WORTH THE DRIVE THE CACHUMA LAKE NATURE CENTER presents Astronomy Nights, featuring a presentation and stargazing, Aug. 30 at 10 p.m. at the Cachuma Lake Fireside Theater, Cachuma Lake. Cost is $8 for parking. Info: 693-0691 or www.cachuma.com. THE WILDLING ART MUSEUM presents a “Birds of the Santa Ynez Valley Region” course Wednesdays from 8:30 […]
Music, Arts & Culture
KIDS & FAMILY
PISMO BEACH YOUTH THEATER offers Youth Theater classes Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. through August at YOYO, Foster Road, Orcutt. Info: 471-4976 or www.pismobeachyouththeater.com. ONGOING BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS is looking for volunteers to meet one or two hours a week with a young person to develop a one-to-one friendship. Orientations […]
DANCE LESSONS
ONGOING EVERYBODY CAN DANCE offers classes in ballet dance for ages 3 to adult. Call for schedules. Boys and men receive full scholarships. The studio is located at 800 S. Broadway. Info: 937-6753. THE DANCE STUDIO offers dance classes in Santa Maria and Nipomo in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Acrobatics, and Dance Team. Info: […]
STAGE
PCPA THEATERFEST presents its production of Hot Mikado by Gilbert and Sullivan Aug. 29 through Sept. 7 at the Marian Theatre, Allan Hancock College, Santa Maria. Info: www.pcpa.org. IMPROVISATIONAL HUMOR CLASS meets Mondays at the Santa Maria Town Center second-floor community room to teach theater games, comedy concepts, and Whose Line Is It Anyway?-style games […]
NIGHT LIFE
The following venues offer either regularly scheduled live entertainment or DJ-hosted dance music. Most performances start after 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. IN THE AREA CLUB 805, AKA STINKY’S BAR & GRILL: 2430 South Broadway, 614-9316. DJ Davey D Saturday nights. THE COACHMAN: 1531 S Broadway, 922-5556. Thursday through Saturday: DJ from 9 p.m. […]
CONCERTS
THE MONARCH CLUB at Trilogy Central Coast presents Guy Budd and the Gypsy Souls in concert on Aug. 30 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the club, 1640 Trilogy Parkway, Nipomo. Info: 1-888-458-8379 or www.trilogyatcentralcoast.com. WORTH THE DRIVE THE CLARK CENTER presents country rock group Highway 101 in concert Aug. 30 at 8 p.m. […]
SPECIAL EVENTS
THE LOMPOC POLICE DEPARTMENT holds a benefit cruise for the Special Olympics on Aug. 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. on Ocean Avenue in Lompoc. A car show also in benefit of the Special Olympics features custom cars, raffles, and a barbecue on Aug. 30 at Ryon Park, Lompoc. Info: 875-8108. THE LUIS OASIS SENIOR […]
Finding his purpose
To say that life was hard for Francisco Jimenez would be a gross understatement. Life didn’t hand him lemons, it gave him ground crops. And they weren’t handed to him—he had to pick them himself. But life also has a way of giving purpose to struggle, and in the case of Jimenez, he found that […]
Arts Briefs
Celebrate music in the garden After seven successful seasons, the Santa Maria Philharmonic begins its eighth on Sept. 27 with a concert of selections from Weber, Schubert, Elgar, and Tchaikovsky. To kick off the 2008-2009 season, the Santa Maria Philharmonic Society will host a fundraiser on Sept. 7, titled “Garden Party at Ambrosia,” at the […]
About face
For some artists, perhaps the only other thing more valuable than their work is time—time to create, and time to think about creating. Such time was an elusive thing for artist Carol A. Kemp, who goes by the moniker of CarolK. To make the most of what she had, she committed to a project that […]
The Golden Dukes are the best team in town
Coach Doug Sims was not surprised to learn that his team, the Golden Dukes, had won Best Local Youth Sports Team in the Sun’s annual Best Of poll. Happy? Yes. Surprised? No. “It’s our parents,” he said, explaining how they got the votes. “We have great parents.” The Golden Dukes is a basketball team. They […]
Pest Control Operators host golf tournament at Monarch Dunes
They may deal with pests every day, but in their off hours, the Pest Control Operators of California are hosting their fourth annual golf tournament at Monarch Dunes in Nipomo. The tournament takes place Sept. 20 and is open to the public. The cost is $100 and must be prepaid by Sept. 12. The entry […]

