Odds & Ends

August 5, 2025

An Outpost of Iris Galerie Is Opening Downtown

Plus: Jerry Seinfeld to perform here; a new book honoring artist Dennis Spangler; windows of vacant storefronts to be decorated with art; city proposing to buy an Alta Mesa house; Ritz-Carlton Bacara extended its spa deal for locals; two exhibits of note at Sullivan Goss. 4

July 29, 2025

Another Departure on Coast Village Road

Plus: The rumored tenant of a prime space on Los Patos Way; the Montecito Club would like to demolish at least part of the 1918 house next door; outdoor furniture for the Central Library plaza; Ghirardelli is proposing giant sundae mosaics visible on State Street; the Ritz-Carlton Bacara ended (and restarted) its spa deal for locals; return of the Cat Video Fest. 11

July 22, 2025

Another Huge Price Cut for the “Floating Home” in the Harbor

Plus: Update on the upper San Ysidro trail and Romero Jeepway; the Riviera "rain totems" have been moved; construction at the former Klaus Automotive building; answers to two questions about debris basins; Steve Martin riffing locally; exploring the Ventura River Parkway Trail to Ojai. 8

July 14, 2025

The Upper Village Is Getting Another Bank Branch

Plus: Swimwear chain confirmed for Coast Village Road; Loveworn has opened a Carpinteria shop; the Santa Barbara County Civil Grand Jury weighs in; fence proposed around the landmark Moreton Bay fig tree; electronic duo to play the Santa Barbara Bowl; Melissa Chandon paintings at Caldwell Snyder. 11

July 6, 2025

Inside the Huge New Vintage Store on State Street

Plus: More vintage and minimalist leather in the Funk Zone; estate sale pop-ups; Goodwill's donation center on Milpas has closed; real estate agent promoting negotiable fees; Fred Armisen to play the Lobero; new art gallery downtown; more sloppy road signage. 16

June 30, 2025

A Music Festival Is Coming to the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club

Plus: Two new boutiques selling women's apparel; Mācher‘s Linden Square shop opens this week; another development site in the Haley Street Corridor?; the state of the Tesla chargers at the Miramar resort; new local streaming radio station; awkward typography on the San Ysidro Road off-ramp sign; ZZ Top to play the Santa Barbara Bowl; pronouncing "jacaranda." 16

June 24, 2025

Two More Rite Aid Stores Are Closing

Plus: Inside the new 30-room vacation-rental hotel downtown; adjacent Highway 101 on-ramps to be closed for nine months; Queens of the Stone Age concert; Heidi Merrick sample sale; the July 4 celebration at the waterfront; John Waters's Halloween show; the answer to last weekend's "Where in Santa Barbara...?" 5

June 15, 2025

New Tenant for RH’s Former Store on State Street

Plus: Children's club opening in Summerland; Linden Square yoga and Pilates studio debuts next week; Santa Barbara Nissan is no longer; Pete Yorn in concert; another Santa Barbara Bowl show announced; big few weeks for Highway 101 construction; a second Ikat and Pearls shop in Ventura. 7

June 10, 2025

More on the Proposed Apartment Complex Behind the Mission

Plus: Repair of the Butterfly Beach steps; anti-Trump protest on Saturday; new shop and a relocation at Victoria Court; two new shops at The Post; this year's One805 Live! headliner; two more return appearances at the Santa Barbara Bowl; Opera Santa Barbara‘s 2025-26 season; is More Mesa at increased risk of development? 40

June 1, 2025

The Biltmore’s Reopening Has Been Pushed Back

Plus: ChatGPT's roast of Santa Barbara County; new effort to change the way Santa Barbara is run; update on the Electrify America charging station; Kaarem's Victoria Court boutique has closed; Dawes to play the Lobero Theatre; downtown building to be clad in artificial turf; note from a descendant of the proprietor of the Weeping Willow Inn. 10