Rooms & Gardens Is Moving to Montecito

••• After 30 years on State Street, Jami Voulgaris is moving her popular home decor shop, Rooms & Gardens, to the former Coda storefront in Montecito’s Upper Village. She’s hoping to have the new space ready by May 1. Update: The chickens that lived out back have moved to Voulgaris’s home.

••• Last week, MarBorg informed us that it would no longer step onto our property to access the containers that are in a fenced area right off the driveway, as it previously had for no extra charge. Instead, we’ll now have to pay $90 more per month for that service—an increase of nearly 70 percent over our current bill. I don’t blame the company for wanting to monetize the practice, but that’s a heck of a jump, and it sure felt like a monopoly flexing its muscle. (Update: A couple of people have asked how MarBorg communicated this, so I explained it in the comments below. Also, we’re in Montecito, and this rate increase may not apply elsewhere.)

••• From the county: Goleta Beach County Park has partially reopened: “Parking, BBQ grills, beach access, and restrooms will be open from sunrise to sunset in the area between the park entrance and pier. The parking lot at the far east end and the pier will remain closed due to damage sustained during the January 2023 storms. While some repairs are underway and assessments of the pier are ongoing, it is anticipated to be several weeks before the east parking lot and pier can reopen safely.”

••• Zodo’s bowling alley in Goleta has been rebranded as a Bowlero, reports John. The chain bought Zodo’s in 2021.

••• Now that the old photos in last week’s Name That Building post have been identified, I added current-day photos for comparisons sake.

••• Showing this week as part of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival: This Is Not a House, a 30-minute documentary by Morgan Neville (20 Feet from Stardom) about the fascinating Pepper Hill house Bruce Heavin and Lynda Weinman built with assistance from ShubinDonaldson. (Look for “Santa Barbara Shorts 2” on SBIFF’s Tuesday and Wednesday schedule.)

••• Press release: “The City of Santa Barbara’s Planning Division, in collaboration with AIA Santa Barbara, is seeking input on the Single Family Design Board design review process. This initiative is part of the City’s effort to streamline and simplify the land development permitting for single family homeowners. This survey is for both ‘frequent flyer’ SFDB customers as well as infrequent or one-time permit seekers who have participated in the City of Santa Barbara’s Single Family Design Board review process within the last three years (between January 2020 and January 2023). The deadline to submit answers is end of day Wednesday, February 22.”

••• From the latest update on Highway 101 construction: pre-construction activity is starting at the San Ysidro roundabout (at San Ysidro Road and N. Jameson Lane); the northbound off-ramp at Lillie Avenue in Summerland (formerly known as Evans Avenue) has opened; the northbound on-ramp at Ortega Hill Road is expected to open this Tuesday, February 14; and the bike path around Ortega Hill is coming along.

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