Off the Hook
Even as a busy mother of four, KELLEN MEYER always finds time to knit, as generations of women in her family have done.
Artist Kellen Meyer works on one of her large-scale fiber sculptures, ’Twas a Misty Meisty Morning, in her Carpinteria studio.
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter | Photography by Sara Prince
Even as a busy mother of four, KELLEN MEYER always finds time to knit, as generations of women in her family have done. But in the past few years she’s taken her talent with yarn to another level, into the heroic realm of installation art. Her enormous knitted and knotted wool piece, In Search of Wonder, resembles undulating ocean foam or a frothy stream. Not surprisingly, this stunning work was chosen—out of 10,000 entrants—by an international jury for the Arte Laguna Prize, a design competition in Venice, Italy, where it will be displayed in the city’s historic Arsenale in March and April 2023.
Meyer, an Arizona native who moved to Santa Barbara with her family nine years ago, is strongly influenced by the outdoors. So it makes sense that her Carpinteria studio sits just steps from a bird sanctuary, with the ocean not far beyond. Her one-of-a-kind pieces are made of natural materials—often a mix of wool, cotton, wood, paper, willow, or reed—and employ a combination of weaving techniques Meyer has mastered over the years. kellenmeyer.com
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Beaucoup Blue
Ojai is pretty much ground zero for boho chic, so it’s no surprise that Christiane Celle, the French-born former fashion stylist-turned-retail-maven—she founded and sold the Calypso store chain—would find a toehold in town.
Blue Ojai, an eclectic boutique packed with coveted items from around the world.
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter
Ojai is pretty much ground zero for boho chic, so it’s no surprise that Christiane Celle, the French-born former fashion stylist-turned-retail-maven—she founded and sold the Calypso store chain—would find a toehold in town. Called BLUE OJAI, it’s part of Celle’s Clic-store empire, which started in St. Barth’s and spread to New York and California. (There’s a Clic in both the Montecito and Marin Country Marts). Originally conceived as a bookstore—Celle’s passion is photography, and she’s married to a photographer—Blue Ojai and the other Clic venues have evolved into concept spaces featuring carefully curated collections of books, art, home goods, and fashion. Blue Ojai is an airy, open shop tucked into a serene white-brick building on the town’s main drag and is packed with coveted items culled from around the world. Look for flowy dresses, menswear, and cool gifts you can’t find anywhere else. 209 W. Ojai Ave., Ojai, 805-633-9086, clic.com.
Must Have
Italian Invasion
A trio of restaurants in the State Street corridor is offering a more authentic take on Italian food.
Burrata Pugliese—with butternut squash and sage pureé, walnut pesto, pumpkin seeds, and herbs—at Aperitivo.
A trio of restaurants in the State Street corridor is offering a more authentic take on Italian food
Written by Erik Torkells | Photography by Sara Prince
“I don’t try to get big names or high scores,” says Andrea Girardello of Aperitivo’s wine list. “It’s whatever I would drink.”
Our journey begins in the north—of Italy, that is—at APERITIVO, where chef Brian Dodero and Milan-bred Andrea Girardello have recreated their version of the aperitivo. It’s “a place catering to locals, especially in Milan, where people can just have a glass of wine and go home, if they like,” explains Girardello. Enthusiasm for Dodero’s inventive cooking, however, has shifted the emphasis from wine bar to restaurant. He imports as much as possible from Italy—including the standout burrata, marinated artichokes, and gelato. Drinks remain an important part of the equation, with an ever-changing lineup of spritzes made with vermouths rarely seen in these parts, and an all-Italian wine list. “I don’t try to get big names or high scores,” says Girardello. “It’s whatever I would drink.” And the take-home pasta-and-wine club, started during the pandemic, is still going strong; every week, a different region—including lesser-known ones like Alto Adige and Le Marche—gets a turn in the spotlight. 7 W. Haley St., Santa Barbara, 805-869-2937, aperitivosb.com.
Founded in Naples in 1870, L’ANTICA PIZZERIA DA MICHELE has begun an aggressive stateside expansion, with an outpost in Los Angeles, two in the works in New York City and Long Beach, and a brand-new one in the former Embermill space on State Street. Unlike the Naples original, which features just two pizzas (margherita and marinara), these are full restaurants, with fresh pastas, entrées, and more. The star is still wood-fired pizza, of course, and the goal is to make it exactly as it is done across the Atlantic. “We import everything from Italy—flour, cheese, everything,” says head chef Michele Rubini. “Even our main pizzaiolo is from Naples!” As at Aperitivo, the wine list is entirely Italian. 1031 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-770-8055, damicheleusa.com.
In the shadow of The Granada Theatre, Alberto and Elaine Morello of the Olio family of restaurants, are running the show at BEDDA MIA for an anonymous Roman owner. “Alberto was born and raised in Sicily,” says Elaine. “We got married there in 1993, and we try to go back every year. This was his chance to do a completely Sicilian menu.” That means lots of seafood and classic Sicilian ingredients, such as sliced smoked tuna with fennel, orange, and Castelvetrano olives; tagliolini with cuttlefish and squid ink; and an off-menu dish of pasta tossed inside a giant Pecorino rind. When at Bedda Mia, do as the Sicilians do and finish with a passito from Trapani or a malvasia from Messina. Saluti! 1218 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-770-8777, beddamiasantabarbara.com.
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We Want the Funk
Our epicenter of counterculture turns 50
Our epicenter of counterculture turns 50
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter | Photography by Sara Prince
Long before it was dubbed The Funk Zone, Santa Barbara’s industrial area, with its mix of marine and manufacturing outposts, grain mills, tilt-up buildings, and Quonset huts, could easily be described as such. Starting in the 1970s, intrepid gallerist Ruth S. Shaffner saw the area’s creative potential and fearlessly established her eponymous contemporary art gallery there. (She also gifted more than 100 artworks to UCSB’s Art, Design & Architecture Museum.) By the time the Funk Zone name stuck—reportedly in the mid-1990s—the area was already filled with artists known for their knack of repurposing industrial buildings into living spaces and studios.
“The grit collides with the glamour down here.”
Three decades on, there’s an Urban Wine Trail (20-plus tasting rooms), art galleries, vintage boutiques, restaurants, and more (including numerous artist studios). The Funk Zone is also a thriving local community of individuals who support creative ventures and spirits (of all kinds). And while skyrocketing land values threaten the continued survival of the area as an artists’ enclave, local groups like Keep the Funk are committed to preserving its inherent funkyness. Without a doubt, The Funk Zone is a truly unique and vital part of Santa Barbara.
“The Funk Zone feels like home with its south-facing light.”
Joan of Art
Celebrating the work of visionary artist Joan Tanner
Tanner in her studio, contemplating Mire, a site-specific installation she created for her Out of Joint solo exhibition at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.
Celebrating the work of visionary artist Joan Tanner
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter | Photography by Sara Prince
Good art makes us look; great art makes us see. Joan Tanner’s art does both, depending on the viewer’s level of receptivity. Even the mildly curious will be rewarded by looking, as will those opting for a deep intellectual dive. At 87, Tanner is a seasoned pro, having produced and exhibited artwork for more than five decades. Fittingly, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art—which mounted Tanner’s first solo show in 1967—is celebrating the artist with a solo exhibition, OUT OF JOINT (on view February 12 – May 14), co-curated by SBMA’s contemporary art curator, James Glisson, and independent curator Julien Robson, director of the Great Meadows Foundation in Kentucky.
Robson has known Tanner for over 20 years, having curated a significant solo show of her work at Kentucky’s Speed Art Museum in 2001. Glisson joined SBMA in 2020, and he visited Tanner’s studio later that year after viewing examples of her earlier work in the museum’s permanent collection. “Because of the sheer elegance of her recent work, I felt it was important to share,” Glisson says, “and I discovered Joan hasn’t had a museum show in Santa Barbara for many years.”
Video courtesy Zach Mendez and Santa Barbara Museum of Art
Tanner, originally from Indiana, received her BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1957. Painting was her first focus; even so, her paintings often hinted at three dimensions, and in the 1980s she shifted to sculpture (enhanced by a strong drawing practice that has never waned). Aesthetically some have linked her work to that of assemblage artist Kurt Schwitters (whom Tanner admires for his “nonchalant use of materials”), but it was the work of Mario Merz, of the politically charged Arte Povera movement, that caught her attention early on. Tanner is especially attracted to the by-products of commercial activity, the discarded remains of completed work. These remainders are reminders—of waste, pollution, and our planet’s imperiled condition. Yet her work does not lack humor or hope.
As part of the Out of Joint show, Tanner has conceived two site-specific installations. The most imposing piece, Mire, comprising brightly painted plastic mesh, a network of metal rods, and shellacked vinyl tubing, fills and spills from the entryway of the museum’s McCormick Gallery, dramatically altering the surroundings and recontextualizing the space where Tanner’s art is displayed. (Negotiating the physical boundaries of the artist’s exuberant installations is integral to the experience.) Mire can also be viewed as a nod to SBMA’s recent renovation and the construction that took place in the gallery itself. Out of Joint: Joan Tanner is not to be missed sbma.net.
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Heading North + South
Cambria and Laguna Beach roadtrips
Heading North
For a quick change of coastal scenery, cozy Cambria is a convenient couple of hours away.
Written by Joan Tapper | Photographs by Jonny Valiant
STAY: White Water (shown), a 25-room lodge designed by Los Angeles–based Nina Freudenberger with a refreshing Californian/Scandinavian vibe, looks out to the boardwalk along Moonstone Beach. Rooms and suites offer fireplaces and sea views. From $329/night. WHITEWATERCAMBRIA.COM.
SHOP: Stock up on vintage wares in the antique shops and boutiques of Cambria’s walkable center. Sea + Green, for one, offers nature- and sea-inspired home goods and accessories. SEA-N-GREEN.COM.
PLAY: Hike the trails that crisscross the dramatic bluffs of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, with its views of sea life offshore and birds soaring overhead. FISCALINIRANCHPRESERVE.ORG.
DINE: Global cuisine is on the menu at Robin’s, where locals enjoy a garden setting that also features music throughout the year. The ocean’s delicacies abound at the Sea Chest, but be forewarned: There are no reservations and no credit cards accepted. ROBINSRESTAURANT.COM. SEACHESTOYSTERBAR.COM.
Heading South
Laguna Beach combines SoCal coves and beaches with a vibrant arts-colony heritage.
Written by Joan Tapper | Photographs: Lobby: Tim Street-Porter; Bedroom and exteriors: Jaime Kowal Photography.
STAY: The Spanish Colonial buildings of the maze-like 23-room Casa Laguna Hotel & Spa (shown) were renovated and redesigned by Martyn Lawrence Bullard to preserve their eclectic architecture and turn the property into a stylish, comfortable inn. From $329/night. CASALAGUNA.COM.
SHOP: Casually elegant clothes and accessories suited to the beachfront lifestyle are on offer at Simple Laguna. SIMPLELAGUNA.COM.
PLAY: Artists have clustered in Laguna Beach since the early 20th century. Today the First Thursdays Art Walk offers a way to sample what’s on display at the city’s 100-plus galleries and artist studios, and the Laguna Art Museum has a noted permanent collection. LAGUNAARTMUSEUM.ORG.
DINE: Nick’s Laguna Beach is a local institution, featuring seafood and a killer prime rib sandwich. La Sirena Grill serves up delicious organic Mexican fare and sustainable ideals. NICKSRESTAURANTS.COM. LASIRENAGRILL.COM.
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One to Watch: STUDIO
The Funk Zone is about to light up: Jeremy Wilson…
Written by Erik Torkells for Siteline
The Funk Zone is about to light up: Jeremy Wilson, a marketing and entertainment consultant who recently moved here from New York, had planned on opening an office next to the Brass Bear—but then decided to take it up a notch. The result is STUDIO, a bar, production space and sound room which he says will offer “experiments in liquid, light and sound.” Along with beer, wine, and cocktails, we can expect ever-changing light installations and “a wide-ranging music experience for those who want something outside of the typical club.” 28 Anacapa St., Unit C. @STUDIOSOUNDROOM.
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Beyond Denim
Beau Lawrence has been personally outfitting Santa Barbara creatives, chefs, athletes, and more in his sustainable Ace Rivington tailored denim since 2013.
Designer Beau Lawrence in his State Street store
Written by Charlotte Bryant
Beau Lawrence has been personally outfitting Santa Barbara creatives, chefs, athletes, and more in his sustainable Ace Rivington tailored denim since 2013. He launched his line that fall—with an offering of French terry sweatshirts—after years of experience at Guess and Union Bay, and as vice president of design and merchandising for Neff Headwear. Outspoken activism and rigorous fundraising efforts to support community organizations and initiatives have gone hand in hand with the growth of the brand since its inception.
In addition to the core collection of men’s and women’s jeans, designed in Santa Barbara and made from premium Candiani Italian denim, the State Street store offers ultrasoft tees ($10 of the sale of each of the popular Monster Tour Tees supports local bars and restaurants through a tip fund), loungewear, flannels, accessories, and—most recently—Diadora Heritage Collection shoes. To celebrate the launch of the footwear collection, the brands have teamed up to produce DIADORA + AR HOMEGROWN, a series of short films featuring local residents like artist Wallace Piatt, Santa Barbara International Film Festival executive director Roger Durling, and restaurateur Alejandro Medina, to highlight homegrown talent and the creative drive of Santa Barbara influencers beyond the digital world. 1106A State St. ACERIVINGTON.COM.
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State Street Spice
Recently recognized by the Michelin Guide, BIBI JI has been a downtown destination since 2018 for favorites like the murgh tikka and uni biryani.
Owner Alejandro Medina
Written by Charlotte Bryant | Photographs by Sara Prince
Recently recognized by the Michelin Guide, BIBI JI has been a downtown destination since 2018 for favorites like the murgh tikka and uni biryani. The latest additions to the menu, by executive chef Kiran Bheemarao, introduce more tandoor items—the malai kebab, panir tikka, and stuffed naan
called kulcha are must-trys—along with an array of classic southern Indian street foods. Among the latter are Mysore bonda, which are potato-and-pea fritters served with an okra raita, and papri chaat, a salad with house-made crackers, chickpeas, yogurt, chutney, herbs, and a medley of other textures and flavors. The extensive list of low-intervention wines is updated weekly.
Owner Alejandro Medina explains, “Low-intervention wine is not just about farming practices but also wines made without the use of additives or manipulation in the cellar. We strive to educate people to think about where and how their wine is made in the same way they consider food. The beautiful local organic produce and seafood of Santa Barbara deserve to be enjoyed with wines of purpose.” Tables in the pastel-pink dining room and on the lively patios—with a progressive playlist and the smell of signature spices (roasted in-house) in the air—are just as likely to host Gen Z TikTokkers and Los Angeles weekenders as mainstay Montecito residents and celebrities. 734 State St. BIBIJISB.COM.
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Marvelous Mustique
With its glistening beaches and exclusive party atmosphere, the private Caribbean island of Mustique…
The infinity pool leads to a Caribbean view at Hummingbird, one of Mustique’s luxe villas.
Where to stay and play
Written by Joan Tapper
With its glistening beaches and exclusive party atmosphere, the private Caribbean island of Mustique, part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has been beloved by royals and rock stars alike since it was developed in the 1960s. Of course, the rest of us are welcome, too.
There are 80 villas here, designed in styles that range from contemporary to colonial Caribbean and accommodating a couple or a crowd. They generally include private pools as well as attentive staff members like private chefs, housekeepers, and butlers.
The 13 acres of Cotton House take in a pristine beach, superior accomodations, and quaint cottages; Basil Charles presides at his eponymous bar.
For a hotel experience there’s the fabled Cotton House, originally a cotton warehouse and now a chic boutique hostelry set on 13 acres of lush gardens close to Endeavour Bay. The 17 elegantly appointed suites, villas, and cottages are furnished with tropical flair and an appreciation for privacy and comfort. With a swimming pool, spa, and gym, there’s ample space for relaxation, but the heart of the Cotton House is the Great Room Bar, a gathering place for cocktails and conversation decorated with exuberance by theatrical designer Oliver Messel, who left his mark on several of the island’s villas as well.
Eventually everyone finds their way to Basil’s Bar, the legendary watering spot on Britannia Bay. Opened in 1968 and relaunched in 2019 after a two-year renovation by Philippe Starck, it’s a frequent venue for memorable music. This winter it once again hosts the Mustique Blues Festival, from January 26 to February 9. The performances by big-name artists go beyond great entertainment: Proceeds from the festival go to the Basil Charles Educational Foundation. Information at MUSTIQUE-ISLAND.COM.
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Positive Vibes
Season after season, UCSB Arts & Lectures provides Santa Barbara with an astounding array of cultural events geared to all ages and tastes.
Ballet Hispánico
Season after season, UCSB Arts & Lectures provides Santa Barbara with an astounding array of cultural events geared to all ages and tastes. Programming for the 2021-2022 season, called Creating Hope, is dedicated to experiences that promote emotional well-being and envision positive change.
A few examples of inspiring events you won’t want to miss: Bluegrass wonder Béla Fleck plays the Arlington (Dec. 15); Amanda Nguyen, activist and CEO of Rise, explains grassroots activism
(Jan. 12); Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Andrea Elliott examines homelessness and poverty (Jan. 20); Ballet Hispánico celebrates Latinx cultures through dance (Jan. 21); comedian John Leguizamo tells funny stories (Feb. 2); Grammy winner Wynton Marsalis brings the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (Feb. 4); Kyle Abraham choreographs ballet and hip-hop to R&B legend D’Angelo’s music (Feb. 13); and Bad Feminist author Roxane Gay critiques modern culture (Feb. 25). 805-893-3535. ARTSANDLECTURES.UCSB.EDU
Written by L.D. Porter | Photography by Paula Lobo
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Dream Weaver
From sunrise to the tiny hours of the night, I am in my studio sewing. Mostly, I am alone, channeling all of these complicated emotions I have experienced into something beautiful and tangible.
Gray in his downtown studio.
Written by Gina Tolleson | Photography by Sara Prince
WHO Nathaniel Gray, designer and dressmaker.
WHAT “From sunrise to the tiny hours of the night, I am in my studio sewing. Mostly, I am alone, channeling all of these complicated emotions I have experienced into something beautiful and tangible. Sewing is a way for me to heal, a way for me to express myself, but most importantly, a way to show the world that fashion can be used as a compelling medium to express awareness and feelings. Even if the feelings are difficult to face, I want to present a story of life between every stitch.”
WEAR “In a world of fast, shabby fashion, my goal is to bring back timeless traditions of dressmaking. Each dress, no matter the complexities, is sewn with the utmost care and attention to detail, from the finest fabrics collected around the world. I design lavish dresses for every occasion, including weddings. Every design is one of a kind and sewn to precise measurements—truly unique, just like my clients.”
MASTER CLASS “I never see myself fitting into the standards of modern fashion. I design dresses out of pure love for craftsmanship, holding fast to strict standards of precision. I want everyone who wears my designs to feel powerful and sophisticated, as if they have stepped into my imagination, where everything is vibrant and decadent but also sharp and poisonous.”
LOOK FOR Looks each month to be displayed on @nathaniel_gray_couture and nathanielgraycouture.com. Gray will also be creating designs in collaborative partnerships with artists all over the world.
I am made of boundless emotions, relentless dreams, and a profound wonder for life. A beautiful madness of sorts. And within all of this, I am completely free to express myself as a designer and dressmaker.
S.B. DOS “I work seven days a week, so my time is spent sewing, but in the evenings and late at night, I find myself wandering around the city or casually strolling the beaches. It always feels mysterious and a bit dangerous, but once the fear passes, our beautiful city glows brilliantly and radiates an addictive force that fuels my creativity. Mostly, at night, you can catch me on the wet steps of Thousand Steps Beach, watching the tide roll in.”
EXPRESS YOURSELF “In my opinion, style should be a reflection of your inner self. I love bold colors exploding out from a piece that seems restrictive. In my work, we build dresses for everyone regardless of gender. Dresses are powerful and command the attention of others as they enter the room. Some of my favorite dresses were designed for men. I believe, no matter who you are or your beliefs, dress in a fashion that makes you feel powerful. Life is too damn short not to.”
A muslin takes shape.
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Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes 2022
2022 will be a year filled with welcome and unwelcome surprises, phenomenal discoveries, galactic intensity, and clashes between extreme ideologies.
Written by Jennifer Freed | Photography by Gary Scott
2022 will be a year filled with welcome and unwelcome surprises, phenomenal discoveries, galactic intensity, and clashes between extreme ideologies. It will be an opportunity for each of us to radically change our perspective about what is enough and how to conserve what we have.
Squaring Off
The biggest planetary cycle of 2022 is what we call Saturn squared by Uranus. In the tension of a 90-degree angle, these two archetypes will reveal stress fractures in our political and financial systems. Saturn represents the need for stability, tradition, authority, and conservatism—and sometimes unbridled ambition. Uranus reflects our capacities for rebellion, innovation, and revolution. When these two archetypes face off, we can expect a true conflict between institutional authority and radical revolutionary behavior.
Saturn is currently in the sign of Aquarius, which is about authority within community and tradition within groups and organizations. Expressed skillfully, this placement is about taking responsibility for every single person in our community, regardless of status or identity. The unskillful side of Saturn in Aquarius is a sense of moral righteousness and a dictatorial certainty about who in our community should and should not be honored.
Uranus is in the sign of Taurus, which is about an upheaval in our sense of security and real challenges to rigid, stubborn unyielding tendencies. We are invited to let go of our own material greed in favor of supporting others in having the basics of what they need to survive. The downside of this energy can be destruction of property, materials, even social order—just to feel the juvenile thrill of anarchy.
Ideally, the energies of Saturn in Aquarius squared by Uranus in Taurus will promote divine possibilities: inspiring us to come together to invent new ideas of community and to creatively solve widespread economic and ecological problems. Most importantly, we need to focus on empowering the wisdom of elders to help us avoid reckless or impulsive choices and to make value-based changes with the past and the future in mind.
Jupiter Dancing With Neptune
Jupiter will be conjoined with Neptune in Pisces off and on throughout 2022. Jupiter is the archetype of abundance, higher learning and the search for meaning. It also points to spiritual learning, and the quest for compassion and true understanding. Neptune is the archetype of the collective dream; it represents our unlimited and undivided nature. Jupiter dancing with Neptune means a magnification of our capacity to dream a new world into being, together: a world where everyone belongs and has what they need.
Because both these planets will be in the sign of Pisces—a water sign ruled by Neptune—we should expect an outpouring of love and compassion and empathy previously unseen. This combination will also support an outpouring of collective music events and artistic inspirations.
This infusion of tidal energy in the water sign of Pisces will also mean some big news around water and water events.
In Summary
Get ready for a Class 5 river-raft ride! As any of you who have ridden the rapids know, an advanced ride like this one means you need all hands on deck. Everyone must be ready and willing to flow and move with the big waters rushing in. You’ll need to be able to scream and shout and release tension when you’re scared. The trick is to not aim your upset at anyone else and to realize that big feelings need to be acknowledged without adding more drama or trauma to others. You can also aim to feel the rapture and exhilaration that come from being part of a magnificent and thrilling ride of history filled with twists and turns.
We can feel much closer and unified once we move through these epic waves of social change and amplified feelings. If we lean into listening and learning instead of certitude, we can create innovative, wise, heartfelt solutions to many of our existing problems.
There will be a few periods of calmer waters throughout this year. That’s when we will need to hold everyone close in the lifeboat and reassure each other that we can do hard things. Deep appreciation for what each of us brings to this wild journey will provide great solace in 2022.
Jennifer Freed
“I love to write about the planetary cycles and evoke a sense of wonder about our place in this vast and animated cosmos,” says the author and chief content officer of AHA! (an organization providing social-emotional education for teens and educators), who alerts us to the challenges and opportunities of the coming year in “Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes 2022”. S.B. MUST-DOS The Mermaid Cottage on Padaro Beach. • An intimate dinner at Tre Lune. • Swimming at Butterfly Beach, because the sharks are at Santa Claus Beach. jenniferfreed.com @drjenniferfreedSee the story in our digital magazine
Full Moon Magic
Global flavors bring the world to Santa Barbara
Global flavors bring the world to Santa Barbara
Written by Charlotte Bryant | Photography by Sara Prince
Nestled behind Magic Hour in Ojai, IZAKAYA FULL MOON is a true hidden gem, with the loyal following to prove it. Housed in the space formerly occupied by Hip Vegan, the small-plate concept opened just over a year ago with a robust offering of bento boxes for takeout. After initial worry that guests might struggle to find the restaurant, owners Asaka and Yuya Ueno were overwhelmed by the positive response. Fast-forward to this winter, and five cozy patio tables are now available by reservation only; the seven-seat sushi bar—amid a a mixed collection of tokkuri (ceramic sake bottles) and ochoko (cups) and a wash of blue tile from Heath Ceramics—is for lucky walk-ins. Beautiful chopsticks handmade in Fukuoka, Japan, from a soot-colored susudake (smoked bamboo) by Asaka’s father are available for purchase.
After meeting in college, the Uenos dreamed for over a decade of opening an authentic izakaya.
After meeting in college, the Uenos dreamed for over a decade of opening an authentic izakaya (they also own a ramen outpost in Camarillo). They were immediately attracted by the energy of Ojai. The name Full Moon is a dedication to the city (the “Valley of the Moon”) and to the youngest of their three children, Yuzuki—whose name includes the Japanese word for “moon.” Both Yuya and Asaka bring elements of their respective hometown to the menu: the corn kaki-age (an addictive corn tempura) Yuya learned to make at home, and Asaka’s goma kampachi (amberjack sashimi marinated in soy sauce with sesame). Even the soy sauce is a regional version, from Asaka’s hometown on Kyushu, with slightly sweeter notes.
Don’t miss the creamy uni maze-soba or a decadent special-menu bite of nigiri topped with A5 Wagyu beef from Miyazaki and Santa Barbara uni. 928 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai. FULLMOONOJAI.COM.
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True Colors
Local creatives who amaze and inspire us
Local creatives who amaze and inspire us
Written by L.D. Porter | Photography by Sam Frost
Row upon row of large prickly pear cactus paddles hang from a wood frame on the wall of textile artist PORFIRIO GUTIÉRREZ’s studio at the Bell Arts Factory in Ventura. From these paddles the artist will extract tiny insects—cochineals—to produce the beautiful carmine red dye that enhances his extraordinary weavings. The deep blue hues in his work come from indigo, a plant-based dye that also requires effort to reveal its beauty. In fact, every color he uses has a natural source and a laborious process behind it. It is also a sacred tradition. For Gutiérrez hails from a long line of indigenous Zapotec weavers and textile makers centered in the village of Teotitlán del Valle, near Oaxaca city in Mexico, and he is dedicated to preserving the knowledge of his ancestors.
“My work reinterprets the traditional textiles and redefines the techniques of natural dye and the designs as well.”
But he is also an artist, not a copyist, and his interpretation of traditional Zapotec iconography (often referencing intricate patterns adorning the ancient Mesoamerican site of Mitla) is a truly contemporary one. “I wanted to create a language that specifically expresses my understanding as a contemporary indigenous artist, and as a Zapotec Mexican American as well,” he says. “So my work reinterprets the traditional textiles and redefines the techniques of natural dye and the designs as well.” This includes the form of his signature woven into each of his pieces: It’s a stylized G that turns into a P, with a tail that calls to mind the Zapotec symbol for the cycle of life, a geometric spiral of steps, each representing a stage of life.
Gutiérrez travels widely giving lectures and demonstrations, and recently co-curated the exhibition “Wrapped in Color: Legacies of the Mexican Sarape,” currently on view at the Arizona State Museum at the University of Arizona in Tucson. He also holds dye workshops at his Ventura studio. PORFIRIOGUTIERREZ.COM.
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Holiday Must-Have
Montecito locals Alex Dessouky and Seth Epstein are making a play to bring relaxation back to midday with their new Ysidro grapefruit sake spritz
Montecito locals Alex Dessouky and Seth Epstein are making a play to bring relaxation back to midday with their new Ysidro grapefruit sake spritz, which is light and refreshing enough for a lunch break but sophisticated enough to slow down and savor. Drinkysidro.com. J.A.
Ysidro is available at Bettina and Merci at the Montecito Country Mart, as well as a subscription delivery online.
Good Trouble
Artist Baret Boisson is a rebel with a cause
Baret Boisson in her Carpinteria studio.
When Baret Boisson first picked up a paintbrush some 20 years ago, she had no idea what to paint. She wanted to depict something inspiring, she says, and she decided on Muhammad Ali, including some of his sayings with her portrait of the boxer. Then she painted Martin Luther King Jr. A couple of canvases of Abraham Lincoln followed. That was the beginning of her Inspiring Greatness series, which now encompasses dozens of important figures in politics, sports, and the arts—Barack Obama, Jackie Robinson, Harriet Tubman, Billie Holiday, Malala Yousafzai, and Greta Thunberg, among many others. Some of the works are on cigar boxes, a medium that, along with the hand-lettered biographies she includes, accentuates the tactile, colorful folk-art vibe of her painting.
As Boisson’s portraits began to be noticed, she received commissions. The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis asked her to do a special exhibition, for which she created The Nine, multiple large and small panels that pay homage to those killed in a Charleston, South Carolina, church in 2015.
At the time she had just moved to Santa Barbara, a relocation prompted by a visit to a friend and the supportive community she found. “I was wanting to leave Los Angeles,” Boisson remembers, and trying to decide where to go. Europe was one possibility; she’d been born in Florence and spent her teenage years in New York. But in Santa Barbara “I saw an incredible community of women and thought ‘I want that.’ They were intelligent, sophisticated, and well-traveled.”
She now has a live-work studio in Carpinteria, where she paints not only her signature heroes, but also individual portrait commissions (often for weddings) and abstract pieces as well.
About a year ago a woman who had bought an Aretha Franklin cigar-box portrait asked if Boisson would paint one of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The artist depicted the Supreme Court justice in a black robe with a lace collar surrounded by her inspiring life story. “I didn’t think about prints at the time,” she says, but after RBG died, Boisson posted a photograph on Instagram and was surprised by requests for reproductions, which her client graciously allowed.
The high-quality prints (11 x 14 in., $100, and 16 x 20 in., $125) are now available on her website, with a portion of the proceeds going to Planned Parenthood. “It seems like everyone wants to hold on to what RBG represented,” says Boisson. baretboissonart.com. Joan Tapper
Heading North
Paso Robles, California’s Central Coast wine destination, beckons
A two-hour drive north of Santa Barbara, the California Central Coast wine region of Paso Robles is a counterpart to Santa Barbara wine country. In contrast to Santa Barbara County’s vineyard sprawl, Paso boasts a central downtown—a highly hospitable home base from which to explore rural wine-tasting routes, thanks to the skill and passion of the makers, designers, and artists behind its restaurants, bistros, bakeries, bars, breweries, boutiques, wineries, and lodgings. A getaway here presents a multitude of edible and potable delights within walking distance.
Eat With the late-2019 opening of their restaurant, Les Petites Canailles, the husband-wife team of Julien and Courtney Asseo brought French fare to town. With most of his formative years spent in his native France, brief periods in Paso, and a 10-year stretch in Las Vegas, chef Julien moved his family to the Central Coast after working in Michelin-rated kitchens such as those of chefs Joël Robuchon and Guy Savoy. 1215 Spring St., Paso Robles, 805-296-3754, lpcrestaurant.com.
Blending comfort food and craft cocktails—including whimsical whiskey creations by the award-winning bartender Robin Wolf—The Hatch Rotisserie & Bar serves sumptuous wood-fire cuisine. 835 13th St., Paso Robles, 805-221-5727, hatchpasorobles.com.
Scooping cow’s milk ice cream alongside their signature sheep’s milk variations, Negranti Creamery in Paso’s Tin City makers complex lures with such flavors as cinnamon honey and black coffee and chip. 2989 Limestone Way, Paso Robles, 805-369-2663, negranticreamery.com.
Drink Opened in September, The Alchemists’ Garden is a new bar and restaurant fronting Paso’s Downtown City Park. The brainchild of five local hospitality industry pros—Tony Bennett, Andrew Brune, Quin Cody, Alexandra Pellot, and Norin Grancel—the open-late locale features botanically based cocktails crafted with house-made and specifically sourced ingredients, paired with Paso-native chef Danelle Jarzynski’s global menu of thoughtful culinary adventures. One-of-a-kind design elements complement the imaginative food and drink offerings, served in a leafy indoor-outdoor setting. A recently launched, monthly Sunday “Botanical Brunch” might include gluten-free duck poutine, house-cured ocean-trout gravlax toasts, and libations such as “Egyptian’s Breakfast,” the bar’s rendition of a Bloody Mary, or the “Flower Bath,” its take on the sparking classic French 75. 1144 Pine St., Paso Robles, 805-369-2444, alchemistsgarden.com.
Dreaming of exotic escapes? The team behind Eleven Twenty-Two Cocktail Lounge & Speakeasy has helped with the August launch of their Tik-Easy outdoor tiki experience. Wednesday through Sunday, island-inspired bites accompany cocktails that include the requisite frozen versions of the time-tested piña colada and daiquiri, in definitive 1122 style. 1122 Pine St., Paso Robles, 805-238-4141, eleven-twentytwo.com.
Stay, Shop, Play Paso Market Walk is a new downtown public marketplace boasting a dozen food and drink purveyors set among water-wise gardens and grassy commons. It also houses The Lofts: six luxe suites with Paso-style finery and the comforts of home. 1803 Sprint St., Paso Robles, 805-720-1255, pasomarketwalk.com.
The Inn Paradiso provides a refuge for those seeking rustic yet modern, out-of-town overnights. Midcentury furnishings, art, original photography, and antiques mingle eclectically in structures built from old-growth wood and hand-forged metal, on the 2½-acre property complete with six luxury guest accommodations. 975 Mojave Ln., Paso Robles, 805-235-2706, innparadiso.com.
Tetto, the rooftop bar at new downtown hotel, The Piccolo, affords Paso locals and visitors both wine country and city-center vistas. The 24-room boutique hotel shines a custom-crafted chandelier on Paso’s rich history, yet comes equipped with contemporary comforts including design details by local artisans and makers. 600 12th St., Paso Robles, 805-226-5920, thepiccolo.com.
Downtown Paso’s equestrian-inspired portrait of luxury, Hotel Cheval, has a new sibling property just a few blocks away: the Stables Inn, a “Western chic” motel conversion featuring a pod- or family-friendly Bunkhouse. 730 Spring
St., Paso Robles, 805-296-3636, stablesinnpaso.com.
Anna Ferguson-Sparks
Style
Designer Kendall Conrad has created an embossed pendant to benefit Project Zero
Winter Classics
“Covet is a reflection of my personal style and aesthetic, influenced by the uniquely beautiful town of Santa Barbara, where I grew up and live,” says luxe knitter Kate McMahon. “My designs are both feminine and boyish, earthy and refined, unexpected yet familiar.” covetbykate.com.
Turn the Tide
Designer Kendall Conrad has created an embossed pendant to benefit PROJECT ZERO, a global network of scientists, marine activists, and cultural movers and shakers who are working to protect and restore our life-support system—the ocean. Each pendant comes with your own unique maritime coordinates, signifying your adoption of one square kilometer of the seas that Project Zero is working to protect as it steadily makes progress against the climate crisis. KENDALLCONRADDESIGN.COM. WEAREPROJECTZERO.ORG.
A Natural Touch
As technology continues its seemingly relentless pace, our personal comfort resides in the makers movement, a wonderful source for handmade items that add individuality to our everyday lives. The work of textile artist G Roslie is an appealing example. Using natural linen hand dyed with botanical plant and earth pigments, she creates clothing and art designed to inspire quiet reflection.
Originally from California, G and her husband, Ry Roslie, are a self-described nomadic couple who recently relocated here from Colorado. “Santa Barbara is a warm-welcome embrace for the weary soul,” G says. “I’m so grateful to be part of this beautiful community.” They hope to recreate their now-shuttered Denver gallery/boutique, Slo Curio—a popular destination that sold G’s works as well as Ry’s biomorphic light fixtures—somewhere in town. Until they do, G’s items can be found on their websites. groslie.com; slocurio .com. L.D. PORTER