October 1, 2025
Tag: Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara
August 18, 2025
The Biltmore’s Reopening Has Been Pushed Back Again
Plus: Dylan Star will morph into an online-only business; Leone Salon has moved to the Funk Zone; Coast Village parklet for lease; "In the Mood for Love" on the big screen; more programming at the Music Academy of the West; checking out the model homes at the Santa Barbara Polo Residences. 10
June 1, 2025
The Biltmore’s Reopening Has Been Pushed Back
Plus: ChatGPT's roast of Santa Barbara County; new effort to change the way Santa Barbara is run; update on the Electrify America charging station; Kaarem's Victoria Court boutique has closed; Dawes to play the Lobero Theatre; downtown building to be clad in artificial turf; note from a descendant of the proprietor of the Weeping Willow Inn. 10
February 9, 2025
More of Carpinteria’s Bluffs Are Getting Preserved
Plus: The county's push for more decomposed granite sidewalks in Montecito; the Biltmore resort has plans for three swim rafts, not two; parking availability at Santa Barbara Airport is now online; new shop on State Street; proposed "health retreat" on Paradise Road; signs of life at the Andalucia Building at State and Gutierrez. 6
January 19, 2025
The 31 Restaurants Expected to Open in Coming Months
On the menu this year: A pair of bagel shops; Aperitivo's spinoff; two establishments from chef Thomas Keller; beachside dining in Goleta; creative sandwiches; an outpost of Nobu; exciting additions to the Upper Village; major additions to Carpinteria and Ojai; and much more. 24
January 16, 2025
The County Is Finally Doing Something About the Cannabis Stench
Other recent news: Did Ty Warner destroy this artwork?; the stone pines of E. Anapamu get a reprieve; Biltmore to install butterfly-shaped swim rafts; Macy's at La Cumbre Plaza survived the first round of store closures; Santa Barbara may raise bus fares; out-of-control minivan on Stearns Wharf. 16
December 4, 2024
November 21, 2024
250-Room Funk Zone Hotel Gets the Go-Ahead
Plus: Biltmore renovation allowed to proceed; city to help remove Las Alturas landslide house; the county Planning Commission rejected a cannabis project for the first time; Cost Plus World Market could be around for three years; Tunnel Trail reopened; the history of Goleta's Encina Royale neighborhood; Milpas Street improvements likely. 2
October 24, 2024
How the Montecito Planning Commission Shot Itself in the Foot
Other recent news: Biltmore's family pool complex moves forward in slightly smaller form; Isla Vista now has a vending machine with Narcan, fentanyl test strips, and emergency contraceptives; land preservation on Goleta ballot; another Huguette Clark estate is on the market. 3
October 13, 2024
A Chocolate Shop Is Opening in Montecito
More food news: Caruso’s introduced an à la carte lounge menu; Nobu is officially confirmed; Satellite returned to full table service; the Harbor Restaurant is now serving lunch; SloDoCo donut shop opened; cannabis shops may be able to sell food and beverages; Paradise pie update; Soul Bites gets a reprieve; Farm Cart Organics shut down its "farm box" service; Cultured Abalone Farm tours; new tasting room specializing in sparkling wine and wooden jigsaw puzzles. 8
















Recent Comments
Hallelujah! The return of that Southbound on-ramp is long overdue — Tammy
You've done a great thing for the hapless men of Santa Barbara with this series. Stopping by half of these stores. — Andy
The post office renaming will cost roughly $500,000 paid for by the USPS internal funds from stamps and fees. — Derek
Thank you, Erik, for reminding your readers to support local businesses; it is one of the critical ways to help our communities thrive. (I laughed… — Pat
I agree about the skimpy wine pour. However, we loved the shared entrees (chicken and salmon) with their special rice. Yes there were leftovers but… — ElizabethW
That 5% would go to all employees proportionate to their hours I would presume compared to tips where more skilled staff take a higher percentage,… — Don
Geo , you know absolutely nothing about the restaurant business. — Roy
What if, and bear with me here because this is complicated, restaurants just paid their staff normally and charged prices that reflected those expenses, i.e.… — Rich
Little Mountain just isn’t organized. Everyone is very nice and the atmosphere stylish, but there is something wrong with it. The food is weird, portions… — Joan
I intensely to test Sur charges for the cost of doing business. Will they give back 5% profits to the patrons when they do extremely… — Geo