By Mary Bishop
It was the perfect Southern California day, the sun was out, the breeze was blowing, and it was around 70 degrees. My girlfriend and I attended the “Mother’s Day is Sweet” event for a day of walking, shopping, and tasting treats. We had the opportunity to explore restaurants, art galleries, tattoo shops, florists, and other shops that we may not have tried otherwise, which turned out to be super fun. Once we checked in and received our lanyard and card with a map of downtown and all the businesses participating, we were on our way. Twenty four businesses were participating in this year’s event. There were many highlights to our day, here are some we visited during this three-hour event.
Orfila Tasting Room and Kitchen on N. Cleveland Street was our first stop. They offered us a gluten-free peanut butter cookie which was a tasty way to start our day.
Jet Fuel Coffee is part of the Lab Collaborative. They served us a salted chocolate chip cookie which was probably our favorite cookie of the day. I’d love to go back and try their craft coffee next time I’m downtown.
Fugu Ice Cream and Taiyaki is a place I’ve been curious about but have shied away from frequenting because honestly, I didn’t know what Fugu Ice Cream and Taiyaki means. This was a great opportunity to learn about their ice cream and watch them make their unique rolled ice cream sundaes on a frozen stainless steel pan. We tried several of their soft serve flavors (horchata, green tea, and ube) all of which were delicious.
Bliss Tea and Treats on Mission was a hidden gem. It was cozy and exotic with their artwork and beautiful decorations. The hibiscus tea was perfectly cold and refreshing, with just enough sweetness. The décor makes for a perfect place for a baby shower, Mother’s Day tea, or even a work party.
Coomber Craft Wines is a winery and wine tasting room and was one of our favorite places. It’s dog friendly with several well-behaved pups in the place and even doggie treats by the door. They offer live music on their covered patio seven nights a week. Food can be delivered from nearby restaurants as you enjoy their variety of craft wines. We enjoyed a Paso Robles Cabernet while watching the town walk by. It was a very inviting place.
Luna Grace Photo Studio and Gallery is a mother/daughter gallery. Barbara McDonald is a sculptor of steel and her daughter, Christine, is a photographer. They had a studio in Laguna Beach and have since opened up a shop at 409 Mission near the movie theaters. It was the perfect place for tasting from Orfila Winery as we enjoyed learning more about the art.
Flying Pig Pub & Kitchen is thriving in its new location on Mission Avenue. They serve lunch every day of the week and offer a daily Happy Hour from 2:30-5:30 pm with a great selection of food and drinks for $6 each. I plan to go back and sit on their outdoor patio for some people watching and to try their fried chicken sandwich and wedge salad.
Flourish and Life Well is a CBD shop at 510 N. Coast Hwy. They were extremely helpful with all the questions we had and will do their best to find products that are best suited for each person. I was pleased to see that they support organizations that are taking an initiative on fighting sex trafficking. The backpacks and bags they sell are made of recycled cement bags (really cool designs!). Proceeds from the sale of these items go towards helping children escape sex trafficking.
Many thanks to Mainstreet Oceanside for organizing this event. It was the best way to start the Mother’s Day weekend and a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the businesses in my hometown.
