Odds & Ends

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

November 30, 2023

“Holiday Disco Extravaganza” at the Harbor

Plus: Anderson Aquatics has opened in the Funk Zone; Faitell Attractions closing sale; likely explanation for the Glen Annie Golf Club rumor; free California poppy seeds; Brothers Osborne play the Santa Barbara Bowl; hang-gliding recommendation. 4

November 24, 2023

New Look for the Tri-County Produce Building

Plus: Art gallery opening on State Street; Galerie XX has closed up shop here; Cat Power in concert; update on the Electrify America vehicle-charging station; Glen Annie Golf Club rumor; Casa de Maria is still in limbo; amusing Instagram account about Ojai. 12