The Santa Barbara area has many news sources that do various things well, but none was exactly what I wanted—just the important news, along with a healthy dose of upscale lifestyle coverage (restaurants, real estate, travel, and so on). So I created Siteline.
Having grown up in Orange County and moved to New York City after college, I never thought I’d return to California. But when my husband, Adam, and I visited Santa Barbara a few years ago, I realized that the area is everything I love about the state, without all the stuff I don’t. At the start of 2019, I sold my hyperlocal website, Tribeca Citizen, and we moved here. (Before Tribeca Citizen, I was a magazine editor: Budget Travel, Fortune, Travel + Leisure, Town & Country.)
There’s no zealot like the recently converted, as the saying goes, and for a while, I’ll undoubtedly have more enthusiasm than expertise. I will get excited about things that you’ve known about for years, and I will make mistakes. Feel free to correct or contradict me; we know more collectively than any of us can on our own. If you have a vested interest in whatever you’re commenting about, however, I insist that you make the connection public.
And editorial and advertising will always be entirely separate.
Please reach out with any questions, concerns, tips, or even compliments. The best way to follow Siteline is by subscribing to the email newsletter. And if you know someone who might be interested in this site, please pass it along.
Erik Torkells
Founder
917-209-6473
[email protected]
















Recent Comments
Interesting. Where are those two things different? — Instant Alligator
Sounds to me like we have a problem with the voters. How do you solve that? From what I understand, the largest voting group are… — Instant Alligator
Good! — Roger
Chinese Lantern Tree is so invasive and messy, its a bad street tree. Certainly be a beautiful tree in the landscaping, but it has its… — TINA
My parents cut down their Chinese Lantern tree over 30 years ago, and I still marvel at all the shoots the old root system still… — Heidi
Well- why not give the Chumash the Channel and let them operate Sable? Bring out the money making machines! I’m positive they would find a… — Christine!
Right, I was excited about that. — Vic
The grocery store "compostable" bags are awful and take a very long time to actually degrade. Suggestions: 1. Take your own bags to the Farmer's… — Pat
No and no.... — Erik Torkells
FOLLY is one of the most adorable shops in Santa Barbara and the owner Alyssa is darling! A fantastic place for gifts! — C