Future tenants of a four-story complex will live less than a block away from Old Town Lompoc. An empty parcel on South J Street is scheduled to turn into a commercial and residential development thanks to a 4-0 approval from Lompoc planning commissioners in October. Commissioner Brandon Bridge was absent. “Unlike a lot of developers […]
Madison White
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Flying Goat Cellars shows art from one more local before relocating its tasting room
Randy Freeman is good friends with a scrub jay. He’s cultivated a fond relationship with the bird, nicknamed Buddy, over the past five years. Buddy spots Freeman in his backyard, flies over to the artist’s side, and lands on his shoulder. “I’ll reach in my pocket and hold a handful of peanuts out. He’ll take […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The Ann Foxworthy Gallery presents After the Cut
One single cut can change everything. Two creatives explore the power of cutting with their mixed media pieces in an exhibit at the Allan Hancock College art gallery, which is up through Dec. 2. “Rather than erasing the past, the artists embrace it as part of the creative process, transforming existing elements into new compositions […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Peruse Santa Maria’s public TV programs on a new app
Keep up with local concerts, Santa Maria City Council meetings, and other informative forums with an app that recently expanded accessibility to Santa Maria’s community television programs. Content from the city’s public, education, and government (PEG) channels is free of commercials and available to locals on their devices 24/7. Residents can now download city of […]
Posted inEats
The Lemonade Boss doles out ice-cold drinks from a hot pink trailer
Inspiration for Leslie Verbryke’s side gig came to her the way a lot of today’s ideas strike: through TikTok. The Orcutt resident saw a content creator who had refurbished a horse trailer, turning it into a beverage stand. “She started selling lemonade out of it to pay for pharmacy school, so I kind of took […]
Posted inNews
County supervisors will include new Orcutt library in budget talks
If Orcutt residents want to borrow books, they can visit a branch of the Santa Maria Public Library in Old Town that sits on a leased plot measuring less than 5,000 square feet. However, community planning documents from nearly 30 years ago predicted population growth that would warrant a library more than three and a […]
Posted inNews
Santa Maria high schoolers harvest and donate 100 boxes of produce
In a landscape as rich as the Santa Maria Valley, Iris Valdez has been exposed to agriculture in her classrooms for years. The Pioneer Valley High School senior craved a more hands-on experience, so she enrolled in plant and soil science at the local career technical education (CTE) center and has already harvested watermelon, corn, […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
A former engineer hangs her first show at CalNAM
Sangeetha Gopalakrishnan was prepared for a peaceful, solo hike with her dog this spring in the Sierra Nevada. She set up her easel and started painting at an elevation of 10,000 feet. As skies darkened and snow began to fall, Gopalakrishnan noticed that her 5-year-old labradoodle—a “strong hiker” who carries her own pack—was interested in […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Escape with fellow misfits to Cypress Gallery
There’s always something peculiar inside Lompoc’s art showroom. Anyone who needs convincing may browse the Cypress Gallery through Nov. 29 while The Island of Misfit Art is on display. Gallerygoers will find locally crafted holiday art and gifts. “Whether you’re hunting for a one-of-a-kind gift, looking to add something new to your own collection, or […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
County arts and culture office ranked top in the state
Santa Barbara County earned more than $250,000 from the state for its efforts in engaging the creative community. California acknowledged the county’s Office of Arts and Culture with the highest possible ranking in the 2026 State-Local Partnership program. For the past five years, Santa Barbara County has topped the charts compared to other arts agencies. […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
You Can See Everything is a mind-bending exercise in deception
Filmmakers Nathan Fielder (Nathan for You, The Rehearsal) and Lance Oppenheim (Primetime, Some Kind of Heaven) collaborate on this unconventional A24 documentary following disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes during the final 34 days before she surrenders to federal prison in Texas. Holmes and her partner, Billy Evans, invite the filmmakers into their home, offering a […]
Posted inFood & Drink
An Orcutt couple rolls ice cream for their hometown
With the proper technique, rolling ice cream isn’t difficult. For Lucy Genge, it’s fun and satisfying. Each order is custom-made. The ice cream shop owner pours a liquid ice cream base on top of a cold plate that sits at minus 22 degrees. Then, she presses the cream down with two scrapers, spreading it super […]
