April 3, 2023
Odds & Ends
Drybar Is Opening in Montecito
Plus: Weddings could be returning to the Music Academy; city survey about a new Highway 101 pedestrian bridge; Palma Colectiva's opening party; the Patti Smith Trio to play the Lobero Theatre; three more Santa Barbara Bowl shows; Butterfly Beach water contact closure lifted. 6
March 27, 2023
New Building to Include Cantwell’s Market
Plus: The Beads shop reopens this weekend with a new name; the owners of Skin Deep salon/shop are retiring by June; local businesses are planning a "vintage crawl" on Saturday; a chance to see classic films on the big screen; paintings by Betty Lane and Christopher Noxon at Sullivan Goss. 3
March 23, 2023
March 20, 2023
The Return of the Two-Hotel Funk Zone Development
Plus: The Biltmore is reducing its number of guest rooms; Hozier to play the Bowl; a visit to the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden's fun Backcountry area; presale memberships to the Pad climbing gym; the Santa Barbara Surf Film Festival will include a block party; answer to last week's "Where in Santa Barbara...?" 16
March 14, 2023
March 9, 2023
Big Carpinteria Development Lands Its First Retail Tenant
Plus: A State Street bank is closing; the Nesbitt mansion is back on the market; more reasoning for MarBorg's non-curbside rate hike; construction on Highway 217 starts in April; Jazz at the Ballroom returns to the Lobero Theatre; amusing construction sign. 5
March 6, 2023
A New Menswear Store in the Funk Zone
Plus: Music Academy president Scott Reed is leaving the organization; another new apartment building is in the works downtown; two Highway 101 ramps to reopen this week; the Lumineers and Kelsea Ballerini to play the Santa Barbara Bowl; reader question about a nice-smelling plant; paintings by Arty Grimm at Caldwell Snyder. 1
March 2, 2023
Why Were Cameras Installed at the Montecito Hot Springs?
Plus: The latest plans for the De La Guerra Plaza revamp; Little Rainbow Foot Spa closed for remodeling; a new explanation from MarBorg for its non-curbside rate hike; Union Bank is becoming U.S. Bank; East Beach water-contact closure lifted; free firewood from the State Street Axe Club; potential public use of Santa Barbara High School's track and football field. 12
February 23, 2023
A Big New Gym Is Opening Downtown
Plus: Adventure park with ziplining is coming to the Santa Ynez Valley; the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show is coming up; Father John Misty, the Head and the Heart, and Rebelution to play the Santa Barbara Bowl; an Instagram account for local history buffs; are neighbors getting annoyed by pickleball? 5
February 19, 2023
The Las Aves Developer Has Taken Over More of Los Patos Way
Plus: Housing for the homeless is said to be in the works for 1.7 acres on upper State Street; more on MarBorg's hefty rate hike for non-curbside service; Channel City Lumber is opening a Santa Barbara store; Angel boutique is moving; an update on the Best Western Pepper Tree Hotel; the Santa Barbara Antique Show is coming up; E. Mountain Drive has reopened at the Cold Spring trailhead; Trombone Shorty, Ziggy Marley, and Mavis Staples to play the Santa Barbara Bowl. 10
















Recent Comments
Does the Après Ski party include a lift ticket? — Heidi Smith
Bravo, Music Academy of the West! — Deborah David
Santa Barbara Museum of Art gift shop has moved upstairs. Still a great place to shop with lots of Impressionist merchandise to match the GREAT… — LG
This is the box outside of Ca’ Dario at the corner of Anacapa and Victoria. — Mike
Renaming the post office and spending $500 k to do it. Is another great example tax payers money being wasted. — Dan Kolodziejski
Hallelujah! The return of that Southbound on-ramp is long overdue — Tammy
You've done a great thing for the hapless men of Santa Barbara with this series. Stopping by half of these stores. — Andy
The post office renaming will cost roughly $500,000 paid for by the USPS internal funds from stamps and fees. — Derek
Thank you, Erik, for reminding your readers to support local businesses; it is one of the critical ways to help our communities thrive. (I laughed… — Pat
I agree about the skimpy wine pour. However, we loved the shared entrees (chicken and salmon) with their special rice. Yes there were leftovers but… — ElizabethW