News
Why Did the Rosewood Miramar Beach Add Gates?
5+ hour, 37+ min ago (374+ words) April 2, 2026|by Erik Torkells What's with the new gated entry at the Rosewood'Miramar Beach? "C. I asked hotel management whether the new gates"at the driveway and pedestrian entrance on S. Jameson Lane"are entirely decorative or intended to be used. The…...
From Vietnam With… Ambivalence
1+ day, 5+ hour ago (325+ words) April 1, 2026|by Erik Torkells My husband, Adam, and I kicked off the Vietnam portion of our Southeast Asia trip in Hanoi, which came as a shock after orderly Singapore.Motor scooters are everywhere'heading the wrong way, running red lights, driving…...
Newsletter: April 1
1+ day, 5+ hour ago (376+ words) April 1, 2026|by Erik Torkells FOOD STUFF " The name of the Upper Village's next new restaurant (above). " Likely tenants of the Maritime Museum's two restaurant spaces. " Chick-fil-A on Calle Real faces pushback. " Petra Cafe in flux; more on Beau, the "storytelling…...
The Name of the Upper Village’s Next New Restaurant
4+ day, 6+ hour ago (496+ words) March 29, 2026|by Erik Torkells " The name of the Italian restaurant taking over the Via Vai space in Montecito's Upper Village'a half-sibling of S.Y. Kitchen in Santa Ynez, and shooting to open this summer'is Ancora Osteria. In Italian, ancora means "again," and…...
Newsletter: March 29
4+ day, 7+ hour ago (392+ words) March 29, 2026|by Erik Torkells JUST LISTED Noteworthy new listings: Classic Montecito compound resuscitated in style; 31-acre equestrian property east of Toro Canyon; Hot Springs Road hacienda complex; mountain views in Pepper Hill; the Riviera house that Alex D'Alfonso built for…...
Classic Montecito Compound Resuscitated in Style
6+ day, 2+ hour ago (359+ words) March 27, 2026|by Erik Torkells The 1980 house at 395 Woodley Road ($6.95 million) in Pepper Hill, which last sold in 2022 for $5.288 million, has been redone with appealing textures and surfaces. While there are stairs to get into the house, either via the front…...
Overnight RV Camping Lot Proposed at East Beach
1+ week, 6+ hour ago (366+ words) March 26, 2026|by Erik Torkells " "The Santa Barbara Airport Commission has approved an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with Costco Wholesale Corporation to explore the possibility of a gas station at the airport-owned business park north of Hollister Avenue. The agreement gives Costco…...
Newsletter: March 25
1+ week, 1+ day ago (340+ words) March 25, 2026|by Erik Torkells ODDS & ENDS " The Post has been sold for a handsome sum. " Another Coast Village Road shop is closing. " Mysterious new tenant in the Victor the Florist storefront (above). " Clarifying hours for permitted construction in Montecito. " New…...
Opening Date for the Bar/Shop Called Beau
1+ week, 3+ day ago (575+ words) March 23, 2026|by Erik Torkells " Beau, the very high-concept bar/shop at 1129 State Street (the San Marcos Building at Anapamu Street), opens March 29. From the announcement: "The first mystery to be solved inside Beau has already been set, and the story…...
Hope Ranch Hot Potato Sells for the Third Time in Three Years
2+ week, 3+ day ago (517+ words) March 16, 2026|by Erik Torkells 4178 CRESTA AVENUE Off-market floops of a 7,386-square-foot French country'style compound on 2.9 acres in Hope Ranch. It's a hot potato, having previously sold for $9.325 million in January 2025, $8.111 million in October 2023, and $5.45 million in December 2019. Listed: N/A. Closed:…...