As the end of summer break draws nearer, so does a new beginning for the Santa Ynez Valley People Helping People Youth Coalition. Dedicated to educating youth about the harms of alcohol and drug misuse through periodic visits to school campuses, this local initiative is taking a more collaborative approach with its programming this year, […]
Santa Ynez
Long legacy: Central Coast tribes push to reclaim their ancestors’ remains and belongings
Editor’s note: This is the second in a two-part series. The first, “Native return,” ran June 25. Whiteboards crowded with titles and case numbers loom behind Jonathan Malindine’s desk at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. The museum’s Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) officer has underlined some in red and circled […]
Two bars turn up the tiki-themed heat this summer in the Santa Ynez Valley
Take a tiki breakHigh Roller Tiki Lounge (433 Alisal Road in Solvang) is open Sundays from noon to 7 p.m., Wednesday to Thursday from 1 to 8 p.m., and Friday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight. Reserve a table at highrollertiki.com.Pony Cocktails + Kitchen is open daily. Breakfast and lunch hours are from 8 […]
Local musician and piano instructor selected for Carnegie Hall performance
Prolific pianist and Allan Hancock College faculty member Adea Badivuku is joining one of her longtime collaborators for a July 8 performance at Carnegie Hall in New York. Earlier this year, Badivuku and Santa Barbara-based violinist and composer Deniz Caglarcan performed as a duo at New York’s Golden Classical Music Awards Competition, where they won […]
Going home: A push to return Native American remains and belongings back to tribes
Editor’s note: This is the first in a two-part series. The second part is scheduled to run July 9. Some of the shelves at UC Berkeley and other institutions are kept from public view, but Kathy Marshall has seen them. “When [I] visit schools and universities, [I’m] just like, I bet none of these kids […]
Explore the Santa Ynez Chumash Museum in a new light
Just after celebrating its one-year anniversary, the Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center is offering new experiences including a self-guided audio tour, a free event series, and a gallery of paintings by Christopher Evans. “As the museum enters its second year, it remains a place for learning and cultural connection, strengthening its overall visitor […]
The Maverick Saloon hosts Pride-themed karaoke nights for the fifth year in a row
Calling all singersPut yourself out there at the Maverick Saloon during gayraoke on Tuesday nights in June at 8 p.m. located at 3687 Sagunto St. in Santa Ynez. Follow karaoke DJ Sam Silva on Instagram @samcrazypants. For more information about Santa Ynez Valley Pride activities, visit syvpride.org or check out @syv.pride on Instagram. Standing in […]
Celebrate Pride Prom in Buellton
Disco. Glitz. Grunge. Y2K. It’s Pride Prom Through the Ages. The Tavern at Zaca Creek in Buellton will host the event on June 12, which benefits Santa Ynez Valley Pride and House of Pride and Equality. Pride Prom is meant to give members of the LGBTQ-plus community a safe space to show up as their […]
Santa Ynez performers present An Invitation to Dance
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, […]
Comedian Bill Engvall to perform at the Chumash Casino
Bill Engvall is heading to Santa Ynez for a night full of laughs. The tried-and-true comedian and TV host is headlining the Chumash Casino on April 24. He’s known for clean commentary on marriage, parenthood, and everyday life. The show will be held in the Samala Showroom at 8 p.m. After getting his feet wet […]
Santa Ynez Valley Community Theater presents Annie
Cast and crew members of the Santa Ynez Valley Community Theater will bring Annie to life at the Solvang Festival Theater on April 17 and 18. See their months of hard work in action during the musical’s two-night run, supported by Buellton’s Arts and Culture Committee. “This is more than just a play—it’s a celebration […]
Find some extraordinary tomato plants at Tomatomania in Los Olivos
Mark Donofrio believes the best tasting tomato is homegrown, freshly picked, and still warm from the sun. “I think it’s the best fruit in the world,” he said. Gardening has been in his blood since he was 4 years old. Mother Nature always amazed him, and now he’s made a career as a farmer, operating […]

