By Lisa Duncan Downtown Santa Barbara was absolutely crackling with creative chemistry during 1st Thursday Art Walk, as the doors of “The Muse” briefly opened for a wildly glamorous sneak peek at what promises to become one of the sexiest cultural spaces our Eden by the Beach has seen in decades. And darling, it was […]

By Lisa Duncan The Santa Barbara Polo Club launched its 115th season in glittering style this weekend with Polo in Paradise, proving once again that nowhere does sport-meets-society quite like the manicured fields of our Eden by the Sea. The mood was champagne-fueled and Riviera chic, with the ladies arriving in sweeping Kentucky Derby-worthy hats […]

By Lisa Duncan Solvang positively swooned this week as the storied Rancho Visitadores rode once more into town – the group comprising over 700 sun-kissed, spur-clad horsemen in what may be the most strapping stampede to grace the Santa Ynez Valley – a handsome homage to heritage, horsemanship, and heart. Among those watching with delight […]

By Lisa Duncan One half expected passports at the door as the Channel City Club toasted its 80th anniversary with an afternoon of international intrigue and impeccable hospitality at the University Club of Santa Barbara. Held in the University Club’s stately quarters, the anniversary fête paired festive elegance with intellectual gravitas in splendid style. The […]

By Lisa Duncan Montecito does adore a milestone, and few were marked with more pomp, pageantry, and panache than the recent anniversary fête hosted by Reina del Mar Parlor No. 126 of the Native Daughters of the Golden West, celebrating both the 125th anniversary of the parlor’s founding and the 100th anniversary of its first […]

By Lisa Duncan The Santa Barbara Woman’s Club was positively twinkling with patriotic panache as it hosted its New Members’ Fashion Show – an affair themed “Stars, Stripes, and Style,” and, by Jove, a proper good show of it. With America’s 250th anniversary on the horizon, the fête struck a stylish salute to both national […]

By Maria McCall The Santa Barbara Public Library Plaza glimmered with royal blue velvet tablecloths and lively energy for the Santa Barbara School of Squash (SBSOS) annual gala. Guests savored delicious fare from SB Courthouse Distillery while the entertaining and fun emcee Geoff Green drove a spirited paddle raise and live auction for over 150 […]

By Lisa Duncan It was an evening of smoke, spice, and celebration as friends and family gathered for a festive birthday bash honoring Rick Oshay. With a lively Barbecue Cook-Off theme, the event brought together a close-knit community for a night filled with flavor, music, and heartfelt moments. Guests were treated to an impressive spread […]

By Lisa Duncan If ever there were a day to remind one why life in this Eden by the beach is simply jolly good fun, it was the Santa Barbara Yacht Club’s 154th opening day – a sun-splashed, sea-swept celebration of sailing and society. As the second oldest yacht club on the West Coast of […]

By Maria McCall At a recent gathering hosted by Montecito Bank & Trust’s MClub, Charles Hopper, president & CEO of the Santa Barbara Zoo, shared his vision for the SB Zoo’s future. Introduced by the bank’s Chief Strategy Officer Megan Orloff, who described him as a devoted dad, doting grandpa, and visionary leader with boundless […]

By Lisa Duncan Montecito’s Eden by the beach was positively purring this past weekend, as a decidedly electric affair unfolded behind the discreet gates of the Spirit House, home to Xorin Balbes. The occasion? An exclusive afternoon launch fête for the sleek new arrival on the motoring scene – the Longbow Speedster. Guests, an eclectic […]

By Lisa Duncan Santa Barbara’s social set turned out in fine form last week for a most agreeable cause, gathering at the Lobero Theatre in support of More Mesa – that rare, windswept stretch of coastline, wonderfully wild and beautifully free for all to enjoy. The evening began, as all proper evenings should, with a […]

By Lisa Duncan Darling, if ever there were an excuse to don something floaty and sip something chilled, it was the opening night of Aquean at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. The evening was balmy and golden, drawing a spiffy Montecito crowd to the waterfront setting with seaside sophistication. The Pacific, just beyond, shimmered softly […]

By Lisa Duncan Santa Barbara positively twinkled to life this weekend as the ever-enchanting Old Spanish Days Fiesta set the tone for a season of pageantry, pride, and rarefied revelry – a rather splendid social swirl, if ever there was one. With events unfolding across town, anticipation for Fiesta 2026 is already deliciously palpable – […]

By Lisa Duncan Warren Butler, a seasoned entrepreneur with decades of experience in the Santa Barbara hospitality industry, and Candice Cao, a locally active artist and internationally minded creative business professional originally from Beijing, met within the Santa Barbara community and recently celebrated their marriage. Candice previously served as a torchbearer for the 2022 Beijing […]

Santa Barbara Yacht Club shone with sun-soaked sophistication and sparkling spirits, staging a springtime soirée that was stylish yet relaxed, silly yet serene. Guests arrived in casual, cheerful ensembles – breezy pastel dresses, Hawaiian shirts, and lightly adorned hats – perfectly suited to the sunlit scene. Bright linens draped the tables, tulips tumbled temptingly in […]

by Lisa Duncan If Montecito society has a guilty pleasure, it’s clearly the “Red Hot Ferrari” – no, not the car, though there were plenty of those – but the Red Ferrari accordion, gleaming like a cherry-red speed machine. In the bustling Granada Theatre foyer Saturday, tables were dotted with accordions, daring guests to squeeze, […]

Written by Lisa Duncan Birnam Wood Golf Club glowed in soft coastal light as friends and family gathered to honor Ray Winn, a man whose warmth, wit, and wisdom wove through every room he entered. Guests flew in from across the country and Europe, including Mike and Claudia Weber from Pennsylvania, attorney Carl Kolb from […]

By Gail Kvistad It was hot, hot, hot at the Bella Vista Estate on Sunday night as the Santa Barbara South Coast Firefighter Foundation (SBSCFF) hosted its annual “Disco Inferno” fundraiser. The Summerland estate of Ursula and Patrick Nesbitt was transformed into a scene of social gridlock and high-energy philanthropy, proving once again that the […]

By Lisa Marie Duncan Supporters of the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum gathered over the weekend for the festive “Love Boat” Gala, an evening devoted to celebrating maritime heritage while raising funds for the museum’s growing education and outreach programs. The ocean-inspired event highlighted the museum’s role as a vibrant hub for maritime history and ocean […]

Opera Santa Barbara’s new production of Handel’s Caesar & Cleopatra reshaped the Lobero stage into a luminous vision of ancient Egypt under director and designer Josh Shaw. Framed by Helena Kuukka’s sculptural lighting and Stacy Logue’s opulent costumes, Shaw’s staging balanced Baroque spectacle with exotic locale. Props by T. Theresa Scarano and makeup by Heather […]

By Colleen Graffy In its 80th anniversary year, the Channel City Club – known as Santa Barbara’s “Window on the World” – continues its mission of bringing global perspectives to our local community. On Wednesday, February 25th, the club hosted an extraordinary event at the University Club featuring Michelle Hanlon, executive director of the Center […]

Written by Melissa Borders FestForums 2026 – “The Premier Gathering for Festival Leaders” – founded by Laurie Kirby of Montecito, convened over 600 of the most forward-thinking leaders across festivals, live events, arts, and culture. More than a conference, FestForums serves as a dynamic hub where artists, producers, creators, technologists, and community builders come together […]

Written by David Bolton Montecito was abuzz for the Valentine’s Day wedding of Teresa Kuskey and Rick Oshay at the sprawling Music Academy of the West. The well-manicured gardens and historic setting provided the perfect backdrop for a spectacular and memorable night of dance, celebration, friends, family and love. A throng of 175 community members […]

There were 130 million viewers of Super Bowl LX and a good number of them ended up at retired technology executive Howard Cannon’s Montecito pad to view the game. Guests brought their favorite dips, dishes, and everything in between to complete the spread with Kim Williamson, Denile Cooley, Susanne Jonsson, and Steve Brillhart lending a […]

Evenings offered an inside look at State Street Ballet’s creative process, staged inside the company’s studio at the Gail Towbes Center for Dance. The in-studio setting created an intimate tone with audience members sitting right next to dancers, and wine and hors d’oeuvres getting the evening off to a pirouetting start. The program featured nine […]

An intimate Parisian reverie unfolded Saturday at the stunning oceanview Montecito home of Rochelle Mirabella, where a music-themed engagement and bachelorette celebration honored bride-to-be AND lifelong Santa Barbara resident Teresa Kuskey of La Bohème fame and her fiancé, local businessman Rick Oshay. Set against sweeping Pacific vistas, the stunning residence was transformed into a chic […]

AI thought leader and Santa Barbara native Zack Kass returned home on Tuesday night for a sold-out on-stage conversation at the Granada Theatre, exploring the ideas behind his new book, The Next RenAIssance. Drawing on his experience at the forefront of artificial intelligence, Kass led a wide-ranging discussion on the societal, creative, and human implications […]

Written by Renee Cooper Over two remarkable days at the Granada Theatre, the Santa Barbara Symphony achieved something genuinely rare: a complete traversal of all five piano concertos by Ludwig van Beethoven, performed with sustained intensity, clarity, and cohesion – and embraced by audiences with near-unanimous enthusiasm. The Beethoven Piano Concerto Marathon this past week […]

Written by Sarah Ettman-Sterner La Lieff kept spirits high and tails wagging at its 2nd Annual Jingle Paws Dog Show & Holiday Party, where pups and their people arrived decked out in festive finery. The red carpet doubled as a catwalk – well, dogwalk – as every four-legged star strutted off with a special award. […]

Written by Sarah Ettman-Sterner Montecito rang in the New Year with glam, goodwill, and a dash of Monte Carlo flair at Mary and Bob Gates’ “Carriage House of Pepper Hill,” the beautifully restored 1916 estate they call home. Nearly 100 guests arrived dressed to the nines, stepping into a courtyard washed in blue and green […]