Hello Escondido! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Fare freeze plan, fairy garden workshop for kids, and pot-bellied pigs + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Transit affordability plan advances: San Diego's MTS board approved a fare freeze plan for low-income riders to keep transit costs steady and help balance the budget, and the proposal now awaits SANDAG approval -- see the fare freeze plan.
Supporting students in need: SDCOE and SDCCU’s 12th annual Stuff the Bus is underway through July 31, raising funds at SDCCU branches for school supplies benefiting over 24,000 San Diego County students experiencing homelessness -- learn how to donate.
A bigger home ahead: San Marcos breakfast spot Mama Kat's is moving into the former My Yard Live Beer Co. brewpub, bringing a 10 barrel brewery, dining and event space, and kids play area -- tour Mama Kat's new space.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
You've traveled abroad without being able to speak the local language. You can change that in just 10 minutes a day. Most people are holding real conversations within three weeks. In fact, 92% of users improved their proficiency in just two months, with 25 million subscriptions sold -- take 55% off.* Highlights this week: |
02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Quick nature reset: Kit Carson Park is the easy-in, easy-out sanity saver with mellow hiking trails, three ponds for scenic laps, and a five-acre arboretum when you want to feel like a botanist without homework. Swing by this week, stretch your legs, and let the weekday static fade.
Reality upgrade, anyone? Swap couch scrolls for actual action at Let's Play! VR, with over 100 immersive games, VR escape rooms, and racing sims that make last-minute plans suddenly interesting. Friendly staff guide you from zero to hero, and party rentals mean instant fun when the group chat needs a plan.
|
04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
Makeup for skin that's changed, now up to 65% off: Laura Geller has built its following on formulas made for mature skin, led by the baked foundations women over 40 keep coming back to. Right now, new email subscribers get up to 65% off plus an extra 22%. Enter your email on the page and the discount activates. *See the VIP pricing →
Need cash but can't take on another monthly payment? This gets you a lump sum from your home's equity with no monthly bill and no interest, because it isn't a loan. Use the funds for anything, whether that's home improvements, paying off debt, or a large purchase, and pay it back by the end of your 30-year term. Checking your offer is easy, fully online, and won't affect your credit score. *See your cash offer →
Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
Carrying $5,000 or more on your cards? Stop the interest charges: A balance that size racks up interest fast, and at today's rates it barely budges no matter how much you pay. This card gives you 0% intro APR until 2028 on balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), with a $0 annual fee. That means almost two years to pay down what you owe with no interest charges. *See if it's a fit →
Wish you had someone to talk to right now? The quiet hours are the hardest, especially when you just want someone to talk to. That's exactly what this is built for: real conversations, real matches, real people. Not endless swiping, but actual chats with singles who want to connect as much as you do. Someone to talk to could be a message away. *Join now and start chatting → |
Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
|
05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🏺 Story Time with an Archaeologist @ San Diego Archaeological Center | Thursday (6/25) at 10:00 AM – Thursday mornings at the Center mean story time with someone who actually digs for a living. Kids get archaeology-themed tales, then you roam the museum for Archaeology Quest, the Field Lab, and other hands-on fun. Think curiosity, not chaos, and your coffee might stay warm.
🧚 Fairy Garden Workshop for Kids @ CoLabCrafts | Thursday (6/25) at 11:00 AM – Let the kids swap screens for soil at a fairy garden workshop where they build their own succulent mini-kingdom to take home. It’s hands-on, delightfully messy, and calming, and you get a rare moment of quiet plus a centerpiece you will end up watering.
🐖 Fun Animal Friday: Pot-Bellied Pigs @ Children's Museum of Discovery | Friday (6/26) at 10:00 AM – Nothing beats a Friday with a pot-bellied pig, courtesy of Garden of Eden Petting Zoo, complete with a live presentation and a polite meet and greet. Equal parts wholesome and hilarious, it is snouts, sniffs, and the kind of low-key charm this town lives for.
👨 Chick-fil-A Daddy Daughter Date Night @ Williams' Barn (San Marcos) | Friday (6/26) at 5:30 PM – Break out the boots and the bows for a daddy-daughter night at Williams Barn, complete with Chick-fil-A dinner, crafts, activities, and a photo booth. Think sweet memories, zero dishes. Tickets are $45 per pair, $10 for each additional daughter, all-inclusive.
🐶 Amazing Adoption Event @ Petco (San Marcos) | Saturday (6/27) at 12:00 PM – Petco in San Marcos is basically a cuddle convention, with rescues ready to be your new hiking buddy, couch supervisor, or co-pilot who actually listens. All pups come vetted, microchipped, and fixed, with fees from $250, a feel-good, partially tax-deductible donation.
🎉 Sunday Funday with Kathryn the Grape + Characters @ North County Mall | Sunday (6/28) at 11:00 AM – Bring the kids to the mall Sunday morning for a free music fix with Kathryn the Grape, singing, dancing, and all-out wiggles included. Rotating characters pop in for meet-and-greets, photos, and activities. They burn energy, you sip coffee, everyone wins.
🐄 Open Barn @ Bridle Creek Equestrian (San Marcos) | Sunday (6/28) at 11:00 AM – Craving more hay and less hassle? This open barn delivers. Free all-ages pony rides, petting and grooming, meet the resident pony and donkey, a selfie station, refreshments, door prizes including free riding lessons, plus a first-ever peek at their boarding, lesson programs, and crew.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Escondido report Weather forecastToday — High: 82°F — Low: 63°F — Precip: 2%
Patchy fog before 11am. Sunny, with a high near 82. West wind 0 to 10 mph. Later: Patchy fog after 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. West wind 0 to 5 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 80°F — Low: 59°F — Precip: 0%
Patchy fog before 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Later: Patchy fog after 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. This house is wildThis Tudor-style estate stretches across more than two landscaped acres with mountain and estate views, a 3,400-plus-square-foot main home, and a dramatic great room with vaulted ceilings and oversized windows. Fresh LVP flooring, new carpet, a sunroom, a private-entry lower level, a four-car garage, ADU, pond, orchard, and 36 owned solar panels add serious charm and versatility.
Take a peek inside → |
| |
