Co-writer and director Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale, Marriage Story) helms this dramedy written with Emily Mortimer about a famous film star named Jay Kelly (George Clooney) who in the twilight of his career reflects on his life. Always at his side is his devoted but harried manager, Ron (Adam Sandler), who’s constantly […]
<i>Jay Kelly</i> is a heartfelt examination of fame and regret
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Sorry, Baby is a dark comedy exploring the continuing trauma of sexual assault
Sorry, BabyWhat’s it rated? R When? 2025 Where’s it showing? HBO Max This contemplative film offers up a slice-of-life story, one that focuses on Agnes, who’s played by the filmmaker Eva Victor. Agnes is a professor at the same rural arts college where she and her small group of friends attended. Lydie (Naomi Ackie) has […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The Last Frontier is a slow-burn thriller with moments of gripping action
The Last FrontierWhat’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2025 Where’s it showing? Apple TV+ Created by Jon Bokenkamp and Richard D’Ovidio (The Blacklist), this action thriller series has an interesting premise. Can small-town Deputy U.S. Marshal Frank Remnick (Jason Clarke), with limited resources and a harsh locale, locate fugitives from a downed prisoner transport plane? Among […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Solvang’s new Thai eatery
Growing up, food was a memorable part of Preaw Chamchoi’s life. She remembered watching her dad and grandmother working in the kitchen, and when she was in school, her dad rewarded good grades with going out to eat. She said it worked. “After the semester, we get to go celebrate,” Chamchoi said. “It’s almost like […]
Posted inNews
Topped out: After two decades of serving the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Garrett Huff is now in charge
Memories of sitting at the bottom of a pool flow back when Templeton resident Garrett Huff reflects on practicing for water rescue missions early in his career as a paramedic and firefighter. “We had to do what they call dunker training,” Huff explained. “You’re strapped into a [simulated] helicopter, and they push it into the […]
Posted inNews
Guadalupe irons out rules to open farmers market in February
A Sunday stroll through LeRoy Park in Guadalupe will take on a whole new meaning once the city’s first weekly farmers market comes to fruition early next year. “We had anticipated January, but we are going to be pushing it out to February,” Guadalupe Business Association President Judy Wilson told the City Council at its […]
Posted inNews
More RV campsites opening at River Park
A couple dozen new campsites will open soon at River Park in Lompoc. City Council members voted on Nov. 18 to establish the campground’s rules and fees, which are expected to help the park stay afloat financially. In 2022, the city renovated nine RV sites at the park. Later this month, 26 additional spots are […]
Posted inNews
Solvang reserves $30,000 for 10-mile River Trail project’s design phase
To help fund workshops and other outreach efforts for public input about a proposed 10-mile bike and walking path through the Santa Ynez Valley, Solvang recently agreed to set aside $30,000. “We don’t want to step on toes. We want to learn from the community and see what works best,” Michael Becker, planning director for […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch: December 4, 2025
• U.S. Sens. Adam Schiff (D-California), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) recently filed a dozen Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to the Department of Justice while seeking records of “various episodes of potential executive branch misconduct or corruption,” according to Schiff’s office. One of the FOIA requests asks for records related […]
Posted inNews
Taylor Elementary School’s bilingual education specialist scores county accolade
While completing her teaching credential, Gloria Sevilla worked as a student teacher at Taylor Elementary School in Santa Maria, where she eventually returned to take on the role of bilingual education specialist. Her duties range from in-class instruction to essentially working as a case manager for bilingual students with disabilities, she explained in an email […]
Posted inOpinion
Cultural progress
Guadalupe’s making progress, y’all! It’s one step closer to hosting a local farmers market and to reinvigorating its downtown with the Royal Theater renovation. Wow. It’s like hard work and patience—a lot of patience—pay off! And that patience needs to continue to stretch, because the theater hasn’t quite raised all the money it needs to […]
Posted inOpinion
California’s body politic is missing connective tissue
“Energy policy is not within our purview.” This was the response from the California Coastal Commission when recently presented with information about the critical role that Diablo Canyon Power Plant plays in the state’s clean, baseload energy supply. This statement, while perhaps a narrow interpretation of the Coastal Act, is the perfect encapsulation of a […]