January 14, 2026
Odds & Ends
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
December 24, 2025
December 16, 2025
Another Small Hotel Proposed for Downtown Santa Barbara
Plus: An effort to reduce freeway noise; new vintage shop in the Oreña Adobe; farewell to a beautiful overpass; give directly rather than to charity muggers; more changes to the Biltmore; new volunteer opportunity at Bellosguardo; the big apartment complex under construction on E. Haley Street. 3
December 10, 2025
First Look at the Music Academy of the West’s Downtown Venue
Plus: The Funk Zone lost two dozen free parking spaces; Iris Galerie has opened; new tenant for the cute space on De La Guerra Plaza; permanent conservation of 587 acres in the Los Alamos Valley; Preservation Hall Jazz Band in concert; Anacapa Architecture's handsome office on State Street. 1
December 9, 2025
November 30, 2025
November 25, 2025
November 16, 2025
Two More New Fitness Studios
Plus: Veronica Beard is open on Coast Village Road; firsthand report from a friend whose house was burgled; the inaugural Santa Barbara Literary Festival will be this spring; the Los Patos Bridge interpretive display; Train and Barenaked Ladies to play the Santa Barbara Bowl. 5
Recent Comments
Hold up… $525,000 for Whiskey Richards as a freakin sublease?? And my friend said the rent is going up from where its at now??? No… — Garrett
Surprisingly that corner is a busy spot. Used to be the Visitor Center for many years until moved to State Street. The SB Trolley Tours… — Mary
The house didn't sell for the asking price. The dropped it 250k (1 /4 million). Even the new price seems very high. — rds
The stone building at 1 Garden street has always been a favorite. Before it was here it was next to Rare Society on State street.… — Dan O. Seibert
Milios looks very promising cant wait to give it a try! — Don
The bell and the signage is gone. That doesn't give much confidence that this classic-shape Taco Bell will look much the same after a remodel.… — apzer
I thought Blackbird was a pretty good restaurant overall. This new incarnation is not something I would be interested in trying. There are too many… — Giovanni Sammartino