Cover Story
Quadruple threat: Writer, actor, director, and producer Jay Duplass wins the SLO Film Fest’s Spotlight Award
Meet the maker Writer-director Jay Duplass, this year’s Spotlight Award winner, will screen his new comedy, The Baltimorons, followed by a Q-and-A on Sunday, April 27, in the Fremont Theater (5 p.m.; $20 tickets at slofilmfest.org). The film will screen again on Monday, April 28, in the Palm Theatre (1 p.m.; $15 at slofilmfest.org). The…
The Sierra Club is pushing back
Welcome to the debut of Down to Earth! Once a month, the San Luis Obispo Chapter of the Sierra Club will highlight what’s being done to protect the Central Coast and beyond. When Andrew Christie retired from the Sierra Club, he also retired from his New Times contributions, and many of you asked about it.…
Litigation nation, baby!
Well, they’ll sue you when you’re trying to be so good. They’ll sue you just like they said they would. They’ll sue you when you’re tryin’ to go home, and they’ll sue you when you’re there all alone. Feels like the whole county’s in a feud! Everybody must get sued! (Apologies, Bob Dylan!) Let me…
Parents demand policy changes for trans students at Lucia Mar
A barrage of community members presented the Lucia Mar Unified School District board with a somber choice—snap district policy around transgender students into federal compliance or face the threat of parental rights lawsuits. But other residents don’t agree with what the group is pushing for. “I don’t really think what they’re doing helps kids. Just…
Cal Poly President Armstrong to testify at congressional antisemitism hearing in May
Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong will testify before Congress on May 7 for the way the university addressed “antisemitic, violent protests” on campus, according to the Congressional Committee on Education and Workforce. Titled “Beyond the Ivy League: Stopping the Spread of Antisemitism on American Campuses,” the hearing will be chaired by Tim Walberg (R-Michigan) as…
Paso Robles, council member sue one another amid Tribune lawsuit
The Tribune is suing Paso Robles and City Councilmember Chris Bausch; Paso Robles is suing Bausch; and Bausch is suing them both. As of April 21, the three are caught in a cross-complaint crossfire. In March, The Tribune sued the city of Paso Robles and Bausch over what it said were unfulfilled Public Records Act…
The Baltimorons explores an unexpected romance between two misfits
THE BALTIMORONS What’s it rated? Not ratedWhat’s it worth, Anna? Full priceWhat’s it worth, Glen? Full priceWhere’s it showing? Fremont Theater in SLO on April 27, at 5 p.m.; and the Palm Theatre in SLO on April 28, at 1 p.m. Jay Duplass (The Puffy Chair; Cyrus; Jeff, Who Lives at Home) directs this screenplay…
Gold & Greed: The Hunt for Fenn’s Treasure follows treasure hunters seeking a hidden $2 million cache of gold
What’s it rated? Not rated When? 2025 Where’s it showing? Netflix Forrest Fenn is seen by some as a dangerous trickster and by others as a dream-maker. After hiding a cache of jewels and gold somewhere in the Rocky Mountains, Fenn penned a poem with clues to its location. This treasure captured the attention of…
Dope Thief is a gritty crime drama about two friends trying to survive
What’s it rated? Not rated When? 2025 Where’s it showing? Apple TV+ Created by Peter Craig (The Town, The Batman, Top Gun: Maverick) based on Dennis Tafoya’s 2009 novel of the same name, Dope Thief follows two Philadelphia friends—Ray Driscoll (Brian Tyree Henry) and Manny Carvalho (Wagner Moura)—who pose as DEA agents and rob drug…
Miller Family Wine Company named Grower of the Year, launches AI sommelier service
In good company To find out more about the Miller Family Wine Company, or to try the producer’s new AI sommelier online, visit millerfamilywines.com. For more info on the California Association of Winegrape Growers, visit cawg.org. Not long after accepting a coveted award for winemaking innovation at the state’s capital, the Miller Family Wine Company…
Central Coast Book Babes enters the Five Cities Area book club scene
Arroyo Grande native and resident bookworm Jennifer Littlejohn feels the impact of her visits to her high school library even a decade after graduation. “I was really good friends with our librarian, Brenda Hoover,” she said. “So many people just loved her, and she made the library feel very welcoming and just like a space…
Legendary costume designer Bob Mackie to receive King Vidor Award on April 28 in the Palm Theatre
Costume designer Bob Mackie has dressed many of the world’s most famous entertainers, including Cher, Carol Burnett, Diana Ross, Elton John, Miley Cyrus, Pink, Tina Turner, and Zendaya. He’s also the subject of the star-studded documentary film Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion (unrated; 2024, 105 min.), which chronicles his extraordinary six-decade career. On Monday, April 28,…
SLO County Libraries presents Día del Niño (Children’s Day Festival) April 26 in San Miguel Park
County of SLO Public Libraries presents Día del Niño (Children’s Day Festival) on Saturday, April 26, in San Miguel Park (all ages; free, 11 to 3 p.m.). The day begins with the 10 a.m. Sagebrush Parade (Desfile Artemisa) down Mission Street until 10:45, when the festivities move to the park with a variety of fun…
The 25th annual Parkfield Bluegrass Festival runs May 8-11 with headliner Seth Mulder & Midnight Run
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Parkfield Bluegrass Festival, running Thursday, May 8, through Sunday, May 11, when the tiny rural hamlet of Parkfield sees its population jump from 18 souls to more than a thousand over four days of music and camaraderie. Parkfield is only a 65-minute drive from San Luis Obispo,…
The Trump/Musk administration’s actions have set us on a path to destroy our government and rights
I sat down a few minutes ago and brainstormed the likely near-term consequences of the public’s inability to reverse the Trump/Musk administration’s virtual destruction of our government and the cessation of our constitutional rights. I regret to say that none of this is hyperbole. The catastrophic implications of our current situation are as follows: •…
Response to ‘We are not OK with what’s happening on Orcutt Road’
As the 3rd District supervisor, I take seriously all concerns raised by constituents. I understand how unsettling it can be when activity near your home raises questions, especially when it involves truck traffic, soil movement, and land use permits. Transparency and community trust are foundational to my work and to the work of our county…
