A historic bar at the quiet end of Bourbon. From the outside Lafitte’s looked like it was the home of the first pig and the wolf just hadn’t blown it down yet. In fact it looks like a good breeze could blow it down. From the inside, it offered the perfect view of Bourbon Street …
There are Mel’s Bars all across the country. A Mel’s Bar in Denver is a multi-award winning restaurant and bar, but that’s a far cry from the Mel’s in Santa Barbara of which this post is about. We’ve known Mel’s since we were in our early twenties, (we being in particular myself, and friends Chris …
I first visited Hot Creek back sometime in the 70’s. It was not the place to take the family back then, but a “hot” spot for party goers. Swimsuits were optional, but rare, and there was not much in the way of advertising its location to visitors. I went back years later and although …
It wasn’t that we didn’t want Barbie to come, we were more concerned about her health, she wasn’t ready to make a walk around the block let alone the 5 day backpacking trip we were going to go on. Shelley, her sister, wasn’t ready either, but she was Stan’s wife and he knew if we …
When the Olympic Games in 1956 where held in Melbourne, Australia, no map showed Tasmania, the black sheep state. I was once told by a Melbourne mate that Tasmania is the state where men are men and sheep are nervous…or was it that the women looked like men…but however he said it, I do remember …
The photo is of the pool at the Russian River Resort, 1954. I think a lot has changed since then, although there is still a pool, the guests today are predominately gay and lesbian. Unaware of any of this and in need of a room for the night, the triple R looked as good a …
Isla Vista is located adjacent to the University of California Santa Barbara [UCSB]. A one square mile town consisting primarily of apartments, a few businesses and a population of over 20,000. Isla Vista was considered by many to be second only to Berkely as a hotbed for political activism, and first came to national attention …
Street painting, using chalk as the medium, is an Italian tradition dating to the 16th century. Called “Madonnari” because of the practice of reproducing the image of the Madonna (Our Lady). The Madonna was the most reproduced artwork. In Italy, the tradition lives on in the village of Grazie di Curtatone, where the International Street …
Tommy’s Joynt is still a great place to have a beer, or late night if you’re really hungry and want a sandwich, and a beer. Or if you are really hungry but would settle for just the beer.
Hope Ranch is a relatively private place to live, with lot sizes at nearly two acres minimum, and houses beginning at 3,000+ sq.ft. and up, and listings on the market between 4 million to 30+ million. Hope Ranch members are fortunate to have access to a golf course, country club, private tennis courts, stables, miles …