Cover Story
Peace. Love. Dirt.
The light filters through oaks leaves, dancing along the dusty path to Live Oak’s main stage. There’s just a whisper of a breeze as campers queue up for the early morning Acorn Roll, beach chairs in tow. This is how the mornings start at the Live Oak Music Festival, with people lining up to place…
Verdad 2010 Albarino Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard
I loved this fragrant Spanish variety for its forward aromatics and layered flavors. Made by winemaker Louisa Sawyer Lindquist, who’s also co-owner of Qupé with her husband, winemaker Bob Lindquist, her Verdad label is devoted to Spanish varieties, including Tempranillo. Her wines exhibit a feminine touch, which is elegantly expressed in this fine Albarino. It…
County budget sees cuts aplenty
Depending on what happens with the state, San Luis Obispo County’s spending plan for the next fiscal year could be really crappy or just kind of crappy. “It’s another year with the fun state budget follies,” a snarky Supervisor Adam Hill said when presented with the bout of financial squirts the county is facing. “What…
Change the name to Happiness
San Luis Obispo, to the gringo linguist, doesn’t exactly roll trippingly off the tongue. The most common response following a reply to the where-are-you-from question is this: “Oh … where is that?” or “Is that in South America?” That was the way it used to be, at least, before SLO was christened “The Happiest Town…
Keep it freaky!
If it seems like Black Crowes front man Chris Robinson was just here a couple weeks ago, that’s because he was. And since I was sick that week and could not see him, it’s like my special wish has come true because he’s back at SLO Brew on Friday, May 20 (8 p.m.; 21-and older;…
Why are water and sewer rates up?
On May 6, the City of San Luis Obispo Utilities Department mailed out the spring issue of its quarterly publication Resource: Managing Community Resources for the Future. And if you’re like most of the public, you immediately threw it out. So what was that giant fold-out publication that looked like every other piece of junk…
If you were stuck on a beautiful island for the rest of your life with one book, what would it be?
Peter Irwin chef “Death on The Installment Plan, by Lovis Ferdinand Céline, because he is the architect of black humor. He was the most powerful influence of Charles Bukowski. The language is fragmented into ellipsis; it’s revolutionary.” Crystal Lara business owner “The Twilight series, because there’s four books. I like the love story, and vampires…
CLUBS
Going South THE CLIFFS RESORT: 2757 Shell Beach Road, 773-5000 or cliffsresort.com. F. MCLINTOCKS SALOON: 750 Mattie Road, Pismo Beach, 773-1892 or mclintocks.com. Live music every Fri.-Sat., 6-9pm. Tennessee Jimmy Harrell, Doc Stoltey. GATHER WINE BAR: 122 E. Branch St. in the Village of Arroyo Grande, 5/20: Bill Wingfield Jazz Experience, 5/21: Gillie Wheesels, celtic, 5/26: Rocky Logue.…
Bogle Vineyards 2010 Sauvignon Blanc California
The West Coast Wine Competition recently awarded this brand best white wine of the show—pretty impressive. And indeed this classic Sauvignon Blanc is a steal for the bargain price of $9.99 at BevMo!, and it’s found on most grocery store shelves. It’s fermented cold in stainless steel tanks to retain the fresh fruit characteristics; I…
Chefs movin’ on
Ever wonder why chefs change jobs so frequently? Having walked in their clogs, I can say from experience that it’s usually to further their career. That’s the bottom line; it’s not as personal as it appears. Only winemakers seem to move around as frequently as chefs. Whether a winemaker or a chef, people with exceptional…
Thanks for the guitars
On behalf of the San Luis Obispo County Probation Department, I would like to thank Deputy Sheriff Dale Anderson and the local chapter of Guitars Not Guns for their generous donation of six acoustic guitars to the County Juvenile Hall. Since 1992, Guitars Not Guns has been providing guitars to minors at risk for delinquency…
Support real local radio
In these times of corporate consolidation and narrow homogenization of media content, where can we find truly local independent voices and non-standardized musical offerings? As one of the few truly local stations, KCPR, Cal Poly’s student and volunteer run station, has been bringing local voices to Central Coast airways for the last 42 years. Where…
Who are Republicans working for these days?
Republicans using Medicare cuts as leverage to preserve the Bush tax cuts is a travesty of justice. How much more can the working class, the middle class, the elderly, and the poor give up in order for the Republicans to have their day in the sun? Which Americans are they working for anyway?
Prove health and help matter more than money
Everyone in this community knows of a health-care horror story, the one where a catastrophic or even more minor illness devastates a family or an individual. Medicare is caring for our people. It is being our brother’s keeper. Do we value money over being good? Is the almighty dollar all that matters anymore to us?…
History will pick the terror-fighting president
In a March 2002 press conference, President George W. Bush answered a question about the hunt for mass murderer and founder of al Qaeda Osama bin Laden: “I truly am not that concerned about him. … I really don’t spend that much time on him, to be honest with you.” The Bush Administration proceeded to…
Your presidential finger-pointing was lame
When I overheard at a party last night that a New Times article had been written about Cal Poly President Armstrong and the renovations done to the University House during a time of financial crisis (“Tribulations and renovations,” May 12), I had to read it for myself. The fact that you honestly believe, and portrayed…
Form a Crack Corps!
An innovative partial remedy for San Luis Obispo’s and many other cities’–that is, their residents’ and visitors’!–sidewalk tripping hazards could be a virtual “Crack Corps” of alert pedestrians who systematically report these hazards to the city when they encounter them, which reports are followed up quickly by a city worker who paints a bright white…
This smacks of environmental elitism
I respect what the Sierra Club stands for, but it seems to have transformed, at least locally under the leadership of Andrew Christie, into just another political special interest group that will use any tactic to advance their agenda. In Mr. Christie’s opinion piece (“McCarthy, have you no shame?” May 5), he claims that Rep.…
Jehn Veium
NEW TIMES What body piercing do you do most often? VEIUM Definitely nose and navel. Because I work in a beach town, often people who come in are on vacation and want something they can show off in a bathing suit. NEW TIMES Knowing there are many stereotypes that go along with working in…
Repent!
Well, that about does it. The Hummel figurines are buried securely in the backyard. I’ve left out a week’s worth of food and water for my Chia Pet. And my collection of World War II era erotica remains, as always, strapped to my chest. I’m ready. Take me, Jesus. And don’t bother to be gentle…
Where’s a panda when you need one?
It’s Friday, May 13, and I’ve spilt salt, broken a mirror, walked under a ladder, and my black cat Stella walked right in front of me, but I feel pretty lucky anyway because I’m at Creeky Tiki listening to Natalie Haskins’ high lonesome voice trailing inside from the back patio as I await the start…
Haiku central
Feeling creative? Want to share your poetic genius? Send your haiku to local writer and psychologist Steve Brody at stevebrody@wildblue.net by Monday, June 6, and yours could be in the next haiku Artifacts column. The last four below are Steve’s. Day of rest ended New thought, right action again Recreate the world…
After all, 55 Fiction is a contest!
Julie spotted a fly and began to salivate. She hopped a bit closer to it, and—zap!—she snapped it up with her long tongue. After all, Julie is a frog. There are a number of formulas that writers of the world’s shortest stories have adopted over the years since New Times founder Steve Moss started the…
A spectre in the abstract
When I first get a call from Jeff Elrod, he’s making the three-hour drive to Marfa, Texas, from the nearest airport. But reception gets spotty out in the middle of the desert, so the artist promises to call back once he’s reached his studio. I’ve been warned that he’s tough to get hold of, and…
Living the dream
It’s always cool when dreams come true. It’s even cooler when the person dreams big. Cruz Gomez’s longtime dream recently turned into reality when he took ownership of San Luis Obispo’s first mixed martial arts gym. Cruz, a pioneer of the Central Coast MMA scene, recently bought S.L.O. Kickboxing—a gym opened by former Cal Poly…
Cougars and Mustangs
Cougars and Mustangs is a weekly column that attempts to shine a lighthearted and humorous spotlight on the Central Coast colleges’ achievements, mishaps, and upcoming events. However, nothing is funny about this next topic. Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong sent a message regarding two recent occurrences of sexual assault (an alleged rape at a Sigma…
Cross-burning mystery
It happened right there,” said the woman, pointing to a burned patch of grass in an unkempt plot in Arroyo Grande. The burned grass, now faded after two months of spring storms, and a few bits of wood scattered around the yard are all that remain of a hate crime that shocked the community and…
SLO changes public access contract
The City of San Luis Obispo will change the way it oversees public access television within the city limits, following an embezzlement conviction for the former chair of the nonprofit organization tasked with administering SLO County Public Access Television (SLOCOPA) On May 17, the SLO City Council unanimously voted to adopt a resolution terminating the…
Cambria fire chief reinstated
There’s a sense among Cambria residents and employees with the local fire department that justice has been served and all is right once more in the Pines by the Sea. The Cambria Community Services District Board of Directors unanimously reinstated Mark Miller as chief of the Cambria Fire Department. Miller was fired in April by…
SLO schedules a binding arbitration vote
The San Luis Obispo City Council voted to put binding arbitration on the ballot for an Aug. 30 vote. On May 17, the council approved two measures for the ballot: One would offer voters the chance to repeal binding arbitration and another measure would allow the City Council to reduce employee benefits. Current city codes…
Former pot defendants file claim over NTF raids
A Paso Robles couple arrested in January’s massive San Luis Obispo Narcotics Task Force investigation of medical marijuana collectives has filed claims against the state for damages. Rachel Tamagni, a glass artist and holistic medicine specialist, and husband Chip, a landscaper, were arrested Dec. 28, 2010, along with 10 other SLO County residents on charges…
You can lead a horse to herpes, but you can’t make it perform
A herpes outbreak has horses turning down dates. The California Department of Food and Agriculture released an alert on May 13 concerning 10 confirmed cases of Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy, a deadly neurological disease found in horses across five California counties: Stanislaus, Kern, Placer, Amador, and Napa. A cutting event, which consists of horse riders separating…
Three rapes reported in proximity to Cal Poly
Three Cal Poly women were reportedly raped in the last two weeks. On May 7, a student reported she was raped at the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity at 280 California Blvd., according to campus police reports. Police say the woman reported she was raped during or following a fraternity social function. Cal Poly student Joseph…
