Approximately two hours north of Mexico is a small town known as Encinitas, California. It is place that prides itself on burritos, eco-friendly SUVs, Blink 182, and a close-knit community. With a personal aesthetic lodged somewhere between Venice Beach and The Cape, Encinitas is a town that is neither edgy nor basic.
It is a place of seeming contradictions: Sure, everyone kind of looks like a JCrew model, and if you don’t shop at the farmer’s market at least once a week, you would probably be considered a monster. There’s a rugged taco shop on every corner ... right next to a Starbucks. Everyone rides their bikes ... but they also probably own a BMW. If you’re new to town, it might feel like you don’t belong for awhile, but don’t worry. All you have to do is throw on a boho tank top, profess your love for Mother Earth and Cholula hot sauce, and you will be one of us!
If you were born and raised in Encinitas, you know what I'm talking about, and are fiercely loyal to our town. Because there are some things only we natives can truly understand. Things like...
you know that Surf PE class is a thing
Running the mile and volleyball are for other parts of the country that aren’t as cool or progressive as Encinitas.
Your neighbors are Buddhists who also own Porsches
Other juxtapositions: Women wearing dresses made out of 30 year-old Guns and Roses t-shirts while toting a Michael Kors bag.
You’ve run into at least five exes at The Saloon
It’s the place to be if you feel like having an existential crisis while sweating out your PBR.
You’ve done acid in the Mushroom Caves, or know someone who has
And it was so. Real.
you know that Flashbacks has all the best Halloween outfits
Slutty tutus, electric blue fishnet tights, pleather tube tops, and rainbow wigs were just a few rebellious Halloween and closet essentials you could purchase from 101’s favorite thrift store.
You've made out at the AMC
Although it’s now a Staples, AMC used to be THE place to be on a Friday night if you were in high-school. The seats smelled like moldy bread, but you didn't care.
You’ve seen Jack Johnson live
Or your friends tried to drag to. I mean...he is like the essence of every beach town, after all.
You knew Emily Ratajkowski
Fun fact: In high-school, I went to a garage party with Emily Ratajkowski and she’s pretty much the person you think she would be in real life. Flawless, emotionally aloof, quintessentially unapproachable, and aesthetically enviable.
you shop at Free People
Where else could you find a tattered tye-dye tank with asymmetrical sequins and a fringe?
or Urban Outfitters
Two-hundred and fifty dollar leather jacket: check. Floral Doc Marten Mary Janes: also check.
You studied for the SATs at D Street beach
And then your parents probably forced you to take the Princeton Review SAT course because life isn’t fair.
You always know where to grab a breakfast burrito
You always make sure to stop at Roberto's or Raul's for a killer morning breakfast.
but you miss Jamrock
Jamrock, our area's only Caribbean cuisine, is now closed. But when it was alive and well, you could order Jamaican patties with a bottle of Red Stripe and life was so, so good.
You've had a crush on someone who worked at E-Street
An educated man who can manipulate foam and espresso? Dream boyfriend.
and have spent way too much money at Lou’s Records
In high school, back when Lou’s took up two buildings, you pretty much accrued your entire CD and album collection from their used stockpile. Then you'd go smoke a joint in your car while listening to Kid A.
you know that the best Birthday presents can be found at the 101 street fair
And your gifts were always unique and on point.
You've faced the judgement of Thrifty Threads
She will not hesitate telling you your pile of clothing is generic garbage.
You’ve had run-ins with ENC's infamous homeless dude, Mick Jagger
Or at least, everyone refers to him as Mick Jagger. He’s tried to convince you that an alien flying saucer is humanity’s only hope. No one has blessed you with finer wisdom than Mick Jagger.
you've done hot yoga ... even though it's hot outside
And the energy was always so beautiful and so sweaty.
You've been to the Self-Realization Gardens
Everyone says they’re visiting the Self-Realization gardens to get in touch with their spiritual self, but really, people just want to take artsy selfies with koi fish ponds and exorcise their hangovers.
as a teen, you probably had a job at LCG
La Costa Glen is a super fancy retirement home that maximizes profits by only hiring 16 year-old servers who don’t care that they’re only making minimum wage with no tips. You get free meatloaf and acquire like 40 new grandmas and grandpas, so it’s not the worst thing that could happen to you.
You own at least one Rastafarian bracelet
Even though the only thing you know about Irie life was Bob Marley and weed.
and know that One out of every ten people has a “One Love” tattoo
Because it's a motto one profoundly can believe in.
You’ve ordered the Justin Burrito at Rico’s
The Justin Burrito — a Rico's specialty— always amounts to $4.20, with tax included. The delicious burrito is enveloped cheese, rice, beans, lettuce, French fries, guac ... and eternal chillitude.
You own an Encinitas Surfboard hoodie
You were no one in high school unless you owned an Encinitas Surfboard or Mammoth hoodie (you ideally owned both).
Your instagram features an acai bowl from Swami’s
Because it’s SO GOOD.
you thought it was normal that Parents hired Tony Hawk for their kids' birthday parties
He is a local, after all.
you've ended up at Filiberto’s at 2am
A night of wildly digesting tequila shots and Jager bombs always called for a sobering carne asada. It’s basically the Encinitas’ hangover cure. Now you know.
and most of all, you know there's just no place like home
Gotta love this town.
