Ojai and Santa Barbara Events: Celebrate Love Locally During February

THE ARTS AND THE AQUATIC TAKE CENTER STAGE DURING THE 2^ND MONTH OF 2022

A couple in love kissing at sunset at the beach

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. And while many local restaurants in Santa Barbara and Ojai will be offering special menus for Valentine’s Day, there are other activities to love this month as well.

READ: 20 Things to Love About Santa Barbara

For Art Lovers

The much-anticipated exhibition, Through Vincent's Eyes: Van Gogh and His Sources, is coming to the Santa Barbara Museum of Art February 22, 2022 - May 22, 2022. The experiential showcase features 20 of Van Gough’s works, presented to immerse viewers in the artist’s visual imagination alongside nearly 75 objects, including work from Jean-François Raffaëlli, Eugène Delacroix, Claude Monet, and Paul Gauguin. Locally, the exhibit includes an expansive, city-wide program from 17 other businesses, offering curated performances, musical renditions, gallery lectures and more.

READ: Santa Barbara: Oasis of Arts and Culture

For Theatre Lovers

The Ojai Art Center Theater’s 2022 season kicked off on January 21 with the Tony-winning play by Christopher Durang called “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” which runs through February 13. Longtime acclaimed director Taylor Kasch is leading the production of the Chekhov parody that revolves around the relationships of three middle-aged single siblings discussing their lives and loves. The Ojai Art Center opened in 1939 and is the longest continuously operating multi-disciplinary center serving the arts in the State of California.

For Film Lovers

A Santa Barbara tradition returns to the Arlington Theater beginning February 22 at 7:30 PM. The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour features the world’s best films and videos that center on mountain culture, sports, environment, adventure and exploration, the tour awes viewers with thrills and grandeur captured in exotic locations the world over. The show’s wide variety of exciting film subjects from extreme sports to mountain culture and environment. An entirely different program of films screens each night.

READ: Santa Barbara’s Arlington Theater

For Music Lovers

The Santa Barbara Symphony "Beethoven in Bloom" concert on February 19-20, 2022 is an invitation to stroll through nature with Beethoven’s expressive sounds. EMMY Award-winning composer Jeff Beal shares his visual and musical depiction of rebirth in this collaboration with Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.

READ: The Santa Barbara Bowl: A Shrine to the Performing Arts

Join the Ojai Underground Exchange on February 19 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM for a live performance and broadcast by The Storytellers, a progressive bluegrass ensemble whose repertoire represents a unique blend of roots-rock, Americana, country-blues, folk and jamgrass. You’ll be treated to one of the fastest rising bluegrass groups on the Southern California music scene, The Storytellers started just one year ago on street corners in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Now, they are gracing stages of regional fairs and festivals throughout the Golden State.

If you’re a fan of musicals, then head to the Granada Theater for Jersey Boys on February 22. Presented by the Broadway in Santa Barbara Series, this jukebox musical is the story of four guys from Jersey who had a sound nobody had ever heard. But while their harmonies were perfect on stage, off stage it was a very different story. Enjoy the ultimate triumph of a group of friends whose music became symbolic of a generation.

Photo by Stacey Morrison on Unsplash

For Whale Lovers

For a special treat among Ojai and Santa Barbara events, travel with Soul Body Ojai on an adventure of Whale Medicine as the Pacific Grey Whales of Baja California migrate from Alaska to Mexico. Join a group of other whale lovers as you travel by boat to convene with the whales. The trip, referred to as intimate, astonishing, and otherworldly, is an opportunity to immerse yourself in an interspecies sound healing experience designed to amplify a participant’s field of wonder while expanding their heart chakra, right there on the water. From the boat, the whales, and the humans on this adventure, will be treated to gong sound baths designed to create a deep connection to one’s higher self.

READ: Santa Barbara Day Trips: Convenient, Safe and Sanity Savers

Santa Barbara’s premier Whale Watching and Charter Cruise venue, The Condor Express invites you to see and feel the magnificence of nature, in February or any month, in 2022. This is one of only a few whale watching companies that guarantee you’ll see whales. If you don’t, the captain will issue “whale checks” which are good for a free trip of your choice on another Condor Express Whale Watching trip.

February Ojai and Santa Barbara events also include exploring the sea via kayak or paddleboard, or staying on land with your four-legged furry valentine to experience the magic of the Douglas Family Preserve or The Ojai Valley Trail. This is also a good time to show yourself a little love through self-care with a reinvigorating massage or soul-soothing yoga flow in Santa Barbara. Or you might choose to embrace the many unique, mindful activities and meditative moments available exclusively in Ojai. Whatever you choose to do, the perfect adventure awaits in February.

If your adventure includes making a move in Santa Barbara or Ojai, I invite you to give me a call at (805) 886-9378 or email me at Cristal@montecito-estate.com. I will happily add your listing to my portfolio of amazing estates for sale and find you a new home at the same time. Let’s all celebrate love while enjoying Ojai and Santa Barbara events during the month of February.

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Client Reviews

“Cristal Clarke has conducted numerous real estate transactions for me beginning 13 years ago with the purchase of a Lemon Ranch. She has handled both large and small purchases and sales with equal dedication. As a negotiator, you can’t find anyone better. Her transactions are always conducted in the most appropriate and professional manner. Cristal has considerable knowledge of the Santa Barbara market.”

- S.N. Decker Ph.D.

“Living in Europe, we were to say the least, unaccustomed to the nuances of Real Estate acquisition in California and Cristal steered us through the process with absolute professionalism and personal attention to detail at every turn. Her in-depth knowledge of the market place combined with enthusiasm and drive was the only reason we secured the property of our dreams and will be forever grateful. If you are looking for personal discrete and private representation of the highest quality we suggest you look no further than Cristal Clarke.”

- Johan and Paula van den Berg

“Cristal is very straightforward, cheerful, helpful, professional and trustworthy….we felt very lucky to work with her.”

- John and Lacey Williams

“After considering our many choices, we are grateful it was Cristal Clarke of Sotheby’s International who represented the sale of our Montecito cottage. We are familiar with Cristal’s reputation of hard work and dedication to clients, but it was her attention to detail that made our experience so positive. She offered suggestions for staging the property, worked in harmony with potential buyers and was even able to secure back up offers. The sale of our cottage was completed much sooner than we expected, due in great part to Cristal’s professional skills and support. We highly recommend Cristal as a first choice for anyone needing representation with real estate.”

- Michael & Nancy Lee

“Our experience in working with Cristal Clarke resulted in the successful and discrete acquisition of a property which was not yet on the open market. Her knowledge of the Montecito/Santa Barbara area and vast expertise blended with her passion for real estate and architecture, provided us with the very highest level of professionalism and personalized services. Cristal exhibited a rare combination of excellent communications, attention to detail, creativity and patience.”

- Richard and Catherine Frinier

“Cristal really breaks the mold. She knows every nook and cranny of this real estate market, understands value, and follows up on everything, all the time. She was incredibly patient with our two year quest to find the perfect house. Every house hunting trip from across the country was well planned, and our time was never wasted. On top of her professionalism and expertise, she is delightful to spend time with. We are thrilled with the home we purchased, and grateful to Cristal for so wisely advising us through this process, right through to the close and beyond.”

- Laurie Siegel

“We met Cristal first in the course of renting a winter home (for three years), then buying a house using her as our agent. She was amazingly good at listening to our wants and showing us homes that fit our needs. Her mastery of the paperwork was perfect. Most importantly, there was never a situation where we doubted her straightforwardness or integrity. If we do another real estate transaction in Montecito (which I doubt, we’re happy with what we purchased), without question we’d use Cristal again.”

- Ken Saffir

“Susan and I just want to thank you for your efforts in the sale of our home. You are really quite amazing. Your competence, persistence, optimism and humor made the entire process effortless. Every problem that arose, you somehow fixed; any obstacle, you overcame. We have bought and sold many homes. It has never been such a painless and enjoyable process!”

- Michael & Susan Marquart

“A little something about “our” realtor, Cristal Clarke. My wife and I came to Santa Barbara about fifteen years ago looking for a seasonal home from which to enjoy the weather and amenities of the central coast. Being in the real estate business myself I was familiar with agents and brokers so entered the market with open eyes. We “flipped” a few houses in the early years, dealing with various agents and finally ended up in Montecito. That’s when good fortune put us together with Cristal. To say we were impressed is to put it mildly. Cristal really knows the market. She is familiar with the area, its history and trends. When we have questions about a particular property she either has the answers immediately or gets back to us by phone or email. There is no waiting or wondering with Cristal. She is an agent who is “on top of it.” Her recommendations as to price points, contractors, inspectors and title agents have proven to be exceptional, showing great insight and the highest professional standards. We consider ourselves exceedingly fortunate to say that Cristal Clarke is our realtor and would recommend her services to any serious buyer or seller.”

- Rob & Judi Kelch

THE ARTS AND THE AQUATIC TAKE CENTER STAGE DURING THE 2ND MONTH OF 2022