Happy weekend, Carlsbad! In today’s edition: Grocery shake-up, wastewater disease tracker, Nómada’s debut, and more.

— Cait Baker

🏆 Most popular this week

Curated by popular demand — here are this week’s most-clicked events, local spots, and stories.

Grocery landscape shifts in SoCal: Gelson’s Markets will close its Carlsbad store on February 28, 2026, after years of losses. Ralphs, owned by Kroger, is expected to take over the location on March 9 — get the closure and takeover details.

Community disease warning system: San Diego County’s public health lab is now testing local wastewater for diseases, with results on a public dashboard, tracking COVID-19, flu, and RSV to spot trends early in Carlsbad — read the full story.

Planning your next chapter: North County’s free Senior Lifestyle Expo will be at the Encinitas Community and Senior Center on February 21, with health, housing, finance, government, and tax exhibitors for retirees and caregivers — get all the event details.

Food and music collide: NÓMADA has opened in Carlsbad, bringing regional Mexican cuisine from Grand Restaurant Group. The new spot was highlighted in a recent roundup of weekend happenings, signaling fresh energy in the local dining scene. It adds a neighborhood-friendly place to explore diverse flavors. Explore this weekend’s events.

Nature fix, no hiking boots: Whether you’re after a midweek reset or a kid-friendly weekend wander, Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation delivers hands-on fun with native gardens, rescued animal ambassadors, and mellow community vibes that feel like a tiny vacation in Carlsbad… sneakers welcome.

Aiming for 95% diversion: Nearby Del Mar’s City Council adopted a ban on Styrofoam coolers, plastic bottles at city facilities, and noncompostable utensils. The law takes effect Feb. 6 with six-month grace for businesses — see what’s in the law.

Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had its best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.

📆 Sneak peek at next week

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🌊 Ocean Cheeseboard: Classic Workshop @ Art Magic | Monday (1/19) at 11:00 AM – Trade doomscrolling for a North County resin workshop where you’ll make an ocean-wave cheeseboard that looks like you summer in Oceanside. Beginners welcome, all materials included, small class, no sticky disasters. Perfect for hosting, gifting, or impressing the neighbors in Carlsbad, Vista, or San Marcos.

🐾 Martin Luther King Jr Day Critter Camp @ Education at Helen Woodward Animal Center | Tuesday (1/20) at 9:00 AM – Kids off school on MLK Day, and you need a plan? Send them to MLK Critter Camp for hands-on animal time, creative crafts, and team games that teach compassion, while you get a breather, they come home believing love is everywhere, with a little fur.

🌳 Focus On: Searching the FamilySearch Website @ Library Learning Center | Tuesday (1/20) at 2:00 PM – Wondering which ancestor actually came over on a boat, and which just spun a tale? Genealogy staff at the Carlsbad Library Learning Center will tour you through FamilySearch.org, sharing smarter search tricks and how to access records and resources. Bring mysteries, leave with receipts.

🤠 Line Dancing Under the Stars @ The Grand Ritz Theater | Wednesday (1/21) at 7:00 PM – Think you remember the Electric Slide? Dust off the boots and shuffle under the stars at The Grand, where Wednesday nights mean line dancing, easy steps, and laughs. Two left feet welcome, your boots finally earn their keep, and the sky handles the mood lighting.

✍ Author Talk and Book Signing @ Barnes & Noble | Thursday (1/22) at 7:00 PM – Janell Strube is chatting with Marni Freedman at the Encinitas Barnes & Noble, then signing her new historical fiction about a revolutionary painter. Remember bookstores? They still smell like paper, serve decent lattes, and let you leave with an autograph, not an algorithm.

♻ Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle Sale @ Orphaned Objects Designer Resale | Friday (1/23) at 10:00 AM – Nothing beats treasure hunting at Orphaned Objects, where reuse feels luxe, the deals are ridiculous, and every dollar helps the Helen Woodward Animal Center. Nab tagged clothing, handbags, shoes, jewelry, and housewares at 50% off, furniture and art 25 to 75%, plus extra sneaky markdowns.

🎬 Cinema Club Friday: “Maudie” @ Carlsbad City Library | Friday (1/23) at 4:00 PM – Nothing beats a good film at the Dove Lane library when you want heart, art, and zero sticky floors. Cinema Club screens Maudie, a tender Nova Scotia love story about grit, paint, and community, ideal for a mellow Friday and conversation with people you like.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Carlsbad report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 75°F – Low: 50°F – Precip: 0%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Northwest wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 73°F – Low: 50°F – Precip: 0%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. North wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50.

Most popular house this week

On an almost half acre lot with no HOA, this remodeled home gained a 2024 addition with a full bath, laundry room, and office. Four bedrooms and a downstairs study offer flexibility, with room for a large ADU.

An 8 kW 2019 solar array on EV-TOU5 SDG&E generates credits. RV or boat parking sits beside a keypad entry to the laundry and full bath. The kitchen features Sub-Zero refrigeration and a Wolf gas range, plus a claw-foot tub in the primary bath. Outdoor perks include a new patio, a pergola, and custom wrought iron railings. Served by HOPE ELEMENTARY School.

A 4,792 sq. ft. brick residence crowns a half-acre in Carlsbad’s La Costa Estates with panoramic ocean and La Costa Golf Course views. A two-story foyer pairs twin staircases and a hand-tin ceiling under a crystal chandelier. Oak and travertine floors and detailed molding stand out. The kitchen features a Wolf range, Miele coffee system, imported French limestone, and a custom Villeroy & Boch sink.

The primary suite overlooks ocean and fairway vistas and includes an Oceana tub, a Toto toilet, and a generous dressing room. Outside, a rose garden, covered deck, outdoor kitchen, and orchard pair with solar and a Lennox smart climate system, plus a whole-house water softener, near the Pacific.

Take a peek inside →

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