The SB Post

Shop Shop Shop

Shopping is one of my favorite pastimes. It might seem shallow, but I really don't think I'll ever tire of it. I love the thrill of the hunt and the satisfaction of scoring an amazing find on sale. Shopping is one of the top activities travelers from all over the world engage in while on vacation so I know I'm not alone when it comes to this particular passion. See, shopping has some depth -- it's a shared human experience, plus it supports the local economy wherever you're spending!

All silliness and rationalization aside, I bring up shopping because this weekend is Shop Spree SB. The two-day shopping festival in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara will take place Friday, March 11-Saturday, March 12, 11am-9pm each day. Click here to read the line-up of 50+ participating businesses, including all varieties of clothing boutiques, home interior stores, art galleries, surf & skate shops, day spas and more. In addition to in-store deals and perks, entertainment and special events will enhance the overall retail experience giving those crazy non-shoppers out there plenty of diversions. One super special event of note will take place Saturday afternoon at Paseo Nuevo. We can't disclose what this will be (top secret!) but it's worth hovering around that area to find out!

Now, back to shopping. I've done my fair share of traveling and I think that Santa Barbara has a pretty stellar selection of shops for a wee town of 90,000. Women's clothing is my area of expertise/addiction when it comes to shopping, so I'd like to take this opportunity to share some of my favorite retail haunts with my fellow shoppers out there. DIANI is hands-down my top go-to boutique. Aside from the divine selection of clothes they carry (think lines like Elizabeth & James, Isabel Marant, Vanessa Bruno, Inhabit, Goldsign), the shop itself is a delight to browse through with its beach-y, tranquil atmosphere and quality mix of music on shuffle. And the staff couldn't be nicer or more helpful -- they'll tell you if something is ill-fitting or just doesn't suit you. It's on the higher end but the selection is diverse enough to make it accessible for a range of budgets and their sale racks are bountiful. I've scored a few fabulous Hanii Y pieces at 80% off their original price. Talk about thrilling!

Some other independent boutiques that carry interesting lines and have a uniquely Santa Barbara flavor include the Wendy Foster stores. Wendy Foster is a Santa Barbara icon (her husband is Pierre Lafond, who started Santa Barbara Winery) and she has built a mini-empire of women's clothing boutiques. They each have their own feel -- the downtown Wendy Foster is my favorite for the lines they carry (Frye, J. Brand, Joie) and the vibe of the store. The Wendy Foster in Montecito's upper village is much more upscale, Pierre Lafond Sportswear is casual as the name implies and Upstairs (literally up the stairs from those two) is one of my favorite places to shop for gifts with its delightful mix of notecards and paper goods, table wares and home accents. Located on Coast Village Road, Angel is the fifth store in the line-up and is similar to the State Street boutique.

Susan Pitcher is another dynamic fashion maven in town with her two Montecito boutiques, dressed and ready. I'd venture to say she's curated the most daring, fashion-forward line-up. dressed is the more "dressy," high fashion of the two (Balenciaga, Stella McCartney, The Row), while ready is more accessible (3.1 Philip Lim, Twenty8Twelve, Haunt Hippie).  They are neighboring shops so you must visit both if you're in the 'hood!

Back in downtown Santa Barbara, a few other indies deserve a look: K. Frank, The Supply Room at Presidio Motel and Bryan Lee.

I know chain stores can be found everywhere but it's all about the sales and the filter of local buyers. I'm a devoted Anthropologie gal, and I also frequent Nordstrom. I was very excited to learn that the Savvy department (2^nd floor) at our Nordstrom recently incorporated via C offerings, adding brands like T by Alexander Wang, Milly and Rag & Bone to the mix. A much needed improvement to what was often a rather bland, hit-or-miss selection! Of course, Nordstrom's shoe department can do no wrong. Saks Fifth Avenue is another department store worth perusing. In my opinion, it's an under-shopped store which translates to excellent sale selections. I've walked out of there with Tory Burch, tibi and Milly dresses for under $50! Be warned, they close early (6pm every night but Friday, when they close at 7pm).

Consignment and vintage are not for everyone but they certainly are for me! I found a dreamy vintage 1970's cream mink and leather coat at Renaissance Fine Consignments, and The Rack at the Music Academy of the West has even more fabulous vintage furs and gently worn designer clothes. The Closet is the best consignment shop in SB (brand new Rich & Skinny jeans with the Nordstrom tags still on for $30!). Lola Boutique is a new consignment shop I haven't been to yet but is on my to-shop list!

Happy hunting, my fellow shopaholics and clotheshorses!

Introducing the NEW Sip & Savor Mobile App

Santa Barbara is stocked with enough epicurean delights to please any palate, and visitors as well as locals are continually challenged to stay abreast of this town's dynamic and constantly evolving dining scene. To better equip everyone to uncover foodie finds, we're proud to announce the NEW Sip & Savor Mobile App, a free on-the-go resource for dining, wine, events and more in the Santa Barbara area.

Easy-to-navigate listings provide up-to-date information on restaurants, wineries, accommodations, things to do, specialty food shops, nightlife and more. The deals section highlights money-saving offers at locations throughout Santa Barbara. And, the events category tells you what's happening around town.

The Sip & Savor Mobile App is available for FREE in the Android Market and App Store and operates on Android and Apple devices including iPhone, iPod, iPod Touch and iPad.

 

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!