••• Yardi Systems‘s conversion of the former Macy’s building (701 State Street, at Ortega) into offices goes before the Historic Landmarks Commission tomorrow, August 12. As you can see in these two renderings by Cearnal Collective, the proposed design pops a lot of welcome windows into the facade (compare it to a current-ish photo) and adds a roof deck. I’ll miss the peacock mosaic over the State Street entrance, though.
••• Larry David will participate in “a retrospective discussion spanning [his] stand-up years, his time on ‘Seinfeld’ and ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ and everything in between” at the Arlington Theatre on September 24.
••• Co-organized by the Good Samaritan Shelter, the Santa Barbara Salon Series kicks off with a talk with local experts about Curing Food Insecurities (August 27), followed by Addressing Mental Health Barriers (November 5), Stopping Human Trafficking (February 11), and Resolving Homelessness (May 13). “Over time, many of our country’s deepest challenges have quietly become ‘just the way things are.’ In these conversations, we’ll ask what happens when we stop accepting that—and start imagining something better.” RSVP here.
••• Habitat for Humanity’s Santa Barbara ReStore, at the corner of State and Gutierrez, opens August 26.
••• The Music Academy of the West announced the schedule for its 2026-27 Mariposa Concert Series.
••• A new book for fans of Santa Barbara history: The De La Guerras of Santa Barbara by Willard Thompson. “An elite Spaniard, born in Novales, Spain, José de la Guerra went to Mexico City to learn a trade with his uncle. He joined the military and was sent to Alta California expecting to spend just a short time there before returning to the lavish life in Mexico City. Plans changed when he met and married Mariá Antonia Juliana Carrillo, the beautiful daughter of his commanding officer. José remained in Alta California for the next 50 years, amassing a large fortune, building Casa de la Guerra in Santa Barbara, and siring twelve children. The book includes family genealogy charts, as well as rare photos from private collections of family members. It brings the reader into the present time following the lives of the de la Guerra descendants who continue to live and contribute to the history of Santa Barbara.” Buy it at Tecolote Book Shop, Chaucer’s Books, the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, or Amazon.
••• I’ve been riding my bike on Padaro Lane a lot lately, and from that position I can get a good look at this water slide (or maybe a jumbo Slip ‘N Slide). Come on, Kev, invite me over.
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