Downtown Business Spotlight is a virtual interview series, where we chat and get to know our Santa Barbara business owners. Join us for this interview series in collaboration with the Santa Barbara Independent, each Thursday at 3 PM.

THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 3 PM

TOPIC: Theatre District Dining

Join Matt Kettmann in conversation with Renaud Gonthier (Renaud’s Patisserie) and Richard Yates (Opal) in this week’s Downtown Business Spotlight.
Did you miss the last Downtown Business Spotlight?
Watch it below!
Hear Matt Kettmann in conversation with David De L’Arbre (SB Travel Bureau), Michael Cohen (SB Adventure Company), and Kathy Janega-Dykes (Visit Santa Barbara) in this week’s Downtown Business Spotlight.
New Building Size Regulations - Online Workshop
REMINDER: DEADLINE MARCH 3

The City is seeking the public’s input to help develop new standards for multi-unit housing projects. Through the City’s new community outreach platform, you can learn about this latest work effort and weigh in on proposed building size standards for new apartment and condominium projects. This “Online Workshop" will be available from February 19 through March 3, 2021, offering community members an opportunity to provide input over a 13-day period (replacing a typical one- or two-day in-person workshop) and at any time of day that is convenient for you.

Information gathered from this Online Workshop will be shared with the City Council and help guide changes to the City’s development standards for new apartments and condominiums. The objectives of the proposed building size standards are to promote better community design, provide sensitivity to the City’s historic resources, clarify community expectations, and expand opportunities for additional, smaller housing units. The first step is to establish what building sizes are appropriate in different locations in the City.

The City is excited to use this new online outreach tool to engage community members on many topics and keep residents informed about major work efforts and special projects. In addition to answering survey questions and providing input on building sizes for new apartment and condominium projects, the Online Workshop offers background information on the City’s efforts to prioritize housing and includes visual and numerical information about the size of some existing buildings in the community.

Please visit www.SantaBarbaraCA.gov/bso by March 3rd to provide your input.

Para obtener una versión de este aviso en español, oprima aquí: https://ourcity.santabarbaraca.gov/9620/widgets/29135/documents/17659
Presentation on Homelessness and Safety Downtown
+ Q & A 

Wednesday, March 3, 3 pm

Learn About: 
  • What is being done to address the impacts of homelessness and get services to those in need. 
  • SB ACT, Santa Barbara Co-Response Team, Behavioral Wellness efforts and the work of local service agencies working towards collaborative solutions. 
  • How pandemic has affected these challenges. 
  • Regional Action Plan Groups addressing issues in various areas of the city. 
  • How to report issues you are facing. 
  • How you can de-escalate situations that may arise. 
  • Opportunities on the horizon. 
  • How you can support these efforts and get involved.

International Women’s Day Makers and Wares Market at Paseo Nuevo

Sunday, March 7, 11 am - 6 pm

Join Paseo Nuevo in celebrating the accomplishments of women at the International Women's Day Markers and Wares Market featuring local women-made goods, women entrepreneurs and organizations. Shop small and local, celebrate women in our community and show your support for their businesses.

International Women's Day takes place annually on March 8 and is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. 
Advocates Share Their Support for the Local Immigrant Community Through Art

The Interfaith Sanctuary Alliance (ISA) of Santa Barbara is hosting a “Love Your Neighbor” week in solidarity with our local immigrant neighbors. To help spread awareness about the week and share the stories of our immigrant neighbors, the ISA has commissioned a series of “Love Your Neighbor” art posters that will be displayed around town. At the bottom of each poster is a QR Code that links to a “Hear Our Voices” page sharing audio and video recordings of personal stories from members of our local immigrant community.

Our goal is to have the poster hung all over town on the exteriors of faith communities, businesses, and more. The posters make a dramatic impact when displayed in multiples. If you have space, displaying the posters in sets of 4 or 8 increases their visibility and encourages people to stop and check them out.

Posters are 11” x 17”. There are 3 ways to get posters for your business:
  • Print the poster(s) yourself. You can find the download link at www.loveyourneighborsb.org/poster.
  • Pick up posters from the booth at the State Street Promenade on Thursday, 3/4 from 3 - 6pm @ the 900 - 1000 Block of State Street.
  • Purchase prints for $1.28/poster (#32 laser color normal paper weight) or $1.53/poster #100 matte cardstock) at Bill’s Copy Shop, 1536 State Street (805-564-4353). Please view the posters at www.loveyourneighborsb.org/poster and call the staff at Bill’s to request the poster(s) you would like printed.

For more information, please visit www.loveyourneighborsb.org.

We hope you'll join us as we re-commit to our sacred duty of loving our neighbors and "welcoming the strangers" into our midst.
Celebrate Pi Day with Special Edition MOXI at Home Party Kit

It may have started as a way for staff at a San Francisco museum to bond, but Pi Day has evolved and grown into a national holiday celebrated by math aficionados, educators, those with a sweet tooth and more all around the world. Pi Day is celebrated on March 14 since 3, 1, and 4 are the first three digits of the mathematical constant, pi. MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation is marking the day this year with an exclusive at-home event kit now on sale in its online Museum Store. Kits are available for curbside pickup at the museum Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Pi Day at Home party in a box was created by MOXI staff to foster creativity and bring joy to the whole family. The kit includes everything needed to pay homage to pi, even an on-theme meal. Each kit includes: materials to make a spin art machine, a customizable Pi Day banner, rings to play ring toss, chalk for outdoor circle drawing, a laser cut spirograph plus materials to make one, and a gift certificate to Rusty’s Pizza Parlor redeemable for one large two-topping pizza pi(e) and salad. Just add enthusiasm and creativity for a well-rounded celebration.
State Street Promenade Market
Thursday, March 4, 3 - 7:30 PM