Tag archives: holidays

Trimming Montecito’s Tree
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   December 12, 2023

It wouldn’t be the holiday season without the trimming of the giant pine tree near the Manning Park tennis courts on San Ysidro Road. It’s a festive tradition that goes back many decades, and we retell it here each year to keep the memory alive.  As the story goes, in the early 1960s, then Montecito […]

Lighting Up the Miramar Tree
By Richard Mineards   |   December 12, 2023

Rick Caruso’s Rosewood Miramar attracted a hoard of parents and children when it staged its colorful Christmas tree lighting by managing director Rick Fidel. Hot chocolate, apple cider, and prosecco cocktails with colorfully decorated cookies and macaroons were the order of the night as the oceanside hostelry lit its 17-foot fir that had been flat […]

A Holiday State of Affairs
By Jeff Wing   |   December 12, 2023

Changes to Santa Barbara’s State Street – recently reborn as a cozy, sun-soaked pedestrian promenade – have transformed the palm-lined commercial-and-arts district into an almost park-like destination for calming and convivial holiday shopping, the salt-scented, sparkling beach mere blocks away. Seriously. How do we love State Street over the holidays? Let us count the ways… […]

Menorah Lighting in Montecito
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   December 5, 2023

The first public menorah lighting in Montecito is scheduled for Sunday, December 10, from 4 pm to 5:30 pm at the Upper Village Green, on the corner of San Ysidro Road and East Valley. The event is likely to become an annual tradition to add to Montecito’s array of holiday celebrations.  Rabbi Chaim and Mushkie […]

Shop, Sip, and Stroll 
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   December 5, 2023

Another local holiday celebration happening next week is on Coast Village Road: Shop, Sip, and Stroll will take place from 3 to 6 pm on Thursday, December 7. Presented by the Coast Village Association and the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort, this community event features Santa Claus arriving in style to help light a holiday tree […]

Winter Shopping in the Land of Summer
By Jeff Wing   |   December 5, 2023

It’s that time of year again. We have communally checked the Large Flightless Bird box and stumbled right over the line into “The Holidays.” Yes, your bone-dry and otherworldly delightfully moist and aromatic Thanksgiving turkey was an absolute hit. Your Aunt Marge’s startling “Pea Mush” was likewise well-received, producing the usual bug-eyed attempts to swallow […]

The 12 Wines of Christmas: Local Corks to Pop This Holiday Season
By Gabe Saglie   |   December 5, 2023

With last week’s Thanksgiving feasting behind us, the season of holiday eating has officially arrived! Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing meals that will run the gamut in terms of flavors and textures, and that means our lineup of wines will need to be just as diverse, to match. Here are 12 wines […]

Friendship Center Thanksgiving Luncheon
By Joanne A Calitri   |   December 5, 2023

The Friendship Center in Montecito held a Thanksgiving luncheon for its members and their families and friends on Wednesday, November 22 at the center. The festive feast was led by Executive Director Kathryn Westland and her team of Kim Larsen, cooks, and even her cousins – the MeekerFamily from San Diego! The cooks were busy […]

New Nonprofit: The Milpas Eastside Business Association
By Joanne A Calitri   |   December 5, 2023

A new nonprofit called the Milpas Eastside Business Association (MEBA) was officially designated and granted active status by the Secretary of the State of California on July 14 of this year. The newly formed nonprofit was built by four key Eastside business owners and residents who quietly and humbly on their own decided over a […]

Annual Event Creates Sacred Space in Montecito to Grieve and Honor Those We Miss
By Christopher Davis   |   December 5, 2023

With the holiday season in full swing, it’s an exciting time for many of us to be thinking about all the wonderful memories we’ll be making with our close friends and family members. This isn’t the case for everyone. Unfortunately, the holiday season can be extremely difficult and painful for those who feel an empty […]

Angels Giving Gratitude and Turkey
By Richard Mineards   |   December 5, 2023

The Veterans Memorial Building, a tiara’s toss from Stearns Wharf, was absolutely heaving when 600 needy guests converged on the historic locale for the 4th annual Thanksgiving lunch organized by Adam’s Angels, founded by realtor Adam McKaig. More than 350 pounds of turkey bought at Shalhoob’s, with the PATH Homeless Shelter donating its kitchen to […]

Here Come the Holidays
By Richard Mineards   |   November 28, 2023

Christmas got off to an early start at the venerable Santa Barbara Club with the launch, for the second year, of its holiday boutique. The event was founded by general manager Linda Spann with her choosing the 18 vendors showing their wares to members of the club, founded in 1892. “It’s a great way to […]

Celebrating the Start of Advent
By Scott Craig   |   November 28, 2023

Westmont celebrates Advent, the season leading up to Christmas, with “Let There be Light!” a festive gathering, tree lighting, hot cocoa, and opportunity to take photos with Santa on Wednesday, November 29, from 5-7 pm on Kerrwood Lawn. The family-friendly event is free and open to the public.  Children’s photos with Santa begin at 4:30 […]

Home for the Holidays: Lower Coast Village Road
By Kelly Mahan Herrick and Jeff Wing   |   November 28, 2023

by Kelly Mahan Herrick and Jeff Wing The first in a four-part series on shopping locally in Montecito, we’re throwing some light (and a lot of love) on our shade-dappled Lower Village: Montecito’s Coast Village Road and beyond, which has long been a shopping and dining destination for locals, visitors, and lucky accidental tourists. We […]

A Wine Guide for a Joyful Season
By Jamie Knee   |   November 21, 2023

The holidays are upon us, and it’s a time of delightful chaos. There’s the turkey to roast, gifts to hunt down, parties to attend, and family clamoring for an invite to the American Riviera for the holidays. As a local Montecito wine specialist, clients often turn to me to curate their wine pairings for festive […]

Local Holiday Gift Ideas 2023
By Montecito Journal   |   November 20, 2023

Rare Brazilian Cabochon Paraiba Tourmaline surrounded by 114 diamonds, set in 18 kt yellow gold and platinum. For over 40 years, Silverhorn has been renowned for its handcrafted jewelry, using rare gemstones and exemplary craftsmanship. Known for award-winning creativity, each piece is artfully crafted with precision. At their Design Studio in Montecito, clients can observe […]

Organic Soup Kitchen
By Steven Libowitz   |   July 25, 2023

Organic Soup Kitchen (OSK) provides nutrition and food security to cancer patients, chronically ill, and low-income individuals throughout Santa Barbara County. The nonprofit organization has served more than a million bowls of nutrient-dense SoupMeals since its founding in 2009.  It all sounds pretty straightforward and simple. After all, like Campbell’s claimed in a long-running ad […]

Second Annual Montecito Holiday Car Parade
By Joanne A Calitri   |   January 3, 2023

It was indeed a magical day for our 2nd Annual Montecito Holiday Car Parade, and the weather was most excellent after weeks of rain. Kids from 1 to 92 lined the streets of the parade route, cheering on the brightly-lit decorated cars and some with pets including Shetland ponies, holiday music, and more! Leading the […]

Christmas Lighting of Kerrwood
By Scott Craig   |   December 27, 2022

It was a festive evening of entertainment and holiday treats at the annual Let There Be Light on November 30 on Kerrwood Lawn. Karen Sloan, who recently retired from Westmont after 16 years, was chosen to throw the large switch to turn on the Christmas lights at Kerrwood Hall.  The Westmont Activities Council hosted a […]

Coast Village Holiday Cheer
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   December 27, 2022

After a two-year hiatus, a contest for holiday window decorating on Coast Village Road (CVR) resumed this December, marking the last hurrah for the outgoing Coast Village Association (CVA), which is evolving into the Coast Village Improvement Association thanks to the approval of the Coast Village Community Benefit Improvement District (CBID) earlier this year. Last […]