WHAT’S COOKING
The restaurant industry in greater Santa Barbara is roaring back: the 27 new restaurants and bars on the horizon include a downtown patisserie, beachfront dining, a rooftop tasting room, farm-to-table fast-casual, two high-end hotels, a restaurant incubator, a seafood tavern, and much more.
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FOOD STUFF
••• A former tech CEO is opening a restaurant and bar on Coast Village Road.
••• Long-delayed Riviera Bar is finally getting ready to debut.
••• Old Town Coffee will take Hook & Press’s space on State Street.
••• Rascal’s moved up the date of its Venus in Furs residency.
••• Food-and-beverage changes at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara.
••• Wingstop opening in Isla Vista.
••• Gelato shop coming to Solvang.
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NEW ROUNDUP
••• Fully vaccinated people can ditch masks in most settings.
••• The four women who started Save the San Marcos Foothills.
••• SBPD spokesman Anthony Wagner is seeking $4.6 million from L.A. magazine.
••• The Mission Canyon Bridge discussion.
••• County finally starts cracking down on cannabis scofflaws.
••• Barrett Reed is running for city council.
••• Musician buys in Montecito.
••• Santa Barbara’s new community development director.
••• Fire near Lake Casitas.
••• Ojai Music Festival will be in September (above).
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HOT PROPERTY
Notable sales include oceanfront Hope Ranch that went for $1.625 million over asking price; impressive prices in San Roque and on the Mesa; a three-acre lot between the 101 and Hammond’s Beach; a 1949 compound in Toro Canyon; a bunch of off-market closings from May; and more. See what sold—and for how much.
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ODDS & ENDS
••• First look inside the Inn at Mattei’s Tavern (above).
••• Trevor Noah, Haim, and Van Morrison at the Santa Barbara Bowl.
••• Dates announced for next year’s Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
••• Pu’u Muay Thai martial arts school has moved.
••• Fossilized leaves in the sidewalk.
••• The answer to last week’s “Where in Santa Barbara…?”
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Recent Comments
Erik- if one of the SOUTH AMERICAN GANG MEMBERS is arrested, the first call is to ICE- as they have the data base of criminal… — Christine!
Erik for the win! Thank you!!!! — Dave
Thanks, Erik! 🫶🏼 — Pat
you are clearly the one that is misinformed. Tell me where they refrigerate their meat to meet code? Tell me where their hot water stations… — jimbo
Stica’s lasagna looks delicious! Always helpful to know about high quality To-Go catering options. Time, energy and cost of shopping, cooking, and managing dinners are… — Nina M.
Based on your repeated comments here, it seems you are confused on the subject matter- perhaps figure out what the subject at hand is....Permitted food… — christine!
Did the Saladino house sell furnished? I presume many of the pieces in the house are original to the property - or are these old… — Paul
City staff has said otherwise if you've ever attended any meetings on the subject. Grand Jury agreed https://www.independent.com/2025/07/01/santa-barbara-grand-jury-calls-for-stronger-enforcement-of-street-vendors/ Members of the jury visited food trucks… — Jefferson A.
👏👏👏👏 — NJH
The street kitchen on Upper State is delicious — the line to get food says it all. Also pretty sure they have a permit. — Ederson