A Taste of the World
When Santa Barbara–based Nati Smith sat down to write Mish and the Recipe for Adventure…
Author Nati Smith sets the table in her Santa Barbara abode.
Written by Joan Tapper | Photography by Sara Prince
When Santa Barbara–based Nati Smith sat down to write Mish and the Recipe for Adventure (Wise Ink Creative Publishing, $23), a heart-warming children’s book with illustrations by Guillermo Alonso, she had several goals in mind. As a Jerusalem native, Smith aimed to introduce children to international culture through fun recipes from around the world, while also bringing mindfulness to the kitchen. Her story focuses on a young rabbit, Mish, who enters a cooking competition against other talented chefs. As Mish advances to the finals, in part thanks to spiritual practices that help her keep calm, she wows the judges with a comforting childhood favorite made with a secret ingredient—love.
Smith says, “Mish is a journey of friendship, food, culture, believing in yourself, and overcoming obstacles with affirmation and love.” That message has resonated with children and adults alike. “Many parents have shared pictures of their kids reading the book along with loving comments about their experience with Mish,” she adds. “All of these incredible reactions have filled my heart with love and smiles and given me much inspiration and encouragement for the upcoming chapters in the Mish series.”
a Moroccan tagine from a family trip to Morocco.
Nati Smith’s Shakshuka
Shakshuka and charcoal sesame bread from local Oat Bakery.
About 6 medium tomatoes
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 yellow bell pepper, seeds removed and chopped roughly
1 red bell pepper, seeds removed and chopped roughly
1 bunch green onions, chopped (green parts only)
3 to 4 artichoke hearts, thickly sliced
2 handfuls cherry tomatoes, halved
½ to 1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ to 1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 handfuls fresh spinach leaves
5 to 6 eggs
Za’atar
Tahini
Maldon smoked sea salt (optional)
Sumac
Olive oil
Fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
A tablespoon of love
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, use a sharp knife to score each medium tomato on the bottom (opposite the stem end), making an X. Keep any juice that is released. Drop the tomatoes into the boiling water and cook for 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl of ice water. With a knife or a spoon, peel off the skin and cut the tomatoes into rough cubes or slices.
Place the avocado oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the chopped bell peppers and sauté for a few minutes, until soft. Add the green onions and artichoke hearts and continue to cook. Add the cherry tomatoes and boiled tomatoes (with the juices they released while cutting). Stir and add the oregano, basil, paprika, Himalayan salt, and black pepper. Stir well. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. If you need more liquid, add hot water, but just a little at a time—you want the consistency to be thick, not watery.
Add the spinach and stir. Taste and add more seasoning as needed.
Crack the eggs and add them to the shakshuka stew. Sprinkle each egg with salt, black pepper, and za’atar.
Cover with a lid and cook just until the egg yolks are a bit runny and soft. Alternatively, you can put the pan, uncovered, in an oven that was preheated to 350°F. Bake until the eggs are a bit runny and soft.
When the eggs are done, drizzle them with tahini and sprinkle with Maldon salt (if using) and sumac. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil and garnish with fresh cilantro.
See the story in our digital edition
Cactus Makes Perfect
Cementing her reign as the textile queen, California-based interior and furniture designer Natasha Baradaran recently debuted her latest innovation: Livwell cactus leather.
Livwell cactus leather stool
Written by Anush J. Benliyan
Cementing her reign as the textile queen, California-based interior and furniture designer Natasha Baradaran recently debuted her latest innovation: Livwell cactus leather. An industry first, the sustainable vegan fabric is crafted from the sun-dried mature leaves of cactus, which she sources from an environmentally conscious organic ranch in central Mexico. The collection launched with a campaign aptly photographed at Ganna Walska Lotusland, where over 300 species of the perennial plant bask under the Montecito sun. natashabaradaran.com.
See the story in our digital edition
Viva Magenta
Top picks in the season’s hottest shade
Top picks in the season’s hottest shade
Edited by Charlotte Bryant
See the story in our digital edition
Design Duo
The power couple behind Cove House share their 2023 must haves
Isabella and Chase Duddy, husband-and-wife creators of Cove House, covehouse.co
The power couple behind Cove House share their 2023 must haves
Edited by Charlotte Bryant | Photography by Tessa Neustadt, Ally Simons (Portrait)
SANTA BARBARA LIGHTS is our go-to for exterior lights. Karen and her husband have sourced the most incredible collection of antique lights.
Kate and Mimi at THE WELL SUMMERLAND are so lovely, and they have the most insane selection of pots, furniture, art, and more. We just bought two leather-slipcovered armchairs for Casa Plunkett.
Ceramics, baskets, and antique bells from India are perfect for decorating a shelf from DOMECIL, a little gem that has a gorgeous selection of home wares.
JENNI KAYNE in Montecito has the best pillows, and her upholstered Pacific bed is classic.
We recently scored the most beautiful antique dresser from SUMMERLAND ANTIQUE COLLECTIVE. We love melding old and new.
Follow @cove.house for more on #casavista and #casaplunkett projects
See the story in our digital edition
Meadowscaping
Rustic and rattan tones for indoor/outdoor living
Interiorscape by Plant Gallery.
Rustic and rattan tones for indoor/outdoor living
Edited by Charlotte Bryant
See the story in our digital edition
Pillow Talk
Global goods at a textile candy store
Global goods at a textile candy store
Written by Jennifer Blaise Kramer | Photographs by Sara Prince
Jean-Philippe Cajuste of Indian Pink dons an Indian velvet textile robe in the comfort of his Montecito home.
Jean-Philippe Cajuste, aka “The Pillow Man,” earned his nickname selling pillows made from vintage textiles his wife, Tamara, would collect from all over the world while working as a flight attendant. “I’d meet her at the airport on a layover with a black duffle bag—it looked like a full-on drug deal,” he says. Whenever they’d travel together, he’d pack hundreds of pillow covers—from Jaipur prints to Chinese batiks—in hues that were fitting for the destination, such as coastal blues for Nantucket or the Hamptons. Inevitably all the pillows would sell out, which essentially funded the couple’s trips.
Those same seaside hues caught the eye of their first client, a buyer from local design store Rooms & Gardens, resulting in frequent trips and an eventual move to Santa Barbara. The Cajustes settled their family into Montecito, where home is a “laboratory,” and their first retail outpost, INDIAN PINK, puts a face to the brand so many designers, decorators, and celebrities have come to love. The bohemian State Street boutique feels like a textile candy store, full of pastel block-printed pajamas, vintage upholstered furniture, and countless pillows. But rather than adding to the cliché of couples constantly fighting over too many throw pillows on the bed, Jean-Philippe often talks people into just one. “I hear it daily—if I buy another pillow my husband’s going to kill me,” he laughs, admitting it’s easy to overdo it. “Sometimes it’s like, where’s there to sit?” 1307 State St., Santa Barbara, 310-908-5011, indianpinkshop.com
See the story in our digital edition
Replanting
A master gardener seeks a new landscape
Aeonium ‘Sunburst’ succulents bloom in the garden at Eric Nagelmann’s longtime residence in Carpinteria.
A master gardener seeks a new landscape
Written by Joan Tapper | Photography by Nell Campbell
“I love variegated plants— they really pop in a garden, especially in the shade”
A year ago, noted landscape designer Eric Nagelmann decided he needed a change. “I didn’t want to become complacent,” says the Santa Barbara native. “It was time to focus on what else was out there.” He packed up his house in Carpinteria, sold the place within two weeks, and relocated permanently to Taos, New Mexico. The move meant leaving behind his incredibly extensive—and eclectic—garden.
But Nagelmann hasn’t disappeared from Santa Barbara completely. He is still very involved with Lotusland, for which he designed the cactus garden that was added in 2003. This year is the 30th anniversary of the Ganna Walska Lotusland Foundation, and he’s working with them to raise $30 million for upkeep and some additions. He plans to remove some eucalyptus “and create a raised boardwalk with seating and incorporate a lot of tropical flowering plants”—heliconia, vireya, and hibiscus, among others.
He’s also working with Lotusland on a sustainability symposium series to be held in a renovated lemon packing warehouse in Santa Paula, on April 15 and September 9 this year, and two more dates in 2024. “I’d been in Mexico looking at a lab that was doing research in organics, and I was exhilarated and inspired,” says Nagelmann, who especially hopes to reach high school and college students.
Given all his work in the area, Nagelmann’s legacy will be visible in the Santa Barbara landscape for years. One recently completed project was the newly constructed, futuristic home of Lynda Weinman and Bruce Heavin. On the horizon are plans for a documentary about Nagelmann, his work, and his philosophy. For now, though, he’s concentrating on enjoying his new home. “In Taos I have an incredible property, 8 acres right on the gorge. I love the summer hiking. And there’s a different palette—different and wonderful.”
See the story in our digital edition
In the Palm of His Hand
Steve Hermann’s Desert Hideaways
Steve Hermann’s Desert Hideaways
Hermann Bungalows
The zero-edge pool at Hermann Bungalows boasts serene mountain views.
A visit to the desert is all about escape—relief from the mundane. Tucked away in a hidden corner of L’Horizon Resort and Spa’s manicured grounds, HERMANN BUNGALOWS offer the kind of decadence that eclipses ordinary life. Proprietor and Montecito resident Steve Hermann has continued his vision for indoor/outdoor living in this new venture. A pathway leads to his hotel’s incredibly private, completely enclosed mini resort. Inside the property, an 85-foot, zero-edge wading pool lined with deep blue tiles lends a tropical aura to the whole area. Situated in the shadow of the San Jacinto Mountains, the enclave has been landscaped with romantic olive trees and equipped with crisp white lounge chairs, along with a private bar available only to guests. The 24 bungalows arranged around the glistening water feature comprise studio suites, junior suites, and a presidential suite that includes a living area, bedroom, and private hot tub on a large enclosed patio. Custom dark wood and magnificent tile round out each bungalow’s luxe desert feel, while Venetian terrazzo floors, gold fixtures, and even TOTO smart toilets add to the sense of opulence in every room. Each bungalow is slightly different from the others, but they all include private outdoor spaces and plush furniture. A select few boast soaking tubs and outdoor showers. An ideal desert oasis, Hermann Bungalows ups the ante for L’Horizon’s guests, doubling down on its already celebrated hospitality. From $1,000/night. 1050 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, 760-323-1858, hermannbungalows.com.
“I wanted to design a luxurious, modern hotel that felt like a fine curated home”
L’Horizon Palm Springs
Montecito-based designer Steve Hermann and his wife, Talina (known for her namesake women’s wear line), recently refurbished the midcentury bungalow resort hotel L’Horizon Palm Springs. An adults-only, architectural buff's retreat, the luxury property features 25 private guest suites, a spa, and a lobby boutique Le Shop that exclusively sells Talina’s latest resort wear line among other fashionable items.
Originally designed in 1952, L'Horizon Palm Springs evokes a bygone era
When you're done lounging at the pool cabanas, it's a short walk to SO•PA restaurant, the alfresco dining grotto on the property, where global flavors influence dishes such as poached Hudson Valley foie gras or roasted Spanish octopus with crushed potatoes, parsley pesto, and roasted baby tomatoes. "I am very excited about adding our signature restaurant SO•PA to L’Horizon Resort and Spa," says Steve. "We have created a world-class hotel, and we needed a world-class restaurant to accompany it." Helmed by Michelin-starred chef Giacomo Pettinari, who honed his craft at the legendary elBulli, the dramatic and intimate space is finished with firepits, Lindsey Adelman chandeliers, and a family-style 26-foot live-edge walnut communal table. "I designed the interior courtyard to be intimate and romantic, with a little bit of an edge," says Steve. "The mix of soft lighting from the chandeliers and the firelight provide a special experience that transports you. This in conjunction with Pettinari’s unparalleled cuisine has created a dining experience that is unparalleled." Rates: From $485. 1050 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, 760-323-1858. lhorizonpalmsprings.com
Colony Palms Hotel and Bungalows
Views of the 65-foot saltwater pool at The Colony Club.
The desert beckons as autumn in Palm Springs promises warm days and cooler nights. Special events highlight the signature style and sports of the area, including Modernism Week’s Fall Preview (October 14-17) and the BNP Paribas Open (October 4-17). Of course, you can always simply laze at the pool.
Retro-inspired details abound throughout the 3-acre property.
Hotelier, design guru, and Montecito resident Steve Hermann has completely renovated the venerable Colony Palms Hotel and Bungalows into a stylish 57-room getaway with bold patterns and a fresh new look. Built by Purple Gang member Al Wertheimer in the 1930s, the hotel was a longtime favorite of L.A. celebs. Today it’s a luxe adults-only oasis with lush gardens, an inviting spa, and the sleek Colony Club restaurant. Says Hermann, “We looked to old Hollywood as well as the French and Italian Riviera of the 1930s and ’40s for inspiration.”
Photography by So•Pa, Dre Naylor, Jim Bartsch, Oliver Barth/La Food Photography
See the story in our digital edition
Get Away with Nick Fouquet
The sought-after designer crafts hats at Las Ventanas al Paraíso
The sought-after designer crafts hats at Las Ventanas al Paraíso
Written by Elizabeth Varnell
This March, designer Nick Fouquet is adding his own style-driven twist to a revitalizing sojourn at Las Ventanas al Paraíso, a Rosewood Resort along the desert coastline of Los Cabos in the Baja Peninsula’s southernmost region. From March 23 to 26, the Topanga-based hatmaker is hosting a pop-up shop at the resort where Mediterranean-Mexican architecture blends with desert landscapes dotted with succulents and winding infinity pools, crafting bespoke toppers alongside local Wixarika artisan Don Victor Florentino.
Fouquet is creating an exclusive hat style made of toquilla straw, a sustainably harvested, renewable resource created from the Ecuadorean plant’s large palm-like fronds woven into a braided texture. The straw, shaped into lightweight sun blockers, can be customized on site by the designer himself and embellished with Florentino’s intricate Huichol beading.
“We worked on several iterations of beaded hat bands backed with leather,” says Fouquet. “I think it’s important to bring the craftsmanship of the area to the work we’re doing.” The original bead patterns are a nod to Florentino’s heritage and craft, and Fouquet says the colors “evoke the ocean and land” on the property where 83 suites—all with personalized and complimentary butler and concierge services—and serpentine swimming pools meet the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. Drawing inspiration from the resort’s architecture and plants, including the bright red and pink hues of bougainvillea, Fouquet set about formulating chic Las Ventanas–centric designs.
The hats themselves are resort essentials, ideal for afternoons spent on the sun-drenched balconies of on-property villas with private pools, the terraces of penthouse or spa suites, or a stroll to the spa for a range of holistic therapies and treatments inspired by Baja’s indigenous healers’ rituals incorporating plants, water, crystals, sage smoke, and stones. Similarly, Fouquet’s creations shade guests walking to meals at Las Ventanas’ restaurants and bars stocked with tequila flights and culinary menus designed around the region’s fresh seafood, including Eastern-influenced Arbol, Oaxacan-tinged Alebrije, shellfish-rich Sea Grill, the sushi-fusion offerings at the property’s Tequila and Ceviche Bar, favored vintages at La Cava wine bar, or a host of innovative cocktails and mocktails at the Prohibition-inspired speakeasy bar, La Botica, where singer Rosalía de Cuba is the artist in residence. And the toppers are sure to be a favorite among those who book the resort’s Tequila Sign class and hone a personalized tequila profile by blind tasting the blancos, reposados, anejos, and mezcals on offer. With one’s hat tipped just so, afternoon siestas don’t even require a change of location. +52-624-144-2800, rosewoodhotels.com/en/las-ventanas-los-cabos
Chic & Proper
Impeccable details and eclectic inspiration for your travels
Potted cactus and palms flank the historic Renaissance Revival building in Los Angeles.
Impeccable details and eclectic inspiration for your travels
Kelly Wearstler’s turn as the design partner for PROPER HOTELS has been one of the most fascinating hostelry stories of the past decade. Beginning with a landmark San Francisco property in 2017, the brand grew to include outposts in Santa Monica and Austin in 2019, before rounding out its portfolio with a downtown Los Angeles location in 2021. The disparate venues showcase the range of Wearstler’s work, from the restoration of a historic 1920s building in L.A. to a sculptural new build from Handel Architects in Texas.
For Curlett & Beelman’s California Renaissance Revival landmark, Wearstler has drawn on Spanish, French, and Moroccan influences, along with Mexican modernism, deploying more than 100 types of tile throughout the building, along with vintage rugs and furniture and handmade ceramics and murals. The result is an eclectic gem of a hotel with a residential feel and an outsize spirit. Where else would you find a suite with its own private swimming pool?
In Austin, the contrast between the concrete, glass, and metal exterior of the property and the vivid, textured interior points up the paradoxes that best represent this great state. Travertine tile mined directly from local quarries and a patchwork of vintage rugs and the work of Texan craftspeople mark this hotel as a love letter to the landscape and artistic heart of the surrounding city. properhotels.com
Brian De Lowe’s Austin Food Scene
Besides Austin Proper’s stellar Mediterranean restaurant THE PEACOCK and the alfresco LA PISCINA, the cofounder and president of Proper Hotels gives us his best bets for lunch and dinner in this Texas town.
SAMMIE’S (sammiesitalian
.com) New old-school Italian spot. Chicken parm!
SUERTE (suerteatx.com) Handmade tortillas, suadero tacos, and amazing aguachiles.
LAUNDERETTE (launderetteaustin.com)
East Side American fusion. Great place for dinner.
JUSTINE’S (justines1937.com) East Side French. Make sure to sit outside in the garden for dinner.
CLARK’S (clarksaustin.com) Perfect neighborhood spot that I could eat at three times a week.
JEFFREY’S (jeffreysofaustin.com) Fine dining. Great vibe, especially in the bar. Try the burger.
LORO (loroeats.com) Asian-BBQ fusion (a concept from Aaron Franklin of Franklin BBQ and Tyson Cole of Uchi).
POOL BURGER (poolburger.com) Super-casual tiki vibe.
HOWARD’S (howardsaustin.com) + ROSIE’S (rosiesaustin.com) Newly opened. Fun dance party at Howard’s and wine bar at Rosie’s.
London Calling
Claridge’s and The Lanesborough reign supreme
The historic Roman stone facade of Claridge’s hotel in London.
More than 150 years later, Claridge’s still reigns supreme
Written by Caitlin White | Photography by Justin Desouza, Claridge's, David Cotsworth
Tucked between Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace, Mayfair has long cultivated a reputation as one of London’s poshest neighborhoods—and iconic CLARIDGE’S hotel sits right in the heart of it. Opened in 1856, Claridge’s has been serving up luxury for a century and a half and is particularly known for its traditional afternoon tea, recently named by Vogue as one of the city’s best. Heralded for its signature pastel-striped china, smoked-salmon sandwiches, and scones with clotted cream and jam, Claridge’s Foyer & Reading Room is the place to go if you’re feeling peckish in the afternoon, perhaps after a day spent wandering nearby cobblestone streets.
The property’s new bar, dubbed The Painter’s Room, was designed by Bryan O’Sullivan.
This historic hostelry is also the place to stay if you’re looking for contemporary luxury and a bit of glamour, because the property is ushering in a series of updates that grounds it firmly in the 21st century. Recently opened is the Art Deco-inspired cocktail bar called The Painter’s Room, which serves all manner of elegant libations. Other on-site experiences include L’Epicerie, a chef’s table for private parties and special bookings, and Claridge’s ArtSpace, a subterranean, museum-quality gallery.
As part of the Maybourne Hotel Group, which includes luxe properties on the French Riviera and in Beverly Hills, Claridge’s rooms and suites preserve classic architecture and style without sacrificing modern amenities. Expect grand pianos, chandeliers, hand-painted walls, and antique furniture, along with personal butler service, up-to-date technology, and a sense of effortless chic. Rooms from $895/night. claridges.co.uk
Regency Style, Contemporary Comfort
White-gloved doormen await guests at The Lanesborough hotel in London.
The Lanesborough occupies a sought-after corner of London, but it’s the interiors that are notable, transforming this opulent Regency-style property into a modern palace. The firm of celebrated Parisian photographer and interior designer Alberto Pinto is responsible for the hotel’s two-year renovation, which painstakingly restored the original 1820s architecture with extravagant details like 23¼-carat gold-leaf gilding on the ceilings, custom embroidery, and other artistry, thanks to specialists who matched their crafts to the Regency period.
Throughout its 93 rooms—including several multiroom suites—The Lanesborough is a testament to London’s past brought into the 21st century with a joie de vivre that embraces the future. And let’s not forget the lavish amenities, such as 24-hour personal butler service, a fleet of chauffeured cars, and complementary clothes pressing. The 18,000-square-foot spa and club, installed in 2017, has become a destination unto itself, although a table at the newly launched Lanesborough Grill or afternoon tea in the dining room are equally alluring. Rooms from $1,006. Hyde Park Corner, London, oetkercollection.com/hotels/the-lanesborough
See the story in our digital edition
And…Action!
Boasting major star power for its 38th annual iteration, the 2023 Santa Barbara International Film Festival will honor The Witcher: Blood Origin’s Michelle Yeoh with The Kirk Douglas Award at the black-tie fundraiser on December 9 at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara—the award’s first bestowal since Douglas’s passing.
Boasting major star power for its 38th annual iteration, the 2023 Santa Barbara International Film Festival will honor The Witcher: Blood Origin’s Michelle Yeoh with The Kirk Douglas Award at the black-tie fundraiser on December 9 at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara—the award’s first bestowal since Douglas’s passing. Also being honored by the SBIFF are Cate Blanchett (the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award on February 10); Jamie Lee Curtis (the Maltin Modern Master Award on February 11); and Brendan Fraser (the American Riviera Award on February 14), among other talents. The 11-day festival will take place February 8 – 18. To purchase tickets, donate, or learn more, visit sbiff.org.
See the story in our digital edition
Viva la Modernism
Upon entering the lobby of the VICEROY LOS CABOS, the view is so striking that some visitors may question if they’re still in Cabo.
The serene courtyard at Viceroy Los Cabos.
An architectural marvel in Baja California Sur
Written by Caitlin White | Photographs by Christian Horan Photography
Upon entering the lobby of the VICEROY LOS CABOS, the view is so striking that some visitors may question if they’re still in Cabo. They are—that is, not in Cabo San Lucas, land of all-inclusive resorts and year-round spring breakers, but in San José del Cabo, a quieter, refined historic enclave slightly north of San Lucas.
Initially constructed as a boutique hotel in 2016 by celebrated Mexican architect Miguel Angel Aragonés, the former Mar Adentro was later acquired by Viceroy and renovated by Mexican design firm Arquitectura de Interiores. Reopened in 2018, Aragonés’ stunning balance of light and water stayed intact, with shallow pools scattered among the stark modernist towers. To offset the angular buildings, woven nestlike orbs set apart two restaurants, Nido, where ceviche and robatayaki reign supreme, and Nidito, the oceanfront bar that borders two of five pools on the property.
A suite with ocean views and an open-air soaking tub.
Those two restaurants are only the beginning of the culinary experiences available at the hotel: The Cielomar rooftop grill utilizes brick-oven and wood-fired cooking to showcase the exemplary seafood of the region. And the newest dining experience here is Dalia, an outdoor garden where colorful cocktails garnished with fresh flowers and flavorful Mediterranean cuisine are available in equal measure.
The property’s Nidito bar.
To relax after the incredible meals, guests can retreat to their expansive suites, where extravagant amenities like double showerheads and standalone tubs give way to ocean-view balconies. By and large, the Viceroy Los Cabos redefines Mexican luxury on both an architectural and a culinary level. From $550/night. viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/los-cabos
See the story in our digital edition
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.”
See the story in our digital edition
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.”
See the story in our digital edition
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.
See the story in our digital edition
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.
See the story in our digital edition
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.”
See the story in our digital edition
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
See the story in our digital edition
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