Cover Story
Time to grow up: Paso Robles confronts a pressing need to expand emergency services to keep up with demand
In most ways, former Paso Robles Battalion Fire Chief Keith Aggson loved working for the city of Paso. He valued the community. He enjoyed the camaraderie within the Fire Department. He embraced the responsibility of supervising fire and medical protection in the fastest-growing city in San Luis Obispo County. The problem was, Aggson was the…
Annabelle: Creation
What’s it rated? R Where’s it showing? Park, Galaxy New David F. Sandberg (Lights Out) directs Annabelle (2014) screenwriter Gary Dauberman’s prequel script about a possessed doll. After doll maker Samuel Mullins (Anthony LaPaglia) and his wife Esther (Miranda Otto) lose their daughter in an accident, they believe she’s returned by embodying one of Samuel’s…
Leap!
What’s it rated? PG Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre, Galaxy New In this animated film, 11-year-old orphan, Félicie (Elle Fanning) has one dream—to go to Paris and become a dancer. Her best friend Victor (Nat Wolff), an imaginative but exhausting boy with a passion for creating, has a dream of his own—to become a famous…
Supervisors tackle jail death at emotional meeting
A standing-room-only crowd gathered Aug. 22 to hear a lengthy presentation about the county jail’s mental health needs in the wake of a mentally ill inmate’s death in January. The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors heard from Sheriff Ian Parkinson and Health Agency Director Jeff Hamm, who laid out recent changes in protocol…
Have a summer
Last chance to dance: The Village of Arroyo Grande is a primo spot to grab a bite to eat (Mason Bar for cocktails and dinner, Comfort Market for a quick picnic lunch, Planted Eatery for amazing healthy snacks and juices), but did you know this quaint hamlet is also ground zero for laid-back community hangouts…
Atomic Blonde
What’s it rated? R What’s it worth? Matinee Where’s it showing? Stadium 10 Pick David Leitch directs Kurt Johnstad’s action spy thriller screenplay based on the graphic novel series The Coldest City by Antony Johnston and Sam Hart, about Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron), a British Cold War-era operative sent to Berlin to investigate a fellow…
Logan Lucky
What’s it rated? PG-13 Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre, Stadium 10, Park, Galaxy New Trying to reverse a family curse, brothers Jimmy (Channing Tatum) and Clyde Logan (Adam Driver) set out to execute an elaborate robbery during the legendary Coca-Cola 600 race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. (119 min.) —Fingerprint Releasing/Bleecker Street
Outshining the darkness
The crowd in Mission Plaza was crammed shoulder to shoulder. The tightly packed mass of bodies was difficult for 70-year-old Albert Gonzales to navigate, but he did so nonetheless, finding a space to hold up a homemade cardboard sign that read, “We are Heather,” in large blocky letters. “It’s time to come out and start…
Baby Driver
What’s it rated? R What’s it worth? Full Price Where’s it showing? Sunset Drive-In Pick Writer-director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) helms this action crime film about a young, gifted driver (Ansel Elgort) who’s coerced into driving for Doc (Kevin Spacey), a criminal mastermind, eventually leading to…
Maudie
What’s it rated? PG-13 What’s it worth? Full Price Where’s it showing? The Palm Pick Aisling Walsh (Joyriders, Song for Raggy Boy, The Daisy Chain) directs this screenplay by Sherry White (The Breadmaker, Down to the Dirt, Crackie) about arthritic Nova Scotia painter Maud Dowley (Sally Hawkins), who after having her family home sold out…
‘Non-discrimination in housing’ measure losing in early vote totals
Votes are still being counted in the special election for San Luis Obispo’s B-17 “non-discrimination in housing” measure, but early totals appear to show voters handily rejecting the local ballot initiative. Preliminary vote returns from the SLO County Clerk’s Office showed that about 70 percent of the votes counted thus far were against the measure.…
The Big Sick
What’s it rated? R What’s it worth? Full Price Where’s it showing? Stadium 10, The Palm Pick Director Michael Showalter (Hello, My Name is Doris) directs this semi-autographical screenplay by Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani about a Pakistani stand-up comic named Kumail (Nanjiani) who falls for a white woman named Emily (Zoe Kazan) who…
The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature
What’s it rated? PG Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre, Stadium 10, Park, Galaxy New Surly Squirrel (Will Arnett) and the gang are back again in Oakton, where the evil mayor has decided to bulldoze Liberty Park and build a dangerous amusement park in its place. Surly and his ragtag group of animal friends band together…
What are your thoughts on the recent events in Charlottesville, Virginia?
Peggy Heinrichs retired teacher “I went to the vigil here, and it was a very calm, serious, uplifting event. We need to keep talking to people, even people we disagree with, and see if we can find some kind of common ground. It’s scary.” Sean Humpa musician “It’s absolutely horrible. I have nothing more to…
Birth of the Dragon
What’s it rated? PG-13 Where’s it showing? Stadium 10, Park, Galaxy New Set against the backdrop of 1960s San Francisco, Birth of the Dragon is a modern take on the classic movies that Bruce Lee was known for. It takes its inspiration from the epic and still controversial showdown between an up-and-coming Bruce Lee (Philip…
The Only Living Boy in New York
What’s it rated? R Where’s it showing? The Palm New Thomas Webb (Callum Turner), the son of a publisher and his artistic wife, has just graduated from college and is trying to find his place in the world. Moving from his parents’ Upper West Side apartment to the Lower East Side, he befriends his neighbor…
Housing is a lot to chew on
When is someone going to take a swing at the licensed weekly rentals to pay for their impact on our neighborhoods? An ordinance allowing commercial ventures to operate on every residential block was implemented 15 years ago, has never been modified for any reason, and no one has ever had their rental license revoked. The…
Brigsby Bear
What’s it rated? PG-13 Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre, Galaxy New Brigsby Bear Adventures is a children’s TV show produced for an audience of one: James (Kyle Mooney). When the show abruptly ends, James’ life changes forever. He sets out to finish the story himself and must learn to cope with the realities of a…
Cabaret 805 fills musical niche in SLO County
You ain’t seen nothing yet Sign up for the Cabaret Singing and Performance class through Cuesta College’s Community Programs online at cuesta.edu. The fall class starts Aug. 30 and is on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the SLO campus. The cost is $185 per student. Catch a performance by singers from Cabaret 805…
Energy of the future
PG&E’s decision to close the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant was based on math—economics—not environmental concerns, Mark Henry (“Mathematical conundrum,” Aug. 17). From the beginning, the costs of Diablo were daunting. Construction costs projected at $2.2 billion escalated to $5.4 billion because of seismic issues and human error. It is the largest single generation system…
Dawson City: Frozen Time
What’s it rated? NR Where’s it showing? The Palm Dawson City: Frozen Time pieces together the bizarre true history of a long-lost collection of 533 nitrate film prints dating from the early 1900s. Discovered buried under a hockey rink in a former Klondike Gold Rush town, their story reveals the links between the movie business…
Interdisciplinary, Pakistani-American artist Anila Quayyum Agha talks belonging, immigration
Experience Artist Anila Quayyum Agha’s exhibit, All The Flowers Are For Me, will be on display at Cuesta College’s Harold J. Miossi Gallery through Sept. 22 with an opening reception with the artist on Aug. 24 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Agha will give a talk on the exhibit at 5:30 p.m. Visit cuesta.edu for…
Trump is the antithesis of Nazism
This writing was triggered by Russ Hodin’s cartoon in the Aug. 17 issue, which depicted a beam of light in the shape of a Nazi swastika emanating from the White House. Obviously, the intent was to infer that the occupant therein is a Nazi. This is an interesting concept considering that the Nazi’s were the…
Dunkirk
What’s it rated? PG-13 What’s it worth? Full Price Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre, Stadium 10, Park, Galaxy Pick Writer-director Christopher Nolan (Memento, Batman Begins, The Prestige, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Interstellar) helms this historical drama about the World War II evacuation of Dunkirk, when allied forces from Belgium, the British Empire,…
Made in SLO
After years of making stylish clothes in SLO, sewing and fashion guru Kate White’s line Scissor Clothing is going brick and mortar. Her offering of classic, casual comfort clothes for women and custom-made button-down shirts for men will now be sold at White’s new retail location at 5880 Entrada Ave. in Atascadero. Stop by the…
New Times chose to publish hateful content
On Aug. 17, the Shredder championed the rights of groups like the Missionaries Fellowship of Los Angeles to express their offensive views, just as progressive groups have the right to express their views (“Don’t fight fascism with fascism”). But there is an important difference between organizing a protest, voicing one’s beliefs at a public government…
The Emoji Movie
What’s it rated? PG Where’s it showing? Park This animated comedy takes place in Textopolis, a world inside a smartphone that’s inhabited by various emojis. There, an emoji named Gene (voiced by T.J. Miller) is ashamed that he has multiple facial expressions while his colleagues only have one each, and he embarks on a quest…
Sacred fire
Join the visiting Tibetan monks on Aug. 29 in Morro Bay for a Fire Puja ceremony and see the monks create a fire offering as they chant mystical prayers to create well-being on our planet while contributing to the preservation of the endangered Tibetan culture. The event will be held at The Green Lotus Center…
Oldies don’t always play oldies
Glen Starkey’s weekly column does a great service to all us local music lovers. However, to improve that service even more, I would like to suggest he check recent set lists before plugging an upcoming local concert from an established star. In Glen’s blurb for the Doobie Brothers’ Aug. 22 concert at Vina Robles, he…
Wineventure
Slow down for sipping: Didn’t get enough summer wine fun into your calendar? That’s a darn shame. Make a date for fresh vineyards and check out some cool tasting rooms while you’re at it (like Halter Ranch or Derby Wine Estates in Paso Robles, which are both featuring live music this Aug. 25). On the…
Girls Trip
What’s it rated? R Where’s it showing? Stadium 10 When four lifelong friends (Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Tiffany Haddish) travel to New Orleans for the annual Essence Festival, sisterhoods are rekindled, wild sides are rediscovered, and there’s enough dancing, drinking, brawling, and romancing to make the Big Easy blush. (102 min.)…
Walking small
Do you remember the 1973 film Walking Tall? Sheriff Buford Pusser singlehandedly cleaned up his corrupt Tennessee town. Man was that awesome! That’s the sort of film that leads kids to dream of growing up and becoming sheriff. You get to wear a spiffy uniform and cool utility belt, maybe ride a horse and wear…
Inclusivity and honesty
Last Wednesday, I joined a thousand people in San Luis Obispo’s Mission Plaza to honor domestic terrorism victim Heather Heyer. Heather was killed by a white supremacist while she was protesting neo-Nazis marching in her town of Charlottesville, Virginia. At the gathering, SLO County residents mourned Heather and amplified her final social media message: “If…
Chew on this!
Building up an appetite: SLO Donut Co. on Foothill Boulevard in SLO is still going strong during ongoing construction! Try a lavender almond, maple with sprinkles, or a mean green matcha flavor before you head into work this Monday (or whenever you feel like it; no judgements here) … Have you checked out High Street…
Good Time
What’s it rated? R Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre New After a botched bank robbery lands his younger brother in prison, Constantine Nikas (Robert Pattinson) embarks on a twisted odyssey through New York City’s underworld in an increasingly desperate and dangerous attempt to get his brother out of jail. (100 min.) —A24 Films
Freestyle moves
Let everything go and give in to the movement and music Sept. 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Ecstatic Dance! event at the Holistic Movement Center in Morro Bay. Ecstatic dance is a place to let your body move in whichever way feels right for you. It’s also a place to release and…
Proud member of the ‘eco group-think’ movement
Mark Henry’s viewpoint is based on assumptions that are wildly off base (“Mathematical conundrum,” Aug. 17). For starters, nukes don’t produce power 24/7 because they must be refueled and also have shutdowns for maintenance, repairs, and emergency “events.” Of California’s original five nuclear plants, only Diablo Canyon is still running, but it’s scheduled to shut…
Mint+Craft is all about immediate gratification
From coffee to nightcap Mint+Craft Cafe and Mercantile is located at 848 Monterey St. in downtown SLO and offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, happy hour, catering, and delivery. Hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. For more information, call 632-9191 or go to mintandcraft.com. People who live and work in downtown SLO—give me a “hallelujah”…
The Glass Castle
What’s it rated? PG-13 Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre, Fair Oaks, Bay, Park, Galaxy New Chronicling the adventures of an eccentric, resilient and tight-knit family, The Glass Castle is a remarkable story of unconditional love. Oscar winner Brie Larson brings Jeannette Walls’ best-selling memoir to life as a young woman who, influenced by the joyfully…
Spider-Man: Homecoming
What’s it rated? PG-13 What’s it worth? Full Price Where’s it showing? Stadium 10, Galaxy Pick This new Spider-Man film picks up a few months after the events of Captain America: Civil War, which chronicled the rift between Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.). This time around, Tony Stark (AKA Iron…
Grover City Council mulls increasing its compensation
How long would you wait before asking for a raise? One year? Two? How about 31 years? At an Aug. 21 meeting, the Grover Beach City Council asked city staff to begin exploring the possibility of increasing the monthly stipend for council members and mayor, something that hasn’t been done since 1986. “The stipend, to…
Grover soup
I don’t care when you were born. The ’80s ruled! Hair-sprayed hard rockers Great White are the epitome of ’80s excess, wouldn’t you agree? Don’t miss ’em at Grover Beach’s annual Stone Soup Music Festival and Street Faire this Aug. 26 and 27 (they play Saturday, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.). While you’re banging your head…
Amber Cross plays Southern Station on Aug. 25, in support of her new CD ‘Savage on the Downhill’
Savage on the Downhill, the newest album by local Americana singer-songwriter Amber Cross, finds her in more of a country and Western vein than previous folk and gospel efforts. Cross’s voice can sound plaintive, mountain-fresh, and straight out of Appalachia, and here the Maine-born-and-raised pastor’s daughter moves through a variety of roots genres that share…
Wind River
What’s it rated? R Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre New Wind River is a chilling thriller that follows a rookie FBI agent (Elizabeth Olsen) who teams up with a local game tracker with deep community ties and a haunted past (Jeremy Renner) to investigate the murder of a local girl on a remote Native American…
Dogs get to keep their beach in Avila
Four-legged friends and their owners can continue to enjoy a game of fetch on some sandy stretches of Avila Beach coastline. During the Aug. 23 Port San Luis Harbor District Commission meeting, the board unanimously voted to allow dogs, with some restrictions, on Avila, Olde Port, and Coast Guard (also known as Lighthouse Beach) beaches.…
The Hitman’s Bodyguard
What’s it rated? R Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre, Bay, Stadium 10, Park, Galaxy New The world’s top protection agent (Ryan Reynolds) is called upon to guard the life of his mortal enemy, one of the world’s most notorious hit men (Samuel L. Jackson). The relentless bodyguard and manipulative assassin have been on the opposite…
Black hole sun
Catch ya next time Bummed that you missed the 2017 solar eclipse? Word on the internet is there will be another one in 2024. Visit eclipse2017.nasa.gov for more info. When I was in elementary school, one of my teachers told our class that the ancient Mayan civilization believed that solar eclipses were caused by a…
County joins the Paso Basin Cooperative Committee
After approving a memorandum of understanding (MOA) with stakeholders over the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin on Aug. 22, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors has almost all of the collaborative agreements it needs to try and bring the county’s six water basins into compliance with the state. Supervisors unanimously decided to join Paso…
‘Step’ is feel good documentary about overcoming adversity
STEP What’s it rated? PG-13 What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? The Palm Amanda Lipitz directs this documentary about a girls’ high school step dance team, following a group of girls through their senior year at their Baltimore high school as they each attempt to be…
An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power
What’s it rated? PG What’s it worth? Matinee Where’s it showing? The Palm Pick Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk direct this follow-up documentary to the Oscar-wining An Inconvenient Truth (2006), which exposed the threat of global climate change. This time around, the filmmakers document the progress made in tackling climate change over the last decade…
Wonder Woman
What’s it rated? PG What’s it worth? Full Price Where’s it showing? Sunset Drive In, Stadium 10 Pick Patty Jenkins (writer-director of Monster) directs this origin story of Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), who was raised as Diana, an Amazon princess trained as an unbeatable warrior on a remote island. When an American pilot named Steve…
Women helping women
Behind the storefront of Yarns at the Adobe is a hidden oasis where knitters convene. A patio tucked away at the end of a narrow hallway is the spot that a tight-knit group of women comes together to knit for a cause. Once a month, the SLO Knitted Knockers meets to make prosthetics for breast…
Guilty Pleasures: Iverson
When? 2014 What’s it rated? TV-14 Where’s it available? Streaming on Netflix When friends and family get together for a good ol’ “Netflix and chill,” the “sports documentary” genre doesn’t usually rise to the top of most people’s interest list. Believe me, I’ve asked. I love a good sports doc. I’m actually more of a…
Ingrid Goes West
What’s it rated? R Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre New Ingrid Thorburn (Aubrey Plaza) is an unhinged social media stalker with a history of confusing likes for meaningful relationships. Taylor Sloane (Elizabeth Olsen) is an Instagram-famous influencer whose perfectly curated, boho-chic lifestyle becomes Ingrid’s latest obsession. When Ingrid moves to LA and manages to insinuate…
Avila Beach needs a bus stop
I have seen far more people on Avila Beach even on cloudy days than on Pismo Beach on warm sunny days. During summer weekdays of no trolley to Avila, the beach is usually packed as far as it extends on both sides of the pier, as well as up the lagoon, while Pismo Beach crowds…
