Maggie Marsek is a part of this years Arts Alive Banner Project. See info below for the kick off event.

February 20th, 2010 from 2pm-5pm at Cabo Grill located at 1950 N Coast Highway 101 on the corner of La Costa Ave and Highway 101, the 101 Arts Alive Banners will be unveiled. After the unveiling the Banners will be on display on the lamp posts along Hwy 101 in Downtown Encinitas, Leucadia and the Cardiff Town Center where they will remain until May. On Sunday, May 23rd, 2010 the banners will be auctioned off at the Cardiff Town Center.

I know everyone’s been surfing their brains out lately.  It has been a fun swell. Now that your arms hurt and your face is burnt, it's time to sit back, relax and enjoy a few photos. Here’s some fresh shots just sent over from David . Enjoy.

My friend Sue Mellado lives in Chicago but has a warm place in her heart for Leucadia. For the past 20 plus years she's been staying on the bluff a couple times a year to soak up the vibe and to enjoy what Leucadia has to offer. It's a special place for her. I've known her son Jason for years and have gotten to know Sue better more recently. She told me she was an artist so I checked out her work and was inspired. I thought everyone would like it as well. Enjoy.

Check out her website here.

My friend and local artist Cheryl Sorg hosted a very special event last weekend at the Pannikin. She organized a Valentine Making Party for an organization called LOVE146 , a group that supports victims of the child trafficking and sex trade. The Valentines made will be sent to the Philippines to be given to the kids they are helping.

 74 Valentines were created that rainy day... see them all HERE

Cheryl has become very passionate about this cause and has raised money through sales of her art to support organizations that make a difference.

Check out Cheryl's site for updates on events and ways you can help.

Special thanks to the Pannikin for all their support. They went well out of their way to accommodate the change in wheather.

Last year I got to meet John Peck. He was really soulful and a joy to be around. In the visit he pulled out his new toy, a little handplane he said his friend gave him. He was very proud if it and said he was taking it out all the time. It was one of his favorites.

Months later I got to meet Cyrus Sutton at sacred craft. He was doing his DIY demonstration about making your own handplanes. It was right when his new film came out along with the korduroy.tv website. We chatted and I told him I got to meet John and that he had a handplane as well. Turns out that was the first one Cyrus made and he had given it to John.

It's a small surf world after all.

Photos, Ed Lewis

If you don't already own it, now is the perfect time to add it to your collection. The * Present at www.thesurfnetwork.com for only $6.99!

This is an amazing story. This is from Murphy's archives. It's a circa 1970 Nectar single fin that when he was  glasser and half owner of Nectar they made it to surf pipe. The trip was set and then suddenly Puerto Escondido was discovered. Apparently when that happened the boys decided to head south and avoid the crowd.

The board, never ridden, got stashed and ended up in a PB bar for 15 years. Finally the board made it back to Dennis and it now sits on his wall. It has never touched water.

Beautiful. Enjoy.

Note the vintage MR photo below.

Photo Ed Lewis

This winter has been about as good as it gets. More days of quality swell then we have had in a really long time. Here's some proof as to how good, good gets. Long live El Nino.

Brazilian shaper Felipe Siebert has always inspired me. He has style and skill. Check out his blog for (siebertsurfboards.blogspot.com ) more photos of this board and many more. This fish is 1 of a series of 20 that he is making in collaboration with American artists: Jesse Ledoux and Dustin Ortiz. Enjoy.

Photos by Felipe Siebert

We featured Dom De Pietro's handy work a few weeks back with some photos of him making his own Alaia. Today I got some shots from his first test drive.

This is the third Alaia he's shaped, but it's the first he's made using the real Paulownia wood from Oz. He is digging this board over his others because the Paulownia is lighter and has more floatation. According to Dom this new board glides much faster and turns easier due to the reduced weight. It also paddles much easier than the Alaias he made out of Douglas fir.

Shot from a moving vehicle, at 70 mph, from the passenger seat, through the closed limo tented window, after suddenly looking up and being stunned by the beauty of this image. Sometimes it's just pure luck. Get inspired, pull the trigger and the rest is done for you. I love it. Enjoy.

Check out the live music and art show tomorrow night. Click on the image for details. Should be fun.