Happy R’October Loves!

Get your practical magic attire ready for the Hallow’s Eve celebrations throughout Montecito! Here it is “chic” to don any range of your alternate persona without #FOMO on any runway showstoppers. Fashion is totally and uniquely yours – what a concept!

Society’s recommendations range from the San Ysidro Ranch’s Speakeasy, the 30th Annual Ghost Village Road, and of course the Montecito Country Mart’s events.

Toast to your favorite masked BFFs and BBFs at the San Ysidro Ranch’s Speakeasy on October 26-31, scheduled to be open during “Dracula’s hours.” Ty Warner has his team preparing specialty cocktails paired with “bites that bite.” The San Ysidro Ranch also has their celebration of Día de los Muertos at the Speakeasy on Friday, October 30. On that occasion there will be live music, mezcal, and traditional sugar skull face painting. As this is a cozy spot, do get your reservations early!

411: www.sanysidroranch.com/dining/the-speakeasy

On October 31, the ever-faithful businesses along Coast Village Road once again will show up, in costume and handing out treats to over 2,000 kids, parents, dogs, and friends for the 30th year in a row to celebrate Ghost Village Road (GVR). The event draws kids and families from Goleta through Malibu. Truly, everyone knows the best place to celebrate the tradition.

The history of this event is brilliantly written about in two realtor blog posts this month, with similar facts and sentiments. The brief from Village Properties’ Crawford Speier Group explains, “Coast Village Road has closed itself, in practice if not on paper, to strolling costumed kids every October 31 since 1996. No city permit does that. No single organization owns the calendar date. The tradition known as Ghost Village Road survives on nothing more than merchants agreeing, year after year, to keep candy behind the counter and their doors open. Ghost Village Road began as a project of the old Coast Village Business Association, the predecessor to today’s Coast Village Association. The CVA still exists, and it still gives the event a nod on its calendar, but the organization does not run it. Nobody had to write a grant proposal to keep Ghost Village Road alive for three decades.” Adding the same history is Berkshire Hathaway Team Shotwell in their October 1 blog.

Let us laud loudly all the CVR businesses for their continued community support, goodwill, and keeping a time-honored tradition floating. The most favored decorated businesses include Richie’s Barber Shop, with peeps lined up to enter down the street. The shop has a themed backdrop for photo ops that matches the barbershop team’s costumes, a DJ spinning tunes, and treats. Also up there is Berkshire Hathaway, Village Properties, the huge Hollywood animated creature display by Merrill Lynch Bank of America Corp, and the team at Lucky’s! There are impromptu bands, flash mobs, and peeps who like to prowl the event as well. And of course, props to the Montecito Fire Department, the SBC Sheriff’s Department, and SB Police Department for being there and keeping it safe for everyone.

Bookmarking the Ghost Village Road event, the Montecito Country Mart adds their annual Costume Contest for the kids, and shops will have treats. Everyone who enters the Costume Contest receives a big orange balloon and trick-or-treat bags! There is a Pumpkin Patch, with lots of pumpkins to select from, all on the honor system to pay. Drop payment in the cash box next to it or simply pay with your smartphone using the posted QR code.

So my Loves, make your reservations now for happy hour, dining, and drinks at your favorite spots on Coast Village Road and the San Ysidro Ranch so you can relax after a few hours of trick or treating with the kiddos!

Try to find me at Ghost Village this year, I’ll be there with my camera as always!

That’s a rap till next week! XxJAC