Editing San Luis Obispo, California (section)

==Culture==
[[File:Madonna-inn-exterior-MCB (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|The [[Madonna Inn]] is one of San Luis Obispo's more famous landmarks.]]
The [[Madonna Inn]] is an eccentric landmark established by [[Alex Madonna]] in 1958. The [[Fremont Theater]], a historic [[Art Deco]] theater from the 1940s, once played first-run movies on the huge screen, and now hosts stage performances. Murals adorn the walls of the main theater while neon swirls light the ceiling. The [[Palm Theatre, San Luis Obispo|Palm Theatre]] boasts solar heating and is home to the [[San Luis Obispo International Film Festival]]. Since about 1960, people have been sticking chewed gum on the walls of [[Bubblegum Alley]]. The doctor's office on the corner of Santa Rosa and Pacific streets is one of very few commercial buildings designed by [[Frank Lloyd Wright]]. San Luis also has a [[Carnegie Library]] which is now home to the San Luis Obispo County Historical Museum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slochs.org/ |title=slochs.org |publisher=slochs.org  |access-date=September 7, 2015}}</ref>

The "underground city" is a series of tunnels beneath the city.<ref>[http://www.ksby.com/news/what-lies-beneath-the-truth-behind-san-luis-obispo-s-tunnels/ What Lies Beneath: The truth behind San Luis Obispo's tunnels | KSBY.com | San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Paso Robles] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215141154/http://www.ksby.com/news/what-lies-beneath-the-truth-behind-san-luis-obispo-s-tunnels/ |date=February 15, 2015}}. KSBY.com. Retrieved July 21, 2013.</ref>

One of the largest [[Mardi Gras]] parades west of the [[Mississippi]] was held in San Luis Obispo, but [[San Luis Obispo Mardi Gras controversy|canceled]] in 2005 because of difficulties related to crowd control and alcohol consumption.
[[File:Bubble Gum Alley.jpg|thumb|left|The infamous [[Bubblegum Alley]] in downtown San Luis Obispo]]
Cal Poly's open house, Poly Royal, was held annually from 1933 to 1990, though canceled in 1945 due to war rationing.<ref>[http://lib.calpoly.edu/universityarchives/history/polyroyal/print.html Poly Royal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927194940/http://lib.calpoly.edu/universityarchives/history/polyroyal/print.html |date=September 27, 2013}}. Lib.calpoly.edu. Retrieved July 21, 2013.</ref> It began as a show-and-tell for students to display their projects. It traces its origins to the 1904 Farmer's Institute and Picnic Basket. By the 1980s, as the college became "the most popular...university in the 19-campus CSU system", Poly Royal began drawing over 100,000 people from throughout the state, including 126,000 people in 1985. Concerts, parties, and other entertainment were added and it earned $3–4 million in revenue for the city every year.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-05-28-mn-16267-story.html | work=Los Angeles Times | first=David G. | last=Savage | date=May 28, 1985 | title='Cow Poly': Rural, Yes, but Country Club It's Not}}</ref><ref>[lib.calpoly.edu/universityarchives/history/polyroyal/index3.html "Poly Royal"]. lib.calpoly.edu (March 8, 2001). Retrieved July 21, 2013.</ref>

San Luis Obispo has been home of several other events, including a stop on the way of the [[Olympic Flame]] Relay, the [[Amgen Tour of California|Tour of California]] bicycle race, [[Cinco de Mayo]] celebrations, and a long-standing Christmas Parade. In May, the Madonna Hotel hosts the annual California Festival of Beers, which includes [[beer sommelier|beer tasting]] of over 200 craft beers. Another attraction is the development of Edna Valley into a well-known wine region. Just south of the city, people can spend an afternoon wine tasting several wineries in the area with a very short drive. The wine region extends north beyond [[Paso Robles]] (30 miles north) and south to [[Santa Ynez]] (70 miles south).{{citation needed|date=August 2008}}
[[File:Dallidet Adobe CHL-720 SLO (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|The [[Dallidet Adobe]], built in 1856, is one of the oldest residences in town.]]
During summer months, a free outdoor concert Friday evening is called Concerts in the Plaza. Other noteworthy events include the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival, Festival Mozaic, a classical and crossover music festival, and the Plein Air Festival.<ref>[http://sanluisobispovacations.com/events/ Events | San Luis Obispo, Ca Vacation Ideas, Hotel Packages, Things to Do]. Sanluisobispovacations.com. Retrieved July 21, 2013.</ref>

Every Thursday night San Luis Obispo hosts a farmers' market. Five blocks of Higuera St are blocked off to allow vendors to sell food and goods and various visual and music artists perform.<ref>{{cite web|date=2021|title=Downtown SLO Farmers' Market|url=https://downtownslo.com/farmers-market|website=Downtown SLO}}</ref>

Since June 2000, the first Thursday of every month is The Bike Happening (also known as Bike Nite) in San Luis Obispo. People gather at the Mission Plaza with their bikes. The bikers go around on multiple circuits on the main streets of downtown.
[[File:047x Luna Red (50007062572).jpg|thumb|left|Restaurant in downtown San Luis]]
One of the cultural focal centers of San Luis Obispo is the [[Christopher Cohan]] Performing Arts Center built on the Cal Poly campus, which was constructed utilizing the donations of local businesses and individuals. The Performing Arts Center consists of multiple venues, including the original Spanos Theatre. The largest venue, Harmon Hall, seats 1,300. Many high school and college programs are scheduled. Local artists perform plays, music and dance. The addition of the Performing Arts Center attracts many touring performances which are usually not found in communities of comparable size to San Luis Obispo. The summer of 2007 was the opening concert of the Forbes Pipe Organ, which was built elevated into a side wall of Harmon Hall and required the donation of a further $3 million for purchase and installation.<ref>[http://www.pacslo.org Performing Arts Center]. Pacslo.org. Retrieved July 21, 2013.</ref>

[[San Luis Obispo Museum of Art|The San Luis Obispo Museum of Art]] began in the 1950s when a small group of artists, educators and enthusiasts established the foundation. Over the years, the San Luis Obispo Art Association evolved into the San Luis Obispo Art Center, which evolved into the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art. The museum, with a focus on California Contemporary Art, shows 24 exhibitions per year, has both adult and children's art classes, and hosts art talks, films and other events. The museum launched a $15 million Capital Campaign for a new building in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sloma.org/about-us/history.php |title=San Luis Obispo Museum of Art - History |website=www.sloma.org |access-date=January 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111030105605/http://www.sloma.org/about-us/history.php |archive-date=October 30, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sloma.org/support/capital-campaign.php |title=San Luis Obispo Museum of Art - Capital Campaign |website=www.sloma.org |access-date=January 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318201849/http://www.sloma.org/support/capital-campaign.php |archive-date=March 18, 2017 }}</ref>

===Historic buildings and districts===
{{Main|City of San Luis Obispo Historic Resources}}
[[File:San Luis Obispo (29329160137) (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Downtown Historic District]]
San Luis Obispo has more than 180 historic buildings that have been designated as City of San Luis Obispo Historic Resources. Three of the city's designated historic resources have also been designated as [[California Historic Landmark]]s, including [[Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa]], the [[Dallidet Adobe]], and [[Ah Louis Store]]. In addition, [[National Register of Historic Places]] sites include the [[Myron Angel House]], the [[Pacific Coast Railway Company Grain Warehouse]], [[Robert Jack House]], the [[Tribune-Republic Building]], [[San Luis Obispo Carnegie Library]], the Ah Louis Store, and [[William Shipsey House]]. The Carnegie Library is home to the San Luis Obispo County Historical Museum which includes a research center with information on the city's other historical resources.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slochs.org/building.asp |title=History of Our Building |website=San Luis Obispo County Historical Museum |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607043038/http://www.slochs.org/building.asp |archive-date=June 7, 2010}}</ref>

The city also has five designated historic districts as follows:
* Downtown Historic District &ndash; 	Covers {{convert|61.5 |acres}} generally bounded by Palm Street to the north, Marsh Street to the south, Osos Street to the east, and Nipomo Street to the west, plus Dana Street in the northwest. The Downtown Historic District covers the oldest part of the city, including the [[Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa]] and many commercial structures from the city's boom era from the 1890s to the 1910s.<ref name=HPPG>{{cite web|title=Historic Preservation Program Guidelines|publisher=City of San Luis Obispo|date=November 2010|pages=38–42|url=https://www.slocity.org/home/showdocument?id=4144}}</ref> 
* Chinatown Historic District &ndash; Covers {{convert|4.4| acres}} along both sides of Palm Street between Chorro and Morro Streets.	Established in 1995 to recognize the contributions of the city's Chinese community.<ref>Historic Preservation Program Guidelines, pp. 43–46.</ref> Two historical storefronts face Palm Street; Ah Louis Store and Mee Heng Low.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pridgen |first=Andrew |date=October 26, 2022 |title=95-year-old Chinese restaurant is almost all that's left of this Chinatown |url=https://www.sfgate.com/centralcoast/article/slo-county-mee-heng-low-17533387.php |access-date=November 2, 2022 |work=SFGATE |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Old Town Historic District &ndash; Covers {{convert|86| acres}} generally bounded by Pacific Street on the north, Islay Street on the south, Santa Rosa Street on the east, and Beach Street on the west.	Established in 1987, the district is located in the city's oldest residential neighborhoods with historic homes dating from the 1880s to the turn of the century.<ref>Historic Preservation Program Guidelines, pp. 34–37.</ref>
* Mill Street Historic District	&ndash; Covers {{convert|20| acres}} from Peach Street on the north, Palm Street on the south, Pepper Street on the east and Toro Street on the west	Established in 1987, the area consists of early 20th century homes in the Tudor Revival, Craftsman, Mission Revival, Prairie Colonial, and Shingle styles. Sometimes referred to as Fremont Heights.<ref>Historic Preservation Program Guidelines, pp. 47–50.</ref>
* Railroad Historic District &ndash; Covers {{convert|80.7| acres}} bounded by the railroad right-of-way on the east, Johnson Avenue on the north, Orcutt Road on the south, Leff Street on the northwest, and Broad Street on the west. Established in 1998 along the historic boundaries of the Southern Pacific rail yard. It includes residential and commercial resources constructed following the arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1894.<ref>Historic Preservation Program Guidelines, pp. 51–55.</ref>