What is a wedding, really, other than a giant celebration—a party from beginning to end, from the engagement through the goodbye song at the end of the big night. In our annual Weddings issue, we’re including things that can help you put that party together. Hot air balloons in which to pop the question and…
Take flightLearn more about Sky’s The Limit Ballooning Adventures in Santa Ynez at skysthelimitballooning.com. For details on Paso Robles’ Balloons over Paso, visit balloonsoverpaso.com. For a hot air balloon proposal or wedding, use the code, SLOWEDDING, until Jan. 1, 2027, for a 10 percent discount. For a couple thousand dollars, you can climb into a…
Roadside assistanceTo find out more about SB Limo, call (805) 965-4900 or visit sblimos.com. The company’s headquarters is located at 803 Kolding Ave., Solvang. Cueing up tunes worth cutting a rug to was always integral to Solvang business owner James Hooshman’s transportation company, long before brides- and grooms-to-be became some of his most frequent clients.…
Say, ‘I do’To learn more about Sun Canyon Florals and book your wedding, visit suncanyonflorals.com. For Victoria Duncan, flowers are a language spoken through texture, scent, color, and imperfection—and a way of inviting people into the present on one of the most meaningful days of their lives. “I feel like flowers provide a state of…
Marry me!Online sites for ordination include: themonastery.org, getordained.org, amm.org, and spaghettimonster.org. Do your friends or family find you entertaining? Do they think you truly love and care about them and have special insight into their relationships? If so, prepare yourself, because they may ask you to marry them … to each other, I mean. Not…
For local high school student Lorena Martinez, real-time events have shown that the Santa Maria City Council’s pace in deciding whether to form an immigration ad hoc committee is too slow. “Real families are being torn apart. Children are living with fear and uncertainty. Parents are afraid to go to work. This is happening here…
Idle and shuttered since 2020, Buellton’s former movie theater—Parks Plaza on McMurray Road—will be demolished to make way for a new three-story Cottage Health medical office thanks to a recent Planning Commission vote. The 20-day period for the public to formally appeal the commission’s decision to the City Council kicked off on Feb. 19. At…
• On Feb. 17, U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-California) visited Guadalupe, where he toured the Guadalupe Senior Center and Guadalupe Union School District’s Early Learning Center. Both facilities are undergoing upgrades with federal dollars that Schiff, U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California), and U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) jointly helped secure, according to Schiff’s office.…
Every divorce involves two people, both of whom can often feel quite isolated throughout their respective ordeals. But not just from each other, local author Christine Gallagher told the Sun. “I’ve been divorced myself. It’s a very big deal, and the whole point of this,” she said while holding up a paperback copy of The…
The immigration discussion is happening in Santa Maria whether certain elected officials want it to or not. After months of stalling, the City Council is pushing forward with discussing an immigration ad hoc committee. At the insistence of Councilmember Gloria Soto, who first asked for the ad hoc committee last August, the council finally voted…
In a statement I wrote on the recent events in Minneapolis, I said the tragic shooting deaths of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother, and Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, were gut-wrenching tragedies. I also said the investigations into both should be allowed to conclude before judgement is cast, and I expressed concern that inaccurate and…
“It made me really sad,” Brisa, an 11th grader and daughter of immigrant farmworkers, said. “I had a feeling they weren’t going to vote for this because they are privileged, but I had a little bit of hope because I wanted them to help with this situation.” Brisa, like many youth in Santa Maria, has…
The Central Coast is darn close to a photographer’s dream setting, so scouting locations is one of the most fun parts of the job for Amanda Booker. “I just love this area. There’s so much to offer,” she said. “Basically anything a client envisions, you can find here.” Book BookerAmanda Booker takes photos for couples,…
To conclude its 45th season, the Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series is preparing for two more shows at St. Mark’s Church in Los Olivos. The organization’s quest is to deliver world-class music to the valley. “Our concerts enrich, educate, and inspire audiences throughout the Santa Ynez Valley and surrounding communities, with complimentary tickets available to…
The next time wine tasters visit Presqu’ile Winery, they can collect artwork from a coin-operated mini print vending machine. It’s the latest effort from the winery to involve creativity with its food and wine offerings. Created by artist Ana Inciardi, the machine is the first of its kind at a winery in the U.S., according…
Writer-director Mary Bronstein (Yeast) helms this story about Linda (Rose Byrne), a psychotherapist whose personal and professional responsibilities leave her on the brink of a nervous breakdown. In between work, she cares for her daughter (Delaney Quinn) who’s got a pediatric eating disorder requiring a feeding tube and daily hospital visits. Her ship captain husband,…
UnfamiliarWhat’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2026 Where’s it showing? Netflix I’m generally not a fan of dubbed films or shows, so even though I was a little put off at first, this German series sucked me in. Created by Paul Coates, the story follows former intelligence agents Meret (Susanne Wolff) and Simon Schäfer (Felix Krammer)…
The Investigation of Lucy LetbyWhat’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2026 Where’s it showing? Netflix Lucy Letby was a young neonatal nurse when she began at Countess of Chester Hospital in 2012. Her whole career focused on the care of the youngest and most vulnerable patients. However, in subsequent years, the hospital saw an unexplained rise…
For any occasionThe Gerbers deliver from San Luis Obispo to the Santa Ynez Valley. Place online orders for Orcutt Bakery goods by visiting orcuttbakery.com. Call (805) 938-9140 with questions, and see the treats for yourself at 4869 S. Bradley Road, suite 112, in Orcutt. After Danielle and Shawn Gerber spend hours baking and decorating a…
