December 17, 2025
Highlights of this weekend's open-house lineup: Cute 1930s Spanish Colonial just off State Street; surreal decorative remnants on the Mesa; 1910 Lower Riviera house in need of updating; sprawler on three acres on Hidden Valley Lane.
Plus: Two George Washington Smith houses are available for rent; the Riviera Theatre is screening Stanley Kubrick's "Paths of Glory" to honor Kirk Douglas; expanded hours at the Cuyama Buckhorn motel and restaurant; superb private art collection on view in L.A.
March 3, 2020
Other recent news: Elings Park is bringing in sheep for landscaping maintenance; successful pilot program to reduce homelessness downtown; one of the state labs for coronavirus testing is in Ventura County; city attorney attempts to thwart vacation-rental lawsuits; visitors to Cottage Health hospitals must now have their photo taken.
It was Steve Hermann's third stab at the space—which has the prettiest courtyard in town—after Somerset and The Smithy.
March 2, 2020
This 10-acre ranch northeast of Santa Barbara has a barn for ATVs, go-karts, and dirt bikes; open fields for skeet shooting; and a "magical" orchard.
More food news: The new restaurant in the former Little Door space appears off; Bell's celebrates its second anniversary with a big BBQ party (and denies a rumor about a Los Olivos restaurant); cannabis supper club; ranch dressing.
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February 29, 2020
Plus: New Lotusland exhibit about founder Ganna Walska; oceanfront property sells for well under the initial ask; Amazon's State Street building is on the market for $38 million; you know you're in California when....
February 28, 2020
Other local news: Santa Barbara Airport noise complaints are up; notable shipwrecks around the Channel Islands; a maddening Montecito intersection; Carp residents file class-action lawsuit against cannabis farms; Republican Assembly candidate Charles Cole.
The week's top price reductions also include: Newly staged Neoclassical in the Hedgerow (↓$255K), clean 70s interiors on the Riviera (↓$200K), an ambitious spec renovation on Picacho Lane (↓$1.3M), and a pink palace atop Hidden Valley Lane (↓$955K).
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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