQ.
2019 Wild Horse Peak Il Temporaleat South Coast Winery: Firm-bodied with notes of black cherry. Bright acidity and velvety tannins.
2023 Blushat Bottaia Winery: Simple and clean with notes of raspberry, melogold grapefruit, and lime.
2024 Sauvignon Blanc at Peltzer Family Cellars: Light and crisp, with apple blossom and honeydew melon notes.
Photo Credit: Matt Weir Seven Gables Inn’s seaview rooms are spread across seven Victorian-era houses, including a three-story mansion constructed in 1886.
Central Coast
Head north and stop for a meal at the Hotel Californian’s Blackbird restaurant in Santa Barbara, where executive chef Travis Watson and his staff host a once-monthly series featuring a different winery or spirits company. Patrons who don’t want to build their schedule around that event can still savor offerings from local wineries like Lincourt and Firestone before checking in at The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern in Los Olivos.
After spending some time in the property’s airy restaurant and renowned spa, continue onwards to Paso Robles, where you should plan ahead to book a table at the Michelin-starred Six Test Kitchen. There, the seating counter—which can only accommodate 12—wraps around the kitchen for a real-time, behind-the-scenes view of the staff whipping up 12 delicate courses using the bounty of the area’s farms. (Traveling next month? You’re in luck— October is the region’s Harvest Wine Month, when many wineries host special events.)
Courtesy of Lincourt Wines
If you’re looking instead to prioritize the “coast” part of the region’s namesake, follow Carmel-by-the-Sea’s free, self-guided wine walk (get the app for discounts on included wineries’ tastings) before holing up at the romantic, 19th-century Seven Gables Inn, which overlooks Lovers Point Beach in Monterey. Admire the stained glass windows and Victorian architecture; plus, every single one of its 25 rooms offers views of the water.
2022 Estate Collection Soul of a Lion at Daou Vineyards: Fragrances of violet and strawberry jam; flavors of red fruit and chocolate-covered blueberry.
2024 Roséat Peachy Canyon: Notes of strawberry, guava, and elderberry liqueur with a spicy Tajín aftertaste.
Courtesy of Livermore Wine Trolley Travel between tastings on the Livermore Wine Trolley.
Livermore
Take the 101 straight to Livermore’s iconic Wine Trolley, which shuttles riders to three local vineyards for tastings. Or sit down for a casual picnic at Del Valle Regional Park with a sandwich from Ofelia’s Kitchen and a bottle from First Street Wine Company. Make a stop at McGrail Vineyards before unpacking your suitcase for a stay in one of The Purple Orchid Resort & Spa’s 10 fireplace-equipped rooms and suites. Nibble on a complimentary, made-to-order breakfast while looking out at the garden or olive orchard from every room. Guests can also enjoy a community event each evening, featuring an olive oil tasting, wine, and cheeses.
Courtesy of Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association
Julie Bogen is an experienced writer and digital strategist whose work has been featured in The Atlantic, The 19th News, Cosmopolitan Magazine, and more. She is passionate about storytelling that centers women and marginalized communities, and when not working she's either with her family or in a barre studio.
Entrepreneurs typically launch businesses because they’re passionate about a product or service, not because they want to manage its finances. While working to carve out a niche in their respective industries and drive their companies forward, many business owners find themselves bogged down by day-to-day accounting. Their existing accounting tools don’t provide the necessary visibility or insight, and they don’t have the time or resources to hire additional staff or a chief financial officer. That’s where NOW CFO comes in.
For more than 20 years, NOW CFO has been pairing businesses across the country with experienced accounting and finance professionals. Its outsourced model allows clients to customize solutions that match their individual needs, size, and financial challenges, whether that’s fractional or interim support, project-based services, or full-time placement.
NOW CFO’s clients range from startups preparing for rapid growth to established companies that need additional financial leadership without the commitment or expense of building an in-house team. However, many of these companies don’t fully understand their needs until they experience a “trigger” event: preparing for an acquisition or capital raise, navigating a first-time audit, or another period of transition. With a team of over 300 consultants nationwide, NOW CFO can start quickly and match the right expert to the right business.
“It’s important for companies to have financial visibility, and we can help them avoid a lot of the potholes that companies often run into,” says Mariah Block, a partner at NOW CFO’s San Diego branch. “Roughly half of our clients have an in-house finance person or department, and we’re resourced for more bandwidth when they need an extra set of hands at the staff or senior accountant level, or the controller or CFO level. Some clients use this a few hours a month and others use multiple people close to full-time. Our model is solution-based and customizable. We’re like a faucet you can turn on and off.”
With NOW CFO, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Solutions are based on the client’s individual goals, challenges, needs, and budget, meaning a client never pays for more than they need. Whether it’s a few hours of executive-level guidance or a full accounting team to support daily operations, NOW CFO meets businesses where they are and grows alongside them.
“We pride ourselves on providing our clients with the right resources at the right rate and being able to evolve as their needs evolve,” says Block.
And clients appreciate on-demand access to cost-effective support designed to improve performance and profitability.
Luxury car storage service Auto Concierge has partnered with NOW CFO to support growth over the past year. The arrangement began with a staff accountant who covered a leave of absence, but as the client’s needs changed, they also added a controller role. This allowed Auto Concierge to put effective processes in place and navigate operational challenges. Lori Church, Auto Concierge’s chief operating officer, says NOW CFO has been an “outstanding resource” and a “true strategic partner.”
“From the controller to the bookkeeper, every professional they’ve placed has brought a high level of expertise, responsiveness, and professionalism to our organization. Their team took the time to understand our business of high-profile clients and needs, adapted quickly to our fast-paced environment, and became a trusted extension of our team,” she says. “As Auto Concierge continues to grow, having a reliable financial partner like NOW CFO has allowed us to strengthen our financial and business operations while remaining focused on delivering exceptional service to our clients.”
Slip into the moment: You’re strolling through Surf Sports Park in the fall outfit you’ve been dying to wear, maybe even snagging some handmade jewelry with rare natural gemstones from Timka Jewelry while sipping locally made hard kombucha and snacking on Michelin-starred must-try meals from San Diego restaurants. In the background, celebrity chefs mingle by small parties with DJs spinning and professional athletes passing by floral photo ops that are basically made to be framed. You pause for a wine pour that looks almost too good to drink and catch acclaimed talents like Jackson Kalb collaborating with Quixote.
This is the Del Mar Wine + Food Festival—one of SoCal’s premiere food and drink events showcasing the unique culinary experiences infused with San Diego’s fitness and wellness culture. If you’re heading to the fest this year, we put together an insider’s guide to all the standout activations at the Grand Tasting taking place from September 13 & 14. Here’s what not to miss:
Across Saturday and Sunday, festival-goers can wander the grounds to enjoy activations from sponsors like LaCroix, Landmark Vineyards, Justin Wines, and Clink. These pop-ups will be offering food and drink tastings, goodie-bags, and little surprises that make wandering the festival half the fun.
Clink will be pouring a mix of wines in the picnic area just outside the VIP tent, while Justin, Landmark, and Lewis wines will host tastings nearby. Heaven Hill Tequila Ocho and Mezcal Vago, will be outside the beach area near Feeding San Diego, and LaCroix will be available throughout the grounds with sparkling water and an Instagram-worthy floral photo-op near the Locals zone.
You can also catch San Simeon wines outside the VIP tent, Spritz in the beach area, Peroni and Blue Moon outside VIP, The Grill Dads throwing tailgate-style parties with Grillin’ Time canned cocktails flowing from branded coolers, and The Los Angeles Golf Club Dryvebox giving everyone the chance to test their swing on a golf simulator. Follow your taste buds, your camera, or your curiosity and you’re guaranteed to run into something worthy of a pause at every turn.
Exclusive Chef Collabs
Chef collabs at the Del Mar Wine + Food fest mix flavor, personalities, and a little bit of culinary chaos in the best way. After all, how often do you catch two acclaimed talents sharing the same space? On Saturday, Jackson Kalb teams up with Quixote, while Jet Tila links with Serea and Lionfish for a full-on takeover of the Culinary Comp Zone. Both days feature Fox Point partnering with Haven’s Mawa McQueen in the VIP area, while Plant Paradise joins forces with Nichols Farms and chef Zuliya Khawaja.
And this is just some of many prime celebrity-spotting opportunities. Your favorite chefs will be sprinkled all across the weekend’s lineup. Get the full lowdown on where to find them here.
Beyond the zones, the weekend features some of the best SoCal names in the food and drink industry including A+M Catering, Amalfi Cucina Italiana, Quixote, Glass Box, Rosemarie’s Buns & Brews, Bianchi Winery, Rootdown Wine Cellars, and more. Saturday brings the star power of STK Steakhouse, Jake’s Del Mar, ARLO San Diego, and Provisional Kitchen, while Sunday turns the spotlight to Lana Restaurant, Waverly, Flame & Flavor, and Seasons 52. Click here to see the full list of participating restaurants.
Kyoku Knives will also make its mark as a headline sponsor throughout the festival, with chef Jeff Roberto breaking down sushi, sashimi, and Wagyu beef during the Sushi on a Roll activation in the VIP Reception Area. He’ll be joined by Brian Malarkey (Top Chef, Herb & Wood, Animae) and Tommy “The Fishmonger” Gomes (Outdoor Channel) so be sure to get your cameras ready.
Games, DJs & Tailgates
Field games and foodie finds galore, throughout the weekend, attendees can catch some wiffle ball and classic ballpark eats at Ballpark in the Park, dive into a soccer experience with San Diego Wave FC or join tailgate enthusiasts with SDFC and DirecTV. Or, keep the celebration going with DJs spinning at the Mountain experience.
At Street Fleet Alley, find local food trucks and street food pop-ups serving their best fare. Plus, this year, Baja and Paso Robles head to San Diego to showcase their local breweries, restaurants, and lifestyle brands—keep an eye out for their activations.
Everywhere you turn, you’ll find art installations, local food, celebrity chefs, TV personalities, and unique pop-ups. It’s what the Grand Tasting is all about: living your best life, one sip, bite, and beat at a time.
Isabella Dallas is a freelance writer for San Diego Magazine and the Arts and Culture Editor at The Daily Aztec in her final year at San Diego State University. She previously worked as an editorial intern for SDM, but when she’s not writing, you can find her trying the best coffee spots in SD, devouring the latest rom-coms, and indulging in anything and everything pop culture.
A khaki bathing suit made Imperial Beach hometowner Denja Harris an artist, though she didn’t know it yet then.
As a middle schooler growing up in San Diego County, fiber artist Harris “had to wear uniforms,” she recalls. “I cut a pair of old Paul Frank uniform bottoms and made a swimsuit out of them. I think that’s where [I began] repurposing found materials. From there, I started embroidering. I started sewing handmade handbags when I was [around 20].”
You won’t find fashion, however, at Harris’ solo exhibition at the Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA), which opened June 28. “In 2018 or 2019, I discovered the tufting machine”—a handheld device used to make rugs—“and, during the pandemic, I was able to buy one, and I had lots of free time,” she says. “I started experimenting in a little corner of my living room. And here we are.”
Many of her large-scale works do, indeed, resemble rugs. Harris, however, refers to her process as “painting with yarn—or doodling.” She unfolds a few big pieces inside her small home studio in Lemon Grove, enveloping the space in a cozy riot of color. Draped near one wall is a cartoonishly oversized, spiked chain made of yellow yarn; a rippling orange lamp base sits in a corner. Harris calls these three-dimensional objets d’art “soft sculptures,” stuffing them with scrap materials. Through the studio’s doorway, a well-loved ottoman upholstered in Harris’ signature patchwork style is visible in the living room, where a nature documentary drones quietly on.
Photo Credit: Nahla Valdez
“It’s so visceral, the way she utilizes texture and yarn,” says Katie Dolgov, OMA’s director of exhibitions and collections. “I think she’s working through a lot of personal ideas in her work, and that ends up being very easy to connect with.” That resonant style has landed her exhibitions all over San Diego County and beyond, including solo shows and installations at local galleries like Sparks, Intervals Room, and Mortis Studio and spots in group exhibits at Ohio’s McDonough Museum of Art, North Park’s Art Produce, and OMA’s extension at The Seabird Resort in Oceanside.
The new OMA exhibition title, The Space Between: Texture Studies, reflects the rug-like works’ inconsistent surfaces. Portions of soft, high-pile yarn give way to smooth organic shapes. On one piece rendered mostly in soft and neutral shades—ivory, butter yellow, rose pink, a muted turquoise—the eye catches a thin scribble of cobalt.
Courtesy of Denja Harris
“My process is really intuitive,” Harris says. “I choose a color palette that speaks to me—one that starts a conversation, where the colors interact with each other. Then I grab the yarn, I build compositions through line work, and I let each decision inform the next.” Sometimes she’ll tear out a portion and start again. “Sculptural, dimensional layering is really important,” she adds. “If it’s looking too flat or not activating my brain, then I don’t feel like it’s successful.”
Those shifts in hue and texture are also driven by pure necessity: Because Harris uses primarily deadstock and vintage yarn, she only has so much of each. The varying materials—synthetic and natural, wool and cotton and mohair—add to the visual interest of the work.
The OMA show arrives amid a larger resurgence of interest in fiber art. It’s possible that it’s a natural evolution of the way crafting exploded during the pandemic, creating talented hobbyists who, through exploration and self-instruction, became artists like Harris. Dolgov sees a more immediate motivation, though.
Courtesy of Denja Harris
“I wonder if it’s inherently due to the nature of fabric,” she muses. “There is a softness there. Maybe we’re all feeling like we need to fall into something that’s comforting—not too hard, not too edgy, but still incredibly emotionally evocative. We still need and want to feel the feelings that we’re feeling in the world right now. We don’t need to run away from them, but we do need to be comforted in those feelings, and I feel like that’s what [Harris’] work is doing. It’s surrounding. It’s enveloping.”
And then there is fiber’s familiarity. Not everyone grew up with paintings or sculptures in their homes, but, from our early days, we’ve been wrapped in baby blankets, felt rugs under our feet once we started to walk. Suspended on gallery walls as arresting testaments to their maker’s wayfaring creative mind, the works are undeniable in their artness. Yet they look like home, too.
That’s part of Harris’ point. “I didn’t grow up in art spaces. I’m self-taught. I started doing this when I was 34 or 35, and this is my first time expressing myself through large-scale art. I just started calling myself an artist this year,” she says. “It’s important to me that people who come from a similar socioeconomic background as me or anyone that doesn’t see themselves as an artist can look at my work and see that it’s yarn and that’s familiar to them, and they feel inspired by it. [In my pieces,] I see softness and comfort and joyfulness, and those are all things that I want people to feel when they interact with my work.”
Amelia Rodriguez is a writer and journalist and winner of the San Diego Press Club's 2023 Rising Star Award and 2024 Best of Show Award, she’s also covered music, food, arts and culture, fashion, and design for Rolling Stone, Palm Springs Life, and other national and regional publications. After work, you can find her hunting down San Diego’s best pastries and maintaining her five-year Duolingo streak.
9 Destinations on the California Coast You Should Visit This Summer
sometimes, even us sun-soaked San Diegans need a getaway of our own. Fortunately, unforgettable experiences are just a short trip away.
It’s hard to think of two words that go together better than summer and vacation. Every summer, visitors flock to San Diego to explore our breathtaking beaches and awesome attractions—and who could blame them?
But sometimes, even us sun-soaked San Diegans need a getaway of our own. Fortunately, unforgettable experiences abound, around the world and in our own backyard.
This guide will help you pick the perfect summer escape. Want even more ideas? Check out the Central Coast’s tourism guide here.
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VENTURA HARBOR VILLAGE
Relax and unwind at Ventura’s seaside Ventura Harbor Village for waterfront treats, fresh seafood, patio dining, coastal shops, artisans, pampering, dive trips, live music, and fun rentals on the water! Walk from Ventura Harbor hotels to scenic beaches, Ventura Harbor Village, and Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center. SEA you SEAside! venturaharborvillage.com
Solvang
SOLVANG
Solvang’s walkable village is brimming with wine tasting rooms and bars, museums, galleries, independently owned shops, and restaurants helmed by Michelin-level chefs. Architecture reminiscent of Northern Europe frames Danish-pastry-filled itineraries. Spot the Little Mermaid, chase windmills, brush up on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales— then live one of your own. What’s your Solvang story? Solvangusa.com
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STAY COOL IN GILROY
The super-splashy Water Oasis in Gilroy Gardens is the coolest place to play in Gilroy—but there’s lots more to see and do in the Garlic Capital of the World. Enjoy wine tasting, outlet shopping, golfing, hiking, and more. Visitgilroy.com
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VENTURA
Ventura is your portal to life-changing adventure. The closest of the five islands of Channel Islands National Park are just a 70-minute boat ride from Ventura Harbor, and they offer the wild glory you’d expect from one of America’s least visited national parks. “The Galapagos of North America”? Better. visitventura.com
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PASO ROBLES
Escape to the majestic vineyards, oak-dotted hills, and small-town charm of Paso Robles. It’s where world-class food and wine meet small-town cowboy charm, and it boasts endless lodging options, from historic inns and luxury resorts to rustic vineyard escapes. Recently named a “must-visit region” by the New York Times. travelpaso.com
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PISMO BEACH
It’s all here waiting for you—a gentle climate, where sand, sun, sea, and sky converge to create the ideal getaway. California’s golden past is alive and well in Pismo Beach. Visit experiencepismobeach.com to book your stay. experiencepismobeach.com
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MONTEREY COUNTY
Escape to an inspiring place with striking coastline, secluded redwood forests, and a culinary scene as diverse as the landscape. Now is the moment to embrace the unexpected adventures and natural beauty of Monterey County. Why wait? Plan your trip and join us here. Seemonterey.com
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SANTA BARBARA
Discover a gentle crescent of California coast where the sea and mountains meet, the sun feels more golden, and the valleys overflow with a bounty of color. Santa Barbara offers exhilarating outdoor adventure, fascinating arts and culture, an incredible variety of local food and wine, and more. santabarbaraca.com
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BUELLTON
#SkipTheBigCities and head to Buellton, nestled in the Sta. Rita Hills wine region, where you’ll also enjoy feeding an ostrich, horseback riding, taking a stroll through the botanic garden, or enjoying the collection at Mendenhall’s Museum of Gasoline Pumps and Petroliana. You’ll find accommodations for all budgets, including “glamping.” discoverbuellton.com
