Cover Story
Party city: St. Fratty’s Day and Deltopia test local public safety services and long-term residents
If San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara know anything, it’s how to have a good time with decades of history to back it up. Yearly events like St. Fratty’s Day and Deltopia are household names, whether perceived as famous or infamous. If you consider them famous, you’ve likely been one of the thousands of people…
Funding cuts leave vulnerable communities struggling in San Luis Obispo
Trump’s executive orders have significantly affected public health and food assistance programs in San Luis Obispo County. 1. Public health cuts: The administration canceled more than $125 million in grant funding for LGBTQ-plus health services, impacting local organizations like Transitions-Mental Health Association and Lumina Alliance. This has led to increased crisis hotline calls and concerns…
Tiny Bhutan lights the way on climate change, national happiness
For the last two weeks, I’ve been breathing the rarefied air of the Himalayas in Nepal and Bhutan, traveling with my friend Don Maruska and hosted by skilled native guides in both countries. We can learn a great deal from these two mountainous nations—especially Bhutan. Both nations host thriving, newly established representative governments, and their…
School blues
I wonder what Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong really thinks about being dragged before the Republican-led hearing “Beyond the Ivy League: Stopping the Spread of Antisemitism on American Campuses” on May 7. Did it accomplish anything? Chaired by Tim Walberg (R-Michigan), the hearing grilled Armstrong and two other college presidents about their handling of the…
Atascadero school board denies Carrisa Plains another teacher
Carrisa Plains Elementary parents are concerned about their students’ route to school once they hit the sixth grade. With the closest middle school about 50 miles away from the rural community in Santa Margarita, middle schoolers spend long hours on a bus each day, keeping them from home about 55 hours a week between class…
Oceano residents ask to be carved out of new county fireworks ordinance
San Luis Obispo County introduced an updated fireworks ordinance that tightens enforcement around people hosting and knowingly attending events that use illegal and unpermitted fireworks. But some Oceano residents and South County representative 4th District Supervisor Jimmy Paulding are concerned that the newly proposed rules and existing county regulations that only recently took effect for…
Soul and R&B singer Allen Stone plays the Fremont Theater on May 22
Allen Stone is truly self-made. His 2010 debut, Last to Speak, was self-released and sold mostly via the internet. He road-dogged it hard, crisscrossing the country playing everywhere he could. His career really took off when he was signed to ATO and released his self-titled 2012 album. Today, he continues to tour relentlessly. Over that…
Cal Poly President Armstrong testified before Congress on May 7 to address how the university has handled antisemitism
Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong testified before Congress on May 7 about how the university has addressed antisemitism on campus and was spared intense interrogation compared to two other university presidents who also took the stand that day. Titled “Beyond the Ivy League: Stopping the Spread of Antisemitism on American Campuses,” the May 7 hearing…
The Four Seasons traces the travails of three couples’ relationships
THE FOUR SEASONS What’s it rated? TV-MAWhat’s it worth, Anna? Full priceWhat’s it worth, Glen? Full priceWhere’s it showing? Netflix Based on writer-director-actor Alan Alda’s 1981 film of the same name, this miniseries follows three couples—Jack (Will Forte) and Kate (Tina Fey), Nick (Steve Carell) and Anne (Kerri Kenney), and Danny (Colman Domingo) and Claude…
Planned Parenthood’s Central Coast workers greenlight strike over workplace conditions
Planned Parenthood clinics in San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Thousand Oaks, and Oxnard are poised to stop services until management improves labor practices contributing to high turnover rates. “We’ve heard a few different things from staff who have quit recently,” Planned Parenthood staff physician Mike Solemar said. “Some of the most common…
Your Friends & Neighbors chronicles a man’s fall from grace as it skewers the rich
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2025 Where’s it showing? Apple TV+ Jon Hamm stars as Andrew Cooper (known as “Coop” throughout the series), an affluent hedge fund manager who finds himself pushed out of his firm and a bit adrift. His ex-wife, Mel (Amanda Peet), and kids live in the house he had to give…
Crawtism returns to San Luis Obispo for the 18th year, raising funds to support local autism center
Previously a staple of San Luis Obispo’s vibrant Mardi Gras scene, an annual crawfish feast found new purpose as a fundraising event aimed at supporting the Central Coast Autism Spectrum Center (CCASC). This year marks the 18th year of McGee’s annual crawfish boil, also known as Crawtism, happening at noon on May 18 at McCarthy’s…
Coming of age classic Breaking Away screens at the Palm Theatre on May 22
What’s it rated? PG When? 1979 Where’s it showing? The Palm Theatre of San Luis Obispo May 22 at 7 p.m. Directed by Peter Yates (Bullitt, The Dresser) and written by Steve Tesich (American Flyers) based on his college experiences at Indiana University in Bloomington, this big-hearted film is simply one of most charming coming…
SLO County Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg missed the mark by honoring Mike Brown
It’s rare that a board resolution provokes a civic crisis of conscience. But when 3rd District Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg cast the deciding vote to honor Mike Brown, a man widely known for lobbing misinformation and vitriol at the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors, she didn’t just break with her more moderate colleagues. She…
Chef Zoe Van Gundy offers private catering services, whips up house-made pies at SLO Ranch Market
Table talk For in-home catering services, grazing tables for events, or to reserve house-made pies for pickup at SLO Ranch Market in San Luis Obispo, message chef Zoe Van Gundy of Zoe’s Table on Instagram @zoes_table_slo or text (805) 903-2258. For more information, visit zoestableslo.com. Colleagues of chef Zoe Van Gundy of San Luis Obispo…
Graphic novelist Kane Lynch publishes a tween book about divorce
Meet the artist Graphic novelist and cartoonist Kane Lynch releases his debut Scholastic graphic novel, Reel Life, at a launch party at the SLO Library (995 Palm St.) on Saturday, May 24, starting at 1 p.m. He’ll read from Reel Life, engage in a Q-and-A, and sign copies. Preorder at kanelynch.com. Lynch will also offer…
Sue Averall’s paintings on display at Cambria’s Patrick Gallery starting May 17
Cambria’s The Patrick Gallery (815 Main St., suite C) hosts guest artist Sue Averell on Saturday, May 17, through Saturday, June 7. Titled Garden of Urban Delights, the show includes “Sue’s deliciously rich urban landscapes … filled with stunning details and textures,” according to the gallery. “She frequently paints variations of Bay Area scenes as…
Cayucos needs an update to its outdated building codes
It’s well past time to update the building codes for Cayucos and have them aligned with what Cayucos is today. The growing desire of property owners in Cayucos to maximize occupancy as well as have buildings constructed that maximize the loss of open space demands a response from our Board of Supervisors and Planning Department.…
Sometimes anti-Zionism can lead to antisemitism
I wanted to add some comments on Judith Bernstein’s article last week (“What does the term ‘antisemitism’ mean?” May 8). It was well written. But, in my opinion, one huge point I’d like to make is that one can be against Benjamin Netanyahu and his corrupt government but still be a strong Zionist. If you…
Morro Bay Art Association member show, Illuminations, hosts a reception May 18
Art Center Morro Bay (835 Main St.) presents the Morro Bay Art Association members-only show MBAA Illuminations May 15 through June 23 in the Main Gallery, with an artists’ reception on Sunday, May 18 (2 to 4 p.m.). “Reflections and Shadows: We see them in a mirror, a pond, or a puddle,” MBAA announced. “It…
