The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is about to turn its oak-dappled woodland into a living, breathing canvas of taste with the return of the Mission Creek Beer Festival. On Saturday, October 18, 2025, this unique celebration of hops, food, and curiosity will transform the grounds into a flavor expedition unlike anything else on […]
Where was I…? Oh yeah, last time I was here clacking on a keyboard at a brewery bar (currently, Validation Ale) as the woots, cackles, and calls rang out around me – the world had just started opening up again. The pandemic was lessening but the Santa Barbara Sentinel was closing. For those unfamiliar, “The […]
Santa Barbara is often described as a city that draws the world in – international artists, performers, and audiences alike, all arriving to bask in its beauty and culture. But State Street Ballet reminds us that the relationship is not one-sided. As much as this coastal town welcomes the world, the company carries Santa Barbara […]
As a special treat for the readers, State Street Ballet and the Montecito Journal partnered with several artists to illustrate some of the fashion and faces that will be gracing this year’s gala. The sparkling red duo, gala Co-chairs Alex Nourse and Nicole Callahan – wearing a custom gown made by NY fashion designer Naeem […]
When Benji Madden talks about first responders, it’s not just rock star lip service – he’s speaking from the kind of backstage, on-the-road experience that comes with decades of loud guitars and even louder emergencies. “As a touring musician, we rely on first responders all the time,” Benji says. “Your worst nightmare is for someone […]
Step into Groove Pilates, and the first thing you’ll notice isn’t the state-of-the-art reformers or the sleek tower units that look like steampunk yoga machines. It’s not even the bright natural light streaming, or the glimpses of the glistening Pacific and mountain scenes peeking through the second-story windows above Coast Village Road. It’s the energy. […]
Over the past few weeks, a palpable tension has gripped communities in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties as unmarked vehicles, masked agents, and unannounced detentions have marked a dramatic rise in immigration enforcement. At the center of this escalation stands last week’s explosive ICE raid on Glass House Farms in Carpinteria and Camarillo — a […]
Next week, Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club will play host to more than a thrilling afternoon of sport – it will serve as a chance to learn about a local nonprofit that’s been quietly making a difference for nearly 50 years. On July 18th, from 3:30 to 6:30 pm, the Friendship Center will host […]
There’s something magical about a great hotel bar. Done right, it becomes a portal: a sanctuary for travelers, a home base for locals, a liminal space where you can slip into anonymity or stumble into unexpected conversation. It’s the perfect setting for an impromptu martini or a slow-burning Manhattan, a late-night snack or a celebration […]
Sometimes it would happen in the dead of night… Other times, just trying to relax on the couch… in every room, at unexpected moments, a pressing question would rise: “Can you smell that?” When it comes to the comfort and health of a home, few threats are as insidious – and misunderstood – as mold. […]
A sea of demonstrators filled Cabrillo Boulevard on Saturday as part of the nationwide “No Kings” protest, joining millions across more than 2,100 U.S. cities in opposition to what organizers describe as presidential authoritarian overreach. Estimates for the Santa Barbara turnout ranged from 5,000 to as high as 18,000, making it potentially one of the […]
On Sunday, June 29, 2025, Santa Barbara’s historic Lobero Theatre will host an event that promises not only to commemorate the past but to challenge the present and inspire the future. Titled “The Earthquake That Built a City: Santa Barbara 1925 Earthquake, Then and Now,” this 90-minute symposium – organized by the American Institute of […]
Mark your calendars and dust off your dancing shoes – Trisha Yearwood is coming to Santa Barbara to headline the area’s biggest night of support for First Responders. One805 is proud to announce that the Grammy-winning country music legend will take center stage at the annual benefit concert One805LIVE! 2025. This year’s event takes place […]
At first glance, the “Imagine” event hosted at Santa Barbara Airport may appear to be a sleek showcase of aircraft and classic cars. But at its heart, Imagine is far more than a static display – it’s a living, breathing movement to inspire the next generation of aviation professionals, created by a woman whose life […]
Santa Barbara County’s Head Start program, a vital community resource since 1967, is now facing an uncertain future as federal budget discussions threaten its existence. The program currently supports nearly 600 children and their families across the county, providing early education, health services, and family support. If proposed federal cuts move forward, these services could […]
In the quiet corridors of global progress, a sobering statistic echoes: 134 years. That’s how long the 2024 Global Gender Gap Report predicts it will take to reach gender parity worldwide. It’s a timeline that stretches beyond our lifetimes, a horizon we can glimpse but never reach unless something fundamental changes in our approach. This […]
Sure, the discovery of fire was kind of a big deal for humanity. But little did we know that that was also the moment we discovered a way to light up our life every single day. As early man and woman sat around their newly-invented flame, the enticing aroma of (let’s just assume) woolly mammoth […]
January 9th, 2018, is a night that Montecito will never forget, yet nature has provided some unwanted reminders. In 2023, heavy rains, flooding, and evacuations all took place on the very day of the 5th anniversary of the tragic Debris Flow in Montecito that took 23 lives. Even now, as the community prepares for the […]
The holiday cards are (hopefully) in the mail and the easy gifts have been checked off, wrapped, and lovingly crammed under the tree. But what to do about those harder-to-gift people in your life? Well, here are some options. Happy hunting. Books are the gift that keeps giving. A literary favorite can be read until […]
The origin story of Santa Barbara’s Waterhouse Gallery reads like a charming, romantic comedy. In 1983, Diane met Ralph Waterhouse, a British gallery owner, on a blind date at the now-defunct Chanticleer Restaurant (where Lucky’s currently sits). They viewed art together at a modernist gallery on State Street, fell madly in love, and faced a […]
While on a normal night, San Ysidro Ranch’s Speakeasy at Plow & Angel has an intimate, moody ambiance – for Halloween evening the space will be transformed into the speakeasy of your dreams (well, to keep with the theme, let’s say nightmares – but really, it will be quite dreamy). Enter the stone-lined space to […]
On the cover of the previous issue (Sep. 26, 2024), we inadvertently used a rendering from a group opposed to the Rosewood Miramar development instead of the proposed rendering that had been provided by Caruso’s team to the County Planning Commission. This was unintentional and accidental. The image had also been modified without notification by […]
As a high school student with governmental aspirations, I attended a two-week program in Washington, D.C. to study constitutional law – one of the highlights on the syllabus was the promise to meet and hear one of the Supreme Court Justices speak. While Antonin Scalia may not have been my personal choice of who to […]
Santa Barbara recently hosted the 7th annual American Riviera Classic Pickleball tournament, an event that has grown from a small gathering to a prominent community affair. Coordinated by USAPA Pickleball Ambassadors Richard Salzberg and Barb Kloos, the tournament had 275 participants this year, reflecting the sport’s exponential growth in the region. Pickleball – a sport […]
Following the announcement that Biltmore employees have received their settlement packages from Four Seasons, the Montecito Journal sought clarity on the future of the historic hotel, which has been closed for over four years. Sean Lavelle, a representative for Ty Warner, commented, “as Four Seasons announced today, we are pleased to have reached a collective […]
Brunch. It’s the perfect meal for when you know the day is going to happen at some point but there is no rush to get there – drifting somewhere past the time of breakfast and maybe on the precipice of lunch and beyond. This magical meal sets the pace and expectations for the rest of […]
While heavy rains are not unfamiliar to locals these days, this past storm came with a few surprises, including hail at the Sheffield Drive undercrossing and a sinkhole on the 2400 block of Sycamore Canyon that led to a gas line break. As well as a slump in the road on Barker Pass. The areas […]
Mark Lloyd, a private land use agent representing Ty Warner’s Biltmore Hotel, presented their plans for a major renovation project to the Montecito Board of Architectural Review on Thursday, March 7th, seeking preliminary approval for the 136,126 square-foot overhaul of guest rooms, public areas, and back of house facilities. The proposed changes include remodeling the […]
The Small School Districts’ Association (SSDA) announced Tuesday the appointment of Yuri Calderon as its new executive director, effective June 1st. Calderon, who holds a law degree, brings over 30 years of experience serving public institutions and school districts in California and beyond. His expertise includes fiscal management, crisis and emergency management, collaboration, and team […]
On Thursday, March 7th, ShelterBox USA will convene a powerhouse panel of trailblazing women at the Music Academy in recognition of International Women’s Day. The conversation is intended to recognize women’s achievements, raise awareness on gender equality issues, and inspire action towards a more equitable world. The free community event, taking place from 5-7 pm, […]
If the innumerable performances of Shakespeare’s plays are any testament – theater has the ability to preserve a story for centuries. And it is exactly that preservation that the play Survivors hopes to achieve at the Raise Our Voices event at the Marjorie Luke Theatre this Thursday, October 19, at 7 pm. Written by Wendy […]
We eat with our eyes, and this Tuesday, October 10, guests will get to do both at Art After Dark – an evening of culinary creations curated to the art nestled around Mar Monte Hotel in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. The evening begins with a reception on the hotel’s Front Terrace that overlooks the […]
I, like many, was heartbroken when it was announced that the Black Sheep Restaurant was up for sale in 2020. Local foodies mourned the idea of losing another beloved downtown restaurant. Even if the establishment lived on under new ownership, it would not have been the same. For me, their white marinated anchovy crostini exemplified […]
Barbareño has already proven themselves on the plate – crafting dishes that blend central coast tradition with colorful flavors and engaging plating. Their ingredient choices highlight the abundance of the area while emphasizing the locale in which they are served that seemingly captures the laid-back yet sophisticated style of Santa Barbara. But the upcoming event, […]
Life may imitate art but for many of the artists I know, the two are pretty melded and hardly an imitation – they are their art, and the art is them – and this seems true for Susan Read Cronin and her collective body of work as well, including her newest book of poetry, What’s […]
Brunch is often the best part of a weekend. Walk along Cabrillo St. on an early (but not too early) weekend day, and the winding lines outside of restaurants will confirm the popularity of this all-encompassing meal that straddles breakfast and lunch. While many locals have their favorite place to brunch, there is a new […]
Watch most Kung Fu movies and you’re sure to see the protagonist’s “master,” quintessentially depicted as the graying wise man, often cranky and whipping around a long beard. Meet Yun Chao Zhang, or Master Yun as everyone calls him, and he is nothing like those tired clichés, yet he is a master in the truest […]
In the County of Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors meeting that occurred on January 24, 2023, First District Supervisor and Chair Das Williams asked the board to approve the removal of Susan Keller from the Montecito Planning Commission (MPC). According to Williams, this request comes after two MPC members stated to him that they would […]
With the highway closures after the recent storm, losing access to those major roadways can make one feel isolated and trapped. But for the few living deep in the back country, that sensation can only compound with limited roads to get in and out of the area. This was the situation that Bryon and Deborah […]
With the holidays upon us, here are a few places for putting those finishing touches on the home, last-minute local gifts, or just spots to go get some fresh air and holiday cheer. During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it’s easy to let things slip through the cracks and this week is […]