A New Hotel in the Works on De La Vina Street

Plus: The Head and the Heart and Disclosure play the Santa Barbara Bowl; more details on the solar array proposed for the Bowl; checking in on the Drift hotel planned for State Street; Highway 101 construction update; baby giraffe born at the Santa Barbara Zoo.

Venus in Furs Has Closed

More food news: Another winery is moving in next to the Cheese Shop; Mexican seafood restaurant opening in Old Town Goleta; Broad Street Oyster Company is looking for a permanent space; signage at the Hotel Californian's forthcoming tasting room; Jeannine's on Coast Village Road is taking a break; Oat Bakery is now opening earlier on weekdays; Calvary Chapel is working on a restaurant; Phoevermore in Carpinteria has closed; dinner under a different name at the Patio Cafe. 1

The Side Streets and Alleyways of Upper Oak Park

Years ago, my first real walk around a Santa Barbara neighborhood—beyond the usual spots—was in the area behind Cottage Hospital, and I was delighted by what I found. When I recently returned for a stroll, I wondered if the area would still deliver. 11

Newsletter: January 23

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Where in Santa Barbara…?

Know where this was shot? Prove it in the comments. (Update: We have a winner!) 2

The Return of Cruise Ships to Santa Barbara

Other recent news: A car drove onto the State Street Promenade; the future of the oil industry, including the offshore platforms, in Santa Barbara; the Kimpton Goodland Goleta hotel will be rebranded after getting sold; Victoria Street might reopen to two-way traffic again; Mayweather Boxing + Fitness will debut soon; a decrease in bird species seen around here.

The Montecito Tea Gardens Property Is Back on the Market for $78 Million

Noteworthy new listings also include a sweet Summerland farmhouse; more-or-less turnkey Hope Ranch compound; low-key charm on Pepper Hill; "straight out of a romance novel" in Montecito; rural funk on Las Canoas Road; and more. 2

The Hotel at Paseo Nuevo Will Have Basement and Rooftop Bars

More food news: The who, where, and what regarding We Want the Funk; Sama Sama Kitchen is now serving lunch; Loca Vivant Kitchen will continue to operate; Lighthouse Coffee is opening a third outpost; Carpinteria Avenue coffeehouse in the works; might the Dutch Garden reopen soon?; Dutchess bakery delayed; a relic of the past at Jeannine's.

Newsletter: January 19

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Funky Montecito Compound Sells for Over Ask

Last week's sales also include two houses way up the hill; the "Hope Ranch barn"; Equestrian Avenue three-bedroom; landscape designer Eric Nagelmann's garden cottage; and more.