27 Jul 2026
Japan Travel Part 4: Enlisting Help
It’s difficult enough to try and navigate travel in Japan on one’s own, and while doing so offers an ongoing element of surprise – both good and not so great – I finally cried “Uncle!” After weeks of planning, booking, worrying, I’d just about given up on planning our Japan travel itinerary, when MacKenzie McNeill […]
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The Speckled Clusters of Whale Barnacles
If this curious pattern looks familiar, perhaps it reminds you of something you’ve seen at the Sea Center on Stearns Wharf. The life-size model of an adult Gray Whale is speckled with clusters of whale barnacles. These are small invertebrates that hitch a ride on the world’s biggest vertebrates. As the whale swims, they filter-feed […]
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Murder Most Musical
The Music Academy of the West’s astonishing guest composer series reaches its crescendo with this pair of weekend performances of Kevin Puts’ annually produced opera Elizabeth Cree, from MAW’s Lehrer Vocal Institute. The one-act opera Elizabeth Cree is a macabre gothic thriller adapted from Peter Ackroyd’s similarly titled book. Set in Victorian times, it serves […]
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Democracy Comes Alive in Music
Composer Jasmine Arielle Barnes most deservedly received that enthusiastic standing ovation at the Lobero – and hugs from star singer Sasha Cooke – following the world premiere of her orchestration of American Lament, her celebrated song cycle. The suite centers around a (somehow) still incredibly timely 1935 Langston Hughes poem “Let America Be America Again”; […]
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Martha Approves
By Lisa Duncan “I come for the garden, and to see the outfits,” laughed Jane Lynch, surveying a sea of floral prints and botanical-inspired couture. “Nobody has let me down today. Everybody looks great! And I’m wearing Oscar.” The Emmy Award-winning actress and Montecito resident perfectly captured the mood at Lotusland Celebrates: Botanical Splendor, Montecito’s […]
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Lincoln’s Voice
by Lisa Duncan “Really, it’s about his extraordinary mind,” reflected Christopher Lloyd before taking the stage at the Lobero Theatre as narrator for Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait.” “He didn’t project physically the way you’d expect, but when he opened his mouth – or wrote something on paper – it was, ‘Wow!’ It just took you […]
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Family Pride
By Lisa Duncan “It doesn’t get any better, especially for a guy like Messi,” smiled Argentine polo player Santi Wulff as families in sky-blue-and-white jerseys gathered at the Santa Barbara Polo Club following Argentina’s appearance in the FIFA World Cup Final. “We are very proud. I know we all want to win, but we are […]
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Cue the Cascarones: Fiesta in Montecito has Arrived
Old Spanish Days. Possibly you’ve heard of this adorably sleepy little Santa Barbara tradition. Horses feature in the thing, I think. There is a little dancing. Some of the more intrepid participants don period costumes and wander about. But for the influx of an estimated 100,000 visitors for the five-day celebration, you could blink and […]
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Sarah “Sally” McKinstry Hall:August 27, 1928 – June 28, 2026
Among Sally Hall’s carefully organized papers, her family discovered a note she had written years before her health declined. It was tucked beside a stack of addressed and stamped envelopes, ready to be mailed. “Dear Friends, Our beloved mother, Sally Hall, has died very peacefully. Thank you for your long and happy friendships. Gratefully, The […]
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Society Does a ‘Pasta by Sergio’ Tasting at Hudson Grace!
Just imagine your new favorite pasta prepared fresh by Sergio Chierego, owner and chef of Pasta Santina, and served on lovely Hudson Grace whiteware made in Italy. The double pleasure experience tasting event was held on Tuesday, July 14, from 4 to 6 pm, at Hudson Grace, Montecito. The store was abuzz with HG devotees […]
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Vision, Generosity Help Create New Tennis Complex
When Ed Boersma (’85) attended Westmont in the 1980s, he competed in track and field yet always loved tennis. A lifelong fan, he played competitively after college in United States Tennis Association (USTA) events and eventually took a special interest in the Warrior tennis program, establishing a generous annual tennis scholarship. He noticed the college […]
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Stewarding Science for Global Security
A liberal arts education propelled Brett Isselhardt (’03) to a career in national security science. A staff scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the East Bay Area, he specializes in analyzing nuclear materials to support nonproliferation, forensics, and energy research. He earned a doctorate in nuclear engineering from UC Berkeley after majoring in physics […]
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Hold on: Caulfield’s Coming to Carpinteria
How often do you get the chance to see a veritable decades-long star of stage and screen perform a one-man play in a nearly 100-year-old theater that seats barely 200 people? If you’ve picked up your paper on publication day (July 23), head over to the Alcazar Theatre where acclaimed actor Maxwell Caulfield – will […]
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Colors, Continued
Yulia Maluta has been performing, producing, and teaching dance in town for decades, and is also the creative force behind a multicultural dance and music variety show called Colors of Love at Center Stage Theater at least twice a year since well before the pandemic. The summer show – “dedicated to Women’s Empowerment Honoring Mother […]
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What in the World (Cup)?
The World Cup ended its five-week North American run with two of the most diametrically-opposed games imaginable. The final found Argentina strangely taking on the style deployed by England in the semi-final when the European side went into ultimate defensive posture after scoring a single goal, allowing the South American defending champs to once again […]
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Casa del Herrero Garden Party, and More News Bytes
Casa del Herrero invites community to their fundraiser, Casa in Bloom, a garden party on Saturday, July 25, 2026, from 3:30-6 pm. Tickets are required. Event includes garden tours, house tours, and Chris Fossek on Spanish guitar. Refreshments. 411: www.casadelherrero.com Chabad of Montecito Events Wednesday, July 29, 6 pm, Men’s Summer BBQ, hosted by Brian […]
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Sheriff’s Blotter — 93108
Camping / Butterfly Beach – Sunday, July 05, at 12:21 hours Deputies contacted the subject who was camped on the beach and found to be a public nuisance. He was issued a citation for the violation. Camping / Butterfly Beach, — Sunday, July 05, at 12:49 hours Deputies contacted another subject who was camped on […]
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Mazel Tov! Rabbi Chaim and his wife Mushkie’s New Baby Girl
On Sunday, July 19, I had the pleasure of meeting with Chabad of Montecito Executive Director, Rabbi Chaim Loschak and his wife Mushkie on the birth of their child Bracha Leah. Leah joins her brother Yosef, and sisters, Nechama, Chana, and Shaina. It also provided an opportunity to talk with Rabbi Chaim on the recent […]
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America’s Next 250 Years?
Much was written for America’s 250th birthday. But some points bear viewing from a new angle. First, the U.S. was the first country that established a secular government, not tied to any religion or supernatural-adjacent authority. Past monarchs claimed their power derived from a sky god. The Founders were a product of the Enlightenment. They […]
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