Courtyard vs. Penthouse at the Villas at Olive Mill

Highlights of this weekend's open-house lineup: Knoll-top property on Coyote Road; redone 1914 house in the Lower Riviera; fixer on a flag lot near the Montecito Club; and an 85-acre ranch by Lake Casitas.

Camping Made Easy on the Trail Between Pacific Palisades and Malibu

News from beyond the SBubble: Oxnard junior high students object to their school's racist eponym; San Luis Obispo Museum of Art postpones plans for a new building; "mule man" arrested near Paso Robles; Lompoc wants recreational access to areas at Vandenberg Air Force Base; three oil platforms may be removed.

Historic Adobe Complex Downtown Seeks Buyer

Plus: The county announces $10.1 million for Montecito road repairs; Lobero Theatre stops selling bottled water; out-of-date sign about Cold Spring trailhead closure; meeting about a groundwater sustainability plan for Montecito.

A Peek Inside the Mesa Burger on Coast Village Road

More food news: First look at Café Ana's dinner menu; baking classes at Bettina and Bree'osh; monthly spaghetti suppers at Potek Winery; Kyle's Protein Grill opens in Goleta.

Cliff Drive Will Be Getting a Bike Path and Pedestrian Crossings

Other recent news: Mysterious money in the county supervisor race; how the Douglas Family Preserve got its name; racist graffiti at a bus stop; the cork oak is the tree of the month.

The Three Reasons to Visit Paso Robles Now

Neither the new hotel, the popular art installation, nor the popular new restaurant is enough to justify the two-hour drive on its own, but they add up to a satisfying getaway.

Newsletter: February 10

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Two More Shows Announced at the Santa Barbara Bowl

Plus: The Ashley Road bridge in Montecito reopens this week; sneak preview of acclaimed film "Portrait of a Lady on Fire"; Lotusland's winter break is over (and it has murals for sale); "master flipper" does well in Cielito.

Restaurant to Open at the Base of Amazon’s New State Street Office

More food news: Sama Sama Kitchen's lunch menu; Mosaic Locale is now permanent; Mizza serving breakfast; new Turkish bakery/café; Pascucci relocating soon; Gioia opening on State Street; Mala Town in Isla Vista has closed.

1918 Upper East Gem Hamstrung by Bed-to-Bath Ratio

The week's other top price reductions: Architectural exotica on the Riviera and in Hope Ranch; studs-up redo that would look like a better deal on a fancier street; what might be the best value in Upper Montecito.