Cover Story
Best of SLO County 2022
Do you have any marshmallows handy? Because I’ve got graham crackers, chocolate, a fire pit, and a campfire story about the best places to eat, drink, shop, and get health care, get home care, and get outside. Pull up a camp chair for this truthful tale about who our readers voted for in our annual…
Shock and outrage
Big news this week! Abortions are on the chopping block, Diablo Canyon Power Plant might stay open, and Oceano is going to vote on the same fire tax it voted against two years ago. One of those things is not like the other, right? Well, maybe it is to the good, upstanding citizens of Oceano,…
Best of SLO County 2022: Community Watch
Best Public Official Jimmy Paulding Arroyo Grande (805) 994-0025 hello@jimmypaulding.org jimmypaulding.org @jimmypaulding facebook.com/jimmypaulding Best Use of Taxpayers’ Money Parks Best Nonprofit Woods Humane Society 875 Oklahoma Ave., SLO 2300 Ramona Road, Atascadero (805) 543-9316 adoptions@woodshumanesociety.org woodshumanesociety.org @woodshumanesociety facebook.com/WoodsHumaneSociety Best Environmental Watchdog Sierra Club, Santa Lucia Chapter 1411 Marsh St., SLO (805) 543-8717 sierraclub8@gmail.com sierraclub.org/santa-lucia @slosierraclub…
Use of force
In January 2020, the California Act to Save Lives (AB 392) took effect. This law is an important step forward in reducing police shootings in California—one of the most pressing forms of police violence affecting Black and brown communities in the state. In fact, police kill more people in California than in any other state—and…
Best of SLO County 2022: Getting Goods
Best Grocery Store California Fresh Market 555 Five Cities Drive, Pismo Beach771 E. Foothill Blvd., SLO (805) 250-1425 socialmedia@californiafreshmarket.com californiafreshmarket.com @californiafreshmarkets facebook.com/CaliforniaFreshMarkets Best Farmer’s Market Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market Higuera Street, SLO (805) 541-0286 farmers@downtownslo.com downtownslo.com @downtownslofarmersmarket Best Natural Food Store SLO Food Co-Op 2494 Victoria Ave., SLO (805) 544-7928 marketing@slofood.coop slofood.coop @slofoodcoop facebook.com/SLOFoodCoop Best…
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is smart, funny, and deeply self-reflexive
THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT What’s it rated? R What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre, Galaxy, Park, Stadium 10 Co-writer and director Tom Gormican (That Awkward Moment) helms this action comedy with Nicolas Cage playing himself. He’s strapped for cash, so he agrees…
SLO rallies in support of abortion rights, Legislature plans constitutional amendment
Extraordinary sounds blared from an unusually colorful San Luis Obispo Courthouse Annex less than 24 hours after a draft majority opinion of the Supreme Court on overturning Roe v. Wade leaked and rocked the country. “What do you do when abortion is under attack?” community organizer Quinn Brady cried into a microphone. “Stand up, fight…
The Northman
What’s it rated? R When? 2022 Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre, Galaxy, Park, Stadium 10 Co-writer Robert Eggers (The Witch, The Lighthouse) directs this action-packed revenge tale about 10th century Viking prince Amleth (Alexander Skarsgård), who embarks on a bloody quest to avenge his father’s (Ethan Hawke) murder at the hand of his brother, Fjölnir…
OCSD fire tax meeting leaves residents and leaders wondering
A special meeting about a controversial Oceano fire tax returning to primary election ballots this year appeared to leave residents with a Hobson’s choice—vote “yes” on a flat parcel tax that many are calling inequitable, or receive unspecified fire services from San Luis Obispo County. “We don’t know what we’ll get if it doesn’t pass,…
The Thing About Pam
What’s it rated? TV-14 When? 2022 Where’s it showing? Peacock Get ready to get angry when you settle in to watch The Thing About Pam. Renee Zellweger dons a bunch of prosthetics to play Pam Hupp, and while she is not unrecognizable, she certainly looks much closer to the real Pam than Zellweger ever could…
SLO finalizes tent ban in parks after year delay
San Luis Obispo’s City Council passed a second reading of an ordinance explicitly banning tents from city parks on May 3—a year after it passed a first reading of the ordinance but delayed a final vote amid allegations that the policy violated the rights of homeless people. The tent ban first came to the council…
OperaSLO mounts a full-scale production of Carousel on May 7 and 8 at the PAC
Experience Carousel Opera San Luis Obispo presents the Tony Award-winning Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical, Carousel, at the Harold Miossi Hall of the Performing Arts Center of San Luis Obispo on Saturday and Sunday, May 7 and 8 (2 p.m.; ages 10 and older; $35 to $85 tickets at pacslo.org). The musical is divided into…
Gov. Newsom suggests delaying Diablo Canyon’s closure
For the first time since PG&E announced plans to decommission Diablo Canyon Power Plant six years ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom indicated a desire to keep the plant operating beyond 2025, citing the realities of climate change and the threat of future power shortages. Newsom made the comments about Diablo on April 28 to the Los…
Cal Poly seeks artist for new mural project
Cal Poly is encouraging artists to apply for the opportunity to create a new outdoor mural at the university. The deadline to apply is Monday, May 16, no later than 5 p.m. The selected artist will receive a budget stipend of $15,000, and on-campus housing will be provided for finalists who reside outside of a…
Best of SLO County 2022: About Town
Best New Company of 2021 Benny’s Pizza Palace & Social Club 1601 Monterey St., SLO (805) 439-3838 bennysppsc@gmail.com bennysppsc.com @bennyspizzaslo facebook.com/groups/501102857178423 Best New Company of 2021 Benny’s Pizza Palace & Social Club “Ingenious” is one way to describe Benny’s Pizza’s business plan. The company’s namesake—Ben Arrona—began making pizzas out of his home kitchen for friends,…
SLO Rep presents The Children
The San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre presents its production of Lucy Kirkwood’s one-act play, The Children, through Sunday, May 15. The Tony Award-nominated drama is described in press materials as a “pressure cooker of a show that poses a difficult question: What do we owe, if anything, to the next generation?” The Children follows a…
Paso students push grad cap decoration debate to school board
Students at Paso Robles High School (PRHS) are petitioning for the right to decorate their graduation caps as a means of self-expression. But school administrators say graduation should be “a ceremony more than a celebration.” Zelbert Armer, a PRHS senior, started a petition about a month ago asking that his class be allowed to decorate…
Canadian music legend Bruce Cockburn plays the Fremont on May 8
I didn’t “discover” Bruce Cockburn until 1991 and his 16th album, Nothing but a Burning Light, but man, he hit me like a freight train. The folky singer-songwriter—with his jazz and world-music-tinged sounds, and his songs about progressive politics and spirituality—was exactly what I needed to hear, and he had a rich back catalog to…
Clarification:
• In an article titled “Local nurses say hospital staffing is dangerously insufficient” in the April 28 issue, New Times referred to the union action at Sierra Vista as a “picket.” While informational pickets occurred at other Tenet Health hospitals on April 27, the California Nurses Association clarified that the event at Sierra Vista was…
Bread Bike’s vision for the future involves a symbiotic relationship with the community, being part of California’s grain economy, and of course, lots of bread
Space to roam Get your bread delivered by bike, find it at a local farmers’ market, or check out Bread Bike’s new spot at 2060a Parker St. in SLO. It’s open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays. Visit slobreadbike.com for more information. What does…
Arroyo Grande locals open new bookshop in the Village, Monarch Books
Born and raised in Arroyo Grande, Taneesha Regez spent her childhood biking to and from the Arroyo Grande Library. She would bring her big, empty backpack with plenty of room to tote home all her book finds of the day. She never outgrew her passion for books. “Any book lover dreams of owning a bookstore,…
Best of SLO County 2022: Eats
Best North County Restaurant Fish Gaucho 1244 Park St., Paso Robles (805) 239-3333 info@fishgaucho.com fishgaucho.com @fishgaucho facebook.com/FishGaucho Best North Coast Restaurant Robin’s Restaurant 4095 Burton Drive, Cambria (805) 927-5007 anthony@robinsrestaurant.com robinsrestaurant.com @robins_restaurant facebook.com/RobinsRestaurant Best San Luis Obispo Restaurant Novo Restaurant & Lounge 726 Higuera St., SLO (805) 543-3986 info@novorestaurant.com novorestaurant.com @novorestaurant facebook.com/NovoRestaurant Best South County…
Best of SLO County 2022: Lifestyle
Best Hair Salon Indie Salon 1231 E. Grand Ave., suite 103, Arroyo Grande (805) 202-8992 indiesalon@mail.com indie-salon.com @indie.salon facebook.com/Indiesaloninc Best Barber Shop The Ritual 787 Higuera St., SLO (805) 596-0360 theritual805@gmail.com theritual805.com @theritual805 facebook.com/TheRitual805 Best Nail Salon @Nails 1519 Froom Ranch Way, SLO964 Foothill Blvd. SLO (805) 543-2268 business@atnails.com atnails.com facebook.com/nailsalons Best Lash Bar Aloha…
Vote of the people, for the people
It is said that all politics are local. If so, where is this nation headed? It’s frightening but not surprising that all Republican candidates in SLO County have corrupted the system of representative democracy from representing the public to representing the Republican Party. Ironically, the bane of the Republican Party is state socialism where all…
Best of SLO County 2022: Drinks
Best North County Bar The Alchemists’ Garden 1144 Pine St., Paso Robles (805) 369-2444 alexandra@alchemistsgarden.com alchemistsgarden.com @alchemistsgardenca facebook.com/alchemistsgardenca Best North Coast Bar The Siren 900 Main St., Morro Bay (805) 225-1312 info@thesirenmorrobay.com thesirenmorrobay.com @thesirenmorrobay facebook.com/thesirenmorrobay Best San Luis Obispo Bar Sidecar Cocktail Co. 1040 Broad St., SLO (805) 439-3563 info@sidecarslo.com sidecarslo.com @sidecar_slo facebook.com/sidecarslo Best South…
We need a qualified clerk-recorder
When I was on City Council, a young woman was hired as an assistant in the administration office. I watched as she began to study, learn, and eventually to practice her craft under the guiding eyes of the very capable city clerk. Now Elaina Cano is the appointed SLO County Clerk-Recorder, and she is running…
Best of SLO County 2022: Arts Scene
Best Community Event (city specific) Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market Higuera Street, SLO (805) 541-0286 farmers@downtownslo.com downtownslo.com @downtownslofarmersmarket Best Movie Theater Palm Theatre 817 Palm St., SLO (805) 541-5161 palmcinema@aol.com thepalmtheatre.com @palmtheatre facebook.com/ThePalmTheatre Best Movie Theater Palm Theatre Solar-powered (first in America, mind you) with red chairs and real butter on its popcorn, the Palm Theatre…
The Diablo roadblock
Will Gov. Newsom turn his back on the residents, businesses, economy, and environment of the Central Coast for $6 billion from the federal government? The stakes are high on his proposed application for this handout to Diablo Canyon, the last standing nuclear generating plant in California. He is willing to spend this money propping up…
Don’t let smear tactics win
Apparently we are in the beginning of the intense campaign season as the lies and distortions have begun. When opening my mailbox recently, I was confronted with an attack piece by Lynn Compton against her opponent for 4th District county supervisor, Jimmy Paulding. Her accusation is that he has taken funds for himself and does…
Best of SLO County 2022: Get Out
Best Bike Trail Bob Jones Trail Avila Beach (805) 544-9096 info@lcslo.org lcslo.org @landconservancyslo facebook.com/The-Land-Conservancy-of-San-Luis-Obispo-County-98093522918 Best Bike Shop Art’s Cyclery 3988 Short St., No. 110, SLO (805) 439-3915 artscyclery@gmail.com artscyclery.com @artscyclery facebook.com/ArtsCyclery Best Bike Rental Foothill Cyclery 767 E. Foothill Blvd., suite B, SLO (805) 541-4101 sales@foothillcyclery.com foothillcyclery.com @foothillcyclery facebook.com/foothillcyclery Best Hike Pismo Preserve 80 Mattie…
Take this advice
First, some history. In 2010, when Paul Teixeira ascended to Katcho Achadjian’s old seat on the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors, he was beholden to the development interests that had installed Katcho there and kept him in place for many years. So it was not hard to guess what was behind Supervisor Teixeira’s…
Best of SLO County 2022: Getting Hitched
Best Wedding Venue The Cliffs Hotel and Spa 2757 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach (805) 773-5000 info@cliffshotelandspa.com cliffshotelandspa.com @thecliffshotelandspa facebook.com/thecliffshotelandspa Best Wedding Planner Anna Fergus (The Cliffs) 2757 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach (805) 773-5000 info@cliffshotelandspa.com cliffshotelandspa.com @thecliffshotelandspa facebook.com/thecliffshotelandspa Best Place to Buy a Wedding Ring Baxter Moerman 1128 Garden St., SLO (805) 801-9117 info@baxtermoerman.com…
