Cover Story
On the front lines: A new, multi-media performance piece about the experience of war, ‘BASETRACK Live,’ comes to Cal Poly’s Spanos Theatre
For San Luis Obispo High School graduate Blake Turner, war wasn’t what he expected. After struggling through school and feeling the pressures of college, he found himself aimless and out of options. So he signed up for the military—as did thousands of other young men and women in the United States—unaware of the pain, anxiety,…
Beach Boys founders Brian Wilson and Al Jardine play Vina Robles on Sept. 27
I spent many an hour alone in my room reveling in the sounds of the Beach Boys double compilation album Endless Summer (1974), which was mainly comprised of their early Capital Records, pre-Pet Sounds music. The track list is nothing short of incredible: “Surfin’ Safari,” “Surfer Girl,” “Catch a Wave,” “The Warmth of the Sun,”…
What’s your favorite banned book, and why?
Shawnita August librarian “The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, because it’s very real, and she’s really expressive on a variety of important topics.” Kristen Barnhart children’s librarian “Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. It’s just one of my favorite books, period—I have it memorized.” Pam DeTilla reference librarian “The Harry Potter series by…
Classic dark comedy ‘Kind Hearts and Coronets’ screens as part of Palm Theatre’s Take Two Lives series
Murder by numbers The modern-day movie murder has gotten so predictable. The killers are always either moronic brutes or lascivious creeps, with less personality than a plastic teaspoon. So crass; no creativity whatsoever. Whatever happened to the elegance? The cuff-linked caper? The gentleman killer? If you, like George Orwell, decry the “Decline of the English…
Love is spelled B-I-L-L: Bill Murray fans brave hornets, sharks, and the Powers that Be
Another Bill Murray’s birthday come and gone. Another week of fielding questions about whether Bill Murray finally decided to show up from people who should probably be able to tell from the disappointed expression on my face that no, my elusive quarry did not randomly show up for his birthday party. If Bill Murray ever…
SLO Museum of Art presents fine craftsmanship in new exhibit, Dimensions
The word “crafts” tends to bring to mind the sort of activities that parents or schools threw at children to keep them busy. Like making a log cabin out of Popsicle sticks, or a snowman out of naught but socks and a bucket of sand. It’s messy, it’s frustrating, and it makes for some very…
Humor writer Dave Barry comes to the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center
For more than 40 years, Dave Barry has been writing—writing about family, sports, travel, politics, colonoscopies, and the horrors of attending a Barry Manilow concert. In his columns for the Miami Herald and in his numerous works of both fiction and nonfiction, the Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist observes the banalities and inanities of human life with…
Clubs 9/25/14-10/2/14
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…
Savor the Central Coast
Immersive fun: Yes, Sunset Savor the Central Coast is finally here! The four-day epicurean romp through the region encompasses a rainbow of food, wine, and lifestyle experiences Sept. 25 through 28. The main event kicks off at the Santa Margarita Ranch on Sept. 27 with celebrity chefs Fabio Viviani (who will be cooking up duck)…
Giuseppe’s Day Off Cocktail and Bang the Drum Brewery’s Nebula
Giuseppe’s Day Off Cocktail Move over candied bacon, bloody mary, fresh-squeezed mimosa, and orange-adorned Shock Top! There’s a new day-drink beverage in town and it’s sure to add a boozy glow to your next lazy afternoon. Do what I did, and stroll on down to Palazzo Giuseppe for your much-earned Day Off, a mix…
No KunFusion about it: Chef Lori Nunes parks Asian fusion food truck at permanent Pismo Beach home
“Promise me—no puff pieces.” This is how Lori “Lo Lo” Nunes broke the ice during an interview at her recently opened Pismo Beach restaurant, God love her for it. With fierce, hazel eyes and shock of platinum blonde hair, this petite powerhouse is a legit culinary hurricane. At the chef’s plainspoken request, I will not…
Flush with cash: Los Osos offers rebates for switching to water-saving fixtures
The toilet. It’s probably the grossest thing in your house right now—save, maybe a moldy abomination in the back of your fridge. If there’s one piece of furniture that people would rather not have to clean, fix, deal with, or even think about, it’s the toilet. But, the toilet is also the piece of furniture…
Cougars & Mustangs
When people of similar interests band together, they begin to find avenues to collaborate. One place that makes this possible is a college club. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it several times: You don’t just have to stick with the clubs already available. Make your own! Introduce your campus to your own unique…
Stuck in the mud: In Atascadero, the city election has brought a messy fight for the electoral narrative
By the time the 4th of November finally gets here, don’t be surprised if the beautiful white walls of Atascadero’s recently renovated Historic City Hall rotunda are caked in mud. An ongoing power struggle has seeped into the current electoral season. Conversation scuffles spring up at City Council meetings, during public events, and in North…
Well, I never! New Times checks out local FCC indecency complaints
The complaint, filed by an anonymous Templeton resident, alleged that the 2014 Grammy awards were indecent for the following reasons: “Beyonce opening the ceremony was pornographic,” the complaint begins. “Gay wedding ceremony was revolting and the song lyrics were an attack on Christianity and should be considered hate speech. Shame on CBS and shame on…
Correction
• The Sept. 18 cover story, “The art of the trade,” incorrectly stated David Prochaska’s position in relation to the Cuesta College Art Gallery. He’s an instructor overseeing the gallery.
Clarifications
• The Sept. 18 cover story, “The art of the trade,” mentioned the incorrect amount of money that the Cuesta College Art Gallery had received. They have actually received a total of $250,000, and will use $50,000 of that sum per year for the next five years. • The Sept. 18 story “Solid ground” should…
Climate control: Locals take the streets to call for more action to address climate change
Locals brought a global issue to our little piece of the world just before the start of autumn. On Sept. 21, roughly 300 people gathered for a rally at Mitchell Park and then marched through downtown San Luis Obispo to call for more action addressing climate change. The event’s organizer, Heidi Harmon, said the rally…
Gov. Brown signs a boating education bill into law
Hours after an article (“Making waves,” Sept. 18) about SB 941—a bill that seeks to reform California boating safety education—ran in New Times, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill into law. SB 941 will require that all recreational boat operators apply for a “vessel operator card” through a staggered process slated to begin in…
Paved in gold: Preliminary estimated costs for Walmart traffic improvements in Atascadero have more than doubled
Atascadero’s long-trod path to building a Walmart Supercenter in the city has taken an unexpected—and potentially very expensive—turn. Since the project was approved two years ago, the estimated cost required for traffic improvements necessary to make way for the project has more than doubled. The city approved the project in 2012 after a few hot…
Arroyo Grande sees a week of discord over impropriety investigation
After days of emotional council meetings, dueling letters, and passionate disagreements in Arroyo Grande, two things are clear: The investigation into a July 3 incident involving two city employees will continue, and residents across the board are upset. The week kicked off with a caustic Sept. 18 letter from the Arroyo Grande Police Officers’ Association…
Two correctional officers out of Monterey County are charged with voluntary manslaughter following a fatal bar fight in San Miguel
Two correctional officers with the Salinas Valley State Prison in Monterey County have been charged with voluntary manslaughter in connection with a bar fight that resulted in the death of Alvaro Jaramillo Medrano. On Sept. 18, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s deputies issued arrest warrants for 35-year-old Sergio Aranda of Salinas and 36-year-old Travis Woolf…
Groundbreaking ceremony for Sunny Acres at De Vaul ranch
On Sept. 19, Sunny Acres sober living facility owner Dan De Vaul held a groundbreaking ceremony for a planned 14-bed housing structure. After years of arguments with SLO County officials, such as Supervisor Bruce Gibson (pictured right), over code violations at the facility, both sides were able to come to an agreement that resulted in…
Willkommen
Bienvenue! Welcome, fremde! Étranger, stranger! Glücklich zu sehen! Step right up, darling, young Mustangs; sweet, innocent Cougars. You look like you could use a tour guide, and I just happen to be dressed as the master of ceremonies from Cabaret—I like to get a head start breaking in my Halloween costume, especially when it involves…
Compton can’t be serious
Lynn Compton has been running for SLO County District 4 Supervisor for at least seven months now. One would think she’d make some effort during this time to learn the job. Before the June primary, her platform was reduction of taxes and regulations on small businesses “to keep jobs from leaving the county.” In my…
Vote yes on Measure H-14
I hope all Pismo Beach residents take the time to listen to Shelly Higginbothan, Mary Weiss, and Kris Vardas respond to questions from citizens on Channel 20 from the League of Women Voters at a recent “Meet the Candidates” forum. When these three were asked about keeping Price Canyon free of developers and suburban sprawl,…
Meetings don’t have to be long
Regarding your Aug. 28 article, “’Round midnight,” on the length of city council meetings, I sat on the Morro Bay City Council for 14 years, the last six as mayor, and in all that time we seldom went past 11 p.m.—or if we did, it was only for 10 minutes or so to finish an…
One veteran’s final flight
My dad, Alexander Palos, formerly of Camarillo, enlisted in 1942, shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack. He was assigned to the 9th Air Force, 50th Fighter Group in the Army Air Corps. He served in France, England, and Germany, supporting Patton’s forces from the air. Like most of the World War II vets, he returned…
