Editors note: Every now and then, a story comes along that refuses to stay put. It lingers on your nightstand. It sneaks into conversation. For us, Last Light in Paradise is one of those stories, and we’re delighted to let it loose, one chapter at a time, in the pages of the Montecito Journal. Well, […]
“One of the first things I look at is what’s the essence of the tree that I’m working on? On a Japanese maple, for instance, in the wintertime it’s about the winter silhouette. In Japan they say when the tree goes dormant and loses its leaves, the tree is bearing its soul. Then when the […]
Recently Trending
More from Montecito
Editors Note: Every now and then, a story comes along that refuses to stay put. It lingers on your nightstand. It sneaks into conversation. For us, Last Light in Paradise is one of those stories, and we’re delighted to let it loose, one chapter at a time, in the pages of the Montecito Journal. Well, […]
As the eighth anniversary of the 1/9 Debris Flow approaches, the January storms served as a stark reminder of the power of natural weather events and the lasting impact they have had on the area. The Montecito community will gather on Friday, January 9, at 6 pm for Raising Our Light, the annual remembrance ceremony […]
Chapter 1 The man and the horse moved out of the pine trees, crossed open meadow for a quarter mile, then took the old farm road down past the big boulders of the dry river and came up into orchard. His name was Creek. He was riding the black thoroughbred named Spinnaker and liked how […]
Here we go again, turning the page on another year! For us over here at the Montecito Journal, 2025 marks 30 years of publication in this Village of the Charmed. By our quick and approximate reckoning, that’s ~ 62,400 pages (gulp) and several warm decades of neighborly “gossip” over the back fence, public announcements, hometown […]
As 2025 comes to a close, the Montecito Association reflects on a year marked by active advocacy, community collaboration, and meaningful progress on issues that directly affect quality of life in Montecito. With strong support from its members, volunteers, and community partners, the Association continued to serve as an independent and consistent voice for the […]
If you live in Santa Barbara County, buying locally-processed beef might prove difficult. Lacking any USDA-certified meat processing facilities, cattle raised within Santa Barbara County’s borders need to be transported outside those borders for butchery. The Santa Barbara County Food Action Network (SBCFAN), a nonprofit devoted to stewarding a more equitable and resilient local food […]
This Saturday night at the Arlington, Jeff and Susan Bridges are introducing a screening of Heaven’s Gate, the 1980 epic Western film written and directed by Michael Cimino, whose The Deer Hunter won five Academy Awards less than two years earlier, including Best Picture and Best Director. But this isn’t just some random revival of […]
Read more...
There’s a tree known for its towering height—sometimes reaching more than 160 feet. Its bark, thin and peeling, shifts in color from white and gray to reddish-brown. You might recognize it by its cool, minty aroma, familiar from candles, essential oils, and balms. But perhaps its most striking trait is its volatility: highly flammable, and […]
When local investment empath (and healthy hair exemplar) Graham Duncan bought Pierre Lafond’s beloved and fallow Wine Bistro space in the Upper Village, local eyebrows arched as one. There were whisperings in the woods. A jewel in the Upper Village crown, the cozy retail oasis perched above the miraculous Corner Green has long been a […]
“Community.” The word has been hijacked by powerfully bland ne-er-do-wells. “I’m happy to report Q2 revenue suggests we have a robust and dedicated community!” “Let me give a shout out to my wonderful online community, 143,000 strong!” and so on. Community is not a featureless mob of prospects, a fanbase, or a “crowd” by another […]
The leaves may be falling off the trees (I think, we don’t have much of a fall here) but the costumes are certainly coming out. It’s Ghost Village Road time along our favorite local haunt of the Lower Village. Families, friends, and four-legged companions take part in one of the community’s most beloved traditions. The […]
In 1923, two builders named Woodruff and Shoults built a huge promotional gimmick on Mt. Lee above Los Angeles. The row of standalone white block letters, each measuring 30’ x 50’ and visible for miles, would proclaim their new housing development in those hills: HOLLYWOODLAND. Nine years later a forlorn actress would leap to her […]
