Santa Barbara Dining and Destinations

08/06/2024

07/16/2024

Kind Fest is this Friday (7/19)! 🎉💃

Kind Fest is a brand-new family festival celebrating the importance of being kind to people, animals, and our planet. Join the Zoo and community partners on Friday, July 19 from 4 to 8 PM for a variety of activities designed to reflect an ongoing commitment to inclusion and kindness in our society.

Your ticket includes access to bounce houses, face painting, music, games, climbing wall, and animal encounters. Additional fee applies to additional attractions such as the Zoo Train and giraffe feeding. Special food and beverage items will also be available for purchase.

During this after-hours event, most of the animals settle down for bedtime and will not be visible to the public.
For tickets and more info, see the link in bio!

Alt-text: Pictures of play around the Zoo! In the first, Zoo kids slide down the Ant Hill on cardboard sleds. Next, we see a child looking at animal artifacts including a tarantula and various animal skulls. Finally, we see guests jumping down a bounce house slide.

11/13/2023

🌮 Have you tried the delectable street eats from , the newest to an all-star line-up of restaurants from the Luna family? The family also has Santo Mezcal and Flor de Maiz downtown, plus five Los Agaves area locations. The food served is intended to “transport guests to the streets of Mexico, where the flavors are bold, the spices are fiery and the tacos are always fresh,” says Luna. “Taqueria La Unica is a celebration of the vibrant culture we grew up with and traditions that inspire our authentic Mexican cuisine.”

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10/12/2023

🍴One of the best parts of our job is collaborating with Chef every issue! She always creates the most delicious and doable dishes for our readers. Here’s Chef Ayda’s take on a simple, savory winter squash galette. Pair it with a dark rosé or chilled light red wine, add an arugula salad for a light lunch or enjoy it as a starter. You’ll find the full recipe on page 92 of the new fall/winter issue or head to the link in our bio for the digital edition. Bon appetite!🍴
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08/12/2023

🍔 Raise the burger bar . 🍔

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07/20/2023

Attention foodies and flower lovers! 🌺 is hosting an event collaboration on August 11 featuring baker, botanist, artist and author of “Eat Your Flowers” . Loria is an LA native, was recently featured on Shark Tank, and will be hosting a hands-on event alongside a local Carpinteria-based wildflower grower, . Tickets for the event are extremely limited and ON SALE NOW! To learn more and register, click the link in the bio!

06/20/2023

“People ask: Why should I care about the ocean? Because the ocean is the cornerstone of Earth's life support system, it shapes climate and weather. It holds most of life on earth. 97% of the Earth's water is there. It's the blue heart of the planet — we should take care of our heart. It's what makes life possible for us.” 💙🌊🌎 - Dr. Sylvia Earle

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Santa Barbara County is blessed with 110 miles of pristine coastline and we are fortunate to have organizations like to help keep it clean.
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06/05/2023

Here’s a suggestion for something different to do, especially on a ☁️ day. Check out —the ultimate place to nurture your creative spirit and learn something new. With an entirely refreshing concept for entertainment and socializing built around making things and meeting people, this unique gathering space hits the sweet spot for those seeking a departure from traditional food and drink-centric mingling. Located in historic La Arcada Plaza in Downtown Santa Barbara, this co-working, community-focused space hosts classes and workshops, including basic sewing, glass etching, macrame and other modern craft projects. The Crafter's Library also boasts a burgeoning retail section featuring giftable goods made on-site by local artisans, members and staff. You'll also find an excellent selection of yarn, craft books and kits, puzzles, quilting supplies, journals and other maker-inspired merchandise.
A range of membership options designed to meet the needs of both locals and visitors allow guests access to some of the newest and most sophisticated craft machinery available. And, of course, friendly, knowledgeable, and talented team members assist and instruct users on operating the cutting-edge technology. Come for the fun and community; leave with a new skill, a hand-crafted treasure and perhaps another friend.
Grab a copy of the current issue or follow the link in our bio to see what owner and consummate crafter Andrew Rawls (pictured here with shop dog Achilles) has to say about how The Crafter's Library has evolved since opening, current happenings and what's in store for the future.
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05/26/2023

Here's a holiday weekend dining tip! sets the bar for one of the best deals in town, as their spirited beverages range from just $9 to $13, craft beers are about $7, and no glass of wine costs more than $12! This standard bearer is also known for great easy-to-love eats—burgers, sandwiches, salads and flatbreads—perfect for a quick pre- or post-event bite in the heart of Santa Barbara’s entertainment and arts district. Cheers to that and happy Memorial Day weekend!
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05/10/2023

If feels a bit like home, it might be because three generations of the Comin family are involved, including Giovanni “Lucky” Comin, the patriarch of the family, which traces its roots to a small town in the Veneto region of Italy. Pictured here serving up Lemon Drop perfection is Lucky's granddaughter Vittoria, the restaurant's namesake and manager.
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You know what they say about dining when traveling: “Dine where the locals do.” This restaurant—and especially the bar—is loaded with people who know each other and the staff.
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Cocktails, wine (from Italy and California) and beer are reasonably priced. Drinks are, as the website says, “stiff.”The $13 La Mozza Sangiovese from Tuscany is as food friendly as it gets. And now they’re open for lunch from 11:30-2.
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The menu is filled with favorites, such as bruschetta and bresaola for appetizers, pastas ranging from linguine with clams to spaghetti aglio e olio to the “homemade” selections that incorporate house-made noodles in lasagna, ravioli with prime rib in a pink cream sauce, and tagliatelle with mushrooms in a cream sauce, and entrées like veal scallopini and seafood soup.
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What’s the most famous Italian dessert? Tiramisú, of course, and their version is gooey good, just as it should be. There are also plenty of after-dinner drinks, grappas, Cognacs and rare Scotches available as accompaniments.
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30 E. Victoria Street • 805.962.5014 • trattoriavittoria.com

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05/03/2023

Just another day in paradise, courtesy of .

04/26/2023

Here's an ooh,la, la look we love from our Spring/Summer Sartorial Symphony 🎶 fashion shoot at the gorgeous Music Academy.
Cool vintage denim from .
Sporty striped tee, sunglasses and earrings from .shopkeepers.
Elegant rings, bracelet and necklace from .
Chic neck scarf from .
Classic leather belt from .sb.
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PC: . Styled by: & .
Model: with .
Hair: and Makeup: .by.cynthia for .
Location: .