A Possible Lead in the Case of the Purloined Stiletto

••• I was fortunate to get to visit Rose Story Farm in Carpinteria over the weekend—this is peak rose season, and it’s a bonanza. You can pick up a bouquet from the farm (for Mother’s Day or not) at Hudson Grace in the Montecito Country Mart this Thursday through Sunday, May 8-11.

••• Xanadu Skate Boutique will close its shop on May 10 and become online-only. In the meantime, it’s having a sale.

••• The owner of the apartment building at 34 Los Patos Way wants to demolish it, according to a notice posted at the site, and construct a new two-story, six-unit apartment building in its place. Related: it looked like construction might be underway at the former Magic Castle Cabaret (30 Los Patos) in front of the apartments. Has anyone heard whether something is happening there? UPDATE 5/7: Magic Castle owner Arlene Larsen says there’s no construction happening on her property, and she’s “very close to opening the Magic Castle Cabaret for my special parties.”

••• It has been nearly a year since I checked in regarding the progress at Fairview Gardens, so I reached out to founder Michael Ableman, who sent this update: “We’re making good progress—conditional use permit is in its final stages, fundraising is progressing, having raised $7 million towards our $21 million capital goal. This stage of a massive revisioning and rebuilding project is tedious, unromantic, and often invisible. But we can’t do anything without the permits and the funds to do the work. We’ve got a solid plan and drawings in place for the rebuild and replanting of the physical space and a very exciting plan for the social, educational, and program space.”

••• According to Radius Commercial Real Estate’s first-quarter report, “Umbra Labs decided to vacate their nearly 28,000-square-foot space at 419 State Street and move to Goleta, putting another large tech office space on the market”—another blow for lower State.

••• Two more Santa Barbara Bowl shows were announced: Slightly Stoopid on August 17 and Haim on October 11.

••• J. sent in a possible lead in the case of the purloined stiletto: “I was interested in hearing about the theft of the shoe because I happened to drive past a couple of guys stopped on the freeway trying to fit it in the back of their truck. I assumed it was theirs. I can still picture it perfectly—a guy in his 30s with dark curls and a rather cute face, smiling while trying to fit it in the back of truck with a cab on it.”

••• The SBIFF Film Center at 916 State Street goes before the Historical Landmarks Commission on May 7: “Proposed exterior alterations so the existing theater including: new finishes, soffit, and light fixtures at existing canopy/marquee; new poster cases at exterior wall and around circular column; remodel of exterior entry foyer; and new roof screen around mechanical equipment.)” The cineplex will close May 12 while the theaters get renovated.

••• Anyone who thinks Santa Barbara calls to mind somewhere in Spain has it all wrong, says Delta. The airline has released a “list of U.S. alternatives to summer’s most popular international cities—and Santa Barbara is featured on the list as an easy alternative to Athens.” Greece, not Georgia. “Much like Athens, Santa Barbara boasts a stunning coastal setting with breathtaking views reminiscent of the Aegean Sea. Following the 1925 earthquake, the city embraced Mediterranean-inspired architecture, featuring white stucco buildings and red-tiled roofs that mirror the classic aesthetic of Athens. The city’s vibrant outdoor dining scene, with charming bistros and wine bars, offers a European-style ambiance akin to Athens’s lively tavernas.”

••• A show of work by Don Louis Perceval is up at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum: “Don Louis Perceval (1908-1979) traveled throughout the Southwest, becoming enamored with the natural beauty of the landscape and its Hopi and Navajo peoples. After studying at the Royal Academy, he was drawn back to the west and commissioned to create advertisements for the Rio Grande Oil Company. After a life dedicated to his work he spent his final years in Santa Barbara. ” Below: “Untitled (The Visitor).”

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