Odds & Ends

February 16, 2024

Santa Barbara Airport Has Added “VIP Concierge Service”

Plus: The Biltmore now intends to fill in its unpermitted pool; Heidi Merrick archive sale; Habitat for Humanity is looking to reopen its Restore store; progress for the Electrify America charging station; Orlebar Brown opened at the Montecito Country Mart; Los Patos roundabout construction to start soon; retreat center on Painted Cave Road; Namaste clothing boutique is moving. 9

February 5, 2024

A New Shop Is Opening in the Big Yellow House

Plus: Pura Luna Apothecary is closing its shop; downtown commercial space likely to become residential; Jacob Collier concert; office for homeless services opening on Chapala Street; San Ysidro Road off-ramp to close for months; the Starr King Rummage Sale; is coming up; 10-room hotel proposed for Santa Ynez; Funk Zone pedestrian gate. 1

January 31, 2024

What’s Next for Franceschi House?

Plus: The Romero Canyon trail has partially reopened; Lyle Lovett at the Lobero Theatre; Natalie Merchant at the Santa Barbara Bowl; Transition House bought an eight-unit apartment building; the Biltmore is seeking approval for a large slate of improvements; the work-in-progress State Street undercrossing; proposed changes at the Montecito Club and La Cumbre Country Club. 6

January 22, 2024

A Visit to the Goleta Butterfly Grove

Plus: The public got to explore the house Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom won in a legal fight; Stabiles is moving; Find Your Feet rebranded as Sock Harbor; another clothing shop on State Street; two four-story buildings going up on Garden Street; Stratinc took over a State Street storefront; "Curb Your Enthusiasm" promotion. 6

January 14, 2024

Quality Inn Slated to Become “Permanent Affordable Housing”

Plus: New "luxury piercing studio" in the Funk Zone; what's in store for 801 State Street; Hope Ranch palm tree replacement; Victoria Market painting; Scott Johnson art exhibit at the Architectural Foundation; exploring the bike path linking Santa Claus Lane and Carpinteria Avenue. 16

January 11, 2024

A New Fitness Studio for Mothers and Mothers-to-Be

Plus: The interior design office in the former Church of Skatan building will include a shop; Totally Tubular '80s concert at the Santa Barbara Bowl; fitness classes at Studio in the Funk Zone; Indian Pink's shop has closed; "Family Ties" stars to perform "Love Letters"; Highway 33 reopened; John Sebastiano's plan for a 22,935-square-foot winery; comedian Kevin Hart to perform here.

December 26, 2023

The State Street Promenade Now Has a Bike Lane

Plus: Commercial space being turned into hotel rooms; the Polar Dip is coming up; Seven Hills Turkish imports store appears to finally be closing; the plan to widen Hollister Avenue/State Street; investigating the sublime at Sullivan Goss. 19

December 18, 2023

How Would You Like to Live in a Quonset Hut?

Plus: A preschool is opening on the Riviera; changes to the Highway 101 interchange at Hot Springs Road/Cabrillo Boulevard; San Ysidro Road off-ramp slated to reopen soon; Drybar pushed its debut back a bit; cannabis chain Megan’s Organic Market now open in Goleta; Siteline is on Threads. 9

December 13, 2023

The Biltmore Got Slapped With a Stop-Work Order

Plus: New tenant at State and N. La Cumbre in San Roque; Social Distortion, Bad Religion, Indigo Girls, and Amos Lee to play the Santa Barbara Bowl; James Perse rumor; a peek inside Mate Gallery's forthcoming shop; the Hilton's colored lights. 8

December 7, 2023

Emily Joubert Is Opening at the Montecito Country Mart

Plus: Domecíl has moved into its new space; Palma Colectiva's retail shop debuts tomorrow; Highway 101 onramp reopening; Pilates studio has new owner and name; photographer Broc Ellinger opened a State Street gallery; Festival of Holiday Toy Trains at Goleta Valley Library; Plaza Rubio homeowner wants to build a backyard skate ramp; three noteworthy recent comments. 6