Actress Virginia Madsen got an Oscar nomination for her role in the 2004 film, Sideways. Twenty years later, she’s still feeling the impact, and enjoying it. “It changed my life,” she told me during a recent conversation. “And it’s still so alive, this movie. It became a cultural phenomenon, and there are very few movies […]
Executive Chef and a 2024 California Michelin Bib Gourmand winner, Ramon Velazquez has opened his restaurant Alma Fonda Fina in the Montecito Country Mart. To celebrate, Velázquez held a Labor Day weekend soft opening from Saturday, August 31 through Monday, September 2. Taking Tuesday and Wednesday off, Alma is officially open on Thursday, September 5. […]
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Chuy Berry Farms has some delectable blackberries right now, and the superfood is loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants. We talk a lot about Vitamin C, so you know the importance of it in our diets, and blackberries are exceptionally high in it. Just 1 cup of raw blackberries has half the recommended daily […]
Over the summer, I read a review on the Mean Girls musical, and the critic was “shocked and saddened” to learn how relevant the themes remained 20 years after the release of the original film. Her words stayed with me for days, maybe even weeks, and returned full circle at the start of this school […]
Time to lace up those running shoes and follow the Oat Bakery on Instagram for the next installment of their Run Club. The club was established in honor of owner Louise’s mom Else, who was a professional athlete and marathon runner. Post-run treats by the bakery are on hand. Run #2 in Montecito took place […]
Residents of Montecito’s Hedgerow neighbourhood may be closely familiar with the tunes of the Grateful Dead, as, between the years of 2019 and 2021, my garage became the headquarters for my brother Cosmo’s Grateful Dead cover band, Curly & Co., made up of a rowdy posse of high school and college-age boys who, when not […]
These godmothers are transforming the bookstore experience with an emphasis on community and a hint of luxury. The longish venture from Montecito to Summerland for the Summerland Block Party last month paid off with interest, as it included a visit to the newly launched Godmothers in the former Garde space. Godmothers is neither an antique […]
The importance of art to the Olympics cannot be overstated. A case in point is TM’s poster of a coveted, historic, iconic image from the 1984 Olympics, a swimmer under the ripples of the water by David Hockney (born 1937), printed in a limited edition of 750. A poster can be valuable: in this case […]
The newest wine experience in Napa is giving guests a taste of Santa Barbara. Fess Parker Winery, the well-known brand along Foxen Canyon Road that’s celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, opened the doors to its brand-new tasting room earlier this month. It’s located right in the heart of downtown Napa, along popular First Street, […]
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The Montecito Club is unique – a sometimes-tiring adjective that doesn’t say a helluva lot. “How unique?” Thank you for asking. For starters, the MC’s Director of Agronomy is a guy named Tennessee McBroom, if you can imagine. McBroom is the soil and turf scientist whose Hulk-like green thumb has helped elevate the Montecito Club […]
Gayle D. Beebe, entering his 18th year as president of Westmont College, will sell and sign copies of his new book, The Crucibles That Shape Us: Navigating the Defining Challenges of Leadership, on Thursday, Aug. 29, from 4-6 pm in front of the turtle fountain at La Arcada Plaza, 1114 State Street in downtown Santa […]
Silently listening, a 150-year-old piano has been hidden in the bowels of the Lobero Theatre in a coffin-shaped box standing vertically in wedge of a corner, without legs, a lid, or a keyboard cover. The once beautiful rosewood case and once fine ivory keys identify this ghost as a piano, secreted behind racks of heavy […]
This week I met with the new President of the Rotary Club of Carpinteria (RCC), Whitt Hollis. I started the conversation asking about the history of the RCC, and he explained, “The Rotary Club of Carpinteria was formed 52 years ago when some people from Carp who were doing rotary work with the Montecito club […]
During Coast Village Week, the Heart of Our Community was visible in every way! The week-long celebration was filled with energy, joy, and a strong sense of togetherness, reflecting the vibrant spirit that defines Coast Village Road. Thanks to the incredible enthusiasm, support, and participation from our local community, Coast Village Week was a resounding […]
