Rincon Brewery’s Funk Zone Outpost Is Closing

••• Rincon Brewery‘s Funk Zone outpost is closing after tonight. The rumor is that South Coast Deli will take over the space.

••• Nearby, Validation Ale intends to replace its parking spaces with “new outdoor dining, recreational area, and delivery/loading area pursuant to AB-2097,” as per the Architectural Board of Review’s March 2 agenda. The state law in question is the one that prohibits minimum parking requirements on residential or commercial or developments within a half mile of a transit stop, which obviously makes far more sense in a bigger city where people use mass transit.

••• Restaurant Guy posted that Bluewater Grill closed earlier than expected, quoting a reader who said “all the furniture was gone.” The restaurant’s website says “temporarily closed,” so I went to take a look, and as you can see below, the furniture has returned. I got in touch with co-owner Jim Ulcickas, who said, “It’s closed as a Bluewater Grill but will reopen as something else if a sale is not successful.”

••• A profile of non-alcoholic beverage maker “Glasrose, a Santa Ynez Valley–grown brand of verjus launched by American opera singer Sara  Hershkowitz and German writer-musician-winemaker Max Hoetzel. Verjus is made from wine grapes that are picked at lower sugars with high acidities, and then Glasrose enhances that base with herbal, flower, spice, tea, and fruit elements.” —Independent

••• I don’t order in, so I had no idea Jamaican food was an option around here until I saw the advertising for Kool Runninz outside 409 State Street (where it also appears to be serving food with something called Sniki Tiki on the back patio).

••• “The Buellton City Council on Thursday cleared the way for a new weekly farmers market along the Avenue of Flags” on Mondays. “The first market is planned for March 16. The market is expected to run from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. weekly from March through October, with an option to extend to 7 p.m. during the summer.” —Noozhawk

••• Word on the street in Los Alamos is that the Montesano Group (Lucky’s, Tre Lune, et al) is opening an all-day restaurant—perhaps akin to D’Angelo’s Bakery—at 645 Bell Street, the new building on the right as you drive into town.

••• The plan to convert the former Ray’s Liquors building (1422 San Andres Street) on the Westside into a market (that includes prepared foods) is still on, according to the Planning Commission’s March 5 agenda. The proprietors listed on the liquor license application are Cole Cervantes, Ed St. George, and Mikhail Pulle, same as at Isla Vista Market.

••• I finally made it to Tamar to try the chicken schnitzel sandwich. While waiting for my order, I ran into a friend who said, “Yeah, it’s good”—and it was!—”but have you tried the lamb sandwich?” My work is never done. UPDATE: I went back for the lamb kofta sandwich today, and it was amazing—one of the best things I’ve had at Tamar. Eating it is messy business, though.

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