Cover Story
Pride 2018: Inclusivity, change, acceptance, celebration
Red, white, and rainbow The Gay and Lesbian Alliance of the Central Coast’s Proud To Be art exhibit will be on display through July 29. A reception with the artists will be held July 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. as part of Art After Dark. Visit galacc.org for more information. GALA’s Proud To Be…
Art on display: Orcutt show highlights work by adults with disabilities
Wine and things For more information on art shows and poetry readings at CORE Winery in Orcutt, visit corewine.com. It’s late afternoon on Saturday, June 30, and the CORE Winery in Old Town Orcutt is packed. On weekend nights, the cozy little tasting room can get busy, but today it’s jam-packed with so many people…
Social media sound off
New Times readers took to Facebook to share their thoughts about our June 28 news story, “Lynn Compton wins county supervisor race.”
Pride 2018: Inclusivity, change, acceptance, celebration
The annual Pride in the Plaza event is here again, and while you can find those events in this week’s calendar, we’re also taking a look at what’s happening in SLO’s LGBTQ community for New Times’ second annual Pride issue. Flip through and find stories about GALA’s Proud to Be art show and how diverse…
Pick your side
The people I’d like to talk to about our government’s child abuse and kidnaping at the southern border are the men and women on the ground who actually do the dirty work. I don’t mean the powerful people in Washington who have made this barbarity happen. They are, by their own design, far removed from…
Look behind the green door
A favorite movie of millions is The Wizard of Oz. The magic dissipated when Frank Morgan’s character the Wizard was revealed to be a fraud, exposed by Dorothy’s dog Toto, who pulled back the curtain of his throne room to reveal the theatrical illusions used to impress the locals. Where is Toto when we really…
SLOcally created app makes data collection easier for consulting firms
June 15 marked the apex of the nonprofit group Outdoor Afro’s climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro. At 19,340 feet, Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest freestanding mountain in the world. The climbers tackling the expedition are members of an Oakland-based national nonprofit organization that celebrates and inspires African-American connections and leadership in…
Outrageous!
I hate to burst your bubble, Gary Wechter (“Trump supporters not welcome,” June 28), but there are many businesses that I and others already refuse to support based on their political affiliation. This is not a “new approach.” In our democratic society, we are free to choose where we want to spend our time and…
Get trendy!
All you fashionistas out there have a new, very San Luis Obispo color of lipstick that will be available soon-ish. You can make those lips mighty! Mighty red, that is, with Heidi is Mighty Matte Lipstick. Yes, that’s named after SLO’s now iconic rose-adorned mayor, Heidi Harmon, whose red lip color will soon benefit RISE,…
SLO, Santa Maria join nationwide protests against Trump’s immigration policies
More than 1,500 people marched through downtown San Luis Obispo on June 30 as part of the nationwide “Families Belong Together” protest. The rally and march was organized in response to the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy, which separated undocumented children from their parents when caught crossing the southern border. According to national news…
Give Merrick Garland his due
Now that there is a vacancy in the Supreme Court of the United States, Americans and U.S. senators should be reminded that there is still a nomination for the Supreme Court that was never appropriately dealt with. Now is the time for Americans and senators to stand behind the nomination of Merrick Garland to be…
Reaching out: Research project seeks to highlight mental health needs in SLO’s LGBTQ community
Join in LGBTQ residents of SLO County ages 14 and up can participate in the mental health needs assessment survey and focus groups by going to queercares.com. As San Luis Obispo prepares to celebrate Pride in the Plaza, one Cal Poly professor along with a group of students and community members are gathering data for…
Morro Bay is realizing a vision
Picturing Morro Bay’s future just got a little clearer. The foundation for municipal permanence is closer to reality. I support President Donald Trump’s desire to improve our nation’s infrastructure, and I support the city’s plan to strengthen our local infrastructure. Indeed, federal aid will be used here in our town to bring clean water and…
‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor?’ is a wonderful tribute to children’s TV host Mr. Rogers
WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? What’s it rated? PG-13 What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? The Palm Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom) helms this documentary biopic about beloved cardigan-clad children’s TV host Fred Rogers. (94 min.) Glen It’s easy to dismiss Fred Rogers as “just”…
Reggae originals Toots and the Maytals play the Fremont Theater on July 6
When The Maytals frontman Frederick “Toots” Hibbert sang “Do the Reggay” on their 1968 single, it was the first song to use the term—ostensibly naming the popular genre. The Jamaican act started as a vocal trio and was signed to Island Records about the same time as Bob Marley. You really don’t get any more…
Stick to city policy!
I was shocked, but not surprised, to see the proposal from “an international real estate company” for a six-story building at Chorro and Marsh. Three stories for 55 apartments, one floor for retail, two stories of office space, and only 60 parking spots?! Would these apartments even be reserved for people who already live or…
Bingeable: Queer Eye
When? 2018 What’s it rated? TV-14 Where’s it available? Netflix Five men are sharply dressed, dancing gleefully together in black and white. Netflix will give you an option to “Skip Intro,” but the charming moves render that button inapplicable while watching Queer Eye—let the men dance! The show, a 2018 reboot of the early 2000s…
Soul connections: Local children’s book explores a higher power and twin flames
Read on Rebecca and Wesley Velasquez’s book, Sol Finds Love: A Sacred Love Story for Children. Is available now in paperback on Amazon for $11.11. Visit rebeccavelasquez.com for more information. Creation, reincarnation, and twin flames are all the makings of a great exploration of religion, life, and true love—or a children’s book, if you think…
Training allies: Tranz Central Coast aims to meet growing demand for transgender trainings in SLO County
Tranz Central Coast leaders have observed a phenomenon build up recently: a steady influx of requests from SLO County groups for trainings on how to most respectfully and effectively work with people identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ). Sometimes it’s a human resources director at a company who reaches out; other times,…
Film Listings, 7/5/18 – 7/12/18
ANT-MAN AND THE WASP What’s it rated? PG-13 Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre, Sunset Drive-In, Stadium 10, Park, Galaxy New From the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes a new chapter featuring heroes with the astonishing ability to shrink: Ant-Man and The Wasp. In the aftermath of Captain America: Civil War, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) grapples with…
Calwise Spirits Co. opens craft cocktail cave in Paso
Liquid California Head to Calwise Distillery at 3440 Ramada Drive, suite B, in Paso Robles Thursday through Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Calwise Spirits will host an event with DD Cattle Company on July 21 featuring locally raised meats prepared with Calwise’s gin botanicals. For more information,…
GALA of the Central Coast welcomes its first ever executive director, more services for the community
More than five years ago, Michelle Call had a hereditary kidney condition that left her unable to work. She often had no energy and was in bed most of the day. Her husband ended up donating his kidney, and she was able to have transplant surgery. “I said if I ever was able to go…
Cheese and nuts
Looking for a greener protein bar? You might want to check out Atsa, a new company created by Cal Poly student Rafael Pintor that promises to save us all from that dreaded mid-afternoon slump. Inspired by his family’s indigenous roots and how native tribes utilize superfoods, the bars feature pinyon nuts wild-harvested from forests (try…
Acceptance or contempt: Teens talk about the LGBTQ experience in SLO
Community GALA is the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of the Central Coast. Their group for LGBTQ youth meets once a week on Thursdays. For more information visit galacc.org. Chris* knew he was transgender as early as age 7. “I knew. I just … I looked at everyone, and I looked at myself and I said,…
Festival Mozaic celebrates music without borders
Maestro Festival Mozaic runs from July 17 to 29 in venues across SLO County. The pilot episode of Now Hear This, Scott Yoo’s new TV show that takes him on musical journeys around the world, will screen at the Palm Theatre in SLO on July 9 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person. For…
Water banking ballot initiative dropped
San Luis Obispo County voters won’t get to decide in November whether to enact a ban on exporting groundwater outside of local aquifers. Backers of the ballot initiative dropped a push to collect the 8,580 signatures needed to qualify the measure for the election, opting to hold the campaign for a future election cycle, according…
Shaken and stirred
No need for a password: A new Prohibition-style, speakeasy bar has opened in Paso! 1122 Cocktail Lounge is located behind Pappy McGregor’s Irish Pub, and offers up a high-end cocktail experience (In order to enter, ring the bell in the dark alleyway—how mysterious, right? Learn more by following on Instagram @1122.cocktail.lounge) … The winners of…
Oceano denies special fire tax
The Oceano Community Services District opted not to put a special fire tax on the November ballot. At the June 27 meeting, General Manager Paavo Ogren said the district is committed to the Five Cities Fire Authority joint agreement for 2018-19 fiscal year, but the fate of the joint service beyond that is unknown. The…
Indulge in a luxurious evening of pre-pride magic at Opulence!
SLOQueerdos presents Opulence! a pride pre-party at SLO Brew hosted by Grace Towers and The Haus Of Towers on July 7 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The party will focus on love, family, and art. The party will also feature favorite SLOcal Drag queens, including; Krystal Methatic, C.C. Candy Pepper, Rosé Aldé, and Regina…
Tiny homes could be allowed in SLO backyards
In an effort to boost its affordable housing supply, San Luis Obispo may start allowing “tiny homes” to establish in residential backyards as part of a city zoning code overhaul. Tiny homes on wheels—categorized by the state as RVs—are currently not allowed on residential property for longer than seven days, per city regulations. A recent…
Summer delights
Do-it-yourself doughnuts are a real thing! A new, totally genius biz in SLO is offering up all the sprinkle, glaze, jelly, and sugar flavors of the rainbow, so you can choose exactly what sphere of fried dough to cram into your face. Word on the street, it’ll open next month at 847 Higuera St. in…
Cannabis ballot question a no-go in Arroyo Grande
Arroyo Grande voters won’t get the chance to sound off on how they feel about commercial cannabis in their city when they go to the ballot box in November. Members of the Arroyo Grande City Council declined to vote in favor of placing a non-binding question on the ballot to gauge attitudes about commercial marijuana…
Experience ‘Charlotte’s Web,’ a play for all ages, at Cuesta College
The Cuesta College Cultural and Performing Arts Center will stage a theatrical rendition of the classic story of Charlotte’s Web July 6 to 8, based on the book by E.B. White. This production is part of the Experimental Theatre at Cuesta this summer. The show follows the story of the Zuckerman Farm and Wilbur, a…
Diablo Canyon mitigation bill moves through Legislature
A bill to restore nearly $225 million in funds to mitigate the impacts of Diablo Canyon Power Plant’s planned closure is clearing important hurdles in the state Legislature, passing off the Senate floor on May 29 and clearing the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee on June 27. Senate Bill 1090, co-authored by Sen. Bill Monning…
Mixing it up
Cocktail hour is back, baby! Break out your cuff links, martini glasses, and swizzle sticks. Krobar Craft Distillery and Yes Cocktail Company are joining together to bring a whole new mix to the San Luis Obispo Public Market at Bonetti Ranch, currently under construction at the corner of Tank Farm Road and Higuera Street in…
Corrections
• In the June 28 news brief, “Atascadero voters to decide on mayoral term length, again,” it was incorrectly implied that a new mayoral term length would take effect after the 2018 election. The term length will not take effect until after the 2020 election. • In last week’s Street Talk, Brian Erickson’s Facebook post…
Bring the family out to Dinosaur Caves Park for final Pacific Breeze concert of summer
Enjoy live music by the Zongo All-Stars at the 10th annual Pacific Breeze Concerts at the Pismo Beach Rotary Amphitheater at Dinosaur Caves Park on July 8 at 1 p.m. This the last show in a three-show summer series and features regional musical groups, refreshments for sale from local vendors, and family activities such as…
Trump supporters drank the golden Kool-Aid
This is a response to anyone who thinks that those who oppose Trump should not be welcome within business establishments or anywhere. I will be civil because Republicans are now demanding civility. (Ironically, I’ve always strived to be civil but have been accused of sounding “politically correct,” a derogatory euphemism which I equate with civility.)…
