March 20, 2023
Tag: Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara
The Return of the Two-Hotel Funk Zone Development
Plus: The Biltmore is reducing its number of guest rooms; Hozier to play the Bowl; a visit to the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden's fun Backcountry area; presale memberships to the Pad climbing gym; the Santa Barbara Surf Film Festival will include a block party; answer to last week's "Where in Santa Barbara...?" 12
January 5, 2023
Highway 154 Is Closed Due to a Rockslide
Other recent news: An update on the Coral Casino; historic Goleta farmhouse to open for tours; how the state's requirement for new housing is affecting local municipalities; big plans for Dos Pueblos Ranch; a screed about Santa Barbara's "disgusting downtown mess." 6
December 19, 2022
First Impressions of the Dutch Garden
More food news: Construction on the Biltmore resort's restaurant; AMA Sushi has added a six-course prix-fixe; confirmation of Little Alex's new location; Healthy Warrior's event space; Corazón Comedor tamales by the dozen; the new Courtyard by Marriott's restaurant opens soon. 13
November 5, 2022
November 2, 2022
The Biltmore’s Neon Sign Is Not in Danger
Plus: The Aloha Fun Center roller rink sure looks iffy; a new personal training gym on Coast Village Road; hair extension and bridal accessory shop coming to State Street; hotel on Upper State Street sold for $17.55 million; "Ghost Adventures" investigates the strange goings-on inside a Montecito mansion. 5
October 4, 2022
The Reason Why Ty Warner and Four Seasons Are Feuding
Other recent news: More on the mockup of UCSB's Munger Hall; the old guard's resistance to change in Solvang; California no longer criminalizes jaywalking; school board candidates face off; Larry David bought in the Hedgerow; the San Jose Creek Bike Path Project in Goleta. 11
September 22, 2022
New Design Guidelines for Parklets on the State Street Promenade
Other recent news: Reactions to two proposed apartment complexes downtown; desalination buoys to be tested off Vandenberg; Biltmore employees headed for arbitration; the county is looking at more tiny villages for the homeless; Bennett's Toys is closing; Conan O'Brien bought in Carpinteria; looking at the candidates in November's election; new boutique in Santa Ynez. 3
June 17, 2022
The Sears Auto Center at La Cumbre Plaza Has a New Tenant
Other recent news: An update on the Coral Casino's renovations; chef Charlie Palmer is working on a Santa Barbara hotel; interview with police chief Barney Melekian; Santa Barbara Junior High School's flagpole has been replaced; Goleta voters to decide on small sales tax increase; weekly market at La Casa de la Raza; proposed UCSB staff housing moves forward. 2
April 17, 2022
February 12, 2022
The County’s Indoor Mask Mandate Ends February 16
Other recent news: Horrifying story of dog grooming gone wrong; Ty Warner has appealed the Biltmore's tax assessment; downtown housing for the homeless moves forward; the fight over a cannabis greenhouse near Carpinteria High School; a mirror-and-glass cube on Airbnb; Nancy Travis to star in a one-person show. 5
Recent Comments
As a fellow Democrat I kindly ask that you take your political banter elsewhere. This is not the place for it. Perhaps Facebook or NextDoor… — Fellow Democrat
I will not stand idily by why some FoxNews watching republitards continue to develop our city for their own personnel gain. These right wing racists… — SB Democrat
These rants read like troll posts. — BW
I agree with you, Nancy. They could build it in one of several styles that are different to the everywhere-already-nouveau-“Spanish” without deviating from what’s local… — BW
The building style will absolutely not age well. — BW
Nancy - agreed. I'm curious what the ABR said in the meeting about how "un-SB" looks. And a pool on site? Give me a break...… — Christine_Z28
Nancy, I agree! Why are developers/architects so intent on chipping away at the SB "look"? If they want to build random buildings that could be… — Keith
So much for consistency of the SB city architecture. The new hotel building style looks out of place and gentrified. Not saying it's a bad… — Nancy
Cat Cora = blow torch or silent partner moving on? — Christine!
Ahh yes, back when being anti-war, pro-free speech and supporting individual freedoms was a very liberal position, fast forward to today and now it's a… — Normal Person