When the Urbane Cafe first opened, we beelined it straight for the new venue. Journalists like two things in life: fast, affordable food and funny videos of cats (but we’re not here to talk about that). The venue quietly opened a few months ago in the new Enos Ranch center, which along with bringing mind-numbing […]
REBECCA ROSE
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Fly me to the moon: Santa Maria Public Airport’s latest art display is filled with bold visions
The Santa Maria Public Airport is filled with quiet spaces–people reading books, waiting in line for car rentals, or sharing a meal at the restaurant. Hovering over all of them is an ongoing display of public art featuring painters and photographers from the community. Valley Art Gallery is behind the colorful works that line the […]
Posted inNews
Up on the hill: An iconic Los Alamos motel gets a makeover
The motel with the campy, giant yellow sign was never talked about much. But I had always been curious–myself a bit of a retrophile–about the Skyview Motel in Los Alamos. The sleepy motel had earned a dubious nickname from some locals. They dubbed it the Psycho motel, and its seemingly ominous and withdrawn presence overlooking […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Going to pot: Instant pot roast sounds too good to be true, but it works
I will openly and shamelessly admit my Instant Pot spent six months on my kitchen counter before I would even touch it because I was terrified it would explode all over my kitchen. I must have Googled “pressure cooker explosion bomb” so many times, the FBI probably has me on a list called “People Who […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
An evening of art: VTC artists pull big crowds as they hold their annual art show in Orcutt
Rebecca* is eager to show visitors at CORE Winery in Orcutt her works of art. Two of her pieces hang on the walls of the tasting room, which at the moment is crowded to near capacity. As she gets word that one of her paintings has sold, she reacts with joy and shock. “I’ve sold […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Great American Melodrama presents ‘Gold Fever’
The Great American Melodrama brings the Old West to life in its latest comedy production, Gold Fever at the Rough and Ready by Neil LaVine. Gold Fever joins The Mix Tape in the Melodrama’s summer repertory season. Both shows, featuring the same cast, will play on alternating nights throughout the remainder of the summer. The […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Arts Fiesta planned in Santa Maria
Youth Arts Alive, a Santa Maria free youth arts education program, presents its first Arts Fiesta event at the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center on July 13 at 6 p.m. The Arts Fiesta will feature performances by Youth Arts Alive students in dance, music, and theater, as well as a display of the visual art […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
PCPA’s ‘Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike’ is the good kind of hot mess
Good news. You don’t have to be an expert on the work of Russian playwright Anton Pavlovich Chekhov to enjoy the Pacific Conservatory Theatre’s (PCPA) Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. But a little inside baseball knowledge won’t hurt either. The play, written by Christopher Durang in 2012, tells the story of an oddball […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Nailed it
Rebecca realizes she doesn’t have what it takes to live the high life
My job often takes me to certain places that require that I at least give the impression of having my collective shit together. This would be fine if I didn’t find a way to exquisitely screw it up every time I’m called upon to mingle among the “Beautiful People.” A few weeks ago, I was […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Squire Foundation animal sculptures come to Preisker Park
The city of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department is hosting a temporary exhibition of animal sculptures this summer at Preisker Park. The exhibition was brought to the park on June 27 and consists of four sculptures. The animal sculptures were created by late Santa Barbara County artist Morris Squire and are on loan from […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Movies in the park to show ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’
The city of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department and the People for Leisure And Youth, Inc. (PLAY) invite the community to the Movies in the Park for a screening of Star Wars: The Last Jedi on July 7 at Preisker Park. The film is a science fiction saga following the adventures of General Leia […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Make ’em laugh: Comedian Brian Regan comes to the Santa Ynez Valley
Brian Regan is not on “tour.” At least, that’s not how he likes to think of his long schedule of upcoming shows. Regan sees it not as a set time frame with a stop and start point, but rather a continuous set of shows for his fans. “I always think that’s an incorrect word,” he […]