June 24, 2025
Tag: Lobero Theatre
Two More Rite Aid Stores Are Closing
Plus: Inside the new 30-room vacation-rental hotel downtown; adjacent Highway 101 on-ramps to be closed for nine months; Queens of the Stone Age concert; Heidi Merrick sample sale; the July 4 celebration at the waterfront; John Waters's Halloween show; the answer to last weekend's "Where in Santa Barbara...?" 5
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
April 7, 2025
The Former Nordstrom Building Will Be Partially Converted to Residential
Plus: More turnover on Coast Village Road; four new pickleball courts in Montecito; local production of "Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812"; jewelry store coming to the Montecito Country Mart; Gogol Bordello to play the Arlington Theatre; Arrediamo Home Decor is opening on State Street; an evening with Albert Brooks. 14
April 1, 2025
Marisa Mason Is Moving to Montecito
Plus: Spikeball classes; tickets to the Music Academy of the West‘s summer festival; Flaming Lips and Modest Mouse to play the Santa Barbara Bowl; free gardening advice; Colin Campbell Cooper, Leon Dabo, and Lockwood De Forest at Sullivan & Goss; "next-level circus" coming to the Lobero Theatre; a good source for breaking news? 10
February 24, 2025
December 10, 2024
October 17, 2024
Santa Barbara Is Finally Getting Serious About E-Bikes
Other recent news: Art Essentials is moving at year end; Montecito police blotter; the latest on the proposed Rosewood Miramar Beach expansion; the city council's District 3 race; the Lobero Theatre’s executive director is stepping down; California Coastal Commission refuses to allow more SpaceX launches. 14
October 9, 2024
A New Restaurant Building on Lower State Street
Plus: Checking out Knapp's Castle; Rickie Lee Jones in concert; a new tenant on Coast Village Road; city to shift from stone pines to oaks on E. Anapamu Street; Noorsher Furniture & Rugs says it'll be closing; this year's Ojai Studio Artists tour; two events for dance fans; fake spider webbing. 8
August 15, 2024
A Chilly Reception for the Biltmore’s Family Pool Complex
Other recent news: The arrogance of the U.S. Space Force; beach grooming debate; UCSB chancellor Henry Yang will step down; the candidates for Santa Barbara's city council; the men behind the street names near the airport; questions about the Lobero Theatre's proposed expansion; downtown condo owners caught in the new Community Benefit Improvement District; Refugio State Beach reopened; dreaming big about the former U.S. Bank branch on State Street. 5
August 14, 2024
Progress at San Ysidro Ranch’s Botanical Garden
Plus: The network of paths in lower Franceschi Park; checking in on two architecturally noteworthy houses on E. Mountain Drive; Tina Schlieske Quintet to play the Lobero Theatre; Covet/Cherval Studio shop has closed; potential development across from the Public Market; Drift hotel now has an event space next door. 14
















Recent Comments
When I was a little kid, "go to lower State" was a slur. It implied you were seedy, a bum, criminal. As long as the… — el_smurfo
Spoken like a true "MAGAT", lol. — el_smurfo
I don't think it's a myth. Yes, the data shows that "only" 20% of retail sales are done online, but that's still a 20% decline… — Doug B
Haven't been there in years but dipped in for a look, still the omniscient Sacjon and Generatree berating and insulting anyone who dare question the… — Jefferson A.
I thought it was just Dan-O, but it has been forever. It's funny that my comments are still censored over there while the same 5… — el_smurfo
The coral tree is fine for residential purposes as long as you routinely trim it. — Jim Owens
It's a beautiful tree, but Coral trees have brittle wood structure and limbs easily break off and fall. It's surprising to see these in parks.… — Chet
City streets are unsafe all day long with no enforcement. City needs to stop assessing things, and start taking action. San Andreas and Milpas Street… — billy
Patricia Bragg loved Katy Perry- longtime family/church friends- she gave Katy her first guitar. Using 3% of the property is a decent ratio, no? I… — Christine!
My fav coral tree is the round-a-bout on Pacific Ave on the Mesa- a real stunner! The California Coastal Commission being publicly flogged and forced… — Christine!