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Fighting for democracy: Former SLO County Clerk-Recorder Tommy Gong testifies to Congress about a lack of resources and combatting local Republicans’ voter fraud claims
Tommy Gong is sure that he’s where he’s supposed to be now. The former San Luis Obispo County clerk-recorder—who famously left his post in 2021 amid an “avalanche” of 2020 election denialism pushed by the local Republican Party—said he’s thriving in his new role as a deputy clerk-recorder for Contra Costa County. “It’s really given…
Spirited is a charming and funny adaptation of A Christmas Carol
SPIRITED What’s it rated? PG-13 What’s it worth, Glen? Full price What’s it worth, Anna? Full price Where’s it showing? Apple TV Plus Co-writer Sean Anders (Daddy’s Home, Instant Family) directs this modernized musical take on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, the 1843 novella about miserly Ebenezer Scrooge who’s visited by three ghosts—Christmas Past, Present,…
The Outfit
What’s it rated? R When? 2022 Where’s it showing? Amazon Prime Leonard (Mark Rylance) is a cutter, the architect of garments. He’s a planner; he analyzes and constructs and builds beauty piece by piece. He’s quiet and understated, having spent a seemingly simple life honing his craft on Savile Row before personal tragedy and the…
Causeway
What’s it rated? R When? 2022 Where’s it showing? Apple TV Plus Lila Neugebauer directs this drama about two damaged people getting through life the best they can. Lynsey (Jennifer Lawrence) is a soldier recovering from a traumatic brain injury she sustained in Afghanistan. She meets James (Brian Tyree Henry), an auto mechanic who’s struggling…
SLOMA’s new mixed-media exhibit, Dirty Laundry, comments on fast fashion’s fallout
Understand the impact Visit the Dirty Laundry exhibit on display at the SLO Museum of Art from Dec. 2 through Feb. 27. The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday at 1010 Broad St. in downtown SLO. Visit sloma.org for more information. For artist Minga Opazo, sometimes the best way…
By the Sea Productions presents new farce, Suite Surrender
Suite Surrender, presented by By The Sea Productions, premiered at St. Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church in Morro Bay in late November. Performances of the show are scheduled to run on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Sunday, Dec. 18. Described as a love note to the classic farces of the ’30s and ’40s, Suite…
Christmas Carol High School puts a Mean Girls-esque spin on the classic Scrooge tale
The Atascadero High School Theater Department presents its production of Christmas Carol High School, which premieres on Friday, Dec. 9, and will run through Saturday, Dec. 17, with performances on Fridays and Saturdays. Directed by Shawna Volpa, the show follows Meredith Priestly, described in press materials as the prettiest, meanest, and most popular student at…
Guitar master Deke Dickerson plays The Siren on Dec. 8
No matter how much you think you love guitar music and guitar history, Deke Dickerson loves it more. He writes for publications such as Guitar Player, Vintage Guitar, and The Fretboard Journal, and he’s writing a biography of guitar legend Merle Travis. He organizes an annual Guitar Geek Festival in Anaheim, and he’s the kind…
Lynn Compton is taking out her revenge on the Oceano Advisory Council
On Dec. 6, in her last meeting as a SLO County Supervisor, lame duck Lynn Compton is proposing to finally kill the Oceano Advisory Council (OAC). Why? Because we had the temerity to take positions on important land use issues in our community that she doesn’t agree with. Never mind that that is our job,…
Mountain lion sightings put SLO residents on edge
At 7:20 a.m. on Nov. 25, Laguna Lake resident Natalie Davis settled down on the couch with a cup of coffee when she heard her dog’s frantic barking. She ran to the window and saw a mountain lion chasing her dog. “So when I saw him [the mountain lion] chasing the dog, I immediately put…
A red mirage
On Nov. 8, voters delivered their verdict on the first two years of the Biden Administration. Conventional wisdom pundits had predicted a “red tsunami”: The GOP only needed to flip a net of five seats to seize the majority in the House, and one seat in the Senate. Most observers had projected that they would…
Cayucos Vets Hall fundraises for more money as ground breaks on remodel
The buck doesn’t stop at $11 million to refurbish the Cayucos Vets Hall. As the coastal town approaches the Dec. 2 groundbreaking, a fundraising group hopes to collect an additional $200,000. “The community decided it was their responsibility to make the Vets Hall as nice as possible,” said Cayucos resident Greg Bettencourt, who chairs the…
Victim or victimizer?
Man, I really feel sympathy for poor, sad Gabriel Rico Rosas, the heroic First Amendment advocate who bravely stands up for our right to behave like a petulant, immature, asshole just like him. He recently did jail time in Ventura County for protecting your right to act like a big fat baby. Martyr much, Gaby-baby?…
Voters pass abortion, arts education, anti-tobacco propositions
California and San Luis Obispo County voters both said “yes” to abortion protections, arts education funding, and a flavored tobacco ban, but soured on the remaining statewide propositions, according to Nov. 8 election results. With 98 percent of the statewide vote counted as of press time, the seven proposition contests are all but decided. Of…
SLO businesses receive intimidating messages about drag performances
Misreading the age restriction of drag performances hosted by a downtown San Luis Obispo restaurant led to threats and intimidation from a local business. On Nov. 17, Highwater SLO received direct messages on Instagram complaining about their drag brunch for ages 21 and up. The restaurant captioned the Instagram post advertising the event, “Bring the…
Find Christmas cocktails, cheer at The Carrisa in downtown SLO
Twinkly lights and holiday décor burst from every corner of the historic building that houses The Carrisa in downtown San Luis Obispo. Thanks to a collaboration between Rod and Hammer’s SLO Stills and Karson Butler Events at the Ah Louis Store, the Christmas at The Carrisa pop-up showers 736 Higuera St. with drinks, bites, and…
SLO County Observer served jail time after pepper-spraying incident in Ventura
It was a standoff between a cellphone camera and Mace. The SLO County Observer, otherwise known as Gabriel Rico Rosas, made a trip to Ventura County on Aug. 3, 2021, armed with his usual camera equipment and something he didn’t expect to use—a can of pepper spray. According to Ventura County court documents, Rosas was…
Atascadero homeless encampment causes problems for De Anza trail users
A homeless encampment located under Highway 41 in Atascadero has led to conflicts between recreational trail users and those who live in the Salinas Riverbed. Anthony Vasquez, 68, and his wife, Sandra Obermeyer, were participating in the Toys for Tots Ride on Nov. 12, an annual event hosted by the Atascadero Horsemen’s Club, when a…
Los Osos CSD board to discuss town incorporation
The Los Osos Community Services District (CSD) is set to take up the question on Dec. 1 of whether it wants to get involved in a citizen push to incorporate Los Osos as a city. Two Los Osos residents, Jon Erik-Storm and Kristin Horowitz, formed the Committee to Incorporate Los Osos and have requested that…
Total devotion to her craft and colleagues sets local winemaker Justin Trabue on a path to icon status
Get the juice on Justin Reach Justin Trabue at justin@wardfourwines.com, on Instagram @wardfourwines, or at her soon-to-be-released website wardfourwines.com. Justin Trabue has wine in her veins. She was born and raised in Washington, D.C., but California beckoned since birth, with her namesake being Justin Vineyards and Winery in Paso Robles. “This was my initial spark…
