More electric vehicle chargers are coming to Santa Barbara County in the next few years for county and public use, with plans to install at least 180 new chargers by June 2028. “We’re doing the best that we can to make charging stations available and to make them sustainable for us right now,” county Energy […]
Madison White
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Behind the scenes of Studio of Performing Arts’ Rocky Horror anomaly
The cult following of The Rocky Horror Picture Show is one that Shannon Lowrie admits she didn’t understand when her studio first started performing it. “I thought, ‘I want to see what the deal is about this because I don’t get it,’” Lowrie told the Sun. “I just became obsessed with it.” A lifelong singer […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The Solvang Festival Theater lines up entertainment for fall
Shows at the Solvang Festival Theater continue this season with a diverse mix of live performances and community events. Eerie frights await those brave enough to enter the annual Solvang Parks and Recreation’s haunted house. Walk through on the evenings of Oct. 24 and 25. Kid-friendly tours run from 6 to 6:30 p.m., and then […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Vote for the Taylor Park mural design, then lend a hand painting it
Make your artistic voice heard by choosing from designs of tropical flowers, sunshine and a garden, or whimsical doodles for the city of Santa Maria’s next mural, which will be painted at Taylor Park in November. Vote online through the Recreation and Parks Department website until Oct. 28, according to the department’s marketing coordinator, Karen […]
Posted inFood & Drink
A Santa Maria couple celebrates one year of their signature hot sauce, Hot Lil Mama
Michael and Diana Muranaka quote their favorite movie, Bridesmaids, to each other so often that one scene inspired the name of their hot sauce company. The scene follows a police officer who stops Kristen Wiig’s character and recognizes her from a sign at her bakery. “You’re Cake Baby,” the officer said, referencing the name of […]
Posted inNews
Prescribed burn coming to Sedgwick Reserve to manage vegetation and reduce wildfire fuel
The county Fire Department will begin prescribed burns around the Santa Ynez and Los Alamos valleys with a nearly $1 million grant from Cal Fire. “It’s one of the most effective and cost-effective ways to reduce fuel,” Santa Barbara County Fire Marshal Fred Tan told the Sun. First, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department will […]
Posted inNews
New children’s computers with educational games are at the Santa Maria library
Connecting the dots, learning colors, and solving jigsaw puzzles are some of the activities kids now have access to on bilingual learning computers at the Santa Maria Public Library. The computers provide safe, engaging educational content for ages 2 to 12. Set up in the children’s area on the first level of the library at […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
A Santa Barbara artist displays four mediums of work inspired by his Brazilian culture
In Paulo Lima’s mind, a rusty piece of wire in the middle of the street was a great topper for one of his sculptures. Even though he thought the metal had been run over by a car, it didn’t matter. “I picked it up in the middle of the street, like, ‘Oh my God. This […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Santa Maria hosts Día de los Muertos community festival
Celebrate the Mexican tradition of Day of the Dead with cultural activities and crafts at Santa Maria’s 15th annual Día de los Muertos Festival. The Fine Arts Complex at Allan Hancock College will be transformed into a vibrant festival for Día de los Muertos on Oct. 26. Hosted by the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Find vintage wonderland at Flying Miz Daisy’s market in Solvang
The Flying Miz Daisy vintage market returns to Solvang on Oct. 25 at Mission Santa Inés. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and admission and parking are free. Visitors can shop from more than 60 vendors for vintage goods, architectural salvages, garden décor, clothing, jewelry, and more. There’ll also be music and […]
Posted inFood & Drink
With a reputation for barbecue and whiskey, a Solvang eatery is set to debut a new restaurant
On its face, Whiskey ’N Rye Smokehouse is a classic barbecue joint. However, Don Conner opened the restaurant with the idea to serve a lot more than ribs and brisket. “Our primary focus is smoking and grilling more so than just meats,” Conner said. “We try to incorporate a little flare of barbecue into all […]
Posted inFood & Drink
A Grover Beach chef, who competed on national TV, is gearing up for the next phase in his career
When the Food Network called chef Jacob Town, he thought it was the greatest gift he’d ever received during his 30 years in the industry. After a two-hour interview and a couple of days in limbo, Town and his wife, Brooke, found out their restaurant, The Spoon Trade, was cast on season 49, episode 11, […]
