Food + Beverage

Best Ways to Use Marianello Lucca Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1. Finishing Oil (Drizzling)Salads – Use as a dressing base with vinegar or lemon juice.Grilled vegetables or meats – Adds richness and aroma.Soups and stews – A drizzle on top adds depth and a fresh finish.Pasta – Especially good on simple dishes like aglio e olio or with fresh herbs.2. DippingWith bread – Mix EVOO with balsamic vinegar, herbs, or a pinch of salt.With crudités – Use as a base for a Mediterranean-style dip or vinaigrette.3. Cooking (Low to Medium Heat)Sautéing vegetables or...

Life + Culture

Santa Barbara Unfiltered

Why Santa Barbara’s beauty runs deeper than the postcard Article and Photography by Ari Kirk Walking down Anapamu past the iconic Santa Barbara courthouse on a warm, breezy afternoon, traffic whizzes by, e-bikes buzz past, and the bells of the clock tower chime… except, wait. They aren't real bells at all! It's a high-quality recording of some from UCSB's Storke Tower. Why? Because the courthouse went way over-budget and was never really finished. Quirks like these add to a place's beauty in...

Professional Services

Pressure Tested

The hidden local history behind one of the world’s most important diving innovations Article by Matt DeMarcus | Photography by Provided Along the Central Coast, where rocket launches from Vandenberg regularly streak across the night sky, exploration often feels pointed upward. But some of the region’s most important breakthroughs happened in the cold, dark waters just offshore. Long before modern commercial diving became possible, the Santa Barbara Channel posed a nearly impossible challenge...

Life + Culture

One More Glass Before Dinner

Why the best afternoons usually begin with cancelled plans Article by Sara DeMarcus | Photography by Kathy DeNinno Photography Some of the best afternoons begin unexpectedly. A meeting moves. Plans fall through. The calendar opens in a way it normally doesn’t, and for a few rare hours, there’s nowhere specific to be. The instinct, especially here, is usually to fill the space immediately. Another errand. Another workout. Another carefully timed reservation squeezed between obligations. But...

Travel

OUT OF OFFICE

DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM SBA FOR LONG-OVERDUE WEEKENDS WITH YOUR CREW Article by Grace Galloway | Photography by N/A Has it been too long since your crew got together to explore, eat well, and give each other grief the way only good friends can? We get it — life gets busy, schedules don't align, and somehow another year slips by without the trip you keep talking about. One of Santa Barbara's best-kept secrets is that SBA makes escaping remarkably easy. No traffic to LAX, no crowded terminals, no...

Health + Wellness

The Architecture of Health:

Where Mind, Body, and Spirit Meet Article by Josh Nissan | Photography by Matt DeMarcus Santa Barbara has a way of reminding us that wellness does not always need to be complicated. Sometimes, it is already waiting in the places we pass often: a trail above town, a garden in bloom, or a quiet gallery room where a painting asks us to slow down. This July, as we explore more of what makes Santa Barbara special, we are looking at three places where the mind, body, and spirit seem to meet...

Life + Culture

The Architecture of Health:

Daily Habits of a Modern Gentleman Article by Josh Nissan Taking care of yourself here doesn’t require intensity. It’s built into the rhythm of the day. Small, steady choices that feel as natural as a morning walk or an evening glass of wine. Move Early There’s something to be said for starting the day with a bit of movement. Not a full workout—just enough to wake up the body. A few push-ups, a short walk, a stretch before coffee. It’s less about effort and more about consistency, setting a...

Professional Services

[mis]Judgment Calls

In a place where visibility matters, a single moment can carry further... and faster... than most expect. Article by Sara DeMarcus | Photography by Amber Dolyak Conversations carry easily over morning coffee; familiar faces, familiar names, a quiet rhythm to who’s who. In Santa Barbara, connection is rarely more than one degree removed. Which means when something unexpected happens, whether it’s a moment that didn’t go as planned or a situation that unfolds quickly, it rarely stays private. It...

Home + Design

Heavy Work

Behind every finished piece is scale, machinery, and the effort it takes to move and shape stone. Article by Grace Galloway | Photography by Matt DeMarcus | Provided The most memorable homes are often defined by what feels elemental. Materials that belong to the landscape, surfaces shaped by time, and spaces grounded in intention define them. There’s a familiar moment many recognize: coming across a remarkable boulder, weathered, sculptural, and unmistakably natural, and wondering how...

Food + Beverage

Coastline Classic

Classic roots, easy drinking, built for the Santa Barbara Coast Article by Matt DeMarcus | Photography by Provided | Matt DeMarcus There’s something familiar about M. Special Brewing Company, even if it’s your first time walking in. Maybe it’s the simplicity of the beer, or the way the spaces feel immediately comfortable—like they’ve been part of your routine longer than they actually have. That feeling comes into focus at their Goleta brewery. The layout is open and unpretentious, with...