Summer in Santa Barbara – a little overcast, a lot sunny, and, in my opinion, the best produce. Her Produce has some crispy, juicy, refreshing watermelon right now and this hydrating, water-heavy fruit is full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Watermelon is botanically categorized as a berry, and appears in oval, round, baby, large, seedless, […]
Westmont celebrated service anniversaries and recognized its Employees of the Year at the annual Staff and Faculty Appreciation Brunch on campus. This year’s Employees of the Year were Charles Ryu, Christen Foell (‘01) and Aaron Sizer (‘01). Ryu, an overachieving mobile, web application, and content management system developer, recently appeared on John Stossel TV to […]
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When I was 20, I got a job as a dancer in Michigan with a touring company of Showboat. I loved the Grand Rapids area. On a particular day off, I toured the Widdicomb Furniture Company’s Museum of Historic American Furniture (this was in the late 1970s). Modern furniture was included in the display, as […]
The first time I got a Tarot reading, it was a quick disaster. My amateur fortune teller friend pulled a card from the deck, and immediately mumbled: “Better not show him this one.” Surely it was illustrating imminent death and endless suffering. Which was all I needed to know that Tarot was not my cup […]
In Sonoma Wine Country, the morning sun filters through a veil of coastal fog, softening the contours of rolling vineyards that stretch toward the Pacific. A cool breeze carries the scent of wild herbs and sea air, while rows of chardonnay and pinot noir glisten with dew. This is a landscape shaped by nature’s contrasts, […]
My two grandchildren (both under six years) are now old enough to experience an art museum; thus I “family” membershipped the Santa Barbara Museum Art, the Maritime Museum, the Contemporary Art Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. I am ready for my second set of new eyes with which to […]
Mindful Heart Programs’ Founder Dr. Radhule Weininger is teaming up with Santa Barbara Empathy Circles for a one-day retreat at Santa Barbara Middle School’s aptly named Lotus Theater on Saturday, July 12. Combining meditation with empathy circles, the event serves as an opportunity to put into almost immediate practice the compassion that is at the […]
Viva la Fiesta, Everyone! Brightly colored ruffles rim the hem of the traditional Spanish dress, fluttering fans and colorful confetti stirs the air to the strum of guitars, clicking castanets, and high heeled shoes. An entire city in excited preparation is a reminder that at month’s end Old Spanish Days will host Fiesta Week in […]
A few years ago, I ran into a couple that my husband and I knew from our “pre-kid” lives in Los Angeles. They were visiting Montecito and had ridden their bikes to the lower village to have lunch together. As they walked into the restaurant, their hands found one other, instinctively entwining by their sides. […]
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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 […]
If you’ve been wondering why I’ve been M.I.A from the Dear Montecito column, wonder no further. My last reflective article chronicled my feelings about the L.A. fires, which broke out across Los Angeles six months ago. A thought that stuck with me was that it only took about 15 minutes for me to gather everything […]
In 3,300 BCE, Otzi the iceman was murdered high on a mountain between Italy and Austria and was buried in a glacier until 1991. When he was killed, the area between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea (Georgia/Armenia/Azerbaijan) was being settled by diverse ethnic groups gradually leaving areas of the world which had become […]
Call me crazy, but I just had my first mulberry this past week and wow! How have I never had one of these delectable berries before now? The market is bursting with them at the moment; get them now at Earth Trine Farm while they are in season. Mulberries come in red, black, and white […]
A few years ago, I started noticing that people, specifically those under the age of 35, were frequently and erroneously using the word “perfect.” I shared this with friends who later cursed me because they, too, started noticing the same phenomenon. And trust me, once you notice, there is no going back. The genie will […]
