With sunny skies and 72 degree weather, the holiday season in La Jolla may not be the typical winter wonderland seen in so many holiday movie favorites. But here in the Village, there is still plenty of festivities and cheer to be had for residents and visitors alike. We invite you to enjoy some of these activities happening right here at the Grande Colonial Hotel La Jolla and in our La Jolla Village!
Celebrate the holidays in La Jolla at the Grande Colonial hotel. La Jolla is a magical destination for a holiday getaway with festive events, colorful parades, and fun activities to put you in the spirit. Make memories at the La Jolla Christmas Parade & Holiday Festival. Enjoy holiday shopping in the La Jolla Village, aglow with twinkling lights. Gather with friends and family for holiday dinners at our NINE-TEN Restaurant. Located in the heart of La Jolla, our iconic boutique hotel offers luxury rooms and suites and holiday specials that make traveling this season a joy.
The Grande Colonial HotelLa Jolla and NINE-TEN Restaurant La Jolla are proud to serve and support Talitha Coffee, a local San Diego company providing employment and support to survivors of sex trafficking.
Ethiopians first discovered the pick-me-up appeal of coffee sometime around 800 AD, and now 2.25 billion cups of bean juice are consumed around the globe every day. Hard to improve on the emotional well being a couple billion people already feel.
Enter Talitha Coffee Roasters in East Village. Talitha is the manifestation of founder Jenny Barber's lifelong mission to make a difference in the lives of those impacted by sex trafficking. Each cup and bean contributes to the cause.
(pictured are founders, Jenny & Robert Barber)
A survivor of childhood exploitation herself, the mother of six understands firsthand how sparking hope is a crucial stepping stone to bringing survivors out of dark spaces. She and her husband, Robert, first began with advocacy and outreach programs in red-light districts around the country. But after discovering Robert's innate talent for roasting coffee using only a popcorn popper on their stovetop, the pair decided to sell their beans to fund their efforts.
They acquired long-standing local roaster Cafe Virtuoso and rebranded to align with their cause. Then Jenny realized she could go a step further by providing employment opportunities. "So many [survivors] would end up back on the streets because they were facing barriers of reentry, such as education, vocational training, and, sometimes, criminal records," she says. "It felt like the odds were stacked against them."
So the Barbers set out to offer survivors jobs through the Talitha Survivor Care Network, which provides support and resources to help survivors restabilize their lives. In 2021, forced commercial sexual exploitation affected an estimated 6.3 million people worldwide, according to studies cited by the US State Department.
The name Talitha stems from the Aramaic talitha koum, meaning, "Maiden, arise." This phrase is a reference to the story of a girl moving from death of a girl moving from death back to life. Jenny feels it symbolizes the experience of many trafficking survivors.
"Our ultimate heroes are the survivors. They take that big step and reclaim the power to write their story, so we're celebrating that," Jenny says. "The dream is way beyond just working for Talitha." Since its founding, the company has employed four survivors and is partnering with other recovery organizations to continue to grow this number.
Talitha recently launched their e-commerce site, where they sell direct to consumers by the bag or by subscription, as well as wholesale to larger companies. The company is gearing up to go nationwide within the next year.
"Growth is not just about numbers, but realizing that, as we grow, we're able to bring a greater impact," Jenny says.
The Grande Colonial Hotel La Jolla and its MICHELIN-recognized restaurant, NINE-TEN La Jolla, are proud supporters of the Talitha brand and mission, and are now serving Talitha Certified Organic coffee and hot tea.
