You put much of your life on the line for the love of your passions. You gamble, though sometimes the chances of a win is as realistic as a Christmas morning snowflake. You dig deep in search of your faith and grind your teeth in hopes of a success. You lay your cards on the table as a lonely bead of sweat clinches to your twitching nose. Your nerves jump and your brow cringes as your last hope ticks off the clock like a soggy cloud over the head of a the umbrellaless. Keeping true to your passions can be a gamble. The rewards are pampering and warm, but an untimely peril has the potential to leave you cold and bare!
When have your gambles left your bare? How did you overcome it and what did you learn?
This weekend swells with creativity and culture. Do you have an itch to put your ideas in the streets? Check out the Art Splash and get your chalk doodle on. Do you dig alternative classical music? Turn off your eyes for the evening at let your ears paint a mental picture at the 6th annual Carlsbad Music Festival. Looking for a relaxing evening under the stars? Let your kids play and post up on a blanket at the Cinema Under the Stars.
• Art Splash Sept. 26-27 (WEBSITE)
Armada Drive above the Flower Fields (MAP)
• Carlsbad Music Festival Sept. 25-27 (WEBSITE)
Schulman Auditorium at the Dove Library (MAP)
• Cinema Under the Stars Sept.25-26 8PM
Maffucci Field at the Army and Navy Academy (MAP)
With the increasing amount of village events, it only seems appropriate to have a designated location where announcements can be made. Like browsing your early morning blogs and flipping through the forgotten pages of the local paper, village crawlers should have a place to pass each morning for updates on their community.
It’s at UpState, but a more centralized bulletin board is currently in the works. For the time being, one has been erected at Snyder Art and Design on State Street. Flyers flutter in the cool ocean breeze and a pad of paper and pen await the next neighborhood note. Local artist’s business cards clutter and a smorgasbord of village announcements reach for your attention.
Do you have an event, idea, doodle, poem or concern you would like to share? Post it HERE on the village bulletin board!
Much of our crawls abroad seek public events and culturally laden communities which bring neighborhoods together. Our findings range from the free parks of Amsterdam where families mingle and kids play to the comfortable cafes of Italy where a good conversation rambles as easy as an early morning meander. Our findings tend to be based on the arts and free of charge where the goal is to bring people together rather than to turn a profit. Cinema Under the Stars at the Army and Navy Academy’s Maffucci Field filled fast as a giant inflatable screen attracted the community for a free night of cinema and culture.
The sun dimmed and stars sparkled around patches of clouds in the night sky. Families appeared out from the surrounding shadows, arms full of pillows and blankets and neighborhood kids chased each other in the damp grass. The scent of popcorn tumbled in between the scattered crowd like a shinny marble rattles within the cavities of a pinball machine and looming trees shivered in the cool September breeze. The giant inflatable screen flickered advertisements as the bundled crowd awaited the show. Scampering cleats and fleeting balls usually trample the patches of grass at Maffucci Field, but the only strain the field felt during the Cinema Under the Stars was the weight of a smiling community.
WHAT: Cinema Under the Stars WHEN: Friday Sept. 25th and Saturday Sept. 26th 8pm WHERE: Maffuci Field (MAP) WHY: It’s free and a great way to hang with the neighborhood
Is there any other way to end the Carlsbad Bar Crawl. The Tee has a thriving early morning local bar scene as well as a popular destination for the late night bar crawlers. It’s dark and dingy, perfect for an introvert, but it has been know to get pretty wild. One of the last bars to enforce the inside smoking law, which is good or bad depending on your habits. Two pool tables are constantly leaned upon and a foosball table has seen better days. An electronic pinball table claims to be old fashioned, but we have a hard time believing it. The service was outstanding and the conversations are always rolling. Not as flashy as other bars, but it does have the best indoor sign in Carlsbad.
BONUS:One of carlsbadcrawl’s favorite paintings hangs somewhere in the Golden Tee. Find it and snap a photo. The first one to send us a photo wins alimited edition miniature Same ‘Ol sculpture.
This concludes a Carlsbad Bar Crawl with Papa Wander. Hope you enjoyed it!
Forever known as Fidel’s, but changed due to a family feud, this stop is known more as a great Mexican restaurant than a Carlsbad bar crawl stop. Don’t let that stop you because the bar is worth a Margarita or two. The walls are decked out with Mexican sombreros and each corner of the room has a flat screen. You can’t go wrong with free chips and salsa and the staff is always smiling. The downside of the bar is that you can’t order off the main menu, but the local trick is to order form the hostess stand as a meal to go, then bring it into the bar. The staff has no qualms with this. A birthday without the guitar picking old man isn’t the same, but a bar, restaurant and site of the artist’s parent’s wedding (and HERE) is one that we will forever enjoy… bar crawl or not!
It’s not a crawl without the Cantina. A pint on the sunny patio is a good beginning, but you will most likely return sometime towards the end. Some classic conversations have rambled amongst a local day time crowd and the overhead televisions play a good mix of sports and Fuel TV. If a high school reunion ticket is too steep, go to the Catina any other night instead. The building is small, so expect a long line on weekend nights and remember, you don’t get in unless someone leaves. The patio gets just as cramped and a nicotine cloud constantly sags low. If you have something on your mind, and the lungs to back it up, sign up for Tuesday night open mic night. Always a great stop, just wish it was a little bigger.
Formally known as Skid Joe’s, and a whole lot better, Hensley’s provides great food, live music and numerous special events. The pub stays dim and is decked out with a variety of novelty skate and music memorabilia straight from skateboarder legend and accordion ruler Matt Hensley’s personal collection. The juke box will rival your best Pandora play list and a cover charge is unheard of. Impressive art hangs around the pub and live bands rattle windows from the intimate front stage of from the larger back stage. A surf video premiere or local art show isn’t uncommon and the far back room thrashes with pool sharks. Dart boards line the walls and a shuffle board invites pint clanking competition. If you are ready to break out of your shell and hit the local scene, Hensley’s is your place.
With a recent attempt to beef up its live music scene, Boar Cross’n has begun to get a better rap. The inside is large and open with a bar island in the middle. The lights usually stay dim and an open back patio is available for outside smoking. Up to 5 pool tables await, but the sticks are screaming fro retirement. Word is there is a great special involving a cheap shot with the order of a beer. The occasional free chili or beef stew bar has been offered in the past. Boar’s has potential and just might become a destination for live music seekers in the village. The stage offers the presence, but the sound quality can be debated.
Right in the heart of the village and a stone throw away from many other bars, Hennessey’s convenience alone makes it a frequented stop on any crawl. The menu is packed with everything from Irish Nachos to Meatloaf and a smorgasbord of specials including buy 1 get 1 free breakfast or hamburgers on Tuesdays. Go big with a 64oz. beer or get to the point with $3 shots. The service was impeccable. The tender told jokes, rambled and jumped out from behind the bar periodically to impress on Karaoke. The back patio was recently given a face lift, but watch out for the line both out and in. At times the crowd seems to drift from N. Oceanside, but a story about months in the “sandbox” never hurt anyone. With great front and back patio space, as well as comfortable inside dining and bar, Hennessey’s is well worth a morning breakfast or a midnight pint.
Formally known as Gibblin’s, this bar is full of Irish pride. A brick fireplace greets you as you enter and a dim wood tavern lures. The menu is slightly on the expensive side, but the food is well worth it. On a packed night, space can become an issue, but that seems to be a problem at most village bars. The night gets really fun when a good Irish, or even reggae, band takes the small and intimate stage. If you are on a date or equipped for a conversation, come early, because it does get pretty loud. The patio is one of the village’s best. Nothing beats a pint with friends under the sun with the scent of Eucalyptus tumbling down Grand Ave. Fire pits warm during breezy days and a giant television keeps you up-to-date on the dail’s sports. Sundays will now be offering a free buffet with a 1 beer minimum purchase during football. The service was enjoyable and Gibblin’s, I mean O’Sullivan’s, remains one of our favorites.
You either love this bar or hate it. If not for the location, it would not be on our crawl. For a strong drink, your fix can be found here, but for us, we stay away. The patio is nice on a sunny day or during sunset and for those singles, a hook up probably isn’t too tough. The tenders are attentive and the music always seems to be on track. Nights can get packed, but the security guards have been known to give VIP privileges to those able to slip a crisp bill. If you are in for a wild night, Dini’s will satisfy your craving.
Formally known as Neimen’s, this bar is well lit, very open and boasts a nice patio with a view along the Coast Highway. The bar is frequented by a tight local scene of older men during the day and slowly transitions to more of a younger crowd as the sun sinks. The staff is entertaining and willing to share a story. Little effort was needed to get the tender to stand up on the counter and scribble Charger’s shenanigans across the NFL flags that dangle above the bar. A great stop during football season and good live local bands are sporadic. Make sure to get there early as a cover charge has been know to be enforced. Usually not a stop for us, but for this crawl, the Ocean House happened to be our favorite stop.
A popular Sunday morning destination for anyone who enjoys a simple Bloody Mary bar. The food menu covers most of the necessities and you can catch a great special almost every day. The juke box bounces when a sporting event isn’t televised and an interesting conversation is never far. There was once a pool table, but it may have been replaced by increased dining space and a shuffle board table was once a popular draw. The patio catches a cool breeze, but usually is tainted with cigarette smoke and the occasional Vinaka Cafe run off of young hipsters in search for a spare rollie.
Though they recently added windows on the Southern facade, Koko Beach remains the darkest bar in Carlsbad. Normally not a stop on most weekend crawls, it offers a comfortable escape when you don’t feel like keeping up with the Jones. An older local crowd sits at the end of the bar chatting about politics and sharing ageless stories. The lack of light, weathered crowd and blasting air conditioning reminds me of visits to the Florida panhandle. The menu is hearty and dinner is served until midnight every day of the week. An establishment not interested in drawing tourists or glow stick twirling scensters, Koko Beach offers a place where you can find long time friendships swapping stories and harmless habits.
Higher drink prices and cover charges usually push us upstairs where an overhead view of sloppy dancing accompanies sushi and warm Saki, but the Rum and Cokes were stiff and the service was great. Jalapeno poppers have been eliminated from the menu, but it’s always a plus when chips and salsa are slid down the bar along with your drink. Avoid the night life unless you are down for lines, cover charges and prowling swingers. I think I had more fun working there than as a patron, but overall it was an enjoyable stop.
Also known as the Wrinkle Room, the Alley has one of the best back patios in Carlsbad. Stashed in the back alley, in the shadows, but with a wide view of a good chunk of the village. Karaoke and dancing attracts an older crowd and cougars can be seen prowling nightly. $1 Jack and cokes and free chili dogs once drew a younger crowd during Monday night football, but that is as distant of a memory as your last visit. The neon red lights are that of a stroll along a Red Light District canal and the toys in the bathroom would lure a lot lizard like a light house guides a gasping tugboat. The service was under par, but the tender did mumble some good jokes as she thumbed through a Carlsbad Magazine.
As you know, the Carlsbad Bar Crawl has been stumbling through our village streets long before your first hangover. Red faced hoodlums slur obscenities while impatient taxi drivers screech around soiled corners. The full moon sags overhead as unstable bellies swell and hiccups are swallowed in the glare of flashing red and blue lights.
A dozen bars bubble to the beat of another sticky juke box and drinks slide across bar tops with the grace of a clumsy teen across a freshly sprayed slip n slide. These are the tunes we stomped to and the counters we leaned upon as Papa Wanderer set out to gulp double Rum and Cokes – no fruit in a small glass – during his summertime Carlsbad Bar Crawl.
Starting today, and for the next 7 days, our journey will be shared here on carlsbadcrawl.com. Check back each day!
The creative process is a journey. Long stretches of expressive outburst propel you towards the horizon while unexpected dead ends stifle even the most creative. The ride on which you travel reacts to the path you wander upon. Your wheels rotate at varying speeds and your brushes smear paint in all colors.
No matter the smoothness of your chosen road or the obstacles that slow your momentum, keep moving forward. Remain focused on your ambitions and reach out for your goals. When your journey becomes slow and unfavorable, keep your eyes on the horizon. When you are confused and hurt, keep moving forward.
A mistake is just a detour; a failure is when your journey ends because of a few wrong turns.
After a wrong turn, how do you get back on the right path?
Another chapter has been completed. Snyder Art 2009 drifts into the past and the gallery slowly transforms back into a working studio. All flyers have been removed from our village streets and carlsbadcrawl.com shifts back to artistic observations of a village by the sea.
Many Carlsbad Flower Blocks have been taken home, but a few still remain in the streets. The locations of each block were first brainstormed with astute consideration in terms of its relationship with its environment as well as its potential to become a walking hazard. If you have a concern about a remaining block, please contact the artist.
The response to these blocks have been incredible. Emails and village conversations have proven that the people of Carlsbad enjoy, and desire, the creativity that we bring to our streets.
If you see a block that you like, take it home and add it to your home decor or garden! If you see a block that might be a hazard, contact theartist@carlsbadcrawl.com!
Published September 4th, 2009 in art and events.Closed
The goal I set to achieve with Snyder Art 2009 was to emphasize the benefits of a healthy culture based on the arts. I wanted to highlight the rewards of creativity. I attempted to reunite friendships and introduce strangers. I built a stage where the art was not what hung on the walls, but what walked around them. I wanted to encourage analysis and provoke thought. These desires are what created this experience and I thank you for all your support!
A special thanks to all who came out for the show. The community was the final piece of the experience and I thank you all for your participation.
Rick Sturgis, a local crawler who frequented the benches at the corner of Grand Ave. and State Street, passed away late last Saturday night. He was found early Sunday morning laying on a bench on the corner of Roosevelt. During his 61 years he painted a colorful background, one which we now share.
A memorial has been created for Rick near the village fountain. Shoes which were given to him only if he promised to buy new socks sit snug up against a Carlsbad Flower Block, empty bottles of his choice beverage, the sports page, flowers, candles and other reminders of a honest life.
Rick’s friends and family have visited the fountain during the past days. The city has promised to leave the memorial for another day to allow time for all to stop by.
Ken, a close friend, told stories of Rick with a wide smile, but a tremble in his voice. Rick’s last meal was a carne asada burrito from Cessey’s. “Rick never wanted anything from anyone, but on his last night, he asked us to get him a burrito. When his body was found the following morning, the burrito wrapper was on the ground beside him.” Another friend told stories of her “Mr. Potatoe Head”, a nickname she gave him, while unable to hold back tears. John laughed as he reminisced about being pushed into the fountain by Rick.
Rick graduated from SDSU with a BA in mathematics. He owned a successful tree trimming business and was successful his entire life. Though he had the means to live a more traditional life, he chose to spend his days in the village with his friends.
Rick’s last page has been written, but his story will never be forgotten.
With every painting now hung on the walls, each wall painted, the carpet cleaned, all marketing in place, the web laden with my videos and ideas, food organized, a photographer scheduled and music all lined up, my year’s biggest project is ready to be shown.
Snyder Art 2009 open’s its doors tonight at 7PM. I have worked hard and passionately for the past year for tonight. Long hours have been spent cutting stencils, dripping paint and brainstorming for the best way to present my ideas.
A special thanks to all whom have helped along the way… Each one of you play a giant part in my art. Whether it is an idea for a painting through a brief conversation or a late night call expressing a concern. My work reflects interactions with friends, family and strangers, as well as our village by the sea.
Thanks again and hope to see you all tonight!
SNYDER ART 2009
Sat. Aug. 29th 7PM (MAP)
2695 State Street
Carlsbad
A request from the artist: Did you take home a “flower block”? If so, please contact theartist@carlsbadcrawl.com
How long have you lived in the ARTpartment with Bryan? Is the current ARTpartment the first or was there another? This August was our 4th year in the ARTpartment. Before that we lived together in a room for rent near Cal State East Bay, where Bryan went to school. The house had 9 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and
2 kitchens, so it was kind of like an apartment. Originally, just Bryan lived there and the place was always cluttered with art projects. Like the candle installation that started on a wine bottle and eventually attached itself to a skateboard deck and then to the wall and floor. After I moved in, things didn’t really change (except that there was groceries in the fridge). We made projects together that added to the rooms decor. There is a painting that hangs framed in our ARTpartment that we painted there. We got paint and oil pastels everywhere… needless to say Bryan never got his deposit back, nor did he ask for it.
Describe the walls and some of your favorite things on them?
The ARTpartment has lots of color and light, that’s probably my favorite thing about our place. There is art everywhere and select vintage knick knacks. We have a big stencil of mushrooms in the bathroom and right by my dresser, a stenciled portrait resembling my face.
Being a fashionista and artist yourself, how do you two share ideas? Do you ask for advice from each other?.
Both of us ask each other for advice all the time. It really comes in handy because we both share similar tastes and aesthetics. We are both perfectionists too. The first person I want advice from is Bryan. We come up with lots of ideas together as well and re talk them out until they are sound. We both have idea books!
What is your role in Bryan’s art and his creative process?
I like to think of myself as his helping hand and second opinion. I have done a fair share of behind the scenes work too, and I’m his biggest supporter.
Has there been a time when you witnessed Bryan break down from a project failure or from being overworked?
Not from failure, but definitely from being overworked. You can’t stop Bryan from working, he has an amazing drive. All you can do is try to make life around him easier, easier for both of us. Sometimes when he works late at the studio, I will drive down there to bring him dinner. I’m also very busy too, which makes things easy for both of us, neither of us are holding each other back. How has the opening of the Snyder Art and Design studio changed things around the ARTpartment?
There is a lot less clutter at the ARTpartment now that Bryan has a studio. Over the years, his art supplies multiplied. He made paintings, t-shirts, stickers, sculptures…everything from home. Now Bryan does all of his internet/computer based work and a few side projects at home. We also hold Carlsbad art events at home too.
Describe the weeks leading up to Bryan’s annual solo show? How much time is invested into preparation. How long does Bryan work on the total show? Describe your influence and participation.
Bryan wakes up at 7:30am and works as late as 11pm or 12am. He invests all his time to the show. He does everything himself, there are no interns or employees. He does all the planning/organizing, advertising/marketing, budgeting, creating, cleaning… the list could go on. I try to give him good feedback and support, I think that is the influence he receives. I try to help out where ever I can also. This year I’ll be in charge of the merchandise among other responsibilities, like cleaning, running errands, promoting the show and being his arm candy on opening night 🙂
How is it living with an overly passionate artist? Describe the awards and perils?
Being with a passionate artist means I get to see a side of him no one else gets to see, but I don’t really see an award system in our relationship. He makes me happy, we understand each other, we are best friends and we allow each other independence as well. I don’t think that has to do with him being an artist, I think that is just his personality. I will say that there are perils though. Sometimes I have to come second to his work and that is something you learn to understand and work with.
Other than art, what do you two do together for fun?
That is an easy question. We like to wander cities and travel, watch movies, go to art shows and hang out at the beach with friends. We love Halloween and dress up every year. We go on bike rides and secret missions too.
What are your projects and interests? What do you currently have going on?
I am a freelance makeup artist and aspiring wardrobe stylist. I specialize in commercial, lifestyle, fashion and beauty for film and photography. I also go to school for fashion merchandising and design. I write a style blog called streetfancy.com. The blog is a creative outlet for me and it keeps me up to date in the fashion world. Streetfancy.com is all about personal style (street style) and the connection between lifestyle, art, reality and fashion. I have a section called OUTandABOUT and it is just that. when I’m out and about and see someone exuding impeccable personal style, I stop them for a snapshot. I also have a section called Icon Etiquette, for praising, educating and hopefully inspiring the readers about icons who’ve made fashion movements (like Annie Hall or Stevie Nicks). Eventually, I would like to start my own vintage store and continue to do my freelance work. I’m planning to open the store online through streetfancy.com in the future.
I’m also an artist but haven’t taken any plunge like Bryan has. I love illustration work like Andy Warhol’s shoes or Erte (a.k.a. Romain de Tirtoff)of Harper’s Bazaar, Swoons street art and William Kentridges’s charcoal drawings. Collage art, thick impasto colors and textures thrill me too.
Thanks for reading! and don’t forget to dress to impress because streetfancy.com will see you at the show!
As a kid growing up in the middle class and in Carlsbad, the beach was my second home, my babysitter and my playground. The cost was only as much as a jug of water, a bag of grapes and a few sandwiches. My family would pack up the Suburu early each morning and we would often be the first to plant an umbrella and take the day’s first dip. The hours ran wild with boogie boarding, lagoon exploring and drip castles.
Today, I live only blocks from where I grew up. I still frequent the same beaches and pedal my bike along the same coastal stretch. As my passion for art grows, my story builds. I often find myself creating projects which first grew roots during my childhood.
“…dripping beach sand or paint, these are the stories that fill my book…”
You put much of your life on the line for the love of your passions. You gamble, though sometimes the chances of a win is as realistic as a Christmas morning snowflake. You dig deep in search of your faith and grind your teeth in hopes of a success. You lay your cards on the table as a lonely bead of sweat clinches to your twitching nose. Your nerves jump and your brow cringes as your last hope ticks off the clock like a soggy cloud over the head of a the umbrellaless. Keeping true to your passions can be a gamble. The rewards are pampering and warm, but an untimely peril has the potential to leave you cold and bare!
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