March 27, 2023
Odds & Ends
New Building to Include Cantwell’s Market
Plus: The Beads shop reopens this weekend with a new name; the owners of Skin Deep salon/shop are retiring by June; local businesses are planning a "vintage crawl" on Saturday; a chance to see classic films on the big screen; paintings by Betty Lane and Christopher Noxon at Sullivan Goss. 3
March 23, 2023
March 20, 2023
The Return of the Two-Hotel Funk Zone Development
Plus: The Biltmore is reducing its number of guest rooms; Hozier to play the Bowl; a visit to the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden's fun Backcountry area; presale memberships to the Pad climbing gym; the Santa Barbara Surf Film Festival will include a block party; answer to last week's "Where in Santa Barbara...?" 16
March 14, 2023
March 9, 2023
Big Carpinteria Development Lands Its First Retail Tenant
Plus: A State Street bank is closing; the Nesbitt mansion is back on the market; more reasoning for MarBorg's non-curbside rate hike; construction on Highway 217 starts in April; Jazz at the Ballroom returns to the Lobero Theatre; amusing construction sign. 5
March 6, 2023
A New Menswear Store in the Funk Zone
Plus: Music Academy president Scott Reed is leaving the organization; another new apartment building is in the works downtown; two Highway 101 ramps to reopen this week; the Lumineers and Kelsea Ballerini to play the Santa Barbara Bowl; reader question about a nice-smelling plant; paintings by Arty Grimm at Caldwell Snyder. 1
March 2, 2023
Why Were Cameras Installed at the Montecito Hot Springs?
Plus: The latest plans for the De La Guerra Plaza revamp; Little Rainbow Foot Spa closed for remodeling; a new explanation from MarBorg for its non-curbside rate hike; Union Bank is becoming U.S. Bank; East Beach water-contact closure lifted; free firewood from the State Street Axe Club; potential public use of Santa Barbara High School's track and football field. 12
February 23, 2023
A Big New Gym Is Opening Downtown
Plus: Adventure park with ziplining is coming to the Santa Ynez Valley; the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show is coming up; Father John Misty, the Head and the Heart, and Rebelution to play the Santa Barbara Bowl; an Instagram account for local history buffs; are neighbors getting annoyed by pickleball? 5
February 19, 2023
The Las Aves Developer Has Taken Over More of Los Patos Way
Plus: Housing for the homeless is said to be in the works for 1.7 acres on upper State Street; more on MarBorg's hefty rate hike for non-curbside service; Channel City Lumber is opening a Santa Barbara store; Angel boutique is moving; an update on the Best Western Pepper Tree Hotel; the Santa Barbara Antique Show is coming up; E. Mountain Drive has reopened at the Cold Spring trailhead; Trombone Shorty, Ziggy Marley, and Mavis Staples to play the Santa Barbara Bowl. 10
February 16, 2023
The Seepage Problem at the Castillo Street Underpass
Plus: Four more Santa Barbara Bowl shows; the best look yet at the wondrous Pepper Hill house; vintage and consignment store Faitell Attractions found a new home; opening forecast for The Pad climbing gym; the answer to last week's "Where in Santa Barbara...?" 7
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.