March 10, 2026
Odds & Ends
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
February 10, 2026
February 2, 2026
An Update on the Ornate Mission Inn
Plus: Free People has opened near the bird refuge; hotel conversion on E. Haley Street; UCSB bought two more downtown buildings; Cottage Hospital is looking to expand again; the perils of Tangerine Falls; Trevor Noah returns to the Santa Barbara Bowl; thanks for the tip? 10
January 27, 2026
Thieves Are Said to Be Hiding Surveillance Equipment Outside Houses
Plus: Salon Providence has soft-opened at The Post; Scenery Florals leased a space in the Funk Zone; Lord Huron to play the Santa Barbara Bowl; intermittent closures on Highway 154; downtown salon closing; Palma Colectiva's new events studio; "mythical landscapes and fanciful botanicals" at Sullivan Goss. 13
January 20, 2026
Stylish Apartment Building Proposed for Los Patos Way
Plus: The Santa Claus Lane bike path; might Montecito ban gas-powered leaf blowers?; update on the row of eucalyptus trees on East Valley Road; another Santa Barbara Bowl show announced; parts of Goleta Beach County Park to close for storm-related repairs; Vandenberg Space Force Base's self-mythologizing; group show at Marcia Burtt Gallery; taking San Ysidro Trail all the way to the top. 10
January 14, 2026
A Better Look at the Health Resort Proposed in the Foothills
Plus: Hotel Milo got renovated and a name tweak; Arroyo Hondo Preserve closed for months due to storm damage; new bank branch downtown; the quest for quality magazines; James Taylor concert; Rodeo Riviera opened in the Funk Zone; Heal the Ocean talk at La Casa de Maria; San Ysidro Ranch added a paved parking lot. 10
January 13, 2026
January 6, 2026
Recent Comments
What a very kind comment to leave thank you very much David! Made our day! + All of the other comments of support and love… — Starr Hall
Thank you for sharing your research on this fascinating little gem of a building! — Tristin Tracy
I am genuinely sad about the Hitchcock Theater. It's the only remaining Metro theater that I enjoy — because its a bit of a secret… — ES Corchero
You can't blame restaurants for releasing menus without prices when the first thing people do is complain about how expensive everything is. — Erik Torkells
I assume it's the little area with convenience snacks inside the gift shop. It's sort of tucked away in the back corner of the store. — Alisa
Is the lunch at Monte's free? Menu with no pricing is suspect on what they will be charging lettuce, etc..?? — Louise
How charming. Buildings like this add such an essential textural element to a place. So grateful to Mr. Krablin for preserving it. — BW