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Sep282023
CRISTAL’S PICKS: SANTA BARBARA EVENTS IN OCTOBER, 2023
The Spooky Season is Here!!!
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Sep182023
ARCHITECTOURS 2023: PRESENTED BY THE AMERICAN INSITUTE OF ARCHITECTS SANTA BARBARA
Explore Some of the Architectural Treasures That Define Santa Barbara
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Sep142023
THE LAND TRUST FOR SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Preserving Paradise
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Sep112023
THE OUTSTANDING SANTA BARBARA CULINARY SCENE
A Gastronomic Journey Exploring Some of the City's Best-loved Restaurants
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Sep72023
A TRIBUTE TO SBMA DIRECTOR AND CEO LARRY J. FEINBERG
Celebrating a Santa Barbara Cultural Leader
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Aug172023
THE 2023 SANTA BARBARA HALF MARATHON, 5K RUN, AND KIDS FUN RUN
Run, Explore, and Celebrate on the Iconic Streets of Santa Barbara This November
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Aug72023
CELEBRATING THE LEGACY OF DAVID CROSBY IN SANTA BARBARA
A Tribute Concert at the Lobero Theater
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Aug32023
THOMAS KELLER: FROM MICHELIN STARS TO MONTECITO
The Renowned Chef Brings His Star-making Culinary Magic to the Coral Casino
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Jul272023
THINGS TO DO IN SANTA BARBARA: CRISTAL’S PICKS FOR AUGUST 2023
Celebrate the Not-So Lazy Days of Summer
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Jul312023
EXPLORING THE ENCHANTING SANTA BARBARA ARTS DISTRICT
There is something for every taste along this delightful section of State Street
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Jul132023
CRISTAL’S PICKS FOR THE BEST BREAKFAST IN SANTA BARBARA
Because Breakfast is the Foundation of a Successful Day
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Jul62023
THE PROJECT FOR RESILIENT COMMUNITIES
Preparing Santa Barbara County For The Next Debris Flow
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Jun42023
UNVEILING THE BARBAKOW FAMILY CENTER FOR FILM STUDIES
Empowering Creativity and Learning in Santa Barbara
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Jun12023
SPOTLIGHT ON SANTA BARBARA CHANNELKEEPER
Protecting the Ecological Integrity of the Santa Barbara Channel and Its Surrounding Watersheds
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May222023
UNITED WAY OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY: CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF SERVICE
Honoring a Century of Local Empowerment
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Mar302023
4 STUNNING WATERFALLS IN SANTA BARBARA
Where to Find These Unexpected Hidden Treasures
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Mar32023
SBFSC: FREE FIRE PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOPS AND HOME ASSESSMENTS
The Fire Safe Council of Santa Barbara County is Offering Homeowners Vital No-cost Information
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Feb272023
THE WONDERS OF SELF CARE, SANTA BARBARA STYLE
The Best Ways to Indulge in Wellness
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Feb62023
LOOK! IT’S SANTA BARBARA WILDLIFE
Antelope, Birds, Seals, and More
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Feb22023
SANTA BARBARA WILDLIFE CARE NETWORK: CREATING A PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE
Plus, 12 Ways Santa Barbara Homeowners Can Help
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Jan202023
WINE TASTING ROOMS IN BUELLTON?
The Santa Ynez Valley Hamlet Transitions From Pea Soup to a Posh Pastime
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Jan162023
SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ART’S RIDLEY-TREE EDUCATION CENTER
Integrating Art into People’s Lives Thanks to Two Visionary Women
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Jan42023
SPOTLIGHT ON THE MONTECITO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Fostering the Spirit of Montecito for More Than 50 Years
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Dec52022
GIVING TUESDAY: NOT JUST A ONE DAY EVENT
Support Local and Give Back to Our Community
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Nov152022
HOLIDAY GIVING: GIFT-WORTHY NON-PROFITS IN SANTA BARBARA
These Non-profits, and Many More Deserve Your Support
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Oct42022
SANTA BARBARA HAUNTINGS
Local Spooky Attractions and Ghost Tours
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Sep302022
SANTA BARBARA’S ARLINGTON THEATER
The Tragic History of the Architectural Wonder
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Jul272022
THINGS TO DO IN MONTECITO: A STYLISH SUMMER PRIMER
Summer takes on a sophisticated vibe when considering things to do in Montecito, where stunning natural beauty is complemented by spectacular residential architecture, chic shops and distinctive dining. It's no wonder well-known celebrities and major powerbrokers who could live anywhere in the world call this tucked-away seaside haven home.
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Jul202022
WHALE WATCHING IN SANTA BARBARA
Hop aboard a whale-watching vessel and experience an up-close and personal connection with the largest mammals on earth. The Santa Barbara Channel is one of the best places in the world for spotting whales due to our nutrient-rich water. And we’re not only talking about whales here. Spotting dolphins is a daily occurrence, along with porpoises and other amazing creatures.
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Jul182022
A GUIDE TO SANTA BARBARA SUMMER CAMPS
Attending one of the Santa Barbara summer camps can be life-changing for children, especially when it comes to making new friends, learning new things, and exploring the great outdoors. Here in our communities, there are more than 150 summer camps to choose from where kids can unplug while learning about teamwork and independence.
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Jul132022
THINGS TO DO IN SANTA BARBARA THIS SUMMER
Ahhh, summer fun in Santa Barbara. Summer means kayaking along our beautiful coast, taking an early morning hike in the Santa Ynez Mountains or an afternoon bike ride along the beach
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Jun42022
SANTA BARBARA ARCHITECTURE WALKING TOURS
Without a doubt, Santa Barbara’s architecture is one of the city’s most defining features. There’s a deliberate consistency to the aesthetic here that’s been cultivated by city leaders since the early 1920’s. The commitment to upholding these standards over the generations has resulted in a signature style; one that reflects the Santa Barbara lifestyle
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Mar252022
SPOTLIGHT ON: CALIFORNIA POPPY MEADOWS IN AND NEAR SANTA BARBARA
California’s nickname, the Golden State, is due in part to our state flower, the California poppy. Every spring, fields of golden poppies bloom all over the state, including right here in Santa Barbara County.
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Feb172022
SPOTLIGHT ON: SANTA BARBARA MUSEUMS
Santa Barbara is home to a distinctive collection of museums and cultural attractions that have become an essential facet of the jewel that is the American Rivera.
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Jan262022
Ojai and Santa Barbara Events: Celebrate Love Locally During February
Love is in the air all month long when it comes to Ojai and Santa Barbara events this February. The month that includes a day dedicated to the celebration of love also ushers in brighter days and gorgeous sunsets, setting the stage for romance.
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Jan232022
Local Spotlight: Historic Ocean View Ranch
The new owners of Dos Pueblos, Santa Barbara County’s historic ocean view ranch, have big plans for the future that include restoration, education and research. The property, which was on the market for many years listed at $40 million, was finally picked up by the family of Roger Himovitz from the Schulte family who owned the property since 1977.
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Mar102021
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival Reinvents Itself
The 36th Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is doing things much differently this year in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Jan222021
How to Create a Virtual Learning Space in Your Santa Barbara Home
The Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic has created a roller coaster ride for school-age children living in Santa Barbara. So rocky that the Santa Barbara Unified School District has published a plan for the return of in-person instruction.
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May222020
California Volunteers: A Vital New Program for Our Time
In a previous blog post, I shared important information regarding Santa Barbara and Montecito's non-profit organizations in need of financial help to continue their life-saving work during the coronavirus pandemic.
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May252020
Montecito Realtor Cristal Clarke in the News
In a recent blog, I shared Montecito Realtor Cristal Clarke’s expert opinion in my post Santa Barbara Housing Market in the Shadow of COVID-19 and the media is responding.
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Jun12020
Shop and Dine Along the NEW Santa Barbara State Street Promenade
Santa Barbara’s State Street has been transformed into a welcoming Pedestrian Promenade in the wake of COVID-19. For now, the famous street is closed to vehicles from Haley to Sola streets and local businesses and restaurants are spilling out onto the sidewalks, welcoming shoppers, diners, and those who just want to walk the renowned street.
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Jun162020
5 Iconic Santa Barbara Estates
Santa Barbara has long been synonymous with gracious living: its hillsides and beaches home to some of the grandest estates in the country.
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Jul242020
Santa Barbara Day Trips: Convenient, Safe and Sanity Savers
The summer of 2020 might not be the best time to live out your Jack Kerouac road trip fantasy, but locals suffering from cabin fever due to COVID-19 can take a day trip to get away from it all right in their own backyard.
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Aug212020
Harry and Meghan: Montecito’s Newest High-profile Residents
Journalists from all over the world are reaching out to me about Montecito’s newest celebrity family, popularly known as Harry and Meghan: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and their son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.
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Sep122020
The Art of Backyard Stargazing in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara and Montecito are renowned for having perfect Mediterranean weather and miles of pristine beaches. But what many don’t realize, or at least notice, is that at night the sky is filled with stars and planets; perfect for backyard stargazing.
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Oct272020
20 Things to Love About Santa Barbara
It seems like a bit of a disservice to list only 20 things to love about Santa Barbara. Enumerating all the great things residents enjoy here, however, would take up a great deal more space than this blog post allows.
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Feb62021
The State Street Promenade: Santa Barbara Al Fresco
For the first time in more than two months, thanks to the reopening of the State Street Promenade, cooped-up Santa Barbarians can now grab a bite to eat at one of the area's celebrated restaurants — and stay awhile to savor it.
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Jun32021
Local Spotlight: The Santa Barbara Airport
As the 13th largest airport in California, Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) typically serves more than a million passengers every year. Known as the gateway to the American Rivera, SBA currently offers nonstop flights to Dallas-Ft.
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Jul222021
Local Spotlight: Montecito’s Lotusland: One of the World’s 10 Best Gardens
Everyone knows about Santa Barbara’s beautiful beaches, impressive architecture, and perfect Mediterranean weather, but do you know about Montecito’s Lotusland?
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Sep12021
The Santa Barbara Bowl: A Shrine to the Performing Arts
The Santa Barbara Bowl, a 4,562-seat amphitheater, is historic in setting and at the forefront of the music industry. The beautiful outdoor concert venue with views of the Channel Islands and Downtown Santa Barbara hosts some of the biggest names in concert touring.
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Oct142021
A Star is Born Among Montecito Restaurants
Attention Montecito foodies: the flourishing culinary scene here just got better with the first Michelin Star Montecito restaurant. In fact, Sushi | Bar Montecito is one of three eateries on the Central Coast to make the list this year: another first.
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Nov122021
Holiday Shopping in Santa Barbara and Surrounding Communities
‘Tis the season to be shopping. And those of us fortunate to be doing our holiday shopping in Santa Barbara always enjoy a plethora of local entrepreneurs ready to sell their homegrown and handmade, one-of-a kind gift items.
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Nov212021
Giving Back: Montecito Realtor Cristal Clarke in the News
Montecito Realtor Cristal Clarke has made the news again. It’s not surprising that over the years Cristal has been featured in many articles on the topic of real estate -- locally, regionally, and nationally.
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Nov262021
It’s a Baby Boom at the Santa Barbara Zoo
It's been a busy couple of years for births at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Earlier this year, an Amur leopard was born, and last year the zoo welcomed an African lion cub and a Masai giraffe.
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Jan42019
The Santa Barbara School District
Many of my customers ask me about the Santa Barbara School District, the main public school district that serves Santa Barbara and Goleta. I am happy to answer that the Santa Barbara’s public school district is highly rated; with 15,453 students in grades K-12 and a student-teacher ratio of 24 to 1.
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Jul22019
Santa Barbara Farmers’ Markets Farm Stands And Gourmet Shops
The Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market offers some of the freshest produce on the West Coast. You can also find an incredible selection of local goods at these markets.
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Jul302019
No Kid Hungry: The Manifest Altruism of Actor Jeff Bridges
Jeff Bridges brings more to the Santa Barbara community than his superstar status. A longtime resident of Montecito, the Academy Award winner is also the national spokesperson for the No Kid Hungry program and an advocate for the free lunch program in Santa Barbara.
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Aug62019
Santa Barbara: Oasis of Arts and Culture
You may not consider the arts and culture when you think about Santa Barbara, but the area's location, climate, and topography are definitely good for the creative soul.
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Dec202019
Running Trails in Santa Barbara: 8 of the Most Popular
Why not make 2020 your year to explore the wonderful running trails in Santa Barbara? After all, this vibrant community is home to a large and active endurance community.
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Nov272018
Montecito Community Leadership Forms The Partnership for Resilient Communities
As our neighbors in Ventura and Los Angeles begin to recover from the Woolsey Fire, Montecito co
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