••• The trailers, dumpsters, shipping containers, etc., have been cleared from the large lot on Gray Avenue in the Funk Zone, and it’s for rent, if you’re looking for someplace to put a football field or, I don’t know, build an Erewhon…?
••• Mr. Articulate himself, Pete Buttigieg, will be in town for a UCSB Arts & Lectures talk on April 22.
••• Two items of note from Hayes Commercial Group‘s report for the fourth quarter of 2024: “a Valvoline franchisee purchased the automotive property at 932 De La Vina Street”—at Carrillo, home to Jiffy Lube before it moved—and “members of the Karpeles family purchased 21 W. Anapamu Street, the longtime home of the Karpeles Manuscript Museum,” so the museum is unlikely to go anywhere anytime soon.
••• Two more Santa Barbara Bowl shows were announced: Ryan Bingham and the Texas Gentlemen (June 14) and St. Paul & the Broken Bones with the Wood Brothers (June 21).
••• The former Victor the Florist space at the corner of Santa Barbara and Anapamu is back on the rental market. “We recently decided not to go forward,” said a rep for Lotus Cabinetry. “After two years of trying, we were unable to get the permits to use the space for what we had intended.”
••• G. has a question for you: “I grew up in Santa Barbara in the 70’s and there was a ‘family fun’ center located between lower State Street and Castillo (basically the neighborhood between West Beach and the 101). It was called Shady Acres and it was a very popular place for putt putt golf, ping pong and arcade games. It’s been long gone now but I’ve always wondered where exactly was it located and haven’t been able to find any information on it online.” Anyone know where it was and what happened to it? UPDATE: “Shady Acres was located at 321 W. Mason Street and there was miniature golf, arcade games, ping pong and other games,” says CI. UPDATE: “Once the bigger and better miniature golf place opened in Ventura (still there on side of 101) it killed the business,” says G. “There was also a cool place at Garden and Cabrillo (across from the visitor center) that had miniature horses and ponies that kids could ride around a dirt oval track.”
••• The next Ensemble Theatre Company show—Parents in Chains, a comedy by Jay Martel—has announced additional casting, with some recognizable names: “Joining the previously announced Sharon Lawrence will be (at select performances): John Ross Bowie (“The Big Bang Theory,” “Speechless”); Jane Lynch (“Glee”); Melora Hardin (“The Office”); Joshua Malina (“The West Wing,” “Scandal”); Thomas Sadoski (“The Newsroom”); Gina Torres (“Suits,” “9-1-1: Lone Star”); Matt Walsh (“Veep,” “The Hangover”); Jorja Fox (“CSI”); Pete Gardner (“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”); Ron Huebel (“Goosebumps”); Gildart Jackson (“Charmed”); Loni Love (“The Real Daytime”); and James Urbaniak (“Oppenheimer,” “The Fabelmans”). And here’s the synopsis: “Six L.A. parents exchange texts as their 17-year-old daughters drive home from a weekend in San Francisco during the approach of a hurricane. The trip and the inclement weather bring out both the best and the worst in the parents as they confront […] what it means to let go of their kids.” It opens March 12.
••• Jeff Bridges will be at the Granada Theatre on April 19 for a screening of The Big Lebowski followed by a talk. Not to misplace the spotlight, but have you ever realized how many amazing movies Julianne Moore has been in?
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Shady Acres was located at 321 W Mason St and there was miniature golf, arcade games, ping pong and other games..
I think Shady Acres also had pony rides on occasion, too.
The city should be put on blast for Lotus Cabinetry. They lost $140k in rent. This is the third time the city continues to prevent businesses from wanting to open in town.
Sad that the tenants at the Victor the florist space were unable to open. Would appreciate if the city would be more of a partner with the small business community, and actually try to help these businesses open! Having said that, that space would be great for an Italian specialty wine shop & cafe with a ‘La Marzocco’ espresso machine and a few bistro tables, they could sell some flowers too.
Meanwhile street vendors operate illegally all over the city.
“Our hands are tied”
I live a couple blocks away. I think it would be an excellent location for a coffee/bakery!
I really liked reading about the Shady Acres park from before I lived here. For decades I’ve thought this town needed a miniature golf course, everyone can have fun playing putt-putt golf. And I’ve always been looking for a suitable site. That gravel lot in the FZ caught my attention but my first choice is just a block away. The site is next to the closed carousel house. (currently used mostly by unhoused individuals) It’s perfect, plenty of parking across Garden street & Cabrillo blvd., the carousel building could be repurposed and leased to a local “family style” food business. At the East end there already exists a playground and the large grass area that hosts the Summer Concert series, among other events. Finally, it would produce revenue directly to the city, the parking lots, the fees to play, to the food and drinks after! Everybody can play! Eight year olds to eighty year olds. And I would love to work there being the greens keeper.
There used to be a Golf N’ Fun at the corner of Hope and Calle Real before the car dealership was there. It had mini golf, skateboarding bowls, an arcade and I think batting cages. I felt bitter as a child passing by the overly bright car dealerships that took away our weekend fun.;)
The pony ride location at Garden and Cabrillo was named Don & Shirley’s Pony Rides.
And a Bob’s Big Boy restaurant nearby
I feel so sorry for the people who gave up the Victor the Florist space. The permitting process in the county/city feels predatory at this point. It’s nearly impossible to open a business without an extremely wealthy investor that you are beholden to that will pay your rent while you wait on permitting. I adore Santa Barbara, but my husband and I have moved away because we knew our dreams of owning our own business would ruin us financially.
Ah the good ole’ days. If only it was the 70’s again in SB. I sometimes daydream of those carefree times long past.
Is the Erewhon based on any facts or pure speculation? I heard it was coming to the new Platform development.
So this apartment building on Carillo and De La Vina fell through I guess.
https://www.noozhawk.com/22-unit-housing-project-converts-critics-wins-key-approval-at-jiffy-lube-site-in-downtown-santa-barbara/