The Santa Barbara Independent

Art by Komatis Comes to Downtown Santa Barbara’s Tamsen Gallery

Art by Komatis Comes to Downtown Santa Barbara’s Tamsen Gallery

Visual Arts By Alice Dehghanzadeh

Self-described “explosion of color” on view for the rest of August.

‘Fight the Trump Takeover’ Takes Over Upper State

‘Fight the Trump Takeover’ Takes Over Upper State

Politics By Callie Fausey

Protesters in Santa Barbara hold rally against Trump’s attempted gerrymandering of red states.

Gifford Fire Holds Steady at 132,605 Acres as Containment Grows to More than Three-Quarters

Gifford Fire Holds Steady at 132,605 Acres as Containment Grows to More than Three-Quarters

Wildfire By Jean Yamamura

Evacuation orders have been downgraded to warnings and Air Quality Alert and Watch lifted in Santa Barbara County.

California’s Blue Congressional Delegation May Get Even Bluer

California’s Blue Congressional Delegation May Get Even Bluer

Politics By Jean Yamamura

The state intends to offset Texas maneuver and restore independent districting in 2030.

Connecting with Fiesta in the Shadow of ICE

Connecting with Fiesta in the Shadow of ICE

Poetry Connection By Melinda Palacio, Santa Barbara Poet Laureate 2023-2025

Our columnist celebrates her first Fiesta in a big way.

Summertime Getaway to Big Bear Lake

Summertime Getaway to Big Bear Lake

Travel By Keith Hamm

Kayaking, eagles, and views, oh my!

‘Lies’ Explores the Meaning of Truth

‘Lies’ Explores the Meaning of Truth

Theater By Maggie Yates

DramaDogs play centers around the political pressure cooker of propaganda.

multimedia Stories

The Power of Art and Community Coming Together Was on Full View at Santa Barbara CAW

Photo

‘Creative Resistance’ exhibit casts a wide net.

A Video Tour of UC Santa Barbara Special Collections

Video

Behind the scenes at UC Santa Barbara Library, the Department of Special Research Collections is home to rare and unique books, manuscripts, photographs, films and music recordings — plus a team of curators and archivists tasked with preserving the holdings and ensuring public access.

Review | The Awesome Beats of Percussionfest

Music Academy of the West’s multi-sensory adventure rocks.

Merrymaking at Maker House

Photo

The nonprofit clay and creativity hub celebrates five years in Goleta.

Solstice Parade and Festival Gone Wild

Photo

The 51st annual Summer Solstice Parade and Festival lived up to this year’s Wild World theme.

Bloomsday Blooms with Literary Fun and Libations

Photo

If the standing room only crowds at Monday’s Bloomsday celebration are any indication, Santa Barbara’s love of literature is still

Our 2025 Indy Awards Celebrating Santa Barbara’s Theater

Video

Watch the 2025 Indy Awards celebrating theater splendor in Santa Barbara.

No Kings, Says Santa Barbara

Photo

‘Indy’ readers send photos of the witty, angry, colorful, and frequently hilarious signs.

Circus Vargas Returns to Santa Barbara With A Dazzling New Production

Photo

The classic symbol of Americana — the circus — returns to Santa Barbara with dazzling new acts, from an aerialist

Sheriff’s Roundup: First Quarter of 2025

Video

See a recap of the department’s recent annual award presentations, an important recent regional active shooter training, and information about the sheriff’s Crisis Intervention Co-Response Teams.

More Multimedia Stories

About Milpas Housing

Letters By Denice Spangler Adams, Montecito

Arts & Entertainment

‘Lies’ Explores the Meaning of Truth

‘Lies’ Explores the Meaning of Truth

Theater By Maggie Yates

DramaDogs play centers around the political pressure cooker of propaganda.

‘Songs for Nobodies’ Brings Beloved Vocalists’ Stories to Solvang

‘Songs for Nobodies’ Brings Beloved Vocalists’ Stories to Solvang

Theater By Maggie Yates

The Ventura Live Summer Festival Announces Additional Shows

The Ventura Live Summer Festival Announces Additional Shows

Theater By Hailey Edmonds

ON the Beat | From Sweden, with Love and Jazz

ON the Beat | From Sweden, with Love and Jazz

ON the Beat By Josef Woodard

Art by Komatis Comes to Downtown Santa Barbara’s Tamsen Gallery

Art by Komatis Comes to Downtown Santa Barbara’s Tamsen Gallery

Visual Arts By Alice Dehghanzadeh

More Arts & Entertainment

Food & Drink

Pico’s ‘Know Thy Farmer’ Lunch Celebrates Farmers and Flavors

Pico’s ‘Know Thy Farmer’ Lunch Celebrates Farmers and Flavors

Food By Alice Dehghanzadeh

Three-course garden meal with Elder Flat Farm’s Carla Malloy highlights tomato season

Santa Barbara County Farm Day

Santa Barbara County Farm Day

Food By Hailey Edmonds

Ocean To Table At Finch & Fork

Ocean To Table At Finch & Fork

Food By Madeline Slogoff

California Wine Industry Torn on Trump Tariffs

California Wine Industry Torn on Trump Tariffs

Business By Levi Sumagaysay, CalMatters

More Food & Drink

Living

Santa Barbara Unified Kicks Off School Year at Arlington Theatre

Santa Barbara Unified Kicks Off School Year at Arlington Theatre

Education By Ella Heydenfeldt

Friday’s two-hour event marked the official start of the 2025-26 school year for SBUSD employees ahead of students’ return on Wednesday.

Santa Barbara Humane Breaks Ground on Facility Rebuild

Animals By Vince Grafton

Farmer & the Flea’s Benefit Concert

Community By Meaghan Clark Tiernan

More Living

Sports

Santa Barbara High Flag Football Drops Overtime Thriller to Santa Paula, 20-14

Santa Barbara High Flag Football Drops Overtime Thriller to Santa Paula, 20-14

Sports By Victor Bryant

The Dons couldn’t hold on to a second-half lead.

Girls’ Volleyball Roundup: Santa Barbara Downed in Four Sets by Powerhouse Saugus

Sports By Victor Bryant

Dos Pueblos High Flag Football Explodes Offensively in Season Opening Victory over Westlake

Sports By Victor Bryant

More Sports

Real Estate

Starshine Says Farewell to Fairytale Farmhouse

Starshine Says Farewell to Fairytale Farmhouse

Make Myself at Home By Starshine Roshell

A plot twist in Starshine’s storyline opens the door for the next chapter.

A Tudor Revival Home with Treasures

A Tudor Revival Home with Treasures

The Great House Detective By Betsy J. Green

Building a Stronger Community Together

Building a Stronger Community Together

Real Estate Scoop By Summer Knight, 2025 President, Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS®

A Win for Homeowners: SALT Deduction Increase Offers Relief for Santa Barbara Residents

A Win for Homeowners: SALT Deduction Increase Offers Relief for Santa Barbara Residents

SBAOR President's Message By Summer Knight

More Real Estate

The Print Issue

Cover Stories
Real Estate
Special Issues

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Announcements

Become Part of the Solution to Ocean Pollution on Saturday, September 20th, 9:00 a.m. to Noon

Announcement By Explore Ecology

Cambios en Tarifas y Servicios de MTD Entrarán en Vigor el Lunes

Anuncios By MTD de Santa Bárbara

MTD Fare and Service Changes to Go into Effect on Monday

Announcement By Santa Barbara MTD

Isla Vista Community Services District Approves 2025-2026 Budget

Announcement By Isla Vista Community Services District

More Announcements

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