Bangkok in Buellton
Southern California has no shortage of great Southeast Asian cuisine, but NA NA THAI, a new kitchen in Buellton, is in the running for best Thai food in the entire state.
The colorful bar that anchors Na Na Thai
Written by Caitlin White | Photography by Sparks, Talia Helvey (portrait)
Southern California has no shortage of great Southeast Asian cuisine, but NA NA THAI, a new kitchen in Buellton, is in the running for best Thai food in the entire state. Nik and Ashley Ramirez spent four years living and working in Bangkok before landing in Buellton. Working in and commuting to Santa Barbara eventually became untenable, but linking up with Greg and Daisy Ryan of Companion Hospitality led first to a weekly pop-up at Bar Le Côte and, eventually, a full-fledged, neon-hued Thai kitchen in a sleepy local strip mall.
Well, it’s sleepy no more. About an hour into service on a recent Saturday night, the entire dining room was packed, as plates of gai tod and nam jim jaew (fried chicken with chili dipping sauce), larb moo and kao (minced pork salad and sticky rice), and tom kha gai (chicken and coconut soup) began to fill the tables. Go big with pla tod, a whole fried fish with fried garlic or three-flavor sauce. Finish with gluay tod kao mao, banana fritters with coconut ice cream. No reservations, so go while a walk-in slot still comes with a manageable wait time. 225 McMurray Rd., Unit E, Buellton, nanathaisyv.com
See the story in our digital edition
The Lark Ascending
A decade ago the Funk Zone was an emerging neighborhood in Santa Barbara, and THE LARK was a newcomer in the area.
Written by Caitlin White | Photography by Ali Beck
A decade ago the Funk Zone was an emerging neighborhood in Santa Barbara, and THE LARK was a newcomer in the area. Ten years later, Jason Paluska’s Michelin-recognized menu is still going strong in both its daytime and nighttime iterations—the brunch game is just about as memorable as the epicurean dinner on the patio. As the first fine-dining restaurant in the Funk Zone—and the flagship kitchen of Acme Hospitality, which has since expanded to encompass several other food and beverage concepts—The Lark is an anchor, a local haunt, and a bucket-list stop for Santa Barbara visitors.
To celebrate both the longevity and the consistency of this neighborhood kitchen, Paluska and his crew welcomed Los Angeles culinary legend Nancy Silverton (Osteria Mozza, Chi Spacca) and restaurateur and wine director Caroline Styne (A.O.C., Caldo Verde) to collaborate on a benefit anniversary dinner. The gala event began with a wine reception and hors d’oeuvres hosted by the Santa Barbara Wine Collective, before guests moved into a seated dinner in the Pullman Room featuring collaborative dishes from Paluska and Silverton, and wine pairings by Styne. In honor of the occasion, The Lark made a generous donation to the James Beard Foundation. 131 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, 805-284-0370, thelarksb.com
See the story in our digital edition
Living in Ken’s World
SBIFF salutes award-winning actor Ryan Gosling
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 13: Ryan Gosling attends Santa Barbara International Film Festival's Kirk Douglas Award Honoring Ryan Gosling at The Ritz Carlton Bacara on January 13, 2024 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for Santa Barbara International Film Festival)
SBIFF salutes award-winning actor Ryan Gosling
Words by Josef Woodard | Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for Santa Barbara International Film Festival
As Ryan Gosling was lavishly toasted in the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s annual Kirk Douglas Award black tie gala and dinner at the Bacara Resort, his range as an actor was duly praised. The sold-out ballroom was treated to homages and clips from his work so far, from his romcom charm in La La Land and Crazy Stupid Love to the cool grit of Half Nelson, The Place Beyond the Pines, and Drive.
Diversity aside, however, Gosling’s current status is mainly the result of one big-screen moment in 2023: He was Ken.
Gosling’s nuanced and loopy comic performance as Ken in the Greta Gerwig–directed summer blockbuster Barbie brought new accolades to the already respected actor. At the Bacara, Roger Durling, longstanding executive director of SBIFF, introduced the iridescently dressed Gerwig to the stage, saying, “Thanks for unleashing the Ken-ergy. Ryan is pitch-perfect in Barbie.” During her introduction, Gerwig praised the actor. “I had written the part for Ryan,” she said, “and there would be no Barbie if he hadn’t come to be our Ken.”
She also drew a parallel between the screen work of Douglas and Gosling. “My theory about Kirk Douglas and Ryan is that they both commit in such a way to characters in all their beauty and their ugliness, because they are actors and people who believe that redemption is possible.”
The Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film, linked to the late actor and longtime Santa Barbara resident, is a pre-festival part of SBIFF’s programming puzzle as a fundraiser for its robust educational program. Past Bacara-bound recipients include Michelle Yeoh, Martin Scorsese, Hugh Jackman, Quentin Tarantino, and Robert DeNiro.
In an earlier speech, Steve Carrell, who worked with Gosling in Crazy Stupid Love, noted the actor’s kind nature and positive attributes and wryly added, “Why do I hate him? Some people find him moderately handsome. I’m not one of them.” Eventually Carrell admitted Gosling “is smart and intuitive and funny. He’s a joy to be around, and most of all — and this is a big one for me — he’s kind. Santa Barbara, you actually got this one very right.”
In his acceptance speech, Gosling, donning a dark suit and tousled hair, said, “If I knew that Steve and Greta were going to be this great… I would have suggested I open and they close.” Honoring the award’s namesake, he noted that Douglas “is completely and utterly in a class of his own… and I’m just Ken.” After a speech steeped in tales from his cinema-loving upbringing in Canada and his mother’s guidance, Gosling asserted, “There is no way I have contributed half as much to cinema as cinema has given to me.”
Cinema again fully descends on Santa Barbara as SBIFF’s 37th annual festival runs February 7 to 17, in the warm-up zone for the Oscars.
View the Winter issue
Mammoth Mood
When California gets a rare dose of winter chill, a trip up to Mammoth to embrace the ice and snow is just the ticket
Our must-dos at a favorite winter destination
Written by Caitlin White
When California gets a rare dose of winter chill, a trip up to Mammoth to embrace the ice and snow is just the ticket. Alpine cuisine, high-end Italian, and a wine bar with a roaring fireplace are on offer for noshing, and a stay at a charming, historic lodge on the banks of the panoramic Twin Lakes is ideal.
Skadi
This converted ski lodge, which auspiciously opened on the winter solstice back in 1995 but moved to a new location in 2015, is named for the Norse goddess of hunting and skiing. Chef Ian Algerøen is of Norwegian heritage, and Skadi’s alpine cuisine imbues both his Norse culture and time spent cooking in the Swiss Alps into classic French preparations. Offerings include carnivore-leaning items like deer heart, grilled venison sausage, and duck breast with lingonberries, but vegetarian menus are available upon request. No large parties or children; reservations required. The fine wine, port, sake, sherry, and beer are not to be missed, especially while warming up after a day in the snow. skadirestaurant.com
Vulcania
Foodie royalty Michael and Bryan Voltaggia, aka The Voltaggia Brothers, caused quite a stir in the small-but-mighty fine-dining scene on the mountain when they opened their lauded Italian-American kitchen in early 2023. Michael boasts a Michelin star and Bryan has garnered James Beard recognition, so expect nothing but excellence from their exquisite pastas — like their version of SpaghettiOs, dubbed Voltaggi-o’s, with O-shaped anellini pasta, tomato gravy, and one huge meatball. The turkey tetrazzini served with brown butter mushroom gravy and gnocchetti is another standout on a packed menu. vulcaniamammoth.com
Petra’s
The wine bar every ski town deserves, Petra’s is tucked inside Alpenhof Lodge directly across from the Village Gondola. For more than two decades this cozy, rustic bistro has offered up an accessible, substantial wine list; strong, seasonal cocktails; and an impressive array of après-ski snacks, like clams with garlic confit and grilled octopus. petrasbistro.com
Tamarack Lodge
If you’re looking for a place to stay, this lakeside resort is a local favorite with a bevy of amenities for visitors, like cross-country skiing, pool access, and bike and paddle rentals during the summer. Wood-paneled rooms with shared bathrooms are available on the cheap or two- and three-bedroom cabins can sleep up to nine, with California craftsman finishing touches, like modern kitchens, gas fireplaces, and large decks. tamaracklodge.com
Le Ski
The whimsical winter brainchild from genius marketeer Raan Mello
Look for locals layering this (not a surf) brand’s signature slope style in and out of the fresh powder. Herewith, our Mammoth weekend must-haves:
Le Surf founder Raan Mello mixes his high/low casual California-based brand.
Shop at lesurf.club and locally at Mate Gallery, Montecito Country Mart.
View the Winter issue
Creative Collab
Collaboration between creatives can result in magic; the artistic result almost always exceeds the sum of its parts.
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter
Collaboration between creatives can result in magic; the artistic result almost always exceeds the sum of its parts. Now two of Santa Barbara’s most popular arts institutions, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA) and the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara (MCASB), are joining forces to present Janna Ireland: True Story Index, a midcareer survey of the artist’s work on view at both locations February 11 through May 12, 2024.
Based in Los Angeles, Ireland is an assistant professor in Occidental College’s Department of Art and Art History. She is known for her photographs featuring themes of family, home, and Black identity in American culture. Regarding Paul Williams: A Photographer’s View, her acclaimed photographic monograph of buildings designed by legendary Black architect Paul Williams, was published in 2020. Ireland’s work resides in museum collections nationwide, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and SBMA.
The exhibition is co-curated by Charlie Wylie, SBMA Curator of Photography and New Media, and MCASB’s Frederick Janka. sbma.net, mcasantabarbara.org
See the story in our digital edition
Red Carpet Style
Leanna Drammer spent much of her career in the celebrity fashion world, creating red-carpet and runway events in Los Angeles and New York.
Written by Jennifer Blaise Kramer | Photographty by Danielle Honea
Leanna Drammer spent much of her career in the celebrity fashion world, creating red-carpet and runway events in Los Angeles and New York. “I had every job in fashion known to man,” she says, having produced shows for houses including Chanel, Ferragamo, Hermès, and Michael Kors. But the burnout became real, as did the pull to return to her native Santa Ynez Valley. “Last year I did 17 fashion shows in four days, and I told my husband, ‘I quit,’” Drammer says. With the Auberge resort opening up in Los Olivos, she acted fast and nabbed a prime retail spot to debut LOU LOS OLIVOS. “We have so much relaxed casual here, there was a need for elevated fashion,” she says. LOU is stocked with ba&sh, A.L.C., Le Superbe, and Louis Verdad, along with handbags, fragrance, and jewelry. It’s Drammer’s first boutique, and she hopes it’s her last. “I want to be here for the rest of my life,” she says. While she’ll still make quick trips to New York and Paris, she adds, “I want to be going to the shows, not producing them.” 2938 San Marcos Ave., Unit 103, Los Olivos, 805-693-2913, loulosolivos.com
See the story in our digital edition
Smart Art
For lovers of art and architecture, UC SANTA BARBARA’S ART, DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE MUSEUM is a mandatory destination.
Katherine Dunham, 1936, photographer unknown, Jerome Robbins Dance Division, NYPL for the Performing Arts
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter
For lovers of art and architecture, UC SANTA BARBARA’S ART, DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE MUSEUM is a mandatory destination. Helmed by director Gabriel Ritter, the museum offers ambitious exhibitions that provide deep dives into work by architects and artists. From Within: The Architecture of Helena Arahuete (curated by Silvia Perea and on view through December 17) is an in-depth survey and first retrospective of the work of Helena Arahuete, whose long career includes a 23-year tenure with renowned architect John Lautner before establishing her own firm. Please, Come In ... (curated by Sylvia Faichney and Graham Feyl and also on exhibit through December 17), critically examines museum period rooms through four iconic environments (discotheque, dive bar, living room, bathroom) filled with disparate objects and artworks that document and reference queer methods of assigning meaning to those spaces. Border Crossings: Exile and American Modern Dance, 1900–1955 focuses on how modern dance was shaped by war, exile, inequality, and injustice, while challenging previous histories of performance art. (Curated by Ninotchka Bennahum and Rena Heinrich, the exhibit is on view January 25 through May 5.) A Box of One’s Own: Women Beyond Borders showcases a 1991 project entitled “Women Beyond Borders,” which invited women around the world to transform a small wooden box into an art piece. More than 900 people across 50 countries ultimately participated in the project. (Letícia Cobra Lima curated the show, which is on view January 25 through May 5.) 552 University Rd., Santa Barbara, 805-893-2951, museum.ucsb.edu
See the story in our digital edition
Well-Being
During lockdown, when anxiety was spiking because of isolation, Talina Hermann was reaching out on Instagram, calming the community with tips on stillness, breathwork, and even which tea to sip.
Acupuncture is among the holistic treatments
Written by Jennifer Blaise Kramer | Photography by Blue Gabor
During lockdown, when anxiety was spiking because of isolation, Talina Hermann was reaching out on Instagram, calming the community with tips on stillness, breathwork, and even which tea to sip. Her gentle wisdom was a breath of fresh air as her followers listened, wondering what she would tell them next. Little did we know that Hermann was on her own journey to become Dr. Talina Hermann, wrapping up a four-year master’s degree plus a doctorate to launch her MONTECITO WELLNESS CLINIC, which debuted this fall.
Her space, with tranquil rose walls and soft shearling seating, presents an image of serenity. Patients come for in-depth assessments to discover what’s off with their body. They receive a custom treatment protocol, which may involve blood work, acupuncture, breathwork, plant medicine, herbs, supplements, and holistic psychotherapy.
Clients begin with consultations in functional or Chinese medicine; textured wood and rose walls make for a welcome reception.
Plush seats to pamper guests; candlelight, breathwork, and sacred circles are also part of the treatment plans.
“We’re trying to get to the mystery that no one has been able to solve,” Hermann says, adding that most often patients’ issues involve pain, digestion, sleep, menopause, or hormones, as 90 percent of her clientele is female.
“Every time I’m at lunch, dinner, or drinks, the conversation turns back to hormones,” she says. It’s one of the shifts and transitions she’s eager to provide support for to an audience that is eager for additional therapies. “We’re in a new chapter now, and we’re more empowered.”
Poetry adds a touch of soul to the integrated experience.
As she continues to roll out offerings, Hermann will seek more information and answers on cutting-edge practices. “I love what I do, and I’ll probably always be in some kind of training,” she says. The key is to offer a space to help everyone take better care of themselves, wherever they are in their healing journey. “If we can reduce anxiety and reset our nervous systems, our bodies will heal.” 1483 East Valley Rd., Studio 19, Montecito, 805-455-1264, montecitowellnessclinic.com
See the story in our digital edition
The Craft of Hospitality
Hearth Homes ushers in the next chapter of the historic inn downtown
Hearth Homes ushers in the next chapter of the historic inn downtown
Designers Katie Labourdette-Martinez (left) and Olivia Wahler (right) attend to every detail.
Written by Jessica Ritz | Photographs by Blake Bronstad
Honoring the past and positioned for the future, THE CRAFT HOUSE INN is “a modernized B&B that has its own story to tell,” says interior designer Olivia Wahler. She and Katie Labourdette-Martinez, her Hearth Homes Interiors cofounder (and sister-in-law), have breathed new life into the Arts and Crafts–style property, which formerly operated as the Glenborough Inn and White Jasmine Inn.
“Everything we do is with an eye toward restoring and reviving the original elements”
“We want families to come stay and create core memories,” Labourdette-Martinez adds. And with four bedrooms and four and a half baths, it’s an ideal one-stop-shop celebration buyout. Plus there’s a separate Lotus Suite that sleeps two.
The emphasis on kin is no surprise, given that the entire enterprise is a family affair. Lucas Martinez, president of Hearth Homes, which also includes hospitality arm Hearth Home Stays, is
Labourdette-Martinez’s husband and Wahler’s brother. Chef Julian Martinez of Barbareño, who oversees the property’s culinary offerings, is a third sibling and rounds out this powerhouse team.
The house dates from the early 20th century, so “we tried to update everything without taking away any of the character,” Labourdette-Martinez explains. “We mixed a little here and there to give it more of a modern feel,” Wahler notes. Bold wallpaper from House of Hackney emblazons the dining room where the rich original woodwork has been restored. Dressers were repurposed into vanities, but the kitchen and bathrooms are outfitted with contemporary comforts.
The venue is now part of the Hearth Homes Stays portfolio. “Everything we do is with an eye toward restoring and reviving the original elements,” says Lucas Martinez, who adds that they’re privileged to be the stewards of a beautiful historic property. “We don’t take that responsibility lightly.” 1327 Bath Street, Santa Barbara, thecrafthouseinn.com
See the story in our digital edition
In Love with Landscape
ATKINSON GALLERY, at Santa Barbara’s City College, is one of the best places locally to see contemporary art, thanks to the insightful exhibitions by its talented director, John Connelly.
Soumya Netrabile, 2 P.M. in the Park.
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter | Photography by Tony Mastres
“The artists approach landscape in various ways using a variety of different media, but all have a deep respect for the art history of landscape depiction.”
ATKINSON GALLERY, at Santa Barbara’s City College, is one of the best places locally to see contemporary art, thanks to the insightful exhibitions by its talented director, John Connelly. New Landscapes Part I, which is on view through December 8, is the first of a two-part exhibition exploring the nature of landscape, with a focus on land, sky, and sea. Part I features work by Whitney Bedford, Diedrick Brackens, Manuel López, Cruz Ortiz, Jonathan Ryan, and Jonas Wood. Beginning January 22, New Landscapes Part II will include pieces by Ann Craven, Maureen Gallace, Porfirio Gutiérrez, Jordan Nassar, Soumya Netrabile, Robyn O'Neil, David Benjamin Sherry, and Gabriela Ruiz. According to Connelly, the artists approach landscape in various ways using a variety of different media, “but all have a deep respect for and offer a response to the art history of landscape depiction.” Humanities Bldg., H-202, SBCC, 721 Cliff Dr., Santa Barbara, gallery.spcc.edu.
See the story in our digital edition
Perfect Imperfection
Ojai native MARK CHURCHILL has been making pottery for more than 30 years.
Ceramicist Mark Churchill in his studio.
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter | Photography by Marian Schulze
Ojai native MARK CHURCHILL has been making pottery for more than 30 years. For much of that time, he worked as an apprentice to local master Frank Massarella; Churchill’s apprentice is Kiran Sahgal. Collectively they belong to Ojai’s ceramics lineage, which famously stretches back to renowned clay masters Vivika and Otto Heino and, of course, Beatrice “Beato” Wood.
Churchill’s own style is evident in his creations, which fuse his unique talents with Japanese and Korean aesthetics and techniques. Over the past decade he has been perfecting his version of the moon jar, a large, round porcelain vessel whose origins date to Korea’s Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897). Revered historically as the embodiment of Confucian ideals, moon jars remain highly prized and collected worldwide. An 18th-century example recently fetched $4.5 million at Christie’s in New York.
“The thing about the moon jar is it’s completely perfectly imperfect,” Churchill says. “It has very formal elements; the opening at the top has to be wider than the outside diameter of the base.” It may sound simple, but moon jars are constructed by joining two large bowls together, which is no easy task. Porcelain clay is extremely tricky to work with, and disasters—like cracks—can occur at any stage in the process (drying, firing, cooling). “When I started making them, if I got one out of 10 not to crack, I’d be really lucky,” he admits, adding, “they’re supposed to be difficult. To me, the point of them is that they take everything you’ve got.”
There’s more to them, though, than their rigorous technical aspects. As a master potter once told Churchill, “When you hold your own moon jar it should feel like your mother’s embrace.”
See the story in our digital edition
Modeling the Masters
Gifts inspired by some of Santa Barbara’s legendary leading ladies.
Gifts inspired by some of Santa Barbara’s legendary leading ladies
Modern Moves
The Santa Barbara High School graduate who defined contemporary dance
Martha Graham
Rose-cut black diamond necklace, $1,550, Baxter Moerman; Quarry large spire hairpin, $184, Jake & Jones; Lapointe dress, $1,750, Allora by Laura; small huggie earrings, price upon request, Silverhorn; Rali Couture rings, price upon request, d’Offay; Eternity bangle, $110, Marisa Mason; Jamie Haller ballet slippers, $425, Whistle Club; Martha Graham: When Dance Became Modern, $40, Chaucer’s Books.
Shape Shifter
The “Mama of Dada” crafted Ojai into an artist enclave
Beatrice Wood
Bespoke bangle, $10,680, Daniel Gibbings; Bunny Ball, $580, Susan Cronin; Cornwall Moon garden vase by Jean Victor, price upon request, Eider Studio; Reign of Beauty ring, $12,900, Jes MaHarry; The Micro Peak bag in gold, $1,900, Alexander McQueen; Venus Bee Trap (42x30 in., oil on panel), $3,000, Cynthia James Fine Art; Elongo Florals shawl in indigo, $495, Johanna Ortiz.
Gritty Glam
The original “It Girl” with a Santa Barbara story
Lexi car coat, $442, Catherine Gee; white gold chain and diamond necklace, price upon request, Bryant & Sons; Women’s Club earrings in antique silver, $1,650, Balenciaga; Loeffler Randall Ada knot heels, $350, Diani; Le Superbe crew neck with feather cuffs, $325, LOU; Lapima Teresa sunglasses in capim, $540, Occhiali Fine Eyewear; Jackie 1961 large shoulder bag, $5,500, Gucci; Sapphire Soothing Facial Oil, $78, Bella Vida Santa Barbara.
See the story in our digital edition
Cruz in Control
During its 82-year existence, 11 directors have led the SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ART (SBMA).
Amada Cruz, the Eichholz Foundation Director of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter | Photography by Sara Prince
During its 82-year existence, 11 directors have led the SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ART (SBMA). Only one of these individuals was female: Ala Story, whose tenure ended in 1957. Now, nearly seven decades later, Amada Cruz has been selected as SBMA’s Eichholz Foundation Director.
This is not to say the museum has ignored women. Mercedes Eichholz and Leslie Ridley-Tree, two formidable Santa Barbara philanthropists, each chaired the organization’s board of directors. And the Women’s Board, the museum’s wildly successful fund-raising group, has significantly shaped SBMA since 1951. But Cruz’s appointment signals a different era, as a new generation of women steps into high-profile leadership roles at several key Santa Barbara cultural institutions.
Cruz was nine months old when her family emigrated to the United States from her birthplace, Havana, Cuba. After graduating from New York University with a fine arts/political science degree, Cruz began her art-world ascent as a curator, with stints at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art. Early on she was strongly encouraged to apply for directorship positions, and she has followed that path for much of her 30-year career. Cruz ran a renowned art residency program (Artpace in Texas), directed Bard College’s Center for Curatorial Studies Museum in New York, and was director of the Phoenix Art Museum. Most recently, Cruz served as executive director of the Seattle Art Museum.
Compared with the Seattle institution, which has three large venues hosting nearly a million visitors per year, SBMA is intimate, attracting 150,000 annual guests. But the size disparity is what attracted Cruz to Santa Barbara. “I can actually get my arms around this place,” she says. “At this point in my career, I want something a little more manageable. I also want to think about communities and making connections, more than taking care of facilities. I’d like to focus more on mission.”
For Cruz, SBMA’s mission statement is critical. “It is the North Star for everything the museum does,” she says. “I am very attracted to the mission statement, which is very simple in many ways but very important to think about: ‘integrating art into the lives of people.’ That means the museum is not an ivory tower; that means that everyone here believes that art can have an effect on people’s lives.”
Given the reality that museums must compete to stay relevant in a world of virtual entertainment, Cruz knows this mission is no small task. But she has considered what an ideal museum could be. “A place that really provides meaning for people. A place that has connections to a lot of communities, so people come and they feel like it’s their museum,” Cruz says, adding, “I think that really the only future for museums to survive is for people to actually feel they have ownership. People want to see themselves in museums. That is very important to keep in mind.” 1130 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-963-4364, SBMA.net.
See the story in our digital edition
Mary Nobles Conrad
(1935-2023)
(1935-2023)
Our tribute
Written by Joan Tapper | Photographs courtesy of Kendall Conrad
For roughly three decades the aspiring authors and famous literary lights of the Santa Barbara Writers Conference knew her as the power behind the scenes. Barnaby Conrad Jr may have held center stage of the annual series of weeklong workshops, panels, and presentations, but Mary Nobles Conrad—who died on November 1 at age 88 at her home at Rincon Point, Carpinteria—was organizer, hostess, and the person who made it all happen.
“Dad brought the writers, but she was the producer...She made the conference happen.”
Her connections to Santa Barbara reached back decades. She was born in 1935 and grew up in Pasadena, but her prominent family spent entire summers at San Ysidro Ranch, where she enjoyed horseback riding in the hills. “She always loved coming here,” remembers her daughter, Kendall Conrad. “This was her holiday place.”
Mary went to school in Baltimore but returned to California to attend the Montecito School for Girls (now Casa Dorinda) and play tennis, a sport she excelled in. It was in Montecito that she met her first husband, William Slater, whose parents lived on Buena Vista Drive. The couple married in 1953, when Mary was 18, and the family, which soon included two sons—William Slater III and Michael Slater—eventually settled in Belvedere. After an amicable divorce in 1962, she married Conrad, an author, artist, bullfighter, and nightclub owner. A successful interior designer, Mary was also a lively hostess, and the Conrad home in San Francisco frequently welcomed actors, writers, and other celebrities.
But Santa Barbara beckoned. The family would come down every summer and spent Christmas here as well. “I think she got more and more attached to it,” says Kendall. “She said, ‘Let’s sell San Francisco, and move to Santa Barbara and start a writer’s conference.’ That was the intention.”
She and Barnaby built a house at the beach next to land her sister Annabel owned, and they moved in 1973, the same year the conference began. The roster of speakers that first June were Ray Bradbury (who became a regular), Ross Macdonald, Budd Shulberg, and Jessica Mitford. They set the tone for the decades that followed, with Barnaby calling on well-known writers who lectured and socialized with conference attendees. The literati ranged from Cristopher Isherwood, James Michener, Gore Vidal, and Alex Haley to Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, Elmore Leonard, Eudora Welty, Amy Tan, and Fannie Flagg, who famously began as an attendee and went on to become a best-selling novelist. “Dad brought the writers, but she was the producer,” says Kendall.” “She made the conference happen.”
After one year at Cate School, the conference moved to the Miramar Hotel, where the informal, slightly bohemian atmosphere encouraged interaction and gave rise to late-night “pirate” sessions that the event was famous for. After 32 years the Conrads sold the conference to Monte Schulz, the cartoonist’s son, who has kept it going, celebrating the 50th anniversary last summer.
Barnaby Conrad passed away in 2013, but Mary reached into her memories and memorabilia to produce the Santa Barbara Writers Conference Scrapbook with Armando Nieto and Matthew J. Pallamary. Published in 2017, it gave rise to a documentary movie for which she was executive producer. “I had pictures and press—everything, including the parties,” said Mary in an interview when the book came out. “I wanted to have people know that this happened in Santa Barbara.” Both the book and the film pay tribute to the people who led and attended the conference and to its inspiring, accessible vibe. “There was a wonderful rubbing of elbows,” she added.
Over the years Mary lent her support to other organizations and causes, from animal welfare, the local fire department, veteran organizations, and cancer research, and she remained an enthusiastic hostess. “Christmas was always a big party,” says Kendall.
And her legacy lives on at the writer’s conference, notes its director, Grace Rachow, who points to Mary’s wisdom and foresight as a core reason for its success even after five decades. “Although Barnaby Conrad was known for being a raconteur,” adds Rachow, “Mary was an excellent storyteller in her own right. Her work on the SBWC Scrapbook brought forth many luminary tales we had not heard before, and her vision had a real impact on the careers of several generations of writers.”
Mary is survived by her sons, William and Michael Slater; her daughter Kendall Conrad; her stepchildren, Barnaby Conrad III, Cayetana Conrad, and Winston Conrad; her grandchildren Will and Adam Slater, Morgan, Conrad, and Sammy Slater, and Luisa and Femanda Cameron; and great-grandson Kai Slater.
To read more about Mary Conrad’s leadership with the Santa Barbara Writer’s Conference, click here:
The Conrad family have been contributors to Santa Barbara Magazine for decades, including designer Kendall Conrad on the cover a record three times:
Wild About Harry’s
The atmosphere is retro chic in the Ranchero Room of Harry’s Plaza Café, where the walls display more than 1,500 photos in an impressionistic vision of Santa Barbara’s past.
Table for one in the back
Pictures of Santa Barbara’s horse-and-buggy days set the scene for a contemporary diner in Western garb.
Written by Joan Tapper | Photograph by Blake Bronstad
The atmosphere is retro chic in the Ranchero Room of Harry’s Plaza Café, where the walls display more than 1,500 photos in an impressionistic vision of Santa Barbara’s past. The restaurant, opened in 1968 in Loreto Plaza by the eponymous Harry Davis, is itself an icon. When John Scott renovated some 20 years ago, he restored the décor just as it had been, down to the patterned wallpaper, the globe chandeliers, the classic red banquettes, and the inimitable photographic images. The menu is classic, too, with hearty entrées like prime rib and tri-tip with baked potatoes, iceberg lettuce salads, omelets, soups, and sandwiches. The bar and booths extend from the entryway, but the Ranchero Room is more private. It has been the site of countless welcome and farewell dinners, association meetings, and other celebratory occasions—all toasted with the other iconic element at Harry’s: a strong cocktail. Cheers!
See the story in our digital edition
Easy Does It
Earlier this year, restaurant industry powerhouse and Montecito resident Sophie McNally began her mission to win the hearts and nourish the souls of busy families through the launch of her new culinary company, KITCHENETTE.
Sophie McNally’s healthy bet on Kitchenette
Kitchenette founder Sophie McNally uses quality ingredients, flash-frozen at peak freshness to preserve taste and nutritional value.
Written by Anna Ferguson-Sparks | Photographs by Blake Bronstad
Earlier this year, restaurant industry powerhouse and Montecito resident Sophie McNally began her mission to win the hearts and nourish the souls of busy families through the launch of her new culinary company, KITCHENETTE. In an effort to fight food waste, monitor its carbon footprint, and aim for sustainability, Kitchenette delivers tasty gluten-free, nutrition-packed, family-style frozen meals made with high-quality ingredients, ready to heat and enjoy later. The service started with a handful of meal options available for pre-order and recently expanded its seasonal lineup to include a plant-based Buddha bowl and a zero-refined-sugar, date-sweetened chocolate-chip-cookie roll, plus two-portion versions of its family-style meals, as well as separate sides and mains. A convenient gift program is now available, and Kitchenette items have debuted at Santa Barbara’s cool new corner grocery store The Eddy. getkitchenette.com
See the story in our digital edition
Family Values
SAARLOOS + SONS is a family-owned and -operated winery that’s been four generations in the making.
Great wines with a side of sarcasm at Sarloos
Keith Saarloos represents the third generation in the family business.
Written by Hana-Lee Sedgwick | Photographs by Sara Prince
SAARLOOS + SONS is a family-owned and -operated winery that’s been four generations in the making. Their tasting room, which is situated inside a house built in 1886 (now refurbished and coated in sleek black paint), has long been a fixture in the Los Olivos wine scene. “Our tasting room is truly an extension of our living room, a place we get to welcome and host people daily,” says Keith Saarloos, a third-generation steward of the family business. “Our aim has always been to be a place where people can relax, have fun, and experience a sense of ‘nowstalgia,’ which I like to describe as the feeling of being fully present but also having a nostalgic attachment to the moment.” On offer here are estate-grown Rhône and Bordeaux varietals, many of which proudly bear the names and faces of family members. In addition, Saarloos & Sons continues to delight guests with its famous cupcake pairing, part of a long-standing collaboration with local favorite Enjoy Cupcakes. 2971 Grand Ave., Los Olivos, saarloosandsons.com
See the story in our digital edition
Vineyard Hoedown
For Paula Tabalipa, her latest venture, TABALIPA WINE CO., represents a major career shift.
Paula Tabalipa and husband Michael Greenberg toast to the release of her first vintage of rosé.
Written by Caitlin White | Photographs by Renata Amazonas
For Paula Tabalipa, her latest venture, TABALIPA WINE CO., represents a major career shift. The Brazilian wardrobe stylist and costume designer recently moved to the Santa Ynez Valley with her husband, Michael Greenberg. The couple bought a home in Santa Ynez during the pandemic, and, shortly afterward, a historic vineyard down the hill from their house came up for sale. Getting into the wine world seemed to make sense, so the couple acquired the vineyard, and Tabalipa’s company issued its first vintage this summer.
“We wanted people to not only try the wine, but also experience the vineyard and the land.”
Working with local winemaker Dragonette, Tabalipa began to learn the business. She describes her first release as “a pleasure-driven Santa Ynez Valley rosé,” designed for sipping on hot summer days. To get the word out and to convey a sense of the terroir behind the wine, Tabalipa hosted a release party at the couple’s Living Life vineyards. Themed as a hoedown, the event included activities like hayrides, an acoustic set from Donavon Frankenreiter, a rodeo, a hot-air balloon, Santa Maria barbecue, and, of course, plenty of rosé.
“We wanted people to not only try the wine, but also experience the vineyard and the land,” Tabalipa says. “We’re representing the region, so we had Santa Maria barbecue and Finley Farms had a station of incredible tomatoes with burrata and pistachios. We had Lucky Hen’s incredible charcuterie boards. It was almost a farmers’ market setup. It was also a celebration of love, because my husband and I got married this summer in a very small ceremony, but then we decided to throw this party. The launch of the wine was also a celebration of our happily ever after.” tabalipawineco.com
See the story in our digital edition
Toasting a Decade
In its tenth year of welcoming guests to the tasting room at its hilltop Santa Maria Valley estate, PRESQU’ILE WINERY has much to celebrate.
The estate’s 10-year-old tasting facility
Written by Anna Ferguson-Sparks | Photographs by Heather Daenitz / Craft & Cluster (Picnic, Simon); Courtesy of Presqu'ile Winery (Tasting Facility, Wine & Food)
In its tenth year of welcoming guests to the tasting room at its hilltop Santa Maria Valley estate, PRESQU’ILE WINERY has much to celebrate. Drawing on their Southern hospitality roots, the Murphy family continues to provide spot-on service while keeping the greater good in mind. Presqu’ile’s admirable sustainability efforts, which include its certified organic estate vineyards, have earned the winery the even more rigorous SIP Certified standing. Moreover, Presqu’ile is working toward its goal of being net zero, thanks in part to the estate’s 774-panel solar farm, which produces nearly 500,000 kilowatt-hours per year, an offset equal to the annual energy use of 45 average homes. The estate also includes a one-acre, organic vegetable-and-herb garden, which chef Julie Simon uses for her globally influenced, seasonal menus.
Presqu’ile has expanded its offerings to five different tasting experiences: an Estate Tasting Flight, highlighting new and current-release estate wines; the Wine & Food Experience, featuring a curated tasting flight paired with a mezze picnic; the Estate Horseback Tour & Tasting, a trail ride through the 400-acre property, also culminating with food and wine; and the Wine & Food Tour, a private walk through Presqu’ile’s wine caves and winery, ending with a pondside food-and-wine pairing. For larger groups, there’s Wine & Bocce on a private terrace. 5391 Presqu’ile Dr., Santa Maria, presquilewine.com
See the story in our digital edition
Poetic Pours
When sommelier and wine director Hayden Felice was dealt the pandemic hand of a forced career shift, he partnered with friend and fellow wine enthusiast Andrew Fitzgerald to start TRIPPERS & ASKERS wines.
A lineup of Trippers & Askers wines.
Written by Anna Ferguson-Sparks
Owners Hayden Felice (left) and Andrew Fitzgerald.
When sommelier and wine director Hayden Felice was dealt the pandemic hand of a forced career shift, he partnered with friend and fellow wine enthusiast Andrew Fitzgerald to start TRIPPERS & ASKERS wines. Felice parlayed nearly 20 years of beverage-industry experience—including work in New York with chef Tom Colicchio’s Crafted Hospitality, in Los Angeles for chefs Roy Choi and Ludo Lefebvre, and at Acme Hospitality in Santa Barbara—into 200 cases of wine that would eventually increase to become the duo’s 1,200-case label.
Officially launched in the fall of 2022 with two vintages and six cuvées, Trippers & Askers focuses on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah from organically farmed, sustainable vineyards. The pair’s minimalist approach produces lighter, restrained, mineral-driven wines, all crafted by Felice in a downtown Santa Barbara winery.
The partners’ passion for winemaking is coupled with their collective interest in literature and photography, reflected in their labels and the names of each wine. “Trippers & Askers” is a nod to poet Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself #4.” The cuvée names are inspired by passages in cherished poems, and the label photographs were taken on the owners’ travels.
“The pair’s commitment to the community is evidenced by the label’s donations to 13 different nonprofits within its first year.”
The pair’s commitment to the community is evidenced by the label’s donations to 13 different nonprofits within its first year, and both owners are active on local nonprofit boards: for Felice that is the Santa Barbara School of Squash, which mentors local underserved youth; Fitzgerald serves on the board of CALM, whose mission is to prevent childhood trauma, heal children and families, and build resilient communities throughout Santa Barbara County. trippersandaskers.com