The SB Post

Last Minute Labor Day Ideas

Still undecided about how you're going to spend the Labor Day holiday weekend? Well, you're not alone. Most Americans are leaving travel plans to the last minute these days. It's a buyer's market so why not hold out for those steals and deals?!

Spur of the Moment, our summer travel planning tool that was created precisely with this in mind, will be sunsetting next week. That's the first place you should go to find the best available hotel rates in Santa Barbara for Labor Day weekend.  While you're there, be sure to jot down or print out the 2-for-1 activity offers posted so you can take advantage of these fleeting savings.

Okay, so you've got your hotel booked. Now you need to decide how you're going to spend your time here. Santa Barbara is a go-with-the-flow kind of place so you don't want to over plan. However, it's always helpful to have a short list of things to see and do -- and of course, where to eat.  And drink, if wine or microbrews are on your agenda.

The Urban Wine Trail is a slam dunk, guaranteed good time. There are 11 tasting rooms to choose from and they are very close to downtown and waterfront attractions so you can easily insert a tasting or two into your itinerary. (Click here to read an older post that gives the flavor of the UWT.)

If beer perks your palate more so than wine, you're in luck. Telegraph Brewing Company has a cool tasting room next door to Carr Winery in the SoCo neighborhood. And the beer is delicious. You can eat well and get your sip on at The Brew House and Santa Barbara Brewing Co. Both are full service restaurants and pour their own beers, along with brews from around the world.

Eating local is just as accessible as drinking local here. Book a Market Forays culinary tour and cooking class with the ultimate Slow Foodie, Laurence Hauben. She'll introduce you to local fishermen and farmers and share an abundance of tips on how to select the best produce and prepare scrumptious, wholesome meals.

I'm not sure what the weather gods have in store for the holiday weekend, but sun and warm temperatures are typically on the menu. So you're going to want to spend as much time outdoors as possible.

The beach is a no-brainer, and won't put a dent in your budget. If you want to be on the water, head out on a whale watching cruise with the Condor Express. Or a sunset sail with Sunset Kidd. You can learn to sail for yourself with Santa Barbara Sailing Center, or leave the pros at the helm and charter a boat for a day. Paddle surfing and kayak rentals are also easy to come by down at the Harbor and SEA Landing area.

State Street is going to be the ultimate spot for people watching. And can meet your shopping, dining and gallery-going needs!

Those are just a few ideas to keep in mind. We invite you to share your adventures and suggestions with us and your fellow Santa Barbara fans on Facebook. We'd love to hear how you spent your Labor Day weekend in Santa B!

End of Summer Checklist

Labor Day is just two weeks away and with all of the "back to school" talk, teasers for fall television programming in regular rotation and hefty September issue magazines arriving in the mail, it's clear summer is fast coming to a close. Here's a checklist of five Santa Barbara experiences to enjoy while the carefree summer spirit is still in the air:

1. Hit the Beach. Yes, you can enjoy the beach year-round in California. But these are the days when you can spend an entire day at the beach (I'm talking 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and feel highly productive. By simply being at the beach, you're "doing" something. And likely multi-tasking, at that. Whether you sunbathe, surf, swim, walk, play volleyball, read, nap, kayak, skip rocks, hunt for seashells, make sand art or any combination of the above, a full beach day can be quite an accomplishment. Check out our "Five Stellar Beaches" post for a guide to our top local beaches.
2. Dine Outdoors. Make the most of optimal al fresco dining conditions. Plan a picnic, BBQ at the beach or reserve a patio table at your restaurant of choice. The Mission Rose Garden and Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens are prime picnic spots. Leadbetter Beach and Goleta Beach both have great BBQ set-ups. And restaurants with patios are plentiful.
3. Go Camping. Camping is a classic summer experience. The beach campsites are very booked up in the summer but it's not a lost cause. Gaviota and Jalama beaches are easier to get into than El Capitan, Carpinteria and Refugio. There are also private campgrounds like Ocean Mesa, which is on the same site of "glamping" hot spot El Capitan Canyon. Inland, Cachuma Lake offers RV hook-ups, yurts and cabins, in addition to traditional campsites. If you want a camping experience without doing any of "the dirty work" yourself, look into Santa Barbara Silver Safari and Vacation Trailers 2 U.
4. Catch a Show at the Santa Barbara Bowl. Live music venues simply don't get much better than the Santa Barbara Bowl. The 4,562-seat amphitheater is nestled in Santa Barbara's foothills and there's not a bad seat in the house - some even grant ocean views. It's a long-standing favorite of music fans and international rock stars alike. The season is more than half way over but it typically stretches into November, so there are many opportunities left to catch a show. Upcoming gigs include Norah Jones with Corrine Bailey Rae (8/24), David Gray & Ray LaMontagne (9/5), Phoenix (9/19), Further featuring Phil Lesh & Bob Weir (9/20), Willie Nelson & Family (9/23), Maroon 5 (10/6), Jason Mraz (10/8), Van Morrison (10/9), Jack Johnson (10/13 & 14) and Massive Attack & Thievery Corporation (11/5). And more shows will be announced in the next month.
5. See Chaotic Harmony. This exhibit makes the list because it will end September 19, so see it while you still can! Here's the description provided by the Santa Barbara Museum of Art: "The first major exhibition in the United States of photographs made by contemporary Korean artists presently living in Korea, Chaotic Harmony: Contemporary Korean Photography opens a window into the rapidly expanding field of photographic practice in the Republic of Korea, known in the West as South Korea. Bringing together work by 40 contemporary photographers, this exhibition surveys the range of contemporary issues through the themes of family, urbanization, globalization, identity and nature. Co-organized by the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and Houston Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, this groundbreaking exhibition is not a presentation on "Koreanness," although issues of cultural and personal identity are strong components. Rather, it is an attempt to identify Korea as a source of complex and stimulating visual ideas expressed through the medium of photography." It's well worth taking a break from sun and fun to check it out!

All Signs Point to Root 246

I recently experienced Bradley Ogden's Root 246 restaurant at Hotel Corque in Solvang for the first time. It's absolutely shameful it took me so long to check it out. Since opening in spring of 2009, all I've heard is raves from friends and colleagues. The food critic from the Los Angeles Times even made the drive - well out of their regular jurisdiction - and deemed it "splendid." It's one of those places I felt comfortable recommending to people without firsthand knowledge, but it was time to make an honest evangelist out of myself and do the "research."

Entering the restaurant, I was initially struck by the interior design, which is not what you would expect to find in Solvang. So modern for the traditionally Danish-style village! Earthy undertones and accents keep the contemporary look from seeming altogether out of place...organic modern is an apt description. There are a handful of different spaces to settle into depending on what you're in the mood for:  the outdoor patio, bar, lounge, formal dining room and private dining room. And there's also a chef's table in the kitchen, which can seat four and offers a front row view of the chefs and service team in action.

Just as "organic modern" describes the interior décor, it also captures the vibe of the cuisine. The ingredients are super fresh and locally sourced, resulting in a dynamic menu that changes weekly, if not daily. (Freshness is really guaranteed because the only freezer in the kitchen is used to keep the ice cream frozen.) Bradley Ogden is a true celebrity chef with at least ten award-winning restaurants to his name. He's very hands-on with Root 246 and is often seen interacting with guests. His strong farm-to-table ethos is evident in the seasonal menu of artistically presented dishes that are as pleasurable to look at as they are to eat!

We started with the heirloom tomato, watermelon and mozzarella salad as well as the blue cheese soufflé with strawberries and arugula. For the main, a saffron-hinted sweet summer corn risotto topped with dragon tongue beans. Being in wine country, it wouldn't be a proper meal without a nice glass of local wine. It was hot outside and I wanted something crisp and refreshing so I had the Curran Grenache Blanc upon our server's well-chosen recommendation. In addition to being introduced to Root 246, I was also quite pleased to meet this delightful white wine! (I've since located the very reasonably-priced wine for sale at Lazy Acres.)

It may have taken me a long while to get to Root 246, but I definitely plan to make up for lost time based on my first experience. In the words of our Governor, "I'll be back."

Viva la Fiesta

Old Spanish Days Fiesta, Santa Barbara's biggest, spiciest, liveliest community tradition, kicked off yesterday (August 4) and the festivities will conclude Sunday night (August 8). Don't let the name fool you. Fiesta actually celebrates Santa Barbara's multi-cultural heritage, predominantly Native American Indian, Mexican and Spanish. The party has been an annual affair since 1924 and draws tens of thousands of visitors from near and far. Locals live for it. Think of it as Santa Barbara's PG-rated equivalent to Mardi Gras.

Five days of rodeo and horse shows, equestrian parades, countless dance performances, colorful parties and "cantinas", spirited live music and delectable Spanish and Mexican cuisine give locals and visitors alike plentiful opportunities to get in on the action. In addition to the official festival events, downtown bars and night clubs on and off State Street pack in the revelers. Many restaurants offer special Fiesta menus and those with inviting outdoor patios like Carlitos and El Paseo are sure to be packed all weekend long.

Here are a few tips to help you celebrate Fiesta like a local:

1. Greet everyone with the declaration "Viva la".
2. Dress for the occasion. Women add flowers to their hair and wear embroidered peasant blouses and flowing skirts. For the men, a Guayabera-style shirt is a safe bet. The flamenco style is also popular for both men and women, especially for the more formal evening events.
3. Beautifully painted cascarones (eggs) can be bought by sellers walking State Street and at various event venues. They are filled with confetti. If someone smashes one over your head it's actually considered good luck. So, if you end up with rainbow confetti in your hair, just consider it your Fiesta "flair".

Check out the complete Fiesta event line-up at www.oldspanishdays-fiesta.org. Viva la!

Olio Pizzeria Opens: Love at First Bite

Olio e Limone is the standout star of Santa Barbara's Italian cuisine scene and, much to the delight of their patrons and local foodies, owners Alberto and Elaine Morello introduced sister restaurant Olio Pizzeria this week. This is major news for our relatively small town that's big on [good] food!

The casual enoteca and bar is tucked into the back of Victoria Court and sits next door to the original restaurant. The warm, inviting space is much larger than you'd expect from the exterior of the unassuming entrance.  High ceilings, yellow washed walls, rich woods, multi-colored Italian glass light fixtures and stonework details create a cozy atmosphere. Even on the "soft" opening night, the bar seats were full and clearly will become the most coveted seats in the house with views of the wood-fired pizza oven.

The menu is vast and varied, offering several pizzas along with salads, meats, cheeses and other contorni - "veggies and side dishes," as the fun, text-filled placemats translated for us.  The helpful Italian food glossary and other key phrases encourage Italian speaking and, if you're not familiar with the language, let you figure out some of the mystery ingredients on the menu for yourself.

My dinner companion and I shared a half carafe of the Beckmen Cuvee Le Bec, one of the many local wines on their list. The carafe option presents a nice compromise to ordering by the glass and committing to a whole bottle - I'm falling for this place already!

In the spirit of sampling, we split two refreshing salads that complemented each other well: a salad of blood orange, fennel and olives and a simple preparation of artichoke with shaved parmesan and lemon. Both were drizzled with the Olio e Limone extra virgin organic olive oil, produced by the Morellos with olives sourced from Alberto's hometown in Sicily.

We couldn't decide between the margherita pizza or the quattro formaggi, so we put the deciding into the hands of our very helpful server, who did not hesitate to steer us towards the quattro formaggi. (Full disclosure:  I'm a vegetarian, so that narrowed our choices, but I still had plenty to choose from.) And he did right by us. It was a cheese lover's dream. In one bite you could taste the smokiness of the mozzarella, and in the next bite detect the veins of blue in the gorgonzola. We had no problem polishing off the perfectly-sized pizza - not overwhelming for one and just right for two.

The grand finale of my inaugural Olio Pizzeria meal was the panacotta with chocolate and hazelnut dessert. Craving a hint of chocolate, it was love at first bite.

Olio Pizzeria is located at 11 West Victoria Street, between State Street and Chapala Street, in Suite 21. They are open for lunch Monday-Saturday and dinner daily. Take-out pizza orders are welcomed.

Santa Barbara Brunch Guide

Home or away, weekends and brunch go hand in hand. Whether you're easing into the day, celebrating a special occasion or seeking an antidote for a late night out on the town, brunch satisfies morning cravings with a hybrid menu of breakfast classics and luncheon dishes. So where's a foodie to go in Santa Barbara come brunch-time?

Tupelo Junction is where it's at for brunch daily with a Southern-inspired menu that includes such delights as Dungeness Crab Cake and Potato Hash with avocado salsa, poached eggs and lemon butter sauce and - the ultimate crowd pleaser - Vanilla Dipped French Toast with homemade berry syrup & fresh whipped cream. Served in mason jars, their perfectly crafted bloody mary's are garnished with diced bell pepper and a fresh crab claw. Jeannine's is a well-known bakery with two Santa Barbara locations and one in Montecito. Their sweet stuff is sinfully good, but their breakfast and brunch menus offer plenty of delicious savory dishes to start the day. The Huevos Rancheros is heavenly but only available on weekends, so the Breakfast Quesadilla is a good alternative if you stop in midweek. Of their three locations, the Figueroa Street spot downtown is the most spacious and has lovely outdoor seating in La Arcada Court. You might have to fight for a seat at D'Angelo Pastry & Bread, located on Gutierrez Street between State and Chapala Streets. It's a favorite of celebrity chef and Santa Barbara resident Cat Cora, who is partial to the Eggs "Rose" - two poached free range eggs and Mediterranean artichoke spread served atop freshly baked, toasted kalamata olive bread. Yum.

On the Sunday-only front, Paradise Café is pure Santa Barbara and the patio setting can't be beat. Try the Santa Ynez Omelet, Blue Corn Waffle or Huevos Valenzuela. Elements Restaurant and Bar definitely doesn't suffer from patio envy, with their prime perch across from the stunning Courthouse sunken gardens. You can linger here for hours enjoying the views while sipping on bottomless mimosas ($16) and digging into elevated classics like their Elements Eggs Benedict styled with poached eggs, buttermilk biscuit and smoked salmon lobster hollandaise. High tail it to The Hungry Cat for deluxe bloody mary's, super fresh local seafood specialties and hearty (but not so "heart healthy") entrees like Chorizo Gravy with cornmeal biscuits, braised greens and fried eggs. If you want to go all out and indulge, look no further than the Sunday Brunch at the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara. The sheer quantity of different items available on the buffet menu is astounding - it actually takes up two rooms! It's a class act all the way at the Four Seasons and you can enjoy stunning ocean views while you eat. And walk it all off at Butterfly Beach across the way when you're done.

Arnoldi's Café recently started serving breakfast on weekends (7:30am-11:30am). While it's not technically brunch, if you're an early riser it can qualify! Arnoldi's is a Santa Barbara institution that specializes in authentic, no frills Italian fare and their sprawling back patio is especially inviting. Bocce ball and breakfast - need I say more?

San Ysidro Ranch Tops Travel+Leisure’s World’s Best List

Santa Barbara's own San Ysidro Ranch was named "the best resort in the continental U.S. and Canada" by Travel+Leisure magazine in their August 2010 World's Best issue. Not only was it ranked #1 in the U.S., but it was #4 in the whole wide world.

It's a pretty impressive and well-deserved endorsement. San Ysidro Ranch is a downright dreamy spot, set on 500 lush acres in the foothills of Montecito with mountain and ocean views. Aside from the property's stunning grounds and attention to every luxurious detail, privacy and discretion are part of the appeal. None of the individually-decorated 41 cottages share a wall. And the residential style décor makes you feel right at home - or in someone else's fabulous home. 

San Ysidro Ranch has a distinct sense of place and exudes grace. Since opening in 1893, it's been a preferred retreat for notable writers, politicians and celebrities. The Ranch has quite a storied romantic history, too. Sir Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh exchanged their wedding vows in the garden under the moonlight. J.F.K. and Jackie O. honeymooned in the now-named Kennedy Suite. Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin said "I do" while hiding away in that very same suite.

Don't be turned off if the room rates are out of your budget - the restaurants and bar are open to the public and offer a healthy serving of the property's magical ambiance. The Stonehouse is the more formal of the two restaurants, while the Plow & Angel downstairs is more casual and has a bar. Both have delightful patios, which are lovely as can be, especially on a warm evening before the sun goes down.

Congratulations to our friends at San Ysidro Ranch, including the gracious General Manager, Seamus McManus, who you are quite likely to meet if you find yourself on that glorious patio enjoying a glass of local wine...paired to something scrumptious cooked up with ingredients sourced from our local waters and their organic garden!

Spur of the Moment Summer Travel Savings

News flash for you last minute planners and deal seekers out there! Today, we introduced our new "Spur of the Moment" travel planning tool, which makes a spontaneous visit to Santa Barbara super simple and easy to plan all summer long. We know that your travel budget and vacation time are sacred, and we want you to find that amazing deal. So when you have the urge to take a midweek breather on the coast, or crave a quick weekend escape, take a look at "Spur of the Moment" to see what's available on short notice. Visit SantaBarbaraWeeklyDeals.com to find a cheat sheet listing the best available hotel rates for the given week, two-for-one attraction offers and upcoming special events. If you live close by and visit often, sign-up to receive the "Spur of the Moment" travel deals email, which will land in your inbox every Monday through Labor Day.

Here's another savings tip: If you're on Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner or San Joaquin routes, visit the Santa Barbara Car Free Project website to get access to a 20% discount on Amtrak tickets to Santa Barbara. Once you're in town, show your Amtrak ticket to receive more discounts through the Car Free Project's "Take the CAR out of your CARBON Footprint" program. The 20+ attractions, tour companies and restaurants offering the Car Free discounts are listed here.

Check that out. We've given you ways to save on accommodations, transportation and things to do. Wow, that could add up to an entire extra day/night of fun-or just more money in the bank!

Channel Islands Adventures

The Channel Islands National Park & Marine Sanctuary is one of North America's greatest natural treasures and sits just 25 miles off the coast of Santa Barbara. If you have an adventurous spirit and want a one-of-a-kind eco-tourism experience, do make a point to visit the islands.

Considered "America's Galapagos", the Channel Islands are a habitat for an extraordinarily rich population of flora and fauna - of the 2,000 species found on the islands, 145 are endemic. The pristine, relatively untouched environment is accessible to visitors for day trips, hiking, camping, diving, snorkeling, fishing, kayaking and whale watching. Equally rich in history, one of the site's most fascinating facts is that the oldest human remains found in America were discovered on the islands, tracing back 13,000 years.

As amazing as the islands are, getting there from Santa Barbara is not the easiest feat if you don't have a boat. But it's gotten easier lately with expanded charter service. Truth Aquatics is the only Santa Barbara Harbor-based concessionaire authorized to land on the islands and they offer a variety of guided experiences including day visits and multi-day SCUBA diving, camping and hiking trips. (To be fair to our neighbors down south, plentiful day trips do depart from the Ventura Harbor, but from Santa Barbara that adds 90 minutes round-trip on the road.)

Santa Barbara Adventure Company recently introduced a Painted Cave Kayak Tour in partnership with Truth Aquatics, offering kayaking and snorkeling Santa Cruz Island excursions throughout the summer. The tour includes transportation from Santa Barbara Harbor, cooked meals, gear and guides who will fill you with facts and keep you safe while you kayak through Painted Cave, the 2^nd longest sea cave in the world.

I can handle a kayak but I'm not a brave adventurer, and I have to say kayaking in Painted Cave was one of the most memorable - albeit slightly nerve-wracking - adventures I've been on. There happened to be an unusually large swell the day we went out, and all was going swimmingly until I looked back towards the cave opening to see the silhouettes of massive-looking waves looming behind us. However, our guides were awesome and kept close by so I knew my life would not be ending in that cave. Jitters quickly calmed, I could appreciate the sheer majesty of Painted Cave - which is so large and long, a whale watching boat can easily fit into it. So it's not an adventure for the faint of heart, but with the help of the Adventure Co. guides, you really don't need experience to take the challenge on. Kids 12 and older can join the Channel Islands kayak trips, too.

If you'd rather not get out on the water or have less time to spare but want to see the Channel Islands, Condor Express is your best bet. The Condor is a high speed catamaran that reaches the islands in 45 minutes and they offer whale watching cruises daily, weather permitting. While you don't actually set foot on the islands, you can see them and the boat will enter Painted Cave for an up-close look. You'll also see whales and dolphins in the Santa Barbara Channel along the way.

It's not just tourism cheerleaders who tout the Channel Islands' greatness. Santa Barbara resident and international ocean explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau (yes, that Cousteau, he's the son of Jacques) regards the Channel Islands as one of the most spectacular places in the world to dive. Hear what he has to say about it in our Inside Santa Barbara video series. And filmmaker Ken Burns recently put the spotlight on the Channel Islands in his widely-watched "The National Parks: America's Best Idea" PBS series.

Celebrate Summer Solstice, Santa Barbara Style

Santa Barbarans will be celebrating Summer Solstice in colorful fashion this weekend during the annual Summer Solstice Celebration June 25-26. The party kicks off Friday night with a two-day festival in Alameda Park which runs through Saturday evening and features live music, food, drink and art. The centerpiece event is the parade up State Street starting at high noon Saturday. More than 100,000 people come from near and far to witness the wacky, whimsical and fantastically creative display of the 1,000+ parade participants who dance, drum and entertain spectators. The tradition of the parade started in 1974 as a celebration of a local artist's birthday and it evolved into one of Santa Barbara's most popular signature events.

If you can't make it to Solstice, there are many other ways to honor the season and take advantage of summer's sublime, long evenings. From live music in the park to outdoor film screenings at the Zoo, the spirit of summer can be celebrated and savored all season long.

1^st Thursday: An Evening of Visual & Performing Arts takes place year round, but 1^st Thursdays during summer are extra glorious and lively. Downtown galleries keep their doors open from 5pm-8pm (some later), allowing you to gallery hop ‘til you drop. State Street hums with public performances and interactive exhibits and the 30+ participating venues feature live music, artists' demonstrations, refreshments and more inspiring entertainment.

Live music in the great outdoors under a canopy of stars is a consummate crowd pleaser. Every Saturday night May through September, El Capitan Canyon guests and neighbors gather at the Creekside Green for a night of blues, jazz and bluegrass. Stow House presents "Music at the Ranch", a six-week live music series Tuesday evenings July 13-August 17. The City of Santa Barbara's free Concerts in the Park series takes place every Thursday at Chase Palm Park July 1-August 19.

Movie night goes communal at the Santa Barbara Zoo during the "Zoovies" outdoor film series. Family-friendly G- and PG-rated films are shown while guests lounge on their blankets and enjoy refreshments Wednesday nights in July and August.

If you're an active, adrenaline-loving type, break a sweat alongside locals during the weekly Nite Moves Summer Sunset Series. The popular summer series runs Wednesdays May 5-September 1 and includes walking, running, swimming and kids' events in sporty, social, fun-filled evenings. All levels and ages are welcome. The action starts and finishes at Leadbetter Beach, where participants congregate to enjoy live music, food, raffles and fantastic views after their workouts.

There's a lot more of this type of entertainment on tap here this summer. Search our calendar of events for your travel dates. And if you prefer Facebook, we're constantly posting interesting happenings on our Santa Barbara page, as do our fans and local partners.

Happy Summer Solstice!