November 13, 2023
Odds & Ends
The Biltmore Is Adding a Bunch of Shops
Plus: A big construction project in front of the hotel; Vuori has moved into the Athleta space; "sock-skating rink" on MOXI's rooftop; protea garden tours in the Santa Ynez Valley; Gregory Alan Isakov to play the Arlington Theatre; explanation for the Rosewood Miramar Beach's Italian flag. 8
November 9, 2023
First Look Inside Carpinteria’s New Bookstore
Plus: Farewell to Montecito's "welcome tree"; Jeff Shelton–designed T-shirts; Coast Village Week is coming up; two new biographies of Pearl Chase; Loud Flower Art Co. has opened on E. Haley Street; Padaro Lane beach access and "road closed" signage; a meeting about changes to Cliff Drive; the Santa Claus Lane Bikeway is officially done. 5
November 5, 2023
Lookout Park Has Expanded
Plus: Hotel deals for locals and their guests; Light + Home's downtown pop-up; left-turn lane in the works for State and Mission; Google paid $16.8 million for Goleta land; another hotel changed hands; Ojai house tour; flamenco in a historic adobe; talk by the James Webb Space Telescope's lead project scientist. 1
October 30, 2023
October 23, 2023
October 19, 2023
October 16, 2023
October 11, 2023
Palma Colectiva Is Opening a Dedicated Retail Shop
Plus: The State Street pianos are back and a "performance progressive" is coming up; first look at Providence School's plan for the former Girls Inc. building; a trio of contemporary dance performances; Mad Fitness's hiatus appears to be permanent; please don't use fake spider webs outside. 10
October 6, 2023
The Miramar Resort Wants to Add 15 Apartments and 12 More Shops
Plus: A menswear store is coming to the Montecito Country Mart; interior design firm opening shop/studio on State Street; Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum building is on the market; distinctive Funk Zone building for sale; Neal Feay's fabulous London project revealed. 4
September 28, 2023
















Recent Comments
Does the Après Ski party include a lift ticket? — Heidi Smith
Bravo, Music Academy of the West! — Deborah David
Santa Barbara Museum of Art gift shop has moved upstairs. Still a great place to shop with lots of Impressionist merchandise to match the GREAT… — LG
This is the box outside of Ca’ Dario at the corner of Anacapa and Victoria. — Mike
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