Telltale cocktails To find out more about the Santa Maria Valley’s 2025 Craft Cocktail Contest and Dine Out Santa Maria Style program, visit santamariavalley.com. Working under a certain constraint ended up paying off for Naughty Oak Brewing Company in 2024, when the Orcutt staple took home a top award for its first-time entry in Santa […]
Caleb Wiseblood
Posted inNews
Solvang swears in new councilmember, Buellton delays decision after gridlock
After their new mayors were sworn in, Solvang and Buellton were each left with a single vacant city council seat to fill. Solvang Mayor David Brown and Buellton Mayor David Silva both left behind mid-term vacancies as former city council members when their mayoral terms began. To avoid holding a costly special election, both governing […]
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Always greener: Central Coast resident Lou Ferrigno talks about his new movies, chess, and of course, The Incredible Hulk
Expiration dates. Stock prices. Autocorrect suggestions. Too many things warrant double-checking, but the fine print on the back of jerky packs wasn’t one of them for Lou Ferrigno until recently. “I play a cannibalistic pig farmer who makes jerkies out of people,” Ferrigno said about his new role in an upcoming horror flick, The Hermit. […]
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California Nature Art Museum debuts Thomas Dambo’s first indoor troll installation
With help from a crew of local and visiting volunteer builders, Danish artist and activist Thomas Dambo is constructing his first troll sculpture in an indoor setting, thanks to a collaboration with the California Nature Art Museum in downtown Solvang Dambo is best known for creating more than 100 outdoor troll sculptures across 17 countries. […]
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Elverhoj Museum presents new solo exhibit, Figuratively Speaking
Sculptures and multi-media pieces are among local artist Joe Castle’s featured works in an upcoming showcase at the Elverhoj Museum of History and Art in downtown Solvang. To celebrate the debut of Castle’s new solo show, titled Figuratively Speaking, the museum will host an opening reception on Saturday, Jan. 25, from 4 to 6 p.m. […]
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Santa Maria Philharmonic Society holds 11th annual Youth Showcase
Seven young classical musicians, from ages 8 to 18, will assemble at Shepard Hall in Santa Maria for a special concert program on Saturday, Jan. 11, as the Santa Maria Philharmonic Society hosts its annual Youth Showcase, slated to begin at 3 p.m. While admission to the program is free, donations will be accepted to […]
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Solvang enacts new objective design standards as part of zoning ordinance
New zoning rules were among Solvang’s first enacted policies of 2025. The multi-layered ordinance includes a revised application route—in effect as of Jan. 8—with clear objective standards for developers to draw from that weren’t previously codified. Staff designed the new policy to provide project applicants with a strong starting point and allow proposals to bypass […]
Posted inFood & Drink
A soup box to stand on: The ramen, shave ice, tater tots, chicken wings, and vanilla lattes that defined 2024
After looking back at my foodie adventures over the past 12 months, I feel so grateful for the outpouring of winemakers, chefs, and business owners who invited me to their places of work for savory grub, sweet treats, soft and hard drinks, and warm conversation. In summing up this year’s most memorable occasions, I’d be […]
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Take me back to the start: An arts editor’s trip down memory lane ahead of 2025
Tigers. Clowns. Men in top hats. This year in arts reporting was quite a circus, in all the right ways. Between one edge of the Sun’s coverage area to the other, 2024 was full of visually compelling art displays and equally dazzling live performances. There’s even still time to catch some of them before the […]
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Lompoc Planning Commission supports new land use standards to increase housing density
Designed to pave the way for slightly taller buildings and other development changes in Lompoc, a list of potential code revisions will move forward to the City Council with the Planning Commission’s support. During its final meeting of 2024, the Planning Commission unanimously signed off on staff’s proposal to update certain land use designations and […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Stone Pine Hall holds concert benefit for the Lompoc Theatre Project
There’ll be church pews and stacking chairs but no standing room for guests of an intimate concert, set to bring a handful of rock, roots, and country acts to Stone Pine Hall in late December. With a capacity limit under 100, the historic building—previously a First Church of Christ Scientist Reading Room—is hosting the show […]
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Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast holds annual youth art exhibit
A showcase of art by young members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast opened at the Santa Maria Town Center on Dec. 13 and is scheduled to remain on display through the end of December. Every year, the local Boys & Girls Clubs organization hosts activities related to the National Fine […]
