Hi everyone!
September is kicking off with plenty to keep North Valley busy. This week we’ve got classic cars taking over Downtown Vista, a movie under the stars, live music, a little bluegrass, one last Labor Day splash and plenty more happening around town.
We’re also celebrating a getaway winner, meeting two pups looking for homes, taking a trip back to an unforgettable piece of Vista childhood, and giving you a little peek at something new we’ve been working on behind the scenes.
And local sports are just getting warmed up. We’ve got this week’s fall sports coverage below, with fresh Friday night football highlights joining the lineup before this issue hits your inbox.
Grab your coffee and let’s see what’s happening around North Valley. ☕🔥
Enjoy this week’s Flare! 🔥
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Temperatures are finally returning to normal, but the muggy weather may not be completely done. Moisture from Tropical Storm Karina could drift our way by Tuesday, bringing clouds and a slight chance of rain. |
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💡Tip of the Day |
Give Your Ceiling Fans a Fall Check
Before you forget about them for the season, give those ceiling-fan blades a quick dusting. A surprising amount of grime collects on top where you can't see it — until you reverse the fan or turn it up and suddenly redistribute six months of dust around the room. . |
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Three days.
That is how long San Marcos says residents may be without immediate help after a disaster. Which makes checking the flashlight batteries considerably more interesting than it was five seconds ago. Read More... |
Proclamations are written, presented and photographed.
They are considerably less talented at getting someone to lunch.
Mayor John Franklin, Deputy Mayor Dan O’Donnell and Councilmember Jeff Fox delivered a City proclamation recognizing Aug. 21, 2026, as National Senior Citizens Day.
Read More... |
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Rancho Buena Vista picked up its first victory of the season with an impressive 35-14 road win over Sweetwater, powered by a ground game that piled up 228 yards.
Across town, Vista High welcomed Olympian for its home opener. The varsity Panthers fell 33-20, while Vista's JV squad dropped its matchup 33-7. The results weren't all what the hometown crowd wanted, but there's plenty of football left — and we're getting a much better look at the players behind the scores. Read More... |
There is more than one scoreboard worth watching in San Marcos this football season.
Mission Hills varsity continued its dominant start Friday night with a 35-0 shutout of Quartz Hill, improving to 2-0.
San Marcos High came up one score short on the road, falling 27-21 to Great Oak moving to 1-1.
But look a little further down the programs and there's another story developing.
Mission Hills' freshmen are also undefeated. Read More... |
Rancho Buena Vista found the win column twice, including a sweep of its crosstown neighbor. Mission Vista survived a five-set battle Wednesday night. Vista flag football hit a bump in the road, while field hockey and several other fall sports are beginning to get their seasons moving.
Here's what caught our eye this week.
RBV Volleyball Finds Its Footing
After a difficult start to the season, Rancho Buena Vista girls volleyball has put together back-to-back wins. Read More... |
Four games.
Four wins.
And apparently the San Marcos girls flag football team hasn't developed much interest in letting the other team score.
The Knights headline this week's San Marcos Sports Roundup, but they're hardly alone. Mission Hills flag football is unbeaten, both schools have volleyball action underway, and field hockey has joined the fall scoreboard.
Here's what caught our eye. Read More... |
🏈⚽🚩⛳🏊🏐🎾 We can’t fit every great play into one newsletter! Catch the highlights here, then follow our Local Sports section for even more local sports stories, photos, videos, and game coverage. |
👟📱From the Sidelines
Sometimes the best moments are the ones caught from the sidelines. This week, we’re looking back at Vista High’s opening-night thriller, including Eduardo Javier Aguilar’s video of the wild 47–46 finish that kicked off the season with a bang.
Have a great photo or video from a Vista or San Marcos sports game? Send it our way — your shot could be featured next week.
Video courtesy of Eduardo Javier Aguilar |
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Join us in Historic Downtown Vista for the 36th Annual Vista Rod Run, where automotive enthusiasts and families come together to celebrate classic cars, vintage trucks, and off-road vehicles. With over 40 trophies to be won, there's plenty of excitement for both participants and spectators. Enjoy lively music, browse specialty auto vendors, and take advantage of the great downtown shopping and dining. This free event promises something fun for everyone — don’t miss out on this beloved local tradition! |
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Join the City of San Marcos this summer for the beloved Movies in the Park series! Gather your friends, family, and neighbors to enjoy free outdoor movie nights at local parks, featuring complimentary popcorn, fun prizes, and entertaining pre-show activities. Bring blankets, lawn chairs, and your favorite snacks for a relaxing evening under the stars. With a new family-friendly film each month, it's the perfect way to create lasting summer memories with your community. |
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Get ready for an unforgettable night of glamour, intrigue, and cinematic music as Kendra Erika’s 'License to Thrill' takes the stage at The Bornemann. With powerful vocals and jazz-infused arrangements, Kendra and her acclaimed band bring six decades of iconic James Bond film music to life, from 'Goldfinger' to 'Skyfall.' Experience sophisticated live entertainment in an intimate theatre setting, surrounded by elegance and drama. Enjoy Bond-inspired classics and make memories while supporting the special needs community in San Marcos. |
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Celebrate the end of summer with us at The Boochyard! Enjoy an evening filled with music, delicious drinks, and all the golden hour vibes you can soak up. Dress in your favorite sunset-inspired hues—think warm oranges, corals, and pinks—to match the mood as we gather for a memorable night. Bring your friends and send off the season in style under the Vista sky. This is the perfect way to toast to great memories and make new ones before fall arrives. |
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Enjoy a lively and soulful Sunday brunch as Blue Creek Deuces take the stage on the Garden Veranda! Will Jaffe and Susan Thoen will fill your afternoon with an irresistible blend of blues, bluegrass, and heartfelt storytelling—perfect for music lovers and brunch enthusiasts alike. Relax among friends, savor delicious cafe fare, and soak in the vibrant atmosphere as decades of musical mastery create a warm and memorable community gathering. Experience the magic of live music with every bite and beat! |
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Not ready to let summer go just yet? The Wave Waterpark is opening its gates for a special Labor Day splash session, giving families one more chance to squeeze in some serious summer fun.
Hit the slides, float the day away, cool off in the pools and turn the holiday into one last waterpark adventure before fall starts creeping onto the calendar. |
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📅 Also Happening Around Vista and San Marcos
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THROUGH YOUR LENS 📸
Remember “The Fort”?
This 1970s photo from Beaumont Elementary in Vista stirred up a whole lot of memories when Kelly French shared it. Former students remembered the massive wooden playground structure simply as “The Fort” — a maze of climbing, chasing, hiding and, according to more than one person, plenty of splinters.
The best part? Kelly told us her dad helped build it. All these decades later, something he helped create is still remembered by the kids who grew up playing on it. Now that’s a pretty great Vista flashback.
Photo courtesy of Kelly French— and her $100 dining savings card is on the way as a thank-you for sharing her photo with us!
Have a great photo from Vista or San Marcos? Send it our way — yours could be featured next. |
✨ QUOTE OF THE DAY |
“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” |
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This weeks newsletter is sponsored by |
Vista Village Pub has been a Downtown Vista favorite for years, serving up the kind of hearty comfort food that makes choosing from the menu half the battle. Think burgers, sandwiches, fish and chips, breakfast favorites and plenty of cold drinks to wash it all down.
The atmosphere is casual, friendly and decidedly unfussy — the kind of neighborhood spot where you can grab breakfast, settle in for lunch, catch a game or meet up with friends for dinner and drinks. If you’re spending some time exploring Downtown Vista, it’s an easy place to pull up a chair and refuel. |
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🐙 DID YOU KNOW?
Octopuses have three hearts — and their blood is blue. |
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Mark your calendars for a flavor-packed evening in Vista this October, where local craft beer meets artisan cheese in a pairing experience designed to delight your taste buds.
The "Beer & Cheese Event: Craft and Cultured Pairing" is set to take over the barrel room at Pure Vista, and it promises to be one of the most talked-about food events of the season. Read More... |
The yellow umbrella is doing more work than most restaurant signs.
Kristy’s Market does not occupy a shopping center, brewery or suspiciously polished “artisan food hall.” It operates from a Vista home under a current San Diego County health permit.
Yes, California has legal home restaurants. No, you cannot put a folding table in the driveway, post “Chef’s Special” on Instagram and declare yourself the neighborhood bistro. There are rules. Quite a few, actually. Read More... |
A small Vista drive-thru is about to inherit more than two decades of San Marcos coffee history. No pressure. El Kafecito is scheduled to fully launch at Cal State San Marcos on Aug. 31, replacing Campus Coffee outside Science Hall 1. Read More... |
San Marcos is about to get a little crispier.
BHC Chicken, the South Korean fried chicken chain known for taking an already-crunchy piece of chicken and then asking, “But what if we made this even more interesting?”, is working on a new location in San Marcos.
And this isn't just a restaurant rumor floating around Facebook. Read More... |
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FARMERS MARKET FIND: RIBBONWOOD RANCH and BAKERYThere are few things more dangerous at a farmers market than the smell of fresh-baked bread — especially when the table is also loaded with bagels, cinnamon rolls, scones and more. This week’s Farmers Market Find is Ribbonwood Ranch and Bakery, one of those stops where “I’m just going to look” can turn into a bag full of baked goods pretty quickly.
You can find them at the Vista Farmers Market — just keep an eye out for the pink tables. Whether you’re hunting for something to go with Saturday morning coffee or stocking up for the weekend, this is one booth worth making room for in the market bag. Their post specifically promotes fresh bread, bagels, cinnamon rolls, scones and tortillas. |
🐾 DOG-GONE INTERESTING
Your Dog Knows More Words Than You Think
Dogs can learn the meaning of dozens — and in some exceptional cases, hundreds — of spoken words. They also pay close attention to tone, gestures and routines, which explains how yours somehow knows the difference between “Want to go for a walk?” and “Want to go to the vet?” before you've even found the leash. |
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🐾 Looking for a new family member? There are many waiting for you including these two 🐾❤️ |
Don’t let the name fool you — Crab is anything but crabby. This sweet 1-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier mix may be a little shy when you first meet her, but give her some patience and she’ll start showing you the affectionate girl hiding underneath.
Crab would love a calm home with children 10 and older where she can be your one-and-only pet and soak up all the attention for herself. She’s vaccinated, microchipped and spayed, weighs about 45 pounds, and judging by that tennis ball, she’s ready to add a little playtime to somebody’s life.
Crab is available through the San Diego Humane Society’s Oceanside Campus. |
🎉 We Have a Winner!
A big North Valley Flare congratulations to Christopher Boyd, winner of our 3-Night Getaway Giveaway!
Christopher has been part of the North Valley Flare community since June, and now he has a vacation to look forward to. He’ll get to choose his getaway from Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco or the Grand Canyon — not a bad decision to have to make!
Thank you to everyone who entered, completed our survey and continues to read and support North Valley Flare each week. We loved doing this giveaway, and something tells us it won’t be our last. 😉
Congratulations, Christopher — pack your bags! 🧳🎉 |
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😄Joke Of The Day |
Labor Day Wisdom
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