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The Taproom Boom Continues

Plus: Embermill restaurant opens this Friday; Bristol Farms, another Mesa Burger, and a French bakery on the horizon; La Michoacána is selling frozen treats; Hoffman Brat Haus is closing; Eleven 14 opening on State Street.

Montecito Creek Bridge Is Expected to Reopen Next Month

And in other recent local news: A reprieve for Institution Ale’s neon sign; initiative to protect whales from ships; West Beach hotel gets nixed; an urge to merge Montecito’s special districts; Styrofoam recycling; Montecito road repairs; library plaza renovation update.

Les Marchands Wine Bar Is Closing

Plus: New pan-Asian restaurant Oku is getting close to opening on Cabrillo; expanded hours at Buena Onda and Merci Montecito; Peruvian pop-up.

Can This Huge Chunk of Undeveloped Coastline Be Preserved?

The Saudi investor who bought More Mesa for $25 million has put it back on the market—this time for $65 million. Locals are searching for a way to save it from development.

Take a Peek Inside a Jeff Shelton Apartment

While the whimsical exteriors of local architect Jeff Shelton can be seen all over town, interior glimpses are far rarer. In the case of this E. Cota Street rental, the owner shares Shelton’s Seuss-meets-Gaudí sensibility.

Paging Miss Scarlet and Professor Plum…

Named Croyden House, the grand 1929 mansion on Middle Road in Montecito feels like the board game Clue come to life—although any stress involved will hopefully have to do with upkeep rather than a murder in the library.

Best Cheeseburger in Town?

Plus: Oliver’s is now serving lunch; new outdoor seating at Café Ana; the Monarch has gone entirely prix-fixe; renting the Lark’s patio for a private party; picnic boxes from Bossie’s Kitchen.

A Sweet Little Farmhouse With Big-Time Style

And what might be the best barn in the entire area.

The Montecito Association Has an Update on the Insurance Problem

The Montecito Association sent out another excellent update on the dire insurance situation in Montecito and beyond: Policies aren’t being renewed, and new coverage is hard to come by (and/or expensive).

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