Garden Gone By
In 1970 society photographer Slim Aarons captured Mr. and Mrs. J. Gordon Douglas at the steps of their hillside Montecito estate.
Montecito residents Mr. and Mrs. J. Gordon Douglas pose for Slim Aarons.
Written by Joan Tapper
Photography by Slim Aarons/Stringer
In 1970 society photographer Slim Aarons captured Mr. and Mrs. J. Gordon Douglas at the steps of their hillside Montecito estate. The grounds of Il Brolino—Italian for “the little garden”—had been designed in 1922 for lumber heiress Mary Stewart by landscape architect Florence Yoch and Lucille Council to complement the Mediterranean villa–style house by architect George Washington Smith. The plan for the property included iconic formal features like parterres, a woodland, a rose garden, paved terraces, a cutting garden, a lemon house, a pergola, and topiaries. The symmetry and precision of the plantings are striking. Known for his access to the rich and celebrated, Aarons traveled from Hollywood to the famous playgrounds of Europe capturing the jet-set lifestyle for numerous magazines, and he was quoted as saying he focused on “attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places.” Il Brolino and its owners certainly fit the bill.
See the story in our digital edition
Breathing Life
Wallpaper is so 2023. Suddenly every hot workspace, restaurant, and home wants a wall that does more—a wall that’s alive.
“Lush Air” of tillandsias displayed on glass with graphic of honey onyx at Sonos.
Written by Jennifer Blaise Kramer
Photographs by Elliot Lowndes
Wallpaper is so 2023. Suddenly every hot workspace, restaurant, and home wants a wall that does more—a wall that’s alive. Terra Basche, owner of LUSH ELEMENTS, is the designer behind the living walls at offices of Netflix, Zoom, and Sonos. “We’re making headquarters unique as well as home offices, which may be smaller but can be special, sacred retreats,” she says. Having started as a florist, the self-trained designer creates massive living walls hung with mosses, ferns, and air plants that require little water and are low maintenance. (She also does follow-up care for most clients.) Her mural-like installations, in addition to edible towers and container gardens, are focal points at restaurants that include Local Montecito, Validation Ale, and most recently Silvers Omakase. There, owner and chef Lennon Silvers Lee dreamed up a back patio full of plants where his guests could pleasantly relax after their two-hour dining experience.
Basche is now on a mission to catch the attention of nonprofits, whose donors might consider sponsoring a living wall rather than giving cash. Currently the offices of the Wilderness Youth Project and the Community Environmental Council feature her living art, and she hopes others will appreciate the perks of working with plants, which buffer sound, add beauty, and increase air quality, well-being, and productivity. Says Basche: “When you live among plants, you sink into something so special at a cellular level, you just have to pay attention.” lushelements.com
“Lush Wall” of preserved mosses, foliage, and crystal spheres at Origins Integrative Medicine.
See the story in our digital edition
Polishing a Hidden Gem
The history of CASA DEL HERRERO—House of the Blacksmith—and of Santa Barbara are inextricably linked.
Sunlight warms the arched loggia of Casa del Herrero
Written by Joan Tapper
Photographs by Matt Walla/Rizzoli
The history of CASA DEL HERRERO—House of the Blacksmith—and of Santa Barbara are inextricably linked: On the morning of June 29, 1925, George Fox Steedman, owner of his family’s foundry in St. Louis, was staying at the Santa Barbara Club when a devastating earthquake hit the city, leveling most of downtown. He headed for his new home in Montecito, which had just been finished after three years of construction. The Andalusian farmhouse-style residence was fine, cementing architect George Washington Smith’s reputation and distinguishing the home as an early example of Santa Barbara’s prevailing Spanish look.
Steedman and his wife, Carrie, embraced the growing fashion for the Spanish Revival style, and Smith’s plans for the 7,000-square-foot residence incorporated arches, wrought iron, loggias, a red-tile roof, and Moorish accents, like the thousands of colorful tiles that grace fireplaces, fountains, and walls. To furnish the home, the Steedmans commissioned Hispanic art experts Arthur Byne and Mildred Stapley, and traveled with them around Spain, acquiring centuries-old treasures that eventually packed 160 containers.
Portraits of George and Carrie Steedman preside over the living room.
The Steedmans brought on Ralph Stevens to develop the garden and grounds, which soon encompassed 11 acres. In the back of the house, the garden extends from a loggia down a long grassy allée, while the rest of the extensive grounds are divided into a series of “rooms.” An enclosed Spanish garden opens to a blue-and-white garden with gorgeously tiled benches and a fountain. There’s an herb garden, a boxwood-edged rose garden, an Arizona garden, and extensive orchards. One of the most extraordinary features of the estate is the workshop, where mechanical engineer Steedman designed and crafted silver, other metalwork, and even garden furniture.
Charles Steedman died in 1940; Carrie passed away 22 years later. Medora Steedman Bass, who inherited the house from her parents, lived there until her own death in 1987, after which the family established a foundation that eventually opened the residence and grounds to the public in 1995. Visitors who come for docent-led tours are wowed by the place, which has maintained a low profile for the past three decades.
Now, however, it’s time for the Casa to step into the limelight—and ensure it is ready for its next 100 years. To begin, the foundation is leading up to its centennial with programming that more closely connects the place to the community.
The cover of a history of the Casa depicts its interior stairway.
“Medora Steedman Bass wished for the future of Casa to pursue and support the interests of her and her family,” says Edwin Rodriguez Jr., marketing and events director. These include “gardening, architecture, metalwork, silversmithing, restoration of the grounds, global problems, sustainability, population control, family planning, mental health, arts and literature, film, and several others.” Adds board chair Heather Biles, “We are working hard to open the doors of Casa del Herrero to a wider audience and to bring to the community new and interesting ways to experience the Casa.”
Meanwhile, the board is launching an $18 million capital campaign—headed by Palmer and Susan Jackson, who have kicked things off with a $1 million donation—to support preservation of its architectural legacy and protect the institution’s future. The hidden gem will be hidden no more. Santa Barbara architect Marc Appleton says, “The Casa, one of Santa Barbara’s best-kept secrets, is a unique, historic, and special place for the community of Santa Barbara to be able to enjoy, support, and cherish.” 1387 E. Valley Rd., Montecito, casadelherrero.com
See the story in our digital edition
Table Talk
Beautiful books to spark inspiration for your home and garden
Beautiful books to spark inspiration for your home and garden
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter
See the story in our digital edition
Style Sanctuary
A historic church has been transformed into a multipurpose studio and shop
A historic church has been transformed into a multipurpose studio and shop
Brown Design Studio sensitively updated the 1926 Second Baptist Church building, the longtime base of the Black congregation founded in 1910.
Written by Jessica Ritz
Photographs by Sara Prince
“The partners—in business and in life—eventually realized the opportunity to add something more to the meaningful site”
While the Second Baptist Church that has stood on East Gutierrez Street since 1926 no longer functions as a house of worship, Ryan Brown and Diego Monchamp of the Brown Design Group are continuing its legacy in fresh ways. The historically protected building was originally home to the Black congregation that was established in Santa Barbara in 1910, then to Church of Skatan, the popular skate shop and locals-only spot. After years of physical decline, interior designers Brown and Monchamp, who work in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara and settled in Santa Barbara full time in 2020, are ushering the property into its next chapter with care. As of this spring, it’s the headquarters of their Brown Design Group, featuring a lifestyle boutique appropriately dubbed MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR.
“It was a great collaborative process to restore it,” Monchamp says of the 4,700-square-foot Gothic Revival building. He and Brown pored over the church’s archival materials and learned about its cultural and social significance from local historians. They repaired the stained glass windows using the original fabricator, designed new custom lighting pendants built by SH Studios, and increased the ceiling height with new trusses and skylights. “DMHA and Henry Lenny Design Studio were fundamental in helping us pull this off,” Monchamp says of their consulting architects.
Restored Gothic arched stained glass windows and new railings have renewed the historic site’s presence on East Gutierrez as Ministry of the Interior; the former sanctuary now houses the team’s working spaces and a welcoming retail experience; Brown’s and Monchamp’s respective studios are on the upper level; “My favorite aspect of our job is the final touches—the accessories, the art, the lighting,” Brown says of offering eclectic goods such as leather-wrapped crystals; partners Brown (left) and Monchamp; more curated finds.
“My favorite aspect of our job is the final touches,” Brown notes. “The accessories, the art, the lighting.” Ministry of the Interior was a way to respond to clients’ wishes to “shop from our shelves” for items like that and also fill a local retail niche.
The inventory features Brown’s finds from his recent travels to 15 countries. Books, small vintage goods, and furnishings from places such as Denmark and Argentina intermingle with ceramics by Chicago-based Julia Archer and braided leather-wrapped crystals crafted by Los Angeles artist Matthew Ready. A seating vignette with a residential feel is another delightful surprise. “My goal was to have it be approachable,” Brown says. Think of this store as a new type of welcoming sanctuary for design lovers. 26 E. Gutierrez St., Santa Barbara, 805-228-4113, interiorministry.com
See the story in our digital edition
The Orchid Chief
Beauty and community meet at Westerlay Orchids
Beauty and community meet at Westerlay Orchids
“One of our core values is community,” Overgaag says. “We donate to just about everything local.”
Written by Jennifer Blaise Kramer
Photographs by Sara Prince
It seems there’s not a benefit, a gala, or an auction in Santa Barbara County that doesn’t have an orchid at its center. And the mastermind behind those appearances is Toine Overgaag, president of WESTERLAY ORCHIDS, who took over the family flower business from his parents and is upping not only its acreage and output but also its philanthropy, which has always been at its heart.
“One of our core values is community,” Overgaag says. “We donate to just about everything local,” which includes the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse’s Amethyst Ball, Dream Foundation’s Flower Empower, and the Santa Barbara Breast Cancer Center. One element of their commitment to the community is an annual fundraiser where every dollar from a week of retail sales directly supports the Carpinteria Education Foundation’s arts and STEM programs. “It’s hyperlocal—a dollar goes so much further at these schools,” he says.
Always looking to make an impact, Overgaag ensured that orchids were popping up everywhere during the pandemic, when supermarkets were scaling back or cutting floral offerings entirely. He launched the “100,000 Orchid Challenge,” in which his team donated flowers to hospitals across California, sending trucks filled with 8,000 orchids each for health care workers to take home. Another initiative led to deliveries for neighbors and friends, lifting spirits when people really needed that blooming surprise.
Varieties blooming in the greenhouse.
“There’s a relational aspect to orchids,” says Overgaag. “People feel responsible to take care of them and then share their story.” In fact, he’s heard so many moving orchid tales—about how a grieving person tended to a loved one’s plant or how an orchid led friends to reconnect—that he used it in the company tagline: Every Orchid Has a Story. “You realize you’re in the connection business, not the flower business,” he says. “It’s a privilege to step in and help locally.” 3504 Via Real, Carpinteria, 805-684-5400 ext. 120, westerlay.com
See the story in our digital edition
Hollywood 101
Our world-renowned FILM FESTIVAL finds the sweet spot between Hollywood and international cinema
Our world-renowned FILM FESTIVAL finds the sweet spot between Hollywood and international cinema
Bradley Cooper
Written by Josef Woodard
The 39th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which wrapped on February 17 with the world premiere of Heather Graham’s good-natured rom-com Chosen Family, achieved its long-standing game plan of finding the sweet spot among Hollywood celebrities and Oscar-timed buzz, serious international cinema, feel-good diversions, documentaries, and other facets of film.
As a popular part of its densely packed 10-day (plus one opening night) festival, the celebrity-tribute component was well stocked with Oscar-nominated actors, starting with the prefestival Kirk Douglas award tribute to Ryan Gosling (aka “Ken”). Regrettably, Annette Benning—the only woman on the tribute schedule—had to cancel. But due kudos were given to other powerful actors—Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Paul Giamatti, and Jeffrey Wright (honored for his rare leading role in American Fiction). The Outstanding Directors night focused on Justine Triet (Anatomy of a Fall) and Martin Scorsese (Killers of the Flower Moon), who accepted his award by asserting that “the real gift was getting to make the movies.”
Three peripheral celebrities generated their own special buzz. Lily Gladstone, the first Native American nominated for an Oscar (for Killers) was greeted with a hero’s welcome; she commented, “A win by one of us is a win for all.” Billie Eilish showed up at the Arlington and helped sell out the normally more specialized Variety Artisans panel, noting that her Barbie theme song “picked me up like a little hook lifting me out of a dark place.” Musician John Batiste showed up for a soulful and heartfelt Q&A with festival head Roger Durling, following the poignant doc American Symphony.
In the all-important heart of the program—its 200-plus screening schedule, with an unusually broad geographical sweep—programming director Claudia Puig, in her third year here, summoned an impressive range of cinema. By festival’s end, the avid SBIFF-goers could find resonance in Durling’s opening night comment that “we come to the movies for the feeling of being alive.” sbiff.org
Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images (Brad Pitt; Finneas and Billie Eilish). Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images (Bradley Cooper; Jeffrey Wright; Paul Giamatti; Roger Durling, Justine Triet, and Martin Scorsese; Emma Stone; Mark Ruffalo; Greta Lee, Andrew Scott, Charles Melton, America Ferrera, Lily Gladstone, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph; Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., and Rob Lowe)
See the story in our digital edition
Bicoastal Book Soirée
President and CEO of Paramount Pictures Brian Robbins and his wife, Tracy, hosted an intimate event at their home in Montecito last weekend to celebrate the release of Jeremiah Brent’s first book, The Space That Keeps You.
Designer Jeremiah Brent toasts his tasteful tome in Montecito
Brian Robbins, Jeremiah Brent, Tracy Robbins and Nate Berkus.
Photography by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures
President and CEO of Paramount Pictures Brian Robbins and his wife, Tracy, hosted an intimate event at their home in Montecito last weekend to celebrate the release of Jeremiah Brent’s first book, The Space That Keeps You. Brent is a celebrated AD 100 interior designer and a just-announced new cast member of Netflix’s critically acclaimed hit series Queer Eye. The book currently holds the #1 spot on Amazon’s Interior & Home Design list.
Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, Nate Berkus, Jordana Brewster and husband Mason Morfit, Fatima Robinson, fashion designer Anine Bing, and SB Film Festival’s Roger Durling were among guests who attended the event. Three of the stories featured in the book are in the Santa Barbara area so it was a very special place to host the launch of the book.
“Jeremiah has been our dear friend for over six years, and to host his party in a place that so deeply embodies the spirit of his book felt so meaningful. He has truly made our house into a home that reflects the essence of who we are, and we’re so grateful for the personal warmth he brings to every detail of every corner of our home. And then when you consider that three of the stories featured in the book take place in the Santa Barbara area, it was very special to bring everyone together here, and Brian and I were honored to host this event.”
See our Spring 2024 digital edition
Beach Bungalow
Orlebar Brown brings year-round summer to our shores
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter
Photography by Meg Sandu
To celebrate the grand opening of the British menswear brand Orlebar Brown at Montecito Country Mart, Santa Barbara Magazine, editorial director Jennifer Smith co-hosted an evening cocktail along with the brand’s founder-designer, Adam Brown, who was fittingly decked out in an immaculate navy wool blazer that’s destined to sell out.
Guests enjoyed catering by Ramon Velazquez (who will be opening his second restaurant, Alma Fonda Fina, at the Mart) while they mingled in the stunning space with its off-white color scheme, a perfect canvas for the brand’s tempting wares. Conceived by chief marketing officer Trevor Hardy, the store’s interior evokes Caribbean oceanfront bungalows, with wide shutters integrated into the displays and an exposed truss ceiling with sheets of wavy metal recalling beach shack roofs. A shiny red-and-white canoe floats overhead, suspended among rows of lights that mimic sea waves.
The opening drew a handsome crowd who enjoyed perusing the racks of men’s swim and resort wear, including design duo Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent, Paramount CEO Brian Robbins and wife Tracy, as well as investment guru Mason Morfit and wife, Santa Barbara Magazine cover star actress Jordana Brewster. Also seen scanning the shelves were models Achok Majak and Vanessa Taylor Black, as well as Anne Towbes, Belle Hahn, Kate Kim Shah, Kyle Brace, and artist Cassandria Blackmore.
Owned by luxury powerhouse Chanel, Orlebar Brown has an international reach with stores in England, France, Greece, Turkey, and Australia. U.S. locations include New York, Palm Beach, and Beverly Hills. Renowned for its tailored swimwear, the brand is a celeb favorite; Daniel Craig donned a pair of sky blue Orlebar Brown Setter shorts in the James Bond flick Skyfall. 1016 Coast Village Rd., Montecito, 805-869-2039; orlebarbrown.com.
See our Spring 2024 digital edition
Going Dutch
German fare is never better than when it is large, salty, and hot.
Written by Caitlin White | Photography by Blake Bronstad
German fare is never better than when it is large, salty, and hot. Think soft pretzels as big as your head, massive servings of pork schnitzel, and, of course, bratwursts with sauerkraut, potato salad, and two kinds of mustard. DUTCH GARDEN, which is currently only open for lunch Wednesday through Sunday, offers German comfort food, with packed rooms, jovial servers, and gigantic portions—plus a delightful sprawling garden dining room. Although this historic restaurant is one of the oldest in Santa Barbara (it originally opened as the Poppy Cafe back in 1925), the current iteration began in 1984, when Ken and Laurie Luetjen took over and ran it as a hole-in-the-wall until it closed in 2020. New owners Matt English and Charlie and Jen Fredericks have revitalized it once more, honoring the past and lovingly updating it for the future. While there’s space indoors, too, camping out in the sunshine with a crisp cucumber salad, pastrami on rye, and a pint of cold beer is the perfect antidote for a midday slump. 4203 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-453-4556, @dutchgardenSB
See the story in our digital edition
Plant-Based Bounty
he restaurant’s culinary orientation is clear from its name—RASCAL’S VEGAN—but owner and chef Dalan Moreno’s commitment to that dietary regimen goes beyond a foodie trend.
Written by Caitlin White | Photography by Seth Epstein (Portrait)
Dalan Moreno
The restaurant’s culinary orientation is clear from its name—RASCAL’S VEGAN—but owner and chef Dalan Moreno’s commitment to that dietary regimen goes beyond a foodie trend. It’s literally inked on his skin with an all-caps neck tattoo. Partly influenced by punk culture, Moreno converted to veganism at the tender age of 15. Since then his mission has been to make vegan cooking authentic, accessible, and affordable.
For years, Rascal’s existed as a series of pop-ups and residencies in other spaces, but it has settled into a permanent home next to Third Window Brewing. With handmade scratch tortillas and classics like al pastor tacos (made with seitan) or a (soy) asada crunch wrap with cashew crema, Moreno’s menus span breakfast, lunch, and dinner and hit on plenty of fast-food cravings with none of the guilt. Chef’s favorite: a fresh-baked torta smothered in red salsa and fried with house-made vegan chorizo, tofu cheese, and shredded lettuce. 432 E. Haley St., Suite A, Santa Barbara, 805-770-2478, rascalsvegan.com
See the story in our digital edition
Secret No More
Peter Lee and Felicia Medina have turned a pandemic pop-up into one of Santa Barbara’s most playful Asian-fusion concepts: SECRET BAO.
Written by Caitlin White | Photography by @Datsufilms, Courtesy of Visit Santa Barbara
Peter Lee and Felicia Medina have turned a pandemic pop-up into one of Santa Barbara’s most playful Asian-fusion concepts: SECRET BAO. The name refers to when the pair were surreptitiously cooking out of their apartment. Their fluffy mini sandwiches are now a staple for Santa Barbara foodies and a treat for out-of-town visitors, too.
Although Lee, who is Korean, and Medina, who is Mexican, Cuban, and Chinese, both have extensive backgrounds working in restaurants, neither had worked in an Asian restaurant before opening one. That’s likely why they weren’t too precious about crafting a Pan-Asian menu that travels from highbrow to lowbrow and back without missing a beat.
Consider the KFC bao: Korean fried chicken, umami coleslaw, pickled red onions, and mayo, all spilling out of a pillowy bao bun. These days the menu leans less on the PB&J or grilled-cheese bao and more toward udon carbonara, curry crab noodles, and honey-walnut shrimp. The tongue-in-cheek baos were fun; the new menu is a joy. 1201 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, 805-259-3226, secretbaosb.com
See the story in our digital edition
Bangkok in Buellton
Southern California has no shortage of great Southeast Asian cuisine, but NA NA THAI, a new kitchen in Buellton, is in the running for best Thai food in the entire state.
The colorful bar that anchors Na Na Thai
Written by Caitlin White | Photography by Sparks, Talia Helvey (portrait)
Southern California has no shortage of great Southeast Asian cuisine, but NA NA THAI, a new kitchen in Buellton, is in the running for best Thai food in the entire state. Nik and Ashley Ramirez spent four years living and working in Bangkok before landing in Buellton. Working in and commuting to Santa Barbara eventually became untenable, but linking up with Greg and Daisy Ryan of Companion Hospitality led first to a weekly pop-up at Bar Le Côte and, eventually, a full-fledged, neon-hued Thai kitchen in a sleepy local strip mall.
Well, it’s sleepy no more. About an hour into service on a recent Saturday night, the entire dining room was packed, as plates of gai tod and nam jim jaew (fried chicken with chili dipping sauce), larb moo and kao (minced pork salad and sticky rice), and tom kha gai (chicken and coconut soup) began to fill the tables. Go big with pla tod, a whole fried fish with fried garlic or three-flavor sauce. Finish with gluay tod kao mao, banana fritters with coconut ice cream. No reservations, so go while a walk-in slot still comes with a manageable wait time. 225 McMurray Rd., Unit E, Buellton, nanathaisyv.com
See the story in our digital edition
The Lark Ascending
A decade ago the Funk Zone was an emerging neighborhood in Santa Barbara, and THE LARK was a newcomer in the area.
Written by Caitlin White | Photography by Ali Beck
A decade ago the Funk Zone was an emerging neighborhood in Santa Barbara, and THE LARK was a newcomer in the area. Ten years later, Jason Paluska’s Michelin-recognized menu is still going strong in both its daytime and nighttime iterations—the brunch game is just about as memorable as the epicurean dinner on the patio. As the first fine-dining restaurant in the Funk Zone—and the flagship kitchen of Acme Hospitality, which has since expanded to encompass several other food and beverage concepts—The Lark is an anchor, a local haunt, and a bucket-list stop for Santa Barbara visitors.
To celebrate both the longevity and the consistency of this neighborhood kitchen, Paluska and his crew welcomed Los Angeles culinary legend Nancy Silverton (Osteria Mozza, Chi Spacca) and restaurateur and wine director Caroline Styne (A.O.C., Caldo Verde) to collaborate on a benefit anniversary dinner. The gala event began with a wine reception and hors d’oeuvres hosted by the Santa Barbara Wine Collective, before guests moved into a seated dinner in the Pullman Room featuring collaborative dishes from Paluska and Silverton, and wine pairings by Styne. In honor of the occasion, The Lark made a generous donation to the James Beard Foundation. 131 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, 805-284-0370, thelarksb.com
See the story in our digital edition
Living in Ken’s World
SBIFF salutes award-winning actor Ryan Gosling
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 13: Ryan Gosling attends Santa Barbara International Film Festival's Kirk Douglas Award Honoring Ryan Gosling at The Ritz Carlton Bacara on January 13, 2024 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for Santa Barbara International Film Festival)
SBIFF salutes award-winning actor Ryan Gosling
Words by Josef Woodard | Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for Santa Barbara International Film Festival
As Ryan Gosling was lavishly toasted in the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s annual Kirk Douglas Award black tie gala and dinner at the Bacara Resort, his range as an actor was duly praised. The sold-out ballroom was treated to homages and clips from his work so far, from his romcom charm in La La Land and Crazy Stupid Love to the cool grit of Half Nelson, The Place Beyond the Pines, and Drive.
Diversity aside, however, Gosling’s current status is mainly the result of one big-screen moment in 2023: He was Ken.
Gosling’s nuanced and loopy comic performance as Ken in the Greta Gerwig–directed summer blockbuster Barbie brought new accolades to the already respected actor. At the Bacara, Roger Durling, longstanding executive director of SBIFF, introduced the iridescently dressed Gerwig to the stage, saying, “Thanks for unleashing the Ken-ergy. Ryan is pitch-perfect in Barbie.” During her introduction, Gerwig praised the actor. “I had written the part for Ryan,” she said, “and there would be no Barbie if he hadn’t come to be our Ken.”
She also drew a parallel between the screen work of Douglas and Gosling. “My theory about Kirk Douglas and Ryan is that they both commit in such a way to characters in all their beauty and their ugliness, because they are actors and people who believe that redemption is possible.”
The Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film, linked to the late actor and longtime Santa Barbara resident, is a pre-festival part of SBIFF’s programming puzzle as a fundraiser for its robust educational program. Past Bacara-bound recipients include Michelle Yeoh, Martin Scorsese, Hugh Jackman, Quentin Tarantino, and Robert DeNiro.
In an earlier speech, Steve Carrell, who worked with Gosling in Crazy Stupid Love, noted the actor’s kind nature and positive attributes and wryly added, “Why do I hate him? Some people find him moderately handsome. I’m not one of them.” Eventually Carrell admitted Gosling “is smart and intuitive and funny. He’s a joy to be around, and most of all — and this is a big one for me — he’s kind. Santa Barbara, you actually got this one very right.”
In his acceptance speech, Gosling, donning a dark suit and tousled hair, said, “If I knew that Steve and Greta were going to be this great… I would have suggested I open and they close.” Honoring the award’s namesake, he noted that Douglas “is completely and utterly in a class of his own… and I’m just Ken.” After a speech steeped in tales from his cinema-loving upbringing in Canada and his mother’s guidance, Gosling asserted, “There is no way I have contributed half as much to cinema as cinema has given to me.”
Cinema again fully descends on Santa Barbara as SBIFF’s 37th annual festival runs February 7 to 17, in the warm-up zone for the Oscars.
View the Winter issue
Mammoth Mood
When California gets a rare dose of winter chill, a trip up to Mammoth to embrace the ice and snow is just the ticket
Our must-dos at a favorite winter destination
Written by Caitlin White
When California gets a rare dose of winter chill, a trip up to Mammoth to embrace the ice and snow is just the ticket. Alpine cuisine, high-end Italian, and a wine bar with a roaring fireplace are on offer for noshing, and a stay at a charming, historic lodge on the banks of the panoramic Twin Lakes is ideal.
Skadi
This converted ski lodge, which auspiciously opened on the winter solstice back in 1995 but moved to a new location in 2015, is named for the Norse goddess of hunting and skiing. Chef Ian Algerøen is of Norwegian heritage, and Skadi’s alpine cuisine imbues both his Norse culture and time spent cooking in the Swiss Alps into classic French preparations. Offerings include carnivore-leaning items like deer heart, grilled venison sausage, and duck breast with lingonberries, but vegetarian menus are available upon request. No large parties or children; reservations required. The fine wine, port, sake, sherry, and beer are not to be missed, especially while warming up after a day in the snow. skadirestaurant.com
Vulcania
Foodie royalty Michael and Bryan Voltaggia, aka The Voltaggia Brothers, caused quite a stir in the small-but-mighty fine-dining scene on the mountain when they opened their lauded Italian-American kitchen in early 2023. Michael boasts a Michelin star and Bryan has garnered James Beard recognition, so expect nothing but excellence from their exquisite pastas — like their version of SpaghettiOs, dubbed Voltaggi-o’s, with O-shaped anellini pasta, tomato gravy, and one huge meatball. The turkey tetrazzini served with brown butter mushroom gravy and gnocchetti is another standout on a packed menu. vulcaniamammoth.com
Petra’s
The wine bar every ski town deserves, Petra’s is tucked inside Alpenhof Lodge directly across from the Village Gondola. For more than two decades this cozy, rustic bistro has offered up an accessible, substantial wine list; strong, seasonal cocktails; and an impressive array of après-ski snacks, like clams with garlic confit and grilled octopus. petrasbistro.com
Tamarack Lodge
If you’re looking for a place to stay, this lakeside resort is a local favorite with a bevy of amenities for visitors, like cross-country skiing, pool access, and bike and paddle rentals during the summer. Wood-paneled rooms with shared bathrooms are available on the cheap or two- and three-bedroom cabins can sleep up to nine, with California craftsman finishing touches, like modern kitchens, gas fireplaces, and large decks. tamaracklodge.com
Le Ski
The whimsical winter brainchild from genius marketeer Raan Mello
Look for locals layering this (not a surf) brand’s signature slope style in and out of the fresh powder. Herewith, our Mammoth weekend must-haves:
Le Surf founder Raan Mello mixes his high/low casual California-based brand.
Shop at lesurf.club and locally at Mate Gallery, Montecito Country Mart.
View the Winter issue
Creative Collab
Collaboration between creatives can result in magic; the artistic result almost always exceeds the sum of its parts.
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter
Collaboration between creatives can result in magic; the artistic result almost always exceeds the sum of its parts. Now two of Santa Barbara’s most popular arts institutions, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA) and the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara (MCASB), are joining forces to present Janna Ireland: True Story Index, a midcareer survey of the artist’s work on view at both locations February 11 through May 12, 2024.
Based in Los Angeles, Ireland is an assistant professor in Occidental College’s Department of Art and Art History. She is known for her photographs featuring themes of family, home, and Black identity in American culture. Regarding Paul Williams: A Photographer’s View, her acclaimed photographic monograph of buildings designed by legendary Black architect Paul Williams, was published in 2020. Ireland’s work resides in museum collections nationwide, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and SBMA.
The exhibition is co-curated by Charlie Wylie, SBMA Curator of Photography and New Media, and MCASB’s Frederick Janka. sbma.net, mcasantabarbara.org
See the story in our digital edition
Red Carpet Style
Leanna Drammer spent much of her career in the celebrity fashion world, creating red-carpet and runway events in Los Angeles and New York.
Written by Jennifer Blaise Kramer | Photographty by Danielle Honea
Leanna Drammer spent much of her career in the celebrity fashion world, creating red-carpet and runway events in Los Angeles and New York. “I had every job in fashion known to man,” she says, having produced shows for houses including Chanel, Ferragamo, Hermès, and Michael Kors. But the burnout became real, as did the pull to return to her native Santa Ynez Valley. “Last year I did 17 fashion shows in four days, and I told my husband, ‘I quit,’” Drammer says. With the Auberge resort opening up in Los Olivos, she acted fast and nabbed a prime retail spot to debut LOU LOS OLIVOS. “We have so much relaxed casual here, there was a need for elevated fashion,” she says. LOU is stocked with ba&sh, A.L.C., Le Superbe, and Louis Verdad, along with handbags, fragrance, and jewelry. It’s Drammer’s first boutique, and she hopes it’s her last. “I want to be here for the rest of my life,” she says. While she’ll still make quick trips to New York and Paris, she adds, “I want to be going to the shows, not producing them.” 2938 San Marcos Ave., Unit 103, Los Olivos, 805-693-2913, loulosolivos.com
See the story in our digital edition
Smart Art
For lovers of art and architecture, UC SANTA BARBARA’S ART, DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE MUSEUM is a mandatory destination.
Katherine Dunham, 1936, photographer unknown, Jerome Robbins Dance Division, NYPL for the Performing Arts
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter
For lovers of art and architecture, UC SANTA BARBARA’S ART, DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE MUSEUM is a mandatory destination. Helmed by director Gabriel Ritter, the museum offers ambitious exhibitions that provide deep dives into work by architects and artists. From Within: The Architecture of Helena Arahuete (curated by Silvia Perea and on view through December 17) is an in-depth survey and first retrospective of the work of Helena Arahuete, whose long career includes a 23-year tenure with renowned architect John Lautner before establishing her own firm. Please, Come In ... (curated by Sylvia Faichney and Graham Feyl and also on exhibit through December 17), critically examines museum period rooms through four iconic environments (discotheque, dive bar, living room, bathroom) filled with disparate objects and artworks that document and reference queer methods of assigning meaning to those spaces. Border Crossings: Exile and American Modern Dance, 1900–1955 focuses on how modern dance was shaped by war, exile, inequality, and injustice, while challenging previous histories of performance art. (Curated by Ninotchka Bennahum and Rena Heinrich, the exhibit is on view January 25 through May 5.) A Box of One’s Own: Women Beyond Borders showcases a 1991 project entitled “Women Beyond Borders,” which invited women around the world to transform a small wooden box into an art piece. More than 900 people across 50 countries ultimately participated in the project. (Letícia Cobra Lima curated the show, which is on view January 25 through May 5.) 552 University Rd., Santa Barbara, 805-893-2951, museum.ucsb.edu
See the story in our digital edition
Well-Being
During lockdown, when anxiety was spiking because of isolation, Talina Hermann was reaching out on Instagram, calming the community with tips on stillness, breathwork, and even which tea to sip.
Acupuncture is among the holistic treatments
Written by Jennifer Blaise Kramer | Photography by Blue Gabor
During lockdown, when anxiety was spiking because of isolation, Talina Hermann was reaching out on Instagram, calming the community with tips on stillness, breathwork, and even which tea to sip. Her gentle wisdom was a breath of fresh air as her followers listened, wondering what she would tell them next. Little did we know that Hermann was on her own journey to become Dr. Talina Hermann, wrapping up a four-year master’s degree plus a doctorate to launch her MONTECITO WELLNESS CLINIC, which debuted this fall.
Her space, with tranquil rose walls and soft shearling seating, presents an image of serenity. Patients come for in-depth assessments to discover what’s off with their body. They receive a custom treatment protocol, which may involve blood work, acupuncture, breathwork, plant medicine, herbs, supplements, and holistic psychotherapy.
Clients begin with consultations in functional or Chinese medicine; textured wood and rose walls make for a welcome reception.
Plush seats to pamper guests; candlelight, breathwork, and sacred circles are also part of the treatment plans.
“We’re trying to get to the mystery that no one has been able to solve,” Hermann says, adding that most often patients’ issues involve pain, digestion, sleep, menopause, or hormones, as 90 percent of her clientele is female.
“Every time I’m at lunch, dinner, or drinks, the conversation turns back to hormones,” she says. It’s one of the shifts and transitions she’s eager to provide support for to an audience that is eager for additional therapies. “We’re in a new chapter now, and we’re more empowered.”
Poetry adds a touch of soul to the integrated experience.
As she continues to roll out offerings, Hermann will seek more information and answers on cutting-edge practices. “I love what I do, and I’ll probably always be in some kind of training,” she says. The key is to offer a space to help everyone take better care of themselves, wherever they are in their healing journey. “If we can reduce anxiety and reset our nervous systems, our bodies will heal.” 1483 East Valley Rd., Studio 19, Montecito, 805-455-1264, montecitowellnessclinic.com