Reality Bites Back
Ten years ago filmmaker ELIJAH ALLAN-BLITZ produced a video for his positivity-laced song “Hey Yo,” laced with local color shot around the native Santa Barbaran’s Mesa Lane house and with Arnoldi’s Café passing for an all-American diner.
Elijah Allan-Blitz has worked as an actor and musician but is presently living out his dream working behind the camera and in the digital realm.
Written by Josef Woodard
Ten years ago filmmaker ELIJAH ALLAN-BLITZ produced a video for his positivity-laced song “Hey Yo,” laced with local color shot around the native Santa Barbaran’s Mesa Lane house and with Arnoldi’s Café passing for an all-American diner.
The filmmaker collaborated with partner Brie Larson on Remembering.
Cut to this fall, and the now Los Angeles-based Allan-Blitz, strongly established as a pioneer in the field of augmented reality (AR), has created the sweet, bedazzling short Remembering for Disney+. Though only eight minutes long, Remembering—created with the filmmaker’s artistic and romantic partner Brie Larson—feels akin to a trailblazing micro-epic. In this tale of a writer (Larson) discovering the power of childlike wonder and imagination, the unique technical marvel is a passage in which AR technology puts us in the picture, and the fantasyland picture inside our living rooms, via a downloadable app for iPhone and iPad to complete the dimensional illusion. Developed during lockdown, the ambitious project found an ally in Disney, which Allan-Blitz reports “supports creatives and was helping me out, spitballing ideas in terms of new ways to utilize technology, to advance storytelling.”
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Lowe and Behold
Born into the entertainment world, where apples don’t fall far from trees, JOHN OWEN LOWE grew up in Montecito, the son of Rob Lowe, and is pursuing the family business.
John Owen Lowe
Written by Josef Woodard | Photographs by John Owen Lowe; portrait, Max Thompson
Born into the entertainment world, where apples don’t fall far from trees, JOHN OWEN LOWE grew up in Montecito, the son of Rob Lowe, and is pursuing the family business. While a student at Stanford University, the younger Lowe (he’s now 27) multitasked with acting—in The Grinder and Holiday in the Wild—and has expanded his IMDb imprint to include story editor (on 9-1-1: Lone Star) and work both behind and in front of the camera for the upcoming Netflix series Unstable.
There’s also Grace Point, a new film about misadventures on the way to a remote rehab, in which Lowe is both the lead actor—his first such role—and a producer. “It touches on a deeply important aspect of my life: sobriety,” says Lowe of the upcoming film, which has been accepted into the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s 2023 lineup. “We cowboyed this movie, production-wise. This was a shoestring-budget independent film, so everyone involved was doing it out of passion for the script and story. It ended up creating a unifying motivation for everyone to push themselves and really deliver.”
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Giving Back
She was the belle of every charity ball. She had flame-red hair and a wonderful throaty laugh, an echo of her days as a torch singer.
The colorful philanthropist Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter | Photograph: Courtesy of Santa Barbara Historical Museum
She was the belle of every charity ball. She had flame-red hair and a wonderful throaty laugh, an echo of her days as a torch singer. She was fond of real big jewels and wore them with aplomb. She never left the house without lipstick on. She adored music, men, and Bergdorf Goodman (not necessarily in that order). She had her dining-room walls painted fire-engine red. She was a wonderful cook (coronation chicken and summer pudding were specialties). She encouraged her husband, Paul, to part with a sizeable portion of his fortune to support charitable causes (and after he died, she gave away even more). She was always first in line to support organizations she believed in, and often got her name on the building as a result: The Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s Ridley-Tree Education Center; Westmont College’s Ridley-Tree Museum of Art; the Santa Barbara Zoo’s Ridley-Tree House Restaurant; Cottage Hospital’s Ridley-Tree Pavilion Medical ICU) and Sansum Clinic’s Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, among many, many others. She wasn’t afraid to roll up her sleeves and help out, often in the kitchen at the former Casa Esperanza Homeless Center (now PATH Santa Barbara). She took over and ran Paul’s aircraft-parts business in Chatsworth, commuting there three days a week and refusing to sell the company until a buyer agreed to hire all the employees. She bought a vineyard in her mid-90s and learned everything she could about raising grapes (and selling them). She always wrote thank-you notes. She will be missed by countless people she never met. She believed in making a difference, and she made Santa Barbara a better place for all of us. Thank you, Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree.
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Free Spirit
For German-born supermodel Tatjana Patitz, Santa Barbara was home.
Supermodel and animal rights activist Tatjana Patitz
Written by Kelsey McKinnon | Photographs by Eric Gabriel
For German-born supermodel Tatjana Patitz, Santa Barbara was home. It was far from the fashion capitals of New York and Paris where she rose to fame in the 1990s as one of the original five (that included Cindy, Christy, Stephanie and Naomi), but the quiet town nestled between the mountains and the sea was where Patitz felt most at peace. In recent years, Patitz was more selective with modeling jobs, focusing on environmental advocacy, riding her Andalusian ponies in the mountains, and, above all, being a devoted mother to her son, Jonah.
When the news broke that Patitz had passed away at age 56 on January 11, 2023, from breast cancer, it was a devastating reminder to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us, to be kind to each other and the planet.
Years ago during the pandemic, she posted a poignant message, “Love your fucking life. Take pictures of everything. Tell people you love them. Talk to random strangers. Do things that you’re scared to do…Take your life and make it the best story in the world.” Rest in peace.
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Just a Song Before I Go
While the world mourns the passing of pioneering folk-rocker David Crosby, who died on January 18 at age 81, Santa Barbara has a special stake in the Crosby story.
Rock legend and iconoclast David Crosby
Written by Josef Woodard | Photography by Mark Webb, and Art Streiber
While the world mourns the passing of pioneering folk-rocker David Crosby, who died on January 18 at age 81, Santa Barbara has a special stake in the Crosby story. Crosby, best known for work with the Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash, mostly grew up in Santa Barbara, went to schools here, and after his adventurous (and mis-adventurous) life, returned to the 805 to live in Santa Ynez with his wife, Jan, and son, Django, since the early ’90s. Back on his home turf, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer could regularly be found eating at La Super Rica and playing local stages, in the spotlight or guest cameos.
Outspoken and influential to generations of musicians, Crosby had an especially busy final decade, capping off a solo career launched with 1971’s album I Could Only Remember My Name and ending 50 years later, with 2021’s For Free.
In a 2016 interview, Crosby spoke of his late-breaking, late-life creative burst, commenting “I can’t explain it, but I am deeply grateful for it. I’m trying to pay attention and work at it, do the best work I can possibly do. I can’t explain why I can sing, even after everything I’ve been through. But if the muse comes, you should be grateful and work at it.”
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Frame of Mind
In the art world, being rejected is not always a bad thing: The artists denied entry into the Paris Salon in 1863 had their revenge when Impressionism became more popular than academic art.
Colin Fraser Gray in his Ventura studio
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter | Photography by Sara Prince
In the art world, being rejected is not always a bad thing: The artists denied entry into the Paris Salon in 1863 had their revenge when Impressionism became more popular than academic art. Some years ago, when artist COLIN FRASER GRAY was not chosen for a local exhibition, he embarked on a series of fascinating artworks known as Museum for One, based on the concept of a personal museum and ways to exhibit artwork in “nonregular” buildings. The work highlights Gray’s interest in museum architecture, which nowadays pointedly competes with the art inside. The series displays works by other artists and features large prints of computer-enhanced pen-and-ink drawings, as well as three-dimensional sculptures featuring a built-in wineglass holder and a bottle of wine. (“For the opening,” the artist says mischievously.)
Originally from England, Gray emigrated to California 40 years ago to attend UCSB and never left, opting to teach art at the university’s College of Creative Studies, Santa Barbara City College, and elsewhere. His work, including several public art projects, is often whimsical, insightful, and political. It is always perfectly executed. Gray is also the gallery director at Vita Art Center, a nonprofit community art center in Ventura. colingraystudio.com
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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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Ear Candy
Joyce DiDonato takes the stage at the Granada Theatre
Joyce DiDonato takes the stage at the Granada Theatre
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter
Opera lovers worldwide adore and admire the expansive, expressive voice and bravura acting skills of award-winning mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, who will grace the Granada Theatre stage on January 24 with EDEN, a production that fuses music, movement, and theater. (There’s also a CD on Erato.) With accompaniment by early music ensemble Il Pomo d’Oro, EDEN encompasses four centuries of music, including a new commission from Rachel Portman, the first female composer to win an Academy Award (for Emma in 1996). Online music scribe Joseph So calls EDEN “a meticulously curated classical program with a serious message.” That message is hope; and it underlies DiDonato’s stated mission, which is to “bring the transformative healing power of music to as many people as I can—whether on stage, in prisons, refugee camps, or the classroom.” artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.
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High Notes
The Santa Barbara Symphony Celebrates 70 Years
The Santa Barbara Symphony Celebrates 70 Years
Written by Joan Tapper
With a spectacular performance of Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” in October, the Santa Barbara Symphony kicked off its 70th season and a celebration of its history, which began with an appearance at the Lobero Theatre on December 12, 1953, as a community orchestra. By the time the symphony moved to the Arlington Theatre in 1976 it had gone on to acclaim for its professionalism and artistry, and over the last seven decades it has hosted international soloists, debuted works by noted contemporary composers, and collaborated with local institutions like the State Street Ballet, the Choral Society, and the Ensemble Theatre.
“It has been an honor to help define and shape the Santa Barbara Symphony,” says music director Nir Kabaretti, who has led the group since 2006. “We have worked with passion and enthusiasm to reflect and draw upon the treasures of our community.” With seven concerts still to come this season, there’s a lot more music in the air. thesymphony.org.
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Kitchen Confidence
A charming new children’s cookbook is promoting positive thinking one recipe at a time
A charming new children’s cookbook is promoting positive thinking one recipe at a time
Written by Joan Tapper
Bringing mindfulness to the kitchen, Santa Barbara’s Nati Smith has written Mish and the Recipe for Adventure (Wise Ink Creative Publishing, Kindle edition, $4; hardcover, $23), with illustrations by Guillermo Alonso, about a kid who enters a cooking competition against other talented chefs. As she advances to the finals, she wows the judges with a comforting childhood favorite, thanks to calming spiritual practices that help her through and a secret ingredient—love. The message is that big dreams are possible if you believe in yourself.
Born in Jerusalem, Smith is an advocate for introducing children to international culture and has included fun recipes from around the world in this colorful, entertaining book. She says, “Mish is a journey of friendship, food, culture, believing in yourself, and overcoming obstacles with affirmation and love. My hope in writing this book was to connect with my readers and open their palate and mind to different cultures, dishes, and travels and encourage curiosity and friendship.” Available on Amazon.
Continental Collab
Argentine designer Rocio Gonzalez’s eponymous brand Rocio G is known for its bohemian artisan leatherwork and its ’70s California-inspired vibes.
Gonzalez and her Rocio G partner, Lolo Tanoira, fit a model with designer Johanna Ortiz.
Written by Gina Tolleson
Argentine designer Rocio Gonzalez splits her time between Buenos Aires and her hillside home in Carpinteria.
Argentine designer Rocio Gonzalez’s eponymous brand Rocio G is known for its bohemian artisan leatherwork and its ’70s California-inspired vibes. Colombian designer Johanna Ortiz’s tropical resort wear is effortlessly seasonless and stands out as easily on the streets of Paris as on Coast Village Road. In honoring their rich Latin American cultural heritage, the two friends came together for a Moda Operandi collection that reflects the designers’ love for the sea. (Think jewel tops with hundreds of hand-stitched puka shells.) There are also handcrafted leather totes paired with fabrics woven by the indigenous Wichí community in Argentina and iraca pieces by Las Juanas, a native artisan collective in Colombia. “Spending time with Johanna and her family made us realize how similar we are. We work in our studios, then go to the polo club to watch our kids’ matches, drink maté…just like my life here in Santa Barbara,” says Gonzalez. The Johanna Ortiz x Rocio G collection is available through modaoperandi.com.
We Want
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Rare Treats
The Rare Society brand weaves inspiration from vintage Las Vegas steakhouses for a modern dining experience in The Funk Zone.
The Rare Society brand weaves inspiration from vintage Las Vegas steakhouses for a modern dining experience in The Funk Zone.
Written by CW | Photography by Sara Prince
Yes, RARE SOCIETY is a neighborhood steakhouse, but first and foremost it’s a place of comfort. The dining room is warm and usually packed, with rows of booths decorated in marble, gold, and playing-card motifs, an homage to the restaurant’s ritzy, old-school Vegas inspiration. But there’s no spot more lively than the horseshoe bar in the front room, a haven for habitués of the nearby Funk Zone. The decadent starters—ahi tuna tartare with black sesame and jalapeño ponzu; a thick-cut slab of bacon with gochujang glaze; or lobster prepared in the shell with garlic and parsley butter—are almost a distraction from the dry-aged steaks that Chef Brad Wise grills using Santa Maria-style live-fire techniques. Almost. The fire-roasted cuts pair best with more extravagance, like potato rosti covered in fondue and black truffles, or one of many strong cocktails that go above and beyond even the most discerning palate’s taste test. 214 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-335-2088, raresociety.com.
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Quest Love
During the Covid shutdown in 2020, Valerie Madeira knew it was time for her eponymous antique shop’s next chapter.
A client’s rustic-chic stable decorated by sister-partners Valerie Madeira (right) and Claire Gallion.
Written by Anush J. Benliyan
During the Covid shutdown in 2020, Valerie Madeira knew it was time for her eponymous antique shop’s next chapter. In partnership with her sister and co-owner, Claire Gallion, the pair relocated VALERIE’S VINTAGE & SUPPLY CO. —which specializes in farmhouse and rustic ranch styles with a classical European twist—to a smaller space around the corner, and braced themselves for the unknown. Turns out, “it was a blessing in disguise,” says Madeira. “Santa Ynez has the best community. The love and support that we receive daily is what keeps us inspired—along with the thrill of the hunt.” While the boutique stocks an ever-changing inventory of one-of-a-kind décor and furnishings, the duo can also find and source specially requested pieces upon request. Let the hunt begin! 3568 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez, 805-693-2127, @Valeriesvintage17
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Head to Toe
A pair of trailblazing shopping destinations are ushering in a stylish new era on Santa Ynez’s historic Sagunto Street
House of Hackney’s Hollyhocks wallpaper sets the playful tone inside Brass Tack.
A pair of trailblazing shopping destinations are ushering in a stylish new era on Santa Ynez’s historic Sagunto Street
Written by Anna Ferguson-Sparks | Photography by Sara Prince
SANTA YNEZ GENERAL, the shop that ignited its namesake town’s retail boom, opened its stylish doors in 2019. The boutique’s original location now showcases lifestyle and home goods in a slightly refreshed space, while a second Santa Ynez location opened in 2021 and focuses on apparel. It currently features several new lines for fall including Etro, Rosie Assoulin, and Nili Lotan. Founded by Pearson and Spencer Turnbull—a fashion industry veteran and an accomplished attorney, respectively—both tastemakers with an eye for destination-worthy shopping, Santa Ynez General has continued to broaden its Santa Ynez Valley-rooted reach. Summer 2022 brought a pop-up shop to Montecito’s Upper Village, and when The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection, opens this winter in Los Olivos, the eagerly anticipated luxe property will include a Santa Ynez General outpost. 3558 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez, 805-691-9947, santaynezgeneral.com.
A stone’s throw away on Sagunto Street, BRASS TACK mingles cheeky, couture glam with Santa Ynez’s Victorian, cowgirl grit. Opened in March 2022, the bright boutique’s motto, “If Georgia O’Keeffe and Dolly Parton crashed Fashion Week,” is reflected in the stylings and stock, all housed in a 120-year-old building. Owner Melissa Kanarek, a couture upholsterer and seamstress by trade, once inhabited and worked in global urban centers but she’s now a Santa Ynez Valley resident, specializing in pieces with a strong sense of story, much like her own. Kanarek founded her retail concept in Laguna Beach but relocated her store after settling in the Valley with her husband on the couple’s homestead, Ranchy McRanch (see page 114). This fall, the women’s boutique and hat bar will welcome Kanarek’s Born in the Barn line, designed and sewn in her barn, featuring dead-stock, limited-edition runs created by Kanarek’s fevered imagination. 3553 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez, 949-351-8748, brasstackstudio.com.
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Heads Above the Rest
Custom hat maker Kevin “KJ” Murphy
Custom hat maker Kevin “KJ” Murphy
Kevin “KJ” Murphy; the master at work.
Written by Anna Ferguson-Sparks | Photography by KJ Murphy’s, Sara Prince
Last year custom hat maker Kevin “KJ” Murphy expanded his business, KJ MURPHY’S, into a large Santa Ynez space with swanky saloon vibes and a modern twist—complete with all of the entertaining bells and whistles essential to a bespoke accessories experience. Murphy’s clients often get to watch the custom crafter at work, while they sip some of the finest spirits stocked behind his hand-built, mahogany back bar. Under the pressed-tin ceiling, a stone fireplace centers the long room where outdoorsy apparel and hats by Stetson, Resistol, DOBBS, the fashionable Charlie 1 Horse, and KJ originals are beautifully showcased.
Murphy’s hat-making trail began in 2009, when he purchased an old hat factory that included some machines dating back to the early 1900s. Months of mechanical refurbishing followed, leading to the opening of his first Santa Ynez Valley hat studio in 2011. Nowadays, patrons can listen to Murphy’s tales of his adventures while he designs their hats with custom touches like hand-tooled leather hatbands, beads, ribbons, horsehair, or other materials, transforming each piece of headgear into a unique, wearable, working piece of art. 3569 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez, 805-686-4790, kjmurphys.com.
WE LOVE
Get on Your High Horse
