Carpinteria Reef Ranch is an architecturally captivating agricultural property on 11 acres in the Carpinteria foothills, overlooking the saltwater marsh and Carpinteria Reef. Ferguson-Ettinger Architects set out to design a unique family compound that celebrates the rich history of Carpinteria by blending into the natural surroundings, incorporating agricultural elements and capturing views from every living space. This one-of-a-kind coastal avocado ranch is a rare opportunity to enjoy the peaceful Carpinteria lifestyle. Enter the main residence and you will be greeted by a structural marvel ..read more

••• “The City of Santa Barbara is looking to charge people to park downtown on a ‘pay-by-plate’ basis, using a mobile payment app, website or self-serve kiosk, to save the downtown parking budget from financial collapse.” (The Noozhawk article never defines “pay-by-plate”; the phrase appears to mean paid street parking.) The city council “plans to discuss the matter in more detail next Tuesday, before taking a final vote on the budget in June. In addition to the ‘pay-by-plate’ fees, the city wants to drop the free time to park in city garages from 75 minutes to 60 minutes, and charge $2 for ev ..read more

This traditional Mediterranean, built in 2002, embraces elegance and embodies the Montecito lifestyle. Set on just under an acre in the romantic Romero Canyon neighborhood, and surrounded by multiple esteemed estate properties, the estate effortlessly combines timeless charm with the luxury of a modern-built home. The interior spaces blend warmth and sophistication with thoughtful architectural details while the expansive outdoor spaces provide endless relaxing, dining, and entertaining options. Boasting a rare dual-suite primary suite configuration, with a main floor primary suite complem ..read more

On the way home from a concert in Ventura, I realized that I have a “burning question.” (No pun intended.) What happened to the flame that used to be on the side of the freeway? —J. You might think that a flame burning 24/7 by the side of a busy freeway would attract plenty of attention online, but no. A brief Los Angeles magazine Q&A from 2013 explained that “the flame at the tip of the smokestack, or ‘flare-off’ in oil biz parlance, is natural gas waste matter that’s being burned off,” part of the process of oil being extracted from the Rincon Oil Field. And in 2019, Conejo Valley Guide ..read more

FOOD STUFF ••• The new tenant of the Oliver’s building. ••• Nick the Greek menu and interior. ••• The rumor about SY Kitchen taking the Via Vai space. ••• Cagami Ramen said to be opening in Goleta. ••• The name of the Public Market’s bars. ••• Possible pivot for the former McKenzie Market. ••• Update on Rory’s Place in Ojai. ••• Praise for Rori’s flavor of the month. ••• Ethnic Breads’s retail bakery in Goleta has opened. ••• More on the plan to turn a historic gas station into a café. → Read the post. ················· ················· HOT PROPERTY Last week’s sales: Cielito midcentury fo ..read more

Serious Play: The Making of Hill House Montecito – The VADATalks Series Join us for a dynamic discussion about the power of integrating creativity, serious play and transdisciplinary collaboration. The creators of the Hill House will share how they worked together to break conventional boundaries in design. This VADATalks event will feature Bruce Heavin, co-founder of Lynda.com; Robin Donaldson, the innovative architect of Hill House Montecito; and Silvia Perea, Curator at the UCSB Art, Design, and Architecture Museum. The conversation will be moderated by Les Firestein of the Riv Magazine. G ..read more

••• The distinctive “floating home” at the harbor got a $900,000 price cut: it’s now $3.999 million. ••• Xanadu Skate Boutique‘s lease is ending and it’s searching for a new space. In the meantime, it’s clearing inventory with a big sale: “Each week new items will be added to the Roll Out Sale. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.” It’s too bad they can’t get a little shop at The Post (currently Las Aves), so people can skate right out to the waterfront…. ••• There’s a new mural by Margaret Matson on the side of the Western Pacific Produce building at the northeast corner of Gutierrez and Chapala ..read more

The oceanfront enclave of Bonnymede is Montecito living at its easiest. Amenities include a pool, spa, tennis court, rose cutting garden, 24-hour guard-gated security, and, best of all, a private beachfront patio and pathway to the sand. Moreover, it’s walking distance to the Rosewood Miramar Beach resort, the Four Seasons Biltmore, the Coral Casino, and all the fine shops and restaurants on Coast Village Road. ············· The ground-floor, south-facing, one-bedroom condo at 1308 Plaza de Sonadores was meticulously remodeled in 2022-2023. The upgrades are thorough, consistently elegant, an ..read more

Last week’s sales…. 2038 CIELITO LANE 1964 three-bedroom with ocean view a drive-through porte cochère. I hate love to say I told you so…. Listed: $2.395 million in March 2024. Closed: $3.015 million. ············· 377 SANTA ROSA LANE Off-market sale of four-bedroom house (with two-bedroom attached apartment) on 5.6 acres in the Hedgerow; the seller bought it from Oprah Winfrey in March 2023 for $14.23 million. Listed: N/A. Closed: $16.5 million. ············· 1138 HILL ROAD 1993 four-bedroom near Butterfly Beach. Listed: $8.5 million in April 2023, cut twice to $7.495 million. Closed: $6.95 m ..read more

••• Warner Ebbink of Little Dom’s Seafood in Carpinteria is taking over the former Oliver’s space on Coast Village Road: “We take possession at the end of the month,” he says. “I don’t have the design or concept fully flushed out just yet, but I will keep you posted.” ••• Nick the Greek offered me a free meal during its soft-opening if I promised to run a post on social media about it, which I took a pass on. (Everyone has a price, but I like to think mine is more than a chicken gyro.) I did swing by for a peek at the space and the menu. It officially opens this Tuesday, April 23. ••• The rumo ..read more