Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [327]
Santa Barbara Brewing Co (Map; 805-730-1040; 501 State St) Home to half a dozen microbrews plus a couple of seasonal specialties, this bustling brewery draws a consistent State St dinner crowd as well as the beer connoisseurs. Santa Barbara Blonde, Gold Coast Wheat and State Street Stout are a few permanent attractions.
EOS Lounge (Map; 805-564-2410; 500 Anacapa St) Ladies love the lighting at this trendy nightclub currently hot with SB’s martini-sipping scenesters. The sexy decor – rippling waterfall, glimmering fireplace, twinkling patio – is on par with the hippest of Hollywood lounges. Small dancefloor for those wanting to get their groove on.
Epiphany (Map; 805-564-7100; 21 W Victoria St) Ideal for a glass of bubbly if you’re wearing heels and a dress (or if you want to impress someone who is); it’s also a chic little restaurant.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Santa Barbara’s appreciation of the arts is evidenced not only in the wide variety of performances available on any given night but also in its gorgeous, often historic, venues.
Soho (Map; 805-962-7776; www.sohosb.com; 1221 State St, #a205) Never mind the office-complex setting: once inside the casually intimate brick walls of stylin’ Soho – where the focus is on the performer – you’ll be transported to a whole new place. There’s jazz on Monday night, blues several times per month, plus rock, bluegrass, funk, soul, salsa and folk on other nights at this 2nd-floor club. Cover is $7 to $15.
Velvet Jones (Map; 805-965-8676; www.velvet-jones.com; 423 State St) The place to hear rock, hip-hop and comedy. Many bands stop here between gigs in LA and San Francisco.
Lobero Theatre (Map; 805-963-0761; 33 E Cañon Perdido St) The oldest California theater in continuous operation – since 1873 – presents ballet, modern dance, opera, chamber music and special events, often featuring internationally renowned top talent.
Granada Theatre (Map; 805-899-3000; 1216 State St) Set to reopen in March 2008 following a complete restoration, this 1930s Spanish-Moorish-style theater will become the new home of several arts institutions, including the ballet, the opera and the symphony.
Santa Barbara supports a variety of theater companies and beautiful historic venues. For a current list of performing-arts events, pick up the Santa Barbara Performing Arts Guide, a fold-out brochure available at the Santa Barbara Visitor Center ; you can also check with the Santa Barbara Performing Arts League ( 805-563-8068; www.sbperformingartsleague.org). Aside from being home to the Santa Barbara Symphony, Arlington Center for the Performing Arts (Map; 805-963-4408; 1317 State St) is a drop-dead-gorgeous, old-fashioned movie palace when the orchestra isn’t playing. Great place to catch a flick.
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SHOPPING
Shops along State St carry clothing, knickknacks, antiques and books. There are chain stores here, but all conform to the Spanish-style architectural mandate. You’ll find plenty of terrific boutiques and gung-ho outdoor stores in Santa Barbara, but very few used-clothing stores.
Paseo Nuevo (Map; btwn Cañon Perdido & Ortega Sts) This attractive outdoor mall is anchored by Nordstrom and Macy’s department stores, with retail chains such as Gap and Victoria’s Secret.
La Arcada (Map; 1114 State St) Near Figueroa St, this historical red-tile passageway was designed by Myron Hunt (builder of the Rose Bowl in LA) in 1926. It’s filled with boutiques, restaurants and whimsical public art – check out the back pocket of the window washer to see what’s on his reading list.
El Paseo (Map; State St) Locally owned shops and restaurants fill this tiny, flower-festooned courtyard opposite Paseo Nuevo.
Surf-n-Wear’s Beach House (Map; 805-963-1281; 10 State St) Surfboards dangle from the ceiling at this beach-minded emporium where bikinis, beachbags and flip-flops jostle for your attention.
Blue Bee & Blue Beetle (Map; 805-897-1137; 923-925 State St) Find eclectic, stylin’ clothes at one of the best indie boutiques in town; there’s a denim