You can view more photos of Juliana at her very own website http://www.JulianaDiane.com

Juliana was born at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara. Her family (that’s me!) would love very much to have the support of the Santa Barbara Community — Please vote for Juliana!

Here’s a small gallery of Juliana to help convince you to vote for her:

]]> http://www.sblocal.com/v1/2009/10/help-make-me-a-gap-celebrity/feed/ 0 http://www.sblocal.com/v1/2009/10/what-santa-barbara-tours/ http://www.sblocal.com/v1/2009/10/what-santa-barbara-tours/#comments Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:17:52 +0000 Jued Martinez http://www.sblocal.com/v1/?p=1146 So I’ve often wondered just what is available in the way of Tours for Locals and visitors alike. So I hit the Search Engines and found Capt. jacks. Here’s a Quote from their website:

Small intimate/private events/tours include: Wine tasting tours, Coastal Sailboat cruises starting at $30, horseback rides & kayak tours $35, guided hikes & glider airplane flights. Captain Jack’s Tours offers these tours individually or prepackaged in a full day tour. See a full list of these and other choices on our “Tours and Rates” page..

Large group events/tours include: Private/Chartered Catamaran Sailboat Cruises for groups up to 49 guests. Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Hiking, & Wine Tasting for groups of 100 or less. Remember one call does it all. Captain Jack’s Tours will provide the appropriate transportation, combine any of the above activities, top it off with a “TOP SHELF” dinner or lunch,
and even include entertainment for your guests to enjoy.

Another of their offerings:

Friday Night Wine Tour & Party

$50 per person Join us for a wine tasting special on Friday afternoons/evenings as an alternative to our normal $50 wine tour. This tour begins between 3:30- 4:00 in the afternoon. We will visit 2 coastal wineries where you will get to taste award winning wines from around Santa Barbara County. We will then take a break for dinner at the Bay Cafe & Fish Market (dinner not included in price). Then, to cap the day off, we will stop at Carr winery for their Friday night wine bar, featuring live music & rare library wines. You can purchase wines by the glass, caraffe, or bottle. Hang out ’til 10:00 then Captain Jack’s will take you home.

Well you can check them out online here: Santa Barbara Tours by Captain Jack’s Tours – Wine Tasting, Horseback Riding, Kayaking & More..

The situation with Climate changes are becoming more and more pronounces — and hopefully people on this planet will start to deal with the great proverty lines that are existing between all of our various countries.

Here in the US we spoil ourselves, we discard foods and items that in other countries people might kill for!

Somehow, this situation needs to change!

Okay, so it’s Blog Action Day — So Blog About It Today!!

Here’s a quotation from the Blog Action Day Dot Org site:

“More than any other country, action taken by the United States to limit greenhouse gases and build a clean energy economy is needed to achieve a sustainable solution to our global climate crisis.

This December world leaders will gather in Copenhagen to negotiate a global response to climate change. As a world leader in greenhouse gas pollution as well as clean energy technology, the United States needs to take bold action by implementing comprehensive clean energy policies to curb emissions.

Nobel Peace Prize Winner and President Barack Obama has said that climate change is an urgent threat, and now is the time for him to lead the United States in confronting the climate crisis.

This is a chance for people around the world and in the United States to join together in telling President Obama that we want him to lead the United States in taking bold and significant action to reduce greenhouse gasses.

Time is running out, and our planet can’t afford to wait. ”

Take Action: Tell the U.S. it’s Time to Act on Climate Change.

Video by: Jued Martinez

Video by: Robert Klinger

Today started over at Loon Point Beach – secluded, accessed by a Trail, a small chore walking up and down that trail too! The views wers spentendulous! It was quite and calm, with only about 30 people spread ut and around. Or course it was a Monday too, so that helped!

So here’s some beach photos that aren’t Santa Barbara – But a few clicks away!

And the usual chairs Lining State Street, I just don’t understand why people have to mrk up the Brick Sidewalk with their names! Well, at least it isn’t Painted on the sidewalk!

So here are some photos of the park just about fullt set up for tomorrows festivities:

In the crowd were a handful of ex-News-Press employees including Barney Brantingham, Melinda Burns, John Zant, Starshine Roshell, Sarah Sinclair, Barry Punzal, Andrea Huebner, Bob Klinger and yours truly.

Also in attendance were a few current News-Pressers Scott Steepleton, Don Katich, Marilyn McMahon and Karna Hughes. No revelent story on the News-Press website today though, don’t know if there was even a Brief in the paper – one would have to read it to be sure.  Hmmm, perhaps they were just looking. But, knowing the News-Press – it just may be in Mondays’ Edition. let me know if you Read it.

It was a capacity crowd for the evening, close to about 200 people .  After the Discussion Scott Steepleton of the S.B. News-Press walked out, foregoing the public question session. Missing the statement of David Pritchett who said that even though he refused to do a face-to-face interview with the News-Press, they incorrectly quoted material from his website and stated that the information was from his site. [ http://www.davidpritchett.org/ ]

Here is Susan Paternos’ (director of the journalism program at Chapman University) talk in its entirety.

She speaks of her News-Press Lawsuit and about the future of Newspapres in general along with other things of interest regarding journalism.

Atttended by: Jerry Roberts, former San Francisco Chronicle managing editor and former Santa Barbara News-Press editor and publisher; Nick Welsh, editor and reporter for the Santa Barbara Independent; James Rainey, media columnist for the Los Angeles Times; and Dick Flacks, UC Santa Barbara professor emeritus of sociology, radio host and community activist.

I Took a few Photographs as well just to show the size of the crowd. Additional Pphotographs provided by Robert Klinger, are available at reproduction sizes: Contact here using the comment form or the Contact page if interested. (edit: 06-20-2009 8:36p.m. -jm).

At Casa Esperanza in Santa Barbara their Goal is to provide Street Outreach workers comb the streets of Santa Barbara every day, building relationships that allow the homeless to seek shelter for the first time.

Through the Day center provide Food, clothing, medical care, job development, social services, life coaching, substance abuse recovery, and other vital services are offered to assist our members/clients into permanent housing.

There’s also the Transitional Shelter program where Opportunities are provided for those who are willing and capable of achieving self-sufficiency.

Also the Winter shelter where Two hundred beds are available from December 1 to March 31; includes breakfast, dinner, hygiene services (showers, laundry) and medical support.

Here’s a video from Casa Esperanza:

The Community Kitchen at Casa Esperanza Homeless Shelter

Being a community kitchen means having a Wish List of items to help them out in their daily volunteering, here’s a list of those items:

• Serving Spoons, Tongs, Ladels, Pie Servers
• Knives – Chef Knives – all sizes and types
• Spatulas
• Small pans
• Floor Mats
• Hotel pans – “Size 400”
• Blenders
• Microwave
• Utility Cart
• Towels-we will take used ones
• Pretty trays for catering events
• Salt & Pepper Shakers and Sugar Shakers
• Tires for our Van
• Oatmeal
• Peanut Butter & Jelly
• Cereal
• Paper Plates& bowls, plastic forks & spoons
• Coffee
• Napkins, Paper Towels & Latex Gloves
• Can Goods
• Pancake Mix
• Fruit (all kinds)
• Juice (all kinds)

Thank you for your support and generousity – Susan M. Krisher, Kitchen Program Director

Volunteers – We need people who can help us prep and serve the meals that are offered. You don’t need to have a lot of skill or be a gourmet chef – what is required is a big heart and love for your fellow human beings. Volunteers are urgently needed to help prep and serve food on Saturday’s and Sundays from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM. If you would like to help – please call Susan at: (805) 884.8481.

You can also Donate Goods – It takes a lot of food to feed so many. We can always use donations of food from suppliers, restaurants, and others in the food industry. To make a donation of goods, please call: (804) 884.8481. View our current “Wish List” of items we need. Click Here.

Or you can Make A Contribution – Your dollars enable Casa Esperanza to buy the items needed to keep the Community Kitchen open. Please make a gift today to support these efforts.

Grabbed some Photos for Photos of the Day, sorry no photos of Jesse himself. You can read the AP story here.

According to my source the actual Trial is taking place in the Jury building across the street from the County Courthouse.

So, head on over to our FREE Classified Section.

Click Here to View. Or, click Map below for Full Google Interactivity., in a new browser window.

Our newest Fire is really big news it seems. We’re even covered online by LIFE Magazine! Remember Life Magazine. Check out the gnarly burned out skeleton of a mobile home! Some really awesome photos there, sadly though there’s only 10 photos.

I was wanting to revisit them recently, so I headed over there for a take-out dinner last night. Most of the crew is the same along with Isidorios Son behind the counter. The recipes are still the same as they were 27 years ago – Why change a perfect proven menu ?

So I Ordered my favorites-  The Taco de Chuleta is a nicely seared Pork cut served on 2 Homemade / Handmade Corn Tortillas! Fabulous!

The Taco de Chorizo is another slightly spicy Mexican Sausage that just melds together fine tith their choices of Salsas.

The Bistec Taco also another favorite. Most of the tacos only cost about $2.30 each, if I recall correctly……

Last but not leastly to be forgptten is the Chorizo Especial, a blend of Cheese and Chorizo served with 3 Tortillas! Pour some of the creamy Salsa Verde on that and you’re ready to go! This smooth concoction costs about 4.30 – In all My Bill was @11.85 – enough for 2 meals!
I could just go on and on about how great this place prepares their food – but it just something that you have to experience for yourself. You Decide!

Do Not miss this busy small eatery, and yes, there’ll be a line outside at peak times – but it’s worth the wait! My food was ready in about 12-16 minutes . . . . . . Below is a photo of the establishment, so you know what you’re looking for.

La Superica Taqueria
622 N. Milpas St, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 963-4940

I said Here long ago – Some things never change

Reviewer: Jued Martinez from Santa Barbara, CA
I first ate at La superica back in the 80´s – the first week that they opened, I
must´ve been their tenth customer! I mean it! When I recently returned
there twice in the past two weeks, Isidoro immediately remembered me.
The owner and the Cook even, have been there for almost twenty years.
In twenty years the only changes I notice aside from the building
changes, is that the portions aren´t like they were in the eighties . .
.but the food is still the same . . . .because when you have a good
menu, you don´t change it. Bottom Line: The food is Very Good there,
the pricing is moderate, the fresh tortillas make a world of
difference, the salsas are unique and spicy, I could go on and on. If
you´ve never been there: Try the Chorizo Especial de Queso – with a
beer and tacos de Chuleta or Bistek, and lots of Salsa!

[ The following information from the Official Fiesta Website ] – It is important to note that Old Spanish Days Fiesta is unique among festivals, both local and national, in that it is run primarily by a volunteer Board of Directors of 35 members who represent a broad cross-section of the community. The Board is supported by one full-time paid staff person. The Board selects an El Presidente or La Presidente who presides over the meetings during his or her year of tenure, serves as a spokesperson for the board, and serves as an ambassador of goodwill during Fiesta to visitors and residents. Fiesta is an important Santa Barbara tradition that has continued for over 75 years for a number of important reasons. Fiesta fosters a unique spirit among locals who participate; it is an important coming together which encourages community cooperation, collaboration, and growth.

The festival has grown due to the overwhelming interest of so many different organizations to develop and maintain Fiesta as an extension and expression of their place in the community. The annual event provides an education of the history, customs, and traditions of the American Indian, Spanish, Mexican, and early American settlers that comprise the rich cultural heritage of Santa Barbara. Fiesta is a unique forum for the cultural expression of our diversity. Fiesta provides a vehicle for the non-profit and community service groups to raise funds for local charities and social service organizations.

The event annually draws thousands of visitors from around the world who contribute to the local economy. Old Spanish Days Fiesta has grown in stature and reputation to become one of the five best regional festivals in the United States. Fiesta performers come from around the nation and Mexico to participate. Celebrities of international renown who have participated or performed in Fiesta include Leo Carrillo, Will Rogers, Shirley Temple, Charles Lindberg, William Randolph Hearst, Don Wilson, Paul Whitman, and Delores Del Rio. Old Spanish Days Fiesta is incorporated as a not-for-profit organization as allowed by law under the IRS 501(c)(3).

Visit the Old Spanish Fiesta Days Website

At the same time the Lobero theatre was openning, so a committe was gathered to think of ways to celebrate. Not only was the first Fiesta for the opening of the Theatre, but they also had in mind to make it an annual celebration to highlight and show off the singing and dancing of the local community.

In any case it’s going to be one big party throughout Santa Barbara. Not like it used to be in the old days, or unlike in the 1980′s when people walked around with Margaritas in hand, going from every bar and business in town while enjoying their Adult Beverages. The times are much more settled down these days.

There’s confetti everywhere, and don’t be surprised to have an egg-filled-with-confetti broken over your head. You’ll look very festive with all of that colored paper in  your hair! It’s a tradition going way back, where families save empty egg-shells and fill them with confetti and colorful wrapping, just for the purpose of breaking them over someones head!

Wikipedia sez: Cascarones or confetti eggs are festive, hollow chicken egg shells, filled with confetti, meant to be thrown or broken over someone’s head(usually as a surprise from behind), scattering confetti all over the person. Breaking the eggs over someone’s head can be painful if done hard enough, but since the eggshells are so brittle no one normally gets hurt. This tradition is most often carried out among friends and family. Cascarones derived from Mexico and have recently regained popularity in the southwestern United States. They are used for many different occasions but, especially Easter. Having one broken over your head is said to bring good luck.

There will be plenty of Spanish Style Good Eats too!  You can be taken on Courthouse Fiesta Tours Daily from 10am to 3pm for free, every half hour. There’ll be the Mercado de la Guerra ( Located just off State Street, Next to City Hall), where the Main Stage has lots of Flamenco, Spanish, Music – Both spanish and Current Rock Acts playing for the crowd…Not to Mention the Food Booths! With Carnitas (Fried Pork) Sandwiches, Birra (Goat Meat) Tacos, BBQ’d Corn and Ribs, and the list could go on and on!

There’ll be vendors selling many items like clothings with Spanish Appeal, Don’t forget to stop by the Massage Booth! Last year, $10.00 bor a 15 minute Deep Muscle Massage just takes away the pain from all of the walking you did! Look for them Next to City Hall! Hopefully they’ll be here again!

More info Soon – my fingers are tired! In the meanwhile visit the Official Old Spanish Days Website.