The California Nature Art Museum (CalNAM) invites artisans and local businesses to apply as vendors for its festive makerspace coming up this fall. The application deadline is Sept. 22. “The Holiday Marketplace is part of CalNAM’s ongoing efforts to connect the community with art, nature, and creativity,” the museum announced. Vendors may apply online for […]
Solvang
Posted inNews
Kayla’s Kidz hits three years of secondhand selling in Buellton
Kayla Perez can hardly believe it’s September. At her children’s thrift store, this month marks the pivot from spring and summer to fall and winter. “I have boxes and boxes in my storeroom of winter stuff that I’ve been collecting the last six months,” the business owner told the Sun. “Jackets and raincoats and boots […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Solvang’s new art house theater brings indie film screenings to town
One of Jamie Baker’s ideas of fun is watching 20 films in the span of a week at a film festival. He and his wife “graduated” from 20-seat art house movie theaters to the big leagues like the Seattle Film Festival, in the metropolis where they once lived. “[We] saw a lot of things that […]
Posted inArts
Rare pieces by a Danish artist are showing in Solvang
The work of one of Denmark’s most treasured 20th century artists, Bjørn Wiinblad (1918-2006), is on display at the Elverhoj Museum of History and Art through Jan. 10 next year. Wiinblad crafted ceramics, porcelain, glass, textiles, wood, and theater designs, according to the museum. William Derrenbacher donated selections for the exhibit, titled Through the Eyes […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Buellton Rec brings new theater classes for kids
In the spring, Buellton students put on a production of Annie (pictured), but opportunities for singing and dancing are far from over. This fall, elementary students are invited to sign up for drama workshops made possible by a partnership between Buellton Rec and the Adderley School for the Performing Arts. “Classes use a method where […]
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Solvang goes solar to expand its surveillance capabilities
While the steady flow of box office returns for The Odyssey continues setting new records, referencing the film’s source material helped one elected official illustrate her concerns about Solvang’s AI-enabled surveillance cameras. “I’m going to say this as frankly as I can. I don’t won’t to Trojan Horse a bunch of functionality in here that […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
A Lompoc painter beautifies city streets one window at a time
A leprechaun sipping beer. Pets piloting an airplane. A slice of pizza riding waves. Jessica Manzanares’ painting résumé is eclectic. Her work isn’t confined to canvas or a sketch pad. It’s been displayed for all to see on the windows of businesses in places like Lompoc, Buellton, Solvang, and Santa Maria. “I like to think […]
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Solvang Planning Commission rejects nightclub proposal
Amid the queue for a city permit, a hopeful nightclub operator couldn’t get past the city’s bouncers—concerned Solvang officials. On Aug. 3, the Solvang Planning Commission vetoed a property owner’s application to transform the vacant site formerly known as Alisal Cellars into a new nightclub destination, despite the project’s consistency with downtown policies, according to […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
A photographer’s desert collection hangs at CalNAM
See Paulette Donnellon’s tribute to Southern California’s Anza-Borrego State Park at the California Nature Art Museum in Solvang. Untamed Desert will be up through Jan. 18 at the Valley Oak Gallery. “The desert has always held a special place in my heart,” Donnellon said in press materials. “In my work as a nature and wildlife […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Analogue Room in Solvang spins records, pizza dough, and corks
A slight scratch from the turntable. Quiet chatter from guests. Sound waves vibrating from a record player. The aural experience is at the heart of John Wright’s latest ambition, a vinyl lounge in Solvang called Analogue Room. He likes the idea of considering the space a listening room, not a bar. “It just seemed like […]
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Judge rejects Solvang’s request to dismiss a developer’s lawsuit
Solvang’s legal advisors have until Aug. 3 to respond to a civil lawsuit after a judge rejected the city’s argument to throw out the case. In mid-July, Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge James F. Rigali overruled Solvang’s petition to dismiss local developer Ed St. George’s suit against the city for issuing a stop work […]
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The Velvet Rut highlights heritage wear with flair in Solvang
Rustic. Enduring. Knee-length. The timeless overalls best known as lederhosen were among the first outfits on display at The Velvet Rut, a new storefront in downtown Solvang. Two child-sized pairs of the traditional German breeches once occupied a prominent corner of the shop, where only one set remained in July. Owner Shona Stargill said she […]
