In its 37th season, the Santa Ynez Valley Performing Arts Company is proud to present An Invitation to Dance. Summer performances will be held at the Santa Ynez High School Little Theater on June 17, 18, and 20 starting at 7 p.m. each night. “This presentation showcases the elegance and refinement of ballet and lyrical, […]
Santa Ynez performers present An Invitation to Dance
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Backrooms brings a YouTube sensation to the big screen
YouTuber Kane Parsons (aka Kane Pixels) directs his script co-written with Will Soodik (Ash vs Evil Dead) about Clark (Chiwetel Ejiolfor), a failed architect in therapy who owns a floundering furniture store. When Clark disappears into another dimension through a portal in the rear of his store’s basement, his therapist, Dr. Mary Kline (Renate Reinsve) […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The Crash asks, did a teen intentionally crash, killing her boyfriend?
The CrashWhat’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2026 Where’s it showing? Netflix Mackenzie and Dominic were high school sweethearts. He was a couple of years older, but they were tied at the hip from day one, according to those who knew them. Mackenzie was just finishing up high school, but the two were already living together. […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Nemesis is campy, melodramatic crime drama fun
NemesisWhat’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2026 Where’s it showing? Netflix Created by Courtney A. Kemp and Tani Marole, this series feels like a real ’80s throwback. I almost abandoned the first episode midway because the dialogue was so cheesy and melodramatic. It follows workaholic LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division Lt. Isaiah Stiles (Matthew Law), who’s haunted by […]
Posted inFood & Drink
A Guadalupe butcher cuts up quality meats for barbecuers on the Central Coast
Ernesto Valle used to be known as the guy who cuts meat in the middle of nowhere. He opened Lobo Butcher Shop in Guadalupe four and a half years ago when the economy was still hurting from the pandemic. “For a couple months, I thought I was going to shut down in my first year,” […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Summer Guide 2026: All the fun in the sun
Summer is nearly here, even if it doesn’t quite feel warm enough yet. I can smell the heat on the wind that continues blowing along the Central Coast, bringing with it the promise of sunny freedom. With that warmth comes a long list of events—outdoor concerts, kids camps, food and wine festivals, art classes, and […]
Posted inNews
Flying Goat Cellars sues county over wine district fees
A local winery asked a federal court to weigh in on its clash with Santa Barbara County for collecting mandatory fees that support a newly created wine business improvement district. The dispute is at the center of a civil lawsuit Flying Goat Cellars co-owners Norm Yost and Kate Griffith filed against the county on May […]
Posted inNews
Santa Maria-Bonita makes steps toward new school at Blosser Ranch
Before starting on a new campus at Blosser Ranch, builders need to secure enough dirt to fill around 30 Olympic-sized swimming pools. They also need drivers to bring it on-site. Over the course of six to 10 weeks, it’ll take 12 to 15 trucks hauling dirt eight to 10 hours a day to get the […]
Posted inNews
Convicted of patricide, Lompoc resident awaits June sentencing
While responding to a 911 call about a domestic disturbance in 2022, local law enforcement heard a man’s voice coming from inside of the house at 210 North D St. in Lompoc: “Send someone now!” According to court documents, while kicking down the front door, Lompoc police officers heard the man screaming. As soon as […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch: May 28, 2026
•On May 20, U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) announced new federal funding—approximately $2.2 million—for the San Luis Obispo County Airport to improve the baggage screening system. The airport’s current system is too undersized and outdated, Carbajal’s office stated, to adequately meet current operational demand. The new grant will fund a complete system replacement to […]
Posted inNews
Orcutt students graduate with high school diplomas and Hancock associate degrees in a new college readiness program
Jackson Payne took his first college class when he was a freshman in high school. He arrived around 7 a.m. to Orcutt Academy High School. The campus was quiet except for his 29 other classmates in the Early College Cadre program. Soon enough their professor showed up and introduced the group members to their first […]
Posted inOpinion
Que syrah!
In no surprise to anyone who followed the mildly controversial roll-out of the Santa Barbara County Vintner’s Association running the county’s winery business improvement district (for a small fee, of course), Flying Goat Cellars finally sued the county over the deal. It could have been Stephen Pepe who pulled the trigger—after all, the Clos Pepe […]
