Home Run
Lining a wall of Heidi Merrick’s Summerland showroom is a deftly curated collection of coffee-table books, candles, and other home goods with a minimalist bent, ideal for expanding a design library or updating a bar cart.
Heidi Merrick’s Summerland showroom
Written by Elizabeth Varnell | Photography by Sara Prince
Lining a wall of Heidi Merrick’s Summerland showroom is a deftly curated collection of coffee-table books, candles, and other home goods with a minimalist bent, ideal for expanding a design library or updating a bar cart. The ready-to-wear designer decamped with her family to a plot of land between Ojai and Carpinteria during the pandemic, and she’s been exploring off-the-grid notions of housekeeping as well as more polished aspects of domesticity. Merrick’s eponymous shop stocks handblown glasses and decanters in subtle mint, peach, and onyx tones or smoky gray hues alongside asymmetrically playful Tina Frey resin bowls. Karen Mordechai’s Sunday Suppers (Clarkson Potter, $35), a recipe book with tips on offbeat entertaining, joins A Tale of Interiors (Rizzoli New York, $60), with its glimpses inside the lush yet livable houses dreamed up by Louisa Pierce and Emily Ward—of the L.A.- and Nashville-based firm Pierce & Ward—for Dakota Johnson, Lily Aldridge, and Karen Elson. By appointment only. 2272 Lillie Ave., Summerland. heidimerrick.com.
Merrick’s Summerland candle, $58.
A set of six handblown coupe glasses, $195.
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Poetry in Motion
If you have had the pleasure of stumbling upon the serene, lyrical work of Maria Trimbell—
Written by Anush J. Benliyan | Photography by Steve Ouimet
If you have had the pleasure of stumbling upon the serene, lyrical work of Maria Trimbell—be it in the pages of Santa Barbara Living (Rizzoli New York), in a café in Spain, or inside a perfectly appointed Michael Smith-designed home—there is no doubt that you have been entranced by the Ventura-born artist’s hand-painted atmospheric murals.
“I discovered decorative painting serendipitously after searching for a good fit for my artistic skills, my obsession with European art and architecture, and my desire to do something with my hands out in the world rather than sitting at a desk or easel all day,” says Trimbell, who recently moved to Los Osos with her husband, art reproduction expert Steve Ouimet.
Calling upon such age-old influences as Italian frescoes, Japanese screens, chinoiserie, verdure tapestries, and bygone French artists like Monet, Matisse, and landscape painting pioneer Claude Lorrain, Trimbell—with the help of Ouimet—begins each custom scenic mural as a loose sketch directly on site or on a wall-sized canvas. She then builds upon her chalk or watery paint base using high-quality lime paints like Color Atelier, golden acrylics, and chalky paints like Farrow & Ball, adding depth and intricate details for a “misty, layered effect,” she explains. (For works on plaster, they mix their own paints.) The resulting frescoes—which take anywhere from two weeks to two months to complete—depict romantic scenes of nature that immerse the viewer into Trimbell’s poetic world.
In addition to painted-to-order murals, Trimbell and Ouimet are now offering a new accessible line of custom-printed wallpaper murals that are hand-painted, photographed, then printed on large-format archival canvas to be installed by a paperhanger. “Our clients are creative and sophisticated,” Trimbell says, “and, above all, they appreciate living with art and beauty.” mariatrimbell.com.
Top to bottom: Artist Maria Trimbell paints grisaille trees for her Lorrain mural inspired by the work of Claude Lorrain; a sitting room features a fantasy trompe l’oeil balustrade, trees, and landscape; a detail of Trimbell's Livia mural at her studio.
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Sowing Seeds
Floral foraging with mother/daughter duo Adrienne and Haley Carerre
The mother-daughter duo.
Floral foraging with mother/daughter duo Adrienne and Haley Carerre
Written by Anush J. Benliyan | Photography by Sara Prince
Whimsical. That’s how Haley Carrere describes her childhood in Carpinteria, where she grew up in the Provençal-style home her parents built in 2000. While her father, Leon, acted as the general contractor for the build, her mother, Adrienne, was in her element outside, tapping into her landscape design profession to transform the sprawling estate into a remarkable oasis. She carved out a kitchen garden, a fountain section, a barbecue area with a veranda, and a rose arbor, all of which are surrounded by textured, California-native plantings like citrus and pepper trees, agaves, bay laurels, and nonflowering geraniums. “I planted foliage that I knew I would forage and use in the floral design area of my life,” says Adrienne, who still “floralizes” clients’ homes with lush bouquets. The greenery abounded at home, but for the blooms, “she would take me with her to all the flower fields,” Haley recalls—gerbera daisy fields, dahlia fields, parrot tulip fields. “It’s a lot of what we call ‘roadside-ia, ’” Adrienne notes. “I have clippers in my car at all times.”
“I planted foliage that I knew I would forage and use in the floral design area of my life.”
Fresh-cut blooms sit in the shade of California pepper trees.
When it comes to entertaining, it’s naturally a family affair. Adrienne handles the arrangements, of course; Leon is the cook, whipping up uncomplicated hometown food; and Haley is a master of setting the table. Her preppy, Grandmillennial style is what she calls “a little old fashioned and sweet,” featuring fresh linens in mixed patterns like floral and toile. (Think Ralph Lauren’s café in Paris.) Though the 24-year-old recently moved to Aspen, away from her parents’ Californian Eden, she’s now using her well-trained eye to pursue a career in interior design. “She grew up experiencing, watching, and helping me with these things,” says Adrienne, “and she’s far better than I am.” @adriennecarrere, @haleycarrere.
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The Gathering Place
The Santa Barbara House is ready to party
A sunken gravel courtyard with olive trees makes for romantic dinners and weddings.
The Santa Barbara House is ready to party
Written by Jennifer Blaise Kramer | Photography by Jen Huang Bogan
The Santa Barbara House.
Presiding over an Eastside corner is a stately Queen Anne that’s becoming quite the party house. The 1903 home was originally one in a row of Victorian vacation dwellings dubbed the Santa Barbara Houses for families who came in search of sunshine. “That’s why we named it the Santa Barbara House,” says Jen Huang Bogan, who took on the extensive renovation after purchasing the home in 2017 with her husband, Elihu Root Bogan.
Embarking on the project with two young children was truly a labor of love. While they briefly considered turning the dwelling into their family home, the couple quickly realized it needed to continue its multipurposed history: During Covid they opened the house for school pods; now it hosts small parties and weddings. “It’s for the right type of bride. You have to have a love for old homes and backyard weddings,” says Jen, a wedding photographer and stylist. “It has a European, villa-like feel with its own garden, and it’s downtown, so afterward you can really take the party anywhere.”
Four guest suites are furnished by RH.
With four suites (each with its own private entrance), a caterer’s kitchen, and a front lawn for ceremonies and cocktails, the home is primed for 30-person events, offering an intimate, affordable alternative to nearby hotels. The couple also launched a series of ticketed gatherings, allowing locals to experience the sunken garden for themed dinner parties and workshops, while giving back proceeds to good causes.
“The garden is meant to be shared for alfresco gatherings,” Jen says, nodding to the roses, Italian cypress, and ancient olive trees. “Outdoor living is so Santa Barbara, and this house just epitomizes that.” sb.house.
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Fresh Start
Lush Life’s author Valerie Rice serves up cocktails from her garden
Scenes from a summer cocktail hour hosted by Valerie Rice.
Lush Life’s author Valerie Rice serves up cocktails from her garden
Written by Charlotte Bryant | Photography by Sara Prince
Most of Lush Life author Valerie Rice’s cocktail recipes are inspired by her travels combined with a twist from her Santa Barbara garden. When it comes to entertaining at home, delicious drinks can be made with just a few ingredients, and the use of fresh, in-season botanicals and herbs is sure to elevate any cocktail hour. eatdrinkgarden.com.
Summer Sonics
Makes two cocktails
“I hope the Brits don't mind my suggesting half tonic and half soda water for this cocktail. It's so light and delicious and has less sugar,” explains Rice. “Rum, gin, vodka, and white port all work beautifully in a sonic, but my favorite is white port, which adds a wonderful richness and is an awesome less-alcoholic option for day drinking.”
4 ounces (½ cup) white port
2 ounces (¼ cup) chilled sparkling water
2 ounces (¼ cup) chilled tonic water
2 sprigs lemon verbena (garnish)
2 plum wedges and 2 orange wedges (garnish)
Fill two glasses with ice. Add port, sparkling water, and tonic water, dividing equally. Garnish with plum, orange wedges, and lemon verbena.
Summer Sonics and individually plated crudités with fresh seasonal offerings from the garden.
Valerie’s Sip Tips
PORTO Unlike most red ports, white ports can last after opening. I like Sandeman Porto Apitiv Reserve.SPARKLING WATER Agua de Piedra and Topo Chico have bigger bubbles, and bigger bubbles hold up when diluted with alcohol and mixers.Fun Ice Visit a specialty grocery store like Bristol Farms for “fancy ice,” or make your own with molds.See the story in our digital edition
Area of Influence
Get acquainted with the new Arts District home + design collective
Get acquainted with the new Arts District home + design collective
Written by Jennifer Blaise Kramer and Erik Torkells | Photography by Sara Prince | Illustration by Michelle Beamer
Holding Court
Lonetree's Michelle Beamer
Victoria Court is quickly becoming a design collective. Peek in on any given First Thursday evening, and the charming inner courtyard looks like a movie set with pop-up floral stands, makers, and artists painting under the trattoria lights. Anchoring the action is LONETREE, a new showroom from interior designer Michelle Beamer.
Located across from Olio Pizzeria’s patio, Lonetree is a longtime dream realized for Beamer, principle of MB Interiors and adjunct professor of interior design at Santa Barbara City College. Here customers can come in and have furniture designed to their specifications. “We can literally put a sofa in CAD here,” says Beamer, who displays two rosy-toned sofas along with new and vintage rugs, chairs, runners, books, artwork, and indoor-outdoor tables. “People come in and say, ‘You have color!’ We have lots of color!” She also encourages mixing styles, be it Spanish, traditional, modern, or beachy, as she illustrates by hanging a ropey rattan light over a polished black sideboard. Aside from her refreshing merchandise and relaxed approach to design, a big draw is the ability to touch the real thing before buying. As Beamer says: “With so much looking online these days, it’s nice to see things in scale and how it all goes together.” 1221 State St., Ste. 24, Santa Barbara, 805-892-7335, LONETREESB.COM.
Domecíl's Stephanie Payne-Campbell
Nearby, DOMECÍL is a home-goods shop from Stephanie Payne-Campbell that began as a pop-up. After she moved to Santa Barbara from Pasadena, Payne-Campbell opened a temporary outpost on Carpinteria’s Santa Claus Lane, and the experience triggered fond memories of shopping downtown. “My favorite was Dani, where everything was hearts and rainbows. I’d come in with my allowance and buy stickers,” she recalls. Though she originally had no intentions of opening a brick-and-mortar place, she found a spot in the hub of Victoria Court and jumped at the opportunity to have a smallish shop of her own. Tiny but mighty, Domecíl is filled with natural textiles, handwoven baskets, brooms, artwork, aprons and clothing (her own designs), ceramics, plants, and a kids’ corner where you might even spot a heart or a rainbow. “Santa Barbara used to be all small shops and super charming,” she says. “I thought, ‘Let’s bring it back!’” 1221 State St., Ste. 7, Santa Barbara, 805-324-4971, DOMECIL.COM.
Private Eye
“We wanted to be in an area that attracts people who understand and appreciate the material,” says Benjamin Cobb Storck, explaining why he and his husband, Jason, chose the Arts District for their GALERIE XX, formerly based in Los Angeles. The 3,000-square-foot gallery is set in a building next to the Arlington Theatre that was an I. Magnin department store in the 1920s and ’30s—an apt location for the material in question: 20th-century decorative arts and furniture by the likes of Jean Prouvé, George Nakashima, Harry Bertoia, and Jean Royère. Collectors have been gravitating to the category in recent years not just because of the elegant lines but also because it pairs so well with modern and contemporary art. “I’m an obsessive collector who has turned it into a business out of necessity,” says Cobb Storck, “and we can’t live with any of it because we have a three-year-old and a six-year-old.” 1315 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-895-2312, GALERIEXX.COM.
Jean Royère Cone Leg Table, $125,000, at Galerie XX in the newly dubbed Arts District.
Indian Pink's Tamara and JP Cajuste.
A more exuberant glamour is on display at INDIAN PINK, a few doors down. It, too, is a hobby-turned-business: Tamara Cajuste collected so much fabric while working as a flight attendant that she started making pillows; people loved them, and her husband, JP, joined the enterprise. After pop-ups here and there, the brand is putting down roots. There will be much more than pillows, including the pajamas Indian Pink launched during the pandemic and dresses, blankets, napkins, lamp shades, vintage textiles, and even furniture, all curated from around the world. The shop showcases the haute bohemian lifestyle, and what holds the collection together is a profound appreciation of color. “It has energy, and it just comes out of me,” says Cajuste. “I love everything about it!” 1307 State St., Ste. B, Santa Barbara, 805-869-2027, INDIANPINKPILLOWS.COM.
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A Long Night’s Journey into Day
A lot can happen in five years. In 2017 Jodi Goldberg, of Jodi G Designs
Written by Joan Tapper
Photography by Riley Yahr and Nancy Neil Photography
A lot can happen in five years.
In 2017 Jodi Goldberg, of Jodi G Designs, was living in Montecito in a Balinese-inspired home she had designed. After that house was destroyed in the mudslide of January 2018, she and her husband eventually rented a home at the top of the Riviera, though Jodi always assumed it was just a temporary residence. But there were more unwelcome surprises to come.
In February 2020 Jodi suffered heart failure followed by complications and then a diagnosis of lung cancer. “That was a double whammy,” she remembers, “a progression of being traumatized and starting over.” She had surgery, watched as Covid took hold of the country, underwent chemo. . . and has recovered. And along the way she fell in love with living on the Riviera.
“Creativity is what fuels me,” she says. “It gave me a reason to get better. And I can’t say enough about the Riviera. Being there feels very nurturing and nature oriented. The birds seem to sing louder, the stars are brighter. My husband and I walk every day.”
Ultimately, they bought the house they’d been renting. Jodi stripped out its earlier heavy décor and transformed it into a light, bright, airy space. “I used raw woods; neutrals like white, cream, and black; and lots of texture,” she says. “It feels more Zen.”
The experience has also altered the way she approaches her work. “I’m more confident, less afraid to take risks. My design has gotten more organic, but I find you can do that in many, many ways. I have more freedom.
“I got lucky,” she says, “I have amazing clients, friends, and family, and I have delved into positivity.” jodigdesigns.com.
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French Revolution
Designer Hélène Aumont's pièces de résistance
Designer Hélène Aumont's pièces de résistance
Photography by Matt Wier
Tricks of the Trade
Metal Tubs
“Free-standing metal tubs hold hot water for a long time…and you can drink champagne in them! Can’t do that in the shower, non?”
A Trellis
“A steel trellis mixed with natural reed for the incredible light it gives.”
Fabrics
“Raoul Textiles is my absolute favorite fabric house with the most endearing prints.”
Flooring
“I’m loving white oak and black limestone flooring at this moment—and NS Ceramic for the infinite possibilities of custom tiles.”
Pools
“A pool set in grass with surrounding stone appears more as a reflecting basin.”
Hélène’s Black Book
Summerland Antique Collective, 2192 Ortega Hill Rd., Summerland, 805-565-3189, summerlandantiquecollective.com, for the hunt for an unexpected treasure.
Give me a dozen of each—I love it all at Porch, 2346 Lillie Ave., Summerland, 805-684-0300, porchsb.com.
The best floors, fireplaces, and fountains are to be found at Charme d’Antan, 2337 Troutdale Dr., Agoura Hills, 818-889-0229, charmedantan.net. It's worth the drive. Jacques is a gem—and he is French!
If you are well-behaved, Michael will show you his secret room at Rugs & More, 410 Olive St., Santa Barbara, 805-962-2166, rugsandmore.com.
Nancy does beautiful custom work for our fabric lampshades at Santa Barbara Lampshades, 4287 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-683-8877, sb-lampshades.com.
Miri Mara Ceramics. "I could own every single vase he ever made," says Aumont.
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SBIFF Springs Back to Life, On and Off Screen
Everything you might have missed at the 37th annual film festival
Scott Feinberg, Paul Thomas Anderson, Kenneth Branagh and SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling speak onstage during the Outstanding Directors of the Year Award program at the 37th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on March 03, 2022 in Santa Barbara, California.
Everything you might have missed at the 37th annual film festival
Written by Josef Woodard | Photography by Rebecca Sapp & Tibrina Hobson
Following a two-plus-year hiatus due to the pandemic’s chokehold on normal cultural life, reel life became a welcome reality as the Santa Barbara International Film Festival triumphantly returned to local streets and theaters. In this, its 37th annual enterprise, the Santa Barbarian cultural institution rose to the renewal occasion with flourish and the requisite elements of glitz and cinematic sophistication which have made SBIFF prosper.
As usual, the primary treasures in the 200-plus list of screenings came from beyond America, with special focus on cinema from Nordic countries, Spain, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. Some of this year’s finer films came south from Canada, including Islands, Scarborough, All My Puny Sorrows, and The Righteous.
The all-important celebrity tribute list, synchronized with current Oscar nominations, brought out the starry likes of Penélope Cruz (Parallel Mothers), KristenStewart (Spencer), Will Smith and his King Richard co-star Aunjanue Ellis, Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog), and Being the Ricardo stars Javier Bardem and Nicole Kidman. The award for best unscripted moment in the tributes goes to the comically gifted Smith, who responded to an audible disturbance in The Arlington by telling Ellis, “See, that’s why it’s important to have white audiences, because that would’ve gone differently where you and I grew up.”
Behind the lens, the Outstanding Directors Arlington tribute toasted all Oscar-nominated directors this year—with Steven Spielberg (West Side Story), Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog), and Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Drive My Car) appearing via video from their respective quarantine outposts. Master American director P.T. Anderson (Licorice Pizza) alluded to his Robert Altman-influenced creative process as an auteur: “Ideally, you have a story at the center, and the center will hold. It’s a balancing act involving both a knowingness and a freedom of flight.”
Roger Durling, now in his 20th year as executive director, was a recurring and anchoring presence on stage, a charismatic rallying cheerleader, and also a champion for solidarity and fundraising for victims of the war in Ukraine. A goal of raising $100,000, through the Santa Barbara-based Direct Relief, fell short $4,000, a tab picked up by Cumberbatch. Durling also put in his finest moderator work to date, in a bright and personable exchange on Cruz’s tribute night.
As the self-effacing and, on this night, elegantly dressed Cruz noted, “I am very grateful and feel lucky for all that I’ve been able to do, but I also torture myself a lot. My rhythm is different at this stage [of my career], but I still have the same excitement as when I was 4 years old.”
Well-known film critic Claudia Puig took the programming reins this year, with a new team, and filtered through a record number of entries (partly due to the closure of other film festivals this year) to create a substantial and diverse roster. Women filmmakers and issues asserted a prominent force, in films such as Quake, the Danish delight Miss Viborg, and even the nerve-tingling Hitchcockian Spanish thriller La Hija. Meanwhile, veteran director Campion, whose The Power of the Dog is a rare male-oriented saga in her filmography, explained that “with the #MeToo movement and more women working (in film), I felt free to go wherever I wanted to.”
Hybrid feature-documentaries accounted for some of the prized entries, including the fascinating 107 Women (Slovakian director Peter Kerekes’ film about pregnant women in a Ukrainian prison) and the gripping I Resemble You. Based on a true story, I Resemble You chronicles the back story of an Arab Frenchwoman falsely accused as a terrorist in the 2015 Bataclan bombing in Paris, winning director Dina Emer SBIFF’s Best Middle Eastern/Israeli award.
As testament to this festivaler’s obsessive hunger for the cinema experience again—in actual theaters with actual audiences—I managed to log 54 film screenings this year, along with tributes and panels. Sleep could wait.
On closing night at The Arlington, before the festivities ended with the sweet, songful documentary Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over, Durling issued a kind of proclamation: “Mission accomplished. The festival did what it had to do.”
A Movie Legend Passes
Ivan Reitman kicks back next to his Claes Oldenberg sculpture. Image by Larry Dale Gordon, from “The Talented Mr. Reitman”, Santa Barbara Magazine 2003
Our tribute to Ivan Reitman
Written by Josef Woodard
Ivan Reitman, who sadly passed away on February 12 at age 75, held a special position in the elite group of movie people who settled in Santa Barbara. Reitman, best known as director of a spate of timeless comedies—including Ghostbusters, Meatballs, Stripes, Dave, Twins, and Kindergarten Cop—managed the balancing act of being a working Hollywood legend in the 805, even calling his production company Montecito Picture Company (founded with partner Tom Pollock).
Reitman, with his lifelong partner/wife Geneviève, also “produced” director son Jason Reitman, who has carried the family name forward with such notable films as Up in the Air, Juno, and last year’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Also in the Reitman clan are multi-talent Catherine, whose resume includes being the creative force behind the CBC sitcom Workin’ Moms, and Caroline, an actress. Locally, Ivan Reitman was an active board member of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), and he and his wife contributed generously to the Cottage Hospital building campaign and the Unity Shoppe, among other causes.
Reitman, born in Czechoslovakia but raised in Canada, tapped into friendships and creative alliances with such Canadian comedians as Dan Aykroyd while forging a new giddy, hip comic sensibility. In an interview in 2000, before a SBIFF tribute, he commented on his role in helping pioneer the comedy style of an era. “Every generation has to find a voice for itself and a sort of comedy style,” he told me, citing Saturday Night Live in the ’70s and ’80s as the voice of the Baby Boomers. “But really, comedy remains the same. They all play with humor in much the same way. It comes from surprise, it comes from shock, it comes from irony. All the basic things that make us laugh are about the same. It’s just pulled through fresh voices with each generation.”
Referring to his status as a Hollywood icon, Reitman humbly shrugged, suggesting that “if you keep doing the same thing long enough, people sort of catch up to you.”
After Reitman’s passing, SBIFF executive director Roger Durling paid homage: “Ivan's legacy is the way he made generations laugh with his movies, and his filmography is filled with classic comedies. He also loved this town: he named his company after Montecito, where he resided. He was generous of many causes in Santa Barbara, including Cottage Hospital and SBIFF. We will be forever indebted to him.”
Pitching for the Island
Writer-director Gardner Grady Hall’s debut film, Winter Ball, premiers at SBIFF
Writer-director Gardner Grady Hall’s debut film, Winter Ball, premiers at SBIFF
Written by Josef Woodard | Portrait by John Russo
Baseball may be the centerpiece of writer-director Gardner Grady Hall’s debut film Winter Ball, a highlight of SBIFF’s “Santa Barbara Features” and sports film categories this year. But this is not your father's formula baseball movie outing.
The Santa Ynez Valley-based Hall takes “America's pastime” to the Dominican Republic, along with protagonist Gordie (Drew Roy), a rookie pitcher whose path to the Major Leagues is routed through a season in DR, the famously baseball-passionate island. He goes begrudgingly, a semi-Ugly American who speaks no Spanish, plays ball lazily and alienates locals, but undergoes an emotional warm-up, learning Spanish from a love interest (Stephany Liriano) and upping his game—as player and compassionate human in “baseball paradise.”
Winter Ball is a colorful and characterful portrayal of Dominican life—the place, people, communal spirit, music, dancing, and, yes, deep love of baseball. It's a different brand of sports film; an unpretentious character study and a feel-good film, in a good way.
Not to be confused with the other Grady Hall, who has worked extensively in television and music videos, the 805 Grady Hall—who moved here from Los Angeles 8 years ago—knows from whence he tale-spins, as a Chicago White Sox draft pick who once played “winter ball” in the DR. Hollywood work became his subsequent field of dreams, including developing TV’s Major League through Morgan Creek Productions.
“Every pitch, every play is a celebration”
For his debut, Hall says that “the motivation was sparked by the impact the culture and the people had on me. A lot of baseball fans knew the names of the players (including Sammy Sosa) but they knew little to nothing of where they were from. The people of the Dominican know how to celebrate, and somehow that gets into the DNA of the players and takes their love of the game to a higher level. Every pitch, every play is a celebration. It wasn't a goal to break with the formulas of the sports genre: sports was simply a lens through which to try and tell a different story.”
That story, and Hall’s official directorial filmography, hits the SBIFF big screen on March 6 and 7, which Hall says he “wasn't sure would happen given the past couple of years. That makes it even more special.”
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.