Cover Story
Ira Glass, host of This American Life, comes to the PAC for an afternoon of storytelling
Those thick black spectacles, the shock of pepper gray hair, and that trademark nasally—yet inviting—voice. There’s only one person we could be talking about: the venerable host of This American Life, Ira Glass. Over the last 20 years, he’s told more than 500 stories on the immensely popular radio show and podcast. Glass and an…
Dan Carpenter announces bid for county supervisor
San Luis Obispo City Councilman Dan Carpenter has announced his intention to run for SLO County Supervisor District 3. The district, currently led by Supervisor Adam Hill, encompasses coastal areas of southern SLO County, including Avila Beach, Pismo Beach, and Edna Valley. “I’m announcing early as it will take a tremendous amount of hard work…
The Pismo Beach Police Department releases video of a woman with epilepsy arrested in October
On March 12, the Pismo Beach Police Department released video documenting the arrest of Andrea Hansen, a woman with epilepsy who called 911 seeking medical attention on Oct. 11, 2014. The footage captured by officers’ body cameras is of poor quality, but contains an intact audio recording of the events that transpired that night. Hansen…
Fewer flights, larger planes coming to SLO County airport
Starting in a few weeks, travelers at the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport will be noticing some changes for the better, and some for the worse. In a decision mirroring a nationwide trend, one of the airport’s two carriers—SkyWest Airlines (which operates in SLO as United Express)—has decided to switch from smaller turboprop planes…
San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly work through ‘St. Fratty’s Day’ fallout
Cal Poly and San Luis Obispo received a major black eye in the form of an out-of-control March 7 “St. Fratty’s Day” bash, and both parties are now applying the proverbial icepack and trying to figure out who threw the punch. On March 13, Cal Poly spokesman Matt Lazier announced in a press release that…
If you could be any movie character for a day, who would it be?
Kyle Plummer SLO Film Fest videographer “Tony Stark.” Carlos Plummer SLO Film Fest videographer “Tyler Durden.” Cassie Brown SLO Film Fest coordinator “Willy Wonka.” Becca Norman SLO Film Fest coordinator “Ferris Bueller … because his life is so fun.”
Guest conductor Botso Korisheli and guest violin soloist Sal Garza join the SLO Chamber Orchestra March 22 in Arroyo Grande
Violinist Sal Garza is a classic example of the brilliant-but-eccentric musician. When he found he was invited to guest solo with the SLO Chamber Orchestra under the baton of his old mentor, Botso Korisheli, he immediately emailed me four months in advance: “FYI, I am guest soloist with the SLO Chamber Torturestra, March 22, and…
Clark Center showcases San Francisco International Comedy Competition finalists
For nearly 40 years, the San Francisco International Comedy Competition has showcased some of the world’s most popular comedians. Robin Williams (miss you, man!), Patton Oswalt, Louis C.K., and Ellen Degeneres have all participated and placed in this prestigious contest. You can check out highlights from the 2014 competition at the Clark Center in Arroyo…
SLO Library hosts writer of ‘A League of Their Own’ Kelly Candaele
In 1943, chewing gum mogul Philip K. Wrigley bankrolled a new venture, the first All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Previous to this organization’s founding, women were not allowed to play professional baseball. Apparently, having a uterus only makes you fit for the amateur leagues. Despite that setback however, the all-female league was a massive success,…
SLO Film Fest concludes with a touching tribute to film and filmmakers Peter Bogdonavich
View a slideshow from the 21st annual San Luis Obispo International Film Festival. The last time I attended a film festival, the evening was not what you would call successful. The year was 2011. The occasion? The San Francisco International Film Festival. Yes, Ewan McGregor was there. Yes, he smelled of success and sweet lemon.…
Public art debate: One utility box sparks discussion about art, aesthetic taste, and public opinion
On the corner of Broad and Pismo streets lies a totem to San Luis Obispo: an intriguing utility box that colorfully depicts a man riding his bike on one side, and on the adjoining sides elements of nature, such as a fawn and tree. The piece was created by Alister Dippner in 2012 as a…
Dwelling in Bubblegum Alley: SLO’s trademark tourist spot offers authentic public art
Ed. Note: This week’s two art stories come to us from the students of Cal Poly professor Eleanor Helms’ Philosophy 350 class, a course dedicated to aesthetics and the relationship between art and philosophy. Students were assigned to write a critical art review about a public art piece in San Luis Obispo. The following are…
Clubs 3/19/15-3/26/15
Goin’ South THE CLIFFS RESORT: 2757 Shell Beach Road, 773-5000 or cliffsresort.com. CUVEE BISTRO AND CHAMPAGNE BAR: 550 1st St., Avila Beach, 595-2245. Live music Thurs. and Sat. 6-9pm. 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…
Bliss Café’s Vibrant Lotus Smoothie and Spice of Life’s Ambrosia Tea ‘Nectar’
After the havoc that ensued this past St. Paddy’s Day, I know you need a little health boost. Take that still-pounding head to Bliss Café in SLO and order a tall, frosty Vibrant Lotus superfood smoothie. Yes, you need “super food” to get your body back on track, pal. This calming concoction, a mix of…
The wine rush is on!: White knuckle your wine at P.W. Murphy Mining Co.
Warning: Readers with vertigo, fear of heights or an aversion to outdoor adventure may find this feature too intense. When was the last time you signed a personal injury waiver? Were you about to bungee jump off a bridge? Hurl yourself out of an airplane? How about wine taste? If your answer to that last…
Sip, and be happy
Brewtastic: It’s time for Central Coast Craft Beer Week, hosted March 21 through 29 across a colorful swath of bars and breweries throughout the region. Events include Parabola’s 2015 release by Firestone Walker Brewing Co. on March 21, a local beer tap takeover and brunch at Mother’s Tavern in SLO on March 22, and a…
Cougars & Mustangs
Dr. Anthony Koeninger, professor of history at Cuesta College, has an enthusiasm for life, humanity, his teaching subject, and his cats that fills a room in the best possible way. His laughter and good nature is infectious, and his honesty about his faith and sexual orientation make for a very comforting, safe environment. I was…
Warning shots: A trio of recent lawsuits could signal a litigious future for Phillips 66 and its rail spur project
Contra Costa County is more than 200 miles away from San Luis Obispo County. By and large, the two counties don’t have much in common. Recently, though, three lawsuits filed in Contra Costa County highlighted at least one important similarity. Namely, oil giant Phillips 66 operates a refinery in each county, and a proprietary pipeline…
Redacted: What remains unknown from the NRC and PG&E about Diablo Canyon
Page 1 contains a short memo. Page 2 features a list of recipients. Pages 3 through 67, however, are blank. Each page—in the public version of the document, anyway—is concealed by a white box, hiding the text the original recipients could access. While it’s not uncommon for documents from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)—or any…
Office finds a proposed marine sanctuary nomination insufficient
A proposal to designate an expansive stretch of coastal waters off the Central Coast as a national marine sanctuary has hit a snag. The Northern Chumash Tribal Council authored the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary proposal and formally submitted it to the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), a division of the National Oceanic and…
Offensive odors are to be outlawed in San Luis Obispo
Following a heated debate about the role of government and the nature of enforcement, a divided San Luis Obispo City Council voted 3-2 during its March 17 meeting to introduce an ordinance that would ban causing “offensive” odors to waft across any parcel or property line. As passed, the ordinance states that “it is hereby…
Taco the town: Spencer Makenzie’s brings Ventura’s best to SLO
Since California basically has only two seasons, spring is basically just summer. So time to break out those swimsuits, hit the beach, and get your seafood on. But for people who are a little lazier, and don’t want to drive the 15 minutes to Avila, have no fear, the answer has arrived, in the form…
Hat spat
Are we ready? OK, hold on. I’ve got to put on my Shredder hat before I start vomiting words, otherwise I run the risk of forgetting who I work for. I mean, ostensibly, I work for New Times, but the badass writer-of-the-people truth is that I write for the down-and-out so-and-sos; the can’t-afford-a-$600,000-mortgage, got-a-placard-on-a-barstool-at-McCarthy’s-with-my-name-on-it, salt…
A water and air win-win
America’s infrastructure and utilities are becoming more critical and expensive, especially given increasingly destructive impacts of climate change and drought. NASA recently reported that California has roughly one year of water remaining at our present rate of consumption. Water availability from the Sierra snowpack, reservoirs, and aquifers is at its lowest levels in recorded human…
Ask the tough questions about water
Why is it, as the American people, we are willing to spend billions of dollars on machines of war but do nothing about a drought that within one year may close down the farm fields of California? Why is it, as Americans, we pretend there is no human affect on our Earth and its resources,…
Leave out the insults against cyclists
I am a cyclist in my 80s, and I resent being painted with the same brush as H.L. Mounger describes bike riders (“Bicycles are taking over!” March 12). Although I do not disagree with some of the points he raises, I and my fellow riders who are members of the SLO bike club adhere to…
Let kids know that they’re incredible
Thursday, March 19, is Absolutely Incredible Kid Day! It’s a day that Camp Fire has sponsored for the past 19 years. Camp Fire is a national youth development organization. Absolutely Incredible Kid Day is a national letter writing campaign for adults to stop and recognize a special young person in their lives by writing a…
Find a vaccine middle ground
In response to “Herd immunity” (March 12): The big issue around the bill 277 is obviously the disagreement of those who immunize and those who don’t. Yet, why force people to immunize in order to have an education when so many people are standing up for answers to why so many deaths and so many…
Contain the nuisance at the dunes
The revised ODSVRA dust control plan for the dunes is a “doozy.” 1) It wants the people and “things” breathing its air to wait another five years to see if their plan works out—an insult to the long-range potential for damaged lungs. 2) It is also going to replant native flora on 20 acres of…
Diablo is old; remember Fukushima
Unbelievable. Somehow I don’t feel any comfort in PG&E’s confirmation that Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant can withstand a worst-case scenario earthquake on multiple faults surrounding the plant. This plant was designed in the ’60s and has been licensed since 1982. It is old. The original engineering, planning, and building of the plant on multiple faults…
Say no to whiny, childish behavior
We can all remember that whiny kid in school who could not get along with the other children and would exit the play yard saying loudly, “I am going to take my marbles and go home.” Chris Mitchum’s latest antics remind me of this childish behavior. First, he did not take the high road of…
