Here are the most-read posts of 2025, along with some comments and updates.
1. Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi Have Sold Pompeiian Court for a Second Time
Maybe they’ll buy it again!
2. Adam Levine Sold His Picacho Lane Mansion for $57.25 Million
He and wife Behati Prinsloo decamped to the Hedgerow.
3. Meg Ryan Sells Picacho Lane House for $5.7 Million Off the Initial Asking Price
The property (857 Picacho Lane) came back on the market two and a half months later as a floops—priced for $5.1 million more than it had sold for.
4. The Ellwood Is Finally Set to Open at Goleta Beach Park
And so it did.
5. The Two Sides of Florence
A travelogue about an Italian city that other people like more than I did.
6. A World-Renowned Health Retreat Is Opening Outside Santa Barbara
It’s at 3940 Paradise Road, off Highway 154 behind the Santa Barbara foothills, and it’s related to the famous Mountain Trek Health Reset Retreat in British Columbia. Expect an update soon.
7. A New Family-Friendly Pool Hall Is Opening Downtown
The Rack took over the Don Q Family Billiard Center on Chapala Street.
8. First Impressions of Montecito’s Four New Restaurants
Clark’s Oyster Bar, Lion’s Tale, RH Firehouse Grill, and Bar Lou (which didn’t survive and will be the site of something new). I’m torn about whether to review restaurants. On one hand, people like to read them, and no one else is doing it. On the other hand, opening a restaurant is hard enough, and does it really matter if I like RH or wherever less than you do?
9. Sleeping in Style at Ojai’s New Hotel El Roblar
It makes a great little getaway.
10. Classic Montecito Estate Sells for Nearly Half Off the Initial Asking Price
That would be Los Sueños, the 1929 estate designed by George Washington Smith at 2925 Sycamore Canyon Road. I thought it a steal.
11. The 32 Restaurants Expected to Open in Coming Months
Up till now, I’ve run annual roundups in January and July (like this one) of all the forthcoming restaurants and bars. Sorry to break it to you this way, but I’ve decided to skip them in 2026 (but I’ll still be writing about new restaurants all the time in normal posts).
12. Fashion Designer Sells Montecito Villa for $13 Million
Anine Bing and her husband, Nicolai Nielsen, sold 799 Lilac Drive.
13. The Most Magical City in the World
“Venice is touristy and not very ‘real,’ but I loved it anyway. Fundamentally unique, the city belongs in a fantasy novel; it shouldn’t exist, and of course, someday it probably won’t.”
14. Carpinteria Is Getting Another New Restaurant
A branch of Ojai Rôtie is coming to Carpinteria Avenue. It’s shooting for the spring.
15. The 31 Restaurants Expected to Open in Coming Months
The January edition. (See #11.)
16. The Biltmore’s Reopening Has Been Pushed Back
And a couple of months later, the Biltmore was pushed back again. Current word is that it’s aiming for the summer 2026 season.
17. The Ritz-Carlton Bacara’s Flagship Restaurant Has Closed
Angel Oak was replaced by Marisella.
18. First Look at Linden Square, Now Open in Carpinteria
Have you been yet? Why not?
19. First Look Inside Gracie, the New Restaurant at the Harbor
Have you been yet? Why not?
20. Popular L.A. Burger Joint to Open Here
The Win-Dow took over the former Romanti-Ezer space on Chapala Street.
21. A Five-Block Adventure in Downtown Ventura
Predictably, some Venturans were not amused.
22. Two More New Additions to the Santa Barbara Public Market
And Seoulmate Kitchen and Fresco at the Market were joined by a third newcomer [see #24].
23. King Kong Comes to Montecito
Proof that a headline can be both a little clickbait-y and accurate.
24. Opening Date for Que at the Santa Barbara Public Market
Que is a barbecue stall from the folks behind Whiskey ‘N Rye in Solvang.
25. A Restaurant for People Who Love Restaurants
I adore Little Mountain, which opened in Montecito’s Upper Village. Some of my favorites: the Costa de Oro cocktail, the market greens, the patatas bravas (below), the lobster salad, the pork loin with apples, the bay leaf flan with fennel caramel….
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Please keep doing your restaurant reviews! I suppose you could just not cover the bad experiences, so it becomes more about highlighting great places to eat locally than “reviewing” per se.
I agree Rich. I’ve found out about so many great dishes at restaurants that Erik has highlighted. If you don’t enjoy a restaurant, just don’t review it. Little Mountain and Tamar are my new faves thanks to hearing about them on this site.
Number 1 story is Ellen and her wifie dumping the US because of TDS? HAHAHAHAHA! Please post the current Ellen photo of her 3 stooges Moe cut- I dare you!
And the winner this year in the category of “Commenter who can turn any Siteline post into a right-wing talking point” goes to…. Christine!
And I would also like to personally thank Christine! for her excellent investment advice – please see her comment posted 3/2/2025 when she confidently claimed “Now is the time to invest in Sable stock!” (Sable Oil is down 69% since that date thru yesterday).
YOU LOVE ME DOUGIE! YOU REALLY LOVE ME!
My advice on Sable is great advice- DO IT!
No room for right wing homophobes on this lovely site. Back to Bakersfield you go Christine
Hey – there is room for everyone here, even finger pointers like you Zaren- cheers to a healthy 2026!
Yo Dougie- today Sable SOC is at $12.08!!!!! Can you believe the luck that the Federal Gov’t NOW HAS AUTHORITY over Sable opening the pipeline! HALLELUJAH DOUGIE!
One cannot outrun the stench of their roots, nor their lack of class derived from generations of misery, failure and regret. That’s why you serve us and it’s why we use you to do our bidding.
Happy New Year Sami! I envision you slurping a giant, spicy Chik fil A today!
I didnt see anything in the article about leaving the US.
They seem to be very successful investors driving significant economic benefit to the community.