Archives

Montecito at the Movies – The Queen and horse whisperer Monty Roberts bond over their past… a beloved orange tabby that bonds with a whole neighborhood… The Santa Barbara International Film Festival is in full swing, and these movies tie in to Montecito. Plus favorite picks from SBIFF Program Director Claudia Puig

Brazen Burglars – Four robberies… One night… And a worried community… a string of sophisticated burglaries hits the community. Here is what is known as of now and what you can do to protect your own home

Feeling Lucky’s – Newly appointed GM Larry Nobles chats about the exalted eatery, his own opportune past, and how the team brings that magical Lucky’s feel

The Secret Is Out – Wisps of peat and smoke lingering in the air… Sultry notes of jazz drifting over the drips of an absinthe fountain… The taste of forgotten flavors… Get a glimpse inside San Ysidro Ranch’s newly reopened Speakeasy: Plow & Angel 

Ivan Rasmussen’s Wild Ride – Ivan Rasmussen recollects his path from UCSB lecturer to impassioned activist in the heat of the ‘60s civil rights struggle

Rig Reefs or Removal? – The offshore oil platforms are destined for decommissioning. Some want them completely removed. Others want them converted to artificial reefs. But what do the studies say about the life teeming underneath?

2023 Year in Review. Top Stories of Montecito.

A Cup of Teeccino with Caroline – It’s warm… It’s oh so roasty… It’s caffeine-free and all kinds of healthy… It’s Teeccino. Founder Caroline MacDougall shares her story and how the herbal blend came about

No Unclaimed Shelter Beds – The recent meeting of Hands Across Montecito unearths an unsettling truth… there are zero emergency shelter beds left for the houseless

Chef Mollie Goes LOCAL! – Lavish layers of lasagna… meatballs dotted with raisins and swirled around spaghetti… delicate, decadent tufts of tiramisu… the irresistible Italian fare of Chef Mollie is coming to LOCAL Montecito 

Let’s Go HTO – Senator Limón and Assemblymember Hart help secure half a million dollars to help fund Heal the Ocean’s study of the seeps and leaks along Summerland’s abandoned oil wells

The Thanksgiving leftovers are served, and the holiday lights are coming up. Get ready to give some gifts from the Lower Village in part one of our four-part series on holiday shopping around town. 

The Unforgettable Art of Rick Sharp – Ethereal lines, dreamy landscapes, and timeless designs… an era captured in the poster art of Rick Sharp. His new memoir reflects on his career and life in his Montecito studio with more to be said at the upcoming Tecolote book talk 

Iconic Cypress Torn Out – After surviving fires, floods, and road closures… the decades-old, lone surviving cypress tree is removed to make way for the HWY 101 Widening project

Ring Nets Are Coming Out! – At an impasse with the County and in El Niño year, The Project for Resilient Communities is pulling out the Debris Nets

A Spooktacular Time at Ghost Village – Costume-up, grab the kids, and get ready for another spooky stroll down Ghost Village Road

It’s Beautification Time! – The sun is shining, the Citizen of the Year is selected, and the streets of Montecito are soon to be sparkling with community care as citizens don some safety vests and get ready for Beautification Day. As this year’s theme says, “It Takes a Village!”

Not Your Grandfather’s Symphony – With versatile style and creative collaborations, the Santa Barbara Symphony is deviating from classic concerts but still keeping it classical

The Friend in the Center – Is it a gathering place for our aging loved ones? Or a source of inspiration for those who work there? The Friendship Center has a new Executive Director, Kathryn Westland, who talks about the role and the joys of fulfilling it.

In the Mart – Vons is now Pavilions. Oat Bakery is moving in. Changes are coming to Montecito Country Mart.