July 18, 2024
News Roundup
The State Street Advisory Committee Can’t Reach a Consensus
Other recent news: Progress on containing the Lake Fire; popular campgrounds suffered little fire damage; Santa Barbara and Goleta working together on airport noise; back-in angled parking in Old Town Goleta; this year's Fiesta celebration won't include a carnival; the folks hoping to build on Hot Springs Trail share their point of view. 25
July 11, 2024
The Vons Store in Turnpike Center Might Close
Other recent news: An update on the Lake Fire; the Ukrainian corner in San Roque; how SpaceX gets its way with government agencies; Parma Park's new trails; the county Planning Commission finally insisted on carbon scrubbers; the wildlife crossing under construction in Agoura Hills. 3
June 27, 2024
Inching Toward a Decision on the State Street Promenade
Other recent news: A business improvement district for downtown Santa Barbara; apartment complexes proposed for the Lower Riviera and near Cottage Hospital; Refugio State Beach should reopen early this summer; the Waterman hotel in the Funk Zone has been rebranded; update on the Las Alturas house falling down the hillside; hidden camera found in landscaping; the tree of the month. 11
June 19, 2024
Refugio State Beach Is Closed Indefinitely
Other recent news: Professional soccer team to play at UCSB stadium; Santa Barbara Unified School District teachers' strike tentatively averted; county supervisors wrestle with the cannabis tax mess; Highway 101 construction above Ventura is done; seed money to try and buy Carpinteria Bluffs land slated for development; Santa Cruz Market sold; new hat shop in Carpinteria. 2
June 12, 2024
Santa Barbara Residents to Vote on a Sales Tax Increase
Other recent news: The longstanding friction at Hot Springs Trail; Chaucer's Books is under new ownership; hotel tax hike on the ballot in November; cannabis taxes continue to disappoint; Lower Tunnel Trail and Inspiration Point trailhead will be closed for six months; Waterfront Department plans to raise slip fees and harbor parking fees; inside the reborn Zaca Lake resort. 3
June 4, 2024
Santa Barbara Is Considering a Sales Tax Increase
Other recent news: Many of the school district's solar arrays have yet to function; criminal charges filed against landlord; mysterious fish die-off; Old Town Antiques is closing; the tree of the month; county district attorneys vs. Carbmaster bread. 2
May 23, 2024
Caruso Officially Files Plans for Miramar Expansion
Other recent news: The city intends to tweak another block of State Street; Southwest Airlines is expected to pause weekday flights between Santa Barbara and Denver; underground tanks discovered downtown; creepy people harass restaurant patrons; more on Hill House Montecito; Island View Outfitters opened on upper State Street; the county courthouse’s viewing deck is closed till late July; new kung fu and tai chi studio; state law to make street parking even harder; Pink to headline One805Live! benefit. 18
May 16, 2024
City Council Rejects Proposal for Paid Street Parking
Other recent news: More on the two new pools the Biltmore is building in its front yard; SpaceX continues to flout Coastal Commission policies; rise in rattlesnake bites; county supervisors are rethinking cannabis taxation; a surge in sick brown pelicans; Billy Baldwin and Chynna Phillips put their house on the market; Carpinteria photo archive is now online. 7
May 9, 2024
May 2, 2024
Moving Date Set for the Saturday Farmers’ Market
Other recent news: The proposed changes to the Castillo Street underpass will proceed; county supervisors punt on cannabis odor control; update on the Santa Barbara News-Press's bankruptcy; international soccer clubs to play here this summer; the tree of the month. 5
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