••• “Are you aware that the new owners of the Las Aves complex plan to eliminate the charming Marge Dunlap fountain from the courtyard?” asked M., noting that a rendering shows a fire pit where the fountain now stands. According to David Fishbein of Runyon, the company redeveloping the complex, “That must have been an oversight, as we haven’t finalized any plans for the courtyard.”
••• The Santa Barbara Antique Show (formerly the CALM Antique Show) is November 18-20 at the Earl Warren Showgrounds. Photo courtesy Space Home & Garden, which will be bring these chairs and more to the show.
••• And another decorator warehouse sale is happening November 18-19. Details here.
••• If you’re interested in an electric bike tour, check out Energized Bikes: “Building on over a decade of experience owning a Santa Barbara-based sustainable wine tour business, owner Bryan Hope is now offering daily waterfront and city tours on solar-charged electric bicycles. The power used to propel his e-bikes is derived directly from his transport trailer’s rooftop panels. Soon to come, this trailer will be towed by a Ford F-150 electric truck, whose energy will be offset by Hope’s existing household solar array. His hour-and-a-half city tours are a ‘resource-reduced’ way to experience Santa Barbara’s scenery and history first-hand.”
••• The 36-unit apartment complex in the works at 425 Garden Street (Gutierrez/Haley)—a.k.a. the one with no parking, so good luck to all the residents—went in front of the city’s Architectural Board of Review on Monday, and the submittal included the best look so far.
••• Tyler Childers plays the Santa Barbara Bowl on April 26, with Charley Crockett opening. And Trevor Noah is there June 2.
••• Opening November 18 at Thomas Reynolds Gallery: Ruth Ellen Hoag: My Journey So Far, “featuring some of her most significant paintings from the past 20 years.” Below: the lovely “Milango.”
················
Sign up for the Siteline email newsletter and you’ll never miss a post.
Re the apartment building, did anyone say what people are supposed to do with their cars? Garden St in front of the building is not only no parking it’s no stopping. Also one side of Gutierrez is the same, and much of Haley is red curb in the immediate area. There isn’t really any street parking for at least a couple of blocks, and existing residents are not going to want to have to compete with 33 new households for parking. Was any justification given for imposing on the existing neighborhood like that? Were ideas (however fanciful) offered for where 33-66 new cars will park? Preserving the architectural quality is all well and good but what about quality of life for the existing neighborhood? Was that addressed, if you know?
Re: The Marge Dunlap fountain. Well I’m sure it has a great story behind it which I am unaware of it. Perhaps some brief background would be nice. Very funky and unique to be sure. Would be interesting to take a closer look when I’m there next time. However, the brick planter which delineates it (sort of) does not complement or enhance the fountain – at all, Also, generally does not seem to fit the Las Aves complex style very well, IMHO, which to me looks like understated Spanish Mission style architecture. Perhaps the most important parts can be relocated but if not, I think the containment planter below, oddly shaped and not complementary to the fountain, should be smaller and rounded. Everything is so linear in this complex it could add some needed relief to the sharp lines. The yellow and blue tile don’t seem to correspond to anything in the stylized portions, the true art of the fountain, so maybe change that while you’re at it. Whoops, now I’m part of the ‘tell you what to do with your property cabal’ in SB. I have to admit it’s kind of fun :) But seriously, it’s nice to preserve things that have been around a while. When someone comes in from out of town especially, they should be mindful of the locals and the shared history and memories people have who live here.
Erik – Would love to learn more about the fountain and your reporting.