Arts + Culture

Sweet Summerland

Spiritualist mecca. Offshore oil pioneer. Comfort food town. Article by Meaghan Clark Tiernan | Photography by Josh Greutzmacher, Provided Summerland has been called many things. From its perch on Ortega Hill, residents and guests often linger over a near-perfect snapshot of the Pacific. The city was founded in 1889 by Henry Lafayette Williams and named for the Spiritualist community he led. Less than a decade later, the town’s interest turned to oil when natural gas was discovered and the...

Arts + Culture

A Home Away From Home

Article by Collin Harmon | Photography by Ingrid Bostrom, Chad Jones From the moment you step into Linden Square in Carpinteria, there's a sense you’ve arrived somewhere familiar, even if it’s your first visit. The open-air public market doesn’t feel rushed or transactional. Instead, it invites you to slow down, look around, settle in. Though relatively new, Linden Square carries the ease of a place that feels established, shaped by thoughtful design and, more importantly, by the people who...

Home + Design

Nontoxic Home Shopping Guide

Natural Haven's Karen Bloom shows us how to live cleaner Article by Karen Bloom | Photography by Michelle Lee, Sara Prince, Celadon House As a non-toxic living consultant, consumer protection attorney, and a mom who recovered from mold toxicity and Lyme disease, I’m constantly searching for products that are safe for my home and worth recommending to my clients.  The typical home contains many hidden toxins emanating from everyday products. We’re exposed through touch, breath, and ingestion...

Arts + Culture

Our Great Outdoors

Article by Samantha Durbin | Photography by Caitlin Atkinson, Jessica Bortman, Ingrid Bostrom, Pat Brodie “Landscape architecture has the power to connect people to place, expressing the identity of a building, region, or environment through thoughtful design, materiality, and planting.” ~ Courtney Jane Miller (CJM::LA) Local landscape designers are some of the most influential champions of what we grow in our gardens and public spaces. Seasoned professional and Seaside Garden contributor...

Home + Design

Let The Sunshine In

Why more Santa Barbara homeowners are choosing solar roofs Article by Tanner Walker | Photography by Provided What if your electric bill could actually build you something—like a brand-new roof and a powerful solar energy system? With SolaRoof from August Roofing & Solar, that’s exactly what happens. Instead of throwing money away on rising utility costs, SolaRoof replaces your outdated electric bill with one predictable monthly payment, covering both a new roof and a custom-designed solar...

Life + Culture

Homebody

Mastering your biological balance through simple, one-minute home protocols Article by Josh Nissan | Photography by Stock Your home is your primary environment for health and wellness. My mission is to show you that a sanctuary isn't a fantasy; it's a space where you actively regulate your biology to achieve a steady balance. By integrating these one-minute habits, you stop the urge for anxiety and start owning your physiology. Protocol 1: Stabilize your gut health from your kitchen Upon...

Arts + Culture

Arcadia Studio's Cota Street Favorites

Article by Kalie Grubb, ASLA | Photography by David Kafer Josephine "Kalie" Grubb is a managing Principal with Arcadia Studio and has been with the firm since 2013. She has managed a diverse portfolio of work throughout her time at Arcadia, including seeing the Japanese Garden Renovation at Lotusland from concept through completion. Kalie's passion for landscape architecture is driven by the belief that communities and individuals can all benefit from time spent in well-designed outdoor...

Arts + Culture

The Golden Hours

Local filmmaker Jorrit Van Der Kooi's newest film is an Oscar contender Article by Meaghan Clark Tiernan | Photography by Provided The Golden Hours is a coming-of-age story following 16-year-old Raven, played by local actor Aislinn Wilson, who grapples with the aftermath of a life-changing accident. It's a journey of healing, self-acceptance, and the power of unexpected connections. It was entirely filmed in Santa Barbara with a local cast and crew. The film earned the Social Impact & Vision...

Fitness

Ice For All

The story behind Goleta’s ice rink in a surf town Article by Meaghan Clark Tiernan It took three visits to Ice in Paradise before my seven-year-old made it onto the ice. It’s easy to understand her hesitation. On a normal day in town, temperatures peak at 70 degrees with bright blue skies and a cool, subtle ocean breeze. It’s rather unsettling to walk into the Santa Felicia Drive facility on a clear, sunny day and feel a cold chill run up your spine.  But that’s the beauty of an ice rink in a...

Fitness

Grunions For Life

Article by Meaghan Clark Tiernan | Photography by Xairo Martinez, Provided It’s 9 am and I’m standing among a dozen or so jersey-clad gentlemen (and a few women) staring at the TVs over the bar at Dargan’s. Technically, the Irish pub doesn’t open until 11:30 am, but Paul Dargan is a Grunion. And on the television, it’s rugby.  If you’ve been a longtime Santa Barbara resident, you might be familiar with the annual grunion run, where thousands of small, silvery fish spawn on Southern California...