Life + Culture

Little Voices, Big Thanks

THE KIDS OF THE SYV COUNT THEIR BLESSINGS Article by Sara DeMarcus | Photography by N/A (Weston) I’m grateful for Junior Lifeguards with Kiser Whitney.  The pier jump, big swim, and making new friends. And I’m grateful for my family.  (Levi) I’m grateful for my family, and I’m grateful for fruits and vegetables, and I’m especially grateful for my brother. Oh, and I’m grateful for the beach.  (Isla) I’m grateful for my favorite thing, which is chocolate. I’m grateful for Josie (baby sister)...

Food + Beverage

Not Your Grandma's Apple Pie

A brown butter, bourbon-spiked twist on the Thanksgiving classic Article by Grace Galloway | Photography by Matt DeMarcus There's a version of apple pie everyone grew up with — the one that shows up at every holiday table, made from a recipe nobody's allowed to change. This isn't that pie. Browned butter and a splash of bourbon turn a familiar classic into something richer, bolder, and worth passing around the table this Thanksgiving. Grandma might raise an eyebrow. She'll still ask for...

Home + Design

Who Ya Gonna Call?

When something breaks in your home, these are the three names in your contacts. Here's what they're proud of, and thankful for, this year. Article by Sara DeMarcus | Photography by Lena Britt Photography The trades are among the most overlooked industries, yet local contractors keep us safe and comfortable every day. Roofing issue? Call Action. HVAC causing havoc? AllStar has your back. Tile finally giving out and it's time to remodel? Padilla Tile has you covered. We don't notice these things...

Arts + Culture

A Lasting Legacy

Living a lifetime dedicated to his country, community and colleagues, Michael Towbes continues giving back Article by Tracy Marcynzsyn | Photography by Provided “Everybody can do something,” Montecito Bank & Trust founding member and Chairman Michael Towbes became famous for saying. He said this to encourage his colleagues to use their time, treasure, or talent to help organizations they care about, and he modeled this sentiment throughout his life.  From serving his country in the Navy...

Food + Beverage

Raising the Steaks

Three Cuts, Three Stories, One Valley. Article by Matt DeMarcus | Photography by Lena Ibarra & Talia Helvey Steak makes sense in the Santa Ynez Valley. Ranching is in our history, winegrowing is all around us, and plenty of restaurants know their way around the grill. This fall, the SYVCL team set out to find the top steaks in the Valley. We didn't get far before the question changed, from which steak is best to why each chef swears by the one they serve. We were not looking for a winner or...

Food + Beverage

The Honor System

Fresh from the farm, close to home, and good for the community. Article by Sara DeMarcus | Photography by Matt DeMarcus Buying food close to where it grew has its own particular pleasure: tomatoes warm from the sun, walnuts trucked in from just a few miles away. Some of the Valley's best food still comes with no cashier, just a stand, a payment box, and trust. FINLEY FARMS 1702 N. Refugio Road Chris and Johanna Finley run their honor stand open daily from 10 a.m. to sunset, selling fresh...

Food + Beverage

Happy Hour. Reclaimed.

Whiskey ’N Rye gives Valley locals a better reason to come back to Solvang. Article by Matt DeMarcus | Photography by Provided & Lena Britt Photography There was a time when happy hour actually felt like a deal. You could wrap up at work, head to a restaurant, order something you probably wouldn't have ordered at full price, and walk away feeling like you'd beaten the system. Somewhere along the way, a lot of happy hours lost that appeal. The discounts got smaller, the menus got shorter, and...

Life + Culture

No Sugar Added

Explore Anna Vocino's cleaner side of cocktails, mocktails, and appetizers. Article by Grace Galloway | Photography by Provided Anna Vocino has spent close to a decade educating people on quitting sugar and grains, one podcast episode at a time. She co-hosts Fitness Confidential, a health podcast with trainer Vinnie Tortorich, has written three bestselling cookbooks, and has voiced characters in hundreds of commercials most of us have heard without knowing it, most recently Mrs. Potato Head in...

Fitness

Making a Spalsh

SYV Community Aquatics Foundation turning a dream into a landmark. Article by Sara DeMarcus | Photography by Matt DeMarcus Some childhood lessons stay with us forever. Riding a bike. Looking both ways before crossing the street. Learning how to tie a shoe. For many families, swimming belongs on that list. It's more than a recreational activity or summer pastime. It's a life skill. One that builds confidence, encourages healthy habits, and, perhaps most importantly, helps keep children safe...

Arts + Culture

Designed for Living

Why the best homes aren't just beautiful—they're built around the people who call them home. Article by Matt DeMarcus | Photography by Lena Ibarra Walk through a thoughtfully designed home, and it's easy to notice the obvious details first: the finishes, the colors, the lighting, the furniture. But according to interior designer Paige Saltzman of Nanci Paige Design, those elements are only part of the story. A successful home isn't defined by how it photographs. It's defined by how it...