MNF has been a place where many elderly long time Montecito residents went not only to get advice on supplements, but to connect with the community. It's a damn shame. I worked for Jim at the Von's Shopping Center (it will never be the Montecito Country Mart) and he is completely out of touch with the locals.
I agree. Few of the retail replacements in that center, and others in town, have much meaning to the majority of us. It's been trending that way for well over a decade now.
My father was the paint contractor for Montjoie in the 90s. It had fallen into major disrepair and was a sad gray color. The owners were set on painting it all white, but my father convinced them to paint it canary yellow with white trim -- because in his eyes, it resembled the buttery Von Trapp Family estate in the Sound of Music! The family loved it so much they even wallpapered a powder room with edelweiss print!
Oh yeah- those planters really bring a flag pole vibe to the strip mall. Can always count on Eye of the Day for a barrier to reality????️????️
They're for the 250-room hotel at 101 Garden Street (on the west side of Garden, between E. Yanonali Street and the railroad tracks), as described at https://www.sitelinesb.com/the-250-room-funk-zone-hotel-is-taking-shape/.
Hi maybe I missed it but what are all those story poles for on Garden Street right before the railroad tracks starting on Yanonali. Looks like the shipping containers are finally giving way to something….but what?
Love model trains wanting to build an N gauge model of Santa Barbara trolley history hope to see you soon.
Fascinated with SB Trolley works
Alas, it's not.
You may be surprised to learn that the words wharf, pier, dock, quay, etc. are often used interchangeably depending on where one resides in the world, but "a wharf is typically built 'parallel' and adjacent to a shoreline..." whereas "a pier is a projection out to deeper water, typically 'perpendicular' to a shore..." Both are built to allow vessels sufficient draft to dock. The histories of Stearns Wharf, SB harbor and the breakwater are awash with details.
Looks kinda maybe sorta Franceschi Parkish..
Nope....
The Courthouse ?
The owner of Montecito country Mart is not in tune with our local shops or do they care? Little Alex, reading Post, now the Natural foods…… and of course Montecito mercantile goes out of business because they were not connected with locals nor do they understand our demographics.
Often times service charges are calculated on top of the tax rather than just the food purchased making it even worse!
Sadly I think Angela is right.
I think Karl knows, and he’s just not saying…
That's a bit bizarre that Timothy Bottoms would title his novel "The Pier" when it is, in fact, not a pier, but a wharf. SMH
Afraid not!
Gosh, Is it Hotel Mar Monte?
"I'm more of a 'sight-skipper'" My thoughts exactly unless it's uncrowded.
I really like your travel writings as seen through the lens of a local Santa Barbaran; it can make all the difference.
Indeed it is! Thanks
It is now
Great photographs and writing. Thanks for the "overly-touristed" alerts; I've never seen a great place that wasn't made disappointing by virtue of shoulder-to-shoulder tourists (yes, I know I'm occasionally one of them) and is why I/we try to travel to less popular places or at least off-season (if there is such a thing anymore).
I am pretty sure that the photo you're using for Grand Ave is actually the view, not the property.
Someone would do well to tell the landlord Mr. R that Montecito is not Aspen by the sea, nor does it welcome a carbon copy of his luxe mini malls in Brentwood and Marin at the expense of its long established and cherished establishments.
