Arts + Culture

Holiday Magic at Lewis & Clark

Article by Collin McShirley | Photography by Provided Every year, Lewis & Clark transforms into a sparkling wonderland. You feel you’ve been transported to a charming European village. It’s one of those places that makes you slow down and take in every twinkle, every detail of holiday beauty. The store has been a part of Santa Barbara since 1981, when mother and daughter team Elizabeth and Lisa founded it. Over the past four decades, it has grown into one of Central California’s most unique...

Arts + Culture

Betsy’s Holiday Have-Tos

Article by Betsy O'Brien @thebetslife | Photography by Jesse Natale, James + Jess Just like Barry De Vorzon sings in It’s Christmas Once Again in Santa Barbara , we certainly have a lot of Christmas in our hearts. Even with more sand than snow outside, Santa Barbara has no shortage of holiday activities to choose from. Here are my holiday have-tos. 1) See handcrafted, silk-covered-lantern animals come to life at ZooLights at the Santa Barbara Zoo through January 11. (Children under 2...

Arts + Culture

Through My Lens

A local photographer’s return to Casa del Herrero Article and Photography by Tristin Tracy Casa del Herrero is more than a historic estate to me. It is the backdrop for my family’s story, a place where generations of my family left their mark. My grandfather, Ildo Marra, came to the Steedman estate in the mid-1940s, just after the war. He was hired as a gardener and chauffeur, and over time, he became the head gardener, tending the land for over fifty years. He and my grandmother raised their...

Arts + Culture

Local Legacy

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum’s Greg Gorga: 18 years of transformational leadership Article by Tracy Marcynzsyn | Photography by Char Beck When Greg Gorga and six friends moved to the Bay Area from Rutgers, New Jersey, back in 1980, Greg never imagined his journey would place him in the position of positively impacting the lives of thousands each year. As Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, Greg oversees educational programs and exhibits serving more than 5,000 youth...

Arts + Culture

From Hunger to Health

Article by Meaghan Clark Tiernan The Food Bank of Santa Barbara County is on a mission to end hunger, but with federal budget cuts and a dwindling job market, those in need of their services are only expected to increase.  The statistics are staggering: The Food Bank already serves one in every three Santa Barbara County community members, and Santa Barbara County currently has the second highest poverty rate in the state. “We believe that our neighbors deserve access to healthy food,” says...

Arts + Culture

Bedeck The Halls

Classic food and stiff drinks at Joe's Cafe. Egg rolls and extra dirty martinis at Pickle Room. 'Tis the season. Article by Samantha Durbin | Photography by Josh Gruetzmacher Opposite: Allaura is wearing Richard Tyler Couture green gown, vintage chandelier earrings/Maria Ferra black earrings. Nicole is wearing Naeem Khan Ria Zee beaded fringe cocktail dress, Jimmy Choo heels, vintage deco earrings, crystal cocktail ring. Allaura is wearing Ali Rahimi for Mon Atelier red coat, Le Superbe...

Arts + Culture

A Surf & Turf New Years Eve Feast

Chef John of Creative Services Catering's NYE menu Article by Samantha Durbin, Chef John | Photography by Emmy Pickett Lobster. Steak. Shrimp. Friends. Family. Wine. Celebrate the year's end al fresco with life's greatest joys. This Surf & Turf New Year's Eve menu was inspired by a private family dinner served by Chef John of Creative Services Catering. His event space, Bungalow 626, is a historic Craftsman bungalow in downtown Santa Barbara ideal for intimate gatherings. Roasted Rainbow...

Arts + Culture

Gift Guide for the Eco-Conscious

Shop local for items that are sustainable and low-waste for healthier, happier holidays Article by Meaghan Clark Tiernan | Photography by Tony Modugno, Provided Lazy Eye : Shop owner Andy curates a collection of thrifted women’s and men’s clothing from top and unknown brands in the heart of Old Town Goleta.  Esbee:  Designed in Montecito, made in California, this menswear brand's well-constructed pieces are 100% Supima cotton, meaning, they're environmentally friendlier and way softer than...

Arts + Culture

This is Where Gratitude Begins

Article and Photography by Anna Maria Stump When the entire city of Santa Barbara is encased in fog, a gentle mist carries the sound of the fog horn from the end of the breakwater right into my living room. As I soak in the repeating hum, there are two grounding elements around this city that are always visible: The Channel Islands, our captivating front yard, and Mt. Figueroa, our majestic backyard.   In the golden light of a Santa Barbara morning, you can feel a kind of quiet thanks. The...

Food + Beverage

Happy Beginnings

Early childhood education programming and support with local nonprofit Storyteller Article by Meaghan Clark Tiernan | Photography by Provided “We are helping families rewrite their story,” says Gabriella Garcia, Executive Director of Storyteller.  The Santa Barbara nonprofit has been supporting families in need for 37 years. What started as a small, roped-off section of the Transition House parking lot is now a local institution with three campuses dedicated to providing a safe play space...