Play DirtyWhat’s it rated? R When? 2025 Where’s it showing? Prime Shane Black (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Nice Guys) co-writes and directs this heist flick based on the Parker book series by Richard Stark (aka Donald E. Westlake). In this go-around, we’re dropped into the middle of the story as professional thieves Parker (Mark […]
<i>Play Dirty</i> follows professional thief, Parker, on another criminal misadventure
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Steve is a sobering drama about a determined headmaster struggling to keep his school afloat
SteveWhat’s it rated? R When? 2025 Where’s it showing? Netflix To say that Steve (Cillian Murphy) has a difficult job is an understatement. The young men in his care are difficult at best. They’ve been institutionalized young and all carry their own unique baggage. Steve himself battles his own demons after an accident left him […]
Posted inFood & Drink
With a reputation for barbecue and whiskey, a Solvang eatery is set to debut a new restaurant
On its face, Whiskey ’N Rye Smokehouse is a classic barbecue joint. However, Don Conner opened the restaurant with the idea to serve a lot more than ribs and brisket. “Our primary focus is smoking and grilling more so than just meats,” Conner said. “We try to incorporate a little flare of barbecue into all […]
Posted inFood & Drink
A Grover Beach chef, who competed on national TV, is gearing up for the next phase in his career
When the Food Network called chef Jacob Town, he thought it was the greatest gift he’d ever received during his 30 years in the industry. After a two-hour interview and a couple of days in limbo, Town and his wife, Brooke, found out their restaurant, The Spoon Trade, was cast on season 49, episode 11, […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The Smashing Machine follows early MMA fighter Mark Kerr through his ups and downs
Writer-director Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems, Good Time) helms this biopic about pioneering mixed-martial arts and two-time UFC champion Mark Kerr (Dwayne Johnson). (123 min.) The Smashing MachineWhat’s it rated? R What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? Regal Edwards RPX Santa Maria, Movies Lompoc, Regal Edwards Arroyo […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The Paper takes The Office faux-documentary approach to a struggling smalltown newspaper
The PaperWhat’s it rated? TV-14 When? 2025 Where’s it showing? Peacock Greg Daniels, creator of The Office, has given fans of the iconic show a treat with this follow-up mockumentary series, The Paper. Our documentary team from 20 years ago is now in the Midwest following scrappy local newspaper the Toledo Truth Teller. The first […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Sixth annual Lompoc Chalk Festival draws professional and amateur artists
Katherine Taylor can look at an animal and imagine it talking. The skill has helped the illustrator and muralist create her original creatures with human emotion, namely humor, which comes from the animals’ eyes. “You can’t do funny without having a great eye. It just doesn’t work if the eye’s flat,” Taylor told the Sun. […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Art Spot hosts two more Paint in the Vineyard sessions this year
Enjoy an afternoon sipping on a glass of red or white while working some magic with a paintbrush in Santa Barbara County wine country. Art Spot on Wheels is set to host two more Paint in the Vineyard events this year. Hit the Koehler Winery vineyards on Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Santa Maria library hosts monthly book club meetings
Book clubs for adults at the Santa Maria Public Library cater to readers who enjoy all genres. Monthly discussions are held in the library’s learning loft and include light refreshments. The Junk Journal Book Club combines reading with crafting, giving members the opportunity to discuss novels of different genres and journal with craft materials. On […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Little Big Man is an excellent early example of a revisionist Western
Arthur Penn (The Left Handed Gun, Bonnie and Clyde, The Missouri Breaks) directs Calder Willingham’s screenplay based on Thomas Berger’s 1964 novel of the same name about Jack Crabb (Dustin Hoffman), who lives through a series of Wild West misadventures. The film is framed as a 121-year-old Crabb narrates his life story to a historian […]
Posted inOpinion
Whac-a-Mole?
Maybe people can learn from their mistakes. That’s the impression I’m getting from Santa Barbara County’s recent encampment cleanups in both the Santa Maria and Santa Ynez riverbeds. Both have had their fair share of repeated efforts to clear out the trash, tents, and makeshift living structures that accumulate in the riverbeds over time thanks […]
Posted inOpinion
Stop wringing your hands and do something!
We all know by now that the Republican Party is flailing. It has become a cult of spineless sycophants, kowtowing to a dictator, with no concern for its constituents. That’s not even debatable. So why is there no consistent protesting going? Big national, international rallies are great, but what are we doing between these events? […]