33 minute read
HUMANITY SHOWERS
Humanity Showers
Dignity on the streets WORDS: ELIZABETH SCHWARTZE PHOTOS: JORDAN VERDIN
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Humanity Showers What is humanity? It’s a noun describing the human race, but it’s also a verb that means “to feel human.” It’s also associated with adjectives, such as “compassion,” “brotherly love,” and “kindness.” Everyday routines like eating meals, putting on clean clothes, taking care of hygiene, and taking a shower all put humanity into our human lives. It’s when those “normal” routines are removed, the loss of dignity can be all too real. Oceanside is populated with many that have fallen on hard times, and their daily activities do not guarantee warm meals, safe harbor, or even a shower. Thankfully, there’re those in our community that see the unseen, and demonstrate brotherly love for their fellow humans as demonstrated by the compassionate and kind organization, Humanity Showers.
HumanityShowersisagrassroots, 100% volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Oceanside run by professional photographer Jordan Verdin. In 2014, Jordan began photographing people experiencing homelessness and shared their story on social media and also at art shows. The poetically documented stories are raw and heartbreaking, and too many of the stories begin with a loss of love and support at a young age. The portraits and stories dictate the tale of dignity lost to homelessness and life on the street. Jesse’s story, age twenty, appears on the website, where he insightfully advocates, “Homelessness isn’t always a choice. Some people are prone or forced into it. We’re human, too; we’re in pain. Some of us have no one. Be considerate and loving—maybe that one time you’re kind and smile can help propel someone into recovery. The butterfly effect.”
Among the 300 clients photographed, the number-one request to find dignity and humanity was a hot shower. Therefore, in 2018, after four years of active GoFundMe campaigns, Jordan fundraised enough money to purchase a shower trailer, and named the newly formed non-profit, Humanity Showers. “We’re here because we want to be here. It’s not a job. We’re here because we think everyone deserves dignity,” explained Jordan. The Humanity Showers success stories include “Road Dogs” Danny and Brett. Both men experienced homelessness and were on the streets together for approximately three years, and both have been off the street over
a year, sober, and volunteering with Humanity Showers every single week.
On a crisp, sunny winter day in downtown Oceanside in The Potter’s House parking lot, the community of Oceanside showed up for Humanity Showers morning’s activities. There’s a community conversation tent, this space is used effectively. “If anyone legitimately wants to get off the streets, we’ll commit to them. We’ll build a relationship. We’ll set a plan,” said Jordan. Coffee and food are provided by local activist Sunny Soto, a chef at Pacific Coast Spirits. The barber station is run by Filoso Barbershop in Vista. There’s a toiletry/hygiene tent run by volunteers that work at Oceanside Kitchen Collaborative. There’s also a table of donated clothes and shoes. Oscar Ortega from Lived Experiences was present as well. Members of Exodus were there, too. The wrap-around services are volunteers in the
Brett Louie Katalina
“My name is Brett, and I’m 56 years old. I’ve been homeless off and on since 2012. I became homeless due to health issues. Before I was homeless, I worked in construction. Finding a place to sleep, clean up, and eat are my most significant needs. My dream is not to be homeless anymore. I want people to know that we aren’t all bad people; we are just without houses. When you see us, don’t cross the street, we notice that kind of stuff.”
Brett was the first person to shower at Humanity Showers. In December 2020, Brett celebrated one year off the street and now lives in Fallbrook. Brett currently volunteers weekly with Humanity Showers and is continuing his path towards healing. “My name is Louie and I’m homeless. Never look at someone and say that homeless person is a waste of life or time. You don’t know where they came from or what they went through to be where they are now. A lot of people were someone. Like me, I did mortgages and loans for over fifteen years—I ran an office of fifteen agents. I bought a house when the market was big, and when the market fell out—I lost my home. I went through having no money. I tried to keep my faith, but the money ran out, and I ended up becoming homeless. The world just turned upside down on me, and I wasn’t prepared for it. Many people are only one paycheck away from losing it all. Homelessness has taught me this one thing—you can enjoy your life, and you don’t need all the money in the world to do it. You need to understand that your life is important and precious. You only got this one life. Enjoy it.” “My name is Katalina. I’m 50 and a mother of five. I’m homeless not because I choose to be. It’s a choice for some people, but for some of us—it’s not. It’s just the way things happened. Believe me, I’d give my right arm to get out of it. This is not exactly where I wanted to be at 50. I’ve never been homeless before in my life. My husband and I are not drug addicts. We aren’t criminals—we just wanted everybody to know. Don’t look at us like we are the big bad bear—we’re not, we’re just sheep trying to live.”
“My name is Danny. I’m 60 years old, and I’ve been homeless for about three years. I don’t drink, and I don’t do drugs. Before I was out here, I had a really good job, but I left it. I was struggling with depression and couldn’t do it anymore, so I went to the streets. To me, the toughest part about being homeless is not being able to get a good night’s rest. My dream is to get off the street and maybe get into a shelter. I can’t see further than that right now; I’m just taking it one step at a time.”
Juan
“My name is Juan. I’ve been on the streets for sixteen months now; this is my first time being homeless. Don’t judge a book by its cover. You never know the day you may be in our shoes; you have people from all walks of life who have experienced financial difficulties. Two years ago, my son died in a motorcycle accident. I’m the one that helped him get the motorcycle. Before that, I lost my dad. I picked up the bottle, and alcoholism hit me. I was in a treatment center, but I relapsed, and that’s what brought me to the streets. Alcohol is my kryptonite—it’s ruined and destroyed my life. What brings me happiness in life is feeling accomplished that I did something every day, not only for myself, but also for others who are in need just as much as I am. That brings me a lot of gratitude.”
Pj
“My name is Pamela Jeane—PJ for short. My physical disability is what led me to the streets; I was diagnosed with a collapsing spine. The struggle I have with severe chronic pain is the most challenging aspect of being out here. I have to balance the pain while being on the streets. It’s hard with the weather when it’s cold. People think we’re all just scummy drug addicts who have no goals, desires, and good thoughts—or that we don’t want to work or contribute. For me, it’s the contrary. Sometimes, just surviving is a job on its own. Please take a minute to walk a mile in our shoes; see what we go through and our situation. I like helping others. My dream is to open a nonprofit that will provide services for people with disabilities.”
Danny
Danny was the second person to use Humanity Showers. In December 2020, he celebrated one year off the street and now lives in Fallbrook. Danny volunteers every day with at Humanity Showers outreach events. Danny is currently focusing on improving his health.
Michael
“My name is Michael. I’m 63 years old. I currently live in my car. I’ve been out here for the last two years. What makes me happy is being around people, and saying “hi” to everyone in the morning. God made everyone for a reason, and I think you should be good to everybody regardless of his or her situation. People experiencing homelessness are ordinary people. Some of them had unfortunate things happen, and that’s their journey. With rent being so expensive here, many people can’t afford it. What people need out here is security, mental health, and love— everyone needs love.”
Diana
“My name is Diana, and I’m 61 years old. I have been homeless for a little over a year now. We always try to make sure that we don’t leave trash behind and aren’t looting people’s property. We don’t have anywhere to go. We sleep in our truck. My dream is to get out of the truck and find some little place to rent. People don’t understand that it’s not easy. Just to be able to sit somewhere and belong—having somewhere to belong is important. We don’t become homeless by choice. I got evicted from my house because I ran out of money, and it’s hard to find somewhere to live when you have no money.”
Rodney
“My name is Rodney and I’m 56 years old. I’m a child of God. I love people and I want to help them more than I want to help myself. Every time I wake up and see another day is a blessed day. It makes me happy because I know that I have a chance to make it. Five years ago, before I became homeless, I was a certified chef. I cooked all my life. My father was a cook—I love to cook. I would love to own a restaurant, Louisiana style food. That’s my dream. If people gave us a chance, we’d make it. Drug use is the most challenging part of being on the street—you got it all out here. Many people use drugs to stay up or when we get cold. Lately, it’s been even harder out here with COVID-19. We got to do what we got to do—we need money for clothes, hygiene, and food. It’s hard to get resources or keep any hope.”
Onyx
“My name is Onyx. I’m just a fun-loving chef. I like to cook and spread my love through food. My nickname is “Cupcake.” I got a pastry and arts degree. I was the third chef for team dining on the Jacksonville Jaguars football team. I got to travel with them. I was exposed to more than sports teams, a lot of events, and famous people. What led me to be homeless was having an abusive husband. I had to get myself out of that situation, which meant fleeing thousands of miles away and leaving everything behind. Not having a job ate up my savings. Things happen in people’s lives that may result from them being homeless—it’s not always what people may think. Have a little more heart. Take a moment of your life and get to know your community or befriend a person experiencing homelessness. Some people get caught up in their everyday rituals like repeat itinerary. You’ll have an entirely new manner of thinking and probably try to become a part of the solution.”
Tom
“My name is Tom. I’m 62 years old. Extreme sports make me happy. When I was younger, I was a pro skateboarder. I loved skating in swimming pools. In 1977, I was featured in Skateboarder Magazine. My downfall in my life was my drug use. I’ve used dope pretty much all my life. I’ve been off-and-on the streets for ten years. My drug use has led me to lose jobs and housing. The most difficult thing about being on the street is being looked down upon by everybody. I know some people give the homeless a bad name by making messes, but whenever I lay my head somewhere, I make sure that it’s cleaner than before I got there. People look down on you like you are a loser. Have some compassion. They think homelessness can never happen to them, but it could. Maybe you’re just a car accident or an illness in the family away from where we are. My dream is to get back into a place. I’m tired of being on the street—it’s been cold, and it’s tough on the body.”
Nikkie
“My name is Nikkie and I’ve been homeless since 2014, but I’m a pretty cool person. I’m loyal and committed— just a little disappointed about the way things turned out. I became homeless due to financial strain. I divorced my husband and relocated to San Diego. My child support had not kicked in, so I ended up on the street with my children. I couldn’t provide a place for my children and I to live, so I lost them. We lived in two different shelters. Losing my kids has put a huge mental strain on me. My kids are everything to me. Family makes me happy in life—the structure, soundness, and foundation of it. That’s straight from the heart. A lifelong dream of mine is to own something. I’ve owned a car before, but I’d like to own a business. Another dream of mine would be to sit by Oprah and for her to acknowledge me.”
Humanity Showers Dignity on the streets
Chef Sunny Soto of Sunny Street Outreach serves up delicious hot meals every week.
community, supporting people that are lacking a community—but building one together.
Since its inception and roll-out, Jordan estimates over 500 showers have been provided. As the non-profit grows, so do the wrap-around support services provided to the clients. When clients arrive for a shower, they receive tangible commodities such as food, coffee, clothes, and toiletries. However, the intangible necessities of community, and love are provided, as well— the unseen components of humanity lost from life on the streets. By coming together to take a shower, “the unseen” are seen. There’s no obligation for clients—Jordan’s unassuming ministry is the belief that God is Love, and by taking care of his fellow human beings, he’s demonstrating God’s Love.
Quite noticeably, the barber tent was pumping and Angel Ortiz with Filoso Barbershop is proud of his barbers giving high-quality haircuts. With a heavy Puerto Rican accent, Angel explained, “I went through some stuff, and I was homeless. Now I’m blessed to work with Humanity Showers and give back.” Chuy Filoso continued, “Today, we gave 25 haircuts. I get goosebumps when I see the smile on the recipient. We do whatever they want. We want to make them feel like they’re in a barber shop—like they’re human. A shower and a haircut is everything.”
With fundraising and continued support, Jordan recently unveiled the new six-stall Humanity Showers trailer in February 2021. The trailer can provide up to 24 showers an hour. With the bigger trailer, Jordan’s goal is to provide showers and community, five-days-a-week throughout San Diego County. Humanity Showers provides mobile showers and semi-permanent showers for communities lacking access to hygiene. They aim to provide a clean space where people feel welcome, secure, and empowered. With well over 600 homeless in Oceanside alone, the need is great. “We’re here to love the community. Eliminate barriers. Dismantle stigmas and stereotypes. Build a bridge to see the humanity,” implored Jordan.
For more info on Humanity Showers, please visit humanityshowers.org or you can follow them @humanityshowers on Instagram
Vista's Filoso Barbershop donating their time to give haircuts.
Homegrown
THE OSIDER MARCH/APRIL 2021
BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
OLIVIA OLESON
WORDS: JAMEY STONE PHOTO: ZACH CORDNER
When you’re raised in Oceanside, there’s a special magnetic force that always seems be calling us back to our roots. For Olivia Oleson, that’s exactly what happened to her. Brought up in South Oceanside by her parents, Mark and Misty, as they have been running their business Oleson Construction here for over 42 years.
Alongside her brother Bret, she attended South Oceanside Elementary, Lincoln Middle School, and eventually, Oceanside High School. While there, she participated in in multiple school programs including tennis, concert band, and dance team. After high school, Olivia set out to continue her education at UC Davis in Northern California, where she graduated with a double major in English and a minor in Sociology.
Olivia loved being up north, but home was always calling her back. It seems that special magnetic force was pulling her back to her Oceanside roots. Once home, she spent the next several years getting back to her true love of dance. She’s studied Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Musical theatre—just to name a few. It seems that getting back to her love of her hometown and dance was meant to be.
In 2017, Olivia and her best friend Jessica Smith opened up Cadence Dance Project. Their mission statement is to “Dance With Purpose,” meaning that they teach their students to utilize dance to give back, as well as stay healthy and fit. Cadence is constantly doing performances to give back to many local causes. Olivia stated that growing up here is an honor and giving the next generation a sense of empowerment to follow their passions is what it’s all about. Helping the youth recognize that they’re able to create change through small acts in the community will help Oceanside continue to thrive. Olivia loves Oceanside for its strong sense of community and is truly honored to be a part of shaping the next generation of Osiders in a positive way. Well stated, Olivia. The next generation is in good hands.
THE OSIDER MARCH/APRIL 2021
THE ARTISTS BEHIND JASPERT POTTERY
WORDS: SHELBY ROWE PHOTOS: JACK ANTAL
John Jaspert
Pottery is a delicate and fragile practice—it’s where all the details count. From throwing the clay on the potter’s wheel to shaping and carving with intricate tools (plus, a handful of other detailed steps), pottery is nothing short of meticulous. “It’s a good artistry because it’s functional,” said Oceanside ceramist John Jaspert. “It’s a dying art, but it’s easy to learn.”
After stepping into his studio and getting a glimpse of what it takes to create one of his art pieces, it’s safe to say John is equally humble as he is talented. Covered in clay like it’s part of his wardrobe, it’s clear that passion has accelerated his craft from an ordinary high school elective to a full-blown profession—in just a few years. “I took a ceramics class at El Camino, and once I threw on the potter’s wheel, I fell in love with it,” John said. “I would sneak out of class to go to ceramics and throw on the wheel any chance I got.”
Sparking passion and an untapped vault of creativity, John’s knack for pottery grew into a self-taught venture. When school couldn’t teach him more advanced pottery techniques, he turned to YouTube to learn how to spin pots and vases. “After high school, I bought a wheel for my house and took one class at Mira Costa, but they weren’t teaching what I wanted to learn. A lot of what I know is from trial and error, and YouTube,” explained John. Trial and error is more of an understatement. With an unwavering commitment to quality, John says he’s broken thousands of pots just to make a couple hundred. “I want to continue to make pottery as an art form,” John said. “Everything is hand crafted and unique. I never want to mass produce anything.”
At just 22 years old, John’s now creating
Chase Hartman
pottery full time, and business is booming. Partnering up with local artist Chase Hartman, the two have collaborated in a way that encompasses both of their artistries—John doing his magic on the potter’s wheel, and Chase etching his art on anything and everything John shapes. “I’ve always been interested in different mediums of expressing my art, so it was really only a matter of time before we started working together,” said Chase. “But, it’s crazy. Working together has really pushed us both, and it’s so rad to see what all of this has grown into.”
You may have seen their mugs at some places around town at The Cup, Seahive, or Seaborne. If not, then it may be because they sell out so fast. While their mugs are definitely a hot commodity, most of their schedule is booked with custom orders. They recently signed to produce water pitchers with Urban Water and still find time to create some undeniably amazing art together. “Honestly, it all just started with him painting one pot and now we’re here,” John said. “I never considered someone doing art on my pots, but when I saw Chase’s art, I loved it. I thought it was so rad,” John said.
Having only worked together for a year, it’s surprising what they have been able to accomplish. Their pieces range from functional, like plates, cups, and jewelry holders, to incredibly stunning art pieces sprawled across beautifully shaped pots and vases. Between the creativity and attention to detail that goes behind John’s pottery and Chase’s art, it’s clear these guys have tapped into something extraordinary.
As business continues to pick up, John and Chase are committed now more than ever to sustain the quality of their art pieces. While the two are practically at capacity in their shed-turnedstudio, they continue to keep up with demand while embracing growth and feeling hopeful for the future. “It all started in this shed,” said John. Eventually, we’ll need more space, but for right now we’re focused on growing organically and keeping up quality as much as we can.”
You can check out more of John’s (@jaspertpottery) and Chase’s (@hartchaseman) artwork on Instagram. Shoot them a direct message or an email at jaspertpottery@gmail.com to inquire about custom orders, purchasing a piece, or setting up a private pottery lesson.
THE OSIDER MARCH/APRIL 2021
MADSTRANGE
WORDS: JAMEY STONE PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER
Daniel filming Dezzy Hollow
Owners Andres and Daniel Ximenez
If you’re anything like me, representing your city is something that we do here with pride. There’re a lot of people out there cashing in on the Oceanside name these days, but how many people can actually say they were born and raised here and deserve to create a brand straight form the source? Enter brothers Andres and Daniel Ximenez who grew up in the Posole neighborhood on the Eastside. Andres started making and selling T-shirts at age fifteen, while his older brother Daniel went to school and graduated from USC with a BA in Film and Television, and UCLA with a BA in ethnic studies.
Raised by their parents who owned Soccer Mexico, which was a retail booth inside the now defunct Mission Marketplace and now it’s a retail storefront in Vista. So when Daniel returned, it was time to combine Andres’ love for designing clothing that represents Oceanside and Daniel’s film and production skills to form MadStrange. On the production side, Daniel works with local artist Dezzy Hollow on his music and video production and Andres concentrates on clothing design and production.
Their retail space located just across from Oceanside High offers the latest hats, shirts, and hoodies that all bear the Oceanside namesake. Everything’s made in-house where they also produce Dezzy’s music and video projects—it’s a perfect match. Clothing that reps the city along with music that is their soundtrack of life here in the O. You can check out Dezzy’s latest album, Can U Handle The Funk? On all streaming platforms and his their latest video Reporting Live From Oceanside on youtube.com. So next time you find yourself wanting to rep our amazing city, drop by MadStrange, cop a new hat or T-shirt, hop in the ride, and hit The Strand bumping the newest Dezzy Hollow album. Trust me, the rest will fall into place. Oside or Noside.
MadStrange 1014 Mission Avenue (760) 277-1350 madstrange.com @madstrange
THE OSIDER MARCH/APRIL 2021
Undefeated professional boxer Kyle Erwin sparing with twotime California Golden Glove Champion Hunter Williams.
NEVAREZ BOXING
WORDS: ERIC KLIER PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER
Owners Sandra and Brian Nevarez
This year has been especially hard on small
businesses in Oceanside, and Sandra and Brian Nevarez have definitely overcome many adversities to keep their gym and their dreams alive. In August, the Oceanside natives had to unexpectedly relocate their gym after five years and juggle the ever-changing safety rules and guidelines to open back up in a new and beautiful workplace on South Coast Highway.
Brian’s been training and competing in boxing his whole life with his father Bernie, and has passed on his love for the sport to his wife Sandra “My coaches have taught me everything I know about the sweet science, and I have them to thank for finding my passion in boxing,” said Brian. At first glance, you can feel the energy and see the determination in the students—which is intoxicating. They offer 100 classes a month that include
Kyle Erwin workin' the bags.
beginning and max levels for all age groups, so there’s definitely something for everyone.
One of the great things about these classes is that beginner and advanced students train with each other and are helping one another to keep one cohesive group—just like a family. They train amateur and professional boxers, and even have fight teams. In these classes, you can burn up to a 1,000 calories, so be sure to drink lots of water. This is definitely a total body workout—not just fighting. When you look around and talk to the students, you’ll find many reasons why they enjoy this sort of workout—whether it’s self-defense, or maintaining a certain level of health.
At Nevarez Boxing, they also like to give a lot back to the community—one of which is with the Resilience760 program. This program deals with formerly incarcerated youths and gives them a chance to train, learn, and transform into better young citizens. This mentoring program is on the frontlines with “at risk” youths and helps show them that there’s hope and there are people who are willing to give them a chance in life to keep them on the right track.
Sandra and Brian are what Oceanside is all about. It’s about following your dreams with friends and loved ones, and also giving back to our community, so the next generation can succeed.
If you’re looking for a great way to get in shape with some awesome people, go checkout Nevarez Boxing. Sandra and Brian—along with their amazing staff—are waiting for you.
Nevarez Boxing 111 South Coast Highway (760) 687-8101 nevarezboxing.com @nevarezboxing
Dining: Inland
THE OSIDER MARCH/APRIL 2021
Chicken & Lamb Skewer Plate Freshly made Afghan Bread
Shami Kabob Plate
MENA’S AFGHAN KABOB
WORDS: KATIE LALICATA PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER
Owner Qamar Jabarkhiel and his son Jalal.
The word “mena” means love in the Pashto
language. Hospitality in the Afghan culture is a core principle and priority. Qamar Jabarkhiel and his son Jalal, the owners of Mena’s Afghan Kabob, are the personification of this hospitality and love. Mix those two components with traditional family recipes, and the most incredible blends of Middle Eastern flavors—welcome to the first Afghan restaurant in Oceanside and North San Diego County. Brave and humble in his spirit and demeanor, Qamar, a first generation immigrant and Afghan/American has served our country as a contracted Military Advisor and Teacher. He’s now serving our community in a different and wonderful way with the most wholesome and sensational food.
In Afghanistan, kabobs are a luxury food, yet the Jabarkhiel duo is making these delicacies available and accessible to and for everyone, for everyday feasting. As COVID-19 bear’s its fangs, small and new businesses like Mena’s continue to navigate the challenges, all while showing their mighty resilience. “The positive,” shared Jabarkhiel “is that the small amount of customers that come here are extremely happy—the mayor of Oceanside has come here a few times and was very helpful. They (the local government) has encouraged us to apply for grants and given us some support.” This kind of support, over and over again proves to be a foundational pillar of this fabulous Oceanside community.
Spending time at Camp Pendleton training soldiers and teaching Marines, Qamar grew a fondness and familiarity with Oceanside. In 2019, he decided to move his family away from his long time home on the East Coast and out west to this coastal paradise. With the desire to start a family business, a restaurant, sharing hospitably and food—two things woven deeply into the fabric of his cultural background—seemed only natural, and to do all this in a military town with a close proximity with many Marines with whom he’s spent years building relationships is even better.
With generous portions and quality secondto-none, Mena’s Afghan Kabob is a mouthwatering explosion. Boasting health-forward fresh and delicious flavors and spices (spices that have been included in traditional recipes for generations) like turmeric, ginger, coriander, cumin, and curry, etc. are all prepared in house. Not a pinch of love is spared in creating their plates and dishes. The meat for their house made Kabobs is Halal—meaning that only the finest cuts of pure beef, chicken, and lamb (no other animal byproducts) are used in preparation. It’s hormone, antibiotic free, and ground in house to ensure the finest quality product to serve to you.
They serve a variety of dishes including beef, lamb, and chicken kabobs, a chicken plate, and also a veggie plate loaded with the most savory spices, and playful combinations of chickpeas, spinach, cauliflower or potatoes. All their menu offerings include heaping portions of traditional Afghan rice and freshly prepared naan-style bread served warm and toasted to perfection. Although their shopping center storefront is unassuming, their food—healthy, fresh and created from their heart—is a beautiful offering with flavors that are both filling and satisfying.
In a time when community’s so necessary and celebrated, and food and diversity are foundations—come stop by Mena’s Afghan Kabob. Visit Qamar and his son Jalal. They’re open seven days a week and waiting for you with an abundance of hospitality, food, and (as they boast in the restaurant’s name) love.
Mena’s Afghan Kabob 4111 Oceanside Boulevard Suite 102 (760) 295-6005 menasafghankabob.com @menasafghankabob
Dining: Coastal
THE OSIDER MARCH/APRIL 2021
Strawberry Shortcake
Blueberry Hill Campfire Raspberry Pistachio
Acai Bowl French Toast
PARLOR DOUGHNUTS
WORDS: AARON SCHMIDT PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER
Ahh—the sweet undeniable smell of freshly made doughnuts. It’s definitely one of the hardest things on earth to resist, and temptation for sugary and frosted decadence abounds at Parlor Doughnuts. Warning: Get too close to the wafting goodness, and you’ll surely get sucked in.
Located just a stone’s throw away from the Pier on Cleveland Street, the husband and wife team of Taylor and Noah Hayden opened Parlor Doughnuts last Halloween. Needless to say, they were a big hit. And they still are. From day one, it’s been mass mayhem as long lines in the morning can attest to that statement. People here simply love their doughnuts—and for good reason.
“My dad Darrick and I would travel around the US and try the best of the best. We found that a certain type of dough is what we leaned on for what we liked best out of doughnuts. That’d be buttery, kind of more flakey-layered—where you look inside and see there’s this dense air pocket. That to us is what makes a really great doughnut,” explained Noah. “We recognized that there are a lot of places doing really good traditional yeast and cake doughnut options, but we wanted to do something totally different. We call it “layered dough”—meaning that it’s layered in butter. It’s very sweet on the inside and crispy on the outside.”
It’s mainly all doughnuts at Parlor, and with around 25 different flavor options on hand at anytime, you can simply try a few to find your very own personal favorite(s). Popular flavors include Blueberry Hill, Strawberry Shortcake, Campfire, French Toast (my personal favorite), Raspberry Pistachio, Cookies & Cream, Chunky Monkey, Bourbon Caramel, Maple Pecan, and Chocolate Chocolate—just to name a few, and there’s gluten-free, Keto, and vegan options available as well.
And yes, there are other menu options besides doughnuts. They serve acai bowls, breakfast sandwiches, breakfast tacos, and super yummy almond butter or avocado toast. There’s also coffee roasting on site with Proper Coffee Roasters, enabling them to serve up some amazingly fresh seasonal lattes (maple brown sugar is a banger) and filtered coffee from far away places like El Salvador and Brazil. Oh, and they even make doughnuts for your dog—100percent natural and completely grain free.
All in all, if you call yourself a Doughnut Aficionado, then it’s a must to get yourself on over to Parlor Doughnuts for a small batch of some of the best doughnuts you’ve ever tasted in your life.
(L to R): Darius Farmer, Owner Noah Hayden, and Matthew Lopez
Parlor Doughnuts 331 North Cleveland Street (760) 231-5150 parlordoughnuts.com @parlordoughnut
Dining: Inland
THE OSIDER MARCH/APRIL 2021
ENZO’S BBQ ALE HOUSE
WORDS: JAMEY STONE PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER
If you love good BBQ as much I do, then you’ve probably heard of Enzo’s BBQ Ale House. Originally opened in 2006, Enzo previously ran his business in a tiny space in the strip mall on the corner of College and Oceanside Boulevard. The space was very small, but the beers were always cold and the food was amazing.
Fast-forward to August 2020: Enzo moved his location just across the same parking lot to the much larger building originally built for the pizza chain Shakey’s. The building is at least five times bigger than the old location, which enabled him to expand both his menu and bar—it went from seven taps to now offering 30 different beers to wet your whistle. They do carry a few local brewers, but being from Italy, Enzo has focused on great Euro imports. The wine selection is on point, and he now offers cocktails and liquor to boot.
But the real star here at Enzo’s is the amazing menu. The BBQ is top notch, and with the bigger kitchen, he’s been able to expand their menu into
Enzo’s Manhandler: Zesty Hot Link Sausage, Smoked Brisket, Hellfire Pickle Chips
Mushroom Pappardelle Pasta
his Italian roots, offering multiple pasta dishes and his special Roman flatbread pizzas. The dough is made with imported flour from Italy, and the special four-day fermentation process creates a crispy-yet-soft and airy bite. The diverse menu options coupled with the bar and large space, make this a perfect location for large events or parties. You can call in and reserve a private room on their outdoor patio to accommodate any special occasion.
Now open seven days a week from 11am to 9:30pm Sunday through Thursday and 11am to 10:30pm Friday and Saturday, it’s always good to see a small business like Enzo’s BBQ Ale House continue to grow and thrive—especially in these tough times. I guess that’s a true testament to the all of the love and hard work Enzo has put into his restaurant. So go check them out—I mean, where else can you have BBQ and Italian food at this level at the same location? And remember to tell them that The Osider sent you his way.
Enzo’s Supreme Roman Flatbread Pizza
Owner Enzo Mistretta
Enzo’s BBQ Ale House 4111 Oceanside Boulevard (760) 643-9602 enzosbbq.com @enzosbbqalehouse
