Cover Story
Best of SLO County 2023: You voted on your favorites, and here they are!
Are you ready to watch all the surfers trying to catch this next set? Because there are a lot of winners in line. More than 200 restaurants, bars, local businesses, and community members hopped on this party wave and rode it all the way into this issue, thanks to you, dear readers, who voted for…
Numbskull and Good Medicine present Aaron Watson at BarrelHouse Brewing on May 10
Strap in and get ready for one of the biggest live music weeks since the pandemic shut everything down. Live music is back with a vengeance! One must-see show for country fans is Aaron Watson, who can deliver a romantic ballad like “When I See You” and a sage wisdom bomb like “The Old Man…
A challenge to the city of San Luis Obispo and all of us—be better problem solvers
When trying to solve a problem, our tendency is to almost immediately minimize or strip down the scope or context of the problem. But the public should be aware of how such a superficial view of the problem will lead to poor or even dangerous solutions. By minimizing the scope of our investigation, we may…
Renewable energy isn’t as easy a solution as you might think
Renewable energy is a good idea but not the total answer to energy and climate concerns. Renewable energy is intermittent, unreliable. This cannot be argued. There are so many details that have to be considered to have what so many think is the answer to so many power problems. There are so many facets to…
Biodiversity can’t wait
There are all kinds of reasons to save the natural world. For most of us, and for most of the history of the conservation movement, those reasons are visceral and personal. We know what Robert Louis Stevenson is talking about when he refers to “that quality of air, that emanation from old trees that so…
It ain’t pretty
If the last week of April and first week of May are any indication of what kind of governing is going to be happening in SLO County for the remainder of 2023—it’s going to be ugly. In Paso Robles, a couple of rogue school board members tried and failed to scuttle an already penned contract…
Best of SLO County 2023: Recreation
Best Health Club/Gym Kennedy Club Fitness Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Paso Robles, SLO sloservice@kennedyclubs.com kennedyclubs.com @kennedyclubfitness facebook.com/KennedyClubFitness Best Yoga Studio Spark Yoga 977 E. Foothill Blvd., suite 111, SLO 1289 Laurel Lane, SLO (805) 439-1848 hello@smileatspark.com smileatspark.com @sparkyogaslo facebook.com/smileatspark Best Martial Arts Studio Paragon Brazilian Jiu Jitsu SLO, Atascadero, Arroyo Grande, Paso Robles (805) 305-7512 paragonslo@sbcglobal.net…
SLO County confirms eventual closure of safe parking site, promises new solutions
San Luis Obispo County’s safe parking site on Oklahoma Avenue will continue down a path to permanent closure, county supervisors confirmed on May 3. “As I listen to the wider issues that surround it, I think that, for now, we should be on our track toward the humane drawdown of that site to closure,” 2nd…
Best of SLO County 2023: Goods
Best Grocery Store California Fresh Market 555 Five Cities Drive, Pismo Beach 771 E. Foothill Blvd., SLO (805) 250-1425 socialmedia@californiafreshmarket.com californiafreshmarket.com @californiafreshmarkets facebook.com/CaliforniaFreshMarkets Best Farmers’ 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…
Oceano CSD rejects feasibility study on Grover Beach merger
Often marked by scant attendance, the Oceano Community Services District (OCSD) office swelled with a packed house on April 26 as throngs of heated residents heckled, jeered, and laughed at the public discussion about possibly becoming one with Grover Beach for financial and infrastructural boosts. “The sales tax would increase by 1.5 percent, from 7.25…
Cambria plans disc golf course for Fiscalini Ranch
Recreational opportunities are increasing on the eastern end of Fiscalini Ranch in Cambria—including a disc golf course that’s part of a development some residents have been waiting almost 20 years for. “It’s an understatement to say Cambria is lacking in infrastructure to a certain degree, especially regarding recreational activities,” Juli Amodei told New Times. “We…
Best of SLO County 2023: Arts
Best Community Event 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/?rf=1413260802299962 The Palm Theatre pretty much influenced which neighborhood I lived in when I moved to San Luis Obispo. What’s not to love? It’s solar powered,…
Judge rules Stephen Deflaun to be sane at the time of murders
Judge Jacquelyn Duffy found convicted murderer Stephen Deflaun to be sane when he shot and killed two people more than 20 years ago at Morro Strand State Beach campground. “I do not find that defense has proven that Mr. Deflaun was legally insane,” Duffy announced to the courtroom. “I don’t think there is any question…
Whip up gourmet Mother’s Day treats with help from Central Coast chefs Alma Ayon and Florencia Breda
Confection connection For more information on private chef Alma Ayon, visit almaayon.com. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook @chefalmaayon. To reserve a spot at chef Florencia Breda’s chocolate workshop, go to @breda_slo on Instagram. For more details on her latest confection lineup at Mistura, visit bredaslo.com. Inspired by a love of family and gourmet cuisine—with…
Paso Robles school board squabbles over superintendent pay bump
A previously approved pay raise for Paso Robles Joint Unified School District (PRJUSD) Superintendent Curt Dubost sparked a heated debate among district trustees on April 25, which ended in a 3-2 vote to approve the bump. The 10 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Dubost matched the COLAs given to district teachers, staff, and management in…
Beau Is Afraid offers a disturbing ride through anxiety and paranoia
BEAU IS AFRAID What’s it rated? R What’s it worth, Glen? Full price What’s it worth, Anna? Full price Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre, Stadium 10 Writer-director Ari Aster (Hereditary, Midsommar) takes viewers on an epic adventure with Beau Wassermann (Joaquin Phoenix), an anxious milquetoast man forced to confront his deepest fears following the death…
Atascadero preps for dry season after winter storms bring increased vegetation growth
When winter storms hit Atascadero, they brought large amounts of rainfall and flooding, but the impact of the rain will be felt a bit further into the future than most residents anticipate, according to Dave Van Son “Last year, Atascadero Fire sent out approximately 3,000 notices to parcel owners stating that they were not in…
Schmigadoon!
What’s it rated? TV-14 When? 2021-present Where’s it showing? Apple TV-plus Alright, my musical theater enthusiast friends—strap in! Schmigadoon is back for season 2 with all the fun and folly of season 1. Now married, Josh (Keegan-Michael Key) and Melissa (Cecily Strong) are looking to return to the place that once brought them together. However,…
Best of SLO County 2023: 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 Giuseppe’s Cucina Rustica 891 Price St., Pismo Beach 849 Monterey St., SLO (805) 773-2870 jamie@giuseppesrestaurant.com giuseppesrestaurant.com @slogiuseppes facebook.com/PismoGiuseppes…
Mrs. Davis
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2023 Where’s it showing? Peacock Created by Tara Hernandez (The Big Bang Theory) and Damon Lindelof (Lost), this Warner Bros. Television-produced series follows Sister Simone (Betty Gilpin), a Catholic nun who finds herself battling a powerful artificial intelligence called Mrs. Davis with the help of her ex-boyfriend, Wiley (Jake McDorman),…
SLO Beaver Brigade builds momentum with festival, ‘Whale Tail’ grant
A week before Easter celebrations, San Luis Obispo Mission Plaza buzzed with excitement about a very different animal with big whiskers and two buck teeth. More than 1,000 visitors came out on April 1 to celebrate the first-ever SLO Beaver Festival, an event hosted by the SLO Beaver Brigade to raise awareness about the river…
Best of art student work from Cuesta College showcased at Harold J. Miossi Art Gallery.
Visions of Variety Head on over to Cuesta College’s Harold J. Miossi Art Gallery (Room 7170 in the courtyard of the Cultural and Performing Arts Center) to witness the wonder of the school’s art program until May 19. For more information on the gallery, artists, and future events, visit cuesta.edu/student/campuslife/artgallery or follow the gallery on…
Best of SLO County 2023: 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 Black Sheep Bar & Grill 1117 Chorro St., SLO (805) 544-7433 info@blacksheepslo.com blacksheepslo.com @blacksheepslo facebook.com/blacksheepslo…
Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast holds benefit concert
On Friday, May 19, singer and musician Pryor Baird will perform in Santa Maria at a special benefit concert to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast. Proceeds of the event will help fund programs hosted by the nonprofit, which provides after-school programs, mentoring, and other services to children and teens at…
Best of SLO County 2023: Services
Best Computer Repair Shop Alltech Computers 917 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande (805) 474-1169 info@alltechslo.com alltechslo.com facebook.com/alltechcomputersag Best Cleaning Service Pioneer Carpet Cleaners 1376 Phillips Lane, SLO (805) 544-4761 office@pioneerslo.com pioneerslo.com @pioneercarpetcleaners facebook.com/PioneerCarpet Best General Contractor FORM Design + Build 2436 Broad St., SLO (805) 547-2344 info@formdesignbuild.com formdesignbuild.com @formdesignbuildinc facebook.com/FORMDesignBuildInc Best Home Painting Service Browder…
DANA Adobe and Cultural Center presents Jazz on the Rancho
The Ron McCarley Jazz Quartet and Cuesta Jazz Combos will perform during an upcoming jazz event, Jazz on the Rancho, at the DANA Adobe and Cultural Center on Friday, May 6, starting at 4:30 p.m. General admission is $35. Visit danaadobe.org for more info. The venue is located at 671 S. Oakglen Ave., Nipomo. Δ
