Cover Story
The winning stories from our annual 55 Fiction contest
Surprise! It’s the culmination of this year’s 55 Fiction contest! And much like the endings of the stories that people send us, the stories are always a shock—well not always, but mostly. We’ve got love, war, murder, politics, twists, and more for you in this year’s collection of printable pieces. Our judges sifted through hundreds…
Eddington explores the divisions created by COVID, BLM, and online conspiracies
EDDINGTON What’s it rated? R What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? Colony, Downtown Centre, Palm, Park, Stadium 10 Writer-director Ari Aster (Hereditary, Midsommar, Beau Is Afraid) helms this neo-Western black comedy set in 2020 that chronicles a showdown between Sheriff Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix) and Mayor…
Titan: The OceanGate Disaster examines the hubris that led to the Titan submersible implosion
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2025 Where’s it showing? Netflix When the OceanGate disaster happened, I remember thinking that one of the streaming services is bound to make a documentary, and by golly, here it is! This event captured the attention of a lot of people at the time. I remember it being all over…
Heads of State is a diverting mismatched buddy action-comedy
Ilya Naishuller (Hardcore Henry, Nobody) cooks up another funny, action-packed popcorn flick. John Cena stars as Will Derringer, former action movie star and newly elected U.S. president. His British counterpart, more serious-minded Sam Clarke (Idris Elba), doesn’t much care for the preening president, but when they both narrowly survive an assassination attempt aboard Air Force…
Lumina Alliance’s Lumina Days brings a fashion show that aims to help survivors of sexual and domestic violence
Former San Luis Obispo County resident Kimberly Victor’s nonprofit Fashion for a Purpose is set to be reborn in Nipomo as Lumina Days—a fashion show that ultimately helps survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence. “This event has always been in South County,” Lumina Alliance Development Director Brandee Brown-Puett said. “We do have our transitional…
SLO County Arts Open Studios Tours 2025
Welcome to the tour SLOCounty Arts is pleased to offer the 27th year of the Open Studios Art Tour in San LuisObispo County. The tour is a chance for locals and visitors alike to experience the creativity of the Central Coast in a completely unique way—by not only viewing art, but getting an inside look…
Central Coast Shakespeare Fest presents The Merry Wives of Windsor through Aug. 10
Enjoy Shakespeare under the stars The Central Coast Shakespeare Festival is back on the stunning outdoor stage at Filipponi Ranch to present The Merry Wives of Windsor every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night through Sunday, Aug. 10. Tickets at centralcoastshakespeare.org. Patrons are invited to bring a picnic and standard-size lawn chairs, and to dress in…
Cal Poly students install a colorful sculpture in SLO Botanical’s children’s garden
If you head to the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden in El Chorro Regional Park, and you make your way to the Children’s Garden, you’ll see a new 10-foot steel sculpture of a deep orange poppy topped by a yellow and black stained-glass butterfly. The poppy is, of course, California’s state flower. The colorful installation—a…
Paso Art Association presents Monochrome at Studios on the Park through Aug. 27
Oxford Languages defines monochrome as “a photograph or picture developed or executed in black and white or in varying tones of only one color.” Don’t let the Paso Robles Art Association’s current show name, “Monochrome,” fool you into thinking the show is dull. It’s anything but. Kathleen Bosch’s Blue Morning is a striking photograph highlighting…
Dear Cayucos, thank you from a family starting over
My family first moved to Cayucos in 1988. For you young’uns, that was way back in the 20th century. I went to Cayucos Elementary School and made lifelong friends that I’m still close with today. Like most kids here back then, I moved on to Coast Union High School and graduated in 2001. I spent…
Diablo Canyon should stay open for as long as possible
The recent letter, “Twenty more years of Diablo Canyon won’t ‘protect and enhance’ our coast” (July 17) is very misleading. It is based on misinterpretation of a statement of policy by the California State Water Resources Board. The quote from the board refers to the potential effects of the process of once-through cooling as it…
Ready or not
Are you guys ready for another election season? Because it’s upon us whether we like it or not. The 2026 primary is less than a year away, and everyone is announcing their runs for SLO County supervisor. Is a year too long to campaign or not long enough? Honestly, the campaign cycle feels endless. And…
SLO creates committee to respond to report on illegal frat parties
The San Luis Obispo City Council appointed Mayor Erica Stewart and City Councilmember Jan Marx to an ad hoc committee to oversee the response to a county grand jury report alleging mismanagement of illegal college parties. “It’s my understanding that 20 percent of the Cal Poly students are in a fraternity or sorority,” Marx said…
Assemblymember Addis proposed a state-wide protection week for the declining monarch butterfly
As monarch numbers continue to decline, California could have a week dedicated to the butterfly’s preservation if a Central Coast legislator’s resolution passes the Senate. Over the last 25 years, the Western monarch population has declined by at least 80 percent, dropping from what was once 1.2 million to an estimated 233,000 last year—the Pismo…
SLO County apple farm releases a new beverage lineup that doesn’t fall far from the tree
For produce and cold-pressed pours Learn more about Fair Hills Farm and where to purchase its products at fairhillsfarmorganic.com and follow the company on Instagram and Facebook @fairhillsfarmorganic. In-person visits to the farm, located at 6780 Estrella Road in San Miguel, are offered by appointment only. Each apple picked at Fair Hills Farm has a…
Morro Bay’s Michael Erin Woody enters SLO County’s 2nd District Supervisor race
Morro Bay resident Michael Erin Woody is ready to run for office again. The one-time Fresno City Council member who unsuccessfully ran for the 24th Congressional District seat against U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) announced his campaign to be the next San Luis Obispo County 2nd District supervisor. Woody told New Times that people…
Paso students offered free transportation to after school programs by Boys and Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast
Paso Robles Joint Unified School District is still struggling to find bus drivers for its students, but thanks to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast, Paso’s youth will have a ride to after-school services for the next three years. Registration for the transportation opened on July 21, according to CEO of the…
Chicano soul band Los Yesterdays plays the Fremont Theater on July 31
Editor’s note: Calendar Editor Angie Stevens interviewed Los Yesterdays for this week’s music column. “Bad Vic” Benavides is unabashedly honest—he can’t really play an instrument. He would rather be making music in the studio than performing onstage. And sometimes, in a band as revered as Los Yesterdays, he’s overrun with imposter syndrome and left feeling…
