Home + Design

Spaces We Love

Thoughtful Boutiques Shaping Santa Ynez Homes Article by Sara DeMarcus | Photography by Matt DeMarcus As homeowners settle into spaces, whether putting down roots or refining a well-loved retreat, local boutiques become part of the process. These are the shops people return to again and again, popping in between projects or revisiting when a room feels almost finished but not quite complete. They’re places to pause, ask questions, and recalibrate. Where inspiration often comes as much from...

Home + Design

A Smarter Standard of Clean

A practical guide to maintaining a healthier, cleaner, and safer home without overcomplicating it Article by Sara DeMarcus | Photography by N/A Our homes are often designed with longevity in mind, but how they are maintained  also plays an equally important role in their performance over time. In recent years, many homeowners have begun reexamining everyday habits and products, not out of trend-following, but out of practicality: what supports comfort, preserves materials, and contributes to...

Home + Design

Laid with Love

Creating spaces to gather, indoors and out Article by Sara DeMarcus | Photography by Lena Ibarra Home is where life happens. It’s where barefoot mornings begin on cool floors, where families gather around kitchen islands, and where personal style quietly reveals itself in the details. In the Santa Ynez Valley, home often extends beyond four walls. It extends into outdoor kitchens, firelit patios, and evenings spent under open skies. Many of those spaces, both inside and out, share a common...

Professional Services

Life Through a Lens

Following Love Through Every Chapter Article by Sara DeMarcus | Photography by Lena Ibarra Born and raised in the SYV, Lena Ibarra, of Lena Britt Photography, has spent years quietly documenting love in all its seasons... from nervous proposals and wedding days filled with emotion to the beautifully imperfect rhythms of family life. As a local photographer and trusted partner of this publication, Lena doesn’t just capture milestones; she preserves legacy. Her work tells the story of love as...

Life + Culture

Bubbles for Everybody

A Local Sparkling Wine Gift Guide to Dazzle Your Valentine Article by Sara DeMarcus | Photography by Provided This celebratory drink goes by many names... Champagne, bubbly, sparkling wine, champs, or bubbles. While California sparkling wine can’t technically be called Champagne (that honor belongs to France’s Champagne region), many of our local bottles are crafted using the very same méthode traditionnelle, the meticulous, time-intensive process responsible for those festive bubbles we all...

Finance + Legal Services

The Balance Behind Wealth

How Saige Private Wealth Is Bringing Clarity & Confidence to Financial Well-Being Article by Sara DeMarcus | Photography by Matt DeMarcus and Provided For Antonia La Rocca, financial well-being is inseparable from whole-person wellness. “If you don’t know where you are or where you want to go, life becomes more confusing and less optimal,” she says. “Clarity naturally reduces stress.” It’s a philosophy rooted not only in her decades of technical expertise, but in a lifetime of experience that...

Health + Wellness

Resolutions That Stick

A Guide to Creating Change That Lasts All Year Article by Matt DeMarcus | Photography by N/A The beginning of a new year has a familiar rhythm: we dream big, write goals, and promise ourselves that this will be the year everything shifts. Yet by February, many of those ambitions fade into the background, crowded by old habits and daily responsibilities. The truth? Lasting change isn’t powered by willpower or perfection; it’s built through strategy, intention, and self-compassion. And after...

Food + Beverage

Grandma's Snowball Cookies

Light as snow, rich as tradition... Grandma’s timeless cookie for every holiday table. Article by Debbie DeMarcus | Photography by Matt DeMarcus There’s something unmistakably magical about the scent of butter and vanilla filling the kitchen on a December afternoon.  Grandma’s Snowball Cookies  have been a DeMarcus family favorite for generations—delicate, nutty, and dusted twice in powdered sugar for that irresistible “snowy” finish. Each bite melts in your mouth, evoking memories of laughter...

Life + Culture

Naughty or Nice?

For those who believe good taste never plays by the rules. Article by Sara DeMarcus | Photography by Provided Welcome to the 2025 Santa Ynez Valley City Lifestyle Holiday Gift Guide. From the golf course to the great outdoors, this year’s holiday gift guide celebrates the art of thoughtful giving — Central Coast style. Curated for those who appreciate craftsmanship, innovation, and a touch of adventure, these nine standout picks are designed to elevate everyday moments. Whether it’s a...

Food + Beverage

A Season by the River

Alisal River Grill Making the Holidays Come to Life Article by Jenna Craig | Photography by Lia Carhartt Last December, while Solvang shimmered as one of America’s most celebrated Christmas destinations, the Alisal River Grill decided to create a little holiday magic of its own—and the result was nothing short of enchanting. With immense effort (and a touch of holiday spirit), the team transformed the beloved restaurant into a full-blown festive wonderland. Set beside the Alisal River Course...