November 13, 2025
Author: Erik Torkells
The Trump Administration Plans to Reopen the Santa Barbara County Coast to Drilling
Other recent news: The contentious proposal to redevelop Paseo Nuevo; 18-story Builder's Remedy project submitted to Carpinteria; objections to the design of Sears lot at La Cumbre Plaza; Gold’s Gym locations bought by Eos Fitness; the renovation of Dwight Murphy Field. 17
November 12, 2025
What Are Those Old Buildings at the Corner of Castillo and Montecito Streets?
"There are some historic buildings adjacent to the liquor store. The one on Castillo is an enormous mansion painted a dull mustard color. If my attempt at research is in any way accurate, it was moved to that location to avoid demolition. There it stands, seemingly vacant. Maybe you can get the lowdown." 1
November 11, 2025
November 10, 2025
A Better Look at the Plans to Redevelop the Sears Part of La Cumbre Plaza
Plus: Bucatini pop-up at The Post; Santa Barbara Rock Gym to close; University of California bought another building downtown; more improvements at Plaza del Mar park; Yellow Pages update; Jack Johnson to play the Santa Barbara Bowl; new Rubenstein Chan show. 7
November 9, 2025
First Look at Bistro Amasa, Opening This Week
More food news: Brass Bird confirmed for San Roque; Manifattura is now taking reservations online; Anchor Rose is reportedly closing; the changes at Corazón Comedor; Sandbar is closed for remodeling; two restaurants partner on a TV dinner–themed night; Nantucket wine bar in residence at Tyler x Lieu Dit; SB Biergarten is adding an outdoor dining deck; the Miracle Christmas pop-up will be in Solvang, too. 17
November 7, 2025
November 6, 2025
The Push for Public Access to Hollister Ranch Beaches
Other recent news: Changes coming to Cacique Street homeless shelter; a long look at California's insurance problem; county supervisors deny Sable Offshore permit transfer; improvements to Franklin Creek trail in Carpinteria; the tree of the month. 1
Burning Questions
- What Are Those Old Buildings at the Corner of Castillo and Montecito Streets?
- When Will the Coast Village Road Medians Be Completed?
- What’s This Scaffold Structure on Las Positas Road?
- Why Does Street Striping Take So Long to Happen?
- Why Do Rocket Launches Look the Way They Do?
- How Is the San Ysidro Debris Basin Designed to Work?
- What’s This Building on Helena Avenue?
Recent Comments
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
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