Cover Story
Hot chicken edition: We tried the trendiest chicken around to see which spice reigns supreme
San Luis Obispo County has at least four spots that are dedicated to Nashville hot chicken. With three spots in SLO and one in North County, their menus are built around that red-tinged, crunchy white meat. And while the Central Coast may be timid about heat compared to some areas of the country, there’s nothing…
Nipomo CSD appoints replacement for recently resigned board member
The Nipomo Community Services District (NCSD) board will introduce a new face during its Jan. 10 meeting. Nipomo community member Philip Henry III was chosen to take over the remainder of William (Dan) Woodson’s term, after he announced his sudden resignation from the board in December. “He had to leave for personal reasons, and those…
Los Osos group sues county for approving residential project map
Tensions surrounding water availability in Los Osos led a group of homeowners to sue SLO County over development plans. The Los Osos Sustainability Group, which champions the long-term viability of the Los Osos Groundwater Basin, sued the county, its supervisors, and Redondo Beach-based Anastasi Development Company on Dec. 27, 2023, for approving a final project…
Cal Poly professors win a patent for their wildfire-detecting software
Two Cal Poly engineering professors’ concern for preserving the environment for future generations sparked a trailblazing project with intentions to prevent widespread fires. Majid Poshtan and Joseph Callenes-Sloan—associate professors of electrical engineering and computers, respectively—advanced a software program that can be attached to high-power transmission lines and detect fledgling local fires, their growth, and the…
Open letter to Gov. Newsom
My question is how do we enforce that law? What good are laws, rules, regulations, codes if there is no enforcement mechanism? Without consequences for noncompliance, laws are ignored. We don’t need new laws. We need the old ones enforced. If the old ones failed because of noncompliance, what can we expect from the new…
Oceano’s airport is a gateway for opportunity
I am writing to express my opposition to the efforts by the Oceano Beach Community Association advocating for the closure of Oceano Airport. As a person whose life has been profoundly influenced by the aviation community based at this airport, I believe it is crucial to recognize the immense value that the airport brings. My…
Too much is at stake to allow another Trump term
As we mark the third anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection, it’s important to remember how we got to that moment and who was responsible for it. Donald Trump and his allies engaged in a months-long criminal conspiracy after the 2020 election. They spread lies about voter fraud and used those lies to put pressure…
Beware of the broke government
There’s an ugly rumor circulating. The federal government has turned its guns on its citizens. What do I mean by that? Try being a small business owner today, and you’ll find out quick, fast, and in a hurry. The government is $34 trillion in debt. And it’s come to the realization that money printing (which…
Gotcha!
I’ve got a news flash for you. Reducing rents in downtown San Luis Obispo’s retail spaces means businesses might actually stick around! I know it’s rocket science but hear me out! The number of large vacant spaces along Higuera, Marsh, and Monterey streets downtown is a reminder that either times used to be better or…
Hanna’s dishes out Mexican fusion in Arroyo Grande
A grand addition to Grand Avenue Call (805) 904-6876 for more info on Hanna’s Mexican Fusion Restaurant, located at 1412 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande. Follow the eatery’s Instagram page for updates on both its new brick-and-mortar and its food truck, @hannas.street._.tacos. When SLO local Cesar Cortes and his family embarked on running a taco…
Cal Poly’s electrifying parade float hits the streets with help from Templeton High School alumna
Get involved To find out how to get involved or help with Cal Poly’s float process, visit asi.calpoly.edu/get-involved/rose-float. Have you ever had a year-long homework assignment? How about one that involves designing a float for the iconic Rose Parade in Pasadena, California? For Cal Poly San Luis Obispo student and Templeton local Jordan D’Acquisto, that’s…
Poor Things delivers a Frankenstein-esque coming of age story
POOR THINGS What’s it rated? R What’s it worth, Glen? Full price What’s it worth, Anna? Full price Where’s it showing? The Palm Theatre of San Luis Obispo Director Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, The Favourite) helms this wacky Frankenstein-inspired black comedy about brilliant but unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin “God”…
Whether you like Americana, outlaw country, tribute bands, or reggae and ska, there’s something for you this week
There aren’t a ton of concerts this week, but there are five very worthwhile shows depending on your taste in music. If you’re a fan of old-timey string band sounds, the Seven Sisters Folklore Society has you covered this Friday, Jan. 5, when they host Foghorn Stringband in the Milking Parlor at the Octagon Barn…
Deadloch
What’s it rated? Not rated When? 2023 Where’s it showing? Amazon Prime In a sea of police procedurals, a show like Deadloch is a welcome blend of familiar and funny. Placed in Tasmania, Deadloch features Kate Box as Dulcie Collins, a policewoman who gets pulled into a murder investigation when people start showing up dead…
Songwriters at Play pays tribute to Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson
A lineup of multiple musicians will perform covers of songs by Aretha Franklin and Smokey Robinson during two upcoming concerts. The first will be held on Saturday, Jan. 13, at the High Roller Tiki Lounge in Solvang, and the second will take place on Sunday, Jan. 14, at the Cambria Center for the Arts Theatre…
Murder at the End of the World
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2023 Where’s it showing? Hulu Created by Zal Batmanglij and Brit Marling, this cyberpunk murder mystery stars Emma Corrin as Darby Hart, an amateur sleuth who gained notoriety uncovering a serial killer and writing a book about it. She’s subsequently invited—along with eight other notable guests—to billionaire Andy Ronson’s isolated…
Glasshead Studio hosts two-day mosaic mirror workshop
Participants of an upcoming two-day class at Glasshead Studio in Atascadero will have the chance to create their own mosaic mirrors. The first session of the workshop will be held on Saturday, Jan. 20, from 10 a.m. to noon. Attendees will complete their projects during the second session on Sunday, Jan. 21, from noon to…
High surf batters coastal cities, causing damage and one death
From the Oceano Dunes to San Simeon, high surf conditions during the last week of December 2023 closed beaches; damaged roadways, parking lots, and recreational equipment; and caused a handful of injuries as well as one death. Jorge Moreno, communication manager for California State Parks, told New Times that the unusually high tides caused coastal…
Shoe Palace asks SLO to reduce its rent
Soaring rent for retail spaces in downtown San Luis Obispo is warding off new businesses and discouraging the old ones from staying put. But there’s one incentive that might tempt such storefronts to continue operating in the city center: slashed rent, something the Shoe Palace was hoping for. “Given the size and structure of the…
Public Works needs grant money to implement Vineyard Drive changes
The San Luis Obispo County Public Works Department plans to seek permission from the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 9 to begin applying for state grants for much-needed improvements along Vineyard Drive in Templeton. “What we are effectively doing is asking the board if it is OK to seek funding through grants for the actual…
