COVER: Kelly Kindorf and Lori Smith, Coronado Floral Association (CFA) Home Front Judging Chairs in the garden of the 2025 Winning Home for the Best in Village Walking Tour: 416 10th Street.
Photo by Bill Sandke | crowncityphoto.com
Hats Off to Kelly and Lori! For over 5 years, these two local women have led the way in elevating CFA Home Front Judging volunteerism and participation, and they are also responsible for the debut of the first-ever Home Front Walking Tour in 2025. Meet them at the Coronado Flower Show on April 18–19! Coronadoflowershow.com
Marketing Matters
PUBLISHER Heather Canton heather@crowncitypublishing.com
GUEST EDITOR
Colby Erickson Freer & Kelly Kindorf Co-Presidents, Coronado Floral Association
SENIOR COPY EDITOR
Sydney Zoehrer, Joel Ortiz
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Colby Erickson Freer, Leah Chaney Coronado Historical Association
Sydney Zoehrer, Jessica Nicolls, Karyn Molina
Clyde Van Arsdall IV, Stephanie Clegg
Marilyn Klisser, Jaqueline Luna
ART & PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTORS
Bill Sandke, Gina Falletta, Joel Ortiz Coronado Floral Association, Jena Willard
Coronado Historical Association
Olga Minvielle Stevens, Clyde Van Arsdall IV Bungalow 56, Salon On First Coronado Public Library, The Monarch Soul
SPECIAL THANKS TO Coronado Floral Association, Gina Falletta
Colby Erickson Freer, Kelly Kindorf
Olga Minvielle Stevens
Spring at o o o
A NOTE FROM THE GUEST EDITORS | CORONADO FLORAL ASSOCIATION
A Letter from the Co-Presidents
of the Coronado Flower Show
Two years. Two presidents. Two people with a completely serious, absolutely unhinged love for floral puns.
A lot of late nights. A lot of moments where we probably should have been doing something else but were instead debating whether "bloom where you're planted" lands better than "grow through what you go through." Honestly, we never settled it, because the CFA has always been both: rooted in a legacy worth protecting and resilient enough to keep growing through whatever comes next.
And we wouldn't trade a single second of it.
When we stepped into these roles together, we knew we were signing up for something bigger than ourselves. What we didn't anticipate was just how much bigger. From day one, our focus was clear: build community partnerships worth keeping, develop programming that could be repeated and built upon year after year, and bring education to the forefront of everything we do. Not just a flower show. A living, growing institution that teaches, connects, and inspires long after the last petal drops.
Leading the Coronado Flower Association is not for the faint of heart. It asks us to honor a legacy that stretches back generations while finding the courage to grow something new. We must hold tradition in one hand and possibility in the other. And yes, some moments threaten to pull us off course. What keeps us grounded is having someone in the trenches beside you who won't let you lose sight of why you showed up in the first place. We dance, we sway, we water, we prune, year over year. We do it because this Association, this Flower Show, this community deserves that kind of devotion.
What surprised us most was this: the friendship that grew between us spread outward. That's what happens when people pour themselves into something they love alongside people they respect. You look up one day and realize the board isn't just a board, it's a family. Members aren't just volunteers, they're your people. The warmth in this organization doesn't come from a mission statement, but from every person who has shown up, sleeves rolled, ready to make something beautiful happen.
We are so proud of what this board has created. We are honored to have served alongside every single one of you.
Now, the flowers are waiting, the park is ready, and we have a show to throw. We've been planting this moment all year. It’s time to bloom.
With love & flowers from,
Your
Co-Presidents, Colby Erickson Freer & Kelly Kindorf
ings to Do On-Island
by Brendan Garcia
Art in the Park
10am-4pm at Spreckels Park
Local art sale on the first and third Sundays of each month. CoronadoArtAssn.com
CLUB CORONADO
5-8pm on April 16
A happy hour dance party for adults! Enjoy club-style vibes, great music — without having to stay up late. eventbrite.com
The 104th Annual Coronado Flower Show
Welcome to the Jungle Saturday–Sunday, April 18–19 at Spreckels Park
Smartphone Apps to explore Coronado’s Art & History
The Coronado Public Art App serves as a guide to more than 75 works of public art.
Friends of the Coronado Public Library Spring Book Sale
10am-4pm on Saturday, April 19
An annual community book sale at the library offering a wide selection of gently used books and media at affordable prices. All proceeds from the event support library programs. coronadolibrary.org
A beloved Coronado tradition since 1922 and the country’s largest tented flower show, the community comes together to transform Spreckels Park into a colorful showcase of blooms with live music, events, competitions, floral exhibits, vendors, and a lively beer and wine garden, along with citywide activities leading up to the show. coronadoflowershow.com
Local Art, Theater & Entertainment
Coronado’s Historical Gems App has an extensive gallery and map to learn about local historical sites.
• Coronado Historical Association events, tours and museum CoronadoHistory.org
•Coronado Public Library CoronadoLibrary.org
• Coronado Island Film Festival year-round Classic Film Series CoronadoFilmFest.com
• Coronado Playhouse CoronadoPlayhouse.com
• Lamb’s Players Theatre LambsPlayers.org
• Vintage Movie Theatre VintageCinemas.com
• The Coronado Cultural Arts Commission is the leading online resource for arts and cultural information CoronadoARTS.com
• The City Manager's video with weekly updates at Coronado.ca.us/195/city-managers-weekly-updates
• Recreation and Golf Services information at Coronado.ca.us/161/Recreation-Golf-Services
Photo
Some agents participate in a real estate market. Others shape it. Lee Mather was firmly in the second camp.
Through the decades, Lee helped define how real estate was practiced in Coronado, boldly, visibly, and with a deep belief that the work extended far beyond individual transactions. His approach wasn’t complicated, but it was disciplined, and the lessons remain remarkably relevant today.
First, real estate is a long game. In a community like Coronado, where land is limited and families often hold property for generations, the best decisions are rarely the fastest ones. Lee understood that great outcomes come from patience, perspective, and thinking in decades rather than months.
Second, local knowledge is the ultimate advantage. Long before data platforms and
online searches, Lee knew the nuances of the island: the streets that carried a premium, the blocks that felt different, and the subtle factors that shaped long-term value. In a world where information is everywhere, interpretation of that information becomes the real skill.
Third, community matters. Lee believed brokers were more than intermediaries. They were stewards of the places they represented.
The Nelson Riddle Team carries forward that lineage today through Jim Nelson and Debbie Riddle. The tools may have changed, but the fundamentals remain the same.
Think long term. Know the community. Build relationships that last. Those were Lee’s lessons. And in Coronado, they still hold up.
VIEWS FROM EVERY ROOM
IN BLOOM | Coronado Floral Association
Let’s Grow Wild Together
A weekend full of flowers, friends, and a little wild energy. Here is everything happening at the 104th Annual Coronado Flower Show.
By CFA Co-President, Colby Erickson Freer | Photos by Joel Ortiz
A Welcome from the Coronado Floral Association Full Bloom Board
Every spring, something quietly extraordinary happens in Spreckels Park. The white tents go up, the volunteers, designers, and artists arrive before dawn, and Coronado does what it has done since 1922: it gathers around something beautiful. The show has brought neighbors together since that very first year, when local photographer and horticulture enthusiast Harold Taylor imagined a gathering that would celebrate both gardens and community pride. More than a hundred years later, that spirit is very much intact. This year, the gathering gets a little untamed. The theme is Welcome to the Jungle, and the Coronado Floral Association is leaning in fully. Think lush. Think layered. Think color that doesn't ask permission.
Whether you are a longtime local who knows where to find the best rose entries or a first-time visitor who just wants a lovely weekend on the island, the Flower Show weekend has more to offer than ever. Here is a look at everything in bloom.
Friday Evening
Movie Night Under the Stars
Spreckels Park | Ticketed
The weekend begins on Friday evening with a jungle-themed outdoor movie in the park. It is a natural gathering point for families dropping off entries for Saturday morning judging, and honestly a lovely excuse for everyone else to show up too. Grab a blanket, find your spot on the grass, and let the theme sink in before the show even opens. And for a little adulting, the beer and wine garden is open with cold island brews and a glass of something good. It is the kind of low-key Friday night that sets the whole weekend in motion.
Saturday & Sunday
The Flower Show
Within the Tents at Spreckels Park Saturday 1–5pm, Sunday 10am–4pm $10 General Admission, Members Free Step inside and the show opens up in every direction. The Coronado Flower Show is a genuine competition, judged to national standards, and that gives it a depth that a casual walk-through only begins to reveal. But you do not need to know the difference between a floribunda and a hybrid tea to appreciate what is happening here.
The horticulture division is where volunteers and designers bring the things they have actually grown and created: roses tended through the winter, orchids in full bloom, bonsai shaped over years, succulents arranged in dish gardens that have been quietly growing together for months. There is a care to all of it that you can feel. The design division is its own world entirely. Floral designers claim their spaces and build arrangements that interpret this year's jungle theme in ways ranging from architectural to frankly whimsical. Table designs are staged as if for a dinner worthy of a king of the jungle. Picture boxes frame botanical compositions
The Coronado Floral Association Full Bloom Board.
in lighted niches. The floral photography division brings the outdoors inside through beautifully matted prints, and visitors vote on their favorites all weekend long.
Youth entries run throughout both days as well, with children from Pre-K through eighth grade bringing arrangements, plants they have grown from seed, and the perennial crowd-pleaser of the show: the Zoo's Whos, where kids sculpt animals entirely out of fresh fruits and vegetables. The results are, without exception, wonderful.
Wander through at your own pace. There is live music at the bandstand, local food and a beer and wine garden with craft brews, artisan vendors, and enough to look at that two hours can go by without noticing. On Sunday at 3 pm, the award ceremony takes place at the bandstand, which is a genuinely sweet moment if you happen to catch it.
Events in the Tents New This Year
Within the Tents | Friday Evening Through Sunday
This year, the show introduces something it has not had before: a dedicated space within the tents for the community to gather around more than just the exhibits. Events in the Tents is a full weekend of programming woven into the show itself, and it begins Friday evening with candlelight. Come as you are. The flowers are already waiting, the light is soft, and this is your first real breath of
the weekend. It is a gentle, personal welcome into something that is about to be beautiful.
Throughout both show days, the space fills with hands-on demonstrations, talks, and community voices that add texture and warmth to the weekend. The tents hold a great deal more this year than they ever have before.
And on Sunday morning, before the crowds arrive and the day finds its rhythm, there is Rise and Bloom — a quiet gathering when the flowers are still fresh and the park at its most peaceful. It is the kind of morning moment that stays with you. Members receive first access to limited seating signups, and some events carry a ticketed cost, so keep an eye on the website as programming is released.
The jungle goes velvet after dark.
Saturday Evening
The Velvet Jungle
Within the Tents at Spreckels Park | 21+
Formally known as the 1922 Club and the Spring Fling, the 1922 Celebration has evolved into something a little more electric.
The Velvet Jungle takes over the tents on Saturday evening, and this year's jungle theme calls for the animals of the night to come out and play. There is something genuinely magical about dancing and celebrating in the park after dark, the same tents that spent the day full of sunlight and blooms now holding elevated vibes, live music, and a whole lot of joy. You'll be able to hear the champagne popping for blocks.
It is the only event of its kind in this town. Members of the Coronado Floral Association receive early access when tickets become available, which is one of the sweeter perks of belonging to this community.
The Week Before and All Weekend
Beyond the Tents
Orange Avenue and Throughout Coronado
Beyond the Tents does not wait for the show to open. Beginning the week before, local shops, restaurants, and businesses along Orange Avenue and across the island start participating with their own floral displays, limited seasonal creations, and special offerings that carry the spirit of the season into everyday life on the island. By the time the tents go up in Spreckels Park, Coronado is already in bloom.
The hope, and it grows a little more each year, is that petals keep spilling further down the avenue. More windows dressed. More arrangements on counters. More of that particular feeling that the whole town is in on something together. With the jungle theme giving every local establishment something vivid and playful to interpret, this is shaping up to be the most lush Beyond the Tents yet. Wander and see what the neighborhood has done with it.
Home Front Judging
Best in Village Self-Guided Tour and Best Home Celebration
Citywide | Saturday at 9am | Free and Open to All Blue ribbons start appearing on doors and garden gates around Coronado in the weeks after judging, a quiet signal that someone's front yard brought its best this season. Home Front Judging recognizes the home gardens that have been tended with genuine care, and it turns the whole island into an extension of the show.
Download the Geo app and follow the Best in Village self-guided tour through the top gardens of the year. Wander at your own pace, and make your way to the Best Home Celebration on Saturday at 11 am, where music plays and the top garden of the year gets the proper moment it deserves. Free, open to everyone, and one of the most charming hours of the entire weekend.
Be Part of It
The Coronado Flower Show exists because people show up for it. Volunteers, committee leads, division chairs, setup crews, front gate greeters, and everyone in between. Each of them holds a piece of something that has been growing in this community for over a hundred years, and that only continues because new hands keep joining in.
If you have ever watched this weekend unfold and thought about being on the other side of it, this is your invitation. There is a role for every kind of person here, and the reward is getting to be part of something that genuinely matters to this town. Visit coronadoflowershow.com to learn more about how to get involved.
The show is made possible by hundreds of volunteers and a community that has shown up for over a century. It keeps getting better because more people keep joining in.
The Coronado Floral Association has seen its membership grow steadily in recent years, and it is easy to understand why. Being a member means free admission through the members' entrance, early access to events like the Velvet Jungle, and a seat at the table of something that has been meaningful to this island for more than a hundred years. It also means being part of a community that is genuinely expanding: new faces, new ideas, new reasons to come back each spring, and being in the know on the year-round programming that keeps this community blooming well beyond the show weekend.
The 104th Annual Coronado Flower Show is April 18 and 19, 2026, at Spreckels Park, 601 Orange Avenue, Coronado. General admission is $10. Children 17 and under and all CFA members are free. The weekend begins Friday evening and runs through Sunday afternoon. Find the full schedule, membership information, and event details at coronadoflowershow. com. Follow along at @ coronadoflowershow.
• Colby Erickson Freer is a Coronado native who lives in the community with her family. With more than a decade of mortgage experience at Griffin Funding Inc, she also brings over ten years of involvement with the CFA, where she now serves her second term as President.
How it All Started: A Glimpse Behind the Coronado Flower Show
The Coronado Floral Association is grateful to the partners who help keep the stories alive, especially the Coronado Historical Association, whose dedication to preserving the past ensures the next generation knows where all of this began.
By Colby Erickson Freer
It began with a neighborhood feud.
In 1922, the small island city of Coronado found itself tangled in a bitter disagreement. Two powerful camps were sparring over development, and the local newspaper wasn't exactly helping smooth things over. Lines were drawn. Conversations stopped. For a time, the Crown City felt more divided than neighborly. Maude Taylor had seen enough. Her solution was simple and a little unconventional: gather everyone in the park and surround them with owers. It's dif cult to argue with someone while admiring a perfect rose.
Maude persuaded her husband Harold to help bring the idea to life. Harold Taylor was no ordinary Coronadan. An English-born photographer, he had captured some of the earliest sweeping images of Yosemite Valley before eventually settling in Coronado as the resident photographer for the Hotel del Coronado. He understood beauty, and he understood people. And apparently, he knew better than to argue with his wife.
On May 13, 1922, the rst Coronado Flower Show opened in East Plaza, what we now know as Spreckels Park. Local children arrived with armfuls of wild owers gathered from nearby canyons and beaches. Admission was free. The entire event cost just 10 dollars to organize. The Hotel del Coronado loaned trellises and tables, and the Boy Scouts camped overnight in the park to guard the displays.
A rare photograph of Harold Taylor with his wife Maude, c. 1930's. Courtesy of the Coronado Historical Association Collection.
The idea caught on quickly.
By 1925, visitors wandered through the displays while the Hotel del Coronado orchestra played nearby. Soon a parade joined the festivities, complete with oats and marching bands. By 1937, a wild ower exhibit celebrating plants native to Southern California had become one of the show’s most beloved attractions.
The event paused during World War II, three quiet spring seasons when Coronado’s attention was focused elsewhere. But the ower show returned, as traditions with deep roots often do.
Today, the Coronado Flower Show is the largest tented ower show in the nation. Not bad for an idea that started with 10 dollars and a desire to mend a divided town.
For more than a century, the Coronado Floral Association has carried forward Maude Taylor’s belief that beauty has a way of bringing people together. What began as one woman’s effort to restore a sense of community has grown into a living tradition, still evolving, still welcoming new generations into the garden.
And if that sounds like something worth being part of, it's because it is.
The Coronado Flower Show in 1924. Courtesy of the Coronado Historical Association Collection.
Flower Show founder Harold A. Taylor — portrait courtesy of the Coronado Historical Association Collection — alongside an AI-generated artistic rendering of his wife, Maude Taylor, created by Crown City Publishing.
Grounded in History
& Growing Forward
A reflection from Colby Erickson Freer
For more than a century, the Coronado Flower Show has been part of the rhythm of this island. Generations have walked through the tents, admired the gardens, and gathered with neighbors to celebrate something simple and enduring: the joy of growing things together.
That kind of longevity doesn’t happen by accident. It exists because of thousands of hands over time — volunteers gardeners, designers, and community supporters who believed this tradition was worth caring for.
Like every living thing, traditions evolve.
Honoring the past doesn’t mean freezing it. Every era of this show has added something new while carrying forward the heart of what came before. The gardens may look different, the programming may grow, but the roots remain the same.
I’ve experienced this show from many angles. First as a child wandering the displays with that particular weekend excitement, then as a volunteer, board member, innovator within the CFA, and two years as president.
At 100 Years we were handed a show with a century of history behind it and a lot of work ahead. We did the work. New programming, expanded participation, a broader community footprint. The show is stronger for it.
The Coronado Flower Show doesn’t belong to any one person or board. It belongs to this community, and the strongest traditions prove that by outlasting any single chapter of leadership. New people will bring new ideas and new energy. That’s exactly how it should work.
For me, it will always be personal. Now I look forward to watching the magic unfold through my children’s eyes, the same way it once unfolded through mine.
That is the beauty of something like this. It continues long after any one of us steps aside.
Come find me at the show.
— Colby Freer, Coronado Floral Association Co-President (2024–2026)
Designed by GinaFalletta Design
THE FEATHER DETECTIVE COMES TO CORONADO
Author Chris Sweeney visits the Coronado Public Library to share the remarkable story behind his book and help kick off the 2026 Community Read.
By Leah Chaney | Photos by Jena Willard
The Coronado community gathered on March 5 in the Coronado Public Library’s Winn Room for an evening with author Chris Sweeney, whose book The Feather Detective tells the story of Roxie Laybourne, a scientist who pioneered the field of forensic ornithology.
The program marked the kickoff of Coronado’s 2026 Community Read, which will invite readers across the community to engage in discussions and programs at the library in the months ahead. Supported by the Friends of the Coronado Public Library, the evening gathered readers, students, and community members interested in science, storytelling, and the fascinating history behind Sweeney’s book. Programs like this one reflect the Friends’ mission to support the library as an educational, cultural, and community center that brings people together around learning and ideas.
Sweeney shared the inspiration and research behind his book, which explores Laybourne’s remarkable career and the unexpected role birds have played in aviation history.
In the 1960s, an airplane taking off from Boston struck a flock of birds and crashed into Boston Harbor, killing 62 people. The aircraft had taken off only about 200 feet before plummeting into the water. At the time, the tragedy seemed like a terrible coincidence.
Laybourne, who worked at the Smithsonian managing its bird collection, would ultimately help uncover the cause behind accidents like this.
At the Smithsonian, Laybourne’s role involved sending specimens to university researchers studying different bird species. The museum’s collection included hundreds of birds, including osprey and other species used for scientific study. By examining small fragments of bird feathers, she developed a method for identifying exactly which species were involved in aircraft collisions. By doing so, her work helped establish the field now known as forensic ornithology.
It took nearly a year of investigation to identify the birds involved in some of the earliest cases. Laybourne’s findings assisted aviation experts in understanding the risks posed by bird strikes and developing strategies to reduce them.
“This woman built a career out of studying airplane crashes, murders, kidnappings—the cross sections of chaos and calamities she was called in to investigate were compelling to me. This woman deserves to be written about.”
— Chris Sweeney
Sweeney explained that bird strikes remain a serious issue today.
“About 22,000 bird strikes were reported in the United States last year,” he said.
The Navy and the Air Force are among the largest supporters of the Smithsonian’s Bird Strike Research Program, which continues to study bird strikes and aviation safety.
Laybourne’s work was groundbreaking, particularly during a time when women in science often did not receive recognition for their achievements.
Sweeney said he felt drawn to Laybourne not only because of her scientific contributions but also because of her personal story.
“Laybourne had been overlooked in many fields of science and ornithology, especially where women were not credited enough for their accomplishments.”
— Chris Sweeney
“I was deeply drawn to Laybourne […] she reflected later in life about how she felt she wasn’t the greatest mother because she spent so much time working. You need individuals to understand those challenges and empathize with them,” he said.
Sweeney has wanted to write a book since he was a teenager. He began his career writing magazine articles before eventually working for a magazine and later publishing The Feather Detective.
“I don't know how many people get to say they've done the thing that they really wanted to do in life,” he said. “To see the book out is one thing — and then to see it get such a warm reception...”
The evening offered attendees an opportunity to hear the story behind Laybourne’s work and learn how scientific research, storytelling, and curiosity can intersect in unexpected ways.
Thanks to the Friends of the Coronado Public Library, events like this continue to bring authors, ideas, and conversations to Coronado and help inspire a love of reading and learning for all ages.
· Leah Chaney, 17, is a recent graduate of Coronado High School, where she served for two years as editor of the school newspaper — the youngest in its history, in a role typically reserved for seniors. She plans to study journalism, broadcasting, and communications, and the Friends of the Coronado Public Library are proud to support and showcase her work as a member of the Class of 2026. Her writing helped capture the spirit of a library event while advancing the organization’s mission to support young writers and engagement with books and the written word.
· Jena Willard is a San Diego based videographer and photographer specializing in weddings, portraits, and brand storytelling. Discover her work at jenawillardphotography.com.
Crown City History
IN COLLABORATION WITH CORONADO HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
History Happenings
A Year of Anniversaries
BY THE CORONADO HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
In May 1927, Rotary members gathered there for the club’s first o cial photograph of its founders.
If you have walked past the Coronado Historical Association recently, you may have noticed an extra stir of activity. This spring, we are celebrating a "double header" of milestones that de ne the civic and recreational heart of our island.
Celebrate a century of community impact with Service Above Self: 100 Years of the Rotary Club of Coronado. Since its founding in 1926, Coronado Rotarians have shaped our community’s spirit and improved lives across the globe.
This landmark centennial exhibit features the extensive Rotary archive now held at CHA. As the of cial repository for the club’s history, this exhibit opens the archives for all to experience, showcasing never-before-seen photographs, artifacts, and personal stories that
were once tucked away in private collections. This immersive look into the past was made possible by the Rotary Club Exhibit Committee, a group of dedicated Rotarians who spent the past year researching records and writing the engaging content that brings this century of service to life. From local youth programs to international humanitarian efforts, this exhibit shows why the Rotary Club remains a cornerstone of our community.
Just across the museum gallery, the sun-drenched history of one of our most iconic local pastimes is brought to life. The Green of West Plaza: 90+ Years of the Coronado Lawn Bowling Club celebrates a sport that has thrived in our town since 1935.
This bilingual English/Spanish exhibit explores the evolution of the club, from its early days at 7th and D Avenue to its modern-day successes. You will see trophies and medals won by local legends like Bill Hiscock and the father-son duo Javier and Angel Gomez, proving that lawn bowling is a sport for all ages and skill levels. Whether you are a seasoned "bowler" or have simply admired the white-clad players from the sidewalk, this exhibit offers a fascinating look at the equipment, strategy, and community spirit that saved the greens once on the brink of redevelopment.
Both exhibits are a testament to the power of volunteerism and community dedication. The Lawn Bowling exhibit was made possible through the generous support and artifacts shared by its members and friends. Visit the CHA museum this
Plan Your Visit:
month to walk through the stories behind these two local clubs and learn about the history, the people, and traditions that make Coronado feel like home.
• Where: Coronado Historical Association 1100 Orange Avenue
• When: Tuesday – Sunday, 10am to 4pm
• Admission: Free, donations encouraged
• More Info: coronadohistory.org
L-R: Robert (Arch) Archibald, Howard Mason (Rotary District Governor), Coronado Mayor RH Dorman, and Rotary President Greg Walker marked Rotary's 62nd birthday by giving a birthday gift to the City of Coronado — a new drinking fountain in Rotary Park. A bronze plaque on the Terraza fountain dedicates it to Robert E. (Arch) Archibald, who joined the Rotary in 1932, six years after the club's formation in Coronado. He served as secretary for 20 years, was president in 1937-38 and was district governor for Rotary in 1966-67.
• Located at 1100 Orange Avenue, the Coronado Historical Association (CHA) is a nonpro t organization providing a wide range of public programs and free exhibitions each year. CHA’s efforts help people understand and appreciate Coronado’s unique history, art, architecture, and historical resources, and aims to preserve the small-town feel of Coronado through protection of historic architecture. Become a member today at coronadohistory.org.
Lawn Bowlers in front of the old Club House in 1950.
Lawn Bowlers measuring the score in 1962.
Please
To
HALLMARKS OF OUR SCHOOL
FAITH
We prepare our students for Catholic lives of faith and service through daily prayer, religion class, weekly mass, sacramental preparation and charity support.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Each child is encouraged by our credentialed teachers to excel at grade level in our comprehensive academic program pursuing studies that meet California and Diocesan standards.
Mother’s Day Brunch at The Del.
May 10, 2026
Make Mother’s Day unforgettable with an elegant brunch in the beautifully restored Crown Room, the resort’s original dining room and the setting for grand celebrations for presidents and royalty.
Celebrate Mom with a feast fit for a queen, featuring brunch classics, a chilled seafood bar including oysters and crab, sushi and sashimi, carving stations, and a decadent dessert display.
The Olga Stevens Group Starts a New Chapter
By Sydney Zoehrer
For over 34 years, Coronado has entrusted Olga Minvielle Stevens with finding our friends and family properties to call home on the island — a legacy now entering a new chapter as her son, Patricio Lavalle, steps into a more active leadership role as the new face of the Olga Stevens Group (OSG). Adopting the tagline “Specializing in the Shores,” Olga made a name for herself with sales comprising a significant proportion of Coronado Shores units sold year after year, owing to her unmatched expertise in local markets. Olga has shaped a real estate career not only impressive for its success — she’s a top-producing San Diego realtor — but also for its commitment to values: steeped in a gratitude for and pride in Coronado, which she and her family have now called home for decades.
In 2024, Patricio joined his mother, Olga, in forming the Olga Stevens Group (OSG), affiliated with Compass Real Estate. Over the past two years, Olga has led the fullservice team with more than three decades of industry experience, while Patricio has worked closely with her, steadily increasing his involvement and playing a crucial role in shaping OSG’s growth as he prepared to assume day-to-day leadership of the company. Patricio brings a strong command of the real estate industry, shaped by his experience in real estate development and
professional training as a practicing architect with PLM Arquitectos. The team is further supported by Claudia Turchin, who oversees operations as office and real estate sales manager, bringing extensive experience in resale, pre-sale, and new construction, along with a deep knowledge of both national and international markets. While Olga is not retiring, this year represents a landmark moment for Olga Stevens Group as she steps back and Patricio takes the reins, building on the group’s strong foundation and leading the company into its next phase of development.
Hailing from Mexico, Stevens purchased her first Shores unit in 1978. She spent her summers in Coronado with her children, eventually moving to the island where she enrolled them in local schools. She began specializing in Coronado real estate in 1991, quickly becoming a mainstay in local transactions, her “Complete List of Units for Sale at the ‘Shores’” advertisements dotting the papers. Over the past three decades, Olga has built a legacy as a skilled negotiator and accomplished businesswoman who always puts clients first, whether in purchases, sales, or rentals. She has led her business with a reputation for integrity and hard work that has enabled her to maintain both local relationships and global real estate partnerships, all with an indefatigable energy and passion for Coronado living. This legacy forms the bedrock Patricio now builds upon as he leads the Olga Stevens Group forward.
We often see the faces of realtors in print or at open houses, but it’s not often we get to know the people behind the company. With Olga passing the torch to her son, Patricio Lavalle, it felt like the perfect time for Crown City Magazine to sit down with the business partners to hear more about the company’s transition and future as the OSG finds their stride with Patricio at the helm.
Olga, what values have led you in real estate and helped you build your business from the ground up?
OS: After my children grew up, I was able to focus more fully on my career. Thanks to the many connections I had developed, I became one of the founders of an Exclusive Tennis Club, a natural extension of my passion for the sport. This experience introduced me to the world of sales, where I specialized in forming investment groups and securing land for the development of several tennis country clubs.
Navigating different environments and opportunities pushed me to think resourcefully and work with determination — qualities that became essential as I transitioned into sports, sales, and eventually real estate.
What has it meant to you to grow the business alongside family?
OS: I was born in Mexico City, but my family roots trace back to Veracruz, the main port of Mexico. I grew up in a large, close-knit family. Through the years, we have learned from one another, and each of us has been able to forge our own path and develop our own business.
Patricio Lavalle Minvielle has been our addition to join me in starting the Olga Stevens Group. Laura Lavalle Minvielle, with many relationships from Mexico City and other foreign destinations, will be joining us in 2026.
What sets OSG apart from other real estate groups in Coronado?
OS: My connection to Coronado is longstanding, built over decades of meaningful relationships. Our deep love for Coronado and its unique lifestyle has allowed us to connect naturally with the many people who are fortunate to call this community home and many of our clients who return to us again and again.
Patricio, can you tell me a little bit about what the transition from architecture to real estate has been like? What has translated well?
PL: I have been practicing architecture and real estate development in Mexico for 30 years with great success (www.plmarquitectos.com) and was very involved in the community I lived in. I did a project for 296 apartments in Mexico City and I stayed and lived there, forming part of the community and experiencing the result of my architectural design and construction. This helped me greatly in understanding how communities work and feel and the basic needs for people in a dwelling. I decided to come and work with Olga 3 years ago and last year [2024] we formed the Olga Stevens Group.
How does your background in architecture influence your approach to real estate?
PL: I can see benefits and sometimes errors in properties that most people don’t see. I am familiar with orientation, noise sources, structural properties, construction systems, construction procedures, architectural finishes, and possibilities and potential for remodeling or transforming to add value to a property. This can be transferred to the clients so they have a broader view when purchasing or selling real estate.
What have you learned from Olga about the real estate business in your time working together?
PL: Her experience is very extensive. How to approach clients and be empathic with them have been the most valuable attributes I have learned from her.
What will this passing of the torch look like at OSG? What can clients expect from your leadership through this transition?
PL: I see it more as a transformation. We have formed a specialized group and developed a system so that we can approach new listings and client service that, in the past, was often handled on an individual, agent-by-agent basis. Now, we can offer a standardized relationship with our clients, as well as a standardized approach to handling properties, without losing the individual focus that our clients need. Every transaction is different, and we are committed to understanding and addressing each unique difference.
Having said that, our clients can expect the same level of professionalism and service that has always identified Olga, and now her team.
What is your vision for OSG moving forward? What will stay the same, and what’s on the horizon?
PL: This is a very dynamic and changing industry. My vision addresses this through innovation and human connection. We are actively implementing new technologies for handling clients and promoting properties
that will maximize the service we offer. Specifically, we are developing a robust, integrated system that is designed to deliver the best possible experience to the client.
What will be new is the emphasis on empathy and clarity. Having recently experienced the transition from being a client to now being on the brokerage side, I want to emphasize this greatly. Most agents are very familiar with the procedures and paperwork involved in a real estate transaction, and often forget how complicated and intimidating the process sounds and feels for clients. My goal is to make sure our clients understand the whole procedure of buying or selling as easily and transparently as possible.
What will stay the same is our fundamental commitment to procedural competence. However, I never will forget that agents sometimes take for granted the fear and uncertainty that a selling or buying client can feel, and we will actively address that emotional side of the transaction.
Is there anything else you would like to add about the business?
PL: Olga Stevens Group is committed to offering clients an objective and enriching description of the properties and accompanying them through the process.
The Olga Stevens Group would love the opportunity to earn your business. Our team brings strong market knowledge, exceptional client care, and a proven record of results. We’re confident we can be a great fit for your real estate needs and would be honored to be considered.
Countless clients have made the choice to “Call Olga” over the years. Now, when calling Olga Stevens Group, know that you’re receiving the same quality service — just backed by multiple generations of support, expertise, and connection to the community whose properties the group represents.
• Sydney Zoehrer, a CHS graduate who recently earned a B.A. in Urban Studies from Yale University, is a writer and senior copy editor for Crown City Magazine. Currently living in New York City, she enjoys covering stories about Coronado’s changing community, small businesses, and architectural history to stay connected with her hometown from afar.
For publication November 2021 I Ad proof No. 1
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SALES ASSOCIATE
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Catch in a Bag A modern twist on a French Classic
The French call fish cooked in parchment poisson en papillote, but I have not professionally cooked French food since cooking school. That doesn't mean I haven't used the classic techniques of August Escoffier; in fact, they're used in everything I prepare in the kitchen. Steaming fish encased in paper is one such method.
While working as a chef in Atlanta, Georgia, I was tasked with preparing a popular dish we called Catch in a Bag. This dish was a riff on poisson en papillote, but we gave it a modern twist with a nod to the American South. We used a rectangular piece of parchment to assemble an assortment of regional vegetables, local fish, and a splash of wine. We folded the paper in an almost origamilike fashion to create a cooking bag that, when done correctly, would keep the wine from escaping, allowing the vaporized wine to cook the fish and vegetables. Steaming is a very healthy way to prepare food.
Indigo Coastal Grill, the restaurant I worked at in Atlanta, resembled a battered and sun-washed beach house you might find in the Florida Keys. It had a real Hemingway vibe. This popular restaurant was at the vanguard of the Farm-toTable movement — so much so, we owned our own farm, Indigo Farms. We used what we grew on the farm in our restaurants and held a weekly Farmers Market in our Parking Lot. Famous chefs like Güenter
By Clyde Van Arsdall IV
Seegar of the Ritz Carlton would come and shop at our market.
While at Indigo, I would assemble 40-50 of these bags right before service, and they would always sell out. What makes this dish so wonderful is its simplicity; it is easy to prepare with just a few straightforward steps. The hardest part is just cutting the vegetables so they cook evenly with the fish.
I recently had a good friend from high school, Michael Connors (CHS class of '87), spend some time here in town. He asked if I wouldn't show him some fun things to cook, and I immediately thought of this dish, as it is fun and easy to assemble, and its presentation has a bit of a wow factor, as it is served in this parchment bag that adds a bit of whimsy to your meal. Michael had visited me while I was in Atlanta, and he had had this dish at Indigo.
I was able to get everything I needed at Boney’s Bayside Market. The parchment paper was all-natural and perfectly sized, making it easy to prepare. For the fish, I choose black cod, but you can swap it for other white, flaky fish like halibut or sole.
I chose a few Yukon Gold potatoes, as Michael is a potato farmer in the Pacific Northwest, so when he is in town, potatoes are a must. I sliced the potatoes paper-thin with a mandolin, shingled them on parchment paper, and topped them with a light layer of olive oil. We seasoned the potatoes with salt and pepper before the next layer. We added spinach on top of the potatoes. I was generous with the spinach; it cooks down quite a bit because of its high water content.
Atop the spinach went the fish. We took the cod filets and cut them about a quarter inch thick on a bias, then shingled them in a straight line on top of the spinach. Once in place, I applied a generous dusting of seafood seasoning, but you could use salt and pepper instead.
The other vegetables I chose were asparagus, which I cut thinly on the bias, and an orange bell pepper, julienned — a
French technique that leaves the vegetable looking like matchsticks. Some oyster mushrooms and some heirloom cherry tomatoes, which we simply cut in half.
I placed the asparagus, orange bell pepper, and mushrooms on either side of the fish, not on top. I placed the cut cherry tomatoes on top of the fish, then drizzled the whole stack with extra virgin olive oil and a bit of salt and pepper. I prefer coarse-ground pepper, as I love the texture and bite. For this dish, I used coarse kosher salt. Last but not least, a healthy splash of white wine. Use something you like to drink, as there will be plenty left in the bottle for the cooks.
Once everything is in place, bring the long ends of the parchment paper together, cradling the fish as it lies longways inside the sling you have created. Start from the top, fold the two ends over to make a half-inch fold, and crease it. Then, fold the ends over two more times, creating three folds in total, then press it flat against the fish. This has created a seal for the top of your bag. The two ends remain open. To seal these ends, grab one corner and fold it over as if turning a square piece of paper into a triangle. Do the same with the other corner. Once folded in this fashion, it leaves you with a proper seal in the shape of a triangle. Tuck this triangle under the fish to square off the end of the rectangle. Proper folding makes things airtight. Do the same on the other side; you should be left with a rectangular-shaped bag.
Place these bags on a sheet tray in a 400-degree oven for 2030 minutes. When ready, the bag will puff up, and the liquid inside should be bubbling. I have more pictures and a video on my Instagram page @oliveavenuesupperclub if you need a visual. There is no shortage of videos online showing various ways to fold the parchment.
For service, place the bag on a plate and cut a slit in the top. Be careful, as steam will come rushing out. You can then pull the sides open to expose the magic within, much like preparing a baked potato.
Catch in a Bag is always a big hit when I make it. It is visually stunning, healthy, and packed with flavor. I hope you grab some good fish and some parchment and give it a try. Laissez les bons temps rouler.
• Clyde Van Arsdall IV is a third-generation Coronado local, chef, and storyteller. For more stories and follow-ups to articles go to oliveavenuesupperclub.com.
Mother’s Day Gift Guide
By Jessica Nicolls + Karyn Molina
On this Mother’s Day, we take the opportunity to celebrate the women who make our lives special. Whether she loves gardening, entertaining, cooking, or simply surrounding herself with lovely things, we have created the perfect selection of charming gifts that feel especially fitting for this spring. From floral linens to garden-inspired essentials, these pieces are designed to bring joy into the everyday.
Floral Dish Towels
Our floral spring dish towels feature cheerful botanicals, soft greens, and sunny seasonal tones that feel fresh, happy, and full of life. Whether draped over the sink, folded over an oven handle, or tucked into a gift basket, they are a lovely little gift on their own or paired with something else from the shop.
Herb Garden Gift Box
For the mom with a green thumb, our herb garden gift box is the perfect gift. Thoughtfully packaged and full of charm, it brings together the joy of gardening with a presentation that feels truly gift-worthy.
Delightful Cleaning Set
Edible Flowers, Salt & Crackers
For the mom who loves entertaining or creating beautiful moments around food, this grouping is such a fun and unexpected treat. Edible flowers add a whimsical, elevated touch to cheeses, desserts, cocktails, and brunch boards. Paired with specialty salt and beautiful crackers, it creates the perfect little hostess-inspired collection.
Practical gifts can still be beautiful, and this cleaning set is proof. With lovely packaging and a fresh, cheerful feel, the set turns an everyday household essential into something giftable and chic. It is perfect for the mom who appreciates a clean, welcoming home and enjoys products that are as pretty as they are functional.
Terracotta Flower Pot
Classic, timeless, and full of charm, a terracotta flower pot is always a lovely gift. Whether planted with herbs, a flowering plant, or left empty for a creative garden project, it is one of those pieces that feels both rustic and elegant. The natural warmth of terracotta works beautifully indoors or out and makes a wonderful companion to any gardening-inspired gift.
At Bungalow 56 Shop, we believe the best gifts are the ones that make everyday life feel a little more special. This Mother’s Day, we invite you to shop our curated collection and find something beautiful for the moms, grandmothers, sisters, and friends who inspire us most. These are gifts that celebrate simple pleasures: a lovely kitchen, a fresh herb garden, a beautifully set cheese board, a tidy sink, and a pot waiting to be planted.
∙ Jessica Nicolls and Karyn Molina are the owners of local interior design rm Bungalow 56 located at 1158 Orange Avenue, and online at bungalow56.com.
A Spring Touch
Beauty and Style with Flowers
Ilove Coronado in the springtime! It makes me so happy to stroll down the avenues, enjoying house after house of beautiful flowers in full bloom.
In April, things are coming back to life after a winter’s sleep. The light lingers longer and flowers unfold at their own pace unapologetically, never asking if their color is too much, or if their shape is too bold!
Imagine a giant bush of pink bougainvillea, a bouquet of bright orange roses, or the rich, purple shrubs of azaleas, and what they add to the scenery. There is always room for more color and more beauty!
Petal-Soft Skin and Makeup for Spring
• Swap out heavier foundations and powders for light BB creams and tinted moisturizers.
• For rosy cheeks, use a cream blush high on the apples of the cheeks and on the bridge of your nose to add a dewy, rosy look, like the color is blooming from within!
• For watercolor eyes, go gentler with the liner, or add sheer washes of lavender, peach, or muted rose across the lines with your fingertips for a soft, romantic look.
• For rose-stained lips, apply colors of cherry, apricot, or rose with the fingertips and blend at the edges for a dewy finish that will make you like you just took a bite of spring fruit.
• Be sure not to skip the finishing touch — a liquid highlighter on the brow bone, bridge of the nose, and above the cupid’s bow for a justrained-on glowy sheen!
Spring Awakening for Your Hair
A trim is the perfect way to prepare your hair for the growth that comes with spring. Trim away the dry and the old, and make room for the new blooms of your mane. Just like pruning encourages flowers to bloom, removing dry ends allows your hair to move and shine again.
A few soft face-framing highlights, an overall softer and lighter tone, or a natural looking balayage can really add some brightness and freshness to your face. Think creamy blondes, warm brunettes, and ultra-shiny, vibrant reds.
Thanks to Innersense Organic Beauty at Salon On First, our haircare routine now feels like walking through a blooming garden. Their clean, botanical haircare line is made of certified organic plant ingredients and takes a ritualized approach to haircare. Their formulas feel like a spring bouquet: calming chamomile to soothe the scalp, plush monoi oil pressed from plumeria blossoms to add shine and strength, softening linden flower extract, and scents from orange blossom, lotus flower, and ylang-ylang turn washing your hair into a little fragrant ceremony. Be sure to check out this beautiful line — stylists and clients alike are loving it!
Smelling the Roses — Ritual and Self Care
The ritual of self care is so important. Spring style is light, breezy, and fun — but don’t forget to stop and smell the roses! A little attention and intention toward self care goes a long way. Here are some ideas to incorporate this spring:
• Try softer, lighter fragrance. Notes of rose, orange blossom, jasmine, or green leaves are great for daytime and can help to brighten your mood. Some delicious fragrances to try are Diptyque Eau de Sens, Ellie Saab Le Parfum, and Dior- J’Adore!
• Display floral touches at home. Fresh flowers around my house make me so happy! It’s the little things that can make a big di erence in bringing up the mood. Keeping a couple flowers in your bathroom can make your beauty routine feel more spa-like, and adding some to your nightstand can create a romantic feel.
• Make getting ready a little ritual. When washing your face or doing your makeup and hair, light a natural, softly fragrant candle, put on a playlist that makes you feel good, and give yourself a few extra minutes of blooming into your look for the day!
Allow Yourself to Unfold Like the Flowers Do
This spring t’s not about becoming someone new — it’s about blooming into your most vibrant, healthy, and happy YOU! Reveal what winter kept tucked away. A brighter lip, dresses scattered with flowers, and some organic products full of light and delicious smelling essential oils are all small ways of reminding yourself that you are blooming day-by-day. You are allowed to open, to grow, and to SHINE.
• Marilyn Klisser is the owner of Salon On First who lives in Coronado with her husband. Book an appointment online at salononfirstcoronado.com to look and feel your best.
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FOREIGN & DOMESTIC
INTO THE LIBRARY Spring
By Jaqueline Luna
Author Visits
This month, we welcome international soccer legend Landon Donovan to the library on April 11. Widely regarded as one of the greatest American soccer players of all time, Donovan will share his new memoir and candid insight on a career that has reached extraordinary heights. A six-time MLS Cup champion, he holds numerous U.S. men’s national team records, including most assists and five World Cup goals. At this event, he’ll share the impacts his impressive career has had on and off the field. The event is a fundraiser for the Friends of the Coronado Public Library and their work
As spring arrives in Coronado, the library is ready with a fresh lineup of programs — from author talks to performances, to create workshops and family-friendly events — all designed to spark creativity and curiosity.
with the Exceptional Families Program and requires a paid ticket for entry. The Friends of the Coronado Public Library are dedicated supporters who offer financial assistance for many of the Coronado Public Library's programs that serve readers and learners of all ages. Options include a $10 admissiononly ticket and a $29.95 ticket for one person with a copy of Landon Donovan: A Memoir. All seating is first-come, first-served.
Mystery fans will want to make sure to attend a special Monday Night Mystery Author event featuring bestselling authors Wendy Walker and Ellery Adams. With over 45 books published between the two authors, they have mastered the art of crafting mysteries that keep readers hooked. During the program, they’ll share insights from their writing careers and offer a behind-the-scenes look at how they build suspenseful stories that keep fans coming back for more. Each author will also discuss their newest release, Wendy Walker’s psychological thriller Blade, set in the high-stakes world of elite figure skating, and Ellery Adams’s Invasive Species, a chilling mystery unfolding in the small town of Cold Harbor. The event is free and open to the public, with limited preferred seating available through pre-order from Adventures by the Book.
If you want to add to your home library, don’t forget to mark your calendar for the Friends of the Coronado Public Library’s Book Fair on Saturday, April 18. All proceeds from the event support programs at the library.
Spring into Programs
This month, the library will host two lively musical programs. MandoBasso, a bass and mandolin duo, will perform original compositions alongside inventive arrangements of traditional tunes, classical pieces, jazz, and ragtime on April 10. Their performance blends their backgrounds in jazz, classical, and contemporary composition with Irish and traditional American music. On April 24, Opera À la Carte San Diego, a women-run nonprofit dedicated to making opera accessible and engaging for the community, will present a special concert titled Spring Fling, featuring selections inspired by flowers, springtime, and love — perfectly capturing the spirit of the season.
Did you know there is a thriving sea turtle population in the San Diego Bay? Learn all about them and how to be a citizen scientist for sea turtles on April 3. If land-based nature is more your speed, make sure to check out our wildflower identification presentation on April 2. Want to bring the beauty of nature into your home? Sign up for our Pysanka workshop on April 8. Pysanky are traditional Ukrainian eggs decorated with a wax resist method. In this workshop, you’ll decorate
your own egg to take home and enjoy. With visits from Nightingale Music for kids on the 7th and 23rd, the Science Guys bringing their Frostbite Frenzy STEAM workshop on the 21st, a community job fair on the 22nd, and so much more, you’ll want to make sure to check out everything happening at cplevents.org.
April is a special time for libraries across the country as we celebrate National Library Week. To join in the fun, pick up a special bingo card at the library anytime this month. With squares for reading different books and participating in library activities, there are plenty of ways to complete your card. Turn in your completed card by the end of the month for a chance to win a prize — and keep reading and enjoying our events. After all, we wouldn’t be your library without you!
Book Clubs!
Check out the library’s book club lineup for April:
Mystery Book Club
Meets Monday, April 20 at 2:00 p.m. to discuss Tokyo Express by Seicho Matsumot. This club meets regularly on the third Monday of each month.
Best of the Best Book Club. Meets Wednesday, April 22, at 11:00 a.m. to discuss Every Living Thing by Jason Roberts. Every Living Thing won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize.
The library has extra copies of book club selections for checkout at the Reference Desk. Information about the library’s book clubs may be obtained by going to the library’s events calendar at cplevents.org. All are welcome to attend. Happy reading! The Friends of the Coronado Public Library’s Annual Book
coronadolibrary.org
· Jacqueline Luna is the Senior Librarian for Programs, Outreach, and Marketing at the Coronado Public Library. Born and raised in Coronado, when not at the library, she can be found adventuring around the county with her husband and daughter (often with a book in her purse for emergencies). For more information about Coronado Public Library events and services offered, visit the library’s website, coronadolibrary.org.
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BECOME A MEMBER
Become a Friends Member, receive a free event ticket, and take home a signed copy of Landon Donovan’s book.
Join us for this one-night-only Adventures by the Book® event, hosted in partnership with the Coronado Public Library. This special evening benefits the Friends of the Coronado Public Library and our work supporting The Exceptional Families Program.
FRIENDS MEMBER SIGNED COPIES ARE LIMITED. SCAN THE QR CODE TO BROWSE MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS.
FRIENDS OF THE
Visit our News & Events page to stay up to date on upcoming activities, special events, and initiatives we support and host in partnership with the Library.
In Fu Bloom
The Healing Power of Flowers
By Stephanie Clegg
There is a reason we bring flowers to people we love. We lay them at altars, press them into the pages of books we never want to forget, and plant them where we need beauty most. Long before we had words for what flowers did to us, we already knew: they opened something, softened something, and healed we didn’t even know was asking to be healed.
This month, as Coronado prepares for its beloved 104th Annual Flower Show, I’ve been sitting with the truth that flowers are medicine — deeply rooted, scientifically supported, and spiritually ancient. Not metaphorically, but literally.
The Alchemy of Floral Essential Oils
When a flower is distilled into an essential oil, its life force becomes concentrated. Its volatile compounds, chemistry, and energetic signature are all held in a single drop. Lavender calms the nervous system and lowers cortisol, making it one of the most well-researched natural remedies for anxiety. Rose oil, one of the highest-frequency substances on the planet at 320 MHz, supports emotional healing, eases grief and depression, and opens the heart. Jasmine lifts the mood and eases tension, while neroli, distilled from orange blossoms, is used in clinical settings to reduce anxiety before procedures.
These aren’t just pleasant scents — they are botanical intelligences that speak directly to our limbic system, the part of the brain that governs memory, emotion, and survival. When you inhale a floral oil, you are in conversation with something ancient. Your body already knows the language.
Flowers as a Gateway to Presence
Across cultures, from Buddhist temples lined with lotus blossoms to the flower mandalas of the Hindu puja ceremonies, flowers have long served as portals — anchoring us in the present moment. A flower does not worry about yesterday. It does not plan for next week. It simply blooms, fully and unapologetically, at the exact moment it was meant to.
Bringing flowers into your meditation practice can be simple: place a single stem on your altar, join me for our mandala class, diffuse a floral oil as you settle into stillness, or hold a petal in your palm as a tactile anchor for your breath. Research on attention restoration theory shows that natural
Ari Salazar sets up a floral meditation class at Monarch Soul.
elements, including flowers, reduce mental fatigue and restore focus more effectively than any screen or task. Beauty, it turns out, is not a luxury — it’s a nervous system reset.
In my own practice, I step outside for a little flower gazing, whether on a walk or in my own yard. It’s a small ritual, but it transforms how I enter the day. There’s a gentle softening that happens when something beautiful is the first thing you meet.
Crown City in Full Bloom
This is why the Coronado Flower Show feels like more than just a community tradition. Walking among hundreds of blooms, surrounded by the fragrance and color of so much living beauty, is its own wellness practice. Your nervous system doesn’t distinguish between a meditation cushion and a garden path lined with dahlias — both are medicine. Both invite you to slow down, look closely, and remember that you are part of something larger than your to-do list.
This year, I’m honored to bring The Monarch Soul into the heart of it all. I’ll be hosting a few events in celebration of the show, each one designed to deepen your connection to the healing world of flowers.
Coronado Kids ready to enter the flower show after making arrangements at The Monarch Soul.
• Stephanie Clegg has lived in Coronado for five years with her husband and two children. After her own healing journey, she opened The Monarch Soul on the island, now at a new location at the El Cordova Courtyard, to spread inspiration, mindfulness, and soulful connection throughout the community.
JOIN US AT THE CORONADO FLOWER
SHOW
Kids Floral Arranging
Friday evening, I’ll be hosting the 2nd annual floral arranging class for kids. All supplies will be provided so your child can make their own arrangement and take it directly to Spreckels Park to submit it for a ribbon.
Introducing Events in the Tents
Events in the Tents, debuting this year, is the Coronado Flower Show’s dedicated tent space for interactive and educational activities throughout the weekend. I am excited to host two very special showcase events in this new gathering space.
Floral Oracle Readings
Date: Friday, April 17 Time: 6pm Friday evening, as part of Events in the Tents, I’ll be offering a floral oracle experience where you’ll select some flowers and receive a guided message inspired by their symbolic meanings. It’s a playful way to connect with the spirit of flowers. Each reading draws on the language of flowers to impart guidance, reflection, and insight from your own inner knowing. No experience necessary — only an open heart.
Rise & Bloom Sound Bath
Date: Saturday, April 18 Time: 8:30am
Begin your Flower Show morning in stillness. This immersive sound bath uses crystal singing bowls and floral essential oils to guide your body into deep rest and resonance — a perfect way to open your senses before stepping into the excitement of the day. It’s also an ideal time to reset and explore the tents before the action begins.
All Peoples Church Coronado
1331 Orange Ave. (Golf Cart Rental)
Email: info@allpeoplescoronado.com
Website: allpeoplescoronado.com
Chabad of Coronado
1033 B Ave #300 • (619) 365-4728
Email: team@chabadcoronado.com
Website: www.chabadcoronado.com
Christ Episcopal Church
1114 9th St. (at C Avenue) • (619) 435-4561
Email: of ce@christchurchcoronado.org
Website: christchurchcoronado.org
Coronado Community Church
201 6th St. • (619) 437-6827
Email: pastoreric@coronadocommunitychurch.org
Website: coronadocommunitychurch.org
Coronado Southern Baptist Church
111 Orange Ave., • (619) 435-8682
Email: john@coronadosbc.com
Website: coronadosbc.com
First Baptist Church of Coronado 445 C Ave. • (619) 435-6588
Email: secretary@fbcoronado.com
Website: fbcoronado.com
First Church of Christ, Scientist 1123 8th St. • (619) 435-4383
Website: prayerthatheals.org
Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church
979 C Ave. • (619) 435-6860
Email: info@gmpc.org
Website: gmpc.org
Living Waters Christian Church
Calvary Chapel Coronado
1224 10th St. #103 • (619) 435-8233
Email: cccoronadolwf@gmail.com
Website: calvarychapelcoronado.com
Resurrection Lutheran Church
1111 5th St. • (619) 435-1000
Email: secretary@resurrectioncoronado.com
Website: resurrectioncoronado.com
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
655 C Avenue • (619) 435-3167
Email: sacredheart@sacredheartcor.org
Website: sacredheartcor.org
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
700 D Ave. • (619) 435-5691
Email: stpauls.coronadoumc@gmail.com
Website: stpaulsmethodist.com
Victory Lighthouse United Pentecostal Church
111 Orange Avenue • (858) 499-9312
Website: victorylighthouse.weebly.com
Crown City Magazine photographer, Joel Ortiz captured this creative youth entry at the 2024 Flower Show.
THINKING
Call Tina For All Your Real Estate
AND CONSIDER ADOPTING THESE PUPS WHO NEED FOREVER HOMES!
Meet Ambrose! He loves going on walks, hikes and being a couch potato.
Meet Shiba! She loves daily walks & playing with her squeeky toys.
Visit pawsofcoronado.org for more information.
If PAWS doesn’t have your match, the SD Humane Society has 800 dogs & puppies waiting for you! Visit sdhumane.org/adopt
Meet Ecco!
He is a goofy, cuddly teddy bear who loves everyone.
Proud Sponsor of PAWS
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Contact Tina for all your Real Estate needs! Tina Gavzie
tina.gavzie@compass.com DRE 01205962 movetocoronado.com
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ALBACA
Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa 2000 Second St. (619) 435-3000
Park Place Liquor & Deli 1000 Park Place (619) 435-0116
Peohe’s Ferry Landing 1201 1st St. (619) 437-4474
Pop Pops Paleta 943 Orange Ave. (619) 537-0000
Rosemary Trattoria 120 Orange Ave. (619) 537-0054
Saiko Sushi 116 Orange Ave. (619) 435-0868
Serea Coastal Cuisine Hotel del Coronado 1500 Orange Ave. (619) 435-6611
Spiro’s Greek Cafe Ferry Landing 1201 1st St. (619) 435-1225
Starbucks 960 Orange Ave. (619) 437-8306
Tartine 1106 1st St. (619) 435-4323
Tavern 1310 Orange Ave. (619) 437-0611
The Henry 1031 Orange Ave. (619) 762-1022
Trident Coffee 942 Orange Ave. (619) 509-7118
Veranda 1500 Orange Ave. (619) 435-6611
Which Wich 926 Orange Ave. (619) 522-9424
Yummy Sushi 1330 Orange Ave. (619) 435-2771
Clyde Van Arsdall (619) 884-7928
Stake Chophouse & Bar 1309 Orange Ave. (619) 522-0077
Villa Nueva Bakery Café 956 Orange Ave. (619) 435-1256
Chef Drew McPartlin (619) 990-9201
Coronado Caterer (619) 917-3392
Village Pizzeria 1206 Orange Ave. (619) 522-0449
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Subway 1330 Orange Ave. (619) 435-8272
Swaddee Thai 1001 C Ave. (619) 435-8110
Village Pizzeria Bayside Ferry Landing 1201 1st St. (619) 437-0650
Scratch Gourmet (619) 987-4912
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Business District - Shop, Dine & Fun!
(Also see Local Buzz on page 12) Public Restrooms
Pedestrian, Bike and Bus Routes
Pedestrian Routes
Pedestrian & Bike Routes
Bike Routes
Bus Routes
It is not recommended to cross at these intersections.
In an emergency, dial 9-1-1
Sharp Coronado Hospital (619) 522-3600
Police Department (619) 522-7350
Fire Department (619) 522-7374
Lifeguard Station (619) 522-7346
Coronado Ferry Schedule
Pier
The Ferry departs the Broadway Pier hourly, from 9am to 9pm (10pm on Friday & Saturday nights)
The Ferry departs Coronado hourly, from 9:30am to 9:30pm
The Convention Center (South Embarcadero)
The Ferry departs from the Convention Center at :25 & :55 past the hour, from 9:25am to 9:55pm (10:55pm on Friday & Saturday nights)
The Ferry departs Coronado at :10 and :40 past the hour from 9:10am to 9:40pm (10:40pm on Friday & Saturday nights)
Ferry operated by Flagship Cruises & Events (619) 234-4111
For more information, visit their website, flagshipsd.com/cruises/flagship-ferry
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“She never asked for the spotlight. She just showed up, made everything beautiful and brought every vision to life. Year after year. This one’s for you, Gina Falletta.”
—Colby Erickson Freer, Coronado Floral Association Co-President
Coronado Flower Show branding through the years created by Gina Falletta Design. (2014-2026)
