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Heart of the Beast is harrowing [18]
Unfinished business
Stalled hotel construction in Solvang remains inactive amid yearlong litigation [6] BY CALEB WISEBLOOD
NEWS
Solvang city employees’ strike continues [4]
ARTS
A quarter century of quilting [16]
EATS
The Central Coast’s Rhone ranger [19]
Contents
OCTOBER 1 - OCTOBER 8, 2026 VOL. 27 NO. 32
E The City of Santa Maria Utilities Department is providing City residents with a FREE landscape burlap and three MPR1000 Rotator sprinklers and anti-leak sprinkler bodies. This promotion is to remind all homeowners, gardeners, and landscapers to Go Green in the Fall by pulling weeds and collecting clippings to spruce up landscaping, planting native drought-tolerant plants to conserve water, and regularly checking irrigation sprinklers and outdoor faucets to address any leaks. Call to reserve your promotional bag today! Limit one promotional bag per household, while supplies last. City of Santa Maria water paying customers only. Proof of address is required. One (1) 7’ x 7’ Landscape Burlap
d St. George sued the city of Solvang last year when staff issued a stop work order against his hotel development downtown due to what it sees as deviations from city-approved plans. The halffinished structures have been stalled for a year, and the city’s request to throw the lawsuit out was denied. Senior Staff Writer Caleb Wiseblood talks to St. George about what’s happening and another proposed development in the city [6]. Also, find stories about Solvang facing a third week of employees on strike [4]; The Creation Station celebrates 25 years of quilting [16]; and a Central Coast winemaker honored in San Francisco [19]. Camillia Lanham editor
Cover photo by Caleb Wiseblood > Cover design by Alex Zuniga
NEWS
News Briefs ..........................................................................4 Political Watch....................................................................4 Spotlight.................................................................................7
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EVENTS CALENDAR
Hot Stuff ...............................................................................10
ARTS
Arts Briefs............................................................................16
OPINION
Three MPR1000 Rotator sprinklers with anti-leak sprinkler bodies. Adjustment tool included.
STUCK IN LIMBO: A windmill’s future hinges on the outcome of the developer’s lawsuit against Solvang, which issued a stop work order on the downtown hotel last year over deviations from city-approved plans.
Commentary ........................................................................8 Letters .....................................................................................8 Web Poll .................................................................................8 Mayfield..................................................................................8 Canary .....................................................................................9
MOVIES
Reviews ................................................................................18
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News POLITICAL WATCH •On Sept. 22, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill with more than $66 million in federal funds for Central Coast-based water projects. “Now that the House has passed the Water Resources Development Act, this bill is heading to the Senate carrying key investments I secured for our local infrastructure,” U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) said in a statement. “I will continue working closely with my colleagues in Congress to ensure this critical legislation is signed into law and delivers for our communities.” If passed, the bill will authorize $30 million in federal funds for the Los Olivos Community Services District (LOCSD) for a new septic-to-sewer project. Once completed, the proposed project will collect wastewater from the LOCSD and send the waste approximately 3.5 miles to a connection point with the city of Solvang. The city will then treat and dispose of the LOCSD’s wastewater at its regional facilities. As part of the bill, $2 million in federal funds would go to Solvang to help improve its water supply infrastructure. “Building a sewer system to solve a problem that has persisted for more than 50 years isn’t glamorous, and it certainly is not easy,” LOCSD President Julie Kennedy stated. “This investment gives Los Olivos a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build the solution our community has long supported while ensuring that local decisions remain in local hands.” The bill also allocates $6.3 million for the city of Lompoc to modernize its water treatment plant and construct a stormwater treatment and flood control system. •Amid his campaign for California’s 24th District seat in the House of Representatives, candidate Bob Smith announced his change of voter registration to “no party preference” on Sept. 18. Smith described his announcement as applying “to how he would serve” if elected, while it’s too late to amend his original party preference—Republican—as it’s printed in November’s general election ballots. “This isn’t a change in my positions,” Smith stated. “It reflects how I’ve approached this campaign from the beginning: as an independent thinker and problem solver focused on results, not party politics.” •Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed Senate Bill 1288, authored by state Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), into law. Laird introduced the legislation to ensure that gifts for beneficiaries, including nonprofits, are “delivered efficiently and without unnecessary barriers,” he said in a Sept. 28 statement. He described the bill as addressing long-standing legislation gaps that “too often” prevent nonprofits from receiving gifts intended to support their initiatives. For example, state law prior to the bill lacked a clear standard to govern how financial institutions notify beneficiaries when an account holder dies. Laird’s bill requires financial institutions that receive proof of an account holder’s death to notify beneficiaries within 60 days and prohibits institutions from requiring beneficiaries to open new accounts to receive those funds. The bill also puts clear documentation standards in place for nonprofits to follow to establish “their legal identity” and access funds. “When someone makes the decision to leave assets to a nonprofit or another beneficiary, they should be able to trust that their wishes will be carried out,” Laird stated. “SB 1288 removes unnecessary barriers and creates a clearer process to make sure those assets reach the people and organizations they were intended for. I’m grateful to the governor for signing this measure into law.” CalNonprofits was among the bill’s sponsors. The organization’s CEO, Geoff Green, said he appreciated Laird’s leadership “in championing this commonsense protection for our sector and the people we serve.” m
➤ Idle, incomplete [6]
October 1 - October 8, 2026
➤ Spotlight [7]
FILE PHOTO BY CALEB WISEBLOOD
parking spaces planned at the complex are “better than no parking, in my opinion,” Furness said. The proposal included more units than allowed by local zoning, but it’s permitted because the developer is building affordable housing under the state Density Bonus Law. Under current city rules, a project with seven units would require 14 parking spots, half in garages or carports. But the city’s giving permission for only eight spaces, including one that’s ADA accessible. “This is a bonus density project,” contracted Planning Director Larry Appel said at the meeting. “That means that the project, if it was built under the current zoning, it would allow up to five units, and they have Send any news asked for seven. … When or story tips to you have bonus density news@santamariasun.com. and you offer them as affordable, you get certain incentives.” PAY TO PLAY: About 30 unionized Solvang city employees began striking on Sept. 15 over a pay raise dispute. The Housing Authority Participants went unpaid for each day of striking, which was ongoing as of Sept. 29. chose reduced parking as one incentive for Solvang Teamsters strike As part of his comments in the release, Murphy designating all units for low-income tenants. described Teamsters Local 986 as “holding the Milton Johns, an agent representing the moves into third week city hostage with its efforts to shut down city Housing Authority, told council members that services.” households may not need to park multiple cars. Two weeks into the first city employee strike in Teamsters Local 986 Central Coast People are only eligible to apply if they earn 60 to Solvang’s history, labor negotiators met in closed Coordinator Cliff Reynolds issued a statement on 120 percent of the area median income. session with the City Council on Sept. 28. Sept. 29 to refute what he described as the city’s The following morning, Solvang’s unionized “The number of cars on our projects are usually “false and misleading assertions.” members of Teamsters Local 986 made good on under-parked. I can’t testify in good faith that “City workers deeply value serving the Solvang their word to remain on strike until the city offers eight will be sufficient without rolling out onto the community. All they are asking for is a fair wage a contract they agree to ratify. street, but what we found historically is that they agreement, … fair wage increases to keep up with “The strike continues,” Jeff Lee, Teamsters’ are,” Johns said. economic realities,” Reynolds stated, “and they business representative, confirmed with the Sun The three-story Dunes Vista Apartments will are fully prepared to stay the course until the city via text on Sept. 29. be built on a 7,500-square-foot parcel. A Spanishinitiates bargaining and returns to the negotiation style roof and white stucco siding is slated for the That Tuesday marked the beginning of the table as publicly promised.” union’s third continuous week of striking since design, along with stone veneer. Sept. 15, when about 30 city employees—from Three one-bedroom units will occupy the —Caleb Wiseblood departments including Public Works and Planning first floor, one of which will house the property and Development—stopped showing up for work. manager. The second and third floors will each Despite parking concerns, contain two two-bedroom units. The strike began in protest of Solvang’s “last, Guadalupe City Council best, and final” pay raise offer: consecutive “We realize [parking’s] going to be a problem 4 percent raises over the next three years for with the neighborhood,” Appel said, “but again, unanimously approves unionized staffers. we’re getting six affordable units, which we don’t new housing Union members asked the City Council to get them that often. So, we’re hopefully going to implement a 6 percent raise for two of those three be able to make this work.” Builders got a green light to put up seven new years instead. But the council unanimously sided apartments with eight parking spots on an empty —Madison White with staff’s recommendation. lot in Guadalupe. During the council’s regular Sept. 28 meeting, On Sept. 22, City Council members approved Buellton spots food truck which followed the hour-long closed session the affordable housing project at 855 Pioneer St., gap in zoning rules hearing, City Manager Randy Murphy said: “As which was proposed by the Housing Authority of I pointed out last time, … they do get a fair living Santa Barbara County. However, some concerned On average, Buellton allows food trucks to wage. It’s $75,000 a year on average.” residents believe there isn’t enough parking to set up shop within city limits between three to “This no way diminishes the importance accompany the Dunes Vista Apartments. five times a year, according to Planning Director of each of those staff members. But they are Public commenter Edward Zarati said his Andrea Keefer. receiving a fair wage,” Murphy continued. “It’s fair biggest hesitation about the project is vehicle It’s no coincidence, she told the City Council, and balanced.” congestion and public safety. that those rare sightings align with Buellton’s Murphy added that he’s grateful for “the “My concern on Pioneer is that I drove through Fall Festival, Wine and Chili Festival, and other members of our team who are putting in the there prior to the meeting, … and there’s a ton annual gatherings. long hours to keep … essential services going” of cars on the street,” Zarati told the council. “The city does not currently allow food trucks throughout the strike. “Parking is not plentiful as it is.” in Buellton except for permitted special events,” Mayor David Brown gave a similar shout-out Zarati said he witnessed residents struggling to Keefer said at the council’s Sept. 28 meeting. later in the meeting. park at other new developments nearby, too. “There are currently no zoning standards in the “Danish Days went by very smoothly I think, in “I was going down the street, and I already saw municipal code that address food trucks, which is large part [thanks] to our city management team people flipping each other off because one wanted what we’re trying to rectify here.” that picked up the slack during the strike,” Brown a spot over somebody else,” Zarati said. “I’m not Keefer said the hearing was aimed at gauging said, “and it made it very seamless, as best as we opposed to having a place for people to live, but I how council members felt about adopting a could expect.” think we’ve already done a lot on Pioneer Street.” food truck ordinance in the future and what In a Sept. 24 release, the city stated that City Councilmember Whitney Furness agreed, parameters they would want to see enforced. employees on strike go “unpaid for each day they adding that she lives in the neighborhood and NEWS continued page 5 strike.” has observed parking issues. Although, the eight
4 • Sun • October 1 - October 8, 2026 • www.santamariasun.com
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News NEWS from page 4 “Is there a desire to allow them in the city? … If so, where?” Keefer asked the council. “And under what conditions?” Keefer presented different approaches to food truck zoning in nearby cities, including Santa Maria, Lompoc, and Santa Barbara. Across the board, all three cities’ allow permitted food trucks to regularly operate on public streets and private property (in industrial and non-residential zones with the respective property owner’s permission). Solvang’s current approach is identical to Buellton’s—it only allows food trucks to operate through a special event permit. Councilmember Carla Mead said she would prefer to start with an ordinance that allows food truck operations in a couple of designated areas, including the Avenue of Flags commercial corridor. “I think the thing that makes me nervous about this is how broad it can be,” Mead said. “A citywide ordinance when we’ve never done this before feels very scary to me, and I’d rather try it out in places we know it’s going to be successful, see what works, and then maybe broaden it.” Councilmember Elysia Lewis described herself as “a stronger proponent for food trucks in more areas than not, with guardrails.” “I don’t want it to be: Every corner we have a food truck, and it’s competing against our brickand-mortar businesses and making life difficult or unprofitable for the businesses that currently exist,” Lewis said. “That being said, however, we do have a lot of up-and-coming businesses and locals who run food trucks.” Lewis said she could imagine the desire for a food truck popping up a few days a week in the McMurray Road parking lot where Buellton’s Parks Plaza movie theater once stood. “We know that the movie theater is going to
become a medical complex. I could very well see them saying: ‘Every Wednesday, or every Thursday, or every Friday, we invite a food truck,’ and that’s how someone gets lunch,” Lewis said. “I don’t want to be so prohibitive that we can’t do things like that.” Mead said she appreciated Lewis’ comments, but still preferred starting with a more “geographic” approach, over adopting new citywide standards. “At this point, and I think to Vice Mayor Mead’s discussion, I’d rather start small and allow us to figure it out as we go,” Mayor David Silva said. “I think it’d be a good way for us also to make the Avenue [of Flags] more desirable. If we only allow food trucks on the Avenue, and we’re trying to get more things on the Avenue, I think that’s useful.” Councilmember John Sanchez said he worried that new zoning without case-by-case permit restrictions in place—similar to the special event permit route—would bring “a flood of food trucks” to Buellton. Councilmember Hudson Hornick was absent. City Manager Scott Wolfe said, based on input from the council, staff would return with an ordinance draft that leaves room for “some expansion, … but [not] a free-for-all.” The draft will also include potential enforcement measures. “It might be ripe at the time we are looking at this to also bring forward an ordinance addressing … streetside vendors,” Wolfe said. “We can make a distinction between what falls under ‘food truck’ and what is a sidewalk vendor—how we address both of those. “Then we can bring the various enforcement agencies—be it, the Fire Department, the sheriff’s department, or the Public Health Department— into the discussion,” Wolfe continued, “so we can adopt regulations they’re all comfortable with.” m —Caleb Wiseblood
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LITTLE TOWN, QUIET VILLAGE: Construction at developer Ed St. George’s incomplete hotel project ceased in August 2025 after Solvang red-tagged it for deviating from city-approved plans. A lengthy civil lawsuit, ongoing as of late September, ensued.
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Idle, incomplete Halted hotel development in Solvang has been at a standstill for a year
BY CALEB WISEBLOOD
M
ore than a year after Solvang red-tagged his unfinished hotel, Ed St. George said he has no intention of raising a white flag over the dormant development. “We’re already 90 percent done. If we were 40 percent done, I would be willing to tear it down. But we are literally 90 percent done,” the developer told the Sun. “The interiors are painted. The electrical’s in. I’ve spent close to $2 million on this.” Within eyeshot of locals and tourists who traverse the intersection of Mission Drive and Alisal Road, St. George’s row of thatched-roofed cottage suites—surrounded by fencing but unblocked from public view—looks more like an abandoned fairy-tale village than an idle construction site. Greenlit for construction in late 2024, the project stalled in August 2025 when a Solvang city staff inspection ended with a stop work order. City officials said the paint color and facade deviated from previously approved plans. That October, St. George asked the City Council to amend his project permit to justify the changes and continue construction. The council rejected his request with a 4-1 vote. Mayor David Brown dissented. The following month, St. George sued the city for construction delay damages, alleging that any appeal of the stop work order outside of court would be pointless. The yearlong lawsuit remained active as of late September—when his lawyer told the Sun he expects a settlement agreement soon. “The only way we would settle is if he’s then able to resume and complete this project that is near and dear to his heart,” St. George’s attorney, Robert Forouzandeh, said. “I’m hoping that we’re going to have this thing wrapped up here pretty quickly.” Solvang has argued for the case to be thrown out because St. George didn’t exhaust the “administrative remedies” at his disposal to resolve the dispute. “He should have appealed [the stop work order] by submitting written notice to the City Council within 10 days of receipt of the order,”
6 • Sun • October 1 - October 8, 2026 • www.santamariasun.com
Zoe Liebeskind, attorney for Solvang, stated in court documents. “Petitioner failed to do so, … and has not sufficiently [pleaded] any valid excuse for that failure.” However, Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge James F. Rigali overruled Solvang’s petition to dismiss the case on those grounds. “If there is a method within a government agency’s own bureaucracy to appeal something, you’re required to do that before resorting to the courts, [with] a couple exceptions. One of them is the futility argument,” Forouzandeh told the Sun. “If it’s futile to go through the appeal, then you don’t have to, … because that’s just a waste of time. That’s what we argued.” Rigali concluded that St. George’s argument was sufficient to withstand Solvang’s requested demurrer. “Whether petitioner will be able to demonstrate this at trial is an entirely different matter,” the judge wrote in his ruling. “Administrative review to challenge a decision made earlier by the final decision-maker where the decision-maker will not be called upon to consider different evidence on the ultimate issue is truly a waste of time.” In 10 years of serving as St. George’s attorney, Forouzandeh said the civil suit against Solvang marks his first time suing a municipality on the developer’s behalf. “He’s never had a situation like this, and I haven’t had a situation like this with my other clients,” Forouzandeh said. “I’ve never seen a red tag handed out like Halloween candy the way it was in this case. “If you think there’s material deviations and then you red-tag me, I can’t fix those material deviations,” Forouzandeh continued. “Even if it’s true, and I’m not conceding that it’s true, but at least give [us] the opportunity to go fix it. Saying you materially deviated from the plans and then you can’t touch it to fix it, what am I supposed to do?” The suit names Solvang Community Development Director Rafael Castillo as one of two defendants, alongside the city itself. Castillo issued the stop work order last summer.
In early 2026, Castillo told the Sun he can’t comment on the litigation while it’s pending. Prior to the suit in late 2025, Castillo told the City Council that staff warned St. George about the reported deviations two months ahead of the red-tagging. In St. George’s view, the stop work order was less about upholding city design standards than meeting “politically motivated” ends. His complaint alleges that during active construction of the hotel, the Solvang Trolley— owned by Councilmember Claudia Orona’s family—would stop in front of the site along its route and the tour guide would make “derogatory” comments about the project and how “ugly” it is. Solvang referred to that claim in court documents as part of “a vague conspiracy theory.” While Orona is the only council member named in the nine-page complaint, St. George said he believes he’s been singled out for “bizarre” reasons by several city officials, including members of Solvang’s Design Review Committee. In late August, the committee reviewed St. George’s conceptual plans for a separate project: a glamping-style hotel property with individual Airstream trailers for patrons to rent. At one point during the meeting, committee member Jennifer Johnson began her comments with: “First and foremost, I do not believe in Airstreams. I do not like Airstreams. … I don’t know who chose that, because they’re … ridiculous.” St. George described this hearing as an example of city officials “just poking me in the eye to get a reaction.” “It’s like every one of them wants to design the project as they would design it themselves personally, as they would love to personally see it—not: ‘Is this going to be something that the community would benefit from?’” St. George said. “They’re like emotional children. … The city hasn’t shown anything other than the fact that they’re highly emotional people. “I’ve proposed five different hotel projects for that parcel, and all five have been flatly rejected,” he added. “Now we’re going to be proposing high-density housing [instead], which the city, in my opinion, doesn’t need.” m Reach Senior Staff Writer Caleb Wiseblood at cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.
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SPOTLIGHT PHOTO COURTESY OF SANTA MARIA VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
organizations in this area is a great way to bridge projects with the community.” Tamura said she feels strongly about giving back to the community she lives in. What originally began as a networking tactic for her small company at events put on by the Chamber of Commerce turned into enthusiasm for service. Talking with diverse groups of people, attending meetings, and exposing herself to different organizations allowed Tamura to discover which causes meant the most to her. “Eventually you find your passion in certain areas,” Tamura explained. “Finding those opportunities to not only engage with people but give your time, your treasure, your talent, whatever, to be able to help different organizations. The Police Council is a great example because you’re working not only with the Police HONORED GUEST: As the president and principal planner Department, but you’re also of Urban Planning Concepts, few people have had a hand in working with the community structuring the Santa Maria community like Laurie Tamura, right, overall to improve the with Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Michael Boyer. experience with the city of Tamura was recognized as the 2026 Citizen of the Year by the Santa Maria.” Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce. Once the president of the Santa Maria Police Council, Tamura helped with the group’s biggest event of the year. The annual golf and comedy Laurie Tamura is the Santa Maria Valley tournament show in June has made more than $2 million for the Santa Chamber’s Citizen of the Year Maria Police Department BY MADISON WHITE over the past 17 years, Tamura said. Another organization “near and dear” to her or the more than four decades that Laurie heart is Scouting America because she grew up Tamura has lived in the Santa Maria Valley, scouting and always felt tied to it. Her father and she’s donated her time to organizations two sons achieved the Eagle Scout ranking. like Scouting America, the Santa Maria Police “When our Scout camp burned down— Council, and EconAlliance—to name a few. Rancho Alegre burned down in 2017—I became Her philanthropy earned the attention of the part of the rebuild committee. Santa Maria Valley Chamber We have rebuilt 11 buildings of Commerce, and on Sept. 17, Chamber cheers there,” Tamura said. “The camp Tamura’s husband, sons, and Next year’s gala is scheduled serves as The Outdoor School colleagues joined her at the for Aug. 27. To register or become science camp for this region, and chamber’s 101st annual gala. a sponsor, visit santamaria.com. we serve 3,000 kids a year going The gathering of her Submit nominations for the 2027 to The Outdoor School program. supporters gave her a “hint that awards online at santamaria. That’s something that I think something was going to happen,” com/connecting/annual-awards. was very important for us to Tamura said, but she didn’t continue.” guess that she’d receive the 2026 On her business horizon are the prospects Robert P. Hatch Citizen of the Year award. “I’m very impressed with the community to be of redeveloping downtown Santa Maria and able to keep a secret,” Tamura told the Sun. “That building out the east side of the city, which she says will see growth that impacts the entire was quite special.” community. She began her career with the county MUSIC “It’s the future, and that’s what I want to Planning and Development Department after participate in and think about and make sure that earning an environmental studies degree at UC the quality of life for those future neighborhoods Santa Barbara. Now, Tamura has lived in Orcutt of the city are successful,” she said. for more than 45 years and is a longtime leader at and future areasFLAVOR/EATS Urban Planning Concepts. Highlight As the president and principal planner for INFO • Starting Oct. 1, the Chumash Casino Resort the team of seven, Tamura helps projects get built. The company contracts with cities in will fundraise for breast cancer research through the area and assists builders and developers its annual Project Pink campaign. A portion of CALENDAR with environmental reviews and construction proceeds from the casino’s pink-themed snacks and beverages will be donated to the Breast permits. OPINION Cancer Resource Center of Santa Barbara. Visit “I enjoy the diversity that we have in meeting Grains and Grounds at the casino to find the with not only decision-makers and different staff special menu items including guava and coconut but also the community at large,” Tamura said. NEWS with hibiscus buttercream, cake, lime cupcakes “When we’re dealing with projects, we usually chocolate raspberry cookies, meet with the neighbors in and raspberry rice crispy the surrounding area and STROKES treats. m make sure that what we Send business and propose is compatible with nonprofit information to the neighborhoods. And ARTSReach Staff Writer Madison spotlight@santamariasun.com. White at mwhite@ then being involved with santamariasun.com. the chamber and all of the
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www.santamariasun.com • October 1 - October 8, 2026 • Sun • 7
Opinion ONLINE POLL
Should Solvang unionized workers get a bigger pay raise? 40% No. And they should not be striking. 40% Yes. They deserve more than 4 percent, but not the full 6 percent. 20% A raise? In this economy? 0% Yes. Their request for 6 percent is reasonable!
5 Votes
Vote online at www.santamariasun.com. Northern Santa Barbara County’s News & Entertainment Weekly 801 S Broadway Suite 3 Santa Maria, CA 93454 EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING | 805-347-1968 EMAIL | news@santamariasun.com advertising@santamariasun.com WEB | www.santamariasun.com FOUNDER | Steve Moss 1948-2005
EDITORIAL EDITOR | Camillia Lanham ASSOCIATE EDITOR | Andrea Rooks SENIOR STAFF WRITER | Caleb Wiseblood STAFF WRITER | Madison White CALENDAR EDITOR | Angelena Stevens STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER | Pieter Saayman ART DIRECTOR | Alex Zuniga EDITORIAL DESIGNERS | Leni Litonjua, Taylor Saugstad CONTRIBUTORS | Glen Starkey, Anna Starkey, Ross Mayfield ADVERTISING SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE | Kimberly Rosa ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES | Katy Gray, Tyler Dunavan, Robert Martinez PRODUCTION ASSISTANT PRODUCTION MANAGER | Mary Grace Flaus GRAPHIC DESIGNERS | Ellen Fukumoto, John Nygaard BUSINESS PUBLISHERS | Bob Rucker, Alex Zuniga BUSINESS MANAGER | Cindy Rucker CIRCULATION | Jim Chaney, Michael Ferrell, Margo Baldives, Simon Lopez, Joe Brice OFFICE MANAGER | Patricia Horton MARKETING & PROMOTIONS COORDINATOR | Malia Jandra SUBMITTING LETTERS WRITE | Mail your letter to Sun Letters, 801 S Broadway Suite 3, Santa Maria, CA 93454. Include your name, address, and phone number. FAX | (805) 546-8641 E-MAIL | mail@santamariasun.com, letters@santamariasun.com
Low priority
that the “crossing was last reconstructed in 1994 and washed out sometime between 1994 and 1999. County Public Lompoc leaders shouldn’t pursue projects Works staff replied that reconstructing the McLaughlin that the county won’t fund Crossing is infeasible because BY RON FINK regulatory agencies no longer allow such vehicle crossings to be constructed in rivers in California, ost in the drama surrounding the censure meaning the city or county could not receive the hearing for a Lompoc City Council member necessary permits and approvals to reconstruct on Sept. 15 was an agenda item to discuss an the McLaughlin Crossing.” additional roadway crossing of the Santa Ynez A similar proposal to build a crossing River. Currently there are already three crossings: connecting Central Avenue with Highway 246 one on North H Street, one on Floradale Avenue was scuttled years ago for the same reason: near the U.S. prison, and one on Highway 246 the cost (tens of millions of dollars) for design, east of town. construction, and environmental mitigation The old McLaughlin Road crossing was concerns. located at the eastern end of A Street connecting Apparently, according to the Sept. 15 staff the northeast section of the city to Rucker/ report, the Santa Barbara County Association La Purisima Roads, and according to previous of Governments “will study a roadway across studies, it served about 4,300 travelers each day the Santa Ynez River on the northeast side when it was passable. of Lompoc.” This after saying, “County road Even though such a crossing has proved to be funding is insufficient for the county’s many “convenient” in the past, I thought this idea was other needs, and a roadway or bridge at the tossed in the recycle bin more than three decades McLauglin Crossing location is a low priority for ago because when it was actively maintained by the county it was only open for about half the year. the county.” Thus why is the city taking another look at a project that would have little chance of Winter rain would wash it out, and the river ever being built? would flow for a few months; once the ground Some of the discussion focused on “emergency was dry enough, they would place a couple of egress routes” out of town in case of an drainpipes, dump truckloads of gravel and sand (aggregate), grade it flat, and then wait for the first evacuation. Let’s face it, there are only three ways into and out of Lompoc across the Santa Ynez substantial rain event to wash it out. River, and it appears that’s the way it’s going to The Lompoc City Council looked at this in remain. A crossing that’s unusable for several 2018, and according to the staff report found
L
Speak out now against our endless wars
college son, says, “Stop Arming Israel.” FLAVOR/EATS The responses from the passing cars, trucks, and big rigs have changed over the last two years as the drivers and For two years I have stood on the corner INFO passengers have had time to think about what our leaders are doing in our name. Early of Broadway and Main with a group of good on there were a few honks but just as many middle people on Mondays from 4 to 5 p.m., protesting CALENDAR fingers or negative yells. America’s dangerous and Over the years, drivers’ reactions illegal military aggressions have changed. Now, we mostly see around the world. We hold OPINION peace signs, thumbs-up, friendly signs saying, “War is Not the Send us your waves, and we hear many dozens Answer,” “Stop the Bombing” views and opinion to NEWSof honks and encouraging big-rig and “No Hate, No Bombs.” letters@santamariasun.com. horns as hundreds of vehicles drive My sign, created by a friend’s
The Sun is published every Thursday for your enjoyment. One copy of each issue is available free to Northern Santa Barbara County residents and visitors. Subscriptions to the Sun are $156 per year. The entire contents of the Sun are copyrighted by the Sun and cannot be reproduced without specific written permission from the publisher. Because a product or service is advertised in the Sun does not mean that we endorse its use. We hope readers will use their own good judgement in choosing products most beneficial to their well-being. We welcome submissions. Please accompany them with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. All letters to the editor become the property of the Sun.
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8 • Sun • October 1 - October 8, 2026 • www.santamariasun.com
Speak up!
STROKES
ARTS
months each year, or one that would take several decades to accomplish, isn’t the answer. It would make more sense to construct an overcrossing for northbound traffic where Santa Lucia Canyon Road intersects Highway 1. Currently northbound traffic must use the southbound lanes, travel south to Constellation Road, and then turn northbound. This would be nearly impossible to accomplish during an emergency evacuation. Such a project would be environmentally sound, improve routine traffic flow, and be much cheaper than trying to add another crossing to the Santa Ynez River. According to the “Nature and Purpose” statement at the beginning of the city’s 2030 General Plan, “The Lompoc General Plan functions as a guide to the type of community that Lompoc citizens desire for their future and provides the means by which that desired future can be achieved.” There is no mention of connecting Central Avenue with Highway 246 or improving the McLaughlin crossing in 2030 General Plan Circulation Element, which was adopted by the City Council in July 2026. What our city needs is a leadership team (City Council) that can stop revisiting issues that were settled years ago and instead focus on projects that have the potential to move our city forward. The November election is a chance to select a new leadership team. m Ron Fink writes to the Sun from Lompoc. Send a letter for publication to letters@ santamariasun.com.
LETTER
MUSIC
ONLINE Visit the Sun web site at www.santamariasun.com. Our site was developed and designed by Foundation, a website development company (www.newspack.com).
AAN
COMMENTARY
➤ Canary [9]
MAYFIELD
through our intersection. Young and old alike have woken up to the huge mistake our elected leaders are making by not reining in an administration that cares very little about our lives and only cares about the financial well-being of the rich and powerful. Are you feeling better off now than you did two years ago? Do you feel any safer? Do you see your children’s future as potentially better than yours? Do you have good and affordable health care? Is a college education affordable? Can you afford to buy a house? Does your government spend your tax dollars on you or on wars that drain the treasury of money that could be spent on our real needs? Do your senators and representatives work for you or for those who contribute unlimited money to their campaigns? Israel lobbies recently congratulated themselves because more than 250 of the candidates they support won their primaries. Republican Thomas Massey lost his to an unknown because he spoke against his president’s policies in Palestine and Iran. Massey claims Israel lobbies spent more than $30 million to defeat him. No wonder Americans feel powerless. The Supreme Court, with Citizens United, has given our power to the donor class and to foreign countries. Who is lobbying for us? No one. Protests for civil rights, and against the Vietnam War, changed the course of our history. It is time for us to take to the streets again, and in large numbers, to protest our government’s unwavering support for Israel against the Palestinians, the Israel/America war against Iran, and Israel’s stated goal of taking over all of Palestine, southern Lebanon, and northern Syria, as well as land in Egypt and Turkey. This is all to achieve its dream of a “Greater Israel.” It is our job to make sure that dream never comes true. Join us Mondays from 4 to 5 p.m. at Main and Broadway or join the No Kings Protest on Oct. 17. Let your leaders know what you are for, and what you are against. Help redirect America away from endless wars and toward peace and prosperity for all. And please vote because all of our lives depend on it.
Gale McNeeley Santa Maria
Opinion
Economic reality
S
olvang’s still down 30 city staffers after more than two weeks of a strike over the City Council’s “last, best, and final” salary offer: 4 percent raises in each of the next three consecutive years. What do employees want? For two of those years to have 6 percent raises, instead. They want it so badly that they haven’t taken a paycheck for two weeks and are starting a third week, after a negotiating session on Sept. 28 didn’t go their way. It’s the first strike in Solvang’s city history. Milestone! The city isn’t happy. “They do get a fair living wage. It’s $75,000 a year on average,” City Manager Randy Murphy said. So, after two-plus weeks of striking without pay, union members have already lost more than 2 percent of their yearly salary. How long does it make sense to strike? As for Danish Days, which we were all worried about, Mayor David Brown essentially said the city didn’t need those strikers anyway! “Danish Days went by very smoothly I think, in large part to our city management team that picked up the slack during the strike,” Brown said. Well, those managers are likely not making any more money for all their extra work. So, looks like things might be getting a bit testy in the little Danish city that could. Murphy said the union was “holding the city hostage with its efforts to shut down city services.” Oh boy! Shots fired. The union said the city was making “false and misleading assertions.” Fake news! “City workers deeply value serving the Solvang community. All they are asking for is a fair wage
agreement, … fair wage increases to keep up with economic realities,” union Central Coast Coordinator Cliff Reynolds said. And they’re “fully prepared to stay the course,” he added. I wonder how long things will last if the negotiators can’t agree on what a “fair wage” is. If the “whimsical,” half-finished hotel development downtown is any indicator of what the city is willing to put up with once it puts its foot down, this strike could be a while. The scaffolding and chainlink fencing should start paying rent, they’ve been up for so long. The developer, Ed St. George, is as stubborn as the city of Solvang. He sued the city over its decision to issue a stop work order over discrepancies with the project’s city-approved plans. The city then tried, unsuccessfully, to get the lawsuit thrown out. Here we are, a year later— all scaffolding and no windmill! Apparently, there are settlement talks, so the little Danish hotel village that could, might just. Meanwhile, in Guadalupe, parking is apparently tight—so tight that neighbors aren’t being very nice to neighbors. “I was going down the street, and I already saw people flipping each other off because one wanted a spot over somebody else,” resident Edward Zarati told City Council members on Sept. 22 during a hearing about building more affordable housing on Pioneer Street. “I’m not opposed to having a place for people to live, but I think we’ve already done a lot on Pioneer Street.” With state rules falling on the side of building affordable housing, parking isn’t a priority, so get those middle fingers in shape, people! m The Canary is a middle finger. Send angry words to canary@santamariasun.com.
What’s Your Take?
We know you’ve got an opinion.
Everybody’s got one!
What should happen with the hotel project Solvang issued a stop work order for? m It should be forced to comply with city regulations. m The developer should be allowed to continue the project as is. m Solvang should require it to be torn down. m The developer’s lawsuit should go to court—and he should win.
This week’s online poll: 10/1 – 10/8 Enter your choice online at: SantaMariaSun.com
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www.santamariasun.com • October 1 - October 8, 2026 • Sun • 9
Hot Stuff
10-DAY CALENDAR: OCTOBER 1 - OCTOBER 11, 2026
CREEPY CRITTERS
A free day of fall festivities, arts and crafts, and activities will be held at the Neal Taylor Nature Center at Cachuma Lake on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Alice Abela will share her collection of snakes, spiders, and reptiles for children interested in learning more about small creatures and critters. Nature Center representatives will also teach about Halloweenthemed animals and lead games including a special creepy creatures scavenger hunt. Visit clnaturecenter.org for additional information. —Angie Stevens
PHOTO COURTESY OF NEAL TAYLOR NATURE CENTER
ARTS SANTA MARIA VALLE Y/LOS ALAMOS
BALLROOM, LATIN, AND SWING DANCE CLASSES Social ballroom, Latin, and swing lessons for all ages. Beginner and advance classes. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m. $45-$55. (805) 928-7799. Kleindancesarts.com. Klein Dance Arts, 3558 Skyway Drive, suite A, Santa Maria. BAT BOY THE MUSICAL This smart, hilarious and tuneful off-Broadway hit is an uproarious, high-energy parable about prejudice, community, love, and blood-sucking bats. Oct. 9, 7 p.m., Oct. 10, 7 p.m. and Oct. 11, 1:30 p.m. $23.27-$28.62. my805tix.com. Santa Maria Civic Theatre, 1660 N. McClelland St., Santa Maria. DANCE AND MUSIC CLASSES KleinDance Arts offers various dance and music classes for a wide variety of ages! Visit the link for info! Mondays-Saturdays, 4-8 p.m. (805) 268-2530. kleindancearts.com. KleinDance Arts, 1954 S Broadway, Suite J, Santa Maria. DANCE CLASSES: EVERYBODY CAN DANCE Classes available for all skill levels. Class sizes limited. Everybody Can Dance, 628 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria, (805) 937-6753, everybodycandance.webs.com/. FREE BOOK SUNDAYS FOR AGES 0-17 Visit the Youth Services Desk on the first Sunday of each month to receive a coupon for a free book of your choice from the Library Bookstore. For ages 0-17. First Sunday of every month Free. (805) 925-0994. cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. “POST-WILD: NATURE IN THE 21ST CENTURY” The Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture is proud to
present Post-Wild: Nature in the 21st Century, a juried exhibition featuring artworks by 34 emerging and established Santa Barbara County artists. Co-curated by Allan Hancock College Professor of Fine Arts Laura-Susan Thomas and the Office of Arts and Culture, the exhibition highlights artists working across painting, ceramics, photography, digital media, and mixed media. Mondays-Fridays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. through Nov. 1 Free. sbac.ca.gov/post-wildnature-in-the-21st-century/. Betteravia Art Gallery, 511 Lakeside Pkwy, Santa Maria. SANTA MARIA CAMERA CLUB PRESENTS PHOTOGRAPHER DIANE REEVES Santa Maria Camera Club Presents Photographer Diane Reeves. Diane will share images and speak about her lengthly career as a photographic artist. Oct. 7, 7-8:30 p.m. (805) 478-3057. santamariacameraclub.org. Merrill Gardens, 1350 N. Suey Rd., Santa Maria. VALLEY ART GALLERY: ROTATING DISPLAYS Featured artists of Santa Maria’s Valley Art Gallery frequently display their works at the airport. Check website for details on monthly exhibits and full list of the gallery’s artists. ongoing valleygallery.org. Santa Maria Airport, 3217 Terminal Drive, Santa Maria. SOUTH COAST SLO COUNT Y
ACTOR’S EDGE: ACTING CLASSES Actor’s Edge offers film and television acting training in San Luis Obispo, plus exposure to Los Angeles talent agents. All ages and skill levels welcome. Classes available in SLO, LA, and on zoom. ongoing $210 per month. actorsedge.com. Online, See website, Arroyo Grande. CERAMIC LESSONS AND MORE Now offering private one-on-one and group lessons in the ceramic arts. Both hand building and wheel throwing options.
Beginners welcomed. ongoing (805) 835-5893. hmcruceceramics.com/. Online, See website, Arroyo Grande. AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE AGHS Theatre Company presents An Enemy of the People, by Henrik Ibsen. Oct. 9, 7-9 p.m., Oct. 10, 7-9 p.m. and Oct. 11, 2-4 p.m. $17. (805) 489-9444. clarkcenter.org. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande. SAN LUIS OBISPO
ALPHABET ROCKERS: SHADESANTHEMS FOR THE PLANET Awardwinning hip-hop children’s music group presents “SHADES,” a fully interactive and immersive concert built from the global stories of climate caretakers, planet protectors, and scientists. Oct. 3, 11 a.m.-noon (805) 756-4849. calpolyarts.org. Spanos Theatre, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. ART AFTER DARK Come see the art work and displays of the Masonic Lodge and its members. Oct. 2, 6-9 p.m. Free. (805) 543-9291. King David’s Masonic Lodge, 859 Marsh St., San Luis Obispo. ART AFTER DARK: SHOW OPENING Join us for the opening night of The Bunker SLO’s October Show featuring the work of Jennifer Randall. Oct. 2, 5-8 p.m. Free. my805tix.com. The Bunker SLO, 810 Orcutt Road, San Luis Obispo. ART EXPLORATION FOR KIDS WITH SPENCER POULTER Go through a journey into the world of art history! Spencer creates engaging, thought provoking, and fun lesson for children. Every other Monday, 3:30-4:30 p.m. $140. (804) 7474200. artcentralslo.com. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo. ARTIST RIKI SCHUMACHER AT ART CENTRAL GALLERY Schumacher’s work
New Times and the Sun now share their community listings for a complete Central Coast calendar running from SLO County through northern Santa Barbara County. Submit events online by logging in with your Google, Facebook, or Twitter account at newtimesslo.com. You may also email calendar@newtimesslo.com. Deadline is one week before the issue date on Thursdays. Submissions are subject to editing and approval. Contact Calendar Editor Angelena Stevens directly at astevens@newtimesslo.com. 10 • Sun • October 1 - October 8, 2026 • www.santamariasun.com
is pensive and introspective, inspiring one to take a solitary walk on a cloudy day. Wander in to reflect on her “delicious, wistful landscapes.” Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays, 12-4 p.m. Free. (805) 747-4200. artcentralslo.com/galleryartists/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo. BEYOND THE BASICS OF WATERCOLOR WITH VIRGINIA MACK This is a class for those who love imagining ways to further their visual expressions. A watercolorbased course, but one that branches out into other media. Mondays, 10:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. $35 per class. (805) 747-4200. artcentralslo.com. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo. CALL FOR ARTISTS SLO Gallery is now organizing small group exhibits for our central viewing area. One of the displayed artists will be a co-op member. The others can be local or visiting artists. Drop by the SLO Gallery to sign up and see which of our artists on display you may be interested in doing a group show with. Fridays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. SLO Gallery, 1023 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, SLOgallery.com. CUESTA COLLEGE FACULTY BIANNUAL ART EXHIBITION See exhibition showcasing new and recent work by Fine Arts faculty. Held every other year, the Faculty Biannual brings together the wide range of creative practices represented within Cuesta College’s Fine Arts program, including painting, photography, ceramics, printmaking, sculpture, graphic design, drawing, and more. The exhibition highlights the ongoing artistic practices of faculty members who bring their professional experiences into the classroom and their work with students. Mondays, Thursdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. through Oct. 15 Free. (805) 546-3201. cuesta.edu.
INDEX Arts...................................... 10 Culture & Lifestyle ........... 11 Food & Drink ......................12 Music ...................................15
Harold J. Miossi Gallery, Highway 1, San Luis Obispo. FIRST FRIDAYS Visit SLOMA on the first Friday of each month for exhibition openings, music, and wines provided by regional winery partners. Admission is free and open to the public. First Friday of every month, 5-8 p.m. Free. (805) 5438562. sloma.org/events/first-fridays/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo. GUTENBERG THE MUSICAL! Two broke, overconfident writers perform every role in their ridiculous musical about Johann Gutenberg, desperately hoping a producer will fund their Broadway dream. Fridays, 7-9 p.m., Saturdays, 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. and Sundays, 2-4 p.m. through Nov. 8 $28-$51. (805) 786-2440. slorep.org/shows/ gutenberg-the-musical/. SLO Rep, 888 Morro St., San Luis Obispo. JAPANESE CALLIGRAPHY AND ART Owen and Kyoko Hunt from Kyoto, Japan offer classes for Japanese calligraphy (Fridays, 5:30-6:30 p.m.), a Japanese art called “haiga” (Fridays, 10-11:30 a.m.) and more at Nesting Hawk Ranch. Fridays $45. (702) 335-0730. Nesting Hawk Ranch, Call for address, San Luis Obispo. MARCIE BEGLEITER AT SLOMA See Marcie Begleiter’s solo exhibition “Chimera: the Future of Nature” at SLOMA. Animation, photography and a large nature diorama. Mondays, Thursdays-Sundays. through Oct. 17 Free. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad Street, San Luis Obispo, (310) 920-1656, sloma.org/ exhibition/marcie-begleiter/. “OCEANO – FOR SEVEN GENERATIONS” EXHIBIT This exhibition highlights nearly a decade of research and outreach by artist Lana Z Caplan, associate professor of photography and video in Cal Poly’s Art and Design Department. The project was first published as a book of the same title by Kehrer Verlag in 2023. A selection of large and small-scale photographs will be presented alongside a video projection, ephemera, and issues of the Dune Forum from the 1930s, drawn from Special Collections. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through Dec. 11 Free. library. calpoly.edu. Cal Poly Special Collections
and Archives, Robert E. Kennedy Library, 1 Grand Ave., Building 35, Room 409, San Luis Obispo, (805) 756-2305. PLEIN AIR PAINTERS OF THE CENTRAL COAST A self-directed fun group of dynamic artists who enjoy painting and sketching outdoors. Artists meet on site at various locations. Weekly plein air destinations are provided by Kirsti Wothe via email (mrswothe@yahoo.com). Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-noon SLO County, Locations countywide, San Luis Obispo. SPOOKY HAND SEWING A cozy Halloween sewing workshop for ages six and up! Stitch a felt ghost or pumpkin together. Materials are included. Oct. 3, 2-3:30 p.m. $25. (805) 439-1022. slolifestudio.com. SLOLife Studio and Mercantile, 12340 Los Osos Valley Road, San Luis Obispo. SUSAN KOUNANIS FINE ART Enjoy classic old world style art. Oct. 10, 10 a.m.5 p.m. (805) 441-4238. ARTS Obispo Open Studios Art Tour, SLO County, Countywide. ULTIMATE FUNNY COMPETITION AT THE BUNKER Join us for another thrilling match in our UFC improv battle! This head-to-head short form improv showdown pits quick-thinking performers against each other in a high-energy battle of wit, creativity, and laughs. Teams will face off in fast-paced games, taking bold risks and big swings as they compete for audience favor and bragging rights. By the end of the night, only one team will be crowned the victor—you decide who! Oct. 3, 6:15-8 p.m. $12.56. my805tix.com. The Bunker SLO, 810 Orcutt Road, San Luis Obispo. VIRGINIA MACK: BEGINNING WATERCOLOR This is a watercolor class designed to let you jump in and try out this engaging medium through experimentation. It’s designed for beginners and those with watercolor experience who wish to expand their knowledge of painting in watercolors. To enroll please contact Mack via email: vbmack@charter.net Mondays, 1:30-3:30 p.m. $35. (805) 747-4200. artcentralslo. com/workshops-events/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.
ARTS continued page 11
Hot Stuff ARTS from page 10 NORTH COAST SLO COUNT Y
GALLERY AT MARINA SQUARE PRESENTS “COLORED LIGHT” Colored Light fills Lower Gallery walls with oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, mixed media and gouache paintings, showcasing fall’s colors in landscapes, seascapes and still life. Through Oct. 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (808) 772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay. GALLERY AT MARINA SQUARE PRESENTS ATUL PANDE: INTUITIVE ABSTRACTIONS Self-taught painter Atul Pande creates intuitive, non-objective abstractions in acrylic, layering color and form into organic shapes inspired by his Indian upbringing and scientific training. Through Oct. 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (808) 772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay. GALLERY AT MARINA SQUARE PRESENTS CAROLE MCDONALD: A STORYTELLER’S EYE ON THE COAST Native Californian Carole McDonald brings a storyteller’s eye from her film and entertainment career to her mini acrylic paintings capturing the Central Coast’s tranquil beauty. Through Oct. 29, 11 a.m.5 p.m. Free. (808) 772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay. GALLERY AT MARINA SQUARE PRESENTS CHINESE BRUSH WATERCOLOR PAINTINGS BY JARIEN DE HAM Jarien de Ham paints landscapes, birds, flowers and figures in traditional Chinese brush techniques; trees, egrets, raptors, streams and water, painted with spontaneity and skill. Through Oct. 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (808) 772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay. LOVE OF NATURE EXHIBIT The Love of Nature exhibit brings together a vibrant spectrum of artistic expression balancing realism, abstraction Each piece reveals a unique relationship with the natural world. Through Nov. 2, 12-4 p.m. Free. (805) 7722504. artcentermorrobay.org. Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay. THE PLEIN AIR TEAM Acrylic artist, Nancy Lynn, and husband, watercolorist, Robert Fleming, have an ongoing show of
OCTOBER 1 - OCTOBER 11, 2026 originals and giclee prints of Morro Bay and local birds. (805) 772-9955. Seven Sisters Gallery, 601 Embarcadero Ste. 8, Morro Bay, sevensistersgalleryca.com.
CULTURE & LIFESTYLE SANTA MARIA VALLE Y/LOS ALAMOS
ANDROID PHONE CLASS First Thursday of every month Oasis Center, oasisorcutt.org420 Soares Ave., Orcutt, (805) 937-9750. CENTRAL COAST CORVETTE CLUB Open to Corvette owners and enthusiasts. First Thursday of every month, 6:30 p.m. Free. (805) 934-3948. Home Motors, 1313 E. Main St., Santa Maria. FEEL GOOD YOGA Tuesdays, Thursdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. (805) 937-9750. oasisorcutt.org. Oasis Center, 420 Soares Ave., Orcutt. FIRST FRIDAY First Friday of every month facebook.com/firstfridayoldtownorcutt/. Historic Old Town Orcutt, S. Broadway and Union Ave., Orcutt. FREE BOOK SUNDAYS FOR AGES 0-17 Visit the Youth Services Desk on the first Sunday of each month to receive a coupon for a free book of your choice from the Library Bookstore. For ages 0-17. First Sunday of every month Free. (805) 925-0994. cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. GROUP WALKS AND HIKES Check website for the remainder of this year’s group hike dates and private hike offerings. ongoing (805) 343-2455. dunescenter.org. Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center, 1065 Guadalupe St., Guadalupe. SANTA MARIA CAMERA CLUB MEETING The Santa Maria Camera Club is a welcoming community of photographers who share a passion for creating and enjoying great images. Join us soon! First Wednesday of every month, 7 a.m.-8:30 p.m. through Aug. 5 (805) 478-3057. santamariacameraclub.org. Merrill Gardens, 1350 N. Suey Rd., Santa Maria. SUMMIT FOR DANNY Your fundraising supports individual scholarships for the Daniel Bryant Youth and Family Centers, a program of CADA. Oct. 10, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. $15. (805) 722-1305. summitfordanny.org. Orcutt Community Park, 4854 S. Bradley Road 109, Orcutt.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SUMMIT FOR DANNY
COMMUNITY CLIMB
Join the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse for its third annual North County event, Summit For Danny North County Community Climb, on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Orcutt Community Park. Tickets are $15 to participate in the scenic, 4-mile hike along the Rice Ranch Valley View Loop. The hike will begin at the bridge near the parking lot, and following the climb, the community can enjoy a barbecue and a program. Fundraising supports scholarships for the Daniel Bryant Youth and Family Centers, a program of the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. Visit summitfordanny.org for additional information. —A.S. SANTA YNEZ VALLE Y
ANNUAL CHUMASH INTERTRIBAL POWWOW The two-day gathering, which is the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians’ largest cultural event of the year, features dancing, singing, drumming, arts, crafts, food and more. Oct. 3, 10 a.m.10 p.m. and Oct. 4, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. $5. (805) 688-7997. chumash.gov/powwow. Hwy 246 & Meadowvale Road, Hwy 246 & Meadowvale Road, Santa Ynez. CREEPY CREATURES AT THE NATURE CENTER Enjoy fall under the spell of live of spiders, snakes, and other reptiles! There will be arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, games, and activities for all ages! Oct. 10, 11-1 a.m. Free. (805) 693-0691. clnaturecenter.org. Neal Taylor Nature Center, 2265 Highway 154, Santa Barbara. LOMPOC/VANDENBERG
LOMPOC ART WALK Lompoc transforms into a celebration and showcase of local artists during this monthly event, which features live music, art, exciting exhibitions, performances, and a variety of vendors. First Thursday of every month, 5-8 p.m. H and I St., Old Town Lompoc.
THE VILLAGE TREASURE CHEST This event is for the whole family. There will be vendors selling their wears, music, facepainting, and some kind of food booth. Come out and spend part of your Saturday supporting local vendors. First Saturday of every month, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Vandenberg Village Community Services District Office, 3745 Constellation Road, Lompoc, (805) 291-6370. SOUTH COAST SLO COUNT Y
2026 DUNES CENTER GOLF TOURNAMENT Join us for a day of golf with a purpose on the breathtaking Central Coast. Set at the award-winning Cypress Ridge Golf Course—a Peter Jacobsen Signature Course known for its ocean views, elevation changes, and natural beauty—this tournament promises a top-tier golf experience while supporting a vital cause. Oct. 9, 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. $150. dunescenter.org/. Cypress Ridge Golf Course, 780 Cypress Ridge Parkway, Arroyo Grande, (805) 474-7979. 5CITIES HOMELESS COALITION’S 15 ANNUAL EMPTY BOWLS LUNCHEON Community luncheon to raise funds for
5Cities Homeless Coalition. Oct. 1, 11 a.m.1 p.m. $25. (805) 550-8701. 5chc.org. St. Patrick’s Church, 501 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande. BEGINNING BALLET FOR ADULTS Enjoy the grace and flow of ballet. No previous experience needed. Wednesdays, 5:156:15 p.m. $12 drop-in; $40 for four classes. (510) 362-3739. grover.org. Grover Beach Community Center, 1230 Trouville Ave., Grover Beach. BEYOND MINDFULNESS Realize your potential through individualized meditation instruction with an experienced teacher via Zoom. This class is for those who wish to begin a practice or seek to deepen an existing one. Flexible days and times. Certified with IMTA. Email or text for information. Mondays-Sundays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Sliding scale. (559) 905-9274. theartofsilence.net. Online, See website, Arroyo Grande.
The Big Ditch Market is back! In the Car Corral in the Village! Enjoy local vendors, live music, and great food! First Friday of every month, 4-8 p.m. through Oct. 4 Free. (805) 473-5472. arroyogrande.org/rec. Historic Village of Arroyo Grande, Branch and Short St., Arroyo Grande. COMMUNITY NATIVE GARDEN MONTHLY VOLUNTEER WORKDAY Volunteers accomplish a variety of tasks including pathways maintenance, litter patrol of the garden perimeter, weeding, irrigation system expansion/repairs, pruning, and plantings. Volunteers should bring work gloves, a hat, drinking water, and tools related to the above activities. First Saturday of every month, 9 a.m.-noon Free. (805) 710-3073. Nipomo Native Garden, Camino Caballo at Osage, Nipomo. DAILY QIGONG PRACTICE For the early riser or commuter, every weekday morning. Maintain or improve concentration, balance, and flexibility. Includes weekly Friday 3 p.m. class with more practices. Led by certified Awareness Through Movement teacher. Mondays-Saturdays, 6:10 a.m. and Fridays, 3 p.m. $35/week or $125/month. (646) 280-5800. margotschaal.com/qigong. Online, See website, Arroyo Grande. DANCE FITNESS ART AND CULTURE FOR ADULTS Discover dance as a form of artistic expression and exercise, using a wide range of styles and genres of music (including modern, jazz, Broadway, ethnic). Tuesdays, 4-5 p.m. $10 drop-in; $30 for four classes. (510) 362-3739. grover.org. Grover Beach Community Center, 1230 Trouville Ave., Grover Beach. FINAL BOOK SALE OF THE YEAR Books are sold by the inch, 50 cents for paperback and $1 for hardback. The ever-popular bag sale starts at 1 p.m. Shoppers buy a paper grocery bag for $2 and fill it with books of their choosing, or you may also purchase a GBCL book-bag for $5 and fill it! We take cash and Venmo. Oct. 10, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Grover Beach Community Library, 240 N 9th St., Grover Beach, (805) 481-4131. KEEP THE FLAME ALIVE Enjoy two classes for spiritual seekers and poets. Oct. 3, 10 a.m.-noon and Oct. 10, 10 a.m.-noon Free. (805) 704-4246. awakenedword.com. Online, See website, Arroyo Grande. LGBTQ+ FED THERAPIST LEAD SUPPORT GROUP (VIA ZOOM) A pro-recovery group offering space to those seeking peer support, all stages
BIG DITCH MARKET Enjoy fantastic homemade items from local vendors, amazing food, and live music! First Friday of every month, 4-8 p.m. through Oct. 2 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE continued page 12 Free. (714) 390-9142. arroyogrande.org.
SHOW TIMES
Wednesday - Friday: 7pm Saturday: 2pm to 7pm Sunday: 6pm CLOSED: Monday & Tuesday th September September 25 25thth ~~ November November 7th 7th 1863 HWY 1 ~ OCEANO, CA 3 miles south of Pismo Beach
www.AmericanMelodrama.com (805) 489-2499
It’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow like you’ve never seen (or sung!) before! Join the awkwardly charming Ichabod Crane as he waltzes his way through the town of Sleepy Hollow—meeting the lovely Katrina, the mischievous Brom Bones, and that not-soheadstrong rider of the night, the legendary Headless Horseman. After each show, brace yourself for the fantastical antics of the Happily Ever After Vaudeville Review!
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of ED recovery. We understand recovery isn’t linear and judgment-free support is crucial. Share, listen, and be part of a community building up each other. First Wednesday of every month, 7-8 p.m. Free. galacc.org/events/. Online, See website, Arroyo Grande. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WATCH AND CLOCK COLLECTORS, CHPT. 52 Come join a friendly meeting of watch and clock collectors. Members bring watches and clocks to show, plus there are discussions of all things horological. Second Sunday of every month, 1:30-3 p.m. (805) 547-1715. new.nawcc.org/ index.php/chapter-52-los-padres. Central Coast Senior Center, 1580 Railroad St., Oceano. OCEANS OF PRIDE Enjoy a reception, dinner, and auction plus band, aerialists, and more! A complimentary glass of Timbre Dancing Queen sparkling rose wine will be included with ticket purchase, and bar service will be available through the evening. Oct. 3, 5 p.m. $108.97. my805tix.com. Central Coast Aquarium, 50 San Juan St., Avila Beach, (805) 595-7280. PIONEER RESEARCH STRATEGIES: WILDERNESS TRAILS AND NORTH CAROLINA SCOTS-IRISH Explore Daniel Boone’s Wilderness Trail and North Carolina Scots-Irish settlers with Genealogist Luana Darby. Oct. 3, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. slocgs.org. Online, See website, Arroyo Grande. Q YOUTH GROUP (VIA ZOOM) This is a social support group for LGBTQ+ and questioning youth between the ages of 11-18. Each week the group explores personal, cultural, and social identity. Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. Free. galacc.org/ events/. Online, See website, Arroyo Grande. SCOUTING AMERICA LOS PADRES COUNCIL’S 2026 BOOTS AND BLINGS CELEBRATION Scouting America Los Padres Council honors Rahul Vinchhi, Dignity Health clinical operations director, and Jarrett Prichard, SLO County IT supervisor, for leadership and service. Oct. 2, 6-10 p.m. $150. (805) 967-0105. scoutingevent. com/053-110071. Cypress Ridge Pavilion, 1050 Cypress Ridge Parkway, Arroyo Grande. SOCIAL GROUP FOR WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS Call for more details. Second Saturday of every month, 10 a.m. (805) 904-6615. 819 Tempus Circle, 819 Tempus Circle, Arroyo Grande. SUNDAY EVENING RAP LGBTQ+ AA GROUP (VIA ZOOM) Alcoholics Anonymous is a voluntary, worldwide fellowship of folks from all walks of life who together, attain and maintain sobriety. Requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. Email aarapgroup@ gmail.com for password access. Sundays, 7-8 p.m. No fee. galacc.org/events/. Online, See website, Arroyo Grande. SAN LUIS OBISPO
30-DAY BREATH AND RESET JOURNEY FOR WOMEN Wired at night, drained all day? Reset your body in 30 days. Focus on breath practices to calm stress, sleep deeply, and restore lasting energy. Registration is required. Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30 p.m. and Saturdays, 10-11 a.m. (805) 235-7978. charvetgratefulbody.com. Live Webinar, online, SLO County. THE ANNUAL HAUNTING Kick off the spooky season with a scary good time at the SLO Film Center’s Annual Haunting Party! Oct. 7, 5:30-7:30 p.m. $15. (805) 546-3456. thepalmtheatre.com. Palm Theatre, 817 Palm St, San Luis Obispo. ASTRONOMY NIGHT AND STARGAZING WITH THE CENTRAL COAST ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY Explore the night sky with telescopes and guided viewing hosted by the Central Coast Astronomy Society. Oct. 3, 12-9 p.m. $10. (805) 541-1400. slobg.org. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo. CC BIONEERS PRE-CONFERENCE FIELD TRIP Tour the avocado orchard, passion fruit trellis, white sapote, asparagus, and coffee and banana agroforestry alley cropping systems. This will be a spectacular demonstration of agro-ecology in action. Oct. 1, 10 a.m.-noon $10. (805) 548-0597. ecologistics.org/ccbconference-2026/. Traceland Organics, 1550 Negranti Road, Morro Bay. CENTRAL COAST DIALYSIS ORGAN TRANSPLANT SUPPORT GROUP Not faith based. All are welcome. Please wear a mask. First Saturday of every month, 9:30-11:30 a.m. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church SLO, 650 Pismo St., San Luis Obispo. GATHER ON THE GREEN AT CHAMISAL VINEYARDS Gather on the Green brings
12 • Sun • October 1 - October 8, 2026 • www.santamariasun.com
PICKLES GALORE
The annual Pickle Festival and fundraiser for Meals That Connect brings the community together on Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Alex Madonna Expo Center in San Luis Obispo. Tickets range from $71.74 to $98.25 and include free parking, live music by Brass Mash, complimentary pickle-flavored popcorn and pickle-flavored lemonade, and access to games, contests, tastings, and local food and drink vendors. Visit my805tix.com for more details. —A.S. live local music, food vendors, lawn games, and Chamisal wines to the Edna Valley. No reservations are required, there is communal seating. First Friday of every month, 5-7 p.m. through Oct. 2 Free. (805) 541-9463. chamisalvineyards.com. Chamisal Vineyards, 7525 Orcutt Road, San Luis Obispo. HEALING DEPRESSION SUPPORT GROUP The Healing Depression Support Group is a safe place to share with others who are suffering from or have recovered from the pain of depression. Mondays, 6-7 p.m. through Jan. 11 Free. (805) 528-3194. A safe place to share feelings of depression with those who suffer and those who have recovered to a full, healthy outlook on life. Mondays, 6-7 p.m. Free. (805) 528-3194. Hope House Wellness Center, 1306 Nipomo St., San Luis Obispo. MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION (ONLINE MEETING) Zoom series hosted by TMHA. Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-noon Transitions Mental Health Warehouse, 784 High Street, San Luis Obispo, (805) 270-3346. MONTHLY DEATH CAFE (EVERY FIRST TUESDAY AT 11 A.M.) Join this relaxed, groupdirected conversation about death and dying with no agenda—just open, respectful dialogue to increase awareness and help us live more fully. First Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m.-noon Free. (805) 544-2266. hospiceslo.org/services/ death-cafe. Hospice SLO County, 1305 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo. PICKLE FESTIVAL FUNDRAISER 2026 Get ready for a dill-lightful day at the Pickle Festival! This annual fundraiser for Meals That Connect brings the community together for a one-of-akind celebration featuring pickle tastings, local vendors, food, drinks, live entertainment, games, contests, and interactive activities for all ages. Oct. 10, noon $71-$98. my805tix.com. Madonna Inn, 100 Madonna Rd., San Luis Obispo. PONY RIDES Every weekend we bring our sweet and gentle ponies for kids, all ages, to ride, cuddle, enjoy, and create forever memories. Saturdays, Sundays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $15. (805) 909-3303. slopartyanimals.com. SLO Ranch Farms & Marketplace, 871 Froom Ranch Way, San Luis Obispo. SERENITY SOUND JOURNEY AT LA LOMITA RANCH Your journey begins with gentle, integrative practices—mindful breathing, soft vocal toning, subtle movement—designed to soothe the nervous system and invite presence. As you settle, an exquisite and immersive soundscape unfolds around you. Oct. 6, 6-7:15 p.m. $25. my805tix.com. La Lomita Ranch, 1985 La Lomita Way, San Luis Obispo. THE SLO FLOWER COLLECTIVE WEEKLY FLOWER MARKET Enjoy an amazing weekly fresh flower market, open to the public. Enjoy the historic gardens with local blooms from nine local flower farmers. Thursdays, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. through Nov. 5 Free. sloflowercollective.com. Dallidet Adobe and Gardens, 1185 Pacific St., San Luis Obispo.
SLO PHILATELIC SOCIETY The SLO Philatelic Society (SLOPS) meets at the SLO Senior Center on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Visitors are welcome. First Tuesday of every month, 1-3 p.m. SLO Senior Center, 1445 Santa Rosa St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 540-9484, slocity.org/seniors. SLO SKIERS MONTHLY MEETING SLO Skiers, a local, non-profit, year-round sports and social club for adults has monthly meetings. A social hour is at 5:30 p.m. with food and drinks. Annual memberships are $65. First Tuesday of every month, 6:30-7:30 p.m. through Jan. 5 Free. sloskiers.org. Milestone Tavern, 972 Foothill Blvd., San Luis Obispo, (805) 439-4316. ZOMBIE INVASION SLO: ONE MILE OR 5K WALK & RUN FOR CENTRAL COAST AUTISM SPECTRUM CENTER Participate in this one-mile/5k untimed walk or run with obstacles and optional Zombies chasing after you! This is an annual non-profit fundraiser for the Central Coast Autism Spectrum Center. Oct. 3, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $25. (805) 704-3198. signupgenius.com. Camp San Luis Obispo, Camp SLO, San Luis Obispo. NORTH COAST SLO COUNT Y
CAMBRIA SCARECROW FESTIVAL This October, returning favorites and brand-new scarecrows transform Cambria and San Simeon into a whimsical wonderland. Discover hundreds of creative creatures all month long! Through Oct. 31 Free. cambriascarecrows.com. Cambria Scarecrow Festival, PO Box 1223, Cambria, (818) 399-5319. WATERFRONT MARKET MORRO BAY The Waterfront Market returns for its 9th summer season in Morro Bay. This open-air market features over 30 local vendors from SLO County. Through Oct. 4, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (805) 402-9437. facebook.com/ waterfrontmarketmorrobayca. Giovanni’s Fish Market, 1001 Front St., Morro Bay.
FOOD & DRINK
SANTA MARIA VALLE Y/LOS ALAMOS
BAR TAKEOVER THURSDAYS Join us Thursdays to meet and chat with the winemaker of the flight we’re featuring that week. Thursdays, 4-7:30 p.m. $15-$30. (805) 623-5129. Steller’s Cellar, 400 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt, stellerscellar.com. FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS AT COSTA DE ORO Featured vendors in the series include Cali Coast Tacos, Cubanissimo, Danny’s Pizza Co., Chef Ricks, and more. Call venue for monthly schedules. Fridays (805) 922-1468. costadeorowines.com. Costa De Oro Winery, 1331 S. Nicholson Ave., Santa Maria. FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS AT WINE STONE INN Fridays, 5-8 p.m. Wine Stone Inn, 255 W. Clark Ave., Orcutt, (805) 332-3532, winestoneinn.com/.
FRIDAY NIGHT FUN Karaoke with DJ Nasty. With Beer Bucket specials. Kitchen stays open late. Come out and sing your favorite song. Fridays, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, (805) 623-8866. PRESQU’ILE WINERY: WINE CLUB Call or go online to make a reservation to taste at the winery or find more info on the winery’s Wine Club offerings. ongoing presquilewine.com/ club/. Presqu’ile Winery, 5391 Presqu’ile Dr., Santa Maria, (805) 937-8110. PRESQU’ILE’S ANNUAL TRI-TIP COOK-OFF The annual Santa Maria Tri-Tip Cookoff at Presqu’ile is a community-favorite celebration of Central Coast barbecue and local flavor. This year’s event brings together several standout teams of master grillers, including last year’s winners, the Santa Maria Grill Masters, and newcomers, Priedite. Taste through each grill team’s spin on Santa Maria-style Tri-Tip, and enjoy all the fixin’s from Estate Chef Julie Simon, before casting your vote to help crown this year’s People’s Choice Tri-Tip Winner! Oct. 4, 12-3 p.m. $50. presquilewine.com. Presqu’ile Winery, 5391 Presqu’ile Dr., Santa Maria, (805) 937-8110. SIPPIN’ SUNDAYS Every Sunday, come cozy up inside the tasting room and listen to great artists. Sundays, 1-4 p.m. Free. (805) 937-8463. cottonwoodcanyon.com. Cottonwood Canyon Vineyard And Winery, 3940 Dominion Rd, Santa Maria. SOURDOUGH AT GROWING GROUNDS FARM Urban Homesteadings, your local female veteran owned sourdough specialty shop is at GrowingGroundsFarm.org. Veterans and first responders get a free cookie! Thursdays, 12-3 p.m. through June 30 Free. (805) 865-6318. UrbanHomesteadings.com. Growing Grounds Farm, 820 W. Foster Rd., Santa Maria. TACO TUESDAY Tuesdays, 5-8 p.m. Wine Stone Inn, 255 W. Clark Ave., Orcutt, (805) 332-3532, winestoneinn.com/. THURSDAY EVENING BAR TAKEOVER Call venue or visit website to find out about featured vintners. Thursdays stellerscellar.com. Steller’s Cellar, 405 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt. WINE AND DESIGN CLASSES Check Wine and Design’s Orcutt website for the complete list of classes, for various ages. ongoing Varies. wineanddesign.com/orcutt. Wine and Design, 3420 Orcutt Road, suite 105, Orcutt. SANTA YNEZ VALLE Y
PAINTING IN THE VINEYARD AT BUTTONWOOD FARM & VINEYARD Are you looking for something unique to do in Santa Barbara County Wine Country? Why not paint w/us at the picturesque Buttonwood Farm & Vineyard! Oct. 10, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $89. (805) 3258092. artspotonwheels.com. Buttonwood Farm & Vineyard, 1500 Alamo Pintado Road, Solvang, California, 93463, United States, Solvang. SOURDOUGH AT BUELLTON FARMER’S MARKET Shop from Urban Homesteadings, the female, veteran-owned sourdough specialty shop, at Buellton Farmer’s Market. Mondays, 3-7 p.m. through Oct. 5 Free. (805) 865-6318. UrbanHomesteadings.com. Avenue of Flags, Avenue of Flags, Buellton. LOMPOC/VANDENBERG
HEAD GAMES TRIVIA AND TACO TUESDAYS CLASH Don’t miss Head Games Trivia at COLD Coast Brewing Company every Tuesday night. Teams can be up to 6 members. Earn prizes and bragging rights. Kekas will be serving their delicious local fare. Fun for all ages. Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m. Free. (805) 819-0723. coldcoastbrewing.com. COLD Coast Brewing Company, 118 W Ocean Ave., Lompoc. SOUTH COAST SLO COUNT Y
MONTHLY FERMENTATION CLASSES Join to expand your knowledge of the fermentation process and get started fermenting at home. We alternate between demonstration and hands-on classes. Second Sunday of every month, 3:30-5 p.m. $30-$50. (805) 801-6627. kulturhausbrewing.com/classes/. Kulturhaus Brewing Company, 779 Price St., Pismo Beach. TRIVIA NIGHT Join BrainStew Trivia for a hilariously witty evening of trivia in Pismo. Teams of 1 to 4 people. Prizes awarded to the first and second place teams. Kitchen is open until 7:30 p.m. for brain fuel. Beer, cider, wine, and non-alcoholic options available. First Thursday of every month, 6:30-8 p.m. Free to play. (805) 295-6171. kulturhausbrewing.com.
FOOD & DRINK continued page 15
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www.santamariasun.com • October 1 - October 8, 2026 • Sun • 13
Central Coast Bioneers Conference
Moonshiner Collective Under the Moon Concert
Pavilion on the Lake, Atascadero
Dairy Creek Golf Course, SLO
THURS-SAT, OCTOBER 1-3
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2
San Luis Obispo Oktoberfest
FRI & SAT, OCTOBER 2 & 3
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3
Paso Robles Event Center
Brass Mash First Friday
Alex Madonna Expo Center, SLO
Nekrogoblikon, Rivers of Nihil, Cyborg Octopus
MiniNova Live at The Pour House!
First Fridays Comedy Alec Ob
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1 The Rock, SLO
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1 No Quarter, Atascadero
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2 SLO Brew Rock, SLO
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2 The Pour House, Paso Robles
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2 Decades HiFi Lounge, Atascadero
SLO Tease: Corsets & Curiosities
Fall Folk-n-Soak Reunion
Oceans of Pride
Ultimate Funny Competition
Fall Vines Acrylic Workshop with Drew Davis
The Young Dubliners: All Over the Gaff Tour
FRI & SAT, OCTOBER 2 & 3 S. Bay Community Center, Baywood-Los Osos
FRI-SUN, OCTOBER 2-4 Franklin Hot Springs, Paso Robles
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3 Central Coast Aquarium, Avila Beach
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3 The Bunker SLO
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3 Artiste Winery & Gallery, Santa Ynez
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3 The Pour House, Paso Robles
Yoga’ssage
Red-Wine Roundup
Special Forces and Guests
Central Coast Cooking Show
Mandala Sound Journey
Soulfly, Nailbomb, Incite
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3 Let’s Get Tuned Sound & Yoga Studio, Morro Bay
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4 Loading Chute Restaurant, Creston
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4 The Bunker SLO
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6 Idlers Home, Paso Robles
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6 La Lomita Ranch, SLO
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6 The Rock, SLO
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Mismiths, Sinsation, AIP
Friday Night Improv
Vinylistics Present: Back to the ‘90s
Karaoke with DJ Jon
Bat Boy The Musical
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9 Parr Wines, Cambria
Pickle Festival Fundraiser 2026 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10 Madonna Inn Expo Center, SLO
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9 Humdinger Brewing, SLO
Autumn Dances
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10 Ballet Theatre, SLO
14 • Sun • October 1 - October 8, 2026 • www.santamariasun.com
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9 San Luis Obispo Public Market
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9 The Rock, SLO
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9 The Bunker SLO
FRI, OCT 9 - SUN, OCT 25 Santa Maria Civic Theatre
Meditate with Dawn
The Pros & Cons of CA Propositions
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11 Aurora Sacred Events, Cayucos
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13 Odd Fellows Hall, SLO
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The Rat Utopia Experiment
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OCTOBER 1 - OCTOBER 11, 2026
FOOD & DRINK from page 12 Kulturhaus Brewing Company, 779 Price St., Pismo Beach. SAN LUIS OBISPO
CAKE A-PALOOZA A Celebration of Cake at the SLO Botanical Garden! Join us for a delightful cake picnic featuring live music, drinks, and activities for all ages! Oct. 3, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $25. (805) 541-1400. slobg.org/cakeapalooza/. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo. DOWNTOWN SLO FARMERS MARKET Thursdays, 6-9 p.m. Downtown SLO, Multiple locations, San Luis Obispo. PIÑATAS ON THE PATIO What is more festive than a piñata? Join for some brunch drinks and a couple of good hits to a piñata (or two). Good times and goofy prices promised. Turns will be determined on a first come, first served basis. First Sunday of every month Free. SLO Public Market, South Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo. SLO OKTOBERFEST This is SLO County’s biggest and best Oktoberfest. A variety of food and beer vendors will be here for your Oktoberfesting pleasure. And of course real German beer, food, music, contests and games. Oct. 3, 1-5 p.m. $60.76. my805tix.com. Madonna Expo Center, 100 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo.
MUSIC
SANTA MARIA VALLE Y/LOS ALAMOS
HALLOWEEN DANCE PARTY The Santa Maria Valley Senior Citizens presents “Halloween Dance Party with Riptide Big Band and vocalists. Oct. 11, 1:30-4 p.m. Free. (775) 813-5186. RiptideBB.com. Elwin Mussell Senior Center, 510 Park Ave., Santa Maria. HAPPY HOUR MUSIC SERIES Enjoy live music at the winery most Friday evenings. Check site for concert schedule. Fridays presquilewine.com. Presqu’ile Winery, 5391 Presqu’ile Dr., Santa Maria, (805) 937-8110. LADIES NIGHT OUT Music by DJ Van Gloryious and DJ Panda. Features delicious daiquiri specials. Thursdays, 8 p.m.-midnight Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, (805) 623-8866. LIVE MUSIC AT STELLER’S CELLAR Various local musicians rotate each Friday. Fridays, 6-8:30 p.m. Free. Steller’s Cellar, 400 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt, (805) 623-5129, stellerscellar.com. MUSIC AT ROSCOE’S KITCHEN Live DJ and karaoke every Friday and Saturday night. Featured acts include Soul Fyah Band, DJ Nasty, DJ Jovas, and more. Fridays, Saturdays, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, (805) 623-8866. MUSIC LESSONS AT COELHO ACADEMY Learn to play piano, drums, guitar, base, ukulele, or violin, or take vocal lessons. (805) 925-0464. coelhomusic.com/
Lessons/lessons.html. Coelho Academy of Music, 325 E. Betteravia Rd., Santa Maria. STOCKYARD SUMMER AND FALL CONCERTS FEATURING B & THE HIVE Oct. 3, 1 p.m. Free. my805tix.com. The Stockyard, 241 S Broadway St, Orcutt. SUNDAY NIGHT FUN End the weekend with some good vibes. Music by DJ Van Gloryious. Sundays, 8 p.m.-midnight Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, (805) 623-8866.
THE BENDS WITH SPECIAL GUEST MARGOT SINCLAIR You’ll encounter all kinds of relatable, yet colorful characters in the music of The Bends. There’s the over- bored hipster chick in ripped jeans and a tight t-shirt, the friend who’s only there for the party, the dude who’d rather smoke in his room than pay attention to his girl, and so on and so forth. These personalities come to life between the group’s hypnotic hooks and garageSANTA YNEZ VALLE Y born production. Oct. 4, 7 p.m. $28.50. my805tix.com. Rod & Hammer Rock, LIVE MUSIC SUNDAYS Sundays, 2-6 855 Aerovista Pl., San Luis Obispo, p.m. Brick Barn Wine Estate, 795 W. (805) 543-1843. Hwy 246, Buellton, (805) 686-1208, BRASS MASH FIRST FRIDAY AT SLO brickbarnwineestate.com. BREW ROCK! First Fridays are magical WINE DOWN WEDNESDAYS nights filled with the vibrant energy of our Wednesdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Brick Barn all-horn band. Join the festivities at Rod Wine Estate, 795 W. Hwy 246, Buellton, (805) 686-1208, brickbarnwineestate.com. and Hammer Rock and immerse yourself in the unique fusion of your favorite rock and pop songs. It’s a musical journey LOMPOC/VANDENBERG MUSIC that promises to be unforgettable, so KARAOKE AT COLD COAST BREWING make sure to wear sensible shoes for the CO. Pick out a song, bring your friends, dance-worthy beats. Oct. 2, 6-10 p.m. and get ready to perform. Wednesdays, FLAVOR/EATS $25.41. my805tix.com. Rod & Hammer 6-9 p.m. COLD Coast Brewing Company, Rock, 855 Aerovista Pl., San Luis Obispo, 118 W Ocean Ave., Lompoc, (805) 819-0723, (805) 543-1843. coldcoastbrewing.com. INFO CAL POLY MUSTANG FAMILY WEEKEND FACULTY SHOWCASE Eleven Cal Poly Music Department faculty members — CALENDAR vocalists and instrumentalists — will be featured in a Faculty Showcase during Mustang Family Weekend. Oct. 2, 5 p.m. Send event information to calendar@ OPINION $10. (805) 756-2406. music.calpoly.edu/ santamariasun.com. calendar/special/. Cal Poly Davidson Music Center, Room 218, Cal Poly, NEWS San Luis Obispo. SOUTH COAST SLO COUNT Y MOONSHINER COLLECTIVE: UNDER THE MOON CONCERT Every ABBA LA: THE ABBA CONCERT STROKES Under the Moon show for the past five EXPERIENCE ABBA LA brings the years has sold out, and we expect this unforgettable sound and style of ABBA to life in a high-energy, eight-piece ARTS one to do the same. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to join us, production packed with the hits that this is it! Oct. 2, 5:30-9:30 p.m. $33.98. defined a generation. Oct. 10, 7:30 my805tix.com. Dairy Creek Golf Course, p.m. $53.50-$85.25. (805) 489-9444. 2990 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo, clarkcenter.org/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo (805) 782-8060. NEKROGOBLIKON, RIVERS OF NIHIL, Grande. AND CYBORG OCTOPUS LIVE DESPERADO: THE WORLD’S PREMIER Oct. 1, 7 p.m. $26. my805tix.com. TRIBUTE TO THE EAGLES MUSIC Five Rod & Hammer Rock, 855 Aerovista Pl., incredibly talented singers and multiSan Luis Obispo, (805) 543-1843. instrumentalists will perform The Eagles RITES OF PASSAGE SLO Symphony greatest hits live. Oct. 9, 7:30-9 p.m. $44-$79. (805) 489-9444. clarkcenter.org/. performs Stravinsky’s groundbreaking The Rite of Spring, with a world premiere Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 composed by local resident Stefan Podell, Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande. KARAOKE EVERY WEDNESDAY A weekly and Danse Nègre by Samuel ColeridgeTaylor. Oct. 4, 3-5 p.m. $12-$92. (805) event with barbecue offerings and more. 543-3533. slosymphony.org. Cal Poly Wednesdays, 4-8 p.m. Rancho Nipomo Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave, BBQ, 108 Cuyama Ln., Nipomo, (805) San Luis Obispo. 925-3500. THE BENDS: IF YOU INSIST TOUR AT WHITE WINGED DOVE & IN THE AIR SLO BREW ROCK Catch Baton Rouge TONIGHT: ONE NIGHT, ONE STAGE, based rock act The Bends live on for a TWO LEGENDS CELEBRATING THE night of anthem-ready indie rock and MUSIC OF STEVIE NICKS AND PHIL pure stage ferocity! Oct. 4, 7-11 p.m. COLLINS Enjoy the ultimate double-bill slobrew.com. Rod & Hammer Rock, tribute concert celebrating Stevie Nicks 855 Aerovista Pl., San Luis Obispo, and Fleetwood Mac with Phil Collins and (805) 543-1843. Genesis. Experience a night of iconic hits and world-class musicians. Oct. 3, 7:30-9 THE BUNKER SLO PRESENTS: SPECIAL p.m. $45-$70. (805) 489-9444. clarkcenter. FORCES AND GUESTS Oct. 4, 6-9:45 p.m. $12.56. my805tix.com. The Bunker SLO, org/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 810 Orcutt Road, San Luis Obispo. m 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.
Terry Hill Presents Milt Larsen’s
Two shows 2 & 6:30 PM
SUN. OCT. 11
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The country’s longest running magic and variety show is celebrating its 70th anniversary! A dazzling all new revue featuring award-winning magicians, It’s Magic! brings to the stage the finest stars of magic, comedy, sleight of hand, and stage illusions. Sponsored by ParSonics Studio in association with Barbara White Design
@loberotheatre
LOBERO.ORG / 805.963.0761
Vote for your favorites for the READERS’ CHOICE AWARD!
VOTE NOW! Ends Oct 26 at 5pm
SHOWCASE EVENT FRIDAY NOV 13, 2026
@THE ROCK SLO
NEWTIMESSLO.COM
INCLUDES: Implant, Abutment & Crown
Open Mon, Tues & Thurs 8am-5pm and Wed 8am-12pm
www.santamariasun.com • October 1 - October 8, 2026 • Sun • 15
Arts
ART SCENE PHOTOS BY MADISON WHITE
ARTS BRIEFS Solvang Cinema Arts promotes film screenings in the valley
PHOTO COURTESY OF SOLVANG CINEMA ARTS
Bring family and friends to see The Nightmare Before Christmas at Solvang Park on Oct. 2 at dusk. It’s the latest free movie night organized by Solvang Cinema Arts after the sold-out showing of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial on Aug. 28 in Buellton. Audience members are welcome to bring chairs, blankets, and snacks while they enjoy the film. Presented by the city of Solvang, the event will also have hot chocolate, popcorn, and sweet treats available for purchase. The organization is sponsored by the Santa Barbara Foundation but is working on becoming its own nonprofit. After the local movie theater closed in 2020, Santa Ynez Valley residents have been without a film venue. The group’s mission is to start a community-owned cinema. Two more leaders recently joined the Solvang Cinema Arts board of directors. Esther Jacobsen Bates directed the Elverhoj Museum of History and Art for two decades and is now the executive director of Santa Ynez Valley Foundation. The Santa Barbara County Arts Commission awarded Bates the 2026 Leadership in the Arts Award. Ryland Aldrich also joined the leadership team and brings experience in film production and entrepreneurship. Aldrich spent more than 10 years covering the international film festival circuit, too. “Esther and Ryland bring exactly the additive deep valley roots and real film industry expertise this effort needs,” co-founder and board director Brooke Christian said in press materials. To learn more about Solvang Cinema Arts, visit solvangcinemaarts.org.
Personal Point of View returns to Gallery Los Olivos
COURTESY IMAGE BY CARRIE GIVENS
Carrie Givens and Karen McGaw are once again bringing their own perspectives to the forefront of the fine art gallery on Grand Avenue. See their featured duo show, Personal Point of View, through October at Gallery Los Olivos. The painters explore their relationships with the natural world, bringing to the table their distinct artistic voices and styles. Personal Point of View is based on the idea that though people experience the same landscape, everyone has individual emotions and relationships with nature. Givens and McGaw invite gallerygoers to consider their own personal ties to the environment as they view the artwork. “Their pieces reflect not simply what is seen in nature, but what is felt: the changing light, movement, color, texture, quiet moments, and emotional connections that develop through time spent observing the world around us,” the gallery announced in press materials. The artists are close friends and have worked together for years, including last October’s featured show of the same name. Last year, the exhibit also featured work by Renée Kelleher. Visit Gallery Los Olivos daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 2920 Grand Ave. in Los Olivos. Find more information about the gallery’s artists and upcoming featured shows online at gallerylosolivos.com. m Staff Writer Madison White compiles Arts Briefs. Send information to mwhite@santamariasun.com.
QUARTER OF A CENTURY: For the past 25 years, visitors have patronized The Creation Station in Buellton for their sewing needs. Inside, there is fabric in all different shades, patterns, and textures displayed on repurposed vintage furniture.
Riveting retreats The Creation Station in Buellton celebrates 25 years BY MADISON WHITE
C
ozy slippers shuffling across tile flooring. Pillows cushioning the seats of chairs. A T-shirt reading: Sorry. Can’t. Quilting. Bye. It’s the sight that Linda Papenfus rolled up to at The Creation Station Fabric and Quilt Shop after a tiresome, traffic-riddled drive from Folsom. She carried a suitcase behind her filled to the brim with fabrics to sew placemats, table runners, and a children’s blanket. She’s been to her fair share of quilting retreats but had never been to one in Buellton. “I think this was probably one of the best organized [retreats] I’ve ever been to, in the sense that I totally felt like I didn’t have to do anything except show up with my sewing machine, which was marvelous,” Papenfus told the Sun. From Sept. 18 to 20, The Creation Station held its 13th retreat of the year. The shop has been organizing them since shortly after opening 25 years ago. Some retreats are private and others are open to the public, like the one Papenfus attended. She traveled to the Central Coast with one of her close friends, who was also among the 20 creators attending the weekend event. The pair knew other women who were going to be there, too, through a network of similar events in California.
EAT, SLEEP, AND BREATHE: Patrick (left) and Dawn (right) Farrier own and operate The Creation Station in Buellton, selling fabric and sewing kits. They worked harder than ever to keep the store open through the pandemic and lived to tell the tale.
Called a brownbag retreat, the weekend was a dedicated period when all that guests had to think about were their sewing projects. For Papenfus, that was the best part. “I just don’t get that very often,” she said. “If it’s not somebody wanting something, then it’s my dog. Not that I don’t love them, but just the actual time. I could literally set my own schedule and not worry about anything else.” The Creation Station hosted visitors for three to five days of self-guided work in the large classroom-like space next door to the fabric store. Guests brought their own sewing machines and projects to work on. Some hauled in their own chairs and suitcases of materials to make sure they didn’t run out, although many found it hard to resist buying new fabrics from the shop. “I’m very careful with shopping because I have a lot of fabric, but they had such unusual things. I don’t often see the different vendors that they had there, which was really fun from a quilting perspective,” Papenfus said. “I didn’t go to go shopping, but there’s no way you cannot.” Retreaters can access the workspace at all hours of the day, and they come together for a potluck and Saturday night soup supper. Those who aren’t local usually lodge at nearby hotels. When owner Dawn Farrier first opened the shop, she knew her mission was to provide a welcoming space for all kinds of crafters. Before the business moved into the building, Farrier sold fabrics out of her home because she was new to the area and wanted to meet new friends. She sews to find a sense of peace, and it’s helped her through hard times. Plus, sewing is “cheaper than therapy,” Farrier said with a laugh. After outgrowing the home operation, she first moved into a different retail space but ultimately found her current spot three months later. Customers have been flocking to it ever since. “I can’t believe that we’ve made it
Sew, sew, and sew some more FOR GOOD: Linda Papenfus (left) finished a children’s quilt on the first day of a quilting retreat in Buellton. She planned to donate it to a good cause, like she does with most of the blankets she sews.
16 • Sun • October 1 - October 8, 2026 • www.santamariasun.com
The Creation Station is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sign up for the next quilting retreat from Nov. 13 to 15 by calling (805) 693-0174 or by visiting the shop, located at 252 E. Highway 246, unit A, in Buellton. Dates for 2027 are live, too. Find more info at thecreationstation.com.
through all of the crazy times with the economy and the pandemic, and we’re still here, which is kind of crazy,” Farrier said. “But I guess that’s the whole point of the 25 years, isn’t it?” Building community is at the heart of Farrier’s business. She welcomes everyone inside, no matter their skill level or how frustrated they get with a project. They’ll figure it out. Retreats allow repeat customers to bring fresh faces into the shop. At the September event, the owner said it was a fun group of ladies. Seven were new to The Creation Station. “It was really fun to have some new blood in the room and have them travel so far. I mean, a lot of them drove six or seven hours to be here,” Farrier said. A dozen signed up for one of the 2027 dates, she added. Farrier credits the success of the shop to her team. She has dear friends who work with her, and each person brings a strong characteristic that balances out the rest of the crew. “We finish each other’s sentences,” the business owner said. Another key to The Creation Station’s success is Farrier’s husband, Patrick. He helps oversee sales of Handi Quilter longarm machines at the shop, which are the machines that sew together a quilt’s layers. They are “a big part of the quilting world,” Farrier explained. Patrick is also a trained technician for the longarm machines, and in late September, he planned to take a business trip to Salt Lake City for advanced technical training on the newer models. Patrick is the only serviceman from Paso Robles to Ojai, his wife said. It keeps him busy. “He really is the guy in that whole central turf. He’s got a pretty big territory,” Farrier said. “Even though we sell the machines, people who move to the area from their own dealer—wherever that is—and then we become their home dealer. … We have a lot more people that we service and clientele that we service than just our own customers that purchase machines from us.” Running a small business has its challenges, but the Farriers wouldn’t have it any other way. Married for 34 years now, they cherish evenings together watching TV after a long workday. He sits in his chair, but her hands are always busy sewing. “I don’t know. It’s in my blood,” she said. “I can’t sit still, and so I might as well use my powers for good.” m Staff Writer Madison White gives kudos to quilters everywhere. Reach her at mwhite@ santamariasun.com.
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Film
SUN SCREEN
Stand by me
James spends a night camped next to, much to his chagrin. This brief encounter with another person is how we learn some of the key character points of both James and Odin. As Bertrand Russell once said, “War does not determine avid Ayer (End of Watch, Fury, Suicide Squad) directs Cameron Alexander’s script about retired Special Forces who is right—only who is left,” and both man and beast may have made it out of war, but war will always live inside soldier James Belmont (Brad Pitt) and his beloved but them. When James suffers a medical emergency and PTSD-suffering military combat dog, Odin (played by Uber, crashes the plane, amazingly both survive, but the Alaskan Seeka, Ryker, or Hondo), fighting to survive the Alaskan wilderness is a perilous place to be stranded, and while both wilderness after narrowly surviving a plane crash. They must Odin and James are fighters, the unforgiving beauty they’re hike 58 miles through rough terrain in freezing temperatures surrounded by continues to test their fate over the 58-mile in a landscape shared by predators. (101 min.) journey they must make to the road. Glen: James and Odin’s run-in with Glen: I’m a sucker for a movie about a Watkins also shows just how wary both loyal dog, and this tearjerker delivers. It HEART OF THE BEAST are of strangers. They’re in the wilderness starts at a leisurely pace. A seaplane pilot because they seek solitude from all but one What’s it rated? PG-13 and his Belgian Malinois are weaving another. Lambe’s time on-screen is brief, What’s it worth, Anna? Full price their way through the stunning Alaskan but it carries home the emotional heft of What’s it worth, Glen? Full price mountains, eventually setting down on Where’s it showing? Regal the film’s ending. There are other actors in a remote but idyllic shoreline for some Edwards RPX Santa Maria, the military flashbacks, but those are full of camping and fishing. The dog clearly Fair Oaks Theatre, Regal mostly explosions and the chaos of war—not loves the man, and the man feels the Edwards Arroyo Grande developed characters. The real show is the same, but in flashbacks, we learn both are connection between Pitt and his four canine physically and psychologically wounded colleagues. This one gave me all the feels. by the combat they’ve shared, creating an indelible bond Anna: I was pretty broken by the end of this one. It between man and beast. The story’s got all the elements of a manages to pull at all the heartstrings, from the human side dude film with a macho protagonist and eventually tons of and from the dog-mom side. I can tell you, looking at our action, and if you liked The Grey (2011) or All Is Lost (2013), three little flat-faced runts right now, that if you and I ever you’ll dig it. But it’s also tender and poignant with an ending needed to rely on them for survival, we’d be in big trouble. I that will both break and fill your heart. think that’s part of the reason why watching dogs with jobs Anna: Show me a dog on a movie poster and you’ve sold is so heartrending—the stoicism and devotion is downright a ticket. Both Odin and James are truly devoted to each heroic. Pitt is a great actor, and he seemed to really absorb other, and no matter the level of peril, they’ll show up for himself into James. I’ll revisit this one again when I need a one another time and time again. There are really only good cry. m three human actors in this film—a woman we briefly see New Times Arts Editor Glen Starkey and freelancer Anna Starkey at the beginning and end (Anna Lambe) and Watkins (JK Simmons), an outdoorsman canoeing down the river whom write Sun Screen. Comment at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.
COURTESY PHOTO BY SCOTT GARFIELD/PARAMOUNT PICTURES
D
MAN’S BEST FRIEND: Retired Special Forces vet James Belmont (Brad Pitt) and his traumatized military combat dog, Odin (Uber, Seeka, Ryker, or Hondo), must fight to survive the harsh Alaskan wilderness after a plane crash, in Heart of the Beast, screening in local theaters.
COURTESY PHOTO BY GRAHAM BARTHOLOMEW/WARNER BROS. PICTURES
THEY WILL KILL YOU
What’s it rated? R When? 2026 Where’s it showing? HBO Max Co-writer Kirill Sokoloz (No Looking Back, Why Don’t You Just Die!) directs this batshit-crazy horror flick about Asia Reaves (Zazie Beetz), who’s riddled with guilt over not being able to save her younger sister, Maria (Orefile Moloi when young and Myha’la when older), from their abusive father, Ritchie (Darron Meyer). Years later, after a decade in prison, Asia takes a job as a housekeeper in an exclusive NYC high-rise, but the building’s inhabitants are anything but ordinary people. If you’re a fan of Dusk to Dawn (1996), Ready or Not (2019), The Hunt (2020), or Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (2026), this is right up your gritty, blood-geyser alley. Beetz is awesome as Asia, who might look like an innocent waif, but she spent 10 years doing hard time and honing her fighting skills. The immortal Satanic residents of the building may have the advantage of having Satan’s mouthpiece—a severed pig’s head voiced by James Remar—on their side, but Asia’s there to save her sister. Don’t underestimate family ties. This is a great cast, including Patrica Arquette and Heather Graham, and the special effects are campy enough to only be comically disgusting. Fun! (94 min.) —Glen
PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX
THE PREDATOR OF SEVILLE
BADASS: Zazie Beetz stars as Asia Reaves, who takes a job as a housekeeper of an NYC high-rise populated by Satan worshipers, in They Will Kill You, streaming on Hulu.
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2026 Where’s it showing? Netflix Full disclosure: I’m flying to Spain the day after this is published, and I won’t be taking any tours. This series was likely not the best watch before a semisolo journey, but we true-crime junkies can’t get enough of this stuff. This three-part Netflix miniseries introduces us to Gabrielle Vega, a student studying abroad who books a dream trip to Morocco. Along on that tour is guide and absolute creep Manuel Blanco Vela—aka the Predator of Seville. Under the guise of being tied to universities, and preying especially on international students, Vela assaulted dozens, perhaps even hundreds, of women. Drugging them, trapping them, assaulting them, and threatening them, he hid behind the confusion of international law for years. But Vega wasn’t about to let her assailant go. Through online networking and the beauty of women’s connections, a network of survivors formed. While Vela was only tried and sentenced for the assaults of three women, the network of survivors was huge. Shout-out to all the young women out there not afraid to use their voice—this is your world now. Grab it by the balls. (three 44-to-50-min. episodes) m —Anna
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Lunch!
WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING: Manuel Blanco Vela was a friendly tour guide showing visitors the sights, but was he also preying on his female clients? The Predator of Seville follows one woman’s quest to bring Vela to justice, streaming on Netflix.
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Eats
Rhone ranger Central Coast wine pioneer John Alban is the San Francisco Wine Auction’s 2026 Winemaker of the Year
WINE PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN ALBAN
Taste it yourself
To connect with Alban Vineyards or learn more about its educational tastings and seminars, visit albanvineyards.com or rakedranch.com. The only way to taste is to attend one of the winery’s Private Tasting Series dates, which are scheduled for April 10 and 17 and May 1, 2027. Check the website for updates. Visit Alban Vineyards on Instagram at @albanvineyards.
BY SAM FICKETT
PHOTO BY SAM FICKETT
A
t Alban Vineyards in Arroyo Grande, winemaker John Alban is immersed in the daily grind of harvest season, covered in grape skins and yeast while monitoring daily operations. He swapped his work clothes for formal attire to attend the 49th annual San Francisco Wine Auction at The Palace Hotel on Sept. 19, where The Guardsmen honored him as the 2026 Winemaker of the Year. When Alban received the call announcing the recognition, the news took him by complete surprise. “I got a phone call from this group asking if there was any chance I could be in San Francisco on Sept. 19,” he said. “They said, ‘Well, we want to give you this achievement award and recognition as a winemaker.’ Which really is a tribute to the whole team here, and I really think it’s a tribute to the whole county.” Since founding Alban Vineyards in 1989, Alban has been celebrated as a driving force behind the Rhône Rangers movement, establishing the first winery dedicated to Rhône wines in California. And others followed suit. “John is a visionary who saw an opportunity in California wine that others could not see,” auction nominating committee Chair Hal Davis said in press materials. For 49 years, The Guardsmen, a Bay Area-based nonprofit, has raised money through the San Francisco Wine Auction and other events to fund more than 200 K-12 scholarships and send more than 2,000 underserved children to outdoor summer camps
BENCHMARK BOTTLES: Alban Vineyards makes wine under multiple labels, including Alban, Pandora, and Seymour.
Fruit passes through custom-built screens to filter out undersized berries before reaching an optical sorter equipped with high-speed cameras and air guns that blast away raisins or unwanted debris. The result is a collection of sorted berries that Alban described as “little perfect blueberries.” Once sorted into open-top bins, the fruit rests for five to seven days before fermentation begins naturally. To wet the cap gently, the winery uses custom sprinkler devices attached to PVC lines, then presses red wines into oak barrels stored in cold warehouse rooms to age for nearly four —John Alban, winemaker and years before bottling. Because Alban Vineyards founder of Alban Vineyards focuses on farming and was cemented in people’s minds as production rather than hospitality, the California’s Bordeaux region, the winery does not offer public tastings or Central Coast became the “Rhone host public tours. Zone.” “It’s a whole other business; it’s a “It’s always been my opinion that no hospitality business,” Alban said. “We matter how great a cabernet you make don’t really like to do anything that we’re in this state, if you’re not in Napa, you’ll not going to do at a super high level.” always be second fiddle,” Alban said. To engage with wine enthusiasts, Inside the production facility, his Alban launched a Private Wine Series PHOTO BY SAM FICKETT winemaking relies on low three years ago, held at the adjacent yields, gentle handling, and Raked Ranch property. Hosted in a meticulous sorting. During dedicated barn, these educational harvest, which arrived seminars and tastings bring together earlier than ever on record guest winemakers and serious collectors. after the state’s intense “It’s very educational, but it’s also March heat dome, Alban’s really fun for people who are serious team uses a specialized ‘cork dorks’ and want to really dive into stem sorter with a spiralwine,” Alban said. shaped array of paddles to Reflecting on his career and the knock berries loose. recent San Francisco Wine Auction gala, Unlike many regional Alban expressed deep gratitude for the winemakers who include contrasting worlds of winemaking, from stems in their production, dirt and farming to elegant celebrations. Alban Vineyards removes “I always think it’s so wild that this them for fermentation. product comes out of the ground “We don’t use any stems and is farming at its highest level,” he in ours, which is another said, “and then it gets enjoyed in some thing that’s unusual in this of the most glamorous and elegant county,” Alban said. “Stem circumstances imaginable.” m HARVEST HOUR: John Alban’s son operates the winery’s stem sorter inclusion is huge, but you’ll machine during harvest, separating berries from stems to ensure complete see we fanatically remove Reach contributor Sam Fickett at stem removal before fermentation. every bit of it.” sfickett@newtimesslo.com.
each year. The Winemaker of the Year award honors a vintner whose work and generosity advance the craft of winemaking and The Guardsmen’s mission. “He importantly then had the conviction to see his vision through and to pave the way for a generation of American Rhône movement winemakers and growers, benefiting the whole community as a result,” Davis said. Alban credits the local community, its winemakers, and growers for helping the area grow into a region recognized for making quality wines “Alban Vineyards wouldn’t, in my PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN ALBAN opinion, be getting this recognition if it weren’t for all the other wineries that embraced this idea too, and then did it really well also,” Alban said. “It takes a critical mass, in some ways.” Growing up in Long Beach, Alban didn’t come from a winemaking family. His father was
RHONE RANGERS: A framed certificate honors John Alban at the recent San Francisco Wine Auction event.
ALL DRESSED UP: Winemaker John Alban and his wife, Lorraine, attend the 49th annual San Francisco Wine Auction at The Palace Hotel, where Alban was celebrated as the 2026 Winemaker of the Year by The Guardsmen, a nonprofit that raises funds to help at-risk youth.
a physician, and Alban assumed he would follow him into medicine. But as his father shared bottles with him during family dinners, Alban quietly fell in love with wine. By age 17, he began considering how to build a career in the wine trade. At the time, California winemaking was almost exclusively focused on cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay. “You’re basically making one out of two [grape varieties], right? There must be something we’re missing,” Alban said. After college, Alban earned an apprenticeship in France’s Rhone Valley, immersing himself in traditional viticulture before returning to California to search for ideal coastal microclimates. He planted experimental test plots across Paso Robles’ Templeton Gap, the Edna Valley, Santa Rita Hills, and near Watsonville before acquiring property in the Edna Valley that matched the Rhone’s climate and soil. “People come to this county for countless reasons,” Alban said. “Most
people come here because it’s such a beautiful place to live, right? And it is a beautiful place. I didn’t even see that when I moved here. I was so focused on one thing.” When Alban began planting syrah, grenache, and viognier, critics recognized how well-suited Rhone varieties were to the Central Coast’s cool climate. While Napa Valley
‘[This award] really is a tribute to the whole team here, and I really think it’s a tribute to the whole county.’
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