Subscribe to "Escondido Business Insight" for more stories like this delivered monthly to your inbox.
Celebrate Art and Culture in Escondido on 2nd Saturdays
2nd Saturday Art on Grand includes an ArtWalk and Artist Pop-Up
Escondido has long been known throughout San Diego County as an arts enclave. Since the early 1980s, the City has been celebrating local artists every second Saturday of the month. This is when Escondido’s art centers, local galleries, and pop-up artists come together to bring special events, showcases, and experiences throughout the city for everyone to enjoy.
“I am a firm believer that small art shows are a great way to introduce art to the public. Some people may never enter an art gallery but are comfortable approaching art in the street,” said Carol Rogers, who is a member of the 2nd Saturday sponsoring organization Museums and Arts Growing Escondido Culture (MAGEC).
Carol Rogers (left) and the MAGEC team.
The 2nd Saturday event often brings in audiences who didn’t otherwise expect to participate.
“Someone who came into town to get their nails done may discover a new artist, or people who have come to visit a particular artist might discover our wonderfully eclectic downtown,” Rogers said.
2nd Saturday events happen throughout the day and even into the evening. They also span different locations around Escondido, and provide viewings of art, educational experiences and hands-on interactive fun in various locations including the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum, The San Diego Archaeology Center, California Center for the Arts, Queen Califia’s Magical Circle at Kit Carson Park and throughout the downtown area.
Rogers gave credit to the Downtown Business Association, which has been a wonderful supporter of the monthly events and continuously gives the group the necessary permits and insurance they need to create the event every month.
Rogers, who also owns and runs Stone and Glass with her husband, award-winning artist James Stone, said she especially likes working with the ArtWalk and Pop-Up Artists on Grand Avenue.
Although it has been happening consistently since the 1980s, 2nd Saturday has seen its ups and downs throughout the decades. The recession in the early 2000s changed a lot of Escondido’s downtown area, shutting down many of the art galleries that once lined Grand Avenue. But in 2016, efforts were made to rebuild and rebrand the event. MAGEC played a big part in the rebranding, which also included making the event more inclusive around the City giving audiences a wider variety of art showcases and activities such as the speaking series, or craft-making for all ages.
Of course, the pandemic put a dent in the event and shutting it down in 2020 with only one showing in November 2020. But as of April 2021, starting with the ArtWalk and Pop-Up Artists on Grand Avenue, 2nd Saturday has been back and thriving.
A pop-up stand highlights work by Stone and Glass artist James Stone.
“The intent is to bring more visitors back to Grand,” said Rogers, who believes the art shows provide a nice synergy with the businesses, which are also working their way back from pandemic closures.
Some businesses, such as the local vintage stores, will offer specials on their artwork on 2nd Saturday. Although none have been announced yet, the Downtown Business Association is also working on additional promotions that will tie into 2nd Saturday events.
A young family enjoys an art lesson with a local artist.
To make it even more accessible to the public, the City has allowed the event to use space on Grand Avenue that was originally designated for restaurants and retail businesses as part of the COVID-19 recovery. Restaurants and businesses that no longer use the additional space have allowed the Pop-Ups to use their spaces for the event. Rogers is not sure how long these Pop-Ups will continue during 2nd Saturday events as construction is slated to begin in the near future. The MAGEC team is working with the City to find a space for the Pop-Ups when the current space is no longer available.
However, the City recognizes the impact 2nd Saturday events have had on the community and the importance of elevating the arts industry.
“2nd Saturday is a wonderful event that features the unique and abundant talents we have here in Escondido,” said Teresa Collins, Deputy Director of Communications for the City of Escondido. “This event showcases our City’s creativity and important contributions it continues to make in the art world. The City supports this event and looks forward to helping make sure it will continue to grow.”
While 2nd Saturday tends to be slower in the summer because of the heat, 2nd Saturday on August14, featured the Phase II unveiling of the Esco Alley Art, an outdoor art gallery in the alley south of Grand Avenue between Broadway and Maple Street that displays art from local artists along a historic 300-foot brick wall for art patrons and novices to view continually. Phase II will add 11 more pieces to the current 12 pieces that have been hanging since spring of this year.
2nd Saturday takes place every 2nd Saturday of the month. Events schedules and maps can be found here.
Subscribe to "Escondido Business Insight" for more stories like this delivered monthly to your inbox.
New Breweries, Eateries Make Escondido the Perfect Place to Find a Great Meal
Escondido continues to bring residents and guests plenty of choices when it comes to dining. Two new locations prove that our post-pandemic appetites for new flavors and foods can be found in our own backyard.
“The great selection of eateries and breweries in Escondido continues to grow,” said Teresa Collins, Deputy Director of Communications for the City of Escondido. “The City’s support for our expanding food industry makes this a perfect place to open a new restaurant or brewery.”
Brewing a Community Spirit
The Oasis is highlighted on a City map t-shirt.
In November 2020, Burgeon Brewery opened its outdoor Escondido brewery, The Oasis located next to Escondido Feed and Pet Supply in the former Escondido Brewing Company location, and has had a steady flow of support ever since.
“We have seen tremendous support from the Escondido community,” said Mackenzie Graham, marketing director for Burgeon. “I think there is a real thirst for craft beer here and we’ve had such a warm welcome from our Escondido community.”
Graham added when the Escondido location opened, owners, Anthony Tallman, Derek van Leeuwen, and Matthew Zirpolo — who are North County locals and were classmates at La Costa Canyon in Carlsbad —jumped at the opportunity to open here. Burgeon’s main location is in Carlsbad and a new location just opened in Little Italy.
“It just seemed like a perfect fit,” she said.
Team members and guests pose in front of The Oasis brewery.
Not only is the location perfect, the outdoor setting made it ideal during the unpredictable COVID-19 pandemic .
“I think being outside has been a huge positive,” Graham said. “We have been fortunate to be able to serve on site since we opened because of that.”
What they serve is a 12-tap variety of craft brews from IPAs to pale ales to pilsners and loggers, which are on permanent rotation.
“We are most known for our West Coast IPAs and our hazy IPAs but we are really putting an emphasis on pale ales,” Graham said. “They have a lower ABV and are more of a seasonable beer, particularly in the heat of summer.”
Cheers!
Starting August 20, they will be releasing a new, fruited hazel IPA called Tropical Transport, a POG flavored drink with passion fruit, orange and guava flavors.
Along with the various craft beers, food truck vendors provide savory menu items on a rotating basis that compliment the drinks nicely. The food truck schedule can be found on the online calendar.
Being part of the community is important to the Burgeon team and now that some health restrictions have been lifted, The Oasis will be hosting their Branching Out community events. The first one on August 21 is in partnership with the Escondido Creek Conservancy.
“We will be heading out on a project with them to help preserve local wildlife habitats,” Graham said. “This includes fence building and trail clean-up.”
All volunteers who sign up to participate will be rewarded with a free beer or non-alcoholic drink and pizza back at The Oasis after the event. The event is open to individuals ages 8 and over.
For craft beer fans who like to drink at home, The Oasis offers all the fresh releases for take-out as well. “It's a really great spot to just quickly drop by and pick up your favorite craft beer too,” Graham said.
Burgeon Beer Company’s The Oasis is at 649 Rock Springs Road. Contact the restaurant at 760-814-2548 or email taproom@burgeonbeer.com.
aMAZEing Street Corn and More
In the fall of 2019, Marie Alderbert and her partner Gennaro Rodriguez were putting plans in place to open Elote Restaurant on Valley Parkway. It would be the restaurant to compliment their brand, Elote, which already had a successful to-go corn stand in Valley Center.
Elote Restaurant owners Genarro Rodrigues and Marie Alderbert.
They signed the lease on March 1, 2020 only to see the country shut down on March 15. Still, they persisted and a year later, Elote Restaurant opened and has had a growing customer base ever since.
Elote literally means corn in Spanish, but to many it is the word for roasted Mexican street corn. Elote is one of the signature dishes here, but it is really their fresh, quality Mexican dishes — many made from homemade family recipes — that makes Elote Restaurant a new Escondido favorite.
“Everything is made fresh,” Alderbert said. “We created the recipes and Gennaro’s mother, Carmella, helped us with the recipes.”
The salsas, meat marinades, rice and beans are all created from family recipes Carmella helped create.
Elote Restaurant serves fast casual, customizable entrees giving the customer options to create their meal.
Elote Restaurant has ample outdoor seating.
“Everything is build-your-own,” Alderbert said. “You choose your dish, pick your protein and add all the toppings you want.”
In addition to the traditional burrito, taco or bowl-style meals, customers can also choose potato or corn as their meal base option. The potato, which is roasted in the corn oven, has quickly become a customer favorite. Like the potato, fries have recently been added to the menu and they too have been ordered often. Proteins such as beef, chicken, pork, or tofu are added next, then the meal can be completed with a variety of cheeses, fresh and roasted vegetables, seasonings, salsas, beans, rice and of course, corn.
Delicious taco plate with homemade salsas and fresh toppings.
Along with delicious foods, tasty Mexican sodas and homemade Agua Fresca drinks are available.
As Escondido locals, Aldebert and Rodriguez felt Escondido was the perfect place to open their new venture. Not only were they closer to family, who have been instrumental in helping open their business, but they also felt the Escondido community would embrace their fresh take on Mexican food.
“We feel very supported here in Escondido, that’s another good thing about Escondido,” Alderbert said. “The community is really open to supporting local businesses.”
Alderbert is also beginning to expand their services into catering. Catering orders, which includes roasting corn, can be made for take-out or onsite.
Elote is located at 1760 E. Valley Parkway. Orders can be placed by calling 760-533-0974 or online here.