Odds & Ends

August 4, 2021

Most of the Nordstrom Building Will Be Converted to Offices

Plus: Bikini shop opening on State Street; Willie Nelson and Lucinda Williams to play the Bowl; MayBerry apparel said to be opening a store here; Sonos should sponsor the Plaza Del Mar Park band shell renovation; a mini-review of the White Water hotel in Cambria; last week's "Where in Santa Barbara...?" answer.

August 1, 2021

This Year’s Fiesta Mercado Has Been Canceled

Plus: Prominent beachfront house for rent for $150,000 per month; Mujeres Makers Market will be at the Casa de la Guerra courtyard; introducing Galavant, which organizes concerts around town; a Santa Ynez Valley ranch with a rad name; two more Santa Barbara Bowl shows; last week's "Where in Santa Barbara...?" answer.

July 26, 2021

Santa Barbara Hives’s New Shop Is a Keeper

Plus: A visit to the cool Neal Feay aluminum fabricator; the Presidio state park has reopened with improvements; new needlepoint shop in Montecito; southbound 101 onramp in Summerland is slated to be completed by November 1; a real steal in Ojai; jewelry pop-up at the Montecito Country Mart; slow news day at the News-Press.

July 21, 2021

A Settlement in the Matter of the Derelict Summerland House

Plus: You can finally see the results of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art's six-year renovation; in June, Santa Barbara hotel rooms were 20% more expensive than in 2019; an update on the revamping of Dwight Murphy Field; Paul Thorn and Will Breman at the Lobero; in search of black-and-white photography. 4

July 20, 2021

Attractive Revamp of a Downtown Commercial Space

Plus: The parking situation on Riven Rock Road; Ridge Trail improvements; the county is seeking poll workers for the gubernatorial recall election; "dwelling units for artists in residence" proposed for Clay Studio; new fire restrictions in Los Padres National Forest; Midland School expansion; a visit to Star Rug Cleaners.

July 15, 2021

Pepper Hill’s Underground Lair Is Getting Landscaped

Plus: Initial steps toward redoing the West Beach wading pool; new tenant for the other half of the Greyhound bus station; Khruangbin at the Santa Barbara Bowl; watercolors at Thomas Reynolds Gallery; survey regarding fitness equipment at Dwight Murphy Field; New York City gallery popping up in the Funk Zone. 1

July 13, 2021

Buyer of Half-Built Estate to Tear It Down and Start Over

Plus: The return of the Hope Ranch "volcano"; the Santa Barbara Zoo's rare Amur leopard is pregnant; bear spotted on the Lower Riviera; northbound 101 onramp at Casitas Pass slated to reopen; Robert Cray Band to play the Lobero; an amusing sign at Evan's Relaxing Station; the 1860 adobe embedded off E. Figueroa.

July 8, 2021

Another Leaking Oil Well on Summerland Beach Is Getting Capped

Plus: Checking out the new Montecito Mercantile shop; the Wallflowers to play the Lobero; $5 million price cut; the Seaside Makers shop in Paseo Nuevo is open; the winner of last week's "Where in Santa Barbara...?"

July 5, 2021

New Apartment Complex Proposed for the Former Volkswagen Dealership Downtown

Plus: San Ysidro Ranch has added a miniature golf course; cool house overlooking Hendry's Beach likely to be torn down; site visit to see the Montecito Club's violations firsthand; clarification about what sold at 101 Mesa Lane; Jan and Dean are playing the Lobero. 1

July 1, 2021

Montecito Mercantile Opens This Friday

Plus: An architectural model of the massive underground house being built in Pepper Hill; an ideal amenity for avid golfers; the state of Montecito's water agreement with Santa Barbara; Santa Barbara Airbus is once again offering L.A. day trips; a visit to exquisite Hollister Ranch.