Block Party!

Santa Barbara had a little block party last weekend, thanks to the New Noise Festival. They closed off Arlington and set up a stage right smack in the middle of the street. Howlin' Woods was playing when I got there and hot damn,  it was a whole lot of fun. 

Dear Santa Barbara: 

More block parties please. 

Thank you,

Meghan

The Starr King Rummage Sale

The line at 8:30 am.

Oh. I forgot to tell you about the Starr King Rummage Sale. 

No I did, I forgot.

It's not because I'm a selfish, aggressive, hoarder of a thrifter and I wasn't going to encourage any competition at this high-stakes rummage sale, how could you think that?

I saw this, and took this picture with my phone to send to my friend Jayne, who's looking for a dresser. I love this thing!

I was thinking of you Jayne. At least for a minute.

I didn't actually send it to her however because I saw this chair and jumped philanthropic ship, sprinting across the courtyard and yelling "THAT'S MY CHAIR". 

That may have actually happened.

Do you want to know how much it was? 

$5. 

Yeppers.

It will be making another appearance on this blog as I steal practice Morgan's method for restoring wood furniture, from my favorite blog The Brick House.

Oh, and the kilim pillows? $5 for both. What a bunch of idiots! Oh come on, I kid, I kid.

Put in on your calendar for next year. It benefits the Starr King Parent Child Workshop, which  is a really rad pre-school that  encourages both child and parent development.  It is located at 1525 1/2 Santa Barbara Street, and is part of the Unitarian Church. LOVE those Unitarians. They have a lady-reverend! Hallelujah.

Santa Barbara Sunday Afternoon

Hey! It's been a long time. Let's just pretend it didn't happen like the psychologically healthy people we truly are.

Compelled to get out of the house on Sunday after being sick for a few days,  coupled with the guilt of feeling like a  lazy, uncreative waste of life after watching the movie 180° South, I grabbed my camera and went for a walk around my neighborhood on Sunday afternoon.

This town is so beautiful.

I'm headed to St. Helena and Petaluma this weekend, and I'm taking my camera! See you soon.

 

             

The Raoul Textiles Sale.

Oh Raoul. 

Raoul, Raoul, Raoul. 

Look what you are doing to these ladies. 

Early Saturday morning we lined up, lattés in hand, in our finest Weekend-Wear and readied ourselves for the unicorn of Santa Barbara events: The Raoul Textiles Sale.

We were focused:

We were frenzied:

We worked fast:

Raoul Textiles was started in Santa Barbara in 1981 by Sally and Tim McQuillan, and the hand-printed Belgian linen and other finely woven fabrics have become highly coveted and revered among those in the know. 

I wasn't in the know, but thankfully my friends were, and I tagged along. I couldn't commit to buying more than a bag of scraps, but  they totally scored!

Alisa went straight home and knocked out some pillows, the crafty little brat.

My $5.00 bag of scraps will probably live in this corner until I get a sewing machine. I think it's a lovely way of keeping the dust off my amp for now. 

The new Raoul Showroom is located at 136 State Street in downtown Santa Barbara. Go by and drool, and then meet me at the next sale.

The Random Store

Surprise, surprise, my lack of discipline and inability to commit has revealed itself in my very infrequent blog posts. Bloggin's hard, y'all. I'm trying.

Today I want to talk to you about the Random Store in Santa Barbara. At 1207 State Street, it's conveniently located next to McDonalds for maximum bum interaction and harassment. You won't know that it's called the Random Store, as the storefront lacks any kind of signage, but when you see the chaotic window displays of large wood sculptures, bizarre doll collections and blown glass knick-knacks, you'll know you've found it.

If you like a treasure hunt, this is the place for you. They are constantly bringing in new items from "auctions, leftovers, surplus, odd lots, tag sales and other (legal) means", according to their website. I cannot believe this place has a website. 

One time I found several beautiful Moroccan rugs strewn over some old comic books in the back. The 4X6 rugs were $25 and the 8X10 was $45. I don't know much about rugs, but I knew this was a deal. I walked home to get my car, and when I came back they were gone. "Some lady bought them all up", the Ichabod Crane-like employee shared. I was bummed. And I was considerably more bummed when I found them--the same rugs, to be sure-- for sale at Wendy Foster in Montecito for $4,000 a week later. Hmph.

You can find Good:

Bad:

Questionable/Awesome:

Bizarre:

and I forgot to mention, Plumbing Supplies:

See you there.

Warbler Records and Goods

Just when I thought I might vomit if I saw another hot mom in designer sunglasses climbing into a Range Rover, Santa Barbara got a visit from the Hip Fairy. Can I get a praise Jesus?

Kurt Legler and Leigh Van Der Werff (sometimes I am compelled to repeat her last name out loud with various accents) have opened up shop at 131 East de la Guerra, in downtown Santa Barbara, and they have given us Warbler Records & Goods.  Can you hear meeeeee I said PRAISE JEEEEESUUUUUS. We've been listening to Solomon Burke, sorry.

I think there might be one other record store in town, but there are always pubescent boys with piercings and unwashed hair milling around in there, and I'm really just not vibing out on their energy.

Do you know where I do vibe out on the energy? Warbler. Do you know why? Because Kurt and Leigh have created a beautifully designed space that, coupled with their friendliness and complete lack of record-snob condescension, invites you in and holds you there like the warm, soft womb of The Mother Goddess. Sorry i'm reading The Mists of Avalon.

I am telling you. Andrew and I stopped in one morning when we were walking back from Farmer's Market just to check it out, and now it's a regular stop on the Saturday Morning Schedule. We don't even have a record player yet, but it's just really fun to hang out there. And don't get me started, (don't even get me started) on their dog Edgar. 

Leigh and Kurt have amassed an excellent variety of new and used records, cds and record players which constantly grows. They also carry letterpress stationary, jewelry,  t-shirts-- all sorts of other great gifty stuff. Just in time for the holidays! Shop local, duh.

The Grand Opening Celebration is this Saturday, Nov. 13 from 4-7, featuring the band  Watercolor Paintings, guest DJ's and drinks... and of course I'll be there,  so you should be too.

Thank you Kurt and Leigh for bringing a little flavor to town. We hope you like it here because we need you. See you Saturday!

Kurt, Leigh and Edgar.