Cover Stories
Best of SLO County 2018
Grab your capes and masks, because this year’s Best Of San Luis Obispo County issue is whooshing in with a BOOM! We asked all you Wonder Women and Supermen out there for your favorite masterminds, brainiacs, daredevils, guardians, and saviors. SHAZAM! You whizzed by like The Flash!, smashing our annual readers survey with a triumphant…
Preferring mosquitoes to politics
I’d rather be in the Boundary Waters Wilderness Canoe Area on the Canadian/U.S. border on a cold, rainy day than in California writing this column, discussing politics and enduring California’s boring weather. The Boundary Waters Wilderness Canoe Area is amply supplied with mosquitoes and bogs, requires carrying 80- to 100-pound loads on uphill portages, and…
Cal Poly hosts forum to address racism on campus amid another blackface incident
Cal Poly’s biannual Baker Forum on May 4 became tense when the discussion turned to freedom of speech and whether hate speech at the university should be punished. The forum began with a speech from Kimberly McLaughlin-Smith, a recently hired diversity and inclusion consultant, on how the university can work together to heal and move…
Best of 2018: Bargain Babe in Getting Goods!
BEST BOOKSTORE Barnes And Noble 894 Marsh St., SLO A quick stroll through Barnes and Noble in downtown SLO will quickly satisfy any book nerd’s word lust. “We offer great customer service and a great membership program,” store manager Simon Cruz said. Members get 10 percent off all store purchases along with additional coupons. Popular…
Social media sound off
New Times readers took to Facebook to share their thoughts about our May 3 cover story, “The proposed Hearst San Simeon State Park campground is just the start of developing low-cost accommodations on the coast.”
SLO County law enforcement agencies look to provide officers with drug to prevent opioid overdoses
If there’s a war against America’s opioid addiction crisis, then naloxone, commonly referred to by its commercial name Narcan, is one of the more powerful weapons in that fight. The potentially life-saving properties of the drug, a nasal spray that can reverse the effects of an overdose from opioids like heroin and fentanyl, has become…
Best of 2018: Power Players in About Town
BEST NEW COMPANY OF 2017 Paso Robles Casino & Craft Paso Bar 1144 Black Oak Drive, Paso Robles Paso Robles’s newest gem is the Paso Robles Casino and Craft Paso Bar. The new casino offers gaming, food, and beverage options. There are tournaments and live games such as Blackjack and Texas hold ’em with friendly…
Something’s rotten
“One may smile, and smile, and be a villain,” Shakespeare noted in Hamlet. Was he talking about SLO County Sheriff Ian Parkinson? When Andrew Holland died on Jan. 22, 2017, while incarcerated at the SLO County Jail, he was writhing naked on the floor, covered in his own excrement, and surrounded by jail staff, some…
Medical, phone records shed more light on Holland jail death
Medical records and phone logs released by two opposing camps gave the public further details about the Jan. 22, 2017, death of San Luis Obispo County Jail inmate Andrew Holland. Claims that Andrew had been medicated surfaced during a May 2 election debate on KSBY between SLO County Sheriff Parkinson and his challenger, local private…
Best of 2018: Mighty Maker in Arts Scene!
BEST FESTIVAL Strawberry Festival Arroyo Grande Village Peak season for strawberries is from April to June, and what better place to celebrate the sweet fruit than at Arroyo Grande’s annual Strawberry Festival—this year on May 26 and 27. Executive Director of the Arroyo Grande Village Improvement Association Bob Lund said the festival started in 1983…
Old school British soul and R&B act the James Hunter Six plays The Siren
Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Wilson Pickett, Ben E. King, Jackie Wilson—to hear them sing is to immediately understand soul music, its passion, its roots in gospel, and its exploration of the human heart. Traditionally an African-American genre, it was embraced by white artists as well, including The Righteous Brothers in the U.S. and…
Compton and Paulding exchange shots in supervisor debate
Lynn Compton and Jimmy Paulding squared off on May 7 in the first debate of a heated race for 4th District SLO County supervisor at Nipomo High School. Before a standing-room only crowd, incumbent Supervisor Compton portrayed herself as a taxpayer advocate and watchdog for South County while attorney Jimmy Paulding touted his leadership abilities…
Best of 2018: The Mad Diner in Dining Out
BEST NORTH COUNTY RESTAURANT The Range 22317 El Camino Real, Santa Margarita If an unpretentious, inviting restaurant serving some of the best food in the county sounds perfect for your next night out, look no further than this unassuming spot on Santa Margarita’s main drag. Standard classics such as a filet of beef, fresh local…
SLOcals to renew their vows as UK royals say, ‘I do’ for the first time
Here come the brides Celebrate and reaffirm your love and commitment at the Renewal of Marriage Vows and Afternoon Tea with the Royal Wedding and British Cars event at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in SLO on May 19 at 4:30 p.m. RSVP to rector@ststephensslo.org with your full names and the date of your original wedding.…
Clink clink
Meet me in the backyard: A new beer garden dubbed The Backyard is coming to Paso Robles this fall. Slated to open in September 2018 next to Chubby Chandler’s Pizza at 1304 Railroad St., this forthcoming hangout represents one of many new and unique craft beer options offered north of the grade … Tiki terrific:…
Best of 2018: The Amazing Adventurer in Get Out!
BEST WEEKEND GETAWAY Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort 1215 Avila Beach Drive, SLO Retreat to the wooded hills above Avila Beach for a chillaxing stay at the Sycamore Mineral Springs resort. Settle into one of the resort’s 72 guest rooms and take a dip in that famous naturally heated mineral water. “We’re out here on more…
Family ties: SLO Rep brings ‘Lost in Yonkers’ to the stage
On stage Lost in Yonkers will show at the SLO Repertory Theatre through May 20. Tickets range from $20 to $35. Visit slorep.org for more information. “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way,” Leo Tolstoy famously wrote in Anna Karenina. But I don’t think that’s quite right. Look…
Los Osos dog park delayed by habitat plan
Much-discussed plans to open a dog park in the Los Osos Community Park are on hold—likely for another year—as SLO County and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services complete a Habitat Conservation Plan for the seaside community. Last year, the Los Osos Community Services District (LOCSD) and county agreed to write a lease that would…
Best of 2018: The Beauty League in Lifestyle of the Beauty League
BEST HAIR SALON Bluebird Salon 742 Marsh St., SLO Owner Ariel Shannon opened up Bluebird to give her clients the pampering they deserve. She describes her salon as upscale yet approachable with down-to-earth staff. The bluebird in the logo symbolizes happiness, and that’s the core value of the salon. With every color, touch-up, or cut,…
Enter New Times‘ Winning Images photo contest
A photograph can capture a moment in a way that words simply can’t. Since 1994, the New Times Media Group has invited local photographers to show us their perspective on spaces that surround them in our annual Winning Images contest. Contestants can compete in the 23rd annual contest in several categories, including People, Architecture, Land/Seascape,…
Wine report
Learning is fun: Local Sommelier Jenna Cogdon is up to new tricks! Not only is the former SLO Station wine manager lending her skills to SLO Provisions and Blue Moon Over Avila—she’s also offering classes with the WineSneak. This May 14, learn all you can about French wines without feeling intimidated or confused (you’ll actually…
Best of 2018: Phantom Eye in Community Watch
BIGGEST CONTROVERSY OR SCANDAL SLO County Jail deaths SLO County Jail, 1585 Kansas Ave., SLO Concerns over deaths at the SLO County Jail reached a fever pitch in 2018 following the SLO Tribune’s release of footage of the death of Andrew Holland, a mentally ill man who died in the SLO County Jail after he…
Catch staged reading of ‘The How and Why’ at SLO Rep
Evolution and emotion collide in The How and Why, Sarah Treem’s thought-provoking and sharp play about science, family, and survival of the fittest, showing at the San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre as a staged reading May 25 and 26. On the eve of a prestigious conference, an up-and-coming evolutionary biologist wrestles for the truth with…
Ray to challenge Hill for Arroyo Grande mayor
Arroyo Grande Mayor Jim Hill will once again have to defend his seat from a challenger in November, this time from a member of his own City Council. Councilmember Caren Ray announced that she will run for mayor in the Nov. 6 election. In a written statement, Ray said that she decided to run after…
Make driftwood wall art at the Station SLO
Stop by the Mother’s Day Driftwood Wall Hanging Workshop May 13 and leave with a ready-made gift. The event is from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Station in San Luis Obispo. The $45 class fee will include all of the supplies, two hours of instruction needed to create your own handmade driftwood wall hanging,…
The wurst
Three years ago, Beda Schmidthues set out with a humble goal: To create a German-style pub where everyone could feel relaxed, even kids and dogs. Well, some might say he did the damn thing! If you’re a regular of this restaurant and beer joint, you’re probably more than familiar with Schmidthues himself (he’s known to…
Is it what it is?
“The collision nearly wrecked my car, and I don’t have the money to fix it.” “It is what it is.” “My back is killing me, and the doctors can’t figure out what’s wrong!” “It is what it is.” “The hurricane wrecked my cousin’s house in Miami, and they can’t find a rental.” “It is what…
Playing host: Two San Francisco friends get the SLO experience
My favorite weekends in SLO are the ones where I get to show it off. Most of my friends and family living in the Bay Area or Southern California are merely acquainted with San Luis Obispo County until they visit me. That’s my chance to hook ’em. It still amazes me how well the Central…
Paso mulls relaxing fee payment deadline for homebuilders
After lowering developers’ utility connection fees by 21 percent in an effort to generate more housing, the city of Paso Robles is now looking at expanding the timeframe for when builders can pay their fees. On May 7, the Paso City Council voiced its support for a six-month pilot program to allow developers to pay…
The blame game
If we’re going to try to blame the SLO County sheriff for a death in our jail, then why not blame mayors and city council members for the deaths of homeless people at our creek that they can’t help … and we could blame the president for war-related deaths of our men and women. The…
‘Tully’ is a frank and poignant look at motherhood’s travails
TULLY What’s it rated? R What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? The Palm, Fair Oaks, Park Director Jason Reitman and screenwriter Diablo Cody (Juno, Young Adult) reteam for the third time with this story about Marlo (Charlize Theron), an overburdened mother whose difficult life is turned…
Grover Beach moves to approve recreational cannabis, lower taxes
More than a year after embracing the commercial medical cannabis industry, the city of Grover Beach is moving to allow recreational businesses into the fold. The Grover Beach City Council voted 4-0 on May 7 to approve a first reading of amendments to its commercial cannabis regulations to allow businesses to sell, manufacture, and grow…
There’s nothing affordable about SLO’s new evelopment
Recently, SLO City Councilmember Carlyn Christianson claimed that we needed to ditch the “just say no” attitude in order to solve the housing shortage (The Tribune, “If we want to end SLO’s housing shortage, it’s time to ditch the ‘just say no’ attitude,” April 19). If you believe that building anything anywhere is the path…
Bingeable: Wild Wild Country
When? 2018 What’s it rated? TV-MA Where? Netflix This story is crazy. Pretty much from beginning to end, I sort of had open-mouth syndrome. I knew nothing about Wild Wild Country before I started the first episode in the recently released Netflix docu-series, except that it took place In the Middle of Nowhere, Oregon, and…
Correction
• In the May 3 news story “Bill to fund Diablo worker retention program is critical for decommission, PG&E and state reps say,” 34th District State Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham was inadvertently misquoted. If the state electricity grid were to be short power, the California Independent System Operator would be responsible for purchasing more on the…
SLO down, City Council
Watching the current San Luis Obispo City Council in action, I simply don’t understand what it’s doing to the Anholm neighborhood residents. I may not live in that area, but my 30-plus years of experience in San Luis Obispo tell me that the council is not working in the best interests of its constituents in…
Film Listings 5/10/18 – 5/17/18
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR What’s it rated? PG-13 What’s it worth Matinee Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre, Sunset Drive-In, Bay, Park, Galaxy Pick Anthony and Joe Russo (Captain America: Civil War and Captain America: The Winter Soldier) direct this new Avengers installment, with a screenplay by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. The whole freaking universe is…
SLO County Board Riders Club unites around love of waves and county
Tony Foster remembers the first time he fell in love with surfing the waves in Cayucos. In 1976, he was moving from San Luis Obispo to Cayucos, and he was dead set on learning how to surf. “I was bent on learning how to surf because I was going to live at the beach. So…
Grief should not be the determining factor in county races
As a community, our hearts go out to the family of Andrew Holland, the young man who died a year and a half ago in the San Luis Obispo County Jail. Shortly after the details of Andrew’s death became public, the Holland family voiced plans to promote changes in the way the mentally ill are…
Rolld, not churned: Thai rolled ice cream trend rolls into downtown SLO
On a roll Rolld is located at 785 Marsh St., and open noon to 10 p.m. daily, and offers vegan and dairy-free options. For more information on the ice cream shop’s May 12 grand opening, go to rolldslo.com or follow on Instagram and Facebook. Any Instagram social media influencer will tell you: You cannot garner…
New Times: Something to think about when it comes to ads
In your last edition, a half-page ad appeared in your news section attacking a local contributor for speaking out for nuclear power. The ad was sponsored by the World Business Academy of Santa Barbara, and it cited a “peer-reviewed” study by a Dr. Christopher Busby, who has some notoriety in the Green Community. According to…
Tiptoe in the tulips
Drooling: Farmstead Kitchen and Pelletiere Estate Winery in Paso Robles will present A Cal-Italia Wine Dinner this May 18 with such mouth-watering spring morsels as shrimp bisque shooters, Happy Acres herb chevre with spring veggies, lemon fava bean risotto, and smoked wild boar osso bucco (you may also want to check out their May 13…
Compromise is necessary to solve Oceano Dune issues
We don’t need to shut down the off-road park at the Oceano Dunes. We simply need to stop fighting and reach a compromise. Many parties are involved, and each needs to win something: off-roaders, Mesa residents, endangered species in the creek, Oceano residents, and Chumash sacred sites. Health needs should come first and need to…
Best of 2018: Captain Cocktail in After Hours
BEST NORTH COUNTY BAR Whiskey and June 5950 El Camino Real, Atascadero Cocktails? Swanky vibe? Jukebox tunes? I’m in! Whiskey and June owners Daniel and Erin Green describe their vision as “being one that preserves the vibe of a good old fashioned street bar that you would expect to walk into during the ’50s or…
