WHO’D A THUNK?
WHEN KIM ANDERSON AND AARON OLSON OPENED HANDLEBAR COFFEE ROASTERS THREE YEARS AGO THEIR ONLY COMPETITION WAS STARBUCKS, COFFEE BEAN & TEA LEAF, AND A PLETHORA OF LOCAL COFFEE HOUSES. TODAY THEY’RE KNOWN FOR MAKING THE BEST COFFEE DRINKS IN TOWN AND ARE PACKED. (STORY ON P. 29)
SANTA BARBARA
VO L U M E 3 | I S S U E 2 6 | D E C E M B E R 2 7 | 2 0 1 4 – JA N UA RY 1 0 | 2 0 1 5
friday to friday fortnightly
W W W. S A N TA B A R B A R A S E N T I N E L .CO M
MS. SANTA BARBARA
cover photo by Nancy Neil for C Magazine
BORN IN THE SOUTH, CROWNED MISS WORLD, SANTA BARBARA MAGAZINE EXECUTIVE EDITOR GINA TOLLESON IS UNIQUELY CALIFORNIAN
BY MEGAN WALDREP
THE HOUSE THAT GINA BUILT
S
he stands in a white gown in front of thousands of people and she just wants to go home. She didn’t set out to be in this position but here she is and there they are – the audience, with all eyes on her. It has been almost a year since she’s been away from family and friends, and she’s ready to get back to a life she once knew.
WHAT TO DO PAGE 10
NEWS & VIEWS PAGE 16
The announcer takes the mic. In a few short moments, it will all be over, and she’ll be free. So she thinks. “And Miss World 1990 is... Miss United States of America, Gina Tolleson!” At that moment, she realized her life would never be the same. This was just the beginning. Looking back, it’s been quite a ride. Executive Editor of Santa Barbara Magazine and single mom Tolleson and I are sitting ...continued p.32
NOT AGAIN... PAGE 27
CYCLAMEN ARE HERE PAGE 34