by The Editors on December 8, 2010
This weekend Carlsbadistan street/stencil artist Bryan Synder will present his third annual solo show/30th birthday party which he “created, organized and promoted” titled Young At Art at 6 PM Friday December 10, 2010 at his studio at 2695 State Street in Carlsbad. Young At Art is a collection of new works from the past year including t-shirts, collector prints, stickers, magnets, and other collectibles/gifts.
Snyder says the majority of his new art has never been seen publicly, which quite frankly is hard for us to believe as we seem to see his signature splatter-painted objects all over the place. The event will be catered by Paradise Pizza so there’s that, too.
[Link: Synder Art 2010]
by The Editors on December 3, 2010
On December 11, 2010 students from area schools will turn the La Costa Resort and Spa’s Main Plaza into a winter musical wonderland with performances of all different types of choral and instrumental holiday songs as part of the Carlsbad Education Foundation’s Carols of Christmas.
“We are really excited to partner with La Costa Resort and Spa this holiday season,” says Valin Brown, CEO of the Carlsbad Educational Foundation. “The ‘Carols of Carlsbad’ event is a natural fit where students and their families are excited to perform in a festive outdoor venue at a landmark resort which supports and values the importance of education.” . . . Denise Chapman, La Costa Resort and Spa’s Director of Marketing adds, “We are proud to be showcasing the high-quality music programs being offered in our public schools and applaud the Carlsbad Educational Foundation for funding district-wide K-5 music education for Carlsbad’s students.”
La Costa will provide holiday refreshments, arts and crafts, and a special tree-lighting ceremony and group caroling session at dusk. Carols of Carlsbad runs from 3 to 5 PM on Saturday, December 11, 2010. Follow the jump for more information.
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by The Editors on December 1, 2010

On Friday night December 3, 2010 at 7 PM the Smart Brothers will be playing a local flavor concert at Carlsbadistan’s Museum of Making Music.
Jay and Lou Smart are two brothers from California who have been traveling around the country for the past few years living lives full of the sort of strange adventures you’d expect from a couple of vagabond minstrels. It is hardly a surprise, then, that the music of the Smart Brothers wafts distinctly of the open road. The raw energy these lads put into everything they do is palpable…and contagious.
Tickets are $10 and include a slice of Knockout Pizza and a beverage from Stone Brewing Company. Which means attendees will be getting something free depending on how they look at it.
Click here to buy tickets or follow the jump for a video of the Smart Brothers in action.
[Link: Museum of Making Music]
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by The Editors on November 18, 2010
by Bridget Smith on November 12, 2010
Carlsbadistan’s Dove Library will be transformed into a mini –golf course on Sunday, November 14 from 10-5, for a one of a kind fundraiser for the Carlsbad Library and Arts Foundation.
Ticket holders can play nine holes of mini-golf, bid at the silent auction, and jive to the music of “The Swamp Critters” a Cajun/ Zydeco band. Other kid friendly activities like face painting and Ballo the Clown will take place in the Kids Activity Area located in Dove’s Children’s garden.
Tickets are $10 for adults. Kids tickets are $5 for golf only or $10 for golf plus entrance to the Kid’s activity area. Tickets can be reserved by a calling the library at 760-602-2060 or purchased the day of the event. So if you’re looking for some fun this Sunday, head to Dove library and play mini golf “fore” the library!
by The Editors on November 8, 2010

It looked like about 100,000 people in the streets of Carlsbadistan for this year’s Street Faire, and that’s what organizers are telling the media apparently. According to the North County Times (who still pays people to write stories about street fairs):
As many as 100,000 people crowded the village streets Sunday to shop at the booths of more than 850 vendors, listen to live music at several locations and bask in the warm weather of a balmy November afternoon. . . “This weather is about as perfect as you can ask for during this event,” said Brian Roth, an event organizer for Kennedy & Associates, working for the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. “A few days ago it would have been too hot, but things cooled down just enough.”
Luckily, we arrived late and yet were still able to find kettle corn and a jump or two on the huge bouncy houses on the corner of Carlsbad Village Drive and Roosevelt. Follow the jump for more snaps. . .
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by The Editors on November 4, 2010

On Sunday, November 7, 2010 the streets of Carlsbadistan will be packed with visitors as the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce presents the world’s Largest One-Day Street Fair— the fall Carlsbad Village Faire from 8 AM to 4 PM in the heart of the Village.
Closed streets will turn our busy Village into a bustling walking mall of pop-up tents featuring arts, crafts, music, food, and a plethora of fantastically absorbent sponges, spectacular vegetable chopping devices, magical mops, and the occasional epic collection of what can only be described as flea market junk.
For the first time, North County Transit Districts Coaster trains will be running on Sunday specifically to make visiting the street fair easier for everyone in San Diego. In fact, people from Carlsbadistan who are planning on driving to the street fair should seriously consider parking at the Poinsettia Coaster Station and riding into the Village the train. It’s also a great option for anyone planning to spend their day in the beer garden.
Click here for previous Carlsbadistan street faire coverage, or here for photos from last November’s Street Faire.
For more info (and a complete Coaster schedule) follow the jump:
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by The Editors on October 31, 2010

Luigi, Mario, and Princess Peach looking super at Halloween on Elm.
The streets of the Village of Carlsbadistan were filled yesterday (October 30, 2010) with pirates and bumble bees, spider men and fairy princesses, dead girls and ghosts, as the City of Carlsbad hosted Halloween on Elm. The event sponsored by the Carlsbad Education Foundation, New Village Arts Theatre, Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad, and the Carlsbad Village Association.
Kids jumped on bouncy bounces on South State Street, toured the Boys & Girls Club Haunted Mansion on Oak Street, made Halloween crafts at the Coaster Station, put on makeup at New Village Arts Theatre, and hunted the streets for what little candy they could find. So many costumed kids descended on the Village by 3 PM that most of the participating merchants were completely out of candy by 4 PM (the event ran until 9 PM).
“I bought three huge bags of candy just like I did last year and gave it all away in the first two hours,” said one State Street shop owner. “We really weren’t expecting this many people.”
That seemed to be the story at many of the Village shops. We ran into several families with disappointed kids. But the dearth of trick or treating opportunities was completely forgotten once the kids got inside the bouncy bounces, started making art, or sat on hay bales watching the Valley Middle School band concert. There was so much going on all over the Village that most kids didn’t even miss not getting any candy. Plus, as someone reminded us: we’ve still got Halloween tomorrow.
Click here for a photo gallery from a Happy Halloween in the Village of Carlsbadistan.
by The Editors on October 30, 2010
If we can do something about this rain today will turn out to be epic holiday fun for the kids as the City of Carlsbad presents Halloween on Elm.
“Halloween on Elm is a great place for people to meet their neighbors and enjoy an afternoon of fun and activities in the heart of the village,” said Housing & Neighborhood Services Director, Debbie Fountain. “From carnival games and costume contests to the outdoor movie and the farmers’ market, there is something for everyone.”
Kids will be able to trick or treat local business, jump in a bouncy house, participate in contests, watch an outdoor Halloween movie and much, much more.
Halloween on Elm begins at 2 p.m. today (October 30, 20-10) and runs until 9 PM. The events are primarily located on State and Roosevelt streets. For a complete printable schedule and map of today’s event follow the jump.
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by The Editors on October 3, 2010

The 28th Annual Carlsbad Oktoberfest was presented by the Rotary Clubs of Carlsbad on Saturday, October 2, 2010 at Holiday Park in Carlsbadistan. Aside from the traditional German fare, this year’s festivities also included a family friendly element with a pumpkin patch and pumpkin decorating contest, inflatable jump-houses, and an antique fire-engine for the kids.
Bands rotated on the stage in the gazebo throughout the day, but the lederhosen-clad headliners Roger and The Villagers didn’t take the stage until the early evening. Once they did the oom-pahs of “Eins, Zwei, G’Suffa” and the Chicken Dance could be heard across Holiday Park.
But who’s kidding who, Oktoberfest is really about getting sloshed in a public park with family and friends and as one Oktoberfest attendee pointed out, “The chicken dance was good, but the Beck’s Oktoberfest beer was even better.”
Follow the jump for the rest of the story and more photos.
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