Category Archives: News

Hollister has opened along State Street in downtown Santa Barbara, replacing Abercrombie & Fitch. (Joshua Molina / Noozhawk photo)

Santa Barbara’s downtown is getting younger.

Abercrombie & Fitch, the well-branded clothing retailer that closed its doors in January, has opened a sibling store. It’s intended to attract even younger shoppers than the teens and twentysomethings who frequented Abercrombie & Fitch.

Hollister, at 721 State St., focuses on the “carefree spirit of the endless California summer for the teen market.”

It’s target demographic is the 15-to-19 age group.

“It fills a niche in downtown Santa Barbara for this customer who makes up approximately 22% of our demographic,” said Mary Lynn Harms-Romo, marketing manager for Paseo Nuevo mall. “We are encouraged that Abercrombie has made the decision to meet the needs of the market as retail is everchanging and retailers who are committed to evolving will continue to succeed.”

The store sells a variety of jeans, tops, dresses, sleepwear and jackets as well as three types of “skinny” jeans, including “exteme skinny,” “super skinny” and just plain “skinny.”

From the sale of each World Teen Mental Wellness Day Collection item, $10 will support the HollisterConfidence Fund’s grant-making efforts

Semi-Permanent Makeup

Santa Barbara native Kathy Rodriguez plans to open XO Aesthetics in Santa Barbara around April 1.

The shop at 3455 State St., Suite 6, will specialize in personal care services, such as eyebrow microblading, lip blushing, teeth whitening, and face and body treatments. Rodriguez decided during the COVID-19 pandemic that it was time to start her own business.

“I started realizing that I wanted to pursue something where I was going to be independent,” she said, “or do something where I would not have to work under somebody, and do something for myself.”

The company uses pigments to create semi-permanent makeup products that can last between 18 months and several years. The treatment is popular in Los Angeles.

Something’s Definitely Fishy

Hibachi Steak House & Sushi Bar at 502 State St. in Santa Barbara appears to have temporarily closed. (Joshua Molina / Noozhawk photo)

The Hibachi Steak House & Sushi Bar, formerly known as the popular “Something’s Fishy,” appears to have temporarily closed its doors.

The restaurant at 502 State St. was dark all week, with the doors closed and no one on the inside.

Calls and efforts to reach the restaurant through social media were unsuccessful.

Yelp states that the restaurant is temporarily closed until April 22, 2022.

Although most of the other restaurants on the 500 block of State Street seemed to have enjoyed the benefit of outdoor dining, the Hibachi Steak House & Sushi Bar, known for its grilling in the middle of the restaurant for all to see, apparently has not fared as well.

CalCoast Glass Tinting Adds Team Member

Nathan Ponder has joined CalCoast Glass Tinting.

The company, 4141 State St., Suite C3, provides films for windows from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles.

Ponder will work as the director of sales.

He previously worked at Kinkos in 1992 as a color specialist before becoming operations manager. He left Kinkos in 2004 to be the chief operations officer at CyberCopy, a market leader in construction printing and graphics services for architects, engineers and contractors. He became vice president of sales and marketing in 2008.

CalCoast Glass Tinting Inc. is the Premier 3M Dealer and a leader in glass treatment films with its expertise, customer service and high-quality workmanship, according to a news release.

By Joshua Molina, Noozhawk Staff Writer | @JECMolina

Original story HERE

Makers and Wares Market hosted 59 women-led booths at Paseo Nuevo in celebration of International Women’s Day (which is today). The event, presented by Blissful Boutiques and Women’s Economic Ventures, was free for the entrepreneurs.

Lisa Green, president and CEO of the Makers and Wares Market, wanted to make the day free as a gift to vendors and shoppers.

“Everybody’s been suffering this whole year with COVID. And I figured, International Women’s Day — let’s do something to just get the community together and bring them out,” she told the News-Press.

She saw the holiday as a good way to honor women who might be struggling during the pandemic.

“I think the women, in my opinion, were hit the hardest. Because they have to be mom; they have to be teachers; they have to get home with the kids, etc. So that was part of the other reason why it’s doing this and offering it free to the vendors,” she said.

Ms. Green, an entrepreneur herself, has presided over the market for nearly five years and just recently opened the market to include non-handmade items.

“A small business that wants to get up off their feet and they can’t afford to rent a brick-and-mortar storefront — we want to be able to give them a chance. We want to be able to take care of everybody,” she said.

The market, which is located beside State Street in downtown Santa Barbara, allows vendors from surrounding cities to participate. (Some local markets only allow Santa Barbara residents to join.)

Denise Zenteno of Rain Frog Woodworking heard about the market from friends in Santa Ynez Valley Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS). Some of the moms had small businesses and were planning to represent Santa Ynez Sunday.

Sunday was Ms. Zenteno’s fourth time selling at a market, and first time in Santa Barbara.

She began woodworking six months ago when she saw a lathe among the tools her husband keeps in the garage.

She describes discovering woodworking as falling in love. Her father was an architect and used woodwork in his designs, so the trade resonated with her.

Her display of pens, cooking utensils and bowls look as though she’s been making them for years.

“As an engineer, I’ve always worked with my hands, so it wasn’t a hard transition,” she explained.

She was an engineer for seven years before immigrating to the U.S. and starting a family with her husband.

She has many hobbies and likes to try new projects (which is why she browsed the tools in the garage), but she had never sold her work.

Ms. Zenteno started woodworking to make Christmas gifts, and her friends and family insisted she sell some of her creations. She had a large inventory already and decided to give it a try while she stays home with her child.

Paula Fell, an artist in Ojai, started selling mosaics and fused glass pieces after she retired three years ago. She always desired to become an artist upon retirement.

She has sold her mosaics in art exhibitions and decided to try the market when her neighbor Jen Grasmere told her about it.

“I think [Ms. Green] is really trying to help women artists and women with the cottage industries,” Ms. Fell said. “I think that’s really important during COVID that they have a platform to be able to share their work.”

Ms. Grasmere, a silver and turquoise jewelry artist, was grateful the market was a free opportunity.

“I think women need to help each other and encourage each other. We need each other in this world,” she said.

Her jewelry became her profession five years ago, which was an intimidating transition. She previously gave everything away.

“As an artist, you have got to get over your shame,” she said. “Because you put your stuff out there and you have a shame attack like, ‘Oh, no one’s gonna like that.’ But then you make a sale and then you get used to putting your stuff out there.”

She still worries about hitting the perfect price to get more sales and pay for her handiwork. But she says her husband is a good support.

To shop Ms. Zenteno’s woodwork, send her an email: denisezenteno@gmail.com

Ms. Fell often makes commissioned pieces as well as sells her premade art at paulajennetart.com.

Ms. Grasmere likes to update her Instagram with her latest pieces at instagram.com/jengrasmerejewelry.

To support Ms. Green, check out her markets and events at lmgvendorevents.com.

email: ahanshaw@newspress.com

To read the original story, click [HERE]

Downtown outdoor shop features local artisans with handmade gifts

The years-long Maker’s Market at Paseo Nuevo Shops and Restaurants is still alive and well on State Street, and provides an outdoor, COVID-safe environment for residents to Christmas shop, all while supporting local businesses.

With more than a dozen vendors selling everything from homemade bags, clothing, paintings, books, jewelry, decorations, beauty products, soaps, desserts and, of course, handmade face masks, the market caters to all ages and all walks of life.

“I come from at least three generations of seamstresses,” Mrs. Browdy told the News-Press. “I don’t have a marketing background; I don’t have a business background.

“You learn as you go. You have to be ever changing, and sometimes you’ve got to work from sunup to sundown,” she said. “I don’t have days off, but it’s what I love to do and it’s totally worth it.”

Her reusable goods include food bags, paper towels, napkins, travel bags, lanyards, cable holders and more, unique with brightly-colored patterns. Many of her items are also reversible.

When COVID-19 hit, she began making face masks, and said she sold thousands online from March 30 to the end of April.

While the pandemic halted the Maker’s Market for several weeks, Mrs. Browdy said business has still been good.

“I feel like because it’s outside, people are willing to go outside,” she said. “If we were an indoor market, it wouldn’t work.”

SweetMello products are all under $25, and the cheapest items start at $2. To view her stock of reusable goods, visit sweetmello.com.

Sean Duffy was previously an English teacher in Ventura, but now holds fundraisers and book fairs for “Duffy’s Book Biz.”

He and his wife are educational representatives with Usborne Books & More, and he curates children’s books that pique childrens’ interest and get them excited to read. The majority of the books are interactive, pop-up books that allow for hands-on, tactile learning.

Mr. Duffy said he came up with the idea when he noticed the education system focusing too much on test grades than the learning process.

Sean Duffy sells pop-up, interactive children’s books from his stand, “Duffy’s Book Biz” during the Maker’s Market.
“At one point, I thought, ‘This is too much for me,’” he told the News-Press. “There’s a lot of politics, and unfortunately, I think the kids suffer because of that.

“We’re doing these kids a disservice — they’re not robots, they’re actually human beings. It’s supposed to be fun.”

From activity books to internet-linked science to history encyclopedias, Mr. Duffy hopes his books excite kids and make learning fun.

“It doesn’t seem like you’re just drilling learning into them,” he said. “They read and do something. The more you can do that, the more you get their interest and the more they want to be there.”

To learn more about his business or to shop his curated collection, visit DuffysBookBiz.com.
Kennedy Bretz is a UCSB student, and Saturday marked her third time tabling at the Maker’s Market. Her brand, Art from the Heart, is a collection of various paintings, pieces of clothing with artsy additions and handmade soaps and candles.

“They’re made sustainably, so they use ingredients that are natural for the environment and they’re made mindfully for the environment as well,” Ms. Bretz told the News-Press. “I incorporate my paintings into the business too because I love to paint.”

She donates 10% of purchases to a different charity every month, decided by a vote on the brand’s Instagram page: @kb.artfromtheheart.

While she doesn’t know what it’s like selling without a pandemic going on, she said business has still been good.

“It’s a little easier for me because I’m lucky selling soaps, so people don’t mind touching them because they know they’re clean,” Ms. Bretz said. “A lot of people still want to come out so there’s still a decent amount of foot traffic going on on State Street.”

Taki Gold sells perfume, jackets and other goods from his stand during the Maker’s Market.
Her art pieces and sustainable soaps and candles can be found on her Etsy Shop page: kbartfromtheheart.

Taki Gold and his brand, World of Taki Gold, were also tabling on Saturday for the second weekend in a row.

Mr. Gold grew up in the violent Liberian Civil War, and witnessed many tragedies between 1989 and 1994. His goal now with World of Taki Gold is to represent an artistic way of expressing the transformation of personal wars into art, fashion and music.

His slogan is “Make war beautiful.”

“I was 6 years old and in a civil war in Liberia, and the women that were in my group explained war to me through art because I was so young, so everything was music, everything was dance, everything was art,” he told the News-Press.

Mr. Gold purchased uniforms from veterans and redesigned them, to “transform the energy of what we’ve been through.” In addition, he’s a musician who just came out with an album called “Girl God,” and he sells his own brand of fragrance, inspired by his first wave surfed at Mesa Beach.

“I just wanted a scent that makes me feel like the ocean,” he said.

Proceeds go to both Mr. Gold and his foundation called Seed, which is a women-led agro-tech crop farm in Liberia to help empower women to revive the land that was damaged by war.

He said COVID-19 hasn’t affected his brand all that much because it’s mostly online.

“When you’re genuinely presenting healthy energy to people, I don’t hold back,” he said. “I’m generally creating a shift of new energy, something that’s healthy, that smells good, that feels good, that’s helping others.”

To learn more about Mr. Gold’s products, visit worldoftakigold.com.

The Maker’s Market, presented by Blissful Boutiques, is open at Paseo Nuevo at State and De la Guerra streets every Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday. Tuesday’s market is open from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Saturday’s is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday’s is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

email: gmccormick@newspress.com

Check out the Paseo Nuevo Fashion feature starting on page 54.

Allison and Marjorie, thank you for arranging this, it looks beautiful!

PASEO NUEVO COMMISSIONS A LOVE LETTER TO SANTA BARBARA
In partnership with MCASB and Ojai Artist Cassandra C. Jones

Paseo Nuevo, in partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara, commissioned Cassandra C. Jones to create Love Letters, a tile mural inspired by Santa Barbara’s heritage, architecture, and surroundings which are known to draw from Spanish and Mexican influences. The mural is part of Paseo Nuevo’s continued commitment to community art programming as well as to engaging visitors with new and reimagined experiences. Love Letters is a 600-tile mural that spans two walls in Paseo Nuevo’s lower north court entrance.

The entire mural is a kaleidoscope of collaged photographs printed on white ceramic tile, with 36 unique compositions repeated throughout. Upon closer investigation, each tile is its own vibrant work of art with a series of separate, smaller images collaged together to create a larger pattern: Spanish guitars form quatrefoil shapes, the fans of flamenco dancers become ocean waves, surfboards make up visions of sun, agave, and pinatas. All imagery cleverly reflects Santa Barbara’s heritage and culture, providing a visual narrative that is truly a love letter to the community. Jones, an Ojai-based artist, shares that the mural “explores and embraces the nuances and poetics of such imagery. Like stringing words together to compose a love letter, I weave and layer potent objects in such a way to express affection for the Central California Coast, and this place that I call home.”

This project was always intended to be a love letter to Santa Barbara. By activating public spaces, art plays a vital role in deepening the engagement with our local community. As MCASB Curator, Alexandra Terry, shares, “By initiating a dialogue about the human experience, public art has the opportunity to enhance our physical environments and inspire critical thinking. Paseo Nuevo is at the heart of downtown Santa Barbara and thus provides the ideal backdrop for a project such as Love Letters that will encourage passersby to contemplate more deeply the environment they inhabit.”

Paseo Nuevo’s owners, Pacific Retail Capital Partners, have a dedicated mission to advancing accessible, public art programming throughout its portfolio. In doing so, they prioritize installations in creative and open spaces, and commission works like Love Letters. Love Letters is one of many art initiatives planned during Paseo Nuevo’s current, privately funded, $20 million redevelopment project, to be completed Summer 2020.

Paseo Nuevo has planned ways for the community to engage with Love Letters, while maintaining safe social distancing, through a Love Letter to Santa Barbara contest, installation videos, and interactive experiences, all driven through social media. Senior Marketing Director, Mary Lynn Harms-Romo expands on this engagement, “Now, more than ever, we want our community to feel connected. As part of the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, Paseo Nuevo has always been a natural place to gather. While we cannot currently gather in the ways we are used to, we can still form connections and share experiences.”

Visit Paseo Nuevo’s Instagram and Facebook platforms to find out how to experience Love Letters.

Heading to Santa Barbara for the holidays? Lucky you! This coastal California beach town gets extra festive during the winter season with parades, live performances and much, much more.

If you’re looking for lights, you can book a ride on the Santa Barbara Trolley of Lights to scope out the best houses around town. Or you can plan a DIY tour and drive yourself. Don’t miss The Miracle on East Quinientos Street. This private residence is so bright that you might want to bring sunglasses!

Are you a theater fan? You can catch the Nutcracker Ballet at either the Granada Theatre or the Arlington Theatre. Both of these historic venues are stunning, and there are dozens of mouthwatering restaurants nearby. Rather go shopping? Check out the dozens of pop-up markets featuring local makers that appear on the weekends.

For family fun, look no further than the ice rink in Goleta. Ice in Paradise is an indoor rink with a casual restaurant onsite. It’s a good place to take a lesson, catch a hockey game or even see a holiday ice show.

This list of the 10 best holiday attractions in Santa Barbara can help you get any Scrooge in the Christmas spirit. So get out those jingle bells and get going!

10

CASA DEL HERRERO

MONTECITO

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Architecture enthusiasts should visit the Casa when it’s all dressed up for the festive season. Visitors are invited to enjoy a cup of hot spiced cider as they tour the gardens and have a glimpse of how a Montecito Christmas in the 1930’s might have looked. Painstakingly conceived, built and furnished, the estate was designed by George Washington Smith. It is a stunning Moorish and Mediterranean unification of art, gardens and space. Boasting European treasures, intricate tilework and one-of-a-kind metalwork, Casa del Herrero (“house of the blacksmith”) pays tribute to its owners’ machinery industry. A small number of December dates are allotted for visitors wishing to see the home decked out in its holiday splendor. Reservations must be made in advance.

Recommended for Things to Do in December because: Visit this historic home for a glimpse of how a Montecito Christmas in the 1930’s might have looked.

Geneva’s expert tip: This is a great holiday destination for visitors interested in interior or landscape design. Reservations recommended, especially during December.

Read more about Casa del Herrero →

See full story HERE

Only days removed from the sounds of sirens rushing to the scene of the Cave Fire, locals and tourists alike will welcome the sounds of something more festive starting tonight.

The sleigh bells will officially return to Paseo Nuevo, as Santa will finally open his doors to children and adults alike, looking to grant every wish this holiday season.

And he won’t have to use any temporary walkways or avoid loose bricks, as the shopping center has halted its renovation and put the place back together—just in time for the holiday shopping season.

“All according to plan,” said Paseo Nuevo’s Mary Lynn Harms-Romo, the center’s senior marketing director. “We’ve been looking forward to having Santa back, and had to get the place in shape for his return.”

Santa will hold hours from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday until Dec. 13, with Sundays running from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

From Dec. 14 – Dec. 23, the big guy will be available daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. to make sure all kids can get those last-second requests in.

On Christmas Eve, Santa has to get on the road a bit earlier, closing up his annual appearance with a 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. shift.

“Every kid receives a gift from Santa, it’s a great tradition here,” Ms. Harms-Romo said.

And while Santa Barbara County received a good dose of the real stuff—with potential for more this morning—the shopping center is bringing back its popular night snowfall shows, “Let It Snow,” starting at 6 p.m. nightly. They’ll run every night through New Year’s Eve, excluding Christmas Day.

The holiday festivities are only an interlude for the renovation project at Paseo Nuevo, as the center had decided early on that it wanted to give all of its shops the best opportunity for sales this holiday season.

Ms. Harms-Romo explained that the shopping center will remain mostly construction-free, with only touch-up work being done through the end of the year. “It was always our goal to have this done for the holidays,” Ms. Harms-Romo said. “A few things were offtrack, so we are just going to take a break, going to stop and have a great holiday season.”

Beginning in January, the renovation will reconvene, with hopes of a grand reopening in May. The project has been fairly smooth, with only a pair of obstacles to date, including finding a second, smaller sinkhole near Nordstrom. It has now been repaired.

There will be minor work being done in December, mostly cosmetic and not likely to interrupt foot traffic. “It’ll mostly be holes that we have in walls, landscaping and some speakers,” Ms. Harms-Romo said.

Paseo Nuevo is without its seasonal Night Market this year after issues over a potential ice rink in the Ortega Building caused Glen Broomberg, the owner of the market, to decide to cease operations ahead of the holiday season.

A handful of the businesses that partook in the market last year have found different areas of Paseo Nuevo to utilize instead.

“It’s great to be able to accommodate them,” Ms. Harms-Romo said. The Ortega Building—which housed Macy’s in recent years—is a topic of discussion for the shopping center, with the focus squarely on having multiple tenants move into the building at some point in 2020.

The shopping center has been meeting with various city groups to discuss what they’d like to do with the building, with Ms. Harms-Romo indicating that it would likely house restaurants, entertainment and retailers alike.

“The plan is to repurpose the building with more than one tenant,” Ms. Harms-Romo said. But, for now, the shopping center will embrace its biggest tenant — Santa.

— Nick Masuda for Santa Barbara News-Press.