Encinitas Magazine · February 2015 – present

Encinitas Magazine Stories by Kyle Thomas
The Director's Cuts

Encinitas Magazine has published Kyle Thomas's words and photographs since its first issue in February 2015. The magazine keeps no online back catalogue — its digital edition carries only the current issue. These are the director's cuts: the stories as he originally wrote them, before editing for print, with photographs that never ran. Thirty stories, February 2015 to the present.

4 of the 16 stories chosen for the magazine's 10th Anniversary Greatest Hits issue (Oct–Nov 2025) were Kyle's.

The City of Encinitas Proclamation honoring Kyle Thomas, presented by Mayor Tony Kranz, October 9, 2024.

City of Encinitas Proclamation honoring Kyle Thomas, presented by Mayor Tony Kranz, October 9, 2024

Greatest Hits 4

  1. Leucadia Soul — Wally Passet

    Oct 2021Greatest Hits

    Leucadia Soul — Wally Passet

    The last real rocker in Leucadia — published here as it was written.
  2. John Hester — The Embodiment of Neighborhood Soul

    Feb 2020Greatest Hits

    John Hester — The Embodiment of Neighborhood Soul

    The artist behind every Stonesteps contest poster since 2006.
  3. Twisted Between the Ears — Mary Fleener

    Aug 2019Greatest Hits

    Twisted Between the Ears — Mary Fleener

    Inside the mind of an Encinitas underground comics legend.
  4. Summer of 1975 — Stonesteps Surfing Contest

    Jun 2015Greatest Hits

    Summer of 1975 — Stonesteps Surfing Contest

    Eighteen years old with a camera — photographs unseen for forty years.

The stories 26

  1. The Archivist — Hillel Schwartz

    Aug 2026

    The Archivist — Hillel Schwartz

    Encinitas's historian and archivist, and the records he's putting in order.
  2. Hometown Hero — Denise Mueller

    Oct 2025

    Hometown Hero — Denise Mueller

    The fastest human on earth on a bicycle — 183.9 mph.
  3. The Story Behind Our Heritage Tree

    Dec 2024

    The Story Behind Our Heritage Tree

    Thirty Decembers up a ladder: Luis Ortiz and the greatest tree in town.
  4. Tate Sanderson is Johnny Rock

    Jun 2024

    Tate Sanderson is Johnny Rock

    A local rocker tells his story — 35 chapters, 35 QR codes, one beach party.
  5. Leucadia Soul — Darius Degher

    Oct 2022

    Leucadia Soul — Darius Degher

    Why a local songwriter traded words for instrumental surf music.
  6. Stonesteps Guitar Refinery & Studios — Lee Knight

    Feb 2022

    Stonesteps Guitar Refinery & Studios — Lee Knight

    A local music legend who now makes other people's guitars play like a dream.
  7. Terry Michael Weaver — The Mosaic Man

    Dec 2021

    Terry Michael Weaver — The Mosaic Man

    Encinitas's most colorful citizen.
  8. Burtech Family Vineyard

    Aug 2021

    Burtech Family Vineyard

    Yes, Encinitas has a vineyard: 2,000 vines on a horse farm off Manchester Drive.
  9. Encinitas Music Legend Joe Wood

    Oct 2019

    Encinitas Music Legend Joe Wood

    The quiet giant of the local music scene.
  10. The Daley Double Saloon

    Feb 2018

    The Daley Double Saloon

    Encinitas's first and oldest bar.
  11. Thomas DeSoto

    Oct 2017

    Thomas DeSoto

    The amazing life of an Encinitas photographer and cinematographer.
  12. The Historic Bumann Ranch of Olivenhain

    Jun 2017

    The Historic Bumann Ranch of Olivenhain

    A working homestead, unchanged since 1886.
  13. Mayor Catherine Blakespear

    Feb 2017

    Mayor Catherine Blakespear

    Up close and personal with Encinitas's new mayor.
  14. The Art of John Peugh

    Dec 2016

    The Art of John Peugh

    An original Stonesteps local, cutting recycled surfboard resin into birds, fish and mosaics.
  15. The Life & Times of Fred Ashley

    Oct 2016

    The Life & Times of Fred Ashley

    An Encinitas legend.
  16. San Dieguito High School — 80 Years

    Oct 2016

    San Dieguito High School — 80 Years

    Tent classrooms in 1936, a Lillian Rice campus by 1937, and the first graduating class.
  17. Bruce Logan & the History of Skateboarding

    Aug 2016

    Bruce Logan & the History of Skateboarding

    The roots of a sport, told by someone who was there.
  18. Surfing Legend Linda Benson

    Jun 2016

    Surfing Legend Linda Benson

    Encinitas's hometown hero, in her own words.
  19. Captain Keno's Restaurant

    Apr 2016

    Captain Keno's Restaurant

    Just ask any local.
  20. Kevin Anderson

    Apr 2016

    Kevin Anderson

    Encinitas's most prolific artist.
  21. My Memories of the Leucadia Flea Market

    Feb 2016

    My Memories of the Leucadia Flea Market

    The heartbeat of Leucadia, before it was gone.
  22. Potato Shack Cafe

    Dec 2015

    Potato Shack Cafe

    Quality American breakfast, no apologies.
  23. Peter Sprague

    Oct 2015

    Peter Sprague

    Beloved San Diego jazz guitarist, in his element.
  24. The Pumpkins Are Coming!

    Oct 2015

    The Pumpkins Are Coming!

    Pumpkin Lane, the monks who carve them, and the two fields they grow in.
  25. Good Morning Cardiff

    Apr 2015

    Good Morning Cardiff

    The morning light over Cardiff-by-the-Sea.
  26. The Rock 'n' Roll House

    Feb 2015

    The Rock 'n' Roll House

    Artist Richard Margolin and Encinitas's most eccentric home.

Also on this site 5

Related work that was not an Encinitas Magazine assignment — local history pieces, and posts covering Encinitas events.

  1. Encinitas Community Garden

    Oct 2015

    Encinitas Community Garden

    A ribbon-cutting and what it says about a city.
  2. Encinitas Magazine Launch Party

    Feb 2015

    Encinitas Magazine Launch Party

    A new voice for the city, born at the Pannikin.
  3. Henry Harrison Jones — Bringing Light to Encinitas

    2025

    Henry Harrison Jones — Bringing Light to Encinitas

    My great-grandfather brought electricity to Encinitas in 1916.
  4. Cardiff-by-the-Sea

    2015

    Cardiff-by-the-Sea

    The quieter side of the coast.
  5. Encinitas

    2014

    Encinitas

    A portrait of the city.

Every photograph on this site is available as an archival print. Ask Kyle.