Issuu

Gents 2026

Welcome to the June “Gentlemen’s” Issue.

It’s hard to believe we’ve already reached the halfway point of the year. Summer has a way of arriving quietly here; longer evenings, familiar routines shifting outdoors, and those small moments that remind you why this place feels different. Mornings turn into beach walks, afternoons stretch a little longer on the patio, and somehow even the simplest plans feel worth slowing down for.

Santa Barbara has always been a destination, but for those who live here, it’s something deeper. It’s a rhythm, a perspective, and in many ways, a lifestyle that feels most alive this time of year.

In this issue, we spend time with a few local breweries that have become part of the fabric of this community. Each has its own identity and setting, but what stands out most is their shared connection to the coast and the people who call it home. There’s a sense of pride in what they’ve built—and a consistency that keeps people coming back.

We also take a look at the work being done at Valhallaw, where attention to detail and discretion matter most. Their story is a reminder that even small missteps can grow into something much larger, and having the right people in your corner makes all the difference when it does.

You’ll also find a feature on Custom Architectural Stone, a company that understands how thoughtful design can completely transform a space. What might begin as a simple material becomes something far more meaningful—a place where people gather, connect, and spend time together, especially during these summer months.

At its core, this issue is about the men who help shape this community. Fathers, mentors, business owners—those who lead by example and invest in the next generation in ways both big and small.

As always, my family and I are grateful to share these stories. Being able to highlight the people and businesses that make this community what it is never gets old. There’s something special about this place, and it’s a privilege to be able to capture even a small part of it each month.

Thank you for being part of it.

June 2026

PUBLISHER

Matt DeMarcus | matt.demarcus@citylifestyle.com

PUBLICATION DIRECTOR

Sara DeMarcus | sara.demarcus@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Lena Ibarra

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Sara DeMarcus, Grace Galloway, Pat & Gina Neely, Matt DeMarcus, Josh Nissan

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Amber Dolyak, Matt DeMarcus, Pat & Gina Neely

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Rachel Kolich

LAYOUT DESIGNER Adam Finley

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle

MATT DEMARCUS, PUBLISHER

WWW.LENABRITTPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

UPCOMING EVENTS

city scene

Photography by @sbmuseart

business monthly

South Coast Deli Now in the Funk Zone

South Coast Deli has opened a new location in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, bringing its well-known sandwiches and casual, quality-driven approach to one of the city’s most active neighborhoods. Long appreciated for fresh ingredients and consistency, the expansion places the local favorite alongside tasting rooms and galleries—an easy stop that fits naturally into the area’s laid-back, coastal rhythm. 205 Santa Barbara Street, 805-979-8488, southcoastdeli.com.

Coyote’s Market: A New Standard for Local Sourcing

Coyote’s Market brings a focused approach to sourcing meat, seafood, and pantry goods from across the Central Coast. Founded by longtime local residents, Peter and Caroline Hernandez, the specialty market emphasizes quality, transparency, and regional partnerships; connecting customers directly to ranchers, fisheries, and makers. With a curated selection of kitchen goods and prepared offerings, the concept reflects a growing demand for thoughtful, locally rooted food sourcing. 4945-A Carpinteria Ave, Carpinteria. hello@coyotesmarket.com. www.coyotesmarket.com.

Sunstone Winery: A Montecito Expansion

Sunstone Winery expands to the South Coast with a new tasting room in Montecito’s Lower Village, bringing its Rhône and Bordeaux varietals closer to Santa Barbara. The Coast Village Road lounge offers wines by the glass, curated flights, and light fare in a refined, day-to-night setting—extending the hospitality of its Santa Ynez Valley estate into a more accessible coastal experience. 1294 Coast Village Rd., Montecito; sunstonewinery.com.

Photography by @sunstonemontecito

Photography by @coyotesmarket

Photography by @southcoastdeli

COASTLINE CLASSIC

ARTICLE BY MATT DEMARCUS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT DEMARCUS & PROVIDED

CLASSIC ROOTS, EASY DRINKING, BUILT FOR THE SANTA BARBARA COAST

There’s something familiar about M. Special Brewing Company, even if it’s your first time walking in. Maybe it’s the simplicity of the beer, or the way the spaces feel immediately comfortable—like they’ve been part of your routine longer than they actually have.

That feeling comes into focus at their Goleta brewery. The layout is open and unpretentious, with enough room for everything to happen at once. Kids move easily between tables, groups settle in without crowding each other, and as the afternoon fades, live music begins to take over. What starts as a quick stop has a way of stretching into the evening.

Downtown Santa Barbara offers a different setting, but the same underlying energy. Just off State Street, the space centers around long communal

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

M. Special Brewing Company offers two distinct settings, each with its own rhythm. The Goleta brewery is spacious and family-friendly, with live music and room to settle in for the afternoon. Downtown Santa Barbara, just off State Street, feels more tucked in—anchored by communal tables and a patio that softens the pace of the surrounding area.

The beer list stays focused, led by the signature American Lager—clean, consistent, and easy to return to.

Sabado Tarde Citrus Ale adds a brighter, locally inspired option. At the downtown location, food from Down Eats rounds out the experience.

Whether planned or spontaneous, both locations offer the same draw: an easy place to land, stay awhile, and come back to.

An easy place to land... and even easier to stay a while.

“ ALL OF OUR BEERS ARE NAMED AFTER OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY OR IN HONOR OF SOMETHING PERSONAL TO US AS A GROUP.”

tables and a patio that feels slightly removed from the pace outside. With food from Down Eats, it becomes an easy place to land—people arrive in passing, find a seat, and settle in without much thought.

That ease is by design. “What drove us to start M. Special was to make a small-batch local American lager,” Co-founder Chris Miller explains. “Ten years ago, that style was dominated by large domestic brands. It’s the beer we all grew up drinking.” Instead of reinventing the wheel, they focused on doing something familiar, just better.

Their flagship M. Special American Lager reflects that mindset. Named after their grandfather’s race car from the 1950s, it ties the brand back to something personal. “This beer really encapsulates our roots,” Chris says. It’s clean, straightforward and consistent—the kind of beer that doesn’t need explaining.

That same thinking carries into Sabado Tarde Citrus Ale, a local favorite with a name that feels right at home on the Central Coast. “All of our beers are named after our local community or in honor of something personal to us as a group,” he explains. It’s a small detail, but one that adds to the sense that everything here is connected.

More than anything, M. Special succeeds because it doesn’t overreach. The beer is approachable. The spaces are welcoming. And the people behind it keep things grounded. “The most satisfying part is employing a great group of people that truly represent what we’re about,” Chris mentions. “It’s a collective effort that everybody involved chips in to create.”

Looking ahead, growth is on the horizon, but it’s measured. New recipes are in development, along with expanded distribution across California. “If we find the right opportunity, we’d consider opening another taproom somewhere on the Central Coast.”

For now, both locations continue to do what they’ve always done best—offering a place where people arrive casually, stay longer than planned, and return without much thought.

Heavy Work

Behind every finished piece is scale, machinery, and the effort it takes to move and shape stone.

ARTICLE BY GRACE GALLOWAY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT DEMARCUS & PROVIDED

The most memorable homes are often defined by what feels elemental. Materials that belong to the landscape, surfaces shaped by time, and spaces grounded in intention define them. There’s a familiar moment many recognize: coming across a remarkable boulder, weathered, sculptural, and unmistakably natural, and wondering how something so raw could find its way into a landscape or a home.

At Custom Architectural Stone, that instinct is part of the daily work. Led by Michele Bandinu, the company transforms monumental pieces of earth into architectural elements that anchor homes, estates, and gathering spaces throughout the West Coast.

Custom Architectural Stone began as a small fabrication shop built to support Custom Hardscapes, Bandinu’s primary long-time business and a leading hardscape provider. “Custom Architectural Stone was really just a convenience shop for my own use,” he explains. One project led to another. A cobblestone driveway required custom samples; an outdoor kitchen entailed a custom stone table and chairs; a garden called for the fabrication of a towering fountain. All of which led him to invest in high-tech stone-cutting tools and equipment to keep up with the growing demand.

Walking through the CAS yard, visitors arrive to discover an evolving landscape of possibilities. Towering slabs delicately organized into rows, their mineral veining exposed to the light. Unique boulders of every size rest nearby, ready to grace estate entrances and gardens, or to be carved into one-of-a-kind works of art. A steady choreography of lifts pivoting, tractors easing forward, and forklifts sliding beneath multi-ton blocks of stone maneuvers these handpicked symbols of earth’s strength and stability.

Inside the fabrication shop, the precision continues—only louder. Bridge saws span across Limestone. Diamond-tipped blades move steadily through dense Sandstone, cooled by a constant stream of water. Amid the sound of cutting and lifting, there is restraint. The aim is not to overpower the stone but to work with it, allowing its natural movement and structure to influence the final form.

“Scale is what people don’t fully understand,” Bandinu says, referring not only to a particular boulder’s size, but to what it takes to bring it into the desired shape. This one will soon sit in front of a revered winery’s front gate, the winery’s name carved cleanly in bold script. “People often underestimate what goes into our work,” he adds. “We’re not just cutting stone. We’re moving it, shaping it with great care, and getting it exactly right.” Nearby, a rugged boulder is cut and honed into a firepit. A thick slab becomes a table that grounds an outdoor terrace. Stone chunks are rounded into spheres and polished until water lifts and rotates them in a peacefully mesmerizing display of balance on a fountain.

It is an industrial, exacting process, with precise measurements and deliberate lines. Surfaces are finished to enhance texture while preserving the integrity of the material. The work demands full commitment. “You can’t do what we do halfway,” Bandinu says. Hence, the extensive machine park enables us to produce unique pieces that fulfill a customer’s vision.

Collaboration remains central to Bandinu’s work. His team partners closely with architects, builders, designers, and skilled tradespeople from the earliest stages, ensuring each element is integrated into the architecture itself.

He’s proud to shape signature spaces, large and small, where strength, scale, nature, and gathering meet. Any home can feel at one with the elements with a custom piece of natural stone. Custom Architectural Stone will continue to leave an impression on every piece of work that leaves the shop.

“People often underestimate what goes into it,” he adds. “It’s not just cutting the stone; it’s moving it, shaping it, and getting it exactly right.”

THE ARCHITECTURE OF HEALTH: daily habits of a Modern Gentleman

Taking care of yourself here doesn’t require intensity. It’s built into the rhythm of the day. Small, steady choices that feel as natural as a morning walk or an evening glass of wine.

MOVE EARLY

There’s something to be said for starting the day with a bit of movement. Not a full workout—just enough to wake up the body. A few push-ups, a short walk, a stretch before coffee. It’s less about effort and more about consistency, setting a tone that carries through the day.

SUPPORT THE HEART

Santa Barbara makes this one easy. Fresh, simple foods—beets, greens, garlic—find their way into meals without much thought. Supporting your health here isn’t about restriction. It’s about choosing well, often without needing to think about it too much.

PAY ATTENTION

Good manners still matter. Holding a door, offering a moment of awareness, making space for others—these aren’t gestures, they’re habits. Around here, they tend to stand out in the best way. Not performative, just considered.

WHY IT MATTERS

A gentleman’s routine doesn’t need to be complicated. It’s built on small decisions made daily—how you move, how you take care of yourself, and how you show up for the people around you.

It’s often the smallest habits—done consistently—that shape how a man carries himself, day after day.

ARTICLE BY JOSH NISSAN

with CHEERS BEERS

Topa Topa’s Disciplined Approach to Craft Brewing

ARTICLE BY MATT DEMARCUS

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

There’s a discipline to brewing that most people never see. It’s not just creativity or instinct, it’s restraint. Knowing when something is ready, when it isn’t, and having the patience to live with both outcomes. At Topa Topa Brewing Company, that mindset has shaped everything from the first batch to what’s coming next.

For co-founder Casey Harris, the idea started with a gap. Growing up on the Central Coast, wine dominated the conversation. Beer was there, but rarely with the same level of intention. “I was always the one asking, ‘But what about beer?’” he says. That question followed him to San Diego, where brewing culture is deeply rooted. “I wanted to bring that same commitment to quality and craftsmanship home.”

From the beginning, Topa Topa set a high internal bar. Every beer has been brewed at full production scale from day one, a rarity in the industry. There’s no testing phase or gradual rollout. If it goes out, it goes out fully formed. That approach demands precision and accountability, and shapes how the team works. If a beer can’t get most of the way there on the first attempt, it isn’t ready.

That discipline has carried through the company’s growth. While others chase trends, Topa Topa has stayed

focused on consistency and product quality, building its reputation over time. Even in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, the philosophy holds. Let the beer speak first.

Still, the impact goes beyond what’s in the glass. “It’s never lost on me that we get to be part of so many life moments for people,” Harris says. “Not just the celebrations, but the harder moments too. That matters just as much.”

That perspective is shared by co-founder Jack Dyer, whose long-standing mantra reflects the culture they’ve built: “We love what we do, and we’re lucky for doing it.”

Looking ahead, the team is preparing to introduce a pilot system for the first time, opening the door to smaller, more experimental releases. “I’m excited to finally push the envelope in ways we haven’t been able to at scale,” Harris says.

It’s a natural next step. The same discipline remains, now with more room to explore.

AN EXCERPT FROM EPISODE 6 OF SHARE THE LIFESTYLE, A CITY LIFESTYLE PODCAST

Photographer: Brittany Dawn Short

Creative Director: Jen Birn

Stylist: Stephanie Coultress O’Neill

Location: Hotel Saint Cecilia, Austin, TX

MIKE JOHNSON HAS BUILT HIS LIFE AROUND ONE QUIETLY RADICAL IDEA: THE STANDARD YOU SET PRIVATELY IS THE ONLY ONE THAT MATTERS.

After eight years in the Air Force, a celebrated run on national television, and a health crisis abroad that sent him deep into supply chains and ingredient certifications most founders never touch, the result is Oshun — a luxury ritual brand built on provenance you can trace and integrity you can verify. In an exclusive conversation for the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Mike shares what it actually takes to build something worth putting your name on. Read the highlights below, then scan the QR code for the full episode.

Q: YOU BECAME A FAN FAVORITE ON THE BACHELORETTE AND THEN LEFT THE SPOTLIGHT. YOU MOVED TO MEXICO, LEARNED SPANISH, THEN COSTA RICA, AND BUILT A COMPANY. WHAT DID THAT EXPERIENCE TEACH YOU ABOUT HUMAN BEHAVIOR?

A: “If you’re a good person going in, that shows. If you’re not, that shows too. I also learned that people form this parasocial relationship with you — they assume things about you. When all actuality, different circumstances bring out different parts of who you are. I was on TV trying to find love. The kindness people were showing after felt a bit fake, because they wanted to be a part of something that isn’t who I am individually, but a part of what they saw on TV. And so I had to get away from everybody and everything and the noise.”

THE QUIET STANDARD:

MIKE JOHNSON

“Too many people have prayed for me. So I’ve got to get up and do the walking.”

— Mike Johnson

Q: YOU JOINED THE AIR FORCE RIGHT OUT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE. WHAT WERE YOU ACTUALLY RUNNING TOWARD?

A: “There was something in me that was saying: I’m not living up to my full potential. I was being a follower. My uncle said, ‘What’s going to make you become an adult the fastest?’ I said, obviously, the military. The Air Force broadened my thought process more than anything. We’re so caught up in our own perception — when you learn to understand different people’s perspectives, it adds to you in so many ways.”

Q: WITH OSHUN, YOU OWN YOUR MANUFACTURING, YOU EMPLOY A CHEMIST, EVERY PRODUCT HAS A BATCH NUMBER TRACEABLE TO ITS ORIGIN DATE. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GO THAT DEEP WITH THE BRAND?

A: “The EU bans 1,100 ingredients in personal care products. The U.S. bans nine. That’s my starting point. Oftentimes, it might be the same ingredient, but it comes from a place where it doesn’t have the highest purity. And 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed. Every product Oshun makes carries a batch number that goes back to the exact day it was created — I can show you every single supplier, the date, the origin. I own more than one part of the supply chain because that’s the only way I can stand behind what’s in the bottle.”

This conversation is just the beginning. Mike goes deeper into why he’s buying land up north, the family in the Philippines who prayed over his factory floor, and what he’d tell every person ready to stop performing and start building. Scan the QR code for the full, exclusive City Lifestyle interview on the Share the Lifestyle podcast.

MIKE JOHNSON

Swap Your Electric Bill for a New Roof + Solar

One Monthly Payment. Dual Upgrade. Major Savings.

Instead of wasting money on rising electric bills, you can replace it with a single predictable payment that covers a brand-new roof AND a custom solar system—all through SolaRoof by August Roofing.

9 No More Utility Surprises

9 Get a New Roof + Solar in One Easy Package

9 30% Federal Solar Tax Credit – Act Before It Changes! Why Now?

A federal bill could slash or eliminate the 30% solar tax credit starting January 1. With Santa Barbara’s lengthy permitting process, now’s the time to lock in your savings.

9 Take control of your energy.

9 Upgrade your home.

9 Pay less over time.

Santa Barbara is Behind You

Sponsored By

Photo courtesy of UC Regents Jeff Liang

Judgment Calls [mis]

IN A PLACE WHERE VISIBILITY MATTERS, A SINGLE MOMENT CAN CARRY FURTHER... AND FASTER... THAN MOST EXPECT.

ARTICLE BY SARA DEMARCUS PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMBER DOLYAK

Conversations carry easily over morning coffee; familiar faces, familiar names, a quiet rhythm to who’s who. In Santa Barbara, connection is rarely more than one degree removed. Which means when something unexpected happens, whether it’s a moment that didn’t go as planned or a situation that unfolds quickly, it rarely stays private. It becomes visible.

That’s the reality Valhallaw works inside every day.

Led by Managing Attorney Billy Redell, alongside Chief of Legal Operations Zak Kaslow and Chief of Client Operations Brent Clay, the firm focuses on guiding clients through complex legal situations, often when a single moment requires thoughtful decisions and a clear path

“IN A PLACE LIKE SANTA BARBARA, PERCEPTION AND CONSEQUENCE TEND TO UNFOLD TOGETHER.”

forward. In a community this connected, those moments can extend beyond the immediate, influencing professional, financial, and personal aspects of daily life.

Their ties to the region run deep, built over decades of relationships and lived experience within the community. In many cases, the people they represent are part of an already familiar network—neighbors, colleagues, or connections just a step removed. “In a place like this, people are often just as aware of perception as they are of consequences,” Clay notes.

It’s one of the reasons situations are frequently underestimated at the outset.

After an unexpected situation, it’s common to minimize the impact; something that feels manageable in the moment rarely seems urgent. But over time, those initial signs can begin to affect routines, work obligations, and overall quality of life in ways that aren’t always immediate.

What surprises many clients isn’t the existence of support, it’s how quickly those options depend on timing. Early

attention and documentation can shape what’s possible, while delays quietly limit outcomes. In many cases, systems are already in place to support these situations; the challenge is understanding how to access them early, before assumptions take hold.

Evenings here tend to stretch into long conversations and time spent with friends, at a pace that doesn’t feel rushed. Most people understand their limits, but situations can shift more quickly than expected, often without much notice. What Valhallaw encounters most often isn’t recklessness, but misjudgment—followed by a need to understand what comes next and how to move forward.

That early window is often where clarity matters most. Before assumptions settle in or options begin to narrow, the ability to understand what’s happening can shape what comes next. In a city where reputation and continuity carry weight, that clarity allows people to move forward with a stronger sense of control and confidence.

JUNE 2ND

Lord Huron at the Santa Barbara Bowl

Santa Barbara Bowl | 7:00 PM

Indie-folk band Lord Huron brings its cinematic, story-driven sound to the Santa Barbara Bowl on June 2. Known for layered melodies and immersive live shows, the Los Angeles-based group is a natural fit for the open-air venue, where hillside views and coastal light shape the experience as much as the music itself.

JUNE 6TH

World Oceans Day at the Sea Center

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center | 10:00 AM

The Sea Center on Stearns Wharf opens its doors free of charge on June 6 in recognition of World Oceans Day. Visitors explore interactive exhibits, meet marine life native to the Santa Barbara Channel, and engage with local conservation groups working along the coast. The event offers a rare, accessible entry into one of the city’s most immersive waterfront institutions.

JUNE 6TH

Be Our Guest on Ice

Ice in Paradise | 6:30 PM