When a friend asked Veronica Medina whose job she would want out of anyone in the world, Medina immediately had an answer: her high school ceramics teacher. The question came after Medina graduated from college and began contemplating her next step. “I just had this absolute, instinctive moment of clarity,” Medina said. “I couldn’t think […]
Santa Barbara County
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Santa Barbara County is taking applications for art impact grants
The Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture is taking applications for the 2026 County Arts Making Impact (AMI) grant, a program that aims to expand arts access and eliminate barriers to participation. Nonprofit organizations and artists with fiscal sponsors can apply for up to $5,000 grants, with a total of $50,000 available, by […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
See work by Danish artist Susanne Thea at the Elverhoj Museum
Paintings and hand-colored copper etchings by Danish artist Susanne Thea are up at the Elverhoj Museum of History and Art through March 22. The exhibit, Snapshots: Traveling with HC Andersen, is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s A Poet’s Bazaar from 1842. Thea connected Andersen’s era with the digital age, traveling the same route he took […]
Posted inFood & Drink
CaliPaso expands along the Central Coast with a tasting room in Solvang
The latest additionCaliPaso Winery’s new tasting room is located at 482 1st St. in Solvang. It’s open Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information about the winery, visit calipasowinery.com. The giant television screen inside CaliPaso Winery’s Solvang tasting room became […]
Posted inUncategorized
Three candidates vie for Santa Barbara County’s 5th District seat
The race to fill the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors’ 5th District seat in 2027 is on, as 2026 marks the end of longtime Supervisor Steve Lavagnino’s time on the dais. Lavagnino’s Chief of Staff Cory Bantilan is among the three candidates who have formally commenced their campaigns so far, along with Santa Maria-Bonita […]
Posted inNews
Guadalupe is one step closer to finalizing its urban forest management plan
Despite a current decline in Guadalupe’s tree cover, residents can expect to see an increase in trees over the next 40 years. With grant money from Cal Fire, Guadalupe committed to adopting an urban forest management plan and increasing canopy cover by 10 percent. It’s an ambitious goal, Engineering Technician Dayanira Cruz told the Sun, […]
Posted inNews
A Santa Maria obstacle course helps kids build confidence and stay active
At USA Ninja Challenge Santa Maria, the equation for playful fun is a little bit of jumping and swinging plus cargo nets, ropes, and rings. Add in lots of safety padding, and it equals the perfect space for emerging ninjas to train. The Santa Maria gym is a locally owned and operated franchise of USA […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
A new novel takes readers on an adventure along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail
When anyone tells Patricia Mahon she can’t do something, she’ll prove them wrong. It’s happened with sexist professors and stodgy editors, becoming part of the reason she took up fiction writing. “You can’t tell people they can’t do something, especially when they’re creative because creative people can do whatever they want,” Mahon said. “That’s what […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
A Bruce Springsteen tribute band comes to the Chumash Casino
Hank Azaria and The EZ Street Band are performing Bruce Springsteen’s classics on Jan. 30 at the Chumash Casino Resort. The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets range from $20 to $55 plus fees. Frontrunner Hank Azaria is known for his acting and voice work, including in the television show, The Simpsons. For the […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The Santa Maria Philharmonic puts on a free orchestra performance
Bring the whole family to a free concert called Fly Me to The Moon on Jan. 31 for an hour of classical music combined with the story of the history of flight. The show begins at 11 a.m. at the First Christian Church of Santa Maria, and registration is required to reserve seats. The orchestra, […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Small production winemakers gather at their crush facility for an open house tasting event
Two presses. One destemmer. Countless barrels of grape juice. At a 15,000-square-foot warehouse on Easy Street in Buellton, seven small-production winemakers share a custom crush facility. Many don’t have official tasting rooms, relying on wine club memberships and online sales for distribution. Readers’ discountBuy tickets for the Easy Street Wine Collective open house on Jan. […]
Posted inNews
Lompoc could fix its streets with proposed sales tax measure
Lompoc City Council members took the next step toward placing a half percent special sales tax measure dedicated to road and sidewalk maintenance on the ballot. The decision was informed by the city’s first FlashVote survey that asked respondents about city improvements and the tax measure. On Jan. 6, the council voted 3-2 to move […]
