The number of liquor law violations reported in the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office’s coverage areas nearly doubled from 2023 to 2024, according to newly released statistics. Chief Deputy Brad Welch, who helped compile the report, said the 89.7 percent increase—from 573 violations in 2023 to 1,087 in 2024—correlates with an increase in enforcement, specifically […]
Caleb Wiseblood
Local gongfu practitioner and tea sommelier leads ceremonial meditations
Tea parties are given a whole new meaning for hosts who take a leaf or two from Jennifer de Tréglodé’s book. Through her company, Inari Tea & Art Experiences, the San Luis Obispo local is frequently hired to lead ceremonial tea meditations at public and private events alike, including bridal showers, birthday parties, mindfulness workshops, […]
Santa Maria’s Betteravia Gallery presents New Muralism: Valley Visions
In collaboration with the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture, Betteravia Gallery is showcasing a collection of expansive textile panels that “reflect the vibrant landscapes, cultures, and commercial hubs of the Santa Maria Valley,” according to press materials. The opening reception for the new exhibit, titled New Muralism: Valley Visions, will be held […]
Patti Robbins’ contemporary paintings envelope Gallery Los Olivos’ April display
Gallery Los Olivos presents Pizzazz, a solo exhibition of contemporary still life paintings by local artist Patti Robbins, currently on display and scheduled to remain up through Wednesday, April 30. This new showcase opened at the beginning of the month. According to press materials, Robbins’ portfolio features reimaginings of “everyday objects with daring perspective and […]
More than 60 craft breweries converge at Lagerville in Buellton
Ville of goods Lagerville takes place on Saturday, April 12, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., at Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., located at 45 Industrial Way, Buellton. VIP ticket holders get early access, starting at 11:30 a.m. Find more info on the festival by visiting lagerville.beer or figmtnbrew.com. When it rains, it pours—as did the featured […]
Buellton Planning Commission refurbishes ADU policy to meet state standards
A state agency is calling for Buellton to carve out more elbow room than past years for homeowners seeking to retrofit their property with an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). In 2022, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) reviewed Buellton’s ADU ordinance—last updated in 2020—and singled out a few restrictions as inconsistent with […]
Cypress Gallery brings handmade masks, crafts, and interactive art to Lompoc
Solo round Santa Barbara-based artist Mitra Cline’s solo exhibition at Cypress Gallery opened in early April and will remain on display through Sunday, April 27. Visit lompocart.org to find out more. The gallery is located at 119 E. Cypress Ave., Lompoc. Often latched behind Mitra Cline’s bicycle, the local crafter’s mobile art studio has a […]
Gallery at Monarch Dunes’ spring showcase highlights Nipomo-based artists
Paintings, photographs, and mixed media are among the artworks featured in the Gallery at Monarch Dunes’ spring showcase, a new group exhibition scheduled to debut with an opening reception on Friday, April 4, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. The exhibit highlights pieces by multiple members of the Trilogy Art Group and is slated to remain […]
Santa Maria Valley Senior Citizen Club encourages festive hat wearing at next dance concert
Riptide Big Band will provide live music during The Way You Wear Your Hat Dance, at the Elwin Mussell Senior Center in Santa Maria, on Sunday, April 13, from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Guests of the event are encouraged to wear their favorite hats, and those who do will be eligible for a special prize […]
Santa Barbara County Animal Services launches livestock registry to help with wildfire evacuations
Cattle, horses, pigs, llamas, and ostriches were listed during a recent town hall in Solvang dedicated to wildfire preparation and evacuation protocols across the Santa Ynez Valley. Sarah Aguilar, Santa Barbara County Animal Services director, was among the March 31 panel’s featured speakers, alongside 3rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann, county fire officials, and elected officials […]
The music makers: Santa Ynez nonprofit Muffin Music brings performances, education to local schools
Much ado about Muffin For more info on Muffin Music and its offerings, visit muffinmusic.org. Co-founders Sylvia Jiang and Davis Reinhart will present free concert programs on April 11 and 12 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Unity of Santa Maria and Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Santa Ynez, respectively. From an early […]
Naughty Oak Brewing Company gets nutty with new squirrel mural, affogatos, and soda floats
The long and winding oak Naughty Oak Brewing Company is located at 165 S. Broadway St., suite 102, Orcutt. For more info on the brewery’s ongoing mural scavenger hunt contest (open for the public to participate in through April 15), visit naughtyoak.com/contest. “There were brief moments that I worried that a 25-foot-long painting of a […]

