December 17, 2025
More food news: Twenty-Four Blackbirds is selling ice cream on weekends; the Tuesday farmers' market has moved a block north; $20 bottles of local wine at Handlebar; Savoy Café has the city's first parklet; semi-updated list of restaurants with dine-in service.
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May 26, 2020
It's the best thing to happen to downtown Santa Barbara in recent memory.
Other local news: California issues social-distancing guidance for places of worship; Goleta food-preservation firm is now valued at $1 billion; two-hour weekend parking limit at Montecito beaches and trailheads; mountain lion spotted again; drive-in theater reopened.
With in-person classes canceled for months, the campus is a lovely place for a stroll. You can expect many "I Am Legend" moments, where you'll feel like the last person on earth. 1
May 24, 2020
Plus: Have you walked down State Street now that it's closed to cars?; a stripped-down Jeff Shelton rental; a pair of Montecito notables have gone MIA; two more sales of note.
May 23, 2020
Other local news: County creates contact-tracing crew; big donation to help undocumented workers; Montecito Planning Commission dithers over the San Ysidro Roundabout; invite an animal to your next Zoom meeting.
Rare is the high-end property around here that sells for the initial ask. The question is: how far does the number have to drop before someone bites? Here are the week’s top 10 price-chops.
May 22, 2020
Now that the county has allowed restaurants to reopen for dine-in service, they're doing just that—some only at their outdoor tables, others inside, too. Here's a running list.
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We gave Bar Lou a try after it opened. It was SO NOISY our server had to scream the specials to each diner at our… — Karen
Personally think that there’s too many similar restaurants clustered on Coast Village Road and they need something different. I actually loved when Empty Bowl opened… — AFC
That Funk Zone artwork at the bottom is by David Diamant. https://davidjdiamant.com/ — Tal
Hello fellow avocado allergy sufferer! I too have the same allergy and was shocked that even the marinated olives weren’t safe to eat. So weird.… — BW
Erik, these round ups are so great and for the second year in a row I've been able to do all my shopping locally. So… — Meg
I’m curious what the chatter is with Little Mountain. Is it positive? I agree that Bar Lou was a beautiful space. I hope a solid… — Foodie
Just when you think Ty is finished desecrating the lovely, iconic Biltmore property… six gated driveways 😩 — J
I really wanted to like Bar Lou and have it in the rotation, but the price to good ratio was just off for me, even… — Meg
There was one of the finest restaurants in town A vegan restaurant every meat eater could love. A stunning white decor that made coming there… — Joe Millo
Totally agree. The Santa Barbara Company is the BEST for finding unique, special gifts. Love this place and the staff. — laura
Recent Comments
We gave Bar Lou a try after it opened. It was SO NOISY our server had to scream the specials to each diner at our… — Karen
Personally think that there’s too many similar restaurants clustered on Coast Village Road and they need something different. I actually loved when Empty Bowl opened… — AFC
That Funk Zone artwork at the bottom is by David Diamant. https://davidjdiamant.com/ — Tal
Hello fellow avocado allergy sufferer! I too have the same allergy and was shocked that even the marinated olives weren’t safe to eat. So weird.… — BW
Erik, these round ups are so great and for the second year in a row I've been able to do all my shopping locally. So… — Meg
I’m curious what the chatter is with Little Mountain. Is it positive? I agree that Bar Lou was a beautiful space. I hope a solid… — Foodie
Just when you think Ty is finished desecrating the lovely, iconic Biltmore property… six gated driveways 😩 — J
I really wanted to like Bar Lou and have it in the rotation, but the price to good ratio was just off for me, even… — Meg
There was one of the finest restaurants in town A vegan restaurant every meat eater could love. A stunning white decor that made coming there… — Joe Millo
Totally agree. The Santa Barbara Company is the BEST for finding unique, special gifts. Love this place and the staff. — laura