A Magical Farewell

Montecito’s Magic Castle, after five years as a club, is closing its doors. Dynamic duo Milt and Arlene Larsen, who bought the former Cafe del Sol eatery owned by Jack and Emilie Sears, a tiara’s toss from the 42-acre Andree Clark Bird Refuge, in 2016 hosted a farewell bash with 130 club members and friends to mark the nitery’s adieu, after a bumpy five-year run marked by endless planning problems, not to mention the pandemic and the mudslides.

“We have absolutely no regrets,” says Arlene. “It certainly hasn’t been easy, but we’ve had a ball. Milt and I wouldn’t trade it for anything!”

Next month the couple will be selling off costumes and decorations to club members initially and then to the general public.

It is now intended to make the club into a rental party venue for small groups of up to 60 guests.

Among the crowd turning out for the big adieu, which featured local writer and chanteuse Erin Graffy singing, and, of course, a magic show, were Richard and Amanda Payatt, Steve and Joan Bowman, Douglas and Mimi Hoover, Ralph and Diana MacFarlane, Joyce Shaar, Rick Oshay and Teresa Kuskey Nowak, Hiroko Benko, Sasha Ablitt, Joe and Adele Parker, and Alan Porter and Brenda Blalock.

A magical night….