May 14, 2024
Odds & Ends
The Current State of the Four Seasons Biltmore
Plus: A GoFundMe has been set up for the Riviera family affected by a landslide; the car wash on N. Milpas Street has reopened; the Harbor Nautical Swap Meet is this Saturday; downtown landmark marred with signage; learn more about the Frank Lloyd Wright house in Montecito; Broadway in Santa Barbara announced its 2024-2025 season. 3
May 5, 2024
April 28, 2024
A Contender for the Cutest Shop Downtown
Plus: Signs of life at the Prestige Hand Car Wash on Milpas; Westward General is opening an outpost in Ventura; changes afoot at the Field Trip pocket shop; potential Franceschi House design concepts to be revealed; investigating public beach access, restrooms, and signage at the Rosewood Miramar Beach resort; finally, a Bottega Veneta boutique. 12
April 23, 2024
Big Price Cut for the “Floating Home” at the Harbor
Plus: Xanadu Skate Boutique is having a moving sale; the new mural at Gutierrez and Chapala; the Highway 217 onramp at Sandspit Road will be closed for at least another year; vintage clothing shop opening on State Street; 21-unit apartment complex proposed for Hollister Avenue; more on the improvements at Birnam Wood Golf Club; where Eye of the Day is moving to; paid parking at a vacant lot on W. De La Guerra Street. 2
April 18, 2024
A Knitting Shop Is Opening Downtown
Plus: Moving sale at Eye of the Day in Carpinteria; a visit to antiquarian Lee Stanton's Upper Village shop; next year's dates for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival; opposition to El Capitan Canyon Resort's expansion plan; Opera Santa Barbara‘s 2024-2025 lineup. 3
April 15, 2024
April 9, 2024
The Mesa’s House of the Dragon
Plus: Arrediamo rug store has opened in the Big Yellow House; "Titanic Days" at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum; John Fogerty and comedian Bert Kreischer are coming to the Santa Barbara Bowl; Las Positas Tennis Center is back in action; Royal Bee on State Street; the Chrisman California Islands Center in Carpinteria. 6
March 31, 2024
Five-Story Building Proposed for Downtown
Plus: Show of work by artist/architect Nicklaus Schwaller; Jazz at the Ballroom returns to the Lobero Theatre; “non-emergency city offices” closed tomorrow for a holiday; screening of a documentary about 19th-century courtesans in Paris; indoor skydiving in L.A. 4
March 28, 2024
March 24, 2024
Four More Shops Are Under Construction at the Miramar Resort
Plus: Venture Apparel Co. has opened on State Street; Ziggy Marley at the Santa Barbara Bowl; Montecito's Plant Gallery has closed; massive bounce house returning to Elings Park; new renderings of West Beach hotel; contest to decorate State Street Promenade barriers; Jeff Shelton penthouse is a vacation rental; Tomatomania! 14
Burning Questions
- Why Are the Railroad Tracks Being Expanded Along Padaro Lane?
- Will You Explain the Plan to Adapt the Waterfront for Climate Change?
- Why Did the Rosewood Miramar Beach Install Gates?
- How Long Will This Big Pipe Be at East Beach?
- Is Cabrillo Boulevard Going to Be Widened Under Highway 101?
- Was There a Fisherman Inn in Downtown Santa Barbara?
- What Are Those Old Buildings at the Corner of Castillo and Montecito Streets?
Recent Comments
It is kind of complex to tease out who bears the risks and benefits in these projects that have public and private parties involved. I… — SBradley
Very interesting. If Yardi is paying anywhere near $120M + $35M + $5.7M for almost 250k empty square feet, this is going to take a… — NuemanJ
I think some folks who would consider this is a windfall for Yardi may be overlooking two things: 1)The cost to Yardi to buyout AB's… — StanThompson
Just realizing I did not address your first point. The buildings on the property have been up for sale, and their value is also depressed… — SBradley
I think that the city's representation of this land as having ‘zero value’ is confusing because it sums together the value of 2 distinct things… — SBradley
No idea whether this is a good deal for Yardi or not. Paseo Nuevo has been available for sale since 2020 with no buyers -… — NuemanJ
I wish this same logic worked for Thrifty ice cream! According to the BLS inflation calculator, something that cost 5 cents in 1970 should cost… — Doug B
I'm unclear how bike lanes are related to maga. For that matter please explain how freeways and rail lines are remotely maga in a state… — Bettye Jones
Worth knowing about the Paseo Nuevo deal: the city is skipping the required competitive bidding process for this public land transfer by using the state-approved… — SBradley
This write up is such a biased take that sides with a handful of people. I imagine the people groaning about this project have a… — Yesenia G.