When even the bread tastes exquisite, you know you’re in a special restaurant. Such is the case with Scratch Kitchen. Headed by Chef Augusto Caudillo, the venue serves up rustic takes on contemporary California dining, starting with that sumptuous bite of cornbread. Moist and accented with dashes of diced jalapeño, the bread alone is enough […]
REBECCA ROSE
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Closet chaos
Rebecca blames everyone but herself for her cluttered closet
Last week a shipment from eBay arrived. It was three pairs of shoes, a hat, a bottle of perfume, and some other stuff I’ve already forgotten about. When my fiancé Chris saw it, he sighed. “More shoes?” he asked. I responded how I always do, with one of my Rihanna-esque side eyes. “Yes,” I said, […]
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Daytripper: Dogs are welcome in Atascadero’s vibrant vintage shopping community
My idea of a perfect day trip involves three things: Wine, shopping, and being able to enjoy the trip with my dog. BB, my real true human daughter who only looks like a rat terrier, is a great shopping and drinking companion, albeit a rather fussy and pampered one. Before I make my mind up […]
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Photographer Jeffrey Bloom’s new exhibit features haunting shadows
A distorted shadow encased in an icy blue field hangs on the screen for a moment, then dissolves into a jagged image, where the shadow of a man is barely identifiable between two dark lines. The shadow belongs to Jeffrey Bloom, artist, photographer, and filmmaker, whose work is featured in a new exhibit at the […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Ethnic food fair in Santa Maria celebrates culinary diversity
The first thing that hit me when I walked into the Ethnic Food Fair at the Orthodox Church of the Annunciation was the aroma. It was familiar and comforting, a scent that seeps into my body and awakens ancient memories of the evenings I spent watching my mother prepare the dishes of her homeland. She […]
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PCPA’s production of post-Civil War drama ‘The Whipping Man’ explores race, religion, and deception
From the moment a newly freed slave embraces a wounded Confederate soldier and utters a line in Hebrew, it’s clear The Whipping Man is not the typical Civil War drama. Ostensibly about the days immediately following the end of the Civil War, the play touches on issues of self-delusion, and the lies we not only […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Women winemakers of Santa Barbara County celebrate International Women’s Day
It is not uncommon for Jessica Gasca to pour a glass of the wine she makes at an event and hear the question, “Who is the winemaker?” “The answer is, ‘I’m the winemaker,’” she told me at the Women Winemaker’s Dinner on March 8. “And it’s interesting to see the expression change.” Gasca, winemaker and […]
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New Santa Maria history book tells a long story in memorable pictures
History buffs in Santa Maria have a new book to refer to on trivia nights. The Santa Maria Valley Historical Society’s newest project highlights the history of Santa Maria through personal stories of many of its founders and residents. Historic Santa Maria Valley chronicles the years from when Santa Maria was a fledgling frontier town […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Bacon and Brine in Solvang offers cooking classes for kids
When I found out that the chef at one of my favorite restaurants in the world, Solvang’s Bacon and Brine, was offering cooking classes, I was ecstatic. Here was my chance to sharpen my kitchen skills and maybe pick up some creative recipe tips to impress friends with the next time they were over for […]
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Lompoc filmmaker Betsy Weiner shares her love of parrots in short documentary ‘The Sky Riders’
A cluster of vibrant colors sweeps by, breaking through the clear blue sky in a blur. The image, almost shocking in its beauty against the stark skyline, is just one of many captured by local filmmaker Betsy Weiner. The Lompoc photographer and filmmaker is set to debut her 10-minute short documentary, The Sky Riders, at […]
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Doctors be damned
Rebecca Rose is dying. Maybe.
When I was a child, my mother took me to see a doctor named Robert Wachs. They were practically best friends, although from what I could tell the only thing they seemed to have in common was their enjoyment of discussing the gross things coming out of my body. We lived in a small community, […]
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Gallery Los Olivos debuts new work from jeweler, abstract artist
Abstract art and ornate jewelry take center stage at Gallery Los Olivos in March, for a new exhibit titled Minnie Facets. For artists Patricia Watkins and Minnie Anderson, the exhibit represents a shift in style, as both learn to embrace new media, techniques, and genres in their latest work. Watkins said this exhibit is a […]