New Company Offers Helicopter Tours of Santa Barbara
Plus: Lemons washing up on local beaches; 16-passenger bikes are back in the Funk Zone; road to Ojai closed because of a rock slide; Kings of Leon and Rebelution to play the Santa Barbara Bowl; updates on Vuori and RH; an amusing hat from a new brand called Santa Ynez Country Club; another look at the 250-room hotel proposed for Garden Street. 9
A Timeline of Ellen DeGeneres’s and Portia de Rossi’s Local Real Estate Transactions
Since 2006, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi have spent at least $350 million on Montecito/Padaro Lane real estate. On the occasion of their most recent flip—the rebuilt 1919 estate at 319 San Ysidro Road—here's a look at the 21 properties they've held around here over the years. 8
The House That Kitty Litter Built
Noteworthy new listings also include a Carpinteria renovation with the primary bedroom in a separate building; 1990s flashback in the Golden Quadrangle; Alta Mesa in need of updating; pretty makeovers in Montecito, above San Roque, and on the Lower Riviera; West Mesa midcentury architecture; and more. 2
The Biltmore Has Finally Set a Reopening Date
Other recent news: Cruise ship visits could be limited to 20 per year; fallen palm trees at Refugio State Beach; "beer spa" could be opening here; the effort to restart ExxonMobil's oil operations; Goleta wants to reroute pedestrian bridge funds to roundabouts; rehabbing Carpinteria's Alcazar Theatre. 15

























Recent Comments
I graduated from Brooks Institute in 1965, married a lovely native of Montecito and adopted Santa Barbara as my home, not where I was born,… — Max Schnorf
I love Little Mountain and have been three times. The rice is $12 not $17 and it's swimming in butter not oil and everyone whose… — Leslie Westbrook
Le Petit Valentien -- maybe not classic French, but pretty close and great prices and great chef Robert. (and Ethiopian on the weekends!) — Leslie Westbrook
The property has building violations on, and the property was held by a bank that wanted out after foreclosing on the previous owner. — Paul
If Merci chocolate caramels are anything close to their salted chocolate chip cookies...we all will be in heaven ♥️...can't wait to try!!! — Maryanne Brillhart
I tried Little Mountain. Beautiful space and decor. But the menu, portions, and prices are ridiculous even for Montecito. $8 for cold bread (3 small… — Foodie
What I want to know is, why is it that Santa Barbara abounds in Italian places, yet no place really exists for classic French cuisine,… — Drew Hart
Montecito restaurateurs need to learn that not all diners are billionaires and, and that inflated pricing does not work. The successful spots all have a… — Rob
Like the old Paradise Cafe! — Jimmy
Completely Agree. A lawyer opening up a flashy restaurant and expecting the city to compensate him for not knowing what he is doing ? This… — Zeeann