Welcome to The Boroughs Your Neighborhoods. Your Stories. A City Bountiful

We can’t help but smile a bit brighter this time of year — the holidays just elevate the already epic nature of our slice of South Coast heaven.

With this being our final issue of 2021, we naturally sat back and tried to highlight some ways you can enjoy the holidays, both alone and with the community.

If you’re looking for a great gift — or a great read — make sure to check out the story on Nikki Barthelmess and her third young adults’ novel, the latest diving into the importance of representation.

A good night out on the town can also be had, particularly as the Pearl Social transforms into the Miracle, the ultimate Christmas pop-up experience, complete with specialty drinks and an atmosphere that will keep you coming back nightly.

You can pre-game just down the road as the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum has welcomed a sea of mermaids to the harbor, complete with a photo montage that celebrates some out-of-this-world work.

We are thankful for plenty during the holiday season, and we give a tip of the cap to Sansum Clinic and its new board chair, Arnold Schaffer.

Finally, if you’re looking to get in some snow, a jolly laugh with Santa or want to pick up some gifts at one of Paseo Nuevo’s new, locally operated businesses, check out our wrap-up of what to expect at the original downtown promenade.

Most of all, we wish you the happiest and healthiest of holidays.