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Last-Minute Gift Guide 2021
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and the gift-giving ante gets upped with each passing day. If you’re feeling a bit behind this year, or if supply chain and COVID-19 issues have you in a state of paralysis, we’ve got just what you need. Our annual Last-Minute Gift Guide is chock-full of helpful…
Americana, early jazz, and country blues artist Pokey LaFarge plays The Siren on Dec. 11
Pokey LaFarge is one of a kind—a purveyor and preservationist of antiquated sounds that should never be forgotten. His music straddles multiple genres and epochs—celebrating past and present. Born Andrew Heissler in Bloomington, Illinois, he showed an interest in all things historical from a young age. His grandfathers both deeply influenced him. One was a…
County Parks will apply for more funds for Nipomo Skate Park
San Luis Obispo County Parks and Recreation got approval to widen its funding net for the construction of the coveted and often-controversial Nipomo Skate Park. During its Dec. 7 meeting, the county Board of Supervisors gave approval for the parks department to apply for two grants, each worth $2.5 million. “We really only need one…
Lacking answers
How much energy would be produced by the offshore wind energy plant proposed for the Central Coast? And how can we put that into terms the average resident can understand? Several recent news reports have said the installation would produce about 3 gigawatts (GW) of energy. Period. Full stop. Is that 3 GW per hour,…
Flying Flags Avila Beach is SLO County’s first glimpse to beachside glamping
Glamping is getting an oceanside makeover as San Luis Obispo County welcomed its first Flying Flags resort in Avila Beach. The ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 30 at the Babe Lane location overlooking the beach marked the official opening of Highway West Vacations’ newest hotel and campground. “A lot of RV travelers typically stay on the…
School buses improve access to education
Unlike our neighboring school districts to the north and south, Atascadero Unified School District does not offer home-to-school bus service for the majority of its students. Every day, parents and guardians make thousands of car trips to and from schools, wasting money and time, creating traffic, lowering air quality, and degrading roads. Also, Atascadero contracts…
Olive oil is the gourmet eleventh-hour gift that’ll get taste buds rejoicing
Olive oil may seem like an unusual holiday gift, but in California’s Mediterranean climate, it’s right at home. New Times curated a sample of liquid gold gifting options from around San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. Our list is in no way exhaustive but can point you in the right direction for the slickest…
Adiós, Al Fonzi
Well, it seems that Al Fonzi has thrown in the proverbial towel and gone back East to Trump country (“From over here,” Dec. 2). Al will soon discover why things are “so much cheaper” in eastern Tennessee. I hope he is not living downwind of that pile of burning leaves, and let’s hope the fires…
Be mindful of otters
I’m sure I’m not the only one who cherishes the breathtaking geography of SLO County. With our beautiful landscape comes countless other species who depend on it as well. Among all of the diverse creatures we share our home with, sea otters are without a doubt a crowd favorite. Their charming mannerisms and adorable appearance…
Diablo scare tactic
Excuse me: Are we still having the “keep the Diablo Canyon Power Plant open” debate? Memo to Stanford, MIT, and U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm: Please acquaint yourself with the long voyage of discovery that found a spiderweb of active earthquake faults around the nuclear power plant, the upgrading of the power that the quakes…
Don’t know what to get your loved one for the holidays? You can’t go wrong with dessert
From fruit tarts to funfetti cupcakes, conchas to cookie dough, banana cream pies to buttery croissants, SLO County has a little bit of everything when it comes to sweet treats—you just have to know where to shop. That’s why we wrote this gift guide to the best dessert spots across the county. Get your orders…
F is for failure
The Paso Robles Joint Unified School District (PRJUSD) is the gift that keeps on giving to opinion columnists. It can’t seem to get through a month without doing more damage to its already tattered reputation of gross mismanagement and casual bigotry. Most recently, it’s come under federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office…
New brewery, full-service restaurant Antigua is slated to open in mid-January in downtown SLO
Frothy facts Learn more about Antigua, purchase beer, or explore club membership by visiting antiguabrewingusa.com. Follow the company on Instagram and Facebook @antiguabrewing. The restaurant and brewery, anticipated to open in mid-January, is located at 1009 Monterey St. in SLO. The corner of Osos and Monterey streets in downtown San Luis Obispo is about to…
Local record stores dish out used music, movies, memorabilia, and other giftable merchandise
Sometimes the best thing about walking into a record shop isn’t browsing through the store’s music selection, it’s stumbling upon the wacky pop culture artifacts you’re likely to find. Some of this stuff goes even beyond that designation, into the realm of vintage Happy Meal toys and other niche commodities outside the collective zeitgeist. What…
Hogwarts and Whoville are decked out for holiday happenings at Universal Studios Hollywood
Potter fodder Find out more about Universal Studios’ seasonal festivities at universalstudioshollywood.com. The park is located at 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City. No matter which acre of Universal Studios’ 425 you’re standing on, you’re bound to be hearing something composed by John Williams playing in the background—whether it’s Harry Potter fanfare or the Jurassic…
Paso school district deals with federal investigation, standstill with union
Between a federal investigation and a negotiations standstill with the teachers union, the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District is facing conflict on multiple fronts right now. Meanwhile, the district confirmed a new school board member who will add another perspective as these issues heat up. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights…
Paso Robles’ Studios on the Park presents annual winter exhibition, Handcrafted for the Holidays
More than 20 artists and crafters are featured in Handcrafted for the Holidays, an annual group exhibition at Studios on the Park in Paso Robles. This year’s event premiered at the end of November and is scheduled to remain on display through the beginning of January 2022. The exhibit showcases a variety of handmade media,…
C’mon C’mon is a beautifully crafted story about family, listening, and love
C’MON C’MON What’s it rated? R What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? Palm Theatre Writer-director Mike Mills (Thumbsucker, Beginners) helms this drama about radio journalist, Johnny (Joaquin Phoenix), who takes a cross-country trip with his young nephew, Jesse (Woody Norman). (B&W, 109 min.) Glen This soulful…
SLOMA debuts two new December exhibitions
The San Luis Obispo Museum of Art (SLOMA) celebrated the grand openings of two separate exhibitions on Thursday, Dec. 2, with a joint reception. Touchy Touchy, a showcase of sculptures by artist Marrin Lee Martinez, will remain on display at the museum through the end of February 2022. Exposure Composure, a group photography show, is…
SLO County lines up for national opioid settlement funds
Central Coast communities could benefit from recently settled national opioid litigation, as California counties and cities are poised to receive more than $1 billion in remediation to help stem the raging opioid epidemic. As much as $16.5 million could be coming to San Luis Obispo County and its cities as part of that haul—just a…
ARTery invites community to ‘sculpt with wool’ at next felting workshop in Atascadero
The ARTery in Atascadero is holding an upcoming felting workshop, Needle Felted Snowmen: Sculpting with Wool, on Saturday, Dec. 18, from 4 to 6 p.m. Attendees of the class will learn the basics of felting and will craft their own felted snowmen, which they’ll be able to take home after the workshop. This course is…
Freedom of Flow Short Film Fest
What’s it rated? Not rated When? Saturday, Dec. 11 (doors at 4:30, films at 5:30 p.m.) Where’s it showing? Beerwood, 690 Santa Maria Ave., Los Osos SLOMotion, Stoke Chasers, and The SLO Roll present a live screening of Freedom of Flow along with a few other roller-skate-focused films, with donation going to The SLO Roll,…
New groundwater plan will help SLO Basin’s water levels
San Luis Obispo County approved a sustainable water plan that would help quench the unusually parched region and ensure its wells have enough water for years to come. The county and the city of SLO greenlit the Groundwater Sustainability Plan on Dec. 7 for the San Luis Obispo Basin to counter the longstanding depleted water…
Local makers markets are popping up all over SLO County—here’s a handful of places for crafty holiday gifts
Looking for ways to avoid the dreaded supply chain this holiday season? Here’s one suggestion: Cut it out completely and shop directly from a source. Thankfully, local makers markets are all the rage right now—popping up everywhere in SLO County—so there are plenty of chances to find artisan gifts in the waning weeks of the…
Kate
What’s it rated? R When? 2021 Where’s it showing? Netflix Cedric Nicolas-Troyan (The Huntsman: Winter’s War) directs this action film about Kate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), who has 24 hours to get revenge on whoever poisoned her. Like Angelina Jolie’s Salt (2010), Charlize Theron’s Atomic Blonde (2017), and Jennifer Lawrence’s Red Sparrow (2018), this is Winstead’s…
