Poetry in Bronze
SUSAN READ CRONIN’s sculptures are guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Visual puns, clever juxtapositions, playful takes on animals, plants, and body parts (noses!)
Susan Read Cronin’s sculpture The Top Rung seems to lean into the question, “What’s the next step?”
Written by Joan Tapper
SUSAN READ CRONIN’s sculptures are guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Visual puns, clever juxtapositions, playful takes on animals, plants, and body parts (noses!)—she directs the viewer’s attention with clever titles that hint at a narrative element. Cronin has cast more than 1,000 pieces since she started making bronze sculptures in 1996, when she and her husband were living in Vermont. A full-time resident of Montecito since 2016, she also works in cut-paper silhouettes and has published three volumes of poetry.
Most of her pieces recently have been relatively small, but Cronin is now experimenting with scale—for example, increasing the size of an initial piece, a 20-inch sculpture called The Top Rung to her own 5-foot-3-inch height. “It’s fun to figure out which pieces might translate” to a larger size, she notes. “And I want to experiment with what technology can do and still have a hand in it.” susanreadcronin.com
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Basque Glow
The latest addition to the arts district, DOM’S TAVERNA, brightens up a historic building that once served as the headquarters of the California Electric Company
Chef Dominique “Dom” Crisp, previously of the Lonely Oyster
Written by Charlotte Bryant Medina
The latest addition to the arts district, DOM’S TAVERNA, brightens up a historic building that once served as the headquarters of the California Electric Company. Chef Dominique “Dom” Crisp brings Basque cuisine to the fully renovated space, pairing industrial warmth with coastal charm and a light-filled open kitchen. Sip an Espresso Eroa—a Spanish Espresso Martini—at the original Pascual’s and Trattoria Victoria’s marble bar, now reimagined and restored with gold in the tradition of Japanese kintsugi. A Josper oven (a charcoal grill and oven hybrid from Barcelona) infuses a wood-fired smokiness to the menu’s abundance of local seafood.
Winter highlights include oysters, naturally, and Spanish Perigord truffles from partner Raj Nallapothola’s farm north of Barcelona. In his previous Los Angeles projects, Crisp notes that he was “lucky to have one consistent item on the menu that was special as well as local.” Now he is embracing the full scope of what the harbor has to offer. “Having been a chef in Southern California for the past 10 years, it is serendipitous that all my favorite ingredients and farmers reside in this area. Folks doing big things that contribute to a beautiful menu for any chef willing to connect.” 30 E. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, domstaverna.com
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Shock & Awe
An exciting exhibition, The Impressionist Revolution: Monet to Matisse From the Dallas Museum of Art, now on view at the SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ART (SBMA), focuses on Impressionism’s rebellious origins and its extraordinary influence on the art world
Auguste Roedel, Moulin de la Galette (Les Mâitres de l’Affiche) (c. 1896), color lithograph.
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter
The history of art is a progression of aesthetic insurrections, and Impressionism, the 19th-century art movement conceived in Paris, remains one of the most shocking visual revolutions of all time. An exciting exhibition, The Impressionist Revolution: Monet to Matisse From the Dallas Museum of Art, now on view at the SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ART (SBMA), focuses on Impressionism’s rebellious origins and its extraordinary influence on the art world. The exhibition is chock-full of masterpieces from the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) by big-name artists, including Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Henri Matisse, and Berthe Morisot. Dr. Nicole Myers, the DMA’s chief curatorial and research officer and The Barbara Thomas Lemmon Senior Curator, curated the exhibition and authored the companion catalogue.
SBMA is the traveling show’s only destination in the western United States, and like a gracious host welcoming an important guest, SBMA is displaying works by Monet, Matisse, Morisot, and others from its own Impressionist collection in a companion exhibit entitled Encore: 19th-Century French Art from the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.
The entry to the SBMA celebrates the museum’s latest show focusing on Impresssionism’s rebellious origins.
Both exhibitions are on view at SBMA through January 25, 2026, and are accompanied by a full slate of public programs, conversations, and performances, including lectures by renowned Monet expert Paul Hayes Tucker and Pulitzer Prize–winning author Sebastian Smee. 1130 State St., Santa Barbara, sbma.net
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Night at the Museum
A festive crowd gathered downtown at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art to toast Santa Barbara Magazine’s 50th anniversary and to celebrate the publication of its winter Culture Issue.
Santa Barbara Magazine Toasts Its 50th Anniversary at SBMA
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter
Photography by Ingrid Bostrom
A festive crowd gathered downtown at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA) to toast Santa Barbara Magazine’s 50th anniversary and to celebrate the publication of its winter Culture Issue. Hosted by CEO/editorial director Jennifer Smith and executive editor Gina Tolleson, the gathering included multimedia artist Russell Young, whose color-saturated artwork on the magazine’s winter cover features a modified 1965 Andy Warhol photograph of his muse, Santa Barbara native Edie Sedgwick, at the height of her fame.
To welcome guests as they arrived, Anna and Bion Rice — owners of Artiste Winery in Santa Ynez, which is known for its wines with labels by artists — graciously filled flutes with their sparkling “Special” 2023 Brut Rosé. With Young’s artwork gracing the label, “Special” is the winery's fourth release in its collaboration with Santa Barbara Magazine. Each one has been timed to coincide with the magazine’s 2025 quarterly issues, all with unique covers by local artists to commemorate the magazine’s five decades. The complete set of the Santa Barbara Magazine Collection of four wines with artist-designed labels is available from the winery (artiste.com).
The ultimate highlight of the evening was an exclusive VIP tour of the museum’s special exhibitions The Impressionist Revolution: Monet to Matisse from the Dallas Museum of Art and Encore: 19th-Century French Art from the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, expertly led by SBMA’s Eicholz Foundation director Amada Cruz. Among the attentive audience were several local artists, including Fall issue cover artist David Florimbi with daughter Sofia; Spring issue cover artist Olivia Joffrey with daughter Cosima; Cassandria Blackmore, Susan Read Cronin, and Mary Heebner and MacDuff Everton. Also enjoying the art-themed event were Anne Towbes, Aubrie Young, Kyle Brace, Stephanie and Dewey Nicks, Tammy Hughes, Charlotte Bryant and Alejandro Medina, John Connelly and Frederick Janka, and Kendall Conrad and David Cameron.
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Fired Up
A drive through Carpinteria is never complete without a stop to see what ceramicist MIRI MARA is bringing to life at the wheel.
Miri Mara in his ceramics studio, which celebrates its 12th anniversary in December.
Written by Caitlin White
Photography by Macduff Everton
A drive through Carpinteria is never complete without a stop to see what ceramicist MIRI MARA is bringing to life at the wheel. In a previous chapter, Mara, a Rome native, spent two decades as an Italian fashion designer in Milan, a background that infuses his current career with a distinctly European sensibility and humanistic Italian flair. After relocating to California and falling in love with clay, he opened his eponymous shop in Carpinteria and began casting ceramic vases, bowls, cups, lamps, and pendants.
Each piece begins as a modeled clay slab that’s transformed into a plaster cast, then shaped through slip casting and hand finished with carved textural details. A Mara piece is also recognizable for a unique patterned effect, created by layered glaze and many firings. 5292 Carpinteria Ave., Carpinteria, mirimara.com
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French Connection
The art scene in Santa Barbara is becoming more global, as evidenced by the recent opening of SEIMANDI & LEPRIEUR GALLERY, helmed by French couple Fanny Seimandi and Julien Leprieur.
Written by Laurie Dewhirst Porter
The art scene in Santa Barbara is becoming more global, as evidenced by the recent opening of SEIMANDI & LEPRIEUR GALLERY, helmed by French couple Fanny Seimandi and Julien Leprieur. The couple recently relocated to California after a decade on the island of Martinique in the Caribbean, where Seimandi, who holds master’s degrees in art, served as a judge, and Leprieur worked as an engineer and entrepreneur. Both are extremely passionate about contemporary art, especially work by emerging Caribbean artists who are just starting to receive international recognition.
Dora Vital, Tropical Twilight Series No.1 (2023), oil pastel over acrylic
Part of the gallery’s stated ambition is to broaden the visibility of these artists and to present their work in conditions “that match its visual strength and conceptual depth.” To that end, Paris-born artist Dora Vital, who lives and works in Martinique, is the focus of a solo show, Jardin Nocturne, at the gallery from December 4 through February 21. Local photographer and creative director Jen Huang Bogan, the show’s co-curator, was struck by Vital’s luscious, layered compositions in pastel, oil, and acrylic.
“These works beautifully describe the juxtaposition of the richness and brevity of life as it cycles through the seasons,” Huang Bogan says. “They are a nod to the winter equinox, where daylight is softened but not bleak. Floral wisps and misty leaves swirl amongst the shadows of the pieces I chose, and they seem to say, in order for flowers to dance in the light, they must first be reborn beneath the earth.” 33 W. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara, seimandileprieur.com
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Multi-Frequency
Ojai welcomes a lively dining-and-nightlife pairing with Taco Roma and Radio Roma.
Come sundown in Ojai, the energy shifts from casual Taco Roma to the adjacent hi-fi lounge/mezcal bar Radio Roma
Written by Jessica Ruiz
Photography by Blue Gabor
Just because Ojai is more commonly associated with spiritual enlightenment than nightlife doesn’t mean the latter isn’t welcome. Casual Mexican restaurant TACO ROMA and hi-fi lounge/mezcal bar RADIO ROMA are side-by-side concepts that “complement each other,” explains co-owner Lisa Ann Cabasa, who partnered with her longtime friend, hospitality veteran and designer Serge Becker, on the venture.
The kitchen serves soul-satisfying dishes like lamb carnitas and tostadas de atún, which Becker describes as a “spin on the Contramar classic,” referring to the iconic Mexico City restaurant. During the day and early evening, the central location next to Libbey Park adds to the colorful tile-clad Taco Roma’s family-friendly appeal—until the over-21 crowd settles in with frozen palomas and mezcal cocktails after dark. Radio Roma’s intimate interior features an oversize disco ball and moody lighting befitting the vintage Klipsch system commandeered by a rotating roster of nightly guest DJs. “It’s the kids’ playhouse, and then the grownups’ playhouse,” Becker says. 307 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai, radioromaojai.com
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Rustic Revival
“You come here, and there’s a certain magic. We want every guest to feel that,” says Alia Rocher.
Charcoal-grilled chicken skewers served over flowering thyme is representative of the garden-focused ethos at the Rochers at the Ranch House in Ojai.
Written by Jessica Ritz
Photography by Delco Creative
“You come here, and there’s a certain magic. We want every guest to feel that,” says Alia Rocher. She and her husband, Perfecte, a Spanish-born, European-trained chef with a background in Michelin-starred kitchens, are ushering a beloved Ojai property into its next chapter as THE ROCHERS AT THE RANCH HOUSE. The fantastical 15,000-square-foot garden has been restored, and it sets the stage for a top-tier, yet refreshingly unstuffy, tasting-menu journey, along with other ways to enjoy the venue. A takeaway window serves Valencia-style coca flatbreads under the This Is Not Pizza banner by day. The Lumpsucker cocktail experience begins around the time Ojai’s famed Pink Moment bathes the Topatopa Mountains in a rosy glow. The couple embraces the holistic, multisensory nature of this new personal venture, which is rooted in a place that’s significant to many locals. For decades it was here at the Ranch House that Alan and Helen Hooker pioneered vegetarian California cuisine, welcoming friends like Beatrice Wood. “So many people have different memories of the space,” Alia says. “We’re doing our best to preserve the legacy.” 102 Besant Rd., Ojai, therochersrh.com
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Designer Row
Miramar is busting at the seams with new luxury retail
Miramar is busting at the seams with new luxury retail
Riviera Style
Chanel debuts in Montecito
© Chanel
An oceanfront CHANEL boutique, rooted in the French house’s polished codes, has arrived in Montecito at the Rosewood Miramar Beach. The single-level space, awash in black, white, and beige, is designed with dark wood shelves, patterned carpets, and tweed seating. It’s filled with Cruise 26 ready-to-wear, including knitted pieces and gold textured suits paired with watches and fine jewelry. Bags and accessories also line the main salon, while shoes sit in an adjoining space; two fitting rooms for personalized shopping complete the newest addition to the resort’s curated selection of shops. Beyond the ready-to-wear looks, first shown at the Villa d’Este on Lake Como, there is an extensive selection of baubles from Coco Crush, No. 5, constellation-evoking Comète, ribbon-esque Ruban, and the emblematic geometric curves of Camélia rings, bracelets, brooches, earrings, and necklaces. Also on hand are timepieces including the new Première Galon, the sporty J12 collection, and the rectangular Boy Friend. The house known for debuting its ready-to-wear resort looks on one of Europe’s most stylish Rivieras has arrived at America’s counterpart. The Shops at Miramar, Rosewood Miramar Beach, 1555 S. Jameson Ln., Montecito; chanel.com
Webb’s World
A New York jewelry house goes west
Shapes that first bloomed in DAVID WEBB’s mind and continue to be produced by master jewelers in New York are making their way to the coast, where the house has opened a new boutique in Montecito. The boldly original hammered gold designs and animals with eyes and defining features encrusted with colored gemstones long sought out by stars with a penchant for elegant, original baubles—including Elizabeth Taylor, Cher, Rihanna, and Scarlett Johansson—now have a new address at the Rosewood Miramar Beach resort. Webb looked to the natural world as he drew up ideas, and he left an archive of nearly 100,000 sketches, most of which have yet to be produced. This store opening is the first for the house in more than a decade, and the new space is filled with his classics, including enamel earrings, plus bent or twisted nail designs, and all manner of frogs, leopards, zebras, and more. A mix of coral, turquoise, and myriad colored gemstones reflect the hues of local sunsets and cool coastal waters. There are also unique creations to be found alongside the jungle cats, diamond-dusted necklaces, and inimitably bold cocktail rings. 1759 S. Jameson Ln., Montecito, Rosewood Miramar Beach, 310-858-8006; davidwebb.com
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Lights, Camera, Action!
This February, Santa Barbara filmgoers will xperience our international film festival like never before.
The indoor-outdoor entry
Written by Jennifer Blaise Kramer
This February, Santa Barbara filmgoers will xperience our international film festival like never before. The marquee at 916 State Street is getting a sparkling makeover, as is the inside of the old theater—the new home of the SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (SBIFF), which has previously had to rent theaters during the annual event. In October 2024, the Santa Barbara City Council unanimously approved a long-term lease, securing a permanent home for the 40-year-old organization, not just for the 11-day festival, which brings in 100,000 cinephiles, but also for year-round programming.
Building on the magic of the beloved Riviera Theater—don’t worry, it’s not going away!—the new film center will include five enhanced auditoriums to showcase more than 200 films during the festival, with annual screenings expanding from 1,000 to 6,000. This means more viewings and more flexibility to switch gears, run popular films longer, or surprise and delight fans.
“We won’t be limited to current theatrical releases,” says Benjamin Bhutani Goedert, SBIFF development director. “That’s what’s so exciting with another 5,000 slots to fill.” The new multiplex art house will screen family movies, indies, foreign films, and documentaries, in addition to retrospectives. Each theater will feature brand new state-of-the-art sound and projection systems, plus seating, and improved accessibility with a new ADA ramp. A film-themed art gallery near the entrance will have rotating exhibits, while the interior design will thoughtfully borrow décor motifs (“Easter eggs,” Goedert says) from other theaters around town.
With the Arlington still on tap as the red-carpet icon, the new film center will soon become a landmark of its own, not just as part of SBIFF’s legacy but also on the international map of film festivals. Adds Goedert: “We hope this means another 40 years of the film festival.” sbifftheatres.com
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December Decadence
Discover winter’s top indulgences across Santa Barbara and Ojai.
In the Spirit
SAN YSIDRO RANCH is a perennial favorite getaway, but the best reason to book a staycation this winter? A holiday redux of their signature speakeasy, which transforms the Plow & Angel into a maximalist Christmas paradise. With decadent splurges like caviar service and a seafood tower or a variety of casual plates, such as tamarind wings, Korean beef tacos, and crispy calamari, there’s plenty here for a light dinner or a happy-hour snack when the bar opens up at 5 p.m. There’s something special for every palate and sensibility, from fruit- and shrub-based mocktails to mystical absinthe fountains. Since you’re going to be indulging, opt to stay the night and sleep it all off in one of the fairytale cottages repeatedly endorsed by Hollywood royalty. 900 San Ysidro Lane, Santa Barbara, sanysidroranch.com. c.w.
Mane Act
Last fall, local darling Good Lion Hospitality opened another sleek, chic cocktail bar, bringing the five-o’clock-somewhere ethos to Coast Village Road. LION’S TALE, located on the ground floor of the historic Montecito Inn, is grand and airy, with opulent finishes and a lavish menu to match. Think frozen Vespers with both gin and vodka, a Boulevardier made with Italian vermouth and Demerara rum, and an eponymous cocktail with scotch, chai, Averna, and pineapple.
Kicking things off every day at 4 p.m., a generous happy-hour menu cuts select drink prices down to $11, including an adorable little 50/50 martini that can be upgraded with a sidecar of fries. It’s the perfect drink-and-snack combo, topped perhaps only by a plate that comes with filet mignon bites and café de Paris sauce for $14, effectively turning steak frites into a playful, poutine-style nosh. Need more reasons to visit? A lobster slider is less commitment than a full roll but comes with all of the decadence, and a savory, creamy smoked-trout dip, complete with house-made potato chips, radish, and endive, is an ideal companion for any drink on the menu. 1295 Coast Village Rd., Santa Barbara, lionstalebar.com. c.w.
Comfort Food
Much like the charming Upham Hotel it calls home, BISTRO AMASA’s menu is full of nostalgic favorites. Updated American classics from chef Julian Martinez—such as meatloaf with mole and yogurt, a Waldorf salad with brown butter dressing, or a dressed-up twice-baked potato—feel familiar and embody the homey atmosphere of the Victorian building. The team behind Hearth Hospitality helms the concept, and while the menu departs from the conceptual California cuisine of their Michelin-recognized restaurant Barbareño, the same playful sense of humor will be familiar to fans. 1404 De La Vina St., Santa Barbara, bistroamasa.com. c.b.m.
Old Soul
Good things come to those who wait. After five years of planning, HOTEL EL ROBLAR debuted this summer in the heart of Ojai. The collective expertise of its all-star crew, composed of hospitality and design talents Warner Ebbink, Eric Goode, Jeremy McBride, and Ramin Shamshiri, is evident throughout the historic 50-room property. That includes the 100-seat Condor Bar and sunny daytime spot La Cocina, co-helmed by restaurant veteran Ebbink and his chef–business partner Brandon Boudet.
The menu features dishes that reflect California’s hybrid culinary culture and the region’s Mexican roots, with such touches as green mole and an uni tamal made with heirloom corn nixtamalized in-house. Flame-kissed proteins are served hot off the Condor Bar’s Santa Maria grill, while Boudet takes advantage of his connection to local farms when sourcing most other ingredients. 122 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai, theroblar.com. j.r.
Aside from the outdoor patio with gorgeous waterfront views, Gracie also boasts a central indoor bar that’s designed to the nines.
On the Waterfront
A trifecta of restaurants in Santa Barbara has recently opened under the stewardship of Dudley Michael and Grace Austin, including the Rodeo Room and The Shop Brunch, at Milpas and De La Guerra. The third, dubbed simply GRACIE, is in a more prime location—harborside in the old Breakwater Cafe. The restaurant is still shoring up its dinner menu, and the owners have eschewed reservations for a walk-ins-only setup.
Begin with a rockfish ceviche served with rice crackers and a classic Caesar salad spiked with toasted anchovies. Mains like the fish tacos, which come pan seared and topped with smoked chili aioli and pickled onions, are as fresh as the daily catch. Another highlight, crispy salmon with roasted fennel and leeks, pairs nicely with a Midori Eastside. The mint-cucumber-shiso libation can be served with or without vodka and Midori added, making for a smart brunch mocktail. 107 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, graciewaterfront.com. c.w.
Written by Caitlin White, Jessica Ritz, Charlotte Bryant Medina
Photography by Blake Bronstad, Michael Achach, Blue Gabor
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Main Events
Explore standout wedding and event venues across the Santa Ynez Valley
The family-owned ranch is nestled in the Purisima Hills.
Written by Hana-Lee Sedgwick
Photographs by Willie Kessel, Haley Otis, Madeline Tolle
Just minutes from Los Alamos is LAS CUMBRES RANCH, a 1,000-acre working cattle ranch and event venue managed using holistic and regenerative practices that enhance biodiversity, restore the land, and reflect a deep respect for the environment. With eight distinct spaces across the property—including an event lawn, wildflower garden, spring-fed pond, modern event barn, and a vintage barn built in 1890—Las Cumbres has a setting to suit every style. The ranch can accommodate as many as 300 seated guests, with flexible layouts and multiday options available. “We take a holistic approach to everything we do—socially, economically, environmentally—which means we work with nature first,” says ranch manager Stefan Selbert. 1450 State Rte. 135, Santa Maria, lascumbresranch.com
The pond at Refugio Ranch Vineyards
REFUGIO RANCH VINEYARDS may be known for its grapevines, but it’s also one of the most private wedding ceremony spots in the Santa Ynez Valley. The 415-acre estate features oak-studded hillsides, a tranquil pond, and expansive views of the region. Refugio Ranch can accommodate up to 120 guests for ceremonies up to two hours. For those looking to expand the celebration, sister property ROBLAR WINERY offers two reception venues: the tasting room and nearby Roblar Farm. Situated on 18 acres, the latter charms with its organic gardens, vine-covered pergola, and sleek black event barn, ideal for year-round receptions. With space for up to 300 guests, along with on-site overnight accommodations for 28, the farm is a true all-in-one venue. roblarwinery.com
The 50-acre WHITE OWL RANCH is a hidden gem in Santa Barbara wine country. Framed by 100-year-old oak trees and 26 acres of vineyards, at the heart of the property is a rustic event barn, where weathered character meets modern amenities like a full bar, refrigeration, and a bathroom. The estate is home to a beautifully appointed main house and two guest cottages, along with a pool, jacuzzi, tennis court, two pickleball courts, and a bocce court—all the essentials for a laid-back, multiday gathering in the Santa Ynez Valley. whiteowlranch.com
Rustic Roots
Available for rental, Santa Ynez Valley’s idyllic AMARA RANCH showcases the work of Montecito interior designer and owner Birgit Klein. @amararanch
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Living Legacy
Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center opens, honoring indigenous culture in Southern California.
An interior view of one of the museum’s domes that recall traditional Chumash dwellings.
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter
Photographs by Patrick W. Price
New Architecture on Indigenous
Lands (University of Minnesota Press, $75).
The indigenous Chumash people have inhabited Southern California for millennia, and their territory encompasses the counties of Kern, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. Now the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has opened a museum specifically dedicated to Chumash culture. The 14,000-square-foot SANTA YNEZ CHUMASH MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER, designed by the Seattle-based firm of Jones & Jones Architects, is anchored by two iconic giant domes that visually recall the traditional Chumash dwellings known as tule 'ap, while the surrounding property includes a 3.5-acre cultural park landscaped with native plant species. The museum showcases more than 24,000 historically items donated by tribal members, acquired from institutions and collectors, or commissioned from artists and artisans. 3500 Numancia St., Santa Ynez, sychumashmuseum.org
Mountain High
One of the year's most anticipated restaurant openings, Little Mountain, is celebrating its namesake small village with a world of personality.
Upper Village has a new culinary star
Written by Charlotte Bryant
Photography by Kort Havens
One of the year's most anticipated restaurant openings, Little Mountain, is celebrating its namesake small village with a world of personality. Owners Graham Duncan and Eva Schreier (Hacienda Los Milagros and Smith Fork Ranch) found inspiration in the idea of a not-so-sleepy gathering space that reflects the local community in all aspects of its look, feel, and flavor. The former Wine Bistro space in the Upper Village has been completely re-envisioned to feel like stepping into a modern hacienda—with a bar that begs for a leisurely hangout. The large patio and 14-seat private dining room, which have been elegantly appointed by designer Andrew Cosbie, allude to the many historic properties and signature Spanish Colonial look that feels woven into the fabric of Montecito. A custom wood-fired hearth is the centerpiece of the kitchen, where Chilean-born chef Diego Moya (who comes to Montecito by way of New York) has embraced the abundance of local produce. Moya employs focused preparations that highlight vegetables at their peak, plating exciting textures and less familiar combinations through dishes like spiny lobster with Tokyo turnip and chrysanthemum or beef tartare with grilled tomato. The locavore sensibility even extends to the walls with work from artist Meredith Abbott Brooks and a sustainably sourced small-producer wine list. 516 San Ysidro Rd., Montecito; littlemountainsb.com
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Bounty of Riches
Massimo Falsini, the steward of the Rosewood Miramar Beach’s culinary offerings since 2018, has joined forces with the hotel’s recently arrived director of wine, Rob Smits.
A selection from local wine producers
Written by Caitlin White
Photographs Courtesy of Rosewood Miramar Beach
Massimo Falsini, the steward of the ROSEWOOD MIRAMAR BEACH’s culinary offerings since 2018, has joined forces with the hotel’s recently arrived director of wine, Rob Smits, to launch an exclusive dinner series featuring selections from local winemakers and farmers to showcase the bounty of the Central Coast. Appropriately dubbed Bounty, the series emphasizes a relaxed setting and communal dining. Smits’ wine pairings will feature the people behind each local wine producer, showcasing their pours by pairing them with excellent salads and pizzas prepared in the wood-fired oven at Massimo’s Garden, a new pop-up venue at the Miramar. 1759 S. Jameson La., Montecito, rosewoodhotels.com/en/miramar-beach-montecito
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Fashion in Motion
Fashion, dance, photography, and fine art all came together on October 15, as luxe fashion brand Merlette collaborated with Move With Purpose.
Moving with Purpose at Art & Soul
Written by Joan Tapper
Fashion, dance, photography, and fine art all came together on October 15, as luxe fashion brand Merlette collaborated with Move With Purpose to raise funds for that nonprofit’s mission of empowering marginalized communities through dance and the arts. The organization advances children’s chances for success by using the arts to instill confidence and teach leadership, resilience, life skills, and philanthropy.
The immersive event took place at the Art and Soul Gallery in downtown Santa Barbara, with an exhibit of sponsor Lily Hahn Shining’s photography of Move With Purpose dancers presented as muses in Merlette’s signature silhouettes. Guests were also invited to explore Merlette’s collection of elegant, sophisticated apparel.
Along with ticket sales and donations from the event, a portion of October earnings from the Montecito boutique were earmarked for Move With Purpose, and a live auction of paintings by artist Pedro De La Cruz added to the proceeds, which will fund dance classes for local youth, ensuring their access to programs that foster creativity, confidence, and leadership through the arts.
“At Merlette, we believe fashion can be a catalys for meaningful change,” said founder Marina Cortbawi. “This collaboration with Move With Purpose exemplifies how art and design can uplift communities, provide access to opportunity, and inspire the next generation.”
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The Storyteller
In a sunlit studio in Santa Barbara, artist and actor Loan Chabanol lets her paintbrush do the talking.
Written by Amelia Fleetwood
Portraits by Cristina Trayfors
In a sunlit studio in Santa Barbara, artist and actor LOAN CHABANOL lets her paintbrush do the talking. “Painting feels like breathing,” she says. “It’s how I process things I don’t yet have words for.”A storyteller in every sense, the French-born Chabanol works from instinct, layering acrylic across canvas with the insistence of someone who must tell her story. Raised between Paris and the south of France, Chabanol left school at 15, launching a successful career in modeling, which later led to acting. Yet it has always been painting that satisfied her most deeply. “I’ve been honing my craft for years,” she says. “With no formal training, there are no rules to my creativity, and I feel I have a sense of freedom, with no limits. I have always painted, because I had an urgent need to communicate my feelings, and this always felt like the easiest way. I had to paint. It’s like breathing.”
Her work, figurative and abstract, and often including an immersive aspect for the viewer, is shaped by emotion as well as the environment the work sits in. “The gallery or the space always influences what comes,” she says. Recent shows in New York, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara (at the Tamsen Gallery) have carved her a quiet niche. Paris is next. “It feels like time to come home,” she says. When she’s not on a film set—her new movie will hit festivals later this year—or preparing for an exhibition, Chabanol takes private commissions, working closely with collectors to create intimate, intuitive work that speaks where language might fail. mikagirlstudio.com
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Dia de Diwali
This October, Michelin-recognized Bibi Ji and the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara joined forces for a Supper Club to benefit the museum.
A spicy dinner duet for MCASB
This October, Michelin-recognized Bibi Ji and the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara joined forces for a Supper Club to benefit the museum. The private dinner celebrated the cultural holidays of Diwali (Festival of Lights) and Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) through an exploration of 500 years of culinary dialogue between Mexico and India.
Chef Bany Vargas and Bibi Ji Owner Alejandro Medina collaborated on a menu combining the modern Indian flavors of Bibi Ji with Vargas’s Oaxacan influence, sourcing ingredients from local farmers’ markets for several weeks. The resulting dishes featured flavorful and fanciful mashups such as butter chicken tacos served on heirloom pink corn tortillas, Oaxacan guacamole with tlayudas tostadas, Bibi Ji's 5-spice chile atole, and more. Bibi Ji 1213 State St. Ste. B, bibijisb.com MCASB 653 Paseo Nuevo, mcasantabarbara.org
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Botanical Bliss
Visiting the new Strange Family Vineyards tasting room in downtown Los Olivos feels like stepping into a secret garden.
Written by Gabe Saglie
Visiting the new STRANGE FAMILY VINEYARDS tasting room in downtown Los Olivos feels like stepping into a secret garden. The decor, which includes original paintings, cozy lighting, and artsy artifacts that give off a botanical vibe, is reminiscent of a sophisticated apothecary. The real stars are the wines, made by Jessica Gasca. The Chablis-inspired Chardonnays are subtly creamy and fresh, whereas the Pinot Noirs are fruit-forward and savory. The sparkling wines are getting buzz as some of the most refined in Santa Barbara County.
Garden patterns and time-weathered artifacts give the new tasting room a whimsical vibe.
All the fruit comes from the family’s 20-acre vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, which is farmed sustainably and regeneratively. The tasting room features a wine-and-chocolate-truffle pairing, a midweek happy hour, and an evening culinary party on the last Saturday of every month. The menu of zero-proof cocktails helps make this spot an extra family-friendly stop. 2933 Grand Ave., Los Olivos, strangefamilyvineyards.com