The SB Post

Holiday Gift Guide

The holiday shopping season is upon us! Yikes? Never fear, we've got some ideas for you here. Consider these certified Santa Barbara products while stocking up on hostess gifts, shopping for the foodie on your list or aiming to please someone special. Thanks to the miraculous worldwide web, these items are all just a few click-and-ships away so you don't have to actually be here to buy our kind of local goods.

• Photography lovers and Santa Barbara fans will appreciate The Book of Santa Barbara, a newly released coffee-table-ready book featuring photography of Santa Barbara by Macduff Everton with an intro by Pico Iyer. Not your average beauty shot book, Everton also includes portraits of people who reflect the spirit of the community and whose work has shaped it. The book retails for $49.95.
• Jeff and Matt Nichols, the chefs behind Brothers Restaurant at Mattei's Tavern, also just released their first cookbook, Brothers Cuisine: Recipes from Santa Barbara, California Wine Country. The local wine country lifestyle is celebrated and depicted in the book which includes more than 145 recipes, seasonal menus and vibrant photographs with stories peppered throughout. Anyone who has spent any time in Santa Barbara Wine Country will drool over this hardcover book; priced at $34.95.
• Did you know that Santa Barbara is one of the top orchid producing regions in the nation? Yep, true story. Santa Barbara Orchid Estate will ship their exotic blooms nationwide. Orchids last longer than cut flowers and they're a natural air purifier, so it's a multi-tasking gorgeous gift.
• Simple Shoes is a super Santa Barbara brand with tons of great sneaks and flip flops for men, women and kids. The innovative, eco-minded company offers a range of vegan-friendly footwear, too. They also produce cool utilitarian unisex bags. Buy a virtual gift card to reduce the footprint of your transaction and let your lucky someone pick their own pair.
• The surfer in your life will appreciate Channel Islands Surfboards' Santa Barbara branded apparel. Hoodies, t-shirts, hats and more with logos that include the words "Santa Barbara" are now available in their online store, and there's a larger selection in the flagship CIS SB shop at 36 Anacapa Street.
• Handmade Jessica Foster Confections artisan chocolate truffles will elicit swoons with chocolate lovers. She ships all over the country and you can customize your order with the flavors of your choice. I'm partial to the milk chocolate sea salt & black pepper and white chocolate meyer lemon (and I thought I didn't like white chocolate).
• Global Gardens offers an array of locally made olive oils, fruit vinegars, nuts, spreads and other gourmet goodies inspired by owner Theo Stephan's Mediterranean heritage and the bountiful Santa Ynez Valley. Gift baskets can be made to order. If you want to give the gift that keeps on giving, buy an Olive Oil & Gourmet Food Club Membership to treat your recipient to seasonal shipments.
• Speaking of gift baskets, Santa Barbara Gift Baskets specializes in just that.
• Also in the culinary camp, La Nogalera Walnut Oil is wickedly good and highly-addictive. Thankfully, it's good for you, too. The oil comes in small and large cans and will be appreciated by home chefs and health nuts alike.
• You didn't think we'd really neglect to suggest Santa Barbara wine?! There are more than 175 wineries in the county, so I won't begin to name names here, but you can go to the Vintners' Association website for a list and links to specific winery sites. Order by the bottle and case, or sign someone up for a wine club membership to make their entire year merry and bright!

Floating Zone: Day Spa Destination

With a name like FLOAT, it's no surprise that Float Luxury Spa in downtown Santa Barbara is a dreamy destination for spa-goers. Only a half a block off the bustling State Street shopping hub, Float is an oasis of peaceful pampering on Canon Perdido, set diagonally across the street from the Lobero Theatre. Sisters Stephanie Phelan and Natalie Rowe created and opened Float together in April 2009, transforming the space into a fresh, modern den of tranquility.

I entered the "floating zone" for the first time this week to experience the Float Signature Massage. Upon check-in, I completed the new client questionnaire, which allowed me to pick not only what amount of conversation I preferred during my treatment, but also what kind of music I wanted to listen to. After handing me my robe and Havaianas (love this beachy touch -- flip flops instead of slippers), Stephanie led me to the women's locker room. Once in my spa ensemble, I got a quick tour of the space.

It's a bit like a spa "house," with two levels of treatment rooms and a backyard tree-lined patio with a lovely, very Santa Barbara-esque fountain, complete twinkling white lights at night. I could easily envision guests relaxing on the patio reading magazines and sipping tea on a beautiful sunny day. I was left to await Jen, my massage therapist, in the sky room lounge on the second floor, where I had a choice of comfy nooks with cream-colored couches and chairs to settle into. A fire and candles warmed the airy room with a cozy glow, and I was enamored with the chandelier that, appropriately, looks like water bubbles floating in front of a segmented photograph of a dreamy tropical sea and clouds. I found myself already feeling much more relaxed than I was when I walked into the spa -- and my massage had yet to begin.

Of course, looks aren't everything and it's what's inside that counts! The space and vibe of a destination day spa are important, but it's the quality of the treatments and practitioners that truly deliver the experience and results spa-goers seek. And if my massage therapist Jen is indicative of Float's standard, no one will leave this spa unhappy. She was attentive to my needs, while not overly chatty (per my request on the questionnaire), and kneaded me into a state of melted bliss.

In addition to massages, Float offers a full range of spa services including facials, body treatments and waxing. They also have treatments specifically designed for men and rooms that can accommodate couples. The space is perfect for spa parties and bridal groups.  According to Stephanie, they are very popular with wedding parties -- I can see why given the attractive and spacious sky room and back patio, both ideal for gatherings. They are the official spa partner for the Canary Hotel, located just two blocks away. Guests can receive Float treatments in the comfort of their hotel room.

Whether you're a local or visitor, now is the time to take advantage of their current special package deal: book a Float Signature Massage and Signature Facial (same person/same day) for $195, which is a $40 savings. Float is open seven days a week. Visit them online at www.floatluxuryspa.com or call 805.845.7777 to book an appointment.

Eight Great Burgers

Burgers are one of the most versatile and favored food forms around. From fast food to fine dining, burgers are on the menu everywhere. In Santa Barbara, there's even a bus dedicated to the burger. Notice I don't refer to them as "hamburgers." As a card carrying vegetarian, I don't eat hamburgers, but how I LOVE a good veggie burger. Or falafel burger. Or black bean burger. Or portabello mushroom burger. The beauty of the burger is how adaptable and customizable it is, from what makes up the patty (grass-fed beef, bison, turkey...) to the endless options of cheeses, sauces and other flavorful fixings.

When you're craving a burger in Santa Barbara, try these local favorites:

1. The Habit:  This local chain started here in the mid 1960's and is known for their signature "Charburgers." Think of it as high quality fast food. Of their 41 California locations, four are in Santa Barbara.
2. The Hungry Cat:  My foodie friends all swear by The Hungry Cat's Pug Burger with bacon, avocado and blue cheese.
3. Paradise Café:  You can smell the smoke of Paradise Café's fragrant oak wood grill from blocks away. That grill (and premium beef) is responsible for the popular Paradise Burgers the Café has been serving since 1983.
4. The Burger Bus:  The Burger Bus drove Santa Barbara into the street food movement (powered by biodiesel) when they came onto the scene in 2009. Their signature burger is a CB&J. Yes, that's a cheeseburger with jelly! The Bus parks at different set locations Tuesday-Friday and they also come out for special events around town like 1^st Thursday.
5. The Hitching Post II:  Order the Hitching Post's Oak Grilled Burger, available at the restaurant's bar Mondays-Wednesdays only. The burgers are made with meat from their high grade steaks and are so memorable, celebrity chef Cat Cora chose to highlight them in an episode of The Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate." Watch the video clip on The Hitching Post's Facebook page.
6. Jalama Beach Grill:  The Jalama Burger is truly legendary. Getting to the windswept Jalama Beach off Highway 1 requires a drive - albeit a gorgeous one - and the burgers (and views) are well worth the mileage. There's something magical about their secret sauce. You can also get a taste of the Jalama Burger at their sister Café in downtown Lompoc, which opened a few years ago.
7. The Spot:  A no-frills, beachy burger joint in Carpinteria, The Spot has been serving burgers since 1914. They do the classics like burgers, fries and shakes so well, but a full Mexican menu is also available.
8. The Nugget:  This little western-style saloon on Lillie Avenue in Summerland managed to land on President Clinton's radar, not to mention President Reagan's. It's a favorite of local celebs like Rob Lowe, who referenced it as one of his favorite places to eat in our Sip & Savor web video.

Another reason to love burgers? They call for a side of French fries. Ahh, the fried potato, a delight so dear to my heart it deserves its own dedicated blog post.

Culture Beat: From the Stage to State Street

Yesterday the 2^nd annual New Noise Music Festival & Conference opened up in conjunction with our monthly 1^st Thursday night of arts, culture and free interactive fun throughout downtown Santa Barbara. Part of the New Noise line-up, the Pianos on State "collaborative musical experiment" entertained, intrigued and engaged people walking along State Street enjoying the balmy Indian summer night. Pianos are set up along State Street in front of the Arlington Theatre, The Granada Theatre, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, MTD Transit Station, Paseo Nuevo and the India House Bazaar through November 7. They are available for "musical exploration, impromptu expression and planned performances" morning, afternoon and evening. Amateur and professional musicians alike are scheduled to perform and the public is invited to sit down and play during non-scheduled hours. The exhibition is a collaboration between several non-profit arts advocacy groups to promote the 2nd annual Instruments 4 SB Youth drive December 31 during the Santa Barbara "Symphony's New Year's Eve on the Red Carpet" event. All six pianos from Pianos on State will be donated to local non-profit organizations and schools.

New Noise continues tonight with performances by Massive Attack and Thievery Corporation at the Santa Barbara Bowl, in addition to presenting numerous gigs at venues large and small throughout downtown Santa Barbara. The festival concludes Saturday night with Fitz & The Tantrums taking the stage at Velvet Jones and Nico Vega at Whiskey Richards. Tickets and passes are still available.

If you can't make it here this weekend, the performing arts season has only just begun so there will be many more opportunities in coming months to enjoy the sound of music, soak up some culture and take in a show. Check out the Performing Arts League website SBStage.org for current schedules, which showcases everything from theatre and ballet to classical music and rock concerts. Our weekly newspaper, the Santa Barbara Independent, is also an excellent guide to what's on stage.

Santa Barbara is the biggest cultural hub between Los Angeles and San Francisco, which allows us to attract touring artists, musicians and performers from around the world. In addition to visiting artists, our home-grown offerings are incredibly rich for a city of our small size. From the award-winning Ensemble Theatre Company and PCPA Theaterfest to Opera Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara Symphony, we are spoiled with options. Dynamic programming presented year-round by The Granada Theatre, Lobero Theatre and UCSB's Arts & Lectures series, along with Nederlander Concerts, New Noise SB and Club Mercy, attracts patrons from throughout Southern California and the Central Coast. SOhO Restaurant & Music Club also brings in big names, creating uniquely intimate opportunities to see beloved artists and discover up-and-coming talents.