REAL ESTATE CAULDRON
CONDO SALES COOLED IN SEPTEMBER, BUT SINGLE-HOME SALES GOT EVEN HOTTER, P. 34
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FRESH PASTA BELONGS IN A PROPER ITALIAN DIET, SAYS PASTA SHOPPE’S MODEL-TURNED-RESTAURATEUR, P. 20
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Content P.5
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S haron’s Take – Sharon Byrne isn’t impressed with the upcoming election’s ballot initiatives and vows to vote against those that don’t measure up
MASSAGES P.6 FACIALS WAXING P.7 BODY TREATMENTS P.8 santa barbara’s premier
S tate Street Scribe – The aptly named Jeff Wing is flying high again while reflecting on his late mother, Aloha, and Arlington National Cemetery, where he takes his love to the grave Letters – Richard Solomon on better living; Jeff Kerns blows off some steam; and Aira Harris feels the love an About Town – Mark Léisuré examines the Awakened World Film M Festival Retreat and chronicles Amadeus, in addition to Circle Bar B, Bread and Roses, and SB Open Street
P.9 P.10
eer Guy –Zach Rosen’s insight takes the sting out of Yorkshire Stingo B beer and provides the backstory of Samuel Smith and Yorkshire Squares
15 Days a Week – Jeremy Harbin makes some noise about upcoming events including Third Monday, The Endless Summer, An Irish Afternoon, Boo at the Zoo – and those don’t tell the half of it
P.16
Santa Barbara View – Sharon Byrne shouts from the rooftops (which are now cooler) that her favorite season is here, while Cheri Rae delves into water and chronicles the Dodgers of Santa Barbara
P.20 P.23 P.24
Food File – Christina Enoch puts on a bib, rolls up her sleeves, and puts a fork in Italian cuisine at The Pasta Shoppe
Keepin’ It Reel – James Luksic gives a no-holds-bar assessment of The Judge, Annabelle, Dracula Untold, and Gone Girl Up Close – Think you have Halloween figured out? You don’t know jack-o’-lantern. Jacquelyn De Longe carves her way through Lane Farms’ Pumpkin Patch.
P.26 P.28 P.29 P.32 P.33 P.34
In The Zone – Make no bones about it: “Mr. Bones” is a shell of his former self on the spooky Halloween scene around Santa Barbara
Stylin’ & Profilin’ – Megan Waldrep sashays up the coast to Los Olivos, site of a Terroir Selections gala at Mattei’s Tavern Behind The Vine – Hana-Lee Sedgwick ventures into a fox hole, namely Blair Fox Cellars, for some wine tasting in Los Olivos
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Mad Science – Oh, Henry: Rachelle Oldmixon reflects on a boy’s pivotal bike accident and his subsequent recovery
Hands Full – Mara Peters expounds on life lessons, in light of her child getting in trouble at school Real Estate Snapshot –Kelly Mahan takes note of the Santa Barbara market, wherein home sales escalate for the third straight month – though condo deals are down
P.35
Girl About Town – Julie Bifano gives her blessing to the animals as part of the annual event at Santa Barbara Mission
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by Sharon Byrne
take
Sharon’s education in engineering and psychology gives her a distinctive mix of skills for writing about and working on quality-of-life, public safety and public policy issues. Her hyper-local SB View column can be found every other week.
Ballot Initiatives This Election: Unpalatable
C
alifornia offers ballot initiatives as a route to direct democracy, and it is one of the things I both love and hate about this state. I love it because it gives voters a chance to enact legislation should their legislators prove too squeamish or self-interested to do their jobs. I am thinking of 2010’s Prop 20 to redraw state and Congressional district lines using a non-partisan citizens’ commission, as that exercise was counter to sitting elected officials’ interest in being able to cherry-pick their voters and thus stay elected. On the flip side, ballot initiatives can be complicated, heavy-handed, and deceptive. Prop 63 in 2004 promised acute care for the most severely mentally ill. Billions of dollars later, the money is funding conferences and glossy brochures, while mentally ill homeless individuals continue to roam the streets. The Compassionate Use Act fooled many Californians into thinking they were allowing dying cancer patients to use
marijuana for pain relief. They had no idea they were passing a toehold to drug legalization. So, I hesitate with ballot initiatives. I want to know who’s funding them, who wrote them, where they came from, and what they really do. Succinct information is surprisingly hard to come by. We get deluged with hyperbole by the “yes” and “no” camps, but it is a hard sell to the average voter to make a careful, thoughtful analysis that takes in all the nuances on a given initiative. This election, we have a couple of initiatives that sound great, but give pause: S and P. Let’s deal with S first. Full disclosure: I am the parent of a child who attends SBCC as a dual-enrollment student through the Santa Barbara High School. My daughter has taken classes at SBCC since the 8th grade. Over the past four years, longtime Latino families have moved out of my neighborhood as rents have risen. Those homes now host SBCC kids, and I’ve
met several of them over time. Late-night parties have necessitated those meetings. These kids are mostly Euros or Brazilians. I often hear German, French, Portuguese, and Swedish spoken on a street that used to host mostly Spanish speakers. I’ve heard the official numbers for foreign enrollment at SBCC, but it doesn’t jive with what I see in the community. These kids are living eight to 10 to a house that formerly housed as many Spanish speakers, but I guess the college kids pay more. When SBCC proposed Measure S, I balked before I’d even heard much about it. The fallout from Deltopia, the takeover of SBCC neighborhoods causing the rental squeeze, the partying, trashing, and dumping by SBCC students; things are seriously out of balance between SBCC and the community. Forcing homeowners to pay the school more money to serve an increasingly foreign population: no. I particularly don’t like the college’s answer for the problems of poor student treatment of neighborhoods: “Once they’re off campus, they’re not our responsibility.” Not so. Many college towns have successfully pushed campus administrations to improve student behavior off campus. That’s responsible citizenship, and college administrations should be first in line to demonstrate that quality. After all, they’re educating our
KEEPING SANTA BARBARA AND GOLETA FIT SINCE THE 70’S
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future citizenry. As it stands, I don’t feel there’s enough “city” focus at SBCC, so I won’t be voting for S. Measure P has a similar hesitation factor for me. Fracking ban? Sign me up. There’s simply too much data now about how fracking harms that you ought to be wary when it turns up at your doorstep. But Measure P keeps getting undressed as a huge overreach. The county liability factor with vested rights and existing wells just keeps swirling. This seems to be a Get Oil Out initiative, which is fine. Just don’t dress it up as one thing, when what you want to do is something else. For many in the campaign industry, that’s good business. Say whatever you can in order to get the win. Secure the toehold. Initiatives are time-consuming and expensive efforts for those waging them. So initiatives like these aim for the moon. For voters, though, the feeling of being duped leaves a sour taste and diminishes their willingness to embrace future ballot initiatives, good and bad. Ultimately, yesterday’s and today’s ballot initiative proponents are screwing future proponents by generating increasing voter scrutiny and distrust, so overreach and masking is really not smart long-term politics. It just makes it easier for voters to say no.
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STATE STREET SCRIBE
by Jeff Wing
Jeff is a journalist, raconteur, autodidact, and polysyllable enthusiast. A long-time resident of SB, he takes great delight in chronicling the lesser known facets of this gaudy jewel by the sea. Jeff can be reached at jeffwingg@gmail.com
Aloha, Aloha
A
s I type this, we’re in the air above the Minneapolis airport. A riveted tube the size of a supine office tower has just heaved itself into the air with the usual difficulties, my fellow passengers and I staring grimly forward as the fool machine, obeying the laws of physics but little else, shakes and rattles like a gigantic Chevy Vega. A rear-mounted engine buzzes like an enormous electric razor just outside the paper-thin fuselage. Is it supposed to sound like that? Yes, you see that I am, in truth, a nervous flyer. This is an idiotic way to travel. Period. I do not want to Slip the Surly Bonds of Earth, in the words of that flight-celebrating pilot of yore. I like the bonds of Earth, the surlier the better. But I’m traveling with my mother, the inimitable Aloha Wing, and it is as it should be; difficult, complicated and scary. Judie and I are headed east, to Washington, D.C., to move her back in with Bob, from whom she’s been separated for some 20 years. He has a little home at Arlington National Cemetery, to which an addition is to be shortly made. And so the two lovebirds will be, in the immortal phrasing of Peaches and Herb, reunited. It feels so good. Regular readers of the Sentinel may remember my mother, Aloha, from
Volume 3, Issue 7, April 5-19; she with the fiery spirit, ribald sense of humor, and tendency, in her autumn years, to answer her apartment door with one foot bare and the other shoed and socked. She’d lived a smartass life. On an Air Force base in North Africa in 1968, as described in the aforementioned Volume 3, she’d even given Gaddafi the finger.
of ash and ground bone in a 4” x 6” x 8” plastic box. This crazy transfiguration, from beautiful mother and buddy, to this box of legally actionable powder – it’s a miracle more wondrous than that of the consecrated wafer which, when placed on the tongue, becomes the flesh of a brutalized Messiah. If this is my mother, if this stuff in the little plastic box is my Burt Bacharach-loving, toast-annihilating, blueeyed mom, then the universe is an ash tray. She’s gone. Wow, is she ever gone! My bohemian writer sister has come down from upstate New York. My brother and his wife live about 20 minutes from Arlington National Cemetery in a forested neighborhood of brick houses and sloping lawns jeweled
“When it’s my turn, I stand before the assembled, give it a few seconds. They look at me expectantly. I see in the corner of my eye the red party urn, my unmistakable mom.”
Well. In late May this year, following several weeks of bewildered misery, mom was knocked mercifully senseless by a stroke, and passed two days later at Serenity House. My 19-year-old son, Sam, had visited her the evening before and she’d gratefully grasped his hand and put her head on his shoulder. Lucky guy. My former non-stop livewire of a mom is now traveling with my wife and I as a quantity
Publisher/Editor • Tim Buckley | Design/Production • Trent Watanabe Managing Editor • James Luksic Contributing Partner Opinion • sbview.com Columnists Shop Girl • Kateri Wozny | You Have Your Hands Full • Mara Peters Plan B • Briana Westmacott | Food File • Christina Enoch Commercial Corner • Austin Herlihy | The Weekly Capitalist • Jeff Harding Man About Town • Mark Leisure | In The Garden • Randy Arnowitz The Beer Guy • Zach Rosen | Elevator Pitch • Grant Lepper Girl About Town • Julie Bifano | In The Zone • Tommie Vaughn Mad Science • Rachelle Oldmixon | Keepin’ It Reel • James Luksic Stylin’ & Profilin’ • Megan Waldrep | 15 Days • Jeremy Harbin State Street Scribe • Jeff Wing | Holistic Deliberation • Allison Antoinette Up Close • Jacquelyn De Longe | Behind The Vine • Hana-Lee Sedgwick Advertising/Sales Tanis Nelson • 805.689.0304 • tanis@santabarbarasentinel.com Sue Brooks • 805.455.9116 • sue@santabarbarasentinel.com Judson Bardwell • 619.379.1506 • judson@santabarbarasentinel.com Kim Collins • 805.895.1305 • kim@santabarbarasentinel.com Published by SB Sentinel, LLC PRINTED BY NPCP INC., SANTA BARBARA, CA Santa Barbara Sentinel is compiled every other Friday 133 EAST DE LA GUERRA STREET, #182, Santa Barbara 93101 How to reach us: 805.845.1673 • E-MAIL: tim@santabarbarasentinel.com
with morning dew this day. The area is rife with politicos and government functionaries. Dick Cheney lives a few blocks away in a mansion with an actual turret. “I’ll bet it’s got a dungeon, too,” Judie astutely remarked one afternoon as we drove by it. This morning, we gather up mom’s red marbled urn and make for the car. We’d inscribed the beautiful red jar with the single line of a tune mom had laughingly concocted over the kitchen sink in 1968, in Florida, as we awaited our trip to dad’s final Air Force assignment at Wheelus AFB outside Tripoli. That single, deliberately corny line had long since been woven into family lore, and my mom and I had for 14 years greeted each other by singing it to each other on meeting. Arlington Cemetery’s 624-acre spread was established in 1864 as the Civil War was concluding, on land belonging to the wife of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The Arlington Estate was on a hill, so the threat of frequent rains to the dead in their boxes would not be a problem. The notion that the establishment of what was initially a repository for Civil War dead would simultaneously deny General Lee a place to hang his hat also made the site an attractive choice. Then in 1920, the Arlington Memorial Amphitheater was unveiled, adjoining the Tomb of the unknown soldier. The amphitheater’s opening ceremony had been blessed by presiding minister and former 15-year-old Civil War child soldier William Wesley Gist, my mother’s grandfather. So mom’s burial at Arlington is also a kind of family reunion. There are about 400,000 people buried at Arlington Cemetery. Soon to be about 400,001.
A bespoke gentle giant named Rafael has been assigned to our family, and the quietly genuine hulk of a man offers his condolences to each of us with a steady eye, grasping our forearms, and walks off to read the riot act to a colleague. Our group’s life-celebrating laughter has dialed up to about a nine. How mom would have loved this! But the laughter has compelled an Arlington representative to stop by and admonish our group. “Sir, I’m going to have to ask your party to tone it down a little,” she’d said, to which my brother had evenly replied, “That is not going to happen.” Rafael then disappears and returns some minutes later. “Sir,” he says to my brother, smiling mildly, “the matter has been put to rest. Be at your ease with your mother.” I feel my eyes fill with water. We convoy to the gravesite where a young, impeccably uniformed and highly decorated Air Force serviceman appears in a white helmet, walks in slow, reverent, heel-to-toe cadence to Rafael’s car, turns a slow 90 degrees on his heel, and retrieves mom’s urn from the back seat of Rafael’s car. I feel my heart hammering and in a sudden, unexpected, and nearly uncontainable gush of emotion I love my country and my mom with the burning fever of a Grey Flannel Establishment Square. The pastor speaks of the resurrection of the dead in approachable and uplifting tones, and my nephew Ryan reads from a trembling sheet of paper, painting in exacting, loving detail what his Tutu, his grandmother, has meant to him, how his youthful swimming career and his regionally unbroken swimming records had been inspired by his Tutu’s late-in-life Senior Olympics epoch, during which time she blithely won 17 swimming gold medals against graying unfortunates in her age bracket. As Ryan speaks, sobbing, my big brother, his dad, rises from his seat and joins him, placing a supporting arm across his shoulder and weeping, too. What a sight. I’ll never ever forget it. When it’s my turn, I stand before the assembled, give it a few seconds. They look at me expectantly. I see in the corner of my eye the red party urn, my unmistakable mom; nevermore to swim or laugh or sneak into the Officers’ Club pool in the wee hours of a preteen morning, or later burn dinner to a foulsmelling crisp. I count five, and I sing. “One minute to Midnight, one minute to go – this moment must last us forever! Or will it be over? It’s all up to you!” I sing it with all my swollen heart, my surprised brother and sister and dear Judie joining in with broken voices from their seats, and in that screwy eternal moment I have it all. The delicious puzzled expressions in the back rows and in those standing behind them say, What the hell is this? In the front row, though, my big brother and my big sister and my best pal Judie are grinning like wet-faced idiots. Mom, Aloha.
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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 tim@santabarbarasentinel.com.
Better and Better
J
eff Harding’s The Weekly Capitalist column “It’s Getting Better All the Time” (Sentinel #3/20) appeared to argue that capitalism is solely responsible for the fact that life expectancies have been increasing since the Industrial Revolution. There’s no doubt that this increase has gone hand-in-hand with capitalism, but that is only part of the story. People have been living longer primarily because childhood deaths have been dramatically reduced. Historically, people surviving childhood lived to old ages; for example, in late 18th-century England, the average age at death was 75. So, what accounts for the dramatic reduction in childhood mortality? The major causes (acute respiratory infections, diarrhea, measles, malaria, etc.) were reduced and in many instances eliminated by the safe disposal of sewage and solid waste, immunizations, clean water, and mosquito abatement. Did this happen because capitalists found a way to make a business out of these tasks? Hardly. From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “By 1900, 40 of the 45 states had established health departments. The first county health departments were established in 1908. From the 1930s through the 1950s, state and local health departments made substantial progress in disease-prevention activities, including sewage disposal, water treatment, food safety, organized solid waste disposal, and public education about hygienic practices (e.g., food handling and hand washing). Chlorination and other treatments of drinking water began in the early 1900s and became widespread public health practices, further decreasing the incidence of waterborne diseases. The incidence of TB also declined as improvements in housing reduced crowding and TB-control programs were initiated.” Therefore, it took widespread public health initiatives funded, supervised, and run by governments at all levels to overcome these killers. Infectious diseases came gradually to be controlled because local governments began to build sewer and waste disposal systems, immunize children, educate people about health safety, and provide clean water. Obviously, capitalism produced the wealth and tax revenues to allow these systems and infrastructure to be funded. It took government initiatives, however, to seriously take on the necessary tasks. Individual companies did much of the work constructing, for example, sewer systems, but the overall task required government agencies to plan, fund, and then operate the systems. People are also living longer because of
improvements in auto and workplace safety, much of which has been mandated by the federal and state governments. Federal funding of scientific research has led to numerous advances in immunizations (such as polio eradication since the 1950s) and treatments for illnesses that used to be fatal. Government funding of family planning has contributed to increased longevity for women. And “safety net” programs such as Medicare and Social Security have increased longevity across the board. Harding does not mention any of this. Nor does he mention the sordid history of some companies producing and pushing products that have reduced longevity, such as tobacco companies and those producing and aggressively selling products contributing to the obesity epidemic. It seems that reality is a bit more complicated, and much more interesting than his simplistic attribution of all progress to the “invisible hand of the market.” Richard Solomon Santa Barbara (Jeff Harding responds: Thank you for your letter. I agree that many favorable things happened to increase longevity, but I think you miss the point of my article. At present, all of these wonderful technologies exist and are available to the world, yet many people in poor countries have short(er) lifespans than those of us living in capitalist countries. Why? The answer is clear: they have not had the benefits of capitalism. Going back in time, you are correct that public sanitation was primarily responsible for our good health. That along with advances in medicine and drugs launched a health revolution. But none of these wonderful things would have occurred without the wealth created by capitalism. None. In fact, almost every advance only occurred in countries blessed with capitalism. So what is your answer to these facts? Be grateful that you live here, the capitalistic country that has done more for the ...continued p.22 EARTHQUAKE RETROFITTING 50 + YEARS EXPERIENCE - LOCAL 35+ YEARS
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with Mark Léisuré
“THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, SYD!”
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.
The World Awakens for Films
W
hen you hear “film festival,” what comes to mind, I’d imagine, are Jeff Bridges the red carpets, dazzling parties, headlines the big Q&A sessions, Hollywood heroes, Awakened World Film and oodles of movies associated with the Festival Retreat Santa Barbara International Film Festival with A Place at (SBIFF), the long-running behemoth of a the Table festival that takes place in town each winter. The inaugural Awakened World Film Festival Retreat (AWFFR) is nothing like at the Lobero, Center Stage, and Unity of that. Well, actually, it kinda is. They’ll Santa Barbara Auditorium. A variety of have all of those things, if not quite as ticket packages are available, from single ostentatiously as SBIFF, but that’s just event to day passes or full festival/retreat where it starts. For one thing, you’ll notice admission. More information, the complete the last word in the title – retreat. AWFFR schedule, film descriptions, workshop – created by the Santa Barbara-based presenters’ biographies, and presentation Association for Global New Thought and questions are all available online at www. supported by Science of Mind Foundation awakenedworldfilmfestival.com. – isn’t just entertainment, but a gathering of like-minded people who want more, much more. Ensemble Theatre has opened its second That first word means something, too: season at the New Vic with Amadeus, a show all the films and activities are about themes it couldn’t possibly have mounted back in and issues that inspire people, areas of its old digs at the charmingly intimate but spirituality and personal transformation technically challenged Alhecama Theater. and social responsibility. So, each session This is a big production, with quite a large begins with a brief contemplative spiritual cast and lots of bells and whistles (well, practice, and every screening is followed by make that a fine soundtrack and clever interactive workshops with the filmmakers staging). But Peter Shaffer’s play truly and other leaders intended to further the comes down the relationship between two discussion and perhaps propel participants composers in Vienna in the early 1800s, taking some real steps toward resolution. Mozart and Salieri, or perhaps even more “When people watch these movies, so the imagined face-off between Salieri they’ll probably be inspired or pissed off. and God, who the once-celebrated-nowWe want them to be able to do something forgotten composer sees as his tormentor. about it,” said Penny Little, associate It’s a brilliant concept, one that examines festival coordinator. “So the panels, the nature of creativity, the burden of workshops, and other sessions – which inspiration, and the way a natural talent might have music or meditation – are lands wherever it may without regard to all carefully planned to guide them from much else. inspiration to enlightened action.” Daniel Gerroll has a huge role in Salieri, Films produced by several Hollywood and on opening night there were quite a notables are the titular headliners of the few stumbles (both verbal and physical), festival, including local residents Jeff but one imagines he’ll keep growing into Bridges’s A Place at the Table and Michael the part as the run continues through Imperioli (The Sopranos) with The Hungry Sunday, October 26. Randy Harrison is Ghosts (which also played at SBIFF). comic fun as the preternaturally gifted Plus, the game-changing film What the Mozart, alternately buffoonish and selfBleep Do We Know?, which premiered aggrandizing. It’s also great to see some in the fall of 2004, will mark its 10th roles – albeit not meaty ones – played by anniversary with creator and director locals including Robert Lesser, Stuart William Arntz, along with members of Orenstein, Justin Stark, and current SBCC cast and crew, in attendance to screen new student Sirwan Assad, and the return of updated interview footage with some of some Ensemble Theatre Company vets the original participants. like Louis Lotorto. It’s a bit of a longish The films and post-sessions follow three evening – more than two-and-a-half hours, tracts – Spirit, Society, Self – with one with no opportunity to hit pause on the film/event for each during both morning DVD player or computer – but well worth and afternoon sessions, 18 in all over the seeing if only for the contrast with the three days, plus gala parties each night. Academy Award-winning film. 137 ANACAPA STREET SUITE A • 805/770-7242 • SBGUITARBAR.COM The festival is slated for October 27-30, ...continued p.14
Admirable Amadeus
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by Zach Rosen
sandstone; however, Welsh slate became more popular over time. Modern squares use either all-stainless steel walls or a combination of stainless steel and slate. That being said, Samuel Smith’s remains the only brewery in the world to use all-slate squares. Although it is unclear what exactly causes this result, Yorkshire Squares are known to give the beer a fruitier character and a fuller, softer mouth-feel.
Stingo in Fall
A
s pumpkin beers and fall seasonals flood the shelves, this time of year – for me – is really only marked by one beer, Samuel Smith’s Yorkshire Stingo. This unique brew is released only on August 1, Yorkshire Day. This holiday is exactly what it sounds like: a day that honors the county of Yorkshire, where Samuel Smith is located. While it takes a while to reach our shores, the beer is definitely on our shelves now and worth seeking out. Stingo is an old English term for a strong beer and at 8.0 percent ABV, this beer lives up to its name. This strong ale is aged for a year in oak casks that have only been used to ferment Samuel Smith’s beers, giving it a definite fruity house character. When fresh, the beer tastes of figs and strawberries laced with caramel and oak. There is a gentle alcohol tone to the nose that is enhanced by a subtle spicy aroma. As the beer ages, the fruitiness darkens and tastes more of raisins and dates with a Fino Sherry note. Although it could age longer, I have never been able to hold onto a bottle longer than a year or two before drinking it.
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.
This Samuel Smith seasonal brew is released every August 1 and worth the wait
and returns to the lower chamber via pipes. Yeast remains on the top deck, which results in a clarified beer and allows easy cultivation for subsequent batches. The walls of the square were traditionally made out of Yorkshire
Drinking at the Olde Cheese
There is a curiosity in the organization of English pubs. In most countries, there are explicit laws that stop breweries from owning bars. In the UK, they have what is know as a tied house system. This means ...continued p.27
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All in the Square
For years, Samuel Smith’s has been one of my favorite breweries, and it remains one of the most distinct and unique breweries in the world. The brewery dates back to 1758 and is still owned by the Smith family. The brewery continues to use water from the original well. Samuel Smith’s has also been using the same yeast strain for more than 100 years. Over time, they have grown quite a bit and they have built two breweries next to the original. The smallest one still employs Yorkshire Squares. What makes Samuel Smith’s beers so different is their fermenters. They are one of only five in the world that use a Yorkshire Square system to ferment their beers. The Yorkshire Square is a two-story cubic fermenter system that consists of a shallow lower chamber and an upper walled deck. There is a large hole that connects the two vessels. During the initial stages of fermentation, the beer is occasionally pumped from the lower level to the top in order to keep the yeast in suspension. Once the fermentation has progressed, the brewer ceases pumping and allows the natural movement of fermentation to take over. The vigor of fermentation drives the liquid through the hole to the top deck, where the liquid separates from the foam
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15•Days• a•Week We Ain’t Got Nothin’ But Love, Babe…
by Jeremy Harbin
Want to be a part of Fifteen 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 tim@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 those that have yet to be published.
Saturday
Wednesday
New Noise
Bollywood Poster Art
October 18
The first two days of the bi-week’s calendar just so happen to also be the last two days of this year’s New Noise Festival. So, some superlatives… Most hilarious band name in today’s line-up: False Puppet (7:30 pm at Velvet Jones). Band name most similar to imperially stout rapper Action Bronson: Magic Bronson (8:30 pm at SOhO). And, band playing latest, which pretty much makes them the headliner: The Dtease (11:30 pm at Whiskey Richards). See more info at www.newnoisesb.org.
Sunday October 19 Newer Noise
Today’s the last day of this year’s New Noise Fest. We all had so much fun with the superlatives in the previous entry, how about we keep that going here? Band I’ve heard of, uh, the most: Pains at Being Pure at Heart – nice get, New Noise (time TBA at New Noise Block Party in the Funk Zone). Band most likely to make beer-buzzed dudes flip out on any given weekend at Fig Mountain: The Caverns (8 pm at SOhO). And, band most likely to lecture The Caverns about show business: Dishwalla (9 pm at SOhO).
Monday October 20 Third Monday
You know it and you love it: Third Monday, the day in which we pick a restaurant that’s open on Mondays and then go eat there. Some people take it easy on Monday because they just did it up real big over the weekend. To that line of thinking, I say hooey. Hooey, I say! Let’s go to the Blind Tiger (409 State Street) when we get off work today to take advantage of Happy Hour. They’ve got food items two for the price of one from 4 to 7 pm. After that, let’s just hang out there and chillax ourselves (it’s definitely cool to say “chillax;” try it out on the bartenders) by listening to music and staring at that giant tiger head on the wall.
Tuesday October 21 Date Night
Hey, got an extra $175 and want to see some theater and classical music? Well, my friend, I’ve got just the event for you, and it’s tonight at the New Vic (33 West Victoria Street) at 7. There’s a cocktail and dessert reception, and then the Ensemble Theatre Company will perform vignettes from Amadeus with live music by the Santa Barbara Symphony. Get yourself over to etcsb.org for more information.
Celebrating Our 11th Annual Sat & Sun, November 1-2, 2014, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Fine Art, Prints & Cards Visit 11 Award-Winning Santa Barbara Mesa Artists Karin Aggeler • Liz Downey • Morgan Green Bill Hull • Nancy Hull • Cree Mann Brad Nack • Margaret Nadeau • Erin Williams Sara Woodburn • Ellen Yeomans For a FREE brochure and map visit www.SantaBarbaraMesaArtists.com. Contact (805) 962-5619 for more information about MAST.
October 22
We might be about a hundred miles away from Hollywood, but it turns out Bollywood is much closer: on the UCSB campus in the Art, Design & Architecture Museum. How could that even be possible?! Well, it’s because I don’t mean it literally, that’s how it’s possible. Glad we cleared that up. Moving on: I’m talking about a free exhibit called Bollywood 101: The Visual Culture of Bollywood Film Posters. It’s an ongoing show that runs Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5 pm.
Thursday October 23 Free Reading
What are you doing at 7:30 pm? Sitting on your couch rewatching Game of Thrones and waiting until you’re tired enough to fall asleep? But you could be doing something so much more productive, like listening to Jessie van Eerden read from her latest novel, Glorybound. Has she been published before? Oh, yeah – all over. Is she the director of the Master of Fine Arts writing program at West Virginia Wesleyan College? You bet she is. And today she’ll be on the Westmont campus in Kerrwood Hall. It’s free.
Friday October 24
Endless Summer at Endless Summer
The Endless Summer is a bar-café in the harbor, but you knew that already. You’re either a dyed-inthe-tie-dye fourth generation Santa Barbaran or a “heavy tourist” – someone who visits over three times a year. I know that because I have access to scary-specific (appropriate, what with Halloween coming up and all) demographic reports that would… they would (warning: topical reference ahead)… make even the TSA blush! (Why aren’t I writing for Letterman?!) But I’m digressing, aren’t I, you Santa Barbara-lover? My point is this: The Endless Summer isn’t only a restaurant; it’s a surfing documentary, and it’s being screened tonight inside that waterfront eatery that shares its name. And that’s not all: any doc screening worth its margarita salt has some talent present, and this one’s no different. Filmmaker Bruce Brown will be there to do what filmmakers do at these things. Tickets are $45 – get them by calling (805) 564-4666 – and they include plenty of food and a mai-tai. Some proceeds benefit the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, and it all starts at 6 pm.
Saturday October 25 A Revel-ation
I went to the newish Armada Wine and Beer Merchant (1129A State Street) the other week, and I had a pretty good beer. I can’t remember what it was or even the style, and for that, ...continued p.12
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Another Reason to Vote NO on Measure P Oil produced in California is subject to the most rigorous, strict environmental regulations in the world. Unfortunately, to meet the rest of our needs, California must also import in tankers oil from Russia, Iraq, Angola and other countries with weak or no environmental safeguards at all. Under Measure P, many conventional production techniques, used safely for decades, would be banned.2 In fact, Measure P is so broadly written, even many routine maintenance methods would also be forbidden.3 As a result, one of the consequences of Measure P would be to shut down nearly all oil production in the County within the next five years and ban all future production, increasing our reliance on foreign oil. 1. Source: Energy Almanac, California Energy Commission 2. Measure P, Section Two 3. Routine well maintenance and well servicing activities including substances commonly used to clean water wells and prevent algae in swimming pools are banned.
MEASURE P WOULD ONLY INCREASE OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL “As long as people in Santa Barbara County drive cars that use gas and need oil to meet our energy needs, we should make the most of the resources we have here in California. It just doesn’t make sense to bring in costly foreign oil by rail and tanker.” RICCARDO MAGNI Teacher of the Year Recipient of the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators “We rely too much on imported foreign oil from countries with little or no environmental regulations. We need a balanced approach to our energy policy – not Measure P, which will only make us more dependent on foreign oil imports.” DR. STACEY ZECK-BOLES UCSB Graduate Ph.D. Degree in Geology* “Measure P would result in closing nearly all oil and gas production in Santa Barbara County in the next few years. That means we will need to import even more oil from foreign countries that don’t have the same strict environmental protections in place here in California.” KEN McCALIP Environmentalist Retired Principal and Superintendent *Title and affiliation are for identification purposes only.
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...continued from p.10 beer friends, I apologize. (Does anyone else feel like it’s not enough to simply like something anymore? I mean, you have to do something more than just like a thing nowadays; you have to know everything about that thing, too. You can’t be a casual fan; you have to be consumed by it, whatever it is. Let’s take beer since we’re on that. You can’t order a Miller or a Bud – are you crazy? You’ve got to order some obscure Belgian beer or a triple imperial kumquat lale-ger [that’s an ale and a lager combined]. What’s more, you’ve got to be able to give detailed tasting notes to your buddies and then try to replicate the taste in your next home-brew batch, and then start your own craft brewery using that as your flagship beer because everyone said it was just that good. All I’m saying is this: Everyone just seems so specialized in their interests these days, so much so that the casual enjoyer doesn’t seem to have a place anymore. Perhaps this is a natural byproduct of the inundation generation; we have so much information shoveled in our faces these days, that we’ve almost inadvertently focused our attention onto very specific subjects to feel like we have some control and mastery over something, anything.) But here’s my point: I’d like to go back to Armada to figure out what that beer was. I think I’ll do that tonight, in order to prepare myself for the event they’re hosting tomorrow. From 2 to 5 pm on Sunday, it’ll be An Irish Afternoon with the Santa Barbara Revels. There will be dancing, traditional music, an auction, food, and, of course, fine beer and wine. It’s a benefit for the organization, so tickets are pretty steep. Get them online at www.santabarbararevels.org or at the door.
Sunday
zoo will only distribute candy that’s either free of palm oil or made with sustainably produced palm oil. Now that I know what palm oil is and what it does, I think I’ll make better choices in the candy-buying department from here on out. (I did read an article a few weeks ago that said sugar is poison, but I’m pretty sure that doesn’t apply to Halloween.) Boo at the Zoo started on Friday, continued on Saturday, and wraps up tonight. Expect not-too-scary fun for the kids and lots of costumed characters. It’s from 4:30 to 7:30 pm, and tickets – available at sbzoo.org and at the gate – are $15 for adults and $10 for kids.
Monday October 27 Shark Day
Sharks… Bite Size might sound like a theme night at a seafood restaurant, but I’m sure the organizers of this event would rather you didn’t eat the animals involved. It’s an exhibition at the Santa Barbara Museum on Natural History Sea Center (211 Stearns Wharf), and it features some of the Santa Barbara Channel’s small sharks. Visitors can learn all about them and even touch them. It’ll cost $5 to $8 to check it out; the Sea Center’s open daily from 10 am to 5 pm.
Tuesday October 28
October 26
Drug Talk
Have you ever felt comfortable in the perceived righteousness of your highly curated eating habits, then gotten knocked off your high, free-range horse out of nowhere? Ever closed a Vegetarian Times and thought to yourself, “Now I truly have it all figured out,” just to be taken down a peg (handcrafted by a local artisan) by a simple email forward or article your yoga teacher pinned to the bulletin board? The correct answer, folks: yes. If you’re not constantly funneling your outrage through the ongoing revision of your personal consumption – as I believe the saying goes – then you’re not paying attention. So what does the Santa Barbara Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo event have to do with this? Palm oil, that’s what. The production of the stuff is harmful to animal habitats. At tonight’s proceedings, the
Wednesday
Healthy Candy
Today on the UCSB campus in the Multicultural Center, there will be an academic discussion about the war on drugs. The War on Drugs, really? That’s kind of a strange topic for an academic discussion, isn’t it? Wait, I think they mean the state’s war on drugs, not the indie-famous rock band from Philadelphia. My bad. (I didn’t really think that.) Nonetheless, the talk, Crack in Los Angeles: Policing the Crisis and the War on Drugs, will begin at 6 pm. It’s led by Dr. Donna Murch, associate professor of history at Rutgers University. It’s free to attend.
October 29
Book Discussion
Kids, in the fall of 2014, I wrote a calendar for the Santa Barbara Sentinel. Crazy story… whoops, sorry about that, folks, I must have been sleep-typing again. I’ve been watching a lot of How I Met Your Mother, and sometimes I dream I’m Bob Saget’s character. But, see, therein lies my point: This isn’t a very serious calendar, is it? It’s written in a fall-on-the-floor laughing, impressively witty, linguistically nimble kind of way (that’s what all the letters we get in say, anyways), but it’s not exactly serious. And here’s the rub: sometimes the events themselves are serious. It’s always a little bit uncomfortable when this calendar’s all like, “Hey, guess what? Farts!” and then, “Oh, you should attend this speech about how to care for dying relatives” – know what I mean? There’s a disconnect there (I submit the supremely awkward previous entry, “Drug Talk,” as evidence of that). So, it’s totally devoid of the jokey tone of the first part of this entry – now shifting completely into a straightahead, just-the-facts imparting of information – that I suggest you attend NPR and ABC News correspondent Kati Marton’s book discussion today at 8 pm at UCSB’s Corwin Pavilion. Her new book is The Great Escape: Nine Jews Who Fled Hitler and Changed the World. This event is free.
Thursday October 30 Almost There
Is Halloween Eve a big enough occasion to make the drive up to Solvang? I say: why not? Load up the minivan and head to the Solvang Festival Theater (420 2nd Street) for their 21st annual Halloween Haunted House. The theme this year is “The Fog,” and the press release has a pretty creepy backstory about an abandoned fishing village. Sorry, I got too scared to finish reading it. It’s kid-friendly from 6 to 6:30 pm, then not kid-friendly from 6:30 pm to 9, and it’s on again tomorrow night.
Friday October 31 It’s Here
It’s finally here. The big day you’ve all been creepily waiting around in horrifying costumes for. Halloween. Congrats, you adult weirdoes. Your favorite holiday is back again. So if you were the only one at the office today who dressed up, causing your boss to seriously question your priorities, then here’s your itinerary for the rest of the evening: Make your way over to Montecito early in the evening for Ghost Village Road to observe the invasion of cuteness that is the young’uns there as they descend upon Coast Village Road. If you are one of those young’uns
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or are in charge of one, be sure to stop by Here’s the Scoop (1187 Coast Village Road) for the costume contest. After this family-friendly party wraps up, it’s off to another one: the Calle Real Halloween Extravaganza at the Calle Real Shopping Center (5700 Calle Real). There, you and your friendly family can ride trains, get your faces painted, bounce in a bounce house, check out a fire truck, and much more. That’s from 3 to 6 pm. Now, after you put the kids to bed, head back out on the town for the Nautical or Nice Pirate Party at Mercury Lounge (5871 Hollister Avenue) from 9 pm to close. While it seems a little reductive to request only pirate attire on a night when folks typically dress up in all manner of wild costumes, DJ Darla Bea seems to know what she’s doing, so I’ll allow it. It’s free.
Saturday November 1
There’s Art in There
A favorite pastime of mine is going through other people’s stuff. And if that’s ever inappropriate – and let’s face it, it usually is – I’m content to just look at other people’s stuff and silently judge them by their books, movies, furniture, and cleanliness. This sport’s made easy these days by the advent of websites that allow you to rent homes and apartments, making it perfectly legal for me to be on someone else’s property – Air B&B not B&E, am I right? But you know what makes my time staring at someone else’s stuff special? When that other person is an artist and has interesting art up everywhere (with the exception of a studio in Seattle that had dozens of clay busts that stared at me while I slept). So if you share my interest, here’s a totally lawful way for you to check out some artist studios and the art that’s in them: participate in the eleventh annual Mesa Artists Studio Tour today and tomorrow from 11 am to 4 pm. You simply go to www.santabarbaramesaartists.com and download a map, then drive around and check out art (and the usually private spaces that art gets made in). Look out! Here comes a list of the names of the participating artists: Karin Aggeler, Liz Downey, Morgan Green, Bill Hull, Cree Mann, Margaret Nadeau, Erin Williams, Ellen Yeomans, Nancy Hull, Brad Nack, and Sara Woodburn.
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Auction ApprAisAl EvEnt October 29, Santa Barbara
Bonhams specialists will be visiting Santa Barbara to provide complimentary estimates with a view to selling at upcoming auctions in the following categories: 20th Century Decorative Arts American and European Paintings Asian Art Books and Manuscripts Contemporary Art ElmEr WAchtEl A view along the Santa Barbara coast Sold for $27,500
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...continued from p.8
Circle Bar B Jetting Off
Going out of business must be quite a motivator, because Boeing, Boeing – the final production of Circle Bar B Dinner Theater after more than four decades – is the funniest and tightest show I’ve seen out at the Refugio Road ranch in many years. It’s the silliest and most dated of premises – a lothario juggles three stewardesses who had different schedules with different airlines back when that was possible in the pre-747 1960s – but boy, is it fun! Lots of quick patter, tons of innuendo, kilos of kissing (so maybe leave the pre-teens at home), and loads of laughs. There’s also a few tears – not during the show itself, but co-owner Susie Couch choked up a bit during the intros, and we imagine there will be a lot more crying in the final days before the curtain comes down for good on Monday, October 27. That’s if you can actually get in; the shows have been completely soldout with a long waiting list for weeks.
Also on the Boards
Calamity Jane, a period piece Western by Ojai author, actress, and writing workshop leader Catherine Ann Jones, has six show October 17-26 at Plaza Playhouse Theatre in Carpinteria. SBCC Theater Group mounts The Heiress with a strong cast at Garvin Theater on campus October 17-November 1. Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre offers the what-happens-when-you’re-not-
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a-prodigy musical 2 Pianos 4 Hands October 18-November 16.
Benefit Bonanza
A trio of fine fundraisers take place this first Saturday, and they’re about as different as could be, both in terms of longevity (21 years vs. a few and just one) and main focus. Fret not, though, still plenty of food and alcohol at all of them! The Fund for Santa Barbara’s Bread and Roses turns 21 on Saturday – it’s finally old enough to legally drink! – down at QAD Headquarters in Summerland, a space so expansive and gorgeous it could make one think about giving up journalism for a career in software, if a job at the company three-acre site perched atop the oceanfront Ortega Hill were waiting. Fund for SB is a model nonprofit, a grant-making clearing house for other wonderful organizations in town that directly help locals, and it runs a model benefit, too. Last year, for example, it raised $212,000 and spent less than $30,000, meaning more than 85 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to the Fund’s admirably succinct mission of “change, not charity”. Expect to hob-nob with lots of community activists, donors, volunteers, elected leaders, and other supporters of progressive social change – plus the assortment of folks who just like outdoor parties – nearly 800 in all. A gourmet buffet-style dinner comes from many of the region’s finest restaurants, with wines from
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local vintners and both a live and silent auction. Check www.fundforsantabarbara. org/bread_roses.php or call 962-9164 to see if tickets are still available. Once it Hits the Lips Back in town, the 2014 Santa Barbara Beer Festival takes over Elings Park – or at least one section, as at 230 acres, the private nonprofit park is the largest of the kind anywhere in the region. (Lots of good ocean view, here, too.) The fest features tasting from just about all the best microbreweries from the central and west coasts, including all the usual suspects from Santa Barbara and Ventura, and quite a few from out of town. You get a souvenir glass and tons of tastings for the $60 admission charge, plus music and food available for purchase on site. The charities here: both Elings Park and The Santa Barbara Rugby Association, a 12-year-old consortium put together by Grunion Rugby Football Club, Westmont College Rugby Club, and UCSB Rugby Club to promote Santa Barbara rugby competition. (Bet you didn’t even know they played rugby in this town, huh?) No games on site today, but lots of sudsy stuff – and you can get the lowdown on how, when (and why) to watch, or even play, rugby in town. Info, tickets, list of breweries, and more online at www. sbbeerfestival.com. Organic Soup for the Soul Also on Saturday, stretch your more spiritual side at Vine-Asana, a first-time benefit for Organic Soup Kitchen (OSK) at DiviniTree Yoga, the still nascent downtown space that’s so much more than a yoga studio. The event includes a 45-minute yoga class with Nuria Reed, wine tasting from Grassini Family Vineyards, tasty nibbles from Kotuku chocolate – and learning about the health benefits of all three in a mini lecture by Genuine Chiropractic. Plus, enjoy a bowl of yummy soup and crunchy salad from the OSK – the folks who put on the annual Thanksgiving and Christmas Day feasts at Veterans Memorial by the beach each year and so much more. Raffle prizes too! Admission is just $10 and available at the door. It’s from 7-9 pm, so you can hit DiviniTree to work off the stuff you ate and drank earlier at the Beer Fest or Bread & Roses. Call 897-3354 or just show up.
Out of the Ordinary
BRIAN TERMOND
218 Palm Ave. 805.591.9977
The second annual Santa Barbara Open Street turns two-and-a-half miles of Cabrillo Boulevard into the city’s longest public park, as cars are banned for Saturday, October 25, in a celebration of people-power promoting health, flexibility, and fun. Enjoy biking, skateboarding, scootering, strolling, dancing, yoga, music, and much more along the ocean-front thruway – all entirely free of traffic. Free admission too! Details at www.sbopenstreets.org. The zombies are coming! At exactly 3 pm on October 25, hundreds of costumed
creatures from World Dance for Humanity will rise from the lawn of the Santa Barbara Courthouse Sunken Gardens to perform Michael Jackson’s iconic Thriller dance as part of a global celebration/benefit. One the same day, you can also catch them at Open Streets at noon, traveling down State Street beginning at 1:30 pm, and in a flash mob at the Public Library at 4 pm before another jaunt down State. There are several preliminary performances starting Saturday, October 18, and including a pop-up appearance at BASSH’s benefit at the Piano Riviera Lounge on Sunday, October 19, plus lots more surrounding Halloween, right up through Saturday, November 1. And it’s not too late to join in as a dancer. All the details and rehearsal schedule are online at www. worlddanceforhumanity.org/thriller-2014.
Pop Tarts
Here’s where you might find me munching on music this fortnight: Saturday, October 18: singer-songwriters Chris Smither & Tim Easton at the Lobero in a Sings Like Hell Concert, or roots-country star Ray LaMontagne with Belle Brigade at the Santa Barbara Bowl. Later on at night at the great electrogroove duo Mattson 2, sporting a brand new CD, out at the Mercury Lounge... Sunday, October 19: The big New Noise Block Party down in the Funk Zone, followed by Dishwalla (“Counting Blue Cars”) with the up-and-coming teen band the Caverns closing out the New Noise Music Festival at SOhO. Or maybe at Hall & Oates at the Bowl... October 21-22: Phish jams up the Bowl followed by ALO (hot on the heels of backing Jack Johnson in front of 4,000 kids at UCSB’s welcome back memorial last week) over at SOhO (they’re filling in for Karl Densen’s Tiny Universe, which canceled because they got a late gig with some British band called the Rolling Stones)... Thursday, October 23: 10-year veteran roots singer-songwriter Griffin House (6 pm show) followed by a Raw Silk reunion with singer Leslie Lembo (8:30)... October 24: The annual Seymour Duncan Notes for Notes benefit at the Lobero features guitar whiz Joe Bonamassa and Jimmy Vivino & The Basic Cable Band (from Conan O’Brien’s late night show. Or more singersongwriter heaven: Boston’s Ellis Paul returns to SOhO with a special opening set from Cory Sipper, the Santa Barbara native who put music on the back burner more than a decade ago... October 25: Jackson Browne (who has a brand-new album out just three weeks ago) & Friends at the Arlington in a benefit for Sanctuary Centers. Also, young slack key guitar superhero Makana at SOhO in a benefit for Surfrider... October 26: Tinariwen’s Santa Barbara debut at UCSB October 30: Tedeschi Trucks Band – Arlington
T:9.89”
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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
Santa Barbara’s Online Magazine, Published Twice Daily
by Sharon Byrne
sbview.com
Autumnal Happenings
I
t’s cooling down from the desert-inferno temps of a couple of weeks ago. The days are getting shorter. The kids are back in school. Pumpkin is the new black. My mail-in ballot is sulking on my counter, awaiting my attention. And all of that can only mean one thing: It’s autumn, my favorite time of year, and a time of fun family-friendly events. Coming up first is the McTeacher Night at the Milpas McDonald’s. On Monday, October 20, starting at 5 pm, Franklin Elementary will be hosting families as a fundraiser. The following day, on October 21, Notre Dame School families will take it over. This is a cool fundraiser concept: the teachers work as restaurant staff, the families all come out for dinner, and a portion of the night’s proceeds go to the school. Franklin has had a long, warm relationship with the Milpas McDonald’s, thanks primarily to an amazing principal in Casie Kilgore. The parent-level participation at Franklin has grown in spades under her leadership. Franklin’s McTeacher night tends to be the biggest in the city, according to McDonald’s managers, a testament to the support for this school in the neighborhood.
Sharon Byrne
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 Wild” from the zoo, and more activities and vendors. The 2.2-mile route runs along Cabrillo from the Bird Refuge to Anacapa Street and is closed to traffic, so as to make maximum use of the open street for fitness and fun. They’re looking for additional volunteers, so if you’re interested go to sbopenstreets.org/volunteer/. Incentive: they have a post-party to celebrate!
Monsters on Milpas
Just hanging around, waiting for Beggars’ Night
The Eastside Gets a “Y”
A new YMCA is opening in the home of the old Primo Boxing at Haley and Quarantina. The grand opening is Monday, October 20, from 1-6 pm. Memberships are expected to be affordable, as the facility is catering to the immediate area. They’ll have fitness classes and equipment onsite. The YMCA is also looking to coordinate youth sports leagues at the nearby Ortega Park. As we learned from the Milpas Healthy Community Initiative this summer, families in the area are hungry for health and fitness resources, so the timing of the arrival of the “Y” is perfect!
Run Wild
And now for some outdoor fun and exercise for the whole family: Open Streets returns Saturday, October 25, from 10 am to 4 pm. Get your bike, skateboard, rollerblades, and walking shoes – and come out to have fun while you exercise. This year features a 5K “Run
specimen trees are giving up, and even succulents are drooping. It’s been a long time since the dolphins in the landmark fountain have been splashed with water. Governor Brown might have declared a water emergency for all the state, but from what I’ve seen lately, not everyone is paying much attention at all. I often visit relatives in Orange County, and as far as I can tell, no one notices there’s a drought there, where sprinklers flow and gardens grow lush and green just miles from the Happiest Place on Earth. This past weekend, I had lunch with friends who live in LA at our halfway point, Westlake Village. We met at a restaurant where apparently there is no worries about the drought, either. At this faux Tuscan villa, complete with a well-tended vineyard, the fountains are flowing, the misters are misting, even on a day whose temperature didn’t get past the 80s. While the drought is certainly a statewide issue, it’s obviously a matter of politics and community awareness in the ways it’s approached. Some, apparently unconcerned about the drought, hold onto the unforgettable words uttered by William Mulholland when he opened the California Aqueduct in 1913: “There it is. Take it.” And they just keep on taking, with little thought of where it comes from. Or who
Misters and a fountain keeping it cool
and virtually unused desal plant raises all kinds of environmental and economic questions for residents and potential ones. During our ladies’ lunch, we also touched on drought-emergency craziness of growing alfalfa and cotton in our state; a huge corporation like Nestlé pumping aquifers in the desert to sell bottled water; and losing our cool over the wet misters spraying right above our heads. Which got me to thinking, on the drive home, about the number of visitors who travel from those water-wasting communities to Santa Barbara, where our local residents scrimp and sacrifice to cut our water usage. I hope they’re not bringing that Mulholland philosophy of “There it is. Take it” right here with them. But I bet they are. They come here on vacation, after all. And there’s a certain feeling of entitlement that comes with that. At this point, it’s not about the cost; it’s about our collective ability to adapt to the reality of a limited and rapidly dwindling essential resource. Once again, we’re reminded of the dubious notion of packing people into Santa Barbara with a reduced carrying capacity and rainfall nowhere in sight.
The Dodgers of Santa Barbara
The Milpas Halloween Trick or Treat: 2-5 pm on Friday, October 31. Send your trick-or-treaters, because we do it up on Milpas! The merchants love giving out candy, Alpha Thrift puts up great decorations, and the great crew from the Don’s Riders at Santa Barbara High School love taking over the lot next to Super Rica to greet the little Halloweeners on the route. We need volunteers to blow up balloons and place them along the route, and also to help families across the crosswalks – so if you’re interested, email info@mcasb.org.
Water Waste/Water Wise
by Cheri Rae The drought is never far from our minds, and certainly not out of sight, here in parched Santa Barbara. Our lawns are long-gone, native plants are drying out,
else might be affected. On the Central Coast, we don’t exactly have the luxury of ignoring water worries, as my friend pointed out. She is a professor of California History at a state university – someone who understands well the history of water wars in the Golden State. As she and her husband contemplate retirement some years from now, access to water is one of their main considerations. Last time we talked, they were still thinking about relocating to the Santa Barbara area as a retirement destination, but not anymore. “Let’s face it,” she reminded me, “The Central Coast is one of the most vulnerable spots in all of California when it comes to water.” All we have to do is look at Lake Cachuma, and it becomes pretty obvious – there isn’t much left. And re-furbishing the long-mothballed
by Cheri Rae It was already bad enough that loyal Dodgers fans could only watch a handful of games this season, due to the failure of Time Warner to negotiate acceptable prices with cable and satellite providers. Cox in Santa Barbara, it should be noted, didn’t even carry the final six regular season games that were finally allowed the right to broadcast by an Orange County station. Heck, we could hardly even hear the legendary Vin Scully call the games on radio, since the Ventura station has a tendency to drift once the sun goes down. And we die-hard fans were stunned, unable to watch two Dodgers’ no-hitters in a season that seemed to offer so much promise. We consoled ourselves: At least we could watch the playoff games – except the exciting Dodger win on a recent Saturday night, carried only on MLB Network. And the idea of making it all the way to the World Series this year almost made
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Cheri Rae
Cheri Rae is the senior editor and columnist for sbview.com. Known for her civic activism and insightful chronicles of the local scene, Cheri has a hard-won reputation for writing about issues that other Santa Barbara-based writers are reluctant to tackle.
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Santa Barbara Dodgers at Laguna Field
sbview.com the long blackout worth it. So it was particularly sad to see the boys in blue strike out in the first round of the National League Division Series, losing to the St. Louis Cardinals. Again. That refrain of “Wait until next year” is getting old. But Dodgers fans, especially those is Santa Barbara, have high hopes and long memories. For nearly three decades, from the 1940s through the 1960s, Santa Barbara was home to Dodgers-affiliated
minor-league teams. That classic old six-acre, WPA-built major league-sized ball field at Laguna Park was home to the Brooklyn Dodgers’ farm team, the Saints. Play was suspended during World War II but began again in 1946, with the debut of the Santa Barbara
Dodgers, a strong team in the California League. The relationship between Santa Barbara and the Dodgers continued after the team moved west, until 1967, when management announced that the Dodgers had lost $100,000 on the team that was
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drawing tiny crowds, so they moved to the more-affordable Bakersfield. And as has been noted before, the old ballpark didn’t last much longer. It was demolished in 1970 to make way for a parking lot for city buses. It was an unceremonious end to America’s pastime in Santa Barbara, by way of a historic team. But baseball fans in this town are getting used to it. In fact, Santa Barbara was once home to Ernest Thayer, who wrote “Casey At the Bat.” The classic American poem ends, much like the Dodgers’ season: “Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright; The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light, And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout; But there is no joy in Mudville – mighty Casey has struck out.” Wait until next year.
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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
by Christina Enoch
Handcrafted Pasta Made Right
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Shred with us in October! Dispose of your personal documents in a safe and secure manner with a bank you can trust— Community West Bank. Join us at one of the events and watch your documents shredded on the spot!* While you’re there, be sure to pick up valuable information about identity theft protection.
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The gang: chef Brian Dodero; owner Diane Harding; Pastaio, Ottavio Gnazzo; and sous chef Mario Giragosian
A
s I chow down on a bowl of noodles at Empty Bowl, I look over The Pasta Shoppe to see what kind of “noodly” thing I can enjoy there, on the other side of the world. Anything with noodles, I am all over it. The first you will see is, well, fresh pasta being made. But there’s a beautiful lady moving around, checking with each customer. Meet Diane Harding (her maiden name is Calvanese; she is an authentic Italian). There’s a woman behind every good Italian meal. Diane is originally from New York City and grew up in a large Italian family wherein she spent most evenings surrounded by feasts. Before Diane came out to California, she worked as a model dreaming of studying ocean biology. (If I can look like her while eating pasta
everyday, I will have what she is having!). She settled in California but couldn’t give up her passion for Italian food. When she presented her fresh pasta dish for public market audition, tasters were blown away. That was her calling. “For some reason, pasta gained a bad reputation, and what I’m trying to do is to educate people on health benefits of fresh pasta and a proper Italian diet.” The Pasta Shoppe LLC makes artisan, handcrafted pasta made with the finest imported Italian pure wheat flour and gourmet homemade sauce using seasonal ingredients. It ain’t a “Let’s load up on carbs” type of place. Have a seat at the counter and savor every bite. My favorite dish was Squid Ink Trenette with calamari, shrimp, tomatoes, zucchini flowers. Salty flavor of squid ink with
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simple yet perfectly cooked seafood. It felt like a pure luxury. Tagliatelle with wild mushrooms and white truffle oil is one of their best-selling dishes. Fresh pasta soaks up the flavor more than dry pasta, so this dish was full of flavor and has a strong punch. You can have freshly made gnocchi with basil pesto, gigli with sausage, broccoli rabe, tomato, garlic, and chili. Spaghetti carbonara comes with a poached egg, and you can really taste the fresh pasta. Fall flavor dishes are coming up, and I can hardly wait for them! Thanks, The Pasta Shoppe LLC, for bringing a little bit of Italy to Santa Barbara. Take a seat at the counter next to regular Italian customers and savor this delicious pasta made right. Buon Appetito!
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Pastaio, Ottavio Gnazzo making fresh pasta
Squid Ink trenette with calamari, shrimp, tomatoes and zucchini flowers Spaghetti carbonara with poached egg Real deal: all the gadgets to make authentic Italian pasta
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Thanks for sharing Briana Westmacott’s story about love (“A Symposium on Love”, #3/18). I was sad to hear of your family’s loss, and yet Paul’s parents’ love was a reminder to us all just how powerful love can be. It’s also refreshing to hear you gushing of your feelings with Paul. You two are adorable. Not too often do we read love stories in the paper, and it’s so important as we all have our own “love story.” It reminded me of meeting Craig (my husband) during our time in Peace Corps in Paraguay. It was the opposite of modern dating with letters, long bus rides, rustic huts, outhouses, no phones, home-cooked meals (with the chicken that was fed the day before). These are good memories for me. All the best, Aira Harris Santa Barbara (Briana Westmacott responds: Thank you for taking the time to write to me. I’m ecstatic that “A Symposium on Love” led you to reflect upon your own love story. It is so important to cherish the love in our lives, and I am grateful that Tim and the whole Sentinel crew publish my columns about love and auras and life. The Sentinel is distinct, no doubt. We should all seek out as much love and laughter in our lives as possible.)
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by James Luksic A longtime writer, editor and film critic, James has
worked nationwide for several websites and publications – including the Dayton Daily News, Key West Citizen, Topeka Capital-Journal and Santa Ynez Valley Journal. California is his eighth state. When he isn’t watching movies or sports around the Central Coast, you can find James writing and reading while he enjoys coffee and bacon, or Coke and pizza.
Oh, the Horror of It All S
ince I hadn’t caught a sneak-peek of the war chronicle Fury or Jason Reitman’s social commentary Men, Women & Children (opening at the Riviera), let’s get cracking with a handful of leftovers, two of which have received a lion’s share of coverage:
No Child’s Play
T
he horror flick Annabelle unspools with a silly premise: a young, expectant couple (Ward Horton and Annabelle Wallis) inexplicably welcomes into its home an ugly doll (“She fits right in.”) Nonsensical talk about the large figurine being vintage and a collector’s item can’t be taken seriously, and the implausibility inflates when an attempt to discard the life-like toy backfires. Through it all, unproven director John Leonetti appears to have been a fine choice for this venture from the makers of The Conjuring. His knack for setting up spooky, evocative images and an instinct for using open spaces will conjure up genuine frissons. Leonetti’s method leads to one particularly chilling moment featuring a young girl who materializes in a room across the hall; the subsequent morphing sequence gave me goosebumps unlike any scene in years. Ultimately, the tale is a mild hoot and fairly spirited, without attaining much charm. Among the stereotypical supporters, it’s nice to see Alfre Woodard resurface despite being underused, while Tony Amendola (a dead ringer in every sense for F. Murray Abraham) proves sufficient as the token, doomed priest. Every actor, in fact, holds up his or her end of the process – even when the pot-holed script itself quivers.
Worth the Wait
T
he Judge, whose ubiquitous trailer careened on TV screens stateside for months, atones for its marketing overkill by doing justice for filmgoers. The heart of the story initially comes off as a stretch: a hard-nosed judge (Robert Duvall) on the wagon and on the verge of retirement, is accused of driving his car into an ex-convict who once stood in his courtroom. Enter Robert Downey Jr. as the magistrate’s estranged son, a big-city attorney (first in his class) who returns to small-town Indiana at the request of his older brother (Vincent D’onofrio of Law and Order). Complications ascend, namely in the form of a calm but resolute prosecutor (Billy Bob Thornton) and a bar owner and potential love interest (Vera Farmiga). The proceedings are buoyed and enhanced by clean, attractive backdrops, and there exist enough bristly and poignant scenes (specifically a genuine gem when son helps father in the bathroom) to outweigh the groaners. It would’ve behooved director David Dobkin to tighten the screws and mop up platitudes and legal conflicts that wouldn’t be amiss on prime-time network television – because otherwise The Judge, at its core, is a careful, angry, and honest movie.
Going, Going...
G
one Girl, based on Gillian Flynn’s wildly popular novel that I haven’t read, fleshes out the life of a peculiar couple whose husband (Ben Affleck) may be responsible for the brutal murder of his spouse, a popular children’s author
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(Rosamund Pike). Behind the camera, David Fincher presides and is shrewd about protocol: not unlike his remarkable Seven and The Social Network (for which Trent Reznor, who reunites with the director here, won an Oscar for his haunting musical score), Gone Girl is skillfully managed and executed with a nervous, electric essence. The characters’ relations are clear and engaging, and Fincher stacks the deck with Kim Dickens, wholly credible as the lead detective; Carrie Coon, a standout as the suspect’s sister; and Neil Patrick Harris, who seizes yet another juicy secondary role (he helped salvage A Million Ways to Die in the West) as the taciturn acquaintance. I’m not one who takes to the tormented Pike (Surrogates, Jack Reacher): as a rule, she makes my skin crawl, but this time her strange persona feels spot-on. Affleck, for his part, flexes some dramatic muscle and lends a melancholy grace that restores meaning to the splintered script. As tends to happen with crime “thrillers,” the narrative gets stranger and more improbable as it goes, culminating in a bizarre climax. Down the stretch, a pair of “Oh, my God” moments shatter the eerie tone of civility that had given the prolonged picture’s first half its tension and conviction.
Reality Bites
I
rish director Gary Shore’s feature film debut Dracula Untold is a passable supernatural flick involving the origin of the titular creature. Luke Evans (looking quite older than his 35 years) stars as our flawed hero, also known as Prince Vlad the Impaler, whose mission is to protect his people – chiefly his pregnant wife (Sarah Gadon) and son – from invaders (“If there’s one, there’s more.”) When a Turkish king (Dominic Cooper, a believable menace) demands 1,000 boys for his own army, Vlad turns bad and unleashes an onslaught of winged wrath. Along with the contrived backstory and passé bloody battles, there’s a good amount of cool, epically scoped CGI effects and dark, swirling bat-mospherics. But the overall arrangement allows for action that’s eroded by cheesy, ham-fisted melodrama. If only this story about a Transylvanian trailblazer selling his soul would have shown less heart and more bite.
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UP CLOSE
W W W. S A N TA B A R B A R A S E N T I N E L .CO M
BY JACQUELYN DE LONGE
Jump on for a classic hayride around the farm
Our former restaurant reviewer takes a closer look – as only a 3rd-generation SoCal native can – at the people, places, and things that make Santa Barbara so unique. When she is not working for us, she keeps herself busy with various writings, chases her two young children around, and practices yoga and Pilates for some sense of sanity.
The Pumpkin Patch at Lane Farms
Owner Ruth Lane, and long-time crew member Mary Erdahl hold down the stand as pumpkins come and go
T
here is a sense of nostalgia and happiness at Lane Farms’ Pumpkin Patch that transports you out of the city and into a festive wonderland of another time. Giggling children swarm the hay pit, tossing handful of the dry grass up into the air, ducking and dancing joyfully as it rains down upon them, clinging to their hair and clothes. Another pack of kids darts back and forth through the rows lined with an abundance of plump pumpkins. Each child searches for that perfect one to take home and carve into their own special jack-o’-lantern. A rumbling motor starts up, and kids race across the field to the rusty red tractor, grabbing their spot on the rear trailer for a classic puttering hayride around the farm. Even more children delight in the fairytale scale of the boulder-sized pumpkins, sprawling themselves atop a dozen of them next to the sky-high stalks of the nearby corn maze. They slide off and tumble onto the straw-covered ground and bolt around the giant squash, circling them with outstretched arms. A contented scarecrow smiles down upon the visitors, watching from his perch in the cerulean sky, pleased that today – like most – is a good day on one of the oldest farms in Santa Barbara. Owned and operated by the husband and wife team of John and Ruth Lane, Lane Farms remains a fully functioning farm that opened for business in 1939 and to this day sells produce out of its original street-side stand. Farming is a family tradition that began back in 1863 when John Lane’s great-great-grandfather and his great-grandfather came across the country by covered wagon, settling into the large agricultural area of what is now known as Goleta. The Lane family put down deep roots and passed on the farming tradition for generations. Despite the development of North Santa Barbara and Goleta, the Lanes have been able to maintain their farm and open space, and they even reside in the original farmhouse that was built in 1901 back when Hollister
Avenue was the 101 freeway and Goleta was the countryside. This farm uses organic methods to produce delicious seasonal fruits and vegetables that you can find at either of their two produce stands, one on Walnut Lane in Santa Barbara and the other on Hollister Avenue at San Marcos Gardens. You can also find their produce at the Lane Farms’ stand in farmers markets throughout the week. While busy 365 days a year, fall is hands-down Lane Farms’ busiest time with foot traffic coming through for their annual pumpkin patch, which has been running strong for 40 years. The Lanes focus more on a harvest theme and less of a spooky experience for their visitors by creating various learning stations for the school groups and families that come through. Each year, John Lane plants the corn maze with the help of his farmhands and
Stephanie Baker, Erica Ramos, and Olivia Inks of Girls Inc. Goleta supervise more than 60 girls on their annual pumpkin patch visit
John Lane introduces his pet donkey
as it grows, it is shaped and transformed in to a sky-towering challenge for puzzle lovers. It is easy to get trapped inside but difficult to find your way out. Ruth Lane chuckles at the stumping maze: “Every day we have to do repairs on the maze (from people breaking out). So, it continues to evolve throughout the season.” On the grounds live their well-loved farm animals: Larry, the 25-year-old donkey; Harley, the pig; Bonnie and Clyde, their two pygmy goats; and Pilgrim and Chestnut, their two Bourbon red turkeys.
Lane Farms has pumpkins, gourds, and squashes of every shape and size from tiny decorative gourds and small sugar pumpkins, to classic carving pumpkins and monster 150-200 pounders. They sell many homemade treats to delight taste buds, such as their kettle corn, caramel corn, toasted pumpkin seeds and pumpkin butter. The Lanes sell tons of pumpkins every year, far too many to actually count, and when Halloween is over, they use the remaining few squash for livestock feed as well as donate them
to various local charities for Thanksgiving celebrations. They make sure nothing goes to waste on this farm. Whether you need to stock up on holiday pumpkins, or a just get little fresh country air, an afternoon at the Pumpkin Patch is a simple pleasure anyone can enjoy. It’s a quick change of pace and an easier state of mind right up the road at Lane Farms. So head over and enjoy the rustle of the corn stalks and the laughter of the children – and pick up your perfect pumpkin for Halloween.
Lane Farms: 5091 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara; (805) 967-1459
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Pumpkin product placement
You’ve picked out the perfect pumpkin. Now it’s time to really make your mark! Decorate your doorstep with an original jacko’-lantern and indulge in some traditional Halloween fun. Jack-o’-lantern Carving Basics: 1) Line your table with newspaper for easy cleanup. 2) Cut the opening in the top at an angle so it does not fall straight down. 3) Scoop out the pumpkin goop with a large metal spoon, really scraping down the sides. 4) D raw out your design using a washable marker, so you can make changes and take your time to get it right. 5) Use a sharp kitchen paring knife and carve slowly. It’s easier to take more off but almost impossible to stick it back on. (This applies to your fingers, too, so go slow!) 6) Be flexible in your design and try to incorporate any pumpkin breaks or knife slips. Tips for Your Best Jack-o’-lantern: • The bigger the pumpkin, the easier it is to carve. • A jack-o’-lantern is three dimensional, so use the different layers of rind and flesh for added texture and depth. • The thinner you can get the inner flesh the more transparent it becomes. • Think outside traditional design. Play with themes, such as a stacking pumpkin up for a holiday snowman, or skip the face and go abstract by cutting random or geometric shapes. • Switch the orientation of your jack-o’lantern by laying it on its side or using its stem as part of the design. • Skip the knife and break out the power tools for clean controlled lines and shapes. (Drill guns and their various attachments make fine cutouts!) • Always use common sense and make sure any additional materials you use are clear of the candle. Optional Creative Add-ons: • Toothpicks • Carrots, cooked spaghetti, and ketchup • Spare doll parts • Dry ice • Reuse the seeds and goop for brains and facial oozing. •U se paint or food coloring to stain the lighter flesh.
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INtheZONE with Mr. Bones Killing Time The Lucky Penny is the perfect jolt needed to wake up the dead
1250 Coast Village Road 805 565 9381 | www.tmollie.com
Food & Home Magazine Presents. The 5th Annual
Chowder Challenge! Sunday, November 2 from 1-4pm at the beautiful Bacara Resort
18 top chefs compete for best chowder honors in SB! 20 local wineries and breweries pour their best all afternoon! Live music and dancing—Silent auction and More!
For
Be a part of Santa Barbara’s only chowder competition, food festival and adult beverage event all in one!
Tickets
go to
food&home m
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Or call 805-963-6754 Corporate and group rates available
I
’ve been stuck in a rut so deep, some would call it a tomb – okay, let’s just say it was a tomb. And year after year I’ve been rotting away, wasting my afterlife, killing time until that one magical night would finally arrive where ghosts, ghouls, and bone daddy’s like myself, get to walk among the living. A night we dead folks like to call “All Hallows Eve.” Halloween is a time when a fella like me can dust off his creaky bones and shake a femur at a monster mash, scare the daylights out of small gullible fleshies – and well, generally feel alive again. It’s a night I dream of and pine for quietly, in my cold darkness of an empty soul all year long, until that fateful October 31 rolls around. But oddly enough, this year something magical happened. It was around midSeptember when a nice, plump, fleshy family opened up my coffin, to happily display me in different places and positions daily around their home, in a sort of odd tribute to the night of the living dead. What a strange sensation to
Marcello Ricci is a great listener as I tickle the ivories in front of The Arts Fund Gallery
be adored and sought out by their tiny round children every morning, with no fear but delight splashed across their faces as they sat next to my lifeless marrow, ...continued p.30 At CrossFit, I realize how out of shape all those years of laying around had made me
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...continued from p.9 that a brewery can either outright own drinking establishments or have a contract with them that gives the brewery exclusive rights to serve their beer there. As you could imagine, this system leads to monopolies and larger breweries dominating the pub scene (at one time Bass owned 7,300 houses), so the tied house system has had several laws put in place over the past few decades however the system still remains in the UK. Samuel Smith owns more than 200 establishments in England and still delivers beer to the nearby pubs using horse-drawn carts. Of the places owned, one of the most famous is Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, among London’s oldest pubs. There has been a pub there since 1538, though the current building dates back to 1667 when it was rebuilt after burning down in the Great Fire of 1666. The Olde Cheese (as it is sometimes known) has served many literary icons, such as Mark Twain and Lord Tennyson, but it is most known for being one of Charles Dickens’s favorite pubs. Years ago, I was in London and sought out the historic Olde Cheese. With some effort, I found the slim alleyway that leads to the pub. My eyes had to adjust as I moved from the bright summer day into the dimly lit interior. There are several drinking areas, and I made my way down the swirling passageways to a
lower cellar area whose stone archways hinted at the monastic origins of the site. I ordered their Imperial Stout and watched the bartender pump beer into my glass. English beers are often served on a beer engine, this device pumps the beer from the cask rather than using an external gas tank to push the beer out of the keg. The Imperial Stout from Samuel Smith is one of the smoothest examples of the style you will find. It is not the intense, syrupy, and bitter beast that you sometimes get in American imperial stouts. This beer has a clean, milkchocolate flavor with a plum liqueur undertone. Drinking this rich, velvety brew in the depths of the murky pub gave the beer a warming character that nicely complimented the stonework. Samuel Smith also produces a fuller, sweeter Oatmeal Stout and the drier Taddy Porter. After grabbing a pint of their mineral-themed Old Brewery Bitter, I made my way back to the exterior and off to the next site. Yorkshire Stingo may just come once a year, but every beer the brewery offers is worthwhile. Although it has grown quite a bit over the years, the brewery has remained true to its message. Samuel Smith’s loyalty to traditional techniques and beer styles make it one of the jewels of the English beer scene and an icon in the world of beer.
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by Megan Waldrep With over ten years in the industry designing for
her own label, she began writing because “it just felt good.” In addition to writing, Megan is currently the head designer and creative director for Mew Kids, a children’s clothing line, as well as a co-author of the much loved children’s book Spice & Little Sugar. You can say she wears many hats. Which is fitting. For a fashion writer and all. Discover her world at www.mewkids.com.
Fun in the Sun on Terroir Terrain
Fresh off a bocce game. Jenna Galkin, Terroir Selections creative consultant Derek Galkin, yours truly, and Terroir sales director Chad LeMieux. The Galkins won. (Photo by Jim McCarthy Photography)
A friendly face greets you at the Mayacamas wine table (Photo by Jim McCarthy Photography)
I
t was a backyard barbecue in the middle of the Santa Ynez Valley. Striped umbrellas shaded the lawn, a football tossed and bocce ball played, food, wine, and live music shared with new friends and old. A harvest celebration of Terroir Selections wineries set the tone for the soirée at Mattei’s Tavern in Los Olivos. It
Pretty ladies adding more beauty to the scene (Photo by Jim McCarthy Photography)
was a picturesque Indian summer day. Derek Galkin, creative consultant for Terroir Selections explains it best: “Terroir is different, because it’s not just about the wine. It’s about enjoying an experience with friends and family. There is a consistency on what we have to offer, and this event is a perfect representation
The maestro in the kitchen. Mattei’s Tavern head chef, Robbie Wilson (Photo by: Jim McCarthy Photography)
of that.” The inviting atmosphere is a direct reflection of Terroir’s founders, Charles and Ali Banks. Both from the great sate of Georgia, they’ve succeeded in evoking the spirit of hospitality through thoughtfully curating wines from around the world that uniformly make you feel right at home. A stroll through the grounds introduced 12 of 15 wineries from Terroir’s portfolio with reds, whites, viogniers, and rosés greeting attendees with each step. Wine labels Agharta, Domaine De La Côte, Mayacamas, Leviathan, Qupé, Sandhi, and Wind Gap represented California wine counties, Embodying the Burgundy region was Maison L’Orée, Wine label Evening Land brought the taste of Oregon, Mulderbosch and Fable Mountain wines illustrated South African terrain, while Cultivate Wines blended juices from around the world. Perfectly complimented food by Mattei’s head chef, Robbie Wilson, made one feel even luckier to be there. The man can cook. Whetstone Wine Cellars provided not only superb Viognier and Syrah, but wonderful conversation as well. Jamey and Michelle Whetstone’s welcoming nature resulted in the one of the busiest
Jamey and Michelle Whetstone of Whetstone Wine Cellars pause between pours (Photo by Jim McCarthy Photography)
tents of the day. Even more inviting, they host an annual pig pickin’ at Whetstone’s stunning Napa wine estate for all to enjoy. For a gal from South Carolina, it’s music to my ears. I asked Jamey, a fellow South Carolinian, what he thought of the event. “Loved it. I sipped on cold beer most of the day, while serving our wines to a great turnout of folks and tossing the football barefoot out on the lawn. Mattei’s Tavern was the perfect locale for this gathering. The live band, delicious nibbles, and outdoor setting only added to the fun.” I will reprieve you of my relationship with each wine, but will mention Mulderbosh Vineyard’s Rosé is spectacular, and Mayacamas hosted a favorite Chardonnay of the day. All the reds stole my heart in one way or another and – paired with Robbie’s food – put me on cloud nine. Midway through, I sat down to take it all in. This is what the wine experience is all about. Creating an environment that allows you to engage in your surroundings, enjoying great conversations, and feeling happy and content. It’s about allowing yourself to pause and look at the big picture: life is good.
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BEHIND THE VINE
by Hana-Lee Sedgwick Hana-Lee Sedgwick is a digital advertising executive by day and wine consultant and blogger by night. Born and raised in Santa Barbara, she fell in love with the world of wine while living in San Francisco after college. Hana-Lee loves to help people learn about and appreciate wine, putting her Sommelier certification to good use. When not trying new wines or traveling, she can be found practicing yoga, cooking, entertaining, and enjoying time with friends and family. For more information and wine tips, visit her blog, Wander & Wine, at wanderandwine.com.
Keeping up with Blair Fox
Blair Fox, namesake of his wine cellar, which he operates with wife Sarah
complemented by soft vanilla and caramel aromas from 100-percent French oak barrel aging. It’s a rich, smooth, not to mention approachable, cooler-climate Syrah. Another notable is the 2011 Fox Family Vineyard Syrah ($45), which has notes of red fruit, chocolate, and toasted spices. Full-bodied with nice texture, I’d say this wine will age well over the next several years. The 2010 Fox Family Petite Sirah ($45), aged in a combination of half-American and half-French oak, has great structure and silky smooth tannins. Very nice. Blair Fox Cellars produces around 1,000 cases of wine annually, versus the
The Blair Fox Cellars tasting room in Los Olivos
H
ow cute is Los Olivos? Once a dusty little western town, Los Olivos is now what I like to call a winelover’s Disneyland. There are more than 30 tasting rooms in this quaint village, with a plethora of good wine to choose from. It goes without saying that with so many options, it’s hard to decide which places to try first. A safe bet? Blair Fox Cellars, owned by winemaker Blair Fox and his wife, Sarah (both Santa Barbara natives). Blair Fox has been on the Santa Barbara County wine scene for a while now, first starting out as a consultant for Fess Parker Winery after receiving a combined degree in viticulture and enology from UC Davis (he originally went to school for pre-med, by the way). He then moved on to gain winemaking experience at Sunstone Winery in Santa Ynez, spent a year in Australia’s McLaren Vale wine region, traveled throughout France, and then moved back to SB in 2003 when he became Fess Parker’s Rhône varietal winemaker. He has now been the head winemaker there since 2005. In 2008, Blair was awarded the Andre Tchelistcheff Winemaker of the Year award at the SF International Wine Competition. He’s obviously doing something right… and his great wines are the proof! Blair Fox Cellars focuses on producing high-quality boutique wines, specializing in Rhône varietals like Viognier, Grenache, and Syrah. Many of the grapes Blair sources come from vines he planted himself on his family’s organic estate vineyards. He makes sure all of the grapes he works with are hand-harvested, handsorted, and produced in small lots to
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100,000-plus case production of Fess Parker Winery. As if Blair didn’t have enough on his plate already, he and Sarah started another wine label in 2010, Fox Wine Co., producing around 1,000 cases as well. I haven’t tried the wines he and Sarah create for Fox Wine Co. (the two share winemaker duties), but they specialize in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, mostly in the $20-$30 price range. You can try the wines at their tasting room, which opened up this year in the Art Foundry down in The Funk Zone. Fun fact: Sarah’s sister designed the Fox Wine Co. label (which is awesome). Blair and Sarah seem to have a real family-focused operation going, and I admire the commitment to producing wines that matter to them. Overall, the wines are luscious and balanced, showing purity of fruit with beautiful structure. And hey, anyone that decides to make a sparkling Grenache in the labor-intensive méthode champenoise because his “wife loves sparkling wine” is A-okay in my book. P.S. The sparkling Grenache is pink, sealed with a bottle cap, is super lively, and is called Foxy Bubbles, which makes it even more fun.
Blair Fox Cellars: 2902 San Marcos Avenue, Los Olivos Fox Wine Co.: 120 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara
Join us Friday, October 24 from 6 p.m., at The Endless Summer bar-cafe, as we celebrate
the 50th Anniversary of the film
This 2013 Viognier is all bottled up
showcase the highest-quality expression of the fruit and terroir. I’m not going to lie, I enjoyed all of the wines I tasted (and I tasted quite a few). The 2013 Paradise Road Vineyard Viognier ($29) is bright and refreshing, with nice fruit and floral characteristics. The 2011 Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah ($42) has notes of blackberry and earth,
Just like NEW
professional jewelry service
Repairs • Cleaning Resizing • Settings Restring
Free Quotes
Sandcastle Time
MONDAYS – SATURDAYS
CASITAS PLAZA • 805.684.5110
The Endless Summer It was 50 years ago that our friend filmmaker Bruce Brown headed to New York to show his film in search of the perfect wave, starring Robert August & Mike Hynson. The rest, as they say, is history.
This 50th anniversary party includes:
A Special Screening
of the original film throughout the restaurant, with filmmaker Bruce Brown & other Endless Summer family & friends in attendance.
Island-Style Pu-pu’s
(an array of Appetizers & Small Plates) along with some of your Endless Summer favorite dishes.
Tickets are $45 in advance. Kids’ tickets are $25 & include a Keiki Mai-Tai (that’s without the alcohol).
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW at: www.endlesssummerbarcafe.net or call the restaurant at 805-564-4666.
An Aloha Mai-Tai Other Bruce Brown films
will be screening in the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. 113 Harbor Way • “By The Boats” • (805) 564-4666 A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. Additional alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase. Additional information i s available by calling The Endless Summer bar-cafe at 805-564-4666.
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...continued from p.26 I just know I was a rock star in my fleshy days and playing the Legacy Dreadnought by Composite acoustics at Guitar Bar, I made music to wake the dead
After my workout, I grab a bite at Metropolis Café
I swap horror stories with Kathleen Michael at Area 51, who will be having a frightful alien invasion for Halloween night
playing, even singing dreadfully cheery songs – and providing my own pet name of Mr. Bones. It was about then that it happened: I was… alive. No, not like you would think; I am still one windstorm away from dust, but an itching began under my ribcage and I like to think that is the place where my cold little black heart used to beat. I had to get out, I had to discover the world around me before this feeling
ended and I had frozen once again, going back to the timeless pose of eternity. One morning, just a few weeks before the rest of my kind would awaken, I stole into the city, hitching a ride with the man of the house, down to a seedy neighborhood, teeming with friendly but hairy breathers. So I set out to find my perfect Halloween haunt, grab a spirit or two, and stretch my creaky bones in this place they call the Funk Zone.
For Adults Only had quite a selection of heavy breathers
Drew Morehouse at Seven made wicked drinks, providing the liquid courage to creak next door and enjoy flesh dancers
• Burlesque • Masquerade •
20-50% off
Early Bird Costume Sale!
Sales ~ Rentals
805.967.4626
4289 STATE ST
The girls at Fig Mountain are a sight for dead eyes and reveal a party is planned for Halloween night at the brewery
Wine Wednesdays are back! Join us for an exclusive all L’Aventure flight featuring highly allocated, highly rated (and highly delicious) cult wines all day every Wednesday!
Corks n’ Crowns Tasting Room and Wine Shop
Disco • Mad Men • Flapper • 80’s Prom • Cocktail & Formal Wear • 1800’s-1980’s Renaissance • Wigs • Capes • Vintage Jewlery • Shoes • Theatrical Make-up
• B
Disco • Mad Men • Flapper • 80’s Prom • Cocktail & Formal Wear • 1800’s-1980’s
40’s,
40’s, 50’s & 60’s Attire • Hats •
4289 STATE ST
805.967.4626
Sales ~ Rentals
ckage" "Party out of the Pa
Early Bird Costume Sale!
Sales ~ Rentals
20-50% off
805.967.4626
• Burlesque • Masquerade •
4289 STATE ST
I was denied at the door of the Spearmint Rhino because of some “No Dead Guys” policy, but the bouncer was kind enough to suggest another shop that may have just the flesh I’m searching for
40’s, 50’s & 60’s Attire • Hats •
Renaissance • Wigs • Capes • Vintage Jewlery • Shoes • Theatrical Make-upDisco • Mad Men • Flapper • 80’s Prom • Cocktail & Formal Wear • 1800’s-1980’s
32 Anacapa Street in the heart of Santa Barbara's Funk Zone Hours: Monday-Sunday 11am-7pm
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Save WaTer DUring DroUghT Free efficient sprinkler nozzles available to City water customers! 1) go to www.FreeSprinklerNozzles.com and print out voucher 2) pick up your free nozzles
3) put in the easy-to-install nozzles and start saving water!
We are all in this together! Call 564-5460 for a free Water Check Up. The City is here to help. WaterWiseSB.org
Whale of a Show On Now!!! Giant Humpback The best way to view them up close is aboard and Blue whales the Condor Express are abundant in our Santa Barbara Channel this Summer 1/2 Day whale watching cruises departs WEDNESDAY - SUNDAY 10:00- 2:30 from Sea Landing dock 75 Foot Quad Jet, Hydrofoil Assisted Catamaran designed to provide a stable and comfortable ride at cruising speeds of 25+ knots Large walk-around and upper sun-decks Full-service bar and galley Luxuriously teak paneled cabin with booth seating for 68 people Professional experienced crew
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return. It quickly became apparent that Henry was not merely forgetful, he could not form new memories to forget.
by Rachelle Oldmixon
Road to Recovery: Like Riding a Bike
T
he story of the most important patient in neuroscience from the last century begins with a bicycle accident. Sevenyear-old Henry Molaison was knocked down by another child riding a bike. He hit his head on the pavement and lost consciousness for five minutes. At first, he seemed fine. Then, after Henry had made what seemed like a full recovery, he began to suffer from partial seizures. As Henry grew older, his seizures became more severe. He regularly suffered from several grand mal and petit mal seizures a day. Occasionally, he would lose consciousness and be left in a stupor after a seizure abated, and he almost always claimed that the seizures made it difficult to think. Despite his intelligence, the constant assault left Henry with little ability to focus on his education. By the time he was 27, his condition had grown so severe that Henry could not maintain his job as a automobile mechanic or move out of his parents’ house. Desperate, he and his family approached Dr. William Scoville, a neurosurgeon at Hartford Hospital. Dr. Scoville performed a series of tests and was able to determine that Henry’s seizures originated from the temporal lobes of his brain. Dr. Scoville recommended an experimental surgery: remove the parts of the brain causing the seizures. While the surgery had been performed on seizure patients with smaller locations of origin on only one side of the brain, Henry’s seizures originated from rather large areas on both sides of the brain. The repercussions of removing such a
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A self-professed nerd, Rachelle has her M.A. in psychological and brain sciences and she occasionally appears as a co-host on a science and innovation TV show. While her degree focused on the brain, Rachelle never could settle on one area of science. So she shares her love of all things science here and on her blog: www.redhotsci.com. Now, go do some science!
Patient HM’s Memory Mission Henry’s condition caught the attention of Dr. Brenda Milner, a psychologist who was an expert in memory. She worked with Henry, testing his memory in every way imaginable. Over time, Dr. Milner was able to learn from Henry’s circumstances. Without his medial-temporal lobes, Henry was still able to hold information in his working memory. So long as he was using the information, or actively thinking about it, he could remember. As soon as his attention was diverted, Henry lost whatever information
“It quickly became apparent that Henry was not merely forgetful, he could not form new memories to forget” large section from both hemispheres were unknown. Henry was desperate to be free of the never-ending seizures, to think clearly, and to live on his own. He agreed to the surgery. In September 1953, Dr. Scoville surgically removed the majority of Henry’s medial temporal lobe, removing the hippocampal formation, and several other neural structures in the process. As with the bike accident, all seemed well for Henry at first. The seizures abated and he seemed to be recovering quickly. Then, his family and doctors began to notice that he was forgetful. He seemed unable to retain new information and seemed completely unable to recall the two years before the surgery. Concern over Henry’s condition increased when his memory did not
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he had just learned and wasn’t even aware he had lost it. Henry was also able to learn associations, such as first and last names that went together, and complex motor tasks. Over many years, he learned his way around his parents’ new house, one they had moved into after Henry’s surgery. Every time he was asked if he had ever been to the house before, he could not recall. All he could say was that the layout made sense or felt familiar. It seemed that Henry could develop implicit memories (memories like learning to tie your shoe or ride a bike), but not explicit ones (memories of birthday parties and what you ate for breakfast). Henry could not recall having met Dr. Milner and reintroduced himself every time he saw her, even if she only left the room for a moment to get coffee. He could not recall his 28th birthday or the death of his favorite uncle. He could not recall phone numbers given to him after the surgery or books that he read. But he could learn new tasks and routes to move around his parents’ house after they had moved. For years, it was believed that the
hippocampus consolidated memories. After all, Henry could not make any new memories that he could recall. Then, Henry began to show evidence of being able to make semantic memories. After many years, Henry developed an affinity for crossword puzzles and was able to learn and remember words he had not encountered prior to the surgery. He was even able to recall the year correctly, something he could not do in the first few years following the surgery. Interviewer: And what year do you think it is? HM: I think 1992. Interviewer: Very good. Good for you. That’s exactly right. Terrific. HM: I’ll admit I was having an argument with myself right there. Was it ‘91 or ‘92? Henry’s ability to develop some semantic memories without a hippocampus shocked scientists. Many neuroscientists would attribute Henry’s semantic memories to brain plasticity, or the brain’s ability to change and adapt to new situations (such as the loss of tissue). Because Henry was an adult when he underwent the surgery, it is possible that his brain was slow to adapt and change but did eventually manage to “re-wire” and allow him to regain ability to create memories. This topic is still hotly debated among neuroscientists. Ultimately, Henry is still helping us to understand our minds, our memories, and how much we rely on memories to construct our understanding of the world. Henry died in 2008 at the age of 82. Henry lived 55 years of his life in the present moment. He was a pleasant, agreeable man who was always willing to “help the psychologists out.” Over time, he developed a sense that he was part of something important – though he thought he was helping scientists study epilepsy, not memory. What he didn’t realize was that every student of psychology knows him and reveres him for his unknowing sacrifice. His death came as a blow to the entire scientific community. We mourned his death as we would the death of a friend. During his life, Henry was known across the world as Patient HM. It brings great joy to present to you the man behind the initials.
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You Have Your Hands Full by Mara Peters Former editor for the fashion/lifestyle section of the New York
Post, Mara moved to London and worked as a contributing editor for the Daily Mail’s You Magazine, freelancing for Look Magazine, NY Post and the Style Magazine for The Sunday Times. To remain sane during diaper years she writes a mommy blog, You Have Your Hands Full – www.handsfullsb.com.
No Kidding about Discipline
“I
have something to tell you and you’re not going to like it,” Alpha started in. I hate it when our conversations start off that way. “Just spit it out,” I told him. “Okay, but before I tell you,” he continued, “I just want you to keep in mind, that in the 7th grade I was lighting fires in the woods behind my house with Mike Hipp.” I’m in the car, waiting for my oldest to come out of junior high. The other kids are tucked in the back, doing homework. I’m feeling increasingly irritated about where the conversation is headed. “The assistant principal just called. Jackson was in his office because he had burned a kid with a pistachio shell. Kids were heating up the nuts under their shoes at recess. They determined that it was not bullying. It was not malicious, but he had to be called in because the kid went to the nurse to get a Band-Aid. It’s just part of the new rules.” Huh? Junior high. We had been warned about it. The big step. Kids are a little too mature. Major attitude. A parent who’d already been down this road warned me the junior high years were by far the worst. So, having braced myself for all of it, the first month turned out to be quite a pleasant surprise. Jax went into an enormous school ensconced in a great group of friends, surrounded by 100 other students from his elementary class, plus numerous sports acquaintances. He came home euphoric over the freedom – walking in the hallways unsupervised, switching classes every period. It was all proceeding so smoothly. Hanging up the phone with Alpha, I watched him approach the car. His body slumped, his face crestfallen. All the tween ‘tude was gone. As he slid into the car, it was clear he was devastated. My oldest, the rule follower. The kid, literal to his core, who worked really well inside the box, was completely out of sorts. He was in trouble for the first time in
his life. Looking at him, it killed me. I’d never seen him so down on himself. I had to stop myself from hugging him. On the way home, I glared and yelled a little for show. “What were you thinking? I didn’t raise a son to end up in the principal’s office,” came out a couple of times. His head hung lower with each barrage. The other kids, aghast, listened intently as their older brother repeated
“Do we want kids to be compliant, produce perfect grades, never test their boundaries or look for chances to stretch, even break, the rules?” over and over how stupid he was. But inside, I was replaying my conversation that I just had with Alpha. At his age, I was lighting fires in the woods. We have marveled that our kids do follow the rules as much as they do. They don’t light fires, they rarely talk back; they produce for us on demand. It makes us proud for sure. But that rebellious spirit that Alpha has described about himself led him to be an entrepreneur. Made him brave enough to take on incredible risk. To move his family to Santa Barbara; choose a path that was not the norm for a kid growing up in Westchester County, New York. Do we want kids to be compliant, produce perfect grades, never test their boundaries or look for chances to stretch, even break, the rules? Excel in all they decide to do but never experience failure? It truly sounds intoxicating, doesn’t it? But the reality is, it’s not preparing them for life. For real success. If I intuitively know that, where is
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there room to waffle? In school? Where the stakes are so high one misstep could jeopardize a college ticket. (On a side note, when I was growing up, it never occurred to me to think about college in 7th grade. I get to hear about it all the time in carpool.) On the sports field? Where club sports are demanding more out of our kids than ever before. One false move and they can land on the B team. Who cares? You could ask. And that is where the answer lies. I care. Probably too much. Because when I see my kids excelling, in a way, it is a measure of my own success. All the effort Apha and I have put into them. They are living results of all our hard work. But, as I write this column, seeing it in print, my own kids’ path is so clearly not about me. It is about them. They have to develop their own expectations for themselves. Not mine. Not Alpha’s. In a more holistic way. Once home, I stormed into my room with Jackson in tow leaving the rest of the tribe huddled in the kitchen wondering
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what punishment was about to befall their brother. I slammed the door for effect and listened to him apologize. And then I told him point blank. “Jackson, part of being in 7th grade means you’re going to do stupid things,” I told him. “How are you going to learn if you do everything right?” Stupid is just starting, I told him. Even more stupid was going to a party in high school, drinking, then getting into a car and driving friends home. Maybe you get home okay. Or maybe you get in an accident and no one survives. “How are you going to learn that if you don’t make enough wrong decisions to learn the right ones?” As he left the room, I could tell that was not the conversation he was expecting. But we are now in junior high. Where there is a lot more gray than black and white. And he may do things that surprise me. But, in turn, I will parent him in a way that may surprise both of us. Because, at the end of the day, we are all just trying to figure it out.
Peters Pick Never underestimate holiday tradition. I grew up sort of celebrating Christmas (I’m half-Jewish) and in my latter years sort of celebrating Hanukah. By 16, we were going to movies on the holidays to tune it all out. Alpha, on the other hand, has a clear idea that gingerbread cookies need to bake as we decorate the tree because that was what his mom did. He yearns for the smell. I have tried really hard with my own kids to give them that. And it is made a lot easier with a place like Lane Farms. It is not just about carving pumpkins at Halloween, it is about picking the perfect jacko-lantern at the pumpkin patch. And losing ourselves in the corn maze. And petting the enormous horse with the big teeth. I can’t get enough of the place. Hopefully someday, my kids will think back and want to come home to do the same with their kids. Lane Farms, 308 Walnut Lane, Santa Barbara. Monday-Saturday 9 am-6 pm or Sunday 9 am-5 pm.
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Real Estate Snapshot
by Kelly Mahan
Post-Summer Sales Increase
E
ven though it’s officially fall and the kids are back to school, both the weather in Santa Barbara and its real estate market remain hot, with the number of home sales rising in September for the third month in a row. With the rise in number of sales comes a slight drop in sales prices, with the median home price at $1.2 million, down from $1.37 million in August. Although September showed more inventory than earlier in the year, total inventory is down about 10 percent from last year. The Santa Barbara MLS (Multiple Listing Service) shows roughly 900 single-family homes and condos on the market from Carpinteria to Goleta. And while sales continue to increase,
price of $599,000. Condo list prices range significantly across the districts, with the median list price in Montecito coming in at $1,560,000; the median list price on a Goleta condo is a bargain at $455,000. Inventory on condos in most districts is also down compared to last year. Year-over-year list prices for both singlefamily homes and condos continue to increase, but some sellers are realizing the need to be more competitive: 18 percent of the homes listed for sale had price reductions in September, while 23 percent of condos listed have been reduced in price. One place condos are selling over the asking price: The Hideaway, an enclave of 101 residences (including townhomes and bungalows) adjacent to the Ellwood
“The portion of the housing market that is slightly cooling off in our area is the condo segment: sales of condos dropped dramatically in September” year-over-year sales are down 18 percent from last year in the single-family home segment. Across the board sales are down in each district (Carpinteria/Summerland, Montecito, SB, Goleta), while median sales prices are up significantly. “With fewer homes on the market, there are often fewer sales as there are fewer homes to match buyer needs. Add in low interest rates and a desirable city such as Santa Barbara, and homes in good condition and priced well for their area can move at a premium price,” says real estate agent Mark Hunt. The exception to the decrease in sales is the Hope Ranch district, where there were 27 sales in September versus 26 in September 2013. The portion of the housing market that is slightly cooling off in our area is the condo segment: sales of condos dropped dramatically in September, with 27 sales versus 44 in August. The median sales price also decreased, from $717,000 in August to approximately $649,000 in September. Fifty-five new condo listings came on the market in September, with a median list
Mesa in Goleta. “Recent studies have found that properties near bodies of water tend to sell for double the price or more, than homes not close to the ocean or lakes. Since Santa Barbara is a coastal community and condominiums often offer gates, security features, community pools, and other amenities, they can be very desirable to homeowners who are not interested in maintaining a yard and the other costs and maintenance issues associated with homeownership,” says Hunt. “That being said, there is a saying that may prove true here, that the condo market falls off before and often more in terms of value percentages than single-family residences. Perhaps there is some telling information in the fact that condo sales are slowing and lowering prices to find buyers.” Fourth-quarter bottom line: lack of inventory is driving sales prices up, but a bump in the number of homes being listed could cause the median list price on escrows to stabilize in the final quarter of the year.
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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.
All Creatures Great and Small Sharon Bifano brings Julius out for a blessing from Father Larry. In adoration, Julius licked him afterward.
Juanita Hernandez and Ya Luo get ready to bless their bunnies named Lalie Hop and Boogey Woogie
C
ountless pets and their owners came out to the iconic Santa Barbara Mission on October 4 for the Blessing of the Animals celebrating the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. SB locals were prepared with hats and sunscreen, as it was already 80 degrees before noon. Prior to the blessings, Father Charles Talley of the St. Barbara Parish (www. santabarbaraparish.org) expressed, “This event gives so much to people-hope, love, and companionship.” I also learned that St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals and the environment. It was strange that there was no growling from pups or hissing from cats; all animals seemed to be at peace with one another. As new animals explored and found new friends, so did their owners. Strangers had the delightful reprieve of their animals taking the first step to meet and greets. My adorable rescue dog, Julius, and my mom were on hand. Father Talley brought to a pause as Father Larry Gosselin addressed the sizeable crowd of attendees. Father Larry discussed St. Francis of Assisi’s ideology of kind relationships with all people and animals. Together, everyone sang the traditional song of St. Francis, and the pets “sang” too. Father Larry exclaimed, “The animals know when we are giving a blessing to them.” A tabby cat nuzzled up to a caramelcolored Labrador. Two fluffy bunnies were held in their owner’s arms. Even a rainbow-colored Macaw bird tilted his head toward the direction of Father Larry, as though he was listening and taking in the message of love. Pet holders who had animals with special needs such as blindness, deafness, and cancer were asked to state those specific issues to Father Larry for a special blessing. As the animals receive their blessings, there was a sense of peace and compassion. When it was Julius’s turn, I watched in adoration. The little Chihuahua terrier mix pup gave Father Larry a big kiss as
Post blessing, Phil Gulley poses with his cheerful toy Schnauzers, Hope and Mercy
Marion Schlinger and black Labrador Toby, age 6, before Toby receives his blessing
Peggy Merizalde and son Enrique Dominguez with their family of pets including dogs, Abbie and Lucas as well as kitty, Sebastian
Proud pup parents Carol and Jared Dailey are happy to have Father Larry Gosselin bless their dogs, Baby and Jackson
Patrice, Isabel, and Mendro pose with their pup, Lulu
holy water splashed on his nose. After animals received their blessing, attendees stuck around and mingled. New relationships were formed with pets and pet owners. I imagined St. Francis of Assisi smiling; how proud he’d be to witness a morning full of peace and love.
A rainbow-colored Macaw named Herman receives his blessing for the day
Tinkerbell gets a little splash of holy water
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