April 22, 2026
Odds & Ends
Large Furniture Store Opening on State Street
Plus: The new stoplight on Coast Village Road; Beck to play the Santa Barbara Bowl; the Carpinteria outpost of The Shopkeepers appears to have closed; new boutique in Kismet's former space in the Upper Village; Blue Man Group at the Granada Theatre; Funk Zone–ish hotel to be two Marriott brands; another Funk Zone fitness studio; State Street's reliance on resale; "Where in Santa Barbara...?" answer. 33
April 13, 2026
The Plan for the Yellow Cottage in the Funk Zone
Plus: More on the pedestrian easements at the Rosewood Miramar Beach; crafting and mahjong shop coming to Summerland; Santa Barbara Airport wants to add more parking; The Well Gardens opens this Saturday; James Taylor tribute concert; new end date for the Via Real construction; a state law about parking that's worth remembering. 10
April 7, 2026
The Montecito Country Mart’s Post Office Has Been Spared
Plus: Funk Zone boutique said to be closing; new women's apparel shop on Coast Village Road; a Santa Barbara Bowl show worth noting; martial arts studio coming to Santa Claus Lane; volunteers sought for Parma Park trail work; Highway 101 ramp closures; "Where in Santa Barbara...?" answer. 6
March 31, 2026
Santa Barbara’s Coach Outlet Is Getting Upgraded to Full Brand Status
Plus: New art studio for kids downtown; Sirena women's boutique has moved; a wasted Funk Zone parking lot; tape on the trail; the answer to last weekend’s "Where in Santa Barbara…?"; the return of Tomatomania!; overhear anything interesting lately? 5
March 25, 2026
Highway 101 Construction Is About to Move North
Plus: Big Yellow House sold; Bob Dylan and Jungle return to the Santa Barbara Bowl; what's next for the little stone building on Cabrillo Boulevard?; surprises on the Music Academy of the West's Summer Festival lineup; more on the sale of The Post; Neighbor Neighbor consignment shop opened downtown; free mosquitofish; magical realist art; "La La Land" production-design show. 13
March 22, 2026
The Post Has Been Sold for a Handsome Sum
Plus: Another Coast Village Road shop is closing; mysterious new tenant in the Victor the Florist storefront; clarifying hours for permitted construction in Montecito; new kid's shop and salon in Summerland; Presidio hotel changes hands; busy part of Alameda Padre Serra temporarily closed. 13
March 15, 2026
Large Gym to Open in Downtown Santa Barbara
Plus: Funk Zone rooftop wedding venue in the works; Montecito tennis/pickleball court open; Ty Warner sign coming to Dwight Murphy Field; swimwear chain open on Coast Village Road; Brandi Carlile and John C. Reilly in concert; new Italian apparel store at The Post; Coachella Valley town on the cusp of change. 10
March 10, 2026
The U.S. Postal Service Wants to Leave the Montecito Country Mart
Plus: Malia Mills has moved to The Post; 24-hour veterinary office is closing; two more Santa Barbara Bowl shows; the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show is coming up; more on the forthcoming Union Pacific railroad bridge; exhibit of photos taken with a pinhole camera. 3
March 3, 2026
Huge New Building Proposed Between the Funk Zone and East Beach
Plus: Let's help get Old Romero Road trail reopened; tour of six Jeff Shelton buildings and his office; Santa Barbara Literary Festival tickets; Chet Taylor show at Separate Reality; pianist Hershey Felder's change of plans; impressive new artwork in the Funk Zone; another Santa Barbara Bowl show announced. 2
February 25, 2026
La Ligne Is Opening at the Montecito Country Mart
Plus: The return of Habitat for Humanity's ReStore; four more Santa Barbara Bowl shows; Best Western Plus Pepper Tree Inn appears to be getting reflagged; answers to the "Where in Santa Barbara…?" roundup of restaurant restrooms; two new exhibits at Sullivan Goss; opening date for Highway 217/Hollister Avenue roundabouts. 4
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
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.
And if the anti's are worried about pollution, the answer is obvious. Electrify the entire LOSSAN Corridor. Cleaner, quieter, and allows for faster trains. And… — Judy's Older Brother