October 17, 2024
News Roundup
Santa Barbara Is Finally Getting Serious About E-Bikes
Other recent news: Art Essentials is moving at year end; Montecito police blotter; the latest on the proposed Rosewood Miramar Beach expansion; the city council's District 3 race; the Lobero Theatre’s executive director is stepping down; California Coastal Commission refuses to allow more SpaceX launches. 14
October 3, 2024
Debate Rages Over the 250-Room Garden Street Hotel
Other recent news: Debunked rumor that the Bidens bought in the Santa Ynez Valley; District 1 candidate forum recap; Funk Zone art gallery closed; city councilmember Alejandra Gutierrez's poor attendance; criticism for cannabis stink abatement plan; Goleta library to close for up to two years; Mission Creek restoration; Cottage Health to create employee housing; what's next for Andersen's Pea Soup in Buellton. 3
September 26, 2024
A Faster Track for the Miramar’s Retail and Housing Expansion
Other recent news: The new owner of Buellton landmark Pea Soup Andersen's; California to finally ban the sale of all plastic bags at grocery stores; buyer found for the News-Press's physical archive; bomb thrown inside a Santa Maria courthouse building; the tree of the month; the Riv's ode to Bianca Censori. 3
September 19, 2024
The City Council’s Current Thinking About State Street
Other recent news: CVS is said to be closing downtown; Metropolitan Theatres has left the Fiesta Five on State Street; interview with city administrator Kelly McAdoo; what to do with two dilapidated airport hangars; Fuel Depot opened on Storke Road; candidates for Goleta elections; progress for the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. 11
September 5, 2024
The Debate Over Rent Control in Santa Barbara
Other recent news: A rise in stolen checks; vintage shop updates; Lucidity Festival is shutting down for good; Goleta likely to lower speed limits; Platform Holly has been plugged; the county's agricultural enterprise ordinance moves forward; Eric Goode's huge Ojai spread; positive feedback for the proposed Tri-County Produce project; SBCC wants a bond extension; the Surfliner Inn's slow progress. 31
August 29, 2024
August 22, 2024
Opening Date for the Santa Barbara Public Library Plaza
Other recent news: The eight-story building proposed near the Mission; a bit of intel on the buyers of the former St. Anthony's Seminary complex; President Biden and his family are vacationing in the Santa Ynez Valley; feedback on the plaza to replace Franceschi House; Moody Sisters cottages istreated; the new Tilly Timms souvenir store; California Highway Patrol issued a ton of speeding tickets; driver crashes car and flees on skateboard. 5
August 15, 2024
A Chilly Reception for the Biltmore’s Family Pool Complex
Other recent news: The arrogance of the U.S. Space Force; beach grooming debate; UCSB chancellor Henry Yang will step down; the candidates for Santa Barbara's city council; the men behind the street names near the airport; questions about the Lobero Theatre's proposed expansion; downtown condo owners caught in the new Community Benefit Improvement District; Refugio State Beach reopened; dreaming big about the former U.S. Bank branch on State Street. 5
August 1, 2024
Will a Hotel Ban Fix Santa Barbara’s Housing Problem?
Other recent news: Discussion over county agritourism changes; Santa Ynez Valley radio station now part of KCLU; the heads of Cottage Health and Direct Relief are retiring; Gaviota Coast Conservancy and El Capitan Canyon campground come to an agreement. 11
July 25, 2024
Aggressive Invasive Ants Discovered in Montecito
Other recent news: Santa Barbara is thinking about spending money on an economic development plan; downtown building could become apartments; Mesa residents are concerned about Elings Park fire risk; Carpinteria's Soap store is closing; the tree of the month; push to turn Carpinteria's former Rite Aid into a community center; miserable Casa Dorinda resident Renée Templeraud. 14
Burning Questions
- What’s This Pole With a Flashing Blue Light?
- What Are These Sculptures on the Riviera?
- What’s the Origin Story of This Fence on Hot Springs Road?
- What’s the Housing Development Under Construction Next to the Polo Fields?
- Why Is Part of This West Beach Mosaic Covered in Concrete?
- What Was the Weeping Willow Inn?
- Why Are There Story Poles at Calle Real Center?
Recent Comments
What I find interesting about the re-striping is that “sales tax from businesses like restaurants, hotels, food, drugs, building, and construction were up 3-7 percent… — Tristen
I'm still trying to figure out if "Wedgie Salad" is a typo or not. — SkyG
They are all local brews that cost $9 at the breweries. That’s a pretty standard price…also who goes to cutlers and gets a beer? But… — Colin
We’ve gone to Cutlers now 2-3 times and have been very impressed. The burnt ends broccoli is incredible. — Kim Vawter
11$ for a draft beer what a joke! — Sb2b
Cutler’s is selling their locally produced, premium alcohol, and prices reflect such… — HT93108
If he likes them, they just released tall boys (19.2oz/568ml) on their website for general order. — Rich
I thought the same thing as City@SB. The Ellwood has ocean views, Cutler is very much in the industrial area of town. Not in this… — Dan
My husband couldn’t drink for awhile (medication) and really liked the Athletic Free Wave IPA. It’s got .05 alcohol content so less then you wanted.… — AFC
Topa Topa did 2% IPA in the fall of 2021 as a limited release but I'm not aware of any local breweries that have one… — Rich