Santa Barbara Coast, CA August 2024 by City Lifestyle

Celebrating 100 Years of Fiesta 1924-2024

CUSTOM FURNITURE

1385 Plaza Pacifica, Montecito CA

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Meet Lisa Foley

Lisa Foley is known for her attention to detail and powerful negotiating skills. Offering comprehensive real estate services to both buyers and sellers, Lisa always works to go above and beyond her client’s expectations. Her name is synonymous with quality and investment value. Equipped with the long view, Lisa sees the potential of each property. She tirelessly guides her clients in their decision-making process with humor and integrity.

“It has been such a pleasure working with Lisa Foley these past few weeks on the sale of our home. From our first meeting, we could tell Lisa placed our interest as her priority. She asked pertinent questions in order to get a better understanding of what we anticipated. She clearly analyzed the market and was very accurate in doing so. Lisa was willing to go the extra mile in every detail, and we are so appreciative. The process was smooth and speedy, over before we knew it and we are very grateful for her knowledge and integrity.”

- Lynne M. Tahmisian

Slowing Down Santa Barbara

Is it just me, or is time going faster?

August in Santa Barbara means a special sort of slowing down. Things move slower as the temperatures rise. In August, we Fiesta and we siesta. We eat delicious food and spend time at the beach, and life seems to slow down before we start the race to the end of the year.

I’m slowing down, trying to be more thoughtful and intentional about my time, the events I attend, the businesses I patronize, and the relationships I foster. This slowing down is the intention behind Santa Barbara Coast. I want to dive deeper than before and savor the special things I’ve let pass me by in the last thirty years I’ve spent in Santa Barbara.

Here, we commemorate 100 years of Old Spanish Days Fiesta. Time. Flies. It seemed fitting that we bring you our first issue, dedicated to the last 100 years of a summer celebration that brings culture, beauty, and history to our shoreline. Each month, you will find tributes to community events, a calendar to curate your month, and stories that tell what makes our home so special.

I hope you will use this magazine, our website, the newsletters and Instagram to create a life of joy in this paradise we call home. I can’t wait to hear your stories and bring them to life. Thank you to my community and supporters who have helped bring this vision to reality. I look forward to being here for you. -Melissa

Special Acknowledgements: Thank you to Dacia Harwood and Emily Alessio for allowing us to shoot our cover at the fabulous Santa Barbara Historical Museum. Special thanks to Missy Pulido, and creatives Emily Merrill, Rachel Stojanovski, and Samantha Durbin. Thank you Chad Jeffry and Julia Martin. Finally, it is with heartfelt gratitude that I want to thank my dearest clan of family and friends who supported me personally while I worked to bring this publication to life. Thank you to the Jordanos, Fiores, Wrights, Kisers, McLaughlins, Campbells, Trebows, Meyers-Pierces, Pedrazzinis, my Boys, and Chloe.

My deepest thank you is for JJ who supports my creativity and inspires me to live fearlessly.

MELISSA PEDRAZZINI,

August 2024

PUBLISHER

Melissa Pedrazzini | melissa.pedrazzini@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Samantha Durbin | samantha.durbin@citylifestyle.com

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Hope Lomelino

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Rachel Stojanovski

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Jamie Knee

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Emily Merrill, Sara Prince, Emma Spencer, Veronica Slavin, Christian Lee, Michelle Lauren

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe

LAYOUT DESIGNER Adam Finley

$5,375,000

2 9 0 S h e f f i e l d | M O N T E C I T O $10,475,000

city scene

WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN

Director of Guest Experience Kim Zsembik at opening night of Butterflies Alive! at the SB Museum of Natural History. 2: Incredible creatures up close. 3: The perfect place for summer wonderment in Santa Barbara. 4: Opening night at Butterflies Alive! 5: Team Folded Hills played a great Father’s Day match at the SB Polo Fields 6: Folded Hills USPA Intra-Circuit Father’s Day match. Winners Klentner Ranch. 7: Ivy Moliver of Ivy Cove Luxury Leather Goods & Accessories and Sarah Kohn.

@MICHELLELAURENPHOTOGRAPHY

SB MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY @SBNATURE

@MICHELLELAURENPHOTOGRAPHY

EMMA SPENCER - ESM CREATIVE STUDIO

SB MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY @SBNATURE

@MICHELLELAURENPHOTOGRAPHY

SB MUSEUM OF

8: Rincon Classic Youth Division Winners Vela Mattive, Joey Penueta, Maddox Keet, & Jak Ziets 9: Kim Robinson, Grayson Nance, James O’Mahoney, Kirk Putnam, Marc Andreini at SB Surf Film Festival 10: Heal the Ocean’s Operations Manager Jasmin Tupy & Policy Analyst Noah Boland with current projects. 11: Lauren Yater, Roger Nance, Grayson Nance honoring Renny Yater with the Lifetime Achievement Award. 12: Dr. Richard Beswick and Tammy Johnson at the SB Juneteenth Block Party. 13: Adrianne McDonald, Co-founder Jordan Killebrew & Maile Schooner at the Juneteenth Celebration. 14: Juneteenth local artist Reyna Harris and family.

VERONICA SLAVIN ON BEHALF OF SANTA BARBARA FOUNDATION

SB SURF FILM FESTIVAL

VERONICA SLAVIN ON BEHALF OF SANTA BARBARA FOUNDATION

Melissa Pedrazzini SANTA BARBARA COAST CITY LIFESTYLE PUBLISHER

August Roofing and Solar www.augustroofing.com

Caldwell Snyder Gallery www.caldwellsnyder.com

Central Coast Home Health www.centralcoasthomehealth.com

Chris Palme - SB Riviera Homes www.sbrivierahomes.com

Coastal Chevrolet www.coastalchevysb.com

Gary Goldberg- Coastal Properties www.coastalrealty.com

Detox Depot www.detoxdepots.com

Dylan Star www.dylanstar.com

E-Bikery www.e-bikery.com

Emily Merrill www.emilymerrill.com

ESM Creative Studios www.esmcreativestudios.com

Flamenco Arts Festival www.flamencoarts.org

Happy Vizuals www.Happyvizuals.com

Lisa Foley - Goodwin & Thyne www.gtprop.com/lisa-foley.com

Keefrider Furniture www.keefridersb.com

Montecito Med Spa www.montecitomedspa.com

Mutual of Omaha www.mutualreverse.com/lo/eric-miller

Nate Alker - Hollister Ranch Properties www.hollisterranch.properties

Providence School Santa Barbara www.providencesb.org

Santa Barbara Longevity www.santabarbaralongevitycenter.com

Shattered Paradigm www.shatteredparadigmrecords.com

Santa Barbara Tennis Patrons www.sbtennispatrons.com/

business monthly

A ROUNDUP OF NEWS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES

Mujeres Fiesta Market - August 3 + 4

Explore over 60 vendors, hosted workshops, and enjoy activities for kids! As always, it’s free, family-friendly, and leashed fur pals are welcome!

El Presidio de Santa Bárbara

123 E. Canon Perdido St 10 am - 4 pm

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Santa Barbara Longevity - Culinary Medicine: Healthy Hormones

The cornerstone of healthy living is centered around what we eat and how we prepare it. August 17th Dr. Leslie Valle hosts a new culinary workshop centered around balancing hormones. Dr. Valle uses local ingredients to show people how to prepare simple meals to maintain hormone levels naturally.

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Santa Barbara Coastal Moments SB Maritime Museum - Until August 18

SBMM is pleased to announce the opening of its latest exhibition Coastal Moments, a presentation of 10 local plein air artists and their works incorporating coastal landscapes and ocean themes. The exhibit kindles a sense of calm, serenity, and meditation while celebrating the awe-inspiring beauty of the world’s coastline. Featured artists include Ann Shelton Beth, Nancy Davidson, Camile Dellar, Rick Garcia, Derek Harrison, Wyllis Heaton, Ray Hunter, Ann Sanders, Thomas Van Stein, and Ralph Waterhouse.

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Photography by SB Maritime Museum

The Canary’s Summer Soiree Pop-Up August 1st

Enjoy First Thursdays at the Kimpton Canary with their Summer Soiree Pop-up Market Series, continuing every first Thursday of the month until September, showcasing local vendors and artists’ talented work! The market will have art pieces available for purchase, beats from DJ Dansauce, delicious $2 oysters, plus extended happy hour from 4-7pm, making this a memorable, buzzing night.

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Unveil a Modern Sanctuary of Elegance in Montecito

Set on 1.3 acres and located in the Montecito Union School District, this turnkey villa epitomizes elegant Spanish/Mediterranean living. The 5-bedroom home features ensuite bathrooms, soaring ceilings, Italian tiles, abundant natural light, and picturesque views from every vantage point. Amenities encompass an ozone pool, a home theatre, 800-bottle wine cellar, and versatile garages. The property also offers a bountiful orchard and proximity to hiking trails and the beach.

290 Sheffield Drive, Montecito, CA 93108 $10,475,000 Scan to read more

Photography by The Canary

the CITY LIST

We have such amazing, innovative business leaders in our community who are proud to serve you, our residents, with class and quality. We’ve compiled some of our top company picks for the services that might be on your mind this month in an effort to make your lives a little easier.

Children’s Store

Beach Baby Kids Boutique beachbabykidsboutique.com | 805.869.2488

The Nurture Cottage nurturecottagemontecito.com | 805.722.0334

Chicken Little chickenlittlekids.com | 805.962.7771

Asher Market ashermarket.com | 805.364.2008

Poppy Marché poppystores.com | 805.845.4026

Private School

Providence School (Preschool – Grade 6) providencesb.org | 805.962.3091

Crane Country Day School craneschool.org | 805.969.7732

Laguna Blanca School lagunablanca.org | 805.687.2461

Want to suggest a monthly pick?

The Riviera Ridge School rivieraridge.org | 805.569.1811

Bishop Garcia Diego High School bishopdiego.org | 805.967.1266

Tutoring Center

Santa Barbara Tutoring, LLC sbtutoring.com | 805.973.7463

Leading Edge Tutors leadingedgetutors.com

California Learning Center Santa Barbara clcsb.com | 805.563.1579

WisePath College Consulting wisepathcollegeconsulting.com | 805.455.1366

On Point Tutors onpointtutors.com | 805.364.2412

Preschool

Providence School (Preschool – Grade 6) providencesb.org | 805.962.3091

Montessori Center School of Santa Barbara mcssb.org | 805.683.9383

Starr King Parent-Child Workshop starrking-pcw.org | 805.966.1325

Little Angels Preschool littleangelspreschool.com | 805.563.0884

Sunrise Montessori School sunrisemontessorischool.com | 805.560.0855

Kid’s Activity

Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara - Goleta Valley Center girlsincsb.org | 805.963.4757

Santa Barbara Rock Gym sbrockgym.com | 805.770.3225

Santa Barbara Trapeze Co sbtrapeze.com | 805.515.4035

iSurf isurfschool.com | 805.699.5371

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History sbnature.org | 805.682.471

100 YEARS OF OLD SPANISH DAYS FIESTA

Viva El Centenario

El Desfile Histórico, c. 1935

Collection Santa Barbara Historical Museum

Covarrubias Adobe Courtyard, c. 1933

Collection Santa Barbara Historical Museum

ARTICLE BY SAMANTHA DURBIN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY MERRILL

A homecoming for residents and hospitality for guests, Fiesta has always celebrated Santa Barbara.

There’s a saying: the four seasons of Santa Barbara are flood, fire, fog, and Fiesta. Our annual summer celebration, Old Spanish Days Fiesta, turns 100 this year. The community is going big, kicking off events earlier in the year with happenings rooted in the traditions of historical Santa Barbara. This first issue of Santa Barbara Coast is dedicated to the rich heritage of Santa Barbara’s beloved Old Spanish Days Fiesta. Read on to learn about the beginnings, the Spirits, and this year’s can’t-miss events.

1924

Fiesta was born out of two ideas. The first was business owners wanting to bring more visitors into Santa Barbara during the historically sleepy summer. At the beginning of the 20th century, tourists visited Santa Barbara more in winter to escape colder climes.

The second motivator was the reopening of the Lobero Theatre. The Community Arts Association bought the theater in 1922. It had been condemned and unused after ownership by the founder, Jose (Guiseppe) Lobero. The CAA remodeled the building under the plans of architect and painter George Washington Smith, who popularized the Spanish Colonial Revival style in the area.

What started as plans for a parade became a weeklong community event, including a rodeo, family activities, and aquatic, athletic, and musical events. A gala celebration at the Lobero theater, pulsing with Spanish dancing, kicked off the week.

According to Old Spanish Days, the Mayor at the time, Charles M. Andera, declared fiesta week “one of festival and gaiety, during which period, which

shall be known as ‘Old Spanish Days,’ the spirit of old Santa Barbara shall be lived again and again, and the new Santa Barbara shall give way to the traditions of the city’s founders.”

A homecoming for residents and hospitality for guests, Fiesta has always celebrated Santa Barbara.

THE SPIRITS

Meet our cover stars: this year’s Spirit, 16-year-old Georgey Taupin, and Junior Spirit, 9-year-old Aleenah Soriano. Representing the charm and beauty of Fiesta, Georgey and Aleenah are ambassadors throughout this year’s centennial celebrations. Graceful and energetic, these girls are enchanting. You can witness their magic when they appear and perform at numerous events, including La Fiesta Pequeña (Little Fiesta) at the Mission, the parades, and Noches de Ronda, the free performances at the sunken gardens inside the Santa Barbara County Courthouse.

Georgey attends Oaks Christian Online school and enjoys singing and instructing a younger class of flamencas at Zermeño Dance Academy in Goleta. With a passion for musical theater, she explores other dance styles and loves the teamwork and camaraderie of performing live. A budding entrepreneur, she also owns her own cookie business.

Aleenah is a student at Roosevelt Elementary, where her favorite subjects are music and art. She has expressed herself creatively since she started dancing flamenco when she was two. She enjoys cooking, baking, gaming, and hanging out with her family and friends. Performing at retirement homes is one of her favorite pastimes because it makes people happy.

Poise and elegance. Determination and dedication. Spirits represent the whole community and all dance styles. “ ”

Pequena Dancers Practicing-1939-Old Mission Santa Barbara Archives

1949 Emcee of Pequena- Old Mission Santa Barbara Archives

The tradition of the Fiesta Spirit started in 1949. The first Junior Spirit was chosen in 1965 to show the different youthful phases of the area’s aspiring talents. Primarily awarded to females, Jack Harwood was the first male Spirit crowned last year. This year’s auditions performed to a sold-out crowd at the Lobero Theatre in April—a total of 25 finalists who’ve spent years learning and practicing the art of flamenco.

Like Fiesta, Spirits have evolved while remaining a tradition. Missy Pulido, former Spirit ‘89, explains, “Poise and elegance. Determination and dedication. Spirits represent the whole community and all dance styles. The dance is more advanced now than when I was Spirit. Technique is different. It’s more studied; these dancers learn from artists around the world.”

2024

While Fiesta events began this spring, the community festivities are in full bloom from July 31 to August 4. The Santa Barbara Historical Museum’s annual “Project Fiesta!” exhibition. The Santa Barbara Courthouse offers free Fiesta tours. Flor y Canto, where acoustic instruments accompany original Spanish California dances and songs of the 19th century. The horse show and rodeo. The parade, and the children’s parade, El Desfile de los Niños. Don’t miss the Mercados for the most authentic Fiesta flavors: El Mercado De La Guerra, El Mercado De La Playa, Our Lady of Guadalupe Mercado, and the Fiesta Arts and Crafts Show along Cabrillo Boulevard.

This year will be a Fiesta for the ages.

2024 Spirits at the SB Historical Museum

(L: Aleenah Soriano, R: Georgey Taupin)

SPARKLING summer SANTA BARBARA

Sip coastal elegance with Santa Barbara’s Petite Wine Traveler™

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY

JAMIE KNEE

As a Santa Barbara wine expert, I love summertime for sparkling wines. The region’s cool climate is perfect for grapes, with sunny days and ocean breezes yielding vibrant, crisp flavors. From bone-dry bruts to lush rosés, there’s a sparkler for every palate, making them perfect for seaside picnics, backyard BBQs, and simply celebrating beautiful Santa Barbara. Cheers! @petitewinetraveler

The Hilt Sparkling Wine of Chardonnay & Pinot

La Lieff Sparkling Rosé of Grenache

Flying Goat Bubbles Brut Cuvée, Pinot Noir

Author Jamie Knee on Miramar Beach

Riverbench Blanc de Blancs Sparkling of Chardonnay

Vintage Fiesta

ARTICLE BY SAMANTHA DURBIN PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PETER JORDANO

Art and photography of Old Spanish Days through time

Old Spanish Days Parade Float Circa 1941

Browse the walls of Harry’s Plaza Cafe, where over 1,500 vintage photographs tell ancestral stories. Just ask, and you’ll learn that many locals have gathered various memorabilia, from Fiesta pins to vintage postcards.

Peter Jordano of Jordano’s Foodservice is an avid collector of vintage Santa Barbara postcards. He’s preserved them in large old-school photo albums, amounting to over 12,000 images. From Cabrillo Boulevard, dotted with vintage cars, to El Paseo restaurant, where locals in suits and hats watch a Fiesta flamenco show, flipping through the photos transports you to a simpler time in sepia tones. These places are familiar, yet distant.

Peppering the walls of restaurants and homes locally and beyond, Fiesta’s colorful posters are collector’s items. Traditionally, Fiesta’s El Presidente works with an artist, explaining their vision for the poster. El Presidente 2024 Brian Schwabecher and local artist Holli Harmon created this year’s centennial poster.

Titled “Four Nations, One Spirit” with the Mission and the mountains in the background, a flamenco dancer poses on a patch of fire, four figures circling her, dancing and vibrating. The four nations are Santa Barbara’s inhabitants: the first Chumash, followed by the earliest colonizers from Spain, then Mexico and the US.

On Old Spanish Days Fiesta’s website, Harmon explains, “I chose a traditional painting style to portray our collective memoirs, inviting us to partake in the joy of a shared heritage. Between the layers of nostalgia lies the true strength of Fiesta. It is a testament to our cultural vibrancy.”

Courthouse Sunken Garden Festivities Circa 1940

Old Spanish Days Parade 1935

ESM CREATIVE STUDIO

ARTICLE BY MELISSA PEDRAZZINI

insurance crisis COVERING CALIFORNIA: SANTA BARBARA’S

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

If fires and floods weren’t enough for Santa Barbara homeowners to handle, we’ve been hit by a new challenge; the cancellation of close to 6,000 policies between Goleta and Carpinteria by State Farm. Homeowners that haven’t been hit with a cancellation have seen their policies increase exponentially.

Farmer’s Insurance informed local Sotheby’s Real Estate Agent Chris Palme last fall that his policy would be increasing from $2,000 a year to $9, 500. Chris explains, “After experiencing a series

“California’s Fair Plan should be an insurer’s last resort. It can be an effective tool when done properly. However, based on my experience up to 90% of the policies were not set up properly.”

of emotions ranging from disbelief to infuriation, I called my long-time insurance agent who informed me that there was little I could do other than hope things improve before the next renewal in a year.”

Chris leaned on his local connections and was given two potential leads, USAA for anyone with a military affiliation or family connection or AAA. Eligibility for USAA is for members, spouses and children of current members and can represent massive savings in the current insurance market. AAA ended up becoming Chris’ new insurer, matching the previous rate he had with Farmers.

There is a lot of talk about how we protect our community moving forward. At a recent Sotheby’s event, Robert Feldman gave a presentation about how his company WOWS insurance services is reimagining covering California. He believes that it is possible to reengineer how homeowner’s insurance is managed and how neighborhoods are covered. His plan uses cutting edge analytic technology in high-risk areas to map and spread the risk so that one or two companies aren’t sustaining all of the massive losses. His products are designed to help homeowners in high-risk areas obtain great coverage that keep costs down and can even be fully transferable upon the sale of the home.

Robert states, “California’s Fair Plan should be an insurer’s last resort. It can be an effective tool when done properly. However, based on my experience up to 90% of the policies were not set up properly.” He advises consumers in the short term to shop the market, work with a trained insurance expert and determine if they qualify for the California Fair Plan.

spicy SANTA BARBARA mezcal margarita

Fugeo y Humo (Fire & Smoke) Mezcal is the Santa Barbara imagined and Oaxaca-born mezcal by Elliott and Karen Resse. They produce three varieties: Espadin, Wild Tepezate, and Wild Tobala. Find your favorite at these local shops: @thebottleshopliquors Montecito, @winegrotto Montecito, @mesaliquor Mesa, @sandpiperliquor Summerland, @angelos_liquor Goleta. @fuegoyhumo_mezcal

A balanced, smoky mezcal can be the perfect complement to a spicy margarita. We love pairing local citrus with Fuego y Humo Mezcal, an artisan crafted brand meant for sipping. Here’s a new way to elevate your traditional margarita.

• 2 oz. of Espadin Fuego y Humo Mezcal

• 1 oz. of fresh lime juice

• .5 oz. orange liqueur Triple Sec, Cointreau, or Curaçao

• 1 slice of fresh jalapeno

• .75 oz. of agave or homemade honey syrup (1:1 honey and hot water)

• Add ice in shaker. Cover. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Pour through strainer into salt or Tajin rimmed glasses. Viva La!

ARTICLE BY MELISSA PEDRAZZINI | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTIAN LEE

Fuego!