ARROYO GRANDE HARVEST FESTIVAL IS BACK! After two years missed due to the pandemic, the Arroyo Grande Harvest Festival is back with a bang! Coming September 23rd and 24th this downtown village event is getting back on track beginning on Friday from 4:00pm with a Dinner Dance at the newly refurbished 1897 Tabernacle at Camp…
We stumbled into this yummy pitstop during the peak of the Covid shutdown – searching for time outside in our Jeep we had just come back from some trails off of 166. We immediately were lured in with a band playing, and plenty of outdoor seating. The bar area has large doors open to the…
Summer Days – Summer Glaze! Summer is among us and to me summer days means it is time for barbecues and friends! Barbecuing can be so fun and rewarding and you can do it in so many different places – the beach, the lake, your home, the park, even on the back of a tailgate…
In our household it is a rarity for my husband and I to disagree on things. However, our weekly conversations on what food to buy and meals to make, occasionally are a heated topic. While I am the kind of person who would be fine on a diet of mostly veggies, my other half doesn’t…
Oyster Loft with Executive Chef, Jared Hurst Dinner with a view of The Pismo Pier! Listen to the waves crashing while sipping one of their amazing specialty drinks. Last week I enjoyed a delicious tequila-based cocktail with a hibiscus “bubble”, then watched as it popped with a beautiful puff of smoke sprinkling magic all over…
Fall has always been my favorite time of year. Not only does the weather transition from warm to cool but the color of the trees’ leaves transition from green to auburn and yellow. It’s a reminder that the year will soon be over with the ramping up for the holiday season about to begin. My…
With the end of summer finally here, I’m actually feeling thankful for the routines and schedules to start flooding my life. We sure have had fun vacationing and making memories, but after almost two years of us working and schooling from home, this school year is bringing welcomed change to our lives. I’m having to…
If you are ready to grab a great bite out and try somewhere new to eat, check out the Olde Ale House in Los Osos! Located next to Rexall’s on Los Osos Valley Road on the way to Montana De Oro State Park, this is the perfect stop for a local beer after a long…
Spring is here! The weather is changing, and it’s about time to enjoy the outdoors. Want an opportunity to drink wine and help Woods Humane Society? Well now’s your chance! On April 10-11 you can help the animals at our local shelter either online, or in person by wine tasting while also supporting over 75…
What! Can you believe that we already in February 2021!?! How are your New Year’s Resolutions going? Don’t give up, I’m here to help…. One of my secret weapons and biggest time savers has been meal prepping. If I don’t meal prep, I do not stay on track. When it comes to what you eat…
Dinner? Check. Gifts? Check. Table Décor? Check Check Check! While the Pismo Beach Homes Team is grateful to be experiencing a successful year due to a robust market, we feel compelled to make sure to support the community that supports us – and hopefully ensure that our favorite restaurants and small businesses survive this last…
Living in Pismo Beach, where we connect you with some of our favorite people who live and work on the Central Coast. Those community and business leaders who make living on the Coast such a unique and diverse experience. Episode #17 Brooke Town owner of the spoon trade Brooke Town owner of the spoon…
Living in Pismo Beach, where we connect you with some of our favorite people who live and work on the Central Coast. Those community and business leaders who make living on the Coast such a unique and diverse experience. Episode #16 Michelle Berrera, the Owner of Enjoyslo.com Michelle Berrera, the Owner of Enjoyslo.com, joins…
A word that has been frequently thrown about since that fateful week in mid-March when California shut down to flatten the curve is “pivot”. Business owners are encouraged to embrace the new normal, shift their practices and “pivot” to a new direction embracing the current “situation” and restrictions. Watching our favorite business owners grapple with…
The annual Valentine’s Day Wine Walk is back and better than ever! With Valentine’s falling on a Friday this year, the Pismo Beach Chamber folks have redesigned the Wine Walk for the weekend! No need to agonize over expensive and elaborate plans for your Valentine! Unlike previous Wine Walks hosted by the Pismo Beach Chamber…
CALLING ALL FOODIES! Sound the alarm! There are just two weeks left to take advantage of SLO County’s “Restaurant Month!” This is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a three-course fixed menu at many participating restaurants around the county for the low, low price of $30 per person! Plus, many restaurants also offer a wine pairing…
The central coast has gained another Kraken Coffee and it is just what Pismo Beach needed! Comfortable seating and freshly roasted coffee with the bonus of ocean views gave me a refreshing start to my morning. If you need a little bit more sustenance to start your day, then they offer up delicious handmade breakfast…
Shell Beach has a brand-new restaurant you won’t want to miss — Cape Cod Eatery, located at 1127 Shell Beach Road, recently opened it’s doors and has instantly become a new hot spot! The Cape Cod Eatery & Taphouse gets its name from the building where it makes its home — previously “The Cape Cod…
Drive down Highway One in Oceano and you will find the sweetest little coffee shop around. It is my local fav! A big change from the branded chain coffee shops, filled with advertisements, and step into Quintessa. This lovely roasting house has a warm inviting environment where you are greeted by a friendly barista, ready…
If you live in or have visited Pismo Beach then you have been to Rosa’s Ristorante Italiano. This cornerstone of the city restaurant scene has been at the southern entrance of Pismo for 30 years. Chef Doug MacMillan’s parents opened the restaurant – a homage to his mother, Rosa, who was born in Bonito, Italy.…
As I type my mouth is already watering and it’s barely past breakfast! While Poke has been a staple of the local diet in Hawaii, it has slowly made its way across the Pacific and hit our shores hard – so much so that you can find it in the supermarket! But not all Poke…
Memorial weekend is coming, and with it some sweet, juicy strawberries! Arroyo Grande’s 36th annual strawberry festival is here again and the event schedule sounds as delicious and entertaining as ever! If you have never been to this event that happens every year in the quaint little village of Arroyo Grande you are in for…
In California the word “taqueria” can be loosely translated into English as a restaurant that serves tacos and burritos. However, when you dine at La Esquina Taqueria in San Luis Obispo, you know you are going to be able to get classic Mexican dishes. Their take on the classics make La Esquina unique and well worth a visit as my wife and I found out on a recent Sunday night. …
There is a sweet little spot, just blocks to the beach in Downtown Pismo Beach called Puffers of Pismo. From the moment you walk through the door, you are welcomed by friendly staff, warm tones in the décor and delicious aromas from the kitchen. Make sure to belly up to the bar and introduce yourself…
New to the restaurant lineup in Pismo Beach this year is La Bodega, specializing in shareable Tapas plates. An inviting environment of warm colors, luscious aromas, beautiful wines and delicious farm to table fresh food. Located in a lovely building that offers soaring ceilings and plenty of natural light. There is a small outdoor patio…
It was with much anticipation and delight that we celebrated Giuseppe’s original Pismo Beach Location’s re-opening this past Spring. When fire ravaged the popular downtown restaurant we all wondered if they would return. But we were encouraged by Chef Giuseppe DiFronzo’s promises that they would be back! http://giusepperustica.wixsite.com/pismogiuseppes In the meantime, he opened a new…
Looking for a fun place with an excellent view in Pismo Beach? Look no further than Pismo’s newest hotspot at Willow located at 2131 Price St. This building used to be the old Marie Calendars right in front of the Sea Crest Hotel. The new owners have done a complete remodel that is so inviting…
Memorial Day weekend is typically defined by when and where you are BBQing. However, if you live on the Central Coast there is another time-honored tradition – the Annual Strawberry Festival in the Village of Arroyo Grande. For 35 years we have dedicated this weekend to celebrate our favorite local fruit – the strawberry. Once…
Want to do something fun to celebrate Cinco De Mayo and do good for the community at the same time? Fin’s Seafood Restaurant in Grover Beach is the place to be! Fiesta at Fin’s is holding its “dinner for a cause” on May 1st from 5:00pm to 9:00pm. All proceeds will be going towards Five…
Poke is a sushi-grade seafood dish that has long been a favorite in Hawaii and is having a surge of popularity here on the mainland. Here on the Central Coast, where we have access to high-quality, fresh seafood, it’s a given that this trendy meal has finally arrived! Poke is a great appetizer, lunch or…
Pismo Beach has a new place to brag about that you don’t want to miss. The new Inn at the Pier is located at 601 Cypress Street, Pismo Beach. This gorgeous 104 guest room boutique hotel has an inviting entrance with friendly employees greeting you upon arrival. The lobby features tall ceiling which flood natural…
Locally grown juice and healthy foods business in Arroyo Grande.Be prepared! Virtjuice in Arroyo Grande is not your every-day, mass-produced Juicing experience. When you visit you may meet up with “Rico Suave” hanging out by the “Matcha Machine” talking about his “Indian Summer.” Just kidding! Those are really names of just three of the many…
Avila Beach Resorts has been offering an absolutely fun event for all ages with free admission to the public called Brunch on Wheels where you can indulge in small bites to full meals from an array of gourmet food trucks. These events are being thrown just about once per month. I have attended two…
Growing up on the Central Coast one of my favorite things to do was to go to the local farmers markets. Where else can you sample cuisine from multiple local restaurants, listen to a variety of local musicians, and get your grocery shopping done all in one place? Make it a family or friend’s…
It just so happens that right behind our Paso Robles office sits a gem of a restaurant – opened in 2009 by an inspired local organic farm owner, Thomas Hill Organics has become a staple of the North San Luis Obispo County restaurant scene. A restaurant with a passion for farm-to-table that was established long…
Stroll the streets of San Luis Obispo and you’ll have so many options it is almost hard to choose! Enjoy historic architecture, shop in the wide variety of boutiques, visit the art galleries or the Mission and just in downtown you can easily fill a day of activities! And when you’ve built up an appetite…
Having lived here my entire life, I can tell you that driving down Grand Avenue with one of my long-time friends can be a walk down memory lane. And sometimes old memories die hard. That place was such-in-such and that was an empty lot, etc. etc. We tend to refer to businesses by names they…
This restaurant has been featured before – but has changed so much in five years it deserves a second look. This is our favorite family weekend spot. The place where we kick off the weekend with a yum-o fresh meal to get us ready for a paddle, a bike ride or a day at the…
For the past several months I had heard whispers here and there about a new restaurant coming to Pismo Beach. It was to fill the void next to Orchard Supply, left there when a spa retailer moved on to another location. Now I’ll admit that a strip mall restaurant isn’t usually something to get super…
In our family there is and has always been a quest to find what qualifies as “good Mexican food” for my mother. She can eat Mexican food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. She will try hole-in-the-wall Tacquerias and taco bars in the rear of grocery stores. She has even been known to purchase and eat…
Downtown Pismo’s newest restaurant is a “must-visit”! Upstairs from Wooly’s at 101 Pomeroy, this upscale venue overlooks the Pismo Pier and sweeping coastline views from Vandenberg to Avila. The setting and ambiance of the Oyster Loft is beautiful with low lighting and gorgeous décor. We have visited twice since opening and were wowed each time.…
Pismo Beach holds their annual Taste of Pismo on Saturday April 23rd, 2016 from 12pm to 4pm. This Premier Wine & Culinary Event, celebrates Central Coast wines, artisan brews, and regional cuisine Perched on the cliffs overlooking the majestic Pacific Ocean at Dinosaur Caves Park, guests will enjoy premium beverages from local wineries and micro breweries as well as the sumptuous samplings…
Have you ever noticed that when you meet someone who has lived in an area for most of their life, they tend to refer to businesses, areas, restaurants and so forth by how they used to be known. Sometimes those names stick — as in Dinosaur Caves Park — I am not sure if there…
Live Pismo Beach is dedicated to helping you understand what living in Pismo Beach and the surrounding communities has to offer. This is why we have decided to create the “Local Area Spotlight”, a series that will guide you through the diverse neighborhoods in our area and the details which will help you decide to make…
Updated April 15th, 2015 – When Gather was forced to close due to failed landlord negotiations the Village lost a favorite. What we got in return was a better, bolder, bigger version with many new features. Armed with many researched ideas owner/chef Kari Ziegler wanted a bistro with a gourmet market and wine bar as…
I hesitate to write this post because once I do, our secret getaway … my happy place … will be revealed. However, I want it to remain successful and keep providing us with our getaway so it is with that in mind that I share the Big Sur River Inn. Just a couple hours up…
With over thirty years in the food business, Kathy Marcks Hardesty provides great information about our local Food & Wine businesses here on the Central Coast. She loves writing about great food and wine, entertaining your senses and placing you on the edge of your seat as you look forward to trying the next great new restaurant…
It’s been said that humans are creatures of habit and I am afraid this describes me rather well. I go to the same places for the same things and I tend not to expand my horizons as often as I should. When Harry and David first moved into the Pismo Beach Premium Outlets I thought…
How often is it that you can walk out of your office door in Pismo Beach and say “I feel like having the best burger on Maui” and not twenty minutes later be taking a huge yummy bite? Well it can be as often as every day if you are in San Luis Obispo and…
It’s next to impossible to be a co-inhabitant of our planet today and not recognize that humans are having an impact on our climate, our resources and the realization that we need to do something — however small — to make it better for future generations. Ever since our son was born we made the…
