Moonlight Beach

06/18/2026

A very crowded lineup…
Drone footage captures massive shark circling surfer in terrifying moment off California beach

A California surfer cut his morning session short after drone footage appeared to capture a large shark circling him in the waters off Aptos.
The encounter happened near Seascape Beach at about 8:45 a.m. on June 10, when drone photographer Nick Bertocchini spotted the animal swimming around a surfer identified as Rex, according to KCRA3.
The footage shows the shark moving near the surfer, Rex, who sat on his board offshore.

A California surfer cut his morning session short after a drone captured a shark circling him off Seascape Beach.

06/18/2026

Keep Leucadia Funky
California's Funky Coastal Community Has Bohemian Vibes, Hip Boutiques, Restaurants, And A Thriving Surf Culture

Bohemian dreams meet a thriving surf scene in Leucadia, a community in North San Diego County that operates less like a place and more like a state of mind. Named after one of the Greek Ionian islands, this funky coastal community was independent until 1986, when it became part of Encinitas, itself a vibrant beach city with seaside views. With hip boutiques, restaurants, and a vibrant skate-and-surf culture, Leucadia offers a scruffy counterpoint to its more polished neighbors. This is one of many characteristics that make it special.

As the North County coastline became progressively more posh, Leucadia managed to maintain more of the local charm that epitomized the area in the late 20th century. Keeping these bohemian vibes is a stated goal of the former hippie-surf community, as evidenced by its decades-old slogan, "Keep Leucadia Funky." Even the architecture feels different, resisting high-rises or commercial centers in favor of rustic beach cottages and mid-century homes that feel more hand-built. To many, Leucadia has the rustic California feel that existed before major developments and gentrification hit coastal North County.

Read More:

The coastal community of Leucadia in Encinitas, California, has been a laid-back surfer's haven for decades, and its boho culture extends way beyond the beach.

06/18/2026

Encinitas City Council to decide if farmers market can relocate

The Encinitas City Council will decide on Wednesday whether to allow the Leucadia Farmers Market to relocate to Oak Crest Middle School, as the market is being forced to move from its current location at Paul Ecke-Central Elementary due to a major school renovation project that will last until fall 2027.
The Leucadia 101 Main Street Association, which sponsors the market, has settled on Diegueno Middle School as the best replacement site after an eight-month selection process, but people living adjacent to the middle school have raised concerns about the relocation plans and the city's permit review process.
A group of six households, including those from Island View Lane, have filed an appeal against the city staff's approval of the relocation plans, arguing that the plans should require a full-scale environmental review or major changes, such as limiting the number of vendors to 135, restricting the use of the school's upper athletic fields, and conducting formal traffic and noise studies.
The neighbors, including John Bjorneby and Kerry Mahoney, are seeking an amicable solution that works for everyone, but are prepared to pursue every available avenue if necessary, and they have received support from St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, which is concerned about increased traffic, roadway safety, and potential parking issues.
On the other hand, many market shoppers, vendors, and local business organizations have urged the council to deny the appeal and allow the relocation to proceed as planned, citing the market's social and financial benefits, with Carlsbad resident Daniel Actor arguing that the market should not be compromised by a handful of neighbors.
In response to the concerns, city staff have modified the market relocation plans to include changes such as reducing the number of permitted vendors from 195 to 135, requiring a 200-foot buffer between the nearest neighbor and the vendor area, banning the use of generators in certain areas, and the adding a traffic study requirement if traffic complaints are filed six months after the market opens.

Newly revised plans now call for fewer vendors, less field use, and new noise mitigation measures, city reports

06/16/2026

Sadly… Two friends killed after being swept out to sea while napping on beach
TWO friends have been killed after they were swept out to sea in California.
Harsh*ta Nair, 21, and Mahial Sran, 20, had been napping on Bonny Doon beach in Santa Cruz when dangerous waves pulled them out to sea

TWO friends have been killed after they were swept out to sea in California. Harsh*ta Nair, 21, and Mahial Sran, 20, had been napping on Bonny Doon beach in Santa Cruz when dangerous waves pul…

06/16/2026

This may stress you out…

San Andreas Fault hits highest stress level in 1,000 years, University of Hawai'i study finds

Stress along the San Andreas and San Jacinto faults in Southern California has reached the highest levels in 1,000 years, according to new research from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

The study outlines implications for seismic hazard assessments in one of the nation's most populated and infrastructure-critical regions.

Scientist Liliane Burkhard said that "the region may be capable of a large through-going rupture involving both fault systems," and that researchers "also found that Cajon Pass may act as an 'earthquake gate,' sometimes blocking large ruptures from crossing between the faults, and sometimes allowing them to pass through and involve both systems in a single event."

Stress along the San Andreas and San Jacinto faults in Southern California has reached the highest levels in 1,000 years, according to new research from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

06/15/2026

Neighborhood Staples: More Than Just Candy and Food

Celebrating over 60 years of Leucadia Liquor

Over the years, Kamil has witnessed and adapted to changes in Leucadia, forming strong relationships with local families. These bonds are evident daily as customers greet him by name. He fondly recounts a story of a local boy who, upon turning 21, handed Kamil a $20 bill to repay him for candy he had stolen as a child, confessing that the guilt had weighed on him all those years.

As the neighborhood gentrified and beverage trends evolved, Leucadia Liquor’s offerings have adjusted to meet more discerning tastes. Tito’s still dominates the vodka category, and both vodka and tequila brands have exploded in variety. While IPAs remain popular, Mexican-style lagers are increasingly favored, especially given Leucadia’s beachside location, providing a more refreshing and drinkable option

https://cstu.io/e29e82

06/14/2026

Historic SoCal Swell Rips Away Beaches and Topples Lifeguard Tower (Video)

From The Wedge to Crystal Cove, a historic Southern California swell strips away sand, exposes buried infrastructure, and sends a lifeguard tower into the sea.

06/13/2026

Eddie did more than go, he went. Here is why. And how it applies to you.

The bumper sticker on the car ahead of you says "Eddie Would Go." You might assume it is a celebration of a high-stakes choice made in a historical storm. It isn’t.
Stop waiting for your storm to find out who you are. The command codes are written in the calm. Read more...

Eddie Would Go: The Man Came First. The Sticker Came Later.

06/12/2026

Permit secured to build belvedere at La Jolla’s Windansea Beach

Detailed summary
The Friends of Windansea has secured a permit to build a belvedere at La Jolla's Windansea Beach, a project that has been in the works for several years, and hopes to begin construction before fall, with the goal of starting work by Labor Day, September 7.
The project involves building an approximately 63-square-foot blufftop belvedere, or gazebo, on Neptune Place near Rosemont Street, as well as installing about 1,800 feet of post-and-rope fencing along the sidewalk on the west side of Neptune between Westbourne Street and Palomar Avenue, and relocating two public benches and their concrete pads.
The entire project is being funded by Friends of Windansea, which has already raised enough money to build the belvedere, but still needs to raise around $1 million for the fencing and other erosion control measures, with donations being accepted through La Jolla Parks & Beaches at lajollaparksbeaches.org.
The La Jolla Parks & Beaches board has signed a memorandum of understanding with the city of San Diego, allocating responsibilities for the structure to Friends of Windansea, and an encroachment maintenance and removal agreement, which outlines the responsibilities for maintaining and potentially removing the structure.
The project has undergone several community reviews since 2018, and has withstood appeals from opponents, including the Preserve Windansea Beach Association, who argued that the structure would be a public risk and obstruct ocean views, with all appeals being denied by the San Diego City Council, the San Diego Planning Commission, and the California Coastal Commission.
Friends of Windansea member Jim Neri expressed confidence that the project will be completed by Memorial Day, and thanked La Jolla Parks & Beaches for its support and participation in the agreement process, highlighting the valuable relationship between the two organizations.
The belvedere is intended to replace a similar structure that was built in the 1920s and torn down in the 1980s, and will provide a scenic viewpoint for visitors to Windansea Beach, with the post-and-rope fencing being built in phases to minimize the impact on beach traffic.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/06/11/permit-secured-to-build-belvedere-at-la-jollas-windansea-beach/

La Jolla Parks and Beaches, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation that preserves, protects, and enhances the parks, beaches, other recreational resources in La Jolla, California

06/06/2026

Coming to a pier near us?

Giant crack in concrete walkway closes Bay Area's Pacifica pier

A beloved cafe on Pacifica's pier said that it will likely need to be demolished.