(Why do all articles about him now seem to start like this?) Having lost his legal challenge to have reinstated the level of security he once relied on in the UK which stopped when he abandoned public service as a senior royal to focus on lucrative commercial ventures in the US he now says he is too scared for the safety of his wife “I love my country … I miss the UK,” he told the BBC I can tell he really means it because when he describes his predicament as “a good old-fashioned establishment stitch-up” Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Subscribe to the Montecito Journal’s Morning MoJo newsletter and get local news delivered to your inbox twice weekly Montecito’s Trish Davis is being featured in my column for her contributions to preserve the history of Montecito Davis was recommended to me by the Montecito Fire Protection District Fire Chief David Neels in response to my community request for Montecito women to be featured in my news column for Women’s History Month.Neels stated in his email reply “We have discussed this at the department and many of us have selected Trish Davis for Women’s History Month She is integral to preserving the history of the Montecito community and is so knowledgeable about what makes this community so special.” Davis has been the Head of the Montecito History Preservation Department with her office and historical treasures at the Montecito Library for approximately 14 years she has served as the History Chair and member of the Montecito Association for 16 years and is a member of the Coast Village Association Previously she served as a President of MERRAG was founder of the Santa Barbara Bike Coalition was Santa Barbara Yacht Club Person of the Year and with her husband founded the first street vendor Hot Dog Stand locally called the Hot Dog Construction Co Davis founded the SB Airport Tour Program and worked as a tour guide at LAX for 15 years I met with Davis at the History Office this week for an interview and photo op with Neels Q.How did you get involved in covering the history for Montecito I’ve been fortunate to live in historic places And so I came in one day to volunteer in the history department at the Montecito Library I went to the Montecito Association meetings on Tuesdays and joined the MA Board The history office is part of the MA Board and I have been the Chair of the MA History Committee for 14 years.  Why is preserving history important to you it’s really hard to go into the future unless you know what the past has been about And I feel that I’ve been in the community for 50 years and dealt with a lot of agencies You can almost hear the textbooks talking to you or scientists checking on the past debris flow or people who just bought a house and want to know if it’s historic Our goal here is to try to get the information the person is looking for we can get them to the people and organizations that may have the answer How did the Montecito History Office start before the Montecito Association was founded it was called the Montecito Protective Agency [MPA] David Yager on the Board of Supervisors felt the MPA needed a historic component He went to Kit Tremainewho was well known in Montecito and collected history and asked her to help start this office all jumped on board and had their own board they worked with – the Moody sisters an array of people that helped create this community That is how we got started and we try to collect things ever since We just started sharing some of things like our oral histories with the Santa Barbara Historical Museum’s Chris S because we don’t have the facilities here to preserve them We say it’s historic if it is 50 years old and there are a lot of rules and regulations that go with owning an historic estate Many estate owners in Montecito don’t want to pay for the expense of upkeeping the historic estate so we have lost a lot of them I would guess we have approximately 150 estates in Montecito has one house being preserved by new owner [2018] Jeff Abrams People are either into preserving history or not We don’t have the same tax program that Santa Barbara has for historic properties where a portion of the taxes you pay go back into preserving the historic home or estate Why is Women’s History Month important to you I think that it is important to recognize the talented women of our community because of their efforts to retain the uniqueness of the area We can learn so much about our future from the past What our goals may be and how to stay on track We should focus our thoughts on the women who should be honored in Montecito for doing great things in our community.  Can you name a few of those Montecito Women the largest collection of succulents in the country; the four Moody sisters who built and designed fairytale like cottages all over Montecito; Lutah Riggs and who worked with George Washington Smith; Marguerite Peggy Ravenscroft who started the Santa Barbara Humane Society; Sue Grafton an American author of the Alphabet series; Suzy Parker and I’m proud to live in an area like this And I can’t thank the Montecito Fire Dept and Fire Chief Neels enough for nominating me for this feature for Women’s History Month When I was in my teens and still living in England still had what was called a “Draft.” It applied only to men within a certain age range But there were stiff legal penalties for failing to register there was only one way to avoid undergoing two years of “National Service” – and that was as a “Conscientious Objector,” (or “C.O.”) or being sentenced to some kind of alternative compulsory labor was determined by your local “Draft Board” and by a specially constituted “Tribunal.” In my case their decision was delayed until after I had completed my University course But that Tribunal experience was itself an ordeal which began far in advance I knew that people whose objection was religion-based had a far easier time than those who I wrote a long “statement” about my reasons and the fact that settlements of disputes without violence are far more likely to endure I also read books on what it’s like to live in prison One was that the doctor at my College knew that I had had what (at least in those days) was called a “nervous breakdown.” This had resulted in my being a patient in a mental hospital for several months having lived in America for my entire childhood And I had an uncle who had moved to Los Angeles and was willing to sponsor me as an immigrant There was no legal barrier to my leaving Britain so shortly after I graduated I took that momentous trip back across the Ocean I was required to register once a year – but this could be done simply by sending in a short form The idea was that all they needed was to be able to find you if you were needed So I did this faithfully every year until I was past the age which was considered draft-eligible I still wanted to become an American Citizen This was normally a process which required just five years of residence Having grown up as a child during World War II I had been bombarded with propaganda assuring my generation and me that the war was being fought for our sakes – so that we would live in a world of Peace and never again be involved in another war and it was what eventually turned me into a Conscientious Objector I was still too young for the war in Korea and the Soviet Union as leader of a whole “Communist Bloc,” persisted all through that period as President Ronald Reagan characterized it was an “Evil Empire.” The very idea of being a Communist or “Red,” or even “Pink” was anathema in the U.S And both sides had nuclear weapons in the form of bombs capable of being launched as rocket-propelled missiles But I was one of those disparaged as “Peaceniks,” and I actively endeavored to improve relations between the two “superpowers.” This included making difficult trips through the so-called “Iron Curtain” which separated them I also incorporated ideas about Peace into my “Pot-Shots” cartoons one had the message “Peace is Vital to the Defense of our Nation.” It showed a large cannon with a Dove of Peace perched at the muzzle trying to look down inside the barrel the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere A truly holy-day when we can connect with the opportunities for new beginnings and we can celebrate the return of warmth and light the energetic shift towards longer days – with budding blossoms offering their fresh fragrance and the chatter of birdsong starting at dawn and lasting into the evening – can be felt within As I relax into the emergent splendor of the season I reflect on the space that I share with my non-human family as Earth comes alive again in this cycle of renewal In joining with the forces of Nature to celebrate this time of equal expanse I called on my friend and colleague Louesa Roebuck to collaborate in singing the praises of our floral allies in this season of celebration Louesa is a gleaner who deeply connects with the energies of Gaia by a lifelong practice of deep observation watching the patterns and listening to the rhythms of our non-human lineage who I can best describe as someone who finds the creativity and beauty intrinsic to chaos her creative visions of the greater world around us have long been an inspirational complement to my views on the healing arts Her words simply and eloquently sum up the core values we share; “Do no harm this spring equinox Louesa and I will lead a floral extravaganza in the gardens of the esteemed Lotusland Our symbiotic vision is for our guests to get their hands and souls aligned with the healing qualities of the most local and abundant flora of the season From a deeper dialogue with our resonant intuition and wisdom we will explore affirmative language from which to create arrangements that hold deeper meaning and illuminate our intentions for growth and the growth and thriving of our botanical relatives.  As the florals will be gleaned and harvested right up to the event we don’t exactly know which beauties will show up Some of the botanical friends who can be expected to come out and play and offer their healing are lovely Wisteria I’d like to share the spiritual properties of some of the current flower allies that are currently blooming: the flowers come alive in a profusion of pinkish white blossoms Cherry Plum’s medicine brings us back to a state of inner peace amid mental anguish When we feel like we’re spinning out of control this floral ally helps us to realize our powers of self-possession With a newfound ability to relinquish the fears associated with loss of control rather than being swept up in our anxious reactions Rose: As I gaze upon the miles of thorny Rose vines strewn throughout California trails and gardens the myriad varieties each with their own special fragrance Humbled in the presence of such grace that I recognize as power of poise instilled in the miracle of this magnificent flower I am reconnected with the beauty of life in this very instant The inability to touch the joys that we are surrounded by is an inward cry for this sumptuous flower ally the beatific magnificence of Rose re-establishes our innate love for living rooted in our divine essence of existence.  Clematis: A showy white sea of dream-like blossoms with a sweet lemon-orange scent greets me twining vine of Clematis offers us support when we find it difficult to stay present such that we are unable to connect with our imaginations for creative pursuits but stay stuck in loops of fantasy The essence of Clematis lends its medicine as a profusion of angelic petals reach into ethereal realms and bring us back down to earth re-connect us with our holy trinity of body Crab Apple: Spring finally explodes in magnificent splendor as buds burst from branches that were bare last week scented with the powdery fragrance of new life emit the fragrance of fresh starts and clean slates All seems possible in Crab Apple’s reflection of the perfection of our souls amid the self-talk of faults and flaws This flower gifts us an opportunity to embrace the immaculate frailty of our inner being Can I own my deficiencies and love my Self this flower guides us to embrace greater acceptance ourselves Learn more about these amazing flowers and more at Lotusland’s Spring Equinox Extravaganza with Dina Saalisi and floral artist and author, Louesa Roebuck, on Saturday, March 22, from 1:30 – 4:30 pm. Visit www.lotusland.org/event/spring-equinox-extravaganza for more information and tickets Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care of Santa Barbara’s 7th Annual PHorum features the return of Dr neurobiologist and CEO & Chief Medical Officer for the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care in Buffalo celebrates our power to reclaim dying as a deeply meaningful […] Charlie Munger's last interview was with us we take Designer Bianca Censori very seriously Design Icon Barbie Takes Her Riviera Next Level Ellen DeGeneres Gets Real About Real Estate & Design Alphabet Allays Fears Google is Building God in Goleta Society Invites was contacted by Jeannine Morgan – former Head of School for El Montecito School in Montecito (ELMO) – about her son Judson Pearce who has volunteered to direct the Providence School play Annie Jr Jeannine is a respected and beloved educator as the Head of ELMO for 40 years She led the expansion of ELMO to include grades K through 6 and relocated it to the San Roque campus Her husband Paul taught economics at Westmont College for 36 years Judson is a producer-director who has worked on Broadway and in Los Angeles actress Kelly Overton (Van Helsing) and their three children I caught up with Judson for a brief on his work Tell us about your acting and directing career After getting my MFA in Acting/Directing from University of Missouri Kansas City I got my big break in the original Broadway cast of The Graduate for a year I moved to Los Angeles to work in TV/Film and begin my directing career and I wrote/directed and produced an indie film called The Collective and was picked up for distribution by Netflix I attendedELMO where I performed in all the school and church shows and graduated Crane Country Day School where I studied theater and was in their productions of West Side Story and Pirates of Penzance in 7th and 8th grade.  It has all the great songs you know from the movie but is specifically made for young performers and audiences It’s the perfect musical for the whole family.  and it was unclear if they would be able to put on an all-school musical if someone from the community didn’t step up What do you want the Montecito community to know about your play It’s a very family/faith friendly musical in a world where so much of the content isn’t appropriate 411: Link for tickets https://cur8.com/24116/project/131460 Ensemble Theatre Company opened its latest season at the New Vic with Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors directed by veteran actor Jamie Torcellini and written by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen The five-member cast played a variety of characters with the blood-sucking count portrayed perfectly – not to mention amusingly – by muscle-bound hunk Adam […] Montecito rocker Kenny Loggins is hosting his eponymous “Pickleball in the Danger Zone” tournament for the eighth year to raise monies for the Unity Shoppe Formerly known as the American Riviera Classic Pickleball the tournament has grown into what is considered the largest amateur athletic event in our Eden by the Beach with more than 400 registered players expected the occasion will include celebrity and pro exhibition matches open to the public for viewing Among the participants are Grammy-winner Kenny with more surprise guests expected throughout the weekend at the Santa Barbara Municipal Pickleball Center in Park Place There is a $50 ticket fee to watch the celebrity-pro matches on May 3 My posh trip to Napa wine country began elegantly as we soared out of a private terminal at Van Nuys Airport on Aero’s LA-Napa service on a semi-private plane smooth flight – Erewon fresh avocado tartine/toast sweet berries and coffee served with cloth napkins in flight – a smooth landing at Napa County Airport but there were just a handful of us onboard for our Sunday morning sojourn My dear NorCal friend Bill kindly collected me and my traveling pal and scooted us off to Copia(where once upon a time Julia Child’s kitchen Boston resided – it’s now at the Smithsonian) for a lovely Sunday brunch lunch from the garden Our bill for lunch was a very reasonable $60 for the three of us The waiter thoughtfully alerted us that the salad from the garden was enough for two We strolled through Oxbow Market – bustling on a Sunday afternoon – and bought chocolates from a local maker before heading up to Yountville our base for two nights at The Estate Yountville Yountville – sometimes referred to as “the heart of Napa” – is a sweet landing spot in Napa Valley The town’s commercial district is basically one long street of wine tasting rooms including the famous and very expensive The French Laundry (plan on $450-$1,000 per person for dinner and wine) you can grab a casual breakfast or a tasty smashburger with an outdoor rooftop view for $20 or less at The Kitchen at Priest Ranch We arrived in the middle of harvest season The 100-degree temperature dictated we pop into the newly opened Mad Fritz a sweet little craft brew tap house with a great range of beers Owner Nile Zacherle regaled us with his process as we admired the unique designs for his labels inspired by Aesop’s Fables The designs also appear on cool playing cards – one couple was playing “21” while we choose LPs to spin on the turntable Some of the highlights served in tiny wine/sherry glasses included Peacock and the Crane The Lion and the Mouse (Trappist-style Ale) while Zodiac and The Boy Who Cried Wolf also caught my eye.  whose French Laundry sits a stone’s throw from our lodging now has five (including the seasonal Addendum) restaurants in Yountville curated dinner our first evening of shared nibbles at his RO Restaurant and Lounge The very attractive indoor-outdoor specializes in caviar tastings where seating is akin to noshing in your neighbor’s very stylish home/living room Guests sip and savor on comfy and stylish sofas and chairs Highlights of the caviar tasting shared between our group of five included the six types of Regiis Ova (the place’s name RO is derived from this) sourced from China tasty Wolf ranch BBQ quail on skewers ($45) a pork katsu sando on Japanese milk bread ($19) and a fresh summer watermelon salad with The French Laundry Garden cucumbers ($16) The caviar tasting paired perfectly with the house Schramsberg bubbly – Modicum It’s worth getting up at the crack of dawn the following morning to soar over the valley with Napa Valley Aloft Our trustworthy pilot Chris Jones grew up in Solvang – his father owned a hot air balloon company in our Santa Ynez Valley We floated high – almost skimming the tops of tall eucalyptus trees – and rode low where we did skim the native sagebrush which we could smell from our basket hour-plus ride with an eagle’s eye view of the grapes and even San Francisco in the distance was a great way to start our day Buffet breakfast spread back at The Estate included fab English muffins from The Model Bakery – made famous as an Oprah “fave thing”.  What’s a visit to Napa without a little sip and swirl There are over 400 tasting rooms to visit in Napa We stuck to Yountville and checked out a new pizza/wine pairing at Silver Trident Winery – a tasting room The town designates that wine tasting rooms must devote 25% of their space to retail sales (something SY Valley vintners might take note of) and Silver Trident has paired with Ralph Lauren crystal glasses engraved with polo players Wineries try to outdo one other with their pairings (there’s bacon/wine or chocolate resembling the terroir pairings!) but the little slices of Detroit-style bites (similar to Sicilian pizza bread) from a Sonoma caterer were excellent Our favorite dinner was at the bustling and casual Ciccio helmed by a fave chef of mine who will return to Meadowood Resort when the dining room lost in the Napa fire is rebuilt This lively casual Italian restaurant doesn’t fail Start with Negronis or something from the fab wine list like Sicilian linguini with a pistachio pesto or dreamy cacio e pepe gnudi stuffed with pennyroyal cheese as well as pizzas with chewy sourdough crust Had one of my fave desserts ever here: vanilla bean gelato with a wild pine nut oil (I’m dying for the recipe) we popped into the wine tasting room at Hesten Vineyards to admire the culinary kitchenware before an impressive final lunch and preview at RH the same as Restoration Hardware that recently debuted in our Upper Village’s former Fire Station The Yountville restaurant boasts a tranquil setting in a greenhouse where crystal chandeliers hang from olive trees (fake branches and leaves providing a stunning backdrop to scrumptious mini lobster rolls with caviar and terrific salads.  Our return flight on Aero was just as smooth and easy-peasy Seven passengers – the following Friday’s flight would be full – and besides not having to go through the TSA gauntlet we were allowed to check a case of wine at no extra charge Your Yountville Visit – www.yountville.com Bardessono Hotel and Spa – This would be my top pick to stay in Yountville. The place has a very Zen-vibe and who doesn’t love having a fab massage in your room – all rooms have massage tables – and just rolling into bed? www.bardessono.com Ciccio – www.ciccionapavalley.com The Kitchen at Priest Ranch – www.thekitchenatpr.com RO Restaurant and Lounge – www.rorestaurantandlounge.com RH Restaurant at RH Yountville – www.rh.com/us/en/yountville/restaurant Silver Trident Winery – www.silvertridentwinery.com Mad Fritz Tap House – www.madfritz.com Napa Valley Aloft – Hot air balloon rides www.nvaloft.com Aero – Semi-private, seasonal flights to Napa, Aspen, Sun Valley, Palm Springs, Cabo San Lucas. TIP: Do NOT put Van Nuys Airport into your GPS – Be sure to use the address where Aero’s private terminal is located. www.aero.com Juliet is your community news reporter covering the South Coast of Santa Barbara County the Ojai Raptor Center treats between 800 and 1,000 baby birds in distress and sometimes they jump out before they're ready to fly," Stroud said That's what happened last week when a great horned owl fledgling fell out of a tree at the Valley Club of Montecito Residents Barbara Degroot and Susie Slothier found the bird and called Ojai Raptor Center "He was literally in the middle of the street here and [we] moved him off to the side until we could decide what was the best way forward," Degroot said but we wanted to make sure this little guy had a chance," Clothier added Stroud explains that many birds try to venture out of the nest before they can fly and they slip and fall out of the tree," Stroud said The six-week-old chick wasn’t injured in the fall "So we're going to nest them in that cypress tree," Stroud said With a little help from Progressive Tree Service "This is our fourth or fifth reuniting with nesting this season so we’re half and half right now," Stroud said but to see this happen and see a community come together it's the most heartwarming thing in times like this that you can ever do," Clothier said Ojai Raptor says if you find a baby animal of any kind call your local wildlife rescue for an evaluation — do not move the animal "Check with an organization before trying to rescue a baby," Stroud said Ojai Raptor says the owl chick was successfully reunited with its parents and is doing well 2025Your podcast feed is about to get soapier or at least that’s what the cast and crew of the new audio soap opera Montecito is hoping Montecito tells the story of those who fight to maintain success and those who are plotting to gain power she utilizes any means necessary to climb to the top Described as a reimagining of the audio soap opera the series is created and produced by Emmy-nominated producer Grant Rutter with Andrew Pemberton-Fowler serving as Executive Story Editor and Trae Budde as Supervising Sound Director Montecito features a star-studded cast of daytime television alumni and is poised to reintroduce the audio soap opera to the modern age of podcast and audiobook listening NEVADA - APRIL 12: Crystal Chappell attends the ClexaCon 2019 convention at the Tropicana Las Vegas on April 12 Former Days of our Lives and Guiding Light star Crystal Chappell plays Helena Granville-Belasco, a strong-willed mother who is not scared to get her hands dirty to protect her family.  Discussing Chappell’s work series creator Grant Rutter told Michael Fairman that “Working with her was really fantastic because she’s just so trained with her voice She recognized right away that this was audio-first so she would try all different types of pronunciations and inflection points She really embraced the genre and it was really great to hear and to work with her.” CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 10: Vincent Irizarry attends the season 8 premiere of the "The Bay" and pre-daytime Emmy party at Associated Television Int'l Studios on December 10 Former All My Children and Guiding Light alum Vincent Irizarry plays Bradley Belasco labeled as an alpha businessman and ageless playboy CALIFORNIA - MARCH 22: Mike Manning attends the Human Rights Campaign's 2025 Los Angeles Dinner honoring Ashley Park and Hannah Einbinder at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 22 Beyond The Gates star Mike Manning plays JJ Roman CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 29: Peter Porte attends the screening for Hallmark+'s "Mistletoe Murders" and "Finding Mr Christmas" at Soho House West Hollywood on October 29 The Young and the Restless breakout star Peter Porte serves as brooding Deacon Granville a trapped husband burdened by a moral obligation Rutter described the role as “a gay man who is not closeted There’s a whole litany of reasons why but which you’ll have to listen to find out!” CA - OCTOBER 19: Actor Emme Rylan attends Ending Youth Homelessness: A Benefit For My Friend's Place at Taglyan Cultural Complex on October 19 Guiding Light and General Hospital star Emme Rylan portrays business maven Bethany Gina Roman-Quinn an overbearing sister and overachieving COO CA - DECEMBER 01: Actor Marc Anthony Samuel arrives at the Heroes In The Struggle Gala at Director's Guild Of America on December 1 General Hospital’sMarc Anthony Samuel depicts even-keeled Gio Carreri The returning resident is confronted with his past from all angles CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 15: Kelly Thiebaud attends the 50th Daytime Emmy Awards at The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites General Hospital’s Kelly Thiebaud joins the serial as straight-talking Dr CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Chelsea Rendon attends the special screening of "VOCES: American Historia: The Untold History Of Latinos" on September 25 Actress Chelsea Rendon portrays treacherous Mina Rast-Granville the malignant narcissist with an iron grip on her Montecito lifestyle and marriage of convenience CA - SEPTEMBER 24: Jake Getman attends St Jude Walk/Run Presented by Bosch held at Griffith Park on September 24 Actor Jake Getman joins the cast as Diego Granville a young man caught in the eye of the storm GEORGIA - JUNE 17: Rick Hearst attends "Ambitions" Premiere at The Gathering Spot on June 17 Daytime veteran Rick Hearst serves as the announcer on the audio drama The ten-episode serial will kick off on Tuesday and will drop new installments weekly until the season finale in June You can check out a trailer for the star-studded drama below: Montecito can be streamed on Spreaker or all major podcast streaming services, as well as the official YouTube channel Upon sliding into one of the booths at Clark’s Oyster Bar I disclosed to co-owner and chef Larry McGuire that I’d never had oysters before It’s not that I haven’t wanted to try them; I’ve just never gotten around to it This also seemed like the perfect time to admit to him that I don’t really get their appeal “They’re like wine or something,” he informs me from across the booth “They represent the terroir – in this case the water So they’re really made by the surf where they are.”  Clark’s sells a variety of East and West Coast oysters who resembles a salt and pepper-haired John Krasinski tells me that West Coast oysters have wavier shells with flavors of melon whereas East Coast oysters are saltier and brinier “We’re getting them really fresh and shucking them within a few days of them being pulled out of the water,” he shares.  McGuire checks that the meat is separated from the shell and slides it forward with his finger before throwing it down the hatch It was salty and reminded me a bit of when you accidentally swallow ocean water – but high-end McGuire turns over the shells and exclaims While oysters are a specialty of Clark’s Oyster Bar they’re proud to offer a wide selection of foods – from lobster rolls to crab cakes to the perfectly packed burger When you thought we’d explored every way to slice and dice a French fry Clark’s gives us their signature take: impossibly thin fries cut with a mandolin “People either love it or hate it,” jokes McGuire McGuire and his partner chef Tom Moorman – the pair behind McGuire Moorman Hospitality (MML) which they founded in 2009 – opened the first Clark’s location in Austin 13 years ago was still unthreatened by the Los Angeles fires.  McGuire and Moorman have had their sights set on Montecito for a while who has been coming here for over 12 years So when Mexican restaurant Cava closed its doors after 24 years the pair snagged the coveted Coast Village spot.  Understanding the nuances of the local community is paramount when opening a new restaurant Every Clark’s is tailored to the town where it is located Santa Barbara muralist Emiliano Campobello spent almost every night for a month hand-painting a mural whose gorgeous mountains wrap around the bar.  McGuire opened his first Austin restaurant the company has expanded to around 25 freestanding restaurants serving a variety of cuisines where they restored a building dating back to 1861.  Aesthetics is an essential aspect of every restaurant MML Hospitality opens McGuire and Moorman are instrumental in the design process Santa Barbara-based architect Jeff Shelton designed the building’s exteriors while Lambert McGuire Design did the interiors A vibrant cerulean tile mosaic adorns part of the exterior you’re met with warm wood and a hand-picked art selection One end of the bar has a yellow & white striped overhang that gives you the illusion you’re at a swim-up bar on a tropical beach each Clark’s has a fish tank representing the restaurant’s location; ours is a live coral tank hoping to receive some more fish soon whereas the fish tank in Aspen has freshwater fish.  you can enjoy fresh-baked sourdough with butter and flaky salt “You can put meals together in a bunch of different ways,” he shares Clark’s also offers a selection of desserts by pastry chef Hillary Grossman We tasted the Key Lime Tart and the Butterscotch Pot de Créme made with local apples – both so good it’s hard to pick a favorite With a combination of indoor and outdoor seating McGuire and Moorman aim for Clark’s to be a casual meeting place on Coast Village and a spot to have a more formal sit-down dinner if that’s what you’re into “We’re just here to show people a good time Longevity is the cornerstone of every space MML Hospitality imagines they’ve managed to keep every restaurant they’ve created open Clark’s Oyster Bar on Coast Village Road is no exception: “I mean Without attempting to be a statistical tower of stats and figures I have attempted here to give an overall look at Montecito’s Real Estate market – and her nuances – through an analysis of homes sales thus far To summarize some thoughts about the Montecito and 93108 Real Estate market over the past 11 months (through end of November) I’d like to share some comments I’ve uttered and/or heard in recent months – Many homes are selling for five to 10 percent or more below asking price month by month) multiple offer and over asking price scenarios – Off market sales are more common at the highest end of the market – Selling prices are high and yet are not meeting Seller’s even higher expectations – Buyers complain of low inventory but also that prices are too high but many of those homes have been on the market recently – How did that home sell for so much – How did that other home sell for so little – Why DIDN’T that home sell and Why DID that other similarly priced home sell Our market here in the 93108 seems mostly to be driven by the taste and pocketbook of each buyer With so few homes on the market in each price range a buyer may only have a choice between a Spanish fixer a ranch style remodel or an 80s’ style home in their price range if a buyer wants Spanish in the $3 to $5M  range so it makes that decision much easier.  With an annual average to date (in 2024) of about three sales per week in Montecito’s 93108 in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) that’s not a huge pool of sales from which to draw conclusions while a smaller done home or ocean area condo at $5M seems a value Is that because it was in a more desirable location Probably one – or all – those variables play a part in each purchase.  Many Sellers who are not achieving the bidding wars of the past are asking if they missed the high point in the market and more – that perhaps we are teetering on the high point of the market right now Seeing where it might go next is anyone’s guess What we have seen is Sellers asking top dollar with an assumed 10 to 20%+ year over year asking and sale price increase for the past four years Our market is definitely slowing in sales volume with only 135 home sales recorded in the MLS in Montecito’s 93108 between January 1 to November 30 I project the year will end up with 150+/- sales matching my more recent estimates of what is now our normal market these past 12 months.  A handful of all sales in the first 11 months of this year were major fixers or tear downs Another dozen or so sales were entry level condos and fixers under $3M but the majority of homes sales are holding court in that prime center market the $3 to $8M range (which accounted for well over half of all sales so far this year).  Below I’ve offered a brief description of the types of properties that represent a majority of sales in each price range but there are always unicorns that don’t fit the stereotype The 135 Sales in Montecito’s 93108 in the MLS from the first of January to the last of November – 6 sales under $2M – Condos and cottages / fixers Fixers and entry level beach area condos and cottages fixers and move-in ready homes in all areas $5 – $8M – Remodeled/new homes on top streets $10 – $20M – 5,000 to 10,000 square foot homes – 7 sales over $20M – (4 of which were in the $30’s) – These are done estates on acreage (often 3+ acres) or ocean front Here are interesting statistics supporting the demand at our top end of the market and our higher entry level to the 93108 – Nearly 20% of all sales in the 93108 in 2024 were over $10M (five years ago this price point was just 5% of our sold market) – There were more sales over $20M than there were sales under $2M (the entry level went up and the sky’s the limit) – The under $3M market held the most sales for many years now it is the $3 to $5M range sporting the most sales and on and on; regardless of the small drop in median price disparate sales prices on similar range homes and fixers remaining at elevated prices for those who want to add their own touches Please let me know if you would like more information about our area’s Real Estate market or if you are looking for a home or need a price evaluation on your current home The following is a wide variety of sales that occurred thus far in 2024 in the Multiple Listing Service in Montecito’s 93108 Top Priced Sale – 875/885 Park Lane (estate) – $36,800,000  Incredible estate on multiple acres with an amazing main home and second home on second parcel within the Montecito Union School District As an example of a smaller done home in the foothills – a smaller home with upside potential on a nice lot on a top street near town – I present: 909 Chelham Way (done home on a smaller lot in the Cold Spring School District) – which sold for $3,920,000 and offered three bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms in just under 2,000 square feet of living space with lovely grounds $4M price range we had a fixer on a prime street in the Montecito Union School District sell:  With just two bedrooms and three bathrooms and nearly 1,600 square feet of living space on a third acre lot this was a big number for an entry level home in the Middle Road area just blocks to Coast Village Road and the beach Sales within the Ennisbrook gated community were strong with casitas’ selling around $5M and a couple of estate homes selling over $15M 416 Meadowbrook Drive selling off-market for $16,780,500 etc… impressive and within the Montecito Union School District Sale prices are also strong and keep going up and up in the Birnam Wood community where we saw a couple of sales over $10,000,000 2039 Boundary Drive – Sold over asking and quickly for $11,050,000  A completely done home with amazing finishes and volume/space in a prime and desirable-sized residence of 3,800 square feet (nearly $3,000 per square foot – if you are a price per square foot fan Many homes that had been on the market finally found buyers and cleared the way for new inventory Notable sales at and around $10M that had been on and off the market over time 303 Meadowbrook Drive found a new owner at $9,650,000 Just a few blocks from each other in prime Upper Village and San Ysidro Ranch area homes 690 San Ysidro Road that sold for $8,400,000 after a price reduction or two (a high-priced sale for a fixer but once redone has potential of being a $12.5M+/- property) While just a few blocks away on the other side of the Ranch we saw a nicely redone pair of homes sell at:  1839 East Mountain Drive that sold for $8.3M as well as its neighbor 1845 East Mountain Drive that sold for $8.9M an ocean front unit at Bonnymede found a new owner 1385 Plaza Pacifica sold for $6.4M with a private garage and ocean front Primary suite Flips and new construction did well in 2024 also 734 El Rancho Road Sold as a fixer in March for $3,210,000 – followed eight months later with a sale of that same home (in the wake of an incredible remodel) that closed the other week for $5,620,000 172 Santa Elena Lane – A single level home with a great remodel that included a pool and a lot of bedrooms in a close-to-the-beach and Coast Village Road location within the Montecito Union School District – sold for $8,470,000 1480 Monte Vista – $4,250,000 (would have been $2.4M just five years ago)  1666 San Leandro Lane – Came on at $5M but had tons of upside potential and sold 20%+ over asking for $6.2M While attending a men’s fashion fair in Florence co-founders of Los Angeles-based real estate collective The Runyon Group A property in Montecito was quietly hitting the market “and no one really knows what to do with it,” said the man on the other end but I think you guys would really be into it.”  The pair received a brochure showing the Las Aves complex across from the Andrée Clark Bird Refuge “It was like love at first sight,” Miller recalls a boutique retail center featuring a variety of tenants The Post is hosting its first Holiday Fair from December 14th to 15th The fair will feature food pop-ups and activities for kids like ornament decorating Fishbein and Miller carefully selected storefronts that they felt reflected the Montecito and Santa Barbara communities “Our focus here at the property was really to create a neighborhood spot that was really focused on things that you would want to do during your week living up here,” says Fishbein.  The Post is just one of a few physical locations For renowned accessories label Janessa Leoné the first being at Fishbein and Miller’s Culver City property a women’s clothing store owned by Fishbein’s wife Jamie Fishbein The Post will officially open with a select few stores and additional stores will open gradually over the following weeks.  Fishbein and Miller embrace a trial-and-error approach constantly refining their ideas – this applies to details both big and small surveyed potential black and white striped umbrellas This section of the deck will be the sitting area outside Little King Coffee a coffee shop owned by restaurateurs Ryan Dobosh and Grace Gates a small coffee cart will be available on the patio in December.  captivating passersby and inviting them to discover the property “When we first came down to the site two and a half years ago ‘How amazing would it be to come and have your coffee every single morning with the view?” Fishbein recalls as he stares out at the bird refuge Fishbein and Miller opened their flagship property in Culver City They turned an old car dealership into Platform a shopping center with various restaurants and stores they began brainstorming their next venture Their shared love for Santa Barbara made it the obvious next step they planned to develop a site in the Funk Zone at Garden and Yanonali but they fell in love with the Las Aves Complex.  They also have plans for the buildings next door including the Montecito Athletic Club and the former French restaurant Stella Mare’s Stella Mare’s will be home to a new restaurant headed by Mexico City-based Grupo Palmares fans of the restaurant group’s Mexican restaurant Loreto in Los Angeles approached the owners about opening a restaurant in Montecito Fishbein and Miller wanted to create a space that reflected the Santa Barbara community while paying homage to Santa Barbara’s deep cultural ties to Mexico which translates to “lobster” in Spanish; however they say the more meaningful translation is “the feast of the ocean’s heart.” At Bogavante you can expect dishes that honor the Vaquero culture while sourcing fresh local seafood and “cowboy raised meats.”  Built by the late husband of the former owner the complex previously housed various medical practices Fishbein and Miller learned from the owner that her husband always dreamed of making it a retail center “And so when we met [the previous owner] for the first time I think she connected with us as potential owners,” says Fishbein “Because we were going to take this beautiful asset that had been in her family for so many years and then shine it Fishbein and Miller aimed to create a timeless space by preserving elements of the original building the most prominent item they kept was the original water fountain at the courtyard’s center Eccentric tiles are haphazardly placed around the fountain laced with expressive faces formed by those tiles It’s the kind of piece that you might find in one’s home.  Fishbein shares that while the fountain stands out from the surrounding space “The most important thing for us is that we feel like good neighbors and that the community feels like this is their space,” he says as he twirls the wisteria overhanging from the building’s second story Like the fountain’s nod at the former owners he wants the original green vines to grow freely.  while driving along Cabrillo and then Los Patos Way the Las Aves Complex may have passed in the peripheral without much thought Maybe you didn’t know it was there or had no reason to stop by Driving past you may spot the wrap-around deck and people sitting outside enjoying a coffee on the patio You might be curious enough to check it out Maybe you peruse lifestyle brand Save Khaki United (S.K.U.) or stop by the home store Shoppe Amber Interiors Maybe you’ll sit down for a meal at the Italian restaurant OSPI perhaps you prefer to relax in the courtyard with a latte from Little King Coffee.  which is exactly what Fishbein and Miller hoped for when taking on this project “We have our own way of doing things,” admits Miller “But we kind of see things where others might not…and when we saw this we knew exactly that it was a very special spot.” ‘Divorced Sistas,’ Spinoff of Tyler Perry’s ‘Sistas,’ Heads to BET+ GH’s Cameron Mathison Shares His Emotional Journey When His House Burned Down: “That Had Been the Foundation of My Life When Everything Was Falling Apart Around Me” ReelShort’s Continues Vertical Soap/Romance Series Trend with Release of ‘Wings of Fire: The Dragon Slayer Is My Ex-Lover’ GH’s Maurice Benard States That ABC “Made a Huge Mistake Cancelling All My Children and One Life to Live” Citing They Underestimated “Power of the Soap Audience” Ted Richardson Swap on ‘Beyond the Gates’ (INTERVIEW) ‘Beyond the Gates’ Star RhonniRose Mantilla Talks End of Chelsea’s Modeling Days EXCLUSIVE: General Hospital’s Van Hansis Talks on the Casting of Adrian Anchondo as Marco and Hopes for a “Soap Opera Romance” BEYOND THE GATES Stars: Timon Kyle Durrett and Marquita Goings Talk on Bill’s “Newfound Adversary” and How He Can’t Get Dani “Out of His System” EXCLUSIVE: Heather Tom Talks Making History Acting Directing and Writing All-Female Episode of The Bold and the Beautiful While Honoring Her Late Mom ‘Beyond the Gates’ Cast: Karla Mosley Marquita Goings and Arielle Prepetit Talk Dani Dupree Carrie Underwood Replaces Katy Perry as Judge for Upcoming Season of ‘American Idol’ 20 Years after Winning the Title AMERICAN IDOL: Abi Carter Crowned the Winner Katy Perry Sheds Tears In Her Final Episode AMERICAN IDOL: Final Three Are Chosen; After Nationwide Vote ABC Renews ‘American Idol’ for Season 8 and ‘The Bachelor’ for Season 29 AMERICAN IDOL: Katy Perry Makes a Heartbreaking Decision as Top 7 are Revealed BEYOND THE GATES Preview: Nicole’s World Is Rocked Due to Ted’s Betrayal and Leslie’s Revelations; Eva Has Nowhere to Go ‘Beyond the Gates’ Stars Trisha Mann-Grant and Ambyr Michelle Deliver the ‘Power Performances of the Week’ ‘Beyond the Gates’ Stars Brandon Claybon and Mike Manning to Chat Live on the Michael Fairman Channel The star-studded notable cast of the new audio soap opera Montecito will chat live and discuss the making of the storylines and more of this brand new entry into the podcast space Scheduled to be a part of the livestream conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel are Crystal Chappell (Venice the Series Marc Anthony Samuel (Ex-GH) along with executive producer creator and co-head writer of the audio soap Those joining us in the live chat can ask questions or pose comments that might be asked during the broadcast Previously and exclusively reported by Michael Fairman TV Crystal Chappell plays the role of Helena Granville-Belasco a fiercely protective matriarch who isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty Peter Porte takes on the role of the brooding Deacon Granville a gay man burdened by his moral compass and his toxic marriage to a woman an even-keeled resident confronted with ghosts from his past In the latest episode of Montecito entitled Bitch” the story picks back up where at the hospital Deacon (Peter Porte) and JJ (Mike Manning) trade barbs while Mina (Chelsea Rendon) and Deacon’s crumbling marriage is laid bare behind closed doors Deacon walks away—leaving Mina to fight for control alone Bethany Gina (Emme Rylan) returns to Montecito while Mina draws strength from her comatose father and sets her sights on power New episodes drop every Tuesday of this 10-episode first season, you can check it out on Apple Podcasts here or on the Montecito You Tube Channel. Let us know if you have had a chance to listen to episodes of ‘Montecito’ and your thoughts on it via the comment section If you can’t join us live Thursday night but would like to submit a question to be posed to the cast Y&R Alum Penn Badgley Fifth and Final Season of ‘You’ Hits 10.1 Million Viewers and #1 On Netflix Top Streaming Series DAYS Brandon Beemer & Susan Seaforth Hayes Deliver in Heartfelt Scenes as Shawn Recalls a Dying Bo Being Best Dad; Julie Still Grieves for Doug as New Head Writers Material Rolls Out Loving everything about Montecito thus far; it’s uniquely produced I listened to the show for the first time today and loved it If the networks are gun-shy about airing new soaps (talking about you ABC) GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Lois in the Hot Seat GENERAL HOSPITAL: Dante and Lulu Admit They Are Still in Love With Each Other Just as Rocco is Left in Peril ‘Days of our Lives’ Alice Halsey Cast in Netflix Reboot of ‘Little House of the Prairie’ as Central Role of Laura Ingalls who played Erica Kane for all she is worth and then some for 41 years on All My Children and since that time has appeared in a myriad of TV has written a second memoir with the catchphrase title that the late morning talk show great Regis Philbin used to call her Following in the success of her 2011 New York Times bestselling memoir All My Life  The new memoir is set to be released February 3 and is available to preorder now everywhere books are sold and always inspiring reflection on strength and the power of embracing life’s unexpected turns In addition to intimate stories from her remarkable career and personal life La Lucci features a special chapter titled “Thank You for Asking,” where she answers the most frequently asked questions from her devoted fans across the world This is Susan Lucci as you’ve never seen her before—unfiltered Written in collaboration with New York Times bestselling author Laura Morton known for her work with celebrity icons such as Justin Bieber La Lucci is promising to be a remarkable read that will resonate with readers everywhere Soap fans know that the Emmy moment heard around the world happened in May 1999 Susan won the Daytime Emmy Award for “Best Actress.” It was a historic moment not only for Lucci Susan made her Broadway debut to rave reviews playing the part of “Annie Oakley” in Annie Get Your Gun Susan finished a successful run starring in Joy Behar’s off-Broadway show My First Ex-Husband and will appear in Jonah Hill’s forthcoming Apple TV+ film Outcome In an exclusive announcement on Good Morning America Lucci introduced her upcoming memoir and revealed the book cover “I’m back to share new chapters in my life with my new memoir It’s an intimate glimpse into my life with stories I’ve never told before,” she said “This book is directly from my heart I can’t wait for you to read it.” are you looking forward to what Susan has to share about her life over the last 15 years as her follow-up to her first memoir Do you think it will contain stories about her heart diagnosis and the passing of her late husband Helmut Huber Let us know if you will order your copy ASAP via the comment section A post shared by Good Morning America Book Club (@gmabookclub) In a surprise move, The Young and the Restless looks to be giving the character of Summer Newman a rest, as actress Allison Lanier confirmed her exit from the top-rated soap with a message posted on X on Thursday I’ve loved the journey and learned so much but it’s time to grow in a different direction… very grateful for all of the Y&R fans who have supported me.” Lanier took over the role of Nick (Joshua Morrow) and Phyllis’ (Michelle Stafford) daughter back in May of 2022 following in the footsteps of two-time Daytime Emmy winner Hunter King who played the role on and off beginning in 2012 until her departure Summer isn’t making much headway with her ex-husband who is in a relationship with Claire (Hayley Erin) In this photo from Lanier’s final episode airing this Friday above it looks like Summer is saying goodbye to Harrison (Redding Munsell) and Kyle Reports have indicated that Y&R has no immediate plans to recast the part but as you know in soapland anything is possible The series does not comment on actor’s contract status with the show Back in 2024, Michael Fairman TV chatted with Allison during our annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Special livestream last year where she spoke on receiving a nomination for the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category and who helped her get acclimated to life on the set of the CBS soap I really do think that Susan Walters (Diane) Peter Bergman (Jack) and Michelle Stafford (Phyllis) these absolute legends were so open with me gave me all kinds of advice and really held me up when I was first starting – and not to mention – Michael Mealor as he is more of my peer and he really showed me the ropes in such a personal way – so those four what do you think of Allison Lanier wrapping her run as Summer Newman Do you think Y&R should recast the role sooner than later Share your thoughts via the comment section Sad news to report for fans and the iconic cast of Knots Landing who played troublemaker Linda Fairgate on the CBS primetime soap opera In the post from Actors Audition Studios on Lar’s passing Lar left an unforgettable mark on Hollywood through her dynamic performances and dedication to mentoring aspiring actors Lar founded Actors Audition Studios and authored Get Started Her television legacy includes her iconic five-year role as dual characters on Knots Landing and her powerful lead performance in Children of the Night opposite Kathleen Quinlan and Mario Van Peebles.” and Freddy’s Nightmare but was best remembered as the telekinetic “scream queen” Tina Sheppard in the motion picture Lincoln appeared on Knots Landing originally on Season 9 of in 1987 before returning for a longer run from 1989 to 1991 Linda first fell for Karen’s (Michele Lee) son After he went to Saudi Arabia for a job to let the relationship cool off Linda stayed at Karen’s and then got her claws into Karen’s other son Linda became even more conniving and manipulating She eventually was killed by Brian Johnson (played by soap vet Phillip Brown) Lincoln played the role of “Sally’s Friend” in 1988 the family asks for donations to be made to The SAG-AFTRA Foundation or The Entertainment Community Fund Share your remembrances and condolences for another ‘Knots Landing’ alumni gone too soon, Lar Park-Lincoln, via the comment section below. You can currently catch all 14 seasons of the soap opera on Prime Video here. General Hospital’s Lucy Coe Previews 2025 Nurses’ Ball Teases Lucky Spencer, Magic Milo and Unexpected Surprise on Wish List to Perform, Reveals Airdate Martha Madison Leads Days of our Lives “Hogey’s Home Runners” Team To Surpass Goal At PanCAN Purple Stride Walk for Pancreatic Cancer (PHOTOS) GENERAL HOSPITAL: Laura Opens Up About Learning Lesley was Her Birth Mother; Drew is Horrified Over Fallout From ‘His Night’ with Jacinda MEN OF CBS DAYTIME: Why is Y&R’s Cole Coughing and BTG’s Bill’s Hand Shaking? Allison Lanier Exits The Young and the Restless as Summer Newman GENERAL HOSPITAL: A Drugged Drew Makes a Scene as Nina and Portia Hope Their Plan Takes Him Down For Good DAYS OF OUR LIVES Preview: Shawn Learns Bo Is Dying; Can a New Drug Save His Father’s Life? Copyright © 2024 The Michael Fairman Company. we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links “While looking at photos, I was struck by just how normal her manicure is,” Manhattan-based nail artist Julie Kandalec tells me as we sit in her private salon she’s transforming my red square-shaped nails into something more Montecito Manciure inspired CND’s Satin Slippers and Romantique are sitting nearby; Kandalec is an educator with the brand “Right now we really have two manicure trends—people who want custom I, on the (literal) other hand, am far from subtle. I like thick lines of black eyeliner and long nails with rhinestones and color-morphing polish, so any hue of quiet-luxury neutral is far from compelling. Kandalec suggests the first step toward going full Markle mani is to change my nail shape; no more sharp-square nails but instead a more natural rounded almond we try a few different blends of layering the two polish shades to hit the right combo à la Meghan and the other is more white,” Kandalec says you’re able to do thin layers to fully customize the finished look we settle on a layer of Romantique followed by Satin Slippers my nails look like the beautiful little Jordan almonds handed out at the end of a wedding so sophisticated; they belong to somebody reading a first edition in a Nancy Meyers–inspired home not on the 2 line back to Brooklyn at 10:30 p.m But I guess it’s just one of the many gifts Markle has given us through her Netflix show The Naked Manicure Trend Will Be Everywhere This Spring Victoria Beckham Takes Beauty Inspo From the Olsens 2025’s Trending Eyeliner Flatters Those in Their 20s and 70s Alike Sign up for Vogue’s beauty newsletter to receive the insider’s guide to all things beauty and wellness Never miss a Vogue moment and get unlimited digital access for just $2 $1 per month Located on the campus of Stanford University and in Washington the Hoover Institution is the nation’s preeminent research center dedicated to generating policy ideas that promote economic prosperity Hoover scholars form the Institution’s core and create breakthrough ideas aligned with our mission and ideals What sets Hoover apart from all other policy organizations is its status as a center of scholarly excellence its locus as a forum of scholarly discussion of public policy and its ability to bring the conclusions of this scholarship to a public audience Hoover Education Success Initiative | The Papers Throughout our over one-hundred-year history our work has directly led to policies that have produced greater freedom and opportunity in the United States and the world Hoover scholars offer analysis of current policy challenges and provide solutions on how America can advance freedom Learn more about joining the community of supporters and scholars working together to advance Hoover’s mission and values MyHoover delivers a personalized experience at Hoover.org create an account and receive the most recent analysis from Hoover fellows tailored to your specific policy interests Watch this video for an overview of MyHoover Don't have an account? Sign up Have questions? Contact us Your gift helps advance ideas that promote a free society California Governor Gavin Newsom’s latest podcasting venture has managed to unite America’s Left and Right—in their mutual dislike of his product Maybe Newsom can commiserate with a fellow titled Californian who likewise has a knack for polarization Let’s begin this California-centric column with a detour to another state and the question of gubernatorial succession a year from now there’s a precedent for such a let’s-keep-it-in-the family handoff As for “Mr. Wallace”: George Wallace served as his wife’s special assistant, earning a dollar a year he ran for the office he and his late wife once held and was reelected four years later (Alabama having amended its state constitution to allow governors to serve consecutive terms) here's a random thought: What’s stopping California Governor Gavin Newsom and his spouse from doing the same switcheroo in the Golden State next year Assuming he wants to stay on in Sacramento as California’s chief executive, all the term-limited Newsom would have to do is: (a) manage to get his wife elected governor; (b) himself run for lieutenant governor; then (c) succeed her soon after she takes office and promptly resigns (not unlike a scenario in which Donald Trump runs for vice president in 2028 and then returns to the Oval Office after his running mate resigns post-inauguration in early 2029) Let’s return to our regularly scheduled California political programming That includes waiting for 2026’s gubernatorial field to gel (with former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa taking this swipe at possible candidate Kamala Harris: “If you want to be governor you can’t get in at the end of the rainbow”) And this recurring daytime drama: What is Gavin Newsom thinking You might recall how that soap opera played out last summer, when Newsom ran the equivalent of a presidential “shadow campaign”—debating DeSantis on national television working post-debate “spin rooms,” ostensibly on Joe Biden’s behalf Even when Biden’s fortunes cratered after his disastrous debate with Trump, California’s governor didn’t relent in his cheerleading. “You don’t turn your back because of one performance,” Newsom told an interviewer We need to deliver for him at this moment.” And after that: Newsom and other Democrats making a pilgrimage to the White House, with Newsom issuing this statement: "I heard three words from the President—he’s all in Three Sundays later, Biden was all out All of which had inveterate Newsom-watchers wondering: Was the governor’s exuberant defense of President Biden a matter of party loyalty or more a reflection of his own White House ambitions Last week marked eight months since Biden’s unceremonious withdrawal from the presidential election. Yet, as Newsom pursues a new side hustle as a podcaster who’s curious about what conservatives think it’s the same question as in 2024: Is he in it out of party loyalty or personal gain We’ll know the answer to that question at some point in early 2027 presuming that’s when Newsom signals his 2028 intentions In the meantime, Newsom’s latest adventure in podcasting, This Is Gavin Newsom because Newsom sounds fairly uninterested in what his guests are saying.” Slate magazine, another online watering hole for the Left, echoed that sentiment in describing Newsom’s podcast as “a bit like the audio equivalent of Kim Kardashian sexy-posing with a Tesla Cybertruck as Elon Musk dismantles the federal government and flings millions of Americans into insecurity and potential immiseration: soulless Newsom’s other problem: there’s an iceberg ahead—the blue state he governs is awash in red ink A week ago, California health officials told lawmakers in Sacramento that the state can’t pay Medi-Cal providers through June (the end of California’s fiscal year) due to a $2.8 billion shortfall on top of another $3.4 billion loan that the Newsom administration claimed was necessary to keep California’s low-income insurance program afloat At the same time, news out of Los Angeles showed California’s largest city with a $1 billion hole in its budget that could lead to layoffs and service cuts. That’s in the neighborhood of the combined budget shortfalls in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose What this means: Newsom will have to spend the first half of his summer addressing the state’s fiscal woes and dealing with (and buying off) cantankerous legislators. Which is not to be confused with the escapism of sitting behind a microphone and feigning interest in the inner thoughts of Steve Bannon or Tim Walz Newsom’s not the only titled Californian to take to the airwaves recently only to review bad reviews How brutal was the response the Netflix series With Love, Meghan, in which the Montecito-based Duchess of Sussex “invites friends and famous guests to a beautiful California estate, where she shares cooking, gardening and hosting tips”? An Irish priest (also a podcaster by the way) labeled it “bloody awful” and urged his followers to “drink in the mediocrity and savor the narrow escape that one of the most distinguished royal lines in the world just had.” But there’s more the duchess will have to say in 2025. A podcast is set to debut in April, the focus being on women in business. And Markle may be a step closer to signing a new deal with Netflix if she and her husband agree to produce a documentary on the death of his mother All of which suggests that while her critics may drive Meghan Markle to tears the duchess is laughing all the way to the bank Which may be the governor’s ultimate destination as well—podcasting’s financial easy street—if This Is Gavin Newsom isn’t the right vehicle for speeding along the road to the White House With its eminent scholars and world-renowned library and archives the Hoover Institution seeks to improve the human condition by advancing ideas that promote economic opportunity and prosperity while securing and safeguarding peace for America and all mankind The opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Hoover Institution or Stanford University by the Board of Trustees of Leland Stanford Junior University ShareSaveCommentLifestyleDiningA Chef’s Guide To The Best Restaurants In MontecitoByKeyla Vasconcellos Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights Keyla is a California-based writer who covers dining and travel.Follow AuthorFeb 10 07:07pm ESTShareSaveCommentChef Jackie Johnson McBride the incredible food scene in Los Angeles is well-documented — but insiders know that driving an hour and a half up the coast to Santa Barbara is where another pocket of culinary excellence is quickly developing a tiny little neighborhood with a disproportionately large number of renowned restaurants Since moving to Montecito four years ago, the quality of produce and in restaurants in the area has been a major influence on Jackie Johnson McBride, who turned a passion for cooking and gardening into a full-blown career as The Weather Chef Johnson worked as a meteorologist in Los Angeles before transitioning from studio life to pursue her passion for seasonal cooking She honed her culinary skills by developing recipes focused on fresh grows her own vegetables and herbs and even works on home design content and styling through her brand Jackie has curated a list of must-visit spots in Montecito perfect for food lovers exploring Santa Barbara or simply passing through on a coastal road trip East Coast-meets-Texas charm to Montecito with a sleek yet laid-back space featuring crisp white tile The menu spotlights impeccably fresh oysters alongside a cult-favorite pan-roasted burger and a rich cioppino Pair it all with a chilled Chablis or a stiff gin martini and you’ve got a seafood spot that’s effortlessly stylish and distinctly Montecito Chef Jackie states: “I try to stay up on new restaurants and this place immediately caught my eye It’s an excellent new seafood spot that just opened here at the top of the year and they have a fresh fish counter and an aquarium that my kids love.” Merci infuses Montecito with the warmth of a Parisian café blending vintage bistro charm with a relaxed From quiche au fromage and crudite salads to beef bourguignon sandwiches and an excellent chicken paillard each dish is elegantly simple yet deeply satisfying Pair it with a crisp Sancerre or a perfectly pulled espresso and you’ve got a slice of Parisian café culture nestled in the California coast Here’s one of the reasons why Merci is one of Chef Jackie’s favorite spots: “I’ll also stop by strictly for their tiny incredible grocery shelf where they sell French butter (a must) and cookie dough—the chocolate chip is my favorite it’s a plain white cake with white frosting (because they’re against dyes and additives) but everyone knows the ‘Merci cake’ because it’s so delicious.” Pierre Lafond Market has been a Montecito staple since 1964 Locals swing by for strong coffee and flaky pastries in the morning while the deli counter keeps things fresh with crisp salads and a rotating selection of housemade specialties Whether you’re grabbing a picnic spread for the beach or a bottle of wine for dinner this neighborhood institution delivers everyday essentials with a refined “It’s a specialty grocery store that feels European—they’re stocked with Italian goods I come here for the fresh pressed juices and smoothies My go-to is LuLu’s green juice and the Summerland Smoothie.” Tre Lune is Montecito’s go-to for old-school Italian charm The menu leans classic with perfectly al dente pastas What makes this restaurant one of McBride’s favorites and immediately transports me to a feeling of New York or Italy there’s something magical and cozy about being in this little Italian restaurant when it’s cold and wet outside.” Sweet Wheel Farms is a hidden gem — a roadside farm stand that feels like a love letter to hyper-local this small but mighty operation stocks just-picked fruits and vegetables and artisan goods that draw in locals looking for the freshest haul Sweet Wheel is the kind of farm-to-table magic that feels like a slice of the countryside but it’s a short trek from Montecito that I will make to get their fresh produce This place is really great because it’s like having your own farmers market that’s open everyday fresh flowers and even these cute Ivy Cove market bags that look and feel so luxurious.” Bettina is Montecito’s effortlessly cool neighborhood pizzeria where naturally leavened dough meets top-tier California ingredients in a cozy The wood-fired pies —blistered to perfection— rotate with the seasons from classic margheritas to market-inspired creations loaded with peak produce and a stellar wine list and Bettina nails that sweet spot between laid-back and obsessively well-executed “It’s my favorite pizza in Santa Barbara as a whole The restaurant is a few years old now but almost as soon as they opened it they got a Bib Gourmand rating from Michelin It’s run by a couple who relocated from Brooklyn and the chef was previously a chef at Roberta’s which helped kick off a kind of pizza renaissance I never even knew I liked pepperoni until I had theirs—now I absolutely crave it.”