By Lisa Duncan For one week each summer, Santa Barbara slips into Fiesta mode – flamenco skirts swirl, horses take to the streets, and seemingly everyone finds a reason to dance. This year, Old Spanish Days unfolded everywhere from the grand terraces of Bellosguardo to the Courthouse, the Zoo and the waterfront, before one last […]

By Lisa Duncan Sunday brought championship silverware to the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, where Delta Defence captured the Whittier Trust Silver Cup following the three-week tournament, which ran from July 19 through August 9. The winning foursome of Jared Zenni, Segundo Bocchino, Costi Caset, and Ivan Weiss stepped forward to collect the trophy, […]

By Lisa Duncan “It’s my honor to toast Fiesta’s extraordinary history,” said Dacia Harwood, executive director of the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. She reminded guests that Fiesta “was born out of a conversation about preservation, and also cultural and economic vitality – both still important today.” Those ideals came vividly to life during La Fiesta […]

By Lisa Duncan “This incredible turnout demonstrates that Santa Barbara County is more committed than ever to standing together against human trafficking,” declared Kielle Campbell Lindsey, board chairwoman of SAFE SBC, as more than 370 guests gathered at the magnificent Montecito estate of Amanda and Travis Twining for the inaugural “Fiesta de Fuego.” The evening […]

By Lisa Duncan “The exciting thing about polo is the thunder of the horses’ hooves. You really feel it!” exclaimed Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, his unmistakable southern drawl exulting in the experience of Sunday polo in Santa Barbara. Spending part of the summer here while the Cowboys conduct training camp in Oxnard, the billionaire […]

By Lisa Duncan “For me, it inspires kids to want to play. So it’s very important for me. That’s what this is all about tonight,” said Mindy Denson, whose passion for the Santa Barbara Polo Club’s Polo Training Center set the tone for a glamorous evening under the stars, devoted to the next generation of […]

By Lisa Duncan “Fiesta showcases our creativity, celebrates our culture, and encourages young people to learn about our traditions through dance,” said Renee Cooper, marketing manager for the Santa Barbara Symphony. That spirit of culture, creativity, and community filled the air at La Boheme’s sixth annual Pre-Fiesta Celebration, where supporters gathered for a lively summer […]

By Lisa Duncan “They were hoping for years to compete with Mardi Gras and the Rose Parade… and you know what? We got it!” historian Hattie Beresford told members of Montecito Bank & Trust’s MClub, launching a fascinating journey through the colorful origins of Old Spanish Days Fiesta. From its earliest celebrations to the traditions […]

By Keith Moore Supporters of the Society of California Pioneers as well as Bohemian Grove members gathered last week at the Santa Barbara Club to tour the clubhouse and view the impressive California art collection. Regional Director Keith Moore and Pioneers board member Vicki Englert welcomed guests to the Santa Barbara Club which was founded […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

By Lisa Duncan “Can I get a ‘Viva la Fiesta!’? Viva!” rang out beneath the arches of historic Casa de la Guerra as Native Daughters of the Golden West welcomed guests to its Pre-Fiesta Tea. This year marked two remarkable milestones: the parlor’s 125th anniversary and 100 years of selecting a Saint Barbara, celebrating the […]

By Lisa Duncan “He’s coming in hot!” called longtime announcer Melanja Jones as horses thundered across the field, perfectly capturing the excitement. Santa Barbara’s prestigious High Goal season was officially underway, bringing many of the world’s finest players together for faster ponies, tougher battles, and the sport’s most exhilarating competition. For polo legend Mike Azzaro, […]

By Lisa Duncan “This story goes back 20 years,” laughed Dana Newquist. “There were only three of us on the Fire District board – me, Ron Jensen, and John Venable. John and I were put in charge of hiring new firefighters, and one of the first questions we asked Ben Hauser was, ‘Can you cook?’ […]

By Lisa Duncan “Seventy-two years… and I’m still working full time!” laughed David Francis Taggart, as though there was nothing remarkable about showing up every day for George Ben Page and his family for the past 72 years. At 89, the SBHS Class of 1954 Don climbed behind the wheel of Mission Linen’s beautifully restored […]

By Lisa Duncan “Growing up here, Bellosguardo was always one of those places surrounded by mystery,” smiled Kathleen Sieck before taking the stage with the Santa Barbara Symphony. “As teenagers, we always wondered what was up here.” This Fourth of July, the Santa Barbara singer returned not as the curious teenager peering through the gates, […]

“The theme for this whole panel today is this: Just start!” declared Stephanie Barbé Hammer, summing up the lively final panel discussion at the Santa Barbara Writers Conference. Moderated by novelist Nancy Klann-Moren, the conversation quickly became less about writing books and more about building a successful writing life. When asked how they juggle writing […]

By Lisa Duncan “I was one of those kids that didn’t know where he belonged,” Brian McDonald, artistic director of Ensemble Theatre Company, told supporters at ETC’s annual Curtain Up! Gala. With a smile, he recalled his mother watching him dress up as Shirley Temple for Halloween and thinking, “Maybe this guy is a theatre […]

By Lisa Duncan Father’s Day brought family, fierce competition, and two powerhouse patrónas to the field at the Santa Barbara Polo Club for the championship final of the 12 Goal Intra-Circuit Cup. On one side was Brazilian patróna Alecia Seidler, owner of Quite on Z. On the other was Sarah Siegel-Magness, the driving force behind […]

By Lisa Duncan “We all long for music’s emotional stories.” That simple observation from Philip Sheegog set the tone for an extraordinary evening at Hahn Hall, where the 2017 Music Academy of the West alumnus returned alongside violinist Jonathan Miron as the Grammy-winning duo ARKAI. Fresh off bringing Madison Square Garden to its feet during […]

By Lisa Duncan Few people embody reinvention quite like Jamie Kern Lima. The Montecito entrepreneur transformed her personal struggle with rosacea into IT Cosmetics, later selling the company to L’Oréal for $1.2 billion. Last week, she welcomed friend and fellow business builder Natalie Ellis to Godmothers in Summerland for a conversation about Ellis’s new book, […]

By Lisa Duncan At the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, next Sunday’s winners won’t simply take home a trophy. Their names will be engraved in silver and entered into the Blue Book, joining a tradition that stretches back generations at one of America’s most storied polo clubs. With the Pacific Coast Circuit Intra-Circuit Cup […]

By Lisa Duncan By day, Producer Liz Cole helps bring the hit television series Tracker to life. By night, she slips behind the microphone and into a world of jazz, storytelling, and song. The glamorous Los Angeles vocalist arrived in our Eden by the Sea last Saturday for a one-night-only appearance at The Grand on […]

By Lisa Duncan For Santiago “Santi” Von Wernich and Teo Von Wernich, Sunday’s match in the ongoing USPA Intra-Circuit Cup at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club was more than another polo game in our Eden by the Beach. It was a family milestone decades in the making. Sunday marked the first time cousins Santiago […]

By Lisa Duncan A warm summer evening, a glass of wine on the terrace, and a theater experience unlike any other welcomed guests to opening night of Every Brilliant Thing at Ensemble Theatre Company’s New Vic Theatre. Directed by Jenny Sullivan, narrated by Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper, the production is staged in the round, allowing the audience […]

By Lisa Duncan Art, conservation, and a fresh perspective on one of the South Coast’s most beloved landmarks converged Wednesday evening at Santa Barbara Fine Art Gallery, where an ocean of guests gathered for an open-house reception benefiting Heal the Ocean. The evening’s centerpiece was a donated painting of Rincon Point by renowned landscape artist […]

By Lisa Duncan Boots, blue jeans, and big-hearted philanthropy took center stage this week as Hearts Equine Therapy hosted its spirited barn dance fundraiser, proving once again that Santa Barbara can do rustic glamour rather exceptionally well. The evening centered around the remarkable work of Hearts Equine Therapy, which serves local children with disabilities, including […]

By Lisa Duncan Artistic intrigue, ocean breezes, and garden-party glamour were in abundant supply on Sunday afternoon as the Art Foundation of Santa Barbara hosted its annual An Artful Affair in the rose-filled garden of the Santa Barbara Club. Beneath the dappled shade of palm trees, guests sipped wine while browsing first rate artwork by […]

By Lisa Duncan The elegant parlor of the Santa Barbara Club shimmered this week as ladies of the MClub gathered for “Champagne & Pearls,” an afternoon lecture celebrating beauty, history, and the enduring allure of pearls. Organized by Maria McCall and Beverly Cavaliere, the gathering glowed with the luminosity of a Vermeer painting – if […]

By Lisa Duncan The University Club of Santa Barbara positively twinkled with elegance and emotion this weekend as guests gathered for “Chapeaux, Champagne, and Chocolate,” a charming afternoon tea celebrating the inaugural gathering for the Erin Graffy de Garcia Legacy Endowment, established in 2025 to support journalism, song, dance, Fiesta, and the vibrant cultural spirit […]

By Lisa Duncan The Music Academy of the West hosted the Alzheimer’s Association annual fundraiser this week, blending celebrity sparkle, classic cars, and heartfelt humanity into one memorable Montecito evening. Film and TV stars Patricia Wettig and Ken Olin, newly minted residents of our Eden by the sea, presented the Hearts and Hope Award to […]

By Lisa Duncan The Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club positively smoldered with leather, liquor, and luxury this weekend for one of the most intoxicating Sundays of the season. The atmosphere felt less Sunday sport and more western fantasy – all leather boots, flowing whiskey, and smoky glamour that makes polo irresistible. Yes, there was […]

By Lisa Duncan The 25th Annual Mother’s Day Luncheon benefiting VNA Health was a heartfelt celebration of mothers, caregivers, hospice families, nurses, and all those touched by the nonprofit’s services. The community gathered to help raise funds toward the event’s $410,000 goal supporting charitable hospice care, home health care, and the organization’s Loan Closet. Opening […]

By Lisa Duncan Carpinteria blossomed into Riviera perfection this weekend as almost 350 glamorous guests gathered for Dreams in Bloom, the elegant gala benefiting Family Service Agency. Hosted at the breathtaking foothills estate of Ginny and Tim Bliss, the sprawling organic avocado ranch offered a sophisticated modern farmhouse fantasy that made even seasoned Montecito partygoers […]

By Lisa Duncan Surrounded by striking black-and-white photographs from across his remarkable career, Jeff charmed the packed gallery with deeply personal tales from film sets spanning more than 90 movies. Guests listened intently as he reminisced about working alongside his father, Lloyd Bridges, on Sea Hunt, and photographing life on the set of The Fabulous […]

By Lisa Duncan Summerland positively shimmered with culinary chic this week as the stylish set ascended to the gorgeous ocean view loft of Godmothers for the announcement of the 2026 Julia Child Award recipient. The sleek modern bookstore – a favorite of locals like Oprah, Meghan, and Gwyneth – proved the perfect backdrop for an […]

By Lisa Duncan With the soft morning sun casting golden ribbons across the sea, family, friends, and fellow servicemen gathered on the sand beside the Santa Barbara Yacht Club this week to honor retiring U.S. Coast Guard officer Julian Bell – and what unfolded was far more than a military ceremony. It became a moving […]

By Lisa Duncan Mother’s Day at the Santa Barbara Polo Fields unfolded in glorious Riviera style this weekend, with champagne flowing, complimentary rosé tastings for mothers, children twirling, and the manicured grounds positively blooming with fashionable families gathered to celebrate the extraordinary influence mums have on the lives around them. Among the celebrity guests enjoying […]