In the Zone on Anacapa

THE BEER GUY

ST. PATRICK ISN’T REALLY THE PATRON SAINT OF BREWERS, BUT THE IRISH KNOW MORE ABOUT STOUT THAN ANY OTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE WORLDWIDE, P. 23

DO WE HAVE ENOUGH COCAINE? RACHELLE Oldmixon DISCOVERS THAT IF YOU WANT TO STUDY THE SCIENCE OF COCAINE ADDICTION, YOU’VE GOT TO GET HOLD OF SOME FIRST, P. 22

THE DISH

VIA MAESTRA 42 IS NEXT TO THE SAN ROQUE POST OFFICE, BUT IT WAS THE ADDRESS OF RENATO MOISO’S FAMILY HOME IN ITALY’S PIEDMONT REGION, P. 8

SANTA BARBARA

once a week from pier to peak

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in THE ZONE on Anacapa Street ( Story Begins On Page 3 )

COMIng this spring:

SBVIEW.com PAGE 12

PRESIDIOSPORTS PAGE 16

LOVEMIKANA.com PAGE 29

(rendering: AB Design Studio, Inc.)

Avelina Winery Cutler’s Artisan Spirits The Lark • The Lucky Penny Riverbench Vineyard & Winery Area 5.1 from Santa Ynez Winery Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company Caveau Wine Bar and Merchant • Guitar Bar OPEN HOUSES PAGE 31

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MAZZA’S MISSIVE

3

by Matt Mazza

Opening the Vault

I

’ve never been very good at keeping secrets. It’s just not a real strength for me.

This is most especially true when the secret at issue involves something really unique, something truly special. I can’t help myself.

Christmas gifts? Blown every year well in advance of the opening ceremony.

Surprise parties? I’ve ruined a couple. Hell, I very nearly blew my own clandestine marriage proposal years ago in an old beat up Honda Civic in traffic on Highway 101 en route to a romantic weekend in some lovers’ hideaway in the Napa Valley.

But something has changed. Things are different this time around. I’ve been sitting on something big for quite a while now, you see, biding my time, waiting patiently.

Patience, it turns out, is a virtue.

The truth is that I’ve desperately been wanting to talk about a project I learned

about months ago over a memorable conversation at a small table in front of the French Press (the one at Anacapa and Cota). But I haven’t.

I’ve remained true to my word.

I kept the lid on. Tight.

It’s (finally) time to unscrew it.

A view of The Lark from the northeast corner of the parking lot (looking in from Anacapa Street). Can you smell Chef Jason Paluska’s latest creation in the kitchen? (rendering: AB Design Studio, Inc.)

Unveiling a Pretty Solid Day in the Funk Zone The person sitting across from me that morning at the French Press was thennew friend, Sherry Villanueva, and Sherry is intimately involved in just about the coolest project happening right now in Santa Barbara.

She’s building a restaurant.

The restaurant alone is quite a story – I tell at least some of it below – but it is not the whole story. The Lark is really the anchor tenant in a larger development

The Lark, pre-construction. The Lucky Penny will be immediately to the left of frame, right there on Anacapa.

I can’t wait.

project happening right now at 131 – 137 Anacapa Street (the block bordered

by Yanonali to the north, Anacapa to the east, Helena to the west and the train

tracks to the south – the old Bay Café and environs). And it’s The Lark, together with the collection of additional tenants ...continued p.5

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Content

P.3 P.6 P.7 P.8 P.10 P.12 P.15 P.16

Mazza’s Missive – Matt spills the beans on what’s happening with the old Bay Café building and neighboring properties in the Funk Zone. Let’s just say that it includes much of what he likes: Food, wine, booze and music. Meet you at The Lark soon.

It’s Crime Time – Play the Sentinel’s first-ever reader participation game. Can you pick the ringer? There’s a prize involved for one lucky Crime Time fan…

L etters to the Editor – On homelessness, encampments and the nature of all things; some people just hate Crime Time (others do not); conservatorship woes (part deux); and an Orangutan and a Chimpanzee walk into a bar… and sue the entire human race.

The Dish – Wendy Jenson dishes up The Italian Connection and gets our taste buds working overtime for Via Maestra 42 in San Roque. (This little place looks really great, Wendy, thanks for the good advice. Oh, can you please start writing every week again? Pretty please?)

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E ight Days a Week – It’s not quite a calendar and not quite an editorial and not quite an advertisement. What the hell is it, then? Check out Eight Days a Week and let us know of anything cool going down around town. We’d love to help get the word out for your next thang.

Santa Barbara View – Sharon Byrne falls in love with Menudo (no, not the boy band); Tom Bird sits down with Ryan Carr and falls in love with the Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail.

The Weekly Capitalist – Jeff Harding never liked El Commandante Hugo Chavez very much.

And nothing has changed after the (dirty, rotten, good for nothing) socialist dictator’s death.

(Hey Jeff, the Chavistas are coming… watch your back!)

P.18 P.19 P.22 P.23 P.27 P.28 P.29 P.30

P residio Sports – World champion decathlete Ashton Easton almost hit by javelin at Westmont (welcome to SB, Ashton!); SBART Athletes of the Week; Presidio Sports’ SB Figure of the Month (spoiler alert: it’s not the rouge athlete who threw the javelin at the Olympic hero but it is another Westmont student); and the Weekend Sports Calendar (thanks Barry). And you’d better get involved in SB’s largest March Madness tourney. The winner gets his or her picture in the paper! (And a bunch of other stuff that is not nearly as cool.) an About Town – Mark Leisure likes Elements Theatre Collective, the Santa Barbara M Symphony and punk and ska and power pop. (What the hell is power pop, Mark?) There are lots of good shows coming up, so check it out. (Editor-in-Chief Matt Mazza is likely reliving his glory days and heading down to the Majestic Ventura Theater to see The Specials like he did in the early 1990s. Taking the kids, Matt?)

Girl About Town – Julie Bifano hits the West Wind Santa Barbara Drive-In with a “make out buddy.” To her credit, she stops sucking face long enough to see a flick and take some pictures, and write a pretty damn good piece too. ad Science – New columnist Rachelle Oldmixon – she’s the Sentinel’s kind of M scientist, seriously – tackles cocaine-seeking behavior right out of the gates. (Nice piece, Rachelle, educational and inspirational and playful. We are really looking forward to more from you!)

The Beer Guy – Zach Rosen is sort of a Mad Scientist too, only he deals solely with the science of beer. (Also our kind of scientist.) This week, he takes on stout brews for St. Patrick’s Day. Go get some knowledge, then go test your theories on a couple dark beers.

Keepin’ It Reel – Jim Luksic is a funny guy. He likes Oz: The Great and Powerful (the colon is his), but is less convinced about The Last Exorcism II. Go have a read; bet you’ll find a few laughs in his insightful critiques.

Plan B – Briana Westmacott falls a lot. (That explains a few things.) So does her daughter.

But they get up, humbly, with a little help from a very passive and totally non-abusive Paulie.

LOVEmikana – Swingers and two-minute chocolate cake. (No, that those kinds of swingers, we’re talking about hammocks, people.) The Weekend Guide brings picnics and lemonade and Solvang. (Oh my!) esidential Real Estate – Much like the immortal Nostradamus, Michael Calcagno saw R the future of real estate in Santa Barbara. It’s pumping. He has expanded his business to reading Tarot cards and peering into crystal balls. (Hey Mike, can you tell us who wins the NCAA tourney this year? We could use the extra cash.)

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5

WINTER SALE

...continued from p.3

Don’t just shop local, shop locally owned.

2 FEETOF FRESH SNOW IN MAMMOTH!

This is looking down Yanonali from its intersection with Anacapa toward State. Guitar Bar is the first space on the block from this perspective – maybe you can hear me in there mangling Stairway to Heaven on my acoustic?

(Sorry Sherry, maybe that’s not the right mood.) (rendering: AB Design Studio, Inc.)

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Northeast corner, pre-construction. You’re looking at the space that Guitar Bar will occupy. (Can you hear me butchering Wild Horses on the acoustic? How about Burn One Down? Come on, try.)

that really makes the entire thing so refreshing and intelligent and interesting and exciting and, well, so very Santa Barbara.

“This whole thing is about community,” Sherry told me over breakfast last week, “Santa Barbara, and the Funk Zone in particular, is filled with fascinating people pressing the boundaries in the arts and, more recently, wine production and tasting and other arenas. That’s really what we are trying to do, not only as a restaurant but as part of a collaborative community spanning a number of different genres.

We like to think that we are adding a few new mediums to the Funk Zone scene that will contribute nicely to the great community that already exists.”

She’s not kidding.

In addition to The Lark, which will be the first and only (to date, anyway) full service restaurant in the interior of the Funk Zone, there will be The Lucky Penny, a creative wood-fired pizza and artisan coffee take-away kitchen right on Anacapa, Caveau Wine Bar and Merchant, a tasting bar and retail wine shop specializing in Santa Barbara County and (gasp) European wines, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company, an exceptional Buellton-based brewery (we don’t have to tell anybody about Fig Mountain), Cutler’s Artisan Spirits, Santa Barbara’s only micro-distillery and tasting room, tasting rooms for Riverbench Vineyard & Winery and Area 5.1 from Santa Ynez Winery, as well as a new production facility for Avelina Winery.

And that’s not all. There will also be a very cool little guitar retail and pop-up concert venue called Guitar Bar. So you can literally walk up and cool off a warm Santa Barbara summer day with a Stagecoach Stout or Hoppy Poppy from Figueroa Mountain, wine taste for a couple hours now that you’re more comfortable (you’d better spit), enjoy a lovely meal at The Lark, go taste a microdistilled bourbon and then jam with a couple friends or catch an impromptu show at Guitar Bar. Before you leave, pick up a French red or a Santa Rita Hills Pinot from Caveau and grab a wood-fired pizza to go from The Lucky Penny.

Wow. That’s not a bad day. I’m really excited for this.

So is Sherry.

And she should be – she’s been pouring her heart and soul into the development of The Lark and the project at-large for a long, long time.

“Bringing a group of tenants together to collaborate and support each other and the broader Funk Zone community in a responsible way honors the historical integrity of the neighborhood and helps foster a bright future for the area. We love our amazing neighbors and truly believe that a rising tide raises all ships. I think that we can do something really special together and am thrilled to be a part of it.”

I believe, too, Sherry, and will be first in line to support you and the rest of the tenants and your neighbors – there are lots of quality purveyors doing interesting ...continued p.20

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It'sCrimetime...

...with the SBPD

CRIME TIME QUOTE OF THE WEEK

A variety of crimes are committed every day in Santa Barbara; most of these crimes are petty but they do offer a window into if not the soul of the perpetrator, at least his or her thought process. Our following (and totally unsolicited) thoughts, observations, and comments are put forth for your consideration.

“I don’t know. God.”

Give Us The Ringer

-A 28-year-old Goleta homemaker’s response to the dreaded emergency contact question after being stopped for a variety of traffic offenses and then found to have a “Hello Kitty faux leather wallet” stuffed full with loose oxycodone pills sans prescription. Do adults still carry those things? (No, we’re not talking about the oxy, we know adults carry that. But a Hello Kitty faux leather wallet? Really? Have you no self-respect at all?)

T

here are some very funny movies in the world. The Big Lebowski is one of them.

We were watching local Jeff Bridges work his magic in the film this past week (his role as the Dude is, in fact, magic) and found ourselves laughing hysterically at the scenes involving Walter – John Goodman’s quasi-insane Viet Nam veterancum-bowler – screaming about “the ringer,” a ransom bag filled with Walter’s “undies” (“the whites,” as he calls them) rather than cash. His remarkably simple plan is to drop the whites for the kidnappers in the film and keep the cash for himself and the Dude.

You’ll have to watch to see if it works. (If you don’t know what we’re talking about here, then just YouTube “give me the ringer dude” and you’re sure to come across the profanity-laden tirade…but we’d highly suggest watching the whole flick from start to finish if you haven’t seen it before. It’s a classic, and the scene works better in context.)

Anyway, we here at the Sentinel have been talking about the ringer all week. And we came up with a little Crime Time pastime. It’s simple, much like Walter’s plan.

Three of the crimes listed below actually happened in Santa Barbara this past week.

One did not. Can you figure out which one is the Sentinel’s ringer?

There is a prize involved for the first correct answer we receive to letters@ santabarbarasentinel.com that contains a minimum of 50 words describing exactly why you chose the crime you selected as the ringer. (Using some creative Lebowski-speak wouldn’t be the end of the world, either, but it is not a prerequisite to prize collection.)

One guess per person, please, and don’t be cheating or we will figure it out and never let you play again. And trust us, the prize is better than the whites.

That’s it. Simple.

Now, without further ado and as Walter says, “Give me the ringer, Dude, chop chop.”

Bipolar Man Beats Vehicles with Skateboard

CRIME: A 19-year-old self-diagnosed bipolar man from Goleta struck and injured at least four vehicles with his skateboard last weekend at 1:30 in the morning. Although he admitted to attacking at least six cars, SBPD was only able to find four – three with broken side mirrors and one with a smashed rear window. (Apparently, two car owners refused to testify.) The man was arrested for battery on a vehicle (better known as vandalism) and related charges.

OBSERVATION: SBPD considered letting him go after he told them that the reason for his vehicular rampage stemmed from the fact that “nobody would listen” to him. But they quickly disregarded his comment and locked him up.

COMMENT: If the Sentinel struck just one car with its figurative skateboard every time nobody listened to us, there would be no operable vehicles left in all of Santa Barbara.

Does that make us bipolar? Is anyone listening out there? ANYONE? Damn it man, we just beat up our delivery truck again. (Tim, get the pills!)

The Mating Ritual of the Peacock

CRIME: Two intoxicated visiting twenty-something males “squared off ” late one night last weekend in front of a favorite local dram shop. One stripped his shirt off, exposing his breasts to the other, who quickly followed suit. Both men assumed fighting stances and were quickly arrested by nearby police officers before things got out of hand.

OBSERVATION: So, let’s get this straight. Two young men drank too much and nearly engaged in a topless wrestling match after admiring each other’s physiques? Ah…are we sure they were going to fight? There are birds that do just this type of dance before mating passionately for all to see, you know. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

We’re just saying.

COMMENT: The fact is that we truly hate to disagree with SBPD. (In fact, the last time we did so involved their detainment for public intoxication of a fifty-something Marine Terrace woman who admitted to drinking a few Chardonnays before walking a couple blocks home late one night.) But this time we must. Let these two strapping young men go at it for a minute or two, maybe they weren’t fighting at all. Maybe they were just about to get out the baby oil and turn on some Sade – Smooth Operator or This Is No Ordinary Love or Sweetest Taboo, who knows? If nothing else, you may have been able to get another charge for indecent exposure or something lewd and lascivious or crude and quite rigorous. And what a Crime Time entry that would have made. Come on, guys, throw us a bone. (So to speak, anyway.)

Cousin Eddie Is Real

CRIME: A drunken 48-year-old recreational vehicle resident in Santa Barbara was found emptying his, ah, mobile commode into a Funk Zone storm drain. He was detained for public intoxication as well as a variety of vehicle code violations that we had no idea even existed.

OBSERVATION: We’re basically at a loss; there’s really only one thing that can be said here: [FADE IN: A glorious Christmas morning.]

ELLEN GRISWOLD: What are you looking at, Sparky?

CLARK GRISOLD: Oh, the silent majesty of a winter’s morn; the clean cool chill of the holiday air; and some jerk in his bathrobe emptying a chemical toilet into my sewer.

COUSIN EDDIE: Shitter was full!

COMMENT: That pretty much sums it up. Uncle Eddie is not exactly the greatest role model to emulate. Please don’t do that ever again. At least one of us surfs (or used to, anyway), and all of us spend time at the beach with our kids. Park your ride somewhere else, man. You’re bumming us out.

DOUBLE DOWN(WARD SPIRAL)

CRIME: A 45-year-old mansient set the Santa Barbara County record for arrests in 24 hours last week when he was picked up for public intoxication Sunday evening – he openly admitted to “drinking too much” and being “plastered” – and then arrested again on Monday afternoon, hammered (though this time in far less of a good mood) at the shelter in which officers kindly placed him just hours before.

OBSERVATION: So much for the rehabilitative effect of our justice system.

COMMENT: So much for the deterrent effect of our justice system. (Hmmm…what’s left?)

There you have it. Place your bets and let us know which one is the ringer at letters@ santabarbarasentinel.com. And remember: the early bird (who plays by the rules) gets the worm.

Be good this week, folks.

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Letters

Although you might not believe it, we actually want to hear from you. So if you have something you think we should know about or you see something we've said that you think is cretinous (or perspicacious, to be fair), then let us know. There's no limit on words or subject matter, so go ahead and let it rip to: Santa Barbara Sentinel, Letters to the Editor, 133 East De La Guerra Street, No. 182, Santa Barbara, California 93101. You can also leap into the 21st century and email us at letters@santabarbarasentinel.com.

On Homelessness, Encampments and the Nature of All Things

H

i Matt, I responded to a letter a while back from an Anonymous writer called “Pick your Battles” (Vol. 2, Issue 1). My letter was titled “Down But Not Out” (Vol. 2, Issue 2).

Thank you for printing it.

Now I am responding to Santa Barbara View, “Milpas on the Move, Encampents”

by Sharon Byrne (Vol. 2, Issue 8).

No, I am not going to get nasty about Ms. Byrne’s article, I’m just going to point a few things out. The two photos of the encampment made my stomach turn. I do not live like that outdoors and many others like me do not live like that either.

Ms. Byrne in her article brings up a few lessons, I will not get into all of them.

First lesson: From my own experience and a few others, we have (or had?) permission to sleep on private property, then those who do not care just come along and screw it up for the rest of us.

Many of us do not leave a mess behind.

So we may have to look for another place to lay our heads down at night because of the homeless idiots who do not care about themselves or others.

Second and Fifth Lessons: A while back I was panhandling for about three days on State Street in front of the Hamburger Habit because I needed money for food and personal things (not booze or drugs).

I had my sign up and people walked by, read it, and some did give me money or food. They were very nice and wanted to talk about my situation. It was very embarrassing for me because at one time I used to work and earn a paycheck. I do

not panhandle anymore. As far as loitering I do not do that. If I have a little money I hang out at the Coffee Cat, drink my coffee, maybe have something to eat, and read a book or talk to people. The workers there are really nice. I try my best to fit in with the normal society, despite my situation. I also go to the main library and of course Ralphs.

The last paragraph of Ms. Byrne’s article mentions, “People say that if the City and State quit making life so comfortable for lawbreakers, we wouldn’t have these problems.” Agreed, but we citizens have responsibility too. What we tolerate, we get more of: illegal camping, panhandling, public inebriation, taunting, public urination – why put up with it?

But just because I need a place to sleep… does that make me a lawbreaker?

As far as the rest of that list I do not do any of it. Neither do many others like myself who I’ve met, some of whom are better educated than me with Masters Degrees and Ph.Ds but who are now homeless because of a very bad economy.

Here are just a few I have met: A very distinguished gentleman who is an architect, laid off from the firm where he used to work at because of the recession. A very nice lady, same age as me, who used to have three art galleries here in SB. Lost them because of the recession. A few days back met a lady at the Coffee Cat who worked for a construction company but has been out of work for a year. Laid off because of the recession.

I am not saying there is not a problem

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with very unruly homeless individuals, I see it all time and I stay away from them.

Yes, I do agree it is a big problem. So what do we do? Round them all up (including myself ) and put them all on a freight trains and send us to some death camp?

And as far as shelters go in Santa Barbara, very slim pickings there: The Salvation Army, Rescue Mission and Casa Esperanza. For one they can only take in so many people. Many have been kicked out and many who I have met have been there and they do not want to be in any of them, including myself and we have good reasons why.

So if there is a problem with a homeless person (or any person) call the police. The police write up a ticket, walk away, and the offender will just ripped it up. I have seen it. Take them to jail and they will be out in a few days or the next. And if one is homeless one does not have the money to pay the fine(s).

Jose Arturo Ortiz de Martinez-Gallegos Santa Barbara (Editor’s Note: Thanks for the letter, Jose, it raises a number of interesting points. And I don’t think that you would find too much disagreement from many people about much of what you seemed to say.

First and most obviously, the “homeless problem” is diverse and complex. Not all people without homes are the same – sort of like not all people with homes are the same.

My own belief is that homelessness is often

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a consequence of other more foundational issues or challenges (e.g., drug or alcohol addiction, mental illness, etc.). Rather than simply building more shelters or houses – which fails to address the root causes of homelessness directly – perhaps we should focus more on solving underlying problems that lead to homelessness. My point is only that I agree with your general position that there are lots of kinds of homeless folks, some of whom are undoubtedly, indeed demonstrably, more responsible than others.

With that said, and I think we agree here as well, those less responsible folks do cause a broad array of serious problems and we as a community need to determine a better and more effective way of addressing them. It’s no surprise that tickets and jail time don’t do the trick; if they did, we wouldn’t be where we are today. So the question is open. What is it that will do the trick?

Frankly, my gut reaction is that much of what Sharon Byrne advocated in her piece is a reasonable start. What other options are there when those less-respectful folks refuse to listen to a reasonable suggestion by a business or land owner, or just rip up tickets and game the system? Like you said – and like we all learned in grade school when one kid throwing a baloney sandwich ruined lunch recess for all of us – a few bad apples can spoil the bunch.

Do I think that all homeless people should ...continued p.21

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Capellini al Pomodoro is angel hair pasta with tomato, basil, garlic and warm handmade mozzarella; $12.95. With its crispy crust and airy inside, the ciabatta is so good you will be tempted to fill up on it.

by Wendy Jenson

A former magazine editor, Wendy worked at Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, and Us Weekly in NYC, before moving west with Santa Barbara Magazine. Currently a public relations consultant, she relishes being out and about working on this column.

Photos by Wendy Jenson

The Italian Connection

An apricot croissant accompanies a perfectly made cappuccino.

Via Maestra 42’s Renato Moiso poses with server Andrew Haskins.

S

anta Barbara has Disneyworld to thank for Via Maestra 42, one of the best Italian restaurants in town. Recruited in his native Italy, Renato Moiso moved to Florida in 1990 to work at Epcot Center. At the Italian Pavilion, he introduced visitors from around the world to Italian culture and cuisine.

Two years later, Renato opened All Italia Imports, bringing wholesale Italian delicacies to Santa Barbara. The idea for a retail enterprise was hatched when chefs and caterers came to the warehouse to sample the products. “We’d cut into a huge wheel of cheese to give a taste.

It was not cost effective,” says Renato, always the businessman.

In 2000, Via Maestra 42 delicatessen and catering opened in a former ice cream parlor. By popular request, more hot dishes were later added to the menu. Though small, the establishment serves a wide variety of delicious dishes including Italian sandwiches, salads, pastas, desserts, beers and fine wines.

The emphasis here is authentic Italian cuisine. All sauces are made from scratch

Refreshing dairy free sorbetto is served in a cool stainless steel cup. Flavors include coconut, melon and mixed berry.

Carpaccio di Bresaola Con Rucola is salt cured, air dried lean beef served with baby arugula, lemon dressing and shaved Grana Padano cheese; $10.95.

and Italian pastries are baked fresh every morning. Organic products are used whenever possible. The full catering

service can arrange everything from soup to gnocchi.

Renato need never feel homesick as his establishment invokes Italy. Via Maestra 42 is the address of Renato’s family home in the Piedmont region of Northwestern Italy. Black and white Moiso family photos fill the restaurant’s walls, and Italian is the first language of a surprising number of diners, though they are locals now. Everything is from Italy right down to the sleek silverware and the neon “aperto” sign signaling the restaurant is

open for business. Much of the signage is in Italian.

Renato himself speaks English, Italian, French and German. As a young man, he worked as a server and maître d’ at restaurants and hotels in Italy, England and Germany. “I put in my hours in the hospitality business,” he says, likening his time to a pilot’s required flight hours.

Via Maesrta 42 is open but five days each year, for Easter (this year on March 31), Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The restaurant is also shuttered for the very American holiday Fourth of July, when Renato believes everyone should be at the beach.

Soft spoken, smiling Renato is the proud president of the Italian American Boot [Social] Club of Santa Barbara. He sometimes lectures at Santa Barbara City College’s School of Culinary Arts. Renato lives in San Roque with his American wife, Lisa, and their two teenage children, Dario and Elisabetta.

The kids work at the restaurant during the summer.

Via Maestra 42 is located at 3343 State Street, next to the San Roque Post Office near Las Positas Road. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday thru Saturday from 8:30am to 9pm; and Sunday for lunch from 11am-5pm; 805569-6522. Breakfast and lunch orders are placed at the counter, and there’s full table service at dinner.

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Winemaker Etienne Terlinden works harvest, an exhausting job even for a former Navy Seal like himself.

Breakfast Lunch Dinner High Tea 1106 State Street 805.962.5085

Private Events Happy Hour AndersensSantaBarbara.com

The Winehound is

MOVING to La Cumbre Plaza!

C’est Cheese pairs well with wine.

BYOB Winemaker Dinner Winemaker dinners can be prohibitively expensive, costing hundreds for a wine loving couple to partake. Three cheers then for the Bring Your Own Bottle winemaker dinner series at Max’s Cucina.

At $50 per person plus tax/tip, it’s a more reasonably priced and less stuffy option.

Don’t miss their next fun event – featuring Summerland Wines – on Sunday, March 17 from 6pm to 9pm.

Each party of two is asked to bring a “nice” bottle of Pinot Noir produced in Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo County. The nice Pinots will be shared at the C’est Cheese hour. Guests are encouraged to bring another (different) bottle of Pinot to enjoy during dinner.

“Amazingly, we get very few duplicate bottles, maybe one or two per evening,” says Leslie Thomas, the creator and organizer of the wine & dine series.

Dinner seating is family style. The evening’s menu includes Duck Confit Ravioli with Brown Butter Sage Sauce and Coq au Vin over Grilled Polenta with Lemon-Garlic Broccolini. For

vegetarians, there’s Wild Mushroom Ravioli and Eggplant au Vin. Dessert for all is Lavender-Infused Crème Brulee.

Dashing Winemaker Etienne Terlinden will pour four Summerland Pinots over the course of the evening. Between courses, he’ll speak about the evening’s theme: Santa Barbara vs. San Luis Obispo County Pinot Noirs. Hopefully, the resulting drink-fueled debate won’t be so heated as to come to fisticuffs.

Reservations are required. Call 805898-9121 to ensure seating, as space is limited. Max’s Cucina is located at 3514 State Street, that’s Upper State between the Las Positas and La Cumbre freeway exits. Summerland wines will be for sale at the end of the evening, disco unted 20% for bottle purchases and 25% for case purchases. The full year’s Winemaker Dinner schedule is at www. maxsrestaurantsb.com.

Eagerly awaiting tips, tips, tips: If you have any restaurant information, please contact me at wendy@ santabarbarasentinel.com.

3849 State Street

(next to See’s Candies) • More Wines!

Easy Parking!

• More •Wines!

• Easy Parking!

Opening in October!

• Grand • Stay tuned for news & specials...

Subscribe to our emails at www.thewinehound.com

The Winehound

– Cheers, Bob Wesley & the Winehound Crew

3849 State St. Santa Barbara • (805) 845-5247

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8•Days• a•Week We Ain’t Got Nothin’ But Love, Babe…

Want to be a part of Eight Days A Week?

Space is limited, but if you have an event, exhibit, performance, book signing, sale, opening, trunk show, or anything else interesting or creative that readers can attend, let us know at 805-845-1673 or email us at santabarbarasentinel.com. We’ll consider all suggestions, but we will give extra consideration to unusual events and/or items, especially those accompanied by a good visual, particularly one that has yet to be published.

• Friday

Jazz, Hip Hop and Contemporary works involving 10-18 year old performance and rehearsal hardened dancers, and even a dance-related film. This is likely a must see for any young aspiring dancer types (no, Matt, your dance aspirations notwithstanding, you are no youngster anymore). Center Stage Theater, Paseo Nuevo Mall, 2pm. www.sbdancearts.com; www.ampsb.org.

March 15

– Get Starstruck

We know, it’s Friday. But be careful. It’s a long weekend ahead with a potentially grueling post-St. Patrick’s Day Monday morning facing you in a few short days. So rather than a restaurant or bar tonight – don’t worry, you’ll get plenty of them this weekend – consider doing some stargazing. Westmont’s powerful Keck Telescope will get you dialed into Jupiter and at least one of its moons beginning around 7:30pm, and might even get you a glimpse (or more) of the Great Orion Nebula and the Pan-STARRS comet. If you’re lucky, you might even see Robin Williams dressed up in a bizarre outfit on Planet Ork. Na-nu Na-nu.

– Meditate at Mahakankala

You could choose a more spiritual path this Friday – although at least some would say that stargazing is indeed quite spiritual – by heading over to the Mahakankala Buddhist Center for a refuge retreat session. Guided by American Buddhist Monk Kelsang Wangpo, participants will work on building mental protection from the dangers and sufferings of this and future lives. 508 Brinkerhoff Avenue; (805) 563-600. www.meditationinsantabarbara.org. Exercise loving patience. Call for individual session times.

• Saturday March 16

– If It Feels Green, Do It

First, go read Zach Rosen’s column about dark beers this week to start getting in the St. Paddy’s mood. Then consider a day filled with consumption of stout beers – and maybe even an occasional Budweiser that has been tinted green – and heading over to The Brewhouse for deep-fried corn beef and cabbage on a stick.

(Yeah, you read that right.) We’re not saying to actually go do any of that. But consider it. And if it feels right, then we say go for it.

– Safety Dance

For more responsible people, there is also the final opportunity to see Configuration, an annual dance performance showcasing repertory from the SB Dance Arts and the Arts Mentorship Program student companies. There will be

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– Learn ‘n’ Shop

You might also head up to La Cumbre Plaza for ParentClick Kids Expo! from 9:30am – 1:30pm, where over 100 local businesses and non-profits will be on hand to educate parents on the many programs and activities available to families in Santa Barbara from the newborn stage to the teen stage. (What stage are we in?)

Kids will enjoy a variety of free interactive activities and entertainment throughout the whole plaza. (There will also be a Bone Marrow Drive.) Summer’s coming, and every family with kids knows what that means. So you’d better get up to La Cumbre for Kids Expo 2013. And hey, cheapskate, loosen up those purse-strings and do some shopping while you’re there. Buy that espresso machine you’ve always wanted. Or that toaster, you know, the fancy one. She’ll love you more for it. www.shoplacumbre.com/Events/KidsExpo2013

• Sunday March 17

– One Stout, Two Stout, Three Stout, Floor

It’s finally here. St. Patrick’s Day. There is so much going on downtown for the young and alcoholic that it makes us want to vomit just thinking about it. Jokes aside, the truth is that there are few things finer than a properly poured pint and some traditional Irish music and dance. (That is perhaps the most honest thing we have ever written.) Dargan’s has Dannsair for a couple shows (noon and 5pm), Spencer and the Worried Lads is doing its (once?) annual quasi-Irish/MexicanAmerican St. Paddy’s Day Bash at 4:45pm at SOhO (very fun, and Spencer is the man, Irish, Mexican or whatever… yo Spencer!), and The James Joyce is always a good time. But there will be many things happening involving green beer and sweet, silky Irish whiskey. So get out there. Squeeze into an Irish bar (or an American bar that is doing a faux Irish event) and drink your way over to the Emerald Isle.

And once you think you’re there, get weird.

– Frack Me, I’m Irish

Oh, and if you are the least fun person on the planet – or a recovering alcoholic – then there is actually an interesting film on fracking and climate change, featuring talks from Sandra Steingraber and Bill McKibben, respectively, taken from the 2012 National Bioneers Conference. The whole thing is put on by Santa Barbara City College’s Center for Sustainability and Central Coast Bioneers, and goes down from 6:30-8:30pm in the Fe Bland Auditorium on the SBCC campus. (Take it easy, we love SBCC – at least one of us is a proud alum – and all bioneers and were only joking about the whole “least fun person on the planet” and “recovering alcoholic” comments. Mostly, anyway.) http://sustainability.sbcc. edu/?p=875

• Monday March 18

– The Rolex Recovery

Told you this could be a grueling Monday. (Unless you were actually smart and hit the bioneer movie at City College.) Slowly peel your face from the latex bean bag you slept on in the living room, remove the green beads and mini-shot glasses from around your neck and consider showering. You should also immediately check your text conversations from last night and likely delete all of them. Then dress carefully, in comfortable clothes, and take a cab to The Shop for The Rolex. Don’t ask questions; just make it happen. (You might even brave the YOLO, buttermilk fried chicken with a homemade biscuit and sausage gravy. Come to daddy.) Then get to the office, smile, wave, look concerned when appropriate, and get home

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ASAP. You should not be among normal folks today. You should be alone. You must atone for your sins. www.shopcafesb.com

• Tuesday

presents

March 19

– State of the City

You really need to do something positive today. Get up early and attend Mayor Helene Schneider’s Annual State of the City Breakfast at Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort. Mayor Schneider will highlight our fair city’s recent achievements and upcoming projects, and City Administrator Jim Armstrong will present the City’s financial condition. No, it’s not free, but $60 gets you in and gets you breakfast (and undoubtedly improves the very financial condition Mr. Armstrong will be reporting on). Registration begins at 7am, and the talk starts at 7:30am and goes until 9am. www.santabarbaraca.gov. Massive crowds expected.

Once again, SBCO expands its season with

USICALLY e NGAGING e XPERIENCES. m Designed to unravel some of the mysteries of

• Wednesday March 20

mee

– Meet Me at the Granada

classical music, concerts are exiting and interactive performances hosted by Music Educator Rob Kapilow to enhance understanding and enjoyment of LIVE classical music for all ages!

• Thursday March 21

– Transformation Thursday

Now that you’ve seen some orchestral music, make sure and head over to Center Stage in Paseo Nuevo (again) for DramaDogs’ performance of Circle Mirror Transformation, a 2010 Obie Award-winning play. Should be fun… it’s about a bunch of small-town Vermont actors who gather for an interesting acting class each week. (Talk about life imitating art imitating life.) Please remember that, contrary to symphonic performances, it is offensive to fall asleep during live theater. So grab a coffee on your way in from the French Press or Coffee Cat (we don’t think Handlebar stays open that late, but you could try them too). And break a leg. www.centerstagetheater.org

– May Madness Prep

If you’re not in the mood for more performing arts, don’t worry, we get it. You could also attack some spring cleaning and make a donation to May Madness, the annual treasure and estate sale benefitting the Music Academy of the West’s full-scholarship program. Donations can be brought to the Music Academy (1070 Fairway Road) between 9am and 3pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays through April 18, and Monday through Friday, April 22-26. Do some good with that stuff you have lying around. Call (805) 969-4726 for more details about pick-ups, large donations items and other ways to help. Support the arts.

• Friday March 22

– Musically Engaging Experience

Another Friday. We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves, but the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra is presenting Musically Engaging Experiences with Rob Kapilow in What Makes It Great? Rob’s talk will be followed by violinist CheeYun solo of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. Check out www.sbco.org for details.

If that’s not your thing, well, that’s ok. The Sentinel’s Eight Days a Week (and most columnists too) will be back again next week with plenty of stuff you’ll dig. So keep picking us up and checking us out… and if you have an interesting event that you want the general public to know about – even if it isn’t exactly main stream – then send it on over. You’ve got a friend in us.

PHOTO: © PETER SCHAAF

Hump day. Get back on the horse, folks, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is at The Granada Theatre. (We don’t talk about the Granada enough here, it’s a truly wonderful venue and we need to do a better job in that regard.) Conductor David Robertson leads and Mark Sparks – the principal flute of the St. Louis Symphony for over a decade – amazes. This really has the makings of a lovely symphonic performance right here in SB, so hit Maggie’s or Arigato (yo Darrell!) or Scarlett Begonia (yo Joel and Crista!) for an early dinner, or The Marquee for an early drink, and be at the Granada by 7:45pm. Thanks CAMA for making this one happen. Oh, and remember, symphonies can be quite relaxing. It’s ok to fall asleep during the show. www.granadasb.org

For almost 20 years, Rob Kapilow has brought the joy and wonder of classical music, and unraveled some of its mysteries, to audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

What Makes It Great?

Beethoven’s Violin Concerto March 22 7:30pm Lobero Chee-Yun, guest violin soloist

FamilyMusik

Four Seasons March 24 4:30pm Lobero The Four Seasons is a set of beautiful Baroque violin concertos for which Maestro Kapilow has developed his own spin, sure to sweep you away into the mesmerizing world of classical music!

Visit www.sbco.org or call (805) 966-2441 for tickets!

This project is funded in part by the Organizational Development Grant Program using funds provided by the City of Santa Barbara in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission.

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Opinion, stories, events, and people that shape Santa Barbara

sbview.com

Milpas on the Move El Mundo for Menudo

by Sharon Byrne

L

CELEBRATING

TRADITION 36th Annual

Good Friday Breakfast

Randal S. Clark

Keynote Speaker Mar. 29, 7:00-8:45 am Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Resort Enjoy an inspirational morning of praise, music and community fellowship with Randal Clark, CEO of Axia and Board President of Providence Hall Christian School.

Sponsor a table or reserve seats at ciymca.org or call, 687.7720, ext 267.

Advance purchase required.

ChANNEL IsLANDs YMCA Strengthening Santa Barbara and Ventura counties since 1887

ast weekend, Eastside Beat Officer Adrian Gutierrez did a wonderful thing. He pulled off the First Annual Menudo Festival in Santa Barbara, as a fundraiser for the SBPD Youth Explorers program. Explorers are youth aged 14-20 interested in a career in law enforcement.

They have to pass written exams, physicals, and do a lot of community service. The program is run by Beat Officers Beutel, Gutierrez, Reyes and Wojo. Explorers have always been polite and helpful at the Milpas Holiday Parade and neighborhood clean-ups.

For the Menudo Festival, Adrian pulled together 12 stellar Mexican restaurants eager to submit their treasured Menudo recipes in the hopes of winning the title of Best Menudo in Santa Barbara.

Now maybe Menudo is not your thing. I am admittedly a Menudo novice, but have long been intrigued by the particular genius of cooks who take unpalatable, worthless, and discarded meat products, and turn them into something zesty, delicious, and then much coveted. The South has BBQ – stringy, gristly cuts of pork in danger of going off are stewed into something tangy and delicious that people line up to eat. Texas gave us chili – a poor harried camp cook, short on supplies on the trail, has to figure out how to make beans appetizing for yet another night.

The French made bouillabaisse and the Italians came up with zuppa di pesce for the fish no one particularly wants to buy, but is still edible, and they serve it up in a righteously spicy, fragrant tomato-laden stew. The Hindus have curry, and so on.

Everyone was trying to kill a number of birds with one stone: a) take less-thanpremium ingredients and stew them into something appetizing; b) feed people on the cheap, and c) conserve scarce food resources.

In other words, if you’ve got nothing else to eat, concoct something incredible out of something people tend to throw away. Cooking up the premium stuff like lobster and filet mignon is easy. Taking tripe, kidneys, or other throwaway parts, and making them into a highly soughtafter flavorful dish takes some genius.

Consider it a form of early recycling.

Nothing gets wasted, people get fed, and it tastes great. What was reviled now becomes a delicacy.

Enter Menudo, Mexico’s much beloved entry onto this global field.

For the bargain price of $10, this gringa novice was going to get to try 12 samples

Officer Gutierrez with some of the Explorers working the event.

Sample bowls from La Tapatia and Del Pueblo Café.

Turnout was excellent.

Pedro Nava about to tuck into a taste of Menudo.

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Sharon Byrne

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Sharon Byrne is executive director for the Milpas Community Association, and currently serves on the Advisory Boards for the Salvation Army Hospitality House and Santa Barbara County Alcohol and Drug Problems.

sbview.com

THURSDAY MARCH 14

Ladies Night Happy HouR 4PM-7PM

Featuring Brian Kinsella Band Folsom & McLychok.

830PM-1130PM

.

FRIDAY

Locals Night Happy Hour

MARCH 15 With 17 wine tasting rooms in a small area south of Highway 101 and centered just a few blocks from State Street, walking the Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail makes for a complete and fulfilling day

Chief Sanchez danced to a little salsa, clearly not encumbered by all the rich Menudo!

Santos Guzman and his daughter Alicia.

of the best Menudo in the city. Surely this was about the best possible option to venture forth into trying Menudo.

Held at Franklin Elementary, with lively dance music blaring, the crowd was huge, and as diverse as the Menudo itself.

Turnout was excellent.

Turns out everyone has a prized, sacred Menudo recipe, handed down by a revered ancestor. No two Menudos are exactly alike. I was stunned at the differences between the dishes I tasted. It was a wide spectrum: heavy, rich, spicy and complex versions, to clean and simple but still tasty concoctions.

Pedro Nava kindly showed me some of the ropes: I learned to sprinkle oregano liberally, and squeeze some lime in.

Turns out honeycomb tripe is premium.

The broth should be reddish brown in color. Taste it first, and then add some condiments.

I begged each of the restaurants to give me just a small sample – I had 12 of these

to get through! But they all loaded me up, and of course, the homemade soft, warm tortillas (which I cannot resist) were not helping my cause. Six bowls in, I was too full to continue. My partner, a determined Menudo enthusiast who’d arrived in a fairly famished state, was overwhelmed by his seventh bowl. He carried his eighth around for a while, nursing it along, but finally gave up the ghost. I was feeling for the judges, one of whom was Chief Sanchez. How’d they make it through 12?

El Bajio, an excellent tacqueria on Milpas St and an Eastside home-team, was judged to be the best Menudo in Santa Barbara. Congratulations to Santos Guzman, and his daughter Alicia!

I hugged Adrian as I was leaving. He was one happy beat officer. The First Annual Menudo Festival was a raging success. All the beat cops and Explorers had worked really hard to pull it off. They were tired, but happy.

“We’ll definitely do it again next year,” he grinned.

Business Beat

by Tom Bird

Urban Wine Trail

S

anta Barbara’s funk zone is teeming with life and bursting with wine tasting rooms. There are nearly 20 tasting rooms in the downtown region, and all were packed on a Saturday afternoon.

“Created by a group of like-minded wineries, the Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail (SBUWT) offers both novices and aficionados the opportunity to learn about and taste wines of many different varieties and styles crafted from Santa Barbara County’s best vineyards, ” Ryan Carr told Santa Barbara View. “With all seventeen tasting rooms conveniently located in the culturally-emerging ‘Funk Zone’ neighborhood in downtown Santa Barbara, and only blocks from the beach, the SBUWT is the ideal adventure for those who want to sip and savor some

4PM-7PM

Featuring Wolfpack of Two 5PM-7PM

Featuring Dylan Schmidt

“The urban option is a dream for those looking to maximize their wine tasting experience without ever having to leave downtown.”

& The Rhythmic Souls 8PM-11PM

SATURDAY MARCH 16

Music by DJ Ian the Butcher 9PM-1AM

SUNDAY MARCH 17

of Santa Barbara County’s finest wines without wasting precious time on a lengthy car ride.

A uniquely ‘green’ wine tasting experience, this trail can be navigated by foot, bike or even by pedi-cab, and often allows for detours to shop, sight see, and sink your toes in the sand. Rolling hills and breathtaking vineyard views are certainly a treat, but this urban option is a dream for those looking to maximize their wine tasting experience without ever having to leave downtown Santa Barbara.”

Not all the tasting rooms are associated with the Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail, but places like Corks N Crowns and the newly opened Anacapa Vintner Room are drawing crowds and food trucks as well. “The Association includes winery members who hold a Type 02 Winegrowers License, have a winery facility in Santa Barbara County, and whose annual production is at least 75% Santa Barbara County, Carr explained.

“The SBUWT,” he says, “creates marketing tools such as a map of the area, passports, and takes on any worthwhile opportunity to increase the patronage of the downtown wineries. All the revenue created by this enterprise will be used to promote and benefit the wineries in the SBUWT. There are other tasting room in the Funk Zone,” Ryan concludes, “but they do not fit our guidelines to be members.”

*ST PATRICK’S DAY* PARTY LIVE MUSIC DRINK SPECIALS ALL DAY Karaoke Hosted by Will “Uptown” Brown 6PM-11PM

MONDAY

Industry Night

MARCH 18

TUESDAY MARCH 19

Brian Kinsella’s Open Mic Night 8PM-11PM

WEDNESDAY

All Night Happy Hour W/ M&M

MARCH 20

Live Jazz Featuring

Justin Claveria Jazz Trio 7PM-10PM

THURSDAY MARCH 21

Ladies Night Happy Hour 4PM-7PM

Featuring Brian Kinsella Band 830PM-1130PM

805-845-8800 3126 STATE ST

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The Weekly Capitalist

by Jeff Harding

Jeff Harding publishes The Daily Capitalist, a blog on economics and finance. He is the president of Montecito Analytics, LLC, and is a real estate investor who lives in Montecito.

Hugo Chavez: Goodbye and Good Riddance

T

he recently and fortunately deceased Hugo Chávez is the man who almost single-handedly destroyed Venezuela. El Commandante, as he was known, established a socialist regime that impoverished the nation. Venezuela is now the murder and violence capital of South America. Inflation is high, officially about 22% but much higher on the street, food is in short supply because of price controls and nationalization of farms and markets, oil production in this state-owned hollowed out oil-rich country plunged almost one-third and is declining, industrial production and the economy has stagnated, armed Chavista bands roam the country, and the regime suppresses opposition.

Yet his supporters poured into the streets, awash in tears, mourning El Commandante. Why? They should be cheering the man’s demise in the hope that the country will turn around. The tears come from the poor who have benefited slightly from Chávez’s largess.

The bottom line is that while their lot has benefited somewhat, his social programs cannot and will not last. Oil production and industrial output is falling and the private economy is a mess.

In other words, as Maggie Thatcher said, socialism is great until you run out of other people’s money. You can’t relieve poverty by taking from the rich and giving to the poor.

The proof is in the reality: not much

has changed despite the Chavista revolution. The poor are still poor, the rich are still fairly rich, and the middleclass, or what’s left of it, hates Chávez and everything he stands for.

Chávez was a walking, talking economics lesson. How To Ruin A Country, or What Not To Do, by Hugo Chávez. Literally everything the man touched turned bad. While the poor thought they were benefiting they went backwards through inflation, shortages of food and goods, and lost productive jobs. The middle-class lost most of their savings. What he called the bourgeoisie, the middle-class small business owners, faced losses, intimidation, and ruin.

There was one group that actually did pretty well: the “Bolivarian bourgeoisie.”

These were his cronies that were given special economic privileges and got rich.

While he claims to be a Bolivarian reformer, he was nothing like the aristocrat Bolivar, but rather like the communist guerilla Che Guevara.

Chávez saw himself as a romantic figure like Che and many of his images even look similar to Che, red beret and all. He aligned himself with his idol and patrón, Fidel Castro. The only similarity to Bolívar was that they were both dictators.

Chávez was a clown and a megalomaniac. He was a throwback if you will, unsuited to the modern world and the evidence bears that out.

King Juan Carlos of Spain once told

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him during a Chávez rant at a summit, “Why don’t you shut up.” (“Por qué no te callas?”) Yet he wouldn’t and didn’t shut up. He loved to strut and speak (for hours) and was carried away by his power to sway the poor and ignorant. He loved to see giant posters of himself at rallies and on billboards. His speeches were long nonsensical diatribes against his enemies; he blamed every failure on the U.S. or the bourgeoisie. He claimed that socialism was, and I quote, “[T]he kingdom of God on earth. The kingdom of peace, justice, and equality.

What Christ came to announce more

“Chávez was a clown and a megalomaniac.

He was a throwback if you will, unsuited to the modern world and the evidence bears that out.” than 2,000 years ago.” Not too many leaders are egotistical enough to compare themselves to Christ.

But he couldn’t deliver. Venezuela is not peaceful, just, or equal as he claimed.

He ended up being no different than many Latin American dictators known as caudillos. A caudillo is a powerful, charismatic, populist strongman.

History is rife with them. Chávez, like many caudillos, was a soldier and had the army behind him. He armed some former revolutionary groups who existed unchecked as “guardians of the revolution.” The thin veneer of democracy and human rights was an illusion. He

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oppressed the owners of businesses, stole (nationalized) property and businesses of his opponents, suppressed the press, and ruled as a dictator.

Why do we keep having caudillos like Chávez? You would think that the record of people like Chavez and Castro would turn people off and lead them to seek another path. You would think that famous Chavistas like Danny Glover, Harry Belafonte, Oliver Stone, Cindy Sheehan, and Sean Penn would see that. You would think his disillusioned followers would look to rich capitalist countries as exemplars; countries that respect human rights, property rights, and the rule of law. This is the path that Chile has taken and it has the best economic and political system in Latin America. And it doesn’t have the luxury of oil like Venezuela to bail out bad decisions made by the government.

The answer is that Latin America has never embraced capitalism. It has embraced crony capitalism by which the government hands out favors and monopolies to its supporters who seek to insulate themselves from competition. It has embraced various forms of populism and socialism that seek government control over the economy. It has embraced oligarchies and dictatorships.

All of these systems concentrate wealth into the hands of the few and powerful.

Capitalism, true capitalism, distributes wealth and power throughout the population. That is why capitalist countries are rich and the rest are poor.

I say goodbye and good riddance to Hugo Chávez. I’ve had a lot of fun over the years ridiculing him and forecasting correctly the path the Venezuelan economy has taken. The world doesn’t need Robin Hoods, caudillos, dictators, and megalomaniacs. It needs people who can produce, not redistribute, wealth. I wish the people of Venezuela luck, but the future is not rosy.

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Investment Services Since 1890 The FDIC-Insured Bank Deposit Program provides up to $2.5 million of FDIC coverage (or $5 million for joint accounts as defined in the Insured Bank Deposit Program Terms and Conditions brochure), subject to any limitations. You should request and read the Terms and Conditions brochure carefully before choosing to partcipate in this program. FDIC insurance coverage pertains only to bank products available through Stifel Nicolaus. Investment products offered through Stifel Nicolaus are not FDIC-insured, not bank guaranteed, and may lose value.

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www.presidiosports.com Presidio Sports is a provider of local sports news and information for the Santa Barbara community. Founded in 2008, the small team at Presidio has covered hundreds of local sporting events and published thousands of articles connected to Santa Barbara’s athletic community. Please visit their website for more local sports news and information.

PRESS LUNCHEON: Olympic Gold Medalist Almost Hit By Javelin Throw

by John Dvorak

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orld champion decathlete Ashton Eaton recently had a close call with a javelin while training on Westmont’s campus, where the recent Gold Medal winner will be participating in the Sam Adams Multi Events meet on April 6.

It’s an event Warriors track & field coach Russell Smelley encouraged the community to come see at Monday’s Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon.

Eaton won the Gold Medal in the decathlon in London in 2012. The justturned-25 year old hopes to repeat again at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero in 2016.

Smelley tried to explain the measure of Eaton’s athletic excellence.

How great an athlete is he? His coach, who worked with Sam Adams, says, “If he trained for it, he could break the world record in the 110 meter hurdles. If he trained for it, he could break the world record in the pole vault. If he trained for it, he could break the world record in the long jump.”

Just a few days ago, Smelley watched as Eaton dodged a stray javelin throw that Smelley said would have speared most people.

“I can see Ashton is about to have a javelin enter his body just below his shoulder blade,” Smelley said.

Smelley said Eaton made a “Matrixtype move” in order to get out of the way, but still received a small nick on his upper lip despite his amazing agility.

Smelley said it was a strong reminder to always reinforce the safety standards on the track.

“To remind athletes that the javelin doesn’t care who won the gold medal,” Smelley said.

Many of the local high schools will be competing at Westmont’s track this Saturday. Track & Field student-athletes at the luncheon included San Marcos’ Joe Prince, Jesus Munoz, Caroline Vance, Kaitlyn Kuehn, Carpinteria’s Xavier De Alba, Matt Kllewer, Kyle Millhollin, and UCSB’s Mitchell Haag and Maxwell Villabla.

The four Royals are part of the largest turnout for track that San Marcos coach Marilyn Hantgin has ever experienced with 243 kids. Hantgin, who is carrying a surrogate baby for her sister this spring,

Special Olympics Athlete of the Month Gerry Raphaelli.

Female Athlete of the Week, Charger Veronika Gulvin.

Ashton Eaton tosses the shot put while training at Westmont College in 2012. (Presidio Sports Photo)

happened to give birth 14 years ago today.

There were just as many softball players, representing Dos Pueblos, San Marcos, Carpinteria and Bishop Diego.

Dos Pueblos brought three players that keyed a tournament championship in Simi Valley on Saturday. The Chargers were represented by Athlete of the Week Veronika Gulvin, tournament defensive MVP Haley Peterson and tournament offensive MVP Chloe Madill.

Gulvin was voted Athlete of the Week after pitching an 18-strikeout no-hitter in the championship game.

San Marcos head coach Jeff Swann is counting on juniors Stephanie Swann and Vicki Villegas to be important pieces of this year’s team, which is off to a rocky start because of injuries.

For Carpinteria and Bishop Diego, pitchers Catalina Maldonado and Madison Ballard-Rozok were introduced as team leaders who will see a bulk of the time in the pitcher’s circle this season for their respective teams. The Warriors have moved up to the Tri-Valley League after a CIF semifinal season last year out of the Frontier League.

Bishop Diego’s Ali Everson was there on Monday, as was Carpinteria’s Elena Schneider and Erin Saito.

Also there from Bishop Diego were Troy Skinner, Chandler Swift, Spencer Ekola and Tyler Greenwald.

From Carpinteria, tennis players Ben Murray and David Harms were selected to attend.

Dos Pueblos’ tennis coach Liz Frech brought her two junior captains Mason Casady and Ankush Khemani.

“They are energetic young men who bring the team together,” Frech said.

“From pep talks, workouts, fundraisers, and other team activities.”

The male Athlete of the Week was Jonah Seif, UCSB’s starting freshman setter. Seif and the Gauchos won two important MPSF matches over the weekend, including a 3-set sweep of Stanford on Friday in which Seif recorded 41 assists.

Gerry Raphielli was presented as the Special Olympics Athlete of the Month.

Award sponsor Aaron Brown, of Edward Jones Financial, remembered fondly the first time he met Gerry, who was wearing a jersey that had the name “G-Money” on it.

“I go over to Gerry and say, ‘Hey Gerry, what’s G-Money all about?” Brown recalled.

“And he goes, ‘Well, G is the initial of my first name and money is who I am, so G-Money.’ I figured this was going to be a good little season. It’s been seven years since then.”

Raphielli, at 56 years old, has been competing for Special Olympics since he was 18 and is now a player-coach for the basketball team. Raphielli stands 6’8 tall and is known for his shot-blocking ability.

The Athletic Round Table will host its weekly press luncheon next week at Harry’s Plaza Café as well as its annual Prelude to March Madness event that evening at the Cabrillo Arts Pavilion.

STUDENT-ATHLETES PRESENT: Stephanie Swann, San Marcos Softball Vicki Villegas, San Marcos Softball Chris Newton, San Marcos Volleyball Christian Widmer, S an Marcos Volleyball

Male Athlete of the Week, UCSB’s starting freshman setter Jonah Seif.

Mason Casady, Dos Pueblos Tennis Ankush Khemani, Dos Pueblos Tennis Ben Murray, Carpinteria Tennis David Harms, Carpinteria Tennis Elena Schneider, Carpinteria Softball Catalina Maldonado, Carpinteria Softball Erin Saito, Carpinteria Softball Xavier De Alba, Carpinteria Track Matt Kllewer, Carpinteria Track Kyle Millhollin, Carpinteria Track Chloe Madill, Dos Pueblos Softball Haley Peterson, Dos Pueblos Softball Veronika Gulvin, Dos Pueblos Softball Joe Prince, San Marcos Track Jesus Munoz, San Marcos Track Caroline Vance, San Marcos Track Kaitlyn Kuehn, San Marcos Track Madison Ballard-Rozok, Bishop Diego Softball Ali Everson, Bishop Diego Softball Troy Skinner, Bishop Diego Volleyball Chandler Swift, Bishop Diego Volleyball Spencer Ekola, Bishop Diego Tennis Tyler Greenwald, Bishop Diego Tennis Mitchell Haag, UCSB Track Maxwell Villalba, UCSB Track

Sports Figure of the Month: Westmont’s Tugce Canitez

By Randy Weiss

A

s her two years of excellence on the Westmont basketball court comes to a close at the NAIA National Championship Tournament, Tugce Canitez (pronounced ‘touché zhan-a-tez – ‘Tooch’ for short), a senior forward from Izmir, Turkey, has been named Presidio Sports’ Santa Barbara Sports Figure of the Month.

Not only is her playing style solid, unselfish and often spectacular, but Canitez’s stats are staggering – she averages a ‘double-double’ (21.5 PPG/12.3RPG), has had a Westmont record shattering 42 point outburst in one game and a ‘young Shaq-like’ 27 points, 20 ‘bounds in another – and they certainly do not tell anywhere near the full story.

During the nine-week regular season, she was named Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) Player of the Week (five times), National Player of the Week (four times), and was recently announced as the repeating GSAC Player of the Year.

She will most likely be named as NAIA National Player of the Year for the second

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straight year.

“In her two years at Westmont, Tugce has re-written the Warrior record books,” says Ron Smith, the college’s sports information director. “What is even more impressive to me is that she is a team player who cares deeply about her teammates and helps to elevate their performance on the court.”

“She is the most unselfish team player I have ever seen or coached,” states Kirsten Moore, in her eighth season as Westmont’s women’s head basketball coach.

“It’s not about herself,” adds Moore.

“Tooch will do whatever it takes to win and make her team better. And that’s why she’s a winner.”

And win she has, starting with her very first team.

“When I was in the fifth grade, my trainer said, ‘You are very tall. Would you like to play basketball?’ I said, ‘No’,” shares Canitez, now 22.

“The next year, he asked me again. My parents said that they would support me, so I said yes. I was awful at first but I loved it! The other girls helped me. We won the league championship.”

Canitez continued to grow and improve her game.

By high school, she was 6’2’’ and the tallest girl in her class.

“I didn’t like it then but I love it now,” she offers with a killer smile.

With help from her trainer, she came over to play college b-ball in America.

First stop: North Idaho JC

“T

hat first year was really hard with a different language and culture.

And it was very cold. I thought I was crazy! But I just loved playing basketball,” she told Presidio Sports.

She led her Lady Cardinal team to the NJCAA Tournament in her first year.

In her second year, they were NJCAA champs. Tooch had a ‘double-double’ (15 points/12 rebounds) in the title game.

After JC, the lure to play immediately in a warmer climate ultimately led her to Westmont.

“I thought California would be a pretty cool place. Warmer too!” she adds.

And she hasn’t looked back.

In fact, it has been an amazing year for Canitez starting last summer with playing on the London Olympics world stage for Turkey’s National Women’s Team.

“She was the youngest player on that team by, at least, two years. She could now be considered as the future of women’s basketball in her country,” says Coach Kirsten.

Watch for Canitez in the Brazil 2016 Olympics!

“I’m taking my daughter Alexis so we can watch her,” smiles Coach Kirsten.

And these Warriors will again bank on Canitez’s worldly basketball experience in this week’s NAIA National Tournament.

The team (25-4 overall; 14-0 in league) is ranked #4 in the country and

is currently in Kentucky where, as the #1 seed in their bracket, they will play the University of Cumberlands (#8 seed from Kentucky) in their tournament opener on Thursday.

And as Canitez wraps up her celebrated collegiate hoops career, she also finishes strong in the classroom.

She has applied this same grit, determination and incredible work effort to her studies. In May, she’ll ‘walk’ to receive her bachelor’s degree in Social Science.

“The fact that she will graduate on time is amazing and we are so excited for her.

She has been so committed to getting her degree that she even chose to take independent study classes during the Olympics,” shares Moore. “Westmont is such a tough school academically, and she has had to work ten times as hard as a normal student because of the language barrier.”

Next Stop: WNBA?

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hile Canitez has a very bright international basketball future, on April 15 she will learn if her pro dreams come true with the WNBA Draft.

“I’ve always wanted to play in the WNBA,” she shares.

“Very humble, kind and compassionate.

Just an amazing young woman is how we would describe her,” Kim and John Schuck chime in on Canitez (they’re her “American parents” as she calls them).

“We love her like our own daughter.”

She has already left her imprint on Westmont’s idyllic campus, on the sports community and all those Tooch has touched …

“Tugce is a phenomenal athlete and an even better person,” exclaims Westmont President Gayle Beebe. “She exhibits a profound love for humanity and a respect for all whom she encounters.

The Westmont community has been greatly enriched by her presence and will be forever impacted by the time she has spent on our campus and becoming a part of the rich fabric of our lives.”

It’s safe to say that on the basketball court, in the classroom and in life itself, our Sports Figure of the Month Tugce Canitez has been ‘doing the work.’

And especially right here in the warm California sun.

The best way she sums up her Santa Barbara experience?

“I’m glad I’m here. I have great teammates and coaches… It’s home.”

WEEKEND CALENDAR

By Barry Punzal

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repare for an invasion of high school boys volleyball players this weekend, as our community plays host to a pair tournaments on Saturday, featuring 42 teams.

Thirty teams, including all five Channel League schools, will take part in the

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Saugus, Newbury Park, Buena, Capo Valley, San Luis Obispo, Notre Dame; Royal, Oaks Christian, Birmingham Charter, St. Margaret’s, Ventura.

Teams in the Laguna Blanca Classic: Laguna Blanca, Saddleback Valley Christian, Ontario Christian, Mission Prep, Beverly Hills, Orcutt Academy, Carpinteria, Windward, St. Joseph’s SM, Providence Hall, Bishop Diego, Santa Maria.

Other events worth checking out: Sports Figure of the Month, Westmont’s Tugce Canitez.

38th annual Dos Pueblos Invitational at UCSB’s Events Center.

A few exits south on Highway 101, Laguna Blanca is hosting the Laguna Blanca Volleyball Classic at Bishop Diego’s two gymnasiums. The 12-team field features Saddleback Valley Christian, the No. 1-ranked team in CIF-SS Division 5, Windward, the No. 8 team in Division 3 and local schools Laguna Blanca (No. 2 in Division 5), Bishop Diego and Providence Hall.

Pool play for the Laguna Blanca Classic begins at 8:30am and the playoffs are expected to start around 2pm.

The DPI starts at 8am, with the playoffs starting around 3pm.

Five CIF-ranked teams are among the field in the Dos Pueblos Invitational.

Oak Park and Santa Barbara are first and second in Division 2, Dos Pueblos is rated sixth and Oaks Christian is eighth in the latest poll. The other ranked team is Rio Mesa, No. 6 in Division 3.

The DPI also features L.A. City Section perennial power Palisades, which is coached by beach volleyball legend Randy Stoklos.

List of teams for the DPI: Dos Pueblos, Agoura, Crespi, Rio Mesa, Righetti, Oak Park, Alemany, San Diego-Mt. Carmel, Granada Hills, Oxnard; San Marcos, Simi Valley, Walnut Creek-Las Lomas, Hart, Palisades Charter, Santa Barbara, Arroyo Grande, Harvard Westlake, Santa Ynez,

FRIDAY, March 15 COLLEGE BASEBALL: Sacramento State at UCSB, 3pm – The Gauchos open a three-game series against the Hornets, who have won seven of their last nine.

BOYS TENNIS: Dos Pueblos at San Marcos, 2:30pm – Crosstown rivals meet in a key Channel League match.

COLLEGE TRACK: Santa Barbara Easter Relays, community college division, La Playa Stadium, 9am – The Vaqueros host schools from all over the state in this annual meet. Sprinter Cody Bidlow and 400-meter hurdler Tristan Lake lead the SBCC men and thrower Kaytee Krivulka leads the women’s team.

SATURDAY, MARCH 16 PREP TRACK: Tri-City Relays, at Westmont College, 9am – Local high school teams compete at the beautiful facility at Westmont.

SUNDAY, MARCH 17 WOMEN’S WATER POLO: UCSB vs. St. Francis, Marist, Iona, 8am, 10:30, 5pm – The Gauchos take on a trio of teams from the New York area.

TUESDAY, MARCH 19 PREP BASEBALL: Dos Pueblos at San Marcos, 3:15pm – The first crosstown game of the Channel League season.

PREP SOFTBALL: San Marcos at Dos Pueblos 4pm – These rivals feature outstanding pitchers: Kristen Berlo of San Marcos and Veronika Gulvin of Dos Pueblos.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL: Dos Pueblos at San Marcos, 6pm – The Channel League volleyball race figures to be tight, so be prepared for several five-set matches.

Join Santa Barbara’s Largest NCAA Tournament Bracket Contest The NCAA Tournament is almost here, and local sports fans have an opportunity to make sure everyone knows who can pick the best bracket in town.

Presidio Sports and the Santa Barbara Brewing Company have joined forces this year to host Santa Barbara’s largest NCAA March Madness Pick ‘em game.

It’s free to participate, with the winner getting his or her picture printed in the Sentinel and featured in an article on PresidioSports.com.

Register online at PresidioSports.com/Bracket That’s not all, as the winner also receives a 90-minute deep-tissue sports massage at Spa Del Mar at the Fess Parker Doubletree Resort and a relaxing day at the resort.

A number of other prizes will be handed out, including a gift card to Santa Barbara Brewing Company and gift cards to Key 2 Fitness. Keep an eye out for the Presidio Sports street team on State Street this weekend. We will be handing out registration cards and coupons for Santa Barbara Brewing Company.

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with Mark Leisure

Mark spends much of his time wandering Santa Barbara and environs, enjoying the simple things that come his way. A show here, a benefit there, he is generally out and about and typically has a good time. He says that he writes “when he feels the urge” and doesn’t want his identity known for fear of an experience that is “less than authentic.”

So he remains at large, roaming the town, having fun. Be warned.

Bargain Shopping? It’s Element-al

A

s a man of leisure – but a thrifty one, how else could I afford this lifestyle? – I’ve been known to take a stroll through yard sales and flea markets, searching for good deals on stuff I use, or better yet things I didn’t even know I needed until I found them.

This weekend there’s a great opportunity to both hunt for bargains and support the local arts at Elements Theatre Collective’s spring yard sale.

The fledgling company’s fourth sale takes place Saturday 7am-2pm and Sunday 11am-2pm, and features books, clothes, collectibles, furniture, CDs, DVDs and a whole lot of other things donated by company members, colleagues, family and friends, so you might find some quirky treasures in there, too.

Elements – whose mission is to provide free, accessible and professional quality theatre to underserved communities – has already produced a number of small but mighty works in its short

Atlanta rock band the Black Lips hit the stage at SOhO on Thursday, presented by Club Mercy.

The premiere of Jonathan Leshnoff’s Concerto Grosso will take place during Santa Barbara Symphony’s “American Masterpieces” concert this weekend at the Granada.

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time in town, including the apocalyptic romantic comedy boom, the funny and touching chronicle of a pain-prone 30year friendship Gruesome Playground Injuries, and, most recently, Or, the imaginative period piece about 17th century feminist playwright Aphra Behn.

The company stages its works as pop-up theatre events at locales ranging from a bookstore’s cement backyard to an empty swimming pool, a hookah lounge and a homeless shelter, truly bringing the arts to the masses, or at least to the people.

And there’s never an admission charge.

So they really can use every penny they raise at the yard sale.

The sale takes place at 618 W. Canon Perdido Street, where we’re sure you’ll run into co-artistic director Emily Jewell, the versatile actress who has starred in a couple of Elements’ production, appeared in several of fellow indy Out of the Box’s shows, and also played a Bad News Bear in SBCC’s Avenue Q. Be sure to ask her about what’s next for Elements, especially the progress of Training, the new musical

by Joe Schermann the company will be premiering soon.

By the way, Elements also produced the super fun Grease Sing-A-Long at the Marjorie Luke last fall, so maybe it’s time see what Jewell & Co. are cooking up along those lines.

Details? Donations? Call 232-4382 or email elementstheatrecollective@gmail. com.

Strings & Keys & Stars & Stripes

O

ver here at Sentinel central, we’re not sure what prompted the Santa Barbara Symphony to get all patriotic in the middle of March, but count us in for the “American Masterpieces” concerts Saturday night and Sunday afternoon at the Granada.

The performances begin with the world premiere of Baltimore-based composer Jonathan Leshnoff’s Concerto Grosso in the Baroque Style, commissioned by the symphony from the not-yet-40 but terrifically prolific composer to celebrate its 60th anniversary this season. We’re told the tuneful piece is frothy fare with many chances for the orchestra’s principal players to shine.

The program features Xiayin Wang – who has concertized in New York’s famed Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center – as guest soloist for Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F, not as well known as his “Rhapsody in Blue” but a piece that was equally inspired by the Americanbred genres of jazz, blues and ragtime.

In between comes Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, drawn from the great classic Broadway musical score

by Leonard Bernstein. We’re looking forward to the full orchestral treatment rather than the snippets one hears at pops concerts.

Feel free to wear your flag lapel pin to this all-American affair if you must, but rest assured there will be no Pledge of Allegiance before the concert.

Short Cuts

P

unk? Power pop? Ska? We got you covered as we head into next weekend.

The Black Lips, the self-describe “flower punk” band from Atlanta, bring their rowdy raucous rock to SOhO in a Club Mercy show on Thursday. The Specials – the 2-Tone ska revival band still going strong 35 years after they formed in England – skank it on in to the Majestic Ventura Theater on Saturday night, which is also when the Tearaways, Santa Barbara’s pure power pop answer to the Beatles (they’ve even backed up Badfinger), does one of their periodic hometown gigs at SOhO.

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Kelvin threads film through the vintage film playing device.

with Julie Bifano Ms Bifano is Drawn to micro-fiction and is currently writing her first novel – “The Grace Below.” She has a B.A. in English with an emphasis in writing from the University of San Francisco and a M.F.A. in Creative Writing, also from the University of San Francisco. More of Julie’s stories and poetry can be viewed on her website juliebifano.com.

Passion Pit West Wind Santa Barbara Drive-In employee Esteban Flores poses with manager Kelvin Mendoza.

A

s summer approaches, it is a perfect time to beat the crowds and head out to the West Wind Santa Barbara Drive-In. Somehow, I had never experienced seeing a film from inside the relaxed comfort of my car. Driving out to the 907 South Kellogg Avenue location was tricky in the dark. Make sure you have your co-pilot or GPS ready with a map on hand. There were some swerving roads and construction, but finally after a few wrong turns down dead end streets I detected the mammoth screen in the distance playing a preview.

I drove down a winding gravel road and felt suddenly as though I was in the Midwest or the middle of nowhere. There was a sleepy, nostalgic mood. I drove up to the miniature box office attended by one person. He proceeded to tell me they only take cash, so I would need to go inside the snack shack to use the ATM. I did a double take at the prices on the box office. It was $6.95 for general admission?

Holy cheap! I was excited and hastily drove over to the retro snack shack. I pulled out a $20 and headed back to pay the attendant. I paid and the attendant told me to tune in to 96.9 FM in my car to hear the movie. I noticed the additional reasonable pricing: Special Tuesday Price: $4.95 (approximately half the cost of standard movie theaters), Children aged 5-11 $1.00, and Children 4 and under free. In addition to the economical ticket fare, there are three free movies a year, with one coming up April 25 (gates open at 6pm, movie starts at 8pm). Additionally, if they ever play two or three movies, you only pay for the price of one. Was this too good to be true? I had questions for the manager, Kelvin Mendoza. I meandered over loose rocks, dust and gravel to meet Kelvin in the old school snack shack.

Not only did Kelvin verify the affordable theater pricing, he also informed me of the cheap eats and drinks at the snack shack.

I immediately eyed the glass bottled Pepsi

A side view of the projector at the West Wind Santa Barbara Drive-In.

volume to the sound level I preferred. If your car dies, they supply a car charger for you, so you can get back to viewing the movie promptly. Kelvin described, “It’s a family environment and great to watch the movies in the comfort of your car.” I could not agree more, and

to answer my mother’s question “Was it too cold?” I expressed, “No. We live in Santa Barbara.” If worried of weather conditions, bring a blanket and maybe even a make-out buddy!

For more info go to www.westwinddi. com.

The drive-in will soon switch to digital film, so catch a (very reasonably priced) flick there while it’s still using the old-fashion film reel.

section (vintage Pepsi bottles are $3). There were also Pixy Stix, the long plastic straw candy filled with flavored sugar for $1, and collectible buckets of popcorn with two free refills for $6.50. Other items included: churros, pretzels with cheese sauce, ice cream, and a wide variety of other candies.

Had I died and gone to retro heaven? I am a self-proclaimed foodie and so I decided on the salty and sweet options, which included the bucket of popcorn, a churro, and of course, I could not pass up the vintage glass bottled Pepsi.

Kelvin informed me that the drive-in re-opened in the summer of 2010, after being closed for many years. How had I not known about this hidden gem for three whole years? Kelvin showed me the projector room and I was excited to learn that they still thread real film.

Since they are going digital soon, I was happy to have caught the old-fashioned film reel while it’s still around. Kelvin welcomed the small crowd (seven cars to be exact) and then the movie began.

I kicked my feet up in my car, which I always feel rude about doing in indoor movie theaters, and tuned in to 96.9 FM for my first drive-in movie theater experience. It was cozy and comfortable sinking into the car cushion, and I wasn’t embarrassed to chomp my popcorn or slurp my Pepsi. I could also turn the

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...continued from p.5

That’s really sort of the back entrance to Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company’s beer garden off Helena. And the building on the far side of the driveway-cum-pedestrian thoroughfare is the production facility for Avelina Winery. Wow. (rendering: AB Design Studio, Inc.)

Taken from the west side of Helena, this is a “before” shot of what will soon be the Avelina Winery production facility. And Fig Mountain’s beer garden and brewery will be on the left, on the corner with Yanonali.

Outdoor seating for the tasting rooms and distillery, looking from The Lark. (rendering: AB Design Studio, Inc.)

things within a couple blocks in any direction – as the Funk Zone evolves.

Very cool.

The Lark The Lark itself is a nice example of that responsible development mentioned above, and I am convinced it will be something to cherish.

“We’re really preserving the architectural integrity of the building,” Sherry says, “while at the same time enhancing and modernizing from a design and layout perspective. AB

Design Studio, Inc., Doug Washington Design and Young Construction have done a truly fantastic job designing and building not just the broader project but working with The Lark specifically and doing most of the tenants’ improvements as well.”

Even apart from the structures themselves, Sherry has sought to preserve historical significance. The very name of the restaurant is a nod to the importance of the railroad to the early development of Santa Barbara and the success of the Castagnola family, which built the original structure in the 1920s as a

This is a wide shot of the northwest portion of the project before construction began.

commercial fish processing plant just a few feet from the old railroad tracks. The Lark was a deluxe all-Pullman overnight passenger train of the Southern Pacific Company on the 470-mile run between San Francisco and Los Angeles that first launched service in the early 1900s, and was one of two trains that stopped in Santa Barbara during its voyages. The Lark Club, a diner-tavern-lounge aboard the train, offered relaxation and fine dining for riders.

In an effort to continue that tradition,

Sherry has brought together a very interesting team representing some of the heights of the contemporary culinary, wine and cocktail movement. From Chef Jason Paluska (of RN74 fame, for you foodie-folks out there) to young rockstar Sommeliers Brian McClintic (a Master) and Eric Railsback – you know who they are if you just saw SOMM at the Film Fest (I did and it was great) – and General Manager Dan Russo (yet another RN74 grad). There is much ...continued p.25

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...continued from p.21 be put on a freight train bound for a death camp? Patently ridiculous. But do I think that something needs to change in the way that some of those less responsible homeless folks act and are treated? Absolutely. None of us – yourself included – should be forced to deal with their (sometimes quite dangerous) antics that waste resources and time and energy.

Two last thoughts: (1) I’d love to hear more about the “good reasons” you prefer not to be in the shelters listed above, and (2) the folks at the Coffee Cat are indeed “really nice.” They put up with me sitting in there and writing all the time.

Anyway, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it, Jose. I’m glad for the letter and wish you the very best. – MSM)

Some People Just Hate Crime Time…

Dear Editors – Your glib sophomoric manner of reporting vicious crimes with a jokey “observation” tacked on is really quite obnoxious.

Adding a jolly little phrase such as “don’t hit girls” at the end of the report of a vicious crime is inappropriate and does not make up for turning the report into a joke.

Grow up.

Get real.

J. Wilson Santa Barbara (Editor’s Note: Ok. I’ll get real. The reality is that women – wives, girlfriends, sisters and daughters – are abused each and every day all over town, without regard to color, religion, socio-economic status or anything else. It’s disgusting, frankly, and yet we as a society tolerate it. (If we didn’t, then it would at least arguably stop.) I have a wife and two daughters as well as two sisters and a mother and don’t find it funny in the slightest. But that doesn’t mean that this free weekly opinion-based publication has to start every story in the crime blotter with something like, “In yet another horrifying story of violent abuse…” or “Shocking child abuse scandal rips Santa Barbara apart at the seams…” or whatever.

Go to the national media outlets for that stuff. And if you’d ever like a change from the uber-politically correct, fear-mongering and sensationalist tendencies to which we have all (quite apathetically) grown so accustomed, pick us up again and have a read. Rest assured, we will be right there on the rack in your favorite coffee shop doing our very best to bring attention to issues in Santa Barbara in a different way. Thanks for the letter. – MSM)

(Editor’s Note: Thanks Lisa, I’m glad you enjoyed the read. You’re right, we hit the streets every Friday (in some places Thursday night) and you can pick us up at Chaucer’s, the Uptown Lounge and San Roque Market and Liquor (and from a variety of city racks in the neighborhood). We are also at Whole Foods and the YMCA as well as lots of other places up that way. Thanks again and please do keep reading. – MSM)

Conservatorship Woes, Part II When I was put under conservatorship by a judge, I had no idea what was going on. The judge spoke so quietly that I didn’t even know what happened until later, when I found that they’d emptied and closed out my bank accounts, and are receiving my mail and social security checks, all within the law.

If I try to get free, I will have to pay their lawyer, as well as my own, wiping out my remaining assets.

When I went out of town to visit my granddaughter, they changed the locks on my residence and rented it, giving the renter a year’s lease, so when I returned to Santa Barbara, I had to look for a place to live. Right now I’m living in one room.

Flora West Santa Barbara (Editor’s Note: Thanks for taking the time to write, Flora, I appreciate it. I mean no disrespect at all, but the fact is that I don’t have much to say beyond what I said last week in my response to Bryan Rosen’s letter entitled “A Need for Oversight in Conservatorship System in Santa Barbara” (Vol. 2, Issue 9; page 23). While that response is too long to re-print here, I will reiterate both that I (a) support people’s personal freedoms and inalienable rights and (b) applaud the call to keep watch. (For at the end of the day, quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)

I would love to hear from others on this issue, and perhaps especially from folks on the other side of the proverbial table.

Come to think of it, maybe I will pop into one of the conservatorship calendars at the courthouse to get a feel myself. And, Flora, this is not legal advice but you should really make sure you talk to a qualified attorney who can help you here – there are some good ones out there, believe it or not, it’s sort of like finding a good mechanic. Ask around, talk to people you trust with similar issues and find somebody who doesn’t smile too widely and fix your brakes while simultaneously sabotaging your carburetor. Thanks again

for the letter and please do keep us informed of your circumstances. – MSM)

A Chimpanzee and an Orangutan Walk Into a Bar Earth is over four and a half billion years old. The seven billion humans alive today are unaware the consequences of their actions are close to being irreversible.

Animals, and others in the natural world, meet to decide if they will attempt to help the human species understand the necessity of changing their thinking and attitudes. In the hope that imagination will always triumph over cruelty, they enlist the help of young people from Namibia, Denmark, the United States, India, Lebanon, Russia and the Czech Republic.

After two incidents get the world’s attention, a Chimpanzee and an Orangutan, using sign language, hire an attorney to bring a legal action against the human species for deprived indifference.

Young people are named as co-defendants.

Anonymous Santa Barbara (Editor’s Note: This is interesting. I’m pretty sure it’s a book pitch but it was basically loose in our post office box so I cannot be positive. In any event, here are my totally unsolicited two cents – and remember, I have absolutely zero experience that might qualify me to proffer an opinion on book writing and/or pitching. With that said, however, I am a litigation attorney who has participated in the defense of a number of class actions (though, admittedly, it has been a few years). So here goes.

The putative class – I assume that the Chimp and Orangutan are representatives of a broad swath of animals and “others in the natural world” – is likely to have a few challenges in the American legal system.

First, it is unclear whether those particular class representatives will adequately protect the interests of the entire class (this is typically known as the “adequacy” analysis); how might two primates stand up for the rights of mere fish? Or the great birds? This really highlights and dovetails with the second issues – the commonality and typicality analyses. While I suppose I see how the same set of irresponsible human conduct gives rise to a common set of legal issues amongst the class, there will be vast differences in, for example, the legal claims (and their factual bases) of the ocean-going creatures versus those of the land or the air. That’s a problem for class certification too. And while the class vehicle is likely better than billions

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and billions of individual lawsuits further clogging our overworked judicial system and thus more appropriate for this type of litigation (thereby satisfying the numerosity requirement), getting notice to all putative class members is just a logistical nightmare in these circumstances. I mean, how in the hell do you get notice to salamanders in Borneo and dung beetles in South Africa?

Even a Chimp and an Orangutan who communicate with their lawyer via sign language might not be able to solve that one.

Oh wait, I have an idea. Maybe we could get an aggressive judicial activist to permit service by publication in the Sentinel. (Hey Tim, I’ve solved our money problems! Well, assuming these animals and others in the natural world have money to pay for service, that is.)

Thanks for the letter or book pitch (or whatever). I’m available at my normal hourly rate for any consulting gigs out there.

– MSM)

Holy Week (March 24-31) Palm Sunday (March 24) Worship – 9:30 a.m.

Study & Discussion – 11:00 a.m.

Maundy Thursday (March 28) Seder Meal - 6:00 p.m.

Good Friday (March 29) Tenebrae Service - 7:00 p.m.

Easter Sunday (March 31) Celebration - 9:30 a.m.

Study & Discussion - 11:00 a.m.

…But Others Don’t Just read my first copy of your paper, and I think it’s GREAT! I guess it hits the streets on Fridays? Where is it available around the Gelson’s neighborhood?

THANK YOU for adding a cool new thing!

Lisa T. Santa Barbara

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8 05.845.1673 3721 Modoc Road Santa Barbara, CA 93105 805.687.3734

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by Rachelle Oldmixon

Of (Cocaine-Seeking) Mice and Men There’s a connection between psychology and cocaine?

Who knew?

I think that should cover the weekend. Even in IV.

“D

o we have enough cocaine for the weekend?”

I did a double take when I heard that question asked openly, right there in the hallways of the main psychology building on the UCSB campus (for crying out loud!). Not at some shady meet-up in a back alley. Not at some dive bar on the wrong side of the tracks. You rarely hear someone talk about drug use so openly. Especially in the main psychology building. At UCSB. I was, of course, curious.

I mean, who could be absent-minded enough to talk about cocaine where professors might hear?

So I did exactly what I shouldn’t have: I asked the people talking why they chose this hallway to talk about their weekend plans.

And when I did, the trio erupted into laughter.

The Science of Cocaine Addiction It took nearly a full minute to calm them down. It turns out that Kyle Ploense, a graduate student in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, was asking the lab technicians who work with him if they had enough cocaine to conduct their research for the weekend.

While I was relieved I didn’t just walk into something that could have gotten me in serious trouble, I was now even more curious to know what a psychology research lab needed with cocaine.

It turns out Mr. Ploense studies under Dr. Tod Kippin who runs a drug addiction lab affiliated with the department. The lab focuses on cocaine addiction and models human drug-seeking behavior using mice.

Currently, Dr. Kippin and Mr. Ploense are focusing on risk factors for cocaineseeking behavior. Six percent of the US

A self-professed science nerd, Rachelle has her B.A. in neuroscience from Skidmore College in upstate New York, and is working towards her Master’s in psychology at UCSB. In her free time, she blogs at www.synap ticspeculations.com.

She never could quite understand why she had to choose just one area of science; they are all fascinating. Especially when paired with some classic rock.

population has experimented with cocaine by the time they reach their senior year in high school. High School. Not college.

Luckily, not all of our experimenting high school students become addicted. Many of those who do will eventually seek help.

Two thirds of those that seek help report having had difficult childhoods.

What that has told Dr. Kippin is that there is something about early life stress that pushes some children towards drug abuse. Dr. Kippin and Mr. Ploense are using mice to help them investigate how genetics and environmental factors (specifically stress) interact to affect an individual’s risk for cocaine use.

The researchers use two genetically distinct strains of mice. For convenience, we’ll call one Strain A and the other Strain B. All the mice in Strain A are genetic clones of one another and all the mice in Strain B are genetic clones of one another.

The two strains of mice are then exposed to an early life stressor. At adulthood, they are then tested for cocaine seeking behavior.

The results have been rather interesting.

A Genetic Predisposition?

The genetically-identical mice from Strain A do not experience any change in cocaine-seeking behavior regardless of whether they are exposed to early life stress or not. The mice from Strain B, on the other hand, have very different

A jar full of cocaine and some rubber gloves. Scientists really know how to party… er, do research.

cocaine-seeking behaviors. Specifically, when a Strain B mouse is exposed to early life stress, the mouse will seek out cocaine much more than if he is not exposed to stress at an early point in development.

Essentially, the only difference between Strain A and Strain B is a select number of genes. Now, Dr. Kippin and Mr. Ploense are working to determine which genes are mediating this interaction between stress and genetics. Once they determine that, they may be able to identify a human analog, helping to find children who are at risk for cocaine use.

While it would be wonderful to be able to pinpoint those genes, I believe that we can take away something from this research now: The help children receive at a young age can help for decades down the line. Why focus only on those with a difficult childhood who have genes that may predispose them to cocaine use?

Simple. We can take this knowledge now and apply it to all of the children living in difficult situations.

What Dr. Kippin and Mr. Ploense have found already allows us to think about how we tailor our drug education programs for different children. Hopefully, we can take advantage of that sooner rather than later. Because, let’s be honest, nobody wants their niece, nephew, cousin, child, or sibling to be in that six percent of teenagers who try cocaine before they try graduating high school.

Dr. Kippin and Mr. Ploense investigate a rather important, but sad, topic. It is good to know that they are passionate about finding answers without losing themselves in the seriousness of their work. I’ve heard their now-famous line, “Do we have enough cocaine?” many times since I first questioned them. I think Mr. Ploense must plan when he asks the lab technicians.

He somehow always manages to have an audience and to get a few horrified stares from them.

Thankfully, I’m in on the joke now.

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by Zach Rosen

Stouts for St. Paddy’s Day

S

t. Patrick’s Day is one of my favorite holidays. (Surprise!) Any celebration that rotates around drinking beer and whiskey is always going to be a winner in my book. The addition of corned beef and cabbage just confirms the day’s place in my heart (historical accuracy and origins of the holiday be damned).

To me, however, the true highlight of the celebration is the popularity of stout. I turn a blind eye – and keep my cringes to myself – to the green beer that colors the holiday; what truly delights my heart is the sight of so many stouts (mostly Guinness) in the hands of the beer drinking public.

An Irish stout is one of the most bewildering beers to watch. If you pay attention, you’ll find that in every stout Donovan’s Dry Irish Stout at The Brewhouse. Now just drinker’s hand is a glass sparkling with tiny deep-fry me some corned beef and cabbage on a bubbles floating downward, as if magically stick and I’m in my very own heaven. resisting science with what normally would go up coming down instead. This enchanting effect makes the beer appear like a black landscape illuminated by fireworks dissolving into the darkness of the night. It is precisely this effervescent cascade of bubbles in a freshly-poured Irish stout that makes the holiday seem all the more celebratory.

These tiny bubbles moving down the glass are more than just a mesmerizing display of tasty beer. The sinking bubble phenomenon is actually related to the fluid dynamics of the glass and had long puzzled physicists on its exact mechanism. In May 2012, Irish scientists (how fitting is that?) determined how this conundrum occurs.

Zach Rosen is a Certified Cicerone® and beer educator living in Santa Barbara. He uses his background in chemical engineering and the arts to seek out abstract expressions of beer and discover how beer pairs with life.

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along the wall surface and allows bubbles to flow downward. If the pint glass’s shape is inverted (aka the ominous anti-pint) then the movement is reversed and the bubbles flow in the normal direction (upwards).

This is called the Boycott effect and was first observed by tilting test tubes of blood to get the cells to quickly settle in the bottom.

That was a lot. I’m thirsty.

The Stout Styles

The nitrogen pour is only common with the Irish style of stout. But dry Irish versions are not the only type of these black brews out there. Stronger versions of stout exist as well. Foreign (export) stouts were made with more malts, alcohol and hops to help them travel the seas and reach their destination in a still-delicious state. Russian Imperial stouts, first brewed for Emperor Peter the Great of Russia, are similar to export stouts but are brewed even stronger.

There are also sweet stouts that entrance the glass with sensations of dessert. Their rich flavor distracts the palate from stout’s roastier components and replaces them with flavors of dense, gooey chocolate. The aptly named milk stout contains lactose, the sugar from milk. This unfermentable sugar is not sweet itself but instead adds a fuller body that compliments the sweet stout style. Mackeson Triple XXX Stout is a prime example. Oatmeal stouts have added oats that lace the mouthfeel with a silken, elegant The usual suspects. Tasty for sure.

Beer Dynamics First off, Guinness and the other stouts are poured using nitrogen gas. This element is harder to dissolve in beer and capable of producing smaller bubbles than carbon dioxide (the normal bubbly in your brew). These fine, dense bubbles are what give Irish stouts their creamy, velvet-like mouthfeel. They are also responsible for the sinking bubble effect that occurs when these stouts are first poured.

While scientists had known that this distinctive cascade was a property of nitrogenated beer and the fluid dynamic properties of these brews, the true breakthrough was showing that this effect was a result of the glass shape as well (and to think that people still question whether all of the different beer glass shapes really matter). They proved this using the antipint model. No, the anti-pint is not the evil doppelganger of our most common Chocolate and stout. What else is there? glassware, the pint (although I think that would make the best Star Trek episode ever).

It is simply a glass that gets wider near the bottom. (Actually, that is the evil doppelganger of our most common glassware. Let’s move on.)

In a standard pint glass the walls flare outward as you reach the top. When bubbles are in beer they normally want to go up (due to their low density) in a vertical movement.

In a pint glass, however, bubbles in the center of the glass meet less resistance in the liquid and can flow quicker. This causes a current in the beer that overpowers the nitrogen bubble’s ability to float upwards along the glass wall.

This downward movement is only possible if the glass gets wider near its top. As the bubbles rise in the glass they are moving vertically but the glass wall is moving outward at an angle. This forms a low concentration of nitrogen in the liquid (technically calculated as a void fraction but this is a beer article and not a fluid dynamics course)

experience (Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout is a classic), and when they are poured on nitrogen it is like having your palate dive into a bed of feathers.

Oysters are the perfect accompaniment to stout but this marriage is accentuated in the oyster stout style. Yeah that’s right. A stout brewed with oysters. This surprising ingredient adds flavors of smoke and brine that bind with stout’s coffee and chocolatelike characteristics. Actually, many ingredients have found their way into stouts. From berries and chiles to the more obvious coffee and chocolate (Young’s Double Chocolate Stout is a beautiful representation of chocolate and stout). So explore the style of stout because it goes a lot farther than just Guinness (or even St. Patty’s Day).

Holiday Plans If you do find yourself roaming State Street on St. Patrick’s Day, make sure to swing by one of our local brewpubs and try their offering of the Irish-style of stout (the original style remains most classic).

State Street Stout at Santa Barbara Brewing Co. is very true to style with flavors of milk chocolate and a toasty finish. They will be offering $3 pints of this brew on St. Patty’s Day. The Brewhouse will be pouring green beer (no comment), but more importantly they will have their Donovan’s Dry Irish Stout. This beer is named after Donovan Electric, across the street from the brewpub. It is not roasted to excess but does contain hints of burnt tobacco underneath the usual mocha-like aromas with a finish that is just a bit heartier than others. All weekend The Brewhouse will be bringing back their infamous deep-fried corned beef and cabbage on a stick as well as two tasting flights of Irish whiskeys. One flight will feature single malts and the other will be a sampling of blended whiskeys.

Wherever you end up on St. Patty’s day, have fun, drink some stout and be safe. If you see me, say hi, because I will definitely be there enjoying the festivities and eating a lot of deep-fried corned beef. But really I’ll be looking at everyone’s glasses and thinking about fluid dynamics because stout is some serious science.

Cheers!

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...continued from p.20 talent converging here in Santa Barbara, and we should welcome them. I know they are all thrilled to be working with the wonderful ingredients and wines and people that make our little town what it is. (I can’t wait to sit down and talk with them as the restaurant gets closer to opening its doors later this spring.)

It goes without saying that everything will be farm-to-table and as locally sourced as possible, and that guests will be treated to the best that Santa Barbara has to offer – not just food but wine and craft cocktails as well – in a casually sophisticated atmosphere (we’re in SB, after all) that embraces our past, present and future.

Pardon me for just a moment.

Sorry, I just had to wipe the drool from my chin.

I’m hungry and thirsty and eager to see the finished product. I really want not only The Lark but this whole project to be what I know it can be: a tremendous success and boon for the entire Santa Barbara community.

I therefore personally wish Sherry and The Lark as well as all the other tenants mentioned above the very best of luck.

I’m looking forward to spending a few days with you all very soon – oh, wait…

I have an idea. Let’s sit down and do stories on each of you as soon as possible!

Come on, it’ll be great; you can confide your deepest personal and most proprietary business secrets in me.

I won’t tell anybody. I swear.

Cosas Que Quiero I just talked about most everything I like in one single column. (Food, wine,

cocktails and music.) But don’t worry, there’s always more.

First, I like Menudo. A lot. And I also like Santos Guzman at Taqueria El Bajio (aka Santos Claus). It follows, then, that I like the fact that that they won SBPD’s Youth Police Explorer Program’s First Annual Menudo Festival (featured in last week’s Eight Days a Week in this very rag). Felicidades, Santos, el Mendudo tuya esta buenisima! Ya te lo dicho hombre!

Second, I like UCSB Arts & Lectures, which recently announced at The Granada Theatre that it has raised around $9 million to date in its Campaign for Arts & Lectures. That’s a lot of money and a great start, but there is still work to be done to raise $20 million total goal over five years in the program’s first major fundraising campaign in its 53-year history.

Congratulations, UCSB Arts & Lectures, your Menudo is terrific! I already told you so! (Or something like that.)

I really also like Fiesta. (Doesn’t everybody? I still hear some locals complain and talk about leaving town while it’s going down – but I just shake my head. Viva la!) I recently heard about an interesting project by a local photographer and graphic designer, Art Fisher (the in-house photographer for the Arlington Theater and the Santa Barbara Bowl), who is seeking community support to self-publish a major coffee table book featuring over 600 images spanning 11 years of our town’s biggest and most historic celebration. (No offense to Solstice, I love that damned festival too.) Art needs to raise some cash this week to cover printing costs and make all this happen; if it’s funded as required, he will donate a

COUCH COUCH santa barbara santa barbara

9 W. ORTEGA ST. DOWNTOWN SB, CA 93101 www.couchsantabarbara.com 805-965-8505

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To the victor go the spoils – Santos Claus looking sharp with his Menudo championship trophy.

minimum of 100 books to Old Spanish Days, the nonprofit that puts on Fiesta every year (and which has already made a generous donation to the cause). You can learn more and kick in a few bucks at www.celebratefiesta.com. Just $60 gets you a signed book. I checked it out and quickly found a few friends on the funders list. You know what they say about peer pressure. Venga!

Finally, the Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center does a lot of good around town and is a tremendously important

resource for survivors of sexual violence.

(Trust me, I sat on the board a few years back and am a trained crisis intervention advocate.) SBRCC is hosting its 5th Annual Chocolate de Vine event on Saturday, March 30, 2013 at the Santa Barbara Woman’s Club. This is the organization’s major fundraiser and you should consider attending and/or making a donation. I sure will.

Paz y amor, amigos, espero que disfrutan la semana que viene. Y viva el dia de St. Patrico!

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Arlington Theatre Presents

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

Zandonai’s

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Francesca Da Rimini

requires her to exude a shocked look and arch her back (while floating), as if auditioning for Cirque du Soleil. When a shady man emerges to offer “help,” I suppose it’s only natural he would proceed to unveil a live chicken and pour a circle of salt around the restrained girl. As the curtain falls and an unbearable heavymetal song screams over the closing credits, Exorcism goes to hell in a hand basket.

Thursday, March 21 - 10:00 pm

by Jim Luksic

A longtime writer, editor and film critic, Jim has worked nationwide for several websites and publications – including the Dayton Daily News, Key West Citizen, Topeka Capital-Journal, Las Cruces Sun-News and Santa Ynez Valley Journal. California is his seventh state. When he isn’t watching movies or sports around the Central Coast and Los Angeles, you can find Jim writing and reading while he enjoys coffee and bacon, or Coke and pizza.

Follow This Yellow Brick Road

Camino Real

 ADMISSION

(PG-13)

 OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (R)

•MOVIE GUIDE•  A DEEPER SHADE Thursday - March 28 - 7:30 pm

OF BLUE

Information Listed for Friday thru Thursday - March 15 - 21

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Arlington Theatre  Denotes ‘SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT’ Restrictions FAIRVIEW

Features Stadium Seating 225 N. Fairview - Goleta

 THE MET5 Opera ARLINGTON 2013  FIESTA Features Stadium Seating BarOpen  Only Two Operas Courtyard Remain 916 State Street - S.B.

Fri & Sat - 4:00 - 8:00

Saturday - March - 9:00 am 1317 State Street - 963-4408 Jim Carrey....Steve Carell 16 SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (PG-13) Steve Buscemi 4 Academy Awards 1:45 4:30 7:15 (R) Arlington TheatreBest Presents  THE INCREDIBLE Director - Ang Lee

T

o the chagrin of self-righteous traditionalists, Oz: the Great and Powerful (the colon is mine) avoids integral parts of the classic Wizard. This prequel isn’t – thank heaven – a musical, and there’s no Dorothy or Toto. Oh, the horror.

In the Kansas-based prologue, impeccably shot in black and white, we learn James Franco’s magician is a fraud and womanizer who soon flees the circus. The ensuing scene is full of hot air, as the balloon gets swept into a familiar tornado, which transports him – as the screen widens and blooms into color – to the storied land of Oz that matches our hero’s nickname.

Fantastical sights and wonderful characters emerge: The tiny china doll, author L. Frank Baum’s best-kept secret, makes for a brilliant revelation, brought to life with an endearing voice. China Town itself – based on dishes, not Chinese – enhances the girl’s introduction with teapot houses. (For good measure, we can assume she’s a reincarnation of the crippled girl at the carnival.) The obedient winged monkey and towering Winkie guards contribute to our enchantment; a throng of extras – from the Munchkins to aged Tinkers – look completely dialed-in.

As for Franco, his player’s personality wouldn’t seem ripe for success among these new neighbors or filmgoers. But his method of madness grows on you – he’s not unlike the Tin Man, developing a heart – and the embattled actor (derided for his odd effort while co-hosting the 2011 Academy Awards) nails this challenging role with a balance of mischief, sarcasm and enthusiasm. Although we’re grateful for lovely Michelle Williams – who has the most comforting eyes in Hollywood – as the sincerely sweet witch, Mila Kunis’ wicked one can’t hold a fireball to the 1939 classic’s Margaret Hamilton.

Indelible images keep our gaze transfixed: a fearful foursome escaping in protective bubbles; vibrant fireworks bursting above the townsfolk and Wizard’s majestic talking head; and milky fog swirling amid a poppy field as silhouettes of soldier-like scarecrows appear. The opening credits alone are worth the price of admission. Under the refined and watchful eye of Sam Raimi, there’s more to admire than to condemn about this flawed but astonishing adventure. Oz is one of those rare times you should follow the beaten path.

What The Hell?

I’m not convinced America needed The Last Exorcism II, but there it is, hanging at the cineplex like a long-forgotten crucifix. It feels more creepy and nuanced than the 2010 predecessor (a more accurate title: The Last Excrement), before zooming off the rails into a full-on horror show. Its New Orleans setting allows for some cultural flavor and Mardi Gras colors, but the filmmaker can’t resist periodically jolting audiences with loud noises to keep us from napping. Clichés of the genre abound, including magnified houseflies (a la The Amityville Horror) and a mindless scene at a church that’s literally for the birds.

Returning as the possessed heroine, Ashley Bell gets handcuffed by a script that often

IDENTITY THIEF (R) 2:00 4:45 7:30



LIFE Zandonai’s

BURT WONDERSTONE Fri-Sun - 1:10 4:00 6:40 9:10 Mon-Thu - 2:10 5:00 7:30

OF PI

(PG) ALL

Francesca Da Rimini

DEAD MAN DOWN (R) 2:15 5:00 7:45

Fri - No Shows! in 3D Sat-Thu - 1:30 4:30 7:30

Berry....Abigail Breslin Saturday at 9:00 am Thursday,Halle March - 10:00 pm  THE CALL21 (R)

RIVIERA

Fri-Sun - 1:40 4:30 7:00 9:20 MET OPERA - LIVE IN HD 2044 Alameda Padre Serra - S.B. Mon-Thu - 2:20 5:10 7:40  Zandonai’s FRANSESCA DA RIMINI  THE GATEKEEPERS (PG-13) Hope is Found Fri & Mon-Thu - 5:00 7:30 in Unexpected Places!

Sat/Sun - 2:15 5:00 7:30 (PG-13)  CAMP (PG-13) 371 Hitchcock Way - S.B. Fri-Sun - 1:00 3:50 6:30 9:00 Maggie Smith Mon-Thu - 2:00 4:45 7:20 in A Dustin Hoffman Film Features Stadium Seating Colin Farrell....Noomi Rapace (PG-13) QUARTET CAMINO REAL MARKETPLACE DEAD MAN DOWN (R)(R) Fri & Mon-Thu - 7:15 Hollister & Storke - GOLETA Fri-Sun - 1:20 4:10 6:50 9:30 Sat/Sun - 2:00 4:45 7:15  THE CALL (R) Mon-Thu - 2:30 5:20 8:00 Fri-Sun A ROYAL AFFAIR (R) 12:20 2:35 4:50 7:20 9:45 The Makers of THE HANGOVER Fri & Mon-Thu - 7:30 21 AND OVER (R) Mon-Thu Sat/Sun - 1:30 4:30 7:30 Fri-Sun - 2:00 4:40 7:10 9:40 2:35 4:50 7:20 9:45 Mon-Thu - 2:40 5:30 7:50  THE INCREDIBLE (PG-13) Features Stadium Seating BURT WONDERSTONE Fri-Sun 618 State Street - S.B. 8 W. De La Guerra Pl. - S.B. 12:00 2:25 5:00 7:30 10:00 James Franco.....Mila Kunis Nicole Kidman FeaturesMon-Thu Stadium- Seating Features Stadium Seating Courtyard  OZ Bar (PG)Open  STOKER (R) 2:25 5:00 7:30 10:00 & Sat AND - 4:00POWERFUL - 8:00 916 State Street - S.B. THEFriGREAT

Camino Real

PLAZA DE ORO  ADMISSION CAMINO REAL  OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN Thursday - March 28 - 7:30 pm

 A DEEPER SHADE OF BLUEMETRO 4

FAIRVIEW

225 N. Fairview - Goleta  OZ (PG) SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK 1:45 4:30 7:15 (R) THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

Arlington PASEO NUEVOTheatre FIESTA 5

ARLINGTON

2:30 5:15 8:00 1317 State in Street Jim Carrey....Steve Carell 2D: - 963-4408 (PG-13) Fri-Sun Steve Buscemi 4 Academy Awards - 12:30 3:30 6:30 9:25 Academy Award Winner!  THE INCREDIBLE Best Director Ang Lee Mon-Thu - 3:30 -7:00 Best Actress BURT WONDERSTONE LIFE OFin PI 3D: (PG) ALL Jennifer Lawrence Fri-Sun - 1:10 4:00 6:40 9:10 Fri - No Shows! in 3D Daily - 2:00 5:00 8:00 Mon-Thu - 2:10LININGS 5:00 7:30 SILVER

Daily in 3D: 3:15 IDENTITY THIEF6:20 (R) 2:00 4:45 in 2D:7:30 Fri-Sun DEAD MAN DOWN (R) Sat-Thu - 1:30 4:30 7:30 12:102:151:305:00 4:40 7:45 7:45 9:15 Halle PLAYBOOK (R) Berry....Abigail Breslin JACK THE GIANT Saturday at 9:00SLAYER am Mon-Thu  THE (R) CALL 2:00 4:45 7:45 (PG-13) in 2D: 1:30 RIVIERA 4:40 7:45 9:15 Fri-Sun - 1:40 4:30 7:00 9:20 MET OPERA - LIVE IN HD Fri-Sun - 1:00 6:40 9:15 2044 Alameda Padre Serra - S.B. Mon-Thu  Zandonai’s 5:10 7:40 A Story -of2:20 Determination!

JACK THE GIANT SLAYER Mon-Thu - 2:10 DA 7:20RIMINI FRANSESCA  THE GATEKEEPERS (PG-13) LORE (Not Rated) Hope is Found in 2D:- 5:00 (PG-13) in 3D: Fri & Mon-Thu 7:30 in2:10 Unexpected 4:30 Places!

7:15 Fri-Wed - 1:40 7:00 7:30 9:35 Fri-Sun - 3:50DE ORO PLAZA Sat/Sun - 2:154:155:00  CAMP (PG-13) 371 Hitchcock Way - S.B. Thu 2/21 - 1:40 4:15 7:00 Fri-Sun - 1:00 Fox 3:50 6:30 9:00 Mon-Thu - 4:45 Matthew

CAMINO REAL 21 AND OVER (R)

Features Stadium Seating

Mon-Thu - 2:00 4:45 7:20 Tommy Lee Jones

EMPEROR (PG-13) Farrell....Noomi Rapace Fri-Wed - 2:00 4:30 7:10 9:25 Colin CAMINO REAL MARKETPLACE (R) DEAD MAN DOWN 2:20 5:00 7:30 Thu 2/21 2:00 4:30 7:10 Hollister & Storke - GOLETA 

Fri-Sun - 1:20 4:10 6:50 9:30

Maggie Smith (PG-13) Film SNITCHHoffman in A Dustin Fri-SunQUARTET - 1:20 4:10(PG-13) 7:00 9:35 Mon-Thu - 2:20- 7:15 5:10 7:45 Fri & Mon-Thu Sat/Sun - 2:00 4:45 7:15

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Plan B

by Briana Westmacott Hailing from NorCal, Briana has lived in Santa Bar-

bara for the past fifteen years. While she is indeed an adjunct faculty member at SBCC and has contributed to LOVEmikana, Wake & Wander and Entrée Magazine, much of her time is spent multi-tasking her way through days as a mother, wife, sister, wantto-be chef and travel junky. Writing is an outlet that ensures mental stability… usually.

Down She Goes!

M

y heart stopped. I gasped (along with millions of other viewers) as Jennifer Lawrence spilled onto the stage at the Oscars. Dead silence blanketed the air. Nobody seemed to know how to react beyond… wow.

She really went down.

It was way more than a simple stumble or bumble or slip. This would definitely be categorized as a full on, flat out fall. No question about that.

And as America obsessed over the award-winning tumble, I empathized.

Because, alas, I too have fallen in places where… well, I’ve fallen just about everywhere. Sad but true, I’m constantly taking spills. It’s always been that way.

I am klutzy and I know it. (Clap your hands.) The thing is, I used to be utterly embarrassed. Red faced. Ashamed.

Mortified.

But now, I have a new perspective on my tumbles.

And I’m not ashamed anymore.

Woes on Wheels I was still doing undergraduate work at UCSB when I had one of my most embarrassing slips. The story begins with my bike constantly being stolen (probably because I didn’t always lock it). At one point, I painted the damn thing pink in hopes that I could possibly dissuade at least half of the gender pool from being tempted to snatch my wheels.

Lila a few years back post-face plant in the street.

(The apple really doesn’t fall that far from the tree.)

Didn’t work, that one got stolen too.

And then I had an old friend kindly offer me his skateboard to use while I was in between bikes. Perfect.

I got confident on that skateboard – I’m not sure why because I wasn’t very good at all – but I started to ride it all over campus and Isla Vista at-large.

The day my ride stopped (literally) was when I hit a can. I had just entered one of the most populated parts of campus at a transitional time of the day when there were people walking and riding everywhere. (I like to think this is why I didn’t notice a big tin can right in front of me.) I was rolling along quite happily near The Arbor on my way to the library when that can popped up out of nowhere… and I went down. Hard.

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Thrust to the pavement. Broad daylight.

Backpack, books, dignity, all spread out in front of me, lost amongst the feet of my peers.

I was nineteen and paralyzed with embarrassment.

In my mind all the hustle and bustle had totally stopped to see the debacle of the 5’11” blonde go flying off her skateboard to kiss the pavement. I envisioned laughing and pointing and name-calling, and that kept me stupefied on the ground, head down.

Then suddenly, out of nowhere, there was a hand. He reached down, pulled me to my feet and commanded, “You’ve got to get back on your skate.” My mystery friend helped me to collect my things and pull my disheveled self back together. I’m still grateful to him – and in the mortification of the moment I never even got his name.

But despite my lack of pleasantries, the fact is that hand was everything I needed to get myself back on that board and roll away.

And I never looked back.

My Husband Doesn’t Abuse Me (Seriously) I’ve only broken a bone once in my precarious existence. Of course, it wasn’t during my ten years of playing hoops, or horseback riding, or bungee jumping off bridges in the middle of the night. Nope.

My broken bone involved high heels and a spiral staircase in the Hollywood Hills.

The event was extravagant, three floors of Hollywood decadence. I went up to the rooftop via a dicey set of spiral stairs (they made me nervous climbing up, I should’ve listened to intuition), checked out the dazzling view of Los Angeles city lights, and proceeded to misstep on my way down.

There was a crack and a lot of pain and tears (which led to me being the talk of the party – damn it) and my husband drove me to the ER. There, we were interrogated and during my third explanation to the doctor of how I fell (klutz that I am), he looked at my

husband directly in the eye and asked, “Or did you push her?”

(I’m still sorry about that, babe.

Really.)

Paulie was able to avoid the LA County jail for domestic violence that night but high heels are something to be reckoned with, and that fall was one of my finest. Truly memorable.

So much so that Paul still looks down to check out what shoes I’m wearing before we step out for an evening.

The Second Coming Speaking of pushing people around (or not, I suppose), my daughter, Lila, has an interesting strategy centered on the notion. She’s already showing signs of having the clumsy gene, you see, and she’s already developing her ability to cope.

There will be nothing – absolutely nothing – around her to cause a trip or even a hiccup in her step, and she’ll go down. She’s five years old and already the size of most seven year olds. So she really doesn’t stand a chance.

Her latest way to deal with vertical challenge is to blame me, by saying that I pushed her when, in fact, I’ve not made any contact. Setting aside the glares from people who think I’m pushing my kid around, I suppose I should look at her strategy as somewhat smart. Keep passing the blame beyond those long limbs while you can, darling.

But always remember that you truly can’t get up unless you fall down. Life is guaranteed to deliver some big dips and slips, that’s the only thing you can count on. So shop for shoes that are flat and stand taller. Look forward, not back, and maybe a little bit closer next time. You may see that there is someone else down there that needs a hand. Bruises, breaks and bumps will heal but egos are forever altered and that can be a good thing – it’s hard to learn to be humble. But humble is beautiful.

So is a good husband who will pick you up when you fall.

Maybe one day Jennifer Lawrence will be so lucky.

Briana’s Best Bets Stand Up More with a Strong Core

A

huge help to any and everyone who wants to walk tall with balance and grace is a strong core. That’s right, if your middle is solid it will hold everything else together (at least that’s my hope). For the past year, Juliana Fabio has been helping me with this. Her Pilates class is one of my favorite parts of the week. She’ll make you work, no doubt about that, but you’ll stand straight and tall when you’re done. Men should go too (even Kobe does Pilates, guys). www.julianafabio.com.

Bob’s Bikes

H

as your bike gone missing? Maybe you just need an upgrade. Bicycle Bob’s can cover any bike desire you may have. They carry great kids’ wheels too. With 29 years of local bike business, Bob’s really knows what they are doing. They’ve got two shops and all the gear you could dream of. www.bicyclebobs-sb.com.

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• LOVE IS FREE What: Picnic in the Park Where: The Mission Rose Gardens, Skofield Park, Franceschi, Hidden Valley...

When: Saturday or Sunday will do.

Why: The days are lighter longer, the weather is just right and you should bask in our gorgeous Santa Barbara Spring!

How: Pack a picnic, blanket, frisbee, camera, magazine...

.com

Swinging into Spring

M A R C H 1 5 – 2 2 | 2 0 1 3 |

weekend guide

FI

ST YL E

by Briana Westmacott

D

oes your yard need some swing? Or possibly your porch? Well, we’ve found something special to help you carve out a little place to relax and kick up those feet.

Yellow Leaf Hammocks inspired us, in more ways than one.

These hand-woven treasures came about from a journey – a journey that changed one life and now continues to change the lives of many others. Founder Joe Demin took a trip to Thailand in 2010. While touring and trekking he stumbled across (or rather into) a hammock that felt like “a hug from mom.” In fact, it felt so good that Joe hired a taxi to drive him 600 miles deep into Northern Thailand to find the makers of the brilliant woven slings.

It was here where he encountered the Mlabri Tribe that, in turn, led to his leaving the corporate world for his “hammock revolution” to transform the impoverished Mlabri people.

Joe’s story and company are quite provoking. You can read all about the work he is doing with the Mlabri Tribe at www.yellowleafhammocks.com. Better yet, you can help support the cause by placing your order for your own sweet hammock swing. (Locally you can find Yellow Leaf Hammocks at Livingreen and Channel Islands Outfitters.)

The swinging season is here, SB. Get your patio set up and ready to sway into spring and summer and beyond.

What’ll It Cost Me: This is free fun, folks.

• LOOSE CHANGE What: Make Sparkling Rosemary Lemonade Where: In your kitchen. Find the recipe online (www.lovemikana.com/extra-extra/ when-life-hands-you-lemons) and pick up supplies from the Farmers’ Market.

When: When life hands you lemons...

Why: It’s a refreshing Spring staple.

How: Squeeze, sweeten, stir, serve and sip.

This is the perfect addition for your picnic.

What’ll It Cost Me: Some Lemons/Sugar/ Rosemary/Club Soda (go check out the recipe already!)

• HEY BIG SPENDER What: 21st Annual Taste of Solvang Where: Various locations throughout Solvang and Santa Ynez.

When: Wednesday, March 13 – Sunday, March 17 Why: Celebrate 21 years of Solvang’s culinary and cultural heritage with local desserts, delicacies, wines and live entertainment.

How: Eat, drink and be merry.

WINE & DINE Cake in a Mug

by Eve Sommer-Belin

C

hocolate cake for one in two minutes and no dishes?

Sounds amazing, right? That’s what we thought. Discover the goodness that is the TwoMinute Chocolate Mug Cake.

Instead of walking along Santa Barbara’s amazing beaches with a mug of coffee, you can now do so with a mug of chocolate cake! Seeing the sun set seems even more delicious than ever.

The version seen here is inspired by one seen in the foodie quarterly journal Lucky Peach.

What’ll It Cost Me: Tickets range from $25 – $460

Two-minute Chocolate Mug Cake

- 1 egg - 3 tbsp. milk - 3 tbsp. neutral oil - 3 tbsp. flour - 3 tbsp. sugar - 2 tbsp. cocoa powder - 3 tbsp. semi-sweet chocolate chips - dash of vanilla extract - pinch of salt - 1 small or medium coffee mug (microwave safe) - Toppings of your choice In a small or medium coffee mug, mix the wet ingredients well (including the egg).

Add the dry ingredients and give it another good mix. Add the chocolate chips and vanilla extract, and mix one last time. Put your mug into a 1000-watt microwave for 2 minutes. If you used a small mug, the cake will rise over the top of the mug and this is okay, plus it looks fun! We used a larger mug which allows you to put some toppings right on there. Hot fudge, whipped cream, sprinkles, you name it. Make sure to let it cool a bit before diving in. You could slide it out onto a plate but we find the mug a perfect vehicle for chocolate cake, really.

PETROS in Santa Barbara

ANNOUNCING two new weekly specials EVERY Thursday and Sunday ThURSDAY - Live Music and All You Can Buffet Exceptional Price of $20.00 per person

1316 State Street, SB CA 93101 Restaurant 805.899.9100

SUNDAY - Family Brunch with Live Music & All You Can Eat Buffet Rotisserie Lamb & homemade Slow-Cooked Lamb with eggs, omelets, special dishes, fruit & desserts BuffET $25 PP All DAy Drink SPEciAlS $3 BEEr/$6 WinE

BRING IN COUPON TO RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY DRINK

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W W W. S A N TA B A R B A R A S E N T I N E L .CO M

REAL ESTATE

by Michael Calcagno

Michael has consistently been ranked in the top 1% of Sotheby’s agents worldwide. Shortly after joining Sotheby’s, he partnered with Nancy Hamilton to form one of the most successful real estate teams in Santa Barbara. Michael can be reached at Michael@ HomesinSantaBarbara.com

Median Sales Price Month by Month $1,000,000

$935,000 $900,000

$839,500 $800,000

$700,000

Numbers Are In… Oh Yeah

A

s promised from last week’s article, the numbers are in to compare last year’s, in addition to previous year’s numbers to what is currently happening in the market.

I have been babbling a lot about lack of inventory, pent-up buyer need, and increased sales. You might have thought I was blowing the proverbial smoke up your you-know-what, but the numbers don’t lie. There is definitely something happening in the market and it sounds and feels an awful lot like a rebound.

The graphs show the most recent numbers, which echo what I have been saying for the past few months.

Santa Barbara real estate is on the rise.

The median sales price in February of 2012 was $677,500 and the current median sales price for February 2013 is a staggering $935,000. Okay, maybe you are thinking there was a large sale last month that drastically changed these numbers… maybe, but let’s continue with more statistics.

The number of listings since the first of the year 2012 through February 2012 vs. the first of the year through February 2013 is down drastically. In the district east of State Street, for example, in the year 2012 there were 181 new listings vs. 2013’s 140 new listings, which equates to a drop of 22%.

In the district west of State for the year 2012 there were 128 new listings vs. 2013’s 96 new listings, which equates to a drop of 25%. In the district of Hope Ranch for the year 2012 there were 28 new listings vs. 2013’s 34 new listings, which constitutes a rise of 21%. So if “Supply & Demand” are key factors in any sales market it looks as if there may be a supply decrease. I know, I know, Hope Ranch shows differently, right? Well let’s take a look at the next set of statistics.

$797,000

$830,000

$811,000

$842,490

$825,000

$756,300

$750,000

$776,000 $786,000

$800,000

$677,500

$600,000

$500,000

$400,000

$300,000

$200,000

$100,000

$0

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

January

February

Average sales prices are up also. For the district east of State, the current average sale price is $1,021,000, up 14% from the previous year. The district west of State has a current average sale price of $857,000, which is up 22% from the previous year. And finally Hope Ranch, where while listings were up, the current average sales price is $2,273,000, an increase of 25% from the previous year.

Things are looking good (especially if you are a seller); if you are waiting because you think it is going to get worse out there before it gets better, I strongly recommend taking the opposite tack.

From all indications, prices are on the rise and inventory is on the wane.

If becoming more healthy is one of your 2013 resolutions, massage is an excellent way to jump-start your process!

Client John Mann, Team USA Water Polo.

Photo by Min Reid, minreid.com

Marlo’s 1126 & 1128 Coast Village Circle

Montecito, CA 93108

Therapeutic & Sports Massage

805.453.2333 www.marlosmassage.com

Mention this ad & “Chelsey” and save $15 on your first massage with Chelsey.

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OPEN HOUSE GUIDE SUNDAY, MARCH 17

M A R C H 1 5 – 2 2 | 2 0 1 3 |

31

Downtown 18 West Victoria Street #308 18 West Victoria Street #212 18 West Victoria Street #307 18 West Victoria Street #108 121 West De La Guerra Street #5 1634 De La Vina Street 18 West Victoria Street #111 18 West Victoria Street #109 2108 Chapala Street 121 West De La Guerra #4 527 West Pueblo Street #2

12-5pm 12-5pm 12-5pm 12-5pm 2-4pm 2-4pm 12-5pm 12-5pm

By Appt.

1-3pm 1-3pm

$2,600,000 $2,500,000 $1,250,000 $1,100,000 $1,059,000 $995,000 $875,000 $855,000 $849,000 $825,000 $620,000

2bd/3ba Alma Del Pueblo Sales Team 2bd/3ba Alma Del Pueblo Sales Team 1bd/2ba Alma Del Pueblo Sales Team 1bd/2ba Alma Del Pueblo Sales Team 1bd/1.5ba Diane Waterhouse 4bd/1.5ba Darcie McKnight 1bd/1ba Alma Del Pueblo Sales Team 0bd/1ba Alma Del Pueblo Sales Team 2bd/1ba Jay Krautmann 1bd/1.5ba Wolfe/Lomas 3bd/3ba Kevin Schmidtchen

845-4393 Village Properties 845-4393 Village Properties 845-4393 Village Properties 845-4393 Village Properties 886-2988 Sotheby’s International Realty 637-7772 Sotheby’s International Realty 845-4393 Village Properties 845-4393 Village Properties 451-4527 Sotheby’s International Realty 722-0322 Coldwell Banker 689-6877 Sotheby’s International Realty

East Side 333 Junipero Plaza 309 East Valerio Street 2535 Anacapa St. 122 South Voluntario Street

2-4pm

By Appt.

2-4pm 2-4pm

$5,750,000 $2,759,000 $2,750,000 $749,000

4bd/4.5ba 4bd/3ba 5bd/4.5ba 3bd/2ba

Paul Hurst Louis & Susan Manzo Thomas Johansen Mary Whitney

680-8216 570-7274 886-1857 689-0915

Prudential California Realty Village Properties Village Properties Prudential California Realty

Goleta 514 Pintura Drive 5543 Pembroke Avenue 345 Kellogg Way #32 340 Old Mill Rd. #199

2-4pm 1-3pm 1-4pm

By Appt.

$869,000 $799,000 $599,000 $239,000

4bd/3ba 3bd/2ba 3bd/2.5ba 2bd/2ba

Grubb Campbell Group Debra Stowers Bill Urbany Daniel J. Warnars

452-9931 570-8332 570-5680 680-2712

Village Properties Sotheby’s International Realty Prudential California Realty Village Properties

Hope Ranch 4693 Via Bendita 4086 Cuervo Avenue 4687 Via Roblada 3938 Laguna Blanca Drive

2-5pm 12-3pm 2-4pm 1-4pm

$4,500,000 $3,750,000 $2,995,000 $2,795,000

5bd/5.5ba 4bd/3.5ba 4bd/3.5ba 3bd/3ba

Adrienne Schuele Adrienne Schuele Ken Switzer Lori Ebner

452-3960 452-3960 680-4622 729-4861

Village Properties Village Properties Prudential California Raealty Prudential California Realty

Mesa 860 Miramonte Drive 2-4pm $1,895,000 3bd/3.5ba David Kim 296-0662 Village Properties 316 Lighthouse Road 1-4pm $1,520,000 4bd Scott Westlotorn 403-4313 Coldwell Banker 618 Litchfield Lane 2-4pm $1,189,000 4bd/4ba Isaac Garrett 729-1143 Prudential California Realty Mission Canyon 1417 Mission Canyon Road 729 Mission Canyon Road

1-3pm 2-4pm

$2,200,000 $1,995,000

4bd/4.5ba 3bd/3ba

Sandy Lipowski John Luca

403-3844 680-5572

Sotheby’s International Realty Sotheby’s International Realty

Riviera 237 Las Alturas Road 638 Colina Lane 1740 Grand Avenue

12-2pm

By Appt.

1-3pm

$1,595,000 $1,095,000 $795,000

3bd/2ba 4bd/4ba 3bd/2ba

Bunny DeLorie Carol Mineau Robert Heckes

570-9181 886-9284 637-0047

Prudential California Realty Sotheby’s International Realty Sotheby’s International Realty

San Roque 2949 Ventura Drive 3656 Eileen Way 2905 Calle Noguera 3699 Rockcreek Road

1-4pm 1-4pm 1-3pm 1-3pm

$1,449,000 $1,178,000 $925,000 $869,000

3bd/3ba 5bd/3ba 4bd/2ba 3bd/2ba

Amy J. Baird The Easter Team Marcy Bazzani Brittany Lough

478-9318 570-0403 717-0450 455-5736

Village Properties Prudential California Realty Village Properties Village Properties

Westside 2224 De La Vina 1306 Chino Street 1819 San Andres Street #C

2-5pm 1-5pm 1-4pm

$1,650,000 $699,000 $639,000

3bd/3ba 3bd/2ba 3bd/2.5ba

Ron Madden Gabe Venturelli Alexis Foth

284-4170 680-5141 448-6350

Village Properties Prudential California Realty Prudential California Realty

Member FDIC

Exceeding Expectations in Your Neighborhood

Adam Black | VP, Senior Loan Officer 805.452.8393 | ablack@bankofmanhattan.com

NOTAbLE OCEANfRONT ESTATE | WEb: 0592359 | $19,995,000 Michael Calcagno 805.896.0876, Nancy Hamilton 805.451.4442

ONE Of A kIND | WEb: 0113622 | $15,500,000 Suzanne Perkins 805.895.2138

ROmANTIC-STYLE SPANISh hACIENDA | WEb: 0632011 | $5,950,000 Cristal Clarke 805.886.9378

LOCAL EXPERTISE. EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS. Our agents are skilled professionals with local knowledge and a dedication to high-quality service for every client.

They take great pleasure in discovering the aspects that make each home unique.

ELEgANT OCEAN vIEW hOmE | WEb: 0113551 | $5,395,000 Bob Lamborn 805.689.6800, Michelle Cook 805.570.3183

STYLISh CRAfTSmAN | WEb: 0113660 | $3,595,000 Lisa Loiacono 805.452.2799

gRACIOUS mONTECITO hOmE | WEb: 0631725 | $2,790,000 Sandy Stahl 805.689.1602

CALIfORNIA CRAfTSmAN bUNgALOW | WEb: 0113665 | $1,995,000 Marilyn Rickard 805.452.8284

DOWNTOWN CRAfTSmAN | WEb: 0592547 | $995,000 Jay Krautmann 805.451.4527, Darcie McKnight 805.637.7772

TUDOR bUNgALOW | WEb: 0592550 | $849,000 Darcie McKnight 805.637.7772, Jay Krautmann 805.451.4527

DOWNTOWN CRAfTSmAN | WEb: 0592544 | $775,000 Michael Calcagno 805.896.0876, Nancy Hamilton 805.451.4442

REmODELED 1950’S COTTAgE | WEb: 0621545 | $599,000 Laura Drammer 805.448.7500

TOP Of ThE WORLD vIEWS | WEb: 0113667 | $499,000 Michelle Cook 805.570.3183

SANTA bARbARA AREA bROkERAgES | sothebyshomes.com mONTECITO COAST vILLAgE ROAD bROkERAgE | mONTECITO UPPER vILLAgE bROkERAgE SANTA bARbARA bROkERAgE | SANTA YNEz vALLEY bROkERAgE Operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc.