••• From the Montecito Association: “Law enforcement has confirmed renewed activity by organized burglary groups, often referred to as South American Theft Gangs. These groups are known for sophisticated surveillance tactics, and there are recent reports of small, hidden cameras being discovered in yards and landscaping, believed to be used to monitor household patterns prior to a burglary. […] If you see something: do not touch suspicious devices—contact the Sheriff’s Office immediately (805) 568-3388.”
••• Salon Providence has soft-opened at The Post, and it’s looking rather sharp. Founder Lindsay Eckart says it’s “the county’s first ‘beauty community hub’—come for the service, stay to co-work, connect, and linger.” The online booking system is still being set up; in the meantime, can call/text 805-722-2709 to make an appointment.
••• Scenery Florals, which has a flower cart at The Post, leased a space at 224 Anacapa Street in the Funk Zone for a workspace/showroom where it’ll host workshops and pop-ups.
••• 19 Blue Salon on W. Ortega Street is indeed closing today.
••• You might want to avoid Highway 154 for the next few days: “Travelers will encounter the intermittent closure of both directions of State Route 154 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning Tuesday, January 27. Work on Friday, January 30 will conclude at 1 p.m. The location of the flagging control will be between Painted Cave Road and Camino Cielo Road. […] Travelers can expect 10-minute delays or up to 30-minute delays during intermittent rock scaling. […] The project is expected to be complete by February 2026.”
••• I don’t follow contemporary music anymore, with one exception: Lord Huron. I loved the band’s 2021 album, Long Lost, and the more recent The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1 is also very, very good. So I was thrilled to learn the group returns to the Santa Barbara Bowl on June 2. Also announced: Tedeschi Trucks Band on August 13.
••• Palma Colectiva has found a new home: “The recently opened Ortegaspace is Palma’s most recent studio, a conscious community event space located at 26 E. Ortega and offering an array of mindful gatherings of movement, sound baths, cacao ceremonies, tea rituals, song circles and private rentals.”
••• Opening January 30 at Sullivan Goss: A Radiant Solitude, landscape paintings by Phoebe Brunner. Below: “The Unquenchable Flame.”
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South American Theft Groups (SATGs), also called “crime tourists,” are transnational criminal networks, often from Chile or Colombia, known for sophisticated, high-end burglaries targeting wealthy homes, athletes, and businesses across the U.S. by posing as tourists, using fake IDs, burner phones, surveillance, and methods like Wi-Fi jammers, stealing jewelry, cash, and designer goods, and operating with high levels of organization, leading to federal investigations by the FBI and ICE
THANKS FOR THE ICE ENDORSEMENT ERIK!