Enjoy summer evenings with the family by catching a movie at Demetria Estate in Los Olivos. Pretty Woman is screening on July 18, A Fish Called Wanda on Aug. 22, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High on Sept. 19. Each of the three available dates offers a sunset dinner buffet on the patio beginning at […]
Madison White
Posted inFood & Drink
Two bars turn up the tiki-themed heat this summer in the Santa Ynez Valley
Take a tiki breakHigh Roller Tiki Lounge (433 Alisal Road in Solvang) is open Sundays from noon to 7 p.m., Wednesday to Thursday from 1 to 8 p.m., and Friday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight. Reserve a table at highrollertiki.com.Pony Cocktails + Kitchen is open daily. Breakfast and lunch hours are from 8 […]
Posted inNews
Blue world: Fishers, scientists, and tribal leaders weigh in on Point Sal conservation area
The coastal waters west of Santa Maria and Guadalupe are special, scientifically speaking. They’re defined by the Point Sal headland, a rugged coastline with access only via a strenuous 11-mile round-trip hike. Though the waters are pristine on top, a biodiverse habitat is active beneath the surface. Cliffs running east to west create a protected […]
Posted inNews
A $45 million Department of War grant fuels Manzanita Charter upgrades
Within the next few years, hundreds of Lompoc students will reap the benefits of a new gymnasium, library, and kitchen at Manzanita Public Charter School. The first of three phases began in June as contractors prepared the site. Construction is expected to take three years. Lompoc Unified School District owns and operates the charter school’s […]
Posted inFood & Drink
White Buffalo Land Trust’s food products win a nationwide Good Food Award
Biting into a piece of Figure Ate’s biltong for the first time was unlike any other kind of meat stick Kyle Sullivan had ever tasted. “The tenderness of the beef really blew me away,” Sullivan told the Sun. “It just has almost like a melt-in-your-mouth texture to it, which is really awesome.” To infinityFigure Ate […]
Posted inNews
Lompoc changes zoning designations to make way for more housing
Three Lompoc properties along Ocean Avenue could be the sites for future housing developments thanks to the City Council’s decision on June 16. Council members approved zoning changes that turned commercial designations into high-density residential uses. In May, the city Planning Commission approved zone changes for around 3.88 acres of vacant land at 1308, 1316, […]
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Secret Solvang tour guides show visitors and locals the best spots in town
From the professionalsFor more information about booking Secret Solvang tours, visit secretsolvang.com. Follow @secretsolvang on Instagram and TikTok for all the behind-the-scenes fun. Email info@secretsolvang.com with questions. Secret Solvang, an infamous Instagram and TikTok page, went viral for revealing all the charming bits of a town that some people view as two-dimensional. “I think people […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Residents learn a variety of skills in tuition-free Community Education courses at Hancock
In a lifelong learning class, Nick and Deborah Carpenter crafted pieces of jewelry that can also last a lifetime: their wedding bands. The couple has spent the past two decades exercising their creative muscles in tuition-free arts courses at Allan Hancock College, they told the school. While shaping their rings, the Carpenters engaged with other […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Lompoc invites the community to its 73rd Flower Festival
The annual hometown tradition and quintessential Lompoc experience returns to the valley from June 25 to 28. This year’s Flower Festival in Ryon Memorial Park also recognizes the country’s milestone birthday with a theme titled America in Bloom: 250 Years. “It is a long-standing community event honoring the region’s deep roots in the flower-growing industry,” […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The Elverhoj Museum celebrates the 100th birthday of a Danish American painter
Artwork by Roland Petersen is up at the Elverhoj Museum of History and Art through Aug. 9. The Danish-born American artist is best known for his Picnic series, defined by geometric abstractions and striking colors. “This exhibition celebrates Petersen’s 100th birthday and honors a remarkable life in art that continues today through his ongoing dedication […]
Posted inNews
County supervisors approve $9.2 million cut to Public Health Department
Santa Barbara County kicked off its final round of budget hearings on June 16 with a unanimous vote approving recommendations from Public Health Director Mouhanad Hammami to cut millions of dollars from his department. A structural deficit has plagued Public Health’s savings, but changes to federal and state policies regarding who qualifies for Medi-Cal “added […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
A Santa Maria nonprofit adds to its 10th summer of no-cost arts courses for students
Youth Arts Alive isn’t marketed as a summer camp, but it meets similar standards for families looking for one. Kids could be entertained in classes with professional artists from 10 a.m. to 2 or 3 p.m. four days a week. Alternatively, some kids want to only take guitar lessons or crafting workshops, the nonprofit’s founder […]
