March 15, 2024
Odds & Ends
Meghan Markle’s New Lifestyle Brand Is Called American Riviera Orchard
Plus: Three more Santa Barbara Bowl shows were announced; Aquarius Cocktail and Jeanne Ceramics sample sale; details about the yoga and Pilates studio opening in the 700 Linden complex; the CarPlay black hole at Milpas and the 101; Carpinteria Valley Lumber is having a party. 11
March 11, 2024
March 6, 2024
Mate Gallery’s New Shop Is Bigger and Better
Plus: The monthly SB Funk Zone Live celebration; improvements to the perpetually wet Castillo Street undercrossing; a dirt-road block in Los Olivos finally got paved; downtown bank branch to close; Lauren Daigle to play the Santa Barbara Bowl; "Where in Santa Barbara...?" answer; curb cuts designed to redirect rainwater. 1
March 4, 2024
February 26, 2024
New Company Offers Helicopter Tours of Santa Barbara
Plus: Lemons washing up on local beaches; 16-passenger bikes are back in the Funk Zone; road to Ojai closed because of a rock slide; Kings of Leon and Rebelution to play the Santa Barbara Bowl; updates on Vuori and RH; an amusing hat from a new brand called Santa Ynez Country Club; another look at the 250-room hotel proposed for Garden Street. 9
February 20, 2024
Photographer Gray Malin Is Working on a Channel Drive Vacation Rental
Plus: The official opening for the six-mile Arroyo Quemado Trail at Baron Ranch; Maria Rendón show at Sullivan Goss; Marcus Roberts Trio to play the Lobero Theatre; Chelsea Handler returns to the Santa Barbara Bowl; public meeting about Milpas Street changes; "Where in Santa Barbara...?" answer. 5
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
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.