News has moved quickly the last few days, so some of what’s directly below isn’t as fresh as it was upon publication.
NEWS ROUNDUP 7/1
••• Santa Barbara city beaches will stay open for the holiday weekend (but L.A. and Ventura counties are closing theirs). Note: see 7/2 roundup below.
••• City considering changes that might help developers downtown.
••• New design for the big project at Milpas and Ortega.
••• Ban extended on recreational shooting in Los Padres National Forest.
••• Police seek paving scammers.
→ Read the post.
NEWS ADDENDUM 7/1
California governor Gavin Newsom ordered 19 counties—including Santa Barbara—to halt indoor operations immediately at restaurants, wineries, movie theaters, museums, zoos, and more. And bars must close entirely.
NEWS ROUNDUP 7/2
••• County beaches limited to active use for the holiday weekend.
••• Massive spike in new Covid-19 cases.
••• The city of Santa Barbara will close many beach parking lots and forbid barbecues and hammocks.
••• Rumors that the Four Seasons Biltmore is getting sold or renovated.
••• Bob Hazard on the water deal.
→ Read the post.
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JUST LISTED
The week’s noteworthy new listings: Lutah Maria Riggs midcentury with major potential; Riven Rock farmhouse begging to be moved; another Mediterranean-style villa; big views on Coyote Road; dueling condos on Hammond’s Beach.
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FOOD STUFF
••• Bars that serve food in the same transaction can stay open.
••• Allen Construction is building restaurant parklets for free.
••• The Daisy has postponed its return.
••• Noemi is now open on weekends.
••• Secret Bao’s roasted pork bo ssam (above).
••• Insomnia Cookies opening on State Street.
→ Read the post.
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ODDS & ENDS
••• A new app for exploring the Channel Islands and a new trail on Santa Rosa Island.
••• Proposed demolition of small Shoreline Drive house to make way for something larger.
••• Lotusland invited first responders for a visit.
••• Silk masks from Catherine Gee.
••• Anti-fog spray at Occhiali.
••• Commode camouflage.
→ Read the post.
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Recent Comments
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
That 5% would go to all employees proportionate to their hours I would presume compared to tips where more skilled staff take a higher percentage,… — Don
Geo , you know absolutely nothing about the restaurant business. — Roy
What if, and bear with me here because this is complicated, restaurants just paid their staff normally and charged prices that reflected those expenses, i.e.… — Rich
Little Mountain just isn’t organized. Everyone is very nice and the atmosphere stylish, but there is something wrong with it. The food is weird, portions… — Joan
I intensely to test Sur charges for the cost of doing business. Will they give back 5% profits to the patrons when they do extremely… — Geo