The Tiered System for Covid-19 Testing in Santa Barbara

Other local news: The current tally of tests administered here; Santa Barbara Zoo and Chumash Casino have closed; permits for Montecito debris nets get renewed; the tree of the month.

Acme Hospitality’s Restaurants Have All Gone on Hiatus

More food news: Stella Mare's and Le Cafe Stella are also temporarily closed; The Daisy is ceasing regular service, but takeout and (soon) delivery are available; Sama Sama Kitchen's addictive sambal tomat; support your favorite restaurants by buying gift cards now.

Two Popular Restaurants Are Temporarily Closed Because of Covid-19

More food news: Ways to help local restaurants; ordering bread from Riviera Bread, Bree'osh, and Bossie's Kitchen; Bettina's English pea pizza; new chef at Pico in Los Alamos; a bit of help from GrubHub.

Newsletter: March 16

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First Confirmed Case of Covid-19 in San Luis Obispo County

Other local news: A running tally of tests given here and cases by state and country; Santa Barbara schools close indefinitely; UCSB suggests students leave campus; farmers' market stays open, for now; social-distancing guidelines for restaurants; Mammoth and Big Bear shut down.

Palm Springs Style on a Montecito Golf Course

The week's other top price reductions: Adorable 1911 cottage off East Beach (↓$400K); hilltop castle (↓$105K); sweet seclusion where Diana Road meets Diana Lane (↓$100K); two-week price-chop on Conejo Road modern (↓$200K).

The Inaugural Santa Barbara Culinary Experience Has Been Postponed

More food news: Foster's Freeze said to be on its last legs; Chick-fil-A's lame response to its traffic issue; chef-owned Lemon & Coriander in Goleta; dormant plaza in Montecito's Upper Village; non-alcoholic cocktail mixologists; three home winemakers.

Social Distancing Comes to Santa Barbara

The Riviera Theatre is limiting audience size; the public library is canceling events; Slightly Stoopid is coming to the Santa Barbara Bowl; MarBorg will soon rent hand-sanitizer stations; Cottage Hospital has COVID-19 test kits; toilet-paper hoarding continues; a free house.

California Is Discouraging Gatherings of 250 or More People

Other local news: UC Santa Barbara has moved to online classes through April at least; Santa Barbara City College has switched some classes to online; second COVID-19 case in Ventura County; Earth Day event postponed; SLO farmer's market canceled; gang members convicted of post–debris flow crimes, including a Montecito home invasion; bad behavior on the rise in area schools.

What Are Those Poles in the Ocean Near the Ritz-Carlton Bacara?

"During lunch at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, I spotted these four columns just offshore. I only recently moved here, and maybe this is obvious to people who've lived here longer, but what are they?" —A. 2