Cover Story
Reviewasaurus!
Triassic Period (230 million years ago or, for New Times purposes, January to April) Santa Margarita Adventures zipped right into the mouth of a bureaucratic monster when the eco-tourism business built an unpermitted zipline over scenic wine country. From January to March, the San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors, and staffers met…
Booms shake rooms
That wasn’t an earthquake that shook your windows—it was sonic booms from military aircraft flying over the Central Coast. According to a press release from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department , dispatchers received several reports of what appeared to be seismic activity in the county the morning of Dec. 20. “[The department] confirmed…
Clubs: 12/27
Goin’ South … BRANCH ST. DELI: 203 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande, 489-9099. Live music Fri. from 5:30-8:30 p.m. THE CLIFFS RESORT: 2757 Shell Beach Road, 773-5000 or cliffsresort.com. F. MCLINTOCKS SALOON: Two locations: 750 Mattie Road in Pismo Beach and 133 Bridge St. in Arroyo Grande. 773-1892 or mclintocks.com. Live music at the Pismo…
The Fixx is in!
For some bands, the message is just as important as the music. Take The Fixx, a British new wave pop-rock band that’s been pumping out thought-provoking tunes for decades. With three No. 1 hits and millions of albums sold worldwide, The Fixx features the unforgettable vocals of Cy Curnin, haunting guitar by Jamie West-Oram, the…
Bring on the doom
I know I had some 2,500 years to plan for the Mayan apocalypse, but the end simply couldn’t have come at a worse time. As an adult with a brain, I didn’t really believe in it, so it’s not like I could flush all my obligations down the toilet and get crazy smashed with friends…
Gumdrops and sunshine!
If only life imitated Candyland! While I’m now tempted to tell all my stories through interpretations of childhood board games, here are some words about the year’s artistic happenings as well. (While you’re at it, see if you can identify a few of them as icons in the adjoining illustration by Irene Flores.) Ready, boys…
Tangent 2011 Sauvignon Blanc Edna Valley Paragon Vineyard
This bright white wine was surprising at the first sip, although it’s not the classic-style Sauvignon Blanc I usually favor. This very pretty wine offers notes of sweet melon and pink grapefruit nicely balanced by nuances of tropical notes and grass. This is an excellent quaffer on its own. With food, I suggest pairing it…
Tercero 2008 Syrah Santa Ynez Valley Larner Vineyard
There’s something about Larner Vineyard Syrah that turns me on every time I taste it, and there are many incredible versions by very talented winemakers who buy Michael Larner’s grapes annually. That includes Tercero owner and winemaker Larry Schaffer, who makes this delightful Syrah. This deeply hued purple wine is beautifully balanced with ripe notes…
Eating well in Pismo Beach
Good quality food that’s delicious, nutritious, and fast—now that’s a fast food concept I totally embrace! Chop Street is a new eatery in Pismo Beach that offers excellent choices for a fast meal, but this convenient take-out place isn’t your typical chain restaurant. It’s a small mom-and-pop-type place that offers high quality foods at fair…
Questions For: June Bertoni and Joan Erkelens
NEW TIMES Where do you two volunteer? BERTONI We volunteer at the Carnegie Library in Paso Robles. NEW TIMES Why did you choose to volunteer here? BERTONI Because I was born here and I love it, and I can tell people about the times from what I remember. ERKELENS Everybody just loves it here…
Fiiiiiiiive cups of sugar!
I’m sort of disappointed that I find myself writing this. I was banking on the whole end of the world, fiery demise, chariots of crusty dead dudes flying amongst us, so I wouldn’t have to work anymore. So consider this an up-front warning that I pretty much pulled this column out of my nether regions…
Thank you for sharing
Whether you love them or hate them, New Times has policies for its opinion pages. We require that letters be published with a name and a city of residence. We ask that letters stick to 250 words (but—and don’t tell anyone this—I sometimes let them slide up to 350 words). We give precedence to local…
Cougars & Mustangs
Having finally burrowed yourself out of two cubic meters of wrapping paper and cast it aside, here you are to read the final Cougars & Mustangs column of the year. But have you secured your valuables before leaving the house? A series of recent burglaries have been reported around the Cal Poly campus, all targeting…
Your pizza’s on fire
San Luis Obispo’s newest downtown eatery starts from scratch with the basics: flour and water. But that’s just the foundation of Firefly Pizzeria, which opened after Thanksgiving on Garden Street in the cozy brick-walled space that formerly housed Bel Frites. Owner Luciano Bardinelli and his two-man crew have cooked up a menu of pizza and…
What was your New Years’ Resolution this last year and how did it turn out?
Allyson Hernandez Yogurt Creations employee “Exercising more and developing friendships—building news ones and improving others.” Carlos Bobe downtown security guard “Quitting cigarettes. So far I’ve been slowing down, and have limited myself to three or so per day.” Maria Olivier student “That I’d stay in school and do everything I can to get the best…
FEMA lets Atascadero keep millions
After months of review and several extensions, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced Dec. 13 that it would stand by a previous decision to give Atascadero $12.3 million for repairs to city property in the wake of the 2003 San Simeon earthquake. In April, the Office of the Inspector General released a report that…
State issues first fracking rules
Long-awaited draft regulations on fracking were recently issued by state oil regulators, following a series of public workshops, including one in Santa Maria last summer. California’s Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) said the draft rules are “a starting point for discussion” by the industry, the environmental community, other regulators, and the public.…
Templeton CSD general manager resigns amid ‘attacks’
In an unexpected move on the night new directors were sworn in to the Templeton Community Services District Board, the district’s general manager sent a letter announcing his resignation. Jeff Hodge, who’s been involved in a very public ongoing dispute with outspoken board member Greg O’Sullivan, sent a resignation letter to the board at its…
SLO honors homeless memorial day with vigil
On the longest night of the year—one that would reach a low of 29 degrees in San Luis Obispo—and the eve of the first day of winter, residents joined their elected officials and clergy to pay tribute to the local homeless population, many of whom would spend the night in the cold without shelter. About…
