Westside Park to Close for Three-Month Renovation

Plus: Fashionable pop-ups at the Montecito Country Mart; Rancho San Carlos's astonishingly low property tax; Mollusk surfboard swap; county sheriff officer goes viral; film recommendations from the SBIFF.

This Midcentury Montecito Masterpiece Is Available for the First Time in 50 Years

Designed by renowned architect Lutah Maria Riggs, the 1958 Erdman House is on four knoll-top acres in prime Montecito—and Riggs's use of shakkei, as the Japanese call "borrowed scenery," is evident in almost every room.

Partying in Isla Vista Continues Unabated

Other recent news: Santa Barbara school district mulls return to in-person classes; downtown developer says he'll pull the plug on a project (sparing the Press Room); design changes possible for State Street Promenade; rumored buyer of 237-acre Rancho San Carlos; people are shooting wildlife with pellet guns; Cottage Health is allowing limited hospital visitors again; Eco Friendly Cleaners profile; a big tree on Anapamu fell over; the tree of the month; school-board candidate Jackie Reid.

Newsletter: October 13

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Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi Want $39.9 Million for Their Montecito Compound

They enlarged the property by an acre and replaced the rustic Balinese theme with something much cooler and more contemporary.

The Biggest Real Estate Deal in Montecito History Just Happened

Rancho San Carlos, the historic 237-acre property on East Valley Road, traded for $63.25 million. And as if that wasn't enough, another property went for $49 million.

Low Pigeon Confirmed Its Plan to Open a Restaurant

More food news: Sneak peek inside the Aperitivo wine bar; Intermezzo has reopened with a new menu; Telegraph Brewing Company sure looks closed; profiles of Uncorked and Frinj Coffee; Secret Bao's udon carbonara. 1

Montecito Mansion Flipped for $29 Million

Areas beyond Montecito—including the Riviera and Yankee Farm—now appear to have caught fire. The week's notable sales also include a New Age compound above Summerland, a midcentury spec renovation, a stylish downtown duplex, and more.

Newsletter: October 11

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.

Hiking Trails Have Reopened in Los Padres National Forest

Plus: Ace Rivington's store is moving; Seda Custom Skincare is opening a second location; Aman-inspired house also available as a rental; Lotusland's plant auction is online for the first time; plastic-bag recycling bin reappears at Vons; an attempt to address Highway 101 congestion in Pismo Beach.