Why Is Everyone Going to Portugal?

Beyond tiled buildings and tinned fish, you'll find cities rich with patina, castles on every other hilltop, an extraordinarily beautiful wine region, and one of the most stunning walks I've ever taken. 8

An Intriguing Rumor About the Former Cava Space

More food news: Mangione's Italian Ice Co. is open; See's Candies is working on a Goleta shop; the Red Pepper outpost on De La Vina appears to be off; a profile of Hungry Planet, one of whose founders lives here; don't forget about the Dart Coffee garden. 1

QAD Is Looking to Sell Its Spectacular Campus

Other recent news: Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden bought in Ennisbrook; the Ritz-Carlton Bacara was sold; pelicans are experiencing a mysterious health problem; Amtrak passengers will be allowed to take pets on the Pacific Surfliner; De La Vina buildings to be seized by eminent domain; Milpas Street apartment complex grows to 82 units; Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker got married here.

Newsletter: May 18

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A Pair of Big Sales on Shepard Mesa

Last week's sales also include successful flips in the Upper East and Ennisbrook; Montecito Tuscan for just under $13 million; the house across from the Cold Spring trailhead; and more.

The CircaTerra Travel Store Is Closing at the End of June

Plus: One of the Sheffield Drive onramps is expected to reopen a month early; local interior designer John De Bastiani's new collection of outdoor fabric; a visit to StretchLab in Montecito; striking contemporary house proposed for Cliff Drive.

Fairview Gardens Has Closed for a “Major Redesign”

More food news: The Kitchen restaurant incubator appears to be off; downtown McDonald's to close in July; special Julia Child–inspired dishes on many menus this week; Provençal dinner by Two Baking Brits at the Daisy; Alma Fonda Fina appears to have hit a snag; Priedite Barbecue is smoking chicken; Hawaiian hot dogs at Hustle & Grind; Ventura's Model Citizen launches Sunday brunch today. 6

Newsletter: May 15

The Siteline newsletter is the best way to follow the website. To subscribe, click the link at the bottom of this post. And you can unsubscribe at any time.

Open Today: Turnkey Riviera Midcentury on 1.9 Acres

There are many beautiful houses in Santa Barbara, but there aren't a lot of cool ones—and 2010 Las Tunas Road has coolness in spades. While the architecture is classic, evoking Santa Barbara the way it used to be, everything else is new.

1980s Ennisbrook Ready for Reinvention

Noteworthy new listings also include a couple of biggies in Hope Ranch; Riven Rock with a lovely pool area; flip attempts on Marina Drive and Picacho Lane; "Endless Summer" filmmaker Bruce Brown’s 42-acre coastal ranch; Riviera fixer; an ode to white; recent renovation in Summerland; the 1920 bungalow next to Jeff Shelton's Vera Cruz house; and more.