••• Way back when, after I wrote about how the wonderful old cypress tree in the Highway 101 median south of the Miramar resort would be cut down as part of the freeway widening, someone told me that her family always called it the Welcome Tree, because when you saw it, you knew you were in Montecito. Ever since, I’ve thought of it that way. And now it’s gone.
••• Loud Flower Art Co., “a screen print shop making purpose-driven, celebratory art to cultivate courage and belonging through intentional wholeheartedness and emotional literacy,” is setting up shop at 506 E. Haley Street (Olive/Salsipuedes), with a grand opening today.
••• Jeff Shelton is selling T-shirts with a question mark or “What?” on the front.
••• The Coast Village Association has organized Coast Village Week (November 12-18): “Every participating business will highlight their unique offerings throughout the week, whether it’s limited-time discounts, exclusive merchandise, or specials on menu items.”
••• There are dueling new biographies of Pearl Chase. Here’s Newsmakers on A String of Pearls by Cheri Rae:
Mining the vast trove of Chase’s papers at the UCSB Library, she has produced a wonderful read that not only presents a character study of a fascinating woman, who overcame family tragedies and personal heartbreaks to gain influence and wield power in a domain then thoroughly dominated by men, but also provides a lively historic narrative that shows the extraordinary extent to which Chase’s vision of Santa Barbara as a singularly special place, abides today.
And in this corner, we have Simon Kerry, Chase’s nephew and author of Miss Chase: Santa Barbara’s Trailblazer. He’s giving a talk hosted by the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation at the Presidio chapel on November 15 and he’ll be doing a book signing at Tecolote Books on November 16.
In Miss Chase: Santa Barbara’s Trailblazer, Simon Kerry traces Pearl Chase’s early life and collegiate years at UC Berkeley through to her return to Santa Barbara and the indelible impact she had on California and the nation. During a tumultuous period in American history in the early twentieth century, Chase paved a way for not only the environmentalist movement but also for women’s influence in politics in the federal and local civic spheres. Her compassionate, charitable nature extended to many cultural groups and causes, evident in her vocal support of protecting the lands and customs of Native Americans in the southwest.
••• The other day, my husband and I went for a bike ride, and I insisted we take Via Real instead of Padaro Lane, because I thought the Padaro Lane bridge had yet to reopen. When I got home, I asked the county’s Public Works department for an update on the bridge, and I was told it opened in July. So I went back to Padaro Lane and saw the reason for my confusion: “road closed” signs are still up on either side of the bridge. And I think the “coastal access” sign near 3445 Padaro is new. I hadn’t realized there was a path to the beach there…. UPDATE: “Did you actually go down the Padaro Lane beach access?” asked Jimmy Jam. “I’ve seen that sign too, but I couldn’t actually see any access besides that driveway? I started to walk down but it seemed a little sketchy.” I didn’t, because I was in a hurry. I did look on Google Maps later, and you can sort of see a path opening up at the beach. (See screenshot below.) If anyone goes and explores it before I do, please report back. UPDATE 11/10: “I’ve used The Padaro Lane beach access path many times over the last year or so,” says Michael. “Nothing scary about it. It also is a great place to access the beach at high tide when accessing it at either end is impossible.”
••• The city is hosting an online meeting on November 15 and an in-person one on November 29 to discuss its plan for Cliff Drive, which includes “creating a three-mile separated path and improving intersections from Arroyo Burro County Park to Castillo Street.” However, “construction is set to begin in 2027.” More info.
••• The Santa Claus Lane Bikeway, linking Santa Claus Lane and Carpinteria Avenue, is officially completed.
••• Lantern Tree Books, in half of the former Señor Frog’s building on Linden Avenue, is open. It’s small but appealing. I find it hard to walk into a bookstore and not buy something—in this case, James McBride’s The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store.
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Did you actually go down the Padaro Lane beach access? I’ve seen that sign too, but I couldn’t actually see any access besides that driveway? I started to walk down but it seemed a little sketchy.
I didn’t, because I was in a hurry. I did look on Google Maps later, and you can sort of see a path opening up at the beach. (I’ll add a screenshot to the post.) If anyone goes and explores it before I do, please report back.
I just recently discovered this trail, too. I’ve walked by there many times before and saw the sign on Padero Lane but couldn’t spot the narrow trail to the beach. They recently added a second sign on the back right side of the driveway entrance showing the way to the narrow pathway, and it’s hidden and not obvious.
Sooo sad about that regal cypress. It all looks like any other city now. At least the ocean can still be seen.
I’ve used The Padaro Lane beach access path many times over the last year or so. Nothing scary about it. It also is a great place to access the beach at high tide when accessing it at either end is impossible