December 15, 2023
News Roundup
The City of Santa Barbara Is Looking Into Buying the News-Press Building
Other recent news: Update on the proposed Carpinteria Bluffs hotel; Santa Barbara is considering eliminating free parking; Ojai Valley Inn to briefly close for renovations; groundbreaking for five-story mental health/housing facility downtown; handsome 1952 Cliff May house in Montecito; timeline for reopening Highway 1 in Big Sur; the tree of the month. 9
December 6, 2023
By 2025, SpaceX Plans on Vandenberg Launches Every Three or Four Days
Other recent news: Womenswear brand d'Offay opened in El Paseo; Carpinteria residents sue cannabis farms over the foul smell; monarch butterfly season in Goleta; Lake Los Carneros footbridge repair is stalled; Camino Real Marketplace tree replacement; Goleta energy substation opens. 5
November 27, 2023
November 21, 2023
The State Street Promenade Now Has a One-Block Bike Lane
Other recent news: The Coral Casino intends to reopen in January; Replay toy store has closed after the owner passed away; an effort to determine whether Rincon Point beach is public or private property; Amazon liquidation store opens in Lompoc. 8
November 11, 2023
The Summer Solstice Celebration Theme Is “Flights of Fancy”
Other recent news: Rain is in the forecast (as is a wet winter in general); verdict in the trial over house bought by Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom; the bitter battle between the Santa Barbara Unified School District's teachers and leadership; State Street tattoo parlor moved to the Mesa; the history of Isla Vista; more on the former Child Estate; the mission of the U.S. Space Force. 2
November 2, 2023
State Street Promenade to Get Bike Lanes Again
Other recent news: Montecito debris nets to be removed; UCSB officially pulls the plug on Munger Hall; new refillable store in Goleta; the Modoc Road Multi-Use Path makes progress; proposed expansion of the Tajiguas Landfill; ExxonMobil subsidiary wants to repair an oil pipeline rather than build a new one; fiddling with the boundary of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary; real estate commissions could be headed for a change; the tree of the month. 7
October 25, 2023
The State Street Advisory Committee Met Again
Other recent news: Blissful Boutiques makers' market lost its lease at Paseo Nuevo; the city council approved new regulations for restaurant parklets; the Land Trust bought 48 acres on the Gaviota Coast; California Highway Patrol decided to stay and renovate its Calle Real office; progress for improvements at the Goleta Butterfly Grove; looking back at when a rich homeowner let hobos live on her property. 3
October 18, 2023
Santa Barbara Proposes Painful Regulations for Restaurant Parklets
Other recent news: Carpinteria votes to allow parklets; Santa Barbara is said to be mulling an increase in the hotel tax; Santa Barbara County is considering three new taxes; commuter train service from Ventura County is in the works; gate installed at the Hot Springs trailhead; two regional banks have merged. 2
October 10, 2023
The Trees of Milpas Street Are in Danger of Being Removed
Other recent news: California has passed a law banning "junk fees"; the tension between hotel and housing development; San Ysidro Creek debris net dam cleared; Goleta street improvements (and three new roundabouts); looking back at Santa Barbara's early surf scene. 28
October 5, 2023
Increased Regulation Likely for Pandemic Restaurant Expansion
Other recent news: The fall cruise season has begun; list of Santa Barbara infrastructure projects; an opponent for Das Williams; big downtown probation office moves forward; the ongoing restoration of Hammond's Meadow; Santa Barbara Unified School District enrollment continues to drop; Santa Barbara Humane expansion and the recreation of an airport hangar. 4
Burning Questions
- Why Are There Story Poles at Calle Real Center?
- When Will the Last Segment of Highway 101 Get Upgraded?
- Why Are There “No Grading” Signs on the Edison Catway?
- Why Are There Pedestrian Gates at Train Tracks?
- Is This Summerland’s Original Train Station?
- What Does the “S” on Certain Chimneys Stand For?
- What’s the Status of the Decommissioning of Rincon Island?
Recent Comments
I am glad the building owner referred to it as Cost Plus and not World Market. Longtime Californians will only ever think of it by… — A
Thanks for the heads-up. — Erik Torkells
You forgot the Santa Ynez house circa 2005 https://observer.com/2018/09/ellen-degeneres-former-santa-barbara-santa-ynez-home-for-sale-portia-de-rossi/ — SY Valley resident
Thanks for amplifying Goleta History! Fun site — Cynthis
Funny, I was there over the weekend and it was definitely open — Bettye Jones
Truly love these travel journal reports. And this one proved valuable as we were planning a similar trip. — ES Corcheo
Hey Greg, Brett here, the owner of Riviera Beach Club. It's definitely not a private club by any means, as it is designed to serve… — Brett Hunter
Hi Lisa, Brett here, the owner of Riviera Beach Club. We have a permit to operate a public service to rent beach shade, chairs, and… — Brett Hunter
you are so funny. I went to enchanted last year with some friends. and you are spot on. — Larry Gottesdiener
I just doublechecked with the owners and they said it's open (but temporarily opening at 4pm on weekdays). — Erik Torkells