Is Private Beach Access Worth $100 Million?

Noteworthy new listings also include the lovable and the livable in Hope Ranch; a Coyote Road contemporary; a pair of 1970s houses with potential on Eucalyptus Hill; a $2.25 million house walkable to Montecito Union School; and more.

Another Huge Development Is Proposed for the Funk Zone

The plans have dropped for a big, interesting project in the Funk Zone: it contains a hotel (possibly two), several restaurants, a coffee shop, a tasting room, a corner market, an art gallery, and more. Plus: a popular brewery could be one of the tenants. 9

The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County Bought a $12.7 Million Building

Plus: Spooky coloring-book event at the Museum of Contemporary Art; reopening dates approach for a few Highway 101 on- and off-ramps; Lee Stanton's "Montecito stash" has opened; a section of Loma Alta Drive will be closed for many months; the Museum of Natural History shares what's in its drawers; Paseo Nuevo Cinemas reopens today.

Indoor Mask Mandate Extended to November 5

Other recent news: A second Santa Barbara cannabis shop is being sold to a national company; winners and losers of a mayoral debate; homeowner manages to stall the Randall Road Debris Basin; two Bennett's wallabies arrive at the zoo for its forthcoming Australian Walkabout exhibit; Santa Barbara to join regional fire communications facility.

Updates on a Slew of New Restaurants

Including Reunion Kitchen + Drink at Cabrillo Pavilion, Low Pigeon's second outpost, Old Town Coffee's foray into downtown, and the Peasants Feast spinoff in Solvang. Plus: Little Alex's is closing next month (and an established chef is rumored to be taking the space); Mony's has a new food truck; has anyone tried Costa at the Mar Monte Hotel? 6

Newsletter: October 6

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Another Huge Flip for Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi

One year ago, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi bought Dennis Miller's Picacho Lane compound for $49 million—and now they've turned around and sold it for a nice profit.

Glamorous 1927 House Sells for Over Asking Price

Last week's notable sales also included a two-bedroom cottage on an oceanfront cul-de-sac; sweeping views on Pepper Hill; a Mesa house with one of the cooler outbuildings in town; and a cutie up in Mission Canyon. 2

What’s the Point of These Markings on Laguna Street?

"Every time I drive on Laguna Street, I wonder why traffic is pushed outward as you approach Ortega Street." asks K. The city's traffic engineers have an explanation.

Timeline for Public Beach Access at Hollister Ranch

Other recent news: Santa Barbara County Planning Commission recommends denial of ExxonMobil project; who paid $28 million for Scooter Braun's Montecito estate; downtown landlord urges city to consider former St. Mary’s Seminary for homeless housing; how the mayoral candidates are faring; Cathedral Oaks road repair; Goleta to ban flavored tobacco products; Isla Vista and the imminent county redistricting; Vandenberg Space Force Base reopened beaches on base property. 4