July 11, 2024
News Roundup
The Vons Store in Turnpike Center Might Close
Other recent news: An update on the Lake Fire; the Ukrainian corner in San Roque; how SpaceX gets its way with government agencies; Parma Park's new trails; the county Planning Commission finally insisted on carbon scrubbers; the wildlife crossing under construction in Agoura Hills. 3
June 27, 2024
Inching Toward a Decision on the State Street Promenade
Other recent news: A business improvement district for downtown Santa Barbara; apartment complexes proposed for the Lower Riviera and near Cottage Hospital; Refugio State Beach should reopen early this summer; the Waterman hotel in the Funk Zone has been rebranded; update on the Las Alturas house falling down the hillside; hidden camera found in landscaping; the tree of the month. 11
June 19, 2024
Refugio State Beach Is Closed Indefinitely
Other recent news: Professional soccer team to play at UCSB stadium; Santa Barbara Unified School District teachers' strike tentatively averted; county supervisors wrestle with the cannabis tax mess; Highway 101 construction above Ventura is done; seed money to try and buy Carpinteria Bluffs land slated for development; Santa Cruz Market sold; new hat shop in Carpinteria. 2
June 12, 2024
Santa Barbara Residents to Vote on a Sales Tax Increase
Other recent news: The longstanding friction at Hot Springs Trail; Chaucer's Books is under new ownership; hotel tax hike on the ballot in November; cannabis taxes continue to disappoint; Lower Tunnel Trail and Inspiration Point trailhead will be closed for six months; Waterfront Department plans to raise slip fees and harbor parking fees; inside the reborn Zaca Lake resort. 3
June 4, 2024
Santa Barbara Is Considering a Sales Tax Increase
Other recent news: Many of the school district's solar arrays have yet to function; criminal charges filed against landlord; mysterious fish die-off; Old Town Antiques is closing; the tree of the month; county district attorneys vs. Carbmaster bread. 2
May 23, 2024
Caruso Officially Files Plans for Miramar Expansion
Other recent news: The city intends to tweak another block of State Street; Southwest Airlines is expected to pause weekday flights between Santa Barbara and Denver; underground tanks discovered downtown; creepy people harass restaurant patrons; more on Hill House Montecito; Island View Outfitters opened on upper State Street; the county courthouse’s viewing deck is closed till late July; new kung fu and tai chi studio; state law to make street parking even harder; Pink to headline One805Live! benefit. 18
May 16, 2024
City Council Rejects Proposal for Paid Street Parking
Other recent news: More on the two new pools the Biltmore is building in its front yard; SpaceX continues to flout Coastal Commission policies; rise in rattlesnake bites; county supervisors are rethinking cannabis taxation; a surge in sick brown pelicans; Billy Baldwin and Chynna Phillips put their house on the market; Carpinteria photo archive is now online. 7
May 9, 2024
May 2, 2024
Moving Date Set for the Saturday Farmers’ Market
Other recent news: The proposed changes to the Castillo Street underpass will proceed; county supervisors punt on cannabis odor control; update on the Santa Barbara News-Press's bankruptcy; international soccer clubs to play here this summer; the tree of the month. 5
April 25, 2024
Paid Street Parking Is Likely Coming to Downtown Santa Barbara
Other recent news: The crackdown on unlicensed vacation rentals is working; 1,771 new housing units proposed for east of Old Town Goleta; the stone pines on E. Anapamu Street keep coming down; deal reached for a new marine sanctuary off the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo County coastlines. 11
Burning Questions
- What’s This Pole With a Flashing Blue Light?
- What Are These Sculptures on the Riviera?
- What’s the Origin Story of This Fence on Hot Springs Road?
- What’s the Housing Development Under Construction Next to the Polo Fields?
- Why Is Part of This West Beach Mosaic Covered in Concrete?
- What Was the Weeping Willow Inn?
- Why Are There Story Poles at Calle Real Center?
Recent Comments
There seems to be one at Ralph's on Carrillo, too — JILLIAN
Myron Hunt, the architect of La Arcada Plaza AND the Pasadena Rose Bowl (among other structures.) — Jillian
La Arcada. Myron Hunt, architect — Jennifer Miller
I have never been — and fully appreciate your travel journal. What an enjoyable read of morning coffee. I admire the details and approach you… — ES Corchero
Terrific story on Phoenix Enjoyed your report a lot — Bill
In La Arcada — Alicia Bair
I can’t believe a pug growled at you. The cool thing about solo travel is that you get complete agenda control. Sounds like the type… — Nicolas
Since in many cases, on many sites, it is unaffordable to even build unaffordable ('market') housing, how could it be affordable for a developer to… — John
Regarding the apartment building on Milpas/Gutierrez, it’s a monstrosity that will be a blight on the community for decades to come if the people don’t… — ElizabethW
…couldn’t agree with you more. I’ve even made the drive to SB specifically to shop TCP when I temporarily relocated to a city south of… — Lisa L.