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Autumn Arts Annual 2024
In case you haven’t realized it yet, there’s a lot happening on the Central Coast. The number of gatherings, festivities, concerts, classes, and activities continues to increase as the pandemic limitations fall further into the rearview. And there is a lot happening this autumn! Calendar Editor Caleb Wiseblood put as many of those events as…
American Pickers series scouts across California to find unique antique collectors
The producers of American Pickers, an ongoing documentary series on the History Channel, are currently seeking California residents who collect valuable antiques and other unique items. The show is shot in different states throughout the year and will center on California during the month of November. The series notably does not highlight flea markets, museums,…
Educate yourselves
This November, voters will elect the people they want to represent them from president to Congress to state and local officials. Voters will also be asked to vote on ballot measures, enabling them to vote directly on laws that will impact their lives. There are 10 state measures and a slew of local measures on…
SLO Blues Society brings The Mark Hummel and Anson Funderburgh Band to Odd Fellows Hall Sept. 28
Mark Hummel is arguably one of the finest blues-harpists working today, and Texas guitar slinger Anson Funderburgh absolutely shreds, and together they’re the Mark Hummel and Anson Funderburgh Band that’s rounded out with three more superstars: guitarist and pianist Bob Welch (of the Fabulous Thunderbirds), bassist Kedar Roy (who has played with Junior Watson, Kim…
In fight against terrorists, pagers are more targeted than bombs and bullets
I got quite a kick out of visual image bombs going off simultaneously in the pockets of thousands of terrorists, sort like the slapstick comedy of the Three Stooges, or the abuse inflicted on the hapless Coyote by the wily Roadrunner. And the resulting indignant sputtering of Hezbollah leadership was nearly as much fun. But…
Time, place, manner
The California State University system seems to be heading into sketchy water. With a “commitment” to upholding the First Amendment rights of its faculty and staff, the Chancellor’s Office issued a directive that bars disruptive protests on its 23 campuses. As one Cal Poly student put it: “If a protest is not disruptive, then no…
The Substance is a gory, satirical exploration of beauty standards and youth obsession
THE SUBSTANCE What’s it rated? RWhat’s it worth, Anna? Full priceWhat’s it worth, Glen? Full priceWhere’s it showing? Downtown Centre Writer-director Coralie Fargeat (Revenge) helms this dark comedy/body horror film about fading celebrity Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), who takes a black-market cell-replicating drug that promises to create a separate, younger, more “perfect” version of herself.…
Paso church sends political questionnaire to North County school board candidates
Multiple North County school board candidates recently received a political questionnaire from Calvary Chapel Paso Robles asking their stance on issues including student gender identity, LGBTQ-plus issues, and abortion. Atascadero Unified School District school board incumbent Matthew Pennon and newcomer Veronica DeCoster said they, along with school board candidates in Paso Robles, had received the…
The Perfect Couple
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2024 Where’s it showing? Netflix Uber rich power couple Greer (Nicole Kidman) and Tag (Leiv Schreiber) seem to have it all—a sprawling estate on Nantucket, healthy grown children, booming careers, and more money than God. Perfection cracks quickly, though, when their son Benji’s (Billy Howle) impending wedding weekend takes a…
North SLO County school districts ask voters for multi-million-dollar bonds
Learn more For more information about the Atascadero Unified School District’s Measure B, visit atascaderousd.cyberschool.com. To learn about Templeton Unified School District’s Measure D, visit templetonusd.org. Leaky roofs. Deteriorating classrooms. Insufficient and outdated technology. These are a few reasons why two North County school districts are asking voters to approve multi-million-dollar bonds this November with…
Kaos
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2024 Where’s it showing? Netflix Created by Charlie Covell (The End of the F***ing World), this darkly funny series finds an increasingly paranoid Zeus (a delightfully droll Jeff Goldblum) fearing the end of his reign when he notices a wrinkle on his forehead and interprets it as a harbinger of…
Cal Poly students, faculty object to new CSU directive
Cal Poly students and faculty claim that a directive ordered by the California State University (CSU) Office of the Chancellor infringes on their First Amendment rights. Adopted on Aug. 15, the new Time, Place, and Manner directive states that it’s designed to facilitate academic freedom, freedom of expression, and recognizes the rights, privileges and responsibilities…
Public comment returns to the start of Grover Beach council meetings
A moment of compromise touched the divided community of Grover Beach on Sept. 23, as Mayor Karen Bright agreed to move public comment about items not on the agenda back to the start of meetings—but that comment time will be limited to 15 minutes. During the City Council meeting, Bright said that after a long…
State legislation brings independent redistricting commission to SLO County
San Luis Obispo County’s district map in 2031 is set to have boundaries overseen not by politicians but by an independent redistricting commission. On Sept. 22, Gov. Gavin Newsom concluded a years-long redistricting saga in SLO County by signing Senate Bill 977 that establishes an 11 person Citizens Redistricting Commission in the county. The move…
Five candidates up for three seats on Atascadero school board
Three spots are up for grabs in the Atascadero Unified School District, including the seats of Matthew Pennon, Corinne Kuhnle, and Terri Switzer. Pennon and Kuhnle are running for another four-year term, against three new candidates: Veronica Decoster, Joey Arnold, and Jodi M. Taylor. While Arnold, Taylor, and incumbent Kuhnle all have the endorsement of…
Grover Beach council backs state Propositions 36 and 4
Propositions 4, 5, and 36 will greet voters on the ballot come November, and the Grover Beach City Council voiced its support for two and recused themselves from picking a side on the other. Already supported by other local city councils such as Pismo Beach, Arroyo Grande, and Atascadero, Grover Beach decided to endorse Proposition…
Pie in the Sky Pizza brings pizzas back to the Cayucos Pier with a sourdough twist
Grab and stroll Walk up to the Pie in the Sky kiosk on 156 1/2 Ocean Front Ave. in Cayucos from noon to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Online orders will be available on the website, pieintheskypizzacayucos.com, soon. Keep up with the pizza place on Instagram @pieintheskycayucos. Indecisive pizza lovers who can’t pick between Naples…
Cal Poly graduates launch Mr. Turtle to make laundry sustainable
The call to save turtles, a childhood stuffed toy, and a mission to reduce single-use plastic serve as the three pillars of sustainable startup Mr. Turtle. The local company is creating and installing refillable laundry detergent stations, starting in San Luis Obispo shops. “I take my Tide pod out of my laundry detergent jug, throw…
SLO County’s 2024 Open Studios Art Tour marks the opening of Dan Rider’s new space in Nipomo
Mixed media Sculptor Dan Rider will be showing his work on Oct. 12, 13, 19, and 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at his new studio in Nipomo, 1430 Country Hill Road, as part of the 2024 Open Studios Art Tour. For more info, visit danridersculpture.com. About 150 SLO County artists are participating in…
The truth about emergency services in Oceano
A recent letter in New Times by Alyssa Hicks sought to tarnish Charles Varni as someone who, single handedly, was responsible for the failure of the Five Cities Fire Authority (FCFA) in Oceano (“Charles Varni is no good for Oceano,” Sept. 12). Ridiculous on its face, most reasonable people saw through the manipulative rhetoric. Here…
Gallery at Marina Square’s October exhibits highlight paintings and photography
Works by artists Atul Pande, Carole McDonald, and Carol Roullard will be on display at Gallery at Marina Square in Morro Bay starting on Tuesday, Oct. 1. A joint reception to celebrate the three artists—whose exhibits will remain up at the gallery through Wednesday, Oct. 30—will be held on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 3 to…
A-24 is insurance
I urge a yes vote on Measure A-24 on the ballot this November in Morro Bay to ensure that the land use designation for particular areas of our city will not change without the Morro Bay residents’ consent. Under the Morro Bay general plan adopted by the City Council and approved by the California Coastal…
