SLO County News BlogGolf, Wine, Real Estate, Business & Travel NewsWine in Los OsosTuesday, June 28, 2005Los Osos, land of disputes and recalls, now has a civilized dose of wine time in Baywood Park thanks to Martha Neder and business partner Jackie Bloom.Yes, Paso wine culture has trickled down into Baywood Park in the form of the Bloom Wine Bar, a new spot featuring a wide array of local wines to help wash all those CSD dreams and nightmares away. "We try not to talk about the sewer project" says co-owner Martha Neder. "Bloom is a place where people can cozy up by the fireplace and escape all that's been going on in Los Osos." To achieve this, Neder and her business partner Jackie Bloom, specialize in serving only the top-notch local stuff. "It's real homegrown here in Baywood Park, and that's reflected in our wine selection" says Neder. "We have a lot of wines from limited 300- to 1,000-case productions. We have one wine from as far away as Sonoma. But that's it. Nothing is imported. It's all local." Neder and Bloom say they've been able to expose customers to local wines simply by offering a large variety of the premium stuff at a reasonable price. All wine is $6 a glass or $24 a bottle. The bar also offers beer and appetizers. In keeping with Baywood's tradition of staying on the d-low, the bar is keeping modest hours, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, and serving beer and appetizers. So how will a wine bar on the same block as such Baywood Park drinking institutions as the Merrimaker fare? "We've had people start here then go to the Merrimaker for karaoke" adds Neder. Bring your wine palate and keep your voice loose just in case you end up leading a ZZ Top sing-along and celebrate their grand opening and enjoy some complimentary wine appetizers on Saturday, June 25 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Bloom Wine Bar is located at 1315 2nd street in the parking lot adjacent to the Bay Keeper mural. For more info, call 528-4500. Shoppers Boost SLO EconomySunday, June 26, 2005SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (AP) - Shoppers boosted the city's economic recovery.The city's growth rate last year reflected "an impressive reversal" from 2003, due in large part to a flurry of retail activity, said economist Bill Watkins of the University of California, Santa Barbara. Watkins said the city's gross product - measured by the total value of goods and services - grew 1.5 percent last year compared to 2003 when the economy shrank by 0.4 percent from 2002. New shopping opportunities are largely responsible for the turnaround and 2005 figures should also rise, the economist said. Watkins included in the forecast recent and upcoming store openings in the downtown Court Street center as well as the Aug. 24 opening of Costco. "These shopping areas are expected to contribute to higher growth in the apparel segment and in the eating and drinking segment," Watkins said in his forecast report. Still, Watkins said, the city's economy continues to be weighed down because of its dependence on government jobs. The city's study area includes city, county and state offices, the California Men's Colony and California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo. "The state budget problem is going to be a drag on the government sector for many years to come," he said. "While we might want to see that sector improve, there is nothing that can be done on a local level." River Oaks Golf Course in Paso RoblesWednesday, June 22, 2005 River Oaks Golf Course is a unique 6-hole "Player Development" Golf Course - a new concept to growing the game of golf! San Luis Obispo County's newest golf course offers 3 sets of tees with a purpose of different angles of approach rather than distance to the greens. This concept is beneficial to all levels of golfers from advanced, intermediate, beginners, juniors, seniors and women golfers. River Oaks Golf Course is ideal for golfers practicing their short game.The settings of the golf course is within a master planned community - River Oaks, with beautiful views of the rolling hills of Paso Robles Wine Region. The Clubhouse offers stately oak trees, water features and a full service restaurant. The Golf Course The River Oaks Golf Course is the first "6-hole Player Development Course" built for the time starved golfer." Opened in 2004, this one-of-a-kind course has five par 3's and one par 4, and is a good place to tune up your short game. Or use it to introduce newcomers and kids to golf. Each hole has 3-tees allowing beginners, intermediate and advanced players to choose their own level of playing. To make online tee-time reservations at River Oaks Golf Course, visit Golf SLO - Your online guide to San Luis Obispo County golf. www.GolfSLO.com Curvy SLO Road suits MercedesTuesday, June 21, 2005Mercedes Benz used San Luis Obispo County as a backdrop to market one of it new luxury cars.A commercial production company specializing in still photography, Productions in the Sun, spent last Saturday shooting a new, yet-to-be-seen Mercedes driving through the curves of Santa Rosa Creek Road a few miles outside of Cambria. Producer Shawn Harrison said she and her 15-person crew made the trip from her office in Pasadena because her location manager considered the rural road to be a perfect backdrop for a beautiful car. Harrison said Baxter Boyington, the associate film commissioner for the county, was also a big plus. "Baxter was amazing. He helped us more than any other film commissioner that I know of -- from helping us get a hotel to finding a local production assistant who worked in advance of our coming," Harrison said. The only negative part of Harrison's experience, she said, was finding a restaurant that was open after 10 p.m., when the crew was done with the shoot, as well as a convenient hotel. "We had to stay outside of Cambria because no one had rooms to rent just for one night. They only had two-night minimums," Harrison said. Boyington said as many as 10 car commercials have been shot in the county this past year. "They like our back roads ... and Santa Rosa Creek Road has an exceptionally beautiful bend in it. We provide a great setting for their gems," he said. The experience, Harrison said, was something she would definitely like to repeat. The Tribune, Dawn Rapp To see more of The Tribune, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to www.sanluisobispo.com. (c) 2005, The Tribune, San Luis Obispo, Calif. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News. Peach Tree Inn in San Luis ObispoSunday, June 19, 2005 Located on the edge of town, our Inn allows visitors the ability to carry on business-as-usual, or to escape from the hurried world to relax on the porch, gaze at the hillside and chat with interesting travelers.Staffed by folks who are committed to providing only the finest in gracious hospitality, the Peach Tree Inn offers modestly priced, creek side and non-smoking guest rooms with a homey continental breakfast. The wine country, Hearst Castle, beaches and specialty shopping are only minutes away and discounts are available for AAA and AARP members as well as mid-week/off-season bookings. Charming Ambiance The Peach Tree Inn is a home-style inn centrally located in friendly San Luis Obispo. Our caring front desk staff know San Luis Obispo well and are eager to assist you in making your stay most enjoyable. Pleasant Surroundings Our peaceful, majestic surroundings allow for complete relaxation. Green grass, rose gardens, and gigantic eucalyptus trees all work in harmony with you to set your mind at ease. All of this, coupled with the pleasant sounds of nature are yours if you stay in one of our creek-side rooms. Appetizing Breakfast Mornings are special in our large breakfast room. We arise early to prepare our ample continental breakfast, including homemade breads, muffins, fresh fruit, juice, cereals, coffee and more. So join us for the morning views, and relax to the sounds of Vivaldi as you prepare for the new day. Make Reservations at Coastal Concierge - your connection to only the best San Luis Obispo County has to offer. Peach Tree Inn - Luxury Accommodations in San Luis Obispo County Los Padres Inn in San Luis ObispoSaturday, June 18, 2005 The Los Padres Inn is conveniently located only a 1/4 mile from downtown shops, art galleries and the Farmers market. Cal Poly University, The Performing Arts Center, and The San Luis Mission are nearby. San Luis Obispo is located in the middle of a great wine region and it is only a short drive to the beautiful California Central Coast and the Hearst Castle.The Inn has color TV, HBO, and data ports. Hair dryers and non-smoking rooms are available. Some rooms are equipped with microwaves and refrigerators. A complimentary continental breakfast is offered each morning in the lobby. Make Reservations at Coastal Concierge - your connection to only the best San Luis Obispo County has to offer. Los Padres Inn - Luxury Accommodations in San Luis Obispo County Green Valley Manor in CambriaFriday, June 17, 2005Cambria ranch now open to time-traveling touristsHoping to capitalize on nostalgia, Cambria native John Taylor has opened his family home as a destination for tourists. After spending two years renovating Green Valley Manor, Taylor is renting his family's historic Victorian ranch house to out-of-towners who want to experience what it was like to live in the old days. The home, which sits on 245 acres of ranchland in the hills of Cambria, has been in the Taylor family for more than 100 years. Taylor's great-grandfather, Peter Taylor, was one of Cambria's first settlers, building the house in 1882. Peter Taylor and his children lived at the Manor and worked the ranch until 1918. After that, it was rented to two families -- one for 52 years, the other for 25 years. "This has been a dream of mine," said John Taylor. "There is nothing like it on the Central Coast." The house rents for $600 a night or $3,780 a week. For information, call 866-344-2418 or 466-1586. info@greenvalleymanor.com www.greenvalleymanor.com Eagle Creek Golf Course in AtascaderoThursday, June 16, 2005 This beautiful newer golf course located just off Highway 101 at Santa Barbara Rd. offers a 9-hole course priced to fit everyone's budget, where precision is the name of the game. Exceptionally pure greens where water comes into play on 7 holes.This course is situated in a valley and features level terrain. The layout also offers scenic views of the nearby mountains. Water, in the form of a lake and a creek, comes into play on seven holes. The small greens and narrow fairways make shotmaking important. The signature hole is #5, a 170-yard, par 3, requiring a tee shot over the lake. A PGA staff is ready to give you a personal approach by offering a step by step video analysis with state of the art video equipment. For the hungry golfer, The Grill at Eagle Creek is open seven days a week serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can enjoy an unprecedented atmosphere with big screen T.V. to view your favorite sporting events year round. There is also a spacious patio overlooking the golf course, offering a peaceful place to enjoy a delicious meal prepared on an oak pit BBQ. To make online tee-time reservations at Eagle Creek Golf Course, visit Golf SLO - Your online guide to San Luis Obispo County golf. www.GolfSLO.com SLO's Court Street Business SuccessWednesday, June 15, 2005The Court Street Project has brought big city shopping to downtown San Luis Obispo and now businesses there are seeing big city success.In it's first week of sales, Chico's was ranked number one in revenue in comparison to it's other nationwide stores. Abercrombie & Fitch has been open two weeks and was fifth in comparison to it's other U.S. stores. Banana Republic had to request a truckload of new clothes after just one week of sales. San Luis Obispo Economic Development Manager Shelly Stanwyck says the timing for the center's opening couldn't have been better. "It was a great weekend to open and have all the visiting parents of students and families in town. Graduation weekend is a huge weekend for us, so that helped certainly" says Stanwyck. The city will receive about $250,000 a year in new sales tax from the stores. That money will go towards the city's budget, helping to pay for street maintenance, police officers and firefighters. Those we talked with say they don't have to travel far to shop till' they drop. "It's nice that's it's a lot more convenient. Going to Santa Barbara was out of the way" says shopper Lindsay Cox. The project still has three other businesses planning to set up shop. Aveda, Straight Down Clothing and Guiseppe's Italian Restaurant are expected to open later this summer. Read entire article at: Court Street Businesses Savor National Success KCOY Jackson trial boosts South SLO CountyTuesday, June 14, 2005Popular South County resort hotels such as The Cliffs, Sycamore Mineral Springs and the Seaventure will have rooms vacated soon as national and international media leave the Central Coast because of the end of the Michael Jackson trial.While many reporters stayed in Santa Maria for the four-month-long trial -- where the courtroom was located -- some opted for beachfront or high-end hotels in the South County, said Carrie Head, community relations manager of the San Luis Obispo County Visitors and Conference Bureau. Restaurants also benefited from the media throng. Steamers in Pismo Beach was frequented by national media representatives, as well as some famous faces. "We've had Rev. Jesse Jackson and Stone Phillips (an NBC news anchor) as well as a bunch of media here," said Steamers manager Kristi Hogue. "There have been more, but I wouldn't recognize who they are." Some restaurants were visited by people who read about them on www.eatmj.com, a Web site that gave reviews of local eateries. The Cracked Crab was among those listed, and owner Mike Lee said the response was great. "I've had a lot of visitors from the trial," Lee said. "They come in large parties of 10 or more and are a lot of fun." Lee said he didn't expect the trial to bring in so many visitors. "I'll be sorry to see them leave." Read entire article at: Biz Buzz The Tribune, Dawn Rapp To see more of The Tribune, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to www.sanluisobispo.com. (c) 2005, The Tribune, San Luis Obispo, Calif. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News. SLO Mountain Biking and Art's CycleryFriday, June 10, 2005When Art's Cyclery co-owner Scott Smith learned mountain biking' Jeep King of the Mountain series was coming to his hometown of San Luis Obispo, he got on the phone to get involved. Soon he had event producers Eclipse Television involved and a co-promotion with a local Jeep retailer going."I wanted to get involved in what I knew was a high profile event to show that SLO supported it," Smith said. "I didn't wait to hear from anyone I searched them out through the Visitors and Convention Bureau and called them." Smith and partner Eric Benson run three stores in town. Smith volunteered his local expertise, rounded up eager staff to volunteer with course preparation and tagged all of his print, radio and web advertising with event details of the June 19 event. In addition, Art's Cyclery staff will man a booth at the event site conducting safety checks for riders. "We want to give something back to the cycling community so we're happy to come out for a few hours and interact with local riders," Smith said. Art's Cyclery will also display two Jeep vehicles from local dealer Perry Jeep in front of their high-traffic Santa Barbara Street store for two weeks as well as hosting a "Meet the Riders" the day before the event. The Jeep King of the Mountain will be televised via syndicated television in more than 120 markets across the country during June and July . The season finale will broadcast on CBS in early October. Check local listings at www.jeepsports.com. SLO Photos at FlickrThursday, June 09, 2005 Photo posted by Planet Vicster at flickr.com If you haven't found flickr.com yet, head over there now and start posting your photos at www.flickr.com. In no time, you'll find yourself joining groups of like-minded people, adding comments to other's photos, and awaiting comments on yours. Flickr, recently purchased by Yahoo!, is a growing community of friendly photographers - many very talented. Here at SLO Pages, we provide an RSS feed for the most recent photos posted to Flickr's SLO County Group. Our Photos page also provides links to our favorites at Flickr. We make a point to check our Photos page daily to see what creative new photo has been posted, like the one above by Planet Vicster. www.flickr.com SLO County Golf Course MapsMonday, June 06, 2005SLO Golf now provides access to interactive golf course maps from Golfwits. The Golfwits Course Map Library is a growing collection of over 7,500 interactive maps for golf courses throughout the United States, Canada and other countries, as well as most of the 18-hole golf courses in San Luis Obispo County.You can use these interactive course maps to check distances between any two points you choose on any course, pre-plan shots for your next round, and print out "Pro Books" to take with you to the course. While you're visiting SLO Golf, you can make online tee-time reservations too. Golf SLO - the newest and most comprehensive online guide to San Luis Obispo County golf - up-to-date news, tournament schedules, online tee-time reservations, interactive course maps, and an extensive directory of where to play, shop for gear, and improve your game. www.GolfSLO.com Paso Robles Golf ClubSaturday, June 04, 2005 Come experience the peacefulness of Paso Robles at Paso Robles Golf Club. A former country club, this course is now under new ownership and open to the public. Paso Robles Golf Club is an 18-hole, 6,215 yard, par 71 championship course that provides an inviting golf experience for the low handicapper, as well as the enthusiastic player. The course conditions are the best they have been in years. A friendly staff and affordable prices will help you enjoy your experience here.This course is open to the public after 11 AM. The course has plenty of oak trees that form tree-lines. The fairways are mostly flat and easy to walk. The greens vary in size but all of them are undulating. There are seven ponds that come into play on nine holes. The 6,011-yard men's tee also has a ladies' course rating of 74.9 and slope of 129. The club has a full service pro shop with the lowest prices in the area. All the top brands in golf are available and the friendly staff will enjoy serving you. The Pro Shop offers top brands in balls, gloves, clubs, bags, shoes and apparel. Names such as Titleist, Maxfli, Slazenger, Footjoy, Nike, Ashworth, Cobra, Ping, Callaway are priced far below suggested retail. The comfortable restaurant and bar have a beautiful view of the course and its many majestic oaks. Our restaurant is also open for weddings and banquets and our smaller meeting room is perfect for business meetings and small groups. The Restaurant features many salads, sandwiches and hamburgers, as well as a daily special. Not just a golf course snack bar but a comfortable, friendly, restaurant atmosphere. The Bar and Lounge overlooks the course and is a full service bar. To make online tee-time reservations at Paso Robles Golf Club, visit Golf SLO - Your online guide to San Luis Obispo County golf. www.GolfSLO.com The Links Course at Paso RoblesFriday, June 03, 2005 Designed in the tradition of the historical Scottish layouts like St. Andrews and Royal Lytham, The Links Course at Paso Robles is both fun and challenging for any level of golfer. Four sets of tees accommodates the novice and challenges the advanced player.The Links Course at Paso Robles is in the heart of the California's Central Coast wine country. Surrounded by vineyards, The Links Course is just minutes away from wine tasting at it's best. Hearst Castle, Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach and more are just minutes away with a wide range of guest accommodations. This Scottish links-style course is challenging yet fun to play. The course is very picturesque and includes beautiful surroundings. The fairways are fairly open and the greens are medium-sized. One water hazard comes into play on hole #9, a 340-yard, par 4. The green fees indicated are good for all-day play. To make online tee-time reservations at The Links Course at Paso Robles, visit Golf SLO - Your online guide to San Luis Obispo County golf. www.GolfSLO.com Old Edna is now Suite EdnaThursday, June 02, 2005When Pattea Torrence bought the historic, 2-acre townsite of Edna along Pismo Boulevard -- the original stagecoach road that linked Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo -- her plans didn't include opening a bed-and-breakfast inn."I know antiques and retail; I don't know bed and breakfast, but I do know people," Torrence said, as she sat eating an omelet on the open-air porch of the former Tognazzini family home, which she recently transformed into an elegant, private bed-and-breakfast inn. Prior to the transformation, Torrence had operated a successful vintage store, Old Edna, in the restored home that's steps away from a bubbling creek and a 100-year-old cypress tree. Suite Edna is an Old World-style two-room suite featuring a king-size feather bed and adjoining sitting room that looks onto the creek and vineyards. It also has a private entrance, from French doors that lead to a large wooden deck. The rooms are decorated with many of Torrence's favorite pieces she kept when Old Edna closed. Because the house is small, Torrence only rents out Suite Edna, although the two other rooms -- Suite Grace and Suite Pattea -- can be rented for friends of Suite Edna guests. Guests are allowed full use of the home, including the French country-style kitchen and an antique claw-foot bathtub that's perfect for a relaxing bubble bath after a day of wine tasting in Edna Valley. Many of the tourists who visit Edna Valley wineries will often stop at the property, which is also home to Fiala's, a gourmet deli, asking what else there is to do in the area. Suite Edna is also unique in that guests can eat breakfast or opt for lunch instead anytime before their noon checkout. Three different omelets (my favorite is the strawberry, brie and pine nuts creation) are available from Fiala's, and guests can feast at the house or deli. For more information or to make reservations, call Torrence at 544-8062 or visit www.oldedna.com. Read entire article at: New life at Old Edna Times-Press-Recorder, April Charlton San Luis Obispo Vintners Open New Tasting RoomWednesday, June 01, 2005The San Luis Obispo Vintners and Growers Association will soon open "Taste, Wines of San Luis Obispo," marking the first time that a regional wine association has opened a public tasting room. The tasting room will be located in downtown San Luis Obispo, at 1003 Osos Street and will open in July. The 770-square foot tasting room, a joint effort, will feature 72 different wines."We're trying to promote our small area, and there are quite a few small wineries that aren’t able to have tasting rooms of their own," explained Carley Williams, the general manager of Taste. "It's a place where we can show off wines of our area in one location." Williams said the tasting room will feature the Enomatic, a self-serve machine that pours the wine. The new tasting room will be the first stop on a new wine trail, a gateway from which to educate consumers. Read More
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